Remix Sunday - Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend is one of my favourite discoveries of 2007. The New York group hasn't yet released an album per se, but a bunch of tracks have been made available through the band's website and as a digital download EP from iTunes, and everything I've heard thus far has been fantastic. The band recently signed to XL Recordings and a debut album is planned for January. Read more about that here. As for the more recent future, new single 'Mansard Roof' is due to be released October 22nd. For a sneak preview, look below.

Vampire Weekend will be here in London on November 7th supporting The Shins at Hammersmith Apollo.

- a.m.p.m.

Vampire Weekend - Walcott
Vampire Weekend - Walcott (Insane Mix #2)

Bonus:
Vampire Weekend - Mansard Roof
Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma
Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

CSS, Good Shoes, Wiley crash Diesel U Music Awards Afterparty

The Diesel U Music Awards Afterparty takes place this coming Wednesday (October 3rd) at KOKO as the culmination of Diesel's annual international music contest open to unsigned rock, urban/hip-hop and electronic artists. The contest is touted as "a response to the major labels' A&R policies that endorse short-lived pop careers whilst ignoring creativity & long-term artist development." Sounds good to me.

UK finalists include electro duo Get Shakes and indie rockers The Steers; the US of A will be represented by Cool Kids and The Features, and acts from France, Japan and Belgium will also vie for top spot. These cream-of-the-crop contenders will all perform alongside established acts including CSS, Wiley and Good Shoes at the official afterparty. Tickets are just £5 (that's $10 to you North American scum) and although technically sold out, a few are still available at Diesel's flagship stores in Covent Garden and Carnaby Street to those deemed adequately hip and good-looking.

I'm particularly looking forward to seeing CSS in a smaller venue (their Reading set was amazing, but huge) and experiencing Cool Kids' live hi-jinks. Just one question remains: where's the After-Afterparty?

- a.m.p.m.

CSS - Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above

CSS - Alala

Good Shoes - Ice Age
Good Shoes - We Are Not The Same

Wiley - Letter 2 Dizzee

Cool Kids - Gold and a Pager

Fur and Gold

Bat for Lashes' October 29th gig at KOKO here in London sold out in the blink of an eye, so being the good sports that they are a second show on October 28th was promptly added. The band's apparent popularity is due in no small part to the excellent Mercury Prize-nominated album Fur and Gold, released back in late 2006. Pretty much everyone is comparing the group's sound to Björk, Cat Power, Tori Amos, and Kate Bush, so I will too.

I'll be at the show on October 28th and will report back on just how awesome or non-awesome the band is live.

- a.m.p.m.

Some tracks from Fur and Gold:

Bat For Lashes - Horse and I

Bat For Lashes - Prescilla
Bat For Lashes - What's A Girl To Do?

Patrick Watson: $20,000 Closer to Paradise

Last night, the 2007 Polaris Music Prize was awarded to Montrealer Patrick Watson, for his album Close to Paradise. For non-Canadians (or those living under a rock which isnt serviced by any decent music or culture news), the Polaris Prize, now in its second year, is awarded for the best album released each year. Unlike the Junos (which featured a Watson performance this year), which is based primarily on album sales, the Polaris Prize criteria is meant to focus more on creative integrity than commercial success.

Watson's stellar debut of dreamy orchestral pop was chosen by over 170 Canadian music journalists over a horde of strong competition. The other nominees this year included:

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

the Besnard Lakes - ... Are the Dark Horse

the Dears - Gang of Losers

Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up

Feist - the Reminder

Junior Boys - So This is Goodbye

Miracle Fortress - Five Roses

Joel Plaskett - Ashtray Rock

Chad Van Gaalen - Skelliconnection

Along with bragging rights and utmost recognition and respect, Watson and his band also receive a solid raise in the form of a $20,000 bump.

Close to Paradise was an underdog to say the least; the solid majority of Watson's fan base (and album sales) remains in his home province of Quebec. His celebrity status in English Canada is still non-existent, having done very little touring outside of his home province since the release of the record late last year. Even Pitchfork, who reported on the win yesterday, was completely blindsided.

