In a recent interview with The Guardian, British music icon Damon Albarn revealed some very interesting details concerning the long awaited Gorillaz follow-up to the incredible 2005 “Demon Days.” Apparently, “the LP is nearly finished,” as Damon put it, and will go by the name of “Plastic Beach” (the title came to him after seeing the plastic bottle-littered beach in front of his home in Devon). He goes on to add that the new album…
They say “familiarity breeds contempt”, but the more I hear that phrase, the more I dislike it. And not just because I’m a pathetic, desperate contrarian idiot – the phrase is wrong. Wrong. Familiarity doesn’t breed contempt. It breeds comfort, warmth, and eventually nostalgia. New things are awful, and potentially dangerous, and sometimes have questionable odours. Shun new things. Avoid them. Instead, you should wrap yourself in the comfortable blanket of the safe and familiar,…
Welcome to Ashley, “one of Chicago’s best live bands,” was an energetic, crowd pleasing, good time at the Empty Bottle on October 23rd. This show in an effort to promote their new album, “Absent man” was fun and refreshingly new. Coley Kennedy, the front man for WTA took time out of his rock star day and answered a few of my burning questions. How did Welcome to Ashley form and what has kept the band together? Coley: Pete and Jeremy…
Grizzly Bear just released this very soulful remix of The Notwist’s “Boneless”, off the later’s 2008 highly praised “The Devil, You + Me.” If you’ve been following indie blogs for the last couple of years, you might remember another Boneless remix, which has since become quite famous , namely Panda Bear’s very dramatic take on the song. Actually Panda Bear’s remix, rehashed to such an extent that it became a whole new track, was featured…
At the beginning of the month, I was simply psyched by Yeasayer’s new song “Ambling Alp”, off the band’s upcoming 2010 new album “Odd Blood.” Back then I said “The song, as a whole, makes for an incredible uplifting experience, packed with memerising electro beats and a bright pulsating rhythm. So far, it seems a lot more sharper, defined and focused than anything on their debut, which can only make me wonder what gems I…
Since Belle & Sebastian released their last glorious album, “The Life Pursuit”, in 2006, the band has not only stopped releasing any new music, but they haven’t even hinted of plans of a new album whatsoever. When Stuart Murdoch, the band’s lead creative force behind the band, started working on his God Help the Girl project any plans for the band to make any new albums had been scrapped, until today that is when the…
Smilejerker’s back, and this week we’ve got something for all ages, that will both move and humor you, namely this fabulous cover of Queens’ Bohemian Rhapsody by an ‘all-star’ Muppets cast. We’ve seen some awesome tunes covered by the Muppets in the past, including Beatles, The Everly Brothers , Weezer, The Drifters and even death metal (unofficial), but this is one is truly magical. Enjoy, kids!
I’ve been a big fan of Jimmy Fallon since his SNL days, and him getting his own show this year, after he replaced Conan O’Brien as the host of the Late Night Show, did only to enforced my admiration. Last night, though, Jimmy delivered a moment of sheer and utter brilliance, when he strapped on a wig, a hat and a flannel and performed what can only be called the best Neil Young impression ever….
One of the most interesting projects of the year was N.A.S.A’s “The Spirit of Apollo”, a five year in the making, 18-track album, which featured three-dozen guest stars from mainstream rock and hip-hop stars to obscure, yet very talented high-profile street performers. “Spacious Thoughts”, one of the tracks off Apollo, is a collaboration between N.A.S.A. and two true giants of their own respective scenes, Tom Waits and Kool Keith. Impressive names to go with a…
Although Beach House’s new record, “Teen Dream”, is slated for a January 25th official release, last week the record leaked all over the web, and guys let me tell you it’s simply brilliant. It’s so deeply warm and sounds so very sincere, that it’s impossible to resist the record’s invitation to roll back and go to a place far, far away from it all. I swear the Baltimore duo is getting better and better with…
Tibi Puiu
Al Byrne
Mary