MOG - Augusts1's Posts

Heavy Metal Machine For Dar

Augusts1 — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:14:43 GMT

Loaded this up for Dar to hear since it wouldn't load on her comments here.

This Damn Internet Is Truly An Amazing Thang! Or ISENIH #36

Augusts1 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:29:29 GMT

I LOVE me some internet! I've been on a major Chapterhouse bender due to a contact on another site who offered up a double out of print "best of" album called "Rownderbowt"(Released in '96) from these early '90s shoegaze pop rockers. I'm in shoegeezer HEAVEN!

And thanks to Dale, I didn't even know about this best of compilation until we had a conversation last fall on the dark side about Chapterhouse and he mentioned it. I then spent some time trying to see if it was available for purchase on the internet, which it was not. Very frustrating.

"Rownderbowt" Cover Art:

So it was with great excitement that I discovered my contact had it! And I am so grateful! This comp has rareties, unreleased demos and songs previously only available on cd singles. The red button song is a great surprise since it's a cover of a Spaceman 3 song, who they were apparently closely associated with back in the day. For those of you who aren't aware, Spaceman 3 had Jason Pierce as one it's members, who is now Spiritualized. And I posted a review of their new album just last week. Trippy huh?

Here's a live vid of them performing "She's A Vision" off their 2nd album "Blood Music"(no info. on Youtube as to what show or venue this was from, sorry):

"Songs In A & E" Bring Spiritualized Back From The Dead

Augusts1 — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:58:30 GMT

Jason Pierce is maddening. His live performance at the Coachella Festival last April was underwhelming. Immobile other than strumming an acoustic guitar, sitting sideways to the audience whilst barely acknowledging them and wearing mirrored sunglasses, you could say Pierce was the antithesis of enthusiasm and energy. I've been a fan from the time I bought his "Royal Albert Hall October 10, 1997" album in '98 but had not seen Spiritualized live until Coachella. So I expected a passionate performance, since his recordings are passionate and emotional. Sure, Pierce has always been a master at downtempo, psychedelia-tinged songs, but one would think he’d put more effort into his live performance. Fortunately his songwriting comes across far stronger on Spiritualized’s sixth studio album Songs in A & E. It’s been five years since the last Spiritualized album, but it was worth the wait. This new album is amazing.

The sound of Songs in A & E is more folk and gospel than his previous recordings. It’s also not as thoroughly produced. Last fall, Pierce told the NME the album was "the work of the Devil...with a little guidance from me." Devil or not, he’s been inspired by a near-death experience of a few years ago. Jason had a bout of pneumonia that came close to killing him — twice, in fact, by his report. So it’s not surprising that the former Spaceman 3 member focuses on death, dying, fire and spirituality on the album.

But this is not a morose work. There are gorgeously orchestrated songs throughout, such as the slow- building album opener "Sweet Talk." It begins with the ring of a church bell, a choir "ooh"ing passionately, a bouncing electric bass and a sweetly playing violin. "Well, you sweet talk like an angel," Pierce sings, his voice an aching croon. "You‘re driving us blind. But don’t you sweet talk like an angel tonight." Soon brassy trumpets join in, as well as insistent drums and melodic piano in the background. All of this is gradually built upon with more brass and more strings. Pierce’s singing gets increasingly passionate as the song crescendos to an eventual climax and then slowly subsides. One might imagine this song being sung in a church, with Pierce as the high priest of cool.
"Death Take Your Fiddle" shows off Pierce’s preoccupation with death and dying. He sings about wanting Death to play him a song like the one he heard when he was close to dying. The song is very intimate. The simple, bluesy electric guitar is played in a way that it almost sounds like an acoustic guitar. A shimmering, ghostlike synthesizer hovers in the background with claustrophobic, rhythmically-timed deep breaths. Pierce’s craggy voice meanders into this deathly mix. It’s a fascinating song. "Borrowed Your Gun" is also about death: "Daddy, I’m sorry, I borrowed your gun, I shot up your family and a shot for the city." Another choir accompanies Pierce in hushed singing, hesitant, druggy drumming, intense violins and a mellotron. It’s a rather shocking song despite its intimate sound, due of course to those lyrics.

There are three songs on the album that use the word "fire" in their titles: "I Gotta Fire," "Soul On Fire" and "Sitting On Fire," which are also grouped together on the album. The indication here is that the "fire" represents a passion for life or a newfound spirituality. "I Gotta Fire" is actually an uptempo rocker you could dance to if you were so inclined. There’s some lively psychedelic electric guitar along with quickly strummed acoustic guitar, hyperactively tapped drumstick-on-drum-rim alternating with snare and bashing cymbals. "Soul On Fire," with its gospel flavor, was the first song released as a single. It’s a good song but obviously the most "commercial" sounding and not nearly as compelling as the others.

"Soul On Fire" Live at Gagarin, Athens, Greece 5/23/08(a month after Coachella & a far better performance):

A favorite is "You Lie You Cheat," a huge, raging rocker of a song with its ragged, psychedelic, squealing electric guitar, pummeling drums, ‘60s-style Hammond organ and Jason’s on-the-verge-of-screaming, fuzzily-distorted vocals. It’s a pretty intense song, and unusual in the Spiritualized songbook for its close-to-lunacy sound.
One drawback to the album are the snippets of instrumentals labeled as "Harmony" 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. These seem rather unnecessary strewn between the main songs. They obviously help to create an atmosphere, but I think they tend to get in the way of the flow of the songs. But after listening repeatedly, I find they tend to melt into the background, so it’s really a minor quibble.
Songs in A & E is a major comeback for Spiritualized, and with this album Jason Pierce proves that his near-death experience only aided the depth of his music. No matter how maddening he may be as an artist in his live performance, on this album, he is able to captivate our minds in fascinating lyrics and recorded song.

Guess I'm Seeing Mogwai After All . . . .

Augusts1 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:06:02 GMT

I was on Ticketmaster checking out the cost of tix for various bands in San Francisco. I had heard Mogwai puts on an amazing show and saw they're going to be here in the bay area 9/08/08. Tickets were pretty reasonable at $22.50.

So I'm going through the process online to find out the total end cost with all those damn fees cause I like to know what the bottom line will be. I was wavering on the purchase since I don't even have a Mogwai album & the total was over $35.00. Totally ridiculous isn't it?

I had then decided not to buy a ticket and when I went to hit the "Cancel" button I accidentally hit the "Order" button. Fuck it all! This is the first time I've ever done that. Have you ever had this scenario happen to you?

So I guess I'm going to see Mogwai in a few months, goddamnit!

"Glasgow Mega-Snake" live at Shinkiba Studio Coast

Annie Don't Wear No Pannies!(A Dedication To Annieander)

Augusts1 — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:24:59 GMT

The vid/song at the bottom of this post is no reflection on my dearest Annieander, I had just told her about this song & finally found a vid.

I've been on a major Erykah kick(is that any different than usual August? you say) since I didn't get to see Erykah live in Oakland. It's been intensified because I was all ready to see her & it didn't happen. The short version is: I had earned tickets to see her by doing marketing for her on the web. But someone or something in their system slipped up so my tickets weren't there at will call like I was told. Talk about disheartening. Sigh . . . .

But let me tell you, they found out about their fuck up, cause I emailed them that same night I got home. So, apologies have been issued & they're sending me an autographed poster/cd & two t-shirts. They also put me on the guest list for Erykah's Las Vegas show but I ended up not going since airfare was just too expensive. There was one other member of her website that this happened too as well at the Redmond, WA show & we both have been raising hell till they rectified the situation. Power to the people!!!!!!

Ok, I had to post this video since there is no recorded cd version of it & I just found it. Erykah just does this one live. I saw her perform it when I saw her last year at Harmony Festival. It's a hilarious song about a naughty woman flirting with a preacher in church!

"Annie" live on VH1's Soulstage program:

I'm Doin' Ma Real Thang

Augusts1 — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:36:19 GMT

I'm on a roll tonight. Not sure what's got into me. Guess the music is just inspiring me to post. Here's an unreleased song by Erykah that more than likely will be on her next album, which may or may not be out before the year is out. I hope the cd will be out soon.

Anyway, check out this video for the remix by DJ Tha 4Orce, it's da shit:

You can hear the original song here if you so desire.

Chico Gets His Marvin On Too

Augusts1 — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:25:13 GMT

I'm getting my soul groove on today. Just posted another song from the same album here and prompted by SerenityLife's post.

The youngest DeBarge does a Marvin Gaye cover on this comp. too, so just had to post it. Hit the red button.

Here's a vid of a different song of Chico's just as a point of reference since it's been awhile since he's put out anything. The song is called "Home Alone" and the vid is quite sexy. I think he has some sexual healing on his mind too, hehe.

Posted this album over on the dark side.

El DeBarge Gets "Sexual Healing"

Augusts1 — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:11:26 GMT

More 'Jacopetti effect' going on. This post was prompted from a discussion on SerenityLife's post about the DeBarge mother's autobiography.

Here's a funkier version of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" from a '99 compilation called "Marvin Is 60: The Tribute Album". El Debarge sings it. The red button is the album version and below is a live version(even though it's saying it's not available press the play button & it will play):

Such an incredibly pure voice!

No info on Youtube about this live concert version as to when, venue, location, etc. unfortunately.

For Annieander, Talk Show Host

Augusts1 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:41:04 GMT

This post was inspired by Annieander's post. One of my fave Radiohead songs. Oh & the movie ain't half bad either!

Surf City

Augusts1 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:48:10 GMT

3:01

The Phantom Jets at Hotel Utah Saloon:

The awesome Annieander already posted about The Phantom Jets & our mini mog meet at the deliciously divey Hotel Utah Saloon on Sunday afternoon 6/8/08 in San Francisco but here's my version!

If you have any wonder as to how great Annie is just ask me, she & her hubby Stewart are some fun, cool & very sweet folks. We instantly hit it off, which seems to be a theme when Moggers meet in real life. Some of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. But we weren't here to just meet each other, oh no(although that would've been fine by itself)! Mogger Sarah(Shud33 making her San Francisco debut with her band members the incredible The Phantom Jets, which I'd been waiting to see for forever.

"I See The Light" & "Journey To The Stars/Diamondhead" Live at Old Ironsides in Sacramento 3/21/08:

Out of the 3 bands I saw that afternoon, all surf guitar oriented bands, The Phantom Jets easily blew the others away(and I'm not just saying that cause I know them)! The lovely Sarah(who's truly beautiful in real life, don't let her photos fool you, they don't do her justice)plays a mean keyboard in the band & is the lone female. Ted is the lead guitar player, singer & songwriter. Brian is the great bassist and John is the energetic drummer. According to Sarah they make her dress up all girlie girl to get some sex appeal going for the band(since she's apparently a tomboy, but from how she was dressed I'd never guess it).

Sarah being girlie girl playing her organ:

It was a fun show and Ted wowed us with his amazing magic fingers on his guitar. The guy is incredibly fast and blew my mind watching him play, his fingers just FLEW over the fretboard. Sarah was intensely serious on stage, all focus and concentration, which really paid off since her playing sounded great.

Sarah came & hung out with us for awhile after the band stopped playing and she was so nice, just like most moggers are. We all had a great time chatting, then Annie & Stewart had to jet(get it? Jet off from seeing The Phantom Jets, heh)to get back to their son. So Sarah & I had a great time chatting. And Sarah gave me two of the bands eps on cd as well as a groovy Jets button & sticker. So not only did I get to see them play live I got their music free as well as some swag. SCORE! I'll post it over on the dark side for everyone.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=98504745&MyToken=c632e6ca-5c61-4beb-8234-b07d65b53638

Polychords Or How I Fell In Love With Matmos All Over Again

Augusts1 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:04:57 GMT

3:47 mins.

Just picked up the new Matmos "Supreme Balloon" yesterday and it is oh so great. "Polychords" is one of my faves so far but truly digging the whole cd. This song really jumps. Love it. Here's a fan vid someone made for it on youtube & it's quite appropo since the song sounds like Nintendo game music:

The songs are surprisingly short except for the over 24 minute title track opus which reminds me alot of The Orb(an excellent comparison in my book).

I also like "Mr. Mouth"(hit the red button) which is pretty damn funky. Good stuff, good stuff!

Erykah Badu's Fan Club

Augusts1 — Sun, 25 May 2008 01:56:35 GMT

This is a really cool fan club site that I'm a member of which is rare for me, since I don't usually join fan sites. This one is unique in that you can earn points for helping promote your favorite artist(if they are part of this site)& eventually get cool artist related swag.

It's pretty low key & you can choose how much you want to do. It's also really cool to meet other fans too. A great concept of employing word of mouth, superfans & the power of the web to promote an artist. A wise move on Erykah's part! Check out the site by clicking on Erykah's pic above.

Drink Up The Black & White Years' Self Titled Debut

Augusts1 — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:23:30 GMT

Is there something in the water in Austin, Texas? It’s one of those epicenters of uber-coolness that just exudes talented artists. The latest Austin quartet worth your attention is the Black & White Years, a band that at times weds an upbeat synth-pop sound to heavy lyrics about serious life issues.

Although they formed in ’06, the Black & White Years didn’t release their self-titled debut album until February of this year. Lead singer & keyboardist Scott Butler heads up the four piece that also includes drummer Billy Potts, bassist & brass player John Aldridge guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Landon Thompson. (Actually, during the recording of the album, Potts wasn’t yet a member, so Steve Ferrone of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers played drums.)

Scott writes the lyrics and songs while all four create the group’s ’70s & ’80s inspired sounds. At first listen the music seems pretty straightforward synthesizer-based pop rock. But on subsequent listens, one discovers layers of sound that aren't immediately apparent. This could be due in part to the influence of producer Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads fame.

The catchy “Power of Change” is an example of the intricate soundscapes the group creates. The song begins with a hyperactive bass drum beat as well as a distantly echoing and indistinct vocal which you don’t realize is there until subsequent listens. The vibrant, quickly-bouncing reggae-tinged guitar kicks in while the punchy bassline just flat out jumps about with glee. A short clipped drumbeat & insistent hi-hat join in joyfully. As all the aforementioned is going on, a fuzzy, reverb-soaked synthesizer makes you feel like you just entered the stratosphere on a rocketship that is doing laps around the universe — all this before Mr. Butler starts his aching, gruff and warbly vocal. It’s a deceptively complex song that gradually builds with kinetic energy to an explosive climax. You won’t be able to keep your body from involuntarily moving, guaranteed. Yet the lyrics have a depth that belies the energy, since the song talks about the need to change from our usual destructive human behaviors.

“Hysterical Sickness”(hit the red button at the top) is another highlight, with its pulsing punk surf guitar, pounding tribal drums and Butler’s hysterical vocal yelps and contortions, which remind me of Cars-era Ric Ocasek. The keyboards provide a haunting background atmosphere and the bass guitar pogos its way through with staccato bursts. The high-energy music contrasts with the lyric which speaks of the the process of dealing with a life threatening illness. It throws you when you realize this song is about a far-from-happy topic, just adding to the layers: “Morning. It all hurts again. something cancerous is growing. I tell myself it's just my imagination. Illness is my interstate. I feel it driving me to ruin. I tell myself it's not an indication. Hysterical sickness. My creative affliction.”

Then there is “Lighten Up the Letters,” reminiscent of early Heads circa their Talking Heads:'77 album with it's bright, janglyguitars and eerily cheery vocal harmonies. The keyboards sound like wind moving through a cave. Vocally, Butler channels his inner ‘80s Gary Numan yet with his own unique spin. Again, the brightness of the music is tarnished only by the lyric about a young man commiting suicide and the tragedy of human loss. “Were a sick, sick boy with a cough of coal and tar. Bloodshot eyes see stars that aren't thar [sic]. Pockmarked face and features angular, took a gun from the drawer and said a prayer. Someone screamed when the sickly sight was seen.” It’s an intense song made more so by this juxtaposition.

Most of the songs on this album are musically upbeat & danceable. Only two songs, “My Broken Hand” and “A Dense History,” defy the rest with slower, mid tempo paces. But even these pick up about halfway through so the album doesn’t lull.

If there is something in the Austin water, these boys have drunk it. They are definitely a band to watch as they grow as artists and have already acquired a devoted following. Their debut album is a complexly layered ode to ‘70s and ‘80s synth-dance-rock that beckons you to join them. Drink it up.

http://mog.com/The_Black_and_White_Years

http://www.theblackandwhiteyears.com/

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=18285814

The Breeders & Fatboy At Coachella

Augusts1 — Sat, 10 May 2008 03:03:09 GMT

Wow, I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since the start of Coachella. I was planning to do separate posts about the other great performances I felt were worthy to mention(& hadn't been mentioned much by others of the Coachella crew w/me) but decided to incorporate them into two posts. You're probably sick of hearing about it by now,oh well,too bad, heh.

First up, The Breeders were incredibly fun & down to earth Fri. afternoon. The onstage chemistry between Kim & Kelly was hilarious. And they rocked pretty damn hard as well despite sound problems. This clip of new song "Overglazed" shows the false start they had since they were off but it was too funny & just added to their charm(note Kelly's comment at the end of the song too "I didn't think that song would ever f'n end" & Kim repeats the last phrase of the song just to spite her!):

Fatboy Slim put on an amazing set in the Sahara tent Fri. night. It got me a movin' and a groovin'. I couldn't see him at first from my viewpoint just outside the left side of the stage/tent but I gradually worked my way in to where I had a decent view. Fatboy was surprisingly animated as DJ's go. He was moving around on the stage, dancing at points & generally engaging the crowd to clap, dance, etc. His light show was pretty impressive too. Check out this clip that samples various songs throughout the set(it's a long clip but you can fast forward through it too):

Hot Chip Burns Down The SaharaTent At Coachella

Augusts1 — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:49:25 GMT

While everyone else was Deathcabbing I made a point to get my ass on over to the Sahara tent for what was in my estimation an absolute must band to see. I've only recently gotten into Hot Chip since I heard their new album. Even though I had heard/seen vids of theirs before, something about "Made In The Dark" clicked for me(may have something to do with the accessiblity of the new album leak several months ago, hehe).

Anyway, securing a spot outside the tent I laid down to rest for a bit in the shade since it was so f'ing hot(over 100 degrees, although I heard it had gotten up to 107, yikes!). Anyway, I watched all the uber hipster kids mingling about . Soon Hot Chip started up & before I knew it I had to get up after several songs of theirs because they were MOVING me to do so. Damn if those boys weren't rocking the tent. I then ventured inside & was forced to dance against my will, haha!(Not like it's too hard to get me to do so in the first place @;))

Here's "Shake A Fist" at Coachella:

At some point towards the end of their set they incorporated a New Order song into one of their songs. I can't recall either song at the moment but I recognized the NO song immediately but couldn't place the title. Damn my memory fails me at the most inopportune times. it was so cool though since Hot Chip is obviously inspired by NO, who is one of my fave bands too. So glad I saw these guys. They ROCKED!

"Over And Over" at Coachella:

http://www.hotchip.co.uk/site/

Goldfrapp Kills It At Coachella

Augusts1 — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:13:43 GMT

So I guess the new catch phrase is 'Kill It". So I'm easy, I'll use it, even if I'm not hip like all the cool kids. So what. And Goldfrapp so did kill it Friday evening!

While most of the Mogtipliers were catching The National(who I just haven't been able to get into) I, of course, had to, I mean HAD TO, see my beloved Goldfrapp. All you Nationalists missed out for sure haha! Alison & crew put on an amazing set and I was so in heaven.

There were plenty of sublime musical moments in their set but for me, by far, was when Alison was hitting the high notes on "Utopia". Check out this vid(not the best quality but it's one of the better ones on youtube):

Goldfrapp performed four songs from their new album 'Seventh Tree' such as Caravan Girl, Little Bird, A&E & Happiness. They also performed Satin Chic, Ooh La La, Strict Machine, You Never Know & #1. That was quite a few songs for the 40-45 minute set(since they came on late, no surprise for a diva like Alison). I was singing along and moving to even the slow songs. I was into it! I LOVE me some Goldfrapp!

Alison was bitching about not being able to hear herself in the monitors, so she was in a tizzy but honestly, I couldn't tell. She was still amazing, even with the tech problems. So glad I was able to see them. And I hadn't even known they were going to be there when I bought my ticket since they were one of the 'bonus' acts they announced a few months later.

Here's a short clip(44 secs.) of Little Bird:

http://www.goldfrapp.co.uk/

Prince Is A Creep!

Augusts1 — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:01:38 GMT

Saturday night at Coachella Festival after stellar sets by Kraftwerk & Portishead, the Purple Man himself performed. He did many of his hits like 'Controversy', 'I Feel For You', 'Seven', 'Purple Rain', 'Cream', 'Little Red Corvette' among many others that were mindblowingly great.

He also did a few cover versions too. He did Sarah McLaughlin's beautiful song "Angel" but his cover of the Radiohead classic 'Creep' was transcendent. It took me a minute to realize what song it was since I was so surprised by the choice. But it's really an incredible version. Check it out here:

(beware, the sound quality isn't the best but this one was the better of the vids posted on youtube)

So many great bands & live performances & then Prince on top of everything else. The man owned that stage & the crowd! He has such a commanding presence, you can't help but pay attention. And with all the hits he's put out, he's become such a major part of the pop culture landscape. He's been making music since the late '70s which is amazing. I never thought I'd get to see Prince either, just cause tickets are so ridiculously priced for big names these days(and I refuse to pay those prices for a single artist).

This was just one of the many surprises over a wonderful music packed weekend. More to come, so stay tuned kiddies!

Portishead Get An Industrial Edge With "Third"

Augusts1 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:30:49 GMT

Portishead have succeeded! When you thought they couldn’t become any more dour than they were on their two previous albums, along comes their comeback, Third. It seems they have been listening to Nine Inch Nails and industrial rock which shows up as a harder edge in their new songs. But there is no question: this album is truly great.

Portishead — multi-instrumentalist/producer Geoff Barrow, singer/writer Beth Gibbons and guitarist Adrian Utley — hit the scene back in 1994 with their debut “Dummy.” The single “Sour Times (Nobody Loves Me)” became a huge success worldwide. They were considered a major part of the electronic trip-hop genre which infused beats from hip-hop music along with down-tempo electronica. The scene was based primarily in the town of Bristol, England where Portishead formed. They took three years to release their second album, Portishead, which built upon their unique sound. Surprisingly, because Portishead doesn’t like to perform live, they came out with an amazing live concert video in 1998 called PNYC which featured the band with a full orchestra and a subsequent companion live CD later that year. Then there was a long ten-year silence, with nothing new from the band.

For the most part, Third doesn’t resemble their previous releases. Almost gone is the warmth of the hip-hop beats that made their previous songs so inviting. The uniting factor here is Beth Gibbons’ voice and her dark lyrics. The single “Machine Gun” is a stark assault of rat-a-tat drum machine beats and icy cold minor chords, played on synthesizers. There is no guitar at all, no bass. The only thing that takes the chill off the industrial sound is Ms. Gibbons sad yet lithe lounge-singer crooning, and that doesn’t relieve the dark palette. Her lyrics only add to the mood: “If only I could see, return myself to me and recognize the poison in my heart. There is no other place, no one else I face. The remedy, you will agree I’ll hide from you.” It all compellingly pulls you into the song.

