Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Led Zeppelin - Weezer - Beck

Led Zeppelin

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This interview cracked me up. It was the first time the band had been on British television and it is priceless.

Led Zeppelin Interview



Weezer

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Remember when Weezer was a good band? Here's a video of the band playing "Why Bother" off their album Pinkerton. Why can't they write songs like this anymore?




Beck

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Beck leaked another new song called "Orphans" off his upcoming record, "Modern Guilt."

It's pretty sick. Listen to it here: "Orphans"

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The Wombats - Sigur Ros - Liz Phair - Tricky - Demetri Martin

The Wombats

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The Wombats released their debut album "A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation" today and I like it a lot. They aren't reinventing the wheel here - it's just fun pub music to sing along to while you raise a pint to your mates.

Here's the video for their first single "Let's All Dance to Joy Division."



Sigur Ros

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Sigur Ros has a new album out called, "með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust,” whatever the fuck that means. The first single is called, "Gobbledigook." Don't worry, I thought it said Gobble Dick too. You can download the single for free on their website. It's good.

Sigur Ros "Gobbledigook"



Liz Phair

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This week marks the 15th anniversary of Liz Phair's groundbreaking album "Exile in Guyville," and it is being re-released with a special edition DVD too. Not too shabby.

This album really was a landmark for the so called "indie-movement" of the early nineties, and while she never really got main stream success like Jewwl or Tracey Chapman, Liz Phair paved the way for all of them. This album is a must have for anyone.

Exile in Guyville Trailer



Liz Phair "Never Said"


Tricky

My old friend Tricky has a new single. It's been a while since he's put anything out and it's always great to hear new music from him. A few years back I was hanging out with Tricky and his crew here in Hollywood and he gave me the best compliment I think I have ever gotten.

Here's a rough transcript of the conversation.

Tricky: You're cool, man.

Me: Thanks.


Tricky passes me the joint

Tricky: No, seriously. You're cool, man.

Me: Thanks, Tricky. You're cool too, man.

Tricky: No, seriously. You're way cooler than Jay-Z.


That's right, Jay-Z. I win.




Demetri Martin

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I've always thought that Demetri Martin was really funny, but it wasn't until I found some clips of his show, "Is I" that I realized how smart he is. Watch this and laugh your ass off...

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3



Part 4



Part 5



More Jokes

Friday, June 20, 2008

Guns N' Roses -Stephen Malkmus - The Exploding Hearts

Guns N' Roses

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I've asked myself about a half a million times whether or not I actually care about Guns N' Roses anymore. I was twelve years old the last time Axl Rose actually released a record and I've spent all of my teens and early twenties watching the "Axl Rose Travelin' Train Wreck Tour" chip away at the Guns legacy.

Why can't I just accept this band is never going to be the wild pack of Hollywood Hooligans we all fell in love with back in the 80's? I mean, there's a million bands out there. Why can't I just move on and stop clinging to this tiny shred of of hope that Axl will lose about 50 pounds, take out those stupid braids, stop wearing football jerseys, reverse that awful plastic surgery, and then re-hire Slash, Duff, Izzy and Steven Adler?

Two days ago some crappy blog posted 9 tracks from the long awaited Guns album "Chinese Democracy." They were promptly met with the legal arm of Axl and Co. and the songs were taken down. I didn't get a chance to hear the songs, but I'm sure they suck. It's the shear fact that I spent almost two hours pathetically searching for someone else who had posted them that depresses me. It's almost as sad as going to an ex-girlfriends Myspace page just to see how fat and ugly she has gotten. I would never do that.

This might be real -

New Guns N' Roses Song?




Stephen Malkmus

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Stephen Malkmus is the funkiest white guy I know. You should know him too. Get to know him on his new album 'Real Emotional Trash" and when he goes on tour this summer. Lets all hope for an Los Angeles date very soon.


Stephen Malkmus Tour Dates

7-16 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre
7-17 Montreal, Quebec - La Tulipe
7-19 Brooklyn, NY - Coney Island (Siren Festival)
7-27 Niigata, Japan - Fuji Rock Festival
8-01 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
8-24 Brighton, England - Komedia
8-25 Bristol, England - Thekla
8-27 Nottingham, England - Rescue Rooms
8-29 Argyll, Scotland - Hydro Connect Festival


Stephen Malkmus "We Can't Help You"





The Exploding Hearts

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I had the chance to hang out with The Exploding Hearts way back in January of 2003 while they were on tour promoting their brand new record, "Guitar Romantic." They played a blistering show in front of about 8 people and then we all hung out in the parking lot of the venue drinking beers and sharing a lot of laughs.

Six months later, The Exploding Hearts were involved in a serious car crash while on tour that killed three of their members, singer Adam Cox, drummer Jeremey Gage and bassist Matt Fitzgerald. It was pretty devastating to know that these guys died just trying to play music. It was a true tragedy.

I found these videos online and I thought I would do my part to keep these guys legacy alive. Happy trails, dudes.


Live Video - Part 1



Live Video - Part 2

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

REM - Queens Of The Stone Age - Tilly and The Wall - The New Frontiers

REM

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Here is a video of the once great, then not so great, now great once again, REM playing on The Colbert Report. Michael Stipe looks like Moby. Actually, he looks worse than Moby. Good thing this song is great.



Queens Of The Stone Age

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Let's get one thing straight - I don't agree with calling people "faggots" on stage - ever. It's something I just won't do. I also don't agree with threating people with violence at a show. If people get out of hand at a show it makes us all look bad. Remember Woodstock '99?

With that being said, any punk kid who throws shit at a band on stage, especially when that band is Queens Of The Stone Age, better be prepared to eat some shit and get their ass beat. When I was in 8th grade I threw a condom full of Slurpee at The Offspring and they pitched a fit at and walked off stage. The Offspring are pussies. That's why I did it. Queens Of The Stone Age are not.

Here is Josh Homme letting the kid know who is boss. Seriously, this guy is like 6 foot 8, 275 pounds. Didn't you hear about him kicking the shit out of that guy from The Dwarves? I'm pretty sure I could have taken all four guys from The Offspring, even when I was in 8th grade, but I would never mess with Josh Homme.

Josh Homme Yells At Kid


Billy Talent Reacts


Tilly and The Wall

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Tilly and The Wall have a new single that I like a lot. The song is called "Pot Kettle Black." Here is the video.

Tilly and The Wall



The New Frontiers

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I've been really enjoying this band from Texas called The New Frontiers. They have a pretty mellow record called "Mending" that just came out and it's great. Great stuff to make out to. Here's a live song of theirs called, 'Mirrors."

Monday, June 16, 2008

My Bloody Valentine - Pearl Jam - Jakob Dylan

My Bloody Valentine

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This one kind of snuck up on me. I read last week that My Bloody Valentine was going to be playing their first batch of shows in over 15 years and when I woke up this morning I already had people sending me live videos from the first show. It looks like Kevin Shields and Co. are back and haven't missed a beat. Here is a video with rather shitty sound quality, but it'll give you the gist of what went down the other night.

My Bloody Valentine "Only Shallow"


Pearl Jam

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According to reports, Pearl Jam played a blistering 3 hour set at Bonnaroo this weekend that marked their return to large festivals after the tragic deaths of 5 fans at a 2000 festival in Denmark. The band hadn't played a festival gig since, and I don't blame them.

After watching fat pieces of shit Metallica stink it up on the main stage the night before, Pearl Jam was a welcomed breath of fresh air and proved to be the fan favorite over the weekend.

As many records as Pearl Jam have sold over the years, I still feel like they are pretty underrated, considering they are the only real survivors of the grunge scene. Here is a video of their performance of "Black" at Bonnaroo.

Pearl Jam "Black"


Jakob Dylan

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I've always rooted for Jakob Dylan over the years. It can't be easy having to follow in your father's footsteps - especially when your father is Bob Dylan. No matter what he does, he's always going to be Bob's kid.That's just not fair to do to anyone, but Jakob has always made interesting music - never really ripping his Dad off like so many people expected him too.

Jakob Dylan has a new solo record titled, "Seeing Things" that quietly came out on June 10th, 2008. It's pretty solid folk-rock stuff. I was actually pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this record. It's rad. Buy it.

Jakob Dylan on David Letterman

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Dennis Wilson - Dear And The Headlights - What Laura Says Thinks and Feels -

Dennis Wilson

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Despite being BFF with Charles Manson for a while there, Dennis Wilson was a pretty remarkable guy. He was the original drummer for The Beach Boys, and he also managed to release a pretty amazing solo record called Pacific Ocean Blue before his tragic drowning death in 1983.

Pacific Ocean Blue has been out of print for many years and has been quite the white whale for collectors eager to own Dennis Wilson's only solo effort. Finally, the record has been remastered and released again thanks to Legacy Recordings and let me tell you, it's a true gem.

This was one of the most enjoyable records I have come across in a long time. Dennis Wilson really did have a knack for pop music, not so much the fun in the sun kind that his brother Brian perfected, but more of the reflective and haunting type that makes you crave a jack and coke with a splash of lime. This record is a must have for Beach Boys fans and anyone who wants to explore one of the most underrated songwriting talents of the 70's.




Dear and The Headlights - What Laura Says Thinks and Feels

Our good friends Dear and The Headlights are doing a quick tour with all around good guys What Laura Says Thinks and Feels in July. Here are the dates:


Jul 5 2008 8:00P The Knitting Factory - Los Angeles, California
Jul 6 2008 8:00P Chain Reaction - Anaheim, California
Jul 8 2008 8:00P Karma - Victorville, California
Jul 9 2008 8:00P Sidelines - Modesto, California
Jul 10 2008 8:00P Tonic Bar - Reno, Nevada
Jul 11 2008 8:00P The Venue - Boise, Idaho
Jul 12 2008 8:00P The Marquis Theater - Denver, Colorado
Jul 13 2008 8:00P Avalon Theater - Salt Lake City, Utah
Jul 25 2008 8:00P Hotel Congress - Tucson, Arizona
Jul 26 2008 8:00P Launchpad w/ - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 28 2008 8:00P Warehouse Live - Houston, Texas
Jul 29 2008 8:00P Stubb’s BBQ - Austin, Texas
Jul 30 2008 8:00P House of Blues - Dallas, Texas
Jul 31 2008 8:00P Rock Bottom - San Antonio, Texas

Dear and The Headlights - Essential Noise Exclusive Performance

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Lil Wayne - Jimi Hendrix - Tom Waits - The Via Maris - The Whigs

Lil Wayne

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There must be some sort of indie-kid summit where bearded dudes in ironic t-shirts and frumpy "drama club" type girls get together and make decisions on what kind of things all "indie kids" are going to consider cool. Remember when they were all boners for Kelly Clarkson?

I guess at the last meeting they all decided that Lil Wayne was going to be the new ironic choice for indie- kids world wide. I can't tell you how many giddy e-mails and text messages I have gotten this week now that Lil Wayne's new album "Tha Carter III" leaked. So I gave in and asked a friend to send it to me.

I'm going to wait to listen to it until this weekend so I bump it in my car on the way to the beach. For some reason rap music always sounds better to me in the car. Stay tuned.

Jimi Hendrix

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I'm watching a pretty rad Jimi Hendrix documentary right now on PBS (thank God I don't have to watch Deal or No Deal) and it made me think of these videos I saw a while back. Here's Jimi and The Experience in Vancouver in 1968.


Vancouver Interview - Part One


Vancouver Interview - Part Two


Tom Waits

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Has anyone seen this movie Wristcutters: A Love Story? It's a great movie and Tom Waits is in it too!! Can't ask for much more than a good flick and Tom Waits.

Scene From Wristcutters



The Via Maris


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My friends from Phoenix The Via Maris just released their second album, "The Bicentennial" and I think it deserves some attention here. It really is a perfect folk-pop record. I love when artists take the time to make records like this - solid from start to finish.


www.myspace.com/theviamaris


The Whigs

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I've really needed a band like The Whigs. They rock. David Letterman thinks so too...


Monday, June 9, 2008

My Morning Jacket - Joy Division - Oasis

My Morning Jacket

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You don't have to be a fan of jam-heavy, southern rock bands with serious beards to appreciate My Morning Jacket. Over the last few years, MMJ has gained a reputation amongst music fans as a band for everyone. They've managed to blend their own brand of southern rock that has left them always sounding fresh and becoming the darlings of rock critics and fans alike. I love them too. Seriously, these guys rule.

It's hard to judge their new full length, "Evil Urges" on any criteria other than "does it kick ass?" The answer is yes, my friends. It does.

There's nothing better than getting to hear a band like My Morning Jacket do what they do best, and on "Evil Urges," Jim James and Co. keep it simple and deliver a record that just plain rocks. If you like their other stuff, you will love this. I love it when things are this simple.



Joy Division

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With all the hype surrounding the Bob Dylan movie "I'm Not There," it seems like Anton Corbijn's brilliant biopic of Ian Curtis and Joy Division , "Control" just got lost in the mix. The film was great, a very revealing look into Ian Curtis' psyche and a real treat for fans who had been waiting for it a long time.

A year later, there's going to be a proper documentary, simply titled, "Joy Division." Check out the trailer here:




Oasis

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I once read Noel Gallagher say something to the effect of "If you expose yourself people can't expose you." I always felt that was pretty true. There's very little we don't know about the Gallagher Brothers by now and it's made them rather endearing in my eyes. Kind of like that friend you can always count on to make you laugh every time they fuck up.

After their 2005 album, "Don't Believe The Truth," Oasis unveiled the making of that album documentary, "Lord Don't Slow Me Down." It's a bunch of footage of the band being surprisingly tame and almost impossible to understand at times. But the footage is rad, great live stuff as well as some really good moments with the Gallagher boys just being boys. Watch it and wait for the new record.

Part One



Part Two



Part Three



Part Four



Part Five



Part Six



Part Seven

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Fleet Foxes - - Jeff Buckley -- SLC Punk

Fleet Foxes

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Just about every month now another new "buzz" band starts to creep into my life. I become aware of a band as "the next big thing" and I quickly scramble to get their record, read up on who they are and why people suddenly care about them, and then make up my mind about whether or not I care about them. There have always been bands that garner immediate and legitimate attention quickly, but recently it seems like these bands are the flavor of the moment for the blink of an eye and then quickly forgotten and replaced by something else. I thought that only happened in hip-hop?

Whether it's Okkervil River, Fuck Buttons, Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses, Cut Cop or The Ruby Suns, it's become clear to me that music media and fans alike are becoming fickle and too quick to jump on and off a band. The music media has always been fickle, that's their job, but real music fans are supposed to be smarter, and more loyal. We're supposed to make up our own minds and not be led down every dark path some underpaid rock critic tells us is salvation.

It's June now, which means this months buzz band has been crowned. Drum roll....meet Sup Pop Records very own Fleet Foxes! They have everything a buzz band needs - flannel shirts and thick beards. Now appearances aside, I chose to judge the band based on music alone. I spent an hour with their self-titled debut, and found it to be good - but as with most bands that get this much hype - not that great. The songs are good, not as catchy as I like, but still good. There's a lot of acoustic guitar and ambient vocals, but it lacks anything that really grips me and makes me want to listen again. Not a total loss, but not a band I'm going to listen to much. Oh well, only 23 more days until July and our next new indie-rock darlings.

Jeff Buckley

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After a mention on the March 4th, 2008 episode American Idol, Jeff Buckley's cover of Leonard Cohen's haunting love ballad "Hallelujah," became the number one song downloaded on iTunes. This got a lot of people talking about Jeff Buckley again, almost 11 years after his tragic drowning death in 1997. Although his career was short, he only released one proper full length, 1994's "Grace," his legacy continues to grow and keep him alive for new generation to discover.

I came across this documentary that the BBC put together on Jeff Buckley, and it's pretty good. Brad Pitt is in it - which is cool. I guess he's a fan. This is a really good place to get to know Jeff Buckley, both the music and the man. Check it out...



SLC Punk

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What does it mean to be punk? Nobody cares.

This movie gets it right - it really captures being young and believing in something that just isn't worth the trouble. It's really cool - so watch it all here:



Part One



Part Two


Part Three



Part Four


Part Five



Part Six


Part Seven



Part Eight



Part Nine



Part Ten

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Into The Sea of Something Big - Episode D

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Episode D of our original reality series with indie/rock band The Record Life!!