Stereogum's new video series invites both established and up-and-coming indie rock artists to perform in a stripped-down, acoustic setting. Watch, embed, and shout out in the comments.
It's hard to pin down a standout from Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy -- a collection of covers lovingly rendered by an all-star cast of Mark Mulcahy admirers -- because they are, after all, the songs of Mark Mulcahy, the prodigious songwriter behind Miracle Legion and Polaris. That said most things Thom Yorke stand out, and his rendition of "All For The Best" is no exception. Yorke put a glitchy post-Eraser spin on Mucahy's world-weary tune with the help of the occasional guitar, live bits of percussion, and the vocals of his little brother Andy. (Hearing the two harmonize on "watch my brother cutting grass outside, sitting on a porch he told me it's a long way to go before we can rest, but it's all for the best" is worth the listen alone.) The track's video will have its off-line premiere at the Mulcahy benefit show at Music Hall Of Williamsburg this Saturday (as for the album, proceeds go to Mark so he can carry on writing these gems while supporting his children in the wake of his wife Melissa's passing), but you can view it on-line today over at rollingstone.com. There are no Yorkes, instead we're walking with a modern couple in a shady then surreal Lewis Carroll world, stalked by a hobo Cheshire Cat and walking through disembodied doors to you'll-have-to-watch-to-find-out.
In other Yorke news, his new 12" is out in three days, and his contribution to the Twilight sequel's soundtrack is expected to be confirmed today.
Posted at 1:44 PM by amrit in
Tags: Andy Yorke | Mark Mulcahy | Miracle Legion | Polaris | Radiohead | Thom Yorke
latest by Nick
Watch Sunny Day Real Estate's Reunion Gig • The audio's not great, but these clips offer an excellent view of SDRE's secret show at Hell's Kitchen in Tacoma, WA the night before the band launched their reunion tour. Sing along at YouTube.
latest by parker young
The Dr. Who-and-Blondie nodding single "Uprising" is the linchpin to Muse's The Resistance, Bellamy getting bellicose about the prospect of a brave new world you only thought we were sidestepping with the election of Obama because, whoa, political songs can be about other countries, too. The video has the trio blasting their anti-mind-control fight song from the back of a pickup truck in a post-apocalyptic world (you know it is so because of the welding machine sparks everywhere). Things burn, a giant teddy bear tramples the town, Muse will be victorious, and Glenn Beck approves but only because he doesn't get it.
Continue reading New Muse Video - "Uprising" ...
Posted at 11:52 AM by amrit in
Tags: Muse
latest by Queezy F Baby
Hush Arbors, aka James Toth/Six Organs Of Admittance pal and occasional Current 93 player Keith Wood, is releasing Yankee Reality next month. It's his second full-length for Ecstatic Peace, but his extensive back catalog stretches from loner-psych CDR to the more recent fully banded material. The new tracks, dedicated to Link Wray, include some of his most propulsive work: Listening to closer "Devil Made You High" for the first time, I thought of Dinosaur. Reading the liner notes, turns out J Mascis co-produced the 10 songs, contributes drums to one, guitar to two, and mellotron to another. More generally, Wood's backed by a three-piece pack of multi-instrumentalists: They're the ones who tear things up on "Devil." Its chaotic video was directed by Wood with Lizzie Oswell: You gets lots of fuzzed-out grass, flowers, and trees, along with a subliminal bloody mouth.
Continue reading New Hush Arbors Video - "The Devil Made You High"...
Posted at 11:03 AM by brandon in ,
Tags: Hush Arbors
latest by hansi
Lately Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter have been turning up in new and noteworthy contexts -- like going helmetless in clubs. And soundtracking films. But none are as new or noteworthy as their previously reported decision to license their likeness to the careful custodians of likenesses at Activision for the premiere installment of DJ Hero, the game that lets you tweak knobs and cue beats like a bona fide celebrity DJ. (If you Guitar Hero junkies were tired of people ragging on you for imitating guitar playing by pressing buttons, get ready for some imitating-pressing-buttons-by-pressing-buttons meta-ragging.) Actually it's more than just their likenesses the robots have lent Activision; in addition, Daft Punk have allowed the game to depict their stage sets and created 11 exclusive mixes that blend their bangers with -- according to this trailer's roll call -- Queen, Boogie Down Productions, No Doubt, Gary Numan, N.A.S.A., Beastie Boys, Hashim, and Young M.C. Let's watch it while thinking about the embarrassing situations we can have the unlocked robot avatars DJ. I'll start: bar mitzvah.
Continue reading Preview Daft Punk's DJ Hero...
Posted at 10:52 AM by amrit in , ,
Tags: Daft Punk | DJ AM | DJ Hero | DJ Jazzy Jeff | DJ Shadow | Grandmaster Flash
latest by Diego
But before they started, though, Jimmy Kimmel did his best half-assed Kanye-at-the-VMAs impression. The show took place 9/16 at the Hollywood Bowl, where the Furs were opening for the Killers. (Thanks for the tip, Danielle.) The "Pretty In Pink" cover -- complete with pink lighting -- could clearly be seen as a tribute to the recently departed John Hughes, but just as likely (and more sadly), it's also possible that it's the only Psychedelic Furs song folks there to see the Killers would immediately recognize. But maybe I'm just saying that because the person who videotaped it can't take their camera off Brandon Flowers.
Continue reading Killers & Psychedelic Furs Do "Pretty In Pink" In L.A....
Posted at 10:03 AM by brandon in
Tags: Jimmy Kimmel | Kanye West | Psychedelic Furs | The Killers
latest by huh
Psychedelically minded Scottish acid-rockers Aliens are supposedly influenced by Sergio Leone and Serge Gainsbourg, Brian Eno and Brian Wilson, Larry David and Ol' Dirty Bastard. (Basically, they're influenced by everything.) What people tend to bring up more often is that the trio features ex-Beta Band members John Maclean, Robin Jones, and Gordon Anderson, aka Lone Pigeon, who writes the Aliens' material. They're finally releasing Luna stateside (it's been out for a year overseas), the followup to 2007's Astronomy For Dogs, which cements their obsession with heavenly bodies and outer space. With the word "Luna" out there, you'll also want to invoke Dark Side Of The Moon, except this side's bright and carries a little Yellow Submarine with it. You'll notice all of this in the animated video for the appropriately titled "Sunlamp Show."
Continue reading New Aliens Video - "Sunlamp Show" (Stereogum Premiere)...
Posted at 4:47 PM by brandon in ,
Tags: Aliens | Lone Pigeon | The Beta Band
latest by Arthur
Why Can't Juggalos And Maggots Just Be Friends? • Who knew there was such a rift in the horrorcore community? Fans of Slipknot (Maggots) hate fans of ICP (Juggalos) and vice versa, but these groups really should join together and create a unified Army of Awful. The more you know.
