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