New Vid: Yeasayer - O.N.E.

by Dan | posted March 11, 2010

“O.N.E.” from Brooklyn-based experimental band Yeasayer, with its reggae-splashed beat and a chorus about counteracting heartache, might possibly be my favorite song of 2010 (so far). It’s the second single from their sophomore LP “Odd Blood,” and the new—and extremely cool—music video hit the web earlier this week.

The new video centers around a Morpheus-inspired mystery man who purportedly oversteps his metaphysical boundaries after wandering into a hipster-crowded warehouse party. In the background, Yeasayer performs in what appears to be an illuminated steel cage wrestling ring. After losing a game of “prism checkers,” our protagonist is literally bounced back into reality. In retrospect, the whole affair could pass as a scene from “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test”—if Michael Mann directed the film version.

I enjoy this video because no two people will interpret it exactly the same. And I think that’s the point. Genius.

The lyrics of the song burrow deep into memory, begging to be played and replayed ad infinitum…

One’s
Not
Enough

I won’t stop till I’ve given you up
here, right as I am
it’s hard having fun
it’s much easier said than it’s done

the room’s still now when I’m lying
cause the wet of the night has gone dry
when they ask to behave
I paid them no mind
now I doubt if I’d have been so kind

hold me like before…
hold me like you used to…
control me like you used to…

NO!

you don’t move me anymore
and I’m glad that you don’t
cause I can’t have you anymore

but I thought you should know
you don’t move me anymore
and I’m glad that you don’t
cause I can’t take it anymore

    DELOREAN: Live in Concert! (sort of)

by Dan | posted March 10, 2010

In October of last year, Eristoff Vodka, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bacardi and an innovator in the online music festival space, teamed up with Spanish synthpop crew Delorean to create a first-of-its-kind remote concert experience, and was it ever epic.

To promote their amazingly beautiful EP “Ayrton Senna,” the group played an eight-track set for Eristoff Internative’s webcast-only festival, which encourages fans to interact with the band via their website before and after the performance.

What I failed to realize until just now is that during said concert, Delorean played 2 previously unheard songs (Stay Close and Grow) from their upcoming album “Subiza,” set to drop worldwide on April 20th.

Sidebar for serendipitous discovery: An album release date of 4/20/10 corresponds with the 25th anniversary of the day the film “Back To The Future” wrapped filming (4/20/85). Coincidence, Delorean?

Moving on, both tracks feature the bands familiar sun-soaked synth notes and vocal samples—a combination that was used to perfection on EP standout “Seasun”. Closing out the set is “Grow,” which begins with an inviting guitar loop and then transitions into a more structured dream pop anthem, with layers of carefully composed electronics giving the track its infectious energy. “Stay Close” is similarly excellent, a more chillwave-sounding tune with a profoundly blissful vocal harmony.

Check out the set list along with the video playlist below.

DELOREAN
10.04.09
Eristoff Internative Festival

1. Seasun
2. Stay Close
3. Moonson
4. Big Dipper
5. No Name
6. Deli
7. As Time Breaks Off
8. Grow

Pretty awesome, right?

This was also rather enjoyable –

Google-translated Marketing Slogan from Eristoff’s YouTube Channel:

“When the full moon extends his dominions, Eristoff wolves leave their dens in search of unforgettable nights. Howl, pokes his nose and keep alert your instinct of a wolf. Something may be happening nearby. And if you’re a wolf ready, you’ll soon find it.”

    New Releases 2010: Updated!

by Dan | posted March 9, 2010

Alright folks — here’s an updated list of 27 30 new record releases for the spring/summer 2010 that I can’t wait to get my headphones around; complete with my “ranking of anticipation,” of course.

Pretty impressive stuff, especially given that this year has already graced us with fantastic new music from Yeasayer, Vampire Weekend, Two Door Cinema Club, Hot Chip, Delphic, jj, Toro Y Moi, and several others.

Simply put, 2010 kind of rules. And here we go…

April
4/13 MGMT — Congratulations (10)
4/20 Delorean — Subiza (5) [*pushed back from 3/15]
4/20 Javelin — No Mas (18)
4/21 The Radio Dept — Clinging to a Scheme (12)
4/27 Small Black — Small Black (24)

May
5/4 Broken Social Scene — Forgiveness Rock Record (T-6)
5/4 Minus the Bear — Omni (T-6)
5/11 The National — High Violet (8)
5/18 The Black Keys — Brothers (14)
5/18 LCD Soundsystem — This Is Happening (T-2)
5/18 Band of Horses — Infinite Arms (3)
5/25 Stone Temple Pilots — Stone Temple Pilots (23)
TBD Big Boi — Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty (19)
TBD Drake — Thank Me Later (17)
TBD Nas and Damian Marley — Distant Relatives (26)

June
6/1 Jack Johnson — To The Sea (13)
6/7 The Drums — The Drums (16)
6/8 Blitzen Trapper — Destroyer of the Void (22)
6/15 Gaslight Anthem — American Slang (21)
6/22 Stars — The Five Ghosts (7)
TBD Miami Horror — Moon Theory (T-11)
TBD Mark Ronson — Title TBD (27)

July and Beyond
7/13 M.I.A. — /\/\/\Y/\ (T-11)
8/3 Arcade Fire — The Suburbs (4)
8/24 Ra Ra Riot — The Orchard (9)
9/14 Interpol — Interpol (1)
Summer Cut Copy — Title TBD (T-2)
Summer !!! — Title TBD (15)
Summer The Walkmen — Title TBD (20)
Summer T-Pain — Title TBD (25)

    New: Late of the Pier - Best in the Class

by Dan | posted February 25, 2010

You gotta loosen up
You gotta concentrate
You gotta play it right
You gotta fall in love
You gotta live the dream
You gotta warm it up
You gotta speak your mind
You can always change

    “I’m with the band.”

by Dan | posted February 2, 2010

Kris and I – along with Katie and Ashley – got to hang with some of the band members at a recent Solid Gold gig @ Lincoln Hall (Chicago) back on 1.14.10.  After every show I’ve seen there, the band has come out and mingled with the crowd, which is awesome.  Here are a few photos from that evening along with an old one I dug up from a Girl Talk show back in early 2007.

One of Minneapolis’ finest: Zach from Solid Gold

Steve (aka STV SLV) from The Hood Internet

Dan + Blake [right] at Girl Talk @ Stonefly Brewery (Milwaukee) 3.23.07

    New Vid: Miami Horror - Sometimes

by Dan | posted January 11, 2010

Check out the new video for Miami Horror’s EPIC single ‘Sometimes’— #14 on my Top 75 Tracks of 2009 list.