New Single: Hot Chip

One of my favorite things about the farewell LCD Soundsystem tour wasn't just LCD Soundsystem.  It was also that Hot Chip was opening for them.  I just love them.  Never before have I had a bunch of nerdy looking dudes get me so pumped and ready for an all-night dance party.  I was more than a little obsessed with their 2010 release One Life Stand; it still has prominent placement on my workout playlist along with "Ready For the Floor" from their 2006 release, Made In The Dark.  So, one should assume that the recent news that Hot Chip has a new single from a new record (In Our Heads, out June 4th) has me dancing on the ceiling.  Hip Hip Hooray!!  "Night and Day" is groovy, funkadelic and disco-chic...absolutely everything that I love about Hot Chip.

Hot Chip are hitting the road this summer and are gracing the Hollywood Bowl stage once again - this time with Passion Pit - on September 9th.  Yipps!

New Music: Maps and Atlases

In doing some research on Maps & Atlases, I found that they are often referred to as a Math Rock band.  But, what I hear in Beware and Be Grateful is not really what I consider to be "math rock."  Maps & Atlases' sophomore release is pure folk-twinged poppy fun with an experimental lean.  Okay, maybe it's a little math rock.  I just don't want to give you the impression that it's total nerd herd, because it's not.  It's actually a really great record full of songs about love, loss and getting over it all.  Maps & Atlases started at Columbia College in Chicago, IL in 2004.  Since then, they have released two EP's and their debut full-length Perch Patchwork.  I'm not going to lie...I am not really familiar with that record.  But, now that I've heard Beware and Be Grateful, I'm kind of mad at myself for not noticing sooner.

The opening track "Old and Gray" engulfs you in this sweet sounding song about love lost.  The song takes a turn at the end when singer Dave Davison starts wailing "when you are old and gray, I hope that someone holds you the way that I would."  Truth. That kind of sealed the deal for me.  Just as you're trying to shake that lyric off, the second track "Fever" comes in and lifts you up.  It's got a pep in its step and makes you feel all festive.  Almost like you've been transported into some sort of Americana dance party.

"Remote and Dark Years" is bursting with haunting harmonies and has one of my favorite lines:

"I've got a drawer full of your notes
and word games that we played on plates
and five pages at least of you practicing
signing your first with my last name
...
And all the writing on the wall
is under three coats of paint
in an apartment we don't live in anymore"

So great.

I also really loved "Vampires."   Fuzzy and melodic, it will have you bobbing your head and dancing around the living room.  There's something very Peter Gabriel/Hold Steady ish about it to me.  Random combo, but it works.  I loved the Caribbean-tinged track "Old Ash."  It brings your spirit up before leading into "Important," the husky howled melancholic serenade that closes out the record.

"It's very important for you to know what I was listening to
it is very important for you to know that I was thinking of you

that I was thinking of you
in those last sounds
in those last sounds
and when the curtain closes
find what you're looking for"

The song is so simple and heartfelt, it leaves you with a bittersweet taste in your mouth and wanting to hear more.  I don't even feel like I have peeled back all the layers of this record and I can't wait to dig in and try.  Beware and Be Grateful is out now on Barsuk Records. I am aware and VERY grateful.

New Single: The Walkmen

The Walkmen have been one of my favorite bands since I first heard "The Rat" on MTV2's Subterranean in 2004.  It's not just because they are the HUNKIEST guys in indie rock today (which they are).  I love their music.  It makes me happy.  And, sometimes it makes me sad.

ENTER "Heaven."

"Heaven" is the first single from their upcoming album by the same name and three seconds in became my new favorite song.  Hamilton Leithauser's sultry and sexy howl singing this song is like a drug to me.

"Our children will always hear
 romantic tale of distant years
our guilded age
may come and go
out crooked dreams will always grow

Stick with me
oh, you're my best friend
all of my life you've always been
remember, remember
all we fight for
remember, remember
all we fight for


Don't leave me
you're my best friend
all of my life
you've always been

Don't leave me now
you're my best friend
all of my life
you've always been
remember, remember
all we fight for
remember, remember
all we fight for"

COME ON!!!  This shit is like kryptonite to me.  SO FRICKING GOOD.  As if that wasn't enough, they also released "Heartbreaker" this week, another new favorite song from Heaven.  The record is out May 29th on Fat Possum/Bella Union.  I'm not sure if I can wait that long!

