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Lego Architect
When I was a kid, I was the Lego Architect. These days it's Frank Lloyd Wright. For middle class kids only.
9th Jun 2009 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Sonic Youth
The Eternal
Matador
As a teenager, once I got over the total, utter, complete sell-out of Sonic Youth moving from legendary indie labels like Homestead and SST to undeniably major label Geffen in 1990, it was obvious pretty quickly that nothing had changed for the band. While my interest seemingly waned after Experimental Jetset, a quick scan through the back-catalogue reveals that I have inadvertently absorbed every major release - and none could be described as disappointing or flat. After releasing 9 albums with the label, Sonic Youth left Geffen in 2007, before pulling the typically left-field move of releasing a greatest hits exclusively through Starbucks, then self-re-released Master Dik and finally settling with Matador for the release of The Eternal.
While The Eternal is being promoted as something of a new chapter for the band, there's no need to reset your expectations - and you're certainly in no danger of being disappointed. Early single Sacred Trickster kicks things off, before the abrasive pummel of Anti-orgasm lets you know the band have lost none of their power - or their ability to craft a catchy tune. The sing-a-long style of Leaky Lifeboat (For Gregory Corso) sits comfortably alongside the screeching rock of Calming The Snake, making for a strangely cohesive record.
Jim O'Rourke may have departed in 2005, but the open slot in the line-up made room for former Pavement bassist Mark Ibold and his contribution is note worthy here, providing a focused spine through many of the songs that the guitars swirl closely around. The best songs on the album follow the same pattern that my Sonic favourites always did: a simmering, bubbling pot of sound that harnesses the power of a storm and takes its shape as a subtly catchy leviathan. Antenna, What We Know, Malibu Gas Station - there's more than a handful of excellent tracks on here that will disappoint no one.
While 2006's Rather Ripped and Thurston Moore's own solo album have arguably moved the band into a more conventionally structured sequence of songs, it's easy to forget how much the musical landscape has shifted since the band's early, pioneering albums of the 80s. The feedback drenched sounds of Sister or Daydream Nation are now considered essential listening - due to the popularity of the 90s alternative explosion that Sonic Youth helped enable. As a result, it's easy not to appreciate how radical a custom-tuned 9.43 minute closing track like Massage The History may have once seemed.
While the girls may be commenting how good Kim Gordon's legs are for a 56 year old, I'm just happy that the band have kept their ambition and refusal to conform. It may not be so much of a new chapter, but at least The Eternal is the continuing story of an old favourite.
9th Jun 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 3.5 star reviewsBehind Sesame Street
Fun story over at Gawker about a Sesame Street on-location sighting in Brooklyn.
8th Jun 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
WWDC: iPhone 3 and more
Apple's big World Wide Developer's Conference kicks off today in San Francisco, and while big boss Steve Jobs is still benched with illness, sidekick Phil Schiller is expected to make some big announcements.
A new iPhone seems almost certain, with improvements likely to be made to the camera, a possible magnetometer to add digital compass capabilities. The biggest changes will likely be coming through the new 3.0 software - which should also be available to existing handset owners.
Changes to the way apps can work on the phone should lead to some good developments - so there's bound to be some additional announcements from third-party manufacturers. Personally, I'm hoping for an iPhone version of Spotify - to match the recently announced Android version. A rumoured Apple netbook seems a little less likely for tomorrow, but they'd better get a move on with that as again, Google's already on the case - expanding their Android platform into Acer's new line.
There will also likely be a demo and possible release date for latest edition of OSX, 10.6 'Snow Leopard'. Grr.
8th Jun 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
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Popular Songs
New Jersey's most famous Hal Hartley fans - AKA Yo La Tengo - are back with a new album through Matador.
Popular Songs is out in September, but you can listen to Periodically Double Or Triple now.
5th Jun 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
New Cave Singers
Surprise favourites the Cave Singers (review here) are back with a new album in August. Beach House will be out through Matador, and you can get an early peek by getting an mp3 from the Matador website.
