caffeine-headache

{Sunset Junction}

2008-05-16T03:48:36Z

This years Sunset Junction Festival in L.A. will take place August 23rd and 24th. The full line-up has yet to be released, but Saturdays headliners will include Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, The Cold War Kids, and Broken Social Scene. Sundays headliners include Kinky and The Black Keys.

Visit the official Sunset Junction site for more info.

{Mates of State}

2008-05-15T04:53:37Z

Indie-pop duo Mates of State add to their signature sound for their forthcoming album titled Re-Arrange Us. Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel have long been kicking out tunes with their organ and drum combo, but for their fifth full-length album they add guitar, strings, horns, and piano! Re-Arrange Us officially releases next tuesday (May 20th).

Stream the album in it's entirety from Mates of State's MySpace

The vinyl LP version (with single-use code to download the entire album as high-quality MP3 files) will be available June 17th through Barsuk Records

{Cannes Film Festival}

2008-05-15T02:07:20Z

Nope, we couldn't make it to this years Cannes Film Festival either, but that doesn't stop us from getting psyched about some of the films (premiering at the festival), which will make their debuts nationwide later this year.

First let's mention the official poster, which is a photograph by David Lynch, adapted by French cinema poster artist Pierre Collier. It pays tribute to the talent and works of the renowned American filmmaker. The event organizer said the poster's design conveys the same tone as director Lynch's films. David Lynch's films have been nominated four times at the Cannes Film Festival. He also won the Golden Palm award for Best Picture in 1990 (for Wild at Heart) and an award for best Director for the film Mulholland Drive in 2001.

There are just too many films to mention making their debut at the festival. Amongst those I'm looking forward to hearing about are Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, Steven Soderbergh's Che, and Clint Eastwood's Changeling. Couldn't find any trailers for those films, but here's a couple that I did find trailers for.

Fernando Meirelles' (director of City of God, The Constant Gardener) Blindness...

Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona...

Visit the official Cannes Film Festival site for more info.

{Apocalypse How}

2008-05-13T03:10:02Z

Apocalypse How is a comprehensive cataclysmic guide that walks you through the Nine Most Likely World-Ending Scenarios, and provides useful and hilarious advice on every aspect of surviving in the new world to come. The book is from Daily Show writer Rob Kutner and covers everything from food, shelter, and relocation to social life, dating, recreation and careers.

Stephen Colbert says, “If you buy only one book to accompany you through horrific worldwide catastrophe, make it this one.”

Read book excerpts from Chapters 3, 7, and 8 Right Here

Watch an animated promo titled Apocalyptic Exercises...

{The Heavy}

2008-05-12T17:50:30Z

I've been enjoying the new album from The Heavy titled Great Vengeance and Furious Five, whose sound is both a bit retro contemporary. On the track "Coleen" the band sound like they can rival Gnarls Barkley's best, on "That Kind of Man" they sound like Curtis Mayfield with electric guitars, and the trip-hop tune "Brukpockets Lament" finds them at their best.

The Heavy hail from Noid, a small town in South West England and their debut album Great Vengeance and Furious Fire was released on Counter Records/NinjaTune in the U.K. in October 07 and has just released in the U.S.

Have a listen...

"Coleen"

"That Kind of Man"

Hear more from The Heavy's MySpace

Order the album here

{Fear Itself}

2008-05-08T05:58:23Z

Here's an exclusive look at NBC's Fear Itself. The summer shock series features a new 1 hour mini movie every week from some of Horror's biggest names. The series debuts on NBC at 10pm on May 29th.

Visit the Official Site for more info or watch a clip right here..

{Unaccustomed Earth}

2008-05-08T00:51:55Z

The beautiful and talented Jhumpa Lahiri has new book, Unaccustomed Earth in stores now!

We were big fans of her Pulitzer Prize–winning short story collection Interpreter of Maladies. We were notsomuch a fan of her novel The Namesake, however she returns to short story form for this new collection of stories titled Unaccustomed Earth.

Listen to Jhumpa Lahiri read a story from Unaccustomed Earth Right Here

Order the book and listen to a Meet the Writers interview Here

{This Is Ivy League}

2008-05-07T19:31:49Z

We posted about these boys about a month ago, but back then we only gave you the first single "London Bridges". Now we introduce you to This Is Ivy League's new summer single and a cover of Arcade Fire's "Crown of Love"!

This Is Ivy League's (Alex Suarez and Ryland Blackinton) debut self-titled album filled with Simon & Garfunkel and Belle & Sebastian-esque pop, available now through Twentyseven Records.

Pitchfork said the album ”sustains a soft-focus weirdness, borrowing all the elements you’d expect from a postmillennial Chad & Jeremy -- blazers, bicycles, merry-go-rounds, a park in autumn-- while adding a few new flourishes-- women in animal costumes, gently evocative use of color and pattern. Alex Suarez and Ryan Blackinton croon their crisp harmonies, finishing each other’s sentences and riffs, nearly symmetrical as they perform atop their pedestals for the animal woman.”

Have a listen...

"London Bridges"

"The Richest Kids"

"Crown of Love"

Stream the album in it's entirety right here

Order This Is Ivy League's self-titled debut here

{Lost Sneak Peaks}

2008-05-07T04:44:34Z

Here's a couple of sneak peeks from this weeks forthcoming Lost Locke-centric episode titled Cabin Fever...

{Nortec Collective}

2008-05-06T05:02:54Z

The Nortec Collective began in the late nineties as a group of Tijuana electronic/techno music artists who came together using norteño music as the raw material for their new unique sound.

Tijuana Sound Machine is the new album by Nortec Collective’s core artists Bostich and Fussible. In honor of Cinco De Mayo songs from the forthcoming album were popping up everywhere online today, as well as streaming on their Tijuana Sound Machine Myspace page. The album will officially release tomorrow (May 6th).

Here's some links...

Listen to "Mama Loves Nortec" courtesy of KEXP's Song of the Day

Hear "Akia 47" courtesy of NPR's Song of the Day

Or why not just stream the album in it's entirety from the official Tijuana Sound Machine MySpace!

{David Dondero}

2008-05-06T04:29:05Z

One of pur favorite singer/songwriters David Dondero played at Spaceland in L.A. this past friday (May 2nd) and despite having guitar issues he (and his band) sounded great.

I had a drink with Dondero while Nik Freitas was on and he persuaded me to stick around and catch El Olio Wolof...and I'm glad he did! No time to write a proper review, but good performances all around, so be sure to check any of these artists out when they come to a town near you.

Hear some tunes...

David Dondero - "Rothko chapel"

Nik Freitas - "Sun Down"

El Olio Wolof - "A Fire Breathing Dragon"

Here's a clip of Dondero performing "Rothko Chapel" from the Houston Chronicle

{A Wolf at the Table}

2008-05-02T04:04:25Z

Augusten Burroughs new book, A wolf at the Table hit stores this week!

His 2002 hilarious, yet heartbreaking memoir Running With Scissors touched on his mentally-ill mother who deposited him with (at age 12) with her shrink. His 2003 laugh out loud memoir Dry focused on his years as an alcoholic and getting sober. With A Wolf at the Table he describes his early childhood with his father, when his parents were still married and living together. His memoir paints a picture of his father as a rage-filled alcoholic with a personality disorder.

Read a FREE chapter (as well as listen to some selected tunes) Right Here

Order the book and watch an interview with Burroughs discussing A Wolf at the Table Right Here

{Spiritualized - "Soul on Fire"}

2008-05-02T03:56:04Z

{The Rookie}

2008-05-01T04:43:53Z

Are you fans of Fox's hit tv series 24 having withdrawls too? Then check out the new 24 spin-off The Rookie!

In these side stories rookie analyst/field agent Jason Blaine (Jeremy Valdez) is sent to Mexico City to find his mentor Alex Maxwell (Eric Beck), who has been kidnapped by drug czar Estaban Salazar (the Salazar brothers were introduced in season 3 of 24). The plot also thickens when a a mole is discovered inside the CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit), adding that familiar set up to fans of the 24 storytelling.

There's a bit too much brand advertisement (the webisodes are brought to you by Degree men's deodorant), and the acting isn't quite up to snuff, but it's still 24 right? The familiar setup is all there, the ticking clock, the framed character windows, etc.

Begin watching webisodes of The Rookie Right Here

{Quarantine}

2008-05-01T04:19:39Z

Quarantine's viral marketing aims to replicate Cloverfield-esque hype!

After 40 seconds of amateur videocam footage posted on YouTube back in March, Sony Pictures' forthcoming film Quarantine (directed by John Dowdle) is the latest in viral marketing that aims to replicate the kind of hype that Cloverfield generated.

The story centers around tv reporter Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter of The Exorcism of Emily Rose) and her cameraman (Steve Harris), who are covering a story about a Los Angeles Fire Station. When a 911 call takes them to an apartment building, they find police officers already on the scene responding to horrible screams coming from one of the units. They learn a woman living in the building has been infected by a mysterious source. When the residents, officers, and tv crew try to escape they learn that the CDC has quarantined the building. There is no phone, internet, television, or cell phone access and officials are not relaying information to those locked inside. Once the quarantine is finally lifted the only evidence of what took place is the news crew videotape.

Quarantine is based on the '07 Spanish import {REC} by Paco Plaza & Jaume Balaguero. Look for Quarantine in theaters nationwide on October 17th.

Visit the Official Site to watch the full screen or hi-def trailer or view it right here...