MGMT is definitely blowing up and their new single "Electric Feel" will most likely contribute to their rise in the indie world. However, now it's been Justi-fied.

The album version of the song mixes the funkiness of Prince with the other-worldliness of The Flaming Lips, but the remix by Justice drives it down that dark, grinding path that the Ed Banger crew has become famous for. Dig the second half with its epic B-movie synths. Awesome!

The single, which includes another cool remix, is available now. Buy it here. Seriously, it's like 4 bucks, you can afford it!

Also be sure to grab their excellent debut album Oracular Spectacular, which is available now at Insound.

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Posted by Michael

Since today is the 4th of July, a day in which we celebrate our independence, I felt it would be appropriate to share with you, what I feel are, the best American bands of the moment (I am disregarding the fact that some of these bands haven't put out music this year, deal with it). So without further ado, let the fireworks begin!

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Posted by Michael

Baltimore's Ponytail is less of a band and more of an abstraction. Vocals are cut into non-sensical fragments and the music moves like a steam roller heading dangerously off course (think HEALTH, OOIOO, Boredoms).

A prime example of this would be the 4-headed monster "Beg Waves" from their debut album Ice Cream Spiritual. It's fun, catchy, and in the end--you won't even know what hit ya! Weeee!

Ice Cream Spiritual is available now on We Are Free Records. Ponytail visits Philly twice this summer--July 23rd at The Church and Aug. 22nd at JB's. Check it out.

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Posted by Michael

Yes our friends at Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction are awesome. Teaming up with Times New Viking on a T-shirt and poster design is the coolest thing they have done thus far. The band designed a limited edition Tee and tour poster which can only be described in one word....epic! Personally, I love when shirts say something provocative or absurd and "The Hippies Are Back and They're Punks" meets that criteria with flying peace signs.

Throughout the month AITA is holding a contest to give 3 lucky winners the poster and shirt (which also comes in girl's sizes, something that makes our Robin extremely happy). For your chance to win simply go to the contest page and sign-up. That be all! Good luck! Oh, and while you hold your breath in stupendous anticipation, check out this interview with the band, conducted by AITA.

Posted by Michael

Nobunny's "Boneyard" is the stuff that your fuzzed-out new-wave, garage rock, etc etc dreams are made of. A naive surf riff, a drum-machine that sounds like it's about to break any second, and an insane, bunny masked dude from Oakland with a vocal drenched in tremolo effects. Irresistible. Check out the awesome, animated video for the song:

Youtube Link

If you're in Philly catch him perform live tomorrow at the M Room, with the raucus Love City (they have been known to torch a guitar or two on stage). Here's what you can expect from NoBunny:

Youtube Link

Carrot-Mic!!!

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Posted by Michael

Since I am loving the new Deerhunter album and have been a big fan of Jay Reatard's since his 2006 post-punk assault Blood Visions, news that Jay and Deerhunter will be teaming up for the next installment in Jay's Matador 7" series, has got me psyched! The A-side is Jay covering Deerhunter?s ?Flourescent Grey,? and the B-side is Deerhunter covering Jay?s ?Oh, It?s Such A Shame." Pretty awesome...almost as awesome as the fitting, yet completely disturbing and funny cover photo.

Pre-order the 7" from Matador on July 14th (the same day as Jay returns to Philly), it's sure to become a collector's item!

Posted by Michael

Micah P. Hinson, who once suffered from a dislocated vertebrae, has returned with an inspired new album entitled, Micah P Hinson and the Red Empire Orchestra. The sweet balladry of the first single, "When We Embraced," plays like an old-school Johnny Cash snippet as Hinson reflects on love's unburdened moments that eventually become overshadowed by hard realizations. The subject matter is rather cold, but the arrangements and Hinson's voice are warm and comforting.

Micah P Hinson and the Red Empire Orchestra is due out July 14th on Full Time Hobby.

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Posted by Michael

Remember when MTV played music videos...and they were actually good? Often times they made no sense or were severely crypyic, which was the best thing about them.

No Age's MTV video debut (weird unto itself) for the song "Eraser" is either and ode to those glory days or an homage to the classic film Groundhog Day. Entertaining, nonetheless:

No Age will play in Philly at The Church with Abe Vigoda and High Places on July 10th. Check out our recent review of their album.

Posted by Michael

Today is the last day that you can enter to win our Art in the Age, Ben Woodward Walrus Tee. Seriously, it's probably the easiest thing you'll ever do in your life. All you have to do is fill this out the form then go about your day! It's so simple, even a baby walrus could do it!

We will pick 3 winners on Wednesday. Good luck!

UPDATE 7/1: The contest is now over, winners will be notified on 7/2

Posted by Michael

If you like your hip-hop mixed with 90's dance club electronic, then this remix of Pase Rock and Amanda Blank's "Sexy MF" by Philly's Japattack! will have you dusting off your rollerskates and Cross Colour overalls in gleeful nostalgia, although I doubt you ever roller-skated to such good-time filth! If Snoop Dogg and Robyn's "Sexual Eruption" is the Penthouse of new risque hip-hop, then this track is the Hustler.

Pick up the original version on 12" from Boomkat.

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Posted by Michael

Philly people, you seriously can't miss this! The excellent, ear-shattering lo-fi three-eyed monster that is Times New Viking will strike Johnny Brenda's this eve and leave a trail of flowers after the dust settles. As it so boldly states on their awesome new tour poster and t-shirt, a collaboration with our friends at Art in the Age (shameless, shameless plug!) the hippies are back and they are punks!

Those raucous Jersey kids Titus Andronicus will open. See ya tonight and don't forget your ear-plugs!

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Posted by Michael

There's no doubt about it, our friends over at XXJFGs have awesome taste. Their recent post about Brooklyn's Vivian Girls got me a-downloadin' "Tell the World" and I'm glad I did. It's a treble-y wash of femme-fatale pop, with a sexy and muffled 60s garage beat. Make it your rampage anthem on the way to the beach this summer.

Vivian Girls s/t album sold out pretty quickly, but it will be available again this fall on In the Red.

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Posted by Michael

Perhaps I didn't emphasize this enough in my Philly Popped! Fest review, but one man, one gloriously admirable man in the crowd of sweaty, scrawny indie-kids stood above the rest. This man was dubbed by my friend Jackie and I as...The Dan Deacon Super-Fan:

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Posted by Michael

The electro-dub debut single from Swedish newcomer Parken is easily my favorite of the year (so far). I still haven't looked into what the lyrics translate to, nor do I intend to. The mystery of their meaning gives it an even greater appeal, as if the massive production and blinding brilliant melody weren't enough.

In this video Parken, aka Pelle Lindroth and crew perform a stripped down version of the song with the northern day-break wilderness serving as their backdrop. The original version is still the preferred one, but it's interesting to hear how the song adapts to different instrumentation. Plus that little keyboard that Rigas is playing is just soooo adorable! You know you want one.

You can grab the original here. Look out for Parken's debut full-length, Länge Leve Parken, which was produced by Rigas and will be released September 5th on Flora and Fauna Records. Might just be amazing...

Posted by Michael

Why did I not get into Bonnie "Prince" Billy earlier? In the past, I was vaguely aware of a singer/songwriter by the name of Will Oldham (aka Bonnie "Prince" Billy), who strummed some great gee-tar. Maybe I failed to delve into his music due to confusion over his various group names and monikers over the past decade or so.

Whatever the reason for my failure to be enlightened in the past, I would now like to share with you my favorite track off of Lay Down In The Light, his latest album. This particular tune rings out as an honest and simple breath of fresh air in the first days of what seems to be a sweaty, electronic-festering summer.

After spending a few afternoons alone, outside with this tune, I emphatically resign myself to the personal belief that there will be nothing better than listening to Bonnie "Prince" Billy weaving his nostalgic melodies, drinking seltzer, and sweating out worldly troubles on the back porch this summer.

If this genre of bare-bones, good-old-fashioned-songwriting is what some have dubbed "Americana," then I am unabashedly American. You, too? Give it a listen.

Lay Down In The Light is available now from Amazon!

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Posted by Robin

Specifically, the music of Women, a foursome hailng from Alberta, Canada whose psychedelic dirge "Black Rice" keeps creeping into my playlists. Sounding like The Shins on morphine, it swells with a blissful beat, shiny bells and a general sense of melancholy that would make Lou Reed feel right at home.

Their debut, s/t album will be released 7/8 on Flemish Eye. Listen to it in its entirety here.

