Uh, yeah. Play that beat.

So when Jeremy Jay's Slow Dance album first came out this past spring, I obsessed on it.
And now months later, I'm re-obsessing on it.
It sounds like an album that I would've heard about in the 1980's in my early teens from some college radio DJ.
Like the first time I heard Joy Division, or The Feelies.
I love that this young fella sounds like he doesn't belong in this time and place.
And therefore, actually does.

http://www.krecs.com/html/artists/artistbio.php?interest=101
http://www.myspace.com/jeremyjay

All the papers roll it a different way.

The past two nights I've been out at The Bell House.
Sunday night it was Catfish Haven.
A band of an unfortunate name but who can rock with the best of them.
And last night I was out to see Foreign Born, who were absolutely amazing.
So glad that I caught them on their last night of the tour.
Though it was The Veils that really surprised me.
Today I re-listened to their current album, Sun Gangs,
and it's a beautiful album, but they are really a band that one needs to see live.
So much more energy and pathos in their live show.
Deep and soulful.

http://www.theveils.com/
http://www.secretlycanadian.com/artist.php?name=foreignborn

http://beggarsgroupusa.com/releases/sun-gangs/

Everything changing will unchange again.

This is the title track from Cold Cave's newest release "Love Comes Close".

Makes it feel like 1981 England and that we're still trying to get over Ian Curtis' death
while dealing with the helpless/hopeless policies of a Thatcher administration.
At least that's what I am imagining.
I've always wanted to be there in that place during that time,
to fight against conservative oppression
and dance my ass off/freak out at punk shows.
And this album from some kids from Philly lay out the perfect soundtrack for it.
Ever see the film, This Is England?
By the way, the whole album kicks ass.

http://www.myspace.com/coldcave
http://www.theheartworm.com/discography.php
http://www.thisisenglandmovie.co.uk/
 
The photo is from Amanda Blank's show in Brooklyn last night at the Roxy/Paper Magazine party.
Ms. Blank, as the kids say, brought it.

When upon their arrival they say, in a dispirited and comely way.

So much amazing live music going on lately that it's getting a little overwhelming.
Tonight I'll be heading to see Amanda Blank play a party in Brooklyn 
before heading over to try and catch Jarvis Cocker performing at Terminal 5, 
as well as Destroyer at the Bowery Ballroom, whose City Of Daughters and Thief 
just got reissued on limited-edition double-vinyl (!!!) on Nominal Records.
If none of those float your boat, I'm sure Grace Jones will be knocking 'em dead 
at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
Dude.

Out there somewhere is the finish line.

Had a really nice summery weekend in Brooklyn.
Went and looked at potential new apartments, had brunch at Maggie Brown,
found a cafe (Sit & Wonder) nearby that sells Stumptown coffee,
met Andrew in Kensington for some hummus at Mimi's, went for a bike ride,
read some Harry Potter Order Of The Phoenix (just brushing up for the new movie)
and checked out the Afro Punk Festival block party.
All in all, a lovely time was had.

Also, just started to get into the new album from Fanfarlo.
Get ready, as I have a feeling we're going to be hearing a lot about them.
This is my favorite track so far:

http://www.fanfarlo.com/
http://www.maggiebrownrestaurant.com/
http://mimishummus.com/
http://www.nostrandpark.com/home/2009/7/1/sit-wonder-cafe.html
http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/
http://www.afropunk.com/

Look at me, is this the way I've always been?

It's been raining more or less nonstop here and summer hasn't really started yet.
So I'm just pretending I'm back in Portland and been riding my bike in the rain, especially as I'm trying to help Andrew train for his Iowa ride.
Shout out to Brooklyn Bike & Board for keeping this baby in tune.
http://brooklynbikeandboard.com/

Plus, to help keep summery spirits up, I've been listening a ton to the new Passion Pit album, which is cheery as all get out.

http://www.passionpitmusic.com/

Outside, it's a rising sun. But we ain't got no time for it.

Went to go visit friends over at VICE today.
Included a nice lunch with Jamie, who runs the show at their record label,
a cat that climbed on the restaurant tables,
french fries, a woman playing singing saw at the Union Square subway stop
and a armful of music/print goodies.

www.lullabyearkestra.blogspot.com
www.viceland.com

Hitting my stride, getting into the zone, stripping things to the bone.

It's Friday and I'll be heading home shortly to hook up our new Wii and play with Bailey into the wee hours of the night.
In the meantime, I'm still obsessing over this new album, and in particular, this track and wanted to share it.
Guess I'm just a sucker for distortion in folk music.

Also, saw this new-ish wheatpasting on my block:

http://tombrosseau.com/

http://fat-cat.co.uk/fatcat/release.php?id=287

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheatpasting