upside down

Banjo or Freakout's new Upside Down 12" EP comes out soon on Half Machine Records, and all pre-orders get a free exclusive cd-r featuring a handful of remixes, including this one by St. Louis producer Phaseone. Like most of Banjo or Freakout's work, it's dark and brooding and has a ghostly quality that's best suited for late night listening. The last 2:20 or so is especially great, as the song takes on a vaguely familiar '80s vibe:

mp3:
banjo or freakout :: mr no (phaseone remix)

************

previously:

Coincidentally, both artists have offered their own takes on Burial's transcendent dubstep joint "Archangel" in the past, and we've posted both on separate occasions. Grab them both here:

mp3:
banjo or freakout :: archangel (burial cover)
burial :: archangel (phaseone remix)

************

elsewhere:

Really loving this Atlas Sound live jam (found here, via here), in which Bradford Cox utilizes a great looped sample from the Dovers' 1965 nugget "What Am I Going to Do?" in somewhat Panda Bear-esque fashion:

mp3:
atlas sound :: dovers jam (live)

************

danger mouse + sparklehorse present: dark night of the soul

Just received this poster in the mail for Danger Mouse + Sparklehorse's upcoming project, Dark Night of the Soul. Features visuals by David Lynch, and guest spots from Julian Casablancas, the Flaming Lips, James Mercer, Iggy Pop, Suzanne Vega, Gruff Rhys, Nina Persson, and more...coming Summer 2009.

***************

bride of the spirits

This song is taken from the new 7" from Mehdi Ameziane, aka twinsistermoon, one half of the duo Natural Snow Buildings. You could've probably convinced me that this hushed, haunting folk ballad was an old Vashti Bunyan demo from the late '60s, if Mehdi wasn't actually French, and a dude:

mp3:
twinsistermoon :: bride of the spirts

Twinsistermoon's Bride of the Spirits 7" is out now Dull Knife Records; sold out.

***************

elsewhere:

woxy has Harlem's SXSW session available for free download here.

***************



Joanna Newsom, performing as "The Beatles's," debuted new songs over the weekend at the Fernwood Resort in Big Sur:

"It was also interesting to note throughout the set the way Joannas voice has evolved with her fluttering vocal inflections varying between the completely unrestrained and more smoothed over than ever before with the harmonies she preformed being some of the most diversely interesting she’s written. The multi-part harmonies she shared with her band mates (and self for that matter, what an amazing and capable voice) outpace anything she’s recorded yet by far." [more]

***************

mp3: polly scattergood x the golden filter dub

[photo]

The Golden Filter were one of the best acts we saw at SXSW '09 (twice), and while the mysterious crew kept the packed house(s) moving with some pretty great tunes of their own, they're also becoming extremely proficient at banging out phenomenal official remixes for the likes of Cut Copy, Peter Bjorn and John, Little Boots, Empire of the Sun, and others. Here, they work their magic on London pop chaunteuse Polly Scattergood's forthcoming single, "Please Don't Touch," with three different, equally glittering takes:

mp3:
polly scattergood :: please don't touch (the golden filter dub mix)

Download the Golden Filter's main remix of Polly Scattergood's "Please Don't Touch" at Pitchfork, and grab the "pop mix" Stereogum.

***************

strangling good guys

One of our favorite blogs/labels/curators of radness, No Pain In Pop, recently sent over their excellent new compilation album, the aptly titled No Pain In Pop (due out April 6). The comp is meant to serve as an "introduction to all that No Pain In Pop is," by highlighting various bands that are related to NPIP in some degree, including HEALTH, Nite Jewel, Abe Vigoda, Banjo or Freakout, Telepathe, and more. NPIP calls it "an archive of the last twelve months in painful, post-generic pop," and it's all pretty out-there and wonderful, but the track I can't stop listening to is this dreamy, swirling, reverb/hiss-drowned number from London newcomers Trailer Trash Tracys:

mp3:
trailer trash tracys :: strangling good guys

The No Pain In Pop compliation is out April 6. Pre-order here. NPIP will also release a single from TTTs on May 18, so look for that.

*******************

elsewhere:

woxy.com just posted the session they recorded with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at SXSW 2009 -- including new song "103" -- for free download here.


