Shameless Complacency

I've moved!

2007-03-01T09:52:00.000-08:00

If you're reading this post, then you're at the wrong blog. This blog is dead. It's been moved to Wordpress. Check it out at:

http://shamelesscomplacency.wordpress.com/

Panda Bear: Good Girl/Carrots

2007-02-06T05:17:00.001-08:00

Lately it's been pretty hard to tear me away from Person Pitch and Neon Bible. Even though they're both pretty different albums, one being about the impending doom of humanity, and the other being about letting loose and being yourself, they complement each other well. I've decided, after a lot of thinking, that my favorite song from Person Pitch, is Good Girl/Carrots, Carrots in particular. It's got a mellow little beat, and some of the best lyrics on the album. My favorite lines:

It's good, sometimes slowing down.

Listen, in between your notes, there's something been going on

Take a risk just for yourself

Good Girl/Carrots.mp3

Technorati Tags: Panda Bear, Person Pitch, mp3s

M.I.A.: Bird Flu

2007-02-05T08:25:00.003-08:00

Sri Lankan beauty, M.I.A., finally posted a new song to her myspace page, after mentioning it last September. It's called Bird Flu, apparently because "THIS BEAT GON KILL EVERYONE!!" Actually, the beat is pretty awesome, so I guess we'll let her get away with the caps lock, for now.

Bird Flu (Stream)

Technorati Tags: M.I.A., Bird Flu, mp3s

Prince Halftime Show

2007-02-05T04:30:00.000-08:00

If you're anything like me, then you probably didn't catch the Superbowl last night, and couldn't care less about missing it. However, you probably did want to see Prince's halftime performance. So here it is, and Prince is just as electrifying as ever:

And here's a post concerning this show, from my favorite music blog. I couldn't agree more with it.

Technorati Tags: Prince, Live, Superbowl, Videos

Bloc Party: A Weekend In The City

2007-02-04T09:37:00.001-08:00

One of the first things that strikes you about Bloc Party's A Weekend In The City upon your first listen is the change in tone from Silent Alarm. Where Silent Alarm was brash and aggressive art-punk, A Weekend In The City is introverted and quietly angry pop. While there are a few tracks that are reminiscent of Silent Alarm (The Prayer, Hunting For Witches), A Weekend In The City presents, for the most part, a barely recognizable Bloc Party.

However, the result is an album far deeper than their debut, though not as immediately catchy. The themes are dark, such as depression, racism, suicide, homosexuality, terrorism, and government propaganda. Such a dark album will surely shock those waiting for Silent Alarm 2. Fans will grapple with this album. In the end, A Weekend In The City trumps it's predecessor, particularly in intelligence, though it remains to be seen whether or not it will be accepted for what it is.

SRXT.mp3

Hunting For Witches.mp3

Uniform.mp3

On.mp3

Technorati Tags: Bloc Party, A Weekend In The City, mp3s, Reviews

January Indie Mashup Wallpaper

2007-02-02T06:03:00.001-08:00

All week I've been thinking about doing some type of January retrospective. But then I realized that that would be a lot of writing. So last night I fired up GIMP and threw this together. It's just a mashup-wallpaper of some of the albums that I listened to the most during January. They didn't necessarily come out in January, but they did chew up a good chunk of my time. Even though it makes me a little dizzy if I look at it too fast, I'm pretty happy with the end result. The wallpaper is optimized for my screen (1440x900), but if there's a demand, I'll try to make it in other sizes. I've listed the albums I used for this below, along with their grade and an mp3.

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Windowsill.mp3

Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity (A-)
Believe E.S.P.mp3

Apostle Of Hustle - National Anthem Of Nowhere
NoNoNo.mp3

Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? (B+)
Gronlandic Edit.mp3

Menomena - Friend Or Foe (A-)
Wet And Rusting.mp3

The Shins - Wincing The Night Away (B+)
Red Rabbits.mp3

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder (B-)
Love Song No. 7.mp3

Panda Bear - Person Pitch
Take Pills.mp3

Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City
Hunting For Witches.mp3

Loney Dear - Loney Noir
I Am The Odd One.mp3

Well that's it for January. I don't know if I'll do another one of these for February, but I doubt it.

Technorati Tags: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible, Deerhoof, Friend Opportunity, Apostle Of Hustle, National Anthem Of Nowhere, Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna Are You The Destroyer?, Menomena, Friend Or Foe, The Shins, Wincing The Night Away, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Some Loud Thunder, Panda Bear, Person Pitch, Bloc Party, A Weekend In The City, Loney Dear, Loney Noir, mp3s, mashup, wallpaper

Franz Ferdinand: Hallam Foe Dandelion

2007-02-01T04:30:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, Franz Ferdinand posted a new song on their myspace page, called Hallam Foe Dandelion. It was written for a movie, Hallam Foe. It's much slower than your average Franz song, and a whole lot less witty. Although you ca tell it's by Franz Ferdinand, it doesn't really sound like one of their songs. They just sound uncomfortable going in this new direction.

