the devil wanders into my soul

One thought that keeps recurring in my head while listening to White Chalk is: “what the hell... this is PJ Harvey??” Certainly, I think most PJ fans would agree with me when I say that White Chalk sounds pretty different compared to her other releases. It seems like PJ Harvey has taken a brand new direction on this new record: musically, the angry rock guitar melodies are replaced by haunting piano notes whereas vocally, her commanding deep voice is replaced by mesmerizing soft tones as well as unusual high pitches. Personally, I am quite in favour of this new path as PJ’s freshly adopted style displays her vulnerabilities in dark fashion; thus, adding extra doses of heartbreaking elements to her songs. Without a doubt, many old PJ Harvey fans will miss her classic style, but that’s what the other seven albums are for; I am glad that she experimented with this dramatic change on White Chalk as the end result is nothing short of stunning.

The Devil [wicked-cool song]
When Under Ether [wicked-cool song]
To Talk To You [wicked-cool song]
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White Chalk comes out on September 24th in the UK, you can pre-order it here

protect your language

I just got back from seeing Björk at VFest about an hour and a half ago. I actually didn’t plan on going to VFest because a) it was way too expersive and b) I rather see Björk headline by herself and not with a bunch of other bands. Anyway, my friend phoned me at 8 tonight and told me that she got free tickets from her brother... we rushed to the island and I witnessed yet another amazing performance by the Icelandic Princess. I was beyond overjoyed to hear her played four tracks from Post and six from Homogenic... check out Björk’s full setlist below:

Innocence
Hunter
Pagan Poetry
Aurora
All is Full of Love
Pleasure is All Mine
Joga
Unravel
Earth Intruders
Army of Me
I Miss You
Bachelorette
Cover Me
Wanderlust
Hyper-Ballad (crazy rave-remix at the end!)
Pluto

Encore:
Oceania
Declare Independence

a disaster's a disaster, no matter what christian language you drag it through

Manchester Orchestra performed on Late Show with David Letterman a few nights ago, watch the video below:



Wolves At Night [wicked-cool song]
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buy I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child here

cover song of the moment

Final Fantasy does Mariah Carey’s "Fantasy"... unfortunately Owen left out the O.D.B. intro in both instances.

Fantasy (Live Mariah Carey Cover in Windsor, Ontario) [wicked-cool song]
Fantasy (Live Mariah Carey Cover in Vancouver, British Columbia) [wicked-cool song]
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love is simple

I saw Akron/Family opened for Final Fantasy a few years ago, not only did they create some tremendously fun and memorable audience interactions, they were (are) also one of the craziest, most energetic bands I have ever seen! You can sort of hear all that on Akron/Family’s new record entitled Love Is Simple. In so many moments on their new record, it really feels like the band is interacting with the listeners; songs like "Ed is a Portal" and "Lake Song/New Ceremonial Music For Moms" sound very intimate as you feel like you are participating in the hymns/chants with the band. In addition, Love Is Simple is jam-packed with weird noises, as well as witty and unusual interlopes to create an utterly strange atmosphere from start to finish. Ultimately, Love Is Simple is truly an unusual record that combines traditional folk, blues and rock music with experimental elements; and if Akron/Family are coming to a city near you, make sure you make an effort to see them live!

Ed is a Portal [wicked-cool song]
Lake Song/New Ceremonial Music For Moms [wicked-cool song]
Phenomena
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Love Is Simple comes out on, you can pre-order it here

i love your suffering like gravity loves a stumbling drunk

It really amazes me how much emotion and passion can come out of Tim Kasher’s voice even after so many records with Cursive as well as The Good Life. His distinctive vocal style is often backed by some brilliantly sensitive lyrics as well. Therefore, it is not surprising that Help Wanted Nights, the latest record by The Good Life is full of captivating vocals and stimulating songwriting by Kasher once again. Although Help Wanted Nights is written in the first-person narrative style, each song feels like it is told by a different individual. Aside for maybe one song, the record is mostly about people coping with bad relationships and bad break-ups. Help Wanted Nights begins with "On The Picket Fence", a song which features Kasher’s classic pessimism right from the get-go: “Things are good, We should take a Polaroid, a memento, Before the moment's destroyed.” The album’s lead single provides a much needed humour after such a gloomy beginning. "Heartbroke" is a breakup song with a very sarcastic tone (musically and lyrically). Call me crazy, but Heartbroke reminds me of "Summer Nights"... yes, the Travolta/Newton-John duet from Grease! The album gets even more depressing in "Playing Dumb" as it tells a soon-to-be-over relationship where the narrator is too wake and afraid to confront his/her cheating partner. Nevertheless, the album does offer listeners with one slightly optimistic song in "Keely Aimee" as the narrator offers care and love to a struggling girl named Keely Aimee. The idea of a multiple first-person narrative revolving on a similar theme is somewhat clever; because of that, the record never feels repetitive as the different accounts keep Help Wanted Nights engaging.

On The Picket Fence [wicked-cool song]
Heartbroke [wicked-cool song]
Playing Dumb [wicked-cool song]
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buy Heartbroke 7" Single here
Help Wanted Nights comes out on September 11th, you can pre-order it here

ruins, or relics, disciples and the young

Klaxons’ Myths Of The Near Future has won the 2007 Notionwide Mercury Music Prize! Congratulations boys!!! Klaxons beat out Bat For Lashes’ Fur And Gold, one of my favourites from last year, as well as Panic Prevention by Jamie T, which is probably the best record of 2007 so far!

Klaxons:
Golden Skans from Myths Of The Near Future [super-wicked-cool song]
The Bouncer from Xan Valley EP [super-wicked-cool song]

buy Myths Of The Near Future here





Jamie T:
Salvador from Panic Prevention [super-wicked-cool song]
Rawhide (featuring Lily Allen) from Sheila Single [wicked-cool song]

buy Panic Prevention here





Bat For Lashes:
Prescilla from Fur And Gold [wicked-cool song]
Sarah Reworked (Live in NY) from What's A Girl To Do? Single [wicked-cool song]

buy Fur And Gold here




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out this week

Every Time I Die: The Big Dirty
The boys from Buffalo, New York are back with one of the year’s best hardcore records; it is full of heavy, metal-style riffs and lots and lots of melodic screaming!

We'rewolf [wicked-cool song]
Rendez-Voodoo

buy The Big Dirty here


Black Lips: Katrina 7" Singles
Two limited 7” singles for the track "Katrina"; the first 7” comes with "Italian Sexual Frustration" and the second one with "Boomerang". "Katrina" will appear on Good Bad Not Evil, out on September 11th.

Katrina [wicked-cool song]
Boomerang (live), from Los Valientes del Mundo Nuevo

buy Katrina 7" #1 here
buy Katrina 7" #2 here
pre-order Good Bad Not Evil here

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music from 700 feet above civilization

The four tracks from The Future According To Yesterday EP by Redhooker are sequenced together like a concept album; or better yet, they are composed together to create a four-movement piece. Before I start to discuss the EP in details, you should be familiarized with the creative process of the album. According to Stephen Griesgraber, the mastermind behind Redhooker, the EP was “written in a vacated accident-injury law office 700 feet above ground in downtown Manhattan... The music was inspired by a year spent living in a quiet, isolated former port village called Red Hook.” The first track (movement), "Sometimes She Speaks Gently", essentially represents the start of composing the EP in a vacated office high above civilization or the start of living in the lonesome village of Red Hook. In both instances, the haunting instrumentations create a segregated and estranged mood. In contrast, the cheerful melodies of "Animus" provide a comforting sensation to the second movement. Perhaps this movement shows that Griesgraber is used to the fact that he is isolated in both cases and therefore, making the most out of the experiences. Then, the atmosphere suddenly switches to a sort of desperation in "Sunday Silence". In particular, at the 4:35 mark of this third movement, there is an overwhelming and uncomfortable sense of panic and anxiety that last for about 30 seconds. It is possible that this feeling may be coming from Griesgraber’s desire to leave both locations as he has in a way, been separated from reality for too long. Finally, Griesgraber breaks out of both isolations in "Twelve Times Goodbye" as the calming melodies, especially the clarinet, suggests a sense of ease, relieve, and peace. The majority of The Future According To Yesterday EP is rather haunting to symbolize alienation; nevertheless, the movements are stimulating, and principle instruments such as the violin and the rhodes interplay wonderfully with one another.

Sunday Silence [wicked-cool song]
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buy The Future According To Yesterday EP here

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