*******************

the tough alliance covers the zombies

Not sure how I missed this last week (oh yeah, sxsw), but on Friday, Modular gave away this magical cover of one of my favorite songs from one of the best albums of all time. As Modular puts it, "sweeter than a fistful of fairy floss delivered by a friendly liger":

mp3:
the tough alliance :: hung up on a dream (the zombies cover)

thanks to Butter Team for the tip

****************

songs of shame

I've already mentioned how much I love Woods' latest Captured Tracks 7" -- the b-side in particular -- and the band's stellar new full-length, Songs of Shame, is more of the same simple, breezy, and consistently awesome lo-fi pop (the label calls it road worn/windblown "skeletal psychedelia"). Highlights include the group's killer Graham Nash cover, and the fuzzy, pensively sad backwoods psych-folk ballad "Rain On":

mp3:
woods :: rain on

Songs of Shame comes out April 14 on Woodsist. You can also purchase their 7" here; in case you missed this one the first time around:

mp3:
woods :: the dark

**************

gorilla vs. bear x sirius/xm :: blog radio

Our weekly Sirius XM Blog Radio show airs today at noon Eastern (and again at midnight) on Sirius XMU. This week's episode features brand new music from Phoenix, Night Control, Dum Dum Girls, St. Vincent, Kurt Vile, CFCF, Crystal Stilts, and more. You can listen online with a free trial here. Check this week's playlist + some mp3s after the jump...

******************

gorilla vs. bear blog radio :: march 26

1. st. vincent :: the strangers
2. night control :: star 131
3. white denim :: wet sand
4. phoenix :: girlfriend
5. fever ray :: when i grow up (version by lissvik)
6. the golden filter :: hide me
7. grizzly bear :: two weeks
8. grizzly bear :: cheerleader
9. here we go magic :: fangela
10. kurt vile :: beach on the moon (recycled lyrics)
11. kurt vile :: my sympathy
12. grouper :: rising height
13. crystal stilts :: love is a wave
14. harlem :: come back jonee (devo cover)
15. king khan & saba lou :: past and gone
16. dirty projectors :: stillness is the move (live at sxsw 2009)
17. the mayfair set :: already warm
18. dum dum girls :: it only takes one nite
19. night control :: no making
20. ariel pink's haunted grafitti :: can't hear my eyes
21. dum dum girls :: baby don't go
22. la roux :: in for the kill (skream remix)
23. burial :: archangel
24. the streets :: blinded by the lights (unknown dubstep bootleg)
25. DOOM :: that's that
26. bullion :: time for us all to love
27. CFCF :: you hear colours
28. grizzly bear :: while you wait for the others

*****************

where the wild things are x the arcade fire

Featuring a different (new?) version of "Wake Up":



UPDATE: watch in HD here (recommended, obviously)

*************

elsewhere:


[photo]

Q-Tip is giving away the new remix for "We Fight/We Love," featuring Consequence and a rapping Kanye West:

mp3:
q-tip :: we fight/we love (remix feat. kanye + consequence)

*************

video: department of eagles :: "no one does it like you"

Directed by Patrick Daughters, who also helmed Grizzly Bear's upcoming "Two Weeks" video:

mp3:
department of eagles :: no one does it like you

[via]

*****************

grizzly bear + victoria legrand :: "two weeks" (live at sxsw)

One of the more memorable moments we experienced at SXSW '09: Grizzly Bear is joined by Beach House's Victoria Legrand on Veckatimest standout "Two Weeks," live at Cedar Street Courtyard:



[via YANP]

Previously: photos from the evening

***************

celebration decides to give away all their music for free

Baltimore's Celebration have decided to cut out the middle man (4AD, in their case) and release all of their music for free. In the band's words:

We as Celebration, have felt the continual growth of web culture's need for barrier-free exchange. We also feel that the traditional methods of releasing music have put too much distance between us...Our plan and experiment is to post new songs monthly, as we create and record them. Under the creative commons attribution non-commercial share alike license, all of our new music will be free to download on our new website. When we have enough music for an album, we will release it on vinyl for those who want to have something to hold. As artists we can only stand for our music, our art, our creation. So here it is--laid bare.

Read their entire manifesto and download two new songs, including "I Will Not Fall," here.

mp3:
celebration :: i will not fall

[via beach house]

*****************

you hear colours

Here's the new video for CFCF's "You Hear Colours," taken from his awesome, extremely limited double A-side white vinyl 7" single that we mentioned a while back (out now on Acephale). The fitting clip was put together by Dallas' own Tommy Boy, using footage from Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, NASA, and National Geographic.



mp3:
CFCF :: you hear colours

Like Acephale's first release (SALEM's debut 7"), the single is almost sold out, so get it here before it's gone.

*****************

panda bear x gang gang dance

A "shit-res" video for Panda Bear's "Take Pills," with visuals and weird reversed/pitch-shifted sounds by Gang Gang Dance's Brian Degraw:



***************

stillness is the move

We ran into our friends from Stereogum down at SXSW, and they couldn't stop raving about the new jams they'd just heard from GvsBooze alums Dirty Projectors during the Pitchfork/Windish Bash at Emo's earlier in the week. Turns out the gushing was warranted, at least based on this NPR live recording of oddly accessible and moving R&B jam/upcoming first single from Bitte Orca/current set closer, "Stillness Is The Move" [via]:

mp3:
dirty projectors :: stillness is the move (live at sxsw)

Stream the Dirty Projectors' full set from the group's March 19 SXSW showcase at the Parish here. The Stillness Is The Move single is out April 21 on Domino, with the LP to follow in June.

