Praying for Pavement to get back together

I'll be upfront. Franz Ferdinand's new album, Tonight is a little tedious for me. Everything sounds so choppy. & It sounds like Franz Ferdinand which should sound good, but this album is not as good as its predecessors. Nothing on the album seems to flow like an album should. Each song is just like... *typical FF guitar riff* I suppose it's enjoyable enough, but I'm disappointed. Though I should mention, they DID write a song about me ;)


However, surprisingly, I find Coldplay's Prospekt's March to be much more enjoyable. It's continuation of "Life In Technicolor" is extremely satisfying. "Now My Feet Won't Touch The Ground" is a purely acoustic song, reminiscent of the Parachute days. The song is without any complex string arrangements and lacks the warbling vocals that Chris Martin loves to pull. If you listen to the first minute or so of "Rainy Day" you can almost forget that you're listening to Coldplay and that someone put a Beck album on instead. When I heard Coldplay was releasing this EP just months after their album, I was all like lolz, just what we need, another Coldplay album. But srsly guys this is good stuff.

If you haven't bought, stolen, ripped, downloaded, WHATEVER, to Dark Was The Night, yet, WTF are you waiting for?? The album whose proceeds go to AIDS research, features gems from Arcade Fire, Beirut, and my personal fav, The National. The Arcade Fire goes for a kind of bluesy sound that is thoroughly adorable. The National's song however, is by far the best. "So Far Around The Bend" has no words for me to describe. Just listen to it! & The Yo La Tengo song is so beautifulllll. However all 31 songs on the album I'm afraid to say, isn't quite up to snuff. The 10 minute Sufjan Stevens electronica song is a jumbled mess & reminds me of a more disorganized Animal Collective. Which if you're me, is a bad thing. But the album contains so much goodness, I'm willing to overlook Sufjan's temporarily fit of deafness & give the album five out of five Hello Kitties!


Instead of listening to Sufjan's less-than-melodic song, you can enjoy these pictures of him looking mighty handsome with Bell Orchestre, My Brightest Diamond, & Clogs. He lures you in~*~*~ [Source]

Byyyy the way, Yeah Yeah Yeah's new single "Zero" is pretty great. Listen.

In a perfect situation, I let love down the drain

The Black Lips got chased out of India! They assumed their usual frolicsome behavior that would have been cheered on by (drunken) spectators elsewhere, but in India, the law laid the smackdown. Read for a riveting account of the Black Lips' legal troubles. What "Bad Kids"..... [Source]

Lil Wayne is going to try is hand in the realm of good old rock'n'roll. Maybe I'll like it better than "A Milli." Maybe I'm just an indie rock nerd who is too wrapped up in the neat refrains and riffs of Vampire Weekend to appreciate anything else. Or maybe he just sucks. Either way I remain dubious. Even the Pfork peeps who worshipped Tha Carter III seem unconvinced at Lil Wayne's newest venture. [Source]

LEGIT STROKES NEWS. After reports of various Strokes members pursuing various side-projects (Nickel Eye, Little Joy, etc), THEY HAVE FINALLY GOT THEIR SHIT TOGETHER. They will reconvene in the studio in February, causing the hearts of many fans to begin beating again. I, among them. [Source]

Click the source for some hawt~*~ Lily Allen photos at her "comeback" gig.
A small Lily Allen aside- I went to a dance last night & of course they played crappy music. I've always wondered what makes the DJ keep playing that song when nobody is on the dance floor? Is he blinded by the dim lighting, so conducive to acts of grinding and general skankiness? Is he deafened by his own horrible taste in music? Yeah I guess. But then all of a sudden I heard the beginnings of Lily Allen's "The Fear!" Before I could cajole my friends to twirl with me a la Lily Allen, the DJ changed the song. Yeah. Anyways, here's a preview:

[Source]

Interview with Coldplay's resident hottie, Guy Berryman! [Source]

Well I think that's a sufficient update. I'm off to a Super Bowl party. Obviously only with the purpose of absconding with all the free snacks and thus keeping my status quo of football knowledge where it belongs. At zero.

It's Christmas! Let's be glad!

Well not yet. But I am listening to my Sufjan Stevens songs for Christmas box set! How exciting :D because do you know what this means? I WILL BE DONE WITH COLLEGE ESSAYS SOON. & I will actually get to actually update. 

