As with most indie music festivals today, there’s typically a stage dedicated to the electronic/dance genre. It’s not my usual scene but some of my best festival moments have been enraptured in the energy of a full-fledged, 80s flashback, dance your pants off set from groups like Chromeo – who’s performing on Saturday. ‘Cuz you know, sometimes is so bad it’s good. Here’s a video for ‘Fancy Footwork.’
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One of my current hometown favorites, Girls, has a new video out for ‘God Damned’. Check out their new album, Lust for Life.
I’ve been a long time fan of UK-based, Clinic. They fit right in there with my Brit Rock fascination. And the fact that they perform all their shows in surgical masks only adds to their eccentric allure. They have a new album out, ‘Do It!’ – their fifth album. Here is the new video for the track ‘Tomorrow.’
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Yay! I’m in New York. So happy to be here and looking forward a fun weekend of music and friends. Another anticipated performance for me this weekend is experimental group Animal Collective. Their 2007 release, Strawberry Jam, was critically acclaimed. Here’s a new video for Water Curses off the same titled 12″ released this year.
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There’s nothing like an impending festival to focus your music research efforts. This is a group on the line up for All Points West that I know little about. But after listening to a few songs, I’m marking them as a must see! Here’s a video for ‘Leave Us or Forgive Us’ and ‘Lucy Rides’. The lead singer kind of has a Kurt Cobain vibe, no?
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The countdown to the All Points West Festival begins! Dubbed as the Coachella of the East Coast (hardly, but I guess you have to start somewhere), I’m really excited to participate in this inaugural NY event this weekend- albeit just for one day. Of course the highlight will be Radiohead. But with Kings of Leon opening? Not too shabby, I say.
Kings of Leon have a new album, ‘Only by the Night,’ due out September 23. They’ve been sampling new tracks on their MySpace page that sound really good. They released Crawl for download recently. Today they premiered Sex On Fire. Not a bad anthem.
Follow this link to Sex On Fire
Artist: The Helio Sequence
Album: Keep Your Eyes Ahead
File Under: Dream Rock
Recommended if You Like: Early U2, Band of Horses
Featured Tracks: Lately
The Portland-based duo, The Helio Sequence, released their third album ‘Keep Your Eyes Ahead’ in January of this year; but it’s one of those records I just keep coming back to again and again. While this post may be long overdue, the relevance of this recommendation is right on. It’s a great summer album. Perhaps it’s because there are moments on the record that sound so early U2/Joshua Tree I can’t help but feel nostalgic.
To see them live gives you an even greater appreciation of their range and talent. Drummer Benjamin Weikel is mesmerizing to watch on stage with his visceral drumming technique, as if he’s in some altered state of ecstasy. Combined with Brandon Summers refined vocals and radiant layers of reverb guitar, the duo produces a lot of good sound. It’s certainly high on my list for Best of 2008; maybe even claiming title to ‘Sleeper Album of the Year’. So go get it already. Hurry, before the summer’s up.
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Be Your Own Pet announced Friday that they’re calling it quits as a band, citing nothing more than it’s time to move their separate ways. This just months after the release of ‘Get Damaged’. Awww, now I’m really sad I missed them open for The Raveonettes earlier this year.
Here’s a video for ‘The Kelly Affair.’
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La Blogotheque posted new ‘Take Away’ videos of Lykke Li ad El Perro Del Mar singing tunes as they strolled around San Francisco’s Civic Center this past May when they were in town for their show at Bimbos. What is it with the Swedes and their pop harmonies? I’ve truly enjoyed El Perro Del Mar’s mellow sounds this year. Lykke Li has some catchy tunes but I can’t seem to reconcile the Courtney Love looks with the Betty Boop voice. But a lot of people seem to like it…
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
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Goodbye grey skies, hello sunshine! I hate July in San Francisco. But it is now officially over and so are the notorious chilly, foggy days. I woke up this morning to blue bird skies and blazing sunshine. Then I found this new track from Koushik on RCDLBL, ‘Lying in the Sun’, from his latest release – Out My Window. The perfect soundtrack for my day in every way – even the album cover.
Download the track for free from RCDLBL.
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the OCMD 