Daily Dares

Wavves - Whatever Happened to the Cool Jumper Sessions?

2011-03-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

As much as I like Wavves latest album, King of the Beach, from hearing the few tracks that Nathan of Wavves wrote with Zach Hill a little over a year ago, which were available to listen to, I always felt that artistically those songs surpassed the creativity of King of the Beach. Although KOTB reflected much more of Nathan's personality, I feel that the collaboration between Zach and him was amazing. I've heard rumors of that particular album being released on Zach's home label, Sargent House. Recently, Zach and Nathan posted three tracks, from those sessions, on their respective blogs and Zach also posted a link to download the track "Horse Shoes".

Latest tracks by wavveswavves

Also check out the video for the title track of the latest Wavves album, King of the Beach.

Death Grips - Full Moon (Death Classic)

2011-03-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

Zach Hill is a wanted man. Not in the sense that he's on the run from the authorities but in the way that many a musician wants his intense and erratic drum stylings as well as his unique production. He's been busy touring with Deerhoof in the project he created with Deerhoof member Greg Saunier called Nervous Cop. In the past he's also worked with Wavves, creating a complete album, which precedes the latest Wavves album, King of the Beach, that has yet to see much of the light of day. Rumor has it he is currently working on an album with David Scott Stone. If you aren't very familiar with Zach's work check out his early work with Hella and, obviously, his solo work.

About five months ago Zach started jamming out with friends and neighbors of his in the Sacramento area. This has culminated into a project known as Death Grips. Get a peek into the world of Death Grips with the music video for their song Full Moon (Death Classic) and also check out the Death Grips site filled with more videos and six downloadable songs.

Cold Cave - Cherish the Light Years

2011-03-26T00:00:00.001-07:00

Cold Cave's newest album will be released next week on April 5th but I've been given the opportunity to stream it, before it comes out, on this blog. Check it out!

Zoobombs - Psychedilc Donuts Rock or Punk Floyd

2011-03-22T00:04:00.000-07:00

My gripe with the current psych-rock revival is that there seems to be this slavish adherence to the former aesthetics; visually and auditory. While there are a few bands who have tried break the mold (very few successfully), others subjugate themselves to a style that grows quickly tired. While I do find some of these bands entertaining, I've come to the conclusion that both are missing components that truly separate themselves from the pack; the fact that they don't follow the pack.

Psych rock, for me, has always meant anything that was melodic yet with a rock n' roll foundation. Take for instance bands like Butthole Surfers or The Flaming Lips. Both bands began with this basis yet they have always accepted different aspects of different genres like punk and noise. And then along comes Zoobombs.

I was recently introduced to this band via my friend Dana Poblete's (Batwings Catwings) blog. I watched a few videos of them and listened to some of their music on their facebook and was blown away. This band is truly a good example of what psychedelic can be. Notice the lack of their adherence to the psych rock dress code and the ability to be, in Dana's words, "effortlessly cool". Yeah, I'm putting all psych rock posers on blast. I don't care if Zoobombs never blows up to massive proportions. I know that this band destroys everything else that comes out these days that even claims to be psych.

ZOOBOMBS Live at the CMW Daylight Riot from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

Kit - Ambrosia

2011-03-19T23:02:00.000-07:00

This has to be the best video I've seen in a while. Kit has a new album available on Upset the Rhythm and the song in this video is on it. They're headed out soon for a tour of Europe/UK and hopefully a US tour to follow.

Kit "Ambrosia" from who ate my teeth? on Vimeo.

Jeremy Jay - Caught in a Whirl

2011-03-18T22:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a cool little jam from Jeremy Jay. The footage on this video is from Jorgen Leth’s 1969 danish short film ‘Det Perfekte menneske’. This song will be on his new album that will be out on K Records which will be available this April.

Jeremy Jay - "Caught In A Whirl" from Jamie Harley on Vimeo.

Just a Number 05272011 - He Didn't Want A Love Song

2011-03-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

Totally digging the Swedish band "Just a Number 05272011". Don't know much about them other than you can stream their song "The Pain" from their Soundcloud and check out the video for their song "He Didn't Want a Love Song" on Vimeo. Check them both out here.

He Didn't Want A Love Song from just a number 05272011 on Vimeo.

THE PAIN by Just a number 05272011

Michael Nhat - Bjork as a Teenager

2011-03-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

I am quite sure that there is no other MC/producer/artist quite like Michael Nhat. From the very beginning, when just hearing about him through my buddies in Halloween Swim Team, watching a few videos and seeing pictures of his cover art, I instantly liked the aesthetics to his art. I'm pretty sure that many "heads" will pick apart his style and find elements of his work where they could compare him to other artists. Yet the simple fact remains that even with those kinds of critique, you would never have predicted the outcome that is Michael Nhat's art. And now with the recent announcement of his decision to leave Los Angeles for Philadelphia, PA, the talent that is Mr. Nhat will hopefully be a little more recognized. It sounds really cliche but sometimes you don't realize what you have until it's gone. Good luck in Philly Michael!

Michael Nhat - "Björk As A Teenager" from Joshua Clarkson on Vimeo.

Batwings Catwings - Endless Summer

2011-02-28T21:24:00.000-08:00

How did I sleep on this one. Well, I guess it's only a month old but I still don't know how I missed this music video. Check out Batwings Catwings music video for their song "Endless Summer".

Ghost Animal - Youth

2011-02-23T01:17:00.000-08:00

What is the sound of youth? How do you describe that sound? Would it be the yelps, screams, laughter, and hollering made in an elementary school playground? Would it be the silent shuffle of teenage feet onto a porch hours after they were expected to be home? Ghost Animal's latest album, Youth, would describe it with blissful, lo-fi pop filled with catchy oo's and ah's that would take many back to some of the most splendid moments of one more youthful days and nights. You can download their new album for free via the label Kill Hurt Recordings. If you purchase the cassette you get two bonus tracks. Also, check out the new video for their song "Young and In Love".

Ghost Animal - "Young And In Love" from The Tearist on Vimeo.

Halloween Swim Team - Look Back In Anger

2011-02-23T01:04:00.001-08:00

So my friends in Halloween Swim Team have posted their cover of David Bowie's "Look Back In Anger", which was included on the Manimal Vinyl's David Bowie tribute "We Were So Turned On", on their Soundcloud. You can download it there or you can just pick up the whole tribute album which includes a lot of really great covers from a lot of really great artists like Sister Crayon, A Place to Bury Strangers, Vivian Girls, Warpaint, Carla Bruni, Duran Duran, and many others. You can pick it up directly from Manimal here.

Radiohead - Lotus Flower

2011-02-18T08:10:00.000-08:00

Three words; new Radiohead video.

Batwings Catwings - Peacock Collection

2011-02-03T17:54:00.000-08:00

Batwings Catwings have a new EP called "Peacock Collection"and it's ready to attack your ears. Download it here!

Zoo Music - Flowers in the Dustbin

2011-02-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

Zoo Music, a label based out of San Diego, CA has a pretty awesome compilation out called "Flowers in the Dustbin" that features artists like The Dum Dum Girls, Reading Rainbow, and Crocodiles. Right now they have that comp available for download at Amazon.com for free for only a limited amount of time! Here's a direct link! Enjoy!

Sister Crayon - Music Video for "I'm Still the Same Person"

2011-02-03T11:44:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I posted a link to Sister Crayon's song "I'm Still the Same Person" and today they just premiered their music video for it. Check it out!

Hausu - I am the Cold, You are the Dark

2011-02-01T23:31:00.000-08:00

I often get friends asking me how I find out about the music I listen to. One of the ways I find new music is to just look around me and pay attention to what my friends are checking out. Thankfully Facebook makes it easy to see what my friends are getting into. Hausu, which is Japanese for "house", is a band that my friend Sam, from No Paws and Family Time Records, just recently "liked" on Facebook. I decided to check them out and give them a listen. I 'm a sucker for their jangly pop/brit pop sound and goth influenced vocals. Check out their video and download their EP for free on their Bandcamp page.

Hausu - The Haze from Santiago Leyba on Vimeo.

Sister Crayon - I'm still the Same Person

2011-01-06T10:24:00.001-08:00

I first saw Sister Crayon at the most recent Manimal Festival and, other than Religious Girls and Halloween Swim Team, they were easily one of my favorite bands of the day. Next month they will be releasing their newest album "Bellow". For now Fader magazine has posted a track from their upcoming album on their site. Check out "I'm Still the Same Person".

Big Whup - B.O.N.I.Z.H.E.A.R.T.

2010-12-13T15:50:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge fan of melodic pop especially the kind that doesn't take themselves to seriously. I like bands that don't take themselves to seriously in general. Which is why I like Big Whup so much probably. Big Whup takes the kind of pop that Belle and Sebastian is famous for and makes it their own. Here's the music video for their song B.O.N.I.Z.H.E.A.R.T. Enjoy!

And go see them tonight at Pehrspace!

Kevin Greenspon Tells It LIke It Is

2010-09-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

Kevin Greenspon is truly one of my personal heroes. He writes really good songs that span across many different styles of music from folk to noise and he runs one of the best labels around. His label is one of the best not only because of his excellent taste and consistency but because of his personal ethics. He isn't shy about speaking his mind about things. For instance his stance on the current "music dynamic":

"The day I give in to a “promo guy” is the day this label is OVER. I’m kind of venting because I’m really tired of people who don’t know what this label is about, hitting me up like they are huge supporters and have the whole catalog blah blah but really just trying to make money off of MY FRIENDS - aka the artists I release. Not happening. This is a personal label- I do everything myself and everyone who’s ever supported me knows this firsthand. Guys in Beverly Hills with management companies obviously don’t know this.

In other news, my split CD with Cloud Nothings and re-issues of 4 sold out releases are going to be available in a few days. I’m really excited about all of them, they’ll be out just before I leave for tour and you can get all 5 of them shipped straight to your house for only $22 because I don’t have to kick back stupid fees to promoters or booking agents or managers or anyone in “the music biz.” Cheaper at the shows.

Thanks to everyone who has ever ordered a CD/tape, came to a show and said hi, emailed me saying you liked the music, or helped make me feel like I should keep doing this my own way instead of just throwing stupid money to a bunch of guys who don’t care about the music my friends and I make, who say “we can do the work for you” to every independent label they can google.

To the guys who took the bait: have fun selling $9 7”s."

For more on Kevin and his label Bridgetown, check out his Tumblr

Vice Cooler Wants Your Help!

2010-08-26T19:40:00.001-07:00

Vice Cooler. He's a punk screamer and a rapper. He's a lover and a fighter. Right now he's fighting to raise money for the Survivor's Fund, which helps women who were orphaned by the Rwandan Genocide. How is he doing this? He's putting together a Kickstarter fund to raise money for the pressing of the benefit LP, NFJM 030. This LP will feature SoCal notables such as Gossip, XBXRX, and No Age along with other great bands like Deerhoof and Dan Deacon. There are different levels of rewards too for those who help out and I have to say they're pretty badass. Go to the Kickstarter fund page to get more info.

NFJM030 from Vice Cooler on Vimeo.

This Monday at Pehrspace...

2010-08-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

This Monday at Pehrspace, Sean Carnage presents a very special show introducing a brand new band called Physical Forms. It's their first show and they're headlining it. How can a band playing their first show ever deserve a headlining slot, albeit at a small venue like Pehrspace, you may ask. It's because this band features members of Mae Shi, Division Day, Hiking, Bad Dudes, and featuring Busdriver! I predict that this one will sell out so get there early.

More info at Seancarnage.com

Halloween Swim Team - Pitch Black

2010-08-26T16:16:00.000-07:00

Here's the new video for Halloween Swim Team's song "Pitch Black" which comes off the first of their series of three EPs entitled ANTENNAAA. Very sci-fi but also pretty trippy stuff. What I've always appreciated about these guys is their ability to utilize the little resources, make the best of them, and still come out with an awesome video.

Halloween Swim Team - Pitch Black from Halloween Swim Team on Vimeo.

Man's Assassination, Man - Cavedad

2010-08-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

Here's a really cool new video from Man's Assassination, Man, a band that includes members of Signals.

Dan Plaza - Community Pop

2010-08-05T11:42:00.000-07:00

"You remember when school made you draw pictures of a kid of every race/ethnicity holding hands around the world? I mean, that's stupid but obviously it would be amazing if we could actually pull that off. That's exactly what the future attitude is. You've got to stand for something, even if it makes you look like a lameo. And you can't pull sarcasm excuses anymore. No more. Senses of humor are good though. It's all about being lighthearted while believing in something. I'm serious about this." - Dan Plaza

I was first introduced to Dan Plaza's music by my friend Wilton, of Not the Government, via a video post on facebook. It was a song from his performance on KXLU's Demolisten. I was instantly hooked by his positive energy and his uplifting lyrics. I a world of cynics, downers, and people who are just plain angry with something, it's refreshing to hear music that gives you a sense of hope and gives you something to believe in. Check out his site and download some his album.

Dan Plaza's official site

Big Lizard - Be Your Own Movement

2010-08-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

I used to work for the Trader Joe's in Cathedral City. We would get new transfers occasionally, some of which were from stores here in the Valley. We had just gotten a new transfer in from Palm Desert and I was assigned to work with him in the cooler. The conversation had gotten around to my old band and how he had seen us play a show at the local community college. He said "you guys were really good!" I was modest and told him that we weren't that talented and that we did the best we could do with what we had. He went on to say "No, you guys were really good! You can always tell who plays with passion." Passion. It definitely does make a huge difference.

Big Lizard, Tony Duran on Vocals, Sal Novoa; guitar, James Gastelum plays bass, and Eli Carter is on the drums, are a relatively new band here. I'm not big on hype. I like what I like regardless of expectation. So why else should I do an interview with a band that I'm not super hyped on. Passion. The same passion that my co-worker at Trader Joe's saw in my old band, I see in them. They're young and still have a long way to go but I appreciate them for their heart and I see a lot of potential. I find it important to interview them to hopefully have them be an example of what it means to not only have passion but to also play with passion. They're an example of being your own movement rather than being part of a movement.

AC - I want to start off by saying when I first heard about you guys, I was pretty skeptical. I'm a skeptic in general. So when I first heard you guys, I was pretty excited to see you live. I'm not here to blow up your ego. This isn't some puff piece. I view you guys and NASA Cat, this new crop of bands, as some of the most exciting live bands to come out of the desert in some time.

SN - Thank you so much!

AC - The thing is there's passion and there's playing with passion and you guys have both. With the little hype that you guys have received, albeit mostly word of mouth, how do you feel about this new found attention?

SN - Well, I don't know about the rest of these guys but the more hype we receive, the more humble it makes me. If you let the hype get to you, you tend to lose the passion you once had.

AC - That's interesting, it sounds like you take it in stride. It's kind of not the answer I was expecting. I was kind of expecting the normal "I don't believe the hype" answer. You sound like you accept that it's there but you don't let it change your mindset.

EC - I think that people's enthusiasm for the music is always welcome. It's really neat to see people have a response to this but that's not gonna effect what we do as a band. Definitely it gets people motivated behind the music. It's always nice. It's encouraging. At least people are receiving what we're doing.

SN - It's always cool to play shows and see people sing our lyrics. I'd have to say that's probably my favorite part; seeing people sing along with Tony, that's really cool.

EC - We're definitely against hype that's not deserved.

AC - Do you feel like you've been influenced by any of the local bands? If there are any bands, who would they be?

JG - I wouldn't say they influenced us a lot but Youth Pollution and Hi Ho Silver Away.

SN - Yeah, Hi Ho Silver Away, definitely.

JG - Yeah, I really dig their lyrics.

EC - As far as acts I've seen out here, I'd agree that Hi Ho Silver Away is one of the better bands in the desert. Youth Pollution too, just purely for the fact that it's completely different from what people are normally doing. You see a lot of people who react really strangely to them.

AC - I've seen their name on a few fliers out here. What about them makes you excited for their music?

JG - I'm not saying that they're not good at their instruments, they just play power chords, but when he solos, he doesn't stick to some formula. He plays whatever feels right.

EC - It definitely goes back to what we were talking about; playing with passion. You really can pick up on that.

SN - As far as Hi Ho Silver Away goes, his lyrics are pretty amazing. You feel what he's saying especially when he says the word "fuck", this dude is serious!

AC - Yeah, I've always felt that when you cuss in a song there's gotta be meaning behind it or else it's just a crutch. There's a difference between saying "fuck" and saying "FUCK".

EC - It's a good way of commanding attention.

AC- As far as influences go, in general, who are yours?

TD - Influences for me would be Lux Interior from The Cramps because his stage presence, even though he's been gone for three years now, it's still as powerful as it was in 1977. I'd also have to say Jeffrey Lee Pierce of The Gun Club. He captured being a tortured artist perfectly and his contribution to the punk scene in the 80's in LA, I feel was just phenomenal. Their first album should hailed as one of the greats.

JG - For me, a lot of punk like TSOL, but I would say Sebadoh stands out. They're definitely an influence. Lou Barlow man...

AC - Were you a big Dinosaur Jr fan?

JG - Uh, no...

AC - How about Folk Implosion?

JG - I have a 45" of theirs.

AC - What about you Sal?

SN - This won't come as a surprise to James but one of my biggest influences is Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. I don't know if you can tell by the music we play but blues really influences me. To me blues comes straight from the heart. Some people got it, some people don't. As far as Billy Gibbons goes, he doesn't play the craziest riffs in the world, but there's so much passion and heart in what he's playing. When I heard ZZ Top for the first time I was listening to "Tush". That main riff was really awesome! It was actually my dad's cassette and I asked him who was playing and he showed me the tape and all you saw was these two dudes with long ass beards. He told me it was ZZ Top and that they were from Texas, which is where I'm from. From then on I fell in love with ZZ Top and I knew I wanted to play guitar.

JG - I remember when we were in elementary school, it was probably third or fourth grade, he had this manila folder with ZZ Top written all over it!

AC - That's funny because most people's perception of ZZ Top is this kind of band that you don't take seriously because the music was kind of goofy, with the long beards and the funny music videos. They were never a band that I ever took seriously until later as I got older. But I think that an honest answer like that is great. To many people try to act cool and hide their more embarrassing influences.

SN - Yeah it's funny, after elementary school, James and I never really talked. But when we first started playing music together, one of the first things he said to me was "hey, do you still listen to ZZ Top?"

EC - Well, since we're on the subject of more embarrassing influences, probably Bjork was one of my earliest influences.

AC - Aw, don't be embarrassed of liking Bjork.

EC - But more recently I've been listening to Discord bands like Black Eyes and Q and not U. Lately I've been listening to a band called RVIVR. I've taken a lot from that band.

AC - What bands from out here do you guys feel people should be paying attention to?

JG - I would say probably Baby New Year.

AC - He's been around for a little while. What about him do you like?

JG - It's just sincere. His lyrics are very sincere. He's a great musician too.

AC - What is the writing process like for you guys?

SN - As far as the music goes it's been James and me.

JG - It starts with an idea and Sal will come up with a guitar part or I'll come up with a bass line and it kind of builds from there.

SN - I remember being in the car with my family on our way towards Cabazon and a riff came to mind. I really liked it and I didn't have a guitar so I grabbed my sister's cell phone and hummed just so I could record it and remember it.

AC - How about lyrically? Are there certain themes that you usually play with?

TD - I don't really have set themes. Whatever I feel reflects the song I try to write something for it. It could be a dream that I don't really remember. There's that song we have about rape. It's one of my favorite ones. They just come from all over the place. It all stems from me.

AC - You guys are originally from the Indio/Coachella area. If at all, in what ways do you think your hometown has effected your music?

SN - Well, yeah, there really isn't much to do out here. Besides the band I really have no life. I guess to some extent it does have some effect on the music.

EC - I think that regardless of where you're at, the fact that there is nothing to do is a good motivator for making music.

AC - What are your feelings on all-ages venues versus playing in bars?

EC - Bands cater so much to these bar environments, especially in the Palm Springs area. I just think it's bullshit that we're limited to playing in these bar environments. I think it's pretty crucial get the all age thing. A lot of the demographic for music are under age. There's really only a small group of people who are 21 and up that are going out to see a show.

AC - Do you think an increase in all age venues will attribute to an increase in bands here in the valley?

SN - I think so. Any kid, after seeing a band play, could be inspired to start a band. Just an increased opportunity to inspire.

EC - The one cool thing that I've seen come out of this whole 21 and up environment is the ingenuity of the kids out here.

AC - I've always been more attracted to people who are their own movement than to those who are trying to be part of a movement. Where do you guys feel you fit into that statement?

SN - Well, kids can be a little ignorant. They want things to fit into what they think is better. I've had kids tell me that we should get someone who can sing. They don't know what they're talking about. I don't want to be part of any movement especially not theirs.

AC - Yeah, I kind of feel like people out here would rather adhere to an aesthetic than to experience something new.

JG - Yeah, take for instance Youth Pollution. They're a punk band but not the normal punk band. They would play a show and all the other punk kids would just stand around waiting for them to finish just so they can hear their punk bands. I listen to punk like Minor Threat and I have the same influences as them but it just seems like they don't appreciate anything else.

AC - So I would venture to say that you subscribe to the whole Mike Watt, punk is what you make of it, attitude.

EC - Yes.

SN - Yeah.

AC - It seems like the kids out here would rather subscribe to an aesthetic than to actually just be open to a wide variety of things. How does that make you feel.

SN - It's pathetic. To me, if a bands good than a band is good. It doesn't matter what style they play.

AC - Well, it goes back to how you feel about ZZ Top. You can like TSOL and like ZZ Top.

SN - Yeah! If a bands good give it up to them.

AC - I always try to be honest with everything that I say. I'm not going to tell you that I'm interviewing you because I think you guys are the greatest band I've ever heard. That would be a discredit to you. I feel that you guys have potential. I've seen the tiniest amount of hype swallow up many a band here in the valley.

SN - The last thing we want is for the appreciation of the music to be lost.

Check out more of Big Lizard on their Myspace.

Power Axe - The Volcano's Peak

2010-07-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

Hardly anybody makes angry music anymore. It's funny, when I was younger, I didn't listen to very much angry music. The stuff I listened, I thought was angry and aggressive, but in all honesty it was never consistently loud and angry. Now that I'm older, for some strange reason I'm playing catch up and really wanting to hear music that makes you feel like destroying everything in your path. I like bands that play really good melodies and harmonies just as much the next hipster, listening to Fleet Foxes, Beach House, or Grizzly Bear, riding his fixie, cloth bag in tow, while headed to Trader Joe's to pick up some hemp protein powder because they're vegan now but if absolutely necessary they'll eat chicken, just like last week when they were at their favorite dive bar and had one to many PBRs and needed something to soak up all that alcohol, so in an emergency they stopped off at the nearest taco truck and had a pollo asada burrito with everything including beans which were probably made with lard but it was soooooooo worth it!... But I digress. Power Axe. The band's name alone says "I will kick you in the fucking teeth!" This is the kind of loud angry music I want to hear. They've described their music as sounding like the fog rolling over the volcano's peak. YES, that's exactly what it sounds like, ominous, conjuring up images of orcs and demons and devil dogs gathering to do battle against all mankind. It's the kind of stuff that most of the hipster set are afraid to partake in because it's to aggressive and would ruin the clothes that they so carefully made look like they just woke up from an all night bender with the guys in Vampire Weekend... oh wait those guys are so two years ago right? Anyway, go check out Power Axe and get ready to break something.

Power Axe on Facebook
Power Axe on Myspace

Zach Hill x No Age

2010-07-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

Here's the new video from Zach Hill for the song Sacto Smile off of the album Face Tat. This song is a collab with No Age. Makes me want to destroy stuff! Enjoy!

Sean Carnage 5 Year Anniversary Show

2010-07-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

Sean Carnage is celebrating their five year anniversary of putting on some of the best shows in the LA area. Join the celebration on Monday, August 2nd!!! Congrats! Keep on doing what you do!

KXLU's Demolisten

2010-07-15T18:17:00.000-07:00

Living in Palm Springs, not until a couple years ago I've never heard of KXLU's Demolisten. It's apparently been around since 1984 giving up and coming bands a chance to show off their demo on radio. To the best of my knowledge, about a year ago they began posting some of their live performances on youtube. Here are a few of my current favorite performances.

Bridgetown Records - Tape's not Dead

2010-07-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

Recently on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, uber-producer Danger Mouse talked about how his first EP was released on a record label that produces small quantity releases (most times in the hundreds) often times only on cassette tape. Kevin Greesnspon's Bridgetown Records is one of those labels that does this. These days labels like this are a dime a dozen. So what's so great about this growing anomaly in the music industry? What's so special about, specifically, Bridgetown? What does it mean for everyone involved, from artist to consumer and everyone in between? First of all let me introduce you to Kevin Greenspon.

