Arcade Fire

I'm pretty sure everyone already has most of these Arcade Fire songs (except for Elizabeth Jones), so this post is probably unnecessary (except for Liz). Anyway, here you go (Liz):



Wake Up mp3 (right click/save as)
Wake Up (Live On KCRW) mp3 (follow link)
Wake Up (Live @ Kings College, London) mp3 (follow link)
No Cars Go (CBC Radio Sessions) mp3 (follow link) Highly Recommended!

Good Luck Parises...You're Going To Need It

In honor of the Parises' engagement, I offer an mp3:

Mu "Paris Hilton" mp3

and even better, Here's the Video! Awesome!

You've gotta love the lyrics to this song...fu**ing greatness:

Shake your body body
Move your body body
Jump your body body
Paris Hilton!

Go ahead!
Say What!

I'm the richest party dumb girl
Would you like to look at my sex tape?
Natural beauty, photogenic
Always ready to pose for nice shoots
Put my poppy Chanel dress
He sleeps Louis Vitton bag
Silver spoon, champagne bath
Mom! I want that one, please!

In other Paris news: Today is Geri Parris' birthday...happy birthday Geri!

Love As Laughter

Prefix calls Love As Laughter's new record, "Laughter's Fifth", "smart rock completely devoid of pretentiousness. . .there’s no disputing that this is the happiest rock album of the year so far."

Hard to disagree w/ that after listening to "In Amber" about 5 straight times...I'm loving this song right now. Listen for yourself:

"In Amber" mp3 (thanks to The Crutch)
"Dirty Lives" mp3 (from the band's SubPop page)

I Heart Detroit

Here's some music from Detroit (like me):


The White Stripes "Instinct Blues" (New! courtesy of The Crutch)
The White Stripes "Blue Orchid"
The White Stripes "The Hardest Button To Button"
The White Stripes "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground" (the End Sessions)

UPDATE: get two more new tracks from "get behind me satan" at Daily Refill


Brendan Benson "The Alternative To Love"
Brendan Benson "The Pledge"


The Dirtbombs "Sun Is Shining"
The Dirtbombs "I'm Through With White Girls"


The Von Bondies "Please Please Man" (Live)
The Von Bondies "C'mon C'mon"

and for those of you who love the girl in the "I Heart Detroit" shirt, here's an added bonus:

Rachael Is So Underrated

Congratulations to Rachael over at The Underrated Blog for a couple of huge reasons this week:

First, Issue Six of her magazine comes out this Thursday (June 2), and she's holding an Issue Release Party/Concert featuring The Go Station and This Radiant Boy (among others) at Tribeca Rock Club. Unfortunately I'm stuck in Dallas and I can't attend, but if you're anywhere near NYC you should definitely check it out.

Second, Thursday is also Rachael's 21st birthday!! If you see her at the party, buy her a shot or three for me. Happy Birthday Rachael!

Oh, also, I have been tagged (by Rachael), so here you go:

01. Total amount of music files on your computer?

3600 songs (about 14 gb), not nearly as much as Rachael.

02. The last CD you bought was?

the last cd(s) i bought were "Kick and The Snare" (Deathray Davies), The Cloud Room, and Akron/Family.

03. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message?

The Stranglers "golden brown"

04. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.

Wow this was hard...

Brendan Benson "Metarie"
Beulah "If We Can Land A Man On The Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart"
The Streets "Empty Cans"
The Polyphonic Spree "When The Fool Becomes A King"
Joanna Newsom "Sadie"

that list came out kinda weird, but those were the first 5 songs i thought of...i must be in a sentimental mood this morning or something.

05. Who are you going to pass this stick to and why?

umm, i think it's been passed to everyone already....let's go w/:

Melissa (because she's really cool)
and
Lindsey (because she's crazy)

Bjork + Thom Yorke

Okay I think the problem w/ my file host has been fixed, sorry about the fu**ed up tracks...if you weren't able to download from the last couple posts (the Diplo and Bright Eyes stuff), try again, they should all work now. just don't right click/save as, you have to follow the link. here's a nice song from Bjork, featuring Thom Yorke.



Bjork "I've Seen It All" (featuring Thom Yorke)

My First and Last Race Car Driving Post

Anybody watch car racing (besides Dodge, that is)? Well, I've never been able to understand the entertainment value of watching a bunch of rednecks driving around in circles, but i'm considering watching the Indy 500 tomorrow, for a couple of reasons. First, FHM model Danica Patrick (pictured above) apparently has a legitimate shot of winning. Second, this redneck douchebag is whining about it. Dude's scared of losing to a girl, apparently. Here's hoping she like, drives way faster than him, or something.

Free File-Hosting Services Kick Ass

More music from the Gorilla Vs Bear hard drive. One is from a Diplo live set in Montreal, the other two are from Diplo/M.I.A.'s "Piracy Funds Terrorism" mixtape, and they are all badass: (let me know please if there's any trouble downloading these)

Update: okay, sorry about that. there was a problem over at savefile.com, but apparently it has been fixed. all these tracks should work now. let me know if they don't. enjoy.



Yeah Yeah Yeahs/Diplo "Maps" (Diplo remix live)

Diplo/The Bangles "Fire Fire/Walk Like An Egyptian"

M.I.A./Diplo "China Girl"

When The President Talks To God

I'm experimenting w/ a free file-hosting service. Not sure how well it works yet (i'm assuming you get what you pay for, and since i'm cheap i went w/ the free service). You can't right click/save as, you actually have to follow the link. Sorry. Anyway, here's the first of what will hopefully be many Gorilla vs. Bear-hosted files:



Bright Eyes "When The President Talks To God" (live in Washington, D.C.)

oh, also, for the super-lazy, you can now get to this blog by simply typing Gorillavsbear.net in your address bar.

that's hot

I hate this band , but i LOVE this video (not safe for work, school, old people, etc.). Probably the best video ever. (put speakers on mute before watching).

