Today's Swell Tune: WTF (Or How I Learned I'd Wasted My Life

The Loves - WTF (Or How I Realised I'd Wasted My Life)

• Band: The Loves (defunct as of this year)
• Album: ...Love You
• From: Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
• Sound: Hunky Dory era Bowie. with a splash of Abbey Road. But cut with Sprite; 60's style pop-rock

Monday Morning Cover: Marcia Baila

Nouvelle Vague:

Marcia Baila - Nouvelle Vague

The Original:

Rita Mitsouko:

Marcia Baïla by Rita Mitsouko

Today's Swell Tune: Crystal Sounds

Crystal Sounds by ThirteenSenses

• Band: Thirteen Senses
• Album: Crystal Sounds
• From: Penzance, Cornwall, England
• Sound: This should motivate you to do that epic moment you've been putting off; instrumental pop-rock,
• Website: thirteensenses.com
• Social: facebook, myspace, twitter

Saturday Night Remix: Reptilia

The Strokes -Reptilia

into:

Reptilia (Morning Crash Remix)

bonus remix:

 The Strokes - Reptilia (Paul Tesla Remix)

Today's Swell Tune: Creep Me Out

• Band: Ruby Coast
• Album: Whatever This Is (download it free from their website)
• From: Aurora, Ontario, Canada
• Sound: Like Vampire Weekend has been listening to a lot of The Jam; rock
• Website: rubycoast.bandcamp.com
• Social: facebook, twitter

Friday's Forgotten Song: Evidently Chickentown

Artist: John Cooper Clarke

Album: Snap, Crackle, and Bop

1980

Today's Swell Tune: Benediction

 

• Artist: Thurston Moore (producer: Beck)
• Album: Demolished Thoughts (out May 24)
• From: Coral Gables, Florida, United States; really though, Sonic Youth
• Sound: Lovely, poignant, and a little like Lou Reed with a violin; rock, chamber pop 
• Website: ecstaticpeace.com/thurston
• Social: facebook

Boss Stuff on the Interwebs: Wednesday Links 23/03/11

• A "lost" album from David Bowie--who, along with champagne and jelly beans, is the closest thing I have to religion--is now available thanks to the twin miracles of the internet and theft. Electric Comic Book let me know.

• Stereogum has a "Recipe for Radiohead", including the correct proportions of "refrigerator magnet poetry" and "empty spaces where guitar used to be." Actually, it's originally from The Daily but I'm not buying into that wannabe-hipster malarkey. Even if I do miss those guitars.

• Neon Filler is at 50-41 on their super-duper list of the top indie/alternative albums of all time. This week includes, The Kinks, The Pretenders, and Calexico.

• After the two recent earthquakes in Christchurch, local label City Kids Records sneaked into one of the condemned buildings to record four local bands. The Devil Has the Best Tuna reports on Gigglepop, Sleeping with Students, and more.

• Aquarium Drunkard calls Smoke Ring for my Halo Kurt Vile's "best record yet". You should at least check that out.

• Edwyn Collins, he of the eternally awesome Girl Like You, is back and has teamed up--however unlikely it may seem--with The Drums (among others). Andrew Evans Talks at You digs it.

• GROUPLOVE's Don't Say Oh Well was Song of the Day over at You Can't Hear It on the Radio, where they describe it as "an adrenaline shot in  music form". They also describe the band's sound as "loose (and) barely keeping it together", which means I need to find a new title for my autobiography.

Today's Swell Tune: Eat People

Eat People by twotears

• Artist: Two Tears (Kerry Davis from Red Aunts)
• Album  Eat People 7"
• From: Long Beach, California
• Sound: Girl rock that's anything but feminine; guitar rock
• Website: twotears.com
• Social: myspace

Today's Swell Tune: Winter on the Weekend

Julia Stone - Winter On The Weekend

• Artist: Julia Stone
• Album: The Memory Machine
• From: Sydney, Australia
• Sound: Joanna Newsom on Quaaludes. Also, the track's artwork warns: “This film contains scenes which are shocking. No one should be afraid though as most things in life are shocking and strange, and it is a good way to grow.” There's that; folk, piano pop
• Website: angusandjuliastone.com
• Social: facebook, myspace, twitter

Monday Morning Cover: Zebra

Yellow Ostrich:

Yellow Ostrich - Zebra (Beach House) by pandapop

The Original:

Beach House:

Beach House - Zebra (UK Radio Edit) by subpop

Saturday Night Remix: Take It Easy

Surfer Blood - Take It Easy

into:

Surfer Blood - Take It Easy (RAC Maury Mix) by RAC

Today's Swell Tune: Rhythm Doesn't Make You a Dancer

Rhythm Doesn't Make You A Dancer by Jon Fratelli

• Artist: Jon Fratelli
• Album: The Magic Hour (EP)
• From: Glasgow, Scotland
• Sound: If you drink whisky with a beer back, this is your soundtrack; guitar rock
• Website: jonfratelli.co.uk
• Social: facebook, myspace, twitter

Friday's Forgotten Song: Homicide

Homicide (999) 

999

Album: Separates

1978

Today's Swell Tune: Come Closer

Miles Kane - Come Closer by Miles Kane

• Artist: Miles Kane
• Album: Colour of the Trap (out May 9)
• From: Liverpool, England/ The Rascals
• Sound: Boozy, sleazy guitar riffs over throbbing baselines. And I give it two months before the chorus is in an electronics commercial; guitar rock
• Website: mileskane.com
• Social: facebook, twitter
• Video: here

Boss Stuff on the Interwebs: Wednesday Links 16/03/11

• Your musical education continues with Neon Filler's list of the top 100 indie/alternative albums of all time. This week: 60-51 (including Bon Iver and my favourite Modest Mouse album). 

• Fellow Canucks be proud: Spinner looks at the invasion of Canadian music at SXSW including Broken Social Scene, Feist, and The New Pornographers. But it's "aboat" not "aboot", Stuart.

• The National has a new song Think You Can Wait, and it confirms my long-held belief that Matt Berninger just wants everyone to cry and moodily drink whisky all the time. Hear it at Stereogum.

• My former flatmate's favourite musician was Joanna Newsom, and--swear to God-- she once casually uttered the phrase "I find dirt really interesting."  So the suggestion that she may have once "considered befriending a squirrel" seems pretty dead on. Flavorwire will hilariously stereotype you, too, by your favourite indie band. 

• Dance-punk/  noise rock duo Death From Above 1979 has reunited, is rehearsing for Coachella, and is testing out a badass bass-cam video. As cool as that sounds, Dominic at This Moving Picture manages to make it sound even cooler.

• On the opposite end of the spectrum is Sunnybrook a band who describes their sound as "your running through a field of dandelions laughing uncontrollably". Sunnybrook you need to come to my parties. And bring whatever it is that made you write that. (Universal Yellow Keys)

• I've had a complicated, shitty week, so I genuinely appreciate Young Minds' Change of Pace (no pun intended). It's a catchy lo-fi track that will make the world feel simple and upbeat for two and  a half minutes. Thanks to guerolitomusic for the tranquilizer.

Today's Swell Tune: Baby You

A B & The Sea - Baby You 

• Band: A B & The Sea
• Album: Run Run Run
• From: San Francisco, California, United States
• Sound: If the Wilson brothers were hipsters. Brian and Dennis, I mean. Not Luke and Owen.; indie surf pop
• Website: abandthesea.net
• Social: facebook, myspace, tumblr, twitter

Today's Swell Tune: Cement Slippers

• Band: Dengue Fever
• Album: Cannibal Courtship (out March 29)
• From: Los Angeles, California
• Sound: Figured I had to come back with something really cool to make up for my disappearance. This should do it; psychedelic pop rock
• Website: denguefevermusic.com
• Social: facebook, myspace
• Download Free: ↓↓↓

Your Life Will Feel Empty Without Me. For Another Couple Days, Anyway.

I apologize for the lack of posts around here, but things have gone a bit pear-shaped and I haven't been able to work on the blog.

Sooo...here's a picture of a  kitten to make up for it*:

 

Awww...loookit him! All tuckered out!

Hopefully, all will be well by the beginning of next week. Thanks for checking back.


--Larissa

*Sorry Big Bird, it had to be done.

Saturday Night Remix: Into the Heart

into:

Into the Heart (Jonathan Kreinik Remix)

Today's Swell Tune: Disco Phantom

Disco Phantom (We Are She) by Mr. Shuffleupagus

• Band: We Are She
• Album: You're Too Drunk to Be Sweet
• From: Härnösand, Sweden
• Sound: One part Muse, two parts rock musical; pop-rock
• Website: http://www.weareshe.se/
• Social: facebook; myspace

Friday's Forgotten Song: Bunkers

Bunkers (The Vapors) by Mr. Shuffleupagus

The Vapors

Album: New Clear Days*

1980

*Do not be thrown by the fact that this 
is the "Turning Japanese" album .

It is killer.

If You Wanna Watch This, It's Alright, It's Alright...Oh God I Hate Myself

The Vaccines' new video for If You Wanna won't exactly blow you away creatively speaking, what with its straightforward shots of the band in front of bright backdrops.  But there's a kind of charm and fun in its simplicity, much like the song itself. 


Anyway it is special in that, while we've all heard that rough demo that turned so many people on last year, this is the spiffy new album-ready version. Ooh. Shiny. 


The song is great, either way, and I'm easily amused by loud noises and bright colours. So this is a win.

Today's Swell Tune: Kick Me Where It Hurts

• Band: The Booze
• Album: At Maximum Volume
• From: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• Sound: Somewhere Mick and Keith are arguing over whether or not this is them; mod rock
• Website: thebooze.net/
• Social: facebook

Boss Stuff on the Interwebs: Wednesday Links 02/03/11

• So....did some Coke bottle merchandise, eh?... Yeah, I'm sorry, but you're Daft fucking Punk, not Jar Jar Binks. You did not need to do this. (See them at Stereogum)

• "What happens when you merge a little darkness with the Pogues. Yes. Cult Of Youth is the answer." --Indie Kid vs Dance Kid.

• The Strokes' website has a to-the-second countdown clock for the new album. That's a shame. I thought they were cooler than that. What is cool? Their new video for Under the Cover of Darkness. Fell in Love with a Drummer has it.

• Neon Filler continues their cracker jack list of the top 100 indie/alternative albums of all time. This week: 80-71 (and Neutral Milk Hotel is in there).

• If you've been excited for the new Dum Dum Girls EP, Bowlegs has listened and says you're right on. Good news.

• Holyfuckingshit40000 takes a loving look back at my favourite Pavement album of all time. Yeah. I needed that.

• Because I'm having a really miserable day today. But Sam Friend writes folkish, pop-rock melodies of the kind that make you feel better. So I'm gonna go do that now. I'll be at Off The Radar if you need me.

Today's Swell Tune: Orchards

03 Orchards by Anthonygdli

• Band: My First Tooth
• Album: Territories
• From: Northampton, England
• Sound: If you've ever thought Mumford and Sons could use some female vocals this is your lucky day; folk-rock
• Social: facebook; myspace; twitter
• Video: on youtube

Today's Swell Tune: Old Flames

Jeremy Lee Given - Old Flames by Jeremy Lee Given

• Artist: Jeremy Lee Given
• Album: Old Flames (available free on bandcamp)
• From: Knoxville, Tennessee United States
• Sound: A lo-fi Band of Horses that doesn't annoy me; indie pop/rock
• Website: http://jeremyleegiven.tumblr.com/
• Social: facebook