Went to the last Castledoor residency show last night and was bummed that Fool’s Gold had pulled off the bill. I was ready for some more dance party! Ok, maybe not… I was tired and fading fast. But hopefully I’ll be ready when they play Sunset Junction in August.

They’ve now signed with IAMSOUND (who also nabbed Little Boots, so you can imagine my jealousy) and have a new bright and shiny version of their single. Thought I would pass it along to you guys.

Fool\’s Gold - Surprise Hotel (mp3)

Their self titled debut album will be out September 29th, here’s the track listing:

1. Surprise Hotel
2. Nadine
3. Ha Dvash
4. The World Is All There Is
5. Poseidon
6. Yam Lo Moshech
7. Night Dancing
8. Momentary Shelter

After the show ended, they played MJ and nobody left - everyone stayed for a dance party. I’m in here somewhere:

And in case you wanna see the actual show…

“Girlfriend”

“Lisztomania”

“Lasso”

p.s. I didn’t take any of these videos. I was too busy dancing my ass off to worry about filming. I wish there was a video of “1901″ when the lead singer jumped into the pit about 3 ft away from us and we all jumped up and down with him. Oh man, I’m still on a high from this show. Soooooooo good.

p.p.s. THANK YOU ACACIA!!!

I have a few memories of my parents playing his vinyls when we were little (in the living room with the metallic orange wallpaper and orange carpet. hot.) and with all my years of dance, I oddly don’t have any dance related memories of MJ. But the one thing that sticks out to me, and it emphasizes what kind of world we live in now, is when I got the first iPod that played video and it was sooooooo cool the first thing I did was buy the Thriller video from the iTunes store. That was the one thing I knew I wanted on there. Will forever be a classic.

Makes me sad that this video probably wouldn’t happen today or wouldn’t be received the same way. Music is entertainment and brings us happiness, let’s try not to hate so much and give artists the respect they deserve. Sound good? K, thanks

p.s. Think I’m gonna start wearing rhinestone makeup daily. Thoughts?

Wish I could have made it to this show tonight. Sean Bones and Local Natives at Space 15 Twenty. Drats. Had work things to do. Ah well. I will try to catch one of the other shows this week. For those who don’t know, this kid is part of Sam Champion… a band you know I love. So now you know. So listen to this song.

Sean Bones - Dancehall (mp3)

“Actor Out Of Work”

St. Vincent “Actor Out Of Work” from Lake Fever Sessions on Vimeo.

“The Strangers”

St. Vincent “The Strangers” from Lake Fever Sessions on Vimeo.

“Oh My God”

St. Vincent “Oh My God” from Lake Fever Sessions on Vimeo.

St. Vincent - The Strangers (mp3)

Sometimes you fail, and sometimes you FAIL. It was the latter for me at Sasquatch. Missing AA Bondy??? How could I. Granted, he was super early on the first day and we were in the middle of nowhere in a Washington state sanctioned liquor store picking up some very necessary Woodford Reserve. But excueses, excuses. When I saw him at SXSW 2008 I fell in love. And you don’t do that to your loved ones. FAIL Lindsey, FAIL. I’ll try to make up for it with this new album. Here’s a brand new track from said album. Love it and cherish it as you should.

AA Bondy - When The Devil’s Loose (mp3)

The album, When The Devil’s Loose, will be out September 1.

I looooooove me some Fruit Bats. I feel like they’re not as well known as they should be. That Mouthfuls album was a doozy. Hopefully this album on the way will bring some justice. Here’s a preview:

Fruit Bats - My Unusual Friend (mp3)

So this band comes to you from my mom. No joke. My mom is a cool indie hipster who turns me on to bands. Maybe not, but she did recommend this band to me. I was home for a wedding about a month ago and when my mom picked me up from the airport, she was listening to XMU. I told her I was impressed and she handed me a list of songs she had written down that she liked after hearing them on the radio. This list included Grizzly Bear, Doves, and Passion Pit (how’s that for a cool mom?). “Coast of Carolina” by Telekinesis was also on that list. I had heard their name before, but hadn’t checked out the music yet. I downloaded the album from eMusic once I was back home in LA. It’s really really good. Nice call mom. And it has this gem of a song tacked on the end. Almost seems like an afterthought as it sounds nothing like the rest of the album, clocks in at 2:12, and is the last song on the disc. But it’s soooooooo good. Really. Listen to it and you will fall in love.

Telekinesis - I Saw Lightning (mp3)

a) Dave has gone completely crazy (if he hadn’t already)

b) This is the band saying a big f you to the label. I’m guessing this is their final album in the deal and my gut is telling me they’re going on hiatus after this album cycle. They made this CD as a tribute to LeRoi, and I’ve read that they say the band isn’t really the band without him. Only makes sense to go out with a bang, right?

c) This is just a messed up way of interpreting the lyrics. The song is supposed to show that you can have this up-tempo happy sounding tune when the lyrics are basically about how the world is messed up. So they make a video that’s all crazy and “funny” to do the same. I dont know though, b/c this one is just so overboard.

