I love this time of year: the cold weather, the lights, the treats. Everyone is just a little nicer around the holidays, but there is one thing I do hate about this time of year: Christmas carols. I think it’s all the years of working in retail and being forced to be nice to shoppers while I listen to “Jingle Bell Rock” for the tenth time of the day. It’s especially annoying when yet another mainstream pop star decides to grace us with a Christmas album chocked full of those Christmas standards. And don’t even get me started on carolers… There are some Christmas songs that I do love. Of course, they aren’t even close to those tired, old standards. One of my favorites is “Oi to the World” by The Vandals. No Doubt covered it, but one cover doesn’t make it a standard and it’s an awesome song. If you’re looking for something fun to play during your Christmas party, you must check out John Waters Christmas. This album is a collection of the kooky director’s favorite Christmas songs. Although I love these holiday tunes, my favorite Christmas song of all time is the “Christmas Song” by The Ravonettes. I hope it becomes your favorite too.

And now the Band of the Week is…The Ravonettes!

I love the “Christmas Song” so much that I started listening to this Danish duo. They just released a new album In and Out of Control and I am digging ”Last Dance.” You must also check out “That Great Love Sound” from their first album. If you want more Christmas music, this is your band. They released the Christmas EP Wishing You a Rave Christmas last year, which includes a cover of “Baby Please Come Home.” They are touring Europe right now, but keep an eye out for them in your town. These Danes call NY and LA their homes and their sure to tour the states soon.

Until next time, happy holidays! -K

There have been many movements in the music world this past week: John Frusciante decided to leave the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a second time, Metallica and Slayer announced they will tour together and record labels finally got smart switching profit focus to tours and merchandise. But the coolest thing that happened this last week was finding Tiesto’s new album in my little brother’s cd player. I know in my last blog I blasted Millenials for their lack of music history, so finding this cd restored a little hope for this generation. Tiesto is a Dutch DJ that has been in the trance scene since it first emerged in the 90s. Although he has yet to capture the mainstream ears of Americans, this guy is huge everywhere else. This definitely says something about Americans. Tiesto is able to entertain tens of thousands of people at his shows. He keeps them happy and dancing for hours with no moshing and no fighting. If you have ever been in a dance tent, magnify that by a billion and you have Tiesto. You have no choice but to dance and be happy about it. I think he actually brings peace through his music. He’s also a philanthropist performing at various concerts to raise money for the Tsunamis in Asia or being ambassador for Dance4Life, a foundation that raises HIV/AIDS awareness. Doesn’t it make you wish he was big here?

And, of course, the Band of the Week is…Tiesto!

This guys has so much music out there from studio albums to live recordings to his famous weekly radio show. It’s difficult to hate any of his music, but there are definite stand outs. Turn up the bass and check out “Elements of Life” from 2007. He recently released his fourth studio album Kaleidoscope. You have to check out “Who Wants to Be Alone” with Nelly Furtado, “Feel It In My Bones” with Tegan and Sara, and ”Escape Me.” He’s on tour right now, but he only has one US date: New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. Enjoy!

Until next time, “don’t take me home,” -K

I was talking with a few friends at school, who are all card carrying members of Generation Y. I was talking about the 1992 riots in Los Angeles and made reference to Sublime’s song “April 26, 1992.” They all looked at me in bewilderment because they have never heard of Sublime. I was saddened and shocked at this new discovery. So shocked that I didn’t dare to mention Nirvana after that. But I wondered: how can it be that a band whose music ment so much to my generation and grew to the greatness of The Beatles or the Rolling Stones be snuffed out with the incoming of a new generation? My friends, we’ve failed the kids. Their world consists of  The Hills and Twilight. I know I give them a hard time about Miley, but I’m beginning to think they just don’t know. My friends also admitted that they don’t know the MTV we speak of, the MTV that showed nothing but music videos interrupted by live, drunken interviews with musicians. Ah, the good ol days. So in the spirit of the holidays, I am sharing some of my favorite videos from the days when mainstream music was good. And yes, they did air on MTV, sometimes hourly. Imagine that: turning on the tv and wallah, videos! Enjoy!