Hallam Foe Dandelion (Stream)

Technorati Tags: Franz Ferdinand

Person Pitch Leaks

2007-01-31T11:39:00.001-08:00

I suppose it was only a matter of time before it happened. As of 2:32 PM today, Panda Bear's new album, set for a March 20th release, was leaked onto the internet. All of the usual applies here; I won't give you a link, if you download this, then buy the album, etc. I would just like to point out that this album actually has me excited. That doesn't happen too often anymore, so this must be one hell of an album.

Technorati Tags: Panda Bear, Person Pitch, Leaks

Gruff Rhys To Release New Candylion Single

2007-01-31T06:54:00.001-08:00

Gruff Rhys, Super Furry Animals frontman, has announced that he'll release a new single,Gyrru Gyrru Gyrru, from his second solo album Canydylion, which was released earlier this month. The single will also include a brand new song, Y Cradur. Yay for the album that got most of us through the beginning-of-the-year-drought!

Gyrru Gyrru Gyrru.mp3

Technorati Tags: Gruff Rhys, Super Furry Animals, Candylion, Singles, mp3s

Apostle Of Hustle: The Naked And Alone

2007-01-31T06:34:00.001-08:00

Here's another track from National Anthem of Nowhere, Apostle Of Hustle's upcoming album. This one is called The Naked and Alone. Enjoy!

The Naked and Alone.mp3

Technorati Tags: Apostle Of Hustle, National Anthem of Nowhere. mp3s, albums

Loney, Noir: I Will Call You Lover Again

2007-01-30T13:18:00.001-08:00

I know that Sub Pop releases other genres of music than super-mellow indie pop. I just haven't heard much of it lately. So forgive me if I'm starting to stereotype them that way. Their latest offering comes in the form of the Swedish Loney, Dear, whose melancholic falsetto, at it's highest, could make even Ben Gibbard fans vomit a little in their mouth. Luckily, Loney, Dear stays within a safe range for much of his upcoming album, the aptly titled Loney, Noir. With it's dreamy, sugary sweet pop beats, and Loney, Dear's aforementioned falsetto, Noir, is very likable. Just make sure you don't fall asleep while you listen to it.

I Will Call You Lover Again.mp3

Technorati Tags: Loney Dear, Loney Noir, mp3s, Sub Pop

Apostle Of Hustle: iRafaga!

2007-01-30T07:57:00.001-08:00

No, I haven't lost my mind and created my own made-up space language; iRafaga is the title of one of the tracks from Apostle Of Hustle's new album, National Anthem Of Nowhere. It's very much unlike anything else on album, sung entirely in Spanish, and far more beat-oriented than any other songs on the album. It also features a very sexy Spanish-style guitar part throughout the whole song. Enjoy!

iRafaga!.mp3

Technorati Tags: Apostle Of Hustle, National Anthem Of Nowhere, mp3s

Out Today: Jan 30

2007-01-29T16:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the second edition of Out Today, where I get to pick apart this weeks releases in a paragraph or less. This was a pretty decent week for music, with Lily Allen's blockbuster finally coming stateside, a new Busdriver album, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's follow-up to their 2005 mega-hit. And just when I was worried about all my good reviews, along came a little band that I just couldn't bring myself to like. Enjoy!

Alright, Still
Lily Allen
To tell you the truth, I've been listening to my import of this album for a few months now, and I'm sure that a lot of other people have been too. But, of course, there are those certain people that just decided to wait for the US release. Well now you have no reason not to have this album. It's brilliant, sharp, witty, sarcastic, easy to dance to, and nearly every track has single potential. There's a reason Lily Allen is so hyped. She deserves it.
Grade: A-

RoadKillOvercoat
Busdriver
Busdriver is quite possibly the most skilled rapper you'll ever have the honor of hearing. His lithe staccato drops lightning-fast rhymes that could run circles around most of his peers. So why isn't he as popular as them? Because his music is incredibly abrasive. Fast, acerbic, and intelligent, most listeners will be put off by how far beyond his peers Busdriver is gone. RoadKillOverCoat is no different. At it's best, Busdiver's biting rhymes fly by as a massive beat pumps in the background. The very end of the album really nails this quality. Sure he slows down sometimes, and for the most part he handles it well. However, every now and then, the speed trips him up. He's truly best suited to speed; I only wish he could slip into that high gear more often.
Grade: B

Some Loud Thunder
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
This is a hopelessly uneven album. Some Loud Thunder is home to some truly great songs, some middling ones, and a few atrocious ones. There's little continuity between songs, and the whole album feels like it's about to be torn apart by the different direction each song takes. Still, I can't hate this album; the band clearly loves, and more importantly, respects music. They fall victim to the sophomore curse, but only because of their debut success. Ironic, no? I had high expectations for this album. We all did. Which is exactly why it falls flat on it's face.
Grade: B-

There's No 666 in Outer Space
Hella
If you asked me to, I doubt I could differentiate one track from another on this album. They all sound the same to me; incessant guitar and drums, drowned out vocals, and headache-inducing repetitiveness. What makes this album jump from merely repetitive to downright annoying, is that it actually has the nerve to be long-winded. An hour of the same noise over and over again? No thanks.
Grade: D+

Technorati Tags: Album Reviews, Album Releases, Lily Allen, Alright Still, Busdriver, RoadKillOverCoat, Clap You Hands Say Yeah, Some Loud Thunder, Hella, There's No 666 In Outer Space

What Do The Shins And Deerhoof Have In Common?

