Lars-y Bling

Over the past couple weeks during my twice-daily city/burbs commute, I've observed a new car phenomenon. Candy-colored rims! Last week alone, I counted 4 cars sporting 'em. Differing from the more generic murdered-out black, the colored rims I've seen come in shades of chartreuse, cotton candy, and blueberry, and are most usually sported on white cars.

Well, lucky me, my little VW GTI, Lars, happens to be white! I'm thinking that if I can find the right shade of purple, I can tape off certain areas of my wheels and spray paint away. I can also imagine this "simple" DIY project going terribly amiss. See my vision for Lars, below.

Pre-modification:


Lars-ified!:

Flip Cup Failure

This weekend I played several rounds of Flip Cup. I was very upset with my performance...I hate losing at Flip Cup! I'm so glad I don't have anything to do after work today because I think I'm going to practice.

Owen Pallett a.k.a. Final Fantasy a.k.a. Arcade Fire Guy

Owen Pallett came onto my radar after watching his A.V. Undercover clip (see August 4 post). He was one of those artists I had read about a lot, due to buzz surrounding the release of his album Heartland early this year, but until that one-song performance I had never actually listened. I was an immediate convert. Turns out he's immensely gifted - one of those people who just opens his mouth or picks up a violin and, like magic, pretty sounds!

So his sound is certainly orchestral, with theatrical vocals, but he also throws in some electro elements. While listening to Owen, I'm reminded of the Magnetic Fields.

Owen has his hand in quite a few musical projects. He's released three solo albums, one under his real name and two under the name Final Fantasy. He's contributed string arrangements to Arcade Fire, including this summer's The Suburbs. And he's had numerous collaborations with artists like Grizzly Bear, Beirut, and Arctic Monkeys.

All these things are really great, but what actually made me purchase some of Owen's music was my discovery of the title of his second Final Fantasy album: HE POOS CLOUDS!!

">

Kate Bush, Queen of the Universe

Kate Bush is quite possibly my favorite artist ever. I can't think of anyone more creative, risk-taking, or beautifully unusual. I understand how her music is an acquired taste for some (the woman's a huge quirkster), but I'm always struck by how much of an unknown she is here in the States.

She's epic in the UK, and has been since she was a 19-year-old chart-topper. Kate was signed to EMI records in 1976 after a little help from a family friend named, oh, Dave Gilmour. A few years later she released her first LP titled The Kick Inside, which is a surprisingly mature album, considering that Kate was just 13 when she penned some of the tunes.

She quickly rose to fame across the pond, in no small part due to her unusual voice and knack for taking really nice pictures (see above, she's lovely). But Kate's career was carried by her own determination and willingness to push the bounds. She took control of her music's direction by learning about production and sound engineering. The result was the creation of her landmark album, Hounds of Love (1985), a concepty double disk, the second half of which details a drowning victim's last night in the water.

Her last release was 2005's Aerial, another great double album. I'm not aware of any more current material, but I'm always in anticipation something new from Kate.

Here's "Wuthering Heights," Kate's debut single:
http://www.giantpanther.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Kate-Bush-Wuthering-Heights.mp3

Active Child

Loving this song by Active Child:

Cover Love

Here are a couple covers to ponder. I'm putting up Cee-Lo's cover of "No One's Gonna Love You" by Band of Horses and Barbara playing Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness." I chose these two because they reflect a musical style negative-image of each other: an R&B star covering an alt-country tune and folk-rock upstarts taking on hip-hop. LOVE both of them!

Cee-Lo, "No One's Gonna Love You"

Barbara, "Pursuit of Happiness"

Instantly Loved Songs

Here is a series of songs I've recently heard, mostly through Sirius XMU, and instantly loved. Some bands (hello, Animal Collective!) have taken me dozens of listens to actually appreciate; then there are others that you instantly start bobbing your head to. Hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Menomena, "TAOS"
http://barsukmusic.blaireau.net/Menomena_TAOS.mp3

Cloud Nothings, "Hey Cool Kid"
http://www.carparkrecords.com/heycoolkid.mp3

The Vaselines, "Sex With an X"
http://assets4.subpop.com/assets/audio/7308.mp3

Les Savy Fav, "Let's Get Out of Here"
http://fakepennycomics.com/blog/LSF_LetsGetOutOfHere.mp3

The Search for the Perfect Pair...

Some people are on a ceaseless hunt for the greatest pair of jeans, like, ever. Accomplishing this feat is nearly impossible for several reasons: styles and tastes change; bodies have issues (flat bums will never be transformed into Beyonce bums no matter how perfectly positioned the pockets are); occasions differ - work jeans are different from concert jeans are different from bar jeans. Besides, the thrill is in the chase!

However, Gap has made the hunted slightly less elusive recently. The global retailer has gone back to its roots to focus on denim created for comfort, style, and affordability. I've found two great pairs over the past couple months, and I've spent under $90 for the bod'uv'ums, thanks to great sales and promo deals. I also have sources who claim that a design head for the premium denim company Joe's has defected to Gap, breathing new designer life into the fit and cut of what has maybe made Gap denim passe in recent years.

I'm a particularly big fan of the "Legging Jean." They're full of stretch, and come in a variety of colors; the blues are good for everyday, the black is work-appropriate, and, my fave, the light gray gives off a great punk rock vibe...I wouldn't be surprised if Iggy himself has a pair.

Last Nite...Every Bit as Good as I Remember It

Like some people remember the assassination of JFK, I recollect my introduction to the Stokes with vivid clarity. It was 2001, and I was working out on a stationary bike in my basement when those beautifully garage-y chords to "Last Nite" were first strummed through the tv speakers to my ears, courtesy of MTV. I knew that they were something new, and I liked it. And I've liked it ever since.

The Strokes were at Lollapalooza this weekend, and I was for sure in attendance. In classic cool kids fashion, their hour-and-half set began 15 minutes late and ended 15 minutes early (granted, they probably couldn't have filled that span of time even playing their entire catalogue). The band sounded great and acted just the right amount of drunk. Julian's voice was in fine form, sounding, more than ever, as if he were singing from the depths of a cardboard fridge box. Albert and Nick took turns taking Strokes-sized guitar solos (little, fast, and nicely articulated), while Fab and Nicolai kept good-looking time in the background. Red, white, and black LED-style back lighting kept the boys silhouetted in dramatic and impersonal Rock Star fashion.

The band has a new album slated for release in March of 2011..it's already been delayed, so don't hold your breath unless you've got Michael Phelps lungs.

Here's that earth-shattering video. It's just as good and instantly classic as I remember, complete with subliminal messages, burning cigarettes on fret boards, whiskey swigging, and mic throwing.

Gogol Bordello, Tiny Desk Concert

These days the indie music landscape is littered with chillwave and surf rock and dream pop and electro-lounge. How refreshing, then, is Gogol Bordello, a self-described band of "gypsy punks"? Leaving all pretense of cool behind, Gogol Bordello, led by Ukrainian-born singer/guitarist Eugene Hutz, imbues Russian folk tradition (lotsa fiddle and accordion) with a heavy dose of American rock. It's exactly what this country's "melting pot" notion was build upon, combining contradictory elements to create something that works well...and is incredibly fun.

Gogol Bordello's "Tiny Desk Concert," recorded in NPR's office space, clocks in at slightly under 23 minutes. I can liken watching this segment to hanging out with an emotionally tolling friend: small doses are the way to go.



These guys are playing Lollapalooza this Saturday, and I can't imagine their live show would be a disappointment.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128111544

A.V. Undercover

This summer the A.V. Club is holding a contest of sorts called "A.V. Undercover." The premise is 25 bands throughout the course of the stunt get to choose one song of 25 to cover. As the contest progresses, the pickings get slimmer. A couple real gems have been produced so far.

As a rule of thumb, I love cover tunes. I like hearing familiar songs being performed by unfamiliar or unexpected bands.

One of my favorite "A.V. Undercover" products is the Antlers covering Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here." The Antlers' ambient, ethereal sound quality and Peter Silberman's frail, sorrowful voice lend themselves perfectly to the song. "Wish You Were Here" has become one of those cliche classic rock songs, simply derivative of the fact that we've all heard it so much. But the song really is beautiful and wonderfully written, and the Antlers were able to give it a fresh reworking while maintaining the song's original integrity.


The Antlers cover Pink Floyd

Other great "A.V. Undercover" results are Wye Oak's stab at the Kinks and Owen Pallett doing Guided by Voices. See all performances here:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-wedding-present,38876/