Digital for Fish

Johnny Boy, The SLIP

2006-12-19T10:34:00.000+01:00

I read something the head of Asmathic Kitty wrote about reporting/reviewing/etc bands and it has made me more conscious of the things I say about bands. He said something along the lines of 'These are real people who suffer and slave etc to make music for you etc and it is your responsibilty to report accurately and fairly etc', which is true (kinda). So I will behave that way from now on.

This band is a one hit wonder. Their other music is not as good as this and neither are the remixes. I could be wrong, which would be nice. But what a song this one is. It's so completely great. These two woke up one day and made a song that said 'The Crystals were cool, Tommy Jane was cool, I liked the 60's stuff, but I'm completely hip in a cool 21st Century way.' And it doesn't lie.

Johnny Boy - You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve [MP3]

MySpace: Here

This song has all that casual ease of a warm twilight's good-hearted conversation over a smooth whiskey.

This melodic little number goes out to all the people with birthdays this time of year.

The SLIP - Children of December [MP3]

MySpace: Here
Website: Here

Johhny Boy - Generation

2006-12-14T11:17:00.000+01:00

"Fish don't speak but squirrels do. It all depends on your longitude. You should start from the beginning, but ignore the prequels. We like minimalism, broken robots, granny smith apples, sneakers and the mundane. We like make believe vampires but the real ones scare us.

We definitely detest mom jokes. Seriously. We don't need to be reminded of what we resemble. We named ourselves after Midwestern dairy queen civility. We usually involve a variety of livestock running rampantly around. We think sideways motorcycle helmets are all the rage now that sideways trucker's hats are out.

We are live, fleshy human beings attempting to recreate these sounds in real life. We put out our own records. We speak in binary code. We're in the market for an A-team van. We strive for muzak and custom made slip n' slides. We write under pseudonyms. We play for keeps. Our grass is always greenest. Our hair is unkempt."

They forgot to mention how'd they'd like to drink your blood.

Say Hi To Your Mom - Blah Blah Blah [MP3]
Say Hi To Your Mom - Snowcones and Puppies [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Buy Impeccable Blahs at, like, their website. Duh.

And I'm tired of receiving emails enquiring as to Scarlett Johansen's status on the Digital For Fish Whore-Or-No™ Meter. Thusly, I provide Exhibits A and B. Whore. Message to all: giving your daughter a name like Scarlett, Mercedes, Crystal or Melody will only result in one thing - Nobel prizes and world peace.

Snakes Say Hisss!

2006-12-13T14:49:00.000+01:00

Sometimes my job is pretty easy. I first found these guys during the Snakes on a Plane hysteria (forever onwards to be refered to as the SOAP effect), and not wanting to cheapen their lo-beat 80's synth stylings by throwing them into the snake-hype pit I sidelined them. I think the time has come. This what they have to say for themselves.

"We're pretty hot. There's really no way around it," says Jamie Ayers, the 20-year-old Philadelphia native, sipping Chai tea in a Saratoga coffee shop.

Ayers and Sam Skarstad, also 20, met in September 2005 and began writing and recording songs recounting young summers and sexual frustration; since then they have settled into a sound that combines 80's synth pop with a raw contemporary rock and roll feel.

"We like neon pink and we like hard work", Ayers states.

After a number of small and scattered releases, Snakes joined up with the boys at Famous Class and decided it was time to create a full-length record; hence the sweaty, sweet "I'll Be Lovin' You", the debut album which was recorded shirtlessly over a period of two weeks in a wooden attic in Philadelphia this summer.

"We wanted to create something exclusively for teenage girls. There's not enough out there for them these days", says Skarstad, adjusting his cashmere scarf and platinum ski goggles.

After four sleepless nights and one nervous breakdown, the album was finished.

"The driving synths and heavy beats combine with the spastic live show to create some sort of new experience", says Ayers, staring longingly at a distant waitress.

"We've all heard so much about the missing discourse of desire", he gestures broadly with a flourish of his gaudily bejeweled prosthetic hand, "I think it literally boils down to the fact that everybody is insanely jealous of me."

Snakes Say Hisss! - I Control The Wind [MP3]
Snakes Say Hisss! - We Are Hot [MP3]

That little melody in 'I control the wind' will grow on you. You be singing '..lying on the floor at night' right along with them.

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Buy the album at the Famous Class website for $14. The album glows in the dark.

On a side note: No Guest List today. Sometimes these things are beyond my control.

Da Bears

2006-12-12T16:20:00.000+01:00

These kids are playing their instruments with the curiousity of small children. There is such an element of fun to their experimentation that you can't help but enjoy yourself. That's right, 'experimentation'. You're not afraid of a little experimentation, are you? I know Miss Silva, my 10th grade English teacher, wasn't. The sound isn't completely polished, but it's close and has great hooks. And they're young. It's only gonna get good.

This is going be right up there with my Go! Team, Broken Social Scene and Most Serene Republic fetishes. They're doing something similar to those bands, but with a way more playful attitude. This is just a bunch of kids having fun playing music together. You're there watching, smiling trying to make eye contact with the cute girl in the band.

Da Bears - Cage of Ribs [MP3]
Da Bears - TV Shows [MP3]
Da Beard - Galactic Cannabalism [MP3]

Buy their album for $5 off their MySpace page. $5, sheez.

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Comic Book Fever

2006-12-11T14:51:00.000+01:00

If you haven't noticed my minor appreciation of Crystal Castles by now then all i can say is 'good'.

Comic Book Fever - TV Babies [MP3]
Comic Book Fever - TV Babies (Crystal Castles Remix) [MP3]

MySpace: Crystal Castles
MySpace: Comic Book Fever

Often, the best songs make for the saddest memories…

2006-12-08T06:52:00.000+01:00

Driving around downtown, Blaire plays something new for me from on her car stereo.

A few seconds into the song, she mentions an ex-boyfriend of hers; a 20-something graffiti kid who spent his time tagging walls and riding the roofs of trains along with his best, but a little less famous, friend Paul.

Blaire vaguely mentions something about loose grips and tight corners; the details are sketchy, but the facts are clear as white chalk and x-rays. Paul was killed, while graffiti kid Josh fell off a train and landed in a wheel chair.

“A few months later, we were all at this party in some Gas Town loft, all hopped up on various narcotic nuances and nuisances.” Blaire says, in that way only she can get away with.

“It must have been like 7 in the morning when it happened. The sun was coming up bright and the few people left behind were coming down fast."

She turns up the volume, “And then, this came on,” she says starting the song again.

"As the song played, I watched Josh wheel himself onto the empty dance floor with half a bottle of Jack tucked firmly between his limp legs. Then, he began spinning his wheelchair around in circles with his head down and his eyes closed."

She takes a sharp turn, and scratches her nose violently with both hands, letting go of the wheel for a few seconds while I press the imaginary brake on the passenger side with my right foot.

"When the chorus hit he raised his head, pounding one fist in the air as he sang along and spun around. He looked like a communist rag doll,” she says.

We don’t speak the rest of the way to the record store; we listen to Goodbye Horses on repeat instead.

As life would have it, I’m halfway across the world,
And doubt I’ll ever see Blaire again,
But whenever I play this song, I can’t help but think of
This 20 something graffiti kid whom I never met, pounding his fist in the air
while spinning circles in his wheelchair
at 7 in the morning in some trashed but pretty loft in Gas Town.

It never fails to remind me
Of why I listen to music in the first place,
And why often
the best songs
make for the saddest memories…

So here is the very rare and mysterious Goodbye Horses. A song that made its way onto Silence of the Lambs. The song that played as Buffalo Bill put on his girly-skin suit and danced footloose and penis-free in his living room, and who knows, maybe he even pounded his fist in the air.

It’s fucked up… and that
my friends
is why it’s beautiful.

Q Lazarus – Goodbye Horses [MP3]

A few more songs for sinners

Cocorosie - Beautiful Boys [MP3]
Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy Jr. [MP3]
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Devil’s waiting [MP3]
Radiohead – I Am A Wicked Child [MP3]

Wikipedia: Q Lazzarus
Wikipedia: Who is John Wayne Gacy?

Elephant Parade

2006-12-07T14:19:00.000+01:00

It's often difficult to critisize music that's soft-spoken, gentle and unassuming. What gives Elephant Parade an even sharper defense is their quirky boy-girl duo, bedroom recordings and that "these guys probably ride around on old school racer bikes to soft piano soundtracks through avenues of falling leaves" aspect to their sound.

So until Elephant parade vulgarly fuck up and include lyrics like "they will see us waiti..." in their music, I will adore them.

Elephant Parade - Goodbye [MP3]
Elephant Parade - Riding In Your Car [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Bloc Party on the other hand, can die. We just love dissing them. On the BBC page that showcases their new music video there are amazingly intellectual comments, that often point out the finer aspects of their music, that it puts us to shame:

"This video is massive! All the bloc boys look so hot!"
-Rae, Harlem
and
"wow, i love this drums!"
-Marcin Kielce-Poland

...wankers.

Wednesday Guest List: Marco! !

2006-12-06T11:36:00.000+01:00

I received a list from Marco about a week ago. I'm a lazy, unorganised martyr of social responsiblities that has the innate ability to find 'synonyms' for the word no. This was supposed to be posted a week ago. Here you go...

The majority of the time when speaking to Marco you will realise that his train of thought is in some kind of À Bout De Souffle opening scene car chase. Yes, the road is straight, but unless you speak his language you have no idea what's really going on... and the subtitles are absolutely no help whatsoever. Luckily for me, Marco was able to convey his message to me in text form and I quickly deciphered it to discover....

Well... damn, it's refreshing to find kids like this out there. Not only is his taste in music slightly off the beaten track but he composes some of the most amazing arrangements I have heard for some time now.

Top 5 Albums: "From the last year or so (In no specific order)"

1. Leafcutter John - The Forest and The Sea
2. Xela - The Dead Sea
3. Manyfingers - Our Worn Shadows
4. Clark - Body Riddle Clark - Ted [MP3]
5. Yuichiro Fujimoto - The Mountain Record

Top 5 Songs: "On Sunday the 26th of November 2006 at 16:08 (otherwise it's impossible...)"

1. Porn Sword Tobacco - Thank You!
2. Opiate - Are You? Yes! [MP3]
3. Manyfingers - Interlude
4. Lusine - Dr. Chinme
5. Loess - 2nd Twelve [MP3]

Bonus: Like I said, it's a train-smash out there in the communicative world, so here a song that Marco likes - besides his picks for the time being (which have probably changed 348 times since then and might somehow include the following)

Herrmann & Kleine - Dagger [MP3]

By Our Guest:

So just one or two songs not to distract from what you really should be listening to...some of Marco's music (highly recommended)

Marco - Pleiades [MP3]
Marco - The Lobster Quadrille [MP3]
both from Shanks Mare To Valhalla

Marco also takes time out from composing magical things to remix cheese with concrete slabs:
Black Eyed Peas - Shut Up (Marco's Fuck the Silence Remix) [MP3]
(you just gotta love the "shut up, just shut up" part in Marco's version)

MySpace: Here

Klaxons

2006-12-05T13:35:00.000+01:00

It's these guys:

Doing that:

In a place like this:

Making you dance. Hard.

Klaxons - Majick [MP3]
Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow [MP3]
Klaxons - Golden Skans [MP3]

Bonus: An excuse to post the Crystal Castles. Again.

Klaxons - Atlantis to Interzone (Crystal Castles Remix) [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Click here. Press CTRL-F. Search for "recorded and compared". Hey, I thought it was funny.

Klaxons - Magick

Chris Garneau

2006-12-04T10:39:00.000+01:00

Hark! Their voices had declared it and had commanded that it be done. Their voices had said "Rave", their voices had said "Trance". Some of the flock were doubtful, they showed consternation. "What of our eyes? What of our ears?" was cried out by some. Booming yet gentle, forceful yet calming the demons/angels said: "Fear not simple mortals. Sleep and sobriety are salubrious endeavours of the uninvited. Go forth and do as we have instructed." And, lo, the brave few did exactly what was asked of them and they were made heros/martyrs of men. [DFF: Flex Ch. 1 V. 12-17]

My weekend was 'interesting', to be euphemistic, and now I'm feeling the post-awesome weekend low that a Monday morning communicating with robots brings. So what prey tell do you listen to after spending your weekend and sanity at a pre/mid/nu rave party directly followed by a thumping outdoor trance party? Chris Garneau, my friends. It is a simple as that.

Chris Garneau is a pineapple from Brooklyn, New York. His music is heart-wrenching, perfectly measured, and delivered in a gentle voice that conveys the message exactly as it should be. His album is going to be one of my favourite albums of next year and, hopefully, you like it too.

Chris Garneau - We Don't Try [MP3]
Chris Garneau - Not Nice [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here
Interview: Here

Do your self a favour and check out his friends on MySpace. There is a wealth of great bands/artists hiding there.

My eyes hurt.

Top of the Pops - November

2006-12-01T09:05:00.000+01:00

Friday = Partying = CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to DFA

White Flight

2006-11-30T12:05:00.000+01:00

I've been listening to this guy for a while now and he has officially blown my mind like all the hippy acid I know his hippy self has taken must have done to him. This music is so layered and busy and the vocals are just nuts, it almost makes me feel like I would like psychedelic music.

This is what Outkast should have done after 'B.O.B.'. This is what Spencer Krug would do if he grew up in Knysna. This is Frog Eyes meets Hip Hop and Soul. Actually, there are so many comparisons, pieces, influences, memories/references that can be drawn from this album that everyone who hears it will have a different way of processing it. First time I listened I said 'Meh', I can't believe it now.

Listen in order.

White Flight - Now [MP3]
White Flight - Pastora Divine [MP3]
White Flight - Death Hands [MP3]

Bonus:

Justin Roelofs, aka White Flight, used to be in a band called the Anniversary. So here it is. Can any one say 'So, 90's'?

The Anniversary - Sweet Marie [MP3]

Links:

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

All you need to know about White Flight

White Flight - Pastora Divine

More videos Here

Fujiya & Miyagi

2006-11-29T14:25:00.000+01:00

Owing to the fact that we live in Africa (el terra del changos y léones), coupled with some pretty lucrative Telecommunication Monopolising, a sudden lack of an Internet connection will cause today's Guest List to be a little late.

If you're reading this saying: "But if I'm reading this howcome he can post this and not the guest list which is what he is said he couldn't do because of a lack of an internet connection?" You're an idiot. Your grammar and spelling sucks, and if you can't figure out why then how could I know? Cry me a fucking river.

So here is my cop-out back up post - what I'm listening to right now. Clever!

Fujiya & Miyagi are really Japanese, they really need new shoes, understand skeletal structure and believe photocopiers can haunt. They are also awesome. Think Hot Chip lite. Think can white Brits juxtapose funky and funny and not seem insincere? Yes! Think where was I when these guys first received notice 6 months ago.

Fujiya & Miyagi - Collar Bone [MP3]
Fujiya & Miyagi - Photocopier [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Links:

Review
Interview

Patrick Wolf

2006-11-28T07:43:00.000+01:00

It's amazing how some artists will indicate the sound on their new album by changing their outwardly appearances and the general tone of their publicity photos. In Patrick's case he has changed a lot from his previous publicity photos. This was the eccentric little ostracized teenager that most of the drooling little girls where familiar with:

So he ditched the whole "I've been living in a lighthouse for a year..." Composition in his music and adopted a more electronic Eurodance element. I recently stumbled across this photo of him on the Cassette Playa ("R U FUCKING READY?") MySpace site:

Now... Patrick looks more like a little lighthouse himself than a hermit troubadour come gypsy schoolboy. The new song is amazing. More pop, but with trademark Patrick Wolf elements shining through. Awesome.

Patrick Wolf - Accident and Emergency [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Oh young Patrick, how you mimic Kylie's bar dancing moves but make me feel all drunk and happy inside. Nothing wrong with feeling drink, drunk. Party in the BAR! he.

SharkTron

2006-11-26T18:48:00.000+01:00

Lurking in the depths of MySpace is SharkTron. SharkTron will chastise the elderly and mock the unfortunate. SharkTron will use big words in simple sentences. SharkTron is sickened by mortals and the movies Jaws and Deep Blue Sea. SharkTron makes great tracks. SharkTron will bite you with the awesomeness of Fish Rock.

All you bright colour wearing, bling bling, solo sewer sea surfers have been warned. Although, this may be more to the point.

SharkTron - A Hot Damn [MP3] from GREATEST HITS

MySpace: Here

Hey look, it's Crystal Castles.

Crystal Castles - Air War [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Deerhoof

2006-11-24T09:07:00.000+01:00

'Choo choo choo choo beep beep'. That is what Deerhoof want you to know, bob your head to, maybe even sing out loud in moving traffic. Which is weird considering the style of their previous work - well, the music I know at least. But, and I'm sure we've all figured this out by now, I don't know much about much. Unless it's Vector Calculus. I know a lot about that.

Well, here's the 'CCCCBB' (aka '+81') track off their upcomming new album, which could possibly be an incredibly annoying song in about 1 month, however, I know I still love 'Holla Back Girl' - so here's to hoping.

I'm sorry, it is a great song, but...

~~Deerhoof - +81 [MP3]~~ Track removed at Record Label's request.

Deerhoof - Adam+Eve Connection [MP3]

A lot more of their MP3s. Like a lot. [MP3s]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

And Deerhoof's vocalist's lispy inability to ennuciate her words in '+81' reminds me of another band that looks the same - Enon. Well they don't look the same, but they both have asians, which is very chìc.

Enon - Knock That Door [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Colour Revolt - Continental Divide

2006-11-22T21:43:00.000+01:00

Colour Revolt

Color Revolt's lead singer takes you on ride. The kind of ride that starts off innocently along a coastal road during sunset and ends with him drunk, slumped over the wheel, the bonnet accommodating a lamp post, an adrenalin buzz drowning out the sirens, and blue lights illuminating his face every other second.

In the opening stages the first thing you think is 'Will Oldham?'. At the halfway point you comment 'At times he's channeling Isaak Brock'. Periodically, his driving gets worse, but he manages to reel it in. He looks around the car, smiles, 'See, it's okay' he says. You nod back unsure of how this is going to end up. And then he snaps. It's too late to get out, but you ask 'Do I want to?' You realise you don't and regret it when the rides suddenly stops.

Color Revolt - Mattresses Underwater [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Continental Divide

Nathan comes to the party drunk. He slams a few more whiskeys. He's had too much already. He's upset. He starts to share his woes with someone who can't find a way out of the conversation. He begins to reveal too much. He wanders off. He drinks more. The music swells, the drums become more persistant, the night gets worse. He's stumbling badly now, whiskey bottle in hand, shouting his problems out loud. Everyone knows them now, but he doesn't care. He's numb, and when you're numb you can't feel. And that's the point.

Continental Divide - The Days Drag, But He's Old [MP3]

MySpace: Here

Wednesday Guest List: Albatross Kills Wizard!

2006-11-22T14:34:00.000+01:00

"Moving over to Nu-Rave isn't easy"
- Albatross Kills Wizard, Sea Point, November 2nd 2006

It was only about 2 weeks after AKW uttered this simple sentence - sitting in his apartment, eating a bowl of pasta - that I realised the gravity of it. In a city like Cape Town, transition is never smooth and hardly anybody goes unnoticed in their transformations. As soon as a 'scene' may emerge it is just as quickly bastardised by a still developing and extremely nomadic youth culture. Being ahead-of-your-time is often a downfall at the end of the day, and all too often I have witnessed the harbingers of new trends retract into further un-obtainable obscurity as a result.

Enter AKW - Stage Left (wielding a blazing neon green dagger and an otherworldly immaculate hairstyle)

Cape Town, here is someone you can trust. His musical knowledge is almost unmatched in most circles. And he does have opinions. Sometimes you'll find that you don't really want to listen to your favourite band so much anymore after a word or two with him; instead you find yourself mimicking his mildy sarcastic but side-splitting comedic vernacular.

A real class act... Dance Dance Dance!!!

Albatross Kills Wizard's:

Top 5 Albums Of This Year So Far...

Datarock - Datarock
Goose - Bring It On
Klaxons - Xan Valleys
New Young Pony Club - Ice Cream
Professor Murder - Professor Murder Rides the Subway

Top 5 Songs of the Moment...

Professor Murder - Free Stress Test [MP3]
Goose - Bring It On [Coming Soon]
The Maccabees - X-Ray [Coming Soon]
Shit Disco - Reactor Party [MP3]
The Rapture - Whoo! Alright-Yeah... Uh Huh [MP3]

MySpace: Here

You can also catch Albatross Kills Wizard Live:

Tuesdays at Fiction, 226 Long Street with ME! French Lessons
Thursdays at Roosevelt's Rock Night

At sporadic and often under-advertised venues around the Cape Peninsula at random times and dates... Watch this blog for more info...

Benoit Pioulard

2006-11-21T09:03:00.000+01:00

This music is that picture. It's a grainy home video from a summer holiday your grandfather had when he was 8. It's eerie. Spectral. It's an empty cruise ship floating around the ocean. It sounds like the lament of a ghost; wandering through the walls of your house, jumbling all the note making objects he can find, knowing it's too late and that's the problem. It's amazing.

Benoit Pioulard - Palimend [MP3]
Benoit Pioulard - Ext. Leslie Park [MP3]

If these don't grab you immediately give it time. Listen. You can't always disko. And it's not often we make any sense and I appologise for it. The making sense part. Not for not making sense. Not really.

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Links

Review - I couldn't understand a word, maybe you can. I'm so stupid. I hate myself and now I'm going to go eat some cake. Maybe go and strike a homeless person.

Interview I
Interview II

Arms

2006-11-20T10:22:00.000+01:00

Here at Digitalforfish we all too often enjoy opening our posts with a little statement of our mission, "Here at Digitalforfish..." (example provided with an infinite loop). In the past we have included various outlandish claims such as: "...nobody is swell enough to avoid a playful little spank on the rear..." [DFF IV v.III] and "...we would change our first names to Cedric if only..." [DFF XV v. LV], but fortunately I remain exempt from being quoted on these.

So I give you a new quality, one that famous authors, mathematicians, computer coders and dog chains all share... linking. I would love to provide you with a hierachy for this but I am none of the aforementioned. Perhaps in linear form? Sounds Like:

(HEAD) Magnetic Fields x Beirut ~ (TORSO) ~ vox, guitar, keyboards, songs ~ (LOWER TORSO) ~ Guitarist from Previous Post (Harlem Shakes) ~ ARMS! ~ ARMS!

Now tell me you can't cut that out and make yourself an awesome little indie rock voodoo doll.

Arms - Kids Aflame [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

The Harlem Shakes

2006-11-17T09:18:00.000+01:00

This is a funny bunch of guys. "I'll never forget the first time I got venereal diseases from Shakespeare's (gay) carcass." - The Harlem Shakes

It kind of reminds me of another funny man, and close friend, le Marquis de Sade.

"Monsieur Bouloir was a man whose erotic appetites might discreetly be described as post-mortem. A habitue of cemeteries, his proudest conquest was a maid six decades his senior, deceased a dozen years. The vigor with which he made love caused her bones to dislodge. Still, he granted her the highest compliment he accorded any woman - well worth the dig." - Marquis de Sade (Quills)

Boy I sure can relate.

We drank a little too much last night after selling this blog to Microsoft for an undisclosed amount ($1.2 Billion) and my head is a little clouded. So... Fuck Reviews, Let's Dance! Chord changes, drums, bass lines. Beer, Music, Fun. Harlem Shakes, Harlem Shakes.

Someone important said they're what The Strokes should sound like. Someone more important says download the songs and love them and that person is me.

The Harlem Shakes - A Night [MP3]
The Harlem Shakes - Carpet Bangers [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Links

An in depth review

Interview I
Interview II

And for those of you who didn't spend their youth battling in dance offs in Mitchell's Plain, the Harlem Shake is the dance move, best coupled with a Crip Walk, that finally seals the deal with Laeticia. Boy's getting play, yo!

Harlem Shake FAQ I
Harlem Shake FAQ II

Harlem Shake, Crip Walk, Et Al.

Sometimes the Internet is too weird.

Sex Pistols and Starry Nipples

2006-11-16T07:54:00.000+01:00

So you’re 13 years old, and you’re staring at the cheap plastic AM/FM radio on your bedside table, counting the minutes till you turn 18, pass your driver’s license, get the hell out of your parents' house, and embark on a career as an ‘assassin for hire’. Your first two hits, the ones that will make you famous, and justifying your $50,000-a-hit invoice will be your parents (after they buy you a car), and Miss Christhowdoyoupronouncethis - your Greek whore of a geography teacher, who refuses to acknowledge your existence even though she’s slept with half the Water Polo team and one apparently well-endowed guy from the chess club.

You’re thinking about all these things, while lying on your bedroom floor, smoking a Chesterfield filter while looking up at the Union Jack and listening to the Sex Pistols.

It’s 11:30 on a Sunday morning, and life couldn’t be more Easton Ellis-esque.

Your mom bursts in... fired up and fresh from church, having just decided that you’re going to hell unless she tears your Iron Maiden posters off the wall and throws away your sad excuse for a collection of soft porn, which amounts to nothing more than some topless Jane Fonda look-alikes with stars for nipples. She also tosses all your black clothes... all of them, even the lame ‘slippery when wet’ Bon Jovi t-shirt you almost never wear.

Remember those good old days? We here at Digital for Fish sure do. That’s why we spend all the profits we make by selling autographed Kirk Hammett nail polish on eBay to topless Freudian-Mexican therapists. And that’s why we’ve decided take it way back.

Sex Pistols – This Is Not A Love Song [MP3]

Dead Kennedys – Too Drunk To ~~Fuck~~ [MP3]

No post would be complete without some complete butchering and blasphemous misuse of whatever music we post. So for all you heathens, we’ve added some cheeky-sexy-french-whore-bossa-nova covers of the above two songs.

Nouvelle Vague – This Is Not A Love Song [MP3]

Nouvelle Vague – Too Drunk To ~~Fuck~~ [MP3]

Wednesday Guest List: Eat This, Horse

2006-11-15T13:37:00.000+01:00

^{Photo credit Natasha Fourie, check out her photoblog.}

Guest posts are going to be a new thing we are going to start doing around here on a regular, well, more like fortnightly basis with some of our local artists who we believe to have respectable musical tastes. They're gonna tell you sheeps what made them the musicians they are today. Baa.

For our first installment I got hold of John from Eat This, Horse!, self-quoted as "probably the 3rd most gangsta band in Cape Town". I can only assume that they are tailing the only other "birthed prodigies" of our land besides me and Digital Disko, the razor sharp lyrical wonderland know as Kallitz. Some sarcasm.

Now for some cast-iron downloadable music cleverly stolen from various Nigerian cigarette vendors on Sea Point Main Road. Hey, who's complaining at R15 a box...

Top 5 Albums: "Heard in the last year, in no particular order"

1. You Can't Hide Your Love Forever - Orange Juice
2. Ys - Joanna Newsom
3. 69 Love Songs - The Magnetic Fields
4. Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? - of Montreal
5. Night Ripper - Girl Talk

Top 5 Songs: "Of all time (Because my favourite songs of all time are sort of interchangeable and transient, you knows?)":

1. This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) - Talking Heads
2. Only Skin - Joanna Newsom
3. Blueberry Boat - The Fiery Furnaces
4. Sister Ray - The Velvet Underground
5. Ballad of a Thin Man - Bob Dylan

"A whole lot of other shit, actually, probably. I guess it doesn't matter THAT much? It's quite hard to succinctly distinguish what has led you to do ANYTHING, and the creation of music is sort of the same, I think. Or no different, rather."

