When we gave warm but tempered thumbs up to Tokyo Police Club's Elephant Shell, we made note that "somehow bassist/vocalist David Monks sounds more like Colin Meloy than he has previously, especially on 'Tessellate' ... Maybe it's just the way he says 'tessellate.'" Or maybe it's just that he says "tessellate" at all. Colin does love big words and sibilance. On this remix by Tom Campesinos! of, yes, Los Campesinos!, the strum and chirp of the instruments are darkened and distorted, revealing Monks in a more Reznor-esque revelry. Yeah, we're massively exaggerating, but still there is a contrast.
So, what's up guys? How's it going? We ask because we are bored care. The internet is so bad at being the internet today. But we are trying and casting a wide net (reading TMZ) and we are learning. For instance! Rihanna has been nibbling on Chris Brown's drumsticks at KFC. But wait, there's more. And it's more up our collective alley: When the reigning queen of mostcoveredsong of '07 starts paying it forward, and that forward paying involves M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes," and that "Paper Planes" involves full-on mimed gunshots by the Barbadian beauty like she just doesn't care, it stands as proof that Rihanna and you-dancing-in-the-mirror-before-going-out have at least one thing in common.
That came from a recent stop on Kanye's Glow In The Dark tour. We give it a B+.
As we may have told you, much of the Odd Couple will make you fall asleep. Some won't, though, and "Going On" is definitely one of Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse's best post-St. Elsewhere jams. Fittingly then, the Wendy Morgan-directed video for the track is a booty shaking dance-a-thon, but not like "Run"'s Timberlake-hosted TV dance party. This one's set in Jamaica with cooler hats, smoother moves, and more dust. Plus, it stars a real-life Magritte door and some kinda love story.
When not talking about Vampire Weekend and vaginas or performing with his Islands, Nick Thorburn's teaming up with Royal City-associated songwriter and solo artist (and current Islands guitarist) Jim Guthrie as Human Highway. The duo has a forthcoming full-length, which they reportedly recorded in one week at Guthrie's place in Toronto. You can stream two songs at Human HighSpace: Toe-tapping whistle-while-you-steel-drum tune "The Sound," and "Sleep Talking," a sorta reprise on Modest Mouse's "Sleepwalking" reprise on the tradition of '50s/'60s prom dances. Also, Thorburn isn't the only busy Human Highway member: Guthrie is currently working on a follow-up to 2004's Now, More Than Ever. The twosome plans to play "sporadic, one-off North American dates." No word if they'll flesh things out with any additional hands, but regardless: If these tracks are any indication, we're looking forward to it.
Although it's not any sort of epic transformation, the half-the-title-track to Viva La Vida or Death Will Come Before This Album Title Is Over, posted earlier this week, is at least a good cut and successful rut-buster. Who knows what the rest of the record holds as far as that's concerned, but while Chris Martin has little to no skill when it comes to naming things (see: album titles, children), you can be sure he is well versed in the use of multiple screens and stage lights to achieve an overdramatic aura. So if you want to see Coldplay's sparkly new Eno-isms translated for the arena -- and if you live in Japan, Europe, or North America -- 2008 is your lucky year: it is World Tour Time. If you can't make it to the free shows (which, btw, you can enter to win now), here's how to help make the lads a little richer via these confirmed commitments for the North American leg of Falsetto '08:
Before "Handsome Dick" Manitoba lost his mind and threatened to sue Dan Snaith a few years ago, the Canadian electro psychedelicist was named after one of his homeland's provinces. Now, splitting the difference, he's named after an animal that resides there. Fuck you, "Handsome Dick." Anyhow, the Natural Geographic friendly video for Andorra's "Irene" splices together footage of other furry, feathered, scaled, slimy, and ribbed (yes, ribbed) creatures who you might come across during a hike or swim.
UPDATE: Sorry, the newness of is unclear. But we hadn't seen it, so maybe you haven't either? Either way, it's worth a watch because it is Caribou and therefore awesome.
Earlier this week we posted a couple MP3s from Gregor Samsa, the multi-city minimalist collective that shares members with Kayo Dot. Now we turn our gaze toward KD. Led by Toby Driver and Mia Matsumiya, the NYC sextet just released their third album Blue Lambency Downward on Isis man Aaron Turner's Hydra Head records. The opening, title track is a mysterious 10-minute meandering of bells like crickets, bursts of patient guitar, jazzy drum fills (kept to a toppling spaciousness), electronic pulses, and chiming vocal melodies. It kinda feels like a psychedelic boat trip piloted by Ghost, albeit it with bigger "pop" tendencies.
This new Travis Peterson-directed Ariel Pink video for The Doldrums tune "Gray Sunset" involves more than a little luxurious hair flitting, Ariel vamping, '70s dissolves, golden lighting, and sundry blouses. We're told it was shot in Chinatown, Los Angeles a few days ago, but the location is less important than the fact that AP is the new Davey Havok.
Or Heather Locklear. He should do a frame-by-frame remake of this video to accompany his Madonna impersonation.
Extra Life's Secular Works arrived unknown in our mailbox and quickly found its way into regular rotation. The New York group is fronted by guitarist/vocalist Charlie Looker, who spent six years in ZS, has played with Mick Barr, was a...
Unless you were born with one of those silver spoons, you likely work a day job, sneaking time for your own business when not taking care of someone else's. You're not alone. Brandon Stosuy finds out how our favorite indie...
Three years ago Apologies To The Queen Mary established Wolf Parade as major indie players. Since then, though, the core members' various other projects and collaborations, including Handsome Furs, Frog Eyes, Swan Lake, and Sunset Rubdown (especially), became the main...
Every week, we dig in the archives for videos that we find noteworthy, memorable, or just unbelievably stupid. And then, Jon McMillan breaks 'em down for you. This week: Dog Police, nobody knows who you are!
Take our ink-stained hands and join us at the OldStand, where Jon McMillan goes to remind everyone what an honest-to-goodness music magazine is supposed to look like. The late, lamented, Hoon-led Blind Melon shows up on the cover of RS...
Not all of Stereogum's favorite sounds conform to what folks expect us to cover. In this space, resident Bananafish fetishist Brandon Stosuy focuses on bands, albums, singles, and villages in Sweden that may otherwise pass by unnoticed. This installment's eclectic...
Last month longstanding Athens-born E6 crew Elf Power released their ninth album In A Cave on Rykodisc. They recorded "Mutiny" during the Cave sessions. It didn't end up on the final tracklist, but you can hear it in this week's...
