Black Kids Ride New Wave

2008 is definitely the new 80's, or maybe it's just a reaction to the Bush years? In any case it seems like a lot of acts, both major and minor, are borrowing some elements from the 80's. First I fell in love with the keyboard-driven 80's-style synth-pop of Cut Copy. Then I heard that EP by the Cool Kids, which actually made me fall in love with a 2 year old Spank Rock record.

Well this week in indie-rock we were finally able to get our hands on the full-length debut from Black Kids. These Floridians have been making waves ever since the release of their Wizard of Ahhs EP. As you might have guessed, it has a very 80's new-wave sound. In other words, lots of keyboard sounds, mixed with Robert Smith-like vocals, on top of disaffected, post-punk dance beats.

The, inappropriatly named, Black Kids will be showing Mr. David Letterman their stuff on the Late Show tonight (Thursday). So set your TiVo to record the last 10 minutes of Letterman that way you don't have to watch his whole dinosaur hosting thing for too long.

Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
Black Kids - Hurricane Jane
Videos and more after the jump...

The new album by the Black Kids is called Partie Traumatic and you can buy it directly from their MAJOR label, Columbia. Wow how does a group of mostly white people from Florida get signed to Columbia with a name like Black Kids? Well their cooler than cool music probably has something to do with it...

You can stream their music by clicking this audio player link from their website.

You can also watch these videos:

Black Kids - I'm Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You video via YouTube


Black Kids - Hurricane Jane video via YouTube

I've embedded this widget from Columbia Records, it's a major label so I don't really trust it. Like see how it says "Free Download" sure it's free if you sign up for their mailing list...which is Free with a catch. See how they do that?


PS.
the Cool Kids have a free mixtape. The link was in their MySpace blog.

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Wolf Parade at La Zone Rosa

I feel like I've mentioned this several times already, but it can't hurt to mention again. One of my favs, Wolf Parade will be bringing their brand of indie-rock to La Zona Rosa this Friday. It appears as though you can still get tickets but they'll cost you a 20 spot.
Good news is that's cheaper than buying their back catalog and chances are they'll be playing...like almost that many songs. But it's also 5 gallons of gas, I bet if you brought 5 gallons of gas to your local ticket merchant they would be more than willing to hook you up with a ticket to see Wolf Parade. Give it a shot.

Need I point you to the same Wolf Parade content after the jump? Don't worry I'll find something of note...


Ok, so I have been scouring for content on Wolf Parade that I haven't already posted. I did find this cool video from Sunset Rubdown, which shares singer/songwriter Spencer Krug with Wolf Parade. Anyway, it's a Black Cab Session, which you should definitely check out if you haven't already.

Sunset Rubdown video borrowed from Black Cab Session, they use Daily Motion.

I also found this video for I'll Believe in Anything by Wolf Parade. It's on .MOV format.
Here it is again:

via YouTube

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Dizzee Rascal the Shows We Missed

I missed my chance to catch Dizzee Rascal at Emo's last night, but bloggers get tired too. Besides Dizzee loves it here, in the last year he's performed at least half a dozen times, including once where I get my haircut (Bird's Barbershop). If you didn't hear about Dizzee Rascal back when Fix Up, Look Sharp was being hyped, then keep your ears open for his 2008 summer jam, Dance Wiv Me. This song is already number 1 in the UK following Dizzee's triumphant Glanstonbury appearance, where some say he outshone Jay-Z?!?! Most who would say that are English though.

UK hip-hop is much different from US hip-hop, the UK sound is much more closely related to electronic and dance music as opposed to 70's R&B/Soul. Dizzee Rascal sounds like he's a bigger fan of Orbital than he is of the Jackson 5 for getting the party started. Dance Wiv Me is a great example of this aesthetic, Calvin Harris and Chrome are both featured, with that signature Calvin Harris electro-funk groove leading the way. I see this hitting the U.S. market in a commercial before the radio plays it, which is a pretty sad statement. But what're you gonna do when Clear Channel won't take any chances?

Video and more after the jump:



Dizzee Rascal - Dance Wiv Me ft. Calvin Harris and Chrome video via YouTube

Just for fun here is a live video of Orbital doing Chime in .MOV format. Which, means it's like a 30MB file. But it's pretty awesome...especially considering this post isn't even about Orbital.

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{{{Sunset}}} Mr. Baird

Imagine if Brian Wilson or John Lennon sat in their bedrooms playing Pro Tools. You may remember from my record store post that I picked up the latest from local artist(s) {{{Sunset}}}. Well now I have had some time to really digest The Glowing City and I really like it. Not only is it distinctive enough so you know what you're listening to as soon as it hits the iPod Shuffle but it still manages to sound diverse.

{{{Sunset}}} is what, now defunct, Sound Team member Bill Baird is up to these days. From what I can tell this guy is quite prolific and he is totally in love with the studio. The Glowing City definitely has the sound of someone who like to twiddle knobs in a room with no sunlight. Each song is a soundscape, with layered textural sounds that sometimes obscure and sometimes enhance the melodies. Bill Baird and I are both big fans of chiming percussive instruments, like sleigh bells, vibraphones and xylophones, which can all be heard throughout the album.

Tag {{{Sunset}}} as one of Austin's biggest up-and-comers in the next year. Try to catch one of their local shows before they go the way of Ghostland and disappear from Austin's scene. Their label site has a handy little widget showing their live calendar but I couldn't manage to steal it for you so find it here.

Music and more after the jump...

Someone on Last.Fm saw that I was listening to The Glowing City and asked if I could send them a free Mp3 copy. I was all, "For reals? I bought that shhh at the record shop. You should do the same. Pssshh". Ironically you can stream The Glowing City direct from the Last.FM site here. It might be kind of hard for you to find this record at the record shop near you, but fear not. I got your back, you can get it here or here in virtual land. Or if you live in Austin, then you should effing know where to find it by now...End of an Ear, Waterloo, possibly Cheapo.

And/Or just catch a live show. Like this Friday at Progress Coffee or this Saturday at Victory Grill.

{{{Sunset}}} recorded a session for Daytrotter, which if you don't know already, is a really bad ass indie-music site that has artists come in and record exclusive, intimate sets. You can read the whole quirky interview and get all of the tracks here.

Here's an official free track from {{{Sunset}}}'s label Autobus:
{{{Sunset}}} - The World is Awaiting

I'm not a big fan of videos streamed using Virb, but Bill Baird is which means you can find 15 {{{Sunset}} videos on their Virb page. Although it saddens me because this video will not be viewable on iPhones here is a vid for one of my favorite tracks on The Glowing City.

{{{Sunset}}} - Zombies video via Virb...and YouTube thanks reader.

Ponder this Austonians, why given all of the great locations in Austin did Bill Baird choose: The Office Depot parking lot at S. Lamar + Oltorf, The Gold's Gym parking lot near Blazer Tag on Ben White, and the Chuck E. Cheese at S.1st and Ben White...strike that last one going to Chuck E. Cheese is kind of brilliant.

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Lists are Subjective AND Fun

Tim demanded I roll out my mid-year list. Generally I feel like why jump the gun, just wait 'till December but by that time I will have forgotten all of the January stuff. So in any case here are my favorites of 2008 thus far, keeping in mind I haven't had time to listen to everything worthy of note...yet. So stay tuned in December for the real deal Holyfield.

10. Beck - Modern Guilt


See the rest after the jump...


God, it's hard to decide which should go at what number. Let me just preface the rest of this by saying I'm not firm on the number placement. Also there are albums that narrowly missed, but when I do a top songs those artists will definitely be represented. I'm talking 'bout you Crystal Castles, Islands and others.

9. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals

8. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

7. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

6. Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

5. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

4. Jamie Lidell - Jim

3. Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead

2. Sigur Ros - Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust

1. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours

This was WAY harder than I thought. I left Radiohead off, because technically In Rainbows came out in digital form in 2007. Also, Bon Iver apparently came out in 2007. You'll notice Vampire Weekend didn't make the list even though their album came out in January and I really like it. However, it leaked in 2007 and I saw them in November of 2007 so to me it is an '07 release sorry VW you'll still be on the year end list...probably. Same goes to you Santogold, this would have been easier if I'd chosen top 25.

Here's some sample Mp3's from the albums that had legal, official links...ie all the bands on Sub-Pop Records. Some of these Mp3's may be reposts.

the Helio Sequence - Can't Say No
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
Wolf Parade - Language City
Cut Copy - Lights and Music

And here's some video for you:

The Raconteurs - Old Enough Live @ Bonaroo via YouTube

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Kitties Play Emo's

This is sort of short notice, but I completely forgot to mention that local up-and-comers, Snafu Kitties, will be playing at Emo's tonight. Doors open at 8p, the show starts at 10p I expect Snafu Kitties will be the first band, so you might want to get there by 9:30ish.

Snafu Kitties have been in the studio, as of late, working a new album. Word from Pascal (the kitties drummer) is that they are playing some of the best stuff they've ever played. So expect a well-rehearsed set of piano-pop, indie rock with lots of waltz time :-) Look for me I'll be the guy in the plaid shirt, and skinny jeans drinking PBR...that's only funny if you've actually been to Emo's I suppose.

Rounding out the rest of the bill will be, other feline-themed band, Stephanie and Her Melodic Cat followed by Mr. Lewis and the Funeral 5. I'm not exactly sure how much, if anything, tickets will set you back but let's say less than or equal to $8. Oh yeah and this is all happening at Emo's Inside don't get all confused and end up at Emo's Lounge...unless you want to catch Flametrick Subs and/or Highrollers.

Hear the Snafu Kitties in all of their indie-pop glory courtesy of their online press kit.

Snafu Kitties - Mail Anthem
Snafu Kitties - Ham Can Shine

Couple more tracks and a last minute update after the jump.


Last minute update via text message, Pascal will be playing an hour-long set of thrash-core/punk at Red 7 with Reagan Era from 9-10, then running around the corner all warmed up to play with the Snafu Kitties at 10. DON'T FEED PASCAL SHOTS!!

Snafu Kitties - Champagne Jam
Snafu Kitties - Nerve

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MMJ's Evil Urges

A week or two ago I was looking over someone's shoulder as they checked out the album reviews in the Austin Chronicle, when I pointed to the new My Morning Jacket album review and said, "That's a good one." To which they responded, "Is it really?". This sort of threw me, I felt like being here in Austin it is generally accepted that My Morning Jacket are a kick-ass band. But apparently people are hating on the new album. I talked to a few more people who mentioned they were disappointed in the latest offering from the Kentucky roots-rockers.

Well now, the LP has been out over a month and I'm hoping some minds have been changed, so I want to know what you think of Evil Urges. Is it more of My Morning Jacket at their best? Or have they gone of the deep-end and alienated all of their fans. Personally I wasn't feeling the record on the first few listens, but I woke up one morning with the title track in my head and decided to play the album through and realized I love it.

Sure it's not your typical country-fried MMJ album, but it's not like they veered off into musical parts unknown. We do hear more of that lovely Jim James falsetto, they do hit points of 80's balladry and there are definitely many R&B moments on the disc. But I recommend you head on over to one of the Internet's hidden treasures, archive.org and listen to some MMJ bootlegs. These guys have a reputation for transcendant concert experiences. Don't believe me? Check out their set from Bonaroo 2006.

I've embedded a concert after the jump...


Did you already know about archive.org? They are trying to catalog the whole freaking internet. How ridiculous is that? I recommend you browse their music database by band here. They have basically collected live shows from any artists that allow such things. So you can definitely find some buried treasures. Mainers, need I point you to the Rustic Overtones legendary show at the State Theater?

I want to hear your feedback on the new My Morning Jacket, so hit the
comments.

My Morning Jacket live @ Radio City Music Hall 06-08-2008


Rustic Overtones Live @ the State Theater May 11th, 2002




My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges + Interview live from Austin SXSW '08 via YouTube

By the way the guys are STILL out on tour, they'll be back here in Austin, in August. Check their MySpace for complete tour info.

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Tuesday = Record Shop Day

I love heading to the local record shops on Tuesdays. Why you ask? Well, because it's New Release day of course. This week wasn't spectacularly note-worthy, but you can pick up the new Beck album Modern Guilt, as previously mentioned.

Nowadays it's easy to go in endless virtual-circles, hunting around, listening to music clips and purchasing from online retailers. But don't forget your local music merchants, first of all if you are into vinyl these guys have got your back. My local favs End of an Ear and Waterloo Records both stock new and used vinyl. Personally I don't own a record player but it's still cool to see the new Wolf Parade LP in all of it's giant cover art glory. Also, many labels are offering packaging that you can only find at your local record merchant. For instance, I noticed that you can buy the latest EP from the National packaged with a behind-the-scenes DVD for less than $20...but more than $10.

The inside back page of every Rolling Stone offers a few different charts to compare. They always list the Billboard top 40 albums but my favorite chart is the one that samples a local record shop. After the jump I've borrowed that idea and offered up some local charts vs. the Billboard chart.

Here's an Mp3 offering from one of the albums I picked up today at End of an Ear which, incidentally, isn't a new release per se. It's from the newest {{{Sunset}}} LP The Glowing City.

{{{Sunset}}} - When Perfect Flames Expire

Charts after the jump...

So, what's funny to me about this chart thing is how the Billboard chart seems to represent the casual music listeners. People who buy radio hits at their local Wal-Mart...not that there's anything wrong with that. I think the charts from independent record retailers reflects the tastes of hardcore indie-nerds who probably also shop at Whole Foods...not that there's anything wrong with that either.

So here's the Billboard Top 10 albums from Issue Date 7/12/2008...that's weird that's four days from now...whatever that's what it says so that's what I'm going with.

1. Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
2. Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter III
3. Soundtrack - Camp Rock
4. Motley Crue(sic) - Saints of Los Angeles
5. Three 6 Mafia - Last 2 Walk
6. Various Artists - Now 28 (28?!?! Damn I'm old)
7. Usher - Here I Stand
8. Shinedown - The Sound of Madness
9. Disturbed - Indestructable
10. Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad

Now let's compare that to the top sellers at, local-favorite, Waterloo Records for the week ending June 21st, 2008.

1. Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
2. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
3. Grupo Fantasma - Sonidos Gold
   
4. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
5. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
6. James McMurtry - Just Us Kids
   
7. Emmylou Harris - All I Intended to Be
   
8. Eliza Gilkyson - Beautiful World
   
9. Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
   
10. Robert Plant & Allison Krauss - Raising Sand

Compare that one to the legendary Amoeba Music out of San Franciso, reported on June 30th, 2008.

1. Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid
2. Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
3. Portishead - Third
4. Immortal Technique - 3rd World
5. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
6. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
7. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
8. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
9. Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter III
10. Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair

Let's head North to a favorite of mine from my Boston days, Newbury Comics. I'm not sure of the date and they don't really have them numbered it's just a page of their top 25 so I will list what I assume to be their top 10...get with it Newbury Comics.

1. Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
2. Night Ranger - Hole in the Sun (Night Ranger?!?! What is wrong with you people?)
3. Tech N9ne - Killer
4. Motley Crue(sic) - Saints of Los Angeles
5. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
6. Immortal Technique - The 3rd World
7. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
8. RZA - Digisnacks
9. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
10. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

Let's head to NYC and see what's selling at Other Music as of June 29th, 2008.

1. Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
2. Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair
3. Jay Reatard - Singles Collection
4. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
5. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
6. Gas - Nah Und Fern Box Set
7. The Feelies - Only Life
8. Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
9. Buddha Machine - Soundbox
10. Endless Boogie - Focus Level

How about the hipsters in Louisville? Kentucky gets a bad rap in the rest of the U.S. but I've been there and it's cooler than you might think. Check out what they're buying at ear X-tacy, who only offer up their top 5 whatev.

1. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
2. Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death & All His Friends
3. Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
4. Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter III
5. Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal

The last record shop I want to stop by on our journey is in hipster/artist/musician-mecca Portland, OR. Representing Portlandia will be Music Millenium, who were more than happy to chat on the phone with a guy in Texas about their top 30 albums haha.

1. Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
3. Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal
4. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
5. Ry Cooder - I, Flathead
   
6. Various Artists - PDX Pop Now Compilation 2008
7. Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
8. Duffy - Rockferry
   
9. Emmylou Harris - All I Intended to Be
10. Dr. John - City That Care Forgot
    

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Hercules and Love Affair

I've definitely been slacking on my blogging this week, but I have to pay the bills somehow right? Anyway, someone at work mentioned Hercules and Love Affair to me the other day and I had somehow missed them completely. The record is a recommended staff pick from the folks at Waterloo, so you know it's been getting some blog-hype already. Hercules and Love Affair is a project from Brooklyn-based DJ Andy Butler featuring Nomi, Kim Ann Foxman and Antony Hegarty. I'm not really sure who Nomi or Kim Ann Foxman are but I know Antony Hegarty. Hegarty is the lead vocalist for Antony & the Johnsons, a New York-based cabaret/lounge-style piano group.