Bullette is Your New Favorite Artist

Wow, since i've started this little blog i've received an e-mail or two from artists asking me to feature their music, and I do it as often as I can. But when I recieved the email from Monika Bullette as i was about to go to bed, I had a listen to one song and was instantly compelled to post...i felt like i had to do my readers a service by doing it right away.

All I could think as I listened to song after song was, "where did this come from?" On Bullette's website, Nancy Sinatra, Marc Bolan, Loretta Lynn, and Stereolab are all listed as influences, but make no mistake, this woman is an original.

I'm a little late on this post, as much has already been written on other blogs about the greatness of Bullette (Spoilt Victorian Child and The Mythical Beast both have real nice writeups), plus it's past my bedtime, so i'm just going to recommend you download these beautiful songs right now. Absolutely an early contender for best album, and most original artist, of the year. No question.

And thanks to you, Bullette, it is now nearly 2 a.m. and I have to call in sick to work tomorrow so i can listen some more.

Don't Start Believin' mp3
We Are Not From Sugar mp3
I Can't Tell You Why I'm Smiling mp3



I had a hell of a time deciding which songs to post...so go right now and Download, or better yet, purchase, Bullette's entire album, "The Secrets", at her website. And if there's any justice in the music world, this will receive a wide release sometime in the near future. You heard it here first (or second or third, but who's counting?).

Imogen Heap

I had never heard of Imogen Heap before I downloaded "I am in love with you" from Scenestars...but immediately i was drawn in by her vulnerable, sexy, and familiar voice...so i did some searching around and found some songs for you guys...tough work, blogging is. I also discovered she is a member of Frou Frou. By the way, if you saw the season finale of The O.C., you'll recognize the track "Hide and Seek" from the scene in which Marisa shot that Ashton Kutcher-looking dude...it's a beautifully haunting song that really fit the scene perfectly (or so i heard, i don't watch that crap). anyway, i highly recommend you download it right now...i've been listening to it on repeat all morning.

Imogen Heap:
Hide and Seek mp3
Meantime mp3
Sweet Religion (bulletproof sounds remix) mp3
Breathe In (cholera mix) mp3

Bonus:

Tricky Christiansands mp3

Here You Go, Lizzy

okay now i'm taking requests from my friends' girlfriends, apparently...


The Killers Mr. Brightside mp3

Plus a couple more Lizzy/Marcel-approved jams:

Franz Ferdinand "Matinee" mp3
Death Cab For Cutie "the sound of settling" mp3


Bonus:

"Your Mama" jokes, but for Blogs.

my personal favorite:

"Your blog is so stupid Rosie O’Donell made fun of it in free verse on her blog."

Introducing.....Silver

Update: Silver Goes out for Ice Cream!!

Okay I'm going to apologize in advance for this one...sorry. I was made aware of this crazy woman's blog thanks to Lindsey over at Immoderation. Thank you, Lindsey, for the night terrors this disturbing broad will inevitably cause. Disclaimer: go to this link at your own peril. i guarantee it will creep you the fu** out, and the images will be burned onto your retina all day. this woman is weird. i don't know if she knows it, or if it's intentional, or who the hell is taking all those pictures, but i'm scared of her, and you should be too.

If that is just too much for you, go check out the NBA All-Ugly Team. This guy is their MVP:




Okay now some music to make up for that:

Coldplay "See You Soon" mp3
The Shins "Gone For Good" mp3
Nancy Sinatra "Bang Bang" mp3
The 5.6.7.8's "Woo Hoo" mp3

ALSO....

This little kid is awesome.

Download: the DJ Low Budget (of Hollertronix) May Mix mp3

Detroit

Well, the Dallas Mavericks were knocked out of the playoffs Sunday night, but i'm not going to cry about it. No, instead, i'm switching my allegiance over to a team that is not full of a bunch of punk-ass losers. My original hometown squad, the Detroit Pistons (yeah, i was born there, so don't mess w/ me...you've seen 8 Mile, right?), beat Shaq and the Miami Heat last night, and they're most likely going to sweep the series and beat the Spurs/Suns in the NBA Finals for their 2nd consecutive championship. You heard it here first.


Back to Music...

What's New On Insound?

You could honestly spend hours on Insound.com downloading hundreds of songs. trust me on that. and it's all legal, for the 2 of you out there that care about that sort of thing. plus, you can like, buy stuff there too. anyway, here's a quick sampling of some of the newer stuff they're offering:

Belle & Sebastian "Take Your Carriage Clock and Shove It" mp3
Dressy Bessy "Ringalingaling" mp3
Head of Femur "Elliott Gould" mp3

Another Fu**ing Diplo Post

I know ya'll are probably getting sick and tired of my excessive Diplo posts, but this is my blog, so deal with it. This will be the last one for a while, promise. But the new Diplo website is up, and it's really cool, so check it out.




Here's an mp3:

Diplo Haiti on Blast

Also peep:

Hollertronix
Lamborghini Doors

Other Music:

Air "Surfing On A Rocket"
Snow Patrol "Tiny Little Fractures"
Spiritualized "I Think I'm In Love"
Daft Punk "Robot Rock"

Petra Haden Can Do No Wrong

From That Dog, to covering the entire album, "The Who Sells Out" (acapella, bitches!), to her current stint w/ the Decemberists, I love pretty much everything Petra Haden does. I mentioned on this blog recently, after seeing Petra and the Decemberists perform in Dallas, that her cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" was the highlight of the show for me. Well guess what? Petra Haden's cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" is Chromewaves' mp3 of the week. (Thanks to Frank from Chromewaves for hooking us up)

Marjorie Fair

"Waves" captures the essential elements of Marjorie Fair's sound, from the lush, reverb-laden instrumental interplay that evokes everything from Pet Sounds to the Smiths to leader Evan Slamka's emotional, intimate vocals and lyrics

"Waves" mp3

Bears are wusses

There has been some discussion lately about the name of this blog (mostly how stupid it is), some of it revolving around which beast would win in a no-holds barred fight. The name of this blog was inspired by one of my friends' obsession w/ this hypothetical match-up. Anyway, a gorilla would obviously win, so we can pretty much squash all that. If you disagree, and would like to leave a comment, go ahead, but you'd be wrong. I mean look at that thing.

update: you make the call



i don't think so, mike

Moving on,
There's quite a bit of good shit floating around what the nerds call the "blogosphere", and since some of you may be to busy to go find it all yourself, i thought i'd hook you up w/ some of the highlights of the past few days:

Mike over at Take Your Medicine has changed up his format a bit, giving it a slightly more personal touch. Don't worry though, he still hooks us up daily w/ hot shit, including recent offerings from bands like The Cribs and Wolf Parade.

Can't get enough Sufjan Stevens? Well then head over to Each Note Secure, where you'll find yet another track from his upcoming "Illinois" ("Man of Metropolis"). Also, Copy, Right? has Sufjan's cover of R.E.M.'s "The One I Love".

Womenfolk is a really cool, appropriately titled blog that focuses mainly on women in folk music. Highly recommended are the 4 tracks you'll find there from New Buffalo, an Australian who, according to Womenfolk, "creates some of the most beautifully odd music to come out of the 'land down under.'"

Rachael over at Underrated has been on fire lately, giving us tracks from a diverse selection of artists such as Babyshambles, Brendan Benson, Tegan & Sara, and like, way more. Also be sure to check out her magazine, the new issue of which will be out soon.

I've recently discovered Ending East, and it is good. I suggest you go there and download tracks from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Benzos, and other similar bands that are so cool you haven't even heard of them yet.

Of course, it goes w/ out saying these places should be visited daily.

and since this is (sometimes) an mp3 blog too, here are some mp3s that you can't find anywhere else (besides the places i stole them from):

Benzos "It's Amiable"
Pete Doherty "Lady Don't Fall Backwards" (acoustic)

Fu**ing Steve Nash

son of a bitch

Ryan Adams Covers Oasis

Ryan Adams "Wonderwall"

Joanna Newsom

"There's something about her music--it's honest without trying to be folk, but it is...I don't know if heartstrings are real, but if they are, she's damn good at jerking on them."

--Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock, on Joanna Newsom



Joanna Newsom is a classically-trained harpist/folk singer-songwriter. Some (including me) find her child-like vocals enchanting, while others find her voice to be shrill and annoying. According to Billions.com, "she frames her unique vision of the world with words that seem dug up after a century underground -- — and while the material she tills from the dirt can seem as familiar to the listener as potatoes, it also glimmers in the spade like loose jewels."



When asked if she ever downloads music, Joanna replied "I would if I knew how. At this point, I don't mind if people download my music because that means there's a person that wants to listen. I give away CD's at shows if someone wants a CD but doesn't have any money...I would be happy for someone to download my music."

How cute is that? Well, go on, make Joanna happy:

Peach, Plum, Pear mp3
Sprout and the Bean mp3
Bridges and Balloons (Pocket remix) mp3

Read interviews w/ Joanna Newsom here, here, or here.
Go here to watch Joanna Newsom perform, and to see a video of "Sprout and the bean".

Bonus mp3!!
Final Fantasy Covers Joanna Newsom:
Peach Plum Pear mp3

Of Montreal Covers The Shins

Know Your Onion (The Shins cover) mp3

I Hate You, Steve Nash

Why did the mavericks let this guy go? You just knew it would come back one day to bite them on the ass. Well that day was yesterday, my friend. Last night in game 5, one game after dropping 48 on the Mavs in Dallas (although the mavs still won that game), Nash messed around and got a triple double, and the Suns won, 114-108. This puts some serious pressure on the Mavericks, who have to win tomorrow night in Dallas to force a game 7. I'd be attending if i hadn't blown my entire life savings for tickets to game 4 (okay, not quite my whole savings). By the way, I don't really hate you, Steve Nash.

This is dedicated to the Suns.

hollaback

my mind is elsewhere today, guys, so here's some music. i'll try to add some more throughout the day, so check back later.

The Postal Service "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" mp3
Caesars "Jerk It Out" mp3
The Flaming Lips "Fight Test" mp3
The Flaming Lips "Do You Realize?" mp3
Jeff Buckley "Lover, You Should Have Come Over" mp3
Ambulance Ltd. "Stay Where You Are" mp3

Guilty pleasure of the day:

Gwen Stefani "Hollaback Girl" mp3

The Secret Machines

The Secret Machines are from Dallas, TX (Ben Curtis was once a member of Tripping Daisy), and they are often compared to Pink Floyd.



Here are some Secret Machines mp3s:

It's A Bad Wind That Don't Blow Somebody Good mp3
Nowhere Again mp3

Like those photos as much as i do? Then go check out some more, as well as photos of Brendan Benson, Interpol, etc. at Spitfire Press

Beulah

so try, try lifting all your weight
for a man, a man gone wrong
and try, try wasting all your days
on a man, a man like me

Beulah broke up last year, shortly after releasing "Yoko", a masterpiece of '60's-style pop. Beulah's music has been described as "a trippy pop explosion drawing influence from albums such as The Beatles' Revolver and The Kinks' The Village Green Preservation Society...Beulah adds a melee of percussion, strings, horns, and a ton of other instruments to most of their songs without sacrificing the lovely melodies. Beulah is a necessity for fans of the sixties pop and/or THC"...not a bad description. Man I miss these guys.

"If We Can Land A Man on the Moon, Surely I can Win Your Heart" mp3
"You're Only King Once" mp3
"Waiting For Sunset" mp3
"Gravity's Bringing Us Down" mp3
"A Man Like Me" mp3

Beulah Live on KCRW:
"Emma Blowgun's Last Stand" mp3
"If We Can Land A Man On the Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart" mp3
"Popular Mechanics For Lovers" mp3

Go here for Beulah Lyrics.

Some Afternoon Downloads

Rainer Maria "Artificial Light" mp3
Mates of State "Goods" mp3
Stars "Your Ex-lover is Dead" mp3
Elliott Smith "Waltz #2" mp3
Jem "Maybe I'm Amazed" mp3

Deathray Davies

The new Deathray Davies album, "Kick and the Snare", comes out today. And if you follow only one recommendation from this stupid little blog, do yourself a favor and buy it. These guys are one of the best Dallas has to offer. Here's what Prefix said about the new album:

"The ‘60s remain vital soil for indie-rock’s pick-ax, and John Dufilho and his Dallas-based Deathray Davies have been steadily sharpening their blades over the course of four albums. With Kick and the Snare the boys are set to release their Kinks cum Pixies pop on the world once again. Thankfully, Dufilho has managed to pack a three-chord wallop with new tunes like “Plan to Stay Awake” -- a soundtrack as fit for the Wonder Years as for your iPod."

okay you can download now:

"Plan To Stay Awake" mp3 (from "Kick and the Snare")
"The Girl Who Stole The Eiffel Tower" mp3 (from "Midnight at the Black Nail Polish Factory")
"Maggie Doesn't Blink" mp3 (from "Midnight at the Black Nail Polish Factory")

Some Bonus Unrelated Educational Material:

The Vice Guide to Picking Up Chicks

Sigur Ros

Sigur Ros is probably one of the most divisive bands that i listen to...most critics love them, but most people i know personally can't stand them (except for my friend marcel, who attempts to sing along like he knows the words). I really like them, but I can understand why people wouldn't like their music...the lyrics are often unintelligible jibberish, and their songs are more atmospheric compositions than actual "songs", in the traditional sense. here's a couple songs from "agaetis byrjun" and a couple from "( )". Enjoy. or not.

Svefn g englar mp3 (that song from "Vanilla Sky")
Staralfur mp3 (that song from "The Life Aquatic")
Untitled #4 mp3 (that other song from "Vanilla Sky")
Untitled #1 mp3

Bonus: go here to get tons of live sigur ros.

Mavs Win

UPDATE: I've posted the link to get your "Dirk Is My Homeboy" shirt a couple times, only to have it die on me....okay this should be the right link if you want to be the first on your block to have one.

Despite a dominant performance by ex-Maverick little Stevie Nash (who scored a career-high 48), the Mavs cruised to a 10 pt. victory in game four of the western conference semis, tying the series w/ Phoenix, 2-2. We went to the game (now we're broke, but it was worth it), and the playoff atmosphere was awesome. It was never really close after the first quarter, and the Mavs held a double-digit lead for most of the 2nd half. Now if they can just get a little more out of Dirk, we'll be okay.



Some (unrelated) Music:

Interpol

"Untitled" (Live) mp3
"Stella Was A Diver and She Was Always Down" (Live) mp3
"PDA" (Live) mp3

Operation Ironman: Ghostface & MF Doom

"Fazers" mp3
"Iron Maiden" mp3
"Windpipe" (featuring the Rza and ODB) mp3
"Mic Line" mp3

Sorta

Sorta is a Dallas band, formed in the summer of 2000 @ the Barley House. Sorta is made up of:

Trey Johnson :: vocals, guitars
Big Dumb Danny :: bass, vocals
Trey Carmichael :: drumset
Carter Albrecht :: keys, guitars, vocals
Ward Williams :: pedal steel, slide guitar, mandolin

"this is what wilco would sound like now if they had not turned into radiohead"
--excerpt from a review on amazon.com

Sorta's music has been featured on hit shows such as the WB's "One Tree Hill", and MTV's "Real World". Despite this, it is actually really good. Have a listen:

"Crazy" mp3
"Starry Eyed" (live at the Granada, Dallas, TX) mp3
"Waltz No. 2" (Elliott Smith Cover) mp3
"Alcohol Drip" mp3

Buy Sorta's newest, "Little Bay"

Sorta's bassist, Danny Balis, can also be heard on the Sports Radio 1310: The Ticket, here in Dallas:


Danny Balis


In other news:


The Mavericks sucked last night.

Some Music For Your Weekend

Hope you guys enjoy these...


Detroit's own: Brendan Benson

Brendan Benson
"Tiny Spark" mp3
"The Pledge" mp3
(both highly recommended..which probably means nothing to you)

Chad Van Gaalen (watch out for this guy...he's good)
"Clinicly Dead" mp3 (also highly recommended)
"Somewhere I Know There's Nothing" mp3
"Traffic" mp3

The Hard Tomorrows (rachael from underrated turned me onto these guys...have a listen)
"Put Yourself Out"
"Dear Mary"

The Notwist
"Consequence" mp3
"Trashing Days" mp3

Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley
"Rabbit Fur Coat (Live)" mp3
"Melt Your Heart (Live)" mp3

Grandaddy
"A.M. 180 (live) " mp3
"Yeah Is What We Had (live)" mp3

SXSW 2005 Pics! Only 2 Months Late!

Alright, I know you guys are thinking "nice going moron, SXSW was like 2 months ago you idiot, it's old news now, nobody wants to see the stupid old pictures you took. dumbass." Well you're probably right, but i just got the pics on my computer, and i couldn't think of anything else to post, so too bad for you. but for making you waste your time looking at these, i'll drop a few mp3's on you, too. here you go:


Bloc Party live from the Urban Outfitters bikini section

Bloc Party "She's Hearing Voices (live from SXSW 2005)"


Apostle of Hustle's hot tap-dancing percussion girl

Apostle of Hustle "Kings and Queens"


The Blood Arm's Nathaniel getting close to his people...probably the most entertaining show i saw all weekend, plus free beer!

The Blood Arm "Do I Have Your Attention?"


