Album of the Week: Flaming Lips – “Embryonic”

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Flaming Lips – “The Ego’s Last Stand”

Worm Mountain (feat MGMT)

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!

Karen O Scores ‘Where The Wild Things Are’

Spike Jonze’s film adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are is due in the theaters on October 18 and will be scored by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Karen O and composer Carter Burwell. Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up” appears in this trailer, but MTV News reported that no Arcade Fire music will be used in the actual movie.

Video: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Heads Will Roll”

I have a serious girl crush on Karen O. and am in love with the costume designer, Christian Joy, that dresses her. So much so that I fashioned my own Karen O. knock off for Halloween this year (even though most people had no idea who the hell I was).  I hate to repeat anything, but after seeing her latest creation in this video, I’m tempted for round two.

San Francisco Bands You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of – Part 6

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Raised by Robots

San Francisco/Oakland-based Raised by Robots pays homage to a multitude of musical influences – among them early 90s indie, soul, post punk, country, and hip hop.  Sort of a multiple personality disorder perhaps, but I really like this track.

Listen to ‘I Love U/U Love Me 2′

 

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Scrabbel

Bay Area indie pop rockers, Scrabbel, are highly influenced by all things ’65-’75 and you can hear it in their music. Sunny, sweet songs that have a bit of that Belle and Sebastian feel.  On the dark side, they also do a nice cover of My Bloody Valentine’s ‘Sometimes‘.

Listen to Emily and I:

 

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The Blacks

Described as ‘the love child of Karen O and Jesus and Mary Chain,’ The Blacks flat out rock. I completely fell in love with them this year at SXSW.  It was tambourine player JDK Blacker that did it for me.  He plays the tambourine like he’s exorcizing demons. It’s spellbinding.  The SF/NY based trio are known for their short, blistering stage shows and laser-beam intensity. Their debut full-length “Nom de Guerre” was released in 2007 on Tricycle Records. “Tiger Songs” is their latest EP.

Listen to ‘Raincoat:

Listen to ‘Ammunition‘:  

 

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“She’s Magic. That’s Why She Has a Microphone.”

My 3-year old’s latest musical obsession is Karen O. from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. And frankly, I can’t blame him.  

It all started with Rock Band.  I play a lot of it and one of my favorite songs is Maps. I drum, he sings (with his console unplugged, of course, so we don’t get booed off). One day I decided to show him the video to Maps so he can work on his Karen O. moves.  To say he’s smitten is an understatement.  He watches her completely transfixed, with mouth agape.  After seeing the video for Gold Lion for the first time, he turned to me, all serious, and said: “Momma, she’s magic.  That’s why she has a microphone.”

Listen to ‘Gold Lion’:  

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buy it at insound!

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