Linkage Archives

If it's August and I'm still living in D.C. then it must mean it's time for me to move apartments. And it is! Although I'm not nearly as excited about packing as my exclamation point might suggest. This is my fourth (!!!) move since arriving in D.C. in July 2004. Everytime I move I tell myself, "The next time I move, I'm buying a place and that's it." And that still may be the case. Next year. *sigh*

So until I'm back up and running next week, here are a few goodies to tide you over:

[MP3] Doves | Catch The Sun (Live)
When's the last time you listened to Doves? That's what I thought.

[MP3] Blur | She's So High (Live)
Blur misses Graham.

[MP3] The Smiths | Still Ill (Live)
I guess by now you've heard that the Mozzer turned down $75 million for a Smiths reunion. One that didn't have to feature Joyce and Rourke.

Loving that new Kanye.

Have you heard The Arctic Monkeys covering The Strokes?

Stereogum has an MP3 from locals Le Loup.

PS - I almost forgot. Even though I abhor most social networks (excluding Flickr, obvs.), I caved and joined LastFM. Mostly because now I don't have to update my iPod section over in the sidebar. So if you're on there, feel free to make me your friend.

A few of the MP3's that made their way into my inbox recently:

[MP3] The Go Station | All Together Now
New album out at the end of September.

[MP3] Minus The Bear | Dr. L Ling
New record, Planet of Ice, out today.

[MP3] Black Moth Super Rainbow | Forever Heavy
[MP3] Black Moth Super Rainbow | Sun Lips
Doing a few dates with the Flaming Lips and then with Aesop Rock.

[MP3] Standfast | Devil
[MP3] Standfast | Love For Life
The press release say "...for fans of Feist, Sia, The Cardigans." Take from that what you will.

Instrumental Analysis has a new song from ilb faves Middle Distance Runner. They have a new E.P. out in October. I heart E.P.'s.

Cedars (formerly known as Cartel), another local fave, announced yesterday that they are calling it quits, which is a shame. They were one of the first local bands I saw upon moving here and totally dispelled the notion that D.C. was all hardcore all the time. They are all good guys and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors, whatever they may be.

This is the best movie I've seen in quite a while. Of course, I'm a sucker for anything Grizz and Peabs related. I assume I would say the same thing about Dirty, but I've never met him/her/it. Also, this movie was better than 100% of the festival reviews I read for Lolla and VFest. And yes, I'm including my own. Something to keep in mind for Austin City Limits next month. Blaaaaaaah.

This is the best blog post I've read in ages. Hilarious and so true on so many levels. A week or so ago I told someone that there is nothing more shameful than a blog fight. And I was/am right. But eff the Redskins. And 980. For serious.

Here, listen to some music:
[MP3] Aesop Rock | Citronella
[MP3] Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings | 100 Days, 100 Nights

Lastly, local band No Second Troy emailed to ask if I could let people know they are part of tonight's tomorrow night's bill at the 9:30 Club. Done and done. They go one around 10.

[MP3] No Second Troy | Into Your Sun

I'll be posting my photos from Whartscape next week, but until then, here's a shot of Spank Rock, who turned in the best set of the weekend (even though I only stayed for like 5 songs of it). He was awesome. But don't take my word for it. Butterteam has some audio from the performance.

Also for your listening pleasure:
[MP3] Robbers on High Street | Married Young (The Glass Remix)
New album out now.

[MP3] OFFICE | The Ritz
Album out 9/25.

[MP3] Sea Wolf | You Are A Wolf
Touring with Nada Surf in October. Album out 9/25.

[MP3] Parts & Labor | Fractured Skies
Parts & Labor need a new drummer. Seriously. Their's just left to become EIC of Paper Thin Walls. Send them an email if you're interested.

Lastly, in honor of Beyonce's recent tumble at her show in Orlando, I give you this cover song:
[MP3] The Magic Numbers | Crazy In Love

Some of the musical treats that have appeared in my inbox over the last week or so.

Stream Bishop Allen's new record.

[MP3] Chromeo | Tenderoni (Etienne de Crecy remix)

Download an MP3 of "Burn My Shadow" by UNKLE (featuring Ian Astbury of the Cult)

Head over to Ambulance LTD.'s MySpace page to preview some songs from their forthcoming record. In other news, I finally signed up for a MySpace account, mostly so I can see who is stealing my photos. I feel dirty.

Watch The Dirty Projectors do one of those crazy "Take Away Shows." I saw DP at Whartscape and they were pretty good.

[MP3] Eastern Conference Champions | Box

[MP3] The Deadly Syndrome | Eucalyptus - Apparently, these guys are L.A.'s version to Le Loup, in that they've played a handful of gigs and have big buzz.

I'm old. Come pre-game with me tonight at DC9 sometime around 8ish. Ms. Smith will be bringing the cupcakes. Kick ass show to follow shortly thereafter.

I've been on an R.E.M. kick lately, the first one I've had in quite some time. Join me:

[MP3] R.E.M. | Orange Crush (Live 1989)

[MP3] R.E.M. | Academy Fight Song (Live 1989 - Mission of Burma cover)

Here are some of the MP3's burning a hole in my inbox...

[MP3] Elvis Perkins | All The Night Without Love
Elvis just played Bonnaroo and is doing a short West Coast tour at the end of the month. Here's his homepage.

[MP3] The National | Fake Empire
The show at the 9:30 Club on Wednesday is now sold out, so come celebrate my birthday at DC9 beforehand and see if you can scam a ticket while you're there.

[MP3] Voxtrot | Kid Gloves
Yes, this is old. But they're out on tour. Go see them.

[MP3] Calla | Bronson
Touring in late July - early August. Check their website for details.

[MP3] Scout Niblett | Dinosaur Egg (live)
Also touring in July. At the Rock n Roll Hotel on July 14th.

Watch the new Polyphonic Spree video for “Running Away.”

The Cribs just announced a US tour for July and August. Watch the censored version of the video for "Men's Needs," or you can watch the uncensored and NSFW version. Not listed in the link to said tourdates, an August 11th show at the Black Cat here in D.C.

Check out the 1990's eCard. I have the album and find it decidedly meh after one listen.

Records I'm digging but can't seem to find the time to write a proper review for:

Mystery Jets / Zootime - Didn't bore me after two listens. Liked the vocals and all the tempo changes.

BRMC/Baby 81 - Love this record although most everyone else seems to hate it. I don't have any of their previous work, so it's not derivative to me. Sounds a lot like the JAMC. If rock radio had any taste, they'd be playing half of these songs. Some serious cross-over appeal here.

Spoon / Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - If you don't like Spoon by now, there's not much I can do for you. I love this record. No killer single like "2 Sides of Monsenior Valentin" but the album as a whole is better. Reminds me of Girls Can Tell (aka the best Spoon record).

Art Brut / It's A Bit Complicated - More of the same but I doubt anyone is complaining. Less singing and more talking from Eddie this time, but the wit and the hits are still there. Nicely sidestepping the sophomore slump.

Editors - An End Has A Start - I LOVE this record. It's like they've been listening to Snow Patrol and said "We can do better than those poncey geezers" and went out and made a bonafide arena rock record. Holy Christ, this record is hugehugehuge. The guitars soar and the choruses are right on their tail. Great stuff.

The Bravery - The Sun and The Moon - A big, flaming pile of meh. As bad as everyone thought the last record was, this is worse. All the hooks and guilty pleasure-ness is nowhere to be found. Between this record and the last effort from The Music, if I was a young band, I would stay the fuck away from Brendan O'Brien.

A bunch of stuff that has been languishing in my "to Blog" pile...

Here's an e-card from Dungen highlighting their upcoming record and featuring a downloadable MP3.

I (shamefully) failed to mention that Pela's debut album, Anytown Grafitti, was released earlier in the month. You need to pick up this record. They rocked the house when they played Unbuckled earlier in the year. I'm hoping to see them next week when I head out to San Fran.

[MP3] Pela | Lost to the Lonesome

One new record I can't wait to hear is the new Mogwai record. It's a soundtrack from the "Zidane" movie. Here's an MP3:

[MP3] Mogwai | The Black Spider

Stream the new Art Brut track "Direct Hit."

Here are some MP3's from Fields, who I keep hearing good things about:

[MP3] Fields | Song for the Fields
[MP3] Fields | If You Fail, We All Fail

Here's a new track from The Mendoza Line:
[MP3] The Mendoza Line | Aspect of an Old Maid

Kegzies over at Dead Flowers has great posts about Ride and Hurricane #1 you should check out if you want to bone up on your Britpop precursors and also-rans.

Embed Flickr slideshows with flickrSLiDR. Can't wait to try this out.

Editing Disney video to explain copyright. Pretty awesome.

Going, going, gone?

Only about 33 hours until the NBA Draft Lottery decides the fate of the Boston Celtics franchise for the next 10 years or so. No, I'm not nervous. Not at all. Argh.

I'm going to check out TV on the Radio tonight at the 9:30 Club. The Noisettes are opening. AOL is streaming their album What's the Time Mr. Wolf.
Here are two videos from the group:
"Don't Give Up"
"Sister Rosetta (Capture the Spirit)"

The Mother Hips are releasing their first album since 2001. Here's a track.
[MP3] The Mother Hips | No Name Darrell

Toronto's Born Ruffians covered Grizzly Bear:
[MP3] Born Ruffians | Knife (Grizzly Bear Cover)

Minty Fresh is gearing up for the release of the new Astrid Swan album. Here's a taste:
[MP3] Astrid Swan | They Need You If They Think You Love Them

The Sundance Channel interviews Money Mark.

Related: I really like this Peanut Butter Wolf remix of "Shadrach."

Also, it looks like the lineup for the Virgin Festival in Pimlico is going to be released on April 27th. Here are the bands that have been confirmed thus far:
Police
Smashing Pumpkins
Beastie Boys
Modest Mouse
Velvet Revolver
Fountains Of Wayne
Bad Brains
Booka Shade
Sasha / Digweed

Totally digging Chuck Klosterman's Final Four blog. Key Passage: "I prefer the expressionless Mr. Oden, a person who's likely sitting beneath a singular table lamp, silently reading Chuck Eddy's analysis of the British invasion while peeling a tangerine."

This is all well and good but I still hate him. And Billy Donovan.

Your early entry list for this year's NBA draft. Tyler Hansbrough is such a pussy.

ESPN extends Bill Simmons through 2010.

Fluxblog has started a new blog (side project?) that will solely be about R.E.M. songs.

An open letter to Robert Smith.

Glastonbury sells out in two hours.

Bryce from The National is DJing on WOXY on Wednesday.

Wow! Sounds like the gig of a lifetime.

You're so clever. I doubt they care though.