I had the chance to see Antony & the Johnsons a few years ago at Boston's, Paradise Rock Club, and the show was pretty awesome. My only negative comment about it was that Antony Hegarty sings with very little effort, so the song moments that I thought would be heart-wrenching were just easily reached notes for Hegarty. This Hercules and Love Affair record is a completely different tone for Hegarty's voice but it matches up beautifully.

The sound is disco, with a more modern, urban edge the mix of Antony Hegarty's androgynous vocals make the songs haunting and somehow European-sounding. I suppose it's no coincidence that most of the tour dates for this band are in Europe. In fact they only have 4 U.S. dates listed on their MySpace.

Now I'm not entirely sure the Mp3 below will work for everyone but you should definitely try it out. See there is a "Free" Mp3 posted on the official EMI Chrysalis site for the band but the deal is you have to sign up for a mailing list. However I have taken the liberty of doing that for you to fetch this link:

Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules' Theme

Video and more after the jump...


I didn't mention above but Hercules is on DFA records, which gives them some serious cred. DFA is James Murphy's dance label based in New York, Murphy is the brains behind LCD Soundsystem. I caught LCD Soundsystem at Boston's, now defunct, Avalon and it was one of the most surprisingly awesome shows of my life. See I was trying to catch M.I.A. who was just opening for LCD Soundsystem, I only heard her do two songs, then LCD came out and just blew everyone away. Their live band syncopation is an undeniably ass-shaking, good time.

Here's a vid from Hercules and Love Affair:

Hercules and Love Affair - You Belong video via YouTube


Hercules and Love Affair - Blind video via YouTube

Oh NO! More videos!!


Antony & the Johnsons - Hope There's Someone video via YouTube


LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends video via YouTube

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No Age/Abe Vigoda

Noise is back y'all! That's right people tonight is the night to drag your drunk ass to Emo's Inside to check out some L.A. noise-punk. No Age, Abe Vigoda, and Infinite Body are live and direct from the I-10. Bring your open mind, and your earplugs 'cause Emo's Inside is always dangerous to your delicate auditory senses, but tonight they are doing a showcase of what the kids in L.A. are listening to. More specifically the kids who frequent tiny, all-ages, L.A. club, the Smell. This club has churned out so many buzzy bands this year that some journalists are using the term "Smell Sound". How awesome is that?

No the "smell sound" is not some really bad acid trip, at least not exclusively, it refers to artists like Mika Miko, HEALTH, Abe Vigoda, and No Age who all play the Smell. This whole movement has even been featured on that old stalwart of cool, MTV, marking the official death of the whole scene and sound. Just kidding John Norris, you're still relevant and young-looking :-)

I caught No Age at SXSW, you may have noticed the pictures in my little slide show over there ------------------------------------->. To be honest, the music is really not my style so I haven't even listened to Nouns but I will tell you that seeing them live was awesome. Same goes for HEALTH, they put all their energy out to the crowd, as they thrash and jump and drink and scream. In other words this is going to be a bad ass show to catch at Emo's Jr, expect lots of sweating, lots of screaming, maybe some "moshing" or whatever they call it now. In other words a really fun, loud, visceral, rock 'n roll experience. Tickets for tonight's show are only $8, and Sparks is only $3.50 once you're inside. Emo's is all-ages so bring your under-age girlfriend we won't tell.

No Age - Eraser (Repost)

More review, Music, and Videos after the jump...


I should also mention that just because I haven 't listened to Nouns yet doesn't mean I won't gush about it later. It has been on a lot of lists already this year and you can expect it to make a lot of year-end lists as well. Also, I am a huge fan of Radiohead and Jonny was spotted wearing a No Age T on one of Radiohead's webcasts.


No Age - Eraser video via YouTube.


Abe Vigoda - All Night and Day video via YouTube


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