Get Thee To The Record Shop

the Whitest Boy Alive - 1517 video via YouTube

I stopped in to End of an Ear and Waterloo Records today intending to LOOK at a few CD's. Obviously, I spent about 70 bucks and bought 5 new albums, well technically one of them is an EP. Anyway, you can check out some of the stuff I bought after the jump but obviously I bought the new release from the Whitest Boy Alive, called Rules. To be honest, I didn't even know there was a new release from WBA until I saw it on an end cap at Waterloo.

One of the albums I def wanted to pick up today was the latest from Austin's own, Strange Boys entitled, And Girls Club, which makes more sense when you say it all together, "Strange Boys and Girls Club". I had to ask for help at End of an Ear, but they had one copy of the album, "in the back". I think they checked the back just so I would continue browsing, which worked because I also picked up the major-label debut from, another Austin artist, Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears, Tell 'Em What Your Name Is.


Strange Boys - Woe Is You and Me video via YouTube

This will be like the third time I'm posting this Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears song but it's still a killer track and it's on their new album out on Lost Highway Records.


Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears - Sugarfoot video via YouTube

After getting some good local music, I sought after my other audio goal, which was that damn Empire of the Sun album I wrote about yesterday. Let me tell you, the cheesy state-fair psychedelic artwork makes the price-tag worth it. Walking on a Dream was the most expensive purchase I made with a $16.99 price tag. It was also, the only one on a super-major...Capitol Records. Hmmm. Sorry but I'm reposting the video for yesterday and after seeing the artwork I def think these guys are trying to be the down-under MGMT.




Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream video via YouTube

My final musical impulse-buy was the EP by one of the most-buzzed about bands of SXSW '09, Passion Pit. I literally bought this one because there was a poster at the register and I was like, "Oh yeah I want that too". I hate when advertising works so well!

Just for the record, this video is also a reposted vid:


Passion Pit - Sleepyhead video via YouTube

This is an old meme but I still enjoy it and it's semi-relevant to this post.


the Whitest Boy Alive - Golden Cage video via YouTube

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ACL Tix On-Sale Now

If you live in Austin, you probably already heard that tickets for Austin City Limits Festival '09 went on sale today. The cheapest tickets have ALREADY sold-out but you can still get tix for a pretty good deal considering there's something like 130 bands that play the Fest. Last year I just attended all the after-parties, which was awesome but ended up costing more than a 3-day ACL pass. The bright side of after-parties is MUCH smaller crowds, MUCH cooler temps and WAY easier bar access. I highly recommend doing the after-party thing. By the way the ACL Fest Line-Up won't be announced for about 2 more weeks, so stay tuned.

In a totally unrelated note, this song is SOO last year but I love it. It made Pitchfork's list of the 100 best songs of 08':


Empire of the Sun - Walking On A Dream video via YouTube



Empire of the Sun - We Are the People video via YouTube

You can check out more from Australian duo, Empire of the Sun over at Walking on a Dream.com. In short, I'd file this under music that's more popular over-seas. But it's so darn catchy isn't it? Somewhat reminds of MGMT crossed with Cut Copy.


MGMT - Kids video via YouTube


Cut Copy - Out There on The Ice video via YouTube

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Jersey's in the House

People are pretty excited about someone by the name of Springsteen? Babysitters in Austin are making bank tonight 'cause Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are playing the Erwin Center tonight. I recognize that Springsteen is still relevant and that he's been making great music since before I was born and all that I've just never really listened to any of his albums. Also, I don't really get the whole, "The Boss" thing? Does it have anything to do with Tony Danza? Is it like, "Where's the Beef?" where you had to have been a certain age in the '80's to get it? Anyway, if you want to get tickets to see, "The Boss" tonight just head on over to your DeLorean and go back to when they still had some. *Ouch*. You could also get 'em from a scalper if you've got that kind of loot. Something tells me if you REALLY wanted to see Springsteen in Austin tonight, you're not reading this blog anyway.


Ted Leo - Dancing in the Dark video via YouTube

More Super-Reverent Videos After the Jump...

Somehow covers of Springsteen songs are more satisfying to me. Sorry, "The Boss" :-(


Pete Yorn - Your Own Worst Enemy video via YouTube

Ah, I love Pete Yorn. That remind me, have you heard Josh Rouse? He had a song on the Vanilla Sky soundtrack. He and Pete Yorn should be friends. Maybe they are, I don't know.


Josh Rouse - Directions video via YouTube

Oh yeah, Springsteen sorry I got side tracked. "The Boss" baby!!


Who's the Boss? - Springsteen?

Man, indie-rawkers <3 Dancing in the Dark. I guess it is pretty emo, what with the guns, fire, darkness and such.


Tegan & Sara - Dancing in the Dark video via YouTube

I think this video came from that island on Lost. What's with the video quality? This is supposed to be 1987 but it looks like 195X.


U2 ft. Bruce Springsteen - Stand By Me video via YouTube

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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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Fiona Apple April Foolery

So, it's tough to blog on April Fool's day because everyone is being very clever with the jokes and such. However, joke or not I'm excited to report that Stereogum has hopped on board my attempt to bring back Fiona Apple. You may recall that I was starting some #rumors about a new song from Fiona Apple well maybe I was just having a premonition or maybe this is a Truman Show-esque turn of events. Either way here is a newly unearthed cover song from Fiona, originally by Cy Coleman:


Fiona Apple - Why Try To Change Me Now video via YouTube

Don't get me wrong I'm excited to hear something new from Fiona Apple but in my little fantasy she was working with a hot new producer that would help her make something totally new. My first thought was Mark Ronson he's sort of the hot producer of '07 but I really like the idea of a throwback Motown sort of Fiona. I don't want Fiona to sound-like or end up like Amy Winehouse, try to focus more on the production aesthetics. This is from Mark Ronson's album Versus, which is on an evil corporate label that doesn't allow embedding of their YouTube content. It should be easier to focus on the sound aesthetics watching this kid spaz out. Thanks evil corporations:


Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse - Valerie (Originally by the Zutons) video via YouTube

Here's the Zutons' original Valerie, which is also owned by faceless corporate subsidiaries but who doesn't love Jools Holland?:


the Zutons - Valerie video via YouTube

I guess for Extraordinary Machine Fiona tried working with a hip-hop producer in Jon Brion. Maybe the stark, electronic, post-millenial, orchestrally-flourished, pastoral-rock of Nigel Godrich would be a better fit? I just made up a word or two back there. Here's a nice example of the Godrich 'signature sound'(Also owned by corp-d-bags):


Beck - Paper Tiger video via YouTube.

The rumor that seemed most believable to my Twitter maniacs was the lie that Fiona was joining an even newer Jack White band. Are we ready for a raw, country/blues-rock/bluegrassy Fiona?


Jack White & Loretta Lynn - Portland, OR video via YouTube

Perhaps, what we really need is a Fiona, Robert Plant and T-Bone Burnett collabo? Sorry A. Krauss you're out, we're putting in the Apple.


Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Gone, Gone, Gone video via YouTube

We're just happy to hear from you again Fiona.

<3, birkley3030 (AustinBloggyLimits)

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A N.A.S.A I Can Get Into

Am I crazy though, or does it sound like someone just woke Kanye up before he recorded his part for Gifted?


N.A.S.A. - Gifted (feat. Kanye West, Santogold & Lykke Li) video via YouTube

I feel like N.A.S.A. is one of those artists I've heard a lot of noise about but haven't actually heard their music. With a song that has THREE meme-able artists and isn't sponsered by Converse, I'm surprised it hadn't already caught my attention.

Free Mp3 courtesy of Anti- Records, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> N.A.S.A. - Spacious Thought


N.A.S.A. - Money video via YouTube

Was that David Byrne singing on that last track? Damn, these guys are blog-able!

By the way the latest release from N.A.S.A. is called The Spirit of Apollo just in case you missed the other space/astronaut references.


N.A.S.A. - Waydown video via YouTube

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Shearwater and Neko Case at Stubb's Tonight

Well dear reader, as of this moment you can still get yourself some tickets to see Neko Case with local boys, Shearwater at Stubb's tonight.

On a totally unrelated note, did you know there's a Stubb's BBQ at Six Flags in San Antonio? Is it me or does that just seem weird/wrong somehow? Anyway, if you're not really familiar with Neko Case you should know she is a member of the New Pornographers, although she rarely tours with them. However, if, like me, you saw the New Pornographers at FunFunFun Fest a couple of years ago...then you have already seen Neko do her thing.

Mp3 courtesy of Matador Records, thanks. The other Mp3 is courtesty of Anti- Records, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Shearwater - The Snow Leopoard

Free Mp3 ---> Neko Case - People Got A Lotta Nerve

Find some video after the jump...


Holy Crap, I've heard this song on KGSR but I totally didn't even realize it was Neko Case.


Neko Case - People Got A Lotta Nerve video via YouTube

This tornado loves you?


Neko Case - Middle Cyclone promo video via YouTube


the New Pornographers - All the Old Show Stoppers video via YouTube


Shearwater - Rooks video via YouTube

The lead singer of Shearwater took me some getting used to. He reminds me of the minstrel from Monty Python's Holy Grail. I don't know why, he just does.


Monty Python - Brave Sir Robin video via YouTube

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Hey, Fiona. Whatcha doin'? Miss ya. <3 ABL

Hey Fiona Apple,

Haven't heard from you in awhile, just wondering what yer up to? Are you still talking to Sony? Did you hear about what Radiohead did? Or Nine Inch Nails? Maybe you could by-pass the whole industry and just send us something your workin' on? Remember when you first came out and it was like you and Pearl Jam were the only ones with integrity? I just re-bought Ten as like a totally awesome video game. Then a threw up a little in my mouth a little...at home
drawing pictures...
of mountain tooops
with ME on top,
lemon yellow sun.

Seriously though Fiona, I want you back in my life. You need to like get a Twitter or something. I worry 'bout you. I hope you're eating right!

Love,
birkley3030 (AustinBloggyLimits)

Video after the jump y'all...


Fiona Apple - Fast As You Can video via YouTube


Fiona Apple - Shadowboxer video via YouTube


Fiona Apple - Not About Love video via YouTube

Matt Lauererer Cameo...this is from like 4-5 years ago now!


Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine video via YouTube

Are y'all feelin' this yet? Or do you need another classic?


MIT Resonance - Sleep to Dream video via YouTube

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The Dead Weather

That latest issue of Rolling Stone has info about Jack White's latest band, The Dead Weather. This is all I could really find for music from the new "supergroup".


the Dead Weather - Hang You From the Heavens video via YouTube
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White Denim, Harlem, Built By Snow. Antones.

So, you had a bit of a music overload during SXSW this year, but that doesn't mean Austin's gonna stop y'all. There's a GREAT, cheap show over at, the legendary, Antone's tomorrow night. It's going to be a who's who of Austin pop and garage-rock.

Local heroes, White Denim will be sharing a bill with up-and-comers, Built By Snow and recent-transplants, Harlem. Tickets are only $8 in advance, $10 at the door or they cost only $5 if you head on over to Do512 and RSVP today.


Built By Snow - Underneath video via YouTube

More Video After the Jump...

Is it me or are these guys video game/sci-fi geeks?


Built By Snow - Drag Away video via YouTube

By the way, I don't care what you say, Built By Snow is not even aware of what a Weezer is or how it might be used. Nor have they heard any music by a band that may or may not have the name Weezer

So, during SXSW I had some friends from Boston visiting/partying with me and I really wanted them to catch Harlem. I am a big fan of Harlem's jangly, surf-garage thing, surf is the new thing have you noticed that? Anyway, at the end of the weekend we were chatting about who was going to break out and my friend specifically noted that Harlem will NOT break out. I repeat, NOT...break-out. I countered that I bet they'll be HUGE in the U.K./Japan. Austin is very big in the U.K./Japan regions of the world. Here's one of those fake videos for the "single" from Harlem's, Free Drugs;-):


Harlem - South of France video via YouTube

Here's a legit vid, "'cause I'm into shhhh that you don't even knooooooow":


Harlem - Witch Greens video via YouTube

Word on the street is, White Denim have scrapped their previous deal with Transmission Entertainment(<-----Unconfirmed rumor) and they're playing sets of completely new material. But for now here's some videos for songs you should have heard by now, COME ON!


White Denim - Shake, Shake, Shake video via YouTube


White Denim - All You Really Have To Do video via YouTube

The Genie Car Wash in this video is on S. Lamar but if you live here, you know that and if you don't, you don't care right?


White Denim - Let's Talk About It video via YouTube

Devo? What's a Devo? I wouldn't even know what to do with a Devo.

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