Showing posts with label vampire weekend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vampire weekend. Show all posts

Sunday, September 14, 2008

A Movie Script Ending

I'm not sure if Michael Cera has been as inescapable for you as he has been for me lately. And yes, before you ask it is more than the usual stalking. It's not just my obsession with George Michael Bluth and every other awkward character he plays, it's all thanks to that one movie. Is a name plug even necessary? Let's be honest those commercials are either way too emo or way too disney depending on the day. I thought I was immature enough to handle it, I really did. I mean I am LOVING Gossip Girl. OMG. But I guess I've grown out of the 14-18 yr old teenage girl demographic that they are marketing this completely predictable cutesy flash in the pan to. If it didn't have reasonably great music, held together by the talented eye of Devo mastermind Mark Mothersbaugh, made ever more appealing by a brand new Vamp Weekend track, I might not pay attention to the movie in the first place. Except for that pesky Michael Cera. Why does he have to be so darn put-on-Pedro-the-Lion-cute?

Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist Soundtrack
01. Chris Bell: "Speed of Sound"
Fans of Big Star may not even remember co-founder Chris Bell. Unfortunately, while Alex Chilton rose to rock god status, Bell was largely forgotten. Bell died in a car accident before he could see most of his own material released

02. Devendra Banhart: "Lover" [ysi]
03. Bishop Allen: "Middle Management" [ysi]
You might recognize this one from all the friggin previews... I love B Allen cause they make me occasionally forget that The Kinks are no more. Charm School is a far superior album, but Broken String sure has proven its commercial appeal

04. Vampire Weekend: "Ottoman"
05. The Dead 60s: "Riot Radio" [ysi]
06. Takka Takka: "Fever"
07. The Submarines: "Xavia"
08. We Are Scientists: "After Hours" [ysi]
I can fall in and out of love with WAS. But 'After Hours' is a solid choice. Makes me think of end of summer nights in high school: "Time Means Nothing..."

09. Band of Horses: "Our Swords" [ysi]
Cease to Begin saved my life last year, so I was sad producers didn't pick a track from that album, but Everything All The Time is equally five star worthy

10. Army Navy: "Silvery Sleds"
Friends of Ben Gibbard. Thats all I need to know to love them already...

11. Richard Hawley: "Baby, You're My Light"
12. Shout Out Louds: "Very Loud" [ysi]
13. Paul Tiernan: "How to Say Goodbye"
14. The Real Tuesday Weld: "Last Words"
15. Mark Mothersbaugh - "Nick and Nora's Theme"

Soundtrack hits stores September 23

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Friday, March 7, 2008

I'm Back! And Hating MTV for Being Chicken Soup

I am so sad I have cable again.

OMG I can't believe I just said that. But not even new episodes of South Park, Millionaire Matchmaker, or catching VH1's special on "Britney's Secret Childhood" could recover me from the deep dark pit of despair that Satan's lackey, aka MTV, has thrown me into. Like Catholic boarding school, there is no food, hope is discouraged, and there is no known means of escape.

Let me clarify to anyone currently burning my effigy. MTV certainly has its high points in entertainment value. I can always use a good Hills episode to boost my self-esteem; to remind myself that at least I'm not the most spoiled, ignorant, self-absorbed person on the planet. I also enjoy Rob and Big from time to time, and True Life when the subject matter is a little more significant than True Life: I'm in High School, or True Life: I Broke a Nail. MTV was also responsible for Britney's "comeback" at the VMA awards which I know speaks for itself.


Here's my beef with MTV. First, TRL is the single worst show of all time. All the kids who were too irritating to get a job anywhere else, MTV handed them mics and said here, please talk about music for an hour. I feel deep sadness just speaking about this.

Also, if there is an artist I find redeeming somewhere in their lineup of usually annoying, over-commercialized music videos (70% of which objectify women, according to a statistic I made up for this comment), MTV somehow manages to squelch my interest. In case we only tune in every ten days, MTV plays the same shit 24/7, making sure to beat into our heads the exact choreography used in Heidi Montag's latest video (for all interested, there's really no dancing, just Heidi lipsynching in a bikini. So..... what's new). Only Spencer Pratt could produce something this cheap/cheesy/lame. To recap, MTV plays a lot of bad music, and when on the off chance they don't, genius producers still manage to ruin the good stuff for me. At least temporarily. Like when chicken soup is too hot and burns your tongue and you're turned off it for like two weeks. Damn you MTV and your chicken soup ways....

Case in point: Vampire Weekend. How I love(d) VW! But MTV has once again snuffed out the beauty in a great band, turning them into the worst kind of commercial tool. I miss the old, indie Vampire Weekend, who would pop on Hype Machine but not between episodes of Next and Sweet Sixteen. "Oxford Comma" is not the same to me anymore. A pox on you, eMptyTV. I have been forced to shelve this wonderful cd until further notice.

On the bright side I have tons of new music goodies to share, a spanking new MacBook Pro to store them all on (its so pretty), and a new location (Seattle!) to report from. Since today is Friday, I'm in Shuffle, I'll just give you the verbal teaser: Stay tuned for awesomeness. I'll get reporting on the latest and greatest next week, seeing as its Daylight Savings Time this weekend, America's newest national holiday. For now enjoy these tunes and not MTV. Unless its Randy Jackson present's America's Best Dance Crew; that show is pretty amazing.

