Stop Okay Go

Spirit Animal

It's neat how if you are an audio producer these days you can put samples of your work for potential clients to hear all in one place. This song jams so hard... (via)

Papercuts Future Primitive mp3 was here. 

 

Sand Giants

From the inbox:

++Fans of the Silver Jews will appreciate the pace and off-kilter charm of this song by alt-country vet Howe Gelb (Giant Sand). Wryly philosophical + distant Carpenters interludes= purrfect. Giant Sand's Blurry Blue Mountain is out now with a tour planned for spring.

Giant Sand Fields of Green mp3 was here.

++Last Boat is the new track from Brisbane's Montpelier, off an EP due in April. It's about lead singer Greg Chiapello's struggles with OCD and the freedom to find yourself in song. Video and info here.

Montpelier Last Boat mp3 was here.

++Just finished watching this beauteous video by Fuji Kareta, a downtempo Turkish electronica duo. Still not quite sure what it all means, but love the vibe and the clarinet just glides. Fuji Kareta opens for Owen Pallett in Istanbul next Thursday.

Fuji Kareta Homage mp3 was here.

Journeys

++Kudos to We Were Lovers on being able to generate such a rich sound with so few instruments. Also, on being able to stay adequately hydrated. (Collectively, they drink tons of liquids.)

++CNN profiles Canadia's Bryan Adams in "Bryan Adams Strips Down." No, it's not his version of Burlesque, rather it refers to a new unplugged album in which he enlisted what he envisions as a militaristic Twitter base of fans to pick songs. Adams hearts all his fans, with the exception of one annoying guy from Paraguay.

++Drake has a point. Plus, we the public wouldn't get to have any fun "brangelinasizing" their names. See also: The Lauren Lauren Conundrum.

++Nobody gives a compliment quite like Cher.

++Ashton Kutcher and the case of the Chiller Killer.

++The intro for this video by the band Ideals has an ominous warning about the use of strobe lights that underdelivers, frankly. Was hoping to have my eyeballs blown out.* Good song though.:

 

Cozy Dreams

Atticus Clothing has teamed with the band Placebo in creating the tee pictured above. (So confused. Is it shady peers or violence and strife that pulls our strings? Counting on you to tell me what to believe, media!)

Atticus has also launched a music line, more info here.

Placebo's You Tube fans are somewhat divided on the subject of the band's latest sound, which is far different from their days of covering the Pixies and the Cruel Intentions soundtrack.

Welcome Back

Much like Katy B from the other day, lead singer of The Jezabels, Hayley Mary, has an a unique style. Her simple all-black look isn't so much goth as it is 'greaser' or Courteney Cox in Born in the USA.

The Jezabels don't need much visual fanfare, relying instead on a tight sound and musical chops. Great stuff.:

The Jezabels Mace Spray mp3 was here.

 

Quickies

 

++The Hotcakes will play Arlene's Grocery in New York on December 11th, and are not to be mistaken for these Hotcakes.  I can hear this song being played on Gossip Girl, perhaps as a rebellious new character or outfit is being introduced.

From the inbox:

++Singer-songer (and super-strummer) Dar Williams plays Hotel Cafe tonight. In this song, she repeats the phrase: "I will not be afraid of women" (never having attended one of my family's Thanksgivings).

Williams has just released a two disc album titled Many Great Companions featuring Sean and Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Dar Williams As Cool As I Am mp3 was here.

 

 

Kings Rules

These pictures of the Azure Ray show last Saturday are cute. Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor have reunited, as they do from time to time, and seem to be enjoying themselves. Doesn't look like they'll be coming to LA anytime soon, though.

Me and the Flame

++Messed around and watched this entire unusual video by Faun Fables, which I can only assume is what staff meetings at Whole Foods are like.

KIDDING. I love Whole Paycheck Foods (preach Rambin!) and I like how these guys are doin their thing.

You can read more about Dawn McCarthy and company here. Her voice is divine, in a flinty, Grace Slick kind of way. Woman's in charge.

Faun Fables' album Light of A Vaster Dark is out now.

++No word on if he's bringing Uncle Rene.

++Laurel Canyon Caligula: Needs more Walsh.

Early Adopter

++People seem to liken the spectacle of DJ Shadow shows to some sort of spiritual awakening or an experience at the least.  He's been into jungle lately. Or is it Post Jungle?!

++Read an interview with Brian Posehn in which he talks about how he and his friends came up with the name Comedians of Comedy and adds to speculation that Steve Carrell's character on The Office will be written off after it is discovered that he's the Scranton Strangler.

That would be rad.

From the inbox:

++Pioneer dance duo Los Chicharrons come out with Roots of Life, their new album on January 25th. The album was inspired by member Morten Varano's trip to Bamako, Mali. Los Chicharrons Ma Do Nar mp3 was here.

Tagless

Nialler 9 has put together a list under the heading WTF is Post Dubstep? with examples of the genre that includes Mount Kimbie. I'm not so crazy about labels but I think they at the least give artists something to rail against and break through...

Here's another fan made video for Mount Kimbie's, let's say "experimental" song Before I Move Off that is definitely undefinable and definitely great. Do give it a listen. (My fave part of the video is at 2:16 to 2:17.) Mount Kimbie: Carbonated and Before I move off mp3 wuz here.

 

 

Face In the Window

Today's pick is from Neon Gold, leading the way as usual. Much like the Shilpa Ray song from yesterday, this Foe song has an unusual structure and takes unexpected twists showing off the hard and soft edges in the singer's voice along the way.... Foe Handsome Stranger mp3 was here.

 

Fasten Up

From the inbox: Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers play Spaceland with Acid Mother's Temple on 11/23. The band's newest work Teenage and Torture hits stores on January 18th. 

I like how this song demonstrates both the steely tenderness with Sriracha rawness in Shilpa's voice. She goes back and forth between the two extremes easily.: Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers Heaven in Stereo mp3 was here.

 

Keep Talking Too Much

From the inbox: Ugh, I'm gonna have to gush over this song.  Five O'Clock Heroes show huge restraint in not shouting out the refrain "Rough Boys!" and it's that light touch that pushes this fresh piece of Jammy pop over the top. Five O' Clock Heroes Rough Boys mp3 was here.

 

Quickies

++South Bay bred classical pianist turned producer Jennifer Lee aka Tokimonsta will join Bonobo at the Music Box on the 26th. Nice:

++Yo Yo Pa: Ne Yo names his new daughter Madilyn Smith. Aw, such a nice normal name.

++Bristol Palin makes a brief cameo in a video by Alaskan band Static Cycle.

Riding On Cars With Boys

From the inbox: Here's another video, like Twin Sister's from the other day, using old footage; this time from a black and white movie from 1933. Summer Camp's wonderfully warped sound works well with these kinds of experiments.

Summer Camp's debut EP Young is out now. When I first heard Ghost Train I imagined that Summer Camp was a waifish Japanese girl group, a reverie that will be dispelled when the British duo performs at next year's SXSW.

Summer Camp Round the moon mp3 was here.

 

 

 

Yes, We Are Collegiate

So here's something: Jacob Graham from Horse Shoes is also in The Drums. Both bands look like they came from fashion catalogs (see pix after the jump.)

The following song isn't that far off from The Drums with its bold emotions. I love all the bells throughout and the way it ends with "The Imperial School!" makes it sounds a little like a PR commercial for a school.

(via)  Horse Shoes The Impeeeeeerial School mp3

 

Fab-bou

Museum of Bellas Artes: Trippin' the Caribou beat fantastic. (via) Museo d' Bellas Artes: Who Do You Love.mp3 was here.

What Was Ours Can't Be Yours

Wowwity wow, Anne Lise Frokedal, lead singer of Norway's Harry's Gym has the loveliest of voices, a combination of Sarah McLachlan and Suzanne Vega. Is she the vocal lovechild of the Lillith Fair? Who's to say.

This mesmerizing video frames the mystery and icy fragility in that voice quite nicely.
Harry's Gym's album What Was Ours Can't Be Yours is set for an early 2011 release. Everything works here.:

(via) Harry's Gym: Old Man mp3 was here.

Quickies

 

Lotsa news from the inbox:

++Color coordinated combo The Dears' new album Degeneration Street comes out February 15th. Check out the video for the new single Omega Dog here.

 

++Ooh, here's a good show coming up, Rumspringa will play Spaceland on 11/17 with Bear Hands. The L.A. band's LP Sway is out now. Listen here:  Rumspringa Criminal Love mp3 was here.

 

Rumspringa: Criminal Love.mp3

 

  ++Lonnie Walker started out as a one-man show by Brian Corum, who would put on performances at DIY spaces in Greenville, N.C.  Now a 4 piece, here Lonnie Walker teams with Future Islands for a song that could be in a Drive By Truckers set. (Tourdates after the cut...): Future Island ft. Lonnie Walker mp3 was hurrr. 

 

Doctor's Orders

++Forget personal stylists, plastic design is the place to be these days.

++Prefix compares two videos for the band Grass Widow done by director Mike Stoltz, who definitely believes in the value of a good journey. Mmm, soda.

Grass Widow plays Spaceland on the 19th.

++Pinglewood has gathered several artists to cover Ariel Pink songs, including Your Twenties, a project featuring Gabriel Stebbing formerly of (yay!) Metronomy. Your Twenties: a band *and* a reminder of the right age to store those eggs!

This is my favorite of their current offerings, a song that thumps and creeps up on you like a swamp thing.:

(via) Your Twenties Caught wheel mp3 was here.