Not only is it Christmas Eve, its also day three of our 10 days of new music from 2008. We’re reviewing two artist each day who's careers have either started or have grown dramatically over the past 12 months. If all goes as planned, by January 1st you’ll have been introduced to a new musician or two to love and enjoy in 2009. And even if I fail introduce you to anyone new, you’ll still enjoy a couple of great tunes each day until the New Year arrives. Have fun and Merry Christmas.
I’m starting off day three with our fifth band, who is likely the most successful band on my top 20 list. Last January, Vampire Weekend released their debut album and became an almost instant hit. They had already been performing around the US and were called band of the year by SPIN Magazine in 2007, despite having never released a full album. They certainly didn't let anyone down once thier self titled Debut arrived. They've spent '08 performing on late night TV shows and touring the world. Certainly one of the greatest success stories of ’08 and I'm certain there are great things to come. As far as thier music goes, it's said that they find thier influences in African popular music as well as Western classical music, but the resulting sound is something very different and refreshing from what we’ve previously heard. Enjoy their so called “Upper West Side Soweto” sound in Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa from Vampire Weekend. (By the way, this video is probably my favorite video of the year. And hear Peter Gabriel cover this song at www.alternateside.org)
2008 also saw the arrival of The BPA, short for “The Brighton Port Authority”. This is yet another incarnation of the great Norman Cook, who was previously known by the pseudo name Fatboy Slim. As The BPA he has only released two tracks in 2008, suggesting plenty more to come in ‘09. Knowing the strength of Mr. Cooks previous endeavors I have no doubt this project will be a great success. Here is The BPA collaborating with David Byrne and Dizzie Rascal for ‘Toe Jam’. (Warning: this is one of my least favorite videos of the year. Despite what seems to be a unique and well executed concept, it’s a little bit much and definitely, beyond a doubt, distracts from the song, which is fantastic.)
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Top music of 2008: Day 2
Todays installment of the top 20 of 2008 is a strong one. (Believe me, thier are some on my list I am not so confident you'll agree with me on.) We begin with an indie rock duo that create what they have refered to as 'psychedelic folk'. The duo has been performing and recording together for some time as 'The Dodo Birds', and have just released thier first full length album simply as 'The Dodos' in early 2008. While the critics have raved at the strength of thier song writing, The Dodos have been modestly performing thier music on a fairly massive interational tour. The song featured in the video below is called Fools off of thier full length album, "The Visiter". It's hard not to enjoy them. Read more about The Dodos in this article from the L.A. Record.
Our fourth artist in the top twenty of 2008 is Ra Ra Riot. Thier debut album, The Rhumb Line, was released in August of '08 on Barsuk Records. Despite many challenges along the way, including the tragic death of a bandmate in late 2007, Ra Ra Riot has pulled through and is one of the hottest bands to watch in '09. Here is Ra Ra Riot performing "Ghost Under Rocks".
Stop in again tomorrow.
Our fourth artist in the top twenty of 2008 is Ra Ra Riot. Thier debut album, The Rhumb Line, was released in August of '08 on Barsuk Records. Despite many challenges along the way, including the tragic death of a bandmate in late 2007, Ra Ra Riot has pulled through and is one of the hottest bands to watch in '09. Here is Ra Ra Riot performing "Ghost Under Rocks".
Stop in again tomorrow.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Top music of 2008: Day 1
2008 has undoubtedly been a significant year for music. An extraordinary number of new sounds have seeped up from the basements of seedy bars all around Manhattan and Brooklyn. Many of the bands that created those sounds have continued on to fame throughout 2008, while others will likely be seeing fame soon. In honor of those who began thier rise to fame in 2008, I've decided to post 2 songs per day until the New Year commemorating these fine musicians and their accomplishments. If you check in daily, you'll have a complex mix of 20 of the best new artist from '08. Feel free to suggest some of your favorites for the list.
Our first video on the list is from a group known as Fleet Foxes. In 2008 the Seattle based band released their second EP, Sun Giant, as well as their first full length self-titled album to critical acclaim. Below I've posted my favorite single from the album. While I do not believe it fully represents the Fleet Foxes sound, I do feel that it adequately captures their brilliant vocal harmonies and entrancing lyrics. Enjoy this article from Novembers Rolling Stone Magazine for more on Fleet Foxes. Give these guys a chance, and if you don't like it right away, watch it twice more. I guarantee you'll be humming this song all week. Here are the Fleet Foxes with White Winter Hymnal.
