We're half awake in a fake empire

Helloooo! School sucks, what else is new? Ben Gibbard paying Jenny Lewis a visit, that's what! Here's a super duper cute vid of them & it previews one song off Jenny's new album due September 23rd.  [Source]

Proof that The Strokes will never get back together & my heart shall break forevermore. Albert Hammond Jr. is going to start a clothing line. Yes, you heard me correctly, a clothing line. Not a new album, but a freakin' men's clothing line. I'm actually considering putting The Strokes on the back burner, along with where I put Weezer years ago. I haven't given up on them yet, but if they continue their side projects & other shenanigans, I just may have to. [Source]

Here are two cover songs that aren't particularly outstanding, but very nice in their own way, (besides, I love Vampire Weekend & MGMT!). 

Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac)- Vampire Weekend

Kids (MGMT)- The Kooks

Hurry up & snatch 'em up before the crazy mofos at RIAA or something will kill ya. [Source 1] [Source 2]

Oh, & a quick visit to Patrick Wolf's Mspace as I was updating my Recently Played, revealed that he did a song, "Careless Talk" for the movie The Edge of Love. You can read about the movie here, listen to the song here, & read his blog about how the song has found its way "deep into his heart." 

Don't be scared of the corners

So after all this tropical storm shiz is gone, school has started forrealz. & lemme just say, it's a big BETCH. Srsly. I can't even update all I want to right now but to say I do have links for you guys, but I only have time to drop in & say hi. So hi. 

The main thing I wanna talk about is this band called Fredrik. Love 'em. I think you will too. Very laid-back, but their songs do have a driving force. Pretty melodies with light instrumentation. Thanks to Stereogum (click to d/l songs) for pointing them out. Check their Myspace hurrr.

Some quick shiz:

-The secret behind why Coldplay are still together? Find out. 

-Speaking of which, Albert Hammond Jr. is the supporting act for their tour. Which is disappointing. Why? It means he's not in the studio with the rest of The Strokes, working on an album. 

-If you have a thing for Sufjan Stevens (& who doesn't) Pfork has a few pictures up for your viewing pleasure. Exhibit A~

Adieu for now, I hope to see this blog very sooooooon!

Phony Beatle mania is bitin' the dust

Remember my post on The Jonas Brothers vs. The Beatles? & remember my position, staunchly stating that The Beatles pwned the Jonas Brothers like ever? Here's the post to refresh your memory, but it seems like some dude has made the exact opposite claim. Under what authority? He says he's seen lots of Beatles concerts as well as Jonas Brothers' concerts. Which concerns me more than the fact that he thinks Jo Bros > Beatles. Pfft. Absolute hogwash. [Source]

Jack White talks about his ~inspiring~ collaboration with Alicia Keys for the James Bond Theme. Who else is excited for Quantum of Solace??? NME for the detailz on White's experience with Keys' "electric energy" in her breath. [Source]

I've decided I'm going to try my hand at writing another review... it'll be Bloc Party's Intimacy. I've given a few songs a couple of listens & it hasn't completely put me off like A Weekend In The City which is a good sign.

Click if you wanna learn about purchasing a bunch 'o' Decemberists singles. There's a lot to be looking forward to that's coming out soon.

OMGOMG my current fav band Sigur Ros released their music video for Inní mér syngur vitleysingur. They used live footage which is always nice to look at if the band is Sigur Ros but the song is album quality. EEeeeeeee!!!!

‘Inní mér syngur vitleysingur’ - Official Video
 

[Source]

You love, you despise

Bloc Party's new album is out today and they have a few more songs for you to listen to on their Mspaceee. The songs are... very crunchy- more electronic-ish stuff in there. Lots of fast drumming & scratchy effects. "Signs" is a very pretty song, sort of like the slower ones off their debut, Silent Alarm. I like the chimes. Anyways, here's a nice little interview with Gordon Moakes (bassist) & Pfork.

Weezer's Brian Bell has started a new band! It's called The Relationship. Check 'em out here, they have one song up. Don't worry, it sounds nothing like Weezer so click if you want an earful. [Source]

SAD NEWS. LeRoi Moore, saxophonist of Dave Matthews Band (the band my brother has seen, oh say 50 times) has died. There's a memorial fund being set up in his name if you want to donate. [Source]

Random tidbits:

-Yeah Yeah Yeahs & The Arcade Fire are set to do the music for the movie Where The Wild Things Are. [Source]

-Coldplay may follow in Bloc Party's footsteps & rush release another album... because Viva La Vida was such a huge success. [Source]

-A new Snow Patrol album, A Hundred Million Suns will be out October 27. [Source]

Look forward to all these things! Except maybe the Coldplay one... haha kiddingggg.

