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Monday, January 28, 2008

New Mountain Goats Video -Sax Rohmer #1

The first video off The Mountain Goats' new LP, Heretic Pride. Not only is the album fabulous, but this is one of the most innovative cool videos I have seen in a LONG time!





Friday, January 25, 2008

Best movie background music




If any of you have caught Cloverfield, there is a party scene with some awesome music in the background. Definitely a party I would want to be at. Hypeful even got together the playlist together with MP3s. Check it out!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Saul Williams - Sunday Bloody Sunday video

Intense? Less annoying than Bono? Yes, and yes.


Sunday, January 13, 2008

27 Jennifers video - Mike Doughty

Hooray! A new video for Mike Doughty's upcoming LP, Golden Delicious. The video features 27 girls actually named Jennifer.




Thursday, January 10, 2008

New Years Eve Radiohead Webcast - in case you missed it

In case you missed it, here is the New Years Eve Radiohead webcast Scotch Mist. They sound amazing. As for me, I missed it because I was too busy freezing at Seattle Center watching the Space Needle fireworks show malfunction. No countdown, no "Happy New Year!!!" . . . just lots of confused, disappointed, cold people wandering back to their cars. Woo Hoo!


Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Belated 2007 Albums rundown




Ack! I have been so busy that I failed to offer my Best albums of 2007 list to the deluge of other lists that have been circulating around the blogosphere. I have a tough time ranking albums, so I am going to base my decisions largely upon the following questions:
  1. What is the album's play count in my iTunes?
  2. How long has my excitement about the album lasted?
  3. Does it work as an "album," or are there just specific songs that I like?

Top 5

  • Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
    • This album got me more excited about music than anything has in a long while. I had sampled their Everything All at Once last year, but for some reason, it didn't stick. I must have played Cease to Begin 10 times through, back to back, when I first got my hands on it. I have subsequently come to enjoy their previous release as well. I love the indie-croon, I love the harmonies that remind me of something off the O Brother Where Art Though soundtrack. The beard frightens me, but I can get past that.
  • Bright Eyes – Cassadaga
    • Along with the Four Winds EP, Connor Oberst has again impressed me with Cassadaga. I can even forgive the country twang on a few songs due to the overall strength and musicmanship of the rest of the album. I LOVE the strings on the album, am still impressed with Oberst's poetry, and am very glad that his vocal skills have improved yet again, as with each previous succeeding album. My wife still says he sounds like a Billy goat, but thats fine with me.
  • Radiohead – In Rainbows
    • I hope all of the hubbub about this album doesn't leave a bad taste in peoples' mouth. When Radiohead is "on," I love them. When they are "off," I can't stand it. Kid A didn't do it for me. In Rainbows takes what they do best and projects it down fresh and new paths. It is an odd album in that respect. It all feels very familiar, but doesn't smack of repetition. It doesn't feel like they are simply repeating tired formulas. With each listen I like it more.
  • Domo – Baby Mercury
    • Why hasn't anyone heard of this band? I have readily admitted my penchant for indie-punk-pop. This Tempe, AZ 3-piece packs a mighty punch! Guitarist and main vocalist Captain Advantage - AKA Jason Sukut (previous keyboardist for fifteen minutes fast) has an unbelievable talent of consistently writing some of the most catchy hooks I have ever heard. Their previous 2006 self-released Sweet Creepy is equally impressive. I hope this band breaks big. I also hope that Sukut's membership in the Source Victoria doesn't distract him from giving us some more Domo albums!
  • Minus the Bear – Planet of Ice
    • This album was a pleasant surprise. I liked their Menos El Oso, but I didn't love it. However, I love Planet of Ice. It features the best parts of the pre-Menos El Oso era, and incorporates the good innovations from Menos El Oso. It seems like a reconciliation of two styles - like the band was trying to sort through and come to terms with the various sounds they have been toying around with. However, in being such, Planet of Ice fails to break much new ground. Thats fine with me though, because it rocks my socks off! Also, I don't know what it is about the albums title, but it perfectly fits the feel of the music. Weird, I know, but true.

Close Runners-Up

Good enough to get significant play-time in my iTunes

OK, but disappointing