News

The Flaming Lips Go All NSFW, Again.

Colin Jones :: Monday, June 14th, 2010 2:15 pm

The Flaming Lips aren’t really known for their subtlety when it comes to music videos. The Oklahoma psych masters tend to go completely balls (and way too many other things) out when visualizing their songs.
With the release of their album Embryonic, the Lips have gone of the deep end. Naked bikers in the woods. Men emerging out of vagina-esque balls. Wayne Coyne being brutally stripped. Naked! Naked! Naked! And that was just one video for the song “Watching The Planets.”
Only this time we have masochism, hooded men, finger painting with blood and, of course, a monkey. Keep reading for the video which is pretty freaking NSFW. You have been warned. MORE »

Arcade Fire Debut New Songs at Intimate Montreal Gig

Colin Jones :: Monday, June 7th, 2010 3:15 pm

Ahead of dropping their new LP “The Suburbs” and kicking off a tour with stops at Lollapalooza and Madison Square Garden, Arcade Fire played a small, intimate show last Friday at Montreal’s Notman House.

Through out the set, AF played a smattering of new songs with titles like “Suburban War” and “Ready to Start.” According to Pitchfork, a picture of the setlist is now up over at Consequence of Sound.

Pop Montreal

Arcade Fire kicks off their 23-date tour tonight with a two-night run in Sherbrook, Canada.

Keep reading for setlist and videos. MORE »

Delorean: “Stay Close”

Nick Nicoludis :: Thursday, May 13th, 2010 3:25 pm

This insatiably groovy tune comes from Spanish alt-dance rockers Delorean‘s new album Subiza. Though the actual album doesn’t come out till June, a digital download has been available sine April 20th. I think when you have a day with beautiful weather outside, you need a song that matches that enthusiasm; or rather hypes you up and makes you want to enjoy the day rolling around the streets and shopping for expensive and rare sorbets. I haven’t listened to the newest album yet, but if this song and the band’s already established work are any indication, I don’t see how the newest album could be anything short of rump-shaking gold. See the video after le jump. MORE »

Cults: “Go Outside”

Nick Nicoludis :: Thursday, March 25th, 2010 4:45 pm

Not much is known about the New York film student duo Cults. They have no myspace page, and their page on Bandcamp (you can download their 3 song 7″ here) has pretty much no information about them. Their mystery only adds to the natural and visceral feeling of the song; pulling on every Spring loving part of you.
So I think this is an appropriate video for a day that feels so quintessentially Spring like. It starts out with a hauntingly bizarre quote from cult leader Jim Jones, and perfectly captures the impatient excitement of the forthcoming summer. Make the jump to see the video. MORE »

“Ew, Haitian Cooties!” Bush Wipes Them Off On Clinton’s Shirt

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 3:50 pm

The ever-gracious President Bush wipes his hand off on President Clinton’s shirt after shaking hands with a Haitian man. Really? Really.

The Bird And The Bee + Hall And Oates = Fun

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 2:20 pm

The Bird and the Bee’s “Interpreting the Masters, Volume 1: Hall and Oates” comes out on March 23, and trust me, it’s a well-produced, rollicking album that has equal parts kitsch value and real listening pleasure. Although nothing can replace the original duo, this is a damn good interpretation of their work.
MORE »

Obsession: Here We Go Magic’s “Everything’s Big”

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 2:00 pm

Brooklyn band Here We Go Magic has completely taken over my iTunes lately. Their entire album, last year’s Here We Go Magic, released on Western Vinyl, is seriously brilliant. What stands out most, though, is the final track. It serves mostly as a well-structured vehicle for lead singer Luke Temple’s pitch-perfect voice, which is lovely as the ending note of an album focused on highlighted creative instrumentation. Temple is a well-known songwriter on his own, but my favorite incarnation of his work has to be this project.
MORE »

Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” Used In Dog Show Advertisement

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, February 5th, 2010 4:00 pm

“Paparazzi” becomes “Pupparazzi” in this USA Network advertisement for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Frankly, I find this hysterical.

Spoon Debuts New Video, Embarks On 2010 Tour

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, February 5th, 2010 3:35 pm

Spoon debuted the video for the first single from Transference, “Written In Reverse,” today on Pitchfork. The video takes a literal approach - they play the track in front of an enormous mirror. They’re also about to begin their tour of Europe, North America, and Australia, beginning in the UK on Valentine’s Day.

Planned Parenthood Responds To Anti-Abortion Super Bowl Advertisement

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 1:40 pm

The uproar following Tim Tebow’s anti-abortion Super Bowl advertisement has monopolized much of the media since it was announced. Planned Parenthood has responded by creating a video featuring professional athletes Sean James and Al Joyner. Its tone is wholly tasteful. It focuses on trusting and respecting women with their choices and is clearly unintended to be the least bit inflammatory or insulting to anyone (at one point in the video, James says “I respect and honor Mrs. Tebow’s decision”).

Links For A Wednesday At Work

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 1:35 pm

Midday hitting you a little hard? Depending on your inclination (serious, frivolous, or some combination of the two), one of these links will be sure to sate your office-induced boredom. Just make sure you’re wearing headphones if you choose to explore the Jersey Shore soundboard - we’re not responsible for evisceration by co-workers, otherwise.

1. This recent New York Magazine article about a city of homeless people in the woods of New Jersey built by a minister. Social experiment or pure altruism?

2. The Jersey Shore soundboard. Prank call your dearest guido- and guidette-loving pal with panache! Suggested combination of terms: “I like tan Italian boys with muscles” and “BIG FAKE BOOBS.” Oh, the hilarity!

Aziz Ansari Is Often Better Off Sticking With Postmodern Randy Jokes

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, January 22nd, 2010 4:05 pm

Aziz Ansari’s new comedy special, Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening, was released this week. Recently, he became the king of viral videos with a web “documentary” about Randy, a character he played in the movie Funny People. Randy’s a obnoxiously vulgar loudmouth who jumps around a hell of a lot…actually, I could probably sum the act up best by saying Randy is a darker-skinned Dane Cook. The act is a perfect send-up of every comedian who chooses to bark dick jokes in order to make their living.

Lee Moses, The Mystery Man Of Soul Music

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, January 22nd, 2010 2:00 pm

Soul music is at its best when it tells a vividly personal story. Lee Moses, a portly soul musician from Atlanta, was especially good at this. His music tells stories of falling in love with exotic women, leaving his hometown, and his mama’s advice. The one collection of his singles, Time and Place, was first released in 1971. The music on it matched his intimate autobiographical stories with some seriously incredible guitar work.

Anderson Cooper Saves Haitian Child, Actually Manages To Become Even More Impressive

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 1:10 pm

Anderson Cooper has always been dashing - how could the American public not idolize a refined, silver-haired hottie, attractive to both men and women, who is always calm and intelligent in temperament and delivery? I’m fanning myself just thinking about it. So, yesterday, when he extricated a badly-injured Haitian child from a violent conflict stemming from a looting, he managed to impress his viewers even further. Somehow, it was all caught on video by CNN.

New Music From Panda Bear

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 12:15 pm

On January 15, ambient artist Panda Bear debuted a slew of all-new songs at a show at Hebbel Am Ufer in Germany. Many were guitar-based, which is a new direction for the artist, who has largely used electronic means to create his catalog of music in the past. Many of the tracks, however, continue in his tradition of creating songs that sound equally melody- and machination-based. Much of the new music is reminiscent of accidental arpeggios played by a ton of beeping machines in a factory warehouse, layered under full, drawn-out vocal lines, which are often repeated for emphasis.