Perhaps the only people not totally surprised were people who actually own the record (which are few east of Ottawa) or Grey's Anatomy fans, who caught on to Watson after a track from Close to Paradise was featured on the popular show last season.

That's not to say that the Patrick Watson was undeserving - the record, which I first heard shortly after its release (through a friend closely affiliated with the Watson camp), is reminiscent of the most wonderful of daydreams; each song painting a new, vibrant image - both lyrically, thematically, and aesthetically. And he puts on a killer live show.

Nonetheless, it'll be interesting what the Canadiana music snobs have to say about this one.

Patrick Watson joins violinist extraordinaire Final Fantasy on the list of Polaris Music Prize winners.

Patrick Watson - Giver

Patrick Watson - Luscious Life

- bbbykmbrly.

Düne vs Düne

Last week was a banner gig week: I managed to catch both Herman Düne and Stanley Brinks (formerly known as André Herman Düne) in the same city within days of each other. Backstory: On December 13th, 2006, André Herman Düne played his last show with French anti-folk outfit Herman Düne, parted ways with brother musicians David-Ivar Herman Düne and Neman Herman Düne and changed his name to Stanley Brinks. Herman Düne (the band) continued doing their thing sans André.

Show One: Herman Düne @ ULU, Tuesday September 18th

The full band (minus André) performed songs from their many albums, with a focus on Not On Top and last year's solid release Giant. The band was in top form; lead singer David-Ivar seemed to be enjoying himself immensely, instrumentation was suberb and the female backing vocals added a sweet touch. I would have liked to hear a few tracks from my favourite album Mas Cambios but hey, what can you do.

Show Two: Stanley Brinks @ The George Tavern, Sunday September 23rd

The George, with its decaying Victorian charm and intimate candlelight, was the perfect venue for Brinks to spin his quirky, sombre tales. The autobiographical 'Stanley Brinks' describes his metamorphosis: "In the Fall of 2006, I changed my name to Stanley Brinks; I moved away from my friends and family and became an enemy of society". Maybe so, but by the end of Brinks' set the East London pub was filled with only friends, both old and new.

- a.m.p.m.

Herman Dune - Not On Top

Herman Dune - When the Water Gets Cold and Freezes on the Lake
Herman Dune - My Friends Kill My Folks

African American Young Adolescents

I've been listening to Black Kids for a few weeks now, and after seeing their song in the 'On Repeat' section on Pitchfork, I decided it was about time to throw in my two cents on these up and comers. My favorite track by far off of their Wizard of Ahhh's EP has to be 'I'm not gonna teach your boyfriend how to dance with you' , which carries some instrumental similarities to the likes of Arcade Fire in the introduction, and further on, the lo-fi sounding chants of The Go! Team. You're going to have this one stuck in your head. The band is currently playing shows in their native Jacksonville, Florida territory, and surprisingly are unsigned, but I would expect to see these guys on a label and getting out and about very soon. In fact, I'm going to make a label..right now, and sign them. Yes this is very official, and also legal. Check out their myspace for more tracks to download.

- Matty B.

Black Kids - I'm not gonna teach your boyfriend how to dance with you
Black Kids - Listen to your body tonight

So Worry Not

Here's a new video from The National for "Apartment Story," one of the better songs from the fantastic 2007 effort, Boxer. While the clip isn't set in an apartment, it still seems to project the track's mixed messages and sentiment. Very well done.

Remix Smonday - Unless It's Kicks, Man

What we have here is the acoustic demo version of one of this year’s best songs: ‘Unless It’s Kicks’.

1500 copies of Okkervil River’s splendid The Stage Names came packaged with a bonus disc of solo acoustic demos of each of the album’s nine tracks; there are still a few double-CD editions floating around out there, so grab yours while you can.

- a.m.p.m.

Okkervil River - Unless It's Kicks (album version)
Okkervil River - Unless It's Kicks (solo acoustic demo)

BSS Fans are the Lucky Ones

Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew just released his quasi-"solo" effort Spirit If... and it's quite terrific. It would be a waste of time going off on a superfluous summary of the album's bright spots and intricacies, instead let's just say that all things considered, Drew's record is a Broken Social Scene record and lives up to their catalogue. Feist, Amy, Emily, Jason, and other lesser known BSS contributors lend their voices to many songs, keeping the hour and five minute album as diverse as we've come to expect from the collective. Certain songs outshine others, but upon first listen it feels like a Silent Alarm or a Neon Bible, in that the prospect of any song becoming a favorite in the future is very possible. As of now the best song, hands down, is "Lucky Ones", which also happens to be Drew's longest. The primary guitar lick will get stuck in your head, be forewarned. Consistent as ever, this is both a safe and essential purchase for any Canadian music fan. Now that Arts & Crafts have signed The Constantines and The Stills to bolster their lineup, it seems as though the monopoly on Canadian indie rock is complete.

Kevin Drew - Lucky Ones
Kevin Drew - Bodhi Sappy Weekend

- brad

Pretty Crafty

So I stumbled across this piece of DIY marketing genius-ness, taking place almost literally in my own backyard:

It seems that Toronto-area synth-pop six-piece The Craft Economy are very anxious to get their name (and their music) into the heads of whoever, however. This past weekend, copies of the virtually-uknown band's debut EP, All On C, were spotted stapled to telephone posts throughout Kensington Market - a very busy place to be on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

The CD-Rs (of which there were apparently 100 in total) were stapled alongside posters advertising their upcoming show as part of Toronto's annual Nuit Blanche. The CDs just happened to grab the attention of at least two local bloggers, Two Way Monologues and Boing Boing, who went ahead and wrote about the wizardry of such a novel idea.

And then I read it. And thought it was fucking brilliant. And now I'm writing about it. And hundreds of thousands of loyal BTA readers are alerted and will likely check out this Toronto band.

And the best part: the music doesn't even suck. It's quite good, actually.

Their myspace claims that the band was formed upon a suggestion by Art Brut lead man Eddie Argos who, during their Toronto appearance in 2005, urged every audience member to go home and form a band (likely in regards to their song 'Formed a Band') by the next time they come to town. And while most people likely failed to hold up their end of the idea, a few crazy kids actually followed through. And thus, The Craft Economy was born.

The songs on their debut EP are pretty standard hook-driven pop, heavily dependent on synths and a very suiting boy-girl vocal combo. So if you consider yourself a fan of Arts & Crafts newbies Los Campesinos! or synth-pop vets Mates of State, it might be worth checking out.

The Craft Economy perform September 29th @ 10:30 at Neu+ral, as part of Nuit Blanche. But don't take my word for it, the flyer is right here:

The Craft Economy - The Crash, the Wagons, the Dying Horses
The Craft Economy - The Kissing Song

- bbbykmbrly

P.S. The band's entire All On C EP can be downloaded here for free.

Oh You're So Swedish Jens

Jens Lekman is set to release his latest album, Night Falls Over Kortedala, early this October. It's another set of melancholy pop tunes featuring the humour and wit Lekman has become known for. The lush instrumentation and romantic songwriting of Jens just makes the music downright nice, for lack of a more fitting term. Kortedala seems to use stronger live intrumentation over his other major North American release, 2005's Oh You're So Silent Jens, which based itself largely on Jens' guitar playing and heavier use of audio samples. Check these songs.

From Oh You're So Silent Jens (2005):

A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill

Maple Leaves (7" version)

From Night Falls Over Kortedala (2007):

The Opposite of Hallelujah

Friday Night At the Drive-In Bingo

-A.W.

