I think my computer issues are solved?

So I think I've finally fixed the last of my recent computer issues. Hopefully. Knock on wood. That stuff is really annoying...but you don't wanna hear about that, it just means that I'll be a little more diligent with my posting schedule. Whewwww.

I'll have a show review for Trans Am, as well as some more hotness up tomorrow.

The Twilight Sad "Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters"

So I've been meaning to post on these guys for a bit, unfortunately computer issues and a lack of free time had postponed it. Oh well, better late than never, right? The Twilight Sad are anthemic post-rock. Like Mogwai with soaring choruses. Their debut full-length album, "Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters" is amazing, I mean it's awesome...shit, it's really fuckin' good. I hate trying to come up with adjectives for music I really like, so instead I'll just say it was on repeat all day. All day. You should check out this album and their first self-titled EP. Here's a couple of tracks to get you started.

[MP3] The Twilight Sad - Mapped By What Surrounded Them from "Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters" (via Box.net)

[MP3] The Twilight Sad - And She Would Darken the Memory from "The Twilight Sad EP" (via Box.net)

The Twilight Sad - FatCat Records Site | My Space

Ratatat, 120 Days @ The Loft, Atlanta, GA 4/10/07 : SHOW REVIEW

I must first mention that attending this show would not have been possible without the generousity of one lovely lady over at Criminal Records, Lillian. See, I won a pair of tickets to see Ratatat through a contest in their email newsletter. Just one more reason, in a list of many, that Criminal Records fucking rocks!! Don't let me catch you buying your music anywhere else suckas! Well now, on to business. 120 Days. Hmmmmm. I'm not sure what to say about them. Their music sounded good. But there's just one problem, I'm not sure if they were actually playing it live or not. They had a drummer, and he had a kit. But were the drumming sounds we heard coming from him? Hell no. It was a f'n drum machine, he just stood behind his kit and played the tambourine. OK, he did hit a tom or a cymbal every once in awhile, but come on now!! This made me question whether the rest of band was really playing or not as well. So their set was kinda soured by all my conspiracy theories. Well soured or not, I was really excited to see Ratatat. And they didn't disappoint. They had that whole hipster "I ain't gonna dance, cuz that's stupid" crowd, fucking dancing their collective asses off. I love shows like this, a really great vibe shared by all. The band didn't play any of their more down-tempo stuff which really kept the momentum going. All in all, a great show that helped me make the decision to see this band again any chance I can.

[Photo credit: nickydigital.com]

Fridge is still running, better catch it.

2001 saw the release of Fridge's monster of an album, "Happiness". Since then, we've had to be content with just the solo musings from both Adem (Adem Ilhan) and Four Tet (Kieran Hebden). Not that we complained, both of these guys crank out some amazing stuff. But we still wanted them to get back together and combine to form Voltron...err, I mean make another Fridge album (although forming a giant robot would have been an acceptable substitute). Well the wait is over. Fridge will be releasing their new album "The Sun" on June 19th via Temporary Residence Limited. (It's amazing BTW...uh, I mean I can't wait to hear it...;-))

[MP3] Fridge - Eyelids from "The Sun" (via Box.net)

Fridge - Official Site | Temporary Residence Site

NO COMPUTER, NO POSTS :-(

So my computer had to be operated on starting last week, don't worry it's fine. The cards and flowers were much appreciated, and it's at home now resting. I'll have it posting later today, it's such a trooper. It thanks you for your continued support.

Gem sweater worshipin' rapper is coming to Atlanta...

One of these days I'll post something before it hits the blogosphere, but until then I'll have to give credit where credit's due. Cable and Tweed posted about the second coming of Christ, err I mean the coming of Leslie and the LYs to the ATL! I saw the video on YouTube, and yes it was forwarded to me with words "awesome!!" & "LOL". If you're not sure who I'm talking about, she's a white female rapper/comedian who raps about her love of gem sweaters and all things bedazzled..oh, and killing zombies. She'll be playing The Drunken Unicorn (4/21) and Eyedrum (4/22), I suggest you go.

Here's the video for "Gem Sweater":



Leslie Hall - MySpace

MP3 links: Newgoodstuff 4-04-07

Here are some MP3s of some new music worth checking out:

[MP3] Dr. Dog - "The Girl" from "We All Belong" (via Box.net)

[MP3] Deerhunter - "Fluorescent Grey" from "Fluorescent Grey" EP (via Box.net)

[MP3] Elk City - "Los Cruzados" from "New Believers" (via Box.net)

[MP3] Miracle Fortress - "This Thing About You" from "Five Roses" (via Box.net)

ENJOY.
Buy the full albums at Insound, or at Criminal Records.

NEW MUSIC: Magic Arm "Outdoor Games"

A friend of mine turned me onto this band over the weekend: "Have you heard of Magic Arm?" "No." "I guess I better check 'em out". So I headed over to their MySpace page, and listened. Pretty nice stuff. And I do mean pretty. Dreamy folk with hush-then-soaring vocals, acoustic finger-pickin', and a keyboard melody that starts to drift in at just the right moment. I was hooked, so I did a little Sherlock Google action and found that they have no label, no website...but apparently Ed Droste from Grizzly Bear loves them. On his band's blog, he asks you to download the track "Outdoor Games" & dares you to tell him this song sucks. I think this song is great, but maybe you have no taste in music and would like to tell Ed so. Accept the challenge, download it & reply to him HERE. Hopefully these guys hook up with a label soon, I wanna hear more.
UPDATE: According to their MySpace they are recording an album and releasing a single (I guess this song is it) in early 2007. Sorry that's ambiguous. It's all I got.

Hooray For Earth...hooray! hooray!

Yesterday, I was sent the self-released & self-titled album by "Hooray For Earth". I just finished listening to it for the third time. I don't listen to albums three times unless I like them. A lot. Parts remind me of different bands, but I can't say that the songs themselves remind of anyone in particular. It's weird, I hear a little Jesus & Mary Chain,...then Pinback, even Pet Shop Boys...but only in parts, and only for a second or two. It really feels like a true amalgam of some really interesting sounds: dirty fuzz rock, soaring pop, heavy riffs, blaring synths, and a little art-punk for good measure. The vocals do definitely remind me of Rob Crow (especially on the song "Carefree"), which ain't bad. The music has the pop sensibility of some of the greatest Wrens tunes & Blue Album-era Weezer. It's ethereal and fuzzed out, and always driving...anthemic even. Truly uplifting. This is driving music folks; stereo cranked, and singing along at the top of your lungs and not giving a fuck who sees. The only thing that makes this album hard to get through, is the fact I keep hitting the back button to hear songs over again. I know what I'll be doing to pass the time on my hour and a half commute home tonight. Goddamn this is infectious.

[MP3] Hooray For Earth - Magazines (via Box.net)

[MP3] Hooray For Earth - Come Again (via Box.net) (highly rec'd)

Official Site | MySpace | Buy it on iTunes

Beirut Used To Be The Real People.

I was reading one of my favorite blogs (I Guess I'm Floating) earlier today, and came across what can only be described as an early Christmas gift or belated birthday present. Apparently Zach Condon, otherwise known as Beirut, recorded an album of indie/electronic songs back in 2001 called "The Joys Of Losing Weight" under the name The Real People. It has been described as: "...an entire electronic/experimental album in the style of Scenic World with Zach's distinctive vocals and the occasional appearance of his famous brass instrumentation." And it's amazing. Everything I loved about "Gulag Orkestar", replacing the Balkan/gypsy sound with electronica. Not unlike Ben Gibbard with his other outlet, The Postal Service. It was never released or sold, and up until now only a select handful of Zach's "peeps" have ever even heard it. Here's a few tracks from it, you can find more tracks over at IGIF here.

[MP3] The Real People (Zach Condon from Beirut) - Untitled 13 (via Box.net)

[MP3] The Real People (Zach Condon from Beirut) - Untitled 18 (via Box.net)

(You could find the whole album if you just try searching Google, at least that's tha' word on tha' street)

Unofficial VIDEO: Deerhoof "Kidz Are So Small"

Check out this fantastic video for Deerhoof's "Kidz Are So Small" created by Face3Media out of Montreal. It has a doctor climbing into a pregnant woman's "birth canal" and out her mouth....very Deerhoof.

Matador to release expanded edition of Shearwater's "Palo Santo"

Recent Matador signees, Shearwater re-recorded/remastered their 2006 album "Palo Santo" and it will be available to us (the eager public) on April 10th. Apparently this was the band's idea not the label's, and to quote them: "...we're proud to say that this is Palo Santo as we always hoped it would be". I heard they were amazing live, as told to me by some SXSW attendees. Ah, yet another reason to save my damn money!! I was hoping that they would be heading through the Atlanta area sometime soon, but no luck. Oh well. I still haven't seen them or Will Sheff's other band, Okkervil River. So if any members, of either band reads this, please play Atlanta. Please.

Here's a track off the newly re-recorded "Palo Santo".
[MP3] Shearwater - Red Sea, Black Sea (via Box.net)

Shearwater - Official website