the world according to pretty toney

Why did no one tell me about this until now? I've only listened to this twice and I already love it more than The Big Doe Rehab. Ghost has life pretty well figured out it seems, but if you take only piece of his advice, make it this: wash your fucking face first, man, then your nuts. Mind = blown.

(thanks to Kevin for the tip)

some things

I discovered Marika Papagika over at Dusted, via this review of a brand new compilation of bizarre and obscure world music recorded between 1918-1955, culled from this guy's collection of 78 rpm records. I can't vouch for the whole comp as I've yet to hear the thing, but this particular song --from the early 1920s -- is completely stunning. I was wholly unfamiliar with the Greek "rebetika" (or urban blues) movement of the 19th/early 20th century, but according to this, it originated in Greek prisons and hashish dens, and was eventually criminalized by the Greek dictatorship in the 1930s. Papagika was the one who brought the genre to America; her "Smyrneiko Minore" is one of the more haunted/haunting and sad things I've heard in a long time, and I imagine it will appeal to those who appreciate the fidelity and subject matter of early Delta Blues recordings from the likes of Robert Johnson. Of course, I couldn't tell you what she's singing about here, but I'm fairly certain it involves drugs, death, and/or lost love:

mp3:
Marika Papagika Smyrneiko Minore

Read more about the compilation (reviews, backstories, etc.) here.

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other stuff:

Take a minute to check out Marissa Nadler's rendition of Cat Stevens' oft-covered "Trouble."


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Status Ain't Hood dissects "RZA's drug-Rap masterwork," 8 Diagrams. It's a great read, and while I definitely don't love the album as much as Breihan seems to, he's right about one thing: Method Man's performance on this record is absolutely thrilling; the best Meth's sounded (by far) since Tical.

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finally:



Some news on The Wire's final season, including five short (but awesome) video promos.

there will be blood

Nonesuch is streaming two tracks from Jonny Greenwood's original score for Paul Thomas Anderson's upcoming film, There Will Be Blood. I'm beyond excited about the film, as Daniel Day-Lewis has long been one of my favorite actors, and he looks absolutely terrifying in this. In fact, I'd say I haven't been this psyched about a movie since No Country For Old Men (so yeah, it's my most anticipated film of about the last two weeks). Stream the songs by clicking here, and watch the trailer, which also features a bit of Greenwood's magic (the song featured in the trailer is "Future Markets"):



p.s. If you skip around that Nonesuch radio player, you can also stream a track from the upcoming soundtrack for The Wire.

wht dnm + rcrdlbl

My favorite band of 2007 has a couple tracks up on RCRD LBL for free download, including one from their new tour EP, and one from their flawless Let's Talk About It 7". I'm still not sure how to download shit from that site, but I trust you guys'll figure it out. Go here.

the (d)evolution of snoop dogg

1992: Snoop Doggy Dogg



2007: doggy dogg is a freak?



Wha happened?

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elsewhere:

Hot Chip is streaming a new song from their upcoming Made in the Dark LP at their myspace page, but the real question is why are those dudes biting my woodgrain, right down to the hue and texture? It's like looking into a mirror. Man it's been a slow day.

new Ghostface: "yolanda's house"

Nah Right has another track from The Big Doe Rehab, and Ghost's got Meth and Rae in tow on this soulful story-rap sex caper(?). Not bad, maybe we should all hold off on our year-end lists until we hear this whole thing, yeah? Listen here.

EDIT: You can preview The Big Doe Rehab (clean) in its entirety here.

thanks a lot

I found these guys on a new compilation of Arabian garage-psych nuggets from the '60s + '70s. They're a Lebanese band from the late '60s called the Sea-ders (later the Cedars). This song -- which was originally released as a 7" single in 1966 and is obviously influenced by bands like the Beatles and the Byrds -- would have been a nice (if slightly obvious, even though these dudes aren't from India) addition to those Kinks jams on Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited soundtrack.

mp3:
The Sea-ders Thanks a Lot

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You can get that comp here, and I highly recommend it, if only for the Sea-ders songs that appear on the record, as well as a fucked-up-psych-pop oddity called "From the Moon," by a band called the News.

favorite live shows of 2007

Year-end list season has officially arrived, as evidenced by the countless daily e-mails every blogger is receiving from labels/PR folks, reminding us not to forget that their bands are totally good. Lists ranking various things are starting to pop up everywhere, and while I know some of you guys pretend to be annoyed by lists, I personally can't get enough (no matter how much I disagree with your choices). I'll have my albums and songs of the year lists next week, but today I offer my favorite live shows of 2007, inspired by Muzzle of Bees' list from yesterday. I've included assorted videos, mp3s, and links to my original posts, where applicable:

