omgnyc

Real Estate played K & K Super Buffet

2012-01-29T18:27:00.000-05:00

Real Estate - "Easy" from Tom Scharpling

After an explosive set from noise jam masters Black Dice, New Jersey's Real Estate took to the stage to close out an exhausting night of great music all set in the middle of an exotic Chinese restaurant. They kicked things off with "Green Aisles" and then dove straight into a new tune and played a perfectly balanced set of warm sunny songs taken from both of the band's two great records. While live renditions of their newest tracks really sparkled in a live setting, the sometimes triple guitar sounded so much richer and really allowed for the band to stretch their talents, it was their older tunes that really got the crowd moving. "Beach Comber" sent the crowd into swaying bliss and "It's Real" really took things over the edge. The breezy melodies and flowing rhythms seemed to already have a classic feel and the band cruised through each track as if they have been playing them for years; their effortless riffs floating off into the night.

Jeff Mangum played BAM

2012-01-22T00:59:00.001-05:00

The once elusive Jeff Mangum finished a sold out, three run show tonight at the Howard Gilman Opera House to a silent and enraptured audience. Surrounded by four guitars, the myth of a man played a single chord and already applause rang out from the crowd and after two more attempts, Mangum proclaimed "this is the easiest show I've ever played." After he was finally able to dive into a song, he kicked off the evening with Aeroplane's epic finale "Two-Headed Boy Part Two", it was an onslaught of all the classics one would hope to hear. While his performance at I'll Be Your Mirror was like seeing a Blue Whale in it's natural habitat (the last thing you ever thought you would actually witness), his performance tonight was full of energy and a special sparkle that dusted the show with a certain magic of its own. Tracks from Neutral Milk's two landmark albums intertwined through the set and the majesty of the performance was elevated even more so as Julian Koster and the rest of the Music Tapes provided additional beauty as they joined in on french horn, trumpet, accordion, and saw giving an extra glow and allowing for a triumphant rendition of "The Fool". The performance seemed natural and calm, not something you'd expect from a man who spent so long out of the spotlight, and after encouraging the crowd to sing along earlier, "if you're gonna sing at home, you might as well sing here", he started the encore by insisting everyone rush the stage. The night ended in a mob of people gathering at the stage swaying to "Song Against Sex" and Jeff high-fiving everyone in reach.

Setlist:
Two-Headed Boy Part Two
Holland, 1945
Gardenhead / Leave Me Alone
Little Birds
Engine
Ghost
Naomi
April 8
Oh Comely
Two Headed Boy
The Fool
--
Song Against Sex
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Lower Dens - "Brains"

2012-01-17T22:17:00.000-05:00

Despite a lackluster and rather dull live performance, Lower Dens can still produce somer killer tunes as displayed in the new track, "Brains", off their new album Nootropics (out May 1st) via GorillavsBear.

Jay-Z - "Glory (Feat B.I.C.)"

2012-01-09T17:39:00.001-05:00

In case you missed it, Rap's royal couple (Hov + B) welcomed their first child, Blue Ivy Carter, to the world this past weekend and to celebrate, Jay-Z has released a single entitled "Glory". The track, which actually features Blue Ivy's cries, goes into great detail just how much love the couple have for their little Princess. Listen to it here and grab some tissues while your at it.

On a side note, I'd like to think that the Empire State building was decked out in blue this weekend in honor of this occasion. Congrats to the happy couple!

WU LYF played David Letterman

2012-01-05T21:11:00.000-05:00

WU LYF dropped by David Letterman last night to perform one of my favorite songs from 2011. Watch the guys from Manchester growl through "Heavy Pop" above via Pitchfork.

omg-nyc's guest list of 2011

2011-12-30T00:48:00.000-05:00

To conclude my year end countdown of 2011, I've asked some of my closest audiophiles for their favorites from the past 12 months. Thank you all for the continuous support and here is to a fantastic 2012.

Eric Goldart:

Shows:

St. Lucia at Tameney Hall

The Strokes at Madison Square Garden

TV on the Radio at Williamsburg Waterfront

!!! at 285 Kent

Godspeed You! Black Emperor at Terminal 5

Albums:

01 M83 | Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

02 Jay-Z & Kanye West | Watch the Throne

03 Weekend | Sports

04 The Rapture | In the Grace of Your Love

05 Radiohead | King of Limbs

Songs:

01 Holy Ghost | "Some Children"

02 Tyler, the Creator | "Yonkers"

03 TV on the Radio | "Repetition"

04 Metronomy | "The Look"

05 Battles | "Ice Cream"

Mary McGee:

A perfect wake-up jam must be neither too fast nor too slow. This is why it's generally best to go epic. Pop-music affords that quite easily. When getting up in the morning, a favorite strategy of mine is to pretend I'm in a music video (Britney Spears' Lucky is the VERY BEST for this but this ain't an All Time list so). Start off lip syncing and end dancing. Trust me you won't miss whatever lame default beep you were using.

10. Drake | Headlines"

Sometimes it's nice to remind yourself first thing in the morning that it's compliments you may be too strung out on.

09. Jay-Z & Kanye West | "No Church in the Wild"

08. The Book of Mormon Soundtrack | "I Believe"

This. Shit. Is. FUNNY.

07. Taylor Swift | "Better Than Revenge"

06. Fleet Foxes | Battery Kinzie"

Every once in a while Marc can convince me to appreciate a song that wasn't entirely made up by robots. Thanks Marc!

05. Britney Spears | "How I Roll"

Best song off of Femme Fatale which is difficult. Have all your fantasies about a conversation with Miss Spears 9000 come true!

04. The Strokes | "Under the Cover of Darkness"

03. Rihanna | "You Da One"

Dis bish does it again. I only chose this over We Found Love because it's easier to do tha dougie to.

02. Katy Perry | "E. T."

01. Beyonce | "Countdown"

Choosing a favorite song off of Four is damn near impossible. Best Thing I Never Had, Party, I Was Here and of course Love on Top are all flaw-free. But I had to ultimately go with Countdown because that first verse is just DAMNtastic. Also you know who this song is about, which makes it almost TOO awesome. Get outta bed girl! Go find yourself a Hov before the world ends!

Colin Krenitsky:

Songs

Alex Turner | "Piledriver Waltz"
The songs he did for the film Submarine are my favorites from him since the first Arctic Monkeys album.

James Blake | "The Wilhelm Scream"

I don't think he's that consistent, but everything he's put out has some brilliant moments.

Panda Bear | "Last Night at the Jetty"

Can't decide whether this, "You Can Count On Me", or "Surfer's Hymn" is my favorite from Tomboy.

Real Estate | "Green Aisles"

Favorite song of the year.

The-Dream | "Nothing But Love (Demo)"

He gave this song to Beyonce, but I really like Dream singing it with that new jack drum machine.

Tyler, the Creator | "Yonkers"

Watching him blow up instantly when this hit YouTube was really cool.

The Weeknd | "The Morning"

Great hangover music.

Wilco | "One Sunday Morning"

One of Wilco's best songs in the last ten years. Jeff Tweedy at his best can just bowl you over.

Yuck | "Get Away"

I really don't care if these guys ever evolve as a band. I need this kind of rock and roll in my life.

Zomby | "Natalia's Song"

Helped tide me over while waiting for Burial to put out more stuff.

Albums

Bon Iver | Bon Iver

I bet a shitload of high school kids lost their virginity to this.

Panda Bear | Tomboy

Somehow underrated.

Real Estate | Days

Instant slack classic.

Shabazz Palaces | Black Up

Sounds like it's from a different planet...so fresh.

Yuck | Yuck

The 1990s.

Shows

The Dismemberment Plan at Paradise Rock Club (1/28)

I could not believe how tight and energetic these guys were. Best crowd energy I've ever seen at the Paradise...and it was for a reunion show. People rushing the stage for "Ice of Boston" was rad.

The Olivia Tremor Control at Brighton Music Hall (9/19)

Their attention to re-creating all the sounds their songs was incredible. A few of them were playing 3-4 instruments on certain songs.

TV on the Radio at Pitchfork Music Festival (7/17)

So soulful. Perfect end to a long day in the sun.

The National at Bank of America Pavilion (9/9)

Got to see one of my favorite bands (and a hell of a live band) on the waterfront on my birthday...can't ask for more than that.

OFWGKTA at Paradise Rock Club (5/12)

Their energy was off the charts. Rap shows generally are pretty predictable but OF keeps you on your toes.

Ben Dorenfeld:

Byrds of Paradise | Teenage Symphonies

P.S. Eliot | Sadie

The Men | Leave Home

Big Eyes | Hard Life

The Creamers | Slow Burn

Julianna Barwick | The Magic Place

Heavy Times | Jacker

Night Manager | Ghost

Scapegoat | S/T

Tycho | Dive

Kenny Vennard:

I should preface this by saying that I love pop music and electronic music. I also love good music. These are some of my favorite collections of music from this past year. Hopefully you'll find something you've never heard of. Or maybe you'll give another listen to something you have heard before, or at least heard of. Or don't! It's whatever!

10 Icona Pop | Nights Like This

For those of us already pining for the follow-up to Robyn's amazing Body Talk albums, Icona Pop is here to whet our appetites with some of the finest Swedish pop tracks released this year. Patrick Berger (the man behind Robyn's massive "Dancing On My own") produces "Manners", the breakout single. The tracks are brash and pulsating, and vocally the girls evoke the anthemic tones of fellow female duo Tegan & Sara, but you'll swear that they brought Karin Andersson in to sing back-up here and there. I'm eager for a proper LP from them.

09. Labyrinth Ear | Oak

Labyrinth Ear is a London-based duo making atmospheric, sparkly, sinister synthpop. If this sounds like your thing, download the Oak EP for free on their website and give it a whirl. All of the songs are great, but I have a personal affinity towards "Snow White", a warbling and haunting take on the title character's song “I’m Wishing” in the classic Disney film. It's not nearly as corny as it sounds, I promise.

08. Sky Ferreira | As If!

This EP is all over the place, but so is Sky Ferreira. She's a 19 year old Calvin Klein model that has producers like Bloodshy & Avant and Greg Kurstin churning out amazing pop music for her. Bloodshy & Avant, said to be responsible for her discovery on MySpace a few years back, are a tough production duo to beat. However, it's Kurstin who produces the stand-out track here with "99 Tears", which is easily one of my favorite songs of the year.

07. Austra | Feel It Break

I don't want to compare Austra to the myriad of other artists that I consider sonically similar because it would undermine the creativity in this album, which is distinctly different from those other efforts. Katie Stelmanis perches her operatic voice in the front and center of each track, which allows the nuances of the crisp and understated electronic production behind her to really expand without becoming too brooding. This album is masterfully done and wonderfully evocative.

06. The Weeknd | House Of Balloon

You've heard it by now, so I won't go into detail about it, but this is just a great debut effort. I will say that Abel Tesfaye has, to me, one of the most iconic new voices this side of the aughts, and his brutally honest depiction of a lifestyle that isn't always as glamorous as it seems has an undeniably sharp edge, yet remains refreshingly heartfelt. I felt like a total bad-ass The first time I heard the transition from the title track into the menacing "Glass Table Girls", and I am definitely not a total bad-ass. So. There’s that.

05. Twin Sister | In Heaven

There is something really magical to me about the charm and warmth that these tracks possess. The production is fun and intricate, while the compositions are nostalgic and earnest. I love that this group was brave enough (not to mention patient enough) to take the time to make the music they wanted to make instead of riding the "buzz wave". The result is divine.

04. GusGus | Arabian Horse

If you like GusGus already, you know that this is their best album in a long time, if not ever. If you don't like GusGus already, or if you don't know them, this is a great introduction. Imagine what a spooky, emotive dance album that was recorded in a cottage in Iceland might sound like. Got it? This is that album, and it is amazing. Was that an accordion? Is that an accordion tugging at my heart strings in a house song right now? Yes, it is. And it is amazing. AMAZING.

03. Will Young | Echoes

This is one of the most straight-forward, cohesive, dreamy adult pop albums since Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite was released last year. Minogue’s collection was the dance party, whereas Echoes is the lonely drive home afterwards. Richard X reigns in his visionary production skills to create a subtle and sophisticated synthesized soundscape for Will to croon and belt over. This is easily Will's most focused and personal album, and therefore his best.

02. Britney Spears | Femme Fatale

I love Britney Spears. There, I said it. But I'm not putting this year's Femme Fatale on my list for that reason alone. I also love Björk, but this year's Biophilia is not on this list (bu that's another story for another time). On her newest effort, Britney and her team show a real hunger to push the boundaries of mainstream pop music yet again (Spears did it once before back in 2007 when the critically praised but poorly promoted electropop masterpiece Blackout changed the entire landscape of the genre), and most of the time they succeed.

The big difference between this project and Blackout is the cohesion you'll find here, which can be credited to the the involvement of hit makers Dr. Luke and Max Martin. Of course, it wouldn’t be a (good) Britney album without a Bloodshy & Avant appearance ("Toxic", "Radar"). The result of their efforts on this go-around is the groundbreaking “How I Roll”, which was recently named Rolling Stone's favorite song of the year.

I can't say yet whether I think this album will age as well as the aforementioned Blackout has, but time will tell (and I do think that it will at least come very close). Is Britney a particularly good singer (or dancer [anymore], at that)? When the music is this good, it really doesn't matter.

01. Azari & III | Azari & III

Okay guys, this is an important record. I think what I like most about this album is that it reminds me of what it was like to discover electronic music in the first place. It revisits a time when techno and house music were just emerging from the underground to find their place in the mainstream world, but also finds moments to infuse updated and innovative production into the mix. Sonically the group travels from spaced-out synth instrumentals reminiscent of some of the earliest electronic music, to eclectic echoes and growls over house beats that call to mind the white label records of the early 1990s, and even into a modern big beat frenzy on the wonderful "Undecided". The album sprawls out like a map of Electronica, and these guys have evidently seen every corner of it. But don't call it retro. This music has modern ideas for the modern music listener.

Vocalists Starving Yet Full and Fritz Helder share duties wailing, warbling, crooning and sassing their way around Dinamo Azari and Alexander III's productions, which are so masterful that I would not be surprised if we see them start churning out tracks for the likes of Britney and Rihanna in a few years. For now, though, we are lucky enough to be treated to a lush and expansive homage to the music they love, which in the process has yielded new music that I love.

Some of electronic music’s opponents have argued for decades now that it universally lacks a human element. A soul, even. And yes, listening to the ongoing bastardization of electronic music by way of major labels and the general masses’ relentlessly bad taste in "popular" music, one might be lead to believe that any soul the genre may have had has since been zapped out of it. But Azari & III have successfully enforced an organic approach to making music that is, by definition, manufactured. Perhaps the most important aspect of this record for me, then, is that it proves not only that electronic music has had soul all along, but also that it is not going anywhere.

omg-nyc's albums of 2011

2011-12-23T00:55:00.000-05:00

Continuing with my end of the year lists, here are my favorite albums of 2011. I'll finish things up next week with guest lists, but in the mean time Happy Holidays!
--

10. The Weeknd | House of Balloons
Almost over night, The Weeknd became 2011's big name in post-dubstep R&B. Spitting stylized rhymes over warped Beach House samples and embodying the essence of elusive and ever so smooth textures, the Toronto crew set forth an enigma that filed the black and white shadows and smoke filled beats of this self release mix-tape with uncanny ambition and strokes of genius that left the biggest names in the game wishing they could reach the level of this soulful conundrum. Silky smooth vocals over boisterous bass lines have become signature moves and although a lesser follow-up emerged later in the year (Echoes of Silence withstanding), the sultry swagger put forth is still grabbing attention.

