Hercules and the Love Affair at Studio B

This is one event you do not want to sit on, just warning you. Shows like this are always kickin' at Studio B and it is currently their only nYc/USA date (although they did leave a few dates open before hopping the pond). The show is being presented by Justine D, DFA and Mute Records. There are some pretty sweet guest Dj's as well: Andrew Butler (one half of Hercules and the Love Affair) with Kim Ann Foxman, Tim Goldsworthy and Tim Sweeney (Aka: T+T)and Horsemeat Disco (James Hillard and Jim Stanton). The trendy boutique Opening Ceremony is hosting the event- so make plans to be at Studio B on Saturday, May 17th for Hercules and the Love Affair! Tickets are onsale now, here. All other tour dates are listed below:
*****Hercules & Love Affair Tour Dates*****
~~~~~~~~~MAY~~~~~~
17-Studio B, Brooklyn, NY
23-The Parlure Spiegeltent Brighton, South
24-Warehouse Manchester, Northwest
25-Thekla (part of Dot to Dot Festival) Bristol, Southwest
26-Evolution-Baltic Stage Newcastle, Northeast
28-Rescue Rooms Nottingham, Midlands
29-Sound City @Barfly Liverpool, Northwest
30-Classic Grand Glasgow, Scotland
31-Wax On, Lotherton Hall Leeds, Northeast
~~~~~~JUNE~~~~~~~~
3&4-Soho Revue Theatre-SOLD OUT London, London and South East
5-Heaven London, London and South East
8-La Cigalle Paris, Ile-de-France (I WOULD KILL to be at this one!!!)
20-Sonar Festival Barcelona, Barcelona
~~~~~~JULY~~~~~~
5-Knebworth Park, Knebworth, England
18-Melt Festival outside of Berlin, Germany
19-Camp Bestival, Dorset, England
~~~~~~AUGUST~~~~~~
15-Ola Festival El Ejido, Almería, Sweden
A&E-Goldfrapp-(Hercules and the Love Affair Re-mix)
Hercules Theme-Hercules and the Love Affair.mp3
Hercules and the Love Affair Tags

a weekend of birthdays and upstate adventures

the ever so talented-Bertrand Salle
Two of my lovies are celebrating their birthdays tonight and in their honor i have made two song lists, each representing their incredibly unique personalities. Have a good weekend everyone.

*****For my Kerri Berri*****
Love-Alone.mp3
Santogold-I'm A Lady.mp3
Lykke Li-Dance Dance Dance.mp3
Cut Copy-Lights And Music(Moulinex Re~mix).mp3
Gossip-Listen Up (Live at KEXP).mp3 (*Fixed version)
Parts and Labor-Fractured Skies
The Teenagers-Feeling Better.mp3
Man Plus-A Ghost Is A Ghost Is A Ghost Is A Ghost.mp3

`~*`~'`For my JOrtzzzstarrr*`-*`~'
Beastie Boys-An Open Letter To NYC (Chew Fu Refix).mp3
M83-We Own The Sky (Maps Remix).mp3
Moby-Ooh Yeah.mp3
Santogold-Shove It.mp3
The Gossip - Listen Up! (MSTRKRFT Remix).mp3 (*Fixed Version*)
Lightspeed Champion-Everyone I Know Is Listening To Crunk.mp3

Strokes News!!!

yes yes...very very happy about this.
Thank you Product Shop and Todd!
The Strokes-Ask Me Anything.mp3
The Strokes-Take It Or Leave It.mp3
Detroit Cobras-Last Nite (Strokes cover).mp3
Arctic Monkeys-Take It Or Leave It(Strokes Cover).mp3
The Strokes Tags

Hot ChiP LiVe in-studio with KEXP @ 3 pM/Noon

The first time i saw them was during a KEXP in-studio, you do not want to miss. They will be incredible. TRUST.
Hot Chip-Out At The Pictures.mp3
Hot Chip-Made In The Dark.mp3
***not nearly as startling as the version they played on air-so definitely check out the archives!***
Hot Chip Tags

earth day IS everyday

act locally*think globally
Radiohead-Fake Plastic Trees.mp3
Willie Nelson-Rainbow Connection.mp3
The Foals-Big big Love fig. 2.mp3
The Dodos-Red Purple.mp3
Frightened Rabbit-The Twist.mp3