Ben Lee, most likely crying on the inside about that time Claire Danes broke up w/ him

Ben Lee "The Serious Mythology of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs"


it's past Rachel Trachtenburg's bedtime and she is cranky...nice shoes though

Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players "What Will The Corporation Do"

*Bonus--some Bright Eyes:


"First Day Of My Life"
"Lover I Don't Have To Love"

Non-Indie Post of the Day II: Guess Who's Back?

Man, my boys really had me worried. But after being outhustled/outplayed/outclassed in a 127-102 loss in Game 1 in their series against the Phoenix Suns, Dirk and the Mavs bounced back in a huge way last night by winning 108-106. Dirk knocked down the game-winner w/ about 6 seconds left...hopefully last night's performance will be enough to bust him out of the ridiculous slump he's endured so far during the playoffs.

Dirk had this to say about his game winner:

"I wanted to go to about six or seven seconds with the shot and take it baseline and spin," Nowitzki said. "That's my move. I was fortunate when it left my hand. It didn't really look great, but it went in."

Get your "Dirk is My Homeboy" shirt here.
UPDATE: Okay! this link should work...go buy it.

Also:

There's another Sufjan Stevens track from "Illinois" online and available for download, but you'll have to go over to The Catbirdseat to get it. The track is called "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts".

work it out now

this little guy works out, and he's indie as hell

I realize that working out/going to the gym is not very indie-rock, but f*** that. (read a discussion about it here). I feel a lot better when i engage in regular physical activity, and here is my soundtrack. Download these songs, put them on your iPod, then go run around the block a few times, you lazy hipster. Don't worry though, i still keep it straight indie:

Current Workout Playlist:

The Go Team! "Huddle Formation"
Brendan Benson "Spit It Out"
Doves "Black & White Town"
Bloc Party "Like Eating Glass"
The Cloud Room "Hey Now Now"
Usher "Caught Up" (yeah i like this song, so what)
A.C. Newman "Miracle Drug"
Devin Davis "Iron Woman"
Broken Social Scene "Cause=Time"
The Russian Futurists "Paul Simon"
le tigre "Deceptacon"

Bonus for the lazy people: here's a couple new tracks (non-workout related!)

Animal Collective (ft. Vashti Bunyan) "Prospect Hummer"
Husky Rescue "City Lights"

for melissa....

Cat Power is Chan (pronounced "shawn") Marshall...



Chan has a beautiful voice...

He War mp3

...but can sometimes seem a little distracted on stage...her live show has been described this way:

"The Cat Power live experience has garnered a degree of notoriety for its chaotic lack of polish or structure. Songs are frequently cut short for no apparent reason, or tail off into what sounds like an extended bout of guitar tuning. Some sections of the audiences have become restless at the apparent lack of direction, while others have been enchanted by the free-form nature and honesty of the performances."


Good Woman (live and in rare form) mp3

Her latest album is called You Are Free. This is her website...check it out. you can watch the video for "he war" here.

what's really good

I'm skipping out of work a little early today to go to see a baseball game (not a huge baseball fan, but drinking beer in the sun and watching my Detroit Tigers sure beats working), so this will be today's lone post. So i figured i better pack it w/ easy to follow directions and activities for those of you that rely on blogs like this one for your entertainment. here ya go:


Mischa and her douchey boyfriend

1. Do yourself and favor and go visit the Immoderation Girls. Not sure how to describe this crew, but try, if you will, to imagine Us Weekly's hotter, drunker, hornier, younger sister (and i mean that in the best way), and you'd be getting pretty close. And i don't know too much about poetry, but i'm pretty sure Immoderation Girl Lindsey's ode to the O.C.'s Mischa Barton is destined to be a modern classic.


2. Spend some quality time w/ the Matador Records mp3 page. There's some great stuff on there...here's a little taste:

Twin Cinema mp3 The New Pornographers
Drink To Me Babe, Then mp3 A.C. Newman
14th Street mp3 Laura Cantrell
I Turn My Camera On mp3 Spoon
Fix Up, Look Sharp mp3 Dizzee Rascal

.
The Deathray Davies

3. Go check out The Deathray Davies website, where you can read about, listen to, and buy stuff relating to the band, including their new album, "The Kick and the Snare." Too lazy to read? fine, here are a couple Deathray Davies mp3's:

Plan To Stay Awake mp3
Maggie Doesn't Blink mp3

4. You probably already do this every day, but if not, get your ass over to Prefixmag. Check out the message boards (they got links to downloads) and read news, reviews, and interviews w/ your favorite bands.


5. Finally, if you don't go get some mp3's over at the Asthmatic Kitty website then you're a big fat loser. seriously...here's a preview of what you'll find:

Chuy mp3 Bunky
Niagara Falls mp3 Sufjan Stevens (unreleased track!)
Three Days, Four Nights mp3 Castanets

The Unicorns are Dead

Well since apparently the Unicorns are no more, we'll have to settle for the greatness that is "Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?" until they release some stuff from their new hip hop crew, Th' Corn Gangg. Here's a few tracks...

Tuff Luff mp3
Jellybones mp3
Let's Get Known mp3

Rilo Kiley--Live @ Trees

The Rilo Kiley show at Trees on Sunday (4/8) was a good one...here's a quick little write-up (busy day at work, sorry) and some photos...the pics of the bands performing kinda suck because i couldn't get anywhere near the stage...


Neva Dinova

Supporting acts Neva Dinova and local boys Midlake sounded great. Neva Dinova frontman Jake Bellows engaged the crowd in some of the funniest between-song banter I've ever heard, and the setlist consisted mainly of songs from "The Hate Yourself Change". Midlake showed why they are often compared to the Flaming Lips/Radiohead/Beatles, and the adoring crowd was way into these hometown heroes.



Headliners Rilo Kiley were awesome. Jenny Lewis is ridiculously cute/talented/hot (not to mention sweet), and the rest of the band seemed especially enthused to be playing in Dallas for the first time. The band played a "More Adventurous"-heavy set, including the show-opener "It's a Hit" (better live than on record) and the charging and powerful "Portions for Foxes", and Jenny showed she got soul on the beautiful "I Never". Also gotta give props to the venue...the sound at Trees was better than it's ever been there. Here's some photos. . .


Despite the death stare, Blake (of "boy meets world" and "salute your shorts" fame) was a real nice guy


Goddamn she's cute...

and some music...

Rilo Kiley (live @ Good Records, Dallas, TX)
More Adventurous mp3
Absence of God mp3
Ripchord mp3
With Arms Outstretched mp3
A Better Son/Daughter mp3
Portions for Foxes mp3

Headphones

I'm kinda liking this new track from David Bazan (of Pedro the Lion) and his more electronic Headphones side-project...let me know what you guys think.

Pink and Brown mp3

Some Bonus Pedro the Lion:
April 6, 2039 mp3
Never Leave A Job Half Done mp3
Transcontinental mp3

The Life Aquatic DVD

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou comes out tomorrow on DVD (buy here). I love a lot of things about Wes Anderson's films, but the one thing that makes his work special for me is his use of music. Some of my favorite songs/scenes in his movies include the use of Elliott Smith's "Needle in the Hay" (right click for mp3) in the scene in The Royal Tenenbaums in which Luke Wilson's character attempts to take his own life, or the use of the Kink's "Nothin' in This World Can Stop Me Worryin' Bout That Girl" in the birthday party/diving board scene in Rushmore. Well you can add the scene in The Life Aquatic in which Zissou's crew goes hunting for the elusive leopard shark to the list of Anderson's classic song choices...here's the song:

Staralfur mp3 Sigur Ros

(i don't host these mp3's sorry if the link dies...let me know)

Live Iron & Wine

Rattling Bone mp3
Jezebel mp3
Lion's Mane mp3
Red Dust mp3

New CD Recommendations

Here are some CD's I've purchased in the last week or so that deserve to be heard by everyone:

Akron/Family, Self-titled
The sticker on the album describes these guys as "Brooklyn's Young Eccentric Avant-Rock-Mystic-Folk-Electric-Fire-Swallowing-Hermetic-Heartthrob-Hirsute-Savants..." Pretty accurate. If that doesn't do it for you, here's a snippet from stylusmagazine.com:

"This debut will not be the record of their career and leaves me wanting more already, but it is the right record at the right time and a stupidly profound and convincing debut that is up there with the best releases of the year thus far."

Akron/Family will be at Dallas' Gypsy Tearoom tomorrow night (May 10).

running, returning mp3


13 & God, Self-titled

Description from Prefixmag:

"A self-proclaimed “super group,” 13 & God is composed of the San Francisco-based hip-hop group Themselves, which includes Adam “Doseone” Drucker, Jeffrey “Jel” Logan and Dax Pierson, and the inevitably German glitch-pop pioneers The Notwist, made up of Markus and Micha Acher and Martin Gretschmann. The combination is everything you could hope for: dark, down-tempo hip-hop floating through fuzzy pop clouds that drift in and out of the album."

Men of Station mp3


Andrew Bird, The Mysterious Production of Eggs

Yeah I know I'm kinda late on this one...here's what Amazon has to say about it:

"On his fifth release, Bird offers up no answers to the mysteries in the world around us, but does take on the thornier elements with poetic verve. The instrumentation is bracingly inventive, but never for mere shenanigans or showmanship. The songs are each a perfectly formed vignette. And he's a world class whistler; not the loud summoning blast, but the supple and nuanced vibrato-laced melodicism of a master. There is no shortage of utterly riveting songs here. They work their magic on their own believable terms, without a hint of cloying nostalgia or riff-fueled seduction."

A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left mp3


Elsewhere...

Stereogum has some info about and an mp3 of the new Interpol remixes.

You Ain't No Picasso has Ben Gibbard of Death Cab's cover of Avril's "Complicated".

By the way, for all you Rilo Kiley/Jenny Lewis fans...the Rilo Kiley show was amazing...got some photos that I will post hopefully tonight or tomorrow, if i get a chance.

Bring on the Suns

Mavs Win

UPDATE: don't forget to get your "dirk is my homeboy" shirt to rock during the playoffs.

Well the Dallas Mavericks, despite horrendous shooting from Dirk, beat the ever-living piss out of the Rockets last night. Jason Terry had a career night, and the Mavs coasted to a 40-point (yes that's right, 40) win, 116-76. The Mavs will now face former Maverick and league-MVP Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. This picture is for Dave from Prefix...sorry dude:


McGrady looking all sad

Now for some music:
A Better Son/Daughter (live at Good Records, Dallas, TX) mp3 Rilo Kiley
Iron Woman (Live) mp3 Devin Davis
Oh Comely (live) mp3 Jeff Mangum (NMH)

Rilo Kiley

the adorable and talented Jenny Lewis

I'm going to see Rilo Kiley (w/ supporting act Neva Dinova) tomorrow night at Trees here in Dallas, so I thought I'd hook ya'll up w/ some mp3's. I hope to post a show review and some photos (hopefully of me and Jenny) sometime next week.

Rilo Kiley
With Arms Outstretched mp3
The Execution of All Things mp3
Portions For Foxes (live on KCRW) mp3
Jenny You're Barely Alive (live) mp3
Pull Me In Tighter (live on XFM) mp3
Rock'n'Roll Suicide (Bowie cover-live) mp3
Simply Irresistible (Robert Palmer cover-live) mp3


Jenny Lewis (solo; live) Highly recommended!
Melt Your Heart mp3
Rabbit Fur Coat mp3
You Are What You Love mp3

Neva Dinova
Tripped (ft. Bright Eyes) mp3
Dances Fantastic mp3

One Night in Paris

photo courtesy of the immoderation girls

Anyone going to see House of Wax tonight? I think I'll pass.

These slowjams are dedicated to my girl Paris:

Here I Am (come and take me) mp3 Al Green
If We Can Land a Man on the Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart mp3 Beulah
Nothing Better mp3 The Postal Service

Hollertronix

I've recently discovered the Hollertronix website and messageboard, "Lamborghini Doors". Hollertronix is a DJ crew out of Philly consisting of Diplo and Low Budget. (Check this really cool article about Hollertronix over at Mass Appeal) If you read this blog, then i've already beaten you down w/ enough info about Diplo, but i found some Low Budget mixes on his site that i thought ya'll would enjoy. So, umm....enjoy:

(Each Mix is over 45 minutes long)
Low B February Mix mp3
Low B January Mix mp3
Low B December Mix mp3

Bonus: Low Budget's Billy Joel/Crime Mob Mashup:
Knuck if You Feel Pressure mp3

I'm Quitting My Job To Become an iPod DJ...

...as soon as this thing comes out. Dodge over at MOKB first brought this thing to my attention a few weeks back. No, I've never DJ'd before, but w/ this bad boy i'm sure i could segue from '80's classics (maybe some joy division..."love will tear us apart") to newer indie crowd-movers (how about "take me out" or some "banquet") as good as anyone. Then i'll throw in some dance punk (how about !!!) and some underground hip hop (maybe a little "Meat Grinder" by Madvillain) for good measure. then all you gotta do is throw in something slightly ironic (how about kelis' milkshake), and the indie kids go bananas. I mean, how hard can it really be?

UPDATE: hey i'm curious what other bloggers/readers think about these new mp3 aggregators where you can just download mp3's from blogs w/ out actually reading the blog? i'm talking specifically about Elbows and The Hype Machine. i'm getting tons of referrals from these sites, and there has been much discussion in the blogosphere about this, and i'd like to know what everyone thinks...not sure how i feel about it yet...

Angelina Jolie

This post has nothing to do w/ Angelina Jolie, but isn't she hot? Brad Pitt thinks so. Anyway....

Here's Some New Stuff From Insound:

I Turn My Camera On mp3 Spoon
Jules Lost His Jewels mp3 Ariel Pink
Barnowl mp3 Caribou
White Center mp3 Damien Jurado
I Am Six Pounds of Dynamite mp3 South San Gabriel (super-recommended!)

Dirk Is My Homeboy

Okay, I've updated the link so you can get your shirt for real, in time to rock it for game 5 against the suns!

I'm doubt that any of the 5 or so readers of this blog give a shit about basketball, but my Dallas Mavericks are playing in the NBA playoffs tonight (@ 9:30 ET on TNT). They got off to a shaky start against Houston, going down 0-2, but my boys stormed back and won 3 straight and can finish the series tonight. so make sure you all watch and cheer for the Mavs. (by the way, I got my "Dirk Is My Homeboy" shirt in the mail yesterday. get yours here.)



Man I can't wait for the inevitable showdown in the NBA Finals between my two favorite teams/favorite players (Dirk's Mavs and Ben Wallace's Pistons). I don't know who i'll be pulling for when it happens, but it's going to be awesome.

okay back to the music:

Y Control mp3 Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Misfit mp3 Elefant
Fortress mp3 Pinback
Alphabet Aerobics mp3 Blackalicious
Only You mp3 Portishead

Austin City Limits Festival Lineup

The lineup for the 2005 ACL Festival has been announced, and it's pretty much the best lineup in the history of lineups. I came in early to work and got my ticket this morning, and you should too before the price goes up. (buy your ticket here) Check it:

The Arcade Fire
Coldplay
Wilco
Built to Spill
Bloc Party
Franz Ferdinand
Sleater-Kinney
Doves
The Black Keys
Rilo Kiley
The Walkmen
The Secret Machines
Spoon
The Decemberists
The Fiery Furnaces
M83
Dios Malos
Ambulance Ltd.
Eisley
Tegan and Sara
Death Cab For Cutie
Mates of State
and a lot more...

Some ACL-related music:

Beauties Can Die mp3 M83
Laika mp3 Arcade Fire
The Rat mp3 The Walkmen
Apology Song mp3 The Decemberists
It's A Hit mp3 Rilo Kiley

Elsewhere...

Get new, live CocoRosie songs over at AutoRadio.

Sufjan Stevens--Illinois

I'm sure everyone has heard/read about Sufjan Stevens' newest, "Illinois" (out July 12, by the way), since it's been posted about pretty much everywhere (including twice here). But I thought i'd devote a whole post to it, because it is that good. i know that in an effort to find truly great music, it can be tough sometimes to wade through all the hype and superlatives spewed by bloggers. But this one deserves it, guys. i listened to these 5 tracks about 20 times yesterday at work. if you're wondering, i really like "Michigan" and "Seven Swans" a lot, but if the tracks i've heard are indicative of the whole album, "Illinois" is Stevens' best yet by a landslide. here are all the tracks that have i've heard so far, w/ credit given where it's due...if you host any of these files and you don't want me hot-linking to them, let me know.



From Stereogum...thanks Stereogum!:

Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, IL mp3

John Wayne Gacy, Jr. mp3

From The Big Ticket...gracias Big Ticket:

Chicago mp3

From Teaching the Indie Kids to Dance Again....

Come On Feel The Illinoise... mp3

From Said the Gramophone....

Casimir Pulaski Day mp3

Go here for a good article about the album and to see the epic tracklisting. Or go to sufjan.com or asthmatickitty.com for more info.

small, but good

got a really busy day today at work, but here's a small post for now...more later if i get a chance. get these while the links are still good.

