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Holiday Shores – New Masses For Squaw Peak

You know the heady and oh so giddy feeling you get when you find money in forgotten places; a twenty in jeans you haven’t worn in ages. You get the picture. Well, discovering Holiday Shores gives me that same feeling. Just multiply it by a higher numerical value and we’re on the same page. Listening to their record is akin to the first time I listened to Of Montreal, and a few other bands that have made a distinct impression on me in recent years. The album is  stocked to the proverbial gills with new sensations, and a varied collection of colorful sounds that would make Kandinsky proud. And New Masses For Squaw Peak has all those musical colors you get when rainbows go bad and start scrawling graffiti on abandoned buildings and subways cars; which make this a decidedly different kind of LP. I’ll call it Ethereal Sugar Pop with muted tones of dirty hands melancholy, how’s that? Holiday Shores is fresh and exciting, and they take you on a ride among roiling cumulus clouds in a laughter powered zeppelin painted by surrealist artist Oliver Vernon. Perhaps 2012 will see this band get the recognition they so rightfully deserve, but if not I’ll just share it with you and it’ll be our little secret. Peace. Continue reading “Holiday Shores – New Masses For Squaw Peak”

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The Penelopes – Now Now Now (Miguel Campbell Remix)

This is one of those tracks with a sound so groovy upon hearing it your limbs start to move immediately, seemingly of their own volition. The Gallic duo, Axel Basquiat and
Vincent Tremel, together comprise The Penelopes and their song, “Now Now Now,” will surely make its way into your playlist far into the year. Oh, and the Laura Kidd vocals, sublime. No details about their forthcoming album, but rest assured I’ll keep you posted. Peace. Continue reading “The Penelopes – Now Now Now (Miguel Campbell Remix)”

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lana del rey // national anthem

(Photo courtesy of thisisfakediy.co.uk)

Every other day or so it seems someone is writing something about Lana Del Rey. And from what I’ve read most reviewers are divided. The big bad press on this demure songstress are equally torn, not really knowing what to make of this new studio Gangsta Boo. Love her or hate her, the woman with the bee-stung lips has got it going on. I’m in the camp of those who adore the whole package, whether or not her’s is a contrived image or not doesn’t really matter to me. I’m sold. Maybe even a bit obsessed.

However, what does matter is her output, which is continuously getting better each time out. Her initial buzz starters, “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans” were catchy enough, and in the “Video Games” collide offereing she played the coy, slightly tempestuous card for all it was worth. Can you blame her? And then “Born To Die” came along and furthered, not only our collective curiosity, but it was a well timed release after her so-so performance at Manhattan’s Bowery Ballroom. So far, we’ve been privy to 7 out of the 12 songs listed on LDR’s soon to drop LP, which also includes “Diet Mountain Dew” “Disco, “Yayo”, “This Is What makes Us Girls,” and “Off To The Races,” in no particular order. All of these tracks sound better than average to me.

Now, we have “National Anthem,” to chew on and it’s more than just fat and gristle, it’s rack of lamb marinated in all the aromatics available to ensure lots of flavor, and again the presentation is very agreeable. It works because we’re all carnivores at heart. And who can resist the raw sexualized lamb Ms. Del Rey is offering up? Not I. Now, “National Anthem,” with it’s gutsy guitar and a fist full of dollars hook, is not only catchy, but it also possesses a bit of spot-on social commentary. Consider the lyrics ” Money is the anthem of success? Money is the reason we exist? Everybody knows it, it’s a fact, kiss kiss? No hollow lyrics here. Whatever your thoughts are regarding  Lana Del Rey, her star isn’t likely to fade anytime soon. In 2012 her ascension to the venerable ‘Court of Pop Ladies’ is pretty much a sure bet.

Haters, go bark up another more deserving tree, because this Quercus coccinea is growing deep roots in the fertile soil of our pop culture, for days. And Lana, you can be our China doll, and this reviewer, most assuredly doesn’t want to see you fall. Peace. Continue reading “lana del rey // national anthem”

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Toy – Left Myself Behind

Most bands are fronted by, or revolve around a vocalist or a badass guitar player, not the case with the five-piece ensemble known as TOY. No, this band comes together around a Korg Delta keyboard/synth. This band is also a mix bag of sorts, grafting sounds from across the musical spectrum: Punk, Electronica, and various visages of rock are all present and accounted for. And it all fleshes out for an overall novel sonic texture which works out, not so surprisingly, well. Check out the bands’ first single release  — Left Myself Behind — and the B-side — Clock Chime. Both sides can be downloaded for free from their Heavenly Recordings website. You can also pre-order the 12″ which drops January 23rd. Peace. Continue reading “Toy – Left Myself Behind”

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Skrillex – Kyoto (Ft. Sirah / gLAdiator Remix)

Skrillex definitely let the Genie out of the bottle on this one, it’s dope and it tastes like an exotic pretzel to my ears. Yup, this one will twist you up in knots and slink its way snake like into your speakers. Yet, as funky as the original Skrillex track is gLAdiator (DJ/production duo Dan Goodman & Ian Johnson) are able to squeeze a little more juicy juice from the passion fruit so to speak. Who needs pills and booze when music like this can get you sky-high! Peace.
 
****Sorry guys, they removed the track, and it is so dope. Not to worry, go to the Hype Machine link below and you can find it there, and remember to crank it LOUD!****


(via gLAdiator)

Want more gLAdiator? Of course you do. Check ’em out on the Hype Machine and their Monthly Remixes on Tumblr as well. Enjoy.

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The Internet – They Say (Ft. Tay Walker)

You know those little labels of warning the pharmacist puts on those medicine bottles? Well, Purple Naked Ladies The Internet‘s debut LP should come with a few. Particularly for the song “They Say” Ft. Tay Walker. As a matter of fact let me just send the Surgeon General a letter right now. But seriously, Purple Naked Ladies (I love typing that) is a debut to be proud of. So, I take my pork pie hat off to Syd the Kyd (Sydney Bennett) and Matt Martians (Matthew Martin) for shuffling the deck of the OFWGKTA Tarot cards and dealing such a splendid first hand. Although it is not the blowout album I was expecting, there is still good stuff to be had. The anchor of the album is obvious, the delirious and frenetic “Cocaine.” But, the centerpiece is the big soft plush-toy carnival prize, “They Say.” This song has gently swaying hips, radiant skin, a small sexy mole right beneath the collarbone, and piercing almond-shaped eyes. I digress. (Clearing throat) In future projects I’d love to see The Internet get a bit more unhinged and push the envelope. Syd the Kid, your voice has the sex appeal, now make it more burlesque. Take me to the alternate realm I know ya’ll dreaming about in bong-burping technicolor. Peace. Continue reading “The Internet – They Say (Ft. Tay Walker)”

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Male Bonding – Bones

Although the song “Bones,” by Male Bonding came out earlier (mid-2011), it’s even better covering my ears with remnants of summer on an otherwise gloomy Michigan day. The fuzzed out guitar and banging drums punching holes in lead-singer John Arthur Webb‘s vocals, or is it the other way around? Regardless, it’s a sliver of what I did last summer; a sound memento if you will. No matter, I welcome it. If you haven’t, check out the rest of the Endless Now album, and make your own ‘good times’ memories. Peace. Continue reading “Male Bonding – Bones”

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Frankie Rose – Know Me

Whatever you say about Brooklyn-based Frankie Rose one cannot deny her obvious work ethic. Having put in long shifts with both the Dum Dum Girls and Vivian Girls, and her own band cut from a similar Phil Spector-ish cloth, The Outs. But this time out the departure from her past incarnations is evident, on her latest work “Know Me,” Rose is getting her groove on and leading you to the dance floor. Right away I noticed the clear musical reference ala The Cure (that back-beat is surely “Close To Me), yet still what really draws me in is the voice of Frankie riding this mysterious dreamscape. The single, Know Me comes from her forthcoming album Interstellar, which is scheduled to drop January 17th via Slumberland Records. Now, I’m wondering whether the rest of her new album is just as danceable, I want my dance card full. Peace. Continue reading “Frankie Rose – Know Me”

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King Krule – Portrait In Black & Blue

Thanks to our friends at Yours Truly for capturing one of our favorite new artists live and in excellent form, the impossibly talented and literal new kid on the block King Krule. Here we have Archy Marshall, bka King Krule, performing the song “Portrait In Black & Blue,” from a recent gig at Brooklyn’s Shea Stadium. The song is  taken from his self-titled debut EP, and it sounds heads and shoulders above a lot of the previous recordings of this track. Good stuff. Peace. Continue reading “King Krule – Portrait In Black & Blue”