More Than Just "Temporary Pleasure"

Simian Mobile Disco are back with a new record that will rock your socks off. Hitting shelves last week, their new record Temporary Pleasure has just eased it's way in to my pick for favorite record of 2009. The duo, formed from the ashes of rock group Simian which was most famous for the hit "Never Be Alone", released the album Attack Decay Sustain Release to much acclaim in 2007 and has been touring ever since. I must say that this is a well worthy follow-up to Attack... and it's too early to say this but, it might even be better!

The album opens up with "Cream Dream", a track that is almost reminiscent of The Who's "Baba O'Reilly" in it's epic electronic orchestration getting louder and louder in order to prepare you for what's in store. The album then goes into the already released "Audacity of Huge" which I wasn't crazy about when I first heard it but takes awhile to get into. The presentation of it on the album really did it for me as guest vocalist Chris Keating lists all the cool things he has (And I mean it, they are cool things). My favorite on the album so far is "Off The Map." The vocals are slow and stoic over a beat that is so fast but so chill at the same time.

Overall though, the album starts off high and ends that way, there are no points where you'd want to skip tracks. Definitely, my favorite of 2009 thus far. Check it out- it's Simian Mobile Disco's Temporary Pleasure.

This Is The Thing - Fink

Here's a British artist who's got some pretty somber music. His name is Fin Greenall, but he goes under the name Fink. He's got a nice variety, check out "Pretty Little Thing" and "Biscuits" by him.

Playlist for the Week(Aug.26) By: Anonymously Rach

1. Bubble Reputation - Most Serene Republic

2. Don't Hold Back, Feel a Little Longer - Most Serene Republic

3. Constant Motion - Dream Theater

4. Toccata in d minor op.11 - Sergei Prokofiev

5. There's No Secrets this Year - Silversun Pickups

1. The first track of The Most Serene Republics latest album, ...And the Ever Expanding Universe, they hit it off with a vibrant opener full of wonderful chord progressions and unique time meters.

2. This is currently my favorite album at the moment and thought I would just put another of the songs into the list. This song is just as good and has a dance feel to it.

3. This song is from the Dream Theater album, Systematic Chaos, which is their second to last album. I will hopefully be doing a review on their newest album "Black Clouds and Silver Linings" in the near future.

4. I figured I would put a classical piece into the mix. This Toccata by Prokofiev is one of the most difficult pieces to perform in the piano repetoire. Even Prokofiev had difficulty performing it! Recommended Recordings: Martha Argerich, Vladimir Horowitz. It has very rigid structure and many difficult parts.

5. This is from the "Silversun Pickups" latest album "Swoon". Good song, fun to listen to, has a bit of a grunge feel to it.

Enjoy!

Pic Source: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1428/1328003372_58f5934895.jpg?v=0

Don't Mess With Canada Playlist

While South Park may rag on Canada, the country has produced some mighty fine musicians. This is a playlist of some of my favorite bands, enjoy.

1) Your Ex-Lover Is Dead - Stars
2) 1,2,3,4 - Feist
3) 7/4 (Shoreline) - Broken Social Scene
4) Combat Baby - Metric
5) Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire

Check this out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bands_from_Canada

It's quite surprising what names you'll find on there.

Jake Shimabukuro - While My Ukulele Gently Weeps

This is one of the more popular Youtube musicians, and he is one of the rare people who play ukulele as their main instrument. I also recommend checking out his song, "Orange World."

5 Artists of the Week (8/25-9/1/09 by: InfektedIncubus)

Hey everyone! It's been a while since my last post, but here's some classic and hard rock for ya.

1. Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home
I would say that this is perhaps one of the most moving rock ballads I've heard in my entire life. It's very powerful and really just hits home.

2. Dropkick Murphies - Flannigan's Ball
This song definitely puts anyone in a partying mood. I really find the drums in this song to be a centerpiece of this song. I find the way the Murphys incorporate so many instruments into their music fascinating.

3. The Mars Volta - Teflon
The Mars Volta did it again with their newest album, Octahedron. This is one of my favorites from the album. Very weird, yet soo good.

4. Blue Oyster Cult - I'm Burning for You
This is pretty mainstream, and I'm sure everyone knows Don't Fear the Reaper from the game, Rock Band, but this has got to be one of the better songs from Blue Oyster Cult.

5. Alter Bridge - Rise Today
You might remember the vocalist from this band he used to be in Creed... "Can you taake meeee higheerrrr" Haha. I'd definitely say that he's come around since then. Alter Bridge combines some aspects of Creed and makes them better by adding a harder rock element to them.

That's it for today, enjoy!

2 Very Original Live Performances

These are two artists who are have a really new and fresh sound. Their live stuff is just as good as their studio recorded material. They really are worth a listen.

This is Owen Pallett. He was recommended to me by a friend. He usually performs under the name Final Fantasy. I love this song, "Peach Plum Pear" and how relaxed he is with the crowd. I also recommend his song "Lewis' Dream". By the way, the artist he is covering, Joanna Newsom, has the scariest voice I have ever heard, so his commentary is warranted.



Horse Feathers is a personal favorite. This video is off of NPR Tiny Desk Concerts on Youtube, which are fantastic for finding other less known artists. This is a set playlist of two of their songs, but my favorite is probably one off of the CD, Words Are Dead, the song, "Finch on Saturday."



It's always the best when live stuff meets or surpasses expectations. This is some phenomenal music. Happy listening.

5 Random Rock Playlist By Accident

1) Helicopter - Bloc Party
2) Tesselate - Toyko Police Club
3) An Honest Mistake - The Bravery
4) In The Morning - Razorlight
5) The Picture - Son Volt

1) Starting off with a good one. Bloc Party can get trashed at times cause they are so popular, but they have a unique sound, and their songs are so diverse. They range from fast and upbeat to chill and relaxing. I personally love them, because all their songs leave an impact. This song is no exception. It starts off furiously, and never lets up. Great song to rock out to.

2) This is a lesser known band out of Canada. The Canadian rock scene is amazing, producing great bands like Stars, Broken Social Scene, Feist among others. Toyko Police Club is another fantastic band. Their song, Tesselate, immediately catches your attention. It has a distinct piano groove throughout the chorus, wicked bass, and great vocals. They are quite a good listen.

3) One of the more mainstream bands, and this is a radio song. However, this does not make it a bad song by any means, nor does it make them a bad band. I consider them a far less earsplitting version of The Killers, (still they both look very strange). Most people just know them for this single, which is a great standalone song. It has a killer catchy chorus, it's instantly recognizable, and simply put, it's a great song to listen to after - well just about anytime you fuck up. Fun times.

4) Razorlight is another great British band like Bloc Party. They have that great signature British sound, with a certain finesse, smooth beats and funk that's unique to that genre. Their song, "In the Morning", is loads of fun to dance to in a towel. It's a party. But it's also fairly relaxed, and it's catchy too. Check out the College Humor video http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1910517 if you don't believe me that this a great dance song.

5) The last song is good song to end on. It's by Son Volt, a band out of Missouri. They have do a southern sound, with deep harmonic vocals, diverse instruments including trumpets. The band is really quite pleasant to listen to, and yet they do have some faster rock songs like "The Picture."



Bottom Image from http://mos.musicradar.com/images/Guitarist/Issue%20309/gibson/gibson-les-paul-2008-460-80.jpg

Tarantino Friday

In honor of Tarantino's new movie Inglourious Basterds which opens today- I decided to do a playlist composed entirely of songs from his movies. As a director, Tarantino does a terrific job at picking the right soundtrack for a film and this proves to create scenes that are memorable for years on end. Note: I decided to omit some of the more popular ones so that is why Dick Dale's "Misirlou" is not included.

1. The George Baker Selection- Little Green Bag from the film, Reservoir Dogs
2. Bernard Hermann- Twisted Nerve, from the film, Kill Bill Vol. 1
3. The Statler Brothers- Flowers on the Wall from the film, Pulp Fiction
4. Steeler's Wheel- Stuck In The Middle With You, from the film, Reservoir Dogs
5. The Lively Ones- Surf Rider, from the film, Pulp Fiction

Premium Blends

Soulhopper back again....sorry for the delay in posts I had to take some time to snap out of vacation mode. Now that I've come back down to earth it's time to put you guys on to some premium blends (not that kind though, I don't smoke). I came across this real cool remix of Jay-Z's song 'Never Change' called 'Never Chasing Pavements' which was mixed with Adele's song 'Chasing Pavements'. Now I like both these songs and when they're blended together the result is dope. Here are some other remixes to check out:

1) Peter Bjorn and John- Stay This Way (DJ Jazzy Jeff Remix) ft. Big Pooh, Chaundon and Phil Nash

2)  Nas- The Cross (9th Wonder Remix) 

3) Jay-Z+Daft Punk- Song Cry TKRMX

4) Lupe Fiasco+Tetrisphere- I Gotcha TKRMX

This is the Lupe Fiasco Remix posted above via youtube, link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvHi2WjZXyU&feature=player_profilepage

New Radiohead: Or is it?

No one really knows if this is Radiohead or not but it sure sounds like them (significantly more so than that song they released a couple weeks ago, "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)"). It's also pretty good too. Check out "These Are My Twisted Words" by Radiohead(?) again courtesy of RCRDLBL_.

________________

Cheer Up Playlist

I'm in a good mood today, so I'm posting a playlist that always makes me laugh.

1. Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life - Monty Python
2. Hiphopopotamus Vs. Rhymenoceros - Flight of the Conchords
3. The Real Slim Shady - Eminem
4. Bad Touch - Bloodhound Gang
5. Colt 45- Afro Man

And this is one of my favorite comics off of questionablecontent.net by Jeph Jacques, and will cheer up any bad day. It is the ultimate sport, drunken sledding.



Taken off of topatoco.com and http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1387

AutoErotique - Gladiator (Steve Aoki and DJ AM Remix)

Two of the most overrated DJs on the scene today collaborate to produce a track that's worthy of an addition to your end-of-summer party playlist. Plenty of AM scratching against Aoki's emulation of that Beetroots noise that you just can't get out of your head- check out this remix of AutoErotique's "Gladiator" by DJ AM and Steve Aoki. Download it for free courtesy of RCRDLBL_.

Classical Guitar

I personally love classical guitar, so I will show you some of my favorite musicians I found on youtube.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Tommy Emmanuel



If you are an aspiring musician yourself and you want to learn how to play classical guitar, this is a great instructional video, to one of my favorite songs.

Bohemian Rhapsody - Edgar Cruz



I also recommend Stairway To Heaven - Rodrigo y Gabriela, as another amazing classical guitar cover, to possibly one of the greatest songs of all time.

Enjoy.

Cops don't know who Bob Dylan is.

After all these eulogies, I decided to post some lighter news. Check out the article, http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090815/D9A30C6G1.html, it is ridiculous. Basically, two cops had no idea who Bob Dylan was, a rather sad testament to our generation's ignorance of such a musical giant. It may be an overgeneralization, however I have personally encountered many people ignorant of Dylan, Mellencamp, Petty, Springsteen. All the landmark musicians of days past. Without these people, bands like the Decemberists or Blitzen Trapper wouldn't exist.

In tribute to this amazing man, I will post this playlist.

1) Woke Up New - The Mountain Goats
2) The King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1 - Neutral Milk Hotel
3) Chinese Translation - M. Ward
4) When The Night Feels My Song - Bedouin Soundclash
5) Bullet And A Target - Citizen Cope

6) Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan



Picture from http://www.new-pony.com/timeline.html

Conical valves concert review

I do have a concert review today, but before I get to that, a moment of eulogizing for Les Paul. For those who were unaware, Les Paul died this past Thursday of pneumonia, at the age of 94. While many people have heard of the guitars named after him, few are aware that he pretty much invented the solid-body electric guitar. Also, he was a major figure in the development of multitrack recording, which was a revolutionary event in the history of rock music. So R.I.P. Les Paul.

On a lighter note, I recently saw Crosby, Stills, and Nash perform at Jones Beach. Admittedly some of the band members looked as though they were about to collapse on stage, but all in all it was a decent show. They played two sets and had no opening band. The first set was the softer, acoustic tunes and the second featured more of an electric sound and some jamming. They sprinkled the entire show with covers, which I enjoyed immensely. The first set was not the best for the venue, as the sound dispersed too much before reaching the cheap seats (aka where I was located) leaving the atmosphere more coffee shop-esque than concert. Some notable moments from the first set include a cover of "Ruby Tuesday," by the Rolling Stones, and a performance of their song "Our House." The band segued between songs with some witty repartee including such bon mots as "If I'd known that song was going to be such a hit, I would've written a better one" (in regards to "Our House") and "Well, you know Crosby writes all the weird shit" (following a performance of "Wooden Ships" that included an extended jam session.) The second set reminded everyone that they were in fact at a concert as they brought out the heavier material. The back-to-back jam sessions were a bit much for me, as I tend to believe that there should be a limit of one jam session per concert. These were also marred by the fact that much of the jamming was done by the various band members who were not Crosby, Stills, or Nash, and as such were never introduced. The high point of the second set definitely came in the form of the aformentioned performance of "Wooden Ships." All in all, not one of the best concerts I've seen, but definitely worthwhile and highly interesting.

Image from http://www.recordstore.co.uk/homeSearch.jsp?Artist=Crosby,%20Stills%20&%20Nash&Title=&Label=&whereFrom=home

DwyTown Mix Weekly (8/14)

1. Major Lazer- Baby (Switch Remix feat. M.I.A.)
2. Passion Pit- Sleepyhead (Wallpaper. Remix)
3. Crystal Castles- Vanished
4. La Roux- Bulletproof (Fred Falke Remix)
5. Simple Minds- (Don't You) Forget About Me

1. To kick off the mix I decided to highlight the new release by Major Lazer featuring M.I.A. on vocals. This was a logical move, the two DJs responsible for M.I.A.'s mainstream success reunited with her once again. The result is a track similar to her other work with Diplo and Switch and lyrics reflecting her recent personal experiences as a mother.

2. This remix of the group's most popular song adds a saxophone line that is entirely too infectious. If this remix had the same bridge as the original, I'd probably remove the original from my iTunes entirely. Also check out Wallpaper.'s remix of Das Racist's Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

3. This track I can't get enough of for some reason. A quieter jam.

4. La Roux are the next big thing in electronic music and this remix of "Bulletproof" incorporates the masterful French House production of Fred Falke into an already great song. Standard Falke fare.

5. To close, a classic from The Breakfast Club. RIP John Hughes.

5 Random Playlist of the Week (8/13-8/20)

1) Incinerate - Sonic Youth
2) Two Way Monologue - Sondre Lerche
3) Plainclothes Man - Heatmiser
4) Thinking, Drinking, Sinking, Feeling - Slow Club
5) O Valencia! - The Decemberists

John Hughes RIP

For those of you who may not know, John Hughes, the filmmaker who may have defined our generation passed away on August 6. He directed and produced famous movies such as Home Alone, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Breakfast Club.

In tribute, I am posting the epic Ferris Bueller parade scene, with the Beatles' song, Twist and Shout.




Now this is a tribute parade that happened on October 31st, 2008. It was called Project Bueller. You can visit their site, http://projectbueller.tumblr.com for more information.



To memories.

Romborama Leak: Prepare For Glory.

If I must say, I cover The Bloody Beetroots entirely too much which is ok because they are probably the hottest thing on the house scene this year. Just wanted to clear that up before I start. Anyway, a couple days ago I got to hear their new album Romborama which drops August 24th and I must say that it is quite tasty. Here's my favorite track the album so far, "Better DJ on 2 Turntables." Think "Warp 1.9" taken to a new level of insanity. Enjoy!

The Bloody Beetroots- It's A Better DJ On Two Turntables


By the way, don't you love the cover art?

5 Pieces of Classical Music, for week of, (8/2-8/8)

1. Johann Sebastian Bach, Suite #2 in a minor BMV 807

2. Johann Sebastian Bach, Partita in c minor BMV 826

3. Ludwig Van Beethoven, Piano Sonata #8 in c minor, op.13 "Pathetique"

4. Frederic Chopin, Ballade in g minor, op.23

5. Alberto Ginastera, Danzas Argentinas, op.2

Here are some picks that I feel are must listens for classical lovers.

1. This suite in a minor by Bach is a wonderful to listen to in my opinion. The prelude is in a moderate speed with a little subject and wonderful counterpoint to accompany it. The allemande is slow and wonderfully calming. The rest is just as charming.

2. The Bach Partita in c minor has a riveting beginning with it's grave start and diminished chords throughout, leading to a very pleasing little counterpoint, then leading to a miniature fugue. The rest is set of bar form pieces all written in beautiful counterpoint. Sorry but I'm trying to keep short. These pieces could take up pages.

3. A classic Beethoven sonata that must be listened to. This piece is essentially Beethoven's first in which he ventures farther from the bounds of typical classical music in his time.

4. Frederic Chopin wrote 4 beautiful ballades, all with lush harmonies and riveting codas. This is his first, and will give you a good sense of what Chopin sounds like.

5. This piece is a modern spanish piece by the Argentinean composer Ginastera. It is a set of 3 short pieces all very different in sound and idea. The first movement is played with black keys in the left hand and white keys in the right hand, leading to a very different sound, and then ending with a chord, (E-A-D-G-B-E-) which are the open strings of a guitar. The second movement is slow with a beautiful spanish melody to start and a heavy middle part, ending with heavy dissonance, which leads to the third movement which is very heavy and chaotic.

Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of: http://www.prelovac.com/vladimir/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/piano.jpg

5 Foreign Artists of the Week (8/3-8/10)

1) Kom Igen Lena! - Hakan Hellstrom
2) Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
3) Ca Plane Pour Moi (Original 1977 Version - Plastic Bertrand
4) Cavale - Plume
5) Airtap! - Erik Mongrain

1) This is my current favorite rock song. It catches your attention immediately and never lets go. The lyrics may be incomprehensible, but the song is nonetheless catchy, groovy, bit funky and distinct. (German)

2) Sigur Ros. Relaxing music that just sends chills down my spine, especially this song. Some of their other stuff is a bit soft for me, although I'm a bit hypocritical since I love stuff like the Liars. (Icelandic)

3) This song has been in many movie soundtracks and is easily recognized. I love this song for its vocals, its jamming beats, and its overall catchy tune - which is why its still featured even after thirty years in American movies. (French

4) Fun French song. Has a beautiful french vocalist, with a upbeat rhythm that varies throughout the song - which I often don't hear in other songs. It doesn't have that same monotony, but it flows. It also has this rebelling sound - an attitude derived from the French language's rasp.

5) Instrumental guitar song, but its a great one to end on. Spanish guitarist, so it has that classic amazing technical skill. The song washes over you like water - notes striking down creating beautiful harmonies like nothing I've ever heard, great unique song.