Underwater Peoples Winter Review

"Love Remains Cos Love Is True"Get the new compilation from the raddest dudes ever, the Underwater Peoples bros! If you loved the Summer comp as much as, well, everyone else did then you'll love this winter mix. There are sick jams by Real Estate, Julian Lynch, Alex Bleeker and the Freaks, and way more...

Download: Underwater Peoples Winter Review (via Chocolate Bobka!)

So psyched for the new year!!! See y'all in OH TEN I'm out!


Love,
O
<###

MP3: Moon Duo, Wooden Shjips X-Mas Jams

"Happy Holigaze"

There are a ton of great indie Christmas songs coming out lately. These two come from the rad crew over at WFMU.

Moon Duo - "Silver Bells"

Wooden Shjips - "O Tannenbaum"

Moon Duo is the newer project - not necessarily a duo, and not necessarily from the moon - of Wooden Shjips vocalist/guitarist Erik "Ripley" Johnson along with Sanae Yamada. In continuing a tradition of holiday giving Wooden Shjips began last year by giving out a free psychedelic Christmas cassette which contained covers of "O Tannenbaum" (above) and "Auld Lang Syne," they have realeased an even better Xmas psych single via Moon Duo. Enjoy!

MP3: Crocodiles & Dum Dum Girls - "Merry Christmas, Baby (Please Don't Die)"

"I Like You Alive"
Crocodiles & Dum Dum Girls - "Merry Christmas, Baby (Please Don't Die)" (via Stereogum)

"You just wanna sleep all your days away // It's my Christmas wish you get up and plaaayyy."

MP3: Kid Counselor - "White Fields (For Sean)"

This 8-1/2 minute track by Kid Counselor is a great, wintery ambient noise track for your frrrrigid fuckin ears' delight. The song perfectly soundtracks a scene in which a lone character wanders hopelessly across a desolate snow-covered field, shivering and lost and terrified. As the last half of the tune builds momentum, so does the wind and snow, and as the drumming and strumming build strong, our lonely wanderer picks up speed. Now he's running, towards something distant but finite, and all is not lost in the end.

I don't know about you but I get a little taste of that near-hypothermia desperation every time I walk from the train to my apartment. And this song soundtracks it perfectly.

Kid Counselor - "White Fields (For Sean)"

Kid Counselor has also gotten some recent love from our cyberbud Jheri over at Get Off the Coast. Go there, and get Kid Counselor's 60-minute "EP."

Real Estate on ABC News New Music Monday

"Never Feel As Though You're Drowning"
This shit is so crazy.

Sweatshoppe to Perform at Jonathan Levine Gallery Tomorrow

"Isabella Rossellini Will Be There"

Check out Bruno and Blake, multimedia duo Sweatshoppe, performing tomorrow night at Jonathan Levine Gallery, 529 West 20th St at 8:00pm.

Then we will hop over to Friendship Bracelet's awesome show at Cake Shop. C'monnnn, I'll even pay for the cab.

MiX: Andy Cirzan's Cosmic Christmas Mixes

Andy Cirzan, DJ lo-fi and head of Jam Productions in Chicago, makes "listen to it year-round" mixes of obscure Christmas songs for Sound Opinions. Cirzan collects all this excellent way-out vinyl from his travels around the world and weeds out the best, weirdest X-maz tracks for his mixes.


Download Seance for Santa (2006) here.

The Cassette Years: Part 1, Cirzan's 10th-year mix for Sound Opinions (but like 20th real time), was released last year around this time. Get the Andy Cirzan Annual Xmas Spectacular podcasts with mixes from 2008 and 2007.

Like last year's, the 2009 mix will be up soon as a free download on Sound Opinions for a limited time, so keep yer peepers peeled here for that. Listen to him on the air in the NYC area Sunday 5-6pm on 90.7 WFUV nationally Friday 8pm via Chicago Public Radio.

Personally, I'm burning some to take home for the fam for the holidaze (since I won't be burnin' anything else)...


Happy Holidays,
From you to me,
Pinkie-Lee.

FRIENDSHIP BRACELET PRESENTS... @ Cake Shop, Thursday 12/17/09

(via FriendshipBracelet)


Be there or forever hate yourself.

RUN DMT - Bong Voyage

Maybe you've heard of this lil acid-trip known as RUN DMT, cos shit has been gettin' arooouuund as of late. Listed influences include:

"weed, infomercials, lexx, happy FAM, ashley purse-is-yellow, monica miracles, the midwest... dirt, best coast, snacks, adrian orange, orange soda, little kiddos, tamnma musical boxes, tornado warnings, wearing pretty dresses, prince RAMAAAAAAAAA..."

Bong Voyage, an extremely listenable psychedelia hotflash, is at times creepy but all-around fun for the whole fucked-up fam. Download the whole album here.

