Leak it Out

I was at Guitar Center this weekend buying 3 packs of the second thickest acoustic guitar strings Dean Markley makes when I discovered that this was precisely one of the magic combinations of merchandise that yields the consumer with Volume 3 of GC's 'Fresh Cuts' series (which contains music made by GC employees from across the country).

"Cool." said I to generic GC cashier #1.

"Don't worry it might suck." was his reply -and for the most part he was correct.

Self-procalimed rap "supergroup" eMC (apparently one of which is Vinson Johnson of Guitar Center Ft. Myers FL) was one of the few semi-bright spots. Cool concept GC, but I guess when your employees get too good at music they are able to make their living with it.



eMC - Leak it Out

=w=

I Should Be Allowed to Think

...And I should be allowed to blurt the merest idea If, by random whim, one occurs to me

superpoop.com

I really hate being in my office around election time.

The following is lunacy I have heard in the last week around the watercooler, or have had yelled at me because I'm one of only 2 in my office that lean democratic:

• Obama is the antichrist
• Obama loves to abort babie
• Obama wants to cut open the heads of 10 pound babies with scissors and suck their brains out with a vaccuum
• Obama is the antichrist
• Obama is not the antichrist because Nostradamus said he wasn't
• Obama will win the election but will be assassinated before the inaguration because Nostradamus said that's how it would happen
• Obama is Muslim
• Obama loves/pals around with terrorists
• Obama IS a terrorist
• Obama is a seperatist
• Obama is unpatriotic
• Obama wants to make the US flag ILLEGAL

I'm sick of all the craziness. Let's just hurry up and vote already (or don't).

TMBG - Latest Podcast (includes new song "Vote or Don't"

=w=

Darkness is Coming

Charlie Murphy (w/ FreezLuv) will be bringing his brand of true Hollywood stories to UTA's own Texas Hall next Thurs. Nov. 6th @7:30PM. Cost is $10 for UTA students (or people who know UTA students) and $20 for all us Joe Six-Packs.

Dave Chappelle - Rick James Out-takes
Rick James/Duran Duran - Superfreaks on Film (mashup)
Prince - Computer Blue (live)

=w=

You Don't Know

I've been thinking about the Night Court theme song recently. Jack Elliot's bass-heavy jazz piece has been called one of the most memorable television themes of all time., although ironically before yesterday I could barely remember it. I tried to TiVo the show a few times the last few weeks but every time I would go to watch it TiVo would have inadvertently recorded CSPAN-3 (no joke) which before last week I was not aware existed. Yesterday TiVo finally got it right and the song was every bit as good as me and my cohorts remembered -the show, however, was not. I'm still not sure why nobody called Baliff Bull Shannon out for spending most of his day with his eyes closed. Enjoy this remix of the Night Court theme by Big Punisher (r.i.p.) that I found on an old school tv-theme mix-tape.

Big Punisher - You Don't Know (Night Court Theme remix)


=w=

Ryan Young @Stubbs BBQ

Just a reminder Austin, TX's own Ryan Young will be playing at TX's finest bbq eatery/sauce mfg/live music venue Stubb's BBQ this Wednesday night, October 29th, with Rose Hill Drive and Colour Revolt. Doors are at 10:30 and it's an all-ages show.

Rose Hill Drive is an incredible live band that has toured with the Who, Van Halen, the Black Crowes, My Morning Jacket, Wilco, etc.. Don't miss this opportunity to see them up close and personal. There won't be too many more chances!!

Colour Revoltt is a great band from Mississippi that recently played the ACL festival.


Ryan Young - I Got Me A...

=w=

I Feel Like Dancing

I saw for the first time this week the video for Leo Sayer's 'You Make Me Feel Like Dancing'. It throws my mind for loops seeing that voice coming out of that Richard Simmons-esque body, which is most likely accentuated by the fact that all my life I thought a black woman sang this song. I must warn, watch with caution as this song is infectiously catchy.



Upon 8th viewing of the video I starting seeing similarities between this video and Michael Jackson's 'Rock With You' video, which has recently been homaged by Q-Tip in his 'Move' video. Really this post is just an excuse to share the 3 because right now I really feel like dancing.

Michael Jackson - New Music - More Music Videos

Leo Sayer - You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
Michael Jackson - Rock With You
Q-Tip - Move

=w=

5 Strokes, 5 Side Projects

According to the latest Strokes newsletter, the band will be reuniting in 2009 to record, tour, etc. But for those who can't wait that long for their Strokes fix, check out what the guys have been up to while the band has been on hiatus.

Lead Singer Julian Casablancas teamed up w/ Pharrell and Santogold this summer on the track 'My Drive Thru' to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Converse's Chuck Taylor's.



Rhythm Guitarist Albert Hammond Jr (not to be confused with his 'It-Never-Rains-In-Southern-California-singing father) released his second solo album 'Come Te Llama'. He opened for Coldplay on the European leg of their tour.

Bassist Nicolai Fraiture recently started a solo project called Nickel Eye (get it?) where he writes and sings all the songs. He has a few NY dates lined up to debut this new act.

Drummer Fabrizio Moretti teamed up with Rodrigo Amarante of Los Hermanos to form Little Joy. Fab plays guitar in this band which I sounds exactly like what you think it would; a Strokes/Los Hermanos hybrid. They're currently on tour through the end of the year (They'll be at The Lounge on Elm Street on Nov. 23rd). Their debut album hits stores Nov. 4th.

Lead Guitarist Nick Valensi hasn't done much music-wise, as he has his hands full with a new wife and twin infants to take care of. He did manage some time to record a track with Devendra Banhart (Thunder Canyon) and to play on the Regina Spektor track 'Better'.

Santogold, Julian Casablancas, and Pharrell - My Drive Thru
Albert Hammond Jr - GfC
Albert Hammond Sr - It Never Rains in Southern California
Little Joy - Brand New Start
Little Joy - Next Time Around
Little Joy - No One's Better Sake
Little Joy - Unattainable
Nickel Eye - Brandy of the Damned
Nickel Eye - Dying Star
Regina Spektor - Better (w/ Nick Valensi)

=w=

MSTRKRFT@HOB

I'm not planning on stealing DC9's 'poster of the week' bit, but if I was this would be the one. MSTRKRFT tonight at HOB with fellow Canadian Felix Cartal, and LA Riots. It's going to be a late night affair (doors don't open til 11PM) so drink plenty of Red Bull & Vodkas beforehand.

Enjoy this, my favorite of the MSTRKRFT vids as a preview of tonight's show (notice all the white people dancing).

Felix Cartal - Skeleton
MSTRKRFT - Bounce (Felix Cartal remix)
LA Riots - Kill Bill
MSTRKRFT - Street Justice (MSTRKRFT remix)

=w=

Skeletal Lamping Collection

I would like to express my pleasure with Polyvinyl Records right now. I ordered this Of Montreal shirt from the Skeletal Lamping Collection, knowing that it would come with a digital download card that would give me a digital copy of the new album Skeletal Lamping. What I was not aware of is that it also came with 3 bonus tracks, 3 stickers, 2 buttons, a Polyvinyl sampler cd, and a blueberry-flavored Airhead. Kudos to you Polyvinyl Records, you have successfully enticed me to order from you again in the very near future.

Of Montreal - Feminine Effects

Of Montreal - Little Rock (Royal Trux Cover)

=w=

The Judas Kiss (both versions)

I've just become one more member of a growing trend: I downloaded a torrent of Death Magnetic (The Guitar Hero Version). Because the band refuses to admit their mix sounds so loud and compressed that it distorts in even the poorest quality speakers, desperate fans have begun sharing the much better sounding guitar hero version of the album via torrents. Here are both versions of track 8, The Judas Kiss for you to compare.

Metallica - The Judas Kiss (album version)

Metallica - The Judas Kiss (Guitar Hero version)

=w=

The Wait is Over

Of Montreal's Skeletal Lamping officially released today. It's been covered relentlessly so I won't say too much more. These are some videos Bandstand Busking recently took from a live acoustic set the band did in London. Not sure if this part is true, but according to BB this was an unauthorized performance in a public park, and that the park security 'looked the other way' because the performance was so good. I'll let you be the judge.







=w=

=w= is here

Just got word that the Weezer show at Nokia tonight got bumped up to 7:30, regardless of what it may say on your ticket. After finding out that the opening group is Angels and Airwaves, it leaves no doubt in my mind that Rivers is making fun of Airwaves/Box Car Racer/Blink 182 douche Tom DeLonge in the Troublemaker video. Either way it's worth a second watch.



Also found this 20 min. =w= documentary made by some guys who won a radio contest. It's a decent little movie if you're a big fan of the weez.



=w=

Live Stacks

I was able to procure some video from the Anonymous? single release party from this past Sat. at The Lounge on Elm St. The quality is not great but it gives the general idea. I'd like to point out something interesting from the first video -starting at 1:08 there is the most interesting woman scream I've ever heard. It continues throughout the rest of the video, each time exactly the same length and pitch as the original.


And then Anonymous? debuted his new single 'Stacks' for the first time live. By then he had the crowd eating out of his well-dressed hand.



=w=

Girl Talk @The Palladium

Is it just me or does it seem like The Palladium and House of Blues are the only 2 venues in town consistently booking great acts? The trend continues tomorrow night as Greg "Girl Talk" Gillis will be spinning records at The Palladium Ballroom (tix $15), and by spinning I mean pressing play and by records I mean mp3's. Either way there will be way more drinking/dancing at the Palladium on a Tuesday night than the entire rest of the metroplex combined, and as Gillis is known for disrobing midset, you may even get lucky and see what a PC looks like naked.

Download Girl Talk's newest album 'Feed the Animals' for free (or whatever amount you feel like donating) here . $5 gets you flac files and a seemless version of the album, $10 gets you all versions as well as a hard copy.

Grizzly Bear - Knife (Girl Talk Remix)
Peter Bjorn and John - Lets Call it Off (Girl Talk Remix)

=w=

The Kid's Alright

In honor of newest Dallas Star Fabian Brunnstrom becoming just the 3rd player in the history of the NHL to score a hat-trick in his debut, I present you with "The Tricks Are For Kids Mix".

Jeff Tweedy - Just A Kid
Adam Balbo - Big Kid Now
The Buggles - Kid Dynamo
Old 97's - New Kid
The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far Kid
Ruby Isle - Hey Hey Hey (The Kids OK)
The Whigs - The Kid's Are Alright (The Who cover)
Thao Nguyen - Big Kid Table
The Eagles - New Kid In Town

=w=

Which One Are You?

=w=

Anonymous? Single Release

Who: Anonymous? (w/ special guests Lo’Key, Moses Uvere, & Blazin)
What: Release Party for his latest mixtape
When: Saturday Oct. 18th @9PM
Where: The Lounge (on Elm St. in Dallas)

Why: Despite what members of the defunct P.P.T. will try and have you believe, Anonymous? is the best rapper in the metroplex AND the Lounge is only charging $5 to see him.

Anonymous? - Shake Ya Body
Anonymous? - Mafia

=w=

Feds Update

Former Feds bassist Dave Shafer is now a member of Arlington-based upstart Zeuss that also will include former members of House Harkonnen. They've already got a couple of shows lined up in the area, so check em out.

Nov. 9th @The Prophet Bar in Dallas (w/ Young Widows)
Nov. 15th @Rubber Gloves in Denton (w/ Shaolin Death Squad, Bat Castle, Timeline Post, Lights of Dragna)
=w=

Id Engager Video Premiere

Check out the debut of the new Id Engager video from Of Montreal's upcoming album 'Skeletal Lamping' (via Pitchfork Media).

FluxBlog and You Ain't No Picasso have excellent reviews of Of Montreal's grandiose performance at the Roseland Ballroom in NYC (I just love the pic. of Kevin Barnes riding the white horse -literally). If that doesn't convince you to check out their live show then I don't know what will.

=w=

The End of an Era

Forces to be reckon with, local legends, summoners of the rock, my friends--The Feds. Last week, I received the unfortunate news that this fine group of gentleman is calling it quits. Fortunately, there's still time to get your final Fed's fix before they close up shop for good. This Saturday (10-18) the boys take the stage at Firewater for their final Dallas show (w/ Seven Story Drop, Bullitt, Black Tie Vendetta and Lift). Also, Denton will get its last taste of the Fed's home-brew at Dan's Silverleaf on November 14th (w/ Faktion). I've heard talk that the FINAL show will take place early next year in Tulsa, Oklahoma. So mark your calender, boys and girls. The Feds won't go down without a fight!

~Jenn

SebastiAn Remixes

SebastiAn - REMIXES

Tracklist for SebastiAn's new remix album has been revealed (below). The French are always on the cutting edge of electronic music, and SebastiAn is no different. He is on the forefront of what I have dubbed the 'Microsample Revolution'. The new disc is set for its US release on 10-21. Pre-Order it now (yes it will be worth the import charge).

1 - INTRO
2 - Revl9n “Walking Machines”
3 - Daft Punk “Human After All”
4 - Mylo “Paris Four Hundred”
5 - The Rapture “Get Myself Into It”
6 - Editors “Camera (Fader)”
7 - The Rakes “ We Danced Together”
8 - Kelis “Bossy”
9 - The Kills “Cheap And Cheerful”
10 - Kavinsky “Testarossa Autodrive”
11 - Benjamin Teves “Texas”
12 - Das Pop “Fool For Love”
13 - Bloc Party “Still Remember”
14 - Sebastien Tellier “Sexual Sportswear”
15 - Klaxons “Golden Skans”
16 - Annie “Happy With You”
17 - Nadiya “Tous Ces Mots”

The Klaxons - Golden Skans (SebastiAn Remix) (DL)

=w=

Watch Out (My 9-11 pt. 2)

An open letter to Chris Cornell,

I don't mean to sound braggadocios, but I had big plans for what I thought was my 50th blog entry today Chris. I don't want to reveal too much about it now because it's embarrassing, I will say that it involved a special 50 Cent mashup I made to celebrate among other things. I saw some news about you today on the internets and I went back to refer to an old blog entry I posted about you on what I thought was mid September. Alas my blog entry has been deleted. For a second I thought I was going crazy and that it never existed in the first place, but Google Blogsearch has my back.I know I gave your upcoming album 'Scream' a somewhat unfavorable review and that I might have lovingly referred to you as 'Chris Gaines' but all was in jest. I'll even admit that I like the first two singles from the album 'Watch Out' and 'Ground Zero' that I have heard relentlessly on Verizon commercials and Life on Mars promos. I didn't even call you a sellout for this. But now my post is gone and I can't help feel that you were behind this. I do feel a little jilted after I let 'Euphoria Morning' be album of the week for (get this) 2 weeks! Surely it wasn't because I posted an mp3 from your new album? The quality was so low and full of glitches that I debated posting it in the first place. Now that I've had some time to think about it, I'm standing by my original statement Chris, your song 'Ground Zero' is not even the best 9-11 related track I've heard. (That title STILL belongs to local boys Man Factory for their track 'My 9-11').

Lovingly Yours,
=w=

Pharrell Only Nose

Rather than just posting a 5-month old track and then phoning it in, I'll attempt to disect a lyric that has been the subject of much contention and mystery. In his verse Pharrell throws down the line It's clear as black and white, like a fat panda/Your brain is Magic City/Your nose is Atlanta. Despite popular belief, Magic City does not refer to Orlando, home of the NBA franchise, rather it is a popular Atlanta strip club. It has also been mentioned in the Ying Yang Twings tracks Whistle While You Twurk and Say I Yi Yi. This second part is a bit of a stretch, but the lightbulb just went on in my head this morning. The Coca-Cola headquarters is in Atlanta, GA, Coca-Cola is sometimes called Coke, cocaine is also sometimes called coke, Atlanta = cocaine. I mean come on, everybody knows why all the girls are standing in line for the bathroom.

*edit: somebody just pointed out to me that Atlanta is not the cocaine itself, but a metaphor for the nose since both have coke in them.

Child Rebel Soldier - Everybody Nose Remix (feat. Pusha T) (DL)
buy it

=w=

ShopaholicA

I can't take credit for the pic, just got a huge giggle from it.

=w=

McCain't Touch This Mix

(courtesy of superpoop.com)

The Foo Fighters recently told the McCain campaign not to use their track 'My Hero' because they were tarnishing the song's original meaning. The Foos join a long list of artists who have stopped the McCain campaign from using their songs without permission. I'm calling today's mix "McCain't Touch This".


Foo Fighters– My Hero
buy now

Jackson Browne – Running on Empty
buy now

Heart – Barracuda
buy now

John Mellencamp – Our Country
buy now

John Mellencamp – Pink Houses
buy now

Abba – Take a Chance on Me
buy now

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Can't Take My Eyes Off You
buy now

Bill Conti – Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky)
buy now

Orleans – Still the One
buy now

Van Halen – Right Now
buy now

=w=

Extra Extra Ghostland Observatory

Those of you who got wind of this Saturday's Ghostland Observatory show at the House of Blues before it sold out, fret no more. A second show was added for this Friday night at 12:30. I know what you're thinking, "How could it be a second show when it takes place before the first show?" Just think of it as a prequel.

Ghostland Observatory - Dancin' On My Grave (DL)

=w=

she's baaaack

This is not the type of blog that makes bold claims and then later hides when those claims are determined to be unfounded. In fact I will be the first to admit when I have made a mistake. Last month I posted an entry about M.I.A's most likely short-lived retirement, and while it appears I was right on that front, I was completely wrong about the reasons. While I purported that the inclusion of her track Paper Planes on the Pineapple Express trailer was the underlying motivation behind the brief retirement, the popularity garnered from trailer was actually the reason that she is now un-retiring. In other news there may also be a baby in her very near future, although she may also change her mind about that in a month. (oh no he didn't)

Here are some Paper Planes remixes to make it up to you:

Paper Planes - LAZR Tag Remix (DL)
Paper Planes - Dskotek Remix (DL)
Paper Planes - 50 Cent Remix (DL)
Paper Planes - La Fonda Remix (DL)

=w=

Barf

I have to admit that when I first heard the leak for Kanye's new song Love Lockdown a while back I was pretty sure that the leaker was just a practical joker pulling a fast one on all of us unsuspecting bloggers. So sure was I that it was fake I didn't even post anything about it. Now that the official video has debuted on Ellen there's no denying it any longer. Nothing much else to say about this one except blarf!



=w=

Troublemaker, Recordbreaker

Weezer continues their string of music video genius with their latest effort for their song Troublemaker. The band rallied their fanbase to break some Guiness records that will appear in the next edition of the book. Another sweet video for another mediocre red-album track.

Largest Air Guitar Ensemble: 233 people
Largest Game of Dodgeball: 100 people
Longest Guitar Hero: World Tour Marathon: 10:12:54
Most People in a Custard Pie Fight: 120
Most People Riding on a Skateboard: 22
While this is not a record, Pat plays on the World's Smallest Drum Kit for a large portion of the viddy. (also not a record, but noteworthy still, is the large =w= made with nachos)



Weezer has always been one of those bands that has a knack for making great music videos. Just think back to all the greatness we've seen from Buddy Holly on -the lone exception being the Mexican wedding-themed original video to Island in the Sun which was almost immediately remade.

Not to go off on a tangent but this example just reminded me of an instance in history when a band put out a sub-par effort, realized it quickly, and remidied the situation. MetallicA take note and remaster your damn album already. A word of advice Lars, you should never judge the sound quality of an album based on how it sounds in your car speakers.

=w=

Dark End of the Street

New Cat Power covers EP "Dark End of the Street" will be released 12-9-08, but track list out now. This will give those not familiar with the originals plenty of time to get acquainted. Cat Power will also be at the Palladium Ballroom this week (on the 9th to be specific). This should be the perfect venue for someone like a Cat Power and opening act Appaloosa.

"Auld Triangle" (The Pogues)
"Dark End of the Street" (James Carr) (DL)
"Who Knows Where the Time Goes" (Sandy Denny/Fairport Convention)
"Fortune Son" (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
"I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" (Otis Redding)
"It Ain't Fair" (Aretha Franklin)

Cat Power - Dark End of the Street (live) - (DL)

=w=

Extra! Extra! Super Old News!

Most of this post is likely super old, but I've been out of the country for 2 weeks and I've got a lot of catching up to do.

Ben Kweller's 'How Ya Lookin Southbound Comein' ep is out now and can be bought (here). It's a "trucking-themed" ep to hold us over until his country album 'Changing Horses' comes out the first part of next year. I normally discredit artists who model their career after Jessica Simpson's, but the new country stuff isn't half bad (check out some of it on Ben's Myspace page). And lastly don't forget to road trip to Austin with me Nov. 2nd to catch BK at Antones.

The release date for Of Montreal's album 'Skeletal Lamping' was pushed back a couple of weeks to Oct. 21 due to I think a mistake at the printers. But on the plus side Polyvinvyl records has promised that anybody who pre-orders the album will receive a code that will give them 10% off all Polyvinyl purchases for the next year. They also will be appearing on an upcoming episode of Yo Gabba Gabba. According to You Ain't No Picasso the track will be called 'Brush Brush Brush' (DL it here).

The audio quality (controversy?) of the new Metallica cd 'Death Magnetic' has been chronicled everywhere. I think this youtube clip does the best job breaking it down. There has also been an online petition to get the band to release a remastered version of the disc. Lars has responded to the complaints by saying that their is no audio problem at all. He also says that ...And Justice For All sounds great even though there isn't any bass on it, however, so he's not to be completely trusted.

I immediately bought the new Ben Folds and Kings of Leon discs upon landing. Folds' post-divorce album has a much different tone than his last effort. Instead of the "I can't believe I'm stuck with this bitch, I think I'd rather die" sound he brilliantly layered in on Songs for Silverman, this album is more "I can't believe the bitch is finally gone!!". According to a recent interview, Folds apparently kissed the ground outside of the courthouse when his divorce was finalized. And while I'm not quite ready to throw the brilliant title on it just yet, it is still pretty decent so far.

Ben Folds - Effington (DL) (BUY)

In closing, I'm so glad to be back in the states. Much like Ben Folds I kissed the ground at DFW when we got back. It's good to hear some decent music again after 2 weeks straight of nothing but Schwayze, Katie Perry, and these guys.

=w=

Yacht Rock Mega Countdown

Look just ignore all the references to July 4th and enjoy this countdown already. It doesn't even matter because Michael McDonald is here tonight anyways.


=w=

ps This boy is FINALLY back in town after 15 days out of the country -expect big things.

Acid Tongue

My plans for this weekend are (in this order):

1.) Drink as much whiskey/beer as possible.

2.) Sleep until at least 1:00 p.m..

3.) Buy Acid Tongue, Jenny Lewis' latest.

I suggest you do the same.

P.S. I've heard good things about this new project. For example, both
Zooey Deschanel (She & Him), Jenny's sisters Leslie and Vanessa
(Whispertown2000) sing backup vocals. Plus, Jenny recorded most of her
vocals live.

-Jenn

Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue (buy) (DL)

Hey, Keep The Fire You Guys

Legendary vocalist and songwriter Michael McDonald will perform with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Oct. 3rd and 4th. The former Steely Dan backup vocalist, Doobie Brothers frontman, and Grammy Award winner, bill be playing songs from his entire catalog, including his newest solo album. Get tickets here. I will be the dude up in the nosebleeds with my "Get you dick out of your heart" shirt on.

For those of you not as jazzed about this is me, just watch episodes 1-11 of the former Channel 101 series Yacht Rock -best 55 minutes of my life I've ever spent.












=w=