2/15/2010

I heard about the The Phenomenal Handclap Band last year on NPR's All Songs Considered, while they were doing their coverage of The SXSW Festival. I remember the name of the band but if memory serves me correctly I don't think I was all that impressed. I went back and I was correct, I didn't really dig them. They are sort of all over, which some might like, but I found it sort of irritating. However, when I heard this song I instantly had to share it. The song Baby is like drinking a cold spiked lemonade in a 1970's soul bar with 90 degree heat and no fan. It's tinged with sadness, yet posses that ultra coolness attitude with a lyric like "Baby I could rule the world\with a girl like you\on my arm." I may not like most of their songs but this one is a definite keeper. P.S.If you don't know what either All Songs Considered or SXSW are then I suggest you click on the links and find out. You can thank me later.
The Phenomenal Handclap Band - Baby

Yeasayer(pronounced /ˈjeɪseɪ.ər/) is a band that seems to be getting a lot of love from the music blogs lately and for a good reason. The band recently released their second album Odd Blood and I would also predict that it will be a big contender for the best of lists at the end of the year. The album is filled with a great blend of electro pop catchiness, and experimental psychedelic elements (think Animal Collective's album Merriweather Post Pavilion only less trippy sounding.) I had the song Ambling Up in my iTunes for a while now just sitting there. I listend to it once but that was it, not realizing that there was this fun tune hiding among the others. Sometimes that's just how it happens. Now I can't stop listening to it or suggesting it to everyone. It makes me wonder what other gems got buried?
Yeasayer - Ambling Alp

Mash-ups have become insanely popular in the last few years, most notable was The Grey Album: The Beatles vs. Jay-Z by DJ Dangermouse, which opened the flood gates for anyone with editing equipment, time, talent and an ear for music to make a mash-up. Although not always great, it makes for some really interesting listening. Like Dangermouse, we have a new contender who is trying to make a name for himself. DJ Tom Caruana just recently entered the mash-up album arena with his amazing mix of one of the most revered bands in rock music, The Beatles, with one of the most revered acts in hip-hop, The Wu-Tang Clan. If you are considering passing this up because you already heard The Grey Album, I would suggest that you don't. The album does a great job of intertwining the two artists. Unlike The Grey Album Caruana has used original Beatles tracks along with the members solo work, covers, and interviews. All this makes it a unique and diverse back drop over the crisp flow of the Wu's lyrics. I think it's safe to say that it's going to give not only mash-up albums a run for their money but also the best albums of 2010. I choose this track Not because it's the best off of the album, but because it made me laugh a lot. Where else are you going to hear O.D.B.'s wacky "Got Your Money" over The Beatles chilled out "You Never Give Me Your Money"? If you want to download the mix though you might have to do some searching (Don't worry I found it in two seconds.) I'll give the link where I found it, but it might not last forever. The original site has already taken it down, but there are plenty of other ways to get it.
Wu-Tang vs. The Beatles - Got Your Money

Just like in past entries, I am going to reveal something about my personal musical taste. I have never really liked the music of the 80's. As far as I am concerned the only good music the come out of that decade was some of the one hit wonders, and The Cure. Everything else is just sort of blah sounding to me. However, my faith in 80's music has been restored. In my travels I came across a bunch of really good 80's songs that I like a lot. Most of the bands I had never even heard of, which makes sense since I didn't like that style of music. I still can not say it's my favorite type of music but, it's not the last on my list anymore. With that being said let me share a few of my findings with you.

Tottaly captures that 80's sound. Very scifi.
Berndsen - The Perfect Human (No Longer Available)

The USM stand for Unstoppable Sex Machine! Great 80's indie band. Technically this was released in 1989 but the sound is 90's indie rock all the way.
Carter USM - Sheriff Fatman

Sort of creepy and dark but cool.
Kate Bush - Get Out Of My House

Just a flat out amazing band. Fun and very catchy.
The The Proclaimers - Throw the 'R' Away

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