Song

Friday, November 20, 2009

Today's Best Song Ever: "Hulk Hogan: Look at Me!"

Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 12:23 PM

Look, I don't care if you're a fan of WrestleMania or not—you WILL be a fan of this awesome and incredibly catchy synth-pop tribute to Hulk Hogan. (And be sure to stick around for the surprise ending! P.S. No, I don't understand it either.)

Hat tips to Radio Exile!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

M.I.A.'s "Galang" Gets Jazzed Up

Posted by Dave Segal on Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 1:03 PM

Vijay Iyer Trio cover M.I.A.'s "Galang" on their new album, Historicity. The multiculti club banger makes the transition to the conservatory with surprising, tensile grace.

Another Winter's Coming On

Posted by Eric Grandy on Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 12:26 PM

Jawbreaker's 24 Hour Revenge Therapy? A fine album for a day like today. An album that rewards some hard time spent.

Turning "Your Love" Into Your Hate

Posted by Dave Segal on Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 11:20 AM

The '00s have seen a resurgence in popularity of the Outfield's "Your Love" in clubland that is somewhat baffling to those who endured the hit's ubiquity when it was released in 1985. The overblown emotional tenor of the song's chorus does help it to leap out of the kinetic slam-bang of a coked-up electro-house DJ set and trigger reptile-brain feelings of poignancy. This is undeniable. If nothing else, the appearance of Tony Lewis' plaintive "I don't wanna lose your love toniiiii-iiite" refrain in a club banger has a climactic-scene-of-a-Hollywood-blockbuster impact. But still, one's gag reflex gets a helluva workout after prolonged exposure to this song.

In a fit of audio masochism, Daniel Nester, author of How to Be Inappropriate, has compiled on his blog 25 cover versions of the Outfield's "Your Love." See if you can listen to them all and still remain a functioning member of society.

(Here's a remix that doesn't appear in Nester's rundown. I am merciless.)

ht: @dxferris via Twitter

Friday, November 13, 2009

VV Brown : "Leave!"

Posted by Dean Fawkes on Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 4:35 PM

It only took eight months.

Never you mind.

But we finally understand what makes "Leave!" by Northampton's VV Brown work.

Besides the '50s rock & roll doo-wopness of it, and a video that demolishes an old Tori Amos idea, it's the way the song's dynamics run up against the walls of each other and does funny things to your stomach.

The end of each verse, interestingly, goes up, uP, UP.

While the end of the chorus goes down.

Simple. Unusual.

Success!


VV Brown : "Leave! [Little Boots Mix]"

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Missing the Point About Veteran's Day

Posted by Dave Segal on Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 2:03 PM

But what the hell, it's a great track that you should hear, and this is its 30th anniversary.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

About those SAD Songs in This Week's Underage

Posted by Megan Seling on Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 12:25 PM

In this week's Underage column, I list a few of the songs I'm listening to these days—these cold, rainy days like today. If you haven't heard these songs yet (and you like listening to sad stuff sometimes), then the internet has a couple presents for you. You can hear Asahi's "Baltimore" on their MySpace, and Sub Pop has a free MP3 of Tiny Vipers' "Dreamer" (posted below, for your listening pleasure).

Tiny Vipers - "Dreamer" (via Subpop.com)

Cry on, crybabies.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Audion's "Instant in You"

Posted by Dave Segal on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 11:53 AM

Audion (aka suave song-and-dance-music man Matthew Dear of Ghostly International/Spectral Sound) has a new track available for free download, "Instant in You." It's a creepy yet sensual stealth weapon for DJs. Hear it here.

Audion performs Mon. Nov. 16 at Triple Door with Pezzner (live) and the Knightriders DJ crew supporting. It's going to be an audio-visual spectacle unprecedented in the hallowed confines of that downtown dinner theater. (See video below for a brief taste.)

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

"I'll Get 'em Hot! Show 'em What I Got!"

Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 4:38 PM

Don't ever die, Christopher Walken:

BrokenHomes' "Unicron's Toothache"

Posted by Dave Segal on Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 4:00 PM

This track by BrokenHomes (aka Greedkid and Ray Juss), "Unicron's Toothache," sounds like it's taking giant, menacing yet sparkly steps into a disorienting, rave new world. I feel as if I need to upgrade my nervous system to fully appreciate it.

(Recommended by @GASLAMPKILLER via Twitter, so you know it's a thriller.)

