Grant Manship

The Strokes - You Only Live Once [Alternate Video]

The Strokes have released an alternate video for the song "You Only Live Once" which, in  my humble opinion, was the best track off of First Impressions of Earth.  The video, or should I say short film, was directed by Warren Fu.  Warren, who runs See Out Loud productions on the side, is a Visual Effects Art Director at George Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic.  For all you Star Wars groupies he worked on all the prequels and played a major role in the design of General Grevious.  As far as previous work with the Strokes, Warren designed the band's annual Holiday Card for 2006.
 

So why release an alternate take of this video now you ask?  Well, since it's an excellent song this outstanding alternate take on the original video helps celebrate the unveiling of the band's much improved, and much needed, new website.  The site happens to be designed by the multi-talented Mr. Fu as well!  Check out the new video below:

The White Stripes - Icky Thump

Joseph Arthur - Diamond Ring

(via Each Note Secure)

Late Night Internet and TV Goodness!!!

Tonight is shaping up to be an excellent evening of musical entertainment on both the Internet and TV.  There is a little something for any fans of the Kings of Leon, Albert Hammond, Jr., or Dr. Dog. 

First, the Kings of Leon will be performing at 9 PM EST on MSN's Music in Concert Series.  Second, Dr. Dog will make an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS.  Finally, and certainly last but not least, Albert Hammond, Jr. is the musical guest on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson which is also on CBS after Letterman.

• Kings of Leon - "My Party" from Because of the Times
• Dr. Dog - "Ain't It Strange" from We All Belong
• Dr. Dog - "Worst Trip" from We All Belong
• Albert Hammond, Jr. - "In Transit" from Yours to Keep

Paul McCartney - Dance Tonight

Here is the Michel Gondry directed video for the single "Dance Tonight", that debuted today on YouTube, from Paul McCartney's new album Memory Almost Full.

The Smashing Pumpkins - Tarantula

A full, non-radio-ripped version of the new Smashing Pumpkins track "Tarantula" is finally here courtesy of Spinner!  All I can say is that I'm ecstatic Billy's back!!!  Growing up as a huge Pumpkins fan, I can't wait to hear the rest of this record.  Check out the track below:

Jagjaguwar to release next Sunset Rubdown LP

Jagjaguwar is set to release Sunset Rubdown's new album in October.  Random Spirit Lover will serve as the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2006 album, Shut Up I Am Dreaming, that was released on Absolutely Kosher.  Spencer and Co. then plan to tour North America for 3 or 4 weeks in support of the record.  The tentative track-listing is as follows:

• The Mending of the Gown
• Magic vs. Midas
• Up on your Leopard, Upon the End of your Feral Days
• The Courtesan has Sung
• Winged/Wicked Things [mp3 from Daytrotter Sessions]
• Colt Stands Up, Grows Horns
• Stallion
• For the Pier (and dead shimmering)
• The Taming of the Hands that Came Back to Life
• Setting vs. Rising
• Trumpet, Trumpet, Toot! Toot!
• Child-Heart Losers

Black Moth Super Rainbow

I haven't really been able to come up with anything meaningful or insightful to say here.  I don't know that I possess the words to describe what I think after listening to Black Moth Super Rainbow.  I mean, I think they're awesome but by saying that... I think I just proved my point. 

The email I got describes BMSR as a five piece psyche-group who have a habit of hiding out deep in the backwoods of Pennsylvania.  It also drew attention to the use of aliases and an aversion to photos.  The members of BMSR use these methods to stay away from normal press and keep the main focus on the music.

The band is made up of Tobacco (Vox), Power Pill Fist (bass and atari), Father Hummingbird (rhodes and monosynth), The Seven Fields Of Aphelion (monosynth), and Iffernaut (drums).  While most people associate the use of vocoders and analog synths with genres like electro, techno, or even novelty acts; BMSR is working to "re-contextualize" those sounds into something completely original.  I think they've more than accomplished this goal.

The band is set to release Dandelion Gum, May 22nd, on Graveface Records.  The album is said to be, "a loosely based concept record about witches who make candy in the forest.  Each of its 16 songs represent a different candy-induced freakout."  How's THAT for original?!?  Get your witch candy induced freakout on with a couple of tracks from Dandelion Gum below.

