27 albums you didn't hear this year

Via RollingStone http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/27-best-albums-you-didnt-hear-in-2013-20131223

@Beyonce is the spoiler

Well the scene has changed in the last 18 hours.  Certainly this effort rates.  I'm still processing the record but it is certain that 2013 is not nearly done. #allthelists

Dead Weather "Open Up (That's Enough)"

via CoS

New Lorde Single

via YouTube

My 10 best of 2013 (if interested)

Spotify playlist (minus Callahan and Atoms)

1.  The Front Bottoms ‘Talon of the Hawk’

An excellent album teeming with infectious hooks.  Definitely the album I have returned to the most this year.

2.  Bill Callahan ‘Dream River’

This album is a return to form for Callahan.  It is my favorite of his since Red Apple Falls back in the Smog days.

3.  Foxygen ‘We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic’

4.  CHVRCHES ‘The Bones of What You Believe’

Wonderful beats, excellent pop sensibility, leave it on repeat for a while

5.  Kurt Vile ‘Walkin on a Pretty Daze’

Complex, sprawling, understated in just the right ways.

6.  Laura Marling ‘Once I was an Eagle’

I cannot help but thinking of Nick Drake when listening to Marling.  She has updated UK folk without losing the core that makes it unique.  

7.  HAIM ‘Days are Gone’

Playful, fun, energetic.  I look forward to see where they go with this sound.

8.  James Blake ‘Overgrown’

Blake continues to develop.  The influences and constructions here show a range well beyond his years. 

9.  Flaming Lips ‘The Terror’

I keep coming back to this album.  A sonic masterpiece.

10. Atoms For Peace ‘Amok’

I have devoted love of Thom’s abilities as an artist.  Amok is another excellent piece from his crew.

Hardest Working Bands

via SongKick

Now I just need a reason

to be in NY in March

LSP is Pantone's color of the year

awesome

The NPR top 50 album list (2013) is out

here

Smallpools perform "Over and Over"

via Kimmel

Watch a 12 year old Lorde

Cover the Cults via RollingStone

Lagerfeld bring chic to Dallas

(someone had to)

Daughter at the Tiny Desk

I think I have posted this before but "Youth" has been haunting me the past few weeks and this is an exquisite version.

The Climate of Middle Earth

By Radagast the Brown

Dismemberment Plan at the Tiny Desk

via NPR

Grischa Lichtenberger

is currently blowing my mind spotify

Hypnotic gif

via Deadspin

Video art to weird and awesome not to pass on.

via DangerousMinds

Nick Cave Live Cut

via Dangerous Minds.  I am so ready for this show.

Great Lou Reed bootlegs

via DangerousMinds

Excellent new Dog Bite track

via CoS

Giorgio Moroder’s Remix of Haim’s ‘Forever’

via Vulture

Kronos Quartet Tiny Desk Concert

via NPR

Big Ears 2014

The lineup is out.  Now how to get there.

New Claire Maguire Cut

via CoS.  I just listened to this three times.

Ugh.

Why are Lucius and the Front Bottoms both playing on the same night.  Oh well.  Next time Lucius.

Paste 50 best of 2013 Spotify playlist

Paste list is here.  Spotify playlist is here.  (side note to spotify please work out whatever issues are keeping Bill Callahan from your archive).

American Primitive Spotify playlist

Based on Lars Gotrich's excellent list playlist via Spotify

Those Darlins Jan 29th at Gasa Gasa

tix

Great NYTimes analysis of 4th down tries

here

This makes the Saints loss a bit better

via Deadspin

I don't even know how to describe this

Bette Midler in 1970 at the Continental Baths

Awesome new Lorde video

via CoS

Choral cover of the MST3K Christmas song 'Let's Have a Patrick Swayze Christmas This Year'

here

Prince to headline Essence Fest

This will be epic.

New Pains of Being Pure at Heart video

via CoS

Full recording of The Band tribute concert

via CoS

The National on Bob's Burgers

Happy belated Thanksgiving!

