tonight in austin

You know how we always do a terrible job of describing exactly why White Denim is our favorite band in the world right now? Well, the Austinist agrees that the band is basically impossible to pigeonhole, which is part of why they're so badass. Still, our girl Paige manages to sort of nail exactly what we love about them, complete with references to the Kinks, the Yardbirds, this, and Captain Beefheart. Anyway, our favorite part of the article was this line:

"When watching White Denim play, it might be tempting to call them garage rock or post-punk or something like that, and it's partially true because of the spirit of the whole thing, but those classifications intimate a certain simplicity which patronizes the complexity of some of the compositions..."

That's what we meant to say. I guess it wasn't so hard after all. Not at all coincidentally, White Denim plays tonight at Emo's in Austin. Buy their amazing Let's Talk About It EP at iTunes.

we ♥ lovefoxxx

CSS must be on a break or something, because she seems to have a lot of free time:



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elsewhere:



In your nightly Hood Internet report, those guys have gone and one-upped themselves again with their latest mash. Missing Toof has the Air vs. Mike Jones mp3. After you grab that one, be sure to browse the Hood Internet's impressive archives; there's something for everyone. We still haven't gotten tired of these:

mp3:
The Shins vs. Crime Mob Rock Yo Sea Legs
Ghostface Killah vs. Spoon The Ghostface of You Lingers
T.I. vs. Fujiya & Miyagi What You Know About Transparent Things

laughed for a world filled with fantasy

Panda Bear behind the Granada Theater, Dallas
(photo by David)

We were fortunate enough to stumble upon this relatively new Panda Bear gem, culled from a live album that was recently released on iTunes. Says Rhapsody.com:

"...it isn't so much a live album as an otherworldly recording of three of Panda's already alien experimental-surf-tronica compositions smushed together and sounding as if they were performed underwater by bewitching, avant-garde sirens in a great, reverberating sea on Brian Wilson's home planet..."

mp3:
Panda Bear Laughed for a World Filled with Fantasy

This snippet from Part I of the recording, entitled "Laughed for a World Filled with Fantasy," samples Scott Walker's "Two Ragged Soldiers" and Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang," rendering a perfectly enchanting daydream score that could have easily made the final Person Pitch cut. Can't recommend this jam (and the whole live album) enough.

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Buy Parts I and II for next to nothing here and here. And tune into our Blog Radio show on Monday, June 4, to hear a full 2 hours with Panda Bear.

Jana Hunter: Live on Ma Fama

gorilla vs. bear favorite Jana Hunter recently stopped by Ma Fama, the increasingly awesome Portuguese blog/radio show, for an intimate live performance and interview. Jana played a few songs from her excellent LP, There's No Home, as well as a couple new ones from an upcoming EP. Here are two songs from the performance; both are highly recommended:

mp3:
Jana Hunter Babies (live on Ma Fama)
Jana Hunter Untitled new song (live on Ma Fama)

Go here to download the full session and listen to the interview with Jana.

previously: Panda Bear on Ma Fama

new Dallas venue: The Loft

There's a new venue in town: The Loft on South Lamar, a second-story joint attached to the recently opened Palladium Ballroom. We were able to tour the space last week, and we think it has the potential to be one of the dopest venues in town, what with its exposed brick interior and the stellar panoramic view of the downtown skyline, which will serve as the bands' backdrop.

We're hoping their lineup of shows will help fill the void left by the demise of the Gypsy Tearoom, and we're happy to report they're off to a strong start. Bands already confirmed include Low, Bonde Do Role, the Black Lips, Girl Talk, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, and Thunderbirds are Now!, with more to be announced in the very near future. We'll be working with the Loft to help present some of these shows, so expect more from our end when there's more to reveal.

mp3:
Bonde Do Role Quero Te Amar
Low Breaker

The Black Lips "Cold Hands" video:

new new pornographers

I was ready for a new A.C. Newman jam. Taken from Challengers, due out Aug. 21:

mp3:
The New Pornographers My Rights Versus Yours

listened on

Lightning Dust is Amber Webber and Joshua Wells of Black Mountain. Their new self-titled album was recorded "in a dank cave and a bright blue house," and is a model of sparse, simplistic beauty. Nothing spectacular, but Webber has one of those rare, haunting voices that is alternately comforting/heartbreaking (see Victoria Legrand of Beach House), that in effect just makes this whole record for us. She especially shines on this one:

mp3:
Lightning Dust Listened On

More of an autumn record than a summer one, Lightning Dust is due out on Jagjaguwar on June 19.

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elsewhere:



The Polyphonic Spree's new adventure in listening, The Fragile Army, is now available for pre-order here. We went with the deluxe package (pictured above).

animal collective: live in dallas

Panda Bear of Animal Collective

(post and photos by David. click photos for larger image)

Animal Collective brought their transcendent live show to Dallas' bossa nova Granada Theater last night, performing a few reinterpreted Sung Tongs highlights, a couple Panda Bear-penned joints, including the beloved "Untitled" and "Daily Routine," as well as a heap of new, post-Strawberry Jam jams. This was the band's first performance in our humble city and, by the crowd's reaction, well, better late than never, as it were. It was one of the most enthralling performances we have ever seen.



To be honest, it's hard to believe that such an exquisite, otherworldly sound - one that may well be described as "difficult" -- resonates so remarkably with so many. There's not much of a point in elaborating any further because what they offer is too difficult to describe, but we will say that it's beyond evident that the band is pushing the genre forward, whatever genre that may be, in ways that will earn them a place in the modern canon. Animal Collective is a band that refuses to rest on its laurels, a band that chooses to challenge rather than appease.

On another note, for those whose interest was piqued this past week by the announcement of their forthcoming long player, Strawberry Jam, Noah Lennox offered us a verbal preview in which he described the record as something of a companion piece to Feels. Whereas Feels was, as Noah explained, "gauzy," the new record is a bit more "aggressive." Noah will join us as interviewee/guest DJ for the full two hours on our next Sirius Blog Radio show, which airs Monday, June 4.







Click read more link for more photos of Animal Collective: Live in Dallas...

let's talk about it

White Denim's Let's Talk About It EP, which features the smash-hit title track and four other ridiculous jams, is finally available for purchase on iTunes. A sensible alternative to the ultra-limited, extremely rad red + white vinyl 7", and all for only $4.95. Let's react to it.

lupe fiasco samples thom yorke

lupe fiasco

Thanks to Spine Magazine for hosting this new Lupe Fiasco joint, which features the ubiquitous Kanye and Pharrell guest spots, as well as a not-so-ubiquitous, but extremely well-utilized sample of Thom Yorke's "The Eraser":

mp3:
Lupe Fiasco Us Placers

(via Spine Magazine)

animal collective in dallas

Just a reminder that Animal Collective plays at the Granada tonight. These dudes don't roll through Dallas very often, so we recommend you try to make it out. The new Strawberry Jam material they've been playing on this tour sounds incredible. Should be an insane show.

mp3:
Animal Collective The Purple Bottle (Stevie Wonder version)

Here's a video of the band performing Sung Tongs favorite "Who Could Win a Rabbit?," shot by the Anchor Center on May 15 at Newport, Kentucky's Southgate House:

glass candy

glass candy

Glass Candy plays in Dallas tonight, and we're going to go out on a limb and guarantee that this show will be interesting, at the very least (probably something very close to this). We Shot JR has a cool interview with Glass Candy producer Johnny Jewel, in which he discusses (among other things) the Farah fiasco of a few months back. Here's a track from Glass Candy, which apparently is all the rage these days at your local roller-disco:

mp3:
Glass Candy Rolling Down the Hills (highly recommended)

Listen to and download a few live Glass Candy tracks at their space.

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Quick Blog Radio update:



We'd like to welcome our good friend the Aquarium Drunkard as the newest member of Sirius Left of Center's Blog Radio. His show will air on Fridays (starting today), and as readers of his blog are already aware, the kid has great taste, so make sure to check it out. In other news, this weekend is "Blog Party" weekend on Sirius Left of Center, to sort of announce the expansion of Blog Radio and a shuffling of the lineup. Our show is moving to Monday, and like all other Blog Radio shows, will air twice per day (noon and midnight, EST). Here's the full lineup:

Monday: yours truly
Tuesday: My Old Kentucky Blog
Wednesday: Brooklyn Vegan
Thursday: ProductShopNYC
Friday: Aquarium Drunkard
Saturday: It's A Trap

As always, you can listen to our show for free by signing up for a free trial at Sirius.com.

sufjan stevens: seven swans reissue

Not sure how I didn't hear about this sooner, but Sounds Familyre has blessed us with a reissue of Sufjan Stevens' beautiful and intimate 2004 LP, Seven Swans. The reissue is pressed on 140g "audiophile grade" vinyl, and will include a 7" with two gorgeous, unreleased (ed. note: alliteration ahead) Sufjan Stevens' songs from the Seven Swans sessions. Here's one of the tracks from the 7", and "Sister," which appeared on the original release:

mp3:
Sufjan Stevens Waste of What Your Kids Won't Have
Sufjan Stevens Sister

The Seven Swans reissue is a must have for even casual fans, particularly those that prefer "sparse, understated Sufjan" to "expansive, sometimes over-the-top, orchestral pop Sufjan." We ordered ours today, and we encourage you to do the same. Read Daniel Smith's thoughts on reissuing Seven Swans here.

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elsewhere:

We are beyond flattered to be mentioned by The Morning News in their annual Editors' Awards for Online Excellence. Just being recognized alongside such luminaries as Said the Gramophone and Daytrotter is a huge honor. Thanks, guys.

Grizzly Bear: "Deep Blue Sea"

You may or may not recall that Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear debuted his hauntingly beautiful solo cover of traditional folk ballad "Deep Blue Sea" on our Sirius Blog Radio show a while back. Check out this great video of the full band performing the song on a beach in Minehead (via Brooklyn Vegan).



In case you missed the mp3 the first time around:

mp3:
Daniel Rossen Deep Blue Sea

ring the alarm

With a "speaker-blowing" new SFA album due in upcoming months, Trojan Records offers something for those furryiously craving anything SFA. The Furry Selection compilation, which features 16 excellent reggae cuts, was handpicked by SFA bassist Guto Pryce. The Welsh rockers' obvious reggae and dub influence is present throughout their impressive discography. The band even contributed their dub remix of "Dreamy Days" to Roots Manuva's 2003 Dub Come Save Me album. When I asked Gruff Rhys about the compilation at this year's SXSW, SFA lead/Candylion-creator said that Guto had developed the playlist and was "really into all that old dub and reggae." The compilation will be released in the UK on May 28, and will hit the US shelves a few weeks later on June 12.


Tenor Saw

Furry Selection's ninth track, "Ring the Alarm," was unfamiliar to me initially, as was its creator, Tenor Saw. A little research informed me that the Jamaican-born Clive Bright released this dancehall classic in 1985. The song became an international hit -- just three short years before his early death at the age of 22.

mp3:
Tenor Saw Ring the Alarm

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Here's video of Tenor Saw performing the track live in the mid-'80s:

White Stripes: "Icky Thump" video

You know that "Icky Thump" video that's going to be all over the place tomorrow? Spinner has it for us right now, and Jack and Meg don't disappoint. Have we mentioned that we can't wait for this record?

bitchee

probably not Bitchee Bitchee Ya Ya Ya

We don't quite know what to make of Bitchee Bitchee Ya Ya Ya. There's been speculation that she (they?) are a front for another act or a joke, which I guess is entirely possible. But they've already completed adorably busted remixes for Bonde Do Role and Poney Poney and a couple of originals that have some people taking notice. This song sounds like Lovefoxxx getting filthy over some elementary 8-bit beats, but it's fun, and catchy as all hell, and for the moment we sort of love it:

mp3:
Bitchee Bitchee Ya Ya Ya Tu Connais le Chanson

Bitchee wants to be your friend.

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Also, we just want to make it known that we love the Hood Internet. Since we posted ABX's first mashup back in August '06, the dudes have been getting all kinds of well-deserved love across the real internet. Their brand new mash, Ghostface vs. Spoon, is one of their best yet.

Spoon: Live in Dallas

Britt Daniel of Spoon

Last night we managed to catch Spoon perform a pretty gangster -- and intimate -- twenty song set on their "secret" club tour at Dallas' lovely Granada Theater, a classy joint which is rather hastily becoming one of the city's more reliable venues. The Austin foursome (as a live outfit, anyway) performed a rousing set of post-A Series of Sneaks gems and a handful of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga cuts, including "Don't Make Me a Target," "Don't You Evah," a dirty "Black Like Me," (ed. note: our new favorite Spoon song) and the live debut of "The Underdog," the new LP's first true single.

With the lot of Britt's extended family scattered throughout the audience, fool was in bright spirits busting his signature robotic gesticulations and shrevident guitar freak-outs on our favorite cuts off of Gimme Fiction, and all the other classics that made their way into the Jack Daniels. I mean, the set. Not a terrible Tuesday by any stretch.

(post and polaroid by David)

map of africa

We don't know much about Map of Africa, and the internets were not too forthcoming with any real information aside from this dope post we found at 20jazzfunkgreats. Still, this swampy psych-rock jam has been in constant rotation around here for the last couple days, and it's only getting better. Maybe it's the jungle humidity and all the mosquitos in our hood lately, but we imagine this track scoring a chopper scene in some ill Vietnam flick. But that might just be us.

mp3:
Map Of Africa Bone

p.s. Play it loud. And buy the double LP here.

pieces of string

Here's the impossibly cute new video for one of our favorite songs of last year, Alela Diane's "Pieces of String." The video stars Alela's little cousins, Emilee and Lily. Unfortunately, I don't think a lot of people heard Alela's beautiful record The Pirate's Gospel, but I highly recommend it:



mp3:
Alela Diane Pieces of String

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Also, if you haven't already, check out Alela's gorgeous Daytrotter Session.

