You might know Alexander Ebert as the hippie-with-a-Jesus-beard frontman of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. After years on the music scene working various projects (Edward Sharpe being the most prominent), Ebert has gone solo, releasing his self-titled debut earlier this year. “Alexander” showcases the same sort of California hippie-on-acid vibes, composing his melodies out of whistles and ooohs and aaahhs and hand claps and yodels. His music has this organic, olive oil and whole grain sort of feel that relinquishes its general folk-rock eccentricity. Between the buckwheat melodies and lyrics about moonshine you feel lost somewhere in the 1970s amidst adolescent drug culture and Bob Dylan’s latest record. It just might make you want to kick your shoes off and grow your hair out but please, don’t disregard your hygiene.
The Kooks have released a video of a song off their soon-to-be-released third album “Junk of the Heart.” The song “Is It Me” is very classic Kooks, that same sound we fell in love with five years ago. If this video feels oddly familiar it just might be because it was directed by Warren Fu who’s done videos for The Strokes and Daft Punk.
The goose that is Fat Possum Records has laid yet another golden egg, or more accurately signed another golden egg. When I read that Brighton’s one-man show Gross Magic sported “the pop sensibility of ELO, the grunge riffs of early Nirvana, the care-free adolescence of Loser-era Beck and the lo-fi production of Ariel Pink” I called bullshit. There’s no way you can package so many good things together well without those sounds competing and violently erupting in a heinous chaotic mess of sound. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the description is actually quite accurate. (I might add Girls into the equation though.) Initially I was half expecting his debut EP Teen Jamz to be one of those things you turn on, give one ear to and kinda skip through without paying it much mind. On the contrary I found myself turning it on and listening to it all the way through, giving it my full attention the whole time. It’s mesmerizing. Treat your ears, buy the album. It comes with three bonus jamz. This guy’s gonna be big.
The goose that is Fat Possum Records has laid yet another golden egg, or more accurately signed another golden egg. When I read that Brighton’s one-man show Gross Magic sported “the pop sensibility of ELO, the grunge riffs of early Nirvana, the care-free adolescence of Loser-era Beck and the lo-fi production of Ariel Pink” I called bullshit. There’s no way you can package so many good things together well without those sounds competing and violently erupting in a heinous chaotic mess of sound. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the description is actually quite accurate. (I might add Girls into the equation though.) Initially I was half expecting his debut EP Teen Jamz to be one of those things you turn on, give one ear to and kinda skip through without paying it much mind. On the contrary I found myself turning it on and listening to it all the way through, giving it my full attention the whole time. It’s mesmerizing. Treat your ears, buy the album. It comes with three bonus jamz. This guy’s gonna be big.
One of the central philosophies that drives Control+Alt+Delight is that there is merit in all (or most) music. That being said, as I scourge the internet on a daily basis for new music, I naturally stumble upon a lot bands worth knowing about and a lot of bands that probably won’t ever wriggle their way into your iPod. Yet many of these not-so-note-worthy bands release at least one track worth knowing. This isn’t to say that these bands aren’t any good, it’s just that you might not necessarily want to spend a lot of time on their music. Hence, I am introducing my monthly one-hit wonder playlist in which I will shift the focus of my posts from a band or an album that you should know about to center solely on the music, cause that’s what we ultimately care about in the first place.
*Disclaimer: this is not to say that all of these bands are “one-hit wonders” per se, but maybe just that their music tends to be samey; one or two songs might stand out but the rest from the album sound eerily similar. It could also be the case of a good band releasing a blah album. Por ejemplo: this playlist includes a song off of Cut Copy’s most recent release Zonoscope. Cut Copy is a favorite of mine but I tend to disregard most of Zonoscope because it was a slump (except this song cause it’s a jam and a half). Enough of my rambling. Enjoy the music.
One of the central philosophies that drives Control+Alt+Delight is that there is merit in all (or most) music. That being said, as I scourge the internet on a daily basis for new music, I naturally stumble upon a lot bands worth knowing about and a lot of bands that probably won’t ever wriggle their way into your iPod. Yet many of these not-so-note-worthy bands release at least one track worth knowing. This isn’t to say that these bands aren’t any good, it’s just that you might not necessarily want to spend a lot of time on their music. Hence, I am introducing my monthly one-hit wonder playlist in which I will shift the focus of my posts from a band or an album that you should know about to center solely on the music, cause that’s what we ultimately care about in the first place.
*Disclaimer: this is not to say that all of these bands are “one-hit wonders” per se, but maybe just that their music tends to be samey; one or two songs might stand out but the rest from the album sound eerily similar. It could also be the case of a good band releasing a blah album. Por ejemplo: this playlist includes a song off of Cut Copy’s most recent release Zonoscope. Cut Copy is a favorite of mine but I tend to disregard most of Zonoscope because it was a slump (except this song cause it’s a jam and a half). Enough of my rambling. Enjoy the music.
Outside Lands saw its fourth year in Golden Gate Park last weekend, and we were able to go lounge and get down in one of my favorite places in the world. There’s a lot in San Francisco that you can only get in San Francisco, but there’s something about the people there that make all the difference. The spirit of the city couldn’t have been more tangible and everyone seemed to be on the same page. All troubles and worries went on hold for that weekend, as we got together to enjoy life with some of the most talented well-known and underground artists of our time. From sneaking back stage and meeting the Shins to being packed in the front for Black Keys and Muse to seeing deadmau5’s new live set in person, the memories continued to stack from beginning to end. Another year in the fields, another successful weekend. Here were our favorites.
I had been running around all day Friday and Saturday telling anyone and everyone to make sure Starfucker didn’t make their “Acts I Should Have Seen” list and the boys proved me right once again. There’s something about the way their synths ring and the way their energy flows that makes them one of my favorite bands to see live. This was the first time I wasn’t seeing them in a more intimate venue, and it didn’t take anything away from the awesomeness. So happy they got a crowd of that size. They deserve it all!
The Shins
The Shins were ultimately what pushed me off the fence in terms of purchasing an Outside Lands ticket, though I’d never heard anything about their live performances before. I wasn’t really expecting much because I’d remembered hearing some recordings that weren’t particularly stunning. It was more that I felt obligated to see them, having been a fan for years. Judging by the size of the crowd, I wasn’t the only one that felt that way. Needless to say they far exceeded my expectations. They have great stage presence; James Mercer is such a talented musician. They played just about everything I was hoping they would, except for “Turn On Me” but hey, I think I’ll live.
The Black Keys
We stuffed ourselves in the heart of the Lands End main stage to catch these guys in their entirety, the way it should be done. After a less than favorable review of their performance at Coachella, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Black Keys came out and played one of the most raw sets I’ve ever seen. Dan Auerbach (guitars/vocals) came out with a look in his eye that wreaked of satisfaction. Ten years in the game and they held down the stage like their career depended on it. Pat Carney played the drums with such angst that had him dripping with sweat when they closed. The live show changed everything, even when I thought I couldn’t like them anymore than I already did.
Deadmau5
Finally back in the mau5 hut after a year and a half since I had seen him last. After all the hype and videos surfacing around the web I had to ensure a good spot to make sure my brain melts proper. Deadmau5 is on tour almost every night, flying around the world from one show to another. Yet he still has the energy and poise to come out and have fun with the crowd. So fun to watch and even more fun to dance to. His sets are always packed with the future of mau5 and everything you want to hear from before.
Ty Segall
Ty was stuffed on the smaller stage of the four, but he played like a headliner and got the crowd response to match. I lost control and ran into the pit after that video to crowd surf and pay my respects to the legend. Hadn’t done that in years and I don’t know why! But that’s just the effect they had on me that day. His live shows are always action packed, and this one proved to be no different. Definitely cool to see him get such a response in his hometown. We got ‘hella’ love for Ty Segall. Oh and I’m really starting to think they actually spelled his name wrong on the poster haha. Two L’s bro.
Foster the People
I almost instantly fell in love with Foster the People when their EP came out earlier this year and was really bummed when I missed them at Coachella. I even sat through Tinie Tempah (worst performance I have ever experienced) to see them but still missed it. All I can say is seeing them at OSL definitely made up for missing them at Coachella and might have actually made up for Tinie Tempah. If I didn’t love them before seeing them live, I do now. Their performance was spot on and so much fun.
STS9
Sound Tribe Sector 9 just sounded like a cool name before I got to witness all their glory live. They’ve made the bill of lots of major festivals around the world and their live show was held to much critical acclaim from anyone that’s seen them. They concocted a combination of electro in a sort of Glitch Mob way with psychedelic guitar riffs as they jammed through the whole set. Lots of funky tunes with a hip hop feel that had everyone dancing to the beat of their crazy drummer! Really sweet stuff. Must see!
The Vaccines
The Vaccines have been on tour with Arctic Monkeys and have quickly become one of my favorite breakout bands from 2011 thus far. Their debut album What Did You Expcect from The Vaccines? embodies just what makes British rock really cool and I can’t really think of another way to put it. I expect big things from them in the future because they possess a lot of power and talent. Buzzing guitar, drowning reverb and bouncing beats make for a great live performance. I would go so far as to say they are better live than on record. I’m just sad I missed them performing “Post Break-Up Sex.”
Arcade Fire
I left the glory that is Deadmau5 early in order to see Arcade Fire. They are another band I intended to see yet missed at Coachella this year (I grudgingly recall being dragged out early just as they were playing “Keep the Car Running) so I wasn’t about to miss them again. And I don’t for a second regret leaving Deadmau5, as great as his set was. Arcade Fire are absolutely brilliant performers; another band that sounds even better live than on record. I feel like I forged a different sort of relationship with their music after hearing it live/witnessing their on-stage energy and incredible synergy. They have a really great way of incorporating their audience in their performers. Being there during “Wake-Up” with the whole crowd singing along was almost an otherworldly experience.
MUSE
I have no words for Muse. it was hands down the best performance I have ever experienced. Between the band members’ total synergism and the light show, Muse was worth the price of the ticket. I’m not usually one for light shows, I think they can be pretty tacky but what they had going on was something else. As if they needed anything to enhance the raw energy and musical brilliance they bring to the stage. I definitely got the chills several times during their performance. They left the stage at what appeared to be the end of the show but came back to play “Plug In Baby” and “Knights of Cydonia”–probably the best encore I could think of. Utter brilliance is the best way I can describe their live performance. Cheers.
Love,
Skinny Genes & Witler
FULL POST
Outside Lands saw its fourth year in Golden Gate Park last weekend, and we were able to go lounge and get down in one of my favorite places in the world. There’s a lot in San Francisco that you can only get in San Francisco, but there’s something about the people there that make all the difference. The spirit of the city couldn’t have been more tangible and everyone seemed to be on the same page. All troubles and worries went on hold for that weekend, as we got together to enjoy life with some of the most talented well-known and underground artists of our time. From sneaking back stage and meeting the Shins to being packed in the front for Black Keys and Muse to seeing deadmau5’s new live set in person, the memories continued to stack from beginning to end. Another year in the fields, another successful weekend. Here were our favorites.
I had been running around all day Friday and Saturday telling anyone and everyone to make sure Starfucker didn’t make their “Acts I Should Have Seen” list and the boys proved me right once again. There’s something about the way their synths ring and the way their energy flows that makes them one of my favorite bands to see live. This was the first time I wasn’t seeing them in a more intimate venue, and it didn’t take anything away from the awesomeness. So happy they got a crowd of that size. They deserve it all!
The Shins
The Shins were ultimately what pushed me off the fence in terms of purchasing an Outside Lands ticket, though I’d never heard anything about their live performances before. I wasn’t really expecting much because I’d remembered hearing some recordings that weren’t particularly stunning. It was more that I felt obligated to see them, having been a fan for years. Judging by the size of the crowd, I wasn’t the only one that felt that way. Needless to say they far exceeded my expectations. They have great stage presence; James Mercer is such a talented musician. They played just about everything I was hoping they would, except for “Turn On Me” but hey, I think I’ll live.
The Black Keys
We stuffed ourselves in the heart of the Lands End main stage to catch these guys in their entirety, the way it should be done. After a less than favorable review of their performance at Coachella, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Black Keys came out and played one of the most raw sets I’ve ever seen. Dan Auerbach (guitars/vocals) came out with a look in his eye that wreaked of satisfaction. Ten years in the game and they held down the stage like their career depended on it. Pat Carney played the drums with such angst that had him dripping with sweat when they closed. The live show changed everything, even when I thought I couldn’t like them anymore than I already did.
