A List, Some Trivia, And R.E.M. News!

"Si, Conando!"

Entertainment Weekly started their own list of the 100 Best Summer Tunes. Songs released in the summer, songs about summer, songs that make you think about summer, whatever. And now that is summer, I guess it's time for these dinky things. Here's the first installment. Agree or disagree? Let me answer for you: disagree.

Please, society, bring back this hairstyle.

You know how VH1 Classic does "This Day In Music"? Well it used to be great, but now it just sucks. Like, it's all about Whitney Houston and chart records. I am not kidding. It gets that lame. So here's one that's actually interesting. And I'll give you a video with that, too.

JUNE 22, 1967: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones drug trials begin.
So they did drugs, just look what they did for rock 'n' roll!

Okay, and finally, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck (guitarist; who is currently doing some side work with Robyn Hitchcock and The Decemberists) and Mike Mills (bass & vocals; who is currently figuring out what sparkly attire to dawn during the next sold-out show) are working on new material for a potential record set to be released in the future. Even though lead vocals Michael Stipe isn't in the picture yet, I'm sure some of the stuff the other two are working on is pretty solid. As a big R.E.M. fan and a believer in the revamped line-up, I am very much looking forward to R.E.M. in the years to come. Check out what Pitchfork's talking about.

A preview of what's to come?

I AM NOT DEAD!

Hello all. Good to see you again. Hey, you look great have you lost weight? Anyway, I am back after being out of this blogging game for quite a while due to many reasons (mainly laziness). But I promise I am back and back with a vengeance. I don't have much to say now, but I will later, so I leave you with one of my favorite songs of the summertime, "Rome" by Phoenix off their awesome album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.

Enjoy.

All Points West Announced! Praise Jersey!

Holy shit.

Folks, Jersey is known for a few great things in rock 'n' roll: The Boss, naturally. And with that comes The Stone Pony. We also got Billy Joel, Yo La Tengo, Taking Back Sunday, and some idiots that call themselves My Chemical Romance. Now that's just a small handful. And recently, Jersey City (New York City's awkward cousin from across the pond) has opened up it's gritty arms to The All Points West Music & Arts Festival. Now last year, it was headlined by Radiohead and Jack Johnson. Impressive, Newj. Though I'm sure most people left after Radiohead corrupted the guidos who thought they were heading to a legit beach site. So anyway, this line-up looks great. Stereogum's got the rap. $199 for the whole weekend, $89 for any which specific day. My money's going on Saturday. Kool Keith, Tokyo Police Club, The Ting Tings, Arctic Monkeys, Gogol Bordello, (Tool), and most importantly, TIM & ERIC, all in one venue, is going to fucking rule. Sorry for the rash language, but we are talking about great music in New Jersey here. I am putting my cash down Friday, April 3rd, which is when tickets go on sale. New Jersey and All Points West, I have a feeling this once small fest is going to continue to blow up and gain more credibility, especially with this magnificent weekend line-up. It's going to be a sick summer!

(Plus I'll be 21. I will be poor, if not homeless, but next September.)

Radiohead brings "Idioteque" to Jersey City back in '08.

Video: (Summer Favorites - Part 6)

"Infrastructure world collapse"

Means: the failure of all worldly communications. Forget your fancy phonographs and talking pictures, check out the future. The future belongs to lasers and Radiohead.

Radiohead - House Of Cards

Thom Yorke doesn't want to be your friend, merely your lover. This video uses no cameras or lights (a.k.a., none of that primitive 21st century mumbo-jumbo). We now have "3D plotting technologies collected information about the shapes and relative distances of objects." Furthermore, "the video was created entirely with visualizations of that data."

Does that not blow your mind?

When I first read the comments for this video, people on YouTube we're like, "this sucks", "what the fuck", "I miss old Radiohead videos".

Well, I think that sucks. This is the first of its kind. Its snowy, but let's see you do any better. Plus, it's supposed to be this way. It's art. It's over people's heads. Including mine. Complicated computer technology makes me want to go play original Nintendo and be content with that time's technology.

A beautiful, surreal song. Got into it in the middle of my summer, when things kind of leveled off and I go used to being at home. Brings up strange, raw emotions. Then again, it's only a song, right?

Off "In Rainbows". In stores now.

Video: (Summer Favorites - Part 5)

"Cath..." (has a haunting echo, does it not?)

Death Cab For Cutie - Cath...


A somber and harrowing tale of a bride who (out of fear of being lonely her entire life AND confusion) marries a man who who will presumptively not love her, or even stick with her for that matter. It's a depressing tale that unfortunately suits many marriages in this day and age.

