Today's Brew | 2 for 1 Special

Now here's a tale of two cities...Brighton (UK) and Brooklyn (NY) as both cities converge tonight here in the city of Angels--aka LA.


Bat For Lashes have a show over at Spaceland.
My previous entries about them ovah here.

YouTube: Bat For Lashes- "What's a Girl To Do?"



Check out the BBC collective live sessions with Bat For Lashes ovah here.

From their album "Fur and Gold" (2006):
mp3: Bat for Lashes- "What's a Girl To Do?"
(YouSend: for a limited time only)

And Bishop Allen play a show over at the Echo tonight as well...I posted an entry about them yesterday...so be sure to check that out.

So if you're really good at being at two places at once, you may be able to catch both without missing both performances. Or is that even possible?

Today's Brew | Bishop Allen

I'm completely late on this one of course...but its worthy of an entry.



Bishop Allen's first release as a signed band under Dead Oceans record label (sister labels Secretly Canadian and Jagjaguwar). This is right off the heels of completing their EP-a-month project from last year...perhaps on of the most ambitious projects for an unsigned band- as they did everything- from the recordings to the final packaging- to the actual mailing.

From their album "Broken String":
mp3: Bishop Allen- "Click Click Click Click"
mp3: Bishop Allen- "Rain"

They come to LA on:
Jul 31 The Echo w/ Page France

Previous entries about them ovah here.

official site: Bishop Allen
My Space: Bishop Allen

Today's Brew | The National

This is definitely a breakthrough year for The National. I'm sure I'll write more entries about them before this year is over, but I'm glad their finally getting the recognition as they should be getting. As they were considered one of the most underrated bands around, yet probably one of the best bands you'll catch live.
They return to LA to play at the Wiltern this fall, as St. Vincent will be opening for them.

mp3: The National- "Fake Empire"

Check out previous entries about these guys ovah here.

Second Cup | VHS or Beta

If you haven't already heard- two new catchy tracks off the forthcoming album are ready for heavy streamin' at their My Space...check it out ovah here.

Today's Brew | The Simpsons

"With Charlie Brown it was about loneliness and isolation. ... Half the strip was about who wasn't there. The parents were never in the picture. The Simpsons is about alienation, and the ambivalence of living with a family who you love, but who drive you completely crazy." (Matt Groening, NPR interview)

NPR has an interview with the creator of the Simpsons ovah here.

And of course if you haven't gotten your copy of the LA Weekly, you've probably missed The Simpsons and the creator Matt Groening featured in it. But with the wonders of the web, the article can be found ovah here


Blender has their list of The Best Simpsons Band Cameos Ever! over here. I'm looking forward to the feature film.

Today's Brew | The Fiery Furnaces

The tunes to Widow City ended up not much like Van Morrison or Led Zeppelin. Instead, they sounded, to the brother, as if engaged in some sort of general Paul McCartney-izing, though with a different drummer.
(The Fiery Furnaces on Widow City, courtesy of Thrill Jockey)
The word for today is: "Paul McCartney-izing"


The return of the Friedbergers with their sixth album "Widow City" via Thrill Jockey (their new home) as it drops in October.

Check out Fluxblog's early impressions of the new album ovah here.
I'm still listening to the album, and thus far enjoying the album- perhaps its because I've loved their previous albums, but not so much Rehearsing My Choir.
And you thought their music was quite peculiar and at times a bit confusing, well, try reading their explanation behind their new album and how they arrived with the word "Paul McCartney-izing" ovah here.

From their album "Widow City":
mp3:The Fiery Furnaces- "Widow City"
(YouSend: for a limited time only)

official site: The Fiery Furnaces
My Space: The Fiery Furnaces

Late Night Brew | Bottom of the Hudson

A song to soothe the summertime blues on a warm summer night as you chug down a bottle of your favorite beer, as you look over at the ominous cityscape over your backyard porch while you listen to this song on your ipod shuffle...yep...good times.



I'm actually diggin' this song. Hope you enjoy it as well.

From their album "Fantastic Hawk":
mp3:Bottom of the Hudson- "Beehive"

official site: Bottom of the Hudson
My Space: Bottom of the Hudson

Second Cup | Aesop Rock

I love this song-- not only for what it is, but especially since it deals with one of my favorite loves- coffee.
A little nerdy factoid about coffee: The United States consumes around six billion gallons of coffee a year.



From the Coffee Single:
mp3:Aesop Rock-"Coffee (feat. John Darnielle)"
(YouSend: for a limited time only)

Be sure to check out my short diddy on his new album to come out next month ovah here.

official site: Aesop Rock
My Space: Aesop Rock

Today's Brew | Madlib-Beat Konducta video

Another exciting release from our friends over at Stones Throw.


Madlib - Beat Konducta in India
(Beat Konducta Vol. 3-4) release date: August 28th

Madlib - Beat Konducta in India
Uploaded by stonesthrow

Late Night Brew | Aesop Rock

The return of Ian Bavitz aka Aesop Rock with fresh new material drops on August 28th...



From the album "None Shall Pass":
mp3: Aesop Rock- "None Shall Pass"

official site: Aesop Rock
My Space: Aesop Rock

Today's Brew | Intensive Care

From Montreal...as I've made multiple entries about different bands from this city that I've yet to set my foot in.



From their EP:
mp3: Intensive Care- "k"

Stream their other music on their My Space.

official site: Intensive Care
My Space: Intensive Care

Today's Brew | The Brunettes

SubPop brings the first release on the US label for this pair from the other island down under- New Zealand. They've opened for The Shins, Rilo Kiley, The Postal Service and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.


From their album "Structure and Cosmetic":
mp3: The Brunettes- "Small Town Crew"


SubPop: The Brunettes
My Space: The Brunettes

Today's Brew | Random Espresso Shots

We're jumping around the net to catch up on the happenings...and this is what I found.

photo courtesy of LA Weekly

LA weekly has a nice slideshow of the past Spoon "secret" show on Monday over here.
KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic has yesterday's performance of Spoon ovah here.


BBC Collective has an interview with Interpol and watch them live at the Astoria ovah here.


Harp Magazine has an interesting article about Siouxsie Sans solo debut--as she goes on her journey without the Banshees.
YouTube has a vid of her latest solo effort ovah here.


Paste Magazine sits down with Liars about their new album as well as working with Blood Brothers and Deerhunter. Read the full article ovah here.

Second Cup | Stars

The digital format of the album is available now, if you haven't already gotten the memo. And if you're waiting for a hard copy- the official release-- isn't til Sept. 25th. Its their big follow up of their 2005 album "Set Yourself on Fire". Yet another Montreal band entry for today.



From their album "In Our Bedroom After The War":
mp3:Stars- "Bitches in Tokyo"
(YouSend: for a limited time only)

Arts & Crafts: Stars
My Space: Stars

Today's Brew | The Besnard Lakes

One of my favorite albums this year, by the "other" Montreal act. The vid is beautifully shot.

YouTube: The Besnard Lakes: "For Agent 13"




My previous entries about them ovah here.

Late Night Brew | Rilo Kiley

To add among the many anticipated albums this year...I'd include this one. Its their follow up to their 2004 album More Adventurous.



Here comes the Rilo Kiley...droppin their new album on August 21st.

From their album "Under The Blacklight":
QT:Rilo Kiley- "The Moneymaker"

official site: Rilo Kiley
My Space: Rilo Kiley

Today's Brew | Liars

As I posted the YYYs, their buds- Liars are about to drop a new album- August 27th.

Stream their new stuff on their My Space site.

From their album "Drum's Not Dead" (2006):
YouTube: Liars - "Let's Not Wrestle Mt. Heart Attack"


official site: Liars
My Space: Liars

Late Night Brew | YYYs

A new EP by YYYs drops on July 24th...we'll forgive and forget their lil diddy they did for the Spiderman 3 movie soundtrack.


Spinner has the YYYs vid of "Is Is".

From the EP "Is Is"::
mp3:Yeah Yeah Yeahs- "Is Is"
(YouSend: for a limited time only)

official site: YYYs
My Space: Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Second Cup | Sonic Youth

OH MY FREAKIN WORD!

Today's Brew | Architecture in Helsinki

This week at:




A nice way to start your Monday...

#58.1 - Architecture in helsinki - Heart it races
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Today's Brew | The Cinematic Orchestra

"Ma Fleur" was written as the soundtrack to a specially commissioned screenplay for an imagined film, which may or may not yet be made. (Amazon)

Cinematic Orchestra- "To Build A Home (Live @ The Barbican)":


mp3:The Cinematic Orchestra- "To Build A Home (edit)"
mp3:The Cinematic Orchestra- "Child Song (US 7" b-side)"

official site: The Cinematic Orchestra
My Space: The Cinematic Orchestra

Today's Brew | Blitzen Trapper

Blitzen Trapper are coming to town along with David Vandervelde + The Moonstation House Band...as they play a show over at Spaceland this Friday the 13th. Their album's been in my rotation...quite an interesting album, to say the least.

Blitzen Trapper - Devil's a-go-go
Uploaded by BlitzenTrapper

From their album "Wild Mountain Nation":
mp3:Blitzen Trapper- "Devil's a-go-go"
(YouSend: for a limited time only)

official site: Blitzen Trapper
My Space: Blitzen Trapper

Today's Brew | Get Him Eat Him

From Providence Rhode Island, the boys share the same record label home as the Wrens and Frog Eyes...and have toured with BSS. Their current album was co-produced by former Dismemberment Plan guitarist Jason Caddell.



From their album Arms Down:
mp3: Get Him Eat Him- "2x2"

official site: Get Him Eat Him
My Space: Get Him Eat Him

Today's Brew | Daytrotter: The National

Daytrotter's Monday session, if you haven't already checked it--



The session includes the band's reinterpetation of a cover of the classic Psychedelic Furs song "Pretty in Pink".

mp3: The National- "Pretty in Pink" (Daytrotter Session)
(YouSend: for a limited time only)

For more free songs, visit Daytrotter ovah here.

Evening Brew | St. Vincent

Marry Me drops tomorrow, July 10th...and has been the big buzz this year among various notable music bloggers around.
So yes, I've missed this one early on, big time...but my entry about her is timely as her album hits the stores.



St. Vincent is Annie Clark. As described, "The 23- year old is a veteran guitarist for two musical armies, The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Steven's touring band"...not bad for a girl in her early 20s? veteran haha...

From the album Marry Me:
mp3:St. Vincent- "Now, Now"

official site: St. Vincent
My Space: St. Vincent

Today's Brew | Brasilintime

Stones Throw Label Artists - Madlib, Egon, J.Rocc, DJ Babu are among others featured in the film directed by B+


The LA Premiere Showings at:

July 17th-
Film Premiere @ Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Blvd., LA, CA 90028

July 18th-
BRASILINTIME STILL
Turntable Lab
424 N. Fairfax Ave. LA, Ca 90036
Photo show with B+ & Eric Coleman

July 19th-
BRASILINTIME LIVE
Mayan Theatre
1038 S. Hill St.
LA, Ca 90015

YouTube: Brasilintime Trailer:


mp3:Guilty Simpson-“Man’s World”

Brasiltime: Batucada Com Discos

Today's Brew | Kanye West

I'll be back on Monday...so no new entries til then.
Til then, enjoy a bit of K-West.


mp3:Kanye West- "Stronger"
(YouSend: for a limited time only)

Today's Brew | Net Radio Controversy

Bryan Jay Miller, WOXY.com

It’s the end of the stream as we know it...
Or is it? A look at the internet radio controversy
Writer: Chris Dahlen
Paste Magazine Features, Issue 33, Published online on 02 Jul 2007

The beauty of Internet radio has always been that it slipped right by the whole debate. You could hear all the music in the world, yet nobody actually gave away the shop: The music passed by in a stream instead of stopping on your hard drive, and stealing it was more trouble than just clicking a button and paying for it. This could all change in July — although not everyone will go down easily. (Chris Dahlen)

Read the full article ovah here.

By now, most of you know that the House Committee on Small Business held a hearing last week about the Copyright Royalty Board's (CRB) decision to hike royalty rates for online broadcasters, such as WOXY.com. The impact of the royalty hike on webcasters, especially small webcasters, could be devastating to this young, burgeoning medium, and is scheduled to take effect on July 15th. (entry from WOXY website, submitted by Mike)

Watch WOXY.com goes to Washington ovah here.



Read KEXP's response to the CRB decision ovah here.

Read Bagel Radio's entry about the matter ovah here.

My recent entry about this ovah here.

Afternoon Brew | Kwik E Mart

Now for a non-music entry...DOH!

Love this signage at a Kwik E Mart.!!!

View the Kwik E Mart Blog
Locate the closest Kwik E Mart near you.

Today's Brew | El-P Video

Don't you just hate Mondays?


from I'll Sleep When You're Dead:
Directed by Cassidy Gearhart
video: El-P: "Smithereens (Stop Crying)"