Wesley The Robot

Another week goes by, another Wesley the Robot mix. Tell me what you think of the cartoons and the songs!

Flaming Lips - Pilot Head at the Queer of God

Secret Machines - Sad and Lonely

Cut Copy - The Twilight

The Faint - Psycho Killer (Talking Heads Cover)

Dandy Warhols - Solid

Autolux - Blanket

Classixx - Dial 1 (Radio Edit)

Frankmusik - Made Her Smile

Plastic Operator - Folder

The LK - Tamagotchi Freestyle

Mason Proper - Lights Off

Microfilm - Chicago (Sufjan Stevens Cover)

There's also this neat thing called Muxtape, where you can make an online playlist. Check out mine here. You should make one and send it to us.

and just for fun, here's a couple of remixes of my cartoon:

Wilco:


Mr. Buttocks:White Rabbit:

Stroik

Stroik is an artist from Morrisville, North Carolina, who plays a variety of keyboards, guitars, percussion, and the result is reminiscent of The Cure or Feist if it was fronted by Dan Bejar. If you fancy the likes of other one man band/sometimes dance parties like White Williams, chances are you'll enjoy Stroik.

Stroik - The Wrong Eulogy

Stroik - What You Want

Stroik - Slide Right By

Stroik Myspace

The Iry offer Dinner for Two on the Moon

I received an e-mail about this close knit indie rock group from Columbus, Ohio a while ago, but being busy, I just listened to the sample tracks, realized this band was highly enjoyable and went on with my days. It wasn't until I started doing these ultra music blog updates that I realized I had committed an atrocious crime in not writing about them yet, considering I've enjoyed them for weeks.

They employ the timeless rock/pop band structure using pianos upfront and guitars for texture. Talking about texture, they sound similar to the Cold War Kids, and at their most dramatic a little like Muse.

The Iry - Whole Again

The Iry - Blackout

The Iry Myspace

Hadouken Get Smashed!

Hadouken blipped onto my radar screen some months ago, with their hipster electro punk rapping style and outrageous lyrics. They are self aware to the point of parody and that's what makes their high octane jaunts so enjoyable. Apparently they've got an album coming out entitled "Music for an accelerated culture".

If you're into night vision underage house parties, they've also got a video that'll be right up your alley.

Hadouken - Get Smashed Gate Crash

Hadouken Myspace

Alaska in Winter

I realize that now it is spring and the last thing many of us want to do is revisit winter, but take heart, there are good things about winter, well, the word "winter" at least. Like Brandon Bethancourt's musical project Alaska in Winter. Mr Bethancourt and company have graciously sent me a mix of their new CD Dance Party in the Balkans, featuring the vocals of Beirut. It's an eclectic trip.

Alaska in Winter - Dance Party in the Balkans Mix

Alaska in Winter Myspace

The Pharmacy

The Pharmacy is an indie band that will keep you guessing as to where they’re coming from, starting off with the usual catchy guitar chord progressions before erupting into a poly-symphonic cacophony. This might seem like hyperbole with bands like the Arcade Fire and The Shins seemingly promising you a new musical language, but The Pharmacy doesn’t seek to re-teach you a language, they instead endeavor to remind you about all the languages you thought you forgot about. The vocals remind me somewhat of Weezer front man River Cuomo’s while the music is so vibrant and multi faceted I challenge anyone to not find at least something that they like about it. I read another review describing the dense sound of the Pharmacy as a scrapbook and I think that’s perfect, you can imagine the band tearing construction paper and lovingly gluing all the pieces together, wrapping it up and sending it to your ears.

The Pharmacy - Adieu Adieu

The Pharmacy - Mirror Song

The Pharmacy Myspace

Science for Girls

Science for Girls is the brainchild of Darren Solomon, a producer with roots in Jazz and Brazilian music. His debut album features a slew of guest vocalists over the course of 10 downtempo electronica songs. Fans of expansive textured synthpop like DNTEL will find something to like here. Often times the songs bloom like a flower in slow motion in the spring. Conveniently for my previous analogy there's even a song called "Violets".

While I was looking over the bands Myspace I noticed that one of the influences was Wendy Carlos who was a pioneer of electronic music and recreated many classical (Ludwig Van Beethoven) works in the early seventies with a Moog synthesizer, perhaps most noticeable in the cult Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange. The same kind of classical tones come through even in the distorted electronics making for what I regard as the most sophisticated down-tempo electronica I've heard in a long time.

Not to be pigeon holed as a one trick pony, Science for Girls has a couple standout indie-pop tracks that are too cute to not be mentioned, most notably "Australia". If you know anyone from Australia, no doubt you'll be playing this track for them within 10 minutes of your knowledge of its existence.

Science for Girls - Northern Lights

Science for Girls - Australia

We Were the States

Do you ever get a hankering for rambunctious rock with just a hint of class? Like the best punk band in the world wearing custom made tailored suits? Or maybe a gang brawl with those participating adorned in top hats and canes while snapping their fingers West Side Story style? Well if you're like me, then the answer is a resounding "yes". My latest fix for this niche is Tennessee's We Were the States, whose bouncy garage rock style reminds me of the Hives, with a bit more southern spice, and by "bit" I mean a whole case of red pepper.

We Were the States - Till Morning Comes

We Were the States - Up Your Sleeve

Bridges and Powerlines

Bridges and Powerlines is a band whose members came from geographically divergent areas to coalesce in New York City. Their critically acclaimed raucous post-punk-pop is composed of heartfelt lyrics, driving guitars and a synth that will make your head explode. Well, maybe not explode, but it will make your head bob with the beat.

Bridges and Powerlines - Uncalibrated

Bridges and Powerlines Myspace
(Go here and listen to "Middle Child" It's fantastic!)

Oh! Custer

Oh! Custer is a Swedish Shoegaze/Pop band from Sweden. The band formed when Josef and Esbjorn decided to start a band in the summer of 2005 in Lund Sweden. They've just recently released their second EP entitled States, which also has the songs from their first EP, Leaves, as bonus tracks.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, there's something going on in Sweden. Either they've replaced the fluoride in the water with some songwriter enhancing drug or the Swedes are genetically engineering a superior race of musicians that will soon take over the world. Which might not be a bad thing considering the quality of their health care... Musings aside, Oh! Custer wields chiming guitars that evoke the best of those moments in between waking and sleeping. That moment of perfect satisfaction before the alarm goes off, and perhaps the 5 minutes after hitting the snooze. The beats are driving but never jarring, the reverb is as soft and gentle as a violin and the vocals calmly replay the events of our days through a hazy projector.

Oh! Custer - States

Oh! Custer - Your Name

Oh! Custer - Post

Oh! Custer Myspace

Peter Moren Demonstrates Social Competence

First of all, I'm sorry for the lack of posts lately, you see, I had 5 wisdom teeth removed from my mouth last Thursday. That's right, 5 wisdom teeth. I guess it was my mutant power to have an extra tooth. Now it's my mutant power to look like John Merrick. Two lame powers in a row.

Anyway, the music front has remained active. I received an E-Mail asking me if I would be interested in Peter Moren's (Of Peter, Bjorn and John) solo album. Of course I was since I enjoyed their Writer's Block album a great deal. The song I was able to sample, "Social Competence", is another demonstration of nimble guitar melodies co-opted into biting social commentary that is also somehow heartwarming at the same time. The song's catchy piano chords and handclaps build until they explode with a harmonica that hits you right in the folk-pop sweet spot.

But don't take my word for it...

Peter Moren - Social Competence

The Bitterest Kind of Sweet: Kate Nash - "Made of Bricks"

Feature by Ferdinand Moss, Digital Boy
As Rob, the main character from Nick Hornby’s book “High Fidelity” said, “Do I listen to pop music because I’m miserable, or am I miserable because I listen to pop music?”

One of the best break-up albums of 2007, Kate Nash’s “Made of Bricks” is a melancholy pop album that strikes chords with the heart. British-born Nash takes a comedic and self-deprecating perspective on her own life. With simple upbeat piano riffs in “Foundations”, the tone is set for a witty, ironic song about a relationship on the rocks. The song “Merry Happy” is anything but, with the lines “Yeah you make me merry make me very, very happy/But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around.” Her songs, though they may seem happy at first, are dark, longing looks into Nash’s failing or failed relationships.

The album is not as abrasive or man hating (except for a song named “Dickhead”) as similar artist Lily Allen’s album “Alright, Still”, and not as saccharine sweet as Sara Bareilles’ song “I’m Not Gonna Write You A Love Song”; the songs on this album will surely get stuck in your head. With piano slip-ups here and there and a clever take on life, the album is far from a typical pop album. Take a listen to the songs below and let us know what you think.

For more information, music and a fun cover of “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, check out her myspace at http://www.myspace.com/katenashmusic.

Kate Nash - Foundations.mp3

Kate Nash - Merry Happy.mp3

Kate Nash - Mouthwash.mp3

Google KimonoKops

Kimono Kops just keeps churning out the hits. Thomas' latest endeavor is a remix of Teyanna Taylor's 'Google Me', and I think it may be his most enjoyable to date. This beat is on repeat.

Teyanna Taylor - Google Me (Kimono Kops Mix)

Wesley the Robot Remixed

A friend of mine recently released a text-less version of one of my cartoons to the salivating masses. The results made me LOL. So I'm going to release it to you, my fine readers as an open invitation to re-caption my cartoons.

Simply write in the speech bubbles and send the result to me at azltron@yahoo.com


Here's a sweet smattering of what's been done so far:

White Rabbit

Anti:Elstatec:
Wilco:
EDIT!!!

Juneau:


Here are some robot related tunes to inspire you.

Daft Punk - Robot Rock

Flaming Lips - One More Robot

My Robot Friend - Robot High School

The Softlightes - The Robots In My Bedroom Were Playing Arena Rock

STACK ATTACK

I haven't posted a full radio show in a little while, I figure most people don't listen to them, so I've just been posting the tracks, but I'm bringing it back in the hopes that some people are going to listen. The tracks posted below are the song list. Give my show a listen, and if you like it/hate it/ find it charming/find it annoying let me know. Give me some feedback for gosh sake!

Stack Attack Radio Show March 13th 2008 (88.9 WNYO)

Wesley the Robot

Wesley is one suave automaton. Here are some songs that I've been enjoying lately.

LCD Soundsystem - Big Ideas

The Faint - I Disappear

The Raveonettes - Hallucinations

Feist - I Feel It All (Britt from Spoon Remix)

The Secret Machines - Lights On

Dandy Warhols - Horse Pills

Hot Chip - Shake a Fist

The Flaming Lips - Pilot Can at the Queer of God

Chairs in the Arno - I Never Loved You Anyways

The Somnambulants - Burning Daylight

(We Are) Performance - Live a Little

The Strokes - The Way it is

Spoon - Bring it on home to me (Sam Cooke Cover)

Iggy Pop - The Passenger

Interpol - PDA

The Wombats - Kill the Director (CSS Remix)

Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime

Prince - Black Sweat

Grafton Primary - I Can Cook

Does it offend you, yeah? - Let's Make Out (Extended Mix)

The Notwist tell some Good Lies

After a long break and several side projects the Notwist finally return with the (I'm assuming single) "Good Lies". Markus Acher croons again, gently in his charming German accent, as he and his band mates employ chiming guitars and spare electronic blips and bleeps on this poignant tune. I had been hoping for some new Notwist, and this guitar heavy track reminds me of their excellent song "One With The Freaks" off of their excellent 2002 album Consider me among the salivating music fans eagerly awaiting the release of their new album, The Devil, You + Me, this June.

The Notwist - Good Lies

The Notwist - One With The Freaks

Microfilm and others cover Magnetic Fields

Microfilm, who did an amazing cover of Sufjan Stevens' "Chicago" have struck again with an equally as amazing cover of the Magnetic Fields' "All the Desperate Things You Made Me Do". There's also an entire album's worth of covers available here. Check it out, a lot of them are great.

Microfilm - Chicago (Sufjan Steven's Cover)

Microfilm - The Desperate Things You Made Me Do (Magnetic Fields Cover)

Microfilm Myspace

Soundpool's Dichotomies and Dreamland

I get sent a lot of different kinds of music, having run this blog for over a year now and sometimes the things I get are okay, not my cup of tea, or right up my alley. I had an interesting experience yesterday when I opened up my mail and found the NYC five-piece Soundpool's album Dichotomies and Dreamland. Like usual I opened up the package and started reading the write up on the band. Key words popped out at me, "Shoegaze", "Girlie Vocals", "Saturated Guitar", "Lush Synth Arrangements", "Driving Dancable Rhythm", never before has something been sent to me that sounds exactly like what I want to hear. I've been getting into Shoegaze, I've always loved the synth, and dance beats? Heck yeah.

Upon loading the CD up onto my computer I found that the multi faceted 5-some can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, wafting from driving rock numbers to ethereal soundscapes. This is another contender for album of the year for me and it's only March. Check them out already.

Soundpool - Pleasure and Pain

Soundpool - The Divides of March

Nicholas Alan

Nicholas Alan is an artist who writes intimate pop songs similar to Ben Folds, Sufjan Stevens or Rufus Wainwright with some instrumental flourishes similar to that of Andrew Bird. Give him a listen.

Nicholas Alan - A Tired Apartment

Nicholas Alan - Being 25

Nicholas Alan - Cigarettes in Snowmen Only

Nicholas Alan Official Website
here you can download his albums for $1.99

Marlene has a Fever... in Berlin.

Just when you thought that there couldn't possibly be any more indie/pop/electro duos capable of creating a beautifully haunting album here comes the Fever Marlene. A two piece band that hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their expansive electro-rock styling calls to mind the carefully internationally aware pop songs of Jens Lekman and the raw balladic power of the Flaming Lips. of course the emotive beats and blips of the Postal service. Definitely one to watch.

Fever Marlene - My Heart (Its Harder Than a Stone)

Fever Marlene - Oh Berlin

Fever Marlene - Won't Let You Down

Fever Marlene Myspace

Plastic Operator Go Home... 0207

Synth pop group Plastic Operator have released the emotionally charged "Home 0207" as a new single off of their excellent 2007 album Different Places. With this release comes a superbly animated video and a plethora of remixes.



Plastic Operator - Home 0207
Plastic Operator - Home 0207 - Hermanos Inglesos Remix Part 1
Plastic Operator - Home 0207 - Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix