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Friday, Jul 22 2016, 1AM
RIP Alan Vega. The one and only. Also the most stylish of men. God knows that band had a look. Also released a number of intense solo records. Born as Boruch Alan Bermowitz in 1938.
Sampling Suicide if you hadn't figured it out. M.I.A.'s Letterman performance of this track w/ Martin Rev & 15 M.I.A. doppelgangers still blows my mind: www.youtube.com.
New Merchandise sounding a lot like that one 4AD band you heard at a 80s themed party. But also like a great track-- their new singles are on point. Full length is out in September.
Sisters of Mercy's "bad pop hit," or like a great track. Who are we to believe? Too many opinions to be sure what's real in life. From the Floodland LP, which is still some good moody fun.
Did anyone finish reading Moz's biography? Felt like required reading in 2012 but I never got around to it. Still have time I guess. Off the Your Arsenal record. I like the cover art.
Some heavy animal metaphors on this one, you guys. Some stuff about Big Cats, animals, other misc. Here's the vid: www.youtube.com.
New vibe from Crocodiles on this latest single. Seems like he's followed his girlfriend Dee Dee (now Kristin Kontrol) to the 80s on it. Sounds cool.
A track described by AllMusic as running through The White Album in five minutes. Definitely some Beatles-y harmones on it. Still mad at Damon Albarn for being rude to Cheryl.
Album cover shot with a Polaroid SX-70 instant camera. Off the third album he called Peter Gabriel, because that's just what he did for a bit. Kate Bush is on a few tracks.
No Joy sounding a little more beefed up on this one. Less dreamy. Only three songs, as the band is planning a number of little releases for throughout the year.
A song I always forget is a joke until I'm like halfway through it, then I remember it's about the X Files. Off Tacocat's latest LP, which came out at the start of April.
Still not sure why they're called The Chameleons UK in the US (same with The Charlatans UK, the London Suede), but it's probably a lawsuit thing? This comes from their sophomore release.
Felt like such a big deal when it came out in 2014. Kevin Cole was so into it. Then everyone calmed down, but it still sounds good. Brings back that 2014 haze for sure.
Two Grimes links, because one is never enough-- first is the Atticus-approved video for "Realiti": www.youtube.com. Also, here's the Grimes-Narduwar interview, which is just Grimes being adorable: www.youtube.com.
Win Butler cover released in honor of the late Alan Vega. Actually like really good though. Win's doing his best Alan Vega croon. Sort of uncanny. One of those songs that it's pretty hard to screw up.
Probably one of my favorite Cars tracks? Like just so out of left field (obviously influenced by Suicide), but they totally pull it off. That entire Candy-O record gets a bad rep for no reason. Still mad at Ric Ocasek for the Will Toledo thing.
Debut single from Television, which came out in '75 on the mighty Ork Records. Decision to release this track over "O Mi Amore" as the band's first single almost led Richard Lloyd to leave the group. So much friction in those years.
"I honestly don't mind Bruce Springsteen"- every millennial when you really press them on it. Most of the goodwill's probably from this record. Howls on this track stolen from Alan Vega, if you will.
Also an eerily Suicide vibe on this new single from Thee Oh Sees. I hear it in the Mazzy Star organ line. Playing on November 25 in Seattle at Neumos, which is what this DJ Assistant is thankful for.
Me and my dad don't talk much anymore, which sometimes bums me out. Just a part of growing older. Now and then we go fishing and really re-connect, listen to some Steve Gunn, catch some trout, just talk about life.
This record is kind of a jam. Satisfies that German techno itch that's always lurking beneath my steely, chiseled, aerobic exterior. From their self-titled album which came out in June.
Just saw a photo that mixed Drake's face with James Blake's face, which is worth looking up. Pretty confusing actually. From James Blake's new record, which I still haven't listened to? Probably 'cuz I'm too busy listening to Kanye.
Sleigh Bells have been listening to some Johnny Jewel, which is a really good look on them actually. Synth pop Sleigh Bells. Better than the Dickens-quoting Sleigh Bells of Bitter Rivals.
From among the most rejuvenatory Cocteau Twins records, 1984's Treasure. Always feel so cleansed after I listen to it. Especially that last track... last track of Heaven or Las Vegas kills me too.
Oh, the untold hours I've spent thinking about Peter Murphy. Also I remain unsure if I'd take Love and Rockets over Bauhaus? So hard to decide that type of thing.
