Maddening March Musical Madness Part 7 - The Championship

There were 64 teams/bands that duked it out until yesterday night when one was crowned champion. An epic battle between the storied program/band of Kansas/Radiohead versus an up and coming new star in Memphis/Feist. She almost did it, but alas Radiohead ain't no walk in the park. This madness was a ride of fun. See you here next year?

mp3: Radiohead - Knives Out
mp3: Radiohead - No Surprises
mp3: Feist - Sealion (Chromeo Remix)
mp3: Feist - My Man Moon (Boys Noize Remix)

Maddening March Musical Madness Part 6 - Final Four

So this is it....The Final Four. I can't really be sad that this is the way it turned out. Yeah you always want the cinderella team to win, but I also like to see a great competitive game. As for the music side of this, WOW. I'm still going with Radiohead/Kansas, but they did just barely beat Amy Winehous/Davidson. Can they handle Arcade Fire/UNC? As for LCD Soundsystem/UCLA versus Feist/Memphis... it's anyone's guess. Flip a coin and you'll probably be right. Who do you think will come out on top?

mp3: Arcade Fire - Une Annee Sans Lumiere --> buy
mp3: Radiohead - Videotape --> buy
mp3: Feist - Mushaboom --> buy
mp3: LCD Soundsystem - Daft Punk Is Playing At My House --> buy

In Rainbows - What I Think

Like many people today, I downloaded Radiohead's new album In Rainbows. In my half asleep daze I was able to listen to it on my hour long Wednesday commute to work. Here's my take:
1. 15 Step
Starts off good. Yorke's voice is beautiful going along with a broken up beat. Then...I thought this was a regular Radiohead song...that baseline!!! This is a great Radiohead song!!! Was I ever in doubt? No.
2. Bodysnatchers
Okay okay okay. WTF!! This song rocks. They drummed up that OK Computer intensity for this one. This one goes to 11. I'm saving this one for a dire friday at 5 O'clock.
3. Nude
What should always come after a hard hitting song. Beauty. This song is beautiful. Radiohead is clearly operating on another level now.
4. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Am I wrong or is this album super rhythmic? A great beat with smoothly picked dual guitars and Yorke's slightly delayed vocals. That's just the beginning. Everything builds then drops into 'Weird Fishes'. Then sonic waves of guitar, bass, vocals and...sonic waves just pour over you.
5. ALL I NEED
This song is ridiculous. THIS IS THE FRIGGIN' SONG! I COULD TRY AND DESCRIBE IT. I CAN'T. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO BOB MY HEAD, SING ALONG, SMILE, CRY, OR EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE. There is no doubt that DJs will be hungry to use this in all types of mixes. Folks THIS is why that vinyl will be out in December.
6. Faust Arp
After a song like All I Need. I needed a break. Something to calm me. Faust Arp is that song. Strings. Acoustic Guitar. Thom Yorke.
7. Reckoner
Oooooooh yeah! I like that beat.
8. House of Cards
People seem to be perplexed by this song. As am I. It reminds me of U2 a bit. I like it but I think this one has to grow on me. I will say that it still fits with the superb flow of this album.
9. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Did I say before that Radiohead is on another level. Their energy as a band really shows on this song.
10. Videotape
This is how an album is supposed to end. An amazing arrangement of sparse rhythms building and joining together...not in a climatic way...but to the end.
That's my take. They did it. They friggin' did it. My question was always 'Radiohead is a group of just amazing musicians constantly producing stunning music. How could they possibly get any better?' Ladies and gentlemen, they just did. If you do not have this album, go get it. Now.

New Radiohead Album ' In Rainbows' coming SOON

Radiohead just announced their new album "In Rainbows" will be available for FREE(thanks DLL) download on Oct. 10th. Ten Days!!!! After much speculation over when and how the album would come out they announce this from their website http://www.radiohead.com/ : Hello everyone.Well, the new album is finished, and it's coming out in 10 days;We've called it In Rainbows. Love from us all.
Jonny

I couldn't be more excited. The download will include ten songs but the discbox which will come out Dec. 3rd will include the downloadable songs on one disc, a second disc with 8 other songs plus 2- 12 inch heavyweight vinyl! Holy rusted metal batman! not just an album a double album. I actually cant express how pumped I am about this after hearing a lot of these songs during their last tour. Anybody that was lucky enough to see them during their small club tour last year( or the 80,000 @ Bonnaroo) knows that the new songs were awesome and should be as exited about this as I am. I hope when I wake up on Monday this is real and not some sick twisted dream made up by my subconsious because I have been waiting for this album for so long.