195 posts
Latest Posts by alwaysmovinginstereo - Page 7
From Mike Ballard's Skatebook. Ballard is currently being sued by 20th Century Fox over intellectual property use.
Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself.
Walt Whitman
Friends are from new band from Brooklyn. Here they sing about a seldom mentioned yet prevalent subject: friend crushes. You so have had friend crushes. I've had like a dozen.
"I want to be your friend/ I want to ask your advice on a weekday/ I want to plan something nice for the weekend."
Ain't that the truth. Especially sung to a steady backbeat and shakers.
You know when you've been listening to a highly agreeable song for a while, and one day it hits you like a ton a bricks? And you're like, it's so obvious.
Oh Arcade Fire. They deserve every accolade for The Suburbs. The record can mean exactly what you want it to, for anyone, from here to Montreal. It's that good. You just have to listen.
This song is yours and mine.
Knight Stalker's remix of the chillwaver's "Still Sound" off his new record Underneath the Pine.
Toro y Moi is playing at the Great American Music Hall soon. March 24th with Braids (they're Canadian so that's good) and some kids from Ohio known as Cloud Nothings.
At one of the best venues in the City, it's going to be heavenly.
Anyone else notice the chillwave theme? I'm such a sucker for it. Soon enough I'll be spouting about the Neon Indian show in May...oh wait. True story.
Why I'm here.
Music. It follows me everywhere. It's sustenance. Synonymous with all that's true and great and beautiful. It's been with me in the dark and in the haze and under the covers. It makes my blood flow and the gears turn, reminding me of everything, and all that is.
What does it do for you?
I moved. I like the scenery. While settling in, I stumbled upon this appropriate gem: RAC's mix of Washed Out's "New Theory."
Stick around folks and read my old blogspot entries below, gloriously unformatted.
You can expect more style and less substance from here on out!
On Deck - Cut Copy and my obsession with Ellie Goulding's "Lights"
School started two weeks ago, and I started a second job last week, so posting a new entry fell by the wayside. It's also been absolutely GORGEOUS out with record high temperatures in the Bay Area this week. The last thing I want to do is sit inside (anywhere) and type (about anything, including music). Alas, here we are in February, and it feels like summertime. Time for sunblasted days in the park, tank tops and tan lines, bike rides to barbecues, and sweaty dance parties. Lucky thing Cut Copy is releasing their new record Zonoscope tomorrow. It's kinda perfect for these mild, fuzzed out California afternoons. Now before I go any further, I must admit I'm especially fond of this particular Aussie trio (now quartet). They exemplify, for me anyway, the picky balance between synths and guitars, dance and indie rock. Their last effort In Ghost Colours is the most enduring record in my collection in the last five years. It's perfect for the kid who was raised on guitars but always liked to dance.
So I've been eagerly anticipating the release of new stuff from these guys, with slight apprehension knowing they couldn't (and shouldn't) make the same record twice.
There are tracks that sound straight off the pop block, notably the first single "Take Me Over" with CC's trademark harmonies wistfully floating over lush synths and jungle-like percussions. I've never been to Australia, but when I hear this song I get the whole drive-to-the-outback to go hang out with the koalas - vibe.
"Where I'm Going" sounds like a modern Beach Boys single, baked and mixed with ELO's "Don't Bring Me Down." It stands out from the rest of the record, with it's "yeah, yeah, yeah" chants and its chance to become Cut Copy's first real bonafide hit. The rest of the record is tailor made to get cute girls(and the rest of you) to dance. Songs start one way, and end another, with six minute tracks evolving from straightforward groovers to outright atmospheric dance epics.
In fact, the last track "Sun God" lasts 15 glorious minutes, which at first seems laborious until you find yourself completely entranced and air drumming ten minutes in and it took you there, wherever that place may be.
All in all, it's Cut Copy, doing it big. Perhaps some tracks could of used some preening, but taking it as a sort of blissed out, groovy jam session, it's a win. Can't wait to finally see them live in April.
p.s. I am completely obsessed with Ellie Goulding's "Lights." The pop starlet from the UK has some heavy buzz, and I'm feeling it like I was feeling Florence this time last year. She plays the Rickshaw Stop April 14th for a whopping $13. Watch the original cut on the 'tube and afterward check out the Wired dubstep remix, and the Bay Area's own Bassnectar do it fabulous here.
To Coachella, or Not to Coachella.
