Rock Show Posters

Poster by Todd Slater

One of the few visual art forms that interests me these days is the concert poster. I like the vivid imagery, the limited production runs, and the fact that they feature bands that I care about. So I think I'll probably feature an artist on here every once in a while that's making cool posters that you should probably buy/frame/hang on your empty wall.

Today's Artist is Todd Slater. His style is pretty eclectic, and he has designed posters for some of my favorite bands, including two posters for shows that I've recently attended (bloc party @ gypsy & the arcade fire @ trees). Here they are:


the arcade fire @ trees (dallas)


bloc party @ gypsy

Check out/Buy all of Todd's posters here.

Bonus mp3s:

Bloc Party Banquet (disco phones edit)
Arcade Fire No Cars Go (CBC Radio Sessions)
Death Cab For Cutie The New Year

and a couple more Todd Slater posters:


Franz Ferdinand


Death Cab

Let Me See That Thong

You may have noticed some new shirts on the left side of this blog. Okay, I was really bored the other day so I decided to hit up Spreadshirt.com and open a store carrying various Gorilla vs. Bear merch. And, yes, I do realize that no one outside of me and my friends really cares, but it didn't cost me anything and some of the shit actually turned out pretty cool. (click on the thong to check it out)

Keep Yourself Feeling Brand New

Okay first of all, there are a couple new blogs that really deserve some hyping up; instead of describing them, I'm just gonna recommmend you check them out. I may have mentioned one or two of these before, and trust me, they are all worth your time. nice work by all of you:

Clever Titles Are So Last Summer
South Of Mainstream
Funtime OK
Dreams Of Horses

random shit...

--Other good stuff:

Dodge has some Lucero, some Suburban Kids With Biblical Names, and other various Dodge-approved jams, which means you know it's gonna be hot.

Matt points us in the direction of Simple Mission, where you'll find 2 tracks from ex-Unicorns new band, Islands.

The Vicar hooks us up w/ some songs from one of my favorite bands, The Walkmen. Can't wait to see these guys at Lollapalooza.


Please tell me you're kidding, Mexico

--No, this isn't offensive at all. Unless you happen to be black.

*****

--Sigur Ros' Jonsi says about new album:

"We are aiming for a korn and papa roach kind of thing." (Jesus I hope he's just kidding)

And finally, The Dallas Observer reviews Sufjan Stevens' "Illinois", and here's a snippet (heh, love that word. snippet.):

"...anyone turned off by the orchestral overreaching of The Polyphonic Spree would be wise to give Stevens' restrained take on the style a shot."

I guess I can see the comparison, but count me as one of the people who is NOT turned off by the Spree's "orchestral overreaching". In fact, I quite like it. I don't care how cynical or jaded you are, you can't see them perform and not be moved in some way. In fact, I'm going to see their show (complete w/ fireworks) tomorrow night at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Anybody else going?

And on that note...some non-album Polyphonic Spree tracks for you (follow link):

Soldier Girl (Stereolab remix)
Wig In A Box (Hedwig and the Angry Inch cover)
The Best Part

Best Breakup Songs Ever. Serious.

Here's a pretty good playlist for when you feel like wallowing in self-pity for a while:

The Wrens Happy (follow link)

Sample Lyric:
aren't you happy now
got what you want
i wanted you
but i'm over that now
i'm over it

The Beatles For No One (follow link)

Your day breaks, your mind aches
There will be time when all the things she said will fill your head
You won’t forget her

The Decemberists Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect

i built this balustrade
to keep you home, to keep you safe
from the outside world
but the angles and the corners
even though my work is unparalelled
they never seemed to meet
this structure fell about our feet
and we were free to go

The Postal Service Nothing Better

I admit that i have made mistakes and i swear
I'll never wrong you again
You've got a lure (allure?) i can't deny,
But you've had your chance so say goodbye
Say goodbye

Stars On Peak Hill

I walk awhile before I sleep, count the secrets that I keep
I hope for more, I know for sure I'll fall apart before I weep
I disconnect the telephone 'cause I can choose to be alone
I'll get more done, I'll have some fun,
pretend you're not the only one

Neva Dinova It's Worse When You're Young (follow link)

A lot of good
my kisses did your dead mouth
But goodbyes are final now she swore
Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye
Goodbye, to all the things you love

The Streets It's Too Late

I didn't know that is over
Til it was too late, too late
But if I ever needed you
Would you be there?

Know of any others? Holler and I'll try to add them.

