AZLTRON

I have moved!

2010-02-03T06:58:00.000-08:00

This is the final post on the good ol' blogspot page for AZLTRON. But fear not, life goes on and I have moved over to my own domain at http://blog.azltron.com where you can still read my musings and take part in my music sampling.

This is not the end, but the beginning!

Spoon Stream "Transference" on NPR

2010-01-17T05:47:00.001-08:00

Austin Texas' indie darlings Spoon are poised to release another dose of their captivating musical spell with their new album "Transference" out next Tuesday (Jan 19th). Spoon is one of my favorite bands of all time, so there's no doubt that I'm extremely excited that they have a new album coming out. This time though, there is no major producer coming in and polishing the edges off of this raw and choppy collection of songs. Singer/Guitarist Brit Daniel must have caught the producing bug after producing White Rabbit's latest album "It's Frightening". That said, they still have their minimalist/experimentalist hats on and deliver on all the goods that you'd expect from a Spoon album and then some.

All of those classic spoon jams that we all love, from "The Way We Get By" to "My Mathematical Mind" to "Don't Make Me a Target" have all flirted with the dynamic combo assault of piano and guitar. On "Transference" the guitar and piano parts are intertwined like never before and will have you reveling in the pure delight of Spoon sound. Those looking for the ultra-sheen polish of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga won't find it here, but Spoon never has been about high gloss production, it's been about heart, and pitch perfect arrangement and instrumentation all of which "Transference" has in spades.

Listen to the full album plus an Interview on NPR

Spoon - Written in Reverse

I'm With Coco

2010-01-15T11:22:00.000-08:00

No doubt you've heard the controversy about Jay Leno bumping Conan out of the way so he can return to the Tonight Show. I am not pleased with this at all. I have never liked Leno. I am a big Conan fan and feel that his humor and show has so much more to offer than his contemporaries. Every character on the show is priceless. The writing is always top notch and what I really like about Conan is that he really seems authentic onstage. When faced with with the smarm of old timers like Letterman and Leno and the hammed up antics of Kimmel, Fallon, and Ferguson, Conan is the obvious choice for late night supremacy. It seems like after next week's shows that Conan might be replaced on the tonight show, but not forgotten. This guy Mike Mitchell started a facebook group that has been making some serious waves and no doubt shows us that Conan, wherever he lands, be it NBC, FOX, or the moon he'll be alright.

The Stills - I'm With You

Interviewing Absofacto (Jon Visger from Mason Proper!)

2010-01-02T20:44:00.000-08:00

I recently had the chance to catch up with the Michigan Native and Mason Proper front man Jonathan Visger about his Tagalong EP under his new solo moniker "Absofacto" and other happenings in his realm.

Why the name change from Bug Lung Baby to Absofacto and what does Absofacto mean?

A few people independently told me it would come out "Bung Lung Baby" when they said it quickly, haha. I soured on it myself after a while and decided to go with the other name I was kicking around at the same time as BLB, Absofacto. It's a misspelling I've seen of "ipso facto." It caught my eye and is abstract enough to feel like it fits a little better with how abstract my music can be. But knowing me, I'll probably change it fifty more times before all is said and done.

Was “Hall Pass” written while you were in high school?

No, but shortly after! I went off to college for a semester before leaving to focus on music, and right after quitting I came up with the original seed for "Hall Pass." I usually have no idea where my ideas come from, and this is definitely in that category.

What is the oldest song that you’ve completed for the Tagalong EP?

"Hall Pass," hands down. Most of the others were written after Mason Proper was in full swing.

What was it about these songs that made allowed them to survive so long?

I would call it "strength of character." There were other old songs I thought would accompany these, that had stuck around for an equally long time, but when I went to actually work on them it became clear my love affair was over. I just didn't like them anymore, or they hadn't aged well. I think these were just really sharp, strong ideas with enough substance to them to go back and explore again years later and still feel fresh.

Your lyrics and songwriting seem very literary and if they are lyrically sparse they always seem cinematic, do you have any plans to write a book? Or perhaps score a film?

I'd love to score a film, and have done some "fan scoring" of my own. I wrote the Mason Proper song "Life's Cornucopia" specifically to sync up with the opening credits of "To Kill a Mockingbird," for instance. It's on YouTube somewhere. As far as writing a book goes, it's something I'm interested in, but I still haven't mastered making great albums or anything, so I know I should just focus and keep trying to improve at music. It's probably more realistic that I might write a few short stories someday and post it on the internet or something. In the meantime, I'll just keep dreaming up the stories and writing songs as a little window into them.

While we’re on the topic, who are some of your favorite authors and film makers?

I got into Haruki Murakami this year and am just reading one after another. I want to read everything he's done. Edward Gorey is another big influence, the way he just gives you glimpses into situations without ever laying it all out. It's no secret I'm an insane David Lynch fan too. I think there are a lot of parallels between him and Murakami, actually. These guys are the biggest influence on my lyrics at this point.

You recently worked with film maker Adam Netsky on your video for “Paper Crane”, what was that collaboration like?

I had been friends with him and his older brother Josh for years, and always was really impressed with the videos he made for Josh's music. I called him up and told him I had no money but wanted to make a video, because I knew he was used to making cool things happen on low budgets. He told me that if I could get myself to his house in Rochester, NY we'd make it happen. So I went, and we set up some green tarps in his kitchen and he told me how to walk around, and when to look at empty spaces and stuff, and then I went home and he and his family built all this stuff and finished the video. I love the handmade feel of it. He did this kind of "The Fountain" inspired thing, doing all the visual effects by filming real things up close and overlaying them.

The albums that you’ve released by yourself have these great new covers by “The Silent Giants” how did you get hooked up with that creative entity for your artwork?

I didn't know them personally, but had always been a huge fan of their artwork. They were the only guys I knew of where I literally liked everything they did, so I knew I couldn't go wrong. I contacted them and pretty quickly we became friends and realized we were really on the same page with it all, and they started making me beautiful artwork. It really ties it all together, I think.

You’ve just released another new song “No Power”, are you planning on releasing a full solo album any time in the future?

My plan right now is to always have a new single in the works, and release it when it's done. This way I can obsess over every little detail, have the immediate gratification of sending it out into the world, and have that energy feed back into the next one. It just fits really well with my way of working, and will keep me evolving quickly. If I tried to make a whole album by myself at this point, nobody would hear from me for two years, and then I'd just check into a mental institution and never finish it anyway.

Any word on a new Mason Proper EP or album?

Album, for sure. We're working on it, but it will be done when it's done. I'm really proud of what we did with Olly Oxen Free, but I want to step it way, way up this time around, and I'm willing to be patient to make sure it works out that way.

On a perfect winter day where do you find yourself?

I'm a perpetually cold person, so preferably somewhere on Mercury.

Mason Proper - Life's Cornucopia

For More info check out Absofacto's Website!

AZLTRON Christmas Mix 2009

2009-12-22T21:13:00.001-08:00

Taylor Hollingsworth - Christmas Blues

Snowden - White Christmas

Bright Eyes - Blue Christmas

Sufjan Stevens - That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!

Sally Shapiro - Anorak Christmas

I'm So Look You - Last Christmas (George Michael Cover)

Julian Casablancas - I Wish it was Christmas Today

The Walkmen - Christmas Party

AZLTRON BEST OF 2009!

2009-12-22T14:25:00.000-08:00

Another year, another year end list. Crazy that this is the third I've compiled. Has it been three years already? Crazy! Anyway here is my list of the top 30 albums of the year. Granted, I am just one man and I may have not had a chance to listen to every album ever made this year. I am speaking from my bubble of experience so if your fave isn't on here, it doesn't mean it sucks, it just means maybe I haven't heard it. Or that I didn't like it. Ha! Well get to those mp3's and enjoy! Never say I never gave you anything.
30. Moby - Wait For Me

This album was a return to the heightened emotionality that makes Moby songs like "God Moving over the face of the water" instant classics. Moby stumbles into some of his familiar potholes of opaque lyrics and repetitive song structure but he continues to move in positive directions.

Moby - Shot in the back of the head

29. stellastarr* - Civilized

stellastarr* returns with their third album sans major label and with plenty of well written songs. The band takes a lo-fi old school approach opting to forgo a lot of the gloss that stamps most modern rock releases. stellastarr* doesn't have any out of the park home runs here, but the sheer enthusiasm the band exudes on this album makes it worth a listen.

stellastarr* - Graffiti Eyes

28. Digits - Hold it Close

Digits combine electronic beats and mellow vocals and synths with all kinds of cut up acoustic and electric guitars. You could call it synth-pop, you could call it electro-acoustic, but mostly it's just good solid music.

Digits - You're Going to Age

27. Katsen - It Hertz!

Cats keyboards and Kitch are what Katsen is about. Their album of synth-pop, "It Hertz" rides the border of seriousness and satire and along the way the group shows their diverse influences from Kraftwerk, the Cure, Kate Bush and others. "It Hertz" is an unabashed guilty pleasure.

Katsen - Where Nobody Can Find Us

26. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs returned this year to a mountain of hype and turned in a few good singles and some slower keyboard tinged numbers. The ample reverb and slick production heralds a marked difference in the bands sound. Some hailed it as a beautiful transformation, like a butterfly out of a cocoon, from raw to polished, but others just recognized it for what it was, the group aping the popular girl fronted new wave band that others have been doing for years. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs got to the party a little bit late, but at least they kept it going.

25. Little Dragon - Machine Dreams

I was just talking about those female fronted new wave bands that have been at it a while and here we find one, Sweden's Little Dragon who fuze unique vocals, electronics and a Bjork-like sensibility. Sounding like bossanova meets ambient electronica funk "Machine Dreams" is a laid back psychedelic groove fest that works its way up to a few freak outs. The only downfall is that the tracks tend to get a little repetitive in their structure. Perfect for a mixtape a long drive or a night on the town.

24. Broken Spindles - Kiss/Kick

Joel Peterson of the Faint returns again with his side solo project Broken Spindles. In this adventure he works on combining his good lyrical ideas with his good sound ideas and produces some of his best Broken Spindles songs yet. The vocals are still pretty monotone but the songs feel a lot more cohesive than past releases. If anything the album feels like good ideas that could be expanded upon.

Broken Spindles - Introvert

23. Fischerspooner - Entertainment

Fischerspooner marks their return to music land with their third album "Entertainment" and the album is less dancefloor ready and more heady than their previous releases. Nonetheless there are some cool experiments to be found here and a slight return to the approach that helped their first album make a splash to begin with.

Fischerspooner - We Are Electric

22. Danger Mouse & Sparkle Horse - Dark Night of the Soul

Technically this album was never released, but that didn't stop it from getting out there. With input from David Lynch and guest spots from the Flaming Lips, Black Francis, Iggy Pop, Julian Casablancas and more it's bound to have something for everybody. Well everybody looking to have a bit a dark good time that is.

Danger Mouse & Sparkle Horse - Revenge (Featuring the Flaming Lips)

21. Crystal Method - Divided By Night

America's preeminent techno producers return to the keys and the decks to bring you a relatively diverse album with tons of guest spots from the likes of Peter Hook (New Order) Emily Haines (Metric) and Matisyahu. The album hits in ways that "Legion of Boom" only hinted at. The Crystal Method is getting better cleaning up their sound and finding ways to still sound like themselves while adapting themselves to the times. Above all they are proving themselves to be a member of an elite group, techno producers from the 90's who are still relevant today.

20. The BPA - I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat

Norman Cook's latest incarnation in a seemingly endless list of pseudonyms and band names. This project continues his focus on song structure over the top of his well known big beats. There are a couple stutters (literally) on the album, in particular one about a toad, but the album evens off with some mid tempo tracks and a few spectacular ones. Like the one featuring David Byrne AND Dizzee Rascal. Feels like a bargain huh?

The BPA - Toe Jam (Ft. David Byrne & Dizzee Rascal)

19. Lonely Island - Incredibad

At what point will pop and rap just give up and let the comedians take over the airways? Seriously with Tenacious D, Flight of the Concords and now the Lonely Island putting out releases that are just as strong musically as they are comedically poppers and rappers might want to look for a day job. But then again with nothing to make fun of, those previously mentioned groups might not have a career. Either way, this star studded affair features invigorating guest vocals from Jack Black, Julian Casablancas and Norah Jones in addition to all those SNL Digital Short Songs that everyone loves to sing.

18. Calvin Harris - Ready for the Weekend

Calvin Harris' disco stylings return with a tad bit more variety and arrangement. Bass pumps, synths soar, Divas sing about shoes and piano hooks will get stuck in your head. Is it as good as the first album? In spots. Is it better than the first album? In Spots. Is it worse in spots? Yes. Is it entertaining from multiple viewpoints all the way through? Yes. Get this for it's potential in your car speakers as you go out or on a road trip with your friends.

17. Little Boots - Hands

To continue with the streak of British synth pop is Little Boots, who writes songs so catchy that I'm willing to risk others' perception of my masculinity by listening to them. Seriously in a world where we can have Brittanys and Lady Gagas churned down our throats would it be possible to have one pop songstress who writes and performs all her own songs get popular in the states? Just this once? Please? No? Ok then, more for us.

16. Frankmusik - Complete Me

Completing the triforce of British synth pop darlings is Frankmusik, who has been teasing us with samplers, demos and EPs for what seems like forever finally released a full album. It didn't dissapoint. Although it was a little more polished and tame than what I'd expected, but this only enhanced the songwriting. Plus his music videos are entertaining.

15. Portugal the Man - The Satanic Satanist

Sometimes you just need some good old fashioned rock & roll. Portugal the Man has that in spades. Take that classic guitar led classic rock sound and update it with a bit of an alternative and r&b take and that's roughly what Portugal the Man has to offer up on the Satanic Satanist. Put in a pinch of a psychedelic touch and you're spot on. Every track exudes that classic 70's anthem feel that you'd expect from Bowie in his heyday. Plus they put on a great show .

14. Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper

Julian Plenti, for the uninitiated, is Paul Banks from Interpol in his solo vehicle. The album is filled with somber tunes that one might expect from the frontman of the well dressed NYC quartet but the instrumentation is a bit more varied and includes a horn section, acoustic guitar, and even strings. Banks does crank it up a notch for a few tunes and rock out on the old guitar, but the melodies and atmosphere of the quieter tracks are where he really shines.

13. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young

After looking at the Julian Plenti cover and the Julian Casablancas cover one can't help but wonder, "Which came first?" Surely the gents must know each other. Is Paul Banks mocking Casablancas? Or Perhaps they are both in on the joke. Perhaps it's just cool to have a dude sit in a room on the cover of your album, like in the Spoon "Transference" album cover. Either way, Casablancas' first solo outing is a fun romp through influence from The Doors, New Wave, even Flock of Seagulls. The album as a whole is pretty uneven, but the highs are pretty spectacular and earn the record a place on this list.

12. James Yuill - Turning Down Water for Air

Sometimes it's awkward for some artists to move back and forth from folk rock territory into electronic beats. James Yuill is not one of those artists. He assimilates electronic elements and beats into his beautifully written acoustic songs. Fans of the Postal Service or even derivatives like Owl City will find a lot to like here.