Mountain Trip To Japan, 1959 mp3 Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players

Cold Cold Water mp3 Mirah
(great song...my ex-girlfriend made me a mix w/ this on it once...*sigh*)

Cause=Time mp3 Broken Social Scene

Be Still My Heart mp3 The Postal Service

You're Pretty Good Lookin' (for a girl) mp3 The White Stripes

Where Is My Mind mp3 The Pixies

Goods (All In Your Head) mp3 Mates Of State

I Love the Valley, OH! mp3 Xiu Xiu

Having a bad night? then download this

Working For Vacation mp3 Cibo Matto

Dreaming of You mp3 The Coral

A Nervous Tic Motion...(live on Morning Becomes Eclectic) mp3 Andrew Bird

Who Could Win A Rabbit mp3 The Animal Collective

John Wayne Gacy, Jr. mp3 Sufjan Stevens
(oh man this is so awesome...highly recommended...courtesy of Stereogum)

One more Diplo "jawn" for ya'll: Diplo Live on Beats in Space mp3 (this is over an hour long)

Do you want to be a producer? practice w/ this...
Bucky Done Gun (acapella) mp3 M.I.A.

M.I.A.

M.I.A. is on Jimmy Kimmel tonight, which gives you all a good excuse to stay up late and watch that crappy show. oh and my good friend diplo said it was cool if i posted a link to Piracy Funds Terrorism, so enjoy...it's awesome. and go here to make your own M.I.A. remixes. UPDATE: Listen to M.I.A.'s appearance on KCRW here.

Also...

Like Bloc Party? of course you do. so go here. seriously.

Pitchfork loves Architecture in Helsinki's "In Case We Die" so if you want to be cool, you have to love it too. okay maybe not, but it is really good.

Music:


Huddle Formation mp3 The Go! Team

What Up Gangsta mp3 Fiddy Cent

My Dog Was Lost But Now He's Found mp3 The Fiery Furnaces

Busey Boy mp3 Corn Mo

New Music You Should Like

elisha cuthbert is hot, right?

I've discovered some great new bands because of the readers of this blog and other blogs, and i thought i'd share some of my favorites w/ you today. Thanks to everyone that pointed me in the direction of one of these bands. You guys have like changed my life or something. I highly recommend you download all of these right away, and if you like a song, find the record and buy it. And in turn, I will continue the tradition here at Gorilla vs. Bear of posting a picture of a really hot girl when i can't think of something relevant to put. You're welcome.

The Cloud Room
Hey Now Now mp3

The Motel Beds
Ultra Maroon mp3
Airplanes in Veins mp3

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
Your Worst Is The Best mp3
When You Go Out mp3

Wolf Parade
Grounds for Divorce mp3
It's A Curse mp3

The M's
2 x 2 mp3

What Made Milwaukee Famous
Hellodrama mp3

Deloris
O You're Gone mp3

Devin Davis
Iron Woman mp3

Cut Copy
Saturdays mp3

Andrew Bird
A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left mp3

The Russian Futurists
Paul Simon mp3

Scout Niblett
Lullaby for Scout in Ten Years mp3 (hurry up and get it at Fluxblog)

Saturday Looks Good To Me
Lift Me Up mp3

The Lovely Feathers
Lion Eats The Wildebeast mp3

13 and God
Men of Station mp3

Husky Rescue
Summertime Cowboy mp3 (hurry over to Scenestars and get it before it's gone)

The Great Lake Swimmers
I Will Never See The Sun mp3

Emiliana Torrini
Sunny Road mp3

Other Stuff. . .

The new Sufjan Stevens has apparently leaked, and i love it. From the sounds of things, it is now an early frontrunner for album of the year. I honestly can't stop listening to it. Get various tracks at various places including The Big Ticket, Teaching The Indie Kids. . .,Said The Gramophone, and Stereogum.

J5 and Diplo---Live @ Stubb's

Diplo drinks red stripe, and uses a mac...photo by me

So my trip to Austin was awesome...the weather was amazing, the volleyball tournament was cool (my friends did really well) and the J5 show was one of the most enjoyable shows i've ever been to. we showed up at stubb's on friday night about an hour early to have some bbq, where we learned that Diplo would be doing a warm up dj set, as well as a dj set after the show, which made my day because we tried to get in to see him at SXSW but all his shows sold out.

we met Diplo, and he was one of the coolest guys you could hope to meet. he seemed genuinely excited when we recognized him and told him we were fans. he asked us how we heard he was playing, and told us he was going to be trying some new stuff involving some dvd video that he had never tried before (he was testing some stuff for his coachella set...if anyone saw his set sunday, please let me know how it was), and warned us that he's never tried it before and it might suck (it didn't). hope ya'll like the photos, some of them didn't turn out that great...


me w/ Diplo

Diplo's warmup set was cool and pretty laid back. he played mostly hip hop (some J5, outkast, uk grime, and of course, a bunch of M.I.A.) in his hour long set.



J5 came on around 10:45, and by this time Stubb's was as packed as i'd ever seen it. the show was awesome (a result of the combination of the energetic crowd, the perfect Austin weather, and of course J5, who clearly love what they do). they played until almost midnight (highlights included "what's golden", "jayou", and "a day at the races") then stuck around to talk w/ fans...



and pose for pictures...


Chali 2na from J5, my friends and me (i'm in the middle)

Diplo's after show set was unreal, although criminally underattended. about 25 people or so stuck around until 2am to watch him experiment w/ his video/audio stuff, and it was well worth it.



he's gotta be the only dj in the world who can seamlessly blend outkast, the cure, juvenile, annie lennox, the clash, tons of brazilian baile funk, and the crowd pleasing le tigre track (deceptacon) w/ video of kill bill and some brazilian people dancing in the streets. he closed the show w/ a ridiculous video of "walk like an egyptian (acapella)" mixed w/ some crunk. it was crazy and i'm really curious how it worked at coachella in front of thousands.



...thanks to eric and marcel for hooking up some of the photos.

oh yeah, almost forgot...here's an mp3 for you.

Favela on Blast Diplo

and some non-hip hop mp3's...

First Day The Futureheads

Lightness (live) Death Cab

Like Eating Glass Bloc Party

Paper Thin Walls Modest Mouse