I am a fan, but this video? I don’t know man…

New Mute Math song!! Woo hoo!! Love this band so much. And I’m really hoping they get the recognition they deserve with this new album. We shall see come August 18th when Armistice is released. For now, you can listen to “The Nerve” here.

Pleeeeeeaaaaase listen to him! Pretty please with sugar on top!

xoxo,
Music Ramen

I mean, it’s Hov. You kind of have to. No more autotune! But isn’t it a teensy bit ironic that this is produced by Kanye? The man who just did a WHOLE ALBUM full of autotune? Hmmm… Anyhow, this is the first single off of Jay’s The Blueprint 3. Can’t wait.

“Get back to rap, you’re Tpain-ing too much”. My thoughts EXACTLY.

Two Weeks

Cool video though.

Here’s the original:

Or actually, the REAL original:

see it here while it lasts.

You can download this song for free along with “Paper Cities” in exchange for an email address on their MySpace page.

And make sure you pick up the full album because it’s stunning:

Mash up Monday? Sounds good to me. This is my favorite song on the Grizzly Bear disc mashed up with a hip hop classic thanks to The Hood Internet. Lovely.

The Hood Internet - Two Weeks Of Hip Hop (Grizzly Bear vs. Dead Prez) (mp3)

Heartless Bastards, Loch Lomond - I know I saw a little bit of both of these, but maybe the whiskey was still hanging around b/c I can’t remember much about either. Sorry!

Other Lives - This was one I was sure to get to early. WOW. These guys were amazing. I saw them play at SXSW, but this was even better. Maybe the surroundings inspired great things. Maybe I hadn’t been paying as much attention in Austin. Whatever it was, this set ended up being in my top 3 of the weekend. Since the fest, I’ve been obsessed with the album. PLEASE go pick it up, you won’t regret it. My personal fave is “black tables”. If I was still dancing I would make a ballet to it. Uuuugggghhhhh love this.

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Um, what? This was weird. They had some video of this happy murder club playing behind them. And I’m sorry, but they were the dorkiest looking band. Music sounded decent, but we hightailed it out of there.

Grizzly Bear - Now, I’m not all crazy in love with these boys like all the hipsters. But of course I had to go watch them play the main stage with the beautiful scenery as a backdrop. I liked it! There are songs I really like (Cheerleader, Two Weeks) and songs that just don’t pop to me. Maybe I need to give them some more listens. But all in all it was nice.

Horse Feathers - Saw one song… realized I think I just like “Curs In The Weeds”. Sad times.

Santigold - Started her set with advice to performers: Never eat Burger King before a show. Good call. She hoped she wouldn’t vomit… she didn’t. And she rocked it like there was nothing wrong. She even did some songs from Top Ranking which instantly sent my brother and Elyse into a tizzy. The whoooooole Gorge was dancing. Just how I like it.

Gogol Bordello - Elyse MADE us watch a song. I decided they were like bad Decotchka or gypsy Flogging Molly. Yes? In other words, No.

Blitzen Trapper - Loved them at SXSW 2008, but they were a little to sleepy for me this time.

The Dutchess & The Duke - Everyone had been talking them up. I thought it was bad. Maybe I caught them on a wrong song.

Fleet Foxes - This is like Seattle’s mother ship. So of course everyone convened at the main stage to hear the pretty harmonies. This was one of the sets I was most looking forward to…. and perhaps I hyped it too much in my mind. Because I found myself a little let down. Not because they were bad. But because it was LOUD… had to be for the main stage, but not how I think they should sound. I want them quiet in the Orpheum. Also, we had a group in front of us who talked for the entire set. And not just casual conversation… full on food fight, climbing over each other craziness. Very distracting. Other than that, the boys sounded great.

Silversun Pickups - Stayed put at the main stage for what would be our final show of the weekend. The crowd thinned out… I think a lot of people went to Beach House? I guess SSPU really are an LA band, but I was surprised. They’re one of the biggest selling indie rock bands! Oh well. I didn’t care how many people were there. The new songs sound amazing live. They played “Lazy Eye” as the last song and Brian’s guitar cut out halfway through. It took them about 2 minutes of a repeated bass/drum line to fix it. Was still messed up when he came back in. But they pulled it off like the rockstars they are.

When the Pickups walked off the stage and the sun started to dip below the gorge rocks, my brother turned to me and said “I’m done. I’ve seen far too much good music and can’t possibly hear anymore.” Well said brother. We packed our sunburned selves into the hyb and headed back to Seattle. After a stop at a random mexican joint and my obligatory post-gorge nap (heeeeey!), we were back. Ready for our first showers of the weekend (I’m not waiting 3 hours for a shower only to get dirty 20 minutes later!) we washed off the weekend and fell into a deep sleep. The weekend was done, but will be remembered forever (Awwww!). I highly recommend this festival to anyone who likes good music, good surroundings, and good times in general Gorge, I will see you next year!

