tagged w/ Vampire Weekend
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The Glastonbury Music Festival took place over the weekend and Shakira performed in a very awkward position but good for her. Her core muscles are probably very toned as a result. I’m going to type my posts like that and see how it goes. How much worse could they get? He he he.
Also performing were Snoop Dogg (he seems like a really cool guy that I would love to hang with provided he didn’t smoke around me), Florence and the Machine and Vampire Weekend.
Some celebrities spotted taking in the scene were Kelly Osbourne, Luke Worrall, Lily Allen, Sienna Miller, and Pixie Geldof .
Pictures after the breakThe Glastonbury Music Festival took place over the weekend and Shakira performed in a... more
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Here we are...six months into a new decade of music.
What are your picks for the first half this year?
(no particular order)
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Toro Y Moi - Causers Of This
Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
Gonjasufi - A Sufi and A Killer
Deftones - Diamond Eyes
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part II
Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here
Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings - I Learned The Hard WayHere we are...six months into a new decade of music.
What are your picks for the... more
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So everyone knows that I am totally hilarious, as well as a brilliant writer. Not everyone is aware that I'm also one of the coolest dudes who works for the internet. How does one measure coolness? Aside from impeccable style (I can assure you that I do wear Chuck Taylors and ironic sweaters) you are cool based on what music you listen to.
I've visited Brooklyn Vegan and I listen to Morning Becomes Eclectic. I've heard tons of cool dude jams. So this is my playlist of great songs from this year.
1. The Gossip - Heavy Cross
I saw naked posters of Beth Ditto on the streets of London, when I was doing a quick stint at the offices of Current UK. I was all like "wow they are much more tolerant in England to let her be a sex symbol." I realized that statement made me seem like a sexist body fascist, so when someone handed The Gossip's album to me, I gave an earnest listen. Then I was all like "I now understand why she's a sex symbol." It's a disco album played with punk rock instruments. Plus it's produced by Rick Rubin. I liked it so much that I tweeted about it.
2. Baaba Maal - Television
Baaba Maal is a Senegalese superstar, who has crafted this beautiful song. It packs a simple guitar riff with lots of percussive shakers, and the women singing things in French that I can almost understand. I believe "Télévision" translates to "TV" in anglais. I wonder if all Senegalese TV is as surreal as this.
3. IMS - Yo Digo Baila
I love this Instituto Mexicano del Sonido track. Techno basslines accented by tuba samples, kills it every time. A few months ago I wrote about rebajadas, a genre of slowed-down Cumbias in Northern Mexico. I emailed IMS to ask if he thought my correlation to Houton's Chopp'd and Screwed was accurate. He wrote back saying that I was totally wrong. He was really nice about it though.
4. Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind
So here's the part of my cool dude list, where I laud mainstream rap music, as if to tell my compatriots that hip hop is cool for hipsters to like. But you already knew that this is one of the best tracks of the year. Perhaps you don't have those same nostalgic feelings that I have for New York, but surely you can agree that this is the best anthem for the piano since Bennie and The Jets. If that doesn't get you, did you know there are allegations that Jay-Z is a freemason planning a New World Order?
5. Chairlift - Bruises
6. Matt & Kim - Daylight
Okay so I put both these songs on my 2009 list, but I feel like a real jerk because they both came out in 2008. As a consolation I did listen to them in 2009 also.
7. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
Maybe it's just because I live in Los Angeles, but this is the most buzzed about band in these parts. There are like nine hundred members in this band. This song sounds like a party at my parent's non-existent cabin in the foothills of Mount Shasta. Everyone showed up in a great mood with instruments, and whiskey. I tried to see these guys on Halloween, but we ended up waiting too long for Macaroni and Cheese sandwiches, and missed 95% of their set. There's always 2010.
8. Sleigh Bells - Ring Ring
Dude, you're clipping. That's what happens when you record louder than the recording device can record. Sleigh Bells doesn't give a shit. The lady-part of this duo was a teen popstar-turned-teacher. The dude was in a hardcore band. This song is so addictive. I guess its those rappy vocals over that Funkadelic sample. I think this band will get huge in 2010. I mean they were able to get industry bigwigs watch them perform late at night in Bushwick.
9. Fanfarlo - Harold T. Wilkins, Or How To Wait For A Very Long Time
Oh snap upon further research this jam came out in 2008 too. I'm beginning to look like a not very cool dude.
10. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Clearly Brian Wilson cloned himself, and sent this clone to infiltrate the Brooklyn music scene. Grizzly Bear is the result. Thank you for this track, science.
11. SALEM x Gucci Mane - Round One
This dark ethereal remix of dope rap, is sublime. I listened to it so many times. If I were writing a dramatic promo for this track this would be the copy: “In 1999 people used to make jokes about electroclash/gangsta rap remixes. In 2009 people stopped joking.”
12. Phoenix - 1901
I know that Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is on everyone's "best of list." To make this "best of list" different I made sure to put their second most popular song, so as to increase my indie credibility. But this song is still really good.
13. The xx - Islands
This is one of those songs that was playing everywhere I went, and it took me months to realize that it was the xx. Now that I figured it out, I know why they will become superstars.
14. Woods - Rain On
This is cinematic music, even if you aren't making a movie. You can listen to this song on your iPod walking down a rainy street, and feel like your life is somehow more meaningful. I mean it's not any more meaningful, it'll just seem that way, and perception is 9/10ths of the law.
15. Fool’s Gold - Surprise Hotel
Which white band performing African pop do you like the best? My answer is LA based Fool's Gold, because they know how to party a lot better than those stuffy Columbia grads, Vampire Weekend.
16. Dan Deacon - Snookered
I used to say that Dan Deacon is what would happen to me if I let myself go. That's not entirely true. Though I would be more fat and bald, I still wouldn't be able to make beautiful music from broken children's instruments. This eight-minute behemoth builds in a way you wouldn't necessarily expect from the man behind Crystal Cat.
17. Kid British - Sunny Days
This song sounds like it was recorded by Electric Light Orchestra, if they knew how to rap. The lyrics are about a dude who is sad, but you wouldn't know that by the upbeat nature of this jam. Why not get the whole album, and impress all your stateside friends.
That's my list. I'd like to wish a happy new year to cool dudes and ladies everywhere.So everyone knows that I am totally hilarious, as well as a brilliant writer. Not... more
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For my second hip hop blog post of the day:
Look I've said this before, rappers don't have the best taste in white people music. Jay-Z hangs out with John Mayer. Kanye spends time with that dude from Maroon 5. I wouldn't put it past Lil Weezy to do a track with Nickelback.
Recently however, rappers are starting to hang with a better crowd.
Stereogum shows us that rappers are spending time with and indie rockers. Kid Cudi partied with Ratatat on Letterman. Ghostface Killah picked up his son's iPod and fell in love with Vampire Weekend. Damon Dash is hanging with the Black Keys. GZA is rapping with the Black Lips. I love these collaborations, because they're great.
We're at this moment in music, we couldn't have imagined when Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock were trying to create the rap-rock genre. This music reality is like old jokes coming to fruition. I swear to god, in '99 I was making jokes about electroclashmashups with gangsta rap. Today that is a reality .
Things that you don't expect now, will become realities in the future. That is why this is my list of predictions for music in 2019.
"Weird Al" Yankovic's massive influence will bring polka to the mainstream. Future rappers are going to rap over accordion basslines with beats in 3/4 time.
Unfortunately robot bands will outsell human bands. [youtube c2JChnwv2Ws]
Everyone's carbon footprint will be cut exponentially, because of karaoke-powered vehicles. Unfortunately noise pollution becomes a serious problem.
Instant DJ Toolbox, will help so many people find love, dating sites like OK Cupid will go out of business. [current 89942210]
Radio stations will play internet memes. 'The theme to keyboard cat will be the most popular song of all time.
Auto-Tune the News will become your number one source for information. If someone isn't auto-tuning, you won't trust them as 'Fair and Balanced.'
These songs will still be somewhere on the Billboard Charts. Unfortunately
Now that is all speculation, but feel free to remind me of these predictions in ten years, on the fiftieth anniversary of Monty Python.For my second hip hop blog post of the day:
Look I've said this before,... more
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They say:
Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times
The rhythms seem stale, predictable and at times ennervating (slowing to a crawl on "Diplomat's Son," a misguided dalliance with dub reggae); the hooks are much skimpier and less memorable, and bandleader and primary songwriter Ezra Koenig has even less insight to offer while bragging of his groovy globetrotting: His idea of insight into our polyglot culture is to brag of drinking horchata, a milky Mexican concoction made from rice, while wearing a balaclava, a Ukrainian ski mask.
The Independent:
Quite literally, a world of fun.
Stereogum:
Once you start really taking the tracks apart, they start opening up in the hook department and it becomes clear they've gone deeper with the production, and emotion.
Entertainment Weekly:
Contra inevitably lacks the slaphappy dazzle of breakout singles like ''A Punk'' and ''Oxford Comma.'' ... If the lyrics sometimes seem to showboat their 10-carat educations (look, Ma, three continents!), the music remains happily inclusive: somewhere between limbo contest on the lido deck and cocktail hour in Cape Cod.
Rolling Stone:
If Vampire Weekend was Rushmore, Contra is their Royal Tenenbaums: brainy, confident and generally awesome.
You say:
@musictweetmusic The album SMOKES...
@aerogare It's like Franz Ferdinand's second album: rather good in its own right but not as good as the début.
@straightgangsta I haven't even listened to it yet and I know it's good haha.
@andyfortson I think it's meh. The singles are good. The rest sounds like b-sides to the last album.
@JeffD44 I wasn't a fan of their debut, but diggin the new VW Contra, it's less chirpy, and feels a lot more textured and adventurous
I say:
I loved Vampire Weekend's last album before it was all that cool and long after it was declared totally over. I spent a lot of that year traveling back and forth to New York and then up and down the East Coast, and the songs had a great "we've all gone to look for America" modern Simon & Garfunkel vibe, very my-life-is-a-Zach-Braff-movie-soundtrack.
Then this year I discovered fun., who share a certain indie-pop sensibility of quirky, plunky melodies and verbosity. But fun.'s "Aim and Ignite"—definitely in my top 10 for 2009—lacks the pretentious English major issues that keep Vampire Weekend from truly being, well, fun. Last week I was driving along the California coast on a brilliantly warm and sunny winter day, listening to "Aim and Ignite" (I know, my life is so hard), and I realized, I think fun. has made Vampire Weekend kind of irrelevant to my life. Then I heard "Contra" and couldn't come up with any good way to refute that. It's not a bad album, but I found it pretty boring. I've heard it before. And if I'm going to listen to something I already have, I'm going back to fun.
Here's the video for fun.'s "All the Pretty Girls," one of 10 absurdly enjoyable tracks off their debut album:
Earlier unfounded opinions:
+ Two holiday treats
+ We were there: fun. in LA
They say:
Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times
The rhythms seem stale,... more
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shana
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2 years ago
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My New Year's resolution was to do a better job of plowing through the publicist pitches, stacks of CDs and word-of-mouth "hey did you hear this it's really fucking awesome" demands that I listen to new music.
Today I bravely made it all the way through new albums from Vampire Weekend, Ke$ha and Butch Walker. (I don't know, those were the three that seemed most likely to at least keep me awake on the first day back?) I'll have more about each this week.
Here's what you want to hear from upcoming releases:
@starbright31 Spoon!!!
@shocktrtmntmgmt ummm... @cars_and_trains new album. http://bit.ly/5F1piX Also hoping to catch the show in PDX on Thursday @ the Doug Fir
@KrisjeLena looking forward to the new Delphic .. very much!
@Alchey Lukas Rossi on itunes w/ two new cds! The Unreleased Demos & The Hope Recordings! They are freakin amazing!! Love them!
@taryninstereo Laura Veirs! Love the tracks "Summer is the Champion" and "Life is Good Blues".
@matthenslee Vampire Weekend - Contra
@SMKA The 808 Experiment: Vol 2....http://bit.ly/59Mrcj (Just ask anyone in Atlanta)
Anyone else?My New Year's resolution was to do a better job of plowing through the publicist... more
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shana
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2 years ago
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Muse, Massive Attack, and Vampire Weekend have been confirmed as headliners for Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival. Also set to headline the bash, set for July 30 – Aug. 1st, are Them Crooked Vultures, Air, and Ian Brown.Muse, Massive Attack, and Vampire Weekend have been confirmed as headliners for... more
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A bunch of young Vampire Weekend Fans attempts to recreate Vampire Weekend's "Cousins" video. were they successful?A bunch of young Vampire Weekend Fans attempts to recreate Vampire Weekend's... more
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bumbl
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1 year ago
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Vampire Weekend were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live yesterday (March 6). The band played tracks “Cousins” and “Giving Up The Gun”, both off their latest album, ‘Contra’. Watch the band performing both tracks on our site.Vampire Weekend were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live yesterday (March 6). The... more
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Vampire Weekend fans don’t forget to catch the band this Saturday (March 6) when they perform on a all new episode of Saturday Night Live. The SNL episode will be hosted by Hangover star Zach Galifianakis.Vampire Weekend fans don’t forget to catch the band this Saturday (March 6) when... more
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Vampire Weekend have been announced as headliners for this year’s Roots Picnic Festival. The one-day bash is set to take place June 5th at Philadelphia’s Festival Pier and is set to feature a performance by Roots as well as two of their side-projects.Vampire Weekend have been announced as headliners for this year’s Roots Picnic... more
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Vampire Weekend have premiered the star studded music video for “Giving Up The Gun“. The music video, which stars not only the band but Jake Gyllenhaal, Lil Jon, RZA, and Joe Jona, is for the latest single off the band’s sophomore album ‘Contra‘.Vampire Weekend have premiered the star studded music video for “Giving Up The... more
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Guest starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Joe Jonas, RZA, and Lil Jon. Third single off the band’s second studio album, Contra.Guest starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Joe Jonas, RZA, and Lil Jon. Third single off the... more
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RFWtv
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2 years ago
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Vampire Weekend have a lot to be happy about. Not only is the band set to play at this year’s Coachella Music Festival, but they have also topped the Billboard Charts.Vampire Weekend have a lot to be happy about. Not only is the band set to play at this... more
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Vampire Weekend have announced a second round of North American dates set to kick off following their European tour.Vampire Weekend have announced a second round of North American dates set to kick off... more
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Vampire Weekend are currently streaming their forthcoming album, ‘Contra‘, online. The album, which is due out January 12, is being streamed in its entirety on the band’s MySpace Music page.Vampire Weekend are currently streaming their forthcoming album, ‘Contra‘,... more
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Vampire Weekend have been confirmed to play next years Isle Of Wight Festival. The band are scheduled to play the Saturday slot of the three-day bash which is set to take place June 11 – 13.Vampire Weekend have been confirmed to play next years Isle Of Wight Festival. The... more
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