Asides

I want my MTV … to show music videos

Remember when bands made really good videos and MTV would play them and you’d go buy a cassette or CD not necessarily because of the song but because the video was stunning? Doesn’t happen any more and it’s not going to happen for Fever Ray (the solo project of Karin Dreijer Andersson of The Knife), unfortunately, even though this video for “If I Had a Heart” is a true masterpiece (and the song is equally impressive). Two weeks into 2009 and it might be the most amazing video of the year … that is, unless, of course Fever Ray follows it up with something even more amazing.

The self-titled debut by Fever Ray is currently available digitally on Amazon.com and you can probably find it other places. The physical copy will be available in March.

Want the new The Shys CD for free? It’s only going to cost you shipping & handling.

You’ll Never Understand This Band The Way I Do came in at number 5 on my “Favorites of 2008” list and now The Shys are giving it away (you just have to pay shipping and handling – $3) at least through the end of this week. I have no idea how long this offer is going to be good for so please, please, please, do yourself a HUGE favor and discover one of my favorite bands ever (seriously, I once wrote a blog post titled “I’m gay for The Shys” in which I professed my unrequited love for the Southern California band).

Here’s the info:

The Shys will be doing a FREE GIVEAWAY every month so look out for what they will be giving away next!

Jan. 9, 2009: To get The Shys new record entitled “You’ll Never Understand This Band The Way I Do” for FREE (just pay shipping/handling):

1) Click on the “Contact” link on the right side of this page
2) Fill in your info and tell us you want the free CD
3) Click “Store Home” on the right side of this page
4) Find the free album, add it to your cart, and check out!

Keep coming back for more FREE merch!

Free music Friday: Welcome to 2009!

A.C. Newman – “Submarines of Stockholm”
Faunts – “Feel.Love.Thinking.Of.”
Passion Pit – “Sleepyhead (Wallpaper.Dio Remix)”
P.O.S. – “Goodbye”
Anni Rossi – “Wheelpusher”
Fol Chen – “The Believers”
Ancestors –“Nepture with Fire”
Night Horse – “Wicked Love”
Bosque Brown –“Went Walking”
Dent May and his Magnificent Ukulele – “Meet Me in the Garden”
Lake – “Blue Ocean Blue”
El Guincho – “Palmitos Park”
Carey Mercer – “Cloud of Evil”
The Break and Repair Method – “You Won’t Be Able to Be Sad”

Welcome to my ears, they’re filled with Pavement

I have a stack of CDs to review by Sunday for the next issue of Wonka Vision but this week it’s been all about Pavement and post-Pavement projects (Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Preston School of Industry) as far as listening to music goes. Matador re-released Pavement’s Brighten the Corners CD with a ton of extra songs (B-sides, live stuff, etc.) in early December, Malkmus released an awesome jam/rock album – Real Emotional Trash – in March ’08, and PSOI (featuring ex-Pavement guitarist Scott ‘Spiral Stairs’ Kannberg) is putting the finishing touches on their 3rd full-length which should see the light of day in May.

Here’s a video from each:

Pavement – “Painted Soldiers” (featuring a cameo appearance from Veruca Salt)

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – “Jenny & The Ess Dog” (on Letterman)

Preston School of Industry – “Caught in the Rain”

Halloween isn’t the only time to see a Witch

Kevin and I were walking back to the hotel in Austin during SXSW 2004 when we passed a guy with long gray hair carrying a guitar that looked familiar. It was late, like 2 a.m. late, and my flight out of Austin was leaving about 5 hours late. Dazed and confused after 4 days of music, beer, BBQ, and very little sleep, I did a double take and said, “Holy shit. That was J Mascis!” Three hours later, in the Austin airport, I passed Mascis once again, this time he was sitting in a chair and was nose down (as in, he was asleep) in a Stephen King book.

Mascis has been excorcising his metal demons as the drummer in the band Witch. Now two CDs deep into their career – the most recent being March ’08’s Paralyzed – Witch is hitting the road for a week or so with Tee Pee Records labelmates Earthless.

Check out the stoner-metal goodness and get Mascis to sign the rare Dinosaur Jr. 7″ you bought off eBay at one of the following shows:

2/20 Toronto, CA The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
2/21 Montreal, CA Les Saints
2/22 Providence, RI AS220
2/23 Boston, MA TT The Bears
2/24 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
2/25 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg
2/26 Washington, DC DC9
2/27 Asbury Park, NJ Asbury Lanes
2/28 Baltimore, MD Ottobar