She & Him

Sadly their show for tonight was cancelled kids.
UPDATE: *This show has been rescheduled for TOMORROW NIGHT, Tuesday, April 22 and moved to Webster Hall. All tickets will be honored. Refunds available at point of purchase.* (Thanks MusicSlut)More tickets have been released via ticketmaster and at the door.
She and Him Tags

NEW My Morning Jacket and Wolf Parade

Awesome Poster Cred*
My Morning Jacket-Evil Urges.mp3
Wolf Parade-Call It A Ritual.mp3
Kissing the Beehive is due out June 17th and is sure to be one of the best albums of the year. There is something about Wolf Parade that just makes me completely fall in love. The Rawking Refuses to Stop has a preview of some more tracks as well.
Wolf Parade Tags

Happy Birthday Robert Smith

I never felt like this with anyone before
you show me colours and I'm crying
you hold my eyes in yours
and open up the world
i can't believe all of this

i want to keep this feeling
deep inside of me
i want you always in my heart
you are everything

The Cure-Japanese Dream.mp3
The Cure-Why Can't I Be You?.mp3
The Cure-Pictures of You (Extended Dub Mix).mp3

Since i already have two music-themed events to travel to this summer i will not be attending this even though it IS on my birthday and experiencing the new Black Keys album at Red Rocks is sure to be amazing. Check when tickets are going on sale! April 26th!
Black Keys-So He Won't Break.mp3
Black Keys-Things Ain't Like They Used To Be.mp3
Black Keys Tags
My Morning Jacket Tags

WANDERLUST -Bjork

enjoy.

`~Happy Record Store Day`~

Many a holiday are being celebrated this weekend and heading into next week: Passover, Earth Day and well of course, celebrate your Local Record Store Holiday! For those of you lucky enough to have a local Mom and Pop record store i sincerely hope you show them some lovins because i think it goes without saying that they have weathered the storm to still be kickin' it. I was asked my boss over at KEXP to share a local record store memory if i could and it was sad because i honestly didn't have one i thought was worthy enough to share. Growing up in the suburbs of Washington DC/Maryland area all we had were Tower Records stores. The closest thing to a fond memory i have to share would have been waking up at 6 AM in high school to wait in line to procure my annual WHFS'tival ticket. (my favorite radio station that is now defunct...)I did not have a fancy, modern CD player until i was 15 and the first vinyl i ever purchased on my own was Beastie Boys, Hello Nasty. So, I welcome you to check out some hilarious and heartwarming stories here. Brooklynvegan outlined all of the free events, discounts and giveaways going on in nYc area so if you are around please check them out for me, you can use a handy map that the NYtimes put together for you (*12 is my spot!!).

!!! Pre-sale going on now

here.
!!!-All My Heros Are Weirdos.mp3
!!!-Yadnus.mp3
!!! Tags.

She & Him

I am beyond excited for Tuesday night at Hiro Ballroom to see She and Him, otherwise known as M Ward and Zooey Deschanel. To tie me over I am sharing their session with Cheryl and some photos: Zooey and M Ward live @ KEXP Studios in Seattle. You have to be pretty hard-pressed to not enjoy Zooey's sly and luring voice. Their album is happily one of the best surprises so far for 2008 and definitely in my top ten. The New York Times enjoys them as well.
She and Him-Sweet Darlin.mp3
She and Him-You've Really Got A Hold On Me.mp3
She and Him-Control is Hard (Live at KEXP)
She and Him-Magic Trick (Live at KEXP)
She and Him-Bring it On Home to Me (Live at KEXP)

Crystal Castles - Crimewave Stop Animation Music Video

By now it is apparent that i am a HUGE fan of Crystal Castles as well as the homemade music video. Enjoy!

