Guilty Pleasures

We all have them, no use denying it. I have a penchant for really bad pop/R&B songs, some of which I would never own up to liking; but there are some that I will occasionally admit. Here are a smattering of them. Anyone else have some?

The Strokes: "You're So Right"

The Strokes have begun their tour in support of new, awesome album Angles. I will be seeing them in a couple of weeks at Coachella. They are another band that I am sad to say I have not seen live. Should be a killer show. Here is video of them on the Fallon show performing album track "You're So Right," one of my favorite songs on Angles. Enjoy.

Katy B: "Broken Record"

Up and coming British singer Katy B is about to release her debut album On A Mission. It's a really diverse record spanning dubstep, drum and bass, and house music. She has a great voice, and if this was a perfect world she would be storming the charts. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Here is the video for the song "Broken Record:"

Bibio: "Excuses"

British producer Stephen Wilkinson, better known as Bibio, has released the follow up to his brilliant album Ambivalence Avenue. The album is called Mind Bokeh, and it is wildly different in tone and mood. So far, the album is really creating a great impression. It is so dense, though, I need to let it soak in many more times before I come up with my ultimate thoughts on it. Below is the artwork for the album, as well as the video for first single "Excuses."

Belong: Common Era

Belong
Common Era
Rating: Grrrr

I am a shoegaze addict. I admit it, and I am not ashamed of it. Generally, if I read a review and it even mentions the term, I will likely buy it. Doesn't mean I will necessarily like it; I have lost count of how many bands have been poor imitators of my heroes My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Lush, Slowdive, and Swervedriver. But the call of the genre always at least peaks my interest. I was astonished to hear that New Orleans drone due Belong had released their follow up to October Language (a classic of ambient glitch drone) and it was a shoegaze record. Belong has been very restless with their sound; moving from ambient drones to more song based structures. Their last EP incorporated vocals for the first time, in addition to having a more Krautrock inspired sound, and was the first indication that things would be much different on the next full length.

Common Era begins by merging the three different styles of their sound beautifully. "Come See" erupts with blistering feedback before flowing into a muted Krautrock groove, with droning guitars, airy synths, and impressionistic vocals buried within the mix:

belong - common era - Come See (kranky) by pdis_inpartmaint

Standout track "Never Came Close," sounds like The Jesus and Mary Chain mixed with Pornography-era Cure; the chorus is a gorgeous, swirling piece of heaven:

belong 'never came close' by kranky

The songs on the album veer between rushes of epically treated guitars and echoed drum machines to more ambient, droning pieces. I will admit that the dronier pieces are not my favorite, as they tend to kill the momentum of the record. Alone, however, they are all quite lovely. The haunting "Keep Still," moves slowly and methodically, washes of guitars creating a nice bed for vocals that sound like a cry from a fog buried moor. Title track "Common Era" uses what sounds like mutated air raid sirens and a hushed beat, the vocals buried deep in the mix.

The other, more beat-driven tracks are what keeps bringing me back to this record. I love the gothic darkness of "A Walk:"



And the exquisite rush of "Perfect Life:"

belong 'perfect life' by kranky

I had a very difficult time reviewing this record and coming up with an accurate rating. There is nothing specifically original about this record, and a lot of other reviews have whined that it all sounds like a mere genre exercise. I do understand those arguments and that is likely why I teetered on the edge of a Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It rating and a Grrrr rating. Eventually though, after much deliberating, I had to allow the higher rating. Common Era wears its influences on its sleeve, but I think there is enough originality in it, especially with the more drone-like atmospheres, to make it deserving of such rating. Besides, I just can't stop listening to it. It just beautifully encapsulates a mood for me.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart: "Heart In Your Heartbreak"

Yes, I know I gave The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's new album Belong a less than stellar review, however, I will say (and did in the review) that there are a couple of very strong songs on the record, "Heart In Your Heartbreak" being one of them. Here is their supremely silly video for the song (which you can also watch over at P4K).

Jamie Woon: "Someone Like You" (Adele Cover)

Although I am not a huge fan of Adele's new album (and have suffered the wrath of many an enraged gay man), I do love her voice and do love the song "Someone Like You." Jamie Woon, whose mix of R&B/Singer-Songwriter/Dubstep is intoxicating, has done an in-studio acoustic cover of the song, and puts his own unique stamp on the track. Adele's version is better, but there is something simple and direct about this version. Jamie Woon's debut album Mirrorwriting comes out on April 19. Below is one of my favorite tracks from last year, "Night Air."

Burial: Street Halo EP

Burial
Street Halo EP
Rating: Woof Daddy

It's been almost four years since the release of Burial's landmark album Untrue. Might as well be 4 decades in the electronic music world considering how fast trends and genres change and mutate. While there will likely always be imitators of his distinct sound, Burial will never be duplicated. In a flurry of activity over the past few months, Burial has released several new projects. Whether producing and advising material on Jamie Woon's debut cd Mirrorwriting, or collaborating with Thom Yorke and Four Tet on a single, he has whet people's appetite for the follow up to Untrue. There is no word whether this three track EP is a prelude or preview to a new release, but apparently, based on his label Hyperdub, he is working on new material.

If anything, these three tracks reveal that Burial is still working with the same minimal palate, but is pushing outside the framework. The songs are distinctly Burial tracks, however, there are subtle differences in approach. Still notable is how, even on three tracks, he can so easily evoke moods of isolation and darkness.



"Street Halo"

Probably the least Burial sounding of the three tracks, "Street Halo" practically sounds like the percussion was recorded from a train. There is a locomotive quality to the beats, propelling the song forward. There is a vaguely Middle Eastern synth melody hanging just underneath the framework of the track, with disembodied and mutated vocal samples floating above. The dark, two-step track is underpinned with menacing sub-bass, the vocal samples conjuring a world of late night journeys to some place dangerous and haunted. As the destination gets closer, the beats get more insistent, the tone denser; you can feel your heart catching in your chest.



"NYC"

By far my favorite track, "NYC," is trademark Burial: ghostly synth strings, choppy blocked two-step beats, and airy, pitch shifted vocal samples. The song is so sad and haunting, it is almost unbearable to hear; a cry for love and tenderness in an unforgiving city, feeling completely alone in a sea of millions. The refrain "NYC, nobody loves me" is so forlorn, it will stick with you like a scar.



"Stolen Dog"

This is the grower of the three tracks. Initially, I dismissed it as meandering and not in line with the first two songs. Using a simple beat, monochrome synth tone melody, and a variety of liquidy atmospherics, "Stolen Dog," unfolds leisurely, the slowly gains in paranoia and desperation, the vocal samples, almost unintelligible, becoming frantic and alarmed. The "Stolen Dog," of the title can be anything searched for in vain.

If these three tracks are any indication of what Burial's next full length is like, I think I will be a very happy fan. The songs retain the base of what is Burial and expands it ever so slightly; ramping up the emotion and depth. Burial is a master of creating a mood and taking you on long, dark trips through his imagination. Street Halo is endlessly fascinating, and a great appetizer for the next course he will offer.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.

Death Cab For Cutie: "You Are A Tourist"

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Death Cab For Cutie return with their latest album, Codes and Keys, which is set for release on May 31. You can head over to Soundcloud.com and listen to the first single, "You Are A Tourist." The sound is a lot beefier than in albums past. Could be a interesting change for them.

Peter Bjorn and John: "Second Chance"

No one is as surprised at me how much I like the new PB&J album, Gimme Some. Bouncing back from the debacle that was Living Thing, they have returned with some killer hooks. I will definitely be reviewing the album soon. As a teaser, here is first single and video, "Second Chance," which proves the adage that everything sounds better with more cowbell.

Cut Copy: "Take Me Over"

To all my friends going to see Cut Copy tonight at the Masquerade in Atlanta, I hope you have a blast seeing them. I have opted out, because I am trying to save money before Coachella, and besides, I will most likely be seeing them there anyway. Anywho, here is a clip of their performance of "Take Me Over," on the Jimmy Fallon Show. And can someone explain the gorilla on percussion?

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart: Belong

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Belong
Rating: Meh

The self-titled debut by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart was one of my top albums of 2009. It was the perfect mix of late 80s early 90s alternative guitar bands like MBV, Lush, Ride, coupled with snarky Smithsian/Belle and Sebastian-esque lyrics, full of wry observations and black humor. Their sound was admittedly raw and unpolished, but this only added to their charm. When I heard news that the band enlisted the help of uber-producers Flood and Alan Moulder (Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, PJ Harvey) to work on the follow up, I was worried that it would alter their sound too much, however, I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and let the finished product speak for itself. So, here we have Belong.

It starts out promising with lead single and title track "Belong," which still has the same, twisted lyrical sense of humor, but the music is notably thicker, denser and more polished. It wasn't as striking a contrast as I initially imagined, but it was certainly different.



The song has more crunch, and the individual sounds are all crystal clear and mixed perfectly. And it is clearly evident that a lot of money and time was spent getting this sound down. In fact, probably too much time was spent on the production, as each song ends up bleeding into one another. Their debut was so rough around the edges and ramshackle, and gave the band a distinct sound. Each song separate from each other but coalescing into a marvelous whole. On Belong, what made the band The Pains of Being Pure at Heart so special is practically erased. Instead, we get a group of 10 extremely buffed and glossy alt-rock tunes, that have almost no character of their own. Furthermore, the vocals are so buried in the mix, you can barely understand any of the lyrics, which is one of the key reasons to enjoy the band.

Individually, there are several good to ok songs lurking within the album. I enjoyed the crunchy title track, and "Heart In Your Heartbreak," is propelled by a tight rhythm section, and a killer chorus:



"My Terrible Friend," is a terrific rush of whooshing Disintegration-era Cure synths, and bright acoustic guitars:



The remaining tracks all begin to blur into one another, lacking texture and differentiation. Moulder and Flood have buffed and shined the band out of any distinct personality. The songs start to follow a formula, directly opposite from their debut. Each song contains ethereal keyboards, sparkling guitars, and hushed vocals. The generic 80s-like synths and guitars of "The Body" sound like an outtake from Jesus and Mary Chain's Automatic:



It all begins to sound like something you would hear late into the second hour of 120 Minutes back in the day on MTV. "Even In Dreams," just meanders on a bland beat and crunched up guitars:



"Too Tough," sounds like it could fit squarely on any Lemonheads album:



Even when the band attempts to punch things up, the results are only slightly more successful. "Heaven's Gonna Happen Now," has a bouncy step and gorgeous guitars, but by the time of the chorus, and the expected crunch of guitars, it becomes predictable and bland:



"Girls of 1000 Dreams" falls into the same trap, luring you in with fuzzed out guitars and messier production, but it is just a little too late in the album to rescue what has become a slog; but it does somewhat hint at what the album should have sounded like:



As a general rule, I have no issue with a band wanting to change or improve their sound, however, it's difficult when the band messes up what drew interest to them in the first place. By relying on Flood and Alan Moulder to beef up their sound, they unfortunately went too far, becoming so generic that the songs lose any character. I listen to Belong and I "like" every song; they have good melodies and the sound is impeccable. The problem is the songs are not very memorable. Once the album is done playing I can hardly remember which songs are which. Belong is a slight misstep for this band. I hope on their next release they remember what makes them special to begin with and use that as a base in which to climb higher.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top albums of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.

Young Galaxy: Live At The Knitting Factory

Young Galaxy's latest album Shapeshifting is fast becoming my favorite album of the year. Each time I listen to it, I hear something new. If you haven't checked it out yet, please do. Recently, they performed live at The Knitting Factory in NYC, you can go here and see a video of the entire performance. Unfortunately, they do not tour very often, and they only played a few dates in the US when they did. And the singer looks to be very pregnant, so it looks like there will not be much touring this year.

Flaming Lips and Neon Indian: "Is David Bowie Dead?"

Disco Naivete is streaming a collaboration from Flaming Lips and Neon Indian entitled "Is David Bowie Dead?" which can be listened to here. It's a very psychedelic, slightly atonal, chillwavish sounding record; about what you would expect from combining the two artists. The 12" is out now, albeit in very limited quantities (apparently it is only available right not from Guestroom records in Oklahoma City, and Good Records in Dallas).

Here is the tracklist for the 12":

01 Is David Bowie Dead?
02 Alan's Theremin
03 You Don't Respond
04 Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Truth Part 2

The Weeknd: House of Balloons mixtape

Mysterious Toronto R&B collective The Weeknd has released a free mixtape, House of Balloons, that can be downloaded here. The 9 songs are generally long, slow jams; creating a sustained mood of desperation, emptiness, and doubt. The music is lush and haunting, perfectly coinciding with the hedonistic tales set forth. Bonus points for use of Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Happy House" in the title track.



My favorite song so far on House of Balloons is "Loft Music:"



I will likely have a review of the full mixtape in the coming weeks.

Videos of the Week

Another week has flown by, leaving me with 21 days left until Coachella. Here are the latest videos that have been making me do my happy dance:



Dense and dramatic pop from The Morning Benders. Love the song and the video is a perfect companion.



Apparently my bf Kurt is going to leave me for the gay version of The Situation.



Gorgeously shot video for a two-step track from Berlin producer Siriusmo. The video reminds me of Peter Greenaway's Prospero.



The Chase and Status album has really been growing on me. This is a wonderful collaboration with CeeLo.


Baths cover LCD Soundsystem

Nice cover of LCD Soundsystem's "All My Friends" from Baths.



The new album from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart is a lot different from their debut. I am not completely sold on it yet, but it is definitely growing on me. This song especially.



These satirical videos are hysterical.



First single from the new Friendly Fires album is really growing on me.



Although I have seen Crystal Castles before, I will likely try to catch them again. And I will definitely seek out HEALTH. Their latest album has been playing on my iPod a lot.



Gorgeously sad video for the first single from TV On The Radio's new album.



Listening to Two Door Cinema Club always puts me in a good mood.



Although their albums don't do much for me, I do enjoy this song from Malachai. The video is very paranoid and trippy.



Brilliantly edited video from Stanton Warriors.



Another great track from the Chase and Status album.



Deep wubz from another Coachella act.



While this is sort of DJ Shadow-lite, I do like the chilled out sound.

Siriusmo: "Signal"

I will be reviewing Berlin producer Siriusmo's debut full-length Mosaik next week. It is a really eclectic and varied set of music drawing on a lot of different styles/genres. The first video from the album is for the two-step track "Signal." The song is a highlight of the album, and the video is gorgeously shot.

Panda Bear: "Surfer's Hymn"

Here is the latest Panda Bear pre-LP singles' release. Called "Surfer's Hymn," it is an odd little song, full of sunny instrumentation, and liquidy vocals, but for some reason, for me, never really adds up to much. The album Tomboy comes out on April 11. I actually prefer the remix of the song from Actress, which can be found here.

Of all the tracks he has released prior to the album, this song is my favorite so far:

Panda Bear - Slow Motion by ListenBeforeYouBuy

Burial: "Street Halo" and "Stolen Dog"

Burial appeared on the Benji B show on BBC Radio 1 last night to premiere the release of his new, 20 minute single, featuring three tracks. The single is a vinyl only release coming out on March 28. You can order it here.

Below are radio rips of the tracks. Unfortunately, as is the habit of Benji B and other Brit DJs, he is incessently talking over the tracks, but, you get the idea of what they sound like.

Burial - Street Halo 2011 by extramusicnew

Burial - Stolen Dog 2011 by extramusicnew

A.V. Club Undercover 2011/Baths Covers LCD Soundsystem

The A.V. Club has started another round in their Undercover series, where they pick 25 classic songs and bands/musicians come by and do cover versions, picking off a song until there are no more left. So, as you can see, the earlier you come by, the better the song selection is. Baths (a.k.a. Will Wiesenfeld) stopped by and chose LCD Soundsystem's "All My Friends," choosing to go the minimal route, using only a piano and some natural percussion from tourmate Dexter of the band Houses.


Baths cover LCD Soundsystem

The Joy Formidable: The Big Roar

The Joy Formidable
The Big Roar
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It

Welsh trio The Joy Formidable, led by Ritzy Bryan, are not afraid to think big. Taking cues from bands like Lush and Belly, and amping it up with a phalanx of guitars straight from Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream, the band is already staking their claim to be the next arena-friendly band. The Big Roar is the follow up to their short album A Balloon Called Moaning, which takes three previous tracks and revisits them in slightly altered form, with the addition of 8 new tracks, beefing up their sound with more guitars and heavier drum sound.

Most of the songs on The Big Roar follow a similar format: the verses tightly coiled and propulsive, erupting into a maelstrom of layered guitars at the choruses. When it works perfectly, the tracks are phenomenal. On lead track "The Everlasting Spectrum Of A Lie," the song moves effortlessly through peaks and valleys, working well with texture and mood:



"Austere" follows it's minimal and driving rhythm section into a chorus of screaming guitars and etheral synths:



"Whirring" which is re-tooled from its original version, becomes more fleshed out and insistent:



But too often, The Big Roar relies too much on amping up the volume and putting too many layers of guitars into the mix. By the end of the record, you almost feel beaten into submission, and the songs begin to blur together. "Chapter 2" is all bluster and no texture:



"Cradle," becomes one note and a bit screechy:



I wanted to hear more variety in their song structures so that the songs would stand out from one another better. Just as I was losing hope on the record, things got brighter with "Llaw = Wall," which starts out beatless and ambient, with surprising good vocals by Rhydian Dafydd, and builds into an atmospheric, powerful chorus. More songs with this type of interesting signature would have gone a long way in breaking up the slight monotony of the record:



Not to say that the record is bad. Each of the songs taken alone are really good, it is just when you listen to them in the context of the album, it can sound a little too similar towards the end. The Joy Formidable has an aggressive and bold sound, and have the chops to really put out some great music. Just a little subtlety and variety is in order to make their sound more distinctive.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top albums of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.

Burial: "Street Halo"

It has been over 4 years since the release of Burial's seminal album Untrue. Since then, he has kept a relatively low profile, remixing some artists, producing some tracks on Jamie Woon's upcoming album Mirrorwriting, and releasing some collaborative tracks with Four Tet and Thom Yorke. Then today, a mysterious press release came out from his label Hyperdub announcing the release of a new single "Street Halo," to be released on Monday, March 28. The single will also come with two additional songs: "NYC" and "Stolen Dog." There is no word whether this is a lead up to a new album, however, the rumor is that he has been working on it lately. Check back Monday and I will likely have a clip and review of the single.

Below is the amazing song "Archangel" from Untrue.

Friendly Fires: "Live Those Days Tonight"

Friendly Fires return with the first single off their second album Pala, which drops on May 16th. The song retains their quirky sense of melody, while adding denser production. The song definitely sounds like an update of 80s pop bands like Spandau Ballet, Heaven 17, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, et al. I'm really enjoying the intense, playful percussion.



Below is the tracklist for Pala:

Live Those Days Tonight
Blue Cassette
Running Away
Hawaiian Air
Hurting
Pala
Show Me Lights
True Love
Pull Me Back To Earth
Chimes
Helpless

TV On The Radio: "Will Do"

First single from TV on the Radio's upcoming album Nine Types of Light has a video to accompany it. The song is a more straightforward and slick sound than their past material. It took me a couple of listens before I got with the program. TVOTR is not one to sit still, so I am betting the new album is a change. The video for "Will Do" is a sad, virtual-reality inspired scenario. It really fits the song well.

Nine Types of Light is set for release on April 12.

Battles: Gloss Drop

Battles new album Gloss Drop is set to drop on June 7th. Above is the artwork, and you can also pre-order the album and download the first single "Ice Cream" here.

Ice Cream (Featuring Matias Aguayo) by BATTLES

Here is the tracklist for the album:

1. AFRICASTLE
2. ICE CREAM (FEATURING MATIAS AGUAYO)
3. FUTURA
4. INCHWORM
5. WALL STREET
6. MY MACHINES (FEATURING GARY NUMAN)
7. DOMINICAN FADE
8. SWEETIE & SHAG (FEATURING KAZU MAKINO)
9. TODDLER
10. ROLLS BAYCE
11. WHITE ELECTRIC
12. SUNDOME (FEATURING YAMANTAKA EYE)

Belong: "Never Came Close"

New Orleans duo have moved away from the complex drones and Tim Hecker soundscapes of their debut album October Language into more structured, song based music. New album Common Era draws from the gauzy haze of My Bloody Valentine, The Cure, Jesus and Mary Chain, House of Love, and basically any band on the 4AD roster. If you like any of those bands, you will likely fall in love with this gorgeous album. A review will come shortly, but here is the hauntingly beautiful track "Never Came Close," to whet your appetite until then.

belong 'never came close' by kranky

The Strokes: Angles

The Strokes
Angles
Rating: Grrrr

Sometimes great things result from bad circumstances; tensions creating the push and pull to draw out genius. Other times you end up with a mixed bag, or even something painful. It is no secret that The Strokes almost imploded from all the pressure on them to be the best, the coolest rock band in the world. What seemed so effortless on their debut Is This It? had become rote and stilted on 2005's First Impressions of Earth, although, to be honest, I feel that album is severely underrated. The band, fractured and adrift, took an extended break, working on solo projects or just living out of the spotlight. Even when the band members decided to return to the fold, there were still long-seated resentments and animosities, to the point where front man Julian Casablancas wasn't even present for the recording of the music tracks; sending his vocals to the band via electronic files. Based on this back story, I was expecting to find an album just as fractured; however, in this case, it appears to have been a good thing, as the tensions, which are still quite evident, work in the band's favor. The group sounds energized and full of ideas.

Most of the criticism of The Strokes has been towards how they strayed from the sound that made them famous in the first place. The move away from a Velvet Underground/hipster/slacker sound to an edgier 80's new wave sound was somehow heretical. Angles appears to balance the needs of the band to expand their sound with the wants of those original fans. There are several songs here that could easily fit within the confines of Is This It? Lead single "Under Cover Of Darkness" swings for the back fence with trademark angular, squealing guitars and a typically wry Casablanca vocal:



"You're So Right," buzzes with menacing guitar lines that snake in and out of one another:



"Taken For A Fool" finds Casablanca's vocals hiccuping and choking over a tight back beat and melody:



Occasionally, the homages to the old sound backfire, making them almost sound like a Strokes cover band. "Gratisfaction," is pure paint by numbers Strokes and could have been cut or freshened up.



While I love the Strokes of old, I do admit I have a fondness for their more 80s new wave leaning side. Based on the tracks falling under that category, it appears the band has been listening to a lot of Cars, Men At Work, and The Police. Whether through adding reggae textures in "Machu Picchu,"



drum machines and tightly wound guitars in "Two Kinds Of Happiness,"



a rush of analog synths and beats to "Games,"



The Strokes play with their sound and move it forward. While I am sure there are a lot of fans who would be happy with them repeating themselves over and over, I respect the fact the band is as restless as they are. I would much rather have a band try something new and fail, then stick to the tried and true. Angles does have its fair share of issues. Some of the experiments sound like demos still. "Call Me Back," a delicate ballad featuring Casablanca's laconic vocal over gentle guitars and keyboards, starts interesting, then loses focus as the vocal reaches histrionic levels:



And final track "Life Is Simple In The Moonlight," has some lovely flanged guitar, but switches gears too many times within the song, becoming an almost generic 80s ripoff:



There are also moments when the performances seem phoned in, especially with some disconnection between vocals and backing tracks. The band has been very forthcoming about the problems inherent in the making of the album, and have alluded to the fact the band is not always on the best terms. Even their performance recently on SNL showed a band that, while still one of the tightest in the business, didn't really look comfortable with each other. Whether this was due to start of the tour kinks, or a more pressing problem of inner-band unity, remains to be seen. I am heading to Coachella in a couple of weeks and will be able to see them live. Hopefully, everything will be in full swing. The Strokes are too good to break up this early. Based on this wonderful record, evidence shows they have a lot left to give.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top albums of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.

Malachai: "Let 'Em Fall"

The Bristol based duo Malachai have been intriguing me lately. Merging the trip-hop atmospherics of their forbearers Massive Attack, Tricky, and Portishead (the band is championed by Geoff Barrow) with a myriad of other genres (hip-hop, prog rock, dub, Krautrock), Malachai creates their own unique sound. From their sophomore album Return To The Ugly Side, "Let 'Em Fall," is a dark, paranoid trip, with a perfectly suited video.

The Antlers: Burst Apart SXSW

Indie rockers The Antlers are set to release Burst Apart, the follow up to their brilliant album Hospice. As a preview, The Antlers played SXSW and played the new album in its entirety. NPR was there and is now streaming their set on their website.

The album will be released on May 10. Below is the track list:

Burst Apart:

01 I Don't Want Love
02 French Exit
03 Parentheses
04 No Widows
05 Rolled Together
06 Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out
07 Tiptoe
08 Hounds
09 Corsicana
10 Putting the Dog to Sleep

Review: Thom Yorke/Burial/Four Tet: "Ego" and "Mirror"

Burial/Thom Yorke/Four Tet
"Ego"
"Mirror"
Rating: Grrrr

I generally don't review singles. Not that it is a hard and fast rule, I am just more of an album person (yes, I am freely admitting to being a dinosaur in that regard) and it is hard for me to just take a song out of context of a larger picture and review it. It's just the way I grew up listening to music. In this case, however, it is a collaboration that I cannot pass up, mainly because it is doubtful they will ever get together for a full album.

This collaboration, while surprising, is not without precedent. Burial and Four Tet collaborated on a pair of tracks last year, and both have done remixes for Yorke and Radiohead. What's amazing about this collaboration is how each artist is distinctively there, yet melded perfectly into something unique.

Burial, Four Tet & Thom Yorke - Ego/Mirror 12" by Izvinitie

Side A track "Ego" is by far the more overtly Four Tet of the tracks, featuring a squeltchy, fat house beat and liquidy bassline. The touches of piano and xylophone still can't hide the sure hand of Burial, who provides washes of atmospheric synths and decayed vocal samples. Yorke's voice is hushed and sinister, propelled along by the driving beat. After Yorke fades out it is a perfect moment for Burial and Four Tet to amp things up, with the piano and vocal samples intertwining with each other.

Side AA "Mirror" is distinctly Burial, which has ghostly synth atmospherics edging over a shuffling, two-step beat. Yorke's voice is quite lovely here, haunting and forlorn. Four Tet adds touches of glitchy electronics that buzz in the background, creating a sense of tension underneath.

I can't speak to how these three worked together on these tracks, but from listening it sounds like both Burial and Four Tet came up with the basic idea for each of the tracks, then the other two came in and added their stamp. What is amazing is how instinctual and reverent they are together, none of them overtaking or upstaging the other. Each addition to a track feels effortless and needed. These collaborations are gorgeous and fit well in the catalogs of each artist. I can only hope they decide to put together a full album of music. It would likely be transcendent.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top albums of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been trimmed or polished.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.

Colin Stetson: "The Stars In His Head (Dark Lights Remix)"

I'm a bit obsessed with sexy, experimental jazz saxophonist Colin Stetson these days. This is the first, suitably moody, video clip for a song from his brilliant new album New History Warfare Vol. 2 Judges.

Siriusmo: "Nights Off" and "Bad Idea"

Coming soon will be my review of Siriusmo's album Mosaik. It is a genre-bending tour de force that breathlessly covers a variety of styles, putting his own inimitable stamp on each of them.

Here are two samples from the album:

"Nights Off" teeters between deep house, dance punk, and synth pop; building slowly and methodically into a gorgeous storm:



"Bad Idea" is hard hitting ghettotech: featuring skittering beats, deep wubz, and a sinister rap:



Prepare for my raves later.

Duran Duran: SXSW

Duran Duran launched their world tour in support of latest album All You Need Is Now at the SXSW Festival in Austin, TX. Based on their set list, they were not afraid to delve deep into their catalog. I am lucky to get to see them twice this year. In a couple of weeks, I see them in the 1000 capacity venue The Center Stage here in Atlanta, then a couple of weeks after I will see them at the huge Coachella Music Festival. I am really excited to see them again.

Here is a clip of them performing "Friends of Mine" from their debut self-titled cd.

Videos of the Week

Once again is a lovely Friday. Here is the roundup of the latest videos that are so good you could sop them up with a biscuit:



Electro-dubstep track from Boys Noize, one of the many DJs playing Coachella.

Thom Yorke Live DJ Set @ Low End Theory LA 3.9.11 from Theo Jemison on Vimeo.

High quality film clip of Thom Yorke's surprise DJ set at Low End Theory.



Loving this chillwave meets two-step track from enigmatic London producer Vondelpark.



Silly, fun track from Teddybears, featuring Robyn on vocals.



Fun dance punk act from Brazil. Looking forward to seeing them at Coachella.

Jamie Woon - "Lady Luck" from stereogum on Vimeo.

Second video and single from Jamie Woon's upcoming album mirrorwriting.



One of many amazing singles on the new Strokes cd, Angles.



Sneak peak of the new Justice single "Civilization," appearing in an Adidas ad.





Two amazing tracks from Burial, Thom Yorke, and Four Tet.







The first three singles from Alex Clare's debut cd, Too Close. Probably my most anticipated cd of this year, next to Jamie Woon.



My favorite song from Animal Collective.



Interesting charity collaboration from Chris Taylor, Solange Knowles and Twin Shadow.



I never expected to like Kurt Vile, but his new album is completely captivating.



Another hot DJ playing Coachella.



Best song off the disappointing new R.E.M. album. Great video though.



Amazing song from the Barcelona dance/rock collective.



Another wonderful house/dubstep producer playing Coachella, that I am really excited about seeing.



Great song from FaltyDL's second album. Love the vocal a lot.



Frank Ocean is a singer loosely associated with the Odd Future hip hop collective. His album can be a bit hit or miss, but when he hits, as on this track, it can be brilliant.

Bjork: Biophilia

Bjork has announced a series of summer concert dates in anticipation of the release of her new album Biophilia. Still no word on a release date or tracklist, but apparently the album is also a "multi-media project encompassing music, apps, internet, installations and live shows". Her live show is set to feature "a bespoke digitally-controlled pipe organ; a 30 foot pendulum that harnesses the earth's gravitational pull to create musical patterns-- creating a unique bridge between the ancient and the modern; a bespoke gamelan-celeste hybrid; and a one-off extraordinary pin barrel harp." Sounds perfectly Bjorkian.

Below is a track (rumored to be from the Biophilia sessions) that was appended to a new iPad app at the beginning of the year. Apparently Bjork's obsession with brass instrumentation has not ceased.

Thom Yorke: Low End Theory DJ Set

Last week, Thom Yorke played a surprise DJ set in LA at the Airliner club for the beat-obsessed Low End Theory night. Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder label has posted a clip of Yorke's set, featuring music from Burial and Madvillan. You can even spot Flying Lotus lurking in the background.

Thom Yorke Live DJ Set @ Low End Theory LA 3.9.11 from Theo Jemison on Vimeo.

Yorke really gets into the music, and shows his dance moves from the "Lotus Flower" video are not far from his normal moves.

Vondelpark: "Jetlag Blue Version 22"

Not much is known about Vondelpark aside from the fact he is a producer from London and has one EP (Sauna) on the R&S label. He doesn't even have a MySpace or Bandcamp page. He just creates his music and puts it out there. His sound is quite intriguing, marrying the more interesting chillwave/80s formalist bands (Memory Tapes, Twin Shadow, Wild Nothings) with garage and two-step beats. The EP is only 4 songs, but each one is riveting. I am specifically loving the track featured below:



I plan on reviewing the Sauna EP in the next couple of weeks, so be on the lookout for it.

Non-Sequiturs

Lately I have become obsessed with Colin Stetson's album New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges. It's a really complex album of experimental jazz, but hits all the right notes for me. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he is completely sexy.

And who is Michael Fassbinder? Apparently he is some up and coming British actor. But all I have to say is, damn!

I am not trying to be sexist, but I think women would do a lot better if they got rid of those damn, big ass purses. They are a mess, takes you hours to find something in them, and you hit everything and everyone with them as you go by.

Kurt and I just finished watching all of the Alien movies. I bought the 4 DVD Blu-Ray collection the other day. Unfortunately, the quality of the movies went down after the second one, but there are still things to recommend in each of the subsequent films. Kurt even got me watching the Alien v. Predator movie, which was surprisingly good.

I keep forgetting that my cat Ms. C ("Missy") is as old as she is. She is getting crankier and sleeps a lot more than she did before. But every once in awhile she'll show bursts of energy that are shockingly funny. I adopted her from a friend back in 2004 and she was guesstimated to be about 4 at the time. Because I have no idea what her actual age or birthdate is, I have given her May 25 as her birthday, as that was the day I adopted her.

Kurt's dog Tater is so cute. She's still basically a puppy, and has so much energy. She can spend hours running around the backyard digging holes, chasing squirrels and chipmunks, chewing sticks, and terrorizing her brother Nico. Of course, when she does crash out, she crashes out hard. The above pic is her right before she sacked out for a nap.

Lyrics Rattling Around My Head

"We got the righteous advice to use it
Got everything if you can just choose it
I won't just be a puppet on a string

Don't go that way
I'll wait for you"

The Strokes
"Under Cover Of Darkness"

"She was the heart in your heartbreak
She was the miss in your mistake
And no matter what you take,
you're never going to forget
She was the tear in a rainstorm
She was the promise that you would've sworn
And no matter what you say,
it's never gonna come back"

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
"Heart In Your Heartbreak"

"This trail that you're treading
Is one flicked switch awaiting many
The coils the echoes rattling
I hope the fears are buried beneath my love

My love
Love is the everchanging spectrum of a lie,
A lie to hide behind when nothings right
You take form with ink and blood
Can't you see I'm good

Nothing outside will care enough
Nothing outside of you"

The Joy Formidable
"The Everchanging Spectrum Of A Lie"

"Smoke ring for my halo
Human angel demon
Under as the maiden
Right under the moon over your house
Thought you could see it then

Sippin' from the sewer can
It's the size of my hand
Pacifies the land
Makes the most out of your jizzatown man
I feel like laying down
Yeah and I wanna do it again
Over the miss I kiss again"

Kurt Vile
"Smoke Ring For My Halo"

"We were epitomes of flesh and blood
We were luminescent
Half-aware and self-involved
We've lost our essence

Can't you see
We fell rain black from the stars above
When will we
Take an axe to the frozen seasons"

Young Galaxy
"The Angels Are Surely Weeping"

Appealing Things

Less than a month until Coachella
Biscoff spread
Vondelpark
Spring weather coming
Possibility of Sunday alcohol sales in GA

Annoying Things

Having to sit through an all-day CLE on E-Discovery
People with no manners, who never say thank you and expect you to be at their service
People who can't be quiet, ever; silence is golden sometimes, douche
Dealing with the accounting department at my firm

Teddybears featuring Robyn: "Cardiac Arrest"

Robyn helps out on vocals for the new Teddybears' song "Cardiac Arrest." It is a supremely silly song, but who cares? It's fun, and you get to sing stupid verses like "shake your bone maker." It's Robyn, she's the bomb, get over it.

Jamie Woon: "Lady Luck"

Jamie Woon, a dubstep influenced singer-songwriter, is set to release his debut album on 4/11, entitled mirrorwriting. The Burial-produced first single "Night Air" was one of my top singles of last year and whetted my appetite for the full album. The newest single is for "Lady Luck" and here is the video for it.

Jamie Woon - "Lady Luck" from stereogum on Vimeo.

In case you were interested in "Night Air," here is the video for it as well.

Justice: "Civilization"

Here is the new single "Civilization" from the upcoming album from Justice. It is featured in a new Adidas ad campaign. Sounds like vintage Justice.