13wmaz.com | Macon, GA | Scene13

Give the Gift of Music: Dark Was The Night

2009-11-17T13:41:00.006-05:00

It's the time of the year when you start thinking about your gift-giving list, trying to figure out the perfect gift for all the certain someones on that list. Got a certain someone who's into really good music? Then I've got the perfect gift idea.

Photo courtesy of Last.fm

My boyfriend recently let me borrow the Dark Was the Night compilation that he'd been talking up to me for months. He described it as a "who's who" of indie music. The phrase "who's who" gave me pause, because music is so subjective and my taste is often described as both eclectic and snobbish. Yes, I've been called a pretentious hipster and an indie music snob. But...I have to give the BF props, this album is incredible and it stands up to his description.

Quite possibly my favorite song on the compilation...not a real video, but the only way I could find for you to have a listen.

Released on February 17th, 2009, a total of 31 exclusive tracks were recorded for the compilation. With performances from indie music staples like Feist, Grizzly Bear, Ben Gibbard, Iron & Wine and many, many more...the compilation benefits the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. So, should you purchase the compilation for someone on your gift list, you're not only getting them an awesome music gift, you're also making a charitable donation in their name!

There aren't many videos for these songs, so in this case the only way to give you a listen is to link to the YouTube "videos" available. So, enjoy a little hip-hop indie goodness courtesy of this collaboration:

Buck 65 Remix (ft Sufjan Stevens) - Blood Pt 2

If melodic folk rock is more your thing, you can't go wrong with Andrew Bird.

And a who's who compilation of indie rock big names just wouldn't pass muster without a song by Arcade Fire, now would it? Enjoy!

Lenin by Arcade Fire

Seriously, if you're looking for a great gift for a music lover, not necessarily an indie music lover, you can't go wrong with this compilation. Available in double CD or triple vinyl (my choice would be vinyl...these songs were made for the scratchy goodness of a record player) formats, this would top any music nut's all-time favorite gift list.

TGIF Music Mix

2009-11-13T12:41:00.005-05:00

Photo courtesy of Last.fm

As the daughter of comedian/actor/songwriter/frequent New Order collaborator Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen, as well as goddaughter of Joe Strummer, the late singer/guitarist for The Clash, Lily Allen had a very good chance to inherit some talent, whether by nature or nurture. Here's her ode to the end of the work week.

Friday Night by Lily Allen

You can't help but feel a little end of week zen when watching a vid by a band fronted by a fella named Siddhartha, right? Enjoy!

We all look forward to the weekend, don't we? So, how about a little Vampire Weekend?

Or maybe you're more into Ladytron's version?

Weekend by Ladytron

And we'll round it out with a little old fashioned TGIF. Well, maybe not quite so old fashioned...

Photo courtesy of Last.fm

Often described as a feminist dance-punk trio, Le Tigre always sound like they're having a good time to me. So, of course, I have to include their "TGIF".

TGIF by Le Tigre

Locals Only (Athens, GA) Tuesday Tunes - 11/10/09

2009-11-10T11:45:00.005-05:00

Madeline's been around the Athens, GA scene for quite a while...since 2000, when she began performing at the tender age of 15. I'd describe her sound as power, girlie folk rock. You'll have to tell me if you agree!

Sleeping Dogs by Madeline

I Left the Light On by Madeline

With an amazing work ethic, 217 shows across the United States in 2007 alone, the Winter Sounds are working hard to be the hardest working band in Athens, as they "sleep on floors and eat ramen noodles".

Though the band had its beginnings in a living room in Lubbock, TX, Sleepy Horses now calls Athens home. The band has been through several line-ups, some scary times and plenty of overhaul, which is probably why they sound so freaking good now. Take a listen and tell us what you think.

Daylight Savings Time by Sleepy Horses

Ending on a sad note...R.I.P. Jerry Fuchs, drummer for the instrumental and much-math influenced Athens indie band Maserati. Fuchs died on Sunday after a freak fall down an elevator shaft in Brooklyn. Remember him, and think good thoughts for the remaining band members with the following links.

Ambassador of Cinema by Maserati

Happy Halloween - Here's Some Music

2009-10-30T07:50:00.006-04:00

Since it's the day before Halloween, I thought I'd put together some "scary" tunes for your Friday viewing/listening pleasure!

This is a live cut of Pete & The Pirates doing "Blood Gets Thin", a cool song about a fella dating a vampire.

Here's A LINK to the official video which is suitably gory for the holiday.

Just can't get enough of the vampires? I've got another one for you. Here's the Blakes doing Vampire.

Moving from vampires to other things that go bump in the night...ZOMBIES!

Metric's video for Monster Hospital has a film noir vibe that should get you in the mood for fright and horror.

This video isn't scary at all, but it is about ghosts...

It can't be Halloween without a little devilment, right?

Here's hoping you enjoy your Halloween and all the fun the holiday brings!

Tune Travel on Thursday - Sweden

2009-10-22T14:18:00.004-04:00

Today we're going to visit Sweden during our tune travels. Sweden is the third largest country in the European Union in terms of overall area, and has a total population of over 9.2 million. ABBA put Sweden on the musical map in the 1970's and there have been many other internationally successful bands since, such as Roxette, Ace of Base, Europe, and The Cardigans. So, what's hot from Sweden now?

Helena Arlock released Old Dirty Hound in the spring 2009. It has the same sort of bubblegum pop melodies paired with infections beat one has come to expect from artists like Lykke Li, but with slightly stronger vocals.

Misery by Helena Arlock

Pink Bubbles by Helena Arlock

Moving from bubblegum pop to a more driven sound, Sahara Hotnights call Robertsfors home. With an overall style that incorporates elements of garage rock, power pop and punk, the band, which formed in 1991/1992, has had a long and critically acclaimed career with several award nominations and increasing radio play. The band's sound has often been described as a mix between Blondie, The Ramones, and Nirvana. Take a listen and let us know what you think.

Keep Calling My Baby - Sahara Hotnights

Mind Over Matter - Sahara Hotnights

Flashback Friday

2009-10-08T19:42:00.006-04:00

This edition of Flashback Friday is dedicated to the "alternative rock" bands that I listened to circa 1993-1994.

First off, we have the mighty California band, Stone Temple Pilots. They were immediately successful with the release of their debut album, Core. STP had a number of hits from that album, but their second effort, Purple, is my favorite. The first single from that record was "Vasoline," and it was a very cool song with a strange video, which is typical of videos of that period.

Dinosaur Jr. are a highly-regarded and influential band led by vocalist/guitarist J Mascis. Their melodic but feedback-heavy sound was unique back in the 90s, influencing even the late Kurt Cobain. Their 1994 hit, "Feel the Pain," received heavy rotation on MTV and reached #4 on the modern rock charts. Check out the crazy video, which features a pretty dangerous game of golf.

Finally, we have Dig, whose video for "Believe" received a great deal of airplay on MTV back in '93. I remember a specific commercial on the channel advertising their "Buzz Bin," and Dig was the main attraction. Everywhere that I saw anything relating to the band mentioned their "Buzz Band" status and how they were the next big thing... The strange thing about this song is that I absolutely hated it when it was out. Well, recently, Dig popped into my head for some reason and I had the inclination to look this video up. Oddly enough, after listening to "Believe" again after so many years, I find that I really like the song and I am not sure what I thought was so bad about it before. Better late than never to appreciate a pretty good alt-rock song from back in the day.

Have a good weekend!

One Hit Wonder Wednesday - EMF

2009-10-07T11:18:00.003-04:00

EMF, which stood for "Epsom Mad Funkers", were an indie dance band that formed in Cinderford in Gloucestershire in the early 1990's. Their one, and only, hit "Unbelievable" topped out at #3 on the UK Charts and #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Though they had some single success with other cuts off their debut album, Schubert Dip, they never again managed to get a real chart topper, despite their catchy, dance-inspired sound.

FUN FACT: The single features sampled utterances from comedian Andrew Dice Clay.

I actually owned this CD, and really liked it. So here's an extra bit of video fun.

Tune Traveling on Thursday: Music From Minneapolis

2009-09-17T11:45:00.011-04:00

We're not really spanning the globe in this edition of Tune Traveling. In fact, since the first post, Scotland, I haven't been able to do another post of this type. But some things have sorted out and Scene 13 has been moved back up to a top spot on my daily priority list. So, time to get the blog back up and running in a timely fashion.

Today, we're checking out a few bands that make their home in Minneapolis. Why'd I choose Minneapolis? They've got some great bands. But, being completely honest, I was listening to Retreat From the Sun by That Dog this morning, and "Minneapolis" is my favorite song on that album. Wish the reason for the choice was more intriguing. I've included a link to that song at post end.

