Go! Team (!)

So, the new Go! Team apparently comes out nowish. I've been listening to it for awhile and it's more of the same as the first album, though showing some obvious changes as a result of becoming a touring band instead of Ian Parton + a recroder in his bedroom. But yeah, fast paced songs that sound like action tv show theme songs? Check. Songs that somehow sound like that + being a ballad? Check. Song with rapping by Chuck D? Check!

So, yeah you should probably check it out. Here's the video for the first single:

Hey also, a remix of paper planes

Which has a great verse by Bun B (and a not bad one by Rich Boy)

http://www.mediafire.com/?9t2legyfswn

I mean, the beat/chorus on this song is what's great anyway (and if you haven't heard it, you really need to...definitely one of the standout songs on Kala), so putting some better verses in between them seems like a pretty obvious improvement without sacrificing much.

Bat For Lashes - Whats a Girl To Do

Hey, it's got an awesome/creepy video (kind of like a music video version of Donnie Darko [complete with people in animal masks on bikes doing synced jumps] but in a good way), awesome/creepy sounding vocals (spoken on the verses, no less), and that always great drum beat from "Be My Baby"...Check it out (and I really want to get the rest of this album)

Been out for awhile (2006 apparently), but I haven't really been hearing about it, so check it out:

Jens Lekman

This song's been around for awhile, but it's also the single of Jens's new album coming out in a couple weeks. If you haven't heard it, you need to (i also need to figure out a way to upload tracks so I don't always have to use youtube)

Dragonette

Sydney sent me this song (she found it on a Kitsune comp) and it's super catchy



From wikipedia:

Martina's [the lead singer] father is Greg Sorbara, Ontario's Liberal Finance Minister. Of his daughter's current musical project he has said "I'm still deeply in love with her work as a solo artist. Her Dragonette stuff is driven a little bit by the market. It's part of the raciness of current pop culture. My own view is, it's just a phase. She's a really solid, rooted young woman and she's in a business that has phases to it. There was a time back in her early singing career when she was performing on guitars she had handcrafted herself. She made them from scratch. And she was performing in clothes she had sewn herself. She's got an enormous amount of creative energy. Sometimes it scares me because she's so talented"

Canada is weird.

She's also apparently married to some dude in the band.

Kanye is an asshole: an essay in videos

Last year at the MTV European VMA's, Kanye last best video to Justice

Here's how he reacted:



I'd like to particularly point out the "I've never seen your video"

This year, Kanye lost again, this time at the American VMA's and to Rhianna. However, Justice was also up again. Check out their video:


Here's how Kanye reacted to his loss this time:


And, here is the video for Kanye's new single:

Electrelane

Couple months old but whatever, seems like people I know haven't been listening to it.

No Shouts, No Calls is awesome. You probably need to listen to it. I'll admit I'm not familiar with their previous three albums, but I'm given to understand this one has some pretty significant differences. This one is pretty much indie-pop-rock. Most tracks are four member, guitar, bass, drums, vocals rock. They're fun.

They're also just plain interesting to listen to. I can't remember the last time I just wanted to listen to an album over and over to catch every instrumental line, every lyric. The guitars are just a joy to listen to, cutting in and out, moving around each other. On most songs the drums just provide this consistent driving force that keeps things moving. The vocals are warbling and haunting, striking this emotional chord, which I haven't found myself saying about an album in awhile (Okkervil River excepted).

Stand out tracks:

After the Call - (Unfortunately, the only link I can find for this one is only half the song, and it has some idiot with his dog or something....whatever, the song's awesome) Starts of slow as can be, nothing but mournful vocals, subdued guitar, and rhythmic drums. Then about a minute in, the drums pick up and the guitar goes crazy. Probably my favorite track on the album.

Saturday - Great piano line holds the whole thing together

Cut and Run - Most atypical song on the album. Ukulele strumming throughout and much more typical pop song structure with super plainly sung, earnest lyrics.