Also DEM HUNGER remixed one track "Money":

RUN DMT - "Money" (DEM HUNGER remix)

TWEAK!

VIDEO: BOAT @ Bruar Falls 11/14/09

(image via BV)

BOAT, a Seattle band, recently made one of its few NYC jaunts to play a couple shows in November. This footage is from their Bruar Falls show on November 14:


"We've Been Friends Since 1989" is one of their more recently faved songs off of the 2009 release Setting the Paces.


"I threw up twice again last night - once to get sick and once to get right. I guess we'll need four beds for BOAT..." Yeah, as promised, "Four Beds for BOAT" (Topps 7") clearly IS a song about puking. With such a frank opening line, this tune finally hooked me into the show. I started to see BOAT on a more personal level. Lead singer D. Crane's scratchy voice hints at many a night spent with his head in the bucket, after raging hard. Who can't relate to that??

BOAT is on Magic Marker Records. Get their albums here.

VIDEO: Grippers Nother Onesers (At Slimer Beach)

New video from hypno chill label Olde English Spelling Bee called "Grippers Nothers Onesers (At Slimer Beach)." Dig the homemade video aesthetic. The piece contains clips of old school video games, home movies, and at least one part of it looks like it was shot right off a TV screen. And that mask from Scream still totally scares me, even if it is worn by some nitrous burnout in a hoodie dancing around his dorm room in slow mo. In fact, it's even creepier.

The audio is can be described best by the label: "The soundtrack for this 12-minute long total mindfuck of a video is a jump-cut medley excerpting several different tracks from the LP... Grippers Nother Onesers is a channeling of teenage mutant glue sniffing psycho dreams, a prelude to the psychotic beach bum depression induced by junkfood and huffing siphoned gas out of the Oscar Meyer mobile." It's a re-issue of the cult fave tape from 2006, previously known as Lamborghini Crystal's 1992 Cool Runnings Holiday.

Always good shit from OESB. Vinyl release is December 14th. Check out their new blog!

PARTY IN THE USA /IN THE MARKET HOTEL /IN BUSHWICK

Real Estate, Woods and Cloud Nothings are playing tonight at Market Hotel! MAAAJOR dance party action. It will be just like this:



Miley Cyrus will be there! YYYEEEAAAHHH!

Doors 8:00PM

VIDEO: Oneohtrix Point Never - "Time Decanted"

Olde English Spelling Bee sent out the new Oneohtrix Point Never music video for "Time Decanted" off their album Russian Mind (No Fun Productions). Video by Todd Ledford.

I love where music videos are going...

VIDEO: Alex Bleeker and Alex Sauser-Monnig (Mountain Man)

Here's a sweet video from the Chocolate Bobka CMJ showcase at Cameo Gallery 10/24/09. Alex Bleeker (of Alex Bleeker and the Freaks and Real Estate) performing with Alex Sauser-Monnig but really backed up by alllll of the beautiful sirens from Mountain Man. There are no words, really. Just beautiful, beautiful love...

tUnE-YaRdS Likes it from Behind!

(photo via jcbehm 11/17/09)

After viewing Ray C's video from Northside Festival, I was happily sold on tUnE-YaRdS. BiRd-BrAiNs has soundtracked a private groove sesh or two in the solitude of my bedroom.

At the Dirty Projectors show at Music Hall of Willburg this past Saturday (11/21), a slightly less private affair, I grooved with the masses. Live, tUnE-YaRdS is Merrill Garbus with a ukelele, drums, loop machines, and some rando on bass in the shadows. So commanding was she on stage, it was impossible to look away as Garbus channeled Janis Joplin and some sorta enchanting voodoo queen. The crowd was really feeling it. Then she busts out this lyric that goes like: "My man likes me from behind // Tell the truth, I never lie."

It totally floored me. How fucking badass is that?? I couldn't believe it -- I have a major tendency to mishear even the bluntest of lyrics and I wasn't too familiar with this song yet. After the show I asked Garbus if that was actually what she sang. (Unlike plenty of other female artists, she doesn't overtly force her sexuality on her audience. It's just natural.) Garbus confirmed, with a smile, that I had indeed heard her correctly. I had to fight off the urge to high-five her and be like, "Yeahhh gUrL! Me fucking too!" No, that's inappropriate. She told me she also had a "censored, PG-version" prepared for the show the following night at Bowery Ballroom, where her parents would be in attendance. AWKWARD!

Anyway, the song is called "Powa," which only makes it more perfect. Even though it refers to her man's sexual power, that's exactly what she herself exudes. You can check out tUnE-YaRdS video performing "Powa" from the new 4AD sessions, if you click the little drop-down menu below the vid and select the song.

