Music, Mars & Me

Blood on the Wires

2013-05-23T11:32:00.003-07:00

A poem inspired by the U.S. admission that drone strikes killed four American citizens

Blood on the Wires

one mistake,
left broken, breached,
a contract with a flag,
that waves in the afternoon air,

sun, you cloudless brick,
hurled at the unwashed grounds
of another lovely people,
who yearn to love and grow to learn.

that mighty drone,
four american shadows
glimpsed in the
lighted window of another tenement …

he signs his last bill,
says its for the best,
sips his coffee,
and drowns out the riotous voices outside.

love your own kind,
she says with a smile,
a smirk,
a stationary glance.

but how does one love?
how does one say who lives and dies?
with the flick of a cigarette,
the jotting of a pen,
he'll know what is right, what is wrong,
and what is to be remembered.

And since this is/was a music blog, the song that I was listening to as I read the articles/wrote the poem was "Likkle More" by Kim Deal, which you can hear below:

That's all. PEACE.

for Mark Carson

2013-05-21T07:42:00.003-07:00

After reading about the hate crime/murder that took place in New York's West Village, that claimed the life of 32-year-old Mark Carson, I was inspired to write this poem for him. Part of a project I started about a year ago, in which I started writing poems that were directly inspired by news articles (ie. the one I posted a while back about the conflict in Syria), this one felt like there was a pressing need to address the growing problem of intolerance that plagues our country. While some may argue that this happens all over the world (which is true), people should be able to manufacture at least some semblance of an idea of what is right and wrong, and taking a human life is wrong, regardless of your beliefs. I just hope, as a human being, that people come to their senses before these "hate crimes" escalate to a place where redemption won't exist. Anyways ... you can read the poem below: This one is for you, Mr. Carson.

For Mark Carson

6th and 8th the sky illuminating that hot, red moon, his breath silent, under the scorching of another glowing star.

He walks, loosening his steps along the gravel, a smile lighting his face, his cheeks flushed with delight, life is good.

The West Village buildings shuffle their toes along the roadside, allow him to pass, allow him to move.

Who is this dark shadow, that emerges from beneath the lighted lamppost. “You want to die tonight?”

Walking faster, he ignores the question, he moves quickly, under the shifting clouds, waiting for the applause.

His knees buckle, in an endless scuffle, for mind over matter. Where does that first bullet land?

His body stretches under that waiting tree, arms outstretched, “the gay angel …” How beautiful you look tonight.

We thought the village was safe, safe from the angry bullets of a hate-filled phantom, yet he's alive in his fury.

No longer a hologram, but full-bodied and steady.

And since this is mainly a music blog, I thought I'd share what I was listening to while I wrote this: Kim Deal's "Hot Shot"

That's all. PEACE.

Burnin' For You

2013-04-03T10:34:00.001-07:00

Here are The Sonics!...Native Korean Rock...Kanye W...

I once read somewhere that the idea of music is that it should be shared and it should be treasured by the majority because given the masses will always move toward new trends and new ideas, music in itself is a constant. People will always need a beat, an instrument, something to express themselves. Personally, I have many outlets for that, but regardless of who you are, music should always be a big part of your life, and if it isn't, that just means you haven't heard enough good stuff. Listen to some Sinatra and ease your way in.

Moving along, my import of The Sonics' Here Are The Sonics! has finally come in and I've been listening to it nonstop. I was in my office the other day talking to a friend and this band came up, and though I've loved them for years, I realized that I didn't own any of their records. So, I immediately went home and ordered this bad boy, and no regrets thus far. If I remember correctly, it's basically an album of good rock covers, with the only original song being "The Witch," but no one can do covers like this band. You can hear them "Walking The Dog" below:

Also, since I'm gearing up for the release of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Mosquito, coming out later this month, I've been delving into the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' earlier stuff, and have slowly migrated to the lo-fi demos of Native Korean Rock & The Fishnets (Karen O's brief side project). I've written about them before, so I won't waste too much time reiterating my appreciation of O's vocals, the rough, sweet quality of the recordings, or the clear sentimental heart that possesses these recordings. Just listen to "Day Go By" below:

Also, after reading that Kanye West was coming out with a new album some time this year, I was talking to my roommate about it, to which she asked, "Is that guy legit or is he just some privileged ass with a mic?" I told her, "Unfortunately, it's the latter." BUT, that doesn't mean the man isn't talented. Granted, I hate his personality and would rather him not speak ... EVER. However, listening to his music can be a mixed blessing. You can be blessed to get tracks like "Everything I Am," which are noted for their poignant reiterations of this man's character, or you can get 808s & Heartbreak, and who wants that? Regardless, I'm sure people will be excited if and when he decides to drop a new album. Until then, we still have everything else, including "Everything I Am."

That's all. PEACE.

No Leaps This Year

2013-02-28T10:57:00.002-08:00

Primal Scream ... Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Sacrilege" ...

It's been a hot hour since I've updated this little bloggy-blog, and that's completely my fault. Some great things have been a-brewing on the writing front in that I've secured a lovely position at The Weekly Alibi as a Copy Editor/Staff Writer. In keeping with tasteless self-promotion, keep an eye out for this next issue in which I have two articles (one for the Arts section and one for the Music section). Okay, now that that's out of the way, let's get back to what we do best: MUSIC!

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have shared their first single from their upcoming record, titled Mosquito. I don't have a release date on-hand (my bad!), but the track is good ole Yeah Yeah Yeahs at work. You can hear Karen O's voice go from angelic and soft to thrashy and wild (which is what we love about her!). This track instills faith that they are still good at what they do and this upcoming album shouldn't be a disappointment. You can hear "Sacrilege" below:

Moving along ... I got into Primal Scream within the past couple of years (I know I've written about their '90s record, Psychedelica, a couple of times.) But, they've shared a new track from an upcoming album, More Light, that's scheduled to come out on May 13th. Now, besides the aforementioned album, and a performance I saw of them on Jools Holland with Alison Mosshart (of The Kills), I don't know too much about them, but if this track is anything to go by, this album will be purchased by yours truly. You can hear "2013" below:

That's all. PEACE.

When New Years Pour...

2012-12-31T10:22:00.001-08:00

End of year thoughts...VU always there...

So, every New Years Eve is spent looking over the past year, trying to make amends, but at the same time, seek retribution for the year to come. You look in the mirror and tell yourself things like "I'm going to be more assertive...I'm not going to take no for an answer..." Or for those who are scorned within the amour-twinged afterlife, say "I'm only going to date people that treat me well." Yadda yadda yadda.

