Well it didn’t take long for Fleet Foxes’ success to catch up to them and start translating into publicity for the band. Vowing to stay away from major labels, Fleet Foxes have been taking their new-age traditional folk music around the US lately promoting their album Sun Giants. Although the album has been around for a few years, they are rumored to have a new album out in the near future. Until then check out this amazing video for their hit “Mykonos.” It’s amazing how the video seems to capture the music in visual animation. Enjoy!
Here is a great home video of Lupe at the recent Austrilian Mini-Festival Big Day Out. Lupe let’s everyone know his third (and final) album, LUP…END will be out June 2009, and then continues into his new single to be out soon, “Everywhere.” The countdown to June has begun! Enjoy.
There is a growing amount of hype surrounding Animal Collective and their upcoming 2009 album Merriweather Post Pavilion. This video is out of this world. Enjoy.
Here is a live performance of a great up-and-coming band who had the priviledge of being the muscial guest on SNL this past weekend. Fleet Foxes are performing one of their new tunes, and should be on everyone’s list of music needed to check out. Enjoy.
Well here it is folks, my very first full album review. I have been waiting to post this since I started the site, only because I did not have enough time to sit down and really put my best effort into it. So here we go:
No Really, I’m Fine is the latest album to be released by Souix Falls, SD native Nick Thomas and his band The Spill Canvas. The 2007 release is the first album to drop since the 2005 release One Fell Swoop and 2004 debut album Sunsets and Car Crashes. Ever since I first heard The Spill Canvas over two years ago, they have landed a solid seat in my Top 10 Favorite Bands (more of that list to come at a future date). Starting as a solo project by Nick Thomas, Sunsets and Car Crashes was the first album to drop under the Spill Canvas name, setting in stone their future of music greatness. Although I wouldn’t classify The Spill Canvas as an Emo band, especially since that term has developed into a wide range of music, I would call their music emotional, for Nick speaks the truth in every song (and sometimes the truth really sucks). Songs such as “Caterpillars” and “All Hail the Heartbreaker” solidify the rock music, while the dark, deep, and emotional lyrics in “The Tide” and “Black Dresses” bring out the other part of life that everyone hates to experience. After getting signed to One Eleven records in 2005, Nick and the boys released One Fell Swoop, the first major-label record to get exposure. Staying true to their roots, this album was alternative rock at its best, interlocked with powerful lyrics that really make you appreciate and enjoy the little things in life. Songs such as “Staplegunned,” “Self-Conclusion,” and “Lust a Prima Vista” coveted The Spill Canvas into a rock band to look for to blow-up. After waiting two years and memorizing every song of theirs, I was finally treated with the joy of their newest album No Really, I’m Fine. After a long period of record negotiations and spending time touring, The Spill Canvas came back with their first truely professionally-produced album (and the difference is clear). Although the songs have a obvious sound of big-label production, Nick was able to keep that Spill Canvas sound enfused with the timeless lyrics they have always had. The first single “All Over You” just hit the MTV air-waves this week, premeiring on TRL, as well as on MTV2 and the FUSE network. Below is all of the information you need to check out this amazing band. As rediculous as this might sound, if I ever were to request a band for someone to check out, this is THAT band. The Spill Canvas just seems to connect to me in every single way. And the new album is no different. So please, check them out. Vote for them. Download a song or two off iTunes. Go buy the album at Best Buy. Just open your ears and experience one of the best bands to never hit the radio yet, The Spill Canvas.
In writing this entry, not only am I posting a very funny video made for a great Ben Folds’ song, but also sharing my delight in knowing that I will be seeing Ben Folds perform for the 3rd time this coming February 29th at Purdue University. I’m exstatic in so many ways right now, because I had the preveledge of seeing my first Ben Folds concert ever at Purdue University with a buddy in 2005. After that show I became a huge fan, dedicating myself to collecting all of his records from all of his projects. Not only do I have all of the Ben Folds Five albums, but I have both solo albums, “Rockin’ the Suburbs” and “Songs For Silverman” as well. Although I love BFF (Ben Folds Five) material, my favorite music of his has come from his latest album “Songs For Silverman.” With such tracks as Jesusland, Late, and Prison Food, there is no wonder why this album holds a special place in my musical heart. Following the Songs For Silverman release, I was able to see Ben Folds for the second time in the summer of 2007, on tour with John Mayer at Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, IN. This was yet another great Ben Folds show, although I wish he could have played a longer set. But now knowing that I will get to see him again at my own campus, I cannot complain. Although the complete tour has not been released, the Purdue show will be on February 29th at 8PM in the Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets go on sale 1/19/2008, yet I will be waiting in line early on the 18th to get my tickets (Purdue students get the extra day )
Ah we have been spoiled once again. I can remember not too long ago Radiohead announced online that they were going to be making an album, coming as a complete surprise to even the most dedicated Radiohead fans. Being the comtemporary artists they are (always breaking boundaries in their music) they took it one step further and recorded an album in a matter of weeks, selling it online for any price chosen by the purchaser. [Yes this sounds quite stupid, but this stunt actually made them a good deal of money and helped to demonstrate the problem facing the music industry today with their pricing and publishing policies.] In Rainbows became the not only the most controversial album, but also my favorite album to date. Being the fan that I am, I decided to purchase it online the day it was released for a good $8 (which of course had to be converted into Euros). After listening to the album straight through, I was jaw-dropped like a kid going to Disney World for the first time. Only in this case my Disney world was a digital download of a CD (Yes I know my pleasures in life are twisted). This video became the first “official” music video for the In Rainbows album, and was created just as you would expect Radiohead to: Odd, Random, Thought-Provoking, and kinda creepy (Sorry Thom). All-in-all, this album is a MUST-HAVE for any fan of alternative music.
You want to know my favorite tracks? I thought you would never ask. Here we go:
“15 Step”
“Weird Fishes/Arpeggi”
“Faust Arp”
“Jigsaw Falling Into Place”
Heres the music video, so go out and PLEASE BUY THIS ALBUM. You will not be upset, I promise
This is a semi-new song off of Gemini’s “Troubles of the World” album. First released via MySpace on both Gemini’s (a.k.a. GemStones) and Lupe’s page, this song became an instant classic in my book. Although Lupe Fiasco is just beginning to take shape in the commercial music industry, he has been pushing out hits and mixtapes for years. His record label, 1st and 15th, is home to both Lupe and Gemini, as well as Bishop G and a few other artists. Look for some future songs from Gemini and the rest of the 1st and 15th gang in the future, as well as a full album review of Lupe Fiasco’s newest album “The Cool.”
This was my favorite song off of a really great Kanye West mixtape. The “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” mixtape, released in May of 2007 was definitely a collection of the best Kanye songs of the time. Containing such hits as “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” Common’s “The Game,” along with Kanye’s remix of “Throw Some D’s”, this mixtape was topped off by the CRS song “Us Placers.” The song is created around a sample of Thom Yorke’s (lead singer of Radiohead) song “The Eraser.” Using this sample, the secretly-created collabo of Kanye, Lupe, and Parell formed the group CRS (a.k.a. Chicago Runs Shit) and created one of the top songs of 2007 in my mind. Although as many mixtape fans would agree this song is fairly old, it didn’t gain much attention until the music video was released for it just a month ago. Personally, I think the video is what makes the song 10x better (and I never thought that was possible).
No I’m not on a Lupe/Kanye/Chicago tip right now, just gotta post what I have available and this video is an amazing media to compliment a creative and unique song.
[photos taken for nyctaper by Kate Ehle - many more here] As expected, John Darnielle pulled out all the stops for the final night of the Mountain Goats tour. At Bell House on Wednesday, obscure songs were plentiful, encores were many, and John even whipped out a first third-time-played cover song (Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys [...]
[photos taken for nyctaper by Kate Ehle - many more here] Last November, the Mountain Goats at Webster Hall was a tour-ending night and one of the best shows we saw all year. On Tuesday at a packed Webster, the Mountain Goats returned with a new album, a new band member (guitarist Perry Wright), but [...]
[photo courtesy of Pat at Pop Tarts blog] The Dinosaur Jr. set opening for Sonic Youth last week at Terminal 5 was a condensed version of the band’s current show. After opening with a few classic nuggets, the band then performed several songs from the excellent new album Farm, before closing with “Freak Scene” and [...]
[photo courtesy of Jessica Amaya and Stereogum] As a recent signing, Cambridge’s Pants Yell represents the “new blood” that has continued to drive the success of Slumberland Records. At the anniversary show, the band performed a tight ten-song set of intelligent twee-pop that matched well with the more veteran acts on the label. The [...] […]
One of the newest of the models from the world’s most successful sportswear brand, the Nike Air Flytop ST is a smarter lifestyle model that until now has mostly taken on more conservative colourways. Available in either complementary shades or purple or in a mix of warmer colours, the choice is yours this month. Releasing [...]
Having already previews the Nike Zoom Bruin x Fluff, here are some more detailed shots of the collaboration between Dutch magazine ‘Fluff’ and Nike SB. Utilising a subtle colour/material combination, the grey suede and white canvas shoes are complete with lots of subtle branding, making I’m sure, for a more than popular release. The official [...]
The latest outing for the iconic Bape Tiger sees it on the hood of this 100% Polyester jacket. Harping back to older releases, the Tiger hood features a camo backing on one side, leaving the other plain. What’s different about this release is the fact that the jacket is more of a lightweight down coat [...]
Despite receiving some solid press over the last year thanks to its involvement with fragment design over a handful of models, the Air Zoom Tennis Classic has been sparse in the in-line release side of things. However, fans of the shoe will see the following two styles hit retailers. The simple tennis profile includes two [...]
San Franciscan artist Aaron Young was recently spotted at the OHWOW gallery in Miami for the “It Ain’t Fair” exhibition which runs until tomorrow, and features over 30 contemporary artists (including Kaws, Todd James and KR). This video shows Young on hand for the physical creation of his latest work “Motorcycle Art”, which develops a [...]
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