Sublime, Radiohead, Foo Fighters,  PJ Harvey, Bjork, Weezer,

Notorius BIG,  Beastie Boys 

And check out the Sublime Tribute Concert on Comcast On Demand (I don’t want to give ‘em a plug, but the concert is awesome).

And a new Band of the Week…Them Crooked Vultures!

This is a super group that includes Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, John Paul Jones from Led Zepplin, and, this other guy, Dave Grohl. This band just released a self titled, full length studio album. If you love some good rock, check out this album. These veterans definitely show off. I recommend the tracks “New Fang” and  ”Elephants.” This super group proves that good music never goes out of style. And if it wasn’t enough for them to grace us with an album, the trio is currently touring. I don’t see any US dates right now, but I’m sure these guys will show us some love.

Until next time, “how’d ya like to have a little fun,” Sublime -K

It’s that time of year again when people forgo their usual sarcasms and recognize the good things in life. I know there is a lot to be sarcastic about these days and, if you watch entertainment news or The Soup, you know what I’m talking about. But there are many things to be thankful for such as good music. So, here are ten things that I’m thankful for (all music related of course): 

10. Drum Off 09: I’m thankful that there are corporations such as Guitar Center that still the value quality music, hosting events like this featuring the best drummers like Danny Carey from Tool and Brian Dailor from Mastodon.

9. Webcasts: I’m thankful for webcasts that bring festivals like Coachella and KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas to my computer every year when I can’t be there in person.

8. The Beastie Boys, Vandals, and The Aquabats: I’m thankful that there are really talented musicians who resist the urge to take themselves seriously.

7. Natasha Khan from Bat for Lashes: I’m thankful this rising star thinks the Karate Kid and Stevie Nicks are important cultural icons.

6. Insanely unique musicians: I’m thankful for musicians such as Maynard James Keenan, Tori Amos, Bjork and Mike Patton, who all take music to places no one ever imagined or expected.

5. NIN farewell tour: I’m thankful that I finally got to see NIN live before Trent Reznor retired it.

4. Deftones’ resilliance: I’m thankful that Chi Cheng is still holding on and maybe someday we’ll get to see him play again.

3. The Cure still rocks: I’m thankful this band is still touring and making great music. Without The Cure, Deftones and Muse would never sound the way they do.

2. Rage Against the Machine reunion: I’m thankful that I got to see this band reunite at Coachella in 2007 with 80,000 other RATM fans.

1. Bad Religion continues to comment on American society: I’m thankful Greg Graffin is saying all the things that need to be said and is also a UCLA professor, who is actually doing his part to help mold American youth into critically thinking members of society. 

And now a Band of the Week I am very thankful for…Placebo!

I’ve been listening to this band for a while now and I am surprised that they are not as big in the states as they are everywhere else. Since the first time that I heard their cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” I was hooked. I enthusiastically suggest anything from their 2006 album Meds, but you must hear “Lazarus” and “Drag.” They recently released a new album Battle for the Sun and I am loving “The Never-Ending Why.” I saw them live at Coachella and I highly recommend catching them live. However, this band will be on a World tour until March. Hopefully, these Brits will visit the states soon.

