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Me, Myself, and iPod: ESDMusic’s weekly free downloads

April 7, 2010 /

esd ipod

We receive roughly 6,000 press releases per week that include links to mp3s that we are allowed to post for your downloading pleasure. Why haven’t we been posting more than one or two a month, you ask? Quite simply, by the time we get through all of the press releases, we’ve received another 6,000 emails with newer, “better” songs to run instead. It’s the kind of thing that can get away from someone if they’re not right on top of it.

This is our attempt to rectify the problem. Each week we will run a list of songs for your DRM-free downloading pleasure. And in the time it took us to type that last sentence, 15 more songs just came in. Geez.

The Futureheads – Struck Dumb
The band’s second album This Is Not the World was a bit of a non-starter, despite the fact that it should have appealed to anyone who liked the band’s post-punky debut. “Struck Dumb,” from the band’s upcoming third album The Chaos, still showcases the band’s trademark angular pop, but the edges are smoothed out a bit.

Deluka – Cascade (Acoustic Version)
This synth-pop band’s debut is set to drop later in the year, and this acoustic take on their self-titled EP’s best song is damned good. Usually we wrinkle our noses at acoustic versions of electronic songs, but this one works, and works well.

SPEAK – Digital Love
Everyone loves a cover, and this ultra-sheen pop rock band (think Cash Cash) surprised the crowds at South by Southwest with a faithful take on a track from Daft Punk’s seminal Discovery album. Sure, the keytar solo could have been handled a little better, but we bet this was fun to watch when it happened.

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Round and Round
Rare is the song that carries both a haunted, gothic feel (think Joseph Arthur gothic, not Bauhaus gothic) and a sunny, ’70s mellow gold vibe as well, but this song does just that.

In Tall Buildings – The Way to a Monster’s Lair
We’ll be honest: this is the first we’ve heard of either NOMO or Erik Hall. But one spin of this moody but driving track has us wanting more. Anyone looking for a good breakup song would be wise to check this out.

Kaiser Cartel – Ready to Go
Boy/girl duos: they’re the new animal band name. Still, as trends go, this boy/girl thing is a pretty damn good one (The Bird and the Bee, Mates of State, Codeine Velvet Club, Matt & Kim, She & Him, the Ting TIngs), and now that it’s become a movement of its own, perhaps Kaiser Cartel can seize the opportunity to jump to the next level. If “Ready to Go” is any indication, they are poised to pick up a lot more fans when their album Secret Transit drops in June.

Alternative, Artists, CD Reviews, Downloads, Electronica, Gothic, Me Myself and iPod, Melodramatic, Pop, Power Pop, Rock, Steal This Song

Cause of Travis Barker and DJ AM’s plane crash revealed

April 7, 2010 /

According to the Associated Press, the plane crash that left both drummer Travis Barker and a young DJ AM injured was caused by “under-inflated tires.”

From NME.com:

Talking to the National Transportation Safety Board yesterday (April 6), investigators revealed that they estimated the last time the pressure in the plane’s tires had been checked was three weeks before the crash, when after 8 days the tires would have needed changing.

As previously reported, last year Barker settled a lawsuit with Learjet and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co, who were both involved in the accident.

While Barker and Goldstein were the only survivors in the crash, Goldstein died of a drug overdose a year after the incident.

This is the type of accident that looks much worse in hindsight. Somebody just forgot to make sure the tires had enough air in them? Geez.

On another note, how creepy is the correlation between popular musicians and plane crashes? If I were in their shoes, I’d pull a John Madden and just stick to the bus.

Artists, News

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti readies new album

April 7, 2010 /

A while back, I was introduced to Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti by my friend Aaron Olson, a veritable rock historian and badass bassist (badassist?) of Cyrptacize. The song in question was “Helen,” and I instantly disregarded it because I didn’t understand it. What was with the flange overload and the yelping? I couldn’t instantly buy into this concoction of spooky baroque sounds. Gradually, I was won over by the chorus, which is so fun at face value. I almost want to strip the song down of all its embellishments, because I think whats hidden underneath is just solid pop song.

So, I’m excited that 4AD will release their new album, Before Today, on June 8.

Six months in the making, Before Today was recorded in part in Encino at the House of Blues (once Tito Jackson’s home studio) with Sunny Levine (Quincy Jones’ grandson) and Rik Pekkonen (Bill Withers, Seals & Crofts, Bread) as well as at the band’s home studios. The result is a beguiling mix of glam rock, West Coast funk and Merseybeat harmonies with a high-production sheen; a contrast to the corroded bedroom recordings that have fomented a fervent cult following over the past decade.

