Thursday, September 25, 2008

An Albatross rocks Brooklyn, Noah and the Whale - Peaceful the World Lies Me Down, Red House Painters

So tomorrow is my birthday - and i have nothing planned. I have to get up super early on Saturday morning for my best friends baby shower. And being the overly ambitious person i am, i decided to do this insane present that requires hours of work and creativity. Not my smartest idea. So, while I'm putting together this ridiculous present, i will be missing my dear friends band An Albatross melt faces at Death by Audio in Brooklyn. This will be the third time in my life that i will miss them play. Ever. For real. Their new album coming out soon called The An Albatross Family Album is seriously unlike anything you have EVER heard from this band. Maybe from any band. And it definitely lives up to its name; it includes every member of the band, and past members, making it truely a "family album". It will be released October 21st and I will definitely be the first in line to buy it. Do yourself a favor and check them out tomorrow night, Sept 26th in Brooklyn w/ Pwrfl Power, Grampall Jookabox, and Pleaseeasaur.

Death By Audio
49 S. 2nd Street
Brooklyn

You can hear new tracks off their new album on their myspace: HERE
You wont be dissapointed!

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New folk rock band, Noah and the Whale, have released their first album, Peaceful the World Lies Me Down this past month. It has been receiving great reviews, and there will be no change here... i LOVE this album. Its sort of a Belle and Sebastian meets the Little Ones sound, in other words, they write depressing songs that ironically put a smile on your face. Despite tales of awkward and isolated love, the melodies are instantly uplifting and reassuring.Peaceful the World Lies Me Down boasts a ukulele, hand-claps, trembling violin strings, romantic folk tales, whistling, and, of course, cowbell.  Its a must to have this album. I highly recommend!! Click on album artwork to download! (megaupload)

Noah and the Whale - Peaceful the World Lies Me Down


Genre: Anti-folk
Label: Interscope

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Everytime i listen to this album by the Red House Painters, it makes me think about a time in my life that was so easy. I remember seeing them when this album came out in Boston with an ex of mine (who i am still on good terms with) and when Grace Cathedral Park plays, all i can think about is that day. Its one of those albums you can jam pack your memories into. Its also a terrific seasonal album, perfect for long drives in the fall. 

Red House Painters - I (aka Rollercoaster)


Genre: Indie Folk
Label: 4AD

Thats all for now, Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Manuel Dominguez Jr. & Kaitlin Mosley - Photo Show

Manuel Domiguez Jr (who i call Manny - im sure everyone else does too) is a photographer from Philadelphia. I met him while living in New Brunswick, and we bothed lived in Philly around the same time, but since I moved back into the New York area 4 years ago, i havent really seen or talked to him in a while. But today, I stumbled onto his Flickr page that i havent been to in some time - and i am just COMPLETELY blown away with how raw and personal his pictures are. His portraits are often serious and saturated. But in recent candids, muted colors give his photos a dreary, meloncholic look.
Sadly, i do not know much about Kaitlin Mosely, but she is his partner in crime for an upcoming show you MUST check out in Philly Oct 3rd (first friday) thru Oct 30th. See flyer below....




Check out all of Manny's work:

mdominguezjr.com
Manny's Flickr

And Kaitlin's:

Kaitlin Mosley

Tv On The Radio's "Dear Science", Cold War Kids & Nation of Ulysses

Yesterdays big release was Tv on the Radio's third studio album release of Dear Science. In my opinion, this is, without a doubt, one of the best albums to come out this year - maybe even in recent years - and far surpasses the mind blowing Return to Cookie Mountain release in 2006. Now this is just my opinion - a lot of people disagreed with me last night when I presented this argument after listening to it. Click below on album artwork to download full album. You can catch Tv on the Radio performing "Dancing Choose" on Letterman (cbs) friday night, Sept. 26th @ 11pm est. Also, they are playing 3 nights in a row @ the Masonic Temple in their hometown of Brooklyn Oct 14-16 - and if you have tickets to any of these sold out shows, I'm extremely jealous!

Tv on the Radio - Dear Science
 

Genre: Post-Punk (kind of?) how do you even put them in a genre
Label: Interscope
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Another release yesterday was the second full length album by the Cold War Kids, Loyalty to Loyalty. Im not going to lie, I was not the biggest Cold War Kids fan after their first album Robbers & Cowards. But this album improved my opinion.... slightly. Still not a huge fan, but kids seem to really enjoy them. I just cant get in on that bluesy rock stuff. But, if you can, click on the album art below! You can catch Cold War Kids in Manhattan @ Webster Hall 10/15 and in Brooklyn @ Williamsburg Music Hall 10/16 (which i think is sold out, but craigslist that shit if you need em').

Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty


Genre: Indie Rock
Label: Downtown

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Your nostalgic download for the day is Nation of Ulysses,  13 point program to destroy america. A friend (who was way too old to be my friend) in my hometown in new brunswick, nj introduced me to this band when i was 14 years old, a sophomore in high school. I used to hang around new brunswick with all the "cool" older punk kids. They were like gods to me, and anything they listened to, i considered the fruit of life. When i first heard the noisy and manic sound of Nation of Ulysses my musical taste completely shifted, and my attitude as a whole. They used a sort of "free jazz" influence, they rejected drugs, alcohol and the like, they dressed in suits... SUITS! This was a far cry from the concept i got from listening to the sex pistols and punk bands like them from my punk start a few years prior. And i totally ate that up in a BIG way. I had the pleasure of meeting one of my idols, lead singer, Ian Svenonius, just last week at a friends wedding. He was sitting right next to me, and i seriously almost peed my pants while talking to him. He is just as weird and crazy as i thought and hoped he would be. I seriously have been idolizing that dude since an issue Sassy magazine named him one the Sassiest Men in America. I went thru a really embarrassing phase of my life where i needed the biggest hair ever, and i wore skinny ties with tshirts. Yikes.
 
Click on album art below to download!

Nation of Ulysses - 13 Point Program to Destroy America

Genre: Post Hardcore, Punk
Label: Dischord

Sadly, Ulysses broke up in 1992 and went on to form The Make Up and Cupid Car Club, which was short lived but were just as influential to me. Ian Svenonius us now in a band called Weird War, which released its last album, Illuminated By Light (DragCity Recs) in 2005.  

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Ramona Cordova - The boy who floated freely

Ramona Cordova is a one man band out of Philadelphia - that one man being Ramón Vicente Alarcón... one of the most interesting and hilarious people i have ever met. Ramón has been traveling the world since 2005 to spread the word of his first full length album. The Boy Who Floated Freely is a captivating concept album devoted to the story of a boy named Giver. It is an eleven track escape into a story enchanted by chirping crickets, gypsies, romance and mystery. You will get lost in Ramón's choppy guitar playing and fine falsetto. Read all of Giver's story & Download the full album and artwork for free courtesy of Ramón himself @ MyFriendRamon.com and drop him a donation too!
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New Mogwai (LP & EP), Law & Order SVU, My Bloody Valentine & So long to the Ergs

So, a few of my friends went to All Tomorrows Parties last weekend and I got to hear from everyone what an amazing time I missed. In case you have been living under a rock, All Tomorrows Parties was a 3 day festival in the Catskills with a line up that looked like this:

Thurston Moore
Built to Spill
Low
Mogwai
My Bloody Valentine
Shellac
Les Savvy Fav
Lightning Bolt

just to name a few....
sick right?

Totally bummed i didnt get to go. Anyone else go that wants to comment and rub it in my face? Feel free!

I do have a little treat for ya'll though. Mogwai's new album "The Hawk is Howling" and their new EP "Bat Cat".
"The Hawk.." was released yesterday making this their 6th studio album release. Actually just got done listening to it for the first time and i give it full marks!
Click album art below for full megaupload download of their new album + new EP "Bat Cat" included.
(Anyone else confused as to why they used an eagle instead of a hawk on their cover art? Just sayin..)

Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling LP + Bat Cat EP


Genre: Post-Rock
Label: Matador

On a sad note, Mogwai had to cancel the rest of their US tour after ATP this weekend after drummer Martin Bulloch had pacemaker problems after their set on Sunday. Hope everything is ok there and they can continue touring Europe this fall.

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On TV Tonight

"In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories."

On tv tonight, I all implore you to check out the premier of Law and Order SVU Season 10 on NBC. I LOVE this show. Im so excited for it. I feel like I've been waiting forever for my fix of Benson and Stabler solving sex crimes.

Watch season 9 on hulu.com for free.

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Nostalgia Album of the Day

My Bloody Valentine not only played All Tomorrows Parties last weekend , but also played Roseland last night and tonight in NYC. "Loveless" is absolutely one of my favorite albums of all time and by far one of the most influential albums of the 90's. If you dont have this album yet, i seriously suggest you click on the link below! I also included a link to their first full length album "Isnt Anything", released in 1988, which i also HIGHLY recommend. (rapidshare)
Enjoi!

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless


My Bloody Valentine - Isnt Anything


Genre: Shoegaze
Label: Creation, Sire

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Final Note

New Jersey Pop Punk band The Ergs are calling it a day and are about to release their final album, "Thats it.....Bye". I grew up listening to "the near sighted three" and I am sad to see them go! They also announced their last show(s) ever at Asbury Lanes (Asbury Park, NJ) November 14th (for all the kids) & November 15th (21+). Check out a song off their new album "Anthem for a new Amanda" @ Don Giovanni Records
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Monday, September 22, 2008

Nostalgia for the Day - Jawbreaker "Dear You"

This album STILL gets me thru the day and ive been listening to it for almost 10 years. This is an album you wont get sick of, trust me. Some consider this Jawbreakers "sell out" album - but its still my favorite. By far. Too bad they broke up almost immediately after its release in 1996. (click below on album cover for megaupload download)

Enjoi!

Jawbreaker - Dear you


Genre: Pop Punk, Post-College Depression (ha ha)
Label: DGC

first track - Blank Dogs

This weekend was extremely uninteresting.
Carlo and i had movie nights - every night.
a John Hughes night consisting of both National Lampoons Vacation & European Vacation and Some Kind of Wonderful.
Then, a night of movies revolving around Las Vegas, "21" and the first and third Oceans movies.
Back at work and drawing flower prints for quilts. Hoorah.





Anyway - This blog will most likely have short entries with new stuff to check out and new bands to download (thru mediafire, rapidshare or megaupload)


Enjoi!




New band this entry:






Blank Dogs



A co-worker told me about this band and I immediately went to Download it after he explained it to me. Total buzz melody, like if The Cure was actually Sonic Youth. Also, this band apparently doesn't even exist, how confusing. They dont play shows. People dont really know who is in the band. That all changed this past weekend in Manhattan, however, when Blank Dogs played their first show EVER and totaly blew everyone away. Jump on this shit... (click on album to download from Mediafire)






Blank Dogs - On Two Sides (2008)



Genre: Death Pop, Lo-Fi


Label: Troubleman








Also,


If you like Blank Dogs, keep your eyes peeled in 2008 as they are putting out 12 - yes 12 (!!) releases this year…

1. 7″ EP-Daggerman Records-Coming Soon

2. “Mirror Lights” Cassette-Coming Soon

3. Blank Box (all 2007 Releases+inserts+1&2 from 2008, SOLD OUT, Coming Soon)*

4. “On Two Sides” LP-Troubleman Records (February?), cassette version on Fuck it Tapes-Coming Soon

5. Ltd. 7″ on Troubleman

6. 7″ on 4:2:2 Records (Denmark)

7. Untitled LP/CD-In The Red Records

8. Singles Anthology Cassette on Heavy Tapes-Coming Soon

9. Singles Anthology CD on Sacred Bones-March(?)

10. 7″ on Woodsist

11. Cassette on Bum Tapes

12. 7″ on Slowboy (Germany)






Next new thing to check out is new interior designer, and friend of mine, Miguel. Pay him lots of money to design a room for you - or do a nice screen printing or painting to brighten yr day.


Check out some pics of a couple of his rooms he designed in Seattle WA. He is currently living in Hoboken and can help you out if you are in the surrounding area.

Miguel's Work