MODMODMOD MUSIC BLOG

Cleaning house!

2010-07-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

So I'm downsizing... majorly. selling most if not all of my vinyl and probably all of my cd's

heres a list so far of all of the vinyl im selling.

Miss Kitten - Proffesional Distortion
PIG - Never For Fun
The The - Infected
Beck - Mellow Gold
Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Sleeps With Angels
T-Rex - The Slider
Ministry - Every Day Is Halloween / All Day
Joy Division - Love will tear us apart
Metric - Live it out
Soft Cell - Tainted Love (where did our love go) / Memorabilia
AFX (Aphex Twin) - Analord 02
AFX (Aphex Twin) - Analord 05
AFX (Aphex Twin) - Analord 06
Goon Moon - I got a brand new egg layin machine
Great northern - Trading Twilight for Daylight
Martin Gore - Counterfeit e.p.
Fischerspooner - Emerge
Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
She Wants Revenge - She Wants Revenge
Irreversible original motion picture soundtrack
Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds - DFA remixes
Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds - Photek remixes
Serie Noire - Dark Pop and New Beat
Dieselboy - The DungeonMasters guide
Joy Division - Inside the line
David Bowie - Rebel Never Gets Old
Misery Loves Company - An Ersatz Audio Release
Hiltmeyer Inc. - I come from Munchen..
Joy Division - Still - Original Pressing in Canvas
Chrome - No Humans Allowed
Ministry - Burning Inside
Frontline Assembly - Digital Tension Dementia
Clock DVA - The Hacker
Kill Memory Crash - Never Forget / Technasty RMX
LCD Soundsystem - Disco Infiltrator
New Order - Waiting for the sirens call
Interpol - Hands Away - Dirty Hertz Remix
New Order - The Peel Sessions
Box Car - Free Mason
KMFDM - Money
Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams
Propellerheads - Decksanddrumsandrockandroll
Nitzer Ebb - Belief
Steppenwolf - 16 greatest hits
Rod Stewart - Blondes Have More Fun
Depeche Mode - But Not Tonight
Nine Inch Nails - Down In It
Ministry - The Land of Rape and Honey
Slide - Moog On The Water
Therapy - Caucasian Psychosis
Pig - Sick City / S**T for Brains
Depeche Mode - Master and Servant
Greater Than One - London
SKOLD - Neverland
Ministry - Filth Pig
KMFDM - Boots
!!! - Feel Good hit of the fall
!!! - Hello is this thing on?
Love and Rockets - Love and Rockets
Depeche Mode - Barrel of a Gun
Front 242 - Tyranny For You
Depeche Mode - Exciter
Ministry - With Sympathy
INXS - I need you tonight / Mediate
New Order - Blue Monday (floppy disk cover)
Adult - New-Phonies
Martini Bros - (she’s) heavy metal
Adult. - Anxiety Always
Depeche Mode - A Question of Lust
The The - Infected
Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
Depeche Mode - Policy of Truth
Depeche Mode - Behind the Wheel
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm Remixed
B52’s - Wild Planet
Luke Slater- Alright On Top
Romuald - I’ve Found
Aloud - Track Lifting
Depeche Mode - Black Celebration
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense
Adult. - Shake Your Head / Blank Eye Nose Bleed
The Prodigy - Hot Ride
Tori Amos - Under The Pink
Murray Head - One Night In Bankok
Culture Club - Colour by numbers
Mogwai - Rock Action
Fatboy Slim - Rockafeller Skank
1000 Mona Lisas - The Ep
Depeche Mode - Precious
Ministry - Twitch
Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
Dave Gahan - I Need You
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps - Red Vinyl
Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds - Picture Disc
Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds - Picture Disc
Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds - Picture Disc
Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds / Home limited with teeth pre order
Miguelle - Thriller EP
Hidden Variable - Neurobotic / Fuk Nostalgia
GD Luxxe - Between Zero and Eternity
Aphex Twin - Remixes 1
Ministry - The Nature of Love
Peter Gabriel - So
PIL - RISE 12” single
Rolling Stones - Exile on Main St
The The - Uncertain Smile
Killing Joke - Revelations
Joy Division - Closer
Pat Benatar - Get Nervous
New Order - Krafty
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult - Sexy Sucker (Red Vinyl)
Rolling Stones - Tattoo You
Talking Heads - Remain in Light
Gang of Four - Another Day Another Dollar
The Cure - Wild Mood Swings
New Order - True Faith / 1963
PIL - This is what you want
Talking Heads - Speaking in tounges
Al Green - Greatest Hits Vol II
Goldfrapp - Strict Machine
Bloc Party - Tulips
Delerium - After All
Lucky Pierre - Mutiny on my bounty
Green Velvet - Whatever
ACDC - Back in Black
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence 04
Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
Ohgr - Devils in my details
Depeche Mode - I feel loved
Nine Inch Nails - Only (Richard X and ELP remixes)
Front 242 - Tragedy For You
12 rounds - Pleasant Smell
The The - Mind Bomb
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
Martin Gore - Loverman EP2
Oingo Boingo - Dead Mans Party
Fischerspooner - Never Win
Revolting Cocks - Stainless Steel Providers
Depeche Mode - Dream On
Rex The Dog - Prototype
Kraftwerk - Radioactivity
Joy Division - Let The Movie Begin (limited run 377 of 547 - Blue vinyl)
Joy Division - Martin Hannett’s Personal Mixes (limited run 180 of 450 - Blue vinyl)
Depeche Mode - Playing The Angel
Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
Nine Inch Nails - Things Falling Apart
Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
A Place to Bury Strangers - A Place to bury strangers
Emily Haines - What is Free to a Good Home?
Depeche Mode - walking in my shoes
Portishead - Portishead
Garbage - Bleed Like Me
Portishead - Third
New Order - Power Corruption lies (floppy disc cover)
Nine Inch Nails - Only
Interpol - Evil
Interpol - Antics 7" limited box set
120 Days - Sleepwalking limited 7"
The Clash - Should I stay or should I go 7"
Adult. - Pray For Pills 7"
A Perfect Circle - Imagine 7" white
Depeche Mode - walking in my shoes - 7"
Wallpaper - Evrytime we do it 7"

A Place to Bury Strangers - Live in Fresno

2010-06-21T02:25:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a few moments to share something with the few readers that I hopefully have left. As it may seem that this blog has been all but abandoned. I assure you that it isnt. but yea whatever... :)

Some of you may know that A Place To Bury Strangers is on a quick little west coast tour.

Saturday night they played in Fresno.

I was lucky enough to be asked to help promote, by designing the flyer. I also DJ'd the event and I also got to film the performance.

I'm just going to get this out of the way right now. Oliver Ackerman and crew are probably the most down to earth, sweetest people, that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. These guys deserve to be huge, because quite frankly... they care about their fans.

Secondly...

2 days later... my ears are still ringing. :)

and last but not least... srsly... these guys killed it.

I was absoultely blown away by the raw energy that these guys had. 3 men and a wall of sound and visuals that managed to cause every fiber of my being feel like it was being drowned in chaotic bliss.

If you get a chance to check this band out live, please do. You wont regret it.

Tell them I said Hi.

Oh and here's the first video that I put together from the evening.

More to come soon, I suggest subscribing to our Youtube channel.

Cheers.

Broken Social Scene

2010-02-26T08:48:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to pop in and say... hello to everyone! I know its been a while, and I wont bore you with all of the "I've been super busy planning things" nonsense that I usually spit out when i havent posted in ages. But I will tell you this. there is a LOT of amazing music out right now, and if I get some free time this weekend I intend to write a blog about it.

But what brings us together today is... Broken Social Scene. I shouldn't have to tell you much about BSS. If you read my blog you should know that I'm a huge fan of canadian music. Broken Social Scene has a lot to do with that. As they are from Canada, and they are Amazing. and they have members that have been in and are in TONS of other amazing Canadian bands. Therefore, they have brought many many other amazing artists to my attention.

BSS have released a new single, "World Sick" for free download on their website. Its typical amazing BSS at their best. A massive army of guitars, peppered with synth and a small legion of drums and chorus. I can only hope this 7 minute epic is a reflection of what to expect from their new album "Forgiveness Rock Record" which is due to drop on May 4th. right in the middle of a World Tour that includes, San Francisco, London, Amsterdam and Toronto.

In other news, those familiar with me personally might remember a little old clubnight I used to have called POPSMEAR. from back in 2005 when I lived in Fresno. Well I got a call a few weeks ago asking if I would be interested in a Popsmear Reunion. Of course I was. So Sunday March 7th at the Starline in Fresno, I will be playing some old and new music with some old friends! I think its 5 bucks, but im not sure. just tell them you came to see me and you're on my guest list if you dont have a fiver.

Oh one more thing. ModModMod Friends, WALLPAPER. are headlining a pretty big show tonight in SF. You might have heard of it. NOISE POP. at Slims. You should PROBABLY Be there for this.

Other than that... I hope you all have a rad weekend. and try not to get to crazy with the cheeze whiz.

Other than that, I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Like a white trash drug dealer, DooDoo Face will destroy your life.

2009-09-22T07:24:00.001-07:00

We're back, not that we really went away... BUT we got busy. However I simply had to put some time aside to warn you all about the new Wallpaper. record that just dropped 7 hours ago.

THIS ENTRY IS A WARNING! ACHTUNG BABY!

At 12am Sept 22 1999... er 2009, Wallpaper. released DooDoo Face. And your world got FUNKDAFIED and you didn't even know it. I've been puttin this platter on the decks for a while now at some house parties, clubs and even a few weddings... my god...I havent seen a dancefloor that packed since I got my special edition Love Shack remix EP.

I played it at this one wedding in Thousand Oaks, and HOLY CRAP! Everyone was instantly doodoo faced. It was like all that champagne decided to suddenly kick in. I even saw one chick punch a dude in his nuts AND his face AT THE SAME TIME when this song started. He was just tryna find his self a fine girlfriend yo. It was an instant brawl, but a not a brawl of hate... Im sayin it was a Love brawl. because the whole time people was shakin thier bootys and pouring more bubbly. It looked like one of those MTV videos that I make fun of with all the rap guys pouring champagne all over the ladies and stuff. My lady was head banging and shakin it too. she actually jumped through a door. it was closed. I went to help clean up after the weddding the next day... and all there was left was a hole in the ground. and empty bottles of champagne laying around everywhere.

Basically this record will change your life. and make you possibly make some bad decisions.

If you remember, I told you that you should keep your eye on this little project. back in 2007! Ever since I've been following and occasionaly filming Wallpaper at their shows around Cali. I even made sure that they got to play at my old Apple store. which was a fantastic hit.

Now the record is here, for you all. and it is full of funktastic elektro beats. This is the record that all the electro hipster kids WISH they could make. And this is the record that will bring Electro Funk to the mainstream. It's already half way there, since the video for "I Got Soul" got voted as the best newcomer on MTVU. Of course I voted for it half a million times, but that's besides the point.

Let me put it this way, I'm usually the dude with the wierd music taste. I've accepted this. I've accepted that I'll never see eye to eye with most of society based on musical preference. But I swear to god, Everyone I've shown this record too has been blown away and has gone a little nuts. Even my Brother In Law who is way cooler than me, because he's from Africa, went nuts when he heard it. There's something about those 1970's bass synth lines combined with modern electro hip hop that destroys sanity.

This is a picture of him and I before I played a song.

Pretty cool dude. a little funky with the sunglasses, but overall a pretty straight shooter.

I played some Wallpaper for him, and this happened.

Even my sister got drunk and pregnant instantly all at the same time.

We were all pretty confused afterwards

But everyone just kept dancing

I should point out that everyone was pretty normal at the begining of the night. well except for my lady but that's why i made her my lady.

So basically, what I am saying is. if you want to retain normality in your life. DO NOT BUY THIS RECORD. It has the ability to destroy your life. If you arent careful.

However. If you are a square peg lookin to find a round hole, then you should certainly check this record out!

Or if you just love frigging great music. And I mean GREAT music....

with a sense of humor and a LOT of wit. You should most definitley give the DooDoo Face it's Due.

Its out wherever good music is sold, or you can just buy it on ITUNES

You can also check them out this saturday at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco for the Album release party (did I mention that I'll be filming? so make sure you say hi!)

*disclaimer to my family. Hey you guys put the photos on facebook. You cant expect me NOT to use them....

Update.

2008-12-03T08:26:00.000-08:00

So working for Apple and on The "UNINCORPORATED" Documentary, has left me little time for anything else... like actually updating this blog. So I figured I had better check in with you all and let you know that things are still moving forward.

We've had some awesome experiences with this project so far. Working with Dragonette, Wallpaper, The Telepathic and a few others.

We've got a few more acts lined up, but we need more. So if anyone knows of any artists that would be interested in a film interview to capture thier thoughts on the current state of the music industry, then please hit us up!

If you are not aware of what this documentary is about, allow me to briefly explain... Early this year I got the bright Idea to embark upon probably one of the most intense personal undertakings in my life. I decided that since nobody was really telling an in depth story about what's happening in and around the music industry (you know... like how bands are sick of getting screwed and everyones going at it their own way, and the industry still cant figure out how to conduct business properly etc etc etc.) That I would put together a film getting artists viewpoints on everything from being signed, to not being signed to unauthorized downloading to getting their music on iTunes.

I honestly started out trying to make a very balanced film that told both sides of the story, But the further I got into it... I wasn't finding very much good to tell about the major label side. So far its been a very eye opening experience. The stories I've come across are really amazing stories. The differing viewpoints that I've heard from bands, often times complete opposite opinions within the same band. But I need more. I need your band. I need major bands still, I need indie bands still. I need Industry people to tell their side of the story. This is a story that everyone seems to love talking about, but no one has really sat down to tell the tale and capture it on film.

this is my plea. I need more bands. I need you!

Other than that, I just started working on volume 4 of Joymodes Jukebox Sampler. I know I know I skipped out on that one last year, but thats what happens when you're on the road 24/7, as I was in 2007. So I'm thinking I might make this years release a Deluxe version. like I did a few years ago.

And just because I haven't been reviewing music much these days, doesn't mean there is a lack of it to be reviewed. Or better yet, It doesn't mean that I haven't been listening to TONS of new stuff, that is absolutely blowing my mind.

I'll throw you a couple bones on that one.

Make sure you check out Screen VInyl Image. One of the latest Electro / Psychadelic / Experimental bands from the Big Apple that have been caught up in the influence of perfect noise that only Death By Audio pedals can create.

And then there's the debut album form DFA1979 alumni Sebastien Grainger Probably one of my favorite records from 2008. Especially since I've been waiting for it since the middle of last year.

And of course theres the new Ohgr record. Probably the of the last men on earth actually making what I consider to be REAL INDUSTRIAL music. Would you expect it to be any other way though? Industrial is in my blood, and this record got it pumping and gave me some chills while it was at it.

While we're on the subject of Ohgr, you should also know that hes in an Industrial Rock Opera. Yes I said that correctly... Its called Repo, and its playing in a few select artsy type cities. The soundtrack is Killer.

So obviously there is so much more to discuss. So much more music. So many more ideas, like a possible bi weekly video podcast to discuss / argue about music... I just have to find a good bar to shoot it in. Or get a really good couch so I can really rip off Diggnation properly.

In the meantime you can follow what I'm doing on Twitter.

Until next time.

Tra la la.

The Telepathic Sneak Peak

2008-07-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

I've been working with a band from the bay area called The Telepathic. They are currently in the studio plotting world destruction. And I spent the weekend filming them. It was good times. Here's a little snippet of what to expect!

Wallpaper

2008-06-27T22:26:00.000-07:00

A brief snippit of one of our craziest nights in quite a while.

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to film the marvelous Wallpaper! We filmed two shows in one night. One show at a club in downtown LA and one show at a ghetto house party in Korea Town LA. Where we almost got killed by some drunk fighting gang bangers.

It was all worth it though, because we had a total blast filming Wallpaper. Heres some of the footage. Extra special thanks to Dustin from "How to be a microwave" for editing it!

MX3 Redesign underway

2008-05-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

As you can see, the MODMODMOD Music blog has been slightly redesigned to reflect the look of the new MODMODMOD.TV website that is currently being built.

More news coming soon!

MODMODMOD.TV

2008-04-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

I havent been making a whole lot of entries lately. Mostly because I've been working on something really big!

MODMODMOD has now evolved into...

MODMODMOD AUDIO/VISUAL PROPAGANDA

A little media company that will be catering to musicians and independent labels for creating artwork and promotional materials, as well as live super HD DVD's mixed in High Definition surround sound.

We hope to be able to offer the highest quality visual propaganda to musicians and labels as technology affords.

A new website will be coming soon. As for now, you can still access the blog at WWW.MODMODMOD.TV

As for this lovely MP3 Music blog... Dont worry, I'm still keeping it up! there will be a link on the main page of the new website. Because we cant forget our roots, and there's always some new awesome music to talk about!

As of right now, we have the means to record your band in High Definition 1080i Video as well as ULTRA HI-DEF 192Khz Audio. And for a limited time... we are offering our services for... FREEEEEE! Thats right! FREE!!! Mostly because we still need to iron out some kinks in our process. So this is a great chance to get some High Quality footage and recordings of your band performing or rehearsing.

Last Friday night we had the opportunity to record Division Day, Courtesy of EENIE MEENIE RECORDS at the Troubadour. That footage will be popping up on Gibson Guitars website pretty soon. As well as various others across the blogosphere.

As far as our first project goes... We have started scripting for a 30-45 minute Documentary focusing on bands that are trying to make thier way in the insanely fast changing music industry. IE: Digital Downloads, Music Bloggers, Leaking Records, Touring, ETC ETC. There will be lots of interviews with bands on various levels of success. Bands just getting going to bands that are making waves in the industry. Also lots of live performances to boot! We hope to have the film ready to debut at next years SXSW Film Festival. Thats what we are shooting for anyway.

The working title for the film is at this point entitled: UNINCORPORATED: The Rise and Fall of the Music Industry.

So thats whats happening in the world of MODMODMOD. I hope to have that website up in the next week or so. In the meantime, if you or anyone you know might be interested in our services, you can get in touch with us at Joymode (at) gmail.com

I should just rename my blog to "Trent Reznor Is Teh Awesome"

2008-04-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

Seems like theres constantly something to talk about in the world of Nine Inch Nails.

Yesterday, apparently... Someone dropped off a new NIN track entitled "Discipline" to KROQ here in LA. Supposedly it had been mastered by Alan Moulder within the last 24 hours.

Later that night, TR made the track available for download for free on NIN.com. Along with the multi tracks (Which I still havent managed to get a complete download of)

Embedded in the MP3 are lyrics, Artwork, and a little note informing downloaders to return to NIN.com on May 5th.

That artwork along with the May 5th comment have already created a mass hysteria of fans assuming that there will be a new album or ep or something of the sort made available.

As for the song itself... Its pretty good. although it wasnt what I was expecting from TR. I was expecting something a bit more Fragilesque... especially after the Ghosts record. But hey... This is not me complaining. I wont post the MP3 here. Only because you can get it for FREE at the Nine Inch Nails website.

I guess existing without a record label is a good thing for Nine Inch Nails fans.

MUXTAPES!

2008-04-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

So I decided to take some time out of my absolutely insane life to post briefly about the recent phenomena known as MUXTAPES.

The hipsters of New York have once again found a way to make the internet ultra stylish. A new way for scenesters and hippies to brag about thier music playlists for all teh internets to see.

So I decided to throw one together!

so here you go!

MODMODMOD MUXTAPE PLAYLIST!

Zebra Print Skirts and Diamonds

2008-03-05T08:41:00.000-08:00

This is how you know things are right... When the girl you marry, decides to go out and secure tickets to a show that she wants you to write about on your blog. What makes it even better / impressive, is when the band is actually really really good!

This was in fact the case, with Low Vs.Diamond @ The Viper Room last month. The only problem was... we didn't snag a photo pass. so we had to take shots on the sly... and well... that didn't turn out very well. They almost kicked us out for taking pictures. even though I tried to explain that it was for an article :( but thats ok. we made do!

This was Low Vs. Diamonds first show of 2008. They played for just under an hour, and debuted several new songs from their forthcoming full length album. The only ones I recognized were the ones from their Life After Love EP

The performance itself was stunning. My wife said (And I'm paraphrasing from memory here) that Lucas (The singer) reminds her of a scrawny kid that was bullied and denied by his love in his school years. Now he is all grown up and is taking his revenge on the world with his lyrics and music. Now I don't claim to know this mans history. But that made the songs make a bit more sense to me, thinking of his performance and lyrics from that perspective.

Whether that is the actual history or not... There was an intensity at this performance, that made me feel that this wasn't a run of the mill band, going through the motions. The performance was passionate and real. All eyes were on stage during the entire 55 minute set.

Low Vs. Diamond is certainly a band that I will be keeping my ear open and placed firmly on teh internets impatiently awaiting breaking news and more local shows.

Their ever glorious Myspace page says that they have a show lined up at the Troubadour on March 20th after they get back from SXSW. If you are reading this on the day that I wrote it, and live near San Diego, you can in fact catch them at the Casbah tomorrow night.

They've posted a free song for download here. Apparently its a bonus track that didnt make it to the Life After Love EP.

Two complaints about the show...

17 bucks for a beer and a rum and coke (or was it coke and a little tiny bit of rum¿). Are you freaking kidding me? I guess this is Hollywood.

Also... chick in the front with the obnoxious zebra print hipster skirt...who nearly knocked that 10 dollar rum and coke out of my wifes hands with her insane jumping up and down and overly fan girl waving of the arms... You're right there in the front... the band sees you... and yes I know you are probably friends with them or something... but please for the love of God, have some respect for the people around you trying to enjoy the show.

we managed to get a little video for you all...

MP3: Low Vs. Diamond - Stay Awake

Nine Inch Nails : Ghosts I-IV

2008-03-02T20:40:00.001-08:00

Oh my goodness...

Trent has done it again... I cant really write about it, because I cant freaking get into the website, because all the legions of NIN fans managed to break the NINTERNET.

But basically... out of the blue TR has released 36 new instrumental NIN tracks. In a variety of formats... just go to NIN.com to check on all the fuss...

The cool thing about it is... its released under creative commons. so that pretty much means you can do whatever you want with it.

Trent Reznor explains, "I've been considering and wanting to make this kind of record for years, but by its very nature it wouldn't have made sense until this point. This collection of music is the result of working from a very visual perspective - dressing imagined locations and scenarios with sound and texture; a soundtrack for daydreams. I'm very pleased with the result and the ability to present it directly to you without interference. I hope you enjoy the first four volumes of Ghosts."

I was going to load a preview player here... but apparently everything about this releases distribution is... should we say... JACKED.

So um... no one will probably read this tonight that doesnt already know about this... so download it tommorow... monday...

PS. ... I have some great show reviews coming up here this week... just havent had much time... what with getting married and all... thats right! I said I got married!!!

The Teenagers are going to seduce you.

2008-02-04T08:27:00.000-08:00

OK. So I didn't go to THE TEENAGERS show last week at Spaceland. My girlfriend was sick and she forgot her wallet with her ID in it back in Thousand Oaks. So I wasn't about to leave her sleeping in the car in Silverlake. Even though she tried to get me to. She knew I was upset about it. But I would have been even more upset if someone broke into the car and tried to rape her while she was passed out on NyQuil. (plus thats my job. OMG Kidding) So I felt bad. The Teenagers lovely managers went through the trouble of getting me a photo and press pass. And I didn't even get to use it.

So to make up for things... I did manage to get my hands on a copy of the forthcoming debut record. Reality Check. Since I cant review the show, which was apparently pretty much awesome, especially since Run Run Run played with David J of Bauhaus and Love and Rockets apparently joining them for a rendition of No New Tale To Tell... Ok... I'm gonna stop being irritated now.

Ok So The Teenagers. This is a strapping young band fresh out of Paris and London, respectivley... These guys just got listed as performing at Coachella this year. and they just played 4 or 5 shows here in the US. Expect to hear a lot about these kids.

The songs deal with dating and... well teenager things. Most of the time It feels like one of the two vocalist is reciting entries directly from his diary, of his frustration with his girlfriends as well as his conquest of some fresh young tan San Diego piece of a... err his conquest of a nice young girl from california, who apparently sees things very differently than he does. In the track Homecoming.

All in all this band is very enjoyable. I smile every time I listen to the album. The music is excellent post brit/french pop. Excellent Bass Lines. Great Synth Lines. Great guitar riffs. and Vocals that feel like they were recorded by a drunk french dude... who sounds more like he's in his 40's than in his teens... which adds a creepy and funny factor all at the same time. If you listen to the tracks I post here, I guarantee you will picture some french dude trying to seduce you. I can say that sort of thing, because I'm french. And thats exactly how I think I would sound if i had a french accent and I were trying to seduce you. It's been known to happen... when I've had a lot to drink.

It's hard for me to decide which track to post, since there are so many on the album that I just absolutely adore. So this is one of those rare and special occasions where you get to have 2 Tracks. These aren't necessarily my favorite tracks. Because I cant pinpoint which track are my favorites. they are just a couple tracks that I figure sums up the bands style pretty well.

So if you guys make it back out to the US any time soon... I would love to write a review of your live show. If the album is this fun, I can imagine the live rendition being an absolute blast.

Everyone else. Go grab this album when it gets released. Or buy the digital version of it now. Listen to it. Get drunk. and Make out with your girlfriend or boyfriend. and then blog about it. Buy their T-Shirts and talk about them to everyone.

MP3: The Teenagers - Feeling Better
MP3: The Teenagers - Homecoming

Oh yea PS. I turned 28 today. so if you wanna send me free music or tickets to shows anyone, feel free to do that.

Great Northern is not a punk rock band.

2007-11-11T10:48:00.000-08:00

Last month I had the opportunity to sit down with the beautiful and sweet Ashley and always dapper Davey from Great Northern, right before they opened up for Ladytron in San Francisco. It was a cool little chat. we covered a few topics. Some lighthearted, and some a bit more in depth. We'll get to all that.

But first of all I would like to say... I feel really really honored to know these people. I meet a lot of bands that have no where near the recognition that Great Northern is getting these days. And not many of them have the humility that each member of Great Northern has. Which makes it hard to differentiate between bands that I consider friends, and bands that I've just worked along side a few times.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I consider Great Northern friends. Because every time I meet them, we genuinely have a good time. And they are always genuinely happy to see me. I had about a 30 minute conversation on tape with Davey and Ashley, and there was nothing pretentious about these two. I had some very casual and candid conversation before hand with Davey while we watched Ladytron set up their gear and do a sound test. These people aren't hiding anything. What you see is what you get. I had talked to Solon and Rachel earlier that evening as well. And you get the same exact vibe from them as you do from thier music. Warm, Friendly and Accommodating.

After the interview, I watched Great Northern put on the best show that I've seen them put on. I've gone from being impressed with their music and stage presence, to at this show... being absolutely blown away. These guys have grown so much. They now put out a wall of sound that will just absolutely blow your mind, if you ever get the chance to see them. Solon's guitar playing has become more precise and noisy (which is a good thing) It adds a lot of ambiance to the bands music. Rachel's voice has gotten even stronger, Ashley is completely in control of her bottom end, and Davey seems to be hitting those skins harder than ever. All of these things combined make for a very very enjoyable performance, from a band that I know is just on the brink of something big. In the interview, they talk about touring, writing the new record and their future careers in the music industry.

MMM: Hey Guys! Hows the tour coming along?

Davey: Its been fantastic. This is a new tour though. The last tour we did was with the Comas. For a month. we've been all around the states. They were super super sweet. We had a really really good time!

MMM: Awesome! How did you guys get hooked up with them?

Ashley: You know I think it was through Tim... Our manager was the one that recommended them to us.

Davey: we played with them at SXSW. It was just one of those... "Party Type Shows" ... They played right before us... and Thats a really good question. (Chuckles)

Ashley: Yea we should really know the answer to that. But we don't.... It was fate that brought us together.

Davey: It was really really good though.

MMM: It tends to work that way in this industry doesnt it.

Ashley: Yep.

MMM: Do you guys have any favorite cities that youve played in so far?

Davey: New York. LA. Montreal.

MMM: Montreal is a very cool town.

Davey: It was fantastic. Always San Francisco.

Ashley: SEATTLE!!!

Davey: Yea Seattle was great! Portland was really.... No... Portland was ok.

Ashley: *Laughs* Portland was OK! We Love you Portland!

MMM: Care to elaborate on that?

Ashley: Umm... *laughs* No.

MMM: Ok. Well What I'm always curious about is how bands go about writing their tracks. Do you guys start out with... Bass, Drums, Vocal Melody, Lyrics... Etc?

Davey: Well this record is gonna be different than the first record. The whole first record... Solon and Rachel had wrote that for 7 or 8 months, together on 4 tracks. His and Hers. Combining ideas. They pretty much had everything written. We came in with some drums and bass parts. But this ones gonna be different. We've been playing some ideas at sound checks. Mostly coming from Solon, guitar ideas. We all kinda hook onto it. We havent really had a lot of time to jam them out though, because the sound checks are really short. You cant really bash away. But there's a lot of ideas flying around. So this record is going to be all four. With our own ideas. Our own parts. So... It usually starts with a guitar.

Ashley: The guitar and the piano together. And then we add the vocals, and then everything sort of trickles down from there.

Davey: I'm gonna try and change that. I'm gonna try and write a bunch of drum parts. and see if we can work it the other way around. I'm really interested in that. Writing really cool drum parts, and having these guys write to that. Thats what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna start recording a bunch of drum parts.

MMM: So its going to be a real collaborative effort.

Both: Yes Definitely. Definitely.

MMM: Very cool. When you guys do actually sit down and get to writing a record... Are there other artists that influence you? I know some artists shut the outside world off when it comes to music. Do you guys, kinda take in everything that you might be into at the time?

Davey: I think thats the case.

Ashley: Yep.

Davey: Right now, theres a lot of traveling in the van. We've got a lot of different music going on in there. We all like what we like. We take little tidbits.

Ashley: I can hear different influences in everyones playing. and we all have different influences. We're all inspired by different things. And yet we all kinda like the same music. So we get along, and it's a really nice chemistry to have. And it shows in all our playing. And were inspired by like a totally eclectic range of music. Everything from Depeche Mode to Nine Inch Nails to The National.

Davey: We're all kinda hot on Interpol right now. Bright Eyes. So were all over the place. Maybe some of those things will come out on the record.

Ashley: I definitely get the sense that the next record is going to be a different vibe than this one.

MMM: More upbeat?

Davey: I think so. Yea.

Ashely: More upbeat? You think so? The music I keep hearing has more of a darker edge.

Davey: Well more upbeat... Not personally wise. But faster...

Ashley: Ok yea. Faster and darker music.

MMM: Well yea, when you say Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails...

Ashley: *laughs* There you go! Yea I think its gonna come out. Maybe in little subtle ways. But I think its definitely gonna be there.

MMM: It will be interesting to hear. Thats for sure. I know you guys are totally interested in those two bands, but I never quite put you guys into the same category. Thats really interesting to hear. But thats awesome. I love both those bands... Everybody at some point has something click inside thier head and they decide "I want to do this for the rest of my life. I want to make music and be a musician." When did that happen for you guys?

Davey: Oh S**t... um...

Ashley: When I discovered I wasn't good at anything else. *Laughs*

Davey: A long time ago for me. I was 25. I'm growing old, so I've been on this quest for quite a long time. I don't wanna do anything else. I know how to do a bunch of other stuff. But I dont wanna do some other S**tty job. We've all been talking about that lately. We've all been saying how were gonna try really really hard to do this.

MMM: Its certainly a struggle.

Davey: Big Time. Its a f**cking struggle. But I'm not complaining. There have been some really good times. A lot of free traveling. Some free trips. Tons of friends.

MMM: Ashley, How old were you when you knew?

Ashley: Um, I always loved the idea of growing up to be a rock star. As soon as I picked up the bass, I knew that this was the coolest thing to do. And I think then it was the moment that I decided that I was going to go to college for music. It was like... Ok I'm gonna spend tons of money on my tuition. This is it! So yea... at that point it was really set in stone. From there on out it was just really serious.

MMM: You guys talk about how its a really hard thing to pursue. Its a struggle. Do you guys have any advice for young artists that have decided that this is what they want to do with their life, and there's no question about it? Any words of wisdom?

Davey: I think that...You said it... when they make that decision... they have to stick to it. They cant falter, or be hesitant about it. In my opinion they have to F**king totally totally go for it. Its like starting a business. You cant go about it half assed. But you do have to make an income. You do have to pay the bills... but don't get serious jobs. just get piddly jobs, where you can come and go. Find cool bosses... this is just my advice, but if you get a really serious career type job, you're not going to have the time to pull it off.

MMM: Its one or the other.

Davey: Totally

MMM: Its kinda like... being a musician... thats your serious job. And the other stuff is...

Davey: Filler.

MMM: Filler. Exactly. And hopefully when it all pays off... It really...

Davey: You wont have to do those little jobs anymore...

MMM: Heres a big question... I had the opportunity to DJ Great Northerns album release show. That was a big honor for me, I had an absolute blast... How did it feel to just totally pack that place out! How did you guys feel when you saw those lines going out both doors, Down both sides of the street. The VIP's werent even able to get in!

Ashley: *Giggles* IT WAS SO SURREAL! We had good friends of ours, and we were freaked out that they weren't even gonna be able to get in! I was like... "What is happening here!! This is CRAZY!!"

Davey: It was great! Thats exactly how it should be. The anticipation. It put us in a great mood to see those lines and see how crowded it was. When we play LA now... The last time we played LA, it was the same way.... Where did we play?

Ashley: Hollywood and Highland.

Davey: Yea... I mean a while ago where there was big lines

Ashley: Spaceland!

Davey: Yea! Lines. Just totally awesome. Selling out entire places.

Ashely: Yea We've gotten lucky. We've made alot of nice friends in LA. Its definitely paid off.

Davey: This is the best band I've ever been in.

Ashley: Me Too Davey!! *Laughs*

Davey: This is the ONLY band you've ever been in! *Laughs*

MMM: Is this the first band you've ever been in?!

Ashley: This is my first serious rock band. I've been in lots of little freelance things. That was always my thing. Little one offs where I would show up. read the music. And walk away with cash in my pocket.

MMM: Kinda like a session player.

Davey: Now shes in a real band and she's broke! *Laughs*

Ashley: *Laughs* Now I'm not walking away with cash. But I'm having the time of my life.

MMM: Well you know... Passion is worth more than money... some people say anyway. Bill collectors don't feel the same way. but yea.

Both: *laughing*

MMM: The first time I saw Great Northern, was a couple years ago, when you guys opened up for Ladytron in Pomona. The bands format has been changed a bit. Ashley wasn't in the band then. Davey, you were on bass then, now you're on drums...

Davey: This is THE line up now. Now its solid. We went through some drummers... and some situations back in the day... it was kinda all over the place. But now, things are really solid.

MMM: Yea I was impressed with you guys way back then, and I've seen you probably 3 or 4 times since, I think with the new line up, and I'm really impressed with you guys now.

Davey: Cool

Ashley: YAY! You know whats really cool is.. .before I was in the band, I saw them play, and I was super impressed and said "wow this band is really good" And 2 weeks later I was in the band! *Laughs* But... as an outsider as well as an insider, It's been really nice to be a part of that progression.

Davey: Thats gotta be pretty cool. To be a fan of a band, and then be IN the band.

Ashley: I know I tell people that! I got the EP. I spent my 5 bucks. And you know that 5 bucks... is MAKING ME A ROCK STAR!!!!! *Laughs*

Davey: *laughs* Thats a pretty cool story

Both: Laughing

MMM: Its a very cool story.

Both: Still laughing.

MMM: I go to a lot of shows. I cant even begin to count how many shows I've been to. and most of the time, the opening band... is like... alright. filler. you could be there or you could not be there. it doesn't really matter. I'm waiting for the band that I came to see. Those were my expectations for that first show.

Davey: That was at the Glass House? The Pomona Glass House?

MMM: Yea The Pomona Glass House.

Davey: That was a good show

MMM: It was a great show! I was just kinda goofing around. walking around the venue, and then you guys started and I was like... who's that?! And you guys had my attention for the remainder of the set.

Davey: Thats how it should be. That's what we're trying to do to everybody!

MMM: Yea it was a great memory. I think I've probably turned 20-30 people onto your music since then.

Ashley: Aww thanks!

Davey: That 20 dollars I gave you really paid off.

MMM: I would have done it for free. *laughs* How did you guys get picked up by Eenie Meenie records?

Both: Silence.

Davey: There's your answer right there. Blank silence. *Laughs*

Ashley: we don't even know. we cant even lie about it. we don't know that answer *Laughs*

Davey: Alright uh... just go past that part. Edit that out.

Ashley: Yea! Take that part out! *Laughs*

Davey: Tim Husom. Tim has been our manager. And he got a lot of people to our shows. And calling up small labels. He started with big labels. And then went down to the smaller labels. Thats how I think it happened. Tim got a hold of Eeenie Meenie's owner and invited her to a show... and she loved it!

MMM: That leads me into my next question. Regarding being on a record label. In these days, when we have iTunes, CD Baby and Myspace. A lot of bands have opted to go it alone. without the help of a record label. They figure they can do it on thier own. What attracted you guys to the idea of shopping for and signing with a record label, and saying... "you know, were going to give up some responsibility and a little bit of the control for help with getting this out there.

Ashley: Well first of all, I've got to hand it to the bands that can do it on their own. Because there are more and more bands that are doing that and its amazing. They work their BUTTS off. And we're working out butts off too ya know? But its just...

Davey: It has a lot to do with finances. You can only go so far with so much dough, ya know? It takes a lot of money to make a really good record. And distribution... how are those bands going to distribute their music? So you know... that whole thing about selling out and staying "Indie" is... We want to be global. We want the whole thing.

Ashley: It feels like we're still doing everything on our own. And we have a team that makes it possible for us to do things on our own. Its really expensive to tour. With Gas and Hotels... Thats the stuff that keeps a lot of people from doing it! Its not any of the other stuff. Its just that alot cant afford to travel. And they (Record Labels) make it possible to do that. And there's a lot of other things too! Like Distribution.. its things that...

Davey: Any band can do that on a certain level. You know.. Myspace. But thats as far as its gonna go. Reiko (Eenie Meenies owner) hired subcontractors. A publicist, Management, A Booking Agent.. We have this total team, and she fronts the bill. And we cant afford that. So in my opinion thats that. I mean we talked downstairs about the whole Universal thing hopefully happening... [Earlier I had spoken with Davey about the possibility of Great Northern being bought out by Universal Recordings after a show they were set to play for them a few days later.] ... Taking it to the next level. Which... F**k. I don't wanna stay down here.

MMM: Nobody wants to play in their garage for the rest of thier life.

Davey: Naww man. I wanna be comfortable. I haven't been comfortable for years.

Ashley: The whole "Its not cool to sell out" thing... Thats the 90's.

Davey: That was a long time ago. *laughs*

Ashley: "YOU SELL OUT!!!" Now its cool to sell out. *laughs*

MMM: I think it might be a case of... the ones who look down on selling out, never had the opportunity to sell out.

Davey: it could be. It could be jealousy. The ones that never got the offers.

Ashley: When I hear a great band in a car commercial or an ipod commercial, I'm like "Thats So Cool!"

Davey: They just made their house payment.

MMM: Thats the thing about artists like... Feist!

Ashley: TOTALLY! I was JUST thinking of her.

Davey: Yea I just saw that the other day.

MMM: Yea Leslie Feist. That girl has been busting her butt for years. And I dont get the opportunity to watch much TV, but I turned on the TV the other day, and there she is on the iPod commercial.

Davey: I love that commercial.

Ashley: It's a great commercial.

Davey: Its a great song! Great song. Great commercial. Good for her.

MMM: I was at a Starbucks the other day, and I saw her CD for sale at a Starbucks...

Davey: We have NO problem with that.

Ashley: I got Becks new cd from Starbucks!

Davey: Yeah, we're not a punk rock band. we don't get pissed off at stuff like that. Bring it on!

MMM: There you go! well thats interesting. Great Northern is not a band that is afraid of selling out. Maybe someday you can upgrade your futon to a king size bed.

Ashley: People that go into a Starbucks are going to be a different audience than those that walk into like... Amoeba. So you're going to be able to reach out to a different audience, that you wouldn't normally be able be exposed to.

MMM: In the end it boils down to... Music is music. If it touches your soul, then what do you care about how it got there.

Davey: Thats right. Some of those bands out there right now... It gets confusing for me to see their posters on a pole.. Its like who are all these bands? Its hard to know whats good or not.

MMM: Are there any bands that we should be keeping our eyes on?

Davey: The Band Of Horses. I just love that song. I think they're gonna be ...Huge.

MMM: Anyone else?

Ashley: We've got a bunch of friends of ours that are just incredible.

Davey: Yea the locals!

Ashley: They have some incredible bands. Like She Wolf, Pity Party, Earlimart. There's just alot of really great music coming out of LA right now. Now is the time when its all going to just explode.

Davey: We're really stoked about the Silversun Pickups blowing up. They're kinda leading the charge. Opening up a little bit of that LA door. Hopefully we can slide in there behind them.

Ashley: They're incredible.

MMM: I think you guys are gonna jump ahead of them.

Davey: We'll be right behind em.

Ashley: We'll be holding hands. *Laughs*

Davey: We might take over. Its a little friendly competition. *Laughs*

Ashley: Our plan is to hold hands *Laughs*

MMM: There's nothing wrong with a little friendly competition.

Davey: Not at all!

Ashley: It puts a fire under your ass. They're our friends. Its exciting to watch whats happening to them, ya know?

Davey: I just want it to happen to us.

Ashley: Totally. And they do too! They're super encouraging. Its never awkward. They're so humble. And they're just as excited about what we're going through as they are about what they're going through.

MMM: Well I think you guys are gonna make it. I've seen your big shows, and I've seen your little shows. The energy is always the same with you guys. Regardless of how many people are there. Its obvious that its in your heart. And you guys always manage to drive through it. So I think you're gonna do really well.

Davey: I hope you're right. I think you're right. We're trying really hard. Thats all we're doing.

Times they are a changin

2007-10-31T10:05:00.001-07:00

Bob Dylan said that a few years ago. I dont think he was talking about putting his music online... but hey, I'm always up for a good music related catch phrase for my intros...

I've yet to comment on the recent events that have been taking place in the music industry. Mostly because I've been on the road working my ace off, 7 days a week.

Most of you know im sure, about radiohead releasing thier latest album "In Rainbows" online for an optional donation of whatever you choose.

Analysts estimate that within the first week, the band managed to profit between 8 and 10 million dollars. Last time I checked there was still no official word on the actual number. I'm not entirely convinced that that information will be divulged to the public.

But it still poses an interesting question... Is this it... is this the future. Is this signaling the end of record labels?

According to Trent Reznor it is. A couple weeks ago he posted on NIN.com that he is now a free agent, and Nine Inch Nails is no longer affiliated with any record label.

The Blog world and message boards have been absolutley insane since these recent happenings have occured in the music world. I personally got about 20 text messages within minutes of the announcement. The interesting thng is... most of the messages werent even from NIN fans.

Tonight at midnight Trent Reznor is releasing Saul Williams new record online. and once again, you can either choose to donate 5 bucks through paypal or download it for free. The choice is completely up to you.

They claim that this is an experiment, and the kinks are being worked out as they go. Experiment or not... Its a step in the right direction... no scratch that... Its a LEAP in the right direction. No wait... Its a ludicris speed hyperactive launch in the right direction.

These days I think im more interested in what Trent Reznor does as a business man as much as if not more than what I am in his music.

So what about the small artists? the ones that dont have a ton of recognition already. Well Saul Williams could be considered a small time artist.... but He's got Nine Inch Nails fan base at his disposal... and we all know NIN fans... whatever Trents says to do... gets done.

What about the artists that dont have a history like radiohead? what about the artists that dont have the help of an extremly popular band with a huge fan base like nine inch nails? What are those bands supposed to do? Do they really still need a label? Can they do it on thier own?

I had the opportunity to interview Davey and Ashley from Great Northern last month when they opened for ladytron in san francisco. I asked them about this subject. This is even before Radiohead made thier album available. And I got some pretty interesting feedback on thier thoughts of artists going it alone... That entire interview will be posted soon (as soon as i get time to finish transcribing it)

But the part that interested me, regarding this subject, was the fact that they were currently looking forward to playing a show for UNIVERSAL, a large worldwide label that was interested in buying out thier contract that they held with EENIE MEENIE RECORDS. A great little indie label in Los Angeles, that is doing everything they can to pioneer the art of putting out records... And while Great Northern have all the respect in the world for a band that can make it entirely on thier own, without the help of a label... I got the feeling that they didnt think it was really possible to do it, and make it big (AKA make a decent living) without some big money behind them to get them the recognition that they had been hoping for.

But then theres the other side of the small indie coin. You have artists like Pete Samples. Who recently posted his entire album on his website via NON-DRM 128 kbps MP3 for free download. He did however state that fans should feel free to purchase the album by regular online methods or by walk in record stores, if they felt so inclined. As well as providing a link to donate via paypal.

Granted 128 Kbps MP3's are not the most amazing quality you could ask for... at least its not 96 Kbps. But what do you want for free? Not to mention the blessing to download from the artist themselves.

The recurring thought with all these bands is this... Download these decent, listenable quality MP3's. and If you like it, and feel its worth your time and money, then purchase the high quality files or the actual CD or record from said source, and then you can have whatever quality you like. Not to mention, if you like artwork and an actual tangible product...

I might still be in the dark ages with this one. I hate purchasing a file. I want to own something that I can rip the plastic open on, gush over the artwork and then rip and burn to my hard drive and pop onto my ipod, and then stick back in my crate under my bed. I can then pull it out whenever i decide that I want to utilize my 10,000 watt 8 speaker surround Hi Def optical sound system. Other than that, I'm usually glad to have it pumping through my ipod on my imac or through my JVC deck in my work van. But I still want to own something that I can have in my hands.

I've been buying CD's and records since 1989, when I was 9 years old. I dont forsee that ever stopping. But I also downloaded my first MP3 back in 96 or 97. along with a copy of winamp. Thinking that this was the coolest thing ever. And realizing that this was absolutely about embracing technology.

Then there was napster. Then I discovered Direct Connect from my cousin back around 1999... That was amazing. I filled up my 20 gig hard drive on my laptop within 2 months. and purchased my first external hard drive just for music. I think it was 150 gigs. I paid a few hundred bucks for that one. Since then I've accumulated probably over a terrabyte of digital music files. Due to bit torrent sites like demonoid and oink. Mostly oink.

Which is another closely related subject. That I'm currently debating on diving into...

Oh what the heck. Diver down. If you've read this far, then you will probably keep reading.

Last week, Interpol shut down OINK.cd

Depending on who you ask, this was mostly considered to be a major blow to the bit torrent music sharing community. Oink.cd was a website where you could find practically anything you ever wanted to find.

Rob Sheridan wrote an exceptional article about this over at his blog. Demonbaby.com. its probably the most well written and sane viewpoint that I've read, regarding this whole mess. Its made its way around the entire interweb. It was posted @ DIGG.com and last time i checked the site, just over 2800 people had dugg the article. thats not to mention slashdot and however many other sites have posted the link... He talks about working within the music industry. and the extreme spending and pimping and hoeing and the general lack of regard for spending. Money wasnt an issue. Because there was so much of it. Mostly because CD prices continued to rise, while they became cheaper to produce. Now I'm all for making a profitable living. I own my own business, and I'm constantly looking for ways to make more money. But I also know that, if I were to take part in shady business practices, then I would be able to make an absolute killing in my field. This is where morals come into play. If you can make more money... while technically remaining legal (which is once again open for debate, because the people that say what is and isnt legal are paid by these companies to make these laws)... would you do it if you felt it was morally wrong. and then chastise and sue the people that refused to play with you on your terms? Once again... your terms that you paid the government to make laws out of?

Its believed that the authorities are trying to figure out how they can go after the users that downloaded from this website.

Now wait a second. last time I checked... most artists that I was interested in, werent interested in suing thier fans for getting excited about thier music. So ok... this must be coming from the labels. The same labels that have the money to elect politicians who pass laws that suit the interests of the labels. The very same laws that allow these sites to be shut down and prosecuted as Criminals. yes the same kind of people that rape babies. These site owners are being demonized as criminals. when really, the sites dont actually host any of the actual files in question.

Hmm, hows that work?

It seems obvious to me, that these massive labels do not have the best interest of the artists that they supposedly support.

So what are these record labels supposed to do? How does a record label protect thier investment, while keeping up with the wants and demands of thier consumer base? Well so far no one has been able to answer that question. Trent Reznor, in all of his infinite wisdom, admits that he doesnt know what labels should be doing. Thats why artists like himself and radiohead have chosen to go it alone.

I heard an excellent illustration not to long ago. it might have been from rob sheridans blog. I'm currently too lazy to go back and reread it for the exact quote. but it was something along these lines...

Water bottle companies have to try and sell a product that people get piped into thier homes every day. The New York Times has to compete with the internet, where you can get any news you want instantly, with just a few keystrokes. But yet both of these industries and companies manage to survive. Hell, I still buy newspapers when I have time to read one. I also buy a few bottles of Aquafina on a daily basis.

So why cant the record labels figure out how to sell thier product to consumers. I think if they put half the effort into marketing and rethinking thier product that they put into suing possible customers, then they might have figured out some kind of answer by now.

But no. They've chosen the opposite. Only recently have some labels allowed thier music to be sold online without the restraints of DRM. Thats a step. But its not the entire answer.

In the end... Its my belief that there will always be music around. Artists will always exist. And maybe the labels will figure it out right at that last second, how to work with these artists. But I have a feeling that by that time it may be too late. I am inclined to think that its too late now.

listen to the silence...

2007-10-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

I'm in vegas for my sisters wedding, and I have to go get my tux and then set up all my DJ gear over at the hall. so I'll make this short and quick. mostly because it certainly deserves notice.

I dont normaly get too excited about films. (although I love music videos and music photography.) But this film has me very excited. Mostly because its the work of my favorite photographer, Anton Corbijn about one of my all time favorite bands, Joy Division.

The film has sparked as much curiosity as it has controversy. And this morning, a lovely little clip that apparently no one has seen, from the film, mixed in with some stock footage of the band appeared on youtube.

The film is out this month.

and for those that havent seen the trailer...

One more for the road

2007-09-24T12:18:00.001-07:00

MP3: Miracle Fortress - Have you seen in your dreams?

I've got one more quickie for you.

And we all know how you love quickies. wait... what?

*ahem*

Miracle Fortress is the main recording project of Graham Van Pelt. A native of Montreal. It's also Graham's band featuring Jessie Stein, Jordan Robson-Cramer and Adam Waito.

It's a good mix of ambient drones and progressive post and classic rock. Very very interesting to say the least. There's allot of texture going on here as well as a lot of building and dropping off.

It works really well for a rainy day. Which might be why I've been listening to the album allot lately.... The album in question is called "Five Roses". Five Roses is the first full-length Miracle Fortress album, available via Secret City and Rough Trade

Yet another artist that has opted out of the typical website idea, and has instead found solace within the digital warmth that is myspace.

Here's a clip of them playing at the montreal pop festival.

A man can make dream pop.

2007-09-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

MP3: Caribou - Melody Day

What if Blonde Redhead were a band from th 60's? thats the best way that I can sum up Caribou.

Hailing all the way from Dundas, Ontario Canada this is the project of Daniel Snaith, in the studio, with the help of 3 more musicians in a live setting. They bring to the world, a sound that hasnt been revisted properly in about 40 years. One must wonder how many sheets of LSD these guys go through in one evening. It certainly comes out in the music. and It doesnt sound fake or forced either. they really hit the nail on the head with their exploration of music and sounds from another era.

The great thing about it is... It doesn't sound stale. even though it has obviously been done before. It still has that modern right now edge, that is necessary in order to get some notice these days.

They have quite a few records out. I'm not exactly sure how many. But I keep finding more and more material here and there on the net.

They have a few pages on the net... Myspace, Youtube, Virb, Flickr . You would do well to check them all out. there's alot of good material here. I'm going to try and see them at Slims in San Francisco on Oct 27th.

The BBC did a story on the making of the new album "Andora"which can be watched here.

I love the video for Melody Day. Kinda reminds me of something Anton Corbijn (my all time favorite photographer and visual director) would have done...

*UPDATE* I just came across this on pitchfork. The live band rehearsing in the studio. very very cool indeed.

Wanna teach me how to dance with your girlfriend?

2007-09-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

MP3: Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach You

Because the Black Kids wont do it. At least thats what they claim in my new favorite song, "I'm not gonna teach you"

A 5 piece from Jacksonville Florida. The group consists of a brother and sister and 3 other friends from Sunday school. (which is apparently a giant festival of sexual tension, according to the interview with VICE which they have posted on their myspace blog).

their name and its origins is best explained by the band. So I'll quote:

"Reggie Youngblood (Guitar/Vocals): This tends to be a long answer, but you're not attacking our name (as some do), so I'll tell you this: It is REALLY fucking hard to come up with a name that hasn't been taken. You think of something you like, Google it, and sure enough, someone's beat you to it. So, we thought, we really must have something that most people won't touch. And it should sound cool. I find it hilarious when someone black asks Owen or Kevin (who are both white) what band they play in, because they're not quite comfortable saying it aloud. If I'm with them, I just keep very quiet and relish the awkwardness."

They arent signed... yet. I say yet because it seems that they have captured the attention of a few labels lately...

They've been kind enough to allow us lovely world wide web surfers to download 4 tracks from thier myspace page. Which I of course did at a rapid pace upon discovering this marvelous act from the south. They dont have an actual website, that I've been able to find. but hey this is the latter half of 2007. EVERYONE has a myspace.

I'm almost starting to think that the rest of the internet could not exist, and I would find plenty of music on myspace to keep me content... well almost... not really.

Al Jourgenson Gets into film!

2007-09-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

MINISTRY front man Al Jourgensen has been confirmed to score, music supervise and create the soundtrack for the upcoming horror feature film Wicked Lake , a sordid supernatural tale about four co-ed girls on a weekend getaway tailed by two clans of deranged male predators. Al is also set to perform a small role in the film as a perverted art professor. "Not exactly a stretch for me," states Jourgensen.

Tentatively scheduled for a Spring 2008 release, Wicked Lake is directed by Zach Passero. Passero, directed Ministry's video "Lieslieslies" as well as the animated video "Fire Engine" for The Revolting Cocks. "Zach is one of the most talented, driven young artists I've met in a long time," said Jourgensen. "We both have the same twisted penchant for dark humor, so it's a match made in horror hell." Retorts Passero, "Al seems to be radiating manic creativity these days which is just what the Wicked Lake needs." Co-producer Chris Sivertson remarks, "When Zach and I were at film school together, Ministry was often the soundtrack of our madness. Now having Al on board, we've come full circle." Carl Morano and John Carchietta of production company Fever Dreams commented, "We are delirious and overjoyed with Al's involvement, we fear his manic energy and supernatural musical genius could be a sign of the impending apocalypse or at least the end of cinema as we know it."

Wicked Lake begins shooting soon on locations in New Mexico and in Jourgensen's hometown of El Paso where he will write, produce and record the music for Wicked Lake at his 13th Planet Studios compound. The soundtrack CD will be released on his own 13th Planet Records and will feature tracks from 13th Planet's stable of artists - Ministry, Prong, The Revolting Cocks, Ascension of The Watchers, False Icons and Mob Research.

KMFDM IS BACK!!!

2007-08-21T22:39:00.000-07:00

MP3: KMFDM - SUPERPOWER

You heard that right! KMFDM is BACK! with their strongest effort in years! This album has instantly become one of my favorites. and thats only after a few listens.

Tohuvabohu was released in the US today on metropolis records. The modern equivalent of Wax Trax. Although I'm not usually interested in much that they release these days. Industrial for the most part is dead IMO. Its a genre of self loathing and self parody. And its just damn depressing. A genre that completly blew my mind as a young teenager discovering music, has turned into an absolute abortion.

There are a few old masters still at work. KMFDM, Ministry, Skinny Puppy, Einsturzende Neubauten and dare I say... Nine Inch Nails? But even in recent years, some of these past geniuses (I wont mention which ones) have caused me to wonder if it was time for even them to hang up the sequencer and.. er.. manipulated vacuums and drum machines...

I will be honest when I say that I had given up completely on KMFDM. their last couple studio albums left MUCH to be desired. with the loss of Raymond Watts, Skold (who left to produce and play bass for the always ridiculous Manson) and before that En Esch... this new band that Kaptn 'K' had put together... while technically impressive with their playing ability... They just didnt strike a real chord with me.

I felt like I was listening to the same metal rock record over and over. which isn't unnecessarily a bad thing... It just seemed either forced, or careless. I cant be sure. Either way, after two albums of that, I had lost interest.

Enter Tohuvabohu. the latest effort by Kaptn K. and his Krew. Featuring the Lovely LUCIA and ex members of PIG (Who's presence is still missing on this record) This record gives me hope for industrial music once again. It seems to be mix between the SYMBOLS album and WWIII. two albums that I absolutely adored. Lucia obviously has a bit more influence in the structure of the songs written, its obvious... however they are all still very classic KMFDM. this is the album that should have been released after WWIII. Its got those classic dance floor metal beats backing Sascha's tounge in cheek self proclaiming God of Industrial/Political movement lyrics.

The opening track is very reminiscent of early to mid 90's work. opening with a funky bass line, and a full horn section, Complete with a sax solo that would make Mr. Reznor blush. I actually smiled when i first heard that bass line kick in. I knew I was in for something special.

The rest of the album follows suit nicely. jumping directly into full on industrial chaos that KMFDM is so loved for. Sascha and Lucia trade vocals off and on throughout the album as was expected. Its interesting to hear them interact as husband and wife after a few years of marriage and touring and recording together. Maybe that explains why this album is a return to form. Maybe they are finally truly comfortable with each other. Who knows? Regardless, the album continues on to impress me with a mixture of familiarity as well as new rhythms and concepts. I'm not exagerating when I say that I got excited and had chills when I listened to this record for the first time. And even now as I type this review.

Dont get me wrong. This album doesn't sound like a rehash of anything theyve already done. It just sounds like the old Kaptn is back in top form, after a few years of... well I don't know what that was... maybe he was listening to allot of Rammstein or something. I don't know. But I'm glad he's moved on.

This album is amazing. Its out today. Go Buy it. You can listen to some more tracks on their myspace page as well.

I just have one request for the band...

PLEASE BRING RAYMOND BACK!!! that old swine is all alone out there. and he truly brought an amazing dynamic to the albums as well as the live shows. Thats my ONLY complaint on with this album. No Watts.

Still all in all, even without Raymond. I give the record 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

I've never actually given anything stars before. I should start doing that. :)

Tony Wilson of Factory Records Dead at 57

2007-08-11T07:28:00.001-07:00

This is really really sad news for me.

This man practically discovered Joy Division. The way he did business in the music industry shows that he was more passionate about the music than he was about the profits.

Staff, Manchester Evening News
Friday August 10, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

The music mogul Tony Wilson has died aged 57 following a heart attack.

The former Factory Records boss had been diagnosed with kidney cancer last year, and had been undergoing treatment in hospital in Manchester.

Wilson founded the famous Hacienda nightclub and was one of five co-founders of Factory Records, which produced bands such as New Order and the Happy Mondays during a period in the eighties dubbed 'Madchester'.

Born at Hope hospital, Salford, he went to De La Salle Grammar School, Salford, and studied english at Cambridge before beginning his TV career as a trainee with ITN in 1971.

Article continues
He was a reporter and presenter on Granada Reports and went on to present So It Goes - the music show that first aired punk bands.

He also worked on World In Action - Granada's flagship current affairs programme - and Flying Start which showcased new businesses, as well as After Dark, a late night discussion programme on Channel 4.

Besides presenting, he helped to organise the annual In The City festival in Manchester which attracts musicians and critics from all over the world.

And Steve Coogan played Tony in the film 24 Hour Party People, a semi-fictional account of Tony and Factory Records.

More recently he has presented XFM Manchester's The Sunday Roast show and two BBC GMR shows, Ground Rules, a one-hour sports show, and Oxford Road Station, a Saturday lunch-time show.

His family were too upset to talk last night but wanted to thank staff at the MRI and Christie who have provided "fantastic" care for him over the last few months.

Professor Robert Hawkins, his doctor at Christie hospital, said: "It's very sad. He died as a result of something unrelated to his cancer. His cancer was responding well to treatment but obviously did contribute to his poor health".

manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Canadian Stars

2007-08-05T16:31:00.000-07:00

MP3: Stars - The Night Starts Here

More love from Montreal. I heard this song while driving in my work truck a few weeks ago, listening to CBC3 on Sirus 94. The canadian Indie station. I fell in love instantly. Amy Milans harmony melted my heart. While eating lunch at a super cool little cafe in Berkeley, I hopped on my blackjack. I amazingly enough found it INSTANTLY and within 3 minutes it was downloaded to my phone. It was my ringtone for a few days. (now I think its back to metric)

Stars are yet another amazing band out of Montreal. (Seriously I love ALMOST everything that comes out of that town.) They happen to be on a full on tour right now. And I will most certainly be checking them out at Bimbos in San Francisco on either the 13th or 14th of November.

Check more of thier music out on thier myspace page.

Now I'm leaving for San Francisco from Tahoe for a crazy week of work. See ya soooon!

I am a total LIAR! But at least I'm a free man who can dance...

2007-07-17T13:33:00.000-07:00

MP3: Tilly and the Wall - The Freest Man (CSS REMIX)

I'm not even going to apologize for not posting for about a complete month... even though I swore I had all kinds of music to talk about... I do... I just havent made time to do it...

I'm up in tahoe again... and I came across this track this morning... and I've been listening to it all morning. It's now my ringtone on my brand new SAMSUNG BLACKJACK!!! which might actually be the freshest phone in existence. Well next to the iPhone that I literally cannot justify dropping 4billion dollars on.

Ok. So this is a band called Tilly and The Wall. I dont know much about them, other than they seem to be pretty neat as well as from Omaha...and are one a label that I've never heard of called Dew Process. The song I heard this morning is a CSS (cansei de ser sexy) remix. Another group that I can pretty much always depend on for excellent remixes. I like thier album work. but I really think that their strenghts lie in the remix world. Its a nice chill mix. about 120 BPM. with that totally fresh vocal effect that Cher so wonderfully mastered on that Awesome chart topping club anthem "DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE" back in the 90's.

Its a nice little song to listen to on a day like today. So give it a spin. And see what you think.

I should have known...

2007-06-14T18:12:00.001-07:00

I know I said I would be updating alot over the last week... I know I dropped the ball on that one... But I'm in the process of moving up to tahoe in a couple of weeks, and well... its pretty time consuming getting everything in order.

So I decided that to make up for my lack of updates... I would reward you, my lovely readers. With something that I guarantee you havent heard ANYWHERE else. How can I make this guarantee? well, Its a recording that only I own...

Last year, I booked a show that consisted of Modwheelmood, Mellowdrone and Monsters are waiting. I recorded the entire show. and due to recent demand... I have decided to share the Modwheelmood portion of the show with you all this evening.

If youre not familiar with MWM, shame on you. MWM is the main project of Nine Inch Nails keyboardist; Allesandro Cortini. Yes you read that right. The MAIN project. Nine Inch Nails is Ally's side project.

I was really suprised when I first heard Modwheelmood. My first Allesandro experience was at a live NIN show, on the 2005 with teeth tour. I mean here was a guy that was pounding on these odd synths that I had never seen before, with as much aggression as you would imagine from a NIN keyboardist. fast forward a few months later, when I managed to track down a copy of MWM's album; Enemies and Immigrants. only to realise that this man has a soft... albeit complex, side. My interest was captured and I became a fan. shortly after that, I approached Monsters are Waiting's booking agency about doing a show in Fresno. They said they were in the process of booking a mini tour with Modwheelmood and Mellowdrone (another one of my interests at the time) and that they would love to play a show in Fresno.

So that set the events into motion. I was ecstatic. I was booking 3 totally amazing bands. the likes of which Fresno's underground had never seen before, and one of those bands was the project of Nine Inch Nails keyboardist.

Anyway, I wont go into all of the details of the entire evening, because I'm sure you dont want to read all of that (and it mostly consists of 3 very cool bands playing dodgeball behind the venue..) But Lets just say, that I've still got the best mental image of Allesandro and my dad drinking a beer together, talking about the things I was doing in Fresno, and how proud my dad should be of me. I wish my batteries hadnt died on my camera at that point. Would have been one of the coolest pictures ever.

The show consisted of 3 people, A bassist. a guitarist and Allesandro on his knees for the entire performance twiddling knobs on an unknown synth, some effects processors and an iPod for a backing track. They blew threw a set which included almost the entire Enemies and Immigrants EP. as well as a pretty awesome cover of Depeche Mode's HOME. All in all, a really cool minimal electronic / acoustic set of music.

From what I hear, the full length album is supposed to be released in August of this year. So here's hoping!!!

Without further ado. Here is the entire ModwheelMood set from that evening...

(Unfortunatly, somehow the levels got pushed up a bit on the last track. so there's a little distortion there. Its still certainly listen able, however)

MP3: Money For Good
MP3: Delay Lama
MP3: As I Stand Here
MP3: Home
MP3: Yesterday
MP3: Things Will Change

Skipping class for a week. well 2 actually

2007-06-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

MP3: Sebastien Grainger - Are there ways to come home? (demo)

Ok ok ok. I know. no updates. I've been busy being a world traveler. well California traveler anyway. I've got so much stuff to talk about. and so much music to share. and I'm going to do my best to get it all out by weeks end. but I cant promise anything. :P

I am really excited about this one... Sebastien Grainger. the Drummer from Death From Above 1979. He's finally got his own stuff coming out. and thats great. because i was really starting to miss his art. Its a bit of a different direction for him than his previous band. but thats ok because its still really good. You can hear some similarities... but on a whole... its a different vibe. a bit more chill and go to the beach and have a beerish. I've only heard 3 tracks from the album and they are all supposed demos. but if its any forsight at all into what we can expect, then I'll be very happy. I'm already surfing daily for new demos that hes released.

He isnt signed to any label yet... although I would assume that last gang would pick him up. I dont see why they wouldnt. Its right up thier ally. He just finished a small tour with Metric and I guess hes just been in the studio with members of metric working on his debut album. still no word on the release date. But it looks like he updates his myspace pretty regularly, and occasionaly posts links to demos that hes been working on. theres also quite a few live vids there. where you can hear some songs that I havent heard anywere else yet... all in all... its a pretty cool thing he has going. I am loving it.

If I had a million dollars... I would buy this album.

2007-05-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

MP3 - Wallpaper - A Million Dollars

Ok so Angela over at Eenie Meenie sent me a link to this awesome music blog that was featuring these guys. And you know... I'm STOKED that she did! because damn... if this isn't going somewhere... I don't know what is.

Wallpaper is the side project the front man of a little band you may or may not have heard of called Facing New York. Eric Frederic. At this point its just a duo. with Eric on Vox and keys. and a live drummer.

Now apparently these guys are all about DIY (isn't everybody these days?) but from what I understand... these guys take it to the extreme. I get the whole electro / hip hop / hipster vibe off these guys. and I've only heard a couple songs as I've not heard them perform live at this point. Hopefully I can remedy that soon. If I need to hop the train down into LALA land soon, then so be it.

Justify my love!

2007-05-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

MP3 - Justice - Party (Featuring Uffie)

Sorry I've been slackin on the updates. I've been pretty sick. and busy and well... I almost died in a horrible car accident. But this isnt that kind of blog. So lets get to the point. I've got alot of catching up to do.

Ok. Everybody loves Uffie. I love her too! whats not to love? shes cute. Sassy. And makes great electro music. well maybe SHE doesnt personaly make it. Its more Mr. Oizo than anything. but still. Shes a hot Vehicle... and her debut album is almost here...

This isnt just about Uffie today though...

I got my hands on a new Justice track PARTY. from thier forthcoming debut full length. It hits the stands June 11th. This new track features Uffie. And let me just say... Wow. If this is what we have to look forward too, then the wait was worth it.

Justice is another one of those electro artists that have managed to make artists like Brittany Spears cool with their remixes. I cant wait for a full length. this is gonna be great!!!

POGOPOGOPOGO

2007-05-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

MP3 - Digitalism - POGO

Ok so here's a quicky! I cant talk much because I'm about to hop the train to LA to DJ Great Northerns album release party tonight at the Echo in LA.

BUT... Just got my hand on my copy of Digitalism's forthcoming full length debut CD entitled "Idealism" and I felt that I HAD to tell you kids about it!

I've been a huge advocate of the electronic / remix duo known as Digitalism ever since I heard them turn the Futureheads abortion AKA "Skip to the end" into a slamming dance track sometime last year. They've also put their spin on a few of the classics. They did pretty tripped out remix of The Cure's "Fire in Cairo". as well as an insane remix of Depeche Mode's "Never let me down again"

finally we get a full length of Digitalism perfection. So go check it out. well actually it comes out June 11. and you can listen to some more over at their myspace. yay myspace.

I think Pogo is the first single. It's my favorite anyway. so thats what you got here.

That wasn't very quick was it?

Drum Machines Have No Soul

2007-05-13T14:53:00.000-07:00

MP3 - 120 Days - C-Musik

MP3 - 120 Days - Be Mine

I've been in San Luis Obispo all weekend! Its so beautiful here. I saw the raddest shirt! It says "DRUM MACHINES HAVE NO SOUL" So of course I HAD to have it. It's become my brand new favorite shirt. And I will wear it proudly whilst DJing.

I got to do some music shopping. I managed to finaly pick up the 120 Days album. A super fantasticaly fresh band from Norway, Previously known as "The Beautiful People". I've had a copy of it on my hard drive for quite some time, and for whatever reason, I havent managed to make the time to pick it up until now. The extra 45 vinyl that came with it for free probably influenced my purchasing decision a bit... I shouldnt have needed to be bribed with a free 45 to purchase this album. Because its REALLY good, and is certainly worthy of the 10 bucks I spent on it. But hey... I'm a sucker for a limited edition vinyl.

Aaaanyway. I love this record. Think... Kraftwerk meets Boy era U2... Or actually... what if Bono sang for Kraftwerk? Its a really chill record, and it fits perfectly if youre driving along the coast. Or just sittin by the pool. It's a lush dreamy post punk electro pop album. It came out last year. But seems like its just now starting to get some recognition.

There are so many good songs on this record. I chose my two favorites. Actually... Theres other songs that I love just as much. I cant post them all... But today you get a special 2 for 1 deal. You can check out some more of thier stuff on thier Myspace page, if you feel so inclined.

Next Tuesday Night!!!

2007-05-10T19:19:00.000-07:00

this is where im gonna be DJing next tuesday night!!!

I get around?

2007-05-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

Dragonette - I get around (Van She Remix)

Ok. so this track mysteriously showed up on my desktop last week. I'm trying to remember who sent it to me. If it was you, let me know so that i can polish your shoes or something.

Anyway. Dragonette is a four piece ELECTRO POP band from the great white north. (yea yea I know. I talk about canadian bands alot. but I cant help the fact that the Canucks write totally fresh music.) Anyway. They've apparently been in London over the last year recording their debut album, entitled "GALORE" and according to DRAGONETTE.COM they are now heading to the US to play their first shows in support of the album. I'm all about trying to figure out when they are gonna be playing out here in Cali. As of right now they are only booked on the east coast, and Canada. oh well. all things in time.

This track is remixed by the great Australian electro pop act VAN SHE. The original is very good as well. But I really like this remix.

You can check em out at the obvious Dragonette.com as well as thier myspace page for more of their songs and info on when you can buy the album and where.

Metric Loves You.

2007-05-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

Ok so I JUUUUUUUST was notified of this via a bulletin on Metric's Myspace page. I'm excited. These guys are the best. and the new direction the band is taking... wow. I wont say anymore. Just read it...

There's lots going on with us right now, and you'll start reading about our new/old album and recording sessions in Toronto. Here's something that went up on Spin.com that pretty much sums it up....check out Emily's page for some news too myspace.com/emilyhaines

xoxoxmetriclovesyou.

As bassist Joshua Winstead previously revealed to Spin.com, Toronto-based indie pop quartet Metric have returned to their hometown to pen material for the follow up to 2005's critically-acclaimed outing Live It Out. Currently, Metric -- frontwoman Emily Haines, guitarist Jimmy Shaw, Winstead, and drummer Joules Scott-Key -- are holed up in Toronto's Giant Studios undergoing pre-production for their highly anticipated fourth album. The new material, initially constructed during a recording session at Bear Creek Studios -- located just north of Seattle -- has taken a diversion from exclusive Haines/Shaw songwriting dynamic of records past.

"Our approach to composition has been very spontaneous," Haines said in a press release. "Being isolated in the woods at Bear Creek helped to inspire the vibe for these first songs that we wrote together. We went for a warm sound, using a lot of vintage instruments." But upon landing in Canada, the band's creative process took a turn. "We found that in the new sessions here in Toronto, the writing went in a much more electronic, beat-driven direction. One of the major changes was that [bassist Josh Winstead] started writing our bass lines on the synth rather than the on the bass, which completely changed the tone of the new material."

While the band carves out the new record, which will hopefully be completed by October, Last Gang Records will raise the curtain on Metric's previously unreleased first album, Grow Up and Blow Away, June 26. Recorded in 1999, Grow Up and Blow Away fell through the cracks when Relentless, the band's original label, was purchased by Rykodisc in 2001. Featuring Metric in its primitive stage -- Haines and Shaw as a two-piece -- the album will hit iTunes as an exclusive download June 12, two weeks prior to the conventional release date.

Grow Up and Blow Away tracklisting:

1. "Grow Up"
2. "Hard Wire"
3. "Rock Me Now"
4. "The Twist"
5. "On the Sly"
6. "Soft Rock Star"
7. "Raw Sugar"
8. "White Gold"
9. "London Half Life"
10. "Soft Rock Star" (Jimmy vs. Joe mix)

YAY

modmodmod is now mobile!

2007-05-10T11:46:00.001-07:00

what this means for you is that I'll be updating from shows you wish you were at. :)

HOLY FEIST!!!

2007-05-10T08:38:00.000-07:00

Omfg!!! FEIST IS ON SALE IN STARBUCKS!!!??!

Wow. Thats funny. I was @ starbuckers inc. the other day (YES I ACTUALLY LIKE THIER COFFEE) and I saw the new Feist album on sale there. *Sniff* my little leslie has finaly broke into the mainstream. I hope thats not the end of BSS collaborations. Either way...

Have you HEARD the new album?! Wow! its such a step forward. What sophmore slump?! Leslie Feist has created a masterpiece. Inteligent...um...Indie...uh... acoustic... loungy... um... ROCK! The new single "My Moon My Man" is utterly fantastic. Feist is doing what she can to save alternative music. And I think shes doing a darn good job too!

The video for My Moon My Man is pretty fun too!

Also the Boyz Noise did a pretty rad remix of it. You crazies are gonna dance your bum off to this remix!

FEIST - MY MOON MY MAN (Boyz Noise Remix)

Drive Drive Drive.... oh I'll drive alright...

2007-05-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

I love the new CLIENT record. I love love love it!!! I wasnt so excited when I first heard the Xerox Machine single a while back... It didnt do very much for me. So I kinda forgot about the new album that was coming out until it was almost upon me. And then... well yea. I went about tracking down a copy. And I must say... IT'S FRESH! I mean who doesnt love 3 hot chicks playing synthesizers?!

Check out the video for the new single "DRIVE"

Oh foetus feedus fetus

2007-05-08T15:06:00.000-07:00

Alright. So I've been a fan of the mind of Jim Thirlwell since I was a 14 year old boy and I got a copy of the WAX TRAX BLACK BOX back in 94. When I heard Foetus perform Butterfly Potion... I was interested... and then when he later performed a cover of the Sensational Alex Harvey Bands cult sensation "Faith Healer" on his double live album "Male" Or also known as "In Excellus Corruptus Deluxe" I was HOOKED. and It wasnt until I heard his album "GASH" that I became obsessed. Since that time... I've always looked to Jim Thirlwell as an innovator. He is one of the last true industrial geniuses. (even though he hates being classified as "industrial") He's remixed everyone from Front 242 to Nine Inch Nails to (and ive just been made aware of this) THE CULT. He's worked with every one from Einsturzende Neubauten to Raymond Watts and now does the theme for the Venture Bros. on Adult Swim. This guy has more side projects / alter egos / aliases / characters than the Godfather. Wiseblood. Clint Ruin. DJ Ostefu. and his projects with the Foetus Symphony Orchestra and Lydia Lynch (also known as Lunch). and thats just the easy ones...

I'll admit that I lost track of Thirlwell for a moment there... while I delved into lots of other genres of music. When you discover that there are so many great new bands in different genres, you sometimes forget about your old friends. So its not really a big suprise to know that I was completely in the dark when (in 2005) Thirlwell released "LOVE"

Now I wont go so far as to say that It's Thirlwell back on top after his last "FLOW / BLOW" outtings (or as I like to call them....embarrassments) But It does certainly have its moments that cause me to smile and say "Ahhh there's the Jimbo I once knew and loved". What really caused me to give it a listen was when I was surfing around Youtube... and I came across the video for "Time Marches On"

Its a great little animated video. I really enjoyed it. And the song is my favorite off the album. You might like it...

He's got a newER album out as well. I havent snagged it yet. But I may just have to do that tonight... I'm feeling nostalgic for some reason... :)

Oh Emily, How I love thee.

2007-05-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

Ok so we all know how much of a huge Neil Young fan I am. And my fascination with Emily Haines from Metric isnt far behind... So you can imagine my excitement when I realised that she had performed a cover of one of my favorite Neil tracks. well Buffalo Springfield anyways...

Expecting to fly. She performed this while doing some press on Minnesota public radio. for her solo album "Knives dont have your back"

So without further adeu...

(psst! you can see the entire performance here)

I am trying to believe

2007-05-08T09:19:00.001-07:00

Posted by Joymode

Thursday, February 15 2007

ok... I so don't even know where to start... I guess I'll just start at the beginning.

There is a new nine inch nails record coming out. YEAR ZERO. its a concept album set in the year 2024. 15 years after America has been hit by a dirty bomb and a chemical attack. Trent Reznor is apparently setting up all kinds of websites all over the internet (from the future) based around this story line.

Apparently after the attack in 2009, the US government started putting a drug in the water called Parepin, to keep us safe from the biohazard.

However, a side effect of this drug, is that it lulls people into a sense of complacency. The dosage is not controlled and the more water you drink the higher your dosage is. these higher dosages causes people to hallucinate. They witness what is called "The Presence" or what appears to be the hand of God coming down out of the heavens and spreading its wrath upon the Earth. The churches are in line with the government. And the President has announced that America is Now Born Again. This keeps US citizens in line and listening to the church which is telling people to support the government and fight for them, or they are against God. make sense? hah.

Thats only a small part of the story. but an important part none the less.

This was all discovered because at a NIN show in Portugal they started selling a new shirt... with certain letters highlighted.... so someone had the great idea to put those letters together. and they got the phrase "I am trying to believe"

while most would have passed this off as another NIN catch phrase, someone had the great Idea to Google the phrase... and the following website showed up...

WWW.IAMTRYINGTOBELIEVE.COM

which talks about the drug "Parapen" and the stories of "The Presence"

from there we were led to more websites

WWW.THECHURCHOFPLANO.COM

WWW.105THAIRBORNECRUSADERS.COM

WWW.BETHEHAMMER.NET

WWW.CONSOLIDATEDMAILSYSTEMS.COM

WWW.ANOTHERVERSIONOFTHETRUTH.COM

If you hold down your mouse button and run the mouse over the picture on the last website, you get to see another picture... and then click on the phrase and it will take you to a forum, where you can read discussions about whats going on in the USA. Such as police killing Muslims and "Post Iraqi" families. and eyewitness accounts of "The Presence"

As well as the story of an individual known as "The Angry Sniper" who apparently has bombed the Wrigley Stadium.

There is also talk of a new Drug on the market, called Opal. Apparently Global warming has destroyed the Cocaine Industry. The US government Introduced this new drug to make up for that lost revenue.

all these sites are basically setting up the back story and giving everyone something to try and decode. There have been multiple sound files released Narrating what is currently taking place. Interestingly enough... at the end of each of these sound clips is some white noise... white noise with morse code embedded into it... which leads to more clues...Which I wont get into at this time.

So my point in all this...? yes we have gotten a new NINE INCH NAILS track. it was deliberately leaked by the NIN camp.

2 nights ago in Portugal, at the NIN show... A 256 MB flash drive was discovered. with some more coding that led to the discovery of the phone # 1-310-295-1040. (go ahead. dial it. it works and its cool. You get to hear the president speaking about how America is born again, along with some commentary by a disgruntled citizen... Oh also a distorted sneak peak at another new track on the forthcoming album)

On the flash drive itself is a full MP3 of a new track. My Violent Heart. Its probably one of the coolest NIN tracks Ive heard. Much cooler than anything on With Teeth (Maybe with the exception of The Line Begins To Blur. That song still rocks my face off)

Here's the crazy part though... If you put the MP3 into a Spectral Analyzer You get to see an Image of "The Presence" Reaching down from heaven. Rather intense if you ask me.

crazy huh?. and it just gets crazier.
but thats the basics of it all.

If you're interested in following it more, then check out all those websites that I listed. Its quite a fun little game. Its called Viral Marketing, and its the best form of it that I have ever seen.

Whats really interesting is the fact that this story is popping up all over the internet. Everyone is taking notice of this concept. Its pure marketing genius on Trent's part. I hope he makes millions off this. ;)

In a recent press release Reznor stated :

"This record began as an experiment with noise on a laptop in a bus on tour somewhere. That sound led to a daydream about the end of the world. That daydream stuck with me and over time revealed itself to be much more," Reznor said in the statement. "I believe sometimes you have a choice in what inspiration you choose to follow and other times you really don't. This record is the latter. Once I tuned into it, everything fell into place ... as if it were meant to be. ... The record turned out to be more than a just a record in scale, as you will see over time.

"Part one is Year Zero. Concept record. Sixteen tracks. What's it about? Well, it takes place about 15 years in the future. Things are not good. If you imagine a world where greed and power continue to run their likely course, you'll have an idea of the backdrop," he continued. "The world has reached the breaking point — politically, spiritually and ecologically. Written from various perspectives of people in this world, Year Zero examines various viewpoints set against an impending moment of truth."

It is my personal opinion that this is the project that Reznor has been working on for the last few years, and With Teeth was just a money maker and a place holder to get back onto the scene. This is the real album. This is what I expect of Nine Inch Nails. In the words of Azroth from Digitalnoise.org "This sounds like what Trent should have released after The Downward Spiral"

Its a true return to form for Nine Inch Nails. This is deeper than any other concept album I've ever seen before. This will force all the Industrial elitists and naysayers who say that Trent has sold out run home with their tails between their legs. Even though Trent has turned his back on Industrial ("F**K Industrial" I believe were his recent words) This concept is far more Cyberpunk / BladeRunner / Industrial than any current artist in that scene.. If this is selling out... I want to know where to sign up.

Right Click to download.

Nine Inch Nails - My Violent Heart

If you would like to dig deeper... there is a rather in depth discussion going on over here at Echoingthesound.org

It's chilly up here in the great white north.

2007-05-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

Posted by Joymode

Friday, January 12 2007

Alright so I'm totally stoked. Even though I'm in the middle of a cold front here in the great F-town (No really its freezing at my house) This awesome band, Great Northern is going to be playing in Visalia this month on Jan 26th. I had the grand honor of seeing these guys open up when I photographed Ladytron this last year in Pomona. I was so impressed with them that I actually purchased thier EP at the show. And now I'm told that they have a full length record coming out in May! This made me very happy indeed, since that EP has since become one of my favorite rainy day records to put on.

If I had to compare them to someone else... which I hate doing... (But find myself doing quite often...) I would say Headlights with a bit of underlying sultriness and an added dash of subdued sexuality just for good measure. (thats alot of S's. say that 10 times fast.) When I saw them play last year, the music managed to tap everyone on the head as it nonchalantly floated across the venue. I didn't expect to be impressed by an opening band that I hadn't heard of, but before I even knew what was going on, I found myself to be in love with them. And I had the great privlege to stand on the side of the stage for thier entire set. I was right there. And it was awesome. Loved every second of every song. These guys are just a damn good Indie rock band. They sum up the genre quite nicely. If you had to explain to someone what Indie rock was... You could seriously get away with just putting a Great Northern record on.

Great Northern is on a lovely little label based out of Hollywood. Eenie Meenie Records. The New record is called Trading Twilight for Daylight and it will be available in May of 07. The track I'm posting here today is called Low is a Height. (there are more available to listen to on thier myspace page) And it's available on thier current Bats EP Which is in fact only currently available at thier shows. So you better get your arses to Howie and Sons in Visalia on Jan 26th. Or else I'm going to smack you. Either that or I'll mail you some anthrax. Or better yet some ground up metal. I'm sure I'll have some leftovers... (You gotta love my inside jokes that only one person would understand.. no really you have to.)

Joymode's Jukebox Sampler Vol 3

2007-05-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

Posted by Joymode
Friday, December 29 2006
It's finaly here! Joymode's Jukebox Sampler Vol 3! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Joymode's Jukebox Sampler Vol 3 (Discs 1-3) from megaupload. Every year I put together a CD of my favorite tracks from the year. sometimes I get a couple in there from years past that I only discovered this year. but for the most part this is all music from 2006. The crazy thing is... There was so much music that I loved this year... That I ended up having enough to fill up THREE CD'S! Can You Imagine that?! And who says there is no such thing as good music anymore. I find that line of thought to be absolutley rediculous. So this is the way it works... CD 1 is Entitled :12 AM. This is a collection of tracks that I played alot while I was DJing Popsmear and Joymode's Productions Live events as well as a few other little gigs around town. This CD is designed to make you move. I left all of the tracks untouched. I didnt mix them. so it will be easier for you to add them to your compilations later. This CD rocks my freaking face off! You can dance all night to this one. These are my favorite indie dance hits from the year! I want to point out a couple tracks here. Luxxury's Drunk (Expensive remix) is one of my all time favorite tracks. This track has not lost any power with me at all. its goten over 400 plays on my ipod. and I still love it. I had these guys play at one of my events. and let me tell you... they are some of the sweetest people I've ever met. One of the best sounding bands I've booked as well. and absolutley no egomania what so ever. Also appearing is the Digitalism remix of the Futureheads, Skip to the end. Never really was a fan of the futureheads... but Digitalism made this track absolutley necesarry for me to play for at least 5 months straight, every time I DJ'd. I also threw the MSTRKRFT remix of the Juliette and the Licks track Got Love To Kill on there!!! this track... wow. CD 2 is Entitled: 3AM This one was designed as a mellowER cd. I spent a good portion of the years 3AM's driving home from the club. and often times, I took that time to listen to some more kick back music. some more of the straight up "Indie" stuff. That doesnt mean that this isnt a fun CD. This CD contains some of my absolute favorite tracks from the year. LIke M. Wards Poison Cup. Feists cover of Peaches Lovertits and The Album Leafs, Always for you. And Dont forget Metric's Poster of a girl. All amazing tracks by amazing artists. It would be really foolish to pass this one up. Disc 3 is Entitled: Leftovers DO NOT let the title fool you. Just because they are leftovers doesnt mean that they arent amazing tracks. I just couldnt find a place to put them where they fit in and felt comfortable on the other cds. and they didnt neccesarily make sense together on one cd with a theme... so they became the leftovers... and actually... after listening to it... I really like the way it works. I love the Lily Allen track Everything's Just Wonderfull. this track made me chuckle all year everytime I heard it. This Niles Drink by About is probably one of the raddest noise dance rock songs ive heard ever. And Out here all night by Damone just brought out my inner metal head. I had forgotten about him. Anyway. 2006 has been an amazing year for music. I got exposed to alot of music that I hadnt heard in the past. I suppose thats because of all the DJing I did. 2006 saw the rise and fall of Popsmear. and the birth of Joymode's Productions live events. as well as my Record Label. Modified Records. Thank You everyone for your support this year. Its been one helluva ride. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Joymode's Jukebox Sampler Vol 3 (Discs 1-3) from megaupload. (once you go to the megaupload site, you will see three letters next to an entry box up in the right corner of the site. type those letters into the entry box and click download. be patient. the file is about 336 megs. it may take a while. but it will be soooo worth it. Click here to Download WinRar. to Extract the files.

2007-05-08T09:15:00.001-07:00

What if everything around you is an elaborate dream?

Posted by Joymode

Friday, October 27 2006

Well last weekend was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Last minute I grabbed tickets for day two of The Bridge School Benefit. This year’s lineup consisted of Devandra Banhart, Gillian Welch, Death Cab For Cutie, Trent Reznor, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Brian Wilson, Dave Matthews Band, And Neil Young and Friends. I could write a four page blog entry on the entire show. Probably more actually. But I don’t have the time to do that, and I don’t think that anyone cares THAT much.

So I'm going to talk about the highlight of the afternoon.

Trent Reznor. A Piano and a Stringed Quartet.

This has got to be one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen. Or heard for that matter. Around 5 pm, the quartet took their seats. The opening notes to The Frail (from The Fragile) played on a cello, floated across the venue. About halfway through... Trent appeared on stage... in a pair of jeans with a black hoodie and a beard and slightly grown out hair. He took his seat at his black grand piano and joined in near the end of the song. They worked thier way into the most refreshing and interesting version of Something I Can Never Have (From Pretty Hate Machine). Played mostly by the quartet, with little interference from Trent on the piano. It was probably the first time in years that I was actually interested in hearing this song in a live setting. I've heard it so many times before. It had become one of those tracks that I could take or leave. This version completely melted me. I found myself singing along with every word.

The next highlight was a very coffee shop / loungy beat version of Piggy (from The Downward Spiral) Trent taking care of percussion with nothing more than two egg shakers in his right hand and the upright bass player Pablo Motta picking away at the bass line. The Cellists and Violinists adding temperamental ambience perfectly throughout. As Trent whispered "Nothing can stop me now". The crowd went insane. People who had no idea who he was... were bobbing thier heads to the awesome rhythm. I felt like I should have been wearing a beret and sipping some espresso. Not really a feeling I've ever gotten from listening to Nine Inch Nails.

Following Piggy was Adrift and At Peace (from the Still EP, an acoustic CD that accompanied the deluxe version of the live album And All That Could Have Been) This found TR back at the piano plucking away at the keys, while reaching his hand inside the top of his piano, holding the cables to give them a muted effect. Normally, this would have been accomplished by adding some sort of electronic filter to the piano, But Neil Young has a very strict "No Electronics Allowed" rule for the Bridge school shows. Either way it was very impressive.

Probably my favorite part of the performance was the recreation of The Fragile. (taken from The Fragile) This is already one of my favorite NIN tracks to begin with, and I've heard acoustic renditions of this track before, but there was something about this performance that caused me to get Goosebumps. Trent’s Voice was SERIOUSLY in top shape on this track. The way the piano worked with the quartet was just something so very beautiful. The entire venue seemed to be on another plane. When they weren’t cheering that is.

After the Fragile, Trent mentioned that It was an honor to be playing for everyone, and went on to mention that "on the bright side of things, one of the good things about global warming is that we get a nice day like today" and of course the crowd laughed. He then turned around to the autistic children sitting behind the stage and informed them that the next song was for them.

Right where it belongs. (From With Teeth) Trent turned his back to the audience for this entire song. And sang the entire song to them. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t tear up just a little bit. I found it extremely touching that someone like Trent Reznor would humble himself so much to sing such an extremely fitting song to a group of children who have had a horrible hand dealt to them. The lyrics "what if everything around around you, isn’t quite as it seems. What if all the world you think you know is an elaborate dream" seemed to take on an extremely different meaning than it had the first time I heard the song back in early 2005. Really something beautiful. It’s a hard thing to put into words how touching it was.

Non-Entity. The next song was a song that first was shared with the world during a benefit that Trent performed at for victims of the Katrina disaster. I've heard two versions of this song, up until this point. The first time was on the Katrina special, which featured Trent playing piano to a boom box with a beat that was mic'd. And then I believe the other version was off of something that he did for Kroq in LA, with his current live band. The version for the bridge school is probably my favorite. The entire song was played by the quartet. I don’t seem to remember Trent playing piano at all on this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it though.

After Trent mentioned that he was very nervous and very out of his element. But then thanked the musicians on the stage with him. Particularly Martin St Pierre for putting together the arrangements.

Last but not least... Hurt. (From The Downward Spiral) I wasn’t really surprised that Trent chose to close his set with this one. It’s not the first time he’s done it and i'm sure that it won’t certainly be the last. Once again... the execution of this track in this acoustic live setting was impressive. A lull fell over the crowd as people sang along. I'm sure a lot of people were thinking "Oh he’s singing that Johnny Cash song" Other than the fact that the entire song was played by the quartet, not much was different about it than what we have heard in the past. Still... It was a beautiful rendition of probably the most famous Nine Inch Nails song... well other than the F**k you like an animal one ;) . I've always had a special place in my heart for this song. So it didn’t annoy me in the least that it was played.

After that Trent simply got up and walked off stage.

He did however receive a standing ovation. I'm sure he made a lot of new fans that day. I for one felt proud to be a fan of Nine Inch Nails. And I was proud of Trent for being willing to partake in such a charitable event. Even though he was out of his element. He was one of the most humble and respectful performers of the evening. And I'm so very glad that I decided to spend my sunday donating towards an awesome cause and witnessing one of the coolest performances that I've ever seen.

I didnt write this blog right away, because I was waiting for a quality bootleg to surface from the show. I loved all of the songs so much, But I know not everyone is familiar with the selections that were played. So I picked my favorite out of the well known performances. This is taken from day two of the event. From what I understand, the performance was alot tighter on day two. So without further adeu....

It's raining life

2007-05-08T09:14:00.001-07:00

Posted by Joymode

Sunday, October 01 2006

Today was the first rain of the coming winter. there is nothing that makes me calmer than the smell of rain. I love it. I knew it was coming the instant I woke up this morning. The dust of the summer is being washed away. The rocks are clean and the animals are in thier little dens. I knew it would be coming soon. The acorns fell early from thier trees this year. Giving the little animals a head start on gathering up thier stores for the winter.

There is a band that has been the perfect sound track to my sunday... The Album Leaf

The album in question is titled, Into the blue again.

Its probably the most beautiful album I've heard in the last couple years. There is just something about this record that makes me want to go to sleep for a very long time. Half of it is instrumental. But I hardly notice, as i get caught up in the beauty of the instrumentation. once again... a perfect blend of electronice and acoustic instruments. For the last year... I had been so caught up in music that you could dance too... because of DJing Popsmear.... that I somehow started bypassing alot of music that touched me on a deeper level.... The Album Leaf is a band that has caused me to take it upon myself to rediscover so much of the music in the past that made me feel something emotional inside.... If you get a chance... check out the Track "Always for You" This is the track that caught my attention when I first heard it. I searched for this album for a few days. and when I finaly recieved it... it was well worth the search. I strongly suggest picking it up. If you are a fan of Sigur Rios or The Black heart Procession, then I suggest you check these guys out.

You can download the MP3 from Sub Pop's website.
The Album Leaf - Always for you

You can watch the video here

Pain and suffering in various tempos

2007-05-08T09:13:00.001-07:00

Posted by Joymode

Saturday, September 23 2006

So... Its been a while... But I feel that this is as good as reason as any to update with a new piece of music.

As I was sitting here burning my 5.1 Mix of the Fragile to a DTS CD, My good friend Satori, over at Digital Noise popped up on aim and asked if I had heard the New Depeche Mode track from the forthcoming greatest hits compilation. I said "Nope. I havent."

3 minutes later... I was rocking out to what has got to be one of the coolest Mode tracks to come out of the Playing The Angel Era, and probably from thier entire career in general. It has everything I love about DM. Everything from the rocking electronic dance beat, to the country western blues guitar riffs that Martin has always been so very capable of pulling off. To the always borderline heretic and faith questioning lyrics....This song has it all.

Other than Dave's recent obsession with growing a moustache... And beside's the Songs of Faith And Devotion Era... the music that has come from this current era, is proving to be some of my favorite. And I can only wonder what else we havent heard. It seems that Depeche Mode, Despite being in thier mid 40's, have not lost any of thier amazing talent and energy that I remember from 10 - 15 years ago when I first discovered them.

Now I'm not gonna sit here and talk to you about how freaking awesome Depeche Mode is. Or how I've obsessed over this band since I was 10 years old. I'm sure most of you have heard it all before. And since this track hasnt fully sunk in yet... I think I'm simply just going to just stop typing and let the music speak for itself. (yes maybe this is cheating. Shut up. Its new Depeche Mode)

So with out further adeu... (is that how you spell adeu?)

(Since you suckers sapped our bandwith... heres a Megaupload link. Seriously... just read the directions. Figure out how to download it.)

Depeche Mode - Martyr

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=AUCNCZXQ

Just when things are starting to cool down...

2007-05-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

Posted by Joymode

Wednesday, July 26 2006

...The Shiny oy Guns come to Fresno to heat things back up.

In the world of music blogs, Shiny Toy Guns are OFN. But thats ok. This isnt just any music blog... this is a Fresno based music blog. So that means its ok to be a little behind. The reason I choose to post this now is because I have booked them to come play here in Fresno this Saturday! The way that I explain what Shiny Toy Guns sound like is... Modern New Wave. Im not saying that they are a throwback band by any means...And god knows that we have an over abundance of them these days. Although they certainly have thier moments, they are something so much more than that. It would be so unfair to lump them into that category. What I am saying is that, If you take all of the synths and pop structures of New Wave and then mix it in with Modern songwriting and Technology, add edge and emotion... then you get something that sounds so very very lucious sweet and dirty at the same time... In other words... You get the Shiny Toy Guns!

These guys have toured the world many times over. They have been across the US more times than I can manage to contemplate, and have recently finished touring Canada and are getting ready to head to Alaska... just because, cold kids need good music too! Whats impressive about this is... They have done this all without the help of a record label. The Shiny Toy Guns are THE DEFINITIVE Indie band. They are Truly DIY. Although it does seem that thier dues have now been paid... They signed to the Universal Music Group last week. I'll be crossing my fingers that this only helps to bring them more exposure than they already have, but will not in any way affect thier sound. Thier studio recordings are pristine. Thier Live shows are energetic. In fact it was after seeing them live in Modesto a few months back with my Popsmear partner Matt-D, I truly fell in love with this band.

While there are moments on the album that bare a striking resemblance to Ladytron and New Order... The album is extremley origional... even when I feel like I may be listening to a song that would accompany a modern day remake of The Flight Of The Navigator. Thats a good thing though... This music has a very open and free feeling. This music makes you want to go for a drive in the mountains... Live they have an even more exciting energy that hasnt quite been captured on the album... I frankly dont know if its posible to capture that kind of energy in the studio.

I've been playing them constantly at Popsmear since I discovered them about 9 months ago, Usually to a pretty awesome response.

If its any sign that they are going to be huge any day now, Thier myspace profile has had 1234002 views when I logged onto it this morning. 3724509 plays. and 1832 plays just this morning. 81077 friends. You think anyone likes this band?

The band are some of the sweetest people you could ever meet. very adoring of thier fans and very willing to just chill out and have a beer with at the end of thier shows. Very humble and aware that It is because of thier fans that they are where they are today. So before I sound anymore like a fan boy I'll just say this... BE AT THE SHOW THIS SATURDAY AT CLUB FRED. DO IT!

Like I said, they have just signed to Universal Records. You can check them out on thier Myspace page as well. Thier actual website is currently undergoing restructure now that they have signed to a label and it is directed to thier myspace page. I believe that you can buy thier 2005 release We Are Pilots at Amazon.

I'm gonna throw you a couple bones here. Instead of one sample from the album... I'm gonna throw you two of em. The first Track is the awesome Le Disko. Thats the track that caused me to take notice of this band, and is usually the one that gets played at Popsmear. The second is an awesome cover that they do of Depeche Mode's Stripped. They play this live, and its amazing. Way better than Rammsteins at least

Shiny Toy Guns - Le Disko

Shiny Toy Guns - Stripped

Sometimes when I dream I hear music...

2007-05-08T09:05:00.003-07:00

Posted by Joymode

Tuesday, July 18 2006

...Sometimes That music sounds like Elephone. When I try to think of how to describe thier music, the only thought that comes to mind is "Dreamy". Thats a good thing. It doesnt put me to sleep. but it does manage to put me into a relaxed state of mind. I don't mean to compare the two bands, but its the same feeling I got when I listened to Interpol's Turn On The Bright Lights for the first time a few years ago.

On The Camera Behind The Camera Behind The Camera, Elephone manages to bring thier guitars to a level that is more atmospheric than it is "in your face rock and roll." And normaly when I hear this much echo and reverb on vocals, my first thought is that they are trying to hide something. I dont think thats the case here though. The reverb and echo actually adds quite a bit to the moody vibe that Elephone has managed to craft. On my first listen to the album, there were moments that didnt quite fit for some reason. almost turned me off to a point. But the more I listened the more those moments became some of my favorites on the album. (Turn On The Bright Lights did that to me as well, and Its now one of my top 10 albums of all time)

This album boasts assistance from quite a few impressive names. It was Mastered by the Great Paul Stubblebine who has worked with artists such as Joy Division, New Order and The Clash. Produced by Chris Cline (...Trail Of The Dead) and Dan Crowell. It also features Hellen Jo (Cellist from Scrabbel)

The Camera Behind The Camera Behind The Camera is an album that you can sing along to as you are dreaming. Its persistent dark hooks and choruses make for an interesting listening session. Even if it takes you a few listens for it to really grab you.

Elephone is from my hometown of San Francisco. And as I sit here typing this... It occurs to me that with thier sound... they have nailed the feeling I get when I visit my home. They are on Three Ring Records. A Label that has been so kind to send me lots of music to listen too recently. Every album I get from this label, I enjoy. They are quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

Elephone will be playing Posmear Live with Hello Stranger at Club Fred on August 26th. 2006.
You can order thier album at thier website or download it on Itunes You can check out some more of thier tracks on myspace as well.

Elephone - Elephone

Havent seen you in a while

2007-05-08T08:53:00.001-07:00

Posted by Joymode

Tuesday, July 18 2006

Havent seen you all in some time. It's probably the heat that is now causing me to stay inside and actually write a blog. I'm so behind on my music blogs. Summertime keeps me busy with all my other endeavours. like plotting to take over central california with all these upcoming Popsmear events. But CD's are starting to pile up. Its time to share them with you.

I figure now is as good a time as any to start pimping out some of the bands that I've booked.

Hello Stranger is a band that has managed to snag the coveted "NEXT BIG THING" title from Spin Magazine. You know, I think I agree with them. I mean who doesnt like a hot chick singer (Juliette Commagere) who plays the Keytar wears knee high boots and feathers, and sometimes sings in spanish? The Press kit that I recieved with this cd says they sound like "The perfect accompaniment to an early John Hughes film"

They've toured across the country 3 times (Once with the Kings of Leon), and Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols has been known to play them on his Indie 103.1 radio show "Jonsey's Jukebox". They've been playing Spaceland, down in Silverlake every wednesday for the last few months. A position once held by acts such as Rilo Kiley, The Moving Units and Giant Drag. Impressive. This is a band that will cause you to kick yourself if you dont manage to see them before they get huge.

But enough about thier accomplishments. Lets get to the music... I freaking Love this CD! Its the perfect summertime album. Its light. but deep. The songs have a great feel. And they work together well alone or with each other as an album. The synth lines are well placed. Not overpowering at all, but when they come in, I tend to start bobbing my head a little bit harder. Everything has its place with this band.

Usually I can say "This band sounds like this band. Or I am reminded of this band." With Hello Stranger... I cant really say that they remind me of anyone. I believe that this band is truly unique. but not in an annoying unlistenable pretentious way. It's refreshing. This album really makes me feel good. About myself and everything around me. But it's not cheesy. Its well written. clever lyrics about life, the universe... and everything. It's songwriting and pop/indie sensibility at its best.

They will be playing Popsmear Live at Club Fred with Elephone on August 26th. They are on Aeronaut Records. And thier album hits the streets August 08. 2006, but you can order it now on thier website. there are also a few more tracks posted on thier myspace page.

Hello Stranger - Take It To The Maxx

METAL!!! BABES!!! BEER!!!

2007-05-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

Posted by Joymode

Thursday, June 22 2006

*disclaimer* this is a very guy type blog post.

So my totaly rock and roll self was drinking beer and watching Fuse the other day. I dont know why. Since it always seemed to be a station full of hot topic metal goth wannabes. Although Mistress Juliya is pretty hot. Shes seems to be rather snobbish though. Either way, I would still totally fool around with her.
Getting back to my point... wait... what was my point. Sorry I was thinking about Juliya...

Ok so this band came on. They were called Damone. I'm thinking "ok another Satanic metal band. whatever." The song starts out with this totally righteous Iron Maiden Guitar riff. I think, "ok thats cool." But then the singer shows up and its a chick. An extremly hot Joan Jett lookalike chick at that. Even so, I almost changed the station because I just dont get into chicks who sound like cookie monster. But then she started singing... and I think my pants got a bit tighter. No cookie monster voice. Instead I was pleasantly suprised and reminded of Tanya Donnely singing songs written by The Sounds and played by Judas Priest. Naturaly I ran directly to Oink to see if I could download the album. to my suprise there were two albums available. Snatched em both. listened to them. Loved them, went to Tower and grabbed them both.

Thier newest release, Out There All Night, Which was released a month ago, Totally reminds me of hanging out with my older cousins at the lake drinking beer listening to Motley Crue, Metallica and Judas Priest albums. It has its Cheesy moments. But isnt that what Ronnie James Dio taught us? Metal should have a little cheese with it? Its just fun. its going to be on steady repeat this summer. As soon as I get my Ipod back from Apple, this is the first thing im putting on it.

The lyrics are your typical anti-establishment question authority, psycho ex girlfriend - my boyfriend cheated on me lyrics. All in good fun. I found myself quickly singing along with thier classic 80's rock style radio station choruses.

There are even classic Motley Crue and Van Halen break down moments when it drops right down to a steady kick drum, A low end bass guitar and palm muted guitar riff while you get to listen to the band party and talk about making out with someone... ANYONE!

They have recently been picked up by Island/Universal I hope this doesnt mean thier albums will start to suck. There are videos on thier site. and you can stream all the songs off the new album.

Bottom line... BUY THIS ALBUM! Get a case of beer. and crank this album. at the lake. Or in your car with the coppers chasing you.

Damone - Out Here All Night

2007-05-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

Your love is a deserter

Posted by Joymode

Monday, June 19 2006

The Kills remind me of a band I had when I was 15. I was first learning how to play my own songs. really learning how to play the bass my own way. first learning how to screw around with synths and drum machines. Mixing Live drums with cheesy drum sounds from my casio. These guys give me that feeling I used to get when I was that age. They do it alot better than 4 15 year old teenage boys though. And they do it with a grungyness that Pearl Jam only ever wish they could have attained.

They really took a few listens to grow on me. But now after taking some time and really listening to this two piece London band... I really adore what they are trying to do. even though I cant really say that I've figured out what they are trying to do. I still just adore them for it. I cant help but think that this is the kind of band that Chrissy Hinde would be in if she were into being in a band other than the pretenders today. Or Maybe PJ Harvey if she took over vocals for the White Stripes. The borderline morbid lyrics are almost endearing to listen and sing along too as the beautiful vocalist Alison Mosshart Croons her way through the subjects of murder, desertion and love. Or maybe its the other way around. Love, Desertion THEN murder.

The album is called No Wow! I present the album opener to you. I played this track over and over trying to find my groove with this band. It's the one that first did it for me. But now that I've fully come to appreciate this album, I now feel that there are some tracks on here that are as good as if not better than this one. Rodeo Town is one of them. Along with Sweet Cloud.

You can check them out online at thier website. There You can watch some videos and listen to some more of thier songs there too! They are on Domino Records. The same geniuses that brought us the amazing Test Icicles and the Currently overplayed Indie band that every trendy teenybopper loves for some reason, The Arctic Monkeys. I believe there are some more downloads on the Domino site as well as thier myspace.

So go ahead. Get your guns out and and rock out. then go tell your lover how much you love them, right before you bloody them up real good.

The Kills - No Wow / Telephone Radio Germany

2007-05-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

Friday night. Time to listen to music. Time to drink. Time to party. But there arent any parties going on. well none that I've been invited to anyway... As I pop open my 5th Corona, Im looking through my recently aquired music, for bands that have been catching my ear lately. The Presets are one such band. Insound calls their debut album BEAMS, "A magnificent journey of an album from heaven to hell and back again" I dont know that I went through hell listening to this album... but there are definitley elements of what I would hope heaven would be like.

The Presets manage to strip Electro Rock back to the basics while opening up an entirely new vibe to a genre that sometimes seems a bit over played. Thier glitchy synth lines Often times remind me of early Kraftwork. But there are times when I'm reminded of current Electro Synth Pop Rock Gods The Faint... But cooler and more artsy. Either way, there is no denying that this band knows what Do it yourself glam electro punk pop is all about. BEAMS, for the most part keeps you entertained from start to finish. Its not all about "do me" dancefloor beats and "slap my ass" synth bass lines (Althought there is quite a bit of that)... these guys manage to pull off some element of substance. Whether it be by thier sometimes sludgy synth lines or thier lyrics of love and heartache and sexy references to Kitties... in the middle... Hey Kitties are great subjects for songs! Hey! They still manage put me in a mood that I like. And I'm not just saying that because I'm now on my 6th Corona. I happen to really like Kitties.

Being a DJ, I was instantly drawn to the third track on the album, Down Down Down. Guaranteed to be a dancefloor smash. It has all the elements I approve of for Indie dance rock. Its not too straight forward. But its got a beat that makes you move instantly. And yes its got one of those "Slap my Ass" Synth Bass lines and "Do Me" Dancefloor beats.

If you go to Insounds website there are some more track to download! and there are some interesting videos on the Presets site too!

Now someone call and invite me to a party! or at least bring me some more beer!

The Presets - Down Down Down