tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-123745032009-06-21T13:28:04.123-07:00MP3s, music news and reviews, and a sprinkling of pop culture. Named by Aqualung's Matt Hales, after his son.trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.comBlogger847125Subscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with FeedLoungeSubscribe with Live.comSubscribe with fwickitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-25141981991183895122009-03-25T12:42:00.000-07:002009-03-25T12:43:42.500-07:002009-03-25T12:43:42.500-07:00How disappointing that Franz Ferdinand has chosen a designer who "wants the progressive man to wear fur" to design the costumes for their Tonight tour. Just a month ago, the band's Nick McCarthy went to a "Fur Is A Drag" party - PETA Europe's version of a Fashion Week. Why did he change his mind about fur? Does he or does he not consider fur a drag? Kopenhagen Fur, one of the world's largest fur companies, nominated the designer in question, Christian Westphal, for a 2007 Golden Fur Pin. He later "teamed up with" the company. In a...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/03/franz-ferdinand-makes-terrible-decision.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-62073108870090546752009-03-21T19:44:00.000-07:002009-03-21T20:08:29.764-07:002009-03-21T20:08:29.764-07:00Some Songs I'm Digging Lately: 1. Telepathe - "So Fine" (on Dance Mother, out April 14th in the U.S.) Wonderfully breezy disco-dreampop. The video (hey, it's another supermarket video): 2. The Cocktail Slippers - "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" (on St. Valentine's Day Massacre, out April 27th in Europe and on April 28th in the U.S.) Possibly one of the most upbeat songs with the word "Massacre" in the title. The winsome retro charm of the Norwegian popsters helps do the trick, as do a few handclaps (handclaps always help). Plus, the song...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/03/on-heavy-rotation.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-28930191940612834672009-03-15T15:20:00.000-07:002009-03-15T15:37:41.737-07:002009-03-15T15:37:41.737-07:00Placebo has announced the June 8th release of a new album, Battle For The Sun, which will be available via download, CD, limited edition CD + DVD set, LP, and deluxe box set, with 5 "Golden Laminates" stashed inside deluxe box sets. Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show has "worldwide exclusive first play" rights to the title track. They're scheduled to play the song March 17th at 7:00 PM (presumably that's UK time). Zane Lowe's shows are online for a limited period of time, but the song will probably pop up elsewhere before long. Placebo's...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com2http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/03/placebo-announces-battle-for-sun-golden.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-74354170682796001362009-03-10T15:23:00.000-07:002009-03-10T15:27:08.722-07:002009-03-10T15:27:08.722-07:00If you're speedy about it, you can catch a sneak preview of Maxïmo Park's next album Quicken The Heart, which is penciled in for a May release. "Wraithlike", the source of the title phrase, is available as a free MP3 for the next two weeks to anyone registered at MaxïmoPark.com. Those previously signed up for the band's mailing list have already received a longer version of the song. Freebies everywhere! Or at least three of them. The band has also announced plans to hold a free concert in Newcastle, with details to be revealed this...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/03/max-park-releases-free-song-from-may.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-44824475819687735452009-02-14T10:07:00.000-08:002009-02-14T10:10:15.160-08:002009-02-14T10:10:15.160-08:00Happy Valentine's Day! Yesterday's Anti-Valentine's-playlist post was the wordy one. Today's post is the cut-to-the-chase one. The Valentine's Day playlist is at this drop.io site, where you can listen to the tracks and/or download them, individually and/or in a zip file. Life: it's partly about choices! The password for the drop.io is: cupid Sweet & Sappy Overload: A Valentine's Day Playlist Track Listing: 1. Husky Rescue - "New Light of Tomorrow" (on Country Falls) 2. Klee - "Gold (English Version" (on Honeysuckle) 3. The Singles - "I'm...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/02/sweet-sappy-overload-valentines-day.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-55826607260861835182009-02-13T17:49:00.000-08:002009-02-13T17:55:53.921-08:002009-02-13T17:55:53.921-08:00February 13th is not just Los Angeles Freedom to Marry Day (which does not imply everyone in Los Angeles does not currently have the right to marry.) It's also a great day in American cinema, as it's the day the new Friday the 13th motion picture is released! Plus, it's the eve of one of the few major American holidays yet to be commercially exploited on a grand scale by Hallmark and their corporate brethren. They're usually so eager to peddle unhealthy candy as a festive treat and encourage people to associate spending money with love. Yet...