Give them a chance if you like your pop with a dose of strangeness.

Artists, News

Santana: Supernatural, Legacy Edition

April 6, 2010 /


RIYL: Eric Clapton, Dave Mathews Band, Ozomatli

This Legacy Edition re-release of Santana’s 1999 smash-hit, Grammy Award-winning Album of the Year ups the ante by remastering the original album and adding a second disc of bonus tracks that should delight any fan of the original. The bonus disc has outtakes, remixes and unreleased material with several of the same guests from the original album. There’s also a 24-page booklet with rare photos and a 2,000 word essay by Hal Miller on the album’s creation and significance.

The remastered original sounds great, with Santana’s hot, melty licks singing through the mix of warm bass, dynamic percussion, horns, vocals – the guitar legend is a Jedi Master at weaving his lines into a song without stepping on anyone else. Songs like “Put your Lights On” with Everlast and “Smooth” with Rob Thomas received so much airplay that some people may never want to hear them again. But this shouldn’t overshadow the other great tracks on here.

“(Da Le) Yaleo” features Santana wailing at his best, no pop restriction here. “Love of My Life” with Dave Matthews and Carter Beauford is a soulful gem that makes you wish DMB would add a lead guitarist. For those that don’t care for Matchbox 20, “Africa Bamba” is a beautiful track that is truly smooth, without the pop sheen. Lauren Hill & Cee-Lo help Santana explore hip-hop flavor on “Do You Like the Way,” but it’s “Maria Maria” with the Product G&B that really has classic staying power. With its catchy hooks, soulful vocals and mix of both acoustic and electric virtuoso guitar, it’s no surprise that this tune is the one that’s still a mainstay in Santana’s live repertoire. “Wishing It Was” with Eagle-Eye Cherry is another tune that continues to resonate with deeper substance than the bigger radio hits, with its contemplative lyrics and memorable licks. Underrated closer “The Calling” is an epic blues with Santana and Eric Clapton trading licks on a great finale.

One of the highlights of the bonus disc is “The Calling Jam,” also featuring Clapton, and one of seven previously unreleased tracks out of the 11 on the disc. A cover of Cuban band Irakere’s “Bacalao Con Pan” has smoking leads in a Latin rock setting, while the single “Angel Love (Come For Me)” features a horn section and Santana playing sweet leads behind the vocals. This is something most guitarists don’t know how to do. They should listen to Carlos to learn. “Rain Down on Me” with Dave Matthews and Carter Beauford might even be a better song than their collaboration on “Love of My Life,” with Dave singing in a bluesier vibe that resonates well with Santana’s guitar. “Exodus/Get Up Stand Up” is a hot tribute to Bob Marley, while a cover of Lighthouse’s 1971 hit “One Fine Morning” is another high-energy winner. “Maria Maria (Pumpin’ Dolls Club Mix)” provides an alternate dance-oriented approach, while “Corazon Espinado (Spanish Dance Remix)” offers another take on the original album track with Mana.

There’s an uplifting spiritual vibe throughout both discs, along with a great diversity of material and some of Carlos’ most tasteful playing. All of which makes this set a definitive keeper. (Sony Legacy 2010)

Adult Contemporary, Blues, CD Reviews, Latin, Pop, Rock

Thurston Moore to lecture noisy kids about noise

April 5, 2010 /

It’s hard for most people to appreciate “noise” as music. I’ve taken my chances and more often than have to bow out, angry at myself for either wasting my time or failing to understand its value. Nevertheless, I do find the containment of noise interesting.

I guess the trick is to get ’em while their young, which is what Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) is attempting to do this Sunday when he will give a dissertation on white noise to children at the New York gallery Partners & Spade.

From Papermag.com:

Ya gotta love Partners & Spade. This Sunday, April 11th, they will be hosting another session of their Avant Garde Preschool. Don’t expect any papier-mache animals. At 11:30 a.m., for a one-time “tuition” payment of 30 bucks, Thurston Moore will deliver a “Dissertation on White Noise” to kids ages 8-12. Sounds wild, eh? All proceeds go towards the arts program of PS 126.

Even though I’m not a parent, I’d love to take my kid to this thing. It would be a sort of punishment for the youngster. They’d have to sit through excruciating, yet challenging guitar feedback while I’d just try to get Thurston Moore to talk to me.


Photo from fOTOGLIF

Artists, News

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