December 31, 2008 · 4:10 pm

The Whitest Boy Alive on the Empire of the Sun

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Today I’m going to tell you about 2 tracks that I haven’t gotten enough of for the past few days.

I expect that the first one, you may know about. Empire of the Sun’s “Walking on a Dream”. It’s been on the blogs the past few months. I actually wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first, but now I love it. You know what I love even more? The Van She remix. If you are a Hype Machine user/lover, go plug it into the search on their site and give it a listen. Or just click here, lazy ass.

NEXT order of business:

The second song that I have (both are on constant repeat) for you to check out is The Whitest Boy Alive’s “Golden Cage” (Fred Falke remix). Yeaaaaah! This one I expect less people to have heard, but if I may say, I love it more than the previously mentioned Van She mix.

So, today after work when I get home…I will be a dancing fool. Out of my golden cage, and walking on the sun…getting ready to party and bring in the New Year.

Hope everyone does the same. Dance to only those two songs. But, if not; more importantly, have fun and be safe!

Cheers! Happy New Year!

This is you tomorrow: happynewyear-2000

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December 23, 2008 · 11:16 am

Impolite Not to Like!

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So Paste Magazine AND elbo.ws calls them “infectious”, and I think I’ve been infected. Plushgun, from New York, are awesome. Indie synth with a dancing beat, you know…some new wave, and it’s a party!

“Just Impolite” seems to be the song everyone knows and talks about. But, the others stuck out to me more. Like “Dancing in a Minefield” and “Union Pool” are just like, “put me in the scene, and plug in this song for my cameo on Gossip Girl,” or something like that. 

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In February, Tommy Boy Entertainment will be putting out Plushgun’s Pins and Panzers album. It’s the band’s first full length album. Girlie Action describes it like this: “Plushgun’s Pins and Panzers bounces in to the room, passes out the glowsticks, hands you a beer and tells your ass to dance.” Whoa, really? That there is enough for me. I’m sold! You? Not just yet? Well, click here to go check out the new video for “Just Impolite”.

Then, after that…when you are sold…you can head over to Girlie Action Media to read more and check out their tour dates and such!

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December 22, 2008 · 3:31 pm

Drum Roll…Please

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For the last 20 years, guitar giant Guitar World has hosted an annual drum contest. It’s the world’s largest drum competition. And this year they’re holding their 20th anniversary for Drum-Off.

The Grand Finals for Drum-Off ’08 is January 10th in Hollywood. There’s six finalists:

Juan Carlos Mendoza from E. Brunswick, NJ

Jerome Flood II from Lawrenceville, GA

Anthony Burns from Saginaw, MI

Ramon Sampson from Memphis, TN

Sherman Arnold from Englewoodm CO

Timm Newton from La Mesa, CA

After numerous competitions thoughout the entire country (held at every single of the the 214 stores in America), six undiscovered drummers were chosen. A huge feat to accomplish, going through almost 5,000 contestants, these six musicians relish in nervous excitement. The six finalists will go head to head on Saturday, January 10th, 2009 at Guitar Center’s Drum-Off Grand finals in Los Angeles for a prize package worth over $45,000. They will be performing at the historic Music Box at Fonda Theater in front of a capacity crowd. The show will also feature performances from drumming greats Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden, Jason Bittner from Shadows Fall, an exclusive collaboration by Thomas Pridgen (Mars Volta) and Thomas Lang. Lastly (but not least!), a headlining performance by Papa Roach. The evening’s hosted by Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction.

If you just happen to be in that area, definitely check it out. Let me know if ya do! This competition is huge; Guitar Center’s annual Drum-Off has been recognized by the music community as one of the most important platforms for unsigned talent, and an awesome start-off point for many seriously talented young drummers. Tickets can be bought here from TicketWeb. It’s $15 a ticket, and all-ages…so don’t let your “sobriety”, “underage-ness”, “lack of sobriety”, “ummm…whatever” stop you!

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December 17, 2008 · 3:14 pm

Give Me That Thing

“Gimme that thing/Give it, my friend/Give me good, good times around the bend”

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I’m sure you’ve heard the tune from the Apple Ipod Touch commercial. I mean, that’s where I heard it…no reason to lie.

And once I heard it, I was instantly on a mad quest to find out who it was. Finally, one day last week that quest came to an end. Ladies and gentlemen, here we have The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, from Denmark.

In September, their first single “The Sun Ain’t Shining No More” was released. That’s the same time that “Around the Bend” was heard on the Ipod commercials. Now, they have an EP available (check eMusic here), that’s where I got it. The EP has 4 tracks:

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1. Around the Bend

2. The Sun Ain’t Shining No More

3. Push the Envelope

4. The Sun Ain’t Shining No More (Bruce Aisher Mix)

Their debut album is scheduled to come out the beginning of the New Year!

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December 2, 2008 · 4:44 pm

That’s What I’m Talkin’ About

dsc008391A few weeks ago, I went (finally!) to see Greg Gillis aka Girl Talk. It was at a venue called Gravity that I’d never been to, but when I walked in you could feel the electric charge throughout the place.

There were opening acts, of course, and I admit to getting the chills when one of them yelled out, “Next we have yet another act that isn’t mother-fucking Girl Talk, but he’ll be on soon!” The whole crowd went crazy!

When Gillis did take the stage there was a huge line formed of people waiting to jump onto the stage with him. My friend, just hopped on over the “cord line” that was separating the stage area from the fans and ran onto the stage with some others. Me, on the other hand, weren’t quite as quick and ready as she. By the time I was going to do it, I was of course being watched.

So, after security let so many people on the stage, they held us back and said after 2 songs they’d let more through. In this process, I tried to weasel my way up there by being honest and nice (note: It doesn’t work). I told them my friend was up there by herself, could they just let me through?! Nope. Nada. Not even a touch of sympathy.

Instead, I had some young teenage girl all up in my grill. She was completely rude for no reason and I explained that I was just trying to move up closer so I could get to my friend soon. “Um…no…you’re not,” she huffs. “Excuse me?” “No, these are ALL of my friends right here.”

Ooooooooooookay. I left it alone knowing that she didn’t know what the hell she was talking about. And this was definitely not a time or place for attitude. So, while waiting I befriended another girl that noticed the bitchy too young to know girl and said, “Ugh, some people just don’t understand that it’s all about the music…not them.”

HALLELUJAH!!!!! Damn right!!! I was happy to finally be next to someone like-minded. While we stood there, another person suggested we break through the “corded line” of security and just all rush through onto the stage. Almost happened…but none of us took that extra step to make it happen.

Soon, I saw my friend (who by this time must have been bored of dancing by herself) start to climb off the stage. So, I made my way back through the mob of people waiting. By the way, they definitely didn’t let more people on after 2 songs. BUT, anyways, I met back up with my friend and we went to get a much needed beer…where no snotty teenaged girls would be, either.

The show was awesome. I had a BLAST!!! The whole scene was just nuts.

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November 17, 2008 · 3:27 pm

Guns N’ Pepper

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Guns N’ Roses LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG (try over 10 years) awaited album Chinese Democracy is set for release on THIS SUNDAY. (Their last album was The Spaghetti Incident? in ’93!) Chinese Democracy is the first in a supposed trilogy of albums, with the third’s release date being in 2012.

This Sunday’s date is the 23rd.

How many ingredients make up the deliciousness of Dr. Pepper?

23.

Coincidence? …Maybe.

I mean, usually albums are released on Tuesdays…what’s up with a Sunday release? Who cares! But, here’s why: you can get a free Dr. Pepper (unless you are former guitarist Buckethead or Slash — yikes! Sorry, guys!!!)

Oh, but wait…Buckethead gets to share Axl Rose’s soda because some of his performances are still being used on the album. (from Wiki)

Poor Slash. the only person in America that doesn’t get to quench his thirst with the Dr.

So, mark it on your calendars…

Sunday, November 23rd: Go to Dr. Pepper’s website and sign-up. You’ll get a coupon in the mail good for 20 oz. of free Dr. Pepper.

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November 4, 2008 · 4:21 pm

Leftys Can Use Scissors, too

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Scissors for Lefty is just a big, happy family! Or maybe TWO happy families.

