Tron: Legacy

So, i don't know how this got by me, but evidently Daft Punk are providing the score for "Tron: Legacy." I don't think i even need to say anything more. Daft Punk are doing the music for the "Tron" sequel. I think this proves the existence of God...or maybe leprechauns.

Inspired by crocodiles

Animal Collective member Avey Tare will be releasing his first solo effort, "Down There" on October 26th courtesy of Paw Tracks. Hooray!

Savage Streets

There's just something about revenge flicks. Linda Blair (yes, the little girl from "The Exorcist") sets out to kill a drug dealing street gang (full of skinny white kids i might add) after the beat and rape her deaf sister. And that's pretty much it. There's a bunch of superfluous exposition about wanting a better life, ya, ya, ya, but there's also a ton of 1980's nudity, Dean Wormer from "Animal House" (John Vernon), and a guy gets killed by a bear trap. The music is super cheesy, and the acting is atrocious. Highly recommended.

Com Truise

I know it seems that i shove 80's film-inspired synthesized magic into our lives every other day, but i stumbled upon some awesomeness that just could not be tamed. And their name is Com Truise! Fuck yeah! It makes me want to give awkward interviews, jump on couches, pray to aliens, and get myself a young starlet to be my beard. Anyway, they've released an EP entitled "Cyanide Sisters," and you can download the whole thing for free right here. If upon listening, you find yourself sucked inside a vast, neon computer world, just go with it.

Cosmetics

Cosmetics are releasing a new 7" on Captured Tracks. If their first 7" is any indication, we're in for another round of dark synth jams to contemplate our sexualities to. Hazaa!

Bigger and Blackerer

This is very funny. You should probably watch it. Unless you don't like funny. But that would just be sad.

Huh-huh. Huh-huh.

I watched old episodes of "Beavis and Butthead" for two hours last night. Still funny, mind you, but they didn't have nearly the profound effect on me as they did when i was 13. I'll have to watch another load of episodes soon.

Huh-huh. I said load.

Tin Man

Tin Man creates ethereal, moody synth jams wit a bit of R&B flavor in the mix. It kind of reminds me of the Aussie band Devastations, but stripped of guitars, etc. This is definitely the-party's-over type music. Great to have that last cocktail to, on a balcony overlooking a vista (if anyone has access to one of these, let me know) as you watch the sun slowly start to rise. Yeah, that's the ticket. It's also been described as cold, mechanical, sensual darkness, so go figure. Go procure yourself a copy of the Scared LP at White Denim (the label, not the local Austin boys).

Dara Puspita

Apparently, Indonesian girls in the late 1960's new how to fucking rock. Who would have thunk it? Dara Puspita was an Indonesian girl group who performed trashy, raucous garage rock way back in the day. You can find tracks all over the blogosphere and net, but Forced Exposure put out a pretty good compilation of the girls' late 60's work. If you're into some of the stuff that's been coming out over the last couple of years by Vivian Girls, Dum Dum Girls, Best Coast, etc., then check these ladies out. I cannot possibly recommend this enough.

Yu(c)k

Here's a pretty cool little video for "Weakend" by the band Yu(c)k. Great, mellow way to start out a Sunday morning (except that it's almost noon). And there's a puppet in it.

Sunday trivia

You got plans on Sunday night? You want to test your brain power whilst imbibing brain-numbing ales and lagers? You think you're smarter than me? Well, come prove that you know more useless knowledge than i do at the Dog and Duck Pub on Sunday night at 7:00PM. Maybe you'll win and be the envy of rowdy, nerdy drunks everywhere. Hooray!

Sleep Over Pre-order

Sleep Over's "Outer Limits" 7" is now available for pre-order from Forest Family Records. If the last two releases from said label are any indication, this sucker will sell out pretty quick, so head over there fast. Great moody, spaced-out songs from some Austin ladies. Oh, and there's a vagina on the record cover.

Tennis pre-order

If you dig folksy-pop throwbacks, go over to Underwater Peoples and pre-order the new 7" from Tennis. It's nice.

And, if you wanna sample the songs first, go here to download "Baltimore" and "Marathon."

Hooray!

Son of a Gun

Like probably about 99% of cats my age, i found out about The Vaselines through the Nirvana covers on "Incesticide" and "Unplugged in New York." Naturally, i was hooked. They weren't around for long, but their style has been copped and covered by hundreds of bands. Over the course of their short career (the duo broke up in 1989) they released only one LP and a couple singles, but still demand attention. Since then, a host of different labels have re-issued this work in retrospective form, most recently Sub Pop. Well, sound the trumpets! At long last, after more than 20 years, The Vaselines are releasing a new LP entitled "Sex with an X" on September 14th. Go here to get a free download of the tune, "I Hate The 80's."

Inception

I don't want to say too much in the event that any of my 3 and a half readers have not seen this movie yet, but "Inception" is the fucking shit. I can't get over how awesome this movie was. And now we're all talking about the ending, and what really happened. It doesn't matter. It's up to the viewer. Go see this film. Hell, i'm gonna go see it again.

Oh, and the score by Hans Zimmer is absolutely amazing.

The Books

New album out by The Books. I'd try to describe these guys, but i can't. They really do belong to a genre unto themselves. Go over here to sample and download the song, "Beautiful People."

Spiritualized: Live at The Albert Hall

Busting out the old guns. I've been listening to old records by Beck, Blur, and Nirvana among others. They're all taking me back. Gave Spiritualized's live album from 1998 a spin earlier. Magnifique! They were touring for "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space" when the album was recorded, so they draw primarily from it, but there are a few older tracks in the mix, including "Walking With Jesus" from the Spaceman 3 days. These guys sound really good live. They don't move around much (i was fortunate enough to see them in 1998 and 2008), but the music is spectacular. It's much more like going to the symphony than a rock concert. If you haven't heard it, go pick it up (you can find CD copies for pretty cheap). If you have it but haven't listened in awhile, give it a spin.

Bruce Haack

Stones Throw will be releasing a compilation of Bruce Haack's work from the 1970's and early 80's. Haack was the first person to use a Vocoder on a record way back on "Electric Lucifer" from 1970. Here's a video for "Party Machine." I think i went to that party in the 6th grade.

LA Vampires meet Zola Jesus

Need some more droney noise in your life? Do spacey, drugged out reverb jams cure your ills? How about some dark, gothic-like vocals added to the mix? Go to Not Not Fun Records and pick up the newest EP from LA Vampires (Pocahaunted) and Zola Jesus. It's kind of like if Siouxsie Sioux and Nico got together with the boys from Jesus and Mary Chain and listened to Brian Eno instead of The Beach Boys. Yeah, it's something like that.

Oh, and while you're there, go ahead and join the Bored Fortress 7" Club. They'll be dropping split 7" records for the rest of the year featuring Ducktails, No Age, Wet Hair, Rangers and more. It's only $45 homes.

Brian Posehn

On Saturday, August 7th, be at Red 7 at 6:00PM for comedian and redheaded ogre Brian Posehn. He makes me happy.

Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 leaks

Gearing up for Fun Fun Fun Fest in November. So far a few bands have leaked. We can expect to see Best Coast, Suicidal Tendencies, and Slick Rick. Awesome so far. And, the rumor is that we may get a Minor Threat reunion as well. The full line up will be released next month. Excelsior!

Inception

Going to see this tonight. Ready for Nolan to reach his fingers into my brain and toy around with it. Hooray!

Francoise Hardy

I picked up an old Francoise Hardy record today. And that makes me cooler than you. I'm sorry. Had to be done.

Ariel Pink in Austin in August

The breezy weirdness that is Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti will be landing in Austin at the Mohawk on August 3rd. And they're bringing Puro Instinct and Magic Kids along with them. Who's coming with me? (Aside from Paige of course.)

By the by, it's only $10 in advance!

Fishing

I don't really know much about Fishing. And i mean that both about the dubby, electonic music act, and the actually art of catching a fish with a lure. At any rate, the groovy tune "OOOO" by Fishing would probably be great music to fish to. Not in a serious way, mind you, but where the actual point is about getting drunk with your friends and not actually catching a future meal or trophy. Go over to Double Denim Records to listen to the jam.

Metal Moo Cow

Currently at #1 on my vinyl wish list is the mid-80's compilation of unknown Texas punk and metal bands called "Metal Moo Cow" that came out on Matako Mazuri Records. I'm pretty sure it's the only thing the label ever released, but they were able to cull a pretty great mix of underground artists like Scratch Acid, The Fearless Iranians from Hell, Heather Leather, The Offenders, and a bunch of other groups we've never heard of. These are the kinds of groups that The Butthole Surfers probably hung out with and did drugs with back in the day. I want, i want, i want.

Solar Bears

The Irish are pretty much known for whiskey and fighting (that's not necessarily a bad thing - i love whiskey), and not Eno-inspired, synth-driven, cinematic soundscapes. Well Solar Bears are out to prove that the Green Isle is about more than getting drunk and punching someone in the face. Their new record, "She Was Coloured In," which comes out in September sounds like a soundtrack for a moon landing, much like Eno's "Apollo" album. They draw from other influences as well though. You may catch hints of everything from Aphex Twin to Principles of Geometry to Boards of Canada to Wendy Carlos in the mix. The record is awesome. Go sample it and pre-order at Planet Mu!

meh

Baths

Check out the new LP "Cerulean from LA-based beat maker Baths. It's an acoustic-electro swirl with chopped up echoey vocals in the mix. Great chilled out jams. Get it from Anticon Records.

