Video Of The Week: HEALTH - "DIE SLOW"

This week's Video Of The Week is for HEALTH's new single, "DIE SLOW". The editing and flowing colours blew me away. A perfectly executed music video for such a tight track. I like to watch videos like this. I like it a lot. Check to the right, or by clickin' this here chicken.

HEALTH - "DIE SLOW"

Directed by HEALTH (John Famiglietti)

Video Premiere: Cool Catz - "Nitro"

You loved it when we posted the mp3 a while back, so here's the official video for the Cool Catz' "Nitro" off the Catnip EP (available here).

The jump rope scenes are especially epic.

Who loves Pance Party? I do.

Y'all know I can't resist a Pance Party track. I came across this one a while a go, but at that point it was part of a remix contest and I didn't have clearance to post it. Well, now I do. Score one for YE-LID.

It's pretty surreal to hear Lil Jon getting mixed up in Pance Party's hard-as-fuck electro world. Listening to Swizz Beatz yell something about "tryin' to get that Oprah" over a shredding sample is...as awesome as it sounds.

Check it out below, and continue to support the PP boys. They've quickly become my favourite remixers.

Lil Jon - "I Do" (Pance Party Remix) (Download) (Removed by DMCA request.)

Dirty Sexy Disco

Mmmm. That is what I have to say about Jessica 6.

As a group that was a part of Hercules And Love Affair's self-titled epic disco revival, they clearly have the pedigree. And while I wasn't the biggest fan of that album, I'm smart enough to know that anyone who had a part in something as exciting as that clearly has some creativity up their sleeve.

Jessica 6 takes Hercules' sound, keeps the disco, and than dirties it up. This ends up creating a sexy brand of music that's held together by Nomi Ruiz's endlessly sultry voice. Seriously, this woman could sing me an oatmeal recipe and I would likely get slightly aroused.

Check out a remix of their song "Fun Girl" below which they've been kind enough to allow as a free download.

Jessica 6 - "Fun Girl (Byzar Remix)” (Download)


Can I also just mention that right as I finished this review, a Jo Dee Messina song blasted on my iTunes? This caused me to think a few things:

1. That's interesting that Jo Dee Messina comes after Jessica 6 alphabetically.

2. Why the fuck is Jo Dee Messina in my iTunes.

3. I kind of like Jo Dee Messina.

4. No, I only kind of like this one Jo Dee Messina song.

5. No, I definitely kind of like Jo Dee Messina.

Track Review: Midnight Juggernauts - "This New Technology"

Seeing as “Tombstone” was THE song of Summer ’08, it was with some anticipation that I approached “This New Technology”, the new track by Midnight Juggernaughts that will be appearing on an album of the same name sometime in 2010.

Y’know how disappointment can be described as the demolishing of anticipation? Well, look no further, beloved readers.

“Tombstone”, and the whole of Dystopia for that matter, was exciting, dynamic and fun. On the other hand, I think this song has some sort of half-baked, heavy-handed commentary on the emergence of technology, brought to you by what sounds like rather old technology (cheesy-ass synths). This whole song sounds like a throw-back, which may be a stab at irony, but it’s also a (rather successful) stab at making mediocre music. Furthermore, the last minute and a half of this tune is a pointless, rather uninteresting outro that robs the song of any accumulated energy as it drifts off into space (where it should probably stay.)

See for yourself in streaming audio and download below. Happy listening!

Midnight Juggernauts - ”This New Technology” (Download)


And, for a moment, let’s remember the good times...

Stop! Collaborate & Mixtape: "GARAGE DOOR"

Noise complaint after noise complaint after noise complaint. The last time this happened, my wife was on her death bed! Bring over your instruments, some good company, and be sure to close the

G/A/R/A/G/E_D/O/O/R/
(feat. Your Ex-Lover)

1. The Cars - Moving In Stereo (1978)
2. Blood On The Wall - Hibernation (2008)
3. Sonic Youth - Silver Rocket (1988)
4. Vivian Girls - I Have No Fun (2009)
5. The Willowz - What's Wrong Is Right (2005)
6. The White Stripes - The Hardest Button to Button (2003)
7. The Klaxons - The Night (2007)
8. Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down (2006)
9. The Kills - Black Balloon (2008)
10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Phenomena (2006)
11. You Say Party! We Say Die! - You Did It! (2005)
12. Times New Viking - Drop-Out (2007)
13. Black Lips - Boomerang (2005)
14. The Beatles - Eight Days A Week (1964)

everybody will hear us tonight and there's nothing the neighbours can do about it.

Crazy Busy Weekend

Sorry about the lack of updates this weekend, folks; turns out it's a busy time in all of our lives, but I promise that starting this week things will be back to normal, and my posts will actually be critical in nature rather than just blurbs about my life like this one.

My iTunes said that my choice for songs this post was between Japandroids (who I might be seeing this Saturday) and "Butterfly" by Crazy Town. Good taste won out again, folks. Good taste won out again.

Japandroids - "Crazy/Forever" (Download)

Billboard Thursday: Jay-Z - "Empire State Of Mind (Feat. Alicia Keys)"

I'm not going to lie: I haven't given The Blueprint III much of a chance. And when I saw that "Empire State Of Mind" had vaulted itself to #5 on the charts, I kind of rolled of my eyes and thought, "Really? I didn't know Alicia Keys still had that kind of mainstream pull." Then I listened to the song.

I don't know how I overlooked this gem. It's easily the best thing I've heard off the record, a piano-led monster that talks up the bravado of being from New York while at the same time holding this weird sense of melancholia at its core. I guess that could be considered a flaw, and it's probably the beat rather than the lyrics that brings this tinge of sadness to the proceedings, but still: it's epic in scope and doesn't disappoint in the least.

When people look back at The Blueprint III a few years from now, they're going to roll right past "Run This Town" and go straight to "Empire State Of Mind". It's got the kind of timelessness that has marked some of Jigga's best work. I'm unsure of where it'll actually fall on his hierarchy of singles, but for an album as disappointing as the one he just put out, this is a great, great song.

Show Stopper: USS with Rebel Emergency @ the Ale House

Obviously having nothing better to do on a Wednesday night, I sojourned off-campus to the Ale House, an 800-capacity bar and live venue in downtown Kingston. Shortly after I arrived, Toronto funk-reggae rock act Rebel Emergency opened up. While not my taste per se, they definitely warmed up the crowd. The highlight was a very competent cover of Kings of Leon’s “Fans”.

Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker combines a more conventionally singer/songwriter (with amplified acoustic guitar) with a hype-man in charge of beats and blips and such, as well as pumping up the crowd. Curiosity mounted as a blender, fresh fruits and an ECG machine were brought on stage, and the trend continued into the act itself, which featured sequins, handstands, lab coats, cartwheels, piggy-back rides, destroying equipment, making a smoothie, crowd-surfing on a surfboard, and cardboard cut-outs of Obama, David Suzuki and Ellen DeGeneres.

Musically, the set tended to become a bit monotonous to a casual fan like myself. While local radio hits “2 and 15/16ths” and “Hollow Point Sniper Hyperbole” as well as a nice cover of “Hey Ya” electrified the crowd, only the superfans were truly captivated by the rest. At the end of the night, poor Ellen was thrown into the crowd. A piece of her leg is now on my wall.

If you’re looking for entertainment and unparalleled stage presence, this is a must. For jaw-droppingly awesome music, perhaps not. The venue and sound were okay, and there were about 5 obnoxious assholes in the crowd, but these are things that will change from show to show. If you want a new take on presenting live music in a way that puts the music and spectacle at the same level on less of a Pink Floydian scale, try these guys out. Their touring schedule can be found on their myspace.

For your own enjoyment, feel free to peruse my favourite song of theirs, “2 and 15/16” in streaming audio and download below. Happy Listening!

USS - "2 and 15/16" (Download)

Cleansing

Lately I've found that housecleaning also equals soul cleaning.

Creating positive space feeds my creativity. Which is odd, since I've always been kind of a slob. But recently, I've noticed that it pays to have a cleansed living area.

Try it out sometime.

Bright Eyes - "Cleanse Song" (Download)

Happy Monday

I just acquired a really nice Trainspotting poster.

What a perfect day.

Lou Reed - "Perfect Day" (download)

I'm Happy

I came to a really bizarre realization today: I'm happy.

I was just sitting on my bed, making a grocery list, and listening to Page France when it came to me. I'm very satisfied with where my life is at, even if it doesn't feel like it sometimes. As long as I can keep having random moments of clarity like the one I had this afternoon, everything's going to be okay.

And that's a feeling we all need to hold onto.

Page France - "Hat And Rabbit" (Download)

Not-So-Daily Mixtape: "THE BODDIE"

The mind, the soul &

T/H/E_B/O/D/D/I/E/

1. Stars - Time Can Never Kill the True Heart (2003)
2. Final Fantasy - The Ballad of No-Face (feat. Beirut) [2008]
3. Burial - Etched Headplate (2007)
4. Chad VanGaalen - Wing Finger (2006)
5. Ballboy - I Need Two Hearts (2003)
6. Elton John - Don't Go Breaking My Heart (feat. Kiki Dee) [1975]
7. Bike For Three! - All There is to Say About Love (2009)
8. The Magnetic Fields - Torn Green Velvet Eyes (1994)
9. Jens Lekman - Into Eternity (2007)
10. The Unicorns - Jellybones (2003)
11. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Cheated Hearts (2006)
12. Manipulator Alligator - Don't Make A Face (2008)
13. Kevin Drew - Aging Faces / Losing Places (2007)
14. The Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky (1982)

& the mixtape

(two songs for this one, couldn't help myself. Bike For Three! is one of the best things to happen to "hip-hop" this year, and Jens Lekman's salsa-inspired track is melt-worthy)

I'm Back / A Sunny Day In Glasgow

Beloved YE-LID Reader(s):

There was a time in the past when my contributions to this fine blog decreased and eventually ceased, due to a deteriorating rural Internet connection and the looming task of getting ready to begin my university education this September. Thankfully, this period has come to an end as I am fully moved in here at Queen’s and have an Internet connection that is positively ablaze. Furthermore, Kingston’s strategic position between Montreal and Ottawa means that there will be some great shows here that I will occasionally review. Now let’s get to some music!

A Sunny Day In Glasgow is a Philadelphia four-piece that does nothing that you haven’t heard before, but is pleasing nonetheless and stands up to repeated listens. Identical twin sisters lead the vocal charge on “Ashes Grammar – Ashes Math”, their effervescent melodies floating in and out of the mix amid shoegazey guitars and a conventional drumbeat that prevents the whole thing from slipping into the ether.

In short, a nice, light, dreamy slice of ambient pop that’ll brighten up your Friday. Watch out for A Sunny Day In Glasgow’s new album of the same name as thing song, which came out a mere 3 days ago. Enjoy the download and streaming audio below. Happy listening!

A Sunny Day In Glasgow - "Ashes Grammar – Ashes Math" (download)

Billboard Thursday: Gucci Mane - "Wasted (Feat. Plies)"

Worst song ever?

Not when "I Gotta Feeling" and "Down" still exist (and are #1 and #2 respectively on the charts again, WTF), but it's definitely in the conversation. And when you can even for a brief second consider that "I Gotta Feeling" may not be the worst song on the radio right now, you know you've come across a really shitty song.

As the name implies, "Wasted" is about getting really drunk. I can appreciate that concept, but seriously: the song consists of people saying "wasted" a lot whilst being surrounded by a lot of background noise and verses that are so nondescript that I can't even recall any of what Gucci or Plies is saying. And I'm listening to the song RIGHT NOW.

Listen below, if only just to hear an example of when party rap songs go horribly, horribly wrong.

Video Of The Week: Hammock - "Mono No Aware"

It's late, but it's here. Check our video of the week, Hammock's stunning cut for 2008's "Mono No Aware".

Just Listen: Sandbox Astronomy

Sandbox Astronomy are a bit of a throwback, in the sense that their songs are loaded with classic pop tricks: catchy melodies, jangly guitars, soft harmonies. Just look at a track like the helplessly lovable "Lost Languages", which you just want to cuddle with on a comfy, colourful couch somewhere.

They remind me of Ola Podrida, straight from the way they play their instruments to the vocals to the lyrical tendencies. Which is an excellent thing. I adore Ola Podrida.

Check the mp3 below, and if you enjoy it as much as I do, be sure to download their debut EP View From The Centre Of The Universe for free (or maybe even with a charitable donation?) here.

Sandbox Astronomy - "Lost Languages" (Download)

It's Saturday, Lets Party.

Firstly, I'd just like to mention how that is the most amazing picture I've ever posted on this website.

Secondly, I want to give you something to start your dance party tonight. I'm crazy sick at the moment, but the rave in my head continues. Last time I posted a sqzmylymns (lack of capitalization confuses me, nor am I 100% it's even supposed to have a lack of capitalization) cut people lost their minds, so lets try this again! This is their new remix of All Leather's track "Adios Mi Ameobas".

All Leather - "Adios Mi Ameobas (sqzmylmns remix)" (Download)

Billboard Thursday: Jay Sean - "Down (Feat. Lil Wayne)"

You hear that noise? That's the sound of my brain exploding from how absolutely awful this song is.

Billboard's been really boring recently - BEP, Jay Sean, Miley Cyrus, Jay-Z, Kings Of Leon, and Taylor Swift have been the top six FOREVER - so now, after trying to desperately to avoid it, I'm mostly forced to write about "Down". There's really nothing redeeming about it. At all.

THE BEAT: Terrible. I feel like I've heard this song a million other times.

JAY SEAN: Terrible. He sounds like Colby O'Donis, but a shittier version of Colby O'Donis. And when shittier versions of Colby O'Donis exist, nobody wins.

LIL WAYNE'S GUEST VERSE: Terrible. Not only does he sleepwalk through it, but when Jay-Z tells you to stop doing auto-tune, you fucking STOP DOING AUTO-TUNE.

So yeah, that's all you need to know about "Down" in a few easy sentences. Listen at your own risk.

Video Of The Week: Los Campesinos! - "The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future"

Our video of the week this week comes from Los Campesinos!, who just today released a new track and accompanying vid (which may be unofficial, but whatever). It's brilliant as per from these guys - their last release We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed was #2 on my personal best of list last year - and it's getting me really excited for their next album, which is expected to drop in early 2010. Check the video to the right and the mp3 below.

Los Campesinos! - "The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future" (Download)

YE-LID News: Our (2nd) Favourite Band Of 2009 Has A New EP

If there's one album that's come close (oh so close!) to somehow being better than Merriweather Post Pavillion, it's the Pains Of Being Pure At Heart's self-titled debut. That record has soundtracked so many great moments for me this year that I feel like it's been around far longer than a few months.

Well, they're back again with a [brilliant] EP. Some would argue that this screams "riding the wave of recent popularity", which could be valid if the songs on Higher Than The Stars weren't SO GOOD. There's no letdown whatsoever, and there's no sense that these are b-sides that got thrown together to make a few bucks. I love this band way too much.

Pre-order the EP here, and enjoy the title track below.

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - "Higher Than The Stars" (Download)

<3 Google <3

I just performed what is likely my favourite Google search of all time.

You see, at the bar last night this song came on, and I remember it had a lot of whistling and I thought it was just the hottest thing ever. But then it was clearly some sort of electro remix. And that, my friends, is some tough shit to find on the Internet. If anyone has any suggestions, please notify me.

In the meantime, I'm all about Amanda Blank today. I Love You has grown on me like WHOA and it's currently all I want to listen to.

Amanda Blank - "Gimme What You Got (Feat. Spank Rock)" (Download)


Update: HOLY SHIT I FOUND IT.



Awkwardly enough, I found it because this is currently #1 on HypeM. Which is starting to make me wonder if my memory is hazy, and I actually heard it when I got home. Whatever.

I smell a hit.

I'm Going To The Bar Tonight

This is the song I'm listening to in order to get ready to go to the bar tonight.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Heads Will Roll (Digiraatii Remix)" (Download)

You Crazy For This One, Pance.

Bang. Er.

Felix Cartal - "Skeleton (Pance Party Remix)" (Download)

Billboard Thursday: Lady GaGa - "Paparazzi"

It's a bird, it's a plane...no, it's Lady GaGa's next surefire hit! It debuted at #75 on Billboard this week, which doesn't sound that impressive until you remember that it's still being strangled by "Poker Face" and "Lovegame", both of which are still in the top forty.

"Paparazzi" is the least dance-y but arguably catchiest of all her singles thus far. The chorus is ridiculously awesome. If you don't feel the need to sing along to it, we likely aren't friends. She manages to pull off the rare feat of creating a bubblegum pop song that doesn't really sound a whole lot like bubblegum pop. Yummy.

I'm very happy to watch her world domination continue, and it's fun to see the way she's influencing a bunch of new acts who are putting a lot more effort into their fashion and infusing their sound with more dance undertones. I feel good about this.

Video Of The Week: Ratatat - "Flynn"

Ratatat's official video for "Flynn" off of their lovely LP3, is so silly and equally as amusing. The video filter going on is perfect and the fits the track like a glove. The crackling fire through the doorway behind them and their zany movements win this one for me. Thanks again to Marco for sharing this one with me. Check it out by clicking on this link, or by looking to the right.

Ratatat - "Flynn"
from LP3

Resonance: "Blissify Me, Cap'n!"

Yarrrr, mateys! It be I, yer one n' only Jolly Rogers, and this be a wee bit o' music to soothe the ears, and bring ye happiness.

Let's begin with the first track in this article (which, if you haven't yet guessed, is about songs that really make you feel happy. Or me feel happy, rather. One can only hope they do the same to you.) Frank Zappa's music represents happiness for me, as a whole, and upon hearing 1972's The Grand Wazoo over and over, I was eventually drawn to this track. Partly due to its instant and abrupt start, and partly because of the wide range of instruments used to follow the silliest of melodies. When Zappa and his vocalists sing over the main melody, my cheeks light up and I instantly feel good.

Frank Zappa - "Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus" (download)

Next up is "Exactly Where I'm At" by Ween. Much like Zappa, Ween really has fun with their music. The lo-fi, rhythmic start to this track is quite easy to get behind. The vocals come in and the wet synth slightly brushes against you, then the vocals double and the actual drum beat kicks in. Bringing you from a dull colourless cavern to a meadow of energy, quickly. The vocal progression is so blatantly catchy and the guitar solo doesn't hurt the track either. "Let's begin with the past in front." What a line.

Ween - "Exactly Where I'm At" (download)

This track represents fleeting emotions to me. With a vocal melody that makes you feel like everything's going to be okay, marimba xylophone, a drum beat set in its ways, and numbing organ to support it all. Horn accompaniment at the perfect moment? Check. Distant vocal layering? Check. Repetitive carefree lyrics? Check. Pure psychedelia.

Donovan - "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" (download)

This last song takes me to a happy place. To me, Nirvana's "Dumb", is the anthem to "settling for less". It inspires you to never want to, and to reach higher. Simplistic dirty guitar, with a next-to-perfect sound on the drums. Kurt's voice lacks ambition here. I can surely relate. and I imagine most of you reading this can, too. The emotionless repetition of "I think I'm dumb" stays with me, long after the song has ended.

Nirvana - "Dumb" (download)

I Hate It When This Happens

Because I'm all like, "I rated that album a 7.7 BEFORE Pitchfork rated it a 7.8, meaning I didn't just read their review and make up my mind afterwards," and then you're all like, "Yeah right," and then I'm all like, "But seriously it's true, I thought the new Vivian Girls album was pretty good but not great, and I made that decision before Joe Colly," and then you're all like, "Whatever."

And then I realize the file I uploaded is in m4a format but I don't have enough time or creativity to come up with another post, and you're all like, "Whoa."

Vivian Girls - "Can't Get Over You" (Download)