For me, a new year means one thing, and one thing only. I survived another one. I was able to take in the sweet, savory breaths of another wicked morning, and yet, I was able to dive face-first into the concrete, in the hopes that this dirt would taste as sweet as the rhythmic jumble and tumble of the previous day's scar tissue. But hey, that's just my take on things. Every year people make these so-called "resolutions," and they yearn to fill a gap that needs no filler. They strive to deconstruct the weariness of their daily lives in the hopes of finding a cure...or at least a momentary antidote. But each time, they set themselves up for the most prominent failure: fear of failing.

So, I make no resolutions this year. I make no promises to myself. Instead, I will thank baby Jesus that I made it through, or at least, made it a little further. With some good tunes, good people and good moments, maybe a resolution will come on its own... or at least something interesting. Cheers folks.

It's Just a Reflection

2012-12-03T18:08:00.000-08:00

The Alibi...Putrifiers...

So, it's been a hot minute since I even took a look at this thing, and that's definitely my bad, and I'd like to say that I'll be more diligent about posting updates and new music, but that would be difficult for two reasons. The first is that my internet connection is nonexistent. At this moment, I am using my work computer. My second reason is that since my internet connection is nonexistent, it's hard to keep abreast of new music and new inspiration, though I've been working on art at a more diligent pace, so maybe this no-technology thing has its advantages?

I'm now living in Albuquerque, NM where I am a part-time copy editor at The Alibi, which is the city's prominent alternative news source. I am also a part-time bookseller at Barnes and Noble, so all in all, I'm living the cliche life of a struggling writer. But, I get a good discount at B & N, which works to my advantage.

LISTENING: I haven't been listening to much besides delving into some old records, like The Monks' Black Monk Time and Heartless Bastards' Stairs and Elevators. But, I recently bought a copy of Cat Power's latest release, Sun, and though it wasn't what I expected because I didn't really read any reviews or press about the album (most of them noting her electronic change of direction), it sort of threw me. I'm still listening to it to get a better feel, but the tracks I like so far are "Ruin," "Manhattan," (which you can hear below) and "Nothin' But Time," which features vocals by Iggy Pop.

Also, today, I've been delving into Thee Oh Sees Putrifiers II, and I can't fucking believe I waited this long to listen to it. Just from a first listen, I'm already blown away, and even their initial single for the album, "Lupine Dominus," should have tipped me off, but alas, it didn't. You can view the video for that song below:

That's all. PEACE.

"Happy Birthday To Me"

2012-09-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

So, today is my birthday...and like any normal grown-up, when it comes time to turn 25, you want to celebrate it in a way that'll make you happy. Since last year's birthday was such a shitstorm of unnecessary nonsense, I decided to make this one as low-key as possible. So...last night, I rekindled my love of horror films and watched a classic 80s slasher flick, titled "Happy Birthday To Me." Pretty morbid, huh? And today, I've spent the majority of my day working because what is a better distraction than making $$$$$. But, as far as music-modes, I wanted to hear a #1 hit from 1987, the year I was born. Since, I don't really care for any of the Billboard Top 100 best singles of '87, I decided to do the original of one of the songs listed. On the list was Billy Idol's cover of "Mony Mony." I decided to post Tommy James & The Shondells' version, well...because it's 10,000 times better. You can hear that below:

That's all.

Makes Me Better

2012-09-15T19:33:00.001-07:00

Hellhole Ratrace...10-year-old wisdom...

This is going to be a very short one. But, lately, as far as music listening goes, it's been fairly stale. I bought David Byrne and St. Vincent's collaborative effort, titled Love This Giant the day before yesterday but haven't given it a thorough listen which I hope will be remedied within the coming week. Aside from that, I'm still obsessively listening to Girls...you know...that band that had that singer that was raised in a cult, released two albums, and is suddenly no more...yeah that band.

Since I'm fully acclimated to their second album, I've been listening to their first record, titled Album. It's a fantastic listen, and I like that Christopher Owens chose different directions in terms of songwriting as well as his vocal delivery. It was an interesting surprise. But, lately, I can't get the tune, "Hellhole Ratrace," out of my head. You can hear that one below. Also, check out their song, "Big Bad Mean Motherfucker." It's a nice little throwback to good old-fashioned rock n' roll.

On a musically unrelated note...I've started writing down weird, funny, and interesting things people say, compiling them on my phone's "notes" app, which is also my attempt at becoming more technologically savvy, and this one was taken from my 10-year-old nephew. This is his response to seeing my older brother's newly-grown beard.

"You look rough, like life is going hard."

That's all. PEACE.

DECLARE!

2012-08-17T11:49:00.002-07:00

Hot Cheetos and Takis...OH SYRIA...

Not much to report other than the fact that I have been OBSESSED with watching this video of some Minneapolis youngsters wrap about their favorite snacks, which are relevant in the title. Part of an after school program that rewards kids with recording their own music for good schoolwork, these kids are little bosses, and I think that this should be a #1 hit on principle alone. This shit will have you singing..."SNACK, SNACK, SNACK...CRUNCH!"

The poem below was one that I wrote a few months ago after a particular incident that took place in Idlib, Syria where a car bomb claimed the lives of five people. Of course, if you've followed the news, you've seen that more lives have been claimed, and the struggle is still ongoing. I submitted this piece to the New Yorker, and it generously got denied, so I thought I'd self-publish it on here.

OH SYRIA

Oh holy light,
Your cursed shell ignites a spark
Within the boundaries of my village.
You search the remnants of burned buildings,
A dead child wakes, gasping for one more breath,
Or a drink of water.
Yet, he falls fast asleep
And breathes no more.

Oh dictator,
How you have created a divide,
Those to the left, those to the right,
One fist can strike a fine blow,
But one blast can steal a million voices.
Though he tried to steal Damascus,
The emblem of his wavering flag
Cutting the wrists of those who wouldn’t drown,
Would not go down
To the sound
Of troops carrying fire-red guns,
One bullet to take them all.

Oh Muslims,
Thine hearts made of metal,
Struck with the shrapnel
Of soldiers unnamed.
They smile at the bloodshed,
Wipe their sweaty heads,
And dance around the graves
Of lost children.

Oh Idlib,
You are remembered,
One bomb, five lives,
One shot…
…can shake the earth,
But who will be there when she gives birth
To a day when silence has no need
For the breathless yell of a thousand feet,
That march toward your new-born ear,
Uttering the quiet prayers
Of those who were born to fear.

Oh Syria,
Your body lays to rest
On isolated waste
Of gutted cities
That feed on the ashes of burned-down tenements.
And we lay out on scraps,
Feeling the roaring of another explosion,
That engulfs our mothers and fathers.
And when the ruins of this land
Fall toward its knees,
One more entreaty will glisten
Under the fiery sun,
Set in motion by the rhythm of
Their fateful march.
“Guardians of the homeland.”
Let down your shields,
Your tattered tresses,
And remember the will of the silenced,
The prayers of the scorned,
Who only wish to be born…
Who only wish to be born…

Disappearances

2012-08-16T08:07:00.001-07:00

Harry Belafonte...Girl in a Coma...I Disappear...

