Blog-achella X: Reunited And It Feels So Good

Kind of fun moment today at work... got to talk Olympics for a second with Bruce Jenner, which is pretty fucking cool when you think about it... we did NOT however talk plastic surgery.

In other Olympic news, I covered The Dead Weather as much as I'm gonna here, so go read that and whatnot...

Next up, David Guetta and his cheesy Eurohouse with American R&B star dressing. I will pass, as seeing him mime behind the decks while Akon sang on some New Year's Eve show a couple months ago would have been hilarious had it not been so pathetic...

Continuing on the Brooklynchella tip are MGMT, who I quite like and recommend... but there's really nothing new out there from them to post, so just go see 'em...

Speaking of wankers, Tiesto!

Which brings us to...

Faith No More



Who they are: I don't believe they are actually legally allowed to have Coachella without three dudes... Perry Farrell, Josh Homme and the ubiquitous Mr. Mike Patton. Without looking I can remember him being there with Peeping Tom, Fantomas, Rahzel and who could forget when he sat in with Sigur Ros and they did that Slayer cover. Fucking metal, man.

What they sound like: Are Faith No More a really funky Metal band or a really (fucking) Metal Funk band? Discuss...

Faith No More - Midlife Crisis (ysi)

What I think: I'm not nearly the Patton devotee that some of my friends are. Seriously, get a room. BUT I'd be lying if I didn't say that this looks kinda awesome...



That whole show is on the YouTubes, I highly recommend it. Made a believer outta me, anyhoo. Have a great weekend, foolz...

Blog-achella X: Those guys again? Well, at least they don't suck...

This is the third time today's band has played the big show in the last four years, so forgive me if I don't have much new to say about them...

Hot Chip



Who they are: A band whose career has actually proven to have some legs, unlike so many other blog darlings of the past few years... it's probably because, unlike most blog darling bands, they're good.

What they sound like: Four albums in, the Hot Chip sound is pretty well established... the new record stays with 4/4 rhythms for most of the tracks... the vocals certainly haven't changed and neither has the sexy/nerdi-ness...

Hot Chip - We Have Love (ysi)

What I think: I'm still in awe of the show they put on at the 'Chella in 2008, so you bet your ass I'm all over the Hot Chip. Woulda liked to give you video from that one, but all I can find on YouTube is crappy fan-shot video. So here they are from Glasto the year before, rockin' the live New Order mash-up...



Warms your heart to see a little nerd become a big Rock Star, don't it? I just wanna pinch his rosy little cheeks...

Blog-achella X: Starring Hippie Neighbor Dude

So Joe Buck just showed up at my office for some reason or another... I made him do some play-by-play while I made copies. Okay, that's a lie... but I wanted to...

I guess some of you might be surprised for me to give the thumbs down to SF House producer Kaskade. I mean, the dude was a fixture at OM Records for a while and we love the OM. But have you heard what he's putting out lately? He's gone the way of the fromage... stinky-style...

Speaking of stinky... Coheed & Cambria's Prog Rock bollocks seem to have gotten even more bollock-y since the last time I heard them. Which is pretty freakin' bollock-y... so check out where that leaves us...

Devo



Who they are: I'm sure you know who Devo is, so instead I will tell you a true story here... For many years I lived off Melrose and had these neighbors I called the "hippie couple"... dude had long blonde hair and little round glasses, wife was even more hippie-looking... the kind of couple you imagined would eat a vegan, locally-grown dinner, watch some art films and then have 22-hour Sting-style sex every night. Nice folks. Knew 'em for years. Then one day, Dude is having a little yard sale out front. I ask him what he's been up to... said he was just out of town doing a show with his band. I had no idea Hippie Neighbor Dude was in a band. HOW CUTE! So I asked him what his band was called. His answer... Devo. Me: "Wait, you mean, like, 'DEVO' Devo?" "Yeah, Devo Devo" What the fa-heck!?!? Who knew?!?! The show he'd just played was a festival in Japan in front of 80,000 people! (Dude was in fact David Kendrick, a non-original member, but still... he was selling some records at this yard sale and he pulled out a Devo album and there was his damn face on the back.) Needless to say, I was flabbergasted. But that's L.A. for ya... you never know when the hippie dude who lives next door and drives a 12-year-old Civic is the drummer for fucking Devo...

What they sound like: They sound like Devo, dumbass...

Devo - Girl U Want (ysi)

What I think: I like Devo, but they're no Oingo Boingo, if ya know what I mean...



But seriously, you'd kinda want to kick yourself if you didn't catch a least a little glimpse of the flower pot hats live, wouldn't you? I know I would...

Blog-achella X: In which I do, in fact, go there.

Time to start another week of hilarity, and awaaaaaay we go...

First off we have Gossip who used to be called "The" Gossip... which I thought was better. So screw those guys...

Dirty Projectors... well, they have one really good song, these Brooklyn-ites... and damn there are a lot of Brooklyn bands this year... and here it is...

Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move (ysi)

That is quite good indeed. So, checking out the album you'd expect more of the same... and you'd be wrong. This stuff is borderline unlistenable. Most of the singing is done by this dude with a high-pitched voice that I think I'd like to strangle and songwriting is super sloppy in the way that Indie Kids find so precious. Interestingly enough, just now looking at the first customer review for Bitte Orca on Amazon, that person likes every song on the record BUT this one. Because that person is retarded like their mom was Sarah Palin. You bet your ass I went there...

Major Lazer gets no love from me because Diplo is part of it, and I've pretty much never liked anything Diplo's ever done except for the first M.I.A. record... that whole Baltimore booty bass/Baile Funk business... guh. This one he does with Switch, who used to be okay before he went all Fidget House... and the result is... a Dancehall Reggae record, because of course it is... miss it. But DO NOT miss...

2 Many DJs



Who they are: Two brothers who are also in the band Soulwax, but you probably knew that.

What they sound like: Along with our last post, Z-Trip, some of the real founders of the whole mash-up thing. But they've certainly taken it to the next level of lunacy... peep this ridiculous mix they did for BBC Radio 1 last year. The first hour is 420 intros of songs all mixed together... peep the tracklist here... and then the second hour, is, well... they'll explain, just listen...

2 Many DJs "Introversy" Set - BBC Radio 1 - 2/2/09

What I think: Crazy shit. And the live show looks off the hook. Check particularly the video portion where the album covers come to life...



I think if you miss that, you're even more retarded than if you liked the Dirty Projectors record. ZANG!

Blog-achella X: 2 Birds + 1 Stone = FATALITY!

One of my all-time faves today (and a good guy to boot)... but first...

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes are a bit too much on the folk-y and jangly side for me, so I will walk on past...

The Raveonettes and their Punk/Pop thing are kind of the definition of "meh" for me. Don't love 'em, don't hate 'em...

I have no idea what Les Claypool is up to these days, and quite frankly I don't care. That said, I would be lying, however, if I didn't say that I loved Primus back in the day and got my mosh on to them live on more than one occasion. So in celebration of that, here's some super-old school steez...

Primus - John The Fisherman (ysi)

I also have no idea exactly what famed director John Waters is doing at Coachella. Anyone have a clue? DJ? Spoken Word? Big Gay Cabaret Revue? I would be lying, however, if I didn't say that I loved Serial Mom...

Now, The XX is a super-hot-shit blog darling band these days, and if I was trolling for Hype Machine hits, I would post them... but honestly after listening to a half dozen songs on their Myspace, I have no idea what the hype is about. I find their Electro-Pop to be quite pedestrian, especially compared to some of the acts we have already covered... which brings us to...

Z-Trip



Who he is: In my opinion, the most fun DJ in the world. Oft-imitated... poorly. Seriously, any joker with a copy of Serato and a collection of Now That's What I Call Music hits thinks he can rock it like Z-Trip, but I've seen some of these A.D.DJs and they can all fuck right off. "Look at me! I played 8 bars of 50 Cent and went right into Barry Manilow! I'm so fucking ironic and clever!" Fuck you. Fuck you right in the laptop, dude. Firstly, you're doing it wrong, and secondly fuck your Ed Hardy hoodie and your stupid haircut and the weak-ass hipter standing next to you while you play making vaguely gang-related hand signs every time you change songs. Did I mention fuck you?

What he sounds like: See the video for a short bit of the Z-Trip experience... but here I've got for you a new remix he did for another Coachella act, The Dead Weather. They're the new group featuring Jack White and VV from The Kills and now I've covered them, too. Two birds/one stone, bitches! Also, the remix features a verse from acclaimed white rapper Slug from Atmosphere...

The Dead Weather - Treat Me Like Your Mother (Z-Trip Remix ft. Slug) (ysi)

What I think: Miss it at your own peril...



Plus, he's quite famous for bringing fun guest stars onto the stage with him at the 'Chella... I've seen Beck, Chester from Linkin Park and Busdriver join in the fun, and I only saw him a couple of the times he played there. So keep that in mind... and have a great weekend...

Blog-achella X: It's That Girl From That Group

Today is another one of those days where, well... let's just be blunt here. Saturday is not so hot until you get to the big names. This day has a weaker undercard than a women's boxing pay-per-view. To wit...

Aterciopelados are a band from Columbia that once again make me wonder... why doesn't Rock En Espanol have more Espanol in it than just the singing? I mean, if the dude in Nickelback was singing in Spanish, would that make it any better? No, it would not... Not to unfairly compare these guys to Nickelback, because that would be a low blow... but I'm sure you have no idea what the fuck I'm on about get my point.

Old Crow Medicine Show are exactly the old-timey fiddle & banjo style Country that the name would imply. HE'S A-PICKIN' AND I'M A-GRINNIN'! YEE-HAW!

I really hated Tokyo Police Club the last time they played and I'm sure I'm not going to change my mind about that, for I am old and set in my ways and GODDAMMIT IT'S DRAFTY IN HERE! CLOSE THAT WINDOW!

Mew are one of those really off-kilter Scandinavian Pop acts and I can't decide if I like them or not... which means I don't like them enough to dedicate a full post to them. Listen yourself and decide...

Dirty South is some big floor Progressive House bollocks...

And Camera Obscura are a Scottish Pop act that are just a bit twee for my tastes... because I am manly and rugged and such and have no time for your quirkness. I SAY GOOD DAY TO YOU!

But after all that, here's some awesome in the form of...

Sia



Who she is: I guess since solo album #3 is, as the kids say, about to drop, we can stop calling her the "girl who sang with Zero 7". What do you think?

What she sounds like: Same great voice, surprisingly happier music. Really, for someone who's as complete a goofball as Sia is, the heaviness of many of her tunes has always seemed odd. Here's a chick on stage telling corny jokes until she busts out with "Breathe", that cheery little number that reminds everyone of nothing but death, death, death. But check it out, she's gone to the disco...

Sia - You've Changed (ysi)

What I think: I'm sure there'll be plenty of mope-alicious goodness on the new album, but I hope there's a bit more from where this came from, too. I think it'll help her continue to build her own name. That said, here she is doing a Zero 7 song, because that's how I roll...



And because she'll totally do that one and you'll get goosebumps. Deal with it...

Blog-achella X: Don't Sleep on the Polkster

Hey, all... finally back. I like to take an extra day on President's Day, a sequel of sorts, in which I celebrate James K. Polk, Chester A. Arthur and Millard M.F. Fillmore... the under-appreciated ones. Don't sleep on James K. Polk, Indie kids... without him there'd be no Texas, therefore no Gorilla Vs. Bear, and therefore no one at all to fellate Animal Collective on a daily basis. So he should be your HERO!!! Anyhoo, back to Saturday at Blog-achella...

The next act on our list is L.A. producer Flying Lotus, who I just featured back in September, so I'm not gonna give him another whole post. Because (and I think I've mentioned this before) I am lazy... but maybe if you clicked, I dunno, here, perhaps... you might find something interesting.

Next up is Bad Lieutenant which is the new band of Bernard Sumner of New Order. And it sounds pretty much like New Order only more with the jangly guitars. But after the awful, half-assed performance Bernie moped through the last time New Order played the big show... and man did he not want to be there... I can't recommend it live...

How about Scottish band Frightened Rabbit? Nah, they're not very good. So...

Bassnectar



Who he is: A hippie-lookin' dude from San Francisco who makes decidedly un-hippie-ish music. Thank goodness. Because otherwise he would be met with nothing but SCORN!

What he sounds like: Big fat Downtempo beats that cross into Dubstep and Breaks territory when he feels like it. Now, I know I normally give you originals, but I have a big feeling this remix will be the hit of his set...

The Pixies - Where Is My Mind (Bassnectar Remix) (ysi)

What I think: Looks like a good time. Very similar vibe live to Pretty Lights, only with even bigger visual accoutrements...



And then I come up with a witty line to sign off with until tomorrow...

Blog-achella X: CBR Me ASAP!

Do you believe it? Two good acts in a row on the Coachella poster? Geddafuckouddaheah! I kid, I kid... but no skippies today because next on the list is...

Corinne Bailey Rae



Who she is: The young British songstress that, with her debut album a couple of years back, exploded onto the scene so hard that the Grammys even got some on 'em.

What she sounds like: Smooth soul with warm, organic instrumentation. The new album has a bit of a Zero 7 feel to it with the arrangements... which is, if you're scoring at home, a fielder's choice good thing...

Corinne Bailey Rae - Feels Like The First Time (ysi)

What I think: I love it and think she'd make an amazing early evening, second stage act. Just as it's getting cooler out, a nice chill set before you go get all sweaty with Hot Chip or get your brains blasted out (in a good way, mind you) by Faith No More...



Plus she's a cutie... Have a great weekend!

Blog-achella X: Searching For Robbie Van Winkle

Yo stop! Collaborate and listen. Ice is back with a brand new edition... of Blog-achella. And another big list of skippies. But I even came up with a second way of justifying it. Look, there's like 40 bands playing and if you're lucky, you'll catch a dozen of them and they still won't even all be full sets. So, if I just said everybody is good, am I really doing you a service? HELL NO, I AM NOT! So...

To directly contradict myself, we start with Australian band The Temper Trap, whose debut record ain't half bad... kind of a Brit Rock sound and you know we love that around here. So since I wasn't able to post yesterday, here's a bonus for ya...

The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (ysi)

But then you get some Rock En Espanol from Zoe, and... we will pass...

Craze and Klever are possibly two of the greatest Turntablists out there, and it promises to be good shit, but they played last year so read that post because I am lazy. The music is still up for you to grab, so it's a Double Bonus day! What is this, Casino Morongo?

Shooter Jennings, son of Country legend Waylon, comes next. I wanted to like him, I really did. And he's got some interesting stuff going on with his band Heirophant. But when the Rock parts of the songs started, the first word to pop into my head is Nickelback. This is a word that should never pop into my head... EVER!

The Almighty Defenders are a group which consists partly of the members of Black Lips, which may be the worst band I have ever reviewed for Blog-achella. Don't think I need to say any more on that one...

And every year there has to be one South Bay bar band on the bill playing a Punk/Ska combination and this year it's someone called RX Bandits... and the crowd at Hennessey's rejoiced.

And then you have Porcupine Tree, who've been around seemingly forever and have been unlistened to by me for just as long. I should have kept it that way...

So finally, another new one to me...

Pretty Lights



Who he is: One Mr. Derek Vincent Smith of Colorado, accompanied live by a drummer dude.

What he sounds like: Downtempo Electronic beats with lots of super-chopped samples (see if you can recognize 'em!) and big, fat synth sounds...

Pretty Lights - Hot Like Sauce (ysi)

Homeboy gives all his stuff away for free, because he's cool like that (and because of all the samples, me imagine), so hop on over to his website and get you some!

What I think: Me likey. Me likey a lot. And the live show looks fun, too... it lives up to the name!



And in case you're wondering why the Vanilla Ice reference... I have no freaking idea...

Blog-achella X: The Pride of Wasilla

I'm about to start Saturday's lineup by blowing right through a cool half dozen uncool bands. I know it may make me look like I don't, you know, like anything ever... but I look at it this way (and I'm pretty sure I repeat this mantra every year)... would I pay US American dollars to see any of these bands perform on their own? Not in this recession, bitches!

Saturday begins with Frank Turner and the always reliable Irish Music/Punk Rock blend... which is fine when you're drinking Guinness at Molly Malone's...

Next we have Steel Train from New Jersey, a band with a Heavy Metal name that plays some "meh" Pop/Rock whatevs... they're currently touring opening for Tegan & Sara if that gives you the idea.

How about Beach House from Baltimore? It's some decently nice shoegaze-y stuff that gets brought down by some sub-par vocals.

Girls is a rarity... a bad band from San Francisco. Once again, everything is fine until people start singing. Now, both Girls and Beach House are serious blog darlings these days which makes me wonder... don't anyone care about the vocals any more? Or are these blogs so concerned with annointing the next cool thing that they don't worry about little things like the ability to sing? Because guess what... most bands that are really popular, like in the real world, tend to have good singers. Or a least mostly on-key ones. Of course, Taylor Swift single-handedly renders that statement false, so I'll just shut the fuck up now.

Band Of Skulls are a British band that kind of sounds like the White Stripes if you added a girl singer. But then on another song they reminded me of Jet, so...

White Rabbits are a pretty interesting, heavily percussion-based Indie Rock band that almost makes the cut but the songs get a little samey after a while. You guys like your floor toms. We get it, already...

And then comes the pleasant surprise. The one I didn't expect that made me take notice. I love those...

Portugal. The Man



Who they are: A band from, of all places, Wasilla Fucking Alaska. Hard to believe that the same place that spawned Sarah Palin actually produced anything of any worth to humanity, but God works in mysterious ways, doesn't she? Don't get me started on that retard Palin either, because just don't...

What they sound like: I read that they change their style from record to record, and I'm not sure how radically because I'd never listened to them until today... but the one they got going now is just some solid modern Pop...

Portugal. The Man - Work All Day

What I think: I think I can get behind that. Looks okay live, too...



Bonus points for calling their album The Satanic Satanist. I'm sure Sarah Palin would love that...