MP3:

The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat [MP3]
Of Montreal - The Past Is A Grotesque Animal [MP3]
Joanna Newsom - Only Skin [MP3]
Girl Talk - Minute By Minute [MP3]

And finally, our guests

Eat This, Horse! - Come Dance [MP3]

Here are some dates when you can catch Eat This, Horse! live:

Nov 24 2006 11:00 EVOL Cape Town
Dec 19 2006 10:00 Indie Armchair (with Desmond & the Tutu's) Cape Town
Dec 20 2006 10:00 Upstairs at Mercury Live (More Tutu's) Cape Town
Dec 23 2006 12:00 SECRET POOL PARTY (More Tutu's, Secretly) Cape Town

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Bloc Party

2006-11-14T09:03:00.000+01:00

Page 2
Cover

Woo hoo. Self-indulgence, fake apathy and psuedo-intellectualism. Man, I love Bloc Party. Maybe, um, no.

Ellis is better than good, Clay is more interesting/vapid than most, and Bloc Party are idiots. I can't even believe this. The book deserves better/nothing.

Here is a song by a band I don't like 'based' on a book I do like.

Bloc Party - Song For Clay (Disappear Here) [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Bonus:

Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello - Less Than Zero [MP3] The song that inspired the book title

Bret Easton Ellis

Picture
Website
Less Than Zero

Bloc Party

News
Development
Track By Track Guide

A video of scenes from the Less Than Zero film set to Foreigner's 'That Was Yesterday'

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

2006-11-13T07:22:00.000+01:00

When you find a file drifting around this infinitely vast and abysmal pit known as the Internet that is masquerading as a new CYHSY song you almost immediately prepare yourself for the inevitable fake track dissapointment. Those 40 seconds watching it download... then dragging it into iTunes... double-click? RAHHH RAHHH!!! (not sure why I used onomatopoeia with such un-resembling qualities) Okay, phew it is CYHSY....

This track has theoretically been around since the April 15th 2006 when it was recorded live at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC and since then it has been released on a Live Compilation featuring Architecture in Helsinki and Takka Takka.

It's very CYHSY, melodically, tone wise and vocally (which is erratic as usual and as some critics agree reminiscent of David Byrne, I prefer a Bobcat Goldthwait comparison). It should be interesting to see how the new album fares when it will evidently be subject to a large amount of pre-hype compared to their first release.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

That video that that guy made and then the band didn't want to use the video so it just kept floating around the Internet and then YouTube came along and now everyone can watch it and pretend that it is in fact the official music video for the song.

Can Joann

2006-11-10T11:16:00.000+01:00

As I've stated before, there is an astounding, titanium-like work ethic here at DigitalForFish. Our diligence is only matched by our 'skills'. We're Clark Kent at the Daily Planet when he's not hiding his powers. We're 'Birthed Prodogies'.

However, we also don't believe in redundancy, so here's Can Joann, and here's all you will ever need to know about them. How's that for research? Economical use of the limited space on the Internet if you ask me. Billy, Mr. Gates to you, sends me ~~creepy~~ fan mail.

This will be fun music to drink to later.

Can Joann - After The Seizure's Gone [MP3]
Can Joann - Lady Luck [MP3]
Can Joann - Indecision's Way [MP3]
Can Joann - Endure En Vogue [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Sufjan Stevens

2006-11-09T10:56:00.001+01:00

Sufjan's performance at the ACL recording is on their website now, but I decided to save you the trip and place it here.

Sufjan has been touring lately, in new Butterfly Brigade outfits, and just performed in Dublin with the very talented Annie Clark (St Vincent). On this current tour Sufjan's been performing a new beautiful, sweeping track, 'Majesty, Snowbird', and just in case you've been hiding under an incredibly large, infinitely dense rock I have the video and MP3 for yor benefit, along with some unreleased/b-side tracks.

If, at this point, you are asking 'Who is Sufjan Stevens?' I would like to inform you that the Second World War is over and you can come out the jungle.

Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day [MP3]
Sufjan Stevens - Majesty, Snowbird [MP3]
Sufjan Stevens - Woman at the Well [MP3]
Sufjan Stevens - Borderline [MP3]

WebSite: Here

Bonus: So damn good

St Vincent - Paris Is Burning [MP3]

MySpace: Here

Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski ACL

Download 8.8 MB [MOV]

Sufjan Stevens - Majesty, Snowbird

We Died, They Remixed

2006-11-09T09:37:00.000+01:00

Personally I've always had the pretense that a remix is just another reason to be able to appreciate an original song a little bit more. Unfortunately, like all other things that exist in some theoretical form or other in this life, I am more often than not proven wrong. Like the time I convinced my late wife that a game of Burroughs esque William Tell would be an absolute blast at our first ever pajama party.

Now our favourite Australian hipsters have taken their album in for a slight overhaul for various people and larger groups of various people to okay around with. Rather cleverly titled We Died, They Remixed, the album features remixes of their latest album In Case We Die. Let's see... we have Hot Chip, Mountains In The Sky, New Buffalo, Safety Scissors, Dat Politics, Mocky, Isan and many more (well that all depends on what your perception of many is... 14 tracks - 7 above mentioned = 7 MANY MORE!!!). Wow. So it should have read "...and twice as many more..". Sorry, here are a few samples...

Architecture In Helsinki - Do The Whirlwind (YACHT Remix) [MP3]
Architecture In Helsinki - Do The Whirlwind (Metronomy Remix) [MP3]
Architecture In Helsinki - Do The Whirlwind (Hot Chip Remix) [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Architecture in Helsinki - It's 5

Down Therr

2006-11-09T08:50:00.000+01:00

Okay, I know it's lame, but sorry about the inconsistent updates around here. I'm a little busy. Burn the Spaniards, shoot the shops. I tell you this one store I'm programming stuff for uses 'Buddy' more often/loosely than an Indian taxi driver in Vancouver. But they say it 'Budd-aay'. Aren't Indians with a dot (not a feather) fun?

And speaking of Indians with feathers, it's been a little electronic up in herr (that's Southern speak folks) lately, so I'm gonna show y'all we know how to roll country. So here is the DigitalForFish Mid-Week-Plus-One-Day Keeping it Southern Mix Tape. Spit. And I don't need any of y'all city slickers' smarts tellin' me that some of these herr bands ain't Southern. Duh.

Yeah, it's all lonely. Yeah, it's all good music. In no particular order.

Horse Feathers - Blood on the Snow [MP3] MySpace
The Soft Disaster - Nothing Returns [MP3] MySpace
The Shivers - Beauty [MP3] Here
Death Vessel - Deep in the Horchata [MP3] WebSite
Haley Bonar - Am I Allowed [MP3] MySpace
Mishka Shubaly - Home [MP3] MySpace
Zykos - Keep It Light [MP3] MySpace
The Court and Spark - Rooster Mountain [MP3] WebSite
Ola Podrida - Jordanna [MP3] MySpace

Cats like Felix ...

2006-11-06T15:08:00.000+01:00

Although he deserved nothing short of a donkey punch for letting his "Donkey Rattle" track from 4/4 Down the Stairs be appropriated into a piece of governmental, anti-underage drinking propaganda (an ad campaign so bad it drove many adults to start drinking), his first two albums were pretty solid. So you forgave him, packed them in your suit case and headed off on your travels to North America, where you played them for some French-Canadians and they were like, "Damn, Eh? What’s this cat’s name, Eh? Felix the Band? He's la shit..." or is it le shit? Someone get me French lessons.

A year goes by, and many many gigs, festivals, and record stores later, you return home a wise, aged music sage with a bag full of new doof-doof kiffness that no one’s ever heard of. You’re still kind of digging you local music but in a more ex-girlfriend, reminiscent on the ‘good times we had’ kind of way.

Enter, Dark Days Exit. Everything stirs and shakes; all that new electronic music gets tossed aside as you spend the entire summer driving from work, to beach, home, bar, and Bolshevik folk dancing lessons, listening to this album, and dreaming of the day your local record store calls you up to let you know that the Dark Days vinyl release has just come in.

Monsieur Laband's new album is a mature work that traverses the local underground music community, and will, undoubtedly even if only eventually, make him an international electro-indie star. His trademark elements are here: thick chill-inducing bass opposed with delicate arrangements of various tinklings, glitches, samples and sounds. Tight and atmospheric, the tracks on Dark Days Exit are instantly pretty, innocent, introspective yet uplifting, heavy and weightless in equal measures, as if you’re both flying and falling at the same time.

His got the exit down with dark days skills, now if he could only manage to arrive to his ~~f@#$ing~~ sets on time.

Felix Laband - Whistling in Tongues [MP3]
Felix Laband - Sleeping Household [MP3]

WebSite: Open records artist profile - Felix Laband

Trash Fashion

2006-11-06T11:00:00.000+01:00

So after all this hype about Nu-Rave we can finally see the more ironic elements of this re-constructed nostalgia emerging. Yellow pants, pink speed-stripe tights, headbands and Van Halen guitar (or axe for those more genre-correct people) poses.

And finally; after all the empty threats of early retrenchment from Albatross Kills Wizard I've finally found a cast-iron reason for him to fire me. But before you fire me oh most humble and gentle leader I implore you, just remember... It's A Rave Dave...

Trash Fashion - It's A Rave Dave [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Terry Poison

2006-11-02T10:57:00.000+01:00

This genre, hot chicks singing/rapping/talking over synth/dance beats, is obviously celebrated among musical theory professors and classically trained musicians for its cutting edge implementation of the most difficult musical forms. Not to mention its lastability and play-that-again qualities. This band, Terry Poison, reminds me of another musical prodigy in this genre, the Mozart of her day, Uffie of Miami girlfriend of Feadz of Paris.

I've heard worse Le Tigre songs.

Terry Poison - Buzz on the Bell [MP3]

Uffie - Ready to Uff [MP3]
Uffie - Hot Chick [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Brian Scary

2006-11-02T08:35:00.000+01:00

Driving to the lab today I was listening to ELO. 'Mr Blue Sky' specifically. For those of you who didn't grow up listening to Electric Light Orchestra, they sound a little like the Beatles meets the band members of ELO. However, they were good and served a great purpose; they filled many a 'Who am I without the Beatles?' 1970 depression void. Also, ELO's name proves EMO band names have been around for centuries.

I arrive at work, ignore the robots, turn on the computer and engage in some light reading on the music sites. During my travels perusing the web I turn to Filter Magazine. There, after the Naked iPod, is Bryan Scary. "Pink Floyd-style 60s space rock" it says. Kinda like rock-opera. Kinda like ELO. Let's check out their MySpace.

They is actually He, and he fucking rules. Simply put. If you enjoy the Beatles/ELO you will definitely enjoy this.

However, he doesn't have MP3s available for download. Not a problem, someone else will have a sample. So, here is a track I appropriated from Skatterbrain, who's pretty good on getting the scoop on shit before most. Like being the second person to cover Bryan Scary, after the inteview by 3QuarksDaily.

Bryan Scary - The Ceiling on the Wall [MP3] from The Shredding Tears

ELO - Mr Blue Sky [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here You can listen to the ablum here

Untamed Youth

2006-10-31T16:46:00.000+01:00

Today is Tuesday again, which means it's another night with French Lessons and his partner in crime, Albatross Kills Wizard, at Fiction again. Feel free to drink too much again. Once again, this drinking behaviour is encouraged and is in no way linked to the fact that they get a cut of the bar takings. But, what it won't be again is Albatross Kills Wizard's birthday celebration!

So don't be lame, venture forth, empty the ATMs and come party like it was 2005. In the words of AKW, 'Come to Fiction tonight for a bit of a shake and cake. Tunes and balloons, dancing horses, Lucky the Clown and a magic show. I will be there too.' I tell you, not only does he have amazing dexterity for a child he is quite funny too.

Jumbling Towers

2006-10-31T09:47:00.000+01:00

Digital For Fish is not lazy. We research every band/song we mention. We pride ourselves on the facts and sticking to them. We even have a motto: "Musica digredi

numquam", ie. "Never deviate from the music".

........................................................... Sorry, I always take a moment to recover from the profoundness of that statement.

As I was saying, our dilligent research and steadfast dedication to hard work is why I'm going to use a quote for this post. Thanks Wikipedia. It seems that Pitchfork writers have been submitting to Wiki too, so I have included links to definitions of words used in some of the more 'colourful' descriptions the writer used.

Jumbling Towers are an indie rock act from St. Louis, Missouri. Members include Joe DeBoer on guitar and Rhodes piano, Kyle McConaghy on guitar and organ/synthesizer, Nate Drexler on bass, and Scott Ingram on drums. They are best known for their lively and witty performances ultimately leaving enthusiastic audiences yearning for more of the groups' veritable sound. Another highlight is the Jumbling Towers lyrics. Frontman and lead guitar, Joe DeBoer, is known as a witty raconteur and for his near-fulminating vocal style. Jumbling Towers have been likened to artists such as The Pixies, Half Japanese, and Televison.

Apparently Americans call Jenga "Jumbling Towers". This must be due to the post-80's decadence minimalist movement, which is sweeping the nation. The next version of the game will be called "Falling Blocks". So practical. This has nothing to do with anything.

While there is a lot of truth in that quote above, it is sheize. This band is better than crap comparisons and appealing to the wit. We never try and act witty nor make comparisons. So, here, listen to a band that is cool in a Indie-rock, Spencer Krug kind of way. In all seriousness I actually do like this band.

Jumbling Towers - He's A Cop Now [MP3]
Jumbling Towers - Cowards [MP3]
Jumbling Towers - Beggars [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Eagle*Seagull

Jumbling Towers went on a tour with Eagle*Seagull fairly recently, so I thought I'd give you a taste of them too.

Bouncy piano, stereo vocals, jangly guitar and just the right kind of drums. Listen for the screams near the end. Or is it a recorder?

Not Death Metal.

Eagle*Seagull - Your Beauty Is A Knife I Turn On My Throat [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Dishwasher

2006-10-30T09:52:00.000+01:00

So you may have noticed there wasn't a post on Friday and that's simply cos the Gypsies stole us. True story. Also, I re-introduced alcohol to my diet that day and was struggling to take anything else seriously.

If you were smart~~/stupid~~ you attended the Fiction and The Waiting Rooms' joined Double Feature Halloween awesomeness on Saturday. Ninjas, Spiders, Robots, Cave Men, Gorillas, Vampires, Ghouls, Papa Lazarou and, quote-unquote 'Satan's Whore' were in attendance as Chromoscience, Felix Laband, Sibot, Markus Wormstorm and numerous others played until the early hours of Sunday.

At one point Bender turned to me to point out the fact that Felix had somehow managed to drop Pinback into his set, to which I replied with a Plancha followed by a Ground Octopus Hold, as any true incarnation of luchador Dos Caras would have done. He was quite bent out of shape after that... I could go into British News broadcasting with shameless puns like that. Losers.

The combination weekend of Gyspies, creatures of all kinds and ~~new~~ old dietary needs has created a rather downtrodden mood here on the Digital side of the Digital For Fish musical bootcamp. So, luckily for me, while pretending to program robots in my dark office and actually cruising MySpace for ~~hot/cute/any girls~~ interesting people, I came across Dishwasher.

It was the title of the song, which did not automatically play on this ~~girl's~~ someone's page, that piqued my interest. "Dishwasher - Again and Again". The thought of actually listening to a washing machine grumble, spin and hum was and is incredibly appealing in my current state, so I clicked it. Well, it wasn't what I expected but something something blah blah least expected it, right?

Dishwasher is from Montreal and counts Giselle Numba One and Lovefoxxx from CSS amoung his actual friends. Which is nice. To have real friends. More importantly, his slo-mo, beat pop is great for listening to just loud enough when you don't feel like listening to anything, which is better than nice.

Dishwasher - Robber [MP3]
Dishwasher - Come Home [MP3]

Giselle Numba One - Swedish and Hai... [MP3]
Giselle Numba One - Charmer the Farmer... [MP3]

MySpace: Dishwasher Is Me
MySpace: Giselle Numba One

Bonus:
Pinback - Loro [MP3]

Uber Bonus:
Papa Lazarou - Papa Lazarou Megamix [MP3]

"It's nice to see you again, Dave. All grown up."

Halloween teams up with Benefit songs while zombies the world over enroll in modern-composition lectures...

2006-10-26T11:06:00.000+01:00

Remember watching TV in the late 90's? Wasn't it just bliss being able to switch between all 3 available channels (4 if you were lucky) and irritate the whole family while you flipped between Friends and re-runs of Sienfield. Then, while you were really slamming those buttons like a retarded chimpanzee, you catch a glimpse of Paul Simon. You pause for a second, you go back to that channel but only to find yourself looking at Kenny Rogers. So you change back and start channel hopping again... 3 seconds later you're back at the channel with Kenny Rogers but NO KENNY?! What it's Bruce Springst...WAIT CINDY LAUPER... then it hits you... OH MY GOD OH MY GOD.... BEEEENNNEEEFIT SONG!!!! and the whole family joins in... 'We are the wor...

Well, imagine it was all your favourite hipsters singing for charity... halloween style! Aptly titled "Do They Know It's Halloween?" and released under the moniker North American Halloween Prevention Initiative we have a brand new spin on benefit music. The song is from last year but hey, who cares? Just join in the festivities and take a listen. It doesn't have a pre-albino-disease Michael Jackson but it does include:

Arcade Fire's Win & Regine, Beck, Buck 65, Rilo Kiley's Jenny & Black, Devendra Banhart, Feist, Thurston Moore, Les Savy Fav's Syd Butler, Islands' J'aime, Wolf Parade's Dan & Spencer and many many more.

North American Halloween Prevention Initiative - Do They Know It's Halloween? [MP3]

And a little goodie for Ol' Hallows sake... this one's a bit etheral...

Sonic Youth - Halloween [MP3]

WebSite: Here

Its a bloody painfull video but let me just remind you all of what benefit songs usually end up like. There's also some good material in here for your halloween outfits this year...

Crystal Castles vs Klaxons

2006-10-24T17:25:00.000+01:00

Ever since French Lessons slid a CD with Chiptune music into the CD player of my Gran's car, as we down Camps Bay's main strip, with the words "I think you'll like this", I have been hooked. That little Renault never rocked so hard in all it's days.

And that day is why bands like Ratatat blow my mind, it's an evolution of the music I heard in it's simplest form that sunny day. I can't really explain why I like this music so much, and I don't want to. When you analyse something too deeply you can take away the thing that made you enjoy it in the first place. So, I'll leave it at that.

I was checking out Crystal Castles', which is one of my favourite bands of what ever you want to call this genre, MySpace page today and I noticed that their blog had been updated with some new tracks. And that's were I found the track that made me wanna do this post.

While Klaxons, who have a pretty huge following now, is not one of my favourite bands, Crystal Castles certainly is. And it's the Crystal Castles glitchy edge to this collaboration track that they have recorded that really does it for me.

So here I present to you the first Chiptune track I ever heard by 8-Bit Peoples man, Paza Rahm, along with the Klaxons & CC collaboration and a track by each group respectively. Enjoy.

