They are just now finishing up a U.S. tour with dates tonight at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa (see ya there) and tomorrow night at Spaceland in LA (sorry already sold out!).
"Animal"
"Black & Blue"
10.06.2009
Miike Snow...
is not a person. Miike Snow is a threesome of Swedes turning out some of the finest indie pop around these days. Think a-ha (also Nordic) meets Animal Collective with a dash of MGMT and Vampire Weekend. Their self-titled album has been out since early May and has been driven up the charts by singles such as "Animal" and "Black & Blue." Miike Snow is definitely one Swedish hottie to stalk and obsess over...
They are just now finishing up a U.S. tour with dates tonight at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa (see ya there) and tomorrow night at Spaceland in LA (sorry already sold out!).
"Animal"
"Black & Blue"
They are just now finishing up a U.S. tour with dates tonight at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa (see ya there) and tomorrow night at Spaceland in LA (sorry already sold out!).
"Animal"
"Black & Blue"
new Datarock video
Just before leaving for Austin City Limits (review coming as soon as I can piece the weekend together), the crew headed to the El Rey Theatre here in LA to do the running man with those jumpsuit-wearing dance commanders...Datarock. A great calf burning show as always. The Nordic duo today released their newest video for "The Pretender." Check it out here.
9.30.2009
Yuksek
They wave the white flag and generally add nothing to the world. They are the French. You may ask, "What about French kissing? French tickling?" Yes, yes...these are both admirable additions to the world as we know it. But do you think they really started these things? Hells no, they just decided to name it after themselves. Stay classy, attention grabbers.
But today, with ACL right around the corner (get ready peoples), TWNS brings you something good from France. French DJ Yuksek tears the dancefloor up with beats sure to inspire the creation of some of your freshest moves. Peep his official website to sample some of his outstanding remixes of bands such as Phoenix, Van She, White Lies, and M83. His album dropped in February and is named Away From The Sea. Motel Face is so down...
Yuksek - So Down
Yuksek - Tonight
But today, with ACL right around the corner (get ready peoples), TWNS brings you something good from France. French DJ Yuksek tears the dancefloor up with beats sure to inspire the creation of some of your freshest moves. Peep his official website to sample some of his outstanding remixes of bands such as Phoenix, Van She, White Lies, and M83. His album dropped in February and is named Away From The Sea. Motel Face is so down...
Yuksek - So Down
Yuksek - Tonight
9.29.2009
The Birth of The Running Man
9.25.2009
9.24.2009
Portugal. The Man
Portugal. The Man is not only a great band blowing big straight from the last great frontier Wasilla, Alaska (Zack Morris style timeout: You know one of the biggest red flags in women? The crazy eyes. See Sarah Palin) via Portland, but they also have one of TWNS' favorite band names. You'd be insane to not blow some of your hard-earned cash to see them tomorrow (Friday) at the Troubador in Hollyweird.
Check out this video (courtesy of aquarium drunkard) for the acoustic version of "Guns and Dogs." As one brilliant commenter said, "I want to take this song out back the middleschool and get it pregnant."
Check out this video (courtesy of aquarium drunkard) for the acoustic version of "Guns and Dogs." As one brilliant commenter said, "I want to take this song out back the middleschool and get it pregnant."
9.23.2009
Neon Indian
I'm welcoming myself back from an extended posting absence...my apologies. To celebrate a triumphant return, I've got the first of some very choice nuggets for you today.
First up is my personal theme song (don't ask why) from this summer, Neon Indian's "Deadbeat Summer." Just listen to the Texas-raised Alan Palomo's lo-fi poppy dream-beats and tell me you wish it wasn't still mid July and you're sitting by the pool perving on the scantily clad ladies that are running around in your dreams. Debut LP entitled Psychic Chasms comes out Oct. 13. Check it out.
"Deadbeat Summer"
First up is my personal theme song (don't ask why) from this summer, Neon Indian's "Deadbeat Summer." Just listen to the Texas-raised Alan Palomo's lo-fi poppy dream-beats and tell me you wish it wasn't still mid July and you're sitting by the pool perving on the scantily clad ladies that are running around in your dreams. Debut LP entitled Psychic Chasms comes out Oct. 13. Check it out.
"Deadbeat Summer"
9.04.2009
Rebirth Brass Band
Counting it down to ACL with the boyz from the Big Easy, the best brass band in the land - Rebirth Brass Band!!! If you're from the South or like jazz music, you should be familiar with RBB. For all you carpetbaggers, Rebirth is a Treme institution formed by tuba player Philip Frazier, his brother Keith, and trumpet player Kermit Ruffins. By combining traditional New Orleans brass band music with funk, soul, and rap, Rebirth has and continues to appeal to younger generations. If you have the chance to see them live, do not pass it up! It's only the second most fun you can have on a hot, humid, southern night.
Do yourself a favor and download "Rebirth Melody/Casanova" and listen from the 3:30 mark on.
Do Whatcha Wanna
Feel Like Funkin' It Up
Rebirth Melody/Casanova
Video of "Casanova" live
Do yourself a favor and download "Rebirth Melody/Casanova" and listen from the 3:30 mark on.
Do Whatcha Wanna
Feel Like Funkin' It Up
Rebirth Melody/Casanova
Video of "Casanova" live
9.02.2009
Texas Two-Step
B-B-Baby Ass is a-a-about to make your pee-pee maker t-t-tingle. In a salute to Austin City Limits - just one month away! - I've decided to highlight two Texas bands at opposite ends of the musical spectrum. First, Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses released their second major label album, Roadhouse Sun, June 2nd of this year. Bingham lends his raspy, Dylan-esque voice and melodic guitar picking to 12 songs that I'm proud to say were made in Texas. I'm not a huge fan of the genre, but artists like Bingham and Shooter Jennings are doing their best to put the "O" back in "Country." Here are three of my favorite songs from the album and the video to "Southside of Heaven" from Bingham's 2007 release Mescalito.
Day Is Done
Tell My Mother I Miss Her So
Snake Eyes
Southside of Heaven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg7H_KpispY
Second is Austin's The Octopus Project, an experimental/indie-pop group that likes to use synths and drum machines to get your toes tapping. Fans of The Go! Team will hear some similarities in the songs, especially in the drums, but that's what happens when everyone uses dem 808s. Kidding. Below are three songs off their 2007 album Hello, Avalanche and a video from 2005's One Ten Hundred Thousand Million. Check out Yvonne Lambert rock the theremin in the video for "Music is Happiness." I haven't heard such mastery of the spooky synth since Paul Tanner on The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations." Thank you History of Rock and Roll 101!
Truck
Bees Bein' Strugglin'
Exploding Snowhorse
Music Is Happiness
Day Is Done
Tell My Mother I Miss Her So
Snake Eyes
Southside of Heaven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg7H_KpispY
Second is Austin's The Octopus Project, an experimental/indie-pop group that likes to use synths and drum machines to get your toes tapping. Fans of The Go! Team will hear some similarities in the songs, especially in the drums, but that's what happens when everyone uses dem 808s. Kidding. Below are three songs off their 2007 album Hello, Avalanche and a video from 2005's One Ten Hundred Thousand Million. Check out Yvonne Lambert rock the theremin in the video for "Music is Happiness." I haven't heard such mastery of the spooky synth since Paul Tanner on The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations." Thank you History of Rock and Roll 101!
Truck
Bees Bein' Strugglin'
Exploding Snowhorse
Music Is Happiness
8.26.2009
this is NOT passion pit...
I promise. Its the baby face stylings of two young Aussies named Tim & Jean. Perth, way out in left field of Australia, is home to these musical prodigies (Tim is 18 and Jean is just 15) that have recently been featured on Triple J's Unearthed Artists. The Passion Pit influence is almost eerie, a sign they perhaps need some more seasoning to find their own sound...but nonetheless it is a band that this Motel Face thinks he'll be perving hard on in the future...all the credit on this find goes to DEVRA the Aussie traveler extraordinaire.
Check out their song "Come Around"
Check out their song "Come Around"
8.25.2009
Calvin Harris
Baby Ass back with some music buns so smooth and soft you just want to pinch them. A very beautiful and special young lady, codename Smuth, reminded me that Calvin Harris' new album, Ready For The Weekend, just dropped August 18th in the U.S. The album, already #1 on the U.K. charts, is 14 cuts of electropop that is both emotional and danceable - a difficult balance to strike. "Ready For The Weekend," "I'm Not Alone," and "Dance Wiv Me" are the singles, but also give a listen to "You Used To Hold Me," "Relax," and "Yeah Yeah Yeah La La La." Calvin will be playing three U.S. dates, New York, Chicago, and L.A., beginning in October. Dust off your rhinestone shades and stretch out your calves. The all night dance party is around the corner.
The Rain
Ready For The Weekend
Stars Come Out
You Used To Hold Me
Blue
I'm Not Alone
Flashback
Worst Day
Relax
Limits
Burns Night
Yeah Yeah Yeah La La La
Dance Wiv Me
5iliconeator
. . . and the video for "I'm Not Alone"
The Rain
Ready For The Weekend
Stars Come Out
You Used To Hold Me
Blue
I'm Not Alone
Flashback
Worst Day
Relax
Limits
Burns Night
Yeah Yeah Yeah La La La
Dance Wiv Me
5iliconeator
. . . and the video for "I'm Not Alone"
Wolfmother
Sorry it's been a few days since the last post, something about trying to find a job has gotten in the way. But to celebrate ZERO progress, here a few tracks of the new Wolfmother album Cosmic Egg dropping October 13. It's been nearly four years since their chart-topping self-titled debut melted our faces off. Since then, the threesome has become singer/guitarist Andrew Stockdale's solo project since the other two founding members packed it up. Stockdale has replaced his original mates with three even hairier Aussies. At first take, it doesn't seem to deviate far from the original formula...but that's not always a bad thing! Feel free to melt your faces off again...
Wolfmother - "New Moon Rising"
Wolfmother - "Back Round"
Wolfmother - "New Moon Rising"
Wolfmother - "Back Round"
8.21.2009
Leaving Las Vegas
Quite possibly the most disastrous one-day Vegas trip ever...off the strip honky-tonk and hallway sleeping. Very happy to be back in LA. So damn happy that I will unleash some new LA local artists on you.
First up is Fool's Gold performing their single "Surprise Hotel" off of their upcoming self-titled debut album dropping in your laps on September 29th.
Pitchfork Magazine just reviewed the song, calling it "a gloriously busy bit of life-affirming Afro-pop that takes no issue with demanding that you take it for a beachside bike ride. The band rotates around Luke Top and Lewis Pesacov and also enlists friends and colleagues that include members of Foreign Born and Glasser. On a self-titled debut brimming with them, 'Surprise Hotel' is a whirling dervish of a cut delivered with charm, grace, and maximum two-stepability. Light yet bracing polyrhythms anchor an addictive little high-register guitar line that loops and wiggles on and off the beaten path, perfectly coupled with Afro-funk bass stylings and buttery bilingual coos (yes, Top sings in English and Hebrew). With music this immersed in wide-ranging global and regional influence, you'd fear Fool's Gold's music might come over as empty pastiche, but no worries. Worldly and warm without being cloying, 'Surprise Hotel' more than surprises: it prevails."
Check it out here...
Next up, straight from today's Aquarium Drunkard Sirius XMU show, is the lovely duo Pearl Harbour. Their song "Sunburn"--which you'll have to check out on MySpace--is some serious melodramatic acid pop. Makes me wish summer was just starting all over again...
First up is Fool's Gold performing their single "Surprise Hotel" off of their upcoming self-titled debut album dropping in your laps on September 29th.
Pitchfork Magazine just reviewed the song, calling it "a gloriously busy bit of life-affirming Afro-pop that takes no issue with demanding that you take it for a beachside bike ride. The band rotates around Luke Top and Lewis Pesacov and also enlists friends and colleagues that include members of Foreign Born and Glasser. On a self-titled debut brimming with them, 'Surprise Hotel' is a whirling dervish of a cut delivered with charm, grace, and maximum two-stepability. Light yet bracing polyrhythms anchor an addictive little high-register guitar line that loops and wiggles on and off the beaten path, perfectly coupled with Afro-funk bass stylings and buttery bilingual coos (yes, Top sings in English and Hebrew). With music this immersed in wide-ranging global and regional influence, you'd fear Fool's Gold's music might come over as empty pastiche, but no worries. Worldly and warm without being cloying, 'Surprise Hotel' more than surprises: it prevails."
Check it out here...
Next up, straight from today's Aquarium Drunkard Sirius XMU show, is the lovely duo Pearl Harbour. Their song "Sunburn"--which you'll have to check out on MySpace--is some serious melodramatic acid pop. Makes me wish summer was just starting all over again...
8.20.2009
The xx
I'm your AA, thinking The xx, a Londoner four-piece band that is selling out venues across the U.K. this summer. Their simple dramatic tunes demonstrate an overtly subtle sexuality that belies their youth...all the members are only 19! The lead singers, Romy and Oliver, have known each other since the tender age of 3, and have a natural vocal connection that is superbly demonstrated in the single "Crystalised" off of their self-titled debut album that comes out October 20 here in the States via Young Turks Records (also the home of great artists such as Wavves and Jack Penate). For all the non-record store goers out there, it is thankfully already available online as of August 17.
If you lie awake by yourself at night looking at the Stars (check out Set Yourself on Fire and see the influence) humming 80's dream pop, The xx is for you...
"Crystalised" via YouTube
If you lie awake by yourself at night looking at the Stars (check out Set Yourself on Fire and see the influence) humming 80's dream pop, The xx is for you...
"Crystalised" via YouTube
Sigur Ros Remixed
Heading to Vegas in a few hours so thought I'd drop a quick morning post. Found this remix of Sigur Ros' "Illgresi" by Them Jeans (courtesy of gottadancedirty.com). Interesting mix of a spacious Icelandic song that for some reason makes me feel like I'm watching the movie Days of Thunder on ecstacy...
8.19.2009
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
You want Americana, eh? What is more Americana than a 12 member band leading the folk-rock revival that travels in a bus that is like stepping into a hippie wet dream? Meet LA-based Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.
After becoming a major label robot slave with his former band, Ima Robot, headman Alex Ebert has emerged from his musical cocoon as Edward Sharpe. Together with girlfriend Jade Castrinos, who is the most magnetic of the zeros, he has traveled into the past and brought back music from an era begone. They make a musical harmony reminiscient of Arcade Fire infused with the stylings of Buffalo Springfield all wrapped in hippie love.
On July 23rd, they played a killer free show at the Hammer Museum in Westwood that melted my face. When they sing "home is whenever I'm with you," with the audience belting out every word, you truly feel its meaning. It almost seems that the audience is part of the band, the 13th member. It is an experience I plan on repeating as often as possible, starting with their return to Los Angeles on September 22nd at The El Rey.
But if you can't wait that long, go pick up their debut album Up From Below and give it a spin. I'll warn you that the album doesn't quite live up to the live experience, but it still gives you a strange innate sense of happiness and peace. You become a hippie-ster from the very beginning of the first song "40 Day Dream."
"40 Day Dream" performed live
music video for "Home"
"Janglin" live at the Hammer Museum (not the best sound quality)
After becoming a major label robot slave with his former band, Ima Robot, headman Alex Ebert has emerged from his musical cocoon as Edward Sharpe. Together with girlfriend Jade Castrinos, who is the most magnetic of the zeros, he has traveled into the past and brought back music from an era begone. They make a musical harmony reminiscient of Arcade Fire infused with the stylings of Buffalo Springfield all wrapped in hippie love.
On July 23rd, they played a killer free show at the Hammer Museum in Westwood that melted my face. When they sing "home is whenever I'm with you," with the audience belting out every word, you truly feel its meaning. It almost seems that the audience is part of the band, the 13th member. It is an experience I plan on repeating as often as possible, starting with their return to Los Angeles on September 22nd at The El Rey.
But if you can't wait that long, go pick up their debut album Up From Below and give it a spin. I'll warn you that the album doesn't quite live up to the live experience, but it still gives you a strange innate sense of happiness and peace. You become a hippie-ster from the very beginning of the first song "40 Day Dream."
"40 Day Dream" performed live
music video for "Home"
"Janglin" live at the Hammer Museum (not the best sound quality)
Retro Roots
Okay okay okay . . . it's time I added a little balance to this business before the Rave In My Pants turns my junk neon green and I start shooting lazzzzers out of my eyes. Don't get me wrong. I will SWEAT on the dance floor to Bag Raiders any night of the week, but now it's time to get back to our roots - 'MERICA! FUCK YEAH! I'm gonna start out by showing some love for the late, great Jeffrey Lee Pierce and his outfit The Gun Club (active 1980-1993). They've been credited as being one of the first bands to fuse punk, blues, and rockabilly. Check out some of these classics:
"Sex Beat"
"She's Like Heroin To Me"
"Moonlight Motel"
Next up are the modern dulcet tones of Charlotte's The Avett Brothers, featuring brothers Scott and Seth and bassist Bob Crawford. Formed in 2001, these boys have since pumped out about 11 discs of varying length and are set to release their next full length LP, I and Love and You, in September. Here's the title track off that album plus two of my favorites from their May 15, 2007 release Emotionalism:
"I and Love and You"
"Die Die Die"
"Will You Return?"
If that doesn't satisfy your lust for Americana, you might be better off as an Ex Pat. Football and porno and books about war.
"Sex Beat"
"She's Like Heroin To Me"
"Moonlight Motel"
Next up are the modern dulcet tones of Charlotte's The Avett Brothers, featuring brothers Scott and Seth and bassist Bob Crawford. Formed in 2001, these boys have since pumped out about 11 discs of varying length and are set to release their next full length LP, I and Love and You, in September. Here's the title track off that album plus two of my favorites from their May 15, 2007 release Emotionalism:
"I and Love and You"
"Die Die Die"
"Will You Return?"
If that doesn't satisfy your lust for Americana, you might be better off as an Ex Pat. Football and porno and books about war.
RAVE IN MY PANTS
Due to popular request (a.k.a. the Hammer of Thor), The white noise sound presents the "Rave In My Pants" playlist. Theses songs aren't the newest, just the best for a latenight creepster dance party. It is definitely noise complaint at 4:30am approved!
Also don't forget to roll out to Thor's birthday party at V Lounge in Santa Monica this Friday night...it will be good looking people dancing hard and making poor decisions.
"Welcome" by Etienne de Crecy
"Turbo Love" by Bag Raiders
"Far Away (The Golden Filters Remix)" originally by Cut Copy
"Chip" by Jupiter
"Phantom Pt. 2 (Soulwax Remix)" originally by Justice
"Rich Man" by Ghostland Observatory
"Ghost Under Rocks (Passion Pit Remix)" originally by Ra Ra Riot
"We Are From Venice" by The Bloody Beetroots
"Vanished" by Crystal Castles
"Lights and Music" by Cut Copy
"Fast Track Live vs. We Are Your Friends" by Etienne de Crecy
"What Else Is There? (Thin White Dukes Remix)" originally by Royskopp
"Stuck On Repeat" by Little Boots
"Work" by Junior Boys
"Bounce" by MSTRKRFT
Also don't forget to roll out to Thor's birthday party at V Lounge in Santa Monica this Friday night...it will be good looking people dancing hard and making poor decisions.
"Welcome" by Etienne de Crecy
"Turbo Love" by Bag Raiders
"Far Away (The Golden Filters Remix)" originally by Cut Copy
"Chip" by Jupiter
"Phantom Pt. 2 (Soulwax Remix)" originally by Justice
"Rich Man" by Ghostland Observatory
"Ghost Under Rocks (Passion Pit Remix)" originally by Ra Ra Riot
"We Are From Venice" by The Bloody Beetroots
"Vanished" by Crystal Castles
"Lights and Music" by Cut Copy
"Fast Track Live vs. We Are Your Friends" by Etienne de Crecy
"What Else Is There? (Thin White Dukes Remix)" originally by Royskopp
"Stuck On Repeat" by Little Boots
"Work" by Junior Boys
"Bounce" by MSTRKRFT
NightWaves
It may have been acceptable in the 80's, but electronic synth rock has taken over the whole damn indie world these days. LA-based NightWaves is currently flying under the radar, but they just might do it the best. The song "She's Electric" can just as easily be played in the bedroom as in the club. It just makes the pants dance.
They are currently unsigned, so somebody get it together and bring NightWaves to the masses. They are, however, part of the Binary blog family, self described as "a family of LA based dance music producers and artists. Bringing original content, Binary artists strive to bring the song back to the dance floor. We believe in the sun, vintage synths, killer hooks, killer cocktails, and killer girls with killer looks." Sounds like something you'd be interested in?
"She's Electric"
Also, a video for their remix of Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight"
8.18.2009
The Big Pink
Their name may conjure the image of a hot dog in a hallway, but The Big Pink is actually quite the opposite - the musically bonerific duo of Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell. These mates from the UK will be dropping their first album, A Brief History of Love, on us Yanks come September 22nd. Unfortunately, they'll be touring Europe till November 8th, so keep an eye out for U.S. dates to follow. If you're in to bondage (who isn't?), Tool videos, or spacious, atmospheric tunes, check out the videos for their singles "Dominos" and "Velvet." Makes me want to pull the Liberator out . . .
DOMINOS
VELVET
DOMINOS
VELVET
