cover song of the moment

So I had a folder of music by Florence and The Machine on my desktop for a good 3+ months now. I finally upload it onto my iTunes a few days ago and I am completely blown away!

Florence’s debut single, "Kiss With A Fist", released back in June of last year is just an incredible song; but what makes the single even more brilliant is the b-side: a cover of "Hospital Beds" by Cold War Kids!

Hospital Beds (Cold War Kids cover) [wicked-cool song]

Here are some other covers by Florence and The Machine:
You've Got the Love (The Source cover) from Dog Days Are Over Single
Postcards From Italy (Beirut cover) [wicked-cool song]
Galaxy Of The Lost (Lightspeed Champion cover)
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visit Florence and The Machine's MySpace here

out this week

Radiohead: In Rainbows
People, it’s new Radiohead!!!

15 Step [wicked-cool song]
Bodysnatchers [wicked-cool song]
All I Need [wicked-cool song]
Faust Arp [wicked-cool song]

buy In Rainbows here


Bishi: Never Seen Your Face Single
First single from Bishi's forthcoming album Nnights at the Circus (review coming soon). Note that if you play "The Three Ravens" from the 7" at the wrong speed (33 rpm), Bishi sounds identical to Antony from Antony & The Johnsons!

Never Seen Your Face [wicked-cool song]

buy Never Seen Your Face Singles here


Beirut: The Flying Club Cup
Beirut brings forth a bigger, more romantic, and more ambitious approach than Gulag Orkestar. The new record is notably epic and dramatic, the sound is grand and it gives the effect of an overall communal feeling. Zach Condon’s immeasurable vision has made The Flying Club Cup a musical spectacle!

Cliquot [super-wicked-cool song]
Forks And Knives (La Fete) [wicked-cool song]

buy The Flying Club Cup here


A Wilhelm Scream: Career Suicide
Unforgettable guitar riffs, lightning fast rhythms, and aggrieve vocals make Career Suicide the best punk record of the year so far.

I Wipe My Ass With Showbiz [wicked-cool song]
Cold Slither II [wicked-cool song]

buy Career Suicide here


Band of Horses: Cease To Begin
Ben Bridwell’s magnificent controlled vocal and the melodic instrumentations work perfectly together to create some electrifying and triumphant sensations.

Is There a Ghost? [super-wicked-cool song]
The General Specific [wicked-cool song]

buy Cease To Begin here


Scout Niblett: This Fool Can Die Now
The four lovely duets with Will Oldham is a good enough reason to buy this record.

Do You Wanna Be Buried With My People [wicked-cool song]
Kiss [wicked-cool song]

buy This Fool Can Die Now here


Jens Lekman: Night Falls Over Kortedala

If I Could Cry (It Would Feel Like This)
Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo

buy Night Falls Over Kortedala here


Sunset Rubdown: Random Spirit Lover

Up On Your Leopard, Upon the End of You Feral Days
Trumpet, Trumpet, Toot! Toot! [wicked-cool song]

buy Random Spirit Lover here

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you should dance away (from me)

So I’m staying up on this Friday night/Saturday morning contemplating if I should go check out the Aurigid Shower or not. If any of you out there are staying up too, here are some interesting reading materials:

Prefix interview with No Age
Pitchfork interview with St. Vincent

Also, check out the brand new Beirut website!

No Age: I Wanna Sleep [wicked-cool song]
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buy Weirdo Rippers here

i’ll beat on my drum till i’m dead

It is just impossible for Zach Condon to create anything bad as this young talent has given nothing but quality music to the public releases after releases. With Beirut, Zach Condon has proven that he is one of the most brilliant young artists in music today. Just only a year after releasing his groundbreaking debut Gulag Orkestar, Beirut is back with his sophomore entitled The Flying Club Cup. With the brand new record, Beirut brings forth a bigger, more romantic, and more ambitious approach. Gone from Gulag Orkestar is the intimate, modest, and amateur sound; The Flying Club Cup is notably epic and dramatic, the sound is grand and it gives the effect of an overall communal feeling. Beirut filled the record with layers after layers of bold and marching band-istic instrumentations. Condon’s vocal has noticeably improved as well; it is sharper and more confident sounding. Indisputably, working along with Owen Pallett made The Flying Club Cup even more promising. Pallett’s bright string arrangements and humble vocal can be heard on tracks such as "Cliquot", "Forks And Knives (La Fete)", and "In The Mausoluem". With so much originality, there seems to be an element of surprise with each Beirut release. In this case, Zach Condon’s immeasurable vision made The Flying Club Cup a musical spectacle!

