Peter Bjorn and John and Girl Talk

On a related note from yesterday's post, the insanely fun and infinitely inventive DJ, Greg Gillis (aka, Girl Talk), has remixed PB&J's standout tune, "Let's Call It Off." I'm currently trying to host it somewhere to save you lazy bastards an extra mouse click or two. But until (or if) that happens, here is a link that jumps to the page where it can be downloaded.
It's an enjoyable remix, but not a dramatic deviation from the source; more of a dash of Tabasco on an already impeccable track.

This will get you within one click of downloading aformentioned track.

Peter Bjorn and John kick ass

Swedes, Swedes, Swedes, what is in your water? Many of my new favorite acts hail from this frigid socialist nation. I've enjoyed the album, Writer's Block more and more with each spin. The first track, "Amsterdam", haunted my temporal lobe with an internal non-stop looping replay for weeks. And "Amsterdam" isn't even the best track on this album. I guess it's a little curious I didn't do an official review of this record; I would've given it at least an A-. Maybe later, but enough bloggers have already more eloquently stated the beauty of this album.
Subdued, understated soundscapes fill an album that I can't help but refer to as Beatles-esque, and not in the throwback, nostalgic way. But in a, if they were young and making records today, kind of way. And if they hailed from Stockholm instead of Liverpool, and held a penchant for transluscent, layered synth-pop. Hmm, maybe that wasn't my best correlation. Anyway this album is entrancing, unassuming, relaxed and gorgeous pop chock full of sing able hooks. A perfect record for daydreaming lovers on park benches in a sunshine-filled autumn afternoon with a chilly breeze. Would calling it a classic be premature?

And now a video from their hit "Young Folks" the track appears on both an EP of the same title, and on the near perfect Writer's Block. Concretes member Victoria Bergsman contribute the female vocals.



PB&J's Myspace is here, website is here.

Pitchfork Drinking Game

As a regular reader of Pitchfork, I got a kick out of this article. Don't get me wrong, while I feel they are pretentious, self-referential, masturbatory and over-valued, I also agree with about 85 percent of their reviews.

Click here to read the article.

I have a sneaking suspicion that if one played this game, alcohol poisoning would set in after the first review.

Our team is better than your team.

That's right, the Utah Jazz currently have the best record in the league (10-1), off to the best start in franchise history, and they are holding down the top spot in Sports Illustrated power rankings.
Most of this was done without our lil' friend AK 47, thanks, in large part, to rookie sensation Paul Millsap. Boozer and Williams are playing phenomenal, and Okur is solid as ever. This is turning out to be one exciting year, I'm hoping we can make a run for the finals.


T.V. On the Radio is my favorite band, and they are better than your favorite band. Here is a video for a track off their kick ass EP Young Liars.

"Staring at the Sun"

Album Review

Icy Demons
Tears of a Clone
B+

What the mind-bending, hairy, 8-bit, tiki lounge fuck? Icy Demons hail from Philadelphia/Chicago, according to their myspace page, and share members Pow Pow and Cougar with the phenomenal Man Man. While Man Man provides a good reference point, they probably share more in common with an act such as The Flaming Lips. Dreamy and more subdued than their musical cousins, Icy Demons drift where Man Man explode. I like Man Man because they make me feel like a pirate in a bar and I like Icy Demons because they make me feel like a cartoon villain or a pixelated hero on the end boss level.
Quirkiness is about the only constant in this diverse record that slips and slides in and out of various genres. A vibraphone, vocoders, simple note progressions, and diverse percussion lend a sense of adventure and exploration to the album and often invoke a feeling that you are listening to some strange Atari soundtrack. Opening track "Jump Off" starts out straight in Bowser's castle before transitioning to a 60's surf rock vibe. Reggae influences show up in "As It Comes," and "This is It!" is a strutting electronica, hip-hop, lounge hybrid for lonely spacemen. "Bunny" is an airy, soft jazz duet featuring a clarinet, while "Golden Coin" is a manic, optimistic, happy-go-lucky, bouncy track that (like the name alludes to) would be great as a bonus round tune. Vocals range from vocoders to detached falsetto chants, but usually play secondary to the beautiful melodies (a pair of Cellos often provide the backbone for these) and compelling beats.
I think about sunny beaches, dark caves, black holes, slot machines and everything in between when listening to Tears of a Clone. An instant new favorite, right up my alley, as they say.

Listen to:
This is it!
Trial By Lasers

Their website is here, myspace is here.


This track is off their earlier LP, Fight Back
Icy Demons "Desert Toll"

In Case you Didn't See it Anywhere Else

Here is the track of the hour, "The Fatalist" by Robbers on High Street. If you like Spoon, (band A) you will like these NYC rockers (band B). Currently rocking the top spot at elbo.ws.

"The Fatalist" Robbers On High Street

Their myspace is here and website is here, they also released an EP yesterday.

All the cool kids are dancing to...

The Blow
"Knowing the Things That I Know"

I just downloaded Paper Television and I'm really grooving on it. Snappy blip-filled drum loops march alongside disarmingly innocent female vocals. Everyone loves The Blow, and I'm no different. Indie-tronic= Indie pop that bumps.

The Blow's myspace

Klaxons
"Gravity's Rainbow"

Loud, rowdy, neon, and oh so weird, Klaxons effortlessly blend the disparate sounds of Punk and Electronica. Their recent release Xan Valley is the musical equivalent of a truck-eating robotic T-rex at a monster truck rally. I'm not sure how, but that makes about 90% sense to me.

Klaxon's myspace
Ratatat
"Cherry"

This is an older song of their 2004 self titled debut, but its still smooth as anything off the newer CD, Classics. Maybe a little too "safe" at times, but Ratatat remain some of the craftiest Indie-minded DJs with guitars around.

Ratatat's myspace

CSS
"Alala"

Not one of my favorites, but worth a listen.

Shout Out Out Out Out
"Live - Dude You Feel Electrical"

The best band in this post also have the most enjoyable name to say. Say it. Fun, wasn't it? Did you say too many/not enough outs? It happens. This raucous six member outfit produce neck-snapping, seizure-inducing, back to the future, disco-flavored tunes for space travelers. Resisting the urge to dance is futile. Vocoder set to stun, Captain.

Shout Out Out Out Out's myspace
(Full of hot freshness. Go. Now.)

Islands - Rough Gem

If you are in Salt Lake come see Islands playing tomorrow night 7pm (Monday) at In the Venue (the club formerly known as Bricks). Fantastic band and word is they put on a great show.

Weezy Baby

Show Me What You Got (Remix)

With flows like this, his "best rapper alive" boast is going to start holding water soon.


Georgia...Bush

This is a track off the ridiculously-awesome mixtape, The Dedication 2 with DJ Drama. This is probably the most emotional and affecting songs I've heard about hurricane Katrina. The video itself isn't very good, made by a fan.

Album Review

Suburban Kids With Biblical Names
#3
B-

I heard Dodge from MOKB mention these guys in an interview on ChrisWalkerVersus, and checked them out. Dodge gives me the majority of my leads on good tunes, aside from Pitchfork. Chris from Gorillavsbear is another reliable source. Anyway, thought I would share and give a link-out to some of my favorite music blogs.

Onto the ridiculously/brilliantly named Suburban Kids with Biblical Names. Two musicians from Stockholm, Peter Gunnarson & Johan Hedberg, team up with a computer and guitar to create accessible, shimmering, lo-fi pop. Stuttering drum loops in the vein of The Postal Service are juxtaposed with conversational lyrics and down-tempo, plucky guitar licks. SKWBN may come across a little hokey at times and the singer sometimes sounds laughably similar to Kermit the Frog, especially on the track "Trees and Squirrels."Maybe it's supposed to be ironic or maybe I'm just a dick, I'm guessing the former.
These guys refuse to take themselves too seriously, as evidenced by the straightforward dubbing of their first three albums #1,#2, and #3, respectively. The songs contain the same loose and casual feel with a track that is an unabashed love ode to a computer, and another that laments a shared size of french fries with another. The lyrics are almost anti-poetic, and adopt Charles Bukowski's "no time for metaphors" attitude. The simplicity often makes the words more profound, and universally familiar dialogues like, "So cut the crap/ Stop that shit/Don't be dumb/I will love you forever" cut out the pretense and retain the impact. I really love that line which is enhanced by his endearing hopscotch delivery. The tinny, lo-fi production compliments the tone of the album snugly and induces images of these two sitting around a computer and playing these songs in their bedrooms. Why do I always think about high school when I listen to this album?
Anyway, this is a great CD, came out in 2005. I'm still absorbing it, so don't be surprised if I have to change another grade. This is feel good and sunny pop for Suburbanites.

Myspace is here, website is here.

Today was a good day (didn't even have to grab my AK).

Dems took the Senate and the House last night, Rumsfeld is fired this morning, my subscription to emusic renewed, and then the Jazz lost. Damnit.
Still a great day, here's the recently released video for "Roscoe" by Midlake.
It's one of my favorite tracks.

Have You Ever Heard...

Sondre Lerche?

This guy has been around for a few years now and I'm surprised he wasn't brought to my attention earlier. First, he does sound quite a bit like Beck (Sea Change era), especially the more upbeat tracks I've heard from his forthcoming album, The Phantom Punch. But, to simply write him off as a Norwegian Beck would be doing your ears a great disservice. He also lists Beck in his top 4 on the space, so he's not hiding his influences.
Most of his songs are lounged-out and jazzy, with rhythmic guitars softly strumming alongside his distinct croon; a croon as smooth as I Can't Believe it's Not Butter.
The velvety tone of his music is comfortable and inviting, like an over-stuffed micro fiber sofa. The lyrics are sometimes awkward, but he's Norwegian, don't expect him to be Hemmingway in his second language. Start with Two Way Monologue, I consider it his best release so far.
I think the ladies will really go nuts for Sondre Lerche (at least my wife does). I personally enjoy his warm and funky tunes, but I also have a pink skin on my ipod, so take that for what you will.

His myspace is here.

Here are a couple music videos.

Two Way Monologue


Phantom Punch

Top 5 bands named after cities (actually one is a country).

1.I'm From Barcelona "We're From Barcelona"

I rest my case. And they're actually from Sweden.

Myspace is here.

2. Beirut

Unfortunately, this is the best video available on Youtube.

Myspace is here.

3. Architecture In Helsinki

Hahaha. I Love it.

Myspace is here, site is here.

4. Phoenix

...are from Paris.

Myspace is here.

5. Boards of Canada

My wife once asked me if Canada was on the east or west coast of the United States.

Myspace is here.

Top 5 brother/sister or husband/wife duos I can think of right now.

1. The Fiery Furnaces

Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger are the siblings driving the wildly inventive and colorful rock of The Fiery Furnaces. In a testament to just how deep the nepotism runs, The FF recorded an entire album about their Grandmother, featuring her on lead vocals in the autobiographical Rehearsing My Choir.
The Fiery Furnaces utilize an arsenal of whimsical instrumentation, novel-like narratives, and imaginative song structures to create their quirky, unpredictable and defiantly unique ocean of sounds. Unfamiliar listeners may want to start with 2005's EP. If you are picking up what Eleanor and Matthew are putting down, move onto their operatic 2004 masterpiece, Blueberry Boat. The first time I heard Blueberry Boat, it opened up a new lobe in my brain. The group's most recent effort, entitled Bitter Tea, is a fantastic and largely underrated album. And I have a crush on Eleanor.

Myspace here, website here.

2. The Rosebuds


Instantly likeable husband and wife duo pair up to sing poppy songs about optimistic runaway couples. Birds Make Good Neighbors, their second and best release, features frolicking hooks, memorable choruses, and impossibly catchy melodies. The summery songs flow effortlessly out of the speakers, engulfing the listener in the dreamy, baby blue atmosphere. If you don't like The Rosebuds, there is probably something wrong with you and you should never take notice of anything I write, because we are not only on different pages, but entirely different books.
Ivan Howard's relaxed delivery is perfectly accentuated by Kelly's (his wife) angelic harmonizing. This juxtaposition serves as a metaphor for marriage and accentuates the feeling that you are indeed listening to lovers making songs about love. The adorable call and response on the track "Shake Our Tree" made it one of my wife and mine's favorite songs to sing along. Soft, breezy synth keys dance with rolling drums and glistening guitars throughout this consistently charming but interestingly diverse record. Get this album and fall in love.

Myspace is here (featuring some of my favorite tracks). Website is here.

3. The Knife


Whoa! Creepy masks aside, these two Swedish siblings are behind the eeriest, spookiest, and most engaging electronica to come out in the last few years. The album Silent Shout is a cold, dead tree of an album featuring distorted, ghostly vocals drifting over pulsing, reverberating beats. The ephedra-paced key run on "Silent Shout" deserves a Grammy; it gets me doing the air-piano every time.
House is a genre I never imagined revisiting after that drug-fueled summer of 2001. But, The Knife has done the unthinkable by making raver music that is appealing and attractive to the non-glow stick-swinging segment of the population. Cleverly dubbed "Haunted House" by those snooty bastards over at Pitchfork, The Knife is the preferred music of vampires everywhere.

Myspace is here, website is here.

4. Amadou and Mariam


Blind West African couple create sunshine filled songs by taking African drums, throwing in an instrument from nearly every country across the globe, putting it in a blender until its smooth and creamy and adding a miniature umbrella. Seriously, their sound is as culturally diverse as Brangelina's backyard. Soulful, uplifting, and joyous, Amadou and Mariam are sure to put a bug in your pants and a smile on your face.

What? No official myspace? Blasphemy! Here is a myspace fansite, and their official site is here.

5. Mates of State

Actually, these two aren't very good. I'll stick to top 4.


And, The White Stripes are divorced and therefore disqualified. Wondering about The Carpenters or June Carter and Johnny Cash?
Well, they made that music at least 100 years ago and it is therefore disqualified.