Friends over at Stranger Dance are hosting a great line up of local San Francisco music this Thursday at Cafe du Nord, featuring Geographer, Michael Zapruder and Harbours. Be sure to check it out!
Author Archives: the OCMD
Happy Earth Day – A Message from Bill Clinton
“The science is clear. Virtually all climate experts agree that we must reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050. If we fail, the worst consequences of climate change threaten to increase the severity of health epidemics, disrupt harvest patterns, deplete water resources, and intensify poverty rates in the poorest regions of the world.
On this Earth Day we cannot let the current global economic recession slow us in the race against climate change.” Bill Clinton on Earth Day 2009.
The new track from Black Moth Super Rainbow, “Born on a Day the Sun Didn’t Rise”, seemed apocalyptically appropriate for this post today. It’s off their forthcoming album Eating Us due May 26. They’ll be playing Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco on May 28.
Video: King Khan & The Shrines – “Land of the Freak”
Vodpod videos no longer available.
more about “King Kahn & The Shrines“, posted with vodpod
One of the most insane live performances I’ve ever witnessed, King Khan and The Shrines are a sight to behold. Originally from Germany, King Khan – also known as Black Snake – is like a Hindu version of Little Richard and James Brown. His band of freaks rolls eight deep and lays down a crazy concoction of psychedelic R&B with a full horn section and Go Go Queen of the Underworld, Bamboorella.
This is the new video for “Land of the Freaks” off their latest album The Supreme Genius of King Khan and The Shrines. The band is on tour now and will hit San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall May 28. Be there! The freak show awaits.
New Atlas Sound “Time Warp Virtual 7 Inch” – Free Download!
Bradford Cox’s Atlas Sound has posted the Time Warp Virtual 7″ for free download. Got get it!
Video: Jay Reatard – “DOA”
The new video for Jay Reatard‘s “DOA” from the Matador Singles ’08 compilation.
New Deerhunter EP Due in May
“Rainwater Cassette Exchange“:
Just announced, Deerhunter will be releasing the Rainwater Cassette Exchange EP digitally on 5/18.
Speck Mountain – Some Sweet Relief
Artist: Speck Mountain
Album: Some Sweet Relief
File Under: Dream Rock
Recommended if You Like: Neko Case, Mazzy Star, Cat Power
Featured Tracks:
Have you met your musical soul mate yet? Karl Briedrick and Marie-Claire Balabanian of Speck Mountain have – each other. Self-described “musical soul mates,” Briedrick and Balabanian write as a team, communicating in intuitive, womb-curled melody, exploded texture and spiky rhythm.
Their new album, Some Sweet Relief, is atmospheric, sexy, headphone hypnotica – or ambient soul as the duo likes to classify it. A fitting sound for the theme of their latest effort, which is about desire and fidelity. Balabanian has a beautiful voice with a timbre very much like that of Neko Case – a sleepier, sexed up version of her. It’s a great late night listen, especially on such a sultry evening as tonight where ‘Some Sweet Relief’ from this heat would be nice. Time to check out and tune in.
Here’s the video for “Angela“.
In Anticipation: Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
Listen to “Cheerleader” :
Grizzly Bear‘s forthcoming release, Veckatimest, is due out May 26 and is easily one of the most anticipated albums so far this year. On par with the buzz of Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavillion. After seeing them perform their new work at The Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX at SXSW, I fully understand why. It was one of the most beautiful performances I’ve seen and left me with goosebumps. I too cannot wait for this album to come out. Add me to the list of eager fans counting down the days.
The band is touring extensively in support of the new album. Be sure to check their MySpace page for the latest tour info. For San Francisco-based readers, they will be performing at The Fillmore on June 21, 2009 with Here We Go Magic. A fantastic line up!
Pre-order the album direct from the band.
Video: The Veils – “The Letter”
The new video for “The Letter” off The Veils new album Sun Gangs out now. I’m really enjoying this album right now.
Bringing Up Baby, As Music Lovers Might
My NPR Music Notes newsletter today contained an interesting article on music and kids that completely resonated with me. Entitled Bringing Up Baby, As Music Lovers Might, it speaks to the careful diligence new parents, who are passionate about music, take when selecting the music their child will listen to.
Being a music snob, I always found children’s music to be trite and belittling. Why do we have to dumb down music for children? Just because they’re tiny and unable to speak, doesn’t mean they can’t comprehend what’s going on around them. Turns out I was right about that. Babies can recognize surprisingly complex rhythms and are sensitive to the differences between consonant and dissonant music.
Hell bent on eliminating Barney and anything remotely like it in our household, I created my own child-friendly music program for my little guy, Judah – which has turned into a bit of a rock history overview in the process. James Brown, The Flaming Lips and Cut Copy were early favorites. Now he asks for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Duke Spirit and The Raconteurs by name. And I swell with pride every time he does so.
I know I’m going to catch flack from all you kid haters for this, but here’s the video that solidified my theory on kids and music – that they don’t need to be fed music through a purple dinosaur in order to connect with it. Here’s Judah, not even 2 years old, channeling the Grandfather of Soul himself. (He still uses our T.P. holder as a microphone to this day.)
the OCMD 