Friday, February 27, 2009

New Death Cab For Cutie Video - Grapevine Fires

Mudslides, fires, earthquakes, yup pretty much sums up my time in California.

Grapevine Fires

Street Art

Taken to the streets, art by Roadsworth.


Quite literally street art the work of Roadsworth is the subtle manipulation of the environment that take something you see everyday and manipulates it. The political statements of his work can not be denied. In our car heavy consumer culture he seeks to find a balance and a place for the pedestrian. From his website:

Roadsworth began painting the streets of Montreal in the fall of 2001. Initially motivated by a desire for more bike paths in the city and a questioning of "car culture" in general, he continued to develop a language around street markings and other elements of the urban landscape using a primarily stencil based technique. In the fall of 2004, Roadsworth was arrested for his nocturnal activities and charged with 53 counts of mischief. Despite the threat of heavy fines and a criminal record he received a relatively lenient sentence which he attributes in part to the public support he received subsequent to his arrest. Since that time, Roadsworth has received various commissions for his work and continues to be active in both visual art and music.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Coen Brothers Call Out The Theory Of Clean Coal

The creators of Fargo, No Country For Old Men and The Big Lebowski give their take on clean coal technology.

Kim Ki O



This is more proof that the high end bass sound of Joy Division and New Order member Peter Hook is considered bad ass all over the world. Kim Ki O are a duo from Istanbul, Turkey that make dark synth-pop.

New The Big Pink Video - Velvet

New To Me

Young Widows - Old Skin
This is from the Louisville trios second album of post hardcore fist pumpers.

Rachel Ray SXSW Party Confrimed


The queen of "yummo" will be throwing another party at this years SXSW and this time she got indy heavyweights The Hold Steady, Ra Ra Riot and The Thermals. Plus The New York Dolls!!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Pylon Guitarist Randy Bewley, R.I.P.



Today Randy Bewley the guitarist the influential post punk band Pylon died of a heart attack he suffered while driving. Although never achieving the fame they deserved Pylon were a huge influence on fellow Athens band R.E.M. Last year DFA re released their debut album "Gyrate" and I can't recommend it enough.



The Clipse Working With Rick Rueben

A couple years ago The Clipse ended up staying at my hotel for several days because their Phoenix show was cancelled and they had some time before playing at Emo's here in Austin. Being a fan I struck up a conversation with one half of the group Malice. I ended up giving him a ride to the gym every morning and we talked about our dogs. When they checked out instead of giving a couple bucks to the valet guys they kicked down brand new pairs of Adidas, classy! As for me I got on the guest list for a great Hip Hop show. In 2007 Rick Rueben signed them to Columbia Records and now it looks like he will be working with them on the new album. Just thinking about Jay-Z's "99 Problems" or LL Cool J's "Radio" makes me excited to see what they can do over the "Bearded Ones" old school beats.

Beastie Boys Get Strange On New Record

Adam Yauch told the BBC that the Beastie's new record would be taking the group in a bizarre new direction.

"It's a combination of playing and sampling stuff as we're playing, and also sampling pretty obscure records," he said of their eighth studio LP.

On past records it's been pretty easy to spot the samples if your a big fan of old school hip hop and funk. The new record has the working title of Tadlock's glasses named after a tour bus driver who was given a pair of glasses by Elvis Presley. No release date has been announced yet but the band should finish mastering the album this week.

Classic Clip

Pat Duffy in Plan B's Questionable

I used to manage a skateboard shop in San Rafael, California. Long before I started working there Pat Duffy skated for the shop. You can see him wearing a shop t-shirt in one shot towards the end of the video. Back then Duffy was ahead of his time going bigger and being more technical than any of his peers. Then he just kinda fell off the map. Some people who know him told me that he got caught up with the partying and heavy drinking skate star lifestyle.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Robert Scissor hands

Well this makes alot of sense seeing as Edward Scissor Hands looks just like Robert Smith.

Bat For Lashes - Promo Video

This promo video featuring Bat For Lashes ravishing mastermind Natasha Khan doing pretty much the same things I did when I went to Joshua Tree: dancing around, wearing a bikini and getting in touch with the dessert.

New Depeche Mode Video - Wrong

The "Mode" will be dropping their new album on 4/20. Could this be their stoner album?

Depeche Mode - "Wrong" (official music video)

Faith No More Reunite



Right now all we know is that there is a European Tour in the works. I have fingers crossed that there will be some stateside dates as well.

