The World According To America

Again, another pictorial piece of genius.

Ronald McWhat?!

I simply had to post this as-is. Found here: Miss McDonald's Livejournal






Have a good day ;)

Godspeed You! Black Emperor Break Up

The first and only time I've ever seen Canada's Godspeed You! Black Emperor it was an exhausting event. Meant in an entirely positive way, the catharsis and emotive atmosphere of their sold out Bowery Ballroom show years ago was an experience I'll hardly forget. In fact, my sobriety was completely intact and the show was mesmerizing from start to finish. They gave out a manifesto at that show, one about their mission and war and finding peace within ourselves and with others. It was on my fridge for some time, and converted several people over to their music from simply coming over my apartment and reading it en route to getting a beer.

But now, due to conclusions about the Iraq war, the band has decided to call it quits. You can check out the entire story...or all that we know for now at Drowned In Sound.

Story: GY!BE split
MySpace: Godspeed You! Black Emperor

I Believe In...

Metromix believe in 13 artists to blow up in 2008, the first being Santogold. I believe! There is also Final Fantasy, Bedouin Soundclash, and two other favorites...Kid Sister and Burial.

Check that out here: Metromix: Blowin' Up in 08

Also, on the Santogold/Burial front, simply check out what Hype Machine has to offer on these two. Then i implore you to go out and buy the records. Well worth the investment.

Purchase: Burial - Untrue

Purchase: Santogold - I Believe In Santogold

Robyn Goes Stateside

Last night, Robyn arrived on U.S. soil and performed at the Highline Ballroom in NYC. I would have given almost anything to have been there, but being a Tuesday night show it was simply not possible. Below is the clip of her performing "With Every Heartbeat" - a song whose Punks Jump Up remix had me spinning for most of 2007 and beyond.



Be sure to check out the Tripwire review for Rakamonie, and just about everything else she's done...


YouTube: Robyn @ Highline Ballroom videos
The Tripwire: Rakamonie review
Audible: Robyn - "With Every Heartbeat (Punks Jump Up Remix)"
MySpace: Robyn

South By Southwest Returns!

This March, South By Southwest is upon us once more, and now that it will be my second year in a row, I am thrilled to go back. More than anything, I know where everything is and what to expect. (Hopefully my hotel will once again be 1/2 a block down from the Pure Volume Ranch!) There are more of us going from my company, and this year I will probably end up in a room that's all girls. Phew!

But with all that aside - including the fact that SXSW 2k7 broke my veganism - I am thrilled to see new bands. One of the best shows last year was a quick run out to La Zona Rosa to see The Faint premiere some new songs. Though a year has passed and they've still be slow to return to the spotlight, their show was hands down my favorite.



I think, like Cold War Kids, the star band this year will be Vampire Weekend. Hands down. Perhaps they will be the ones featured in the showroom's interview cage like a bunch of wild, NYC animals...



Thanks to The Tripwire for posting the preliminary list of Who's Playing SXSW this year. I was going to repost the whole thing, but that just seems like a terrible idea. Instead, click on the shortened list below ;)

Some favorites:
YACHT
Uffie
Presidents Of The United States Of America
Pissed Jeans
Robyn (holy shit!!!)
Pretty & Nice (what's up, Bostonnnn)
Mostly Bears
My Brightest Diamond
Nada Surf
The Femurs
Magic Bullets
Holy Fuck
Film School
Cut Copy
Black Mountain
A Place To Bury Strangers

Cat Power: Are you kidding me?

I think I like Cat Power, but...I don't know. I really cannot stand it when celebrities perform for a legendary television performance (in this case, Jools Holland) and dress like absolute scrubs (or as if they're about to hit the gym). I'm also completely unimpressed by the performance. I think that's about all I have to say. Nexxxt...

I r Ghostface An Eye Iz Not Pleezd

Ghostface Killah speaks out to his 115,000 MySpace fans about downloading and "goosin' out" at the upcoming stops on the Wu-Tang tour. Almost makes me want to go and buy the album. The idea of a venue-wide pow-wow sounds awesome...let's see if any tour stop comes through.


On a more local note, tomorrow night is Hearthrob with Acid Girls. I've now wasted about 10 or 15 precious dayjob minutes trying to find the goddamn code to embed their MySpace player but I give up. Just go to their f*cking page.


MySpace: Acid Girls
MySpace: Hearthrob

The Duke Spirit to release Neptune

Thanks to Dany at Exitfare for making my day and letting us know that The Duke Spirit is indeed putting out a new record!

From Exitfare: The Duke Spirit's sophomore album, Neptune, hits iTunes worldwide on February 5th, while the official release will not be until April 8th through Shangri-La Music. Unlike many UK bands, we were able to catch the band numerous times while they were touring on their first album, showcasing the amazing talents of lead singer Leila Moss. The band, always hard to pin down, does not fit neatly in any corner of indie rock and their new album continues that trend.

Look for the band to play a handful of dates on this side of the Atlantic this month and during SXSW. Neptune is available to preview above.

2/12 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg (w/ The Kooks)
2/13 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
2/14 New York, NY - Union Hall, Brooklyn
3/5 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
3/7 & 3/8 – Toronto, - Venue TBD
3/12 SXSW Austin - KCRW showcase

MySpace: The Duke Spirit

Save The Resident!

For years, I've avoided the userpages and popular sites on YouTube. Not meant in a pretentious manner, I simply don't find a lot of the popular hits on YT very entertaining. Lori Harfenist is as charming as she is attractive, and it's a potent combination. I don't even live in New York City anymore, and I found so much relation to the "Where To Pee In NYC" episode. Apparently, Lori has been making The Resident for 8 years for television and the Internet.

Here's a personal favorite. The first is a sincere, non-ironic poem performed by a girl exploring "video prose." TheRavenOfPoe is her moniker. The embedding has been disabled but you can view it here.

The video response to this is even more brilliant. Check our Lori in snarky, black/white lighting:



But sadly there are some issues for Lori, in that The Man is trying to bring her down. The Advertising Man, that is. Below is her pitch for support:



How can you say no to such a lovely lady?

Donate: The Resident on eBay
WebSite: The Resident

Clark Hath Returned Full Throttle

IDM IS BACK!

Well, okay, maybe not, but the truth is that I am hopeful... So is Andre Obin from Matters & Dunaway, who makes incredible electronic music on the side. Nonetheless, I received the new Turning Dragon from Clark, who debuted with the LP Clarence Park many years ago and solidified a spot in my all-time top ten. Since then, I've just about loved everything he's done, and I think the Resident Advisor of the review really hit the nail on the head:

While the remainder of Turning Dragon is more recognisably techno, even the most upfront and direct tracks take unexpected turns. The start of ‘For Wolves Crew’ makes concessions to minimal, bubbling under with K-hole hypnotism, and ‘Ache of the North’ opens with the cavernous thunder of a rave reverberating through an abandoned bunker. But then their skinny synth lines swell and rise, twisting into truly Warped hollow majesty, the kind that makes you throw your fists in the air despite that uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach.

Clark tears off down this path of fearsome, frenzied fun, stopping to look back just once. 'Hot May Slides' retreads familiar territory for devotees of his label, all quiet ambience and staccato beats, an Aphex Twin track in all but name. It's out of place here, but serves a purpose, providing some breathing space before 'Beg' causes real techno trauma with its wet thuds and demon howls.

Amen!

MySpace: Clark