See (Pretty) Girls and Lasers in the East Village tomorrow and get a free mp3 of their Refina Spektor mix. Tell em Cale sent you! 🙂about 5 hours agofrom Twitterrific
If I’m going to be completely honest with all of you, I’m going to tell you that for the most part, I’m not a fan of crazy all-night dance parties. Loud, mostly awful music, mixed by douchey DJs and soaked up by trashy girls isn’t something I get into. Forgive me.
But there are exceptions. Enter (Pretty Girls) & Lasers, two guys who happen to make some incredible mixes with tunes that even I enjoy listening to. I was skeptical, of course, when they first emailed me about their music, but after listening to their new hour-long mix on their website, I’m sold!
The duo will be in East Village tonight at Arlo & Esme to show off their skills for all in attendance. There is free entry to anyone who RSVPs on the PG&L website, and $5 vodka drinks all night long. Not bad for a Wednesday!
If you’re in NYC tonight and want to dance your (pretty) little behind off, I highly recommend you check it out! Thanks for the tip, guys. Keep up the good work!
Thanks to all of you who entered into the Wallpaper. Giveaway! In the end, only one person could walk away the winner (duh), and that person is Janell from Chicago! Congratulations, Janell on the win. I hope you enjoy the heck out of your album/t-shirt!
For everyone else, remember that Wallpaper’s debut, Doodoo Face hits stores and iTunes tomorrow, September 22. If you’re on the fence about it, never fear. Eenie Meenie has provided the album in its entirely for your streaming pleasure. CLICK THIS LINK TO CHECK IT OUT!
If you missed last night’s Colbert Report like I did (strict 9:30 pm bedtime policy), then you missed a rousing performance of the song “Convinced of the Hex” from their upcoming album, Embryonic. Never fear though, because I’ve embeded the video below for your viewing pleasure.
In addition, you can stream Embryonic in its entirety directly from colbertnation.com RIGHT NOW! Personally, I’m abstaining from listening to it until I can get a copy of the album in my hands. The digital age has made record releases much less of a big deal than they used to be (with leaks and streams, etc.), and a new Flaming Lips album is, to me, a big freakin’ deal! There’s nothing like walking anxiously to your car from the record store with a fresh CD in your hands, getting to your car and ripping the shrinkwrap off, and then basking in (what is hopefully) the glory of a fantastic album!
But if none of that matters to you…head on over to colbertnation.com and check it out. Embryonic releases to stores on October 13, 2009.
I try to treat all bands equally – I really do – but sometimes the prejudice side of me just comes out. It’s in situations such as these that I like to give special treatments to bands that I absolutely “luuuuuv.” Exhibit A: that Top 40 List of Of Montreal songs from last year. Exhibit B: this shameless plugging of the new Wallpaper album, DooDoo Face. Wallpaper, the Oakland R&B/Pop duo has been a staple on my iPod for the last year or so, ever since I got a promo copy of their T-Rex EP. I had to go out and buy the somewhat disappoint remix album myself, and this morning I paid for a copy of the first single from DooDoo Face, titled “I’ve Got Soul, I’m So Wasted.” The song was just released today on iTunes for the obvious price of $.99 and it was well worth the price.
Yeah, I know this sounds like I’m being paid to write this up. I’m not. Actually, I’m just really psyched about this album, and I think more people need to know about this group!! Do yourself a favor and download the T-Rex EP and the new single from iTunes. It won’t put you back too far, and you’ll listen to it for ages! Pinky promise.
Various Wallpaper items below…
Tour Dates: 08/21/09 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah 08/22/09 – Los Angeles, CA @ Blow Up LA (3 Year Anniversary Party) 08/28/09 – Las Vegas, NV @ Beauty Bar 08/29/09 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Standard (DIM MAK Pool Party) 09/04/09 – Oakland, CA @ Art Murmur (FREE SHOW) 09/18/09 – Edmonton, AB @ Pawn Shop 09/19/09 – Clagary, AB @ Hifi Club 09/23/09 – San Diego, CA @ Beauty Bar (DOODOO FACE Release Party) 09/25/09 – Hollwood, CA @ Bardot (DOODOO FACE Release Party) 09/26/09 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop (DOODOO FACE Release Party) 10/01/09 – Austin, TX @ Beauty Bar (ACL Pre-Party) 10/03/09 – Brooklyn, NY @ Cameo Gallery (DOODOO FACE Release Party)
Note: It’s okay to be entirely confused by that title. There’s far too many “runs” for anyone’s good up there, but that’s how these things work sometimes.
Say what you want about Audio Overflow (“man this writing is really amateur,” “geez, this guy sounds alarmingly attractive”), but one thing is definitely true, I try to be good to the artists that I like; especially ones that have been featured on the blog. Last year, I reviewedBasic Mechanics, the debut album from Charleston, SC band Run Dan Run (7 out of 10, described as “impressive”).
Well Run Dan Run has put together a new acoustic EP (that’s really good, btw) and set out to take over New York City. The band will be playing 5 shows in the Big Apple beginning this Saturday, June 27th in support of their second release as a band. Here’s the flyer:
You can preview a couple of tracks from the EP on the band’s Myspace page. As an added bonus, the band will be giving out a free copy of 27 Coming St. (the EP) with every admission to the July 1st show.
If you’re in the New York area, do yourself a favor and check out this up-and-coming band. Tell Dan that Cale from Audio Overflow sent you and you may get a little something extra (a high-five is all I can promise).
Hey hipsters! Finally a good reason to download some songs for Rock Band. Next week’s DLC will feature two songs by The New Pornographers. The songs are:
“All of the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth”
“Use It”
Not too shabby there, eh? They could’ve definitely picked some worse tracks (like “Entering White Cecilia”), but then again, these songs also release along side some Papa Roach songs.
Fair trade.
For those keeping count, that brings the total New Pornographers count to a whopping 3.
Anybody who has been a longtime reader of Audio Overflow knows two things about me:
I’m a big fan of the band Cursive.
I’m not a big fan of digital media.
Saddle Creek is quickly changing my mind, however, as they’re currently offering up Cursive’s new album, Mama, I’m Swollen, for the ludicrous price of $1. As always, there’s a catch. Here’s what the company has to say:
As of today, March 1st, Mama, I’m Swollen in MP3 format is available for $1 exclusively in the Saddle Creek Online Store. On March 2nd, it will be $2 March 3rd, $3 March 4th, $4 etc, etc until March 10th when the record hits the shelves, at which point the MP3 files will remain at their regular price of $9.
This promotion only applies to the digital MP3 version of Mama, I’m Swollen. CD and Deluxe LP physical editions are also available, and include an instant MP3 download of the record, deluxe art and a download card for additional bonus music and videos.
Obviously, this isn’t the best deal in the world (hey, Radiohead and Trent did just give away their shit), but it’s good to see labels getting in on the action. My copy is currently being downloaded, and I can’t wait to hear the end result.
For those of you who may be a bit new to the blog, I used to run this feature called Myspace Music Mondays in which I would profile talented artists who I totally found on myspace.  On January 21, 2008 I profiled a young woman from Norway who I felt had what it took to be the next, oh I don’t know, Bjork.  Her name is Hanne Kolstö and she sings with several different groups.
As it just so happens, Hanne and the guys from Love:Fi will be performing at this year’s SXSW festival in Austin, TX on March 18. Â Now I know that for many of you attending the festival, hearing some little known group from Norway is no big deal, but trust me, you’re in for a treat!
There’s no word yet on specific times or location, but do yourself a favor and try to discover something new. Â Who knows? Â You may even get to say “Yeah, I heard them before they got famous” to all your friends a few years from now. Â Just a thought….
So I’m working really hard on this week’s review, but I haven’t really got enough ears-on time with it yet. Â Expect it by Thursday. Â Until then, I thought I’d give everyone a little update as to what is happening at the E3 convention in Los Angeles. Â As many of you know, this is the huge, yearly video game convention where big titles are announced, demoed, hyped, etc. Â Being a gamer, myself, and a fan of music games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, I thought I’d let all of you in on the news. Â Chances are, if you’re an avid gamer, you already know this stuff. Â But if you’re living outside of nerdville, here’s what’s happened so far.
Xbox 360/PS3
Guitar Hero: World Tour – There wasn’t a lot of hype surrounding GH:WT, the next installment in the mega-series, what with the huge Rock Band 2 tracklist revealed just a few minutes before Microsoft’s Press Conference. Â What we do know for sure is that World Tour will release with an exclusive R.E.M. track pack, as well as Metallica’s forthcoming album as DLC. Â There was a little mention of being able to import and play your own music, which if implemented correctly, could be HUGE. Â Otherwise, I’m still not planning on buying this game, as I already have one fake drumset in my house, and I don’t see the need to further clutter things with GH:WT’s incompatible kit.
