Here come The Raveonettes.

My educated opinion is that The Raveonettes are soooo cool and such hot stuff. Their new album Pretty In Black is released on May 3rd. Finally. Here's hoping it's as shockingly addictive as Chain Gang Of Love. You can stream snippets of the new jams on the band's website. As far as I can tell, the new songs sound awesome. It's inevitable that I love this band, they're straight out of the 50's! They even do a cover "My Boyfriend's Back" by The Angels for crying out loud. I'm powerless.

"Love In A Trashcan" video

Aye?

Jesus, the cover of Time. It is the Canader version, which is like a knock off of anything that matters, but that is their native homeland after all. Everyone else in Canada must be so pumped up that they can't even see straight. FINALLY! Something they can be proud of!
Good to know that the Arcade Fire's machine for taking over the world is still working. We'll all be dressed in hip funeral attire, marching behind Win Butler while banging on shoulder slung drums and each others motorcycle helmets before too long. I can't wait.

Holy shit, I think I can see my house from here!

The new Google Maps Satellite is awesome! I'm not kidding; I just searched for my address and there it is. There is my house. If I were able to zoom in any further I would probably be able to see myself through the window sitting on my ass, unshowered at 2:30 in the afternoon.
And try getting directions too! Oh my god, why am I so excited?
I think I am going to go look up every address in my Rolodex now. But not until after I tell Mapquest that I never want to see him again.

Whenever I wake up...

Probably most people have had the pleasure of seeing the new Adidas commercial "Hello Tomorrow" directed by Spike Jonze with the accompanying song being composed by Squeak E. Clean and sung by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The video is beautiful first of all, the direction and music are perfectly matched. The video itself is very fluid and serene and it features a pretty boy running about in the middle of the night. The song is Karen O at her best. When the Yeah Yeah Yeahs first came out with their self-titled EP there was no band that I loathed more. Seriously, we're talking hated with the fire of a thousand suns. But then when I lisnted to "Maps" of off Fever To Tell I realised that there was a completely different side to Karen O's voice than the screaching bullshit that I had heard on almost every other Yeah Yeah Yeahs song. Thank god. When she's actually singing it's almost like a modern day Chrissie Hynde.
I've heard that Wes Anderson has signed a contract to direct 3 Pepsi commercials. I know that the thought of this has some Wes Anderson lovers hanging their heads in despair but I am intrigued to see what comes of it all. I love this new wave of artsy commercials that we're seeing. We can all thank Nick Drake and VW for that I think.

Adidas "Hello Tomorrow" commercial
Karen O - Hello Tomorrow (original version)
Karen O - Hello Tomorrow (full version, with more production)

Mmm, meat.

Salami floormats... Now, that's funny!

Action Jackson shakes his coconuts.

Earlier this morning I was innocently watching Junior Senior videos and first on the list was "Shake Your Coconuts". I was watching and watching and about 5 seconds into the song it cuts to a shot of this flambouyant, clearly gay man in tight ass clothes and a scarf dancing his fanny off and I think "Oh my god, that was so Bryan Jackson!" It was. He prances around and shakes his thang. It's awesome. It was really nice to see some of the residual shit that Bryan may or may have not fucked up when he was in the HELL-A.

ps - Junior Senior rule.

Pick up the phone!

Why am I cursed with my stupid Sprint cellular phone?! Why, 3 years ago when I was perusing all of the cellular phones, did I choose one of the Sprint models? Were they cheaper than the others? Was the Circuit City worker trying to force one upon me? Did my grandmother tell me that they were superior? What?? WHY?! Because all I know is the FLAVA FLAV ringtone is available for T-Mobile, Cingular and AT&T subscribers ONLY. I cannnot articulate how much I love the "FLAVA FLAV! YEEEAH BOYEE!" It brings joy into my life, as does the small, black rapper man from which it emanates. All I want is to be alerted to future phone calls by none other than Flava himself. Is it so much to ask? I am being excluded simply because I pay Sprint to let me receive phone calls on the go as opposed to paying AT&T for that service. It's discriminatory for certain. Flava, I will have you one day, until then I'll have to exist with you only in heart.

Attn Hulkamaniacs turned indie rockers:

Of Montreal - So Begins Our Alabee

The album that features this song, The Sunlandic Twins, will be released on April 12th on Polyvinyl Records. This sounds like one of the tracks that Kevin Barnes may have spent days hours upon hours hunched over his laptop with, rearranging everything, slapping in all the sythesizer, the sonic meanderings, and "oh, oh, oh's" in their proper spots. This song picks up right where "Disconnect The Dots", the first single from Of Montreal's last album, Satantic Panic In The Attic, left off. Avant-disco, indeed. Indie rock that you can dance to!

Antony and the Johnsons - Hope There's Someone

Umm, could I possibly love this song more? In fact, I loved this song instantly upon hearing it and since that time, this love has evolved into a burning passion of sorts. This is opening track on the second full length album of Antony's, I Am A Bird Now, released on Secretly Canadian. The song is made up of two things, Antony's voice and Antony's piano. It's amazing the passion that he can envoke through those two simple instruments. There is something very 1950's about the way that Antony sings, the deep, rich tone and vibrato. People don't do that anymore.

So, now that I have posted 2 songs that I genuinely like, I clearly must address another good-for-completely-different-reasons song. And here we go.


Hulk Hogan and the Wrestling Boot Band - Hulkster In Heaven

Not just kidding. Listen to it; I dare you. AND if you sit through the entire song...you win! It's nearly as bad as Pee Wee Herman's classic "The Bird's The Word". Concerning that matter, I can't make it through the whole thing in one sitting but don't worry, I have the 7 inch. I sort of want to say a lot more things concerning the ALBUM "Hulk Rules" by Hulk Hogan and the Wrestling Boot Band but that may make my head explode. However, you can purchase it on Amazon. As you will see it features other worthy tunes such as "Hulkster's In The House", "Hulkster's Back", "Hulk's The One", "Hulk Rules" and "Beach Patrol" (?). I wonder which is worse, this or "Be A Man" by the Macho Man Randy Savage. It looks like the Macho Man's album has a little more variation to it; though I just looked at the titles of the songs and ventured that guess. OH YEEEAAHHH!

She'll bring the good stuff

Nathalie Nordnes - Join Me In The Park

The Norwegians are in practice of perfecting the airy, bubbley pop music lately. Nathalie has officially joined the Sondre Lerche/Annie Club. I would definitely meet her in the park.

It's alright to want more than this.

Last night I drug my friend Eric to the hole in the wall Circle Bar to see the Castanets play. And I'll be damned if everyone else shouldn't be sad that they missed it. A San Francisco band, Lazarus, opened up. They played a spirited but very short set. It was too short for me to even really decide if I liked them or not. I far from hated them but I needed a little more to go on. You aren't going to sell any homemade cdrs by playing 5 songs to a roomful of strangers no matter how lanky and agonized 2/3rds of your band appears to be. Though, to Lazarus's credit, the lead singer did mention that they had been driving around like mad so perhaps they were just too tired to rock out for long.
The Castanets, which last night was just Raymond Raposa and Brigit DeCook, used the same instruments as Lazarus so they played almost immediately after the first set was finished. I think I like to describe the Castanets as Iron and Wine's younger, more impressionable brother. That's what they sound like. It's good and the style of music is similar but Castanets songs are not quite as mature as those of Iron and Wine.
Raymond stepped into the room, took his flip flops off, strapped a guitar on and pretty much started singing. He didn't use a microphone, just sang directly at the people who were sitting and standing before him. The room he was playing in is miniscule (smaller than the music room in mine and Marci's old apartment) so this worked. Unfortunately, the Castanets set was rather short as well, as are most of his songs but performed with all the soul and hand-wrung angst that I could ever ask for.
Anyone who loves Iron and Wine and the Mountain Goats should definitely seek the Castanets out. (I fall under this category.)

Rock and Roll Circus!

I have been in love with The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus for a long time now. I first saw this gem about 5 years ago when Marci commandeered her dad's copy for us to enjoy. It was out of print forever and ever until recently when it was finally released on divid. It began as the brainchild between Mick Jagger and Pete Townsend; The Rolling Stones and The Who were going to tour across the Unites States as the Rock and Roll Circus, complete with music and circus performances. But as there was not an efficient enough railway system here the plan was foiled. Now we are just left with this amazing, once in a lifetime occurance, which is also that much more significant as it is the last Rolling Stones performance with Brian Jones, who died shortly thereafter. Other artists who are featured are The Who, Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithfull, Jethro Tull, Dirty Mac (John Lennon, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Mitch Mitchell) and of course, the ever-present Yoko Ono. It's amazing that such an event ever took place. A must see if anything ever was.

Today was a good day.

All of these things came out today:

Arcade Fire - Funeral LP
Though I've had the cd for months and months now, I will have to own this because I am anal. The whole record is a picture disc, with an extension of the album art displayed on it.

Ian Brown - Solarized
I saw the video for "Keep What Ya Got" with Noel Gallagher the other night; it followed the video for "I Wanna Be Adored". It paled in comparison my friends, but I ask you, what wouldn't? Plus, Ian Brown is getting old and haggard; we need to take what we can get. Don't worry, he still has attitude.

Clem Snide - The End Of Love
Yeah, I love Clem Snide and despite all of my pirating efforts I have only heard "Fill Me With Your Light" and well, it sounds like Clem Snide alright.

Crooked Fingers - Dignity and Shame
I haven't listened to much Crooked Fingers but I'm starting slowly. "Islero" is cool; I'm waiting for the rest to grow on me. I'm digging the horns.

Enon - Lost Marbles & Exploded Evidence
I think Emily Venters likes this band, maybe we should all ask her about this. They play at Twiropa in a few weeks with Clem Snide so I suppose I'll have to listen to this before then.

Adam Green - Gemstones
He's a novelty artist. The song "Carolina" has the word vagina in it and Amberly said that his cover of the Beach Boys' "Kokomo" made her want to kill herself. It seems like that's all anyone would need to know.

Jeff Hanson - s/t
I just discovered this wonderful man a couple days ago. Dude sings like a lady but he does it so well! He's Elliott Smith and Sean Lennon with the voice of Hilarie Sidney (yep, Apples in Stereo and High Water Marks Hilarie). I swear!

Ida - Heart Like A River
Jenni once made me borrow an Ida cd from her. I was underwhelmed; I think I still am. The music is sooo soft and slow that you might as well just not be listening to anything.

Iron & Wine - Woman King EP
Sam Beam is a good and wonderful man who never ceases to make my life have meaning with every bit of music that he makes. In a word full of emo and rock 'n' roll that caters to the brokenhearted and unloved males he puts out an ep about women, "both archetypal and personal". I love.

Juliette & The Licks - Like a Bolt of Lightning EP
Err, I don't know but it only costs $6.98. Honestly, it doesn't sound all that good. Shocking, I know. Too bad she doesn't have PJ Harvey to write her songs like her character in Strange Days because I remember thinking she wasn't that bad then.

Kings Of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak
The beginning of the first song on this album sounds like early Shins, or rather Flake Music. It's rockin' 'n' rollin' but nothing too special. They're playing the House of Blues with my favorite Features in March so I'll see if they can stand the test of the live show. Probably those Features will steal the show away though no matter what.

Ben Lee - Awake Is The New Sleep
Claire Danes totally dumped him for Billy Crudup; the fact that he can accomplish anything after having to face that humiliation is commendable. Really though, it's typical Ben Lee. It's sweet and I like to listen to it but the sad truth is and always will be that he never should have recorded Grandpaw Would because nothing he does will ever be as good as that ever again.

Nedelle - From The Lion's Mouth
I also downloaded an mp3 of this fine lady when I was checking out the Jeff Hanson songs on the Kill Rock Stars website. God, go there and listen to it! Oh, the harmonizing! Her songs sound like they should have been featured in the movie Dead Poet's Society.

Robbers On High Street - Tree City
If you've misplaced all of your Spoon cds then this is the band to turn to. Otherwise, ehh.

Josh Rouse - Nashville
I like Josh Rouse; he makes nice music. This album is no exception. I also just read that he has contributed a cover of "It Don't Matter To Me" for a Bread tribute album (Cake does "The Guitar Man"!) and I think that is the greatest and funniest thing ever.

Thievery Corporation - Cosmic Game
I don't get this band but apparently they've "done it again!"

M Ward - Transistor Radio
I hate "Big Boat" but otherwise think that this is a pretty okay album.

And don't forget the I <3 Huckabees divid!
A 2 disc set jam packed with special features, a featurette, PSAs, 700 deleted scenes, music videos and blahdeblah. I say, "yay".

There's also the Kidz Bop #7 that proudly features "Float On' by Modest Mouse alongside "Pieces of Me" by Ashlee Simpson and "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5! Vomit!

SQUiRT TV

Does anyone remember the mid-90's mtv gem SQUiRT TV? I know that I will never forget it. Jake Fogelnest and Frankie sent me into fits of laughter throughout many a lonely evening. Dude, I was like 14; I didn't have shit to do at night besides sit on my ass and watch mtv, okay? I imagine the fact that it aired at this point in my life, where everything was suddenly so cool and impressive and original to me has something to do with why I think back on it so nostalgically. But what don't I think back on nostalgically anymore?
Not to say that SQUiRT TV didn't have its moments. Wesley Willis headbutting Jake incessantly, him gifting a black Barbie doll to Janeane Garofalo. Oh, and how damn boring Joey Lauren Adams and Kevin Smith were as interviewees. Cibo Matto broke his bed while performing "Know Your Chicken!" The fact that Jake was resourceful and determined enough (maybe bored enough) to put his own public access show together at 14 is great. He was great at snarky social commentaries and pranking his grandmother of course. He pleaded with AOL to STOP SENDING HIM DISCS! Because he just doesn't have time to load all of their crap on his computer! Also, Frankie went cd shopping with Noise Addict once! Come on, that's totally awesome. And sooo mid-90's. Oh, and Jakey is friends with The State; that's all anyone really needs to win me over.
Clearly, I still have love for Jake Fogelnest, even after I found out he has a livejournal. He also has a radio show with fellow funner Paul Scheer on WXRK in NYC, 10pm - 2am, this Tuesday through Friday. I bet they're going to say lots and bunches of nearly offensive, witty things too. I'm glad to hear that Jake is still out there doing what he's gots to do to get by in this world.

Jake & Claire Danes singing the "Reading Rainbow" theme song.

The Awesome.

I was walking around uptown on Tuesday because it was so so nice outside. I was walking back to my car, which was parked in a neighborhood and went past this house with a car parked in the "driveway." This car looked like a classic, like 20 years old, all boxey, beat up, and unsightly and alongside it said "Le Car" like as the model. Someone was so disinterested in naming this model vehicle that they decided on "Car". Which I, for one, think is le awesome.

It looked exactly like the white car here, minus the camping gear. I don't think people do that stuff in New Orleans.

Happy V.D.!

Wow, and I thought Ana wrecked him.

So, apparently Daniel Johns from early 90's Silverchair fame is now totally muscley, tattooed, pierced and looks exactly like Kevin Federline. What the fuck happened to the little, 90 lb surfer boy with the blonde ratty hair that I knew and sorta loved?
I know; this doesn't seem possible but look it:

There are a slew more photos here. I just chose that one because it looks most like him; you can't deny that mouth considering how incessantly we were all staring at it while watching the "Tomorrow" video for the 500th time. Yes! That scary pig-man. I know I will never forget it.

hype vs. hype

It seems that the good old Arcade Fire got a shout out on the Gilmore Girls this evening. I hate those Gilmore Girls! They're so nauseating!
Although, I'm not sure if that show or The O.C. annoys me more. I suppose I will never truly understand myself until I figure out the answer to that question.
The O.C. is so the Garden State of television. Sucking and fooling everyone into thinking that it has substance. Vomit.

Brings all the indie rockers to the yard.

I really loathe mashups and generally have no interest in hearing them at all but I really couldn't resist hearing this. "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) by Arcade Fire looped with Kelis singing "Milkshake" acapella overtop of it. It's sacriligeous but also sort of hilarious.

Arcade Fire/Kelis mashup - Neighborhood #5 (Milkshake)

Need 'em just a little.

I was just thinking, where oh, where are my beloved Fruit Bats? I miss them so. It's been almost 2 whole years since Mouthfuls was released. And I haven't seen them since that magical evening when they opened up for Iron and Wine at The Dame. And that was during the cold so it's been about a year since then. Too long, I say. According to their website they have a new album coming out in June or so entitled Spelled In Bones. And there was an ep, Tragedy + Time, that sold out in days that I was unaware of. I'm sure it's lovely and with a little perseverance I daresay I will hear it soon! Hopefully I'll get to look at them soon as well.
Until then, I suppose this will have to due.

Dress you up in my love.

Sometimes I wish I could be in costume every day. I think back to some of the get-ups that Marci and I have worn in the past and how cool we are, and how we always seemed to get into even more mischief and have more fun when we were dressed like goons. And what about all the instances when we would tell our sonofabitch friends whatever we were dressing up as and they would assume confused looks, "Brides? I dont' get it." And the one year when one of our friends was so drunk she didn't even know who the Mad Hatter and the March Hare were. Jesus, we sure have gone through some jackasses over the years. But always, always, Marci and I run around like dickheads trying to get our costumes ready at the last minute and then all of a sudden we're at Busters dressed as motherfucking Axl & Slash and everyone is freaking out because we look so gd cool. Forever underestimated.
All the Halloweens, the Beaux Arts Balls, Prom at Nick Whitehouse's, drawing names and dressing and behaving as one another all night, Festivus, the Pseudo-Pretentious Cocktail Party, the "Beat It" party (which was bastardized into being just an 80's party), and even our impromptu Tin Foil Party. Marci and I sure know how to throw down.
So, you want evidence? Fine.

Axl & Slash/Marci & Sammy



Well, are we totally 80's or what?