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/02/best-hearts-and-chocolates-are-dark-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-23457344753407957162009-02-05T19:42:00.000-08:002009-02-05T19:49:28.454-08:002009-02-05T19:49:28.454-08:00These are a few of my favorite recent songs...as in what-I'm-listening-to-the-most-lately, considering that one is from 1989)...the majority still have that new song smell (I've tried lemon juice, baking soda, and soap, to no avail.) 1. Bishop Allen - "Oklahoma" (on Grrr...) One of my favorite tracks off an album that's grrr--oh forget that. But, yeah, it's a lot of fun. Danceable like whoa. The sweetly quirky lyrics ("Let's pretend so we can begin again...You've got eyes like Oklahoma") remind me of a couple guys I recently met who rather...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/02/on-heavy-rotation.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-2556135495975308152009-01-20T20:42:00.000-08:002009-01-20T20:42:01.623-08:002009-01-20T20:42:01.623-08:00In keeping with the theme of change, and because Google's buyout of Feedburner means Feedburner accounts are soon going to be to be assimilated anyway, the Kofi's hat feed has a new home at: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/Kofis-hat. I, for one, welcome my new feed overlords. According to the folks at Google, anyone who fears or dislikes change won't notice anything different, and those who embrace change or hope for improvements will feel the transition is a uniquely transformational experience. We can only hope under the keen eye and steady...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/01/feed-switchover.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-24217862836661467862009-01-16T18:51:00.000-08:002009-01-16T18:59:13.508-08:002009-01-16T18:59:13.508-08:00Glasvegas took the Amoeba Hollywood stage late last night and may have regretted showing up at all. They already played their only other scheduled local show the previous night (and tickets for the Troubador concert had quickly sold out), everyone in the band, according to singer James Allan, was "hungover", and the set was hampered by persistent sound-mixing problems. The crowd—which included touring partner Carl Barât (styled as Jack White in the role of Capt. Jack Sparrow, recognized nonetheless)—wasn't given a real chance...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com1http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/01/glasvegas-at-amoeba-hollywood-1152009.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-13475942355762926382009-01-06T17:32:00.000-08:002009-01-06T21:50:48.677-08:002009-01-06T21:50:48.677-08:00The winner of the Art Vinyl Prize for the best album cover art of 2008 has been revealed, along with 49 also-rans. On top: Fleet Foxes' eponymous full-length debut, which relies on a detail from that still-trendy "1559 painting Netherlandish Proverbs by Pieter Bruegel the Elder." Will that painting ever go out of fashion? Another cover featuring a a fancy-like old-timey painting, Coldplay's Viva La Vida, took third place, behind Roots Manuva's Slime & Reason. The Roots Manuva cover showcased another popular theme among the online voters who...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com1http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/01/old-painting-of-bright-purple-frowning.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-9325103745659754002009-01-06T07:06:00.000-08:002009-01-06T07:31:51.531-08:002009-01-06T07:31:51.531-08:00It's never too early for 2008 nostalgia. 1. Coldplay - Prospekt's March I think "Lost+" is downgraded by the added Jay-Z vocals (and, as a side note, the title variations for the different versions of the song are a bit hokey, i.e. "Lost?", "Lost-", "Lost+", and "Lost@".) On the plus, or, if you prefer, +, side, the remaining songs are excellent. "Glass of Water" live performance: 2. Stars - Sad Robots Beautiful... "14 Forever" audio-only video: 3. Smashing Pumpkins - American Gothic "Sunkissed" audio-only video: 4....trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com2http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/01/favorite-eps-of-2008.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-91530422664173041042009-01-01T05:45:00.000-08:002009-01-06T07:19:34.223-08:002009-01-06T07:19:34.223-08:00Oh, this Dears live radio performance of "Lights Off" is wonderful to watch at (about) 5 in the morning after staying up all night ("Five in the morning, you know we couldn't sleep. Might be inspiration but it's been this way for weeks. And weeks. And weeks. And weeks. And weeks.") I suspect the song will prove roughly as lovely at other times of the day. And night. In addition to "Lights Off", the band played "Money Babies" (both from last year's Missiles) during their visit with Seattle's KEXP (slogan: "where the music matters". Rejected...