Castles, Antlers, Stilts, Method

Crystal Castles are at La Zona Rosa tomorrow night and you can still get tickets. Don't be confused, this is not Crystal Antlers or the Crystal Method it's Crystal Castles.

What's with trends in band names? I feel like it's not as bad as the Deerhoof, Deerhunter, Deer Tick outbreak but it's on its way. Before Deer bands it was just general animals, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Animal Collective and the like. I vote the next trend should be something involving shapes, Squarepusher, Rhombusta Rhymes etc.


Crystal Waters - 100% Pure Love video via YouTube

More video after the jump...


Crystal Castles - Alice Practice video via YouTube


Crystal Antlers - Andrew video via YouTube

I was so wrapped up in Crystal Castles and Crystal Antlers, I forgot all about Crystal Stilts! This is a new video from Alight of Night:


Crystal Stilts - Departure


the Crystal Method - Keep Hope Alive video via YouTube


Dan Deacon - Crystal Cat video via YouTube

I couldn't really talk about "Crystal bands" or "Meth Rock" without mentioning the original Crystals...the Crystals who had many Phil Spector hits including this one:


the Crystals - Then He Kissed Me video via YouTube

and this one too...


Grizzly Bear - He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss) video via YouTube

Is it me or is, He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss) just the most completely inappropriate song title?

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Texas Relays Hault Indie-Rock

It looks like with Texas Relays here in Austin this weekend there isn't a whole lot of indie rock going on. I did notice that Robyn Hitchcock is at Antone's tonight but to be honest I don't know a heck of a lot about Robyn.


Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 - Adventure Rocketship video via YouTube

In glancing ahead though, I did notice that Crystal Castles will be playing La Zone Rosa in a few weeks. That should be pretty exciting right?

More video after the jump...


Crystal Castles - Crimewave video via YouTube

I feel like this version of Untrust Us is slower than the album version. Thoughts?


Crystal Castles - Untrust Us video via YouTube

This song is so Pet Shop Boys:


Crystal Castles - Vanished video via YouTube

Ok so maybe the Pet Shop Boys aren't as raw sounding but still:


Pet Shop Boys - New York City Boy video via YouTube

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Top Songs List '08 Part 1

So I've already mentioned my subjective best of album list for the year to date. Now it's time for the individual songs that have made me crank up the car stereo. These aren't necessarily "the best" anything. They are just songs that have made me happy this year...and hopefully these are all songs that were released in 2008, if not oh well they are still good songs.

10. the Black Keys - Strange Times

The rest of the list after the jump...

9. Jamie Lidell - Another Day
8. Islands - The Arm
7. Crystal Castles VS. HEALTH - Crimewave (Remix)
6. Santogold - Creator
5. Sigur Rós - Gobbledigook
4. Devotchka - Transliterator
3. The Raconteurs - Old Enough
2. MGMT - Time To Pretend
1. Radiohead - House of Cards

Ok, so I know I didn't let Radiohead's In Rainbows make the album list 'cause it was released in 2007 but House of Cards wasn't a single until 2008 so there! And for the Crystal Castles song the opposite is true. The song I listed was released in November of 07 but the Crystal Castles album was an 08 release, so I've taken some liberties.

I've also taken the liberty of making this list into a project playlist...list so you can hear the list songs if you wish:

It should also be noted that some of the songs I've listened to the most this year were released last year. Including Bon Iver and Panda Bear, who both have received a lot of plays this year. I also wanted to mention my love for the song Gone, Gone, Gone by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss but that too was released in 2007.


Panda Bear - Bros (Edit) video via YouTube

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