While you're at it, dig on "Real Live Flesh" from the same series:

"I know I've been away so long you love me only in your dreams // Lucky for you, I do much better in real live flesh." Dayumn, I love this woman! (Plus she's down with Thao.)

Watch that Ray Concepcion vid I mentioned from way way back in early summer. So beautiful:

Family Portrait, Liam the Younger, Fluffy Lumbers, and Average Girl tonight!

Bark at the moon!

Family Portrait, Liam the Younger, Fluffy Lumbers, and Average Girl are allllll playing tonight at Cake Shop (152 Ludlow on the LES). Non-stop rockness of the Jersey fam-core variety - the best kinda variety there is.

Doors at 8pm. Everyone should go, duhh.

MP3: Alex Bleeker and the Freaks - "Animal Tracks"

The Alex Bleeker and the Freaks' album version of "Animal Tracks," their sick cover of the Mountain Man original, is here!

Alex Bleeker and the Freaks - Animal Tracks.mp3

Can't wait for this album to come out. Order here at Underwater Peoples, fools! "Available on Black Friday, November 27th, 2009." It'll chill you out while you brave the hoards of crazed, coupon-carrying cart-pushers at the mall. Or while you continue to digest that tofurky food baby you're still carrying from the day before.

Ohhh and in case you missed it the first time, check out this PIXELHORSE vid of the Freaks playing this song at Union Pool.

Jersey fresh lovin!

Kid Sister Video "Right Hand Hi" Bites Artist Duo Sweatshoppe Harrrd

Creative multimedia duo Sweatshoppe (Blake Shaw and Bruno Levy - two super talented dudes) released "The Landing," the first video of a series that showcases their new video painting technology. Check them out:

These boys are the real deal, having written software that tracks the physical paintroller, maps out its track, and replaces what it "paints." This is all done in real time, or "live." (Meaning: not in post-production, not in editing, not after-the-fact.) As a result of the huge success of "The Landing," Sweatshoppe will perform at SCOPE Miami during Art Basel.

Which brings us to this, which has been pissing us off. The new Kid Sister music video directed by Sarah Chatfield for "Right Hand Hi" basically rips off Sweatshoppe's new hotness, but in a sleazy lame club rat way:

This shit must have been done in post-production. If you can find evidence of the contrary, I implore you to send it my way.

Shiiit. Kid Sister is striking out lately.

MP3: Beach House - "Norway"

There has already been a lot of buzz over the upcoming Beach House album Teen Dream scheduled for release on 01/26/10 via SubPop. The following single has been released via their site:

Beach House - "Norway".mp3

On a train ride through Norway, some reporters asked the band to write and perform a song for them. (Love the light and acoustics in that wooden hallway.) The resulting new single is lovely and sprawling.

Alex Bleeker and the Freaks Album Cover Art

Check it out! The new Alex Bleeker and the Freaks LP cover = Jersey bros chillin' pool-side + photoshopped psychedelia + Bleek looking king-of-the-mountain-esque. Dude needs a chalice or a pimp cup or some shit. The album comes out 11/27 on <3Underwater Peoples<3.

PS: Bro-fest con-test! Cruise over to Chocolate Bobka and win a prize if you can name all the haaandsome dudes in the photo. (HINT: a certain fella holding a dog - now, we won't tell you WHICH! - is a direct descendant of Elvis Presley.) While you're there you can treat yourself to a tasty excerpt "Dead On."

MP3: Speculator - "Trip Wilson"

Speculator sent over some rad jams for your aural pleasure. And we likey. Feast on this fave:

Speculator - "Trip Wilson".mp3

Speculator's been blowing up the intertubes lately with some serious blog lovin' and we were tickled when we first heard 'em on the last Friendship Bracelet mix. Upcoming full-length album on Wet Merchants will be available "by the end of the month." Also be on the lookout for their tape with the P-WHORES' other recent flames LukePerry.

Oh what's that - that's not enough for you? You're thirsting for more like a bloodhungry wench?? Fine, fine, I don't blame ya. Go for it. Get more HERE and HERE.

New Real Estate Reality track reviews!

By now you've probably got your Real Estate full-length vinyl spinnin' and are already stoked on the fact that Real Estate's EP Reality is coming out 12/18 via Mexican Summer. Now you have even more to revv your RE engine.

New tracks "Dumb Luck" and "Younger Than Yesterday" were posted today via Stereogum and Pfork.

Here's a re-post of the vid of "Younger Than Yesterday" from the CMJ showcase at the Delancey:

(Original post 10/31/09.)

New VIDEO for Animal Collective - "In the Flowers"

New video for "In the Flowers," the first track off Animal Collective's last smash album Merriweather Post Pavillion.