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2009/01/lights-off.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-50700124735799465872008-12-27T19:49:00.000-08:002009-01-10T00:08:36.518-08:002009-01-10T00:08:36.518-08:00Whew, at long last, the first of the hat's year-end lists is done. More to come. 1. The Dears - "Disclaimer" (on Missiles. Live performance of part of the song...surely it's a single-in-waiting and a video is forthcoming...) 2. Smashing Pumpkins - "Sunkissed" (on American Gothic. Audio-only video. The Smashing Pumpkins in "Zeitgeist"/interview mode: so annoying. Yet The Smashing Pumpkins in "Sunkissed"/"Again, Again, Again"-mode: enchanting. Come hear Billy Corgan's softer side.) 3. Jeremy Warmsley - "Lose My Cool" - on How We Became. This...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com3http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/12/75-favorite-songs-of-2008.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-65552144413127249352008-12-09T23:55:00.000-08:002009-01-18T15:44:58.276-08:002009-01-18T15:44:58.276-08:00It's the eve of Day Without a Gay (December 10th, not coincidentally, is also International Human Rights Day), and a month after several setbacks for gay rights. Clueless intolerance continues. The world will always have ignorance and bigotry, which is one reason why a popular vote is not the best way to make decisions about civil rights. Should divorced gay women get to remarry? Let's put it to a vote! How about bi-curious men? Maybe people should have to "prove" they're straight before entering into heterosexual marriages. Let's get that on...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/12/urban-outfitters-belatedly-offended-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-33312091314101546332008-12-07T13:32:00.000-08:002008-12-07T14:22:15.531-08:002008-12-07T14:22:15.531-08:00What's the "greatest" lyric starting with "I"? Say, while you're pondering, fancy an "I" lyric t-shirt? i/denti/tee is now selling a batch of 9 "I" lyric t-shirts, at a pricey $35 each, though thanks to a partnership with iTunes, each comes with 10 iTunes songs. Plus, they're EDUN LIVE shirts, not American Apparel, which is refreshing. Each shirt is made "in Africa, by Africans, with African cotton, [so] it helps generate revenue and sustainable growth in sub-Saharan Africa." On the downside, for the time being, a) the shirts are only being...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com1http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/12/whats-greatest-i-lyricfor-t-shirt.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-79411283930390492262008-12-03T23:11:00.000-08:002008-12-03T23:17:13.055-08:002008-12-03T23:17:13.055-08:00But this one, posted at Funny or Die, is splendiferous. trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/12/not-usually-fan-of-musicals.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-83912606115468867092008-11-27T00:44:00.000-08:002008-11-27T05:41:40.738-08:002008-11-27T05:41:40.738-08:00The country's beacon of goodness and light, Oprah Winfrey, tells us what to read, and kindly selected a President for us, but her generosity doesn't end there. Apparently, she dedicated an episode of her show to the topic, "How to Have the Thriftiest Holiday Ever!" yesterday, and part of that moneykeeping guidance involves offering us a free Christmas compilation download, available for a whopping 48 hours (the clock probably started ticking Wednesday afternoon.) Hey, record industry, Oprah is encouraging people to download a Christmas mix...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/11/free-christmas-ep-for-less-than-48.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-78801710347251902662008-11-26T20:14:00.000-08:002008-11-26T20:14:05.624-08:002008-11-26T20:14:05.624-08:00Singing for The Gap's holiday ad campaign, Rainn Wilson and Selma Blair opt for a nontraditional take on "Baby It's Cold Outside". Wilson's the one who "really can't stay" and it's Blair who urges him to remain, plying him with drink, and cooing that, "Your eyes are like starlight now." Whether or not it moves people to purchase sweaters, scarves, and such, it's a cute clip. But, say, shouldn't Wilson feel toasty-warm as bundled-up as he is in all that Gap cold-weather clothing? He's wearing an aviator hat, a thick scarf, and a wintry...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com2http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/11/baby-its-cold-outside-youre-just.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-85837016178016428082008-11-21T19:33:00.000-08:002008-11-21T19:37:07.345-08:002008-11-21T19:37:07.345-08:00I believe my shirt is wearing thin And change is what I believe in - "I Believe" Ack, Michael Stipe needs a shirt! Here's one. It's funny because —well, you know. He deserves lots of hilarious t-shirts. On the last night of their world tour, R.E.M. played extra songs for their Mexico City audience, including a rendition of "Country Feedback" that might be the most beautiful song they—or you will hear this year. Staggering guitarwork by Peter Buck. The band has posted well over half an hour of Mexico City concert footage,...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/11/theres-key-your-adventure-for-today.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-62360614107495133512008-10-11T15:15:00.000-07:002008-10-11T18:50:40.459-07:002008-10-11T18:50:40.459-07:00Given how much of 2008 the Kooks have spent on tour, are the odds tilted in favor of a travel theme for their next album? It's hard to believe all that time on the road won't have some influence. Maybe the album won't include an ode to hotel chairs or a salute to the Parisian roadie, but let's hold out hope for a rollicking song about a guy who collects Do-Not-Disturb signs. In the meantime, the Kooks have posted their fun cover of Peter, Bjorn and John's "Young Folks" in a little Parisian travelogue video at their website. The video,...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/10/kooks-cover-young-folks.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-11528550208080680102008-10-09T04:19:00.000-07:002008-10-10T00:12:23.062-07:002008-10-10T00:12:23.062-07:00Dark parlor games, the sort that ask players to choose between two horrible options, are torture for some, and bizarrely delightful for others. James Yuill's last name is pronounced "Yule", but he poses and answers a rather non-festive question in the title of his second album, Turning Down Water for Air, first released last year and re-released October 13th on London's Moshi Moshi Records. Turning Down Water for Air is a jumble of emotions set to the synthesized beats of Yuill's lovestruck heart. He seems like a sensitive guy, with somewhat...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/10/hopelessly-devoted-to-yuill.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-15288706302361802782008-09-22T08:34:00.000-07:002008-09-22T08:42:50.100-07:002008-09-22T08:42:50.100-07:00A couple months ago, the Full Time Hobby record label released their first compilation album, the rather swell Not Doing It For The Quids, which includes tracks by Sufjan Stevens, Malcolm Middleton, Fujiya & Miyagi, Tunng, Viva Voce, Micah P. Hinson, and Autolux, among others. They called it "a snapshot of where we are after almost five years of existence." The disc was sold for £1.99, and at least once, given away as a concert freebie. Now, a zip file of Not Doing It For The Quids is available for free download in exchange for the...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/09/free-compilation-not-doing-it-for-quids.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-76359135279139563342008-09-19T18:54:00.000-07:002008-09-22T10:13:53.445-07:002008-09-22T10:13:53.445-07:00Ahoy! And that's the extent of the pirate talk in this post. Via Q comes news of the perfect shoes to wear to see The Magnetic Fields this fall...particularly if you're a guy. The "Stephin" was designed "en hommage" to Stephin Merritt by the French shoe firm Bluedy. The shoes are available in brown or black, with laces or velcro. Each pair comes with a travel bag and 2 pairs of laces (although why you would need them for the velcro shoes is unclear, so perhaps you don't really get laces with those.) There are Bluedy stores in a few countries...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/09/velcro-shoe-inspired-by-stephin-merritt.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-67973782755342195872008-09-11T13:14:00.000-07:002008-09-11T13:16:30.908-07:002008-09-11T13:16:30.908-07:00Via Rhizome and a swell YouTuber, a 1980 20/20 report on music videos reminds us that people from the past can be so adorably clueless (as can people from the present, but often in a now, happening way, thank you very much.) Don't worry, 20/20 provides plenty of historical perspective and explains all three music video concepts. Yet apparently unsatisfied that correspondent Steve Fox pronounced "rock music" like a foreign and slightly odd term or possibly still in a tizzy from Kate Bush's confusing swaying, anchor Hugh Downs asks as his...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/09/1980-2020-report-on-music-videos.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12374503.post-59799519701240598422008-09-10T21:23:00.000-07:002008-09-14T01:01:15.996-07:002008-09-14T01:01:15.996-07:00Ted Nugent probably wishes he had a cool rock name like Thom Hell. If your birth name is Thomas Helland and you decide to pursue a career in rock music, shortening your name in said manner is a savvy move—unless, say, your chosen genre is Christian Rock. A musician named "Tom Hell" would suggest a rowdy American hard rocker, but the extra "h" whispers "Thom Yorke" in your ear. Surely not...some unholy Yorke/Nugent hybrid? Thankfully, no. While neither his music nor voice are reminiscent of The Nuge or Radiohead, Norwegian...trill42http://www.blogger.com/profile/07808254571605522954Kofis.hat@gmail.com0http://kofis-hat.blogspot.com/2008/09/thom-hell-great-name-better-music.html