Random Randomness For A Random World

This heart's on fire, dancing and drinking champagne from a paper cup.
Never as tired as when I'm waking up.

image via the depths

The Run Down - Monday March 31, 2008

There's a great show tonight at the Galaxy Hut with DC's Paul Michel and Sad Crocodile. If you can't make it there, you should try to make the Black Cat in DC to check out electropoppers The LK with Meredith Bragg. That's all...hey it's Monday.

mp3: The LK - Tandem Bikes --> website --> buy
mp3: Meredith Bragg - Twin Arrows --> website --> buy

VIDEO - Stencils & Plastic Bags

So these aren't music videos, but videos I just happen to come across on Wooster Collective that really put a smile across my face. I hope they do the same for you.





mp3: Digable Planets - Graffiti
mp3: Blockhead - The Art Of Walking
mp3: Architecture In Helsinki - Tiny Paintings
mp3: Hot Chip - Plastic
mp3: Sarsaparilla - Plastic Bag Ghosts

The Run Down - Sunday March 30, 2008

Sunday is here and our web host is back together. Time to celebrate with some shows. Here in Baltimore you could check out Manchester Orchestra at the Recher Theater, but there are some crazy good shows in DC tonight. At the Rock and Roll Hotel theres Caribou and Fuck Buttons while DC9 has The Dodos and Silje Nes. Have a good time.

mp3: Manchester Orchestra - Brother (Annuals Cover) --> website --> buy
mp3: The Dodos - Walking --> website --> buy
mp3: Caribou - Hello Hammerheads --> website --> buy
mp3: Fuck Buttons - Ribs Out --> website --> buy

Friday I'm A Remix

So...it's Friday. How are you all doing? Was the week good? Sunny? Cloudy? Flood-ridden? Was your boss/teacher a prick? Did music inspire you? Bore you? Barrack? Hillary? McCain? Did you see something that amazed you? Did you read something that made you sick to your stomach? Did your computer eat your brain? Did you wake up late? Did you get to sleep? Did you find the one thing you have been looking for all your life? Are you ready for tomorrow? Are you tired of stupid questions? Me too.

mp3: Cut Copy - Lights & Music (Superdiscount Remix) Alternate Link(YSI)
mp3: Mystery Jets - Young Love (Shoes Mix) Alternate Link(YSI)
mp3: Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Diplo Remix Extended Version) Alternate Link(YSI)
mp3: Liars - It Fit When I Was A Kid (Crystal Castles Remix) Alternate Link(YSI)

image by Banksy via Matt Brown esq

The Run Down - Friday & Saturday March 28-29, 2008

The Ottobar has a pretty fantastic show tonight in store for you. The Ravonettes headline with Baltimore's Thrushes and Black Acid opening. In DC be sure to catch John "The Slice" Vanderslice opening for Stephen Malkmus at the 9:30 club.

mp3: Thrushes - The Hardest Part --> website --> buy
mp3: Stephen Malkmus - Baltimore --> website --> buy
mp3: John Vanderslice - Me an My 424 --> website --> buy

Yes I'm covering two days in one post because unfortunately at some point late tonight or early tomorrow our web hosting site(where all the mp3s are housed) will be down for an extended period of time. Hopefully all will be well come Sunday and Monday. Anyway Saturday has some sweet shows in DC and Philly. In DC there's Deleted Scenes, Drink Up Buttercup, Butterflies, and The Fordists at DC9 and the Rock and Roll Hotel has New Rock Church of Fire, Death By Sexy and Nunchucks. In Philly Johnny Brenda's has Caribou and Fuck Buttons while The Fillmore has John Vanderslice and Stephen Malkmus.

mp3: Caribou - Bees --> website --> buy
mp3: Fuck Buttons - Bright Tomorrow --> website --> buy
mp3: Deleted Scenes - Hyperbaric --> website --> buy
mp3: Drink Up Buttercup - Mr. Pie Eyes --> website --> buy

New Middle Distance Runner from SXSW

Just to rub salt in the wound's for not making SXSW this year, MDR put up video of a pretty cool new song called The Unbeliever. Sounds good to me.

Website --- Buy

On The Bandwagon With Hot Chip

So you might have heard of this band, Hot Chip. No? Well they're super popular and just released a great new LP, Made In The Dark in January. It's taken me a while to digest this enough for me to actually form words and post on it. Back in 2006 I was thoroughly taken with The Warning and played 'Over and Over' over and over (as many did). So I was a bit nervous when first listening to this new one. There was a lot of hype. A lot of good remixes. Shake A Fist was a great first single, but how would the full length come across. From the first couple of moments with Made In The Dark I noticed the rhythms were thicker...more expansive...edgier. It sets the tone. Gliding through the rest of the album, you realize the true beauty of Hot Chip. They can bump it up with dance floor tracks then interweave silky harmonies between the bass rattles. Just when you've got them pegged, they slow it way down then speed up again, shifting synths at will, from ambient to acoustic to dub. Maybe this stems from their beginnings when they met in 2000 and wrote songs like sixth form poetry with acoustic guitars then scrapped that because it pissed them off and decided to make more defiant sounds. Change is good. Way to go Hot Chip.

mp3: Hot Chip - Wrestlers --> website --> buy
mp3: Hot Chip - Touch Too Much

Colour Revolt On Tour & Young Galaxy Video

Recently reviewed here on Pasta Primavera, Colour Revolt is about to embark on a new tour to support their new album with THE BREEDERS!!!! Then they have a co headlining tour with Snowden!!! Word! Here's the dates:

* with The Breeders
^ with Snowden
Fri Apr 4 Oxford, MS - The Library Bar and Grill
Sat Apr 5 Jackson, MS - Smith Wills Stadium (Youth Educational Fair)
Fri Apr 11 Birmingham, AL - Bottletree
Sat Apr 12 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
Sat Apr 26 Oxford, MS - Courthouse Square (Double Decker Arts Festival)
Mon Apr 28 San Diego, CA - Cane's Bar and Grill*
Wed Apr 30 San Francisco, CA - Slim's*
Fri May 2 Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues Las Vegas*
Sat May 3 Tempe, AZ - Clubhouse*
Mon May 5 Austin, TX - Emo's*
Tue May 6 Dallas, TX - House of Blues Dallas*
Wed May 7 Houston, TX - Meridian - Red Room*
Fri May 9 Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck*
Sat May 10 - Sauget, IL - Pop's*
May 12 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 ^
May 13 - Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel ^
May 14 - Philadelphia, PA @ Northstar ^
May 15 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge ^
May 16 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's ^
May 17 - Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street ^
May 18 - Allston, MA @ Great Scott ^
May 20 - Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place ^
May 21 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Place ^
May 22 - Akron, OH @ Musica ^
May 23 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean ^
May 24 - Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity ^
May 26 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory ^
May 31 - New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks ^

mp3: Colour Revolt - Ageless Everytime --> website --> buy

=========

Arts & Crafts has just informed us of a new video for Young Galaxy's song, Come and See. Check it out:



mp3: Young Galaxy - Come And See --> website --> buy

The Run Down - March 27, 2008

If you have a ton of energy and are looking to vent it somewhere, might I suggest the Lo-Fi Social Club in Baltimore. There you'll find the high octane performances of Matt & Kim, The Death Set, The Pharmacy, Naked on the Vague, and Soiled Mattress & The Springs. If you look for a much calmer, yet still entertaining evening perhaps mosey your way down to the Black Cat in DC to see Xiu Xiu, Thao With The Get Down Stay Down, and Chris Garneau.

