Pitchfork.tv: Vampire Weekend Interview

(inside)exitingARM

I recently stumbled upon this video sneak-peek of the upcoming Subtle album exitingARM which releases on May 13th. I am very excited about this album as Subtle, and front man Adam "doseone" Drucker, is one of my favourite contemporary music groups. They have the most unique sound I have ever heard and doseone's lyrics and vocals are insane. Check out this video for a taste of the atmosphere that surround their music and to hear snippets from their album.

(inside)ExitingARM

From the Mixed Up Files of J. Regalado

Go check out my personal blog for non-arts&entertainment related posts. You'll see wonderful thinks such as: poems, short stories, rants, and general nothingness.

Seriously, go to: The Mixed Up Files of J. Regalado

CD Review: Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree

British, electro-pop duo Goldfrapp’s latest Mute Records release, Seventh Tree, is a showcase of soft, captivating vocals and ambient, electronic compositions. The opening track, “Clowns,” starts off with a simple bass line and enchanting lyrics and then progresses into a wall of ambience. Alison Goldfrapp’s vocals on Seventh Tree always work well to compliment each track’s music, but the album’s strength lies in the composition more so than the vocals. “Happiness,” one of the highlight tracks, is an eerie song with raw, pulsing, synthesizer beats accompanied by a wash of ocean sounds and beating drums. “Happiness” has an intense atmosphere of fluid movement. The single, “A&E,” is definitely the album’s most prevailing song; the synthesizers parallel a grand orchestra in range and power. The first line: “It’s a blue, bright blue Saturday” is echoed in the emotion brought forward by sweeping electronic composition. Every song on Seventh Tree has a downtempo, relaxing mood that makes the album well suited for afternoons in an arm chair. Having moved away from their previous dance-pop style, Goldfrapp have made the transition quite well on Seventh Tree. Although they still have a ways to go before they will be the top band in the realm of ambient electronica, they have made large steps towards success and their next album will likely polish the difficulties found on Seventh Tree.

The official video for A&E courtesy of your friendly neighbourhood YouTube...


(This review should also be appearing in Renegade Radio soon!)

Peep These Links Yoh!

Found a couple cool podcasts on NPR.org today and am now posting them here for your listening pleasure!

Thurston Moore: Not 'A Real Guitar Player'?

Listen to some studio sessions of Thurston Moore's latest solo endeavour: Trees Outside the Academy.

This album is absolutely amazing and Thurston Moore is a genious. Despite what he may claim, he is an excellent guitarist.

Concert: Jonny Greenwood's Popcorn Supert Receiver

Radiohead virtuoso Jonny Greenwood's composition performed live. You may or may not recognize a few of the tracks from the soundtrack to There Will Be Blood (which Greenwood composed).

Concert: Black Mountain, Black Iver

Canadian rockers Black Mountain performing a live show. NPR does a great job capturing the heavy sounds of Black Mountain.

All links courtesy of NPR.org/music

The 4 Trak

Like what I have to say? Enjoy the arts? Do you write, paint, sing, dance, interpretive dance, photograph, lithograph, or practice any other wonderful form of self expression? Why not submit something to The 4 Trak?

If you're not into submitting, that's cool too, but why not check it out anyways?
The first publication will be up April 1st and the deadline for submissions is March 22nd (but we might be kind on late submissions, because we're cool like that!).

The 4 Trak is a webzine, co-edited by yours truly, for artists of all ages, races, and sexes to get their stuff out there for the public.

Send any submissions to the4trak@gmail.com

CD Review: Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow and Blue

Canadian rock trio, Born Ruffians, strike again with the Warp Records release Red, Yellow and Blue. It is nearly impossible to place this album within a single genre; each song swings from one style to another, and the transitions are flawless. Track two, “Barnacle Goose,” uses vocal harmonies to produce the effect of a full stage band without the crowded roster (a la Broken Social Scene or New Pornographers). Their single, “Hummingbird,” is definitely a summertime rock anthem, where a powerful bass line drives the wonderful pop guitar plucking and a chant-shout chorus that is almost impossible to not sing along with. The song “Little Garcon” demonstrates vocalist Luke Lalonde’s true range; moving from the heavier rock howls from earlier tracks towards a Devendra Banhart style of folk singing that makes “Little Garcon” one of the hidden gems on an already excellent album. Another track with great vocals is “Foxes Mate for Life.” With the opening line “Make a point of having fun, It’ll get you through life” this song’s upbeat nature is a testament to the happy-go-lucky sentiment that runs through the whole album. With summer just around the corner, Born Ruffians’ Red, Yellow and Blue is ready to fill the lazy day silence with the perfect combination of catchy lyrics, upbeat guitar riffs, and head-bobbing bass lines.

And for your listening and viewing pleasure: Born Ruffians - Hummingbird


(Watch for the next publication of Renegade Radio at UVic to see this review in print...hopefully)