I meant to put this up about a month ago. Well fuck me.

Or dagger me, rather.

Major Lazer "Pon De Floor" from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.

Click on this ~ link ~ for more videos from this director.



As for daggering, its origins lay in breaking Jamaican dicks. Observe.



Major Lazer is at Terminal 5 on Saturday night. I'll be there.

Woah, Soulsaver has a new album. Epic.

Soulsavers are an English production and remix team comprised of Rich Machin and Ian Glover. They have a downtempo electronica sound with influences of rock, gospel, soul, and country. Giddy. Up.

Although formed in 2000, they just released only their third album, Broken, on August 17th, 2009. Mark Lanegan is featured as the main vocalist with contributions from Mike Patton (of Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk), Jason Pierce ( of Spiritualized and Spaceman 3), and Gibbby Haynes ( of Butthole Surfers).


From the aforementioned Broken... the all instrumental track Wise Blood:


The non-album single Sunrise was written by Lanegan and sung by Will Oldham, aka Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, which preceded the album's release on August 3rd, 2009.



And now for some perdy Will Oldham moving pencil scratches...

Top Spits

Bon Iver, aka Justin Vernon, has just blown the top off the auto-tune's precipice. Under the collaborative Volcano Choir he's just released a new album ~ Unmap ~ and it starts with the hateful application, but with time the chimes and drums give resonance and validity to the fad.

It unfolds itself with tidal wave rhythms of said tune, but choir, chimes and blanketed sheets of vocal bliss with encouraging yes-please ambiance makes it a portrait worth appraisal. Sounding much better than the original version of The Woods he put out last year.

Volcano Choir; the one that's good like wine, just give it time:



The Woods. Sans choir. Don't listen too long. Seriously. Just making a point.



Thanks for the lead, DNUGG.

Port O'Brien

The new album ~ Threadbare ~ will be out in the US next Tues. Oct. 6th. They just completed a live show in Seattle and will spend 2 nights in NYC : 10/14 at Mercury Lounge. 10/16 @ Union Hall.

Port O'Brien. They lost a brother of the band earlier this year... very resonant in the album. Heavy.

My girlfriend is famous.

Featured today on Planet.com is none other than the beautiful Joy Merrifield. As she readies to embark on another Icelandic adventure, Joyous leaves us with the hopes of up-to-the-second happenings and have-to's in the tundratic oasis of pixies and sprites.


Bravo!



Iceland Airwaves Festival.

A touched family

There is something spectacularly refreshing about Jason Trachtenburg. And his family. Here's a get to know you interview from 2005. Just to get things rolling. . .



Okay, so perhaps you just watched the first 1:28 to get an idea of what the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players are all about. In that first 90 seconds, Jason mentions their inception to slideshows as a medium for a musical act and their first song ~ Mountain Trip to Old Japan. Well here it is:



They did a buncha buncha touring in the US, Canada and Europe and have recorded and released two albums: Vintage Slide Collections From Seattle, Vol. 1 (2001) and Adventures in Middle America, Vol. 2 (2005).

The ~ now 15 year old ~ daughter, Rachel, began a morning show in 2007. It's a bit of an infotainment-puppet vessel for tweens with a green thumb for environmental and social issues. And it's still a family affair:



Rachel's morning show has now evolved into Rachel Trachtenburg’s Homemade World alongside her parents and various other actors. She released an album of the same name in 2009. Simultaneously to working on Rachel's show, she and the family have been quite outspoken on her political views here in New York City.

Rachel went downtown in October and November of 2008 to speak out against Mayor Bloomberg extending his term limits. Here, The Players defend her position after Rachel addressed a public hearing at City Hall.



I think she means it. This is from a few days after speaking at city hall:



On January 30, 2009, Rachel and her parents went back to City Hall to speak out against horse carriage drivers, whom she claims, mistreat their horses. Rachel performed a song about horses on her ukulele and received a round of applause from the City Council, which are both not normally allowed.

Rachel plans to spend the rest of her life in New York City.

The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players will be performing Saturday night as part of the Showpaper Music and Art Celebration at Red Hook Labs in Brooklyn. I think it's only $8 but I guarantee a touching slideshow.

Paul, Paul... Interpol.

I read somewhere, sometime ago that Paul Banks was teased in his adolescence for being a narc. Funnily enough, when forming Interpol in 1998 he encouraged the adoption of aliases for his troupe. For the exception of Carlos D. it didn't take. Until now.

Under the adopted moniker Julian Plenti, Paul released his first solo album ~ Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper ~ on August 4th, 2009. Really driving the alias home, Paul.

Here's the video for Games for Days featuring the Canadian born Emily Haines of Metric as... the woman.



Paul, err, Julian Plenti will be playing at the Guggenheim Museum on Friday night for many many many many dollars. Really? I remember when Paul and his whole band would play for, like, twelve bucks. And he's not even from Brooklyn... ~ had to follow the Gugg-link for that one.

