Watch the video to 'The Same Thing' below:
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Cass McCombs - 'The Same Thing'
'The Same Thing' is the latest slow burner from the fretful, but charming, Cass McCombs. Full of shoe gaze haze in the beginning, the single really hits its stride right around the 2:04 mark with blooming chorus and fragrant pipe organ.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Mastodon in NYC
Merry Christmas all!! Or as Tae and I would say, Happy Birthday Jesus!! Hank here, I'm still alive, not dead (yet). Posting from my new locale of Fort Myers, FL.
Just thought I 'd post a pic of myself (at left in the 'Ohio' t-shirt) with Lonely Note supporter Kellen, hanging out with the lead singer of Mastodon, Brent Hinds.
We were in NYC for a wedding, and just happened to be walking down the street, and we noticed the band outside of their hotel. Kellen and I recognized Brent by his trademark head tattoo. Was a very cool dude, very friendly and appreciative of our support. They were in town to play that night at Terminal 5, headlining the show with Dillinger Escape Plan as openers
I have previously seen Mastodon, opening for Deftones and Alice in Chains at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis 2010. As you can imagine, the show was PHENOMENAL. Funny thing about the Mastodon set: Brent, Troy, and Bill all had the "Mastodon" look: shaggy hair, unshaven, rugged-looking like they had been on a tour bus for 2 weeks straight. Then, when the set was over, the drummer Brann stood up: He had on khaki shorts, a t-shirt, and what looked to be frosted-tips on his hair, almost like he was in an Abercrombie commercial. Hillarious!! Great set though, and they were super cool in NYC, so definitely nothing bad to say about them!!
Any of the readers have any good stories about seeing or meeting Mastodon, or any other good band stories?? I would be interested in hearing them. I have previously met Jared Leto and 30 Seconds to Mars, as well as their opener Saosin, and of course Tae and your trulys favorite, The Goodyear Pimps, but other than that no other back stage or up close personal encounters with any other bands (that I can remember??)
Well, from Tae, Steve, and myself at The Lonely Note, we wish you a very Merry Christmas 2011 and Happy Holidays. Here's to a great 2012!!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Prince - 'Another Lonely Christmas'
Now for a festive post.
The b-side to the single 'I Would Die for U,' Prince's 'Another Lonely Christmas' is one of the most melodramatic Christmas songs out there. With schmaltzy lyrics about banana daiquiris and hokey hooks, 'Another Lonely Christmas' is nevertheless a cool and soulful holiday ballad. Prince belts out his signature falsettos and vocal runs amidst killer guitar and bright piano licks. It's a delight.
Stream 'Another Lonely Christmas' below:
The b-side to the single 'I Would Die for U,' Prince's 'Another Lonely Christmas' is one of the most melodramatic Christmas songs out there. With schmaltzy lyrics about banana daiquiris and hokey hooks, 'Another Lonely Christmas' is nevertheless a cool and soulful holiday ballad. Prince belts out his signature falsettos and vocal runs amidst killer guitar and bright piano licks. It's a delight.
Stream 'Another Lonely Christmas' below:
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Monday, December 05, 2011
St. Vincent - 'Cheerleader'
One ear-catching track from the long player is 'Cheerleader.' It begins innocently enough, with subtle hints of 'A Day in the Life' at its very outset, that quickly morphs into the expected trappings typical of most indie darlings.
But suddenly at the 0:50 mark, the track turns on a dime, blasting into sonic ecstasy while simultaneously proclaiming, "I don't want to be a cheerleader no more!" The low-fi oscillates to the high-fi, and guitars, drums, and electronic dirge all kick in to chasten the listener with its glorious noise.
Stream 'Cheerleader' below:
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Saturday, December 03, 2011
Scars on 45 - 'Heart on Fire'
'Heart on Fire' caught me by surprise. I was scanning SiriusXM when I settled on The Spectrum. When I heard 'Heart on Fire' I thought it was a very strong alt-pop single, and I enjoyed it. It was only later that I discovered the track was featured on Grey's Anatomy, a show I do not watch.
Anyhow, 'Heart on Fire' by Scars on 45 is respectable. Watch the video below:
Friends - 'Friend Crush'
'Friend Crush' is an electronic jaunt by Brooklyn outfit Friends, and is about a protagonist who, as the title suggests, wants to be someone else's friend.
But don't let the blatant simplicity fool you. 'Friend Crush' is textured and clever. Cloaked in electronica, it's nothing more than an all-American pop song.
Stream 'Friend Crush' below:
But don't let the blatant simplicity fool you. 'Friend Crush' is textured and clever. Cloaked in electronica, it's nothing more than an all-American pop song.
Stream 'Friend Crush' below:
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Those Darlins - 'Screws Get Loose'
"Whoaaaah. Screws get loose!"You'll be singing along in no time after you listen to 'Screws Get Loose,' the perfunctory--but perfect--single by Tennessee's Those Darlins. Slightly rockabilly, but mostly garage punk, 'Screws Get Loose' burrows itself nicely.
Watch the video to 'Screws Get Loose' below:
SebastiAn - 'Embody'
SebastiAn's 'Embody' is the embodiment of cool. (Pun intended). But what else would you expect from French electronica?
Watch the video to 'Embody' below.
Watch the video to 'Embody' below.
Dark Dark Dark - 'Dadreaming'
Stream 'Daydreaming' below:
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Great Northern - 'Home'
Stream 'Home' by Great Northern below:
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Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Blue Jean Committee - 'Massachusetts Afternoon'
"Do you have one of those afternoons you wish would never end?"
Watch one of the best SNL skits from last night's episode below. A brainchild of Fred Armisen, The Blue Jean Committee is a faux band from Western Massachusetts that harnesses the glory of AM soft rock. Simple, but clever stuff:
Watch one of the best SNL skits from last night's episode below. A brainchild of Fred Armisen, The Blue Jean Committee is a faux band from Western Massachusetts that harnesses the glory of AM soft rock. Simple, but clever stuff:
Monday, November 07, 2011
Portico Quartet - 'Ruins'
If you've never listened to Portico Quartet before, do yourself the favor.
My little sister got me hooked on this modern ethnic jazz-fusion quartet after seeing them perform in Paris several years ago.
The London-based group brings a level of chilled out intricacy and creativity to their sound that is exciting and refreshingly current.
The contemporary combo of soprano saxophone, acoustic bass and drums is taken to new sonic heights through the use of digital drum effects and an instrument called the hang. The hang is a style of lap drum, with a shell-like appearance that sounds similar to a steel drum and metallaphone.
That rhythm combo sets a deep and unique groove to Portico Quartet's cinematically-noir experimentalism.
Smoldering squelches of exotic sax sweep over the foundation in heartbreaking waves.
Portico Quartet are set to release their third full-length album in early 2012.
The first song released from the upcoming self-titled effort is called "Ruins" and it sounds as strong as anything I've heard from the band to-date.
The track is currently available as a FREE download at www.PorticoQuartet.com
Watch the video to "Ruins" below to see the band creating their unique sound:
My little sister got me hooked on this modern ethnic jazz-fusion quartet after seeing them perform in Paris several years ago.
The London-based group brings a level of chilled out intricacy and creativity to their sound that is exciting and refreshingly current.
The contemporary combo of soprano saxophone, acoustic bass and drums is taken to new sonic heights through the use of digital drum effects and an instrument called the hang. The hang is a style of lap drum, with a shell-like appearance that sounds similar to a steel drum and metallaphone.
That rhythm combo sets a deep and unique groove to Portico Quartet's cinematically-noir experimentalism.
Smoldering squelches of exotic sax sweep over the foundation in heartbreaking waves.
Portico Quartet are set to release their third full-length album in early 2012.
The first song released from the upcoming self-titled effort is called "Ruins" and it sounds as strong as anything I've heard from the band to-date.
