Arctic Monkeys Album Release TOMORROW!

I can hardly wait...might even trek over to Virgin at midnight. Hey, i love them. Apparently so does the New York Times:


ARCTIC MONKEYS
“Favourite Worst Nightmare”
(Domino)

"The cynicism is as barbed as the guitar riffs on Arctic Monkeys’ second album, “Favourite Worst Nightmare,” and the guitar riffs bristle. Their 2006 debut album, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,” rode an Internet buzz fueled by the band’s giving away its songs before release, but the momentum came from the songs themselves. Arctic Monkeys arrived amid a wave of English bands that were rediscovering the terse melodies and hurtling, hard-nosed narratives of new-wave rock. They weren’t the first, but they were among the most musically gifted, with two guitarists (Alex Turner and Jamie Cook) who spar and mesh with constant tension and a rhythm section (Andy Nicholson on bass and Matt Helders on drums) that swings as it drives the music.

In the time between albums Arctic Monkeys have shifted their perspective from the nightlife, gigs, booze and flirtations of their debut album to a more encompassing disillusionment and sense of betrayal. “We’re forever unfulfilled, and can’t think why,” the band declares in “This House Is a Circus.”

Mr. Turner’s lyrics are so tightly packed that he sometimes delivers them as fast as a rapper. In the rush of rhymes, nearly everyone and everything is a cheat: lovers, hustlers, tabloid media, even nostalgic memories. “Balaclava” and “The Bad Thing” are pickups with a bad conscience from the start; “Do Me a Favour” focuses on the moment of a breakup. “Fluorescent Adolescent” mourns the way lust wanes — “Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness/Landed in a very common crisis” — while “If You Were There, Beware,” denounces the way reporters exploit suffering: “Can’t you sense she was never meant to fill column inches.”

The new songs are more melodic and even more meticulous than before. Arctic Monkeys have almost ruled out standard punk strumming. Instead they have zeroed in on the counterpoint of the two guitars, neatly separated on left and right channels and clawing fiercely at each other. The songs take pride in that bitter clarity."
-JON PARELES

Brianstorm.mp3

Arctic Monkeys to stop by World Cafe Live

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The World Cafe will broadcasting a live in-studio sit down session with those friendly Arctic Monkeys on Thursday, August 2nd. You can check it out via their website or through local Philadelphia station WXPN- SUPPORT LOCAL RADIO! I am hoping they play '505' or "Florescent Adolescent' for i am seriously addicted to both. Seriously-need my daily dosage or things get a bit sloshy...not pretty.
Arctic Monkeys-Fluorescent Adolescent.mp3
Arctic Monkeys-505.mp3
Arctic Monkeys Tags

Last week...Arctic Monkeys

I went to see the Arctic Monkeys play Central Park. As always it was an killer show which i wrote about for my beloved KEXP. You can check it out here if you would like, as long as the rest of the bands and events posted on their blog (updated daily!). I also invite you to check out Dan's photographs. They are rather fantastic.

The Arctic Monkeys- The Bakery (B-Side).mp3
Arctic Monkeys Tags
KEXP Tags

Arctic Monkeys announce mini-US Tour-Maps add Mercury Lounge Date

Cred
Including another stop in nYc...very exciting. Just off the announcement of their nomination for this year's Mercury Prize they will be returning to the states for a short while. Tickets for their show on September 5th with The Coral at Rumsey Playfield go on sale this Friday at Noon. As we have said before Arctic Monkeys put on quite a show, their albums are spectacularly solid and well...we are a bit crazy for them. Enjoy!
-Arctic Monkeys Tour Dates -
Sep 5 - Rumsey Playfield, NYC
Sep 8 - Virgin Festival, Toronto
Sep 9 - Osheaga Festival, Montreal
Sep 15 - Austin City Limits, Austin, TX
Sep 16 - The Palladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX
Sep 18 - House of Blues, New Orleans, LA
Sep 29 - WaMu Theater, SEattle, WA
Arctic Monkeys Tags

My recent love for Maps seems to have come at an apt time. I am very excited for the announcement of their added nYc date at the Mercury Lounge on September 28th. As previously posted, here are all their upcoming tour dates:

Maps-Tour Dates
Sat 09/22 - Seattle, WA KEXP Benefit – Crocodile Cafe w/ Jamie T and Vampire Weekend (Tickets *On Sale Friday-At Noon*)
Mon 09/24 - San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill
Wed 09/26 - Los Angeles, CA Spaceland (presented by KCRW)
Fri 09/28 - New York, NY Mercury Lounge
Sat 09/29 - Brooklyn, NY Luna Lounge (Tickets)
Maps Tags

Mercury Prize Nominees Announced

Wow...this is quite the list! Hopefully this will help to spread the love for Maps, Bat for Lashes, and New Young Pony Club on this side of the pond. There have been so many brilliant albums to come out of the UK this year, should make for an interesting outcome! The winner shall be announced in September during a reception at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.
****Nominees****
Arctic Monkeys - 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'
Klaxons - 'Myths Of The Near Future'
Amy Winehouse - 'Back To Black'
Maps - 'We Can Create'
The View - 'Hats Off To The Buskers'
Jamie T - 'Panic Prevention'
Dizzee Rascal - 'Maths & English'
Bat For Lashes - 'Fur And Gold'
Young Knives - 'Voices of Animals And Men'
Fionn Regan - 'The End Of History'
New Young Pony Club - 'Fantastic Playroom'
Basquiat Strings - 'Basquiat Strings'
Maps-You Don't Know Her Name.mp3
Bat for Lashes-Horse and I.mp3
New Young Pony Club-Ice Cream (Herve Goes Bananas Remix).mp3
Arctic Monkeys-Teddy Picker.mp3
Klaxons- Hall Of Records.mp3
Dizzee Rascal-Paranoid.mp3
Amy Winehouse-Just Friends.mp3

London vs. New York

It seems our two lovely cities are constantly in competition. Recently England has given us New Yorkers a few reasons to envy their musical scene that ceases to let up: Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Jaime T, The Klaxons, (new) Razorlight (album), The Pipettes, Emmy the Great, Kate Nash, Noah and the Whale, and (new) Arctic Monkeys (album). Those clever schemers over at Domino Records are celebrating their 13th anniversary with an art exhibit titled "The Art of Domino Records." The exhibit will showcase vinyl addition album covers from the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Junior Boys, Josef K, Lou Barlow and more. The Vinyl Art Gallery in East London is sure to attract avid music fans from April 5th until the 18th.

The Art Vinyl Gallery, 20 Broadway Market , London E8 4PH
Opening Hours: Thursday to Sunday 11:00 – 18:00
Easy Access Tube : Bethnal Green (Central Line) Bus : 254,106,55,48,26,D6,394
More information :T:0207 241 4129E: info@artvinyl.com www.artvinyl.com

Earth Friendly Rock Stars

Al Gore is not the only one currently out on the road promoting ideas about how to live a sustainable lifestyle. Turns out Guster has teamed up with the environmental action group Reverb during their second annual Campus Consciousness Tour. Reverb Rock aims to inspire students to become more involved and activate ecofriendly actions on their campuses the tour will start on March 28th in Winston-Salem, NC at Wake Forest University. Jonny Lives! leading man Jonny Dubowsky is taking his Rock N Renew educational series out on tour with his band. More bands should take note! Green is the way to go! Did anyone else notice the donation during the Arctic Monkeys ticket sales for their upcoming US tour?

Also deserving of attention: Additional Information:
Optional Charitable Donation: Arctic Monkeys would like to give you the option of donating $1.00 to Common Ground Collective to aid Hurricane Katrina survivors (www.commongroundrelief.org). They still need our help. Your generosity is greatly appreciated."

Arctic Monkeys Cover

Thank you to Musecology for posting this kickin' cover by the Arctic Monkeys. I must say, The Strokes are top five of my most BELOVED bands and they do a rather decent job covering 'Take It Or Leave It' which is usually the boys trademarker show closing chant. I am always so sad when i hear Julian announce, "Thank you guys, and this one is "Take It Or Leave It" because i know that means no more Strokes for me! I think Albert, Julian, Nick, Fab and Nikolia would be quite happy if they check this out.
Take It Or Leave It.mp3

Arctic Monkeys UK Chart Success

The lads seem to be doing swell thus far, interesting to see how the album takes here.

"Arctic Monkeys are set to have multiple chart entries on the singles charts, due to changes in the chart. As previously reported, changes in the singles chart allowed any song purchased online to be counted towards the rundown. According to the midweek chart, the band are not only at Number Five with officially released single 'Brianstorm' but the entirety of their second album 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' has entered the singles chart's top 150.


The band are at Number 47 with 'Fluorescent Adolescent', at Number 57 with '505', Number 63 with 'Teddy Picker', Number 64 with 'Balaclava', Number 67 with 'D Is For Dangerous', Number 70 with 'Old Yellow Bricks', Number 71 with 'This House Is A Circus', Number 72 with 'Do Me A Favour', Number 74 with 'Only Ones Who Know', Number 77 with 'The Bad Thing', Number 78 with 'Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend' and Number 114 with 'If You Were There, Beware'.

The band are also set to top the album charts with 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' knocking Avril Lavigne's The Best Damn Thing' off the top spot." -NME

Come on boys, muscle up- knock off that Avril Lavigne! You can do it!
D Is For Dangerous.mp3

Exactly where these boys SHOULD be

"Arctic Monkeys crashed into the U.K. album chart at No. 1 yesterday (April 29) with their sophomore effort "Favorite Worst Nightmare" (Domino), as all 12 tracks on it placed inside the top 200 of the singles chart. Beyonce and Shakira's "Beautiful Liar" (Columbia) started a second week atop that list. The Monkeys' album comfortably out sold all the competition to become their second chart-topping album, following "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" in January 2006. Mark Ronson's "Version" (Columbia) stayed at No. 2 behind the new set as last week's bestseller, Avril Lavigne's "Best Damn Thing" (RCA) fell to No. 3. Beyonce's augmented version of "B'day" (Columbia), repromoted and now including the No. 1 single with Shakira, reappeared at No. 8." -Thank you BillboardMag.
505.mp3

20-10

As of this year this blog is three years old. THREE YEARS OLD. My first year I hit it out of the ballpark so to say. I wrote almost everyday. I was picked up and asked to write for my very favorite thing people in all of the music industry. My roommate would download songs she liked and we would dance around my apartment. Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, LCD Soundsystem and The Rapture all toured that year. I discovered Basia Bulat, Ghostland Observatory, Midlake, Cold War Kids, Florence and the Machine, Lykke Li and I became...ahem, a 'critic.' My second year I got a real job and learned some real lessons and it was more difficult for me to write time-wise. Then it became more difficult for me to write on an emotional level. I have never had writers block. This is new to me. Like most bloggers I write like I talk and blogging is writing out into the void. If you can't writer for yourself, who can you write for? No one apparently. This year is a whole new story. I love music. I do. No matter how many people try to beat it out of me it is not going to happen. I am excited for this year. Some great things are about to happen, i just know it. And so, I will write. I will write and post as though I never have before. Like it is 2007 all over again. I promise. This is my first post. Mountain Man is a band from Vermont. Give them a second to work their way into your bloodstream. It is soothing and warm and delightful for fighting off the cold winter air. They will be at SXSW so keep your ears open. This video was filmed during a recent show in Greenpoint and I am so sad I missed it! Ray Concepcion has become one of my favorite new videographers to watch. His color palete is pleasing and reminds me of scratchy lithographs. Which is neat. Check out his vimeo here.

Mountain Man from Ray Concepcioñ on Vimeo.

*Mountain Man's Myspace
*Mountain Man's Website
*My Old Kentucky Blog has some of their Mp3's for Download

Songs I annoyed my co-workers with this year

Today is not only the day of posting my end of the year lists, it is also my last day at a company where i learned so many important life lessons- one of which is how to blast KEXP as loud as possible and how to break people down enough to the point where they love what you do. Hey- it is New York, tough love is how we roll here. Plus, change is good!

1.LCD Soundsystem-Someone Great.mp3

the rest i cannot possibly rank...so here it goes:

White Stripes-Little Cream Soda.mp3
Yeasayer-Final Path.mp3
Band of Horses-No Ones Gonna Love You.mp3
Justice-D.A.N.C.E..mp3
Digitalism-Pogo.mp3
Tegan and Sara-Nineteen.mp3
!!!-Heart Of Hearts.mp3
The Thermals-A Pillar Of Salt.mp3
Burial-Archangel.mp3
Blitzen Trapper-Wild Mountain Nation.mp3
Bon Iver-Skinny Love.mp3
Arctic Monkeys-505.mp3
Arcade Fire-Neon Bible.mp3
The National-Slow Show.mp3
F&M-Collarbone.mp3
Feist-I Feel It All.mp3
Flight of the Conchords-Hiphopopotamus Vs. The Rhymenoceros.mp3
Great Lake Swimmers-I am Part of a Large Family.mp3
M.I.A.-Paper Planes.mp3
MGMT-Electric Feel.mp3
Mexican Institute of Sound-El Microfono.mp3

so many others I could/should list...but i am running out the door so i am leaving you with my theme song...
CSS-Music Is My Hot Hot Sex.mp3

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Michael Jackson-Thriller Cover.mp3
Zombie Ghost Train-Graveyard Queen.mp3
Vampire Weekend-A-Punk.mp3
Band of Thieves-Woman.mp3
Arctic Monkeys-If You Were There, Beware.mp3
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead-Witches Web.mp3
A Place To Bury Strangers-To Fix The Gash In Your Head.mp3
Animal Collective-Fickle Cycle.mp3
Bat For Lashes-The Wizard.mp3
Birdmonster-No Midnight (live acoustic).mp3
Black Lips-Cold Hands.mp3
Aphex Twin-Logon Rock Witch.mp3
Born Ruffians-Knife (Cover).mp3
Cat Power-Werewolf.mp3
Cemetry Love Club-Cold Cold Heart.mp3
Chills-Pink Frost.mp3
Creature-Pop Culture.mp3
Wax Fang-New Violence.mp3

Glastonbury Festival Wrap-Up

Lily Allen
As previously posted, head over to NME for headlines about almost every band that played. Highlights included Arctic Monkeys, CSS, The Klaxons, Kate Nash, Arcade Fire, Amy Winehouse, Kasabian, Holy Fuck, The Long Blondes, The Kooks, The Kaiser Chiefs, Pigeon Detectives, Lily Allen, Bjork and Babyshambles. It was 'pissing rain' all throughout the festivities but that didn't seem to stop over 170,000 fans from turning out in pure concert fashion. It had been the first time Bjork performed at Glastonbury in 13 years. Jaime Reynolds of The Klaxons had a very emotional experience exclaiming, "I can genuinely say it is the happiest day of my life today playing to that many people. It made me feel happier than I have ever been and I never expected so many people to turn up. I could just see a sea of people as far as my bad eyesight could see."

The Klaxons
While "The Pigeon Detectives were pelted by lingerie during their set at Glastonbury today (June 23). Fans spilled out of the John Peel Stage for their debut performance at the festival. Before playing 'Stop Or Go' - singer Matt Bowman said: "On this next song people get carried away and throw lingerie on stage... Some people can't take a fucking joke and write nasty things about you - the lingerie thing is actually a joke." However, during the song a fan threw a piece of lingerie on stage leading Bowman to comment: "What a result! Is there anything else you want to throw up here other than a pink bra?" During their raucous set the crowd chanted, in reference to the band's home city, "Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!"
The Long Blondes-Once and Never Againmp3
The Editors-All Sparks (Phones Remix).mp3
Kasabian-Shoot The Runner.mp3
Kaiser Chiefs-Heat Dies Down.mp3
Glastonbury Tags

BREAK-in case of anything!

*cred
I had always heard that !!! were something to see live and last night i finally had my chance. After LCD Soundsystem on monday night and Arctic Monkeys on tuesday night a band would have to be pretty darn exciting to get me to jump around three nights in a row and well- i don't think any other show could have been more fit for the job than !!!. I must confess, i had quite a bit of difficulty concentrating on dancing while watching what was happening on stage. Nic Offer and John Pugh chimed in with vocals and dance moves that were like a competition between Napoleon Dynamite and Will Ferrelll.

*cred
Meanwhile Jerry Fuch (drums), Allan Wilson (percussion, synth, saxaphone), Mario Andreoni (guitar), Tyler Pope (guitar), Justin Van Der Volgen (bass) and Dan Gorman (percussion & synth), fused together jam beats and rock energy whipping the crowd of hippies and hipsters into a frenzy. It was clear that this crazy crew was enjoying themselves just as much as the audience. Highlights included Shananana of Durty Nanas who has joined them for this tour and can definitely hold her own on stage with eight crazied boys-even if that means stage diving onto an unfortunate hipster. Now- you know what i would LOVE to see- the Klaxons and !!!- what do you think Bowery Presents? Maybe?!

MusicSlut and BrooklynVegan were there as well.
Heart Of Hearts.mp3
A New Name.mp3

Tickets on sale today:

For:
6/01 CSS @ Irving Plaza
5/15 Arctic Monkeys @ Hammerstein Ballroom
4/11 Lily Allen with The Bird & The Bee
(they all go on sale at Noon Today via Ticketmaster.)

My fingertips are holding onto the cracks in our foundation...

Latest video from Kate Nash. Ladies, this song is highly catchy- you have been warned. Plus, if you are missing Lily Allen Kate is a perfect new love for you with simple, sweet little love songs. I must admit, those Brits have us outwitted when it comes to music videos. Maccabees, Lily Allen, Klaxons, Muse, Pigeon Detectives, Arctic Monkeys ...all with clever, creative little clips. Thank goodness for Feist, oh wait- she's Canadian. Damnit! Guess we have to stick to our rap videos. ICks!

*No worries, the goldfish were not harmed at all during the filming of this video: Director: Kinga Burza: "The goldfish was bought especially for the shoot so at the end, it was adopted by one of the runners."
Foundations.mp3
Foundations (Metronomy remix).mp3
Kate Nash Tags

Pete Doherty loves himself a good time

Via NME:"Babyshambles are the latest band to be confirmed for this year's Glastonbury Festival. Organiser Michael Eavis confirmed that his daughter - and fellow organiser - Emily had booked Pete Doherty's band for a surprisingly cheap fee. "I don't know if we're allowed to say this, but Emily has just done deal we're really proud of for Pete Doherty and Babyshambles, for £100!" Michael told NME.COM. "I must say I've never got a band for £100! I can't believe it, she's doing very well, isn't she? Absolute classic!" Emily later cleared up the deal's details, explaining that while Babyshambles will be receiving a usual fee, the £100 is to get Doherty to do an extra acoustic performance. As previously reported, the festival is being headlined by Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and The Who and takes place between June 22 and 24." Sigh...oh Pete, i wish you would sober up enough to play a date stateside.

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

in 2009 we get new YEASAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Yeasayer this past Saturday at Williamsburg Music Hall
I could not be awaiting an album with more anticipation than the new Yeasayer album. This past weekend I saw them at Williamsburg Music Hall in front of a sold out hometown audience almost exactly a year to the date from their sold out show at the Mercury Lounge. I was so in love with them back then that it is hard for me to break it down into exactly what has changed in the band or how it makes me feel but i know it is all a very good thing. They have taken their already beautiful songs and strong sets and taken to another level of being so smooth and seamless you would have thought they have about four or five albums and tours of experience behind them. Their show on Saturday found them as tight as I have ever seen them after fourteen months of various cities and venues. The intros into their songs were the longest they have ever lavished upon my ears and they seemed so happy to be home that their overwhelming joy was immediately contagious and spread across the crowd graciously gathered awaiting their every strum of their guitars and beat of their drums, bongos, cymbals, keyboard strokes...etc. It is going to be highly enjoyable to see where their next album takes them and I cannot wait for more tour dates to be announced once they have given themselves a bit of a rest. They are one of my favorite bands on the scene and for all of those people who say there is nothing like old music and records and there are no good bands I just cannot even listen to them whine anymore. With bands like Panda Bear, Yeasayer, Cat Power, The National, Magnetic Fields, Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Dodos, Arctic Monkeys, LCD Soundsystem, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and Hot Chip there is more talent than you can spend time listening to and I could not be happier for feeling this way every day.

Yeasayer Tags