Thursday, June 30, 2011

[ALBUM REVIEW] WU LYF - GO TELL FIRE TO THE MOUNTAIN


Let’s get things straight here. Wu Lyf stands for “World Unite Lucifer Youth Foundation”, and they really aren’t kidding. They describe their music as heavy pop, although I think it falls more into the realm of Bad Ass. With hooks that smack you upside the head when you aren’t looking and vocals that have more passion than an underage kid drunk and dancing at a MGMT concert, this record is not to be fucked with. The title track, LYF, starts out slow, but builds into a resounding anthem, with vocalist Ellery Roberts yelling “I love you forever!” as a somber organ, manic bass, and crushing drums paint the background. They make good use of the organ throughout the record, but it is never unaccompanied by melodic reverb filled guitar riffs that really give you the meat of the pop hooks on the record. The songs begin from beautiful, lo-fi passionate ballads to yelling in your goddamn face, but in a good way. Believe me, if there was a good way for someone to yell in your face, this would be it. The band is liberal with their breaks, allowing for intense buildups, with short, bass, guitar, and vocal breaks separating another buildup. Sounds pretty intense, I know, but this record is not for anyone with pacemakers or a hangover. However, beneath the layers of energy and passion lie some really catchy and inventive changes and harmonies. If you need the fuel to quit your job, break up with someone who’s been treating you badly, or if you just want to rock out, this is the album for you.

By Randy Nieto; June 30, 2011




WU LYF- HEAVY POP from LUCIFER YOUTH FOUNDATION on Vimeo.

Go Tell Fire To The Mountain available on VINYL HERE

SUCH A SCENE: DREAM A LITTLE DREAM






Eddie Vedder Live at Chicago Theater - Chicago, IL 06.30.2011

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

VIDEO: XENO & OAKLANDER - STAIRCASE


'The Staircase' Xeno & Oaklander from WIERD Records on Vimeo.

"Staircase," the new single from Brooklyn synth duo Xeno & Oaklander is off their forthcoming LP via Wierd Records, Set and Lights out later this year.

Monday, June 27, 2011

[RADIO] THE MINIMAL BEAT 06.25.2011

ARTIST / TRACK / ALBUM

Wilco / I Might / I Might (Single)
Tame Impala / Lucidity / Innerspeaker
Woods / Hand It Out / Sun & Shade
Best Coast / Summer Mood / Crazy For You
Edwin Van Cleef / Lizstomania (Jane Hanley) / Single
Ford & Lopatin / Channel Pressure / Channel Pressure
Jaime Lidell / Gypsy Love / Remix Pat Sansone
Keep Shelly In Athens / Hauntin Me / Hauntin Me (Single)
Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins / Rise Up With Fists!! / Rabbit Fur Coat
Peter Bjorn & John / Just The Past / Living Thing
Jose Gonzales / Heartbeats / Veneer
Liam Finn / Cold Feet / Single
Pearl Jam / Love Reign O'er Me / Fan Club Single
Mazes / When You Cut / Moon Duo
Wu Lyf / Spittin Blood / Go Tell Fire To The Mountain
John Maus / Head For The Country /
Eric Copeland / Krakendudel / Waco Taco Combo
Chrisma / Mandoia / Chinese Restaurant
Ego Puppets / Avatar Couture / Ego Puppets EP
The Dead Weather / I Can't Hear You / Sea Of Cowards
Turtle Giant / We Are The Sound / Live In Zaragoza
Dirty Beaches / Speedway King / Badlands
James Blake / The Wilhelm Scream / James Blake
Radiohead / Staircase / Live From The Basement
Toro Y Moi / Low Shoulder / Causers Of This
Twin Shadow / Phychic Chasms / Remix
Listen every Saturday on WLUW 88.7 - 2-4PM or Stream live at WLUW.ORG

[MIXTAPE] KEEP SHELLY IN ATHENS - 50:51

A perfect Summer Mixtape from Mysterious Grecian balearic outfit Keep Shelly In Athens. This perfectly put together mix flows from one track to another and is great while listening with the windows down if your driving around town or up if your chilling at home! Highly recommended for your summer days...