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Posted by Michael

On Saturday, Robin and I attended the Popped! Fest in West Philly. The oh-so-dreammmyyy indie bill included Dan Deacon, Gogol Bordello, Crystal Castles and others (we only caught a song or two from The Ting Tings and weren't interested in seeing Vampire Weekend or Mates of State). The weather was absolutely perfect for an outdoor fest and the crowd was definitely with it. Check out some reviews and photos from the event:

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Posted by Michael

Donovan, one of the most poetic singer-songwriters of the 60's psychedelic era discussed his creative influences with The Atlantic. From The Beats to The Beatles and beyond, the great transcendental troubadour reveals the inspiration behind songs like "Happiness Runs." Have a look:

If you don't already own Donovan's music, do yourself a favor and get to it!

Posted by Michael

Touted by some as the new Queen of Disco, Victoria Hesketh, aka Little Boots has written a snazzy little pop tune called "Meddle" that has absolutely nothing to do with Pink Floyd. In fact, your brain will be more likely to register it as Hot Chip-y, with a little Robyn-ese thrown in for good measure. I'm not ready to hand her the prestigious, aforementioned title, but I like what I hear so far.

You can download a free mix by Little Boots on her new website and keep an eye out for a 7" release of "Meddle," along with remixes. Here's the track list for the free mix:

Goldfrapp - "Happiness" (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve remix)

Sally Shapiro - "Time To Let Go" (Lindstrom remix)

Hot Chip - "My Piano"

Little Boots - "Magical" (demo version)

Charlie - "Spacer Woman"

Celebration - "Hands Off My Gold" (SMD remix)

Los Angeles TF - "Magical Body"

Primary 1 - "Hold Me Down" (The Shoes remix)

SMD - "Hotdog" (Cosmo Vitelli remix)

Little Boots - "Stuck On Repeat" (Fake Blood remix)

*Kudos for including Charlie's "Spacer Woman"--definitely a cosmic disco classic.

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Posted by Michael

I was paruzzing Discobelle the other day and came across this gem from new Swedish duo First Aid Kit. The band consists of sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg, ages 15 and 17, respectively (crazy!). The sound of "Cross Oceans," from their debut EP Drunken Trees, is filled with a strong sense of tension, outlined by a beautiful melody and clearly influenced by 60s and 70s troubadours. It's fitting that they are signed to The Knife's Rabid Records label, considering the fact that their music sounds like it could be an acoustic, camp-fire companion to The Knife's twisted, electro opus Silent Shout.

Stream more songs from Drunken Trees here and purchase it from Rabid Records.

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Posted by Michael

In the late 60's Mildred Shankland wrote a poem called "Little Rug Bug" about a cute little baby scuttling about on the floor. With bigger dreams for her poem, she sent her words to song-poem master Rodd Keith. He, in turn, sat down in front of his Chamberlin and transformed to Ms. Shankland's verse into a wobbly, electro-mechanical treasure.

Check out this mp3 of the most wonderfully bizarre baby song you may have ever heard.

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Posted by Emily

Talk about a bizarre subtext to a children's song. Dick "Two Ton" Baker sounds like Grandpa Gustafson in Grumpier Old Men with his sad song about being a poor, unwanted hot dog.

Pickle and onion, hot dog!

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Posted by Emily

Twenty-four years ago a curly haired mop top from Athens, Georgia by the name of Michael Stipe, sang and danced his way into the heart of America while wearing fashionably understated high-waisted pants.

Youtube Link

Fast forward to 2008. America's favorite fashionably understated curly haired mop top has transformed into the country's poster boy for self-important, glabrous, gay musicians who paint their foreheads blue.

Whatever. I still think Reckoning is a pretty cool album.

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Posted by Emily

This coming weekend (June 20th-22nd) will be an awesome one for music heads here in Philly. Popped! Philadelphia Music Festival will be hosting some rad bands over the course of 3 days. Whoa! Check out Saturday's line-up at Drexel:

Vampire Weekend

Immediate vs. Turnaround-Soul/Psych vs. Amphetamine-fueled R&B vs. Gritty Get-Down! Soul vs. Filthy Dirty Funk

An indie music-nerd's paradise for sure! Friday and Sunday look pretty awesome as well:

Friday at The Troc:

White T's & White Belts

Special Performance by Slick Rick with Live Band! (DAMN!)

Sunday at World Café:

Daniel Johnston with The Capitol Years

& more TBA

All 3 days sound absolutely fantastic, and it's for a good cause ? environment sustainability. So you should definitely come out! For details and ticket info visit The Popped! site.

See you there!

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Posted by Michael

Brian Wilson and fellow Beach Boy Al Jardine wrote the song "Vegetables" to be released on the Boys 1967's SMiLE album. The album was canceled but the song survived, making the cut for The Beach Boys Smiley Smile record.

Wilson and Jardine were trailblazers in the world of vegetable instrumentation. Long before The Vegetable Orchestra began wooing crowds, the Boys had Paul McCartney chomp away on stalks of celery rather than record traditional percussion.

Chow down on your daily veggie requirement and check out the remastered and extended version of Smiley Smile at Amazon.

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Posted by Emily

The chorus of "The Old Days" from Philly's Dr. Dog may be one of the year's best, and the rest of the song aint too shabby either!

A tale of consequence and nostalgia, it whimsically mixes Bluegrass jams, Byrds style vocals and drummer-boyish rhythms that will have your head nodding all day. Just settle down on the porch and grab a whiskey sour and you'll be set.

Dr. Dog's new album Fate is due out July 22rd on Park the Van and they will be touring the US this summer in support of the album. Check em out!

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Posted by Michael

As many of you know Tim Russert, NBC News Washington Bureau Chief and moderator of Meet the Press, passed away on Friday.

Personally, I feel a loss because this is really the first time that I have followed the presidential campaigns very closely and therefore would always tune into Russert for his no-spin, hard-hitting interviews and round-table discussions. He asked the questions I cared about and was always prepared to back up his points.

Russert was a huge Springsteen fan, so in honor of the great, hard-working journalist, I have posted the Boss' 1975 classic "Thunder Road." I have also taken the liberty of coining a new phrase in his honor. Whenever someone is insanely prepared for an interview or otherwise, that person will now, officially be accused of "pulling a Russert."

Be sure to check out some great archival Meet the Press footage, and send your condolences on MSNBC's comments page.

R.I.P. (Russert is Politics)

Posted by Michael

On the LA Riots remix of HEARTSREVOLUTION'S "Switchblade," HR singer Lo sounds like a female super-hero android vigilantly fighting off an evil computer virus. In other words, it's a glitch-filled Justice-style track, equal parts grit and gloss. Every sci-fi electro fan-boy's wet dream.

Hear more slicing and dicing from mixaholics LA Riots over on their MySpace Page. HEARTSREVOLUTION's official Switchblade EP drops June 24th via IHeartComix. Check their MySpace for more.

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Posted by Michael

So since today is Friday the 13th and you are probably in for a lot of bad luck throughout the course of the day, I figured I would bring a little bit of joy and happiness to your life with this post.

I think it's safe to say that most of you are somewhat familiar with the horror movie series Friday the 13th. Ok, good. Now as you may or may not know, during it's 1982 theatrical run, Friday the 13th Part 3 was shown in spine-tingling 3D. What is even more interesting is that it also had an un-spine-tingling, awesomely crappy disco, theme song used during the main title sequence. This was the original Daft Punk! Scary!

Youtube Link

If anyone knows who wrote it, please email me.

Posted by Michael

If you live in Philly, you know that when it gets hot here, it gets oppressive. So how does one lift the thick, blanket-like heat when it's a steamy 100 degrees? Illegal Pool-hopping in the suburbs, of course! Sure, technically it's breaking and entering, but it's also a hell of an adrenaline rush!

If you need a little persuading, why not lend an ear to High Places' tinkly, motivational tune "Jump In" (a song commissioned for an elementary school music program) from their upcoming singles comp 03/07 - 09/07. Make the chorus your summer mantra.

The singles comp is due out in July on Thrill Jockey and the band will be playing US dates with No Age and Abe Vigoda (@ The Church in Philly July 10!) throughout the summer. For an additional High Places mp3, check out Robin's previous post.

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Posted by Michael

Feeling feverish? Jump into Harry Nilsson's fire with his classic 1971 single "Jump Into The Fire."

Nilsson promises listeners that "we can make each other happy," and he holds up his end of the deal by delivering a combustible song of explosive proportions.

Please, buy the record (Nilsson Schmilsson) that this single is from. Of all the recommendations I have made, this is one album that I'm totally serious about you needing to own. All jokes aside, go to Amazon!

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Posted by Emily

I just finished reading the book Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Nico's cover of Bob Dylan's "I'll Keep It With Mine," seemed the perfect match for something to listen to after ending the memoir of a man diagnosed with Locked-In Syndrome. Nico's cover was, in fact, too perfect - it made me cry.

The depths this German chanteuse is able to plumb with her throaty baritone delve far beyond any surface-level emotion. Her musical quasi-sigh submits to circumstance, leaving her and her listeners content to except their stationary realities. Both comforting and compressing, listening to this song after finishing Diving Bell is akin to eating a sandwich after a funeral.

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Posted by Emily

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction likes us, they really really like us!

Thanks to our good friend Ben Woodward, Creative Director at AITA, we now have our very own Walrus T-shirt! Ain't it purty?

The limited edition shirt with really big teeth, which comes in both "Lo-Fi" Gray on Gray and "Experimental" Turquoise on Turquoise, will be available for a limited time only, exclusively in the Art in the Age online store.

But that ain't all! Art in the Age is also holding a contest to give away 3 tees to 3 lucky winners in the next 3 weeks! All you have to do is sign-up for your chance to win!

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Posted by Michael

Mahjongg were a bunch of dance-punk kids from Missouri with a fixation for polyrhythms and atonal vocals. In 2004 they released an EP on Chicago's Cold Crush label with the day-glo gem of a single called "Jamdek."

This is a tune that everyone from Gang of Four to Santogold would dig. Equal parts post-punk and new-wave, Im surprised this one hasn't been remixed to death.

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Posted by Emily

In 1978 the Los Angeles punk band Fear released their first 7 inch, "I Love Livin' In the City," on Criminal Records. An guttural ode to the squalor and filth of inner-city living, this beer bottle breaking anthem came to mind while walking to work this morning.

I saw two neck-tattooed townies fist fighting over a parking space, a homeless drunk piss himself while waiting to hustle enough change to buy a fifth of generic vodka, and a Septa bus run over a pigeon.

Oh how I love livin' in the city where "junk is king and the air smells shitty."

Feeling a little grimy? Embrace your inner crust punk and pick up Fear: The Record at Amazon.

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Posted by Emily

Joy Allan-Wilsher knows a thing or two about vegetables, legumes, and gender alienating social clubs. In her song "Nut Pumpkin," she pleads for her husband to hurry home from his men's club meeting because she has a nut pumpkin waiting for him at home. Whatever the hell a nut pumpkin is, I have no idea, but it makes me laugh just to say it.

Picture Joanna Newsome in about 30 years as an Australian folk musician who performs free concerts at nursing homes and rotary club luncheons.

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Posted by Emily

Oh my God, it is so frigging hot in this city. The Undertones are right, "Here Comes the Summer."

Youtube Link

Kick out the summer jams with The Undertones 1979 self titled classic pop - punk album, The Undertones. This record is perfect for pool parties, beach tripping, car camping, BBQ'ing, slip and sliding, and any other warm weather activity that requires an upbeat, four on the floor soundtrack. Amazon should put me on the payroll.

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Posted by Emily

Robert Moog was a genius, plain and simple. In the 60's his revolutionary Moog synthesizer, the first widely used electronic instrument, introduced musicians to a brave new world of sound. From the Beatles to Yes to Stereolab, his creation transformed modern music forever.

Now, more than 40 years later the Moog company has introduced it's newest creation, The Moog Guitar. An idea which I imagine stems from today's fusion-heavy music world. Perhaps this creation will change the world again...Here's a video of Lou Reed trying it out:

Youtube Link

Yea, when Lou Reed calls your creation "amazing," you know you've done good.

Learn more about this new creation at the official Moog website and be sure to check out the excellent documentary, Moog.

Posted by Michael

I wasn't that impressed by the previous Deerhunter album, 2007's Cryptograms. There were one or two tracks from that record that I enjoyed, but overall I never understood why people went gaga over it. In general, I felt like it was a little over-cooked and long-winded. However, in 2008, it's a different story.

The band is currently streaming two amazing "pop" songs from their forthcoming album, Microcastle on their MySpace page. Both are beautiful in their simplicity and directness. "Never Stops" is a shoegaze juggernaut that soars above any song from Cryptograms and most songs that I have heard this year (check out the band performing an awesome acoustic version). But wait, it gets better. "Nothing Ever Happens" is 21st century Krautrock perfected, a rhythmic blitz melding Sonic Youth and Neu! with spine-tingling results.

This album may end up being the best of the year.

Microcastle has no official release date, but will be released on Kranky in the near future. Stay tuned!