****************

mp3: new dum dum girls :: "it only takes one nite"

Here's another new driving buzzsaw of a tune from L.A.'s Dum Dum Girls, who, despite being m.i.a. from SXSW, was the subject of more than one overheard conversation down in Austin last week. She tells me this is a song about being left behind, so while her infectious melodies and sublime girl-group harmonies are still in full effect here, they're a little more desolate and further down the well:

mp3:
dum dum girls :: it only takes one nite

No word on when this song will be officially released, but DDG still has a limited number of her excellent Yours Alone 12" EP available here. "Catholicked" and "Yours Alone" sound particularly awesome on vinyl.

**************

unrelated:

Essential listening for this balmy spring evening: Italians Do It Better/Troubleman label-head Mike Simonetti just posted up a new African Connection mix, made up of "mostly African disco lps and 45's mixed with some Caribbean and Jamaican tunes in there for good measure..." No tracklist available, but there's some incredible stuff here, and Simonetti's offering up any 3 Italians releases if you can name all the tracks (you can't):

mp3:
mike simonetti :: african connection mix (70 mb)

**************

takeaway show :: sigur ros

[via]

************

sxsw 2009 :: photo recap

black lips x andre williams


the golden filter @ gorilla vs. booze


king khan


vivian girls @ hot freaks


the rosebuds @ hot freaks


girls @ gorilla vs. booze


harlem @ hot freaks


nite jewel @ wsjr x gvsb party


the black lips


wavves


harlem @ gorilla vs. booze


fight bite @ wsjr x gvsb party


wavves @ gorilla vs. booze


king khan + the shrines


dog @ wsjr x gvsb party

sxsw 2009 photos by david and pooneh ghana. more after the jump...

*****************


girls @ hot freaks


harlem @ hot freaks


late of the pier


har mar superstar


vivian girls @ hot freaks


nite jewel @ wsjr x gvsb party


white denim @ gorilla vs. booze


eugene mirman


the grates @ hot freaks


the strange boys


girls @ hot freaks


joe :: black lips


vivian girls @ hot freaks

*****************

wavves vs. the british railway council

Thanks to whomever left this in the comments: Wavves' "No Hope Kids" soundtracks a creepy British railroad safety PSA from 1977, in which the moral of the story appears to be that playing on the tracks is really fun until everyone dies:



********************

related:

HRO blogs about Wavves, a "chill bro who plays gigs in comfortable sports wear."

********************

the chameleon

glass candy [photo]

Sweden's Johan Agebjörn sent us his new remix of Glass Candy's "The Chameleon," which is slated to appear on Lo Recordings' forthcoming Milky Disco 2 compilation, featuring the likes of Nite Jewel, CFCF, Soft Circle, Windsurf, and more. Agebjörn tells us this is the first official remix of any song from the cosmic disco duo, and while it starts off very similar to the original, things get interesting just after the 2:00 mark as the song begins to evolve into what Agebjörn calls "dubby ambient-disco."

mp3:
glass candy :: the chameleon (johan agebjörn remix)

******************

elsewhere:



Here's the second new video from French eccentric/perv Sebastien Tellier in as many weeks. These two screen caps provide a pretty accurate summary of the whole clip. Good song, but I'd stay away from the "Sebastien Milk Flavour" yogurt:



******************

sxsw photos :: grizzly bear + beach house | live at cedar street courtyard

****************

sxsw polaroids :: gorilla vs. booze III

katy of vivian girls :: gorilla vs. booze III

HARLEM:





WHITE DENIM:





HERE WE GO MAGIC:





WAVVES:







THE GOLDEN FILTER:







GIRLS:





SOBER:



VIVIAN GIRLS:









[polaroids by david]

********************

sxsw :: friday

[click for larger image]

Reminder: the FREE We Shot J.R./GvsB party at Cherrywood Coffeehouse (formerly Quack's) at 1400 E. 38th 1/2 St. gets underway at 3PM. Set times look like this:

3:00 Jeremy Jay
4:00 Los Llamarada
5:00 AIDS Wolf
5:30 PRE
6:00 Fight Bite
6:30 Ducktails
7:00 Nite Jewel

mp3:
nite jewel :: weak 4 me

****************



Hot Freaks gets started around noon at the Mohawk/Deville, with sets today from the Wrens, Handsome Furs, Alela Diane, We Have Band, the Thermals, the Rosebuds, the Hold Steady, and more...

mp3:
alela diane :: white as diamonds

****************

sxsw photos :: the very best | live at a pizza joint

ESAU MWAMWAYA + RADIOCLIT ARE THE VERY BEST:















mp3:
the very best :: kamphopo
esau mwamwaya and radioclit are the very best mixtape .zip

[polaroids by meredith reid]

********************

today :: gorilla vs. booze III

[larger image]

Reminder: gorilla vs. booze III gets started at around 12:30 this afternoon at the Peacock in Austin. Once again, this is a FREE party, NO badges or RSVP required. See you there. The set times:

1:00 Harlem
1:45 Here We Go Magic
2:30 Girls
3:15 The Golden Filter
4:00 Wavves
4:45 White Denim
5:30 Vivian Girls

***************

related:

lala.com helped make our gorilla vs. booze III day party possible, and they also asked us to submit a brief SXSW preview playlist highlighting some of our can't-miss acts this year. The playlist includes songs from:

• Department of Eagles, who played last night at Central Presbyterian Church on the 4 AD showcase with St. Vincent, M Ward, and Anni Rossi. 
• Grizzly Bear plays perhaps our most anticipated show of the fest tonight at the church with Girls and the Rural Alberta Advantage. 
• Wrens kick off the Hot Freaks proceedings Friday morning at the Mohawk, so we included a jam from their amazing Meadowlands LP.
• Alela Diane also brings her powerful live show to Hot Freaks on Friday, where she'll grace the intimate indoor stage at the Mohawk.
• Dallas' Erykah Badu plays on Saturday night with Beach House (who sounded better than ever at Red 7 yesterday) and Explosions in the Sky at Auditorium Shores, so we chose her amazing J Dilla-produced "Didn't Cha Know."
  

Download the full playlist at lala.com/sxsw for $2.

***************

elsewhere:

A special SXSW-edition of our Sirius XM Blog Radio show airs today at noon Eastern (and again at midnight) on Sirius XMU. This week's episode features guest DJ Sober, who will debut part of his new Satin Sheets Vol. 2 mix (which you can pick up for free at GvsBooze today). We'll also have brand new music from Phoenix, Bullion, Night Control, La Roux, and more. You can listen online with a free trial here. Check this week's playlist + some mp3s after the jump...

******************

gorilla vs. bear blog radio from SXSW '09 :: march 19

1. vivian girls :: where do you run to
2. white denim :: let's talk about it
3. wavves :: weed demon
4. DJ Sober :: Satin Sheets, Vol 2. mix (excerpt)
5. the golden filter :: moonlight fantasy
6. treasure fingers :: cross the dancefloor (chromeo remix)
7. dizzee rascal + calvin harris :: dance wiv me (shazam remix)
8. ty city feat. picnic :: 8 ounces
9. DMG$ x XRABIT :: killin 'em
10. hawatha hurd x chrissy murderbot :: roll another one (tremor dub refix)
11. VEGA :: well known pleasures
12. lord finesse :: isn't he something
13. zhigge :: rakin in the dough
14. king sun :: undercover lover
15. harlem :: south of france
16. here we go magic :: fangela
17. girls :: morning light
18. grizzly bear :: cheerleader
19. grizzly bear :: while you wait for the others
20. the very best :: dinosaur on the ark
21. phoenix :: girlfriend
22. bullion :: time for us all to love
23. bullion :: god only knows
24. erykah badu :: the healer
25. night control :: no making
26. la roux :: in for the kill (skream remix)

******************

photos:: sxsw | day one

THE GOLDEN FILTER:











BEACH HOUSE:





ANNI ROSSI:



[photos by david]

*************

mp3: grizzly bear :: "cheerleader"

I know you've all heard the terrible quality rip by now, but Warp is offering up one of the best tracks from Veckatimest as a relatively glorious 192 kbps mp3. This is more like it. Can't wait to see this live at the church tomorrow night:

mp3:
grizzly bear :: cheerleader

*****************

sxsw preview :: kurt vile

Kurt Vile's upcoming God Is Saying This To You 12" (out later this month on Mexican Summer) has been my default late-night jam lately, all hazy, earnest psych-folk that feels intensely lonely and intimate, at times eliciting a stinging nostalgia for an era that I didn't actually experience. The guy is getting a lot of much-deserved love lately from some good people, and fortunately for SXSW-goers, he's playing a handful of must-see showcases at the fest, including parties with Woods, Vivian Girls, Blank Dogs, Wavves, Crystal Stilts, Nite Jewel, and more. Here's one of the highlights from the new record:

mp3:
kurt vile :: beach on the moon (recycled lyrics)

*****************

mp3: new voxtrot

Here's the new single from Voxtrot (minus a couple of original members), recorded and mixed with Jim Eno of Spoon at his studio in Austin:

mp3:
voxtrot :: trepanation party

*****************

in for the kill

I'm a couple weeks late on this one, but UK dubstep genius Skream improves upon La Roux's "In For the Kill" by stripping the song of its retro-futuristic, "driving through the Hollywood Hills in a Trans Am" '80s synth-pop steez, and turning it into something massive and deeply chilling. Skream's mix was released on a limited (500 worldwide) white label 12", but NME recently posted it up as a free download:

mp3:
la roux :: in for the kill (skream remix)

[mp3 via NME]

[edit: also get it here as a sweet shaped picture disc 7"]

***************

mp3: ghostface x doom x oh no

Via Stones Throw's twitter. Original produced by Oh No:

mp3:
ghostface & doom :: chinatown wars
ghostface & doom :: chinatown wars (remix)

[mp3s via rappcats.com]

****************

new rye rye + m.i.a. :: "bang"

A frenetic new Rye Rye jam just surfaced on myspace, featuring none other than her bff M.I.A. And while it's kind of making my head spin right now, it'll probably be pretty awesome live next week at SXSW. Not sure who produced this one, but I'm going to go with Blaqstarr. Come catch up, throw your fucking sets up, etc. Listen at ryeryespace.

*****************

new Here We Go Magic :: "surprise"

Luke Temple's new project Here We Go Magic had a pretty eventful week, first appearing live on a new Laundromatinee session, then recording a woxy Lounge Act session, and of course, that whole "opening for Grizzly Bear's tour" thing that was announced yesterday. woxy just posted up the band's whole session for download; the live versions of "Fangela" and "Tunnelvision" sound great, and they also debuted this new, unreleased song:

mp3:
here we go magic :: surprise (live on woxy)

Download Here We Go Magic's entire Lounge Act session here. Catch the band next week during SXSW at gorilla vs. booze III in Austin.

*****************

mp3: no age x fucked up

Taken from Fucked Up's No Epiphany 7", which came out this week on Matador. Mad noisy and buried under layers of distortion and feedback, this collabo with No Age sounds pretty much exactly how fans of either band might expect/hope. No digital release on this at all, but Matador hooked us up with the mp3:

mp3:
fucked up :: no ephiphany (no age remix)

Buy the No Epiphany 7" here.

****************

mp3: fever ray x studio

I leave you for the weekend with this outstanding version of Fever Ray's "When I Grow Up," reworked by Lissvik of Swedish balearic duo Studio. I mentioned it briefly last week, but now we've got the mp3 clear to post for your weekend. Probably my favorite remix of the year so far; the children's playground samples and panpipes lend a nice eerie, slightly unsettling feel, as if Karin needed it:

mp3:
fever ray :: when i grow up (version by lissvik)

****************

video: the golden filter "solid gold"

One of the bands I'm most excited about seeing next week at SXSW is the Golden Filter. Most of the attention they're getting so far is based on a couple of stellar official remixes, but their own first single is pretty great too. Here's the new video, directed by Moop Jaw [via Big Stereo]:



mp3:
the golden filter :: solid gold

**************

Catch the Golden Filter at approximately 3 PM on Thursday, March 19 at gorilla vs. booze III, presented by C3. FREE/No RSVP required, with free beer provided by Red Stripe. 21+.


[larger image]

**************

sxsw update

Big Boi of Outkast will be playing an afropunk showcase at SXSW. In other news, the new Big Boi album Sir Lucious Leftfoot: the Son of Chico Dusty is allegedly on the way.

UPDATE: Erykah Badu also playing a Red Bull party at SXSW '09.

***************

new crystal stilts :: "love is a wave"

mp3:
crystal stilts :: love is a wave

Crystal Stilts' Love is a Wave 7" is out March 31 on Slumberland. Catch the band next week at SXSW.

***************

elsewhere:



Our good friend Luke Winn has started his always excellent annual Sports Illustrated NCAA Tourney blog, and he's once again asked us to curate a free/legal mp3 playlist to accompany his posts. Stay up on that and Luke's run to the Final Four here.

***************

8-bit hip hop

Starring Jay-Z, Chamillionaire, Kanye, Luda, etc., and an amazing 8-bit version of T.I.'s "What You Know" that's somehow just as massively anthemic as the original, and would've worked SO well over the end credits on Mike Tyson's Punch-Out. Seriously, sync it up:



[via aziz is bored via shot then]

On the off-chance you don't recognize all of these, full tracklist after the jump...

*******************

Jay-Z :: Dirt Off Your Shoulder
T.I :: What You Know
Chamillionaire :: Ridin’
Ludacris :: What’s Ya Fantasy
Bonecrusher :: Neva Scared
Kanye :: Overnight Celebrity
Ludacris :: Move Bitch
Lil' Jon :: Get Low
Kanye :: Gold Digger

*******************

fred falke remixes grizzly bear's "two weeks"

I have heard this and it's awesome. Look for it soon in the club, and also possibly on a 12" single. In other news, Patrick Daughters will be shooting the video for "Two Weeks" with the dudes next week in L.A. Check out the new Veckatimest section of the band's website for more updates.

************

phone call

"Phone Call" appears on Bosque Brown's starkly haunting new LP, Baby. Catch her often chill-inducing live show at SXSW.

mp3:
bosque brown :: went walking
bosque brown :: this town

**************

time for us all to love

I was first put on to West London's Bullion a couple years back on the strength of his amazing Pet Sounds In The Key Of Dee mixtape, which still gets quite a bit of play around here. And now, this single from his new Young Heartache 12" EP is an early contender for the jam of Spring '09, combining everything I love about the intensely soulful, vaguely psychedelic productions of dudes like Dilla, Oh No, and the Avalanches. Busy P and Mary Anne Hobbes are big fans, and Boomkat says the song has a "magical Boards Of Canada-visit-Studio 54 feel," which also works fine:

mp3:
bullion :: time for us all to love

The whole Young Heartache 12" EP is highly recommended, so get it here. "Time For Us All To Love" will also be available on Warp's free Bleep Loves Labels compilation.

******************

rising height

Taken from a forthcoming, extremely limited split 7" to commemorate her New Zealand tour with Pumice, Grouper's mournful "Rising Height" is absolutely flooring me right now. A little more formless/droning than Liz Harris' relatively structured Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill material, but just as devastating.

mp3:
grouper :: rising height

If you can't make Grouper's New Zealand dates, get the Grouper/Pumice split here for $7 before it's gone.

*****************

elsewhere:



New, totally official 25-track J Dilla record, entitled Jay Stay Paid, coming in June: mixed and arranged by Pete Rock, executive produced by Ma Dukes, and featuring vocals from Black Thought and MF DOOM.

*****************

old people hate animal collective

"I doubt that this group is not gonna get very far from Baltimore, Maryland."--old dude on the right

(via collected animals)

**************

David Byrne | Live in Dallas

David Byrne has just announced a stop at Dallas' historic Majestic Theater on Sunday, June 14, as part of his upcoming tour, Everything that Happens will Happen Today: Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno. Tickets officially go on sale this Saturday, March 14, and this will sell out quickly, but C3 has hooked us up with a pair of tickets to give away in advance. Just email us at gorillavsbearcontests@gmail.com for a chance to win.

mp3:
david byrne + brian eno :: strange overtones

****************

night control

So it turns out that following Shaq isn't the only thing Twitter is good for after all, as this guy sent me the heads up on Rosemead, CA's Christopher Curtis Smith, aka Night Control. While his first official full-length immediately recalls the woozy, disorienting lo-fi AM pop of intermittent geniuses Ariel Pink and John Maus, I feel like repeat listens reveal something a little more consistently affecting and heartfelt.

mp3:
night control :: star 131

Night Control's kind of revelatory debut LP, Death Control, was pieced together from the best of Christopher Curtis Smith's home recordings by his friends at Kill Shaman records. Buy it here.

*******************

elsewhere:



The Mayfair Set's debut 7" single is now available via Captured Tracks' myspace page.

mp3:
the mayfair set :: desert fun

*******************

photos: Cut Copy | live in TX

[photos of Cut Copy in Austin/Dallas by pooneh ghana + sarah b.]

****************

premiere: Cryptacize :: "blue tears"

Cryptacize's adventurous second album, Mythomania, is due out April 21 on Asthmatic Kitty. The label hooked us up with the premiere of "Blue Tears," a galloping, charmingly fragmented avant-pop jam that sounds like dramatic '60s girl-group pop-meets-guitarist Chris Cohen's former band, Deerhoof. Nedelle Torrisi's voice shines brightly with what Sufjan Stevens calls "the uncomplicated clarity of a 1950s movie musical," making it pretty easy to get lost in the group's simple, oddly infectious melodies. Bonus: you can download two more songs from Mythomania at MOKB and Stereogum.

mp3:
cryptacize :: blue tears

In other news, Cryptacize has been posting some really great mixes on their blog here.

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mp3: St. Vincent | "the strangers"

Actor is the profoundly cinematic new LP from Dallas' own St. Vincent (out May 5 on 4AD). Annie Clark mentioned recently that the new record was inspired by -- among other things -- vintage Disney features like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, and that influence is evident on opening track "The Strangers," which begins like the score to a whimsical, slightly unsettling woodland scene. Driven by a thumping beat that'll sound familiar to anyone who's seen Annie rock the stomp board in a live setting, it's a decidedly elegant affair, and by the time the song's swirling backdrop is buried under Annie's dissonant, almost proggy shredding, the whole thing's offered a glimpse into the massive leap forward that Actor represents for St. Vincent.

mp3:
st. vincent :: the strangers

Pre-order Actor here, and get St. Vincent's Actor Out Of Work/Bicycle 7" for free. Catch St. Vincent at 4AD's official SXSW showcase at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin on Wednesday, March 18.

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elsewhere:



Chocolate Bobka posted NME's now infamous C86 mixtape in its entirety as a .zip file here.

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gorilla vs. bear presents: Grizzly Bear | live in dallas

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It goes without saying that we're beyond pleased to present the inimitable Grizzly Bear, live at Dallas' Granada Theater, on June 15, 2009. If you've already heard the "best record of the '00s," you know this show is not to be missed. We have 5 pairs of tickets to give away courtesy of the Granada; just email us at gorillavsbearcontests@gmail.com and we'll pick the winners at random the week before the show.

UPDATE: Tickets are on sale now here, and this one WILL sell out, so get on it early. In case you missed the band's spellbinding performance the last time they rolled through town:



mp3:
grizzly bear :: easier (live at good records)

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hot freaks 2009 sxsw day party

We've teamed up once again with Aquarium Drunkard, Chromewaves, Largehearted Boy, My Old Kentucky Blog, You Ain't No Picasso, and our friends at Insound for the 3rd annual FREE Hot Freaks SXSW Day Party. This year's event takes place Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21 at the Mohawk and Club Deville on Red River, and the insane lineup features 32 bands over two days, including:

Wrens (opening!)
Handsome Furs
The Rosebuds
Camera Obscura
Vivian Girls
Alela Diane
Jason Lytle
Harlem
The Hold Steady
American Analog Set
Jeremy Jay
Real Estate
the Grates
Girls
We Have Band
and many, many more...

Check out the full schedule and RSVP for the party here.

mp3:
alela diane :: white as diamonds
harlem :: south of france
jeremy jay :: love everlasting
girls :: lust for life
camera obscura :: my maudlin career
richard swift :: lady luck
real estate :: black lake

Hit up Largehearted Boy for more mp3s from the bands playing Hot Freaks 2009.

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elsewhere:

Our weekly Sirius XM Blog Radio show airs today at noon Eastern (and again at midnight) on Sirius XMU. This week's episode features brand new music from Harlem, Phoenix, the Mayfair Set, the Strange Boys, Woods, and more. You can listen online with a free trial here. Check this week's playlist + some mp3s after the jump...

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gorilla vs. bear blog radio :: march 5

1. harlem :: come back jonee (devo cover)
2. the strange boys :: heard you wanna beat me up
3. white denim :: shake shake shake
4. animal collective :: daily routine
5. grouper :: heavy water/i'd rather be sleeping
6. grouper :: false horizon
7. the arcade fire :: neighborhood #1 (tunnels)
8. the flaming lips :: race for the prize
9. the shivers :: beauty
10. the shivers :: the road
11. the mayfair set :: desert fun
12. dum dum girls :: jail la la
13. harlem :: south of france
14. them two :: am i a good man
15. grizzly bear :: colorado
16. here we go magic :: fangela
17. the polyphonic spree :: light to follow
18. st. vincent :: these days
19. air france :: never content (friend's tropic thunder edit)
20. phoenix :: 1901
21. cut copy :: far away (the golden filter remix)
22. vivian girls :: lake house
23. white denim :: sitting
24. woods :: the dark
25. the shins :: caring is creepy
26. the bitters :: warrior
27. wavves :: to the dregs
28. fever ray :: keep the streets empty for me
29. the knife :: we share our mother's health (ratatat remix)
30. chromatics :: hands in the dark
31. j dilla :: last donut of the night

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videos: dum dum girls :: "catholicked" + "blank girl"

L.A.'s Dum Dum Girls just posted a couple of new videos, both comprised of appropriately winsome vintage found footage, on her youtube channel. The first -- for "Catholicked," which is the song that made us fall in love with DDG in the first place -- features some fitting home movies of a young girl getting, well, catholicked. The second clip is for an instantly irresistible new song called "Blank Girl," a "future b-side" featuring Brandon Welchez of Crocodiles.

[thanks to david herron for the tip]





mp3:
dum dum girls :: catholicked
dum dum girls :: baby don't go

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elsewhere:



Fever Ray's awesome "When I Grow Up" single is due out later this month, and it features no fewer than 8 remixes. Included is a beach-ready re-work from Dan of Swedish balearic duo Studio, which would be decidedly less creepy than the original if not for some well-placed samples of kids on a playground. Take a listen after the jump...

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[via]

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harlem covers devo

Austin's Harlem takes on Devo's "Come Back Jonee" for the 4th installment of their covers of the month club. According to the band:

"people are probably going to think that we are trying to capitalize on the fact that devo is coming here for sxsw but before we even knew they were playing we had decided to a cover of come back jonee. i guess we would be pretty stoked if devo heard it but then again they might tell us it sucks or hire a team of lawyers to sue us for all the leftover beers in our fridge."

mp3:
harlem :: come back jonee (devo cover)

Best cover yet from these dudes; someone should get this to Wes Anderson immediately. In other news, Harlem plays a free show tonight at the Parlor in Austin. You can also catch them at gorilla vs. booze or one of their other SXSW shows, including "some tv thing," "some mexican food place," and "a house party i think."

