Xiu Xiu Interview

Did another band interview as part of a video series here at Wesleyan--this time, I interviewed Xiu Xiu, a really awesome avant-garde group from California. Here's the video.

In a nutshell, very raw, at times emotional lyrics, along with a variety of different types of sound and sound texture.

Check them--and especially this kind of controversial music video to their song "Dear God, I Hate Myself"--out.

"House Sparrow," by Xiu Xiu from Dear God, I Hate Myself (2010)


"Brian the Vampire," by Xiu Xiu from Fabulous Muscles (2004)


--A

Bear in Heaven Video

The video from the live show Bear in Heaven played at Wesleyan a little while back, along with clips from the pre-show/post-show interviews; I'm mostly edited out, but I get a word in here and there.

--A

99 Problems?

I just found this song in Rolling Stone and had to blog it immediately. It's a revamped version of Jay-Z's "99 Problems". The song just has this amazing country western vibe that really works for it. I feel like this song was created to eventually be done in this style. I wish there was a little more to it but I guess this is all we are going to get. It doesn't follow the original to the T but i think i like that. It's more of a re-imagined version of the song. It feels like you are hearing it for the first time and barely conjures of images of the original because it is just so markedly different. I cannot find to much about the band Hugo, who play the song, but it is hopefully not the last of them, their sound is very classic but new wave in a way. Enjoy the track.

"99 Problems" by Hugo (2010)

-S

Don't bother leaving, we're already gone

Bear in Heaven's second album, Beast Rest Forth Mouth, came out just about a year ago and got the oh-so-great honor of getting a Pitchfork shout-out. Did I say "a shout-out?" I meant "recognition as 'Best New Music.'" Long story short, they rule, and their live set is dope. They played a show here at Wesleyan this past weekend, and here's what they said:

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Bear In Heaven Did we mention last nights show at Wesleyan was off the charts? Finally some serious crowd surfing.

Sunday at 13:33 via Facebook for iPhone

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I got to interview the band before and after they performed--chatted about shoes, glitter, Ionic columns, and toilet paper, to name a few topics of conversation. When the video's all pretty and edited (which may not be for a bit), I'll be sure to throw up a link.

For now, here's these:

"Beast in Peace" by Bear in Heaven


"Dust Cloud" by Bear in Heaven


--A

Down with the moral majority

Green Day is a band that my favor waxes and wanes constantly for. Sometime I love listening to them, and others I'm just tired of them and would rather not hear them ever. I guess it's the same with a lot of bands (great example: No Doubt). Anyway one of my favorite Green Day songs is "Minority." I think the song is really good and works in a lot of interesting musical compositional components.

The song starts out with this little ditty like acoustic riff. And then breaks in to their classic sound with the layered punk guitar and driving drum beats. There is also a little higher melody that drives the background-I am having a lot of trouble discerning what instrument plays it though (accordion?) but it really adds to the track in an interesting way. Enjoy!

"Minority" by Green Day from Warning (2000)

-S

Sunday Sountrack

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days, a lot of things have just come up and I've been away from my computer. I'll get back to my regular posts starting with this Sunday Soundtrack.

"Gold Dust" by DJ Fresh (Flux Pavillion Remix) *Song Of The Week*

"Occident" by Joanna Newsom

"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen

"Sam" by The Smiles And The Frowns

"Skinny Love" by Bon Iver

"Girls And Boys" by Blur

"Little Brother" by Grizzly Bear

-S

Don't forget about my loving

I'm digging the CSN&Y stuff right now, I found a bunch of their CD's with various combinations of the four members on it however I've also been looking at some of the covers of them done as well. By far the best I've come upon so far is "Got It Made" by Sandmen.

It's got this great vocal harmony with a really simple guitar accompaniment. For some reason this song is just feeling really good right now, incredibly simple and easy but it just sounds so good. Sometimes you just have to go back to the basics which work. The guitar tune is a little folksy and their voices harmonize perfectly and compliment the guitar nicely. Not really too much else to say about it, enjoy!

"Got It Made" covered by The Sandmen (Stephen Stills Cover)

-S