Please wear the face-the one where you smile because you *lighten* up my heart

British songbird Adele is returning to the city and performing at the Highline Ballroom on June 10th- tickets go on sale this Friday the 18th at 12:00 PM.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~TOUR DATES~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
18~Printemps De Bourges Festival @ Theatre de Poche-Bourges, France
23~St Davids Hall-Cardiff,Scotland
24~Tyne Theatre-Newcastle,Scotland SOLD OUT
26~Queen Hall-Edinburgh,Scotland SOLD OUT
28~Opera House-York,ENG SOLD OUT
30~Lowry-Manchester,ENG SOLD OUT
***MAY***
1~Corn Exchange-Cambridge,ENG SOLD OUT
3~Guildhall-Southampton,ENG SOLDOUT
4~Alexandra Theatre-Birmingham,ENG SOLD OUT
6 & 7~Shepherds Bush Empire-London,ENG SOLD OUT
16~Vicar Street-Dublin, Ireland
21~The Roxy Theatre-Los Angeles,CA
22~Bimbo’s 365 Club-San Francisco,CA
25~Red Room-Vancouver
27~Triple Door-Seattle,Washington
29~Mission Theater-Portland,Oregon
31~Martyr’s-Chicago,IL
***JUNE***
2~Theatre De La Jeune Lune-Minneapolis, Minnesota
6~Queen Elizabeth Theatre-Toronto
7~Outremont Theatre-Montreal
10~Highline Ballroom- nYc,NY
13~Bonnaroo Music Festival-Manchester,Tennessee
15~World Cafe Live-(WXPN Studios-Philadelphia,PA
17~Sixth & I Historic Synagogue-Seattle,Washington
21~Fox Theatre Boulder,Colorado
27~La Cigale-Paris,FRANCE
***JULY***
6~Rock Werchter-Belgium
12~Montreux Jazz Festival-Montreux
Adele-First Love.mp3
Adele-Right As Rain.mp3
Adele-My Same.mp3
Adele Tags

i put some whiskey in my whiskey

Felice Brothers played Bowery Ballroom on Saturday night. Eric and i attended in fashion. Meaning he wore his typical urban mountain man gear and i drank Makers Mark. Together we loved every single sweat saturated second of Simone prancing around on stage, banjo picking, washboard grating, guitar squealing, accordion bleeding, drum bashing element that is the Felice Brothers. Review to come but please check out Prefix Magazine's beautiful black and white shots. (*Thanks Jaime*)

Felice Brothes-Frankie's Gun.mp3
Felice Brothers-Love Me Tenderly.mp3
Felice Brothers-Wonderful Life.mp3

The Mary Onettes are coming to the States!

The Mary Onettes hail from the land of Sweden where the air is clean and pop songs flow like water. Or at least so it would seem. I have been infatuated with the track Lost for some time now and am excited to list some dates for you to check out below. If you love The Cure as much as i do then you should definitely give your ears a chance to check them out.
~~~~~~~The Mary Onettes TOUR DATES~~~~~~~
7*Vertigos-Los Angeles, California
8*Popscene-San Francisco, California
9*Satellite Lounge-Reno, Nevada
10*Sunset Tavern-Seattle, Washington
12*Hi Dive-Denver, Colorado
13*Recordbar-Kansas, Missouri
14*The Bluebird-St Louis, Missouri
15*Beat Kitchen-Chicago, IL
16*My Old Kentucky Blog @ Radio Radio-Indianapolis, Indiana
21*DC9-Washington, DC
23*Union Hall Brooklyn, NY
24*Middle East-Boston, MA
30*Primavera Sound-Barcelona
The Mary Onettes-Lost.mp3

End of Week!

`~*.Slumber Party.~*`Vice sTyLe`~'
It is supposed to rain on our little town all weekend which means i will be snuggling with my friends college style. Oh yeah...that means breaking out the futon. It IS the weekend though and so this means dance pArTy! Have a good one kiddies!
Amp Live-Video Tapez (Radiohead Re-mix.mp3
Amp Live-Weird Fishez (Radiohead Re-mix).mp3
Matt and Kim-It's A Fact (Mano Remix ft. Hollywood Holt)
Ladytron-Black Cat.mp3
Marsheaux-City On Lights.mp3
Marie Moor-Pretty Day.mp3
The Kills-Cheap and Cheerful.mp3
Avalanches-Ray of Zdarlight.mp3
Yelle-Ce Jeu.mp3

Meowskers show tonight

Meowskers are friends with The Terrordactyls and therefore a friend of mine. If you do not have plans~
Meowskers-Colors That Lie.mp3

Throw Me A Statue

I was sad to have missed this band from Seattle last night as they passed through town and played at the Mercury Lounge. Sometimes my old lady bones need a rest. Lucky for me they stopped by WOXY and recorded a rather fancy performance. Thank you interweb and radio magic.
Throw Me The Statue-Live on WOXY.mp3

Green with EnVy*

I started writing this post a week after the festivities and decided that even this show took place a bit ago it is definitely worthy of a reading...so please forgive timeline and put yourself back in March for a moment...

As a little girl and the youngest of two children i was raised to not ask for too much and always think of others. However human nature sometimes falls into play and you become slightly jealous of others as you grow up. Needless to say i am incredibly jealous of everyone i know who was able to make it to SXSW. Granted I am not a hot weather type of gal. I would have had to drink massive amounts of coffee and mountain dew to muster through seeing all of the shows i would have wanted to check out..and the most difficult of all tasks I would have had to try very hard NOT to be shy. Which i am. Most of the time. That being said I still would have loved to experience the musical haven that is Austin, particularly during SXSW. Last night Jaime and i trucked down to Bowery Ballroom to check out Emmy the Great and The Pigeon Detectives, equally excited for both of these UK exports. It is a ballsy move to name a band with your name and 'great' especially at the age of 24. If anyone can pull it off with grace and sophistication it is Emma Lee Moss and company.

Armed with incredible emotion and depth she sings with angst about relationships and love reaching far beyond her years of experience. Comfortable in front of a room half full with people shuffling closer and closer to hear her words she joked about how the creators of SXSW had a randy sense of humour, picking for her to perform on a bill with her ex-boyfriend out of 600 bands. While most of her songs are girlish confessions about ill-witted and fitted ex's they ring sweetly of youthful love instead of bitter resentment. Like Kate Nash, Lily Allen, Florence and the Machine and Adele, Emmy represents her country and herself with class and intelligence, so boys watch out! I will definitely be checking in with friends to see how she fares amongst the industry beasts.

This photo captures this bands' experience PERFECTLY-thank you: Emile Holba
Recently i received a comment about my overall music taste and how it is well...'pop'ish.' I immediately crinkled my nose in ultimate disgust and was stunned into silence. It is not that i consider myself a music expert, far from it! I am constantly learning about music, old and new and confess openly to not being able to carry a tune or a play an instrument, however i feel that i consider myself knowledgeable enough to recommend something to a friend or co-worker with enough vigour and strength that they will be compelled to enjoy it if not overwhelmingly convinced. Half way through the The Pigeon Detective's set it occurred to me that yes, my taste might indeed be 'popular.' Which might not be such a bad thing. Music trends as of late have taken a turn towards favoring indie and alternative music markets with Vampire Weekend not only taking over SNL but the whole of MTV. Radiohead cleaned up with it's latest release and has already been selling out tour dates left and right. Apple and Zune commercials cleverly arm themselves with songs by CSS, The Shins and The Fratellis in turn saturating radio stations with these otherwise 'little' bands. This past weekend Yeasayer and MGMT were praised with keeping the Brooklyn music scene alive causing sneering bloggers and local hipsters to laugh at The New York Times for their up-to-date reporting on our thriving music scene, something we have all been hip to for a while now, even if we try actively to avoid the hype. The Pigeon Detectives have yet to make a splash within the states. For the most part when i told my friends i was heading out to see their show they responded with a 'who' or a 'damn those indie bands and their names these days!' Yes...yes...it is another odd name but their music is rambunctious and loud, two things I LOVE from my british bands. Swinging, failing, tossing the microphone, stage diving into the audience, their lead singer Matt Bowman has obviously spent a lot of time in front of a mirror playing at being a rock star. Hello Matt, you are well on your way. Oliver Main, Ryan Wilson, Dave Best and drummer Jimmi Naylor back him up with perfection and style. The sold out audience was loving every sweat-soaked second Bowman delivered. So if pop music is just another term for what is popular then yes, i do indeed have popular taste---i am just residing on the incorrect continent to do so.
Emmy The Great-Two Steps Forward(live).mp3
Emmy The Great-MIA.mp3
Emmy The Great-Canopies and Grapes.mp3 (*my favorite*)
Emmy The Great-The Hypnotists Son.mp3 (last one-i LOVE this one as well)
Emmy the Great
Pigeon Detectives

And all the sudden it IS sPriNg!

And what a better way to celebrate than with some incredibly endearing new music from one of my favorite local bands, Takka Takka. The perfect soundtrack for when the sidewalks of New York become sun kissed and everyone and every thing all the sudden seems overwhelmingly pleasant. Fall is by far my favorite season and will always have my heart but there is nothing like springtime in the city. Everything is just beautiful, just like Takka Takka's upcoming album, Migration. Unabashedly honest and streaming with emotion it is experimental and seductive. Bubbling along slowly and softly the effect is quieting and calming. Spring is a time for innocence, love, re-birth and discovery and with Migration Takka Takka is effervescent and precious. Stay tuned for album release details and such and until then catch them live!
~~~~~~~~~Upcoming Shows~~~~~~~~
18-Troy, NY | Positively 4th Street. With Dave Godowsky. 9pm.
19-Northampton, MA | The Basement. With Dave Godowsky. 9pm.
25-New York, NY | WBAR-B-Q. Barnard College. With Crystal Stilts, Les Sans Culottes, others. 5pm.
**tracks removed upon artists' request**
Takka Takka Tags

