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Album Crazy Old Bat/Zenjungle - The ZenBat EP

Posted by Dave Segal on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 5:18 PM

Bellevue producer Crazy Old Bat and Greece’s Zenjungle have collaborated on a nine-track EP that is a serious head trip; really, it’s no joking matter at all. If you’ve ever free-fallen to Coil’s chilly, inky ambience, or tried to do the breast stroke in the murky waters of Amon Tobin’s less beat-oriented stuff, or got light-headed to Harmony Rockets’ astral-jazz meditation Paralyzed Mind of the Archangel Void, you will pop a brain boner to The ZenBat EP.

Your free download awaits you on the Bandcamp page. Check the preview of "After the Cinema (Death in a Parking Lot)" after the cut.

<a href="http://zenbat.bandcamp.com/album/the-zenbat-ep">The ZenBat EP by ZenBat</a>

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Sex The Male as Object of Desire

Posted by Charles Mudede on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 4:26 PM

Here is a real man...

Mainstream rappers are not real men. They fear being the object of desire. Yes, D'Angelo is singing to a woman, but desire is not something you can force, manage, control. Once you are open to desire, you are open to all forms and sources of desire. D'Angelo fearlessly enters the zone of sexual ambiguity. We are free to desire him in any way, from any direction. It is this ambiguity, this openness that the mainstream rapper fears most, and attempts to check by positing himself not as the object of desire but as the one who has access to objects of desire. The mainstream rapper wants your envy, not your desire. But envy is cheap, safe, dull. To be real, you must be open, you must be fearless.

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Album / Merch / Video Postcards From The Edge: Fresh Espresso, Vex Ruffin & SPURM

Posted by Larry Mizell, Jr. on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 4:17 PM

Dave posted about this Fresh Espresso X Caffe Vita postcard single a minute ago, but I had to put my .02 in:

Seeing as I'm addicted to merch from bands I like, I made damn sure I got my copy. It was the last one I saw sitting at the Pike Street location on Monday. The song's fucking great morning music to boot! A new Fresh album, I suspect, is soon to come. You can see those dudes (and even me and my dudes! Sound the conflict of interest airhorn!) with White China Gold and dj100Proof at Neumos March 9th.

Some time ago Stones Throw actually sent me the first postcard 45 I ever laid eyes on, for a group I've been jamming tuff ever since Grant first put me onto 'em: Vex Ruffin. Instead of hiphop beats crudely made by guitar players, it's crude n' dirty garage punk made by hiphop beatmaker(s). What the fuck isn't to like? I don't know when they're coming to Seattle but it better fucking happen.

The next one I need is SPURM's:
<a href="http://ggnzla.bandcamp.com/album/spurm-3">SPURM [3] by SPURM</a>
—which contains the first two tracks of SPURM [3], the alleged last hurrah of the GGNZLA crew stalwarts. [3]'s got a super crunchy, greasy-ass carnie flow that I just can't deny, and includes a creepy crawly Pink Floyd cover. Go see them February 10th at Black Lodge, with Unnatural Helpers, Uzi Rash (Bay Area-based members of Trashies), and Wimps! Sounds like a real, slam-bang, honest-to-goodness, three-fisted humdinger.

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Sex / Dancing / Video / #1 Fan Happy Sunny Friday!

Posted by Anna Minard on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 3:15 PM

This was playing at Marination Station a little while ago, and I almost died of happiness. I don't love the video as much as "Shoop" and "Push It," but the song is one of the most purely awesome things humans have ever created, and you should listen to it now and whenever you are feeling a little weird and need to shake it off.

Everyone at Marination was tapping their feet and dancing while sitting on the stools waiting for their food. (Also, their food is crazy delicious.) It's Friday, and it's real pretty out, and everyone should listen to hella Salt-N-Pepa and then go out tonight.

Also, true fact: Performing this song with your mom at a family reunion is a 100% sure hit. You're welcome!

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I'm Still a Virgin Beat Era Moody Blues

Posted by Mike Nipper on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 2:07 PM

The Moody Blues everyone seems to know is, for good reason, the "Nights In White Satin" Moody Blues. Prog, man, HELLA PROG, well like most English prog/rock groups of the late '60s early '70s, the Moody's had a beat music past.

The group were from Birmingham, brummies they were, and formed in mid '64 playing R&B and beat music. The core members were Ray Thomas and Michael Pinder with Denny Laine, Graeme Edge, and Clint Warwick rounding out the first, beat era, line up. In terms of pop stardom, they were relatively successful. After they hooked up with a management team they were singed to Decca and made some TV show appearances, recorded several 45s, including a number one hit, a version of Bessie Banks' "Go Now," and were afford an LP. That album, The Magnificent Moodies, is good, full of VERY young English kids working hard to make serious R&B. Oh, The Magnificent Moodies didn't come out in the US rather Go Now – The Moody Blues #1 was issued on London, with a different running order/track listing than the The Magnificent Moodies. Buyer/listener beware, if you do snag a copy of Go Now – The Moody Blues #1 the re-channeled for shit-tastic sound "stereo" copies are most plentiful, so try to find a mono copy as true stereo copies don't exist. Anyways, it was in late '66 when Denny Laine quit with Justin Hayward and John Lodge then joining, it was with this line up the HELLA PROG soon followed. Lodge, BTW, had been in groups with Thomas and Pinder prior to the Moody's formation.

Their most stiking beat era song and second single was indeed their number hit, their version of Ms. Bessie Banks' "Go Now." I hafta say it kinda rivals the orignal...that's Pinder playing piano and Laine on vox.

Sidebar: This post has been brought to you by the Value Village "pop" radio after hearing Simply Red's gag-inducing version of the Bessie Banks jam. Tho' if you listen to Simply Red's version @ :48 the SWAT theme is inserted as a horn fill, now THAT did make me smile.

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Media Thongs and Songs

Posted by Dave Segal on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 1:22 PM

Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue drops Feb. 14. This year's edition will carry more than just cheesecake photos: in addition, there will be editorial content on "17 emerging artists across rock, indie and electronic genres," according to billboard.biz. On top of that, a two-day music fest called Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Beauties & Beats will happen at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas. Time Out Chicago music editor Brent Dicrescenzo helped to choose the featured bands, 10 of which will perform at the festival: Delta Spirit, Elan Atias & White Elephant, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Little Hurricane, Maluca, Nick Waterhouse, Vonnegutt, Selebrities, White Denim and headliners the Black Lips. Bosco Delrey, DJ A-Trak, Hanni El Khatib, Kito & Reija Lee, New Look, Rhye, Toro Y Moi and The newno2 are the other musicians appearing in the feature.

"Each artist will be paired with a different model in the magazine and online, with new or previously unreleased tracks from each respective artist," writes Andrew Hampp of billboard.biz. I guess this is what the business heads mean by seeking other "revenue streams." Great job, everybody.

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Love / Politics Well, Hello Pussy Riot!

Posted by Kelly O on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 1:07 PM

I wish more American all-female punk bands wore ski masks and protested things like, oh say, the Komen Foundation this week. Ah, to dream!

"The revolution should be done by women," said Garazhda. "For now, they don't beat or jail us as much."

"There's a deep tradition in Russia of gender and revolution – we've had amazing women revolutionaries."

New Releases Madonna Releases New Song and Really Weird Video Featuring M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj

Posted by Kelly O on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 12:49 PM

Does anybody care? Also, "football themed?" It's all the strangest marketing crap. It's just not music anymore. WATCH (or not).

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New Releases Benefit Album with Broadcast, Four Tet

Posted by Kathy Fennessy on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 11:48 AM

Various Artists, We Are the Works in Progress, Asa Wa Kuru

Asa Wa Kuru

We Are the Works in Progress showcases several artists, but one person spearheaded the project. Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead, who was born in Kyoto, put together the 14-track record to benefit victims of last year's Japanese tsunami. Acts include Four Tet, Nosaj Thing, Deerhunter, John Maus, and David Sylvian/Ryuichi Sakamoto. Ten selections are exclusive to the release.

It's a fine set in support of a worthy cause. I particularly like the pieces by Four Tet ("Moma"), John Roberts ("Berceuse"), and Pantha du Prince ("Bird on a Wire").

Music, track listing, and additional information below.

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Staying In / ??!! / Video Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together?

Posted by Anna Minard on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Meet Bon Joviver, by Miracles of Modern Science:

(Thanks, Hot Tipper Todd!)

This calls for a poll:

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The Stranger Suggests

PERFORMANCE/ART

‘Eyes of the Skin’

If you do one thing today, DO THIS.

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MUSIC

The Pharmacy

If you do one thing today, DO THIS.

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Teh Internets E-Mail Never Sleeps

Posted by Grant Brissey on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 10:37 AM

Screen_shot_2012-02-03_at_10.29.01_AM.png

My inbox bares, on average, 200-300 e-mails a day. E-mails from PR people, bands, co-workers, spambots, and scammers, emails with subject lines in ALL CAPS, emails with blank subject lines, e-mails written in foreign languages, emails sent to the wrong person (Yes I have a spam filter. No it doesn't catch everything, in fact sometimes it grabs things I actually want.) Let's not even start with the people who hit me up on Facebook about work shit. This is a problem for me, because I can never have anything in my inbox because something in my inbox means my mind is not at ease.

I have a folder called "Priority," which is rather ill-defined and in need of a new name, then one called "to-do," which is also rather ill-defined, and gets a combover once a week and still never stops growing. Then I have folders for everything you see at right. Thing is, I STILL MISS STUFF, and it keeps me awake at night. How do you handle your inbox, and how's it working for you?

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Film Watch Decasia: The State of Decay in Its Entirety

Posted by Dave Segal on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 9:53 AM

Bill Morrison’s mesmerizing 2002 film Decasia is now up on YouTube in its 66-minute entirety. Scored by Michael Gordon, Decasia is an artful examination of the process of decay on silent films. The detuned, minimalist music and the evanescent imagery converge (dis)harmoniously to embody the movie’s theme. Decasia is not for the short-attention-spanned nor for those tormented overly much about thoughts of mortality. Everyone else should dig this poetic essay on the gradual erosion of analog culture and the terrible beauty of dissipation.

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Win It! Win Tickets to Damien Jurado's Album Release Show!

Posted by Megan Seling on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 9:30 AM

Damien Jurado's tenth (!) album, Maraqopa, will be released February 21st. He's celebrating with an album release show at the Neptune on February 17th with Gold Leaves and Bryan John Appleby, and we have a pair of tickets to give away!

To enter to win, email your first and last name to freetickets@thestranger.com with Damien Jurado in the subject line. Not feeling lucky? Tickets are on sale here for $15.

And speaking of Damien Jurado, he just released another song from the album ("Nothing Is the News" was released last month—you can see the video here). Take a listen:

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Tonight Tonight in Music: The Pharmacy, Night Beats, Slowdance, Knxwledge, Ramiro, Rhines, DTCPU, Al Nightlong, Scribes, Cool Nutz, Kung Foo Grip, E and Dae, Kingz of Kush, Astronomar, Grynch, Brokaw, Akimbo, Deadkill, Crawler, Wreckless Eric & More

Posted by Mike Ramos on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 9:04 AM

The Pharmacy, Night Beats, Slowdance

(Black Lodge) See preview.

More Info

Beats: Knxwledge, Brownbear, DTCPU, Al Nightlong

(Vermillion) See Data Breaker.

More Info

Strobe: Justin Sloe, Ramiro, Rhines, Ctrl_Alt_Dlt, Deepvibez

(Re-bar) See Data Breaker.

More Info

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Sasquatch Sasquatch! 2012 Official Lineup

Posted by Grant Brissey on Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 6:19 PM

These are the people playing the show:

Jack White, Beck, Bon Iver, Pretty Lights, Tenacious D, The Shins, Beirut, Girl Talk, The Roots, The Head & The Heart, Portlandia, Feist, Silversun Pickups, Metric, Explosions In The Sky, The Joy Formidable, Mogwai, Nero (DJ), M. Ward, John Reilly & Friends, Childish Gambino, St. Vincent, The Civil Wars, Jamey Johnson, Little Dragon, Tune-Yards, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, Wolfgang Gartner, Beats Antique, Apparat, The Walkmen, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mark Lanegan Band, Spiritualized, Blitzen Trapper, The Cave Singers, Shabazz Palaces, Fun., Grouplove, Tycho, Sbtrkt, Strfkr, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Deer Tick, Imelda May, Alabama Shakes, Dum Dum Girls, The Helio Sequence, Kurt Vile, Cloud Cult, We Are Augustines, Ben Howard, Here We Go Magic, Zola Jesus, The War On Drugs, Shearwater, Cass McCombs, Active Child, Trampled By Turtles, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Araabmuzik, Star Slinger, L.A. Riots, Com Truise, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, I Break Horses, Walk The Moon, Dry The River, Allen Stone, Pickwick, Hey Marseilles, Gary Clark Jr., Purity Ring, Electric Guest, Yellow Ostrich, Nobody Beats The Drum, Coeur De Pirate, Lord Huron, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Beat Connection, The Sheepdogs, Hey Rosetta!, Said The Whale, Howlin Rain, Gardens & Villa, Felix Cartal, Craft Spells, Vintage Trouble, Poor Moon, Black Whales, Gold Leaves, Greylag, Awesome Tapes From Africa , Thee Satisfaction, Dyme Def, Fresh Espresso, The Physics, Sol, Metal Chocolates, Grynch, Spac3man, Don’t Talk To The Cops, Scribes, Fatal Lucciauno, Fly Moon Royalty, Katie Kate

Comedy: Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Todd Barry, Beardyman, Rob Delaney, Pete Holmes, Howard Kremer, and more.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, Feb 11 at 10 am. Get 'em here.

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News / Upcoming Standard Could Be the New Standard

Posted by Dave Segal on Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 5:11 PM

Three Seattle crews—Shift Dubstep, Car Crash Set, and OkiZoo—are combining their considerable powers to form the new monthly Standard, which debuts Sat. Feb. 11 at Temple Billiards Deep Down Lounge (a venue that will always occupy a warm spot in my heart, as it was where I scored my first Seattle DJ gig). Ill Cosby, one of the event's residents, says, “Expect the variety of sounds you've been looking for from future garage and 2step to grime and dubstep and even house and drum and bass.”

Other regular selectors include, 214, DJAO, Ghostplay, Kid Smpl, Astronomar, Loki, MC Ea5e95, Press, Selrahc, Sky Rose, and Tony Goods. Loaded for low-frequency deck-wreckage...