Until next time, protege moi. -K

If a genie magically granted me three wishes, one of them would be to erase any knowledge in my brain of Miley Cyrus. I know way too much about this teeny popper than I should. The sad part is that I purposely avoid her, but, much like those stalker Jo Bros, she’s everywhere, spouting absurdities to anyone who will listen. This week, she invaded my realm again inciting a media frenzy when she told Q92 that she hated all things Twilight. So, why does this teeny popper hate the single thing that girls her age around the globe are drooling over 24 hours a day? Well, she claims that she doesn’t believe in it, leading people to think that Cyrus isn’t a fan of mythological creatures, but that can’t be true. She signed on to play a teen fairy in an upcoming film. I suspect there are other reasons behind her weekly outburst. Hmmm, could it be that her arch nemesis Thom Yorke, whom she threatened to destroy because he didn’t want to do a meet and greet with her, is on the New Moon soundtrack? Or could it be that New Moon is all any one can talk about this week and the trailer for Cyrus’s new movie Last Song has been virtually ignored? Who knows the real answer. Remember, this a girl who gave an interview in a locker room dressed like Pocahontas and said she doesn’t like pop music. And there was also that time she posted that picture of her and her little friends making slant eyes and being all derogatory towards Asians. And that other time she said she hated Twitter, which she uses all the time. Seeing a pattern? As Paris Hilton breathes a sigh of relief, Cyrus is turning into the media’s favorite new joke. There is too much going on behind the music for her to be taken seriously. Why can’t the music industry push the serious artists into the mainstream and leave the teeny poppers in the land of indie obscurity? It’s because intelligence is not so easily manipulated nor exploited, duh.

And now a Band of the Week I wish was mainstream…Miike Snow!

I just discovered this super-sweet, Swedish trio. Just one listen and I was hooked. Their sound is very nostalgic yet fresh and new. I love the fusion of 60s reverb, poppy beats, and funk. They released their self titled album earlier this year. You must check out the disco worthy “Animal” and the poppy track “Song for No One.” If you’re looking for something a little slower, check out “Faker.” This band is gaining a following in Europe and we are so lucky they will be touring the states in the spring. Don’t miss them on their small club tour. It’s sure to sell out. And you don’t want to miss their fabulous mustaches in person.

Until next time, “Is that all you really have to offer?” Bad Religion - K

I’m not going to even talk about that ex-beauty queen that can’t make it through an interview. On to other blondes with better communication skills, this was definitely the week of Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga made an appearance too. Swift certainly stole the show on Saturday Night Live and the coveted Entertainer of the Year Award at the Country Music Awards this week. I admit that this non-country music fan has a soft spot for Swift. How can you not? Every since the first time I heard about her two years ago, this teenager has managed to remain just that, a teen. She is never over sexualized or stumbling out of clubs at two in the morning. She is more of normal teen than most normal teens. I know she has a lot of time left to screw it all up, but so far she has been able to avoid the pop-princess fate that has claimed the careers of Britney, Lindsay, and now Miley. I like Taylor because she is being herself. And I like Lady Gaga for the same reason. Her new video “Bad Romance,“ the first single off her new album Fame Monster, debut on MySpace on Monday. The song and video pick up where Paparazzi and the MTV VMA performance left off. I know people think she is just too weird and have gotten lost in that sex-change rumor, but here’s the deal: Lady Gaga is an artist and art usually has a message behind it. Gaga is projecting some major messages about fame and celebrity in America. We should really be listening. Her latest video may seem like a kinky homage to co-dependant relationships, but it’s a warning that we have blurred the lines of fame and it’s destroying us. I concur. For the good of society, we could all do with a little less Speidi. Don’t you think?

And now a Band of the Week who is also just being herself…Amanda Blank!

Amanda Blank is a rapper and singer from Philadelphia. I just discovered her recently and I am loving her tracks. You must check out the explicit “Lemme Get Some.” Also, check out her version of “Might Like You Better.”  If you’re looking for something a little less explicit, check out Santogold’s version of LL Cool J’s “I Need Love” featuring Blank called “I’m a Lady.” She also has a couple tracks worth a listen with Spank Rock, MIA, and Lykke Li. Her album I Love You is out now, but, on November 13, Blank goes on tour with the original nasty girl Peaches.

Until next time, “loving you is cherry pie,” L. Gaga – K

If you’ve been to Google’s homepage this week, you know that Tuesday, November 10, is Sesame Street’s fortieth birthday. For forty years, Sesame Street has inspired not only fans of learning, but fans of music. It’s certainly one of the things that made me a music fan. Talk to anyone and even the toughest of guys will stop to gush over this very special show. Why wouldn’t they? This show has had a million memorable moments including a slew of musical acts that helped teach new generations how to count, spell, have good manners, and be safe. Although we love Big Bird, Ernie, and the Cookie Monster, aren’t they even more fun when they have Feist or Norah Jonessinging next to them? But look back even further back in Sesame Street’s collection of performances and you’ll find Stevie Wonder, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, and the amazing Cab Calloway. Who was your favorite? I loved the music performances so much that the only reason I stopped watching the show was because of the stress. How could people not see a huge, furry mammoth? If I had only kept watching another couple years when everyone finally saw Snuffy. But that’s not the point. The point is this show is wholesomely rooted in music. It’s a testament to the fact that you don’t need intense marketing campaigns or extreme commercialization to be successful. All it takes is a public broadcasting channel, good writers, and a great mission. So, here’s to forty more. Happy Birthday Sesame Street! I think it’s safe to say everyone loves you.

And now a Band of the Week that could soon sing with Elmo or the Count…Anjulie!

I admit I didn’t love Anjulie until the second listen, but it doesn’t matter because I love her music now. You’ve probably heard her song “Boom” on Vampire Diaries or Eastwick. I can’t get this song out of my heard and the more I hear the more I love it. This song alone conveys this Canadian’s potential, but I also recommend “Love Songs.” Catch her on a small club tour opening for Raphael Saadiq beginning November 16.

Until next time, “C is for Cookie,” Cookie Monster- K

Fall is my favorite time of year for a few reasons: I love watching the leaves change colors, some of the best films make their debut in the fall, and there’s caramel apples everywhere. And, of course, there’s Halloween, the most fun and scary holiday of the year. In honor of this holiday, I have prepared a list of my favorite spooky music videos (sans any horror-core because that’s just  too obvious). Enjoy!

*These videos contain one or more of the following: disturbing visuals, nudity, sex, viruses, monsters, drug use, deformities, or killers. Do not watch if you are underage or scare easily. These videos are not for you.

10. Shame by Stabbing Westward

9. Wolf Like Me by TV on the Radio

8. Push It by Garbage

7. Heart Shaped Box by Nirvana

6. Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden

5. Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson

4. Rubber Johnny by Aphex Twin (short film)

3. Come to Daddy by Aphex Twin

2. White Pony by Deftones (short film)

1. Stinkfist by Tool

Honorable Mention: Happiness in Slavery by Nine Inch Nails for its grotesque take on authoritative fetishism. (You must log into YouTube to watch this video. No minors please.)

And now a New Band of the Week…AFI!

I have been listening to this talented band for a while now. I’ve seen them transform with every album from goth punk to glam rock and again with their latest release Crash Love, a simple, stripped down, rock album. The new album is the perfect cure for the dreary days of fall. I absolutely love the epic chorus on “Beautiful Thieves.”  You should also check out “Veronica Sawyer Smokes.” If you want some older AFI, I recommend “Summer Shudder,” “Celluloid Dream,” and  “Days of the Phoenix.” I’ve seen them live a couple times and they are so awesome. They are currently on tour. I’m sad to say there are no west coast dates posted yet, but I know these Nor-Cal guys will not skip over the West Coast. You can see them live on MTV Ulalume airing Friday, October 30.

 Until next time, “Double, double toil and trouble. Fire burn, and caldron bubble,” Shakespeare. -K

The stars have aligned, and I think pigs are about to sprout wings. What’s the event that causing all this commotion? The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack debuted at no. 2 on the charts behind….Michael Buble. This comes just weeks after tween royalty Paramore saw  their latest album debut behind Barbara Streisand. Is the music market changing? Can it really be true? I think it’s safe to say that since the demise of grunge music, teens and tweens have been dictating the music market with their allowances. This unfortunate circumstance gave us Britney and Miley. Thus, adults have been neglected by the music industry, which is obviously out there just to make a buck. But if adults are the big spenders now, does that mean adults are back in the driver seat? This shift could be a fluke, but it definitely opens up the possibility for an unknown future where sexed up teeny poppers are thing of the past, a bad dream. Why is this happening? Could it be that MTV really fucked up? The channel stopped focusing on the music eons ago and, now, presents their audiences with distorted garbage in the form of fabulously decadent lifestyles filled with expensive cars, mansions, and overpriced handbags. Have the children switched their priorities from Miley to Prada? That’s what happens when the merchandising becomes more important than the music. Whatever the reason, I accept this change with open arms. I want to see where this goes. It was just a few months ago that I thought the Jo Bros would never go away and, now, the charts have been taken over by Streisand and that guy who covers standards. I never thought it would be those two who would restore order to the musical universe. I thought it would be Tom Morello and Sleater-Kinney, but I guess Streisand and Buble are as good as anyone else. They’re about the music. Again, I don’t know where this is going, but it’s nice to imagine. Isn’t it?

Now, a new Band of the Week….Tegan and Sara!

These twins from Canada rock. They are adept at songwriting and melodies. They have a new album, Hell, coming out next week and I am digging “Hell” and “Alligator.” I highly recommend “Walking with a Ghost” and “Back in your Head.” I saw them at Sasquatch and I was really impressed with them live. Lucky for you, they are touring the US this winter. See if they’re coming to your town.

Until next time, “can’t you see what I see?,” B. Spears - K

Every morning when I go to a certain coffee house, I have to look at Scarlet Johansson’s face. Unfortunately, she’s not modeling. No, her pretty mug is on the cover of her new album Break-up with indie darling Pete Yorn. Don’t get me wrong. I love her acting chops, but it seems every time I turn around to get a cup of coffee a new actor or celebrity is making a go at music, saying they’ve been doing music all their life suddenly. To be honest, there are a select few that actually should be dabbling in music. There’s a reason why they’re actors or celebrities first and musicians second. Johansson’s attempt at Him & Her’s Zooey Deschanel style doesn’t compare to her acting. The album sounds good enough, but most of that goodness is coming from Yorn. You’d know what I’m talking about if you heard her solo album Anywhere I Lay My Head. I see the same problem with LANDy, fronted by actor Adam Goldberg, who’s music sounds very similar to band mate Aaron Espinoza’s other group Earlimart. It just seems like actors and celebs need too much help in the music department. So, isn’t that a sign they should stick to what they do best? Hint, hint: Lindsay Lohan, Heidi Montag, Paris Hilton. And what about Phantom Planet? Jason Schwartzman got me all hooked and then left the band. It’s dissapointing… But I don’t hate all celeb music. Even though he’s been tagged as a royal Hollywood douche, I like Jared Leto and his brother in 30 Seconds to Mars. I also really like Juliette and the Licks, fronted by Juliette Lewis, in addition to Keanu Reeve’s Dogstar and Ed Westwick’s Filthy Youth. I am also digging  the most awesome celeb-music find: Jada Pinket Smith fronting  metal band Wicked Wisdom. However, her band like Dogstar and the Licks were on a top ten of worst celeb bands. Sorry guy, but Montag and Lohan are much, much worse. I guess I’m just a picky celeb music consumer. They’re my ears aren’t they?

And now a celebrity Band of the Week that’s a musician first…Julian Casablancas!

I’ve never met a person who hates The Strokes. How can you, with their cool melodies. It seems their commitment to music kept their rich kid background from making too much of an impact. Casablancas is the son of famous modeling agent John Casablanca. Casablanca’s solos project seems to be rooted in the same place at The Strokes melodies, with some added electronic assistance. I love the first single “11th Dimension” off his solo album Phrazes for the Young coming November 3. Look out for the singer in LA to do some live shows. He’s awesome live.

Until next time, don’t be “wilted and faded somewhere in Hollywood.” Courtney Love- K