Lollapalooza #10 - Broken Social Scene

Broken Social Scene is a super-group out of Canada with somewhere around 20 rotating members. Almost everyone in the group has their own musical side project or band (after this year, probably the most notable member being Leslie Feist - who is now starting to sell out arenas after her monumental year in 2007 (partly due to Apple playing a song of hers in a commercial)). Is that all it takes these days?? 1 Apple commercial? Anyways, rambling on. Broken social Scene is good and this is my favorite album of theirs. Side note - Feist's album from this year is great as well (The Reminder). Listen if you haven't yet.

Broken Social Scene - You Forgot it in People

Lollapalooza #9 - Gogol Bordello

Gogol Bordello is a multi-ethnic Gypsy punk band from the Lower East Side of New York City that formed in 1999 and is known for its theatrical stage shows. Much of the band's sound is inspired by Gypsy music, as its core members are immigrants from Eastern Europe. The band incorporates minor-key accordion and fiddle (and on some albums, saxophone) mixed with cabaret, punk, and dub as well as multiple languages. Phill Jupitus has described the band as "a bit like The Clash and The Pogues having a fight... in Eastern Europe," while Kenneth Partridge of The Hartford Courant described lead singer Eugene Hütz's voice as "somewhere between that of Borat and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog".

I laughed when I read this description of the band because it is pretty dead on. I have heard these guys have quite a fun show live. This album is their latest release from 2007.

Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!

Ultimate - 3:29
Wonderlust King - 3:58
Zina-Marina - 4:19
Supertheory of Supereverything - 2:56
Harem in Tuscany (Taranta) - 3:33
Dub the Frequencies of Love - 6:15
My Strange Uncles from Abroad - 5:19
Tribal Connection - 5:05
Forces of Victory - 5:23
Alcohol - 4:54
Suddenly... (I Miss Carpaty) - 5:36
Your Country - 4:15
American Wedding - 3:38
Super Taranta! - 6:44

Lollapalooza #8 - Explosions in the Sky

Explosions in the Sky is an American instrumental post-rock band from Texas. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their cinematic, elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumentals, and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows. The band is a 4 piece usually with 3 of the members on guitar and the other on drums.

Explosions in the Sky - The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place

"First Breath After Coma" – 9:33
"The Only Moment We Were Alone" – 10:14
"Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean" – 8:43
"Memorial" – 8:50
"Your Hand in Mine" – 8:17

Lollapalooza #7 - Wilco

The newest release from Chicago based Wilco.

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

Lollapalooza #6 - Foals

More Dance Punk out of the U.K.

Foals - Antidotes

"The French Open" – 3:46
"Cassius" – 3:50
"Red Socks Pugie" – 5:09
"Olympic Airways" – 4:19
"Electric Bloom" – 4:55
"Balloons" – 3:01
"Heavy Water" – 4:32
"Two Steps, Twice" – 4:39
"Big Big Love (Fig. 2)" – 5:47
"Like Swimming" – 1:58
"Tron" – 4:48

Lollapalooza #5 - Radiohead

The best album of the 90's.
The best album of the last 10 years.
The best touring band in the world.
The most influential band of the last two decades.
Probably my favorite album.
Yeah, I'm a fluffer.

Radiohead - OK Computer

Lollapalooza #4 - The National

If Jen White likes it, I probably hate it. Not so in this case. I am a fan. One of my favorite albums of 2007. (PS - Jen White already has this album. According to her, "I don't need it.") All BS aside, this album is awesome. It could be somewhat boring live, imo, but I find myself constantly listening to it. Addicting.

The National - Boxer

01. Fake Empire
02. Mistaken For Strangers
03. Brainy
04. Squalor Victoria
05. Green Gloves
06. Slow Show
07. Apartment Story
08. Start A War
09. Guest Room
10. Racing Like A Pro
11. Ada
12. Gospel

Lollapalooza #3 - Chromeo

Chromeo - Fancy Footwork

I really, really hope these guys play a bar or club after they play their festival set. They deserve a latenight somewhere. This album is hilarious, cheesy, and AWESOME. 80's dance music/Electrofunkish. Will that do for a description? PS - Bonus points for a CD cover that awesome.

Lollapalooza #2 - MGMT

This dazzling electro-psych band is two arty Brooklyn dudes who derive keyboard lines from the jumpy gait of a praying mantis and dress up in matching capes. Their buzz single "Time to Pretend" — a booming, tongue-in-bong sendup of the rock biz — sounds like a Flaming Lips outtake, with good reason: Lips producer Dave Fridmann helmed MGMT's debut disc, fluffing their glitchy daydream rock into an intergalactic odyssey. There are hints of Joy Division and Sixties nostalgia both acid-tinged and bluesy, but Oracular Spectacular's playfulness and remarkable density are best displayed on "Electric Feel," a surprising bit of funk featuring the original come-on "Ooh, girl, shock me like an electric eel." - Caryn Ganz

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

1 Time to Pretend
2 Weekend Wars
3 The Youth
4 Electric Feel
5 Kids
6 4th Dimensional Transition
7 Pieces of What
8 Of Moons, Birds & Monsters
9 The Handshake
10 Future Reflections

Time to pretend is one of the catchiest songs I have ever heard. The album is worth the download for that song alone.

Frank Zappa - Hot Rats

Hot Rats is the second solo album by Frank Zappa. It was released in October 1969. The album consists of six songs, five of which are instrumental. It was Zappa's first recording project after the dissolution of the original Mothers of Invention. Because it focuses on long instrumental jazz-like compositions with extensive soloing, the music sounds very different than earlier Zappa albums which featured short songs with satirical vocal performances. It features none of the Mothers, save Ian Underwood, who was also the primary collaborator and sideman. In his original sleeve notes Zappa described the album as "a movie for your ears." This is one of my favorie Zappa albums that I own.

Frank Zappa - Hot Rats

1. Peaches En Regalia - 3:38
2. Willie the Pimp - 9:16
3. Son of Mr. Green Genes - 9:00
4. Little Umbrellas - 3:04
5. The Gumbo Variations - 16:56
6. It Must be a Camel - 5:15



My hero (literally).
This guy did so much for the recording industry (in terms of fighting censorship) on top of being a musical genius and way ahead of his time. Let's face it, the man is hilarious as well. He will be missed :(

This is awesome....

A live animation done with painting in Buenos Aires. AMAZING!


MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Cause I got a golden ticket(s)...

Lollapalooza pre-sale tickets showed up in the mail today. Now I just need to sit back and wait for the best weekend of the summer, as well as the hotel for vagrants that my house will become. List of Lolla artist music posts to follow...

Panda Bear - Person Pitch

Panda Bear is the solo project of Noah Lennox, who is one of the founding members of the experimental rock group Animal Collective. This album is chalked full of amazing melodies, psychadelic backdrops, and just some amazing overall production. You're not really going to want to throw this on when you're having a party, but instead when you're hanging out alone and want a deep and atmospheric listen. My favorite headphones album of 2007! Folk music on acid.

Panda Bear - Person Pitch

1. Comfy in Nautica

2. Take Pills

3. Bros

4. I'm Not

5. Good Girl_Carrots

6. Search for Delicious

7. Ponytail

Ratatat - DISCOGRAPHY

Ratatat is a New York City electronic music duo consisting of guitarist Mike Stroud and synthesizer driver and producer Evan Mast. The duo primarily focuses on hip hop/electronic beats with limited or no vocals. Both of their albums are catchy and great background music. I'm not huge into hip hop but I really do like both of their hip hop remix albums, as well. Everyone who hears these albums seems to like them, no matter what kind of music they like. They appeal to the masses.

Ratatat - Discography (Classics, Ratatat, Remixes Vol. 1, Remixes Vol 2, and 9 Beats)

Theolnious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane live at Carnegie Hall

Two of the most amazing jazz musicians of all time sharing the stage in New York. The recording was accidentally discovered in an unmarked box by a Library of Congress engineer early in 2005. If you like jazz, Thelonious Monk, or John Coltrane, this is a must have. If you don't know anything about jazz, get your feet wet peoples.

Thelonious Monk Quartet and John Coltrane - Carnegie Hall November, 29 1957

1. "Monk's Mood" – 7:52
2. "Evidence" – 4:41
3. "Crepuscule With Nellie" – 4:26
4. "Nutty" – 5:03
5. "Epistrophy" – 4:29
6. "Bye-Ya" – 6:31
7. "Sweet & Lovely" – 9:34
8. "Blue Monk" – 6:31
9. "Epistrophy" (incomplete) – 2:24

LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver

LCD Soundsystem is the musical project of James Murphy, who is also co-founder of the DFA record label out of NYC (which happens to be one of the only US dance labels that gets some international respect). LCD blends a lot of sounds together including Dance Punk, electronic elements, disco, etc. This is the bands second release and it has recieved much critical acclaim. It was named best album of the Year by the Guardian UK and Time magazine named "All my Friends" one of the best songs of 2007. It was also nominated for a Grammy for best Electronic/Dance album (...not that that means anything because Britney Spears belching is probably nominated...but I digress). Uber-pretentious Pitchfork also named 2 songs of the album as 2 of the top 50 songs of 2007. Either way, the album has numerous memorable songs and is very listenable.

LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver

1. Get Innocuous

2. Time to Get Away

3. North American Scum

4. Someone Great

5. All My Friends

6. Us v. Them

7. Watch the Tapes

8. Sound of Silver

9. New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down

Cut Copy...

Holy shit....

Go see these guys live. I went by myself due to all of my friends being lame and I had the best time. Such a fun concert. Here is the rest of their U.S. tour schedule.


May 8 2008
8:00P
MAGIC STICK w/ black kids
Detroit, Michigan
May 9 2008
8:00P
SOLDOUT ! ! ! THE PHOENIX w/ black kids
Toronto, Ontario
May 10 2008
8:00P
Cabaret Musee Juste Pour Rire
Montreal, Quebec
May 12 2008
8:00P
PARADISE w/ black kids
Boston, Massachusetts
May 13 2008
8:00P
STUDIO B - w/ black kids
Brooklyn, New York
May 14 2008
8:00P
SOLD OUT ! Bowery Ballroom w/ Mobius Band / T&T (Tim Goldsworthy & Tim Sweeney)
New York City, New York
May 15 2008
8:00P
BLACK CAT w/ black kids
Washington DC, Washington DC
May 16 2008
8:00P
PURE w/ black kids
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 17 2008
8:00P
SONAR - w/black kids
Baltimore, Maryland
May 19 2008
8:00P
SOLDOUT!!! ECHOPLEX
Los Angeles, California
Jun 5 2008
8:00P

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Spoon is an indie rock band from Austin, TX. Never seen them live before but all of their albums have been really good. Here is their latest.

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

1. Don’t Make Me A Target

2. The Ghost Of You Lingers

3. You Got Yr Cherry Bomb

4. Don’t You Evah

5. Rhthm And Soul

6. Eddie’s Ragga

7. The Underdog

8. My Little Japanese Cigarette Case

9. Finer Feelings

10. Black Like Me

Battles - Mirrored

Battles is an American math rock band. The group's line-up is composed of well-known musicians, including ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier, ex-Don Caballero guitarist Ian Williams, ex-Lynx guitarist Dave Konopka, and Tyondai Braxton (son of avant-garde jazz musician Anthony Braxton), who also plays guitar and keyboard and creates live voice samples. This is one of my favorite albums of 2007, although it did take awhile for it to grow on me. I got a chance to see them live when I was visiting San Francisco and got a better feel for what they were doing once I saw them perform (although I was somewhat distracted by 3 moron hipsters who were trying to start a mosh pit)....The band looked confused.

Battles - Mirrored
1. Race In
2. Atlas
3. Ddiamondd
4. Tonto
5. Leyendecker
6. Rainbow
7. Bad Trails
8. Prismism
9. Snare Hanger
10. TIJ
11. Race Out

The Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur

Ma Fleur is another standout release from the Ninjatune label, which is consistently showcasing some of the best NuJazz bands around. This is the fourth release from the U.K. based band The Cinematic Orchestra and it strays somewhat from albums past. To a degree this album avoids most of the electronic aspects of NuJazz and takes somewhat of a more downtempo, soulful approach. Definitely worth a listen.

The Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur

1. To Build A Home feat Patrick Watson

2. Familiar Ground feat Fontella Bass

3. Child Song

4. Music Box feat Patrick Watson/Lou Rhodes

5. Prelude

6. As The Stars Fall

7. Into You

8. Ma Fleur

9. Breathe feat Fontella Bass

10. That Home feat Patrick Watson

11. Time And Space feat Lou Rhodes

Cut Copy - So Cosmic Mix

More Cut Copy. This is a great mix.

Cut Copy - So Cosmic mix
1. Aphex twin - on
2. Cut copy - so haunted (knightlife end edit)
3. Panda bear - bros
4. Popolice - (edit)
5. Delia & gavin - rise
6. Elitechnique - fingerfood (major swellings mix)
7. Nu musik - warp
8. Panthers - goblin city (holy ghost! dub)
9. Alan braxe & fred falke - horizon
10. Bell x1 - flame (chicken lips dub)
11. Giorgio - knights in white saturn
12. Aeroplane - aeroplane
13. Fleetwood mac - never forget
15. Lifelike - so electric
16. Saturn 5 - oscillation
17. International music system - runaway (edit)
18. Cut copy - lights & music
19. Jean michel jarre - equinoxe (edit)
20. Harmonia - deluxe (drum edit)
21. The bells - target group (C90 mix)
22. Holy ghost - hold on
23. Bagraiders - nil by mouth
24. Space - save your love
25. Inflagranti - additional alpha blocker
26. Oran juice jones - the rain
27. Cut copy - hearts on fire (a cappella)
28. Cut copy - hearts on fire (joakim mix)

Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours

Hands down one of my favorite albums of this year so far. This Australian trio has a very defining electro-pop sound with an 80's feel to the band (think New Order/Joy Division/etc). It's nothing amazingly new or original, but it's a breath of fresh air in this sometimes stagnant genre. The disc plays like a dj set with one song providing a segue into the next, and it has a very smooth feel to it. Not surprisingly, these guys are solid on the decks as well. Their "So Cosmic" mixtape is also one of my favorites of the year. Hopefully the Craigslist gods will be kind to me and I will find a ticket to their sold out show this Wednesday at the Abbey Pub.

Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours

1. Feel The Love

2. Out There On The Ice

3. Lights And Music

4. We Fight For Diamonds

5. Unforgettable Season

6. Midnight Runner

7. So Haunted

8. Voices In Quartz

9. Hearts On Fire

10. Far Away

11. Silver Thoughts

12. Strangers In The Wind

13. Visions

14. Nobody Lost, Nobody Found

15. Eternity One Night Only