All set? The first tune from SF’s Grass Widow is kinda like my week—or year, for that matter—sweet spots punctuated by moments of full-on freakouts. Next is some raw ‘n fun rawk from Harlem (thanks for the tip, Sergio). Then ex-frontman for an SF band I listened to when living in Cole Valley, Beulah. The new Banksy movie trailer turned me on to this Richard Hawley track. Wrapping it up is Shiryu’s Tron Legacy Remix. Hot shit. Hop on a bike and go light shite up!
• • • •
Grass Widow “Rattled Call” from s/t
Harlem “Friendly Ghost” from Hippies
Miles Kurosky (ex-Beulah) “Pink Lips, Black Lungs”
from Bay Bridged Live Session
Richard Hawley “Tonight the Streets Are Ours” from Lady’s Bridge
Shiryu “Tron Legacy” Shiryu Remix download it FREE here
• • • •
Rock out with the Umlaut every Friday.
What the Ümlaut’s got on repeat this week:
Richard Buckner‘s acoustic take on Town that practically broke my heart. The new Frank Black, er, Black Francis searing, road-worthy tune I’d love to crank somewhere between SF and LA. And back. Will Oldham, er, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy gone house-tastic on Hot Chip‘s I Feel Better. Plus, the damn Star Wars / Jay-Z parody I cannot get out of my head. So now I’ll get it stuck in yours. Enjoy.
• • • •
Richard Buckner “Town” (Acoustic) from Daytrotter Session 03.22.10
Will Oldham “Dreaming My Dreams” (The Cranberries)
from I Am Drinking Again 7″
Black Francis “Dead Man’s Curve” from NonStopErotik
Papercuts “Future Primitive” from You Can Have What You Want
Hot Chip “I Feel Bonnie (House Remix)”
Remixed w/Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy / Will Oldham vocals
BONUS:
Darth Vader Jay-Z “Galactic Empire State of Mind”
from College Humor Watch the video »
• • • •
Rock out with the Umlaut every Friday.
Two trips to LA in two days. Between ’em, I managed to hear these five new tracks from upcoming LPs I am thoroughly stoked on. Well, one isn’t new. It’s just live. Whatever. I’m tired. Enjoy.
• • • •
The New Pornographers “Crash Years” from Crash Years (Single)
Broken Social Scene “Forced To Love” from Forgiveness Rock Record
The National “Bloodbuzz Ohio” from High Violet
Phoenix “Armistice” from Live in Sidney
Metric “Black Sheep” from OST Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Rock out with the Ümlaut every Friday.
The talented and crazily-influential singer/songwriter Alex Chilton passed away Wednesday from a heart attack. (pic by Godlis)
Alex, his band Big Star, and his bandmate Chris Bell’s music always makes me think of my wife’s old Skylark. It was the perfect soundtrack for driving around in a big ol’ 70s boat while falling in love.
Big Star “Daisy Glaze” from #1 Record/Radio City
Chris Bell “I Am The Cosmos” from I Am The Cosmos
Elliott Smith “Thirteen (Big Star)”
from Studion (Live in Stockholm, Sweden 06-02-98)
The Decemberists “The Ballad Of El Goodo (Big Star)”
from Live at The Echo, LA, 1.17.04
• • • •
If you’re going to SXSW, send me a postcard. To everyone else, enjoy a few less music nerds in your hood. For the time being. Have fun, y’all!
• • • •
Lawrence Arabia “Apple Pie Bed” from Chant Master
Best Coast “When I’m With You” from When I’m With You (single)
Two Door Cinema Club “I Can Talk” from I Can Talk
Truman Peyote “Magentadoor II” from Shake Some Action SXSW Sampler
Slow Six “The Night You Left New York” from Tomorrow Becomes You
RIP MARK LINKOUS / SPARKLEHORSE
Sparklehorse ft. Thom Yorke “Wish You Were Here” (Pink Floyd)
• • • •
Rock out with the Umlaut every Friday.
After I don’t know how long, the sun is finally out. Here’s some tunes to celebrate. And a couple Elliott Smith tracks for when the clouds inevitably return. On 04.06.10 Kill Rock Stars will release remastered versions of Roman Candle and From A Basement On A Hill . (Not sure why … their raw ‘n rough quality is part of their charm, especially Candle.) Enjoy.
• • • •
Gold Zebra “Six Years” from self released *link updated
Gorillaz “Plastic Beach” from Plastic Beach
Cults “Go Outside” from Cults 7”
Boats “Chrome Eyelids” from Cannonballs, Cannonballs!
Fang Island “Careful Crossers” from s/t
BONÜS:
Elliott Smith “Twilight” (Remastered)” from From A Basement On A Hill
Elliott Smith “Friends” (Led Zeppelin) from
Live 12.18.01 Great American Music Hall, SF
Rock out with the Umlaut every Friday.
Love the idea for this flyer promoting the fifth annual Pitchfork/Windish Austin Party. Not stoked on the execution.
Why not have Austin’s Neon Indian on a Shiner label? And why put LA’s Local Natives on a Brooklyn Brewery label? Lazy if you ask me. But I’ll give ’em props for the Washed Out / Coors Light pairing. That’s almost Wacky Packs material.
See the full band/beer label flyer at Pitchfork »
• • • •
LISTEN:
Japandroids “Young Hearts Spark Fire” (FF 05.01.09)
Neon Indian “6669 (I Don’t Know If You Know) (FF 06.12.09)
Surfer Blood “Floating Vibes” (FF 10.30.09)
Best Coast “Sun Was High (So Was I)” (FF 07.17.09)
Washed Out “Hold Out” (FF 09.04.09)
Local Natives “Airplanes” (FF 02.19.10)
Hear past Friday Fives and rock out with The Ümlaut »
Keep Your Eyes (and Ears) Open. Never know what you’ll see.
Spotted this chicken-filled stoop while cruisin’ around Petaluma. Coincidentally, just a block away from the ol’ Must-Hatch Incubator Co. building. Did you know the egg incubator was invented here? It’s one of the reasons we were known as The World’s Egg Basket. (And you thought we only invented the world sport of Wrist-Wrestling).
“Got chickens in the houses. We got chickens in the trees. Chickens in the pots of all the Petalumees … ”
Norman Greenbaum “Petaluma” from Petaluma
RELATED:
Time Lapse: My Hairy Commute / Readying For Whiskerino
Video: Petaluma Pete Does Whiskerino 2009
Spotted: Giant Pizza Slice In Pinky’s Phone Booth
Petaluma: “Secondhand Love” Gives Old Art New Heart, Sat. Feb 13th
Do me a favor and enjoy the hell out of your weekend. I’ll be doing the same.
• • • •
Parenthetical Girls “Evelyn McHale” from Privelege, pt. 1
The Fresh & Onlys “Peacock and Wing” from s/t
Pack A.D. “Crazy” from We Kill Computers
Club 8 “Western Hospitality” from The People’s Record
Air Conditioning School (ex-Sukpatch) “Busymore”
from Wake Me Up
BONÜS:
The Antlers “Two” (live) from WOXY Lounge Act 02.15.10
Rock out with the Umlaut every Friday.
What color should DEVO‘s new helmets be? They’re crowdsourcing for the answer.
The effort is a result of a partnership with oh-so-hot agency Mother LA (which opened their Los Angeles office specifically to service the band). More info at Creativity Online.
Take the Color Study from DEVO, Inc. to voice your opinion. Duty now!
HEAR THEIR NEW TRACK HERE:
Devo “Fresh” from Fresh or Something For Everyone
