Not entirely sure how I feel about the song, but the video is luxuriously simple and equally beautiful.
Halls – I Am Not Who You Want
Reply
Author Archives: Cody
Maps & Atlases ‘Beware And Be Grateful’ Teaser Trailer
Maps & Atlases have let loose a cryptic trailer for their upcoming release Beware And Be Grateful. Not entirely sure what it means…if we’re looking at a concept album or what, but I do hope there will be more of these shorts. I’m liking the album’s crossed arrows logo, as well the snippet of new material at the end of the video sounds awesome…a fuller sound than I’m used to from the band.
Beware and Be Grateful will come out on April 17th 2012.
For Lack Of Anything Better: Kramer vs. Skrillex
I get why Skrillex is derisive, but why the whole genre? Sure the most popular elements of the genre are like a bowl of Frosted Flakes and Lucky Charms over coffee but I think the core American fanbase that’s probably ruining dubstep for the world.
Either way, racist or not…Michael Richards was a great physical comedian. Right?
We can stop talking about dubstep now.
A 39 Minute Documentary About Iceland Airwaves
In the long ago days that we called 2006, the stars aligned, money appeared and I secured a press pass to Iceland Airwaves. I flew alone to Reykjavik and took in the festival. It’s always a well curated affair that takes over most of the small 101 district. The charm lies in the close proximity of all the venues, the beauty of the city and the kindness of the locals. The first night I met a couple who offered up great conversation and a couch to crash on, as my hotel was a bit of a hike. Had this been America, I most likely would have woken up in an ice bath without my kidneys. In addition to the main venues, there are tons of off-venue events which offer up many chances to discover and repeatedly see local Icelandic acts. The weekend contained what I still regard as one of the best shows of my life: Wolf Parade supporting Apologies To Queen Mary in a packed tiny club called Tuborg. I forgot my press pass would get me to the other side of the divider, but I contentedly enjoyed the nearly too loud set pressed against the barrier. Afterward with my ears still ringing, I took my rental bike into the dark of the suburbs along the water. The streets were desolate, yet still felt safe and I could see the northern lights faintly above the horizon. Probably one of the better evenings of my life.
The festival ended with pages of notes and even a few interviews on tape. I returned to the US to no job and little motivation to write. Quickly, I woke up to the press deadline looming above my head and no place to publish the words I had yet to write. Cutoff passed and I can only guess that my name is still on the blacklist they warned about.
I still love the festival and this 39 minute documentary is a loveletter with a great selection of interviews and performaces from the last 10 years of Airwaves. Here’s hoping that this post can work to repair the damage I did 5 years ago by not promoting the festival then. Sorry, Iceland!
Also, extra apologies to Skakkamanage and þórir from My Summer As A Salvation Soldier. I interviewed you guys because I was a fan and I’m sad I never did anything with it.
Here’s the video I shot at local record store Skifan of Skakkamanage performing “OFC’s”
Also, here’s my photoset from the trip.
Best of 2011: Chad VanGaalen – Diaper Island
Despite the unfortunate title, Diaper Island is an amazing, heady mix of reverbed mood woven with a voice that at times seems barely strong enough to sustain the weight of the sometimes sad words sung. I had somehow missed the boat on finding him through any of his previous three releases, but I’m more than happy with what I’ve found. The album is a tender mix of beautifully paranoid and touching songwriting, all articulated with a delicacy that few can match.
Though off of 2008′s Soft Airplane, the tremendous ‘Rabid Bits of Time’ was featured on the soundtrack of the 2011 film Norman and sums up all that is beautiful and fragile about VanGaalen’s songwriting:
Das Racist’s Heems presents ‘Nehru Jackets’ Mixtape
I don’t have a strong opinion about Das Racist, every so often someting pops up from them that you can’t deny the slacker brilliance. I grabbed Heems’s recently released mixtape ‘Nehru Jackets’ on a whim and was pretty impressed. More than a few tracks are built around awesome chopped samples of Indian vocalists paired with some quite decent beats. As well, the mixtape has guest spots from the likes of Danny Brown, Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, Das Racist’s Kool A.D., Action Bronson, Childish Gambino and Despot. ‘Nerhu Jackets’ is petty good for a guy who broke onto the scene with an ode to Yum! Brand franchises. Though, to be fair, they moved on to Žižek references which is in my mind, a fine evolution.
This free mix was unleashed on the world via the insidious playground that was Megaupload. Thanks to the Feds, that dark shadow has been purged from the earth. (Whatever will Swizz Beats do?) You can still grab it from Hulkshare…don’t tell anyone.
Also, here’s my favorite thing done with their rhymes – Anamanaguchi’s remix of ‘Rainbow In The Dark’: