Enter The Vaselines

Subpop Records released this remastering of selections from The Vaselines' discography just a month ago. These unusual indie-boppers come all the way from Glasgow, Scotland, and have been in and out of recording studios since 1986. With a Belle and Sebastian meet Kimya Dawson kind of sound, The Vaselines never fail to surprise audiences with their bizarre, often overtly sexual song lyrics and subjects (The Day I Was a Horse, Rory Rides Me Raw, Sex Sux, and Monsterpussy, to name a few). Their biggest claim to fame is that they are one of Kurt Cobain's most-cited musical influences (Nirvana covered at least 3 Vaselines songs). And that's more than enough of an endorsement to get me to set aside 2 minutes to give them a listen. I hope you do too.

Matt & Kim Do Times Square

Here's the new Matt & Kim video, "Lessons Learned," off of their most recent album, Grand. As usual, this savagely cute duo keeps the budget low and the entertainment high. It looks like they're hitting the mainstream now, because this video was featured all day on MTV. I'll cry if I hear teeny-bopppers screaming at the next Matt & Kim show I attend.

PS: Kim, we were so close! Fuck censorship...

This Week's Random Obsession

Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective.
This album has been the soundtrack to the last 10 days for me, especially through an all-nighter of nicotine, alcohol and headphones Sunday night.
I really hadn't listened to it carefully since I first downloaded it in January, and I feel like a fool for wasting these last two months when I could have been enjoying Animal Collective at their best.
Honestly, This is my favorite of their albums. It shows more talent and listenability than 2005's Feels, and is more adventurous and confident than 2007's (admittedly awesome) Strawberry Jam. This Baltimore-bred band is SOLD OUT at the 9:30 club, and you are gonna have to cough up a good deal of money to get in on this one. Every time they play in the DC/Baltimore area, they sell every ticket in half a day. Be on your toes next time; I know I will be.
As far as things to look forward to with Animal Collective, Panda Bear revealed in an NPR interview that there's a new music video coming out this summer, saying that it would be "some of the most experimental stuff [they've] ever done." The video, directed by Danny Perez, is meant to "create a movie that would have visuals similar to what somebody would see if they closed their eyes while listening to Animal Collective's music"
Just do me a favor and close your eyes when you listen; these songs not just ask for but deserve your full attention.

This Love is Fucking Right!

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, straight out of New York, NY (and this is classic New York rock), have finally released a full-length album. The self-titled album dropped last month, and is a follow up to their 2007 EP. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart sound like a collision between The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Belle & Sebastian, and the 1980's. The noise-rock feel that this frenetic foursome emanates certainly owes something to bands like Sonic Youth and even The Velvet Underground too. Their sound is hip enough to catch the ear of indie aficionados throughout Williamsburg, but is catchy enough to probably get some mainstream attention. Let's see what happens.

Where The Wild Things Are

I can't wait for this movie to come out. The book is a classic tale of the power of imagination, and I will always love it. In the hands of Spike Jonze, I think the film is going to be a masterpiece.
In theaters October 16th, 2009.
(The song playing in the trailer is "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire)
You didn't think I'd post without mentioning music, did you?

...And You Will Know Us By Our Band's Ridiculous Name

People have been telling me to listen to ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead for a while now, and I'll be honest, I blew them off completely. I judged the shit out of that book's cover. They sounded like a hardcore/screamo band to me, and I was not at all interested in hearing them. Recently, I was told by yet another person to listen to Trail of Dead, and the camel's back broke. I looked into the band. I found out that their 2002 album, Source Tags & Codes got a 10 out of 10 from Pitchfork magazine. I was intrigued. I downloaded the album, and what do you know, they're pretty damn good. Listen to these two songs (anyone else hear Sonic Youth in there?), and tell me that you don't want to slap this talented band in the face for having such a stupid name (apparently a wink at an ancient Mayan chant) that they scare away potential fans.

BORN RUFFIANS!

I am crazy amped about this band right now. I saw them at Black Cat last night and was just floored. They put on an amazing show, and I'd hate to have been Tokyo Police Club, trying to follow them. I barely remember TPC, but I can't get Born Ruffians out of my head. They sometimes sound similar to Vampire Weekend, but Vampire Weekend is the version of Born Ruffians that you bring home to your mom. Born ruffians are the ones that fuck you in an elevator. Ruffians were first, they're the ones you really like, and they're fucking better.
Just listen.



And one other song for you.