Psycho Killer

This guy is pretty messed up.

On a related note:

The Talking Heads Psycho Killer
The Faint Psycho Killer (talking heads cover)
Sufjan Stevens John Wayne Gacy, Jr.

today's links/mp3s

People don't like President Bush? Seriously?

As someone who has a degree in psychology and works in the mental health field, allow me to be the first to call Tom Cruise an ignorant douchebag. Well, maybe not the first.

shark vs. human, round 2

Pitchfork reviews Some Girls "The DNA Will Have It's Say" (Featuring Karen O). Here's my review: it's fu**ing loud. Listen:

The DNA Will Have It's Say (featuring Karen O)

Band of the Day: Applied Communications:



Insound says about Applied Communications album "Uhh Sort Of":

"In some way or another, all of the songs on this record explore the psychological holes left by the recent death of his single-parent mother. Among these songs influenced by his loss he makes a pop tribute filled with exuberant handclaps, tambourine hits, and analog drum machine waltz beats. This record is pornography without the nudity. It's completely honest, messed up truth about how and why an orphaned teenage boy thinks, cries, and masturbates."

have some Applied Communications mp3s

Lobsteriscos Rocketiza
Do You Know What I'm Saying?
It Bothers Me It Bothers You I Snore

Akron/Family

Okay, i'm a complete dumbass. I hastily put up my top ten list last week, and I totally forgot one of my favorites that will probably end up on my final year-end list.



See, I've been listening obsessively to one or two albums lately (thanks a lot Sufjan), and I've sort of been neglecting everything else...but on Sunday afternoon I listened to Akron/Family's self-titled debut LP on my iPod, and I was reminded of how great it is.

Now I wouldn't even waste your time posting about this album if it had been included on any of the plethora of lists that have been posted since...but unfortunately, it seems this album is being "slept on", as the kids say. Drawing comparisons w/ such diverse acts as Devendra Banhart and The Animal Collective to Nick Drake and even Sufjan Stevens, Akron Family's music falls somewhere between psych-folk and lo-fi pop. Do yourself a favor and buy it today.

Akron Family I'll Be On the Water
Akron Family Running, Returning mp3

Read reviews of Akron/Family's self-titled debut from:

Stylus
Neumu
Pitchfork
Prefix

who me?

Okay, I'm not sure how much demand there is gonna be for this...not exactly indie rock. In fact, i'm going to bet the majority of you will think it's a worthless piece of shit. But I think it's catchy as hell, pretty funny, and could probably be considered "genius" in the same vein as the late Wesley Willis or some other fu**ed up "outsider" music. If you've ever heard/seen Beetlejuice on the Howard Stern show, you know what i'm sayin. Listen to this 3 times and see if you can get the chorus out of your head:

Beetlejuice This is Beetle mp3

Bonus:



Wesley Willis Cut the Mullet mp3

in other news...

This is just one of the many reasons i'm not a fan of corrosion of conformity.

The biggest hit in hip hop history?

monday morning hip hop

I think we all know how I feel about Monday mornings...so to start your week off right, I thought I'd continue the hip hop theme w/ a new(ish) track from one of my favorite mc's ever, Q-Tip. This track features one of Busta's best verses in a while (in my opinion), some minimalist production from Pharell, and of course, the unmistakable flow of Tip. I believe this track was only released as a black-label 12", and is probably now playing at a club near you. Cop it:

Q-Tip For the Nasty (featuring Busta Rhymes & Pharell)

Bonus:



Some more ridiculous baile/yodel-school funk from Diplo:

Piddle Le He He

Elsewhere:

although i still contend that the gorilla would beat just about any animal, i'm not sure who would win the bear vs. shark matchup. apparently they both would dominate humans, though.

bear vs. human
shark vs. human

Bear Vs. Shark 5,6 Kids mp3

hotness

All right, this is only staying up for the weekend. This track from Missy Elliott's new album is ridiculous. The marching band drums?! And M.I.A.'s verse...sick. However, I don't think Atlantic messes around when it comes to people posting their unreleased music, so I'm going to make sure and tell y'all that this mp3 is for evaluation purposes only, be sure to buy the album on July 5, blah blah etc. Enjoy:

Missy Elliott-- Bad Man featuring M.I.A.

Bloc Party Show Download

For the first time ever, NPR is offering a live concert mp3 on their site, and it's a good one: Bloc Party's entire Washington, DC, show from June 16. Here it is:

Bloc Party, Live, Washington, D.C., 6/16/05 (1 hour, 9 minutes)

thanks to dana from wiredset for the heads up.

Hollaback Girl (Diplo mix)

Diplo had this to say recently about his "Hollaback Girl" remix (via the hollertronix forums):

"if yall can find it .. cool . post it the fu** up. I already got paid for it. i dont give a shit about any of my mp3s on the internet. yall are the only people that listen to my shit anyway. if I relied on record sales to eat. Id be like real broke and sad and dead like a zombie"

so, umm...yeah (follow link):

Hollaback Girl (Diplo mix)

(by the way, i'm only assuming this is the real diplo mix of the song, as i believe it is unreleased...and you know what happens when you assume things)

Don't read this post. No, seriously.

Becca

i'm going to offer up a few REALLY good mp3s first as sort of an advance apology for this post:



NEW!
Wolf Parade You Are A Runner and I am My Father's Son (via Subpop)
Cass McCombs Not The Way (live)
Mercury Rev Vermillion

And hit up Stereogum for the new Flaming Lips track, Mr. Ambulance Driver.


Okay, I know since most of you didn't care about my Detroit Pistons posts, you REALLY aren't going to give a shit about this volleyball post.

However, i promised the guy who runs the tournaments (steve) a few weeks ago that I'd link to his site, even though it's updated less frequently than Tim Duncan's facial expression. For some reason he thinks that if even a few of the regular visitors of this site clicked on the link, it would quadruple his traffic. Wait, it probably would...what's 4 times 2?

Plus I figured if i included a couple pics of a hot volleyball girl, you guys would forgive the lameness of this post. So thank you in advance.

so anyway, here's the link...in the media section you'll find fascinating pictures and stuff of a bunch of idiots (including me) playing volleyball tournaments. and here's another pic of becca:



Finally, if you live in Houston, I may be playing in this tomorrow, so come by and holler.

so close

those refs were bad. real bad.

Well last night was rough...so frustrating, because the Pistons had the opportunities and were totally in control through about 3 quarters...but they couldn't pull it out. Oh well, we've always got next year (and last year, and the '88-90 seasons).

By the way, check out this article in my (original) hometown paper about detroit pistons bloggers, featuring yours truly. Thanks Krista!

Moving on, thanks to South of Mainstream, who hooked me up w/ a nice track from American Analog Set to calm me down a bit. Go download it, and while you're at it, browse around their site and get some other really good indie (in the truest sense of the word) music.

Some other music I listened to last night to calm my nerves (follow link to download):



Jon Brion Main Theme to Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind

I could, and often do, listen to this track on repeat at night when going to sleep or just when I'm tense and need to chill out. Jon Brion is awesome and so diverse (did ya know he produced the new unreleased Fiona Apple album and a few tracks on Kanye West's new one? yeah, actually if you read blogs you probably knew that)

Pinback Penelope

The bassline in this song, while kind of rocking and never boring, is also really soothing and relaxing to me for some reason. Classic Pinback.

...and speaking of unreleased, Jon Brion-produced Fiona Apple:

Fiona Apple Red, Red, Red

Are those wolves howling in the background? yeah those are. Jon Brion is a genius. this album really needs to be released.

so weak

i feel like this guy right now. or this guy. either way it sucks. actually, while i'm at it, how about a whole montage of how i feel right now?

bad shot selection and poor defense down the stretch will kill you every time. so many missed opportunities, so frustrating. oh well, my squad played tough, and they didn't quit even after going down 0-2 in the series. and i guarantee they come back strong next year. i'm going to bed.

by the way, to that robot tim duncan, you just won, it's okay to show some emotion. seriously dude, smile or something. i hate you.

(videos via gorillamask.net)

live post #5

craaap. the pistons are taking/forcing some ridiculously bad shots, and the spurs are hitting everything it seems. freaking bob horry. dude should be in a nursing home by now. not looking good, as the pistons go down by 6 midway through the 4th.

live post #4

worst officiating ever. these refs are retarded. it's killing me. chauncey and rasheed are both in foul trouble. the pistons defense is dominating though, and they lead by 7.

Live Post #3--Halftime

Close first half, a little slow, but Big Ben is a badass.
Pistons up 1, 39-38.
Hubie Brown looks like an unwrapped mummy.

