filed under music
Skating With Your Unkle
Spike Jonze & Ty Evan’s created an explosive titled open for the Lakai - Fully Flared skate film. Brilliant slow motion footage is seen as skaters perform in an urban environment that is literally blowing up around them. This footage was reworked into a music-like piece for the UNKLE track heaven.
Hanging with...
David Lynch and Moby while they jam in a studio together, oh and meditate.
H a lf A sl eep
School of Seven Bells just dropped this moody little video for the single Half Asleep.
Because Supply and Demand is the Problem...
…with the music industry (oh lord), itunes has been forced by the major labels to change their model and raise prices. The big wig execs see growth in download sales coming from itunes and figure now is the perfect time to stand by their outdated ideas, to try and squeeze every penny out of an approach even if it risks systemic failure. Seems to me the best thing major labels can do is let some of their dinosaurs go; maybe those people can find new jobs at AIG.
Downloading SXSW 09
Perhaps you really wanted to make it to SXSW 09 and it just wasn’t in the cards. NPR has posted several full performances. Enjoy!
Sesame Street Blows My Effing Mind
Shows may come and go, but the perennial Coolest Show of All Time—and I mean this—has got to be Sesame Street. Whenever I hear that a musician has made an appearance on the block, I can’t help but think higher of that person. I guess spending your time with muppets, for me, just adds a certain amount of cachet. Anyway, MusicRadar compiled the 11 Greatest Sesame Street Guest Songs and they are all pretty amazing—and that includes those selections from musicians who may not be your favorites. Watching Johnny Cash strum a tune about a grouch he knows as Oscar shows his support (for the aforementioned grouch, of course), or Stevie Wonder play Superstition while a nearby kid headbangs (!), or Feist count to four surrounded by gleeful monsters, or R.E.M. jump up and down with a gaggle of furry creatures makes you feel good and chases your cynicism away. There are lots more big names mingling with the locals on what’s arguably the world’s most famous street. To see them all—and I cannot stress how much you should—go here. [Music Radar]
More Free Goodies from Trent
I recently wrote about Trent Reznor’s summer plans with Jane’s Addition. Tom Morello’s newest project, Street Sweeper has been added to the tour. Additionally, a website has been launched in which you can download a free EP with recordings from each band.
Heavy Metal Monk
Heavy Metal + Capuchin Brother Cesar Bonnizi = Heavy Metal Monk.
Sampling and Borrowing the Melody
Some of my very favorite music from the last quarter-century utilizes sampling. I can remember an era when the very concept of sampling someone else’s music was up for debate. Public Enemy was a group who sampled more heavily than any of their contemporaries and in doing so created an undeniably original sound. But times changed. The debate about sampling was a red herring and was much less about ethics of borrowing than it was about corporations recognizing an opportunity to cash in. Here Chuck D. and Hank Shocklee of Public Enemy talk about the era.
So where is the ethical line in sampling? What is the difference between homage and just plain thievery? Recently, Lady Sovereign dropped a track called So Human. The hook to the better part of the song is borrowed from the The Cure. As is the entire chorus melody. And presumably, all proper sampling and publishing rights were accounted for. More likely than not, Robert Smith of The Cure wouldn’t mind her doing so. Is this art talking to art? Is it just lazy poor pop music? I can’t help but to think that when the entire hook of the song is lifted and so is the vocal melody for the chorus, nothing has significantly been changed except for the lyrics. Isn’t that what Weird Al Yankovic use to do. At least he had the grace to call it parody.
Karen Carpenter Was A Monster Drummer
I didn’t first come to appreciate The Carpenters until I saw Todd Hayne’s cult film, Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story while in college. At the time, the movie was something of underground culture and to have heard about it was almost as rare scoring a copy. I was fortunate enough to borrow a VHS copy from my film mentor that had already been dubbed down many generations. Using Barbie dolls as stand-ins for actors, the dramatic rise and fall of Karen Carpenter was detailed on super-8 film. Something about this evocative approach to storytelling truly allowed me to hear the music of The Carpenters with fresh open ears. I guess I’ll always think of their cheery AM music second to the sort of ironic dark underbelly that existed. What I had no idea of though until recently, was that Karen was an amazing drummer.
Here Karen sings and drums Dancing In the Street, complete with a hot little solo. And here, Karen shows off her rhythm skills with only a snare and kick drum.
