the rivalry continues.

speaking of the pastels.....

while everyone is all up in arms as of late how lana del rey's 'video games' ripped off some greek song, tonight i was thinking that glasgow's The Pastels 'thank you for being you' (1993) might have ripped off london's Moose 'last night i fell again' (1991). which in this case is totally ok because both of the latter songs are great!

give 'em both a listen & be the judge for yourself.

p.s. - if you actually know who moose is please feel free to send me an email because you must be cool. and if you actually own their ep 'sonny & sam' (which i heavily think rivals mbv's loveless for the best shoegaze album of all time) then feel free to send me a marriage proposal in that email as well.

italian stallions.

today i was very much enjoying this track from italian trio, Brothers In Law. formed in 2011 & with influences ranging from sonic youth, wavves & the pastels (scottish awesomeness!), they'll be releasing their first three song ep on february 13th.

i have a feeling pitchfork is gonna be all over this soon so get on it before they do!

let's stay in bed.

1. Bronson - Purpose
2. Cibo Matto - White Pepper Ice Cream
3. Lotus Plaza - Different Mirrors
4. Boris - Rainbow
5. The Antlers - When You Sleep (My Bloody Valentine Cover)
6. Still Corners - Endless Summer
7. The Paper Boat - Smokers Can't Tell With Smell
8. Black Vacation - For You
9. Broadcast - C'mon Let's Go
10. Kes Trio - Wise Eyes
11. Cough Cool - Stolen
12. Polvorosa - Not Here
13. Vinyl Williams - Object Of The Source
14. Doldrums - Endless Winter
15. Bedhead - Left Behind
16. Women - Venice Lockjaw
17. Yo La Tengo - Night Falls On Hoboken

this winter mix (for those of us that live in the states) was technically ready back in mid december, but while uploading it i managed to delete my entire music library on my pc. ALL OF IT. then christmas happened, this trip to oz came about, my laptop wasn't working, etc - you get the picture. but better late than never right?

so, enjoy it. makes babies to it. or maybe even figure out how to get my music back to it!

electric kool-aid acid test.

i've been going to so many gigs this past week, i've forgotten to update you all! last wednesday i went to check out Witch Hats at the workers club & i have to say that actually hearing "sessa" live was so fucking worth it. these guys were absolutely awesome & the sound was impeccable.

not to be outdone, the band they opened up for, Pets With Pets, were like animal collective on acid. and i'm sure you're asking yourself, can it really get more crazy than ac? and the answer to that is YES. so you austin folk get ready to have your faces melted off because these guys are gonna make a few SXSW appearances.

plus, you know when john dwyer (lead singer of thee oh sees) shows up to your gig then you must be doing something right. plus, he was quite the gentleman who kept calling me a little lady!

i don't have time for you girl.

you know that old saying that one good thing leads to another? well that was exactly the case when i when i went to check out the amazingly good Rayon Moon last night at pony.

one of the opening bands was the devastatingly handsome Bidet Mate. i was pretty much sold after only hearing the 2 tracks listed on their bandcamp, but these guys are even better live. all over the place screaming lyrics, screeching guitars, out of control drum pounding - it was beer guzzling awesomeness.

oh, and if you're homophobe you might want to skip the 2:11 part in the video. i however thoroughly enjoyed it.

la musique de la mer.

let me just start off by saying that when i saw this new video from parisian Arch Woodmann, i literally started crying. no joke.

maybe it was because the song was so heartfelt. maybe it was because it was based around my favorite time of year. maybe it was because he also has a great album called mighty scotland, which i'm very much missing at the moment. or maybe it had to do with the entire bottle of red wine i just enjoyed.

whatever the reason, this is really good stuff. i can always appreciate a man that's described as a mix of sun kil moon & do make say think.

teen dream.

what the hell are they putting in the water up there in illinois? whatever it is, it's making the guys, ahem, teenage boys up there kick ass in the music department. which brings us to seventeen year old Baby Chuck.

after listening to his just released soulful, yet infused with a heavy guitar 10 minute ep, it made me realize he far surpasses his stage name. they sure didn't have dudes like this when i was a young girl.

miserlou.

if dick dale was on methamphetamines, he would probably sound just like melbourne's Rayon Moon. basically these guys are a fun blend of lo-fi garage surf rock - just the way i like my bands!

and if you happen to be in the fitzroy area next thursday (jan. 19th) then be sure to check them out at laundry for Surf Rock Night 3!

the golden dawn.

i've anxiously been awaiting the new ep, rock & roll night club, from canada's Mac Demarco, who used to record under the moniker of Makeout Videotape. (the ep will be released by the digustingly amazing Captured Tracks label to which he was just signed.) in the meantime, i've had his video from his last lp on heavy rotation, which makes me think that men should be the ones in the kitchen. in some weird, silence of the lambs type of way.

you can also check out a track from MV on my mix HERE.

head on.

i can't tell you how awesome it was to come down to oz & have this sixteen year old band from elmhurst, il. send this to my inbox. these guys are SIXFUCKINGTEEN.

one of the dudes from The Orwells are going to have to turn 18 soon so i can marry one of them. already having 3 lps out, this band has enough lyrics & guitars to last them a lifetime.

make sure to check 'psychopath' & 'no ticket' from their debut album head. and i swear if 'never ever' from their recently released remember when album doesn't scream an old souls relationship, then i don't know what does. (and their 2nd lp oh well! is awesome. starts awesome! ends awesome!)

baby it's just you & me.

since i'm playing a bit of catch up here, i wanted to let you all know how much i adore san fran's The Sandwitches as their 2011 album, mrs. jones cookies, was one of my favorites of the year. always full of garage soul, here's their most recent video (which i had on repeat enough times to annoy any boyfriend) & it's just sexy enough to match their little hussie attitudes.

c'mon sonnnnnnnnnn.

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Thuggin' by Rappcats

hip hop doesn't get a lot of play on this blog but i tell you what, when i do want a little something - i'm a total stones throw girl. so i've really been diggin' the recent ep, Thuggin, and a track which shares the same name, from Madlib & Freddie Gibbs. (even though this was techincally released on madlib's madlib invazion label)

so when Freddie isn't busy getting his weed bags overlooked by TSA, these guys will hook up to release a full length sometime early this year.

happy new year!

sorry i've been out of touch for a bit folks. i'm currently in australia where my laptop decides it doesn't want to upload...ANYTHING. so, just when i decide to get things swinging on this blog the updates might be a little sporadic until february.

but with that said, the following track is from another ft. worth band called Year of the Bear. i was actually able to see these guys play their first show back in november & i literally had to get up from the back of the venue to the front to see what strange type of psychedelic sounds were blaring at me. while this first released song channels a bit of joy divison, this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what this band does live. so be on the lookout for their debut album which i hear is in the works & will no doubt be killer.