_Sea Wolf – The Violent Hour

When I heard the “New Moon” soundtrack was leaked online, I can’t say I really cared. I’m just not that into vampires or the new  overly popular vampire phenomenon that has drowned an entire generation in quotes, costumes, books and movies. Well, that was all until I looked at the track listings for the second movie in the “Twilight” series. I most likely won’t check out the movies, but the soundtrack looks and sounds rather fantastic. Full of hard-hitting indie-rock wonderment, this soundtrack is majorly full of original tracks bound to pull in Twilight and non-Twilight fans the same.

Sea Wolf’s “The Voilent Hour” is a sure fire winner on this soundtrack. Poppy and fun, there’s nothing violent about this song. Alex Brown Church’s delicate, and also violentless voice plays surprisingly strong over this quick tempo-ed  multi-guitar track.

Sea Wolf – “The Violent Hour”Stream

_Tegan and Sara – Hell

‘Hell’ is the first single and the third album track from the soon-to-be released album “Sainthood” from Tegan and Sara. This is the sixth studio album from the duo due out later this month.  “Sainthood” is said to be darker record comprised of songs about love and relationships. The sisters worked with producer Chris Walla, who produced “The Con” as well as “So Jealous” producer Howard Redekopp.  The sister’s also utilized some members of their live band in the making of “Sainthood” as well as Jason McGerr, drummer from Death Cab for Cutie.

Like practically all Tegan and Sara songs, “Hell” will surely become an ‘I can’t get this catchy song out of my head’ sort of tune. Comprised of heavier guitar riffs, there is still room for keyboards on “Hell” and for the most part seems to be less digital effect driven than their latest work.  If this song gives any indication of the new album’s sound, I’d surely say it’s gonna rock.

Tegan and Sara – “Hell”Stream (more…)

_Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Remix Collection) and Animal Collective Remix ‘Love Like a Sunset’

Phoenix’s ‘Love Like a Sunset’ off of their hit sophomore album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is strikingly beautiful, in that this song weaves four parts into one incredible, and lengthy track. It’s balance between the delicate and the strong are one in the same.

‘Love Like a Sunset’ has recently been remixed by Animal Collective and is just one remix off of the soon-to-be released Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Remix Collection). As if Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix could have really gotten any better, the remixed album features other heavy hitters of 2009 like YACHT, Chairlift, Passion Pit, Friendly Fire and much, much, more!

Animal Collective’s remix of ‘Love Like a Sunset’ is a true to form and style for Animal Collective, yet is also rings true to Phoenix’s original version. The remix is certainly shorter in length than the seven plus minute track, but it rings true to the story of the original song, just abbreviated.

Phoenix – “Love Like a Sunset” (Animal Collective Remix)

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Remix Collection) will be released digitally via Glassnote/Loyauté on October 13th.

The full tracklist: (more…)

_Lily Allen and the Drama

If you haven’t heard about the Lily Allen / British musicians / illegal file sharing fiasco, well you’ve practically missed a real life gladiator fight played out on Twitter and various blogs. Over the past several weeks, Lily Allen, an artist perceived to be found on myspace, has been in defense of her stance on illegal file sharing.

On September 16th Upstart Blogger systematically posted this entry entitled “Meet the Music Industry’s New Misinformation Puppet and Learn How to Benefit From Her Tricks.” The blog post is a seemingly strategic rebuttal against various websites said to be speaking out against the public’s use of illegal file sharing.  In this rebuttal post, Upstart Blogger directly attacks Allen and her record label, EMI, stating Allen is a puppet whose musical upstart from myspace is all a shame, simply made up by her record label. In this ‘faux reality’ Upstart Blogger also goes onto saying “… her songs were written and created by EMI and their banks of battery hen producers. Her apparent poor background was soon debunked when it was revealed that she was privately educated at some of the most prestigious schools in the country.”

Upstart Blogger was prepared for a war against Allen and EMI knowing full well they would come back in their defense.  At the end of the blog post, UB states to pass on the public’s opinion through the same networks which have made Allen the phenom she is today, including sending messages to Allen via her twitter page. Since then, Upstart Blogger’s twitter account has been suspended and the EMI legal team seems to be tracking Upstart Blogger’s action rather closely (as stated in a recent blog post). Weird.

After this post, and as the barrage of messaging began on her Twitter page, Allen became a solo woman determined to justify her stance and hold her ground in a ring with a virtual angry mob.  Allen took to her Twitter page (twitter.com/lilyroseallen), her myspace blog (myspace.com/lilymusic) and a hastily created and now defunct blog It’s Not Okay  (http://idontwanttochangetheworld.blogspot.com/) in defense of herself, her stance, her music career and upcoming artists. The now deleted Blogspot showcased letters and emails from various other British artists gladly willing to join in her battle to fight against illegal file sharing.

After receiving quite a bit of flack from vocal blog readers and twitter-ers, the abuse became too much for Allen who stated “Just so you know, I have not renegotiated my record contract and have no plans to make another record….I do however remain a fan of new music, so this is not some selfish crusade….The days of me making money from recording music has been and gone as far as I’m concerned, so I don’t (at this point) stand to profit from legislation. Except future purchases of previously recorded material.”

Is this to be the end of Lily Allen as a musical artist? As of now it’s anyone’s guess. Allen states she is not planning to renew her contract or record another album. However, Allen’s publicist and record label EMI states she is not retiring, just promoting her latest album release “It’s Not Me, It’s You.”

Regardless of the outcome, this virtual soap opera is enough a reason to make some popcorn and watch the action unfold.

http://www.myspace.com/lilymusic
www.twitter.com/lilyroseallen
http://twitter.com/upstartblogger
http://www.upstartblogger.com

_Friendly Fires Remix “Fences” by Phoenix

The art of remixing is a bit like that of a tightrope walker.  It’s not easy to balance new creative integrity with the integrity of what makes a great song so wonderful.  And with any remix, there are bound to be opinions that fall on either side of the line, leaving little to the middle or indifference.

In listening to the Friendly Fires remixed of “Fences” by 2009’s ‘it’ French pop band Phoenix, those opinions can literally fall anywhere. The original version is a tight, lounged out tune with very distinct guitar and keyboard.  The Friendly Fires remix emphasizes keyboards and adds several loops that appear and disappear throughout the song.  There is much more chaos in the remix in comparison to the smoothed out original.

I’ll leave the opinion up to you on which way this song falls.

Phoenix – “Fences” (Friendly Fires Remix)Stream

_Neon Indian cover of “Mi Viejo” by Jose Piero and release Fall tour dates

I must admit after listening to Neon Indian’s cover of “Another Likely Story” by Au Revoir Simone, I’ve kind of become a mini super fan.  The original version was excellent and the remix was well, more excellent.

This time around Neon Indian plays an acoustic cover of “Mi Viejo” by Jose Piero. I must also admit that I have never heard of Jose Piero. And I don’t speak Spanish. But this cover taped at Barcadia in Dallas, Texas for Fader TV is exceptional.  Completely raw and slow in tempo, Alan Palomo sings from a bar stool tapping sleigh bells while the band harmonizes ‘ooo’s’ beside him.  Palomo shows off his musical versatility and even represents his home country of Mexico in a mere five minutes.

“Terminally Chill” is a spacey multi-instrument, multi-media tune off of Neon Indian’s forthcoming album ‘Psychic Chasms.’ Dreamy and psychedelic in sound, this song is easy to kick off one’s shoes, lay back and stare out into Palomo’s light electronic wonderment. Understanding the lyrics could be the only problem. (more…)

_Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn Debut ‘Relator’

Since her 2008 album release “Any Where I Lay My Head,” a compilation of Tom Waits covers and one original song, Scarlett Johansson has received mixed reviews from the indie world. Easily criticized as an actress turned musician, Johansson has chosen to ignore her critics and recently followed up “Any Where I Lay My Head” with 2009′s “Break Up.” with Pete Yorn.

Although “Break Up” has received some mixed reviews, I can’t help but admit that I liked her Wait’s cover of Falling Down, off of “Any Where I Lay My Head,” and I like Yorn and Johansson’s latest single, Relator off of “Break Up.” It’s a fun, catchy tune with a great guitar riff, and their voices blend well together.

Yorn and Johansson debuted Relator on the French television show Le Grande Journal last week.  While Johansson looks slightly anxious through her first live performance, she pulls it off and the duo sound great. The harmonizing is spot on and the energy is up.  All around, it’s a great live debut for Relator, and if she keeps performances like this up, the tables just might turn in Johansson’s favor, hushing her critics.

_Au Revoir Simone – Another Likely Story (Neon Indian Remix)

Neon Indian has done it again.  The new brainchild and potentially new ‘it’ band of 2009 (consisting of veteran producer/songwriter Alan Palomo of Vega), has remixed Au Revoir Simone’s “Another Likely Story” possibly turning it into a more wonderful song than it’s original.

The original version of “Another Likely Story” is truly a stellar, airy, pop song. Those chicks sure know what they’re doing.  And likewise, Neon Indian knows how to only enhance the great characteristics encompassing the original track. Neon Indian pulled the band’s trademark vocal sound and flair for keyboards and created a lounge friendly remix. Only improved, Neon Indian threw in heavy bass beats, more overdubbed keyboard and flute, adding a bit more tempo, a dash of glitz and some drama. Both are great. I can’t decide which I like more!

Neon Indian’s debut album Psychic Chasms is due out October 13^th.  This album should be a winner.

Au Revoir Simone – “Another Likely Story” (Neon Indian Remix)Stream