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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.


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Monday, February 11, 2008

A Monday Music Wrap-Up

Instead of the usual mixtape, I wanted to wrap up a little of my overflowing music plate. It's been a big month for music, movies, and the arts in general. Heres a few of the major happenings this week and the not so distant future.

The Hype Machine's list of popular mp3s is being dominated this week by the lovable, sweater-vest wearing Vampire Weekend. "I Stand Corrected," "A-Punk," and "M79" are currently their most popular tracks - that is to say the most commonly posted and/or talked about. This puts a smile on my face; for once a new band honors the hype. And they're coming to the El Rey in LA this March!


Del the Funkee Homosapian has a new track spinning called "Workin' It." His new album, Eleventh Hour drops March 11, and is already getting some much deserved promotion. Del has been producing hits since 1991, loved by fans and critics alike. His distinct vocals and imaginative lyrics made him a hip hop legend. Currently Del is more well-recognized as part of the alt hip-hop group, Gorillaz. Their smash 2005 album Demon Days was a huge success, and recently the group released D-Sides, a compilation of new, rare, and remixed tracks.


Heres a special treat: Live from the 50th Grammys, its Kanye West and Daft Punk's collaboration. The awards aired on CBS this past Sunday. If you haven't seen the list of winners, heres a quick breakdown. Amy Wineho = blah, blah, blah, too many awards. Kanye wins Best Rap Album (finally), Herbie Hancock pulls in Best Album of the Year, Foo Fighters take home Best Rock Album, White Stripes get Best Alt Album, Flight of the Conchords win Best Comedy Album (sweet!), and Mark Ronson gets Producer of the Year. PS. How fucking badass does Kanye look onstage? Its the stunner shades for sure. I think I found my next Halloween costume...
.


Other popular tracks include hits from Hot Chip, Radiohead, and Amy Winehouse (To borrow from Michael Bluth: her?) Okay so she swept a few Grammy's up, but jinkies, haven't we beat this coke horse into the ground yet?

The News

First off Tim Fite, rapper extraoridnare, is gearing up to release a new LP entitled Fair Ain't Fair. Last year I was amazed by Over the Counterculture, a release that Tim offered for free off his website. I even named "Camoflage" one of 2007's best songs here. The new LP will be released May 6; independently or under a label I do not know. But I'm psyched. Check out the track list here.


My exit wounds make record execs goons swoon
I've been shot so many times the bullets had to make room
Raised up out the dust like bloodlust phoenix
It seems the more bullets that I catch I gets the greenest...
If I hadn't been shot I would have never got paid,
Never got signed, never got laid
I would have never known how lonely it gets at the top,
Would never've been shit if I hadn't got shot...
22 caliber salary

A hilarious commentary on hip-hop culture today, including the glorification of gang violence.

Also, in a more locally significant announcement, Tegan and Sara are coming to the Glass House in Pomona! Tickets just went on sale Saturday, Feb 9 for $25. Part of the proceeds from tix sales will go to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, an amazing organization that "provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are facing illness, disability, or age-related problems." Check out their website. Buy tickets for the great music and to support the cause! Show starts at 7 pm.


The Media

NEW MOVIES! Sorry I got a little excited there. Check out some new trailers from films that I will have a front row seat for.

Smart People (Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church & Ellen Page!)


Son of Rambow (A bunch of English ppl you don't know)

There's also a teaser for Star Trek now up, but it's so short and too true to the JJ Abrams' give-absolutely-nothing-away trailer style (i.e. Cloverfield) that I thought it pretty useless. The movie stars Chris Pine (so pretty) as Kirk, Simon Pegg as Scotty (YES!), Zachary Quinto as Spock (Double YES! for the Heroes fans), Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson, and Eric Bana as Nero. I'll post a decent trailer as soon as I see one...

USS Enterprise Out.
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Friday, February 1, 2008

Its a Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend is currently the most buzzed about band in the blogosphere, and appropriately so. The quartet of Ivy-educated New Yorkers owe most of their fame to the mp3 blog phenomenon - especially to the amazing website Stereogum, which has given many an up and comer a powerful debut. I guess even rockers can go to Columbia now, sport pastel sweaters, and the kind of clean shaven, do-gooder look that suggests they might be more prepared to do my taxes than take the stage.

Lucky for Ezra, Rostam (really?), Chris B., and Chris T. their time in the spotlight doesn't seem to be fading quickly. Their self-titled debut album (please buy, its so good) has been a major success, earning "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" a number 67 spot on Rolling Stone's 100 best songs of 2007. Personally I can't get enough of "Campus," "M79," and "A-Punk," but I'll let you decide what you think these self-professed "Upper West Side Soweto" sound-makers have to offer. PS. I find them attractive, if that helps. But I mean, whats new?

Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

Vampire Weekend - Campus

Vampire Weekend - A-Punk

Vampire Weekend - A-Punk (Live on WXPN)

Yummy.
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