BABY TEETH-WE LIVE HERE

Posted on February 22nd, 2007 by ekko

This is supercool. Baby teeth, in anticipation of their upcoming Lujo release, offer an EP with covers by and with other Chicago-based artists. It’s really good stuff!

Bad Weather-Baby Teeth and Kelly Hogan

Saint James Infirmary/Six Foot One (Liz Phair cover)-Baby Teeth

Fool For You (Impressions)-Baby Teeth

Sarah- Baby Teeth and Bobby Conn and Julie Pomerleau

Catch ‘em live!

03/08/07 Dekab, IL @ The House w/Bobby Conn, Driver of the Year
03/09/07 Iowa City, IA @ the Picador w/Bobby Conn, Driver of the Year
03/10/07 Rock Island, IL @ Rock Island Brewing Company w/Bobby Conn, Driver of the Year
03/17/07 Chicago, IL @ Schubas w/ baby dayliner
03/30/07 Iowa City, IA @ The Mill Mission Creek Midwest Fest w/Tilly & The Wall
04/05/07 Ames, IA @ Matienance Shop w/Mucca Pazza
04/07/07 Bloomington, IN @ The Hospital

Bonus links:

Webbie-The Savage Life Mixtape

DJ_Diggz_And_DJ_Rated_R_Present-Styles_P._Why_Im_The_Hardest

THE MORNING BENDERS

Posted on February 22nd, 2007 by ekko

The Morning Benders are back! A great rough-and-tumble-rock-and-roll band that makes catchy, funny, hooky (and did I already say catchy?) songs well worth listening to. They’re offering two advance cuts from their second EP, “Boarded Doors.”

And here they are:

Damnit Anna-The Morning Benders

Last today-The Morning Benders

And from their first EP:

Grain of Salt

I Was Wrong

INTERPOL-LIVE AND IN CONCERT

Posted on February 21st, 2007 by ekko

I always loved that tag-line–”Live and In Concert.” Why do they have to say, “Live?” I mean, if they’re in concert, presumably they were live when they . . . Oh, whatever.

Today I’m posting an Interpol show. Now, all together, with me: One, two, three: Waaaaaah! That’s me crying because Interpol will be releasing their first album on a major label later this year. That means they’ll be joining the clique of RIAA bums, so I won’t be posting on them every again. This will be the last time, probably.

Which is too bad, because they’re first two albums are quite good. I’m sure you all know about this band, so I’m not going to say much more other than Enjoy The Show.

Excellent quality, from Germany 9.16.2004.

01 Obstacle 1-Interpol.
02 Evil-Interpol
03 Say Hello To The Angels-Interpol
04 Slow Hands-Interpol
05 Not Even Jail-Interpol
06 NYC-Interpol
07 Lengths Of Love-Interpol
08 NARC-Interpol
09 Leif Erikson-Interpol
10 PDA-Interpol
11 Stella Was A Driver-Interpol
12 Roland-Interpol

Look! A bonus show! Recently repped by Merge Records, it’s Dinosaur Jr., live 3.27.89

THE ROADSIDE GRAVES

Posted on February 20th, 2007 by ekko

Remember when David Byrne went country? He did a cover of “Don’t Fence Me In” and had some twangy originals, too, back in the ‘90s. Geek country. That was the first thing I thought of when I heard, “Mosquitos (Let The Fireworks Explode),” from The Roadside Graves new EP, What Happened To Him Could Happen To Anyone . But then I heard more, like “Hell” and the EP’s standout track, “Jesus Is A Friend Of The Family,” and I noticed that the songs are far from gimmicky. They’re deceptively simple, hiding mature themes and touching lyrics under a veneer of catchy alt-country. I daresay this stuff is as good as anything Ryan Adams ever gave us. Much thanks and props to Kill Buffalo records, Brooklyn’s (nay, the

real

Berkeley Place’s) best country label, for this fabulous submission. Love it. Highest recommendation.

West Coast-Roadside Graves

Jesus Is a Friend of the Family-Roadside Graves

Mosquitos (Let The Fireworks Explode)-The Roadside Graves

OTHER RANDOM LINKS:

Graham Coxon – Shipbuilding (Elvis Costello cover)

Middle Distance Runner – Man Of The People

John Vanderslice – Requiem

THE STATE WITHIN

Posted on February 19th, 2007 by ekko

I’m just doing a quickie here ’cause I’m watching this fantastic movie on BBC America–The State Within. It all starts with a terrorist attack comitted against America by a British citizen, and focuses on the ensuing diplomatic drama. It’s moving, powerful, taut, and exciting. Y’all need to watch it! Plus, it’s got Sharon Gless, who’s as good here as she ever was on Cagney and Lacey. I’m lovin’ it.

Links:

Hell Razah-Back to the Renaissance (DJ Rated R). A mixtape by a rapper on an independent label, provided as a preview to his upcoming record.

Cartoon Network brought the beats with MF Doom and Dangermouse’s team up on The Mouse and the Mask, and offered a few free mixtapes by the pair. Now, they’re offering Chrome Children (follow link), with cuts by Percee P, Med, Aloe Blacc, and production by greats like Madlib and Four Tet. Definitely worth the price (which is $0, by the way).

RANDOM SHIT-STARRING THE HOLD STEADY AND “CRAZY” COVERS,

Posted on February 19th, 2007 by ekko

MILTON AND THE DEVIL’S PARTY

The lead guitarist and songwriter of the band Milton and the Devil’s Party are English professors, and it shows. The lyrics to these songs are heavy. Epic, almost. At times it can be a little much to listen to, in fact, but overall it’s definitely worth a post and a listen from you all. I like the music a lot more than the words that go with it–I think they need to focus on writing a song as opposed to making a statement–but for every song on the album that doesn’t quite work for me, there’s a couple more that do. I’m curious to see where these folks are going in the future.

Muse of Mundanity-Milton and the Devil’s Party

THE HOLD STEADY-LIVE IN MINNESOTA

A repost. I don’t usually do reposts, and I don’t usually take requests, but I do so love this band. Too bad their last album is on Universal. Means I have mixed feelings even about posting their live stuff. Oh well, I’ll do it for now but I won’t do it often, and it’s just because I think these guys are in, like, the top 10 bands around today.

The Hold Steady, Live in Minneapolis, October 24, 2006.

In particular, the show is good because of this incredible song: Good Girls Go For Status-Hold Steady

CRAZY COVERS

As a favor to a fellow blogger . . .

Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover)-Poingly
Crazy (Gnarls cover)-The Raconteurs
Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover)-The Afghan Whigs
Crazy, As She Goes-Raconteurs vs. Gnarls Barkley
Crazy (Gnarls cover)-Twilight Singers
Crazy-The Joe Budden remix
Like U Crazy/Crazy-Mates of State

AND FINALLY . . .

I saw this add that said something about how the human heart starts beating after 20-some-odd days but you have the right to stop it from beating for the next 100. An anti-choice ad, obviously, from a group that also supports teaching creationism in schools. Have you ever noticed that religious political activists are all into science when it tells you when a particular life begins, but aren’t interested in science when it tells you how all life began?

WHERE THE HIP HOP BEEN?

Posted on February 19th, 2007 by ekko

I hear y’all who have complained about the lack of hip hop here. An exception to the non-RIAA rule will be mixtapes, on occassion, particularly because it’s like jamming a thumb in their eyes.

Beef is where it begins: Big Mike’s What’s Beef tape. Featuring Jayhova, Lil Wayne, Hell Rell, and others . . .

01. Jay-Z – True Life (Dipset Diss)
02. Tru Life – In Dem Jeans (Dipset Diss)
03. Camron Feat. J.R. Writer – Its Murder (Rocafella Diss)
04. Hell Rell – Cock A Fella (Rocafella Diss)
05. 40 Cal – The Dying Dynasty (Rocafella Diss)
06. Jim Jones – Icebox
07. Juelz Santana – 2nd Coming
08. The Game – Blackwallin
09. Styles P. Feat. Sheek – Louch Walk On By
10. Bucky Feat. St. Raw – Watch Ya Mouth
11. Trav – Hoodstar
12. Lil Wayne – Hittin Hoes From The Back
13. Twista Feat. Lil Wayne – Whip Game Proper
14. Lil Wayne Feat. Fabolous – Diamond On My Chain
15. Chubbie Feat. Lil Wayne And Juelz Santana – Oh Yea
16. Gravy – Dirty Money Victory
17. Styles P. – Smile
18. Camron Feat. Hell Rell – Im The Shit
19. 40 Cal – Money Maker
20. Stack Bundles – Blaze The Booth
21. Ransom – No Love
22. Mobb Deep – Leave It Alone
23. Hot Rod – Hiphop Is Alive
24. Belly – Im A Hustler
25. Thousandaires – Its All The Same
26. Rawdoggs – Unknown
27. Rawdogg – Going Gone

Cop it.

And check out Teddy Ted’s Eurocrunk Volume 2, a mixtape that’s been makin’ theh rounds. I’m not a superfan of British dancehall, but lots of folks are diggin’ this these days.

MASON PROPER

Posted on February 18th, 2007 by ekko

So I can’t figure out if I like this guy or what. Each song that Mason Properdoes sounds pretty different to me than the last track I just heard. It’s had to get a sense of what they’re about. You guys tell me–drop a comment or something. They’re touring with some good bands–in particular, the always amazing Birdmonster, so I’ve listened to these tracks more than a few times, but I just can’t get a strong feel for them. They’re also on Dovecote, which is shaping up to be a very interesting label.

Their debut album comes out March 13th: “There Is A Moth In Your Chest” is the name, and it has these tracks on it:

My My (Bad Fruit)-Mason Proper

Miss Marylou Carreau-Mason Proper

100 Years-Mason Proper

Carousel! Carousel!-Mason Proper

Catch ‘em on tour:

Feb 22 – The Empty Bottle – Chicago, Illinois ^
Feb 23 – KeweenAwesome Fest – Houghton, Michigan
Feb 28 – The Drake Hotel – Toronto, Ontario
Mar 2 – The Lizard Lounge – Cambridge, Massachusetts
Mar 3 – Water Street Music Hall – Rochester, New York
Mar 8 – The Intersection – Grand Rapids, Michigan
Mar 10 – The Blind Pig – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Mar 24 – The Subterranean – Chicago, Illinois #
Mar 25 – Mad Hatter Club – Covington, Kentucky #
Mar 27 – Lager House – Detroit, Michigan #
Mar 28 – The Horseshoe – Toronto, Ontario #
Mar 30 – The Middle East Upstairs – Cambridge, Massachusetts #
Mar 31 – The Gramercy Theatre – New York, New York #

^ = w/ Arbouretum
* = w/ Stars of Track and Field
# = w/ Birdmonster

THE BLACK LIPS

Posted on February 18th, 2007 by ekko

Hailing from the ATL, The Black Lips arose from the ashes of The Renegades and The Reruns, and now make beautiful, gentle harpsichord music. I’m kidding, of course. This insane band is known for raucous garage rock and live shows that involve spewing bodily fluids, and sometimes consuming the same. Kind of like The Plasmatics, only without a hot blond but with a better singer and better tunes. Or like Mr. Bungle, but slightly (only slightly) less insane. Wait, I got it. They’re like The Stooges.

Most of the reviews I’ve read categorize the Black Lips’ sound as 60s blues/garage rock, which is pretty accurate, but it doesn’t give the full sense of how rough and ragged this band can get. Usually, I’m a fan of well-produced material—and this ain’t it. But it has its own allure. Vocalist Cole Alexander snarls like a caged animal being poked with a stick while he’s trying to sleep. The rhythm section seems to be fighting with the guitars. It’s primal.

The band works best when it’s live, which is why their fourth release is such a treat. “Los Valientes Del Mundo Nuevo” (“The Brave Of The New World”) is a live album recorded in Tijuana, Mexico. The sound quality is a little muddy, but you can’t beat the energy.

See it here:

Boomerang (mov)

Taste it here:

Black Lips – Not A Problem (Live from Tijuana)

Black Lips – Everybody’s Doing It (Live from Tijuana)

To cap it all off, the band is touring with one of my favorite current garage bands, The Ponys. Catch ‘em here:

February

22 Birmingham, AL @ BottleTree (no Ponys)
23 Roswell, GA @ WhirlyBall Atlanta (no Ponys)
24 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club (no Ponys)

March

18 Houston, TX @ The Mink
19 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks 21 Atlanta, GA @ EARL
22 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
23 Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar
24 Washington, DC @ Black Cate
25 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
26 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
27 Boston, MA @ T.T. The Bear’s
31 Chicago, IL @ Logan Square Auditorium

THE CHILD BALLADS

Posted on February 18th, 2007 by ekko

Okay, I’ve already posted today but this is so freakin’ cool I had to share it

immediately

with all of you . . .

Stewart Lupton is the lead singer of The Child Ballads, and I think he also used to be in a band called Jonathan Fire Eater that I know nothing about. Apparently, they were big, indie, and somehow connected to The Walkmen. I read that Lupton got dropped due to a drug problem or something. Seems like an odd reason to dump a rock guy, but whatever.

Their new stuff is kinda country, kinda Rolling-Stonesy. And I’m totally digging this cut:

Cheekbone Hollows-The Child Ballads