The Whip

Let's talk about Kitsune Maison mixtape favorites The Whip for a moment, because I don't think they get nearly enough exposure this side of the pond. The Manchester electro-whatever outfit is on tour playing shows with outstanding peers Calvin Harris, Hadouken!, and Late of the Pier. If their choice of company is any indication of their own ability, trust they can lay down some blazing cuts. The first time I heard "Divebomb" I was blown away by the simultaneous simplicity and attention to detail. By the track's end there are phaser bleeps firing on all cylinders from ten different directions, raining down on any ear within range. For our London readers, check these guys out Oct. 10th and 18th at the Astoria and Fabric. If our own a.m.p.m. gets a chance to check out either show, you'll be sure to hear all about their live skills right here. The Whip's new album drops in '08, and new single "Sister Siam" is blowing up. Check out the video for "Divebomb" as well, which for some reason brings to mind The Edison Twins...anybody?



The Whip - Divebomb
The Whip - Divebomb (Crystal Castles Remix) [Thanks to Panda Toes for upping this one]
The Whip - Trash

Bonus:
Hadouken! - Tuning In (H Re Rub)

- brad

Hot Springs

Hot Springs are from Montreal and are adored by Anglophones and Francophones alike. For the non-Canadians out there: this doesn't happen very often. Their first full length album, Volcano, was released yesterday and the band describes it as follows: "The album dishes out a combo of perfect pop that sinks its fangs in, rock that doesn’t stoop to knuckle draggers, ballads that are fluff free, throws a flurry of psychedelia into the mix (guaranteed to leave marks) and, yes – you can even dance to it."

First single 'Headrush' is explosive stuff indeed, and incredibly hook-laden. Try to listen to it just once, I dare ya. 'Cellophane' is similarly edgy. Other tracks ('Annimystique', 'Fog and the Horn') are gentler, but equally compelling. Throughout the album, lead singer Giselle Webber's vocals traverse the spectrum from Beth Ditto to Emily Haines while retaining a style all her own. All signs point to Volcano receiving plenty of listening time; it certainly deserves it.

Hot Springs are rumoured to have an incendiary live show; those of you in central Canada should not miss album release gigs in Quebec City, Montreal and Toronto (Sept. 27, 28 and 29 respectively).

- a.m.p.m.

Hot Springs - Headrush

Hot Springs - Cellophane

From the 2005 Rock Partouze EP:

Hot Springs - Cacodisco

A Date with the Night - and the YYY's

So the Yeah Yeah Yeahs came to Toronto last week, performing at an exclusive party put on by Vice Magazine and CKIN2U. 3000+ people requested guest list spots. Only a fraction of these people actually fit into Berkeley Church, with the solid majority going home YYY-less after waiting in the mile-long line for hours.

I, on the other hand, had more than my fair share of "Karen, Nick, and Brian" time. I got to be their temporary friend all day long.

Through partial luck, but mostly just a good friend with good contacts, I was hired for the day to be the band's hospitality dude - making sure they are well-fed, on time, and drunk. And though it was a tough job, I feel I executed aptly. By midway through the day, they even knew my name.

In between running across the city for whole white young uncut coconuts, driving the band wherever desired, and facilitating rock icon sing-a-longs to the Stones' Sticky Fingers, I somehow managed to catch one of the most raucous and sweaty live performances in the history of the world.

The very second the enigmatic Karen O stepped on stage, the electricity in the old church was unlike anything truly describable. I'd seen the band at V-Fest in Baltimore back in August, where they totally stole the show on Day 2, but this was just... different. The most energetic, honest, and riotous performance I can manage to remember.

And then I got drunk with Karen and the rest of the team. And ate their pizza.

I could probably go on forever about how unbelievable these folks are as musicians as well as people. But instead, check below for some youtube-age from the show, which doesn't come close to doing justice to the show. For those who weren't there - you can at least take solace in the fact that your brain didn't simultaneously explode with the rest of us during Honeybear.

Also - Chromewaves took some rad photos.







Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Kiss Kiss
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Bang
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y Control (Faint Remix)

- bbbykmbrly.

Remix Sunday - Port O'Brien vs. Black Eyed Peas

Okay, so this week's Remix Sunday is kinda just an excuse to post about Port O'Brien, who I had the great fortune of seeing at the Social on Monday night. A friend's band was opening for the Californians, who I had heard of, but I had no idea what I was in for in terms of their live show.

First off, as the band set up it became abundantly clear that drummer Josh Barnhart's only two instruments were to be a tambourine and a box. Yes, a fucking box. Needless to say, audience participation was to play a large part in the band's percussion. Van Pierszalowski, bandmaster of the four-piece, easily bonded with the intrigued crowd in about 15 seconds and offered to recount the mysterious story of the missing drums to those who were interested after the show.

Port O'Brien's sound brings to mind Bright Eyes' gentle and sincere acoustic approach and Neutral Milk Hotel instrumentation combined with a liberal dose of Decemberists-style storytelling. One of the best gigs I've seen in a while concluded with a brilliant encore performance of Ludacris' 'Move Bitch', which brings me to the Remix Sunday portion of this post. I stumbled across a cover of 'My Humps' on the band's website, and it's hilarious. Words won't do it justice:

Port O'Brien - My Humps (Black Eyed Peas cover)

Bonus:
Port O'Brien - I Woke Up Today
Port O'Brien - Five and Dime
Port O'Brien - My Eyes Won't Shut
Port O'Brien - Tree Bones

- a.m.p.m.

RATATAT - Gettysburg @ Guggenheim

'Gettysburg' is one of my favourite RATATAT tracks, and when the guys played it live at a show here in London a few months ago, I lost my freakin' mind. In my humble opinion, the live version is stronger than the Classics cut. This video is from their set at NYC's Guggenheim Museum last year and it illustrates the shenanigans the boys get up to, as well as the searing guitar duel outro (versus the album version's fade-out).


'Gettysburg' was recently used to soundtrack this excellent and informative clip on Nuclear Weapons Transparency:


- a.m.p.m.

Bonus:
Biggie Smalls - Party and Bullshit (RATATAT Remix)
Z-ro, Devin the Dude & Juvenile - The Mule (RATATAT Remix)
Ghostface ft. Jadakiss - Run (RATATAT Remix)
Jay-Z & Notrious B.I.G. - Allure (RATATAT Remix)

Babyshambles Deliver New Album

Shotter’s Nation, the second album from London bad boys Babyshambles, is due to drop here in the UK on October 1st. Being a diehard Libertines fan back in the day, I made sure to check out Pete Doherty’s “side project” and was pleasantly surprised by 2005 album Down in Albion and all three of the band’s EPs. Judging by first single ‘Delivery’ and ‘The Lost Art of Murder’ I won’t be disappointed this time around either.

‘Delivery’ is to be officially released on September 17, but UK residents can treat themselves to a free 7 inch vinyl featuring an acoustic version of the track when they pick up this week’s NME magazine.

For those who missed the band’s The Blinding EP in December, shame on you. Give it a listen post haste, but for now check out ‘Sedative’ (below).

- a.m.p.m.

From upcoming Shotter's Nation:

Babyshambles - Delivery

Babyshambles - The Lost Art of Murder

From The Blinding EP:

Babyshambles - Sedative

Apparat

Apparat is the solo project of Berlin-based electronic musician Sascha Ring. His collaborative effort with fellow German Ellen Allien last year titled Orchestra of Bubbles yielded one of my favourite albums of 2006, and now his new album Walls is one of my top picks for 2007. Those of you scared off by the term "electonic": don't be. This ish is epic.

- a.m.p.m.

Apparat - Arcadia

Apparat - Fractales Part 1

Apparat - Useless Information

White Stripes Release New Single

They just keep getting better and better, don't they? The White Stripes' second single from Icky Thump hit shelves yesterday in CD and 7" formats and is a nice dose of good ol' rock 'n' roll. 'You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told)' stays true to the Icky Thump sound with its crunching blues progression and a Jack White shrieking guitar solo.