This is Death Cab's second single off there sixth studio album, Narrow Stairs. I got into this one in the middle of May when I was just thinking over and over about marriage (not sure why, it just came into my head and didn't leave for a while). It's an unsettling tune, but a good one, musically and lyrically. The video, on the other hand, is not the greatest. I was hoping for something with a little more doom and gloom. Although, the Seattle natives do sit Indian-style and sing in unison in a great little grassy corridor. Watch it, it might be your fancy.

"Soon everybody will ask: what became of you.
Because your heart was dying fast, and you didn't know what to do."

Video: (Summer Favorites - Part 4)

Part 4 of ??

Radiohead - Videotape


"When I'm at the pearly gates,
This'll be on my videotape.
My videotape.
My videotape."

Now I know we've already had a Radiohead post in our young blog life, but we can't get enough. This song was one of my most played on iTunes in the middle of the summer and it's just beautiful. "Videotape" is a song about death, or entering the afterlife, if you will. It's a reflection on a perfect day, right before your called by the Piper. It's a collection of what has been won and what has been lost, in life. Furthermore, it's about saying goodbye. It's the closing track off "In Rainbows", and rightfully so. It's great modern piano work and very Radiohead-esque moan sessions.

Bask in Radiohead mystery.

"No matter what happens now,
I shouldn't be afraid.
Because I know today has been the most perfect day I've ever seen.

Video: (Summer Favorites - Part 3)

This is becoming routine.

Santogold, Julian Casablancas, & N.E.R.D. - My Drive Thru


This video is not so much "vintage", "retro", or "old". However, I think it's the coolest collaboration in a very long time, just because of the "who's who" in good music factor. You got Santogold, who may or may not be adding to the cult of trendy indie hip-hop divas (who's riding M.I.A.'s coattails?). She's great. Pharrell Williams has never sounded more like a chick in his life, and when I first heard the tune, I didn't even believe it could be him. But it's all good - some dudes have high voices. And then Julian Casablancas (lead singer of The Strokes) + (and where the hell have they been? I've had enough of Hammond Jr. doing his own thing) who adds some great riffs to this track. "My Drive Thru". What's it about? Doesn't matter. It's too dancy and catchy to be denied.

There are a bunch of cool lines in this cut (for lyrics, go here). I especially connect with "it's summer in the city." How true. Every time I worked in New York City this summer, I thought of this little number. Then I thought about how I wasn't getting paid and how I would be in debt well into the school year.

Converse, well done. You made this happen. Forming super groups and flashy kicks - I approve.

Vintage Video: (Summer Favorites - Part 2)

Ah, alas - Part 2. This one is a little more serious of a song than "Been Caught Stealing". Although, the gang does joke around before they start playing once they hear a request for a Southern Rock anthem. Listen for the Nine Inch Nails plug, too. This is one of many covers Nirvana played during their MTV Unplugged set on November 18, 1993.

Nirvana - "Plateau" (Meat Puppets Cover)


"Plateau" is a beautiful song. I always think of some sort of biblical journey through a desert or a plain when I hear the tune and listen to the lyrics. I think it's a self-realization song. Kurt's vocals suit it very well, adding a slightly depressing tone to it, rather than the upbeat Meat Puppets version. It was nice to have those dudes join Nirvana onstage. This performance, 15 years after it was recorded, is still haunting. Watch the entire unplugged: it's especially creeping during the final song (Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?") and Kurt's last scream. Looks painful. Big time spooky.

R.I.P. Kurt Cobain.

Vintage Video (Summer Favorites - Part 1)

Ever get really into a song during some point in your life when it's either really irrelevant to your current situation or not even remotely modern? I find myself digging into the past with old school alternative videos from the late 80's and early 90's more and more often these days. There's a lot to be learned and admired from these artists and their videos. They were creative, not terribly flashy, and pretty unique for their time.

I've got about 9 or 10 of these that I'll be posting. But basically, these are some songs from over the past summer that really stuck out to me. And these videos (whether official or not) are cool concepts. The first one belongs to LA's own Jane's Addiction.

Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing (1990)


Nothing wrong with a little theft to spice up your life. It's also cool to have your girlfriend be into the same criminal mischief. Perry Farrell, Dave Navaro and the rest of the gang in this alt. rock quartet offer up an idea for excitement - just make sure you don't wind up in trouble with the law. Check out the sweet dance fest that goes on in isle 7.

P.S. Try not to be totally freaked out by this cross-dresser.