The first time I put this album on, I was on an NJ Transit train headed back into the city. A friend had just sent over the leak. "In the Flowers" starts up with that slow crawling intro, and I was so jacked up on nervous anticipatory joy that I just started crying. I cried silently through the whole song and then listened to the track twice more before finishing the album. While I didn't cry through this video, I definitely re-experienced that same flood of emotion from my first listen of "In the Flowers."

Watch the video here, streaming on their site in flash.

MP3: Yeasayer - "Ambling Alp" (Memory Tapes remix)

(photo by Guy Aroch)

Memory Tapes remixed "Ambling Alp," the new single from Yeasayer's upcoming album Odd Blood that has the ability to transform even the sad sappiest of suckers into a super stoked individual. Seriously, that track makes me fly.

The remix, featured on the digital download, is definitely a different take on the song. Where the original song leaps and bounds with horns and big synthy breakdowns, Memory Tape's remix is a more subtle, but still upbeat take on the original, characterized most by its Casio sounds and sexed-up vocal gasps. It's cool, not quite as epic, but still cool...

Yeasayer - "Ambling Alp" (Memory Tapes remix).mp3 (via NME)

MP3: Solange Knowles - "Stillness is the Move" (Dirty Projectors cover)

(via P4K)

Just had to re-post this along with everyone else. When did mini-Beyonce get so fucking hip? And hot! This is so sick!!

Solange Knowles - Stillness is the Move.mp3

"Better than the original" ventures one blogger. What UP Dirty P's!!!


Oops. MP3 got stomped by the label. You can still find it and download it like, here, for example.

VIDEO: LukePerry @ Death by Audio

LukePerry played a crazy sick show at Death by Audio last week with James Ferraro, Eric Copeland (of Black Dice), and Infinity Window. Yup they totally raped it. (Ohh is that phrase not happening after all?)

New PIXELHORSE video!



Looove band names like this one that are impossible to Google. Remember the early days of Real Estate? Sigh. Anyway, more from these guys soon, for sure.


PS: Cruise over to FriendshipBraceletClub for the buzz on LukePerry (/dANA).

MP3: Atlas Sound - "Doctor"

This new track from Atlas Sound is sweet and upbeat and an all-around great listen. "Doctor" is a cover of the Five Discs' original song, and the virtual 7" is available for download (via MBV). Definitely my fave single track since "Shelia."

Atlas Sound - "Doctor".mp3

VIDEO: Bishop Allen - "True or False"

The first time I ever saw Bishop Allen was somewhat recently - just this June at Studio B during Northside Fest. Of course I was familiar with them already. Mutual Appreciation is one of my fave mumblecores, and they played at Bennington's SunFest while I was still an undergrad (though I missed their set due to what shall be termed "unmentionable licentious activity"). But it's easy to fall in love with them once you go to a show. Darbie, the female vocalist and lead in this song "True or False" is most lovable of all. Her demeanor and movement while performing are peaceful and charming - I can't gush about her enough. Ooohh it's so easy to fall in love...

MP3: Best Coast - "When I'm With You" (and "This Is Real")

Best Coast - When I'm With You.mp3 (via MBV)

Stream the b-side "This Is Real" via Pforkcast.


As if you haven't already, check out her sweet FADER fort vids:





Hotbox at The Levi’s®/FADER Fort: Best Coast

Which remind of this semi-sweet Levi's ad which I am now forced to associate with some of my fave bands and friends:



Go forth! Woo let's go'merica!!

Kings of Leon Launch Clothing Line

Bros from Nashville KOL launched a clothing line with Surface to Air that will be available at Paris Texas in Copenhagen. Most of the pieces are pretty generic and unsurprising - in fact this all feels pretty fucking irrelevant - except maybe for the coke spoon necklace, which you can purchase for a mere 200 Euros. How rock-n-roll:











The necklace really takes the collection to the next level (of suck). Can't wait to see these sported around the hood in Willburg. It's so rock-n-roll-doin-yay-with-daddy'$-money.

MP3: Yeasayer - "Ambling Alp" free download

Yeasayer's highly anticipated sophomore album Odd Blood is set for release 2/9/10 on Secretly Canadian. They have officially released a single, "Ambling Alp" which has been floatin' around for a bit but now available for free download HERE. Available for purchase are a digital bundle (which includes remixes from Memory Tapes and DJ/rupture) and a 12" + t-shirt combo. Sweeeet!

While "Ambling Alp" is a super fun and energetic track, we have been enjoying some of the other new Yeasayer jams at their live shows for a while now. And we are dying to get their Blood on our hands.

VIDEO: New Villager - "Say the Code"

PIXELHORSE not too familiar with New Villager. PIXELHORSE likey. PIXELHORSE hungry! ARRGGGHHH FEED PIXELHORSE!

