December 30, 2009

Under-Appreciated Band: The Eagles of Death Metal

No they do not sound like the Eagles, or death metal. But they are awesome, doesn't that count for something? I have to admit I hate the cherry cola video...I can't watch it and listen to the song, but besides that they remain one of my favorite bands.



December 29, 2009

Solange is the Sister I Wish I Had!

Solange Knowles has to be one of the coolest people ever. Yeah sure she gets compared to her big sister Beyonce alll the time about voice and sex appeal but I think Solange is just the more awesome one. Maybe Beyonce has the "stronger" voice but Solange has the quirky personality unique non-diva like voice and she has AWESOME music taste! So awesome that she got both Beyonce and husband Jay-Z interested in Grizzly Bear (they attended a concert) did a Dirty Projectors cover has cool indie rapper collaborations with the likes of Theophilus London and she is "friends" with Wale. She's like the cool older sister I always wanted...damn please adopt me?



December 28, 2009

Under-Appreciated Band: La Rocca

Honestly they have made some of the greatest under-appreciated music of the 2000s. they are as understated as they are dramatic from sweeping guitar riffs and strong vocals to great lyrics. In my opinion they are one of the most "romantic" bands in my collection, just based on the mood their music creates.





Fun!

Yes they are called Fun, and they are in a cheesy sort of soda shop 1950sesqe way. I am just waiting for everyone to break out into song and dance when I play this on my mp3 at Spot coffee...I have strange fantasies.



December 27, 2009

TheMusicGeek's Worst of 2009 List 2!!

YES!!! a second list! I thought there would only be one list I swear...but then I just kept thinking of songs I despised sooo much that I had to make a second list, and I can't promise you this will be the last one...

J Futuristic
I first mentioned this man in a post titled "J Futuristic, Chingy Called He Wants his Career Back" and I am ASHAMED I left this off the first list, it is THAT BAD. not only can I not under stand what he's saying at all between "Blurr name Last name blee blur blah SWAGG! Bleee Blur Blah BALL!" But the song has one of the dumbest titles (besides T.T Dance of course) out any song I've heard all year.



Justin Bieber
It's not that Justin has a bad voice...he doesn't at all (honestly) it's just that no matter how old he says he is this song will never be age appropriate for him mostly because he reminds me of the 4th chipmunk if there was a 4th chipmunk in Alvin and the chipmunks.



Crocodiles
Is it just me or do you think they take themselves too seriously? Yeah the lyrics sure are "deep" I'm gonna go take a nap.



Millionaires
And the award for the least amount of talent and most obnoxious video goes to....




LMFAO

How could I neglect them? I have no idea...I don't even think I need to explain why they are on this list.



Spencer Pratt
Need I remind all of you that unfortunately Spencer Pratt DID make a music video...in fact I wrote about it...unfortunately. Yes the flesh bearded one made a song...and oh he wants to be known as "Great White" now you know for "street cred" purposes.



Heidi Montag
And don't you think about me the way I think about you? No Heidi I'm sorry I don't...but you definitely are OVERDOSIN on something...lay off the white powder for awhile.



Nipsey Hussle
What do you get when you combine a Snoop Dog look alike with some pirated beats? My second least favorite rapper of 2009!



Stereos
Yeah this is a fail.



Suckers
Do you know why they're called Suckers? Cuz they...do I even have to finish this joke...
if Homor Simpson moved to Williamsburg to start a band, and enlisted Moe and a bunch of his other hungover buddies they may sound like this.

Natalia Kills - Zombie

Natalia Kills (formally known as Verbalicious) is trying to penetrate the US market. I think I liked her better when she was Verbalicious (you may recognize her from the M Pokora song "They Talk Shit About Me"). I dig the new song but the video is too close to Rihanna's latest effort and Kanye West's 808 and Heartbreak for comfort. I am not sure this will get a lot of air play when it's too close to the styles of Kanye and Rihanna, regardless I'm enjoying it.



Check out her older stuff:



They Talk Shit About Me

You Knew It Was Coming...TheMusicGeek's Worst of 2009!

Soooooo I have already complied 5 best of lists and there were plenty of awesome songs that weren't on the lists that were also very good. However, now it's time to have a little fun and unleash my inner hater which I am really not ashamed of...I like to think of it as my inner "critic" but I know I'll get some heat for this list...as I have in the past when I rant about someone's favorite rapper.

So let's get started:

HAM (Heart And Mind)
Look k-pop artists are given some really messed up names...but this one took the cake. I was hoping this group would redeem themselves with a kick ass first single and then they gave us T.T. Dance...



Girls
If you have been following this blog for a while you already know my undying hatred for this band especially after Spin proclaimed that it was one of the best new bands of 2009!....huh?! And now they have announced that it has the 5th best album of 2009 on their list of "The 40 Best Albums of 2009"...WHAT???? These guys couldn't sing or write songs if their lives depended on it!!! "I wish I had a boyfriend, I wish I had a loving man in my life, i wish I had a father maybe then I would have turned out right, cuz now I'm just crazy" Of course you have to imagine those lyrics sung by a congested 14 year old who hasn't hit puberty yet. It's pretty bad...honestly dudes go back to the commune.



Drake
Another artist whose popularity I will never understand, am I the only one who seems to think he's talentless? Spin also put him on their 40 best albums of 2009 list....but Drake really hasn't made a song yet that I consider a great artistic endeavor. He is great at half assed rap lyrics and stupid songs catered to the ladies and of course reminding everyone that he is affiliated with "Young Money Entertainment." I still don't get how "You The Best" can be considered one of the best rap songs of the year when Wale, Pac Div, Mos Def, Wiz Khalifa and Skyzoo have all been negelected. This kid needs to get himself some substance.



Taylor Swift
Look I get it, everyone felt bad for Taylor at the MTV Music Awards when Kanye West slighted her in public, but after the media spectacle which should of lasted a month AT THE MOST everything should have gotten back to normal. And I do give the girl credit for writing her own songs, but do I think she should be crowned artist of the year by various music publications and websites..cough cough YAHOO MUSIC! Hell no! Seriously the girl is my age and is still writing about HIGH SCHOOL. Her fan base consists of 13 year old girls because she writes songs about castles and princes and unrequited love, add to the fact that she still makes fun of her ex Joe Jonas in public (seriously get over him) and I want to take her aside and tell her to grow up. I know she is still very marketable and little girls love her so she can sell albums but let's take quality over quantity and please cutesy little songs about not being popular in high school and crushes get old, real fast. Develop some range as a song writer, you're reproducing the same Disney theme songs over and over again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xj8RrIpiiQ

Miley Cyrus
Yeah yeah bet you could see her on this list too. Mostly it's just because I don't get it, unlike Taylor who actually writes her own songs and can carry a decent tune, Miley can do neither one!!! And if I have to endure "Party in the USA" one more time in public I may just break down and cry...even the Auto-Tune can't cover up how crappy her voice is.



Lovvers
Were you ever curious to see what a cat being run over by a lawn mower sounds like? Me neither.



Vivian Girls
This song explains perfectly why I hate noise punk...perfectly.



Tech N9ne
Ohh god..there is SO much wrong with this song...from the verses to the chorus. Believe me we won't bother you if you keep rapping this song...seriously. It's not that the content of the song is messed...there is a good message, but whoever produced this joint along with the guy singing the chorus...seriously it ruined the track.



Bangs
Yeah I bet life is REAL hard....

Under-Appreciated Artist: Mike Doughty

I just recently "rediscovered" his music on my mp3 and i had forgotten how much I loved it! Besides finding great new music one of the greatest feelings is rediscovering why you loved old songs you already own. Mike Doughty makes jangly pop rock in the spirit of Dave Mathews but with a bit more soul.



December 26, 2009

Guilty Pleasures List 10

Yeah yeah so you might have noticed that my Guilty Pleasures list came VERY late this month but there are reasons! I started making them because EVERYONE has songs they are embarrassed they like...you know you do. But this month I spent most of my time listening to indie folk (as you can probably tell from my recent posts) and making my end of the year lists (which YOU SHOULD check out). Anyways here you go...


After School
- Because of You
Essentially they are the South Korean version of the Pussycat Dolls, but at least everyone gets a chance to sing (seriously Nicole maybe you guys should try that...). The video is kind of weird...it's supposed to be about a boy (like all Kpop girl groups sing about) the video makes it look like it's about a girl...



Dashboard Confessional - Belle of the Boulevard
I'm a sucker for Dashboard Confessional but I still feel weird listening to him from time to time, because sometimes his songs sound too personal...almost like a letter to a loved one.



Brown Eyed Girls - Sign
Yeah my friend Emily got me addicted to this song. The track is equally as cheesy as the first After school track, but the video is way more disturbing.



Big Bang - Koe Wo Kikasete
This is from Big Bang's Japanese debut and is more ballad "like" than a lot of their K-pop stuff, it definitetely showcases the guys vocal talents especially Taeyang's and Daesung's.

The Mountain Goats - Psalms 40:2

The rawness of the drums/guitar/voice can sometimes be lost in the age of synthesizers, however the Mountain Goats bring back the emotion, and intimacy of the "traditional" rock instruments on their latest album 'The Life of the World to Come" and this song in particular.

The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You

This song is beautiful, musically and lyrically, a real gem. It has hints of Elliot Smith, the Band, The Allman Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival and all the other musical greats of song writing. A great country tinged folk rock track.

Mariachi el Bronx

Yeah mucho weird. It is mariachi but it's sung in English...and it works!

Gallows - Punk's New Hope

Punk is one of those genres that goes through phases of rebirth and then periods of public indifference and although there are still some class punk bands still around (The Bronx, Against Me!, Bad Religion) Gallows is the punk band from the UK that may put punk on the map once again for 2010.



December 24, 2009

Eels - That Look You Give that Guy

I really love how mellow this song is and the video is so cute.



also check out my favorite Eels song, "That fresh feeling"

The Clientele

Miss me? School has been taking up a lot of my time...in fact this is my first day of FREEDOM!!! (My last paper for school was due yesterday). So today I bring you a nifty little indie band called The Clientele, they sound a bit like The Velvet Underground, and they will be touring the US soon. It's shoegaze at it's best!



December 20, 2009

Crookers feat. Kelis - No Security

Kelis may be engulfed in legal battles with her (now) ex husband NAS but she still has time to be featured on a song or two for DJ gods "Crookers." I am pretty excited for their new album "We Have Tons of Friends" especially for the songs featuring Yelle, Roisin Murphy, Miike Snow, and Rye Rye...I just wish the videos weren't as weird.

December 19, 2009

Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan

My friend Jenny who I met at school and just left for Japan...I may never see her again in person and that does bum me out, just turned me on to this song, and it is pretty awesome. She also has a blog check her blog out! Schemes n' Dreams

December 16, 2009

J Cole - mainstream Hip Hop's Savior

Drake was the false alarm (although Drake, J Cole and Jay Z were all on Dead Presidents 3), but everyone in the record industry jumped on him anyways, but J Cole is the real deal. J Cole actually makes lyrically driven tracks that MEAN something, with a flow that is nonchalant and robotic he can still conjure up images and feeling. I just hope that people don't call him the new Drake or brush him aside as "been there done that" because his verses are too good, although it's questionable whether top 40 radio will be ready for a guy who actually has something to say. It would be awesome if Lupe Fiasco and this man collaborate on something.



December 15, 2009

Cold Cave, My Band to Watch for 2010

The band I'm watching in 2010 is definitely this one! They have such a sound rooted in nostalgia, they sound sort of like a mixture between Crystal Castles (on the instrumentals) the Psychedelic Furs and New Order. I am pretty excited for this album, whenever it comes out.



The Soft Pack - Answer To Yourself

Pretty rad song and I still wonder how they got Sean Kingston to be featured in the video. Regardless pretty awesome.

Nurses - Not My Cup Of Tea

So Under The Radar has just featured them in the "Pleased to Meet You" section of their website, and mehhh I tried to listen to them...TRIED. When something takes EFFORT for me to sit through and listen to I know that it's not the right music for me (Animal Collective, Deerhoof, Drake) this is one of those cases...plus the whisteling is uber annoying. It sort of sounds like they are half serious, and half trying to see how strange they can be to get attention. The singer sounds hungover and who knows maybe that's the effect they were going for, because the noises they conjure up are the same sounds I get in my head when I have woken up from a night of drinking...

December 13, 2009

Donna the Buffalo

They actually came to [Buffalo] last night [December 12th] and no they are not from Buffalo New York! They are actually from Trumansburg New York, but they make really great country tinged folk rock.

Check them out:
http://www.myspace.com/donnathebuffalo


December 12, 2009

TheMusicGeek's Best of the Year List 5

Although 2009 was a crappy year for me personally, it was a great year for music. Underground hip hop has made an awesome comeback, and [finally] seems to matter again! The UK has had another amazing year, producing another great crop of indie artists (although they have also seemed to have a great decade). Canadian indie acts continue to innovate, and even though Auto-Tune still dominates the top 40, musical experimentation in pop is becoming a more accepted art form. I think the most important lesson to take from 2009, is originality and authenticity are in, and imitation is out. Artists like La Roux, Wale, Lady Gaga, and Florence and the Machine (as well as countless others) have developed musical reputations not just for their talent and innovation, but for being themselves. This is the last installment of my "Best of 2009" playlist series, enjoy.

Mr Hudson
- Supernova
Kanye West may be an asshole but the guy has some serious musical talent...even with the Auto-Tune, this Kanye laced track is addictive. Although listen for Kanye feigning an English accent. Pay attention as he pronounces the word "chance" c'mon man...



Chester French - She Loves Everybody
And I sure do love this song.



Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man
As promised, this song is a requirement on this list...best song of the year? That is debatable, although it's definitely one of my favorites.



Keri Hilson feat Kanye West and Ne-Yo - Knock You Down
you have to hand it to Miss Keri she writes and sings her own songs, and they are pretty catchy.



Tiesto feat Tegan and Sara - Feel it in My Bones
After every Tiesto post I had, I think at least one of his tracks is expected. And I must say Tegan and Sara are pretty hot lesbians...it's too bad I don't swing that way.



Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Yeah so the video is super creepy...as I mentioned before. But the voice! The instrumentals they sure as hell make up for it...this song is too superb.




The Dirty Projectors
- Stillness is the Move
Yeah another seriously strange music video (what is it with indie bands and bad music vids?) although again...the voices and instrumentals are great.



Pac Div - The Mayer
2009 has been the year of the hip hop underdogs (Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, Skyzoo....etc) and I couldn't be happier.



Wiz Khalifa - Name on a Cloud
Let's hope this man turns hip hop on it's head, 2010 just may be his year.




NASA
- Whachadoin?
NASA teams up with M.I.A. Spank Rock and Santigold on this crazy dance tune.

December 11, 2009

TheMusicGeek's Best of the Year List 4

War Tapes - Dreaming of You
I don't tend to like "love songs" in the traditional sense, but I dig this one. Even if it is a bit creepy...



The Noisettes - Don't upset the Rhythm
The girl fronted group of my craziest dreams, combining soul, rock, rhythm and blues into one big grand mess of a sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axoq2cj9XW4&feature=related

Big Sean - Getcha Some
fresh song, fresh music video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4k2WoU3ig4


Thunderheist - Jerk It
Hailing from Toronto, I've had this song on my mp3 on repeat for months.



