Your 33 Black Angels of Brooklyn are putting out a new album on October the 14th. Their last album, Lonely Street, got praise from Rolling Stone, HARP, just to name a few . Unlike the set standard of LPs being 10-14 tracks long, Tales of My Pop-Rock Love (great album name, huh?) is set to be a great 22 tracks. Awesome. I feel let down when my only complaint about a great album is that it's too short.
In their own words, they describe Tales of My Pop-Rock Love as "florid, visionary rock and soul about girls, death violence, daises and true love". Your 33 Black Angels - New Song (mp3)(buy)
This new track, simply entitled "New Song", is quite the charmer. It's got that optimistic-indie vibe to it that you can't help but sing along to. There's something about these guys, maybe the self-produced quality, that makes me think they belong in the 90s section of my music library. The 90s were my golden age of music. Be sure to check out more of their stuff on their mySpace. You'll see what I mean.
Your 33 Black Angels have just finished their US tour. If you've missed them, but are lucky enough to be their hometown on Halloween night, they'll be playing a show at Brooklyn's MonkeyTown.
A couple of months back, coming back to Canada after an American shopping day trip, my friends and I were pulled over. Because we were carrying new Coach bags. I hate that brand. One Coach bag costs $100+. Anyways, the reason why is because we went over our spending limit for the day. Roughly $50 is the maximum amount of goods you can bring back over to Canada when you go cross border shooping. So yeah, we got pulled over and slapped with a fine for a stupid reason like spending too much money.
But what happens when you decide not to pull over at customs? Ask the Stereophonics.
The UK band apparently refused to pull over. Canadian officials had to chase them down. The driver of their tour bus ignored police calls to pull over while driving back from a Vancouver show at 4am on Sept. 22. So then each of the band members had to get majorly searched by officials at the border when it turned out the driver had parked illegally.
Kelly Jones (of the band) told The Sun (UK): “What a day. We got chased by the cops for two miles – for illegal parking. “We got stopped and searched, the bus was searched and we had to unload the trailer.” And then Jones let it slip that he was friends with a former drug smuggler cause guards started talking about a guy who used to smuggle drugs through band equipment. Jones said, :‘Are you talking about Howard Marks? He’s my friend.’ You can imagine the rest.”
So next time, take due diligence and be on your best behaviour at the border.
A little while ago, the Chemical Brothers asked their fans to shoot short some footage for their latest music video. This was the result:
Chemical Brothers - Midnight Madness
In other Chemical Brothers news, according to a statement that MGMT made on mySpace, "though they be rad dudes, the Chemical Brothers will not be producing MGMT's next album".
Peter Elkas played a set at Yonge and Dundas Square today. It's nice to see him live. He's very smiley in person. It's contagious.
Peter Elkas - Gone It's Gone
Peter Elkas - Sweet Nancy
Have I mentioned that "Sweet Nancy" is one of the sweetest songs I've ever heard? And it's about a break up? I don't think I'd be able to get upset with a guy that breaks up with me through this song. And that's saying something, isn't it?
ImpressionableYouth is now on Hype Machine! Yay! It's another landmark in our little blogging world. It's awesome. It's a milestone for sure. And some people have started to send us info on songs they love, bands they play in and awesome bands in general. Thanks guys!
The stuff we receive consists of hits and misses, but once in a while someone sends us a gem, like this track by the Spinto Band called "Pumpkins and Paisley." In the few la-la-las of the song, it just drew me in and instantly put a smile on my face. It's so unabashedly joyous! If it doesn't perk up your day, you've got no heart, my friend.
So anyhoo, the Spinto Band is from Delaware and their new album Moonwink is out in stores October 7, 2008 and you can listen to a couple of their high energy power-pop tracks on their official site. They have a following in the UK, having been on Jools Holland and touring with the likes of the Arctic Monkeys and the Kooks.
It's hard to describe their sound. They definitely have the punch of the UK bands, but with a dreamier starry-eyed sound and a sunny outlook. It's got an American feel. It almost as if Pavement decided to become the Strokes or Hot Hot Heat, all the while finding Buddist enlightenment, while hooked on caffeine and sugar.
Yes, I know. Yet ANOTHER post about Hawksley Workman. But the guy has been busy, releasing a couple of album this year. And he sure likes his remixes. Los Manlicious, released just last month had a few tracks remixed from Between the Beautifuls.
Anyhoo, as a thanks to all his fans, he's released an exclusive remix of "Fatty Wants to Dance" made over by Nik Kozub of Shout Out Out Out .
I have a friend that attends York University, and she invited me to be her guest at their concert this year. I'm so glad I'm her friend. Much love to you, Vee!
I'm still so psyched about this show that I'm gonna spread the love and pepper this post with mp3s, and videos and photos that I TOOK MYSELF. Ha! It's a fuckin' smorgeshboard of awesome!
They take to the stage with the air of a very modest indie band. They've got that highly infectious geek-pop-rock feeling to them.