Live Post #2

i promise not everyone in Texas listens to this crap

okay midway through the 2nd quarter and i've finally gotten the image of brooks & dunn's moustaches out of my head. observations thus far:

Ben Wallace had one of the best blocks I've ever seen on Duncan
Tayshaun is keeping us in this w/ some big shots
Chauncey needs to step it up
McDyess needs to NOT shoot so damn much

Game 7 Live Post #1

i'm going to update as the game goes (hopefully), and here goes post number one:

nice job san antonio on picking someone to sing the national anthem. Detroit gets Stevie Wonder, you get freaking Brooks & Dunn??! good work. Detroit should get an automatic 10 point lead for that crap.

Go Pistons

Okay now i'm getting really nervous for my boys, plus i'm really bored at work, so one more Pistons post before I go home to watch the game. Pictures/Detroit music/hot girls, you know the good luck ritual by now...hey it's worked 3 out of the last 4 games, so why stop now?


god i love this guy


hope to see a lot of this tonight


way old school


in theory, a pic of 20 hot girls would be luckier than a pic of just 1 hot girl, right?

mp3s from some of Detroit's finest

The Dirtbombs Possession
The Von Bondies It Came From Japan (live)
The Gories You Got Done Wrong
The White Stripes Jimmy Exploder (a more "obscure" white stripes song for you elitists)

Game 7

Sheed, Big Ben, Tayshaun, Rip, Chauncey, and Coach Brown

Game 7, Tonight, 8:30 PM (7:30 central) on ABC

If you've never really watched basketball before, tonight's a good time to start. First game 7 in the NBA Finals in 11 years. I'm kinda nervous for my squad, so i'm just going to repeat the formula that obviously helped them win game 6: Detroit pics and music...and for those that don't give a shit, relax, this is the last game, so no more basketball posts after tomorrow.


the motherfu**ing man


i'd like to see a repeat of this, please


dude has long arms




Darko seeing his only action of the playoffs (via prefixblog via whatevs)

And because she's been such a huge part of the Pistons' playoff run, one last photo of the hot Detroit girl:



Eminem Lose Yourself mp3
The White Stripes Seven Nation Army mp3

albums of the year, way too early

Brooklyn Vegan has posted his top 5 favorite albums of 2005 (so far)...so let's all join in. This is tough, because it's been such an exceptional year so far in my opinion, so I'm going w/ a top 9 top 10 list, and an mp3 from each. I know i'm probaby leaving some out, but here you go:



The Decemberists Engine Driver mp3



Spoon I Turn My Camera On mp3



M.I.A. Amazon (diplo mix) mp3 (actually from Piracy Funds Terrorism)



Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Over and Over Again (lost & found) mp3



Andrew Bird A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head To The Left mp3



Brendan Benson The Pledge mp3



The White Stripes Instinct Blues mp3



Stars Ageless Beauty mp3



Bloc Party Banquet mp3



Sufjan Stevens Decatur, or, Round of Applause For Your Step Mother! mp3
Sufjan Stevens John Wayne Gacy, Jr. mp3

by the way, i'm interested to see your lists, leave 'em in the comments if you have a second...

That's How We Roll

Ben Wallace rocking the pregame music

Well I'm still giddy over/exhausted from last night's Detroit Pistons' victory, so no big post this morning. Just a couple things to help you waste time at work/school/wherever (hopefully i'll post again later w/ some music so check back):

Pitchfork has reviewed Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's self-titled debut, and they like it (a lot):

"A band that mashes together Talking Heads and Neutral Milk Hotel while also stopping in to visit the shimmering, wafting ambiance of Yo La Tengo, the harmonic trickery of Modest Mouse, and the chorused guitarwork of pre-Loveless My Bloody Valentine? What website do you think this is? We are fucking there."

This kid apparently isn't that great of a cub scout.

Lions are fu**ing cool.

One More

Well the Pistons have pulled off the impossible improbable, winning tonight to force a game 7 on Thursday in San Antonio. I don't know about y'all, but I looked exactly like this dude when they won. Except white.

No actually I feel the same way about Chauncey Billups right now as this guy feels about Katie Holmes:


Game 7! Let's do this, bitches!

Tonight

The above photo pretty much sums up tonight's game: The Pistons need Ben Wallace to pick them up and carry them, and Robert Horry is totally gay.

And since I'm one of those moronic fans that believes that by doing certain things, I can actually have an effect on the outcome of the game, here are some good luck pictures and some Detroit music:




the other hot detroit girl didn't really help us last game--so she has been replaced

Detroit mp3s


poster by Mark Arminski

The Von Bondies C'mon C'mon
Brendan Benson Let Me Roll It
Jack White Never Far Away
Blanche Superstition
The Detroit Cobras Midnight Blues
Soledad Brothers Cage That Tiger
Saturday Looks Good To Me The Girl's Distracted

So it's win or go home for the Pistons tonight. Please watch (tonight on ABC at 9, 8 central) and send whatever luck you got their way. Every little bit helps, and trust me, they need it.

