More good stuff by Cleveland's own Cudi... just bought the vinyl release of his album. Anxiously awaiting the next.
DatNewCudi.com: KiD CuDi - Soundtrack 2 My Life (Directed by Jason Goldwatch) from DatNewCudi / DP on Vimeo.
3/30/10
3/25/10
Use Wood Glue to Clean Old LPs
You know... I'm just going to add a "Vinyl" tag / category to this blog. I don't know if more and more information is coming out about vinyl, or if it's just that I'm paying more attention. I do know that I'm seeing much more vinyl being sold at shows now...
Here's a little tip for your not-so-new vinyl... like the stuff you're Mom just gave you, from when she was so excited to hear that you're playing vinyl and wanted to resurrect her collection. Just sayin'.
Use Wood Glue to Clean and Restore Old LPs
Cleaning LPs with a bottle of wood glue is hardly an intuitive way to get more mileage out of that bottle of glue in your workshop or clean a beloved LP. The results, however, are quite impressive.
Over at the music and audio-gear enthusiast site Audio Karma, one industrious user decided to test the old rumors in the audiophile community that you could clean a record with wood glue. The photo above shows a before and after shot of a record he cleaned using the technique. Why would you want to use this method? The before photo shows the results of using a commercial cleaner at home—not very impressive—and getting LPs professionally cleaned can cost $2-3 and up per album.
[From Use Wood Glue to Clean and Restore Old LPs - Music - Lifehacker]
Enjoy the music. :-)
3/21/10
James - The Night Before
I still haven't given up on one of my favorite Britpop bands... James. It's big and it's British, and you can enjoy their new "mini album" in it's entirety until April 5th. (The Night Before is out April 19th.)
The Night Before Preview - limited until 5 April 2010 only; album released 19 April 2010 by James The Band3/15/10
Ladytron DJ Set (2/14/10)
After leaving the Girlyman / Lucy Wainwright Roche performance, we headed over to the B Side for a night of dancing, with Mira Aroyo from Ladytron DJing...
3/12/10
Girlyman / Lucy Wainwright Roche (2/14/10)
I have some pics for this show, but I'll just be embedding some video from KingoftheCastle7, letting the music doing more of the talking.
Lucy is something special. Her songs are beautiful and voice is even more so. She has such a charm and wit about her that makes her a pleasure to see in concert. Watching her open for Girlyman was a real treat as well... (and the place was packed!)I think I've seen Girlyman like 4-5 times now and this was the first where they've added a new band member. They have a drummer with a full drum-set which added a fresh perspective to their performance. Good stuff.
3/11/10
The Pursuit of Happiness Continues...
Worthy of a re-work and re-listen.
Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness" With MGMT and Ratatat Gets Another Video
"Pursuit of Happiness", Kid Cudi's spaced-out MGMT/Ratatat collaboration, already had a video. It involved both Drake and slow-motion champagne spillage, and it wasn't that good.
But an alternate video for the same song made its way onto the internet earlier this week, as New York magazine points out. And hey! This one is way better! Director Megaforce brings out some gravitational weirdness that could well make you nauseous, and Ratatat actually show up in this one. Watch it below:
[From Pitchfork: Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness" With MGMT and Ratatat Gets Another Video]
Coffinberry / Bill Fox (2/5/10)
I really like the Happy Dog. Dare I might say it's my favorite bar on the West Side... though with the plethora of bars over there, I can't say it with any definiteness... though their decor, hot dog schtick, and having live bands would be pretty hard to beat. My only gripes is the inability to find out (digitally) who will be performing, as well as the loudness of the place. It's like, really loud. But those aren't deal breakers.
I've seen Bill Fox at the Happy Dog before, and was looking forward to going back and seeing Coffinberry perform. But you know, I don't have much to say about the show... both were enjoyable. The environment and conversation was pleasantly distracting. I also forgot my camera, so you're stuck with iPhone pics.
and since it's not easy to find out who's playing... here are a couple of the remaining, upcoming shows. (Just put the JJ Magazine show on my calendar)
3/10/10
Frontier Ruckus (2/3/10)
The decision to see Frontier Ruckus on this night wasn't necessarily an easy one. They were competing with Bishop Allen's performance at the Spot (CWRU). My first deciding factor would be to go to see the band I hadn't already seen - but I had seen both once before. The next factor is the venue... This was tough, the Spot is free and closer, but any kind of bluegrass in the Beachland Tavern is always a step ahead... Frontier Ruckus it was.
Not an ounce of disappointment was had. Seeing them previously open for Jessica Lea Mayfield, I knew instantly that I wanted to see them as a primary act... Even before the show started, I bought a vinyl copy of their most recent album Old Orion Town. These guys are just so nice and have such a great energy about them on stage... The best part about this performance was hearing some new songs from a new record that's on the way. Can't wait.
Chris O'Brien (1/28/10)
Starting the road back to currency with my concert "reviews." I've been behind before, and luckily worse that this... I'll be quick and painless - I promise.
For this show - it was great seeing Chris O'Brien at the Barking Spider yet again... This time was particularly nice because he had an electric guitar accompaniment, as well as a new album (Litte Red) that I was excited to get my hands on. Chatting with him afterward is always a treat as well...
I'll be letting you know when he comes around again.
3/5/10
Free Album! Take Action on Climate Change
Just got this update from Righteous Babe. What a great collection of songs, and for a great purpose...
ANI FEATURED ON FREE BEST OF BONNAROO CLIMATE CHANGE COMPILATION
Our friends at HeadCount and the NRDC Action Fund put together a Best of Bonnaroo compilation featuring “Fuel,” recorded live at Ani’s 2009 Bonnaroo performance, to encourage action on climate change. Ani joins Wilco, Jack Johnson, My Morning Jacket and more in donating a live track and best of all, you can download it FREE! Visit www.musicforaction.org to get your copy, while you are there you can also email your elected officials to encourage them to pass legislation to cut global warming, build a clean energy economy and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Participate in change! Reward yourself with free music!
[From : : : righteous babe records > > > late-breaking news : : :]
3/4/10
Grooveshark on Jailbroke iPhones
I'm really trying hard to not want to jailbreak my iPhone... Help me out Apple.
Rejected By Apple, Grooveshark Releases App For Jailbroken iPhones On Cydia
When Jason Kincaid tried out the iPhone app online music streaming startup Grooveshark built and showed off in July 2009, he wrote that it was great but that he “wouldn’t expect this to pop up in the App Store any time soon”. He was right on both counts.
Grooveshark now says it has given up on its ambitions to get approved for the official App Store, claiming that Apple has been “ritually rejecting” the app for “primary selfish reasons”. We’ve heard that song before.
The startup says it spent many months developing the iPhone application, and on occasion went months without a hearing a peep out of Cupertino.
Denied access to the App Store, Grooveshark decided to head underground and is today releasing the app on Cydia, enabling people who have jailbroken their iPhone and iPod touch devices to enjoy it – and it is actually pretty cool.
[From Rejected By Apple, Grooveshark Releases App For Jailbroken iPhones On Cydia ]
3/2/10
The Morning Benders
Just discovered these guys (via Erin), who are streaming their entire album for free on their website.
Check it out here too...
And the video. Really good stuff.
Yours Truly Presents: The Morning Benders "Excuses" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.
3/1/10
Bummer of the Week: Freelance Whales
Hey, another schtick...
But it's not about the music... Just really wish these guys (Freelance Whales) were coming to Cleveland on their new tour. Closest they're coming is Chicago (4/4/10). Check out their new album, Weathervanes.
And by the way, by saying it's a "bummer," I'm saying you should check these guys out: http://www.myspace.com/freelancewhales
Just sayin'.
2/25/10
Before the Goldrush: Teach for America
I've been sitting on this for a while... It's a pretty impressive list of covers and definitely worth checking (Neko Case, Okkervil River, Ana Egge, etc.) - and it's for a good cause.
Okkervil River and Joni Mitchell, before the goldrush
Since you know you’re probably not gonna quit your job and Teach For America (unless you are one of my idealistic college-student readers in which case: DO it!) there’s a new compilation out that will let you toss them a few kopeks instead to help them carry on their noble educational goals.
Before The Goldrush is a benefit album of freshfaced up-and-coming types (along with some moderate heavies like The Swell Season and Neko Case) covering some of the very best songwriters of the halcyon days gone by. The song selection is spot-on fantastic, and all the proceeds benefit Teach For America.
[From Okkervil River and Joni Mitchell, before the goldrush | I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS]
2/24/10
We Will Prevail
Clevelanders have had their panties all up in a bunch because of this "miserable cities" Forbes article... Rather than address the lameness of the article directly, I thought I'd post a response from Cleveland's own Mr. Gnome.
Cleveland: My Home Sweet Miserable Home
Hello Friends,Hope your winter has been treating you wonderfully. It seems to never stop snowing here in beautiful northeast Ohio, which forces us to hibernate, participate in substance abuse, experiment in group sex, and write schizophrenic music. Sounds like fun, right? Well, according to Forbes.com, Cleveland is not so fun. Check it below - Cleveland is America's Most Miserable City for this year:
This is mean and untrue and us Clevelanders do not appreciate these harsh accusations...so as we're busy slashing our wrists and drinking ourselves into alcohol-induced comas we will laugh at what the rest of America thinks of us, because in the end, we will prevail!
[From mr. Gnome's Sweet-Ass Blog: Cleveland: My Home Sweet Miserable Home]
They have a great visual message to Forbes on their blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)