Deadmau5
Finally back in the mau5 hut after a year and a half since I had seen him last. After all the hype and videos surfacing around the web I had to ensure a good spot to make sure my brain melts proper. Deadmau5 is on tour almost every night, flying around the world from one show to another. Yet he still has the energy and poise to come out and have fun with the crowd. So fun to watch and even more fun to dance to. His sets are always packed with the future of mau5 and everything you want to hear from before.
Ty Segall
Ty was stuffed on the smaller stage of the four, but he played like a headliner and got the crowd response to match. I lost control and ran into the pit after that video to crowd surf and pay my respects to the legend. Hadn’t done that in years and I don’t know why! But that’s just the effect they had on me that day. His live shows are always action packed, and this one proved to be no different. Definitely cool to see him get such a response in his hometown. We got ‘hella’ love for Ty Segall. Oh and I’m really starting to think they actually spelled his name wrong on the poster haha. Two L’s bro.
Foster the People
I almost instantly fell in love with Foster the People when their EP came out earlier this year and was really bummed when I missed them at Coachella. I even sat through Tinie Tempah (worst performance I have ever experienced) to see them but still missed it. All I can say is seeing them at OSL definitely made up for missing them at Coachella and might have actually made up for Tinie Tempah. If I didn’t love them before seeing them live, I do now. Their performance was spot on and so much fun.
STS9
Sound Tribe Sector 9 just sounded like a cool name before I got to witness all their glory live. They’ve made the bill of lots of major festivals around the world and their live show was held to much critical acclaim from anyone that’s seen them. They concocted a combination of electro in a sort of Glitch Mob way with psychedelic guitar riffs as they jammed through the whole set. Lots of funky tunes with a hip hop feel that had everyone dancing to the beat of their crazy drummer! Really sweet stuff. Must see!
The Vaccines
The Vaccines have been on tour with Arctic Monkeys and have quickly become one of my favorite breakout bands from 2011 thus far. Their debut album What Did You Expcect from The Vaccines? embodies just what makes British rock really cool and I can’t really think of another way to put it. I expect big things from them in the future because they possess a lot of power and talent. Buzzing guitar, drowning reverb and bouncing beats make for a great live performance. I would go so far as to say they are better live than on record. I’m just sad I missed them performing “Post Break-Up Sex.”
Arcade Fire
I left the glory that is Deadmau5 early in order to see Arcade Fire. They are another band I intended to see yet missed at Coachella this year (I grudgingly recall being dragged out early just as they were playing “Keep the Car Running) so I wasn’t about to miss them again. And I don’t for a second regret leaving Deadmau5, as great as his set was. Arcade Fire are absolutely brilliant performers; another band that sounds even better live than on record. I feel like I forged a different sort of relationship with their music after hearing it live/witnessing their on-stage energy and incredible synergy. They have a really great way of incorporating their audience in their performers. Being there during “Wake-Up” with the whole crowd singing along was almost an otherworldly experience.
MUSE
I have no words for Muse. it was hands down the best performance I have ever experienced. Between the band members’ total synergism and the light show, Muse was worth the price of the ticket. I’m not usually one for light shows, I think they can be pretty tacky but what they had going on was something else. As if they needed anything to enhance the raw energy and musical brilliance they bring to the stage. I definitely got the chills several times during their performance. They left the stage at what appeared to be the end of the show but came back to play “Plug In Baby” and “Knights of Cydonia”–probably the best encore I could think of. Utter brilliance is the best way I can describe their live performance. Cheers.
This song has been stuck in my head for about a month now so I figured it was time to post it. It’s an awesome song by an awesome band (and I need to invest in a thesaurus). It kind of makes me want to vandalize something. Watch the video and see if you don’t feel the same way.
Hot off the Portland press is electro-pop duo Wampire. They’re pumping out the kind of jams you have no choice but to dance to, wedging their way into a playlist with Starfucker and Casiokids. Yet they have a unique sound, blending the catchy pop appeal of electronic music with a lo-fi angst. They’ve only released a few tracks but what they have put out is pure, unadulterated fun. Check it out and keep your eyes peeled for these guys in the future.
