Robots, Pandas, and Avalanches

As you might have guessed by now, I am a huge supporter of DFA records. I think they are pretty flawless. They never cease to amaze me. With that said, I am totally diggin' Shit Robot's two singles. The first is “Galaxy.” If heard in a club, it would killer. It is a damn good dance tune, very DFA. The other single is what gets me going called “Triumph.” Now I hate uplifting dance music. Jesus, I hate it. There is nothing worse than a bunch of dancers with their hands up in the build up while the DJ is doing the same. There are few sites that make sicker. Yet, I can’t help but feel some kind of spirit come out of me when I hear this song. The end is a true triumph. Indistinct vocals come in sung by an unknown person, more than likely James Murphy since he sings on Juan Maclean’s songs too. This song is too contagious. I had to listen to it over and over. I urge everyone to find this song. It is one of DFA’s finest moments.

I have a friend who is the world’s biggest Animal Collective fan. He is the type to get all the singles imported songs and whatnot. A while ago he had posted a video on a web page of mine. It was a solo performance by Animal Collective’s Panda Bear. It was an enjoyable song. I remember enjoying, but only watching it once. Then I see that Panda Bear has a song that you can listen to. This song is called “Bros.” I honestly can’t think of a more likable tune. It’s drenched in reverb and Panda Bear’s vocals just dive right into your heart. As I write this, I am listening to it in my third consistent play. It is utterly beautiful and angelic. If you don’t fall in love with this song, more than likely you have no soul.
Here is the link - http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com/Panda%20Bear%20-%20Bros%20%28Edit%29.mp3

I just read today that the amazing Avalanches are coming back. Funny, all the artists I am mentioning in this post make very sunny songs. It is in the dead of winter, and the fountain outside of my apartment complex froze over yesterday, but I am really feeling some summery music right now. Anyways, they are back! Now I have total faith in them. See, DJ Shadow created the ultimate cinematic moody sample album. To redo it, is a very hard thing. Quite impossible. The Avalanches, on the other hand, made the ultimate sunny party sample- based album. One can do that again but even better. They say it is more hip- hop than the first one. That makes me even more excited. The first one had a lot of hip- hop elements, but there were a lot of house elements on it. So this is exciting news. Those two along with 3 Feet High and Rising are probably the finest completely sample based albums ever. The Aussies say the album is “so fucking party you will die.” I’m already shaking with anticipation. The Avalanches are quite perfect for the realm of sample- based artists. They make damn good music, it can be utterly moving, and they are about as carefree as one can get. That is what should be happening. They just are having a good time while still remaining innovators. Exciting times are ahead of us. This year has a great deal of potential.

RIP Disco D.

A true pioneer to dance music. He was a part of one of the most exciting genres of electronic music, "Ghettotech."

Somethings to keep in mind

Some damn good artists coming with out this year or have had them come out, exciting eh?

Grinderman
The Good, The Bad, and The Queen
The Shins
LCD Soundsystem
MIA
Diplo
Radiohead
The Arcade Fire
Amon Tobin
Prinzhorn Dance School
New Young Pony Club
The GO! Team
Raekwon the Chef
The FALL

Nu Rave? Now can't we think of something better?

First off, I want to voice my concern over the band The Klaxons, the supposed fathers of “Nu Rave.” Now, first thing, they are not at all close to Rave music. Their songs don’t make one recall back to times of Prodigy’s songs like “Poison” or “Voodoo People.” I don’t hear any heavy breaks or pounding 4/4 rhythms. When I hear The Klaxons I hear a very watered down version of early Liars. This is a band that I wish I could like. Great music writer Simon Reynolds seems to really dig them, and I usually agree with his opinions on things. But, this is something I cannot. I hate when magazine like NME coin genres for bands that sound no different from the genre they created a week earlier. If they really want to hear dance music in the “indie” world, again, just put James Murphy on the cover. I really do talk about him a lot, but there is a reason. I just wish people would stop wasting their time with bands like The Klaxons and focus all their attention on bands like………………..

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE QUEEN. Now there is a lot of attention on Damon and the boys, but he needs the whole world’s in my opinion. This album is utterly moving and ghostly. When Think Tank came out, some were calling it Darklife. Now if there is a Darklife it is this album. For me, it gives that same image and emotion that comes off on albums like Burial. Images of Regents Canal at two in the morning on a foggy evening come to mind. This is the album of London when no one is one the streets except for the midnight marauders. Damon has never been such at the top of his game. His melodies are just a beautiful as ever, and his voice still sends shivers up my spine. Simon Tong’s guitar moves in and out within the song creating a moving abstract undertone. Simonon returns with bass lines that hit the right spots reaching all the way down to your gut. Allen, when around, proves to be the innovator he is with complex rhythms yet still complimenting to the melodies that Albarn plays so sweetly. I feel when I write about Albarn and his projects, my thoughts or writings can never do the justice it deserves. When I see Oasis on covers, I still get upset because I know how important Albarn is to modern music. The man is four steps in front of everyone. He has ideas bigger than anyone in his generation except for maybe Greernwood and Yorke. All I can say is that this album is real gem. There are albums that come every year that are very good and you certainly enjoy, but only do few like this come around that you embrace so much and love so dearly.

I’m going to make this one quick. The Shin’s new album is superb. The production is top notch. Mercer hasn’t lost anything. The song "Red Rabbits" is too beautiful. Just buy it!

What I'm diggin on

What I’m really feeling right now is Nick Cave’s new band’s (Grinderman) single called “Get it On.” Age certainly hasn’t worn that man’s talent down at all. When it comes to Rock music, the kind that gets me the most is the kind that sound as if it is coming form the devil’s howl. Nick Cave always seems to pull that one off, really damn well actually. I urge anyone to check Grinderman out. Their other song “No Pussy Blues” is ferocious as well.

Another new band to keep on radar would be DFA new comers Prinzhorn Dance School. They remind of me a lot of The Fall. Of course a lot of bands seem to really like The Fall, but these guys are all right. And if James Murphy chose them to be on the label you know there has to be something about them. If there is one thing James Murphy has, it’s taste as we all know if you listen to the bands he spouts off in “Losing My Edge.” Listen to Prinzhorn’s “You Are the Space Invader.” Catchy tune, very British, with a chick back up singer. What else could you ask for?

The Good, The Bad, and The Queen comes up Monday for UK and Tuesday for US. I urge everyone to get that for obvious reasons. Damon Albarn, you might could say, has some serious talent, talent on genius levels. He is up there with my musicians who can’t make bad music: Radiohead, The Fall, PJ Harvey, James Murphy (I know it’s early, but still…), and Kraftwerk.

Like Sand in My Mouth

The begining of any year seems so promising and exciting with music. There is always so much to look forward to. Yet, the month of January is the worst month in terms of music. After New Year's Eve there is always an empty feeling inside me. It is always very anti-climatic. The countdown happens and fireworks go all over, but then, it's over. You wake up with a headache, and your town is like a ghost town the next day because everyone stays inside. This same feeling comes to me with music. People usually have to wait till Febuary or sometimes late late January like this year(Good, Bad, and the Queen) for a good album. Record lables throw out the leftovers in the begining of the year, and nothing exciting comes out. There is nothing going on with bands. They are either recording and just sitting around. No tours, no singles, and no albums. Just silence. Yet, when the silence is broken, it is for something very mediocre. So during this time, I'll just sit around listening to Eno's ambient works or dark dupstep to go allowing with this feeling inside of me, or read my Anthony Bourdain food and travel book to keep my mind wandering for far away lands where the sun is shining. One will just have to wait for sun to come out along with music. It's kind of like that Belle and Sebastian song "Legal Man" that says, "Get out of the city and into the sunshine/Get out of the office and into the sunshine."