JazzCore

Two party systems are generally bullshit, so in an effort to diversify I present Jazz Core, a fusion of hardcore and Jazz. The label is Grindcore Karaoke, http://www.grindcorekaraoke.com/, and they've got a a pile of bands you cab sift through. The songs are from the Dead Neanderthals, http://deadneanderthals.bandcamp.com/album/dead-neanderthals, and they're from the Netherlands. NPR was writing Haiku's about other Grindcore bands, so here's my take on DN. Submit some Haikus to the comments.

Saxophone hardcore
If Kerouac could see Jazz Now
Mexico City Punk

Spaghetti Northern

I sadly missed Maggie Björklund at SXSW, but at least have her just-released album to console me. I definitely can't describe it better than the Seattle Weekly did: "A rich, reverby, pedal steel-tinged landscape that sounds like the Twin Peaks soundtrack dubbed over a psychedelic spaghetti Western."
Whats not to love?
She is a Danish lady with connections to a few Seattle bands, which gives me hope that I will have more chances to see her in the future.

03 Summer Romance by Bloodshot Records

Battle of the Remixes I

Safety Rat sent me a link to Copycat remix of John Legend covering Adele's "Rolling in the Deep". Mouthful. Lest we forget that remixes are 'the prostitution of music', according to James Blake.

The Waiting Wolf

The producer and DJ for Jedi Mind Tricks, Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind, is in my opinion one of the best around. He is responsible in large part for my love of hip hop and desire to saw things in half without a f**king magical box. His recent work has involved collaborations with female singers in a sort of trip hop flavor. The latest effort is called Vesperitina (Stoupe and Lorrie Doriza). It definitely has a Made in Heights feel and is a long way from the more JMT esque bladder stabbings and/or pope stranglings. There's also an acoustic version with Lorrie alone on the piano, it's pretty slick too. Enjoy.






Download the single here: http://vespertinamusic.com/ Full album drops in May.

Here's an older Stoupe collab that launched his trip hop phase.


DJ Megatron so it goes.

Les Animaux Dansent Dans Le Safari Disco Club

What's better than one new Yelle music video? Two Yelle music videos connected by an awesome transition.

The French disco queen recently put out this awesome video for her two songs "Safari Disco Club" and "Que Veux-tu." I enjoyed the first half better in which she's this lion chick escaping from futuristic zoo keeper right after (apparently) people started falling from the skies. Yeah. Also, she has a fucking TchikiTAH man, you will see what I'm talking about and it is awesome.

You can find these songs on Yelle's amazing second cd "Safari Disco Club" which she put out just a few days ago through Braclay Records.

YELLE - Safari Disco Club / Que veux-tu (exclusive full length edit) from Yelle on Vimeo.

Photo courtesy of www.McJawn.com

Nepotism

So here's Il Abanico, a couple of Colombians living in Boston. Straight indie *, pretty voice.



Download their FREE EP now. It's good. If you happen to notice that the sound is absolutely perfect, that's because my good friend Francisco Botero did it. End of plug.

(I guess I can't complain the next time I meet someone and they say: "You're Colombian? I met a Colombian once... Juan. Do you know him?")

Loco Mia (pictured above) have nothing to do with this band, but they're the only thing (yes, thing) I can think of when fans are mentioned. Here's why.

*UPDATE: After re-reading my post, I realized that the tone does not convey how much I actually liked their EP. This is the opposite of Nepotism, as they completely deserve the shout out, and all the success they're having. Pardon my lousy writing, and go listen to them.

Lock by Lock Hart

Kevin Gant was playing out at the Purple Bee in Lockhart last night, and I found his set weirdly compelling. He was apparently an Austin fixture in the 90's who has disappeared for a fifteen years or so. He is resurfacing partially in support of a new documentary about him by the Austin auteurs the Duplass brothers, best known for The Puffy Chair, and more recently Cyrus. It isn't clear to me when or where one could see this documentary, but I am very curious.

It is kind of spoken word and a bit hippy-dippy at times, but also fun and witty. I am really into it. This song, Limestone, is my favorite, and especially climber appropriate.

SXSW Last Choice Pick (Nichole)

Here's my pick for favorite SXSW show. Sharon Van Etten's performance at Swan Dive rendered me breathless.

And I got hit on by three girls.

Sharon Van Etten-A Crime by theawkwardoff

Chick Hop Reloaded

In keeping with the chick hop theme here's one who is coming to SxSW. She'll be here all next week and will be a priority for me. Proving that not everything from Florida is crazy. Toucan Sequin Shirt. Her mixtape is free here: http://www.myspace.com/dominiqueyoungunique

Neo Beat Poetry

Kate Tempest is a young (19-20?) poet/rapper from London. She wrote/recorded a book already, receiving critical acclaim (I don't know shit about poetry, so I wouldn't know if it's good). The name of her band is 'Sound of Rum'. They have officially released 'Slow Slow' as a single, with a couple of good remixes. I've been listening to it on heavy rotation, while I wait anxiously for a full length release.

How did I end up hooked on a 'spoken word' act? I really don't know. but I think it has to do with the sweet, Joplin-esque coarseness of her voice.

Pretty Girls and Anal Glands

Yuck indeed.

They're from London and just released their first album last month, but they've been making noise since last year with awesome single after awesome single. Included in those singles is "Rubber" which they released last year. Enjoy, or close your eyes on the hard-to-watch parts... whatevs.



They'll be playing a SxSW showcase show at Club DeVille and the Pitchfork Presents party. But I'm not sure if they'll be playing any free parties...

The Urban Texas Loss

The Rural Alberta Advantage are Canadian (no way!) indie rockers (no way!) that have been around for a while. They are a lot of fun and will be here for sxsw, at the paste day party, with Last Choice picks Olof Arnalds and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. among others. This is the single from their just released album Departing. I like this song, but I love this video.
Watch it!



Also, they are from Toronto, which makes them fake cowboys like the rest of us.