Xiu Xiu | Yoyo Bye Bye (Why? Cover)
edit: Woohoo! First takedown notice since April!
It’s always embarrassing when a cover of your song turns out better than the original, but I can’t decide if that embarrassment would be lessened or exacerbated if the cover is included on one of your releases. Why? have been left to ponder that dilemma, with their latest EP including a brilliant cover of Yoyo Bye Bye by Xiu Xiu. While Why?’s contributions to The Hollows are nothing to scoff at, Xiu Xiu effectively steal the show with their single track. Breathless and frantic vocals over claustrophobic electro/rock instrumentation makes for a winning combination, at least for Xiu Xiu.
Xiu Xiu – Yoyo Bye Bye.mp3 (Why? cover) (Removed upon request)
[From The Hollows EP, out Nov. 27th on Anticon]
Cat Power | Song To Bobby
Not exactly surprising, but I’ll take any Chan I can get.
[From Jukebox, out January on Matador]
Enon | Peace Of Mind
I’ve been meaning to post about these guys (and gal) for a while, so here I go. High-energy punk rock, with alternating male and female vocals. Sort of remind me of the Fall, especially on this track. Their new one is a really fun little record. Enjoy.
[From Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds, out October 9th on Touch & Go]
Deerhoof Offer Free Album For Download
Right now you can head over to Deerhoof’s site for a new ‘album’, composed of odd little bits of Deerhoof randomness. Go now, as this won’t be around for long.
Les Savy Fav | The Equestrian
It took me a while, but lately I’ve been loving Les Savy Fav’s latest album, Let’s Stay Friends.
Les Savy Fav – The Equestrian.mp3
[From Let's Stay Friends, out September 18th on Frenchkiss]
Celebration | In This Land
Ever since Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars, and TV On The Radio, all David Sitek related, started hitting the indie big times, it wasn’t very hard to guess that Celebration weren’t very far behind them. Of course, that’s no to insinuate that
Celebration are followers. No, that’s not the case at all; as all of the aforementioned bands, Celebration create a sound that’s uniquely theirs. With their latest album, The Modern Tribe, Celebration seem poised to win over many new fans with their world-influenced art-rock.
Starting with just a drum and an organ, In This Land is easily on of my favorite tracks from TMT. With nary a guitar to be heard until the very end of the song, In This Land relies instead on vocalist Katrina Ford’s rich, deep voice to engage the listener. Since the Siouxie Sioux comparisons that Ford often earns are well founded, the track works well, moving along at a cabaret-like pace, complete with a few moments of brass that would make Björk jealous.
Celebration – In This Land.mp3
[From The Modern Tribe, due out October 9th on 4AD]
Express Your Bloated Self, Willful and Indignant, In The Face Of Somebody’s Lord
Dan Bejar must be some sort of music God. I simply don’t see how any mere mortal could write songs as amazing as ‘The Sublimation Hour’. Just look at these lyrics:
So you had the best legs in a business built for kicks,
but was this changing of the guards really supposed to make you sick?
It’s alright… The Sublimation Hour!
Medium Rotation, the Shock of the New,
and a memo from Feldman saying, “everything is true.”
It’s alright… The Sublimation Hour!Don’t spend your life conceiving
that the widows won’t get sick of their grieving
’till everyone walks out.
Hey, isn’t that what rock ‘n’ roll is all about, Princess?
Express your bloated self, willful and indignant,
in the face of somebody’s lord!You try to summon up the spirits live on Face the Nation,
but the Port Authority just taxed incantations.
It’s alright… The Sublimate Hour!
Auction off The Temple. It’s money well-spent.
Hey, are those tears in your eyes as the wind cries, “enlargement”?
It’s alright… The Sublimate Hour!Don’t spend your life conceiving
that the widows won’t get sick of their grieving
’till everyone walks out.
Hey, isn’t that what rock ‘n’ roll is all about, Princess?
Confess your bloated self, willful and indignant,
in the face of somebody’s lord!So put your hands together! I hear it’s a must
until this phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust.
It’s alright… The Sublimation Hour!
I guess the streets will suffice till everybody makes nice,
but there’s a rumor going round even Destroyers have a price…
It’s alright… The Sublimation Hour!Don’t spend your life conceiving…
Incredible, huh?
Destroyer – The Sublimation Hour.mp3
[From Streethawk: A Seduction, released 2001 on Misra Records]