voxtrot and white denim

Couple of sweet things going down in Austin tonight: If we were there right now, we'd hit up the free Voxtrot in-store performance at Waterloo records at 5 PM. Then we'd catch White Denim's peformance at the Hot Freaks/gorilla vs. bear residency program at the Mohawk. We went down last time they played and they blew everyone away. And all of this would be the best $2 we ever spent.

mp3:
Voxtrot Kid Gloves
White Denim ShakeShakeShake

new Rosebuds remix

Kelly + Ivan of The Rosebuds at SXSW

As you may know, the Rosebuds' excellent new album, Night of the Furies, marks a new and eminently more danceable direction for the band, as evidenced by the huge dance party that broke out at their SXSW Hot Freaks show. Ivan even lost his shoes. No literally, some kid ran off with them. Anyway, the new stuff is prime remix material, and we've got the first one for you:

mp3:
The Rosebuds I Better Run (Jimmy the B Remix)

The Rosebuds are currently on tour, and will be in Dallas on June 19 with Land of Talk. Don't miss 'em.

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elsewhere:

Spoon plays a "secret" show tonight in Dallas at the Granada Theater. I think the "secret" is that it's sponsored by Jack Daniels. Not sure how one goes about getting into one of these shows, but we're excited at the prospect of hearing the new stuff in a live setting.

monolith festival

The lineup has been announced for the first annual Monolith Festival, to take place September 14-15 at Red Rocks in Denver. Pretty nice little lineup, featuring the Flaming Lips, Spoon, the Decemberists, Ghostland Observatory, Flosstradamus + Kid Sister, YACHT, Das EFX, and a bunch more. Wait, Das EFX? Kick ass.

mp3:
Das EFX They Want EFX
YACHT See a Penny, Pick it Up

animal collective: untitled

It's been a while since we devoted a full post to Panda Bear, but we'll be seeing the Animal Collective this weekend here in Dallas, and we're pretty excited about it. Especially now that we know that the band has been playing Panda Bear's untitled new song (the same one we've gone on and on about) on the current tour. Here's Panda Bear's solo version, taken from the Ma Fama session he played earlier this year, and the full-band version, recorded live in Chicago on May 17. Thanks to the AC message board for the track:

mp3:
Panda Bear Untitled (live on ma fama)
Animal Collective Untitled (live in Chicago)

warm & scratchy

The always generous Adult Swim offers up more free music today, this time in the form of the appropriately titled Warm & Scratchy compilation, featuring the likes of TV on the Radio, Broken Social Scene, Liars, and more. Here are a few sample tracks, and you can download the whole thing here.

mp3:
TV on the Radio Me-I
The Rapture Crimson Red
Broken Social Scene Canada vs. America
Sound Team Color of the Love You Have

dondolo

I had trouble finding any info online about Dondolo that wasn't written in his native French, so I pasted his bio into that handy little box on freetranslation.com, and this is what they told me:



"Dondolo play a pop cyclothymique, strongly contrasted, passing pop punk yelled brulots to nursery rhymes electro-pop melancholic and playful. Sung just as well in English as in French, its pieces are a mixture (a collision?) of varied influences has incompatible priori, going Buzzcocks to Christophe, while going through Jacno and the Hot Chip. Un true kaleidoscope of pop rock one of these 30 behind years. In unparalleled equilibriste, it succeeds doing this big gap while falling again on its paws, thanks to a science of the pop accroche out norm."

I think all of this is mostly true, especially the part about the paws; but they neglected to mention that Dondolo's song "A Question of Will," from his new record Dondolisme, is irresistable and undeniably fun. "Fluffy Angel" will likely be the track from this record that blows up and gets the obligatory Hot Chip remix, but as far as I'm concerned, this is the jam:

mp3:
Dondolo A Question of Will

p.s. there's also a video.

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elsewhere:

Said the Gramophone posted Yeasayer's incredible song "2080." I first heard this song around SXSW-time, and in the time since, it's become one of my favorite songs of the year. StG does a great job explaining its appeal.

new Spoon video: "the ghost of you lingers"

The new Spoon record has been in constant rotation over the last few days, and if it keeps growing on me at its current alarming rate, expect to see it on our year-end top 10 list. We were a little unsure about this particular song when it leaked all on its own, but in the context of the record, it's gold.



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elsewhere:

We mentioned last week that the Cool Kids had posted a few songs from their upcoming debut LP, The Bake Sale, on their myspace page. Well today, they've gone and made one of those tunes downloadable for us. Grab it:

mp3:
The Cool Kids Gold and a Pager (new version)

St. Vincent video: "Your Lips are Red"

Thanks to Beggars for allowing us to post this stunning video of St. Vincent performing "Your Lips Are Red," one of the many highlights from her upcoming Marry Me LP. The video showcases Annie Clark's intense stage presence and dazzling guitar work in a way that you would normally only be able to experience in a live setting. Plus, she's a badass on that stomp pad. Recorded by Eamonn Farrell on April 19 at Brooklyn's Atlantic Sound studio, starring the East River as the backdrop, with additional footage shot at Union Hall in Brooklyn. Turn it up:



St. Vincent opens for the Arcade Fire tonight in Chicago. Marry Me comes out July 10 on Beggars.

look like a baby rat

This is the video for Pase Rock's "Lindsay Lohan's Revenge," starring an actual baby rat as Lohan's...ah forget it. Probably don't even have to say that this is mad NSFW:

porque te vas

We stole this from our buddy Conversation Pocket, and we can't stop watching:



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"...No one would have guessed that an upbeat pop song layered in big beats, horns, and wah-wah guitars would mesh with Jeanette's delicate voice, but the result was stunning" (source). Uh, yeah you could say that. This is Jeanette in the early '70s:



mp3:
Jeanette Porque Te Vas

glad i found you

Eventually, the dudes at Numero Group are going to run out of material for their consistently stellar Eccentric Soul releases, but lucky us, because it hasn't happened yet. So far, they've brought us rarely heard underground late-'60s soul from cities all over the U.S., including Columbus, Detroit, Miami, Chicago, Phoenix, and more. On their latest release, they head back to Columbus to bring us some incredible shit from Capsoul's crosstown rival, the Prix Label. I don't know what it is that makes this kind of unbridled soul so perfect for the summer, but this stuff is ideal for soundtracking your bike rides and BBQs. Both tracks highly recommended.

mp3:
Eddie Ray Glad I Found You
Penny & the Quarters You and Me

Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label comes out June 5. If you like those tracks, you'll love it.

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Check out this video on the '70s Northern Soul dancing scene, which features another of my favorite tracks from the Prix Label release: the Royal Esquires' "Ain't Gonna Run." Not sure how the song made its way to the UK, but the last 2:30 is pretty awesome.

strawberry jam

animal collective

According to the Animal Collective message board, promo copies of the new album will be sent out next week. So to head off the inevitable leakage, the band posted the album title and tracklist here. In case you're too lazy to click, the album's called Strawberry Jam and the tracklist is as follows:

1. Peacebone (live mp3)
2. Unsolved Mysteries
3. Chores (live mp3)
4. For Reverend Green
5. Fireworks
6. #1
7. Winter Wonder Land
8. Cuckoo Cuckoo (live video)
9. Derek

The band is currently busting some of these tracks on tour. Check out the dates here.

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in other news:

IHEARTCOMIX went and started a new blog, and you might want to add it to your daily blog-reading agenda. They've posted some really cool stuff over the last few days, including two tracks from the forthcoming Best Fwends album we talked about last week, a new Muscles track, and much more. Like this new promo video for CSS' "Alcohol," which depicts the girls of CSS as a bunch of wasted bunny puppets:

new polyphonic spree: light to follow

We are officially in love with The Polyphonic Spree's upcoming album, The Fragile Army. As a fan of everything that Tim Delaughter has created over the last 15 years or so, I can genuinely say that this album ranks right alongside Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb as one of the most beautiful things Delaughter has ever done. "Light to Follow" has been one of our favorite songs since we first saw the band perform it in Austin last year, and the studio version doesn't disappoint. Although this song is quite unlike anything Tim has ever done (check the programmed drum beats and '80s synths), it sounds to our ears like a perfect combination of everything we love about JHLTAB and The Beginning Stages of....

mp3:
The Polyphonic Spree Light To Follow

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UPDATE:

For evidence of how great this sounds live, here's some footage of the band soundchecking the other day in NC, courtesy of the great Hal Samples:

i feel it all

Pretty sure this will be all over by the end of the day, but it's too good not to post:

animal bells

Our friend Marathon Packs posted a little "Midterm Mix" of some of his favorite things from 2007 so far, and there's some good stuff scattered in there, including Bonde Do Role, Panda Bear, Deerhunter, and more. He also mentions Melbourne's the Crayon Fields, and coincidentally, we've been digging their Animal Bells record quite a bit lately. Here's the album opener, on which the band is very plainly trying to sound like Odessy & Oracle-era Zombies, and they do a pretty convincing job of it. So yeah, it might be borderline plagiarism, but if you're going to rip something off, you could do a lot worse than one of the best albums ever.