• Black Moth Super Rainbow - "Forever Heavy" from Dandelion Gum
• Black Moth Super Rainbow - "The Afternoon Turns Pink" from Dandelion Gum

P.S. I forgot to include this in the original post but here is an e-card where you can stream the entire album.  Be sure to send a little witch candy to all your friends as well!

Haiku Review of Patti Smith's Twelve

I haven't had a chance to listen to Patti Smith's recent all-covers album Twelve yet but the good professor, Ken Katkin, penned the following haiku after listening to the album from beginning to end .  I must admit, I laughed out loud.

Twelve songs, twelve authors.

The Nirvana cover rules.

The rest, nevermind.

Heartless Bastards - All This Time

(via Stereogum)

Panther Releases Sold-Out Vinyl In Digital Form

Floor dancing pioneer Panther has digitally released Yourself which, until now, was made available only on vinyl at Panther live shows and quickly sold out.  The album contains ten previously unreleased tracks and “You Don’t Want Your Nails Done” from his previous full length release, Secret Lawns. 

Check out one of the tracks from the release below.

• Panther - “He Enjoys the Leg” from Yourself

Buy Yourself at: iTunes

Ror-Shak

Speaking of Fujiya & Miyagi, I got an email not too long ago about Ror-Shak.  Ror-Shak is a duo comprised of DJ DB and DJ Stakka.  DJ Stakka is Shaun Morris, a principal in the label that signed Fujiya & Miyagi in the U.S.  The duo recently released their own CD called Deep.  The material is made up of trippy, down-tempo, drum & bass, and electronic mixtures that feature Morningwood’s Chantal Claret, Lisa Shaw, Julee Cruise, and Wendy Starland. 

Show Shaun some love for brining Fujiya & Miyagi to the States and check out a couple of the tracks below.

• Ror-Shak - "Window Pain" from Deep
• Ror-Shak - "Golden Cage" from Deep

Buy Deep at: iTunes

Fujiya & Miyagi - Ankle Injuries

Joost Invites

I have several interests other than just music, one of them being technology and all the great things that seem to pop up daily on the web.  With that being said, I just got an email from Joost regarding them celebrating the launch of the new Joost beta, "Now For Friends."  This means I can invite as many of my friends as I want to try out Joost.  So who better to invite than all my loyal readers.  Even if you aren't one of my loyal readers and are just looking for an invite that's cool too but please, look around for a while and by all means come back from time to time!  I know what it was like trying to get a Gmail invite back in the day, as well as a Joost invite, so I feel like spreading the love a little.

So far I've been very impressed with the beta release of the software.  It's only going to get better too with several recent news stories revealing Joost entering into deals with several of the top content providers.  This week, for instance, will bring a host of over 40 new channels in the US including Adult Swim, five new channels from National Geographic, new channels like Spike TV from Viacom, comedy from Heavy, and classic series from Hasbro like The Transformers!

So anyway, leave a comment on this  post and I'll send you an invite to the email address you include.  If it takes a little while to send them out, based on the number of requests I get, please be patient.

Favorite New Release of the Week - May 8th, 2007

Of Montreal - Icons, Abstract Thee - EP

I guess I totally missed the memo on this release.  I didn't realize it was coming out until well... today!  What a pleasant surprise!  Considering how wonderful Hissing Fauna was, any additional material from the sessions is much appreciated.

You'll be glad to know this isn't some run-of-the-mill EP full of tracks that don't seem quite good enough to have been included on the previously released album.  Hissing Fauna was originally slated to  be a double-album but after it was decided that wouldn't happen, these tracks were cut.  When you hear the tracks you'll quickly realize that as good as Hissing Fauna is, you now have a few pieces to the puzzle you didn't realize you were missing, but need nonetheless.

Buy Icons, Abstract Thee at: iTunes | Amazon | Insound

YACHT - See A Penny (Pick It Up)

(via Stereogum)

New Bishop Allen

Bishop Allen's sophomore LP, The Broken String, is going to serve as the inaugural release for Dead Oceans.  The Broken String contains 12 songs, 9 of which are reworked tracks from the monthly EPs the band released during 2006.  The album is due out July 24th.

• Bishop Allen - "Rain" from The Broken String
• Bishop Allen - "Click Click Click Click" from July - EP