Built to Spill – “Things Fall Apart”
Off the latest album from Built to Spill, There is No Enemy, the band’s seventh album and first since 2006’s You In Reverse.“…It doesn’t matter if you’re good or smart. God damn it, things fall apart.”
Category Archives: Spanking New Music
The Frequency – “Ego Is The Drug/ 3AM”
The Frequency – “Ego Is The Drug/3AM”
Put this one in your pipe and smoke it. Preferably at 3AM. The Frequency is an unsigned LA based duo that sounds a little like Air on a 70s acid trip. “Ego is the Drug/3AM” is the first half of the expansive B side from their new EP “Morning to 3AM”, out now and available for all of $2 on their website.
Meet High Times Unsigned Artist of the Month: Beardo
I don’t know what I found more compelling about the email Terrorbird sent me on Beardo recently – the album cover, the video, or the fact that High Times actually has an Unsigned Artist of the Month. Whatever it was, it made me laugh. And get a little nostalgic for some early Beastie Boys. Well turns out Beardo is on a roll – literally and figuratively, I guess. He’s just wrapped a tour opening for Snoop Dogg and they seem to be eating him and his debut album up. With tracks like “Snort Your Drugs,” “24 Hour Party,” and “Girls N Pills,” how can you not?
Beardo is scheduled to play Slim’s November 5. Check it out and enjoy.
Supergroup du Jour: Midnight Masses – “Walk On Water”
Midnight Masses – “Walk on Water”
As I’ve been highlighting in my recent trendspotting series, everyone seems to be collaborating these days. Like Monsters of Folk and The Dead Weather, Midnight Masses appears to be the latest indie supergroup du jour that features an ever-expanding collective of mostly Brooklyn-based artists. And I like it.
On any given day the band could be a lean ensemble of its core members or an imposing 14-piece collection of string players, organists, and guests pulled from any number of Brooklyn’s finest bands – including Trail of Dead’s Kevin Allen, Jason Reece and Conrad Keely, TV on the Radio’s Gerard Smith and Jaleel Bunton, the bewitching Katie Eastburn, Peter Hale of Here We Go Magic, and more. Midnight Masses is preparing to gather once again for Rapture Ready, I Gazed At The Body, their debut EP, set for release on November 10th via Collect Records.
Album of the Week: Flaming Lips – “Embryonic”
Flaming Lips – “The Ego’s Last Stand”
Got my hands on the new Flaming Lips double LP, Embryonic, today and …eeeeoooowww…I’m so excited to see them at the Treasure Island Music Fest this Sunday I can hardly contain myself. I spontaneously squeal every time I think about it. For this album, the band of fearless freaks have ditched their pop tendencies and headed squarely down the path of lo-fi, ethereal psychedelia – while remaining fabulously weird.
In true Flaming Lips fashion, there are plenty of kooky delights to be found on the album, like the track, “I Can Be a Frog” that features Karen O making an array of animal sounds. There’s also a number featuring MGMT, “Worm Mountain“, that has me dreaming…anticipating…a joint performance with the two bands this weekend at Treasure Island. They’re playing the same festival after all. It’s gonna happen. It’s gotta happen. I know it. All hail Wayne Coyne!
Lightning Dust – “Never Seen”
I’m really enjoying this album right now from Lightning Dust, Infinite Light, a side project of some members of Black Mountain. Amber Webber’s ethereal, haunting voice is mesmerizing. Enjoy!
Electric Tickle Machine – “Blew it Again” [Free MP3s]
Electric Tickle Machine – “Part of Me”
Part of me is absolutely smitten with this band from New York and their self-released debut, Blew it Again. They just look like trouble, don’t they? They sure know how to pick cover album art too. The band is touring the hell out of the US for the next two months and will hit San Francisco’s beloved Thee Parkside on November 11. Their album will soon be available on InSound, but until then you can grab these free MP3s or nab one of their limited 500 vinyl albums. Check their MySpace page for more tour dates.
Cover Me: Taken By Trees – “My Boys” + “Sweet Child ‘O Mine”
Taken by Trees covering “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
Taken by Trees, “My Boys” (covering Animal Collective’s “My Girls”)
Swedens’ Victoria Bergsman of Taken by Trees, former frontwoman of The Concretes, is an amazing interpreter of song. The band’s ethereal, ethnic infused music is something to be explored for sure, but Victoria’s interpretation of cover songs is something to be cherished. These two tracks are some of my favorite covers…ever. Taken by Trees’ latest album, East of Eden, is out now.
Trendspotting: Solo, Side Projects and Collaborations – Part 2
Continuing the exploration of artists embarking on new solo efforts, side projects and collaborations – welcome to part 2. Click here for Part 1.
Artist: Drummer
Album: Feel Good Together
Type: Side Project
Who’s Involved: Patrick Carney of The Black Keys
Featured Track: “Feel Good Together”
Artist: Rain Machine
Album: Rain Machine
Type: Solo Project
Who’s Involved: Kyp Malone of TV on The Radio
Featured Track: “Give Blood”
Artist: Midnight Masses
Album: Rapture Ready, I Gaze At The Body
Type: Collaboration
Who’s Involved: Features members from Here We Go Magic, Trail of Dead, TV on the Radio
Featured Track: “Heaven”
Cryptacize – “Tail and Mane” [MP3]
“Peg”
There’s something irresistibly charming about Cryptacize. They’re just a little off and quirky in all the right ways. Their sound is future forward and a throwback all at the same time – the purveyors of ‘smart rock’. One of my favorite covers of all time – ever – is their version of Steely Dan’s “Peg.” It’s perfection. “Tail and Mane” is a track off their second album, Mythomania, out now on Asthmatic Kitty. The band has announced a tour, beginning with Sufjan Stevens and ending with The Fiery Furnaces. And their tour will literally end in San Francisco, November 20, at Slim’s with Dent May and The Fiery Furnaces rounding out the bill.
the OCMD 