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gorilla vs. booze III set times and other assorted SXSW 2009 updates

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Here are the tenative set times for our gorilla vs. booze III day party on Thursday, March 19, at the Peacock in Austin. Again, the party is FREE, and there is NO RSVP required. We'd also like to extend a huge thanks to our sponsors for making the event possible in the first place: Austin's own C3 Presents for presenting the event, lala.com for being the official media sponsor, and of course, Red Stripe for hooking up the free booze. These are the set times, as of today (subject to change). You can also add these to your SXSW schedule on sched.org:

1:00 PM Harlem
1:45 PM Here We Go Magic
2:30 PM Girls
3:15 PM The Golden Filter
4:00 PM WAVVES
4:45 PM White Denim
5:30 PM Vivian Girls

[DJ Sober spins between sets]

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elsewhere:

Here are some other tight FREE blog parties going on during SXSW, with more to be announced in the near future:

Aquarium Drunkard + MOKB's ¡Vaya Con Tacos!
Cannibal Cheerleader's SXSW Blood Bath '09
I Guess I'm Floating's Free Day Party
Austinist's Gonna Gonna Get Down IV
We Shot J.R. + Gorilla vs. Bear's SXSW Day Show
Partyends.com's SPACE CAMP
Pitchfork/Windish Austin Bash
Hype Machine Radio Launch Party
woxy @ sxsw '09
Little Radio 3-Day Event
Terrorbird/Forcefield SXSW Blowout
Brooklyn Vegan Day Show
IndieHouston Day Party
Onion AV Club It's Pronounced PAR-TAY
After the Jump Unofficial House Party

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related:

lala.com also asked us to make a couple playlists highlighting some of the bands we're most excited about seeing at SXSW this year. Go here to get our playlist of 5 mp3s (as well as picks from Paste, Spin, Filter, and others), and click on the playlist at the top of the sidebar to get songs from Crystal Stilts, Talib Kweli, Diplo, Women, Beach House, Wale, Dead Prez, and more added to your lala library for free.



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never content

Another sunny, "HI-NRG" (his words) Air France edit from London's Jesse Kanda, aka Friend. Check Air France's original version here.

mp3:
air france :: never content (friend's tropic thunder edit)

Look for Friend's debut EP, Shima, in the very near future.

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previously:

mp3:
friend :: secret

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video: sebastien tellier :: "roche"

New, potentially NSFW video for Sebastien Tellier's "Roche," in which the ridiculous album cover comes to life on a French beach.



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brightblack morning light + rio en medio | live at good records

[poster by will bryant]

Brightblack Morning Light and Rio En Medio play a free show tonight at Good Records in Dallas to celebrate our good friend CP's birthday. We are told there will be a keg, "the lights will be turned all the way off," and "psychedelic projections will be flying around the room." Hopefully we'll get to hear Danielle's Earth, Wind, & Fire cover.

mp3:
rio en medio :: let's groove tonight (earth, wind & fire cover)

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new Vivian Girls :: "walking alone at night"

Vivian Girls play a brand new song in their tiny living room for pitchfork.tv's "analog-meets-digital show," ADD.



Catch Vivian Girls in an even more intimate setting on March 19 as they headline our free gorilla vs. booze III day party. We'll have set times up soon.

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the xx

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Our friends at Beggars recently sent over some extremely promising new demos from four 19-year-olds from South London called The xx. The group recently signed to Beggars imprint Young Turks, and these wistful slow-jams are basically the exact opposite of all the noisy lo-fi stuff I've been posting lately. The Womack & Womack cover is especially recommended:

mp3:
the xx :: teardrops (womack & womack cover)
the xx :: stars (bedroom demo)

The xx's first 7" will be out soon, with a debut full-length to follow in September.

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elsewhere:

Thanks to commenter Rob Z for pointing out this relatively decent quality recording of new song "Ready, Able," from Grizzly Bear's BAM show over the weekend. Also, "Colorado" sounds incredible with the full orchestra.

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video: grizzly bear :: "deep blue sea" live at BAM

Grizzly Bear played with the Brooklyn Philharmonic last night at BAM in Brooklyn. Ed Droste posted the full setlist from the show on Twitter, and according to Ed (also via twitter), they'd never played most of these songs live before, and likely won't play them again unless they're performing with a full orchestra. The band debuted a handful of new songs from Veckatimest, including "Foreground," "Ready, Able" and "Dory." Here's "Deep Blue Sea" from the front row of last night's encore, via this guy:



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