Monday Music Roundup
Okay, this could be the most entertaining site I’ve come across in a while. Gizoogle.com will translate any website into “jive” (and yes, the silver rims spin on the real page header). So for example, my recent post on Tom Luce becomes the following:
“…A fizzy gutted tha apartment of lead wannabe gangsta Tom Luce (izzy is truly one of tha funky assst & sincerest guys you’ll meet) cuz I put gangsta rap on tha map. They is appear’n at a benefit concert tomorrow nizzay, W-H-to-tha-izzich I am pleazed ta report is sold out. Tom Luce appeared on tha KFOG Spendin’ Show on Monday n tha response ta they upcom’n shizzow has been phenomizzles.”
See, I never knew I had all that in me. Think of all the fun we can have with this site. Aweshizzle.
THIS WEEK’S TUNES:
Cartoon Music For Super Heroes
Albert Hammond Jr.
Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. cuts into solo mode with a thoroughly enjoyable upcoming album Yours To Keep. While there is still a Stroke-ing feel to this collection, it is definitely NOT a Strokes record. Someone has been listening to a lot of Beach Boys, and the retro melodic inflections throughout this album are a very nice touch. Guest artists include fellow Stroke Julian Casablancas, Ben Kweller, Sean Lennon, and Jody Porter (of Fountains of Wayne), so the flashback goodness is not totally unexpected. The album comes out October 9th in the UK on Rough Trade Records, and in Europe & Japan later this year. We Americans must wait until further, unspecified notice for our release. You can stream three more tracks from the album on his MySpace to sate you.
Crazy (Patsy Cline, live cover)
Fiona Apple
On 6/28/02 Fiona Apple played one of her covers-filled sets at the Largo in Los Angeles. I can only find a middling-quality version of a few songs, but man, does she work them. Two Patsy Cline covers – this bang-up sultry version of “Crazy” (originally by Willie Nelson), and “Walkin’ After Midnight”, as well as “Cry Me A River” (Julie London) and “Half As Much” (George Jones). If anyone knows where I can get a clean copy of this or other Largo sets, please let me know! In the meantime, here are three other songs from a 2003 Largo show, including a Buddy Holly cover with Jon Brion.
She Does
Locksley
This unsigned Brooklyn band (originally from Wisconsin) rips through song after song of spot-on 1960s rock, but with a gritty punk edge that recalls the Libertines or even some of the aggressive recent riffs of the Arctic Monkeys. It’s sloppy guitars, handclaps, and harmonies throughout, and they’ve even got a McCartney lookalike (pic, right). Their MySpace has several other tracks for download. They’ve opened for everyone from John Vanderslice to OK Go to The Dandy Warhols, and they score points with me for their spirited reinvention of the best of the British Invasion. A fun romp, from their upcoming Don’t Make Me Wait album (out Nov 21, preorder coming next week on their website. In the meantime, get their 2005 EP here).
So Weird
Veruca Salt
Stereogum posted this mp3 a few weeks ago, reminding us all that Veruca Salt (well, part of Veruca Salt — Nina Gordon left to pursue her softer side in music) is still here and ready to rock and squeal and yowl your socks off with their particular brand of kickass girl rock. Released a few weeks ago (on the Sympathy For The Record Industry label), IV picks up satisfactorily where Resolver left us 6 years ago. It’s a solid, sexy effort overall, and I’m glad to see them back.
No Complaints
Beck
I am so glad that we have Beck to do what he does and fill the uniquely funky & diverse musical niche that he occupies. I am not aware of any other albums that sound like Beck’s ambitious productions. On this thrumming acoustic guitar jam with the standard trippy lyrics about spaceships and factory radiation, Beck is back in fine style. When the mothership comes, he will be ready to kick it with the Mr. Roboto sounds and garbled electronic affects that he is so fond of. The Information comes tomorrow on Interscope.
I have a rager of a head cold today and I’m thinkin’ that staying up til 2:30am last night certainly didn’t make me feel any better this morning. I am considering inserting a home IV drip of orange juice, or maybe buying Emergen-C in bulk.
Wish me luck and be patient with updates. I have a lot to say, but little clarity of mind with which to say it.
Name: Heather Browne
Get well soon, eh? And are you going to the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah / Architecture in Helsinki show this Saturday in Boulder? It’s worth the 7 hour drive out for me. See you there maybe.
Dainon — October 2, 2006 @ 4:18 pm
Is there (another) problem with EZarchive? I haven’t been able to DL anything from anyone who uses them for two or three days.
Lester Z — October 2, 2006 @ 4:19 pm
Dainon, perhaps. I have a lot of shows this week and being sick . . . I just don’t know. But it is sure to be great.
Lester – it seems to be working for me, although EZArchive is, indeed, fickle.
heather — October 2, 2006 @ 4:32 pm
Your blog rules! Always a good surprise!
AFR — October 2, 2006 @ 4:50 pm
oh, my boy beck. thanks for that. He can pretty much do no wrong, musically, in my book.
deb in sf — October 2, 2006 @ 4:59 pm
Great stuff!
To be fair, though, shouldn’t the “Crazy” cover be credited to Willie instead of Patsy?
Anonymous — October 2, 2006 @ 5:44 pm
Yes, anon. Fair enough. Blame the headcold.
heather — October 2, 2006 @ 5:50 pm
good stuff today, sez my girlfriend.
thanks
dave and cyndi (www.on-your-side.blogspot.com)
dave — October 2, 2006 @ 7:13 pm
dear heather;
I’m trying with no avail to put out all my ‘Largo’ connections for a clean Fiona copy.
I worked every Jon Brion night for 3 years and, they were exhausting; but his guests rocked. We use to do this ‘theater in the round’. 4 artists singing acapella to their favorite cover or their fav. song. Fiona was on with Rickie Lee Jones and E from Eels and someone else. It was brilliant.
BTW have you heard her cover over ‘Father and Son’ with Johnny Cash?
mickeyitaliano — October 4, 2006 @ 1:22 pm
ilovealberthammondjr.
allison — October 4, 2006 @ 11:14 pm