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Help The Prids
2008 July 22
I received the following news from Chriso:
Our dear friends The Prids - David, Mistina, Joey and Maile - and two of their significant others - Kristin and Chris - were in a serious accident early Sunday evening while en route to Los Angeles on tour. A tire blew and they lost control of the van and it rolled several times. David was airlifted from the scene of the crash, he suffered a broken collar bone, broken ribs and has 6 staples in his head. Chris broke his arm in two places. Maile has a broken vertebra and toe and a severe cut with stitches on her knee. Joey broke ribs, Mistina suffered a concussion, and Kristin has a snapped joint in her collar bone.
As of late that night, everyone had been released from the hospital but David had to go back in the middle of the night and was released Monday afternoon. Maile is currently back in the emergency room.The rest are currently staying at a hotel in Fresno waiting to go home with their friends, Marshal and Kiisu, that drove down from Portland with a cooler full of vegan food donated by Food Fight (Portland).
A special paypal account has been set up to help out and donate directly to The Prids. They need help getting home and paying their hospital bills. If you can't help out monetarily, please repost this info on your blogs, etc. They could also use lots of vegan food and comfy cushions/pillows/bedding for their long ride home to Portland. Thanks!
You can learn more about the accident on Portland Independent Media Center. Please make a donation today, any amount helps.
If you have problems with the link, you can send a donation directly to donate@theprids.com.
Swedes do it better
2008 May 21
Once again I am indebted to my friend Chriso for introducing me to fun new music. Case in point: “I’m Good, I’m Gone” by Lykke Li
Exmux
2008 April 25
I finished my muxtape yesterday, check it out. I chose to include the song “Situation” by Ex-Boyfriends and not just because my friend Chriso is in the band. The song is fun with just enough pop to make your feet all your body parts move! Here is the video for “Situation”:
I’ve had fantasies like this, only now it’s been set to music.
In other – depressing – news, I overslept and missed my chance to buy a 3-day pass to All Tomorrow’s Parties. Whatev’z, I suppose I’ll just pay bills or something. Granted, I can still attend the festival but I would need to order a pass and a 6-berth room stay. Any five people up for attending the show? Anyone have an extra 3-day pass? Don’t be shy, now.
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
2008 April 23
My Bloody Valentine to curate N.Y. music fest!!!
Fuck my cousin’s wedding, she already married once anyway. I am off to Monticello in September!
Mercy
2008 April 16
I am in Denver this week. Yesterday I arrived in 81° weather that climbed steadily to 90°. Today it’s been snowing. Tomorrow the weather should reach the low 60s. This place makes no sense. None.
I reserved a rental car for the week from Budget and was given a new Ford Edge. Driving an SUV makes me part of the problem, not part of the solution. But damn if I didn’t feel safer on the roads this evening.
CDs in the car with me this week: Thievery Corporation’s The Outernational Sound, Goldfrapp’s Seventh Tree, A Place To Bury Strangers’ self-titled, Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah, and Poni Hoax’ self-titled. I should have brought Duffy with me, too.
One of the better parts of the trip? Access to Dazbog Coffee. Praise!
Holy Fuck
2008 March 23
I went to a show last night in Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s A Place to Bury Strangers opened for Holy Fuck. While this video is good, the sound is nothing compared to how amazing they sound playing live.
Total Sonic Annihilation to the nth degree. Download their album on eMusic.
Some kind of bliss
2008 February 16
I received a package from my friend Jeffrey a couple days that I’ve been hesitant to open. For months (not judgin’, Boo, but we’ve been talking about this since October) he’s promised me an ultimate mix of Kylie Minogue because I just happen to appreciate two of her songs. And now, here I am, with a CD of Kylie songs to further appreciate.
I don’t know if I can listen to it. I mean, what if I find myself liking her? Does that mean I’ve crossed over into further recesses of fagdom from where there is no return? I can’t bring myself to attend dance clubs wearing nothing but denim and a smile, I just can’t. Or worse yet, I wind up like this:
PLAID AND DENIM, PEOPLE. I mean Jesus.
