If you think that TacocaT is palindrome them im sure that you will enjoy this little Seattle-based LOL CATZ power pop band. Ok, their music has nothing to do with catz, but this song almost made me crap.
Bike Party - TacocaT
myspace.com/tacocattacocattacocat with a URL like that how can you not love them?
The truth is I really can't get enough. I know this band is old news and Caitlin blogged about them ages ago but they are really, really good. The full length is coming out a week from today, they are no longer touring due to a misselaneous "injury" and they really make you want to play kung-fu or super mario bros 2. Please download, please listen and please enjoy.
Untrust Us- Crystal Castles
Love and Caring - Crystal Castles
The time that I've gone without declaring the illuminating goodness of Beach House is inexcusable. It's clear to me that nearly everyone & their mother may already be aware of how essential their music is, but SCREW IT! Devotion has become quite possibly my favorite record of the year, thus far. Suppose clouds were composed of sound waves with chandeliers hanging overhead, carrying you on a retrospective glimpse of a longterm relationship expressed through abstract stories & visions of unknown faraway lands. That's Beach House. This Saturday they'll be at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco & I think I might buy something nice for a co-worker in order to get my shift covered that night. oh damn.
I tend to fall in love with women who are idyllic housewives in an altered form. Girls covered in paint who bake delicious pies. Girls who sew halloween costumes like no ones business and then bring you hot tea and blankets. Needless to say, I'm kind of in love with this black metal girl who paints awesome pictures, never stops smiling, and now has a baking blog. Her name? Megan. Her profession? Awesome.*
"Boiled down to its very essence, metal is nothing more than a mixture of molasses and alienation. By that definition, these cookies are black fucking metal. Packed full of grim and evil spices, they will leave you feeling despondent and isolated within their stronghold of flavor. "
If you're not intrigued, you're probably suffering from a severe form of boring personality. If you are intrigued, head over to The Black Oven immediately. And get baking this week!
*We're all aloud cheesy formulaic lines every now and then, right?
It has been out for awhile but I thought I might as well just do it.
Walk Around - Animal Collective
This past Wednesday I found myself jumping for opposing forces of joy. My good friend Mia supplied me with a ticket to see the SOLD OUT surprisingly intimate sit-down Magnetic Fields show @ the Hearst Theater in San Francisco, as a part of their legendary reuniting. Their proverbial pop make up the most witty love songs, full of fuzz and heartbreaking noise, to come out of the 80's/90's, hands down. After a pint, or two (I chose beer in the midst of flossed out bohemian wineos), I was lead to my seat by a whispering tuxedo-ed usher & even picked up a couple damn fine exclusive screen prints. It was an awkwardly hilarious, precise and extremely unplugged. Each & every song was like a piece of Stephen Merritt's country heart being thrown to the stage floor, by way of ukulele of course.
Here is a pretty damn clear indication of how far their inspiration reaches:
The Arcade Fire - Born On A Train (live)
Concert alert!
This weekend in San Francity there will be two really awesome shows. First off Crystal Castles and HEALTH will be playing at the independant while Mt. Eerie is playing at the Enola Maxwell High School Auditorium. I would personally go with Mt. Eerie but I'm sick in bed so I really don't have any say.
Think about this: If all your favorite musicians were besties, you'd probably have hot air balloons full of amazing CDs. Sometimes the most unusual of pairs make the best music together, and sometimes the sweetest of individuals (Khaela and YACHT) team up to make the most fun music evs.
Best new unexpected team: M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel, together known as She & Him. Their album is a delicious mix of an almost country twang and 60s pop music (try "Sweet Darlin'" if you're into the 60s pop). For those of you addicted to covers, there's also a version of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" as well as "You Really Gotta Hold On Me" by the Miracles. By far, the stand out tracks on the album are "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?", a catchy tune that I love for it's sassy "I like your style" line. The opening track, "Sentimental Heart" is also an excellent song. It's very pretty and an great example of why M. Ward needed to team up with a girl with a cute voice all along.
Although the music is overall excellent, I have one complaint: The lyrics are weak. I don't mean they're bad, they're actually very well written. What I mean is that they tell a story of a terribly weak person. Someone who sits on the shelf waiting for someone (in "Why Do You...") and someone who has trouble overcoming heartache because they're too sappy ("Sentimental Heart").
My one complaint is something that's easy to get over, so I suggest you give it a listen anyways, if only because you have a crush on Zooey D.
>>> Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
>>> Sentimental Heart
Are you in the mood for some lobster? I'm not, I don't eat fish. But I am in the mood for some LOBSTER JOHNSON! Mike Mignola (the creator of Hellboy and B.P.R.D.) has now set in motion the Lobster Johnson mini-series that detail his adventures of fighting the Nazis. There are currently two issues out (I do believe only five will be released for now) for this so far amazing story arch "The Iron Prometheus". For any readers of Hellboy or B.P.R.D. we've only had glimpses of this amazing character. So for my first review I absolutely give two thumbs up to this new series that not only gives more depth to the character, but the world that Mike Mignola is so trying to expand this coming year. On a side note of L.J. director of both Hellboy and Hellboy: The Golden Army did not include L.J. in the second (soon to be released) film as was Mignola's wish, but does plan to include him in the third film rumored to be played by BRUCE CAMPBELL!!!
The second comic under review is a one-off story line from The Authority comic book written by John Ridley called "Human On The Inside" which in a contained and rather short fashion moves quickly, well written (in its dialogue and use of the characters), but also the art. And I just love it when it's an awesome super team up against the evil depicted U.S. government. It is definitely worth a read if you are familiar with The Authority (which you should be).
well I've written enough for this week. Again, if you have anything you want me to read - I will. Tell me, and it would also be nice to know what you think of my reviews.
feel free to e-mail me @: arhartman@gmail.com
