...Or if we're being literal: 25. R.M. darling Patrick Wolf is today's birthday boy. To celebrate Mr. Wolf turning one quarter of a century; a few videos.
'Spose to be asleep, especially with work in less than 8 hours. Oops.
En Vogue. Loves of mine since elementary school. Immuzikation? Psuedo-love of mine since, hmm, last summer? The latter mashing the former? A musicgasm for sure. Yeah, I was looking for an En Vogue track for a mix I was to throw up here, and stumbled upon this gem. Totes fun, making one want to grab a red solo cup full o' beer and throw a rager of a roof party. Jam it til there's no tomorrow, hombre.
On a note completely unrelated: When the fuck did The Offspring release a new album? Also, who said anyone even wanted them too? I mean, it's been all downhill since Americana, fellas. C'mon, do you remember the joke of an album that was Conspiracy of One, I wish I didn't.
Okay, I've been meeting to write about this hot Scot for nearly a month now. My roomie mailed Amy MacDonald's album to me when she mailed me the keys. Not having the time to write proper about her before I left, I decided to make it one of my first orders of business upon moving. Leaving her CD in my desktop, I was not amused ot find out that I had left my desktop wires upstate. To make a longer story short, upon checking my one e-mail for the first time in weeks, my roomie sent me an e-mail complete with streams and picture!
In the vein of Kate Nash, Brandi Carlisle, and KT Tunstall, Amy is a singer songwriter. I know with the music emerging today, it is easy for an artist to just get lumped with other similar ones. I only do this to poor Amy MacDonald because she is still a relative unknown--and hopefully not for long. The demo that was sent to me was a breath of fresh air, seriously. Fun, heartfelt, and summery, this blogger was entranced.
Being absent from the internet this past week, I missed several messages from friends about the new Girl Talk album. Today, armed with a blank CD and sharpie, I am quickly catching up. Girl Talk is currently offering the album for however much you are willing to pay for it. I, being poor, punched 00.00, and after answering a quick question, was able to download the album. As my one friend said, "it's way fun." SO DO IT! It's brilliance in a 53 minute package. I'd normally post a sample for y'all to peruse, but seeing as the album is free, and as I am encouraging more heads to listen to Girl Talk, I shall only leave you with a link to the album. So, there.
Article A--a powerpop/rock quartet from New Jersey, have been infecting this blogger with their infectious tunes as of late. My roomie gave me their album, Stay Now, to listen to--much to the pleasure of my ears.
In the vein of All-American Rejects--pop melodies with rock sensibilities--Article A deliver a truly infectious album. Their current (as well as first) single, "What's the Point" opens the disc. Thrashy guitar coupled with a head-bangin' beat and lovelorn lyrics screams Summer. Leaving this girl with a hankering for a popsicle and a drive with friends.
Article A is currently on tour promoting themselves (as well as their album) with free in-store concerts at FYE's around the nation. For a complete list of dates and cities, check out their MySpace. Check out their single, "What's the Point," below.
Central Park Summer Stage (am only listing concerts I am interested in, for complete schedule check out their website)
Central Park SummerStage is located at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Enter the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue on the east side or at 72nd Street and Central Park West on the west side.
What to bring: Water. Blanket. Friends!
Friday, June 13, 2008 | 7-10 p.m. Mavis Staples Stephanie McKay Opening Night 2008!
Over the next two days yours truly shall be posting about all the free concerts going on in the New York City area. Since most of these concerts are apart of a larger series, each series will be getting its own post chock full of information--location, helpful tips, times, etc.. Homegirl got you covered.
Oh, New Kids on the Block, the boy band that started it all. Though extremely young when the NKOTB craze was at an all-time high, I was still apart of it compliments of my older sister. At five years old, I could Hang Tough like nobody's business. I had the nightgown, the dolls, the posters, just about the whole fucking gamut. Sixteen years later, my boys are back. And not only are they together, but they've managed to release a new single (and video) as well--HUZZAH! "Summertime," released at the beginning of last month, has basically been on repeat since it first met my ears 13 or so hours ago. Nearly two decades have passed since the boys reigned supreme, and they're as addicting as ever. Jordan was my favourite, and he still has a piece of my heart. (I totally bought his solo album when he dropped it nearly a decade ago and played it until it broke).
"Summertime" is a fun, mellow ditty. Definitely a song for chilling in the sunshine. They updated their sound and vernacular without being awkward. I mean Joey croons "beach on lock" so smoothly, that one can almost forget they were a big deal in the late 80's, and take them as a new act.
The video is absolutely my favourite, demonstrating how grown my boys are. I like how they have a little introduction for each for each of the guys with their name (like one could forget). But the absolute best part of this video? Group dancing at the end. Ugh, how my pop-whore heart is a sucker for boy bands.
Watching Van Wilder the other day, this blogger took note of the soundtrack. A soundtrack befitting for any scene middle-schooler with braces circa 2004; Sugarcult, Jimmy Eat World, Swirl 360. Ok, so the last one, Swirl 360, wasn't hip, but whatever, I needed a segway dammit. One song that really struck me was "Okay" by Swirl 360. A song succinctly 90's in its sound and general vibe (nice, subtle Fuck You Break Up song). Basically, I've been digging this song and thought I would share. Using imeem to post the song as I couldn't find it for free, and I did not have this song in my collection.
The only good thing that has ever come out of MySpace: Free Concerts. For those of you in the New York area, tonight (June 8th) at Irving Plaza, GNARLS BARKLEY will be playing for free with special guests BATTLES and JANELLE MONÁE. The concert starts at 7pm, get there early folks, as yours truly was a little late on the uptake and many a facebook status has already declared that they're going. Also, a free concert in NYC with such well-knowns as Gnarls? Yeah, bring the sunscreen, some beers, and a couple of friends, as the lines will be ridonk. But I promise, the hot tunes will more than make up for the wait.
McCaren Park, my new love, is having a number of "Pool Parties" this summer. In August, they have Aesop Rock heading one of those said Pool Parties. Cost to get into these Pool Parties? Nada. You want to know why, because they are FREE. Yup, that's right, you heard me folks. Free concerts with some of the hottest talent around. Aesop heads the Party on August 17th (that's a Sunday) from 2pm til Dusk. By August, that gives us at bare minimum 6 hours of audio pleasure. As of right now the only supporting act listed besides the vague "special guests" is Panther. Regardless, I am THERE. Aesop Rock, for Free? Are you kidding me? If that place isn't filled to capacity (which I believe is something tot he tune of 5,000 heads) then I will be thoroughly convinced that no one listens to good music (a strong statement coming from someone who still jams out to the Backstreet Boys). To celebrate this soiree, some tunes, and a music video from that crazy ass Panther guy. For more information, visit McCarenPark.com
M.I.A. performing atop speakers near the end of the McCaren Park concert
First, let me say that McCaren Park Pool is a venue I recommend experiencing at least once, if only for the novelty of standing in a giant ass abandoned pool. Also happy to report that I managed to sell my ticket to a gaggle of Brooklynites, who then graciously took me under their wings when they found out I was alone. Only in New York, folks.
My lesbian crush on Ms. Arulpragasam has been tripled after tonight's events. The concert in itself was an orgy of colour and sound. Once it hit 6:45, the music was nearly non-stop with a ten minute when Holy Fuck was taking down their set. It all began with one DJ, whose name escapes me at the moment, he was alright. Then came Holy Fuck, a pseudo-psychedelic/trance/rock/electronic/grunge quartet, whose rhythm's almost always fell into the same beat, and often sounded lifted from a James Brown song. Then my main man Diplo came on for a bit. Monkeying around onstage for about a half hour to forty-five minutes in an Elmo suit. G-d, I love him. Then, of course, came the brilliant fluorescent rainbow that is M.I.A. herself. I phenomengasmed. She sounds great on record, she sounds amazing live, especially with the show she puts on. Between the visuals that continuously played on the scren behind her to the lights, to the handful of dancers she had onstage with her, (and with the help of a contact high) this blogger couldn't keep her eyes on one section of the stage too long.
The best part of the show? When M.I.A. called up all the ladies onstage to dance. Yours truly was hesitant at first, but with a little coaxing from a drunken stranger, I hopped up. Good thing I did, for I got to dance with the hot piece that is M.I.A.. I could have died happily at that moment. Dancing (spazztically, I assure you) near the back of the 80 or so ladies onstage, I wasn't expecting the diva herself to wander back there, but she did! Singing and dancing, M.I.A. made sure to mingle with all the fans who made it up there. And when she came next to me shaking and gyrating, I really could have died.
For her encore she performed "Paper Planes," having her cronies on the side fly, you guessed it, paper airplanes into the crowd. Only later, upon further inspection, did I realise that the airplanes were a special invite to the official after party. Having realised this two stops from home, I was a little upset, but comforted myself in images of a gyrating M.I.A.. Homegirl was selling some hot t-shirts too, but I refused to spend $40 on a t-shirt when the tickets didn't even cost that much. I did however manage to sneak away with a few souvenirs.
Souvenirs.
The horn is my favourite, even if I got pelted in the head with it.
M.I.A. -- Paper Planes
M.I.A. -- BOYZ
M.I.A. -- Sunshowers
M.I.A. -- Jimmy
NOTE: I actually had to stop typing this up, and save it for the morning--that's how beastly my contact high was. Fucking stoners.
An hour til the doors open at the Pool, and three hours til showtime, and I still have an extra ticket. This is deja vu all over again, except, this time one, the show is sold out, and two, I had actually found someone for the Justice ticket. A Craig's List post for a free M.I.A. ticket yielded no charms, and one honestly can't blame it considering all the scams that go on there. But still!! I may just end up giving it away at the show, because I honestly don't know how else to put it out there. I would try to scalp it even, but my luck, I'd get busted.
Either way, I will be enjoying some rad fucking tunes. I've been stoked for this concert for months, and now the day has arrived--a big 'lectro orgy to end my first week in the Big Apple. And after the week I have had, it couldn't be more welcomed. Home girl is definitely going to be tearing it up tonight with beer and dancing. Huzzah! To get y'all (as well as myself) in the rump-bumpin' hip-dippin' mood, a little M.I.A. for ya listenin' pleasure.
"I'm in rock and roll." "No shit? You famous?" "Not yet." "Well hey man, chin up, you just gotta keep at it!" "Maybe. But you know, Nelson, fame isn' always the ultimate goal." "Really? What's the goal then? Money? Dope? Pussy? What?" "There is that element, for sure." "What other elements are there, do you suppose?" "Well. Art," I say. "Come again?" says Nelson, putting a finger to his ear. "There's the art of it. Creating something beautiful and lasting." "Tell me, Darby, are you on dope now?" "No, just coffee and doughnuts." "So you're shitting me then?" "Nope. Crappin you negative." "The art of rock and roll," he says. He offers me a cigarette then lights one for himself. Prince's "1999" comes on. "Like this one," I say, "this one touches one something pretty deep." "Such as?" "Millennial anxiety. Sex. Death. The end of pretty much everything. Listen, here's the line. Wait. Here it comes. Right here. Did you hear that?" "Something about I was dreaming when I spoke this?" "No, after that. 'Life is just a party and parties weren't meant to last.'" "Life's a party? Fuck that. Where's the art? My life's no party." "Yeah but it's one of those scary truths. Prince is saying we're all gonna die."
-excerpted from Grab on to me Tightly as if I Knew the Way, by Bryan Charles
Twenty-One. Ovary Carrier. Philosopher. Overworked. Underplayed. Writer. Lover. Music Appreciator. Batman Freak. Red-Haired. Freckled.
Just an old sweet song, keeps Georgia on my mind...
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