Hate giving out your email address as much as I do? Well, that's the only way you'll get to hear the entire track of Franz Ferdinand's new single Lucid Dreams. If you're just itching for a mere ten seconds of Scottish voices and synthesized guitar rock, you can listen to it here:
I'm not sure what to make of those ten seconds but those boys do tend to get my hipster knee bob ready for action.
Actress Zooey Deschanel and folksy singer M. Ward have come together to create She & Him - a twangy, Nancy Sinatra-esque indie-delight suitable for hipsters of all ages (and their parents).
Their video for Why Do You Let Me Stay Here has the cute stylings of a Disney film - if Edgar Allen Poe were the art director.
It's been a while since I last heard Atlantic Star's romantic ballad, Always. It brought tears to my eyes and I always mangled the words, but damn it was one of my faves. Happily, I stumbled upon this cover. I think the ukulele adds a nice touch and truthfully I prefer this version. Call it what you will (PMS) but the chills are multiplying and my eyes are a bit damp.
Normally I would choose to ignore the iTunes song of the day - mostly because it's usually something that either Disney or CMT threw up (in my experience). But holy shit, today is a very lucky day. The song of the day today is Blind by Hercules and Love Affair featuring Antony (from Antony and the Johnsons).
Here's the link so you can go ahead and get yourself the free copy of ear deliciousness.
The band Bitter:Sweet is coming out with a new album called Drama. This track has a sultry Nikka Costa vibe that I can really get into. This is the first I've heard of them but apparently they put on a killer live show. They've even opened up for the likes of The Shins and Lily Allen. Enjoy.
Bitter:Sweet
"Waking Up" (mp3)
from "Drama"
(Quango)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album
New York was great although we were running around so much I didn't even have time to coax my way back to any serious after-parties. Hell, I couldn't even coax my way into any press after-parties, what the hell is up with that? I did, however, meet some very nice suits and ties at the hotel bar. Pictures from a few events will be posted soon, but in the meantime and between time do yourself a favor and purchase the latest album from Elbow.
It was last February and I was listening to NPR's All Songs Considered when I heard a familiar Baltimore accent. My favorite pencil-mustached weirdo, John Waters, was guest DJing their Valentine's Day show and sharing some samples off of his compilation CD, A Date With John Waters. Each song was appropriate for the Hallmark holiday; regardless of if you praise it as the day of love or loathsomely refer to it as the day you are most likely to kick puppies.
Just look at him. Everything about this is wonderful. It's as if his facial hair were really just dirt and some of it rubbed off onto his white jacket collar. It is oddly attractive and terrifying all at the same time.
Some of the best tracks include "All I Can Do Is Cry" by Ike and Tina Turner (Happy Valentines Day to YOU!), "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked A Cake" by Eileen Barton and the New Yorkers (sweet as pie, or cake) and a genius cover of "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Edith Massey. For those of you who don't know Edith Massey, she is an amazing creature. John Waters actually hand selected her to be one of the stars of his film Pink Flamingos. She played the "Egg Lady". Describing her won't do it justice, so instead I will leave you with a picture. Run, do not walk, to buy this album.
So here's the deal, I am wondering what the hell I've been doing all these years of my life. In almost 30 years I haven't accomplished that which The Tiny Masters of Tomorrow have. The brother/sister duo of Ivan and Ada are only 13 and 11 years old respectively, and already have an album out. But wait, there's more. These tiny masters have gotten some huge names to work with them: Kimya Dawson (you may know her from the Juno soundtrack or if you're more of a music nerd you may know her from her solo gig and her Moldy Peaches days), and the amazing talents of Karen O and Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They've done an impressive job honing their sound and creating something more professional than something cutesy that you'd find on America's Got Talent. In fact, they would totally Hassle the Hoff. The only problem I have with the group is their video for Hologram World. The kick back to the Beastie Boy's "Fight For Your Right" video meets Night of the Living Dead, meets dress-up party for the Pitchfork Music Festival needs to end. They even got Karen O to out-hipster herself. The song though, is pretty slammin.