Hunt For The Worst Album Cover Ever

Satellite Party - Ultra Payloaded



The only thing worse that the cover of this Perry Farrell and wife project was the music contained within. Hard to believe this is the same guy who made Nothings Shocking.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Classic Clip - Matt Hensley In H-Streets Shackle Me Not



I just love that old school street skating!

Disentegration


The Cure's gloomy masterpiece along with Jane's Addiction's Nothing Shocking were probably the two most important albums to me when I was in high school. The great thing about those two records is that 20 years later the music still stands up. Simon Gallup's bass line that starts out Fascination Street is still one of my favorite non Peter Hook bass lines in music.Disintegration was the bands eighth studio album and a return to the moody "goth" sound they helped pioneer in the early eighties. As he was approaching 30 Robert Smith began to feel nervous that he had surpassed his creative peak. This along with a return to using hallucinogenic drugs gave the album a much more dark and psychedelic sound than their last few albums. The record label felt that Disintegration was career suicide but the album went on to be their highest seller. After Wish I quit following the bands new releases and a sub par set at Coachella in 2004 left me less than eager to catch them live. Still, those early albums sound as good today as they did when I was in high school.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Lilly Allen Beefs With Perez Hilton


The British wild child and the, what the hell is Perez anyway, have been sparing through Twitter of all things. Hilton referred to Ms. Allen as an "awkward cow" and Lilly replied with a tirade about how she hates Perez. Picking a side on this one is pretty easy. Lilly Allen = cute and has made at least one good record. Perez Hilton = more proof about the dumbing down of America.

Bonus Perez Pic:

Amadou & Miriam Live at Studio 104

The blind couple from Bali will be touring the U.S. this spring. This track and two others were produced by Damon Alburn of Blur. There new album comes out in March and I can't wait.

Leonard Cohen Tour Dates


A little over a year ago I had the honor to meet Leonard Cohen when he was visiting Austin with his wife. Well now me and you can see the man do what he does best at his North American tour.

04-02 Austin, TX - Michael and Susan Dell Hall at Long Center
04-03 Grand Prarie, TX - Nokia Theatre at Grand Prarie
04-05 Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre
04-07 San Diego, CA - Copley Symphony Hall
04-10 Los Angeles, CA - Nokia Theatre L.A. Live
04-13 Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre of the Arts
04-17 Indio, CA - Coachella Festival
04-19 Vancouver, British Columbia - General Motors Place
04-21 Victoria, British Columbia - Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
04-23 Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater at Qwest FieldEvents Center
04-25 Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place
04-26 Calgary, Alberta - EPCOR Centre's Jack Singer Hall
04-28 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Credit Union Centre
04-30 Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Centre
05-03 Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
05-05 Chicago, IL - The Chicago Theatre
05-09 Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre
05-11 Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion
05-12 Philadelphia, PA - Academy of Music
05-14 Waterbury, CT - Palace Theater
05-16 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
05-19 Hamilton, Ontario - Copps Coliseum
05-21 Quebec City, Quebec - Pavillon de la Jeunesse
05-22 Kingston, Ontario - K-Rock Centre
05-24 London, Ontario - John Labatt Centre
05-25 Ottowa, Ontario - National Arts Centre, Southam Hall
05-29 Boston, MA - Wang Theatre

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

New The Maccabees Video - No Kind Words

No Kind Words

Man, I wish I spoke in Atari speak!

M. Ward Tells Letterman he's "Never Had Nobody Like You"

R.I.P. Touch And Go Records



Today we get sad news that Touch and Go records has no plans to release any new music. After shutting down their distribution wing the label has decided they will not be releasing anything new but will go ahead with some Jesus Lizard reissues. They do keep the possibility open to release new material in the future. Touch and Go have been a big player in the indy seen releasing records by Slint, TV on the Radio, Ted Leo and The Jesus Lizard.

Flight Of The Conchords - Too Many Dicks On The Dance Floor

I'm sure we have all been there.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Wheels Of Fire Intro

This is the intro the the 1987 Santa Cruz video Wheels of Fire. The song is by Eight Dayz which featured German professional skateboarder Clause Grabke.



