Wavves is bored, not boring.

Some music… and then “final meltdown moments” from 2:10 mark on.

After Wavves’ widely-indie-publicized meltdown at Primavera Sound Festival last week, Wavves’ front-man Nathan Williams’ “rock-star credibility” may be at an all-time high, but his reputation as a live act couldn’t be worse.  But, what I think we need to remember, is that Wavvves is still one of the better albums thus far in 2009, and regardless of Nathan’s somewhat understandable but seriously unfortunate meltdown, Wavves is actually capable of sounding pretty enjoyable (however brief) in a live environment.

Case in point, acidjack‘s March 30, 2009 recording of Wavves 8-song-set at NYC’s Mercury Lounge.  As NYCTaper points out, “The live Wavves sound is significantly less saturated than the albums, and the result is a clear listening experience,” and thus, I believe that live-Wavves offers something enjoyably-different from bedroom-studio-Wavves.

MP3: Wavves (live set) (03/30/09 in NYC) (45.4MB) (dwnld link via NYCTaper)

Setlist:
[Total time 24:28]
01 Beach Demon
02 Summer Goth
03 So Bored
04 California Goths
05 To The Dregs
06 Friends Were Gone [unreleased — soon to be released on Fader 7″ Series]
07 No Hope Kids
08 Wavves

Thanks (again) to NYCTaper for always providing excellent live recordings.

[via]

is the Golden Filter going to make cover bands cool ?!

Obviously there is nothing new about doing a cover song.  There have been countless cover bands the world over, and every once in a while a band you like might actually do a cover song that you like.  I know indie-acts like Harlem, Little Boots, Radiohead, and Bradford Cox have been dabbling in cover songs over the last couple years, but something about the Golden Filter’s approach to covers screams “clever marketing gimmick” more than the other bands (and the Golden Filter – thus far – seem to have a knack for really good covers).

The band has been playing all of its cards perfectly, and have effectively cornered the indie-market.  The Golden Filter understand the “new music industry,” and are approaching it through a golden filter (via having to look through mysterious peroxided bangs).

From the release of their first infectious single, “Solid Gold,” to the successful covering/remixing of notable indie bands, to a well played (or so I hear) couple of SXSW sets, the Golden Filter knows what it takes to make it in the blogosphere.

[Pic via GvB]

The Golden Filter’s website even demonstrates a keen understanding of the indie-market.  The website is one page, with “The Golden Filter” written across the middle, and links provided to the band’s MySpace, FaceBook, Last.FM, YouTube, iLike, Mailing List, and email (the band also has a Twitter).  The BEST PART of the website; however, is the backdrop: a conceptual lo-fi video, with a conceptual golden sun shining through a conceptual set of golden bangs, all to the brilliant sounds of “Solid Gold.”  The band just wants you “to follow the golden fox, through the golden dawn, take the golden key, go down the golden hall, through the golden filter, [and] see the golden light.”

The Golden Filter’s only possible mistep so far is a mediocre conceptual video for “Solid Gold.”  But then again, a few of the shots with ‘golden light’ were nicely composed, and the choice of Vimeo (instead of YouTube) gives the video an extra ounce of artistic cred.

This morning the Golden Filter released 3 different versions of a cover of Polly Scattergood’s forthcoming “Please Don’t Touch.”  All 3 versions are fabulous, and get this: the MP3s were released exclusively, one via Pitchfork Media, one via Gorilla vs Bear, and one via Stereogum.  Talk about knowing how to get a song to your target audience (by utilizing their taste-makers)!

Here are the 3 cover’s of Polly Scattergood’s “Please Don’t Touch.”  My favorite so far is the “vocal cover.”

