Sometimes you just aren't in the mood for words. You're just looking for a visual escape to tap a foot to...Eye candy with an audio chaser. Drudging through a lot of bad, bad music, MMB found these two animated, instrumental delights.
Mocean Worker's "Shake Ya Boogie" video took eleven months to complete and is a tribute to a 1930's-style Max Fleischer cartoon.
The second is "The Volcano Song" by The Budos Band which takes me back to my childhood; the entire video is a mashup of vintage cartoon clips. Enjoy.
There's something cleansing and primal about a band just pinning their ears back and rocking full force, unbridled. Watch this clip of the Turbo Fruits doing just that at this years South By Southwest festival. Then, mosey on over to their MySpace page and check out more of their rocking purification such as "Murder" and "The Run Around". More Turbo Fruits can be heard on Pop Candy's Podcast. You just might be able to skip that cup of coffee after listening to them.
How bout some exposure for a little band I bet you've never heard of. They're called My Chemical Romance. MMB thinks they might have a bright future. Wink. Wink. Actually, MMB just likes this song and wanted to watch the video again.
The first time I heard "Men's Needs" by The Cribs, I admit...I didn't necessarily care for it one way or the other. But that repeating guitar riff and the scratchy repetitiveness scream of "Men's Needs...Men's Needs" gets in your head and now I find myself screaming along to this song in the car in the sunshine, windows down, unabashed. Nice summer screaming anthem.
Matt Pond PA's new 5-song EP If You Want Blood is now available...and is just as incredible as most everything else they release. Several Arrows Later, their last cd, is still one of the top playlists on my iPod. They are an incredible band; one of my favorite newer bands period.
Visit their MySpace page to listen to 2 songs from If You Want Blood. It will make your Tuesday a little brighter.
Last week, I watched the first five minutes of the new HBO series Flight of the Conchords starring the New Zealand duo Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie. Five minutes in and I was wondering why in the hell HBO would greenlight a series starring these two guys. But then Jemaine inexplicably breaks into song at a party, and I was immediately hooked. It's rare that a show makes me laugh-out-loud anymore; I guess MMB is getting bitter in his old(er) age. But the show is pure joy to watch because Jemaine and Bret let you in on the jokes. Flight of the Conchords proves just how fun being lame can be.
If you like these clips, check out Flight of the Conchords on HBO. New episodes air Sundaya at 10:30.
Macabre songs are the best. Check out this simple, yet catchy opening track from Amy LaVere's newest cd Anchors and Anvils. Listen to the words...'Killing him didn't make her love go away"...nothing like a dark country love song.
Here's a glimpse into Amy's perspective on her music:
“I want to pretend it’s kind of this Classic Country/Gypsy/Jazz thing, I like so many different kinds of music, and I want to be all of them at different moments of the day. But I’d love to think that it’s kind of a Big Pop record.” Anchors & Anvils delivers ten smart and sexy tales of spooky love, twangy ache, sultry torch and gutsy blues that is totally unpredictable and relentlessly daring, the sound of an uncommon artist unafraid to be exactly who she is. It may also be, quite simply, the sound of Amy LaVere’s Big Breakthrough...continue reading on Amy's Official Website.
I've been spouting off a lot lately about how great the soundtrack to the movie Once is...well, the movie looks like it may be just as good or maybe even better. I told a friend of mine who has already seen Once that there's no way the movie can live up to my expectations for the film because I've heard such great buzz and love the soundtrack so much. He told me to go into the theater with as high expectations I want...they will be exceeded. Guaranteed. The movie hits my area this weekend, so hopefully, I'll get a chance to check it out.
Once stars Glen Hansard and his Irish band "The Frames," the film tells the story of a street musician and a Czech immigrant during an eventful week as they write, rehearse and record songs that reveal their unique love story. Here's the trailer:
This song has kind of become an unexpected hit, which gives me a glimmer of hope that there's still a slice of society out there that appreciates a good simple song.
Okay...maybe some of you will call me names for watching Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" but I, ironically, will take your criticizm like a man. If you can watch this video of Kameron and Lacey dancing to Italian born Elisa's "Dancing" then you're not a human being. I think the Mia Michael's choreography (yes, I even know the choreographer's name...sue me!) is almost as great as the song.
I've been listening to this song for nearly a year and it never gets old. This is Calexico with Iron and Wine; two very underrated bands. Maybe Less is one of those simple songs that gets in your head, you can't get it out, don't reall want to and you wish you had written it.
Kate Nash begs the question, who came first? Lily Allen or Kate Nash? I tried to resist this catchy single, but I resistance is futile when you get a bouncy little song in your head and you find yourself whistling the melody and wishing you could remember the words. Isn't that the definition of a good song?
Yes...those Beastie Boys. One of my favorite instrumental cds of all time was their cd In Sound from Way Out! So i was excited when I heard their new cd The Mix-Up was going to be an instrumental jam as well. And after listening to the first cut "Off The Grid" I'm even more excited. For me "No Vocals" is a good thing when it comes to the Beasties.
The Mix-Up is a complete departure from what listeners have come to expect from the Beastie Boys...no vocals, no instruments, no sampling...just instruments. The result is a funky, lounge jam session that is surprisingly laid back and relaxing at times. I predict this cd will generate a new set of fans for the Brooklyn based legends and that's why MMB has chosen to showcase the new video for "Off the Grid".
Check out some tracks from Tegan and Sara's upcoming cd The Con. Each link below features 2 new tracks from the dynamic twin duo. The Con is released July 24th.
Mister Music Blog strives to shine a spotlight on deserving, lesser known musical artists who may or may not be pretty and marketable but are damn sure talented.