"We Carry On" Live at ATP '07:

“We Carry On” is another driving “industrial strength” track. It starts with a single, rapidly pulsing keyboard note. The booming bass drum kicks in sounding like it’s in a vast cavern, joined by a tapping high hat and then a repetitive, retro Doors-style organ riff. Gibbons bursts into the song with her echoing, tortured soprano that repeats only a few notes up or down throughout. This one includes guitar, although it is quite discordant as it shrieks its initial presence with dreary chiming. Fortunately it warms up some with fiery yet haunted surf guitar as the song progresses.

“Silence” starts the album off with a sample of a man speaking in Portuguese which gives way to a solitary piano chord, then pummeling, syncopated drums with a steady snare beat, and a deeply vibrating, almost fuzzy bass. The guitar kicks in with its simple, one-note, squealing guitar lick. The synthesized strings sweep in, lending a grander sound to the song. Beth begins her echoing and mournful singing at the 2:12 mark. It’s mesmerizing.

Besides the harder edged songs there are some beautiful moments too. “Hunter,” “The Rip” and “Threads” are all slower paced “ballads” showcasing Beth’s gorgeous, soaring vocalizations. Both “Hunter” and “Threads” begin with sparse jazzy arrangements of guitar, drums & keyboards. But even these have some intermittent, dissonant and menacing guitar and synthesizer.

The song “Magic Doors” is probably the closest sounding to the previous incarnation of Portishead’s music. It has a funky, syncopated hip-hop snare, echoed cowbell and crashing cymbals. A huge, booming bassline accompanies them along with wheezing accordion. Gibbons intones, in her warbly style, “I can’t deny what I’ve become, I’m just emotionally undone, I can’t deny, I can’t with someone else.” About three-quarters through the song, a tortured, distorted oboe screeches out a solo. And even with that the song is the most danceable on the album.

The only minor misstep is the flapper-era-style ukulele and voice number “Deep Water.” It’s simply so different from anything they’ve done before and from everything else here. Maybe it’s just the placement between the two most industrial-oriented songs on the album that causes it to seem out of place. Still, the more I’ve listened to “Deep Water,” the more endearing it has become.

Surely, some fans may very well be put off by Portishead’s new direction. It certainly isn’t for everyone and I highly doubt most will be playing it for “pleasant” background music. I wonder if Portishead had as their goal to successfully be more dour than before. It is a fascinating direction nonetheless, one in which they let us know they aren’t willing to sit back on their trip-hop laurels and bask in their iconic status. Portishead have come back aggressively and are pushing the boundaries of what the trip-hop genre is about. And I am grateful they have done so.

http://www.portishead.co.uk/

For Clinic, "Do It!" Is Business As Unusual On Their New Release

Augusts1 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:08:39 GMT

One could say that Clinic’s new album, Do It, has all been done before — by the band themselves, in fact. But that’s not a bad thing. This is not to say that it is a predictable recording either. It is frenetic, curious, offbeat and full of big rock riffs. The band has honed their chops to a point where they really come across even more lucid than before, despite their somewhat unhinged approach.

The quirky “fab four” from Liverpool, England have released four previous albums beginning with their Internal Wrangler in 2000. One would think that after five albums, their style would get dull. But to be honest, Clinic sound like no other band on the planet. Much of this is due to their penchant for vintage instruments like their trademark use of a Philips Philicorda organ combined with unusual “off” chord progressions. So for them to release an album that is a “typical” Clinic album is really still saying quite a bit.

The album begins with “Memories,” a big, brash, loud-quiet-loud romp that would make Pixies proud. The guitars start in with a huge thrashing march, along with gigantic pounding drums, beating tambourine & pulsing maracas as Ad Blackburn yells “HUH“ repeatedly; then the song segues into pulsing organ & snake-rattle synth as Blackburn sings with his trademark lisp. It’s a fun song that makes you want to beat the hell out of some inanimate object or at least get up and jump about the room in wild abandon.

“The Witch” was the obvious pick for the lead single with its catchy, twitchy staccato surf guitar, along with a punchy bassline, some plinked keyboards, and snappy snare. It’s quite similar to “The Return Of Evil Bill” off their debut without being a retread.

"The Witch":

The punkabilly hoedown “Shopping Bag” is one of my favorites. It has the most unique freakout of clarinet spasms that do their best to be out of tune and yet fit perfectly into the psychotic feel of the song. If your schizophrenic grandpa went on a spur of the moment shopping trip while on crack, this is what it would sound like. The rest of the band slash and burn through the song with driving guitar, bass & drums. Don’t even ask me what its about, since most of the lyrics are indecipherable due to Blackburn’s raging, acidic falsetto vocals. But does it really matter? Ultimately, it doesn't, since Blackburn’s voice is basically another instrument that adds to the atmosphere of Clinic’s music.

The only real departure from their previous recordings is the final song, the aptly named “Coda.” It’s a lilting anthem that starts with morse-code-like organ, swooshing 'n' spacey synthesizers, methodic melodies, plodding drums, washes of harp and Blackburn’s melancholic “ooh”ing. Soon frenzied guitar adds to the tension. The song has some historical significance to the band (maybe), as Blackburn intones, “This record is a celebration of the 600th anniversary of the Bristol Journal (?), a celebration of sheer joy...” before he lapses back into his lisping incoherency. The peals of chiming bells at the end just add to the pomp and circumstance of the song.

"Corpus Christi"(a track I didn't write about but like):

I could go on describing these songs but if you’ve heard any of Clinic’s other albums, then you know what you’re in for, and if you haven’t, what are you waiting for? For Clinic, Do It is business as usual. But fortunately for us, Clinic’s business is still quite unusual.

http://www.clinicvoot.org/

Going To Coachella, Coachella, Coachella!

Augusts1 — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:10:25 GMT

Two more days before I'll be on my way to the coolest music festival around! I'm so ecstatic, I can barely contain my excitement.

And I can't believe that I'm going to get to see PORTISHEAD, people! PORTISHEAD! And see them perform their new material. Do you realize the magnitude of this event? I didn't think I'd ever see them since they'd broken up & I didn't get to see them when they were first together. Day-ummmmmmm!

Portishead "Silence" at All Tomorrow's Parties July '07:

Also looking forward to seeing Goldfrapp! Fuck'n Alison GOLDFRAPP! Oh & can you say Hot Chip? And of course the Crown funky PRINCE himself! GODDAMN PRINCE, did you hear me?! Not to mention The Breeders, Love & Rockets, Aphex Twin & mucho, mucho mas! Lord, I'm going to pass out from all this excitement. Geezus christ!

I'll be turning off my email notifs. so please don't be offended if I don't respond to your posts from this thursday 4/24- 4/28.

Fire Hazard "Honey" Remix

Augusts1 — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:58:47 GMT

Gotta post this one, it's just to good to not share! This is a remix by Fire Hazard Productions of Erykah's song "Honey". Check it out:

It's such a bangin' version and ups the ante on the song by making it even better than the original. Great rap from Rod Wilkins too.

You can get the remix MP3 free from Fire Hazard Productions myspace page here. Enjoy!

Cantinero Release "Better For The Metaphor"

Augusts1 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:57:43 GMT

Check out the new Cantinero album finally released last week, 4/9/08 on iTunes(I can't seem to figure out how to link to it)and amazon.com.

I wrote a review/post about the album here last October & how it found me via Christopher Hicken the creative force behind the group.

Chris is the greatest guy and amazingly talented. ". . .Metaphor" is his second album and it really deserves your attention. I love his voice, it's just so beautiful and soaring. Chris has sent me several of his newer songs since asking me for a more objective viewpoint of them as well, which has been fun to be in on his new music!

Check him out further on his website at www.cantinero.com or his myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/cantineromusic.

Bauhaus Release Stellar Reunion Album "Go Away White"

Augusts1 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:12:52 GMT

5:39 mins.

A quarter-century is an extremely long time to wait before releasing a new album, but that’s just what Bauhaus has done. Go Away White has been released 25 years after the group’s last album, 1983’s Burning From the Inside. I doubt Peter Murphy and crew intended their fans to wait this long. But with their side projects, a follow-up album must have kept getting pushed aside. So the timing was finally right a year ago or so for all four members to start writing for a new album.

The years have been kind to David J, Kevin Haskins, Daniel Ash & Murphy. Originally, their music was considered underground and more obscure in the early ‘80s. Times have changed considerably with the advent of the Internet, and the evolution of musical genres have created a wider audience for their brand of gothic rock.

During their recording hiatus all four band members have kept themselves quite busy. Bauhaus had broken up, reunited and toured several times. Murphy went solo and Ash, Haskins and J formed Love and Rockets. Ash and Haskins also formed Tones On Tail and both J and Ash have released numerous solo albums.

But the wait for Go Away White has been worth it; it’s an instant classic. The album rocks just as hard as any of its predecessors, and it’s an even more cohesive work than the Bauhaus albums of their youth. Too bad the group has announced that this album will be their last.

Amazingly, Peter Murphy’s voice has not faded with time. He must have signed a deal with the devil for his vocals are as resonant and gorgeous as ever. But anyone who’s seen him live will know that his vocal talent is phenomenal. Murphy does all of the lead singing on these songs but the other members do some backup vocals as well.

The first five songs on the album perfectly showcase Ash’s amazing, searing guitar work. These songs show a focus not seen on their previous albums. “Too Much 21st Century” talks about the difficulty of modern life and all it entails. Murphy, in his warbly baritone, rattles off a laundry list of items society wants better - “They all want to be something better. A better singer, a better actor, better job. Better money, better get her, better lover, better not. Too much rock, too much conceit, give me one religion (it‘s too much). Too much fashion information.” This message is driven across with the chunky, ringing guitar, funked-up bassline & Haskin’s heavy, tribal drumming.

Bauhaus in concert at the Brixton Academy in London, England, February 3, 2006. Photo taken by Pedro Figueiredo.

“Adrenalin,” one of the album’s highlights, is a hugely rocking rave-up of a song, living up to its name. Murphy’s vocals are all over the map, starting with his reciting the German language and then singing in his low guttural Ziggy-era-Bowie voice. Then Murphy alternates between whispering and animal-like yelps. Ash ups the ante on the song by adding fuzzy, ragged guitar. J’s booming distorted bass and Haskins’ huge thrashing drums just heighten the musical drama.

Things slow down considerably but no less compellingly on the second half of the album. “Saved” shows off Ash’s gorgeous, seductive saxophone as well as Haskins’ percussive maraca, Dead Can Dance-style drumming and a haunting intermittent bell. This song reminds me quite a bit of Murphy’s solo work.

“The Dog’s a Vapour” is another highlight. The song slowly builds in intensity with pulsating and echoing industrial electronic keyboards as well as seething just under the surface ragged guitar. At the 4:11 mark, the song explodes with shards of Ash’s screeching guitar that sound almost like a police siren. Murphy wails and screams, doing his best banshee imitation. In keeping, it’s quite a dramatic song.

"Black Stone Heart"(not much of a vid but it's here for you to hear)

“Black Stone Heart” picks up the pace for a bit between the two previously mentioned songs. It also encompasses the album’s title within its lyrics: “And now black is back and I seem out of sight. I go there with my darkness and go away white, go away white!” The song is exemplary of Bauhaus’s trademark sound with huge, catchy, raw guitar riffs; punchy, pounding bass; ethereal, atmospheric keyboards; and potent, slamming drums. Of course, Murphy leads the way with his seminal, bellowing yet gorgeous voice. It’s the stuff Bauhaus fans have dreamed of for decades.

Go Away White is a mindblowingly great album. For those not familiar with Bauhaus, this is an excellent place to start. For the familiar, it’s an excellent place to start all over again appreciating one of the most influential post-punk bands of the '80s. Again, this album was definitely worth the wait.

http://www.bauhausmusik.com/

No Missing Beats For The Charlatans UK

Augusts1 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 06:30:29 GMT

The new, FREE Charlatans UK album is just damn great. It's incredibly catchy & well written. Every song on this is candy for the ears.

I had a difficult time deciding which songs to showcase since they're all sooo excellent. But finally I chose these two since they just flat out move, they have so much energy in them(plus the song below I was able to find a vid on).

"You Cross My Path"(with Japanese anime "Death Note"):

Listening to this album I've really noticed the similarities in the Charlatans' sound to New Order. Sure I knew they were influenced by NO since they are a Manchester band as well. But one night I was making dinner & listening to this album, lost track of what I was hearing since I was focusing on cooking, then zoned back in on a song & thought "Is this New Order?". Of course I quickly recalled it was The Charlatans but that situation really brought it home how much they sound like NO in so many places throughout this album(which is a VERY good thing in my book).

You can check out their website to find the link to the free download for the album here:

http://www.thecharlatans.net/

Apparently they are releasing the physical cd on May 12, '08. There is also a deluxe bonus cd version that has two new songs as well as live versions of songs off the proper album. They are also selling ticket/cd packages to their concerts too. The group seems to really be marketing themselves quite well! No missing beats for The Charlatans, so bully for them!

Mountain Battles IS Smokin'!

Augusts1 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:14:23 GMT

2:57 mins.

Diggin' the new The Breeders(leaked)album(to be released 3/28 in the UK, probably the 29th in the US). It's quite good & some really interesting songs on it.

The uploaded song is a really sparse one. I think it's a tribute to the They Might Be Giants' remake "Istanbul(Not Constantinople)". Or maybe it's a tribute to The Four Lads original. Maybe it's a tribute to both. It's a fascinating song nonetheless, and so different from anything else they've done.

And although this song isn't necessarily "smokin'" or a good represention of "Mountain Battles", the rest of the album rocks pretty steady. As The Dandy Warhols would say "It's as cool as Kim Deal". Word!

I'm going to get to see The Breeders for the first time ever at Coachella this year, YAY! Can't wait.

I'll probably get in trouble for posting a song not released yet but oh well, gotta do, you know? But hey, I'm promoting them by posting this, so you record execs/reps GET A GRIP wouldja? Fuck almighty, they just don't get it do they? I mean really, any promo is good promo!

http://www.4ad.com/breeders/

DeVotchKa Add World Spice With "A Mad And Faithful Telling"

Augusts1 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:57:18 GMT

4:37 mins.

There's something cool and engaging about the sounds Denver, Colorado's DeVotchKa make by taking such non-Western musical styles as Mariachi, Slavi, Romani, Greek, and Bolero and blending them with punk, rock and folk. I'm not even able to put my finger on exactly what makes them so enjoyable to me. Could it be the catchy pop-song structures? Or is it the English-language lyrics that make the songs more understandable? Perhaps it's the seductive wail of lead singer Nick Urata that so compellingly draws you in. I suppose it's all of those, really.

Although I’d heard of DeVotchKa, who formed in 1997, from friends who raved about their blend of world musics, A Mad and Faithful Telling is the first of their six albums that I have heard, and I have to say it’s a pretty good introduction.

In this age of melding international styles into one's music, many artists have attempted to bridge the gap between the sound of the Western mainstream and a faithful take on an ethnic cultural sound. Los Lobos, David Byrne, Paul Simon, Ozomatli are a few of them, and there are plenty of electronic artists including Thievery Corporation and even Basement Jaxx who weave world music into their recordings.

DeVotchKa are perhaps the latest to break through to a larger audience, particularly due to the success of the film Little Miss Sunshine, for which they composed and recorded the soundtrack.

Their new album is a pleasant enough listen. "Basso Profundo" is a fun, upbeat number that would cause any reasonable person to at least tap their toes, if not fully get up and dance, with its gypsy oompah tuba and wild-eyed brass. "Along the Way" is a beautifully-soaring, mariachi-inflected mid-tempo ballad.

"The Clockwise Witness" is a standout. The toy piano, bouncing strings and bass lend themselves to the melancholy of the song. "How long will this take? How long must I wait? My heart is sinking; what were we thinking? I can't fake it anymore, " sings Nick Urata. His anguish is obvious in this glorious song of love gone awry.

"Transliterator" is another standout (and the first single released from the album) with its simple electric piano and plucked violin introduction. For those not in the know, a transliterator is a piece of computer software that translates your chosen words into another language. The song bespeaks the confusion that occurs between lovers of different nationalities and the frustration that is born from such entanglements.

"Transliterator" performed live at SXSW this year:

"Undone" is a lovely song infused with flamenco guitar, strings, tribal drumming and passionate accordion. Mr. Arata sings of a loved one left behind, whom "he left so carelessly undone." The album closer, "A New World," sounds like a song the Smiths could have released with its caressing acoustic-guitar-strumming and vocalizations.

My only real problem with A Mad and Faithful Telling are the two instrumentals they have included. Both sound great, but they seem like filler, out of place amongst the others which feature vocals. Still, DeVotchKa have delivered a strong album, worth your listening time.

http://devotchka.net/

http://www.myspace.com/devotchkamusic

International Bulletproof Bauhaus

Augusts1 — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:33:53 GMT

Been listening to the new Bauhaus album "Go Away White" and it really rocks. Loving it so much. So amazing that they released another album after 25 years. Also amazing that it is as good as it is!

There are so many great songs on the album it's hard to choose a favorite but this one's up there "International Bulletproof Talent"(this is a fan made video):

Murphy's voice still grabs me! And Daniel Ash's guitar just seers through as well as David J's bass and Haskins brash drumming. Soooooooo good!

http://www.bauhausmusik.com/

Sugar Got A Long Way To Catch You! More Erykah For Your Badu

Augusts1 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:21:02 GMT

Alright, I know you're all going to get sick of me posting about Erykah but I just couldn't resist posting this live clip. I found this when I was putting together my Erykah post the other day. It's a great live version from a program called Soulstage on VH1 of the song "Honey" where she slows it down. It's so good.

(And of course the youtube vids are saying they aren't available but they gotta work like the rest of us damnit, hehe. Just click on the vid & it should be fine.)

And here's a 10 minute interview recorded at the listening party for the new album. Erykah talks at length about the recording process & how the new album came about. Really fascinating!

The Healer

Augusts1 — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:19:14 GMT

3:59 mins.

This is my favorite song off her new album so far. I saw her perform this live at the Harmony Festival June '07 and she rocked the house with it! Such a interesting, minimal sound to the song, I'm just diggin' it.

Here's a short video interview with Ms. Badu about the challenges of making her new cd. Quite interesting to hear her perspective.

Drive-By Truckers Shine With "Brighter Than Creation's Dark"

Augusts1 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:33:35 GMT

There was a time, starting back when I was a teenager, that I despised country music. It wasn’t until my late twenties that I began to realize: perhaps I was missing out on some decent music by dismissing C&W as just twangy fodder for Midwestern girls and Western-attired wannabe-cowboys. The artist that opened my eyes was John Hiatt, whose glorious hybrid of country, blues, rock, pop & bluegrass convinced me that not all country music was to be tossed aside like trash along the highway. Hiatt’s music and lyrics were vital and interesting, and challenged the conventions of regular country music.

As I listened to the seventh and latest Drive-By Truckers album, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark, I was similarly reminded of just how good country can be. They've been at it for 12 years, and it’s clear they’ve studied their C&W and alt- country playbooks. They’ve listened to their Cash, Lynn, Waylon, Wynette, Willie, Young & Uncle Tupelo, for starters. Within the 19 tracks on the album (nearly a double CD), you could pick out one song each that exemplifies the styles of those artists. This approach could have made DBT sound like a covers band, but it doesn’t. They've made the sounds their own and the result is a stellar album.

Brighter comes off as a rather intimate album as well. This time out they’re more focused on domestic family life. “Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife” is the beautiful, mid-tempo album opener, with acoustic guitar, banjo and steel guitar about a man who’s just died and is looking back on his life. It sounds like something Jeff Tweedy would write and sing. “The Righteous Path,” in the same vein, is a great country-rocker that glorifies the delights of living on the straight and narrow.

Things do turn dark, however, with “Daddy Needs a Drink,” a paean to cocktail hour and alcoholism right out of the Waylon Jennings songbook. It addresses the need to escape the stresses of home life in the bottom of a bottle. “The Home Front” speaks about the drawbacks of domesticity when your husband has gone off to war. “You and Your Crystal Meth” seems to plumb the depths of darkness, addressing a close friend whose life has been shot to hell due to meth addiction. It’s the starkest song here, with it’s eerie echoing and chiming piano, vocals and guitar.

Yet even darker still is “That Man I Shot,” a badass, rocking rave-up in the Neil Young tradition, with slash-and-burn guitar noise, clashing cymbals and pounding drums. The song peers into the psyche of a soldier in Iraq, allowing us to understand the mental impact of war on the human mind. “That man I shot, he’s trying to kill me,” sings lead vocalist Mike Cooley. “That man I shot, I didn’t know him, I was doing my job. That man I shot, I was in his homeland. I was there to help him; he didn’t want me there.”

"That Man I Shot" Live at 40 Watt 1/12/08:

Fortunately, this intensity lets up. Helping to lighten things is the lone female of the group, Shonna Tucker. She has a beautiful, smoky voice and takes the lead on three songs, singing backup on others. “I’m Sorry Huston” is another evenly-paced song, the lesson this time learned straight from Loretta Lynne with the twang of its steel guitar; “Home Field Advantage“ is a lovely rocker that uses baseball as a metaphor for a romantic relationship; and “The Purgatory Line” is a gorgeous ballad worthy of Cash or Willie with its echoing vocals and guitar. Tucker does a more than admirable job on these songs and should consider a solo album, if she can manage it without diluting her contributions to the band.

On Brighter Than Creation's Dark, the Drive-By Truckers keep country music vital, proving simultaneously that they can imitate their heroes without giving up their own identity. This one is a keeper.

http://www.drivebytruckers.com/

http://www.myspace.com/drivebytruckers

COTDAYUM! A New Amerykah Is Here!

Augusts1 — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:20:16 GMT

4:32 mins.

This is a combined post for Hip Hop Thursday/Funky Friday. Just got the new Erykah Badu "New Amerykah Part One(4th World War)" and it's damn incredible! Diggin' it SO much.

The track above is the very first one on the album and it's supa funky fly. Erykah has definitely gone in a much appreciated different direction & is gettin' & stayin' down. Just hit that red button up there & get the funk out!

More impressions to come MARK MY WORDS!(Shhhhhhhh, I don't think anyone knows I'm a Badu PHREEEEAAAK! ahahhahahah)

Live Wilco Stream TONIGHT On NPR.org

Augusts1 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:18:13 GMT

Received an email from Wilco HQ that their Washington DC concert will be streamed live tonight.

John Doe(of the legendary band X) will be opening starting at 8:00 pm EST. Go to the NPR website NPR.org to stream the concert here

Also the email says that Wilco will be performing on NBC's Saturday Night Live this coming saturday, so check it out too!

Enjoy!

Goldfrapp Gets Organic On “Seventh Tree”

Augusts1 — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:04:35 GMT

It seems most music groups go through cycles in their musical evolution. Eventually most bands hit the “stripped down” phase where they want to simplify their sound. By doing this, a band shows their audience that they don’t need all the bells and whistles in their sound, subsequently showing that their talent is authentic and not a product of the studio. Organic instruments allow for a more intimate mood in a band’s sound and, oddly enough, actually help broaden their sonic palette.

Goldfrapp, the London, England-based electronic duo, has pared down their sound to a minor extent on their fourth album, Seventh Tree, while broadening the complexity of their sound. Now don’t misunderstand me; Goldfrapp have certainly not gone as organic as folk music is concerned. When I say "organic," I mean incorporating natural instruments such as acoustic guitar, violins & percussion, where in the past Goldfrapp have focused on synthesized sounds. It seems Goldfrapp want their listeners to realize they are musicians and not just recording wizards.

The first track, “Clowns,” is a gorgeous opening ballad that is simple in its use of acoustic guitar and orchestra to grand effect. Alison Goldfrapp’s stunning soprano is effectively layered here as a choir and third element. “Little Bird” also uses acoustic guitar but not until after the second verse; first they lay down echoed synthesizer, bass, strings, and drums to enrapture the listener.

Mind you, “Seventh Tree” still has plenty of electronica on it. “Happiness” is a vaudeville-esque vamp replete with theremin, tambourine and horn section that could easily be a dance single or converted into a remix due to its upbeat nature. But the danceable nature of the song belies its lyrics about institutionalized hypocrisy. “Join our group and you will find harmony and peace of mind. Make it better. We’re here to welcome you... Happiness, how’d you get to be happiness? How’d you get to find love, real love?”

“Road to Somewhere” is a lovely mid tempo piece that speaks of the journey a listener can take while hearing a song. Will Gregory adds piano and melancholic cello into the mix, then infusing the beautiful synthetic keyboards as well as baroque harpsichord. “Eat Yourself” also uses piano and acoustic guitar as well as shimmering electric guitar, bass, synths and orchestra.

Many people who are familiar with Goldfrapp’s oeuvre will take note that Seventh Tree is, in essence, a throwback to their first album, Felt Mountain, with slower-tempo songs, operatic vocals and complex song structure. But while that first album was completely of an electronic nature, here Goldfrapp proves they’ve grown dramatically in their ability to play musical instruments that weren’t present on their previous albums. The difference is palpable even from their previous release, Supernature, with its ramped up and rockier electronic pop dance songs reminiscent of T-Rex and Marc Bolan. Goldfrapp seem to have something to prove and do so with flair on Seventh Tree. They want to be viewed as serious musicians, not just pop artists anymore, and so it seems they are.

But any Goldfrapp fan will already have known their virtuosity from their live performances. Just watch their live DVD from 2004, Wonderful Electric, and you will see that Goldfrapp aren’t your average self-taught bedroom electronic artists. Alison herself is no ordinary vocalist either. Her pure, operatic and rhapsodic voice can be fragile-sounding, yet strong and assertive within the same lyrical phrase. Simply put, Alison has shown live that she possesses the vocal expertise that has brought the duo the much-deserved attention and popularity they now enjoy.

The lush song “A&E” and its silly video has been released as the lead single from the album (I posted about it a month ago here). It is another beautiful mid-tempo love song about the urgency of missing a loved one, and is mostly electronic oriented but has acoustic guitar at its base. “Cologne Cerrone Houdini” is a stunning ballad with swaths of orchestration and synths.

“Caravan Girl” is an exotically ornate piano-and-synthesizer dance song to rival the best of the band’s ‘80s influenced dance numbers. The album closer, “Monster Love,” is a stunning paeon to romantic love. It showcases Ms. Goldfrapp’s incredible soprano vocalizations and leaves one breathlessly in awe of her vocal talent.

Seventh Tree is proof that some electronic acts can and do possess as much talent as any other genre can. They do have the ability to grow, show off their musical abilities and widen their musical palette. It just may not be the direction their fans were expecting them to go — which is the hallmark of great artists, to keep their fans guessing and pondering what they will do next.

And here is a live remake of Grace's "It's Not Over"(also covered by Klaxons) by Goldfrapp on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge 2/8/08. It is very much in the vein of the new album, which is to be released next Tuesday, 2/26/08. They also did a live version of "A & E" as well as this:

It's also looking like the next single will be the song "Clowns", which is the current loop clip featured on their website, which you can check out below:

http://www.goldfrapp.co.uk/

When Good Moggers Go Bad

Augusts1 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:15:25 GMT

Over a week ago on Fat Tuesday two good moggers met for the first time, Amber & me. She was in my area taking care of her sick sis so we plotted to get Amber away for an evening to save her sanity, hehe! Here's Amber & me:

Ain't she just adorable?! Good pic of her too.

Who's this hideous bloke?

Where us good moggers went bad is when we went to the music venue to see local band Rhythm-town Jive and ended up spending most of the evening ignoring the band & just chatting away getting to know each other. Talk about hitting it off. I love me some Amber! She's SO cool, down to earth & easy to talk with. Don't get me wrong, the band was some good blues rock(that we heard from the bar) but our convo was so engaging that by the time we got around to going into where the band was playing they were close to being done! Here's some pics of the band & a video of their song "Better Believe It":

Now this was just a warmup for Amber & I since we're both doing the Coachella Festival(my tickets showed up in the mail at the end of last week)at the end of April, so we will be getting wild there, haha. Lookout all you other moggers who will be there!

And of course, here's the requisite SHOES shot!(Omg, shoes, it's a Kelly moment, hehe)

Thanks Amber for a great time, even though we distracted each other willingly from the band! You're the bestest! Love ya dearling!!!!!!! And can't wait to see you at Coachella!

You're So Special, Oh So Special or ISENIH #35

Augusts1 — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:16:59 GMT

4:24

Another band highly influenced by the Madchester movement, The Farm, was from Liverpool and formed in the early '80s. They were previously named Soul Of Socialism at that time. They changed their name to The Farm when they started practicing at a friends farm(how original eh? haha).

It wasn't until '89 that they finally got a record deal and in '90 released "Spartacus". Their first big hit was the song "Groovy Train", which I really recall getting my dance on in the club I frequented at the time. Check out the vid:

But their huge hit was the song "All Together Now" which later became used as the anthem for the England National Football Team in '04. Notice the use of Pachelbel's "Canon In D" throughout the song. The video for this song is quite odd I must say though:

My favorite song on "Spartacus" however was the very first track "Hearts And Minds" which you can hear at the top of my post. Definitely a jammin' song & uses clips from the movie "Once Upon A Time In America" a classic & epic gangster film directed by Sergio Leone in '84.

The Farm went on to release two more albums "Love See No Colour" '92 and "Hullaballoo" '94. Both albums received little attention here in the US. In England some of the singles did chart though. Once the whole Madchester scene died out The Farm's popularity dropped considerably which is unfortunate since there are some wonderful songs on both those albums.

The Soup Dragons or ISENIH (I'm So Early '90s It Hurts)#34

Augusts1 — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:42:26 GMT

3:46 mins.

I'm back to my Early '90s posts once again. The Soup Dragons were a Glasgow, Scotland band who formed in '85. They released numerous singles that were released as a compilation in the US only as "Hang Ten" in '86. They then released their debut "This Is Our Art" in '88. The video/song below was part of a rare Shelter video compilation and not on either of their previous albums.

"Can't Take No More":

I didn't get into them(or even heard of them) until '90 when they released their album "Lovegod" stateside. The first single was a remake of The Rolling Stones song "I'm Free" featuring Junior Reid, which ultimately became their biggest hit:

But the song above at the top of the page, "Mother Universe" was the song that really convinced me to pick up their cd. The whole album was pretty damn great. But my favorite song on the album was this one:

"Backwards Dog":

Two years later they released "Hotwired" and their song/vid "Divine Thing" received heavy MTV rotation. They released one more album in '94 called "Hydrophonic" which I know nothing about & I think didn't do too well here.

"Divine Thing":

I was able to see them live in Portland, OR at the Roseland Theater on June 17, '92 with Catherine Wheel opening for them. Talk about an incredible double bill. Catherine Wheel was just amazing as were The Soup Dragons. Good times, good times!

