« December 2011 | Main | February 2012 »
Wikipedia is great and I rely on it extensively. It does however, have some awkwardly phrased sentences:
The duo was noted for early use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine in English-language popular music, which was used in most of its productions.
Alls y'all's non English language cultures get no drum machine!!
Here's a clip from a documentary about Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' career called Flyte Tyme in which a post it note is used and Janet Jackson gets a case of the giggles.
Riverside's own Chelsea and Justine Brown aka The Summer Twins play The Smell on February 11th. Please to enjoy this playful, very L.A. video where their friends re-enact some of their lyrics. Summer Twins say that they specialize in dream pop but there's an edge to her voice that cuts through all the softness nicely. It brings to mind traces of The Go Gos, Dirty Dancing and polka and where do you get those things these days?
++Top of the Pops: I updated the Stop Okay Go You Tube Favorite Page with only two songs from this week: Kakkmaddafakka Your Girl, and Flunk's beautifully twisted Cigarette Burns.
Both are highly recommended!
++Just choose a spoon, Reese. Any spoon. (X variable in her movies is who plays the spoon and whether or not she chooses to be with her spoon.)
++If they ever do a Weird Horse movie they Gotsa use the Silver Jews song.
++She doesn't give a Duck: You gotta give credit to those Onion photoshoppers.
++Was cruising around the bottom of the Elbo.ws hotlist and came across the name Benjamin Francis Leftwich whose single Pictures, below, comes out on February 20th. In this market, where everyone's got a Bandcamp page, it's difficult for someone with just a song and guitar to stand out from the crowd. BFL manages to do this, dispensing advice in hushed tones that sound as though he's letting you in on a little secret. RIYL : Sufie Steves and Damien Rice. (It's a Damien Rice kind of day.)
++Beginners star and Kate Capshaw-when-she-was-younger lookalike Melanie Laurent duetted with Damien Rice last year. Her voice is deeper than what I was expecting somehow, but it's nice to hear some variety in women's voices in music and not the usual chirpy twee-ness.
++So uhhhhh, like when do the Shiba Inus show up, Phoenix?
++Picture of Robbie Williams and South Park's Matt Stone yukking it up with fans at last year's DeLuna Fest, talkin' like "we're #1!" (Note: not actually Robbie Williams and Matt Stone.)
++Former American Idol singer Kellie Pickler has a new album out called 100 Proof. Here, Pickler talks about sharing intimate details with songwriter Leslie Satcher:
"So she asked me, 'Well, who is Kellie?' It was so easy to open up to her, so I told her about my life and some personal things that I'd never shared with anyone. She went home and locked herself in a room."
...Ok, fine! The rest of the quote is" She went home and locked herself in a room and wrote this song, taking what I had told her," Pickler said. I find it more amusing stopping the quote where I did and you gotta make your own fun.
The women from two years ago (and their fashions) are killing it on Stop Okay Go this week! Accomplished paper wadder Sara Lov's plaintive wails keep on expanding until they just can't expand no mo'. Wonderful.
Here's a smoothie from Zoot Woman that'll probably appeal to fans of the buttoned down work of Ace or Whitest Boy Alive. I love the girl's dress and the playing out of the courtship ritual by this hip, mute couple. Dance in video is the best, especially mime used to communicate ideas... but on some level I always want them to break and do the I'm-a-little teapot (a crowd pleaser for those tired of the Robot, you heard it here*) and as always the Ross and Monica.
++I feel like the Internet is forcing me to click around and form an opinion on Karmin who I know nothing about thus far, but I refuse and what's more I give you a High Flying Bird, Internet.
++Dillon Francis: Is it bad that of all the glimpses into this DJ's glam life the thing that looks the most appealing to me is the part where he's eating Pho?
++Continuing on with what seems to be a cigarette theme this week, here's a song from last year by The Sweet Serenades' album Balcony Cigarettes. Nice contrast between the pulsing classic rock mojo and the lead singer's falsetto that reminds me of a less-bananas Josh Homme.
Sweet Serenades have resolved to put out a new song by the end of this month with the possibility of an album by the summer.
++Oof, it's taken forever to come up with a song that's finally worth my time and it's a frivolous tune from 2 years ago! Lastfm characterizes the Norwegian trio Flunk as "summer pop" which fits I think:
So much to love/latch on to here: the oversized buttons on her cool retro dress (like they pulled a secretary from a Hitchcock movie through time to jam with Joel McHale), the extended pause, the dark lyrics sung in happy tones with a slight accent: "I guess the pills don't work, and the drinks don't work..." Just great.
++Here's a new song by Joe Goddard from Hot Chip's side project The 2 Bears. The album, Be Strong, has a Jan. 30th release date. Viva 90s beats!
++I somehow got signed up for a subscription to Smithsonian Magazine. One of the teaser headlines of "The Obsession Issue" is The World's Sexiest Flower (Hothouse Hybrid Orchids). Hopefully the article will will breathlessly describe some steamy Hawkmoth action. Fingers crossed.
++I've written this before...there are certain songs that I picture being used in movies when the 'crew' is getting ready for the big heist. That's the best part anyway. Maybe I'll be like Skrillex and do a whole movie where it's just one long heist prep and the heist never actually happens.
++A new batch of John Mulaney's skewed views comes out on the 31st.
++Early Christmas gift idea.
++As John Mayer might say, daughters take care of your mothers..to protect their comedy gold!
++Do You.: Helytimes might be the wisest man on the Net. Warning: Charlie Kaufman's speech is long (but worth it) and may cause deep thoughts.
++So that's how it's pronounced. So much for my Bruce Willis Colbie Caillat joke..
++You're out of your mind, man! It can't be done!!
++Kristian Matsson aka The Tallest Man on Earth has the kind of unique delivery that often gets him compared to some greats. There's a certain heatedness to his style that at times sounds like contempt, but if you're going to get almost-yelled at, at least his voice, lyrics and music are beautiful..
++I know I keep harping on this, but weeks later and it's still smilesville on this end over that Seapony song. It's those tiny, understated, barely activated notes that get me. Where do you come from Seapony? And how do we gain entrance into your magical soft-lit world?
++I imagine that the photo studio for the Celebrity Apprentice bio shots has a big prop box like something out of Carrot Top's garage.
++One day late, Netflix.
++Why did they put the doorman "Calvin"'s name in quotes? Mystery abounds. Please tell us more about this so-called "Calvin." Calvin seems like the kind of guy who would work at a club identified by only a single red light bulb.
++Yup, this is the one for today. The last half of the song hits that sweet groove and doesn't let go til the end. I'll be listening without watching the video though because I'm pretty sure that seeing a few seconds of it already gave me Mono. Don't know where Kakkmaddafakka got its name, but I *will* put it into the name anagram generator for kicks and giggles, via the AndyRichterz. They kind of sound like if the Klaxtons decided to get jammier...
News from the inbox:
++Style maven overlords Kitsune come out with the CCCrash Mixxx of Punk Jump Up's Get Down on January 30th and in the process find new and innovative ways to use taxidermy.
++Monica will reunite with fellow firstnamer-only Brandy on a single on her new album titled New Life due March 6th.
++Ani DiFranco calls herself promiscuity's Columbus on her latest album. Would like to see the floats for that parade.
++The blond girl from 2 Broke Girls and Paul Kinsey ? That's an unexpected coupling. (Unexpectedly darling!)
++I was searching for the song Iko Iko yesterday, and was amazed to find that I've operated under the false assumption all these years that Paul Simon did a version. Was *so* convinced that I considered seeking out a Brady's Bits-type column where I could ask a "Settle this bet" question, like the true codger I've become. Turns out I was probably wrong and that my brain automatically files everything Graceland-sounding into one giant mush pile.
Anyhooshpuppies, Iko Iko by the Belle Stars (I like the Dixie Cups version better) was on the Rain Man soundtrack and most of the songs on that album were composed by SOG obsession Hans Zimmer! All roads lead back to Zimmer.
Call me craaazy, but I *think* there might be some product placement going on here.
You Tube disappoints me, no clip of Keanu from Speed saying "Cans?"
++I've once again updated the Stop Okay Go You Tube channel with my faves from the past two weeks. The best of the best! They are : Helio Sequence Converter, Limes Into A Tree, Crocodiles Soft Skull, Death Grips Beware, Wolf Larsen If I Be Wrong, Seapony Sailing and last but not least, the wonderfully stripped down version of Charli XCX's Stay Away. Definitely check all of those out!
++Don't worry.
++"He's warm bread on his way to being toast." Paging Aaron Sorkin!
++Here's an exquisite video by Australia's prize winning Cloud Control. They sound like what I would expect Australian music would sound like* (yo, is that racist?), and draw inspiration from Murakami. Gorgeous look and aural vibrations:
++Yes, it would be too easy to compare Limes to David Berman. I like "surprising ability to take apathetic singing to a whole new level, " better as a description.
++For some reason, whenever I read the name of Noel Gallagher's latest project High Flying Birds, it always reminds me of the phrase the Fickle Flying Finger of Fate. And he's giving the world a giant bird. Noel would probably appreciate the sentiment.
++You don't have to be a Size 2, baby, to be in Kate Winslet's show.
++Katie Couric is often the recipient of a lot of awkwardly executed hugs.
++I co-sign on this co-sign, simpler is better. Charli XCX is only 19?
++FYI: www.yetimoney.com is still up for grabs, if anyone has an idea of where to take that.
++I hope Los Tigres del Norte held on to those suits now that rust is back in style.
News from the inbox:
++Get an earful of the new track by Wavelets off their album Athaletics:
++Malajube are back with a new project titled La Caverne. Damn I wrote about this fantastically dramatic song of theirs all the way back in 2006. Glad they're still cranking'em out.
++Another SOG fave, Brendan Benson, has been busy working on his upcoming disc due April 21st, and signing Young Hines to his new record label Readymade. Bluesy!
++If I Should Fall From Grace looks into the life of The Pogues' Shane McGowan and includes interviews with his family members and Nick Cave. Err, I'm assuming that's probably separate interviews with the family members and Cave 'cuz I don't suppose he's the kind of guy you invite over for spaghetti, family Scrabble night and light conversation.
++It's 2012 and apparently this means that people aren't wearing pants anymore.
++Hey speaking of Nick Cave, there's a real Sherwood Forest and there'll be a festival there this year with The Dirty Three. Shore is purdy.
Not sure if it's just because I got a new computer but the snares on this Crocodiles track sound so crispy. Earmilk reports that the Crocs have been opening for Dum Dum Girls over the past year.
I swear I've written about them before(*) because I've seen this album cover, but I can't find it. Hmm.
++I'm genuinely curious to see how far Allstate goes with its Mayhem commercials that are gradually getting darker. At some point will there be a concerned Board meeting with fretful shareholders discussing company image? Just how much more sociopathic will they make Dean Winters, and will David Fincher direct?
++Margarita Mix Studios is waay too pretty for the dirty business of making music.