I found out about Kevin through seeing his name frequently involved with my friend's band, No Paws, on fliers for shows at Ports o' Call Bedroom and other events. I checked him out and really liked his music. It was folky at the time when the term outsider folk was being kicked around amongst many of his peers such as Voice on Tape, Zombelle, Whitman, John Thill, and Sean Pineda. Outsider folk, to me, was anyone that had a folk sensibility yet wasn't trying to be the next Dylan. It had a heart that was missing from folk that I hadn't heard in quite some time and each of those artists that I previously named have a unique voice of their own. Kevin was, to me, the newcomer to that group. I've been a fan for a while now. We had made a connection via the Internet and I've followed his music and all things he's been involved with since then.

I don't know how long Kevin's been doing Bridgetown. My guess is it's been about two years. Labels like his are nothing new under the sun though. Punk bands have been making small run, self released albums for years. But in an age where any and every kind of media can be downloaded, labels like Bridgetown, have become extremely important to the survival and proliferation of artist driven music. The "art of the album" has been somewhat lost. These days it's very easy to download single tracks from an album, leaving out the tracks that are less favorable, not realizing that some of these bands release the full length album with the intent of the listener hearing the album from beginning to end in order to tell a story. The album artwork and packaging also provide something that a Jpeg can't. And in the case of an artist like Danger Mouse, the collectability and value of his first cassette has skyrocketed.

Selling batches of CDs and cassettes is also a concept that isn't new in the DIY arena. It's commonplace. But what makes the Bridgetown batches so special is it's consistency. A lot of DIY labels tend to waver in it's releases, sporadically putting out albums, all the while becoming stale with it's roster of artists. Bridgetown negates this occurrence by putting out it's releases all at one time, giving the buyer the option to buy single albums, multiple albums, or the complete batch all at consecutively better deals. Their summer batch features CDs from such notable bands as Weed Diamond, Vehicles Blues, and Ancient Crux whose last album, Interracial Coupling, sparked a lot of interest in another one of my favorite labels, Family Time.

Bridgetown Records recently has seen write-ups and mentions from some of the biggest taste makers today such as Stereogum, The Fader, and Vice and for good reason; the selection of bands that he chooses to release records for is impeccable. They're tiny gems waiting to be discovered. Check them out for yourself. Tons of free mp3s on the site as well as info on upcoming shows for bands that Bridgetown is currently involved with.

Download the Bridgetown Spring sampler here

Download the Bridgetown Summer sampler here

LA Record 100

2010-07-08T15:48:00.000-07:00

If you live in LA and don't know what LA Record is then you've been living under a rock. If you live in the Southern California area, go to shows in the LA area, and don't know who they are, then you're walking around with blinders. LA Record is, in my opinion, the number one taste maker in the LA area. I remember getting their print issues every time I'd go to LA for a show. They used be this large, one sheet, newspaper format but have grown even including the latest news online via their website. The great thing about them is they stay true to their roots. Although they do have articles about really big acts coming through LA they still talk about little known bands that deserve attention. They're celebrating their 100th issue with a month long festival. Lots of great events at many great LA venues. Check out their site. For those who live in LA, or those who plan on making the trek out their often, should think about taking advantage of the LA Record 100 card. This card gets you discounts and specials at all events, sometimes even free entry.

Wavves - King of the Beach

2010-07-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

I'm completely skeptical of hype yet I'll give anything a chance. I try not to let the hype get to me. Kind of like when Kobe Bryant would constantly get asked about the levity of playing in such a classic series such as the Lakers vs. Celtics rivalry. He would constantly tell everyone that it really didn't matter. Doing so helped him think clearly about the objective. I did the same for Wavve s. When I first started hearing about Nathan Williams, some of my friends would say that his previous band, Fantastic Magic was better although Wavves to them was good. Others would say the opposite. It's strange to think that the same person who is doing Wavves, a Cali-punk band doing songs obviously influenced by the place he lives, San Diego, was doing music much closer to Devandra Banhart. Then again, I shouldn't think it to odd.

I wasn't instantly floored by Wavves when I first heard them. In fact, I was kind of talking shit. Saying things like "the lo-fi sound is great for the album but I wonder if he could pull off these songs and make them sound interesting live". Lo-fi albums can run the risk of not delivering live. For instance Best Coast and Vivian Girls. The only way I could ever prove or disprove this thesis would be to go to one of their shows. I finally saw them live and was impressed. Yet how can he follow this up? I was very excited when I heard the track Cool Jumper that Nathan Williams did with Zach Hill. It was a sonic leap forward. Very unexpected for those not familiar with Zach Hill's body of work. Then came along Jay Retard's old backing band.

Jay Retard's old backing band joined Wavves leaving me a bit disappointed. I really wanted to hear more of what Zach Hill brought to Wavves. I felt like he was going to slide back into what was familiar. Little did I know that King of the Beach was going to be a pure pop magic. Nathan ups the pop ante by weaving in some Cali influence a'la Beach Boy/Brian Wilson instrumentation while still keeping enough punk to keep it raw enough for even the most skeptical, such as me. Thank you Wavves for providing me with the soundtrack to Summer 2010. Check out the live stream of King of the Beach on Fat Possum Records.

Tetricide - Inside the 8-Bit Aesthetic

2010-07-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

As many of you may know, I'm a huge geek. I love comic books, sci-fi and horror films, amongst a lot of other nerdy things. One of my loves is the world of 8-bit games and graphics. I guess because it hearkens back to a time much simpler. Recently Sean Carnage posted on his site a mini doc on the exhibit that Walt Gorecki is curating which features artists who have created works that combine the 8-bit aesthetic with music and more specifically music from the LA area. Check it out. I especially love the re imagined version Super Mario Bros in which the artist turned Mario into Brian Miller.

Bizzart + Walter Gross = Screwtape

2010-07-07T18:37:00.001-07:00

Saw this on Hipsters Heart Hip Hop. I've been into Bizzart for quite some time. I think the first time I heard his music, more like his version of someone else's music, was on the Quem Quaritis Tribute CD. This is a cool little improv session of Screwtape, the project that he does with Walter Gross, during one of the Hipsters Heart Hip Hop events.

Dusty Rhodes and the River Band - All One

2010-05-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest Dusty Rhodes and the River Band music video for the their album opener All One. It also stars Harry Perry. It's a simple video of them doing what they do best.

Avi Buffalo - What's In It For ? (music video)

2010-05-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

The latest "indie" darlings to come out of LA, Avi Buffalo, have just come out with a music video for their single What's In It For? off of their latest self titled album. The hipster set, will eat this up.

I.N.C. Mini Doc by Sean Carnage

2010-05-13T12:12:00.001-07:00

Sean Carnage has just released his mini documentary on the International Noise Conference. The conference started in Miami and has now taken it on the road making a stop recently at Women House in LA featuring such LA noise acts as Laco$te, Moment Trigger, and Kyle H Mabson.

Batwings Catwings - Gold To Black

2010-05-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

I really like Batwings Catwings, have I ever told you this? I do. One of the most fun bands to see live. Now you can pump their jam, Gold To Black, out of your car stereo while cruising around town. Download it here: Gold To Black

Deathbomb Arc and Vice Magazine

2010-05-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

On the heels of just releasing Captain Ahab's latest LP, The End of Irony, recently, one of my favorite labels, Deathbomb Arc, curated Vice Magazine's music player. Always pushing the envelope, Deathbomb Arc always has some of the most innovative artists on it's roster. Run by Foot Village's Brian Miller, he's selected for the music player a plethora of awesome jams to fill your workday with. Deathbomb Arc curate the Vice Music Player

Also here's a really rad interview with three of the four members of Foot Village complete with mp3 links to songs referenced in the interview. GIMME TINNITUS

Best Coast - The World is Lazy

2010-05-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

Now, after seeing Best Coast live at the Glasshouse recently I was a bit disappointed with their live set. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy their recordings and videos. They have really solid, well written pop songs that I enjoy immensely and like a girlfriend who does something you're willing to overlook because overall they're really awesome to be with, I continue to love a lot of what they do. Who knows, maybe one day they'll surprise me with a really awesome live set.

Also check out a track from their upcoming album that is also featured on XBOX's series Bright Falls here: Our Deal And go to RCRD LBL to download another new track by them here: Far Away

Hawnay Troof living the life out of his car in LA

2010-05-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

So Hawnay Troof, better known as Vice Cooler and a founding member of XBXRX, has just released his new Shed Skin EP for free on the Hawnay Troof website. It features remixes from the likes of Kid 606, Death Set, No Age, and Leg Lifters. Go download it here: Hawnay Troof

Oh yeah, and if there was anything more memorable than Vice Cooler getting humped by a dog at this years SXSW, I would love to know.

HEALTH - We Are Water

2010-04-12T13:20:00.000-07:00

I've known about this video for quite some time after reading a twitter post from Eric Wareheim of Tim & Eric Awesome Show fame. After finding out that he was directing the new HEALTH video so many images ran through my head. What was it going to be like? Was going to be like their latest ads for Old Spice? Or maybe more like their work with in Tom Goes to the Mayor. Little did I know that, besides the gross out factor, it would be far from any frame of reference that I have come to think regarding Eric Wareheim's body of work. It has beautiful camera work, the pacing is immaculate, the timing of the music with video is on point. Everything works in confluence. Even more so, this video makes me rethink the capabilities of Eric Wareheim as a director.

Captain Ahab - The End of Irony

2010-04-12T12:56:00.000-07:00

Quite the departure from what is typically expected of Captain Ahab, The End of Irony of is definitely not your average Ahab album, but in a very good way, not that their previous efforts were bad. Bands like Captain Ahab can easily become a two dimensional joke band but they've always been more than just your average speedo wearing, screaming into a microphone, dance inducing kind of band. Meaning they've always managed to think outside the box. This video is a companion piece to their latest album. Still has your fair share of Jim Merson in speedos though, so they haven't strayed to far from their original mythology. Enjoy!

CAPTAIN AHAB "The End Of Irony" from Deathbomb Arc on Vimeo.

Bobb Bruno remixes Foot Village

2010-04-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

Bobb Bruno, mostly known for his guitar work in Best Coast and occasionally drumming for now defunct Mika Miko, has recently put together a remix of Foot Village's track Grace's Death. Get it here: Foot Village - Grace's Death (Bobb Bruno remix)

Michael Nhat - Here's a Mop to Clean The Floor

2010-04-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

Micheal Nhat's got a new video! Check it out! Also, in the latest issue of Giant Robot (issue 64) they give a glowing review of his self-titled album. It's on news stands now.

MICHAEL NHAT - HERE'S A MOP TO CLEAN THE FLOOR from Michael Nhat on Vimeo.

Tubby Boots

2010-04-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago it was my friend Kyle Mabson's birthday and he threw a birthday show at Pehrspace with Abe Vigoda, XBoXRoX, Signals, and Simo Soo. A few nights prior to that show our friends, Not The Government, had come out to play a show out here in Palm Springs. I had mentioned to Wilton, of NTG, that we were coming out to LA for that party. He was stoked that we were coming out for that and wanted us to come and chill with them while we were out there. The night of the party we hit up Wilton to see where he was at and he said to come to the Tribal Cafe which was around the block from Pehrspace. There was a show going on before the show at Pherspace and a band called Tubby Boots was playing. Now, Wilton has never steered us wrong with band suggestions. Every time they came out to play Palm Springs they've brought with him at least one band and each band they've brought out was amazing. This suggestion was no exception. Tubby Boots are three kids beaming with passion for what they do. Unpretentious, unrelenting, and youthful. Their music reminds me of a mix between Sebadoh and Sonic Youth. They have an EP called Sir Dr. Dublin available for free download and you can see them play tonight at McWorld in LA tonight.

Download Tubby Boots new EP "Sir Dr Dublin" here

Zombelle - Go To Her

2010-04-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

A staple in the LA/IE outsider folk scene, Zombelle has a new song up for download on LA Record. I first heard about Zombelle when first getting into another staple in that scene, Voice On Tape. I would see her on a lot of the same show lineups as Voice On Tape, John Thill, Whitman, Kevin Greenspon, and S Pineda. I really like what that scene was coming up with. It seems to have slowed down with only Whitman and Kevin Greenspon carrying on with. I really hope that this is a sign that outsider folk is re-emerging.

Download Zombelle's "Go To Her"

Ancient Crux - Insound

2010-03-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

So a little over a year ago I did a review for Ancient Crux's album Interracial Coupling (here's the review to refresh your memory). Anyway, I knew that Family Time was putting it out on CD but I didn't know that it was going to be available on Insound for super cheap! $4.80 to be exact!!! I love this CD! You should pick it up! It won't be around for long especially since they've only got a very limited amount in stock. Insound is a really awesome online music retailer. I've been picking up my music from them for years. A lot of times they throw in extra goodies that I wasn't even expecting. Sometimes a cool poster other times some pins or stickers.

Pick up Ancient Crux's Interracial Coupling at Insound

Signals - What Dreams

2010-03-29T15:57:00.001-07:00

The Mae Shi is one of my all time favorite bands. So when I heard then news that they were splitting up I was a little bit disappointed. But then when I heard that the touring members of The Mae Shi were staying together and forming a new band called Signals, I was a little apprehensive at the idea. I didn't know what to expect. All I knew was that the lead singer, Jon Gray, was in another band called Man's Assassination Man and had been a part of the new Mae Shi lineup ever since their former lead singer, Ezra Buchla, left the band, the drummer, Jacob Cooper, does a project called Bark Bark Bark, and the guitar player, Bill Gray, is Jon Gray's cousin. But I'm an open minded person. The first time I've ever heard them was when they came out and played a show that we put on. It was an amazing show regardless of Bill's guitar amp going out on him at the very beginning of their set. Slowly, more music began to come out and now they've got a new music video, a downloadable mixtape, and a 7" available now. Good stuff. Can't wait for the Pre Coachella Party on April 15th!!!

Signals - "What Dreams" from signals LA on Vimeo.

Signals on Blogspot

60 Watt Kid

2010-03-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

I just recently became familiar with the music of 60 Watt Kid although I've known about them for some time now. The spacey beauty of their music gives me chills. It's like hitching a joyride with The Silver Surfer.

BYODeath - Snowy Eyes

2010-03-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

I like BYODeath. They remind me of older favorites of mine like Yo La Tengo and Sebadoh with a little My Bloody Valentine thrown in for good measure. Their new cassette is available now through Bridgetown Records, which is run by Kevin Greenspon. Check them out and pick up their cassette. Limited to only 100 copies.

Michael Nhat - Swimming to Cambodia

2010-03-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

Michael Nhat has a new EP coming out soon called Swimming to Cambodia and he just recently posted a couple tracks off of it on his Myspace page. Also, recently one of my favorite magazines, Southern California based Giant Robot Magazine, met with him. Here's their blog about him. Check out the link at the bottom of the blog for his performance on KXLU's demolisten. You can download his performance on demolisten on there as well.

The Deepsea Goes -Oraoneiroi

2010-03-22T15:40:00.001-07:00

The Deepsea Goes is a band that has been under the radar in the LA scene for a little while now but are just now beginning to generate a small buzz. We've had the privilege of hosting shows for them twice now and they seemed to get better from the previous show. I'm not saying that they were bad the first time around, not at all. They were incredible the first time. Yet the second time they played they blew me away. Live, this brother/sister, guitar/drums duo play with the intensity and loudness of bands like Mogwai or Boris but without the added drama or slow burn. Tearing through songs on their sets like an arsonist armed with an endless supply of kerosene and a flamethrower, there is never a dull moment.

Download The Deepsea Goes - There Is No Space and There Is No Start

Norse Horse

2010-03-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

Norse Horse is another one of my current favorite bands. This kind of lush pop gets me every time. If I was running through a jungle such as the picture below, their music is exactly what would be running through my head. Apparently, Norse Horse began as a one man solo project with Ryan Beale, writing songs during his tenure in Korea, as the main songwriter but grew into a band. Obvious musical influences from and around the Pacific islands and Asia aside, it bodes that dreamy feeling that I usually get when I'm relaxing with friends at the perfect spot and everything is exactly where it's supposed be and, seemingly, no where else is better than where I am.

Download Norse Horse - Shoot the Kids, Squid Mt, Sun Smog & Joy, Gangplank Galleon, Swamp Trotter, and Sleepers

olFactory Records SXSW Mix

2010-03-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

olFactory Records has a free mix ready for your ears but it'll only be available until April 16th. So get on it!!!

Download it here

Yep!

2010-03-19T12:25:00.001-07:00

The great thing about Facebook is that it makes my job a little easier when it comes to telling you guys about up coming shows. Instead of posting a flier now, I can just post a link to the Facebook invite. How sweet is that. Anywho, here ya go.

The Ladder Canyon Campout

HIGH PLACES and NITE JEWEL. ALL AGES

PART TIME PUNKS w/SEA LIONS + THE NEW HOUSE + DJ Sumire [TWEE GIRLS CLUB]

Moonrats || He's My Brother, She's My Sister || Halloween Swim Team

Sean Carnage Monday Night!

SLANG CHICKENS @ BOOTLEG THEATER w/ TITUS ANDRONICUS AND LET'S WRESTLE

Garotas Suecas (Sao Paulo, Brazil) @ Space 120!!!

MODERN SLEEZE: MELTED CASSETTES/HALLOWEEN SWIM TEAM/VA FAN CULO & MORE!

Kría Brekkan & Drawlings in Los Angeles

JOSH MARTINEZ & SLEEP as the Chicharones @ SPACE120

Ty Segall//Slipping Into Darkness//DS:P!//Charlie & the Moonhearts

END OF IRONY west coast tour w/ Captain Ahab & tik///tik

Kevin Greenspon Southwest MINUS South By Southwest Tour

Desert Scum Records California Tour!

WAVED OUT

Marousa (Japan), Lemon Bear (Oakland) Narwahl Party + More @ Women!!!

Meth Teeth w/Eel Eater and Magic Johnson-FREE

Lemon Bear, Back To The Future The Ride, Cowan, Suzi Star at Sync Space

Luna Is Honey RECORD RELEASE SHOW FOR "COPY CATS"

Batwings Catwings - Finally, some recordings!

2010-03-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

So Batwings Catwings have been around for some time now but just recently put up some recordings on their Myspace page. Check them out. I wonder how long it will be before we see a proper LP come to fruition.

Kid Infinity - Got a Big Head

2010-03-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

Get it now!
Kid Infinity - Got a Big Head

Waved Out

2010-03-19T09:48:00.001-07:00

So this show has been touted as a show of some of the best rising artists. It should be a great show regardless although I do feel Best Coast is way better on recording than live. Either way I think I just might check it out. Besides, the Mandoline Grill Truck and an Ice Cream Man will be there!!!

Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound - Do not the clothes make the man

2010-03-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound is one of my favorite bands today. The visuals on this video are chilling. They make me feel as if I'm watching the video that kills everyone on The Ring. Song is off of the EP "Damnant Quod Non Intelligunt".

Jesus Makes The Shotgun Sound//Do not the clothes make the man?! from Ah Ritualism on Vimeo.

Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La

2010-03-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

Here's the new video for the song "Jail La La" by Dum Dum Girls, a song off of their upcoming full length entitled "I Will Be". I like this version of the song better than the previously unreleased version. It's not so lo-fi which is really getting played out. The song's pop value isn't so covered up by the lo fidelity which can sometimes work in some bands favor (i.e. Best Coast) but not so much for bands that actually have more than slightly below average songwriting talent.

Dazzle Ships

2010-03-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

So this brand of goth-y synth pop has been getting a lot of attention these days from bloggers like myself although I've always been a little skeptical of trends. I'm not saying that Dazzle Ships are following any sort of trend. They're doing what they like and that's what matters most. Fortunately, I like their music. Their brand of gloomy synth pop brings me back to my younger days when cool music to me were songs about doomed love and death. A topic I still venture to these days in my own writing but with much less naivete.

Download a couple tracks here

Tonight in Riverside

2010-03-18T14:26:00.000-07:00

I will be in Riverside tonight for this really awesome lineup! Everyone should go! This show also marks Kevin Greespon's first show in Riverside since June 2008 and is also part of his South Minus SXSW tour.

And Now For Something Completely Different...

2010-03-18T14:14:00.001-07:00

Change is good. Embrace it. To often we try to hang on to things that in the end were not meant to last. Enjoy the moment, for good or bad, you're in that moment for a reason. And at this moment I've come to the decision to change things up a bit here on this blog.

With all the recent changes to my life and all movement that has been going on in The Ghost Channel, rather than try and do weekly segments, I found it more feasible to post articles on my blog whenever I feel like it. It won't be the large posts that have been norm on this blog but rather it will be a bunch of short postings at random times of the day.

Let's hope this works out better for me.

Weekly Fliers (10/22/09)

2009-10-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

This time of year there always seems to be a reason to celebrate. Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries; I always seem to be invited to something this time of year. That also stretches into things music related.

We often times see live shows as this here and then gone instance, only to exist in memory never to be relived. Pictures can burn or fade but memories can never be taken away. Such is the existence of The Knitting Factory in Los Angeles. I remember seeing my first show there. It was Badly Drawn Boy and it was an amazing performance that taught me how one live performance can elevate a CD that I previously thought as just above average to something that is landmark in my life. I'm sad to hear that The Knitting Factory is closing. Yet this is not a time to mourn it's passing but to celebrate the good times we had there and to add one last one. On October 23rd, the final Bluebeat Lounge will take place featuring The Chris Murray Combo, La Resistancia, The Debonaires, Buck O Nine, Knock Out, and many others. Should be an awesome time.

Another reason to celebrate is the birth of something for instance the release of a new album. On October 24th, Michael Naht will be releasing his debut album and throwing a record release party at the Vermont House. Michael Naht will be performing along with Voice on Tape, Halloween Swim team, Narwhal Party, and a few other bands. Should be an awesome time as usual, one I hope to be taking part in.

Well, that's all I have time for this week. A couple other ones that I want to mention in passing, Bi-Polar Bear on November 2nd, Moment Trigger at Women of Crenshaw on October 24th, Jeremy Jay and Christmas Island at Soda Bar, tonight, and also tonight Serengeti & Polyphonic with Griefshare at The Boar Cross'n. As always check with the venue for any schedule changes or cancellations.

Weekly Fliers (10/9/09)

2009-10-09T00:38:00.000-07:00

These days, with the cooler weather and all, you'd think I'd find more and more fliers for shows. Maybe it's just me and I'm just not trying hard enough to find the fliers. Maybe that's it. Either way, I'd rather be out and about these days than behind my computer, trolling the internet for upcoming shows. I'm sure that there are dozens of shows that I missed. Forgive me. Let me get my fill of this wonderful weather and I'll be back to normal, whatever that may be.

I'll keep this short and sweet. Some shows I'd like to point out; first off is Domestic Disturbances: Part Two featuring Neon Navajo, Not the Government, AxRxM, and Wet Dreams at the Bixel House. I was supposed to go to this show but seeing as how the economy is in the crapper so is my wallet. I'm there in spirit though. Also tomorrow night in San Diego at the Soda Bar is the Blessure Grave, Trudgers, No Paws No Lions, and Secret Tones show. Family Time shows are always great lineups. Another show wherein I'll have to be at only in spirit. Why? Because I'll be at the Turkish Techno, Bonsai!, and No Naci Aqui show at J Dee's in Palm Springs. Fun times to be had for all at that show! I'd also like to mention that our good friend, Griefshare, will be performing with one of my current favorite hip hop acts right now, Polyphonic and Serengeti somewhere in San Diego on October 22nd. I don't know where exactly they'll be performing but I'm sure if you check out any of the Myspace pages for any one of the artists performing on that bill you can figure that out. Coincidentally, that show falls on the same day that Why? will be performing at the Loft at UCSD. (Sorry Dan, I've already got my tickets for Why?) And finally, I thought I'd mention this show, not because I'm a fan of their music, but because I've got word from a reputable source, the FYF Fest twitter, that at the Vampire Weekend show in Lomita, CA, there will be free KFC at that show! I'd go for the KFC even if the music is of the over-hyped variety.

That's all I've got for this week. Remember, always check with the venue for any schedule changes or cancellations. Now, I'm off to take a long walk with my dog. Take care.

Video: Foot Village - Anti-Magic

2009-10-09T00:24:00.000-07:00

This video is a collaboration between Foot Village and Cris Cichocki. The song, Anti-Magic, is from their latest album of the same name. This video is like a whirlpool; it just sucks you in. Highly recommended to those of the ADD set. Enjoy!!!

FOOT VILLAGE "ANTI-MAGIC" from Deathbomb Arc on Vimeo.

For more Foot Village check out Footvillage.org

For more Cris Cichocki check out Cristophersea.com

Review: Blue Sabbath Black Fiji - Gemini

2009-10-01T22:48:00.000-07:00

My blog is dedicated to the music of Southern California. Yet, I've been known to bend the rules from time to time, I usually stick to my guns. Here's the thing, when Southern California label Deathbomb Arc, run by members of the band Foot Village, offers to send you three of their upcoming releases to review, you jump at the chance. Deathbomb Arc is know for their offbeat and very experimental releases ranging from noise to ambient and everything in between, the three albums I've been given to review are that and then some. This is the first review of the three, Blue Sabbath Black Fiji's album, Gemini.

This duo from Glasgow, UK, for me, have come epitomize what noise music is capable of. Upon first listening to their album, Gemini, I thought it would be the stereotypical meandering and fiddling of knobs that I have come to accept of most noise acts. And in most cases that's all they ever seem to be; no objective, no structure, just seemingly aimless plunking away at pedals and noise generators. Don't get me wrong, I like that sort of stuff in live settings. The chaotic mashing of pedals and twisting of knobs brings me back to a place in my childhood where being as noisy as possible was an absolute joy at times. Still I do search for more substance out of my art. That's where BSBF come in.

Blue Sabbath Black Fiji are less noodling, more chaotic. The first track, "Laksa Bath", the chaos starts out as static and brilliantly blends into the background yet other elements come in to drive you mad. The track bleeds into a hum then sputters out like a robot malfunctioning. But my favorite track has to be "Sun Ra Was a Wookie". Clocking in at a lengthy 10 minutes, the song never loses steam which, for me, is an accomplishment in and of itself. Other noise bands, halfway through a track at the same length, you'd have me half asleep from boredom or have relegated my listening from really grabbing my attention to mere background noise. BSBF really has a grasp at making noise enjoyable. This song is , dare I say it, almost danceable.

Good noise bands, to me, are few and far between. Overall, Gemini is a great CD and a perfect introduction for anyone looking to delve into the noise genre. More than the meandering mess of most noise bands. Blue Sabbath Black Fiji is definitely in that small group.

Blue Sabbath Black Fiji - Gemini
Available through Deathbomb Arc

Artist of the Week: Grrrips

2009-10-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

These days lo-fi is a big deal. Wavves, Vivian Girls, Crocodiles; if you're recordings are lo fidelity and your songs are reticent of surf, noise, goth, new wave, or some combination of the four you'll probably get noticed to a certain degree. As I've stated before I am not against this tide of lo fi bands getting their due. I'm a fan of a lot these bands. My only gripe about this trend is that it's a trend. It's style over substance. This will eventually die out and only the ones whose music really stood first and foremost before the style will be left standing. Bands like Deep Sht and this weeks artist, Grrrips.

Grrrips version of lo fi is more calculated than a lack of recording means. When Ryan Seymour performs his music live his recordings make more sense. With other bands its usually the other way around. Utilizing a contact mic inside a breathing mask, his haunted howling of vocals convey a gothic tendency while underneath it all the guitar, acoustic mind you, is sonically hypnotizing all the while maintaining a pop sensibility that carries the songs from beginning to end.

Currently he's working on more material for Grrrips as well as a new project with good friend Cris Cichocki called State Recreation.

Check out his music at myspace.com/grrrips

Weekly Fliers (10/1/09)

2009-10-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

We all want to find our way in life. We lose our way sometimes. But that bond to what we want out of our lives should be strong enough to pull you back to where you need to be. Unfortunately we lose hope sometimes. It's problem we all face, it's only human. Yet hope is never truly lost. Real hope can be found in the smallest things, the littlest of gestures, the tiniest of events, the quietest of spoken words. I've always had a strong bond to music. I truly feel that music has been my saving grace. Ever heard of the song "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life"? I've never listened to the original by Indeep but there was a band called 90 Day Men who used that same title for one of their songs and the video for the songs is a montage of people showing off their favorite albums.

You're never stuck. It may not be a DJ that saves your life. You may not even feel like your life needs any saving. Yet we all do need something that can lift our spirits. One show that I'm excited about is the upcoming show the Crocodiles, Dum Dum Girls, Best Coast, and Pearl Harbor show on October 2nd at the Che Cafe in San Diego. I've been waiting to see the live incarnation of Dum Dum Girls ever since I first found out about them a few months ago and made them my first artist of the week. Another show that I'm excited for is the 2nd annual Longhair Illuminati Festival in Pamona featuring Mother Hips, Abe Vigoda, Moonrats, and Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound. I've said time and time again, if you have the opportunity, don't miss out on seeing Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound. They are one of the best bands around. Period.

That's all for this week. I'll try to be a little less sporadic with my updates. Take care and remember to check with venue for any schedule changes or cancellations.

Wavves - Hula Hoop

2009-09-11T02:28:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit on the fence about the lo-fi craze going on. On one hand, most of the bands that are attached to this scene (Blank Dogs, Vivian Girls, Dum Dum Girls, Crocodiles, Christmas Island) are just simple pop music recorded under lo-fi circumstances. Then again, I've never had anything against pop songs. I love a well written pop song. Recently, my favorite drummer of all time, Zach Hill, also of Hella, is drumming for one of these bands that is attached to the lo-fi craze, Wavves. The video does no justice to how amazing this guy is and, at least for myself, how much better he makes Wavves. Some call his drumming excessive. Well, I've seen video of Wavves without Zach Hill and I dug it. I didn't love it but it was entertaining. Yet when I saw Wavves at the Casbah with Zach Hill, let me tell you, I was a little reluctant at first, thinking that his drumming would be toned down. Yet when they exploded into "So Bored" I was blown away. His drumming really fills in the gaps that I was ready to nitpick at. Certainly, this version of Wavves is an argument "for" the lo-fi mania.

Wavves from TERROREYES.TV on Vimeo.

Zach Hill, Carson Mcwhirter, Studio Jams from TERROREYES.TV on Vimeo.

Zach Hill - Dark Art - Music Video from Scott Cramer on Vimeo.

Artist of the Week: Not The Government

2009-09-08T09:54:00.000-07:00

I met the guys in Not The Government a few months ago when a show that I booked with their friends, Cardio Pulmonary, they had to back out last minute. Isaac, of Cardio Pulmonary, hit up the San Antonio transplants to take their place at the show and NTG obliged.

Not The Government's music is a rarity in the LA music scene, especially at The Smell, in the sense that most bands out there are more experimental and less pop music sensibility. Their hardcore, post-punk roots have lead them to the brand of music that they have created today, less of the contrived experimentation seen in some of the music in the scene in which they exist. Yet, none of the overly hyped, lo-fi, pop music. They're not the "in" crowd of today although they aren't necessarily on the out skirts of what can breakthrough. Evidence of this is here in their music video directed by one of my favorite directors, legend of the b-movie genre and Troma Founder, Llyod Kaufman. Who else but Lloyd Kaufman can understand Not The Government's place in the world as coolest of the uncool. Lloyd Kaufman got his due respect and hopefully the day will come when Not The Government will get their day in the sun.

Come see them play J Dee's Landing in Palm Springs on September 22nd along with Sol District, Moment Trigger, Deracine (Tokyo), and Mikki & the Mauses

Check out their music at myspace.com/notthegovernment or at their official site notthegovernment.com

Weekly Fliers (9/3/09)

2009-09-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I'm back after a long stint of being M.I.A. Like Tim Kinsella said "I know what I have to do and do it, but don't know what it is until it's done". It's been a while but here I go with a new week and some new articles. Go check them out as well.

This week we've got some cool show happening this Labor day weekend. On Friday, September 4th, Halloween Swim Team returns to the desert along with Th Girl With Violent Arms, Motel Monster, Narwhal Party, Total Bros, and Orca Team. That's a big show AND it's free! Also this weekend is FYF Fest lots of really great bands and comedians. Kind of wish I was going because Tim and Eric will be there and they're hilarious. And on that same day is the unofficial (I think) after party of FYF Fest at the House on Vermont hosted by How to Be a Microwave. That is their 2nd annual What Job Festival taking place on September 5th and 6th. One more show that I want to mention is on September 5th with a new favorite band of mine, Norse Horse, consisting of members from the Family Time Records fold. Go check them out.

Well that's it for now. as always check with the venue for any schedule changes or cancellations. Take care.

Artist of the week: Wife

2009-09-03T01:21:00.000-07:00

What is my ideal wife? A question all hetero males and lesbian women should pose to themselves sometime if they wish to find anything close to what they want out of a spouse. What do I want out of my ideal wife? Something I would look for is someone who is soothing and comforting in nature and yet is willing to navigate the rough seas of life when deemed necessary. Someone who, with patience and an open mind, yields great reward. Someone much like the band "Wife".

Wife is a two piece consisting of Andrew Thomas and Nick Steinhardt. I didn't discover Wife, on my own, they discovered me on Myspace. I think they asked me if I was going to be booking any shows with any ambient bands. After listening to their music, I regrettably said no. I liked their music so much that I wished that I had a show that I could book them on. Their music reminds me of driving through the forests in Oregon, majestic, vast, and seemingly unending. Sometimes stark and lonely but powerful enough where you realize how useless it is to fight how tiny it makes you feel. That you through it all, all you can really do is just take it in.

Go check out their music at www.myspace.com/wiferepetitive

Review: Technicolor Wolves - Ventricles EP

2009-08-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

When I was 17 I was in a band called Roswell. We played covers of mostly power pop bands. We tried to write music with a power pop influence. I learned quickly that writing a good pop song was much more difficult than it seems. Especially a good hook. To this day I still appreciate a well written pop song with a catchy hook. One of my all-time favorite albums to this day is Weezer's vastly underrated Pinkerton. One of my favorite bands of all time is The Promise Ring, of whom, a couple members have gone on to form another favorite of mine, a band called Maritime. As of now I am really digging the Los Angeles based power pop band known as Clark 8 and the current hype machine, yet deservedly, Wavves.

Within the past year, a band from here in the desert, Palm Desert specifically, has been playing and writing music with a power pop influence. I first heard of The Technicolor Wolves through the Coachella Valley Art Scene blog. I liked their name, although there have been a lot of "Wolf" band names lately, but that's nitpicking. Sara, of the CVAS blog, emailed me their latest EP entitled Ventricles. She asked me to review it and I obliged.

First and foremost, I think this album suffers from the Yngwie Malmsteem complex, meaning that good musicianship doesn't always translate to good songwriting. It's not to say that this EP is terrible, it's just unmemorable. A good pop song should stay stuck in your head like a broken record and this never had any moments like that. I was bored halfway into each song. Writing this review its difficult to even recall any specific moments as examples. A good pop song should instantly take you somewhere, recalling a favorite lyric at the drop of a dime, almost instinctively it should make you want to sing.

Secondly, Lincoln Jesser's vocals, although talented, seem almost out of place set against the backdrop of syrupy sweet power pop guitar lines and synth melodies. He reminds me of someone trying to conjure up their inner Zach Condon of Beirut fame, which just makes me want to listen to Beirut. His vocals almost clash with the instruments. Also, the lyrics are to wordy, as if there is some sort of identity crisis. Does he want to write a sonnet or does he want to write catchy song?

Personally, one of the things missing in their music is a kind of rough edge. I can equate this kind of lack of emotion to watching a live band with zero charisma. This is not a question of their passion, it's a question of being able to convey true emotion through song. Pop music needs to make me feel compelled and a band this young should have a raw, hungry feel. This makes me feel like I'm listening to Jack Johnson with synth and electric guitars.

Yet I can see why lots of their fellow high school classmates would have been able enjoy this music. In a live setting, this music would be fun and dancey. It's good, clean, fun that your parents would approve of.

Technicolor Wolves - Ventricles EP
Available through iTunes

Weekly Fliers (6/25/09)

2009-06-25T02:43:00.000-07:00

Summer is officially here! Which means a lot of bands from a lot of different places are out and about doing their thing hitting up all of your favorite venues and other places you may have never heard of. I'm really excited for all of it! One show I wish I was going to is tonight at The Smell with a lot of really good bands like Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound, The Enochian Keys, and Voice on Tape. Then tomorrow night at The Smell is a real Battle of the Bands. I don't know how it's supposed to go down but one band is pitted against another band. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Also this weekend, Griefshare is one lucky guy. Not only does he get one party/show with really good bands, he gets two! Starting Saturday night at J Dee's Landing in Palm Springs, he'll be playing with Meho Plaza, Double Dagger, Kyle Mabson, and Grrrips. And then on Sunday, in San Diego at the Kava Lounge he'll be playing with Stage Kids, Motel Monster, a.passerbye, Suspenders Malloy, and Slowair. Come out to either or both of these shows and wish him a Happy Birthday.

Do you like ninjas? Do you like face melting music? Then on July 1st at 2nd St. Jazz in Los Angeles, Little Tokyo to be exact, two of my favorite ninja themed bands, Random Ninjas, and Ninja Academy are playing with some other ninja bands. This show is a ninja dream come true. Also on July 1st, Minutemen legend, Mike Watt, and his band The Missing Men will be playing live at the Olde Towne Pub in Pasadena with Stab City and Dharma Bums.

One last thing, beginning tonight, every Thursday at J Dee's, Evaro will be performing as part of their residency. Go check that out.

That's all for this week. I hope to see you guys out at some of these shows. Say hello if you see me. As always, check with the venue for any last minute schedule changes or cancellations. Take care.

Weekly Fliers (6/12/09)

2009-06-12T11:04:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, welcome back. I'm going to keep this short and sweet. I Just want to mention a show worth checking out which is the Taco Zone Benefit show. Some vandals attempted to torch the Taco Zone truck, leaving it with huge holes on the roof of the truck. Some kind LA folks are getting together to try and raise money to hopefully repair the roof. Lots of surprise guests as well! I hear comedian Aziz Ansari will be performing.

That's all for now. As always check with the venue for any last minute changes or cancellations.

Weekly Fliers (6/1/09)

2009-05-27T22:30:00.001-07:00

Hello, it's been a while. Sometimes life gets in the way of the things you want to do. Sometimes things in life get so overwhelming you're put in a position where the smart choice is to just drop everything and pickup the things that really matter. This blog is one of those things. I do this blog first and foremost for myself. Even if no one read this at least it's something that should be like mantra for me. I do this blog because I love music and always will. Music is a huge part of my life and that will never change. It's one of the few things in my life that has been constant.

That being said let's move forward. This week we've got some really cool stuff to tell you about. First off is the Cochina Festival. This is the 6th consecutive year and this year's lineup will not disappoint. This year they've got Ezra Buchla, Guitarded, Clark 8, Rapid Youth, Hounds, John Thill, Whitman, Pizza!, Stellaluna, plus more! There also pre and post parties happening. The warm up party is happening this Friday at Ports O' Call Bedroom at 2136 E Deodar, West Covina with Nitemate, Pat Regan, Desert Figues, Queen Victoria, and Good Morning Valentine. The Post Party will be happening at The Smell in LA. Performing will be John Thill, American Gil and the Major Dudes, Serows, Stellaluna, and Beckett Warren Zevon. This event will be awesome and is not to be missed. Hopefully I'll be able to get to go to at least one day.

Also happening this week are the opening nights for a couple DJ nights at a couple great venues. First off we've got The Rip Up at J Dee's Landing with Turbo Teen, Freshmess, DJ Vichhy, and Charlie Luthergates. The other one is a Reggae/Dub night entitled Stronghold, hosted by DJ Journee. This one is taking place at this really cool and chill spot called Club Trinidad. Check them out. Also go check out The Racket Club playing at Shenanigans in Palm Springs. They're a great new band that has emerged with a very unique sound. So unique that they seem very out of place with the rest of the bands that are playing that night but whatever. That should be fun.

Last but not least is the reunion of The Velvet Underground performing live at the Echo on June 7th! No Joke!!! No tickets will be pre-sold for this event so first come first serve!!! This will be huge!!! Still don't believe me? Check out the Part-Time Punks myspace page!!!

That's it for now! Thanks for checking back with me. Hopefully this week I'll have some reviews for you and maybe an interview or two. Take care and always check with the venue for any last minute schedule changes or cancellations!

Weekly Fliers (4/17/09)

2009-04-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

Being a resident of the Coachella Valley, I've witnessed the growth of the Coachella Valley Music Festival. Admittedly I did have an inkling of a desire to go this year. Especially on Sunday because most of the bands that I wanted to see were playing that night, mainly My Bloody Valentine.

I was there the first year. That first year, I watched the collapse and the eventual breaking up soon after of Pavement, and witnessed the insanity of a Rage Against the Machine show who, also after playing that year, broke up mere months later. I also saw some really great music and met some wonderful artists thanks in part to getting a part time gig handing out fliers for Goldenvoice. Those days are over and I now stand before you jaded and bitter. Coachella was supposed to be a progressive event where many lesser known acts would be able to showcase their talents on a large scale. That isn't the case anymore. You get the occasional act like No Age, Vivian Girls, Haunted Graffiti, and Themselves but it seems it's about quantity and not quality. They seem to bring back the same acts year after year. Do we really need to see Perry Farrell, Thievery Corporation, Peanut Butter Wolf, Atmosphere, or The Chemical Brothers for the umpteenth time? This is also coupled by the fact that Coachella was sold to a promotion company that does nothing but do these huge festivals all around the country makes me sick. Not to mention the people who think that Coachella is the apex of musical taste.

I say FUCK Coachella!!! I say fuck this annual hipster convention!!! You don't need to spend over $200 per day!!! (Believe me, you will when you consider the cost of tickets plus food, drink and other things like merch) Go see some good bands for not much at all. Yeah, you may have to drive out of town and spend money on gas. But consider the other option, standing next to some sweaty, smelly, tweaked out, dude in the heat, while drinking a tiny $2 bottle of water knowing full well that you'll probably end up buying at least 5-10 more of those at the same price, watching a band that you could see at a fraction of the price elsewhere for a longer amount of time. I'll spend the $20 in gas, watch a good show for at most $10, in a well ventilated room, sipping on a big drink that I probably will spend less on than that $2 bottle of Coachella poison swill, and afterwards hitting up Alberto's or that kick ass taco truck parked near the Echo spending a measely $5 for a huge ass burrito all the while feeling contentment at the fact that you watched a fucking awesome show that a few years down the road people will pay $100 to see at Coachella when they become the hip artist to listen to. Yes, Wavves, sorry, but I'm talking about you.

Yes, you can go see Wavves now before they become hipster fodder at the Casbah on Friday the 17th along with some other really good bands like Christmas Island, The Dabbers, and Bi Polar Bear. So what, you're missing Paul McCartney. I'm sure your presence there won't be missed especially as he goes home to roll around in all the cash he raked in from Coachella, all Demi Moore style a'la Indecent Proposal.

This weekend is filled with lots of good shows so go check them out. I do feel that people should go to Coachella once if they've never been before and would like to know the feeling of being fucked by a huge promotion juggernaut. But if you're one to learn from example rather than experience take my advice; go to these shows instead. The bands will thank you for it.

As always check with the venue for any schedule changes or cancellations.

Artist of the week: Daniel McCoy, but you can call him mammal

2009-04-08T14:56:00.001-07:00

I met Daniel McCoy almost nine years ago at a show that I played with my old band. He had seen us play previously at another show and came to see us at this show we played at this coffee house in Palm Desert. After we had played his friend and him approached me as I was putting my gear away and told me how much he liked our music. Surprisingly he and his friend Nick played that same show doing a three song set. It was just the two of them on their electric guitars and sharing the same mic. Daniel's raspy voice paired with Nick's nasally croon and the dueling yet minimal guitars really caught my attention. You don't see that kind of sincerity and humility in music very often. I'm drawn to this kind of open, heart pouring, kind of songwriting that he's done in the past. He's never released any of his music to the public and I think mostly because what he's done is so personal that for the kind of person that he is, you'd really need to be someone he feel comfortable giving it to.

I was fortunate enough to have played with him in a couple bands and I can tell you first hand how amazing a musician he is. Once, he gave me a copy of some of the music he had been recording around the time his girlfriend had moved to Japan. He'd been saving up to go visit her for a month. The CD simply read "21 Songs by Dan McCoy".

Upon listening to this CD, I saw what he'd been going through in his head and how much he missed her. This kind of songwriting is rare. It's so personal. To open one's self for the world to examine can be an excruciatingly difficult. Some are to afraid to do this so they only open up partially and only let the world see what they want them to see. They say it cryptically so as to make you work just to understand the story.

Dan wrote cryptically but in an obvious manner. The only other person I can compare him to is Daniel Johnston. There was one song on that CD that really brought tears to my eyes. It was so heartbreaking you'd have to be a heartless bastard to not get at least a little choked up hearing it. The opening lyrics went "Here I am standing/on bended knee/please, don't leave me here". Honestly, that was my favorite CD to listen to for a few months. Going back to it now, once again, I've yet to put it down and is on heavy rotation on my iPod.

Fast forward to recently. I haven't seen Dan in a while, mostly because we live on opposite sides of town. So, I get this message on myspace from this person called mammal regarding a show that the group Themselves was playing locally. He was asking when this would be and at the bottom he tells me that it's Dan McCoy. He also tells me to check out his new music. Now I've always know that Dan was into hip hop. But actually making hip hop was something that I never thought he would attempt. Yet I checked it out and it was amazing. I shouldn't have put it past him. He's always been so good with music that if he put his mind to it he definitely would excel in it. It's just a little baffling how he got to this point. Then again it's not so far fetched knowing how talented Daniel is, or should I call him mammal now.

Go check out his music at www.myspace.com/mammalmammal

Weekly Fliers (4/7/09)

2009-04-07T00:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome back. I hope all is well. Life always has a way of making things interesting. We never know what the next card will be. For example The Fauxchella Festival. Last week I told you guys about this show especially because I was stoked on Abe Vigoda performing. Unfortunately, the show was canceled because the spot where they were going to have it, the roof of Crazy Gideon's, Gideon himself, after having fire marshalls inspect the place, decided the the show might be too big and get to crazy. Now Abe Vigoda dropped out. They're in the process of trying to find an alternate venue. Good luck to them. Fortunately all of you who were wanting to go see Abe Vigoda that day can see them the next day in San Diego at The Loft at UCSD along with No Age. No flier for that show but should be good anyway.

Gotta keep this one short. Have a good week kiddies. As always check with the venue for any last minute cancelations or schedule changes.

Review: Alien Soundtrack/Sunken Landscapes split CD

2009-04-03T01:52:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me personally, know that my musical tastes range from the easily accessible to the downright questionable and everything in between. I have never been one to shy away from challenging myself to listening to something that casual listeners would find "just noise". I don't always "get" what the band is trying to achieve but I understand that they have a point of view that they are trying to put across. Whether they achieve it is another subject entirely. Many times artists just have to cut the chord.

The realm of psychedelia in music is one such area that I have never fully understood. I've never tried anything harder good ole' THC and to an extent have never partaken in its complimentary attributes while experiencing some form of psychedelia. One friend told me he never understood The Doors until he smoked pot while listening to them. So, in that perspective, you can understand where I'm coming from when I say that I wished I was high when I was listening to this split CD.

Not that the music is bad or anything I just think I would "get" what they are going for much easier while high. While sober you try to make sense of things and put things in order. You try to catalog all the things you experience into neat little groupings in order for you to make the proper decision of whether or not you like something.

So in order to make sense of the music in my sober state, I tried to think of the closest thing that would be similar to what I had to critique; a noise band. From a completely noise perspective it is definitely something that makes the grade. Yet there comes a point when you're listening to stuff like this where you start to feel drained. Once again, not because it's bad, but because you're concentrated on what is actually being played so intently that you feel tired. (Or maybe that's just the introvert in me) You also get to a point where halfway through a CD by bands like Alien Soundtracks and Sunken Landscapes you start to question if what you're listening to has broken down into random music fuck arounds. At times, it's difficult to say.

I will say this; at the risk of sounding like a total pretentious, noise band music elitist, asshole, I see what they're going for. Notice that I didn't say "I get it" because I don't. I was able to witness a live set of Alien Soundtracks as they played the final song on this split, Scattered Wreckage. So there is obviously structure to what seems like madness since I was able to distinguish the song that they played that night amongst the songs on this CD. Maybe one day I'll take that leap and try to understand it, if you catch my drift. It's definitely a great effort on both bands part. But once again, it's not you, it's me.

Alien Soundtracks/Sunken Landscapes - Split CD
Available through Nihil Underground

Weekly Fliers (4/2/09)

2009-03-30T21:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome everyone to this weeks edition of The Weekly Fliers. Yes I changed then name due to the fact that I have been finding myself posting these a little later than Tuesday so I thought I'd make it easier on myself and post it anytime during the week. This week we've got some great shows to tell you about.

Just a few to make sure you check out, this Friday, April 3rd, at the Indio Polo Grounds will be the return of Fatso Jetson to their hometown playing a show with a bunch of other bands benefiting children with M.S. Please go, you're helping out a well deserving cause and at the same time you get to check out some great music.

Lately there have been a lot of shows/festivals that have grown around the idea of the big annual Coachella Fest. Personally I can't stand festivals especially over rated, over blown, over priced, juggernauts like the Coachella. I only go to this thing if I can get in for free or for cheap, which there are multiple ways of doing so. Those of you who have done one of these methods in the past know what I'm talking about. But if you still can't figure out a way to get in one of these ways, there is always an alternative. Go check out Faux-chella on April 10th. Playing that show will be Abe Vigoda, Blue Jungle, Bastidas, Sons & Daughters, amongst many others. It's only $10 and you get either a beer or wine upon entry. But if you prefer, with another $2 donation you can get a pretty heavy handed mixed drink. That should be a good time.

One final show to mention is the KXLU Fundraiser supporting Free Form Radio. This takes place on April 11th and features one of my favorite bands Meho Plaza. Also playing are Foot Village, Voices Voices, The Happy Hollows, and others including No Age doing a DJ set.

That's all for this week. As always check with the venue for any last minute schedule changes or cancellations.

Dum Dum Girls - Catholicked

2009-03-28T20:21:00.000-07:00

I really have to thank Rogers and everyone else at Family Time and the Family Time Blog for introducing this band to me. This band is one of my new favorite bands. I'm going to have to pick up a copy of the "Yours Alone" 12" EP soon. Check them out: Dum Dum Girls.

Flier Tuesday (3/24/09)

2009-03-23T23:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome everyone to another edition of Daily Dares Flier Tuesdays. I was asked recently why I post these fliers especially if I have no stake in who actually goes to these shows. I make no money helping people advertise these shows, so why bother? Well, the answer to that is multi-faceted. Obviously one reason is that I want to get the word out about the music not just in my own home town but everything here in Southern California. SoCal is my home and I'm damn proud of it.

Yet one of the biggest reasons is that I actually enjoy seeing the creativity and time that goes into these fliers. Take for instance the flier for the show taking place on the 29th of this month with TPF!, Narwhal Party, Conejos and others. The one with the shark. I don't know the correlation between the shark and the bands that are playing that night but it drew me in. Someone put some thought into that. Or the artwork done for the Jared Mees and the Grown Children show at the Knitting Factory on March 30th. There have been nights where I wished that I could shoot my brain out of my head like the guy in the picture, usually after night of way to much Budwiser. And I've always liked the fliers made by Planet Lunch like the one he made for Evident, Golden Animals, Slipping Into Darkness and a few others taking place on April 3rd at The Point After.

Aside from the aforementioned shows you should go check out The Mae Shi, Pre, Foot Village, and Past Lives at The Smell on the 26th. I think I might be there. Also go to the Kava Lounge on the 29th in San Diego for the One Night Only show. I'm disappointed that I will have to miss this show for a multitude of reasons. Yet you shouldn't. Go check out the fliers for yourself. I'm sure you'll find something worth checking out.

That's all for now. As always check with the venue for any schedule changes of cancelations.

Review: Ancient Crux - Interracial Coupling

2009-03-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

Rapid Youth is Travis, Tyler, and Brent. Ancient Crux is the restructuring of said band. Not a completely new band because it's members are basically the same members of Rapid Youth. They take a musical idea and apply it to the same outfit yet completely changing the outcome of what would normally be a Rapid Youth CD.

The name of this album fits the mood. Complete opposites in structure coming together to create something different. Notice I didn't say "something beautiful". Reason being is that not every mash up of styles works. Take for instance Limp Bizkit or more recently the hardcore/electro/screamo/pop/hip-hop garbage of Brokencyde. If you haven't heard Brokencyde before, consider yourself lucky.

In the case of Ancient Crux though the idea of taking seemingly polar opposites and putting them together works to their advantage. What do I mean, you ask. The first time I heard the CD, the first two words that came to mind were "surf goth". Then I immediately thought that this would be the kind of music that would be on the soundtrack of Twin Peaks if they were to ever remake it. Sunny and dark. An oxymoron in audio form. The music is as if Roy Orbison joined a goth band and told them that they were going to to start making surf tunes.

I usually hate these kinds of reviews, but honestly, I enjoy this CD and wanted to do it justice. Yet I don't listen to much goth nor am I a follower of surf music. Yet I can recognize these elements and I can tell the difference between the two but also can tell when something works. It's pretty obvious that these guys have enough knowledge in both the sunny and darker elements to make a sound as cohesive and enjoyable as Interracial Coupling.

Ancient Crux - Interracial Coupling
Available through Family Time Records

Flier Tuesday (3/17/09)

2009-03-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patty's day everyone. If you're planning on partying it up tonight be safe out there and have a good time. Save me some corned beef and all the fixings.

Saturday night at the Themselves show, which took place at The Point After, I was approached by an old friend that asked me about a previous blog where I told valley promoters not to book shows at The Point After anymore. He was asking me why I felt that way. I explained to him that the place has a lot going against it.

First off is the positioning of the stage. Unless you are standing in the walkway in front of it, it will be difficult to get a large crowd going. There is just so much space between the performers and the crowd that it feels as if you are miles away from the performers. The railing doesn't help either. Secondly, the walkway in front of the stage can fit only so many people. So if you're not there in the walkway good luck if you really want to get somewhat close to the band. Third, there is no place to dance. I know not all people dance at shows, but when you get acts that have a dance groove to them, they really like it when the crowd can dance in front of them. Limited space in front means no room to dance which also means that its harder for a band to connect with a crowd. Fourth is the fact that it is a sports bar. Regular bars are okay for shows because you may have the occasional knuckle head usual heckling the band. Yet when you add the fact that you've got a group of regulars that are there not for the show but to watch the game/UFC fight/boxing match, it just adds to the frustration. I've also heard rumors of bands not getting paid due to issues with the venue itself or the promoters and I've also heard about bands saying that they'd never play there again due to poor treatment. I can't really verify that so I have to throw that out in my reasoning.

Regardless, just because a venue is not good for a show doesn't mean it is not a good place for a party. Case in point; the Themselves show. With the large speaker system that was rented for the night, the way the performers were set up pushed way up close to the railing, the "skybox" room upstairs set up for people to dance and have a good time, the lighting, the TV monitors above set to a mood inducing light show, the whole place was conducive to a party atmosphere. And it worked. All the other shows I've been to or heard about kind of fell flat. The guys at Kil Atwil and Aesthetic Arrest really know what they're doing when it comes to throwing a party. If The Point After ever decided to become a nightclub then I think it would have the potential to be a prime party spot. My viewpoint may be altered but I still don't apologize for what I said previously. To quote S. Pineda from his myspace page "All I have now is honesty".

Saturday was the day I realized how far reaching this all can be and how much further it can go in time. I know some of you will disagree with my point of view. That's fine. You're allowed to. That just means that we have to agree to disagree. Don't take it personal. I'm not attacking anyone. In fact if you disagree with me let me know. I am more than willing to hear your side of a story. Maybe you can convince me to change my mind. But I will never apologize about my honesty.

On that note, let's get to this weeks fliers shall we.

Some shows I'd like to make note on; at the Echo Curio, there is a show every night from now until the 28th of March. I don't have fliers for every single show but go check out their myspace page. Another reminder about the Dusty Rhodes and the River Band show on March 20th. Come to this show early and meet up with us for the Zombie walk. More details on the flier. We'll try to provide some fake blood for this show but it would really help out if you did your makeup. On April 3rd Fatso Jetson returns to the desert to play a show with some friends of theirs, Brant Bjork. That should be a good show. And on April 6th, one of my favorite groups, Dalmacio von Diamond and The Enochian Keys are playing at Pherespace.

That's all for now. As always check with the venue for any schedule changes or cancellations.

Flier Tuesday (3/10/09)

2009-03-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

The scarcity of the moment will bring you to where you need to be.

For a second there, those of us in my home town held our breath at the thought that J Dee's Landing was closing down for good. For a good several weeks in February, shows at J Dee's had to be shuffled around; even canceled. But on March 6th good news was to be had and the grand re-opening happened.

It's weird to feel like this about something such as a bar. To many of us though, it meant good memories; first times, goodbyes, celebrations, good music, bad music, but overall something special. Not just a bar but a living breathing being giving life to a valley previously on life support. It's not all ages but it gave those of us that are of age an opportunity to bring something to the community that was in desperate need; life to a music scene. A barely beating pulse but alive regardless.

One of those shows that had to be shuffled around was a show that we've been wanting to put on for quite some time now and now it's finally happening. Daily Dares, along with 5000 Photography and Phinds.net brings to you Dusty Rhodes and the River Band on March 20th, 2009. Also playing that night will be Sol District, Sand Like Snow, and Slipping into Darkness. This is a night you will not want to miss.

Other shows that you should check out; at the Echo Curio on March 14th will be our good friends No Paws (No Lions), Moses Campbell, Enid The Owl, and Franklin For Short. Also, for you Juno soundtrack fans and Kimya Dawson fans, on April 14th she'll be performing in Pamona with our friends Halloween Swim Team. And don't forget to go check out Halloween Swim Team this Friday at Red Cove and go see Themselves at the Point After on March 14th.

That's all for now. Good luck to everyone making their way to SXSW. Have a good time and I'll see you when you get back. As always, check with venues for any schedule changes or cancelations.

Review: The Girl With Violent Arms - Two Song Sampler

2009-03-05T17:01:00.000-08:00

I usually don't do reviews for acts not from Southern California but in the case of The Girl With Violent Arms two song sampler I made an exception to the rule. Why? Three reasons; first of all The Girl With Violent Arms is a one man band originally from Colton, which if you don't know already, is part of the I.E. Secondly, his upcoming album, of which these two songs are from, is being released by Southern California based label How To Be a Microwave. Third, he made the trek, recently, from Northern California all the way down to our little town of Palm Springs to play a show. So I owe him this much at the very least. With that being said...

I have an affinity for noise. Personally, I can sit around for hours just making interesting noises come out of instruments. It's definitely not for everyone and those aspiring to endeavor into this genre may come out the other side more frustrated than successful. Yet I do feel that a good noise band has a lot in common with a good free form jazz band. It takes an incredibly talented and patient mind to successfully employ the use of random noises, feedback, blips, loops, squelches, chirps, and such to create a song that discriminating noise fiends would enjoy. Even more so when it comes to those who attempt to integrate noise and pop. Sonic Youth, and more recently No Age, have done this with a level of success that have alluded others greatly.

Being this is just a sampler from the upcoming album The Sun Will Swallow Me Whole and possibly rough cuts of songs I must tread these waters carefully. Mostly because I enjoy these songs and seeing his live performance I understand the task he is undertaking. His live performance can be a bit confounding to the casual listener. It takes the kind of patience that noise fans and free form jazz followers alike are gifted with. It takes time to "get it" but in the end it's extremely worthwhile.

The first song on the sampler, Glass Shatters, begins and kind of bumps up against the meat of the song, A.K.A. the more musically recognizable to the pedestrian ear, like the comedy skit part of a rap CD but with a little more tact. But once the song gets going that's where it begins to earn it's merit. Central Nervous System is much less noise much more pop. It chugs along like an angry steam engine with a sole purpose of smashing into a car that makes the poor choice of crossing the tracks at the wrong time.

This sampler definitely whets my appetite for the full length. Some may dispute that this is not a noise band, possibly Mario himself, A.K.A. TGWVA, may disagree. Regardless, there are many people whose ambition is far beyond their reach. Here is not the case. Yet once again, for my tastes, the live version of TGWVA is a bit more rewarding to witness in comparison to the recorded version but not by much.

The Girl With Violent Arms - Two Song Sampler
The Sun Will Swallow Me Whole
Available soon through How To Be a Microwave

Flier Tuesday (3/3/09)

2009-03-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome back for another edition of Flier Tuesdays and have we got some shows for you. This week we've got some great shows to tell you about. So let's get Started.

First up we've got a couple of shows that are taking place on the same night. On Thursday, March 5th, at El Jardin, performing will be Furious Stylz, the new group consisting of Anticon mainstay Telephone Jim Jesus and the group who just recently did a lengthy stint as Sole's backing band, The Skyrider Band. They will performing along with Egconfused and a couple groups from around my way, Griefshare and Mira La Luz.

Also that night at The Smell will be Megawand, Michael Nhat, Halloween Swim Team, and Not The Government. I just recently did a short write up on Michael Nhat and if you haven't seen this guy perform, from what I've heard it's very unique. Go check out the small feature I did on him and watch the video.

Just a reminder, I mentioned this last week but don't forget to check out Themselves at the Point After. It's going to be awesome regardless of the awful venue. Word of advice to the promoters in The Coachella Valley; stop doing shows at the Point After. It's a terrible place to have shows. I know you feel like your options are few but I 'd rather have the acts that I invite to play as well as the show goers have a great time in a tiny hole in the wall then to have people saying that they couldn't enjoy themselves. You are not doing the artists you invite to play a favor at all. If the band has a bad show it does nothing to help them. Bigger venues do not necessarily mean better shows. Start thinking out of the box.

Lastly, some shameless self promotion. There is a new all ages venue here in the valley and we along with 5000 Photography and Phinds.net are fortunate enough to be promoting them. It is called Red Cove and on March 13th, Halloween Swim Team, Cristopher Cichocki, Alien Soundtracks, and Grrrips will be performing. Grrrips is a local guy doing his first live performance out here in the valley and Cristopher Cichocki is a visual performance artist out of La Quinta. Come and check this show out.

That's it for this week. As always check with the venue for any last minute cancelations or venue changes. Take care.

Michael Nhat: Everyone Knows Werewolves Kill

2009-02-25T17:59:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know that I am huge fan of unconventional hip hop. Actually I'm a fan of anything that is pretty musically unconventional. The genre benders. The outsiders. The people who just plain don't give a fuck about keeping with tradition. Michael Nhat is definitely one of them. Some would say he takes from the Anticon playbook. Others would suggest that he draws from artists like Busdriver, Murs, Del, Subtitle, Aceyalone, amongst many others. Regardless, the aforementioned are still outsiders to me. And much more interesting than Lil Jon or Three Six Mafia. Here is his latest video.

Michael Nhat - Everyone knows Werewolves kill from Michael Nhat on Vimeo.

Review: No Paws (No Lions) - Don't Be Afraid of Where You Live

2009-02-15T00:44:00.000-08:00

What is Punk? Some would point to a style, in the more traditional sense, something along the lines of Mohawks, safety pins holding up patches of bands like T.S.O.L., Total Chaos, Crass, amongst others, and what those bands embody in a stylistic sense. Others less educated would think of bands like Green Day and Blink 182. Don't get me wrong, somewhere along the line, I'm certain, those bands were exposed to punk in the more traditional sense. And then you got everything in between from The Pixies to Nirvana, Husker Du, NOFX, The Ramones, and The Sex Pistols.

I never grew up listening to punk. In my adolescent years I listened to a lot of what was popular on the radio. My only musical influence back then was my uncle who played a lot of Beatles, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Kenny Rogers, and a lot of other stuff that I look back at now and laugh at but still guiltily enjoy. As I got older, in my teenage years I still listened to a lot of the popular stuff on MTV; Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins. In fact I wasn't really exposed to punk in the traditional sense until later on when I was in my first band and my drummer introduced me to the more hardcore punk bands.

So where do I stand on this definition of punk? For me, I take the D. Boone/Minutemen stance; punk is what you make of it. Of course there will be some objections and for now we will have to agree to disagree.

What does this have to do with this review you ask? In my honest opinion, this album is a punk album. Why is that so important to the appraisal of this CD? Because that's the first thing that pops into my head when I listen to it. Short fast songs with a take it or leave it attitude. They cut out the bullshit and get down to business. There are songs about the mistakes that we made and the lessons learned. Songs about youth and being young and the idea that everything is possible. Take for instance the opening and title track Don't Be Afraid of Where You Live. It's a simple declaration of taking possession one's own city/place of residence. Where you live can be scary, boring, the bane of your existence or it can be the place where you do great things. It can be a place that great movements are born. It's what you make of it. It's not very often that you come across a band that is this full of hope. I think that's good though. It's those diamonds in the rough that keep you searching.

No Paws (No Lions) - Don't Be Afraid of Where You Live
Available through Family Time Records

Interview: Motel Monster

2009-02-10T12:34:00.000-08:00

I recently had a little chat with a band that I feel are one of the most unique bands coming out of the desert, Motel Monster, before they played J. Dee's Landing this past Saturday. If you haven't checked them out, you should.

Motel Monster interview from Phinds.net on Vimeo.

Review: Halloween Swim Team - The End of the Sky

2009-01-29T18:19:00.001-08:00

The first time I heard about Halloween Swim Team I was intrigued by their name. Come to find out they were given their name by Justin of The Locust. He asked them if they had a band and they said yes but they didn't have a name so he suggested two names. One of them was Michael J. Fucks. The other was obviously the one that they went with. Catchy name for catchy music.

After going through several changes in instrumentation and lineup, going from three piece to four piece and back again, they finally solidified a sound which suits them. The End of the Sky is the end result of their labors.

Caveat emptor, this is a great album, but, if you've never seen HST live, may I recommend listening to the CD first before going to see them live. Like dance records (not that this, by any means, is a dance record) has a difficult time portraying it's full potential in digital form. Unfortunately, because I've seen them live, I can't be 100% objective. Yet I must measure it's worth, not upon past experience, but upon the work and the work alone.

The CD opens with Inside/Out TV's Casio-esque drum machine pitter-patter before kicking into the dancy opening verse. The CD takes you on a wooden roller coaster ride, very bumpy and rickety, scary nonetheless, but that's all part of the charm. These synth geeks, whose keyboard arsenal range from the familiar to the virtually unknown, give this band the unique sound that has now become a reference point, for me, when describing the sound of a band. You know how that goes, when someone asks what a particular band sounds like, you take one band and mash it against another and, voila, new band sound! Yet, anyone who tries to do what they do will be privy to the band mash-up describing game. Oh yeah, sure, you can try to compare them to other synth bands like Ladytron or Le Tigre, but to no avail. You're only heaping them together because they use keyboards as the main instrument. HST's sound is all their own and The End of the Sky is their thesis.

Halloween Swim Team - The End of the Sky
Available through Modern Sleeze! Records

As I promised...

2009-01-20T16:10:00.000-08:00

Here is the interview we did with Kyle Divine of Dusty Rhodes and the River Band. Enjoy.

Interview with Kyle Divine of Dusty Rhodes and the River Band from Sean Burford on Vimeo.

Special thanks to Sean at Phinds.net

Sufferkaterz!!!

2009-01-15T08:15:00.000-08:00

This is the new video from Sufferkaterz. Mic Legg has been around for a while making beats and rhyming, and honestly, his stuff has always been sick. Him and his crew have been a huge influence on the desert scene, bringing in some of the biggest acts in hip hop. It's time that him and his crew got a share of the glory. Check this video out and see what I mean.

the sufukataz | bump the curb | directed by f/22 from ƒ/22 on Vimeo.

An Interview with Dusty Rhodes and the River Band...

2009-01-13T12:16:00.001-08:00

will be up within the week. Our friend Kyle Divine was kind enough to invite us into the studio while recording their next full length. Let me tell you, I'm very excited for the world to hear it just from the little that we got to listen to. Stayed tuned.

Thin Air

2009-01-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen it yet, here is Halloween Swim Team's new video for their song "Thin Airlines". They will be playing here in Palm Springs at J Dee's on January 9th at 9pm and the next day at the Echo Curio in Echo Park. If you have never seen them live, it's time you did.

Halloween Swim Team - Thin Airlines from Halloween Swim Team on Vimeo.

Something old and something new, something The Cars did in 1982

2009-01-02T01:07:00.000-08:00

The theme to this show reminds me of The Promise Ring song "Make Me a Mixtape". A song that I will probably put on the ones that I make. Either way come to this show. Maybe I'll give you a mixtape even if you don't make one.

Happy New Year!!!

2008-12-27T21:04:00.000-08:00

It's the end of the year and everyone is posting their top tens, best of, and all that sort of nonsense. What one thinks deserves applause, another will think you're full of crap. All I can really do is tell you what spent the most time playing on my iPod and how these songs and moments touched my life and quite possibly changed me. I won't tell you why you should listen to these artists, what makes them so "important" or "vital" in the music world, or why these artists are the ones to watch. The way I feel about these artists and moments go beyond favoritism or some fading importance to a trend that is dissipating just as quickly. These feelings mark moments in my life. Just like The Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam marked chapters in my life oh so long ago, so do the people and events that I am about to list.

So, what has been on constant rotation on my iPod this year? In no particular order, here it is:

Why? - Alopecia
This album from beginning to end tells the story of a man who is bearing his broken heart to the world. It's about a man looking death straight in the eye and daring it to give him it's worst. It's the story of a man rediscovering his love for life. A man who is pushing through the pain of losing love and realizing that losing love can be one of the greatest gifts. It's a story that has comforted me through a painful year of my own and has helped me come out the other side badly bruised and scarred, yet, still alive, not a mummy sleeping in it's cloths.

The Mae Shi - HLLLYH
A little over a year and a half ago I saw this video

Mae Shi performing at the Smell 10/6/06

I've known about The Mae Shi for quite some time. I remember seeing their name on The Smell's website when I was looking to see when 90 Day Men would be playing out here on the west coast. Their name stuck out to me. It was just a really cool name for a band. 90 Day Men have long since disbanded, but The Mae Shi, although having changed members a few times, have gone on to be one of the biggest "Smell" acts. HLLLYH is an album built on positive energy. Its songs, while some of which have a doomy undertone, make me feel good. There's something freeing about their music. It's crazy kinetic energy, in the hands of other bands, can make you angry and wound up. The Mae Shi, on the other hand, do it in a way that is uplifting and fun.

Dr. Dog - Fate
I was introduced to this band by my friend, Kyle Divine. At first it reminded me of Wilco. But then I listened to it a few more times and it proved to be more than just another Wilco knock off. The songs are reminiscent of The Band. They chug along with an "I think I can" mood which is how I feel after listening to them.

Dusty Rhodes and the River Band - First You Live...
It's an odd thing to be such a huge fan of your friend's band. It's strange because a lot of times you're supportive of your friend's band because they are your friends, regardless of if they are any good or not. The album is pretty ambitious. The pairing of Dusty Rhodes with Ikey Owens of The Mars Volta and Free Moral Agents as producer was an unlikely pair. Ikey has never had any experience in producing a band such as theirs. Yet he pulled it off like he'd been producing these kinds of bands for years. Albeit there is definitely the Ikey Owens influence in the sound, you can't deny that, at its best, First You Live is beautifully crafted and emotionally complex, and at its very least it's a fun listen.

Beirut - Flying Club Cup
This CD really pulls at my heart strings and hits home, not as much as Alopecia, but it really touches me in a more non-cynical way. It's a very emotionally reflective album and the longing is definitely heartbreaking. The opening lyrics "it's been a long time, long time now/since I've seen you smile/I will gamble away my fright/I will gamble away my time" resonates on a personal level that only someone who has had a year like mine can understand.

No Paws No Lions - Shamel Park
Here is another one of those instances where the line between liking a friend's band and trying to be objective in your preferences starts to blur. What makes this a lot easier is that I was a fan of NPNL before I became their friend. NPNL is one of those bands that could have easily become another band that wrote some really great pop songs and that's all. Yet there is enough art in their music to keep it interesting and much deeper than simple pop songs.

John Thill - The Sluts
This CD has a darker tone than his last, "Midwest Vacation". On his last one John Thill jumped around from escapism to his fondness of his beloved Inland Empire to revenge to even a love song. The subject matter on "The Sluts" is much more focused and the flow of the songs seem much more congruent. It definitely has a character all its own.

Radiohead - In Rainbows
I don't care what people think about Radiohead. They will always be one of my favorite bands of all time. In Rainbows is proof that there are still bands that, even with age, can craft a beautiful album without missing a step.

Honorable mentions:
Subtle - Exiting Arm
Abe Vigoda - Skeleton
Deerhoof - Offend Maggie
Islands - Arm's Way
Maritime - Heresy and the Hotel Choir
PWRFL Power - PWRFL Power
Meho Plaza - Meho Plaza
Liars - Liars
Deerhunter - Microcastle
Women - Women

Have a great 2009!!!