Mastodon Take on The Abominable Snowman
Mastodon have a new album releasing this month. What I’ve heard is AMAZING!!! Watch the band take on the Abominable Snowman in the video for the first single, Divinations.
TV On The Radio On the TV
In case you missed it, I thought I’d share TV On The Radio’s appearance on the Colbert Report.
Surf City is Wonderful
Here’s what I like about Surf City: Their jangly guitars, lo-fi echoing vocals, yelping background chants, charming organ tinklings, and staggeringly well-formed pop sensibilities. Sure, there are elements of their songs that might be considered surf-y (hence the name), but don’t assume they’re Beach Boys or Jan and Dean or Dick Dale disciples. Mostly, these enthusiastic New Zealanders create noisy pop a la their fellow countrymen (and one of my absolute all-time favorite bands) The Clean. It’s ramshackle fun (which is surprising coming from a band formerly named for the Jesus and Mary Chain song Kill Surf City) and, frankly, you should have a listen for yourself. Spend a little time with Records of a Flagpole Skater, off their six song debut EP, at bottom.
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Surf City – Records of a Flagpole Skater
Cover Songs Done My Way
The idea of doing cover songs has rarely seemed interesting to me. Playing someone else’s music only feels special when the artist paying homage does something truly unique to make it their own. The Sex Pistols’ rendition of My Way, the classic Sinatra croon, is a great example. The irony of young anarchists singing one of their parents’ most cherished songs - and the relevance of the expressed sentiment in its reapplication - made the cover a perfect anthem for the punk generation. Conversely, Johnny Cash paid tribute to latter day songwriters by offering his take on songs orginally recorded by Sound Garden, Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails. Below, just a few other covers that I truly do adore.
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Siouxsie & The Banshees – Dear Prudence
Drummer Prodigies Make Me Feel Like Starting A Variety Show...
Here are two clips of crazy drummer prodigies. The first is an 11 year old girl who must’ve first started playing in the womb. And then, there is this insane 8 year old boy from Romania.
Jay Reatard Throws An Evil Right
In this clip, Jay Reatard punches the hell out of someone who climbed on stage during a performance. The knock-out shot ended the show.
Anything Goes When It Comes To Hoes Because Pimpin Ain't Easy
Here is a teaser for a documentary on the one and only old school hip hop lyrical genius Big Daddy Kane. Now somebody has to make one on Eric B. and Rakim.
A Finger To The Aristocrats
One of the UK’s top music video directors is a fellow who goes by the moniker WIZ. His visual signature is rather cinematic and often he manages to elevate the video format to something more important, a stage for social commentary. A common theme in his work of the last few years is British classicism. Here are four examples:
Dizzee Rascal / Rascal Sirens
Kasabian / Empire
Kaiser Chiefs / Angry Mob
Oasis / Falling Down
Broadcast's Subtle Sonics
At their best, Broadcast is in my (truthfully, quite long and disorganized) list of favorite bands: I think their early, autumn-colored, codeine-drowsy recordings combined Spector standards with modern electronics and the perfect dash of Kraut rock-derived rhythms to create songs that are lush, dreamy and lullaby-esque. Maybe the most spellbinding of all is Oh How I Miss You, a song barely over a minute long, consisting solely of one titular lyric repeated over and over again amidst reverb-soaked percussion; lonely, echoing piano; winsome bass; distressed synths; and ghostly, tired vocals. That something so simple can be both so moving and so beautiful is testament to the talent of a band who—despite moving in a direction I love less in recent years—knows how to conjure emotion with just a few tools, sparingly used. Listen below.
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Broadcast – Oh How I Miss You
Fork in the Road
Neil Young has a soon to be released studio album called Fork in the Road. The album takes inspiration from his car that doesn’t require gasoline. Just another reason to love Neil.
A Japanese Supercar
Supercar was a Japanese rock band who were actively making music from 1995-2005. The band’s sound combined digital loops with shoegaze inspired melodies and drones to create a unique brand of pop. I discovered their music when I saw the incredibly weird video for their infectious single White Surf Style 5. Since their music is pretty hard to come by in the US, I thought I’d share some of their bizarre music videos.
David Lynch on Twitter
David Lynch is on twitter and indeed it really is him. Apparently he likes to update with weather reports for LA. I found two gems linked off his page. Here is a clip of David Lynch, the cowboy singing in a studio. And here, he talks about making art. Only Lynch would think to title a painting, Woman with Broken Neck and Electric Knife Speaks to Her Husband.
A dome is such a great shape to project a movie on. I think one day people will have domes in their homes. They’re magical. - David Lynch
Andreas Nilsson Tells A White Lie or Two
A few weeks ago, I posted the video for the first Fever Ray single. The clip was directed by Andreas Nilsson. He has also recently created a trio of videos for the freshman release of NME darlings White Lies. Check out their collaborations on the following videos:
Two Videos from De Thurah
Despite plummeting budgets and TV no longer being a good outlet, I still find music videos to be one of the best ways to discover music. Martin De Thurah is one of the most gifted directors working in the business. He brings a unique vision to everything he shoots and ultimately creates visual poetry for each song that he couples with imagery. Here are two of his most recent videos. Both are extraordinary.
Glasvegas / Flowers and Football Tops
Fever Ray / When I Grow Up
Nine Inch Addiction
Trent Reznor has worked tirelessly the last few years touring and recording many times over. He is currently working with the original line up of Janes Addiction in the studio. The two bands will hit the road for a short tour this summer and then he will be taking a NIN hiatus for an unknown amount of time.
Elliot Smith's Leaky Basement
Look at what was hiding in Elliot Smith’s leaky basement.
The Jesus And Mary Hope Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain plus Hope Sandoval equals Sometimes Always (performed live in MTV studio).
Bono's Joyless Division
For a long time I use to argue with my brother that while Bono hasn’t written decent music in ages and has the world’s worst Jesus complex, he as one person has done a lot of good in this world. I guess I started thinking differently about this when his project (RED) spread across the world. Completely against my ethical beliefs, he ushered in a campaign that’s soul purpose was to encourage people to buy shit that they don’t need in the name of fighting AIDS. By my logic, if this is the only way for both individuals and corporations to take some action of social responsibility, then we are truly screwed. Solving world issues shouldn’t be as simple as making purchases on your credit card, unaware of the very campaign that one just contributed to.
U2 have played the super bowl. They’ve marketed their own version of an ipod. There may even be a Bono action figure; U2 is now first and foremost an industry. They have generated gobs of money. In fact, Bono is literally the richest man in Ireland. This all strikes me as hugely contradictory coming from the guy that I once saw walk out on a stage in a silver suite with a matching cowboy hat preach like a Southern Baptist in great parody. Throughout the Zoo Station show, he swaggered with game-show host appeal condemning the “big brother-like” video images of our nation’s president, George Bush Sr. I can recall him pretending to prank call the President, ordering a pizza to the White House. Many early fans of U2 considered this zeal to represent the beginning of the end. Earnings would demonstrate that it was the beginning of one of the most profitable rock acts of all times. Despite their ostentatious image, I thought the band avoided creative repetition and boredom as they continued to make very different sounding albums, all the way through their album appropriately named Pop.
Then what ensued was just poop; the band chose to market diet advertising-friendly shadows of their earlier work. This move turned a fortune into an empire. What I had failed to realize as a young teen was that even when he seemed to be mocking everything wrong in the world, it was all a show that was obviously about the cult of his personality. Last year, I read several reports about how U2 had hidden many millions of dollars of earnings in Dutch banks, thereby averting their due taxes. I can’t hate him for caring about world issues related to poverty, violence, and health. But I am absolutely sickened by his destruction of the Joy Division classic Love Will Tear Us Apart. The band performed the song while sharing the stage with the Arcade Fire. Not knowing the lyrics is one thing but he is painfully off key to boot.
Mouth to Anus Video
Eeek what a horrible title for a post. My new favorite music video is from Southern Records act Mouth to Anus.
My Teenage Stride is Underrated
At some point about a year ago, I heard a My Teenage Stride song—Theme From Teenage Suicide—and pretty much ignored it. Somehow, it didn’t quite pique my interest enough to goad me into hearing more, and I left it in my iTunes library, but decided it didn’t actually deserve to be included on my actual iPod. A move which puzzles me now because, I heard this same song again just about a month ago, and I was immediately quite taken by how very nearly perfect it is. My Teenage Stride wears their power pop heart prominently on their sleeve, granted, but can you really go wrong when you sound like a pastiche of The Boys (The ‘70s UK outfit, not the ‘80s R&B group of little kids), The Nerves and The Go-Betweens? I don’t think so. Jangling guitars; giddy rhythms; vocals that sometimes rise to a deliciously sweet croon. It’s all as catchy as a disease you inexplicably want. Check the song below. Then go and check out more.
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My Teenage Stride – Theme From Teenage Suicide
The Way It Is
When I was in art school, one of the most creative people that I knew was a guy named Michael Sanchez. He wasn’t a student; rather he was a childhood friend of another exceptionally talented student that I knew. Michael and my friend DW epitomized young indie-rock. If I enjoyed the The Pixies, they adored them. And it wasn’t just their love of music that said so. The songs that they were writing at 19 or 20 years old were really something special. Recently, I got back in touch with Michael only to find out that he is living in Chicago, is a pretty hilarious stand up comedian with a great Joy Division joke, and is still playing music with his group The Way It Is. Go to their site and check out their video for You Chose Heads; it’s a perfect little tune, clocking in at under a minute and a half.
Jumbling Towers is Creepy in All the Right Ways
Almost overnight, Jumbling Towers have become one my favorite new bands. Which is a bit of a misleading statement since, technically, although they’re new to me, they’ve actually been around since 2005ish. It’s difficult to find out much about them (they’re not all that helpful in giving out details) but via their website, I’ve been able to uncover that they were still a band as recently July ‘08 (that’s when their last show is posted), that they’re from St. Louis, that they have an eponymously-titled LP that I cannot stop listening to and…not much else. More important than facts and bios, though, is the sound, man, and JT have managed to put together something that is so theatrical it could quite easily ruin itself. Yet, somehow, it manages to be histrionically awesome. This is sort of like what a haunted house would sound like if you transcribed it into music—mysterious keyboards; lurking basslines; anxious, twitchy guitars; and vampiric vocals. If you are thinking that this sounds like everything you don’t want in a band, please have a listen for yourself and don’t let words get in the way: the band has an EP called Classy Entertainment that you can download (for free!) here. Below is Cowards, from their long player:
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Jumbling Towers – Cowards
A Knife to the Heart
Karin from The Knife has an album coming out from her side project Fever Ray. The first single, If I Had A Heart is rather hypnotic and the strange video is pretty mesmerizing too.
Lykke Li Breaks It Up
I really love the strange harmony of the Lykke Li song Breaking It Up. But I love her odd style of dancing seen in the moody video even more. The fashion sense and overall mood of this promo is a perfect pairing to her music as well. Previous to seeing the video, I had images in my head of poorly behaved British prep-schoolers singing in a choral group and making a ruckus as the instructor struggles to maintain order.
Sadly, our show at BAM with School of Seven Bells has been cancelled. We are hoping that we will be able to reschedule a performance with them later in the year. For those of you who are not acquainted with SVIIB, it is the newest project of Benjamin Curtis from Secret Machines and the Deheza sisters of On! Air! Library!. To put SVIIB’s sound in a visual context, their airy harmonies are equal parts Solaris sci-fi and Koyaanisqatsi spirtual experience. Check out this performance of SVIIB performing White Elephant Coat.
(photo by Timothy Saccenti for Flaunt)
Once Upon A Time In The West
I just screened Sergio Leone’s classic western Once Upon A Time In the West. The film’s music which was composed and conducted by Ennio Morricone is simply brilliant. I really love how there is a unique piece of instrumentation scored for each of the major characters which is weaved throughout the film to subtly let the viewer know who will lead the scene. I am feeling completely inspired to take a crack at scoring a piece of film. Watch the scoreless ten minute opening title sequence here. This quiet scene creates an unsettling drama that paves the way for Morricone’s iconic theme refrain to enter the film.
A Beach House Vacation
We enjoy and admire the breathy music of Beach House. Here is a perfectly little dreamy video that they commissioned to accompany the track Used to Be.
Celebrating with Black Balloons
Happy New Year everyone. Perhaps you should celebrate the event with some Black Balloons like The Kills.
Howard Wilson is an Indie Rock Nerd; Also, Cooler Than You
This may not strike anyone else as nearly as odd as I seem to find it, but Howard Wolfson (Hillary Clinton’s Communications Director? Remember?) 1) has a blog where he writes about indie rock and 2) has compiled a list of the best music of 2008 that’s basically just like reading a Pitchfork year-end summary. Take a moment to peruse it, because it really is worth your time, and includes—among so many other things—offhand references to both Jandek and Scott Walker, the use of Bon Iver’s real name, and a Last Shadow Puppets song. Howard, we hardly knew ye…
Anyway, to check it out, go here.
Nobody Knows
My friend Ben is a genius songwriter from France with a very compelling voice. His project Løzninger reminds me of David Bowie’s acoustic side with a hint of the urgency found in Elliot Smith’s music. I wanted to share this video of him performing Nobody Knows solo. I know one day he and I will collaborate on something.
Interview With Peter Saville
Peter Saville is certainly one of the most iconic designers of the last thirty years. The stylish designer who is probably best known for his collaborations with Factory Records speaks about his process and the creation of the Joy Division Unknown Pleasures sleave.
Largest Record Archive For Sale
Paul Mawhinney is the owner of the largest record collection in the world. He has collected about 1 million albums and has another 1.5 million singles. Last year when his record store shuttered it’s doors, he felt compelled to sell The Archive which is currently up for sale (asking price $3,000,000).
Last year Siouxsie Sioux resurfaced with a new album and a video for the track Into a Swan. Now in her 50s, Siouxsie still has more style and attitude than pretty much any female rock crooner to follow her lead.
Primal Scream Can't Go Back
Primal Scream’s latest video clip for the track Can’t Go Back sees Bobby Gillespie bouncing off the walls of a technicolor hallway. The video feels like something iconic fashion photographer, Guy Bourdin might have been proud of.
Portishead Make A Montage
The video for the latest Portishead single titled Magic Doors, feels more like a some sort of brainwashing montage.
Early Bowie Videos
Thurston Moore will be introducing and providing commentary for the early videos of David Bowie presented Monday December 1st at MOMA.
A Site for Eclectic Method
EBN may have pioneered video remixing and VJing, but it is Eclectic Method who have continued their tradition into the 21st century. The creative group have just launched a new website worth checking out.
Now We Have A Chinese Democracy
Chuck Klosterman has reviewed the long awaited Guns N’ Roses album, Chinese Democracy. Klosterman likens the act of reviewing the album, which took over a decade to produce to reviewing a unicorn.
Rehab Is Where It's At
First Amy Winehouse had success with her single, rehab. And now Rihanna plans to do the same with a little help from Justin Timberlake. Maybe “rehab” is where it’s at.
3 Songs from Crying Souls
Maybe it is because the sky is grey and the rain keeps coming that I’ve been listening to sullen songs. The frail quality of desperation in the singer’s voices in all of these songs is painfully honest.
Standing By Obama
My fingers are crossed that tomorrow turns out well and that Mr. Barack Obama becomes our next US President. So in honor of his valor and great inspiration throughout an historic race, I want to share a wonderful uplifting video that a friend sent me. Street musicians all around world were brought together to create a killer version of Ben E. King’s Stand by Me. Some how this feels appropriate to me the evening before the election and with the passing of Obama’s grandmother.
Degrees of Existence
When we are first exposed to a band or a piece of music by a visual representation, we are bound to have impressions shaped by that very image. Often, I find myself off-put by a performer’s sense of self aesthetic; this is of course most disappointing when there is something really good about the music glimmering in the background. There are countless ways to encounter new music and it’s maker; in a movie or perhaps in the aisle of a grocery store. Because of my obsession with music video as a form, I am rather critical of this marriage between sound and vision.
Just this morning, I discovered a band called Dimmer through the promo for their track Degrees of Existence. On frame one - note one I was immediately curious. It became clear very quickly that I was in for a visual feast of photographic portraiture. The sound is something pensive with a washed out wall of guitars and angular bass lines. There is something absolutely familiar about this song and I like it. But more than I am moved by the song, I am reminded by the video that every now and again imagery has the ability to make something good great. In this case, the sound has been heightened and rendered more visceral. I am struck by the notion that a music video is almost always a visual afterthought and thus in a certain way is by it’s very nature at odds with the musical starting point. I believe that it may be this tension itself that makes some videos exceptional and others complete distractions. This video is an example of the former.
Being Brit with Tricky
Here is a great interview with Tricky in which be discusses what it means to be a Brit.