Pfork TV has this awesome live vid of Cut Copy's performance at Studio B that you should definitely definitely watch:

 

[Source]

I try to imagine a careless life

Wheeee! Bloc Party are doing a shock release (announcing an album like 3 days notice prior to its release) of their third album! Intimacy, it's called & it'll be out on Thursday. The press release said it has "wildly experimental" stuff but also solid BP songs, like from the good old days of Silent Alarm. Supa excited! If you can't wait, have a taste on their Myspace; new song is called "Trojan Horse." I like it a lot better than "Mercury" which is the first song they released & it kind of... eh, yeah.  [Source]

Would you be interested in watching a show where Bush is a dictator & drugs the water supply & turns America into a dystopia? Well so would Trent Reznor. It was his idea after all. HBO met with Reznor to dicuss this... "idea." [Source]

Now for the bad news... Muxtape is temporarily shut down. Thanks RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), you suck. [Source]

Here are some fun tidbits to keep you occupied on your Hurricane Day Off! (At least FL peepz):

-Learn different styles of fronting a band

-Audiosurf!

-TuneGlue (I can be on this site forevs)

Nobody with no one to call

I apologize for the lack of muxtapes.... I'm kind of dry on ideas. I promise one for next week though. So school starts tomorrow. LAME. You know what else is lame? THE JONAS BROTHERS. Okay what the crap. I personally don't hate them or anything but I have never been able to sit through the entirety of any one song of theirs. People need to stop with The Beatles comparisons. That is sacrilege. McCartney/Lennon put genius into music. Jonas/Jonas/Jonas (if they do write their own songs) put pop into well tailored suits. The hype is truly ridiculous. There were FOUR Beatles. Three Jo Bros. The Beatles were riddled with alcohol and drug problems. John Lennon posed naked on a magazine with his lover that wasn't his wife. The Jonas Brothers wear purity rings. Not that I'm making fun of that. Just the fact that THEY HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON. I mean, John Lennon was killed!!!! Although if that's any inclination to the Jonas' future.... haha I kid, I kid. Okay to be less harsh, I do see one commone factor: they are all male (even that is questionable). & they aren't even that cute. Srsly, the youngest one is the only mildly attractive one. I forget if it's Joe or Kevin who has caterpillars for eyebrows. But looks don't matter. Or don't they??????? Because I truly believe that's half the reason for their catapult to fame. You'd think The Jonas Brothers were Jesus and two disciples at the way these fangirls are acting:

Ridiculous, just plain ridiculous. You tell me in 20 years when they're older and they can fit into their tight pants anymore, if girls will be eating their hair for the Jonas Brothers. Will their music be remembered like "Let It Be" & "Across The Universe"????? Dubious, at best.

/rant

Shake appeal feel so high & low

Ughhh... school starts on Monday. Last year of high school, but nonetheless, school. 

Well to cheer myself and whoever else might be subjected to the same horror on Monday, there's a download available of a new Los Camp

esinos song! It's like a weird mesh of normal Los Campesinos with a twiddling violin in the background and then BAM! Hardcore scissor snipping guitar riffs going all over your ear. Try it out for yourself. [Source]

Kings of Leon whines about not being able to play new material because it'll be leaked on the Internet. Wah-wah. Whatevs KOL, you still have a large fan base & it'll even grow because you'll have more exposure. [Source]

Nine Inch Nails is going on tour! & opposite of KOL, NIN's Trent Reznor actually encourages you to steal from the music industry. Tru fax. Check out the tour dates right here. (They're coming to Florida!) 

Okay, so WTF:

Why is this anime chick on the new Weezer single? That's all I really have to say about that.

The battle is on! Between Team Jack White/Alicia Keys & Team Amy Winehouse. Apparently the job of creating a new James Bond theme went to Winehouse, but the producers dropped it & went to White Keys (haha) instead. Winehouse is now threatening to release her version on the same day because it would be a "bigger hit." We shall see! [Source]

Tension is high under sea & over sky

Oasis kind of sucks now & Liam Gallagher is trying desperately to keep the band relevant. Not by producing any new music or stuff like that, but on calling Radiohead & Coldplay fans "boring & ugly." Pshhh how ridiculous, at least Radiohead & Coldplay have fans. Source for more.

Pfork TV has an interview with Cut Copy. Watch them be cute with their Australian accents! 

Another dance-able band that makes your feet move~ Pfork sits down & talks with Justice. Reaaaad.

Omg if you absolutely hurrrry, for a limited time, Franz Ferdinand is streaming a new song "Lucid Dreams" on their website. The song seems to lack a climax but it's a lazy, catchy alternative pop song; it definitely sounds like Franz Ferdinand. I've missed them! [Source] Whoaa, also I just visited their Myspace, & apparently they did a cover of LCD Soundsystem's "All My Friends." I never knew about this. Take a listen, FF called it "All Ma Pals" instead though. 

Shake your rattlesnake skin

Have you guys heard of that book which is now going to be a movie, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist? Well, me either, but it just became relevant in my life because Vampire Weekend did a song called "Ottoman" for it. See the whole soundtrack! Plus, Michael Cera is starring in it. 

Conor Oberst's music vid for "Souled Out!!!" is out. It's actually pretty nifty!

Pitchfork has a short & sweet interview with Albert Hammond Jr., but there is no mention of recent fiance Agyness Deyn. Hmm...

Here's one reason why I need to see Girl Talk live:

Picture courtesy of Stereogum from the All Points West Festival. Click to see more, plus The Go! Team, CSS, & Radiohead.

Hit me like a gamma ray

Who doesn't love Denny's food, saturated and dripping with grease? Now there's even more cause to rejoice, especially all the hung-over music lovers. If you want to enjoy a "Plain White Milkshake" or "Taking Back Bacon Burger Fries" at 2A.M., worry no more. TMA to read more!

TV On The Radio's frontman, Tunde Adebimpe, is going to be in a movie with Anne Hathaway! It's called Rachel Getting Married & it you can read more about it at Pfork. I didn't even watch the trailer but I'll probably go watch the movie just for him.

/edit

I guess while we're on the subject of getting married, it'd be appropriate to mention that Albert Hammond Jr., guitarist extraordinaire of The Strokes as well as successful solo artist, is engaged to the model chick Agyness Deyn. Sigh. As long as it doesn't get in the way of a fifth album...

I saved the best for lastttttt! Ladies & gentlemen, I present to you everyone's favorite Icelandic band, Sigur Ros~

[Source]

Castles & dodgeways & monsters & highways

BE YOUR OWN PET ARE BREAKING UP? Omgz. Maybe they didn't play at Warped Tour bc they were planning on just wrapping things up? More info at Stereogum. 

So my brother was reading Cokemachineglow about the Pitchfork Festival & pointed out this hilarious excerpt:

To wit: The biggest cabal of photographers I found myself smooshed against was during Boris’ set, but the photographers were taking as many pictures of the fans as they were of the band. A photo of Boris won’t make the Reader, but a photo of All The Indie Rock Kids Flipping Out At Their Little Festival may. I swear, it could’ve been heat-stroke, but I think I saw a couple of photographers taking pictures of the other photographers, an action so meta it threatens to break my dick off.

Hahaha. The whole thing is actually entertaining, but lengthy. It's a good read. Oh & by the way, Boris is a Japanese experimental band. 

Concerning a different festival, Lollapalooza is happening AS I TYPE. How excitingggg to not be there. Stereogum has some pictures. Click to see Thom Yorke's wonky eye or the boys from the Bloc. 

Apparently, NME has seen it fit to compile a list of 25 bands that are making "America Cool Again."  So get out your winter wardrobe & see what is "cool" for America. The only thing I care about about this list, is that Girl Talk is #23 & not #2.  Actually, one other thing caught my attention. The list reminded me that Kings of Leon still existed. I haven't really heard about them in a while but a visit to their site proved otherwise. They have a free d/l available if you click here!

ALSO, it seems NME is content with quantity & not quality. They like followed the same format & mediocre writing for these two articles. One about how Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" (Nine Inch Nails) felt like "someone kissing your girlfriend" to Trent Reznor. Also, Conor Oberst talks about his solo album & Mexico. [Source 1, Source 2]

Wow, that's a lot of news for one day. I'll leave you with the choice of watching the official video to Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" or a cover version. I only recommend watching the official one if you like Coldplay/if you want a close up of Chris Martin's green eyes/enjoy spastic twitching type movements to go along with your music. No one will know if you click.