Left of Centre

Putting aside Swedish uke-n-accordian tunes for a mo...

A smiley summer single from this hip young dude... the video shows Mr. Esser, all retro'd up, having a block party with his fellow Chelmsfordians.
Headlock


A new single from Mr. Bright Eyes...
Video :: Souled Out!!! by Conor Oberst


Eugene Hütz starred in “Everything is Illuminated” but is really getting a name for himself on the touring circuit through his band Gogol Bordello - a gypsy-themed punk band that has done for gypsy music what The Pogues did for Irish music (bastardized and sped up). Gogol Bordello are a band that "the Scot down the road" will go to any lengths to see live. I can see why...
Video :: Wonderlust King (live) by Gorgol Bordello


Song :: Headlock by Esser
Song :: Souled Out!!! by Conor Oberst
Song :: American Wedding by Gogol Bordello

The Format's Nate has a new band: "Fun". They sound like a cross between The Format (those vocals are just too distinctive) and The Hidden Cameras...
Song :: Benson Hedges by Fun (UPDATED link)

Beaten by Togo and Uzbekistan... again

While the twin super powers of China and the US battle it out for supremacy at the Olympics, let us take a moment to recognize the true meaning of these Games through their motto “Citius Altius Fortius” - which apparently translates, in Canadian, to “Somewhat Fast, Not Too High, and Stronger (possibly) than a Chihuahua”.
But even though Canada’s medal haul – after 5 days of competition - currently sits somewhere between nada and squat… that doesn’t really matter all that much when you have lots of “prospective medals on the horizon” and when you’re number one at finger pointing.

The excellent, and Oscar-nominated, “I Met The Walrus” clearly defines Canada’s place in the world (hint: “nothing”). This despite that the short film was a wholly Canadian production. Oh, we love our self-deprecation:

Video :: I Met The Walrus

Bottle Rocket

The Go! Team tops my list of bands-I-must-see-before-I-get-really-old-and-can't-bop-my-head-up-and-down-anymore. Here's a fan's eye view of the energy they created recently during their hour long, daytime stint at the palooza...

Fan Video :: The Go! Team live at Lollapalooza, August 1, 2008, Chicago

Song :: Bottle Rocket by The Go! Team

Bob's yer uncle

Newly announced support act for James' North American tour... Egh, maybe they'll grow on me - not raising any hairs just yet. Definitely good enough, however, to not get booed off the stage like we did Gallon Drunk ahead of The Moz. Of course, Gallon Drunk were crap.


Video :: The Hit Parade by Unkle Bob

Glósóli-leg hún

Here's a newly available live performance... yet more proof that Sigur Rós may very well be the most brilliant band on the planet, or at least the most brilliant band on the planet that continues to upload free, exceedingly lengthy, high quality video clips. Doubters can tune in between the 5 and a half and 7 and a half minute marks where Glósóli reaches its crescendo and Jónsi's perfected, other-worldly vocal melds effortlessly with the smashing wall of noise. This should not be possible:

Video :: Sigur Rós live at MOMA, NYC, June 2008

Looks like Jónsi's mullet's coming in just fine. A new one from them, the excellent Við spilum endalaust (featured in the MoMA clip, beginning at 16:37):
Song :: Við spilum endalaust by Sigur Rós

I’m Addicted To You

Here is the official wishful FurrowedBrowSmile-requested set-list for…

James
House of Blues, Anaheim, CA
October 5, 2008

Bubbles
Hey Ma
Waterfall
Sometimes
Tomorrow
Getting Away With It
Ya Ho
Sound
Waltzing Along
Low Low Low
Heavens
Seven
Oh My Heart
Whiteboy
I Wanna Go Home
--------------------
Senorita
Sit Down
Laid

of course, give me 6 minutes of Larry’s guitar tech tuning-up and I’ll still be happy.

Uriah hit the crapper

Yet more skating... this time in a new one from M83:
M83 - Kim & Jessie


Vampire Weekend get a wardrobe update... and that can only be a good thing:
New Video :: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa by Vampire Weekend

Played this at a dance recently - only one person had heard of it. Huh, wha!?! A crying shame cause she’s a beaut…
Old Video :: Ma and Pa by Fishbone


Two new songs by those tinkly Swedes (new album to be released in September):
Song :: Om Du Moter Värg by Detektivbyrån
Song :: Neonland by Detektivbyrån

Don't Follow Me

I have somewhat been into Gnarls Barkley lately. Mainly because I believe that the musical half of the duo, Danger Mouse, is a quiet genius. The singer on the other hand (don’t know his name… Gnarls??) is a bit too soulful/ American Idoly for me to fully embrace this band. Some mighty fine stuff nonetheless:

Video :: Going On by Gnarles Barkley

Even a decapitated Zooey makes me smile

Song :: Why do you let me stay here by She and Him
Video :: Why do you let me stay here by She and Him


I have no idea what this is all about.

Oh my, the kid from Witness now has facial hair!

Brand Spanking New Video :: Cath by Death Cab for Cutie


Song :: Cath by Death Cab for Cutie

3 MC's and one DJ

Scary
Here’s a song I knew and loved in the 80’s. Until now, I had never known what Lene Lovich looked like. This is exactly how I pictured her - especially the way she contorts her gruesome face during all those “uh-oh, uh-oh’s”:
Video :: Lucky Number by Lene Lovich


Death by Cardigan
Here’s a song I knew and loathed in the 80’s. Until now, I had never known what MC Miker G and DJ Sven looked like. This is no way near how I had pictured them. Turns out they’re Dutch, mustacheod and all cardi’ied up - who’d a thunk it?
Video :: Holiday Rap by MC Miker G and DJ Sven'


Canadian Content
Here’s a song I used to be scared of. Down right tame these days. Yes, there was a time when the number of punk-rock go-go dancers equaled that of your band members… A fuckin' classic.
Video :: Hawaii by The Young Canadians


Swede n’ Shouty

The indie-snob in me tried unsuccessfully to not like the original, and now Love is All provide the perfect cover - unique enough to stand on its own while ever respectful of the songs roots. Or whatever...
Song :: So far way from me (Dire straits cover) by Love is all

Old Vid

Can't quite figure out why Danderous D never made it to the bigtime. This track sizzles... like bacon! The intro's priceless as well... "rap music combines rhythm and rhyme and song".


Crap Song/ Crap Video


That ain't your daddy's Charlie Chan!

Gag

Since I'm in a MASSIVE rut when it comes to new music... I offer up the recently voted on number one worst cover version ever just because its impossible to ever stop making fun of her. As with most things Celine, dare ya to get past the 28 second mark...

Dance Dance Revolution

Matt's latest...

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Roller skating bliss with FOTC

Ladies love the feel of the wheel...

Song :: Ladies of the World by Flight of the Conchords
Video :: Ladies of the World by Flight of the Conchords

Found the plot

Looks like, with their new album, Coldplay is poised to put to bed all the mocking they have been receiving over the past few years. Somewhat justified mocking I would say (they were trying a little to hard to achieve superstardom and got caught out). But all appears well again... they knew they had to change some things around with their sound and they did. Without going all Radiohead and inaccessible.

The songs from the upcoming "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends" are surprisingly excellent. Like this one with its propulsive hand-clap beats:
Song :: Cemeteries of London by Coldplay

Hopefully this stuff has some legs (they've fooled me before).

The New Music

Alison Goldfrapp offers up a breezy summer tune complete with breezy skater girl...
Song :: Caravan Girl by Goldfrapp
Video :: Caravan Girl by Goldfrapp


80's-inspired (jam-packed with every stereotypical 80's sound imaginable) tune from the band with the attention-grabbing name:
Song :: Slow Motion Tag Team by Natalie Portman's Shaved Head

dada da da da-da dada da da da-da dada da da da-da...
Song :: Time to Pretend by Mgmt

No one comes to Reseda

The video for Rogue Wave's catchy "Chicago x 12" is quite clever - playing up on the lyrical misunderstandings we all suffer from occasionally. Some suffer more than others! I had this "problem" constantly while growing up and get bugged to this day for believing "Elvira" was "We'll fire up". An honest mistake... on the part of everyone else (I mean, COME ON, check it out!!!)

Song :: Chicagox12 by Rogue Wave
Video :: Chicago x 12 by Rogue Wave


Video directed by Kermit the Frog apparently.

This town ain't big enough for the both of us

New Sparks... Song :: Lighten Up, Morrissey by Sparks

What kind of a crazy-assed world do we live in where it takes me two weeks to find out that Sparks have released a new album? That won’t happen under Obama’s watch! And it is not like I haven’t been looking either since Sparks are better than ever this particular decade. They have existed for 38 years and, more crucially, they have survived 38 years of questionable hair stylings. Not to mention a whole era of prog-rock. Here they are in vintage 80's glory:

Video :: With All My Might by Sparks

Make me invisible

90's ethereal shoegazers Lush have be reincarnated... in the form of Sheffield's Slow Down Tallahassee:
Song :: Electric Sun by Slow Down Tallahassee
Song :: The Beautiful Light by Slow Down Tallahassee

With only ourselves... we are truly free:
Video :: Electric Sun by Slow Down Tallahassee