Icky Thump, Meg and Jack's sixth album, became a certified gold record in the US just a month after its release and entered the UK charts at the number one spot. Not too shabby for two white kids from Detroit.

The video for this baby was filmed in Nunavut (northern Canada) and features the 'Stripes favourite palette of red, white and black:



- a.m.p.m.

The White Stripes - You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told)

MSTRKRFT - The Complete Remixes

Earlier this year one of my favourite blogs, The Blue Walrus, posted an excellent MSTRKRFT remix comp including several tracks I hadn't yet heard. Being a big fan of the East York (Toronto, that is) knob-twiddlers I was quite pleased.

A few months later nonacienmanchester went one better and made available a double disc remix set including 19 (!) remixes. You can grab it here. Other than a rework of 'Bring It On' by Goose and the recent remix of Justice's 'D.A.N.C.E.' I do believe this is every MSTRKFRT remix out there (I've included these below). Prove me wrong kids, prove me wrong.

Remixes I

Two More Years [Bloc Party]/No Wow [The Kills]/Heartbeat [Annie]/Little Girl [Death From Above 1979]/Thank Me With Your Hands [Panthers]/Element Of Danger [Services]/Easy Love (Remix) [MSTRKRFT]/Sexy Results [Death From Above 1979]/Got Love To Kill [Juliette & The Licks]

Remixes II

Woman [Wolfmother]/Listen Up! [The Gossip]/Monster Hospital [Metric]/Awake Since '78 [Acid Jacks]/Kennedy Killed The Hat [Buck 65]/Rock Steady [All Saints]/Ceolakanth Is Android [Polysics]/Jique [Brazilian Girls]/Dudun-Dun [Para One]/Someone Like You [Revl9n]

- a.m.p.m.

Goose - Bring It On (MSTRKRFT Remix)

Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT Remix)

Street Lights For a Ribcage

Most of us at Bridging the Atlantic dig the likes of M83 for making dark, chilling, and challenging electronic music that pays homage to early digital soundtracks and the earliest shoegazer artists like My Bloody Valentine. A Seattle-based band on the rise go by the name Sleepy Eyes of Death, borrowed from a successful Japanese film series from the 60's, and certainly belong alongside M83 in the crop who grew up inspired by the Blade Runner score and the ominous potential of electronic melody. Their debut full length Street Lights for a Ribcage was released earlier this year and failed to garner much interest from bloggers, though I'm thankful I happened to hear a song from that record this past week. The band contains a full-time sound, light, smoke, and theatrics member who ensures that live shows flesh out the cinematic force of their songs. If France's M83 has heard these guys, there may be a problem figuring out the influence/inspiration/ intellectual property rights distinction, but in my books good ideas are meant to borrowed.

M83 also have a new ambient project hitting shelves entitled Digital Shades Vol. 1, which Bridging the Atlantic will feature this coming week.

Sleepy Eyes of Death - Eyes Spliced Open (YSI)
M83 - Fields, Shorelines and Hunters (YSI)

- Brad

Goin' Back To The South

Sure, it's borderline country if not outright rockabilly. Call it what you like, but 'Lamb On The Lam (In The City)' is currently my favourite track from Band of Horses' upcoming new album Cease to Begin. This toe-tapper features Ben Bridwell's newly confident and clear vocals, is infused with honky-tonk piano tinkling and layered acoustic guitars, and conveys a spirit of earnest Southern hospitality.

I can't stop listening to 'Ode To LRC' either; it is the album's second track and fits perfectly in its place following Cease to Begin's opener 'Is There A Ghost'. It starts off as a typical BOH rockout that wouldn't have been out of place on previous album Everything All The Time, but the track's fantastic tempo changes are masterfully pulled off and hint at the new level of maturity achieved by the band that can be heard throughout the album. And when Bridwell sings "the world is such a wonderful place" at the song's close, you know he really believes it.

Bridging the Atlantic already gave you all the new album details a little while ago. Now the album has been leaked, and after a few cursory listens it would appear that it could be as solid as Everything All The Time. In addition to the tracks mentioned above, 'Cigarettes, Wedding Bands' and 'No One's Gonna Love You' are growers that impress me more with each subsequent listen. Even 'Islands On The Coast', clocking in at just 52 seconds, is a microcosm of beauty that you'll want to hear over and over again. Considering that EATT was in many a blogger's top ten album list for 2006 (including mine), this could be major.

I'll be picking up my copy of Cease to Begin on October 9th; you should too.

- a.m.p.m.

Band of Horses - Lamb On The Lam (In The City)
Band of Horses - Ode To LRC

Spoon: Live in Victoria

Last night Spoon performed to a sold out audience at the Sugar Nightclub in Victoria BC. By the time they took the stage, the crowd was energized and thirsty for the musical excellence that was about to be consumed. This was thanks to openers Black Joe Lewis. They are without a doubt one of the best modern blues bands I have seen to date. And Lewis' voice, with such strength and delivery, is comparable to the likes of B.B King or James Brown. His accompanying band flaunted a three piece horn section and keyboard to go along with the regular three piece. It didn't take long for the crowd to start dancing and moving to these guys.

Spoon put on a stellar performance. What more can I say. Much of the set list came from the recently released Ga Ga Ga Ga album, along with the best of Gimme Fiction and other old favorites. The best part of the show though was when the horn section from Lewis' band joined them on stage to perform songs like 'The Underdog'. The crowd was hungry for more after this great set and welcomed them for a great encore. This was by far one of my favorite live experiences of this year. Pick up Ga Ga Ga Ga if you haven't already and see them live asap.

- Matty B .
Here are a few quick clips from the show:





Spoon - The Underdog

Remix Sunday - Feist Attack!

Here I present three top notch remixes of some already fantastic Feist tunes from her not so recent release, The Reminder (if you didn't already know it came out in May...). Needless to say, it got a lot of play time this past summer and these mixes worked overtime. So if you didn't hear them grab them post haste.

Feist - 1234 (Van She Technologic Remix) [zShare]

Feist - My Moon My Man (Boyz Noize Remix) [zShare]

Feist - Sea Lion Woman (Chromeo Remix) [zShare]

Word.

-A.W.

New Kanye West Album Just Days Away

Graduation, Kanye West's third effort, is to be released in the UK on Monday and the US the following day. The album has already garnered all kinds of critical praise from Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and AllHipHop.com and the first two singles, 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' and 'Stronger' have both proved commercial successes. The Chris Martin-backed 'Homecoming' is to be the third single.

Although I'm not the biggest Kanye West fan in the world, I did enjoy The College Dropout and Late Registration and it looks like Graduation will have a few gems to rub shoulders with classic Kanye cuts like 'Jesus Walks', 'School Spirit', and 'Gold Digger'. Grab the tracks below and judge for yourself; you can also stream the whole album here thanks to Power 105.1.

- a.m.p.m.

Kanye West - Flashing Lights
Kanye West - Homecoming
Kanye West - Good Life

bonus:
Kanye West - Young Folks (freestyle)
Kanye West - Diamonds (Ratatat remix)

Justin vs Justice

A few days ago the Limewire blog posted an interesting interview with Anthony Volodkin, creator of the ubiquitous Hype Machine. The Machine has really changed the way we music bloggers interact with each other and you, our wonderful readers, not to mention made it so much easier to find amazing new music.
During the interview Anthony mentions his unlikely fascination with Justice's remix of Justin Timberlake's 'Lovestoned'. I too found this track through the Hype Machine, and it's definitely worth a listen.

- a.m.p.m.

Justin Timberlake - Lovestoned (Justice remix) [YSI]

Freebie: Editors @ MTV Live - Toronto

For any Torontonians reading - bookmark September 10th on your handheld reminder device. Editors, fresh off their V-Fest appearance on Toronto Island, will be doing a free appearance at MTV Live at Yonge & Bloor.

I checked out one of these performances when Bloc Party came around last. What to expect: a really lousy 10 minute interview session, followed by 5 or 6 songs that sound actually really great. And hey, the price is right, so if you're in the GTA, it might be worth calling the 1-888 number or email and getting yourself on the g-list.

And to celebrate, here are a couple Editors tunes that they didn't write:

Editors - Feel Good Inc. (Gorillaz)
Editors - Orange Crush (REM)

- bbbykmbrly.

Fantastic Fanatic

This track from Cannonball Jane, which I recently stumbled upon thanks to the ever-informative Fanatic, sounds like a cross between The Go! Team and Amy Winehouse (in a good way). Love that big-band backing track.

- a.m.p.m.

Cannonball Jane - Take It To Fantastic

Immaculate Machine @ Logan's Pub

A few days ago I was finally able to catch Immaculate Machine at Logan's Pub in Victoria, BC. Also on the bill were The Paper Cranes, who although I've only known through a pretty bumpin T.I mix, put on a great set. And there was some random trio of rappers, who were not only misplaced by their style, but also due to their lack of talent. It was like the hefty jolly dudes from your high school homeroom put together a rap at lunch for their presentation. Anyway, once Immaculate Machine finally took the stage, although very late, all was forgiven as they flawlessly performed songs mostly from their newly released album Fables, as well as a few favorites from the last album including 'No Such Thing as the Future'.

The band had been back in town for the week as they had also participated in the Covers for a Cause show in which all the bands participating performed covers for their whole set. So in light of this event, they decided to perform an entertaining cover of Britney Spears' 'Toxic'.

Fables is definitely a favorite of 2007; be sure to check it out. 'Dear Confessor' is one of the strongest tracks on this overall great album.

- Matty B.

Immaculate Machine - Dear Confessor

Peacebone

My recent favourite song from Animal Collective's Strawberry Jam now has a new creep-tacular video. What else would you expect from the Collective, really?



Strawberry Jam is due out Sept 10/11 depending on where you live, and has already been creating all kinds of buzz since it was leaked online back on the 4th of July. Personally, I loved Tung Songs and have no reservations in giving Jam a preliminary two thumbs up.

The band is currently on a massive North American tour, and according to their Myspace page will be stopping in "Ottowa" on September 7th and Toronto the following day. If any of you end up catching the Ottawa show at the Bronson Centre, I'd be interested to hear how it played out.

- a.m.p.m.

Animal Collective - Peacebone

Shut Up I Was Dreaming

When I first heard of Spencer Krug's other band (not Wolf Parade, Frog Eyes or superstar project Swan Lake), Sunset Rubdown, I merely expected it fill the gap until Wolf Parade's next release - however, that was almost two years ago. Sunset Rubdown released one of my favourite albums of 2006 with Shut Up I Am Dreaming and are poised to do it again with Random Spirit Lover, this October. Their sound is a touch more subdued but at the same time heaps more manic than Wolf Parade, accredited largely to Krug's contrasting songwriting and singing styles. I've always thought that a lot of Wolf Parade's rocking out came in the songs by other singer, Dan Boeckner - who shows his other side musically through minimalism in the Handsome Furs.

Despite great live reviews, I've yet to see Sunset Rubdown on stage, however reports show them touring this October with a stop in Victoria, BC - my new home as of the middle of September - so I recommend all to check them out. Random Spirit Lover is out October 9 on Jagjaguwar. Here are two of my favourite tracks off the recently leaked album - but it's unquestionably buy-worthy in this critic's opinion. These show off both the urgency and melancholy moods Krug has succeeded in creating with this band. Enjoy.

Sunset Rubdown - The Mending of the Gown

Sunset Rubdown - For The Pier (And Dead Shimmering)

-A.W.