Matt and Kim

Hard to argue with this. Supercatchy Matt & Kim played at Slaughterama last year, and they're coming to the Canal Club April 3rd.

Their first album was sloppy in a joyful way, but on this second one-- Grand, from Faderlabel-- it seems like they've really gotten control of their crayons. They're from Brooklyn.



Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare

P.T. Walkley Composes Fantasies

No one needs to know that P.T. doesn’t want you to listen to this song out of the context of his album. That’s what he says on his website anyway. He’s trying to get you to listen to his entire album because there’s a big story involved. Sorry, not the way I do it. Yeah, I buy albums and occasionally have the spare time to make it all the way through in one sitting, but it’s rare. Just let me listen to the songs I actually like and don’t fuck around with the rock opera business. On that note, here’s a feel good number from a multi-talented musician with really unrealistic expectations.

No One Needs to Know

Palms

Palms is a duo-- the guy (Ryan Schaefer) lives in NY and the lady (Nadja Korinth) in Berlin. She also works as a correspondent for the BBC World News.

Their album It's Midnight in Honolulu came out on Rare Book Room this past fall. Ryan sings on some of the tracks, too, but I chose this one because Nadja's vocals make me think of Clov wanting to drown in Endgame by Samuel Beckett.



Das Lowenfell

It's A Musical

What is post-irony? I propose that rather than a simple abandonment of irony, it's irony that is really fun and therefore in hindsight exactly what should have been expected all along.

One female Swede (from Malmö) and one male Berliner, It's A Musical have released an album called The Music Makes Me Sick. Their label, Germany's Morr Music, says: "It is aimed at the people and still fits to the music, too, whose smallest as well as biggest common denominator can be called pop. And sincerity."



The Music Makes Me Sick

The Magnificents

More British people. These, The Magnificents, are Scots, having met in (my old town) Edinburgh while in art school. They toured with Beta Band-- luckies-- plus Stereolab, Trans Am, and Mogwai.



Ring Ring Oo Oo

Esau Mwamwaya

London producers Radioclit have been tossing mixes around for a while. This fall they released their first artist-driven album, free here and a bunch of other places.

The artist is Esau Mwamwaya. He's from Malawi but has lived in London for 9 years, and he sings in Chichewa as well as English.

The album is dope for that reason but also for Radioclit's production-- you may have already heard the tracks they built with Esau using songs by Architecture in Helsinki, Santogold, MIA and Vampire Weekend, which hit the web last year.


Esau (left) met Radioclit's DJ Tron (right) when Tron visited Esau's junkshop in London. Not long after, Esau became "the African Phil Collins." The guy in the center is Johan, the other half of Radioclit.


Hide and Seek


Boyz

Aspects of Physics

Asthmatic Kitty Records has put out Habitat, a 2-disc comp to benefit Habitat for Humanity. They asked contributers for pieces that deal with the notion of architectural space. Some interesting descriptions of track concepts here.

My favorite track is the one by Aspects of Physics, a group that uses the word "manipulations" to describe what they do to machines to produce music. On their website they (literally) ask questions like this one:

At what point in society does the value of music in its relationship to society move from a productive beneficial tool to a commodity that doesn't necessarily help or perpetuate society?

I'm down.


2/7 members of Aspects of Physics. I'm pretty sure this is at Walden Pond.

Utiliterranean

Also, I'm into this video AoP made for "Song from Shitteo":

Au Revoir Simone

Anyone for a foursome? Hahahahaha, I’m dirty. Here’s another remix, what am I thinking? I like to jazzercise to the second half of this song.

A Violent Yet Flammable World (Montag Remix)

Mumford and Sons

I found this 4-leaf on a 3-Quarter Moon last week. Like their Irish cousin across the pond, Damien Rice, these lads from London know how to implode the soul with simple and straightforward lyrics. I compare them to Rice because they sound a bit like him here, but they’re way more folksy and bluegrassy than he is. I’d also swear they’re from Ireland, but I can’t seem to find any evidence that supports that theory.

Disclaimer: This song may induce sudden shortness of breath, fatigue, outbursts of tears, heart explosion and wrist bleeding. Get your smiling in now and listen at your own risk.

Liar

Fires of Rome + Don Rimini

Unlike McKay I often run straight for the remixes, sometimes even bypassing the originals altogether.

I've been digging on hard-hitting French DJ Don Rimini, and it was his remix that led me to NY's Fires of Rome.

Don Rimini has delivered some sick mixes via Discobelle and Delicious Vinyl. Fires of Rome have been hyped by the, uh, the New York Times.

Before - Fires of Rome


Set in Stone

After - Don Rimini


Set in Stone (Don Rimini's Fire in Paris Remix)

Mark Mothersbaugh Plays With His Monkey

Spielberg hires one of the film industries’ favorite musicians to score a video game about block-shaped monkeys and sheep that blow shit up. I guess even the insanely rich need a few extra million when times get tough. I wouldn’t recommend this collection of songs for any late night baby-making sessions; unless your idea of sex involves a pogo stick and a magical village.

Mutato Mansion

Labradford

I just saw a copy of the newly published Vice Guide to Richmond and DC... Whoa. That's twice in one week that Richmond is recognized for its coolness by outsiders. First WFMU realizes it, and now this.

...Took em long enough. Hello, Vice-- Isn't the Richard Kern fanclub headquartered in Richmond? But onto my real reason for posting.

Labradford is probably The most totally unsung Richmond band.

Check out the catalog number of their 1993 Prazision LP... Krank 001. That's right, the first album released on Kranky was theirs.

Labradford also recorded a Peel Session in 1996.

Ah, what else. They toured all over the world and later one of the members developed the noisier experimental electronic project Pan•American, with releases on some other cool labels like Mille Plateaux and Fat Cat.

Oh yeah, and their music. Gorgeous. Hear for yourself.


The only decent-quality image I could find online, on the UK record store Boomkat-- the cover of Labradford's 1997 album Mi Media Naranja.

Accelerating on a Smoother Road

More info: http://www.brainwashed.com/labradford/

These New Puritans

These guys I think must be on the Freemasonry Tip. If not actual Masons. The album they put out last year on Domino is called Beat Pyramid. Yeah? If you listen to the whole thing, it's all basically about infinity and numerology, in a way that you kinda can't help but take seriously.

I've got my eyes open. If their next release mentions feathered serpents or Christopher Wren I will know for sure.

En Papier

Zombie Zombie - Driving this road until death sets you free (again)

Yeah, yeah, Mary Claire posted this before, but I'm posting it again. 'Cause it’s the best thing that’s ever happened in the world of stop motion and music. Not watching it is a hate crime.

Spoek Mathambo

I featured Spoek's H.I.V.I.P. Dezemba Liazonz mix on a radio show I recently hosted, and since then I've been stalking him online a bit. He's from South Africa and currently working out of Paris and Berlin.

Spoek is fun to stalk because he is a man of many projects:

-Sweat.X, his duo project that started in Berlin. Lots of London club action.

-Play Doe, his duo project from Johannesburg. Similarly popular in Europe.

-DJEDTRONIC, from Paris, for whom he has been mc'ing. They're going to be at the Club NME Paris party Jan 30th with Zombie Zombie, and they've just released a record on Boys Noize.

-other stuff such as the artwork below

DJEDJOTRONIC f Spoek - Dirty & Hard

His blog features a lot of other cool musical ish from S. Africa, too.

Ponytail

Ponytail's album Ice Cream Spiritual reeks of mescaline and garage, but it’s a very modern smell after all. They're from Baltimore.


Sweaty, at Whartscape last year.

Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came from an Angel)

Beirut - La Llorona

Just take it in. Feel the horns and be at peace. Then go to Mexico and try not to kill yourself. That's the message I get from this video apparently created by a seven year old blind kid. A+

Dial M For Murder

Wolf Parade + Interpol = Murder. I feel like I’ve heard this song before. On about twenty different albums last year. Yet I still want to hear it.

The Mourning Comes, the Morning After

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool

I heard these guys on BBC's Rob Da Bank show last week. I think they might be in danger of blowing up on the alt-club scene this year: they have catfish moustaches and are rumored to be in the lineup for Barcelona's Sónar festival.


Dance the Way I Feel

Kings of Leon + Lykke Li

I’m not a big fan of remixes, but when you add in/replace vocals from Lykke Li, it’s kind of hard to go wrong. This plays out more like a modern electronic version of Grease anyway. Just go with me on this one.

Knocked Up (Lykke Li vs. Rodeo Remix)

Loverman (I’m surely going to hell for this)

For some reason, these wackjobs only released 500 of this single on 7" vinyl. And that’s it. Sounds like a pile of self-righteous bullshit to me, but I'll probably be crucified for posting this. Try not to murder anyone after listening.

Crucifiction

Eric Wareheim does Phantom Planet

Eric Wareheim from Tim and Eric is a mad genius. You either love him or loathe him, but you can’t deny his green screen mastery. See more of his directorial magic here.

White Lies - To Lose My Life

Holly Miranda

Once again, I owe Rexy for turning me onto another vocal vixen. This lollipop is the front woman for The Jealous Girlfriends, a four-topper from Brooklyn with all kinds of magical sounds inside. Holly’s chops were made for blasting out bone chilling melodies. Whereas mine were made for biting the plastic off of CD cases. She reminds me of Chan Marshall (Cat Power) with a tad more volume (although not really here). Even has a similar haircut. If you look around, you’ll find her belting out an inspired version of Elliott Smith’s Between The Bars somewhere. Which, in my opinion, is his best and one of my all-time favorites. Just sayin,’ if ever I happen to accidentally run into said vixen on the street in front of her house, there could be roofies and marriage involved.

This is her with Prince. Hahaha. Jk, jk. LOL ;P LMFAO ====D----. Actually, it’s Kyp Malone from TVOTR. And it’s pure gold. Surely, this talented damsel will conquer the world soon.

Slow Burn Treason


Jealous Girlfriends - Organs On The Kitchen Floor

See?

Starflyer 59

Well this is ironic. These guys hate to smile.
The Brightest of the Head

SoKo - I’ll Kill Her

Thanks to my dear friend Rexy for turning me onto this adorable French gem. I realize this video is almost 2 years old and already very popular (I can’t be on top of everything), but that doesn’t make it any less awesome. Besides, after watching, I feel it’s my obligation, my duty, to promote the death of this boyfriend stealer SoKo is referring to. She’s obviously a whore.

Glasvegas

Not since the fallen Proclaimers have I heard such a thick Scottish accent on a maintream(ish) album. That, alone, makes me want drink a barrel full of Macallan and knife my best friend in the ribs. You add in the random F bombs and sad lyrics and I’m all packed and ready to hit the streets of Glasgow. But I’m lame, so I’m staying here one more night.

It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry

Bon Iver + New EP = The Tits

Their (his) new EP, Blood Bank, is coming out on January 20. Hey, that’s the name of this song.

Fredo Viola

There’s nothing quite like Fredo Viola’s music. It’s basically world music with an edge — Sufjan Stevens meets Bobby McFerrin. The launch of his new album, The Turn, was quickly followed by a kickass, already award-winning website. His vocal instrumentation and layering will put you to sleep like a rat in an exhaust pipe, so this contribution comes with a "no driving" warning.

The Turn (A Pagan Lament)

Five Songs I liked More Than Some Others In The Year 2008

This is ridiculous. A category like this is for the dogs and is way more pointless than my other top 5 post. So here it goes.


Apes & Androids - Hot Kathy
Oddly enough, the name suits the band perfectly. Bar none, my favorite song of the year. Haunting and epic at the same time.




Black Mountain - Bright Lights
The great thing about this song is that it's almost 7 hours long. Ok, 16 minutes, but there’s basically an entire rock opera involved.




The Teenagers - Homecoming
I had completely forgotten about this until I heard it in American Apparel the other day. Of course, that’s where I heard a song about fucking a virgin cheerleader. I think you have to take an "I don't care about things or stuff" quiz before you can work there. I just realized Mary Claire posted about this song recently. Double bonus.




The Phoenix Foundation - Hitchcock
From the film Eagle vs. Shark with Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords. The song and film are equally good. The bonus to all this is that the video for the song is as equally badass.


From Eagle vs. Shark


Hitchcock Video




The Notwist - Boneless
Is it no twist or not wist? Whatever it is, it’s good. This song kind of makes me want to jump off a building and graduate high school at the same time.




The Do - On My Shoulders
Wait. This is six. Who edited this thing? Modern Fleetwood Mac outfit. Or something.

Five Albums I Listened To More Than Others In The Year 2008

Top 5 lists are typically self-serving and worthless. So I thought I'd make one or two. I figured it's the worst I could do. Here you'll find five albums with bullshit descriptions next to them. Prepare for disappointment.

Right, right, there's no mention of Radiohead, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Beck and on and on. Rest assured, if I were the only person on Earth, they'd be here. Then again, if I were the only person on Earth, my top 5 would more likely be bark, sand, water, lettuce and chickens.



Kyle Andrews - Real Blasty
Nothing super different here, just some consistently catchy pop songs. Despair meets Shiny Happy People.

Polar Bear



Electric President - Sleep Well
This reminds me of what Grandaddy would have turned into if they decided to care. Wide range of sounds, but all fairly melodic and in need of Prozac. Call me crazy (you always do), but I hear some Beach Boys in this song.

All the Bones



The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead
From synthesized pop to bluesy folk guitar to modern pop rock. It's all pretty good. Some of this reminds me of Doves before they disappeared off the face of the planet. I'm goin' with the title track here 'cause I'm that much of an asshole.

Keep Your Eyes Ahead



The Mystery Jets - Twenty One
For some reason, I don't think they ever released this album in the states. It has the new eighties thing going for it, but it's not as repetitive as a lot of the newer stuff can be. I give it a C+. I mean A, it gets an A. This song has a bit of Oingo Boingo in it.

MJ



Detektivbyrån - E18 Album
If you like hardcore music box, this will be gold for you. E18 Album would be the perfect soundtrack for an animated French film where everyone ended up dying from a mysterious disease caused by human boredom. Their second album of the year is basically the same thing, but with more of a Trans- Siberian Orchestra flare to it. This one gets an E for Err.

Vänerhavet