News
Boys Noize Contest Winner Announced
Amelia Kreminski :: Friday, October 30th, 2009 4:30 pm
German electro-rocker Alexander Ridha, also known as Boys Noize, just announced the winners of his emPOWER YOURSELF Video Contest. In October of 2009 Boys Noize’s sophomore album POWER was released via Boys Noize Records (his own label), Last Gang and Turbo Recordings, and the video contest emerged from his single “Starter.” Boys Noize asked fans to create the ultimate video for the song, and Netherlands-based visual designers Nick Jacobs and Julien Arts came through. You can check out the awesome video here or at any of Boys Noize’s upcoming shows. North American tour dates after the jump. MORE »
News
Beach House Release Third Album
Amelia Kreminski :: Friday, October 30th, 2009 4:15 pm
Winter weather got you down? Escape to a tropical paradise with Baltimore pop-rockers Beach House. The band first broke into the indie scene in 2006 when Pitchfork named their debut album the sixteenth best release of the year. Their third LP, Teen Dream, will be released on Sub Pop on January 26, 2010. You can listen to it, but you’ll have to log in to your Sub Pop account.
Haven’t heard of Beach House? Check them out! Many have called them “dream pop” and compared the vocals of lead singer Victoria Legrand to Nico’s. And in my opinion, the world can never have enough Nicos.
News
The Books Are Back
Isaac Lekach :: Friday, October 30th, 2009 1:20 pm
The last time we heard from the books was on the extraordinary Dark Was The Night compilation-where they covered Nick Drake’s “Cello Song” with Jose Gonzalez. Well, The Books are back from hiatus. They’ll be heading out on tour mid November. Check out the dates and a live performance video of “The Classy Penguin” at 2007′s Wall Of Sound Festival in Ft. Worth, TX after the jump.
News
Music Video: Sea Wolf “Wicked Blood”
Isaac Lekach :: Friday, October 30th, 2009 9:05 am
Former Irving bassist, Alex Church has recently released his second solo album under the moniker Sea Wolf. White Water, White Bloom is the name of the record. See the video for “Wicked Blood” after the jump. It was directed by Alan Tanner who has also made videos for Conor Oberst, Tilly & The Wall, Jenny Lewis, and M. Ward. The video features actress Shannyn Sossamon, troubadour Patrick Park, Tilly & The Wall’s Nick White, and songstress Maria Taylor. Enjoy.
Should I Listen?
John K. Samson: City Route 85
Isaac Lekach :: Friday, October 30th, 2009 9:00 am
It’s been two years since the last Weakerthans record and it doesn’t seem as though there are plans set for a new one. But the band have 2010 tour dates already listed… so I’m guessing they haven’t broken up. That said, singer John K. Samson (former Propagahndi bass player) has solo material that just surfaced. He’s planning a series of seven inches all of which are to reflect on Manitoba roads. City Route 85 is the first. Samson has a unique singing voice-but what’s more striking is the incredibly descriptive nature of his lyrics. Sure, sometimes he teeters on verbose, but more often than not, the lyrics are woven with a perfect melody to shape perfect pop songs (2000′s Left & Leaving is a masterpiece). City Route 85 isn’t a much of a departure from the ouevre of The Weakerthans, but the songs do find Samson alone with his guitar for the most part, and the pairing suits him well. Should I listen? Yes.
Links
Today In Music
Brenna Ehrlich :: Thursday, October 29th, 2009 3:00 pm
Lipstick traces, nowhere boys, Lady GaGa owned, terrifying confections and folk song comix-it’s all after the jump.
Events
The National’s Dessner Twins’ The Long Count
Isaac Lekach :: Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 6:05 pm
Bryce and Aaron Dessner of The National’s latest collaboration is called The Long Count. The Breeders’ Kim & Kelley Deal and artist Mattew Ritchie are also involved. It opens tonight at BAM’s Next Wave Festival. Click here for more information on the event and here to read an interview NY Mag did with the Dessner twins.
Film
Spike Jonze & Kanye West’s Short Film
Isaac Lekach :: Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 3:15 pm
There’s a video floating around where Spike Jonze slaps Kanye West during the making of their short We Were Once A Fairytale. The behind the scenes footage, while staged, requires far less patience than the short film does. Click here to see it. Find WWOAF after the jump. If you’re going to watch the film we recommend fast forwarding to the seven minute mark. No offense Jonze, but there’s only so much West we can stomach-that said, we rather enjoyed watching him disembowel himself.
Links
Today In Music
Brenna Ehrlich :: Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 2:50 pm
Dolls, No Age commenting on cinema, more cool costumes and one hot girl. Link up.
News
The Blind Tweeting at the Blind
Brenna Ehrlich :: Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 1:50 pm
I’m going to hell for finding this funny. Just follow him, ASAP.
News
Adam Green Sings A Song About A Transexual
Isaac Lekach :: Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 6:30 pm
It’s almost as good as “Lola” by The Kinks and you can check it out here. I think it’s called “The Ladyboy Song.” You can also download the track “What Makes Him Act So Bad”-presumably off his forthcoming album-here.
Events, New York, News
Cassette To My Ex
Brenna Ehrlich :: Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 5:00 pm
I don’t know about you, but my favorite blogs are those that creepily delve into the lives of others: Passive Aggressive Notes, Post Secret, Postcards From Yo Momma. This is the kind of heart-warming schadenfreude that I thrive on. So imagine my joy when I discovered Cassette From My Ex, a blog that shares just that-and the stories behind the sappy playlists. And, like all awesome blogs, CFMY is coming out with a book-a book whose release you can celebrate in New York at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe tomorrow (Claudia Gonson from the Magnetic Fields will be there, and she’s played like, 69, songs about love).
Now this is probably the part of the post where I should be sharing my own cassette from an ex (you know, to connect with the readers and all), but the truth is, no one has ever made me a mixtape. Sure, one dude said he was going to once, and I’ve dated guys in bands, so it seems feasible, but no dice. I have, however, made a mixtape for an ex. I think the last song was “This is the End.” Yeah…
Issue 22, News
Jack White Embraces Pop-Up Craze
Brenna Ehrlich :: Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 2:30 pm
In the most recent issue of D+T, we covered the phenomenon of the pop-up store-a mushroom-like entity that’s been hitting New York City with a vengeance as of late. And now the novel shop is making an appearance overseas-Jack White’s Third Man Records will be opening an ephemeral establishment at London’s Shoreditch Church on Friday, October 30, until Halloween. If you’re lucky enough to live across the pond, you can pick up releases from the label, as well as The Dead Weather and The White Stripes gear.
Stuck stateside? Check out editor Alex Moore’s run-down of NYC pop-ups after the jump.
Links
Today In Music
Brenna Ehrlich :: Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 1:20 pm
Guitarists in get-ups, eerie tunes, freaky fiction, cash-flush clowns and a dude in a giant mouse head. Halloween haunts today’s links.
News
Should I Listen: Weezer’s Raditude
Isaac Lekach :: Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 11:55 am
I miss the good ol’ days when Weezer’s greatness was undeniable. Everyone does. No need to rehash that. I’ll just point you in the direction of where you can stream Raditude, their seventh album-which would be here-if you want to. But, should I listen? No.