Paza                                    Baspatterns [MP3]
Crystal Castles vs Klaxons   Crystal Castles vs Klaxons [MP3]
Klaxons                                Magick [MP3]
Crystal Castles                     Air War [MP3]

MySpace: Crystal Castles
MySpace: Klaxons

WebSite: Klaxons
WebSite: 8-Bit Peoples

A darn cool video for the Klaxons
Klaxons - Magick

Untamed Youth

2006-10-24T12:05:00.000+01:00

Today is Tuesday, which means it's another night with French Lessons and his partner in crime, Albatross Kills Wizard, at Fiction. Feel free to drink too much. In fact, it is encouraged. And this is no way due to the fact that they get a cut of the bar takings. No way. Also, you'll definitely be the only one not partying and dancing yo' feet off.

Two sample tracks of the music you can expect to hear from each of the illustrious DJs.

French Lessons: Heypenny - Parade [MP3]
Albatross Kills Wizard: Ghostland Observatory - Sad, Sad City [MP3]

And if I was DJing... Duran Duran - I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight [MP3]. Aren't you sad I'm not?

MySpace: Heypenny
MySpace: Ghostland Observatory

WebSite: Heypenny
WebSite: Ghostland Observatory

The Smurfs

2006-10-23T15:31:00.000+01:00

Apparently today is the anniversary of the first appearance of little blue people in Peyo's Johan & Pirlouit comic back in 1958. We here at Digital For Fish believe strongly in the Communist message behind the Smurfs, simply because Communism is such a good idea. I mean, look how countries thrive post-Communism. Communism got them there.

Thanks, Smurfs for teaching us about Marxism!

The Smurfs - Theme Song [MP3]

WebSite: Smurf

I initially had this embedded in the page, but realised some of you may not actually like the message it conveys.

The Smurfs - The Lost Episode

When America finally figured the Smurfs out...
Unicef Ad - Don't let war affect the lives of children

Mix Tape Monday

2006-10-23T10:17:00.000+01:00

1. Huma - Feels Like I'm Walking [MP3]

MySpace: Huma
WebSite: Huma Music

2. Tanakh - Drink to Sher [MP3]

MySpace: Jesse Poe Tanakh
WebSite: Tanakh

3. Kite Flying Society - If I Could Split [MP3]

MySpace: KFS Music
WebSite: Kite Flying Society

4. Hot Chip - The Warning [MP3]

MySpace: Hot Chip
WebSite: Hot Chip

5. Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin - House Fire [MP3]

MySpace: Boris
WebSite: Boris

6. Her Space Holiday - Japanese Gum [MP3]

MySpace: Her Space Holiday
WebSite: Her Space Holiday

7. The Desks - Stop! [MP3]

MySpace: Desks
WebSite: The Desks

8. Gene Serene & John Downfall - The Hours [MP3]

MySpace: Gene Serene Org Records
WebSite: Gene Serene

9. Hot Chip - Crap Kraft Dinner [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

10. Sufjan Stevens - The Lord God Bird [MP3]

WebSite: Sufjan

11. Elliott Smith - Between the Bars [MP3]

WebSite: Sweet Adeline

12. Rafter - Bicycle [MP3]

MySpace: Rafter Roberts
WebSite: Rafter

13. The Most Serene Republic - Emergency Performance Art Piece [MP3]

MySpace: The Most Serene Republic
WebSite: The Most Serene Republic

14. Röyksopp - Triumphant [MP3]

MySpace: Röyksopp Melody Am
WebSite: Röyksopp

15. The Album Leaf - 22:14 (TwentyTwoFourteen) [MP3]

MySpace: The Album Leaf
WebSite: The Album Leaf

Dirty Projectors

2006-10-20T14:32:00.001+01:00

Nat is currently touring with Dirty Projectors as their bassist. Dirty Projectors is the brainchild of David Longstreth, and is best described by this review from the Portland Mercury:

So, check it, I toootally made the bonehead mistake of listening to the new Dirty Projectors EP, New Attitude, after smoking a gangload of medicinal-grade weed and the shit WWE-smackdowned me and cooked my little brain like a delicious ham and cheese omelet. The seven tracks made no sense; I had no reference points for what I was hearing. I knew there were guitars but since when did guitars sound like they were playing notes on a steel bass drum instead of steel strings and frets? Were those really Hare Krishna chants, or was I that blunted? Was their drummer dropping beats backward while the band played lead and rhythm lines with screwdrivers on a basement's water piping? Like, WTF, yo! Looney Tunes thing is, I listened to it the next day and it sounded exactly the same. Dirty Projectors, you're my new best buddy. Let's kick it again sometime. Your crunktastical music. My confused but loving ears. Bong not required.

Dirty Projectors - Imagine It [MP3]

MySpace: Here

Nat Baldwin

2006-10-20T08:46:00.000+01:00

Nat Baldwin is the only other Baldwin, besides Stephen that's worth a damn. Sure, post-"Alec Baldwin" Alec Baldwin is trying really hard to be endearing but he's still a jerk. I'm sure you remember Stephen from his tour de force performance in in the largely academic film BioDome. Also, the moment when he places Josh Charles' hand on his thigh in Threesome is one of the more powerful moments in cinematographic memory. Nat Baldwin is not related to either Baldwin, please don't be stupid, and he won't invite unneccessary, tongue-in-cheeck scorn from idiots like me either.

Nat's music is harrowing, and sounds something like Antony and the Johnsons beauty meets TV on the Radio experimentalism. He currently has two Albums out and a split with Deer Tick. "Within Walls" is definitely my favourite track, with a drum beat that just gives more and more as the song progresses, and Orange Mobile used "Only In My Dreams" in a very cool ad that is ruined the moment the narrator speaks.

Nat Baldwin - Within Walls [MP3] from Enter the Winter
Nat Baldwin - Only In My Dreams [MP3] from Lights Out

MySpace: Nat Baldwin
WebSite: Broken Sparrow

Bonus

"Now I know you're leaving me, and I know that I'm no king"

Deer Tick - Diamond Rings [MP3]

Nat Baldwin - "Only In My Dreams" Orange Ad

L.A. Cobra

2006-10-18T08:55:00.000+01:00

Sin is back! These guys bring the sleaze that you've missed so dearly whilst secretly listening to L.A. Guns and Twisted Sister on your iPod. Hailing from Pretoria and rocking names like Don Cobra, Ron Midnight and Animal Mother they've mashed their influences from metal, sleaze, glam and punk together and created a sound that says "We have come to bring the party!".

Their album is coming out in February 2007, and they are taking some time off touring in December to write some more music, but there are a few gigs coming up, so go and watch them!

L.A. Cobra - Hot Rocks [MP3]

Upcoming Gigs:

Oct 21 2006 8:00P ESP ACTION BAR Pretoria North
Dec 8 2006 8:00P POISON RALLY Nylstroom

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

hrvatski had Hawk And A Hacksaw sadly sally sold shitall

2006-10-13T11:24:00.000+01:00

Oi! Yuri! Listen, I think all this talk talk runaround, message board obsession about this Jeffery Magnum is trite and... okay leave the poor guy alone eh? What about this guy who is Jeremy Barnes eh? Him is involved in that Yankee balkanitski orkestar Beirut with that youngster Zach Condon guy. Not to mention he also played in many good also Yankee outfit Neutral Milk Hotelski.

So Hopaaa! Now he take himself on stage with many musical intsrument like violin, gongs, roosters, cats, tuba, accordians and funky dust dance gypsy movements. I'm getting lots excited, so excited I want to finish this sentence _____________ but ______________ bad luck boy! EH, The Virgin Mother Mary!

So bandwidth you use on these digital copies:

A Hawk And A Hacksaw - In The River [MP3]
A Hawk And A Hacksaw - God Bless The Ottoman Empire [MP3]

Myspace Here
Website Here

Jacob Borshard

2006-10-13T09:28:00.000+01:00

Remember, back in 1963, when Dad got a new job and you had to move to California and start at a new school? How you met Bobby, Ricky and Drew during the summer before school at the beach? You guys used to surf and skate and play baseball all day long. The way you used to harrass Mr Wong at the corner cafe? Man, those were good times.

Remember the first day of school? When you saw her? Standing at your locker, talking to Bobby, you looked over his shoulder and she was smiling right at you. At you! The room when quiet, everything went in slo-mo, the sun seemingly shining on her only, as she walked towards you, and just as you were about say something to her she hugged that guy behind you. She was smiling at him. Him, Peter Kaczynski. That jerk.

You two, Sarah and you, became friends, and Peter Kaczynski and his buddies would rough you up when she wasn't around. He'd tell you to say away if you knew what was good for you, and you didn't cos she was the thing that was. And then, finally, at the Under the Sea Dance you told her how you felt, and Peter Kaczynski went nuts. He started beating on you, Sarah was calling him an asshole, and, blindly, you swung once and knocked him out cold.

Remember when you walked her home that night? When she kissed you? Remember that? Bobby does.

Jacob Borshard - Grass Stains [MP3] from The Last Brontosaurus
Jacob Borshard - First Girlfriend [MP3] from The Last Brontosaurus
Jacob Borshard - Brains Brains [MP3] from The Last Brontosaurus
Jacob Borshard - 6,000,000 Dead Punks Can't Be Wrong [MP3] from Songs For A Small Stereo

MySpace: Jacob
WebSite: Creepy Bobby More Free MP3s from his amazing album.

Just For Kicks

2006-10-11T11:41:00.000+01:00

Come and spend your Wednesday late afternoon with us.

Filled with disingenuous spelling and grammatical errors for your intellectual enjoyment.

Cold War Kids

2006-10-10T10:08:00.000+01:00

Listen~~ing to your History lecturer can only make you think the post-WWII era just never got as exciting as before, did it? The Cold War was something of a spectacular anti-climax.~~ Too much Vodka induced fear and Puritan loathing resulting in the passive-aggressive reading of each others' diaries for my taste. "Look, Boris, on the microfilm that Double-Double Agent gave us, Reagan admits that the chimp in Bed Time For Bozo was a better actor. Wait til we show Comrade Stalin." I would have preferred a little Enola Gay action myself, just to get the crowds running. Excercise is good for you. So is a tan.

Maybe if Cold War Russia had implemented a better marketing strategy or agent we could all have been friends and casually droping phrases like "Холодная Война дети, скала!" as quickly as we say "Yo, dat shiz be tha Blingity-Bling, dawg. Word" Cos we do, um, say that. You know how we crazy kids ~~are. I'm sure this Arliss of the political world would have changed their flag to the image we see above and everything would have been okay. Can~~ you ~~say Communist! Party! I mean the !s would have been so~~ Indie (!).

It's a shame. I'm sure their parties would have become notoriously wild, with many people just going missing never to be heard from again. Kennedy would have felt an idiot ~~forgetting his hat. I'm sure the music wouldn't have sucked either.~~

Cold War Kids - We Used To Vacation [MP3] from Up in Rags EP
Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds [MP3] from Up in Rags EP
Cold War Kids - Tell Me In The Morning [MP3] from With Our Wallets EP

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here
Daytrotter: Here (Thanks Ian)

Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up to Dry Video

As an aside, the owners/creators of YouTube will have to spend the rest of their days scrounging around like filthy street urchins in a Dickens novel after selling to Google for way under market-value, if you ask me. $1.65 Billion. I mean, that's a pittance, really.

Man Man

2006-10-10T08:36:00.000+01:00

Cult activity has always been associated with Rock n' Roll. For those of you who are secretly being smart right now and thinking, "Mmmm... The Cult, ah yes, they too have always been associated with music". I know... I know. While this might not be on that kind of level or even the kind where crazy hippes indulge in mass hysteria and justify the whole Nazi Zombie Craze, this is, however, about warpaint, people. Yes, warpaint. So let us take this moment to look back at all the ultimately cultic activities associated with this archaic form of camouflage...

Man Man too indulge in warpaint and occasionally tennis outfits and their live shows look about as tweaked out as good ol' Willem here. They blend manic rythms reminiscent of Captain Beefheart while cleverly slipping in some clairvoyant balkan two-steps, so ultimately, it's not hard to see how their asthetics on stage compliment their sound. Should it be a coincidence that they orliginally named their band Magic Blood? Not to mention that their singer sounds a tad like Tom Waits...

Man Man - Black Mission Goggles [MP3] from Six Demon Bag

Myspace here
Website here

Lets all try and be a bit more Subtle (NEW ALBUM!) about this...

2006-10-05T11:26:00.000+01:00

WELL!! Look what we have here! After last year's genre-bending A New White, Subtle have released their latest conquest, For Hero:For Fool. Now while it might look like Dose One is eating a simple hotdog in the photo above, he's actually having a little chew on this recipe right here...

1 cup Reason
2 tsps mpc2000xl
3/4 cup micron
78 strums (downward) guitar
3 dials telephone
various pinches sampled flute & cello

Stir well in a science-fiction-rap mixing bowl and add the ever evolving and ambiguous Dose One with harmonies by Dax Pierson. Bake in a convection microwave or any similar cLOUDDEAD incubators for approx. 2:13 min.

Serves 1 - (∞ x 7) clowns.

Subtle - A Tale Of Apes II [MP3] from For Hero:For Fool

MySpace: Subtle
WebSite: Subtle

Beirut

2006-10-05T10:06:00.000+01:00

Zach Condon dropped out of school at 16. Then he said to himself "What now?". He must have thought very briefly before he replied "I know, I'll go to Europe." And he did. On his brave and oft treacharous travels he encountered the arch nemesis of civilization - the dreaded Gypsies. These evil gypsies captured him and played their Balkan music at him. And he was entranced.

Satisfied with their work, they released him. When he came home he decided, "No, my previous albums will not do! Do as the gypsies have taught." And he did. Thus, it came to pass that Gulag Orkestar was delivered unto us. Many, many peoples across the Interweb lauded him and pronounced his greatness with cries of "Balkan is now!". The Great Hay Movers of music declared his work worthy of such acclaim, and the new Siege of Beirut marched onwards without much resistance. The Gypsy Illuminati rejoiced, "Our wicked deed is done. Now all will love that which is Balkan." And we do.

Now, he has recorded more of this infectious, Balkan stomp, cleverly titled Lon Gisland, to bend more of us toward the ways of the Gypsy. I warn thee not to listen to these songs, they are simply amazing. But you will.

Beirut - Elephant Gun [MP3] from Lon Gisland
Beirut - Postcards From Italy [MP3] from Gulag Orkestar
Beirut - Mount Wroclai [MP3] from Gulag Orkestar

Once you have listened to those three tracks above you will obviously wish to be surrounded by true gypsy folk. Lucky for you the Gypsy Illuminati have arranged a gathering disguised as a new Balkanology Party. Click here.

MySpace: Beirut
WebSite: Beirut Band

Beirut Live in Brooklyn

Swan Lake

2006-10-04T12:22:00.000+01:00

Spencer Krug is one hell of a guy. First he creates Wolf Parade with Dan Boeckner, only because he accepted to open for The Arcade Fire but didn't actually have a band. Then he continues his solo project Sunset Rubdown, fleshing it out into a full band and releasing the excellent Shut Up I am Dreaming. Then he decides to rejoin Frog Eyes and tour with them. Now, and definitely, not finally he's teamed up with Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes) and Dan Bejar (Destroyer) to form indie's 'greatest' supergroup, Swan Lake.

I'm tentative to say the greatest simply because supergroups by their nature can be too much of a good thing. By this I mean the things that make each individual in the group great may not combine to form a band sound that is great. Furthermore, the supergroup albums could just become a compilation of tracks where alternately one member features and the others are merely guest players. And, from the 5 tracks I've heard so far, this compilation effect does happen a little.

Well, after all that gloom and doom, you're thinking "Do they suck?" Well... no! Don't be fucking stupid. These are three incredibly talented and respected musicians. Carey and Spencer have worked together for ages, Spencer has collaborated with Destroyer before. Of course it won't suck. Will it be the best album ever? Probably not, but these guys have come together to create some amazing songs and have managed to improve on the qualities that makes each one of their distinct sounds great. All does bode well for November 11th when Swan Lake's ablum, Beast Moans, is released.

Spencer Krug Swan Lake - All Fires [MP3] an interesting Review
Dan Bejar Swan Lake - Widow's Walk [MP3]
Carey Mercer Swan Lake - City Calls [MP3]

Bonus:

Handsome Furs - Untitled [MP3] Dan Boeckner's side project.
Destroyer - Painter In Your Pocket [MP3]
Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I am Dreaming of Places Where Lover's Have Wings [MP3]

MySpace:

Wolf Parade
Sunset Rubdown
Frog Eyes
Destroyer

Wolf Parade - I'll Believe In Anything

Untamed Youth!

2006-10-03T16:41:00.000+01:00

Okay, so we do this night in Cape Town every Tuesday.

Fiction Bar
Long Street, Cape Town
No Cover Charge
Folk, Indie, Rock, Some Experimental Stuff and...
Guest DJs!
VOILA!

GGGGRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

2006-10-03T15:02:00.000+01:00

Bubbling underneath your happy-go-lucky indie pop music is something that is just as sinister as it is genuine and even danceable (although rarely) at times. It's the experimental Hate Child of Punk Rock, Electronica and Industrial music.

If you're not already familiar with it, the genre known as Noise Rock encompasses a wider spectrum than you might be comfortable with. Yeah sure bands like Animal Collective (especially the earlier stuff), DFA 1979, Sonic Youth (again, earlier stuff) and Akron/Family touch on aspects of it, its really the more recent Noise/Noise Metal/Noise Music artists that are defining this quickly expanding genre.

Wait... QUICKLY EXPANDING?!!? You mean to tell me there are more and more people out there who are torturing their domesticated animals, forcing their spouses to leave the house in near epileptic convulsions and placing themselves in the box that says: "Given up on classic melody and ready for Navy Seals 'white noise' interogation tactics"? Hells Yeah! This shit rocks! Plus - it's a good distraction for pepper spray burn.

Here's some of the more accesible stuff:

Excepter - Rock Stepper [MP3] from Alternation EP

sorry... that's about it... here's some of the others:

Electronic Esque?
Black Dice - Smiling Off [MP3] from Broken Ear Record

Metal Esque?
Lightning Bolt - Crown Of Storms [MP3] from Wonderful Rainbow

What the FUCK? Esque?
Wolf Eyes - Rattlesnake Shake [MP3] from Burned Mind

Noise music even has its very own Mothers Against Noise campaign. Good to see some excellent bands like Lightning Bolt and Smegma on their list of No Nos. Well Lightning Bolt you say? heres a vid for your viewing pleasure.

Lightning Bolt's music video for Saint Jacques. Enjoy.

kidofdoom

2006-10-03T09:34:00.000+01:00

I watched these guys twice this weekend and they are simply amazing. If you don't want to dance check your pulse cos you're probably dead. "Forest Fire" is definitely my favourite track that I can remember from both times. I say 'remember' for a reason - these guys make you want to party hard. And you do. Plus, it doesn't help that they walk around with a beer funnel after the show and buy you beer.

They are easy and hard to define. They sound like Explosions in the Sky at times, then they sound a little like The Faint, but unlike either really. Definitely not a rehashed or derivitive sound. There are no vocals (besides an occasional shout into the mike), which some people complained about, but to put a vocal to this would ruin it. As they say on their MySpace page about the lack of vocals, there is no pretense or claim to any intellectual aspirations, all they want is for you to dance, dance, dance! Works for me.

kidofdoom - Forest Fire [MP3]

MySpace: kidofdoom

This band is awesome live, so I suggest you go and watch them.

Upcoming Shows

Oct 12 2006

8:00PM

Tings an' Times (back from tour show)

Pretoria

Oct 28 2006

8:00PM

Sovereign Halloween - Carfax - Kidofdoom's last show for 2006

Johannesburg

And on the subject of doom. Check this out.

Asobi Seksu

2006-09-27T08:31:00.000+01:00

This band is truly awesome. Guitar work daisy-chained through various effects pedals, atmospheric keyboards, direct bass and urgent drumming all contrasted with gentle vocals, sung in English and Japanese, combining to create the lush sound of Asobi Seksu. Their new album, Citrus, has received excellent reviews, and they have been respectfully compared/likened to the shoegaze genre, but definitely have developed their own sound from their influences.

So if you're a My Bloody Valentine fan, be happy, and if you're not, be even happier.

Asobi Seksu - Thursday [MP3] from Citrus
Asobi Seksu - New Years [MP3] from Citrus
Asobi Seksu - Sooner [MP3] from Asobi Seksu

MySpace: Asobi Seksu
Website: AsobiSeksu.com
Listen: Citrus

Asobi Seksu - Thursday

Ratatat

2006-09-26T16:48:00.000+01:00

Ratatat is Tetris rock meeting Raiden's awesome 8-bit game music. Sliding/wailing guitars accompanied by organs and harpsichords over hip-hop beats done in a tasteful fashion. Sure, at points in the album, Classics, it can get a little repetitive for some, but some tracks are just plain anthemic. "Seventeen Years" is the theme music to any of Russia's 5 year plans, Wildcat samples actual Panther roars and Lex is Beethoven arena rock with slide sections that remind you of Metallica's "Ride the Lightning".

Evan Mast (Beats) and Mike Stroud (Guitars) met in college in 1999, but didn't form Ratatat until 2001 when they met again in Brooklyn, where they record their music in Evan's apartment on Mike's laptop. Both Mike and Evan have worked on other musical projects. Mike toured the world with Ben Kweller and professional whiners Dashboard Confessional as a guitarist, and Evan has been producing music as E*Vax , releasing most of his work on Audio Dregs Records , a label run by him and his brother E*Rock.

Ratatat is guaranteed to rock you, make you forget your Daft Punk CDs and make you wish you had a Raiden machine at your corner shop.

Ratatat - Lex [MP3]
Ratatat - Seventeen Years [MP3]

MySpace: RatatatMusic
Website: RatatatMusic.com
Interview: Fader

Click here for a flash animation of "Seventeen Years".

Just plain weird.

Mickey Avalon

2006-09-22T14:54:00.000+01:00

Mickey Avalon is a drunk, horny, crass, cool as fuck, glam, leprechaun with lady love in spades. Girls climb on stage to dance with him. They fight to keep the others back. His music makes you dance. He drops lines like "I'm a street walker selling cock for rock" on a dime, and won't hesitate to tell you how his dick "costs a late night fee" and "yo' dick has the HIV". He sells out shows and hangs out with actors and models drinking Patron like water. He's even sponsored by RVCA clothing.

The guy's had a hard life and now he's pretty much living the Hollywood dream, which is exactly why I had a serious problem selecting a single photo for this post. One wouldn't be good enough. So there's a bunch. Get yourself in the mood.

Here are the anthems to your Friday nights.

Mickey Avalon - Jane Fonda [MP3]
Mickey Avalon - Waiting to Die [MP3]
Mickey Avalon - So Rich, So Pretty [MP3]

MySpace: Mickey Avalon
Website: MickeyAvalon.com

Photocredits: +++++thecobrasnake++++++

Dr. Dog

2006-09-22T11:46:00.000+01:00

When people with drinking problems create blogs, sometimes things come out a bit askew. Take today for instance - throbbing headache, abdominal pains and eyes the color of the fires that burn in Hades (or ᾍδης in Greek).

I did, however, find something to bring slight relief to this dire situation I'm in. Some fuzzy retro-pop that, THANK GOD, is infinitely more carefree and gleeful than a lot of the music floating around the Indie genre at the moment.

Some scruffy kids from Philidelphia blending 60's Pop and 70's Psychedelic rock = happy pseudo-French speaking guy.

Dr. Dog - Ain't It Strange [MP3]
Dr. Dog - Say Something [MP3]

MySpace: Dr. Dog
Website: :: DR. DOG ::
Blog: Dr. Dog

TV on the Radio

2006-09-21T12:38:00.000+01:00

Return to Cookie Mountain was released on the 12th on this month, but the album was leaked earlier this year, and I'm sure many of you have heard their looping, noisy, groove based music already, but for those of you who have been living under a rock and haven't listened to them yet I'm gonna clue you in.

TVOTR formed in 2001 but didn't release their full ablum debut, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes which won the Shortlist Music Prize, until 2004. And they are big now. Since then they have been signed to a major record label and can count David Bowie among their fans, with him going as far as to call to give personal advice as well as providing guest vocals on "Province". They even have David Cross, of Arrested Development fame, featuring in videos on their site. Vocalist Tunde Adebimpe studied stop-motion animation and worked for MTV Celebrity Deathmatch and directed the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs' music video for their single "Pin" from the Machine EP, which guitarist-producer David Sitek produced.

So, basically, they have music cred and are the best band you haven't listened to (if you haven't). The album is awesome with excellent reviews from the critics. Even Pitchfork loves them. So do yourself a favour and give them a listen, with the volume turned up.

TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me [MP3] from Escape From Cookie Mountain
TV on the Radio - Staring at the Sun [MP3] from Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes

Listen: Return to Cookie Mountain
MySpace: TV on the Radio
Website: TVontheRadio.com

TV on the Radio on Letterman

Final Fantasy

2006-09-21T10:54:00.000+01:00

Okay, so I know this video is a bit dated and the cover of Joanna Newsom's "Peach, Plum, Pear" by Owen Pallet a.k.a. Final Fantasy has been floating around for some time now, but I thought it would be appropriate seeing as we are sitting here chewing half our hands off waiting for Joanna's new album, Y's.

The video has Mr. Pallet, the inaugral Polaris Prize winner, layering various techniques on his violin in order to 'mimick' the harp sounds of Joanna's original. Unfortunately, he doesn't sound like a demon-possesed pixie girl, but he does the song justice in his own dead-pan, funeralesque singing style.

So enjoy this until we can get more of Joanna's new stuff, which is bleady excellent by the way (thanks to the Pitchfork interns).

Oh! and here it is for your convenience to download and play out your beefed up soundsystem in your Honda Civic V-tec.

Owen Pallet - Peach, Plum, Pear [MP3]

MySpace: Owen Pallet

SOUND Team

2006-09-20T16:26:00.000+01:00

SOUND team are great for the exact reason they are often criticised - they don't have a definitive sound. While some may slate their new album, Movie Monster, for this reason, a la this Pitchfork review, I find it appealing as each track requires you to listen to it and doesn't just blend into sound of the album. After all, some bands tend to release albums that sound too alike after a while, not to mention any names like Cold Play.

As stated on Popmatters.com:

Ultimately, 'Movie Monster' has the effect of convincing you that you just listened to 45 minutes of alternative rock radio with an ‘80s and ‘90s bent on a station where variety and eclectic playlists rule the day, and pop means as much as rock.

Sounds great.

SOUND Team - Your Eyes Are Liars [MP3]

SOUND Team - No More Birthdays [MP3]

Website: SOUNDteam.net
MySpace: SOUND team

And keeping on French Lessons' subject of mash ups, here is a Weird Al Yankovic mash up video touching on Black Eyed Peas, Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Modest Mouse, Kanye West and the funniest 50 Cent cover ever, in polka. Yeah, polka.

Bangers n' Mash/Burger King fusion recipe

2006-09-19T18:39:00.000+01:00

Firstly let me refresh everyones memory, mash ups or otherwise referred to as 'bastard pop' can potentially be the defining point in a DJ's career. After the trend was made ever so popular by 2 Many DJ's in 2001 almost every aspiring disc jockey with a spatula and a mixing bowl has had their hand with a few of these fusion recipes. Remember Dangermouse? Jay Z a la The Beatles?

If that was too rich for you why don't you try The Beatles/The Beachboy's latest collab. So ingeniously titled 'The Beachles - Sgt. Petsounds', (mash-up DJ's have a way with words...) we see how layering songs over each other was never made into a kids program on your breakfast TV.

Unfortunately, EMI shat their nappies over this one and the free-to-download album was quickly withdrawn from Clayton's blog and is now somewhat of a novelty album drifting in and out of various p2p programs.

Guess what it sounds like? God only knows...