Our second video today is from a local New Yorker named Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. If you read my blogs often, then you likely know all about MBARs successes this year. There doesn't appear to be anything slowing that momentum for 2008. Having been compared to musicians such as Bob Dylan, MBAR has his work cut out for him. With haunting lyrics and a foot-tapping folk rock sound that draws you in, I don't think he'll have to work hard to meet those high expectations. Check out this article featured in the August issue of SPIN Magazine or just watch the video below. Here is Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson with Buriedfed.
Check back tomorrow for two more songs from 2008.
Our first video on the list is from a group known as Fleet Foxes. In 2008 the Seattle based band released their second EP, Sun Giant, as well as their first full length self-titled album to critical acclaim. Below I've posted my favorite single from the album. While I do not believe it fully represents the Fleet Foxes sound, I do feel that it adequately captures their brilliant vocal harmonies and entrancing lyrics. Enjoy this article from Novembers Rolling Stone Magazine for more on Fleet Foxes. Give these guys a chance, and if you don't like it right away, watch it twice more. I guarantee you'll be humming this song all week. Here are the Fleet Foxes with White Winter Hymnal.
Our second video today is from a local New Yorker named Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. If you read my blogs often, then you likely know all about MBARs successes this year. There doesn't appear to be anything slowing that momentum for 2008. Having been compared to musicians such as Bob Dylan, MBAR has his work cut out for him. With haunting lyrics and a foot-tapping folk rock sound that draws you in, I don't think he'll have to work hard to meet those high expectations. Check out this article featured in the August issue of SPIN Magazine or just watch the video below. Here is Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson with Buriedfed.
Check back tomorrow for two more songs from 2008.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
"Peter Gabriel Too"
So much is happening in NYC this holiday season. A couple of weekends ago I went for a ride on the 'Nostalgia Train', a subway from the 1930's. They've got it operating on Sundays only and only for the month of December. Anyway, I've done my share of Christmas shopping, drank plenty of warming beverages ranging from cider to whisky, and eaten a very large variety of exceptional foods. All in all, I'm really enjoying this season.
For any Vampire Weekend fans out there (which you should all be since I blogged about them often earlier this year) click this link to hear a cover of 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa'. In this case, the song is sung by Peter Gabriel, which is extraordinarily exciting since Peter Gabriel himself is mentioned repeatedly throughout the song (okay, maybe not that exciting, but still fun). Fun times. I'd also recommend sifting through the site a little. Alternateside.org is a new indy-rock station put out by local NPR station WFUV. Enjoy.
For any Vampire Weekend fans out there (which you should all be since I blogged about them often earlier this year) click this link to hear a cover of 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa'. In this case, the song is sung by Peter Gabriel, which is extraordinarily exciting since Peter Gabriel himself is mentioned repeatedly throughout the song (okay, maybe not that exciting, but still fun). Fun times. I'd also recommend sifting through the site a little. Alternateside.org is a new indy-rock station put out by local NPR station WFUV. Enjoy.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
We'll always have Madagascar...
Work has been great! Things have finally calmed down here making life more enjoyable. My hours have reduced from 90 per week to a mere 60 per week. I feel like I have all the free time in the world! I'd be able to do more with that time if I only had all the money in the world.
My sister visited New York last weekend. She was only here for a few days, but I think we managed to make the best of our time. A few of the sites we visited were the Botanical Gardens, The Bronx Zoo and the Central Park Zoo. I had never been to any of these three places, so it was a relief to finally have the opportunity to visit. The Botanical Gardens was one of the most boring places I've visited since living in New York. If it were cheaper, and if I were at all interested in flowers etc. I may have been more entertained. The Zoos were a different story however. I will definitely return to the Central Park Zoo, where for just $8 you can relax in an oasis in the middle of Manhattan. The highlight of the weekend however was my visit to the Bronx Zoo. It was amazing, and not just for the exhibits or the animals. While my sister and I were exploring the Madagascar Exhibit, watching the lemurs leaping between tree limbs, a woman with two young children approached the glass display and stopped next to us. Her kids were clearly thrilled, although she seemed more excited than they did. I glanced over and smiled at her acknowledging the joy her two kids were obviously experiencing. It took a few moments to sink in, but after a few moments I began to think to myself, "wait a second, do I know her?" A few moments later I looked again and my thoughts were confirmed. For those of you who know me well you likely know of the female celebrities I most enjoy. Gwyneth Paltrow, Rachel Weisz, Franka Potente, and this woman standing next to me with her kids. Jill Hennessy. Jill is slightly less famous than some of the others on my list, but she is likely my favorite. After years as Assistant D.A. to Jack McCoy on Law and Order,
followed by the leading role as Jordan Cavanaugh on the NBC crime drama Crossing Jordan, Jill has certainly made a name for herself and developed a strong following. Anyhow, I couldn't very well watch the animals after that. I'm fairly sure that my sister was more than a little annoyed with my ranting about how awesome Jill Hennessy is. I didn't talk to her. I thought it would be rude to intrude on her day at the zoo with the kids. I sent Jill a message on her myspace page complimenting her on her new musical career she has pursued since Crossing Jordan ended.
Later in the week, I had a dream that I found entertaining. It had nothing to do with Jill Hennessy (unfortunately) but instead was about my friendship with Norwegian singer songwriter Sondre Lerche. Sondre and I were hanging out at his house. This house appeared to be in Dearborn Michigan and I'm fairly sure it's the house that my good friends Mike and April live in. But in this dream it was Sondre Lerches house, or more accurately, his parents’ house; but we'll get to that in a minute. Sondre and I were going to play video games in his room because his dad was bothering him. His room was almost an exact duplicate of Zach Morris' on Saved by the Bell, with the addition of a really realistic red racecar bed, some guitars, and records on the walls. Oh, and for some reason it had classic 80s era additions like glass block dividers and some neon lightning bolts (Maybe Norway is behind in the times). Moments later we were leaving his house to go somewhere and his dad was mowing the lawn. The odd thing was that his dad was John Travolta. He smiled, nodded our direction and politely asked when we'd be back. Sondre became visibly agitated with Mr. Travolta's question and huffed past him without answering. I remember thinking to myself in my dream, "How'd I forget that Sondre Lerche's dad was John Travolta? His airplane must be in the garage." It made absolutely no sense at all which is why I loved it. I woke up laughing at my stupid dream, rolled out of bed and checked my e-mail, facebook, and myspace. Jill Hennessy had replied to my message. She said she was grateful for my compliments and that "we'll always have Madagascar." I wasn't dreaming. At the time, Jill's page had only 22 friends listed, she had joined myspace less than a week earlier. Coincidentally I was listed as #2. Who was #1? Sondre Lerche. How weird is that? Anyway, if you like Tracey Chapman’s style of bluesy folk rock, then check Jill’s page out. She should be releasing an album soon.
My sister visited New York last weekend. She was only here for a few days, but I think we managed to make the best of our time. A few of the sites we visited were the Botanical Gardens, The Bronx Zoo and the Central Park Zoo. I had never been to any of these three places, so it was a relief to finally have the opportunity to visit. The Botanical Gardens was one of the most boring places I've visited since living in New York. If it were cheaper, and if I were at all interested in flowers etc. I may have been more entertained. The Zoos were a different story however. I will definitely return to the Central Park Zoo, where for just $8 you can relax in an oasis in the middle of Manhattan. The highlight of the weekend however was my visit to the Bronx Zoo. It was amazing, and not just for the exhibits or the animals. While my sister and I were exploring the Madagascar Exhibit, watching the lemurs leaping between tree limbs, a woman with two young children approached the glass display and stopped next to us. Her kids were clearly thrilled, although she seemed more excited than they did. I glanced over and smiled at her acknowledging the joy her two kids were obviously experiencing. It took a few moments to sink in, but after a few moments I began to think to myself, "wait a second, do I know her?" A few moments later I looked again and my thoughts were confirmed. For those of you who know me well you likely know of the female celebrities I most enjoy. Gwyneth Paltrow, Rachel Weisz, Franka Potente, and this woman standing next to me with her kids. Jill Hennessy. Jill is slightly less famous than some of the others on my list, but she is likely my favorite. After years as Assistant D.A. to Jack McCoy on Law and Order,
followed by the leading role as Jordan Cavanaugh on the NBC crime drama Crossing Jordan, Jill has certainly made a name for herself and developed a strong following. Anyhow, I couldn't very well watch the animals after that. I'm fairly sure that my sister was more than a little annoyed with my ranting about how awesome Jill Hennessy is. I didn't talk to her. I thought it would be rude to intrude on her day at the zoo with the kids. I sent Jill a message on her myspace page complimenting her on her new musical career she has pursued since Crossing Jordan ended.Later in the week, I had a dream that I found entertaining. It had nothing to do with Jill Hennessy (unfortunately) but instead was about my friendship with Norwegian singer songwriter Sondre Lerche. Sondre and I were hanging out at his