BK

I just came back from driving around this town for an hour just trying to change my registration sticker. Its amazing how a whole town collectively doesn't know where anything or any streets are, me included. I just so happen to leave during the worst hour of traffic and I must say I am very liberal with the horn under those conditions. After all that nothing was accomplished, the place was closed.



Here's a little something for the weekend;

Ben Kweller - Wasted & Ready (live on WKQX)
Ben Kweller - Commerce, TX (live on WKQX)
Robbers On High Street - Japanese Girls
Robbers On High Street - Spanish Teeth
Summer at Shatter Creek - Fall Down Drunk
Summer at Shatter Creek - Ever Changing Moods
Beulah - My Horoscope Said It Would Be a Bad Year

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A little heads up, Atmosphere - You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having out 10/04/05

The Double

The Double are on Matador Records and have a new album Loose in the Air coming out in September.

The Double - Idiocy

Pixies!

A nice collection of rare Pixies videos can be found here (via kingblind)


a b c

Wino

Thursdays after 8:30p for me means that the weekend starts which also means I have no obligations until Monday at 2pm. My roomate Joe is moving out after living here for two years so we are going to have a small celebration of his time here. In honor of his departure we are going to finally have a taste of the wine I've been preparing for a year and 4 months. Its a raspberry wine in a gallon Sunny Delight bottle. The first batch of blackberry wine exploded under my bed. It's all about trial and error.

Snmnmnm - Indonesian Wine
Tom Thumb - Wine and Cigarettes

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I've been playing Mario Forever, reliving the glory that was the Mario Bros.

This Super Mario 3 clone from Poland features a mustachioed plumber on a quest to save his true love. This free 2D platformer features original music and secret worlds.

Download Mario Forever

Rivers

I came across some Rivers Cuomo acoustic songs from about a year ago. I didn't know this but he has a myspace page and he posts them on there. Apparently they've been floating around for a while but its new to me. Listen here. Check the PD for some live Weezer shows and some other stuff. I think every Weezer music video and a live show can be download here.

Why not some Wolfie?

• Wolfie - Everyone Knows
• Wolfie - Yeah Yeah You
• Wolfie - What I want from the world

Heres a whole album of rarities that the band hosts


If I wasn't short on time I would of posted more but thats how things go.

Comments

I switched comments back to Blogger since they've improved it since when I first put haloscan to use. Only reason I'm replacing it is because there are comments being made that can't be seen all the time like this post having 10 people commenting and me not noticing until few days ago.

Heatmiser/Slowreader

Heatmiser as many people know is Elliott Smiths band where he was co-singer/songwritter with Neil Gust. They broke up in 1996 after Elliott Smith put out two solo albums that were getting more attention than Heatmiser. Each member went on to form other bands including No. 2 and Quasi with Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss.

Heatmiser - Plaincloths man
Heatmiser - You Gotta Move

Rory Phillips and Gabe Hascall are Slowreader and former members of The Impossibles, both from Austin Texas. I used to listen to the Impossibles when I was 15-16? and thought it was the best thing ever. That and Weezer. This is a little different with more acoustic guitars and synths in the background.

Slowreader - Politics, Music and Drugs
Slowreader - Every Part Of Nothing

Remember the Rentals? Former Weezer bass guitarist Matt Sharps kinda solo thing. Another former love of mine. I'm pretty sure I have every song and every b-side if anyone is a fan/interested.

The Rentals - I must be wrong

Cursive - Radiator Hums
The Shins - So says i
Pit Er Pat - Underwater Wave Game

Dntel

This past weekend I didn't really do much and I had fun doing that. I just hung out with my posse and did the same ole stuff. I did have a chance to see Minus Story 4 miles down the road for just $6 but other plans had me else where. Other than that this Texas heat is killing me, I drove home for an hour today in somewhere around 101 degree weather. I was waiting for my car to spontaneously combust.

I had fun posting all the hip hop last week but I'm ready to switch things up. I'll try to mix in more hip hop to keep things different and spread the love. Lately I've been listening to the electronic/IDM stylings of Dntel and realized I had some Dntel b-sides laying around that are worth sharing.


Dntel - Don't Get Your Hopes Up Styrofoam / Dntel Split 7"
Dntel - If I don't return Dublab Presents: Freeways [comp]
Dntel - Open The Window and Let Me In Various - Tonalism [comp]
Dntel - Your Hill (This Is) The Dream Of Evan And Chan CD single.




Big up to Lance Armstrong for taking the Tour de France for the seventh time.

Living Legends

The Living Legends are often called the Wu-tang of the west coast.

The Living Legends, a loose collective of MCs and DJs from the Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Japan, and Europe, are unique for both their down-to-earth songs and approach to the music business.

There are nine members in the group and they just dropped a great album called The Classic on March of this year.

The Living Legends - Down for nothing

The music video for Down For Nothing

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ODB - Osirus --2005 [mixtape]

The Flaming Lips - Race For The Prize One of my all time favorite Flaming Lips tunes.

Friday

Jaylib is a collaboration of Madlib and J. Dilla, two of underground hip hops best producers. They both share production duties and MC duties on this album with some guest stars to help add variety.

These three tracks are amazing and a representation of some of the best that hip hop has to offer.

Jaylib - Mcnasty Filth
Jaylib - The Red
Jaylib - Raw Sh-t featuring Talib Kweli


Common came out with a new album called Be which was produced by Kanye West and Jay Dee (aka J. Dilla). I hate how every review I read doesn't ever mention J Dilla, even though he did half of the production duty. Almost everyone mention how well its produced and how great Kanye did with producing the whole album. I guess that's how it goes when you are the it producer.

Common - Be **Highly recommended, one of my favorite hip hop tracks of this year.

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Percee P - Bee Eye (demo-prod. by Madlib)
MED - Nightlife (Feat. Noelle) Prod. by Madlib
Koushik - Be With
Koushik - One In A Day
Koushik/Madvillain - America's Most Blunted (Koushik Remix)

In between

My other banner got deleted somehow. I can't figure out how but now I'm in between banners now.

Overcast

Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump (Madlib Remix)
Beastie Boys - So Whatcha Want (Remix)
Beastie Boys - ChChCheck it out (Ay-J Remix)
Beastie Boys - Alive (and well Hoolak Remix)

MF Doom - Mm Leftovers [b-sides album]
MF Doom - Mm More Food [album]

Aesop Rock - No Regrets From the very excellent album Labor Days
Atmosphere - Clay From 1997's Overcast!, the debut Atmosphere album featuring two MC's, Slug and Spawn
Atmosphere - F--- You Lucy One of my favorite tracks from God Loves Ugly
Quasimoto - Greenery This song is by Madlibs alias Lord Quas aka Quasimoto. It has some nice production and as always most anything that Lord Quas does, the subject matter stays the same.

Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Few albums and songs in the is Index
Hot Hot Heat - Elevator [album]

Felt

Yowzas school is taking its toll on me. I can't wait till that 3 week period in August when I can actually stake my claim on my summer break.

I was viewing Time magazines top 100 all time movies and I notice A Night at the Roxbury wasn't in there. Must be a typo, I'm sure they'll catch it.



I'm liking this A Tribute to Christina Ricci album by Felt which is Murs from Living Legends and Slug, half of Atmosphere. I think the album has the best intro line ever from a hip hop album;

"I'm not a player, I throw up a lot"

Its not the first track but the first full track and Slug kicks it off with that great line. It's spin on a Big Punisher song where he says "I'm not a player I just crush a lot". Is Big Pun and Big Punisher the same? I'll have to look into that. Too many "Big"'s out there.

Track from A Tribute to Christina Ricci by Felt;

• Felt - The Two

• Pete Philly & Perquisite - ParanoidSolid hip hop track coming out of Epitaph records
• Eyedeas & Abilities - Now Eyedea has a rep for being one of the best battle rappers and freestylers and also protege of Slug of Atmosphere and the above mention Felt.
• Eyedeas & Abilities - Exhausted Love
• Noah23 - Chicken Pox Hip Hop track from Canada.
• Silkworm - A cockfight of feelings
• Grandaddy - Handcrank Transmitter One my favorite Grandaddy songs

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MF Doom

This morning I woke up with a sore throat of sorts, I don't feel sick so I'm just going to sip on some tea and kick back. I didn't get time to post yesterday with all the school and studying and exam going on. I hope there is never a time in my life where I don't usually have the time for little projects like this blog and all my other shenanigans.

I still haven't made enough time to go to the store and buy another tire from my bike since the back tire got stolen. That makes 3 stolen tires for me since I've lived here. The other one almost got stolen but something went wrong because one nut was taken off but that as far as it went with that tire. I think someone drove by or walked by and the thief ran. I haven't realized how sleazy of and area I live in till recently. Everyday I see the same prostitute walking down her stretch a few seconds drive from my apartment complex by a road I drive on almost everyday. I first thought, hey that's odd I see the same lady walking up and down the street dressed kind of slutty and I even thought prostitute but thought it was just me reading too much into it. Then I was talking to a guy who lived in the middle of the "hood" and he confirmed it. She even talked to him and asked him for few dollars. Now I see her everyday when I drive by, I guess I was just ignoring it but now that I know its so apparent. All of this city isn't bad just very segregated with the richer families living on the otherside of town.

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MF Doom (aka Viktor Vaughn, Zev Love X, King Geedorah, Madvillain, Dangerdoom, KMD, Metal Face, Metal Fingers....) is the project of Daniel Dumile behind an iron mask. The MF stands for metal face and sometimes metal fingers. Its hard to find an image online with MF without the mask but I did find one from when he was really young and was in the group KMD with his older brother. He obviously is a fan of comics with the villainous identity and Dr. Doom parallels and alias'. He does a brand of underground hip hop with clever lyrics and word play that has no one his equal. MF Doom is one of my favorites and he keeps on holding up his reputation as the best that hip hop has to offer.



MF Doom - Kookies
MF Doom - Hyssop (instrumental track)
De La Soul Feat: MF Doom - Rock Co.Kane Flow
Madvillain (mf doom and madlib) - Raid
Zero 7 - Somersault (dangermouse remix feat MF Doom)

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Kenny Rogers - The Gambler
Wale Oyejide - Theres a war going on feat. J Dilla
Wale Oyjide - One Day Everything Changed feat TaRaach

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Sage Francis

Couple years back my definition of rap was a little different but then came Sage Francis to change all that. Afterwards I discovered a whole world of underground hip-hop.

He has ...earned a couple of prestigious freestyle battle championships and a few poetry slam titles. His spoken word performances have been featured on ESPN and ABC X-Games commercials (which paid his rent for a year). He has also officially toured the US twice, once with Atmosphere, once with Anticon, and has been on the road booking one-off shows independently for a few years. To pay his rent he bootlegs his own CD-Rs and cassettes, selling thousands upon thousands of copies with minimal distribution and self-promotion. --anticon

• Sage Francis - Escape Artist
• Sage Francis - Sea Lion
• Sage Francis - Slow Down Ghandi (beautiful fool remix)
• Sage Francis - Slow Down Ghandi (reanimator remix)
• Sage Francis - Gunz Yo

Sage and Joe Beats = Non-Prophets

• Non-Prophets - Hey Bobby
• Non-Prophets - Damage

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Wolf Parade

Here's a track from the new Wolf Parade album Apologies To The Queen Mary, which was recently leaked. I'm liking the album very much and I can't wait till they come by Texas.

Wolf Parade - Fancy Claps

and of course
Wolf Parade - You are a Runner and I Am My Fathers Son

Something that caught me off guard was the Sunset Rubdown song, I'll Believe in Anything being recycled and used as a Wolf Parade song. It was one of those, I've heard this before moments which took me way too long to make the connection. Spencer Krugs is Sunset Rubdown, he is also a member of Wolf Parade. His album came out this year on Global Symphonics.

Sunset Rubdown - I'll Believe in Anything

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It's very interesting how our tax money is being spent.

Pinback

This song is from the latest release by Pinback, Too Many Shawdows, released 3 days after their newest album was released sold only at shows. Its a great track with a nice piano intro. Its a great song to start the weekend with.

Pinback - My Star



Bishop Allen - Busted Heart
Cursive - The Recluse
Cursive - A Gentlemen Caller
Minus Story - Joyless
Luna - Tiger Lily
Arab Strap - Who Names The Days

Nikola Sarcevic

Nikola Sarcevic - Lovetrap

...lone acoustic guitar strumming a beautiful chord progression, then Sarcevic's distinctive voice comes in, “I know you met someone last night / See it in your eyes.” There's also a memorable harmonica that comes in, giving the song a Bob Dylan feel. ---VirginMegaMagazine.com

I don't know about that Bob Dylan comparison other than the similar instruments used, acoustic guitar and harmonic. Everyone is so quick to name check one of the greats. Good song though. I'm not familiar with Millencolin but he used to be or is lead vocalist of the Swedish band.

Next Weeks Plans

I was thinking I would do something different for next weeks posts so I'm going to do a whole week of hip hop posts, probably mostly underground hip hop.

But while I'm here...

• Deathray Davies - Plan to stay awake
• Deathray Davies - Maggie Doesnt Blink
• Systems Officer - Hael
• Systems Officer - For me this is cyanide
• Queens of the stoneage - Little Sister
• I love you but I have chosen darkeness - Your worst is the best
• Gomez - Get myself arrested
• Dntel - Open The Window And Let Me In
• Pink Panther Theme
• Grandaddy - Crystal Lake

Two Gallants

According to the newest members of the Saddle Creek Records roster;

Two gallants will head into [John Vanderslice's] Tiny Telephone in San Francisco this month to record their next record. we're happy to announce it will be released on Saddle Creek Records in both the US and Europe.

Two Gallants - Nothing To You

Go to their audio section of their webpage here for more music. If you want to save the song, after it loads click the down arrow on the right and click Save As Source.





mug-swinging sea shanty bluster and jailbreak urgency Two Gallants add to indie rock's newfound blues idolatry are purely original....Given Two Gallants' guitar and drums lineup and rustic blues-based repertoire, many might cry White Stripes as well. There are better analogies, though: More narrative than abstract, Adam Stephenson's lyrics are closer to Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter's romantic Old West allegories, luckless sagas of trains and booze and double-crossing lovers. Meanwhile, Tyson Vogel's shifting thoroughbred pulse on drums is less Meg White then Patrick Carney of The Black Keys.
--pitchfork 8.5 [for their debut]

IHBL

The new semester started and I think I'll do well in these classes. One class I have 2x a week at 2pm and the other 4x a week at 630p which leave me lots of time to sleep. Isn't that whats really important.

We played some basketball last night at the UC and I did not do too bad I must say. It was a 3 on 3 endeavor and I had my best performance I have had in a team game but we did fall short in the end by one point. I'm still champion of the Indoor Horse Basketball League (IHBL) with a 16-1 record. Its a very tricky game with low ceilings, many obstacles (furniture) and a smaller basketball goal. Okay not that tricky.

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Against the Grain has the very nice Feist album Let It Die. She was on Conan the other night and I caught the last 15 seconds of my favorite by her Mushaboom. I suck.

Decemberist are going to be on Conan Obrien tonight (tuesday) (via). Also Tuesday the 19th Hold Steady and Friday the 22nd Common will be performing on Conan.

Jay Leno and David Letterman are both going to have The Shout Out Louds July 13th...how odd.

Dangerdoom again

As I mentioned a month ago Dangerdoom is a collaboration with MF Doom and Dangermouse. I think its a very sucessfull one from the tracks I heard and I can't wait to hear the whole release. I got word that the album drops on October of this year. I know hip hop wise I have the Dangerdoom debut to look forward to this year and maybe the MF Doom Ghostface colaboration but Dangerdoom deserves more hype.

The odd thing about that June post on that its the 7th thing you see when you search google so I continue to get emails about dangerdoom. Someone even emailed me another dangerdoom track. So here is a sample of the upcoming efforts. Thanks for the emails and a special thanks for the track, Sofa King.

Dangerdoom tracks
Dangerdoom - The Mask
Dangerdoom - Minced Meat


What do you guys think?

**update, the official website as of a day or so ago has content with some description.

This conversation is ending...starting right now

Today I've been listening to the Jealous Sound EP by the Jealous Sound, a very nice release.

Knapsack put out an album called This conversation is ending...starting right now. My friend recomended it to me about 6-7 years ago while we were at the CD World in Dallas. I trusted her recomendation and bought it. I listened to it and put it aside liking only one song. Then I went off to college and found the cd again and put it in my car cd player and never took it out for two weeks which is a long time for me. It's one of my all time favorite albums. Every single song was great and its one of those odd albums that I can't explain why I hold it in such high regards. Either way the band broke up right after that album which they pretty much knew they were going to do while making the album. Few years passed and Blair Shehan the vocalist and guitarist formed The Jealous Sound with members of Sunday's Best, Jawbox and Neither Trumpets Nor Drums. I was excited when I heard the EP but the album was kind of a disappointment, I figure I was expecting This conversation is ending...starting right now pt. II. Also I didn't like the over polished production. I saw them play a great show in Fort Worth but came in while they were playing and only caught half the set. Jealous Sound toured with Foo Fighters and had an incredible buzz but nothing really took off after the release of their full length.



Jealous Sound - Whats wrong is everywhere
Jealous Sound - Anxious Arms
Jealous Sound - Fold Out

...if savefile.com wasn't down their would be some quality Knapsack posted but this track is alright
Knapsack - Cellophane

A little bonus to get you through Monday, each one worth listening to.
Elliot Smith - Waterloo Sunset (kinks cover)
Feist - Mushaboom ---this song is so good, I love her voice.
Art Brut - Emily Kane
Ash - Burn Baby Burn
Kinks - Lola
Lion King - In the Jungle

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Hot Chip

I've been busy with school and haven't been around my computer as often but I try to post when I can. Today I present you with just one track because this track is worth one post. Its a track by Hot Chip called keep fallin' The track hits its high point at 1:47;

"Give up all you suckers, we the tightest motherf**kers and you never seen us talking sh*t before now

You peeling potatoes while were sonic aligators making records selling like we're smoking crack now

Joe, what now, we bad..."

But generally the whole song is good and very classy.

Hot Chip - Keep Fallin'

Its one of those songs that I like then over play it, then put away for few months and then discover it again. The circle of life.

Figurine

Couple years back in 2001 I heard Dntels album Life Is Full of Possibilities and thought it was amazing and had to find more material by him and found out about his old band Figurine. Figurine was a project of pre-Postal Service Jimmy Tamborello aka Dntel. The trio of high school friends took up the names David Figurine, James Figurine, and Meredith Figurine and created synth heavy indie pop.

The trio of David Figurine, James Figurine, and Meredith Figurine, inspired by the likes of Aphex Twin and Depeche Mode, set out to produce a new kind of synth-based indie pop. Creating all the music on computer, the trio collaborated via e-mail, as the group was scattered across the United States. --- allmusic guide

They put out two albums and few remixes here and there and ceased to exist. Their album The Heartfelt was re-released this year on March Records and is worth a listen if indie synth-pop is your thing.

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Music

Figurine - IMpossible
Figurine - Way too good
Figurine - New Mate
Figurine - An electronic address
Figurine - So Futuristic
Figurine - Virtual Reality Suit
Figurine - Bonus

Video

Figurine - IMpossible

Fearless Freaks

I had a great four day weekend and now I'm sluggish to get back to my routine. We did our annual fourth of July camp out and made a bonfire and shot some firecrackers. I have never woken up to a rooster in the morning but Saturday was the first. We didn't like it too much so we shot some BB guns at him to scare him away. Afterwards I BBQ'd with the family and shot some more firecrackers. The next day I was back at my apartment where we shot even more firecrackers and watched the Universities fireworks show. We have leftovers and I'm guessing we'll be waking up the neighbors in the next couple of weekends to come. I have two finals this week and lots of reading and studying to do to prepare for them. Then two days break and another semester begins with two more classes.

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I finally got a hold of that new Flaming Lips song from the upcoming album and the Wedding Crashers soundtrack. Its alright, good production but I do expect more from the Lips. Its been around the blogosphere but I always get there too late to a dead link. Also a track from the Sponge Bob movie soundtrack from the Lips.

• The Flaming Lips - Mr. Ambulance Driver
• The Flaming Lips - SpongeBob & Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall Of Energy
  

Also check out the live Flaming Lips mp3s on, Fearless Freaks
Here is a trailer for the documentary Fearless Freaks, about the Flaming Lips. I'm thinking about getting it from Amazon.com but I haven't made up my mind.

• The Flaming Lips - Talkin Bout The Smiling Deathporn Immortality Blues
• The Flaming Lips - One More Robot (Sympathy 3000-21)

Illinoise

All this cover art legal rambling has got me listening to Sufjans newest again.



Go here for two Sufjan videos, one a music video and one a live video from Texas. They're YSI links so if they go down and anyone wants them I can upload them myself and post links.

July 4th

Today is the last day to buy fireworks for the year in Texas so no music updates suckas as I have a journey to undertake.

Here comes the weekend

Here some Mountain Goats for the weekend

• Mountain Goats - Dance Music
• Mountain Goats - The Sign (ace of base cover--less than good quality but great cover)
• Mountain Goats - Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton
• Mountain Goats - Jenny
• Mountain Goats - No Children
• Mountain Goats - Palmcorder Yanja
• Mountain Goats - Home Again Garden Grove

John Darnielle's songs have always dwelled on one or a combination of five subjects, relationship conflicts, flood, water, pre-Colombian Mexico mythology and talking animals.

• Of Montreal - So Begins Our Alabee
• Live Beastie Boys
• Patton Oswalt - Feelin' Kinda Patton (stand up comedy album)
• M83 - Before Dawn Heals Us
• Great Beatles Covers
• Few Smiths Covers

Live 8 and the Supremes

Looks like the G8 summit is coming around and with that the Live8 this weekend to encourage cooperation. Its about time, I'm getting tired of hearing celebrities talking while I'm on AIM. Damn ads.

8 world leaders, gathered in Scotland for the G8 summit, will be presented with a workable plan to double aid, drop the debt and make the trade laws fair. If these 8 men agree, then we will become the generation that made poverty history.

I'm sure some progress will be made though, G8(G7,G6) have never concluded without progress. These concerts around the world this Saturday are presented to bring attention to this cause. One of the biggest things happening is Pink Floyd reuniting for Saturdays London performance with their first public performance since 1981.

10 concerts, 100 artists, a million spectators, 2 billion viewers, and 1 message... To get those 8 men, in that 1 room, to stop 30,000 children dying every single day of extreme poverty.

I'm pretty sure London has the best group of musicians taking stage.

Did anyone hear or care about Justice Sandra Day O'Connor leaving the US Supreme Court. Talk about bad timing. She was the in-between, she tipped the votes. I'm sure this is going to blow up as soon as the nominations approach. I was expecting Rehnquist to step down although thats still possible in the near future. I think everyone knows how this is going to go, Bush is going to nominate Scalia pt2.

...and that concludes my political rant