Today's Brew | Jay Z

H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A...Jay Z's back all gangstah'ed out.

Video: Jay-Z: "Blue Magic"
From American Gangster drops 11/02/07 on Def Jam
-inspired by forthcoming Ridley Scott film American Gangster.


YouTube: Movie Trailer- American Gangster

Today's Brew | Banhart and Klee

Perhaps one of the most strangest collaborations you'll ever bring together.
I'm not talking about it in a music context but as an art exhibit.
Devendra Banhart and the late Swedish Paul Klee have an ongoing exhibit over at the SF Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA). Quite the odd couple to say the least, but also a bit intriguing as you look at both works side by side.

"I sing what I can't draw and draw what I can't sing," Devendra says.

SF MOMA: Abstract Rhythms

From the album "Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon":
mp3: Devendra Banhart- "Seahorse"
mp3: Devendra Banhart- "Rosa"

official site: Devendra Banhart
my space: Devendra Banhart

Today's Brew | Andrew Bird on Daytrotter

Daytrotter's got sessions with Andrew Bird featuring the Chicago based veteran rockers Dianogah, check it out ovah here.

From the daytrotter sessions (album "Armchair Apocrypha"):
mp3: A Breaks B (Dianoga with Andrew Bird)
(YouSend: for a limited time only, but the other live session recordings are available on Daytrotter)

From the album "Armchair Apocrypha":
mp3: Andrew Bird- "Heretics"

Read the full article about Andrew Bird on Daytrotter ovah here.

Today's Brew | The New Pornographers

NPR Live Concert Series continues with the other Canada's Westsiders featuring Neko Case, Dan Bejar and AC Newman- The New Pornographers. The New Pornographers will give a full concert on NPR.org Oct. 27, webcast live from Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club. Hear the performance online beginning at approximately 9 p.m. ET with opening sets by Benjy Ferree and Emma Pollock.

For NPR's live webcast, visit over here.

From their album Challengers:
mp3: The New Pornographers- "Myriad Harbour"
mp3: The New Pornographers- "My Rights Versus Yours"

official site- The New Pornographers
my space- The New Pornographers

Today's Brew | Enon

video: Enon-"Dr. Freeze"

From their album Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds:
mp3: Enon-"Mirror of You"

They come to the city of Angels-- on November 2nd at the Glasshouse in Pomona and November 3rd at the Echo.

official site: Enon
my space: Enon

Today's Brew | !!! "Yadnus"

We're back...but things look pretty dismal for the folks in Southtown (San Diego) as the ominous rusted clouds looms over the SoCal landscape. We're hoping things will turnaround soon.
Remember these guys, they released their album earlier this year...


For those who may have a heart for roadkill, viewer discretion is advised.

Crisis in Southern Cali

Due to the situation that is occurring in Southern Cali, which is where I'm at right now...I'll be taking a break from blogging as things are a bit chaotic right now.
Even as I'm blogging, the smell of smoke permeates the office air conditioned space.

We'll return shortly...

Today's Brew | Club 8

Club 8 was formed in 1995 by Karolina Komstedt (from the band Poprace) and Johan Angergård (Acid House Kings, Poprace).
After almost five years of absence one of Sweden's most important indiepop bands are finally, finally back.


from their album "The boy who couldn't stop dreaming"
mp3: Club 8- "Heaven"

my space: Club 8
official site: Club 8

Today's Brew | I'm Not There Concert

Quite an ambitious project, not only the film itself, but the music as well.
There's even a big concert to celebrate this whole shindig.
Everyone wants to be a Dylan.

Stream the following music: My Space: I'm Not There
Jeff Tweedy- "Simple Twist of Fate"
Jim James & Calexico- "Goin' To Acapulco"
Cat Power- "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blue Again"
Sufjan Stevens- "Ring Them Bells"

Check out the trailer ovah here:
offical movie site: I'm Not There

Buy the tix to the concert ovah here.

Today's Brew | Mahala Rai Banda

This week on...

Crammed Discs Week
A week with bands from all over the world, thanks to Crammed Discs on the TakeAway Show.
Perhaps a nice outlet for the French folks over at La Blogotheque as the country contends with the potential crisis occurring within as French president Sarkozy separates from his wife and has to deal with a major transit strike. Possible chaos? Who knows.

Mahala Rai Banda literally means Noble Band from the Ghetto...i sorta like that, sounds quite intriguing and their performance on the TakeAway Shohw is definitely worth checkin' out.

#68.1 - Crammed Series - Mahala Rai Banda
Uploaded by lablogotheque

My Space: Mahala Rai Banda
Crammed: Mahala Rai Banda

Today's Brew | David Byrne: The Knee Plays

Set for a re-release on Nov. 6th...


''THE KNEE PLAYS'' by Robert Wilson and David Byrne is presented as the American section of ''The Civil Wars,'' Mr. Wilson's monumental, multilinear extravaganza...The 13 vignettes that comprise ''The Knee Plays'' are meant to be joints or connectives between the long acts of ''Civil Wars.'' Extracted from the cycle and put together into an evening lasting 100 minutes, the ''opera'' is not simply a series of interludes. Instead, it is like an acrostic puzzle, a riddle that, once solved, assumes a new shape and significance. Parenthetically, the Knee Plays themselves have preludes, which perhaps one could call Elbow Plays.
(NY Times,By MEL GUSSOW Published: December 4, 1986, Thursday)

stream: Tree (Today is an Important Occasion)
stream: In the Future


official site: The Knee Plays

Second Cup | Band of Horses

vid directed by Brian Savelson


From Cease to Begin:
mp3: Band of Horses- "Is There A Ghost?"

official site: Band of Horses
my space: Band of Horses

Today's Brew | Spoon on SNL

Yesterday I was immobilized as I was recovery from the Half Marathon.
Here was my results--
FINISH: 2:09:28 pace: 9:53
10K: 57:33 pace: 9:16
Chip Time: 2:09:28
Gun Time: 2:11:09

Quite a fitting song for what I felt this past weekend.

And if you didn't catch their SNL performance, here it is.

YouTube: Spoon- "Underdog"

Today's Brew | Sambassadeur

The return of one of my favorite Swedish bands, with their sophomore release "Migration" set to drop late October, but most likely will have a later domestic release here in the States...unless if you're lucky to get your dirty paws on one sooner.


mp3: Sambassadeur- "Subtle Changes"

Stream the whole album ovah here:




My previous entry about these guys ovah here.

official site: The Sambassadeur
My Space: The Sambassadeur

Today's Brew | Beirut

Beirut's in town for a two day show here in LA...from last night to tonight at the Avalon. If you haven't caught Zach and company live, you're missin' out big time. And the album "The Flying Club Cup" exceeds my expectations and stands as one of my favorite releases this year.
I echo in the same thoughts as Jeff, in his assessment of the album-- Check out his review ovah here.
I caught Beirut last fall at the Troubadour, and it was pretty damn amazin. Check out the entry about that show ovah here.

#64.2 - Beirut - The Penalty
Uploaded by lablogotheque

From The Flying Club Cup:
mp3: Beirut- "The Penalty"
mp3:Beirut- "Sunday Smile"

official site: Beirut

Today's Brew | Radiohead killed the internet

So as we had mentioned previously, the big event has arrived...as Radiohead releases their most anticipated album "In Rainbows" in a digital release (the actual album won't be out til later this year)- that's been talked since their 2003 release Hail to the Thief. The band had played their new material at various shows the past year or so, and has well documented their studio recordings on their own blog. Then it came, the band did something that most bands could only imagine or wish they could do and afford, that is allow people to download the music and set their own price. Quite a gamble, but I'm sure the band already knew that, as their previous album was leaked prior to its official release...perhaps this is there way of responding to the changes in how people actually listen to music.

From their album "In the Rainbows":
mp3: Radiohead- "15 Step"
(YouSend: for a limited time only)

official site: Radiohead- In Rainbows

Today's Brew | The Heliocentrics

A fusion of various genres all rolled up in one, enough to get the attention of such acts as Madlib and DJ Shadow...you might want to play this track with the volume all the way up to get the full experience.

From the album "Out There":
mp3:The Heliocentrics- "Sirius B"

Now Again: The Heliocentrics

Second Cup | Justice (for all)

Got an opportunity to catch the LA Weekly's Detour Event over the weekend.
Perhaps the highlight of the evening, and maybe the band that stole the spotlight from Bloc Party was the pulsating sounds of Justice that really got the crowd jumping like bunch of spider monkeys on crack over the massive stench of marijuana...if you weren't high off the sick beats of Justice, you probably got a good whiff of the pot that every other person was smokin in this show.
If you missed out on their performance this past weekend, fret not, as they are at the Henry Fonda for two nights...and I'm sure the whole place will be shakin' their booty's in a weird sorta way.



mp3: Justice- "Stress"
mp3: Daft Punk-"Human After All" (Justice Remix)

Today's Brew | St. Vincent

This week on...

#67.2 - St Vincent - Marry Me
Uploaded by lablogotheque

And to catch a couple of other performances, visit here.

Today's Brew | LA Weekly: Detour

Tomorrow is LA Weekly's 2nd annual music festival...not as impressive of a line-up as last year's event. Somewhat mediocre and I wouldn't say I'm thoroughly excited about it, but for those who may not know what I'm talkin bout...here's a quick look at some of the obvious acts.

bloc party

mp3: Bloc Party- "Two More Years" (Live-Maida Vale Studios)
(YouSend: for a limited time)

justice

mp3: Justice- "Party (featuring Uffie)"
(YouSend: for a limited time)

autolux

mp3: UNKLE featuring Autolux- "Persons & Machinery"
(YouSend: for a limited time)

noisettes

YouTube: Noisettes - Don't Give Up


the raveonettes

YouTube: The Raveonettes That Great Love Sound

Today's Brew | Jose Gonzalez

photo courtesy of joel didriksen, kingpinphoto.com
Earlier this week, NPR as part of their concert series, featured Jose Gonzalez in concert. In support of his latest album "In Our Nature". I actually threw in a Joy Division cover song he did on the previous entry, but notably most remember him as the guy who did the acoustic cover of The Knife's "Heartbeats".

NPR: Jose Gonzalez in Concert

Also featured at the Takeaway Show:

S13.4 - JOSE GONZALEZ - How low
Uploaded by lablogotheque

mp3: Jose Gonzales-"Heartbeats (live)"
(SaveFile)

official site: Jose Gonzalez

Today's Brew | Control

It's finally realized, and will be hittin' the US theatre circuit- most likely to a limited release- as its not something that Hollywood would have made.


US release date: October 10th

BBC Collective has a feature plus an interview with the director Anton Corbijin.

YouTube: Control- movie trailer
directed by Anton Corbijin


mp3: Jose Gonzalez- "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

(YouSend: for a limited time only)

official site: Control

Today's Brew | Prinzhorn Dance School

From last night: one of the best games this year (at least in my book) between the Rockies and Padres...after 13 innings. 9-8. What an insane game that was?



They may have drawn their inspiration from Hans Prinzhorn who had compiled together an extensive collection of art by the mentally ill back in the early 20th century. I recall reading about the Prinzhorn Collection back in my art school days, quite a fascinating study.
Quite an enigmatic name for a band as its hard to even imagine the coincidence if it is, as their names are: Tobin Prinz and Suzi Horn...go figure.
Under the DFA record label- and I'm sure James Murphy had a hand in the production...I maybe late on this, but this is one funky ass band.

mp3: Prinzhorn Dance School- "Space Invaders"

official site: Prinzhorn Dance School

Today's Brew | In Rainbows

Yes, I'm back. Like it or not.

And the highly anticipated album by Radiohead is to be released- exclusively through the internet, at least for now, as they haven't really tied themselves with any major record labels as of yet.

The album name is: In Rainbows. Surprisingly the leaked version hasn't surfaced, or maybe it has since I've been away from the whole dreaded internet the past week or so.

Apparently the album is only available via download on October 10th- ovah here.

youtube: radiohead- "all i need" (live)