Bonus: Eight Dayz Every Day is Like a New Beginning

New N.A.S.A. Video - The People Tree

This new song features rappers Gift of Gab,Chali 2na, DJ Z-Trip and former Talking Head David Byrne singing the hook. The video continues the bands efforts working with interesting artists using visuals created by Marcel Dzama.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Friday, February 13, 2009

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Proto Punk Pioneers Death Finally Have Album Released 30 Years Later


Death were an all black band from Detroit that started out playing funk and R&B. The band became heavily influenced by fellow Detroit rockers The Stooges and MC5. The band only ever released a seven inch due in part to a move to Vermont where people did not get them. On February 17 Chicago indy Drag City will release the songs they recorded 30 years ago for the first time. It's nice to know that to this day there is still unheard music this good left to discover.

Friday, February 6, 2009

New Jason Isbell Album Art

New Ra Ra Riot Video - Can You Tell

New Prefuse 73 Album Art


Is pretty freakin awsome!!

Grime Time II

In the U.K. we settle our beefs with snowballs not bullets.

New Peter Bjorn & John Video - Nothing To Worry About

So that's what happened to the Greasers
Peter Bjorn and John "Nothing To Worry About"

And The Baby Goes To.....


Nine month preggers entertainer M.I.A. will be performing at this Sundays Grammys on what is her actual due date. Having a baby during your performance, top that Lil Wayne!!

Bad Brains Documentary

Bad Brains_teaser

The AP Wants Money over Obama Poster


The Associated Press wants to be compensated financially over the use of aphoto that Sheppard Fairey modeled his iconic poster after. The photo was taken by an AP temp who is no longer with the organization. Fairey feels that his use of the image falls under "Free use" which takes into account how the original source material has been altered into becoming something new. Sheppard has also stated that he has not made any money off of the image. This leaves the question of who the AP wants to get money from, President Obama?

Ryan Adams Valentines Day EP


Has an awesome cover! It's called extra cheese but it looks like someone asked for extra pepperoni.

New Fleet Foxes Video - Mykonos

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

El Guincho - Live

Via Pitchfork.tv

Lux Interior R.I.P.


The front man for the sleazy rockabilly punk band passed away today.

Christian Bale Saves Dance Music

This week audio of Christian Bale freaking out on the set of Terminator Salvation appeared. Now it is being used in two different dance tracks.


The Power of Johnny Rotten


A few months ago it was reported that Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten would be doing some commercials for a butter company. The man who once shouted "God Save the Queen" helped the Country Life butter company to an 85% sales increase in the fourth quarter of last year. I think we found our new Secretary of the Treasury.

Tommy Guerrero - Future Primative 1985

This segment of Tommy G. skating the hills of San Fransisco made me want to move there when I was a kid. Years later I did move there and those hills are steeper than they look. Still skating the empty streets of China Town at 3 a.m. after a few too many pints is a good time.



Bonus Footage:
Mark Gonzalez skating to a song by Tommy Guerrero.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Buddy Holly R.I.P.


50 years ago the man who made looking like a nerd cool died in what would be called "the day the music died".

Wavves Live In The Studio

San Diego's Wavves are like a scuzz punk version of the Beach Boys where the morning sun wakes you up on the beach passed out in a pile of empty beer cans and cigarette butts. Of course I mean that in a good way.


Wavves - Part 2 by Yours Truly from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

New Walkmen Video - Four Provinces

The video is created out of thousands of still photographs, kinda like the one the Polyphonic Spree did. The video follows a young girl as she roams through the Himalayas and meets up with some other kids and dances.

New A Place To Bury Stranger Video - The Falling Sun

Funny, this video reminds me of the Primal Scream video for Vanishing Point.



Primal Scream - Vanishing Point

The Gaslight Anthem Bring the 59' Sound To Letterman

Watch out for the bass Dave!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Lilly Allen's New Look

When she first stepped on the nation scene Lilly was lauded for her unique (in the pop world) look of large dresses, sneakers and door knocker earrings. Well with the upcoming release of her new album Ms. Allen is going for a more revealing pop starlet look. I'm not complaining, just saying.....

Then
Now

New Air France Video - No Excuses

This video for No Excuses reminds me of when I used to live in the Bay Area and wake up at 5am and go surfing in the icy waters of the Pacific Ocean. That experience was much more like the one in this video than warm waters of Hawaii.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

"It's Boss Time"

Bruce Springsteen ordered America to "step away from the guacomole" and "put down the chicken fingers" at the start of his Super Bowl Halftime Show. Then the E. Street Band ran thru classic tracks 10th Avenue Freeze Up, Born To Run, Glory Days and new track Working On A Dream (with a gospel choir). Throughout the set Bruce brought the Rock Star moves of a younger man sliding across the stage, hopping on the piano and spinning his guitar around his back.