Rock Band 2 – This was the biggest music game announcement yesterday.  Rock Band 2 will ship with 85 master tracks, including a Chinese Democracy track from Guns ‘n’ Roses’ “upcoming” album.  Does this mean that Rock Band 2 will go the route of Duke Nukem Forever and get delayed for, well, ever?  Let’s hope not.  Here’s the full track list:
AC/DC: “Let There Be Rock” AFI: “Girl’s Gone Grey” Alanis Morissette: “You Oughta Know” Alice in Chains: “Man in the Box” Allman Brothers: “Ramblin’ Man” Avenged Sevenfold: “Almost Easy” Bad Company: “Shooting Star” Beastie Boys: “So Whatcha Want” Beck: “E-Pro” Bikini Kill: “Rebel Girl” Billy Idol: “White Wedding Pt. I” Blondie: “One Way or Another” Bob Dylan: “Tangled Up in Blue” Bon Jovi: “Livin’ on a Prayer” Cheap Trick: “Hello There” Devo: “Uncontrollable Urge” Dinosaur Jr.: “Feel the Pain” Disturbed: “Down with the Sickness” Dream Theater: “Panic Attack” Duran Duran: “Hungry Like the Wolf” Elvis Costello: “Pump It Up” Fleetwood Mac: “Go Your Own Way” Foo Fighters: “Everlong” Guns N’ Roses: “Shackler’s Revenge” Interpol: “PDA” Jane’s Addiction: “Mountain Song” Jethro Tull: “Aqualung” Jimmy Eat World: “The Middle” Joan Jett: “Bad Reputation” Journey: “Anyway You Want It” Judas Priest: “Painkiller” Kansas: “Carry On Wayward Son” L7: Â “Pretend We’re Dead” Lacuna Coil: “Our Truth” Linkin Park: “One Step Closer” Lit: “My Own Worst Enemy” Lush: “De-Luxe” Mastodon: “Colony of Birchmen” Megadeth: “Peace Sells” Metallica: “Battery” Mighty Mighty Bosstones: “Where’d You Go” Modest Mouse: “Float On” Motorhead: “Ace of Spades” Nirvana: “Drain You” Norman Greenbaum: “Spirit in the Sky” Panic at the Disco: “Nine in the Afternoon” Paramore: “That’s What You Get” Pearl Jam: “Alive” Presidents of the USA: “Lump” Rage Against the Machine:”Testify” Ratt: “Round & Round” Red Hot Chili Peppers : “Give It Away” Rise Against: “Give It All” Rush: “The Trees” Silversun Pickups: “Lazy Eye” Smashing Pumpkins: “Today” Social Distortion: “I Was Wrong” Sonic Youth: “Teen Age Riot” Soundgarden: “Spoonman” Squeeze: “Cool for Cats” Steely Dan: “Bodhitsattva” Steve Miller Band: “Rock’n Me” Survivor: “Eye of the Tiger” System of a Down: “Chop Suey” Talking Heads: “Psycho Killer” Tenacious D: “Master Exploder” Testament: “Souls of Black” The Donnas: “New Kid in School” The Go-Go’s: “We Got the Beat” The Grateful Dead: “Alabama Getaway” The Guess Who: “American Woman” The Muffs: “Kids in America” The Offspring: “Come Out & Play (Keep ’em Separated)” The Replacements: “Alex Chilton” The Who: “Pinball Wizard”
There are some interesting tracks, to be sure. Â And even though I’m a little miffed (read: completely and utterly dumbfounded) by the lack of Muse (!!!), I’m really looking forward to tearing into System of a Down, Beck, and effing Mastodon! Â All downloadable content from Rock Band will be compatible with Rock Band 2, and by the end of the year, there should be 500 songs available to Xbox Live/PSN users. Â That’s pretty impressive.
Lips (Xbox 360 Exclusive)Â – Lips is a new singing game from Microsoft Game Studios that really looks and feels like one of those SingStar games that I’m not too fond of. Â The big difference is that you’ll be able to connect your Zune or iPod and play with the songs that you already own, giving you a potentially endless number of songs to play. Â I’m not sure how this functionality will work though. Â Will it lower the vocals and turn it into a karaoke machine? Â Will it detect the vocals of the song and place the notes on the screen and make it into an actual game? Â Will it do BOTH? Â No one really knows the answers to this yet, but more will be revealed as the convention moves on, I’m sure. Â For the time being, it’s a pretty interesting title that I’ll definitely keep my eye on. Â Oh, and apparently the mics are motion sensitive (and they light up). Â Neat!
Wii
Samba de Amigo – This stylized maraca-based rhythm game for the Wii is essentially a re-make of the Dreamcast classic of the same name.  That means nothing to me though, as I never played that game and am not entirely convinced that I should.  It’s all about shaking maracas (or your Wii Remote in this case) to the beat, so if that’s your thing, keep an eye out for it.  The only development that came about this week is the announcement that the game will support Downloadable Content (which is a first for Wii, to my knowledge).  The first track pack will include:Â
“I Want Candy” – Bow Wow Wow
“Are You Going to be My Girl?” – Jet
“Mambo Mambo” Lou Bega
Umm…well, I’ll let those songs do the talking for me. Â If SEGA was trying to get this game on my radar, that didn’t do it.
Wii Music – The big announcement for Wii was the long-awaited Wii Music from Nintendo.  In the line of Wii Sports, Wii Fit, and Wii Play, Wii Music is a game designed to get grandma off the couch and into the game.  I don’t know folks, this one just looks a bit ridiculous to me.  Now, I’m all for playing virtual instruments, but holding the Wii Remote like a saxophone and blowing?  I’m not that big of dork.  Not yet at least.  Consider me un-wowed.
Nintendo DS
Guitar Hero: On Tour – Decades – Quite the mouthful, but Nintendo announced today that Activision is already underway on a sequel to the just-released (and *ahem* just-reviewed) Guitar Hero: On Tour. Â Not much information about this one yet, but apparently song-sharing will be available. Â I think this means that if a friend has the original, you can share songs from Decades to entice him or her to buy it. Â Clever.
Rhythm Heaven – This is apparently a sequel to a game released on Game Boy Advance in Japan.  But it’s coming to America, and reading the description, it seems a lot like Elite Beat Agents.  If that’s the case, I’m in!
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That’s all I’ve heard so far. Â Any of these seem like winners to you?
Audio Overflow 