Uh, anywayyyy, this is "Say the Code" by New Villager at the Underwater Peoples/Chocolate Bobka/twosyllable CMJ showcase at the Delancey on 10/23/09. BUNNY first told me about these bros back when the album was available for free download on Pitchfork. (Now avail for purchase from their label and iTunes. #movin'onup) She was all hot-n-bothered cos of their song "Ghengis On." She'd be all, "Yo bitch I'ma get my GHENGIS on toniiiiight for REEEALZIES!" Which usually meant, you know, a coupla Jäger shots, leading the Mongolian Empire into battle and maybe even occupying a large chunk of China. Just another usual Friday night in Jersey.

Uh, anywayyyy, New Villager put on a really energetic show at the Delancey, going on just after Frat Dad, but before the giant music-making furries that I now am thinking may have been just another high school acid flashback. (Does no one else see them??? Stop telling me it's all in my head!!#$@^!!) Their jams were totally danceable and made me feel like I might one day learn how to love again. Except dancing was impossible in a venue jam-packed with stomachs full of Late Night Taco Doritos® - the chiller's chip. (Remind me to sue this blog for jacking my life story rights.) I guess I never will fall in love after all.

Uh, anywayyyy. Please excuse me - partying has rendered me braindead and talking like a caveman. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Get New Villager's 7" "Rich Doors" here.

Get Holiday Shore's 7" while you're there.

VIDEO: Real Estate - "Younger Than Yesterday"

A newer track "Younger Than Yesterday" by NJ jammers Real Estate, performed at the Underwater Peoples/Chocolate Bobka/twosyllable CMJ showcase at the Delancey on 10/23/09. With their first full-length barely released yet (11/17 via Woodsist but currently available for purchase at their shows), Real Estate has already got fans salivating with news of an upcoming EP Reality from Mexican Summer by the end of the year. With tracks like "Basement" (see Ray's vid) and the one above, a taste of Real Estate's reality is something we could all dig on. Like most, we cannot wait for the EP and have been devouring new songs with the ferocious appetite of a breast-feeding lioness. These boys can barely crank them out fast enough!

Check out more sweet CMJ vids by Ray Concepcion/Fury, Chocolate Bobka's c. axel, and yourrrs truly PIXELHORSE, at the Chocolate Bobka Takes on CMJ Channel.

Pre-order Real Estate's full-length.

Happy Halloween (Tom Petty - "Zombie Zoo")

Tom Petty - "Zombie Zoo"

VIDEO: Frat Dad - "Morning Tape" @ the Delancey

Gotta say, if there's one band a fucking dirty-ass lens works for, it's probably Frat Dad. The audio is also pretty degenerate. But after their first song they hit my girlfriend Flear in the face with a bag of Doritos. So then she started a mosh pit, got in a fight with this big fat guy in a goofy sweater, and got kicked out for trying to sell selling drugs to the bathroom attendant chick upstairs. So that was pretty cool I guess.

Check out more sweet CMJ vids here!

VIDEO: Real Estate - "Atlantic City"

So apparently we at PIXELHORSE have decided to become an all-Real-Estate-all-of-the-time blog. (Who has the time or patience for other bands really anyhow?? They're always doing silly shit.)

This is Real Estate performing their jammiest jam "Atlantic City." This stellar newer version of the song appears on the new full-length (!) which you can buy at their shows right now. "AC" is the kinda jam that flows through yer headphones like liquid happy and makes you unabashedly dance down the street in a state of total elation.

Shot this on standard for no apparent reason. (But Charles over at Bobka has some really top-notch stuff, so be on the lookout.) Oops. M'eh, was a looong (and totally fun) night. A night that involved some frat bros from Long Island pouring a drink down my back, dudes dressed like furries, and losing some of my footage... CMJ I love you but you're hurting me. Aren't we over yet??

Real Estate Extends Tour Cross-Country! Big! Huge! Massive!

For the release of their new full-length, Real Estate's leaving Jersey for a while to tour the country. They've got the van up and running great and have added new dates, extending the span of their tour to reach the mid-west and west coast. Whether it's your first time or your umpteenth time, seeing Real Estate just plain makes you feel good. They closed the Oh My Rockness showcase at Santos Party House last night and it was definitely superfunmakeoutparty. They were stellar. If you're in NYC, catch them at their remaining CMJ shows before they peace.

10.22 Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands (Death and Taxes CMJ Party) 9pm *
10.23 New York, NY @ The Delancey (Underwater Peoples Showcase) 1am
10.24 Brooklyn, NY @ Mark Hotel (Pitchfork Showpaper Benefit) 7pm
10.24 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (Mexican Summer Showcase) 11:15pm
10.25 New York, NY @ The Living Room (Kidrockers) 1pm
10.30 Storrs, CT @ University of Connecticut $
11.02 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s %
11.03 Washington, DC @ Black Cat %
11.04 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie %
11.06 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom %
11.07 Boston, MA @ Great Scott %
11.08 Ithaca, NY @ TBA
11.09 Montreal, Quebec @ Il Motore %
11.10 Toronto, Ontario @ El Mocambo %
11.11 Detroit, MI @ Majestic Cafe
11.12 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle %
11.13 Madison, WI @ Der Rathskeller / U of W
11.14 Iowa City, IA @ Public Space One
11.15 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive &
11.16 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
11.18 Seattle, WA @ The Funhouse
11.19 Portland, OR @ Holocene
11.20 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock
11.22 Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place
11.23 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
11.24 San Diego, CA @ TBA
11.25 Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts
11.26 El Paso, TX @ Black Market
11.27 Austin, TX @ Mohawk
11.28 Dallas, TX @ The Cavern
11.29 Little Rock, AR @ Sticky Fingerz
12.01 Atlanta, GA @ 529
12.02 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
12.03 Baltimore, MD @ TBA

* with Japandroids
$ with Vivian Girls
% with Girls
& with Grant Hart
(via the tripwire)

This is bittersweet for us. P-horse contributor BUNNY recently relocated to Austin and has been waiting for these guys to come out and see her. But Brooklyn and Jersey will surely feel a good bit colder without em.

CMJ Tonight: Group Tightener Showcase @ Monster Island

As I always do, without fail, I threw away all regard for plans the next day and totally overdid it last night by raging til 3:00 AM. After waiting twenty minutes for the G train, I glimpsed two lights down the tracks in the distance but was horrified to realize it was two surly-looking MTA employees with flashlights, casually lumbering down the tracks. Took a cab. Feeling pretty heavy at work today. Business as usual. Let that be a lesson to ya.

Uhh point is, I'm counting on this funtastic show tonight at Monster Island to totally revive me. Alex Bleeker, Ducktails, Best Coast, Highlife, Fluffy Lumbers! You know, Todd P and the gang. Don't skip it to go see some other shit. Unless maybe you're at the OMR showcase securing your spot to see Real Estate. Even still, you could just suck it up and see them at one of the other umpteen rad shows they're playing this week. Don't fuck it up.

Alex Bleeker and the Freaks - "Never Goin' Back" (via Bobka)
(video here. This jam was formerly "King of the Mountain.")

Best Coast - "Wish He Was You" (stream)

See ya later skaters!

MP3: Memory Tapes - "Walk Me Home"

New creepalicious song from Memory Tapes via ARAWA:

Here's what's been making my walks home after dark all the more exciting, his all original 17 minute epic and love letter to the art of horror movie scoring, Walk Me Home. Turn off the lights and enjoy my pretties.

Memory Tapes - Walk Me Home

MIX: "Undead and Lovely" (Halloween mix)

Check out this sweet Halloween mix by our bud, the luscious Lena Vee:

Undead and Lovely

1. A Ghost Story / Atlas Sound
2. Marrow / St. Vincent
3. Halloween / Sonic Youth
4. Casper the Friendly Ghost / Daniel Johnston
5. My Beloved Monster / Eels
6. My Old Haunts / Dream Syndicate
7. Gravedigger Blues / Beat Happening
8. Little Ghost / The White Stripes
9. The Curse Of Millhaven / Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
10. Ozzy / Beck
11. Fake Palindromes / Andrew Bird
12. Sukie in the Graveyard / Belle & Sebastian
13. Tuff Ghost / The Unicorns
14. The Hungry Saw / Tindersticks
15. Code Blue / TSOL
16. Dead And Lovely / Tom Waits
17. Deadly Nightshade / The Only Ones
18. The Sinistrer Exsagerator / The Residents
19. Whistle Past The Graveyard / Jeffrey Lewis & the Junkyard
20. Zombie Boy / The Magnetic Fields
21. Ghost In the Graveyard / A Sunny Day In Glasgow
22. Nights Of The Living Dead / Tilly & The Wall

(Download here.)

VIDEO: Kanye West - "We Were Once a Fairytale" dir. by Spike Jonze

This makes me uncomfortable, but visually it's wonderful.

P.S. - Check out this sweet lil psychoanalytical analysis of the vid.

VIDEO: Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - "We Swam"

(via Stereogum)

The new vid from TWTGDSD is totally lovable.