Oh man, even one of my very favorite women on earth has her own Muxtape, it has finally hit the masses. Not that I didn't think former-Sleater Kinney guitarist, Carrie Brownstein, is by any means "mainstream" or not in the know, it's just that for some reason it never occurred to me that she would be promoting something that for all intensive purposes is kind of illegal from a music industry standard. Oh and if for some reason you've never heard of her and have no reason to believe she is sofa king cool, just read her NPR Monitor Mix post about how she spent Earth Day.
You may remember that I posted my own Muxtape a while ago but I haven't given it a whole lotta thought since then mostly because things like this get taken down pretty quickly. There was a while there when I was really into Imeem, which has been displayed prominently on my blog here for a while. But now the links don't work and it seems as though it's more trouble than it is worth to actually figure out what is going wrong.
Carrie Brownstein having a Muxtape though, now that gives me hope that this may actually survive. Not only that, but getting to listen to a virtual mix tape made by someone you've idolized for years is one of the greatest gifts of the decade. Keep your iTunes gift certificates, just send a few more Muxtapes my way courtesy of Beth Ditto, Chan Marshall, Stevie Wonder, Bjork, PJ Harvey and Hot Chip and I'm pretty much set.
For those of you who are late to the party and haven't heard Beth Ditto's soulful-punkish voice accompanied by Hannah' s funk-disco beats and Brace's killer guitar, check out David Letterman April 16th. The Gossip will be performing live for the gap-toothed late show king.
Their live shows are the kind that force you to get your ass shaking until you are a sweaty mess moving in time to the rest of the crowd. You have no option other than to have rhythm and you haven't lived until you see Beth roll on the ground in a tubedress.
Here is their (very low res) video for Standing in the Way of Control
Bat for Lashes is the shiz. If you like Rasputina, Coco Rosie, Portishead and The Raveonettes you will love Natasha Khan and her crew. Their act is a dark one filled with crying violins. So far my favorite song off of their album, Fur and Gold, is "What's a Girl to Do?". Check out the video below, it's like Donnie Darko meets ET.
Bjork's video for Wanderlust is one of the most gorgeous works of art I've seen in a long time. While it is far from being one of my favorite songs, the video evokes such wonderful childhood memories of Max, the little boy from Where the Wild Things Are. It's as if the book was combined with Michele Gondry's film technique and thrown into a pool of Bjork's creative genius.
Another of my favorite videos (and songs) of all time, the gorgeous All is Full of Love:
There are more and more outlets for streaming and sharing music these days. I, for one, am very happy to push my musical tastes onto others. One of the best gifts to give or receive is a mixtape. Sometimes they are the only way to get whatever is lurking in your head or (as cheesy as it is) your heart, is to turn your feelings into a soundtrack. Hell, Nick Hornby even went as far as writing a novel based on the power of mixtapes - which was then turned into the movie High Fidelity.
Some cool cat named Justin came up with a new way to create mixtapes - or as he likes to call them Muxtapes. I've already created one, for dark and gloomy days when I'm walking down the street and pigeons are scattered among the walkway challenging the tourists to see who will move out of the way first. Check out the Chubby Jones Muxtape, and create your own!
If you took Leslie and the LYs, subtracted the hip hop, added more synthesizers, multiplied that by testosterone and got spanked by the lovechild of Peter Frampton and Chromeo, you would get Gil Mantera's Party Dream, a band which has just been introduced to me by my friends at Smog Veil Records.
If gyrating pelvises in stretch pants offend you, you probably don't want to watch this...otherwise, just sit back and enjoy.
Easily one of the coolest and scariest videos ever made, I give you: Liars "Plaster Casts of Everything"
This is the only song I've been listening to on repeat today. One Pure Thought, by Hot Chip is a great song to listen to on the bus or train ride home when you're about to get ready for the weekend. Mellow yet toe-tapable. Poppy, electronic and gently British. The Hot Chip album STILL hasn't gotten played out eventhough there have been several other albums I've been pawing at.
Go out and get this album, right now. Enjoy the beautiful weekend.
There are many reasons why we don't like Perez Hilton, like the way he calls Katherine Heigl an idiot just because she doesn't like to discuss politics. We here at Chubby Jones don't like to talk about politics either. Why? Because we don't know enough about it to really make an educated parody.
He had a lot of crappy things to say about Lily Allen after she miscarried but was surprisingly kind when she was still pregnant. He doesn't have anything intelligent to say; his Photoshop skills are lacking and somehow he was able to get his hands on the new Tilly and the Wall video before we were. We've always been big fans of the cute kids from the Team Love label. Heck, we've sat next to their merchandise table and gotten to exchange a few words and a few more glances with them. We've even considered taking tap dancing lessons past our prime just because they made it hip. What Perez didn't tell you is that this song is a bit of a departure for these adorable musicians. While their music has always been fun and nostalgic (they can paint a picture of childhood so clearly it makes you long for overalls, tube socks and Tang) it has never been so electronic. We dig the Rainbow Briteness of Beat Control and overall danceability but don't think it can even compare to the CSS Remix of The Freest Man (mp3). Either way, it's still hot.
As if Monopoly couldn't get any more boring, Universal Pictures is now thinking about making a MOVIE about it. Hopefully it will take less time to sit through than it does to play the actual game.
Please Hammer, don't hurt us...It seems as though Reality Television only prepares its "stars" for more Reality Television. Let's call it the Real World/Road Rules Career Path as it seems as though the only thing those fools are good for is appearing on a Real World/Road Rules Challenge. M.C. Hammer, ruler of the Hammer Pant, has already appeared on VH1's The Surreal Life and is now shopping around a reality program based on the ups and downs of his life.
Continue reading "MC Hammer 2 Legit 2 Quit, Tyra Banks Finds Craziest Contestants So Far!" »
Rumor has it that Nelly Furtado is preggers again, maybe that's why we couldn't even recognize her at the Grammys. The glow normally associated with getting knocked up translated into her wearing too much bronzer.
Belle and Sebastian - Another Sunny Day (mp3)
Geri Halliwell ruins our weekend by dashing all of our hopes and dreams of paying lots of $$ to see the Spice Girls play another tour. The good news is, we'll always have Spice World to turn to during the dark times of spice drought.
Matmos - Steam and Sequins for Larry Levan (mp3)
Baby Walrus - Ghostish (mp3)
Incredible artist Jim Denevan creates short-lived masterpieces in the sand. He does everything freehand with a stick he finds on whatever beach he is combing. It is incredibly hard to believe he can be so exacting without the aid of any measuring tools. We're guessing he doesn't suffer from ADD.
No Kids - The Beaches All Closed (mp3)
Kid 606 - Fabulous Muscles (mp3)
Continue reading "Another A-List Pregnancy, Trashy Wedding and Old Spice" »
Last Friday I was welcomed into the apartment that houses folk-pop artist, Reddelicious. She was a little shy at first, as was I, especially since she agreed to be the very first band interviewed for the site. She likes to play shows for 16 year old kids whose love for music hasn't been jaded by the Grammys (unlike some of the rest of us). She doesn't like being called a ginger kid and points out the differences between gingers vs. redheads.
She graciously played two of her songs for us, and I've been singing them in my head all weekend. Enjoy!
The Grammys have never been anything I've been too interested in. I might be a music lover, but it has always seemed as though awards are handed out to cookie-cutter artists who may sell but who lack real quality and musicianship. So, while I didn't actually watch the Grammys last night, I did read up on some of the winners and losers.