So Coldplay has been accused yet again (remember the Creaky Boards incident?) of ripping off someone else's song for "Viva La Vida." (As if Coldplay doesn't get enough hits for ripping off their own material), Guitarist Joe Satriani has decided to sue Coldplay. Even I must admit the resemblance is uncanny. Listen for yourself. [Source]

Lily Allen's video for "The Fear" is out. The song itself is... actually I'm not sure how to feel about it. It has wobbly synth undertones which is nice & shimmery. The video is fun to watch: 

[Source]

Pitchfork reviewed The Killers' newest album, Day & Age, & gave it what they always seem to give The Killers. A five point something (5.9 this time); Hot Fuss 5.2, Sam's Town 5.9, & Sawdust 5.5 . Read ze review.

Cut your hair like Joan of Arc

Read this funny interview with Chris Martin. He says Coldplay is cooler than The Strokes. I am going to have to disagree with that, Christ Martian. [Source]

I must say The Killers' new song, "Human" is quite catchy. They always manage to put out really strong singles, ("Mr. Brightside" & "When You Were Young") but mediocre albums, yes/yes? Download the tune hurr. Also thankfully it appears that Brandon Flowers had the decency to get rid of that hokey Sam's Town moustache. [Source] 

 

More pictures of Mr. Flowers looking extremely dapper here.

Adjust your eyes to the state of things

Omg new Sigur Ros vid for "Við spilum endalaust!" It's all vintage-y & cool. Watch hurrr. [Source]

However I must say if you really wanna see an awesome super cool music video, check out Coldplay's "Lovers In Japan." This is one of the better music videos I have seen in a while.

They added this weird "oooahhh" part in between "One day we're gonna get out" & "Tonight maybe we're gonna run" right around 1:46 that I am not particularly fond of.

Franz to the Ferdinand have named the first single off their new album. It's called "Ulysses" & will be out the second of December. (Why haven't we heard a leak yet!!??) [Source]

So a new uber-band has been formed. Beirut+LCD Soundsystem+The Arcade Fire. I know right. They've joined together under the name Team B. Sgum has a d/l available. The song's pretty mellow but has like funk undertones. I really like it. Download! [Source]

Listen to~
The Sea and Cake & Deerhunter & The Main Drag!
The Main Drag has this cover of LCD Sound's "All My Friends" & it's pretty good. It's better than the Franz Ferdinand one at least ("All Ma Pals") & Cokemachineglow goes so far as to even say it's better than the original. I don't agree with it, but it gives the Main Drag more cred. Anyways. Listen!

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!

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.

Coldplay- Viva La Vida Or Death & All His Friends

With the arrival of Viva La Vida Or Death & All His Friends, Coldplay has revealed to its listeners, essentially, nothing new. They've retained the same shimmery sounds present on X&Y, kept a lot of their acoustic bases from Parachutes, and surprise, Chris Martin's voice sounds exactly the same. Depending on where you stand, this can be good or bad. Bad because Coldplay might as well release a compilation CD & call it A Rush Of Parachutes To X&Y & All His Friends for their next album & be done with it. Good because, well, Coldplay as is, is very likable. Just as long as you're not looking for a constantly evolving band (see Sigur Ros) or the new Indie "it" band of next year (see Vampire Weekend). The most experimental Coldplay gets on Viva, is on the track "Yes" & I can't say I'm a fan. A weird key & Chris Martin's low dipping vocals & awkward mix & match of Middle Eastern sounding violins & acoustic guitar; no thanks. I'd rather stick to "Viva La Vida" because of it's accessibility. Not because I'm not open to change, but because it just doesn't suit the material they've been putting out for years. "Lovers In Japan/Reign of Love" is easily the best song on the album, followed closely followed by "Death & All His Friends." Maybe it's the fact that both songs offer a two part breakdown. Maybe Coldplay should follow this format for future success. Which in their case, doesn't necessarily equate to change. Personally, I say good for Coldplay. Look what happened to The Strokes. The hype for their debut, Is This It, was ridiculous. In a good way. They put out Room On Fire, a safe album without much change. But still good. Then the critics got to them or whatever it was, & bam, Julian's voice filter was gone, the homey, genuine guitar riffing was gone & we got First Impressions of Earth. Which no one really liked. But I digress. Moral of the story is, sometimes a band can't be like Sigur Ros or Vampire Weekend. Coldplay is aware of this fact, & it's good to know they aren't pretending to be something they aren't. Viva contains no surprises & that's precisely why, believe it or not,  it doesn't suck. Unless you work at Pitchfork or Urban Outfitters, there's nothing wrong with liking pure alternative pop. & who better to turn to than Coldplay?

I know I said I'd write a review like a month ago. But better late than never, right? Right. If you're so inclined to lend me your thoughts & time for a minute, lemme know what you think of this. 

Alsooo, I'd like just like to say that MGMT, that's what's up. Fourth CD down on the left-menu. Check it! Besides, their website is like the shiz. 

One hundred telephones shake & ring

Lemme just say this before we begin: I am absolutely obsessed with Girl Talk. Gregg Gillis is just so freakingggg good. Omg. 

Lily Allen put a new song on her Myspace called "Who'd of Known." It's a simple love ballad. But nothing special. Allen says it won't make it on the new album. Listen here & read here. 

The Hold Steady stay positive! At least in Pfork's eyes. Their new album received an 8.4, click to read the full review. 

While The Hold Steady boys seem to stay positive, Coldplay seems to stay obsessed with death. Along with kicking off their tour (I need to get tickets, who wants to go with!) they released a new song for their fans called "Death Will Never Conquer." No, I guess it won't for Coldplay; that's why they keep writing songs about it. You can download the song here & read Sgum's witty commentary about the song's single/double/tripe twists here.

Leslie Feist counts to four in her song "1234" so why not replace some words & sing it on Sesame Street? Exactlyyy. Vidgum has her spesh TV appearance. I wish I could have learned counting with Feist when I was little!

So what is it with bands putting out ugly ugly UGLY album covers of late? Wolf Parade, Coldplay, Weezer, & now Of Montreal? Let's get it together, pleaseeee.

Surprise surprise, yet again Radiohead has done some awesome never before done shiz. They made their video for "House of Cards" without any cameras. Check it.

Jack White Gains, Ben Gibbard Loses

As in weight. No seriously, check out these pics from Bonnarooooo!

More pics from the three days at source 1, source 2, source 3. 

Ben is lookin' qt. Even more so in this vid:

(via Sgum)

Okay, so if you didn't already know, everybody hates Coldplay. Proof follows:

-Chris Martin walks out on an interview

-Pfork gives the album a not bad but a not good score

-Johnny Rotten of Sex Pistols basically says everything about Coldplay sucks

-Accusations of thievery 

-& this is older but still prob accurate, Coldplay is voted most boring

Golden slumbers fill your eyes

What we knew all along, but Pfork tells us anyways: Weezer's Red Album was a step below Maladroit, granted, a lot better than Make Believe, and nowhere near the genius of Blue or Pinkerton. Sadly enough, here's the review.

Something that generates a little more excitement and a more welcoming ear, is the new Ladytron album, Velocifero. Here's a tantalizing morsel of what Pfork had to say:

...Mira Aroyo, relatively scarce on Witching Hour, has more opportunities to showcase her icy, sharp, often-foreboding voice, singing in her native Bulgarian with a sinister deadpan on "Black Cat" and a sleek, mellifluous energy on traditional folk song "Kletva"; in English her raspy purr turns the circa-1990 techno-pop of "Deep Blue" into a seething come-on.

Click for full read.

Here's something about Coldplay if you wanna read. Sgum is the source. For some reason peepz are calling it a rip off of Arcade Fire? I don't hear it at all. It's too poppy/mainstream to be anything like Arcade Fire. 

You're a silver lining the clouds

If you're finding a lack of things to commend Coldplay for lately, such as their new single "Violet Hill" & the music vid/political statement for it or their album art/title, etc, read on & they might redeem themselves in your eyes. If buying $6000 piano for a primary school that lost all its musical instruments in a flood is the sort of thing that impresses you. For the story read here & thanks here for the heads up. For s'more of Coldplay, take a gander at TMA for why they are "afraid to leave Grandma's house."