house. This house appeared to be in Dearborn Michigan and I'm fairly sure it's the house that my good friends Mike and April live in. But in this dream it was Sondre Lerches house, or more accurately, his parents’ house; but we'll get to that in a minute. Sondre and I were going to play video games in his room because his dad was bothering him. His room was almost an exact duplicate of Zach Morris' on Saved by the Bell, with the addition of a really realistic red racecar bed, some guitars, and records on the walls. Oh, and for some reason it had classic 80s era additions like glass block dividers and some neon lightning bolts (Maybe Norway is behind in the times). Moments later we were leaving his house to go somewhere and his dad was mowing the lawn. The odd thing was that his dad was John Travolta. He smiled, nodded our direction and politely asked when we'd be back. Sondre became visibly agitated with Mr. Travolta's question and huffed past him without answering. I remember thinking to myself in my dream, "How'd I forget that Sondre Lerche's dad was John Travolta? His airplane must be in the garage." It made absolutely no sense at all which is why I loved it. I woke up laughing at my stupid dream, rolled out of bed and checked my e-mail, facebook, and myspace. Jill Hennessy had replied to my message. She said she was grateful for my compliments and that "we'll always have Madagascar." I wasn't dreaming. At the time, Jill's page had only 22 friends listed, she had joined myspace less than a week earlier. Coincidentally I was listed as #2. Who was #1? Sondre Lerche. How weird is that? Anyway, if you like Tracey Chapman’s style of bluesy folk rock, then check Jill’s page out. She should be releasing an album soon.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Web-Junk
I know I just posted a blog hours ago, but I couldn't wait to share all of this web-junk with you.
COMICS:
First off, this site is pretty awesome if you're into comics, and is probably fun even if your'e not. It comes from Marvel and allows you to create your own version of superhero based on pieces of existing Marvel heroes.
Also falling into both the comic and movie areas, it looks like Sony might be making a Spider-Man spinoff. Thanks to the hollywood reporter for this one. Check the story out here.
Finally, it looks as though the presidential candidates are the new thing in comics. I'm not gonna bother with this, but you can investigate further here.
MOVIES:
The new Harry Potter preview is now online. If you haven't already checked this one out, here's the link to do so. I'm actually very psyched for this movie.
Also, according to Variety, Warner Brothers is developing a Marvin the Martian feature film. I'm not sure what I think of this idea, but will gladly wait for the movie to arrive before passing judgement. See the story here.
Finally, it looks like Steven Spielberg might be slightly smarter than George Lucas after all. Yes, the latest instalment of Indiana Jones may have killed at the box office, but I'm not so sure that fans are going to buy tickets to yet another disappointment like crystal skull. All the same, that's not going to stop Mr. Lucas from trying.
MUSIC:
I am thrilled to mention that former Spacehog frontman Royston Langdon may have a new gig. Velvet Revolver has officially been auditioning him to replace Weiland as thier new lead. I think I might actually start listening to Velvet Revolver if this happens. Sweet!.
INTERNET:
Finally, a website that truly proves the internet is useful! Jellotime.com is not only fun and entertaining... well... it's not actually all that entertaining, or fun. But it might just be the best way to waste 3 seconds of your time you've ever found. I hoped it might do something different if poked enough, but unfortunately it's a pretty straight forward blob of jello, no tricks involved. I only know because I poked for much longer than I should've.
RANDOM:
I didn't even know where to put this news, so I've created a 'random' section. It would appear as though Buffy's beau Freddie Prinze Jr. has signed on with the WWE! No, he won't be fighting, as much as we'd all like to see that, he'll apparently be in some bhind the scenes role like writing or producing or whatnot. Seriously, how esparate can he be?
COMICS:
First off, this site is pretty awesome if you're into comics, and is probably fun even if your'e not. It comes from Marvel and allows you to create your own version of superhero based on pieces of existing Marvel heroes.
Also falling into both the comic and movie areas, it looks like Sony might be making a Spider-Man spinoff. Thanks to the hollywood reporter for this one. Check the story out here.
Finally, it looks as though the presidential candidates are the new thing in comics. I'm not gonna bother with this, but you can investigate further here.
MOVIES:
The new Harry Potter preview is now online. If you haven't already checked this one out, here's the link to do so. I'm actually very psyched for this movie.
Also, according to Variety, Warner Brothers is developing a Marvin the Martian feature film. I'm not sure what I think of this idea, but will gladly wait for the movie to arrive before passing judgement. See the story here.
Finally, it looks like Steven Spielberg might be slightly smarter than George Lucas after all. Yes, the latest instalment of Indiana Jones may have killed at the box office, but I'm not so sure that fans are going to buy tickets to yet another disappointment like crystal skull. All the same, that's not going to stop Mr. Lucas from trying.
MUSIC:
I am thrilled to mention that former Spacehog frontman Royston Langdon may have a new gig. Velvet Revolver has officially been auditioning him to replace Weiland as thier new lead. I think I might actually start listening to Velvet Revolver if this happens. Sweet!.
INTERNET:
Finally, a website that truly proves the internet is useful! Jellotime.com is not only fun and entertaining... well... it's not actually all that entertaining, or fun. But it might just be the best way to waste 3 seconds of your time you've ever found. I hoped it might do something different if poked enough, but unfortunately it's a pretty straight forward blob of jello, no tricks involved. I only know because I poked for much longer than I should've.
RANDOM:
I didn't even know where to put this news, so I've created a 'random' section. It would appear as though Buffy's beau Freddie Prinze Jr. has signed on with the WWE! No, he won't be fighting, as much as we'd all like to see that, he'll apparently be in some bhind the scenes role like writing or producing or whatnot. Seriously, how esparate can he be?
This Week
Hey kids. Sorry about my short hiatus from blogging, but I’m pretty sure I’m back at full steam now. July has been an amazing month in New York City. I’ve made quite a few new friends this month, and have become addicted to numerous new bands. The cashiers at my favorite comic book store know me by name and work is looking up. Needless to say, I’ve got so much to talk about. But, let’s start with what’s up this week.
Movies: First off, my old roommate Brandon was in town and we were able to go see the new Will Farrell movie Step Brothers. If raunchy slapstick comedy is your style, then this is a good one for you. I will admit that I laughed more than I thought I would. For a guy who doesn’t generally like comedies, that says a lot.
Music: I finally listened to the synth-pop band Metro Station. While I apparently downloaded this album a few months ago, I had failed to ever make it a priority. While it is a pretty tight album, I can’t get the image of the lead singers little sister, Hannah Montana, out of my head while listening. This pretty much ruins the whole experience for me. I can’t seem to take them seriously, which they clearly want. Also in music however, the New York band Bears Repeating released an EP today, and is allowing free downloads of that EP via their website beginning today, August 1st. The album will only be free for a short time, so be sure to download it A.S.A.P. And seeing as they have no relation to any Disney Channel royalty, I’m pretty sure it’s worth your time.
TV: Mad Men blew my socks off this week. The season 2 premier picks up exactly 2 years after the first season ended, with a lot of holes to be filled. But still, seeing the difference those 2 years made to American life is surely interesting. The addition of locks on doors, copy machines first appearing in office hallways, and women beginning to find a spot in business with the men. I can’t wait for Sunday. You can watch the entire season 2 premiere below. Go to hulu.com to watch the full screen format.
Internet: I haven’t had much time to surf the web for interesting sites this week, but I will once again recommend you check out hulu.com. Not only does this online TV network have a tremendous library of shows and movies to watch on demand, but it also has Joss Whedons’ (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly) hit internet musical “Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog”. The 45 minute musical film is split into 3 segments and stars Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion. (Watch the whole thing below, or tune to hulu.com for full screen) If you are a Joss Whedon fan at all, you’ll get a kick out of this. For those of you who haven’t kept up on Joss’ blog, he says that his new goal for his shows is to always provide the unexpected. He wants to write the “episode of Murder She Wrote in which none gets murdered.” So, don’t get too upset by Joss’ surprise ending, he’s just delivering on his promise to us. I am really psyched to check out his new FOX network show, Dollhouse. Hopefully he’ll be supported by the network this time around.
