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One of my favorite songs last year was El May's Don't You (it's a shame that she and Sean Bones have fewer than 2000 hits on Yer Tuber.)
I couldn't find any new news on El May but did find this lovely Aimee Mannish song Hero that was used in The Baxter sung by non-child of Destiny, actress Michelle Williams (who is actually a decent singer!). More El May rocking the off the shoulder look after the jump.
++Everybody's BFF Andrew W.K. is coming to LA on 5/10 and chances are he'll be bringing Cheetos.
++Sundays are bad days in LA, or some other Morrisey lyric.
++Dating is so specific these days.
++Why can't all songs be this simple?
++I'd watch an Odd Couple type sitcom in which Tabitha and Pink star as sisters*. Tabitha constantly telling Pink to clean up her act; Pink firing off one-liners. The title of the show would have to contain an ampersand because I'm pretty sure that the ampersand has been focus grouped and means fun.
++The Acb's Be Professional comes down like a gentle rain on your eardrums. Grab the vinegar before it turns into swimmer's ear!! Alas, the sweet guitar twang at the end is cut too short. (via)
A photographer captured some real moments following around two bands, Weekend and Grooms, during their stints at SXSW. Sure, the one guy from Grooms doesn't look happy about his Moms' hot dog choices and there's a bloody hand and an extreme closeup of someone eating, but who can hate on a good photo essay?
The Fugazi girl in me likes the dissonance in Grooms' music. There aren't enough bands that purposely hit crooked notes these days and I hope they stick around for a bit. Video after the hop.
Grooms sharing mp3
Aeroplane's Vito de Luca, commissioner of sessy John Waters-ian videos, loves Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and wanted to get David Gilmour to play guitar on his album:
I told my management to just go knock on the door-he lives in a boat on the Thames- and ask if he doesn't have 5 minutes to do a guitar solo.
Gilmour didn't agree. Granted, to the outside world he may just be somewhere chilling but he takes chilling very seriously. (via) aeroplane superstar mp3
++The tiny writing on this Franz Ferdinand covers cover covertamos is bringing back bad memories of my last eye appointment.
++Not only will Star Slinger sign your records, he'll do the ol' beach towel move of taking a picture with his head on the top.
++Go right ahead and keep toying with my heart, French Kicks.
++I wish Jeff Tweedy would write some comedy.
From the inbox:
++Britt Daniel does some moonlighting with The Heavenly States.
++The Pacific Festival OC takes place August 13th in Irvine. Any festival would be smart to sign Chk Chk Chk to any bill just for the enthusiasm they add to any poster.
A lot of techno can become real monotonous, when Detroit's 'Godfather of Techno' Juan Atkins isn't at the wheel. While his song Summer in the City (via) is bookended by a definite hardened groove, I'm cuckoo for the wild, expansive part in the middle when it sounds like the beeps are conversing with each other. Bonkers.: juan atkins summer in the city mp3
Oh so much news from the 'box:
++Wyldeman(Pret-ty sure no one's ever used that one before..) Zakk Wylde plays LA's House of Blues on May 6th. The incendiary guitarist recently surfaced on American Idol with James Durbin.
++There's just a hint of rebelliousness in Sondre Lerche's cool sound in the new single Private Caller. He's like KoC's Erlend Øye's saucier brother. (Eeps, Royal wedding overload now seeping into all thoughts.) Lerche's new self-titled album comes out on June 7th.
++Minneapolis' Swimming with Dolphins debut album Water Colors comes out on May 17th. They'll bring a little of their Great Lakes bred magic to New York's Highland Ballroom on May 4th.
Tijuana Panthers have one of the best name back stories I've read. The story itself may not totally make sense, but they have a physical panther to point to for verification purposes. tijuana panthers red headed girl
Been reading more Grant Brissey reviews, who it turns out does more movie than music reviews. He's a big fan of Rick Froberg, of Obits, who recently played with Ted Leo.
When Froberg's not busy telling people they have boogers hanging out, he does some of the art for Obits' posters and such.
obits you gotta lose
Swoonsville..:
Class Actress show-woman Elizabeth Harper isn't one to look she's struggled for her craft. Refreshing! In this older interview she says there ain't no problem with coming out of a truck like a glamazon in the middle of nowhere.
(via)
Yipes, this week has been getting away from me. Inbox time!
++Several artists have gotten together for a compilation tribute to Guided by Voices. The 17 track album comes out on Sunday and features acts like Blitzen Trapper, Thurston Moore, Lou Barlow, Cymbals Eat Guitar, La Sera and Western Civ cranking out lo-fi beauties like this: Western Civ: My valuable hunting knife.mp3
...more to come...
Alison Krauss and Union Station have a new album titled Paper Airplane out now. In this Elle article she discusses the fast rise of today's country stars and the one fan that popped up while she was buying a maternity swimsuit.
Here's a duet in which Krauss' gentle touch beautifully softens Shania Twain's forwardness, and a performance from a few years back.
shania alison coat of many colors
Might just spend the rest of this week reading Grant Brissey's hilarious reviews. This one lead to Mexico City SXSW breakouts Chikita Violenta. Really versatile sounds from these guys, fromjustintokelly this..:
To this (via):
Here's some not-terrible live footage fresh out the box from Seattle's My Goodness, who just signed with Sarathan Records. I love this review of a recent My Goodness performace from the cranky Grant Brissey:
Guitarist/vocalist Joel Schneider's (also of Absolute Monarchs, which are another new-ish local band to keep an eye on) muscular, dexterous guitar work melds quite nicely with drummer Ethan Jacobsen's brawny but controlled timekeeping. I'm hearing maybe some Black Keys with a little more punk than blues, but that's shooting from the hip, so don't get all whiny about it if you end up not agreeing. My Goodness don't have a proper recording yet, but my prediction is that it will be a good thing when they do. Last night they tore through 10 meaty pieces of rock before declining requests for an encore because they didn't have any more songs. Then they asked for shots of Tequila.
Update: Ooh, just got word the band is giving away a single right ovah hurr.
Martin Topley-Bird is Tricky's colorful sometime muse, who's now starting to break out on her own. Marina Topley bird valentine
LaBlogotheque's latest find is (Please) Don't Blame Mexico. A band with parentheses in the name just had to be investigated.
Turns out the name is taken from the lyrics of the Prefab Sprout song Don't Sing. So my job here is done.
Partial to their sound here. Ooh, the sonic mayhem at the end is lovely.:
Please don't blem mexico behinders
++Am looking at this picture of Odd Future and thinking about how fresh & young they'll look in an article 30 years from now.
++Floozy!
++Oops, missed the chance to post on The Naked and Famous who played the Echoplex last night.
Whoever is writing the concert listings for Losanjealous suggested bringing egg shakers (on sale!)and maracas to the concert. So had to see what THAT was all about naturally.:
Pretty imagery where she's walking away with paper planes all around, hmm? The Kiwis continue their tour with Foals in Boston on 5/2.
Naked and Famous Punching in a drem
++Ooh, here's that Erik Hassle demo from the other day. (thanks to Burning Ear)
Erik Hassle Don't Bring Flowers After Im Dead
++Wonder if any of this guy's calls were to Neil Tennant.
++Aww yeah, work it out Pfefferfork. More Craft Spells! This one's got a Lionel Richie All Night Long vibe, and is so dang catchy. Craft Spells After the moment mp3
++So many references to the word 'sister' this year: Twin Sister, Sister Crayon, Sister Wife. Via Ninja, here's a reworking of Alex Winston's Sister Wife from earlier this year. The original comes alive* with Star Slinger's lasers, Japanese twinkling and Miami bass. Alex Winston Sister Wife Star Slinger
Phew! Busy week! Alright, lots of news in the inbox.
++Amor de Dias are set to tour North American with Damon & Naomi, in the coming weeks. Their album Street of the Love of Days comes out May 17th and they play the Satellite in LA on June 4th and San Diego's Soda Bar on June 5th. Hard to find the words to classify this pretty song. Let's go with bohemian and mysterious. Amor de Dias Bunhill Fields mp3
++Jamaica's The Jolly Boys will soon embark on a tour of Europe and other faraway lands. The band have been playing 'mento' for 60 years. Mento is a form of music said to have influenced reggae & ska. Jolly indeed.... : Jolly Boys Emmanuel Road
++Word on the street is that Holy Ghost's self-titled debut is now on iTunes. Free download here. The album includes guest appearances from PP's Chris Glover, Mike McDons, and the Rapture's Luke Jenner.
++White Belt Yellow Tag's debut EP You're Not Invincible surfaces on May 10th. They seem to be part of a new wave of bands like Voxhaul Broadcast, who specialize in atmospheric, shimmery pop. (Influenced by The Killers?): White Belt Yellow Tag Remains
Gonna hit that inbox in a few, but I just wanted to throw out a video here of Sveedish sensation Erik Hassle, whose looks don't match the voice that comes out of him at all. He's totally a candidate that future iconic hair poster. It's cool how they started off his presentation with clips of athletes going aggro(not giving a care, like honeybadgers), but I wish they would've interspersed the clips in the middle of the song to mix it up a little.