DWLD HERE

01. Jochen Hippel - Ambersta
02. Memoryhouse - Modern Normal
03. Two Bicycles - Alone At Sea
04. Gacha - Remember
05. Delorean - Grow (Taragana Pyjarama remix)
06. Surface to Air Missile - In Love With the Light (Blue Scholars x Keep Shelly in Athens)
07. Cali Swag District and Toro Y Moi - Teach Me How To Dougie
08. Ford & Lopatin - Channel Pressure
09. HIMAN - Novalaise
10. Glisk - Alabaster Handshake 
11. Best Coast  - When Im With You 
12. Night Manager - Pizza Pasta
13. Hotel Mexico - Dear Les Friends

In Love With Dusk available via Forest Family Records HERE

Sunday, June 26, 2011

[ALBUM REVIEW] JENNIFER HALL - IN THIS


I have met the lovechild of Neko Case and Norah Jones, and her name is Jennifer Hall. I recall a time when I was a younger, lonely man. Devastated by a recent breakup, I would spend an inordinate amount of time at a local lounge smoking cigarettes and drinking my troubles away. I realize now, years later, the only thing that was missing from this equation was Jennifer Hall and her band playing behind a thin veil of cigarette smoke in the corner. Her music and voice, equally soothing, caress the soft parts of your heart, and almost make you wish you had something to feel sad about. However, this is not a depressing album by any means. It’s more reflective. In the song "Green and Blue", a soft ballad with haunting piano, Jennifer wistfully sings “The world will still be green and blue/ after I sing a song for you/but hope the colors seem/ as beautiful as you are to me”. A blanket of violins weaves in and out through songs that are often punctuated between verses with short little bluesy guitar solos. It must be said though that the whole album isn’t as melancholy as I describe it. The song When we were good is a straight up rocker, with horns that accompany a strong chorus. Jennifer sings confidently, almost demanding, and she manages to still bring in harmonies that, combined with the pounding drums, send a chill down your spine. In This is a really good album, and I feel she could be a dark horse in the running that will create a rather large splash in the Chicago scene and beyond. Whatever the case may be, don’t let her be a sleeper. 


By Randy Nieto; June 26, 2011



PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE NOW HERE

Saturday, June 25, 2011

[LISTEN UP] WILCO - I MIGHT b/w I LOVE MY LABEL

Wilco who is playing at their Solid Sound Festival this weekend in Massachusetts just released a new single there first on new label dBpm Records called “I Might” with B-Side "I Love My Label". It’s available to purchase as a very limited clear vinyl 7″ single to those attending the festival and limited blue vinyl HERE.

Wilco - I Might

Wilco - I Love My Label

Friday, June 24, 2011

GREEN MUSIC FESTIVAL JUNE 25 & 26


The Green Music Fest is where thousands of hipsters and folks alike who care for the environment will unite to enjoy high quality music and discover new ways to go "green." There will be local retail, art and craft vendors, plus a green vendor village and a killer Music Line-Up! The fest is held in the Wicker Park Neighborhood of Chicago at Damen Ave. between North and Schiller.  Saturday, June 25, noon to 10pm and Sunday, June 26, noon to 10pm $5 donation.  


Green Music Fest 2011 from Green Music Fest on Vimeo.

Monday, June 20, 2011

[RADIO] THE MINIMAL BEAT 06.18.2011

ARTIST / TRACK / ALBUM
*Guest DJ's White Mystery

The Coasters / Searchin' / 45 Single
The Blankits / Johnny’s Tongue / 45 Single
The Exciters / Tell Him / 45 Single
Candy Apple Killings / Leather For Liquor / 45 Single
Gary Numan / Cars / 45 Single
The Outsiders / Time Won't Let Me / 45 Single
White Mystery / Ye Olde Stone / 45 Single
The Knaughty Knights / Gonna Get You / 45 Single
Tyvek / You Can Drive A Honda / 45 Single
The Hollies / Bustop / 45 Single
The Status Quo / Pictures Of Matchstick Men / 45 Single
Art Brut / Cleaver Cleaver Jazz / Brilliant Tragic
Man Man / Knuckle Down / Life Fantastic
Fugazi / Suggestion / Fugazi
Neil Young / Walk With Me / Le Noise
Disappears / Guider / Guider
The Ramones / Blitzkrieg Bob / The Ramones
C Average / Dr Laura / C Average
Jonny Rumble / BRZKR / JR
Miss Alex White And The Red Orchestra / Movies / Miss Alex White And The Red Orchestra
Dead Boys / Sonic Reducer / Young Loud And Snotty
Nirvana / Negative Creep / Hype Box Set
Wu Lyf / Dirt / Go Tell Fire To The Mountain
Soundgarden / Nothing To Say / Hype Box Set
Pixies / Monkey Gone To Heaven / Doolittle
JC Brooks And The Uptown Sound / I Am Trying To Break Your Heart / 7 Inch
The Black Keys / Howlin For You / Brothers
The May Fire / Right And Wrong / The List
Archie Bronson Outfit / Magnetic Warrior / Coconut
The Ravoenettes / The Last Dance / In and Out of Control
Lower Dens / Blue and Silver / Twin Hand Move Ment
The Fastbacks / K Street (live) / Hype Box Set
R.E.M / Bang and Blame / Monster

Listen every Saturday on WLUW 88.7 - 2-4PM or Stream live at WLUW.ORG

VIDEO: TEEN DAZE - SOMETHING



Promo Only! Non-profit un-official video.

Friday, June 17, 2011

NATIONAL JUKEBOX CURATES PLAYLIST FOR ALTERED ZONES


The Library of Congress launched the National Jukebox last month an online archive of more than 10,000 songs recorded before 1925. The library's curator of recorded sound Matthew Barton, put together a exotic compilation for one of my favorite blogs Altered Zones featuring genres ranging from country, blues to ethnic music imported from Romanian, Irish, and Jewish immigrants .

Read Barton's words on the playlist at the National Jukebox below HERE.

Stream the National Jukebox's Playlist for Altered Zones HERE

TWIN SHADOW PERFORMING TYRANT DESTROYED LIVE AT RAD STUDIO


Twin Shadow - "Tyrant Destroyed" from stereogum on Vimeo.

Twin Shadow's amazing debut FORGET available now on VINYL via TERRIBLE RECORDS

[via]

MISS ALEX WHITE OF WHITE MYSTERY GUEST DJ SAT JUNE 18TH

I am pleased to announce Miss Alex White of White Mystery will make her return for a encore presentation and Guest DJ this Sat on The Minimal Beat 2-4PM! You can DWLD her set from this past May here.  As always you can tune in LIVE at 88.7 FM in Chicago or stream at www.wluw.org.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH ARE BACK!


Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are BACK! The third album, Hysterical, will be available on September 20th in the US, and September 12th in the UK, Europe, Japan, and Australia. It was produced by John Congleton.

DWLD "Same Mistake" below.


VIDEO: PANDA BEAR - SURFER'S HYMN

PANDA BEAR "Surfer's Hymn" from m ss ng p eces on Vimeo.

Monday, June 13, 2011

[RADIO] THE MINIMAL BEAT 06.11.2011

ARTIST / TRACK / ALBUM

  • Peaking Lights / Amazing And Wonderful / 936
  • Dirty Beaches / Speedway King / Badlands
  • Suicide / Cheree (Remix) / Suicide
  • Philippe Laurent / Exhibition 5 / Hot Bip
  • Wu Lyf / Dirt / Go Tell Fire To The Mountains
  • White Mystery / Pumpkin Cream / Blood & Venom
  • Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / Ain't No Easy Way Out / Howl
  • Danton's Voice / I Hear Bells / The Hidden Tapes: 79-85
  • Pretty Good Dance Moves / I Wonder Why / Limo
  • Keep Shelly In Athens / Running Out Of Memories / In Love With Dusk
  • Ford & Lopatin / Joey Rodgers / Channel Pressure
  • Lower Dens / I Get Nervous / Twin Hand Move Ment
  • Bailiff / Everyday Fire / Red Balloon
  • Rob Lawrence + Mark Phillips / Computer Bank / The Hidden Tapes: 79-85
  • Kraftwerk / The Model / The Man Machine
  • Chrisma / Black Silk Stocking / Chinesse Restaurant
  • Loyal Divide / DDF / Bodice Ripper
  • Dorris Norton / Norton Apple Software / Personal Computer
  • Dandy Warhols / Bohemian Like You / Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia
  • Ezra Furman & The Harpoons / I Killed My Self But I Din't Die / Mysterious Power
  • Beastie Boys / Here's A Little Something For Ya / Hot Sauce Committee Part II
  • Nicolaus Jaar / I Got A Woman / Space Is Only Noise
  • Cults / Go Outside / Cults
  • Love Inks / Black Eye / E.M.P
  • Battles / Ice Cream / Gloss Drop
  • Queens Of The Stone Age / Do It Again / Songs For The Deaf

Listen every Saturday on WLUW 88.7 - 2-4PM or Stream live at WLUW.ORG

VIDEO: BLACK DEVIL DISCO CLUB - TO ARDENT (FEAT. NANCY SINATRA)

Black Devil Disco Club feat. Nancy Sinatra - To Ardent from Lo+LOAF TV on Vimeo.

VIDEO: FORD & LOPATIN - WORLD OF REGRET

Ford & Lopatin "World of Regret" from Thunder Horse Video on Vimeo.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

[MIXTAPE] LOWER DENS - 41:41

According to Jana Hunter of Lower Dens she was "on a harsh tear" when she put together this 41:41 mixtape for us to share with you! Did she go to far? We think not... As matter a fact there is some pretty amazing stuff on it and if you enjoy it spread the word.

01. Last Shuttle to the Red Planet - Food Pyramid
02. In A Strangeland - Talk Normal
03. Something I Never Had - Laurel Halo
04. Live at ISSUE 1/29/10 - Bill Nace
05. Mini-Blinds - The Energy
06. Treasure - Ami Dang
07. Sorro - Spirit Spine
08. Quantum Leap - John Maus
09. High & Low - Ezekiel Honig 

DWLD HERE 

Friday, June 10, 2011

LIAM FINN TALKS ABOUT WHATS ON HIS IPOD


Dream Pop artist and New Zealand native Liam Finn talks to us about what he's been listening to lately as he gears up to hit the road this summer.  His new album titled FOMO is out later this month via Yep Roc!

1. Vitamin C - Can
I find myself putting this song on when I want to get ready to head out... or go on stage... or get into the 'mood'. Such a cool beat and vocal. I love songs that create an instant atmosphere like this.



2. Faking Jazz together - Connan Mockasin
Connan is one of my bestest buddies, but I still find myself listening to his record 'Forever Dolphin Love'  all the time for pleasure, not just politeness. A true enigma in this world of modern music.


3.  Viral - Tonetta
This Canadian man has been making amazing and unique music and videos since the 80's relatively un-noticed. Check him out on youtube... He's so rad.


4.  Inside Looking Out - The Animals
Great band performance... one of those song I wish I was in the room when it was recorded. What a buzz.



5. War In Peace - Alexander "Skip" Spence 
My favorite lo-fi eccentric artists of the 60's. His album Oar is so loose and honest, effortlessly psychedelic.



6. Suzanne - Leonard Cohen
One of my favorite songs ever. Such beautiful words, great imagery and a sentiment that any generation can relate to... but of course you already know that.



7.  Conditions - Pajama Club
This is my Mum and Dad's band. They started jamming after all the 'kids' left home and made these funky as songs. Conditions is one of my favorites and has a big fat groove and sweet bass line.


8.  Sunday morning coming down - Kris Kristofferson
This song is perfect for a hung over Sunday... he tells it just like it is with a deep soothing sad voice.



9. Ten Believers - Latin Playboys
Latin playboys made this album years ago now... Such a great meld of hi-fi and lo-fi. Tchad Blake who I got to mix half of my new album was in the band and recorded this.


10. Reflections - Diana Ross and the Supremes
Awesome freaky synth intro, into a classic song. I just love the sound of these Motown recordings and the band are just so groovy but still keep it simple.

Monday, June 6, 2011

[MIXTAPE] PEAKING LIGHTS - 59:36


Big ups to Indra & Aaron of Peaking Lights for providing this chilled out mixtape. It's features bands I definitely have not heard of and it's filled w/ genres ranging from Boogie, Afro Jazz to Turkish Psych then throw in some Ethiopian Funk and if that's not enough top it off w/ Brazilian Groove... Seriously this is a heavy selection of some deep digs! If you ask me it's perfect for a nice l o n g  lazy summer day...

01 Arif Sag - Golden
02 David Axelrod - Leading Citizen
03 Archimedes Badkar - Kila Mtu
04 Unknown Ethiopian 45
05 Luiz Bonfa - Apache Talk
06 Selcuk - Bag Bozumu
07 Gulde Karabocek - Bana Gercekleri
08 The Zodiac - Arie
09 Bohannon - Make Your Body Move
10 Dallas - Ain't Nothin New Under The Sun
11 Songhoi Band - Africa Africa
12 Denroy Morgan - Never Give Up
13 Dennis Brown - Foul Play
14 Special Request - Salsa Smurf
15 Little John - Road Is Never Easy
16 Gregory Isaac - Feeling Irie

DWLD HERE

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Thursday, June 2, 2011

VIDEO: PEAKING LIGHTS - BIRDS OF PARADISE (DUB VERSION)


Untitled (Visuals) 2011 from Jamie Stones on Vimeo.

Unofficial/Band Approved Music Video by Jamie Stones

[MIXTAPE] OKINAWA LIFESTYLE - 59:07


Here’s a sweet summerish Mixtape from Okinawa Lifestyle. These guys are simply amazing and the mix is perfect for driving around town with the windows down, but the bigger draw is that it brings some of the band’s many, exceedingly hard-to-pin-down influences into much clearer focus. Download below and get the full track-list below.

01. Who Got The Funk? - The Streets
02. Rad Pitt - Egyptian Hip Hop
03. Song To Cheer You Up - Keep Shelly In Athens
04. Wild Wood - Paul Weller & Portishead
05. Thirty Three Trees - Noises By Gap
06. Theme From Behind The Curtain - Skalpel
07. Polarioid - Stumbleine
08.  IPT2 - Battles
09. Amazing And Wonderful - Peaking Lights
10. Smell Memory (Bix remix) - Múm
11. Shaqued - Kassem Mosse
12. A Circumnavigation - Balmorhea
13. Nanou2 - Aphex Twin
14. Ever Or No t - John Roberts
15. Yonkers - Tyler, The Creator
16. Goodbye - The Jazz Sextet Of Georgia 

DWLD HERE