Woah. Best video ever. Seriously. of the day.

I wanna be someone to someone too. Don't we all?

I'll be on the lookout, hopefully it won't take long for this to be remixed ~ all 2009 style.

Fanfarlo, birds and drums

Fanfarlo @ The Bell House : TONIGHT.

I wonder what Beirut thinks of this London-based ~ via Swedenish (Simon Balthazar) ~ six-piece? Regardless... it should be a stageful of sound.

This music video was produced by Iain and Jane and features one of Europe's top escape artists ~ Roslyn Walker ~ performing his version of the Hanging Straitjacket Escape, first performed by Houdini in the early 1900s.



And they will be playing live on KEXP on Thursday afternoon. Here's a nerdy video...



Fanfarlo will be playing with Wildbirds & Peacedrums, the Swedish husband and wife duo.

Should be a doozy.

Bonus: Just Announced of the Day

Be Here:
Southpaw, Brooklyn on October 2nd. 7.30pm. Here's the lineup...

The Twilight Sad
Hailing from Kilsyth, Scotland, The Twilight Sad's new album ~ Forget The Night Ahead ~ will be released October 5th, 2009 on FatCat Records.



BrakesBrakesBrakes
Following April’s release of Touchdown, Rock Is Dodelijk (translated from Dutch: Rock Is Dead) will mark the BrakesBrakesBrakes second release of 2009, after April’s Touchdown. Recorded at an August 2008 hometown gig ~ Brighton, UK ~ and this past May in Cologne, Germany, the album is a unique spin for a live concept album. The first half was done on each venue’s in-house multi-track system, and the mixing was done afterward. The second half will be a bit rawer, as it was recorded in the midst of the crowd.

The live album is out October 6th on FatCat Records.

We Were Promised Jetpacks
Assembled in Edinburgh, Scotland as high school friends in 2003, their first ever gig saw them winning their school's battle of the bands competition. The band's debut album ~ These Four Walls ~ was released June 15th, 2009 on FatCat Records.

Colour of the Day.

MotherFucking Living Colour dropped an album last week ~ The Chair in the Doorway ~ in case you didn't notice. It's their fifth since the band's 2000 reunion performance at the now defunct CBGB's. They visited SoundCheck on the 11th to perform and discuss their new album, blasting on the scene in 1988 and the band's fuuuutre.




They kick off their world-tour tonight on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and return to NYC on October 30th to play The Highline Ballroom. Tune in.

The List of the now. Of the day.

My buddy Stu was on KEXP last Friday. Here's the coordinates...



Go to KEXP's StreamingArchive, at the bottom... find the section listed as "Listen By Time". And plug in Friday, Sept. 11th. 3pm... and listen to it!

He talks all things Iceland. And all things Iceland right now are like that moment in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory when Gene Wilder throws off the cloak and reveals that, Yes! Charlie! What you thought you heard is true! Here. Take it. Now you shall own the pasture to the breeding grounds.

Stuart shows us that some damn fine horses are out there.

The playlist of Stu's hour-long fete with Kevin Cole is as follows:

LayLow : by and by
SeaBear: Seashell
Retro Stefson: Medallion
Hjaltalin: Traffic Music
FM Belfast: Par Avion
Agent Fresco: Eyes of a Cloud Catcher
Mammut: Svefnssykt
Reykjavik!: Eji plis!
Sin Fang Bouse (of SeaBear): melt down the knives
Sindri Mar Sigfussen (of Sea Bear): Landslide
Porir: HeyYa (Outcast cover)

a Video/Link of these will soon follow this post.

Some Damn Mad Flutists of the Day

Augusto Martelli : to listen to.



Jethro Tull : to watch.



I think Ian Anderson is hardcore. You tell me.

Meanwhile, back at the patch.

Jesus Billy, really? 44 songs? I thought you were still doing Tequila.


Fuck. You are white.

Alright, if you didn't read the link ~ I didn't either ~ The......... 'all new smashing pumpkins' are putting out a 44 track album ~ 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope' ~ in October FOR FREE.


It's a bit hokey. But perhaps we'll care about them again? Naw. That's silly. I mean, as a friend mentioned, could 44 songs really combine to an actual /concept/ or otherwise album? Even Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness had no real cohesiveness. But I bet they got connections enough to at least get on that new lame Leno show. Fuck TV.


So be on the scout! I'm sure your phone will tell you when it's time to download.

Don't sit by it.

You may have missed him of the day.

Ryan Adams. Yes ~ not Bryan Adams ~ Ryan Adams.

Most notable for such pop-stopping hits as New York, New York. Well, he's uuuber'd himself into whatthafuck oblivion. And I, for maybe the only one, love it. His coordinates in NYC street-lore may have never met, but he's a righteous sonnabitch.




This live version of La Cienga Just Smiled ~ and just wait for it, it gets going ~ is from the 2001 GOLD release. I think Ryan, nee David, deserves songwriting, stage-presence and general wherewithal to be who he is and was. It's fuckall easy to write bad press for someone who tends to ex, and, implode simultaneously on a vision. I mean, listen to his songs. But I certainly enjoyed the journey.

Following his marriage and departure from the Cardinals, Ryan announced~ as we in the press are privy ~ that he left music in March. However, Ryan has completed and released his first book of free-verse poetry, Infinity Blues in early April of 2009. His second book of shorts and poems, Hello Sunshine is due for release in December. Judging by the titles, I have to say that it sounds on the up-and-up. Perhaps there is a reason for Mandy Moore after all...

I jest.

Or do I? Hopefully I do. But what he had the capacity to create and record from 2000 - 2008 : eleven albums, 3 in 2005 : is quite a cannon to behold. Take him at face value or throw him out the window. He couldn't care less and would want you to listen anyway. Conundrum'd to the end.

May I recommend:
Heartbreaker 2000
The Heartbreaker Demos 2000
Gold 2001
Demolition 2002
Rock N Roll 2003
Cold Roses w/ The Cardinals 2005
Jacksonville City Nights w/ The Cardinals 2005
29 2005




That video was from 2005. He was tinkering with sobriety, but I wasn't. And I didn't mind him not looking at the audience, telling us to shut the fuck up, or his general hate-rages. To be young!



He also plays mad piano. And began blogging for The Awl in September of 2009.

The who? Of the Day.

Chuck Klosterman is a humorist. His latest article in The Onion uncovered the much blurred past of four Englishmen. Probably like you've never read before. peruse.


Chuck doesn't appear to have a personal website, but if you're not familiar with his pop-cultural musings, take a trip about the many media he dances between. wiki.

And if you include sports in your pop-satirical world, Chuck's chats with The SportsGuy are tops in the business.

Oprah, Ellen and One Son of Lee Marvin

Today on Soundcheck: The media queens' impact on the current ~ and future ~ music scene...


and this guy kills a bunny. Hear all about it at 2pm on wnyc.

song of the de. cades.

I Wanna Be Adored


The Stone Roses. 1989.

Tonite!! In Brooklyn!! Just down the street!!

Phantogram @ Union Hall.



Join me.

Today!! And This Weekend!! In Seattle!!

A Taste of Iceland is happening in Seattle this weekend. You should go to that!! And tell your friends. You can listen to Olof Arnalds on KEXP's streaming archive. Just type in yesterday's date, 9/10, at 3pm... and away you go. On a viking invasion of the ear.



Olof will be playing at The Crocodile this evening.


I am sure there are a many many other All Things Iceland going on as well. The films are sure to be tops. Superb reeling, Deirdre!




Later today, I believe 6pm EST, Stuart Rogers will be talking everything Iceland with Kevin Cole. You should also tune into that ~ on kexp ~ I'm sure the Airwaves will come up as well as other topical Icelandic musical revelries. That's coming up, mid-October. So get your woolies on. And buy a ticket already.

Live, In-Studio of the Day

Olof Arnalds performs live on KEXP.org today at 6pm EST. Tune in.

Ólöf Arnalds: Suffering is a Gift.

Here's some vids shot by the Stumaan on Lo-Fi.TV. He's also Olof's manager.

Nerd. Out.

Season 6 of RadioLab starts tomorrow on wnyc.org at 3pm. Tune in.












Each new episode will air on Friday's at 3pm, but dig into the site for oldie and goodie shows from the past. And the cannon of podcast snippets.

Mmm. Brains.

Speachless of the Day.

Tonight! 8pm! Miller Theatre: Wordless Music Series.

Featured in this installment are the following artists:

Nico Muhly



Sam Amidon



Doveman



These three often perform together. Additional videos can be found at lofi.tv

Thanks, Stumaan.

A Day late of the Day

Elvis Perkins played at Housing Works in NYC last night. What a delight.



And no worries, if you missed last night's show, just skip on over to Portland, Oregon for tonight's performance at the Doug Fir Lounge. What a crazy tour manager?

And for bonus missed coverage... accompanying Perkins last night was RaRa Riot.



Yeah, but it was only a DJ set. So, you know. You'd not have known it was them.

Echo of the Day

This gets caught between my ears for years at a time. Since 1987.

Lips Like Sugar


Their website is a bit of a mess, but here it is. Or maybe I just wasn't focusing. Both are possibly true statements. They have no 2009 dates set for the states at present.

Formed in 1978 in Liverpool, the Bunnymen have had breaks, splits, new frontmen and old one's return. Here's the wiki-tale.

A Good Morning Video.

The Magnetic Fields never repel. And the choreography has never been in better hands.



To have such whirling staged dreams... just be sure to wrote them down!

Busby Berkeley. Stephen Merritt.