Friday, October 30, 2009

CanCon! Fan Death - "Reunited"

Posted by Unpaid Intern on Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 11:34 AM

Posted by Intern Ashley Robinson

I moved away from Vancouver six months ago, and find myself pining for most things Canadian as the season changes and homesickness takes hold. That said, I don't think it's pure Canadian lust fueling my excessive love for the video below. I'm pretty certain it'll inspire some serious heart-pangs regardless of how you may feel about those people up north.

If you feel like signing up for Fan Death's mailing list, they'll reward you by giving a free-but-strings-attached mp3 version of the song.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The New Foo Fighters Song Is Boring.... and Also a Ripoff of "A Day In the Live" by the Beatles!

Posted by Megan Seling on Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 10:53 AM

So the Foo Fighters are releasing a greatest hits record. That's fine. I thought they did years ago but turns out that was just their self-titled album. Ba dum bum ching! Anyway, as most bands do, the Foos are also including a couple new tracks on this greatest hits collection and one of them is called "Word Forward."

And for the first 40 seconds, all it does it echo the first 40 seconds of "A Day In the Life." Check out the evidence, my friends, and then join me in slapping Dave Grohl for being so lazy.

Thankfully (or not, in this case) the rest of the song does NOT sound exactly like any Beatles songs. It's just very mediocre.

Pa-Rum-Pa-Pum-Pum (Extended Disco Version)

Posted by Eric Grandy on Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 10:48 AM

Lindstrom_Christabelle_by_Kim_Hiorthoy_09_03.jpg

Pitchfork reports today that Norwegian disco auteur Lindstrøm will be releasing a 40 minute long version of "Little Drummer Boy" to be sold as a bonus disc via Rough Trade for his forthcoming collaboration with singer Christabelle, Real Life is No Cool. Lindstrøm's longest track previously was the title cut of his Where You Go I Go Too EP, which clocked in at just shy of 29 minutes.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Every Year, Exactly This Time of Year

Posted by Eric Grandy on Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 3:46 PM

On first glance at its headline, I totally thought this post was going to be about this song (also a fine soundtrack for your soggy, gray late October day):

Go and Tell it to the Trees

Posted by Eric Grandy on Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 1:12 PM

One more for these guys:


Portland doom metal band Trees (no relation) play the Comet tonight with PussyGutt, Story of Rats, and Same Sex Dictator.

Friday, October 23, 2009

A Few Days Ago It Was Roger Miller...

Posted by Brendan Kiley on Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 12:38 PM

...now I've got Robbie Fulks on my mind. Autumn brings out the twang.

"Cigarette State":

"Alabama's grand/(the state, not the band)."

And "At The Corner Of Eyelove And Ewe":

"There will be moonlit rides by coach and horse/a fine hotel, some intercourse/and later on, a big divorce/oh how badly it shall end!"

Fulks also wrote the stinging "Roots Rock Weirdos" (a short preview here) which, somebody once pointed out, could be effectively converted to "Math Rock Beardos" by changing just 19 words ("1951" for "1991," etc.).

Friday, October 16, 2009

These Arms Are Snakes: "Red Line Season"

Posted by Grant Brissey on Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 3:01 PM

The new These Arms Are Snakes record Tail Swallower and Dove is still lodging itself into my head, and I'm enjoying every minute of it. Here's a track for your listening pleasure.

"Red Line Season"






These Arms Are Snakes play Vera tomorrow night with DD-MM-YYYY and Constant Lovers. What an excellent bill.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Warner Jepson's "Orange Wind"

Posted by Dave Segal on Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 12:21 PM

Presented simply because it's fantastic and unknown to 99.9 percent of the population (although Christopher DeLaurenti probably has this on flexidisc). Sometimes that's enough.

More on the extraordinary composer Warner Jepson here.

ht: @imprec via Twitter

Burial and Flying Lotus Collaborate

Posted by Eric Grandy on Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 12:00 PM

Charles Mudede to thread, please!


As Pitchfork reports:

Earlier this year, FlyLo posted the mysterious track on his MySpace page, then removed it. Thankfully, it is on YouTube, and you can hear it below, via Gorilla vs. Bear. It's a particularly murky bit of downbeat electronic heaviness with, of all things, a bit of V.I.C.'s dance-rap goof "Get Silly" thrown in at the end.

It has been confirmed that this untitled track is indeed a collaboration between the two downbeat sound scientists. Unfortunately, there are no plans to release the song or for the two to work together again.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Posse On Google Maps

Posted by Eric Grandy on Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 3:41 PM


Finally, someone has meticulously retraced the route of Sir Mix-a-Lot's landmark Seattle hiphop joint "Posse on Broadway" on Google Maps! That someone is this guy, and you can find his map (with pop-up lyrical citations) here.

Picture_2.png

(ht: Matt Hickey)

Monday, October 12, 2009

Re: Good Morning, Monday

Posted by Eric Grandy on Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 11:00 AM

gibbard-farrar-the-voice.jpg

If Chris Walla + J. Robbins doesn't brighten your morning, then perhaps we can interest you in some Ben Gibbard + Jay Farrar x Jack Kerouac? Gibbard and Farrar have written a suite of songs to soundtrack a documentary, called One Fast Move Or I'm Gone, about the time Kerouac spent at Big Sur, in San Francisco, and in New York writing Big Sur—the lyrics are cribbed from Kerouac's writing, arranged by Farrar, and sung by Gibbard. You can hear "These Roads Don't Move at NPR and "The Void" via Stereogum.

Good Morning, Monday

Posted by Megan Seling on Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 10:51 AM

If your week has gotten off to a rough start, here's something that might save it... over a year ago, Chris Walla and J. Robbins wrote and recorded a song together (!) in one day (!!) for NPR's Project Song, and it has finally made it up onto the interwebz.

The two used an image taken by Tom Chambers as their inspiration, then worked together to create sonic magic. You can see a video of the process and hear the song, "Mercury," here.

I love it and I think these two, who never met before this project, should work together more often. (Please?)

Friday, October 9, 2009

"Here Comes a Feeling You Thought You'd Forgotten"

Posted by Eric Grandy on Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 2:35 PM

Totally loving the new Vampire Weekend song stuck in my head, and had some further thoughts on the matter. First of all, someone pointed out that the band—who are smart guys, and who have just spent the past two years dealing with countless critics dissecting their art and aesthetics—are clearly just trolling the haters (who get dutifully apoplectic at any perceived notion of class or privilege) at this point with lyrics about their Mexican winter vacation and such. Second, it occurred to me that these lyrics ("in December, drinking horchata/I'd look psychotic in a balaclava") didn't just have a general precedent in the VW song "Campus" ("spilled keffir on your keffiyeh") but that in fact "Horchata" is a direct, probably conscious echo of that song's winning "exotic" drink/apparel formula—like so:

horchata:balaclava::keffir:keffiyeh

See what they did there?

Finally, I think people are getting caught on the obvious lyrical snags of this song and missing some really fun lyrical play happening deeper in the track—the way the lines repeat with small substitutions to come up with new meanings; the weirdly intimate imagery and dramatic tension of the couplet "With lips and teeth to ask how my day went/boots and fists to pound on the pavement"; the way all that organic matter comes pushing through the pavements and tool sheds of the workaday world just as the song hits its instrumentally overgrown climax (and, really, the whole song is about the tension between the workaday world—yes, even Vampire Weekends get the blues—and the dream of paradisaical escape...or at least it's about trying to choose between skiing and the beach for your winter break).

Also, I think the marimbas are cute.


Also, is it possible the SW music editor was let go just for being totally wrong about this song and what it means for VW's viability vis a vis some supposedly imminent "hipster" backlash? Alas, probably not. (For those who thought my previous post on this song was pre-emptive, though, it was in fact a lighthearted if perhaps too thinly veiled riposte to exactly this wrongheadedness.)

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Bad Kids

Posted by Brendan Kiley on Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 10:45 AM

This music video is so firmly lodged in my head, I can almost feel the bulge in my skull.

It's lodged in my head because it comically and elegantly demonstrates that being a thug is politically radical (in its way) and that all political radicalism has an element of thuggery.

Watch this video while thinking about how much we love Camano Island kid. (And I love the Camano Island kid. I recognize that I'm romanticizing what will probably become a flesh-and-blood tragedy—but I can't help it. I love him.)

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

In Case You Need Proof That it is Indeed a "Wild World."

Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 3:12 PM

You've probably heard the phrase, "he sang the shit out of that song!" Well my friends, in the following video Daniel Ewens sings the shit out of Cat Stevens' "Wild World"—and refuses to clean up after himself. I'm not sure if I mean that in a good or bad way. (Nice shirt, btw.)

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