Way Back Wednesday: Mazzy Star

Mazzy Star.  Love.  Back in the day, I was in mourning and all emo/all day with this song as part of my soundtrack.  I won't tell you the sob story about my boyfriend and I breaking up and how I was DE.VA.STATED for a very long time.  But, I will tell you that this was one of my favorite songs at the time.  And, there's a happy ending:  I still love the song, and thankfully got way over the guy.  If you're going to Coachella next weekend, Mazzy Star is on the mainstage.  Hope Sandoval looks and sounds great!  I watched the show online and it was pretty incredible!  (Though I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I was switching between Mazzy and another fave band...The Rapture...who KILLED it.)

Highlight of the day: COACHELLA!! (ish)

I'm very sad to be missing Coachella this year.  I won't get into reasons why (I'm looking at you, bank account), but I will say that I'm very grateful that the lovely folks at Goldenvoice have been so kind to air a live feed of three stages on YouTube.  So far, I've seen James, Grouplove, Jimmy Cliff & Tim Armstrong and am now watching the ever-amazing Dawes.  I'm impressed at how awesome they are live...even through my tiny computer screen with Judge Judy in the background.  Adding Dawes to my list of bands to see ASAP.

Dawes at Coachella

Near or far, it's definitely worth spending your Friday night at your computer.  Tonight's lineup online includes M83, The Rapture, Black Keys, Mazzy Star and Refused.  And, it's happening all weekend long!  Yippeeeeeeeeeee!!  Looks like I just saved myself $1,200!**

Does YouTube have a DVR function?

**All inclusive price of tickets, beer, food and lodging (and more beer).

New Music: Alabama Shakes

So far this year, I have loved a lot of bands.  Yes, I know...I'm kind of a music slut.  But, that's just what I do.  I'm a lover.  Of good music.  Not to diminish my feelings for all the others, but I think I'm ready to settle down.  And, the lucky band is Alabama Shakes.  I am so excited about their debut record Boys & Girls (out on ATO Records this week) that I can't stop preaching the Alabama Shakes gospel.   This is definitely my favorite record of the year thus far.  Boys & Girls has something for everyone. It's soulful, it's blues-y, it's rock, it's romantic, it's big, it's Southern.  It's the one record that I feel like I could tell most anyone I know that they will undoubtedly love it and mean it.  Some of the songs were previously released on the band's self-titled debut EP.  That’s only worth mentioning because it just means four less new songs we have to enjoy from the band. 

“Hold On” is the first single from the record and is definitely the one to suck you in and entice you to hear more.  Immediately, you’ll be mesmerized by Brittany Howard’s voice and the sheer soulfulness and maturity it encompasses.  It’s like Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin and anyone with a “Howlin” in front of his name had a baby.  You would think that this 23 year old woman had lived through a thousand years and was here to tell you about it.  “Hold On” has been in my head non-stop for the last week, which has been keeping me in a good mood, but only makes me wish that everyone around me could hear the song as well.  If I had one-tenth of the singing voice of Brittany Howard, I might be able to share it with others.  But, that's not gonna happen.  If it did, they'd also hear me singing “I Found You.”

“This isn't sometimes
Yeah, it’s for always
If I'm gonna love you with all of my heart
And if there is no more time
This always remains
Even as the world spins itself apart

Cuz I remember the day

I waited so patiently 

For God to bring someone

Who's gonna be good to me

And He blessed my soul

Cuz I've traveled a long way

And it took a long time

To find you,

But I finally found you.” 

Makes me want to go out and fall in love, just so I can have someone to share this song with.  Hmmm...I think I just wrote the headline to my Match.com profile.

If that doesn't work out, I can continue obsessing over the rest of the record.  While I love the whole thing, I would be remiss without highlighting "Hang Loose,” “You Ain’t Alone,” “Boys & Girls,” “Be Mine” and “On Your Way.”  I honestly could sit here and name check the entire tracklist of Boys & Girls as my absolute favorite and not be exaggerating at all.  It’s that effing good.  

I have two recommendations for you this Spring: one is to go out and immediately buy Alabama Shakes’ Boys & Girls and the second is to see them live.  Best show I’ve seen in a really long time.  Chills.  Not only will you experience something special, but you’ll be able to tell your friends many years from now that you saw the amazing Alabama Shakes at (insert small venue here) way before they blew up huge.  And, then you can tell them that your friend Jeannie told ya so.

Way Back Wednesday: Stars on 45

Picture it.  It was the early 80's.  I carried a sweet comb that said "Hot Stuff" on the handle in my back pocket.  I never used it to comb my hair, just kept it back there so that people would think know I was cool.  We'd hit up Skate Inn East to roller skate in a circle to our favorite songs of the time.  I'd be lying if I said I was a good skater.  Sometimes you could find me peeled to the shag carpeted wall, getting my footing.  Most of the time, I would try to hide out in the refreshment stand, drinking a suicide and eating a Krispy Kreme donut.  That is, until "Stars on 45" came on.  Then, I'd hit the floor and skate and dance as well as I could, which was still about half the speed as anyone else, and definitely not backwards.

Keeping My Ear On: Rumspringa

I happened to catch Rumspringa playing at the Bootleg Theater in LA last Monday night and thought they were awesome!  And then I got home and realized that I had been staring at their first full-length cd, Sway, in a stack next to my desk for a couple of years.  Granted, it was labeled with a sticky note that said "Good," but I was a little pissed at myself for not picking it up and giving it a second whirl.  Now that I have, I am a little obsessed with Rumspringa and their crushing guitar ridden hooks with a dark poppy veneer.  They announced at the show that they'll be posting new tracks soon on their website and I can't wait to hear more.  If you're out in the desert and can't make it to Coachella, you can catch Rumspringa at the Desert Daze Festival on Sunday, April 15th.

New Band Crush: Tanlines

Don't mind me, I'm just a little obsessed with Tanlines.  I don't mean the things that don't exist on my body since it finally sunk in that the sun tanning my bronzed skin might kill me (whyyy god, whyyy?!).  No, I'm talking about the Brooklyn band Tanlines.  Not only am I in love with their first single "Brothers" from their debut record Mixed Emotions, but they just released the second video from the record, "All of Me," directed by Julian Barratt of The Mighty Boosh.  "Brothers" made me happy, "All of Me" makes me GIDDY.  Mixed Emotions is an awesome record full of synthy poppy jams that makes me want to dance the night away.  I just can't get enough!

See them live here:

Wed, Apr 11       Washington, DC           DC9

Thu, Apr 12        New York, NY             Bowery Ballroom

Fri, Apr 13          Philadelphia, PA          Making Time @ Voyeur

Sat, Apr 14          Middleton, CT            Wesleyan University

Mon, Apr 16       Montreal, QC              Il Motore

Tue, Apr 17         Toronto, ON               Wrong Bar

Wed, Apr 18       Cleveland, OH            Grog Shop

Thu, Apr 19        Chicago, IL                 Empty Bottle  

Fri, Apr 20          Minneapolis, MN       7th Street Entry

Mon, Apr 23       Vancouver, BC           Fortune Sound Club

Tue, Apr 24         Seattle, WA                Barboza

Wed, Apr 25       Portland, OR               Doug Fir Lounge

Fri, Apr 27          San Francisco, CA      Rickshaw Stop

Sun, Apr 29        San Diego, CA            Casbah

Mon, Apr 30       Los Angeles, CA        Echo

Way Back Wednesday: that dog.

I'm heading to Minneapolis this week and couldn't help but be inspired to dig up that dog.'s "Minneapolis" from the archive.  That dog. was one of my favorite bands in the mid-nineties.  They had some mild success and critical acclaim, but don't get the recognition they deserve.  Retreat From The Sun is quite possibly one of the catchiest records I own.  I can probably sing most of the songs on there STILL with no music or prompt whatsoever.  I don't think they ever made a video of this song, but someone was kind enough to add some footage of Minneapolis to the song.  They're missing the Jabberjaw and the cutest boy I ever saw. 

That dog. is slowly creeping back.  They've been playing a few reunion shows - two in Los Angeles at Largo on April 13th and one in Brooklyn at Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 24th.  Not sure if they're working on new material or not...one can only hope!

New Video: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - We Almost Lost Detroit from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. on Vimeo.



"We Almost Lost Detroit" is the new video from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and is the latest single from their debut full-length It's A Corporate World.  "We Almost Lost Detroit" is a cover of the Gil Scott Heron song and is sort of an homage to him.  I have a special place in my heart for Detroit and this song so perfectly fits for how I feel about Detroit these days.  Last time I was there, it seems like Detroit is on its way back.  The auto industry is doing better, and people seem to be getting by.  It's not perfect, but it's a little bit better.  And, these days, that's what counts. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.'s statement about the video and the song is pretty inspiring.  I'll let them tell you what the song and video means to them:

"Today we are debuting a video for a song we did not write, but instantly drew a very high level of inspiration from since we formed as a band roughly two years ago. So much so that we felt compelled to record our own version, and put it on our first ever full-length album last year.

"We Almost Lost Detroit" began for us as an homage to one of the great artists of our time, Gil Scott Heron. We were so affected by its continued relevance as a piece of work some 30+ years later that just simply attempting to reinterpret it as a creative exercise seemed like a good enough idea on its own. While the song was originally penned as a reaction to a partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor halfway between Detroit,MI and Toledo,OH, so much of the imagery contained in Gil's words seemed to ring true with the news of today.

But the spirit of the song that always rang out to us was that it didn't seem to be about simply pointing out what had gone wrong. The message seemingly was one of progress. About setting things right. Coming together as people and moving forward. As Gil would say many years later in concert, the song is about realizing that "somebody's always got to be on the job... because there's always a job out there to do".

So we wanted this video to be about people DOING things in and around the city of Detroit. People who are on the job. People who have moved past "what happened?" and are spending more time saying "lets MAKE things happen". These are the people who we feel represent the city of Detroit.

Sadly, roughly nine months after we recorded and began performing our version of the song, Gil Scott Heron passed away at the age of 62. To be clear, we do not consider ourselves a mouthpiece for him nor are we anywhere near as strong of a social voice as he was. But we do hope that our version of his song continues to inspire people to get out there and work towards a better future.

Since that time, the song has taken on a new meaning to us as we have been performing it in various cities and countries for the past year. Every time we performed the song, we were overwhelmed by the connection that we felt to our town even as we were many miles away from the place we still call 'home'. And it was overwhelming to see the positive message of the song reflected back in the enthusiasm of the audiences we performed it for.

As Detroiters, we are born and bred with a civic pride that we are continually told is somewhat uncommon. We wanted the city, and the people in the city, to be the video for this simple reason. It is an exciting time to be from Detroit--as we believe it's a city that is in the midst of reinventing itself in a huge way."

New Music: Oberhofer

Oberhofer's debut Time Capsules II is probably one of the most appropriately named records I have heard in a long time.  Listening to the record is like stepping in a time capsule and going back to a time when things were easy, fun.  It's not just because the music has a very 60's vibe to it, almost like Pet Sounds or Donovan. Maybe it's because Time Capsules II transports you to that awesome moment when you realize that you're falling in love, whether it's reciprocated or not.  It makes you feel that love, the chance at love, when heart is good, hopeful and happy.  My vote is that it's because of all that dang xylophone.  I love it.  It's got me mesmerized.  Whatever it is, it's working.

The record opens with "HEART" and rolls straight into "Landline," which transports you to a time when people had more than one phone.  "If I don't pick up the phone, call the landline."  "Away Frm U" and "I Could Go" are both so catchy, it hurts.  I could sit here and wax poetic about how every song on the record is my favorite.  It's hard when every song really is your favorite.  Songs like oOoO,""Cruisin' FDR" and "Haus."  LOVE.

Time Capsules II is abundant in melody, harmony and lush orchestration.  It wraps you up in a snuggly blanket and fills you with endorphins of love.  I love that all of the hope and emotion that you hear in the lyrics is perfectly illustrated in the music.  With every tap of the xylophone, a young person in love has their first kiss.  What Time Capsules II does for me is wipe away the bitterness and replace it with loving hopefulness. Maybe I will find love!!  Maybe even today!!