Quantum Physics And the Parallel Universe of Rock and Roll
I’m a PBS junky and caught a very unexpected film this weekend on NOVA. Eels frontman Mark Oliver Everett discovered the body of his deceased father at the age of 18. At that very moment he happened upon the realization that this was the closest he had come to his father all of his life. In the documentary Parallel World’s, Parallel Lives Everett goes on a journey to learn more about who his father, a well known quantum physicist really was. Mark traces his father’s career back to his studies at Princeton University where he had written a dissertation on something that he dubbed “relative state” or the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. At the age of 24, Hugh Everett had created a rather controversial and sadly ignored theory that refuted much of the work of the great Neils Bore. The notion that a person can exist alive and well in a room, while dead in a duplicate room in another universe would seem like the stuff science-fiction is made of. And indeed it is as a consequence of the work of Hugh Everett backed up with by some very interesting science. By learning more about the science that his father dedicated his life to and meeting many of his colleagues, Mark understands the man that was missing from his life just a bit better.
More Aggressive Dancers
Escalading aggression is a common theme in the works of music video director Paul Gore. Here is another music video featuring tusseling ballerinas. The song is called “Can You Touch Me” and the band is The Film.
Chris Cunningham Performs An Exorcism On A Resurrected Grace Jones
Film and music video auteur, Chris Cunningham fell off the creative map several years back. He had given up on promos and slowly turned out a few experimental films that seemed to be an arduous task. Rumors that he would make a feature film proved to be just rumors. And then he resurfaced with a tease; Cunningham shot his first music video in seven years for the breakout act The Horror’s - “Sheena is a Parasite”. Since then, Cunningham hasn’t released anything else. Although the buzz is that he has been working with The Horrors again; only this time in a different capacity as record producer. And now while we wait to see the results, Cunningham has teased us again with a rather disturbing photo spread that he shot for Dazed & Confused Magazine of none other than Grace Jones.
Revelations: Volume I
Part of the idea behind launching this blog was to share our working process. Some songs are written in the course of a single evening while others are labored over for months before taking full shape. A track that may start out stark and minimal can transform into something more lush and grand, or vice-versa. Every band has their own way of writing. Often we record our sketches on one of those cheap dictation audio recorders. We find the quality to be poor and charming all at once. From time to time, we will be posting some of our works in progress (flubs and all) under the series title - Revelations. We hope you enjoy. The first in the series is an example of a song that has taken quite some time to come together. It may or may not be complete. This was recorded in our rehearsal space on Kali’s previously mentioned note taking device.
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Day for Night – Untitled Song (Homage to Paul Newman)
Recorded September 30, 2008
Download mp3 (3.3mb)
Moshing Ballerinas
I had never heard of Omaha Bitch until I came across the video for their track “Orgasmic Troopers”. There is something so lovely about the thought of ballerinas moshing.
Play with Daft Punk
Who could’ve expected that someday, Daft Punk would have their very own dolls? Not I. According to Hypebeast, the “400% Daft Punk 2Pack” won’t be ready to ship until March 2009, but that’s no reason you can’t oooh and ahhh over them now.
Featuring Warrior Queen
No doubt there have been—and there will be—endless comparisons between Warrior Queen and artists like Santogold and M.I.A. The differences between the former and the latter(s), however, are fairly stark. On Poison Dart, Warrior Queen, a Jamaican-born singer/MC (accompanied here by The Bug, aka London-based producer Kevin Martin) is more firmly rooted in pure dub, without all (or more accurately, with fewer) of the sonic bells and whistles that have made indie stars of Santi White and Maya Arulpragasam. The music is thicker, headier and more fixed around a single, driving rhythm. Warrior Queen, who now calls London home, half sings, half raps (and in some unquantifiable part, moans) her way through the song, seductively winding her way through verses and over choruses. Have a listen:
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The Bug ft. Warrior Queen – Poison Dart
Joy Division Documentary to Screen at BAM
Filmmaker and music video director Grant Gee created something special when he followed Radiohead around the world filming them during the OK Computer tour. The resulting film, Meeting People is Easy captured a band on top of the world and frustrated with their sudden larger than life image. Ten years later, Gee has pieced together Joy Division, a documentary on the story behind the nearing success and tragedy of Joy Division.
The film will be screened Saturday Nov. 29 at 4:30 & 9:15pm at BAM as part of a series they are curating called Punk ‘n’ Pie.
3 Post-Punk Peel Session Recordings
There is a nice Fall chill in the air today that inspired me to spin post-punk music in the apartment. I figured I’d share this block of tracks that were all recorded live on air with the late great John Peel for his BBC Sessions.
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Siouxsie & The Banshees – Hong Kong Garden
Autolux is Sweet & Sugarless
One of my favorite bands of the last few years is Autolux. Live the trio easily measures up to any expectations one may have from their cleverly produced studio recordings. The band’s drummer Carla Azar certainly is one of the most exciting and creative sounding drummers to come along in some time. In fact, she has been tapped to play alongside the likes of John Frusciante and mostly recently on the new PJ Harvey record. Autolux’s sound sits somewhere in a space between My Bloody Valentine and early Smashing Pumpkins which is just blissful to me. I’ll keep preaching their glory. Buy it. Learn it. Love it.
Debbie Harry is Backfired
I just stumbled across this 1981 music video for Debbie Harry, directed by HR Giger of Alien fame. This looks like a collaboration of two very talented people who should have never met.
Boots of Chinese Plastic
I just saw the video for the new single by The Pretenders. I had no idea that they were back at it. What a nice surprise. Chrissy Hynde still kills it and is sexy as fuck at 57.
Dolly Mixture Makes You Happy
How cool were Dolly Mixture? Not only did they get their start singing backing vocals for Captain Sensible (!), but their first single was released on Paul Weller’s label and produced by Sensible and Damned bandmate Paul Gray. And long before everybody and her mother was doing it, they formed their own label, Dead Good Dollys Platters. Everything and More (1982) is my favorite Dolly Mixture song, not solely for the sheer, lofty catchiness of it all, but because they had the good sense to adorn the opening and shout out post-choruses with joyously ringing bells. It’s pretty and poppy and just slightly dreamy—all of my favorite things—all at one time.
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Dolly Mixture – Everything and More
McCain Uses Foo Fighters Song
The rock band Foo Fighters are pretty annoyed at the Mcain-Palin campaign. They were unaware that the campaign had been parading around using their song “Hero” as a theme song. The band released a statement against the use of the song.
To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyrics just tarnishes the song.
While Dave Grohl certainly isn’t hurting for cash, between this and the infamous Courtney Love majority ownership of the Nirvana catalogue ordeal, he must be pretty bummed. Guess this is a reminder for musicians to be cautious about the fine print in their publishing contracts.
I really like both this Raveonettes song and the video produced by some of my friends at Blind. The only thing missing from it is Sharon Foo’s pretty little face; she sure is a looker.
The Raveonettes See in Black & White
Throat Metal
A few days ago, Bill told me that he has only been listening to Gorgoroth. I nodded. Of course my only knowledge of the band is from the Vice film on True Norwegian Black Metal. I bet he also listens to Dimmu Borgir. I came across this video of theirs. I don’t know if I’m suppose to be scared or laugh. But then again I am going to see Gwar tonight. Really, I am!
Silly Mood Silly Songs
I’ve been in a silly mood all day, so I’ve been listening to silly music all day.
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Ethel Merman – Satan's L'il Lamb
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Kinky Friedman – They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore
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Screamin' Jay Hawkins & The Fuzztones – Constipation Blues
Kleenex/ Liliput Put Zurich on the Map
There aren’t a lot of Swiss bands who have become internationally known, but there’s an exception to every unwritten rule. For example, Kleenex—hometown Zurich—was a band in the vein of the Slits, Delta 5 and the Au Pairs, who formed in ‘78 and played the sort of wiry, panicky post-punk that Gang of Four is famous for. While they never had any huge hits, Ain’t You is probably their most well known song, and for good reason: it seamlessly combines aggressive guitars; cheerleading, chanty verses; and a sudden, spastic, mid-song singalong. Have a listen.
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Kleenex – Ain't You
Neo Soul?
Last night Kali and I were talking about this whole neo-soul movement in music. We both find it kind of insulting that the attention is being charged by three different white, British singers. All of the ladies have extraordinary voices without a doubt, and some of the singles are quite catchy. Its just a little upsetting that major labels have chosen to market white women singing historically black music instead of finding another Lauryn Hill (who managed to make the sounds of doo-wop and soul her own). We got to talking about the 80’s and early 90’s soul revival. I brought up the work of Nellee Hooper and Jazzy B.
Anyhow here is one of my favorite Jazzy B tracks with his outfit Soul II Soul. Buy it here.
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Soul II Soul – Get A Life
Majors Still Fighting the Music Pirates Arggggh
Muxtape was a short-lived website that enabled users to share mix-tapes of 12 songs or less in a streamable fashion. The site was simple, easy to use and blew up almost overnight with success. As one might predict, the site’s creator was forced to shut down for copyright infringement. The truly odd part of the story is that users couldn’t download the music; this site was simply a way to turn people onto tracks they didn’t own. So in short it was great for everyone. Music was getting exposure and albums were being purchased as a result.
Oddly enough, several major record labels understood the talents of the site’s creator and wanted to usurp his knowledge. While it is still posted on the site, its worth checking out in his own words the story of what happened and where muxtape is going. It’s truly pathetic that the major labels stand by their posture of holding onto an antiquated way of doing business and fail to embrace the work of enthusiastic music lovers who offer free publicity.
I'm Not Even Kidding
I’m not being ironic. Something About You, a song by Level 42—a British band that reached its peak in the ‘80s, but continues to struggle onward to this day—is seriously one of my favorite songs. There are so many good things about it, it’s kind of hard to list them all (how do you quantify something that’s essentially infinite?) but I’ll have at it: synthesizers, faux funky rhythms, falsetto choruses, and so, so much more. Have a listen, please. It’s seriously awesome—and deeply satisfying—by any measure:
An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump
Named for a classic 18th century painting by Joseph Wright of Derby, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump are a London trio—all ladies—who play muscular, brooding post-punk with bits of goth just beneath the surface. Attached is Lights Out (not to be confused with the Santogold track of the same name), a song I like for all the reasons just stated, plus: sinewy guitars, throaty vocals, an unexpectedly catchy ending—AND the fact that it clocks in at just a few seconds over a minute. Enjoy:
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An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump – Lights Out
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Lemmy Lemmy Lemmy
We were so bummed that we couldn’t get into the Motorhead show at this year’s SXSW Festival. But there is good news; a documentary on Lemmy is in the works.
You & Me On A Jamboree
Despite nearly overheating last night in our windowless rehearsal space that lacks air conditioning, it appears as though things are quickly cooling off in NYC. I’m in complete denial that the summer is over. Today I will only listen to reggae. Check out You & Me On A Jamboree; the site is an amazing blog dedicated to reggae with an extensive collection of free album downloads.
I Cannot Support This
I just found out that the Ting Tings have released a cover version of Altered Images’ Happy Birthday, and for the life of me, I cannot figure out why. The original is one of my favorite songs of all time, and has been ever since I first heard it tucked in the background of a scene in Sixteen Candles, a movie I watched literally hundreds of times on cable—and then later on a well-worn VHS tape—as a kid and which led me to the false conclusion that high school would be fun. Clare Grogan sounds like a pouty pixie, lending the whole song an adorable quirkiness, while the jangly guitars ring like bells and bounce from note to note. Frankly, Happy Birthday is not a song that ever, ever needed a remake—especially one that replaces the song’s original oddness with such unmitigated normalcy (why would you want to cover a song solely to make it sound less unique?). So, I’m posting the original here; you can look up the Ting Ting’s version—for comparative purposes, I suppose—on your own.
My Favorite Tickley Feather Song Yet
Tickley Feather, aka Annie Sachs, manages to make heartbreakingly beautiful, haunting, echoing soundscapes with just a microphone, a keyboard and a Zoom effects box. Natural Natural —which for some weird reason, isn’t on her album—is just about the prettiest song I’ve heard in a long time, and my favorite Tickley Feather song of all. I just love the rudimentary bombast of the programmed drum beats, the simplicity of the keyboards and the repetition of the vocals—which are themselves eerie and hazy and perfectly weightless.
Not My Favorite Sic Alps Song
In the interest of full transparency, I have to say, my favorite Sic Alps song is The News Today (off of A Long Way Around to a Shortcut). It’s warp-y and circular and redundant in all the right ways. And yet, I’m posting Bathman, because it’s as hazy and cough-syrup-y as I feel today, even after the drums and bass kick in and the song emerges, wide-eyed, from its sleepy start. So, it’s all a matter of timing, I guess.