New Interview w/ Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan Stevens talks to Dusted about "Illinois"

"I wanted it to be almost like a movie soundtrack, but without the movie."
--Sufjan Stevens

Have I mentioned this is my favorite album of the year?

Buy It Now

some songs

It's been a while since I did a straight music post, and this one is kinda unorganized and all over the place, but here are a few songs I've been rocking lately...hope you guys like 'em.


Arcade Fire at Trees (dallas)

The Arcade Fire's newest single, "Cold Wind", has been featured on nearly every blog that exists (including this one) in the past couple weeks, so you probably already have that track. (if not i could probably hook you up, email me or leave a comment) But, the B-side will be their cover of the 1939 Ary Baroso/Ed Russell standard "Brazil". Here's The Arcade Fire doing it live:

Arcade Fire Brazil (live) mp3

***



I didn't really expect to see a Paul Wall track reviewed by Pitchfork, and positively reviewed at that. But apparently he is adored by gangsters AND hipsters alike. Anyway, this track is some straight southern (via Houston) hip hop. Not a genre I'm usually that fond of, but Paul Wall's got something going here. What it do.

Paul Wall Sittin Sideways mp3

***



Also recently reviewed by Pitchfork, the Concretes' version of "Miss You" is considerably more melancholy and haunting (and considerably less, umm, groovy?) than the Stones' version. Compare/contrast:

The Concretes Miss You (Stones cover) mp3
The Rolling Stones Miss You mp3

***



Another artist that's been blowing up the blogsphere lately is Norway's Annie, and this track has a distinct '80's soundtrack-y, Cindy Lauper-style feel to me. I know i just said that, but I'm not sure exactly what it means. Listen:

Annie Me Plus One mp3

Finally, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah has been rocking my iPod nonstop since the weekend (when I could bring myself to stop listening to "Illinois") This is one band that I really think will live up to and transcend all the hype (ie the Arcade Fire). Go get a bunch of tracks from Dodge and Rachael, then buy the album...I ordered mine last night (only 12 bucks). Recommended: "Is This Love?", "Over and Over Again" (so Talking Heads), and "Upon This Tidal Wave Of Young Blood".

I Hate You So Much, Monday

Ben Wallace w/ Kid Rock before the game: Probably why the Pistons lost

Well, today pretty much sucks. The Pistons lost a heartbreaker last night, I'm tired and dehydrated from my volleyball tournament this weekend, and I don't want to be at work today. But here are a few things to make your Monday suck a little less:

Head over to YANP, where Matt has hooked us all up w/ a great video for The Chalets "Feel The Machine". Also check out their website for more songs/videos/etc.

Go to Said the Gramophone to get two seriously awesome, highly recommended tracks: one from The New Pornographers new one, "Twin Cinema", and one from the Wolf Parade debut LP set to be released later this year.

Rachael over at Underrated has some tracks from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (that you can't find on their website), as well as some Say Hi To Your Mom. Thanks, Rachael. Sorry about your iPod.

Hit up the Gorilla Mask media section for some of the funniest video clips I've ever seen. You could probably waste your whole day here if you wanted to. Don't tell my boss.

What I'm rocking on my iPod at work to cheer me up (mp3s):



Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Upon This Tidal Wave Of Young Blood
The Chalets Love Punch
Love as Laughter In Amber
Bunky BaBa
The New Pornographers "The Bleeding Heart Show" (get it at Said the Gramophone)
Low California

God Damn You Robert Horry

Fu**ing Robert Horry, career spare/big-time playoff shot-maker strikes again, hitting what felt like approximately 50 clutch 3-pointers to beat the Pistons. Holy shit, I've never been so nervous/anxious while watching a sporting event. Ridiculous. I couldn't even watch without almost catching a heart attack. And we're in big trouble now. The Pistons have to win two in a row in San Antonio to win the series. Not likely.


We hate Robert Horry

Posted Out Of Necessity

Sorry for the hot Detroit girl overkill, but the Pistons are down 1 point at the start of the 4th and a commenter suggested I post another pic of her to help out my boys. I'm not about to argue...this game is pivotal, and every little bit helps.