Peter and James Krimmel met up with Bryan Garza in the early 2000s while in college. In 2002, after moving to San Francisco, Bryan’s brother Robby joined in on the group. So, there were two pairs from two families. Maybe that was a bit too organized for them, because in 2006 another family member joined yet again. Steven Garza does his part with bass and with dancing. Yes, dancing. Now, Robby has more time to devote to the guitar while playing.

Last year, Underhanded Romance was released. The band’s debut Bruno, came out in 2005. While I haven’t listened to their first album, I can say that I love their second!

I first listened to their track “Ghetto Ways”, figuring that if I liked it, I’d download more. Great choice for my initial listening. Right this moment actually, I am working on downloading the rest of the album. (Emusic, folks…a wonderful thing.)

I must admit, I am saddened that I haven’t learned of these scissor people until now, especially since they’ve played alongside of Interpol and Bloc Party (2 of my faves)! And Pulp is one of their influences!

I’m going to assume that you’ll like Scissors for Lefty. If you don’t, then well okay — you won’t be downloading them. But, if ya do…my faves are (obviously) “Ghetto Ways”, “Nickels and Dimes”, and “Next to Argyle”. I’d skip “Wondering Arms” and “X’s are Forever”. Don’t get me wrong, the whole album is good, but if you’re gonna be picky and not have the whole thing…then skip those two. “Lay Down Your Weapons” is a hilarious song. “I been locked up a long time baby/ since I was nine/ just got out yesterday man/ bought myself this New York steak knife”. Ha!

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October 16, 2008 · 3:56 pm

Skeletal Lamping

I don’t know about you, but I am excited about the new Of Montreal album that’s coming out this upcoming Tuesday (the 21st)!!!

And great news! You can pre-order it on Amie Street for just FIVE bucks!!!

And did you read the interview in Rolling Stone about Of Montreal’s frontman Kevin Barnes?! (It’s a must-read!)

Also check out their Skeletal Lamping review!

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October 10, 2008 · 1:55 pm

Dance it Up!

Dominic Butler and Mark Yardley are the duo that makes Stanton Warriors. Electro break beats are their forte. They’re from England, and currently embarking on their first tour here in the States.

And guess what else? I am going to see them tonight!!! Whooooooooo!

November 11th is the magical date when their long-awaited 3rd album Stanton Sessions Vol. III comes out.

I’m super pumped about it. Check out their MySpace page if you’ve never heard ’em. They do a lot of remixes and collabs with other cool kids like Basement Jaxx, Plump DJ’s, Fatboy Slim and Mylo.

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October 6, 2008 · 3:18 pm

Dear Science

Over the weekend I got the new TV on the Radio album, Dear Science. I’d heard wonderous things about it, and I knew I had to have it. ASAP.

And those wonderful things you may or may not have heard about it are absolutely true. Dear Science is the band’s 4th album, and in my humble opinion, the best yet. Ok Calculator was their first, and I think it was sort of like an experiment for them to really find the sound they wanted; their niche if you will. It was much different than their later albums to come. Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes came next. This is when their track “Staring at the Sun” brought them some attention. It was that song that first piqued my interest in what they had to offer the world.

Return to Cookie Mountain, nooo — not a Cookie Monster/Sesame Street movie, is the band’s third album, released in 2006. Probably one of their most known songs, “Wolf Like Me” appears on this album. Now the rest of the world is starting to wonder about these guys. Pitchfork names the album #2 out of their Top 50 albums of 2006. And they placed #5 on Metacritic’s list.

Now, bloggers and music reviewers from ALL OVER are talking about Dear Science. The album just dropped two weeks ago and according to Hype Machine, has been one of the most blogged about bands. This new album is also doing very well on Metacritic, too. It’s got a rating of 90 out of 100, the site’s highest rated album so far this year! “Golden Age” is quickly becoming a popular, well liked track from the album.

Here is a list of the tracks from Dear Science:

  1. Halfway Home
  2. Crying
  3. Dancing Choose*
  4. Stork & Owl
  5. Golden Age
  6. Family Tree
  7. Red Dress
  8. Love Dog*
  9. Shout Me Out*
  10. DLZ
  11. Lover’s Day

* = my favorites

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