The track is currently available as a FREE download at www.PorticoQuartet.com
Watch the video to "Ruins" below to see the band creating their unique sound:
Marley v. Marley
I had the strangest conversation this past weekend.
While attending an old college friend's wedding reception on Saturday, I met a middle-aged gentleman and struck up some conversation.
He pointed to a young lady's arm tattoo, of a sunset with poetry beneath it. The man asked me what I assumed it meant and the woman overheard and chimed in that the words were lyrics to a Bob Marley song.
The man gave her a rather puzzled look, then turned to me and asked, "Who the hell is Bob Marley? You mean the comedian?"
I returned the puzzled look and replied, "The singer. There's a comedian named Bob Marley??"
We both looked at one another as if we were communicating from separate planets.
He further tried to convince me that Bob Marley was a comedian and I tried to explain that Marley was one of the most famous reggae singers of all time. Neither of us seemed to comprehend how the other didn't know what we were talking about.
The conversation ended with both of us utterly confused.
So, for any of you who somehow still have no idea who Bob Marley the musician was, allow me to clear this up with the video below:
...and for those of you like me who didn't realize Bob Marley is also a comedian, visit his official website at www.bmarley.com
While attending an old college friend's wedding reception on Saturday, I met a middle-aged gentleman and struck up some conversation.
He pointed to a young lady's arm tattoo, of a sunset with poetry beneath it. The man asked me what I assumed it meant and the woman overheard and chimed in that the words were lyrics to a Bob Marley song.
The man gave her a rather puzzled look, then turned to me and asked, "Who the hell is Bob Marley? You mean the comedian?"
I returned the puzzled look and replied, "The singer. There's a comedian named Bob Marley??"
We both looked at one another as if we were communicating from separate planets.
He further tried to convince me that Bob Marley was a comedian and I tried to explain that Marley was one of the most famous reggae singers of all time. Neither of us seemed to comprehend how the other didn't know what we were talking about.
The conversation ended with both of us utterly confused.
So, for any of you who somehow still have no idea who Bob Marley the musician was, allow me to clear this up with the video below:
...and for those of you like me who didn't realize Bob Marley is also a comedian, visit his official website at www.bmarley.com
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Real Estate - 'It's Real'
Stream 'It's Real' below:
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Sunday, October 30, 2011
Caveman - 'Old Friend'
Caveman strikes indie pop gold with 'Old Friend.' For those who enjoy Portugal. The Man and Local Natives, Caveman is the band just for you.
Stream 'Old Friend' below:
Caveman "Old Friend" MP3 by The FADER
Stream 'Old Friend' below:
Caveman "Old Friend" MP3 by The FADER
Friday, October 28, 2011
The Waters - 'Take Me Out to the Coast'
Fuzz rock marches forward with 'Take Me Out to the Coast' by The Waters. This track is simply excellent. Imagine Wayne Coyne blended with Shannon Hoon blended with the subtle country sensibility of Boz Skaggs and you have 'Take Me Out to the Coast.' The chorus is the best part!
You can stream the song by way of the video player below:
You can stream the song by way of the video player below:
[Sponsored Post] Gillette - Sweat for Greatness: Joe
We are pleased to feature a sponsored post by Gillette. Sweat for Greatness features men who have faced great adversity but nevertheless are doing extraordinary things. While this post isn't technically music-related, the story featured below is too important to ignore.
Watch the video below featuring Joe, a wounded Iraq War vet and his journey to become a competitive hand-cyclist.
Watch the video below featuring Joe, a wounded Iraq War vet and his journey to become a competitive hand-cyclist.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Atlas Sound - 'Terra Incognita'
Stream 'Terra Incognita' below:
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Sunday, September 11, 2011
Forgotten Gem: Souls of Mischief - '93 'Til Infinity'
"This is how we chill from '93 'til..."
Truer words couldn't have described this laid back West Coast hip-hop track by Souls of Mischief. Eighteen years later, that chillness lives on.
Acclaimed as one of the seminal classics of the West Coast underground rap movement, the album 93 'Til Infinity is considered somewhat of a forgotten masterpiece. Music critic Steve Huey even referred to it as "...one of the most slept-on records of the '90s"
The album's title track gained S.O.M. some attention upon its release, sampling Billy Cobham's "Heather" and incorporating smoothed out jazz and funk aethetics and breaks. Souls of Mischief's lyrical complexity, charisma and tight group dynamic are evident on this underappreciated release.
Watch the video to Souls of Mischief's "93 'Til Infinity" below:
Truer words couldn't have described this laid back West Coast hip-hop track by Souls of Mischief. Eighteen years later, that chillness lives on.
Acclaimed as one of the seminal classics of the West Coast underground rap movement, the album 93 'Til Infinity is considered somewhat of a forgotten masterpiece. Music critic Steve Huey even referred to it as "...one of the most slept-on records of the '90s"
The album's title track gained S.O.M. some attention upon its release, sampling Billy Cobham's "Heather" and incorporating smoothed out jazz and funk aethetics and breaks. Souls of Mischief's lyrical complexity, charisma and tight group dynamic are evident on this underappreciated release.
Watch the video to Souls of Mischief's "93 'Til Infinity" below:
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Bass Drum of Death - 'GB City'
'GB City' is a stripped down, punk infused romp through a vast garage rock universe.
Stream the single by Bass Drum of Death via the video player below:
Stream the single by Bass Drum of Death via the video player below:
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Girls - 'Vomit'
Girls is a strum-and-thrash duo from San Francisco that is actually composed of just one singular girl.
'Vomit' is no departure from the strum-and-thrash theme. And it's at the 4:30 mark where the track takes a turn for the best and really delivers.
Stream 'Vomit' below:
Girls, "Vomit" by The FADER
'Vomit' is no departure from the strum-and-thrash theme. And it's at the 4:30 mark where the track takes a turn for the best and really delivers.
Stream 'Vomit' below:
Girls, "Vomit" by The FADER
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Class Actress - 'Keep You'
'Keep You,' like the other wonderful chillwave tracks before it, utilizes a perfect formula of dependable computer beats alongside siren vocals. It's great stuff.
Stream 'Keep You' via the video player below:
Stream 'Keep You' via the video player below:
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Times New Viking - 'F*** Her Tears'
Stream 'F*** Her Tears' below:
Monday, July 25, 2011
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - 'How Can U Luv Me?'
Stream 'How Can U Luve Me?' below:
Monday, July 18, 2011
Behind the Sample: Club Nouveau's 'Why You Treat Me So Bad?'
Remember the 1987 R&B dance single "Why You Treat Me So Bad?" by Club Nouveau?
The single charted #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the merit of the melodic hook and signature keyboard and rhythmic arrangement.
If the name still doesn't ring a bell, perhaps it would be best to put the song into context with the numerous artists who have sampled it on their own hit singles.
First, you should listen to Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad?" right here.
Maybe you'd be more familiar with "I Got 5 on It" by Luniz. The rap duo scored their biggest hit single in 1995, selling over a million copies of the song. Notably, the song sampled heavily from the Club Nouveau synthline, as well as from Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Boogie". The result is a now-classic staple of '90s hip hop.
Watch the video for Luniz' "I Got 5 on It" below:
1999 was a simpler time - a time when Sean Combs still called himself "Puff Daddy" and R. Kelly wasn't relieving himself on underage girls. The two megastars combined forces for the #1 hit single, "Satisfy You". Back then, it was hard to go anywhere without hearing this smooth track on the radio. Oh, by the way, it implements the same beat and synth track as some song called "I Got 5 on It" by Luniz, which apparently sampled some song by Club Nouveau...
Watch the video to "Satisfy You" by Puff Daddy & R. Kelly:
In 2001, Jennifer Lopez released her second album, J.Lo. She followed it up the next year with a remix album, titled, J to tha L-O!: The Remixes. That album had a reworked version of her song, "I'm Gonna Be Alright" by the Track Masters and Nas which went on to outshine the previous version, hitting the #10 spot on the Billboard charts. That remix also contained a reworked instrumental sample of "I Got 5 on It".
You can see what I mean by watching the video to "I'm Gonna Be Alright (Track Masters Remix)":
During the first few years of the aughts, it seemed like Ashanti was singing on just about every rap song on the radio. Her third solo album, Concrete Rose, was released in 2004 and the Gold-selling single "Only U" gained considerable airtime. The song briefly, but prominently uses the same samples as the aforementioned artists. You can click here to watch the video.
By now, you can tell that quite a few pop artists have had big success sampling and reworking the simple catchiness of Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad?".
But we're not quite done.
Club Nouveau's Jay King was previously involved in another group, Timex Social Club - best known for their hit, "Rumors".
Timex Social Club penned another single, "Thinkin' About Ya" in 1986 and then shortly after disbanded.
King went on to form a "new" group, called Club Nouveau and used his own "Thinkin' About Ya" as the basis for a new single... called, "Why You Treat Me So Bad?".
No, seriously.
Listen to Timex Social Club's "Thinkin' About Ya" right here, then go back and compare the two.
Did I mention that Luniz' "I Got 5 on It" features guest vocals from Michael Marshall, the former lead singer of Timex Social Club?
And that's the story... behind the sample.
The single charted #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the merit of the melodic hook and signature keyboard and rhythmic arrangement.
If the name still doesn't ring a bell, perhaps it would be best to put the song into context with the numerous artists who have sampled it on their own hit singles.
First, you should listen to Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad?" right here.
Maybe you'd be more familiar with "I Got 5 on It" by Luniz. The rap duo scored their biggest hit single in 1995, selling over a million copies of the song. Notably, the song sampled heavily from the Club Nouveau synthline, as well as from Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Boogie". The result is a now-classic staple of '90s hip hop.
Watch the video for Luniz' "I Got 5 on It" below:
1999 was a simpler time - a time when Sean Combs still called himself "Puff Daddy" and R. Kelly wasn't relieving himself on underage girls. The two megastars combined forces for the #1 hit single, "Satisfy You". Back then, it was hard to go anywhere without hearing this smooth track on the radio. Oh, by the way, it implements the same beat and synth track as some song called "I Got 5 on It" by Luniz, which apparently sampled some song by Club Nouveau...
Watch the video to "Satisfy You" by Puff Daddy & R. Kelly:
In 2001, Jennifer Lopez released her second album, J.Lo. She followed it up the next year with a remix album, titled, J to tha L-O!: The Remixes. That album had a reworked version of her song, "I'm Gonna Be Alright" by the Track Masters and Nas which went on to outshine the previous version, hitting the #10 spot on the Billboard charts. That remix also contained a reworked instrumental sample of "I Got 5 on It".
You can see what I mean by watching the video to "I'm Gonna Be Alright (Track Masters Remix)":
During the first few years of the aughts, it seemed like Ashanti was singing on just about every rap song on the radio. Her third solo album, Concrete Rose, was released in 2004 and the Gold-selling single "Only U" gained considerable airtime. The song briefly, but prominently uses the same samples as the aforementioned artists. You can click here to watch the video.
By now, you can tell that quite a few pop artists have had big success sampling and reworking the simple catchiness of Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad?".
But we're not quite done.
Club Nouveau's Jay King was previously involved in another group, Timex Social Club - best known for their hit, "Rumors".
Timex Social Club penned another single, "Thinkin' About Ya" in 1986 and then shortly after disbanded.
King went on to form a "new" group, called Club Nouveau and used his own "Thinkin' About Ya" as the basis for a new single... called, "Why You Treat Me So Bad?".
No, seriously.
Listen to Timex Social Club's "Thinkin' About Ya" right here, then go back and compare the two.
Did I mention that Luniz' "I Got 5 on It" features guest vocals from Michael Marshall, the former lead singer of Timex Social Club?
And that's the story... behind the sample.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Heineken Spot: The Date
Heineken, the beer company famous for its iconic green bottles (and also the sponsor of this post), has released an epicly awesome video entitled "The Date."
The video pays homage to the Secret Agent Man dramas of the sixties by featuring mod fashion, torchy jazz, kung fu vegetable chopping, and psychedelic dance-offs --all of which occur against the backdrop of a larger Chinatown theme.
Watch this unique and entertaining spot in the video player below:
The video pays homage to the Secret Agent Man dramas of the sixties by featuring mod fashion, torchy jazz, kung fu vegetable chopping, and psychedelic dance-offs --all of which occur against the backdrop of a larger Chinatown theme.
Watch this unique and entertaining spot in the video player below:
Friday, July 15, 2011
Caught On Tape: Metronomy - 'The Bay'
Metronomy are no strangers to quirky music... or quirky music videos.
'The Bay' is no exception. The latest single from the band's album, The English Riviera, is a white-bread funk voyage for the indie-electro crowd. It's a playful excursion into the salty breezes and sun-kissed cheeks of summery synth rock.
The video hearkens to the beach-loving new wave of '80s Miami Vice culture and is sure to bring a smile to your face.
Strike a pose and enjoy "The Bay" by Metronomy:
'The Bay' is no exception. The latest single from the band's album, The English Riviera, is a white-bread funk voyage for the indie-electro crowd. It's a playful excursion into the salty breezes and sun-kissed cheeks of summery synth rock.
The video hearkens to the beach-loving new wave of '80s Miami Vice culture and is sure to bring a smile to your face.
Strike a pose and enjoy "The Bay" by Metronomy:
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Horrors - 'Still Life'
Shoegaze balladeers, The Horrors, present a slightly psychedelic, mostly gothic sonic experience with 'Still Life.'
Watch the corresponding video to 'Still Life' below:
Watch the corresponding video to 'Still Life' below:
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Mr. Little Jeans - 'The Suburbs'
Stream Birkenes' peculiar interpretation below:
Mr. Little Jeans - The Suburbs (Arcade Fire Cover) by Hypetrak
Monday, July 11, 2011
Halloween, Alaska - 'Dance by Accident'
Prepare to be chilaxed when you listen to this one. Stream 'Dance by Accident' below:
Dance By Accident by ambledown
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Beirut - 'East Harlem'
Sweetly melodic, 'East Harlem' is the latest offering from New Mexico's Beruit. The song carries with it Slavic folk influences that have been heavily featured on past tracks.
Stream 'East Harlem' below:
Beirut - East Harlem by Revolver USA
Stream 'East Harlem' below:
Beirut - East Harlem by Revolver USA
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Scarlett & Black - 'You Don't Know'
A blip on the radar in 1988, 'You Don't Know' was a pop radio mainstay for at least a few weeks. Sounding awfully similar to Glass Tiger's 'Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone,' 'You Don't Know' provided brief success to no-namers Scarlett and Black. Admittedly, the song is pretty solid.
You can watch the music video to this eighties deep cut below:
You can watch the music video to this eighties deep cut below:
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
The Rosebuds - 'Woods'
'Woods' is an understated ballad from North Carolina's The Rosebuds. Subtle petulance peppers the tune, but not enough to diminish the song's strange pleasantness.
Put on the headphones and stream 'Woods' via the video player below:
Put on the headphones and stream 'Woods' via the video player below:
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
No Age - 'Glitter'
Give 'Glitter' a spin below:
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Monday, July 04, 2011
My Morning Jacket - 'Holdin' on to Black Metal'
My Morning Jacket is back with a virile new single. 'Holdin' on to Black Metal' features horns, a children's chorus, and metered procession.
Be careful, this one will get stuck in your head if you're not wary.
Watch the video for 'Holdin' on to Black Metal' below:
Be careful, this one will get stuck in your head if you're not wary.
