Incoherent, Rambling Link Dump Post.

So, today I read P'fork's glowing review (4 and 1/2 stars) of Kelis' (yes, of "Milkshake" fame) new track and remembered I got an email from someone in her camp pimping the song...so here's a link to stream the tune:

Kelis feat. Too $hort - "Bossy" (explicit version...meaning Too $hort says "bitch" a lot)


Below is the video for The Raconteurs' first single, "Steady, as She Goes". Jim Jarmusch (Broken Flowers, Coffee & Cigarettes) directed.



*Related: In case you haven't seen/heard it, here's the commercial for the new Jack White penned Coca-Cola jingle:




The Cee-Lo & Danger Mouse collab. Gnarls Barkley has been blowing up on the music blogs for some time now...here's your chance to stream the album in its entirety: Gnarls Barkley's MySpace page. I'd be really surprised if anyone has yet to hear the first single "Crazy"...its already a HUGE hit in the UK. Track description in the new issue of Spin: "Cee-Lo unleashes his inner gospel choir as Danger Mouse creeps in with a Gorillaz-style beat and an ooh-child melancholy that lingers like a question mark."

Cincinnati folks, I trust you've seen the line-up for the Desdemona Festival. It will take place June 23-25 at Sawyer Point and will feature 30 acts on 3 stages. The first wave of acts were announced this week and go as follows: THE WALKMEN, THE FIERY FURNACES, THE STILLS, RADIO 4, THE HEARTLESS BASTARDS, SMALL SINS, RICHARD SWIFT. Nick Spencer is running the operation and you can get updates via his blog or via Desdemona on MySpace.


Finally, here's a link to a great new Cleveland, OH based music blog: GoodHodgkins.com.

He's only been at it at for a short period of time, but the site obviously has a great name (from Curb Your Enthusiasm)...let's just hope he keeps updating at the feverish pace.


Since you made it through all of this mess, here's a treat. The epic opening track from Islands' acclaimed new album Return to the Sea. Read what the critics have said about the album: here. Buy the album: here. It's not the Unicorns, but I really enjoy the album.

MP3: Islands - "Swans (Life After Death)" (savefile: follow link)

Figurines - Skeleton

Figurines are not going to change your life. They are not gonna alter the indie music landscape in any way either. What they have done with their sophomore album, Skeleton, is create a charming little indie power-pop gem. Their sound borrows heavily from Modest Mouse and Built to Spill-- esp. frontman Christian Hjelm's vocals. Sure, there is essentially nothing on this record that we haven't heard before, but to simply write off Figurines for being overly derivitive would be a mistake. That is, unless you have no problem missing out on a well-written pop album with infectious hooks and a pervasively enjoyable vibe. It's your call.



Tunes:

Figurines - "The Wonder" *recommended* (PC: right click, "save as" | Mac: ctrl click, "download linked file")

Figurines - "Rivalary" (PC: right click, "save as" | Mac: ctrl click, "download linked file")

Figurines - "Release Me on the Floor" (savefile: follow link)



Video for "I Remember"* -- a stand-out track from Skeleton:



*this video loads pretty slowly...so just press play then pause to let it load up before you watch it.


What some critics have said about the album:

Pitchfork: 8.3

Rolling Stone: 4 Stars


Buy the album here!



*Bonus: tracks from their debut Shake a Mountain:

Figurines - "Bright" (PC: right click, "save as" | Mac: ctrl click, "download linked file")

Figurines - "Debate Because It's Over" (PC: right click, "save as" | Mac: ctrl click, "download linked file")


Figurines' Web Site

Figurines on MySpace

Wolfmother is pretty much awesome...

Wolfmother's long-awaited debut LP will hit stores May 2nd. I marked a bit of a buzz surrounding these guys based on their EPs, but had yet to give them any listens prior receiving their full-length. Man. A couple of tracks on this album are absolute BEASTS! Wolfmother are remarkably well-versed in the classic rock canon and obviously cut their teeth on copious helpings of Sabbath & Led Zep. Do I detect a bit of Jethro Tull aping on "Witchcraft"? I fear I do...but the flute/piccolo leads are undeniably tasty (ironic or not).


Early favorite cuts:
the above-mentioned "Witchcraft", "Joker and the Thief" (featuring a Slash-worthy guitar intro and a nice Sabbath-esque extended outro), & "White Unicorn" (this song may be the most beastly of all).

Future fans of Wolfmother:
Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Dewy Finn, Jack White, Ricky Rakman, Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, people who like bands with "Wolf" in their name, occasional Moroccan Role contributors.

New favorite adjective of music bloggers:
Lupine:
1. Characteristic of or resembling a wolf.
2. Rapacious; ravenous.


