The more I talk about how I'll post more in this blog, the less I post so I'm just gonnashutupnowandnotjinxit...coughcoughcough!
Anyway, 70's disco/80's synth bands are all the rage now, and while plenty of music that comes out in that style is disposable, Australian based rockers Miami Horror are not. While their warm chords and fun dance songs are better suited for cruising around during a hot summer night than blared out in the mellow fall air - global warming, pollution, the reversal of the seasons, and our galaxy splitting shouldn't make this a problem. The video for their first single, "Sometimes," from their album Illumination follows below. And if you like that, check out their song "Holidays" which features Neon Indian frontman, Alan Paloma, on vocals.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
WTF with Marc Maron
If you haven't heard about him before, Marc Maron is a veteran comedian that started out in the late 80's with alternative heroes David Cross and Sarah Silverman. His bi-weekly podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, is full of hilarious and brutally honest rants coupled with amazing interviews that manage to craft a profile that very few professional journalists are able to obtain. Check out Marc's interview with Carlos Mencia where he manages to break down the deep laying insecurities that drive Carlos to steal jokes, go on power trips, and constantly fight in the effort of maintaining his massive popularity. And all without veering into Joe Rogan assault territory.
Watch a full setlist of his act below, or download the rest of his podcasts here or on iTunes.
Watch a full setlist of his act below, or download the rest of his podcasts here or on iTunes.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
We Are Happy Landfill: The Decree
So, I figure that I should lay out my intentions of this blog.
For the most part, I want to make this a blog about every major part of pop culture (minus any mind numbing tabloid trash).
Now more than ever there is so much art to discover and experience that it's easy to miss or even forget about the most noticeable stuff out there much less the art that frequently gets lost in the mix. While I'll probably share a lot of stuff most people haven't seen or heard, it's not my intention to be the person that "discovered" anything I post. There are so many blogs out there already that are so in depth with one specific thing that anything I "discover" has been discovered 300 times over already.
My main purpose of this blog is to point people towards great art they may be missing or have missed out on in all areas: movies, music, TV, books, video games, etc. (Now that I think about it, though, I'm pretty sure that's the main goal of every blog but...well, you're here already.)
I'll also fill this thing with an occasional piece of amateur criticism the likes blogs are known the world over...mostly because it makes me feel self-important and also because I love writing and discussing things I'm passionate about.
Now...Top That!...?
For the most part, I want to make this a blog about every major part of pop culture (minus any mind numbing tabloid trash).
Now more than ever there is so much art to discover and experience that it's easy to miss or even forget about the most noticeable stuff out there much less the art that frequently gets lost in the mix. While I'll probably share a lot of stuff most people haven't seen or heard, it's not my intention to be the person that "discovered" anything I post. There are so many blogs out there already that are so in depth with one specific thing that anything I "discover" has been discovered 300 times over already.
My main purpose of this blog is to point people towards great art they may be missing or have missed out on in all areas: movies, music, TV, books, video games, etc. (Now that I think about it, though, I'm pretty sure that's the main goal of every blog but...well, you're here already.)
I'll also fill this thing with an occasional piece of amateur criticism the likes blogs are known the world over...mostly because it makes me feel self-important and also because I love writing and discussing things I'm passionate about.
Now...Top That!...?
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Super Furry Animals!
Ah geez, I haven't updated this thing in 8 months which is one month less than the time it would take to have a procrastination baby. But fuck it! Let's abort this shit, and bring things back with a video from The Flaming Lips of Europe, Super Furry Animals. The song is called Drygioni and it's off their album Mnwg, which is sung entirely in Welsh (a language spoke natively in Wales).
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
My Favorite Records of 2009
So I have definitely not updated this in awhile, even though I promised I would be updating this reguarly. Toss that up to the massive time-suck that is school, I suppose.
Regardless, I'll get myself back into things with this list of ten of my favorite albums from 2009 (that I've heard).
1. Japandroids - Post Nothing
I absolutely love this record and there's not a single wasted second on it. It's a complete celebration of youth and it defines what it is to be "young" better than any other record I've ever heard. Their sound is sloppy but their song writing is tight. The lyrics rarely (if at all) deviate from talking about drinking or women, but they do it with an emotional complexity that perfectly defines the endless optimism and temporary defeatism of youth (best displayed on the song "I Quit Girls"). From a personal standpoint, this album hit me at the perfect time of my life and I can't think of any other record that would define my year better than this one.
2. Flaming Lips - Embryonic
I'll admit that I'm listing this one from a slightly biased perspective. The Flaming Lips are my favorite band of all time, and I've probably listened to their most obscure (and worse written) tracks more times than I've listened to the major tracks of my other favorite bands. With that said, since its release, my feelings have been all over the place with Embryonic. The first time I heard it, I loved it-but on the second listen, I hated it. On the third round, I loved it again but on the fourth, I felt completely indifferent. This cycle of emotions continued and it was completely underwhelming and overwhelming at the same time. No other album has challenged me more this year or held more of a long-lasting impression than this one has, and that's what good art should do. Maybe this is because they're my favorite band and I hold them to a much higher standard than I do for other artists, but I consider this record a huge accomplishment and a great step forward from the radio-friendly fare of their last album. (I wrote a full review here).
3. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Undoubtedly the most hyped album of the year, Merriweather Post Pavilion found the perfect median for Animal Collective's pop sensibilities and sonic experimentation. Their extremely self-indulgent live show and the uninspiring late-year EP release, Fall Be Kind, have warped my good feelings for this band somewhat but that doesn't change the fact that Merriweather Post Pavilion was an album I played non-stop for five months after its release. It's a unique experience, and that's a very rare thing in music these days.
4. Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms
AV Club describes Neon Indian as "Blade Runner meets Sonic the Hedgehog" and there's probably no better description than that. Alan Paloma, who helms the band, drenches great pop songs in distorted vintage electro. For a band that just came to rise in 2009 because of hip bloggers spreadin' the word (like me, ya'll!), it is my hope that Neon Indian can outlive the limited shelf life "blog bands" have and keep growing as an artist.
5. Sparklehorse/Dangermouse - Dark Night of the Soul
While it never actually was released this year due to a undisclosed dispute between the band and the label (which may or may not be because EMI is finally getting back at Dangermouse for all those unused Beatles samples on the Grey Album several years back), a Sparklehorse/Dangermouse combo is a very potent force. The separate styles of Sparklehorse and Dangermouse compliment each other very well here, and the multiple contributions of other artists never threatens to destabilize the cohesion of the album. The Beatles remasters this year made me realize how much The Beatles have formed my musical tastes and how I'm constantly chasing some derivative of their psychedelic pop sound. This album is direct evidence of this.
**At this point, a lot of what I say will be redundant to what I've said already so the next five will be pretty brief**
6. Cotton Jones - Paranoid Coccoon
Bringing up the great Dangermouse again, it's a wonder that he didn't produce this album. Everything about his style of soulful folk hip-hop is very prevalent on this record. Even though he didn't, though, Paranoid Coccoon feels like a cousin album to the Dangermouse-produced Black Keys' album, 2008's Attack & Release, but much more dreamy and mellow.
7. Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
Very diverse record, from 70's funk breakdowns to Boards of Canada-inspired beats.
8. Passion Pit - Manners
I could very well hate these guys within the next year, but so far they've demonstrated themselves to be much better songwriters and have much more staying power than other "flavor of the month" bands like Vampire Weekend or Black Kids.
9. Flight of the Concords - I Told You I Was Freaky
While the songs aren't as good as their first album, "Too Many Dicks (On The Dance Floor)," "Sugalumps," "Fashion is Danger," and "Hurt Feelings" is enough to hold the album down...ok, so maybe I shouldn't list this album here and should list those songs on my favorite tracks of 2009 instead, but whatever.
10. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
The album gets dragged down too much at the end by its longer, slower tracks but everything else before that is just as good as any Yo La Tengo album...which is still 90% better than what is put out there today anyway.
Regardless, I'll get myself back into things with this list of ten of my favorite albums from 2009 (that I've heard).
1. Japandroids - Post Nothing
I absolutely love this record and there's not a single wasted second on it. It's a complete celebration of youth and it defines what it is to be "young" better than any other record I've ever heard. Their sound is sloppy but their song writing is tight. The lyrics rarely (if at all) deviate from talking about drinking or women, but they do it with an emotional complexity that perfectly defines the endless optimism and temporary defeatism of youth (best displayed on the song "I Quit Girls"). From a personal standpoint, this album hit me at the perfect time of my life and I can't think of any other record that would define my year better than this one.
2. Flaming Lips - Embryonic
I'll admit that I'm listing this one from a slightly biased perspective. The Flaming Lips are my favorite band of all time, and I've probably listened to their most obscure (and worse written) tracks more times than I've listened to the major tracks of my other favorite bands. With that said, since its release, my feelings have been all over the place with Embryonic. The first time I heard it, I loved it-but on the second listen, I hated it. On the third round, I loved it again but on the fourth, I felt completely indifferent. This cycle of emotions continued and it was completely underwhelming and overwhelming at the same time. No other album has challenged me more this year or held more of a long-lasting impression than this one has, and that's what good art should do. Maybe this is because they're my favorite band and I hold them to a much higher standard than I do for other artists, but I consider this record a huge accomplishment and a great step forward from the radio-friendly fare of their last album. (I wrote a full review here).
3. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Undoubtedly the most hyped album of the year, Merriweather Post Pavilion found the perfect median for Animal Collective's pop sensibilities and sonic experimentation. Their extremely self-indulgent live show and the uninspiring late-year EP release, Fall Be Kind, have warped my good feelings for this band somewhat but that doesn't change the fact that Merriweather Post Pavilion was an album I played non-stop for five months after its release. It's a unique experience, and that's a very rare thing in music these days.
4. Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms
AV Club describes Neon Indian as "Blade Runner meets Sonic the Hedgehog" and there's probably no better description than that. Alan Paloma, who helms the band, drenches great pop songs in distorted vintage electro. For a band that just came to rise in 2009 because of hip bloggers spreadin' the word (like me, ya'll!), it is my hope that Neon Indian can outlive the limited shelf life "blog bands" have and keep growing as an artist.
5. Sparklehorse/Dangermouse - Dark Night of the Soul
While it never actually was released this year due to a undisclosed dispute between the band and the label (which may or may not be because EMI is finally getting back at Dangermouse for all those unused Beatles samples on the Grey Album several years back), a Sparklehorse/Dangermouse combo is a very potent force. The separate styles of Sparklehorse and Dangermouse compliment each other very well here, and the multiple contributions of other artists never threatens to destabilize the cohesion of the album. The Beatles remasters this year made me realize how much The Beatles have formed my musical tastes and how I'm constantly chasing some derivative of their psychedelic pop sound. This album is direct evidence of this.
**At this point, a lot of what I say will be redundant to what I've said already so the next five will be pretty brief**
6. Cotton Jones - Paranoid Coccoon
Bringing up the great Dangermouse again, it's a wonder that he didn't produce this album. Everything about his style of soulful folk hip-hop is very prevalent on this record. Even though he didn't, though, Paranoid Coccoon feels like a cousin album to the Dangermouse-produced Black Keys' album, 2008's Attack & Release, but much more dreamy and mellow.
7. Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
Very diverse record, from 70's funk breakdowns to Boards of Canada-inspired beats.
8. Passion Pit - Manners
I could very well hate these guys within the next year, but so far they've demonstrated themselves to be much better songwriters and have much more staying power than other "flavor of the month" bands like Vampire Weekend or Black Kids.
9. Flight of the Concords - I Told You I Was Freaky
While the songs aren't as good as their first album, "Too Many Dicks (On The Dance Floor)," "Sugalumps," "Fashion is Danger," and "Hurt Feelings" is enough to hold the album down...ok, so maybe I shouldn't list this album here and should list those songs on my favorite tracks of 2009 instead, but whatever.
10. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
The album gets dragged down too much at the end by its longer, slower tracks but everything else before that is just as good as any Yo La Tengo album...which is still 90% better than what is put out there today anyway.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Hip Hop Roundup Vol. 1
There's a lot of reasons rap, for the large part, is absolute shit right now. The blatant contradictions, the focus on largely superficial values, and the well-known cliches and stereotypes that still permeate and discredit the genre all contribute to how low rap has sunk. Even well-established rappers like Jay-Z (on this year's "Death of Autotune" track) and Nas (on his 2007 album, "Hip Hop is Dead") don't offer much relief or creative guidance in their self-awareness. With hip hop coming closer and closer to the absolute pinnacle of self-parody, the most interesting things coming out in rap these days are antithetical to the gangster heavy God complexes that have eaten away a once formidable genre.
D-Sisive : Let The Children Die
Canadian rapper, D-Sisive, made a name for himself in the early 00's with a handful of singles that got him a fair amount of press and radio airplay. Despite that, he all but disappeared entirely after his father's death in 2001 until he resurfaced back on the scene last year with his album "The Book."
"Let The Children Die," his second release in two years, is a dark album driven by D-Sisive's dissatisfaction with the current state of hip hop, his socioeconomic status, and the aftermath of his father's death. Its an album vulnerable in its conviction and a refreshing blast from the braggadocio of lesser rappers. On "Wonderful World," below, D-Sisive discusses the nature of injustice.
D-Sisive : Let The Children Die
Canadian rapper, D-Sisive, made a name for himself in the early 00's with a handful of singles that got him a fair amount of press and radio airplay. Despite that, he all but disappeared entirely after his father's death in 2001 until he resurfaced back on the scene last year with his album "The Book."
"Let The Children Die," his second release in two years, is a dark album driven by D-Sisive's dissatisfaction with the current state of hip hop, his socioeconomic status, and the aftermath of his father's death. Its an album vulnerable in its conviction and a refreshing blast from the braggadocio of lesser rappers. On "Wonderful World," below, D-Sisive discusses the nature of injustice.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Songs About Loneliness
I decided to compile a short list of songs that deal with the nature of loneliness, seclusion, and the feelings that come with being isolated from the rest of the world.
Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles
"Eleanor rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father mckenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved"
I figured I'd start off this list with an obvious one. The most poignant thing about the nature of loneliness in this song is that each person never surrenders their routine to the reality of isolation. Even within the small spectrum of community, their existence is nothing but that doesn't stop them from losing hope in a hopeless situation that one day they will be acknowledged and cared for by other human beings. Regardless, they pass on and the culmination of their lives results to nothing more than a mound. A mound that is already composting into the world around it.
Street Flash - Animal Collective
"Does anyone in here get hit
with inside fever?
So bad sometimes it's hard
to move around"
A song about seclusion, "Street Flash" deals with the feelings of self-doubt that depression brings and how being completely isolated does nothing to stop someone from reinforcing bad ideas about themselves. The only relief comes in the passing observation of others as the speaker walks through the streets and lessens some of the negative feelings that were built up in isolation.
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times - The Beach Boys
"Where can I turn when my fair weather friends cop out?"
A lamentation for an inability to build true long-lasting relationships, completely hopeless and (essentially) alone-the speaker here also has nothing to stop themselves from reinforcing feelings of sadness and self-doubt.
If I Go Mad/Funeral In My Head - The Flaming Lips
"But if I go mad no one will no it
I won't let it be seen
'Cause I don't want you to be sad for me
Be happy, don't cry"
A track about the nature of inner-turmoil and the sides of ourselves we'll never share with others.
Whatever - Gnarls Barkley
"I don't have any friends at all
Cause I have nothing in common with ya'll
So who's gonna catch me if I fall
My backs always against the wall
I don't have anything to say
I want everything to go my way
Shut up mom it is not OK
I'm alone almost every day"
A trademark in the loneliness of youth are the Holden-esque irrational self-loathings and juvenile mentalities that a lot of teenagers have. Mocking those feelings, this song provides a great portrait of the world many have come from and many more sprightly kiddos will unknowingly go through.
Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles
"Eleanor rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father mckenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved"
I figured I'd start off this list with an obvious one. The most poignant thing about the nature of loneliness in this song is that each person never surrenders their routine to the reality of isolation. Even within the small spectrum of community, their existence is nothing but that doesn't stop them from losing hope in a hopeless situation that one day they will be acknowledged and cared for by other human beings. Regardless, they pass on and the culmination of their lives results to nothing more than a mound. A mound that is already composting into the world around it.
Street Flash - Animal Collective
"Does anyone in here get hit
with inside fever?
So bad sometimes it's hard
to move around"
A song about seclusion, "Street Flash" deals with the feelings of self-doubt that depression brings and how being completely isolated does nothing to stop someone from reinforcing bad ideas about themselves. The only relief comes in the passing observation of others as the speaker walks through the streets and lessens some of the negative feelings that were built up in isolation.
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times - The Beach Boys
"Where can I turn when my fair weather friends cop out?"
A lamentation for an inability to build true long-lasting relationships, completely hopeless and (essentially) alone-the speaker here also has nothing to stop themselves from reinforcing feelings of sadness and self-doubt.
If I Go Mad/Funeral In My Head - The Flaming Lips
"But if I go mad no one will no it
I won't let it be seen
'Cause I don't want you to be sad for me
Be happy, don't cry"
A track about the nature of inner-turmoil and the sides of ourselves we'll never share with others.
Whatever - Gnarls Barkley
"I don't have any friends at all
Cause I have nothing in common with ya'll
So who's gonna catch me if I fall
My backs always against the wall
I don't have anything to say
I want everything to go my way
Shut up mom it is not OK
I'm alone almost every day"
A trademark in the loneliness of youth are the Holden-esque irrational self-loathings and juvenile mentalities that a lot of teenagers have. Mocking those feelings, this song provides a great portrait of the world many have come from and many more sprightly kiddos will unknowingly go through.
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