That’s it for now. Check back in later for more.
Movies: First off, my old roommate Brandon was in town and we were able to go see the new Will Farrell movie Step Brothers. If raunchy slapstick comedy is your style, then this is a good one for you. I will admit that I laughed more than I thought I would. For a guy who doesn’t generally like comedies, that says a lot.
Music: I finally listened to the synth-pop band Metro Station. While I apparently downloaded this album a few months ago, I had failed to ever make it a priority. While it is a pretty tight album, I can’t get the image of the lead singers little sister, Hannah Montana, out of my head while listening. This pretty much ruins the whole experience for me. I can’t seem to take them seriously, which they clearly want. Also in music however, the New York band Bears Repeating released an EP today, and is allowing free downloads of that EP via their website beginning today, August 1st. The album will only be free for a short time, so be sure to download it A.S.A.P. And seeing as they have no relation to any Disney Channel royalty, I’m pretty sure it’s worth your time.
TV: Mad Men blew my socks off this week. The season 2 premier picks up exactly 2 years after the first season ended, with a lot of holes to be filled. But still, seeing the difference those 2 years made to American life is surely interesting. The addition of locks on doors, copy machines first appearing in office hallways, and women beginning to find a spot in business with the men. I can’t wait for Sunday. You can watch the entire season 2 premiere below. Go to hulu.com to watch the full screen format.
Internet: I haven’t had much time to surf the web for interesting sites this week, but I will once again recommend you check out hulu.com. Not only does this online TV network have a tremendous library of shows and movies to watch on demand, but it also has Joss Whedons’ (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly) hit internet musical “Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog”. The 45 minute musical film is split into 3 segments and stars Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion. (Watch the whole thing below, or tune to hulu.com for full screen) If you are a Joss Whedon fan at all, you’ll get a kick out of this. For those of you who haven’t kept up on Joss’ blog, he says that his new goal for his shows is to always provide the unexpected. He wants to write the “episode of Murder She Wrote in which none gets murdered.” So, don’t get too upset by Joss’ surprise ending, he’s just delivering on his promise to us. I am really psyched to check out his new FOX network show, Dollhouse. Hopefully he’ll be supported by the network this time around.
That’s it for now. Check back in later for more.
Friday, July 25, 2008
George.
This short cartoon from Disney's animated release Fantasia 2000 pretty much sums up everything I thought New York would be. After 14 months here, I'm happy to say this is exactly how it is, just with less of the Gershwin soundtrack. I'm putting more Gershwin on my iPod today, then it'll be EXACTLY like this.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
What it's like in my head.
This was meant to be a quick blog entry about the band Vampire Weekend, but it somehow took a horrible A.D.D. trip down a completely different path. Still, I thought it was a great way to show everyone what A.D.D. is like, so enjoy the ride.
The holiday weekend was fantastic, but busy. I'll surely be filling you in on everything that went down, but first I have a quick music recommendation. Last year sometime I posted a playlist on my myspace page that included a few songs by the local NYC band Vampire Weekend. Since then, they've released an album, had some time in the spotlight, and now are enjoying a little 'fame' in the indy rock scene. I realize that most of you know all about them now, but if you haven't heard them yet, this is your chance to get on board. Check out the music videos below.
Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma
Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
Now check out this Minnesota College a cappella group perform Vampire Weekends Oxford Comma.
Now watch the same Minnesota College a cappella group perform Daft Punks Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.
Now we watch a student from the same school also with a unique performance of the same song... (this is pretty cool, so be patient.)
Now for a real treat; the a cappella group and the daft hand kid performing live together!!! Awesome.
Isn't the internet great!
Finally, tune into hulu.com for all of your favorite classic and new shows for free, and even a few good movies, any time you want. They've added some commercials, but it's still far better than TV. -No, I'm not paid by Hulu, I'm just a fan.
This is my life. Now I'm going to watch Men In Black online at Hulu.com while I fall to sleep.
The holiday weekend was fantastic, but busy. I'll surely be filling you in on everything that went down, but first I have a quick music recommendation. Last year sometime I posted a playlist on my myspace page that included a few songs by the local NYC band Vampire Weekend. Since then, they've released an album, had some time in the spotlight, and now are enjoying a little 'fame' in the indy rock scene. I realize that most of you know all about them now, but if you haven't heard them yet, this is your chance to get on board. Check out the music videos below.
Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma
Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
Now check out this Minnesota College a cappella group perform Vampire Weekends Oxford Comma.
Now watch the same Minnesota College a cappella group perform Daft Punks Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.
Now we watch a student from the same school also with a unique performance of the same song... (this is pretty cool, so be patient.)
Now for a real treat; the a cappella group and the daft hand kid performing live together!!! Awesome.
Isn't the internet great!
Finally, tune into hulu.com for all of your favorite classic and new shows for free, and even a few good movies, any time you want. They've added some commercials, but it's still far better than TV. -No, I'm not paid by Hulu, I'm just a fan.
This is my life. Now I'm going to watch Men In Black online at Hulu.com while I fall to sleep.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
The FADER
Last week I posted a blog on one of my favorite upcoming artists, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. This week he's been featured on the cover of The FADER Music Magazine, Summer Music Edition. MBAR is quoted saying, "I've passed that point in my life where I want to die for my art. Maybe I'll die because I'm an idiot." Hopefully he sobers up long enough to get somewhere. Here's to MBAR, good luck man.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
YBS in NYC this Thursday!!!
In a former life as the Co-Founder of D-Town Productions I had the pleasure of working with some amazingly talented musicians. It's been a few years since we did a show, but I've followed the musical careers of many of those we worked with. One group that's never failed to impress me is Your Black Star (YBS) from Louisville, KY. YBS has created a unique blend of rock that is has unusual depth, yet remains catchy and addicting. Still, they manage to avoidmany of the cliches and trends musicians can so easily fall into. Thier original rock blend is well worth checking out, and from experience I can say that thier live shows are fantastic. You can download most of thier music including thier latest album, Beasts, from thier myspace page. Also, if you are a fellow New Yorker, be sure to check them out this Thursday, July 3rd, at Rehab. Rehab is located at 25 Ave B and YBS is scheduled to perform at 10pm. This will likely be thier last tour for a while, so be sure to make it down. I'll see you there.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Jack Black Sucks!
It's no secret that I waste far too much time surfing the internet in search of crazy information about the world and pop culture. Well, here's one fun activity I've found in my search that I thought worthy of sharing. It's a Swedish furniture name generator. If you've ever walked through IKEA store and thought, "where the hell do they get they come up with the names for these couches?" this is most likely the answer. I'm a side table named SVERRII. I don't know if I like
Also, for those Jack Black/School of Rock fans out there, it looks like 2 might be in the works. Click here to see the full article. I can't say I'm excited about a School of Rock sequel, since Jack Black destroys every movie he's in. Case in point: Be Kind Rewind. Any Michal Gondry flick should be amazing, but this latest film was barely bearable thanks to the consistently annoying Black. Eh…
Moving on, Mad Men returns for season two Sunday July 27th. I'm a TV nut, and would recommend this show to anyone. It doesn't take much to get addicted to this show. The series focuses on an advertising agency in the late 1950s. It's the most truthful portrayal of the industry and the time period I've ever seen on television or on film. While we're used to seeing the chipper, pleasantville world of the Leave it to Beaver '50s, Mad Men portrays the sexism, racism, and immorality that peaople faced during the period. Seriously, you have one month to catch up on season one before the new season begins. The first season is available on DVD or on iTunes. Check out more about the show here.
This is different; the Chicago Sun-Times ran an interesting piece on the effects of high fuel costs on indie rock. It's an interesting spin on a topic I'm really sick of being reminded of. Check that article out by clicking here.
Finally, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. I'm hooked on this guys music. He sucks live, as he's rarely sober enough to stand let alone get words out while playing guitar. Still, he's wildly popular here in New York and his live performances are often reviewed as 'trancendant'. I disagree, but still love his recordings and can understand why he's often called 'the next Bob Dylan'. My brother and I happened to catch one of his live shows at the Cake Shop on the Lower East Side a couple of months ago. To read more about him and his music, click here.
Friday, June 6, 2008
High School
So I know I've been wasting my blogs lately, but I thought many of you may enjoy sharing in these memories. I threw together a playlist to put on while at work filled with some of the most memorable music from 1994-1998, otherwise known as high school. If anyone thinks there are more songs that belong on this list, please let me know. I'm sure I've missed many.
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