January Twenty-Second & Ninth

January 22nd/29th, 2008 are two very important dates, so mark your newly purchased two-thousand-and-eight calendars, iCal, whatever... because it is the release dates of general awesomeness topped with sprinkles and a touch of fanfuckingtastic.

01/22/2008

Artist: Flight Of The Conchords
Album: Flight Of The Conchords
Genre: Folk, Comedy
These guys were nominated for a Grammy! You've probably seen the videos on YouTube, such as Business Time, Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros, and Jenny. Before Flight of the Conchords, no offense, I honestly thought nothing good came out of New Zealand besides Crowded House, lanolin, kiwi (fruit and bird), and Mr. Rolls. This thought was only because my dad had always threatened me that if I didn't get good grades, he's going to send me to a boarding school in Auckland... and now my brother is suffering miserably at some all boys boarding school there. Anyway, back to the original topic, they're amazing and Bret McKenzie is kind of cute...?

Artist: Foxy Shazam (Previously Foxy Shazam! with a !)
Album: Introducing
Genre: Experimental, Alternative, Progressive Rock
Personally, I am pissed off that they're dropping the ! in their band name. Originating from Cincinnati, Ohio, they released The Flamingo Trigger in 2005 with the exclamation mark and now I guess their new album is Introducing... Foxy Shazam without the exclamation mark. I've never heard anything like this before and I'm a little bummed that I'll be missing their show at the Knitting Factory because I'm going to see Scary Kids Scaring Kids vs Haste The Day instead. Their music is basically made up of the piano you would hear in Jerry Lee Lewis' Great Balls of Fire, drums of an O-K band at a high school prom, and a various mix of guitar licks and schloppy bass. It's great.

Artist: The Audition
Album: Champion
Genre: Pop Rock, Alternative
It's finally here! It's been what like, three fucking years since the release of their debut album Controversy Loves Company? If you've seen them live in 2007 or watch the video for You've Made Us Conscious and compare them with their recent photographs you can see that Fatty McGuitarist lost a lot of weight while lead vocals Danny aged/matured a little (kind of looks like a douchebag now) and said "like" about 50+ times in the most awkward interview ever during the London stop of the Victory Records Tour 2006. Nevertheless, the music is still awesome and getting better.

Artist: The Mars Volta
Album: Bedlam in Goliath
Genre: Experimental, Progressive Rock
TMV is progressive rock band with a touch of jazz and latin influnces, sounds kind of like Muse in Spanish and on acid/shrooms, slowly. After the so-so release of Frances The Mute comes Amputechture in 2006, which was more ambient and sounded less-like-everything-else than the previous album. Oh yeah, like the 2006 and unlike the 2005 release, not all the track titles cascade from Cassandra Geminni I to Cassandra Geminni VIII...

Artist: Jet Leg Gemini
Album: Fire The Cannons
Genre: Classic Rock, Pop
I first heard about JLG from Doghouse Records, the label that many other bands like Meg & Dia, The Honorary Title, and The Get Up Kids are signed to. These guys are from Jersey, a "tropical paradise" where "there are more bands than people and cars put together," quoting their bio on Last.fm... Funny. They're first tour of 2008 will be with Red Light Green Light and Lady Radiator... I don't know either of these two bands but I will look into it because they have interesting names, not as interesting as previously mentioned Formerly Known As Oedipusaurus Rex, but good enough.

Artist: Cat Power
Album: Jukebox
Genre: Folk, Indie
I don't think I need to elaborate... but for the hell of not screwing up the layout I will continue. This is her second covers collection including a new song - Song For Bobby a song for yes, Bob Dylan. The rest of the track list includes Bob Dylan's I Believe In You, Billie Holiday's Don't Explain, Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival and et cetera. Yes yes... be very excited. Her show in NYC is in March, yes, be even more excited.

Artist: Scapegoat
Album: Zombie Dog
Genre: Metalcore, Experimental
My roommate's favorite band, I think. Not gonna lie, they sound pretty good, heard they're even better live. This isn't just another boohoo boring emo band from the South... okay South-ish since it's North Carolina, but yeah you know what I'm talking about. Their previous album Let Our Violins Be Heard was pretty good, strangely beautiful, and their new song The Hurricane sounds minty fresh, so there you go, Mary-Lauren.

01/29/08

Artist: The Morning Of
Album: The World As We See It
Genre: Pop, Rock
Being in the same record label (Tragic Hero) as Scapegoat, My Hero Is Me, A Skylit Drive, Ghost of a Fallen Age, and Akissforjersey... TMO sounds nothing like any them. This is a group of very cute babyfaced girl and boys. The lead vocalists are Jessica and Justin, they are probably on Nickelodeon, not pregnant (Jessica), but catchy nonetheless.

Artist: Protest The Hero
Album: Fortress
Genre: Hardcore, Metalcore
The new album art and layout is sweet, especially the merged photographs of PTH band members. I don't really know what else to say except for... they're from Ontario and will making the second US stop of their Bros in the Snow Winter Tour opening for Silverstein with The Devil Wears Prada and A Day To Remember... and I am going!

Artist: Xiu Xiu
Album: Women As Lovers
Genre: Experimental, Indie
Influenced by The Cure and Joy Division, Xiu Xiu is a band based in San Francisco. Here's a track from the new album, I Do What I Want When I Want. Ever sine the release of The Air Force in 2006, they've been busy doing collabs/a book; Xiu Xiu: The Polaroid Project: The Book (any reason why the cover looks like Andre Kertesz' The Polaroids?) that comes with the CD, A Soundtrack for a Polaroid of Two Trees in Indiana featuring Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Parenthetical Girls, and Greg Saunier from Deerhoof.

This is one long bitchin' hell of a post. Isabelle/Tink whoever mans this webbiebloggityshindig, how about a layout change? I suggest some wicked graphic stuff like exploding speakers, swimming headphones (no sperm pun intended), and mingling vinyls. Oh and lastly, my apologies for not most of these music, but if you're interested enough, go to their MySpace and one or a few of their new tracks will be on it. Happy eargasming!

Real Quick Before I leave for Lake Tahoe...

1) Thanks for the Isabelle song Hannah.
2) Speaking of Mash-ups... Girl Talk anyone? They're fantastic. I'll link some music when I have more time. Probably the most consistently awesome mash-up group ever. I like "Hand Clap", check it out.
3) Movie soundtrack to listen to? Across the Universe, probably the best conglomeration of Beatles covers ever. Seriously. Best song? "I Want to Hold Your Hand" sung by the character Prudence, who is asian, and lesbian, and an "eargasmic" (to steal a phrase from Hannah) singer.
4) I love Wilco, check "Hummingbird"
5) Oh my god I don't have my music on hand right now... this is really difficult, trying to remember all the music I wanted to suggest.
6) I <3 Regina Spektor (seen her in the IPod Nano commercials maybe?), who was inspired by the works of Fiona Apple. Both FANTASTIC artists. Try "Honey" by Fiona Apple, and her cover of the Beatles song "Across the Universe".
7) Thinking under pressure is difficult, and my parents are yelling for me. We were supposed to leave half an hour ago... "Interstellar" by Paola. I'll link the song later, its really hard to download, my friend downloaded a mix of 300 German Techno songs to find it. For now listen on Myspace Music. The lyrics make no sense, but somehow its amazing.
8) Elliot Smith, album title "XO", song "Waltz #1"
9) Imogen Heap "Hide and Seek". Used in the OC, and then on SNL making fun of the OC. Its an old song, but its great.
10) Shiny Toy Guns, several songs are great, I like their sound overall, its like synthetic pop rock punk... I don't know, kind of techno-y, definitely upbeat, all good. "Don't Cry Now" is a great song, they have many others though, just browse around!
11) Because I watched the Dolly Parton True Hollywood Story, "Jolene", its amazing how a gorgeous voice can come out of a plastic, immobile (BOTOX. TOO MUCH BOTOX. DON'T DO IT.) "face" (ps. also, huge boobs).

OK must fly! Enjoy, and Merry Christmukkah!

Christmas Music, part deux

It's snowing again outside! And I'm proctoring an exam inside which means I get to stare at the snow for three hours. Yay for winter even though it makes driving a hell of a lot scarier. Maybe we'll finally get a white Christmas?

You may remember that I mentioned in my earlier Christmas post that "Carol of the Bells" is one of my favorite Christmas songs, but another favorite of mine is "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". And so begins part deux of the Christmas caroling, starting with three versions of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)":

Mariah Carey (I wasn't kidding about this being my favorite Christmas album ever)
Death Cab for Cutie
U2 : the original cover

More music!
Jason Mraz - Winter Wonderland
Damien Rice - Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
Ok Go - Father Christmas

I can't wait to get home and decorate the place. Of course, I'll lose interest after ten minutes and Diana will do the rest, but the Christmas spirit will stay with me all day long! Yay!

New York Newbies

Some local (New York) bands/artists/friends that I love and you should love too.

Artist: Gregory and the Hawk
Album: The Boats & Bird EP (2006)
Genre: Indie, Acoustic, Pop
Recommended: Isabelle, Boats and Birds, A Wish
Isabelle, if you're reading this, finally... an Isabelle song! I remember I was listening to that song one day, it showed up on MSN and you asked me about it. GATH is a folk music project formed by Meredith Gordreau (really cute, by the way) in 2003. This is EP is their second album, they released a full-length this year called In Your Dreams so check that out too. I have yet to seen a live gig but hopefully she'll be back on tour and I'll be indulging myself in my own drool puddle while she melts my ear. It's an amazing feeling. Just looking back at some of my older posts... I can't believe this is the first time I mentioned eargasms.

Artist: Reni Laine
Album: American Baby (2007)
Genre: Indie, Alternative, Rock
Recommended: Ghost Inside, American Baby, Choices
Sophomore at Columbia University, writes her own songs, released her debut full-length CD this year, age 19, toured Europe, made an appearance on MTV, featured on Nylon Guys Magazine, geeky (yes!), beautiful voice, gorgeous face... basically makes everyone else looks like shit. I saw her live twice at Pianos and it just keeps on getting better. If you really want to know, her music pretty much makes one feel like they are searching for unicorns and all things pretty in an urban rain forest, yeah it's kind of like that. There's also a river on the left where all the salmon and baby bears mingle/swim.

Artist: Living In Polaroids
Album: Not yet released
Genre: Indie, Acoustic, Pop
Recommended: Beyond Good And Evil, A Song For Crystal
Living In Polaroids is a one girl band formed by Kristina Stapelfeld. She will be playing at The Creek and the Cave up in Long Island on December 28th. If anyone is in town during that time, you should come with. I've never heard her sing but her talking voice pretty much "had me at hello" to put it in a really, ridiculously cheesy way. I guess if you really want a comparison (voice-wise) with other artists, I would say that she's the potential love child of Tracyanne Campbell & Carey Lander (as Siamese Twins) from Camera Obscura and Tegan & Sara (as Siamese Twins, again). But if you want to get all scientific and want an example that's humanly possible, she could be Joanna Newsom and Stuart Murdoch from Belle & Sebastian's child ...and Jenny Lewis can be her babysitter. Haha it doesn't get any better than that.

Anyway, it's 5 in the morning and I don't think I can go on with this. Next time I'll probably be in my metalcore, emo screamo extremo mood so put on your pants and get ready for some hardcore shiznit.

As I Am -Alicia Keys

It's funny I've been having lots of convos about marriage and career lately subjectively--generally about the future in life. And i thought Alicia Key's As I Am is quite appropriate in this way. Not that she mentions anything about getting married or anything. But in a way this album is what represents her in the way she's grown as a person. Quote on quote: [it's her] becoming a better person.

When the first song of her fourth album came out, "No One" I was slightly disappointed. Her vocals were not as impressive as i always thought they were. But as i continued to hear it over and over again on the radio, on the internet...i thought it was a very interesting approach to the soulful sounds she's known for. I think "No One" is a interesting attempt in mixing a bit of reggae into the RnB.

The second single that she came out with is "Like You'll Never See Me Again". A decent love song. It touches base on the vulnerability of love and more importantly love. Recently, there seems to be events putting life on the line. And this song, especially the video, is appropriate for reminding us of how fragile life can be.

Artist Site

More Videos

But out of the album, or at least the songs I've heard so far from it, I like "The Thing About Love" the most. I love her vocals. One thing I noticed though, I don't know if it's just me, her voice seems to have become more hoarse. The song is not just about romance but about the love between friends too.

Go out and get her CD! If you buy it through itunes, two bonus tracks comes with it! Enjoy!

Dave Barnes

Okay.. so Nicole's been bugging me to write a blog although I suck at describing music.  But you guys should check out Dave Barnes.  I really like his slower songs, with a solo guitar, especially  "More Than a Man" and "Nothing Fancy".  It's really soothing music.  Check it out.   

Music Mash-Ups

Today's topic in lieu of exams: Music mash-ups. They are all over the internet. All those budding DJs with way too much access to pretty electronics and audio programs seem to find it necessary to showcase their skillz by plugging several songs together. But if you look hard enough, there's a couple of gems in there. I'm pretty sure everyone here reading this has heard Usher's "Yeah" vs. Britney Spears' "Toxic" and most of the ones from Jay-Z & Linkin Park's album. How about some of these other ones?

Interpol vs. M.I.A. - Mammoth Boys
The reason I've been inspired for this rec. I think the best attribute of music mash-ups is that they make songs good. I'm not really partial to any of M.I.A.'s music (Have you heard of her? Her story is pretty cool. Sri Lankan-British rapper who's father is a Tamil activist-militant), but this song is very get up and go and totally awesome. Give it a listen. Actually, give it two. The first time I heard it, I was like "eh?". It's a little weird. But now I play it every other song. I just might get sick of it soon, I've played it so much.

The Arcade Fire vs. Black Eyed Peas - Hump My Tunnel
Okay, I have to admit. It's partially because the title cracks me up. I absolutely HATE "My Humps". Totally and utterly. I swore everytime it came on the radio --- it's like "Hey There Delilah". I have absolutely no clue in hell why it's so popular. But this version? It almost makes up for it (my hate is pretty strong). The Arcade Fire is amazing like that.

Jay-Z & The Verve - Dirt Off Your Shoulder (Bittersweet Symphony Remix)
Someone somewhere had too much time on their hands and realized that "Bittersweet Symphony"and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" have exactly the same beat. Not that I'm complaining. It totally rocks. I mean, who doesn't love "Bittersweet Symphony"? I totally faked out my roommate the other day when I played this song because she was singing along to the Verve part, only to be completely confounded when Jay-Z started rapping.

Desert Island Discs

I was reading something and it reminded me about that one radio show Desert Island Discs. (longest-running music program since 1942 to the present). Essentially it's a show where famous guests are asked to choose eight pieces of music they'd bring with them if they were to become island castaways. And I was thinking how ANNOYING that must be to hear those same eight songs for the rest of your life. Just imagine listening to A Bay Bay and Crank That for the rest of your life. I'd kill myself within a day.

BUT after much consideration and thought I DID think of one song that I wouldn't mind. It was released back in 2001 by the supergroup (it's a real term) A Perfect Circle. The song's called 3 Libras and it was released on the album Mer de Noms (Latin for "Sea of Names" mysterious isn't it?). The funny thing is I don't even like APC very much, but I'd have to name this song one of my favorites of all time. Apparently the songs of the album are dedicated to people that the lead singer knew; and 3 Libras was dedicated to 9 people with birthdays around that time and is about "being overlooked". Anyways it's a wonderful song and anyone that appreciates rock at all should definately check it out if they haven't already. *EDIT* listen to the last bit starting at 2:45 cuz it's the best part!

LISTEN TO IT i'm serious.

By the way, the most requested song in the show's history was the Fourth Movement of Beethoven's Ninth (for the woefully ignorant, that's Ode to Joy) which gets ridiculously SICK at around 4:15.

The Pierces

In one of the recent previews of Gossip Girl "Hi Society"(video quality not that great...go to www.thewb.com for a better version), they used one of the Pierces songs' "Three Wishes". I think the sounds of the song really fits well with the Romantic period. That melancholy, hoplessness and all (yea i'm learning about that in my fashion history class, it's pretty interesting).

The pair are sisters; Allison and Catherine were raised in Alabama. Their voices are alluring. Some of their songs are like a mixture of that class from 1930's and this gypsy mysteriousness. Check out their myspace. Their entire album Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge is available to listen to on their site.

Do They Know It's Christmas?

Today was wonderfully white. Exactly what I needed to put me in a Christmas mood. So I spent the last hour or so grabbing Christmas music off of the net. It seems like every band and singer ever at some point in time has recorded at least one holiday song. All the better, I say!

A couple of my sources:

• savvy_elf on livejournal is running a Christmas music meme where people are uploading and sharing their favorite Christmas music.
• sideshowkat (also on livejournal) uploaded an awesome amount onto box.net (note to self, consider using box.net instead of zshare.net. It's so pretty!)

Some of my own personal favorites:

• Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)
  I only wish I could have gotten tickets to go see them when they were here in Pittsburgh...
• New York Philharmonic - Carol of the Bells
  More orchestral music, but Carol of the Bells is my most favorite classic Christmas song.
• Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas
  The one everyone knows and there's a reason for that!!
  Mariah Carey - Jesus Oh What A Wonderful Child
  Mimi gets double because I used to have her Christmas cd when I was a kid, and you know what? It's still my favorite Christmas cd. I still remember how ridiculously skinny she looked on the cover.
• Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip - O Holy Night
  New Orleans jazz musicians with their take on O Holy Night. It's beautiful.
• Robert Downey Jr. - River
  Got a problem with that? He's IRON MAN!

Add your own in the comments!

I really really can't wait for Christmas. Gotta love the Holidays. (By the way, Happy Hanukkah everybody! It's the second day! The menorah painted on the Fence told me so.)

"I Love The Nightlife"

Let's go old school.

Song: "I Love The Nightlife (Disco 'Round)
Artist: Alicia Bridges

There are some nights where you just need some good disco music. Tonight is that night for me. And what's better than one hit wonder Alicia Bridges? Everyone has heard this song at one point or another, there's no way you haven't, but damn, I love this song. No joke, I am dancing in the hallway to this song right now. Like, right as I type this. At 4 am. Very suiting no?

I've got to boogie!

My Two Favorite Things

are videogames and music so it's a wonderful thing when they're put together. Like every good asian guy, I keep an eye out on game trailers and get ridiculously hyped up for games. If you watch TV you might've seen this trailer for Assassin's Creed.

And I was pleasantly surprised by the song choice. None other than Teardrop by Massive Attack. It's such an odd dreamy song. I first heard it ACTUALLY through a cover (or as they like to say "a song we wish we wrote") done by the greatest band in the history of bands. Incubus. It's a live recording but still AMAZING.

btw Michael and I started a new blog, it's gonna be on whatever the hell we feel like, so expect a lot of gaming related things. Check it out at http://dingiblog.blogspot.com

BOO It's raining in DC tonight

Song: Bran-New Lovesong
Artist: The Pillows
Album: N/A
how dreadfully gloomy.

The Cake is a Lie

On October 10th, Valve released it's gaming trifecta of goodness inside what is revered as the Orange Box. One of those games, Portal, manages to include one of the best songs ever. Very cleverly written and amusing to gamers and non-gamers alike, it essentially tells the story of a poor artificial intelligence named GLaDOS and her final thoughts of your progression in the game. Gamers rejoiced as almost no other ending could have fit this game as perfectly. The song itself has a catchy tune and enjoyable lyrics that will tickle your funny bone.

One thing I'd like to say first is that if you want to enjoy this song in its full glory, you need to play through the game Portal (takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete the entire storyline, fairly short for a game). After that the song gives you an exponentially higher amount of joy and satisfaction. For those of you who haven't played the game are listening for the first time, I'll provide a quick synopsis

**Spoiler alert for those who haven't played Portal yet**

Basically you are a cyborg in a test chamber who has to complete a myriad of puzzles involving portals. Narrating and watching your every move is a highly intelligible AI named GLaDOS, of whom has a very sadistical and evil, yet robotic attitude and nature. The entire time GLaDOS offers "delicious cake" to you as a reward for completing a puzzle. All the puzzles are solved with something called the portal gun, which basically allows you to shoot 2 portals at the wall, an orange and blue portal. If you go in one portal, you come out the other. This creates really neat situations like infinite loops. Near the end of the "exercise course" you find out that GLaDOS is trying to kill you, and you manage to get away and use the portal gun to escape from the underground facility and destroy GLaDOS.

**End of spoiler**

And now here it is, Still Alive as performed by Ellen McLain, the voice of GLaDOS.

Breathe Me- Sia

I love this songg...another sad-ish song. It's one of those hopeless, helpless songs. The beauty of sadness. 'Breathe Me' was used in the show Six Feet Under. The video for this song is really crazy.

The Scientist-Covers

I'M BACK...i haven't post forever. But I've decided to do a new entry before all my old ones. =p

Okay so I was listening to Coldplay-The Scientist. Love that song. It's such a sad song. And the video just kinda makes it a little sadder. But I was trying to sing it by myself in my room, and i realize I can't sing so low, so i wanted to find a cover by a female singer.I end up finding out that Natasha Beddingfield did a cover of it and so did Avril..which i can't find. But a singer called Johnette Napolitano also did a cover of it. Natasha Beddingfield's cover is more Indie...i like to think. And then Johnette's is more...goth-y. At least that's the vibe I get, see what you think. I still prefer Coldplay, no one sings it as heartfelt as Chris Martin does.

On a side note...go to the Coldplay website and look at the video under 2007 November. It's a bunch of PhotoBooth(Mac picture taking app) pix linked together..it's kinda cool.

Ps: what ever happend to Daniel Beddingfield?