Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Mas Vampire Weekend: Shut it Haters


I don't care what the dissenters say, Vampire Weekend's self-titled debut is my numero uno album right now. I've already talked about their infectious East Coast musicality and slightly morally (or economically superior) lyricism, but now I am officially addicted.Twelve step program addicted. Why do you hurt so good V-Dub?

One More reason to love these guys: Live shows. I won't be able to make their LA performance in March, for which I was prepared to whore myself out for tickets, but here is a little mix of some recent shows.


Yelle! It's Okkervil River and Through the Woods

I don't have too much literary prose for you today. My brain is running on pure caffeine and my usual repertoire has been effectively silenced by sleep deprivation. My bed has never looked so pretty. Since yesterday was an upset for me, and my musical expectations blown, today is only about great new things. New albums, songs, and artists I can't get enough of.

First off is Yelle. I don't know where her sugary electronica has been all my life, but I'm so glad its arrived. Although the Saint-Brieuc, Bretagne, (France) native has little to offer me in English, the fact that her singing career is yet another myspace success story (one I don't hate), AND her first single is a completely brutal attack on a member of the Parisian hip-hop group, TTC, I can't help but love her translinguistically. Any girl who is brave enough to write a song called "Short Dick Cuizi" (Cuizinier is the target) and finalize it in French to "Je Veux Te Voir" is worth listening to in my book. Her debut album, Pop-Up is unforgivingly fun, and should be out in the states sometime soon. Currently Yelle is opening for Mika on his European tour leg.


Please watch this amazing video


Also on my player today is Britt Daniel's oddly unnerving remix of Feist's "I Feel it All." Somehow Britt makes the upbeat song seem creepy and depressing which I love. Using the signature Spoon garage recording, SXSW-performing, slinky tambourine playing sound, Daniel has taken one of my favorite presents and rewrapped it for me in a morbid bow.


Other new tracks from new or upcoming albums I'm listening to:

The Whigs - I Got Ideas [mp3]
Mission Control, 2008

The Teenagers - Homecoming [mp3]
Reality Check, Jan 2008

Syd Matters - Cloudflakes [mp3]

Ghost Days, 2008

Adam Green - When a Pretty Face [mp3]
Sixes and Sevens, 2008

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazurus, Dig!! [mp3]
Single, 2008

Finally I just have to end with a plug for Okkervil River, the band that got me through the last twenty four hours of less than pleasant conditions. I love you boys. 2007 was your year, but I can't wait for a new album.

Okkervil River - Unless It's Kicks [mp3]