Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Oh No, St. Vincent, andrew bird, Pitchfork, Lollapalooza, Noble Beast, Big Chill, Cemetery Gates, Annie Clark
Andrew Bird teams up with St. Vincent for a month long US tour
PREVIEW: Download Andrew Bird’s “Oh No” MP3
How many guys out there can claim that they are musically proficient in guitar, mandolin, glockenspiel, violin and whistling — yes, whistling? Well, luckily for you, we know at least one that fits the criteria. Andrew Bird has been making music since the mid-nineties. Aside from developing a fetish for bugs and sleek rain boots, Bird has produced over 16 albums and EPs. His latest, Noble Beast hit the music vendors on Jan. 20 earlier this year, becoming a noted success.
“Oh No,” the opening track from Noble Beast, is an incredibly harmonious layering of sounds. Be it smooth violin chords, Bird’s wistful vocals, rhythmic claps or his signature rustic whistling, “Oh No” has it all. To top it all off, this track contains some of the strangest lyrics you will ever hear: “All the calcified arhythmitists were doing the math / It would take a calculated blow to the head / To light the eyes of all the harmless sociopaths.”
Bird has had a busy summer. He’s been out hitting most of the major music fests from Lollapalooza to Big Chill (England), recording for Pitchfork’s Cemetery Gates and promoting Noble Beast. Recently, Bird announced that he would be joining forces with St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark, for a U.S. tour this fall. And it looks like SU students are in luck, as the duo will be dropping through Buffalo on Oct. 21 as part of their month-long tour; St. Vincent will also play Ithaca alone on Oct. 22.
More tour dates below the cut!
– Irina Dvaldize, Production Assistant
Filed under: Features, Mix Fix | Tags: 3Oh!3, Dan Black, Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, La Roux, Lady GaGa, Passion Pit, Santigold, St. Vincent, Steve Aoki
Jay-Z and Steve Aoki? We think it would work!
I grew up hating remixes.
That’s because I heard a lot of bad ones in the day, and loved the original songs so much, newer versions just couldn’t compare. My ears were young and unkempt. These days I’m always on the prowl for a great remix. The beauty of music blogs these days is that remixes can be cut and taped together and posted online so fast, remixes of the same song explode in waves within the same week. The parameters of music-making have totally revolutionized. There’s still tons of crap out there, like everything else, but after studying the better remix DJs and bands for a few months, I’ve compiled a few fantasy remixes I’d like to hear some day.
1) “D.O.A.” by Jay-Z (remix by Steve Aoki, featuring Lady Gaga + Santigold)
Once I heard Aoki’s remix of N.A.S.A.’s “Gifted,” I was sold. The man has a knack for giving songs an extra gear. He’s more a house-techno remix DJ, but he’s careful and meticulous. I love Jay-Z’s “D.O.A.,” and it’s only a matter of time till someone remixes the new jam. I think it’d be awesome to speed up the song with backup raps and harmonies by Lady Gaga and Santigold. Gaga is too talented to be a consistent back-up vocalist, but Santigold isn’t quite big enough, and adds so much to each song she sings along to anyway. She’s fantastic in Jay-Z’s “Brooklyn Go Hard.” She’s adds soul and jazzy rhythm. It’s usually a lock the remix will be at least decent if she’s apart of it. As for Gaga, she’s a hit-maker and can turn any song into something hot. She made Wale’s “Chillin’” so much better.
2) “I’m not your Toy” by La Roux (remix by Dan Black, featuring Kid CuDi)
I love La Roux, and I love Dan Black. Just since La Roux has electronic rhythm and catchy pop harmonies, Dan Black makes sense here. They’re both really synth-pop heavy. Also, to contrast La Roux and her feminine voice, Kid Cudi could add some much needed hip-hop flavor. He did really well in the remix of 3OH!3’s “Don’t Trust Me.”
3) “The Strangers” by St. Vincent (remix by Passion Pit)
I always thought St. Vincent had some serious remix potential, and yet I have yet to see one. She’s got an awkward folksy voice, but also plays around with interesting sound-mixing. I could see her voice in some awesome synth-smashing. Thus, Passion Pit could mix an awesome song with St. Vincent lyrics. Although Passion Pit has the reputation of going over board with their remixes—-if they did it right, they could turn “The Strangers” or “Actor Out of Work” into club scene hit.
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Au Revoir Simone, Crystal Antlers, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, Phoenix, playlist, St. Vincent, Urban Outfitters
In case all you cool cats haven’t already heard the news, everyone’s favorite overpriced hipster franchise has just released its newest playlist.
LSTN #5 features songs by Cymbals Eat Guitars, St. Vincent, Grizzly Bear, Crystal Antlers, Au Revoir Simone, Phoenix and Passion Pit, among 16 others. It’s a grab bag of hype-worthy indie pop/rock, to say the least; trust UO to keep it trendy.
- Caitlin Dewey
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Animal Collective, Camera Obscura, Grizzly Bear, Metric, Passion Pit, Peter Bjorn and John, Phoenix, St. Vincent, Ted Leo, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
We’re almost at the half-year point, and so much good music has already exploded onto the scene. It seems only necessary to pay respects to the artists and the quality work they’ve exposed to the world so far. I’m not talking about albums with a couple of great songs, this list is about ensembles/full albums that work from head to toe.
(Not necessarily ranked in order)
It’s Blitz! by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
This could be arguably the most complete album with so many quality songs. It’s not just that the album has great songs–this was a transition album for the YYYS to synth-pop, and they pulled it off magnificently.
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix
This was my first time exposed to Phoenix, and I was romanced from the start. Phoenix’s new album is a hit-maker, and could called a success just because of its two big hits, “1901″ and “Litzomania.”
Fantasies by Metric
A very well-rounded album with quality girl-pop songs. “Help I’m Alive” is an instant pop classic, and really brings the whole album together. Plus, I really respect the fact Metric streamed their whole album before releasing it officially.
Living Thing by Peter Bjorn and John
PBJ pushed themselves to evolve their sound with new sounds and methods, and pulled it off pretty well with this album. This album has one awesome song with a handful of good songs. The Swedish trio are great at what they do–making weird pop songs.
My Maudlin Career by Camera Obscura
I think these guys are adorable, and I love the hit track “French Navy.” This album isn’t as complete as the rest, but still gets my respect because I think their sound is so retro and unique.
Notables: Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective, Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear, and Actor by St. Vincent
Projected Hits:
Manners by Passion Pit
the eventual Ted Leo album
the eventual Strokes album
–Jett Wells, Reviews Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: bloc party, HEALTH, Litzomania, Now Now Every Children, O+S, Phoenix, St. Vincent
After finishing my finals last Friday, and I had to shed my skin, and buy some new music to start my summer off right. Some of the tracks aren’t new-new, but new enough. I usually do this by buying the tracks off iTunes to make it official. I know, I know. I’m old-fashioned. I buy music. Get over it.
Here are the tracks:
1. “Permanent Scar,” by O+S
-I love this song, because I’m a sucker for an awesome bass beat. This shakes you hard, and grooves with you. It’s got cool hip-hop elements but also has an indie guitar riff to go along with it. Thanks Stereogum.
2. “Everyone You Know,” Now Now Every Children
-This band has to have one of the awkwardest names I’ve ever heard, but I really like the singer’s voice. It’s soft and steady.
3. “Liztomania,” by Phoenix
-Everyone and their mother knows about this song, but I love it. Phoenix really hit a home run with their new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.
4. “Strangers” and “Actor Out of Work,” by St. Vincent.
-This girl is getting bigger by the hour, and I really like what she does. She has great range without overdoing it, but what really sells me is her experimentation with electronic soundbites.
5. “Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix),” by Bloc Party
-I wrote about this remix a while back, but it just went on sale on iTunes yesterday. It’s about time! This is a fantastic remix by Bloc Party that always gets me jacked up. This song is a pain in the ass to play off YouTube since it has that lips-for-a-vagina sequence.
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P.S…Does anyone know why HEALTH’s new album isn’t available on iTunes yet? I really want to buy “Die Slow.”
–Jett Wells, Reviews Editor
Filed under: Industry News | Tags: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Black Eyed Peas, Dave Brubeck, green day, Grizzly Bear, Iron and Wine, Margot & The Nuclear So-Sos, Passion Pit, Peter Bjorn and John, Phantogram, Phoenix, Placebo, Presidents of the United States, St. Vincent, Tinted Windows, Tiny Masters of Today
Grizzly Bear
This is just as good a time as any to keep ya’ll up to date on upcoming records and nearby concerts before the semester comes to a close. Keep in mind, some of these albums were going to be reviewed in our print issue, but that’s the way it goes.
Ten upcoming albums to look out for (in chronological order):
1) Tinted Windows (debut album)—April 21st
2) St. Vincent, Actor—May 5th
3) Green Day, 21st Century—May 15th
4) Iron and Wine, Around the Well—May 19th
5) Passion Pit, Manners—May 19th
6) Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus—May 25th
7) Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest—May 26th [Even though it leaked weeks ago]
8 ) Placebo, Battle for the Sun—June 8th
9) Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.—June 9th
10) Tiny Masters of Today, Skeletons—June 16th
Nearby shows/Acts that would be worth the road trip (or quick car ride):
1) Margot & The Nuclear So-Sos—Buffalo, April 17th
2) Dave Brubeck—Buffalo, April 25th
3) Peter Bjorn and John—Toronto, Quebec, Montreal, April 25th-27th
4) Presidents of the United States—Syracuse, Aprl 22nd
5) Big Bad Voodoo Daddy—Verona, May 14th
AND…For those lucky bastards staying here in Syracuse for the summer:
6) Phantogram (w/ Flying Lotus, NAS and The Disco Biscuits)—Mariaville, July 16th
- Jett Wells, Co-Reviews Editor
St. Vincent, a.k.a Annie Clark, sounds so much like Zachary Condon from Beirut, I’m starting to think they’re related.
St. Vincent has such a calming folksy sound just Condon, except St. Vincent likes to play around with distorted guitar, which is awesome in my book.
Of course, I discovered this little lady on Pitchfork, and then I checked out her MySpace. You learn to your delight, she employs some interesting electronic sounds in her ballads. My favorite hits on her page are “The Strangers” and “Now Now.”
She’s not flashy, but she’s enchanting when she starts to yodle in her songs.
—-Jett Wells, Co-Reviews Editor