Mad Rad - I had heard good things, so I wanted to get in right at noon to catch these guys. Wow. Glad I did. I walk up to them saying that they need the crowd to help with the next song. They say when we say “pay me” you say “bitches I have come here for my money.” AMAZING. The crowd was loving it. THEN one of the guys goes all monkey and climbs up the side of the stage to perform the final song from the roof with all of security chasing after him. These guys were rockstars.

The Walkmen - Only saw a song of theirs, but they sounded great. I think I remember there were horns? And that they sounded different than I remembered from recordings…

I think I was hanging around backstage for a while at this point b/c the next thing I saw was…

Fences - Felt bad for the guy, he had to stop in the middle of songs about 4 times b/c the sound was so messed up. He was not happy. It was a little sleepy for my liking after eating lunch and baking in the 85 degree sun, but I’m thinking it would be lovely in a seated air conditioned venue

St. Vincent - Can I marry her? This was one of my favorite sets of the whole festival. She is so adorable and seeing the live show made me love the new album even more. I’m going to see her tonight at the El Rey (woo hoo!) and if you haven’t seen her yet, I strongly suggest you do so when she comes through your town.

Aziz Ansari - Ok, not music. But I LOVE him. Hilarious set. He made fun of people in Ed Hardy shirts and I really hoped someone in the audience was wearing one.

The Submarines - They sounded so lovely. And just as the day was starting to cool off. It was a nice transition to evening and you could tell they were having a blast being there.

TV On The Radio - I didn’t get to watch much, but what I did see was spot on. These guys rocked the main stage and sounded amazing.

Of Montreal - Walked behind their stage en route to the dance tent and saw people in footie pajamas preparing to go on stage. I can only imagine the craziness.

Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head - This was ridiculous. I’ve seen them several times now. The best of which was when they opened for CSS at the Echoplex. The SXSW shows were a little disappointing. I knew this show would be different because it was a hometown crowd, at night, and in the dance tent. It was CRAZINESS. Silly string. The entire tent dancing their asses off (I may have joined a dance circle at one point). Whiskey in a flask did not hurt the situation (by the way, did I mention that this festival had the most lax security I’ve ever seen? Saturday I walked into the fest without them checking my ticket). Awesome way to end the evening (skipped NIN and Jane’s Addiction - heeeeeeey!).

Then it was time to go back to the campground. This was the one night I decided to party. So I drank whiskey for 30 minutes, played DJ to the campground (taking requests from the passenger seat of the hyb and spinning SSPU, Warren G, Passion Pit, and Prince among others… hell of a mix), had a dance party by myself in the spot next to us, then decided to take a power nap in my sleeping bag OUTSIDE the tent. I’ll tell you how that ended tomorrow…

The plan was to get there at noon. The plan did not happen. We got there at 2. I missed AA Bondy and almost cried, but we quickly moved on…

Doves - Caught only one or 2 songs. It sounded pretty good. My brother said they were much better at the Sasquatch kick off party in Seattle. Such is life.

Passion Pit - Ok, so you may remember that I put them in my top 5 from SXSW, but was a little disappointed in their live show. Yeah, I should have gone with that feeling. I just can’t get on board with the guy’s voice live. Love the songs, love the album, don’t love the live show. I’m sorry.

Dent May - Saw half a song and my brother said it sounded too happy and made us leave. I thought he sounded lovely

M Ward - This one surprised me. I’m not a huge M Ward fan, but his live show convinced me. He played the main stage and sounded amazing. Definitely going back to give his albums some further listens.

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band - The drummer is 14. THE DRUMMER IS FOURTEEN. Are you kidding me? Apparently he’s the adopted son of someone in the band. Or so I hear. He is frickin good. And so is the band as a whole. Definitely made me a fan.

Devotchka - Dragged my brother kicking and screaming to this one. He likes them a little better now but still can’t get behind them. I loved it.

Animal Collective - I like “For My Girls” but I still don’t get the rest. The one dude looked like the coach in The Waterboy. Just don’t get it. Sorry folks.

Ra Ra Riot - They were so great! My friend Elyse said they were one of her favorites of the day.

Mos Def - Thought I would be a fan, but really wasn’t. Nice masquerade mask though.

Bon Iver - Probably the set I was most looking forward to of the festival. It did not disappoint. This was when the weekend started to feel like summer camp - with everyone singing along together. One of the highlights of my weekend.

Crystal Castles - Skipped the headliners (YYYs and Kings of Leon - I don’t hate either of them, but just don’t love either of them) to go see Crystal Castles. There are parts of the CD that are unlistenable to me so I was a little skeptical going in. Boooooy was I converted. I was dancing up a storm and loving every minute. This was good beep music. Even though Elyse would disagree. But the picture above does not lie!

I then proceeded to go pass out in my tent while everyone partied around me. Yes, lame. But Sunday was a different story. More on that tomorrow…

Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work (mp3)

K’NAAN “T.I.A” music video directed by: NABIL from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Troubadour is out now:

I highly recommend listening to this disc to start your day. Makes it a good one

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is out May 25th. Or on iTunes now: