Category Archives: MP3’s

Cut Copy – “Feel The Love”

Posted on by
4

Cut Copy’s newly released album, In Ghost Colours, may not be perfect, but it could be worse. At least there is one good song on the album. Which also happens to be the first track. That one track, “Feel The Love” is catchy and has been stuck in my head this past week. Now I know that sounds harsh, saying there is only ONE good song on the album out of 15 tracks (that’s 6.667 percent). But all I’m saying is that if the band was able to match the quality of their first track for the rest of the 14 songs, I would definitely be feelin the love for this album.

Check out “Feel The Love,” and if you like it, sample the rest of their music. I’m not that into Dance music in the first place, so maybe I’m way off on this one. They do seem to have great reviews on iTunes. As for me, I’ll be sticking with track number one.

Cut Copy is based out of Melbourne, Australia and includes band members Dan Whitford, Tim Hoey, and Mitchell Scott. The project was started by Whitford back in 2001, and the band is signed to Modular Recordings.

In Ghost Colours (2008):

Cut Copy – Feel The Love

Site| iTunes | Myspace

Song of the Day – 4/4/08

Posted on by
1

Quick one here.

 

The Flaming Lips are one of my favorite bands of all time. Last year’s Bonnaroo beheld one of the greatest concerts of my young life. The Flaming Lips and their philosophy have changed my life forever, undoubtedly.

I forgot to track down their song from the Good Luck Chuck soundtrack, so now that I have it, I gotta share it, right? The song, like so many of the Lips’ work is a triumphant and joyous piece about “the fucked-up days.” Do I really need to get pretentious on this one? Absolutely not. I love you all.

MP3: The Flaming Lips – “I Was Zapped By The Lucky Super Rainbow”

Check out the Good Luck Chuck OST, it’s pretty good:

Amazon | iTunes

In other Flaming Lips news, Christmas on Mars is finally finished! It’s premiering at Bonnaroo and Sasquatch, so if you have the time and the existential willpower, go and experience it in the context of another world. Hope to see you there! Here are some tracks from the movie, I hope you’re “surprised.”

MP3: The Flaming Lips – “Galactic Melancholy” from Christmas on Mars

MP3: The Flaming Lips – “Syritis Major” from Christmas on Mars

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub-5zlJPnjM[/youtube]

and here’s one of my favorites just because:

MP3: The Flaming Lips – “Enthusiasm for Life Defeats Existential Fear”

For now, all is right with the world.

New The Acorn Video is AMAZING

Posted on by
Reply

(Song [AND VIDEO] of the Day – 4/3/08)

Well, the saucy fuckshow that is Pitchfork Media did something nice for me yesterday. While I almost never agree with their record reviews, their news section is a great way to get into the more “industry side” of indie music. Sometimes they even share something of great merit and talent. The Acorn is such a creation.

I heard The Acorn in 2006. Their song “Dents” was just one of those inspired and honest tracks that drew me in. I really didn’t expect their next work to be a mammoth concept project.

If you know me, you know I drool over nasty motion graphics. An aspiring post-production artist, I always love to see someone work hard to make visually stunning companions to great music. It’s obvious a talented and energetic team really exerted themselves here. From what I hear they have done videos for Broken Social Scene and Modest Mouse… so there’s your cred right there.

Here’s “Dents” as well as some MP3’s from their latest album (Glory Hope Mountain). Throw those on your ipod for now. First, watch the video for “The Flood, Pt. 1”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2XREBNiDZE[/youtube]

MP3: The Acorn – “The Flood Pt. 1”
MP3: The Acorn – “Crooked Legs”
MP3: The Acorn – “Dents”

Home | Paper Bag Records | MySpace | Hype Machine

Support The Acorn: Paper Bag Records | iTunes | Amazon | eMusic | Insound

THE ACORN IS TOURING: hit the jump for dates and venues…

Continue reading →

New Song From Dosh

Posted on by

The image “http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/Doshpiano.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

I first heard about Dosh when I saw Andrew Bird live a few years ago. He was only playing drums and Rhodes, but he added so much more to Bird's music and I think really influenced Armchair Apocrypha in a positive way. I remember looking him up as soon as possible, because the new Andrew Bird songs that they played sounded amazingly awesome (Plasticities, Simple X [which I found out later to be a re-vamped Dosh song]). Dosh's solo work, though more electronic, is something worth checking out if you haven't already. His fourth album entitled “Wolves and Wishes” will be released 5-13-08. After you hear this song I hope you're as excited for the album as I am. The album will be featuring guest appearances by Andrew Bird, Will Oldham (Bonnie 'Prince Billy), and David King (drummer for the Bad Plus).

MP3: Dosh – If You Want To, You Have To

Bonus MP3!

MP3: Andrew Bird – Simple X

doshfamily.com | dosh @ anticon

zp8497586rq

Song of the Day – 4/2/08

Posted on by
5

This here is a one-man outfit. For me, making songs is like building houses. And I’m not very good with a hammer, and you might be able to tell if you’re a carpenter, but I’ll be goddamned if you can’t live in it when it’s done.

I’d like to begin by saying Black Bear is one of the most original and intellectual acts I’ve encountered in a long while. Like any other great album I’ve ever heard, this one slid almost divinely into my hands. I was immediately drawn into its electronic nature, irregular song structures and the use of an awesomely heavy and hollow bass drum, but I was hooked by the brilliant use of imagery.

Sam Beebe, the one man behind the magic, does for music what ekphrasis does for a painting. He can play the omniscient narrator or the close friend. Listening to Black Bear’s album, The Cinnamon Phase, is like secretly reading a stranger’s diary–it’s as if we were never meant to hear his thoughts.

The sonic component of this album is vast and varied. Sometimes the music is a blissful melody with Beebe singing in and out. Other times, like on “Like Venice” we are literally listening to a story, Beebe the speaker–prose the lyric. Please enjoy the album and I urge you to go out and find more about the man, whose mind is surely a rare one.

MP3: Black Bear – “I Believe in Immediacy”

 Here are some more:

MP3: Black Bear – “Like Venice”

MP3: Black Bear – “Black Bear”

 Home (Baskerville Hill Records) | MySpace | Hype Machine

Buy The Cinnamon Phase: Amazon | Baskerville Hill for $12!

Band of Horses Leave Sub Pop Records

Posted on by
9

 


Photo by Stephen Lindley

After two album releases under Sub Pop, Band of Horses have decided to part ways with the label. Over the past year, tensions have risen between the band’s lead singer, Ben Bridwell, and Sub Pop’s co-founder Jonathan Poneman, after Bridwell supposedly refused to shave his beard at Poneman’s request. In an exclusive interview with Pitchfork, Poneman goes into detail explaining the situation:

I was hoping that this could stay between me and Ben. He chose to make this public on the band’s blog, which has now forced me to address our differences. Basically, I needed Bridwell to shave, or at least trim, his out of control beard. I love the music the guys produce, but I am also a businessman. I like money. It’s clear that sales are directly proportional to the length of his beard. People like clean shaven now. Just read GQ, 70% of females like men with a smooth face. That means that if Bridwell shaved, we could increase sales by 70%. Besides, he doesn’t even wash the thing. There is literally a plant growing out of his beard (figure 2). I think my request was reasonable. He looks like a monkey.

Bridwell vented about his quarrel with Poneman on the Band of Horses music blog. Here is an excerpt:

“I’m a fuckin’ musician, you know? I’m not the only musician with a beard. Get a grip JP. People dig my beard.”

(figure 2)

Things between the two got ugly at a show Bridwell performed in San Diego July 6, 2007. Rosemary, an avid fan and good friend of Band of Horses recalls, “yeah, that’s right, I was standing next to Jon Poneman at the show. At Ben’s request, I filmed the band playing “The Funeral,” and before I knew it, he was flicking Poneman off. I glanced over at Poneman, and out of nowhere he was holding up a big pair of sheers with an evil look in his eyes. You know, one of those sheers you see business owners use to cut the ribbon outside their store on opening day. I thought it was a joke between the two. It still gives me the heebie jeebies.”

[quicktime width=”320″ height=”240″]http://indiemuse.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/get_video.mpg[/quicktime]

Video shows Bridwell flipping the bird

A credible source tells us Band of Horses is in negotiations with Barsuk Records.

Cease To Begin (2007):

Band of Horses – Ode to lrc

Band of Horses – Detlef Schrempf

Everything All The Time(2006):

Band of Horses: The Funeral

Band of Horses: Wicked Gil

Bonus:

Band of Horses: Wicked Gil (live on the interned)

Site| Tour|Store|Myspace

The New Amerykah…

Posted on by
Reply

(Song of the Day – 3/28/08)

I was hangin with a friend of mine the other day when he mentioned the new Erykah Badu album (New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War). I realized that I completely forgot. Actually, I’m about a month off…

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, can let her soul out onto a recording like Badu. Her raw and unfiltered inner voice is shared with every listener creating an intimate, soulful and real connections.
Badu, while definitely holding her place within the music community has released an extremely strong set of albums that have been, in my opinion, grossly overrated over the past 10 years. Since Baduizm, her power as a poet and musician has grown. Badu exudes powerful feminine energy and continues to be a symbol of the strength of her community, be it women, black or simply a child of this world. Listening to her music does not make me feel better as a critic, but rather, it brings me to the level… and the connection is real.

For her latest masterwork, Badu strays away from the live soul setup to favor a studio approach, bringing in a wide variety of talented producers from across the spectrum. Personal favorites like Madlib, 9th Wonder and ?uestlove are joined by trip-masters Sa-Ra to create what is both real and other-worldly all at once. Dealing with “the issues”with such grace and integrity, Badu has it all contained. Never afraid to be progressive, Erykah Badu brings it once again. Syncopation and downtempo grooves flood the deep and layered tracks in such a way that many have been turned off by its esoteric nature, but the more time you spend with it, the more interesting it becomes.

MP3: Erykah Badu – “The Cell”

MP3: Erykah Badu – “The Healer/Hip-Hop”

MP3: Erykah Badu – “Soldier”

ErykahBadu.com | MySpace | HypeMachine

Pick up New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War: BandWear | iTunes | Amazon | Insound

After listening to the album I was truly hooked on her feel, her sound and her attitude once again. Then a friend of mine turned me on to her latest VH1 SoulStage performance I was totally in love. If you can treat yourself to one music-related activity today, hang out with this show. Back again in the live situation Badu explains that recording is “perfecting a moment” while live “is creating a moment.” You can feel the energy and the group is soooo tight that they shift tempo and structure on the fly, all in stride. It is one of the best performances I’ve seen online and makes me want to do whatever it takes so see her live. Please, PLEASE check it out. It is nothing short of beautiful.

If Erykah Badu is proof of anything, it is the power of real, honest music. Enjoy.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=3hyDxwJB-4M[/youtube]

Check out the rest of the set HERE.

She is, without a doubt, one of the strongest, sexiest women alive… fake fro and all.

Jim Ward- Quiet

Posted on by
3

 

Now that Sparta is on hiatus, I guess the only thing Jim Ward could do was write a solo acoustic EP. In case you’re unfamiliar with him, Jim Ward (nope, no relation to M. Ward) was the singer/guitarist for both Sparta and At The Drive-In. Though Sparta’s music was more rooted alternative rock and post-hardcore, Ward’s solo EP Quiet is full of simplistic, folk-based acoustic pop songs, a la fellow post-hardcore frontman-turned-acoustic artist Dustin Kensrue. I am personally a huge fan of Ward’s voice in Sparta and his emotional croons work just as well over acoustic. Check out the tracks and pick up Quiet if you have a chance.

 

mp3: “Coastlines”

mp3: “Mystery Talks”

 

Myspace | iTunes | Amazon

Stream the New R.E.M. Album “Accelerate”

Posted on by
Reply

The image “http://blog.ugo.com/images/uploads/rem_wideweb__430x325.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Hey everyone, you can steam the new R.E.M. album on iLike.com. R.E.M. were an important band for me in my discovery of music. I remember listening to Automatic for the People and Out of Time over and over again during middle school. It wasn’t until recently that I decided to listen more deeply into their other albums and although I haven’t listened to their album before Accelerate, I really enjoy this new albu; it’s definitely rockin’.

I don’t know how much longer it will be available to stream, so hurry up and listen.

Song of the Day – 3/21/08

Posted on by
1

WORD: “Hi this is Carl from Arrah and the Ferns. Thanks for the kind words, i’m glad you liked it. I just wanted to let you and everyone know that, sadly, we just broke up and will not be releasing a sophopmore album. We’re all continuing to make music in various other projects. Check out our myspace blogs for more info.thanks again, it means a lot
carl.”

Looking at upcoming releases this year, I realized that the sophomore album by Muncie, Indiana’s own Arrah & the Ferns would be dropping in just two months. It was good reason to get their 2006 debut, Evan is a Vegan, back out and give it a listen. I forgot how happy this is.

Arrah & the Ferns enjoyed limited commercial success afterwards, but maintained a satisfying impact on the music community with their upbeat indie-pop. Co-Lead singer Arrah Fisher’s voice is exactly that sound whose sonic structure makes the corners of your lips curl and injects a bit of sunshine in yr step.

The sound of a Rhodes is the perfect accompaniment to Fisher’s poetic lyrics as well as the swelling mandolins and guitars that bring the folk element cleanly into the mix. Not to be understated, Arrah and the Ferns are more than just a pop group. Pay attention to the subtleties and be rewarded. On the whole, Evan is a Vegan is not the contemplative, philosophical breakthrough that the world needs to hear, but its optimism, energy and wonder make it the perfect album to fill that “Boner Jamz 08: Happy Sunshine Rainbows” mixtape you want to give to your cute quazi-indie hipster girlcrush who works at that one coffee shop…

I loved Evan is a Vegan and can’t wait for May 2008’s All The Bad In One Place.

MP3: Arrah and the Ferns – “Science Books”

Home | MySpace | Hype Machine | Standard Recording Company (Audio, Media, Press)

Support Arrah and the Ferns: iTunes | Amazon | Standard Recording Company | eMusic

 

MP3: Arrah and the Ferns – “Bernadette”

MP3: Arrah and the Ferns – “Emo Phillips”

Here’s a video of em on Letterman:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaYRKH-4cig[/youtube]