Shakira - La Loba
Yeah say what you want, this song is super catchy...but I refuse to listen to it in English.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLsuLxiHqoM

Erik Hassle - Don't Bring Flowers
Some have called him "the male version of La Roux" probably because they both have fiery red hair, but he makes completely different music...and it's awesome.



Ramona Falls - Meletric
You know I like a band when I've mentioned them in three different blog posts (or really hate them...one or the other).



Miike Snow - Animal
Dub, soul, and indie rock combine resulting in a combustible single.



White Lies - Death
Released in 2008 but it didn't start to get any attention in the US until this summer...and it is a great song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTh9IuSTOY0

The Harlem Shakes - Sunlight
My favorite song from this band (unfortunately I haven't found any other songs from them that I like as much) although it doesn't matter...it's a great track.

December 10, 2009

Tinie Tempah - Pass Out

Dance hip hop tends to not be my thing, but the beat on this track is sick, plus Tinie can actually spit a decent verse or two. The UK really does have a ton of untapped rap talent.

TheMusicGeek's Best of the Year List 3

The Big Pink - Velvet
Indie rock at it's finest, The Big Pink are making waves.



Skyzoo - The Beautiful Decay
Finally! a rapper that actually raps! Where lyrics rule and beats come secondary.



True 2 Life - Who The Fuck is This?!
New York hip hop definitely ain't dead, that's for sure.




La Roux
- In For the Kill
Ok fine I was skeptical of her at first as you know from my big June post on her...but I cave this song is catchy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ1Mi77nogQ

Coeur De Pirate - Comme des Enfants
French folk pop (from Montreal), and it's perfect, and just pretty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaUI6Tvd1sA

Jena Lee - J'aimerais tellement
Here's to musical experimentation! even if I still don't understand exactly what "emo Rn'B" means...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=863Yfx2g9Ks&feature=channel

Dan Black - Symphonies
Originally a cover of a Biggie tune as I mentioned on my June Playlist (you can listen to the original song there) but this version is just as a good...and just as epic.



Park Ji Yoon - In Faded Memory
I remember stumbling upon this by accident, but sure glad I did.



Bat For Lashes - Daniel
The soundtrack of my summer had to be this album...it's that good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ZHah-c0hQ

White Rabbits - Percussion Gun
Produced by a member of Spoon...can you tell?




December 9, 2009

Little Dragon

So I sometimes dabble on to other people's music blogs. And I was looking at Yahoo's music blog called "The New Now" and sometimes I like his picks (sometimes I've already featured his picks) and sometimes I don't. However, I really digged these guys and he is totally right, the lead singer does have an Erykah Badu voice going on, it's pretty awesome.

Check out his post HERE.


TheMusicgeek's Best of the Year List 2

Frankmusik - Confusion Girl
Never mind the fact that I want to marry this man...please call me? But his debut album and this track are class all the way.



Girls Generation - Gee
You may laugh at me...but this is one of the best pop songs I have heard in a while...ignore the cutesy video.



VV Brown - Shark in the Water
Great song writing, great production, just all around great song. Seriously listen to this track! (If you haven't noticed both Frankmusik and VV brown were featured in my July Playlist.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPQlxHWsemI


Fanfarlo - The Walls Are Coming Down
Another band I featured in a Month Playlist a while back, and for good reason.



2NE1 - Fire
Another Korean girl group making catchy pop tunes!



Manchester Orchestra - I've Got friends
They've got friends in all the right places.



The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Around the Bend
Danish band makes soul infused indie pop, catches the eye of Steve Jobs gets featured in an ipod commercial and ends up on this list.



Royksopp Feat. Robyn - The Girl and the Robot
There are certain songs you know that you immediately like within the first 10 seconds...this is one of those songs.



Bloc Party - One More Chance
Am I biased? Hell Yeah I'm biased! This is my list...Bloc Party is one of my favorite bands...DEAL WITH IT. Ok ok...I also put this on the list because the band is going on a long hiatus possibly even breaking up (I hope not). This will be one of their last new singles for a while.



The Filthy Dukes - This Rhythm
One weird weird music video, but one seriously catchy tune.

December 8, 2009

TheMusicGeek's Best of The Year List 1

Lily Allen - The Fear
"I wanna be rich and I want lots of money, I don't care about clever, I don't care about funny..." Lily Allen's first album put her on the map as one of the best female pop singer songwriters of the 2000s but 2009's the Fear solidified her status. She really is a weapon of "Massive [musical] Consumption."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-wGMlSuX_c&feature=related

Florence and the Machine - The Dog Days are Over
Florence started the year off with a bang, and this is the first song I heard from her back in March...and it's epic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TwqE2X55Wg&feature=related

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Everything With You
Probably one of my favorite new bands of 2009, and maybe the first Brooklyn hipsters that I actually like.



Metric - Sick Muse
I am a die hard Metric fan...and this song explains why.



Lissy Trullie - Boy Boy
Once I heard this song I knew she would be a big deal...and she is.



Phoenix - 1901
These guys have been around for a few years, but this song is the one thing that caught the attention of the American audience.



T.I. feat Rihanna - Live your Life
Yeah Yeah roll your eyes...it doesn't make the song any less epic, admit it you were singing along to it too in March.



School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep
Ok so this song actually came out in 2008, but the song was officially released in 2009, and it makes School of Seven Bells one of the best kept secrets of 2009.



Ida Maria - Oh My God
I wrote about this woman in my first blog post ever and I still play this song at least once a day. Although this song really came out in 2007, her album hadn't gotten a wide distribution until this year.



Illa J - We Here
His debut album was produced by his late legendary brother J Dilla, Illa J was also one of the first rappers besides K'naan that I covered on this blog.

December 7, 2009

Mumford and Sons - Winter Winds

Little Lion Man remains one of my favorite new songs of the year, although the band comes close to outdoing their debut single on this song. They may just be my favorite new band of the year, I'll have a "best of the year" playlist series coming soon...

Delphic - Doubt

An indie/ electronica band from Manchester, their debut album should be released in January 2010. This is their third single off the album, and I'm pretty much in love with it.

Wonder Girls releasing a new track in the US

Debuted on allkpop.com it's not the full song, but it gives everyone a taste of what to expect for a US debut. One wonders though if the Wonder Girls could do what Se7en, Boa, Rain, and Utada Hikaru couldn't, and that's crack the American market.

December 6, 2009

88-Keys feat. Shitake Monkey - The Friends Zone

I love how complementary the music video is to the song for once...and 88-Keys is definitely another up and coming rapper to look out for.

December 5, 2009

Theophilus London

I'm really excited about this guy. He sort of combines the laid back attitude of The Cool Kids with the wordplay of Lupe Fiasco...he is worth listening to. I'm definitely getting his album.



Under-Appreciated Band: The Kissaway Trail

The Kissaway Trail are an indie rock band from Odense Denmark, they create jangly "Flaming Lips" laced indie tunes that sound epic and understated simultaneously. They have only released material in Europe, New Zealand, and Australia so North Americans have yet to gain much exposure to them.



Crystal Fighters - Xtatic Truth

Another quirky group making dance music beginning with "crystal" (besides Crystal Castles, Crystal Method...). I really dig how weird this song is...and its pretty out there.

Fan Death - Reunited

I love the song...the video not so much.

Hating on 103.3 The Edge

Lately I have attempted to listen to music on the radio in Buffalo, however I was soon reminded of why I stopped listening to it in the first place IT SUCKS. The rock radio station (103.3 The edge) is the worst musical offender, besides "Mandatory Metallica", Trapt, Andrew WK, Chevelle, and Nickelback there is barely any air time for music that is truly alternative and groundbreaking. In fact I think the radio station caters to white men who vainly attempt to relive their youth through music they used to hear in smoke filled scummy bars as they binged drank and picked up chicks. Nothing wrong with that...but usually regional radio stations showcase how cutting edge and forward thinking an area is, so that must mean Buffalo is practically in the stone ages. Usually the more indie/alternative/cutting edge radio stations are located in the cooler, bigger cities. So its sad to think that Buffalo has the worst of everything...not surprising though, I mean I recently went to a party and the "playlist" was a steady stream of T-Pain's "Buy U A Drank" followed by Owl CDity's irritating sickeningly cutesy song "Fireflies" very classy (it was a fun night though...thanks Darien! ha). But getting back to the subject of radio stations, if the edge really does showcase the "pulse" of the city which I think all decent radio stations do...Buffalo is on life support. What we really need in this city is a decent independent indie/ rock radio station as well as a good underground/ indie hip hop station (don't even get me started on our hip hop station 93.7 WBLK). Radio stations like these are supposed to cater to the young but I think its obvious to see that everyone young, smart and hip is leaving the city if the radio is marketed to disheveled stupid and past their prime.

December 2, 2009

Shameless Self Promotion Time.

Ok so I have a MusicGeek Facebook page to add to TheMusicGeek Twitter account, yeah I know where this is going, I'm becoming a scary desperate attention whore!!! Well let's hope not...I think I still have my head on straight...hopefully? The Twitter and Facebook both just link back to my blog, although I do put up the occasional random tweet. I still don't have a cell phone so that makes it hard to "tweet" (although I honestly find it a little silly anyways)...I should get one of those newfangled mobile devices soon, but I like living like it's 1993, minus the wardrobe of overalls and flannel.

So for your viewing pleasure...

Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/TheMusicGeek/188125281908?ref=ts

Twitter Account (again)
http://twitter.com/ItsTheMusicGeek

December 1, 2009

December Playlist

Silverclub - Answers
Trippy mixture of lofi, shoegaze and trance. It conjures up images of smoke filled dance clubs occupied by lots of pretty drugged out disoriented people. I like it a lot.



Toro Y Moi - Blessa
The track sounds like "Thieves Like Us" meets "Air." Toro Y Moi along with Neon Indian and washed Out (check out my "Acid Trip Playlist") are really turning electronica on its head right now. Mashing acid rock with trance and shoegaze to create crazy ear pleasing concoctions of sound.




The XX
- Crystalized
Modern day Pixies? You decide. Either way I dig the sound of this track.



The Drums - Let's Go Surfing
I have to admit I hated this song when I heard it 4 months ago...and now I'm strangely attracted to it. It's like The Beach Boys meets Williamsburg hipsters and they have a jam session.



Dam-Funk - Mirrors
funk meets lofi electronica? One strange mixture of sounds.



Nneka - Heartbeat
My favorite song on the list, Nigerian songstress adds her sound to the mix. Very quirky but very original, this track is hot.



Malakai - Moonsurfing
Awesome song. Weird guy...but who cares?

November 30, 2009

I'm a Hypocrite

Just when I said I could never like a new emo/ scremo band because let's face it my usual musical diet consists of indie rock, undergroud hip hop and Korean pop I find a band that I actually wouldn't mind seeing...live. There I said it. They are an English band that has already made a name for themselves in the UK and here as well (at least with emo kids...) and yeah I like them! I surprise myself sometimes. They are no longer considered screamo (their earlier stuff contains more elements of that genre) although their newer stuff has more of a punk meets electronica element that I actually find quite interesting.





They just released a new album and may tour the US soon...and if they do I actually might go...although I have a feeling I would be one of the oldest people in the audience, and i don't want to feel like a mom...

Alesana - Apology (LIVE)

Ok I seriously feel sorry for new school emo kids if this is what they endure to fit into their respective 'scene." What happened to the days when you could actually understand what the singer was saying and emo boys had sex appeal? Honestly I thought old school emo boys you know the ones who listened to Sunny Day Real Estate, The Get Up Kids, and Jawbreaker were extremely hot but after watching this new school emo band performed live...yeah...I'm think I'm turned off to emo for good. I honestly laughed half way through this thing, does anyone else think the emo/ screamo scene is getting a bit...err ridiculous? Or maybe I'm too old to understand it anymore I do realize that the demographic audience for these bands are in their early years of high school...but still...c'mon people.

November 29, 2009

Little Joy...snore

So I took out the self titled debut album from Little Joy (Fabrizio Moretti's OTHER band) from my local public library and all I can say is it's one of the most boring records I have ever listened to. It's so boring that I didn't even remember anything significant about any of the songs...or how long I was listening to it for (I put it into windows media and it played about 3 or 4 times through before I even realized it was still on). It's kind of like elevator or super market music. It's not really there for musical enjoyment mostly just to keep your ears busy while you go shopping or are waiting for your floor. Little Joy's album just feels like eating empty calories, you are waiting for some substance...but it never comes.

The Courteeners

It's UK pop punk (and no I don't mean pop punk as in "Simple Plan" I mean pop punk as in "The Cribs!" -- whom I'm going to see in January--and yes I'm pretty excited). I found them by accident while I was researching another band...but hey glad I did.



November 28, 2009

The Dharma

The Dharma are a relatively new indie band hailing from Leeds. They sound like a combination of the Editors and The Stone Roses, and although I enjoy different aspects of all their songs they are also frustrating to listen to. The Dharma do show great potential but they always seem to miss the mark a bit, some tracks start off strong but get dull, others never build. Among the singles I did enjoy on their MySpace were "Cinema" and the "sample" of "You Call Me."

Check out their MySpace.

Biffy Clyro - Mountains

They sort of sound like...dare I say it? A Scottish version of Three Doors Down, and I don't even like Three Doors Down but I really like Biffy. Maybe I just have a thing for Scottish/British/ Irish accents. Granted the lyrics are pretty cheesy "I am a mountain/ I am the sea" and honestly if it was an American or Canadian band singing the same song I probably wouldn't like it (I can be that honest with myself) but the song sounds so much more earnest with the hot Scottish accents!!

Sub Focus

This guy has already made his mark in the UK making remixes and mash ups for BBC Radio 1 and NME radio's Friday and Saturday night shows. He has just dropped a new album of drum and bass and electronica inspired tracks check him OUT.

BrakesBrakesBrakes - Oh Forever

I've had this song stuck in my head for a while. BrakesBrakesBrakes are a UK band (located in Brighton) who make Stereophonics tinged indie rock. They have recently garnered media attention for having this song (Forever) featured in an episode of Gossip Girl (I don't tune in to the show). I am hooked anyways. Check out the boys' MySpace Page as well.

November 27, 2009

Timbaland Feat. SoShy - Morning After Dark

I actually like the song but I'm getting sick of seeing "vampires" in pop culture. As an avid Buffy fan I am tired of seeing Vampires elevated to the status of "unicorns" by pop culture and 13 year old girls. Besides that the song is pretty sick...I just wish the MV wasn't so ridiculously long! I am also growing more intrigued about "SoShy" who Timbaland features in the song and MV. Her MySpace Music page contains a pretty interesting collection of singles combining modern electronic and Rn'B beats with a 60s and even early 30s inspired soul sound.

Check her OUT my favorite song would have to be "Honest Liar" because of the SoShy's neat ability to twists lyrics and phrases.



Timbaland's album "Shock Value 2" drops December 8th.

November 24, 2009

The Depreciation Guild - Dream About Me

I think I'm in love...seriously. This is the band of my indie kid wet dreams! And I mean that in the most non-sexual way possible of course...
If The Stone Roses and Chairlift were to have a love child they may sound a bit like these guys.

Fever Ray - When I Grow Up

Stupid video. Cool song. And that's all that needs to be said.

November 23, 2009

I Have Never Been More Disturbed...

I was tooling around on YourSceneSucks.com and was looking up the definition of "CrunkCore Poser" and they posted this video as an example of the genre...and yeah not only is it filled with constipated like screaming mingling with Auto-Tuned vocals but the lyrics make ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. This has to be one of the worst if not THE worst song I have ever heard...seriously who listens to this crap?