WELL GOD DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST GODDAMN PLANS.
First full post of '06, and it's going to be a beaut if I do say so myself. First, some old news to go over: Beck's website recently put up some clips of him covering Nick Drake songs from Drake's last album, Pink Moon. The two songs ("Parasite" and "Which Will", the latter being L.A.R.S.' favorite off the LP) are phenomenally done; never a linear thinker, Beck uses the original beauty of the songs and turns them into orchestral pieces that ache and emote perfectly. His touch is at once elegant and remote enough that it doesn't seem cheap or opportunisitic. Instead, it's Drake meeting Beck at the crossroads. And it's simply magnificent.
Beck: Parasite.
Beck: Which Will.
Beck: Parasite.
Beck: Which Will.
IT'S DE-LOVELY.
I honestly can't say where I first heard about CRICKET SPIN, as it has been awhile since I first researched this post. But I will say that however it came about, I'm so glad it did. Cricket Spin are a wonderful gift to the New York City scene. They come about post-Arcade Fire, Polyphonic Spree, and Sufjan Stevens, and though their sound is indicative of this, it is in no way derivative. Instead, the group, led by cracked-voiced wünderkind Ben Yonda, creates delicately beautiful soundscapes that tell winsome stories and navigate various emotional experiences. Never above a flute solo or xylophonic backups, Cricket Spin nevertheless manage to form a sound that escapes the sticky gray area of preciousness. They are instead a wonderful band of musicians who are equally in touch with their craft and their emotions. I will be quite surprised if they do not land major deals and attention by the year's end.
Fortunately for you, they're not selling out the Hammerstein just yet, so be sure to catch Cricket Spin tonight at Otto's Shrunken Head with The Specimen and Low Water (538 E. 14th btwn. Aves. A & B).
Their full-length, titled "You Are My Home", which should be coming out in March of this year:
Until then, here are some mp3s to tie you over:
Cricket Spin: Love It When You Call.
Cricket Spin: Last Night Lovers.
Cricket Spin: To Talk Like.
YOU. SHOOK ME. ALL. NIGHT. LONG.
ADAM MOERDER SAYS DON'T TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES.
Photo taken from What's Your Rupture? myspace account.
Captioned " Love Is All, Cause Co-Motion, and very important others in Philadelphia."
NEWS:
I honestly can't say where I first heard about CRICKET SPIN, as it has been awhile since I first researched this post. But I will say that however it came about, I'm so glad it did. Cricket Spin are a wonderful gift to the New York City scene. They come about post-Arcade Fire, Polyphonic Spree, and Sufjan Stevens, and though their sound is indicative of this, it is in no way derivative. Instead, the group, led by cracked-voiced wünderkind Ben Yonda, creates delicately beautiful soundscapes that tell winsome stories and navigate various emotional experiences. Never above a flute solo or xylophonic backups, Cricket Spin nevertheless manage to form a sound that escapes the sticky gray area of preciousness. They are instead a wonderful band of musicians who are equally in touch with their craft and their emotions. I will be quite surprised if they do not land major deals and attention by the year's end.
Fortunately for you, they're not selling out the Hammerstein just yet, so be sure to catch Cricket Spin tonight at Otto's Shrunken Head with The Specimen and Low Water (538 E. 14th btwn. Aves. A & B).
Their full-length, titled "You Are My Home", which should be coming out in March of this year:
Until then, here are some mp3s to tie you over:
Cricket Spin: Love It When You Call.
Cricket Spin: Last Night Lovers.
Cricket Spin: To Talk Like.
YOU. SHOOK ME. ALL. NIGHT. LONG.
With a lead singer gifted with a voice that scarily resembles Donovan’s, THE DEADLY SNAKES may look tough (their promo shot has a severed pig’s head amongst them, for starters), but they carry the same winsome natures that you and I may hold while traipsing in the spring sunshine after stopping at Magnolia Bakery. I instinctively turned down the volume before I previewed “Gore Veil”, expecting roaring death metal. But instead, I got a folksy love-heavy tribute to the ‘60s. It’s toe-tapping and wonderfully dynamic in its use of instruments. But don’t be deceived; these tough guys still have some lyrics that make you pause while you’re tapping those winsome toes, not the least of which being “What am I for?/What am I for?/If not to paint the walls with blood?” Huh?But despite the bad acid trip lyrics, or indeed because of them, The Deadly Snakes tease the listener with "Gore Veil"; I for one am aching for more, more, more.
The Deadly Snakes: Gore Veil.
The Deadly Snakes: Gore Veil.
ADAM MOERDER SAYS DON'T TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES.
No love lost between MORNINGWOOD and Adam Moerder: He just panned their debut LP on Pitchfork, hurling a whopping 3.9 at their work. Personally? I will always be a fan of their music, and their live shows are just a rollicking, often-naked good time. Hey, at least The New York Times’ Sunday Styles section liked them.
WHAT'S YOUR RUPTURE?
Maybe you remember the profile FADER Magazine had on Rocks In Your Head way back in the day. The one where they had a nice pic of Kevin, one of the resident clerks at NYC's finest record store on Prince St. From personal experience, Kevin is the man. Period. Super-sweet and always able to help you on your way towards the Way, Fader did good by Kev. And at the end of the article, the writer happened to mention that Kevin had founded a music label, titled What's Your Rupture? Intrigued, I headed over to its myspace account, and sure enough, Kevin's representing CAUSE CO-MOTION (perhaps you all remember the age-old story of how I discovered the band through Kevin's generous offering of a CD-R of their live show). But this is not where the story ends. No, taste-maker Kevin has found a band named LOVE IS ALL from Sweden who simply RAWK. Hard. And long. Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-check 'em out.
Photo taken from What's Your Rupture? myspace account.
Captioned " Love Is All, Cause Co-Motion, and very important others in Philadelphia."
NEWS:
Alright, first up:
This shit has been floating around the Internet like wisps of smoke in a hookah bar, so I figured I might as well post it for those of you who have been in a bubble á la John Travolta:
This shit has been floating around the Internet like wisps of smoke in a hookah bar, so I figured I might as well post it for those of you who have been in a bubble á la John Travolta:
William Shatner + Elton John X A Very Non-Ironic Bernie Taupin = Musical Genius.
Video brought to us by [stereogum].
And for those of you having déjà vu, Beck did indeed use this exact same sequence in his "Where It's At" video. Who knew the guy was a Science Fiction Film Award devotee.
Beck: Where It's At
THE FRAGILE ARMY.Video brought to us by [stereogum].
And for those of you having déjà vu, Beck did indeed use this exact same sequence in his "Where It's At" video. Who knew the guy was a Science Fiction Film Award devotee.
Beck: Where It's At
D'OH! GET BEHIND ME SATAN!
Lame title, I know. But I promise you that when The White Stripes appear on The Simpsons, it'll be a whole lot more funny. NME and Pitchfork both have the scoop.
BELA LUGOSI'S STILL DEAD.
Michael Idov, the s’wonderful man behind L.A.R.S’s favorite band Spielerfrau, writes an interesting piece on “The Smash That Wasn’t” concerning The Cloud Room [pitchfork].
Not what I think of when I dwell upon The Polyphonic Spree, but that's what NME is saying the title of their upcoming LP will be. The collaboration with John Congleton is highly anticipated by this bloggerista.
QUATRO TETS.
I heart everything Four Tet, and the song "High Fives" off their last stunner, "Everything Ecstatic" is particularly elegant and understated. The video is suitable, though I must admit that parts of it remind me of a Gatorade commercial. See for yourselves, courtesy of Prefix.
DEADLY SINS.
Vice Records, never one to under-publicize their bands, has released a DVD called "God Bless Bloc Party" featuring behind the scenes footage of the band on the road. It's out now, and I suggest you get yourself a copy; my personal Bloc Party fetish can never be satiated.
Trailer courtesy of [coolfer]
COVER OF THE ROLLING STONED.
Rolling Stone, ever the cutting edge publication, covers the topic that is on all of our minds: What the hell happened to Scott Stapp? The first sentence is enough of a buzzkill though: “The day Scott Stapp decided to kill himself, his band, Creed, was the most popular rock act in the country.” Pity, really. He couldn’t even do that right. [Rolling Stone].
FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
And finally, Rob Sheffield gives “First Impressions of Earth” 3 ½ stars. My personal reactions? Until next time darlings. [Rolling Stone].
ROCK PHOTO:
1986: "Studio portrait of Ad-Rock, member of the rap group The Beastie Boys. He is holding a can of Budweiser beer while giving the peace sign".
By © Lynn Goldsmith/CORBIS.
What is a party/ If it doesn't really rock?/What is a poet?/All balls, no cock/What is a war if it doesn't have a general?/What's Channel Nine if it doesn't have Arsenio? -S.
Trailer courtesy of [coolfer]
COVER OF THE ROLLING STONED.
Rolling Stone, ever the cutting edge publication, covers the topic that is on all of our minds: What the hell happened to Scott Stapp? The first sentence is enough of a buzzkill though: “The day Scott Stapp decided to kill himself, his band, Creed, was the most popular rock act in the country.” Pity, really. He couldn’t even do that right. [Rolling Stone].
FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
And finally, Rob Sheffield gives “First Impressions of Earth” 3 ½ stars. My personal reactions? Until next time darlings. [Rolling Stone].
ROCK PHOTO:
1986: "Studio portrait of Ad-Rock, member of the rap group The Beastie Boys. He is holding a can of Budweiser beer while giving the peace sign".
By © Lynn Goldsmith/CORBIS.
What is a party/ If it doesn't really rock?/What is a poet?/All balls, no cock/What is a war if it doesn't have a general?/What's Channel Nine if it doesn't have Arsenio? -S.
