Monday, September 22, 2008

New Music: More Killers

The first studio track from the new Killers' album is finally out in the open. Unfortunately, all that's out at this second is a lo-fi copy, but it gives you a good idea of what the song's like. The live videos of "Spaceman" were intriguing, but far from their best work, but this new song reminds of "Hot Fuss"'s best moments. It's HF's hi-fi, synthy, bombast with "Sam's Town"'s ambitious scope and sweep, but without ST's borderline pretentiousness. It's a best of both worlds compromise, even if the drums scream "electro dance song" just a little too loudly. The song's got a huge heart though to make up for however ridiculous it might be.

Human - The Killers

Thursday, September 18, 2008

New Music: Jack White and Alicia Keys' James Bond song

The much-hyped Jack White and Alicia Keys duet finally made it to the internet today. It's not quite what I expected... Jack White tried to take his messy, rambling, experimental, White Stripes style, then replaced his usual set of instruments for the traditional James-Bond-theme-song orchestra, threw Alicia's vocals over the top of it, and this acid trip of a song is the result. It has brilliant moments, weighed down by the completely aimless randomness of what surrounds those moments. Somebody will make an amazing cover or remix of this song one day.

Another Way To Die (Feat. Jack White) - Alicia Keys

I'll say this much, though-- it blows Chris Cornell's "Casino Royale" theme song out of the water.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Remixes: The Killers vs Muse

I found a video mashup of "When You Were Young" and "Starlight", and it's... not great. It's a perfect example of a "good failure". It's a great idea, but the audio levels are off and the samples aren't handled very well. So, if you know remix things, consider this an idea for a challenge to go out and make this collaboration work, because there's a lot of potential hiding in this video.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Music Videos: New Rachel Yamagata

Rachel Yamagata's long-awaited (for four years) second album is finally coming out in a few weeks, and now we have a first single. It's called "Elephants", and it doesn't quite fit in on "Happenstance", but it's unmistakably Yamagata's work. It's much more serious and doesn't focus on the giant hooks the way that "Happenstance"'s best songs did, but she's got enough talent to take herself this seriously, so it works. Here's hoping the rest of the album is as good.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Good Unknowns: Sipo

Audioclash's Myspace got a friend request from a band called Sipo. They're a producer's band, focused on realistic-ish sounding electronic music that's miles better than what I usually get in my inbox. They're so under-the-radar at this point that I could only find one video in all of Youtube that has anything to do with them. It's a video of the drum takes in the studio on the recording of their upcoming album, "The White Rose". The real way to get into their work, though, is to go to their Myspace and listen to "In Skin", because it's fantastic.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Music Videos: Sia's "Soon We'll Be Found"

I think I've officially decided that Sia is now my favorite source of weird music videos. You can always count on her to come up with some crazy-ass surreal video experience that you've never seen before. Her latest effort is her shadow puppet epic "Soon We'll Be Found".

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Music Videos: Elbow's "The Bones of You"

I doubted anything would top "Grounds For Divorce", but this single and video comes dangerously close.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Live Music: Broken Social Scene

"It's All Gonna Break". San Diego. 8/22/08. Fucking perfect.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

New Music: Jenny Lewis' "Next Messiah"

Today, Jenny Lewis released the latest video in her sorta hilarious Youtube series in which Ben Gibbard keeps half-stalking her and bribing her with balloons to hear songs from her upcoming new record. This video keeps the Ben-related skit to a minimum, and jumps straight into another "Acid Tongue" song called "The Next Messiah". "Messiah" is completely different from AT's title track, this one being more soulful and upbeat and playful. It's a huge step-up from "Acid Tongue"'s somewhat disappointing and unfinished-sounding studio version, but still miles behind the phenomenal live version of "Acid Tongue". Enclosed: "Next Messiah", followed by the awesome live "Acid Tongue", followed by more Ben Gibbard's balloons.





Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Music Videos; Oasis' "Shock of the Lightning"

The video for my favorite post-"Morning Glory" Oasis song has just showed up on Youtube, and visually, it's an acid trip worthy of "Champagne Supernova". If you're also one of the fans loyal enough to still love them after all the bullshit, then you need to take five minutes out of your day to watch this, because it's really exciting work.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

More As Seen On TV: Decemberists on "Mad Men"

WTF? A 2000s indie-sounding rock band on a 1960s period piece? Unexpected, but nice. A lot of people were annoyed by it, but I thought it was cool. If I were ever to direct a period piece, the music would be purely anachronistic from start to finish. Here's "Infanta" featured on the opening of "Mad Men":

Monday, September 1, 2008

As Seen On TV: Plastic Bertrand

Summer's done, and we're back full time. Finally!

Anyway, "Gossip Girl" might be the only show on television that can put a 70s French pop song in their ads and it seems cool. "Ca Plane Pour Moi" has gotten tons of attention lately from being in that commercial, and they deserve it; the song gets trapped in your head like no other. And say what you will about that hilarious piece of trash show, but the people over there pick some amazing songs to feature. Here's the song+lyrics.