Limited Downloads: (all files are yousendit --> follow links)

Wolfmother - "White Unicorn"

Wolfmother - "Joker and the Thief"

Wolfmother - "Witchcraft"



Buy the album here!


Wolfmother on MySpace

New Futureheads Single: "Skip to the End"

Below is great quality version of the song from an apparent promo copy of the single. Their debut album was among my favorites from 2004 and I wore it out. The single is catchy as hell and has my hopes up for News and Tributes.

The single is due May 15th. Their upcoming album News and Tributes is due out May 29th. Both dates refer to the UK releases.

Tune:

The Futureheads - "Skip to the End" (savefile: follow link)



The Futureheads website

The Futureheads on MySpace

the Brunettes - Live @ the Southgate House & Highlights from Mars Loves Venus

I caught the Brunettes Wednesday night opening for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at the Southgate House in Newport, KY. While totally unfamiliar with their music prior to seeing their performance, I was quite impressed. The band's principle members are Jonathan Bree and Heather Mansfield, but they tour with "a changing, waxing and waning crew of amateur instrumentalists associated with Auckland's Lil' Chief Records", the so-dubbed "Lil' Chief Pop Orchestrette". (via the band's bio) There were 6 people on stage Wednesday night; many of whom were multi-instrumentalists. Some interesting/unusual instruments played: banjo, trumpet, clarinet, sax, vibraphone/xylophone/glockenspiel/marimba (at least two of these, but i'm not that great at telling them apart), synths, and (my perennial fave) harmonica. The band played an extended set and while the crowd was slow to get on board, they won over the majority of those in attendance by the end of their set. Their next record will be released on Sub Pop "sometime around summer/fall 2006"-- according to the label.

I picked up their 2004 effort Mars Loves Venus at the show...and had to get it signed, simply to get the chance to meet the charming Heather Mansfield and listen to her intriguing New Zealand accent.




Two stand-out tracks from Mars Love Venus:

the Brunettes - "Polyester Meets Acetate" (savefile: follow link)

the Brunettes - "Loopy Loopy Love" (savefile: follow link)



Buy the album here!

The Brunettes on MySpace



*Of course, CYHSY were great. That was expected. The band played a few new tracks including "Cigarettes" and the incredibly well-received "Satan". I spoke to guitarist Lee Sargent, who said that we could expect new material in September. Awesome.

The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers

The upcoming full-length from the highly anticipated project between Jack White, Brendan Benson, and The Greenhornes' Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler has leaked. I've listened to the album about 3 or 4 times from front-to-back and I'm totally diggin' it.

Your Head's Not Right has two excellent tracks, including the title track...which sounds like mid-career Led Zep. mixed with a lo-fi Rush or something. The song features high pitched vocal wailing, eerie/droning guitar work, and propulsive, 'everything but the kitchen sink' percussion. Great stuff.

The album hits stores May 16th.

The Eagles of Death Metal - Death By Sexy

The sophomore album by The Eagles of Death Metal will be out Tuesday, April 11 on Downtown Records. The band's line-up includes frontman Jesse "the Devil" Hughes and Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme. Homme produced the new album and plays drums for the band.

File under: straight-ahead, dirty rock 'n roll featuring tongue-in-cheek misogyny.

Tracklist:

01 I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News) *first single* (PC: right click, "save as" | Mac: ctrl click, "download linked file")
02 I Gotta Feeling (Just Nineteen)
03 Cherry Cola *recommended*
04 I Like to Move in the Night
05 Solid Gold
06 Don't Speak (I Came to Make a BANG!)
07 Keep Your Head Up
08 The Ballad of Queen Bee and Baby Duck
09 Poor Doggie
10 Chase the Devil
11 Eagles Goth
12 Shasta Beast
13 Bag O' Miracles

Buy the album here!


Here's the video for the first single, "I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)", featuring cameos from Dave Grohl and Jack Black:




*per Gary's keen knowledge of cheese-tastic late 70s - early 80s rock...the Death by Sexy album cover possesses a striking similiarity to the Loverboy "classic", Get Lucky:

Best. Fanmail. Ever.

Apparently, the title of this blog can be quite confusing. At the very least, this e-mail left me with a smile on my face for the rest of yet another miserab.. I mean wonderful day on surgery.

Dear GK guliani,

I am a Moroccan student applying for the Master ofScience in Finance program at Vanderbilt University.

I have discovered your blog on the Internet. I wonder ifyou can give emails of Moroccan students or alumni from VU.

Many thanks,
T**** E******

Thanks for the e-mail T. I think you are a little confused. Understandably, though. This blog is all about "Rock 'n Roll." We listen to it. We live it. And we want More of it.

Unfortunately, I never met any Moroccan students when I was at Vanderbilt. Good luck getting your MS in Finance.

- GKG