Coachella Lineup Announced!

Augusts1 — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:05:34 GMT

Yup, it's official:

I've yet to decide if I am going to go. I'm checking out the bands that will be there and I'm really digging Animal Collective. Holy shit, they are making some fascinating tuneage! Check out the song above and this vid of them live at the Midi Festival on the French Riviera '07 playing "Leaf House":

I really want to see Portishead, The Breeders, Love & Rockets, Spiritualized, Justice, Autolux, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks & Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip to name a few.

I'm just not WOWed by the lineup though, which is what is holding me back. Jack f'n Johnson a headliner? Roger Waters doing the "Dark Side of The Moon" album? BIG DEAL, I could care less! I've not been a Pink Floyd fan at all.

So I have till friday morn at 10:00 am when tix go on sale to check out the smaller bands that I don't know about. Here's the Coachella site link that has all the links to the various bands myspace sites, so this will make it really easy to check em all out.

Naughty Bunnies

Augusts1 — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:54:54 GMT

Here's a great vid by Groove Armada called "Get Down". Proof that bunnies do multiply faster than most species @=P!

Love this song, it be bumpin'too. I didn't know GA had released a new album back in May of '07. Love these guys.

New Goldfrapp Video!!!!!!!!

Augusts1 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:53:32 GMT

UPDATE: The video was pulled off Youtube AGAIN goddamnit! Sorry gang, it was there & thought it was for good. It's not playing now. My original post is below. But when I went to preview my edit the vid played so, I'm confused! I hope it plays for you.

The new video for the song "A&E" is _finally_ out! It apparently leaked a few weeks back but then was pulled. Check it out:

This is hee-larryous! Reminds me of the xmas vid with Will in that leaf suit I posted last week. I was laughing hysterically at this one too!

I have no idea how Alison can keep a straight face with those leaf guys going on about her. She's the bestest!. Ahahahahaha! And check out Will at the end with his tent and tea!!!!

Bloomin' Lou Rhodes

Augusts1 — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:59:39 GMT

Well, I'll be damned, Lou Rhodes went and released an album right under my nose last fall! October 1st, 2007 she released "Bloom" her second solo album. Here's the first single & video from it called "The Rain":

Most of you probably won't know Lou Rhodes as a solo artist but some may know her from her previous group Lamb. Lamb was an electronic, dance oriented duo from England who didn't get much recognition over here in the states. I adored them and became hooked on their second cd "Fear Of Fours" in '99. After four albums they broke up in '05 and Lou and Andy Barlow parted ways to pursue their own artistic musical visions. And sadly, they never toured the U.S.

Lou released her solo debut cd "Beloved One" which is a lovely, upbeat acoustic affair in Jan. of 2006. So I was surprised to find out through last.fm that she had a new cd out so quickly. The album is called "Bloom" and has yet to be released over here. Here is another cut from her cd "Greatness In A Speck Of Dust" live:

Lou has a phenomenal voice that is just so interesting to listen to, I just love her. And Lamb is pretty damn great too!

It's Christmas Time Again With Goldfrapp

Augusts1 — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:03:32 GMT

I had seen in the music news section a day or so ago that there was a new video out for Goldfrapp's song "A&E" but when I went to check out the post, the video was no longer available, damnit!

So being the enterprising young man that I am I did a search on Youtube. Unfortunately, I found not the desired video but did find this lovely holiday greeting from the band that is just too hilarious. Apparently it was posted on their website prior to xmas. Have a looksee:

Gotta love it! This just makes me love Goldfrapp even more in all their goofy splendour! And here's an alternate take of the song:

OH & I discovered this on the Goldfrapp website message board too:

It's a student art film from 1988 by a Paul Gilbert starring Alison Goldfrapp, and a James Clyde(?) & Simon King(?). Freaky, funny stuff as well. You can see the rest of it on Youtube, just doubleclick on the vid & you'll see the rest of the vids off to the right hand side. Enjoy!

All Things Change, Especially After A Year(My Mogiversary!)

Augusts1 — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:16:15 GMT

3:59 mins.

I'm amazed that a year of mogging dangerously has come as of yesterday the 8th. No I didn't forget, I just didn't get around to posting about it since I was just getting over a nasty cold. Ick!

So many changes & yet things stay the same. Funny how that works. So many moggers come & gone & many who've stayed around for the long haul. Many great friends that I've made here in the mogoshpere. Love you, gang! Thanks to each and every one of you for your wonderful contributions musically & otherwise to my life. My puter memory curses you though, hehehe!

Billy Corgan "TheCameraEye" Live:

Numerous changes to Mog. Mog versions 1, 2, 3, etc. Improvements for the best(or not, depending on your viewpoint). Change is always good since all things change. Remember the Mog chat room? Good times, good times.

And of course none of this would be possible without the mogfather himself, so thanks Mr. David Hyman for bringing this all together & us together as well. It's been one hell of a year that has changed my life forever!

A Dark Horse(My Last Minute Top 20 Of '07 Addition)

Augusts1 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:41:08 GMT

Now that it's '08 I can post my top 20 album list of '07. Yea yea, I know you've all been IMPATIENTLY waiting for this one, haha!

I've been listening to alot of new albums to make sure I didn't miss anything that should be included on my list. I've heard some good stuff but most of it just didn't keep my attention long enough. Like The National- huh? Just don't get the furor over their cd. Sigh . . . .

But kudos to Helen & Anna who've been ranting about Patrick Wolf all year. Honestly, I did enjoy the songs/vids I heard that were posted BUT didn't take the time to listen to the whole cd. When Anna posted her top 10 cds recently I saw Wolf's cd & was reminded I needed to give a listen.

So glad I did. I've been listening to it ALOT & I loved it so much that I had to include it on my list. Wolf is a genius! With so much unusual instrumentation & well written songs & singing. It's really difficult to peg as to the type of music, it's so unique.

So I've officially been EMCDed again. Thanks Helen & Anna! And now here's my list:

Top 20 Albums Of '07 -

1. Blue finger - Black Francis

2. Friend & Foe - Menomena

3. Widow City - The Fiery Furnaces

4. The Reminder - Feist

5. In Rainbows - Radiohead

6. White Chalk - PJ Harvey

7. Zeitgeist - Smashing Pumpkins

8. Baby 81 - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

9. Sky Blue Sky - Wilco

10. Self Titled - The Good The Bad & The Queen

11. Mantaray - Siouxsie

12. Our Love To Admire - Interpol

13. We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse

14. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position

15. American Doll Posse - Tori Amos

16. Myths Of The Near Future - Klaxons

17. The Fratellis - Costello Music

18. UNKLE - War Stories

19. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

20. This Is Forever - She Wants Revenge

Apology To Gnarls

Augusts1 — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 05:12:45 GMT

I love my local library. Yea, I said it, what? I have been able to hear so much music & seen movies through them it's RIDICULOUS! I've been so surprised at what I've been able to find.

So yesterday when I was there returning dvds I decided to check out the cds & much to my surprise, I found Gnarls Barkley's "St. Elsewhere" in the stacks so I brought it home. I started listening to it late this afternoon & GOOD GAWD ALMIGHTY IT'S GREAT! I've listened to this album nonstop three times through already!

Here's one of my faves right here(forgive the amateur vid, it's all I could find on youtube for it):

Now, trust me that I had listened to this in the cd store superficially, scanning the songs, so I'd heard them briefly. Of course I'd heard the catchy "Crazy" & liked it, but really didn't think it was all that. And there was so much hype about Gnarls which automatically shuts me down, lol. But once I heard the cd in it's entirety in the comfort of my home, I realized how many brill songs there are on this. There are so many far, far better songs on this than 'Crazy', like this one(which totally turns the trite hip hop vid on it's ear & is f'n hilarious!):

So, Gnarls I apologize for my indifference, I was SO wrong! Am I forgiven?