The adorable keyboard notes get increasingly enjoyable through each verse. It makes the crowd very happy. This makes them very happy in return. The lead singer quips a quick "you're fucking awesome" to us before they begin their next song.
Now I'll be completely honest. I love the headliners for YorkFest '08, more popularly known as the Stars. But Sweet Thing was the reason I came. You may remember me posting about this band a few months ago. I'm very excited for them. I knew there was going to be rhythmic clapping. I knew there was gonna be "da-da-da"-ing. Knowing didn't take any satisfaction away from doing either as they performed. Hell, I'm still da-da-da-ing. Twelve hours after the show. For me, they were the highlight of the night.
Solid tunes, and solid showmanship. Remember that post I did about Brandon Flower's mustache, and how much I hated it? Well, Owen of Sweet Thing, I completely forgive your mustache. You're an awesome performer, and that more than makes up for it.
Sweet Thing - Down to the Ground
Sweet Thing - Lie Low (?) and Everyone
Smash that tambourine, boy!
Sweet Thing - Kite Fight
I have a few more videos to upload from their set. But it takes forever to upload things on YouTube. When they're up, I'll put them either in an edit of this post, or a separate "updates" post. Or you can just subscribe to impressionableyouth on YouTube. I plan to record more videos of shows that I see in the future, and things of that sort.
Before their shows, they set up bouquets of roses that they'll toss into the audience during their songs. Petals go flying. Last night was no different (the lucky guy beside me caught one). They were amazing. I had never been to a Stars show before, and was naive to think it would only be swaying. I was an idiot. They really rocked out. They rocked out hard.
I was only able to stay for less than half the set unfortunately. I'll have to see them again when the come back to Toronto in December.
I've always thought that Spiritualized made very romantic songs. Not intentionally romantic in the typical sense, not in a boy band notion, not romantic in the Richard Hawley sense or a swoon-ish Stars way, but it's somehow indirectly sentimental. There's a spacey aloof quality to the songs which are sparse but filled with grandoise uses of strings, reverb and crescendos. While Spiritualized's Jason Pierce, aka. J Spaceman is an atheist, his songs do sound a little like hymns, creating a coccoon of sound that is warm but distant at the same time. It's like coming home after a long night. The sound is dark (possibly due to a drug filled haze?) but there's an optimism in there. It sounds like dreams are possible and that things (ie. you and me) will work out in the end.
Deerhoof's new album, Offend Maggie is out October 7, 2008. Being the unconventionalists that they are, instead of releasing the first single "Fresh Born" in normal audio form, they've decided to release the sheet music (below) but you can also the full blown image here. So musicians or at least people who can read music can get a sense of what it might sound like. Fans can also upload their own cover versions on Deerhoof's official website before we get the real Deerhoof version of the song. It'll be interesting to see how the covers end up. You can check out what's already been uploaded here.
The Young Lords. Let's take a closer look, shall we?
They formed only two years ago in New York City. Since then, they've played alongside bands such as the Fratellis and the Virgins. They've been featured in magazines such as Anthem and Nylon (twice). More recently, they've been highlighted by mtvU's Ahead of the Curve series with a short clip of their song, Trying.
Young Lords - Trying
That's one of the ten tracks listed on their first full-length release, Rodeo Songs, named after their opening track. You can get your hands on it on October the 7th.
And by the way, they did all this without a label. What a deed indeed! Facts and figures out of the way now, let's talk about the music.
The album opens with Rodeo Songs, fittingly acting as a segue into the rest of the album.
It's a tad calmer than what's to follow, but it gives you a nice hint about what to look forward to. What may not be completely obvious from this first track however, is that the next 30 minutes of the album is effin' badass. Bad-ass-country-alternative-indie-rock. Another band that came into my mind while listening to the Young Lords was the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The recordings also have that gritty, rough edge feel to it that I am oh so attracted to. This is the kind of album that you're gonna want playing through your car speakers, as you're driving by the city streets in your aviator shades and nonchalant expression. These are the modern, existential tunes and lyrics that make indie music enthusiasts nod knowingly to each other upon hearing. I've been resisting the phrase, but honestly, I feel it encapsulates their sound well. Cool. The Young Lords simply, sound and exemplify the term, "cool".
So cool, yet judging by this interview, they sound pretty approachable too. I should have known. They were so humble and in their emails.
Young Lords interview with TT! TV
Just hold on, boys. I have a feeling things are gonna sky rocket for you soon. And once they do, won't you make a couple of stops in Canada? Much appreciated.
I saw this on another blog and my heart gave a little squeeze. I am by no means a health nut, despite my chosen career path, but even I have limits. This far exceeds it.
For those who can't tell, that is a Krispy Kreme Bacon Cheeseburger.
As the blog said "this was lunch at Google NYC’s cafeteria to celebrate the birthday of the head of the cafe staff". I personally think the head of the cafe staff has an enemy out there trying to kill him instead of celebrate him.
The Raveonettes are releasing a series of digital only EPs throughout the next 3 months. There will 4 short form releases (rather than waiting for an entire album) and to celebrate, they are giving about tracks from their Raveonettes Remixed EPhere.
Tracks are:
01. Dead Sound (80KIDZ remix)
02. Aly, Walk With Me (Nic Endo remix)
03. Lust (Trentemøller Remix)
The next EP will be released on September 23 2008 called Sometimes They Drop By, then two more on October 21 and November 25, 2008. The very last one will be an EP of modern Christmas songs. I'm tremendously excited about the last one. I loved their Christmas Song. It's so awesome, I'm going to post it now, in September. I don't care! It's Wham's "Last Christmas" awesome!
This is video from last night's show closers at Toronto's V Fest, Oasis. Apparently a guy got swept up in the heat of the moment and managed to get past both festival, and personal security guards. He gave a cowardly, from-behind push to Noel and it was enough to knock him over. He also took a swing at Liam, but the security got to him and the situation was quickly resolved. They finished their set, which is quite commendable considering that Noel was hospitalized after.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that Noel and Liam deserved it but, c'mon. They are notorious for being asses. It was bound to happen eventually. Afterall, they've offended their fair share of people. It's just a shame that it happened in Toronto.
Don't hate us, Oasis. The rest of the city is behind you. We're just not gonna run up and push you over.
Okay, so that's a really misleading title for this post. Sort of. Technically, it's true. It will be post V-fest Toronto about now. But I didn't attend V-fest this year even though I love half of the bands who are playing.
I decided I don't really like large music festivals. First off, being petite, I can't really see anything. While there is value to music festivals in which you can't see anything (ie. being with friends, gushing over your favourite bands, festival atmosphere etc.), I just prefer seeing bands in smaller settings. I like to push my way to the front, but in a music festival, I'd just end up watching it on a megatron. I might as well do that at home for free on tv.
This is what I saw when Death Cab For Cutie played at Olympic Island a couple of months back. And that was when I held my arm over my head with the camera.
Not much of a view. But then a very generous and giddy girl sitting on someone's shoulders behind me took this one for me. I could see via my camera lens! Note to self: please bring a camera to shows more often.Death Cab for Cutie - No Sunlight (mp3) (buy)
Aww, remember that charming young lad? He's back (without the stache) and it makes me happy. I didn't remember him being such a good looking chap. He's back, along with the Killers, with a few new tracks that we'll probably be seeing more of, closer to the completion of a new album. The next one will be entitled Day and Age and they've already played "Neon Tiger" and "Spaceman" live.
Clearly I am bored, two posts in a day is unheard of from me! Luckily I stumbled upon this little gem. For those of you who have heard this already, I apologize for repeating this but it needs to be known!
I am not a Nickelback fan. This is not a case of it's-not-the-band-I-hate, it's-their-fans. I just plain old, don't like Nickelback for their music. It's unoriginal. That is my personal opinion and you may have your own. But after finding this site, I feel as though I have some concrete proof as to why I dislike them so.
The blog Who Killed the Mixtape? featured an mp3 of 2 Nickelback songs a couple of months back. Not surprisingly they are quite similar. To the point that when you listen to the song on headphones (Someday comes from the left speaker and How You Remind Me comes from the right), there is not much dissonance. When songs are different, they clash when played together. Not these two. They (not) suprisingly complement each other. Nickelback needs a shot of orginality, stat!
Most of you will probably realize by now that I don't blog half as much as the other two contributors on this page. Mostly, it's because I don't have the patiences to sit down and write whenever I'm excited about something new I've discovered.
But alas, I've got plenty of time on my hands right now since I'm on a bus heading towards New York City. Luckily this bus has free Wifi and a plug for my laptop. Huzzah!
Ben Folds is a piano genius. Back when he was part of a Five and they wrote Brick, it was and still is an all time favorite. Since then, Ben Folds has gone solo with 2 albums under his belt and toured tirelessly.
His next solo effort will be released on Sept 30.
The first single is called You Don't Know Me and it features Regina Spektor. I throughly enjoy it. Check it out for yourself.
On a related note, Way to Normal was leaked online back in July. Oddly enough the leak was done by Folds himself. And the 9 songs were fake songs too! Those songs will be appearing as b-sides and bonus tracks for future records.
The following are all-ages unless otherwise specified. This list is SUBJECT TO CHANGE. I'll try my best to keep this up-to-date but ALWAYS double check official sources before you go.
I hope that sharing a few of your songs is alright by you. If not, please let me know as I will immediately remove your material upon request. We're still good though, right?
Greetings few, but well-loved readers. Please enjoy your stay but remember, the mp3s are for sampling and will only be available for a short time. If you find something you like, support the artist. Buying the record and going to shows makes everyone happy.
Music submission? Important feedback? Questions or comments? Complaint? We're more than happy to hear it: impressionableyouth@gmail.com
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