Shackeltons on KEXP Today

At 12:oo PM / 3:00 PM (East coast time). Tune in...you know i love them!
Shackeltons Tags

My care for you is such that...

The cleverly talented Bao
Hot Chip. hOt CHip. What to say about a band that encompasses every thing that has been lacking in danceable rock/pop music since Depeche Mode and Erasure were THE hip beats on the scene. I had not seen their live show since they played at Webster Hall and was sad at how dull and flat they seemed on a large stage after being spoiled by their intimate in-studio during CMJ 2006 with KEXP. Seeing them Tuesday night was watching a new band. Their sound has evolved into this overwhelming presence both on a visual and audio level. Boy From School is still my favorite song of theirs, to me it is seamless. Breaking it out as their second song in i was completely sold for the night. Even in the midst of a rabid dance party of sweaty Williamsburg hipsters the lyrics "Every time that we walk the streets, i try my best to keep up with the beat you're every thing that i never could keep" were golden with anguish and sincerity. Alexis Taylor croons with such purposeful dedication while simultaneously shaking an egg beater or pounding on the drums or banging on the keyboard...Monopolizing on percussion and rhythm the subtle whistling in the background reminds me of those classic 80s tracks from Phil Collins or Paul Simon. Then Taylor takes it up a notch urging the audience to chime in with clapping bringing a circular sound to the room while you find yourself swallowed alive by their hungry rhythm. Since touring with LCD Soundsystem Al Doyle is a force to be reckoned with and the whole room vibrated with his abusive fresh skills. Hot Chip is a first and foremost a dance party but their potent lyrics and virile musicians place them well ahead of most bands that try to mimic what they have been doing for the past eight years---making brilliant records and continuing to fine-tune their live show.
Hot Chip-Shake A Fist.mp3
Hot Chip-We're Looking For A Lot Of Love.mp3
Hot Chip Tags

Holy heck...new Annuals

Listening to John's show this morning i was completely blown away by the new Annuals track, Sore off of their upcoming EP, Wet Zoo (being released on Canvasback Music). Their first album, Brother was one of my favorite debuts from 2006 and it sounds like they have grown by leaps and bounds and are set to attack our ears at full force.
Annuals-Sore.mp3
Annuals Tags

When i first met you girl, you were ELECTRIC darlin'*

The last time i wrote about a band with the name Vampire in it they became so big that even the New York Times had to make a pretty little bar graph to chart their predicted success for 2008:

Not as clever as Pie Chart...
Now i am not saying that Vampire Hands are the new Vampire Weekend-but i have been enjoying their skills as of late. Springing forth from Minneapolis and currently touring and touting their new album, Me and You Cherry Red they are supporting Tapes n' Tapes on a few of their upcoming dates including their engagement at Filmore/Irving Pit on the 18th and in Williamsburg at the Music Hall on the 19th.
They sound muffled and confined, as though they recorded their LP in the garage of your next door neighbor which i find highly endearing. That and i am a sucker for anything with Vampire attached to the title. Definitely be sure to check them out!

*************VAMPIRE HANDS TOUR DATES****************
9-Carabar-Columbus, Ohio 10-The Davenport-Parma Heights, Ohio
11-Club Midway-New York, New York 12-ATM HOUSE-Philladelphia, Pennsylvania
13-The Spazzatorium Galleria-Greenville, North Carolina
14-The Oasis-New London, Connecticut 15-Glasslands Gallery (Williamsburg)-NYC
16-Velvet Lounge-Washington DC
18-Fillmore New York-Irving Plaza with Tapes n' Tapes and White Denim New York, New York
19-The Williamsburg Music Hall w/ Tapes n' Tapes and White Denim New York, New York
20-The Birdhouse-Knoxville,TN 21-Camp Concentration-St. Louis, MI
22-Replay Lounge-Lawrence, Kansas 23-The Hi-Dive-Denver,CO
25-The Echo Curio-Echo Park, CA 26-Dam Haus-Davis, CA
27-A House-Oakland, CA 28-The Mansion-San Francisco, CA
29-Lewis and Clark College-Portland, Oregon 30-A House-Portland, Oregon
May 1-Le Voyeur Olympia, Washington 2-The Vera Project-Seattle, Washington
3-The Badlander-Missoula, Montana 7-7th Street with Dead Meadow & First Communion After Party-Minneapolis, Minnesota
Vampire Hands-Statuette.mp3
Vampire Hands-Wolf Skin Pose.mp3
Vampire Weekend Tags

Hands down, I'm too proud for Love

Lykke Li was on the top of my list of artists to check out had i made my way down for SXSW. Her songs are simple, sweet little lullabies and tempered fits of affection. I am not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination but i do love to turn on my ipoddy and dance to A Little Bit. Cheeky and flashy it is just what i need to put some bounce in my step. Be forewarned, most of her songs will stick with you even after just one listen. She has that certain delicate lit to her voice much like Kate Bush that has a particular way of haunting your eardrums. Lykke Li will be visiting our city on May 8th with fellow Swedish chanteuse El Perro Del Mar, you can grab tickets here.
Lykke Li-Complaint Department.mp3
Lykke Li-Tonight.mp3

Extremely LOUD and Incredibly CLOSE...to you...

music is my beach house
I sadly realized tonight that my lil blog is over one year old and i completely missed her birthday! There have been many a day where i sought solace and comfort in my site-finding her to be the highlight of my day. Silly but true. I had often thought about starting my own blog but was always daunted by how many writers there already were on the scene and what would i have to say that would be any different than what anyone else was saying... It was not until I went to see Elvis Perkins for the first time and checked some of my favorite fellow concert goers pages and saw that NO ONE had written about my beloved. How could this be possible?! And so...i grew enough nerve and decided that it didn't matter if no one read it, or even if people did- i had artists i WANTED to write about and music i desperately wanted to share. It led me to places i never dreamed i could go-working with some of the best people in the business and i could not be happier for making the jump. Sometimes i bully Jaime into writing for me and every now and again my dearest sister reports in about the DC/Annapolis/Baltimore music scene when she isn't out and about saving the world, or at least trying to make it a better place. I truly with my whole entire heart believe that music unites, saves, inspires and creates love and every one's lives would be at a loss without it. In every single culture and even species there is some form of music. It makes our world a smaller and closer community and i think we could all use to remember that every now and again. So if you have enjoyed even the most minuscule of my ramblings i thank you.
Taken Too Young.mp3
The Strokes-Alone Together.mp3

We stand worlds apart

The Dodos are ablaze with energy and sound. I however am not due to a chest infection...hence this review being posted a little bit after the fact. If they are making their way to your town you should DEFINITELY check them out. They will be back in the city for Siren Festival 2008! Loved...and it would be easy to say it is because they sound like a band who dreams in the world of Animal Collective and lives their days in the world of the White Stripes. Mainly it was because during their set i was able to completely relax and enjoy wherever their songs happened to take me. I was genuinely impressed by Meric Long and Logan Kroeber and their ability to muster such energy on a late Sunday night, though it was incredibly hard to see them and their third band mate behind the sold out masses. Their set was full of light and spacious lullabies. It was enchanting and beautiful. Then they would strike out with a bluesy, tangled, messy ensemble of sliced lyrics that made the real rock lover in me incredibly happy. It was a peaceful meeting of the minds in my own heart--the bit of me that delights in simple, sweet, flowing melodies and the bit of me that loves loud, rough grooves and wailing guitars. Although they may only have one album, Visiter- these two young ones stretch their songs well beyond the definition of a 'young band starting out.'
The Dodos-Bob.mp3
The Dodos-Fools.mp3
Dodos

Muxtape-com'on-sport your *sKilLz*

Crystal Castles insanity by the magically talented Bao Nguyen
Making a mixed tape or if you want to be FaNcy* and MOdErN...a mixed cd for someone is 50% about yourself and 50% about the recipient of your time and affection. At least that is how it usually is when i take the time to make someone a cd and hence why when i finally hand it over it is with much hesitation and embarrassment because it is a bit of me baring my soul. No joke. I spend hours putting together compilations thinking about how i hope someone notices the same specific lyric that captured my attention and admiration or if they will notice how awesome it is when that beat drops that makes me dance like there is no tomorrow. Music is terribly personal and sharing it is something you should do daily with those you love. Earlier this week my friend Ariel passed along the website Muxtape which posts compilations created by people who also test their skills at pasting together the perfect melodic set. So to head into your weekend here is a mini-set chocked full of some fun stuff to groove to. It is J'slicks' birthday celebration so i had to at least put something together for him! HAPPPPYYY BIRTHDAY JAIME!
Fuck Buttons-Sweet Love for Planet.mp3
Crystal Castles-Crimewave.mp3
Hercules and Love Affair-Blind.mp3
Crystal Castles-Courtship Date.mp3
Lykke Li-I'm Good I'm Gone.mp3
Crystal Castles-Good Time.mp3
Apache Beat-Tropics-CFCF-remix.mp3
The Ting Tings-Great DJ.mp3
Solid Gold-Who You Gonna Run To.mp3
And yes...i have crashed painfully hard for Crystal Castles, they are soooo good, check out my review of their performance during FRICTION for my other love, KEXP here if you would like.

Important shows on sale TODAY @ 12!

Your friendly neighborhood Possum wishes you a HAPPY FRIDAY!
Morning little music lovers while you are (hopefully) listening to KEXP blasting the Voom Blooms or reading the announced Lolla line up don't forget to snag a post-it note and make a message to remind yourself to purchase tickets to the Raconteurs for their show at Terminal 5 on May 31st here. For those of you outside of nYc you can find tickets to the rest of their nationally scheduled dates as well. One of my favorite bands i have yet to see, the Toadies are playing Bowery Ballroom on June 26th. Grab those tickets here at 12:oo PM! Savy?!
Toadies-Possum Kingdom.mp3
The Raconteurs-Rich Kid Blues.mp3
The Raconteurs-Old Enough.mp3
The Raconteurs-Teenage Kicks.mp3
*The Raconteurs chose to cover this track orginially by The Undertones for the BBC's 40th anniversary last year. It was also the legendary John Peel's all-time favorite song.

The Toadies Tags
The Raconteurs Tags

Bette Davis was born 100 years ago today

If there is one thing my mum did right it was my classical education in film. Mainly the introduction of true female movie stars and real scripts into my life at an impressionable age. I knew who Bette Davis, Audrey Hepburn, and Vivien Leigh, were way before I knew Jem or the Smurfs. Trips to the local video store found me begging my Dad to let me rent Gone With the Wind for the millionth time...or Gigi. It wasn't until i was older that i realized Scarlett O'Hara was a bit of a husband stealer or that Gigi was a young girl basically being trained for things that are not the most lady like-at which point in time i changed the object of my affection to Audrey Hepburn and have been loyal to her ever since. But i never forgot Bette...vivacious, dangerous, sharp witted and confident. Her performance in All About Eve was deliciously decadent on every level. It was and is still my favorite of all her performances. New York Times reporter, Terrence Rafferty states it best in a fabulously affectionate article about the late and the great, Bette Davis could make you see red in black and white. There will never be another like her and for that you should at least take this opportunity to remember her talent and maybe netflix a film or two.

I believe you could be what i need to believe

Friday night was my premiere rendez~vous with the one of the most treasured landmarks of New York City, the Museum of Natural History. The occasion that finally forced me to venture into the monolithic building was to dance out my demons. Sad, but true. Completely outside of my nature as a blatant belligerent science loving geek I had never taken the time to check out the museum (but with the admission to any of the Flavorpill events you can go back for free!!) and that being said i am definitely heading back sometime soon within the upcoming weeks. Hello-can we say Velociraptor in the entry way! Seriously folks...Attending an electronic/dance duo in a Museum packed with all of my favorite things, mummies, asteroids, explanations of DEATH STARS, a butterfly garden and well, my first love...DINOSAURS, i could not have been more in my element. Fully planning on seeing Simian Mobile Disco during their CMJ performance at Music Hall of Williamsburg I stupidly opted out to try and do the 'right' thing and attend a show for work reasons...which Jaime will never let me live down. So needless to say i was overjoyed at the news that they were making their way over to our little city again. Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release is an album stacked with deliciously mixed track after track and i had heard that their live performances were a sight to behold. Unfortunately the overall layout of the event itself could use some tweaking, i was separated from most of my friends within the first ten minutes, but the sound was crystal clear and the ambiance could not have been more custom made for this eclectic duo. Swiftly moving from track to track i became more excited for each upcoming surprise as the set progressed. Sadly they did not play Hot Dog or Love but a heavy rendition of Hustler completely topped off the event. After a viciously emotionally draining week it was exactly what this lady needed...that and a friendly neighborhood dinosaur.
Simian Mobile Disco-I Believe.mp3
Simian Mobile Disco-Sleep Deprivation.mp3
Simian Mobile Disco-Hustler.mp3
Simian Mobile Disco Tags

To end the longest of days

Ever since i was little i have sought and taken complete comfort in words. Snuggling into them like crinkled covers or the lap of my Gran there are books, poems, letters, films and of course songs that i have re-visited and lavished more attention upon than some of my actual relationships. This confession might seem sad to some, but i think it has worked out well for me in the long run and those who i am fortunate enough to have love me in my life swallow this aspect about me like a well dosed grain of salt and accept me for the awkward being i truly am. When faced with new encounters, jobs, interviews, or random daily happenings i often am found standing politely yet silently in the nearest nook i can find and more often than not daydreaming about the latest tune i am rolling around in my head. Recently i was lucky enough to spend a brief but brilliant amount of time with someone who i feel has changed my life in ways that only a special few could ever do. Coinciding with this radiance i came into understanding about Bon Iver. I have been listening to him since October and of course was a fan early on of the hauntingly sparse 'Skinny Love' but it is only recently that i subsided to the simple beauty of his album entitled - For Emma, Forever Ago. Half jokingly half out of seriousness i texted one of my nearest and dearest whilst waiting under an umbrella in the rain for a late dining companion exclaiming, 'someone needs to take my bon iver away from me!'...because my addiction had reached certain levels where i felt it was/is becoming unhealthy. And so, with this, i provide you the mp3 of his live performance during SXSW...via KEXP and NPR. If you do not immediately embrace it for its elegance and grace then try and imagine saying goodbye to someone you do not even know how to describe in words let alone emotion how much you are even going to begin to miss them...
Bon Iver Live @ KEXP/NPR/SxSw.mp3
Bon Iver Tags

Adele News...

Because Eric and I love her and you should as well...
so i signed with Columbia Records in the states a couple of weeks ago, which means the ball can get rolling now...

im coming back over the pond after my next U.K tour to do a north amerian one, starting at the end of may and going through till the end of june. to go alongside the release of my album. HOWEVER, the album will be available digitally on itunes before this. from APRIL 8th!! The actual CD release will come during/after the tour, because i cant be back in the U.S for nearly another 2 months to work a full blown release. And i want as many of you as possible who already know about me to get your hands on the album before then, without having to pay the shipping costs like i know some of you have done.

when i first do a show somewhere for the first time its a stripped back/acoustic affair, so most of the tour will be this, in smallish intimate places. Ive just done some shows in new york, l.a and canada - my band will be with me when i come back there.

the dates are all getting confirmed and all that over the next few days, then ill put them up!

again thanks for having me over the last couple of weeks, and thankyou so much for making my first shows and first proper visit a laugh!!

looking forward to the next leg of it..

adele
xxxx
Adele Tags