Women

Women release the follow up to their excellent self-titled 2008 debut on September 28th, courtesy of Jagjaguwar and Flemish Eye. It's another batch of reverb-drenched, jangly, Velvet Underground inspired rock music, and should be a great way to ring in the fall. Download the track, "Eyesore," right here.

Bert The Conqueror

"Bert The Conqueror" is my new favorite show. I can't help but laugh every time he screams. And, i wish i had his job.

I've Got Some Happiness

Puro Instinct released a great EP last year on Mexican Summer. Of course at the time the were called Pearl Harbor, but i guess no longer wanted to be associated with that awful movie. Anyway, they've changed their name and continue to create great music. Now, as much as i hate directing anybody to check out Pitchfork (the snootiest of all the hipster internet rags), they're offering the mp3 for "I've Got Some Happiness (Leland)" for free right now, and it's awesome. Ghostly, reverbed vocals on top of a spacey keyboard track and droney guitars, just what doctor ordered (if that doctor is a snooty hipster internet writer). Go grab it here. Hooray!

The Incubus, the Succubus, mutilations, mutilations...

I finally picked up a copy of one of my favorite movies ever, "The Burbs." This is a great horror/comedy from the 1980's by Joe Dante (Piranha, Gremlins) about suburban paranoia that stars Tom Hanks, back when he still made awesome movies. Any of you out there who have not seen this flick, i'm going to have to make you. And to all of those who know and love this film, we're watching it! Now, who's coming with me?

Junip

Jose Gonzalez, that Swede with the Spanish name, of Jose Gonzalez fame doesn't do everything solo. He's got a great band called Junip that consists of drums, guitar, and organ. They released an EP back in 2006, and have now finally released another one. It's a gem of haunting, melancholy pop that's sure to quell the rage slowly building up inside you. And, if you go sign up on the band's mailing list, they'll give you a free download of the new EP. Hazaa!

New Cults

Adult Swim raps up their 8 Single in 8 Weeks project with some great bubblegum from Cults. The new single, "Oh My God," rides the waves of 60's pop nostalgia much like the rest of their tunes, but it's a great summer jam. There have been a lot of those out there lately. Go here to download the single, and check out the other songs while you're there. Hooray!

The Mantles

San Francisco's The Mantles team with Mexican Summer to create a cool, jangly surf rock record to keep your summer bobbing along. It's great for sinking in the waves, maintaining a buzz, or just sitting back in the heat and letting the sun drain the sweat out of you. Especially check out "Waiting Out The Storm." Magnifico!

Tomboy

The new Panda Bear single for "Tomboy" is due out on 7/13, and i've not found any leaks anywhere. Hmm.

If you like your summer mixes sweet and lo-fi...

Go here to download this great indie summer mix by Eternal Summers, Nude Beach, and a bunch of other bands i've never heard of. But, now, we can all be the first. We can beat that snotty, little hipster kid we see at all the shows we go to and push his face into the dirt. Yeah! Take that you little bastard!

Happy 4th of July everybody!

Here's to eating too many hot dogs, drinking too much beer, and blowing some shit up! Hooray America!

Oneohtrix Point Never

With all the 80's-inspired electro-soundtrack stuff that i listen to, i'm kind of surprised i've never mentioned Oneohtrix Point Never before. They create awesome ambient electro-drone. It's all very German when you think about it. It kind of reminds me of Klaus Schulze or Synergy, and all the early Moog experimenting that went on in the 1970's. Great stuff, but know what you're getting into.

Ahh! My nipples! It hurts when i twist them!

Since the 4th of July is literally right around the corner, i'm trying to think of something awesome to do, like watch the Mad Max trilogy from start to finish...what? You think that's a stupid idea? "How dare you act like such a bitch when i have been so fucking nice! I am going to come and burn the fucking house down...but you will blow me first!"

Happy 4th of July Sugar Tits!

That Feeling

While we're all still waiting patiently for the Gauntlet Hair 7" to arrive in the mail, or for the Sleep Over 7" pre-order to go online, Forest Family Records has announced that the 4th in their never ending series of bitchin records will come from Mississippi's Dent May, oh he of ukulele-enthusiast fame. The A-side, "That Feeling," is a great summer pop jam, a swirl of good vibrations and ocean air, fit for any poolside mix you may be concocting. Download it for free right here.

Holy crap! HoZac Hookup Klub Round 2!

HoZac Records is offering the next round of their subscription 7" service. $70 separates you from 11 limited edition 7" records from Reading Rainbow, The Fresh & Onlys, Cryptic Scissor, and more. So what are you waiting for? Go order it here right now. I'd do it, but i'm a poor bum! So, it's up to you to be the cool guy in our group.

How To Dress Well

The only way i can really think to describe this upcoming "Ready for The World 7"' by How To Dress Well is that it's haunting, eerie ghost music. That pretty much sums it up. And the B-side is a Twin Sister remix, so there's that. Pre-order the sucker right here.