A Few More Beats - And Maybe, A New Sound: 01
May 22, 2008 | Categories: Music

I hear new music almost every day from all over the place, but I don’t always feel like an entire album review is warranted. So I decided that I’ll post some of the songs that really stand out to me every week, new or old, doesn’t matter, just things I’m liking. I’ve decided to call it A Few More Beats - And Maybe, A New Sound. I borrowed this title from somewhere, and it’s up to one of you to figure it out. If you can tell me where I got this name, I’ll send you something rad and random in the mail, no matter where on earth you are. I’ve Googled the title and done a number of searches, so hopefully it’s not too easy!

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Lon Chaney by Vetiver

Vetiver has a new album coming out called Thing of the Past, a cover album of old and rare songs. I probbaly could have written a review about this album, its really damn good, but this one song really stuck out to me. The song is a remake of a Garland Jeffreys song of the same name, and it’s absolutely haunting. Though it comes in at around four and half minutes, I don’t ever want this song to end, with it’s beautiful piano part and it’s moaning cello.

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Chemtrails by Beck

Beck just the other day released this new song of his upcoming album Modern Guilt and it’s sounding really good. The song is called Chemtrails, and it’s kind of haunting as well. This new album is being produced by the unstoppable Dangermouse, and it’s clearly evident once you hear how layered and crisp everything sounds. This album is gonna be a definite purchase for me, I can’t wait to hear more.

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I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You by Black Kids

I’m really excited about the Black Kids upcoming album, especially after hearing their first EP, The Wizard of Ahhhs. They kind of sound like a mixture between the Cure and The Go! Team, which means dance party forever. I dare you to try and not dance to this song, with all it’s awesome synths, guitar solos, and harmonizing.

Bobby

Cut Copy Live at Echoplex
May 20, 2008 | Categories: Los Angeles / Music

As I wrote yesterday I went to see Cut Copy last night and let me just say, they’re AMAZING. I had my worries because they’re so electronic sounding, but they play live instruments pretty much 98% of the time. But I’ll go back to the beginning of the story…

I was going to the show with my friend Mark and we got to the Echoplex around 9:30, where we were greeted with a line. A line to get in to a venue, even though we had will call tickets waiting for us. I was really annoyed by this, but we ended up only having to wait like 10 minutes, so I guess it was no big deal, but the security guys out front were complete morons and were not helpful at all in telling people what was going on. We grabbed drinks and talked to some other friends of ours before the show started, staring at all the weirdos. I was looking at this one guy, thinking he was really cute, but I’m very spoken for, so whatever. But it turns out that guy was the bass player for Cut Copy, hahaha… I guess I have good taste?

Right before the show started Mark and I pushed our way tot he front, pretending to look for people we knew who were at the front. We ended up stopping behind some 220 lb., 6′ 7″ giant douche bag, who when Cut Copy played he just threw his arms into the air like something you’d see in a 90’s gangsta rap video. Then there was his friend who was pretty much the same weight but like 5′ 5″ who just kept grinding into his girlfriend while dancing and holding her shoes. I was hoping my mutant powers would kick in so I could blow them up with my mind, but sadly nothing happened.

The show itself was awesome though. They played songs from the new and old album, they had a ton of energy and were exactly how I hoped they’d be. They opened with Out There on the Ice, which is definitely one of my favorite songs on their new album. They also played Future of the the last album, so that was fun to hear too. The show was about an hour long and that was perfect, even though it went by really fast. After the show we tried to get into the after party that Cut Copy was DJing but were promptly told that we weren’t on the guest list nor did we RSVP. Oh the glamorous life of a blogger…

If you get the chance to go see Cut Copy, I would definitely go do it. The visuals are great and they put on a super-solid live show.

Bobby

Light and Music by Cut Copy
May 19, 2008 | Categories: Music / Music Video

Tonight around 8 I’m headed over to the Echoplex to see Cut Copy, who just so happens to have one of the best records of the year. I’ve heard good things, that they definitely play really well live, but I’m still a little worried. I’m also worried that the Echoplex is going to be 4 trillion degrees inside and I might melt. I’m definitely going to have stay well hydrated ; )

The video above is for Lights and Music, which I think is their newest single off their album. This is exactly how I imagine tonight being, except you’d see me right in front dancing really hard and screaming, haha… I’m really not one of those people, I swear, but there will be a little dancing coming from my direction. If you’re going tonight email me and let me know!
Bobby

There Were Wolves by The Accidental
May 16, 2008 | Categories: Illustration / Music


I Can Hear Your Voice by The Accidental


Slice Open The Day by The Accidental


Time and Space by The Accidental

Sometimes judging a book, or a record in this case, by it’s cover is a good decision to make. I saw the cover of The Accidental’s new album, There Were Wolves, and was immediately curious and had to listen to it right away. I knew nothing about them but as soon as a I put the first song on I instantly liked it. I listened to that first song a little more though, and all of a sudden I heard one of the male vocals and freaked out! It was Sam Genders, lead singer of Tunng! Turns out The Accidental is one of those awesome side project kind of bands, somewhere between The Postal Service and The Reindeer Section.

Like I said before there’s Sam Genders from Tunng doing most of the vocals, Stephen Cracknell from The Memory Band, Hannah Caughlin of The Bicycle Thieves, and Liam Bailey rounding out the bunch. The band came together pretty randomly, but it turns out they sound amazing together! For those of you who’ve heard of Tunng, this is a lot like that, mostly because of Genders’ vocals, but The Accidental is even better. The songs are more melodic, Hanna Caughlin’s vocals lend some lightness to the album, and the string arrangements are awesome. There are also a couple of instrumental tracks as well, which I always enjoy.

You can listen to the entire album over on Last.fm, which I highly suggest you go and do. I mean, what do you have to lose? If you’re a fan of folk sounds or music that’s really layered and well produced, definitely give this a shot. The album is out in the UK already, and will be released on June 3rd here in the States.

Bobby

Piece of Me, Piece of You
May 16, 2008 | Categories: Art / Design / Films / Music / Technology

Poor Zune, you try so hard but never really get anywhere in your battle against Apple. Hell, one of my co-workers hadn’t ever heard of a Zune before! But like I said, you do try, and this new video by Three Legged Legs is proof positive that you really do care. The video is called Pieces of Me, Pieces of You, and features zombie puppets! The puppets were created the awesome Adam Parker Smith, who is a damn pro on creating creepy, zombie puppets. Imagine Thriller with puppets and a Chromeo soundtrack and that’s what you’ve got.

Be sure to stop by Three Legged Legs behind the scenes post which shows you pretty much the entire process from concept to finished product. They even have sketches, photos of the puppets, storyboards, and test zombie movement footage. I want one of those zombies so bad, him and Wall-E could hang out!

Found through Shape + Colour

Bobby

Today Is the Day
May 14, 2008 | Categories: Blogs / Design / Music / Photography


Today Is the Day by Yo La Tengo

For some reason I woke up this morning with a hankering to hear a certain Yo La Tengo song, but I couldn’t remember which one it was. I finally remembered that the song was Today Is the Day, a song that was off of their album Summer Sun. But they released a Today Is the Day EP as well, and instead of putting the original version on there, they put this amazing sped up version that destroys the original. Seriously, if you don’t want your ass kicked by Yo La Tengo right now, don’t listen to this.

On a sidenote, I made that cover above because I couldn’t find a large image of the original. The background and letters are made up of images from Michael Surtees’ New York City Colour Study project. Basically he takes a picture of the sky over Manhattan every morning around 7 am every day, documenting how different the sky can look day to day. I figured since the album was titled Today Is the Day it was kind of fitting. Also, Yo La Tengo is from Hoboken, New Jersey which pretty much shares the same sky as Manhattan, so it works for me. Probably not the most creative of the covers I’ve made, but it’s very conceptual, something I don’t do often.

Also be sure to check out Michael’s blog DesignNotes, it’s a good read.

Bobby

UT LOOP!
May 9, 2008 | Categories: Clothing / Internet / Music


OMG, this is way fun for a Friday afternoon when you know all you want to do is go home. UT LOOP! is the newest creation from the folks over at Uniqlo, one of the finest Japanese clothiers. They also happen to destroy when it comes to viral marketing, as you can see above. UT LOOP! is basically sounds made by 9 different folks that you then combine to turn into little ditty. It’s like the music editor in Mario Paint but for the 21st century.

My loop is silly, but I like the rhythm of it. I also like ending with the fun UT kids, they were kind of my favorite sounds. I also love that the video of them making the sounds plays along as well, a nice detail. Go take 10 minutes and make yourself a loop!

My loop isn’t working, I don’t know why, but that’s rather annoying.

Bobby

Music From The Forest, A Podcast by James Pants
April 28, 2008 | Categories: Music

Being a big fan of Stones Throw Records I subscribe to their podcast, especially because they consistently release them and they’re made by awesome guys like Madlib. I was excited to see that they released a new podcast over the weekend featuring James Pants called Music From The Forest.

James’ story of how he got onto Stones Throw is probably the best part. The night of his prom he and his date went to a rave where Peanut Butter Wolf, head of Stones Throw, was spinning and asked if he could take PBW record shopping. From there James ended up getting an internship, and now he’s gonna’ have an album coming out on May 27th. talk about lucky.

The podcast itself is all over the place, from Kraftwerk to old sould hits, it’s well put together and totally made my morning. If you’d like to listen to it, head over to the Stones Throw Jukebox where you can listen to it there or follow the iTunes podcast link.

Bobby

Vasco Cesaretti
April 24, 2008 | Categories: Music


Look Up, For We Are No More by Vasco Cesaretti (mp3)

In The Car by Vasco Cesaretti (mp3)

At the office where I work we have several interns, one of them is this 17 year old guy named Vasco Cesaretti. He reads the blog every now and again, and a few weeks ago he asked me to post about him. So I asked him, “What would I write about?”. He told me that I should write about his music. I sort of laughed it off, but told him to send me some, that I’d listen to it, but inside my head I’m already thinking, “Oh my god I’m gonna have to lie to him this is gonna be sooo awkward.”

He sent me a couple songs that night after I went to bed, so I woke up with them in my Inbox. I started to play them, and began to FREAK out. They were really good. Not even really good, they were amazing! I was dumbfounded. I was sitting in my underwear under a blanket grinning from ear to ear in total shock that the 17 year old intern at my work could make music like this.

Vasco currently goes to an ‘arts school for creative people’ that he hates, he has dual citizenship with the US and Italy, he likes to watch neo-realist and new wave films, and plays cello, guitar, and piano. Musically though, he sounds sort of like Grizzly Bear, I guess? It’s kind of electronic, kind of acoustic, so I dunno. I think the best thing to do is listen to his songs, download them, and decide for yourself. Also be sure to check out his Last.fm page which I made him make, haha…

Let me know what you guys think!

Bobby

Ghostly Swim
April 22, 2008 | Categories: Design / Music


Then It Happened by Milosh

Jam of the night tonight is Adult Swim’s newest musical release, Ghostly Swim, an audible outing teaming up with the folks over at Ghostly International. Adult Swim made some waves with their work with DangerMouse, although this time their effort is a much more electronic one as opposed the hip hop influenced albums of the past.

There aren’t a whole lot of big names on the album, but you may recognize Matthew Dear and Tycho, who’s better known as Scott Hansen of ISO50 fame. As always the album is free to download and comes with the beautiful art you see above. You can’t beat free.

Bobby