MP3: Polly Scattergood “Please Don’t Touch” (the Golden Filter dub cover) (320kbps)

Mp3: Polly Scattergood “Please Don’t Touch” (the Golden Filter vocal cover) (320kbps)

MP3: Polly Scattergood “Please Don’t Touch” (the Golden Filter pop cover) (320kbps)

And here’s the Golden Filter’s drastically reworked cover of Peter, Bjorn, and John’s new “Lay it Down,” which – dare I say – made the song far more listenable.

Mp3: Peter, Bjorn, and John “Lay it Down” (the Golden Filter cover) (320kbps)

And finally, here’s the Golden Filter’s remix of Cut Copy’s “Far Away.”  I would have been a lot more excited if this song was a cover (with freshly recorded female vocals), but releasing an official Cut Copy remix was clearly a smart move.

Mp3: Cut Copy “Far Away” (the Golden Filter remix) (320kbps)

The Golden Filter have also officially covered Empire of the Sun, and Little Boots (something of a sexy cover song star herself), but I haven’t seen either of these tracks surface yet (if anyone does please let me know).

While the Golden Filter’s original music is certainly good so far, their covers seem to be drawing as much (or more) attention.  With a cover to original song ratio that might lead one to believe that the Golden Filter are destined to actually become a cover band, I can only wonder: are the Golden Filter clever enough to make cover bands cool (or are they actually going to release an original debut LP)?!

is Lo-Fi Indie Noise Rock the Soundtrack to this Depression?!

America, and the rest of the world, is in the midst of one of the most significant economic recessions of modern times, and I believe the hard times, unemployment, uncertainty, anger, and frustration that is plaguing average citizens of the world, is going to result in a continued growth of lo-fi indie noise rock.  Much like early punk rock represented an anti-establishment DIY aesthetic, lo-fi indie noise rock has the potential to define a currently frustrated indie-youth subculture.

The timing seems perfect, the metaphorical electro bubble, while not necessarily burst, has certainly been deflating.  The vast quantities of DIY electro acts and music blogs to emerge between the release of Justice’s Cross (2007) and Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colors (2008) is impressive, but while a lot of enjoyable dance/party music has came out of the recent electro wave, it has gotten to the point where enough is enough, and a lot of music critics and music fans have found themselves SCREAMING FOR SOMETHING MORE ABRASIVE.

I know I’m not alone in this feeling.  Two easy examples of music publications who clearly share this attitude are Pitchfork Media, and Gorilla vs Bear.  Neither will dismiss great indie-pop/indie-electro/indie-disco (for the most part), but both have been pushing less accessible noise rock over the last 12 months.

Similar to how indie-pop (see Postal Service, The Shins, Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Super Furry Animals, Stars, The Pipettes, etc.) started loosing its dominance post-2005, electro/disco is starting to become a little less market dominant now (although for me dark-disco – ie. Glass Candy/Chromatics – still feels appropriate).

The bands that I currently have picked out for the “soundtrack to this depression” include No Age, Titus Andronicus, Vivian Girls, Dum Dum Girls, Wavves, and Times New Viking.  These bands are not necessarily my personal favorites – although I love the Wavvves LP (2009) –  but I believe they constitute a genre, a time, and a place in music that we’ll be able to look back at, and say “oh yah, I listened to indie-noise-rock when my Bachelor’s Degree couldn’t even get me a job as a burista, and I couldn’t fucking handle listening to another indie-pop/electro-bloghouse hit on the fucking Hype Machine.”

While the aforementioned noise-rock bands are the type of music that I’m really looking at here, I feel it would be selling this era of music short if I were not to mention indie-popular music from other genres that possess some of the lo-fi, harder to digest, less accessible aesthetics of noise-rock.  Just to note, when I say lo-fi I’m referring more to an audio aesthetic than a recording technique.

Lower-fidelity rock acts like The Dutchess and the Duke gained popularity in 2008 (via Pitchfork’s Best New Music, surprise surprise), and indie-metal acts like Harvey Milk received a little more attention from not-so-metal music publications (but I still can’t relate to any metal, and I have a feeling a lot of indie-nerds feel the same).

Recently garage rock bands like The Strange Boys (a LaCinta favorite), The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (early-Sloan meets Exploding Hearts), and Cymbals Eat Guitars (Built To Spill meets early-Modest Mouse) have been received with excellent reviews.

The Black Lips are set to release their grimy new album 200 Million Thousand (2009), and they kicked off the online media frenzy with a series of bad ass stories from the band’s attempted India tour (which is probably being edited for VBS.tv as you read this).

Lo-fi psychedelic bands like Deerhunter, Atlas Sound, and Black Dice have seen increased attention over the last year, and newcomers like Pit Er Pat, Tickley Feather, and Blind Man’s Color have left strong first impressions.” The Pitchfork Twitter account (via Mark Richardson) recently tweeted, “Are my headphones in worse shape than I thought or did the new black dice come up on shuffle?” – and to me at least, that comes across as a huge compliment.

Even electro has had its share of lo-fi makeovers, with groups like Heartsrevotion and Pictureplane making danceable electro a little less accessible, and a little more noisy.

There have also been 8-bit electronic groups like Truckasauras and Dan Deacon taking the stage, and musicians like Nite Jewel have put a layer of dirty makeup over the typically polished electro/disco model.

Given the notable rise in popularity of noisy indie music, rockers like No Age becoming involved in skate culture and starting their own record label, and teenagers like Nathan from Wavves receiving unbelievable initial attention, it seems that – for the moment anyways – my prophecy of lo-fi indie noise rock becoming the soundtrack to this depression may just become reality.

“Got no car. Got no money.  I got nothing nothing nothing not at all.  Got no bike. Got no girlfriend. Got no time. Got no money. Got no friends. Got no family.” – Wavves

Just you watch, day by day you are going to become more attracted to feedback, and distortion, and emotions other than “let’s dance!”  Times New Viking may sound like a hell-of-a-racket at first, but before long you’re going to be gritting your teeth, and banging your head, while you embrace the noisy racket.  It only makes sense, because you’re probably going to be unemployed, in debt, pissed off, and totally lost any day now.

Here’s some link to MP3’s so you can start building your soundtrack to the depression (if you haven’t started already).  Go ahead, a change in musical pace might be just what you need, and I mean what else are you going to do? Listen to MSTRKRFT’s abomination of a new electro album?!

No Age “My Life’s Alright Without You”

Link To MP3

Titus Andronicus “No Future”

Link to MP3

Titus Andromicus “Arms Against Atrophy”

Link to MP3

Vivian Girls “Second Date”

Link to MP3

Vivian Girls “Where Do You Run To?”

& “Surfing Away (live)”

Link to MP3’s

Dum Dum Girls “Catholicked” ❤

Link to Mp3

Wavves “So Bored” *& “Weed Demon” ❤

Link to MP3’s

Times New Viking “Drop-Out” ❤

& Titus Andronicus “My Time Outside the Womb”

& No Age “Eraser”

Link to MP3’s

If you can think of any other bands I should include in my lo-fi-indie-noise-rock grouping, or have any other thoughts that may be of interest, please leave a comment on the article.  I’m really hoping LaCinta’s readers take more to discussing matters with one another via commenting on the site.

Flufftronix – “Christian Bale Throwback Mix”

I’ve seen a number of different Christian Bale remixes (via infamous T4 freak-out) hit YouTube recently, but this is the first one that I’m excited to help make viral:

Loving the Batman/American Psycho references.

Video’s only at 1000 views right now – where will it be next week???

PS: Here’s my terrible (original?) joke of the day: Is Bale a killer method actor, or killer actor on meth!? Hahahaha.

Video recommended by PF.

“WORLDWIDE PITCHFORK BOYCOUT” nerd-yells Colin Meloy

The Pitchforker’s got all twitterpated upon discovering Twitter recently, and today they released a half-assed Guide To Musicians on Twitter.

Gossip time:

In this guide the Pitchforker’s stated, in regards to Colin Meloy’s Twitter account:

“Worth Following? Tough for us to not read each post in Meloy’s super-nerd singing voice. A deal breaker.”

Don’t you imagine most of the Pitchforker’s voices to be pretty super-nerdy too?

And THEN, Colin Meloy Tweeted these words:

“ouch! is there some sort of memo going out to the spotty interns at pitchfork to snark my band?  We used to be such BFFs!”

AND THEN, Colin Meloy Tweeted these words:

“WORLDWIDE PITCHFORK BOYCOUT”

Them be fighting words!

While HRO worries about the Electro-Wars, I’m going to start training for the Indie-Nerd Wars.

Since it’s going to be really hard to differentiate who is on who’s side, I think everyone on The Decemberists side should dress like mariner’s/mariner’s hookers (circa Picaresque), and everyone on the Pitchforker’s side should dress like that really dorky and awkward guy that interviews bands on Pitchfork.tv (see the Jamie Liddel or Jay Reatard interviews)

I’ll be back in the next 1 to 24 hours with a follow up post about some of the musicians/bloggers/etc. that I follow on Twitter, because Pitchfork’s list was, as I mentioned, a little half-assed.

PS: Follow Me Here

Rolling Stone in a Post-Indie World

Remember when Rolling Stone introduced us to “the coolest kid in America” ???

Living in a post-indie world is pretty hilarious, and awesome.  You get to see the old powerhouse music publications/labels struggling to keep up/survive, and for the most part you can avoid the annoying mainstream music radio hits.  I suppose the only downside is that Pitchfork holds more than 50% of the power now.  But if Pitchork is Rolling Stone 2.0, then that’s not really so bad, is it?

Speaking of Rolling Stone, I just happened across their recent review of Animal Collective’s MWPV, and found it interesting:

“Our take on Merriweather Post Pavillion” (Ed. as if they HAVE to review it, but they don’t get why)

Like the Grateful Dead before them, the psychedelic heads of Animal Collective are evolving from raging sonic hallucinations into gentler, more melodic trips. The ninth disc from this Brooklyn/Baltimore crew tries balancing shameless beauty with ecstatic weirdness, and when they nail it, it’s breathtaking. “Summertime Clothes” is a swirling pastoral with dance-music thrust, while “Guys Eyes” is a cauldron of the Pet Sounds vocal fractals. “Lion in a Coma” and “No More Runnin” get lost in their own oddness. But the magic returns on “Brothersport,” a bacchanalian Brian Wilson-meets-Kraftwerk jam that repeats “open up your throat.” Whether it’s a celebration of singing, magic mushrooms or blow jobs is your call.

– Rolling Stone

It’s a song about Panda Bear’s brother! Gosh.

I have to wonder though, are all of Rolling Stone’s record reviews this short?  It feels like this critique struggled to write even 110 words.

It figures that Rolling Stone would latch onto the “let’s compare Animal Collective to the Grateful Dead” trend.  Sure, I see the parallels all these music critiques are trying to draw… but I’m pretty convinced the comparison is a far fetched stretch.  Was it Mark Richardson who was responsible for starting this AC vs GD trend?

You know what is really hilarious though?  Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Album List for 2008.  On the bright side, it’s arguably the most eclectic album list I’ve ever come across, with Santogold, Metallica, Lil Wayne, Vampire Weekend, and John Mellencamp all in the Top 10.  I guess they have to please all their demographics…  gosh it must suck to be an old school Rolling Stone writer trying to stay sane in the new music world.

Really not sure why people are still trying to decide what the twenty double oh’s will be remembered for in the music industry; clearly it’s the rise of the independent record label/DIY music recording/DIY music journalism.  What else could it be about?  Bob Dylan receiving countless praise for his bootleg album series? Nickelback?

TRENDZ UPDATE: The Preggers Fad Continues – Even Robots Fantasize of Preggers Unicorns

Upon discussion LaMescla made a valid point to me: Is Jamie Spears the real innovator of the alternative preggers trend???

Could M.I.A. + Uffie have been inspired by Brittny Spears little (Catholic?) sister???

Still waiting to see if more guys join the preggers train.

Listening to Now: LaMescla trying to listen to 160 electro remixes in 2 hours.

I Take My Coffee Barack !

Will America bailout the cream and sugar industry???

Listening to Now: Bright Eyes I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (2005). One of my favorites, and one of the only politically charged albums I enjoy.

LaMescla secretly fashion clairvoyant: Futuretip #1

Extra long puka shell necklaces will be the calculator watches of tomorrow.

MIA + Preggers + Proud + Tights = Trouble for Boys who like Girls who like MIA

After an unprecedented leap into the fashion world this morning, LaCinta has decided to tackle an incredible fashion/lifestyle trend that is developing right before our computer screens.

MIA is preggers. What does this mean to us???

[Photo Courtesy of Kyle Dean Reinford via HRO]

First: Fashion blogs have begun to forecast the coming in of tights for preggers.  Now, not only will tights be fashionable for American Apparel-eque alt aesthetics, but also for preggers.

Does this mean tights will cease to be “in” for non-preggers???

And what about tights for obese people???

Are they still popular but not recommended???

Second: Since MIA has been preggers I have noticed other preggers on the Internet.

Is MIA’s preggers contagious???

or

Were these other preggers already preggers but now they’re getting more attention online for being preggers because MIA is preggers???

or

Is MIA innovating a hip new body image trend: being preggers???

Third: If being preggers is a hip new body image trend who will be the early adopters???  Will it be your GF!?

Should we all worry about GFs trying to get preggers on purpose???

Will the hippest girls jump on the trend first???

If my GF still wears bootcut jeans will she be in the Late Majority of fashion adopters, thus allowing me time to render her/myself sterile in the meanwhile???

Will this trend make it to the GAPstream like skinny jeans have (can you get those in the GAP?) or was/is this already a trend in the GAPstream that MIA is borrowing, pulling tights over, and calling alternative???

MIA did put “Paperplanes” in Pinapple Express… was/is she actually a GAP KID???

Fourth: Will (as one may anticipate) the preggers look be strictly for girls, or will it be unisexual like skinny jeans???

I know all of you all are asking yourselves “can boys really be preggers too???”

No, boys cannot be preggers too (not without experimental doctors); however, if this fashion trend evolves into a sexless, or unisexual trend, then perhaps the appearance of a preggers belly, and not just the authentic preggers belly will be considered fashionable.

I mean sure, an authentically preggers belly is going to be, well, more authentic, but you remember how Urban Outfitters started selling Tees even though American Apparel already sold Tees???  Well it’s kind of like that. Everyone knows that American Apparel’s Tees are the ALTthentic Tees, but the Urban Outfitters Tees are still fashionable, just less ALTthentic.

So will boys stuff their Tees with something that looks preggers (like GAPgirlz stuff their Tees with something that looks breast-like)???

or

Will boys wear The Beerbelly Deluxe Kit under their Tees, and also be able to drink Pilsner/Blue Ribbon while appearing to be preggers???

or

Will it only be trendy for boys to have preggers looking bellies if they have ALTthentic Pilsner/Blue Ribbon beer bellies???

and

If the somewhat preggers appearing boy bellies become ALTthentic, will tights become fashionable for boys too???

or

Will this current/new pant trend suffice for the boy version of preggers pants???

[Photo Courtesy of The Arab Parrot via HRO]

Fashion is complicated.

I think I’m going to write about music tomorrow.

See MIA preggers in a two part interview at Pitchfork.tv

Listening to Now: Animal Collective Feels (2005). After a few long years this album has become a modern independent classic for me.

Animal Collective “The Purple Bottle”