James Yuill - No Surprise

11. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight

Franz Ferdinand took a break after whipping out their second album "You Could Have it so much better..." and the break has done them well. While their sophomore album had some nice high points, it was too wired, too anxious, too spikey. With "Tonight" the group mellowed out and recaptured some of that timeless cool that made them ones to watch in the first place.

10. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

In their search to define themselves as something other than Air's back up band or the French Strokes Phoenix found a sound that they can truly claim as their own. "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" has elements that have marked their previous releases like the slightly roughed up sounds of "It's Never Been Like That" and the electronics of "Alphabetical" except this time it sounds like they were melted together and shot out of a canon. Wait, make that a Cadillac.

9. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - Outer South

Conor Oberst and Co. return with an even more egalitarian mix of songs where Conor doesn't even sing lead all the time. He lets his stalwart bandmates take the reigns multiple times and the songs really benefit from it. This feeling of brotherhood that must inherently be within this group really adds to the cohesiveness of the sound as well. When this band is cooking, they crank it up to 1000. Take a listen, I dare you.

8. Sally Shapiro - My Guilty Pleasure

There's no guilty pleasure for me here at all about Sally Shapiro's latest release. Everything about this release, from the ambient opener to some of the jazzy jams that erupt toward the end of the album is awesome. To this day I can't believe that I missed when this album came out over the summer. Dang you day job.

7. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk

Conor Oberst cannot get enough of collaboration. Uniting with M. Ward, Mike Mogis, and Jim James the quartet produced some of the finest folk-rock of the year. Avoiding nearly all the pot holes that "supergroups" fall into perhaps by making sure that they play all the parts on the album to keep them humble by pointing out their weakpoints. Which is ironic since there's not many weak points that you can find here. Like Oberst's Mystic Valley band this band oozes euphoria when they're all together. Oh, also they've got some bangin harmonies.

6. Muse - The Resistance

Muse's latest effort feels like bits and pieces of their previous albums glued together. The electro stomp of "Uprising" and radical Queen flourishes on "United States of Eurasia" wouldn't be out of place on their previous album "Black Holes and Revelations". "Unnatural Selection" right down to the track title could fit right in on "Origin of Symmetry". Then somewhere along the way an orchestra drops in on the band and things get really classically bombastic. The great thing about all this though, is that Matt Bellamy and company are so talented that they can take this rag tag collection of tunes and turn them into a masterpiece.

5. Echo & The Bunnymen - The Fountain

Echo & The Bunnymen rose from the ashes again this year to compile their best album in over ten years. Most critics will continue to write them off as shot, but The Fountain features a vigor and life that we haven't seen from the group in quite a while. Not only that, but the songs are tight and full of hooks and even a bit of play with their song structure. Don't expect another Ocean Rain, but to compare it to the 1987 self titled would be appropriate and I thought that album was criminally underrated. Which is how I imagine this album will go down too. That aside, The Bunnymen are back in a big way. Definitely one of the best of the year.

Echo & The Bunnymen - Think I Need it Too

4. Wilco - Wilco the Album

Those Wilco fans who felt there wasn't much to chew on with "Sky Blue Sky" sure got a mouthful of tasty layered Wilco on their latest release. From the opener "Wilco the Song" which is all about the comforts of listening to Wilco songs, to "You & I" featuring Feist, the album is full of equally energetic and expansive songwriting. Jeff Tweedy and Co. are having a blast and that translates even to the recording.

3. Passion Pit - Manners

Passion Pit delivered on their great expectations from their EP which was almost universally loved. The songs on Manners are sure to be the sugary Cafe Mocha to the processing center of your brain as they are covered in saccharine synths and freaky falsetto that are sure to wake you up and make you move. Even Corporate America is catching on.

2. Hockey - Mind Chaos

Hockey has some of the most fully formed classic sounding rock and roll I've heard in a long time. These chameleons have been paying attention, imbuing their tunes with flourishes reminiscent of The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Talking Heads and others. The next time you run into somebody telling you that no one makes good rock & roll anymore, make sure you throw this CD at them. Hard.

Hockey - Song Away

1. The Sounds - Crossing the Rubicon

The Sounds took a lot of risks with Crossing the Rubicon, opting out of a lot of the Kitch that was found on their previous album "Dying to Say this to You" and went for broke with honesty and earnestness. Kind of like how The Killers changed their sound with Sam's Town. The earnestness paid off in spades as there's not an unlistenable track to be found here. As much as it would make me feel uncomfortable to see sorority sisters singing their songs, I think The Sounds deserve some top 40 success.

The Sounds - No One Sleeps When I'm Awake

Peter Hook Performs with The Detatchments!

2009-12-19T19:49:00.000-08:00

Peter Hook of Joy Division/New Order fame recently performed with The Detachments to benefit the Salford Foundation Trust. Also there's a cool little New Order Tribute album coming out to benefit the trust as well. Here are a few of the tracks.

The Detachments - Perfect Kiss

Win Win Winter - Regret

Kites with Lites - Dream Attack

New Secret Machines! "Like I Can"!

2009-12-19T19:25:00.000-08:00

The Secret Machines are back with a snippet of a new single called "Like I Can". Like usual the songs' lyrics fit together like finely tuned gears churned forward by those pounding lock step drums, only this time around there's a string section carving out a melody. The full song is set to be released digitally in January with another track called "Terrible Light".

From what I can hear TSM is moving in a good direction. Their last album always leaves me feeling weird despite my wanting to love it. It has definitely grown on me though. In short new TSM = Great!

The Secret Machines - Like I Can

Tagalong with Absofacto (Jonathan Visger of Mason Proper)

2009-12-19T19:10:00.000-08:00

Jonathan Visger of Mason Proper has again returned under another moniker, "Absofacto", with a collection of old songs that clung on to dear life and were eventually completed. The collection features the quirky melodies and rhythmic crunch that we've come to expect from Visger. Be on the lookout for some bird calls and hallway bullies.

Also, there's a new video by Adam Netsky for Absofacto's song "Paper Crane". It's green-screen-alicious.

If that's not enough for you, Absofacto released another new song not too long ago that you can listen to here. in fact all his releases are available there under a pay what you want system. So if you want some more sweet Absofacto tunes shell out some much deserved cash for his tunes.

Absofacto - The Cat is out of the Bag

December AZLTRON Mix!

2009-12-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

It's December and I haven't posted a mix in what seems like forever. Deadlines, midterms, work and finals have been beating in my head for the past few months and have limited what I've been able to post. So I've decided to post a mix anyway even though I should be working on something else.

The snow has hit the ground and we need some tunes to motivate us to carry out our daily routines through the ice and slush.

The Golden Filter - Thunderbird

Pretty Good Dance Moves - Leave Me Alone (Featuring Bjorn Yttling)

The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Alan Wilkis Remix)

Arcade Eden - Black Light (I Haunt Wizards Remix)

Chromeo - Night By Night (Digikid84 Remix)

Sally Shapiro - Moonlight Dance

Pocket - Sampo

Toronto's Digits offer up some breezy Electro-Pop

2009-12-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Digits is Alt Altman, a Toronto native who combines electronic and analogue music stylings into pleasant laid back electro jams. If you paired Erlend Oye with the Junior Boys you might get something that sounds like Digits. I always feel when winter reels it's head around each year that laid back electro jams are the perfect thing to keep you warm. Digit's tunes hit that very spot for the beginning of the winter season.

Digits - You're Going to Age

Spilling the Ink with Red Robin Inker Ray McCarthy!

2009-11-30T11:19:00.001-08:00

By: Aaron Z. Lee

Ray McCarthy is a comic book inker known for his work on DC Comics’ “Adventures of Superman”, “Batman: Shadow of the Bat” and Marvel Comics’ “X-Force” and “What If?” books. After a hiatus from the comic book industry to go back to school, Mccarthy has begun inking regularly again on issue number six of the DC comic book “Red Robin”.

When did you decide that you wanted to work in comic books?

Hmmm. I didn’t start reading comic books till I was probably around 8 years old, but I did fall in love with the medium right away. I would say right around 8 or 9 years old. As I progressed from there, I started drawing my own little cartoons and comics for my family. You might say I had a “captive” audience.

Who were your heroes in the field of comic book illustration when you were growing up?

Without a doubt it would have to be Walt Simonson at the very top of the list. I actually corresponded with him by mail and he was always very supportive. It was great when I finally got my first big break into the comic book industry and one of my first conventions was working alongside him and his wife. Other illustrators I looked up to were Bernie Wrightson for his incredible ink work and Ernie Colon who had a style that wasn’t that different from Simonson. Both Colon and Simonson were slick and stylish and had ties with the commercial art and design industry.

What was your big break into the world of comic books?

I think working in the production department was my big break. Starting from a bottom department and getting to see the inner workings of DC really helped guide me and make connections I would need later on. Eventually I convinced Mike Carlin to give me a shot over Curt Swan and that helped pave the way to finally go freelance. When I was eventually given some covers to do over Travis Charest, that pretty much booted me into the comic artist arena. All of the sudden I became well known for my detailed work as an inker.

How would you describe the job of an inker?

Wizard magazine asked me this question and I still stick to my answer. Inkers are like the punctuation on a sentence. The sentence can stand alone, but the punctuation defines it and gives it clarity. Our job is to make sure that the penciller is shown in the best light possible, while at the same time helping out the story as much as possible. You want to really make sure that the pencils are clear and crisp (depending on the style) and also that perspective and lighting is given the right amount of detail.

What are your tools of the trade as an inker?

My tools are a Raphael brush size #1, a set of rapidograph pens, a jar of white-out, and a magic rub eraser. I also have many different circle and oval templates and rulers. Last but not least is my computer as most of the work nowadays is scanned and uploaded.

What is a day in the life of an inker like?

I wake up around 6:30am to get my kids fed and put on the school bus. Then I’ll drink a cup of coffee, have breakfast and catch up on the news. I start work around 8:30, and then I usually work till around 11pm at night and sometimes later. I’ll take an hour break here and there just to get away from the desk, but you’re talking long hours when it comes to freelance. You have to be disciplined and stick to your deadlines.

After a hiatus from comic books you’ve decided to take up inking duties on “Red Robin” how did this come about?

I scratched up some new samples and then traveled to New York City to visit the DC offices in person. I have more than a couple of friends that still work there, so I was able to get shown around. Previously I had called up some editors so that I was able to schedule my appointments all for one day. While I was there I ran into Mike Marts who was familiar with my work from years ago. He gave me a story in the upcoming Batman: 80 page Giant and then I got a break on the first cover by Marcus To. Mike and Janelle really liked what I did, so it was a matter of seeing if I could do this on a regular basis. Things worked out and I got offered the gig. I still have to see what Dexter Vines did on issue #7 to see what the difference was. I have no idea whether Dexter was just a short job, or whether they were considering him for this book also.

How has the industry changed since you last inked a comic book regularly?

It’s very computerized now. Everything I do is scanned and uploaded to a secure FTP site. I eventually want to play around and get a tablet so that I can try and digitize my inking.

Who is your favorite comic book character?

Now that’s a good question! This is really the first time I’ve actually sat and thought about it. I really liked the old Manhunter character and I think he wasn’t really handled very well. I also like the Rom: spacenight series by Marvel though that really dates me. Hellblazer by Vertigo has been a fun series, as well as Sandman. That’s really a tough call! There are so many interesting characters, and some haven’t had their full potential utilized yet.

Who are some of your favorite artists you’ve worked with?

Barry Kitson was great just because he was such a personable guy. He would give you the shirt off his back. If you are talking art, I loved the stuff I did with Travis Charest and also Jim Cheung had a really nice style on X-force.

Who are a few artists that you’d love to work with?

Adam Kubert would be a good one. Jim Lee, or Gene Ha would be a few others.

What advice would you give to aspiring comic book artists?

Be persistent. You need to have a thick skin and learn how to take criticism. (Not all of it is constructive!) Learn how to work quickly and efficiently as you’ll have some nasty deadlines! Don’t always take the direct route. Sometimes it’s great to get some other printing experience under your belt before approaching one of the big comic book companies. It shows you are professional and you can get published.

What is your favorite part about being an inker?

The freedom of being a freelancer is a really great perk. Also the comic book culture itself. I love the fans and the friends that I know in the industry. It’s really a great medium to be part of! There’s nothing like the excitement of a big comic-con with all of the fans and special guests. There’s so much to see!

The Brighton Port Authority - Superman

The Flaming Lips - Waiting For a Superman

Party Down with Arcade Eden!

2009-11-22T09:26:00.000-08:00

The UK's brother-sister duo Arcade Eden, Lawrence and Clare Welling, sound like a funky amalgam of The Ting Tings and Crystal Castles. Their jam "Black Light" is set for a December 7th release. If you're in the mood for some deer antler disco balls and some high waisted sparkly shorts check them out.

I just can't get over those sparkly shorts... is this a new trend? Am I morphing into a grandpa, overly concerned with dress of today's youth? Either way I'm eager to hear more from these two.

Arcade Eden - Black Light (I Haunt Wizards Remix)

Arcade Eden Myspace

Tahiti 80 are Buzzing with Activity!

2009-11-11T12:53:00.000-08:00

French band Tahiti 80 is set to release their fourth studio album “Activity Center” on November 24th. These feisty Frenchmen have crafted another euphoric pop masterpiece, rich with chiming guitars, twinkling keyboards and waves of pure fist pumping pop rock. From the opening track “24x7 boy” it’s clear we’re in for a bit of a changeup from their last album, 2005’s “Changes” as the band has opted to forgo the big beats that won them a spot on the 2007 FIFA official video game with their single “Big Day” and have steered towards a rawer live band sound. Don’t fret party-goers, there are still beats to bop along to, just pushed back in the mix slightly.

Tahiti 80 formed in 1993 in Rouen, France and is made up of vocalist and multi instrumentalist Xavier Boyer, guitarist Mederic Gontier, drummer Sylvain Marchand, and bassis Pedro Resende. Although they’ve been making music since 1993, Tahiti 80 first caught my attention with their 1999 single “Heartbeat” which rides along on a bubbling synth line and skittering beats that are perfect for a rollerskating rink. Their 2005 release “Fosbury” was another experiment in finely produced danceable rock songs with a thumping electronic twist and some gentle little folk songs peppered in to round out the tracklisting.

Once “Activity Center” gets rolling it really doesn’t slow down, like a horse chomping at the bit, Tahiti 80 plays potential singles one right after another. First it’s the contagious love tune “All Around” that wouldn’t be out of place on a montage video of people enjoying an afternoon at an amusement park. Then it’s their actual first single “Unpredictable” where Boyer laments over a woman in his life who is, you guessed it, unpredictable. The cut and paste animated promotional video for the tune featuring Boyer navigating the watercolored French countryside searching for his lost love accents the tune perfectly with its glittering crescendo and cheesy smirks and winks. Then it’s on to the guitar squealing “Brazil” that should get even the most rigid music listener tapping at least one toe. Following that the French quartet drops the beats per minute down a bit for the swaying slow song “Fire Escape.” Not wanting to lose your attention, Tahiti 80 quickly diverts you to the progressive funk of “One Parachute”. Following this slow growing number are a few tracks that are finely made but don’t stick as much as the earlier songs. It’s not until “Come Around” that the listener’s attention is grabbed again with energetic guitar riffs and a frenetic horn section as Boyer earnestly requests someone to “Come Around”. From here the album floats to its conclusion with the gently jangly “Whistle” before coming to a full stop with “Ear to the Ground”, a song that captures perfectly the mood of a lazy late afternoon walk through fallen leaves.

