Riceboy Sleeps - S/T- Album Due Out July 20, 2009

Riceboy Sleeps contributed the song "Happiness" to the ever so popular Dark Was the Night charity compilation. But exactly who is Riceboy Sleeps? Well, glad that you asked (well if you have read this far don't you want to know anyways?). Riceboy Sleeps is the combination of Sigur Ros' singer Jon Thor (jónsi) Birgisson and his partner Alex Somers. The two pair up to create breathtaking ambient music that hints of Sigur Rós' Takk if that album was mostly an instrumental affair. This is great as in my opinion Takk is one of the more under appreciated Sigur Rós albums that carried a gambit of emotions from joyfulness to despair. What I have heard of the album so far sounds great but I haven't given it enough time to truly absorb the music much less give a definitive opinion. However, you can make your own opinion when Riceboy Sleeps is released July 20, 2009 on Parlophone Records. If you enjoy Sigur Rós or good music I definitely recommend keeping this one on the radar. (Song links are to the videos found on the Riceboy Sleeps website).

Track List:

• happiness
• atlas song
• indian summer
• stokkseyri
• boy 1904
• all the big trees
• daníell in the sea
• howl
• sleeping giant

Happy Mother's Day from Emusic

In honor of Mother's Day 2009 Emusic is running a cool little write up in which they ask the mothers of famous indie bands which is their favorite song of their offspring's making. Here are a few of interest:

Teresa Perrin, mother of Spencer Krug (Sunset Rubdown)

My favourite song has, since I first heard it, been "Us Ones In Between." As to" why": 1) The piano that reminds me of all the hours spent hearing Spencer play when he was a teenager. 2)The images that the lyrics clearly define. 3) The quiet intensity that is indicative of Spencer's openness to others views and voices. "The Mending of the Gown" comes a very close second and for entirely different reasons.

Sunset Rubdown - "Us Ones In Between"

Narelle Scott, Mother of Mitchell Scott (Cut Copy)

I love this album so much that it is very difficult to single out just one song. The way the music flows from one track to the next makes it seem like one continuous musical journey anyway, with exciting sound bursts round every bend. I find myself moved by the emotional quality of Dan's voice in "Feel the Love" and "Far Away." The discordant phrases which lead into the beautiful harmonies in "So Haunted" make it such a strong tune for me. However, if I have to choose just one track, then it must be "Lights and Music." This is the one that makes me dance and snap my fingers, sing at the top of my voice and join in the "woo-ooo-oo"s like the best back-up singer ever. I wonder if they have a vacancy… Mitchell?

Cut Copy - "Lights and Music"

Debbie Chabot, mother of Randy Chabot (Deastro)

I am Randy Chabot's mom, Debbie. Thanks for the opportunity to respond to your Mother's Day question. I would have to say that my favorite song at the moment — and the reason I say "at the moment" is because at any moment there could be a new favorite, as Randy is always working on a new song — is "Light Powered". The reason I like this song is because there are no words — but for me, there are. They can be any words I decide to sing, and the music always makes me happy. It doesn't matter what I'm doing, whether cleaning a bathroom used by five men, cooking dinner, or my least favorite, ironing, I have so much more fun doing those things and I get them done faster it seems when I'm listening to that song. It also makes me want to dance. I'm not sure that's a good thing for everyone, but I enjoy doing it in the privacy of my own home, especially when no one is around. It also makes me marvel at the talent my son has, how proud I am of him, and how far he's come from playing "La Bamba" on his "tee-tar"( guitar). I love you, Randy, it's a privilege to be called your mom. Keep singing with all your might!

Deastro - "Light Powered"

Shari Devendorf, Mother of Scott and Bryan Devendorf (The National)

Wow, it's hard to pick just one song. Some of my favorites are "90 Mile Water Wall" and "Thirsty" (Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers), "Daughters of the Soho Riots" (Alligator),"Son" (The National), "About Today" (Cherry Tree) and "Squalor Victoria" and "Gospel" (Boxer). I love the unique sound each song has, and how the band pounds it out on one and soothes your soul with another. I love the passion that each member of the band has about their music and the friends they have made on this amazing journey. I am so proud of both of my sons. Thanks guys! Keep on drummin' and strummin.'