VIDEO: Duck Sauce - “aNYway” (Surface To Air Version)

(via the FADER)

The Dodos (with the Ruby Suns) @ MHOW 10/14/09

"Two drum kits! Two!" My enthusiastic friend kept shouting over the din of the crowd and into my ear, her sweet whiskey breath on the side of my face. The Dodos played a sweet show at Music Hall of Williamsburg this past Tuesday night. (Oy, sweet show at MHOW... I smell an oxymoron.) The crowd, who were lifeless at best, almost killed my buzz throughout the entirety of the show. But the band played a great set! With new hits like "Two Medicines" and "Fables" they balanced it out by closing with the older fave "Fools" - ahh! I can still hear Meric Long's reverberating oooh!-oooh!-s ringing out into the abyss. Despite their fans' obvious reluctance to accept the new tri-member format, the Dodos continue to be one of the most fun live shows around.

ALBUM: Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - Know Better Learn Faster

First thoughts on Know Better Learn Faster? I have to bite my tongue here, cos what I want to say is that "The Clap" is the best track out of the lot. It's just the album's 30-second intro that has Thao & co drawling and shouting "If this is how you want it - okay okay!" But my love for this charming woman makes me give it another shot.

In terms of structure, the band has definitely progressed from the last album. Thao's song style has definitely gotten more experimental since We Brave... The syncopated rhythmic patterns that made her songs on WBBSL so darn enjoyable are still present in some tracks on KBLF like "When We Swam," but a certain characteristic cuteness is absent on this one. This is a break-up record. And as sweetly euphonious as Nguyen's voice is, it can't hide the fact that these songs are super bitter. Leaving behind themes of childhood mirth and nostalgia, KBLF is about sex, being used, sex, and being scorned.

“The record is primarily a response to the end of a relationship, so a lot of it is pretty reactionary. It’s trying to be introspective, but there’s always got to be a little “fuck you” in there – or, sometimes there’s a lot.
The album is named ‘Know Better Learn Faster’ because you can’t. By the time you realize you should, it’s too late. And I enjoy the predicament and the totally devastating, unfunny humor of that.” - Thao (interview via I Am Fuel You Are Friends)

Yowza! I love it. She's scorned and sexy and not just this demure little Vietnamese-American chick with an acoustic guitar anymore. She's gonna make it in this "man's world," ya know? Are you getting that vibe from her, too??

But despite Thao's newly indurated heart and the group's ostensible progression and maturation as musicians on Know Better Learn Faster, it's just missing something that flowed in abundance out of We Brave...

Download the title track "Know Better Learn Faster" via MBV. Or... the whole album here.

VIDEO: Girls - "Laura"

(via NME)

The song's about Chris Owens' ex-girlfriend Liza's bff Laura. (Was that confusing enough?) Laura felt estranged when Liza started dating Chris and had no time for her anymore. Sounds like an episode of Degrassi, right? Love this song, though. "Touch me I'm right heeeere!"
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The vid is pretty sweet too. Nine channels dripping with film that's fuzzy enough to call it nostalgic. Sun, sand, beach, babes. And boobs! Well, almost.

The Dodos @ Music Hall of Williamsburg toniiight

The Dodos are playing tonight with the Ruby Suns at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Doors at 8, $17!

Seeyathereokaybye!

Micachu and the Shapes @ Littlefield 10/02/09

(photo via Holly Habstritt, cool chick)

Micachu and the Shapes played Friday night at Littlefield in Park Slope with Julianna Barwick and Mon Khmer. Avey Tare was totally there - no lie! Ray Concepcion shot some great videos, like this one of Micachu:


(Watch in HD.) Also watch his sweet, flamin' Julianna Barwick video.

MIX: The Lumberjack Special (Zig's Mix)

(photo by Lauren Troyer)

There are hardly words to describe Ziggy Gurnick - the man, the myth, the legend. He was the funkiest, grooviest cat who ever lived. His moves will live on in all of us, and these songs are intended to act as a conduit through which we can each channel him... on the dance floor.

"The Lumberjack Special" is for all of us who danced with him and felt his funk touch our hearts... or any other body part, and for those of who frequented the diner with him on mornings after partying all night long. Sometimes it was necessary to call ahead and give the kitchen some warning. Zig could devour an entire Lumberjack Special before you could say "pass the fake syrup and pre-packaged jam and butter, please," and then move on to your short stack.

The Lumberjack Special (Ziggy's Mix)

1. David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
2. Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back in Town
3. Edwin Starr - War
4. Stevie Wonder - Superstition
5. Queen - Under Pressure
6. The Beatles - Two of Us
7. Doobie Brothers - Listen to the Music
8. The Bee Gees - Night Fever
9. The Four Tops - Bernadette
10. Al Green - I'm Still in Love with You
11. Led Zeppelin - Tangerine
12. The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun
13. Pink Floyd - The Show Must Go On

[Download here.]