Excellent Z-Trip mix for BBC radio

via BBC

Mazzy Star on TV for the first time in 20 years

via CoS

Amazing Philip Glass Arrangement

Amy Dickson

Death Vessel and Jónsi new track

via CoS

Just signed up for this

via CoS

New The Entrance Band Record

is out on spotify

New Arcade Fire Video

via CoS

PS4 so far

I have to give kudos to Sony for a great launch week.  So far I've played Killzone, Knack, Assassin's Creed IV, Contrast, Resogun, Super Motherload and the HD Flower.  It seems telling to me that the games I have enjoyed the most are the independent games.  Killzone and Knack deliver exactly what you'd expect and have been well reviewed elsewhere.  Contrast, Super Motherload and Resogun have occupied the lion's share of my time.  Super Motherload has the perfect balance of risk and reward and to my mind is the best thing I've played on the PS4 so far.  Resogun dominated the box Friday night, it is a great game for passing the controller around the room.  Contrast, despite the bugs, is charming and inventive.  The AAA releases haven't done much for me so far, it's a shame that Watch Dogs was delayed as I think that would have made for a stronger launch for both consoles.  Killzone and Knack are both visually stunning but haven't shown me anything new in terms of gameplay.  All that said, the offerings are relatively solid.  Back to Motherload.

Arcade Fire and the Costume Request

Is it really that difficult to dress up or put together a costume? Chill out and have fun. @Arcadefire I wish you hadn't skipped over New Orleans on this tour, we know how to do costumes.

Polica Live

via NPR

James Brown 1988 Interview

Wow drugs.  via DangerousMinds

Pavarotti and Reed sing "Perfect Day"

via DangerousMinds

Action Bronson's video for "Amadu Diablo"

via CoS

Outkast is playing Coachella

Please announce Bonnaroo as well.

Bill Callahan Live

via All Songs

Amazing Dylan Video

via Wired

RetroWorld Kickstarter

Looks great

Saving the Sci-fi pulp

via OmniReboot

Wow the new The Entrance Band record is fantastic.

via CoS.

Great article on Bill Callahan

via Pitchfork

Win Butler, wearing a skeleton mask, performed with a Mariachi band

enough said

Stream the new DeathGrips

via CoS.  Love em or hate em you know you're gonna listen anyway.

Excellent looking 8-bit survival horror

via Kotaku  These will always be the games that I have the fondest memories of.  I'm glad to see a return to this style.

Check out the Eagulls

via CoS

MBV

I feel like I would be obsessed with MBV if I had been born 5 years earlier.

The "other" Talking Heads video

via DangerousMinds

Murphy/Reich/Bowie

here

Watch the PBS Jimi Hendrix Doc

via DangerousMinds

If you're in New Orleans

Tix for the Front Bottoms at One Eyed Jacks 1/25 just went on sale

Should have sent a poet

via Kotaku

Boss Battles for the soul

via kickstarter

David Bowie's short film for LV

via CoS

Laurie Anderson's Farewell to Lou

via Rolling Stone

I am all about this

via CoS

Yorke remixes Reckoner live

via CoS

Nightmares on Wax

Boiler Room set

Ringo's 1978 TV special

via DangerousMinds

Well now I've seen it all

via CoS

Great article on forgotten girl groups

via flavorwire

Wesley Morris on 12 Years a Slave

Long but excellent read.

Audion Retrospective and New Track

via CoS

New Action Bronson mixtape drops

get it here.

Mike D remix of "Modern Jesus"

via CoS

Halloween Mix

hey @spotify we added a bit to your Halloween mix

Teaser for the new Action Bronson mixtape

What a great video.

Moon Hooch

Thanks, Bob, these guys are fantastic.  Here or check All Songs Considered this week.

Spell Block Tango

Just watch it.

Youth Code is outstanding

I find myself quite mesmerized by their music.  Video here.  Full album here.

This is very cool - Twin Shadow covers "Perfect Day"

via CoS

Mercury Prize announcement tomorrow.

Laura Marling has my vote, but the odds don't look good for her.  It would be nice to see Jake Bugg in stronger contention (even after his comments) that is an album I will continue to enjoy.  Listen to the full list of nominees here.

Arcade Fire Live Stream

via NPR

Watch Tom Waits perform at the Bridge School Benefit

via CoS

Arcade Fire with Neil Young

via CoS

Reenacting Back to the Future on Twitter

via Kotaku

Action Bronson has a food show

and it's spectacular.

Lightbeam for Firefox

See which services are watching you browse.  After using it this morning, I can say it's more that you imagine.

All of the GTAV radio stations in Spotify

here

Stream Reflektor now via Merge

thanks CoS

NME releases their top 500

I am just beginning my digestion of this list, but the top twenty are pretty solid.  A bit pop centric certainly, but I'm ok with that.  I certainly did not expect to see The Smiths "The Queen is Dead" at number 1.

Long Lost Return of the Jedi Footage

here

Colon Meloy Covers The Kink's "Do You Remember Walter"

It's fantastic

Dump from CoS

Reflektors live

Stream of Transatlanticism at 10

Neil Young giving us what we want

New Kurt Vile track

Thanks CoS what a great day for music news.

Ray Davies thought Revolver was garbage

via DangerousMinds

Thom Green from Alt-J picks his favorite mixes

via NME

The MC5 Documentary

via DangerousMinds

Banksy tried to sell his art anonymously in Central Park

here

Exciting

this.

Kickstarter explained

With a sandwich

McGoohan discusses the Prisoner 1977

via DangerousMinds

Jesus and Mary Chain 30th Box Set

yup

New Russian Circles Track

via CoS

Alt-j remix of Portugal the Man

via CoS

Lady Lamb the Beekeeper Doc

here

Stream the new Four Tet Album

here

Stream the new Four Tet Album

here

Amazing Neil Young Footage 1976

via DangerousMinds

Twin Shadow continues to be excellent

Also one of my favorite songs of old.

This is fucking crazy.

That is all

2 big album streams

The new Deltron!!!!
And the new Dr. Dog

Pixies Unplugged at Newport Folk 2005 (full set)

via Dangerouminds

Jenny Hval Covers Paul Simon's "The Cool, Cool River"

This is one of my favorite Simon tunes, but I really like this cover.  I took me a second to see where she was taking it, but a perfect match.

Purity Ring Remixes Lady Gaga

via CoS

Huerco S Boiler Room

set

Lego and Concerts a perfect combo.

here

New Music Dump

new Fout Tet

Stream the new Mazzy Star album (thanks NPR)

Stream the full length Chvrches album (thanks NPR)

New Neil Young Song

here

Now this is a flier

Wow

In which Mumford and Sons confirm everything I've always thought of them

enjoy

Yes please

This phone.

Mercury Prize Shortlist Playlist

via Spotify

I knew I was doing something wrong in my classes

This seems like a much better idea.

New Arcade Fire song/video

This is very neat, especially the webcam reflections

New tracks from Hemsworth and Machinedrum

Hemsworth/Machinedrum

Captain Beefheart's Rules for Guitar Playing

via DangerousMinds

Trent Reznor, This is why we love you.

"I’m not saying offering things for free or pay-what-you-can is wrong. I’m saying my personal feeling is that my album’s not a dime. It’s not a buck. I made it as well as I could, and it costs 10 bucks, or go fuck yourself.”

From Neil Young's book, speaking of Crazy Horse

"This is very important. Don't spook the Horse. That is very essential to the success of any ride. The Horse will head for the barn if it is spooked, and the music will continue but not have that magic that the Horse possesses. Any ride on the Horse must not have a destination. History has shown that the best way to spook the Horse is to tell it what to do or where to go or, even worse, how to get there. You must not speak directly to the Horse or ever look the Horse in the eyes until the ride is over and the Horse is secured in the barn. It is okay to talk to the Horse directly, but care must be taken to have respect for the muse when discussing anything with the Horse. The Horse and the muse are very good friends. Disrespect for the muse will piss off the Horse, and possibly vice versa, although that is hard to prove. The Horse has met no equal, although there undoubtedly is an equal to the Horse out there somewhere. The Horse knows this well and will not tolerate anyone who is overly complimentary to the point of excluding other friends of the muse in a misguided attempt to gain the Horse's favor. That is absolutely not the thing to do, as it makes the Horse think, and that has a bad effect generally. The Horse has a voracious appetite. The songs the Horse likes to consume are always heartfelt and do not need to have anything fancy associated with them. The Horse is very suspicious of tricks. Keeping these simple guidelines in place is always a good idea when approaching the Horse for any reason."

-Neil Young Waging Heavy Peace

After seeing The Horse on the tour immediately following his writing this, I see exactly what he means.

The Real Problem With Turn-Based RPG Combat Is Mages

sad but true

Another good day for music

New Okkervil River full stream

Oh to have been here

And finally the Replacements' full set (welcome back)

Dr. Venture

FTW

Vegas in the 70s

via Dangerous Minds

Stream the new Belle and Sebastian Collection

via the Guardian

In which I leave town for 3 days

and apparently everything happens:
New Spiritualized Video
NPR first listen of the new Neko Case
Tears for Fears cover Arcade Fire (this one is well worth your time)
New Nine Inch Nails 
and a Beavis and Butthead mod for Civ 5

ugh.

Video Game Criticism vs Review

These are just a few thoughts on the recent Sarkeesian video.  Last week I made the mistake of wandering into the comments on Kotaku surrounding the latest Damsel in Distress video.  It seems that as a community those of us who play games have a very difficult time separating a review of a game from a cultural critique of a game.  The mechanics of a game can be excellent, the plot engaging and the characters well developed while the game simultaneously possesses cultural signifiers that may be troubling to a portion of the players.  In fact as we demand greater complexity of games, we can hope that they become more culturally aware and complex as well.  We are used to thinking of games in terms of the review--an expert giving the reader context for their experience and enjoyment of the game.  In this context negative comments can easily make or break a title depending on the reviewer/publication.  Now that our games are growing up and ourselves along with them, we are beginning to see a public, academic and non-academic analysis of these games.  This analysis can only help us understand the games we play and help designers understand what it is we want from them.  Just as in literature or film, a critical essay or in this case video is just one person's analysis of the cultural impact of a text/film/game/etc.  It would seem that the correct response or the response that will help games grow the most would be a well reasoned critique from one's own perspective.  Where does one disagree? Why? and so forth.  It is difficult to write about culture, especially cultural objects that we feel strongly about; but we must separate our love of the thing for the place it holds in our lives from the unconscious messages it may be contributing to our shared cultural spaces.  Personally, I have my own objections to Sarkeesian's videos in that I think it is quite difficult to extract the role of the female in video games from the role of the female in geek culture as a whole (something she personally experienced with the launch of this series).  But then again we have to start the discussion somewhere...more to follow.

A day for links

GTA V multiplayer looks perfect

New Ghibli trailer with subtitles

8-bit Blade Runner (man I miss adventure games)

Prince has a Twitter Account

And a new song to go along with it.

Stockhausen's Lectures on Modern Music

via Dangerous Minds

Oh to be at these shows.

via CoS

This just made my day

Zeppelin Live at The Royal Albert 1970 full show

Mountain Goats at Newport Folk

Some video and full audio

Beck at Osheaga

Playing Tainted Love

Thank you vice

narrowly avoided the band in questions at Bonnaroo this year.

Kubrick's Favorite Films

via BFI

I would watch this series

Cooking with Walken

The new Adventure Time game....

appears to be a Gauntlet clone, perfect.

SBTRKT remix of Drake's "Girls Love Beyonce"

Via CoS

Louis CK and Woody Allen?

This would be great.

Here we go...

I've been trying to describe Purity Ring live to folks for a month now.

Bjork guest DJs All Songs Considered in 2009

I'm a bit behind the curve here.

New Bowie Video

Watch the eyes when he says "Valentine's Day"

At least the robot is not playing drop7 on hardcore mode

http://kotaku.com/http-www-youtube-com-watch-v-vtnzgpbgnnq-latest-sign-735257582

Two Excellent Newish Records

Dessa - Parts of Speech
Salvia Plath - The Bardo Story

Spectacular

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/society_of_the_spectacular_toys_guy_debord_situationist_action_figure

This image is perfect

http://kotaku.com/half-life-conspiracy-theorists-youre-the-best-kind-of-643060335

Oh and this is just funny

http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/07/tiesto-rips-into-daft-punk-im-destroying-them-now/

Staggering but relatively expected report about gaming on youtube

http://kotaku.com/gamers-you-rely-on-youtube-642009402

The ultimate Katamari controller.

Bonnaroo excellence

There will be a full update on Roo soon, but for now I leave you with this.  I will forever love Weird Al for this moment.

Two excellent things from the Tiny Desk.

It's an embarrassment of music today.

So many good new tracks to try out today.

I just finished streaming the new Portugal.  The Man record here.  This is a fantastic offering from a band that has captured my attention for the past few years.  Evil Friends is a more complete album, filling out their sound and definitely honing the sinister edge we've come to expect from them.  "Creep in a T-Shirt" (a song that accurately described my weekend in Detroit for Movement) will be rattling around my playlists all summer.

On to the new Disclosure record.

Hangout Redeemed

After a 2012 festival that left our group a bit cold we were apprehensive about the future of Gulf Shores' Hangout Fest. This year was a different matter entirely, it also included a Friday schedule which was just about perfect to my tastes. Highlights in chronological order:

• Ra Ra Riot: This was a perfect first set for our group. Somehow I have never managed to see this group before, they were even more high energy in person. 
• Luella and the Sun: An excellent stop at the BMI stage which is nestled in the Hangout bar itself. We grabbed a bit of shade and a couple of mixed drinks while the heat of the day washed past. 
• Dirty Projectors: Another band I was seeing for the first time. The fact that an album as complex as Swing Lo Magellan can translate so effortlessly to the stage was a beautiful thing. 
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: One of my all time favorite bands, Tom always seems to bring it for the festival shows. This show was considerably better than the Jazzfest set last year, I think the afternoon heat got to Tom a bit as compared to the evening set he played at Hangout. 
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs: This was the standard high energy YYY show, my real joy in this set was experiencing them through friends who were coming to the band for the first time. 

I may go into a bit more detail later, especially on the Ra Ra Riot set, but for now that is the initial scouting report on Hangout.

DJ Frane is back!

This is just a note that DJ Frane has a new album out this week.  Frane has been on the bleeding edge of sample orchestration since he released Fantastic Boatride in 1999.  Each album is worth the multi-year wait and Hi Dusty Stranger is no exception.  His albums are thematic journies constructed through rich tapestries of perfectly tweaked samples--remixes of the highest caliber.  Welcome back Frane.

Making me happy today

Seems a fitting start...

As a firm believer in opening with a song, here is Jack White in his Third Man Recording Booth covering Loretta Lynn's "Coal Miner's Daughter".  This is/will be a blog about media, hopefully looking to the impact that medium has on our understanding of content/context/message.  What better way to begin that conversation than with an example of the turn back to analog, at least in terms of the production of sound.  I will never hear the original vinyl record that Jack's booth made as he played that song, yet the context is preserved for me digitally--especially with regard to the method of production.  This site is nothing but musings upon these sorts of moments, some more detailed, some simply links.