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15. The Evens @ Public Trust :: Dallas, TX (original post)
14. Gorilla vs. Booze SXSW day party (Dirty Projectors, Ola Podrida, Alela Diane, Peter and the Wolf, others) :: Austin, TX
13. Menomena @ The Cavern :: Dallas, TX
12. Cat Power @ the Granada Theater :: Dallas, TX (original post)
11. Diplo + Blaqstarr @ Beauty Bar :: Austin, TX (original post)
10. St. Vincent @ Hailey's :: Denton, TX (original post)
09. Grizzly Bear: in-store at Good Records :: Dallas, TX (original post)



mp3: Grizzly Bear Easier (live at Good Records)

08. Animal Collective @ the Granada Theater :: Dallas, TX (original post)
07. Clipse/De La Soul/GZA @ Pitchfork Music Festival :: Chicago



06. NASA Party @ SXSW (Spank Rock, Bonde Do Role, Fat Lip, A-Trak, Kid Sister, Flosstradamus, Simian Mobile Disco, others) :: Austin, TX (original post)
05. Black Lips @ the Loft :: Dallas, TX (original post)
04. Alela Diane: Daytrotter SXSW Session @ Big Orange :: Austin, TX (original post)

mp3: Alela Diane White as Diamonds (Daytrotter SXSW Session)

03. The Arcade Fire: Austin City Limits TV taping @ KLRU Studios (original post)



02. White Denim @ Fun Fun Fun Fest :: Austin, TX
01. The Polyphonic Spree: Hot Freaks @ Club Deville :: Austin, TX

grizzly bear covers JoJo...

jojo and friends

...sort of. As I was perusing Edward Droste's year-end-best-of-mega-post, I noticed that he posted fellow Grizzly Bear Daniel Rossen's solo cover of JoJo's "Too Little Too Late." Only instead of sucking like the original, Daniel's version -- which he recorded as a birthday gift to Ed -- is sort of amazing. This is no cheap stab at an "ironic cover," and it also kills that Ted Leo cover of "Since U Been Gone," too. With this cover, his rendition of "Deep Blue Sea," and Dept. of Eagles' "No One Does It Like You" all coming in the same year, I'm now utterly convinced that Mr. Rossen is a genius.

mp3:
Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear Too Little Too Late (JoJo cover)

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Speaking of Ed's year-end-best-of-mega-post: be sure to check his "best albums" list, which includes Cass McCombs' Dropping the Writ in the top 5. Yay.

bad woman + other stuff

Jazzman Records continues its mission of unearthing impossible-to-find funk 45s from various regions across the U.S., this time compiling 20+ unbelievably raw and soulful forgotten gems from the Atlantic Coast. This compares favorably to that Eccentric Soul comp I posted about the other day, and "Bad Woman" is just one of many unstoppable jams from the comp; you can hear the wobbling, warped crackle of the vinyl, which makes this the next-best-thing to paying a grip for a scratched-up copy of the original 45 on eBay.

mp3:
Frankie & the Damons Bad Woman

Order Carolina Funk: Funk 45s from the Atlantic Coast on 2xLP here.

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unrelated:



White Denim is Spin's "band of the day." Not exactly sure what that entails, but I can assure you that it's significantly better than not being Spin's band of the day. Plus they posted an mp3:

mp3:
White Denim Darksided Computer Mouth

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elsewhere:


ghostface: live at the parish (photo)

Saw Ghostface in Austin over the weekend, and it was pretty badass, as far as free shows go. I could've done without the full band, but Ghost was in rare form, as he ran through each of his solo joints and an assortment of Wu-related classics (like Raekwon's "Ice Cream"). Check the full setlist and look at more pictures here.

do your best

"i've listened to them more than any others this year. they're very emotional for me in the best ways perhaps because i first listened to them in an intense time in an intense environment..."
--Panda Bear on John Maus' new songs



I returned home today to a "new blog subscription post" waiting in my inbox (I knew that subscription to Panda Bear's myspace blog would eventually pay off) extolling the virtues of Minnesotan John Maus. Maus is a core member of Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, and he's also played keys with PB. His new album Love is Real would undoubtedly appeal to fans of both of those artists, as Maus utilizes a lot of similar dubbed-out production techniques and beautiful/fragile melodies while exploring the darker side of '80s synth-pop. Maus says the album, and presumably the song "Do Your Best" specifically, is "about never giving up and holding out for the one you love," which I highly recommend adopting as a personal philosophy. Sort of like "try to remember always just to have a good time."

mp3:
John Maus Do Your Best

Buy Love is Real here.

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elsewhere:

Marissa Nadler performs a medley blending Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" and Townes Van Zandt's "Tecumseh Valley" with her own "My Little Lark," live at NYC's Whitney Museum of American Art:



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finally/unrelated to anything:

look who's on the cover of the new Anthem magazine.

radiohead: "all i need" fan video

Here's a fan video for Radiohead's "All I Need," composed entirely of footage from the 1996 French film, Microcosmos. The video was made by J. Tyler Helms, the same guy who made a fan of Springsteen with his impressive and oddly fitting video for the Arcade Fire's "My Body is a Cage," created with footage taken from Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West.

This one plays like an episode of Planet Earth (which I could, and sometimes do, watch all day) with a significantly better score. Tell me you're not at least a little moved by the final minute of the clip:

in the city (extended version)

It's been a painfully slow (i.e., boring) holiday week around the blogs, so I thought I'd revisit a few songs from earlier in the year that shouldn't be forgotten when you're compiling those year-end "best songs" lists. First up: Chromatics' "In the City." Since I first posted this one back on the 4th day of 2007, it's become one of my favorite (and most played) songs of the year, and it remains the best song to emerge from the Italians Do It Better crew, in what turned out to be a banner year for those guys. The band recently (like, today) made the 7+ minute extended version -- which appears on the In the City 12", as well as the After Dark comp -- available for free download on their myspace page.

mp3:
Chromatics In the City (extended)

Get the In the City 12" here.

gorilla vs. bear presents: Alela Diane

We are pleased to present Nevada City's Alela Diane, live in Dallas at Poor David's Pub on November 29. Alela's The Pirate's Gospel was one of my favorite records of 2006, and the UK release was recently named the #3 album of 2007 by Rough Trade. If you're unfamiliar with Alela, I suggest starting with her stunning Daytrotter SXSW session, which was one of the best show-going experiences of the year for me. Denton electro-acoustic wonders Mom will open the show, and their live show is never less than stellar. Should be a special evening.

EDIT: Show cancelled by the venue because of the fucking Cowboys game. Seriously.

mp3:
Alela Diane White as Diamonds (Daytrotter Session)
Alela Diane The Rifle (from The Pirate's Gospel)
Mom Josh Likes Me



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Here's the video for Alela Diane's "Pieces of String." I also recommend downloading the session she recorded recently for MOKB's Blog Radio.

new Animal Collective!

Animal Collective stopped by BBC Radio 1's Rob Da Bank show earlier this morning, and in addition to "Doggy" and "Hey Light," they played a couple of brand new, unheard songs, which we have for you here (courtesy of Collected Animals). The new stuff sounds like a lullabye from a demented Disney cartoon, which is to say, it's pretty awesome:

mp3: Live on BBC Radio 1
Animal Collective Doggy/Hey Light
Animal Collective From a Beach (Bubbly Sun?)

UPDATE:

Here's another brand new song that the band premiered at the session, courtesy of Avey Tare:

Animal Collective On a Highway

song of the night + new outkast

kompakt's pop ambient 2008

The warm and fuzzy new Pop Ambient compilation from Kompakt has been in constant rotation around here as of late, and if it ever decides to get cold here in TX, I can foresee it turning into a staple for late-night listening this winter. The whole thing is outstanding, with great new tracks coming from The Field, Thomas Felhmann, and others, but this stunning atmospheric gem from Klimek is my favorite at the moment. Immediately add to any sleep/dream playlists you've got in the works:

mp3:
Klimek The Ice Storm

Purchase Pop Ambient 2008 on vinyl here.

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unrelated:



Nah Right has a snippet of Outkast's "Da Art of Storytellin' Pt. 4," which I believe is (was?) supposed to appear on an upcoming Gangsta Grillz mixtape. Despite some retarded drop obscuring Dre's jaw-dropping verse, he reminds us -- over muted horns -- that he's one of the best MCs alive (when he feels like rapping). Go 3000. Spine Magazine is hosting the track; here's the link:

mp3:
Outkast Da Art of Storytellin' Pt 4 (snippet)

UPDATE: Spine Magazine now has the full version, complete w/ Big Boi verse.

outskirts

eccentric soul: the outskirts of deep city

I've fallen in love with pretty much every single Eccentric Soul release that Numero Group has put out over the last couple years, and as long as they keep digging up such consistently amazing, mostly unheard deep soul and funk from the late '60s, I'll keep talking about it. They head back down to the outskirts of Miami this time out to compile an "appendix" to 2006's Deep City Label comp, drawing from what the label calls the "unfathomably wide world of Miami soul." As is the case with all of these Eccentric Soul comps, there's so much incredible stuff here that I hardly know where to start; let's go with this painfully heartfelt, slow-burning soul lament from Lynn Williams, originally released on Miami's long-forgotten, impossibly obscure Sun Cut label.

mp3:
Lynn Williams Don't Be Surprised

Eccentric Soul: The Outskirts of Deep City comes out on Tuesday on Numero Group. I recommend picking it up on 2xLP.

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Tonight in Dallas:

Queen Majesty + June D + The Party = best Tiger Beat cover since '92:

i guess i'll forget the sound

Let's try this again: we posted Bodies of Water's La Blogotheque clip about a month ago, only to discover that someone jumped the gun, and Chryde and co. weren't quite ready to release it yet. But this is even better. Here's a new clip, featuring a stripped down version of one of the best songs from one of the best albums of 2007, performed in BoW's hometown of L.A.:



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mp3:
Bodies of Water I Guess I'll Forget The Sound, I Guess, I Guess

(from Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink)

UPDATE: I just learned that Bodies of Water has signed with one of my very favorite labels, Secretly Canadian. Pretty cool. Congrats to both parties.

new Cadence Weapon

Thanks to our friend Dustin from A Silence Production for these high-quality videos from Cadence Weapon's show (with Final Fantasy) at Monk's in Abilene earlier this month. Rollie performed a couple songs from his upcoming record, Afterparty Babies, including this one, entitled "In Search of the Youth Crew."



Cadence Weapon's DJ is pretty much the most entertaining human ever. Watch the clips for Afterparty Babies jam "Real Estate" (which brought the house down at Fun Fun Fun) and Breaking Kayfabe standout "Black Hand," as well as Final Fantasy performing a new song from his sold-out Tomlab 7", after the jump...

"Real Estate" (from Afterparty Babies):



"Black Hand" (from Breaking Kayfabe):



mp3:
Cadence Weapon Black Hand

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Final Fantasy "What Do You Think Will Happen Next?"

blaqstarr + rye rye: "shake it to the ground"

Baltimore native and Mad Decent-signee Rye Rye is doing alright for a 16-year-old kid. She's currently touring with M.I.A., and now she's got a video for her guest turn on Blaqstarr's Bmore club anthem "Shake it to the Ground." Awww:



mp3:
Blaqstarr + Rye Rye Shake it to the Ground

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elsewhere/wtf/it's a slow day:

burial remixes bloc party / other stuff

With that incredible Burial LP on repeat around here over the last few days, this was a welcome find. His haunted remix of Bloc Party's "Where is Home?" appears as the B-side on their new, limited-edition (2000 copies) "Flux" clear vinyl 12" single. Best Bloc Party-related thing since 2005. Kele's warped/distorted vocals would've sounded right at home on Untrue. Thanks to Discobelle for the heads up:

mp3:
Bloc Party Where is Home? (Burial remix)

(link via Discobelle)

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elsewhere:

Spine Magazine posted an mp3 of "Barrell Brothers," taken from Ghostface Killah's upcoming LP, The Big Doe Rehab.

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also:


julianna barwick

We're documented fans of Sergio Hydalgo's Ma Fama sessions, so when he writes to tell us about a new one, we're curious, even when we've never heard of the artist. This time, the artist is Julianna Barwick. The ever-polite Hydalgo tells us via email that Barwick is "an amazing, almost unkown, talented young woman. Imagine Panda Bear in love with choir music..." and based solely on the hypnotic looped vocals on this track, we're inclined to agree. Recommended for fans of Young Prayer and (experimental) children's choirs:

mp3:
Julianna Barwick Dancing with Friends (Ma Fama session)
Julianna Barwick Dancing with Friends (album version)

Listen to the full Ma Fama session here. Download another track from Julianna Barwick, and purchase her Sanguine LP, here.

jens lekman: live at the granada theater

jens lekman: live in dallas

Jens Lekman rolled solo last night at Dallas' own Granada Theater, and while the absence of his entourage of similarly-clad Swedish girls was initially a disappointment, Jens more than made up for it with his endearingly wry banter and witty '60s baroque pop numbers. Armed only with his recently acquired Canadian acoustic guitar, an iPod, and a loop pedal, he admitted upfront that he's "no Andrew Bird or Final Fantasy" with the looping skills, then proceeded to lay down some impressive three and four-part harmonies as a foundation for his Scott Walker-esque crooning. Oh, and he played that Paul Simon cover every one seems to love so much.

(photos by David)


jens lekman: live in dallas



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mp3:
Jens Lekman You Can Call Me Al (live on Swedish radio)

j dilla vs. the beach boys

"(Bullion) has transformed the Beach Boys' classic 1966 album into a whole new masterpiece...Dilla would have been up for a bootleg as inspired as this."--Exclaim


pet sounds: in the key of dee

The easiest (laziest) way to describe UK producer Bullion's Pet Sounds: in the Key of Dee would be to call it a more adventurous version of The Grey Album, but with J Dilla and the Beach Boys standing in for Jay-Z and the Beatles. Sounds like a fucking mess that should probably be rejected on principle alone. Instead, Bullion's deft fusion of snippets from Pet Sounds with beats from Dilla's expansive body of work amounts to something that is ultimately more enjoyable and more interesting than Danger Mouse's seminal mash-up album. And if that isn't enough for you, Bullion's mixtape serves as a reminder (as if you need it) of just how amazing Dilla really was. His beats were/are timeless, as evidenced by how natural they sound here. Here are some links to a couple sample tracks, but you can download the whole thing for free at Bullion's myspace.

mp3:
Bullion :: J Dilla vs. The Beach Boys God Only Knows
Bullion :: J Dilla vs. The Beach Boys I'm Waiting for the Day

chromatics cover springsteen

In case you missed Chromatics' surpisingly true-to-the-original cover of Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" that was floating around a while back, the band has posted a free download of the song on their myspace page. "I'm on Fire" is the b-side on the new "In the City" 12".

mp3:
Chromatics I'm on Fire (Springsteen cover)

In related news, Chromatics label-mates Glass Candy play in Denton tonight at Hailey's, which would be awesome if you weren't already going to see Jens Lekman at the Granada.

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elsewhere:


goldmund's two point discrimination

If you were at all into that Shuta Hasunuma stuff from yesterday, here's some more minimalist piano music that also comes out on November 20 on Western Vinyl, and like OK Bamboo, it's available in advance on eMusic now. Goldmund's cinematic and extremely (too) short Two Point Discrimination almost plays like a film score, with an emphasis on unusual textures and and a focus on "the sensation of touch and its relationship to sound."

mp3:
Goldmund Leading
Goldmund One

ok bamboo

"In Japan, bamboo is revered as a plant sharing properties of both wood and grass. It also has an enduring and remarkable strength. After bombings in times of war, when all of the people are killed and the buildings destroyed, often the bamboo plants are all that's left standing..."
--Shuta Hasunuma on the inspiration for OK Bamboo



Thanks to Garrison for introducing me to Shuta Hasunuma's beautiful new LP, OK Bamboo. Hasunuma's piano-driven compositions are most commonly compared to the Books and Fennesz, and fans of those two bands will find plenty to appreciate here, as Hasunuma has created an unbelievably warm and organic-sounding digital collage of dreamy glitch-pop, based on his "interest in the ancient relationship between Japan and bamboo." Highly recommended listening for studying/working, or daydreaming to avoid studying/working.

mp3:
Shuta Hasunuma discover tokyo

Ok Bamboo comes out on November 20 on Western Vinyl, but you can get it now at eMusic (or order the deluxe cd here).

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elsewhere:

Finally saw this yesterday. Best film I've seen so far this year, hands down:



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Blog Radio:

Gorilla vs. Bear Blog Radio aired on Sirius Left of Center today at noon EST, with an encore airing at midnight. Listen here for free. Check the full playlist for this week's show (with assorted mp3s) after the jump...

Gorilla vs. Bear Blog Radio :: November 12

1. CSS--Knife (grizzly bear cover)
2. Best Fwends--"M.Y.S.E.L.F. (XXXChange remix)"
3. Santogold--"LES Artistes"
4. Cat Power--"Song to Bobby"
5. Hello, Blue Roses--"Shadow Falls" (mp3)
6. Destroyer--"The Temple"
7. Hood Headlinaz--"Bama Getting Money"
8. Kid Sister--"Pro Nails (feat. Kanye)"
9. Camp Lo--"Luchini"
10. Cadence Weapon--"Sharks" (mp3)
11. M.I.A./Diplo--"pop"
12. Diplo--"Shake it over and Over"
13. Ghostface--"We Celebrate"
14. Lil' Wayne--"La La"
15. Deltron--"Madness"
16. Clipse--"Hello New World"
17. Why?--"The Hollows" (mp3)
18. Ariel Pink--"Politely Declined"
19. The Knife--"We Share our Mother's Health (RATATAT remix)"
20. Oh No--"Heavy"
21. White Denim--"Mess Your Hair Up"
22. Black Lips--"Veni Vidi Vici (Diplo remix)" (mp3)
23. The Kinks--"This Time Tomorrow"
24. The Monks--"Monk Chant"
25. Black Rob vs. Panda Bear--"Bros Before Whoas (the hood internet)" (mp3)
26. Muscles--"Ice Cream"
27. Samamidon--"Saro"
28. The Besnard Lakes--"For Agent 13"
29. Belle & Sebastian--"Stay Loose"

untrue

Thanks to our friends over at Missing Toof for the heads up on Burial's "buzzing, glowy" (the artist's words) new LP, Untrue. I didn't know much about the mysterious Burial -- still don't, other than the fact that Thom Yorke is a fan -- and I sure as hell won't pretend to be any expert on dubstep, but one listen to the gorgeous, immersive Untrue had me hooked. Dark, warm, sad, haunting, hopeful...all would be accurate (if incomplete) ways to describe the record, but the best summation came from Burial himself, when explaining the mood of Untrue to the Guardian:

"What I want is that feeling when you're in the rain, or a storm. It's a shiver at the edge of your mind, an atmosphere of hearing a sad, distant sound, but it seems closer - like it's just for you".

mp3:
Burial Archangel

Untrue came out last week on Hyperdub, and I can't recommend it enough. Get it here. As you listen, read a thoughtful take on "sonic hauntology," as it relates to Burial's Untrue, here.

the evens: live in dallas

ian mackaye + amy farina of the evens :: dallas, TX

The Evens played their first TX show ever last night at the Public Trust, and it was a rousing, collaborative affair between band and audience that, by design, had the feel of a campfire protest gathering. Ian MacKaye led the attentive -- and seated -- audience through an hour-long set of intensely melodic, minimalist (but deceptively complex) punk shout-alongs, which were driven by the duo's uncanny harmonies, and the interplay between MacKaye's propulsive baritone guitar and Amy Farina's distinctive drumming style. One of the most engaging and memorable show-going experiences of the year. The band plays Austin tonight; check these guys out if they come to an atypical venue near you, you won't regret it.

(all photos by david)






poster by brian gibb

ghostface in Austin: free

Ghostface will play a free Austin show at the Parish on November 24th, only about a week before his new record, The Big Doe Rehab, drops on Def Jam. RSVP here now (thanks to Ultra8201 for the tip). Here's a Ghost jam from that Wu-Tang mixtape that came out last week:

mp3:
Ghostface Crooklyn Dodgers

jens lekman + radiohead

jens lekman

Jens Lekman visits the Granada Theater in Dallas on Tuesday night. You can still win tickets here, and one winner will also get a copy of Jens' excellent new album, Night Falls Over Kortedala, on both CD and vinyl. I'll notify the winners on Monday.

mp3:
Jens Lekman You are the Light

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elsewhere:

Moka posts her thoughts on In Rainbows, and offers a "face-to-face comparison" of 5 songs from the album and their "close relatives." Well done.

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Finally:



For those that missed the Radiohead webcasts over the last couple of days, here's a compilation of most of the songs/covers that the band played:

entanglement (webcast 1):

mp3:
Thom Yorke Harrowdown Hill (remix)
Radiohead Unravel (Bjork cover)

thumbs_down: (webcast 2):

mp3:
Radiohead The Headmaster Ritual (The Smiths cover)
Radiohead Ceremony (New Order cover)
Radiohead Bodysnatchers (live)
Radiohead Faust Arp (live)
Radiohead Reckoner (live)

what is?!

We went to see this tonight, but thanks to some kid that didn't know how to work the popcorn machine, the theater was evacuated about 15 minutes into the film (which, coincidentally, was just starting to kick ass.) So, we might as well talk about the band whose show I skipped to go see the movie in the first place. I've been digging Black Lips-homies the King Khan and BBQ Show's stuff lately, but somehow I totally missed King Khan's earlier, painfully under-blogged 2007 project, King Khan & the Shrines (thanks to We Shot J.R. for clueing me in).

The stuff I've been listening to from their What Is?! LP this evening is a perfect blend of '60s pop/garage/psych/R&B that recalls James Brown and Detroit garage-soul heroes the Dirtbombs. And, like the Black Lips, these dudes don't take themselves too seriously. Both of these jams are great + highly recommended, etc.

mp3:
King Khan & The Shrines Welfare Bread
King Khan & The Shrines No Regrets

Here's a cool video from the band that makes me regret missing the show even more.

radiohead tv: part two

So far, pretty awesome. They spun some badass music (Jorge Ben, the First Edition, Bauhaus, Iron & Wine, and others), then a "video," for "Jigsaw Falling into Place," with the band in bicycle helmets, which Thom prefaced with, "don't expect any quality level, because their is none." Now they're playing a live version of "Reckoner" in the studio. (edit: and then a New Order cover, and now discussion of how Thom is "rebranding" himself. Oh, and how Brad Pitt is a genuine Radiohead fan). Watch it here while it's still there.

