Darwin Deez are/is(?) pretty awesome, surely what you’ll hear about in 2010. I actually don’t want to compare the stuff to anything because it’s so good in itself.. although if I were to compare it to something, the vocals remind me of Robin Pecknold‘s; and Lights On reminds me somewhat of Beck. In all, very good; including the production. Pre-order the album here.
I can’t believe The Futureheads are on their 4th album already.. The Chaos comes out April 26th. (wondering who did cover art) Here is a video for their first single, Heartbeat Song:
I will admit that their S/T album was something I listened to quite often back in the day of.. erm.. 2004 (Le Garage, Man Ray specifically). The songs on The Chaos sadly appear to be less dynamic, unchanging, somewhat overly saturated in comparison. They still, of course, bear the signature vocal harmonies and sharp guitar riffs- which is why I like The Futureheads to begin with. Worth a listen: pre-order the album here.
The State (Series that spanned from December 17, 1993 to July 1, 1995 on MTV with Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, Thomas Lennon, etc.) created a vimeo channel last week, thought you might enjoy. Prior to the creation of the channel it was pretty difficult to find clips..
Firstly, I’d like to touch on the VSS Enterprise, Virgin Galactic‘s first commercial spaceship. It successfully completed it’s first test flight. Commercial service is said to start in 2011, which means I have at least one year to save up $200,000 dollars. (Or I have at least one year to apply for a credit card with a $200,000 limit).
Anyway, from the mail box (which I rarely check, but will begin checking): Here is the Reset! remix of Audio Bullys‘ track Only Man, and a little something from Hot Chip.
The Last Song seems like it could be the absolute worst movie ever contrived by human beings, just saw a commercial, thus reminding me why I only download select things from television. Here is a completely different version of LCD Soundsystem‘s Bye Bye Bayou, remixed by Computer Magic.
Above: Personal Video Message, made for David Tennant on his retirement from doctor who. Made by Ricky Wilson and Tim Blackwell on a day off during the British Tour 2009.
What Tim Does
me: I think I should start.
Tim: ok.
me: With something like ‘Hello Tim, what is it you do?’
Tim: Well the last few years i’ve been acting as the band Kaiser Chiefs videographer, but I guess I’m a freewheeling creative director music video guy.
me: What are some of the music videos that you’ve done?
Tim: For the chiefs I did ‘Na na na na naa’ ‘Heat dies down’ and ‘(You Want) History’. They were all really documents of the last few years touring and giging.
me: So which one is your favorite then?
Tim: Probably Na Na Na Na Naa. I was excited to be travelling to America with them, and the video does a good job of summing up their rise from playing small pubs in Yorkshire to Playing infront of Millions at Live 8. You also managed to make it into that video which wasn’t actually planned, and had more to do with the editor I worked with.
me: Haha, yeah, that was weird. What was your favorite city touring?
Tim: I think the ones you enjoy are when you have a bit of time to explore. Sometimes you can be somewhere great but the schedule doesn’t allow for much time off, or you just spend it indoors in a dark room.
Tim: New York is a no brainer, as i’ve yet to have a bad time there… I quite liked Chicago’s no nonsense and over on the west coast San Fransisco, It must be the inner hippy in me…
Tim: In fact we were once walking around Boston when some guy just started yelling abuse about our hair and clothes telling us to go back to Cisco. We shouted back we were british and then he said he was pleased we were on “Their” Side. Whatever side that guy is on, I’m on the opposite.
me: Have you a favorite director?
Tim: Film or Music Video?
me: Film
Tim: Well, I’m a fan of Wes Anderson. I know he’s pretty divisive, and some folks think his signature is too strong and cliched, but i think he’s a genius. The way he uses music to narrate his films and his eye for detail is inspiring. He makes film making seem really easy but at the same time incredibly hard.
me: What’s your favorite Wes Anderson film? I think mine is The Life Aquatic solely because of the bit when Bill Murray kills the pirates whilst Search and Destroy is playing in the background.
Tim: I’m a big fan of The Life Aquatic, it got a bit of a panning, but i think it’s the most enjoyable in many ways. It lurches from moments of real pathos to laugh out loud. It got me through some boring times in a rubbish flat.
me: I was always sad when the death scene came about and that Zombies song played. What kind of films are you going to make/plan on making in the future?
Tim: Uh huh, I still get a bit upset when Luke Wilson cuts his hair and then his wrists to the sound of Elliot Smith. It feels Prophetic.
Tim: Well, i wouldn’t mind having a go at a short narrative film. Perhaps an urban horror, with the emphasis on the psychological rather then any actual gore. I’d like to work on some more narrative based music promos and i’m just in the process of editing a promo I co-directed with Danny North for a band called The Neat. Hopefully this will turn out ok.
Lost:
me: How do you feel about season 6?
Tim: I’ve only seen the first 3… i’ll get back to speed on Sunday.
Tim: I saw my parents yesterday and my dad was complaining about how stupid it is. He’s watched every one and he’s not really a fan, but he just wants closure.
Tim: What I’ve seen of it was ok. I don’t think the others have the same impact that they used to.. “oh great more others…” But I’m enjoying the two concurrent storylines, and it’s early days…
me: You’ve only watched the first three.. so has Claire come in yet?
Tim: at the end of episode 3…briefly…shhh
Tim: shhhhh
me: Alright, done with Lost related questions.
me: Well no, one more, whose your favorite character? (mine is personally Ben Linus. I actually miss the ‘Henry’ days, if you know what I mean.)
Tim: Hmm… tough one. I do like Ben Linus, especially when he does the look, or his mouth curls and you realise he’s totally evil. He’s been a bit quiet lately though (Oh Tim, you just wait..). I like Kate, she seems like the sort of girl you’d want to get stuck with on a magical island.
V, FTW
me: Who do you enjoy more, Locke or Spock?
Tim: Hmm… I enjoyed the new Star Trek film, but I’m really more a Star Wars fan OT. I’ll still go for Spock, nothing against Locke you understand…
me: I understand, besides Locke has turned into the smoke monster anyway. I’ll switch to a Star Wars related question, which episode is your favorite?
Tim: 5
Quick Change:
me: How do you feel about Bill Murray?
Tim: I hear he’s very tall.
Tim: Have you watched quickchange yet?
me: Haven’t! Last night I watched My Stepmother is an Alien and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Tim: Fast times is a classic.
Tim: To be honest I haven’t watched Quickchange in years, but i was talking to some folks the other day who said they were having a Bill Murray party and i mentioned it, only to be met with blank faces…
It’s one of his best films, he co-directed it!•
If I were venturing to Texas for SXSW, I’d most definitely look forward to seeing Best Coast live. They remind me of something off one of the Pebbles or Nuggets compilations, or more so off one of the Girls in the Garage compilations. (a reference I usually make when I come across 60s/surf inspired rock) Best Coast seem to fit into the current (extremely lo-fi, distorted, purposely dated) indie rock genre along with Wavves and Harlem, etc. (Harlem recently got signed to Matador, sweet! I’ve been talking about them for some time now..).
The new Liars album Sisterworld is worth picking up.. has great textures, well produced, very droney. I don’t think it’s my favorite album of theirs (I think maybe the S/T one was) but enjoyable nonetheless, despite it’s creepiness. What I like best about Liars is that none of their albums ever really seem to have that monotonous quality of staying the same throughout. If you hate the way one track sounds you’re bound to find another that you like. Drop Dead is one of my favorite tracks off Sisterworld, simply because it’s odd-sounding with an interesting mixture of chords, but I guess that goes for most of the record.
MP3: Drop Dead – Liars
(Buy)
Sidenote: Not sure if you realized this but located in the right sidebar is a section called ‘Tags’. The larger the words, the more I’ve blogged about them. Just wanted to point out that William Shatner is pretty big currently and I’m going to make his name bigger by tagging this post with William Shatner.
