The Oedipus Project
The Temper Trap is a four-piece outfit out of Australia featuring the sweet vocals of the Indonesia-born Dougie Mandagi, the singing guitars of Lorenzo Sillitto, plus Jonathon Aherne on bass and the drummer Toby Dundas. Their debut album Conditions is penetrating the airwaves and we expect to hear much more from this band. Here’s a taste of two as the Song(s) of the Day.
Holly Miranda released her first solo album this year. She was the former lead singer of the Brooklyn band Jealous Girlfriends before moving off on her own. This album, The Magician’s Private Library, was produced by Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio, and we featured “Forest Green Oh Forest Green” in a previous podcast. She was one of those artists who had to cancel her entire European tour due to the volcanic ash but is now set to perform across America. I particularly enjoy her dreamy music later in the evening. “Waves” is the Song of the Day.
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William Fitzsimmons-“I Don’t Feel It Anymore” featuring Brooke Fraser
Nedry-“Apples & Pears”
Infant Sorrow-“Just Say Yes”
The Radio Dept.-“Heaven’s on Fire”
Hot Hot Heat-“21@12”
New Politics-“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”
Fanfarlo-“Harold T. Wilkins”
Foals-“The Orient”
Beach House-“Zebra”
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A couple of days ago we featured “Swoon”, the new song by The Chemical Brothers. We were forced to remove it as it was accidentally released by the record label, unbeknownst to the band. (I know this sounds a bit lame, but these things do happen from time to time in the record business. Shall we say a communication breakdown?) This song is from the forthcoming 8 song album Further, and each song will have a corresponding film. “Swoon” has now officially been released and we present it here with the film.
Casey Desmond is a singer/songwriter whom you may have never heard of but will now. She is one of those diamonds in the rough, a gem with shockingly bright red hair, who writes intensely melodic songs. She is one of the many struggling musicians playing gig after gig, wherever and whenever, sharing her art for those brief moments of transcendence that enhance our existence. It is such musicians who elevate us the beyond the mundane and make us feel what it is to be intensely and passionately human. “To Myself” is a pop masterpiece.
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“To Myself” by Casey Desmond
Hopefully you heard the new Chems song yesterday. We have removed it as it was accidentally released too soon. In all of the excitement of a new song from a legendary band, it happens sometimes. This site is first and foremost artist friendly. We work with artists, never against them. When the Chemical Brothers is once again officially available you will hear it here.
The Chemical Brothers, the duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, pioneers of electronic alternative dance music, will soon release their 7th studio album, Further. All 8 tracks will be released with a corresponding film created for each song. But we will have to wait until June. What we do have is “Swoon” from the forthcoming album as the Song of the Day.
Blurring the lines between poetry, spoken word, rap and song, Sage Francis delivers a very moving coming-of-age narrative zeroing on all of the insecurities, complexities and self-doubt of adolescence. A contemporary The Catcher in the Rye in 5 ½ minutes, I have included the lyrics here as a reference while listening to “The Best of Times”, the Song of the Day.
THE BEST OF TIMES
It’s been a long and lonely trip but I’m glad that I took it ’cause it was well worth it.
I got to read a couple books and do some research before I reached my verdict.
Never thought that I was perfect. Always thought that I had a purpose.
Used to wonder if I’d live to see my first kiss. Continue reading
We spun it old school at Spit on Saturday night. Some classic punk and new wave from the day. There were four of us spinning and here is what I played during my turn on the tables for your dancing and listening pleasure. Continue reading
On the very first podcast here I included the song “Stick to My Side” by Pantha Du Prince (a German DJ and producer). It has been hypnotically remixed by EFDEMIN (a fellow German DJ). I love how he layers in the sounds and transforms the song into such a embracing groove that you almost don’t want it to end. Some rhythm to enhance your day as the Song of the Day.
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“Stick to My Side” by Pantha Du Prince
My friend, Harvey Leeds, who helped develop innumerable artists at Epic Records, and who is now a manager extraordinaire, sent me this delightful new addition for my collection. Marky Ramone, the second drummer for the Ramones, replaced Tommy Ramone in 1978. (Of note, only the two drummers of the Ramones have survived). Marky stills drums but recently launched his own line of pasta sauce! I just had to share this. When I obtain a 2nd jar, I’ll sample the contents. Until then, it will proudly be displayed on the mantle.
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“Suzy is a Headbanger” by The Ramones
In 1979 I created a punk rock dance club named Spit with Patrick Lyons, a local nightclub owner in Boston. Punk had grown beyond the live music venues and needed a place for like-minded people to gather and connect and dance. Initially open only on the weekend, I spun on Friday nights. On Saturday of this week there will be a Spit reunion and I will spin once again.
I have always had mixed emotions about reunions. Times once experienced cannot be recreated again. Plus, I live for new music and always have embraced the future. Yet, reunions do force one to pause and reflect. Punk revolutionized rock and influenced generations of musicians. Punk lived for the moment as there was “no future.” Well, the future is now and this will be some night! Preparing for my DJ shift this weekend, I have listened to volumes of songs from the day. Some have not stood the test of time, but others (though in some cases poorly recorded) still energize today. Here are a few that I will play at Spit.
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Magazine-“The Light Pours Out of Me”
Gang of Four-“I Love a Man in a Uniform”
The Clash-“I’m So Bored with the U.S.A.”
Julian Schnabel is a world renown artist and filmmaker. His paintings are part of the collections of some of the great museums of the world including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney in New York, MOCA in LA and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. He directed such films as Basquiat, Before Night Falls, Lou Reed’s Berlin and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, the latter for which he won Best Director at Cannes.
In 1995 he released his one and only album produced by him and Bill Laswell. Anton Fier, Nick Skopelitis, Buckethead, and Bernie Worrell are some of the musicians of note. Naturally he was responsible for the art direction and the cover of the album. From my archives, this is a photo of a rare poster/print of the cover signed by Schnabel. The song “Juan Belmonte” is from that album entitled Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud.
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“Juan Belmonte” by Julian Schnabel
Suddenly punk is alive as M.I.A. reinvigorates rock with the most intense in-your-face song in years. No compromise as she spits out lyrics over a sample of “Ghost Rider” by Suicide. The video is equally as powerful and profound. Rarely do videos enhance a song, but here it is a perfect adjunct and also stands on its own as a short film. Banned by YouTube. Not for the faint of heart, “Born Free” is the Song of the Day.
M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.
“Born Free” by M.I.A.
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One of the marvelous advantages of the web is that when I hear a wonderful new song I do not have to wait to share it. With radio I had to wait for my airshift. And then generally I would only have time to play it once. Here, as soon as I hear it, I can post it. And we can listen to it over and over. The band is Stars. They are Canadian and all of the members are also part of the musical collective Broken Social Scene. From their forthcoming fifth album, The Five Ghosts, “Fixed” is the Song of the Day.
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Karen Elson is a singer/songwriter. She is also a top fashion model and the wife of Jack White (The White Stripes, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs). He produced the song and plays drums. Lest you think that this is some pretty chick slumming as a musician, this woman can sing and has an edgy downtown New York past. “The Ghost Who Walks” is from her forthcoming album of the same name.
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“The Ghost Who Walks”