Watch the video for 'Holdin' on to Black Metal' below:
Thursday, June 02, 2011
White Denim - 'Street Joy'
Stream the quite enjoyable 'Street Joy' below:
White Denim - 'Street Joy'
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Alberta Cross - 'Money for the Weekend'
Comprised of worldwide citizenry, rock band Alberta Cross contains members from New York, London, and Stockholm. Notwithstanding their diverse geographic backgrounds however, the band produces a sound that is distinctly American.
Critics have compared Alberta Cross to Neil Young. And indeed their songs feature the same pensive angst that pervaded some of Young's greatest works. But the group underscores its sonic compositions with other salient markings, too. From the grungy crunch of nineties rock, to the lo-fi song structure prevalent today, Alberta Cross produces flavorings that are notably modern, while nevertheless drawing from the same Fountain of Rock that the musical mavericks of yesteryear once frequented.
Not deviating from their script, 'Money for the Weekend' is a garage rock fantasy of seductive hooks, engaging lyrics, and understated charisma. It's an impressive offering from a band that seems poised for continued success so long as they remain true to their rock roots.
Watch the video for 'Money for the Weekend' below:
Critics have compared Alberta Cross to Neil Young. And indeed their songs feature the same pensive angst that pervaded some of Young's greatest works. But the group underscores its sonic compositions with other salient markings, too. From the grungy crunch of nineties rock, to the lo-fi song structure prevalent today, Alberta Cross produces flavorings that are notably modern, while nevertheless drawing from the same Fountain of Rock that the musical mavericks of yesteryear once frequented.
Not deviating from their script, 'Money for the Weekend' is a garage rock fantasy of seductive hooks, engaging lyrics, and understated charisma. It's an impressive offering from a band that seems poised for continued success so long as they remain true to their rock roots.
Watch the video for 'Money for the Weekend' below:
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Mindless Self Indulgence re-issues 'Tight' as 'Tighter'
Somewhere back around 2000, I first heard Mindless Self Indulgence. The name alone caught my attention. This was back when I still had a dial-up, 56k modem and sites like the iTunes store and YouTube didn't exist. In those days, I still discovered music the old-school way -- by buying it on instinct. I'd read some small blurb about MSI and their bizarre style of self-proclaimed "industrial jungle pussy punk" and figured I should at least give the band the benefit of a listen.
At the record store, I managed to locate a copy of the band's brand new album, "Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy" and a copy of their previous disc, "Tight". That day, I only had the funds for one album, so "Frankenstein Girls..." made its way into my collection. Little did I know at that time, but I would never see another copy of "Tight" in stores again. In fact, after it went out of print, the only copies I would see from then on have sold for $100 and up on eBay.
I can remember "Frankenstein Girls..." was a pretty strange first listen and an album I had to digest in pieces. It was pretty out there for my tastes at the time. But, as I started to give it more of a chance, it really grew on me. It was totally tongue-in-cheek, uninhibited, foul-mouthed and over-the-top... and once I got that, I couldn't stop listening to it. Every listen exposed something I hadn't picked up on before.
A year or so later, I was visiting Lonely Note Steve in college and talked him into helping me download "Tight". It took some real scouring, but we eventually found all of the tracks and Steve graciously burned them onto a cd for me.
This time, I didn't have to wait for the songs to grow on me. From the get go, "Tight" was a hit in my book. The frenetic, attention-deficit pacing was there. The obscene songs clocking in at under 2 minutes were there. Frontman Little Jimmy Urine was rapping and shouting and belting out falsetto notes in between. The whole thing was absurd and demented and childishly entertaining.
One obvious album standout was a twisted cover of Method Man's "Bring the Pain". The rhymes were still there, but the beats were now breakneck and the vocals were all over the map.
Ten years later, "Tight" is still a staple album for the times when I just need to let loose and take life a little less seriously. And even though I've bought every MSI record since then and seen the band live on 4 or 5 occasions, I've never truly owned a copy of "Tight".
Rumors flew for years that the band was going to re-release "Tight" to make up for the ridiculous selling prices on eBay.
Finally, this past month, Mindless Self Indulgence re-issued their cult album as "Tighter" - a remastered album containing 12 previously-unreleased songs and a bonus DVD in addition to the original tracklist. Unheard demos, remixes and b-sides round out the offerings to make this one hard to pass up for any longtime fan of the band.
One of my favorite tracks on the re-issue is a New Wave version of "Bring The Pain", which re-imagines the band's original take on the song as a much more subdued dance single. The lyrics are still foul, but the vocal stylings and '80s keyboards could almost warrant this one a Top 40 single.
Take a listen to Mindless Self Indulgence's "Bring the Pain (New Wave)" below to see what I mean:
...And if you've still never heard the original version, you can check it out HERE.
For more information on this album and where to buy it, please visit the official MindlessSelfIndulgence.com
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Minus the Bear - 'Hold Me Down'
Minus the Bear are back with a 6-track EP entitled, "Hold Me Down", and it's available right now as a 100% free download on the band's website!
Led by the EP's title track, "Hold Me Down" also features a b-side from the band's latest album, OMNI, called "Broken China". There are also 3 live recordings from that album and a remix of the single, "My Time" from a fan contest the band held in the fall.
You can download the EP right here!
While you're waiting, stream the music video for "Hold Me Down" below:
Led by the EP's title track, "Hold Me Down" also features a b-side from the band's latest album, OMNI, called "Broken China". There are also 3 live recordings from that album and a remix of the single, "My Time" from a fan contest the band held in the fall.
You can download the EP right here!
While you're waiting, stream the music video for "Hold Me Down" below:
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Mac Miller - 'Knock Knock'
Boy, can this teenager from Pittsburg rap with the best and the rest of 'em.
'Knock Knock' contains brilliant sampling. Mac's flow is flawless. And his vocal tone is smooth and melodic!
Watch the invigorating video for 'Knock Knock' below:
PS: Let 'em in!
'Knock Knock' contains brilliant sampling. Mac's flow is flawless. And his vocal tone is smooth and melodic!
Watch the invigorating video for 'Knock Knock' below:
PS: Let 'em in!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Black Lips - 'Modern Art'
Black Lips' Arabia Mountain drops June 6. Mark Ronson and Lockett Pundt produced, so the disc is sure to be solid.
Watch the video to the first single, 'Modern Art,' below:
Watch the video to the first single, 'Modern Art,' below:
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Gang Gang Dance - 'MindKilla'
Gang Gang Dance's 'MindKilla' is strangely awesome. There isn't much more to be said.
Watch the video below:
Watch the video below:
Monday, May 02, 2011
The Dandy Warhols - 'Godless'
I remember where I was when I first saw the video for 'Godless.'
It was two in the morning, and I was in that special twilight zone between awake and dreaming. I think the year was 2000. I was in my friend's basement, and MTV2 was playing in the distance. The video was non-threatening at first, subtly creeping into my consciousness with its negative spacing and slow motion aesthetics. But then that damned hula hoop just kept spinning, and spinning, and spinning, and spinning, and before I knew it, I was hooked to the video and suddenly addicted to The Dandy Warhols.
Thirteen Tales from Bohemia went on to become one of the most influential albums of indie rock in the early 2000s. The album featured the spectacular 'Bohemian Like You' and 'Sleep,' in addition to 'Godless.' Needless to say, art rock was never the same thereafter.
Watch the video to 'Godless' below:
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Beach House - 'Lover of Mine'
On Beach House's Sub Pop release, 'Lover of Mine' spawns psychedelic calm. The official video, on the other hand, tends to be a little more chaotic.
Watch the video for 'Lover of Mine' below:
Watch the video for 'Lover of Mine' below:
Monday, April 25, 2011
Holy Ghost! - 'Wait and See'
Stream 'Wait and See' below. It is oh so good.
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