Mar
30
The Weekend Ahead
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The weekend ahead is going to begin tomorrow or today rather in approximately 3 hours when I board a plane heading East to Long Island, NY against my will. My mom asked me like 6 months ago if I wanted to go to NY for my cousins Bat Mitzvah and at the time I didn’t really give it very much thought and simply responded with, “I don’t know…” So then a week goes by and since my grandma MUST get her airline tickets 6 months prior to the trip I can only assume she was nagging my mother to get hers as well, which then lead to my mom asking me a second time…My response, “When is it?”, my mom tells me all the details…And since this was last year!!!! I said, “I guess so”!
Don’t get me wrong, I love New York, wouldn’t mind living there someday but to fly there for a weekend to go to Temple and be held captive on Long Island is not really how I want to spend the next 3 days. Anyways quite honestly after listening to my mom nag me to death for the last month about finding a dress for this little family fun fest I started to have second thoughts about this entire situation, but I knew the tickets were already bought and my mom and I still kind of have a hard time communicating…So I kept my mouth shut. Did you know you can’t wear pants to temple?! I didn’t until my mother informed me after consulting with my Aunt about the black slacks I wanted to wear, apparently I would offend the entire congregation!
So I finally fessed up that I didn’t want to go…But apparently I am 5 years old all over again and I can’t make decisions for myself because I’m starring at a half packed suitcase and dreading the next 3-4 days of my life, but most of all I am pissed at myself 1) for getting myself into this situation in the first place, but this is what I do when I get questions sprung on me regarding any sort of planning. 2) I am really pissed that I am 25 years old and just like my mom does with her mother, I’m allowing my mom to control me and sway my decisions.
Maybe someday I will grow up and be the person I feel deep down within…
A little Radiohead to numb the pain…
mp3: Knives Out (mp3 expired)
mp3: Life In A Glasshouse (mp3 expired)
Radiohead, Find it on Amnesiac 2001 Get it
mp3: Creep (mp3 expired) (Radiohead cover) – Damien Rice
Find it on Sounds Eclectic: The Covers Project 2007 Get it
ps. A revamp of Untitled, new site coming soon!
Mar
28
All Time Favorite #16
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Jackie Brown 1997 is probably my favorite Quentin Tarantino film so far…I have watched this movie so many times, Pam Grier owns this film and Samuel L. Jackson plays his character Ordell to a T; Robert Forster is fantastic as well.
Jackie Brown seems to fall under the Pulp Fiction shadow, which is unfortunate because it is wonderfully written. This film is the reason why I have so much respect for Tarantino, because it was nothing like Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs, it was a different style but it still had that Tarantino flare that we have all come to know and love. So of course if you have yet to see Jackie Brown than all I’ve got to say is you have some homework to do this weekend, rent it, I expect to hear what you think by Monday!The soundtrack is filled with 70’s R&B delights, which makes this film All Time Favorite #15!
2 tracks for your listening pleasure…
mp3: (Holy Matrimony) Letter To The Firm (mp3 expired)- Foxy Brown
mp3: Midnight Confessions (mp3 expired)- The Grass Roots
Find it on the Jackie Brown Soundtrack 1997
Yeah that’s right I posted Foxy Brown! It’s no mistake, I actually have a secret love for hip-hop especially when it comes to the Notorious B.I.G and Foxy Brown; I just love Foxy’s bad girl attitude she can lay down some great tracks and as for the B.I.G? Well I mean he is “Notorious”, hip-hop will never be what it was when he was alive.
Also Grindhouse, the new film written by Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino is out April 7th.
Mar
26
Cat Power Traffic Serenade
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I seem to have washed away at some point this weekend…Feeling a little blue. Saturday night while on my way home I ran into a little bit of roadwork on the HWY…A 5 lane highway was reduced to 2 lanes on a Saturday night…It took me an hour to get home, but I realized that it wasn’t really that bad, I actually enjoyed it…I listened to my pod shuffle through some of my favs and then Cat Power came on…It was one of those moments where an old song is shuffled on and it all seems so familiar but at a different angle…My pod brings a smile to my face no matter what, even if it is a sad smile, it lets me feel, my vice I suppose…I’ll embrace it.
A couple of tracks off Moonpix, an album that ages like only the finest do. This album is a must in my opinion; enjoy!
mp3: Back Of Your Head (mp3 expired) – Cat Power
Find it on Moonpix 1998 and What’s Up Matador 1997
mp3: Cross Bones Style (mp3 expired) – Cat Power
Find it on Moonpix 1998 and Everything Is Nice Matador Records 1999
Mar
24
Modest Mouse
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Modest Mouse – Bowery Ballroom, NYC 11/17/2006
I believe I have mentioned in the past how much I love compilations, somewhere…And I think my love for compilations is so grand that I can say it again, I love compilations. There I feel better now.
So I was listening to the new Modest Mouse album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank…Unfortunately at this moment in time I can’t say I am into it at all, so you won’t hear any songs from their new album here. But I do like the older stuff of Modest Mouse, as I was checking out some compilations I came across some tracks that remind me of the Modest Mouse I love.
I would love to hear what some of you think of their new album…If you have heard it chime in and lets hear what you think.
mp3: Heart Cooks Brain (mp3 expired)– Modest Mouse
Find it on Lonesome Crowded West 1997, Everything Is Nice Matador Records 1999
mp3: A Life of Arctic Sounds (mp3 expired)– Modest Mouse
Find it on Building Nothing Out Of Something 2000, Slaying Since 1996 2006
Mar
22
All Time Favorite #15
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It’s been some time since my last All Time Fav feature…And I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the birthday of Mr. Film Buff (aka drainpip).
Fight Club was directed by David Fincher, screenplay adaptation by Jim Uhls and the novel was written by Chuck Palahniuk. It may come as a surprise to some that Fight Club is an All Time Favorite of mine, as it surprised the hell out of me…Put all the violent fight scenes and mixed reviews aside…In my eyes Fight Club is not just some mindless testosterone driven guy flick, it is a dark intelligent film with style…What’s not to like? And good lord Edward Norton is yummy!But seriously I don’t just like the film because I can lick Edward Norton clean…The soundtrack can not be ignored, produced by the LA duo The Dust Brothers (Michael Simpson and John King). The two are most famous for their work with the Beastie Boys and Beck, but they have had their hands in a slew of other projects as well. The Dust Brothers assembled the perfect soundtrack to accompany this deviously dark film…If the mixed reviews of this film steered you away from checking it out I recommend giving it a chance…It’s a mind-fuck but a good one none the less.
mp3: This Is Your Life (mp3 expired) – The Dust Brothers
Fight Club 1999 Get it
Happy Birthday Mr. Pip! ;-)
Mar
21
Mid-Week Music Galore
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What makes a “good” album? How many albums are simply deemed “good” because the band is popular and it is expected? Unfortunately more than I can count…I have been asked where I find the music that gets posted on Untitled and I never really know what to say to that…I don’t really find it in a specific place really, I just listen…I try to put all genres, stereotypes and expectations aside and just listen…
I have a tendency to stay away from listening to anything really popular until the smoke clears…Just because I give myself time to have an open mind about it all, it is difficult to have an open mind about an album when everywhere you look it’s being talked about…Because for me this is not a popularity contest, I could give two shits what Pitchfork says about a record or what band will give you the most hits and Hype love. Just give me the album, let me put it on and absorb each song one at a time and then repeat it.
So on that note shall we get to the music?
Matador has just released The Pony’s full length debut, Turn The Lights Out and man Matador knows how to pick them, I shit you not. This Chicago based band can play some fantastic indie-rock punk but they aren’t afraid to show their softer side either. They have a slew of shows lined up, including The Earl in Atlanta, GA tonight (Rich?) and Johnny Brenda’s in Philly on March 25th and they will even be coming to The Echo in LA on April 14th. Check out their myspace to see when they are playing near you and while you are at it you can listen to a couple of my picks off their new album:
mp3: Turn The Lights Out (mp3 expired) – The Ponys
mp3: Kingdom of Hearts (mp3 expired) – The Ponys
Turn The Lights Out 2007 Get it
Andrew Spencer Goldman is the master mind behind the Fulton Lights, his self titled full length debut was just released on Android Eats Records…When I first heard this album I was sold instantly, the album has been playing repeatedly on my pod for the last week now. Soft melodic arrangements accompany Spencer’s hushed vocals, all led by a slow trip-hop beat…It is all just beautiful; the album is a pleasure and a true treasure indeed.
mp3: 1,000 Little Eyes (mp3 expired) – Fulton Lights
mp3: Fire In the Palm of My Hand (mp3 expired) – Fulton Lights
Fulton Lights 2007 Get it
And that “Sweet” image up there is actually from this t-shirt site I ran across on the web called, Rad Rowdies and they have a t-shirt that says, “I’m A Dork” in this 70’s retro font it’s freaking awesome!
Mar
20
Andrew Bird Serenade
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Andrew Bird’s new album, Armchair Apocrypha hits record stands today…And my, my, my ladies and gentlemen I do believe Mr. Bird will steal your heart away. This 12 track album is composed in a way that only Mr. Bird could make. The album is a mix of cool jazz rhythms and classical melodies that are so refine, it is beautiful. Andrew Bird is quite honestly a singer songwriter who is in a class of his own.
Unfortunately the closest show of his is at Coachella 2007 in Indio, CA and well that sold out in like 2 minutes…So unless I find tickets to Coachella growing on some fabulous Coachella Ticket Tree or I take a road-trip to San Fran…I don’t think I will be able to catch him this time around, which is just a tragedy…Wouldn’t you agree? Enjoy!
mp3: Heretics (mp3 expired)- Andrew Bird
mp3: Cataracts (mp3 expired)- Andrew Bird
Armchair Apocrypha 2007 Get it
Oh and check out the new Google Personalized Home Themes at the right hand top of your page…I am using the Sweet Dreams theme of course because I like Van Gogh think that the night is much more alive than the day…“I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.†–Vincent Van Gogh
How was every one’s St. Patty’s day?
Mar
19
We Say Goodbye
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So the SXSW has wrapped up and everyone is either home or on their way home. Some people are happy, some people are sad…But one thing you have to admit you have to have heard something new this last week right?
In closing I give you two bands…
The Good, The Bad & The Queen’s self titled album was officially released worldwide on Jan. 23rd. This London quartet played a couple of shows at SXSW. Here is a track off their most recent release:
mp3: Northern Whale – The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen 2007 Get it
The Gossip is a indie-punk rock band from Portland, OR with a whole lot of spunk. They just released a new single on March 1st Get it. They also played a few shows in Austin, here is a track off their 2006 album:
mp3: Jealous Girls (mp3 expired) – Gossip
Standing in the Way of Control 2006 Get it
Coming up on Untitled, Andrew Bird, The Innocence Mission and more music than was thought possible.
Mar
17
SXSW 2007 – Day 8
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I think what bummed me out the most about missing this year’s SXSW was the fact that I also missed this:
Beirut
Wednesday, March 14th – Emo’s Main Stage 10:30pm
with Blonde Redhead, Mountain Goats, Emma Pollack and Wolf & Cub
and
Friday, March 16th – Austin City Limits/KEXP 7:00pm
And I gather everyone may have noticed my love for Beirut? Yes, I do admit I think he is marvelous.
He does have a couple more shows in May, unfortunately both are on the Eastern part of the Continent:
Sunday, May 6th and Monday, May 7th – Bowery Ballroom, New York
Final Fantasy will be on the bill for both nights. Ticket info here
After these shows Beirut heads off to Canada to record with Owen of Final Fantasy for his new album. I posted a track off Beirut’s emusic only release, Pompeii a week or so ago unfortunately because it is an emusic only release and because it is a single it was only up for a very short time. But I do however have a couple tracks for you, two of my favorites to celebrate the Beirut SXSW goodness…I guess we are also celebrating St. Patty’s day too so Happy St. Patty’s Day everyone!
mp3: The Gulag Orkestar (mp3 expired)- Beirut
Gulag Orkestar 2006 Get it
mp3: Carousels (mp3 expired)- Beirut
Lon Gisland EP 2006 Get it
Mar
16
SXSW 2007 – Day 7
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What freaking day am I on? I know it says 7 up there but I don’t know…I am out of it, went to bed and woke up on the wrong side and it was kind of a busy day…Anyways my apologies for the delay. Let us resume where we left off shall we? I am sure the Friday festivities are just winding down in Austin…Sigh…
Every time I listen to the Summer Hymns I can’t help but think of Rich over at Cable & Tweed (Hi Rich!)…This Athens, GA band have been making fantastic indie-folk rock since the late 90’s. Backward Masks was released on Misra last fall and they also are performing their last show at the Misra Records and Absolutely Kosher Records SXSW Showcase March 17th at 8PM at the Habana Calle 6 patio.
mp3: Way You Walk (mp3 expired)- Summer Hymns
mp3: Ice Age World (mp3 expired)- Summer Hymns
Backward Masks 2006 Get it