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Please go to the new blog, Desert Island Mixtapes for all the latest posts.

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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Band of Horses Video!!! I Love this Band!




I just came across this new Band of Horses video for their song Is There A Ghost while reading pitchfork. It is the first track of their phenominal new album Cease To Begin. Everyone should buy this album!




Be a Pal and Buy some Band of Horses tunes!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Jose Gonzalez - Highly Recommended! Highly!!!

Argentine parents, born and raised in Sweden, sings in English.

HIGHLY recommended!

Heartbeats



Teardrops


hints



Gonzalez's latest album In Our Nature is phenomenal. Go buy it.


Wednesday, October 24, 2007

New Jimmy Eat World Video - Big Casino

The Jury (me) is still out on Jimmy Eat World's new album, Chase this Light. But, in the meantime, here is the video for the first single. To be quite honest, the album is somewhat of a disappointment. But, after 1999s Clarity, I think pretty much everything else they will ever do will be a disappointment. Seriously.





Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Radiohead Binary Theory - OK Computer + In Rainbows


Puddlegum recently posted an interesting analysis of some deeper meanings/coincidences between Radiohead's new release In Rainbows, and their seminal 1997 OK computer. Interestingly, the number 10 proves uncannily significant.

For a near Wizard of Oz / Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon experience, set up a new new playlist with the following track order. Set it with a 10 second crossfade, and see how the two albums blend together VERY well . . . perhaps too well . . .

1. Airbag (OK Computer)
2. 15 Step (In Rainbows)
3. Paranoid Android (OK Computer)
4. Bodysnatchers (In Rainbows)
5. Subterranean Homesick Alien (OK Computer)
6. Nude (In Rainbows)
7. Exit Music (For A Film) (OK Computer)
8. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi (In Rainbows)
9. Let Down (OK Computer)
10. All I Need (In Rainbows)
11. Karma Police (OK Computer)
12. Fitter Happier (OK Computer)
13. Faust Arp (In Rainbows)
14. Electioneering (OK Computer)
15. Reckoner (In Rainbows)
16. Climbing Up The Walls (OK Computer)
17. House Of Cards (In Rainbows)
18. No Surprises (OK Computer)
19. Jigsaw Falling Into Place (In Rainbows)
20. Lucky (OK Computer)
21. Videotape (In Rainbows)
22. The Tourist (OK Computer)

Friday, October 19, 2007

New Gift of Gab/Lateef Collaboration, and The Gift of Gab / Blackalicious / Talib Kweli / Lateef - Its Going Down.MP3


So, Blackalicious's Gift of Gab and Lateef the Truth Speaker just joined forced under the moniker The Mighty Underdogs. You can currently order their EP, The Prelude, and can expect a full length LP early next year (along with a new Gift of Gab solo LP Escape 2 Mars AND a Gift of Gab mixtape, Supreme Lyricism Vol. 2).

We're going to be Quannumed out! For more info, and to order the EP, go to Giftsribution

To hold you over, enjoy this sample track from Gab's last mixtape, Supreme Lyricism Vol. 1 - Its Going Down (ft. Talib Kweli and Lateef). This was be standout track of that last release - classic Gab, Kweli and Lateef.





You NEED this stuff on your iPods!


The Mighty Underdogs




Blackalicious




Gift of Gab Solo




Lateef & the Chief



Lateef the Truth Speaker

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Dear and the Headlights - Run in the Front



I have had a long time obsession/admiration for the music being produced by Bob Hoag at his Flying Blanket Studio in Mesa, AZ. Some of my favorites to come out of there have been Before Braille, Art for Starters, The Go Reflex, Mr. Kline + the Wizards of Time, Fifteen Minutes Fast, Tickertape Parade, Adam Panic, The Format, and The Retaliation for What They Have Done to Us. I'm not sure if these bands are so great because of something in the dry, hot Arizona air, or if Bob really is the recording genius they say his - but I like a lot of what he has done.

My most recent discovery out of Bob's studio is Dear and the Headlights. These guys seem to have come out of nowhere, and it took a few listens for their lead singer's crooning voice to grow on me, but they have completely won me over. Please enjoy this sample song (link above) and watch the video below of their first single, Sweet Talk. Bob Hoag even makes an appearance at the end, playing one of the most intense tambourine solos that I have ever seen.

Everyone and their dog should by their full length LP, Small Steps, Heavy Hooves.
Also - listen to some other tracks on their myspace. I especially like "Its Getting Easy."




You need to purchase this band!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

No music blog is complete without a Radiohead review


Radiohead's new album, In Rainbows, came out this morning in a digital release. Purchasers were allowed to name their own price for the digital download, and a physical release will follow in December.

There are approximately a gazillion reviews of the new album, written by people with far more time on their hands than me . . . so I will simply say the following:

Reminiscent of OK computer, but very much in the Hail to the Thief tradition and soundscape. Better than Kid A.

I mostly love Radiohead's decision to let their fans pay what they deem appropriate. Hooray for independent bands thumbing their noses at the record industry. Its almost as good as what The Format did with their Dog Problems album. Stick it to the man!

Monday, October 8, 2007

The Player Piano - After the Fact



This is a band that everyone in the world should know. The Player Piano. Before breaking up in 2003, they released on the most musically mature and complex albums of all time. This is an album that I have listened to hundreds of times, and never gotten sick. And, to top it all off, they keep it interesting with almost no vocals. Their demise, prompted by members going to Harvard Law and other such lofty pursuits, was one of the saddest days in the Provo, UT music scene. Honestly, I think people probably held candlelight vigils. And, if they didn't, they should have.3

But, good news folks - Friend of Mine Records, Inc., (a Japanese venture) will be re-releasing this album on Dec. 19th. Better yet, it will include 2 demos - Jazz Odyssey and Cottus Carolinae, which were not on the original Sunset Alliance release.

So here is what you do:
  1. Download this sample MP3 from their original album
  2. Listen to the other sample tracks available on The Player Piano's Myspace page
  3. Flood their Myspace inbox with messages of eager anticipation
  4. buy the Japanese release once it comes out. You can probably ask the boys via their myspace page on where and how it will be made available

More Spoon performances - this time on SNL

Monday, October 1, 2007

Radiohead LP7




In case you didn't catch this on about every other indie blog on the planet, Radiohead just announced that their highly anticipated LP7, entitled In Rainbows, will be released on October 10th!!! I am anticipating something either great, or lack-luster, highly.

Details at www.radiohead.com. Intial access will be for digital downloads, physical album later.