the evens

As Saturday evening draws near, it's safe to say we're getting fairly psyched (okay, giddy) about this. It's not every day that a legend and one of the most influential independent artists ever comes to Dallas to play an intimate show at a small art gallery. You guys know and love Fugazi, but if you're unfamiliar with Ian MacKaye's (and Amy Farina's) current project the Evens, now's a great time to get acquainted:

mp3:
The Evens Shelter Two (from 2004's 12 Songs)
The Evens Pushed Against the Wall (from 2006's Get Evens)

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Get there early, as there is no pre-sale, no opening band, and doors open at 8 PM sharp.

radiohead.tv update + play-by-play

Well it's about time. And it turns out, it was actually worth the wait. The promised Radiohead broadcast is finally working here (only a few hours late), and it's pretty fucking cool. It starts with Thom Yorke dancing, and apparently, actually (gasp) having fun while he spins some unknown beats. Then after some trippy psychedelic images, we get footage of Thom sitting at the piano, and the band performing (edit: thanks Basin and Yiyo) a cover of Bjork's "Unravel" -- Thom's favorite song of all time -- in a studio:

UPDATE: Here's a link to an mp3 of Radiohead's cover of "Unravel," as well as the full 17-minute video for those of you who refuse to download Quicktime:

mp3:
Radiohead Unravel (Bjork cover)



The video concludes with someone writing the following phrases on a chalk board:





Nothing groundbreaking, but pretty cool if you're a Radiohead fan. Check it.

from dead air space

Radiohead just posted the following on their DAS blog:

"helo
there will be something on the box tonight
its another test
but right now we are entangled in cables
however
weather permitting
our technical experts will resolve the entanglement
itll be broadcast as a quicktime h.264 stream
if youve got a mac you could read it with quicktime player
if youve got a pc you might need to download the installer (click here to download and install)

then
www2.radiohead.tv

try it about 10 pm gmt

Stanley"

We have no idea what it's going to be, but based on what they've already had up their sleeves this year, it'll surely be unbelievable. UPDATE: so far, it's a dude in a mask DJing:

an actor's revenge

One of the many highlights of last weekend's Fun Fun Fun Fest: Cadence Weapon, Final Fantasy, and Dan Bejar perform Destroyer's "An Actor's Revenge." You think Cadence Weapon (one of the nicest dudes we met all weekend) is maybe a fan of Mr. Bejar?

new marissa nadler: "i was your little girl"

still from Marissa Nadler's "Bird on Your Grave"

Marissa Nadler recently hinted (via her myspace blog) that she was preparing "many tracks that are soon to be posted and are previously unheard by most human ears." She unveiled a lovely new Neil Young cover recently, and today she offers another of those unheard songs she promised, along with a track that we posted back in the day. And one more time, we're reminded why Marissa Nadler is one of my favorite artists of 2007:

mp3:
Marissa Nadler I Was Your Little Girl

new Cat Power mp3: "song to bobby"

cat power: live in dallas

Here's the first single from Cat Power's upcoming (mostly) covers record, Jukebox. We had the pleasure of hearing this song -- a Cat Power original making its first appearance on the Jukebox LP -- live (twice, I think) during Chan and crew's 2+ hour marathon set here in Dallas back in August, and it was definitely one of the highlights of the night (both times). The studio version is a little more stripped down than most of the material on the new record, and Chan's voice is definitely the star here. Thanks to our friend Adam for the tip.

mp3:
Cat Power Song to Bobby

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In addition, here's the full updated Jukebox tracklist (a Hot Boys cover and a Joni Mitchell cover??! Yes.)

1. New York (Frank Sinatra)
2. Ramblin' (Wo)man (Hank Williams)
3. Metal Heart (Cat Power)
4. Silver Stallion (The Highwaymen)
5. Aretha, Sing One For Me (George Jackson)
6. Lost Someone (James Brown)
7. Lord, Help The Poor And Needy (Jessie Mae Hemphill)
8. I Believe In You (Bob Dylan)
9. Song To Bobby (Cat Power)
10. Don't Explain (Billie Holiday)
11. Woman Left Lonely (Janis Joplin)
12. Blue (Joni Mitchell)

Limited-edition silver foil deluxe package bonus disc:

1. I Feel (Hot Boys)
2. Naked, If I Want To (Moby Grape)
3. Breathless (Nick Cave)
4. Angelitos Negros (Roberta Flack)
5. She's Got You (Patsy Cline)

politely declined

"Politely Declined" is an old song from Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti that finally saw official release last month on Scared Famous, a collection of shitty-fi tunes culled from a "massive bank of half-forgotten cassettes" that the prolific Mr. Pink had lying around. I can take or leave most of Ariel Pink's stuff, and my opinion of him tends to waver depending on the day. However, every once in a while he comes up with something so eerily affecting and near-brilliant that it renders his inconsistency and general lack of focus (not to mention his choice of recording techniques) extremely frustrating. Embrace the hissing and popping, it's supposed to sound like that:

mp3:
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Politely Declined

Here's the equally poor-quality video. Turn it down:



Ariel Pink is currently on tour with Cass McCombs. Get Scared Famous here. Yesterday, Ariel Pink released an LP called Underground here, and it's almost sold out. Here's a bonus Ariel Pink song that I really love:

mp3:
Ariel Pink For Kate I Wait

new Why? single: "the hollows"

Why? is back with the follow-up to their excellent Elephant Eyelash LP, and they sound fucking paranoid and pissed. "The Hollows" features contributions from Doseone of cLOUDDEAD and Nedelle, and is described by Anticon as a "stormy and anthemic epic." I'd probably throw "dark" and "totally disturbed" in there too.

mp3:
Why? The Hollows

"The Hollows" single is out on November 27, and features remixes/covers from Xiu Xiu, Boards of Canada, Dntel, and others.

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elsewhere:

The Forkcast eventually posted that Bangers & Cash video that we threw up earlier today, accompanied by some painfully flawed commentary from Marc Hogan. Spank Rock's going for shock value? In 2007? Mmmkay. Anyway, these guys called him out so I don't have to.

Wu-Tang: 8 Diagrams mixtape

Wu-Tang's 8 Diagrams is one of my most-anticipated albums of the year (dear god, please be good). Loud.com is offering up this official preview mixtape, featuring 29 tracks of new and unreleased Wu-Tang joints. I've listened to "Break that Break" -- featuring some vintage ODB -- like 4 times in a row:

Wu-Tang 8 Diagrams mixtape .zip (88 mb)

Check the full track list after the jump...

1) Intro feat. Method Man
2) Watch Ur Mouf (Wu-Tang Exclusive)
3) State Of Grace (Raekwon Exclusive)
4) Break That Break (Unreleased)
5) Wu Banga 101 Remix (Unreleased)
6) My Corner (Raekwon Exclusive)
7) Stick Me 4 My Riches (Wu-Tang Exclusive)
8) Thug World (Wu-Tang Exclusive)
9) Maxine Remix (Unreleased)
10) King Toast Queen (Unreleased)
11) Strawberries & Cream Remix
12) Weak Spot (Wu-Tang Exclusive)
13) Intoxicated feat Macy Gray (ODB Exclusive)
14) Crooklyn Dodgers (Ghostface Exclusive)
15) The "W" Remix (Unreleased)
16) Real Nillaz
17) Ghost Is Back
18) Don't Go Breaking My Heart ODB feat Macy Gray
19) Violent Skit
20) Life Changes (Wu-Tang Exclusive)
21) Treez (Unreleased)
22) The Abduction
23) John 3:16
24) Good
25) Da Destroyer (Raekwon Freestyle)
26) Iron God Chamber
27) 4:20
28) Wise (Unreleased)
29) Presidential M.C. (Bonus Track - The Heart Gently Weeps)

video: Bangers & Cash: "pu$$y"

Um, this Scott Lunny-directed clip for perhaps the raunchiest jam of the year is just...wow. Warning: not safe for work, children, women, old people, kittens, or anyone else, really. You saw it here first, but don't tell my mom:



To commemorate this monumentally dirty occasion, we have three copies of the Bangers & Cash EP to give away. Holler if you want one.

last fun fun fun post

cat power at Fun Fun Fun (photo by c. wadsworth)

Our good friend (and Austin's best photographer) Chad Wadsworth took some rad photos at Fun Fun Fun Fest, including shots of Cat Power, Of Montreal, Ted Leo, the New Pornographers, and others. Check 'em here.

mad decent + fun fun fun

diplo at beauty bar: austin, TX

Well I haven't had that much fun in a long time. Thanks to everyone who came out to Beauty Bar on Sunday night for the Mad Decent afterparty, and a huge thanks to Franki Chan, Klassen, Blaqstarr, and Diplo for being awesome. Also thanks to Lone Star for making beer that is at once cheap and enjoyable. The whole night was a blast, but Diplo's set was ridiculous. This one brought the house down:

mp3:
Diplo Shake It Over and Over


diplo + blaqstarr


gregg from cat power


blaqstarr + franki chan

Look at way more pictures of things after the jump...

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elsewhere:

Season 5 of the best show on TV is almost here. Here's a preview:



Mad Decent Afterparty: Beauty Bar (Austin, TX)




franki chan




klassen + diplo




blaqstarr