Beastie Boys Announce New Album w/ Star-Studded Trailer
Will Farrell, Jack Black, Elijah Wood and many more join the cause in announcing the new Beastie Boys album, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, out May 3rd. I won't waste your time describing the video. Just watch it.
Pre-Order HOT SAUCE COMMITTEE TWO on Amazon
Pre-Order HOT SAUCE COMMITTEE TWO on beastieboys.com
Posted by sean | Comments (0)
Barsuk Announces Break-through in Audio Technology
Finally, someone marries my two loves: music and food! It's about time (for dinner!).
From Barsuk: Barsuk Records and Barsuk recording artist The Globes are excited to announce the debut of Soundbites. The biggest breakthrough in audio technology since the birth of the MP3, Soundbites will change the way you consume music.
Working with ex-NASA audio engineers, Barsuk (the independent label known for supporting quality songwriting and unique creativity) and The Globes (who, based on their “swirling, angsty post-rock,” were named one of Alternative Press’ “Bands You Need To Know in 2011”) have created an alternative to poor quality digital files, expensive, heavy vinyl, and excessively shiny compact discs. It’s a lot to swallow, so we’ve put together a handy explanatory film clip.
Posted by sean | Comments (0)
3hive's Radio Sister
Play It As It Lays is now running on Saturday evenings, 8-10 PST, on KUCI. Here's the list with benefits:
#388
Phantogram--mouthful of diamonds [barsuk]
Jaga Jazzist--one-armed bandit [ninja tune]
Field Music--them that do nothing [memphis industries]
Pop Noir--diy [fantastic heat]
Shout Out Louds--four by four [merge]
The Soft Pack--cmon [kemado] [MP3]
Willowz--repetition [dim mak]
Animal Collective--what would I want? sky [domino]
Love is All--never now [polyvinyl]
Massive Attack--pray for rain [virgin]
Turquoise Days--blurred [minimal wave/stones throw]
Cold Cave--the trees grew emotions and died [matador]
Posted by sean | Comments (0)
One Email = Nine Rare Ghostly Tracks
Info equals cash these days and you can take advantage of the current culture by signing up for Ghostly's mailing list. In return, a taste of their vaults, including rare tracks from Matthew Dear, Mobius Band, and Midwest Product. Full tracklisting and info at the jump.
Posted by sean | Comments (0)
Daedelus, Nosaj Thing & Jogger Tour & Tunes
Daedelus gathered up a couple of his fellow L.A. lads for his label, Magical Properties, and now their touring and playing together. Here's Daedelus in his own words describing the tour: ""A whole cavalcade caravan across this great continent! Magical Properties is now a touring unit as well as a label, featuring the musical musings of:
Nosaj Thing (remixing "Islands" by The xx) [MP3],
Jogger - Napping Captain (Dark Party Remix) [MP3],
and Daedelus...
Please consider yourself welcome at any or all of these shows. We'll have special goodies for sale and plenty of bass for the bins. See you soon!"
-Daedelus
We are all playing:
Thursday Feb 4th - Space 120 - Palm Springs, California
Friday Feb 5th - Echoplex - Los Angeles, California*
Saturday Feb 6th - Mighty - San Francisco, California*
Sunday Feb 7th - Jambalaya - Arcata, California
Monday Feb 8th - Rotture - Portland, Oregon*
Tuesday Feb 9th - Fortune Sound Club - Vancouver, British Columbia
Wednesday Feb 10th - Neumos - Seattle, Washington
Friday Feb 12th - Hodi's Half Note - Fort Collins, Colorado
Saturday Feb 13th - Gothic Theater - Englewood, Colorado
Sunday Feb 14th - Mad Planet - Milwaukee, Wisconson
Monday - Feb 15th - Majestic Theater - Madison, Wisconsin
Tuesday - Feb 16th - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, Illinois*
Wednesday - Feb 17th - Grog Shop - Cleveland, Ohio*
Thursday - Feb 18th - Wrong Bar - Toronto, Ontario
Friday - Feb 19th - Le Belmont - Montreal, Quebec
Saturday - Feb 20th - Le Poisson Rouge - New York, New York*
Monday - Feb 22st - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania*
Tuesday - Feb 23rd - Bourbon Street - Baltimore, Maryland
Wednesday - Feb 24th - Xscape Lounge - Richmond, Virginia
Thursday - Feb 25th - Club R2 - Charlottesville, Virginia
Friday - Feb 26th - Club 828 - Asheville, North Carolina
Saturday Feb 27th -New Earth Music Hall - ATHENS, GA
* Sponsored by Scion Sessions
Posted by sean | Comments (0)
Top 9s Updated w/ Xiu Xiu
We're asking our friends to make lists of their favorite things, any things, nine to be exact, from this past year. The closer we get to 2010, the longer this list will grow. Here's the who and what:
Angela Seo of Xiu Xiu (click for upcoming UK & US tour dates)
Gray Death [MP3] From Dear God, I Hate Myself available in February
1. Jasmin the cat
2. Healthcare
3. Buddha bowls
4. Nintendo DS
5. Vegetarian dim sum
6. Obama inauguration day
7. Memphis
8. Fireworks from Crazy Sam's, S.C.
9. Washboards
Herr Nilsson's Top 9 norwegian Christmas main course dishes! (we're especially fond of the top 3)
December [MP3]
9. Lutefisk: Dried, salted white fish soaked in caustic soda, served with mustard and potatoes!
8. Julepoelse: Big white sausage stuffed with fleshy meat, pepper, malzbier and ginger.
7. Medisterkaker : Ground pork, salt, potato starch flour, nutmeg, ginger and milk mixed into meatballs.
6. Christmas Turkey : In Karmøy, the most America-friendly place on earth, american christmas turkey is the only thing that can be eaten in all of christmas.
5. Rice porridge: Not really a main course, but incredibly common as a lunch meal on the 24. Served with butter, sugar, raisins and cinnamon
4. Persetorsk: (Pers Cod): This was the christmas dish for poor people in Bergen in older days. The cod is pressed for two days, and served with butter, potatoes and carrots!
3. Juleribbe: A whole side of a pork, served with cowberry sauce, sauerkraut, potatoes and thick gravy.
2. Smalahove: A whole head of a sheep on a plate, including the eyes, ear and teeth! Great with pureed swede and potatoes!
1. Pinnekjoett: This is by far the most popular main course. ribs of lamb served with pureed swede, potatoes and loads of beer and akevitt.
Dave Merson Hess' Top 9 of 2009
Haunted Kid
Like Dominoes
1. Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus Three - Good Night Oslo.
"Hurry For The Sky" = the new "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town".
2. The launch of WFMU's freemusicarchive.org.
Loads of killer live sessions and CC-licensed netaudio releases, and curators include the mighty Dublab!
3. The launch of Ian Hawgood's Home Normal label.
I wanted to put a Home Normal release on this list, but it was impossible to pick just one. Jawdropping ambient music.
4. Makunouchi Bento - Return To Avebell
Just get it already. These guys are brilliant, and like everything they do, it's free to download.
5. Prosperity Dumpling in New York's Chinatown.
Good, fast, AND cheap!
6. Union Suit Characters - Streetcar Legs, and their Daytrotter session.
7. Danny Cohen - Fleas Of A Thousand Dannys.
After 3 records on Tzadik and 3 on Anti-, Cohen released his latest record himself, and it's fantastic. Surrealist folky weirdness!
8. Lasker Rink in Central Park.
And living just a few blocks away from it.
9. Crif Dog + Please Don't Tell.
Best cocktails ever.
South China's Top 9 of '09
Painting
Sun Sets on Washington Ave.
1. Bill Callahan's Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
2. Hogfarm Studios Annex in Biddeford, ME
3. Valentine's Day Lovefeast/Lovefest at Loving Anvil
4. Portland Picnic
5. Tomato Head in Knoxville, TN.
7. Mikael is kicking ass.
8. The Apohadion Theater in Portland, ME.
9. The Zebulon in Brooklyn, NY.
Pocket's Top 9 of '09:
Pocket feat. Shaun Robinson & Tracy Shedd - Sub-Culture
[MP3 from Ceremony: A New Order Tribute]
1) Where The Wild Things Are
I grew up on this book and was filled with much anticipation when they announced the film. I literally cried through this entire film—beautiful imagery, great story and a good soundtrack - by far, my favorite thing from 2009.
2) Elf Cafe
Ridiculously succulent food that is mostly vegan and entirely vegetarian served in a cozy atmosphere by a fantastic staff.
3) Florence + The Machine
A lot of other records that came out this year deserve mention (such as Mayer Hawthorne, Miike Snow, etc) but this was the one that took me the most by surprise and caused so many repeat listens I wore down the groove on my...mp3.
4) Buying Art
This year I started buying art by local L.A. artists from a few galleries (including the sadly defunct Bandit on Sunset)—it's fun and exciting to finally be an art collector (albeit one on a budget).
5) Los Angeles
Though we moved here in late 2008, this year L.A. actually felt like home—and what a great home it is: the beautiful weather, the cool East side folks, proximity to the desert and wine country, etc.
6) El Prado
Just a few blocks from our house rests this perfect wine bar—perfect for conversation, great vinyl spinning and a crowd that is both fashionable and down to earth.
7) The Muppet Movie at the Hollywood Cemetery
Nothing can possibly compare to having a wine and cheese picnic while watching The Muppet Movie (including a live Gonzo on stage!) in the middle of a cemetery.
8) GoodGuide iPhone app
A friend of mine just turned me on to this—aim the scanner at a product and it tells you how the product compares on social equality, environmental and other scales so you can know how "good" your products are.
9) Comedy
Live music is great for a night out but this year Comedy has taken the cake—from seeing Asiz Ansari at Largo (along with Nick Kroll doing his amazing Ed Hardy Boy character) to Natasha Legerro in Los Feliz to our friends in "Mortified" to a few nights spent at the Groundlings, comedy made me happy and kept me smiling!
Blockhead: top 9 random foods i got obsessed with this year:
Listen to tracks from The Music Scene Download available now, LP due 12/12/10.
1)dried mango
prior to this year i didn't even know i liked mango. apparently, i love it when it's dried and lightly sugared.
2)skor bars
toffee: great or the greatest under rated dessert treat of all time?
3)tune fish salad sushi:
i had it when i was in australia and i found a place that makes it near my house. it's great. mayo makes everything better.
4)honest tea: honey green tea flavor
sorry vitamin water, you're dead to me. i could drink this 3 times a day for a year and not think twice.
5)pretzels
for no reason, i got obsessed with pretzels this year. especially the gourmet kind that seem burnt, but are actually just delicious.
6)chicken wraps
i feel like an annoying health nut forgoing bread for a wrap but it's too late. i love that shit.
7)baby carrots
i have this thing where if i think i'm being healthy, the amount of something i eat gets cancelled out. in other words, a bag of baby carrots at 3 am is equal to a 5 mile sprint.
8)chowder of any type
weirdly enough, this craving picked up during the summer. chowder in the summer is a seemingly bad idea, but it works for me.
9)bacon on anything
i've realized that if you're dealing with salty things, bacon is applicable to any meal you can imagine. it is truly great.
Cougar's (Counter/Ninja Tune) top 9 of '09, in no particular order::
The Cougar - Thundersnow [MP3 Courtesy of Amazon.com]
More celebrity deaths than you can shake a stick at.
America's dismal swing-and-miss at Health Care Reform.
Califone.
Miniature pet pigs.
Grizzly Bear.
Nice gigs with Health, Atlas Sound, Maximo Park, Electric Electric, Gold Streets, et al.
The Large Hadron Collider being sabotaged by well-meaning time travelers from the future.
Dub Trio in concert.
A lovely couple days off with good people in Bern, Switzerland that made it all worthwhile.
THE JET AGE’s Top 9 Things About Being on the Road in ‘09:
The Jet Age - It Could Be Brand New [MP3]
In '09 we released a new record, which means we went on tour, which means we got another opportunity to see the rest of the country and discover cool shit. Thanks to 3Hive, we can share our discoveries with you, so, without further ado…
(##1-3) The Local Bands!
The economy sucked but the bands were awesome in '09. We could easily treble this list; we've never played with so many good bands on a tour. However, because we’re splitting this list up into three different categories, we can only namecheck three of the best:
1. Wolves in the Attic (Des Moines, IA): A brilliant shoegazing rock band that provided that most wonderful gift: surprising songs. Like the original Mercury Rev lineup if they'd actually had tunes (and didn't have a flautist).
2. Bookmobile (Columbus, OH): They committed the cardinal sin of not having a CD to give us (see also: Northampton, MA's Viva Viva) but they were so damn GOOD they are forgiven. Easily filling the gap left by Guided by Voices, their record, due out in '10, will surely be perfect. Fun fact: brilliant guitarist and tunesmith Dan also is brilliant drummer in exceptional Columbus rock act The Kyle Sowashes.
3. Tea Cozies (Seattle, WA). More rockin' than Tuscadero, sexier than Tiger Trap. Guitar pop goddesses (no slight intended to dude bass player) the Tea Cozies made an excellent record in '09 and delivered it live on stage; we demand more in the near future. They also brought the excellent Breaker Breaker to our show in Seattle (Breaker Breaker need a drummer and a record, but think the Raveonettes with Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes).
(##4-6) Road Tunes
The three of us in the band have pretty divergent tastes when it comes to music so, barring new records from Swervedriver or the Wedding Present (why isn't the new Dinosaur Jr. on here?), a consensus top three is unlikely. Here, instead, are three new CDs that, between the three of us, got some spins in the van.
4. Death, … For The Whole World To See. Admittedly not new, but newly issued. Seven tracks from the greatest Detroit punk band you never heard--the reason being they were so punk rock they refused to change their name to satisfy their label. The Jet Age appreciates rock history, and Death's place in said history is rightly assured, right alongside Detroit proto-punkers The MC5 and The Stooges (Ann Arbor, Shmann Shmarbor).
5. The Clean, Mr. Pop. Playing with David Kilgour was a huge thrill for us, so it wasn't surprising that the new Clean album was in the Vehicle (that's a Clean reference, tee hee). What WAS surprising was that, on first spin, all we heard was half-baked pap. A disappointing pall settled over the van and eventually someone put on something palliative (probably some Bob Mould product). Later, a half-hearted attempt at finding some return on the investment found the CD getting a second airing, and suddenly Mr. Pop's charms were abundantly clear: What had seemed simplistic was charmingly clear-eyed and direct; what had seemed half-baked was revealed as being effortless. David, Bob, Hamish: You should not have been doubted.
6. Times New Viking, Born Again Revisited. Eric and Greg's old band, the Hurricane Lamps, were lo-fi back when lo-fi was ... passe. Having cut our teeth on the Grifters' Corrola Hoist, we fogeys of the Jet Age had little interest in the poorly recorded efforts of the tyros in Wavves, No Age, etc., and no lo-fi band's press sounded less appealing than Times New Viking's. Shame on us, because, after hearing a spin of their new platter at a house party in Lawrence, Born Again Revisited was purchased in time for the trip back east. Word on the street is that the first record sounds worse and has even better tunes: Both claims seem unbelievable, but will be evaluated firsthand when budgets permit.
(##7-9) Food
We eat well on the road, but we don't always agree on which places served the best meals. There was no controversy attached to these three:
7. Karma Asian (Denver, CO). Excellent fare that gives "pan Asian" a good name.
8. Vietnamese Pho House (Tyler, TX). Rock solid Vietnamese fare that made even our bassist Greg, a notorious spice glutton, sweat.
9. Monterey Cookhouse (Monterey). So good that our singer/guitarist Eric ordered two creme brulees in a row.
Honorable mention: Waffle House because, state after state, it ALWAYS delivers
Cassettes Won't Listen's Top 9 'Lists' of 09 List:
Perfect Day Remix [MP3]
9. Huffington Post's Best Pranks of 2009 List
8. Times Online: 100 Best Films of the Decade List
7. Paste's 50 best Albums of the Decade List:
6. Cassettes Won't Listen's Top 9 'Lists' of 09 List
5. Amazon.com's 'Best of the Decade....So Far' List
4. Jonathan Turley's Top Thanksgiving Crimes of 09 List:
3. Toy Industry Awards: 11 Best Toys of 2009 List
2. Fortune Magazines 100 Best Companies To Work For List
1. NPR All Songs Considered Listeners Pick The Best Music of 2009 List
Avi Zahner-Isenberg's Favorite Tracks of 2009 + Mayla Ray Longtime Sun
Embry
1. 42012 - "Hamhouse"
2. Jim O'Rourke "The Visitor"
3. Farmer Dave Scher - "Flash Forward to The Good Times"
4. Luis Gutee and His Friends - "Livin' in a Haunted House"
5. Dam Funk - "The Sky is Ours"
6. Mayla Ray Longtime Sun Embry
7. Beach House - "Walk in The Park"
8. Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics- "Phantom of The Panter"
9. Ariel Pink - "Evolutions a Lie"
Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears
1. Thomas Pynchon's INHERENT VICE
2. Nicholas Cage in BAD LIEUTENANT
3. Mélanie Laurent
4. Lars Von Trier
5. Bob Dylan's CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART
6. Bruno Coulais' score for CORALINE
7. Ben & Jerry's MISSION TO MARZIPAN ice cream
8. Season 7 of Curb Your Enthusiasm
9. "The Studio Commissary" by SPARKS
Posted by sean | Comments (0)
New MP3s: Blockhead, Field Music, Boy Eats Drum Machine
Straight outta the mailbox to you. Click artist names for reviews, links and more music.
Which One of You Jerks Drank My Arnold Palmer [MP3]
From the album The Music Scene out 1/12/10 on Ninja Tune.
Hoop + Music [MP3]
Hoop + Wire LP available through Tender Loving Empire on 3/2/10.
Puzzles [MP3]
Dare [MP3]
From the album Islands available now on Labrador Records.
Measure [MP3]
From the album Measure available through Memphis Industries on 2/16/10.
Field Music Fall Tour Dates:
30 Jan 2010 The Bell House, New York, NY
15 Mar 2010 Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN *
16 Mar 2010 High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI *
17 Mar 2010 Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL *
19 Mar 2010 Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ONT *
20 Mar 2010 Il Motore, Montreal, QC *
21 Mar 2010 Great Scott, Allston, MA *
23 Mar 2010 Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY *
* = w/ The Clientele
Posted by sean | Comments (0)
Cherrypickings (Thrice, Quasi, Album Leaf MP3s)
We hand-picked a few of our favorite MP3s today from some of our favorite sites. Enjoy.
Thrice
"All The World is Mad" [MP3]
More MP3s available on the Daytrotter Sessions page
Quasi
"Repulsion" [MP3]
From American Gong available February 23.
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Heaven Can Wait (Nosaj Thing Remix) [MP3]
autoKratz
"Stay The Same (Alex Gopher Remix)" [Download page]
"Always More (Shadow Dancer Remix)" [Download page]
The Album Leaf
"Falling from the Sun" [MP3]
From A Chorus of Storytellers available February 2 on Sub Pop
Dan Black
"Symphonies (Hot City Remix)" [Download page]
She, Sir
Lemon Grass [MP3]
From Yens available February 15
The Vandelles
Fever of the Beat [MP3]
From their self titled EP remastered and available in the UK and Europe on SVC Records
Posted by sean | Comments (0)
Play It As It Lays 2009 Review
Last night's playlist in which I reviewed the bands and/or songs I played most during the year. I organize the bands into three sections: Coach, Business Class, and First Class. First Class had the most spins, etc. The show, Play It As It Lays, airs Wednesday nights from 8-10 PST. You can stream the station online at kuci.org
Play It As It Lays #384
Frequent Flyers 2009
Business Class
God Help The Girl--mary's market [matador] (mp3)
It Hugs Back--work day [4ad]
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart--higher than the stars [slumberland](mp3)
The Depreciation Guild--dream about me [kanine](mp3)
A Place to Bury Strangers--in your heart *cereal spiller remix [mute]
Gus Gus--moss [royal flush]
Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls--disco loco [ubiquity]
Shawn Lee & Clutchy Hopkins--mimi tatonka [ubiquity]
The Whitefield Brothers--rampage [now again/stones throw]
Yo La Tengo--periodically double or triple [matador](mp3)
Esser--headlock [chocolate industries]
Bishop Allen--the ancient common sense of things [dead oceans](mp3)
Asobi Seksu--me & mary [polyvinyl]
Jason Lytle--yours truly, the commuter [anti]
Bibio--the palm of your wave [warp]
First Class
Mr. Scruff--kalimba [ninja tune]
Quantic & His Combo Barbaro--arianita [tru thoughts]
The Clonious--bugs n' fools [ubiquity]
Most played artist/song this year (I spun them the most last year too. I think I like them):
The Raveonettes--last dance [vice](mp3)
Coach
The xx--basic space [young turks/xl]
Liechtenstein--roses in the park [slumberland](mp3)
Sonic Youth--sacred trickster [matador](mp3)
Japandroids--young hearts spark fire [polyvinyl](mp3)
The Heavy--how you like me now? [counter]
Mexican Institute of Sound--escribeme pronto [nacional]
Rebotini--the spirit of boogie [le plan]
Posted by sean | Comments (0)
Dukes of Stratosphear aka XTC Box Set + MP3
XTC frontman and Ape House curator Andy Partridge recently released an MP3 from the Dukes of Stratosphear catalog in conjunction with the Dukes' limited box set, which Ape House released late last month. The two Dukes of Stratosphear albums were homages/parodies to the late '60s psychedelic sounds that Partridge listened to on the radio when just a wee lad. I myself was listening to XTC before I even listened to The Beatles—so I blame them for my penchant for all things psychedelic. Buy the box set and get the LPs on 180 gram vinyl and oh, so much more. I'm adding this to my wish list just in time for the holidays.
The Dukes of Stratosphear - I'm the Mole from the Ministry [MP3]
Link to the Ape House store (UK)
Link to Box Set on Amazon (USA)
Posted by sean | Comments (0)