mp3: Thao With The Get Down Stay Down - Feet Asleep --> website --> buy
mp3: Matt & Kim - Yea Yeah --> website --> buy
mp3: The Death Set - Had A Bird --> website --> buy

In The News: Men Without Pants, Peter Moren on WOXY, & Steinski

Coming in June is a release by an outfit called Men Without Pants. This project is headed up by one of the all time greats Dan The Automator (Gorillaz, Deltron 3030, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Dr. Octagon) and Russell Simins (John Spencer Blues Explosion, Butter 08). I don't know much about it except that it's being released on NYC's Expansion Team Records, but I do have a great electro-rock track off of it.

mp3: Men Without Pants - And The Girls Go

=====

Many of you might not recognize the name Peter Moren, but you may recognize the voice. He's the Peter from Peter, Bjorn, and John and he has an album coming out shortly. From what I've heard so far this one sounds like a winner. The album's called The Last Tycoon and it comes out on April 8th on Touch and Go/Quarterstick Records. Pre order it here. Peter also performed a great set at SXSW for WOXY. Check it out:

mp3: Peter Moren - Live on WOXY
mp3: Peter Moren - Social Competence

=====

If you haven't heard of Steinski, then you should check him out RIGHT NOW. Steinski is a legendary hip hop collage producer/dj/artist that pioneered many of the techniques you hear today with artists such as DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, and Girl Talk. It was just announced that a 2 Disc retrospective of his work is being released on May 27th via Illegal Art. It should be amazing.

mp3: Steinski - The Pay Off Mix --> website

Becoming Friends with Steve Hefter & Friends Of Friends

Baltimore seems to be teeming with folk/rock/pop bands at the moment. normally I would complain of this, but they all seem to be pretty fantastic. This is the case with Steve Hefter & Friends Of Friends. He released a full length LP last year called Twist & Hold Til Morning. The first track rolls in with an undeniably folk sound, then transforms with orchestral breaks towards the end that made me immediately turn the volume up. This was a good thing. It allowed me to focus on the introspective, intelligent, and some times humorous lyrics of Steve Hefter. The rest of the album bounces from one style to another all being sewn together in a glistening pop package that is easy to listen to and begs for the repeat button. After a couple of spins I made correlations between Hefter's sound and another local favorite, Jason Dove. Then it sparked another comparison to cult singer/songwriter Jason Falkner. In the end all that really matters is that Steve Hefter and Friends (Mike Ward, Doug Keen, Pat Hughes, George French, Greta Thomas) pack a mean pop punch that has left me sore for more.

mp3: Steve Hefter & FOF - Why A Lawyer --> website --> buy
mp3: Steve Hefter & FOF - Show Me Where It Hurts

The Run Down - Wednesday March 26, 2008

This week is a little light on shows, but the quality is top notch. The Black Cat in DC has one of our favorites, Vandaveer with Laura Burhenn (Georgie James) and Sean Walsh & The National Reserve. Up in Philly there's Blitzen Trapper and Fleet Foxes at Johnny Brenda's and Xiu Xiu and Thao with The Get Down Stay Down at the First Unitarian Church.

mp3: Vandaveer - Parasites & Ghosts --> website --> buy
mp3: Fleet Foxes - Mykonos --> website --> buy
mp3: Blitzen Trapper - Sci-Fi Kid --> website --> buy
mp3: Thao With The Get Down Stay Down - Beat (Health, Life, and Fire) --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Tuesday March 25, 2008

If you want a really great great great show tonight head on down to The Black Cat in DC to bask in the sounds of Blitzen Trapper and Fleet Foxes. Word on the street is these guys are good. Or maybe you want to fire it up at The Fire in Philly with Hezekiah Jones, The Extraordinaires, Pleasureboaters, The Gunshy, and Joe Andorl. Enjoy!

mp3: Blitzen Trapper - Sci Fi Kid --> website --> buy
mp3: Fleet Foxes - Mykonos --> website --> buy
mp3: Hezekiah Jones - Nothing's Bound --> website --> buy
mp3: The Extraordinaires - The Warehouse Song --> website --> buy

Maddening March Musical Madness Part 5 - The Sweet 16

So here we are...The Sweet 16. My bracket seemed like it was done in, but now that I look at it, all of my Final Four picks are still alive. Well enough about my bracket. Let's talk about this super sweet 16.

Big Surprises: Amy Winehouse
Who knew? Winehouse? Took it to the house!! She takes down Iron & Wine/Gonzaga then upsets Of Montreal/Georgetown. Does she have enough to eliminate Wilco? I wouldn't bet on it.

Match Up To Watch: Bloc Party/Lousville vs. Justice/Tennessee
While all of the match ups are exciting, you can only dream about Bloc Party and Justice going head to head. Yowza!

If you missed them, here's the previous MMMM posts.

mp3: Arcade Fire - My Body Is A Cage --> buy
mp3: Modest Mouse - Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes --> buy
mp3: Bloc Party - Like Eating Glass --> buy
mp3: Justice - Carpates --> buy
mp3: Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees --> buy
mp3: The Decemberists - The Engine Driver --> buy
mp3: Wilco - I'm A Wheel --> buy
mp3: Amy Winehouse - Rehab (Hot Chip Remix) --> buy
mp3: Feist - I Feel It All (Britt From Spoon Remix) --> buy
mp3: Sufjan Stevens - The Man Of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts --> buy
mp3: Klaxons - Golden Skans (Surkin Remix) --> buy
mp3: Spoon - Don't You Evah --> buy
mp3: LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great --> buy
mp3: M.I.A. - Paper Planes --> buy
mp3: The New Pornographers --> buy

Random Randomness For A Random World

I believe you won't see me across the sea fast asleep.

image via Wooster Collective

The Run Down - Sunday March 23, 2008

There's three super sweet shows tonight that you might want to think about attending. In Baltimore, the Ottobar has Crystal Castles, HEALTH, Space Mountain, and Thrust Lab. The 9:30 club in DC has the ever amazing Del The Funky Homosapien supporting his brand new album, The 11th Hour. Finally in Philly don't miss Bodies Of Water and Sons & Daughters at Johnny Brenda's.

mp3: Bodies Of Water - I Heard It Sound --> website --> buy
mp3: Del The Funky Homosapien - Bubble Pop --> website --> buy
mp3: Crystal Castles - Air War --> website --> buy
mp3: HEALTH - Triceratops (CFCF Remix) --> website --> buy

Sunday Buffet

So here we are. Sunday Buffet. A sampling of songs that have been floating around my hard drive and tempting my ears that I think deserve a more in depth mention. Please let us know what you think.


Apteka
This four piece band from Chicago has captured the 1990s sound of Smashing Pumkins in a bottle and is using it will. Watch out. Catch them at Arlene's Grocery in NYC on April 18th.

mp3: Apteka - Edie Sees --> website --> buy








Midnight Movies
I just received a copy of Midnight Movies' EP, Nights, and was pleasantly surprised. This band from LA does a grand cover of the Moody Blues' A Night In White Satin, but the French version is even more kick ass.

mp3: Midnight Movies - Mes Reves De Satin --> website --> buy




Devin Greenwood
Greenwood released his EP in 2006, so I guess I'm a little late on him. That being said, he's pretty phenomenal. Greenwood's slow deep drawl swings and drops until a trance has been thrown on you. He's an amazing musician from Philadelphia that bends music genres at will.

mp3: Devin Greenwood - This Over Here --> website --> buy






Heroes Of Popular Wars
In their own words, this Brooklyn four piece says they "play electro/acousto - dance rock and like to jam." Very true. HOPW won me over with the atmosphere of sounds they create. It gives these casual pop songs an amazing world to live in.

mp3: Heroes Of Popular Wars - There's The Bell --> website --> buy

Plundering and Cursing - Colour Revolt

Colour Revolt is a five piece out of Oxford, Mississippi. On April 1st they are releasing a new album on Fat Possum entitled Plunder, Beg, and Curse. I was lucky enough to get a chance to give this album a couple of spins and I must say I'm impressed. Plunder strikes it up instantly with energy and passion from the thumping drums, rolling bass, and swirling guitars to the enjoyably racy lyrics that seem to delve into religious and philosophical ideals throughout the album. Lead singer Jesse Coppenbarger has a voice as powerful as Morrison and as angst ridden as Cobain. Like Cobain the slightly paradoxical lyrics light up each song. "Eden is a hell of a place." That's a line that instantly hits you with a smile and a thought. While the harder rock songs are clearly my favorites, the slower tunes, while not as inviting, still shine and give the album texture and depth. Overall this is a solid rock album that doesn't break any new molds, but I was never concerned with that from the first note to the last. Colour Revolt finally gave me something I always love. R O C K.

mp3: Colour Revolt - Naked and Red --> website --> buy
mp3: Colour Revolt - Moses Of The South

The Run Down - Saturday March 22, 2008

It's Saturday and there's a world of shows tonight, but if you're from Baltimore(as are we) then you might have a bit of a trek to get to them. In Virginia, IOTA has a great show with Exit Clov, Pretty and Nice, and Cobra Collective. In Philly, The Fire has Cowmuddy, The Junior League, Mad Sweet Pangs, Chris Kasper, Wissahickon Chicken Shack, and Adrien Reiu, while The M Room has The Major Leagues, The Bye Byes, Aderbat, and Spouse performing. Finally in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Cafe Metropolis has The Sw!ms, An Albatross, The Apes, and Casholine.

mp3: Exit Clov - Working Class Hero --> website --> buy
mp3: Pretty and Nice - Grab Your Nets --> website --> buy
mp3: Cobra Collective - Legionnaire --> website --> buy
mp3: Cowmuddy - Fire Warms Everyone --> website --> buy
mp3: The Junior League - Charm --> website --> buy
mp3: The Sw!ms - We Need Lava --> website --> buy
mp3: The Major Leagues - Fire --> website --> buy
mp3: The Bye Byes - Leftover Lois --> website --> buy
mp3: Aderbat - Get Out --> website --> buy

Friday I'm A Remix

It's been a fairly relaxing (yet tiring...hmm...) week. The weekend looks promising - full of music and love. Could I ask for anything more? Yes. Turn signals. Everybody's got them. USE THEM. IT"S RAINING. DON'T COME INTO MY LANE WITHOUT USING YOUR TURN SIGNAL. I don't have ESP so I can't quite determine what your next move will be. Okay okay. Calm down Laurent. It's Friday...and the weekend looks promising...

mp3: Ratatat - Wildcat (E*Vax Remix)
mp3: Menomena - Weird (Dekoder Remix)
mp3: Outkast - BOB (Diplo Remix)
mp3: Cadence Weapon - House Music (Bird Peterson Southbound Remix)

The Run Down - Friday March 21, 2008

If you happen to be in DC, Philly, or Virginia, then get to these venues IMMEDIATELY. The Black Cat in DC has a ridiculously phenomenal show with Le Loup, The Ruby Suns, and Bellman Barker. In VA, IOTA has Baltimore's own Abby Mott with Boxcar Collision and Tani D'mar. In Philly, The First Unitarian Church has WHY? and Cryptacize, and the Khyber hosts Panther, Kate Starr, and On Mono. GO!

mp3: Le Loup - We Are Gods! We Are Wolves! --> website --> buy
mp3: The Ruby Suns - There Are Birds --> website --> buy
mp3: Bellman Barker - Pockets --> website --> buy
mp3: Panther - Total Sexy Church --> website --> buy
mp3: WHY? - Rubber Traits --> website --> buy
mp3: Abby Mott - Snow --> website --> buy

Live Review - Stars @ Sonar 3/19/08 (plus some Pash)

If you really want to show your significant other that you love them, what do you do? Of course, buy them flowers. Lots of flowers. Maybe shower them in flowers. And when that's over.......MORE FLOWERS. So that means that if you've been to see Stars on their current US tour, like I did last night at Sonar, you might just be in a relationship with the quirky band from Montreal, because they loveeeeee some flowers. The stage was covered in flowers.

Opening up for Stars was Martin Royle. I had no idea who Martin Royle was, but I found out once arriving that he would be backed by DC's own Pash. Bonus! I guess I missed the update on the Pash website that they were added to the tour at the beginning of March (way to go guys and gal!). Royle played a handful of his own tunes, which he and Pash had apparently had worked on for about a week. Mid-set, Royle left the stage and Pash got to play three of their own songs. Despite a badly crackling bass amp, Pash easily stole the opening show, and certainly earned some new fans. They are enthusiastic (especially Erik Bruner-Yang on lead guitar), polished, and have a talented (and adorable) lead singer in Merideth Munoz. Maybe someday soon I'll be able to see more than a few songs.

Stars took the stage to a thunderous ovation, but clearly they had a lightning fast sound check (see what I did there). The sound for the first 5 songs or so was atrocious, and in my opinion barely reached the level of acceptable by the end of the set. The set spanned the Stars library and included many of my fave's, but it was hard to get into the show. I am a self acknowledged audio snob, but anyone at that show had to be a little disappointed. Despite the poor sound, Stars are gripping live. Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan trade vocals beautifully and really suck you in with their passion for their songs. They really do seem to appreciate their fans (hence the flower shower), and will likely continue to endear themselves to a broader fan base. Go see them, and be enchanted. Maybe you'll even get a flower.

Setlist:

The Night Starts Here
Elevator Love Letter
Soft Revolution
indow Bird
One More Night
Ghost of Genova Heights
Bitches in Tokyo
Reunion
The Big Fight
Going Going Gone
Midnight Coward
Take Me to the Riot
Your Ex-Lover is dead
Ageless Beauty
In Our Bedroom After the War

Encore:

My Favourite Book
What I’m Trying to Say
Calendar Girl

Mp3: Stars - Calendar Girl --- Website --- Buy
Mp3: Stars - Reunion
Mp3: Pash - The Best Gun --- Website --- Buy
Mp3: Pash - Kill All the Rich Boys II

VIDEO - Portishead, Rivers Cuomo, and Minus The Bear

This has been a pretty good week for videos. The first one is the video for Portishead's Machine Gun off of their soon to be released album. Classic Portishead.



mp3: Portishead - Machine Gun --> website --> buy

Next up is a video for Rivers Cuomo's Lovers In The Snow. Like the album, Alone, released last year, this video gives a little insight to the life of Cuomo.

Lover In The Snow


mp3: Rivers Cuomo - Chess --> website --> buy

Finally we have the funniest video of the lot. Minus The Bear's Throwin' Shapes. Just watch.



mp3: Minus The Bear - Throwin' Shapes --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Thursday March 20, 2008

TONS OF SHOWS! In DC there's Bodies of Water and Ra Ra Rasputin at the Black Cat and Panther and Nancy at DC9. In Philly there's Holy Fuck, Gildon Works, and A Place To Bury Strangers at Johnny Brenda's, The Most Serene Republic, Miracle Fortress, and Liam Finn at the North Star Bar, and Le Loup, The Ruby Suns, Jukebox The Ghost, and The Private Sea at the Barbary.

mp3: Bodies Of Water - It Moves --> website --> buy
mp3: Holy Fuck - Safari --> website --> buy
mp3: Gildon Works - Fragmento --> website --> buy
mp3: Panther - On The Lam --> website --> buy
mp3: Liam Finn - Gather To The Chapel --> website --> buy
mp3: Le Loup - Planes Like Vultures --> website --> buy
mp3: The Ruby Suns - Tane Mahuta --> website --> buy

VIDEO - Ungdomskulen's Modern Drummer

Norwegian uber-rockers Ungdomskulen has just released a video for their upcoming single, Modern Drummer. Best video ever? You be the judge. I think this thing friggin' rocks and borders on genius.


mp3: Ungdomskulen - Modern Drummer --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Wednesday March 19, 2008

Holy crap! It's a jam packed Wednesday for local shows. Here in Baltimore, Georgie James, The Courtesy Line, and Gary B and the Notions play the Ottobar and don't miss Stars at Sonar. In DC, The Cribs, Ra Ra Riot, and Jeffrey Lewis & The Jitters play the Black Cat, Holy Fuck, A Place To Bury Strangers, and Sons & Daughters play the Rock and Roll Hotel, and The Most Serene Republic, Miracle Fortress, and Liam Finn play DC9. Finally in Philly, Tilly and The Wall, Capgun Coup., and The Bee Team play the First Unitarian Church.

mp3: Ra Ra Riot - Ghost Under Rocks --> website --> buy
mp3: Georgie James - More Lights --> website --> buy
mp3: The Courtesy Line - The Lake --> website --> buy
mp3: Holy Fuck - Royal Gregory --> website --> buy
mp3: A Place To Bury Strangers - I Know I'll See You --> website --> buy
mp3: The Most Serene Republic - Why So Looking Back --> website --> buy
mp3: Miracle Fortress - Have You Seen In Your Dreams --> website --> buy
mp3: Liam Finn - Lead Balloon --> website --> buy
mp3: Stars - Reunion --> website --> buy
mp3: Tilly and the Wall - The Freest Man (CSS Remix) --> website --> buy

Preferably Peasant

Time spent in Doylestown, PA led Damien DeRose to hone and develop the twist and turns of his alter ego, Peasant, and his unmistakable songs. In February 2008, Peasant put out his third release, On The Ground, on Paper Garden Records. This is an album that is filled with quiet, catchy folk pop whispers of songs. DeRose's song writing ability is magnificent and the production only adds to it. In the corners of each song you find distant notes and cadences that energize his melodious voice and rhythmic guitar. The greatest achievement is it doesn't leave me half asleep after listening to it (as much of today's folkish music does for me). Certainly this is some of the more hummable and memorable folk music that I've heard in a long time.

mp3: Peasant - Fine Is Fine --> website --> buy
mp3: Peasant - Birds

Surprise! New Raconteurs album out March 25, 2008

The Raconteurs new album, entitled Consolers of the Lonely, will be available everywhere next week. Press release from The Yellow Stereo:

The purpose: to get the album to the fans as soon as possible and as we promised. We wanted to get this record to fans, the press, radio, etc., all at the EXACT SAME TIME so that no one has an upper hand on anyone else regarding it’s availability, reception or perception.

With this release, The Raconteurs are forgoing the usual months of lead time for press and radio set up, as well as forgoing the all important “first week sales”. We wanted to explore the idea of releasing an album everywhere at once and THEN marketing and promoting it thereafter. The Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by it’s first weeks sales, pre-release promotion, or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it

Interesting take. First week sales and traditional hype wont matter if the album is good. Can't wait to hear it.

Mp3: Steady as She Goes --- website --- buy

Maddening March Musical Madness Part 4 - The West

The Favorite: M.I.A./Xavier
LCD Soundsystem will probably dismantle Battles fairly easily, but the next round looks a bit shaky. So I'm going with the #3 seeded M.I.A./Xavier to sneak up and crush PB&J and cruise through the rest of the rounds.

The Cinderella: Cut Copy/Belmont
Cut Copy may lose out in the later rounds, but something tells me Duke/The National will be in for a big suprise when they fall to Belmont/Cut Copy in the opening round (Boohoo Duke).

Game To Watch: Beck/BYU vs. Yeasayer/Texas A&M
Again the 8/9 pairing doesn't disappoint. SWEET! Beck vs. Yeasayer! Goodnight!

So hopefully this little twist on tournament season will make watching the games you really have no interest in a bit more...um...interesting. And maybe just maybe, you'll be the one in the back of the bar screaming, "Throw it down, Andrew Bird! Throw it down!"

Download our full bracket here.

mp3: LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends
mp3: Beck - Beercan
mp3: Yeasayer - No Need To Worry
mp3: Andrew Bird - Heretics
mp3: !!! - A New Name
mp3: The Shins - New Slang
mp3: Chromeo - Needy Girl (Bloc Party Remix)
mp3: Stars - The Calendar Girl
mp3: Blonde Redhead - 23
mp3: M. I.A. - Amazon
mp3: Peter, Bjorn & John - Up Against The Wall
mp3: The New Pornographers - The Bones Of An Idol
mp3: Lupe Fiasco - Sunshine
mp3: The National - Slow Show
mp3: Cut Copy - Future

Maddening March Musical Madness Part 2 - The Midwest

The Favorite: Radiohead/Kansas
Can you really route against them? Sorry Arctic Monkeys. No contest. I'll also say the same for Kansas. Of the games I've seen them play, they dominated on defense and killed on offense.

The Cinderella: Sunset Rubdown/UMBC
I'm a little biased on this pick, but you'll see me routing for UMBC all the way. Not to say I dislike Georgetown or Of Montreal (I really enjoy Of Montreal), but Sunset Rubdown/UMBC are going to take this one. Go Retrievers!

Game To Watch:
There's two actually. Band Of Horses vs. The Decemberists and Elliott Smith vs. Bright Eyes. I'm going with The Decemberists and Elliott Smith.

What do you think? Download the full bracket here.

mp3: Radiohead - Life In A Glass House
mp3: Arctic Monkeys - Dancing Shoes
mp3: Okkervil River - Savannah Smiles
mp3: Grizzly Bear - Knife
mp3: Band Of Horses - Is There A Ghost
mp3: The Decemberists - Sons & Daughters
mp3: Beirut - Cliquot
mp3: Elliott Smith - Memory Lane
mp3: Wilco - Hummingbird
mp3: St. Vincent - Jesus Saves, I Spend
mp3: Iron & Wine - Such Great Heights
mp3: Of Montreal - Cato As A Pun
mp3: Sunset Rubdown - Us Ones In Between

Maddening March Musical Madness Part 1 - The East

So it's that time of year again. Tourney Time! In place of the usual Toofer Toosday segment, I've come up with Tourney Toosday, otherwise known as Maddening March Musical Madness. You see, when the bracket for this years NCAA Men's Basketball tournament came out, my team was no where to be found (with good reason). So I've decided to make things a little more interesting for myself and hopefully a bit more enjoyable for you too. I've painfully matched up all of the college teams on the bracket with some prominent popular musical acts of today. Obviously the rankings were tremendously difficult to come up with, but with the help of The Hype Machine's Zeitgeist combined with my own musical sense, I think I've put together something decent. Some bands may have been left out, but that can also be said for some colleges too. You can download the full bracket here (or click on the image above). I'm going to go over it region by region. First up, The East:

The Favorite: Arcade Fire/North Carolina
Arguably one of the best bands around, and North Carolina has definitely proven they belong up top. This was one of the toughest pairings since I'm not quite a fan of UNC, but a huge fan of Arcade Fire.

The Cinderella: Yeah Yeah Yeahs/Boise State
I'm not sure how good Boise State's basketball team is, but something tells me the Yeah Yeah Yeahs show their bones and pull an upset over the favored Bloc Party.

Game To Watch: MGMT/Butler vs. Simian Mobile Disco/South Alabama
If only a head to head match up of MGMT and Simian Mobile Disco would really happen. That would be SICK!!!! Oh...and I guess Butler vs. S. Alabama would be good...I guess.

So...what are your picks?

mp3: Arcade Fire - In the Backseat
mp3: Bon Iver - For Emma
mp3: Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
mp3: Animal Collective - Grass
mp3: Daft Punk - Da Funk
mp3: Cold War Kids - Robbers
mp3: Modest Mouse - Here It Comes
mp3: Cat Power - The Moon
mp3: White Stripes - Now Mary
mp3: Architecture In Helsinki - Wishbone
mp3: Bloc Party - Banquet
mp3: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion
mp3: MGMT - Kids
mp3: Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler
mp3: Justice - DVNO
mp3: Kate Nash - Foundations

The Run Down - Tuesday March 18, 2008

There's a solid show in DC and a solid show in Philly tonight. In DC the Rock and Roll Hotel has Pash, Tilly and the Wall, and Capgun Coup. storming the stage. In Philadelphia, The Fire has a mellow folk night with Sarsaparilla, Nick Jaina, and Ice Nine Kills. Enjoy.

mp3: Pash - Palindrome --> website --> buy
mp3: Tilly and the Wall - Bad Education --> website --> buy
mp3: Sarsaparilla - Sad Stars --> website --> buy
mp3: Nick Jaina - Apple Seed --> website --> buy

Random Randomness For A Random World

No one else lives like a rolling stone, as sure as the sun if only the moon were up.

image via wooster collective

The Run Down - Saturday March 15, 2008

This weekend is fairly light in terms of shows. First off the Pela show last night and tonight were canceled due to injury. Luckily they still have some locals playing Johnny Brenda's tonight. One of my faves, The Squaaks, is playing along with Jotto, The Chimeras, and Thinking Machines. If you missed the Black Lips in Philly last night, you can catch them in DC at the Black Cat tonight with Quintron & Miss Pussycat. Beware! The Ides Of March!

mp3: The Squaaks - Two Hippies --> website --> buy
mp3: Black Lips - Veni Vedi Veci (Diplo Remix) --> website --> buy

The Run Down - March 14, 2008

While many of you might be out in Austin this weekend, there are still a few sweet shows around the area tonight. Here in Baltimore, The Metro Gallery has Kadman's CD Release with Rain The Shining and The Water opening for them. In DC there's a great show at the Rock and Roll Hotel with *****Pela*****(UPDATE!!! Pela has canceled due to injury---refunds at the door---- Greenland, Bellflur, The Coats, and The Shakes are still performing----that's still a pretty darn good show). Finally in Philly you don't want to miss Black Lips and Quintron & Miss Pussycat at Johnny Brenda's.

mp3: Black Lips - Veni Vedi Veci (Diplo Remix) --> website --> buy
***SHOW CANCELED***mp3: Pela - Lost To The Lonesome --> website --> buy
mp3: Greenland - Solace In The Sea --> website --> buy
mp3: Kadman - Sorry --> website --> buy

A Statement For State Bird

State Bird is the musical project of Coby Hartzler and Jason Riblet. They just released their 2nd album in February entitled Mostly Ghostly on The Record Machine label. After a couple of spins of this Ohioan band, I've come to an understanding of what I perceive is going on throughout this album. It's full of metaphors and parables that parallel life, it's cruel truths, and it's awe inspiring realizations. How does it translate musically? Well State Bird captures the wildness of bands like Of Montreal and the avant-garde styles of Grizzly Bear then sets them up on a blind date with David Byrne and...poof...Mostly Ghostly. This album doesn't smack you in the face like most music does these days. Rather it slowly sneaks up on you from behind with a bottle of chloroform...and....before you know it...it's got you (in a good way).

mp3: State Bird - The Golden Glowing Mask --> website --> buy
mp3: State Bird - A Voice As Old As Fire

The Deadly Syndrome Sets The Tone

A couple of months ago I was perusing the local calendars of different clubs and checking out various bands that I hadn't heard before. On this particular day I came across a band called The Deadly Syndrome. A look of fear drew across my face as I dared to open their myspace page. You see I'm from Baltimore. It may seem that we have a decent indie scene in the area...well we do, but for a long time Baltimore has had an infamous screamo/metal scene going. That's pretty much what I thought I was in for. 90% of the time a band that has 'Dead' or 'Syndrome' is going to not sit well with my musical taste. Luckily I have learned over the years not to judge a book by it's cover and proceeded to open the web page. What I found was a pretty phenomenal four piece from California that plays great indie rock in the neighborhood of early Flaming Lips and Cold War Kids. The Deadly Syndrome released their debut album, The Ortolan, last year on Dim Mak Records. This is a deep album that is held together by lead singer Christopher Richard's clever vocal stylings, but sometimes completely morphed into something amazing through blazing instrumentals for extended moments. This gives The Ortolan great mountains and valleys as music goes. Some instances they play simple melody bouncing sweet songs. The other instances they delve into more complex guitar laden arrangements. Sometimes it's in the same song. This was pretty astonishing considering it is their first release. Other blogs have thrown them into the Arcade Fire/Wolf Parade category, which is a great category to be in, but I don't quite see that. These guys from LA have defined their own powerful sound on this first cut. Now we just have to wait for the next.

mp3: The Deadly Syndrome - Eucalyptus --> website --> buy
mp3: The Deadly Syndrome - Wolves In The Garden

The Run Down - Wednesday March 12, 2008

The quantity of shows may be small, but if you're into the whole electro dance indie dj thang then you're in heaven. In Baltimore the Ottobar has MSTRKRFT, Rye Rye, Uncle Jesse, and Oh Snap!. Or maybe you just want to trot down to DC to catch that whole myspace deely at the 9:30 club with Justice, DJ Medhi, and Fancy.

mp3: Justice - New Jack --> website --> buy
mp3: Wolfmother - Woman (MSTRKRFT Remix) --> website --> buy

VIDEO - Fishboy & Panther

Fishboy has just put out a new video of the song Parachute. It's pretty rad and goes along very well with Fishboy aesthetic. Check it out:


mp3: Fishboy - Parachute --> website --> buy

Panther has also put out new video for Violence, Diamonds that blends their live personas with interesting scratchy line drawings and stuff. Enough talk...watch:


mp3: Panther - Violence, Diamonds --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Tuesday March 11, 2008

There's a few Tuesday events that might perk your interest. In Baltimore, the Ottobar has Nightmare of You and The Dance Party. Up in Philly you can indie rock it at the Khyber with House of Fire, Swimmers Union, Isaac Hurt, and Danke or you can club it up at Philly's Woody's with MSTRKRFT.

mp3: Nightmare Of You - My Name Is Trouble --> website --> buy
mp3: House Of Fire - Walk Along The Sun --> website --> buy
mp3: New Young Pony Club - Get Lucky (MSTRKRFT Remix) --> website --> buy

Toofer Toosday - Famous Lovers & King Of Prussia

Montreal has produced many a good band as of late. I recently found a pretty sweet EP in the inbox from another four piece from Montreal. Was this the next big thing? Well I'm not the 'decider' of those types of things, but I did think it was pretty good. Famous Lovers, that's the name...of the quartet from Canada(though each member hails from a different part of the globe). Andrew Sepic sings the dark melodies while Jonathan Kelly supplies the aromatic guitar lines that makes each song a delicious meal. Think Interpol with a happier approach. There's a bit more sunshine than cloudy afternoons, but there's still plenty of heart ache to go 'round. This is a band to watch in the future...they have the ingredients to serve up a magical entree. When's the LP coming? (really...I don't know...but I want to know...so tell me).

mp3: Famous Lovers - Tocsin --> website --> buy
mp3: Famous Lovers - John Batt

We all know King Of Prussia. It's a town in Pennsylvania(duh). But have you heard of the one in Athens, Georgia. Not the town, but the band. No? Well you might enjoy them quite mightily. They put out their first LP, Save The Scene, earlier this year on Kindercore. Though it's short length wise, KOP makes up for it in the depth of each song. Many might compare their sound to Belle and Sebastian and The Shins, but it's pretty evident that the summer sound of the 1960's is in the blood of King Of Prussia. Each song on this album is a pop gem. Really. Aside from that, what takes this little LP to the next level is it's gorgeous production. The reverb drenched vocals and crisp acoustic guitars sparkle in and out through all the right places. I guess the only thing I can complain about is the length. I'm left wanting more, but I guess that's a good thing. You can find them at SXSW playing the Light Bar on the 14th and the Side Bar on the 15th.

mp3: King Of Prussia - Cheerleaders --> website --> buy
mp3: King Of Prussia - Misadventures of the Campaign Kids

The Run Down - Monday March 10, 2008

There are three super sweet shows to speak of today. That's pretty good fro a Monday. At the Black Cat in DC there's a great show with The Fairlane Parkway, Kitty Hawk, and the Sean McArdle Band. Another great DC show is at DC9 with School Of Language, Medications, and Go Home Robot. If you're in Philly, the place to be is the Electric Factory where Justice performs for the special 'myspace' tour. Enjoy!

mp3: The Fairlane Parkway - Homesteaders --> website --> buy
mp3: Kitty Hawk - Brown Eyes --> website
mp3: Justice - One Minute To Midnight --> website --> buy
mp3: School Of Language - Rockist Part 1 --> website --> buy
mp3: Medications - Twine Time --> website --> buy

Random Randomness For A Random World

Something in the air...here or there, we're already there...road to nowhere.

image via wooster collective

Just Another Day?

What are birthdays? What are weekends? What are parties? I'm not quite sure either, but I know if you combine these three things with music, food, and liquids, you'll experience what I'm about to experience tonight. Yep, you guessed it...it's my birthday...and a party is a comin'. Here's but a slice of the music I'll be listening to tonight...some new...some old...all friggin' great. Enjoy! Go Pisces!

mp3: Peanut Butter Wolf - Keep On Rockin' It
mp3: The Beatles - Happiness Is A Warm Gun
mp3: Voxtrot - Soft And Warm
mp3: RJD2 - Ghostwriter
mp3: The Knife - We Share Our Mothers Health (Ratatat Remix)
mp3: KRS One - Sound Of Da Police
mp3: Figurines - Ambush
mp3: Beastie Boys - Paul Revere
mp3: Cadence Weapon - Sharks
mp3: Radiohead - Just
mp3: The Roots - The Lesson Part 1
mp3: Gorillaz - Rock The House
mp3: Voxtrot - Rise Up In The Dirt
mp3: A Tribe Called Quest - Steve Biko (Stir It Up)
mp3: The Rosebuds - Unwind
mp3: Radiohead - Idioteque
mp3: Jurassic Five - What's Golden
mp3: The Lisps - Pepper Spray
mp3: Weezer - In The Garage
mp3: Nada Surf - Killian's Red
mp3: Pixies - Hey
mp3: Edan - Sing It Shitface
mp3: Beastie Boys - Get It Together
mp3: Boogie Down Productions - My Philosophy
mp3: Deltron 3030 - Madness
mp3: Neil Young - Heart Of Gold
mp3: Nirvana - Lounge Act
mp3: The Guess Who - These Eyes
mp3: Charizma & PB Wolf - Methods
mp3: Radiohead - Exit Music (For A Film)

image via

The Run Down - Saturday March 8, 2008

If I wasn't having my own party tonight, I would for sure be at the Rock and Roll Hotel. What more could you want from a line up including Jukebox The Ghost, Tereu Tereu, Bear Hands, and Modern Skirts? Or maybe you might want something like The Hives and The Donnas at the 9:30 club. Also in DC is Appomattox, Len Bias, and The Mussels at the Velvet Lounge. In Philly Jose Gonzalez plays the World Cafe Live. Finally you might want to consider Prabir & The Substitutes, Happy Anarchy, Orbit To Leslie, and OSO at The Fire in Philly. Have a great one!

mp3: Jukebox The Ghost - Good Day --> website --> buy
mp3: Tereu Tereu - Don't Be Sore, Farmer John --> website
mp3: Bear Hands - Bad Blood --> website --> buy
mp3: Prabir - This Little Heart Of Mine --> website --> buy
mp3: The Hives - Tick Tick Boom --> website --> buy
mp3: Appomattox - Gotta Run --> website --> buy
mp3: Jose Gonzalez - Heartbeats --> website --> buy

In The News - Mystery Jets, Portishead, Blockhead, & Among Wolves

Ahhh Mystery Jets. So much pop. So much energy. So much fun. So good. So they have a new single out Monday called Young Love. It's pretty darn good and the have a video for it right here:

Good ain't it?

mp3: Mystery Jets - Young Love --> website --> buy
mp3: Mystery Jets - Flakes
mp3: Mystery Jets - You Can't Fool Me Dennis (Justice Remix)

========

If you're like me, you are super psyched about the new Portishead album coming out on April 29th on Mercury/Island. It's only been about a bazillion years since the last one. Hopefully it's good.

mp3: Bjork - Isobel (Portishead Remix)

========

Speaking of music with the word 'head' in it, everybody's favorite DJ Blockhead has just posted a new remix of an old Nina Simone song on his myspace. Grab it up quick because apparently this will never be released. Never ever ever ever.

mp3: Blockhead - Nobody's Fault Remix --> website --> buy

========

Finally our good friends Among Wolves are back in the studio recording a new album that hopefully will be out sometime this year. They've been posting some demos on their myspace and I have to say I like where they're going.

mp3: Among Wolves - The Lesson (demo) --> website --> buy

Just In Time For Airline

A couple of months ago I received an email from a band from Dallas Texas called Airline. They had some demo songs on their myspace and wanted to know what I thought. The first thing I said to myself was, "Airline? What kind of band name is that?" Curiosity then took over and I surfed on over to their site. Though the demos were rough (hence the term 'demo'), I really was taken by the four songs I heard. My ipod must of known this too, because it would always seem to play one of these demos every once and a while as if it was reminding me, "Don't forget about these guys!" Well...I didn't. They've just released their debut album, Farewell Republica, and I must say it's pretty sweet. It's really hard to believe this is their first album. The songs are superbly written and pack the emotional heat that keeps me interested all the way through. It's hard to pick out a highlight because every aspect is fairly polished (not over produced though). I could compare them to all sorts of prominent bands(Spoon, Wilco, The Shins, My Morning Jacket, Coldplay, Bends-era Radiohead), but this four piece really is standing on their own sound. You can find Airline playing various venues around Texas including this years SXSW. Hopefully they will come east soon. Right?

mp3: Airline - Denmark --> website --> buy
mp3: Airline - About To Bend

Friday (I'm A Remix)

So it's that glorious day again...and? Well for starters it's my birthday weekend, so I'm looking to celebrate a little more than usual today. I feel like making history! How? I dunno. I could always start a new catch phrase or slang...I mean Snoop did it, how hard could it be? Umm....uh...um... uh.... okay... I GOT ONE. Prolific. As in, "Man those shoes are prolific!" or "Damn, those beats are prolific!". Perhaps you could switch it around to a negative by saying, "Dude, your breath is prolific! Here's a tic tac." Well maybe I could have done better. Any suggestions. To get you thinking, here's some prolific remixes.

mp3: Memphis Bleek - Alright (Ratatat Remix)
mp3: Arcade Fire - Black Mirror (Andrew Maury Remix)
mp3: RJD2/Jay-Z - Dirt Off Your Shoulder (EL-P - Lazerface Remix)
mp3: Nas - Hope (Beirut Remix)

image via

The Run Down - Friday March 7, 2008

Friday is here at last and it brings a load of awesome acts. Here in Baltimore the Metro Gallery has a great show lined up with Panda Riot and Screen Vinyl Image. In DC, Sia plays the 9:30 club with Har Mar Superstar, and The Epochs play DC9 with Tigercirty. Finally in Philly you can check out Lightspeed Champion at the World Cafe Live or Drink Up Buttercup, Jukebox The Ghost, The Moneynotes, The modern Skirts, and Madi Diaz at The Khyber.
****UPDATE****
I've just received word that the Screen Vinyl Image/Panda Riot show at the Metro Gallery has been CANCELED. Dang!

mp3: Sia - Academia (with Beck) --> website --> buy
mp3: Drink Up Buttercup - Mr. Pie Eyes --> website
mp3: Jukebox The Ghost - Good Day --> website --> buy
mp3: The Epochs - Tug Of War --> website --> buy
mp3: Panda Riot - She Dares All Things --> website --> buy
mp3: Screen Vinyl Image - Chaser --> website --> buy
mp3: Lightspeed Champion - Galaxy Of The Lost --> website --> buy

Surrender To Appomattox

I'm not sure Appomattox is the music that will end wars (their name being the Virginia locale that the Civil War ended on), but it will definitely turn heads and spark ears. These three Brooklyn transplants play hard nosed indie rock that leaves nothing behind. Do you remember bands like Fugazi and Shudder To Think? Those bands pioneered an aggressive indie rock sound that I thought I would never hear again. Well Appomattox bring it back, but blend a resonating pop sound into it creating...well...something I haven't quite heard before. Nick Gaynier (vocals,guitar), Dave Nurmi (bass), and James Mello (drums) all come together (Voltron style) and put together songs that have inklings towards beautiful Pixies melodies. Then they smash those melodies apart with thundering rhythms and wild guitars...then some how they find themselves back at the melody again. It's definitely a trip worth taking. Appomattox's debut LP, A O, was just released on Brooklyn's Triple Down Records. They are also playing with Mussels at the Velvet Lounge in DC on March 8th before they head out for some shows at SXSW.

mp3: Appomattox - Attakk --> website --> buy
mp3: Appomattox - Too Slow

The Run Down - Thursday March 6, 2008

You can get a taste of Baltimore in Philly tonight by checking out The Courtesy Line at The Fire along with Ayundar and The Night Birds. In DC, the Cadence Weapon/Born Ruffians tour moves in to DC9 with US Royalty opening for them. Finally you can also check out Screen Vinyl Image and Julie Ocean at the Velvet Lounge in DC. Have a time to remember...or at least hazily remember.

mp3: The Courtesy Line - The Lake --> website
mp3: Screen Vinyl Image - Chaser --> website --> buy
mp3: Julie Ocean - At The Appointed Hour --> website
mp3: Born Ruffians - Hummingbird --> website --> buy
mp3: Cadence Weapon - In Search Of The Youth Crew --> website --> buy

Hip Hop? Cadence Weapon.

Some people may be surprised to know how much of a hip hop fan I am considering I mostly post that indie pop rock stuff. Well truth be told, I would post more if I found something worth posting. Maybe I'm not up on the trends of rap and hip hop enough to understand what's going on. Or maybe my ears just aren't finding that truly amazing hip hop you would think would be out there. You may say, "Hey Laurent, what about Kanye and Lupe?" Yeah they're pretty good, and I really admire the risks Kanye takes with the music he produces...but that's two artists. Look at the number of indie bands that are really pushing the envelope of song writing and musical production. Where is that in hip hop? Where's the emotion and vision? Where's the growth? Was Nas right? Is hip hop dead? The answer...is no...for one reason. Cadence Weapon.
Back in 2006 I remember stumbling across the track Oliver Square on GvB and being completely blown away. I mean floored. I went and bought Breaking Kayfabe right away. The lyrics were hard and thought out...like a cross between Del and Percee P then smothered in Company Flow. The electronic beats were raw and ear-bending. Hands down, the best hip hop I had heard since Edan's Beauty and the Beat. So now I come to find out a couple of months ago that CW was putting out his sophomore effort, Afterparty Babies, on March 4th (as if it was some sort of early birthday present for me). I was a little nervous (2nd albums tend to drop off some times) until I heard the single 'In Search Of The Youth Crew'. Not only was Cadence Weapon back on the hip hop scene...he was destroying it (the good kind of destroying)!!! On that track alone he comes out with poetic ferocity. Combine that with smash mouth electrohop beats...and once again you have me looking foolish driving down the street listening to this in my car. The full album doesn't disappoint either. The opening track 'Do I Miss My Friends' comes in with that Beat Street vibe--acapella style. The tempo almost had me fooled until the beat and rhymes came in...then I knew...it was for real. Through the rest of the album he delves into his personal opinions, his life's struggles, musings, and successes while expanding on the electronic sound he crafted on his first LP. I can't really stop listening to it. In fact I'm going to go listen to right now. So if you see some foolish looking guy bobbing up and down in his tiny car foolishly, then you know who it is and what I'm listening to.

mp3: Cadence Weapon - In Search Of The Youth Crew --> website --> buy
mp3: Cadence Weapon - House Music

The Run Down - Wednesday March 5, 2008

There's plenty of shows tonight to keep area fans happy indeed. First off in Baltimore, THE Cadence Weapon will be performing at the Ottobar with Born Ruffians and Food For Animals. In DC, Matt Costa and Jonathan Rice play the 9:30 club. Finally there are three great shows in Philly. At Johnny Brenda's you can check out the Stills. The Khyber has a great indieshoegazerelectro show with Panda Riot, Ports of Call, and The Coast. Finally the Fire has Spanish Prisoners, the Graboids, Northern Valentine, and Cheyenne.

mp3: The Stills - Retour A Vega --> website --> buy
mp3: Matt Costa - Cold December --> website --> buy
mp3: Born Ruffians - This Sentence Will Ruin, Save Your Life --> website --> buy
mp3: Cadence Weapon - Oliver Square --> website --> buy
mp3: Food For Animals - Swampy Summer Jam --> website --> buy
mp3: Panda Riot - Like Flowers At Night --> website --> buy
mp3: Spanish Priaoners - Some Among Them Are Killers --> website --> buy

VIDEO - The LK, TOUR UPDATES for The LK, Via Audio, and SSLYBY, & a REMIX of Apostle Of Hustle

The LK have recently released their first video for Stop Being Perfect off their recently released Vs. The Snow. Here's the vid:



They also have a US tour just about to get under way. Here are the dates:

03.08.08 - DC - House of Sweden
03.09.08 - DC - The Kennedy Center (free show at 6pm)
03.10.08 - Atlanta - Park Grounds
03.11.08 - Houston - Super Happy Fun Land
03.13.08 - Austin - Homeslice Pizza Day party
03.14.08 - Austin - Justin.TV Day Party at Peacock Lounge
03.15.08 - Austin - official SXSW kora showcase - Habana Calle 6
03.16.08 - Dallas - Good Records
03.17.08 - Little Rock - Easy Street Theater
03.18.08 - Urbana - UC Interactive Media Center
03.19.08 - Chicago - Darkroom
03.20.08 - Detroit - Scrummage University
03.21.08 - Pittsburgh - U of Pitt - W. Pitt Union's Assembly Room
03.22.08 - Cinci - Contemporary Arts Center
03.23.08 - Alfred, NY - Terra Cotta Coffee Shop
03.24.08 - Carlisle, PA - The 25-27 Space
03.25.08 - New York - Club Midway
03.27.08 - Baltimore - tba
03.31.08 - DC - Black Cat

mp3: The LK - Stop Being Perfect --> website --> buy

=========

In other news our friends Via Audio just clued us in that they are about to embark on a little spring tour with the amazing Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Here are the dates:

04-12 Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
04-15 Indianapolis, IN - Locals Only
04-16 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
04-18 Toronto, Ontario - El Mocambo
04-19 Montreal, Quebec - TBA
04-20 Allston, MA - Great Scott
04-21 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
04-22 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
04-23 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
04-24 Washington, DC - Black Cat Backstage
04-26 Charleston, SC - The Map Room
04-27 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
04-29 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Cafe

mp3: Via Audio - Modern Day Saint --> website --> buy
mp3: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Pangea --> website --> buy

=======

Also a few days ago Apostle of Hustle and Arts & Crafts put up a free download of a remix of 'Chances Are'. The original is off of National Anthem of Nowhere which we've posted about in the past. The remix was done by Jim Eno. Many of you might recognize him as the drummer of Spoon. The remix is pretty nice. I've always found that AOH remixes very well, perhaps due to the fact that the original song structures are so rhythmically sound. Enjoy!

mp3: Apostle Of Hustle - Chances Are (Remix by Jim Eno)

The Run Down - Tuesday March 4, 2008

Have I mentioned the crazy amount of shows this week. I mean good gravy boat gazoog(wha?) even Tuesday is jammed packed. Here in Baltimore be sure to bear witness to Savory James performing an all Nirvana cover set at the Talking Head with 4th Horsemen, Nocnitsa, and Red Rocket. At the Black Cat in DC do yourself a favor and take in Say Hi and Caverns. Finally in Philly, the only place to be is Johnny Brenda's to see the one and only Cadence Weapon along with Born Ruffians and Ape School. Well I lied. There is one other place to be in Philly and that's at the First Unitarian Church where Matt Costa and Jonathan Rice perform.

mp3: Cadence Weapon - House Music --> website --> buy
mp3: Born Ruffians - I'm One Of Those Girls --> website --> buy
mp3: Say Hi - Spiders --> website --> buy
mp3: Matt Costa - The Ballad Of Miss Kate --> website --> buy
mp3: Savory James - Sit Still --> website --> buy

Toofer Toosday - The Muggabears & Bear Hands

The Muggabears are a trio from Brooklyn comprised of Travis Johnson on guitar and vocals, Emily Ambruso on bass, and Gabriel Wurzel on drums. They play a brand of music called noise pop, a genre that seems to be thrown around a lot these days. Sonic Youth pioneered this style and seemingly everything else pales in comparison to them. Well not anymore. The Muggabears do what most noise pop bands fail to do...and that's the pop side to it. They layer cacaphonic distorted guitars and wild sharp drums into fully realized and sometimes melodic pop songs. Their most recent EP, Night Choreography, is full of these rich strains that sit in your ears and echo through your mind. If you get a chance, check them out at SXSW later this month.

mp3: The Muggabears - The Goth Tarts --> website --> buy
mp3: The Muggabears - Automatic Others

Speaking of Brooklyn, there seems to be a lot of good music in that town. Who would have guessed? Another band that is consuming my musical rotation is Bear Hands, a four piece from Brooknam. They recently released a four song EP, Golden, that teases me with the short length, but satisfies every sense associated with great rock music. Dylan Rau on vocals/guitar, Ted Feldman on guitar, Val Loper on bass, and TJ Orscher on drums all form to make rhythmic catchy pop rock that doesn't concern itself with anything but getting you(the listener) to bob your head and sing along. The remind me of We Were Scientists in that sense. Forceful beats propel the songs, but Rau's pensive brooding lyrics and voice take it to the upper tiers of great indie rock. Bear Hands leave me with one question. When's the LP coming out? You can catch them at the Rock and Roll Hotel this Saturday on March 8th with Jukebox The Ghost, Tereu Tereu, and Modern Skirts (holy crap that's a friggin awesome show!).

mp3: Bear Hands - Long Lean Queen --> website --> buy
mp3: Bear Hands - Bad Blood

The Run Down - Monday March 3, 2008

Heeeeere we go. In Philly there's Say Hi at Johnny Brenda's. In Virginia catch These United States at IOTA. In DC you have the choice between The Sketches opening up for Blind Melon at the 9:30 club, The Muggabears and Sisters at the Red and the Black, or Ilad, Lindsay Holler & the Dirty Kicks, and Stella Schindler at DC9. Have a good one.

mp3: Say Hi - Bluetime --> website --> buy
mp3: The Sketches - Dizzy --> website --> buy
mp3: The Muggabears - Automatic Others --> website --> buy
mp3: Ilad - Looking Glass --> website --> buy
mp3: These United States - Burn This Bridge --> website --> buy

Random Randomness For A Random World

All alone at the helm, heaven in the backseat, I just had to die.

artwork by David Choe via Wooster Collective

The Run Down - Sunday March 2, 2008

There's not much going on 'round town tonight except for a super sweet band from Boston playing DC9 in DC. That's right, Tiny Whales takes the stage in all their electro new wave glory, so don't miss this one. They play with Abiku and Autorock.

mp3: Tiny Whales - Same Shoes --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Saturday March 1, 2008

There are some marvelous shows around town tonight. Here in Baltimore make sure to catch Abby Mott, Pulaski (CD Release), and The Jennifers at the Ottobar. In DC you might not want to miss Exit Clov, Dengue Fever, and Cordero at the Black Cat. If you're Philly bound, makes sure you stop at the Khyber to see Gildon Works, Beat Jams, The Tundra Toes, and The Sunshine Recorder. Finally if you happen to be in Skippack, PA(where ever that is), there is a quality show at the Village Coffeehaus with Sarsaparilla. Go have a good time.

mp3: Dengue Fever - Laugh Track --> website --> buy
mp3: Exit Clov - Violent Berries --> website --> buy
mp3: Abby Mott - Africa From Here --> website --> buy
mp3: Gildon Works - Artful Rifle --> website
mp3: Sarsaparilla - Sad Stars --> website