Rana Santacruz

Hello everyone! Glad to be back and writing. I was inspired today listening out my back door to some of the sounds of the neighborhood -- a lively mix of Mexican Ranchero music, ice cream truck jingles and children playing. So I wanted to find something that would fit the same mood and language that I was listening to just outside my glass door. So today I bring you the music of Rana Santacruz. Rana is a Mexican troubadour that plays a variety of styles ranging from more traditional Mexican rhythms to alternative folk sounds to Irish bar music. All of it is great, and though I really don't know much in the way of Spanish the songs still penetrate (ah the beauty of music). Enjoy.

Rana Santacruz - Cajita De Barro

[You can download all of his songs for free here by just registering] [can't beat that deal]

Black Lips

Here are some great videos of The Black Lips from La Blogotheque the first is a series of 3 short songs called "Three Songs Tied" by various band members and the second is the whole band jammin away on "Everybody's Doing It":

Three Songs Tied:

SPLIT BLACK LIPS #1 3 SONGS TIED
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Everybody's Doing It:

SPLIT BLACK LIPS #2 EVERYBODY'S DOING IT
Uploaded by lablogotheque

[Note: For the next few weeks my posts will be more sporadic, I apologize for the inconvenience, life gets in the way sometimes from blogging]

Luke Temple

Mr. Temple has an ethereal voice used most often for some amazing slow trembling songs. These are the songs that amplify your understanding of the beauty, frailty, heartbreak and wonder of the world. But on "Someone, Somewhere" he loosens up a little with the help of a clarinet. It's probably for the best that he cuts loose because you can't be sullen and serious all the time...that stuff kills you.

Listen:

Luke Temple - Someone, Somewhere

[Check out His Daytrotter Session here]
[Check out his MySpace Page here]
[Purchase his album, Hold A Match to a Gasoline World, here]

Jens Lekman

Sorry for the late post but this was a hectic day...because you have all been so patient here is a live concert from Jens Lekman from Valentines Day 2008 in Istanbul.

Listen:

Jens Lekman - Concert in Istanbul 2/14/08 (live)

[Purchase Jens Lekman's new album, Night Falls Over Kortedala, here]

Boris

Boris's awaited new album Smile is set to drop on Southern Lord Records April 29, 2008. For those that don't know, Boris is a progressive metal band from Japan, but that doesn't really encapsulate their sound. It is kind of label defying music going slow and moody at time, psychedelic at times, more poppy at times...and they do it all well. Check out "Statement" off their upcoming album and if you pre-order the album right now get a special edition orange vinyl Statement 7" (pretty awesome!).

Listen:

Boris - Statement

[Pre-order Boris's upcoming LP Smile here]

Guitar Hero 3 vs. Real Life

I'm going to preface the following post by saying that this may only interest me. With that out of the way, I have been playing the highly addictive game Guitar Hero 3 from time to time these days and it got me to thinking what do these songs really look like when they are being played versus what they look like played on the game. So I decided to do some research and found some excellent video of Eric Johnson performing his hit "Cliffs of Dover" (a song used in GH3) complete with reallllllly long intro (like 5 minutes long), awesome early 90's mullet and a bass player in a purple silk shirt!!! Then I found a clip of someone passing the song on GH3 on Expert setting with 100% accuracy. Through this process, I've established it is harder to play the real guitar than the video game! (I really didn't need research to tell me that) But for those of you that have played Guitar Hero 3 you will appreciate the 100% accuracy and the killer licks the Guitar Hero player throws down.

Eric Johnson - "Cliffs of Dover" - Live 1990:



wuLFe79 Playing Guitar Hero 3 - "Cliffs of Dover":



[Purchase Eric Johnson's seminal album Ah Via Musicom here]

The Hold Steady

In terms of things I am really excited about The Hold Steady's upcoming album is right up there at the top. Their last album, Boys and Girls in America, remains in heavy rotation in my car and around the house and it will be great to get another slab of Hold Steady greatness to spin. Their new album, Stay Positive, is scheduled for a June release and if the live version of the title track is any indication the radid Hold Steady fans will not be disappointed.

Listen:

The Hold Steady - Stay Positive (Live, 11/19/07)

[Purchase Boys and Girls in America here, if you don't already own it]

No Age

Big concert on April 25th when No Age, experimental boy wonders, tag team with Yeasayer at the Ukraine Cultural Center in Los Angeles. This is going to be one of the best shows of the year and sadly I won't be able to make it...sometimes I think bands schedule shows based on inconvenience to me*sigh*. But anyway, just because I can't make it doesn't me that you shouldn't go and then tell me all about it. Here is a song, "Eraser" off of No Age's upcoming release, Nouns, set to drop May 6th on Sub Pop Records. Maybe they'll play it at the show.
Listen:

No Age - Eraser

[Pre-Order Nouns here]

M. Ward

Prior to the release of M Ward's first full album, M. Ward was hocking a cassette offering demo of his solo stuff during his years with the band Rodriguez during the mid-90's. This is some really good stuff and well worth a listen. I'm just glad someone digitized this stuff for posterity. Here is one of my favorites off of the demo tape entitled "Don't Crack". It's a song of longing for a dead companion and about the pain we feel when we realize someone is never coming back but it is also about the strength we get from their memory. Of course he says it more poignantly than that, but cut me a break I'm no M. Ward.

Listen:

M Ward - Don't Crack

[Purchase M. Ward albums here]

The Dodos

One of my most recent purchases is the terrific new Dodos album Visiter. The album is driven heavily by percussion, especially the first 4 or so songs which pin you back in your seat with a primal oft-unpredictable beat. I think this is going to be one of the top 10 albums of the year, so go get it...you won't be disappointed. Check out one of their slower numbers, "Ashley", from the second half of the album.

Listen:

The Dodos - Ashley

[Purchase Visiter here]