Bundles and bundles of love for all y'all budz who sent me suggestions.
<### O

"Thee Oh Sees & The Fresh & Onlys played Mercury Lounge, playing Death by Audio w/ The Beets after the Bell House" (via bkvegan)

(Image via NME)

Tuesday night I ran into Jose and Juan from the Beets at Bushwick Country Club and they told me how they'd double booked themselves this Friday night - they had scheduled a Santos Party House show with Monotonix and Turbo Fruits the same evening as a show with Thee Oh Sees and the Fresh and Onlys. The latter two are playing another show tonight too, with Golden Triangle, at the Bell House, where I last saw the Beets. The Bell House is a sweet chillers hunting lounge spot, unfortunately plunked down in Gowanus, in the middle of nowhere, and nowhere - as we all know - is a place only accessible by the G train.

The Beets and Thee Oh Sees? I almost choked on my whiskey pickleback! They showed me the sweet goodies they had just picked up from Captured Tracks, and said Thee Oh Sees' new album is radical goodness. So last night I was making plans to shoot at this killer event when I realized I couldn't find the second show listed anywhere. Maybe this event at BCC had been, like most there, just a beautiful, beautiful dream? WRONG!

This morning Brooklyn Vegan listed the second show, which will be at Death By Audio after the Bell/Santos Party Houses shows, probly pretty late. Except, uh, Thee Oh Sees aren't on the bill. Tonight playing at DBA are the Beets, the Fresh and Onlys, and "special guests the Ghosties." The title of the post is totally misleading. Well, oh well. Looks like I'll be running from Gowanus to Williamsburg. Because running there carrying a bunch of vid equip would still be faster than taking the G. Just kidding I got love.

Prior to all this, I am filming an awesome performance for NYU called "Memefactory" by some friends who happen to be the handsome gents of What We Know So Far. The event starts at 7:30pm at Warren Weaver Hall, Rm 109, 251 Mercer St. I'll be there before heading to the Bell House and then Death By Audio. Don't miss any of it! If I can make it all work, then you'd surely have no excuse.

VIDEO: Alex Bleeker and the Freaks -"Animal Tracks" @ Union Pool

More goodies from that maaagical night at Union Pool. Man, never thought I'd see those terms all in the same sentence. At least not since that one summer night when I witnessed a group of kids shotgunning PBR's, making out, and vomiting all over the backyard fountain. Oh, Union Pool, how we love to hate thee.

Er, anyway. Here's Bleek and the Freaks makin' magic, makin' magic magic. Watch the Freaks cover "Animal Tracks" by the lovely women of Mountain Man. Martin Courtney from Real Estate is chillin on bass, Alex "the Gator" Steinberg on guitar. See Matt Mondanile (Ducktails, Real Estate) frrreak on drums. In the farers he reminds us of Guy "Shades" Patterson. (It's pronounced "oh-need-ers" remember?) And of course, feast yer eyes on Bleek-the-Freak Bleekalicious Bleekditty himself.

Woo... is it hot in here or is it just us?

VIDEO: Horse's Mouth @ Union Pool

Boy oh boy oh boy was this night magical! Horse's Mouth (formerly Tavo Carbone) show with Alex Bleeker and the Freaks, the Extraordinaires, and the Armchairs at Union Pool 08/19/09 for Horse's Mouth's self-titled record release celebration hearty party. So many goodies for your eyes n ears to come.







** Camera work by Connor Kammerer and Elise Oh.
Edited by Elise Oh.

Special thanks to Conny Kam!

Dirty Projectors - "When the World Comes to an End" (live acoustic backstage)

Dirty Projectors performed "When the World Comes to an End" on Jimmy Fallon last week, and they stopped by the Roots' dressing room afterwards and did an acoustic version of the same song. ?uestlove posted it on Twitter:

Soooo tiiiight!

I WANT TO BREAK FREEEEEE

Found this sweet vid while searching for the right Queen hit for Ziggy's mix. <3

VIDEO: Glass Ghost - "Like a Diamond"

"Like a Diamond" is Glass Ghost's first single off their upcoming album Idol Omen set to come out 10/27/09 on Austin, TX label Western Vinyl. They'll be touring with White Rabbits, Local Natives, and Suckers:

Glass Ghost Fall Tour

10-11 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's %
10-17 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel %*
10-18 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brendas %*
10-20 Providence, RI - Club Hell &*
10-21 Northampton, MA - Pearl St %
10-22 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground %
10-25 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick %*
10-27 St. Louis, MO - Firebird %*
10-29 Columbia, MO - Blue Note %*
10-30 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge %
11-1 Pheonix, AZ - The Club House %#
11-2 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey %#
11-4 San Francisco, CA - Slims %#
11-5 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom %#
11-6 Vancouver, BC - Media Club %#
11-9 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Street &
11-10 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall %

% with White Rabbits
* with Suckers
# with Local Natives