Nantes [wicked-cool song]
Cliquot [super-wicked-cool song]
St. Apollonia [wicked-cool song]
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The Flying Club Cup comes out on October 9th, you can pre-order it here

when the wind would blow with rain and snow

Watch Beirut's brand new video for "Postcards from Italy" below:

the talented mr. zach condon

Before Beirut, Zach Condon recorded under the name The Real People. In 2001, he recorded an album entitled The Joys of Losing Weight, which was (at the time) only given to close friends and it was never released. The musical style of The Real People is rather different compared to Beirut as The Joys of Losing Weight explored a more electronica/pop sound. Further, sometime before the release of Gulag Orkestar, Condon recorded an EP called Pompeii. Similarly, the two track EP, which included "Fountains and Tramways" (aka "Untitled 19" from The Joys of Losing Weight) and "Napoleon on the Bellerophon", also incorporated an electronica/pop style.

from The Joys of Losing Weight by The Real People:
Untitled 2
Untitled 4
Untitled 8 [wicked-cool song]
Untitled 14
Untitled 17

from Pompeii EP by Beirut:
Fountains and Tramways [wicked-cool song]
Napoleon on the Bellerophon [wicked-cool song]
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Over the weekend, I searched YouTube for some live Beirut videos; after watching some amazing performance, I am even more excited about Beirut’s upcoming tour! Make sure you go check out Beirut live this fall!

09-23 Princeton, NJ - Terrace F Club
09-24 New York, NY - Society for Ethical Culture
09-26 New York, NY - Delacorte Theater
09-30 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa
10-02 Toronto, Ontario - Danforth Music Hall
10-04 Chicago, IL - Portage Theater
10-08 San Francisco, CA - Herbst Theater
10-09 San Francisco, CA - Herbst Theater
10-10 Los Angeles, CA - Avalon

buy Gulag Orkestar here
buy Lon Gisland EP here

a scenic world where the sunsets are all breathtaking

Although it was released under the band name Beirut, Gulag Orkestar was essentially "a solo record" by Zach Condon. In a way, Gulag Orkestar introduced to the world the limitless musical talent of young Zach Condon. On the contrary, Beirut’s latest EP, Lon Gisland was recorded by a full band. The result: first-rate quality music!! As the amateur-ish sound from Gulag Orkestar sadly departs, Lon Gisland features a more professional, sharper sound... but with that being said, it still retains that loveable classic-romantic-Eastern-European-folky-Beirut sound. In addition to four brand new songs(!), the new EP also features an amazing full band reproduction of "Scenic World". Lon Gisland will definitely attract new Beirut fans, and it will no doubt make fans of Gulag Orkestar excitingly awaits for a new Beirut full length.

Elephant Gun [super-wicked-cool song]
Scenic World (full band version) [wicked-cool song]
Carousels
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buy Lon Gisland EP here

new beirut ep?

Beirut has posted a new song, "Elephant Gun" on MySpace. Apparently, it’s from an EP called Lon Gisland... anyone has any info on that release... please let me know... I am dying to hear more new Beirut!

Meanwhile, let's listen to songs from Gulag Orkestar, one of the best records of 2006.

Prenzlauerberg
Postcards from Italy [wicked-cool song]
Mount Wroclai (Idle Days) [wicked-cool song]
Bratislava
After the Curtain
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Buy Gulag Orkestar here.

i am so in love with beirut right now

Other than the new Cursive and UnderOath records (both are amazing!), I have been listening to lots of Beirut (aka young Zach Condon) lately. Although I didn’t really like Condon’s singing style at first, I was surely fascinated by the musical styles on Gulag Orkestar. After about half a dozen listens, I grew to accept and enjoy the vocal while the musical side of Gulag Orkestar still fascinates me! I can’t really explain the music of Beirut except that it sounds like an exploration through Eestern Europe... if that makes any sense at all. So, before ending this very short introduction of Beirut, I just have to say that the music on Gulag Orkestar is beyond fascinating... it is fun, unique, and absolutely original!! Conclusion: I highly recommend Beirut!!!

The Gulag Orkestar
Prenzlauerberg
Postcards from Italy [wicked-cool song]
Mount Wroclai (Idle Days) [wicked-cool song]
Rhineland (Heartland)
Scenic World [wicked-cool song]
The Canals of Our City
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buy Gulag Orkestar here