Another weekend of the Reel Music Film Festival, and Sunday’s movie is worth noting:

Monks: The Transatlantic Feedback
In the mid ’60s, five American GIs stationed in Germany started a rock band with the idea of being the anti-Beatles. They wore black and shaved tonsures in their hair; their music was loud, robotic, and violent. This excellent documentary focuses on the Monks’ sensation of being far from home at a time when America underwent drastic change. It also captures the artistic climate of Germany during the ’60s, with a particular eye on the distinct design of the period. The world wasn’t quite ready for the Monks then; in many ways, it still isn’t. NED LANNAMANN

It’s a hell of a story. And there’s a (sad) denouement. Monks’ banjo player (banjoist?) Dave Day just passed away January 10th. He has some of the best moments in the film, especially towards the end, where he speaks about how hard his life had been after the Monks. Thankfully, in their music being re-evaluated and reappraised many years later, he was able to finally reach some peace. After their reunion show, he talks at length about how satisfied he is with life. It’s pretty moving.

Monks: The Transatlantic Feedback, NW Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park, Sunday January 27, 7:15 pm

This video is being posted for two reason:

1) If you’re going to have one Bruce Springsteen post in a week, you might as well make it two

and

2) I challenge you to find a song better suited for starting the weekend off right.

Lot’s of good shows this week. Tons. Tonight, Saturday, Sunday, Monday… I mean, shit, we’re covered and then some. Smash that together with some Blazer games and more good weather and we’re all gonna be running on fumes. I couldn’t be happier.

The best bet tonight, I’d say, is HEALTH and White Williams at the Holoscene. White Williams, a smooth electro-popster, is getting the majority of the hype, but HEALTH could be the brighter light.

Williams has penned a good tune or two, but live may not be where the group shines. I had a feeling about this and found what I had feared: there are laptops. And of course, when there are laptops, performances often suffer (GET A DRUMMER!). Spontaneity is squashed. Watching people fiddle with nobs is a deadly bore.

“DID YOU SEE THAT DELAY PEDAL SOLO, BRAH?!”

No.

To Williams’ credit, at least from the footage I saw, there is some live instrumentation. So who knows, White Williams could surprise. I won’t counting them out.

But HEALTH is who I’m looking forward to. They’re a crazy, primal-drumming, cluster fuck of noise. Seems like they do a substantial amount of improv, and though at times the barrage might be a bit much, the explosions are tempered with catchy vocal harmonies and chanted hooks.

If HEALTH indeed open the show, White Williams is in danger of being blown the fuck out. But it might be a nice contrast. Who knows. Certainly it is nice to see bands with different musical agendas on the same bill. That said, they are both fashionable, hip and well-hyped… so you decide.

Here’s some footage of HEALTH to help. “Triceratops”

And for some songs and live picks for the rest of the week, check my podcast, Easier Than Reading, which has tracks from MGMT, Langhorne Slim, The Long Winters, No Age and more… (shit, it really is a good week).

“Flashing Lights” is one of my favorite tracks off of Kanye West’s stellar Graduation, which is why I’m having a hard time deciding why this remix by Colin Munroe is keeping me transfixed: is it the gorgeous video, his non-rapping version of the song, or am I just drawn to it because the original is so strong?

I think it must be the video. Munroe seems to be about two steps away from being James Blunt, which is not good for him, not good for me, and not good for the world.

ONLY ONE, ILLMACULATE, GRAY MATTERS, ALPHABET STEW, CLOCKWERK
(Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th) Illmaculate is not your favorite emcee’s favorite emcee—he is your favorite emcee’s worst nightmare. Although Illmaculate is now apparently retired from the battling circuit, he could still probably eat any rapper alive in a battle of putdowns, and if you haven’t ever seen him or his contemporaries (the Sandpeople) live, I suggest you do so now. There’s not much out there in the world of underground hiphop that is more skillful than what the performers on tonight’s bill provide. If you like hiphop, or don’t know what good local hiphop sounds like, get yourself to this show—it’ll be fodder for a conversation ten years from now, “I saw Illmaculate way back when….” GRAHAM BAREY

MP3:
Illmaculate - Live or Die

Illmaculate is half of the duo that just took home a mighty $40,000 from the World Rap Championships in New York City. There are a slew of YouTube clips of him and his freestyling partner, The Saurus, including the one below, where they knock off Detroit’s Quest Mcody and Marvwon. It’s a little long, but if like brutal put-downs and clever rhyming, take the time to watch it.

THE CAVE SINGERS, TU FAWNING, WHITE HINTERLAND (Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) The last act to leave the fertile soil of the Hush Records farm was some group called the Decemberists, and lord only knows what happened to those jokers. Despite all that, Boston’s Casey Dienel bid adieu to Hush, changed her performing name to White Hinterland, and signed with Dead Oceans, the much-hyped sister label of Secretly Canadian. But this tiger—actually more of a cooing kitten—can’t change her stripes, and Daniel still sings in the same gorgeous, jazz-influenced chirp she always has. Meanwhile, Tu Fawning—Joe Haege and Corinna Repp—have literally doubled in size. Not from carboblasting, but from adding two new members to the fold. The new quartet just wrapped production on a six-song EP entitled Secession, which will be out in March. EZRA ACE CARAEFF

Too bad I ran out of room and didn’t say a thing about the Cave Singers. If this video is any indication, expect plenty of stomping, wet baptizin’, and creepy snake rituals.

MP3:
White Hinterland - Dreaming Of The Plum Trees

If I were to name my top ten records of this decade, the battle for the top slot wouldn’t even be close: Any Other City by Life Without Buildings has that position locked down by a long shot. Chances are you’re either in close to total agreement with me or are sitting there thinking I’m talking about a Talking Heads cover band.

More on one of the greatest bands ever, plus a couple of MP3s, after the jump…

Here's the thing: Life Without Buildings only managed to churn out a measly fourteen songs before calling it quits. That's an album, a few B-sides, and an unreleased live track that appeared on last year's posthumous Live at the Annandale Hotel for those of you taking notes. Yet in that short timespan (about three years as a band total), they managed to shatter what the words "post" and "punk" mean when they're thrown around together.

In 2001, when Any Other City finally saw a stateside release, the musical landscape was quite different: the bubbling post-punk scene was being spearheaded by jerky Gang of Four enthusiasts determined to get indie kids dancing again. Life Without Buildings managed to take on the other, subtler, more literate side of the genre (think Young Marble Giants meets a non-abrasive Fall), proving music can transcend itself and be art without losing sense of its pop styling, as so often happens with so-called "art-rock" bands. The reason they were able to succeed? Singer Sue Tompkins.

Tompkins is one of the most insanely talented writers/performers you're likely to come across. Delivering her lines in what can only be considered "talk-sung", she darts around the English language like she owns the damn thing, with vocal hiccups, repetition, and non sequiturs being her weapons of choice. She can turn a line like "Days like television, days like television, do do doot do do days like television" into one of the most endearing, and somehow profound, things around.

Unfortunately, Any Other City is long out of print, and the cheapest I can find it is for $45 on Amazon.
If you have that kind of money laying around, I cannot recommend purchasing it enough. If not, their live album can be ordered through Absolutely Kosher, and while it's not as good as the studio recording, it's damn near close. Tompkins never misses a single vocal hiccup, and, above all else, the band sounds excited to be able to just play music.

I could nerd out on this band more than is probably healthy. They truly were one of the greats, and if the below MP3s don't turn you into a convert, I might double check and make sure you're still breathing.

MP3:

PS Exclusive

The Leanover

Here’s some wild new shit for you: Apes & Androids.

Start with the New York Times’ pitch: “If Queen had been an underground rock band from New York, it might have sounded something like Apes & Androids, whose style is as entertainingly bombastic — slick harmonies, horn sections — as it is simple and visceral.”

You’d have to check that out, right?

It turns out to be a pretty fair assessment. Throw in some Prince, Beck, maybe even a little Bowie and you’re really cookin’. Certainly, this is some crazy music. Need to hear more before the final hammer slams down to judge, but Apes & Andriods are nothing if not interesting.

This song, The Golden Prize, is a little more stilted and electro than some of the band’s other tracks on their Myspace. But when the harmonies whip, I dig. (On the myspace, be sure to check out “Make Forever Last Forever” and “Riverside” — that ones straddles some amazing ground… I would’ve posted one of these but they aint for download.)

So where’s my promo copy of this album? Seriously, I’m asking.

We Love Sleeveface.

Absolutely fucking love it! I’m ready to hit up the vinyl bins at Everyday Music and start contributing…

Link courtesy of our cooler older sister up north.

I know we’re only a few weeks into 2008, but can we just crown the Yeasayer/MGMT concert as the best show of the year and get over with it? It’s rare that two up and coming acts not only live up to the hype, but perform together on the same night, and on the same stage.

Lucky you.

Make that luckier you, that is if you win this contest for a pair of tickets to their Wednesday, January 30th show at Holocene.

Free tickets? What’s the catch? All you have to do is listen to my Amway presentation post a comment and explain why you deserve the tickets. That’s it.

The best comment posted before Friday at 5pm wins. Be sure you leave your email address when you post, otherwise I’ll gleefully shred the tickets, or just give them to someone more attractive than you.

Good luck.

MGMT - “Time to Pretend” (live on Letterman)

The album isn’t available until March 4, but Matador Records is allowing you to “Buy Early Get Now!” If you’re game, you get to stream the entire album RIGHT NOW, plus a heaping stack of bonuses, including this:

- Full live show recorded on December 21, 2007 at Doug Fir in Portland

Pretty dang cool. I missed this show, but now I’ll get a chance to hear it. If you were at the show, this is likely to be a great souvenir.

In the meantime, here’s a song from the upcoming album. (Note: according to the album cover, the new record is credited to “Stephen Malkmus & Jicks.” No “The.”) You may have heard this song already, but it’s pretty great. Worth hearing again.

MP3:
Stephen Malkmus & Jicks: Baltimore

Full list of pre-order bonuses after the jump.

WHAT YOU GET

- Stream of the entire album on the Buy Early Get Now site NOW

- 1 b-side exclusive to this promotion NOW

- Full live show recorded on December 21, 2007 at Doug Fir in Portland

- All other b-sides and/or exclusive tracks related to this record (posted on the BEGN site 90 days after street date.)

- Poster for "Real Emotional Trash" (to be picked up or shipped on street date - Tues. March 4th. with the record.)

Another week, another Mercury music section to read while you fry up some tasty bacon from this succulent creature.

Sorry, but Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla ain’t no Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds.
MP3: Chris Walla - Sing Again

All hail the reigning king of Portland hiphop, Cool Nutz. Phew, an entire sentence about Nutz and I resisted using the word “Deez.”
MP3: Cool Nutz - They Don’t Have to Know (ft. E-40)

Yeah! Sayer! Yeasayer! The Brooklyn band digests it all, and churns out some inventive, and skewed, pop music.
MP3: Yeasayer - 2080

Not a fan of Langhorne Slim? Listen to the song below.
See? Told ya.
MP3: Langhorne Slim - Restless

Last year was a good one for Gui Boratto. The release of Chromophobia on premier techno label Kompakt, the wild success of the single “Beautiful Life,” and commanding performances at DEMF, Mutek, and the rest of the celebrated international electronic music festivals solidified his status as one of the top minimal producers on the scene. Boratto is keeping the momentum going with a world tour in the first half of 2008 that kicked off in his native Brazil and will hit five continents by spring. There are just a few chances to see his style of pleasing minimal-meets-pop-meets-neotrance here in the States, where his only dates are on the West Coast. Portland might just have the most exciting lineup, with DJ support from international techno veteran Bryan Zentz (AKA stare5 of CMYK Music) and a live performance by dance party sparkplug Arohan. AVA HEGEDUS

Kinda makes you want to hug something, doesn’t it? Well, maybe not. Maybe it just makes you want to move. If that’s the case, you’ll have your chance tonight!

w/Arohan, Bryan Zentz; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9 pm, $8

Sarah Assbring, the driving force behind the wonderful El Perro Del Mar, is back! I don’t know how I missed this one, but the lady responsible for one of my favorite records of ‘06 is releasing From the Valley to the Stars, the follow-up to her self-titled debut, this year.

Over at Licking Fingers, her label’s website, you can now stream “How Did We Forget?”, the first song from her new record, and, well, it’s fantastic. A little sweeter than anything off of El Perro Del Mar, the song sounds a bit more like the perfectly produced indiepop of someone like The Clientele than the epic swells of Phil Spector. That being said, everything that made the first El Perro Del Mar record so great is still here: girl-group harmonies, sad introspection, and soft R&B and soul flurries (the horns in the chorus are nearly perfect).

This has just become my most anticipated record of ‘08.

Chris Walla (pictured above, he’s the one who isn’t Tegan and Sara) is releasing a damn fine solo record next Tuesday. It’s called Field Manual, and thanks to the generous bandwidth of MTVU, you can stream the entire record right here. Enjoy!

Lately I’ve been kicking around the idea of doing a week of African music here on End Hits, but I’m having a difficult time rounding up all the things I’d like to post. I’ll get it together though — it wont be long.

In the meantime, checkout this documentary on the Godfather of afro-beat, Fela Kuti. His is a ferociously compelling story, and though the documentary starts out a bit slow, it does ramp up (the first song of the second part is a sonnofabitch). And Jesus, what I would give to see a live performance at the Shrine…

During the third segment Fela makes inspiring remarks about the “spiritual life of music.” If you aren’t a musician, it’ll make you want to become one.

I don’t want to spoil what happens later… so just watch. It’s unbelievable, tragic and moving.

Kuti’s got to be considered one of the most influential musicians to deal strongly in politics. Who else would you add to the list? Harry Belafonte, Bob Marley, Dylan, Propagandhi (kidding)?

Anyway, give this video a look. Here are the second, third, fourth fourth, fifth and final parts are on Youtube. That’s nearly an hour of your workday taken care of right there… and whatever it is your boss is paying you for, chances are it isn’t as important as learning about (or listening to) Fela Kuti.

Liars guitarist Angus Andrew hurt his back in what sounds to be a serious way. From a Saturday entry on the band’s Myspace blog:

As Angus stooped to retrieve a tiny pillow from the couch in his LA home a seismic bolt tore through the fabric of his lower back rendering him immobile on the living room floor. When Jarrett arrived, Angus was face down in spasms. He alerted Aaron and Julian then sped to Rite-Aid for drugs and heat packs. When Julian arrived Angus was face down near the bathroom, apparently trying to urinate. Julian fetched a large soda cup and suggested the alternative. He then offered to stay the night and take on all nursing duties. Having fed the patient on the floor and set up his living space Angus became adamant Julian go home to bed. In the morning when Aaron arrived Angus was on his back on the floor of the living room. Aaron emptied the 2 large soda cups and they talked about Lorimer St in Brooklyn where the injury first occurred. Jarrett came in with breakfast and talk turned to tour. Its a week till our first show and Angus can’t feed himself.

This was reported on Pitchfork yesterday, and the reason it bears mention here is that Liars are scheduled to play a show at the Wonder Ballroom next Monday, January 28. That last sentence in the blog entry makes it sound pretty darn serious, but, according to Pitchfork, thankfully no shows have been canceled yet:

The band’s publicist says there is currently no change in plans. At the moment, Andrew is resting up in California.

MUSEE MECANIQUE, MICHAEL HURLEY, MBILLY (Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Like the artifacts housed in the San Francisco museum from which they take their name, Musee Mecanique’s songs are intricate, delicate creations of many moving parts. The band quickly latched onto the familiar Portland sound of hushed vocals, arpeggiated guitar picking, and lyrics ripe with historical references. They’re at their best and most inventive, however, when the keyboards of Sean Ogilvie come to the forefront, charting unknown territory with otherworldly sounds. The music boxes and zoetropes you’ll find in the museum were originally crafted for fun, but the band’s intensely self-conscious music is not nearly as whimsical. There’s a hint of sadness over the proceedings, as if these toys are still inhabited by the ghosts of all the children who’ve played with them. NL

Billboard.com is reporting that legendary synth-pop duo Yaz (known as Yazoo in the UK) has reunited and will be playing some yet to be announced US shows this summer!

They better play Portland. Seriously. If not, they better be ready for a Radiohead-inspired signed petition from me and the eight other Portland-based Yaz fans demanding they visit our fine city.

Pitchfork had news this morning of there being yet another Elvis Costello reissue for his classic album This Year’s Model. Yes, you read that right: another Elvis Costello reissue.

I’ve long thought that Costello has more reissues than any other musician, well, ever. It seems like every year there’s a new version of one of his albums being released with a few new, unreleased bonus tracks. And in terms of different versions of a single album, the only thing that seems to come close to This Year’s Model is Germ Free Adolescents from the almighty X-Ray Spex. If memory serves me right, there’s at least six different versions of both of those records floating around.

Is there any way to prove that Costello is the most reissued person in music? Can anyone think of any other musician that even comes close? So far I haven’t been able to find any concrete evidence on the subject, which means that, being the music nerd I am, I think about it more than is probably healthy.

In lieu of yesterday’s most serious post, I think it’s time to dumb it back down. Luckily, I’ve found something SO STUPID it may actually shrink your frontal lobe (or at least make all music you regularly listen to sound THAT MUCH BETTER).

Where did I find it? The “Country” Music channel at four AM of course. So here we go, the second entry in my CMT BEST OF THE WORST HALL OF FAME (the first is here).

Now, this one is a little more on the “rock” side, if indeed you could call it that (I mean, check out that Woodstock Dog Blanket dude is wearing… I bet he’s no stranger to the weed. And man, he probably like, doesn’t even hate Mexicans. “You gotta have an open mind, bro.”)

Really this thing is so fucked. All those Jimi Hendrix warbles, wah-pedals, even a goddamn talk-box solo! And this bad dude, who’s on the road to Memphis (presumable so the video makes CMT) keeps his guitar in a GIG BAG! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? CHUM-P!

But better than all the wanky two-chord jamming, the meaningless lyrics and the industrial fans, is the strange gay undertones. Dude and that homeless vet. have a special relationship.

Bo Bice: “Witness”

Tuesday, as a day, doesn’t really hold the same power it used to. Once upon a time Tuesday was undoubtedly my favorite day of the week, because it always meant the same thing: new music!

No disrespect to the awesome power of the internet, but it ruined Tuesday. Although I’ve never downloaded music, nor have I ever paid for MP3’s via iTunes or Amazon, I still find myself consistently streaming new music all day long, so much so that the weight of listening to a record for the first time is somewhat lost. I mean, chances are I’ve already heard at least two or three songs off of any new record, so I’m not necessarily jumping into anything blindly.

Even though Tuesday may be dead, occasionally there is one (Kanye vs. 50?) that gets me excited. Today, friends, is one of those Tuesdays. Just look at a few titles that are being released:

Black Mountain - In The Future
Blood On The Wall - Liferz
Cat Power - Jukebox
Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
Evangelicals - The Evening Descends
Hey Willpower - P.D.A.
Mahjongg - Kontpab
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus!
Times New Viking - Rip It Off

I could give you links to all these bands, or tell you what I would highly recommend checking out, but I think today you should honor Tuesday and go buy yourself some new music. Just as long as it’s not this. If you buy that, I’ll personally come to your house and kick you in the shins.

The Doug Fir was packed on Saturday, as three songwriters took the stage, each one backed by incredible bands. Seattle’s Johanna Kunin started the evening with skillful keyboard pop; she played a warm-sounding Wurlitzer piano and was backed by trumpet, vibraphone, and drums. If that sounds weird, well it worked. Kunin’s crystalline voice is reminiscent of Bjork at her least crazed, and her thoughtful songs take a few interesting left turns.

Matt Sheehy was up next and despite the fact he was playing a poly-carbon-fiber guitar (Ovation, yech), he sounded great. He was backed by dynamite drummer Drew Shoals, with Jen Harrison playing French horn on a few tunes. As good as the band was, the highlight of his set was actually a solo number he performed alone. Unfortunately, the audience wasn’t quite as polite as one would have liked. Indeed, the entire night had a schmoozy-industry vibe that one doesn’t typically encounter in Portland.

Loch Lomond closed out with a triumphant set. Songwriter Ritchie Young surrounded himself with seven (or more?) of Portland’s finest musicians. They brought a baroque sensibility to Young’s acoustic songs, with viola and bass clarinet fitting neatly alongside bass, drums, and guitar. I thought the set started out incredibly strong, then lost a little momentum as it progressed, but many of Loch Lomond’s rely on subtlety - and picking up on subtlety late Saturday night (with drink in hand) was never one of my strong suits. Thankfully the crowd was, for the most part, attentive at this point, even singing along to certain lines. When my friend said he hoped they’d play their signature song, I responded, “These all sound like signature songs to me.”

Me and hip hop, we have a love-hate affair. While I love it to death, there are certain aspects of the genre that just drive me insane, namely the rampant homophobia and misogyny.

That being said, the latest album by UK rapper Dizzee Rascal is pretty great, despite the fact that it contains the above in spades. A painfully hard, strife-driven record, there are definitely points where the lyrics drive me insane, but the beats are a clusterfuck of futuristic goodness, and I’m pretty sure Dizzee has one of the best voices of any current rapper around (his “my accent is so thick you can only understand every third word” delivery is infinitely charming).

Up until now the album has only been available as an import from the UK, but it will be released in the US by indie-hip hop stalwart Def Jux on April 29th.

This is a far cry from the Boy In Da Corner days, and anyone looking for the fun of “Fix Up Look Sharp” should probably look elsewhere. Don’t believe me? Check out this video for “Sirens”, a beast of a song that was one of the best of last year:

UK buzz-band Switches are performing with The Bravery this Saturday at the Aladdin Theater, and End Hits is giving away a pair of tickets.

What’s the catch?

No catch, you just have to hear my three hour presentation on time shares email me and explain why you deserve these tickets. It could be in the form of an erotic haiku, handmade illustration, or just a good old fashioned threatening email.

The best response by 4pm today gets the tickets.

Good luck.

Switches - “Lay Down The Law” video (the album of the same name is out on March 18th)

Every year, like clockwork, I declare that I am finally going to attend Coachella. And every year, like clockwork, I flake out on some friends and don’t make the trip to Indio.

But this year, I was ready to embrace every crazy rumor—Neutral Milk Hotel reuniting to play with My Bloody Valentine who is backing the reformed The Smiths—and finally attend the festival.

Then I saw the list of performers.

Eh.

I mean, I’d love to see The Verve and Portishead, but crossing state lines and baking in the desert heat doesn’t really make for prime concert going conditions.

The full lineup is after the jump, you can read it while you mellow out with this great song…

The Verve - Drugs Don’t Work

The line-up for this year’s COACHELLA will feature:

FRIDAY, APRIL 25: Jack Johnson, The Verve, Raconteurs, The Breeders, Fatboy Slim, Tegan and Sara, Madness, The Swell Season, The National, Animal Collective, Slightly Stoopid, Mum, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Stars, Battles, Aesop Rock, Midnight Juggernauts, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Minus the Bear, Spank Rock, Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip, Diplo, Adam Freeland, Santo Gold, Jens Lekman, John Butler Trio, Vampire Weekend, Dan Deacon, Architecture in Helsinki, Sandra Collins, Busy P, Cut Copy, Black Lips, Datarock, Professor Murder, Reverend and the Makers, The Bees, Porter, Rogue Wave, Modeselektor, American Bang, Lucky I Am.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26: Portishead, Kraftwerk, Death Cab for Cutie, Cafe Tacuba, Sasha & Digweed, Rilo Kiley, Dwight Yoakam, M.I.A., Hot Chip, Cold War Kids, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, DeVotchKa, Flogging Molly, Mark Ronson, Turbonegro, Scars on Broadway, Islands, Enter Shikari, Calvin Harris, Boyz Noize, Junkie XL, Cinematic Orchestra, Jamie T, The Teenagers, VHS or Beta, Carbon/Silicon, Erol Alkan, Yo Majesty!, Little Brother, Bonde Do Role, St. Vincent, Akron Family, MGMT, Institubes DJs (Surkin, Para One and Orgasmic), James Zabiela, Sebastian, Kavinsky, Dredg, The Bird and the Bee, Grand Ole Party, New Young Pony Club, 120 Days, Yoav, Electric Touch, Uffie.

SUNDAY, APRIL 27: Roger Waters (“Dark Side of the Moon”), Love & Rockets, My Morning Jacket, Spiritualized, Justice, Gogol Bordello, Chromeo, The Streets, Metric, Danny Tenaglia, Simian Mobile Disco, Booka Shade, Murs, Dmitri from Paris, Autolux, The Field, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Les Savy Fav, The Cool Kids, Sons & Daughters, Sia, Holy Fuck, Black Kids, Black Mountain, The Annuals, Kid Sister w/A-Trak, Man Man, Duffy, I'm from Barcelona, Manchester Orchestra, Deadmau5, The Horrors, Austin TV, Shout Out Louds, Plastiscines, Brett Dennen.

I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man

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Never mind the intro and outro on this nine minute monstrosity of a video, it’s that middle section that really kills. Whether or not it’s the greatest song in the history of music is debatable, but you can be damn well sure it’s on my shortlist.

Above: Sam Cooke

First, perhaps the penultimate civil rights song of tribulation and hope: Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”. (To download, right click and ‘Save As’)

Cooke wrote the song in 1963, reportedly after spending time with protesters, and inspired by Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind”, which Cooke also covered. Shortly after recording the track that would become a Civil Rights anthem, Cooke passed away in 1964.

Other reports speak to the song’s genesis: “Some of the lyrics were inspired by an incident where Cooke and some of his friends were arrested for disturbing the peace after they were denied rooms at a motel in Shreveport, Louisiana because they were black.”

Truly “A Change is Gonna Come” is one of the most poignant, strikingly beautiful, tragic yet hopeful songs ever recorded. The track was recently inducted in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, which maintains a list of sound recordings that “are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States.”

For the second part of this musical observance of Martin Luther King we look to Dylan. But rather than a questioning song like “Blowin’ in the Wind,” we’ll choose one represented the true sickness of the time.

“The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” is Dylan’s true-story portrait of 1963 murder. At a hotel ball the 24 year old William Zantzinger beat 51 year old Hattie Carroll to death with his his cane. She had 11 children. Zantzinger was sentenced to six months in the county jail and fined $500. The sentence was deferred six months to give Zantzinger time to harvest his tobacco crop.

So delightfully drunky PAULA ABDUL has emerged from the studios for the first time in god knows how long… and she actually has a NEW SINGLE to show for it! For those who love their dance club hits “vapid” and “over-produced” (and I sincerely do) you’ll certainly enjoy “Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow” which she’ll be performing LIVE at the Super Bowl! Check it out here, and offer your opinion (such as, “Where can I find a studio board that can un-slur words?”).

REPORTER, SWALLOWS, DJ NATE C (Tube, 18 NW 3rd) For a band without a record, Reporter sure have kept their calendars full. So far they have amassed tons of glowing press, a tour with the Thermals, and plenty of buzz around town. The band—essentially just art-punks Wet Confetti with a new name and a crisper sound—has been recording material for an LP over the past few weeks, but the trio is keeping quiet about any release dates. Feel free to shake them down for information at the show, but tread lightly, since any band who pens a song after famed Big Trouble in Little China villain Lo Pan should be handled with extreme caution. EAC

Did you know that, according to his ridiculously detailed Wikipedia page, Lo Pan was born in China in the year 200 BC, and died in 1986 at the hands of trucker Jack Burton. Thanks Wiki!

MP3:
Reporter - Blaze

When it comes to The Boss, I lose all ability to remain rational and calm. Dude turns me into a giddy schoolgirl: my eyes get big, my sentences become shortened and more excited, and anything above this means I’m doing a pretty damn good job composing myself.

That being said, the fact that there is a new video out for “Girls In Their Summer Clothes” means I’m having a pretty good day, even if it is full of yelping and excited shaking. The song is one of the best off last year’s impressive Magic, and the video does it serious justice.

NERD ALERT: “Girls” has been the song he’s been starting his encore with on the current E-Street tour. I can’t freaking wait.