09. Girls | Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Christopher Owens will be the first to admit that Girls is the ultimate nostalgia ridden rock band in recent years. Rollicking riffs recalling the 1950s underline the duo's expansive follow-up to their impressive debut and displays the group reaching to new heights as showcased in the scorching "Die" and the shuffling "Alex" and "Love Like a River". Yet it's the classic crooning in "Vomit" that really displays the tremendous growth the band has made in such a short amount of time. While old school vices are certainly a prominent presence in the band's day to day life style which are clearly hinted at numerous times in Owens' lyrics, the bouncy and youthful flow of each track ads to the ambiance and mystery of any great rock and roll band.

08. WU LYF | Go Tell Fire to the Mountain
Early comparisons to Wolf Parade and Explosions in the Sky almost neglect the true originality of these Manchester natives who are daring enough to name themselves for Lucifer and greet listeners with a mighty howl worthy of any basement and far from the rungs of Radio City where the later comparison played a milestone performance earlier this year. Towering guitars are battered amongst vocals sifted through gravel as leader Ellery Roberts bellows over marching drums that come together at all the right moments before falling apart into intimate grooves all of which scream for camraderie and cult like tendencies that sit quite well with the trends of 2011.

07. James Blake | James Blake
Anyone who spent the year listening to this record through earbuds or laptop speakers has done themselves an incredible disservice. The majesty of Blake's songwriting skills might have actually been the biggest surprise on this record as his bombastic bass, warped beats, and suspended angelic vocals allowed for so much open space that his lyrics were able to fill an incredible void. The haunting crevices of emptiness, vacuum sucked emotions and brought frenzied distilled warbled production to the forefront and showcased that not only is Blake able to carry the weight of comparisons to the legendary electronic acts of Burial and Aphex Twin, but also prove that covering Joni Mitchell and Feist is right up his alley as well.

06. tUnE-yArDs | W H O K I L L
Through intricate loops of horn blasts, punching percussion, sqwaks, and steely guitar, Merrill Garbus produced a cacophony of tribal beats and worldly jams for one of the most infectious records of the years that simply screams 'party' with more enthusiasm than any other record this year. Her unique ability to create monumental moments that seem to climax into euphoria just before crumbling back into non-sequitar jams draws easy comparisons to Dirty Projects' 2009 classic Bitte Orca. However, the tribal tendencies exhuded by Garbus seem to end those comparisons in an immediate fashion. While Dirty Projectors exhibit a more invitation only sound, tUnE-yArDs live by the more the merrier attitude. Garnished in face paint and eccentric outfits (which many audience members replicate), Garbus has invited everyone to the party and serves as a great reminder that there is plenty worth gathering about and making some serious commotion along the way.

05. Real Estate | Days
On their sophomore record, Brooklyn-via-New Jersey upstarts Real Estate put some polish on their lackadaisical rhythms and set their guitars on cruise control for countless wasted miles. Sun-soaked intertwining guitars and simple melodies evoke soft spoken 70s rock and quintessential indie rock while hopelessly embracing the nostalgia of endless suburban settings. Tranquil and flowing vocals spill over effortlessly cool guitar licks that somehow never seem to grow repetitive and offer some of the most breezy songs of the year fit for all of your aimless drives.

04. Iceage | New Brigade
With slashing guitars that echo Wire and Gang of Four, these Danish teens broke onto the scene in 2011 before anyone even knew what they looked like or could figure out that the band name was actually just one word. Known for their abbrasive, loud, short (hell, the album doesn't even crack 25 minutes), and often bloody live performances, the hardcore quartet made quite the name for themselves and even landed a spot opening for Fucked Up on one of their first U.S. shows. Without giving anyone a second to breathe, they reinvigorated gloomy post-punk with a fresh D.I.Y. twist and in a year in which there was plenty to rebel against, helped give punk rock a refreshing face-lift.

03. Panda Bear | Tomboy
By now it should come to no surprise that Noah Lennox (better known as Animal Collective's Panda Bear) is a true master of sonic texture and layering sample over sample to create some of the most hymnal and sharp drones in indie music. Ditching the sprawl of Person Pitch's epic track lengths in favor for some more traditional times, Panda Bear was able to achieve some of the most mutilating sonic compositions of the year. Reverb soaked guitar drenched skewed sampled and still allowed for Panda Bear to be as questioning and charismatic as ever before, while still sailing forth into uncharted territory. More accessible pop opportunities that exist on his previous releases (both solo and as part of the collective) are not as apparent as one might have expected, this album is truly for the patient listener, however if you think you can guess what Lennox is going to do next, you have a lot to learn.

02. M83 | Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
Anthony Gonzalez did not do himself any favors when he described his new album as "very, very, very epic" months before it was officially released. However, when lead single "Midnight City" hit the internet this summer, he seemed to turn any doubters into believers and when the double album dropped this fall, anyone still on the fence seemed to leap over in excitement. Combining soaring shoegaze guitars reminiscent from his early (and also phenomenal) work and the recent styles that reflected John Hughes' film soundtracks, Gonzalez and company complied over twenty intergalactic jams that launch listeners into the cosmos without retreading on a single note from the past. Upon first listen, a friend said to me "I wouldn't be surprised if this launches them to the next level" and that is exactly what this album has done.

01. Fleet Foxes | Helplessness Blues
"I'll have so much to tell you about" only begins to describe the journey Fleet Foxes set out to embark upon this year with the release of their second record. The liner notes describe ring leader Robin Pecknold as a 'prophet' and after joining the band's celestial voyage through the lens of a wide-eyed walker wandering towards the dawn, it is difficult to argue this statement. Even with a band as profound as Fleet Foxes, the gang is still full of wonder and uncertainty that fulfills the listener with incredible amounts of hope and aspiration that the wonders of an illustrious rock band seem to be the furthest thing from their minds. Dreams of working til you're sore and soon owning the store are not those typically associated with the most promising musical group in recent time, however that seems to be where Fleet Foxes separate themselves from the rest of the pack. These woodsman are still longing for a person as bewildered by the world and as full of imagination as they are and they present their joyous ambitions through golden autumnal melodies and voices as pristine as the lights hung in the night sky.

omgnyc's songs of 2011

2011-12-16T00:31:00.000-05:00

I'm kicking off my end of the year countdowns with my favorite songs of 2011. My favorite albums and guest lists will come in the following weeks. Thank you so much for reading this year!

For your convenience, I've made a Spotify playlist so you can stream all the tracks.

01. Fucked Up | "Queen of Hearts"
02. M83 | "Midnight City"
03. Real Estate | "Green Aisles"
04. Fleet Foxes | "Grown Ocean"
05. tUnE-yArDs | "Bizness"
06. The Weeknd | "House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls"
07. Tyler, The Creator | "Yonkers"
08. Beyoncé | "Party (Feat. André 3000)"
09. Battles | "Ice Cream (Feat. Matias Aguayo)"
10. Cults | "You Know What I Mean"
11. James Blake | "The Wilhelm Scream"
12. Iceage | "Never Return"
13. Girls | "Vomit"
14. Panda Bear | "Surfer's Hymn"
15. Wu Lyf | "Heavy Pop"
16. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart | "Belong"
17. Yuck | "Get Away"
18. Atlas Sound | "Te Amo"
19. EMA | "The Grey Ship"
20. Shabazz Palaces | "Swerve... the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding)"
21. Washed Out | "Amor Fati"
22. Wiz Khalifa | "Roll Up"
23. Big Troubles | "Misery"
24. Widowspeak | "Gun Shy"
25. Julianna Barwick | "The Magic Place"

Keep Shelly in Athens - "Struggle With Yourself"

2011-12-08T00:12:00.001-05:00

Check out the track "Struggle With Yourself" from Grecian duo Keep Shelly in Athens. The song comes from the band's recent release, Campus Martius E.P., which dropped earlier this week via Planet Mu.

Keep Shelly in Athens - Struggle With Yourself by Keep Shelly in Athens

Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror

2011-12-02T18:31:00.000-05:00

Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror from Mom+Pop on Vimeo.

Sleigh Bells have announced the follow up to one of my favorite albums last year. Watch the teaser for their sophomore record, Reign of Terror, via Stereogum.

m83 played Webster Hall

2011-11-23T00:39:00.000-05:00

After dropping by Jimmy Fallon to unload an exhilarating performance of "Midnight City", m83 stormed Webster Hall for the first of two NYC area shows. Comprised mostly of gems from the recent Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, Anthony Gonzalez and company launched through a palpitating set complete with dizzying lights and waves of sound that drenched the crowd. Morgan Kibby provided stunning vocals that matched Anthony's intensity and sent the crowd into pure bliss as layers of sonic textures pummeled over washed out dreamy harmonies. A spectacular rendition of "Teen Angst" came shortly after the expected "Intro" to kick start the evening, and other favorites such as "Kim & Jessie" and "We Own the Sky" sent tingles down spines. Just as the band seemed to be firing on all cylinders, an out of this world saxophone solo rocked through song of the year contender "Midnight City", which sent the audience into an absolute euphoric state. Aural landscapes are part of what makes m83's music so mind blowing, however seeing these monstrous tunes performed live it truly out of this world. Shortly following the fantastic "A Guitar and a Heart", the band returned for a brief encore that rocketed the crowd into the outer cosmos shattering any expectations and solidifying a triumphant moment in the band's career.

Setlist:

01 Intro
02 Teen Angst
03 Kim & Jessie
04 Reunion
05 Year One, One UFO
06 We Own the Sky
07 Steve McQueen
08 Wait
09 This Bright Flash
10 Claudia Lewis
11 Midnight City
12 A Guitar and a Heart
--
13 Skin of the Night
14 Couleurs

Fucked Up and Titus Andronicus played Warsaw

2011-11-16T01:14:00.001-05:00

Less than twenty-four hours after the eviction of Zuccotti Park, rising punk acts Fucked Up and Titus Andronicus stormed Warsaw in Greenpoint, bringing their triple guitar fury to the people of Brooklyn. Before launching into the opening of their excellent debut, Patrick Stickles had a few words for last nights events and set a theme for the evening full of angst, power, and hope. The (almost) beardless leader of the New Jersey powerhouse preached his thoughts to an audience full of eager listeners who seemed to share similar sentiment regarding the recent incidents in Manhattan, as songs from the band's third album were explained before exploding live onstage. While the new tunes certainly were intriguing and leave much promise for what the band does next, cuts from The Monitor really struck with the heart of the crowd as the passion overpowered Sickles and at times even replaced his vocals. While the band's politically charged anthems seemed more than appropriate for the evening, the night truly belonged to Fucked Up. Despite recent rumors of the band's end, Pink Eye took to the stage with his child on his shoulders before ripping through the recent opus David Comes to Life in its entirety. The energy comprised by this band is nearly unmatched by most other acts today. Aggressive vocals, lightning drumming, and shredding guitar blasts make up the concept masterpiece that unfolded live before the crowd tonight and just like sitting down to listen to this record (although I doubt many people remain sitting while this thing plays), the idea can be daunting. However, Fucked Up play with such precision and comradory that the monumental album seemed to go by in the blink of an eye. Aside from telling the audience to "give a thumbs up to anyone partaking in the protests", the onstage banter was kept to a minimal, allowing the brilliance of the band to shine through and through.

Jay-Z + Kanye West played the Izod Center

2011-11-06T16:19:00.000-05:00

The reigning titans of Hip Hop are in the midst of their first joint tour in support of their recent classic Watch the Throne and dropped by the Meadowlands Saturday night for the first of four NYC-area shows. With no opening act, the lights went down at 9:00 before the two stars rose on two towering platforms on opposite ends of the arena and launched into "H.A.M.", the first taste from the Watch the Throne project. For this effort, the duo are keeping things minimal. The backing band is shrouded in darkness, Mr. West and Jay stick to their all black everything attire, and simple spotlights shown over minimal beams of light keeping all the attention on the hosts of the evening. For over two hours the two traded classics after classics in a non-stop attack of the biggest hip hop songs from the past decade. Such a presence and command over an audience was delivered in a way in which only these fellas are capable. Towards the middle of the evening, the champs broke things down and took a rest in the middle of the stage and swapped stories from the past while Hova weaved in a stellar "Hard Knock Life" into "Izzo". The two stuck to the classics, delivering what will soon be known as a legendary show as the audience seemed to only be more enthralled after each song. While Kanye kept thing fresh with recent favorites "Power", "Monster", and an ever impressive "Runaway", Jigga went old school with "Big Pimpin", "Nigga What, Nigga Who" and the epic stadium shaking "99 Problems". It was an evening of two friends trading tricks and showing off their skill with nothing but ease; this is them in the most simple of settings and natural talent running wild. The ultimate example of "less is more", these men are kings of the game, but on stage they keep it to best friends.

Setlist:
01 H.A.M.
02 Who Gon Stop Me
03 Otis
04 Welcome To The Jungle
05 Gotta Have It
06 Where I'm From
07 Nigga What, Nigga Who
08 Can't Tell Me Nothing
09 Jesus Walks
10 Diamonds From Sierra Leone
11 Public Service Announcement
12 U Don't Know
13 Run This Town
14 Monster
15 Power
16 Murder To Excellence
17 New Day
18 Hard Knock Life
19 Izzo
20 Good Life
21 Empire State of Mind
22 Runaway
23 Heartless
24 Stronger
25 On To The Next One
26 Dirt off Your Shoulder
27 Touch The Sky
28 All of the Lights
29 Big Pimpin'
30 Gold Digger
31 99 Problems
32 No Church in The Wild
33 Lift Off
34 Niggas In Paris
--
35 Encore
36 Made In America
37 Why I Love You

[photo via The New York Times]

Real Estate - "It's Real"

2011-11-04T17:44:00.000-04:00

Real Estate's new album, Days, is officially out and much like recent releases from Crystal Castles and Titus Andronicus, makes their first album almost obsolete. The warm and breezy guitars outshines their debut record in almost every way and fully captures their effortlessly cool mindset. Check out the video for "It's Real" above [via Pitchfork].

Mazzy Star - "Common Burn"

2011-10-24T19:06:00.000-04:00

Mazzy Star will release their first single in 15 years next week. Naturally, the internet has beat them to the punch. "Common Burn" was apparently leaked on Spotify (check here) earlier today and someone ripped a stellar copy. The single, backed with "Lay Myself Down", officially drops 10/31 and will be followed by a vinyl release on 11/8.

Mazzy Star - Common Burn by weallwantsome1

[via stereogum]

From a Mess to the Masses

2011-10-18T00:05:00.001-04:00

Phoenix - From A Mess To The Masses from Freak! mag on Vimeo.

"Phoenix are the subject of a new documentary, From a Mess to the Masses, about their 2009-2010 tour in support of their breakout album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. It was directed by Antoine Wagner, who also directed the video for their 2009 single "Lisztomania", and Francisco Soriano."

[via Pitchfork]

Tennis - "She's Not There" (Zombies Cover)

2011-10-12T17:47:00.000-04:00

Tell Her No by tennisinc

Retro-pop duo Tennis drop this excellent cover of the classic Zombies track "Tell Her No".

“We’ve spent the last several months writing and preparing for what we hope will keep us busy all winter. We will be announcing a Forest Family release in the next couple of weeks as well as tour dates to make up for the Vaccines tour cancellations. Also, we are excited to announce the existence of our next album (produced by our new friend Patrick Carney) coming out early next year. In the meantime, we made this cover of the Zombies “Tell Her No.” It’s been a long time favorite of ours and is the best use of a lone-clap we’ve ever heard.”

[via. GorillavsBear]

ATP presents: I'll Be Your Mirror Asbury Park

2011-10-03T17:57:00.004-04:00

By now, you must have heard that the American rendition of I'll Be Your Mirror invaded Asbury Park, NJ this past weekend. For 3 days the decaying Convention Hall and accompanying Paramount Theatre and Asbury Lanes played host to a rare appearance by Jeff Mangum and the East Coast return of Portishead with tons of other great acts spread out over the course of the weekend. Shellac took to the stage Friday evening for a pummeling performance of heavy jarring guitar and witty banter. Saturday saw Battles rock through heavy hitting tunes mostly from their latest effort Gloss Drop playing with such precision and ease and sneaking in trimmed renditions of "Atlas" and "Tonto" to accompany newer favorites "Ice Cream" and "My Machines". Deerhoof blasted through noise-pop tracks early on Sunday and Public Enemy gave a weekend highlight performance ripping though Fear of a Black Planet and other greatest hits before Portishead closed out the Convention Hall Sunday evening.

While there were numerous fantastic shows throughout the festival, the weekend sincerely belonged to the headliners. As the lights descended on the declining Paramount Theatre a shadow moved across the stage and a hush fell over the crowd. An orange glow illuminated the legend in the flesh, Jeff Mangum, as he sat center stage, surrounded by four guitars, and gently dove into what would be a magical evening. As nearly every number from the infamous Aeroplane Over the Sea and several tracks from the also excellent On Avery Island rang out over the crowd, the audience watched along silently still in supreme wonder that this event was actually taking place. Mangum hardly spoke as he delivered stunning renditions of such highly regarded songs many thought would never be heard again. As main set closer "Holland, 1945" came to a close, Jeff quickly set down his guitar and exited off stage. He shortly returned for a request of "Naomi" and final number "Engine" and the left again into darkness leaving a crowd of people in utter bliss.

English gloom and doom trip-hop pioneers Portishead, took to the stage Saturday night to a glowing P projected behind the group before they ripped through an unbelievable performance the Eastern seaboard had been anxiously awaiting since the late '90s. After two tracks from 2008's remarkable Third, Dummy opener "Mysterons" sent the crowd into a frenzy as the band went on to unleash stunning renditions of classic numbers "Sour Times" "Glory Box" and a breathtaking intimate version of "Wandering Star" all of which were fit between Third sensations "Magic Doors" and "The Rip". Perhaps it was initial reaction to actually seeing Portishead, but Saturday's out of this world set could not be matched on Sunday despite the inclusion of recent highlight "Chase the Tear" and a ridiculous "Machine Gun" featuring the one and only Chuck D of Public Enemy spitting verses from "Black Steal in the Hour of Chaos". After years of staying out of the spotlight and earning a reputation of being a reserved performer, Beth Gibbons capped off Saturday's spectacle by diving into a crowd of adoring fans.

Jeff Mangum Set List (Friday):
01 "Oh Comely"
02 "Two-Headed Boy, Pt. 2"
03 "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea"
04 "Song Against Sex"
05 "Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone"
06 "Ghost"
07 "True Love Will Find You In The End" (Daniel Johnston Cover)
08 "Two-Headed Boy"
09 "Baby For Pree"
10 "The King Of Carrot Flowers, Pt. 1"
11 "The King Of Carrot Flowers, Pts. 2 & 3"
12 "Holland, 1945"
--
13 "Naomi"
14 "Engine"

Portishead Set List (Saturday):
01 "Silence"
02 "Hunter"
03 "Mysterons"
04 "The Rip"
05 "Sour Times"
06 "Magic Doors"
07 "Wandering Star"
08 "Machine Gun"
09 "Over"
10 "Glory Box"
11 "Cowboys"
12 "Threads"
--
13 "Roads"
14 "We Carry On"

Portishead Set List (Sunday):
01 "Silence"
02 "Nylon Smile"
03 "Mysterons"
04 "The Rip"
05 "Sour Times"
06 "Magic Doors"
07 "Wandering Star"
08 "Machine Gun" (feat. Chuck D)
09 "Over"
10 "Glory Box"
11 "Chase the Tear"
12 "Cowboys"
13 "Roads"
--
14 "Threads"
15 "We Carry On"

(via Pitchfork)

tUnE-yArDs - "Gangsta"

2011-09-27T00:50:00.002-04:00

New video for the sensational tUnE-yArDs track "Gangsta" off the exuberant w h o k i l l.

Fleet Foxes played the Williamsburg Waterfront

2011-09-25T11:05:00.003-04:00

After witnessing the best way to see the Walkmen (gorgeous orange-lit skies over Manhattan and golden glows back-lighting the band), according to Robin Pecknold, Fleet Foxes gathered on stage to begin a triumphant set that covered nearly every song in the band's catalog. The evening kicked off with "The Plans / Bitter Dancer" before a well received "Mykonos" in which the band displayed their epic vocal powers and supreme melodies. The band left nothing behind as they churned out fantastic displays from both their notable self-titled debut and the likely to be album of the year, Helplessness Blues. With true grace, the band delivered majestic vocals and autumnal lighting added extra warmth to their beautiful tunes. The marching rhythm of "Battery Kinzie" and mesmerizing vocals of the 1-2 punch "White Winter Hymnal" -> "Ragged Wood" segue delighted the crowed allowing for massive vocal response that was no match for the elegance of Fleet Foxes. Witty banter rose between songs, J. Tillman really likes brunch it turns out, and showed a less serious side of the band which transitioned to serious concentration for each flawless song of the evening. The band ended the main set in the same fashion of their brilliant sophomore display, stunning vocals ended the evening in the true spirit of the band. While many contemporary bands are trying to make vocal harmonies in spirit of the Beach Boys, this band has invented a whole new approach making them classics in their own write. Robin graced the stage for a solo track to kick off the encore before finishing the evening with a rousing rendition of "Helplessness Blues". The band was in stunning form last evening bringing summer to an end and ushering in autumn in the most appropriate way.

Set List:
1. The Plans / Bitter Dancer
2. Mykonos
3. English House
4. Battery Kinzie
5. Bedouin Dress
6. Sim Sala Bim
7. Your Protector
8. White Winter Hymnal
9. Ragged Wood
10. Montezuma
11. Lorelai
12. He Doesn't Know Why
13. The Shrine / An Argument
14. Blue Spotted Tail
15. Grown Ocean
--
16. I Let You
17. Sun Also Rises
18. Blue Ridge Mountains
19. Helplessness Blues

Big Troubles played Glasslands

2011-09-23T00:38:00.003-04:00

Big Troubles - Sad Girls from Slumberland Records on Vimeo.

Big Troubles came out swinging tonight, laying down jam after jam in support of their sophomore effort, Romantic Comedy, which is out next week via Sumberland. The band's progression on the newest record came through in full force during the performance, highlighting not only the cleaner production value, but also the maturity of the songwriting which seems to have risen to tremendous new heights. All, notably, without compromising the band's unique sound. The Brooklyn-via-New Jersey quintet delighted the hometown crowd consisting of members of Real Estate, Woods, and soon to be tourmates the Pains of Being Pure at Heart as they combined lo-fi/shoegaze jams and upbeat pop tempos recalling 80s and 90s dream-pop anthems. New tracks "Misery" and "Sad Girls" were epic crowd pleasers and definite highlights of the show as both tracks showcased the band's talent of combing 60s pop bliss and fuzzy rock hooks and should not surprise anyone if they ended up on many year-end lists.

Widowspeak played Knitting Factory

2011-09-21T23:37:00.002-04:00

Roughly a month and a half after releasing their self-titled debut album, Dream-Pop trio Widowspeak finished up their run with Vivian Girls last night with a hometown show in Brooklyn. Molly Hamilton delivered sultry vocals, which have gained plenty of Mazzy Star comparisons, that shone through dueling guitar work and displayed nods to both Phil Spector inspired pop reincarnations, much like Tennis, and the oozing and graceful guitar strokes of Beach House. Up tempo numbers such their debut single as "Gun Shy" got the audience to move and a mid set cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" got plenty cheers. The band continued to thank their friends for the support and remarked on how excited they were to be back in home. The group's simplistic approach to their particular style of celestial pop still left plenty of room for letting loose on stage and the band was able to give everything an extra push, highlighting anything that could have been lost on the record.

Atlas Sound - "Te Amo"

2011-09-17T18:46:00.003-04:00

New track "Te Amo" from Atlas Sound's forthcoming album Parallax (cover art above) out November 8th.

Atlas Sound - Te Amo by Pretty Much Amazing

TV on the Radio | Broken Social Scene played the Williamsburg Waterfront

2011-09-08T22:57:00.003-04:00

It is not every day that Broken Social Scene kicks off an evening. The indie rock veterans are worthy headliners, but they took the opening slot tonight in Williamsburg to "warm things up and fight off the rain." The band was in full force as five men stood at the edge of the stage, guitars blazing, as they kicked off an extended "Cause = Time" which was just one of many well received jams. Classic tunes were carried out with extra ambition as it would be the last time Broken Social Scene would play New York for quite some time. Instruments were passed back and forth between each track and horns blasted for "7/4 (Shoreline)" but it was the cover of Modest Mouse's "World at Large" that really got things exciting. Prime cuts "Fire Eye'd Boy" "Shampoo Suicide"and newby "Texico Bitches" were pieced together through smooth transitions and closer "KC Accidental" assured Kevin Drew that the band would not be forgotten.

A hometown welcome ushered in the men of TV on the Radio and they responded with a career defining set of songs. "Halfway Home" heated things up reinforcing the excellence of Dear Science, and the hits kept coming as newer numbers "Caffeinated Consciousness" and "Will Do" were dispersed among long time favorites "The Wrong Way" "Province" and "Blues from Down Here". Tunde dedicated an empowering performance of "Young Liars" to the late Gerald Anthony Smith, taking the already brilliant song to new heights. The sky was of slate and the white sparkles of the Manhattan skyline provided a serene setting for the long time Brooklynites. The band ripped through "Repetition" and launched into a howling rendition of the band's epic "Wolf Like Me". Many thanks were said to Brooklyn and the neighborhood for the years of support and a stunning execution of "Satellite" brought the night to a close.

OMG!NYC - 5 Years Later

2011-08-29T18:59:00.005-04:00

Celebrating the first 5 years of OMG!NYC, I take a look back at the things that shaped the way I listen to music and how my taste and interests have changed over the past five years.

--

When I began writing this blog five years ago, the goal was to update people on life in New York and the primary focus was going to be on concerts I attended. Over the course of time, the focus has shifted from general events mostly surrounding music to a full functioning music journal. I'll begin this retrospective with a list of five shows I saw here in New York that had a profound impact on me. All of these performances were truly unique to New York and my time spent here over the past five years.

01. Arcade Fire | Judson Memorial Church | February 14, 2007

A little less than a month before Arcade Fire released their highly anticipated sophomore release Neon Bible, the Canadian baroque-pop outfit set out on a week long stand of shows at the intimate Judson Memorial Church on the southern tip of Washington Square Park. For five consecutive nights, the rising stars powered through hits from their already classic debut Funeral and previewed material from their forth-coming record. Since then, I've caught the band twice and at much larger settings (Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden) and while the band has been just as impressive at all locations, no performance will ever be as special and as cherished as this one. Only feet from the stage, it was the opportunity of a life time to see these now titans perform in a space of which others could only dream.

02. My Bloody Valentine | Roseland Ballroom | September 22, 2008

The shoegaze juggernauts returned to the U.S. for their first non-festival performance in nearly fifteen years and I still have no words. The sheer volume unleashed by the quintet was legendary when they split in the nineties and the memories held up. For over an hour the noise pioneers shredded through cuts from their classic debut Isn't Anything and their groundbreaking masterpiece Loveless. Without hesitating, the band's opening chords ripped through the suggested ear plugs and the intensity never let up eventually culminating in the now monumental live rendition of "You Made Me Realise" which to this day leaves me wondering if my ears will ever be the same again.

03. Fever Ray | Webster Hall | September 28, 2009

I cannot remember another show that went off as flawlessly as when I saw Fever Ray. Making her solo U.S. debut, I had some doubts about the show merely due to the fact that it would occur in my least favorite venue in the entire city. However, when I have that thought now I am simply embarrassed. Fever Ray arrived amongst a haze of fog and donning an elaborate headdress that would make Bjork jealous. Her incredible voice melted the crowed and showed a true stage presence to which I have never seen matched. Her power on stage was unlike anything I have ever experienced and her ability to wield attention proved that even as a solo artist, her performances will leave people begging for a chance to see her live for years to come.

04. Phoenix (feat. Daft Punk) | Madison Square Garden | October 20, 2010

I do not know if there is anything left to be said about this show. After a near perfect set which set Phoenix atop the highest pedestal, it seemed as if the Frenchmen could not get any bigger here in the U.S. And then they invited Daft Punk to join them for an encore. Part of me still cannot believe they pulled off the surprise; suddenly the arena went dark... and then Daft Punk rose from the beyond. Part of me still cannot believe that I was actually there to see it happen in all of the glory. This was a truly special moment that in and of itself could be the sole post devoted to the past five years of this blog. It was as special of a moment as there could have been for me personally and I'm not sure if anything will ever be able to top it.

05. LCD Soundsystem | Terminal 5 | March 31, 2011

At the beginning of 2011, James Murphy threw in the towel for his short-lived but utterly fantastic band. For the final outing, his bandmates joined him for four consecutive nights of over the top (and over three hours!) renditions of practically every song one could hope the band to play. The final event was a spectacle at Madison Square Garden, but I caught his last 'smaller' performance at Terminal 5. The set was broken down into three sets (encore not included) which included everything from b-sides, 45:33 in it's entirety, and almost every other amazing LCD song. It was an emotional night as many of us would never hear these songs played live again (some had tickets to the final MSG performance) but in more ways it was a ceremony celebrating an amazing catalog of songs played with more heart than ever before.

--

The following songs left big impressions on me when they first came out for one reason or another and I still enjoy it when they come on the playlist. None of them were my favorite songs the year they were released and I believe all of them still fall just short, but they each still resonate with the same freshness as the first time they blasted through my speakers.

01. The Rapture | "Whoo! Alright, Yeah... Uh Huh"

I saw the Rapture perform a free show at the Apple Store in SoHo during my first month in New York. At the show, I was invited to be in the band's video for their new single "Whoo! Alright, Yeah... Uh Huh". For obvious reasons, I will always think fondly of this song and play at whatever party I can. Five years later, it still gets people on the dance floor and it still makes me think that New York is full of awesome surprises and the chance to be in a music video is right around the corner.

02. Crystal Castles vs. HEALTH | "Crimewave"

This song came at the height of mash-ups, but it was unlike anything else at the time.It was elctro, punk, noise, and dance all at once. Just like the Rapture, this song still gets people on the floor, but it is still as innovative as it was in 2007. Crystal Castles have since gained a higher fame and HEALTH (unfortunately as they have many other solid jams) might still be best known for this collaboration. Indie rock has not seen a meeting quite like this since the song's release and it does not seem likely that something of this nature will rise to this height any time soon.

03. Portishead | "Machine Gun"

Perhaps living in London when Portishead released their stunning Third is the reason I love that album so much, but more likely it is because of brilliant songs like "Machine Gun". Loud music had been in my collection since middle school, but it wasn't until this song that I realized music could be loud and aggressive without being hardcore. After this song blew my mind, I went back and listened to Liars, No Age, and Deerhunter and really began to digest noise music. Not only did this solidify Portishead as one of my favorite acts, but it opened my ears more so than anything else in the past five years.

04. Dirty Projectors | "Stillness is the Move"

I saw Dirty Projectors in 2008 and just did not understand what was happening on stage. A year later I heard this song and everything clicked. Well... everything clicked in the sense that everyone on this track sounds like they were playing a different song, but that was just it. It was so different (and still is) from almost anything else being released it had it's own place in time. I still have not heard a song that echos any part of this jam because it is so forward thinking that people are still trying to break it down enough to make their own imitations.

05. Deerhunter | "Helicopter"

There have been few artists as productive as Bradford Cox in recent years and none have reinvented themselves in so many ways. The studio masterpiece that is Halcyon Digest is another example of the ways that Bradford is a true audiophile taking each album to a new creative level. Perhaps the best part about the gorgeous guitar sweeps on "Helicopter" is how out of place it would sound on any other Deerhunter record, yet it is the backbone of their latest album. It is delicate, grandiose, and accessible and it still sounds like Deerhunter. Their song writing capabilities are so unique that every album is in another direction and still sounds like no one else.

--

I would like to thank anyone who takes the time to read this blog whenever I post. It really means a lot to me. I've been unbelievably fortunate to be featured on some of my favorite sites and have accomplished more than I ever thought possible with a simple blog. I hope to keep posting my favorite new music, reviewing amazing performances, and contributing to year end lists. Here is to another five years of OMGNYC and many more after that.

Keep it scene in the city.

IceAge played Secret Project Robot

2011-08-22T00:44:00.002-04:00

Torrential downpour could not keep the punks away from IceAge's second of three shows in New York this weekend. After making their U.S. debut roughly two months ago and scoring critical acclaim for their self-titled debut album, the danish quartet blasted through their headlining set this evening with sheer power and attitude one would expect from a veteran act, not one where all members are under the age of twenty-three. The power and fury displayed by these youngsters fit aptly with the DIY setting and certainly met all expectations given their recent rise in popularity. Considering their album does not even clock it at thirty minutes, the band kept the set short and sweet and pounded through song after song barely giving anyone a second to breath. In a scene that is still not widely accepted or given a listen, the fact that these young men have gained such attention in a relatively short period demonstrates that given the right mood and setting, punk can certainly be something more attainable then most would care to admit. These brash songs rifled through the crowd and sent captive listeners into a mere frenzy. Then just like the album it was over before you knew what had hit you. As people filed out and back into the streets, it was apparent that no one could really comprehend what had happened. Some were in awe and some could not believe it was so quick. But no matter what the reaction was, people knew something big had just occurred and something even bigger could be on the horizon.

Feist - "Femme Fatale"

2011-08-16T17:43:00.003-04:00

Feist ft. Nigel Godrich, Colin Greenwood, Hot Rats) Femme Fatale (Velvet Underground Cover) by TwentyFourBit.com

Feist and friends (Colin Greenwood, Nigel Godrich, Nicolas Godin and others) gathered in Paris recently to honor the legendary Velvet Underground during the Days Off Festival in Paris. Pitchfork has posted a glowing cover of "Femme Fatale" originally sung by Nico and featured on the band's landmark debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. The indie-pop star will release her highly anticipated new album, Metals (cover art above), on October 4th in North America.

Sigur Rós - Inni

2011-08-11T18:19:00.002-04:00

Icelandic post-rock titans Sigur Rós posted a new video on their website today, simply titled Inni. No information has been given at the moment but one can only hope that a follow-up of some kind (live album? DVD? anything?) to their last album, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (which I named one of my favorite records of 2008) is on the way. In any case, enjoy the clip above and wait patiently.

Girls - "Vomit"

2011-08-08T12:49:00.002-04:00

The new video for "Vomit" off Girls sophomore album Father, Son, Holy Ghost. The album drops September 13th.

Death from Above 1979 played the Williamsburg Waterfront

2011-07-23T11:10:00.002-04:00

For anyone who braved the blistering heat yesterday, Death from Above 1979 made one of their few non-festival appearances on their "reunion tour" (the bands term, not mine) well worth the risk of heat stroke. The Canadian noise/dance-punk duo returned with just as much prowess as one could have hoped as they delivered ear wrenching blasts of power heavy tracks that made so many hope for their return in the first place. The two picked up right where they left off, foot stomping rock and roll with heavy bass and screeching vocals that pack quite the punch. With no new material to work with, it was all the hits the fans wanted and then some. The duo drew heavily from their much loved debut full length, but added key tracks from their EPs for all the die hard fans who have been waiting the past six years to hear these songs live again. The motorcycle growl of Jesse Keller's bass mixed with his MSTRKRFT style electronics are matched by Sebastian Grainger's dismantling attack on drums that seem to make noise rock as accessible as possible as they bring radio friendly metal riffs, hard punk vocals, and double kick-drum to the fore front of their sound. Each track has as much groove as it does noise and anarchy yet somehow the band is really able to capture real sound and emotion. As the set began to come to a close (when a band only has one full length a show can only go for so long) more and more calls for "one more record" made it even more apparent that fans are not done with these guys. Favorites "Blood on your Hands" and an extended "Romantic Rights" sealed the deal and proved these guys can still rock really hard and could keep this going for quite some time before actually needing to record new material. But if they do go down that path, there are plenty of people ready and willing to listen.

Setlist:
01. Turn it Out
02. Dead Womb
03. Going Steady
04. Too Much Love
05. Cold War
06. Black History Month
07. Go Home, Get Down
08. Girl U R Lovely
09. Little Girl
10. You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
11. Blood on Our Hands
12. Pull Out
13. We Don't Sleep at Night
14. Romantic Rights
15. Do It
--
16. Losing Friends
17. If We Don't Make It, We'll Fake It

M83 - "Midnight City"

2011-07-20T00:08:00.002-04:00

Anthony Gonzalez and Co. will return October 18th with a daring double album entitled Hurry Up, I'm Dreaming. The first single, "Midnight City", is below.

Midnight City by M83

The Heat Stroke Mixtape Volume II

2011-07-12T22:44:00.006-04:00

Last July, I dropped my first mixtape of summer jams. A year has passed and once again I am posting some songs to help cool things down. Just like last year, many of these songs have been blazing through my speakers and will probably make my year end list, but in the mean time they should help keep your mind off the sweltering heat here in the concrete jungle. So whether you're up on a roof, chilling pool side or melting away on the MTA, these tunes will help you stay fresh.

01. Battles | "Ice Cream (feat. Matias Aguayo)"
02. The Strokes | "Taken for a Fool"
03. Washed Out | "Amor Fati"
04. Robyn | "Call Your Girlfriend"
05. tUnE-yArDs | "Gangsta"
06. Panda Bear | "Alsatian Darn"
07. Wiz Khalifa | "Roll Up"
08. Tennis | "Cape Dory"
09. The Beach Boys | "Don't Worry Baby"
10. Toro y Moi | "Still Sound"
11. Beyoncé | "Party (feat. André 3000)"
12. Twin Sister | "Bad Street"
13. The Weeknd | "The Party & The After Party"
14. Bon Iver | "Calgary"
15. Cults | "Rave On"

Listen on Spotify.

No Age / HEALTH / Cults / Ceremony played Vans House Parties

2011-07-04T11:17:00.002-04:00

Vans kicked off their free summer concert series here in Brooklyn last week with a jam packed line-up of noisey fun. California hardcore act Ceremony kicked off the evening with their energy infused set of classic punk inciting circle pits and flying fists among other things. The aggressive growls and yells were met with pounding drums and thundering bass.

Cults were the odd band on the bill as they definitely did not fit in with the noise factor of the rest of the acts, however they were still able to fully engage their crowd even though their hopes of a circle pit of their own, never came to fruition. The expanded line-up of Cults, Manson family hair and all, brushed through their sugary pop jams meant for summer parties. New tracks such as "Abducted" and "Yeah You Know What I Mean" sounded fantastic and old tunes "Go Outside" and "Oh My God" really got people moving. While Madeline's voice is utterly amazing, the mix did not allow for their great sound to really penetrate the crowd. Some key elements were lost along the way holding back the band from making a great performance amazing.

Trance/dance/noise/punk band HEALTH served as the bridge between the pop dance-ability of Cults and the hardcore grind of No Age. The great energy brought forth by the band was equally matched by enthusiastic fans as synth undertones were upstaged by frantic drumming and swirling guitar. The rich sound provided perpetual grooves as the band powered through jam after jam culminating in their epic "USA BOYS" which proved to be the ultimate moment of their set as the crowd totally let loose showing a true blend of crowd surfing, moshing, and dancing ensuring that these guys can really draw a diverse crowd and still are able to make the most out of their truly unique sound.

It has already felt like a long night by the time No Age took the stage, however as soon as these two plugged in a second wind filled the crowd. The hard hitting Dean Spunt tore up his drum kit as he belted away each song while Randy Randall shredded away just a few steps over. The raw energy of these two really showcased their ability to rip through their oldest jams "Everybody's Down" with the same intensity as new classic "Fever Dreaming" and showed that these two are not afraid to mix old and new tracks for a set list full of punk classics in the making. The ear splitting guitar of Randall and exuberant drumming of Spunt showed a duo in prime form on the verge of being as big as they ever could have thought. The two display such a presence onstage that is hard to find amongst their peers. They blur the line of their DIY punk roots with their Pitchfork adorned present and are still able to hold true to their sound making them one of few bands that have been making consistently better albums over time.

Dinosaur Jr. played Bug at Terminal 5

2011-06-24T01:21:00.003-04:00

After a rather enthralling interview conducted by Henry Rollins, in which the band discussed their early influences, recordings, shows, and other general happenings in the late 1980s punk scene, Dinosaur Jr. retreated backstage before the lights dimmed. When they returned, J Mascis claimed it was a bit awkward to start the night with "Freak Scene" and instead ripped through "In a Jar" and the best non-Barlow track "The Wagon". From there on in, it was Bug from start to finish. Mascis and Co. tore away through each track as if the album was released yesterday, playing with such intensity lost among current bands let alone other actual dinosaurs of their age. Dwarfed by three Marshall stacks, J Mascis shredded away at his guitar rivaling sonic tendencies of Air Force jets. The soaring solos were balanced with thunderous rhythm as Murph punched away on the skins and Lou Barlow's mudded bass sent waves of fuzz through the room. Normally bands of Dinosaur Jr.'s nature (in the loud noisy sense as not too many bands actually match the musical level of these titans) face trouble in the box that is Terminal 5, however these guys blasted away without missing a beat. When the setlist is included in the headline of the show, there really leaves little room for guessing what's next or much banter for the band. Mascis only spoke once to say "this is the power ballad song on the album" before launching into "Pond Song". Towering guitar riffs were taken to dizzying heights for "Let it Ride" and "Pond Song" and due to strained vocals suffered performing the last track on the first night, a lucky fan was invited to nail the powerful screams of "Don't". The encore consisted of a killer "Feel the Pain" and guest vocals from Fucked Up frontman Pink Eyes (they crushed the opening set) during the final song of the evening, a cover of Last Rights' "Chunks".

Setlist
01. In a Jar
02. The Wagon
03. Freak Scene
04. No Bones
05. They Always Come
06. Yeah We Know
07. Let it Ride
08. Budge
09. Pond Song
10. The Post
11. Don't
--
12. Out There
13. Feel the Pain
14. Chunks (Last Rights Cover)

Radiohead - "Staircase"

2011-06-21T21:24:00.002-04:00

New Radiohead track performed live featuring Clive Deamer of Portishead.

"Here's a new track called Staircase, taken from our upcoming 'From The Basement' session:

And no, you're not seeing double. The doppelganger drummers are myself and Clive Deamer. Clive has long been one of my favourite drummers and so I was really excited when he agreed to perform with us. Hope you like what we've all done."

via Dead Air Space

Atlas Sound played St. Ceceilia's

2011-06-16T23:39:00.003-04:00

Massive layers of sound rippled through the sanctuary as Atlas Sound helped kick off the 2011 Northside Festival. Droning guitars and warped vocals combusted releasing waves of sonic textures over the pews as haunting shadows lurked behind Bradford Cox. A handful of new songs were mixed in with recent favorites. The segue of "Walkabout" -> "Shelia" was a particular highlight as was the epic shoegaze guitar swirling finale of "Attic Lights" which brought the main set to a close. The cavernous halls of the church allowed for the sound to really grab hold, however the restricted views and stiff pews provided a far from comfortable vantage point and the humid summer heat of New York did not do any favors. Bradford apologized for the lack of old material which he simply could not remember, but instead kicked off the encore with an improvised jam followed by another new track. While his presence in Deerhunter is felt in each song, when Cox is alone on stage his true audiophile traits rise to the surface showcasing a real genius at work.

*Thanks to Emily for the photo and company!

Twin Sister - "Bad Street"

2011-06-09T18:45:00.002-04:00

Long Island Dream-Pop quintet Twin Sister gained some attention last year with an excellent EP and one of my favorite songs of 2010. Pitchfork has announced that the band will release their debut album on September 27 via Domino. The record will be called In Heaven and the first single "Bad Street" can be streamed below. Head to Pitchfork for the tracklist and upcoming tour dates.

Twin Sister - Bad Street by DominoRecordCo

Beirut - "East Harlem"

2011-06-06T21:11:00.002-04:00

New Beirut single "East Harlem" is out today via his own label.

Beirut - East Harlem by Revolver USA

Bon Iver - "Calgary"

2011-05-16T19:27:00.002-04:00

On June 21, Bon Iver will release the long awaited follow-up to For Emma, Forever Ago. The first single, "Calgary", is above and is available for download now.

Cults - "Abducted"

2011-05-14T13:18:00.001-04:00

Getting ready for their full-length debut to drop in June.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart played Webster Hall

2011-05-07T11:22:00.002-04:00

Hot off the release of their great sophomore album, Belong, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart wrapped up their tour with a show in their hometown of New York City. Hitting the stage precisely at 9:00, the Pains ripped through "Belong" and a heavy blend of old and new songs. While the first three songs started off a little slow, the band gained momentum as the night progressed. Despite being plagued by a terrible sound system, TPOBPAH were still able to achieve the heavy feedback and distorted guitar sounds that would have made them a perfect fit on any Creation or Rough Trade box set. The striking alternative guitar sounds of new tracks "Strange" "The Body" and "My Terrible Friend", were met with great energy from the band and early dream-pop style numbers "Stay Alive" and "This Love is Fucking Right" maintained the perfect balance of styles that make this band great. Despite an incredibly short set (the band finished the encore at 9:58) the band really seemed to be enjoying themselves amongst their hometown friends. Kip Berman kicked off the encore with a solo electric rendition of the first song the band ever wrote before they whipped through two more songs and ended the night with their self titled song and chanted away "we will never die / we will never die" stating that this band has just shown up on the scene and will be around for a while.

Lightning Bolt played Le Poisson Rouge

2011-04-29T19:30:00.003-04:00

Lightning Bolt pummeled the crowed at Le Poisson Rouge last night with their standard blitzkrieg attack of sound. For over an hour the noise duo blasted away through classics from their excellent discography sending the crowd into a near frenzy. Brian Chippendale did his best impersonation of a jackhammer playing the drums and Brian Gibson stood by, ever so effortlessly, as he turned his amps up to 11 and ripped through distorted blasts of thundering bass. Despite the breaks between songs, the non stop bombardment of escalated sound sent shock waves through the crowd that more then likely split a few ear drums. The relentless assault proved that these two men are masters of their craft as they powered aware with such force and precision that kept the crowd screaming for an encore. When the band answered the call they came back to the stage and began to tear through the epic track "Ride the Skies" which nearly sent everyone over the edge after an already incredible performance of hurricane like forces of sound crushing the crowd.

Coping - Split EP [with the Clippers]

2011-04-20T00:21:00.003-04:00

Chicago's Coping blend 90's lo-fi style emo in the vein of icons Cap'n Jazz, Archers of Loaf and Mineral, creating loud sounds of palpitating drums fronted by attacking guitars and full band chants. Topshelf Records released a Split EP with Boston's The Clippers (the bands are good friends) back in March. You should check that out here:

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://topshelfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/split-ep-2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Split EP by Topshelf Records&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Explosions in the Sky played Radio City

2011-04-07T00:13:00.003-04:00

With their newest album just two weeks away, Explosions in the Sky took to New York's majestic and grandiose Radio City Music Hall for their largest headlining show ever. Twinkling delicate guitar work opened the band's set before erupting into room shaking blasts of soaring sounds that swallowed the legendary auditorium. As twirling lights danced behind them, the Texan post-rock extraordinaires powered through anthems of towering guitar swells that seemed capable of moving mountains. The crystal clear sound system of Radio City shook as the band delivered epic renditions of some of their best work, including an astounding performance of their classic "Your Hand in Mine". Opening sets by Eluvium and slowcore legends Low, provided the perfect mood and setting for the aftermath that was to follow. In some regards, it seems that this may have been the perfect setting for this band. The stage is far from intimate, yet the band was still able to deliver with such a presence that they could have turned even a familiar listener into an instant fan. Very few bands have the capability of controlling an audience without so much as saying a word, however the only moments when people looked away from the stage were just to admire the setting and realize that this room has seen legends and another was currently on stage.

Setlist:
1. Postcards from 1952
2. The Birth and Death of the Day
3. Yasmin the Light
4. Last Known Surroundings
5. The Only Moment We Were Alone
6. Catastrophe and the Cure
7. Let Me Back In
8. Your Hand in Mine
9. Trembling Hands

The Strokes played Madison Square Garden

2011-04-02T02:23:00.004-04:00

For their first proper NYC show in way too fucking long, the Strokes took things to the next level by headlining the world's most famous arena, a modern day roman coliseum, or a really good place to see a game as put by Julian Casablancas. Despite some harsh claims on the band's most recent work, the Strokes plowed through hit after hit showcasing that they are still the crowned princes of New York City rock. Anthems of the aughts blasted through the speakers as the band proved that they still posses the power to hold a crowd in the palm of their hands. The spiraling Television style guitar work of Valensi and Hammond had the same raw intensity and power as when I first saw the band in 2003, and Julian's growls were as rough and tough as ever. Though just as cool as ever, they did not let the arena's boundaries prohibit them from connecting with the crowd. Julian sang "Juicebox" from the middle of the floor and was impressed that everyone else knew the words to "Under Cover of Darkness" better than him. Despite their still too cool for anything swagger and Julian's occasional slip up, the band still nailed every number like they've been playing these songs for the past five years. As the main set came to a close Julian thanked Elvis Costello for performing a three song opening set and claimed it would have been a much better idea to have him sing the last song, which Julian explained was intended to capture his influential sound, and apologized for not having that idea earlier. Well, we were all taken for fools as the band broke into one of the best moments of Angles and Costello did actually turn up to sing the rocking chorus. The band knew how to play to the hometown crowd powering through early favorites "Hard to Explain" "Last Nite" and "Someday" along with Room on Fire stand outs "Automatic Stop" and "Reptilia". As they hopefully kick start a true come back, the Strokes have picked off right where they left off. They will forever be rock and roll's kings of cool.

Setlist
1. Is This It?
2. Reptilia
3. Under Cover of Darkness
4. Hard to Explain
5. Last Night
6. Life Is Simple In the Moonlight
7. Juicebox
8. Someday
9. You're So Right
10. Under Control
11. You Only Live Once
12. New York City Cops
13. Games
14. What Ever Happened?
15. Taken For a Fool (feat. Elvis Costello)
--
16. Ask Me Anything
17. The Modern Age
18. Gratisfaction
19. I Can't Win
20. Take It or Leave It

LCD Soundsystem played Terminal 5

2011-04-01T01:46:00.004-04:00

For their last night at Terminal 5 (and 2nd to last show ever!), LCD Soundsystem certainly let their emotions run wild. Thanking the crowd numerous times for coming out to say goodbye and apologizing for not playing certain songs in years, James Murphy let his sensitive side shine through. For nearly three and a half hours, the band played as much of their discography as might of been humanly possible proving to be a true test of endurance by not only the crowd, but the band as well. The beyond epic performance was broken into three chunks, the middle section being 45:33 with "Sounds of Silver" thrown into the middle, and the rest of it was hit after hit. Turns out they do make hits indeed. Opening the show with the first two tracks of This Is Happening started off this insane dance party that would only halt for the occasional sensational ballad. When Murphy belted "To tell the truth / This could be the last time" a wave of sadness rushed over the crowd as many would indeed being hearing these numbers for the final time. However, the next lyrics "So here we go / Like a salesforce into the night" sparked a sensation that would carry throughout the rest of the evening. Suddenly everyone felt as if their were amongst their truest friends. For years Murphy has been claiming that he is losing his cool, yet no one young or old seems to be able to put on a show quite like him and his friends. If this truly is the end of this might band, then what a legacy it is they are leaving behind. Their entire career was accounted for tonight and it all felt as fresh as ever. The muscular guitar of "All I Want", the pulsating thumps of "Someone Great", the ferocious lists of "Losing My Edge", and the instant classic piano of "All My Friends" span such a range of emotions that are disastrously difficult to invoke in a crowd, yet tonight I was there. These emotions are only the kind one seems to get when someone great is gone.

Setlist:
1. Dance Yrself Clean
2. Drunk Girls
3. I Can Change
4. It's Time to Get Away
5. Get Innocuous
6. Daft Punk is Playing at My House
7. Too Much Love
8. All My Friends
--
9. 45:33 (Part One)
10. 45:33 (Part Two)
11. Sounds of Silver
12. 45:33 (Part Four)
13. 45:33 (Part Five)
14. 45:33 (Part Six)
15. Freak Out/Starry Eyes
--
16. Us v. Them
17. North American Scum
18. You Wanted a Hit
19. Tribulations
20. Movement
21. Yeah
--
22. Someone Great
23. Losing My Edge
24. Home
--
25. All I Want
26. Jump Into the Fire (Harry Nilsson cover)
27. New York I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong

2011-03-27T11:06:00.002-04:00

Brooklyn dream-poppers The Pains of Being Pure at Heart will release the physical version of their excellent sophomore album Belong this coming Tuesday. However, if you head over to the band's site you can stream the entire album now. The record, which was produced by Flood and mixed by the legendary Alan Moulder, takes on the heaviness that one would expect from the guy who mixed Loveless and continues the band's blend of the Cure's dreamy 80s sound with early era Smashing Pumpkins alternative guitar drones. The album seems to be the logical step forward from the band's self-titled debut as they still supply powerful harmonies and choruses with the addition of noisier shoegaze guitar strokes. They played single "Heart in Your Heartbreak" on Letterman last week, which can be viewed above (via Pitchfork) , and the new album is available to stream below.

Cults - "You Know What I Mean"

2011-03-22T23:58:00.002-04:00

The Brooklyn duo uploaded this excellent new track from their forthcoming debut album out in May. Check out the fuzzy pop gem below or via the band's website.

Cults - You Know What I Mean by cultscultscults

Godspeed You! Black Emperor played Brooklyn Masonic Temple

2011-03-19T00:26:00.002-04:00

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Brooklyn Masonic Temple - 3/16/2011 from Francesco Marchione on Vimeo.

It began with a stage shrouded in darkness. A small red glow and the flicker of the projectors ushered in the band members, one by one, as a slow rumbling began to pour out of the speakers. As the ensemble broke into their set, terrifying drones played underneath flashes of the word 'hope' and slowly these sprawling orchestrations erupted in monstrous form. These post-rock titans built towering swells of sound that would climax in ear splitting and body melting pinnacles before returning to calm yet gloomy arrangements. Without ever speaking a word, the band established a presence that commanded pure silence and devotion from everyone in attendance. Hiding themselves in shadows the band let the music speak for itself demanding not only attention during long exhilarating crescendos, but also demanding the endurance to withstand the pure intensity that came with each mountainous wave of sonic blasts concocted by the group. While listening to the band in an intimate private setting can prove to be a truly pleasurable experience, the raw impact of seeing this illustrious sound performed in front of a devoted crowd can only compare with few other live acts.

Setlist:
Hope Drone
Gathering Storm
Monheim
Albanian
Chart #3
World Police and Friendly Fire
Rockets Fall on Rocket Falls
Moya
BBP3

Thom Yorke / Burial / Four Tet - "Ego" and "Mirror"

2011-03-15T23:04:00.002-04:00

In what seems like a dream, it was announced earlier today that Thom Yorke, Burial, and Four Tet will be collaborating on a 12" single. Four Tet debuted the songs this afternoon on the BBC and unsurprisingly, it did not take long for the two tracks to make their way to the internet.

"Ego"

"Mirror"

Battles - "Ice Cream" (feat. Matias Aguayo)

2011-03-09T21:24:00.003-05:00

The future seemed dim for Battles when Tyondai Braxton left the group in the fall to work on solo material. Since then, the band has announced that there will indeed be a follow up to the epic Mirrored and it will be called Gloss Drop (due June 6th). Today the BBC premiered the first song off the album entitled "Ice Cream" which can now be found below via We All Want Something To Shout For. The song definitely shows more progression and some style changes from their previous material, but at the heart keeps the intensity of Battles alive.

Battles - Ice Cream (Feat. Matias Aguayo) by weallwantsome1

The Get Up Kids played Music Hall of Williamsburg

2011-03-04T18:45:00.003-05:00

There was certainly some buzz in the air leading up to last night's performance by emo pioneers the Get Up Kids. Would they still play old songs? What kind of crowd still cares about these guys? Will the energy be just like I remember? After entering the stage to Kraftwerk's epic "Autobahn" it definitely seemed like things would at least be interesting. However when the band jumped right into material from their newest release There Are Rules people seemed a little underwhelmed. However that all changed the second the band made the immediate transition into "I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel". The kids were back with the same intensity as ever. The show started with an interesting mix of both old classics and new material. "Coming Clean" really started to get people moving as the fourth track of the night, yet it was "Action and Action" that got the night rocking. From there on out the band used their new songs as buffers between timeless tunes such as "Close to Home" "Mass Pike" "Red Letter Day" and "No Love". While the band may like to put the past behind them and focus on their more recent accomplishments, clearly the audience had other things in mind. After announcing that some changes were going to be made to the set list, the band gave in to what the fans wanted to hear. Throwback "Woodson" and other highlights from Four Minute Mile and Something to Write Home About launched the crowd into a pure frenzy. Ballads "Campfire Kansas" and main set closer "I'll Catch You" made for some excellent sing along moments, but "Shorty" and "Don't Hate Me" were the energy packed anthems that got the pit flowing. For the encore, the band did anything but disappoint. Launching into "Holiday" and ending the show with "Ten Minutes" established that even though this is clearly a band remembered for their pop-punk tendencies rather then the mature sound they wanted to bring out on their latest release, these songs still mean the world to a specific group of people. People that wouldn't have survived middle school or high school without these guys providing a very emotional and influential soundtrack will never shy away from their heroes and as long as the Get Up Kids don't mind catering to their fans desires, there will always be place for them in our hearts.

TV on the Radio - "Will Do"

2011-02-23T20:32:00.002-05:00

TV on the Radio - Will Do by 1077 The End

TV on the Radio will release their fourth full length album, Nine Times of Light, on April 12th after taking some time off for some solo projects. The first single from the album is entitled "Will Do" and it can be heard above via Seattle's 107.7 The End.

Radiohead - "Lotus Flower"

2011-02-19T11:08:00.002-05:00

After Radiohead announced on Monday that the release of their new album, The King of Limbs, would be a mere five days away, music fans went into an almost frenzy. Yesterday the rock legends out did themselves and leaked their own album a day earlier then originally planned. The album is available for download now via the band and physical copies will be released later in the spring. Find out all the exact details here and enjoy the new video for lead single "Lotus Flower" posted above.

LCD Soundsystem played The Colbert Report

2011-02-15T19:20:00.002-05:00

By now I'm sure you've heard that on April 2nd, LCD Soundsystem will play their last ever show and it will take place at the world's most famous area, Madison Square Garden (Apparently the Strokes will play host the night before?). The week leading up to the show will see the band playing four nights at the smaller Terminal 5 in a week long final send off. Last night, the band played their final television performance on The Colbert Report. After three epic albums, these guys will be sorely missed.

The Strokes - "Under Cover of Darkness"

2011-02-09T18:52:00.002-05:00

New York City's kings of rock n roll have returned with the first single from their highly anticipated new album Angels. For the next 48 hours "Under Cover of Darkness" will be available as a free download via the band's website and the album drops March 22nd. So far their claim to return to their 'classic' sound is holding true. And the wait has been worth it.

James Blake

2011-02-08T19:15:00.002-05:00

James Blake's self-titled debut album is out today via Universal and is an early front runner for critic's year end lists. The album blends classic soul and post-dubstep as highlighted above in the video for "The Wilhelm Scream".

The White Stripes R.I.P.

2011-02-02T19:17:00.002-05:00

I guess this news has been a long time coming, but today the White Stripes officially announced that they would no longer be recording new songs or playing live. I am fully aware that by now, practically every blog has posted this, but I still feel the need to share the news.

I bought White Blood Cells in 8th grade (the first half of 2002) and it immediately had a giant impact on me and the music I listened to at the time. Along with the debut Strokes album, my taste was shifted towards the garage-rock revival scene and Jack White would later become my favorite rock star of the past decade. Everything about them intrigued me from their simplicity, to their color scheme, to their relationship (brother & sister or husband & wife). I followed their every move and made several attempts to see them in concert, however nothing ever worked out. When Elephant was released in the spring of 2003, I bought it the day it came out (one of the last times that has ever happened) and listened to it on repeat for weeks. It was the first new release I ever bought on vinyl and probably one of the best sounding records I have ever purchased. The album would later take the spot of my 3rd favorite album of the 2000s. Needless to say the White Stripes went on to become one of my favorite bands and their ability to change their sound on each record and still deliver quality hits absolutely blew my mind (and still does). Their countless hits over the years still sound as fresh as ever and while their last album came out in 2007, I still had hope that one day they would be back and I would see the legendary peppermint duo in the flesh. Alas, this will never happen. "The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want" is the statement from the band and for it, I am eternally grateful.

Thank you Jack and Meg for providing me with some many excellent songs and memories. I will treasure your music and the impact it has had on me forever.

Pitchfork has a nice write-up and video posts to help remember here.

Fleet Foxes - "Helplessness Blues"

2011-01-31T21:35:00.002-05:00

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues by subpop

Fleet Foxes will release the follow-up to their epic self-titled debut on May 3rd via Sub Pop. The title track is now available and has the same familiar harmonized sound people have come to love from this band. Hopefully the momentum holds up.

Headless Horseman played Cameo Gallery

2011-01-22T11:19:00.002-05:00

Halloween glitch-pop duo shared the bill last night as part of a Stadiums and Shrines showcase at Cameo Gallery. The performance last night was light years ahead of their debut show this past summer at Glasslands and are fully geared up for their residency at Pianos every Friday of February. The pair paid homage to thier direct influences mixing the post-rock build ups of Sigur Ros with the electronic frenzy of Aphex Twin and the lo-fi stylings of the Microphones. Connor and Fareed stand face-to-face along a row of drums and various objects as they pound away to pre-recorded loops and shrunken vocals allowing for an intimate exchange of vocals through cleverly arranged electronic blips and reverb. Chirps and Tweets were washed over fuzzy guitars and erratic beats. Steady pre-recorded sound collages allowed for smooth transitions between songs, something that definitely plagued the group in the past, and allowed for witty banter as the two switched between taped together acoustic and electric guitars.

Panda Bear - "Atiba Song"

2011-01-15T16:25:00.002-05:00

ATIBA EVANS Panasonic GH2 Skate from skatefairy on Vimeo.

Gorilla vs. Bear has posted the above skate video scored by a new Panda Bear song entitled "Atiba Song". This track seems to be a return to the styles of Person Pitch unlike the singles he released in 2010. Panda Bear has also announced the official release date (April 19th) for his highly anticipated Tomboy. In the meantime enjoy this delicious new jam.

Tennis - "Pigeon"

2011-01-10T22:57:00.001-05:00

Denver husband/wife duo Tennis delighted listeners with their Phil Spector inspired fuzzed-out pop gems "Marathon" and "South Carolina" last year and are set to release their first proper full length LP in the coming weeks via Fat Possum. The new track "Pigeon" continues the retro dream-pop sound and gives high hopes for one of the most highly anticipated debuts of the year.

omgnyc's albums 2010

2010-12-25T09:08:00.005-05:00

2010 seems to have been one of the best years for music in recent memory. This year I had a particularly tough time choosing which albums would make my top ten and I easily could have extended the list to top twenty, but I figure it defeats the purpose if I just talk about everyone album I loved this year. Needless to say I'm sure that at this time next year I will regret not including something much like I regret not putting Phoenix on my list last year. However at this point in time, these are my favorite albums of 2010.

01. Beach House | Teen Dream
This may seem like an odd choice for album of the year, however the more I listened to this album the more it just made sense. More than any other album this year, I was constantly finding myself coming back to this one. When it came out last winter, it's sultry sound made for the perfect winter jam. Then again in the spring I saw the band and the album was on constant rotation. By summertime, many of the tracks were staples on roof top party play lists, and finally by the fall there was no escape. More then anything, this album was a great comfort album for the entire year. While at first it seemed like another great Beach House record, it didn't take long for it to sink in as their best work to date. Everything really came together on this album. Victoria's vocals sound rich and powerful. Alex's guitar is the biggest I have heard and finally the percussion added the extra layer missing from their previous work. This is the only album from this year that I listen to as much now as I did the second the download finished.

02. LCD Soundsystem | This Is Happening
The one in which James Murphy writes the best record never made by Bowie and Eno. For what he claims to be the last LCD album, James Murphy left nothing to chance. The opening "Dance Yrself Clean" lingers briefly before kicking into a jam that last throughout the entire album. From the disco drum beats, to the funky bass lines, to the fuzzy guitars, this album takes the flashy sounds of Sounds of Silver and turns them into sparkling dance-punk jams that sound just as solid as any krautrock jam that came out of Berlin. Despite the fact that "Drunk Girls" might have been the funnest song of the year, "All I Want" may be the finest tribute to Bowie that has ever been recorded as that obnoxiously loud sliding guitar wails away for nearly seven minutes. Murphy has done a perfect job of recreating 70s nostalgia and bringing it to modern music without losing an ounce of freshness.

03. Joanna Newsom | Have One On Me
This was the record that gave me the most trouble at the beginning, yet had the biggest payoff. The daunting 18-tracks and over two hours were so intimidating that it took me almost two weeks to figure out how to approach this album. However when I finally dove in, I never wanted this record to end. After presenting the flawless Ys I wondered what Joanna would be able to produce next. Have One On Me was the perfect response. Epicly long tracks have become a Newsom staple and they do not disappoint here as proven by the title track, "Go Long" and the stunning "Good Intentions Paving Company". The glorious sounds that only Newsom can create come to life on this album in perhaps the most grandiose forms she has ever displayed.

04. Arcade Fire | The Suburbs
This was the album I listened to more than anything else all year. It was also the album that hit closest to home. Arcade Fire have continued to release amazing albums that have yet to disappoint. After headling two nights at Madison Square Garden, it really seems as if these Canadians have the indie world at the palm of their hands and it is only a matter of time before everyone else figures out. This is surely their longest album to date and the first to include tracks that I would consider skipping, however the grand statements made on "Rococo" "Half Light II" "We Used to Wait" and "Sprawl II" it makes me reconsider any reason I have for not liking something on this album. I can't recall an album before this one that I have been able to relate to in so many ways and I really hope it takes a while before this begins to fade.

05. Deerhunter | Halcyon Digest
To call a Deerhunter album light would just simply be wrong. However when I first listened to Halycon Digest, I thought my speakers were broken. There was no punching song like "Nothing Ever Happened" and that shoegaze tag no longer seemed appropriate. After repeated listens it became clear that this album was still drowned in noise, however this band has grown up. The harshness has been refined to elegance and where previous albums were covered in noise collages, Halcyon Digest is powered by stunning production. It may even be the case that Deerhunter has tricked an audience into believing this is their most accessible work to date, however tracks like "Desire Lines" and the epic closer "He Would've Laughed" just go to show that this band still have plenty of tricks up their sleeves and they can never be taken for granted.

06. Big Boi | Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son of Chico Dusty
Above anything else, this album wins best album name of the year (and possibly ever). It has often been said that Andre 3000 is the core member of the duo Outkast, however I challenge anyone to listen to this album and keep that opinion. After years of delay and record label disputes, Sir Lucious Left Foot... finally saw the light of day this summer. The funky southern sounds and dirty basslines are met with aggressive flow that only Big Boi can deliver and sound as fresh as any hip hop actually written in the past twelve months. The guest list can sometimes be questionable (Vonnegut?) but at other times almost majestic (Janelle Monae). This is southern hip hop at its finest. 1990s sounding tough R&B is paired with ferocious beats that leave only one thing to mind: What will Andre 3000 do next?

07. No Age | Everything In Between
2010's biggest sleeper album. After much anticipation to the follow-up of 2008's raucous Nouns, it seemed that after Everything In Between was released people simply forgot to talk about it. This album saw No Age make the progression to more straightforward rock songs and less of the tonal sounds of Nouns. There are less peaks and valleys on this album as the duo blended the sporadic looping drones and aggressive guitars into more of one distinguished sound. Randall's guitar shreds just as harshly on this record as anything he has done before, with the obvious nods to J Mascis and Thurston Moore, and established No Age as the supreme noise rock band of our time.

08. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti | Before Today
Ariel Pink made the biggest shift in musical direction this year, as he left behind his avant guard noise jams for a stab at a psych-pop gem. While "Round and Round" seems to be the clear focus on the album, each track seems just as poppy as the last and any of them could fit in perfectly on a New Year's playlist. The vocal range on many of the tracks is impressive to say the least and the melodies suggest that Ariel could become a pop visionary if he ever desired to make anything inspired by soft rock songs of the 70s. Every time I go back to listen to this album I forget how much of it I remember and how much of it seems like I'm hearing for the first time. A true sign of perfection; instantly recognizable and forgetful the second it is over.

09. Sleigh Bells | Treats
I think of all the albums on this list, this may be the one that made it at the last second. It barely beat out others that I gave some serious consideration, but in the end just missed the cut. From the beginning blasts of "Tell 'Em" this album screams fun. It became my summer jam as I listened to it on what seemed like endless subway rides through the city all summer. Yet no matter how hot it felt, this album was hotter. Every song is an instant party with the exception of stand alone slow jam "Rill Rill" and the album never lets up. As soon as the acoustic guitar loop fades, it goes right back to the high energy ballistic audio assault. And it never seems to end.

10. Kanye West | My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
At the end of 2009, Kanye was celebrity enemy number 1. His ego seemed to have finally got the best of him. Then in June the legend returned. "Power" was a statement that Kanye was back ready to regain his place at the top. No more auto-tunned bullshit, just the rap attack over heavy samples that gave him a name in the first place. Over the course of the summer, his GOOD Friday singles built the anticipation to what would become My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Nicki Manaj stole the show with her verse on "Monster" and when "Runaway" was debuted at the VMAs it was clear; Kanye was unstoppable. It is the kind of comeback that doesn't seem possible, then again that appears to be the way Kanye does everything. When people think it's too much he pushed it the extra step. This time everything paid off.

omgnyc's songs of 2010

2010-12-22T19:01:00.005-05:00

I don't usually tackle my favorite songs, but after taking a crack at the 00's and the 90's I figured I could come up with something for 2010. I didn't limit myself to singles, but rather any song released by itself or on an album this year was up for grabs. I also included youtube links for each track which you can convert to mp3s here.

01. LCD Soundsystem | "All I Want"
02. Beach House | "10 Mile Stereo"
03. Arcade Fire | "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"
04. Joanna Newsom | "Good Intentions Paving Company"
05. Sufjan Stevens | "Too Much"
06. Kanye West (ft. Dwele) | "Power"
07. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti | "Round and Round"
08. Deerhunter | "Helicopter"
09. Crystal Castles (ft. Robert Smith) | "Not in Love"
10. Panda Bear | "Slow Motion"
11. Twin Sister | "All Around and Away We Go"
12. Sleigh Bells | "Rill Rill"
13. Cults | "Go Outside"
14. Big Boi (ft. Cutty) | "Shutterbugg"
15. No Age | "Fever Dreaming"
16. The Besnard Lakes | "Albatross"
17. Titus Andronicus | "A More Perfect Union"
18. Caribou | "Sun"
19. Japandroids | "Younger Us"
20. Robyn | "Dancing On My Own"
21. HEALTH | "USA BOYS"
22. The National | "Bloodbuzz Ohio"
23. Broken Social Scene | "World Sick"
24. Wavves | "Post Acid"
25. Best Coast | "Boyfriend"

Twin Sister played a Holiday Show

2010-12-18T11:34:00.004-05:00

For their final outing of 2010, Twin Sister curated a holiday party at Live with Animals. While sound problems and technical delays plagued the early bands in the evening, things finally clicked when Twin Sister took the stage. The band seemed in an especially jolly mood for this performance; Andrea dressed as a snowflake which she felt too highly resembled Lady Gaga, but was cute none the less. Their dreamy sound echoed through the space with favorites "Milk and Honey" and "Lady Daydream" however it was an old version of "Dry Hump" that really made the evening special. The band announced that some theses songs were being played live for the last time as they launched into the highlights of the night "I Want a House" and the always sensational "Ginger". They finished up the main set with song of the year candidate "All Around and Away We Go" before kicking the holiday theme into high gear with a surprising cover of Paul McCartney's whimsical "Wonderful Christmas Time". While it seemed that earlier in the evening bands were having trouble adjusting to the space, Twin Sister's sound translated just as well as their last show at Webster Hall with the guitars and synths washing over the crowd with elaborated holiday cheer.

Beach House - "I Do Not Care For The Winter Sun"

2010-12-16T16:42:00.002-05:00

For the finish to an already excellent year, album of the year contenders Beach House have posted a new song to their blog today entitled "I Do Not Care For The Winter Sun". This delicate new piece is "a winter/holiday song" which is great for all of the indoor lounging ahead in the next few weeks. The sultry tones of Victoria's vocals and Adam's thick guitar are the perfect remedy for the tundra like conditions gripping the nation at the moment and this tune is sure to fit in great on any holiday party mix.

mp3: Beach House - "I Do Not Care For The Winter Sun"

Joanna Newsom played Carnegie Hall

2010-11-24T09:18:00.002-05:00

As soon as Joanna Newsom scampered on stage with excitement about playing New York's pristine concert hall, it was clear it was going to be a special evening. Newsom's sprawling epics of grand stature sounded perhaps more at home in Carnegie Hall than any other venue she has played. Her heavenly whimsical lyrics and harp plucking were sometimes met with thunderous percussion and twisted guitar work that added brilliant complexity to her songs. Old favorites "Inflammatory Writ" and "Peach, Plum, Pear" were given new arrangements to fit the mood of her more recent record, the lavish Have One On Me. The evening was spent switching between the piano and harp which required extra tuning and allowed Joanna to be her chatty self and poke fun with her band mates. Even the dare I say simple songs (at least in comparison) off Milk Eyed Mender sounded rich and full and were played with such precision as little snaps and clicks from the drums were placed perfectly among blasting trombone and distinguished harmonies. Invigorating applause was given after the mesmerizing opener "Bridges and Balloon" and both tracks off of the (in my opinion) flawless Ys, however new tracks "Good Intentions Paving Company" and "Go Long" featured stunning and elegant vocal work against tight-knit song structures. For the encore the ensemble returned for a tremendous rendition of the rare "Colleen" adding the final touch to an exquisite evening.

Setlist:
Bridges and Balloons
Have One On Me
Easy
Cosmia
In California
Inflammatory Writ
Go Long
Good Intentions Paving Company
Emily
Peach, Plum, Pear
--
Colleen

*photo from Brooklyn Vegan

Cults/Twin Sister/The Morning Benders played Webster Hall

2010-11-19T00:10:00.003-05:00

Webster hall was in a bit of a frenzy tonight for the final stop on the Morning Benders massive tour in support of their excellent album Big Echo. Rising retro pop act Cults kicked off the evening with an all too short set (although they have yet to even release an E.P.) of throw-back wall of sound Phil Spector inspired pop jams that show nothing but promise. With a full length in the works for 2011, it is only a matter of time before the infectious surf riffs and soulful lead vocals really gain attention. Again the inadequate audio system at Webster plagued the group and an early start time of 7:00 did not allow for much of a show, but the group still managed to keep people bopping along.
Twin Sister brought the crowd towards the constellations for their stunning psychedelic dream-pop performance. Andrea Estella's hushed breathy vocals floated over the crowd while dripping guitar licks were blended with droned electronics putting the audience into a stellar daze. Stand out tracks "Ginger" "I Want a House "Lady Daydream" and set closer "All Around and Away We Go" were dazzling and rich of texture.
The Morning Benders played perhaps one of the most polished shows I have ever seen at Webster Hall. Their classic pop jems were drenched with reverb and echoed early sounds of the 1960s. Despite their intrinsic approach to blissful melodies, the quartet were able to generate a huge sound that rang through the hall. In the middle of their set they announced a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" which inspired an full on sing-a-long including guest vocals by Estella of Twin Sister. However it was the final song, a rousing rendition of "Excuses" that really clinched the night.

Sufjan Stevens played the Beacon Theater

2010-11-16T23:26:00.003-05:00

Upon first listen to Sufjan Stevens, it is apparent that nothing about him is simple. The progression of his work has done nothing but prove that notion and his live performance seals the deal. For the final stop on his first proper tour in several years, the grandiose nature of his recordings were brought to life by an eleven person backing band including ribbon twirlers, interpretive dancers, and a stereo arrangement of percussionists surrounding the ring leader himself at center stage. The show opened and closed with old classics; the slow banjo plucking of "Seven Swans" kicked off the evening before an onslaught of new material and the sensational "Chicago" was the lone encore. Despite the possible unfamiliarity of the new tunes, the show itself was a spectacle complete with stimulating visuals, complex backdrops, elaborate costume changes, and a full performance of The Age of Adz epic closer "Impossible Soul". There was witty banter between songs during which Mr. Stevens referred to his prophet grandfather who shot lightning bolts from his hands and feet and gave an extensive background of the artist whom inspired his latest work. Full rich dense textures of new favorites "Too Much" and "I Walked" took the crowd to the cosmos and folk ballad "Heirloom" was as light as a cloud. The crowd finally rose to applause as balloons fell from above at the end of the main set and an ever gracious and majestic Sufjan bowed before an embracing audience.

An All Hallow's Eve Mixtape

2010-10-31T12:04:00.003-04:00

Whether you partied too hard last night or you're keeping the spirits alive today, this playlist should help you through your day. Happy Halloween kids!

01. "Attack of the Ghost Riders" - The Raveonettes
02. "Fright Night (Nevermore)" - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
03. "Skeleton" - Abe Vigoda
04. "Sleep Gets Your Ghost" - Buke and Gass
05. "Hallowe'en" - Sonic Youth
06. "Headless Horseman" - The Microphones
07. "13 Monsters" - Lightning Bolt
08. "The Monster Mash" - Bobby 'Boris' Pickett
09. "Kids Will be Skeletons" - Mogwai
10. "Banshee Beat" - Animal Collective
11. "A Ghost Story" - Atlas Sound
12. "Tokyo Witch" - Beach House
13. "Not in Love (feat. Robert Smith)" - Crystal Castles
14. "Evil" - The Flaming Lips
15. "A Ghost on the East Coast" - The One AM Radio
16. "I Believe in Evil" - Screaming Females
17. "Monster" - The Wind-Up Bird
18. "Moon Witch Cartridge" - Deerhunter
19. "Straight to Hell" - The Clash
20. "Treats" - Sleigh Bells

*thank you to the lovely Katelyn Bischoff for the photo

Japandroids played Death by Audio

2010-10-27T01:05:00.002-04:00

With Death by Audio filled to capacity, Japandroids took to the stage backed by a mountain of amps. In some ways this may have been the quintessential Japandroids show. The 250 person venue was packed like a sweatbox as clouds of cigarette smoke and beer sprayed through the air. These guys played loud rough noise rock and pummeled the crowd with waves of sound. Unlike the show they played at the Mercury Lounge over a year ago, this show caught the duo on the end of about a two year run supporting their debut full length album. In the final stretch, the dudes left nothing to chance. The crowd erupted for the 1-2 punch of "Wet Hair" and the live debut of recent 7-inch single "Younger Us" (both songs containing perhaps my favorite lyrics from the past two years: "we run the gauntlet/must get to France so we can french kiss some french girls" and "remember that time you were already in bed/said fuck it came out to drink with me instead" respectively) and it seemed as if there was no looking back. The pulverizing drumming of David Prowse was matched by the screaming guitar of Brian King as they reminded the crowd not to hold anything back after each song. Their sound was massive and the crowd was fearless. At one point someone shouted "can it get any louder?" and Prowse simply answered "never."

Phoenix, Dirty Projectors, Daft Punk played MSG

2010-10-21T19:41:00.002-04:00

Having not seen Dirty Projectors since the release of their epic album Bitte Orca, I was excited for their opening slot before Phoenix. The band sounded great and the angular guitar work and disjointed vocals translated well to their larger than normal venue size. The fluttering instrumentation which made me apprehensive the first time around, transcended all expectations I had for the evening.

While Dirty Projectors played an all too brief set, the night seriously belonged to Phoenix... at first. Pitchfork claims it was the best Phoenix show ever. Their sugary-sweet synth-pop jams exploded from the speakers. They were amazingly tight and played a near perfect set list. From the opening of "Lisztomania" the frenchmen dazzled their way through a stunning light show and packed in hit after hit. However just when it seemed as if the night couldn't get better DAFT PUNK took the stage. I personally was in a stage of euphoria. After three years of silence, the electro legends made a mind-blowing come back by gracing the stage with Phoenix and ripping through "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger/Around the World" and a live remix of the best version of "1901" that will ever be heard. As they all jammed together the crowd went into an utter frenzy. It was a stunning end to a fantastic (and what will become legendary) show for a band that has reached a whole new level. This will be hard to top.

Set-list:
Lisztomania
Lasso
Long Distance Call
Fences
Girlfriend
Armistice
North
Love Like a Sunset
North North North
Rally
Rome
Funky Squaredance
--
If I Ever Feel Better
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger / Around the World
1901

Coachella 2010

2010-10-08T00:59:00.000-04:00

Tilt-shift video of the 2010 Coachella Festival in Indio California.

Deerhunter played the Apple Store in SoHo

2010-09-29T19:08:00.002-04:00

Record release days don't have too much importance these days, so to mark the release of their gorgeous new album Halcyon Digest, Deerhunter played an intimate free show in Apple's SoHo store as some additional promotion. The set list consisted mostly of new songs which sounded epic in comparison to their recorded quality in the tiny space and the band played probably the best show I have seen in the store. While calling any Deerhunter song light is by no means accurate, the new album refrains from the harsher tones of previous tracks, especially those found on Cryptograms and earlier work. The opening medley of "Desire Lines" into "Hazel Street" was excellent and "Helicopter" sent waves of sound penetrating through the audience at exceptional volumes considering the event was happening in a retail store. While all of the songs sounded fantastic and left a hankering to see the band play a full set with material from all of their releases, the closing number "He Would Have Laughed" was simply spectacular. The dreamscape nature of each song sounded so much more full live and really displayed the raw talent of Bradford Cox and company as the band was able to add some extra jams in each number, really showcasing that these guys are capable of mixing so many genres into each song.

Setlist:
Desire Lines -> Hazel Street
Don't Cry
Revival
Helicopter
Fountain Stairs
Rainwater Cassette Exchange
He Would Have Laughed

Titus Andronicus played Webster Hall

2010-09-28T20:57:00.002-04:00

The Springsteen inspired punk rockers wasted little time getting down to business Saturday night as they kicked off their set with "A More Perfect Union," the first track off their excellent new album The Monitor, and did not let up for the entire night with the lone exception of when front man Pat Stickles took a moment to replace a broken string so he could keep using his 'good' guitar. The brash noise rock was received with positive raves from the relentless crowd who equally matched the endurance displayed by the band. Titus Andronicus did a nice job of evenly matching tracks from both full length releases and seemed to be thrilled to be playing in front of a hometown crowd. When the band wasn't rocking out with their harsh and heavy hitting tunes they changed the pace with some elegant ballads that still left the crowd screaming along with almost every word. The repetitive nature of many of the bands songs really came forward throughout the night, yet it did not deter the highly under 21 crowd from raging in the pit. The ever enthusiastic fans reacted with great response for almost every song played throughout the set and reached a shocking standstill as tour mates Free Energy took the stage to form the super group Temporary Tattoos as the combined ensemble blasted their way through the ACDC classic "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)".

Headless Horsemen / Crocodiles played Glasslands

2010-09-26T22:56:00.002-04:00

Although plagued by equipment failure and the debut performance by Headless Horsemen showed nothing but promise from the young duo. The post-rock/lo-fi inspired sound displayed the knowledge and skill behind this songwriting pair. Perhaps more at home in a recording studio, or under the embrace of headphones, the mesh of textured sounds and focused thought throughout each number showed large aspirations of great things to come.

As San Diego noise rockers Crocodiles took to Glasslands on Saturday night, I was greatly surprised upon first impression. The clean cut greaser punk and Clash inspired demeanor juxtaposed the harsh noise-pop/post-punk sound imposed by the expanded quintet. Based off the dense sound layers and heavy bass on Summer of Hate and their recent, just as exhilarating, record Sleep Forever the polished appearance did not seem to coincide with the intensity pumped through the speakers. While the Jesus and Mary Chain influences lashed out in every song, the band failed to acknowledge their crowd and plowed through their set with such fervor it appeared as if they were simply at work. Despite a lack of connection, each song sounded spot on and was met with the highest approval of the night.

Modest Mouse played the Williamsburg Waterfront

2010-09-15T11:00:00.003-04:00

As the opening notes to "Gravity Rides Everything" rang through the speakers, I knew this show was going to be great. During their roughly two hour long set, these indie rock titans blasted through jams from each of their full lengths as well as obscure b-sides from various EPs. The band was a well oiled machine powering through song after song with little banter in between. A band in their position could easily have played newer material from high charting records such as their two most recent, however they know their true loyalty to long time fans perhaps seeing them for the first time. The set list was equally comprised of hits, lots of Good News for People... and obscure tracks "Baby Blue Sedan" and "Here It Comes" for the diehards. "Float On" drew mixed emotions, clearly many people became fans of the band from that song, yet it was classics like "Cowboy Dan" "Dramamine" and "3rd Planet" that really enthused the crowd. The six man line up really played out as the double percussion, stand-up bass, horns, and at one point four guitar attack really added to the audio assault displayed by the band. At one of the last outdoor summer shows of the season, Issac Brock led his troops in Modest Mouse through two decades worth of epic jams that could only have been more astounding if they played for another two hours.

Set List:

Gravity Rides Everything
Black Cadillacs
Satin In A Coffin
Here It Comes
Float On
Cowboy Dan
Dashboard
Blame It On The Tetons
King Rat
3rd Planet
Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes
Bury Me With It
Autumn Beds
Here's To Now
The Whale Song
The View

Encore:

Guilty Cocker Spaniels
Dramamine
> Life Like Weeds (Tease)
Baby Blue Sedan
Spitting Venom
> I Came As A Rat (Tease)
Alone Down There

Panda Bear played Governor's Island

2010-09-13T10:43:00.002-04:00

By the time Panda Bear took to his boards Saturday, it had already been a long night of droned synth heavy soundscapes that dazed the crowd. Entering among heaps of smoke Panda wasted little time getting down to business. He began his set with the some ambient sounds before launching into a solo take on the Merriweather track "Daily Routine". Instantly sparking the crowd, Panda Bear rarely let the momentum down during the entire night. Mixing and twisting his way with thick juicy beats and throbbing bass, Noah Lennox did an amazing job blending new material from unreleased tracks much in the sense of former Animal Collective shows. However when he wasn't teasing the crowd with new nuggets he powered through stellar performances of recent summer singles "Tomboy" and the set highlight "Slow Motion" as well as Person Pitch closer "Ponytail" and an enthralling rendition of "Comfy in Nautica" in which the entire crowd surged toward the stage with each blasting beat. The setting of lower Manhattan to the left of the stage left quite the ominous tone for the show however the gargantuan and clear sounds was some of the best I have ever heard for an outdoor show. Despite the short set time, Panda Bear did a good mix of crowd pleasers and new material with the usually bizarre background images and pillars of smoke.

The '90s (Albums)

2010-09-11T16:16:00.002-04:00

As I end my reflection of the 1990s with my list of favorite albums from the decade it becomes increasingly apparent just how important records were and how much the music industry really changed in that time. It was MTV's first and last full decade of influence. By the end of the '90s the channel had drastically decreased the amount of videos played and reality television was beginning to dominate their programming. Print publications were about to lose their game to online zines and the CD itself was soon to become a thing of the past. 1999 saw the launch of Napster and music would never be the same again. Major labels would soon be crashing as would the idea of an album. In the decade that followed, physical releases were of no importance, release dates turned into leaks, and soon people would only obtain select songs by their favorite artists, something they were previously only able to do with singles. Once again this is a list of how I remember the music from the decade, but unlike the songs I listed earlier, there is an importance to each of these records. I vividly remember the day my parents bought a CD player and countless CDs in the early half of the decade just as clearly as the day my dad helped me download Napster. So not only is this list important because these albums can each hold their own against any other best list from any other decade, but these albums also matter because they were the last of a soon to be dying breed.

01. Radiohead | OK Computer
02. Neutral Milk Hotel | In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
03. My Bloody Valentine | Loveless
04. Portishead | Dummy
05. Nirvana | In Utero
06. Sigur Rós | Ágætis byrjun
07. Weezer | Weezer (The Blue Album)
08. Elliott Smith | Either/Or
09. Green Day | Dookie
10. Modest Mouse | The Lonesome Crowded West
11. Outkast | Aquemini
12. Nirvana | Nevermind
13. Beck | Odelay
14. Boards of Canada | Music Has the Rights to Children
15. Wu-Tang Clan | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
16. The Get Up Kids | Something to Write Home About
17. Radiohead | The Bends
18. Pavement | Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
19. Pixies | Bossanova
20. Ride | Nowhere
21. Godspeed You! Black Emperor | F♯A♯∞
22. Saves the Day | Through Being Cool
23. Rage Against the Machine | Rage Against the Machine
24. American Football | American Football
25. Nine Inch Nails | The Downward Spiral

The '90s (Songs)

2010-09-08T18:18:00.011-04:00

To start this off, this is not a ‘best of’ or ‘most important’ list. If it was, Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Hanson’s “MMMBop” would be placed at numbers one and two, respectively. This is a ‘favorites’ list or the songs that to me, best help to remember the 1990s. It was after all the first full decade in which I was alive, and I would be lying to you if I said I remember each of these songs when they came out and told you about how each one impacted me and the way in which I listen to music today. Instead, I can tell you about how I remember my dad having cassette tapes by Green Day, Nirvana, and Sublime and my mom loving the soundtrack to The Body Guard. I remember watching Stephanie Tanner’s band lose the talent show at the Smash Club because they spent too much time on their looks and not enough time practicing “The Sign” by Ace of Base and the time I watched Outkast on SNICK’s Kenan and Kel or any musical guest for that matter who appeared on All That. I also remember being in the 4th grade and absolutely hating Hanson and the Spice Girls and then in the 5th grade when Kyle Slattery mistakenly accused Chris Hunt of singing a song from Annie, when he was actually rapping a song by Jay-Z. That particular event was most likely followed by a homosexual slur and a dead-leg. Growing up in white suburbia means that I remember my mom staying in bed for days when Princess Diana passed away, but hardly a mention over Biggie or 2pac. Needless to say this list is merely one for memories. I don’t have a staff recalling countless songs and I’m sure I am not doing many artists and genres justice, subsequently this is how I choose to remember the decade. When people stop having ‘80s themed parties and switch to the ‘90s, this is the play list I am hoping to hear.

01. Neutral Milk Hotel | "Holland, 1945"

02. Nirvana | "All Apologies"

03. Radiohead | "Paranoid Android"

04. My Bloody Valentine | "Soon"

05. Hanson | "MMMBop"

06. Pulp | "Common People"

07. Beck | "Where It's At"

08. Beastie Boys | "Sabotage"

09. The Cranberries | "Zombie"

10. The Smashing Pumpkins | "1979"

11. Green Day | "Basket Case"

12. Sigur Rós| "Svefn-g-englar"

13. Outkast | "Rosa Parks"

14. Pavement | "Cut Your Hair"

15. Portishead | "Sour Times"

16. The Beta Band | "Dry the Rain"

17. Weezer | "Only in Dreams"

18. Wu-Tang Clan | "C.R.E.A.M."

19. Elliott Smith | "Rose Parade"

20. The Cure | "Friday I’m in Love"

21. Modest Mouse | "Trailer Trash"

22. Pixies | "Velouria"

23. The Notorious B.I.G. | "Juicy"

24. The Mountain Goats | "Going to Georgia"

25. Björk | "Unravel"

26. The Verve | "Bittersweet Symphony"

27. Michael Jackson | "Black or White"

28. Len | "Steal My Sunshine"

29. Saves the Day | "Jessie and My Whetstone"

30. Nine Inch Nails | "Hurt"

31. Lauryn Hill | "Doo Wop (That Thing)"

32. Massive Attack | "Teardrop"

33. Sonic Youth | "Purr"

34. The Get Up Kids | "Ten Minutes"

35. Foo Fighters | "Everlong"

36. Boards of Canada | "Happy Cycling"

37. The Breeders | "Cannonball"

38. The Cardigans | "Lovefool"

39. Ride | "Vapour Trail"

40. Soundgarden | "Black Hole Sun"

41. Wilco | "Monday"

42. The Flaming Lips | "She Don’t Use Jelly"

43. The La’s | "There She Goes"

44. Slowdive | "Alison"

45. Rage Against the Machine |"Killing in the Name"

46. Guided by Voices | "I am a Scientist"

47. Jay-Z (fest. UGK) | "Big Pimpin"

48. Chapterhouse | "Pearl"

49. Dinosaur Jr. | "The Wagon"

50. Polaris | "Hey Sandy"

The Raveonettes - "I Wanna Be Adored" (Stone Roses Cover)

2010-09-02T16:32:00.002-04:00

Hot off the heels of the video in which Swedish pop star Robyn covered the Bjork classic "Hyperballad" another cover featuring two excellent artists has been ringing in my head this week. Fuzzed out post-punk revivalists The Raveonettes have covered the Stone Roses' madchester/brit-pop classic "I Wanna Be Adored". The Stone Roses never got much love in the states, but in England they were deemed visionaries who combined shoegaze and dream-pop in what would later be known as Brit-Pop. They influenced an entire generation of British musicians, notably Oasis who pretty much robbed their sound, and recorded what many consider to be one of the greatest debut albums of all time. The opening track off that album has been given serious compliments in this cover and is a noteworthy song worth checking out.

mp3: The Raveonettes - "I Wanna Be Adored" (Stone Roses Cover)

Sufjan Stevens - "I Walked"

2010-08-27T10:46:00.002-04:00

The internet seems to have gone into a slight frenzy over the past few weeks over baroque-pop/indie folk superstar Sufjan Stevens. It all began when his label Ashmattic Kitty posted dates to his first proper tour in a few years, followed by an instantly available EP entitled All Delighted People. Then yesterday came the announcement of his first proper LP since the glowing Illinois, called Against All Adz and today the fourth track on the album is streaming at his bandcamp page. It seems good things have finally come after the years of waiting. Electronic drums have replaced the orchestral nature associated with Stevens, however the angelic voice and choir seem to fit quite nicely amongst the new arrangements. Listen to the track below.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://sufjanstevens.bandcamp.com/track/i-walked"&amp;amp;gt;I Walked by Sufjan Stevens&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Buke & Gass - "Your Face Left Before You"

2010-08-18T21:09:00.002-04:00

Before Buke & Gass appeared on Stereogum's Quit Your Day Job and before they opened for the National in Europe, I reviewed one of their early shows which gained a spot on the band's press page. Now Stereogum is previewing two new tracks from the bluesy/folk duo. These new tracks keep in tradition with the steel fast paced strumming and one-two kick drum beats of earlier tracks and still sound like a refreshing take of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Hear the tracks over at Stereogum.

Dead Weather played Prospect Park

2010-08-04T01:10:00.004-04:00

Not too many people would have the audacity to walk on stage, blow torch in hand, and proceed to light their front woman's cigarette. Then again, not everyone is Jack White. The Dead Weather was in full force from the moment they graced the stage. The all-black-everything entourage attacked the stage with pristine white guitars that were used as battle axes as they attacked the stage with their raw sound. Alison Mosshart prowled the stage taking complete command of each song as White's drumming thundered between wails on guitar and tight thumping bass. Song after song pummeled the crowd, showing that their strong suit really is in the live performance, as the set built to the electrifying "Will There Be Enough Water?" Once Mr. White strapped on his six string there was no turning back. He ripped through the track while sharing lead vocal duties and microphone battles with Mosshart. Despite being behind a kit instead of his usual lead, White still ran the show, top hat, feather, and all. His fills on the skins were pulsating all evening however, on both the occasions he took duty on guitar his true talent was unveiled. Few have been as productive as Jack White in this past decade and while I still believe that neither of his recent projects have matched the brilliance of the White Stripes, the Dead Weather truly earned much respect last night.

Setlist:
1. 60 Feet Tall
2. Hang You From The Heavens
3. You Just Can't Win (Van Morrison cover)
4. So Far From Your Weapon
5. I Cut Like A Buffalo
6. No Horse
7. The Difference Between Us
8. I'm Mad
9. Rocking Horse
10. Hustle and Cuss
11. Die By The Drop
12. New Pony (Dylan cover)
13. Will There Be Enough Water?
--
14. Forever My Queen
15. Blue Blood Blues
16. I Can't Hear You
17. Treat Me Like Your Mother

Plastic Bertrand pulls a Milli Vanilli

2010-07-31T11:12:00.003-04:00

According to a recent BBC report, the UK Top 40 hit "Ca Plane Pour Moi" by Belgian act the Plastic Bertrand was not actually sung by the esteemed pop star. The song received minor attention in the States perhaps most notably on the soundtrack in National Lampoon's European Vacation, however in the UK it reached number 8 on the charts in 1978. Now producer Lou Deprijck is stating that he recorded the vocals and took 0.5% of the royalties in return. After recent court battles and claims from both parties, Bertrand was quoted saying: "I don't mind saying it wasn't my voice," he said. "I wanted to sing but he wouldn't let me into the studio." He added "I'm the victim. I wanted to sing but he wouldn't let me into the studio. This is going to dog me till my dying days. I'm really fed up."

Caribou - "Sun"

2010-07-29T11:42:00.002-04:00

Caribou's latest release Swim continues his trend of twisted jangly dream-pop and electronica/IDM with what could possibly his most well crafted album to date. While Andorra may have been more accessible with lead single "Melody Day" the tracks off Swim show the progression of Caribou's complex textured sound.

Deadheat Summer - the heat stroke mixtape

2010-07-19T16:00:00.005-04:00

While the 4th of July may have passed, summer is certainly in full swing. That means roof-top parties, beach trips, sitting in A.C., and anything free outdoors. Below is my first ever mix-tape (or playlist) for all to enjoy for the rest of this wickedly hot summer. These tracks have been blazing through my speakers for the better part of 2010 and some are sure to make my top tracks of the year. So whether you're chillin' by the pool, sweating to death on the MTA, or still setting off some fireworks, these tunes should keep you entertained.

Panda Bear - "Tomboy" 7"

2010-07-10T22:03:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday July 13, Panda Bear will release the first single off of his new album Tomboy, the follow-up to his 2007 critically acclaimed LP Person Pitch. The new tunes still seem to have the Panda Bear feel of sample heavy repetitive beats that recall a Beach Boys-esque psych-pop mood.However right now, you can hear the track of the same name as well as the b-side "Slow Motion." While these are not high-quality rips, nor are they authorized by Panda Bear, they give you a clear idea of the direction in which the new album seems to be taking.

"Tomboy":
ACT by a2592825

"Slow Motion":
ACS by a2592825

The xx - "You've Got the Love" (Remix) [ft. Florence Welch]

2010-06-28T16:38:00.002-04:00

I wasn't the biggest fan of this song the first time around, but only once before have I ever seen footage of a remix done featuring both the original artist and the band doing the remix with such excellency. Florence kills the vocal work so hard that you don't believe it is live until she walks out on stage. Looks like the xx live show has picked up since I saw them last October.

Video: Crystal Castles - "Celestia"

2010-06-22T11:42:00.003-04:00

Trance-goth duo Crystal Castles have released a video for the first single Celestia off their new album which is once again self titled. The elcectro assault continues on the new album with intense pulsing beats and dense vocals from Alice Glass along the lines of recent witch haus trends. This single along with the track "Pap Smear" are sure to jams at raves all summer and the rest of the year as well.

Wavves - "Post Acid"

2010-06-17T01:13:00.002-04:00

Garage Pop act Wavves have in my opinion been one of the most overrated acts in recent years. Many have acclaimed the loud disjointed fuzzed out noise rock, but I have always looked the other way to acts like Crocodiles, No Age, Japandroids, and HEALTH. However the first single from the forthcoming LP King of the Beach has shifted my interest. "Post Acid" has a pop punk vibe to it but still carries a distorted lo-fi guitar jangle feel. Green Label Sound has a link for the mp3 here.

Rock the Bells 2010

2010-06-09T15:09:00.002-04:00

I don't usually give much attention to hip-hop on here not because I'm not a fan, but because it is not really my expertise. I appreciate good hip-hop and will listen to most of it, commercial radio hip-hop/rap has never really sparked my interest though. However with that said, I feel I really need to address how awesome this years Rock the Bells festival is going to be and I have not posted in a while and this seems like the best thing to address. Along with previously mentioned acts like Wu-Tang performing 36 Chambers, Rakim, and Slick Rick yesterday the festival announced the additions of A Tribe Called Quest, Snoop Dogg, and the ever elsusive Ms. Lauryn Hill!

LCD Soundsystem played Terminal 5

2010-05-24T21:48:00.003-04:00

LCD Soundsystem wrapped up their four night home town stint at Terminal 5 last night with their traditional house rocking tendencies. Despite performing the same set list all four nights the intensity on the final performance was still spot on. James Murphy and company rocked a wide selection of tracks all containing the dancy disco beats, post-punk bass, and krauty guitar which LCD is known. While Murphy's side comments were entertaining between songs, the man's song writing skills have certainly grown as time has progressed. Sound of Silver was certainly acclaimed by the blog world and This Is Happening may be even better. Murphy surely does his homework while crafting his tunes as his influences are highly visible throughout each album (listen to "All I Want" followed by David Bowie's "'Heroes'". However while his punk ethos remain true, his performance is unquestionably top quality. His backing band sounded flawless ripping through solos and moving the crowd for roughly two hours. Long time fans were rewarded and vividly apparent for classics such as "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House" and "Losing My Edge" but new favorite "Drunk Girls" catapulted the audience into a frenzy. In addition to the stellar musicianship ,a pulsating light show assisted in the intensity of the show. Main set closer "Yeah" lost the audience in a haze of fog accompanied by alien green lights and throbbing strobes. However it was home town anthem "New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" that, well... brought the house down especially when the chorus to Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" was added and ushered out what is rumored to be the last LCD tour. Although James assured us he'd be back to New York.

Setlist:
Us v Them
Drunk Girls
Get Innocuous
Yr City's A Sucker
Pow Pow
Daft Punk is Playing at My House
All I Want
All My Friends
I Can Change
Tribulations
Movement
Yeah
--
Someone Great
Losing My Edge
New York, I Love You But Your Bringing Me Down

New Arcade Fire Soon!

2010-05-17T01:08:00.003-04:00

The end of school has once again resulted in a lack of posts. However Arcade Fire seem to understand as they wish "good luck with finals" in a recent post stating that their new single will be here in the coming weeks!

Beach House played Webster Hall

2010-05-08T01:53:00.003-04:00

Summer finally hit New York City this past week just in time for a night of hazy pop music. Chillwave outfit Washed Out kicked things off with his bass heavy fuzz jams recalling 90s beats and lo-fi swirling vocals. The muddy choppy sounds were a fitting start to the majestic sounds that Beach House would soon deliver. As the opening sounds of "Walk in the Park" resonated through Webster Hall it was clear that the band had descended from the heavens and brought their silvery sparkled moon rock set with them. The drizzling guitar put the hall in a trance completely under the control of Victoria Legrand's booming cosmic voice. Of course certain numbers were the highlights of the evening, the set list comprised all of Teen Dreams. While all three albums were represented it was the new tunes that rocked Victoria onto the floor. We were even treated to the debut of a new song called "White Moon." The show was droning and melodic, but by the time "10 Mile Stereo" was ringing out the night, I had been won over. Everything from "Gila" to "Master of None" to Take Care" was brilliant; each a simple sun-drenched pop song.

Setlist:
Walk in the Park
Lover of Mine
Gila
Better Times
Norway
Silver Soul
Master of None
Astronaut
White Moon (new song)
Used to Be
Zebra
Heart of Chambers
Take Care
--
Real Love
10 Miles Stereo

Interpol - "Lights"

2010-04-29T14:11:00.002-04:00

At the beginning of the past decade it looked like Interpol was going to be the next big thing along the lines of The Strokes and The White Stripes. They were a bass booming band from New York and the guy sounded like Ian Curtis. Then things went a little sour. People didn't really like Antics as much as me, and their third release, Our Love to Admire, was when they really dropped the ball. But hey I'm never one to count someone out and the band stated at the end of last year that their next album was going back to the sound of Turn On the Bright Lights. Well the first song, entitled "Lights", is up for grabs on the band's site and by the sound of things (heavy bass and reverb) they are moving in a backward step (that's a good thing BTW). Here is to hoping the album follows through with that promise!

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Played Other Music (Part of Record Store Day)

2010-04-18T23:29:00.002-04:00

Aside from my birthday, Record Store Day may be my most looked forward to day of the year. It celebrates everything I love (bands, vinyl, performances) and packs it all into one awesome day. For the third year in a row independent record stores have celebrated this event with super limited releases, re-issues, and other awesome merchandise from genre crossing artists and labels. This year I picked up a Neil Young 7", a MC5 7", and a re-issue of the epic Modest Mouse classic The Moon and Antarctica on double 180 gram vinyl. To top the day off I headed back to NYC hot spot Other Music to catch an intimate performance of The Drums and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. These aren't the types of shows I attend to see amazing performances, but merely to be a part of such a unique experience. The reconfigured store was jam packed with fans as the two bands ripped through their respective sets. TPOBPAH were my main draw for the evening as I have missed seeing them in the past and couldn't resist a FREE chance to see them up close. They rocked through lush, keyboard heavy, dream-pop that cracked the tiny speakers in the shop when the jangly guitar recalled 80s feelings of the Smiths and Jesus and Mary Chain. Favorites such as "Teenager in Love" and "This Love Is Fucking Right" were accompanied by new tunes that challenged the awesomeness of their previous numbers. In between songs the band mentioned their love for the store and the whole record day experience showing just how much this day can really bring together a community of people.

Darlings played Brooklyn Bowl

2010-04-16T20:08:00.002-04:00

Brooklyn garage-pop ensemble Darlings got some buzz during the city's CMJ festival and recently did a stint at SXSW, however they have yet to get a real steady following. Their guitar fuzzed pop sound had lots of room to fill at the large Brooklyn Bowl and the early set time really prevented any sort of audience from packing the place. The squealing voice from the spastic guitarist matched up pretty well to the band's recordings however the band seemed to lack a sort of energy needed to make the songs really explode. "Eviction Party" could have got people moving had there been enough of a crowd and set closer "If This Is Love" really nailed the night for me. Perhaps these guys need to stick to smaller places for the time being until they can get enough people to really rock the walls.

Thom Yorks (Atoms for Peace) played Roseland Ballroom

2010-04-07T12:04:00.003-04:00

After waiting in line for seriously hours, many feared that this night was never going to happen. Around 9:30 Franny and I made our way into the jam packed Roseland Ballroom and tried our best to squeeze our way to the front of the stage. We actually lucked out and got a supreme view from the first row all the way to the left, which pretty much highlighted Thom and Flea for the entire evening. When Thom released The Erasure back in 2006 many felt that it was a watered down version of something that Radiohead would produce and it received lack luster reviews. Well after witnessing the songs performed live, I would say all of those reviews have been put to shame. The new band really breathed a new life into each track which on record now sound too simple and on an album highly relying on dub-step like beats, Flea showed why he was the clear choice on bass. Also I don't know if there is a more fitting partner to Thom's quirky dancing them the frantic pulsing and shaking of Flea. Even from the opening track "The Erasure" his chemistry with Thom shone as they dueled their strings to the end. The only time a song felt basic and plain was on my personal highlight from the album, and now band name, "Atoms for Peace" however the rest of the evening really made up for any forms of disappointment. There was a brief pause as the band finished the full album until Thom came back onstage and debuted his live acoustic cover of "All For the Best" followed by the elusive yet beautiful Radiohead track "Fog (Again)" which nearly brought me to tears until my heart raced for a solo piano version of "Everything In It's Right Place." This portion of the show really allowed to Thom to connect with the audience in a way rarely seen when backed by his normal bandmates. The rest of Atoms for Peace joined him for another Radiohead b-side and the final songs of the night.

Setlist:

The Eraser
Analyse
The Clock
Black Swan
Skip Divided
Atoms For Peace
And It Rained All Night
Harrowdown Hill
Cymbal Rush

All For The Best (solo)
Fog (Again) (solo)
Everything In It's Right Place (solo)
Paperbag Writer
Judge, Jury, Executioner
The Hollow Earth
Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses

Where It Started...

2010-04-01T17:02:00.005-04:00

I keep thinking about this list every time I come home and finally decided to write it. A few summers back some friends posted the five records that shaped the way they listen to music and being back in this town does nothing but remind me of growing up. So here are what I think are the five records that really influenced everything I listened to past and present.

1. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
I cannot think of a single album that I have probably listened to as much as this one. Some of my earliest memories of not only music in my life, but just life in general are when my dad would play this album and sing along. It has always been my favorite record of all time and I can not realistically see that ever changing. It combines everything I love about music and fuses classic rock riffs, psychedelic lyrics, a sitar, and finished with arguably one of the greatest songs ever written.

2. Green Day - Dookie
This album made it's way into my possession sometime in middle school. I remember my dad owning the cassette and listening to it in the car when I was younger, but it wasn't until later when it would really opening my ears to punk music, despite the fact that it had already been almost a decade since Green Day had 'sold out.'

3. Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends
Out of all the records on this list, this is the one that has faded. The songs don't hold up anymore, but the memories that come with it will never go away. I remember hearing it for the first time in eighth grade and it opening a whole new world for me. Not only in terms of what would later be called 'emo' but also a new world of people. In a small suburban town, this album introduced me to people I still know to this day and established friendships that made high school worthwhile.

4. The Strokes - Is This It?
This was the first record I ever bought that made me feel cool. The Strokes revived rock and roll in the early 2000s and highlighted the New York scene. It was this album that inspired me to go to college in NYC, change the way I dress, grow out my hair, and countless other things that to this day I consider it one of my top ten favorite records. This was the band that made me want to find the next big thing, the next shift in music. And I'm still looking.

5. TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes
In my junior year of high school I downloaded this album and opened my ears to experimental music. This was not poppy and radio friendly, but in fact raw and underground. The noises that came off of this record were harsh, yet for some reason it called to me as something new and something I needed to hear more of. It led me to sounds pouring out of Brooklyn and gave me some hope that cool had not left New York and possibly would still be around when I would arrive two years later.