mp3:
The Crayon Fields Choir of Tiny Boys

champion sound

Madlib and J Dilla

Stones Throw is set to release a deluxe double-CD reissue of Jaylib's underappreciated 2003 classic, Champion Sound, on June 12. Madlib hooked up a bunch of unreleased Jaylib remixes for disc two of the reissue, including this one:

mp3:
Jaylib The Mission (Stringed Out remix)

viceroy

Mark David Ashworth's viceroy

The Mohawk Residency continues tonight in Austin, with Mark David Ashworth (and full band) opening for Peel. Ashworth recently released his excellent debut LP, Viceroy, on the great Autobus Records. Viceroy, which Mark recorded while living in Lima and Mexico City, is "an accidental concept album about the trials and pleasures of otherness and the search for the self in a foreign land." Here are a couple of highly recommended tracks from the album:

mp3:
Mark David Ashworth Eggs
Mark David Ashworth elevator, battle, distance

Befriend Mark David Ashworth on myspace, and purchase Viceroy here for only $7.99.

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hit pop

numero#

We recently got our hands on the Kitsune Maison Vol. 4 compilation, featuring the likes of Feist, Crystal Castles, Darkel, and a bunch of French dudes we aren't cool enough to have heard of yet. Pretty solid across the board, but according to us, this is the comp's standout track. Turns out, these guys aren't French at all. They're French-Canadian, which is even better. To tell the truth, I can see this song getting annoying eventually, but for now, it just sounds like a feel-good club hit.

mp3:
numero# hit pop

busy busy busy

Ghosthustler

Thanks to We Shot J.R. for hooking us up with this brand new track from Denton's Ghosthustler, who are now officially 3 for 3. This is arguably their best track yet, and to be honest, the bassline alone makes this as good or better than approximately 98% of the stuff that is currently being obnoxiously labeled "blog house"(you get a pass, new Simian Mobile Disco record). If the Ghosthustler crew was from Paris instead of Denton, they'd be blog-hold names by now, and this track has us excited to see what these kids are gonna do next. And I'm not even one of those "pill-snorting Vice types."

mp3:
Ghosthustler Busy Busy Busy

tonight

poster by Garrison Reid

We can't go on enough about tonight's bill at the Cavern, which features three of our very favorite Texas bands: Bosque Brown, White Denim, and Peter and the Wolf. Tonight will be your first chance to get White Denim's shiny new 7" vinyl EP, which happens to be one of the best releases of 2007 thus far. This will also be one of your last chances to get Peter and the Wolf's exclusive, 10-song tour-only CD, Fireflies. As for Bosque Brown, as far as I know, she will just be her usual stunning self.

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Here are some photos from White Denim's packed show last Tuesday at the Mohawk in Austin. (all photos by the lovely and talented Ashley Garmon)

my brambles

Alela Diane Daytrotter Session at SXSW

We were lucky enough to sit in on a few Daytrotter sessions at SXSW this year, and Alela Diane's performance was not only one of the best things we heard all week, it's one of the most casually stunning performances we've ever witnessed ("White as Diamonds" still haunts us from time to time). I can't stress enough how special this performance was, and as usual with Daytrotter, it comes through in the recordings, minus the Big Orange rooster's charming sing-along. Go here to download the full session.

serotonin

daniel folmer

The Dallas Observer says Denton's Daniel Folmer is "on the precipice of something brilliant," and after spending a few days with his new record Gloria, we tend to agree. Daniel is responsible for basically all of the instrumentation on Gloria, and most of the record was recorded by John Congleton, who has worked with Explosions in the Sky, the Mountain Goats, and produced the Polyphonic Spree's amazing new record, among others. Here is the beautiful and sad album-opener from Gloria, which only scratches the surface of Daniel's knack for crafting plaintive, affecting songs that reward repeat listens with increasingly intense heartache.

mp3:
Daniel Folmer Serotonin

You can hear/download more at Daniel's website (we recommend "Final Scene"). Buy Gloria here for only 7 bucks.

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elsewhere:

Our friend Adam, who assures us that acapella will kill the remix (we believe you, buddy) sent us this girls' choir cover of Voxtrot's "Raised By Wolves." Recommended for Voxtrot completists and fans of Boyz II Men.

mp3:
The Oxford Blues Raised By Wolves (acapella)

Finally:

Said the Gramophone has a nice little writeup (with mp3) on Plano's own Teenage Symphony.

born of a star

Holy Hail

We've been in love with Holy Hail's "Born of a Star" since we first heard it last summer, and ever since, it's been our dream that it would eventually receive the video treatment it so richly deserved (only a mild exaggeration). Enter director Elliot Jokelson, the man responsible for a couple of our favorite videos (Pinback, TVOTR), and our blog-friends over at Good Weather For Airstrikes, who premiered the vid today:



