Beirut: New Album The Rip Tide

One of my favorite all time artists is Beirut. I won’t do him justice by describing his sound or what it means to me but briefly, he is an enormously talented multi- instrumental beautiful wonder. I saw him two years ago at Treasure Island Music festival and still remember it as one of the best live concerts I’ve seen.

The Rip Tide is the new album. Preceding this release, the most recent work from Zach Condon was the double album in 2009, March of the Zapotec and Realpeople: Holland. You can pre-order The Rip Tide here.

It pains me to include a free link to one of his new songs – so I won’t. Purchase the whole album. I’ll just post some of my old favorites.

New favorites from The Rip Tide include: “Goshen” and “Port of Call,” and the whole album, so go purchase it immediately…

Full tour dates here: includes Terminal 5, NYC,  Sept 20 + 21 (which go on sale tomorrow!)

(Off of Realpeople: Holland) Beirut – The Concubine

Elephant Gun

Listen to and buy all past albums and some unreleased tracks as well.

Metronomy

It just so happens that in the last year I have made 3 fine new friends from Devon. I’ve heard their stories, about the melancholy nature of the beaches and hills, which I’ve noticed can be reflected in the calm coolness of each native’s persona & vibe. I also recently learned that affectionate name ‘The English Riviera’ had been tagged to this southwestern region of England. And then I learned that this was also the name of Metronomy’s new album. I gave it a listen, & the album blew my mind. Let me just say this: good people come from Devon. And so does good music.

It’s downright clever for an electronic group to name themselves after a word-play on a mechanical device that produces such a predictable & methodical pulse that represents an antithesis of deviation (metronome). Particularly when the group has proven to be so experimental with their layering of beats. And they’re interesting.
If you’ve ever read an interview with foreman Mount, you realize that he makes fun of himself, is a real dude, and doesn’t take anything too seriously. Well except for maybe his music.

This is one of only a handful of groups that produces music in this genre that is performed entirely live. The group set out making this a goal of theirs, and they’ve achieved it. They use no backing tracks. Which I find absolutely impressive because it is setting a precedent; one that shames widespread criticism of live electronic concerts being phony.

Tour schedules for the upcoming months include France, Spain, Switzerland,
Germany, & the UK. So if you’re interested in truly experiencing The English
Riviera, pop over to England, where you too can have a dose of Devon. And likely make a friend or two.

Metronomy – The Look

Metronomy – The Bay from David Wilson Creative on Vimeo.

Hooray For Earth – True Loves

Today is the day…today is the day…today is the day!  Hooray For Earth’s new album True Loves is out today, which you can pick up over HERE or head to your local record store.  “True Loves” is my summer anthem, but I’ve also fallen for “No Love” as well.  Check the tracks out below along with the video for “True Loves,” by Young Replicant (who also created the video for Baths’ “Lovely Bloodflow” and M83’s “We Own the Sky.”)

Currently on tour, Hooray For Earth will be playing in NYC with Architecture in Helsinki on June 16th at Webster Hall.

Hooray For Earth – True Loves

Hooray For Earth – No Love

Hooray For Earth – True Loves from Dovecote Records on Vimeo.

New Album: Miracle Fortress

Fronted by Montreal producer Graham Van Pelt, Miracle Fortress released their sophomore the other day, entitled Was I The Wave? (out in Canada at the end of last month and in the US this week on Secret City). Currently on a Spring tour promoting the release, they’ll be supporting Junior Boys at Webster Hall on June 14th.

A blurb about the record: “Taken as a product of his occasionally hermitic temperament, many of [the] tracks here express themes of alienation, anonymity, or the desire for the assurances of intimacy… but existing fans won’t find it too difficult to hear Van Pelt’s signature habit-forming hooks swimming among the big synths, and deep beats.”

Miracle Fortress – Miscalculations

Erol Sabadosh

Usually when I find a new song or artist, I think to myself, I’m really glad I found this. Well in this case, I’m really glad Erol Sabadosh found me/forthebeat and sent me this remix.

Erol Sabadosh is a DJ from London. He’s played with La Roux, Bloc Party, The xx, MGMT and more and next up is London’s Lovebox Festival with the incredible 2 Many DJs and Fred Falke, Flying Lotus, Metronomy, Washed Out, Hudson Mohawke and more.

