The (k)Now

So I came back with a few posts and then went away again...but it was all for a good cause. Here is The (k)Now with some more music/writing projects on the way.

real estate "black lake"

Another video from Jersey's Real Estate. The band played at CMJ last week and all the classy basement fun was captured by Chocolate Bobka. Real Estate's live footage adds to the charm of the band and is more essential than most of their LP's.

=====
them crooked vulture "new fang"



Them Crooked Vultures composed of Homme, Grohl, an Jones is a no brainier on paper (at least to me). The band can't fail in the rock world. Whether it is critically acclaimed is another issue and the band's first song "New Fang" is the critics most tangible piece of material. The track is riff frantic, carries a nice swing pace, and Homme always makes rock and roll sound ghastly. "New Fang" doesn't break down any walls and I hope this is one of the more instrumentally mild tracks. As safe as this song sounds, I am sure it is safer to spend $14 for the whole S/T LP out November 17th...so head to your nearest Best Buy.

previously:

them crooked vultures

For all things mainstream and Best Buy-like, I am curious to wonder what Josh Homme (lead singer/guitarist of Queens of the Stoneage) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin bassist) would want to do with Dave Grohl of the "Foo Foo Fighters." It is understood that Grohl and Homme have worked together (Grohl playing drums on the QOTS's Songs for the Deaf), but, after Grohl's most recent Foo releases, what could they possibly still have in common. All bitching aside, I am excited to hear about this undeniable supergroup called Them Crooked Vultures in which Grohl will once again sit behind a kit, Homme on guitar, and Jones on bass. Let's hope Grohl wipes off the Foo stank from his boots before entering the studio and can get back to basics with some originals.

There are some rumors about a fall album release and tour, however, no official word. Until then stay connected at the bands official website, Myspace, and Facebook. Something smells...

=======


Distortion in music is mostly associated with what was considered as grunge, or, punk; and gets overused by most alternative styles in an effort to add an edge or aggressive quality to what would normally be listened to as soft. This year specially, I have heard far more lo-fi infused songs/groups. Now add distortion to one's populist palette. "A/B" Machines by Brooklyn's Sleigh Bells, is a hook heavy, indie car guitar driven explosion that takes drum distortion to new lovely brutal level. "A/B Machines" can be found on Sleigh Bells' CD-R called Magic Metal.


Sleigh Bells:: A/B Machines

======

g vs. b halloween mix


Mixtape scary weirdness from the scene, Gorilla vs Bear. They claim this is no party mix (they are right), not even, a mix to get ready to; but, its definitely a music equivalent to a ghost story. So when the night is winding down, bust out the flashlights and scare the shit out of all your friends with this mix.

gorilla vs. bear halloween mix 09 (29mb)

=====

the mantles "bad design"


I can't get sick of rushed sounding music. While I would never assume no effort went into The Mantles new track "Bad Design," their sound is lazy, ambivalent, and unimpressed with everything (even themselves). It is an amazingly spontaneous attitude that I can most accurately be describe as how you feel waking up after a day of making mistakes. "Bad Design" the A-side on the Bad Design "7 is limited to 300 copies and available here.

The Mantles:: Bad Design

The (k)Now

Heath Ledger's video for Mouse's "King Rat"

The video Heath Ledger directed for Modest Mouse's "King Rat" has been posted on Myspace Music.  Ledger was creating the video just before his death in January of '07, for the film and music company Masses as a means of protesting against the "illegal commercial whale hunts taking place off the coast of Australia."  It begs to ask, what if the shoe was on the other foot?  You can fill in the gaps.

frat dad: "freak in nature"

Underwater Peoples has made a significant contribution to my music adventure this year and they have added another psyche lo-fi group to the list of places to travel.  Frat Dad was featured on Underwater People's Showcase earlier this year and are featured on the Forkcast today.  "Freak in Nature" presents howl at the moon and shroom bonfire vibes similar to the new material by the Ganglians.  The track channels suburban motives for "freaking out" by claiming "my mom isn't home now, she said she'd be back at six, cause she's out playing tennis, so I'll eat up all the sticks."  Childish and in need of a babysitter, Frat Dad's ambition is simple and far out...just to be a freak in nature.

Frat Dad: Freak in Nature

No Deachunter

The No Deachunter tour features Dan Deacon, No Age, and Deerhunter.  The three artists kicked off the tour in Baltimore by playing a 10 minute version of Deerhunter's "Cryptograms."  This is really an odyssey of a track that blends electro, noise pop, and Deerhunter's melancholy melodies into something special.

wale: "pretty girls"

Wale is set to release a studio album later this year, however, his Back to the Feature Mixtape is my favorite rap album of '09 (so far).  While his cred has been taking some hits with his release of "Chillin" which features the much taboo Lady Ga Ga, "Pretty Girls" straddles the line between silencing haters and better defining what Wale brings to the table.  My love for Back to the Feature stems from its  smooth flow that doesn't get obnoxious or tiresome with overused gimmicks. "Pretty Girls" channels the same ease with piano backing, a soulful vocal hook, and of course a hip hop bang.

jack white's solo single

Jack White is a Music Man.  As posted earlier this year, White has a long list of music related endeavors and he keeps adding to it.  There has been a lot of buzz about a possible White solo album.  While these rumors have been neither dispelled nor confirmed, he will be releasing a solo track ("Fly Farm Blues") in support of an upcoming documentary It Might Get Loud (in which he is profiled).  The documentary captures White, U2's Edge and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page sharing guitar trade secrets and jamming together.  The trailer is pretty epic and features Jack wearing a bow tie while making a slide guitar out of a Coke bottle and piece of wood.  The track was "written on the spot" upon film director Davis Guggenheim's request.  It will be released on a one-sided "7 and digitally.

related:

Jack produced singles for Transit and Dan Sartain for his Third Man Label due out August 11.  Transit is composed of all Nashville Metro Transit Authority workers and wrote "Cmon and Ride"/"Afterparty" about Nashville's bus system.  Alabama singer/songwritter, Dan Sartain, will also release songs "Bohemian Grove"/"Atheist Funeral" on Third Man.

them crooked vultures

For all things mainstream and Best Buy-like, I am curious to wonder what Josh Homme (lead singer/guitarist of Queens of the Stoneage) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin bassist) would want to do with Dave Grohl of the "Foo Foo Fighters."  It is understood that Grohl and Homme have worked together (Grohl playing drums on the QOTS's Songs for the Deaf), but, after Grohl's most recent Foo releases, what could they possibly still have in common.  All bitching aside, I am excited to hear about this undeniable supergroup called Them Crooked Vultures in which Grohl will once again sit behind a kit, Homme on guitar, and Jones on bass.  Let's hope Grohl wipes off the Foo stank from his boots before entering the studio and can get back to basics with some originals.

There are some rumors about a fall album release and tour, however, no official word.  Until then stay connected at the bands official website, Myspace, and Facebook.  Something smells...

=======

pitchfork

=======