This Week

Joanna Newsom

Friday @ The Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz

The Sounds

Sunday @ The Fillmore, San Francisco

I must say, Sir, that you mix a lot.

Yes, they are all good, and yes, you do have to download them all. Delete later if you wish, but download all.

HOT CHIP - Sexual Healing
FRIDA HYVONEN - You Never Got Me Right
THE SHIVERS - Half Invisible
THE SHIVERS - Beauty
KYLE ANDREWS - Amos in Ohio
HER SPACE HOLIDAY - Something to Do With My Hands
DRUGSTORE - Solitary Party
MIXEL PIXEL - Coming Up Xs
THE LOVEKEVINS - Private Life of a Cat

Freaky Folky so lovely lovely: Elf Power

I've been doing my best in recent times to discover this genre called "Freak Folk", mainly because Animal Collective is categorized under it and they just happen to be one of my favoritefavoritefavorite bands (that's 3 favorites) ever. Elf Power's Back to the Web is characterized by steady, heavy, creeping drums and even creepier underlying chanting/moaning (or maybe that's an understated didgeridoo, I'm not sure). But it's not totally dark, and that's why I like this. There's something pretty and natural about their songs, with this underlaying creepiness which totally gets my love and attention. I've come to think that Freak Folk is a mix of the natural and the creepy. But those are 2 of my favorite things so maybe that's why I see that. Anyways, here are the 2 opening songs from Back to the Web.

Come Lie Down With Me (And Sing My Song)

An Old Familiar Scene

The albums cover art is also pretty neat considering the title:

Hair that high? You must be McFly.

When things like this happen, I'm usually drowned in an intense feeling of confusion. How is it possible for someone to be geniusly talented, foreign, and hotttt as hell? I don't know either, but these videos are really effing awesome. This hottie artsy Norwegian guy named Lasse Gjertsen basically sat in front of a camera, fooled around with a piano, a drum set, and his mouth, and then went back later and chopped it all up to form the most kick ass music + vids ever. These two are by far the best so far, but the other ones prove 2 important things about him: 1. he is really hott and 2. he's a little morbid. Please, right now, telegram the gent and let him know that there's no need to swoon me anymore. Seriously. Hottie. Seriously.





This next one's awesome film-wise but it's not musical. If you're already in love, though, I suggest you watch it.



(Thanks Do Copenhagen for the links!)

Voxtrot is so hot!

They really, really are. Flawless indie pop rock? Yes please! Their songs are ultra super catchy deliciously fun and I can't get enough. Here's the best of the best of their EPs (someone please tells these guys to release a full-length soon!):

Trouble
The Start of Something
Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives
The Warmest Part of Winter

City of God = must see mooveee!

Last night I finally got to see City of God. It was, in the most common, generic, yet accurate word, beautiful. First of all, the artistic quality of the film is amazing. The colors are striking and gorgeous and change with the mood of the film as the story progresses. There's some amazing camera work in there along with some awesome music.

Second of all, it's a true story. It's about the flavelas in Rio de Jeneiro, which are just dicrepid, cramped neighborhoods where the drug dealers rule and the police are afraid to go. It's incredibly interesting just to get a glimpse into a world so different. The interesting thing is that most people in the flavelas like the "hoods" (gangmembers) because they protect them and take care of them, get them medicine when they can't afford it. Even more interesting is the absense of any racial messages. Everyone in the film is of a different race: there are (hottie) boys who look like they're straight from Kenya alongside red-headed, pale skinned white boys and brown skinned Hispanics. But there is never any mention of race, which I think is beautiful and progressive in itself. I mean, the story isn't about race, so why include the topic just because it's there? The issue of morals is ever prevalent: There's a scene where the hoods all get together and pray before they begin their war. At first I thought of that one bible passage about how the devil can recite bible passages to support his cause (I really should learn what the real passage is). But then I thought, no, these guys aren't devils. These guys are playing God's game based on what He handed them. They're playing by the rules they've been given, and I do not at all consider all of these guys bad people. That's the thing: everyone in this film seems to kill someone at some point. They become desensitized, but in the end there are still boys who care about people, no matter how many people they've killed. It's hard to bring words to this, but I think it's an important idea that's brought up in the film.



I insist that you go see this film just because it's so moving. And because I think that getting a glimpse into another world is an eye opener, is essential to your overall understanding of the world. But I will warn you: there's a ton of guns and shooting and it seems like nearly everyone dies. However, I'm not going to say that you shouldn't see it just because you don't like violence. This story is about violence. It's about desensitized people trying to get by and it's about the means by which they must do this. It's really just an overall incredible film. A must see. It won't make you cry, but it'll make you feel and it'll make you think.

Review 1: The Kooks

The Kooks are essentially a Mediocre+ pop-rock British band. Butttttt there's something really enjoyable about the lead singers voice/accent. And ladies, look at the pic above. You may not be able to see faces, but I see hottie-alert postures, outfits, and haircuts. If I were 16 I'd totes be obsessed. Basically what I'm saying is, don't get the whole album unless you're really in need of some candy rock music. BUT, if you haven't already, download She Moves in Her Own Way. It's way fun and way danceable. Or at least rhythmed walking-able. And it makes me feel special. Awwww!

NEW MUSIC!

I just got a bucketfull of music for me to review and send out to all you lovers. I don't know why I'm telling you now since I won't be able to review it for a few days, but whatevs maign. I have THREE custom made awesome super special mix CDs to listen to as well as an Elf Power album and another by The Mystic Tapes which looks super awesome but is potentially really lame. I'm supposed to read the album artwork/comics while I listen to it, so we'll see how that goes. At least it came with an awesome popup picture and at least it was used aka cheap. Anyways, I guess what I'm trying to say is keep your ears open and your blog clicking ready because there's gonna be some upcoming awesomeness.

Video Tyme!!!

Number One: That commercial that geniusly (no, it's not a word) combines Coldplay music with Star Wars clips. Keyword here def. being "commercial" (hence the italics. hmmmm clever!). This is not one of those fan clips that someone makes because they happen to love Evanescence and Kingdom Hearts a little too much. Nope, this is a full blown commercial. Meaning that someone was paid money to create this. Meaning I should definately look into the field of retarded internet nerds making money. Anyways, someone cleverly managed to get each scene to line up perfectly with Chris Martin's incredibly touching words. The result is (hold on, don't be surprised here) an incredibly touching video. Awww! My fave partido is when Chrissy Wissy sings his line about "fixing you". I bet you can't guess what happens then..(!)



Oh crap I think I'm crying a little now. Moving on...

Number Two: The best Court TV clip you will ever, ever see. Of course the narrator's clever dramatics and spicy music help this clip move up the hilarity scale, but what really gets it going is this super fly drunk guy who pulls the most ridiculous stunts in order to rob a gas station liquor store. Not only does he fall out of the fucking ceiling, he also gets a number of bottles smashed in his face. You're not going to believe what happens at the end, and I'm not going to tell you. Let's just say, it's what causes this video to hit the top of the hilarity scale and send a cascade of balloons and confetti falling down on our heads. And yes, that does happen whenever things are funny.

(Sorry folks, no embedding here. Please move along. I mean move up to those links. Yep, that one. And that one too. Oh and the one that's coming up really soon.)



Number Three: Tom Cruise Kills Oprah. Do I have to say more? Can you guess what's going to happen? Turn your volume up and enjoy this quick clip of laughy taffy. I mean laughy...ness. Laughiness. Yeah, that's it. Laur-harharharhar-ness.

Jolie Holland plays Santa Cruz

Yayyy! The time has finally come for Jolie Holland to play downtown at the Attic. She'll be playing tomorrow (Friday) night at 7:00, tickets are $17. Here are some of my favorite tracks of hers, and yes, they are all off of her older album Escondida. I actually listened to Springtime Can Kill a little bit but I swear Escondida is much better. Here's the lovin:

+ Amen
+ Poor Girl
+ Old Fashioned Morphine
+ Mad Tom of Bedlam

The 4 jellybeans left in the bag

So I've made a couple new playlists lately which will most likely float this way: "#1 Mondern Indie Rock Hits" as well as "#1 Moderns of Today". It's essentially a NOW series of songs by yours truly. Sooooo instead of posting all of either, I'm going to post a little bit from both. They're shizzle that's either new + awesome or awesome + I finally got obsessed with it.

+ Amos in Ohio - Kyle Andrews
+ Yours to Keep - Teddybears
+ Yours to Keep - Annie
+ She Moves in Her Own Way - The Kooks
+ Launch Yourself - Adem (Hot Chip remix)
+ Take It On the Chin - William Elliot Whitmore
+ I'm a Vampire - Future Bible Heroes