ATOMS FOR PEACE MURAL PREDICTS "HOLLYWOOD DOOM" PRIOR TO "AMOK"

The post-apocalyptic mural, "Hollywood Doom", is a spin-off of the album art from the forthcoming Atoms For Peace debut, AMOK. Currently veiling the exterior of the XL Records building, the mural turned animated GIF is a collaboration between Stanley Donwood and INSA. 

In his bold graphic style, Donwood depicts Los Angeles flooded and burning, with fireballs raining down from the sky. His argument being, that Armageddon's already here - we've squandered planet Earth, exploited each other to make a buck, and polluted our drinking water in the process. 

At first glance, I enjoyed the novelty of animating a mural and the cool, graphic design. But as nihilistic as Donwood's evaluation of our current state of affairs is, it's easy to appreciate the truth in his words. It wasn't until I looked at the piece with that frame of mind that I found it disturbing. Looking at the city I live in being simultaneously torched and swallowed by the ocean was uncomfortable, because perhaps it's not far off.

AMOK is set for release Feb. 26, 2013 and represents the official debut from the Thom Yorke / Flea supergroup, despite having formed to tour Yorke's solo album, The Eraser. At that time the band didn't have a name, so their early shows were billed Thom Yorke ?????? or just ??????

If you're a fan of Radiohead's sound, you should like that Atoms For Peace feels more or less the same, but with a relentless rhythm section including Flea on bass. 

In other words, they're epic as fuck. 

This track, "Cymbal Rush", is from the last album but it should give you an idea how hard they crush it.

Clearly, these guys live up to their supergroup status.

For longer listening, check out the below mix Yorke contributed to Dazed Digital along with band-mate Nigel Godrich. It's a full 25 minute set featuring many what I like to call "Yorke on Yorke" remixes. 

MIX TRACKLIST: 

• Cycles MK 3 - Thom Yorke
• You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry (unfinished mix) - Atoms For Peace
• Mali: Kono, the Sacred Bird - Mali Musicians
• Proud Evolution (Thom York 500quid rmx) - Liars
• I Don't Need An Excuse (unfinished) - Thom Yorke
• Bloom (treatments) - Radiohead
• Morning Shiver Down The Back Wood River - Anstam
• Give Up The Ghost (Thom Yorke rmx) - Radiohead
• The Grind - Average Joe vs Unless - Atoms For Peace

TYCHO'S THE TOTAL PACKAGE

Last weekend Tycho played a pair of back-to-back shows at The Troubadour in West Hollywood.

And just so you don't make the same mistake I did, let me clarify -- though both are from San Francisco and both start with "Ty", Tycho and Ty Segall put on two very different shows. 

Yes, admittedly, I thought I was going to see a garage punk band, but ended up with possibly the furthest thing from that: Tycho's subdued mix of ambient tunes. 

What can I say? There's a lot of music out there that I'm ever-exploring and my wires got crossed.

No harm, no foul though. 

While it was far less aggressive than the punk rock attitude I was expecting, Tycho made up for it in their extremely polished performance and chilled out vibes. 

Scott Hansen, a.k.a. Tycho, is also well-known for his graphic design work. His blog, ISO50, was featured on Paste's Best Design Blogs of the 2012 list. For Tycho that means developing dreamy visuals of rolling surf and sand dunes, and projecting them on stage. A perfect pairing with the spacious, instrumental music: the two become natural companions, so that one informs the other.

The unexpected star of the night was Rory O'Connor, the drummer, who's super dynamic and tight rhythms elevated the entire outfit. And it turns out Tycho isn't the only group benefiting from his mad skills either - he also plays drums in Com Truise.

IS "NOT FADE AWAY" THE NEW "ALMOST FAMOUS"?

Ahhh, le sigh.

To answer my own question, no. It is not. This is not a movie full of glory and fame. These guys don't make it big, but just a quick look at the movie poster and I'm sold. 

Care to spend a few hours in a dream of rock n' roll romanticism? All day, er' day.

But the fact that this was made by one of the most celebrated TV writers of our time, David Chase (Sopranos), makes it that much better. Plus, according to a Rolling Stone, this project was specifically about the music, from the start. Said Chase, "Rock and roll is at the heart of the movie because for some of the characters, rock music is the gateway to transcendence..."