Posted by Michael

This week's VISUAL NOTES features a weekly round-up of musings on fine art, design, musicians/bands, and related news. Each week I really do delight in scouring the internet for cool marriages of art and music. This week, however, a whole slew of really exciting art and music news fell right into my lap. Literally. The press kit for new Seattle-based rockers, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, was placed directly into my hands for review. Two in-the-know coworkers passed along excellent videos to me. And postcards for Philadelphia First Friday openings showed up in the lobby of my studio.

What immense fortune! And now it's doubled, because I'm sharing it with you. Have a gander:

1. The Philly Challenge: This Weekend in Art & Local Music

First Friday Must-Sees and West Philly's Annual Best Fest!

2. Radiohead Fan Has 'Big Ideas' About Old Technology

Reeeeeeeee-mix! Get nostalgic for your old IBM hard drive.

3. And The Award for Best Hand-Made Musical Press Kit Goes To... Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band!

Find out what a married couple, their adopted son, two bearded men, and toy soldiers have in common.

4. NEWSWORTHY: David Byrne "Plays The Building" In Manhattan

Hands down, the number one find of the week. David Byrne takes over a warehouse exhibition space.

Happy Weekend, Walrus Friends!

---

VISUAL NOTES is brought to you by Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction - a clothing company that hires innovative, contemporary artists to design exceptional and wearable pieces that combat the troubling possibility of artwork losing its presence and power in our image-saturated society.

Posted by Robin

I DJ'ed for the first time this week at the Barbary in Philly and I made sure that this remix of Datarock's "FaFaFa" by Australian New-Wave Giorgio Moroder nerd Miami Horror made the cut. From the smile-inducing 80s synth melodies to the classic house rhythm, it just flat-out melts the competition and should be played at maximum volumes. Summer is here!

Miami Horror is currently working on his debut album, tentatively titled Bravado. Check his MySpace for updates and more awesome remixes.

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Posted by Michael

This morning I caught this on Buzzfeed and after just a few seconds I was nodding my head. Jeremy Jay's "Airwalker" is like a funkier version of a Galaxie 500 tune, or what Lou Reed would've sounded like in the late 70's had he traded in his white noise for a Groovebox. This kid's got it. Check the vid:

Youtube Link

Jeremy Jay's A Place Where We Could Go is available now on K Records and he is currently touring the US.

Posted by Michael

The title of the lead-off track from LA-based Abe Vigoda's debut album Skeleton is rather misleading. The lyrics on "Dead City/Waste Wilderness" fit, but the music is what you might call...tropical. Highly colorful and intense with flamboyant percussion and mumbled harmonies, it's perfect music for a drunken walk on the beach. The rest of the album shares a loose, DIY aesthetic similar to their Smell brethren No Age. However, Skeleton has it's own sound with a trippy, prog-like edge. It's as if HEALTH and Animal Collective merged as one and recorded an album together in Hawaii. These guys are definitely up and coming, so check 'em out!

Skeleton is out on 7/8 on Post Present Medium, but you can pre-order now from Insound. Be sure to catch the band this summer as they join No Age and High Places on tour. Check their MySpace for the dates. Oooh, ya stoppin by The Church in Philly on July 10th? I'll be there in my fluorescent colored Jamz!

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Posted by Michael

Feeling lazy? Well, the UK's Pete and the Pirates can certainly relate. On their high-energy, catchy-as-hell post-punk tune "Come on Feet" from their highly recommended album Little Death, lead singer Tommy Sanders pleads with his feet not to fail him now! Oh, the suspense! Will they get off the ground or will they remain stagnant?! No matter what the outcome, this song will certainly make your toes stand at attention.

Little Death is out now on Stolen Recordings.

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Posted by Michael

Dolly Parton published a biography in 1994 called Dolly: My Life And Other Unfinished Business. Included in her book are photos sent in by fans of little girls dressed up as miniature versions of the C & W perky princess. Complete with bouffant wigs, press on nails, and stuffed chests, these poor little girls have fallen victim to the bizarre über fandom of their Parton-possessed parents.

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Posted by Emily

Brother Danielson's music sometimes makes sense and sometimes is annoying, it truly depends on the mood of the listener. Take for instance the song "Our Givest," off his 2004 album Brother to Son.

I find this song to be one of Danielson's more interesting creations. He seems to have made a successful connection in channeling a supernatural muse. The experience of listening to "Our Givest" is akin to witnessing a musically convoluted churchgoer speaking in tongues.

Perhaps it's the Lord speaking through the good Brother, and in this instance, that is fine by me. Want a little more? You can pick up all of Danielson's music at his website.

This post has: 1 MP3

Posted by Emily

In 1980 Pac-Man released his largely unknown concept album,The Amazing Adventures of Pac-Man. Pesky ghost thieves have been stealing fruit from the good citizens of Pacville and it is up to Pac to find where the supernatural crooks are hiding. A conniving rat knows the location of the accused and forces poor Pac-Man into trading his name to the rodent (so the animal can now be known as Pac-Rat) to solve the mystery.

The single "A Slightly Crazy Lazy Day / My Job" sums up Pac's attitude toward having to save Pac-Ville all the time. Can't a guy just keep his name and have a break?

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Posted by Emily

Ever since You Ain't No Picasso started posting about these Brooklynites in 2006, I have been smitten with them. Bishop Allen's awesome EP Project was a prolific feat for the band, releasing one EP each month for the entire year...without a label. The results were impressive, to say the least. The cover art was always beautiful, but it was the consistent quality of the music inside that really left an impression on me.

Like an American version of the Davies' brothers, Justin Rice and Christian Rudder don't just write pop songs, they weave together colorful narratives dressed in themes of love, heartache, awkwardness, and adventure. My favorite of them all is the summery-sweet guitar plucker "Click Click Click Click" from the July EP and last year's The Broken String. It's about an outcast attempting to overcome his feelings of exclusion by comically popping up in stranger's celebratory snap shots...and it makes me smile every time I listen to it.

You can download more songs from their website, but I highly recommend that you purchase all of the band's work, which is available in digital and physical in their store.

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Posted by Michael

Bo Diddley, one of Rock music's originators, passed away yesterday of heart failure at his home in Archer, Florida. Diddley's innovating music was an inspiration to many popular blue-eyed soulsters of his time like Buddy Holly, Mick Jagger, and Robert Plant. Check out this heavily edited / laugh tracked clip of Mr. Diddley and his guitar playing Bo-ettes performing the singles "Hey, Bo Diddley' and "Bo Diddley" on the TNT show in 1966. Shakin' it like a Polaroid picture!

Youtube Link

Betcha didn't know that Bo wrote the song that made Baby and Johnny in Dirty Dancing crawl across the floor to each other.

Youtube Link

Pick up Bo's album I'm A Man: The Chess Masters, 1955-1958 at Amazon. You'll be amazed by how many songs you never knew he wrote.

Posted by Emily

Titus Andronicus' (also the name of Shakespeare's bloodiest play) self-titled tune from their debut album The Airing of Grievances, fuses the bounce of The Vaselines with the un-corked rage of Bright Eyes, or a lo-fi, cracked out version of Springsteen and the E-Street Band. It's visceral and intense and even though I'm no longer pissed off at the world, the song is still enjoyable and rather poetic. On the verge of dismantling itself, somehow it all manages to come together in a rollicking anthem of cynicism. Hmm, I wonder what Shakespeare would think...

The Airing of Grievances is available now on Troubleman Unlimited and the band will be clawing it's way into Philly with our friends Times New Viking on June 26th at Johnny Brenda's. Hope to se eyou there!

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Posted by Michael

Na, that's not a typo. Belgium's electro duo Nid and Sancy derives their name from that iconic, infamous punk-rock power couple Sid (Sid Vicious of Sex Pistols fame) and Nancy. Devilishly twisted indeed.

Speaking of twisted, the remix of "M.U.S.I.C." by SymbolOne has such a dark and infectious groove, you'll think you've just died and gone to Moroder heaven. Cosmic synths swirl around trashy, dead-pan vox (courtesy of Sancy, I presume) that urge those who live and breath music to "give it up" for their drug of choice. You know I'm in!

An interesting side note, the real Nancy (Spungen) is buried in my home town of Bensalem, PA.

Just another case of a hometown girl making good.

A date has not been set for Nid and Sancy's new album Modern Times Are Gone, but stay tuned to their MySpace page for updates.

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Posted by Michael

Hail Social have a sweet new EP featuring remixes and re-envisioned by some of Philly's best discoheads including Turbostation, Squid from Plastic Little and my personal favorites Crimp Yr Hair ft. Mike Robinson, whose distorted, nu-gaze remix of "All Night" should be listened to on repeat before heading out to the club. Sunglasses are required.

The Flamin' Hotz Remixes EP is available now on Turntable Lab and features cover art by the super-talented Thom Lessner of Art in the Age and David Lee Nagel fame. If you live in Philly try to make it out to the party at Medusa, should be a good time!

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Posted by Michael

Hot Lava's singer Allison Apperson is just as silly as she is talented, and apparently she and her friends, Hot Lava cohorts Herschel and Andrew, as well as Matt from the Orioles, are only slightly obsessed with the legendary Pretenders. Slightly? Sha! They recently started a cover band and charmingly dubbed themselves The Pretend Pretenders. How rad is that? First song up..."Kid" and it's making me have visions of Ms. Hynde, albeit through kaleidoscopic eyes. Chrissie are you out there? Can you hear this???

The Pretend Pretenders will be playing their first gig on Halloween, most likely in their home town of Richmond, a treat for the locals indeed.

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Posted by Michael

This is ridiculous. Leslie Harris and The House Of Fire sounds like what would happen if The Trammps were locked in a vacation bible school and forced to listen to exercise tapes on repeat.

"Everybody get up! We gonna have a run!" Thanks to the UbuWeb for yet another gem.

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Posted by Emily

Elvis Costello's "Blue Chair" single off the 1986 Blood and Chocolate album is one of my favorite upbeat songs about unrequited love. Produced by T-Bone Burnett, this pub rock classic is certain to help all the rebuffed "other men" in the world feel a little less dejected.

The bridge in this song is my favorite. Try to follow Costello's lyrics - they are all over the place.

Down in the blue chair

You say that your love lasts forever when you know the night just hours

Ah, it kills me! Pick up Blood and Chocolate over at Amazon, and remember it is the bonus track single version of "Blue Chair" that works so well. The one on the album is so-so.

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Posted by Emily

Truth be told, I'm no stranger to anxiety. At some point in the day tension pops up and usually lingers longer than it should. Deep breathing and wine will only go so far until my accumulated anxiety dissolves every last bit of patience I have, resulting in some degree of meltdown / explosion.

Apart from locking myself in the closet, Brian Eno's 1975 album Another Green World is the only guaranteed remedy that offers any sort of comfort.

The album begins with the somewhat abrasive "Sky Saw." Distorted synthesizers and dissonant strings shave away layers of tension that have been hardened throughout the day by internalization and manners. "Sky Saw" is an immediate stress-reducing auditory exfoliation, ideal for softening the spirit.

By the time the record gets to the title track, "Another Green World," I'm generally fine. Tracks along the way like "St. Elmo's Fire" and the eternally poignant "I'll Come Running" aren't bad for morale either.

Trust me, the next time you want to rip someone's throat out, take a deep breath and listen to this album. If you don't own it go to Amazon, buy it, and immediately import it onto your mp3 player. This is important! It's for your health!!

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Posted by Emily

Wire is probably my favorite band of all time (or at least one of them) and hearing new music from them is always a cause for celebration, especially when it sounds as good as the sonically-charged "One of Us."

Of course this tune is nowhere near as jaw-droppingly awesome as the songs on their seminal 70's post-punk albums like Pink Flag, Chairs Missing, or even 154, but it is certainly a testament to a the longevity of the band and the insanely prolific and talented songwriting team of Colin Newman and Graham Lewis. Nice work gents!

Their upcoming new album Object 47 (which derives it's name from being the 47th item in the band's discography) has a tentative release date of July 8th and will be available via Post Everything.

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Posted by Michael

It's about time! I was getting really sick of the Sigur Ros status quo!

On the band's new single "Gobbledigook" (far from it) from their forthcoming (one song is in English!) album Meğ Suğ I Eyrum Viğ Spilum Endalaust (translation: With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly), they climb out of the slowcore/shoegaze/orchestral muck, which they perfected early on but wallowed in for quite sometime. It's a long-awaited goodbye to those other-worldly epics, and a friendly hello to some other-worldly folk.

Interestingly enough, I get that same sense of wonder when I listen to this song as I did with 1999's Agaetis Byrjun, even though they are light years apart in terms of style. Mashing Animal Collective-esque looped harmonies and drum stomps with early Dungen psychedelia, not to mention the band's gift for beautiful melodies, it all culminates into a joyful 3 minute pop tune. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it's certainly a refreshing change and it sounds awesome! Also, they made a video for the song and it has naked chicks in it, so there's that.

Meğ Suğ I Eyrum Viğ Spilum Endalaust is due out June 24th. Get more info, including tracklisting and pre-ordering details on their site. Let's hope all the songs are as good as this one.

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Posted by Michael