Ploafmaster General

If you get a chance, check out the music of Vampire Weekend. Yesterday's Fresh Air contained a review of their self-titled disc, and I have to say that while their music sounds quite derivative, it's still VERY pleasant to the ears.

You can hear two tracks, "Oxford Comma" (Trey and Phil may go bonkers over this one...) and "M79", on their website. I'm a particularly big fan of M79, and after hearing snippets from several other tracks on the Fresh Air review I may have to snag the album.

Yesterday's All Songs Considered (I'm a day behind since I listen to the podcast) had Radiohead's Thom Yorke as guest DJ. It was excellent not only for the peek at what music influences one of my favorite band's front man, but the casual ad hoc interview was entertaining, too.

I think one of my favorite parts was when host Bob Boilen recognized a sample from Frank Zappa's music in track from Madvillian.

I've been rocking out to Pandora Radio after work for the past few weeks. Mugs introduced me to this brilliant musical service a short while ago, and I think I'm hooked. Essentially you create a personalized radio station (or more than one if you wish) by selecting songs/bands that you like. The site then begins playing reasonably high quality streams of sons which are musically related to your choices. You can improve the fit by your response to songs, such as a simple thumbs up or down, skipping, or selecting more specific choices from a pop-up list.

All of this is based on the Music Genome Project which set out to analyze specific musical qualities of individual songs and artists and find correlations. I think the results are pretty impressive so far considering the number of sweet new music I've discovered already, as well as the raft of songs that I enjoy but have already heard. Other than Netflix, this is one of the best adaptive recommendation systems I've ever used.

Functionally, the site is fantastic as well. It's not the prettiest or most innovative designs, but the music loads quickly and animations are snappy and useful. It's one of the faster Flash-based sites I've used, too.

So pardon me while I continue listening...

Speaking of Mark Ronson, I discovered that his music is actually pretty cool. There's a healthy reliance on horns and Motown-esque rhythms, and I can't help but go nuts over this incredible cover with Phantom Planet
of Radiohead's The Bends-era "Just":

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eEcLntc2sk&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

Nima Nourizadeh is a director working largely in the UK, and seems to have made a few pretty cool music videos. Peep this awesome little example for the song "Over and Over" by Hot Chip:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHB9F8tvGVM&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

Then we have this one for Mark Ronson's song "Oh My God" with an animated Lilly Allen getting all Jessica Rabbit:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2lQcapSnXo&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

Finally, the video for Chromeo's "Bonafide Lovin'" is a tribute to Dire Straits' "Money Is For Nothin'" video:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xew85L1xyC8&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

Dan Cederholm tweeted about this strange find: David Lee Roth's vocals from "Runnin' With The Devil" - and little else.

This sounds a little musically blasphemous, but the effect is rather similar (in my mind) to the version of "Because" from the highly engineered album of Beatles music, Love.

Great pickled apple blossoms! New Kids on the Block is reuniting?!?!?

It's news like this which tempts me to believe, like Job's friends, that I've done some sinful thing to deserve such a horrible reality. I remember when my late Pop Pop, meaning well, gave my brothers and I some NKOTB trading cards (to be fair, he also gave us Batman trading cards). We taped them to our dressers and threw darts at them.

Here's hoping this is short (if at all) lived.
(via Gentle Graffiti)

Who knew? Apparently the Beatles were banned from Israel in 1965 for fear of corrupting the youth. Well now Israel wants them back in order to celebrate the 60th birthday of the modern incarnation of the state.

Have you seen that commercial for the Ford Edge "crossover" vehicle? The one with the gal in the backseat staring up through the sunroof at the night sky in a city? There's some totally sweet music playing, and I've finally figured out what it is: "The Funeral" by Band of Horses. This song came out in 2006, I believe, and sometimes I just feel so behind the curve when it comes to what all the cool kids are in to these days...All the same, this song rocks my face off (even if it sounds like James Mercer from The Shins is moonlighting with these guys), and submitted for your approval is the original video for "The Funeral":

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibE7IqEjni4&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

Stop what you're doing. Really - right now. Go listen to the results of The Great Sufjan Xmas Song Xchange. Make sure you scroll all the way down to hear the winner, and do click the link to listen to all the other top entries. Many of them are quite good.

And they say that beans are musical...

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GabHGlGm14&rel=1&border=1&w=425&h=373]
(via Ze Frank)

Those of you who know me well know that I despise 99% of modern radio stations. I hate that Clear Channel and Cox own nearly every radio station in Richmond (or elsewhere), and largely the same set of schlock rock plays on 102.1 and 101.1 FM.

In fact, I really only listened to NPR when I'm driving. Until, of course, my home-slice Jake introduced me to 103.1 FM. This frequency is the Richmond transmission of 91.9, WNRN FM in Charlottesville, VA. WNRN is a listener supported radio station - not NPR, but much the same model. They play largely rock music, but their programming page spells out their typical schedule which includes some hip hop, mash-ups, bluegrass, etc.

The broadcast can be a little spotty around Richmond (and nearly dead around Glenside for some reason), but it's generally clear enough to enjoy. Here's a sample of what's played recently:

Lips Like Sugar...Echo and The Bunnymen
No I in Threesome...Interpol
Some Surprise...The Cake Sale
Youre the World to Me...David Gray
Regret (Album Version)...New Order
Lets Call It Off...Peter, Bjorn and John

I hope their support grows sufficiently that their Richmond broadcast gains strength and clarity. Rock out with your...um...smock out.

Here's a BBC report on the Led Zeppelin reunion show:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv-lW7K66M0&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

I hope, at least, that they recorded the performance so there can be a live DVD/CD (or combo?). At best, I'm one of tens of millions around the world hoping for a real reunion with a tour, and maybe even new rock goodness. I'm certainly anxious to hear whether Jason Bonham can truly fill papa Bonzo's shoes.

I found this low-key but still awesome video following the manufacturing process inside Gibson Guitar in Nashville, TN.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYN_K9dVYVQ&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

For a double dose of amazing, here's a performance including not only Steve Martin on banjo, but the incredible Bela Fleck as well.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jn3KCZEqxc&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

That title comes from a choice comment on this video clip:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhlm232KRlQ&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

Merry Christmas indeed!

You should check out their...um...rendition...of the themes from Rocky and James Bond.

This video for a song by Noah and the Whale makes me think of Wes Anderson making a music video using a Super 8 camera. Maybe it's the use of all that Futura lettering? Anyway, it was actually directed by one James Copeman who seems to have made a few other delightful films.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRX5kH6IrkY&rel=1&w=425&h=355]
(via swissmiss)

Prepare to have the skin melted off your face as you are assailed by the awesomeness embedded in this post:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVbuIZ-5-8o&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

I found this excellent live performance of "Prehensile Dream" by The Bad Plus on YouTube, and it totally sounds the way I feel today.

Do yourself a favor, and listen to this on good headphones or cranked up on your speakers. It's starts quite soft, but builds into audio majesty.

Enjoy.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZBer-pSaLI&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

Duh-duh-duh-dang.

I enjoy a wide variety of electronic music, but dance music doesn't typically strike my fancy (except for my old room mate's video game remixes and originals).

Today, however, I've discovered Muscles - an Aussie chap who's album, Guns Babes Lemonade, has me hooked. You can stream the entire album for free from his Virb page.

Boy, am I happy I stumbled across this today...

The Rentals - band of original Weezer bassist Matt Sharp - released a four track EP called Last Little Life back on August 14th which includes a new version of "Sweetness and Tenderness" from their first album. Even cooler than a new recording, however, are free recordings of reworked versions of the entire thing. My, are they tasty.

You can read about and download the alternate version of the EP as recorded at the Daytrotter Studio on the studio's website.

Holy crap on my face...if this thing works as well as it appears, I FREAKING WANT ONE. Behold:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WetVXbYRfWk&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

The system allows for alternate tunings, self-tensioning of new strings, and even provides for intonation adjustment assistance! Tommy Likey! Tommy want wingey!!!

There are no words...only bewilderment...

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7595AxeLqc&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

Every now and again I'm shocked that I neglected to write about a site that I frequent. Today, that site is Aurgasm (and yes, you read that correctly).

Paul Irish's brilliant MP3 blog more often than not proves the truth in its tag line: "your favorite music you've never heard." Here you will find a collection of music from genres multifarious, and more than likely scarcely known in this country. The wide range of international artists probably contributes to their lack of eminence on these shores, but most are worth a listen. Even better than the listening itself, of course, is the download-ability of the featured tracks. And best of all, in my opinion, is that Aurgasm fetches permission from the musicians it features.

You would do well to check it out and spend some time digging through the archives.

Alright, I'm about to sound like a crazy drooling fan here, but DANG, go listen via WNYC's streaming link of The BQE.(sorry, it's stinkin' RealPlayer).

I am SERIOUSLY hoping this turns into an Asthmatic Kitty release in the very near future.