Music Noir

I’m just going to skip over all the lame music news from this week such as Britney Spears’ romantic gettaway or John Mayer’s love life or even Usher dancin’ around at the VMAs and get right to the good stuff. I’ve got a new rock band for you. I’ve been spending some time in Portland lately and 94.7 Alternative Portland is all over a band I think everyone should check out. It’s called A Silent Film. They are a quartet from the UK and they sound just as I imagined a soundtrack for a German expressionist silent film would if it were made today: moody, romantic and percussive oriented featuring a piano. I’ve got their track “You Will Leave A Mark” on repeat. I also dig “Driven By Their Beating Hearts” and “Thirteen Times The Strength.” All these tracks are off their debut album from 2008 The City That Sleeps. Sorry it took me so long to discover them, but this album is still fresh, fresh, fresh! I’m seeing some sporadic tour dates around the  U.S., one definitely in Kansas on September 25; however, I would keep an eye out for the festivals next spring and summer like Lollapalooza, Coachella or Sasquatch. I am expecting them to make an appearance at one of those.

Until next time, “I work in the dead of night,” John Mayer -K

Bailamos!

 

Summer is finally hitting the Northwest and nothing screams summer more than one of my favorite music genres, reggaeton. If you don’t know what reggaeton is, it is a Spanish-language, urban genre that is defined by strong reggae and dance hall influences. Most reggaeton artists hail from Puerto Rico, but you can find more in Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, or Panama. You know you all loved “Gasolina,” but this genre has develop into legitimate and quality music since you first heard of Daddy Yankee years ago. There are several up and coming artists that will be hitting the rest of the world soon and some of the best reggaeton tracks have been released in the last couple years. This genre is gearing up for round two and what better time to get familiar than summer, with all the videos featuring sun-kissed Latinas. I recommend checking out “Desontrol” by Daddy Yankee, “Suave y Lento” by Jowell & Randy, “Pa Que La Pases Bien” by Arcangel and my personal favorite “Electro Movimento” by Calle 13. It’s safe to say that this genre has surpassed rap as the premier urban genre in most countries, so expect to see more reggaeton stateside.

And now a reggaeton Band of the Week…Don Omar!

I only recently heard of this artist who is making his way up the reggaeton charts. He released his third album iDon last year, which featured the hits “Virtual Diva” and “Sexy Robotica.” He already has another album due out soon titled Meet the Orphans. The first single off that album is “Hasta Abajo” and a remix has been released featuring Daddy Yankee. I don’t see any tour dates right now, but keep an eye out for a future tour supporting the new album.

Hasta proximo tiempo, “Tu y yo hacemos un bien dueto.” Calle 13 -K

Magic Medicine

Hello my cyberbuddies. Summer is upon us and now that the oil leak is finally capped (for now at least), I think the world needs some well deserved and long overdue celebration music. I know what your thinking, since I am huge dance fan, but DJ and dance are a little overdone this year. Don’t you think? I’m thinking of a genre that never disappoints and always brings a smile to my face. Why, I’m thinking of Ska of course. For those of you unfamiliar to this genre, let me give you a quick history lesson. The first wave of Ska began in Jamaica with bands such as  The Skatalites and became a big hit in Brittain in the 1950s and 60s mixing Calypso, mento, jazz and R&B in an upbeat way. The second wave was 2-Tone in the 1970s and came out of Brittain with a punkier edge from bands such as The Specials. The Third Wave, my favorite of all, began forming in the U.S. in the 1980s after being inspired by those Brittish 2-Toners and hit us in a big way in the 90s. You remember Sublime and No Doubt, but what about Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Save Ferris, or Less Thank Jake? Ah, the good ‘ol days. I have been patiently awaiting the return of Ska, but this music junkie thinks it’s about time for the fourth wave. It might be just the ticket to fix the funk we’ve been in. It might just inspire the Democrats and the Republicans to get along and get some stuff done. What do you think?

And now a totally Ska Band of the Week…The Aquabats!

I love these guys, but I gotta be honest with you: you will probably not catch them live and if you do, you are a luckier person then me. However, The Aquabats albums are the best tunes you can carry in your car. They are guaranteed to fix any bad mood you’re in. They are Third Wave Ska all the way. They are also super awesome superheros who fight monsters and general bad things. The first song I heard from them was “Skateboard” from The Fury of The Aquabats, which features Travis Barker on drums, and it was love at first listen. However, their song “Super Rad” from the same album was the inspiration for this blog’s title. Their album Charge! replaced horns with synths, but I still love it all the same. Check out “Fashion Zombies” and look for The Aquabats in your city or on your TV as the creators of Yo Gabba Gabba or on their very own Supershow!

Until next time, “Tell your mom, tell you dad, we were super rad.” The Aquabats -K

Smells Like Valley Fudge…

I know that you probably can’t think of anything but Twilight right now, so try to stay focus for a couple minutes. I just recently found out that the former frontman and drummer from the Central-Cal band Grandaddy has teamed up with the vocalists from another Central-Cal band Earlimart for a new project called Admiral Radley. In true Grandaddy and Earlimart fashion, Admiral Radley tunes are softly melodic with electro-undertones. So, get out your trucker hats, crack open an icy-cold can of Hamms or PBR and start growing your beards. You can pick up their debut album Song for the Golden State on July 13. There are a couple of reviews on-line, but ”Admiral Radley: The Other California” from LA Weekly has managed to capture the essence of the band as well as that wonderfully terrible place I hail from known as the Central Valley. If you’re from there, you know what I’m talking about. Ah, tweekers on bikes and furniture dumped in orchards; the good ‘ol days. And since this intel is so fresh, the band has neither a Wiki page nor any formal music videos. But luckily NPR loves these guys as much as I do and posted some acoustic videos from South by Southwest, sans the drummer. Check out “Ghosts of Syllables,” “Left U Cuz I Luft U” and “The Thread. I am digging “I Heart California.” I also recommend reading the band’s “Story” page on their Web site, which reads a little like Generation X, as well as checking out their home videos and “Sightings.” Catch Jason, Aaron, Arianna, and Aaron on tour this summer at your favorite local dives such as the Doug Fir in Portland, Ore, a perfect venue to see Admiral Radley. Who knows, you may get real lucky and they will do some Grandaddy or Earlimart covers. Speaking of, if you’re reading this Mr. Aaron Espinoza, can you give me just a little “Bloody Nose” this time around. I was hoping for it that last time you guys came through Eugene and, well, you know how that went. Schade fuer mich. And to the rest of you in Cyberland, please do go see them because I don’t want to hear anymore of that “Oh, I’m so sad that I never got to see Grandaddy live” bullshit I read so much of on the message boards. I admit being from the Modesto area, I’ve got to see Grandaddy, Jason and Earlimart at a few really cool shows; however, I’ve managed to see Earlimart a couple of times In Oregon. It’s all about effort, people. Thus, if you’re that sad about missing Grandaddy, go see Jason and Aaron with their new band. Make a little effort for the small bands and they will hopefully be around for a while. You are now free to go see Twilight.

Until next time, “I’m going home someday.” Grandaddy -K

Sasquatch 2010

Sasquatch wrap-up by guest blogger NatH:

I arrived at The Gorge Amphitheater with two girlfriends in an overstuffed Honda Fit at around 10:00 pm the Friday before Sasquatch 2010. Correction, I arrived at the end of the line to enter The Gorge campground at around 10:00 pm. I arrived at my actual campground at around 12:30 am. For two-and-a-half hours, we waited in what might have been the longest string of cars I’ve ever seen on what is ordinarily a deserted, two-lane country road. A string of brake lights snaked in front of us as far as I could see and headlights trailed in our wake as far as I could see. But the wait was far from boring. A seemingly endless stream of hipster kids in skinny jeans and oversized sweaters spilled out of the back of the van in front of us to puke, pee or both on the side of the road. And Pabst Blue Ribbon cans were littered about from passengers getting out of their cars to drink a beer and walk beside their inching vehicles. This was where the party truly started. In spite of the huge influx of campers, the entry process was remarkably smooth and we snagged a prime camping spot.

Saturday: Saturday morning we were excited and maybe a little overly ambitious. We took the trek along the dusty path to the concert venue at around 11:30 am, determined to stick it out inside the venue all day because once you’re in, they don’t let you out unless you don’t plan on coming back. We saw Laura Marling first at the medium-sized stage (or the “Bigfoot” stage). She was in great voice, and her powerful-yet-folksy sound belied her soft-spoken speaking voice and slight frame. We left Laura and found our way to the massive, ampitheater-style lawn of the main stage to catch the middle of Brother Ali, who I had never heard of, but I was surprisingly impressed by him nonetheless. His fun, empowering lyrics and good crowd interaction kept and held my attention throughout the set, a feat not easily managed by someone I’ve never even heard of. If you’ve never heard Brother Ali, look him up, he’ll put you in a good mood. The people in the pit far below us loungers on the lawn seemed to agree; their tiny, pink, worm-like arms waved back and forth enthusiastically. Minus the Bear were next on the main stage, but the mix seemed to be a little off to my ear. Jake Snider’s voice seemed to be drowned out by the instrumentals, but from what I could hear it sounded like they were solid, if too quiet. They also didn’t garner as much energy from the crowd as Brother Ali before them. We meandered back to the Bigfoot stage to see Portugal. The Man and the lawn in front of Bigfoot was packed. There were some epic guitar solos and a failed attempt at crowd surfing by one brave (stupid?) soul. Overall, an  energetic show, solid show. Back at the main stage, OKGO did their thing (though, sadly it did not involve the choreography from A Million Ways. I was sad too, kEspo). While I have a soft-spot for the band stemming from my high school discovery of their off-the-wall music videos, Damien Kulash’s voice did sound a little strained at times. But they had a high energy set complete with bubble machines and impressive a capella harmonies. The National were next, right before sunset, and they were amazing. Definitely one of my favorite performances of the event. Matt Berninger’s distinctive baritone hits you right in the chest. The setting sun came out from behind a cloud (I swear) and lit up the Gorge during the end of the set to create a truly epic experience. The National was going to be hard to top, but if any group would be up to the challenge, it would be Vampire Weekend. They were extremely high energy and had everyone on the lawn up on their feet. Great crowd interaction and good, clear sound ended our night on a high note.

Sunday: Sunday morning we struck out a little bit later than Saturday, heat stroke and fatigue from the previous day spent baking on the hill deterred us from returning to the Venue of No Return until we absolutely had to. They Might Be Giants finally drew us in. Though, I think they might have been better experienced in a smaller venue, their humorous songs and off-beat puppet show were definitely entertaining. Their crowd banter was dry-witted and didn’t seem stale or rehearsed, saying things like, “We’re not used to playing in daylight hours, so it’s interesting to see everyone’s clothing choices.” I was conflicted for the next set. The XX were playing on the Bigfoot, but Tegan and Sara were on the main stage. Decisions. Ultimately I opted for Tegan and Sara, hoping that I might get to see The XX in a smaller venue in the near future. Tegan and Sara were really strong, so I’m glad I stayed. They had clear, powerful vocals and effortless harmonies. It was just the two of them on stage playing and singing, but they still managed to be incredibly engaging. They had charming, genuine banter and a truly dynamic performance based solely on their talent. Sadly, the rest of Sunday is a bit of a blur. A pretty intense case of heat stroke and dehydration (remember to stay hydrated, kids!), combined with standing on my feet all day, made me intimately acquainted with the practice of outdoor vomiting. I got really good at finding out-of-the-way corners and places to sit down. My only consolation as I left the venue that night was that I was definitely not the only one getting acquainted with this practice.

 

Monday: After a rocky Sunday, we decided we didn’t have to absolutely, positively enter the ‘Venue of No Return’  until Passion Pit took the main stage at 4:30, and they were amazing. Michael Angelakos’ vocals are ridiculous and flawless and any number of other superfluous adjectives you can think of. Right up there with Vampire Weekend and The National for one of my favorite performances of the festival. At one point a giant inflatable Orca whale was being tossed around in the pit and Michael said good-naturedly, “I need that fucking whale up here right now,” and the whale immediately reversed directions toward the stage. Holding it up facing the audience he said, “Sing for the whale,” and somehow managed to get the hundreds of people in the pit to mumble/sing incoherent syllables for an inflatable whale. Brilliant. Following Passion Pit (not an enviable position) were She & Him. Another act that would be better in a more intimate setting, but Zooey Deschanel’s vocals were strong and she was gorgeous. Maybe it had something to do with the crash in energy after the high of Passion Pit, but She & Him were definitely lacking a little something. Band of Horses were next on the main stage, and they were another set of epic proportions. Great audience interaction and impeccable vocals and instrumentals. At one point, Ben Bridwell jumped off stage and onto the crowd barrier, leaning over countless disembodied hands stroking his face and beard and grabbing at his clothes. They established a real connection with the audience and seemed genuinely humbled by the experience of playing in such a spectacular setting. Great set. We were in the heart of the pit for MGMT and it was definitely a pit experience, which made it a little hard to focus on the music, but for those into it, it was definitely a good mosh. MGMT didn’t quite build the same report with the audience as Band of Horses, and relied a little too heavily on lights and stage props, but overall, I had a good, if sweaty, experience during their set.

 Another solid year at Sasquatch under the belt. My favorites were definitely The National, Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit, and Band of Horses. If I had to narrow it down to one, absolute favorite (Lord it’s like picking a favorite child), I’d have to go with Passion Pit for Michael Angelakos’ ridiculous vocal skill and superior crowd banter. 

 Thanks NatH. An now a new Band of the Week…Passion Pit!

I caught this young, electronic band from Massachusetts at Coachella and I was just as impressed as NatH was at Sasquatch. Their music has a great upbeat feel and should be a perfect soundtrack for this summer. My favorite track is “Little Secrets,” but you should also check out “The Reeling” and “To Kingdome Come.” They are currently touring the U.S. this summer and, after a tour to Japan and Australia, they will be back in September opening for the best band in the world, Muse. So get your tix now kids, this one is sure to sell out.

Until next time, “Let this be our little secret.” Passion Pit -K

 

 

Messin’ with Sasquatch Part Two

It seems all my little cyberbuddies are very interested in the Sasquatch Festival and the Gorge Amphitheater. So, let me give you the scoop on this festival. The venue is breathtaking, but be prepared for any kid of weather. The first year I attended Sasquatch, it was rainy and around mid-60s. The second time, it was so sunny and hot that I got a sunburn. So, check the weather. There is plenty of food in the venue and a small general store in the campgrounds, but I recommend bringing as much of your own food as possible so you can spend your dollars on merch. Last year, I got a glow-in-the-dark shirt. And as always, three-day music festivals require your most comfortable pair of shoes. That means sneakers. Now, the fun part; here are the bands you should check out at Sasquatch this year.

Saturday: You should definitely check out OKGO if only for the slim chance they will perform their choreography for a “Million Ways.” I saw them do it once at BFD and it was awesome. You can’t miss electropop Swedes Miike Snow. I saw them at Coachella and I was impressed with their live show that included lasers, masks and two DJs. I saw Deadmau5 for the first time at Sasquatch last year, but he has really stepped up his game this year. His set at Coachella in the Sahara tent was epic, so bring your dancing shoes.

Sunday: I caught Tegan & Sara at Sasquatch and they are a must see. I have been hearing a lot of hype about The XX. They are playing every major music festival this year and are expected to blow up. You must check out Public Enemy. Flavor Flav! I also caught a little bit of Pavement at Coachella and they still rock. All you dancers should catch Simian Mobile Disco‘s DJ Set. End the night with Massive Attack’s mellow beats.

Monday: Again, dancers must check out Passion Pit. You will love the adorable Zoey Deschanel in She & Him. I’ve heard bad things about MGMT, but I caught them at Coachella and they sounded great. End your Sasquatch experience with the cult phenom know as Ween.

Don’t forget to check back next week for NatH’s coverage of Sasquatch 2010.

And now a new Band of the Week you should take along on your drive to Sasquatch…Fever Ray!

I just recently discovered this unusual vocalist and you’ll either love or hate her style of world music. Karin Andersson is one half of the Swedish, electronic duo The Knife. She released her first solo album under the name Fever Ray last year. This project combines Andersson’s shrill voice with electro-tribalistic beats and witchy undertones in the music and visuals. My favorite track is “Triangle Walks,” but you should also check out “Seven” and “When I grow Up.” I missed her at Coachella due to time conflicts, but I hear she is amazing live, especially from a very excited Spanish woman who was waiting for her to come on. She is touring Europe right now, but keep an eye out for her next U.S. tour.

Until next time, “You’re a million ways to be cruel.” OKGO -K

Stuck on Repeat

Have you been feeling the urge to dance lately? Well, you’re not the only one. I forecasted months ago that we would see a trend toward this genre knowing that everyone from Pink to Gossip were releasing electro-dance pop tracks, but I never thought dance would make quite the comeback I’m seeing these days. Dance has always been a part of the scenery at Coachella Festival; however, this year it seemed as if dance was spilling out of the Sahara tent and onto the rest of the stages. And the fact that the Sasquatch Festival is proceeding with the second year of their dance tent should speak volumes. Also, dance festivals such as the Electric Daisy Carnival are popping up around the globe as if it were 1997 all over again. The UK is practically over flowing with electropop acts such as La Roux, Ladyhawke, Hot Chip, Ladytron and Alphabeat. So, expect to see more rave kids roaming the streets with their light up pacifiers and gloves. Of course, this revival will never be like the 90s where people spent most of the night on a scavenger hunt for to uncover the secret location of an underground rave and people only had glow sticks to dance with, but I suppose a revival is better than no revival at all. Concert-goers seem to be their cheeriest at dance events, unlike rock shows where people leave with a bloodied appendage or two. Maybe the world needs a dance revival right now to ebb the flow of bad economies and natural disasters. Just enjoy it while it lasts because nothing lasts forever.

And now a dance Band of the Week…Little Boots!

I’ve been listening to Little Boots for months now and I can’t wait until these tracks hit the karaoke bars. It’s the kind of music you’ll want to listen to when you’re getting ready to go out, something that puts you in a good mood that you can sing and dance too. I recommend anything off her album especially my favorite Boots track “Remedy.” And you will definitely want to see her live too. We were practically drawn into the dance tent she was playing at Coachella by her bass and massive lasers. She has cool toys too; check out her laser harp on “Earthquake” and an instrument I’ve never seen before called a Tanori-on on her track “Stuck On Repeat.”  She has not U.S. date right now, but keep checking because she’s already added new UK dates.

Until next time, “Dancing is my remedy.” Little Boots -K

Sactown

Hello my cyberbuddies. I know it’s been a bit since we’ve talked, but not even the Coachella flu can keep me from you. I’m back with new music. Ever since I found out that the Deftones were releasing a new album, I have been keeping you in the know. So here’s your final update: Diamond Eyes drops this Tuesday in the U.S. I was lucky enough to get an ‘advance’ copy and it is one of Deftones’ best albums ever. And even though I already have it, I will be at the record store on Tuesday getting my copy. Don’t forget to pick up yours and show those record companies which bands you want more of.

And now a New Band of the Week…Far!

If you’re a Deftones fan or from NorCal, then you’ve probably heard of this Sacramento band. I first heard of Far long after they disbanded when  I visited KWOD, an alternative radio station in Sacramento. This band is fast friends with Deftones and appeared on stage with them at the “Benefit for Chi Cheng” last November. They are dropping a new album on May 25 called At Night We Live. Check out tracks “Deafening”  and “At Night We Live.” If you live in Cali, you may have heard their cover of “Pony” on the radio. They are also on a small West Coast tour this month that you shouldn’t miss.

Until next time, “Cali is where they put they mack down.” Tupac -K

Coachella 2010

So, yeah, Coachella never fails to pull off great shows. If you don’t know what Coachella is, it is a three-day music and arts festival in the Southern California desert outside of Palm Springs. It’s usually hot, includes a long walk to the entrance, and late nights inside the dance tent, but most everyone who’s been to the festival agrees that it’s all worth it.

There was much buzz this year over the change to three-day passes instead of single day tickets. For all of you out there who were whining about this, you shouldn’t be going if you only want to go to for one day. Most people would love to go to all three days. I missed the Friday portion of the festival in 2007 and I still regret it. But I made up for it this year. All three days were awesome and I’m still recovering.

Friday: We began our day later than planned due to traffic, parking confusion and wrist banding back-ups. I was so sad that we missed DJ Lance from Yo Gabba Gabba. Our Friday began with a stop at the Main Stage to hear some of The Specials, which is still one of the greatest ska bands playing. It appears Plex from Yo Gabba Gabba it a big fan too. Then, we headed over to the Mojave tent to catch Grizzly Bear. Their sound is outstanding. After Grizzly Bear, we moved next door to the Gobi tent for newbie La Roux. This was one of the most packed audiences, with mostly females, but La Roux won the award for my New Favorite Band. We went back to the Main Stage for Them Crooked Vultures, which did not disappoint anyone with their live show. We ended the night in the Sahara tent with Deadmau5. I know that you’re all thinking “how could you skip Jay-Z?” Well, it was really simple. As soon as Deadmau5 came on I was in dance mode. His show blew me away. He definitely wins the Best Dance Set  Award. His set, stage visuals was on a completely different level than his show at the Sasquatch Festival last year. It was so awesome that it’s difficult to describe.

Saturday: We began our Saturday with Gossip. I have been trying to see this band for a few years now and I was very amped to see them at Coachella. Beth Ditto’s voice was amazing and had the whole tent dancing. Even Director John Waters was in the audience. They win the Best Performance Award. We headed over to the Main Stage for Coheed and Cambria. I’ve seen these guys a few times on the Warp Tour and they always jam. This time was no different and at the end of ”Welcome Home” they brought out the USC marching band to help them with the song, which wins them the Best Surprise Award. This Duck doesn’t really care for Trojans, but I admit it was pretty cool. Next up was Faith No More. I’ve seen Mike Patton with Tomahawk and he is my favorite male singer due in large part to his on stage antics. They treated us to covers of “Reunited” and “Ben” before Patton crowd surfed with the mic in his mouth. We checked out MGMT on the Outdoor Stage, but it was completely packed with people. We caught a few songs, but headed back to the Main Stage for Muse. This was my fourth time seeing Muse live. These guys always rock, but I was especially impressed with their cover of the Deftones’ song “Headup.” We stayed at the Main Stage for DJ Tiësto, who always aims to please. I left for just a short time to catch Devo playing “Whip It” before returning to end my night dancing to Tiësto.

Sunday: Knowing that we would have no break in between bands, we opted for a late start to the festival. We started off the music with Julian Casablancas in the Gobi tent. A sober Casablancas played his hits from his solo release as well as Strokes’ tune “Hard to Explain.” Miike Snow immediately followed Casablancas. I was impressed with their show that included masks, unique lights, and two DJs. They were more dance oriented than on the album, which is always appreciated by Coachella goers. We made our way through the crowd to catch the end of Phoenix’s set. For the third day, concert goers we in great moods and dancing at the Outdoor Stage. We left to catch some of Pavement before heading over to Little Boots in the Gobi Tent. It’s like her lasers we drawing us in. It was a party in there and I am so glad I caught some of her set. We headed back to the Outdoor Stage to catch Thom Yorke accompanied by Flea on bass. It made me want to see Radiohead even more. Thom Yorke is definitely on another level. The last dance act of the festival we saw was Plastikman. His music is more experimental than most, but he brought some awesome visuals with him including a wrap-around LCD curtain. Someone in my crew saw Transporter Jason Statham hanging out in the audience there. Finally, the last band of the entire festival was Gorillaz. They played many songs off their new release Plastic Beach, but they treated us to “Feel Good Inc,” which had 75,000 people moving.

I hope that everyone who was there had a great time. I know we did. As soon as it was over, all we could think about was next year. So, here’s to another great one Coachella. Cheers!

And now a new Band of the Week…La Roux!

If you’re looking for a trip back to the early 1990s, La Roux is your girl. Sure, she looks like Conan O’Brien, but she will have you dancing before you know it. I highly recommend her self titled album to anyone who loves synths, but my faves are “Bulletproof,” “In for the Kill” and “I’m Not Your Toy.” Check her out live in the U.S. on her Golden Tour and the Lilith Tour. I caught the last bit of her set at Coachella and I was left wanting more.

Until next time, get some sleep. -K

Want more from Coachella? Check out Super Rad Music TV.

Born to work together…

I’ve been feeling that there has been a void in the music and film realm for quite some time now. You see, the most interesting director and the most interesting musician have yet to work with one another. I’m talking about David Lynch and Mike Patton. I’m not sure why this pair have never worked together, especially since Patton has said in the past that he would like to work with Lynch. So, today I am officially recommending Mike Patton to provide the music for David Lynch’s next film.

Dear Mr. Lynch,

Your films are a wonderful addition to the cultural landscape of Americana, but your next project could use a little something extra. That is precisely why I am recommending Mike Patton to create the music for your next cinematic project. Patton has proven time again that he is capable of implementing his musical visions and created platforms for these visions. He set out to make his version of radio friendly pop music and gave us Peeping Tom. There is also his group Mr. Bungle, who’s album Disco Volante exhibits Lynchian elements such as 1950s pop and Italian avant-garde. But his most interesting project may his be avant-garde band Fantomas. Let’s not forget his recent work in Italy, collaborating with an orchestra and singing completely in Italian. You may have heard about the feud between Patton and Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis, but Patton really does work well with most people. He worked with Bjork on her album Medulla and he worked with an entire orchestra in Italy in addition to the several bands he’s been apart of. He even worked with Norah Jones on the Peeping Tom album. He also has experience with other media such as gaming and films. He provided voice work for the I Am Legend zombies and the games Left 4 Dead and Grand Theft Auto. He is also a fan of films. He recreated famous film themes, including Twin Peaks, with Fantomas on the Director’s Cut album. Mr. Patton is an obvious candidate for your next project. If you have nothing in mind, allow me to pitch a film adaptation of the novel Generation X. Your eye and Mr. Patton’s music could achieve what no one else has been able to do.

Sincerely- K

And now a new band of the week…The Pipettes!

I have had this bands last album on constant replay since it came out and I am elated to announce they have new music. This band has been blasted for attempting to recreate 1960s girl groups a la Phil Spector. But one listen and you will see that they are a breath of fresh air in a truly manufactured pop landscape. From their first album, you must hear “Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me” and “Pull Shapes.” Although there have been some lineup changes, frontwoman Gwenno is still in the group and that’s enough for me. Check out their new track “Stop the Music.” They are on a European tour now and if we keep our fingers crossed maybe they visit us here in the States. But if you need some more Pipettes in the meantime, check out these videos and learn their girl group style dance routines.

Until next time, “We’re not alone in this psychodrome.” Peeping Tom -K