So Dance We All

So the Battlestar finale was the best finale ever, and if you disagree, well then you're just crazy. That said, it was pretty heavy-handed, so for those in need of a frakkin' pick me up (I never said I wasn't a nerd), check out some of the best dance tracks released this month:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Zero" (disabled)




Okay, so know how I said that, despite it being my favorite song of '09 so far, I wasn't gonna post this one, since it's flooded the internet so thoroughly? Well, apparently, my friends are not the hype machine geeks that I am, as a couple complained that I only posted the video link. So here it is.

Phoenix - "1901" (disabled)




Moving on, here's the first single off Phoenix's new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The French electropop group made waves in the US a few years ago with the single, "Everything is Everything", but have since re-appeared with an album brimming with artistry that, quite frankly, I wouldn't have pegged them with. Every track that's leaked so far has been a breath of fresh air, but the official first single remains my favorite of the bunch.

Roy G and the Biv - "Runnin"





So yes, I do occasionally check my e-mail. Not often, but it happens. I've been burned too many times by PR folks shoving mediocrity down my throat, and as a result, I've become painfully lazy at posting new artists who get directly pitched to the site. The cleverly named Roy G and the Biv (look it up), who hail from deep down in the heart of Texas are proof enough that I should change this practice. Their music recalls fellow Texan dance duo Ghostland Observatory, except they're decidedly more accessible. They also recall Australian duo Empire of the Sun, except they're decidedly grittier, with a host of rock and soul vibes spicing up the bleeps and bloops. By all accounts, their SXSW sets were a damn good time, so I'm looking forward to seeing them venture out West. For a look at their greater catalogue, check out their Myspace HERE. In the meantime, enjoy the new single.

----------------------------Song of the Week---------------------------

Asher Roth - "Lark on My Go Kart"< (disabled)/a>




So Mr. Roth becomes the first artist to get "Song of the Week" status twice on the site, and it's actually for good reason. True, since I posted "The Reading" a couple months ago, he's blown the fuck up with the omnipresent (and yeah, kind of obnoxious) "I Love College", but lest any true hip hop fan doubt his skills, he returns now with some of the best rhymes I've heard in a long time, referencing Mario Kart, 30 Rock and lonely MILFs in one casual breath, backed by equally inventive
production. If his debut LP veers in this direction, and away from fluff like "College" (not that there's not a place for that too), we could have a serious contender on our hands. PS: he locked this shit up for me as soon as he mentioned Razor Ramon.
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Under Construction (In Real Life, That Is)

Still no working computer............still settling into the new place........but nontheless, Shark Party continues. Hopefully in a couple weeks the dust will officially settle, but until then, enjoy some of the best new tracks on the net that aren't Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Royksopp or Grizzly Bear. All three bands have had albums leak in the last month, and all three are fucking amazing, specifically Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Of course, every blogger and their mother has already pillaged them, and posted the tracks up for all to hear, so there's no need for me to join the fray.


Instead, simply click HERE to check out the best track of '09 so far. Now, onto other stuff....

Kid Cudi - Dat New New (VIKING remix)





Kid Cudi capitolized off his 808s & Heartbreak spot with more Kanye-approved solo stuff in 09, quickly building a cult following. More than that, he's effortlessly crossed over to the indie rock crowd by writing songs that don't sound complete until they get slick electro-remixes. Such was the case with Crooker's version of "Day & Night", and such is even more the case with his second "net single", as remixed by VIKING. Here a spare, simple beat gets transformed into a monster of a club banger.

Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone



Speaking of bangers, Mr. Calvin Harris is back with a track that's suddenly competing with Royksopp for most played club track around. By all accounts, I should already be sick of it, but I actually find myself enjoying it more with each listen.

------------------------Song of the Week---------------------------------


Kelly Clarkson - "I Do Not Hook Up"





I know what you're thinking. First post in weeks, and my song of the week is a Kelly Clarkson track? Well, whatever. It's easily Clarkson's best pop ditty since "Since U Been Gone", which means in a few months (when it's undoubtedly released as the second single), it'll be the pop song that's cool for all the hipsters to say they "secretly love". I'm just getting a head start on that love. And for the American Idol fans on here (and I know there's a cross-section....), the song is co-written by new judge Kara DioGuardi, in case you were starting to doubt her credentials (I'll ignore the fact that she originally penned it for a Katy Perry demo). Not only is this a great pop song on its own, but with Clarkson at the helm, the power chorus gets lifted into the stratusphere, and the ra-ra-girl-power message is infectious, rather than obnoxious. And again, hate all you want in the comments, but I know this is going to get twice as many downloads as anything else I posted today.

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Cryptacize - "Tail & Mane"





Chris Cohen, ex-guitarist of Party faves Deerhoof, has been brought on board the new band Cryptacize, recently approved by Mr. Sufjan Stevens and signed to his Asthmatic Kitty record label. Suf's praise is well warrented: just when you thought Gypsy pop was a dead trend, they revive it anew in a thoroughly untrendy way. Get ready to hear a lot more of these guys.

Dropkick Murphys - State of Massachusetts



Finally, here's the theme song to my new television guilty pleasure, MTV's Nitro Circus. If you haven't seen it, it's basically the de-evolution of Jackass, but watching it will undoubtedly make you feel better about your own life. And the theme song is fucking awesome, brah!

Hot Covers 2: Guilty Pleasure Edition

A whole lot of music news has gone down in the past week, most notably the Coachella line-up, which panned out pretty much like everyone thought it would (including headlining slots from The Killers and Sir Paul), minus an unnecessary reunion or two, and plus the inexplicable addition of Amy Winehouse, which at the very least is a major gamble on the part of the promoters. Overall, it's a great opportunity for me to see a bunch of major bands that I've missed seeing live so far: like TV On the Radio, Fleet Foxes, White Lies and Hercules & Love Affair Between now and April, expect to see lots of the lesser known acts featured here, but for now........I'm in the mood for some covers. And some slightly guilty ones at that.

Corin Joel - "I Kissed A Girl"




First up is a spectacular, soulful re-working of one of 2008's most souless corporate creations. Virtually nothing is known about Delaware's Corin Joel. He has no website, no wiki, and a grand total of about 370 friends on Myspace. But after churning out a magic trick like this, it's doubtful this is the last we'll hear from him, especially if that magic carries over into songwriting.

John Mayer - "Kid A"





On the flip side, we have the case of a generally mediocre talent spinning a classic song.....and (blasphemy!) actually improving it. I know, I know: let the hate mail pour in, but if John Mayer's done one good thing with his spotty, fame-whorish career, it's this cover right here. How does he improve it? Well, you can finally make out Thom Yorke's lyrics, for one. And somehow, by stripping away the reverb and fancy sound effects, and leaving a voice and guitar, the song sounds even bleaker. Most shocking of all is the fact that once it's over, you realize Mayer does in fact have a spark of talent inside him. If it ever gets re-ignited, I promise I'll post notice right here. **NOTE: Apparently you'll have to put even more faith into this than I first thought. For some (coughbloggercodesucksafatcockcough) reason, you can't preview this one on the player, so you'll have to click the link & download it to hear for yourself.

Jukebox the Ghost - "Beautiful Life"





Friday night, Jukebox the Ghost plays a very special show at the Natural History Museum with The Bird and the Bee. If you weren't at their very first LA show a few months ago, make sure to catch them, as they're one hell of a live act. And if you were there, then I probably don't have to convince you very hard. If nothing else, go there just to tell your friends and family you spent your Friday night at a museum, lest they think you're growing uncultured. Of course, if you enjoy drinking alcohol while watching live music, you might prefer to see them tomorrow night at Three of Clubs. The Hollywood lounge should serve as a pretty small venue for a band that just got done headlining an East Coast tour, so check 'em out then if creepy intimacy is your thing. (shoot me an email before tomorrow to get pointed towards the guestlist). Of course, in fitting with the theme today, the band's been known to bust out a great cover or two.

Hot Chip - "Transmission"




Hot Chip is awesome, and so is this cover, especially on repeat listens. Where does the whole "guilty pleasure" thing play into this, you ask? Well I suppose it doesn't really, except that in my book, Joy Division is sacred ground, and anyone who tries to cover them is generally doomed from the start. But add this to Tiger Baby's far guiltier cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (they turn it into a dance track, after all) as one of the few to succeed. It's slower, muted, and even more isolating than the original, and while it certainly can't top Ian Curtis' classic, it's a fine new take, and another notch in Hot Chip's already impressive belt.

Andrew WK - "Never Let Down"





Finally, here's one that's not a cover, but certainly anks up with my favorite "guilty pleasure" tracks of all time. In honor of his new television show, here's my good friend and yours, Mr. Andrew WK. Oh, and I put "guilty pleasure" in quotes, because when a song's this fucking awesome, how much guilt can you really feel about liking it? Also, Mr. WK once wrote me a very special letter to guide me on my journey through NYU. True story. This guy is awesome.

DUUUUUUUDDDE!!!!

So this isn't one of those blogs where I bitch about my personal life, but let's just say it's been a month of transition. Between moving, switching banks, taking a car into the shop, and.....oh yeah, having my computer die, it's been rather difficult to update as usual. It's been a very stressful time, but I figured I should take a minute to throw some musical Prozac out there, not just for me, but for whoever else has had a rough year so far (not including the inauguration of our awesome new Prez, of course). This will be a briefer post than usual, since, like I said, shit be crazy for me right now.

Lady Gaga - "Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) (Frankmusik's SilverSpoon Remix)"





So things have changed quite a bit since I first wrote about Lady Gaga on my Muxtape blog last Spring. And by that, I mean she's pretty much taken over the world. While the predictable backlash has been harsh, I have to say I'm still a fan of hers - if for no other reason than I appreciate a thoroughly original presence like hers in pop (and if you need another reason: her no-pants trend seems to be catching on with girls in the city. Even in Winter). Frankmusik is an equally unique pop talent, emerging from England and slowly making waves in the US. Expect to hear a lot of his original songs right here in the future, but for now, you'll have to settle for his brilliant re-working Gaga's next single, "Eh Eh", which I always thought had "cherry" in the title (hear the original version and you'll understand).

Iglu & Hartly - "In This City"



Possibly risking sugar overkill, let me just toss one more corny slice of optimism out there, courtesy of Echo Park's Iglu & Hartly. The band's first single is about as cheesy as they come, but there's something endearing about the whole effort as well. In truth, my enjoyment of this song is mostly ironic, and I may immediately regret posting it, but I never claimed to be above posting a guilty pleasure or two. By the way, you can catch these guys at The Viper Room in a couple weeks.

-------------------Song of the Week----------------------------
The Temper Trap - "Sweet Disposition" (removed)



-------------------------------------------------------------------------


Back to genuinely good music, we come to Australia's Temper Trap, who's also the second band from this year's SXSW to be featured here. Before you check them out in Austin this March, take a listen to their beautiful debut single, which is currently gracing the trailer to Sundance hit 500 Days of Summer. Festival overkill for one paragraph, I know, but it's a good listen, nontheless.

The Morehouse Glee Club - "Betelehemu"



Finally, I end with something that always puts me in a good mood: one of the most brilliant songs ever written, performed by the most brilliant chorus in the world (from my brilliant hometown of Atlanta, GA.)

Rest of the Best of Last Year

Now I wasn't going to do this, but as a holdover from my old Myspace blog, here's the list of my favorite films and shows from last year that I've been badgered about posting (not that anyone had to twist my arm too hard about sorting and ranking more entertainment. I'm OCD that way.) Let me just emphasize that for my "worst of"s, I'm only ranking stuff I've actually seen. So if you're surprised I didn't rank "Meet the Spartans" or some shit like that as worst, know that the only way I would've seen it to begin with is if you tied me down, Clockwork Orange style. Not to worry, though. I saw enough awful stuff to give a fairly informed decision on such matters. The opposite is also true, as no, I still haven't seen The Shield, and have only started Season One of The Wire, aka Bow Down and Worship It Or Else, as it seems I'm supposed to call it, so no bitching as to why that stuff isn't on here. Oh, and I threw in actual music, of course, this still being a music blog and all:


-BEST FILMS OF 2008-

01. The Reader

Not only the best, but the most devastating film of the year, by a mile. Kate Winslet's never been better (which, obviously, is no casual praise), and the rest of the cast is spectacular in their own right. It takes work to dissect this film, and the conclusions the viewer might come to after all their effort aren't necessarily cathartic ones. But they ring darkly true, and in a year of strangely over-praised fluff (three Oscar favorites leap to mind, one of which I mention below), "true" counts for a lot. Make no mistake: this is not a film for everyone: it's emotionally brutal, politically incorrect, and sexually graphic, but everything serves a purpose, and nothing is cheap. It's a shame (though not really a surprise) that it's baffled so many critics, but take my word for it: this is one for the ages.


02. The Wrestler

Yes, I am a huge pro wrestling mark, but that only factors in a small bit to my ranking. Darren Aronofsky gives some of the best, most subtle direction I've ever seen, putting you into the minds of his characters in ways that aren't obvious until the film's over, and actors Mickey Rourke & Marisa Tomei hold up their end of the bargain every bit as well as you've heard.


Bruce Springsteen - "The Wrestler"


03. The Dark Knight

Maybe you saw this one.

04. Wall-E

Either Pixar collectively made a deal with the devil, or that studio is the biggest collision of the stars seen in our lifetime.


05. Revolutionary Road

I wouldn't have originally ranked this here, but strangely, it's stuck with me more than anything else I can remember seeing last year. Maybe "stuck with" is the wrong term; "festered" might be more like it, as this is one of the bleakest, most nihilistic things I've ever seen. The casting of Winslet, Dicaprio and Kathy Bates is flat-out brilliant: in addition to their acting chops, the baggage all three carry with them fills in all the early gaps in storytelling, and the implication that this is where that epic romance would have wound up is wonderfully fucked up. Much like Winslet's other film, this is one that critics seemed to miss entirely: it's hardly the ham-fisted condemnation of marriage or suburban America that folks have claimed. Mendes already did that with his first film. This is a tragedy about choices, and about action (or the lack thereof), and features the most explosive acting of '08, not just from its leads, but from a flawless supporting cast, particularly Michael Shannon, who makes the most of a very fun role....

06. Slumdog Millionare

A modern day Dickensian epic that has no agenda to push, but just makes you feel good. And sometimes, after watching stuff like nearly everything mentioned above, that can be enough.

A.R. Rahman feat M.I.A. - "O Saya"


07. Happy-Go-Lucky

Mike Lee's lightest film is also one of the director's most rewarding, and Sally Hawkins' performance will bring a smile to even the most jaded filmgoer. Like Slumdog, it's one to watch when your day needs a good cheering up.

08. Let the Right One In

This is a horror film in a very literal sense. Like last year's The Signal, this is one that disturbs you on a subconscious level, until the big scares finally bring the panic out of you. It also features some of the most impressive kid acting ever. Even if it's all in Swedish.

09. In Bruges

The insanely talented Martin McDonough makes a seamless transition from stage to film in his screenwriting debut. Colin Farrell's never been better, and the film is as funny as it is dark.

10. Milk

Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about the star and the director of this film, so for me to put it this up here means A LOT. This is a film that breaks a lot of biopic cliches, and teaches you something without ever being preachy. And Josh Brolin continues to prove why he's fucking awesome.

(Honorable Mention: Cloverfield, Pineapple Express, Mister Foe, and with just a smidge of guilt.....Step Up 2 The Streets. Trust me.....see it in the right context, and you'll have the best time ever).

-WORST FILMS OF 2008 THAT I ACTUALLY SAW-

1. The Spirit

Don't get me wrong: as awful as this is, I had the best time ever heckling it with my friends. But none of the fun I had (or the extreme, very-wrong hotness of the young Eva Mendes stand-in) can hide one simple fact: this film is an epic trainwreck. It would be impossible to give you the full scope of its awfulness, but it might help to describe the film's peak (or rather, its crater): in one scene, a villainous Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johannson,dressed in full-on SS regalia, swastikas and all, taunt the title hero, then liquify a small kitten in front of a giant headshot of Hitler. To my memory, there is no explanation for any of this, as the topics discussed in the scene are entirely removed from anything happening onscreen. It's all done for shock value. That about sums up the entire film.

2. The Happening

Exactly one Nazi kitten-killing scene away from being every bit as awful as The Spirit. Though the lion tamer scene comes mighty close. In true Tommy Wiseau fashion, M. Night came out after the film opened and tried to retroactively label his effort "a black comedy", but the truth of the matter is, it's just fucking awful. Of course, that doesn't mean it isn't hilarious.

3. Mamma Mia!

Yes, I got dragged to this, but to say I had no free will would be to lie. Thus, I only have myself to blame for the 2 hours that I'll never get back, or the fact that I slid at least ten points closer to "gay" on the Kinsey scale because of this. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just not why I generally go to the movies.

4. The X Files: I Want to Believe

The production values are about on par with the TV show, and the plot feels ripped from a bad spec script. What a waste.


5. Gran Torino

I won't go so far as to call Eastwood the director a hack, but to say I don't care for much of his recent work (the brilliant Letters From Iwo Jima removed) is an understatement. While Changeling offended me far less than some of the others, he bottomed out with Gran Torino, a shallow and hilariously misguided attempt at sentimental race lessons. The supporting characters are all vintage Eastwood: the one-dimensionally spoiled granddaughter, the one-dimensionally evil gangbangers, and the one-dimensionally saintly preist all spring to mind. But what makes this one special is the atrocious acting by all involved (save Eastwood himself and John Carroll Lynch), and the script, which manages to make a racist film out of anti-racist themes (and yes, I'm fully aware that all of Eastwood's "gook" and "slopehead" remarks are supposed to be TOTALLY ironic by the end, man), and turns Eastwood's character into a parody of himself. How this is topping several critics' "Best of" lists, I have no idea. Clearly I (and my friends......and the entire laughing theatre we saw this with) saw a different film than those critics did. But then again, I could say the inverse for The Reader and Revolutionary Road. I guess I was just living in bizarro world last year.




-BEST TV OF 2008-

01. Mad Men (AMC)

Another year, and still the best thing on television. There's no hyberbole I can throw out that you haven't already heard, so just watch it and enjoy.


02. Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi)

Against all odds, the writers are delivering on the very ambitious promises they made when the show first began. Over the course of four seasons, it's only gotten meatier, scarier and more challenging, climaxing in the best "What the Fuck" moment seen on television in a very long time when it aired its mid-season finale. Half a season to go, it seems certain that the creative powers that be have at least one more surprise to knock us out with. The bar's been set high....

03. Summer Heights High (HBO)

The best creative (if not commercial) move HBO made all year was importing Chris Lilley's outstanding Australian comedy, where he plays three roles that populate the title school: Mr. G, a vain and tragically delusional drama instructor, Jonah, a trouble-making, 13 year old Pacific Islander, and Ja'mie, a spoiled, 16 year old private school transfer. The characters never interact, and despite their bold design, they're all fully realized human beings. It helps that the supporting cast is as flawless as Lilley, interacting with him as realistically as they would any other actor. The result is a show that stands apart from a host of similar mockumentaries by playing everything as straight as possible. There's no winking here, and the show is all the better for it. It's hilarious, but also completely real, and if there's any justice, Lilley will get the chance to make a host of shows just like it in the future, hopefully to a much bigger audience.

04. 30 Rock (NBC)

One show that's finally finding the audience it's always deserved is right here, and the "Carrie Fisher/Alec Baldwin goes to therapy with Tracy" episode is the funniest thing that's aired since Arrested Development.


05. Gossip Girl (CW)

Yes, this show is fucking ridiculous, but even in its plot holes and ludicrous twists, it is enjoyable. Well, not just enjoyable, but a blast to watch. The various story threads are woven in impressive fashion, and the acting (minus the questionable non-talents of Chace Crawford and Taylor Momsen) is surprisingly solid. In particular, the anti-romace of Blair (Leighton Meester) and Chuck (Ed Westwick) helped elevate what could be a run-of-the-mill teen soap into a modern day Les Liasons Dangereuses, and New York has never looked better on television. Once you accept that the show is ludicrous, you can start enjoying the hell out of its storytelling. It also doesn't hurt that by featuring the likes of LCD Soundsystem, The Deadly Syndrome and even classic Love and Rockets (they actually ended an episode with "No New Tale to Tell"), the show's made itself the best music showcase on television.

06. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX)

The best season yet of FX's "Seinfeld on crack", Kaitlin Olsen really shined this year in the role of Sweet Dee, and might just be the funniest woman on television. Evidence that supports this argument: Martina Martinez and Dee's sad attempt to recreate Sex and the City. Once you see these moments, you might be forced to agree.

Electric Dream Machine - "Day Man" (Bungeebot Remix)



07. The Soup (E!)

Still the only talking head show that matters....

08. The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)


....except for this one.


09. The Whitest Kids U'Know (IFC)

I have fond memories of watching these guys live every week at Pianos, back when I lived in New York, and it's great to see that all the wit and energy that went into their act survived the transition to TV. Their first season on the Fuse network (which featured reworkings of much of their old material like "Scarin' Babies!" and "The New Thing") was fine, but once IFC stole them away and let them perform their new sketches completely uncensored, the gloves came off. The guys' third season begins January 27th, and you can get ready for it right HERE.
If you've been mourning the death of underground sketch comedy, this is the show calling your name.

The Whitest Kids U'Know - "Dinosaur Rap"



10. Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Of course, if you're perfectly fine with mainstream sketch comedy, 2008 was probably a good year for you, as SNL returned to relevance and, for the most part, returned to quality in a big way. Despite that soap-boxy "Bitch is the New Black" shit she pulled back when she was hosting, Tina Fey became the show's MVP with the best (and seemingly most effective-check the drop in Palin's approval ratings the week SNL premiered) political skewering since Will Ferrel as Bush, but the rest of the show has actually been pretty awesome too. Here's hoping this isn't a passing trend, but the beginning of another golden era for Studio 8H.

(Honorable Mention: "Lost", "Pushing Daisies", "Fringe", "South Park" and "Generation Kill")

-WORST TV OF 2008 THAT I ACTUALLY SAW -

01. Momma's Boys (NBC)

Where to start with this shit? The casting of three white (and clearly white-loving), age 25 and under guys versus a bunch of mostly late-20s to early-30s multicultural women clearly set up for humiliation? The inclusion of a Jewish mother actually named Esther who chooses Matzo ball soup as her favorite dish, and unironically uses the words "mensch", "kerflempt" and "meshugana", with no concern about looking like a creation of Anti-Semetic propoganda? Or, better yet, the inclusion of an actively racist mother who looks down on girls with "big booties"? For once, I'm at a loss. Congrats, producer Ryan Seacrest. If this is your secret plot to kill reality tv once and for all by scraping the barrel clean, then I commend you. If not, you deserve a grim fate indeed.

02. Celebrity Rehab (VH1)

Dr. Drew deserves the same fate.

03. Family Guy (Fox)

I was never on this show's bandwagon to begin with, but it coaxed me into liking it when it first came back from the dead, exploding with a rapid fire assault of barely connected-yet still engaging jokes. These days, it's coasting on mean-spirited, scatological fumes again, and characters merely exist to recite lazy, desperate-to-be-edgy nuggets ("Polio in the 50s was like AIDS is today, except people with polio get into heaven" exclaims Peter in a moment sure to generate rousing water-fountain talk Monday during recess), or to take shits and talk about it. A lot. Meanwhile, creater Seth McFarlane becomes the richest man in television with a new deal, and gets hailed by magazines as one of the "Most Intelligent People in Entertainment". Fair enough. I won't deny that Family Guy has its audience. But of course, so does The Hills and The O'Reily Factor.

04. Californication (Showtime)

The amount of people who said this show was right up my alley was staggering, so I finally tore through the whole first season on DVR, and while I found myself not hating it by the end, the second season has heightened everything I do hate about the show, while destroying any and all charm it had garnered by the end of season one. I hate the fact that this is what most people think of when they think of LA (trust me, this show is about as realistic to LA as Ugly Betty is to NY). I hate that there isn't a single likable adult on the show, and I hate that David Duchovy and the show's writers force us to watch their sad fantasies, masquerading as "edgy" entertainment. Most of all, despite plotlines that include rampant sex, cocaine use and porno filming, I hate how dull it all ends up being.


05. Manswers (Spike TV)

Really? THIS is what it's all come to? We may be done as a species after all. In all honesty, this is by far the worst show listed on here, but thankfully, it has yet to reach a wide audience, so the damage it's caused is fairly limited, at least in comparison to the others. So far.....

Music Not By Animal Collective

So we're one week into 2009, and already the ZOMGBESTALBUMOFTHEYEAR!!! has come out, at least if you believe all the hype. Did I mention you should believe the hype?


Yes, despite my impulse to second-guess anything that's receiving this much ear-deafening buzz, you might as well surrender to Animal Collective's Merriweathear Post Pavillion. It's earned every drop of praise by showcasing all the sonic experimentation that put the band on the map, while firmly severing the "what the fuck" aspect that plagued many of their songs (namely, all the endless screaming), making it a brilliant album that even mainstream music fans can enjoy. But that's all I'm going to type about them, since they certainly don't need my support, and The Web Sherrif's been notoriously tough on prosecuting sites that have posted their music. So let's move on; it's a new year and a big world. Here's a host of new acts to keep you busy in '09:

Novelty alert! There's a new buzz band from England. And they have an 80's sound. Fine, not so novel, but what The White Lies might lack in originality, they make up with killer production, and some great guitar licks. Their debut LP comes out on the 19th, and it's been building a sudden wave of attention, partially thanks to (OMFG!) placement of the song "E.S.T." in the final scenes of last week's Gossip Girl. It's got a Tears for Fears meets Sisters of Mercy vibe that immediately caught my attention, and while it's not crazy, genre-pushing stuff, sometimes you just need a break from that shit.


White Lies - "E.S.T"

Novelty alert, part two! There's a new, Cut Copy-esque dance duo from Australia. But again, in this case, they've got talent to break away from their like-minded compatriots. Empire of the Sun made international waves last year with their debut LP, Walking on a Dream, and now are looking to conquer the US with the album's stateside release. Again, "unique" is not a word I'd use to describe them, but they do what they do quite well, as demonstrated in the title track:


Empire of the Sun - "Walking on a Dream"

The opening lineup of this year's South By Southwest festival has been announced, and interestingly enough, seems to be filled with a lot of no-names (though I'm sure they're no-names attached to record companies and managers already). I plan to cover as many of the bands as possible before the kick-off in March, so I suppose I should dive right in. Starting with an act from my hometown, here's WAZ, who despite his name, is not another Australian dance duo, but a lonely guy with a guitar who's slowly made a name for himself on the Hollywood singer-songwriter scene.


WAZ - "Ordinary Girl"

Finally, part of me wants to hate this guy because he stole my one & only idea for a rap song, but I'll let it pass, as the prospects of me becoming the next great hip-hop producer were never too bright to begin with. Asher Roth hails from suburban Pennsylvania, and doesn't try to hide it: he's unapologetically nerdy, and raps over the Reading Rainbow theme to prove it. Here's his Myspace, if you need more proof.





--------------Song of the Week-------------------

Asher Roth - "The Reading"




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The 50 Best Songs of 2008!

Another year, another batch of songs. In case you hadn't noticed, 2008 was the year folks couldn't stop dancing: either angrily (TV On the Radio), pleasurably (Hercules and Love Affair), or somewhere in between, with a dash of irony thrown in for good measure (MGMT). My first two songs might as well be ties, as they come from polar opposite spectrums, but the bottom line is: this year, whoever made the kids dance hardest walked away the winner.

SPECIAL NOTE: Since I don't want all this shit yanked over one anonymous record label complaint, these are all Youtube or IMeem links, not downloads. There'll be a supplemental post featuring some of the songs to sample as downloads, but for now, listen then head over to iTunes (or possibly another service I don't know about) to download them.

01.MGMT - "Electric Feel"

(ANOTHER NOTE: Right click & open the above link in a new window, then be patient. Trust me, it's well worth the wait.) So this time last year, it was a toss up for me between LCD Soundsystem's mournful "Someone Great" and MIA's "Paper Planes" for my song of '07. As a softie at heart, I chose the former, so I suppose it's only right to give the point back to dance music this year, when faced with a similar choice between two songs. It helps that in a year filled with the most outstanding dance music produced in forever, this one always stood ahead of the pack: I witnessed two parties saved from mediocrity, thanks to the simple decision to put this on. It's pretty much impossible not to dance to it. And while Time to Pretend might actually be the best video of the year(again, be verrry patient after clicking), this one is easily the second best: appearances from the Rockafire Explosion animals, dirty hippie orgies, and people drinking the fucking moon pretty much tie that one up. The backlash against MGMT has finally begun, but should they blow up further and become parodies of themselves, just remember that in 2008, they made the coolest song on the planet.



02.The Walkmen - "In The New Year"

Again, it seems ridiculous to judge something like this song in comparison with a track like "Electric Feel", so consider its ranking ancillary. The fact of the matter is, Hamilton Leithauser belts his fucking guts out, in the most glorious, old-school fashion seen all year. With lyrics that turn from regret to relief on a dime ("So it's all over/It's all over, anyway" is sung without a hint of tragedy), it also seems to come from the heart more than any Walkmen track to date. It's the lynchpin of the entire album, and watching Hamilton sing it live gives you the kind of goosebumps you wish music could always provide:




03.Hercules & Love Affair - "Blind"

While I'm not quite as high on the whole album as many others were (it's enjoyable, but not without filler), I can't deny that this was the song of the summer; inescapable at any gathering I went to. Antony Hegarty's voice is harnessed brilliantly, in a way I never thought it could be, and the disco beat is both classic and progressive. The fact that they've crossed over to the semi-mainstream despite being the most sexually diverse band in recent memory only adds to their luster.


04.Wolf Parade - "Language City"

"Soldier's Grin" is a great way to open up the album, but At Mount Zoomer doesn't find its own voice until halfway through this song, which has more than a few tricks up its sleeve, reminding the world why Wolf Parade is one of the best bands alive right now.



05.Lykke Li - "Little Bit"

Lykke Li won a following in '08 from her dancier tracks, but this song, significantly more vulnerable in concept, and slower in execution, has to be the Swedish songstress' true star turn.


06.Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"

Now this is a song that has yet to have a studio version leak, but is flat-out awesome nontheless; awesome enough for the band to perform it on Letterman, while having nothing to promote. I'll admit to not being as big a Grizzly Bear fan in the past as the rest of the blogosphere seemed to be, but this song might have be the start of a beautiful friendship. If nothing else, it's certainly put their upcoming album at the top of my list for 2009.


07.Coldplay feat Jay-Z - "Lost!" (remix)

Presented here is the rare case where an already awesome song is actually benefitted by a totally random hip-hop crossover. Chris Martin may still be insufferable, but every so often, he'll crank out a brilliant oddity like this, and make you remember why he's a rock star in the first place.


08.Kanye West - "Welcome to Heartbreak"

Here's a song that benefitted from the unique way Kanye worked on the album: the "work in progress" version of the song was great by itself, but listening to the final version, once the album was complete, was an even nicer surprise: the melody in the first few verses was inverted, and the synths were replaced with a piano. At its core, though, the song was the same: Kanye whining about his life in a strangely satsifying fashion.


09.TV On the Radio - "Dancing Choose"

The angriest, yet most radio-friendly song from the Album of the Year. Really, though, it's as good as any other song there; I choose it by default. Cause if you haven't figured it out yet, I really like the whole album a lot.



10.Crystal Castles - "Vanished"

I've seen some fairly bizarre dances made to accompany this song, though I'm sure nothing beats mine after a few drinks.


11.M83 - "Kim and Jessie"

Another album with too many good songs to just pick one from, but considering how blown away I was at seeing this live, I guess it gets the edge:




12.The Ting Tings - "That's Not My Name"

What starts with Gogos-esque pop-punk turns to Beach Boys-esque beach rock by the end. You'll be dancing to it pretty much nonstop.


13.Fleet Foxes - "Ragged Wood"

Not entirely fair, since it's three or four songs in one, but whatever. This is all you need to hear to get hooked on these guys.


14.Matt & Kim - "Daylight"

Consider me an official fan of this couple, and on the lookout for their new album. Their love may be obnoxious, but their music earns them a free pass.


15.Lil Wayne - "A Milli"

There are about five thousand versions of this song, but they're all fucking awesome.


16.Abe Vigoda - "Animal Ghosts"

It's 110 seconds, but it's the most intense 110 seconds of the year.


17.Cold War Kids - "Something is Not Right With Me"

Anyone who knows of my exploits outside of Shark Party should know that this is my lucky song, after playing it on my i-pod before each room in a certain Estate. If 95% have no idea what that means, it's probably for the best.



18.Jukebox the Ghost - "Hold It In"

It's tough to choose a favorite among so many good tracks, but this one might take the cake, for clap-back value alone.


19.Deerhunter - "Nothing Ever Happened"

If you think you can handle the pure, unfiltered hipsterness of Deerhunter + McCarren Park Pool, click the link......seriously though, there's almost too much to handle.


20.3Oh!3 - "Don't Trust Me"

These guys blend irony and earnest douchiness in a way that hasn't been seen since the early Beasties. Whether they evolve musically in the same way, or disappear to the bargain bins of Hot Topic remains to be seen, but they're definitely worth watching. And ladies, I've posted the video as a give-back for posting that Moby porno one. You're welcome, and enjoy the hotness:





21.Beyonce - "Halo"

After being bludgeoned by the ubiquitous "To The Left" and "Single Ladies", I definitelty wouldn't have considered myself a Beyonce supporter. And I've never really been a fan of ballads. Yet the slow side of her new album, I Am........Sasha Fierce, aka The Side Where Timbaland Isn't Ripping Off MSTRKFT, is a home-run, featuring some of the best ballads heard in years, not to mention the best songs she's ever recorded. Best of all is this one, which was wisely just released as her second single. May it be butchered for American Idol seasons to come.


22.The Killers - "Spaceman"

While the rest of Day and Age is debatable, even the band's biggest detractors can't deny that this song fucking rocks.


23.No Age - "Cappo"

The most energetic song off Nouns, and that's saying something.


24.Jay-Z feat Santogold - "Brooklyn (Go Hard)"

Oh there you are, Jay-Z. Where've you been hiding for the past two albums?


25.The Last Shadow Puppets - "The Age of the Understatement"

The Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner found great success with this side project, and boldly traveled back to the 1960s, without the help of Mark Ronson.


26.Lady Gaga feat Colby O'Donnis - "Just Dance"

Akon's best work this year found him stepping outside of his comfort zone to produce something totally new for him. Surrender to this song; there is no other option.



27.Vampire Weekend - "I Stand Corrected"





Most of the songs on the LP were already heard through the band's EPs in 07, but this one was a nice, unexpected treat, stealing the whole show towards the end of the ablum.


28.Animal Collective - "My Girls"

This song might be my highlight of what I saw at Coachella. If you're not excited for the new album yet, this might do the trick.


29.Santogold - "Lights Out"


The lyrics might be purely Apocalyptic, but somehow this works as a swooning love song too. That's 2008 for you.


30.Bon Iver - "Skinny Love"

Warning: listening to this song too much might make you feel like the Unibomber.


31.Neon Neon ft. Har Mar Superstar - "Trick for Treat"

The best song about cocaine since Blondie's "Rush Rush", and invents the most brilliant codenames I've heard in a while. Not that Shark Party endorses anything rapped about, of course.


32.Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie"

The title track of the band's new LP represents everything I love about the whole album.


33.The Henry Clay People - "You Can Be Timeless"

Sunset Junction was awesome, and so were these guys, if you can hear them.


34.Cut Off Your Hands - "Happy As Can Be"

Best use of a bass guitar I've heard all year.


35.Death Cab For Cutie - "Cath...."

I chose the Gossip Girl tribute video because it had the best audio of any of the videos I sorted through on YouTube. But even if it didn't, I'd probably post this anyway, because tribute videos are painfully hilarious.


36.My Morning Jacket - "I'm Amazed"

Purists scoffed at the band's new direction, then hit their bongs and forgot about it once the famous Bonaroo set occured. Personally, I never lost my faith in them.


37.Cut Copy - "Far Away"

The slight high point of a phenominal album. It sounds better in the context of In Ghost Colours, but it's perfectly fine on its own too.



38.Hot Chip -"Shake a Fist"

Listen to the instructions this song gives you about two minutes in. They'll serve you well.




39.Bell X1 - "Rocky Took A Lover"

Here's one that starts off good, but gets positively awesome about halfway through, so don't tune out too early.


40.Crystal Antlers - "A Thousand Eyes"

Crystal Antlers almost had the perfect band name. Had they just gone with "deer" instead of, specifically, "antlers", no hipster would have been able to ignore them.


41.Gin Widmore - "Under My Skin"

Totally addictive track from Australia's answer to Amy Winehouse. Seriously, the title doesn't lie: don't click it unless you want it stuck with you for the whole day.



42.Moby - "Ooh Yeah"

Good song. GREAT video.


43.Frightened Rabbit - "Modern Leper"

The opener of Midnight Organ Fight sets the perfect tone for the band's Damien Rice-meets-Simon and Garfunkle vibe.


44.Beck - "Profanity Prayers"

The Dangermouse-produced single that heralded Modern Guilt was a badass surprise from the singer. One can only wish the rest of the album sounded this good.


45.TI feat Rihanna - "Live Your Life"

One bizarre trend in hip-hop and R&B that honestly, has become a guilty pleasure, is the pillaging of mid-90s Eurotrash anthems to make new songs (see: Usher's "Love in the Club" and Chris Brown's "Forever", or the blatant Alice Deejay impression of Akon's "Beautiful"). Leaving out the whole conversion step is TI, who decided to sample an actual Europop song, get Rihanna to sing a few verses, then rap over the whole affair. For hilarity's sake alone, he'd win the award over all the other acts, but it also helps that the song's pretty good too.


46.Yelle - "A Cause de Garcones"

French electropop siren who's somehow infiltrated MTV. It might just be during ads for "Bromance", but still, quite an accomplishment.

47.Ra Ra Riot - "Too Too Too Fast"

At first not one of my favories off the Syracuse band's much-anticapted debut, but it grew on me quickly, then triumphed over all.

48.Los Campesinos - "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed"

The title track of the band's second release of '08 is also their best highlight.

49.Bloc Party - "One Month Off"

The mixed bag of Intimacy climaxes in the double punch of icy, "Gossip Girl" approved slow churner "Signs", and the explosive "One Month Off", which rebounds with the kind of temper the band hasn't shown since Silent Alarm.


50.Old Money - "Steve Harvey"

Rap's old school underground isn't limited to The Cool Kids.