For those of you that insist on "downloading" stuff and "putting it on your iPod," GWFAS has the "Born of a Star" mp3 and a downloadable version of the video.

just a listening man

Thanks to the Fader blog for the heads up on this brand new video for the Bees' "Listening Man," which, according to our iTunes play count, is one of our most played songs of the year. I can't be sure, but I think the moral of the video is that guys would rather makeout with their girlfriends than listen to them talk:

ACL 2007

The Austin City Limits Festival has announced the 2007 fest lineup. Standouts include the Arcade Fire, Wilco, the White Stripes, Dylan, M.I.A., Bjork, the National, Spoon, Andrew Bird, LCD Soundsystem, Midlake, Ghostland Observatory, and more. We'll be there.

the bake sale

the cool kids

We got into Chicago's Cool Kids a couple months back, so we were happy to discover that they've posted 4 brand new songs from their upcoming record The Bake Sale (which will drop this summer) on their space. Go here to stream the new stuff; we fully endorse "Black Mags" and the slightly tweaked version of "One Two." This mp3 is not one of the newer songs, and no word on whether it will appear on The Bake Sale, but it's still the jam.

mp3:
The Cool Kids Mikey Rocks

heart it races (YACHT remix)

YACHT on a yacht (photo credit)

YACHT has been all over the place lately (touring with LCD Soundsystem, releasing his solo LP, playing on an actual yacht, etc.), but he somehow found time to contribute one of his signature remixes to Architecture in Helsinki's new "Heart it Races" single. As one might expect from a YACHT remix, it's slightly manic, whimsical, and most importantly, fun as hell.

mp3:
Architecture in Helsinki Heart It Races (YACHT's I Should Coco mix)

UPDATE: Thanks to Jude for hooking us up with this video of YACHT on a YACHT. Holler.



bonus:

Here's another track from YACHT's solo LP, I Believe In You. Your Magic is Real.:

mp3:
YACHT So Post All 'em

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Here's the video for AiH's original version of "Heart it Races":

John Vanderslice and St. Vincent on Blog Radio

JV and St. Vincent: Live in Denton

Tune into gorilla vs. bear Blog Radio this evening at 10 PM EST on Sirius Left of Center, where we'll be joined by special guests John Vanderslice and Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent). The two will discuss their respective upcoming releases, their current blog-sponsored tour together, and other various topics. Oh, and an entire segment will be devoted to JV's love for the NBA Playoffs.

mp3:
John Vanderslice Exodus Damage (Alias remix)
St. Vincent Now. Now.

hey Austin

White Denim

Austin's White Denim, aka "the best new band at SXSW 2007," has an EP coming out soon, and it's going to kick your ass. In the meantime, they're playing our Hot Freaks/Gorilla vs. Bear residency at the Mohawk tonight, and it's only 2 bucks. As if that wasn't enough, the opener is the amazing Martin Crane and his new project, Brazos.

mp3:
White Denim ShakeShakeShake
Martin Crane On an Evening

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These esteemed individuals were won over by White Denim at SXSW. Listen to more at the band's myspace. We recommend "I Can Tell" and "Sitting."

purple crush covers kate bush

Purple Crush

We were first introduced to Purple Crush when our friends from The Party brought them through Dallas a few weeks back, and we've been digging on their addictive '80s synth-heavy electro-pop ever since. So naturally we were psyched to find this cover over at Fluokids, which happens to be one of our current favorite blogs, even though we don't speak one word of French. Purple Crush turns Kate Bush's classic into a dancefloor-ready anthem. But at the same time, they do an incredible job of staying true to the genius of the original.

mp3:
Purple Crush Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush cover)

Buy Purple Crush's Welcome 2 Emo-Club EP here. Here's the video for the Kate Bush original, circa 1985. We recommend learning her moves and breaking them out when you hear the Purple Crush version in the club. People will think you're awesome, we promise:



bonus:

Purple Crush vs. Justice Phantom Shopping mp3

sad song reworked

Looks like it's Moshi Moshi day here at gorilla vs. bear: The label was kind enough to send us this brand new version of Au Revoir Simone's "Sad Song," remixed and covered by Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor. Taylor's pensive acoustic cover (which starts at around the 5:15 mark) is unlike anything he's ever done with Hot Chip, and it's an interesting take on one of the best songs from Au Revoir Simone's LP The Bird of Music, which sees U.S. release on May 15.

mp3:
Au Revoir Simone Sad Song (Alexis Taylor remix/cover)

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This remix/cover will appear on the Sad Song 7" single, due out May 28 on Moshi Moshi.

myself is so badass

best fwends

We've been totally obsessed with this song since we first heard a snippet of it on Spank Rock's FabricLive 33: Best Fwends' "M.Y.S.E.L.F.," remixed by XXXchange of the Spank Rock crew. Thanks to Moshi Moshi for hooking us up with the full version, which will appear on the Fwends' upcoming Moshi Moshi release, Alphabetically Arranged (due out May 21). This is immediately going into heavy rotation on our Sirius show, on our workout playlist, in the car, et al. Jam of the summer, part II.

mp3:
Best Fwends M.Y.S.E.L.F. (XXXChange Remix)

trill thing

Badu

Thanks to Stones Throw for posting this new song from Dallas' own Erykah Badu, featuring production from the inimitable Madlib. We used to see Badu around town at basically every decent hip-hop show, but we have no idea what she's been up to lately. Apparently it involves making old-school soul bangers with legendary hip-hop producers:

mp3:
Erykah Badu Real Thing

i got this down right

shit

Well it looks like for the 6th consecutive year, our guarantee of a Pistons-Mavericks NBA Finals will not come to fruition. Dear god, please spare Dirk the embarrassment of having to accept the NBA MVP trophy. Anyway, while we're cheering for the Pistons this weekend and attempting to avoid thinking about just how much the Mavs have tarnished their legacy, we'll be rocking the new Simian Mobile Disco album, Attack Decay Sustain Release. Specifically, the banger "I Got This Down," which you can download over at Analog Giant. Here are a couple videos for songs that appear on the new album; the first, for the smash hit from the record, "It's the Beat." The second, our favorite video ever, and pretty much the only thing that's getting us by in this time of grieving.





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elsewhere:

Mirage is part of that whole Glass Candy/Chromatics Italians Do It Better crew that we've been into lately, and they keep churning out the hits. Here's a new track from the Italian duo. Recommended for fans of robots and/or vocoders:

mp3:
Mirage lake of dreams

ACL acts announced

Thanks to our friends over at the Austinist for deciphering (via crossword puzzle) the first grouping of acts confirmed for this year's ACL Festival. No huge surprises, as Bjork, the White Stripes, the Decemberists, and Andrew Bird head up the early list. We've also heard (on good authority, as far as we know) that the Arcade Fire and Wilco are confirmed to play the festival and record performances on the TV show around festival time.

new M.I.A.: "Hit That"

Thanks to The Fader for pointing us in the direction of this new M.I.A. track, entitled "Hit That," which was produced by Bangladesh and is available for download (as of press time) on dude's myspace page. We'll reserve judgement for now (it's rad) but we will say this: your dreams of hearing Maya sing "All I wanna do is zoom zoom zoom zoom and a boom boom" have just come true.

mp3:
M.I.A. Hit That

UPDATE: We've received word from XL that this track will definitely not be on M.I.A.'s new album, Kala.

plastic little raps

amanda blank + spank rock

You might've seen/heard the new Pink Skull remix of Architecture in Helsinki's "Heart It Races" that's been floating around lately. Nice track and all, but we prefer this equally new Pink Skull remix of Plastic Little's "Crambodia," which features Amanda Blank, Spank Rock, and of course, Ghostface.

mp3:
Plastic Little Crambodia (Pink Skull remix)

The Crambodia 7" also features a Hot Chip remix. Buy it.

what you know about that

Fujiya & Miyagi (& T.I.)

Fucking mashups. Seriously, we're done with them. Okay, one more. It's not our fault the dudes at the Hood Internet keep outdoing themselves. I don't know how technically good these guys are, I'll leave that up to you DJs out there to decide. But at the very least, it's obvious the dudes have taste and know how to pick 'em. This pairing just works too well:

mp3:
T.I. vs. Fujiya & Miyagi What You Know About Transparent Things

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elsewhere:


crystal understanding

We read about Crystal Understanding over at Big Stereo, and we sort of immediately fell in love with this song, which brings to mind the cuteness of the Blow. But even more winsome and childlike and innocent.

mp3:
Crystal Understanding World with no Window

show

poster by Garrison Reid

You guys should join us on Saturday, May 12, at the Cavern for this eclectic bill, featuring everyone's favorite vagabond, Peter and the Wolf, the mighty White Denim, and the amazing Mara Lee Miller, aka Bosque Brown. This promises to be one of the best shows of the year here in Dallas, and it's also the release party for White Denim's kickass debut EP. Here's a sample:

mp3:
White Denim Darksided Computer Mouth

it's time for you to lose your excitement

Here's the new "video" for the title track of the Polyphonic Spree's upcoming album, The Fragile Army. I'm not sure if the clip, which features 2,341 still photos(!) from the great Hal Samples, is an "official" video, but we love it. This is one of our favorite tracks from the new album, and it showcases some of Tim Delaughter's best and most overtly political lyrics ever. Thanks to our homie Wilonsky for the heads up.