5th Jun 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Ba-duh-bing
Microsoft have re-branded their Google-killing search engine yet again. Now it's called Bing. It's got one good thing going for it, a search for 'Chimpomatic' sends those other imposters virtually to page 2.
5th Jun 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
No one is ever going to believe you
Been spotting this great Bill Murray anecdote in a few places recently:
There’s an urban legend that’s gone around until no one is sure who it happened to, or if it happened at all. It was late one night, a few years ago, when a young man was walking through Union Square Park. He suddenly felt someone behind him, their hands over his eyes. When he turned in surprise, there was Bill Murray, his creased face leaning in close. Bill whispered, “No one is ever going to believe you,” and then just walked away.
Via: Reax Quotes
4th Jun 2009 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Pearl Jam: Backspacer
Things are revving up for Pearl Jam's new record, apparently titled Backspacer and due for release later this year. The band performed new music on the newly organised Tonight Show last night (now with added Conan O'Brien).
In a strange twist, the anti-corporate rockers are distributing the album through Target Supermarkets in the US, and have even filmed a TV spot with Cameron Crowe directing - although that is also rumoured to be part of a long-form documentary that Crowe is directing for the bands 20th anniversary next year.
Bonus: Jeff Ament interview over at Two Feet Thick.
2nd Jun 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Michael Mann's New Deal
Interesting article up over at Creative Review about the type used in Michael Mann's upcoming Dillinger flick Public Enemies (trailer here).
The designers focussed on the depression-era styling of FDR's Works Progress Administration and came up with a whole new font, title 'New Deal'.
"The interesting thing is that the posters were not always completed by professional designers, so occasionally the typefaces and typography are quite crude and unrefined."
29th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
Werner Herzog + Nic Cage + Abel Ferrara - Harvey Keitel = Crazy bones.
Trailer up for Werner's re-imagining/sequel - Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.
28th May 2009 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Newspaper 2.0
Interesting article and video up over at Nieman Lab, discussing future developments at the New York Times - as newspapers scramble to get on board with the kind of technology that sci-fi has been waffling on about for ages.
26th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee
The Beastie Boys were on the Jimmy Fallon show this weekend, discussing their recently completed album Hot Sauce Committee. That title comes direct from their mailing list, but I'd keep that as unconfimed for now, knowing these jokers.
Live clip of So Watcha Want below.
26th May 2009 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Promo Promo: Little Joy and BSP
Nice Super-8 promo up for Little Joy's new single Next Time Around, and an excerpt from the British Sea Power soundtrack to that Man Of Aran restoration, that we have talked about before.
22nd May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Twistori
Twistori is a great website which taps the all-too-familiar themes running through the ever-exploding Twitter community.
22nd May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Keep Calm And Carry On
The Guardian has some interesting background on the Keep Calm And Carry On propaganda that's been sweeping the nation's middle-class households recently (mine included).
21st May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Hurricane Treme
Details have started filtering through about David Simon's post-Wire TV show: an allegorical tale of Hurrincane Katrina-ridden New Orleans called Treme. Lester Freamon and Bunk are among the cast.
IMDB have the data. The Guardian have the context.
21st May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Inglorious: Inglorious Basterds
Word is trickling in from Cannes on the new movie by that guy that made Death Proof.
'Don't hold your breath' seems to be the underlying theme. The Guardian are giving it one star, the BBC quite like it - but note that it's not a patch on Pulp Fiction. Even this fanboy rave from AICN notes that Brad Pitt is miscast and it's way too long.
21st May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
New York From Above
Slow to load, but this New York from above website is a lovely cross between Google Earth and Street View. Fly like Superman above the streets of the Metropolis.
21st May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Noah K Every Day
We're way behind the curve on this one, but I've been checking out Noah K Every Day recently - where Noah Kalina has taken a photo of himself every day since 2000. The simple ideas are always the best.
20th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
McWifi
McDonald's may have thought their new black store-fronts were having a positive effect on business, but it turns out it's just the free Wifi. That's proved so popular, that they're having to re-jig the seating plans to stop people taking too long over their fast food.
19th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: Sherlock Holmes
Trailer up for Guy Ritchie's cocknified version of Sherlock Holmes. It looks like a Sherlock Holmes movie directed by Guy Ritchie.
19th May 2009 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
ABC Middlesborough
The Middlesborough ABC was the cinema where many childhood classics got their first screening for me - and it features in an excellent set of photos on Flickr, documenting cinemas around the country - many of which will now have sadly closed.
18th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
It's Nice That
Much like I'm pointing you to It's Nice That, It's Nice That point you to nice sites and stuff from the design/art world.
18th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: The Road
Trailer up for The Road, based on No Country For Old Men writer Cormac McCarthy's apocalyptic book. Aint-it-cool are confident the blurb at the start is just marketing waffle and that the film will stay dark.
15th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
100 Days of Obama
You've got to love a house with a built-in cinema - especially a 3-D one. Flickr has a great round-up of photos documenting 100 days in power for the loveable Obama family.
#CSF
#CurrentAffairs
#Photography
15th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
On Location With The Apes
We already covered those excellent Magnum snaps from the original Planet of the Apes set - but here's some more on-set snaps, from the Apes wiki page.
14th May 2009 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Undo Send
Ever wish you hadn't sent that email - or perhaps you're just frustrated that your emails are arriving too quickly. By enabling the Google Labs tab in your Gmail, you can play with a whole host of bonus features - including the option to delay sending for a few seconds, enabling you to change your mind after you hit the send button. CNN has the story, Google Labs has the technology.
14th May 2009 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Wilco (The Album) - Streaming Now
Wilco have put their new album up for your listening pleasure, over at their website. Enjoy it while it lasts.
13th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Intergalactic
Virgin Galactic's space plans are picking up speed, with a recent test flight from the mothership. Wired has the story.
13th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Pink Mountaintops
Borderline, London
May 11th 2009
Steven McBean's Pink Mountaintops were in town in support of recent third album Outside Love - and hot from an appearance at the ATP Festival. After storming shows from the Black Mountain mothership last year, McBean is worth catching in any guise and this was no exception.
Perfectly suited to the Canadian-ski-shack-meets-Mexican-bolthole vibe of the Borderline, album opener Axis: Bold as Love opened the show, with the six-man band working as a great base for post-skater McBean (that hidden key chain is a dead give-away) to lead with his great voice. The subtle ebbing and flowing of the at-time hypnotic sounds was easy to get lost in, through tracks like Vampires, And I Thank You and Plasticman, You're The Devil - while older tracks like Sweet '69 and Single Life provided a more up-tempo element, displaying the band's wide range.
Amber Webber's vocals were sorely missed, but team stand-ins Sophie Trudeau and Sar Friedman did an admirable job - with the violins proving to be a rare secret weapon and the additional back-up vocals really filling out the bands sound. Add to that the great drumming and Black Mountain regular Matt Camirand's pounding bass and what's not to like? With the curfew police closing in, the band returned to the stage for a single encore - possible career highlight Tourist In Your Town.
In a style much like their recent album, Pink Mountaintops were laid-back, effortless and engaging - providing a (temporarily) welcome antidote to the relentless precision of big brother Black Mountain. Superior entertainment.
13th May 2009 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 3.5 star reviewsPromo Promo: Pink Mountaintops
Hot on the heels of last night's show at The Borderline (review tomorrow), check out the Pink Mountaintops' new promo for While We Were Dreaming, from Outside Love (review).
12th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Uses For Nuclear Weapons
Whether it's for creating a new Panama Canal, or just to destroy other Nuclear waste - there was a time when there was thought to be many, practical, civilian uses fro Nuclear weapons.
12th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: Terminator Salvation
Another mega-trailer up for Terminator: Salvation. Still looking pretty badass, but I can't help feeling that they've told me too much already and might have to kill me. KC has already seen it. Feedback TBA.
Director McG has been throwing a few red herrings onto the fire of possible spoliers for the movie and is already sniffing around T5.
11th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Sneaker Watch
They're turning kids into slaves just to make cheaper sneakers But what's the real cost, 'cause the sneakers don't seem that much cheaper? Why are we still paying so much for sneakers when you got little kid slaves making them? What are your overheads? - Jermaine Conchord
Are sneakers even useful? The Daily Mail asks possibly it's most pertinent question.
11th May 2009 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Return of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords return to BBC4 this Tuesday at 10.30pm - with the UK premiere of their (very funny) second season. If that's not enough for you, there's also a special ("Flight of the Conchords: On Air"), kicking things off at 10pm. Interview here.
It's business time.
11th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Wilco (The Cover)
The cover of Wilco's new album (called Wilco (The Album)) is up over at Wilco (The Website). A camel in a party hat - what's not to like?
They also list the album as being avallable June 30th at the latest.
8th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Promo Promo: Desecration Smile
A little out of date now, but I'm loving this promo for Desecration Smile, from RHCP's Stadium Arcadium (review).
7th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Wedding Present: At The Edge of the Sea
While I'd like to think that an all-day Wedding Present festival would just involve them stretching out Take Me! to last all day, the reality is still not too shabby. They're running their own all-day festival at the Concorde2 in Brighton on Sat August 22nd. More details soon at www.scopitones.co.uk
7th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Gone Fishing
No, not the classic puke-coloured vinyl release from Flipper (soon to be re-released on Domino), but a new mix tape from HHG favourites (review) The Cool Kids. It's up, for free, at their Myspace.
7th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
More Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket are the subject of a photographic exhibition at the aptly/strangely titled Morrison Hotel Gallery in NYC. The show pulls together many years of photos from Sam Erikson, and features a pretty impressive run-through of the band's strange choice of fancy dress.
May 22nd - June 18th, 2009
www.morrisonhotelgallery.com
6th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
More Mudhoney
The mighty Mudhoney are back in the UK for some dates in August:
09-Oct - Edinburgh - Studio 25
10-Oct - Leeds - TJ Woodhouse
11-Oct - London - Koko Theatre
5th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Free Dinosaur
Dinosaur Jr are lumbering towards releasing a new album (Farm - due June 22nd on Pias/Jagjaguwar), but you can get a taste of the new jurassic era now, with a free download of I Want You To Know.
5th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: District 9
Trailer up for Neill Bloomkamp's South-African Sci-fi movie District 9 - a feature film re-working of the short film Alive In Jo'burg that we reported on back in 2007. Looks a lot slicker, but still a pretty interesting concept.
4th May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Promo Promo: Madness vs The Horrors
Two new promos up - the entertaining Dust Devil from Madness (read Creative Review's article here) and the non-Chris Cunningham directed Who Can Say, from The Horrors' latest album Primary Colours.
1st May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Big Picture: Cassini
Great run-down of photos sent back by the long-range Cassini probe (wiki) over at The Big Picture.
1st May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Airfoil
Rogue Amoeba have released a free iPhone app (the creatively title Airfoil Speakers Touch) which turns their excellent Mac/PC desktop application Airfoil into a must-have.
Airfoil allows you to transmit the audio from any application on your laptop to the sound output of one of Apple's Airport Express routers. Indispensable for listening to Spotify without a dozen metres of cable tying you to the stereo.
If you're interested enough to still be reading, Airfoil Speakers Touch does away with the need for an Airport Express altogether, by turning your iPhone/iPod Touch into a receiver for the program to transmit to. Now you can sit your phone on top of the stereo and run a cable out of the line-out of the phone and into the line-in on your stereo while you pick your tunes from the comfort of a laptop on the sofa.
1st May 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet