how do you tell a child that someone has died?

Black Lips' Good Bad Not Evil is probably the most nostalgic/retro sounding record of this year. The latest album by Black Lips modeled elements from countless influential 50s, 60s and 70s bands; as a result, Good Bad Not Evil sounds like a mixture of Buddy Holly, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Zombies, and The Stooges just to name a few. Revolving on the subjects of working class struggles and tragedies, each song is brightly arranged to carry combined characteristics from the bands mentioned earlier. Good Bad Not Evil is witty, engaging, clever, and in large, an absolutely splendid record!

Katrina [wicked-cool song]
Navajo [wicked-cool song]
How Do You Tell [wicked-cool song]
Bad Kids [wicked-cool song]
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Good Bad Not Evil comes out on September 11th, pre-order details coming soon

perseids

Patrick Wolf has updated his MySpace blog:

It has been an inspiring weekend for me,
the underage festival was like setting buckingham palace
on fire at a jubilee although only 24 i still feel like im fifteen living
a pretend adult life, that is how I want to be forever
the energy of youth and new generations is so exciting
that there is a hunger for new sounds and visions
and ideologies that I am so glad to be reminded still exists.
In my bad teenage days I used to be able to get into
any show I wanted, It was only when I turned 21 did I start
being ID for my age, I was 6ft3 or so by the age of twelve and covered
in makeup but still, those days were easier on teenage thirsty ears.

In the past five years, the government has restricted so much
of the fun and feelings you deserve. I spend so much time trying to get
people who arent allowed in on the guestlist before a show because they are underage
and it makes me feel like were living in the 1950's all over.

Restriction of music, restriction of choice, shift all focus on terror and control, The english government is denying new generations of a healthy musical upbringing and its becoming boring. If it means all venues are over 18 these days, then I will try my hardest to play halls and bandstands and anywhere where music can be heard for everyone.

I have also become bored of being branded a swedish stripper by "perez soulless vacuous im sorry your life is so superficial gustav mahlers dog will be waiting for you in the afterlife to eat you hilton" Has no body seen "Orlando" by Sally Potter? Read the Leigh Bowery Biography? Watched "Jubilee" by Derek Jarman? I come from these worlds, these are my heroes, heroines,, a naked body does not offend me in any way, it can be used as a communication device, a performance piece. It need not be perfect and there is no such thing as perfection when it comes to the body. I let myself go to my music, sometimes its hot onstage, sometimes its cold.. sometimes the music makes me feel. I do not apologise.

Monday is about to start, my virginal is in the corner and needs tuning today, the hot kensington sun has made the wood stretch and the strings burn into a hazy summer tuning, I have so many songs to finish, the fourth album is becoming an epic, i have discovered alot of old beats and songs and I am definitely working with Alec Empire on a couple of tracks, I will begin recording in September and have plans to tour America, Japan, United Kingdom and Australia before the year is through. Exciting times ahead now.. dont be afraid of the dark.. speaking of the dark....

I have been working on a film soundtrack for a film called "No Ghosts" by John Jenkinson, a long term good friend of mine, and while only in the early stages, he has given me a link where you can find out a little bit what the whole thing is about
the excerpt you hear is called "the days" and was recorded in Vienna.
and here it is...

no ghosts

enjoy the summer my peoples... a tip for the day,
take a boat on a lake and fall asleep and turn your phone off
all the love and then some more xxx patrick wolf

pirate skulls and bones, sticks and stones and weed and bombs

Brand new M.I.A. video for the song "Jimmy":


Jimmy
Paper Planes [super-wicked-cool song] Download this, it is one of the best songs of 2007!!!
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Kala comes out on August 8th in Japan, 20th in the U.K., and 21st in North America; you can pre-order it here

mom, can i have a bulletproof backpack please???

Not music relate, but this is really, really ridiculously sad and hilarious at the same time.

the pleasant odor of apathy

A while back, a reader recommended the new Idiot Pilot disc, Wolves, to me. I was disinterested at first because I thought their previous album was awful. Nevertheless, I decided to give the band another chance last week and to my surprise, I was very entertained by the new record. From start to finish, Wolves sounds tremendously similar to Muse. Aside from using more electronic beats and the occasional screaming, the guitar riffs as well as the vocal style is undeniably Muse influenced (or just plain rip-off). Sure, the album does sound generic at times, but overall, Wolves is a fine alternative rock album and additively enjoyable to listen to!!!

Elephant
In Record Shape
Red Museum [wicked-cool song]
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Wolves is out on September 25, you can pre-order it here

not sure if you mind if I dance with you

Go see Los Campesinos! live... they are a great live band... lots of energy, lots of fun!

10 August - Mercury Lounge, New York
11 August - Making Time, Philadelphia
2 October - Whelans, Dublin (18+) *
3 October - Limelight, Belfast with: (18+) *
6 October - Library, Lancaster (all ages) $
7 October - Racehorse, Northampton (16+) $
9 October - Zodiak, Oxford (14+) $
10 October - Thekla, Bristol (18+) $
11 October - Central Station, Wrexham (14+) $
13 October - Academy 3, Manchester (18+) $
15 October - King Tuts, Glasgow (14+) $
16 October - Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh (14+) $
17 October - Uni, Newcastle$
19 October - Cockpit, Leeds (14+) $
20 October - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (14+) %
21 October - Custard Factory, Birmingham (14+) %
22 October - Komedia, Brighton (14+) %
23 October - ULU, London (16+) %
25 October - Arts Centre, Colchester (14+) %
26 October - Arts Centre, Norwich (14+) %
27 October - Fuzztival, Sheffield (18+)
29 October - Portland Arms, Cambridge (18+) %
30 October - Joiners, Southampton (14+) %
31 October - Cavern Club, Exeter (18+) %
10 November - Aeronef, Lille Ticket Info
11 November - Cigale, Paris Ticket Info
12 November - Olympic, Nantes Ticket Info
14 November - Bikini, Toulouse

*with You Say Party! We Say Die!
$ with You Say Party! We Say Die! and Sky Larkin
% with You Say Party! We Say Die! and attack+defend

Don't Tell Me To Do The Math(s)
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buy Sticking Fingers Into Sockets EP here

it’s been a while now since you last visit me

Listening to Seabear’s The Ghost That Carried Us Away is like the joy of discovering The Creek Drank The Cradle by Iron and Wine for the first time. The record contains twelve gorgeously arranged tracks that let one feels peaceful and lethargic at the same time. Seabear’s singer, Sindri Sigfœsson has the same gentle and quiet, yet warming voice very similar to Sam Beam. For that reason, The Ghost That Carried Us Away is the perfect record to play during these hot, lazy summer days.

Hospital Bed [wicked-cool song]
Owl Walz
Summer Bird Diamond [wicked-cool song]
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pre-order The Ghost That Carried Us Away here
you can download Seabear's Singing Arc EP on the band's official site

cover song of the moment

Kanye West raps/sings over Peter Bjorn and John's hit single, "Young Folks".

Kanye West: Young Folks [WTF?!?!]
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out this week

Okkervil River: The Stage Names
From start to finish, The Stage Names is packed with engaging narratives; it is fascinating, wonderfully passionate, and full of genuine emotions.

Go buy this now because the first pressing of the album comes with a bonus CD featuring solo demos of every track on The Stage Names! (look for the digipak packaging)

Savannah Smiles [wicked-cool song]
John Allyn Smith Sails [super-wicked-cool song]

from the bonus solo demos disc:
A Hand To Take Hold Of The Scene (Demo)
Plus Ones (Demo)

buy The Stage Names here


Mirah: Share This Place: Stories and Observations
An absolutely lovely cross between Joanna Newsom and Beirut. Mirah has created an album that should satisfy everyone... like my friend said, “Every song is about a different insect! How can you not love that?!”

Gestation of the Sacred Beetle [wicked-cool song]
Supper [wicked-cool song]

buy This Place: Stories and Observations here


The Receiving End Of Sirens: The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi

Smoke And Mirrors

buy The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi here

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Los Campesinos! - August 7, 2007 @ The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern (free show!!!)