The National - "Gospel"

Judy Gurgiolo, mother of Lauren Gurgiolo (Okkervil River)

I really appreciate this opportunity to talk about Okkervil River, because I am a huge fan of the band, and of my daughter Lauren! Since they will be on tour in Australia over Mother's Day, this connects me to her in a special way. Okkervil speaks to me on many different levels — musically, lyrically, emotionally, and in a proud and happy way. I love all of their songs, beautifully written by Will Sheff, and my favorite changes from time to time. Right now, "For Real," a really un-motherly song, is in my head. The guitar riffs rock, the words are compelling, and the orchestration is brilliant. Thank you bloggers and You Tubers for posting comments, pictures and videos of the band while on tour — it's so fun!!!!

Okkervill River - "For Real"

Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer - on Jagjaguwar - 23.06.09

Trying to hide my obsession with Sunset Rubdown is frivolous and this preview of SR's album version of "Paper Lace" is too freaking cool not to post. I bought my tickets to see Sunset Rubdown In Austin, TX on June 20, 2009. I CANNOT WAIT!!!

Journey - "Seperate Ways"

This is an old post but I forgot how funny this is:

My friend Michael and I were discussing the sheer genius behind ESPN Page 2 writer Bill Simmons' take on Journey's "Seperate Ways" video:

• "29. Journey - Seperate Ways: A recipe for bliss: Take one of the cheesiest-yet-enjoyable bands of that era (Journey), bring them to an empty shipyard, have them play invisible instruments and lip-synch the hell out of their best song, throw in some ridiculous slow-motion closeups and multi-picture edits, and have a hot girl with a bad haircut walking around for no reason whatsoever. And if that's not enough, lead singer Steve Perry gives one of the greatest performances of the last 35 years -- he throws himself into this thing like DeNiro or Pacino. It's incredible. Everything about this slays me. If somebody gave me five minutes to sum up the '80s, I would just show them this video and be done with it."
  

You Tube disabled the embedding function so you can find the video here and Bill Simmons' entire article can be found here.

Album Quick Hits (The Antlers, Swan Lake and Handsome Furs)

I have to admit that my blogging has been a bit lazy of late but that does not mean that my appetite for new music has been subdued. Currently here are some quality releases that I would whole heartedly recommend in this almost 5 months into 2009. EDIT: Mp3's are up now.

The Antlers - Hospice

The Antlers are new to me but this album is so hauntingly beautiful and bitter sweet that I just cannot get enough of it. My initial impressions of the album were that it had quality tracks in "Kettering", "Two" and "Bear" but that as an album on the whole it was lacking. However, these initial impressions were quelled this weekend when I gave the entire album a more careful listen and could not have been more wrong as it is beautiful in its entirety. The honesty and emotion conveyed in Hospice can only be described as 'real' (sorry but I'm not going to the thesaurus here). At the present, Hospice is my front runner for album of the year but I beat Mr. Krug has something to say about that this summer. -(9/10)

The Antlers - "Kettering"
The Antlers - "Two"

Swan Lake - Enemy Mine

Speaking of Mr. Krug, he has teamed up with indie greats Dan Bejar and Carey Mercer for another installment of Swan Lake or as I will refer to them as the Band That Doesn't Tour (imagne this with announcer voice, tons of reverb and echoes). In all seriousness though I was not expecting much out of this album as I had never embraced Swan Lake's Beast Moans. Don't get me wrong as I believe Beast Moans had moments of brilliance but for the most part I could not get into Mercer's offerings. Well Mr. Mercer slapped me in the face with awesomeness in Enemy Mine as "Spanish Gold 2044" and "Warlock Psychologist" have blown me away. I still need to give Beast Moans a few more spins as maybe a fresh perspective will change my mind. In other news, Spencer Krug is brilliant here too... -(8.5/10)

Swan Lake - "Spanish Gold 2044"
Swan Lake - "Paper Lace"

Handsome Furs - Face Control

A familiar band around The Ego Handsome Furs were honored with having one of My Favorite Albums of 2007 and their latest offering Face Control does not change up their winning formula much from Plague Park. There are awesome songs such as "All We Want Baby is Everything", "Thy Will Be Done" and "Radio Kaliningrad" but on the whole the album just doesn't grab me like Plague Park did. Maybe some more time with the album will change my opinion but after such great offerings by Dan Boeckner in Wolf Parade's At Mount Zoomer I felt kind of disappointed with Face Control's inability to carry that momentum. I really think that Boeckner's music would be better served with a real drummer and not a drum machine... -(7/10)

Handsome Furs - "All We Want Baby Is Everything"
Handsome Furs - "Radio Kaliningrad"

Sunset Rubdown - "Idiot Heart" (Dragonslayer Version)

When I have trouble sleeping there is often frustration coupled with despair, but things have taken a great turn this sleepless morning. I was visiting one of my favorite music/whatever Bill is into blogs Vague Space and low and behold Bill has posted an album version of Sunset Rubdown's "Idiot Heart". Most Sunset Rubdown fans are familiar with the Daytrotter version of the song and while this album version carries many similarities it has a new personality out of Sunset Rubdown for the studio effort. Waking up at 4am when you were planning on sleeping until 7am sucks but it must be the hands of the indie gods that guided me to the awesomeness that is "Idiot Heart". Enjoy!

Sunset Rubdown - "Idiot Heart"

Billy Bob Thornton is a Prima Donna Douche

I saw ZZ Top and Billy Bob Thornton's band The Boxmasters at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth, Texas. I left the concert blown away by Billy Gibbons and company but was whether underwhelmed by the Boxmasters. Well, Billy Bob Thorton must not have had his morning cup of joe and decided to take out his frustrations on the interviewer. I think the interviewer did a great job in handling the brat and Billy Bob's pompous attitude makes me never want to support the jerk off again... DOUCHE!

NOTE: The video starts to pick up around the 7 minute mark.

Friday Night Lights - Renewed Two More Seasons

Directv and NBC have paired up to renew the series Friday Night Lights (FNL) for two more seasons. FNL is the best show on television that nobody talks about and arguably the best show on television period. No show in recent memory combines action, drama, music and characters that you actually care about into such a great package.

The feature film for Friday Night Lights used the works of Austin's Explosions in the Sky (EITS) to power the drama infused football season of Odessa Permian's 1988 bid for a state title. The first time I saw the movie I was familiar with EITS but I never thought that their music could be used in a commercial context. Boy was I wrong as EITS' music is the perfect soundtrack to a football drama as the instrumental rhythm driven music of EITS not only drives the action but highlights the raw emotions of love and loss whether it be on the field or in the players lives.

The producers of FNL the television show took this EITS formula and ran with it using the works of EITS and other current indie artists to set the mood which is so crucial in a drama based show. Any given episode you will hear your favorite indie artists from Explosion in the Sky, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, TV on the Radio, to the The War on Drugs among many others and there is even a great song list tracking the use of music on the show's forums found here.

The first two seasons of the show are good in their own right but I really think the writers have hit their stride in this current 3rd season. The 3rd season has already aired in its entirety on Directv but it is also currently airing Fridays on NBC at 9 pm eastern. DO NOT think this show is primarily about football as you will be truly mistaken. The show gains its viewer's respect through its addressing of social issues and the best character development on television right now. Congratulations to everyone involved with this great show as they truly deserve any acclaim that they get!

Sunset Rubdown's New Album: Dragonslayer

Jagjaguwar has announced the release of Sunset Rubdown's latest album to be titled Dragonslayer which is set to be released June 23... FREAKING AWESOME!!! I am already loving the cover art! Read more here.

The track listing is as follows:

1. Silver Moons
2. idiot Heart
3. Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!
4. Black Swan
5. Paper Lace
6. You Go on Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)
7. Nightingale / December Song
8. Dragon's Lair

SIGUR ROS - VIÐ SPILUM ENDALAUST (La Blogotheque)

Sigur Ros - Við spilum endalaust - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.