His remix of one of my favorite tracks off of the Strokes latest album Angles titled, “Call Me Back,” is one of the best remixes I’ve heard of any of their  tracks, past and present.

The Strokes – Call Me Back (Erol Sabadosh Remix)

Kanye

“Thank you for loving me when they told you not to love me”

Last night Kanye played an intimate show at the Museum of Modern Art to about a thousand lucky lucky (and paying) fans. The show was their annual Party in the Garden. Yeah Yeah Yeahs played last year.  (And Nick Zinner was there last night watching from the side.)

As the crowd came in, my friends and I played a game we affectionately called “here for Kanye or here for MoMA” and as the artsy or stuffy or cool (there were very few of these kind)  walked by, we’d shout “Kanye” or “MoMA.” It felt like a bad yuppie prom for the first few hours but when he came on stage, that all changed. Amazing, amazing show.

While I expected 5-7 songs at most, the 1.5 hour set included some of his best older hits mixed with favorite tracks off the new album: Power, All of the Lights, Jesus Walks, Gold Digger, Flashing Lights, Hell of a Life, and my favorite song of the night, Runaway – which he brought out a mixer for, to the front of the stage- and extended the “piano” intro of the 9 minute track.

Kanye came on about 11 and played past 12:30 with the encore bringing out a surprise – Jay Z,  for “Empire State of Mind” whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt.

My favorite anthem of last year:

Kanye West- Power

And seeing this live again brought back how truly amazing this track is:

Kanye West- Jesus Walks

Generationals- Actor Caster

You’re great. No, you’re great. No you are. You’re greater. You are just so very very good.

That’s how I feel about this song, which spurs an imaginary dialect between itself as it repeats blasting through my speakers over and over and just keeps getting better, relaying just that.

This song is an official kick-off to summer. I’m declaring summer- now.

“Ten-Twenty-Ten” by Generationals

This track is off of their second album called Actor Caster that came out end of March, so go get it already.

They’re playing Mercury Lounge in NY on May 11 and a ton of U.S. tour dates now through July. Buy the new album and find the list of tour dates here.

Cults- Abducted

Cults are one of the best new duos from 2010. With just a 3 song EP released last year, the Brooklyn duo will be releasing  their full length debut album (finally!), In the Name Of, on Columbia Records, May 30. Until then, some tracks have been released here and there for a preview listen, to further the excitement.

“Go Outside” is magical. “The Curse” is retro-ly-intriguing.  “You Know What I Mean” is just cool. And the list goes on and on. Really all of the tracks on the debut album, released so far, are some of the best this year. I’ve posted on a few already, but wanted to be sure to now add the addictive “Abducted” and more so, “Most Wanted,” and “You Know What I Mean.”

Cults – Most Wanted

Cults – You Know What I Mean

Cults: Most Wanted

Cults will be playing with Oberhofer and Puro Instinct this week at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 28th for an RSVP Vice Magazine/Noisey event (currently sold out). They’ll also be back, same venue, June 9th.

You can purchase the new single and/or buy a limited 7″ vinyl here.

The Entrance Band

Must. See. Live. Friends and blogs have shouted it all the same. You need to see this band live to get the full experience, and I plan on doing just that when Los Angeles based The Entrance Band come to town this week. They’ll be playing Glasslands on Thursday and also on Friday, opening for The Kills with Cold Cave at Terminal 5.

The Entrance Band- Lookout

Buy tickets to the Glasslands show, with an acoustic set by Amazing Baby, here.

Marina & the Diamonds

I love this video.

While I very much love the Clock Opera remix of “I Am Not A Robot”, it’s one of my favorite remixes ever, its nice to go back to the originals sometimes and remember what made them beautiful. The video isn’t much more than Marina singing but the black glitter makeup is magnificent and I wish I had an excuse to mimic this on my left cheek- a warpaint streak, with the red sparkle lips to match.

Marina & the Diamonds will be touring the U.S. starting June 16 in Philly….New York: Webster Hall June 21.

Latest remix addiction: “Obsessions:”

Marina & the Diamonds- Obsession (Jack Deezl Remix)