New project from Rachel of Slowdive, who's at long last making new music. Would also love to hear some new Slowdive tracks, but that's probably not happening at this point? Reunion's finally over.
Nothing Jason Pierce has ever recorded doesn't sound better at 4AM. Especially anything by him that lasts over six minutes. Miles Davis, too. And Erykah Badu. That's the trio right there.
I know it's a little cliche to compare listening to Spiritualized to taking drugs, but on some level it's just true? Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space continues to hold up.
A band forever to be slightly associated with Narduwar's interview with Perfect Pussy, and Meredith Graves is really into Big Eyes. That was a big moment for me. Also a really great live band.
I may not necessarily be a Pitchfork advocate, but their review of Xenia Rubinos's latest album is pretty on point: pitchfork.com.
So happy Anderson.Paak is becoming a full-fledged star. Such a talented guy. Malibu will (and should) certainly be near the top of many critics' end of year lists come December.
If you don't know who Sonic Youth are, but are listening to a Chelsea Light Moving or Body/Head record, you should just throw it away and grab Evol. Or a Free Kitten record. Or Washing Machine, if Kim's your fave.
Saying Lee Ranaldo is better than Kim Gordon is like saying Jeremiah Green is better than Isaac Brock. It's like saying No One's First And You're Next is better than Building Nothing out of Something.
One consistent artist-- Ms. Sharon Jones just doesn't release bad music. From a forthcoming record, Miss Sharon Jones!, to be released on Daptone next month. Here's her performance the KEXP New Home Grand Opening: www.youtube.com.
New Jenny Lewis project Nice As Fuck came out at the end of June. Sort of a looser vibe for Lewis, definitely less crafted than that last solo record. Gives it a more spontaneous feel f for sure.
Music from the great local band Wishbeard, off their 2013 EP It's All Gonna Break. A band that needs to get back together. Here's an Audioasis session they played: www.youtube.com.
Released on Sub Pop during the label's first middle period. In that phase when grunge was dying, but there was still some money there? Enough money to sign Six Finger Satellite anyways.
Probably the coolest phase of TV On The Radio's career? This EP is just so good. First LP too. Came out on Touch and Go records, which is a bit surprising. Pretty late for the label.
A track that manages to sound so dirty, despite having no lyrics. Of course, here's the music video, which is probably more racist than you remember? www.youtube.com
Alan Vega cover from MGMT. A band I will always associate with Urban Outfitters vinyl.
Such a pure love song from Suicide, on an album of anything but that. Once heard an interview with James Murphy where he said he would dance to this song at his wedding. Thought it was pretty romantic.
Recent signee to Sub Pop Records, who perhaps are in the midst of a new middle period? Not intended as an insult, there's just figuring some stuff out. At least they signed So Pitted.
The term "giving head" slipped past the UK censors, which is sort a victory for Lou in my opinion. Here's a video of Lou messing with Australian reporters: www.youtube.com.
Playing Block Party. Went through a phase when I was only physically able to listen to this record. Everything else just didn't work. The long-awaited physical edition of Teens of Denial sans-Cars cover came out a week ago or so.
If I could bathe in one record right now, it would be this one. Just to lie back in NAVVI's sound for a couple hours would be a pleasure. Here's the vid for "Close": www.youtube.com.
Who's your favorite member of Depeche Mode? My fave is touring member Christian Eigner, closely followed by touring member Peter Gordeno. Then followed by Vince Clark, of Erasure.
This track, man. Caribou's Our Love LP was even more of a breakthrough for Dan Snaith than the Sun LP-- it's great that guy is getting even more acknowledgment. An ever evolving producer and musician.
Feel like I've been to a party where this record was playing on a loop and everyone had Richard D. James's face, and then I woke up covered in Seattle rain. Read into that symbolism.
Greatest voice ever? Mark-y Mark Lanegan has to be up there. He played the Neptune Theater not too long ago, and reports were that it was quite good. Here's a video of him being kind and understated on KEXP: blog.kexp.org.
Such a grey album after the sort of bombastic Psychocandy, but also feels like the perfect come-down from that record in a way. Definitely doesn't get the credit it deserves in the J&MC canon.
Cool new music from Cat's Eyes, who also previously provided the soundtrack to the gorgeous Peter Broderick movie The Duke of Burgundy. A really upsetting video, which I'm posting out of obligation: www.youtube.com.