SHIT...It's been a while since I even looked at this thing. I guess I've undergone some weird hibernation where the digital world just didn't satisfy my yearnings. I'm not going to try and pretend like while I was absent from this static blog that I was off enduring some sort of spiritual awakening in some third-world nation. No, I wasn't doing ANYTHING. Just being lazy. But, I figured why not share a little of that laziness with the rest of the world...or at least to the three people that read this. Firstly, let's talk about Harry Belafonte. I'm not ashamed to admit that the first time I heard "Jump In The Line" was watching Beetlejuice when I was 7 or 8, but last night I found myself dancing wildly to it in my room, surely causing a ruckus. But that's neither here nor there. You can hear the wonderful track below:

Also, I recently wrote an article for my local paper about an indie-rock band from San Antonio, called Girl In A Coma. You can read it here. If you haven't heard of them, you should give them a listen. They're not insanely groundbreaking, but the passion in their songwriting is extremely evident, and it makes listening to them enjoyable. I've only heard a few songs from each album, but they do a nice cover of The Velvet Underground's "Here She comes," and I also liked the first track of their newest album, Exits and All The Rest. You can hear "Adjust" below:

Also, I've been writing more and more, and while this poem isn't especially recent, it was a hearkening back to my angsty high school days, when The Faint was the band of the hour, and you couldn't get enough to drink before the night was over. You can read "I Disappear..." below:

I disappear…
Such a fancy line from a lingering high school infatuation,
The Faint is what they were called.
Such a delicate assertion that where
You once held more than a backwards glance,
You can pick up and leave
Before the suitcase is even packed.

Your picture can fade
In the memories of those who claimed to know you,
Claimed to trust you,
And before they were through sending you snickers and smiles,
You flew away…
…lost amidst a sea of wandering faces.
I disappear.

Two words
That calculate one single movement…
The turning of a back.
Easy to leave,
Hard to stay,
But would we have it play out differently?
Would we like to stay to consume more,
Purge less,
And realize that our mind is utterly blank,
Drained from the prospect of sharing one more cigarette.

I’d rather flee…
But I’m shackled by guilt,
Chained by reprehension,
And yet, I stay.
I want to drown in it,
Feed on it,
And taste the foul aftertaste of
bitter wine,
But what the fuck am I supposed to do with an empty glass?

That's all.

Another Town, Another Name

2012-06-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

Wes Anderson on music and film...Lana Del Rey's "National Anthem" video...Corin Tucker Band share new song...BANGA and Hola Ghost and more...

Wes Anderson was introduced to me by a good friend, and the first film I ever saw was the wonderful Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. However, I wasn't completely won over until I saw The Royal Tenenbaums, which is still my favorite Anderson flick, though I am particularly excited about seeing Moonrise Kingdom, which has been receiving rave reviews from critics. Aside from Anderson's unique visual aesthetics, he's also known for choosing great music to highlight the various themes of his films, making them more memorable and hard-hitting. Who can forget the famous Luke Wilson attempted-suicide scene in The Royal Tenenbaums to Elliott Smith's "Needle in the Hay"? You can read the interview at Pitchfork. And you can watch the aforementioned scene below:

Next up...Lana Del Rey's "National Anthem" video...it's so weird to think that just a year ago...maybe more...she was virtually unknown, and as quick as lightning, she is on SNL, American Idol, etc. etc. etc. And it just causes me to look at the machinery of fame and wonder how so many worthy struggling artists never reach a wide audience. I'm not saying this woman has no talent, but I think she takes herself way too seriously for the type of music she puts out. It's not like she's producing elaborate compositions that would require weeks of repeated listens to find hidden meanings. She's another pop-starlet who likens herself to a "gangsta Nancy Sinatra" to bring an old-Hollywood quality to the forefront, but it's a tired and contrived idea that I'm sure many unknowns would like to harness energy from. The video represents that particular aesthetic, yet Del Rey is incredibly stiff throughout the video, which makes it almost uncomfortable to watch. Also, it features rapper A$ap Rocky in the part of John F. Kennedy to Del Rey's Jackie O. She would go there... You can view the video below:

Lastly, Sleater-Kinney frontwoman, Corin Tucker, is gearing up to release a second album under this project's name, and she is currently streaming the upcoming album's opening track online...you can hear it at Stereogum.

LISTENING: I've spent my morning getting back into the Spotify groove. There had been a significant period where I didn't listen to it, mainly because I found it a little above my head. While it utilizes the same basic idea as Grooveshark, it just didn't catch on with me as quickly as I thought it would, and today, I've grown a little more aware of its appeal. I started my morning listening to Hola Ghost, which is a band that a friend recommended to me. This Danish duo takes inspiration from genres such as psychobilly, punk rock, traditional Mexican music, and many others. I like that the line-up consists of a guitarist/singer, a bassist, and a "ghost" drum machine. I listened to their second record, The Man They Couldn't Hang, and I like it. I like how they incorporate the use of the drum-machine, and I like the dark mysticism they play with in their songs. Tracks I liked were the title track, "Spanish Moon," "Dragon Balls," and "Marguerita." You can hear "Spanish Moon" below:

I also got a first glance at Banga by Patti Smith, and while I couldn't digest the whole thing (because I'm in the wrong setting), I like what I've heard. I didn't think about how complex Smith's records are, with a meticulous attention to detail in the lyrics, so listening to it on semi-audible volume at work just doesn't suffice. Definitely need to give it a closer listen, but I couldn't get the track "April Fool" out of my head all morning. You can hear that below:

Aside from that, I also listened to The Mamas and the Papas because it's good shit. Who can deny the magic of classics like "California Dreaming," "Dedicated To The One I Love," or Mama Cass's lovely rendition of "Dream A Little Dream"? That's right, you can't. And if it doesn't hit your spirit...something's definitely wrong with you.

That's all. PEACE.

KICK IT!

2012-06-26T14:11:00.002-07:00

Pitchfork interviews Cat Power...Matt and Kim share new single...Thee Oh Sees deliver new track...Slow listening...

Well, let's start this off with a little Cat Power. As I said before, when I wrote about her new single, "Ruin," I'm not a huge Cat Power fan. Mainly my liking to her is distilled into one particular album, that being The Greatest. And, to my knowledge, and thus a knowledge gained from having read her most recent interview in Pitchfork, that particular album was her last one with all-original material. Apparently, Ms. Marshall is a fan of covering songs, and if she can do it well, then more power to her. So, I guess that is what makes her upcoming release, Sun, so special...the fact that it's an album of all-original material as well. Either way...you can read the interview here.

As for more information circling the interwebs, Matt and Kim have shared a new single from their upcoming album, Lightning. The song is titled "Let's Go." Matt and Kim...Matt and Kim...they were one of those bands that I heard of years and years ago, when they were still up and coming, and I think that I even saw them play SXSW at some random backyard party, but didn't even really pay attention because I was drunky. But...as time has gone on, so have Matt and Kim...and to bigger and better things. I saw them play at the Fader Fort in Austin during SXSW last year, and let's just say the show was fucking epic. Erykah Badu even came out to play drums on their lauded single, "Lessons Learned." But all nude-music-videos aside, you can hear their newest track below:

Next up...We have Thee Oh Sees, whom I've written about before, so I won't go into them too much...other than to say they're a psychedelic rock band from San Francisco, and they seem to be coming up in the world. I was first introduced to them via The Mohawk, where I saw them during SXSW last year. Or the year before? Can't tell...time is a tricky fucker. But, they've released a new song from their upcoming album, Putrifiers II. The song is called "Lupine Dominus," and you can hear it via Stereogum.

LISTENING: This area has been crazy slow, and only because I've only been listening to Fiona Apple's new album. It's like a weird addictive listening drug that I keep having withdrawals from. It's no joke. Any time I listen to anything else, I just keep thinking about how I want to be listening to The Idler Wheel. I need to hear something other than this that is just as brilliant because at this rate, I don't see it going away...

Other than that, I was reading about how Iggy Pop and the singer from Best Coast (who I still haven't listened to) were collaborating for a song for the soundtrack of True Blood. Weird. But, I remembered Iggy's awesome collaboration with Peaches for her album, Fatherfucker. It's a pretty fun song to listen to, and you can hear that track below:

That's all. PEACE.

You'd Never Know

2012-06-22T14:35:00.001-07:00

Chelsea Light Moving...SCREAM...

Not much today...The only interesting thing that I found in music news today was that Thurston Moore, of Sonic Youth fame, has a new musical project for which he is the frontman, titled Chelsea Light Moving. They've released one song from the project, via Matador's website. They are currently working on their first full-length record, but you can hear their song "Burroughs" here. I like the feel of the song, mainly because it has a post-grunge hard-rock vibe towards it, which anyone that knows me knows is kind of my shit. So, I'll definitely be keeping my ears open for their record.

LISTENING: Nothing much at all today. Seriously. Almost no listening because work has been fucking hectic today. BUT...I remembered that a friend of mine told me about Michael Jackson's "Scream" being the most expensive music video ever made. My weird mind channeled that memory today, and so the first thing I did this morning before I started my aforementioned hectic day, was watch the video. It just looks expensive to the point where it makes me want to vomit when I think of how much money went into the production ($7 million), but then I'm so amazed by it. The video was directed by Mark Romanek, who has directed videos for Madonna, Beck, Fiona Apple, No Doubt, Jay Z, Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash, and many more. You can view "Scream" below:

That's all for today. PEACE.

Some Voodoo For You

2012-06-21T13:54:00.001-07:00

King Khan & The Shrines new video...Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music gets release date...Modest Mouse documentary...ELECTRIC LADYLAND...

Let's start with some superhero stardom for King Khan & The Shrines, who've just released a video for their single, "Bite My Tongue." The video shows Khan as a superhero squirting ketchup on his foes, while a Jesus look-a-like wanders around the city, squirting wine out of his eyes...yeah, no joke. You can view that below:

Moving along...I'm sure many people are going to be excited about this...but Kanye's long-talked-about G.O.O.D. Music project is finally going to see the light of day. The album, titled Cruel Summer, is set to come out on August 7th, which is pretty soon. Most recently mentioned release dates have either been for late August, or September and after, so with the blink of an eye, you will hear some good music, no pun intended.

I saw this on Pitchfork a few days ago, but didn't get to watch it...BUT, Pitchfork TV released a documentary about Modest Mouse's making of their album, The Lonesome Crowded West. I got to watch the documentary last night, and it's pretty excellent in my opinion. It also makes me feel deeply sad and regretful that I still haven't heard this album, but that can be remedied very quickly. The documentary has interviews with the band, the producers, label reps about the music scene in Olympia, the mystique of Modest Mouse, and the actual recording of the record, with concert footage, old road videos of the band on tour, etc. The interviews are excellent, and I think that's what is making me have that regretful feeling. If I haven't said it before, I think Modest Mouse is great, and I've heard about three to four of their records, but it's their earlier stuff that has gotten by me. I have some homework to do. But you can view the documentary here.

LISTENING: I've spent the better part of my day listening to Electric Ladyland by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. I bought this album when I was in my freshman year of high school, mainly after rekindling my fascination and curiosity of this amazing guitarist/songwriter. I think my curiosity was first established after watching Man of the House with JTT and Chevy Chase, when he names his Indian guide "Little Wing" and the chief of their "tribe" informs him that it's the name of a Jimi Hendrix song from Axis: Bold As Love. I guess when I was seven, I thought of this man warranted a mention in one of my favorite movies at the time, then he must be good...

...and I was right. I don't need to go into how great Hendrix is because most of you know, and those of you who don't should do some homework. But the album is fantastic. It's the last one that was recorded before The Jimi Hendrix Experience broke up, and I think it's a nice send-off, even though most people are familiar with Are You Experienced, which is also a great album. Some good tracks include "Crosstown Traffic," (one of my favorites) "Voodoo Chile," "Gypsy Eyes," and his famous cover of Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower." You can hear "Voodoo Chile" below:

That's all. PEACE.

"I'm Going Home"

2012-06-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

Yoko Ono and Sonic Youth (not entirely)...NME's Top 100...Hank, Roxy, Joy Division, and more...

Well, let's start with Ms. Yoko Ono, and the fact that she's teaming up with Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore (of Sonic Youth). These three folks are coming out with a six-song "mini-album" that is set to come out on September 24th. The album is going to be titled YOKOKIMTHURSTON. Sounds like it should be a hoot, so keep your eyes and ears open for that little slice.

Moving along...in NME's latest issue, they've picked their 100 greatest songs since the magazine's inception 60 years ago. According to the magazine, "We've compiled to the list to mark our 60th birthday, and these are what we reckon are the most essential songs of the last six decades, from Elvis to Azealia Banks, via The Beatles, Bowie, The Smiths and The Strokes." You can go here to view the top 20, but to see the full list, you'll have to buy the issue.

LISTENING: Today has been a slow day...well, not entirely. I once again listened to Apple's The Idler Wheel..., and I don't see that "replay" button getting any rest, the album's a fucking killer. I'm discovering something new with every listen. Other than that, I took to resting from it for a while and listening to Pandora, and what has caught my ear, more than anything, has been old gospel songs and church hymns by Hank Williams. I find myself becoming completely overtaken with them, and I can't get enough. You can hear "I'm Going Home," below:

Other than that, I've further listened to Roxy Music, and I can see why they're an art-rock household name, and their rhythms and pop-grooves are something to be desired, but for this listener, it's all a little retro-repetitive, and not all-consuming. I'd rather listen to Joy Division. They're darker, more poetic, more introspective, and just better in my opinion. And I don't say this as a way to compare the two bands, they're very different, but for some reason, Pandora keeps grouping them together, so their songs have been alternating all day. Anyhow...you can listen to Joy Divison's "Dead Souls" below:

That's all. PEACE.

A Daredevil?

2012-06-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

Nigel Godrich brings "In The Basement" back...Polyphonic Spree cover Neil Young...Cat Power shares new song...Red Hot Chili Peppers set to release new stuff...The Idler Wheel...

So...lots of stuff to get into today...Nigel Godrich, famed music producer who is known for his work with Radiohead and Beck, has brought back his show, "In The Basement" for a third season, and it's going to air this summer. So, that's pretty exciting. I've definitely seen a lot of "in the basement" videos via YouTube, while bored and browsing, so I'm looking forward to seeing a few more. According to Entertainment Weekly, the series is set to premiere on 3Net in July, so be on the lookout for that one.

Next up...we have Polyphonic Spree covering Neil Young's "Heart of Gold," one of Young's most famous tracks. You can view that here.

Moving along, Cat Power has shared a new song from her upcoming record, Sun, which is set to come out on September 4th. I've only heard the song once, and I like the direction she's taken. Now, I can't speak too knowingly of Cat Power, seeing as how the only record I've heard in full was The Greatest, which had a more soulful feel to it, while this song represents a more indie-pop type of feel. You can view the video for "Ruin" below:

Lastly, The Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced that they are going to be releasing 18 singles in the next six months, in the form of 9 double-sided 7" records. According to NME, the first one should be out some time in August, and the next one will follow in September. Supposedly, these new tracks are demos the band cut while writing and recording for their 2011 record, I'm With You, but they didn't make the cut. Well, now fans will get to hear some new stuff from the band. Be on the lookout for the first single, which comes out on September 11th.

LISTENING: I've spent the entire morning listening to Fiona Apple's The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do. The album drops today, so go out and get a copy because it's every bit as good as I knew it would be. I've been listening to it on loop, so I think I've heard it about four times today, and while they may seem excessive, I have to stress that the album is pretty short. I think it runs a little over 40 minutes, but not a single moment is wasted. It's difficult to go into writing about this album because every track is different than the others, and it's important, with Apple's work, to let each song completely take you over, otherwise you run the risk of pigeon-holing her into a certain sect of musicianship, IE: piano, vocals, jazz-feel (well, she may just be another Norah Jones) WRONG!

Her work is a lot more layered and complex, even though this is her most stripped-down album, lacking the lush productions of former releases. But, this isn't to say that every piece of music on this album isn't meticulous. Everything is so neatly penned and put together that it's hard not to notice. Key tracks to listen to include "Jonathan," "Periphery," "Regret," and "Werewolf." As I said before, EVERY song is excellent. If I had a scale to rate and measure albums, let's just use a "graded" scale, this receives a flat A across the board. Let's not include the + just for the sake of being "objective." Other than that, the album is a fucking winner and well worth the 7 year wait. You can hear gut-wrenching "Regret" below:

That's all. PEACE.

"Give Me Your Blues"

2012-06-15T13:16:00.001-07:00

Apple's "Every Single Night" video...THE DOORS

So...I didn't really see anything in music news today that would warrant a mention on this weird and humble blog...except one thing, and apparently in music news, this would warrant a "you just NOW heard of that, that's so last week!" BUT...Fiona Apple (yes, I'm talking about her again) has released a video for her first single, titled "Every Single Night," and I don't even have to go into how genius this song is, or how great the album is going to be (and yes, I know that it's going to be great). You can view the video below, and make sure to pick up a copy of the album on Tuesday.

LISTENING: Today, I decided to kick my love of music old school and turn toward a band that changed high school for me. They're a little band called The Doors, fronted by a wonderful poet by the name, Jim Morrison. You've heard of them, I'm sure. Today, I took to listening to two of their albums, Morrison Hotel and LA Woman, their fifth and sixth albums. From stuff that I've read about the band, these albums became sort of their grounded, back-to-basics approach to writing and recording, whereas they had supposedly become a little weirder and less chart-topping on The Soft Parade. I can't really speak too knowledgeably about this because I wasn't around at that time, but I can most likely assume that if The Doors were getting "weirder," then it was probably an awesome detour on their already-illustrious road toward becoming legends at their craft. Songs I love from both of these albums include "The Changeling," "Peace Frog," "Maggie M'Gill," "Car Hiss By My Window," and personal favorite (and probably any Doors fan's favorite) "LA Woman." You can hear that track below:

That's all. PEACE.

Hello September

2012-06-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

Usher covers Foster The People...The Raveonettes coming out with new record...St. Vincent and David Byrne share album details...Bon Iver doing an iTunes Session...CRICKETS...

So...Usher...whenever I hear that name, I immediately revert to third or fourth grade, and hearing his voice to a slow jam, saying "It's seven o'clock on the dot, I'm in my drop-top cruising the streets..." But, wasn't he around 14 or 15 when that came out? I don't know. Either way, Usher has been around for quite some time, and he just recently came out with a new album, titled Looking 4 Myself, which I still haven't listened to, but then again, I don't even know if I plan on listening to it, though I did like the first single. Aside from that, Usher recently played a BBC Radio 1 Live set, and he covered Foster The People's "Pumped Up Kicks." You can hear that below:

Moving along...The Raveonettes have announced that they're coming out with a new record, titled Observator. The album is set to be released on September 10th, so be on the lookout for that. You can hear their track, "Dead Sound" below:

I wrote about this a while back, but David Byrne and St. Vincent have been working on a collaborative album for a while (something around 2 years?), and they've released a few details about the project. The album is titled Love This Giant, and it's scheduled to be released on September 11th. In an interview with Pitchfork, St. Vincent stressed that it's truly a collaborative effort in that "he wrote music, I wrote music; he wrote words, I wrote words. He sings half the songs, I wrote half the songs." So, keep your calendars marked for that one.

Lastly, Bon Iver, who won Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards this past year, is doing an iTunes Session. I don't even know whether to be excited about this, considering that most of the songs he will do are from his second album, and I'm still a little in the dark on that one. I loved his first record, For Emma, Forever Ago which I wrote about last year, but still haven't heard the second one, minus a few songs in passing. You can hear the first album below. He's set to do the session on June 19th, so make sure you have your iTunes accounts up to date.

LISTENING: Today has been a pretty slow one for me only because I spent the majority of my morning reading a book about a forensic psychiatrist's real-life studies on serial killers he had to interview one-on-one. It's pretty intense. BUT...what little listening I was able to squeeze in was pretty peppy, as I listened to the first album by Buddy Holly & The Crickets, titled The "Chirping" Crickets. It came out in 1957, and contains such hits as "That'll Be The Day," "Not Fade Away," and "Oh Boy!" My personal favorite track is "It's Too Late," which I had never heard before I bought this album, via iTunes in 2009. Definitely a great buy, and I found out today that on iPhones, you can re-download albums you had purchased. WTF! You learn something new every day. You can listen to "It's Too Late" below:

That's all. PEACE.

When It Won't Do

2012-06-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

Regina Spektor shares new video...Foster The People talk about new record...The Strokes ARE NOT recording a new record...Fuck the holograms already...VU and Hunky Dory...

Well, I guess we can start this off on a more cheerful note, considering Regina Spektor has shared a music video for a pretty cheerful tune from her latest record, What We Saw From The Cheap Seats. The video is for the song "Don’t Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)." I always find it fascinating that some musicians choose less-than-spectacular songs to be singles for their albums, especially in this case when she could have used some good ones, such as "How," "Small Town Moon," or "Firewood." But no, she chose this track, which is catchy at best, but not enough to be a lasting or groundbreaking tune. You can view the video below:

Get More: Regina Spektor, Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas), Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas), Free Music Videos

Moving along...Foster The People hit it pretty big this past year with their track, "Pumped Up Kicks." The song was catchy as fuck, and I still find myself listening to it every now and again. Sure, it got so much airplay that it became somewhat annoying, but the track itself is a good rock/pop tune regardless. Now, the band have said they've been writing material for a follow-up album, and they've taken inspiration from The Clash and The Kinks. And singer-songwriter Mark Foster said the album will have "more grit." We'll see about that.

As I read some blog posts and newswires, I came across information that The Strokes are currently working on material for a new album at Electric Lady Studios, but alas, Pitchfork has appropriately burst that bubble. Apparently, their manager has stated that the band is not working on new material, and they have not been recording at Electric Lady Studios. So...I guess that one is up for speculation if you don't want to take the management's word for it, but as of late, my Strokes fascination has severely dwindled over the past year or so. Maybe it'll come back some day...won't count on it though. But I'll always appreciate "The Modern Age," which you can hear below:

Lastly...I know people are going nuts over these holograms, but I think the shit has to stop. It's one thing to make a hologram of an already-living-breathing-marketing-machine, but to take the likeness of a deceased legend and parading it on a stage for random folks is taking shit a little too far...especially when it's Jim Morrison. That shit is not cool. I sincerely doubt Jim Morrison would have wanted a three-dimensional representation of his image singing "Break On Through" to a group of people who didn't get the chance to see him when he was alive and kicking. I'm a HUGE Doors fan, but would I pay money to see Jim's "ghost"? I think not. Where's the respect?

LISTENING: Today, I've been in a late 60s/early 70s kick. I started my day listening to VU, which is a compilation of Velvet Underground songs that were recorded in the late 60's, some of which were supposed to make it onto their fourth LP, Loaded, but never did. The compilation was released in the mid-80s, and listening to these track just reminds me of my deep appreciation for The Velvet Underground. One of my favorite bands, I've always appreciated how they've fantastically molded poetry with rock n' roll, which is rock n' roll at its best in my humble opinion. I also remember reading in Patti Smith's Just Kids, about when she saw them play in New York and was so overtaken by their blend of just that: poetry and rock n' roll. If it's done right, it's the most beautiful thing in the world. Some notable tracks are "Lisa Says," "Foggy Notion," (which you can hear below) and "Andy's Chest."

Other than that, I've been listening to David Bowie's Hunky Dory, which I had never listened to before. And that was a big mistake on my part, but since I've never been too into Bowie, minus a "greatest hits" record a friend of mine used to play all the time. I think it's time to reverse that particular mode of being. While I didn't get to listen to the whole record, I noticed it had some notable David Bowie tracks, including "Changes" and "Life on Mars." So, maybe this is a good place to start? I also like the songs, "Kooks" and "Queen Bitch," which you can hear below:

That's all. PEACE.

How It Work

2012-06-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Azealia Banks' new track...Thee Oh Sees coming out with new LP...No Doubt share album name...

So, my mind has been in a constant jumble trying to re-work the inner-parameters of my brain to coincide with the world around me...but isn't that the struggle of any artist? It's just difficult for me to even listen to music lately just because the working world asks for more blood and bones, or should I say swivel chairs and coffee? And my recreational interests have had to take a backseat. So, today, let's just forget that people work. Azealia Banks is a name that I've seen on every music blog, in every music magazine, and whatnot. And I never listened to any of her music, until today, and I've only listened to one song, and that one song has made me rethink avoiding her. It's a new track she's just released from her soon-to-be-released mixtape, Fantasea, which comes out on July 4th. From this track, I immediately like that she's a straight-rapper, not incorporating the use of weird voices, or excessive vocal production, like Nicki Minaj (which is why I can't get into her music). Before I butcher this any more, I'll let you listen to it below:

Moving along...Thee Oh Sees (whom I've written about before), have announced that they're coming out with a new record, titled Putrifiers II. The album is set to hit stores and websites on September 11, which is going to be a popular date from album releases if the past few weeks are anything to go by. I've already talked a lot about this band, mainly their album, The Master's Bedroom Is Worth Spending The Night In, which is excellent, so I won't go into this any further...

Lastly, No Doubt are making their big bad comeback, and I'm sure people are as excited as I am. Come on, Tragic Kingdom is only one of the biggest selling albums of all time, and spurned so many catchy singles that if you say you don't like them, you're a bold-faced liar. You don't have to love them to know that they've maintained their staying power, even when they were on a hiatus. Fans knew they'd be back sooner or later, and here they are. Their new album, titled Push and Shove is their first record in 11 years, since 2001's Rock Steady, which I own and while it may not be their best record, what saved it was Underneath It All (which you can hear below). The album is set to come out on September 25th, but don't quote me on that.

LISTENING: Like I said before, I haven't heard a whole lot recently, and what I have heard has just been repetitive listening that I've already talked extensively about, so I don't want to bore you. But, I did get a chance to listen to Broken Social Scene's You Forget It In People a bit this weekend, and of course, there's also those good old top-40 jams to bop your head to as you're driving down the highway. And I'm still listening to Celebration Rock by Japandroids because it's proving to be a good work-out album. Other than that, today, I listened to Cat Power's track "King Rides By," and I think (I THINK!) it's from her upcoming album "Sun." But again, don't quote me on that. You can hear that below:

That's all. PEACE.

Video Kills

2012-06-06T12:36:00.001-07:00

Studio Version of Apple's "Anything We Want"...Favorites

So, there wasn't much that I was interested in this morning besides the studio version to Fiona Apple's "Anything We Want," which I've already talked about. The studio version lives up to the precedence set by her SXSW live performance video. I'm not going to go into it too much because I'm sure I'll be talking about Apple a lot more once the album comes out, but let's just say that I'm extremely excited for this release, as most of the new albums I've been listening to are good at best, but from the three album-version tracks I've heard from The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw. And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do, I know this album is going to be brilliant, fantastic, thought-provoking, poignant, etc. etc. etc. So, you can hear that song below:

LISTENING AND VIEWING: I spent the majority of last night and this morning dissecting and listening to Japandroids new album Celebration Rock, and if the title is anything to go by, this is certainly a celebration of rock n' roll, or at least the kind you obsess over when you're recklessly 17. Not to say that this album only appeals to a younger generation, but that's definitely one of the demographics where it gains fuel. The album is hyperactive, fun, and endearing...three words that I could spew from my butthole if I wanted to be a sarcastic dick, but no, I mean these words in their most literal and true senses. The album opens up with "The Nights of Wine and Roses," which immediately sets the upbeat and nostalgic tone of the album, especially with that fireworks sample in the beginning, which also closes the album.

I like the whole record for its consistency, yet I feel as if they could have been more experimental. That's just me. Most bands that are recognized for a certain sound tend to stick with it, and that is what Japandroids have done, but what I will say is that I like this record more than their first one, Post-Nothing. Tracks that caught my attention within the fuzz of vibrant drums and big guitars were "For The Love of Ivy," (the only cover song on the album), "Evil's Sway," "Younger Us," and "The House That Heaven Built" (which you can hear below). So, if you're a fan of post-whatever rock music, then you might want to take a closer look at this band, if only to use it as a soundtrack to looking back at being a teenager.

Other than that, I've been thinking about music a lot lately, as I tend to do sometimes. And, I think that I've started to equate "good" albums with being albums where I can take at least one extremely memorable song away from it, store it away, and keep it forever within my own little orb I call a head. If I can take one brilliant song from a record, the record was good, and while this may not be the most accurate way of calling an album good or bad, it's the way I deal with the chaotic world around me. If you must know anything about me, it's that I'm extremely neurotic, in many ways. So, I decided, being as weird and listy (not a word) as I am, to compile a list of the "memorable songs" I've heard within the past few albums I've been listening to, songs that make the album great to me. You can hear/view those below: DISCLAIMER: This is not to say these are the only good songs on the albums, these are just the ones that I took a particular liking to. You should still listen to the albums in full if you get the chance. And this is an extremely impromptu list, so I will probably continue it in later posts.

Girls - "My Ma" from Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Turn Into" from Show Your Bones

The Shins - "It's Only Life" from Port of Morrow

Jack White - "Take Me With You When You Go" from Blunderbuss

Regina Spektor - "How" from What We Saw From The Cheap Seats

Belle and Sebastian - "Mornington Crescent" from The Life Pursuit

Robert Johnson - "Terraplane Blues" from Robert Johnson's Complete Recordings

Bjork - "Virus" from Biophilia

That's all. PEACE.

"I Endure The Flight"

2012-06-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

Pitchfork Interviews Fiona Apple...Calexico return...Devendra Banhart and Wanda Jackson...

So, today, I kind of don't give a shit about reporting too much, and since I've spent the better part of my weekend sheltered in work, weed, and writing, let's just say that I'm excited to be out in the world again, and what greets me??? An interview with Fiona Apple. Yes, I know I've written about her a ton these past few months, but hey, it's only natural that I'm as excited as a fat kid on Thanksgiving. Not only is it just the mysticism surrounding her and the fact that she's such a weird recluse when she isn't writing/recording, but one only has to take a good, long look at her lyrics to understand her ease with words and her quotable phrases. Take for instance on her newest snippet from the new album, The Idler Wheel..., titled "Werewolf." Within the first few seconds, she states, "I can liken you to a werewolf, the way you left me for dead. But I admit that I provided a full moon. And I can liken you to a shark, the way you bit off my head. But then again, I was waving around a bleeding open wound." Enough said. Either way, Pitchfork recently interviewed Apple, and in the interview, she tackles the subject of children, her reclusive tendencies, TV and the internet, and Indie vs. Mainstream. You can read the interview here. You can also hear her cover of "Across the Universe" below:

The only other thing I found interesting was that Calexico is going to come up with a new album, titled Algiers, which comes out on September 11. I wrote about this band a few days ago, so fate must be in the air in bringing me back to them just before they come out with news of their new album. Shit gets weird in the summer. Either way, they've also shared a video for their first single, "Para," which you can view below:

LISTENING: Since I've been holed up in a writing shell, I didn't really listen to anything this weekend. So, this morning I thought I'd ease myself back into the listening world with some Devendra Banhart, mainly Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. I'm probably repeating myself here, but I think this is his best album. I feel that he took all of his best components, his typical quirky and weird vibe, and some very honest and heart-breaking moments, which can be highlighted on one of my favorite tracks, "I Remember," which you can hear below. Don't fucking read this, just listen to the album.

I've also been listening to Wanda Jackson in anticipation for her show on June 22nd, which I bought my ticket for last week...very exciting. I've mostly been listening to her older stuff, not purposefully excluding her work with Jack White, but hey, they're always oldies, but goodies. You can hear her well-known track "Let's Have a Party" below:

That's all. PEACE.

Blue on the Floor...

2012-06-01T13:13:00.002-07:00

The XX talk about new album...Flaming Lips and Erykah Badu share video...Black Keys also share new video...Eugene McGuinness covers Lana Del Rey...Buttsteak...

So...the XX hit it pretty big in '09 with their debut self-titled album, and while I've heard about half of it, and mostly in passing, I can understand why. Their take on dark, 80s-inspired, melancholic music was a breath of fresh air, or well, as fresh as that could be. At first, I was apprehensive about them, just because they were everywhere, and they still are everywhere. I mean, the fact that this is making news, and the fact that I'm writing about it just proves that they have a little staying power, considering they've only released the title and release date, not even a track-list, GAH! Either way, the album is going to be titled Coexist, and it's scheduled to come out on September 11, appropriate right? So, be on the look-out for that.

In other news, The Flaming Lips are gearing up to release their next work, The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends, on June 26, and they've released the video to their collaboration with Erykah Badu, on the track "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." Now, if you are skittish about nudity, blood, or glitter, then you may want to turn away from your computer screen. Everyone else, you can watch it below:

Moving along...The Black Keys have shared another video for their track "Gold On The Ceiling." I don't understand why they saw the need to release another video, seeing as how the first one was just fine for a track that is listenable at best. Not dogging the Black Keys, but I do feel as if I can't get rid of them as of late. It's nice when a great band finds some recognition, but I think these guys seem to have found too much for too little. But, you can view the Harmony Korine-directed video below:

Lastly, Eugene McGuinness, who I just heard of last week (sad, but true), has covered Lana Del Rey's "Blue Jeans." Now, I wasn't really a fan of Del Rey's track in the first place...as her voice sounds something akin to a baby whale dying on a deserted beach, but that's neither here nor there. I actually like McGuinness's version. I think it's a fresh take, and his voice is actually tolerable. Some may argue the original version is better, but when you're comparing a dying mammal to a tolerable voice, I have to question your mode for comparison. You can view his video for the track below:

LISTENING: I've spent the majority of this morning listening to 90's alternative pop-punk outfit, Buttsteak. I was wondering through a thrift store in Williamsburg (wow, that sounded so hipster), and I came across two CD's. One was a Chinese-imported soundtrack for the movie How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days, which I gave to my sister as her souvenir from my trip, and the other was the album, Shit Cool...It's The Honeycomb Generation by Buttsteak. The album title and band name sold me, and I purchased it for $1.

The album is what you'd expect...it's a hilarious take on punk/pop and alternative, with some grunge moments thrown in there (which won me over). It's normally not my type of music, but when you listen to it, it just flows so well, musically, that you could care less what the lyrics say, but then you listen close, and they either make no sense, or they're just so ridiculous, you have to rewind and listen again. Tracks that I like are "Mant," "All Fags Aboard," "Break My Heart," and their cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking." I wish I could post some tracks, but alas, I couldn't find any online. So, look for that one in the sales bins at your local record store.

That's all I got. PEACE.

Links Links Links

2012-05-31T12:27:00.001-07:00

Dan Deacon shares new album info...Neil Young streams new album online...The Beach Boys share new track...Digital music is winning...Beck collaborates with Childish Gambino...What We Saw From The Cheap Seats...

Well, let's start with Dan Deacon. Now, I've never been a huge fan, but I have had this curiosity about Deacon's work that has spanned the last few years, and a friend once burned me a copy of Deacon's album A Spiderman in the Rings, but I lost it and never looked back, but I threw it out as another boring electronic musician that I could do without...until I heard the song "Big Milk" from the aforementioned album playing in the car while driving down a heavy-Christmas-lighted street, and let's just say that in the moment, it was magic. Anyhow, Deacon has announced that he's coming out with a new album, titled America, which is scheduled to be released on August 28, and he's released one track, titled "Lots" to tide fans over. You can listen to that below:

I won't spend too much space on this because I've already talked about it, but Neil Young and Crazy Horse are streaming their album of folk covers, titled Americana online, and you can listen to it on SoundCloud.

Moving along, the Beach Boys have shared another track from their upcoming LP, That's Why God Made the Radio, which is scheduled to come out on June 5th. The song is titled "From There to Back Again," and it's a signature Beach Boys track, which means the production is excellent, the harmonies are wonderful, and it's just an easy-listening song that can serve any particular moment. You can hear that here.

Also, NME has recently reported that in the UK, digital music sales have surpassed physical music sales, IE: vinyl and cd. It also reports that this is the first time this has happened, noting that digital music sales have accounted for 55.5 percent of total music sales. I can't say that I'm surprised as hardly anyone I know still buys CD's or vinyl. It's pretty sad for local record stores, but NME points out that this is good for record companies in that they've seen an increase in sales because of people buying digital music, so I guess there's an upside to everything, depending on how you look at it. You can read more about this here.

Lastly, Beck has collaborated with Childish Gambino AKA Donald Glover of the show Community. Beck also co-produced the track with Glover, and from first listen, it's excellent. Being a huge fan of Beck means also being a huge fan of Beck "the rapper," and on this song, he doesn't disappoint. You can hear the track at Stereogum.

LISTENING: I've spent this entire morning listening to Regina Spektor's latest endeavor, What We Saw From The Cheap Seats, and having listened to the entire album twice, my thoughts are a little mixed. There are a few great tracks on here that makes me think "she's still got it!" and then there are a few tracks I can do without. I guess this goes in line with how I measure great albums, which is when you can play the whole thing through and love every track. This isn't great, but that doesn't mean it's not good. Tracks like "Firewood," "How" and "Jessica" are some of Spektor's finest moments, in my opinion. Though Spektor has noted that a lot of the songs were written pre-Soviet Kitsch and pre-Begin To Hope, the production of the album is what often skews my perception of what could be a great album. I'm not exactly blaming the production as it is, but I feel that Spektor's focus on it has definitely rid the songs of some of their integrity, like on "All The Rowboats." Aside from that, and the fact that it could have done without "Oh Marcello," the album is a solid effort. You can hear one of the album highlights, "How," below:

That's all. PEACE.

It's All Good...

2012-05-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

Stream the new Hives album online...Florence and the Machine share new video...Big Boi releases new song...Kanye and Jay Z share video for "No Church in the Wild"...Imagine Dragons...

Well, let's start with Lex Hives, the new record by The Hives, which is scheduled to hit stores on June 4th. The Guardian is currently streaming the album online, so if you're a little on the impatient side, then you can listen to here. I have not been able to listen to it yet, but let's just say that my "albums to listen to" list is way on over-book as of late, so it's a little hard to squeeze in anything right now. How does one put in the time!

In other news, Florence and the Machine have shared the video for the track "Spectrum," off of her Ceremonials album, which I've just now started getting into after a friend showed me the "Glee" version of Shake It Out. Yes, it shouldn't take something like that to prompt me to hear an album, but let's just say that the song never really crossed my path until now. But, with this video, directed by David LaChapelle is rich with choreography and colorful visuals. You can watch that below:

Moving along...I mentioned that Big Boi has recently named his upcoming solo album, and now he's released a new song, titled "She Said OK," with Theophilus London, and featuring Tre Luce. This song isn't for those who are opposed to the profane, and for those who like their raps quick, to the point, and raunchy as fuck. You can listen to it below:

Lastly, and I'm a day late on this one...Kanye West and Jay Z have released a video for their Watch The Throne track, "No Church in the Wild." The video is directed by Romain Gravras who directed M.I.A.'s "Born Free" and "Bad Girls." Visually, the video contains Gavras' touch...showing people revolting against the establishment AKA the police, throwing home-made bombs, setting fires, etc. You can view that below:

LISTENING: I haven't been able to listen to much, still mainly listening to Exile on Main Street, which I've already talked about, so let's not be repetitive. But a friend of mine sent me the video to a song titled "It's Time" by Las Vegas band Imagine Dragons. The beat instantly had me, and while the singer's voice initially threw me off, I haven't been able to stop listening to this song today. It's just one of those tracks that gets stuck in your head, and whether or not it's a lasting tune remains to be seen, but you can listen to that one below:

That's all. PEACE.