Music you should be listening to

Crystal Castles

Crystal Castles is a Canadian duo, Ethan Kath and Alice Glass, that create music one would expect to find in the alternate universe of a video game. Their first single "Alice Practice" (of which the vocals were recorded without Glass knowing during practice) brought attention from record labels which lead to them signing with Last Gang Records. They have one self-titled full legnth record released in March 2008 in North America and a month later overseas. Their sound is definitely not fully developed but it is definitely fun and interesting to listen to, and dance to. They dapple with typical techno beats layered with what could very well be modified sounds from your favorite video games. Alice Glass's vocals are just the opposite of fellow female electronica vocalist Alison Goldfrapp of Goldfrapp. Her vocals delivered in a sing/speak method and then completely distorted. Their sound borders between frantic sounds of rave and the moody, churning industrial songs. In short, its dark and creepy but you can still dance to it.
Obviously electronica is not my strongest genre, however you should check them out.
you can see a video for "Crimewave" here

Like a Prayer

Today the Kings of Leon released the video for their first single off Only By the Night, "Sex on Fire". The video is the exact opposite of what I would expect them to do but not in a bad way. I think it was directed by Sophie Muller and it features the band in some sort of warehouse filled with religious allusions and even an excorcism. Strange considering they usually do performance videos. Even with all the weirdness its still manages to be an incredibly hot video. Go figure. Anyway, check it out below, and buy the new record when it comes out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHhhcKxflMY

Coming Soon

Starting Friday I will begin a weekly music review. Every Tuesday I will buy a new release and post a review of it on Fridays here. Keep in mind I will pick records that suit my taste and that I want because I am not about to pay for a record I am not interested in initially.
Stay tuned.

Time moves so fast

I came across something I bookmarked long ago today that I figured I would share.
In October it will have been 5 years since Elliott Smith comitted suicude. I can't really remember that day to tell the truth however in the months following I became such a fan of his I then felt the pain. I think the most beautiful reflection of his passing and life is a blog entry from Margaret Cho on the day he passed. Read it all, even if you are not familiar with him it still is beautiful.
Read it and then listen to "Coming Up Roses".

goodbye

List-ism

hmmmm. Top 6 "indie" albums (defined by style and by record label)

1. Interpol- Turn on the Bright Lights
2. Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
3. The New Pornographers- Twin Cinema
4. Bright Eyes- Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
5. Modest Mouse- The Moon and Antartica
6. The Shins- Chutes Too Narrow

This list probably changes daily, there have been so many great records.

List-ism

Top 8 Beatles songs...

1. "A Day in the Life"
2. "Across the Universe"
3. "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds"
4. "I'm Only Sleeping"
5. "In My Life"
6. "Here Comes the Sun"
7. "Eleanor Rigby"
8. "Octopus's Garden"


...now, argue with me.