“Activity Center” distills both Tahiti 80’s precocious songwriting and raucous playing into one easily digestible package. There moments of pure melodic beauty and moments of absolute wall of noise bliss, but it never gets too far away from the cleanly produced songs that Tahiti 80 has become known for. My hypothesis for their newfound embrace of their live sound is that, like their fellow French band Phoenix, who also put out an excellent album this year with “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”, they grew tired of depending on programming and electronics for so much of their sound and just wanted to play their tunes. Tahiti 80 sounds like they’re having so much fun on this album, who could blame them for dropping the processed Casio beats and going live with their uplifting bubble gum pop meets pop rock tunes.

Tahiti 80 - One Parachute

Tahiti 80 - Whistle

Tahiti 80 Myspace

Exclusive Interview with Jimmy Gianopolis of Pretty Good Dance Moves!

2009-11-06T05:55:00.000-08:00

I had a chance to correspond with Jimmy from the up and coming electro dance group Pretty Good Dance Moves (PGDM) about the beginnings of his band their ties to Bjorn from Peter Bjorn and John and what's in store for their future.

How did you guys meet up and form "Pretty Good Dance Moves"?

We are old friends. Aaron had a ton of old vintage synthesizer and keyboards and actually lived below a recording studio. I picked up a few drum machines and learned how to use them. Together we started making music. I really wanted to get some female vocals on our tracks so I called my friend Genevieve and she brought it.

How did the name "Pretty Good Dance Moves" come about?

We started making music just for kicks and wanted a name that was "Pretty Good". So we came up with Pretty Good Dance Moves. Originally I think our intentions were to make basement thumping, electro screaming, punk anthems.... It didn't exactly end up quite there.

Why not name yourselves "Really Good Dance Moves"? Do you feel that there is value in being modest about your fancy footwork?

To be honest i dont think either of us can really dance with out trampling those around us. However, i think... I think... Aaron thinks he is a good dancer.

Your sound is a great combination between beats, pleasing melodies and heartfelt lyrics that's on par with fine work by artists like Dntel and Sally Shapiro, who inspires you to make beautiful music?

We are huge fans of Kraftwerk, Album Leaf and bands like that. Aaron and I both have a pretty thick collection of deep cuts that we enjoy regularly. I do like Jimmy Tamborello and what he does with Dntel. I watched this youtube clip of him showing off his gear in his home studio, pretty fresh.

Bjorn from PB&J appears on your newest track "Leave Me Alone" how did you get him in on the track? Is it true that he also plays keyboards in the band?

Ha ha, no he does not play keyboards in the band but he has a bunch of his bands gear stashed at my place here in Brooklyn and I did do a little tracking with his Casiotone MT-68. I ended buying one off of eBay for 50 bucks! I met Bjorn a few years back in some basement bar in the east village. We liked each others music i guess, we talked about collaborating together. About 6 months later I sent him some tracks and "Leave Me alone" was cut.

Your video for "Demons Dancing" looks like it was a blast to put together, what was the process of making that video like?

Kristen [Schaal of Flight of the Concords fame] dug the track so I asked her to be in the music video, that was the easy part. Nick was the hard one to convince. I saw him at some dive having some sort of dance off, it was weird, it was amazing! I told him I was shooting a video in a few weeks and asked him if he would be in it, he responded by saying; "I don't do videos, sorry." It took a little convincing and a few beers for him to say yes but he agreed to do it. We're buds now. They were both a blast to work with. I remember it was really hot out and I had to catch a flight about 3 hours after we all met up to shoot it. We shot it in about 2. I have tons of great footage that didn't make the video, super funny shit !

Do you guys get out and DJ at clubs? If so, what's the most enjoyable aspect of doing that?

We do actually. People pay us to play tunes we like, its amazing! We have DJ'd opening for bands that we dig like Crystal Castles and Raveonettes. It's definitely a perk, getting to spin at rad clubs.

Your live show on KEXP was compelling with all kinds of electronic and organic (Flute!) eclectic bells and whistles, are you planning a tour anytime soon?

Oh man! I flew in to Chicago a few nights before we did that and we had never performed live before, never even practiced really. The flute was a little joke between all of us, kind of like "lets see if we can pull this off"! Our live set is a lot different now but that was really fun and nerve wrecking! We plan on touring in the near future, we love playing for boys and girls.

Pretty Good Dance Moves - Demons Dancing

Pretty Good Dance Moves - Leave Me Alone (Ft Bjorn from PB&J)

Pretty Good Dance Moves Myspace

Make Way for Glide! An Exclusive Interview with the Dark Dance Rockers from Chicago

2009-11-03T05:19:00.001-08:00

It seems that Chicago is bursting at the seams with awesome new bands. Add to that list The Glide, whose new album "A Future for the Dead" is a celebration of everything sweaty, synthy, and rockin'. The band is made up of singer/guitarist Darius Lafkas, keyboardist/programmer Jason Little, lead guitarist Hector Segura, bassist Nick Lazas and percussionist Trevor Warren. Their core shaking bass, persistent beat and off kilter guitar solos are perfect for the Halloween season. Very Fun, but just dangerous enough to be exciting. I spoke with them about the origins of their band, their inspiration and their wildest moments touring so far.

Where does the name "The Glide" come from?

Darius noticed a function on a synth/keyboard called "glide" which controls the "slide" between two notes, like sliding on a guitar, or portamento. Later on I found this to be ironic since we became a really electronic oriented band.

How did all of you guys get together to form the band?

Most of us were friends in high school and played in different bands together.

You guys have a very dark dance rock sound, beyond obvious comparisons to The Moving Units and Muse what are some of your influences? and some we might not expect?

We actually never heard of The Moving Units until you mentioned it, they're pretty groovy though. Most of our relevant influences would range from old schoolers like New Order, Dépêche Mode and The Cure and more recently The Faint, Presets, Muse and Nine Inch Nails. Some of our favorite artists who may have not influenced the music directly would be Tom Waits, Pink Floyd, Phil Collins and Tears for Fears.

The Chicago music scene seems to be exploding with great new bands, how does it feel to be living in such a talented city?

It's great being in a city where the local scene actually means something to concert goers. We started off playing shows to 10-20 people and now play shows to 200-300 people and it's amazing. That's only possible because you can fit 3-4 awesome bands on a bill

In regard to your songwriting process, do you have really specific ideas about a song and its production or do you leave some room for improvisation?

Darius writes 90% of the music on his own at home. He's really gifted at finding great sounds and working out parts until they feel right. The rest of the band comes to writing sessions, different members at different times, and we discuss parts and composition and work out the concept/lyrics. We record everything ourselves so most of what you hear on the album was intended, we don't really rely on "happy surprises" that pop up when recording in a limited amount of time.

Despite your aggressive sound, you still have a few songs that are more or less love songs. Would you describe yourselves as romantics?

Absolutely. We're all really big softies on the inside, we just need an outlet to make observations about the things that bother us in this cruel world.

What's the wildest moment you've experienced at a show so far?

We were playing a show to about 200 people and in a really rocking part of a song the circuit blew, we assumed because we rocked too hard. The audience chanted "bring it back!" over and over until the power came back and we picked up from exactly where the power blew. It was a pretty awesome feeling to have people chanting for us.

What's the weirdest moment at a show you've experienced so far?

My PC malfunctioned at our record release show and a mutual friend of ours who happens to be a PC tech and happened to be in the front row hopped up on stage and fixed the computer, only sacrificing 10 minutes of our set. If he wasn't there, we wouldn't of had a show.

The Glide - This is Everlasting

The Glide Myspace

Echo and the Bunnymen hop to on latest album "The Fountain"!

2009-10-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

Echo and the Bunnymen, a band known for their soulful and chilling post punk/neo psychedelic rock are set to release their 11^th studio album entitled “The Fountain” on Tuesday, November 10^th. The album is the 12^th studio album collaboration between the two remaining original members, singer Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Seargent if you count their 1995 grunge collaboration, Electrafixion’s “Burned”. The album is a soaring return to form for the band, which has endured through band tensions, critical acclaim, commercial success, the replacement of their lead singer, complete disbandment, death, their reformation and a newfound renaissance. The band’s own history seems to echo, a pun very intended, singer Ian McCulloch’s fascination with the deaths and resurrections of the Bible that he so often references in his songs.

The band formed in Liverpool in 1978 with singer Ian McCulloch, Guitarist Will Sergeant, Bassist Les Pattinson and their drum machine Echo. By 1980, Peter DeFreitas had joined the group as the band’s permanent drummer. The Bunnymen released their aggressive debut “Crocodiles” in 1980 that was striking but showed their debt to bands like Joy Division. It wasn’t until their third album, 1983’s “Porcupine” that the group began to evolve past their post punk influence. A striking example of this was the use of a strange eastern sounding string instrument for the lead melody on their song “The Cutter” which reached the top 10 in the UK charts. The band’s next album, the critically acclaimed “Ocean Rain”, was bathed in lush string arrangements and imagination that gave way to their most recognized single “The Killing Moon.” Following this release, the band once again claimed the limelight with the track “Bring on the Dancing Horses” which was featured on the soundtrack to the John Hughes film “Pretty in Pink”. The band claimed one more hit single, “Lips Like Sugar” off of their self titled 1987 album which hit the #4 spot on UK charts and became a modest hit in America, before singer McCulloch departed for a solo career and was replaced by vocalist Noel Burke.

This new incarnation of Echo and the Bunnymen released one ill-fated album “Reverberation” before disbanding completely. To make matters worse, their former drummer Defrietas died in 1989 as a result of a motorcycle accident. Hopes for a reunited Echo and The Bunnymen sprang from the ashes when McCulloch began to work with Seargent again in 1994 under the name “Electrafixion”. In 1997 original bassist Pattinson joined the group again and they officially revived the mantle of Echo and the Bunnymen with the album “Evergreen” which featured another top 10 UK hit “Nothing Lasts Forever”. Since then, bassist Pattinson left, but the group has soldiered on and cut four new albums.

There must have been something in the water while The Bunnymen were writing their newest album because “The Fountain” is their most spirited and raw release since their original reformation in 1997. Their efforts on previous reformation albums, while well written and performed, seem sedate when played next to the frenetic energy of “The Fountain”. From the opening single “Think I Need it Too”, it’s clear we’re about to be overtaken by a tour de force of classic Echo and the Bunnymen sound. Seargent’s guitar soars, McCulloch’s vocals, while weathered by age, return with a force and fervor that we haven’t heard since their 80’s heyday, and strings and piano are peppered throughout to recall various eras of The Bunnymen’s sound. A criticism that can be made of the album is that the lyrics written by McCulloch often but not always build strongly in each song before giving way to an ambiguous repetitive chorus. Either way, it’s no accident that Echo and The Bunnymen’s latest album has been named “The Fountain”, McCulloch and company have found the essence of their sound once more and distilled it into their most exciting release in more than a decade. It’s no wonder McCulloch has claimed the album is “The best one we’ve made, aside from Ocean Rain.”

Echo & The Bunnymen - Life of 1,000 Crimes

Echo & The Bunnymen Myspace

Tahiti 80 is abuzz with Activity!

2009-10-23T09:01:00.001-07:00

The eclectic stylings of French band Tahiti 80 are back! With their new album "Activity Center", due out November 24th. Their lead single "Unpredictable" is a sunny romp through ample beats and cute keyboards, accented perfectly by their illustrated cut and paste video. The track is also available below, so if you want to banish those awful songs from your head and replace them with some slick sublime pop, please do so!

Tahiti 80 - Unpredictable

Tahiti 80 Myspace

Speaking in Tongues with Dave Davison of Cast Spells & Maps and Atlases!

2009-10-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

Cast Spells is the side project of Maps & Atlases singer/songwriter Dave Davison. His meticulous and playful songwriting has earned a lot of critical acclaim as well as a coveted spot on itune's "What's Hot" list. I spoke with Dave about the inspiration and process for his new EP "Bright Works and Baton." Cast Spells are set to play a show with Good Old War December 7th at the Westcott theatre in Syracuse, NY.

First off, why the name "Cast Spells"? Do you have an affinity for the dark arts?

I like the idea of a name being a vague, motivating command. I don’t have any knowledge of magic, or any particular interest in it, but I do have interest in the magical quality of doing things and thinking outside of the realm of the critical and logical world. Part of what is so inspiring about the works of great songwriters is their ability to make us see and feel in different ways and this is rarely based in them teaching us about scientific facts or the way that something objectively works.

Did you have extra songs hanging around that didn't fit the paradigm of Maps and Atlases or did you create all new songs for "Bright Works and Baton"?

I typically don't have a specific destination for songs during the early stages of the writing process. Maps and atlases spent a long time learning what we did well together and I try to think strategically about which songs would bring out the best of the band’s abilities rather than think about the most suitable finished products to bring into the recording process.

How exciting was it to be listed under "What's Hot" on the itunes homepage?

It was definitely a pleasant surprise! I didn’t know that it was happening beforehand at all and it seemed to have a very positive outcome. I think that a lot of people who may not have heard the EP otherwise stumbled upon it as a result, which is great.

What artists and groups did you look to for inspiration while recording "Bright Works and Baton"?

It was actually quite freeing to be able to do absolutely whatever we wanted song-by-song and part-by-part, so it’s difficult to nail down the specific influences of the EP. I think that the process became more intuitive and therefore more reflective of a history of influences than specific artists. That being said, Jason Cupp, the producer of Bright Works and Baton, and I share a love for some of the same artists which seems to have come out in many ways throughout the EP. I think that rhythmically there are parts that are reminiscent of the Talking Heads and Peter Gabriel. As for the overall pace and movement in songs such as A Badge, I think that there elements of Bill Callahan, whose work we both love.

You recorded the EP very quickly with producer Jason Cupp, using the first take more often than not. Was there a specific reason for the urgency of the recording?

The main reason for this was that it was fun and exciting to keep moving. We didn’t have any specific plan and weren’t even sure that we were making an album; we were just recording songs because we wanted to and it was exciting to keep going in the time that we had. It was also a process in which capturing the moment was more important than having a perfect-sounding take. A lot of the sounds on the record would be impossible to recreate in a different environment and all of the accidents or surprises become a part of what makes the work special.

I love all the xylophone and triangle use in your song "Potted Plant", was the song always so percussive or did it evolve that way?

We just started trying things and the songs started progressing that way. We didn’t really have a clear outline for most of the songs at the beginning. I recorded the vocals and guitar live and then we moved on to building them from there. Our friend Sandy was over the day that we were working on Potted Plant and she played the drums and vibraphone and it started developing into the percussive piece that it is.

The EP is like one of those tasty 100 calorie snacks, satisfying while you're eating it but after you finish, you're hungry for more. Are there any more releases for Cast Spells in the pipeline?

There are definitely some more releases at the ready. There are several songs that, for one reason or another, didn’t end up on Bright Works and Baton which will most likely be on smaller releases coming soon, and in the coming months I hope to begin finishing an LP

You recently had a tour with So Many Dynamos in July, how did it go? Did you and members of that dynamic group engage in any zany tomfoolery?

Those gentleman are chalk full of zany tomfoolery. Norm played the drums for Cast Spells during the entire tour and it was a real pleasure to perform with him every night. He’s a real lovable character in a band full of lovable characters and we always have a lot of fun together. I have seen So Many Dynamos perform live more than any other band in the world at this point, but the idea of watching them again isn’t repellent to me, which says a lot.

Following the release of "Bright Works and Baton" you toured extensively from July through September. Do you ever sleep? Or do you indulge in caffeinated beverages?

I do love coffee, but I feel that right now I am doing alright balancing activities and maintaining a decent sleep schedule. Although touring and recording can be time consuming, there is also a lot of down time either on the road or between tours and I often get restless during this time and have to find something productive to do. So keeping busy and taking things one day at a time is working well for me right now.

Cast Spells - Glamorous Glowing

Cast Spells Myspace

Exclusive Interview with Jerm Reynolds from Hockey!

2009-10-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hockey is a band from Portland, Oregon who have been gaining attention due to their danceable tunes and enthusiastic live performaces. Their sound is an amalgam of LCD Soundsystem’s relentless beats and self awareness with The Strokes’ effortless cool. Hockey played Thursday Oct. 15 on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

You guys have admitted that the name "Hockey" comes from your sense of humor moreso than any interest in the sport. Since your album is called "Mind Chaos", do you hope to inspire chaos in people's minds when they listen to your music?

Mind chaos is more about the way that we see the world in 2009, which is this beautifully, fractured hyper-individualized insanity we think that might be a result of the internet or technology in general. We live in a world where it’s more and more about the individual and the individual’s opinion. When you have a world like that it makes interaction between people a lot sillier and a lot crazier. So making a record for a world of people who are all standing mightily on their own unique opinion is kind of an interesting process so why not make it totally insane and then say ”Ha! Chew on that!”

You make all the artwork for Hockey’s releases, can you describe that process?

I work mostly with singer Ben Grubin. He executive produced the art work. I’m the one physically doing the artwork He works with me on the concepts. It was his idea to do the four covers. We kept doing the proofs and not being satisfied with them. He came into my room one day and just said put them all down. Then he said “Yeah that’s it! That’s “Mind Chaos”, four separate covers for insanity. The other guys put their opinions in as well, but I’m the guy who’s physically doing the cutting and the gluing and all the childish coloring with crayons and stuff like that but we all work together on it conceptually

Hockey has been doing a lot of touring at festivals in Europe and The United States and people have noticed. This has garnered you spots playing on Jools Holland, and press from Filter, Spin, NME, Q and even Marie Claire. How does it feel to see your hard work paying off?

It’s pretty fantastic, Ben and I have been playing in Hockey for almost 7 years. We’ve spent a lot of time toiling in obscurity which was fine, but to finally see it come around at this point is really great. I tell people that most of the time that we’re just so concerned with keeping everything going; getting the record out, getting the right mixing done, being a really great live band and all the other things that we do on a day to day basis, that we don’t even get a chance to sit down and be like “Whoa, things are happening for us. We’ve been touring the world for six months it’s just unreal and at the same time it’s really great, if I stop to think about it.

What is your favorite thing to do in downtime when touring?

I like to go out with my sketchbook and just draw things that I see and write captions for them. It’s my way of internalizing where I am. Whether it be someplace weird in France, Germany, or Belgium. It can be restful when you’re so far away from your culture and what’s normal to you. So I like to go out and sit someplace by myself and just color. Just like a little kid with a box of crayons!

With your videos, do you guys come up with all the ideas or do you collaborate with a director?

We come up with some kind of an idea. It’s an interesting process for the videos because none of us are movie makers so we’re kind of delving into other people’s artwork which is interesting. You’re kind of giving up your creative control a little bit because we’re not in the editing room. So we’re not putting proofs together or scripts. We have basic ideas but it’s a totally different way of thinking artistically than performing or songwriting. We see what different directors have done, and say, “I really like this person’s style the most” then we email them and have a conversation. We say “Here’s what we’re thinking” and then bounce ideas back and forth and eventually you get an interesting hybrid of your vision and their vision.

You have done a lot of touring with bands like Friendly Fires and Passion Pit. Do you have any outrageous stories of hanging out with bands that you’re touring with?

We got trapped in Seattle, Washington in a big blizzard last winter with the band The Virgins. It was the last night of our tour and we had all just managed to reach Seattle just as 2 feet of snow fell on the ground. We were all hanging out together after the show because not that many people made it out to the show due to the snow. So after the show we all trudged out into the roads where cars were skidding everywhere. We had this hilarious adventure yelling at cars and laying in the street and just appreciating the anarchy of Seattle being totally shut down by a huge blizzard.

You're doing a tour with Portugal the Man, who are also a band from Portland, Oregon. Had you met them before the tour?

Our guitar player and drummers’ old band played a show with them four or five years ago in Spokane, Washington. I’ve never met them I’ve heard their music. I really like it; I’m really looking forward to meeting them on Thursday when our tour starts in Wisconsin of all places. I dig their Bob Dylan band style, that 60’s organ psychedelic rock sound.

You guys are playing your US network debut on The Jimmy Fallon Show Oct. 15th; do you have any superstitious rituals that you perform before important gigs?

I’m going to wear my lucky tour shoes. My dancing shoes if you will. I’ve had these shoes since our first real tour last December and the bottoms are all out and I had to duct tape them together. Also I’m going to try to keep a lid on it for TV, try to not do anything crazy, I tend to get a little excitable and if I feel like a lot of people are looking at me I might go crazy. I’ll have to be cool. Wear the tour shoes and play the song.

The songs “Too Fake” and “3AM Spanish” have a very drum machine and bass sound. I know that when Hockey started out you had that kind of set up. Did those songs begin in that era of your band or did they develop later?

Those songs developed later, but that original core sound is still with us. It’s about drum beats and bass lines and everything else musically and melodically is built around those very basic components because we did play like that for over four years, longer than we’ve had a four piece band. Most of the songs on the record were written after putting the band together, with a couple of exceptions. “Four Holy Photos” is a folk song. It’s the oldest song on record. Ben and I wrote that when we were still at school together in 2004. It’s an oldie but goodie that hung on and made it onto the record.

As much as you guys do that bass and beat centered music, there’s a classic rock-like component to your sound. What classic bands do you draw influences from?

We have a pretty heavy Beatles influence, as well as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty Neil Young, Crosby Stills and Nash. All that really classic rock and roll found its way into our sound somehow even though a lot of our influences are more modern.

Who are your more modern influences?

I really like MIA quite a bit. I like The Virgins, Passion Pit, Ladyhawke, Yacht, and Little Comets. There’s so much great music right now. Sometimes I think about if it was 1999. Everyone would be all bummed out listening to Limp Bizkit and Marilyn Manson. What a drag that was! 2009 is so much better. It’s so much cooler, so much more expressive, so much more interesting and so much more positive.

Hockey will be performing Saturday October 17th at the Westcott Theatre in Syracuse.

Hockey - Too Fake

Hockey Myspace

Portland Bands Invade Syracuse! Portugal the Man! Hockey!

2009-10-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

Portugal the Man, contrary to the name, is a band, not a man. They were formed in Wasilla, Alaska (The home of everyone’s favorite former governor!) by singer/guitarist John Baldwin Gourey from the ashes of his previous project “Anatomy of a Ghost”. The current line-up of the band includes Gourey, Jason Sechrist on drums, Ryan Neighbors on Keys and Zachary Scott Carothers on bass. Their mysterious name comes from inspiration from David Bowie’s larger than life characters like Ziggy Stardust and the title of a novel Gourey had planned to write about his fathers’ travels which he intended to call “Portugal. The Man”.

Their mysterious origins aside, Portugal the Man is one of the hardest working bands in the business. Hot on the heels of picking up a mention on the Alternative Press’ ‘10 essential albums of 2008’and an award for best vocalist for their third album “Censored Colors”, Portugal the Man entered the studio in Boston to begin work on their fourth album, “The Satanic Satanist”. The album was released on July 21st to much critical acclaim.

The album is a bit of a departure for the band, which started out as a live outlet for Gourey’s experiments with tape loops and drum machines. “The Satanic Satanist” reigns in those experimental tendencies and focuses more on pop song structure. “I was really trying to go for the more Motown structure than anything,” Gourey Says, adding “It really took stripping things down to even get that sound.” The Result is a collection of songs that have an old school vibe, but by no means feel old. The high point of the album is the one two punch of the quiet/loud rock out jam “Do You” followed by the hazy sun-soaked psychedelic anthem “Everyone is Golden”. From the moment the organ sounds emerge and the first blues riff kicks in you’ll be swept away into intelligent, well crafted rock & roll.

Supporting Portugal the Man is another up and coming band called “Hockey” who, confusingly, have no interest in the sport but every intention of rocking your socks off. The band was formed five years ago in Los Angeles, California by singer Ben Grubin and bassist Jeremy “Jerm” Reynolds. Since then they’ve added guitarist Brian White, drummer Anthony Stassi, touring keyboardist Ryan Dolliver and risen from playing local venues in Portland to touring with other up and coming bands Passion Pit and Friendly Fires internationally as well as adding several important festival performances to their portfolios. The band has wowed crowds at festivals like South by Southwest, Sasquatch, Bonnaroo, Glastonbury and many more. All of their hard work has garnered them exposure in magazines like Spin, Filter, Q, NME, Marie Claire, a spot on the popular UK talk show “Live with Jools Holland” and their American network debut on the Jimmy Fallon show on Oct. 15.

The media frenzy surrounding the group has enabled them to pick and choose from a variety of major labels for the re-release of their debut album “Mind Chaos” eventually settling on Capitol records. Hockey’s “Mind Chaos” will be released Oct. 6th and deserves all of its positive comparisons to bands like LCD Soundsystem and the Strokes. To say that their influences and tricks end with that comparison however is like saying gourmet soups are made with rocks. Hockey’s galloping beats and occasional high pitched backing vocals evoke Blondie, while their cacophonic pop euphoria channels old school R&B acts like the Isley Brothers. Songs like “3am Spanish” and “Too Fake” highlight the band’s talent for igniting dancefloor mayhem while songs like “Song Away” and “Learn to Lose” show that the band has the heart to make it in this business. Tickets are on sale now for $15 at www.thewestcotttheater.com, that’s not much at all to say you “saw them before they were big”. See you October 17th.

Portugal the Man - Do You

New Echo & The Bunnymen Track! "Think I Need It Too"!

2009-09-29T14:22:00.001-07:00

Echo and The Bunnymen are slated to release a new album called "The Fountain" on October 13th. If their lead single "Think I Need It Too" is any indication we are in for a thrilling ride. The remaining Bunnymen (Ian McCulouch and Will Sergeant) have found a fountain of creativity within themselves and have delivered their most blistering upbeat rock tune in quite some time.

Oh! And They are playing their seminal 1984 album "Ocean Rain" live with a full orchestra!

Here are the dates!

Oct 12 2009 8:00P Wulfrun Hall Wolverhampton, Midlands

Oct 13 2009 8:00P The Ritz Manchestar, Northwest

Oct 14 2009 8:00P Barrowlands Glasgow, Scotland

Oct 15 2009 8:00P The Roundhouse London, London and South East

Oct 20 2009 8:00P Queen Elizabeth Theatre Toronto, Ontario

Oct 22 2009 8:00P The Fox Theater Oakland, California

Oct 24 2009 8:00P Nokia Theatre Los Angeles, California

Nov 15 2009 8:00P Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia

Nov 17 2009 8:00P Black Cat Washington, Washington DC

Nov 18 2009 8:00P State Theatre Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Nov 20 2009 8:00P Kewsick Theatre Glenside, Pennsylvania

Nov 21 2009 8:00P Stage One Fairfield, Connecticut

Nov 22 2009 8:00P Hammerstien Ballroom New York, New York

Nov 23 2009 8:00P House Of Blues Boston, Massachusetts

Nov 25 2009 8:00P Metro Chicago, Illinois

Dec 12 2009 8:00P Oxford O2 Academy SOLD OUT Oxford, South

Dec 14 2009 8:00P Newcastle O2 Academy Newcastle, Northeast

Dec 15 2009 8:00P Leeds O2 Academy Leeds, Northeast

Dec 17 2009 8:00P O2 Academy Liverpool, Northwest

Dec 18 2009 8:00P O2 Academy SOLD OUT Liverpool, Northwest

Dec 19 2009 8:00P O2 Academy SOLD OUT Liverpool, Northwest

Echo & The Bunnymen - Think I Need It Too

Viking Remixes The Sounds!

2009-09-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

To continue along with my love affair with The Sounds, Viking has released a remix of their latest single "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake". Complete with sliding vacuum cleaner MSTRKRFT synths, an alarm clock, and a near flawless incorporation of Maja Ivarrson's impassioned vocals. Do yourself a favor, download the song.

The Sounds - No One Sleeps When I'm Awake (Viking Remix)

AZLTRON 500th Post Spectacular! Part 2!

2009-09-26T05:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since the beginning of this blog, which is now well into it's third year. I just realized not too long ago that the 500th post was coming up fast, and wouldn't you know it, here it is. In a celebratory fashion I thought I would write about ten of the albums that I've listened to over the years that have changed the way I listen to music. I have three criteria for this list: These albums must be albums that came out during my lifetime (that means no collections or retrospectives), the albums must be albums that I discovered myself through word of mouth or research and the albums must be albums that I listened to almost religiously. Here is the second half of the list in chronological order:

6. The Faint - Wet From Birth (2004)

I had already heard of and loved The Faint from their previous releases Blank Wave Arcade and Danse Macabre for their ingenious integration of hard hitting electro beats with indie rock and punk flourishes. But Wet From Birth is something special, even if the band feels that some parts of it are a bit overcooked.

I can still remember my first listen of the album. I had travelled to the city of Rochester in the fall with some newfound college friends and somewhere along the tour we ended up at a record store. I picked up The Faint's Wet From Birth and The Notwist's Neon Golden. Both albums were excellent, but from the opening of the first track on the new album, "Desperate Guys", the glorious strings stabbed in adding an aura of class and sophistication to a track that is basically about hooking up at a party. The irony is beautiful. Next is the most aggressive use of ambient electronics I have ever heard, "How Could I Forget", followed by one of the album centerpieces "I Disappear" whose distorted bassline, swirling keys and guitar funk make it one of my favorite tracks of all time. I don't think I've gone more than a few weeks without listening to this song. Since 2004.

The next track, "Southern Belles in London Sing" is the closest thing The Faint will ever release to a straight up love ballad. From the muted trumpet intro to the classy violin I don't think there could ever be a more beautifully macabre dance track. Which is ironic because the very next track, "Erection", deals with probably the raunchiest subject matter The Faint have to offer, although they still do it with some class. The Faint rounds out the album with all strong tracks, the fuzzed out electro jam "Paranoiattack" that they played on Jimmy Kimmel, The reggae influenced "Phone Call", the relentless blood pumping "Dropkick the Punks", "Symptom Finger", which is perfect for the current health care controversy, and arguably the most epic song The Faint have ever released; "Birth". I remember I loved (and still love) everything about this album, from the bright colors on the album cover to the innovations in sound (A fork in the speaker? Brilliant!).

The Faint - I Disappear

7. The Walkmen - Bows and Arrows (2004)

I first heard The Walkmen watching David Letterman while waiting for my laundry to dry. They played "The Rat" from Bows and Arrows. They played with such intensity and originality that I had to check them out. Soon after I had their album. I admit that I didn't understand it at first. There was a lot of distorted droning and simple pop structures. It took a lot of listening right into the Christmas season before I had an epiphany. All of the songs on this disc are like taking something that has been shattered, destoyed, obliterated, then sewing it back together and making something timeless and beautiful out of it. Like taking Bing Crosby and putting him in the radiator with the woman with distended cheeks from Eraserhead so that they could sing about how their childhoods really were.

The song "The Rat" is obviously the big draw on the album because of it's dramatic guitar work and drumming, and listening to it now it's extremely apparent why it hooked me so much. Hamilton Leithauser wails about nerves and favors and going out alone and all those other dramatic things and the result is something that is truly exhilarating. The alternationg between these brazen rock numbers and delicate piano plunking ballads makes "Bows & Arrows" truly something special.

The Walkmen - The Rat

8. LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem (2005)

I became aware of LCD Soundsystem after learning about the band The Rapture and the DFA production team of James Murphey and Tim Goldsworthy which had produced their single "House of Jealous Lovers" and their debut LP "Echoes". That album was a lesson in the diversity of a sound that became to be called "Dance Punk". A genre that the DFA label (Owned By Murphey and Goldsworthy) continues to specialize in.

LCD Soundsystem is the pet project of "Dance Punk" producer James Murphey. From the opening blast of "Daft Punk is playing at My House" off of LCD Soundsystem's self titled debut LP it's clear that the album is a lesson in raw repetition. The album also showed me that an album could be very simple at times and still be good and not annoying, as long as there was a heaping helping of wit involved in the songwriting process. It is because of this that James Murphey also proved to be a fascinating front man. At the time of the release of the debut LP Murphey was in his late 20's, slightly overweight and not the best singer in the world by far, but he made it work. The secret ingredient to his contagious dance-punk stew is his completely self aware lyrics. For example in his song "Movement" he sings that "A fat guy, in a T-shirt, is doing all the singing!" He is clearly talking about himself, and that kind of humorous observation in dance music didn't exist prior to his debut album. You take that and combine it with all kinds of old school recording studio wizardry and you've got a timeless treat. If you doubt it, might I suggest the subwoofer workout "Disco Infiltrator".

LCD Soundsystem - Disco Infiltrator

9. Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops (2006)

I first heard of The Secret Machines my freshman year of college when they played a show literally right next to my campus. Unfortunately I was ignorant to their greatness and missed the show. Which to compound insult to injury was also a free show. I made my way over to my school store however and picked up a copy of their debut album "Now Here is Nowhere" which I proceeded to put in heavy rotation in my dorm room. I particularly liked the tracks "Now Here is Nowhere", "Lights On" and "The Road Leads Where it's Led" (In part thanks to it's stunning video). Although I felt at times that the album had become a little overblown, like on "First Wave Intact" and "Now Here is Nowhere" due to their repetitive nature and long running time.

However on their second album "Ten Silver Drops" the Secret Machines had learned how to let a song unfurl itself with a long running time but also kept it compelling. I had also learned that when they come to town, I should get tickets (I did manage to see them in Syracuse). Some of the tracks on "Ten Silver Drops" that are really long but don't seem it due to excellent songwriting were "Alone Jealous and Stoned", "I Hate Pretending", "I Want to know if it's still possible", "Faded Lines" and the album's lead single "Lightening Blue Eyes". All of these songs envelop you in psychedelic reverb and thump along in perfect rhythm that the lyrics wrap around like a sushi roll. Add into that the cool concepts of some of the songs, like the aforementioned "Alone, Jealous and Stoned" which is about waiting for a girl to call who never does. Or the song "I Hate Pretending" which is about robbing a bank with a girl with bright orange hair. The extra space in each song lets your imagination create the scene for all of these songs. Plus they are pretty rockin'. The Secret Machines recently lost their original Guitarist and he went on to found The School of Seven Bells, so The Secret Machines have had a bit of an identity crisis on their most recent album with it being so hard and dissonant, but I think they'll continue on and do great work.

The Secret Machines - Lightning Blue Eyes

10. Thieves Like Us - Play Music (2008)

I first heard of Thieves Like Us through the excellent blog Big Stereo. I saw their video for "Drugs in My Body" and saw that they described the group as influenced by both Daft Punk and New Order. Which immediately grabbed my attention. The track "Drugs in my body" was so simple, so repetitive, but there was something about it that was so fresh. Whether it was the almost spoken word vocals or the clever samples that the band collected. Either way I had to hear more. I began searching the internet for any remix or b-side that had been done by Thieves Like Us. I found a few things, but I had to wait for what felt like a year before they released their "Your Heart Feels" EP which was followed shortly after by their full length album "Play Music".

"Play Music" was not purely a party album. Granted there were lots of great dance songs, but each track had a different emotion embedded in it. Some of the songs are angry, some are sad, some are menacing but all of them are compelling. Thieves Like Us took inspiration from artists such as Dr. Dre, David Bowie, and obviously New Order (Their name comes from a New Orde song) to create music with a minimalist thump and intellectual bite. The vintage synthesizers echo and modulate subtly all over the place as Andy articulates his delicate poetry in a way that is far less embarassing than some of those old lyrics that Bernard Sumner of New Order came up with way back when. One very bright spot on the album in contrast with all the moody retro electronica is the quasi-rap "Miss You" which makes reference to David Bowie and his ex wife Angela over a funky bass and those ever addictive moody synths. The whole construction of their songs is so authentic. Unlike bands that take New Order and Daft Punk influences and twist them into some kind of bizarre hyrid, Thieves Like Us brings in the influence straight up, and somehow in that they've created something totally fresh. Their music is very electronic, but it feels very organic. Their streak of compelling releases is continuing as they released a new EP over teh summer called "Really Like to See You Again" which featured tracks with the Blue Monday (New Order song) influence on high. Thieves Like Us are surely in store for great things in the future if they stay on their current trajectory.

Thieves Like Us - Miss You

An Evening with The Sounds! Au Montreal!

2009-09-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

I recently traveled to Montreal, Quebec in Canada to see The Sounds. If you still don't know who they are, they are a rock and roll band from Sweden led by the fierce frontwoman Maja Ivarsson. Their music is a sonic blend of Blondie and the Cars with a bit of a punk bite for good measure. They had just released their third album "Crossing the Rubicon" to much critical and commerical success and had recently finished a run of shows with No Doubt in Europe. The drive was relatively painless, a lot of straight shots that just go on and on forever. I was suprised along the way on a stop to get some gas, where I couldn't figure out how to initiate the gas pump, but a polite Quebecian woman on a motorcycle helped me out. Take that anyone who thinks that Quebecians aren't polite!

Once we were in the heart of Montreal, it was relatively easy to navigate, there was parking right in front of the Metropolis (where The Sounds would be playing) as well as giant murals of musicians and stylized comic book faces on buildings adjacent to the venue.

Inside, it was spacious and foggy, already prepped for extravagant lights shows. Waiters with little platters scurried about getting alchoholic beverages for the French Canadian fans. It wasn't too long before the lights dimmed and a band called Foxy Shazam took the stage. They looked like some kind of mismatch of styles from the 70's and 90's crossed with muppets. The lead singer, Eric Nally, wore a moustache and a hairdo that wouldn't look out of place in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. He also never stopped moving around the stage, beginning with a prat fall on his face, and continued on throuought the show with movements that could have been mistaken for the most bizzare yoga moves ever. At one point he even dry humped his guitarists head while riding on his shoulders. All Foxy Shazam's blatant disregard for the taboo and energetic stage pressence certainly embeddeded them into my memory.

Up next was the band "Creature", who are all Montreal Natives and dance funk fashionistas. They wasted no time launching their post punk disco spell over the crowd. While they didn't irreverently hump everything on the stage they did bring their own unique energy to the Metropolis. Singer, keyboardist and auxillary percussionist, stage-named Cowbella, ran frenzied around the stage with drumsticks in her hands and hit on toms, wood blocks, and yes, even her namesake instrument. She and guitarist and singer Kim Ho stunned the crowd with their on point and lightening quick raps and vocal talent. Kim Ho further showed his stage bravado by playing his guitar like a violin as the group smashed through their hits "Who's Hot, Who's Not" and "Pop Culture". The highlight of their set was when the glamourous girls in the group donned aviator sungless and military hats as the band sucked the crowd into their hypnotic rhythms on the track "Kandahar". As Creature's funky sounds faded and they exited the stage, anticipation was as high as ever for the sounds to take the stage.

As the clock inched toward ten o' clock cheering and stomping shook the Metropolis until, under the red smokey lights, The Sounds emerged from backstage without lead Singer Maja Ivarrson as they began the title track off of their new album "Crossing the Rubicon". As the boys finished up the somber intro and launched into the next track, Maja Ivarsson emerged to thundrous applause, clad in an adidas striped hoodie, some serious bling, three inch heels and the shortest shorts in the world. Armed with an arsenal of kicks and suggestive poses the singer wailed through "Queen of Apology" before pausing and reflecting about the creation of their new album, and how it was made for the fans and that she was so thankful for them. She then stated "This song is for you!" as the group began the epic riff from their latest single "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake".

The Sounds jammed through a collection of hits from their new album and their equally amazing sophomore album "Dying to say this to you". After rifling through "Tony the Beat" and "Beat Box" the band slowed down for the piano ballad "Night After Night". Maja Ivarsson took a swig of her Heinekin lit a cigarette and implored the crowd to sing along. Which they did obediently. Another highlight of the show was when The Sounds played "Don't Want to Hurt You", a song that has been getting attention from being featured in a Geico ad that featured motorcycle riding cave men. During the song the crowd got noticably wilder, pushing up against the stage and jumping erratically. Afterwhich, Maja stated "You liked that one, huh?" with a wry smirk. The Sounds finished out their set with "Painted By Numbers", the lead single from their sophomore album "Dying to say this to you" complete with a rythmic hexagon synth pad duet between guitarist Felix Rodriguez and keyboardist Jesper Anderberg.

After a roaring request for an encore, The Sounds once again took the stage to play "Song with a Mission", "Hit Me" and "Living in America". Maja thanked the crowd, handed out some beers and left the stage to a recording of their lullaby-like track "Goodnight Freedy". A more appropriate ending to such a great night, I couldn't think of.

The Sounds - No One Sleeps When I'm Awake

Make way for The Glide! (New Music from Chicago!)

2009-09-24T15:00:00.001-07:00

Chicago, it seems, is bursting at the seams with awesome new bands. Add to the list The Glide, whose new album "A Future for the Dead" is a celebration of everything sweaty, synthy, and rockin'. The core shaking bass, persistent beat and off kilter guitar solos are perfect for the Halloween season. Fun, but just dangerous enough to be exciting. Put on your skeleton t-shirts, it's party time.

The Glide - This is Everlasting

New Pretty Good Dance Moves and Mason Proper Remixes!

2009-09-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

Pretty Good Dance Moves, a band out of Chicago and Brooklyn has released a new track to the universe. That tracking being "Leave Me Alone" featuring Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn & John. The track sparkles and wiggles along on handclaps and phosphorescent synth.

Pretty Good Dance Moves - Leave Me Alone (Ft. Bjorn Yttling)

In other news, Mason Proper has some sweet remixes out of some of their tracks from their sophomore album "Olly Olly Oxen Free". They've been out for a while now and I'm just now listening to them. I'm really enjoying Wallpaper's classic house take on "Safe For The Time Being". Gotta love those string stabs over the staccato piano chords.

Mason Proper - Safe for the Time Being (Wallpaper Mix)

Alan Wilkis remixes Warm Heart of Africa ft. Ezra Koenig

2009-09-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

If you were looking for the jam of the summer, look no further. This "Warm Heart of Africa" remix by electro funk master Alan Wilkis featuring Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend transports all listeners instantly to a fantastic island themed party on the beech with all the bacardi and bikinis anyone could ever want. If only we could extend summer past September 22nd.

The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Alan Wilkis Remix ft. Ezra Koenig)

Left and Right from I am Noxious!

2009-09-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

I am Noxious is an electronic artist out of London whose work I have been enjoying lately. His track "Left & Right" skitters about on some catchy chords while he croons about the multiple meanings of the terms left and right. The lyrics might be ambigious, but the melodies and clubby beats make this worth a listen... or two... or five. it's up to you really.

I am Noxious - Left & Right

Vivek Shraya set to Return with "Keys and Machines"!

2009-09-14T10:08:00.001-07:00

You might remember Vivek Shraya from a post on this very blog a long time ago. Well, our favorite Canadian indie/electro upstart is back with his sophomore album "Keys and Machines" and it's set for a release this November! So hold onto your hat and enjoy this funky preview track "In Out" featuring Meghan Toohey.

Vivek Shraya - In Out

Horse Shoes Come Back!

2009-09-11T11:15:00.000-07:00

As if they ever left, Horse Shoes the prodigious band out of Brooklyn is set to release their Imperial School EP very soon, and the EP is a twinkling nastolgia dance party. The band (Composed of Drew Diver and Jacob Graham) lets all of their influences show featuring some songs that emulate the Smiths self deprecating intelligence and others emulate New Orders restless longing. Throw in a bit of twangy surf guitar and some gentle vocals and you've got the overall flavor of Horse Shoes new EP. Surely a delieght for the ears.

Horse Shoes - Hey Come Back!

Horse Shoes Myspace

An Interview with Pocket! (Richard Jankovich from The Burnside Project)

2009-08-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

Richard Jankovich A.K.A. Pocket has been busy working on original singles with vocalists from Menomenae, Asobi Seksu, The Church, The Chameleons, and more. I had a chance to speak with him about those collaborations and where he sees Pocket going in the future.

1. You've been doing Pocket remixes for a while, what prompted you to expand the project to collaborate with other artists on original songs?

The plan all along was to use remixes to cut my teeth and use those experiences to make me a better producer. I had always loved collaborating with other artists. The first Burnside Project album had lots of guest musicians on it like the Mendoza Line, Hub Moore, and a bunch of friends and colleagues. I wanted to continue the idea but without my voice being a central part. So, I started the remixes as a way to build my resume so other artists would see my capabilities. I guess it worked!

2. How is the process of writing songs different or similar for Pocket than it is writing a song for The Burnside Project?

It couldn't be more different, actually. When I am writing for a singer, I think about them, their style, their voice, etc. while I am writing. While I definitely want these to be "Pocket" songs, I also tailor it to the singer's strengths. In [The] Burnside [Project], it's much more personal. I just take an idea and develop it without much thought to anyone else's role.

3. For each track that you did, did you have a specific artist in mind that you wanted to sing on it?

It depends, in the beginning, before I had singers on board, I created a bunch of instrumental tracks. Now, however, I generally create a custom track for each singer. So I would say that, yes, I usually have a singer in mind, but I like to get them on board first.

4. Did you know any of the vocalists personally or professionally before reaching out to them to provide vocals or were you just an admirer of their previous work?

I think most of them I did not know. I knew Yuki from Asobi Seksu but most of them I was a fan of and met through this process.

5. What's the most surprising thing you've found about sending out tracks to artists and having them send back the vocal tracks?

The most surprising thing is how simple it all is. Rarely does any artist hate the tracks I send or demand changes. They almost always record their part and then leave me to finish the track. The trust that they put in me is humbling.

6. You worked with Steve Kilbey from the seminal Australian Post-Punk band The Church for your single "Hear in Noiseville" and you're lined up to work with another post-punk front man, Mark Burgess from The Chameleons, on a future single. Are you reviving 80's alternative front men in a way similar to how Quentin Tarantino resurrects leading men from 70's TV shows?

It is very funny, but yes. I actually thought of Tarantino many times while working on this idea, nice of you to catch that! Not just "Men from the 80's" but in general I have wanted to work with people who have fallen from the limelight in recent years. These artists all still make great, compelling music and I want to help them get heard if I can.

7. Speaking of "Hear in Noiseville", you just put together a video for the single with footage sent to you by Steve Kilbey and your own hand drawn signs. It looked like it was a blast to put together, do you have any plans to do videos for any other singles?

The video was so fun and easy that we are going to try to keep making them for all the singles. The Craig Wedren video is already in post production an d we are making plans for a Mark Burgess one too, since he is going to be in LA this week. As long as they are simple and fun, I would love to keep doing them!

8. Are you planning anything special to coincide with the release of the singles this year like a DJ Tour or even just hanging out with any of the vocalists?

Well, I am actually going to be playing with Mark Burgess this week while he is in town for a Chameleons show. I am going to play guitar on a few songs and we might try to do the Pocket song. Other than that, I am still working on a live component for Pocket, It's very challenging as you can imagine.

Pocket Official Site

Pocket - Surround Him with Love (The Somnambulants Remix)

An EP of Pocket! (Richard from the Burnside Project)

2009-08-20T04:25:00.000-07:00

Richard Jankovich is a producer from Los Angeles who goes by the name Pocket. He is also the front man of electronic pop outfit the Burnside Project who have put out two excellent albums; 2003's The Network, The Streams, The Harmonies and 2005's The Finest Example is You. Under the Pocket name, Jankovich has has remixed Beck, Radiohead, Kristin Hersh, Of Montreal, Elk City, Joanna Newsom, Mendoza Line, Dirty on Purpose, Eskobar, Cat Power and others, always with groovy results.

Now, Jankovich has taken his music production skills one step farther, enlisting the aid of current and classic vocalists and musicians for a series of singles for online release. Among the collaborators are Yuki Chikudate from Asobi Seksu, Steve Kilbey from The Church (Known for their single "Under The Milky Way"), Mark Burgess from the Chameleons (Another influential post punk band!) Danny Seims from Menomena and many others. I've been able to give a listen to three of the tracks so far, and I can really hear how Jankovich's songwriting and music production have evolved over the years. I think it was a good exercise for Jankovich to distance himself from vocal and lyrical duties because while his vocals are innovative and his lyrics are insightful his actual vocal abilities aren't his strong suit. Not that there's anything wrong with that, case in point Bright Eyes, James Figurine, Casiotones for the Painfully Alone etc. don't' have exceptionally strong vocals but make great music. On the new EP, free from those duties, the melodies soar, The arrangements are more lush, and the sound just envelopes you like a warm blanket.

Pocket - Hear in Noiseville (Featuring Steve Kilbey of The Church)

The Church - Under The Milkyway

and I'm loving this track too much not to share:

Pocket - Sampo (Featuring Yuki Chikudate from Asobi Seksu)

AZLTRON Back to School Concert List!

2009-08-18T06:36:00.000-07:00

The end of summer is fast approaching and it is time for many people to begin to think about their return to school in the fall. Some may dread the end of the carefree days of summer, but I am eagerly anticipating heading back to my collegiate institution. Partially because I'm ready for my summer job to be over, but also because when kids go back to school there are loads of concerts. Summer festivals are grand, but there's something magical about traveling to see a specific band at a specific venue at a specific time. That and you can bring your own water. I have done my homework and picked four shows that aren't too far away for my fellow Central New Yorkers to drive to and enjoy as well.

First up is Syracuse's own Ra Ra Riot. They are playing at the Castaways Bar in nearby Ithaca on September 10th. For the uninitiated Ra Ra Riot is an indie band that formed during 2006 that combines the sounds of clean college rock like Vampire Weekend with the drama of string accented groups like the Arcade Fire. Their debut album The Rhumb Line has been garnering them critical accalaim from just about every major music publication you can think of and a spot performing on the David Letterman show. If you're curious or a big fan don't miss out! Tickets are only $15 dollars and available here.

Ra Ra Riot - Too Too Fast

The Sounds - No One Sleeps When I'm Awake

If you're willing to do some driving and have a passport, The Sounds are playing at the Metropolis night club in Montreal on September 12th. The Sounds are a Swedish rock band that sound like the angry love child of The Cars and Blondie. Their new album Crossing the Rubicon is one of the hottest records of the year so far with anthems like their track No One Sleeps When I'm Awake poised for some crossover success. I swear, if I don't hear a track by The Sounds on my local pop music station in at least a year, there is something seriously wrong with the ears of America. Either way, the show will be a blast of showmanship and attitude from the crew and lead singer Maja Ivarsson. If you can read French, tickets are available here and they are $20.00 Canadian dollars so there might be some flux in the currency but the show will definitely be worth the hassle.

Fun and the Miniature Tigers are playing at the Waterstreet Music Hall on September 13th. Tickets are available here for the low low price of $10.00. Fun is the new band of the former frontman of The Format, Nate Ruess. They play catchy eclectic pop songs that are more fun than seven kittens and fourteen balls of twine. The Miniature Tigers play a similar brand of straight up authentic rock/pop that will set the mood perfectly.

Fun Myspace

If you're looking for a more local show, check out another Syracuse born band, Professional Victims, who are having their album release party with Sirsi on September 18th. The Professional Victims seem to have a foot in a few different genres. One in classic rock, one in electronica, one in pop, one in industrial and one in punk. They are probably one of the most original acts to spawn out of Syracuse in the last year or so. If I had to compare them to other bands I'd say they sound like a mix between TV on the Radio and The New Pornographers. They are being supported by the hard rocking boy/girl duo Sirsi. Tickets are available here.

Professional Victims Myspace

Listen to As Tall as Lion's 'Circles' !

2009-08-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

As Tall As Lions is a quartet from New York City whose new album, You Can't Take it With You, will be released on August 18th. Their lush and eclectic arrangements range from beautiful soundscapes to impassioned rocking riffs. Catch them at any of the locations listed below.

Tour Dates:

8/5/09 Detroit, MI St Andrews Hall

8/6/09 Chicago, IL The Bottom Lounge

8/7/09 Sauget, IL Pops

8/8/09 Des Moines, IA People Court

8/9/09 St Paul, MN Station 4

8/11/09 Denver, CO Gothic Theatre

8/12/09 Murray, UT Murray Theatre

8/13/09 Boise, ID Neuerolux

8/14/09 Seattle, WA Neumos

8/15/09 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom

8/17/09 Sacramento, CA Empire Events Centre

8/20/09 San Diego, CA The Casbah

8/26/09 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

8/28/09 Cosa Mesa, CA Detroit Bar

8/30/09 Los Angeles, CA El Ray Theatre

8/31/09 Los Angeles, CA El Ray Theatre

As Tall as Lions - Circles

As Tall as Lions Myspace

Simian Mobile Disco set to release "Temporary Pleasure"!

2009-08-15T18:38:00.000-07:00

UK Dance sensation Simian Mobile Disco is set to drop a new album called Temporary Pleasure which features Gruff Rhys of the Super Furry Animals and Beth Ditto from The Gossip among others. For an interview with the band check out this interview at Dummy. I haven't heard the album in full yet, but I am eagerly awaiting my first listen, and if the Obama inspired single "Audacity of Huge" is a sign of things to come it's gonna be good.

Simian Mobile Disco - Bad Blood (Featuring Alexis Taylor)

Calvin Harris Creates the "Humanthesizer"!

2009-08-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Calvin Harris has returned with a new single, "Ready for the Weekend" and has been busy in his laboratory of disco not only crafting new tunes but co-creating the first human synthesizer! It works through conductive ink, but of course it wouldn't be Calvin Harris if he didn't include anywhere from 7 to 15 scantily clad women. The man has style.

Calvin Harris - Ready For the Weekend

Q & A with Helicopters!

2009-07-29T04:08:00.000-07:00

By: Aaron Z. Lee

Helicopters are an eclectic band out of Chicago, Illinois that combine exquisite melodies and songwriting with an occasional electronic flourish. The band won the opening spot 2007's Lollapalooza and most recently wowed critics and concert goers alike with their sophomore album "Sizing Up the Distance". I talked with them about their history, their process, and where they're headed in the future.

How did you guys meet up?

Dave (lead vocals, guitar) and I met in college through a mutual friend. At the time he was the lead vocalist in a band out in Indy, and I was performing solo shows in Pittsburgh. Shortly after meeting, we both found ourselves back in Chicago, eager to write and perform, so we started an acoustic duo (that rifled through names as fast as it did drummers). We added people, subtracted people, evolved and digressed many, many times over the course of 6 or so years before we decided to scrap everything and start from scratch. New project, new sound, new name... no drummer.

Fast forward a few years and one of the original Helicopters members moved to Ireland, which is when we picked up Brian (who I worked with a couple years earlier).

Why did you choose the name "Helicopters"?

We were a little over a week away from the release of How to Fake Fall Asleep when we discovered the name we had at the time was in use by another band in the Chicago area. In a bit of a panic, a good friend of the band, while looking at the cover art for the album, said "why don't you just call yourselves Helicopters?" - which was the title of the photograph we used on the initial 100 limited-edition pressings of the album. (If we would've known how hard it would be to find us by Googling "helicopters" we would've probably picked something a bit more obscure. C'est la vie.)

Did you guys all have a thing for electronic music? Or were you trying something totally new on "How to fake fall asleep"?

We all have pretty disparate music tastes, but electronic music is definitely a common thread. Even though Dave and I were heavily into the electronic scene when we were younger, we never really attempted to write music in the genre until HTFFA. (Our early days as an acoustic duo were largely focused on melodies, harmonies and hooks.) Over time our past love for electronica and dance music coupled with our songwriting backgrounds really helped shaped Helicopters' sound.

Brian, on the other hand, has been writing and recording electronic music since the invention of the TR-808.

You guys have great melodies and hooks, where do look for inspiration when putting those together?

The songwriting process comes to us in all sorts of ways. Some songs start as a guitar/piano hook, some as an interesting drumbeat, some as lyrics that find their melody by the natural cadence of the words. I've personally found that it's always best to just let the song turn into whatever it turns into without trying to steer it too much in any one direction. (We have a tendency to over-think.) But at the end of the day, our hooks come to us through our desire to write something that we'd want to listen to. If we can't stop humming a chorus, we know it's done.

Where did the sound samples on the intro for "Still Silhouettes" come from?

The sound samples in the intro of that song were recorded at The Map Room (in Chicago), just down the street from where we recorded and produced the album. We knew we wanted some ambient bar/club noise for the backdrop of the song, but we didn't expect to end up using the entire call. Brian called my cell while I was at the bar, recorded a few minutes of noise, and the rest just fell into place.

You have some interesting sound experimentation like backwards vocals on "Iran", do you guys have a specific idea of what you want to do, or do you play around until you find something that you really like?

A little bit of both really. We do a decent amount of exploring with various production techniques, sometimes to try to recreate something already in our heads and other times just to see what might happen. What we loved about the backwards vocals in "Iran" was the melody that surfaced - the vocals at the end are actually the "we rolled cigarettes like Indians" line from the beginning of the song, just played in reverse. Once we heard the interplay between the new melody and the guitars, we were hooked.

If you could perform with someone living or dead live in concert who would it be and why?

Wow great question. I know all three of us would answer this question very differently. Cornelius, Radiohead, Talking Heads, Depeche Mode... we'd probably debate it as a trio for so long that we'd end up missing the concert.

What are some artists, new or old, that you have been getting into?

This summer I've been really digging Passion Pit and Phoenix. Both their latest albums are perfect summertime pop. Also on heavy rotation: Shugo Tokumaru, Victor Bermon, Evan Marc, Atlas Sound, Frightened Rabbit, Deastro, DIrty Projectors... the list goes on and on. Really depends on my mood for the day.

What are guys looking forward to next? Recording more, touring more, or getting to relax a bit?

The three of us each have solo projects in the works, as well as new Helicopters material - a lot of new material - that we hope to start releasing soon. Along the way we'll be playing shows from time to time, but our focus for a while will be finishing up the back catalog of recorded material we've been wanting to release for some time.

Helicopters - Still Silhouettes

Helicopters Myspace

James Yuill Unveils 'This Sweet Love Video'! Plus Remixes!

2009-07-28T05:21:00.000-07:00

James Yuill has been getting a lot of attention for his folky-poptronic tunes and rightly so, because he inhabits the space in between Kings of Convenience and the Postal Service, and that is a very good place to be. He has a new single EP coming out for his tune 'This Sweet Love' and there's also a pretty sweet video that goes along with it. Check out the video above, sample a new song and a remix below.

James Yuill - This Sweet Love (Prins Thomas Sneaky Remix)

James Yuill - They're Chasing My Hands

Some Questions and Answers with Her Lips Might Shatter!

2009-07-28T04:47:00.000-07:00

By: Aaron Z. Lee

Her Lips Might Shatter is a one woman electro DJ dance party named Alisa Nizhniy who is from Los Angeles by way of Houston, Texas. Her sound is close to what you would get if you were to allow Fischerspooner, Peaches and Goldfrapp to enter thunderdome for a massive tag team match. Each track has a processed digital crunch that is sure to populate dance floors everywhere. I had a chance to talk with the emerging artist about her origins, inspirations and favorite snack.

You were born in Kiev Ukraine but raised in Houston Texas, how and why did you and your family come to the states?

There was that minor issue of getting away from the pesky aftereffects of real socialism. So we immigrated, and eventually, my parents encouraged most of our extended family to come down to the states as well. Houston has the swankiest, cheapest real estate you could ever imagine, with infinite free parking in the comfort of a large metropolis, complete with centralized A/C everywhere. Also, a decent amount of thrift stores, artsy hide-outs, goth kids, junkies, and electro parties. The sweetest people live there, too.

Were you always interested in music?

My folks have cassette tapes of me singing the songs of Alla Pugacheva when I was two years old living in Italy. When I was five, my brother would occasionally blast trance music, drive me around, and take me to parties where they played Modern Talking and all this new dance shit that Sony was releasing at the time. It stuck with me, what can I say!

Did you find that Houston Responded Well to your electronic music?

People have gotten crazy at Pseudonecrophile shows and hung upside down from the ceiling. Houston has always embraced electronic music.

Where does the name 'Her Lips Might Shatter' come from?

I thought of a large, extravagant chandelier, and how cool it would be to break one. Then, I thought that a lamp breaking is pretty obvious. So the thought of lips shattering was weirder. They would have to be frozen or frozen in outer space.

What's the most fun show you've played so far?

A week ago I performed a couple of songs in Denver for my aunt and uncle’s 50^th anniversary!! By 11:00 PM my cousins and I were making imaginary snow angels on the patio. I was completely gone, because members of my family kept giving me shots: “Here Alisa, try this vodka; Yes, but have you tried THIS vodka?! Alisa do a shot with us!!” So that was especially fun, since I can easily get wasted off just a glass and a half of champagne.

What's your favorite gadget or tool for making music?

Anything to synthesize the organic. I like messing with vocoders and pitch shifters and lots of layering. I wish I had something cool to talk about in this category, but I use the Logic synths and processors.

What's the most recent awesome track you've listened to?

It’s Not My Problem (Thin White Duke Remix) by Sneaky Sound System. And I have to listen to Salem every night before I go to sleep. I HAVE to.

How do you feel about the auto-tune explosion that's happened in the last year?

I swear that for every big trend, there must be subcultures of people out there who are completely bummed out that someone is exploiting their peculiarities. Like that South Park episode about the vampire kids. Auto-tune was cool before it became “mainstream,” and it’s cool now, and it will still be cool when everyone else thinks its lame again. Britney Spears- Blackout was the first mainstream album to use tasteful, prominent auto-tune. I’m not impressed with the sloppy conspicuous auto-tune technique that’s hot in hip-hop now. Otherwise, the obvious reaction to these trends is to drink perfume or do something else that can hardly ever become cool.

If you could perform a duet with anyone living or dead who would it be?

If I had to pick only one other artist and only in the realm of music, it would be Felix Da Housecat. I wouldn’t mind walking on stilts with Marilyn Manson.

After a night of DJing/Dancing/Performing, you need to recharge, What is your snack of choice and why?

Tapioca almond cream tea from the Teahouse in Houston. I’ve turned on so many people to that place. I’ve tried bubble tea in Boston and LA, and some do the trick, but they just don’t compare. If there’s midnight sushi anywhere, I certainly wouldn’t mind that either.

Her Lips Might Shatter - Come Shake My Hand

Her Lips Might Shatter Myspace

AZLTRON 500th Post Spectacular! Part 1!

2009-07-27T06:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since the beginning of this blog, which is now well into it's third year. I just realized not too long ago that the 500th post was coming up fast, and wouldn't you know it, here it is. In a celebratory fashion I thought I would write about ten of the albums that I've listened to over the years that have changed the way I listen to music. I have three criteria for this list: These albums must be albums that came out during my lifetime (that means no collections or retrospectives), the albums must be albums that I discovered myself through word of mouth or research and the albums must be albums that I listened to almost religiously. Here is the list in chronological order:

1. Moby - Play (1999)

As I made my way through adolescence I found that I didn't particularly enjoy the knuckle dragging pyrotechnics of heavy metal gone pop acts like Metallica despite how hard I tried to like it. I must have listened to Reload three times expecting for something magical to overtake me. I was searching for something more intelligent, something with more energy and sound experimentation. Something with soul. I discovered Moby amongst all the techno acts that my brother was playing back to back with the Metallica discography. There was something present in his music, a simplicity and an energy that was satisfying and stimulating. It was Moby who made me realize that creating music wasn't out of reach for me. I began to look to Moby for guidance both musically and stylistically. Because of him I started listening to Joy Division/New Order. Granted I went to a highschool where hardcore music was the accepted norm, so you can imagine those fights over the CD player. To further compound how awkward of a teenager I was, I even looked to the cover of Play for fashion tips. I established my wardrobe as a collection of dress shirts, dress pants and running shoes. That's right, I looked to a balding man in his late 30's to help me create an identity. Moby's Play album had all the right ingredients for teenagers to like him I, think. He had the pop singles (Porcelain, Southside) and the crazy dance songs (Bodyrock, Machete) and the emotional introspective tunes (Guitar Flute and String, My Weakness, The Sky is Broken, etc.). His songs ran the full gamut of emotion that should be able to soundtrack the mundane disapointments and victories of a teenager's life. They did for me anyway.

Moby - Porcelain

2. Spoon - Girls Can Tell (2001)

I discovered spoon by watching Austin City Limits on PBS. It was a chance encounter since I didn't even know that Austin City Limits even existed two week before. I was seeing which channels I could get on my 13" television from my room. Lo' and behold a music program! The week prior to the airing of the Spoon concert (which was followed by Ben Kweller) David Byrne made an electric appearance on the program, thus beginning my addiction to all things Talking Heads/David Byrne. So I knew the program was on the level. Looking back it made perfect sense that Spoon would play Austin City Limits because they are from Austin Texas. When I was watching Spoon play their songs I noticed that they had crisp clear pop song structure and they incorporated the piano up front! I was so impressed I began searching for their music anywhere I could find it, and the first album that I ran across was "Girls Can Tell". The album is a hit from beginning to end with such emotionally charged hits as "Everything Hits at Once" and one of my favorite songs ever, "Anything You Want". In short, Spoon showed me that music could be raw and gutsy with a good riff, some sweet beats and no pyrotechnics or a mullet.

Spoon - Anything You Want

3. The Postal Service - Give Up (2002)

The Postal Service was an important step in the evolution of my musical taste. When the emo explosion hit my high school I was staying as far away from it as I could. I was venturing into New Wave territory, exploring Gary Numan and New Order records. That was my line into the Postal Service, that the electronic element of their music was so prevalent, and the samples were ingenious, swirling strings and atari-ish clinking samples. It distracted me from the overly saccharine and emotional vocals of Ben Gibbard and Jenny Lewis until I could get adjusted to them. This was the first time that I could forge common ground with the emo kids. Who were much more reasonable than the aggro-rock kids at sharing the art-room radio. This great combination and reconfiguration of emotional vocals and experimental electronic production sent me in a whole new direction in my search for new music. I looked for years for other musical artists that sounded "Postal Servicey". This led me to find the excellent Jimmy Tamborello led projects Figurine and DNTEL, Lali Puna, The Notwist, Plastic Operator, The LK, The Burnside Project and Helicopters. Even though it's been six years since the Postal Service arrived on the scene, their songs and musical compositions are just as potent. If the little hairs on your arm don't stand up on the beginning of "Such Great Heights", you might want to check yourself for a pulse.

The Postal Service - Such Great Heights

4. Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)

I discovered Interpol through music researching on Amazon. The bajillion comparisons to Joy Division initially led me to listen to them. Personally I don't think they sound anything alike at all. Interpol has a much more lush sound, while Joy Division was very raw, even at their most atmospheric. Ranting aside, Interpol reaches out with their sound and just envelopes you. the chiming guitars, insanely nimble drum and bass and the hypnotic vocals of Paul Banks grab you and threaten to never let you go. I often find that whenever I listen to them I end up playing them for hours and hours. The inventiveness of their guitar solos on "Roland" and "The New" are still immensely powerful. Whenever the solos kick in I imagine some kind of gravity inversion where everyone on a New York City street suddenly starts floating or something like that Rhapsody Commercial.What makes them even better is that in between these incredible shows of musicianship their songwriting abilities embed each number into your cranium. To top it off, thier video for "PDA" still stands as one of the best music videos of the last ten years. Furthermore their shoe gazey guitar heroics led me to look for more NYC based bands with similar chops. Like...

Interpol - The New

5. stellastarr* - stellastarr* (2003)

stellastarr* is a band that formed out of the Pratt Art School in New York City. Being one interested in art and music that caught my attention immediately. I first heard about them when I was researching music on Amazon. The tagline of the review said "Sounds like Interpol Kidnapped David Byrne!" I thought to myself "Interpol? David Byrne? This has got to be good!" I looked up some of their songs and sure enough the combination of sounds in stellastarr* were a mixture to rival peanut butter and chocolate. The album opens up with thick layers of delay and atmosphere, warranting the Interpol comparisons, as well as revealing the vocal talents of the group harmonizing and highlighting the low to high yelps of frontman Shawn Christensen. Although proficient at this haunting style of music, stellastarr*'s real strength is party starting propulsion. Once the firecracker that is the track "Jenny" lights off the raw energy takes over and anyone with eardrums will immediately be hooked on stellastarr*. From there the album drops in pace a bit for "A Million Reason" which is a kickin' song and is followed by the track that stellastarr* made their name with. The bouncy relentless juggernaut that is "My Coco". If you haven't heard this by now, what are you waiting for? There is one more peak of freak out dance party goodness in the volcanic eruption of guitar melee in "Somewhere Across Forever". The album winds down a bit from there before a second wind of sweaty exuberance ends the album on "Pulp Song", which finds all three vocalists screaming the album to sleep. If you've got to go out, go out with a bang, and stellastarr* does that in a big way on their debut album.

stellastarr* - My Coco

A Momentous Occasion for Delphic! New Video!

2009-07-27T06:15:00.000-07:00

I posted on Delphic's tune Counterpoint, not too long ago, and since then the band has released a new video and single with "This Momentary". The synths are still chiming away but there's a significantly more tribal feel about this track.

Magic Wands are Warriors! Video and Tracks!

2009-07-27T05:27:00.000-07:00

Magic Wands are a duo out of L.A. that have been casting a spell on the electro club scene out west. Their latest release "Warrior" has been making some waves since it's July 6th release. If you're feeling the magic, you can grab some additional remixes below.

Magic Wands - Warrior (Defend Moscow Remix)

Magic Wands - Warrior (The XX Remix)

The English Victorian Gentlemen's Club Feeds Parrots!

2009-07-27T05:01:00.000-07:00

The English Victorian Gentlemen's Club is a band that formed out of Cardiff, Wales and is set to release their second album, 'Love on an Oil rig' this September. The first track off of this album 'Parrot' explodes with the same kind of bizarre ferocity that Arctic Monkeys and Klaxons perfected back in 2006. Gotta love those parrot masks.

VNV Nation's "Faith Power & Glory" and Tour Schedule!

2009-07-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

VNV Nation is a band that members Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson formed in Wexford and London. They released their breakthrough album "Empires" in 1999. Ten years, a move to Hamburg, Germany and 4 studio albums later the duo are still at it, combining a diverse collection of industrial beats, synths, and orchestral structures to create their inspiring work.

Thier latest work Of Faith, Power and Glory is a collection of powerful emotion channeled through old school synth pop, industrial, and electro. The raw emotion and hope of the song The Great Divide, featured on the album, finds itself easilly next to the most soulful electronica of Moby and Depeche Mode.

VNV Nation - The Great Divide

Jun 27 Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia LA
Jun 29 San Francisco, CA The Grand Ballroom
Jun 30 Portland, OR Berbati's Pan
Jul 01 Seattle, WA The Showbox
Jul 03 Salt Lake City, UT The Murray Theatre
Jul 05 Denver, CO The Gothic Theatre
Jul 07 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall
Jul 08 Minneapolis, MN Station Four
Jul 10 Chicago, IL House of Blues
Jul 11 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
Jul 12 Cleveland, OH Peabody's Down Under
Jul 14 Toronto, ON The Phoenix
Jul 15 Montreal, QC Le National
Jul 17 Boston, MA The Paradise
Jul 18 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
Jul 19 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts
Jul 21 Washington, DC The 9:30 Club
Jul 23 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
Jul 24 Tampa, FL The Ritz
Jul 25 Ft. Lauderdale, FL The Culture Room
Jul 27 Dallas, TX The Granada Theater
Jul 28 San Antonio, TX The White Rabbit
Jul 30 Phoenix, AZ The Marquee Theater

Funk Up Your Life with Alan Wilkis!

2009-06-17T05:43:00.001-07:00

Alan Wilkis is an electro/funk/rock artist out of Brooklyn, New York whose tracks on his new EP 'Pink and Purple' are reminiscent of Prince playing with Cybotron. Hand claps and synth bass cascade over pure pop seduction. The first track 'Snuggle Up to Nail Down' has the artist harmonizing with himself through a talk box with the finest 80's synths grooving and glitching in the background. The next track 'N.I.C.E' sounds a bit like Rick James with Prince on synth bass. Yes I just used Prince again as a reference point. 'Gotta Get You Back' uses a good old fashion clean hook ala Stevie Wonder and some baroque harpsichord breakdowns. The Stevie Wonder vibe continues onto the title track 'Pink and Purple' until the track explodes into some 80's solo style guitar riffing. 'Dance with You' continues the party in 80's pop bliss style with ascending dance funk melodies.The final track 'Time Machine' sounds like a solo ballad from Martin Gore from Depeche Mode. Overall if you're looking to get a house party started with an electro-funk slant, Alan Wilkis' 'Pink and Purple' will not dissapoint, it's electro-funk with a retro-futuristic edge.

Alan Wilkis - Snuggle Up to Nail Down

My Old Kentucky Blog Debuts New Mason Proper Video!

2009-06-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Mason Proper has released their new video for their excellent song 'Safe for the Time Being' over at the fine 'My Old Kentucky Blog'. The video features some dramatic David Bowie 'Heroes' style lighting and about a million dancers in trash bags, which in a weird way adds to the majesty of the song.

Mason Proper - Safe for the Time Being

An Interview With Cassettes Won't Listen!

2009-06-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

By: Aaron Z. Lee

Cassettes Won't Listen is a one man band named Jason Drake who got his start DJing and remixing in NYC. Since then he has gained critical acclaim from SPIN, and countless blogs everywhere. Cassettes Won't Listen is also salon.com's number one unsigned artist. He recently moved to California where the sunny landscape inspired him to make an instrumental album called 'Into the Hillside'. I had a chance to correspond with the continent travelling musician about his new album and what inspires him.

Where does the name ‘Cassettes Won’t Listen’ come from?

The name sort of popped in my head back in 2005 when I was searching for a name to go by. A ‘cassette’ is a term that describes a certain type of person that gets played by their surroundings. They are the people who don’t think for themselves and whose style or taste is dictated by what is popular at that moment. These are the types of people I didn’t think would listen to my music when I first started releasing it.

What were your favorite musical artists growing up?

I was always into hip hop growing up. Some of my all time favorite artists were Digable Planets, A Tribe Called Quest, Ice Cube, The Fugees, and The Wu Tang Clan.

How did you get into the DJing/remix business?

I stole my parents turntable when I was 14 and wouldn’t give it back to them. From that moment it was on. I started collecting vinyl and really getting into DJing and from that stemmed my interest in creating music myself. I haven’t DJ’d for a while because I’ve been so focused on songwriting, production, and remixing. Remixing came about from basically remixing everything that I came across. I was working next to a company that handled business for Midlake and Morcheeba and I asked to hook up a remix for both bands. The bands loved the remixes and everything started rolling from there.

What about moving to California made you think of 70’s instrumental production?

After living in New York for so long, a move to California was quite a shock to the system. I still feel like I’m on vacation living out here. When I was writing this record I got really into old school surf movies. Not big budget surf movies but ones that people were doing themselves back in the 70s on supper 8mm film. I wanted to give the record more of a dirty electronic vibe to it, sort of like the dirt on the film of these old movies. Everything seems so clean nowadays so I was interested in creating something that would fit well while on vacation at the beach in the late 70s / early 80s.

What was your favorite old technique/piece of equipment that you used on ‘Into The Hillsides’?

I enjoyed the techniques I used while recording the album the most. I really wanted to degrade the quality of the sound and so I did a lot of resampling, feeding music through pedals, guitar amps and so on. It was freeing to step to this project and not worry about keeping everything super clean. A little dirt to the mix gives it character.

You recently moved from New York out to LA what brought about this change? Are you on staff for the Conan O’Brien show?

Actually, I think Conan heard I was moving out here and then decided to move his show. I also heard that the Lakers heard I was out here and decided to win the championship.

Speaking of NBC shows, your ‘Freeze and Explode’ was featured on ‘Chuck’ recently, did you watch the episode? And if so was it weird hearing one of your own songs on television?

I actually did catch the clip of the show and it was a bit surreal. I thought someone turned the track on in my studio while I was watching the clip and then realized the music was coming from the TV. I thought they used the track tastefully, the music supervisors over at Chop Shop know what they’re doing and I trusted them to use the track in a respectful manner.

You’re releasing an iphone application with the new album that allows users to manipulate the songs on ‘Into the Hillside’, are you excited to hear what some users might create out of your songs?

I’m actually very excited to see what fans can come up with. I’m also excited that I have a new platform to deliver new music to people and offer it in a new interactive way.

What’s in store for Cassettes Won’t Listen after the release of the new album?

I’m already about halfway finished recording my next album. This will be a proper follow up to my 2008 album Small-Time Machine so all of the tracks will have vocals. I’ve been thinking of releasing an instrumental album every other album, it keeps me sane.

Cassettes Won't Listen - Into The Hillside

The Main Drag Cover LCD Soundsystem!

2009-06-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

The Main Drag are an indie/electro/pop band out of Boston Massachusetts. Like Passion Pit, another Massachusetts band, these guys have an ear for a good pop song, and also like Passion Pit they throw everything and the kitchen sink into their mixes. Everything from strings and glitches to horns makes it's way into their songs. The Main Drags overall sound is a bit more of a traditional rock sound that only leans on synths occasionally. The main heft of their songs is lifted by their nimble guitar work. They've gone on to be salon.com's #1 unsigned artist and have a song featured in a Target commercial.

The band has also done an excellent cover of LCD Soundsystem's 'All My Friends'. I know what you're thinking: "Oh great, another 'All My Friends' cover, whoop dee doo." Well imagine the Arcade Fire covering the song over skittering dance beats with Beirut on vocals and you're getting into the ballpark of what it sounds like.

The Main Drag - All My Friends (LCD Soundsystem Cover)

Also, if you're interested, here are some tour dates:

June 20- Allston, MA - The Great Scott
June 22- Chicago, IL - Schubas
June 23- Minneapolis, MN -Fine Line Music Cafe
June 24- Winnipeg, MB - The Lo Pub
June 26- Lethbridge, AB - Henotic Lounge
June 27- Calgary, AB - Sled Island Festival
June 29- Milwaukee, WI - TBA
July 1- Philadelphia, PA - The M-Room

War Tapes 'Dreaming of You'!

2009-06-16T03:10:00.000-07:00

The Night Unfolds from Carlton Beener on Vimeo.

War Tapes are a band from Downtown LA who have successfully amalgamated the dreamy pop structures of the Cure with the power and poise of NYC guitar bands like Interpol. Their debut album 'The Continental Divide' is now available at all the usual venues for obtaining music, be it electronically or physically.

War Tapes - Dreaming of You

Mutemath's 'Armistice' Due Out August 18th

2009-06-15T00:15:00.000-07:00

Louisiana's Mutemath are set to release their sophomore album 'Armistice' on August 18th, and you can preview one track off of the new album when you visit their site.

Here's the official word from the innovative band:

"New Orleans-based eclectic/innovative rock quartet MUTEMATH has just completed their second full-length album for Teleprompt/Warner Bros. Records entitled ARMISTICE. Recorded in New Orleans and Oxford, MS and produced by Dennis Herring (Elvis Costello, Modest Mouse, The Hives), the record is scheduled for release on Aug 18th.

Song titles are as follows:

1. The Nerve
2. Backfire
3. Clipping
4. Spotlight
5. No Response
6. Pins and Needles
7. Goodbye
8. Odds
9. Electrify
10. Armistice
11. The Lost Year
12. Burden

Nearly 50 minutes in total, MUTEMATH does not play it safe on their sophomore effort. With a stunning range of dynamics, ARMISTICE boasts the kind of masterful production and songwriting that ensure it to be one of the year's standout albums."

I'm pretty psyched that they have a new record coming out, I've been a fan of their since I found their early (but still excellent) 'Control' online at some free music sample page. I'm kinda bummed they didn't return to this year's 'Transformers' movie soundtrack.

MuteMath - Typical

The Tough Alliance Has 'Koka Kola Veins'!

2009-06-14T00:02:00.000-07:00

Sweden's The Tough Alliance plays addictive fizzy electro pop that will get the blood (and Koka Kola) running through your veins.

The Tough Alliance - Koka Kola Veins

The Sounds 'Cross The Rubicon'!

2009-06-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

Maja Ivarrson and company have returned with a new album called 'Crossing the Rubicon' timed perfectly for summer. The album features the soaring melodies and choruses that embed themselves in your cranium just like previous Sounds releases, but rather than just being an all out arrogant rock dance party, The Sounds opt instead to infuse each track with a level of earnestness that gives each song equal measures of heart to their dance-floor thrust.

Even a song that is labeled as a blatant disco/punk track (Beatbox) has palpable emotion as well as references to previous songs (Tony the Beat) not to mention a mid song break that will test the sturdiest of subwoofers. Last summer it was the Ting Tings that were aimed at surefire crossover commercial success, but this summer The Sounds deserve that honor. 'Crossing the Rubicon' is a hit both on the dancefloor and the drive home. I expect I'll be hearing at least a few songs from the album 9 months from now on my local pop hits station, if there truly is any justice in the world.

North American Tour Dates

5/29 El Paso TX @ Take IIII

6/04 Orlando FL @ Firestone

w/ No Doubt

5/28 Albuquerque NM @ Journal Pavilion

5/30 Dallas TX @ Superpages.com Center

5/31 Spring TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

6/02 Tampa FL @ Ford Amphitheatre

6/03 West Palm Beach FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre

6/05 Atlanta GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre

6/06 Charlotte NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

6/08 Raleigh NC @ Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion

6/10 Virginia Beach VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

6/11 Camden NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center

6/13 Burgettstown PA @ Post-Gazette Pavilion

6/14 Bristow VA @ Nissan Pavilion

7/19 Auburn WA @ White River Amphitheatre

7/21 Concord CA @ Sleep Train Pavilion

7/22 Los Angeles CA @ Gibson Amphitheatre

7/24 Wheatland CA @ Sleep Train Pavilion

7/25 Mountain View CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

7/27 Universal City CA @ Gibson Amphitheatre

7/28 Universal City CA @ Gibson Amphitheatre

7/31 Irvine CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

8/01 Irvine CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

8/02 Irvine CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

8/04 Irvine CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

(Check Out :37 for stellastarr*'s 'Civilized' Album Cover)

The Sounds - Beatbox

Theives Like Us Remix Miss Kittin & The Hacker!

2009-06-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

It is quite good. Enjoy below.

Miss Kittin & The Hacker - Party In My Head (Thieves Like Us Remix)

Microfilm's Newest Release 'International Velvet'!

2009-06-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

The Portland Oregon by way of Chicago Illinois electro duo Microfilm has released another collection of songs written and recorded around the same time as their innovative 'Slingshot Orchestra' as the 'International Velvet EP'. The songs are harder and more electronic sounding than the tunes found on 'Slingshot Orchestra' but retain an expanded melodic and compositional pallette.

Microfilm - If There Be Thorns

Microfilm - International Velvet (Angel Theory Remix)

Microfilm Myspace

Clash The Disko Kids & Ming Remix Empire of The Sun!

2009-06-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

Those Perth, Australia psychedelic popsters Empire of the Sun have had their Walking on the Sun track remixed by Clash The Disko Kids & Ming and the result is an even more summery dance tune. Enjoy!

Empire of the Sun - Clash The Disko Kids & Ming Lo Fi Dreamy Remix

Thieves Like Us would "Really Like to See You Again"! New EP!

2009-06-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

Thieves Like Us, the American/Swedish electro rock group, are set to release a new EP called the Really Like to See You Again EP next Tuesday, which features three new tracks and Desire from their debut Play Music fleshed out with more rhythmic punch. Opener Really Like to See You Again and closer To Joy sound remarkably similar, with the former sounding like the New Order Blue Monday remix of the latter. Also, it looks as if TLU(Thieves Like Us) have set out to promote American airway travel with their hot new track "American Skies". If only the executives of American Airlines would take heed of this song and promote air travel with a new series of commercials of air hostesses dancing in silver shoulder padded uniforms with big hair... To quote another famous line of commercials, "Hey, it could happen." Either way, if you've got some surplus cash in this downed economy, shell out some coin for "Really Like to See You Again" and enjoy some of the finest electronic music of recent times.

But don't take my word for it:

Thieves Like Us - Really Like to See You Again

Thieves Like Us Myspace

Buy the EP

New MGMT Video! "Kids"

2009-06-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

This is a frighteningly cute video, or maybe a cute video trapped in a frightening environment? Either way see a baby brave a city full of monsters before he is absorbed by a psychedelic cartoon that would make Robert Crumb proud. Yes it is that good.

MGMT - Kids (Pet Shop Boys Synthpop Remix)

The Stills Debut New Video for "I'm With You" On Myspace!

2009-06-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Stills - I'm With You

The Stills have released the next video from their excellent third album Oceans Will Rise with I'm With You and it features singer/guitarists Dave Hamelin and Tim Fletcher being bombarded by the elements (and a piano) before they get onstage to play flaming instruments with the rest of the band. Enjoyable, n'es pas?

Chicago's Kniife Prrty Free Download "Change Your Mind"

2009-06-05T05:20:00.000-07:00

Chicago's Kniife Prrty has popped onto my radar with some somber electro pop on par with Styrofoam, Postal Service, The Go Find and others in that vein. The track Change your Mind offers up a steady beat and a full array of synths that illuminates a story that has adulterous aspirations. Also the band pulls out their post-punk guitars for the atmospheric ballad Trap Door. All in all Kniife Prrty offer some emotionally heavy pop ideas with beats to match. A must have for the neo-synthpop connaisseur.

Kniife Prrty - Change Your Mind

Buy Their Self Titled Here

Download stellastarr*'s "Freak Out" for Free!

2009-06-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

stellastarr* have released their new song Freak Out, from their forthcoming album Civilized set for release on July 7th, for free over at their Purevolume page. The track is a moody melodic number that brings the urgency of their first self titled release as well as the textured atmosphere of their sophomore release Harmonies for the Haunted.

Additionally, if you order the album ahead of time here, you will get special packaging, a t-shirt and a poster. Gotta love the extra goodies.

Here's the summer tour schedule for those of you interested in seeing the asterisked ones.

July 7th || Live on The KEXP Morning Show || 6 - 10am PST
July 7th || Live on WNYC's Soundcheck || 2 - 3pm EST
July 8th || WFNX/Boston || tune in to WFNX for tix announcement
July 15th || Philadelphia, PA || Johnny Brenda’s #
July 16th || NYC || Highline Ballroom || Official Record Release Show #
July 17th || Washington, DC || Rock ‘N’ Roll Hotel #
July 18th || Baltimore, MD || Ottobar #
July 20th || Cincinnati, OH || 20th Century Theatre #
July 21st || Columbus, OH || The Basement #
July 23rd || Chicago, IL || Double Door #
July 27th || Austin, TX || The Parish ^
July 30th || San Diego, CA || Casbah ^
July 31st || Los Angeles, CA || Troubadour ^
August 1st || San Francisco, CA || Slim's ^
August 3rd || Portland, OR || Doug Fir ^
August 4th || Seattle, WA || Chop Suey ^

# with Wild Light, The Postmarks
^ with Wild Light

stellastarr* - My Coco

stellastarr* - Freak Out

Cassettes Won't Listen headed Into the Hillsides!

2009-05-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

Cassettes Won't Listen Studio Tour from Cassettes Won't Listen on Vimeo.

Since I first heard Cassettes Won't Listen's remix of the EL-P track "Flyentology" I knew the producer had some talent. I've been following his career loosely since and am excited to say that he will be releasing an instrumental album called Into the Hillside on June 16. If the title track is any indicator it's going to be an eclectic energetic extravaganza. Yes, I just used alliteration.

Cassettes Won't Listen - Into The Hillside

Christine - Cool Your Shoes (Cassettes Won't Listen Remix)

Max Justus Shows No Mercy!

2009-05-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

Max Justus is set to release his debut full length album on July 14th which features a variety of party starting beats and cross genre dance-tastic experiments. Max Justus also worked on an EP of remixes for Kanye West's tracks off of his 808's and Heartbreak album, taking an already inventive collection of songs and making them even better. His new release No Mercy will undoubtedly keep the jams flowing. If you're looking to sample a bit of the growling grooves of what's to come click below!

Max Justus - Bending Time & Space

A Dummy Film With Little Boots!

2009-05-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

The folks over at Dummy have a great little interview with the up and coming London artist Little Boots. Check it out.

Little Boots - New In Town (Emil & Friends Remix)

Solid Gold Are Out Thumping Bibles!

2009-05-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

Solid Gold, the band behind the stellar single "Get Over It" released back in November has returned with a new single from their forthcoming album "Bodies of Water" due out in late summer. If the video is anything like the church the band goes to, count me in.

Solid Gold - Bible Thumper

Solid Gold Myspace

Linus Love's "Prom Night"

2009-05-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

Linus Loves has released a new single called "Prom Night" loosely inspired by the movie Carrie. The track's endless edgy bounce sounds like the limo may have taken a detour straight into the desert for a rave inspired by Salvador Dahli.

Linus Loves - Prom Night

Linus Loves - Prim Night (Burns Remix)

Surly Electronica: Hopeless!

2009-05-23T04:32:00.000-07:00

Hopeless from Miami Florida is a raunchy, rough around the edges electronica/indie act that is something like if James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem was concerned with starting a fight with the crowd as much as he wants to make them dance.

Hopeless - This Song Has No Meaning, I Just Love The Fucking Beat

Hopeless - DFA Won't Sign Me

Hopeless Myspace

Bloc Party Release New Video! Ares (Villains Remix)!

2009-05-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

Bloc Party are set to release their new remix album, aptly titled "Intimacy Remixed" tomorrow in the United States and today basically everywhere else. Their new video for the lead single "Ares (Villains Remix)" has been shot entirely on fans camera phones over their two day stay at the Olympia in London. Gotta love the lights, chaos, and low bitrate video.

Bloc Party - Ares (Villains Remix)