First of all, I have to say that I am so proud of Amy Winehouse. I've been pushing her music onto everyone I know since the first time I listened to her about three years ago. Sure she's smoked crack and there's probably a family of rats living in her hair, but her voice is timeless and gritty (the voice is what we're all here for anyway, isn't it?). If you check out this video on Jezebel you'll see that rehab has really paid off (and so has a nice long hot shower).
I'm not sure how this slipped under my radar, but Carrie Brownstein - formerly of super group Sleater-Kinney - now has her own blog for NPR. I was obsessed with the women from SK and heartbroken when they decided to call it quits. Reading Brownstein's take on the Grammys was, for me, much better than watching it at all.
Greg Kot seemed as unimpressed with the show as Brownstein did since he chose to focus on Winehouse and Kanye West for a good chunk of his run-down.
Since the awards show is over with and the temperature is below freezing, how about some music to keep handy for lazy days when you just can't get out of bed. Three dog nights, extend to the daytime and the coffee machine is too far away but you'll get some anyway just as long as you can wear comfy pants, a sweatshirt and hide under your comforter.
If you were a child of the 80's, there was probably a period in your life when you either wanted to be Punky Brewster, or you wanted to be her friend. I, for one, used to tie multi-colored bandanas around my knees and put whatever hair I had into pigtails. Soleil Moon Frye not only had the coolest name, she also had spunk and attitude. I believe it was called "Punky Power", which was later one of the animated exclamations of her alien bff Glomer (does anyone else remember that?).
Well, Punky grew up to be a mother and a super fox. Last I heard, Glomer was working for the INS.
Chubby Jones Lovah, Nibs, from Chicago, IL wanted to know what ever happened to Punky's best friend with the rolled headband, Cherie "Cherry" Johnson. Well, to begin with, her real name IS Cherie Johnson. Her uncle had created the character of Cherie to be named after her, but hadn't thought she would be the one getting the role. Cherie had stardom in her blood and went after the part of her self-titled character. After Punky came to a close four years later, Cherie took on roles in Family Matters and The Parkers, and has written and starred in a film entitled I Do...I Did. Little known factoid: She was elected as the National Cheer Representative to introduce Nancy Reagan to the "Just Say No to Drugs" movement!
Here is quite possibly the best "Say No to Drugs" music videos from the 80's - be on the lookout for Bobby and Whitney when she really knew "Crack is Wack".
Because Punky was so Superfly, this remastered Curtis Mayfield track goes out to everyone who is down with Punky Power
Curtis Mayfield "Superfly" (mp3)
from "Future Shock"
(MusicCom)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Electronic act Venue had a dancefloor hit with their song, "Kate" and now its been remixed three times over. I've been listening to Tim Baker's remix all morning and I'm finding it hard to keep my butt in one place. Vocatlist Katja Blichfeld's voice reminds me of Ann Clark's dark electro-industrial songs but "Kate"'s grooves are infectiously danceable. Enjoy.
Venue, Tim Baker "Kate" (mp3)
from "Kate Remixes"
(Real Estate Records) More On This Album
I've got great news for your ears today! Thanks to Brooklyn Vegan I found an amazing site called Songerize that allows you to type in the name of a song and it plays it on demand. Go ahead, try it. I pulled out a few completely random ones off the top of my head and to my shock and glee they played for me. So go ahead, look up those guilty pleasures you're afraid to put into your iTunes because others can see it on your shared drive (*cough* Mandy Moore's "Candy").
Or, you can treat yourself to a full stream of Cat Power's new covers album on this site. For those of you who aren't familiar with Chan Marshall, you should get acquainted soon. I've had the privilege of seeing her live a few times, and each time she has blown me away. She's been to her own private hell and back - suffered from severe stage fright and anxiety (she has performed shows with her back to the audience throughout the entirety of the concert), and somehow has been able to come out on top. The release of The Greatest was when she picked herself up off the ground, bandaged her bruises through songs still salty from the tears they were written with. Her voice is deep, sultry and unique. At times it seems as though it is strained to its limits but Chan still manages to hit each note with grace.
Here is a video for what I assume is her love note to sobriety:
I'm about to peace out of this 4 degree weather and head on out to sunny 75 degree Florida weather. You see, there's a Pirate Festival taking place, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to swig some drinks back with people wearing eye patches, hooks, and fluffy button down shirts. I will - of course - paint my face, because any excuse to be in a costume usually gets me in one.
Before I leave I wanted to leave you with this - It's Of Montreal's cover of M.I.A.'s Jimmy and it is HOT TO DEATH! Thanks to Pitchfork for the download, and big thanks to my pal at Ugly Yeti for the head's up.
Also...I want to leave you with this, so that you too can think about how much you loved Reality Bites. It was a much simpler time when Winona Ryder was cute and didn't need to go to court appearances; Jeanine Garafolo was someone you wanted to be friends with; Ethan Hawke was greasier and still somehow much more attractive; and I could remember the guy's name who played Sammy.
For those of you who haven't listened to the band Hot Chip, you have denied yourself pleasure for way too long. Lucky for you, not only do you have their two previous albums to look forward to, but their next album, Made in the Dark will be hitting stores (and my ears) on February 5th.
This is one of my very favorite songs, not only off of their last album, The Warning, but of all time:
By now you all probably know what a reality television junkie I am but what you may not know is that I have really great taste. Of course, after I tell you how obsessed I am with the show, Crowned, I fear that I may lose your trust altogether. Please, hear me out and consider this: Some of the moms and daughters are CRAZUH. Yes. Crazuh. What's not to love when there is a show with maniacal disillusioned people living in the same space as "normal" people? Does anyone remember Ripsi from the Bad Girls Club (quite possibly one of the worst and best things I've ever seen on tv...hot hot mess)? Please understand that you must separate the crazies from the bitches, the two do not always go hand in hand although on this show, the crazies are also bitches (which makes it even better in my book). Do you need visual proof? Look at the clips Jezebel strung together from this week's episode. The daughters were asked to come up with a 1-minute fitness routine to be performed with their mothers. The look on the ginger-daughter's face throughout the routine makes me want to pee my pants. It looks like the judges wet their seats a bit as well. The high kick at the end of the routine with the "Eeeeeyaaaah" exclamation seals the deal for me and also reminds me of the "Hey EEEEaaaaaaaaaaah" Howard Dean mash-up from a few years ago.
The soulless red-headed plastic women keep insisting that they are the best looking duo on the show. These women are so far from being in touch with reality, it actually makes this show more realistic than the others out there. I'm not sure if they are trying to make themselves feel better for the price of any "work" that's gotten done or if they think that if they believe it hard enough it will actually be true. As my mom pointed out to me on the phone the other night, these are sad individuals with no talent. Yes, I like them that way. It makes me feel brilliant.
Now, since it is almost Christmas time (which means seeing a movie and eating Chinese food to me) I will leave you with a must-have Christmas playlist. If it were up to me, I'd probably just listen to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" on repeat like I did last year, but this year Sufjan Stevens came out with his own Christmas album. Go ahead and add this to your egg nog.
Mariah Carey
All I want for Christmas is you
The ULTIMATE Christmas song of all time.
N'Sync
You Don't Have to be Alone (On Christmas)
No, you can hang out with the other people in your boy band.
Miss Piggy
Santa Baby
Christmas is important to muppets too.
Run DMC
Christmas in Hollis
Light up the tree, not the streets yo.
Kelly Clarkson
Oh Holy Night
A mixtape isn't a mixtape without some Kelly Clarkson.
Keith Sweat
Be Your Santa Claus
Oh I bet you will Keith Sweat, I bet you will.
Otis Redding
White Christmas
Listen to while making your cookies.
The Kinks
Father Christmas
Rock n' Roll dude.
Stevie Wonder
The Christmas Song
Stevie is like the star at the top of the tree.