Photo courtesy of Afternoon Records

Formed in 2006, One For The Team is (currently) a quartet that formed in 2006. Frontman and songwriter Ian Anderson wanted to write music that didn't really fit into his then current gig with the band Aneuretical. With three releases in three years, two full-lengths and one EP, One For The Team is best known for back and forth boy/girl vocal exchanges.

Listen To: Good Boys Don't Make Noise by One For the Team

Photo courtesy of Last.fm

Made up of brother/sister duo Chris and Kate Farstad and friends Micky Alfano and Mark Ritsema, Mouthful of Bees has been called "endlessly catchy". Kate's drumming has been described as a "raucous" counterpart to Alfano's melodic bass. Their sound is a mixture of driving tempo and melodic interludes. It's catchy, toe-tapping and edgy all at the same time.

Listen to: The Now by Mouthful of Bees

Photo courtesy of Last.fm

Described as an electronic dance group (I don't know why, but that description just makes me laugh), The Battle Royale recently signed to Afternoon Records (coincidentally all three bands have put out records on this label). They've put out two albums since signing in 2006, and a third full length is expected by summer's end 2009 (they better get off the stick). See what you think.

Listen to: Racecar by the Battle Royale

EXTRA LISTEN - Minneapolis by That Dog!

Still Flyin' Back in GA For Two Shows

2009-09-16T08:25:00.006-04:00

Now a fixture in the San Fran scene (and yes, I can say San Fran, I'm a NorCal native), Still Flyin's very music roots are in Athens, GA where front man Sean Rawls made an impression on the scene as the driving force behind Masters of the Hemisphere and Je Suis France. I think they have a "definite" Athens sound. You can make the call yourself with the listening links below.

Photo courtesy, the band's Myspace Page

The 15-member (yeah, I said 15 members) band took the San Francisco scene by storm and are also a fixture on the, previously unknown to me, European Festival circuit. It's not hard to understand as several members put in time in critically acclaimed acts including Track Star, Aislers Set, Ladybug Transistor, Love Is All, Maserati, and Red Pony Clock.

Listen to: The Hottchord is Struck

Listen to: Good Thing It's A Ghost Town Around Here

The band plays two shows this weekend, the first in Athens, the second in Atlanta. They'll be at the 40 Watt on Saturday, October 19th with Kindercore and Owl Hootenanny. They'll rock the Earl on Sunday, October 20th with Peelander-Z and Excalibrah.

If you go, take pics and be sure to share the experience with us via comments.

Tuesday Tunes: Local & Beyond

2009-09-01T08:55:00.009-04:00

Today we're going to check out some new offerings from our local Scene 13 following, but we'll also venture a little farther across the U.S. to bring you come current Scene 13 crew favorites.

Atlanta's Ocean Is Theory have a new disc dropping on September 29th. We haven't had the pleasure of their company in the Scene 13 studio, but we'd love to see them (hint, hint).

Ocean Is Theory - Oh Broken Son

I bet you can get a rocking earful of several of the new tracks when they play at the Refuge this Saturday night, September 5th. $10 cover. Check out their MySpace page for other upcoming gigs. Click Here.

If you're looking for more of the singer-songwriter vibe, you might want to check out Aslyn, another Atlanta local, by way of Gainesville, FL. Her Last.FM page offers up several full listens that showcase her pipes and simple, but sweeping, musical delivery.

Aslyn - Golden

Moving away from the local scene, I really need to get my hands on this album. I think it's going to involve an online search, as they're elusive in all the normal purchasing venues. I like the simplicity, almost monotony, of the song. Sometimes I'm not in the mood for frenetic and fractious tempo changes. Sometimes I want a song I can nod along with without whiplash. This song fits the bill. I also like the lo-fi vocal delivery, still emotional, without going over the top into drama.

Flashback Friday - Neutral Milk Hotel

2009-08-21T13:00:00.004-04:00

I still get sad when I realize that Neutral Milk Hotel is no more. For me, NMH was all about founder, writer and lead vocalist Jeff Mangum. It was Mangum's distinctive vocals, as much as the experimental orchestration and instrument choices, that gave NMH their signature sound. There's an abundance of live performance videos available on YouTube, but I chose several of Mangum performing solo. They're of a higher quality, and, as previously stated, for me it's all about his voice.

Hope you enjoyed this Flashback Friday installment. Happy Friday and have a good weekend.

Tune Traveling on Thursday: Scotland

2009-08-20T13:18:00.006-04:00

Have you figured out that I like themed posts? Does it make me a little sappy? Sure. But several of you read each and every one, so...well, you get the point. I've been on a huge British Isles kick of late, so I figure it's a great place to start this new themed topic on the ol' Scene 13 blog.

Up first, possibly my "current" favorite band. I have numerous "favorite" categories, so try to keep up. Frightened Rabbit is a four-piece out of, you guessed it, Scotland made up of Scott Hutchison (vocals/guitar), Billy Kennedy (guitar/keyboard), Grant Hutchison (drums/vocals) and Andy Monaghan (guitar/keyboard). Though a musical act since 2003, Hutchison solo, Frightened Rabbit is just now becoming a household name in Scotland and are making inroads into the American indie music scene.

Here's a second track for your listening pleasure:Frightened Rabbit: The Modern Leper

Best known as "one-half" of Scotland's Arab Strap, Malcolm Middleton is making some great music all by his lonesome. Well, with the help of some backing female vocals.

Photo courtesy Last.fm

Take a listen and tell me what you think!

Malcolm Middleton: Fight Like The Night

Malcolm Middleton: A Brighter Beat

I first saw Idlewild when they played "You Held The World In Your Arms Tonight" on the Jimmy Kimmel show in 2003. I quickly worked to get my hands on as much of their music as I possibly could. Every once in a while I remember that I haven't heard them in a while and I put them back in heavy rotation on my playlist. Hope you enjoy!

Here's a couple extra Idlewild listens:

Idlewild: Live In A Hiding Place

Idlewild: Let Me Sleep (Next to the Mirror)

Well, I hope you enjoyed our first trip abroad. I have no idea what country will catch my fancy next week, but I hope you'll come back and check it out!

One Hit Wonder Wednesday - Deep Blue Something

2009-08-19T13:15:00.003-04:00

Deep Blue Something was founded in 1993 in Denton, Texas. The four students, Todd and Toby Pipes, Clay Bergus and John Kirtland, initially called the band Leper Messiah. They soon decided that sounded too much like a metal outfit, possibly because Metallica had a song by the same name.

Breakfast at Tiffany's put the band in the spotlight in 1994, rising to a top 5 rank in the U.S. and topping the British charts. A long hiatus more than likely added to their lackluster showing with their self-titled follow-up album.

Enjoy their "one hit".

Before They Became The Talk of the Town

2009-07-30T13:07:00.005-04:00

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those folks who immediately stop listening to an "indie" band as soon as they gain some popularity. Nor am I the kind of music lover that gets all up in arms whenever a song gets used in a commercial.

But, that being said...I do like to look back nostalgically at favorite songs from bands that hit it big. Songs that came out before their big break, so to speak. I thought I'd post with that in mind today.

Boy Girl super duo The Kills really got it going on with their third album, Midnight Boom, released in 2008. This third Kills installment had a more accessible and commercial sound, while still employing the same fuzzy distortion and heavy bass. I take you back to the title track of their 2005 release, No Wow.

It's very fuzzy, loud and full of distortion. Ahhhhhhhh...the sounds I love.

Snow Patrol had been around for years before they made themselves a semi-household name with their 2006 release, Eyes Open. Only lead singer Gary Lightbody has lasted for their 11 year reign in indie music. They've got basically the same sound, if a bit more polished and possibly a bit more crafted (engineered and edited). Here's the first cut off their 1998 release, Songs for Polarbears.

Ben Gibbard and Death Cab For Cutie have come a long way in their more than twelve years on the scene. Here's a cut from their third release, The Photo Album, which hit the shelves in 2001.

Bragg Jam Brings Blast From the Past: Cracker

2009-07-23T12:18:00.003-04:00

Cracker, best known for their platinum-selling 1993 album, Kerosene Hat, featuring the hit songs "Low", "Eurotrash Girl" and "Get Off This", are still cranking out tunes and entertaining audiences. You can check them out at 11:00 PM, this Saturday, on the 13WMAZ Stage at the Cox Capitol Theatre. You can enjoy a little Cracker while you count down the minutes to the Concert Crawl. See the video and links below!

Cracker: Low

Cracker's Current Single: Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out

Tunes on Tuesday: A Mallie Mix

2009-07-21T12:48:00.003-04:00

It feels like a "mix-it-up" kind of day today...so I'm going to mix things up by posting videos of several of my current favorite songs. There's no rhyme or reason for why these songs currently to my "must-listen" list, they just appeal to me right now. So I thought I'd share them with you. Let me know if you enjoy them. Let me know if you can't stand them!

I've been on a real Metric kick lately. I like Emily Haines voice, and I like the drama in this song. The way it builds and swells, fades out and returns.

Here's an extra video: Dr. Blind by Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton.

This one's a little more mellow, but I'm a big fan of Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer. Yep, the name is quite a mouthful. But it's worth the listen, I think. Let me know what you think!

Check out this sound: Plays Pretty for Baby by Zolof The Rock & Roll Destroyer. This is a user created video slideshow, but I'm posting it for the sound, rather than the video imagery. Do-do-do...do-do-do...do-do-do-do-do...

This tune's less peppy, some might even call it melancholy, but it's working for me right now. This is a live performance, so take that into account when the singer strains on the chorus (but he does that in the studio version, too).

And one final extra, you may have heard this one during a break in your favorite TV show. It was grabbed by a well-known photography company. Check it out, and you'll see why. Bishop Allen - Click Click Click

Monday Music Mix: Countdown to Bragg Jam

2009-07-20T08:19:00.004-04:00

Bragg Jam is underway, but the main event, the Concert Crawl, takes place this Saturday, July 25th. We thought we'd give you a sneak peak at some of the awesome live performances that are in store for you if you attend!

Corey Crowder plays the Bragg Swim School Stage at the Rookery at 8:30 P.M.

Afromotive play the Yuengling Stage at 580 Cherry at 10:15 P.M.

Abby Owens plays the 11th hour/Q-106 Stage at the Hummingbird at 5:45 P.M.

We'll be showcasing other Bragg Jam bands throughout the week, leading up to the main event. Hope you'll come back and check it out!

One Hit Wonder Wednesday - That Dog

2009-07-08T08:38:00.004-04:00

It's a stretch, really, to even call them a one hit wonder. Despite their critical acclaim amongst music connoisseurs and mag writers, That Dog never really got much mainstream radio play, though "Never Say Never" did climb to #27 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. But, I'm going to press on and post them as a One Hit Wonder. Why? Because I loved, loved, loved them...and I'm still sad about their demise. And, maybe a few of you will remember their brief flirtation with your local radio station of choice.

For those of you not in the know, That Dog formed in L.A. in 1991 and called it quits in 1997 (way to early for their rabid fans...get it...dogs, rabid). The females that made up 75% of the band came from pretty illustrious musical families. Anna Waronker's father, Lenny, is a music industry mogul and her brother, Joey, sometimes drums for R.E.M. and Beck. The Haden sisters, Petra and Rachel, are the daughters of free jazz bassist Charlie Haden.

Extra Video: He's Kissing Christian

Extra Video: Anna Waronker, former lead singer of That Dog, took off on a brief solo career. This was her first single:

At the Movies: Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen

2009-07-01T07:45:00.004-04:00

First of all, let me say that I seriously enjoyed the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen experience. But the whole time I was watching it, I kept hearing this repetitious "baa-baa-baa" sound somewhere in my subconscious. I, like millions and millions of others across this planet Earth - which according to Jetfire, a Seeker and former Decepticon, should just be "Dirt" - am a victim/beneficiary of a movie generated solely for the purpose of arcane, primordial human entertainment...however embarrassing that notion might be. It was - backwards, forwards and inside out - made for the masses.

From the onset, you've got your prehistoric flashback which establishes the whole bad guy vs. earthlings as a struggle dating back some 17 millennia. You’ve got your nerdy cool guy who's the savior of the world in Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf). Then there's Mikaela (Megan Fox), the super hot, rough-rider girlfriend, who sticks by his side even when a human-disguised Decepticon chick almost gets her metal tongue down his throat. And, of course, you-ve got your bigger than life good guys, the Autobots, who – even though their technology is far, far, far beyond anything humans have even begun to dream - are somehow unable to get the job done without the help of a human of average intelligence and no superpowers. There's the leader Optimus Prime, the faithful companion Bumblebee, and my new favorite (who I referenced earlier) Jetfire. BTW…Seekers like Jetfire were sent out into the universe by the Primes (millennia and millennia ago) to search for suitable suns for harvesting. Yeah, I won’t go into a detailed description on that side plot here…just watch the movie. Then, there were the twins. Oh goodness…the twins. They were like Flava Flav squared! They may have been a little offensive, most definitely over-the-top, but people seemed to like them. Oh yeah, I almost forgot...Sector Seven's top agent, Simmons, definitely adds some snarkalicious flair to the movie. I love that guy!

What's a summer, blockbuster action-flick without a smathering of bad guys? Not a summer blockbuster action-flick...that's what! In this movie, you've got baddies of the human and Decepticon variety. We have the typical suit-and-tie human bureaucrat who represents the government of the United States, didn't have a clue what was going on, and nearly destroyed everything. It's a bit reflective of humankind's general perception of government bureaucrats, no? Well, this guy ultimately gets thrown from a plane by the indomitable Major Lennox. The Decepticons were out in full force. There's the ever-present Megatron – bad-guy extraordinaire - with a new-found allegiance to the Fallen. The Fallen is this ancient Prime whose plot to harvest the sun of a life-bearing planet - the Earth, of course - was foiled by his "brother" primes long, long, long ago. The good primes had to sacrifice themselves to save the Earth and stop the Fallen, but, you know, it's all in a day's work. Now, Fallen is back to finish what he started. He's a little angsty, but I suppose after 17,000 years of unfulfilled dreams, I would be too. I wanted him to be smarter. It seems like the whole "take over the universe" mantra makes the Decepticons a little less intelligent than their Autobot counterparts. Starscream was back and boy was he the subservient wimp in this one. Megatron smacked him around more than the Autobots did.

The cinematography was incredible. You can't really go wrong when you shoot in the Middle Eastern deserts for half the movie. And director Michael Bay has a thing for those up-shots into the stratosphere. I love those shots, but after the first twenty they start to lose their "big" effect.

Then, there were the million plots holes that you don't really think about during the movie because you just can't! There’s WAY too much happening to worry about how Megatron hooked up with the Fallen or where the Fallen has been all this time or how Starscream figured out how to breed new Decepticons (for that matter, how were they breeding these new Decepticons?).

The one-liners – well, a lot of them – were just so typical cheese-ball that it kind of hurt a little bit every time an actor was forced to say one.

But really, it wasn't meant to be high-brow entertainment. And for what it was - a cheesy, typical summer movie filled with wicked action, awesome special effects, a rah-rah underdog and down with the baddies theme - it rocked! It rocked hard!

If you're thinking of taking the kids, just know that it absolutely earned its PG-13 rating this time around. There was a lot more language in this one than there was in the first one. There's no GRAPHIC violence, but there's plenty (and I mean PLENTY) of bang-bang, shoot 'em up madness happening from start to finish.

Overall, it was fun. It was a means of escaping reality without having to think...not even a little!

Monday Music Mix: June 29, 2009

2009-06-29T08:22:00.003-04:00

I know I haven't been posting much lately. We've all been busy with the Hero Central Food Drive. It was a resounding success, so I'm now throwing myself back into the blogs and our other social networking platforms.

Some of you know I had a birthday earlier this month. One of my fantastic gifts was a 16G touch screen MP3 player. So in my rare free time I've been loading it up with a wide variety of artists and genres. I've barely got 4G worth, so I'll be busy for some time. I thought I'd share some of my favorites with you, though, as part of this Monday's music mix.

I was a late convert to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but now I can't get enough of the New York City indie rockers. Karen O's vocals are edgy and quirky, which always works for this listener. Hope you'll tell me what you think!

I've posted tracks and videos from The Joy Formidable before, but here's my current favorite. There's just something about this band, the energy and angst, that gets me going. This song gets frequent repeat plays whether I'm listening to the CD or it queues on my playlist. I like the video nearly as much as I like the song, despite the cliche of smashing their equipment. Enjoy!

Absolutely Kosher is one of my favorite record labels. I spent a little upload time loading Bottom of the Hudson tracks to the new toy. Another New York band, Bottom of Hudson, has two records out on Absolutely Kosher, and I thought you might enjoy this cut from their second release, Fantastic Hawk.

And I haven't forgotten my beloved 80's in my uploading frenzy, many CDs were ripped over the last week, much to my husband's displeasure (he's not a fan of my covetous hoarding of compact dics, nor my tendency to leave the piled haphazardly when I'm ripping them). Here's a couple links to videos of some of my favorite 80's songs. Songs that were also added to my playlist!

Fields of Fire by Big Country

The Sun Always Shines on TV by a-ha

All I Need Is Everything by Aztec Camera

Bonus Video:

One Hit Wonder Wednesday - Butthole Surfers

2009-06-17T04:28:00.004-04:00

Though much respected by critics and their peers in the alt-rock scene, the Butthole Surfers (Gibby Haynes, Paul Leary and King Coffey) had little commercial success until 1996’s Electriclarryland. Pepper, the only real single off the album, was their one chart hit. So, despite my love for them, they do fall into the one-hit-wonder parade!

I've got a great extra on this one, though...do any of you remember the Saturday Morning Cartoon CD compilation that came out in the mid-nineties? It had some great cuts, including my VERY favorite, the Butthole Surfers rendition of the Underdog theme song. Color me super thrilled to have found it!

Of note: Future superstar Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain named the Surfer's first EP in his journals as one of his top 10 favorites. He also met his future wife, Courtney Love Cobain at a Surfers concert.

Hope you enjoyed!

Flashback Friday: The Fixx

2009-06-12T08:25:00.004-04:00

The Fixx, college friends Cy Curnin on vocals and Adam Woods on drums, were a major New Wave fixture during the 80s. While many other bands were inundating the airwaves with saccharine sweet pop, The Fixx had a darker, more intense sound, thought it was still New Wave and dance friendly.

Their top U.S. hits were "Saved by Zero", "Are We Ourselves" and their main standout..."One Thing Leads to Another".

The Fixx are still performing to this day...and folks are still turning out to sing along. And they are recording their long awaited 9th studio album which is expected hit the shelves this year.

We've got live video of two of their hits and the 80's MTV styling of "One Thing Leads to Another".

ARE WE OURSELVES

SAVED BY ZERO

ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

One Hit Wonder Wednesday - Wall of Voodoo

2009-06-10T14:08:00.004-04:00

Image Courtesy of: Click Here

According to Wikipedia, Wall of Voodoo's unique sound was a mixture of new wave synth and spaghetti western twang. It's a pretty fitting description. "Mexican Radio" is one of those songs that was great every once in a while, but got rather annoying with repeated radio play and over rotation. Now, looking back on it from the '00s, I can remember why it was so catchy, at least for the first several listens.

Bonus Video: Wall of Voodoo performing "ring of Fire"! Click Here.

Flashback Friday - Lesser Known Green Day

2009-06-05T16:28:00.004-04:00

Since they've got a new album out, I thought I'd flash back by looking at some "lesser" known songs from one of my favorite bands. In fact, I've seen this band live more than any other. So I thought I'd add to the end of the week fun by posting live video footage.

I've long been a Green Day fan. I'm one of those music snobs who can say that I actually liked the band before their break-out album, Dookie. So here's a little Green Day live action from their second album, Kerplunk...

While "Longview" and "Basket Case" were the big hits off Dookie, they weren't my personal favorites. I did like "When I Come Around", but that was fairly popular so I thought I'd dig a little deeper and see what else I could come up with today. After all, since I'm the one writing the blog, I should get to showcase my favorites, right? So, her you go...

And last, but no least, from 1995's Insomniac... (this one was hard, I wanted to post "Westbound Sign" which is my absolute favorite, but couldn't find anything suitable)here's "86".

And here's a fun extra...

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong took part in a little side-project called Pinhead Gunpowder. Here they are covering Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi". Click the link below to enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIJizkfAjR0

One Hit Wonder Wednesday - The Breeders

2009-06-03T07:01:00.003-04:00

The Breeders - Courtesy of NoAloha.com

I bet all of you remember the catchy bass line that opened "Cannonball" by the Breeders. The Breeders came to life when Pixies bassist, Kim Deal, started writing new material that didn't really fit in with the Pixies sound. Initially the band included Tanya Donnelly, who left after the first album to form Belly. Kim recruited her sister Kelley, and the well known band line-up came into play with Josephine Wiggs on bass and drummer Jim MacPherson.

Last Splash, the third Pixies album, was released in 1993 and gained critical success with three singles, but only the catchy "Cannonball" really took off with the general population, getting lots of radio time and MTV play. More indie and college rock stations showcased the second single, "Divine Hammer".

More from the Breeders:

Watch "Divine Hammer"!

Watch "Saints"!

BONUS VIDEOS:

The Pixies, performing Kim Deal's standout "Gigantic". Click Here >>

And one more...here's Belly's "Feed The Tree". Enjoy!