caffeine-headache

{Gnarls Barkley Demos}

Gnarls Barkley is the collaboration of DJ/producer, Danger Mouse (of DangerDOOM, Gorillaz, Prince Po) and Cee-Lo Green (of The Goodie Mob). The two teamed up and announced they were to be releasing an album under the name: Gnarls Barkley.
"We are the perfect combination," Cee-Lo stated. "This album is one of the best platforms for me to express all of me. I get to expand my range and hit all categories from Urban, Crossover, Pop and Rock & Roll." Since the news spread Gnarls Barkley demos have been popping up all over the interweb, I heard six of the demos from My Old Kentucky Blog and then realized that MOKB had posted a few more demos a couple of weeks ago (scroll down for these one's past the Man Man post). These tracks have etched their way into my mind and I couldn't get 'em out now if I wanted to...'does that make me "Crazy"...probably'. Do yourself a favor and check these demos out while you still can.

Posted by jay at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

{Depeche Mode- Personal Jesus Maxi-Single}

Since I'm certain that I will be seeing Depeche Mode at this years Coachella this year I've slowly been going through their entire catalogue of songs. This is no small task considering that I spent my teenage years getting my grubby paws on nearly everything DM ever put out. Personal Jesus was the first single lifted from 1990's Violator album and remains one of Depeche Mode's most popular songs. I'd bet my bottom dollar that they will be playing this song live out in Indio along with some of they're other biggest hits. The Maxi-Single comes with a few remixes, but the standout tracks are the acoustic version of "Personal Jesus" and the solid b-side "Dangerous".

"Personal Jesus (Acoustic)"

"Dangerous (7" Version)"

Order Personal Jesus Maxi-Single here here.

Also...Digital Eargasm posted half a dozen Depeche Mode remixes.

...and just in case you missed it:

Coachella 2006 Lineup

Saturday, April 29th
Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, Common, Damian Marley, Atmosphere, Carl Cox, My Morning Jacket, Ladytron , Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Tosca, Cat Power, Animal Collective, HARD-fi, Derrick Carter, Devendra Banhart, She Wants Revenge, The Walkmen, The Juan Maclean, Audio Bullys, Imogen Heap, Lady Sovereign, Deerhoof, The Duke Spirit, Editors, stellastarr*, Lyrics Born, Matt Costa, The New Amsterdams, The Zutons, Platinum Piped Pipers, White Rose Movement, Chris Liberator, Colette, Joey Beltram, Hybrid, Wolfmother, The Like, Living Things, Nine Black Alps, The Section Quartet, Infadels, Youth Group, Shy FX & T Power, Infusion.

Sunday, April 30th
Tool, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bloc Party, Paul Oakenfold, Scissor Sisters, Matisyahu, James Blunt, TV on the Radio, Sleater-Kinney , Mogwai, Coheed and Cambria, Gnarls Barkley, Coldcut, Phoenix, Digable Planets, Amadou & Mariam, Little Louie Vega, Mylo (DJ Set), Seu Jorge, Wolf Parade, The Go! Team, Kaskade, Metric, Art Brut, Dungen, The Dears, Jamie Lidell, The Magic Numbers, Los Amigos Invisibles, Jazzanova, Michael Mayer, Mates of State, Gilles Peterson, Gabriel & Dresden, The Subways, Minus the Bear, Be Your Own Pet, Giant Drag, Kristina Sky, The Octopus Project.

Order your tickets here.

Posted by jay at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's Monday and as we all know, Mondays suck! So here's some choice picks guaranteed to make yours a little brighter...joining me this week is Matt of Ear Farm. His site was a finalist for a 2006 Bloggie Award under the "Best-Kept-Secret Weblog" category...my guess is that Ear Farm won't be a secret for too much longer. Here's our picks...

MATT OF EAR FARM'S PICKS:

1.  Islands

With sooo many different great bands out there that I'm constantly listening to I wondered, "how do I pick just one?"  Well, here's the thing(s).  I love(d) The Unicorns a bunch.  Then I went and saw Islands (featuring two ex-Unicorns) at the Knitting Factory in December and right away fell in love with them.  You might do the same if "you enjoy something along the lines of Graceland-era Paul Simon mixed with Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? (Unicorns album) as well as some general free thinking creative song-ing" (quote pulled from a post on my own site).  If that sounds nice you can go see my post that quote was pulled from HERE or see another Islands related post on my site HERE.  Both of those previous links will take you to places where you can listen to their music.  You can also catch them on tour with Metric.  

2.  Me and You and Everyone We Know

I rented and saw this movie last week and bought it the next day when I returned it.  It's one of the best films I saw last year by a long shot; one of the best I've seen in the last 5 years even.  From what I've realized so far, people either love it or hate it.  Well, I adored it.  I loved the tone and the acting and the overall artistic vision/message.  The struggle to connect with each other (and ourselves) in the contemporary world...the little moments in life...these are things which this film deals with ever so perfectly.  In portraying the humanity of the characters, Miranda July (totally have a crush on her now) touches on moments of laugh-out-loud comedy and beautiful honesty.  Nearly perfect, wait I pretty much already said that.  What I meant to say was ))<>(( and you know it.

3.  "24"

Look, not intentionally meaning to have the next thing be the total opposite of the last one but this show is just amazing.  I recently watched the first 5 episodes of the current season (which I had recorded) and was totally glued to the TV screen the whole time.  I can't wait for each week's episode and there's not another show on TV that does that to me these days.  I've never seen "Lost" but I'll betcha if you put "24" in a cage match with that show, Jack Bauer would have the characters of "Lost" calling themselves "Gilligan's Island" wannabes in no time.  I know that millions of people watch "24" each week but sometimes it's worth it to remember that millions of people liking the same thing doesn't always mean it sucks.  By the way, new episodes of "24" are broadcast on Mondays - watch tonight!

4.  Emily Nemens

Can't say I know a ton about current artists but I do know when I like something and Emily's work is really great.  Go check out her site, I'm particularly fond of the "she said he said" stuff, and if you live in New York City go check out her drawings on display at Bar Rio (558 broome street) until March 2006.  

5.  Y: The Last Man

Okay, so it's a comic book series and not a "book" but it's one of my favorites regardless.  This is Brian K. Vaughan's series that takes the age old male fantasy of being the "last man left on Earth" and turns it inside out.  The idea is basically that there's some kind of plague that kills every creature with a Y chromosome except one guy and his pet monkey and this series details his adventures in this post-plague world.  It's done in a very intelligent manner with nods to popular culture and artwork that perfectly matches the tone of the writing.  If you're new to the series, start by getting the trade paperbacks on Amazon.

JAY OF CAFFEINE-HEADACHE PICKS:

1. Virgin Records "Soundtrack To London" (Vol. 3)

Head over to London Now, sign in, and you can get mp3's from 28 artists including: Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, Lucky Soul, Field Music, Duke Spirit, Labarador, Broken Social Scene, and more.

2. Dave Chappelle's Block Party

Michel Gondry (Human Nature and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) directed this concert flick hybrid with Dave Chappelle sometime last year in-between directing feature films. Chappelle bused-in people from all over to come see the concert that he put together. View the trailer here.

3. Onion Radio News

Doyle Redland reports hilarious top stories like: 'Clothing Catalog Creates Unrealistic Expectations For Shirts', 'Fun Toy Banned Because Of Three Stupid Dead Kids', and 'Lab Monkeys 96 Percent More Likely To Use Cocaine Than Those In Wild' (thanks for the tip Jamie).

4. Maximo Park - Missing Songs

Stream Maximo Park's album of demos and unreleased B-sides entitled Missing Songs courtesy of Scenestars.

5. David Lynch's Inland Empire

David Lynch celebrated his 60th birthday last week and I'm eagerly awaiting his next feature film Inland Empire. He's already been shooting the film under the radar for two years now. It's set to star: Laura Dern, Justin Theroux, Harry Dean Stanton, Jeremy Irons and a host of others who Lynch won't specify. The details are all very hush-hush, I'm just hoping that this film makes it into theaters this year. Read more about Inland Empire here.

Checkout previous Monday Picks with RNR INFERNO and CLEVER TITLES.

Posted by jay at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

As I'm sure all of you know Chris Penn was found dead yesterday at his home in Santa Monica.
Still no official cause of death. Chris is the brother of Sean (actor) and Michael (musician) Penn...read more here.
This weekend I'll be having my own Chris Penn Drinkfest begining with (Chris in smaller roles) Rumble Fish and then moving on to the Tarantino-scripted True Romance. The main feature will be the Reservoir Dogs: 10th Anniversary Special Limited Edition, which features an interview with Chris Penn that takes place in the back of a cargo truck driving around the L.A. Freeways. Chris discusses the impact of the film on his career, his friendship with Eddie Bunker, and Nice Guy Eddie’s fashion sense.

I read this interesting article about how “Internet downloading and MP3 players are creating a generation of people who do not seriously appreciate songs or musical performances” from The Big Takeover (via Chromewaves).

My Yellow Country Teeth posted a few Pretty Girls Make Graves tracks from the upcoming album Élan Vita , Tonight Lets Dance posted two more, and Em P Me posted yet a couple more. Check 'em out and see what you think, the album is set for an April release from Matador Records.

Lots of independent (or independently, but studio-funded) films are premiering at The 2006 Sundance Film Fest...here's an interesting trailer for Down in the Valley starring: Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, David Morse, and Rory Culkan. View the trailer here.

Clever Titles posted Colin Meloy doing a Shirley Collins song + the original.

Here's a little funny...Feelings of inadequacy?

Did you all know that you could grab the Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins Rabbit Fur Coat album for free courtesy of Team Love? Well what are you waiting for, go to Team Love now.

Posted by jay at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Less than two weeks after the death of Lou Rawls, soul music has lost another legend. Wilson Pickett died of a heart attack last week at the age of 64. Pickett was most known for hits "In The Midnight Hour" and "Mustang Sally", The Number One Songs in Heaven posted one of my favorite Wilson Pickett ballads "I'm in Love" and Soul Shower posted a classic from Sam Cooke featuring Lou Rawls called "Bring It On Home To Me"

Order The Very Best of Lou Rawls here.
Order The Best of Wilson Pickett here.

Posted by jay at 05:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One would assume with the pre-sale hour drawing near that the lineup (or even a partial lineup) would be announced, but that hasn't stopped these flyers from popping up over the web. Nothing official yet from Coachella's MySpace, the official site, or Goldenvoice sites. The presale begins tomorrow the 25th at 10am (PST) through Friday, January 27th at 10pm (PST) at Ticketmaster (the password is Seven). The full lineup is expected to be announced next week. If this fake lineup being posted is even remotely accurate than I'll be one happy camper.
Here are confrimed acts thus far: Depeche Mode, Giant Drag, Wolf Parade, Underworld, Amadou & Mariam, Imogen Heap, Paul Oakenfold, The Duke Spirit, and Lady Sovereign (via Brooklyn Vegan) and perhaps Franz Ferdinand (via NME). Know of any other confirmed acts?

Posted by jay at 08:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's Monday and as we all know, Mondays suck! So here's some choice picks guaranteed to make yours a little brighter...joining me this week is our very own Fernando of the Rock N Roll Inferno Show. Here goes...

FERNANDO OF RNR INFERNO PICKS:

1. The Modern Drunkard by Frank Kelly Rich

Exerpts: Rule 6) “Buying a strange women a drink is still cool. Buying all her drinks is dumb.” Rule 33) “The only thing that tastes better than free liquor is stolen liquor.” The Modern Drunkard starts off with 86 rules of drinking and although at first glance it all seems like someone is making a joke, the truth is anyone who drinks (i.e. me and all of you) should read this. After the 86 rules of drinking, the book jumps into the 40 things you should before you die and I am really excited about trying the first one: 'Open and Close a Bar'. Find a bar that opens before noon, stake out a comfortable seat, and hunker down. Resist informing the bartender of your tremendous plan, as this will cause him to pour waves of pre-celebratory shots and you won’t survive happy hour. Pacing is everything. Watch the crowds come and go, watch bartenders rise, reign, and fade while you remain like a cagey Methuselah. From that day Forward (within the walls of that bar at least) your name will be legend. There is 'Etiquette for Inebriates', 'Best Bar Moves', and my personal favorite 'Dealing with the Dry’s'. Even moderate drinkers should know there is a code and a harmony at the bar and all drinking events, to disrupt it could lead to disaster. The simple fact of the matter is people get upset at each other anyway, throw liquor in the mix and need extra etiquette. For more of a taste of what you would be expecting check out Modern Drunkard Magazine Online which is run by the author of the book Frank Kelly Rich. It might make ya some good friends, it might show what an all nighter is all about, but in the process you just might kill your liver.

2. Warren Ellis

I’m currectly obsessed with Warren Ellis and if you knew any better you would be too. He has written graphic novels for over ten years. He’s most famous for what I’ve been reading lately 'Transmetropolitian', a series about a “gonzo” journalist in the ridiculous city of the future where all the bad things of this time have fully come to light. Greed, violence, and corruption are dominate in every story, rant, and reflection in the series. Another series of his that I love called 'Bad World' is filled with full-page rants and illustrations about disturbing things going on in the world. You could turn the page and feel uneasy looking at the illustration and then read the paragraph or 2 about some group on the internet that likes to have sex with big lizards. Good stuff.

Warren also is doing his second podcast 'Apparat' which features a mix of eclectic mix ambient and indie music and as you all know if you have a podcast you are twice as cool as those who do not. His latest graphic comic series is available to download free over the internet. I have seriously not bought a comic in over two years and then I ran across 'Fell' (Warren’s new comic) and I remembered how much I loved his writing. How simply vulgar at times and still all too true. So here I am, on the verge of falling off the nerd wagon. I went to the comic store and bought a Transmetropolitian I had not read this week and I’m thinking about going back and getting a few more. Here's some Sample Reading.

3. A Snake of June

Asia Extreme to the rescue! God bless this company. Yes, this is another dark and incoherent movie that Asian cinema fans will watch just so they can say the watched it, while secretly knowing that it's just as bad as American cinema...hold on, that’s not the case with A Snake of June. The movie is surreal, dark ,and I can count how many times it stopped raining, but it's still carried a story with it….until the end.
The story involves and a married suicide hotline operator how may have saved the wrong life. She seems to have a stalker that enjoys taking pictures of her during her “alone time”. Things aren’t all bad there something not right about her marriage and she is obsessed with cleaning everything on an almost disturbing level…..did I mention the rain? All and all great visuals, “Donnie Darko-esque” plot turns, and although I bought this you might want to rent this first. View the trailer here.

4. Mc chris

MC Chirs has a new song up on his MySpace called "For the Win"...lyrics are available on his site.

JAY OF CH PICKS:

1. Clap! Clap!Get Naughty EP

If you're still waiting around for The Rapture to release another album, this EP from Texas' Clap! Clap! should hold you over just fine. Here's the EP courtesy of the bands website:
"Talk Shop"
"Pop Ice! No, Dance Ice!"
"You Love, We Party!"
Clap!Clap!
"Talk Shop [Who Shot Mike G Remix]"

Be their MySpace friend.

2. Seven Swords

I believe this movie was described as part Crouching Tiger, part Lord of the Rings and while it doesn't come close to living up to either of those films (but hey what does?) it has plenty of redeeming qualities. Tsui Hark's martial arts epic involves seven swordsmen who try to protect a village from being slaughtered by the royal court that has outlawed the practice of martial arts. If the film had just stuck to this simple story, it probably would have been a much better. Instead, there are two or three love triangles and a bunch of extraneous subplots. Hark also goes overboard with the melodrama, resulting in a whole lot of cheese, yet there is still plenty to love. The film is based on the wuxia novel by Liang Yu-Sheng "The Seven Swordsmen from Mountain Tian". If you're a fan of wuxia (pronounced "woo seeyah") films, then you may find this to your liking. View the trailer here.

3. Apple's MacBook Pro

Powered by a dual-core Intel engine. This thing can go four times the speed of the PowerBook G4 and has eight times the graphics bandwidth (so now you gamers have nothing to complain about). I really don't need a new laptop, and I should really save my money for more important things, but the techie in me just won't let go. MacBook Pro's ship in February, view the add and fall in love with me.

4. Jens Lekman

I can't get enough Jens Lekman. Jens is a Swedish pop musician who has released one album and several EP's since 2003. His music is often compared to Erlend Oye, Jonathan Richman, Morrissey and The Magnetic Fields. You can hear a few legal downloads courtesy of 3hive:

"Black Cab"
"Rocky Dennis Farewell Song to the Blind Girl"
"You Are the Light"

You can hear more from Jens Lekman's Department of Forgotten Songs (from Secretly canadian Records). A repository of demos, unreleased and hard-to-find material.

5. Carnivale Season Two

I was not fortunate enough to have cable when this show originally aired on HBO (I still don't, for that matter) so I picked up the Season One DVD and became completly absorbed. Imagine my surprise when I finised the first season only to find out that the Season Two has yet to be released on DVD? So I managed to track down a fellow who put together a nice package of the complete second season (including Buzz clips with cast interviews) and I am currently midway threw and trying desperatly to pace myself. If you've already watched this show then you already know how great it is. If you haven't, then I recommend getting absorbed. Fans of (my all-time favorite show) Twin Peaks will fall in love with the intricate storyline, the wonderful cinematography, and the dark undertones that surround the show. Get your tarot reading from Sophie here.

Previous Monday picks.

Posted by jay at 07:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

{Colin Meloy Sings Shirley Collins}

The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy has embarked on his solo tour and he carries along a limited edition EP (2000 copies). I was fortunate enough to get in to his low-key performance last year at Hotel Cafe, in which he carried a tour-only EP full of Morrissey covers. This time around Colin pays tribute to English folk singer Shirley Collins.
You Ain't No Picasso posted Colin and Shirley's versions of "Charlie" and Rich Girls Are Weeping posted Colin and Shirley's versions of "Dance to Your Daddy"...so go get 'em. Colin's next stop is the El Rey tomorrow night...be there.

Posted by jay at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

{John Waters - Change of Life}

The “Sultan of Sleaze” John Waters made his way to a place that needs as much of his brand of subversion as it can get. Change of Life, Waters first major museum exhibit on view at the Orange County Museum of Art is full of all the vulgarity, display of American hypocrisy and subculture loving you’ve come to expect from John Waters. Turning a still camera on the television screen, the eclectic exhibit is a kind of cinematic moments as found objects, with and without embellishments. Exposing the obsessions of our society, while still managing to love it, the majority of the exhibit displays panels of stills according to theme or movie. My favorites are the string of cinematic vomit sequences and “twelve assholes and a dirty foot” across which in my catalogue book he wrote his favorite word, “antidisestablishmentarism." Also on view is a life size diorama of his working space, kitch objects, and sculptures, including a Divine inspired Jackie O doll holding a gun and JFK in a Marilyn Monroe dress. After all the free drink vouchers I got at the opening, meeting and gushing over Tracy Ullman, and the museum director trying to bum 2 cigarettes off me (he only got one) the exhibit itself might have burned less bright in my memory. But it was John Waters after all, and nothing could overshadow the legend and wonder of the only man who can pull off a pencil mustache with the same panaché and tongue-in-cheek mockery that he brings to everything he does.

Posted by Jamie at 09:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This sunday January, 22 at The Echo (San Diego's) The Prayers perform for free!
Mp3's:
"Loose Lips"
"Lady Sylvia"
Hear more from The Prayers MySpace.

This Friday, January 20th playing at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State Los Angeles are Los Super Elegantes, Very Be Careful, and Quetzal. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $12 for Cal State students and are available through Ticketmaster or at the Luckman box office.
Listen to a demo version of Los Super Elegantes cover of ESG's "Dance" from their MySpace.

Posted by jay at 09:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

{The King of France / The Helio Sequence}

Last week the flu got a hold of me, picked me up, threw me around for awhile, and then knocked me on my ass. Despite my symptoms, by the time friday rolled around I was pretty sick of of staring at the same scenery from my bed. So I decided to take advantage of the free pair of tix I recieved to see The Helio Sequence and The King of France at Spaceland. I was planning on writing up a show review, but the night had other plans in store for me. First off: there were far too many people inside to manuever around and frankly I just didn't have the strength for it, Second: it took over a half an hour to get a drink, and I don't fancy waiting that long to spend my hard earned cash to destroy my own liver. I was feeling shitty all over and not even spotting some guy who looked an awful lot like Eddy Norton managed to cheer me up much. I managed to catch half of King of France's set, the band consists of vocalist Steve Salad and drummer (veteran music journalist/ author) Michael Azerrad. They sounded great playing songs from their latest self-titled album, but I was feeling all too claustrophobic so I headed out. To top off my night, despite leaving early, I was greeted with a parking ticket on my car. I should have stayed home that night and fully recovered, oh well live and learn. Fernando stayed though and said the bands were great...he should be writing a review!

Here's some Mp3's to make up for the lack of a review:

The Helio Sequence - "Transistor Radio"
Helio Sequence - "Sassafras"
Hear more from The Helio Sequence MySpace
Order the album Com Plex here.

The King of France - "Sick of the Life"
The King of France - "Mexico"
Hear more from The King of France MySpace
Order The King of France S/T album here.

Posted by jay at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Kill Your Co-Workers posted a couple of brand new Placebo songs from their forthcoming album Meds. 'Because I Want You’ will be the first single from the album in the UK only, set for release on March 6th. The first single Worldwide (excluding UK) will be ‘Song To Say Goodbye’ also to be released on March 6th. Hear 'em while you can.

Checkout the trailer for the soon-to-be-released film Thank You For Smoking. Plot line: Nick Naylor is chief spokesman for Big Tobacco, he makes his living defending the rights of smokers and cigarette makers in today’s neo-puritanical culture. Confronted by health zealots and an opportunistic senator, Nick goes on a PR offensive, spinning away the dangers of cigarettes, but he begins to think about how his work makes him look in the eyes of his young son. View the trailer here.

Bows+Arrows posted a few new songs from The Elected's new album Sun, Sun, Sun. This album features singer/songwriter Blake Sennett (of Rilo Kiley) in top form.

Tim Robbins to make George Orwell's 1984...read the story here.

I Guess I'm Floating posted a couple of tracks off Richard Ashcroft's new album Keys To the World, as well as the b-side to the new single.

An Aquarium Drunkard posted a handful of Doveman songs worth checking out.

Take a first look behind the scenes of Michel Gondry's Science of Sleep starring Gael Garcia Bernal here.

Indie Don't Dance posted a few classic Nina Simone tracks.

Posted by jay at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

{Bob Dylan - No Direction Home}

Well this ain't really an album review but Apple’s iTunes podcast directory has 4 free audio podcasts with some of the content from Martin Scorsese’s No Direction Home documentary. The documentary itself is fantastic and this also works really well in podcast form. I can’t seem to find any direct HTTP or FTP URL links (my apologies) so if your interested go to iTunes and search as such:
Bob Dylan - 1 - No Direction Home
Bob Dylan - 2 - No Direction Home
Bob Dylan - 3 - No Direction Home
Bob Dylan - 4 - No Direction Home
Each segment is roughly 30 min. and features conversations with poet Allen Ginsberg, Dave Van Ronk, Carolyn Hester, club owners, friends, and fans as well as Dylan rarities and alternate takes. Not quite sure why Sony BMG would offer these for free, but I ain't complaining. If anyone finds a direct link please let me know.

Posted by jay at 07:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

{Man Man - Six Demon Bag}

Making their way around the music blogs are Philadelphia's Man Man. Their upcoming release Six Demon Bag (which officially releases on February 21st on Ace Fu Records) is the follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut album The Man in The Blue Turban with A Face. Man Man's music evokes shades of Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart...but with a pirate-y twist. Their live shows have been heralded by the likes of Spin and Rolling Stone, so go ahead and give 'em a listen already. My Old Kentucky Blog posted a few new tracks and Everything is Fire posted a couple more...get 'em while you can. Hear more from Man Man's MySpace.

Posted by jay at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A day late and A doller short I know, but you really should have asked for one of these for christmas. The buddha machine a "mini soundsystem" (ipodish in size) that comes with 9 built in ambient sound loops. The loops are 10-20 seconds long and you can run 1 at a time...some people buy more than 1 and run them both at the same time. Think of it as the perfect background noise in your pocket at all times. The original idea was stolen from melodies that helped prayer, but a company called fm3 used that idea to make something practical, simple, and portable. The loops have benn described as dark and melodic electronic drones...listen for yourself here. Order here.

Posted by fernando at 09:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

{The The- Dusk}

As noted on the cover, these are 'Ten songs for the lost, lonely, and lustful' and Dusk is undoubtedly Matt Johnson's greatest acheivement. Of course having Johnny Marr (The Smiths) on board for The The's ever-changing line-up didn't hurt either. The album opens with Johnson ranting like a mad man on "True Happiness This Way Lies", before quieting down and singing: "I ain't never found peace apon the breast of a girl / I ain't never found peace with the religions of the world / I ain't never found peace at the bottom of a glass / sometimes it seems the more I ask for the less I receive / the only true freedom is freedom from the heart's desires - and the only true happiness this way lies". You feel the weight of his words again on "Slow Emotion Replay" in which he sings: "So don't ask me about war, religion, or god / love, sex, or death because/ everybody know what's going wrong with the world/ I don't even know what's going on in myself". Pure genius, this is easily one of my favorite records of the '90s and I suggest picking up all of The The's recordings but I would start with this one.
Mp3's:
"Love is Stronger than Death"
"Dogs of Lust"
"Slow Emotion Replay"

Purchase Dusk here.

Before you start you can stream The The's entire discography here, enjoy. Off the top of my head, I would suggest checking out these tunes as well:
"This is the Day" / "Uncertain Smile" (from Soul Mining)
"The Beat(En) Generation" / "Armageddon Days Are Here Again (from Mind Bomb)
"True Happiness This Way Lies" / "This is the Night" / "Lovely Planet" (from Dusk)
"My Heart Would Know" / "Your Cheatin' Heart" / "I Saw the Light" / "There's A Tear in My Beer" (Hank Williams covers from Hanky Panky)

Posted by jay at 06:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Download Show 18 here or go to the Rock N Roll Inferno site to listen to past shows. Here's what was played:

1. The Vedett - "Sweetie Sister"

2. Wau-y-los-arrrghs- "Rey de Tablistas"

3. Electric Eel Shock- "Rock N Roll Can Save the World"

4. The Vacation- "White Noise"

5. And You Will Know Us By the Trail of the Dead - "Heart in the Hand"

6. The Blood Arm- "Do I Have Your Attention"

Posted by fernando at 09:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While you are waiting for Coachella to come around this year here is something to tide you over. Coachella the movie! It's two jam packed hours of highlights (Morrissey, Bright eyes, Iggy & the stooges, Mos Def, The Arcade Fire and a lot more) from the previous six Festivals. It is premiering on the 19th of January at the Orpheum Theatre and tickets will be available for purchase of the encore showing the following day starting January 14th, so good luck getting those before they sell out. Looking at the bands that are being featured I think the T. Rex: Born To Boogie import that came out last year finally has some competition in the music video dvd category.

Posted by fernando at 11:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When I saw Hostel over the weekend I caught the trailer for Hard Candy. The story is described as: a provocative drama about a 32-year-old man who takes home a 14-year-old girl he meets on the Internet-with surprising consequences. The film was voted Best Motion Picture at the Sundance Film Festival and I keep reading that the film is well-written, amazingly acted and that not much can be said without giving away too much of the story, but judging from the trailer we can see that Hayley (played by Ellen Page), is not your ordinary teenager. View the trailer here.

Download the first single "Lolita" from the forthcoming Elefant album The Black Magic Show (In stores April 2006) Courtesy of their website.

Clerks 2 trailer is up...let's see if Kevin Smith can conjure up half the laughs as the first. View the trailer here.

Levis unveils iPod jeans...what the fuck is the world coming to? Read the story here.

Hostel 2...coming sooner than you may think...read the story (from Movieweb) here.

Watch new Belle & Sebastian video for "Funny Little Frog" (courtesy of NME).

Ear Farm has a great live performance from Talking Heads @ The Sun Palace in Tokyo, Japan 1981, Listen here.
Ear Farm even managed to mention Caffeine-Headache when posting on Richard Hawley.

Relapse posted some tracks from 3 Color Negative.
Checkout Relapse's Hot Bitches sidebar where sites are listed as such:

An Aquarium Drunkard
Maureen O'Hara.

Gorilla Vs. Bear
Donna Reed.

My Old Kentucky Blog
Marilyn Monroe.

I Guess I'm Floating
Kate Winslet.

Stereogum
Lindsay Lohan.

Banana Nutrament
Rosario Dawson.

FUNTIME OK
Charlize Theron.

the CAMERA As PEN
Selma Blair.

*Sixeyes
Susan Sarandon.

Fluxblog
Emma Peel.

Clever Titles Are So Last Summer
Dame Edna.

Caffeine-Headache
Lou Reed.

...Because Lou Reed is a Hot Bitch too!

Posted by jay at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I've had these eMusic banners at the top of this site for awhile and I've managed to persuade a few of you out there to take advantage of their 50 Free Downloads offer. So, as a reward to you (and to keep my downloads rollin' in) I'll begin another regular feature where I will highlight a reccent album. Now, I should note at this point that I love eMusic for their hard-to-find catalogue, so I won't be posting too many new albums anytime soon. For my first pick may I introduce...

{Thai Beat A Go-Go Vol.2}

This compilation album is filled with hints of psychedelia, pop, rock, soul, reggae and just about any other kind of music that was popular in the states during the '60s and '70s. Recorded on modest equipment, the singles and B-sides on Thai Beat a Go Go Vol.2 still sound great long after the exotic appeal has faded. If your familiar with Dengue Fever's music, then you have something to kinda/sorta compare this to. Here's a taste:
Viparat Piengsuwan - "Rak Tong Rorn (Love Passion)"
Jackatchan - "Soo Kwarm Rak Khorng Phom Doo Dai (You Can See My Love)"
Chai Muansing - "Pee Kow Pee Ork (Ghosts Come And Go)"

Get the rest of this album with eMusic's 50 Free Downloads offer now.

Posted by jay at 07:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We're kicking off the new year with a new Late Night Sounds format...hope you like it. I've inserted links to bands' sites and included some Mp3's (if I could find 'em)...so give it a listen or checkout the artists on your own.
Late Night Sounds January Mix (listen to past shows here)
Tracklisting:
1. Patrick Wolf - "Tristan"
This is from Patrick Wolf's sophmore album Libertine and I imagine the only reason it didn't make my year end list was because I neglected to listen to it enough...recommended for fans of Depeche Mode.

2. Nightmare of You - "Thumbelina"
I had a copy of their 3 song demo lying around for awhile before I got around to listening to it...that was just plain stupid. They now have a debut album available, which I have since picked up...you can hear all their melodramadic '80s influenced tunes for yourself from their MySpace page and find links to more tunes from their official site as well as their purevolume page.

3. Richard Hawley - "The Nights Are Cold" (Exclusive website only track)
Former-Pulp sideman Richard Hawley released one of the best albums of last year (Coles Corner), which coincidentally I forgot all about when my iPod broke down on me. You can listen to Hawley croon like Roy Orbison with exclusive dowloadable tracks recorded for just his website, aside from this song be sure to grab "Darlin" and "It's Over Love".

4. Los Super Elegantes- "Por Que Te Vas"
This is a classic tune from Los Super Elegantes debut album, they refer to their music as mariachi-pop-punk and you can listen to this song and others from their MySpace page.

5. The Noisettes - "Don't Give Up"
This sounds like Billie Holiday fronting a garage rock band, this song is from the UK trio's EP , listen to this track and more from their MySpace page.

6. Josh Rouse - "Oh I Need All of the Love"
This is off his new limited edition EP Bedroom Classics II, you can hear tracks from the EP from his MySpace page.

7. Final Fantasy - "Furniture"
This is from the debut album (Has A Good Home) from Owen Pallett (string arranger for the Arcade Fire, guitarist/vocalist from Les Mouches, and member of: Internet, Picastro, The Jim Gutherie Band, Hidden Cameras and King Tut...phew). The album consists solely of Pallett, his violin and a trusty looping pedal and is filled with catchy melodies. Hear some tracks from his MySpace page.

8. The Rock N Roll Soldiers - "Funny Little Feeling"
This catchy rock n roll tune is from their album The Two E.P.'s...hear more from their MySpace page.

9. Herman Dune - "Suburbs With You" (courtesy of official site)
I love Herman Dune and you should too! This track is from a June BBC session and there are more equally as good tracks from that session posted on his website so go there...right now.

10. Kelley Polar - "Here in the Night"
I heard an advanced copy of this album and it's been on my regular rotation ever since...highly recommended for fans of funky electro dance party music.

Posted by jay at 06:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I watched Hostel over the weekend...the movie opens with plenty of tits and ass and ends with lotsa gore. Here's a couple of horror remakes coming soon to a theater near you:

{The Hills Have Eyes}

This is a re-make of the 1977 Wes Craven film. It is directed by French filmmaker Alexandre Aja (who made some waves abroad in the horror scene with his slasher flick High Tension).

Aja chatted with Now Playing Magazine recently and aside from noting that Wes Craven was producing the movie...said that "the film will maintain the 'civilized family gets lost in the wilderness' theme, while also adding a few twists-both new and classic." Also adding "I think we keep the spirit and we keep the savage and the nasty [tone] of the original one, but we try to bring the movie into the more Straw Dogs way; more of a survival way. It's more about the family facing the unknown in the hills... a little bit different. I hope it's going to be very scary."
view the tralier here.




{When A Stranger Calls}

The remake of the 1979 cult horror film originally starred Carol Kane as a high school student who is traumatized (while babysitting) by a series of ominous phone calls which repeatedly ask "Have you checked the children lately?" After notifying the police, she is told that the calls are coming from inside the house...but the story doesn't end there.
This stars the beautiful Camilla Belle...who apparently couldn't act to save her life.
View the trailer here.

Posted by jay at 02:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

It's Monday and as we all know, Mondays suck! So here's some picks guaranteed to make yours a little brighter...joining me is Bethanne of Clever Titles Are So Last Summer. She's got impeccable taste and her site should be added to your daily read...

BETHANNE OF CTASLS PICKS:

1. Adult Swim's Friday Night Fix

On the rare occasion that I don't go out to a show or to the bar on a Friday night, I feel thankful that I can hop on my computer and watch the Friday Night Fix. For those who don't know, Cartoon Network's Adult Swim only runs Saturday through Thursday, but on Friday, you can go to their website and watch streaming episodes of edgy animation from 11PM to 6AM. Some of the episodes featured get web-only premieres until they air on TV on Sunday! Amazing. I've gotten some of my friends hooked on this and though it's a weekly thing, it's a fine way to spend your Friday night if you're stuck at home.

2. Giant Drag

My new favorite band as of late (and a band I have wrote about on CTASLS many many times), coming out of California, this two-piece churns out some of the best music I've ever heard. I can't stop listening to their album Hearts And Unicorns and their EP Lemona because they are filled with distortion, melody, and heart. Simply brilliant.

3. Animation on DVD

Looking through my DVD collection, most of the box sets I own are animated TV shows. And I love them because I can simply put in a DVD and watch all of the episodes on that disc any time and any place. Some of the DVD sets I own include volumes from South Park, Family Guy, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Eventually, I would like to add Sealab 2021, Home Movies, and Mission Hill to my collection as well as other volumes of shows I already own because I just love animation so much.

4. FourFour

I found this blog via Best Week Ever's blog and it's been an immediate must-read on my blog list. The guy who updates the blog, Rich, has a fresh and unique take on pop-culture that is way better than Stereogum or Pink Is The New Blog. What hooked me was the recaps for America's Next Top Model (complete with screenshots and bitchy comments) and what's kept me is his keen observations on pop-culture and horror movies. I read this on a daily basis - besides all of the fine blogs I have linked up on CTASLS - and laugh every time I read it.

5. Those Transatlantics

One of the few bands that have won me over with their live show, this band (from Mt. Plesant, Michigan) is indie pop with a down-home sensibility. I've seen them live three times (four in March) and they just impress me every time. What's really cool is that you can go to their website and download seven songs from their new CD Knocked Out - which is due to hit stores sometime this spring. This is another band I have written about a lot on CTASLS and a lot of people I know have been won over by this lovely group.

JAY OF CAFFEINE-HEADACHE PICKS

1. Eros
I got this dvd for x-mas and I love it! Let me re-phrase...I love the first segment from Wong Kar Wai titled "The Hand". The second segment from Steven Soderbergh titled "Equilibrium" is funny and visually stimulating, however the last segment from Michelangelo Antonioni is downright awful. The 15 minute featurette felt like watching one of those horrible Zalman King Red Shoe Diaries programs. Sadly not even tons of nudity could save this story. Despite it's flaws this is worth viewing for the Wong Kar Wai story alone. When you watch the three stories it's interesting to note how Wai's is much more sensual and erotic despite (like the others) not having any nudity. View the trailer here. Psst...this hasn't officially been released in the states, but you can purchase it (in the proper format) at your local Asian movie store.

2. Richard Hawley's Website
Former Pulp guitarist Richard Hawley released Coles Corner last year. It was one of the best albums of the year and was all but ignored in the states. Listen to Hawley croon like Roy Orbison and download exclusive tracks recorded just from his site...only offered for a limited time. Listen to "Darlin", "It's Over Love" and more...

3. I read about this foreign Mp3 blog called Gummijoh.net from Gorilla Vs Bear and I've been lifting far too many songs to mention.

4. I recently tuned in to Radio Indie Pop and I've been listening ever since.

5. As part of my Audible subscription I listened to The Moth: Lost in Translation. The Wall Street Journal called The Moth’s events as "New York’s hottest and hippest literary ticket". Guest readers Flash Rosenberg (photographer, cartoonist, writer, and performer), Eric Bogosian (award winning playwright and actor), Edith Grossman (translator and critic of literature in Spanish) and many more share funny stories of communication breakdowns. This show was recorded live at The New York Public Library in New York City as part of an ongoing storytelling series, produced and directed by The Moth. Click here to hear a sample.

Posted by jay at 09:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This saturday Chow Nasty have a video release party with DJ sets from: Peanut Butter Wolf, Jeremy Sole's Musaics (Afro Funke), Turbotito (Ima Robot), and Rudy Bleu (La Polla Loca) at Little Pedros for $5 or I can always head over to Hotel Cafe to see my 'it' girl Zooey Deschanel and Samantha Shelton perform as If All The Stars Were Pretty Babies. Also there's The Smell's 8th Anniversary Extravaganza and Benefit featuring: Babyland, Silver Daggers, BARR, Lavender Diamond, Mika Miko, Captain Ahab, Abe Vigoda, Hello Astronaut Goodbye Television, Eco Morti, The Pope and Anavan, plus an art show. The party runs from 6 pm – 2 am...admission is $10.
Or I could always save myself a drive and head to the Sol Art Cafe to catch the second installment of the Grrl Fair Art Opening/Music Showcase featuring: Land of Ill Earthquakes, The Panties, Studiofix, and Slow and even checkout whats going on at this month's Santa Ana Artists District's Art Opening.
Any suggestions?

Posted by jay at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Stream The Strokes- First Impressions of Earth in it's entirety from Radio Indie Pop ...just sign up and go to the Album of The Month feature.

Rock Insider posted some Mp3's from Bands About To Break in 2006...be sure to grab tracks from Matt Pond PA, Goldspot and Stuck In The Sound...there's also some Wolf Parade Mp3's.

Zach Snyder's directs Frank Miller's 300...read the full story from Ain't it Cool News.
Snyder is said to be making a very stylized version of 300, very much like how Robert Rodriguez handled Frank Miller's Sin City...checkout the Production Diary going live.

Also...80 films to look foreward to in 2006.

X-Men 3 has another villain...get the scoop from Hollywood Reporter.

Streaming this week in The Booth is The PSSST! Compilation. You can preview 11 tracks this week in The Booth, and to hear all 15 songs click here.
The PSSST! Holiday 2005 tracklisting:
1.The Go! Team-'Junior Kickstart'
2.Metric-'Monster Hospital'
3.Mellowdrone-'Fasionably Uninvited'
4.Dungen-'Panda'
5.Ladytron-'Destroy Everything You Touch'
6.We Are Scientists-'Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt'
7.The Subways-'Rock And Roll Queen'
8.Sabrosa Purr-'Pink'
9.The Grates-'Message'
10.Tarantula A.D.-'Sealake'
11.World Leader Pretend-'Punches'
12.Jerry Jihad & The Evildoers-'Army Girls Gone Wild'
13.The Films-'That Kind Of Day'
14.Slow Runner-'Break Your Mama's Back'
15.Devics-'Just One Breath'

Posted by jay at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Conveniently broken up into three Mp3's...for your listening pleasure...is the Late Night Sounds Year End Mix. Listening back to some of those early shows it was painfully clear that we had no idea what we were doing (we still dont actually, we just do a better job of hiding it these days). I've inserted links to bands sites and included some Mp3's (if I could find 'em)...so you can give it a listen or checkout the artists on your own.
Late Night Sounds Year End Mix Part I
Late Night Sounds Year End Mix Part II
Late Night Sounds Year End Mix Part III

PART I
1. n. Lannon - "Hollow Heart"
This song appeared on our very first show...fans of Elliott Smith might like this tune.
2. AK Momo - "Women To Conrol" (Mp3 courtesy of Parasol Records)
From Show 2...for fans of Goldfrapp or Portishead.
3. From Bubblegum To Sky - "Sign The Air"
From Show 3...for fans of Pink Lady.
4. The Adored - "TV Riot" (Mp3 courtesy of bands' official site)
From Show 4...for fans of The Buzzcocks.
5. Felix McTeigue - "El Paso"
From Show 5...for fans of Ron Sexsmith.
6. Little Wings - "Hanta Yo Three" (Download courtesy of K Records)
From Show 6...for fans of Iron & Wine.
7. Die Romantik - "Always Worry"
From Show 7...for fans of Radiohead and Chopin.

PART II
1. Heavy Trash - "Justine Alright" (Get the Mp3 courtesy of Yep Roc Records.
From Show 8...for fans of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
2. Lismore - "Tremelo " (Download from their MySpace page.
From Show 9...for fans of glitch pop.
3. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - "This Land is Your Land "
From Show 10...for fans of classic soul.
4. Laika & The Cosmonauts - "NY 79" (Get the Mp3 courtesy of Yep Roc Records.
From Show 11...for fans of surf rock.
5. Boy Least Likely To - "Be Gentle With Me"
From Show 12...for fans of Belle & Sebastian.
6. Bella - "Crystal Tears"
From Show 13...for fans of indie-rock.
7. Shortwave Set - "Is It Any Wonder"
From Show 14...for fans of The Magic Numbers.

PART III
1. Pernice Brothers - "Satus Quo"
From Show 15...for fans of The Shins.
2. Bobby Bare Jr. - "Strange Bird" (Mp3 courtesy of Bloodshot Records)
From Show 16...for fans of Ryan Adams.
3. PAS/CAL - "The Bronze Beach Boys (Mp3 courtesy of bands website)
From Show 17...for fans of Boy Least Likely To.
4. Cass McCombs- "Sacred Heart" (Mp3 courtesy of 3Hive)
From Show 18...for fans of The Smiths.
5. Acid House Kings - "Tonight is Forever"
From Show 19...for fans of Camera Obscura.
6. The Flash Express - "The Message"
From Show 20...for fans of garage rock.
7. The Detroit Cobras - "Last Nite"
From Show 21...for fans of garage rock.
8. Voxtrot - "The Start of Something" (Mp3 courtesy of bands site)
From Show 22...for fans of Morrissey.

Posted by jay at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

{Favorite Reads of 2005}

As I find new hobies by the minute, time becomes an issue when it comes to whatever it is I'm reading. So this past year I tended to read more essays, short stories and graphic novels than ever before. Here are some of my favorites.

Bob Dylan- Chronicles Vol.1
I guess it should really come as no big surprise that Bob Dylan's memoir (much like his music) is riveting and full of insight and depth. Chronicles Vol.1 begins with Dylan's move from Minnesota to Greenwich Village circa 1960 and brings to life all the influential books he discovered, the establishments he frequented and the people he met. Greenwich Village comes alive through the pages as Dylan reflects on poignant moments in his life and encounters with people whom he found inspiration in (i.e. Thelonious Monk, Gorgeous George, Jack Dempsey, and Frank Sinatra Jr.). Dylan comments on the sorry state of radio (…some things never change). "I still kept turning the radio on. probably more out of mindless habit than anything else. Sadly whatever it played reflected nothing but milk and sugar and not the real Jekyll and Hyde themes of the times. The ‘On The Road’, ‘Howl’, and ‘Gasoline’ street ideologies that were signaling a new type of human existence weren't there, but how could you have expected it to be? 45 records were incapable of it."
You also get a real sense of his love for written word- "There was a letter from Archibald MacLeish waiting for me on the table. MacLeish, Poet Laureate of America-one of them. Carl Sandburg, poet of the prairie and the city, and Robert Frost, the poet of dark meditations were others. MacLeish was the poet of the night stones and the quick earth. These three were the Yeats, Browning, and Shelley of the new world, were gigantic figures, had defined the landscape of twentieth-century America. They put everything in perspective. Even if you didn't know their poems, you knew their names". He even slams the door on truth- "Truth was the last thing on my mind, and even if there was such a thing, I didn't want it in my house. Oedipus went looking for the truth and when he found it, it ruined him. It was a cruel horror of a joke. So much for the truth. I was gonna talk out of both sides of my mouth and what you heard depended on which side you were standing. If I ever did stumble on any truth, I was gonna sit on it and keep it down". Chronicles explores critical junctures in the early years of his rise to stardom and works it's way unto what would be called the later stages of his career. Simply put this memoir is a literary must for Dylan fans as well as those less enthusiastic to his music.

Chuck Klosterman-