2007-01-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

I have live videos of both of them for you! The Deerhoof video is a performance of The Perfect Me at Metro last Saturday night, and the Shins video is a performance of Turn On Me from Letterman last Tuesday. Enjoy.

The Shins - Turn On Me

Deerhoof - The Perfect Me

We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank Details Revealed

2007-01-29T10:00:00.001-08:00

Modest Mouse have revealed new details about their new album, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, due out on March 20th. The Shins James Mercer will sings on three tracks, and ex-Smiths guitarist is now a member of the band. The tracklisitng is as follows:

'March Into the Sea'
'Dashboard'
'Fire It Up'
'Florida'
'Parting of the Sensory'
'Missed the Boat'
'We've Got Everything'
'Fly Trapped in a Jar'
'Education'
'Little Motel'
'Steam Engenius'
'Spitting Venom'
'People As Places As People'
'Invisible'

Neon Bible Leaked

2007-01-29T09:10:00.001-08:00

Apparently Neon Bible was leaked onto the internet over the weekend. As usual, I won't give you a link, so you'll have to hunt it down yourself if you want it. Also, if you do end up downloading it, please remember to actually buy it when it comes out. Arcade Fire is a great band, and they deserve your money. Here's a sneak peek of the title track.

Neon Bible.mp3

Review: Some Loud Thunder

2007-01-29T06:59:00.001-08:00

Some Loud Thunder
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Everyone knows the story of the original Clap Your Hands Say Yeah album. Five kids from Brooklyn and Philly come together to make their own album, release it without a record label, and go on to become one of the most popular indie acts of 2005. However, just like most indie acts that become popular, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah was better suited to obscurity, to an existence without expectations. That's not to say that CLHSY's debut didn't deserve the attention it garnered; it most certainly did.

However, with that attention came astronomical expectations, that no band could ever hope of meeting. And of course, CLHSY tried to meet those expectations. The result is a hopelessly uneven album. Some Loud Thunder is home to some truly great songs, some middling ones, and a few atrocious ones. There's little continuity between songs, and the whole album feels like it's about to be torn apart by the distance between neighboring songs.

Listening to Some Loud Thunder is a great experience, but at the same time, an excruciating one. The good songs are just too good to be broken up by the bad ones, which seem to meander on forever, without reaching any real conclusion. They just end, and another track begins, completely unaffected by what preceded it. There's no cohesion, no reason to listen to the album as a whole.

The skip button is your friend here. Still, I can't hate this album; the band clearly loves, and more importantly, respects music. They fall victim to the sophomore curse, but only because of their debut success. Ironic, huh? I had high expectations for this album; we all did. Which is exactly why it falls flat on it's face.
Grade: B-

Songs To Download:

Emily Jean Stock

Mama, Won't You Keep Them Castles in the Air and Burning

Love Song No. 7.mp3

Satan Said Dance

Yankee Go Home

The Magic Position

2007-01-26T15:29:00.001-08:00

Today, I finally got my hands on Patrick Wolf's latest album, The Magic Position, due out on February 26th. Now, I could be blinded by initial impressions, but so far it sounds utterly incredible. You've heard Bluebells and Accident and Emergency, I'm sure, but I'll tell you right now that they barely even scratch the surface. The album is impeccably structured, with several high points. It's hard to choose a favorite, but I think I'd have to go with Augustine. It's lacking in the electronic department, but it's all the better for it. Like the rest of the album, Augustine is carried by Wolf's voice, but a piano adds a classic element to it that makes it sublime. I highly doubt this will be the last you hear about this album from me. Enjoy.

Augustine.mp3

Clear The Clutter: mp3 Time

2007-01-26T08:48:00.001-08:00

Finally, I've picked out a few mp3s worth posting.

Heretics.mp3

With a violin and drum taking lead instrumentation, Andrew Bird spouts off his trademark sharp lyrics. From his upcoming Armchair Apocrypha LP.

Every Single Line Means Something.mp3

Marie Stern's new art punk track, from her album, In Advance Of The Broken Arm. Focused, with a great beat and crunchy guitars.

Let It Play.mp3

P4k called this track epic, and I'm inclined to agree. The vocals are a little off (some notes are held too high and too long), but the melody and instrumentation (which takes over around the halfway point) are spectacular.

That's it for now, but I'll have more for you later.

I Tried

2007-01-25T17:23:00.001-08:00

I really, really tried. I even listened to some of the mp3's on my desktop. But then, just as I was about to post some of them, I noticed how generic this blog was. So, I dove into HTML editing. And at the very best, I am horrible, horrible HTML editor. I actually came close to destroying the blog, and made it become very ugly at some points. So I settled for this. Now the blog may be uglier than before, but it's atrocious in a unique way now. That's gotta be worth something. Maybe if I don't involve myself in any more dumb dumb dumb projects, I'll post some music tomorrow.

Clear The Clutter: Jan 25 Edition

2007-01-25T08:43:00.001-08:00

It may not seem like it sometimes, but I work pretty hard on this blog. Yeah, I disappear sometimes, but never for very long. And yeah, I post in bursts, but I'm working on that. Anyway, I download a lot of mp3's over the weeks, and they tend to pile up on my desktop. It's not that they're bad songs, it's just that they get lost in the shuffle. So, every now and then, I have to do a little clean-up, so that my desktop is visible once again. And so, today I will be cleaning off my desktop. That means that I'll listen to every mp3 there, and post about all the good ones. This may take more than one day. Let's start out with this one.

This song, Much Farther To Go, is from Rosie Thomas' upcoming album, These Friends Of Mine, due on March 13. It's typically sweet, and the lyrics would probably be considered naive and trite (I lost my way when I lost you) if it weren't for the delivery. Thomas' voice is spot on, delicate and smooth and so is Sufjan Steven's, Thomas' guest. Their voices are a perfect match, intertwining together in a way that few voices can, while a guitar and banjo strum in the background. An absolute gem.

Much Farther To Go.mp3

Wu Tang Clan Reveal New Details On Upcoming Album

2007-01-25T06:21:00.001-08:00

Wu Tang Clan have finally revealed some of the finer points of their new album, announced either late last year, or early this one (I really have no clue which). The will be called 8 Diagram, and will be released sometime this summer. Also, they are planning a tour to promote their new album. Let's hope this one works out.

Booji Boy High

2007-01-25T06:15:00.001-08:00

An interesting new band has been making it's way around the blogosphere, called Booji Boy High. Although little is known for sure about BBH, it's suspected (and likely) that they are essentially the guys of Hot Chip with a different name, and a more challenging style. And in this case, more challenging means "even better". So far, they've only released a 7", but you can stream both songs from the DFA myspace.

Doubleshaw [Stream]

Twist Myself Again [Stream]

So why exactly would Hot Chip pull this kind of stunt? Who knows. Maybe for publicity, or maybe just to create music without people having expectations before hearing it. Either way, those are some damn good tunes.

There Sure Is A Lot Of Music

2007-01-24T18:04:00.001-08:00

Wow, did you realize how much music they release nowadays? I didn't until I started putting together next week's Out Today feature. Did you know that I missed at least two major releases this week? If you want to place some blame, blame this track. I swear, the longer I listen to Some Loud Thunder, the better it gets. This track, Satan Said Dance, starts out with dance-y pop beat, then moves into territory that reminds me of a Modest Mouse song, for a reason I can't quite place. Oh, and the chorus is downright infective.

Satan Said Dance.mp3

P.S. Do you realize what a bitch it was to find an image to go with this post?

Some Loud Thunder

2007-01-24T15:42:00.001-08:00

It took me a while to warm up to this song, but now I'm pretty much in love with Some Loud Thunder, from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah new album of the same name. The blend of classic and indie rock is a surprisingly groovalicious mix, and Alec Ounsworth's voice remains as nasally unique and odd as we've all come to love. Enjoy.

Some Loud Thunder.mp3

New Bright Eyes Track

2007-01-24T04:51:00.001-08:00

As you all know, Bright Eyes is set to release Four Winds EP on March 5th, as a forerunner to his new album, Cassadaga, set for release on April 10th. The EP contains one track, Four Winds, that will appear on Cassadaga, and five other tracks that won't be. One of those tracks, Tourist Trap, has made it's way onto the internet tubes. It's a great little song, filled with Bright Eyes trademark melancholy. However, it shows much growth on Bright Eyes part, with more complex instrumentation, employing a piano, and a background beat that sounds suspiciously like footsteps. If this is any indicator, Cassadaga, should be a real treat.

Tourist Trap.mp3

Out Today: Jan 23

2007-01-24T04:29:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the first edition of out today, the Tuesday-exclusive piece in which I take a look at some of the albums coming out today, and in a frantic rush, try to listen to and review as many of them as I can.
Well, the beginning-of-the-year drought is finally over, and there are several big-name releases coming out today. Among them are:

Wincing The Night Away
The Shins
After a few years of silence from the Shins, they have finally released their third album, Wincing The Night Away. Once again the Shins move into new musical territory, with songs bearing little resemblance to either of the bands earlier albums. However, it's also their most mature record, even more subtle than even Oh, Inverted World, and seemingly more subdued. It takes longer to fall in love with Wincing The Night Away than the Shins previous work, but in the end, it's the Shins best album to date.

Grade: B+

The Good, The Bad, The Queen
The Good, The Bad, The Queen
Considering the major players involved in this album (Damon Albarn,Danger Mouse, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen, Simon Tong), The Good, The Bad, The Queen comes off as very, very low-key. This isn't the album that you'll love the minute you play it. It's dark, moody, complex, and demanding. But even if you have patience with it, you never quite feel as rewarded as you would like.

Grade: C+

Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
of Montreal
This concept album from of Montreal certainly contains it's share of oddities. The lyrics, the title and the tracks are all unique. But the sound is by far the strangest part of this album. It's that certain mix of genres that defies any real description, and can only be described as indie pop. Each song is different from the one before it, and the albums hangs together very well as a whole. A great indie release.

Grade: B+

Cat Power to play Mueseum Of Modern Art

2007-01-23T09:04:00.001-08:00

Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power, is set to perform at the Museum Of Modern Art in New York, on Feb. 2. This is meant to be a rather small performance, accompanying the MoMa 'Sleepwalkers' exhibition, in which Marshall plays a character.

Jarvis Finally Gets A US Release Date

2007-01-23T08:55:00.001-08:00

Finally, Rough Trade Records and World's Fair Label Group have set a release date for the former Pulp frontman's debut album here in the states. On April 3rd, crazy American fans will finally be able to buy Jarvis in stores. But really, didn't all the people who wanted this album already import it? I sure thought so.

Wincing The Night Away Is Out Today!

2007-01-23T06:08:00.001-08:00

As if you didn't already know this, the Shins new album, Wincing The Night Away is finally out today. Most of you are probably already waiting in line, or downloading, but I thought I'd share my joy with you all anyway. Expect a full (collective?) review in the next few days.

Little Fat Man

2007-01-22T18:13:00.001-08:00

Last night, the Extras episode guest starring David Bowie finally aired here in the States. Although this is only tangentially music related, I love this show too much not to post a video. Bowie remains as ridiculously talent as ever.

Doin' The Time Warp: Knock Knock Knock EP

2007-01-22T16:18:00.001-08:00

Welcome the first edition of Time Warp, the piece in which I take a look back, and point out a good album that you may have forgotten by now. Today, I'm looking at Knock Knock Knock EP by Hot Hot Heat.

Released in 2002, Knock Knock Knock contains some of the best noise pop you'll ever hear. Clocking in at a mere 15 minutes, it's by far one of the most frantic, frenzied albums ever, comparable even to the classic Yeah Yeah Yeah's EP in it's pacing. Picking a favorite track in nigh impossible, as all five songs are gems. However, if I had to choose a favorite, I would have to choose 5 Times Out Of 100, just for it's pure energy. Since 2002, Hot Hot Heat have released two albums, Make Up The Breakdown and Elevator. Although both albums are excellent, and firmly planted on my iPod, neither of them captured the same energy as Knock Knock Knock. It's also worth noting that Hot Hot Heat are expected to release a new album later this year.

5 Times Out Of A Hundred.mp3

Emo Popped A Leak

2007-01-19T14:03:00.001-08:00

Update: Well that was fast. The torrent was already pulled from Demonoid. I suppose that since it's no longer being downloaded, it's safe to say which site it was on. Ah, well, I know for a fact that a few people got it, so it probably won't be long before it's posted a few hundred more times.

Around 4 o'clock today, Fall Out Boy's new album, Infinity On High leaked onto those darn intraweb tubes. Now, I won't give you a direct link (since that would be wrong), but I will say that it's very easy to find. And since I'm no music pirate, I can't actually tell you how it turned out. Was yesterdays prediction right? I guess we'll find once those damn seeders spee . . . . I mean, on February 6th, when the album's officially released. Until then, just stare at the freaky album art.

Why Emo Won't Suck Forever

2007-01-18T17:26:00.001-08:00

Okay, you can hate me if you want, I'll understand. Cuz I'm about to say the least hip thing a music blogger has ever said. Here it goes. The latest Fall Out Boy song? Yeah, well . . . it's pretty good. I know, people like me are supposed to hate Fall Out Boy and all it's evil emo spawn, and I really used to. But then My Chemical Romance released The Black Parade. And we can all agree that was awesome. Sure, they felt the need to still do some shitty "normal" emo stuff, but for the most part, the album was pretty damn awesome. Which sort of brings me to the point of this post.

A few years back, "emo"(I use this term loosely) went through a change. Somehow, emo changed from Weezer and Jimmy Eat World into Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance. I don't know quite when it happened, or why, but it was a pretty sucky change. I mean, anything that gives birth to Schmucks! At The Disco clearly sucks. But now, it almost seems like emo is changing again. And I think it might be for the better.

Early to Mid 90's

Some people may argue this point, but I think one of the earliest emo bands was Weezer. Sure they sound nothing like current emo, and they sorta suck nowadays, but back in the early 90's, they were considered emo and they were awesome. Unfortunately, after Pinkerton got pissed on by the critics, Rivers Cuomo broke, and Weezer got bad.

Undone.mp3

El Scorchio.mp3

Buddy Holly.mp3

Only In Dreams.mp3

Pink Triangle.mp3

Across The Sea.mp3

Late 90's to Early 00's

Once again, this point can be argued, but I think that the second wave of emo can be summarized in one band; Jimmy Eat World. JEW released their first album, Static Prevails, in 1996, about the time when Cuomo decided he didn't want to write good music anymore. It was a pretty interesting album. In my mind, it's essentially what began a new kind of emo. They released a series of splits and the like, until they released Clarity, the epitome of late nineties emo. They released two albums after that, finding somewhat mainstream success, but ultimately, they really lost the "emo" tag sometime after their third album.

Crush.mp3

Your New Aesthetic.mp3

Night Drive.mp3

Pain.mp3

Salt Sweat Sugar.mp3

The Middle.mp3

Mid 00's to Present(?)

Here it is, the one we all hate. This wave was (is?) epitomized by bands such as Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, and Schmucks! at the Disco, and men wearing eyeliner (which is just wrong). I won't say much about this one, since we all remember it pretty well, nor will I include any mp3's, cuz I don't have any.

Present to ?

Now, this one is purely conjecture, but I think it's right around the bend. This wave will be characterized by a culmination of styles. The third wave emo will carry over just a bit, and take with it only the good parts, while incorporating many older rock styles, in the way that Weezer incorporated 80's styles. Men will stop wearing eyeliner, and Schmucks! at the Disco will all perish in a not-so-tragic hat store explosion. No remains will be found.

House Of Wolves.mp3

Teenagers.mp3

Mama.mp3

This Ain't A Scene.mp3

So, is there hope for emo? Sure there is. It was great for a while, and it'll probably turn great again. Someday, you'll be able to tell your grandkids that you survived the Great Emo Wasteland of the 00's. The Black Parade will end up ushering emo back into the fold of serious music. At least I sure hope so.

Tired

2007-01-15T19:09:00.001-08:00

There's more I need to post, but I'm too tired. Later.

"Alfie" Confirmed As Next "Alright, Still" Single

2007-01-15T19:06:00.001-08:00

Lily Allen has confirmed that Alfie, quite possibly my favorite song on Aright, Still, will be the next single from the album. Although no release date has been announced, Allen has discussed the video extensively on her Myspace page.

Alfie.mp3

Sigur Ros Work On New Album

2007-01-15T18:58:00.001-08:00

"We have finished recording a few songs but some more things need to be
done... We are really just experimenting at this stage. Some of the
songs we recorded are old songs, which we had written a while ago... We
decided it was time they were recorded," Sigur Ros' Holm writes of the bands new album. It would also appear that a 2007 release is possible. If so, then my top 10 list for '07 already has one spot taken.

The Thermals To Tour With The Hold Steady

2007-01-15T18:44:00.001-08:00

That's right, two of last years biggest indie acts, one massively overrated, the other massively underrated, are set to tour together very early this spring. My take? The Thermals are waaaaaaaaay to good to tour with old fogeys like the hold steady (no, they don't deserve capitalization).

And, just cuz I luv (sorry, New York Dolls day) the Thermals, here's an mp3 for the road.

An Ear For Baby.mp3

Ruff Draft Re-Release

2007-01-11T05:07:00.001-08:00

In February 2003, the late J Dilla released a vinyl only album, Ruff Draft on his newly-formed Mummy Records. Due to the format, and extremely limited release, most Dilla fans have never even heard of this record, let alone listened to it. However, on March 3, this album will finally be re-released in CD format! But there's more: it'll be released as a deluxe, 2 CD set with bonus vocals. How awesome is that?! You don't know? Well here's a sample to whet your appetite.

Wild.mp3

Candylion, by Gruff Rhys

2007-01-10T12:42:00.001-08:00

I've been listening to Gruff Rhys' new album, Candylion, for a few days now. So how is it? Not bad at all. The songs are original, and Rhys' voice is as smooth as ever. The lyrics range from deep and meaningful (Skylor) to light and fluffy (Candylion), but each track generally hits its mark, with only a few missteps, like Cycle of Violence, which far too similar to the track that precedes it. Although Rhys only whips out his story-telling skills a few times, each story is entertaining. In particular, the 14-minute long Skylor! tells a great story, while still maintaining it's musical oomph.

However, the album as a whole suffers from one major flaw; while the tracks are (mostly) all different from one another, each still feels like it could put you to sleep. I'm okay with a few tracks like that, as long as there's something to wake me, here there isn't. Even Skylor!, which focuses around a bomb on a plane, is pretty mellow. Overall, this is a pretty decent album, that suffers from a general lack of excitement.

B-

Tracks To Download:

Candylion

Lonesome Words

Beacon In The Darkness

Skylon!

Candylion.mp3

Bright Eyes Annouce Tour Dates

2007-01-10T04:54:00.001-08:00

Bright Eyes have just announced their tour dates for this spring, promoting their new album, Cassadaga, set to be released on April 9.

I Want An iPhone

2007-01-09T18:15:00.001-08:00

Like everyone in the entire world doesn't already know this, but Apple announced their long awaited iPhone today at CES. And I want one. The damn thing is like a swiss army knife with an awesome attached. 8GB of space! Touch screen! No buttons! No stylus! OS X! Thinner than the Blackjack! Music! Beatles songs! Jobs stealing even more of my money!

Crazy Sov Fan Just Can't Let Go

2007-01-09T18:03:00.001-08:00

Remember the poor bastard who raised $10,000 bucks to take Lady Sov out on a date? And then got totally dissed by Lady Sov? Well apparently, he's a little bit pissed. So pissed, that he had a friend dress up as a jelly donut (I totally get that) and challenge Sov to a duel last night in San Fransico. The short story? Lady Sov insults Jelly Donut Lady Sov spits on Jelly Donut. Fans spit on Lady Sov. Bouncers protect Lady Sov. Jelly Donut gets thrown out on his ass. Idiot is publicly embarrassed yet again. Funny how things turn out, huh?

Postscript: I think I love Sov even more now.

Neon Bible Details Revealed

2007-01-08T08:43:00.001-08:00

Arcade FireAfter releasing the first single from their upcoming album, Neon Bible, the Arcade Fire have now released more detailed info on that album, including the tracklisting and release date. The album is set to come out on March 5, with the following tracklisting:

'Black Mirror'

'Keep The Car Running'

'Neon Bible'

'Intervention'

'Black Wave/Bad Vibrations'

'Ocean Of Noise'

'The Well The Lighthouse'

'(Antichrist Television Blues)'

'Windowsill'

'No Cars Go'

'My Body Is A Cage'

You'll notice that No Cars Go will be included in Neon Bible, as a re-recording. Can't wait!

First Neon Bible Single!

2007-01-06T16:23:00.001-08:00

The first single, Black Mirror, from the Arcade Fire's upcoming album, Neon Bible, is now streaming from their site. The songs a little bit fuzzy, but at least we can finally hear what it sounds like. And damn, does it sound good. I wasn't a massive fan of Funeral, but this is an awesome song. It sounds a lot like Funeral, but with a harder edge. So go, now! Listen to it!

Black Mirror (Stream)

Brandon Flowers Re-affirms His Idiocy

2007-01-06T09:03:00.001-08:00

The Killers, in yet another dumb move, have turned down a collaboration with Ghostface Killah. Ghostface said he wanted to combine his vocals with the Killers music, but the Killers declined his offer.

How does this bit of news strike me? As a very, very stupid move on the Killers part. Right now, Ghostface Killah is a goldmine and a critics baby. He can do very little wrong right now. After the fiasco that was Sam's Town, the Killers could use any positive publicity they can muster, and a collaboration with Ghostface Killah definitely would have counted as positive. The Killers might as well go live in a cave and help Flowers groom his mustache garden now, 'cause it'll be damn near impossible to recover from all that 2006 threw at them.

Yo La Tengo Announces New EP

2007-01-06T07:41:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, Yo La Tengo announced that they would release an iTunes exclusive EP on January 9th. The Yo La Tengo Live Session EP will be composed of four tracks, with two tracks from their last album, I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass, a cover of Arthur Lee's Luci Baines, and a mysterious track entitled El Es Gay, which I'm guessing is a B-side to I Am Not Afraid . . .

Albarns Massive Ego Really Pissing Me Off

2007-01-05T15:19:00.001-08:00

First, the news comes that there's no hope for a Blur reunion, because Graham Coxon and Damon Albarn can't get along with each other long enough to record a song. Now, Albarn's started mouthing off about his old rival. In Uncut, Albarn ridicules Jarvis Cocker's infamous Michael Jackson stage crash (which was, ahem, ten years ago), Jarvis's music, and his "odd ideas about reality". Here's a bit of the article, via NME:

-I've always had a problem with Jarvis' stance on that, I found it
really disturbing when he pulled his pants down in front of Michael
Jackson, that just seemed totally wrong. If someone is sick, he's not
open to ridicule.

-The world is not full of cunts; we have a collective responsibility not to slag people off and instead try to understand them.

-He's got some very odd ideas about reality.

Cunts Are Still Running The World .mp3

Shins Annouce Tour

2007-01-05T14:43:00.001-08:00

On February 8, at Minneapolis' First Avenue Club, the Shins will kick off their new tour, in support of their forthcoming album, Wincing The Night Away, due out on January 23. Sub Pop says this is only the first leg of the tour, so expect the second leg to appear soon.

NME Still As Confused As Ever

2007-01-05T09:54:00.001-08:00

Apparently, this is news:

Lily Allen's dog returned (NME)

Later today, NME is expected to interview Justin Timberlake's hamster.

Rhymes Released On Bail

2007-01-05T09:34:00.001-08:00

This morning, Busta Rhymes was released on bail, set at $3,000 yesterday, when Rhymes turned himself in for assault. He allegedly beat his driver on December 26th, after the driver forgot to get Rhymes the new Jay-Z album for Christmas, after Rhymes had repeatedly dropped hints that he wanted it.

Thermals announce tour dates

2007-01-05T06:07:00.001-08:00

The Thermals, one my favorite bands from last year, has just announced a rather short tour of the US, beginning in Seattle on February 21 and ending on March 7 in Visalia, California, holding a total of seven shows. It should also be noted that The Thermals are working on their next album, and are expected to debut new material on this tour.

Cocker Goes On Rampage In Taxi: Narrowly Misses Pedestrians

2007-01-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't lead you in with titles like that. Anyhow, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker has just released a video of Don't Let Him Waste Your Time, from his excellent solo debut from last fall, Jarvis. The video finds Cocker giving advice to a woman he picks up in a taxi, and driving that taxi whenever he gets a minute. It's a decent video, with a good song, and pretty good direction. See for yourself.

B+

A perfectly above average video.

Arrest Yourself

2007-01-04T12:11:00.001-08:00

Hot Chip has just released a new video, of Arrest Yourself, from last years The Warning. Frankly, I'm surprised that they chose this song, of all their choices. I expected No Fit State to be their next single. Nonetheless, the video is pure Hot Chip. Enjoy

Arrest Yourself (Hot Chip Official Site)

A-

The video itself is very smart and creative, and fits the song brilliantly. Unfortunately, the song itself isn't as good as the video.

Another Rapper Arrested

2007-01-04T06:33:00.001-08:00

Are you as tired of hearing about rappers getting arrested as I am? Hell, at least it gives me something to post. So, Busta Rhymes was arrested last night in Manhattan, when he turned himself in to the police. He's being charged with third-degree assault for allegedly beating his ex-driver. This is just the latest of Rhymes' crimes. Last month, a machete was found in his vehicle (seriously, what the hell?!) for which he was charged, and offered a plea bargain of six months jail time, to which he refused. Also, it's believed that he witnessed the unsolved murder of his bodyguard earlier last year.

You know, just once I'd like to see a pop star get arrested for something like this. John Mayer, maybe? Plus, if anyone knows who the hell carries a machete around in their car, I'm all ears.

Dashboard by Modest Mouse

2007-01-04T04:34:00.001-08:00

Need inspiration to listen to Good News For People Who Love Bad News for the thousandth time? Probably not but here you go anyway: Dashboard the single from Modest Mouse's new album We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank.

Dashboard (Stream)

About Those Shiny Objects

2007-01-03T18:06:00.001-08:00

What, the giant album covers didn't distract you enough from the fact that I only did a top five list? Well, how about these rare Yeah Yeah Yeah's songs, including an oh so sweet Bjork cover? Yeah, I thought so.

Our Time (Acoustic).mp3

Sealings.mp3

Cheated Hearts (Acoustic).mp3

Hyperballad.mp3

Still not enough? Okay, fine, I promise I'll post a bit tomorrow on More Fish, Ghostface Killah's new album.

At Least I Had The Smarts To Dry It

2007-01-03T16:25:00.001-08:00

So, my one reader, you're probably wondering what happened to top 20 list. Well, lucky you, I finished. And then I sent it through the washer. So . . . yeah, I'm going to give you the top 5, and then distract you with shiny objects. Sound fair? Sure it does!

#5
Hell Hath No Fury by Clipse

#4
Fox Confessor Brings The Flood by Neko Case

#3
Fishscale by Ghostface Killah

#2
Show Your Bones by Yeah Yeah Yeah's

#1
Destroyer's Rubies by Destroyer

And there you have it! My top five for 2006! Obviously, I think they're all great choices, so check them out if you haven't already!

The Axe Drops On Tunstall, Yo La Tengo Looking Good

2006-12-19T13:11:00.000-08:00

One more album has been crossed from the list; KT Tunstall's Eye To The Telescope. This one hurt. When I first listened to Telescope, it hit me just the right way. It was simple, well-written soft-rock with just the right tinge of melancholy. But alas, there's just not enough room on the list for it, with such great competition.

Speaking of the competition, I'm still fuzzy on how the list will end up. A few albums have pretty clear cut spots, but others are just confusing the hell out of me, such as Ys and Taigi. Newsom and OOIOO clearly created great albums, but I'm unsure of exact;y how good, particularly of Ys. It's a great album, but a tiring one which I have a bit of hard time listening to the whole way through without thinking longingly of The Knife, Neko Case, and the like. While Taiga will eventually find it's home, I'm not so sure about Ys.

Finally, one more album is in the running for #1; I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass. I've loved it since the moment I first heard it, and it presents serious competition for Silent Shout. Yo La Tengo's best album in years may just take the #1 spot.

Why Beck Was The First To Go

2006-12-19T10:35:00.000-08:00

Well, I've started working on my top 20 albums of the year list. I'll be keeping you posted about how it works, and which albums are looking good. First, I'll explain how I'll make this list. First, I go though my iTunes library and make a list of all my my favorite albums of the year. Then, I listen to each of those albums, and weed out the list, crossing of some albums, and starring others. The starred albums are the ones I think might have a chance at the #1 spot. So, here's my progress so far:

The first album I crossed out was Beck's The Information. It's a fine album and all, but just not top twenty material. Beck is slowly slipping, and (gasp!) falling into a niche. Both Guero and The Information have sounded dangerously like Odelay. Despite Odelay being a classic, I want to see Beck do something new and daring, as daring as Midnite Vultures and Sea Change. Until then, Beck is just a diversion, not a serious artist.

And what albums have been starred, you ask? Only two so far, Clipse's Hell Hath No Fury and The Knife's Silent Shout. Despite hating to agree with Pitchfork, if it ended up coming down to those to albums, I think that Silent Shout would beat Hell Hath No Fury without blinking. That's all for now, expect more later.

Intro

2006-12-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

Today, I finally got around to doing a few things that have been on my list for a while. First, I started my new blog (hint, you're lookin' at it), and I finally got the chance to take a listen to Fishscale (like I really need to tell you who that's by). First impressions? I've learned not to trust them. So, no matter how I want to tell you how much I loved the whole thing, I guess I've gotta hold off for a little while. So, more later.

P.S. Just because I just started this blog-thingy doesn't mean I'm gonna go slow on you guys, expect a few post a day, even if they're just random plugs for things I like (hey, guess what my next post will be about!)

KeBove