.Coachella's 2011 lineup was announced this week, and I see the reunited Death From Above 1979 (omg) is on the bill for Sunday. I also see Arcade Fire headlining Saturday(the weakest day admit it). These two bands alone makes me consider the $269 price tag. Then again, the other artists I'm excited about - Cut Copy, Sleigh Bells, The Presets, and Yelle - I'd much rather see in a club. The desert sun is discouraging. I feel parched already just thinking about it. In years past, the annual Coachella weekend in April has proved to be a great time to catch headliners and others here in the Bay, albeit in more comfortable and less expensive fashion. Alas, I'm catching Cut Copy April 16th at SF's Regency Ballroom, the Saturday of the festival. Which btw, I'm extremely excited about, since their leaked new album Zonoscope (out February 8th) is sooo doin' it for me. Listen to the opening track "Need You Now" on the tube. There's a rumor Daft Punk may storm Kanye's Sunday night headlining slot. Although nothing will compete with their Alive 2007 stop at the Berkeley Greek Theater (MOST AMAZING SHOW EXPERIENCE EVER) it may be the icing on the cake for what could be a musically fantastic weekend. I brought up Daft Punk in the first place because a couple ladies who call themselves Pink Is Punk remixed "Derezzed" and it's really effing good. It's better and more satisfying than the original and that's what we like to hear. Ladies outdoin' robots. Ok ok, perhaps persuasion and some high SPF will coax me into a trip to Indio. We'll see.
In other news: Beth Ditto, singer of The Gossip just released a four song EP, teaming up with Simian Mobile Disco for a sassy dance floor jaunt that doesn't sound unlike the dancier moments of The Gossip's recent record Music For Men, which despite being produced by Rick Rubin, was actually pretty dancey. Simian's presence is obvious, with their vintage sounding, yet super clean synths. Lovin' the lead track "Open Heart Surgery." She won't be at Coachella this year. Oh snap!
p.s. i like this. A LOT: The Drums - Me & the Moon (Clock Opera Mix)
Oversights 2010
In my haste to post the previous entry within the closing hours of 2010, I realize I made some glaring oversights. Um, no mention of LCD Soundsystem?! Sister Crayon? Daft Punk going Tron? Now that the dust has settled from bringing in the new year, I've gained some clarity, and I'd like to reflect on some of the most notable 2010 musical goodness one last time. LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy arguably makes This Is Happening the best album of the year, and makes me want to pack up and leave for New York forever. "Dance Yrself Clean" gets you to do just that, and "I Can Change" is the best song the Human League never wrote. $17 was the price of admission for a screening of Tron: Legacy in IMAX 3D. It was all well and good, with those lightbikes and games of straight-dagger frisbee (as I like to call it). Olivia Wilde is smokin', and Jeff Bridges is basically The Dude ("You're messing with my Zen thing, man.") But when legendary French house robot-DJ duo Daft Punk make their cameo at the End Of Line club, the movie becomes louder, better, and any qualms about the steep ticket price are squashed. Check out the new fantastically old-school video for "Derezzed," and pay attention for one lovely cameo. Oh, Kanye. Whatever. It's good. I was fortunate this year getting to know the Sacramento quartet Sister Crayon through a good homie of mine. So besides Terra, Dani, and Nicolas being super cool and chill folks, they also happen to make wonderfully soulful indie pop, fusing it with traditional trip-hop elements - samples, ambient melodies, and crisp beats. These kids had an epic 2010, highlights including the premiere of their video for "in(Reverse)" in February, their opening at LA's The Echo for School of Seven Bells in June, successfully acquiring a touring van(!), and completing a tour of the west coast with El Ten Eleven. They're killing 2011 already, playing with Little Dragon in LA tomorrow at the Natural History Museum, and anticipating the Manimal Vinyl release of their full-length Bellow, out February 22. And just yesterday, Boy George of all people tweeted about their cover of Bowie's "Bewlay Brothers" saying it was "FUCKING LOVELY." You can catch them live on February 23(along with Dan Deacon) in SF at the Rickshaw Stop for the Noise Pop festival. Listen to the fantastic single "Souls of Gold" off their forthcoming LP here. Boy George should be feeling good about himself lately, after guesting on Mark Ronson & The Business Intl's Record Collection for the modern synth-pop slice "Somebody to Love Me" - a track not far behind the rest of my favorites in 2010... Mark Ronson of course- the more talented of the producing/musician/DJing Ronson siblings (his sister being hi-top sneaker wearing and ex-Lilo-lovin' Samantha) - is producing Duran Duran's new album, which he says will satisfy any true DD fan, that "it's the imaginary follow-up to Rio." Uh huh. Yeah, that's what he said. But is it any good? Nah.
Although speaking of Rio, my hair is well on its way toward John Taylor status circa 1982. I always thought he was sooo pretty. p.s. this is hella cute.
Top Tracks of 2010
How appropriate that I'm kicking off my ALL NEW music blog with a highly subjective year-end top tracks list? My favorite kind of list! I'm keeping it short and sweet, until I regain my writing bearings. It's been awhile folks.
10. Robyn -"Dancing On My Own" This song is so far up my alley I can't stand it. And because it elicits such a response it sits snugly at #10. Ugh.
9. Sleigh Bells - "Infinity Guitars" Crunchy guitars, thundering sub-worthy beats, and girl group chants. Do I really want anything more from the music I enjoy? Plus, the track's accompanying video is my favorite of the year. I can't stress enough what pretty girls with wayfarers and baseball bats (along with burning guitars) can do for a song's cause.
8. Zola Jesus - "I Can't Stand" This 21-year-old opened for the XX and Warpaint at Oakland's Fox Theater in September, and arguably had the best vocals of the night. Another beat-heavy, moody trip that doesn't sound too far off from anything on The Cure's "Disintegration."
7. The Black Keys - "Everlasting Light" Dudes, this rock 'n' roll grooves. It's soulful as hell, making you wish for summer's sunshine, with the windows down. In fact it feels a bit like a southern summer, and it's a bit sticky in this car. But alas, this track kicks off their album Brothers with a sweetness and fuzzy warmth that'll last you through the winter.
6. Gold Panda - "You" That beat drops at the ten second mark and the chirps come in and next thing you know, you're taking a trip around the world, stopping off in London and New Dehli, and you're back again in three minutes. p.s. Gold Panda's 2010 benchmark is a wonderfully perfect bike ride jam if there was one.
5. Deerhunter - "Desire Lines" I heard this track two weeks ago. You could confuse them with Deerhoof, another band I know close to nothing about (i know! I should do my research). But immediately, I wondered WHERE HAVE I BEEN? In the dark listening to dubstep, my good friend Frankie Burton reminds me. Oh yeah.
4. Florence + the Machine - "Howl" Florence killed it this past year. I was fortunate to see her perform in the somewhat quaint Mezzanine in April, and knew then this English songstress was too powerful of a singer, so striking in her style, to stay unknown for long. Next thing you know, she's doing the VMAs, being nominated for a Grammy, and "Dog Days..." is on Glee. I'm sorry, I totally called it.
3. Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce - "Telephone" I love pop songs. The really effing good ones too. The ones that give the hooks easily and plentifully. "Telephone" was a floor filler dance pop gift that keeps giving. Gaga has on point production, with songwriters behind her writing straight pop GOLD. Someone was a genius for telephoning Beyonce in for the best two-for-one in years. (Madonna and Janet never happened, mind you).
2. Class Actress - "Journal of Ardency" I don't know what this journal of ardency is. No matter. This song by Brooklyn trio, led by lady singer Elizabeth Harper is sexy, regardless of it's pretentious title. The beat, and that wholesale, yet killer synth line is where the goods are, and let me tell you, it's good. This track definitely should have a rightful place on any proper horizontal dance mix.
1. Arcade Fire - "Ready to Start" So glorious and right and earnest in it's goodness. These brilliant Canadians channel a little Tom Petty and a bit of their own "Rebellion(Lies)", taking their album The Suburbs where you so desperately want it to go. "Sprawl II(Mountains Beyond Mountains)" has been the favorite on other year-end lists, but "Ready to Start" does it for me. When Win simply states, "my mind is open wide, and now I'm ready to start," I can't not be moved. Now i'm ready.
2010 was also a fine year for remixes, and I will dispense of them now. You can thank me (and Aiden, king of all remixes) later.
Small Black "Despicable Dogs(Washed Out Mix)" Just lovely. Bought a split 7-inch on a whim from these chummy chillwavers at their show at the Rickshaw in March, and this was the b-side to the track I initially wanted (Small Black's mix of Washed Out's "You'll See It"). Absolutely my favorite discovery of the year.
The XX "Infinity(Flufftronix Dubstep Bootleg)" Oh dubstep. This now official remix of The XX sold me on the genre, on all the wah-wah-wah-wahs and zoops and blips and breaks and UGHHHHHHs.
Oh Land "Son of a Gun(Yuksek Mix)" One listen to the original and one realizes just how much a retake can elevate a track into the proverbial stratosphere. Sunday Girl "Four Floors(Diplo Remix)" The BEST remix of the year. Diplo takes this harmless pop track and makes it all dubby and grimy and completely satisfying. This track alone will make you go buy better speakers. 2010. Word. I'm out for now. Always, here's to good tunes and great times in '11. P.S. Props to Girl Talk for Rihanna over Fugazi, that ultra special Toadies moment, Skee-Lo and T'Pau, Weezy over New Order, and U2 with Twista. Props to Enrique Iglesias. I like that damn song. Ugh.