In the defense of Kylie, I will say this: Kylie’s got talent. Unlike that hack Mawhodawhadda. You know, her. That one.
Bloody hell
2008 January 21
I just received an e-mail with the line-up for Coachella 2008 and My Bloody Valentine is not on the roster. I knew I should have bought a ticket for Glasgow when I had the chance. Now I have to look for tickets in London and Manchester. In June. Swell. I might as well harvest all my organs while I’m at it since the dollar is completely worthless in value.
While I search for round-trip tickets to Manchester on Kayak my soul is being soothed by the velvety smooth melodies of Tacoma locals MONO IN VCF. I heartily recommend buying this album – a mere $9.99 – directly from the band and checking out “Death of a Spark”. The band labels their music as psychedelic pop but I beg to differ. Think Morphine meets Siouxsie Sioux, the results are springtime sexy.
$1002 for a ticket to Manchester, $992 for London. My tight white ass I’m paying those prices, I’ll just move to Europe instead.
2007 Music Countdown
2007 December 09
Where the hell did this year go? Already with December, fine, I get that whole concept of a calendar, but seriously wasn’t it just yesterday that we celebrated Halloween? And just what am I supposed to do with military winter gear covered in layers of fake blood? Just toss it away? These are questions; they don’t keep me up at night.
My friends and I back in New York started an annual tradition of naming our favorite albums for 2007. I always had a hard time with this list because I never just turned myself on to new artists. Most of the time I would pick up a used CD for my 4AD catalogue needs or find an album produced a couple years back that somehow fell under my radar. This year is a little different as I bought less than 10 physical CDs, almost my entire music library is completely digital. I’d like to thank eMusic for making most of this happen. And a small shout-out to iTunes, but really small. Like redheaded stepchild small.
So here is my list* of favorite albums of 2007, in no particular order:
- Japancakes - Loveless
- The Hope Blister - Underarms (reissue) and Sideways
- Blacken The Black - Entrance to the Exit
- Justice - †
- Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release
- Celebration - The Modern Tribe
- Cass McCombs - Dropping the Writ
- Antony and the Johnsons - anything and everything
- Emiliana Torrini - see Antony and the Johnsons
- Fauve - Fauve
- The Chemical Brothers - We Are The Night
- Aril Brikha - Ex Machina
- Boys Noize - Oi Oi Oi
- Siouxsie - Mantaray
- Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
- Piano Magic - Incurable
- Klima - Klima
- Holy Fuck - Holy Fuck
- Jóhann Jóhannsson - Englabörn
- Air - Pocket Symphony
- Jurassic 5 - Power in Numbers
- Akala - Freedom Lasso
- Common - Finding Forever
- Ida Maria
- Poni Hoax - Poni Hoax
- Juliette & The Licks - Four on the Floor
- St. Vincent - Marry Me
- Grinderman - Grinderman
- The Octopus Project - Hello Avalanche
- New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom
- The Twilight Sad - anything and everything
- Feist - The Reminder
- Interpol - Our Love To Admire
- Burial - Untrue
I should mention this list will keep growing, so you may just want to tell me some of your favorites.
*This is just a list, you aren’t going to find downloads here. Like I want to lead the RIAA to my front door?
Not loveless, but not love-full, either.
2007 October 17
I thought Darla Records wasn’t going to release Loveless by Japancakes until 13th November, but both iTunes and emusic.com listed the album as released 9th October. Also? I’m a little upset that no one at iTunes bothered to check the spelling of track listings was correct: “To Here Knows When”, not “To Hear Knows When”. SHADY. But did this stop me from downloading all 11 tracks in less time than it took to write this entry? Answer: duh.
I wanted to love this album, I really did, but a lot of the tracks fall short of the genius that is Loveless by my favorite band in the whole world (EVAR) My Bloody Valentine. I can listen to the redux of “Only Shallow” and “Soon” all the day long, but the remaining nine tracks don’t have quite the same intensity and enthusiasm. If at all. What was done to “Sometimes” comes across like a MIDI file from teh internets circa 1997. Which is especially sad since I love “I Only Said” and “Blown A Wish” so very very much.
&stars; <- did that work? No? Crap. Okay, pretend you see five empty stars next to one another, and only three of them are filled solid. This album has only 60% of my love—100% goes to MBV and, of course, Crystal Waters.
2007 October 17
Dear Sons and Daughters:
The moment I heard the opening to your song “Dance Me In” on KEXP, I was expecting to hear “Tupelo” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. I’m sure you can imagine my surprise since your song clearly lifts every riff and beat from Henry’s Dream.
“Dance Me In”:
“Tupelo”:
I had never heard of your band until KEXP played your song, and now I forever liken you to ilk such as Fergie who ripped off the beat from “Supersonic” to pass it off as “Fergielicious”. Oh, and how she ripped off “Hollaback Girl” from Gwen Stefani for her (horrific) tune “London Bridge”. Come to think of it, I bet her entire album is full of nothing but songs ripped from other artists and cleverly (loosely used) disguised as her work. You (all, sans Gwen) would be wise to get drunk, stand on stage, and mess yourself.
Now apologize to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds for your transgressions against rock & roll, and do try to make your own original music, hmm?
ox,
-J.
Fucking. Love. Her.
2007 October 12
From her interview with Radar Online:
Your old guitarist, Cure frontman Robert Smith, is set to do a duet with Ashlee Simpson. Do you think he should be killed for treason?
Who is Ashlee Simpson?I love that you said that!
No, really, who is he?It's a she. A bland, lip-syncing American pop singer. Sister of Jessica Simpson.
Hmm, Jessica Simpson.You don't know her, either, do you?
I really don't know. One of the benefits of living in France. I'm totally out of touch. As far as Robert Smith, I mean, darling, really, do you own a mirror?
Siouxsie has no equal. Srsly.
Just some bands
2007 October 06
I listen to a lot of music to sustain my energy and to purge occasional creative blocks. I heart Fauve and I am drooling with anticipation for Japancakes to release their instrumental version of “Loveless”. Speaking of My Bloody Valentine, I received a demo track called “Explosive” that no one seems to know anything about. Antony and the Johnsons: L-O-V-E. Lo-fi releases of Siouxsie left me ambivalent for her new album, but the true release of her LP rocks hard. I am still on the fence with the new album from PJ Harvey. Celebration will be releasing a new album that is nothing short of amazing.
And I don’t care what Pattycakes says, I really dig on this lil’ ditty:
HOLY MOTHER MARY MAGDALENE
2007 September 04
WHY didn’t anyone tell me My Bloody Valentine is rumored to reunite at Coachella in 2008? Never did I imagine myself ever setting foot upon the soil of Southern California again, but I would gladly do so – and upon the back of any hippie or emo or whatever goes to these shows – for this band. Ever know a person that carried a torch for an artist that bordered on obsession? Theater queens ain’t got shit on me.
Denver, Colorado in 1992: I stood outside for four hours before The Gothic even opened its doors for the show so I could meet My Bloody Valentine. WHICH I DID. I didn’t move once from the front row and my only regret is not buying up every item of merchandise they sold that day. Come 2008, expect to find me front row at Coachella ready to dropkick the first motherfucker who even thinks of nudging me.
Organic, fair-trade, shade-grown music
2007 August 31
Piping Hot Fresh from Kristin Hersh and ThrowingMusic:
CASH Music Project - An Introduction
ThrowingMusic is happy to announce an entirely new musical endeavor. We’re calling it the Coalition of Artists & Stake Holders, or the “CASH Music Project”. CASH Music represents a new music business model which we hope you’ll not only support but also help us shape, by sharing with us your thoughts, suggestions & opinions.
Over the next couple of weeks, we will come to you with a new kind of offering from Kristin. We’re planning lots of great new content, including a brand-new studio recording posted to Kristin’s blog every month — free of charge.
We’re committed to not holding music hostage, the music will be free. We’ll be asking for donations and offer you the opportunity to subscribe to Kristin’s career — past, present and future.
The business of music clearly needs an overhaul. We’re going to present our ideas – and with your help, we’ll endeavor to create a sustainable, fair-trade music business model.
This will be a strictly independent and self-sustaining venture – for better or for worse. No record label, no distributor, no middle-man – just Kristin, the songs and you.
We’re hoping to finally take the leap and see what all of us together, as a small but enthusiastic community of ‘stake-holders’ can do for ourselves.
Thank you for reading this far — we’ll be in touch soon!
I can’t wait to see what happens next, and not just because I heart all things Kristin.
Out of curiosity
2007 July 14
How come no one hasn’t made a mash-up of “Fuck The Pain Away” by Peaches and the theme song to “Fraggle Rock”?
Is it just me?
I’ve Got Me A New Addiction
2007 July 01
Godbless video mash-ups.
Summertime mash
2007 June 22
Now that summer is officially here (okay, yesterday), it’s time to shake off the sad songs of Spring and rock out with your mash out. Up. Mash up. Check out the musical stylings of A Plus D, especially the song “Sexy Peek-A-Boo” that, I think, is sticky hot sexy sweet good.
Killing me softly
2007 May 17
Piano Magic released their EP Incurable, and I am (once again) hooked to their (yet again) new sound. And not that I need another band t-shirt, but be a dear and order me a large one since European sizes tend to run a bit small.
And Patsy Cline for good measure
2007 May 02
Whenever I get a hankerin’ for new music, I like to check out The Hype Machine and see what other music lovers recommend. When I’m not reading stereoscope with aplomb, of course. Impunity. Natch, even. But I digress. The Hype Machine lets me search for a specific artist via blogs tracked and listed on the site, and I can also listen to full-length tracks using the site’s Flash player. Currently the people behind the curtain at The Hype Machine are seeking all hackers to help construct what I can only guess to be a better music experience without the use of Flash.
If you’re like me, you have an appreciation for music that others declare “elitist”, possibly “hipster”. These labels, are, in fact, factual. If anyone were to take a spin on my iPod, one would find, to name but a few:
!!!, Ryan Adams, AIR, Air Miami, Air Supply, The Amps, Keren Ann, Fiona Apple, Arling & Cameron, Arrested Development, Joseph Arthur, Ash, Astaire, Atari Teenage Riot, Autechre, Aztec Camera, The B-52’s, Erykah Badu, Basehead, Basement Jaxx, Bauhaus, Baxter, The Beastie Boys, The Beat Farmers, Beck, Bee Gees, Beirut, Bel Canto, Bell Orchestre, Belle and Sebastian, Belly, Berlin, Heidi Berry, The Beta Band, Bettie Serveet, Bikini Kill, The Birthday Party, Björk, Frank Black, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Black Heart Procession, Blur, Boss Hog, Bowery Electric, The Breeders, Bright Eyes, Broken Social Scene, Michael Brook, Kate Bush, Meryn Cadell, CAN, The Carpenters, Johnny Cash, Celebration, The Chameleons U.K., Chemical Brothers, Meg Lee Chin, Chocolate Genius, Christian Death, Cibo Matto, Clan of Xymox, Clinic, CocoRosie, Cocteau Twins, COIL, Coldplay, Colourbox, Common, Concrete Blonde, Julian Cope, Cornelius, Elvis Costello, The Cramps, The Creatures, Cuba, The Cult, The Cure, Curve, Cycle Sluts From Hell, The Dandy Warhols, De La Soul, Dead Can Dance, Destroyer, Dieselboy, Dif Juz, Digable Planets, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, DJ Dara, DJ Rap, DJ Shadow, Destroyer, Snoop Dogg, The Donnas, Donovan, Anneli Drecker, Minnie Driver, Dum Dum Project, Edward Ka-Spel, 808 State, Einstürzende Neubauten, Ekova, Elastica, Missy Elliott, Eluvium, Enya, Maggie Estep, Eurythmics, Ex-Boyfriends, Experimental Audio Research, Explosions In The Sky, Marianne Faithfull, Fatboy Slim, Feist, 50 Foot Wave, Roberta Flack, Four Tet, French Kicks, Front Line Assembly, Future Sound of London, Diamanda Galás, Lisa Germano, The Germs, Lisa Gerrard, Beth Gibbons, Gilbert and Lewis, João Gilberto, Philip Glass, Goldfrapp, Holly Golightly, Gorillaz, The Gossip, Rachel Goswell, Grandmaster Flash, Green Day, Grinderman, Gusgus, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Elizabeth Harper, PJ Harvey, Heart, The Heart Throbs, Kristin Hersh, Lauryn Hill, His Name Is Alive, The Hissyfits, The Hives, Billie Holiday, Hole, The Hope Blister, Haromi Hosono, The House of Love, The Incredible Moses Leroy, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Interpol, Ivy, Jefferson Airplane, JJ72, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Seu Jorge, Juliet, Jurassic 5, Zoë Keating, Kitchens of Distinction, Lakuna, lamb, Amel Larrieux, The Late Cord, Le Tigre, Lead Into Gold, Led Zeppelin, Leslie & The LY’s, Gordon Lightfoot, Love And Rockets, Love Spit Love, Lush, Magnétophone, Aimee Mann, Massive Attack, Mazzy Star, Cass McCombs, Natalie Merchant, M.I.A., Ministry, Minotaur Shock, Vinny Miller, Kylie Minogue, Mojave 3, Mono, Morcheeba, Morningwood, Mos Def, Bob Mould, The Mountain Goats, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Muslimgauze, My Bloody Valentine, Me’shell N’degéocello, Neutral Milk Hotel, Nirvana, The Notorious B.I.G., The Notwist, Nouvelle Vague, Laura Nyro, Oasis, Sinéad O’Connor, Beth Orton, Oslo, Outkast, Pale Saints, Dolly Parton, Linda Perhacs, Piano Magic, Pink Martini, Pixies, Placebo, Iggy Pop, Portishead, A Positive Life, Prince, Prince Paul, Princess Superstar, Prototypes, Providence, The Psychedelic Furs, Public Enemy, Rasputina, The Raveonettes, RJD2, The Roots, Röyksopp, Ruby, Scenic, Scheer, Semiautomatic, Shakespeare’s Sister, Kevin Shields, Sigur Rós, Silverbeam, Paul Simon, Nina Simone, Single Gun Theory, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Sisters of Mercy, Skinny Puppy, Sleater-Kinney, Slowdive, Smile When You Dial, Elliott Smith, Kendra Smith, Patti Smith, The Smiths, Sonic Youth, Sorten Muld, Soul II Soul, Spiritualized, Dusty Springfield, Squarepusher, Statistics, Stereolab, Angie Stone, The Stone Roses, The Stooges, The Stratford 4, The Strokes, Suba, Sugarcubes, Swallow, Sybarite, David Sylvian, 10,000 Maniacs, That Dog, The The, They Might Be Giants, Thievery Corporation, This Mortal Coil, Throwing Muses, A Tribe Called Quest, Tricky, TV On The Radio, The Twilight Sad, U2, Ultra Vivid Scene, Unrest, The Vaselines, Velvet Underground, Violent Femmes, Voyager One, Martha Wainwright, Scott Walker, Warlock Pinchers, Westside Chemical, Barry White, The White Stripes, Wolf & Cub, The Wolfgang Press, The Wonder Stuff, X, Xiu Xiu, XTC, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jay Z, Tom Zé, and Zero 7.
Yes, Air Supply. I make no apologies for this. None. So don’t even.
Who’s Got That Thing?
2007 April 01
Preface: despite the history of a certain foolish day, one best believe that when Leslie Hall comes rollin’ through town, she ain’t playin’ around. No she ain’t. Idn’t. Whatever. The crowd was chock full o’ kids in gem sweaters and bedazzler goodness as Team Gina, Scream Club, and Leslie and the LY’s rocked.the.house. Woe to those who came to strike a pose, this night was all about shakin’ what yr mama gave ya and having a good time.
Mikawaves
2007 March 15
When spending time in Amsterdam, one should procure a copy of Gay & Night to catch up on what’s new and exciting in the world of music, culture and politics. On the cover of the March 2007 issue is an up-and-coming chanteur named Mika. “…because everyone was calling me ‘Maika’, or ‘Mischa’. So I was saying ‘noooo, my name’s fucking Mika!’” Really, always with the language from a pop star. A quick look on Google brings one to Mika’s official web site. The artwork featured on his site and album is a result of Mika’s collaborative efforts with his sister Yasmine, a somewhat derivative redux of Peter Max.
And his music? Think falsetto in that terribly British pop kind of way. Most everyone will love his sound and equate it to Scissor Sisters. Others will equate his voice to new technologies developed by the military to cause hemmoraging in the ear canal. Such is the cosmic dance called life.
Have Mercy
2007 March 06
The new album “The Third Hand” by Rjd2 is out today! Sign up with emusic.com and download the album for free. Yes, I am plugging the site so I can get free downloads added to my account, but it’s not as if the situation isn’t win-win for everyone. Why are you still reading this? “You don’t want to be a laughing stock, do you? You don’t want to cry yourself to sleep each and every night?” Cliquez!
You really should check out Rjd2’s web site whilst you download, it’s a rather nice design by Sean Clauretie.
More entertaining than a monkey—for reals!
2007 February 28
Grinderman are Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos. Their sound is loud, explicit, and makes no apologies for itself. And with songs like “No Pussy Blues”, do you think Grinderman are looking to hug trees and make friends with rainbows and dolphins?
The Grinderman web site is available for public consumption, and amongst other goodies such as song streaming and viewing lyrics by the very hand of Nick Cave, you can also subscribe to podcasts of recording fragments. Best of all, credits of who did what for the site are provided. Polly Borland worked magic on the monkey photographs – be sure to look at her photos of Alison Goldfrapp – and Graeme Swinton did a brilliant job with the web site. Rightfully they both deserve their credit. Kudos to Grinderman for recognizing the people behind the curtain, this sort of practice is what all sites should follow.
When’s Your Album Gonna Drop?
2007 February 20
4AD released “Best of Lisa Gerrard” 13 February. No one, of course, cared. Seriously, what hapt to her? Lisa and Brendan rocked the mike as Dead Can Dance, but their solo careers… Well, at least she had a better run with it. But the woman is on tour and, surprisingly, tickets are affordable. I am just as shocked as you.
In better – nay, best – news, Explosions In The Sky have finally graced us with their new album “All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone”. “Welcome, Ghosts” has been floating around various music blogs for some time, but now the entire album is ours mine for the having. God have mercy on your soul if you haven’t yet purchased this album at your nearest independent music store. I would have done the same myself today, but I was too wrapped up in Britney Spears invoking the spirit of one Sinéad O’Connor. Don’t front, so were you all. Thank goodness Britney had the decency to pick out a pretty wig before checking herself back into rehab like a good little starlet should.
The point is: buy me things.
The Most Bloody-ful Time of The Year
2007 February 14
Sixteen years later, and this video still holds my attention rapt. Seriously, how do emo kids hold their heads high with the crap they call music? Oh, that’s right, they all suffer from horrible posture.
If you’re looking for a different kind of Valentine to send a friend or loved one, consider saying it with water.
The Twilight Sad
2007 February 11
I was listening to KEXP last week when I heard a Scottish voice gently singing over sonic layers that grew in their intensity. By the end of the song, I fell in mad crazy “I wanna have all yo’ babies” love with The Twilight Sad. I bought their EP at EM, and for now I must content myself with five songs to play over and over until the band releases another EP into the world. The EP design is the work of DLT: a job well done for making the release look how the band sounds. Hey, guys? For future reference, credit the design(er) with a link or something.
- The Twilight Sad EP on FatCat Records
- The Twilight Sad on MySpace