Hell yes - give it to me!

On a related note, if you want a behind the scenes look at the folks responsible for the song selections, "The Music Of The Sopranos" is totally worth checking out.

TOP 25 SONGS OF 2012

First of all, how dope is this cover art from Divine Fits?

Raw youth.

They were my number one of the year for a reason...

Anyway, back to the point -- a couple days ago I published my Top 10 Albums of 2012. It was a fun, but at a certain point it's hard to choose one band over another, especially when they're a favorite of yours. Plus, a list of 10 albums doesn't exactly cover everything from the year in music. 

So to pick up where that left off - and to really showcase some of my favorite particular songs - I've come up with this list for the Top 25 Songs of 2012.

TOP 10 ALBUMS 2012

DIVINE FITS, A THING CALLED DIVINE FITS

Slick, straight forward rock n' roll with a vaguely new wave vibe. This collaboration between Britt Daniel (Spoon) and Dan Boeckner (Handsome Furs) is too cool for school. Case in point, when delivering the lyrics, "She could really get me going" they can't be bothered to say "going". No, they're so cool they say "gone".

But what really sealed the deal was seeing an absolutely magnetic live performance. These fellas live and die by rock n' roll, that much is evident.




GARY CLARK JR., BLAK & BLUE

Heavy blues balanced with soulful R&B. He is my new Dan Auerbach. Somehow between the dirty blues riffs and the smooth vocals I get a vibe reminiscent for me of The Black Keys, Brothers.

I was smitten by the handful of gnarly guitar tracks that anchor the album. But the songs interspersed between them hit all the right notes, creating an incredibly well-rounded experience.




SANTIGOLD, MASTER OF MY MAKE BELIEVE

The sheer volume of great tracks makes Santigold's sophomore album one of my best of the year. She's right at home making melodic, high-energy dance tracks with tons of attitude (check out "Look At These Hoes"). Plus, it's got one of my personal favorite songs of the year, "Fame", a slow-jam of epic proportions.



EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROES, HERE

Again competing for best all around. With so many great tracks its hard to deny how complete this album feels, from start to finish. But right off the bat, three songs stand out amongst the rest, "That's What's Up", "Dear Believer", and "Fiya Wata".





FIONA APPLE, THE IDLER WHEEL

Can't say it any better than NPR DJ, Anne Power, who described this album as, "raw as a bite of garlic, sweet as honey dripped on flesh...". 

I hung onto every word of Apple's nuanced delivery on the first track, "Every Single Night" and the deal was done hearing her guttural plea mid-way through the second track, "Daredevil".  A musically sparse album, it comes across almost as spoken word.

JAPANDROIDS, CELEBRATION ROCK

First of all, Celebration Rock? Yes, please. Second, and I know this is a polarizing reference, but these guys almost sound like Blink 182 grew up. It's a more mature take on adolescent punk rock. If you're in need of a personal anthem (and who isn't), then "The House That Heaven Built" is a must-hear.





HOT CHIP, IN OUR HEADS

Striking a balance between meticulous and unrestrained, slightly absurd, yet totally serious. These guys do it right. Often dance-able and unpredictable, you can get lost in these tracks, which makes for a good time.




FIRST AID KIT, THE LION'S ROAR

Young folk duo, these sisters out of Sweden offer easy listening, nostalgic of simpler times. I've always got room for more of this in my repertoire.




DEADMAU5, >ALBUM TITLE GOES HERE<

Two words: "Fn Pig". Hands down one of the catchiest dance tracks of the year.




CODY CHESNUTT, LANDING ON A HUNDRED

In his own words: rock n' roll, gospel, soul, the truth. This is a beautifully modern record if you're seeking any of those classic intangibles.

HARD: DAY OF THE DEAD

The Saturday after Halloween, SoCal club kids flocked to Los Angeles State Historic Park to throw down at HARD Haunted Mansion Presents: Day of the Dead. A one night event host to 28 electronic dance music acts, across four stages. One thing’s for sure, the kids weren’t burnt out on Halloween parties. They came prepared to go hard (pun intended). 

You know that sinking feeling you were told it was a costume party, but when you get there you’re the only one dressed up?  

You don’t have to worry about that at HARD. These kids wore a standard uniform of thong underwear, bra tops, furry boots, fishnets, and tutus. Day of the Dead face paint was probably the only addition to “normal” festival attire. Whether they knew it or not, with nearly everyone dressed the same, the party people were upholding the Unity pillar of the rave credo, Peace Love Unity Respect (PLUR).

The entry gates were packed throughout most of the night, with long lines at the ID check point. Looking back, this makes sense because the audience was mostly 25 and under. But if you're a music fan on the up and up, you got there early for one of the first - and most hyped - sets of the night. UZ, like the gun, went on right at 6:00 PM. Having just hit SoundCloud this year, UZ's a newcomer to the burgeoning EDM scene with his own genre, trap muzick, and an EP by Diplo's Mad Decent imprint, Jeffrees.

Speaking of Diplo - he's everywhere! Not only were multiple artists from his label on the bill, but he performed two headlining sets that night: one as Diplo, the other as part of Jamaican dancehall duo, Major Lazer. 

Stage-hopping at HARD, one thing became clear. This is a community that understands the value of a good remix. Justice essentially created a two hour mash-up of their entire catalogue, with some tracks flowing in and out over the course of the set. It makes sense though considering these artists are really producers, not mere “DJs”, as some folks like to argue.

All in all, if you’re going to go to HARD be prepared for some seriously harsh tunes because this brand of music can be very aggressive. Not unlike death metal. The kids didn’t seem to notice though and I can’t blame them, sometimes the harder, the better.

SUMMER'S OVER PLAYLIST

Fact: This playlist is based off the actual albums I brought with me on a camping trip over the summer.  

Sound: Because it was a down-to-earth, outdoorsy trip - I packed a lot from the folk, singer-songwriter genre. Of course, nightfall comes, and when it does the stars come out and there may be an opportunity to dance.  
Motto: Always leave room for fun.  

Epic Adventure: Paddle boating around the bay at 4:00 am, a la Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary.



Track List: 1. Girls, "Alex" 2. Fiona Apple, "Anything We Want" 3. J Mascis, "Is It Done" 4. Whiskeytown, "The Ballad of Carol Lynn" 5. Fleet Foxes, "Someone You'd Admire" 6. First Aid Kit, "This Old Routine" 7. My Morning Jacket, "I'm Amazed" 8. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, "Fiya Wata" 9. Band of Horses, "Evening Kitchen" 10. Girls, "Forgiveness" 11. Whiskeytown, "Jacksonville Skyline" 12. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, "Dear Believer" 13. Fleet Foxes, "The Shrine" 14. Girls, "Vomit" 15. Fiona Apple, "Hot Knife" 16. M83, "Splendor" 17. First Aid Kit, "King Of The World" 18. My Morning Jacket, "Smookin' From Shootin'" 19. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, "That's What's Up" 20. Washed Out, "Before" 21. M83, "Intro" 22. Santigold, "The Keepers" 23. My Morning Jacket, "Highly Suspicious" 24. Justice, "Audio, Video, Disco" 25. Santigold, "Freak Like Me" 26. M83, "Raconte-Moi Une Histoire" 27. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, "Mayla" 

 

EDWARD SHARPE: THE GOSPEL, THE MESSIAH, AND THE SAVED

Forget how "zany" they come off. Nevermind that the general public thinks their in a cult. Don't worry about the fact that their name has like six words in it. 

You can't let any of that get in the way, because the sophomore release from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes is not to be overlooked.

Steadfast in their vision, the album, Here, comes fully realized: no weak spots just earthy nostalgia and a guiding principle to shine a light. What's not to love about a little warm and fuzzy positivity? Let's put it this way: if their music is the gospel and Edward is the messiah, then Jade's the one being saved (and so are you).

Drawing on the dynamic between man and woman, often going back and forth each verse, there's a sing-song quality to many of these tracks. My advice: turn it up and sing along! But where Jade may have taken a back seat on Up From Below, this time around she's the star. Fast forward to track eight, "Fiya Wata". It's for real on another level. Talk about 1970s power ballad! This song is epic in a Grateful Dead circa Winterland kinda way.

THE SHINS LIVE AT GIBSON AMPHITEATRE LOS ANGELES

The Shins quirky, intellectual brand of pop is infectious. Mercer's melodies are nothing if not catchy, and the music's got a mostly uplifting tone with a sharp kick. No doubt, that voice is some kind of perfect. So it was to many fans delight that their set Tuesday night was chock-full of crowd-pleasers in what felt like rapid fire. The haste was slightly off-putting, but I was left with an appreciation for how many fantastic songs The Shins have written over the years.

Regardless, The Shins have consistently bright, palatable, and neatly packaged songs mostly registering under the 4 minute-mark. So it's with some irony that the pinnacle of the set was also the heaviest song of the night. The title track off their new album, Port of Morrow, really resonated because unlike the other songs performed that evening they jammed on it a bit, played with some distortion, and eased into a so-quiet-you-could-hear-a-pin-drop version of "New Slang". 

It was a truly beautiful moment that made it all worthwhile. And I thought: Is there a responsibility that comes with writing a song like that? I felt there was, but am not sure how else to explain it.

Check out the playlist of their set from that night, if you're a fan you'll enjoy that it's stocked with several favorites.

DREAM & DRIVE

"The word 'dream'—it’s important in music. It’s what keeps you doing it." ~ Hince 

 

"We got over excited by everything back then. Everything. Every night we’d let our heads fly way up into the clouds, dreaming we were super human and that our little band could go anywhere we wanted it to." ~ Hince

Rock n' roll plus photography - what's the downside? A new book, Dream & Drive, tells the story of The Kills last 10 years on the road, as seen seen through the familiar lens of a great friend, Kenneth Cappello.  History in the making, if you will.

As the title suggests, in looking back it became clear there were two factors at work. One, an honest dedication to a less-than-fabulous life on the road, and two, that forging ahead was made easier with their heads lost in the clouds. Let's face it, it takes a lot of stamina and gull to play dives and couch surf for the better part of a decade. Now, Hince seems acutely aware that perhaps the only thing more important than drive was their ability to dream - shut themselves off from the real world and focus on making magic with music.

Side note: I love the meaning the word "dream" takes on in the title of the book. It feels less like 'The Dream' and more like a place one goes, like meditation. In honor of that notion, check out The Kills cover of the classic Fleetwood Mac song.

 

"You remember the reality of some of these shows and then you see the pictures and realize we were playing to about 25 people. Yet somehow this magic would come, this faith that we were going to really do something." ~ Hince

DESAPARECIDOS MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT

Desaparecidos spread their political agenda (in a good way) between songs at FYF fest a few weeks ago. Indeed, their sharp tongue was one of the highlights of the set, and really enhanced the live performance. 

That Conor Oberst sure is an articulate s.o.b. One of the best parts for me, was when he tied the recent shootings, most notably at the opening of Batman, to a culture of fear and the upcoming presidential election.

BLACK METAL

Just in case it's not clear yet, I want to reiterate, these guys rocked so hard it gave new meaning to their song "Holdin' On To Black Metal". Seriously, my neck hurt for two days and I can't rule out head-banging as the cause.

The night was full of so many great "wins", but one particularly fun fact is that the fans are able to curate the set lists by tweeting in requests on the day of the show. They're calling it the Spontaneous Curation Series and there's only one rule: no repeats on consecutive nights.

Since it was a three-night stint at the Wiltern and I was going to the last night, I kept my eye on the set lists as they surfaced each day. After a moment of silence for all my favorites that had already been played, I put in my request. They played almost all of them and I was elated. OK, so maybe ape-shit is more accurate... 

To top it all off, they sent me a personalized thank you note the next day - rad!

MY REQUESTS:

 

  

DONDANTE = EPIC

My Morning Jacket's live shows are a hard rock tour de force. Taken apart from their work divining classics in the studio, live they have a raw energy that is palpable: each song building and building, until the audience cries out with delight. It's a two-plus hour, roller coaster-like thrill ride, complete with spontaneous shrieks, as they ticker up and down (and around and round) the rhythmic hills of their impressive sound-scape. 

With bull-dogged determination, My Morning Jacket relentlessly seek to exceed every expectation. No song is complete without reaching new heights: whereby the listener receives a fresh dose of joy and rapture. Rapture being the key word.

No doubt, the centerpiece of Thursday night's set was a gnarly version of "Dondante" rumored to have hit the 20 minute mark. Wrought with tension, this track has a major pay off in the form of mind-bending vocals and splintering guitar solos; and once there's been adequate destruction, Carl Broemel comes in with a gorgeous sax track to smooth it all out. 

Bravo!

Shortly after reaching cloud nine, via the chaos and ecstasy that is "Dondante", My Morning Jacket continued to surprise and delight by pulling out a cover of the Velvet Underground's "Oh Sweet Nuthin'". 

M83 "COULEURS" LIVE

Taken from Saturdays = Youth, "Couleurs" is a force to be reckoned with, for sure. But nothing beats the live version they played to close their set at FYF fest last Sunday (not to be confused with other live versions floating around). 

This clip from their show at Club Nokia earlier this year is spot-on, down to the triumphant call to the crowd, "Los Angeles!" at the end. Yes, it really was that rad. Let's just say I came to question the meaning of their name: how they may or may not represent my generation (m) and the year I was born (83).

Be sure to listen through to the 2:30-mark when the guitar comes in and really shakes things up! And if you're not sold at that point (it may be hopeless), but certainly stick around for the blazing sax track (4:45). 

The rhythm of this track is on another level. Best. Thing. Ever. 

Let's dance!

 

BEN HARPER IN DEL MAR

Escaped the hubbub of LA and headed down to Del Mar to see Ben Harper. It was a breath of fresh air to see a concert outside the city: much less of a to-do. Everything was so easy and there was a mellow, beachy vibe. Speaking of the crowd, a word of advice: disregard the one girl rolling on ecstasy. What is this a bad Heather Graham movie?

The set was patient too, beginning with extended versions of "Faded" and "Lay There and Hate Me." We're talking epic departures, where you forget what song they're even playing kinda thing.

SICK!

Check out a few of the stunners below: the first is exemplary of his grace; the second one killed - major pinnacle within the set; and the third buckled my knees - what a jam!

LITTLE DRAGON'S "PRECIOUS" LITTLE RAVE

We all know that one of the best parts of going to a live show is seeing what else the band can bring to the table. A familiar song can feel brand new. It's disappointing then, if you feel like the band's just playing the album: you've heard it all before.

So for the epic-experience-hungry crowd at Bonnaroo this year, Little Dragon delivered when they closed their set with this meandering, synth-heavy version of "Precious." It showed a totally different side of the band - a side that could throw a rave!

Who knew?!

While an extended cut of "Precious" seems to be a common closer for the band, the video below is the only one I've found that has this electro-dance vibe.

MY MORNING JACKET'S EVIL URGES: THEY GIGGLE AND YOU WILL TOO

Somewhere along the way, in a career of making music, My Morning Jacket decided to start breaking all the rules. Their willingness to flip genres from one song to the next, to switch tempo from one verse to the next - and generally take risks - makes for an absolutely thrilling listening experience.

Burly man, Jim James, isn’t afraid to hit the high notes and collectively you get the feeling that they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make it great: giggling in the vocals, men chanting lyrics, or a final screeching halt to end the album; it’s all there.

The first and title track, Evil Urges, sets the bar for the rest of the album. Essentially, you don’t know where they’re gonna take you, so get ready for a wild ride. One moment it’s thoroughly modern, the next it’s perfectly nostalgic. Take “Highly Suspicious” and “I’m Amazed”, for example. From super funky, to crystalline classic rock, there’s nothing better. Back-to-back these two songs pack a hefty one-two punch, overwhelming the senses with excitement.

But there’s more where that came from. With the release of Evil Urges, My Morning Jacket broadened people’s expectations of what they can deliver artistically. In a nutshell: be ready for anything.

I hear influences, like the melody of Fleetwood Mac ("Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt.2"), the hard rock of Pearl Jam ("Remnants"), the funk of Prince ("Evil Urges"), and the inventiveness of the Talking Heads (“Highly Suspicious”). 

What more could you ask for in an album? What more could you squeeze in?

WHEN GOOD MUSIC IS BAD BUSINESS

NPR recently ran a story, “Put Away The Bell Curve”, covering new research that challenges, however inadequately, the traditional understanding that in most activities, we expect performance to fit a the bell curve, whereby a few people are very good, a few people are very bad and most people are average.

In the end, the study suggests that the bell curve is not an accurate model of human performance; rather most of us actually perform below average, while a majority of the output comes from a couple superstars.

The study looked at over 633,000 people, and multiple segments including entertainers and musicians. Now, this is where my feathers start to get a little ruffled.

Where they lost me, was when they decided to measure this so-called “output” by counting Grammys, Billboard hits and Rolling Stone lists.

Huh?!

My qualm is two-fold. First, it’s very difficult to measure qualities of artistic merit, and you certainly won’t get anywhere by looking to these sort of commercial institutions. Second, in today’s global, Internet culture, just because you’re not one of the “superstars” doesn’t mean you’re not a major player in the music world.

The study’s failure to acknowledge the implications of these measurement tactics leads me to believe that they were comfortable with it, or perhaps that the beneficiaries would be. Because to most any music fan, the idea that Grammy awards are in any way exemplary of an artists’ performance is preposterous.

It’s a matter of integrity. Take Justin Vernon of Bon Iver’s uncomfortable acceptance speech for the Best New Artist Grammy earlier this year, for example. As he said to the New York Times, “98 percent of the people in that room, their art is compromised.”

So who are we awarding? And why are we modeling the development of the music industry around systems that fail to value artistic integrity?

As Seth Godin, author of “We Are All Weird”, put it, “The word normal … started in statistics and what it says is there is a distribution bell curve. Most people are in the center. And most people who make music…care about the middle of the market because there’s more people in the middle.”

It’s this mass market mindset that drives so many superstars’ careers – these hit factories that reach 10s of millions at a time with palatable pop music - and pacify audiences everywhere into thinking this is it, this is music.

But as the article suggests, the bell curve no longer applies. It’s deflated. However, for me what it fails to acknowledge is that we’re a smarter, more empowered audience now.

Again, to quote Godin, "For a 100 years the model was really simple, we make stuff you get to watch it, we cut records, you get to listen. Now, if we add up the hours spent watching YouTube, culture is created by the public and consumed by the public. And the professionals are running some sideshow over there."

So there’s hope.

The study claims that their selection of 'performance measures' was decided upon for their ability to affect important outcomes; but Grammy's awarded, albums sold, and even Rolling Stone (any more) are not indicators of good musical performance. They indicate good business.

One cannot truly measure the performance of artists by counting awards or sales. Case in point, NME just ran a story “50 Massively Depressing Facts About Music.” Here are a couple highlights:

• In the US, the cast of Glee has had more songs in the charts than the Beatles.
• Jack Johnson has sold more records (18 million) than The Strokes, Arcade Fire, MGMT and The Smiths combined.
• David Gray’s ‘White Ladder’ has sold 14 times as many copies of Ryan Adams’ ‘Gold’ album.

In weighing this idea, I began to wonder – what could we measure to adequately reflect artistic performance? The only things I could come up with were dancing, goose-bumps, or other symptoms of arousal.

JOHNNY DEPP PERFORMS WITH THE BLACK KEYS

You know you're big time when...

Get More: The Black Keys - Gold on the Ceiling featuring Johnny Depp (Live), Music, More Music Videos

By the way, pretty sure these guys are totally distracted by Johnny's beauty - and who wouldn't be?! Totally gorge.

And the way Johnny handles that axe?! He's so loose.

SANTIGOLD'S "FAME" SHINES ON MASTER OF MY MAKE BELIEVE

We gotta keeper! "Fame" off Santigold's new album is a major standout even amongst a clamoring of other vibrant tracks. This jam is one of those slow, grinding types that's got rhythm hidden in places you'd least expect it. Its chorus will have you contorting to keep up with the groove.

In other words - the best kind of dance track!

You hear a definite world music influence on the track's intro, with a bad girl, M.I.A. vibe, but once that slow jam of a chorus sets in - game over - this track exists in it's own glory.