Philip Mendoza

The Shins FaceBook | Event Photos | Buy PORT OF MORROW

We had the opportunity to snag tickets last week to the Shins performance at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles. We got there just in time to see Washed Out play Amor Fati, closing up his opening act. The Shins took the stage shortly after. I must admit I wasn’t sure what to expect, having never seen an indie band play at such a large venue before. The New Mexico five-piece delivered a stellar performance from beginning to end. They opened with Caring Is Creepy and closed with Sleeping Lessons, returning to the stage for a three-song encore. Their set was a healthy blend of new songs and old classics including Phantom Limb, Kissing the Lipless, Girl Sailor, The Rifle’s Spiral, Australia, Simple Song and It’s Only Life.

The Shins possess the kind of synergy and raw talent it takes to make for a great live performance. Their energy was contagious throughout the entire show; it was great to see an audience of that size so into the music. With the kind of skill they have as a band, it is not a surprise that they are such a commanding stage presence. The title track from their most recent release Port of Morrow was chill-inducing, with an ethereal vibe that filled the entire theater. Sleeping Lessons and New Slang were arguably the highlights of the show. It’s great to see a band of their caliber still going strong after so many years. Many of us can agree, The Shins were a gate-way drug into great music.

Australia
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/ze%20shinz/02%20Australia.mp3]
Bait and Switch
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/ze%20shinz/04%20Bait%20And%20Switch.mp3]
Phantom Limb
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/ze%20shinz/04%20Phantom%20Limb.mp3]
Turn On Me
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/ze%20shinz/07%20Turn%20On%20Me.mp3]

Electronic music’s baddest bitch just jumped on a track with XXXchange and techno legend Boys Noize. The synths with Peaches threatening vocals at the beginning set this song up for the high energy banger that it is. Peaches stays close to the godfathers of the game as she’s been involved in the scene for years. Her songs have just the right edginess to keep her street cred established. Burst! is just at another level..

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I’m not sure if the amount of soulful disco tracks is cutting down, or I’m just not looking hard enough. Whether or not they surface doesn’t mean they’re not there. Lucky for LA, the disco revival revolution is still hard at work. At the forefront of the crew, we have Bastille. With French house being a heavy influence on their tracks, they take it to another level. Each song packs a punch of funk and bass that tends to catapult your mind to the timeless sounds of the 60s and 70s. While there’s still much work to be done for disco, it’s only a matter of time ’til it makes a full on comeback to the scene. We sure as hell aren’t giving up on it, and artists like Bastille keep that faith alive.

Duck Sauce – Radio (Bastille Edit)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/Radio%20%28Bastille%20Edit%29.mp3]

A very respectable aspect of this duo is that they offer pretty much all of their music for free on their SoundCloud. Head on over. Listen. Sample. Download. Enjoy!

Hey friends! I just made it back to the states yesterday from my South American adventure. All I can say right now is that no matter who you are; what you believe in; or where you’re from, traveling is the best thing you can do with your life…and the next best thing is going to as many concerts as possible. Which brings me to my next point! We felt it was time to have another giveaway, and thanks to LiveNation, it’s about to go down. The Shins are playing at the Gibson Amphitheater in LA tomorrow, but it doesn’t end there: Washed Out is opening for them! This show is going to be a hoot and a half, and we want to help our friends get there. Check after the jump to find out how you can win:

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If influence from The Big Lebowski isn’t enough to show this kid’s got his head on right, then you’ve got some homework! Haha. From the musky depths of the tech house realm comes a protégé of Fake Blood himself. Now nestled comfortably in Blood Music Records, Bowski‘s sound seemingly picks up where Fake Blood left off. But he goes a little deeper. These tracks encompass the gloomy dancehall vibes of Fake Blood’s earlier work, and yet have a new kind of magical bounciness that I can see being a signature. All of his songs have something different to offer, but the overall theme is consistent. The sad part is, his EP finds itself cut short. Prepare to be cycling through these tracks, if you’re into this kind of stuff.

BUY THE EP! | SOUNDCLOUD

1. Poppies
2. White Russian
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/02%20White%20Russian.mp3]
3. Balloon Brain (Stream Only)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/03%20Balloon%20Brain.mp3]

BONUS BOWSKI
Cassius – I <3 U So (Bowski's 2AM Remix)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/I%20_3%20U%20So%20%28Bowski%27s%202AM%20Remix%29.mp3]

Muse, UK’s pride and glory, are preparing to release their sixth studio album at the beginning of October. Their first single off the album is reminiscent of the Black Holes and Revelations style that had me obsessed with their sound. Art rock seemingly produced from the depths of the galaxy. While they embrace the electronic influences of the UK, the guitar solos and orchestral rhythms they’ve established in the past are still prevalent. Matthew Bellamy’s voice is one I don’t see myself get tired of anytime soon. You can preorder The 2nd Law by clicking here. 13 new tracks from Muse? I say yes!

Madness (192)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/01%20Madness.mp3]

Here’s a video I got from their performance at OSL in 2011. Mind blowing…

#tiltshift

I’m just about done with the first leg of my Central and South American tour…Costa Rica is something of a utopia. Depending on how you look at it of course. It doesn’t have an army. Humans and animals coexist in this green world surrounded by an ocean on either side. You can’t walk ten feet without someone saying their national slogan: Pura Vida. A pure life. A good life. The happiness here is infectious. Not to mention how beautiful everything was. Damn. Off to Perú on Monday, so I’ll be back in touch next Sunday. Hopefully I can get a post off during the week. Big ups to the C+A+D team for holding it down while I’m gone. Enjoy #111:

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