The Color Awesome

LCD Soundsystem’s ‘Internet Sensation!’

paige — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:21:13 +0000

According to NME, LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy has revealed his new album’s working title is ‘Internet Sensation!’, because he hasn’t had time to think of a proper name.

“This record’s horrifying work title is ‘Internet Sensation!’”, Murphy explained to NME Radio’s Jon Hillcock. “I was thinking, ‘What would a guy who’s been out of the music scene for a long time, and has kids [do to promote himself]?’. ‘We gotta be internet sensations, that’s what everyone is now!’”

Speaking about the sound of the album, Murphy said: “There’s a little more guitar, there’s more synth on it. There’s maybe more melodies.” Murphy has said he believes the upcoming LCD Soundsystem album will be their final release. “I feel like this should be the last record because a lot of people make three good records and then they don’t make good records anymore,” he told Rolling Stone.

“And if we get any bigger than we are, I would lose some interest.

“I feel like I made a band that was about how I felt about music, as an argument, and I feel like I’ve kind of explained myself and it’s time to do something else.”

Murphy is currently in the process of putting the finishing touches to the record, which is due out in May.

The album includes the songs ‘All I Want’, ‘Pow Wow’ and ‘Get Along’.

Murphy also revealed more details about his soundtrack for the Noah Baumbach-directed “Greenberg”, which is due out on March 22. Acoustic-and-mumbler number “Birthday Song,” for instance, sounds like a first take with harmonies dubbed in later, but it’s delicate charm provides a daydreamy Florence, played by Greta Gerwig. “Gente,” an upbeat flamenco number in genre only, has the lackadaisically performed on guitar while the intensity of handclaps underscores Ben Stiller’s frenetic, idiosyncratic title character. Murphy enlists his falsetto for “Photographs” as piano and acoustic guitar delicately back him Badly Drawn Boy-style. The stompy-happy-buddy feeling of “Birthday Song” could’ve fallen straight off of Karen O’s docket for “Where the Wild Things Are.”

But then there’s the sole, new LCD track in the film, “Oh You (Christmas Blues).” Christmastime doesn’t come to pass in the movie, but the sentimental, longing emoting of 2007’s “Sound of Silver” seems to crop up again.

Murphy and his band are heading to a handful of major U.S. festivals this summer, including Coachella in April, the newly line-up Sasquatch!, Bonnaroo and Pitchfork Music Festival. A full-fledged tour is expected to be announced, to fill in the gaps.

Here are the tracks to be included on LCD Soundsystem’s new album:

Dance Yrself Clean
Drunk Girls
One Touch
All I Want
Change
Hit
Pow Pow
Somebody’s Calling Me
What You Need

Here is the tracklist for the soundtrack to “Greenberg”:

01 James Murphy: “People”
02 Nite Jewel: “Suburbia”
03 James Murphy: “Sleepy Baby”
04 James Murphy: “Thumbs”
05 Albert Hammond: “It Never Rains in Southern California”
06 James Murphy: “Plenty of Time”
07 James Murphy: “Photographs”
08 James Murphy: “Gente”
09 Galaxie 500: “Strange”
10 LCD Soundsystem: “Oh You (Christmas Blues)”
11 James Murphy: “Birthday Song”
12 James Murphy: “Dear You”
13 The Sonics: “Shot Down”
14 Duran Duran: “The Chauffeur”
15 James Murphy: “If You Need a Friend”
16 James Murphy : “Please Don’t Follow Me”
17 James Murphy: “Photographs (Piano)”

Way Back When: Kathryn Bigelow’s Touched by the Hand of God Video

paige — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:02:58 +0000

We’ve had Kathryn Bigelow on our radar for decades. Dig into your 80’s trivia file to answer this gem. It might might not be in your Trivial Pursuit 80’s Edition but it clearly should be:

Kathryn Bigelow, the first woman to win an Academy Award for best Director also directed, “Touched By The Hand of God” for which band?

Why, it’s our all-time favorite band here at the Color Awesome: NEW ORDER.

In this 1987 clip for “Touched By the Hand of God,” she dressed Bernard Sumner and Co. up as a cheesy hair-metal band. And if you watch closely, there’s also cameos by Bill Paxton and Rae Dawn Chong in the car-smashing/make-out scene.

Congrats Kathryn!

R.I. P. Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse

paige — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:05:16 +0000

This weekend, we learned the sad news that Sparklehorse frontman Mark Linkous had taken his own life. The New York Times reports that Linkous shot himself in the heart in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was 47.

Sparklehorse was one of the first bands I photographed for Ice Cream Man. I remember being enthralled by his wispy, blowing hair, his focus and ease. I had to go and revisit my shots, hoping to see something that would help me make sense of it all.

Each time I hear of a death of someone who has touched me, it’s like a another little strand that ties the world together is gone. We’ll miss you, Mark.

Playlist: March 6th Sirius XMU Download 15

paige — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:00:10 +0000

Here’s the March 6th installment of the Sirius XMU Download 15 playlist. Jake Fogelnest picks ‘em and plays ‘em, and I find ‘em and post ‘em. A match made in heaven.

We also keep a complete Download 15 Archive.

Full track list after the jump.

Sirius XMU Download 15 for Saturday, March 6th, 2010

GORILLAZ – SUPERFAST JELLYFISH
NEW PORNOGRAPHERS – YOUR HANDS (TOGETHER)
ROGUE WAVE – SOLITARY GUN
BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE – WORLD SICK
TITUS ANDRONICUS – A MORE PERFECT UNION
BEACH HOUSE – 10 MILE STEREO
BORN RUFFIANS – SOLE BROTHER
JJ – LET GO
SHE AND HIM – THIEVES
YEASAYER – O.N.E.
NADA SURF – ENJOY THE SILENCE [in the stream section]
MORNING BENDERS – EXCUSES
AZIZ ANSARI – AAAAAAAAANGRY WITH 8 A’S.
JOANNA NEWSOM – GOOD INTENTIONS PAVING COMPANY
FOALS – SPANISH SAHARA

Photo of the Day: Nico Vega

paige — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:01:43 +0000

Nico Vega opened for The Soundtrack of Our Lives at The Independent as a part of the Noisepop 2010 Art + Music Festival. Check out the full set on flickr:

Playlist: February 27th Sirius XMU Download 15

paige — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:59:54 +0000

Here’s the February 27th installment of the Sirius XMU Download 15 playlist. Jake Fogelnest picks ‘em and plays ‘em, and I find ‘em and post ‘em. A match made in heaven.

We also keep a complete Download 15 Archive.

Full track list after the jump.

Sirius XMU Download 15 for Saturday, February 27th, 2010

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE – WORLD SICK
NEW PORNOGRAPHERS – YOUR HANDS (TOGETHER)
JOANNA NEWSOME – GOOD INTENTIONS PAVING COMPANY
YEASAYER – O.N.E.
BEACH HOUSE – THE ARRANGEMENT (LIVE ON SXMU)
GORILLAZ – STYLO
SHOUT OUT LOUDS – FALL HARD
CARIBOU – ODESSA
LOCAL NATIVES – WIDE EYES
DR. DOG – SHADOW PEOPLE
AZIZ ANSARI + DAVE SITEK – AAAAAAAANGRY WITH 8 As
THE MORNING BENDERS – EXCUSES
DEVO – FRESH
VAMPIRE WEEKEND – GIVING UP THE GUN
PANTHA DU PRINCE – STICK BY MY SIDE

Review: Album Leaf + Sea Wolf @ GAMH

paige — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:17:23 +0000

I had a brief moment of panic. I’d had the Album Leaf show on my calendar for months. I’d seen them last year as a three-piece at Bottom of the Hill, and couldn’t wait to see them again. Then I got a notice that my current obsession, Sea Wolf, was playing the same night. Shit. “Why do I have to choose between Album Leaf and Sea Wolf?” I lamented to myself. Much to my delight, not only did I not have to choose, but both were on the same bill! To make things even better, one of my oldest friends would be visiting from LA and could accompany me.

The Great American Music Hall is my least favorite concert venue in the city. It’s a beautiful club, but the lighting bites. After shooting Stellastar at GAMH for Noisepop 2008, I swore I’d never shoot there again. Last fall, several people told me I should give them another try, as they’d recently upgraded/added lights. Well they may have upgraded their lights, but for some inexplicable reason, they rarely use the new ones. It’s a crying shame, because two great bands like Album Leaf and Sea Wolf deserve to be bathed in subtle and delicate light as shimmery and glowing as their songs.

Sea Wolf kicked things off with a 40 minute set. They opened, as they had on their previous visit with “White Water, White Bloom” and immediately I knew the months of touring since their last visit had paid off. Last time they played SF, the new album was just about to be released and they had only played their new material live a handful of times. This time, Alex was so much more at ease and the vocals had so much more power and swagger. You can hear him spit as he sings on the album, and now the live performance of the new material had that same raw energy, and foot-stomping passion. I also credit part of this ease to their new guitarist, Nathan Anderson. I’ve seen the band play seven times, the last three of which were with Nathan. He seems to have a sense of ease when he playing and it is most definitely rubbing off on Alex. This has made Alex much looser, and in turn, the whole band even tighter. My only complaint was that the set was short enough that it didn’t include “Black Dirt” or “The Cold, The Dark, and The Silence.”

After a short break, and much drooling at the sound guy by my friend Lisa, the Album Leaf took the stage. This was not the same Album Leaf I had seen last year, this was a new and improved, eleven-member-touring-ensemble Album Leaf. They filled the stage with strings, keyboards, and instruments a-plenty. After Sea Wolf’s rousing set, they were incredibly, blissfully, mellow. Exactly what the doctor ordered. As my fellow Ice Cream Man photographer Matthias Ingimarsson says, “Jimmy LaVelle’s hypnotizing instrumentals serve as a sedative for my restless mind.” It’s so true. The Album Leaf is the music that I play on my ipod when I go to the dentist. This isn’t meant to be a slight, but the greatest complement. I get really anxious when someone’s digging around in my mouth, and Jimmy LaVelle knows just how to soothe me, much like a mother cradling an anxious child. I felt completely wrapped in a warm calming blanket as the Album Leaf played.

I’m not good with remembering set lists, but they played several pieces from their new album, “A Chorus of Storytellers”, as well as my favorite song, “The Outer Banks”. It was a wonderful night of delicate music that I wish had the lighting to match.

See full image set: Sea Wolf at GAMH

See full image set:Album Leaf at GAMH

Bunnymen’s post-Coachella tour emerging: SF, Reno, NYC

paige — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:34:30 +0000

With much whining, and fingerpinting, last fall Echo & The Bunnymen abruptly canceled their fall tour, blaming it on unreasonable 30% IRS withholdings. Well unlike me, evidently the IRS has given the Bunnymen a redo, and they are once-again set to unveil a “large” post-Coachella tour of the U.S. next week, although a trio of dates — April 18 in Reno, April 19 in San Francisco and May 1 in New York City — already have already gone on sale. While the band’s site simply says the Bunnymen will tour the U.S. following their April 16 slot at Coachella, on Friday, the band warned on its forum, “Please don’t start booking flights … for the leaked dates as lots of bits of paper still need signing. The dates are hopefully going to be announced on Monday.” Monday’s almost over in the UK, so I guess that announcement has slipped.

Echo & The Bunnymen U.S. tour dates (so far):

April 16: Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Indio, CA
April 18: Celebrity Showroom at The Nugget, Reno, NV
April 19: The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
May 1: Irving Plaza, New York, NY

Playlist: February 20th Sirius XMU Download 15

paige — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:14:40 +0000

Here’s the February 20th installment of the Sirius XMU Download 15 playlist. Jake Fogelnest picks ‘em and plays ‘em, and I find ‘em and post ‘em. A match made in heaven.

We also keep a complete Download 15 Archive.

Full track list after the jump.

Sirius XMU Download 15 for Saturday, February 20th, 2010

LOCAL NATIVES – WIDE EYES
YEASAYER – O.N.E.
JAPANDROIDS – ART CZAR
BEACH HOUSE – 10 MILE STEREO
THE MORNING BENDERS – EXCUSES
SOFT PACK – MEXICO
DR. DOG – SHADOW PEOPLE
ADAM GREEN – WHAT MAKES HIM ACT SO BAD
FIELD MUSIC – THEM THAT DO NOTHING
HOT CHIP – ONE LIFE STAND
SHEARWATER – LANDSCAPE AT SPEED
SPOON – MYSTERY ZONE
LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION – THERE’S NOTHING UNDERWATER
YEASAYER / THE VERY BEST – AMBLING ALP
ROBERT SMITH – VERY GOOD ADVICE

Sasquatch! 2010 Lineup! Announced!

phil — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:39:56 +0000

…And now, ladies and gentlemen, what you’ve been waiting for! The Nationwide craze of music festivals keeps rolling with the announcement of the 2010 Sasquatch lineup. It’s one of the first festivals of the festival season and happens May 29th-31st at The Gorge in Quincy, Washington. Sasquatch supports the up and comers of the Seattle music scene, which these days is surprisingly hip hop heavy; Shabazz Palaces and Fresh Espresso should expect to make a lot of new friends at the festival. There are no jaw-dropping/mega rock star headliners; Interpol and Soundgarden were some of the rumored names being thrown around in the last few weeks – this lineup is better without them. If I can be coerced into going, I’ll be doing it to see Massive Attack, LCD Soundsystem (my husband), No Age, Caribou, Tune-Yards, Public Enemy, Hudson Mowhake, Shabazz Palaces and She & Him; just so I can see Zooey Deschanel (my wife) in person. View Paige’s Best of Sasquatch 2009 photos.

Mia Doi Todd’s “Open Your Heart” Directed By Michel Gondry

phil — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:58:31 +0000

I fell in love with this amazing video today! Michel Gondry has always taken a simple, human approach to his work, but this time may have outdone himself. It doesn’t have the fancy video editing of some of my other Gondry faves (see Star Guitar by The Chemical Brothers) which actually makes the entire thing more genius. ”Open Your Heart” feels more like the “Around The World” clip from Daft Punk or “Bachelorette” by Björk; both incorporate more planning and choreography. I hope you enjoy this new piece as much as I do! Also check out the Björk video after the jump!

Photo of the Day: Album Leaf at Great American Music Hall

paige — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:34:53 +0000

Concert review and full set of pix after my Tahoe vacation.

Playlist: February 13th Sirius XMU Download 15

paige — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 05:58:01 +0000

Here’s the February 13th installment of the Sirius XMU Download 15 playlist. Jake Fogelnest picks ‘em and plays ‘em, and I find ‘em and post ‘em. A match made in heaven.

We also keep a complete Download 15 Archive.

Full track list after the jump.

Sirius XMU Download 15 for Saturday, February 13th, 2010

YEASAYER – O.N.E
BEACH HOUSE – 10 MILE STEREO
SOFT PACK – MEXICO
HOT CHIP – ONE LIFE STAND
MASSIVE ATTACK – SATURDAY COME SLOW (FT. DAMON ALBARN)
GORILLAZ – STYLO (FT MOS DEF/BOBBY WOMACK)
THERMALS – CANADA
SPOON – MYSTERY ZONE
GIL SCOTT HERON – ME AND THE DEVIL
BROKEN BELLS – THE HIGH ROAD
CARIBOU – ODESSA
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB – BEAT THE DEVIL’S TATTOO
MAJOR LAZER – SOUND OF SIREN (FEAT. M.I.A.)
PANTHA DU PRINCE – STICK TO MY SIDE
DR. DOG – SHADOW PEOPLE

Pix: Vivian Girls at Bottom of the Hill

paige — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:36:23 +0000

View the full set on flickr:

Playlist: February 6th Sirius XMU Download 15

paige — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:53:06 +0000

Here’s the February 6th installment of the Sirius XMU Download 15 playlist. Jake Fogelnest picks ‘em and plays ‘em, and I find ‘em and post ‘em. A match made in heaven.

We also keep a complete Download 15 Archive.

Full track list after the jump.

Sirius XMU Download 15 for Saturday, February 6th, 2010

Beach House – 10 Mile Stereo
Gorillaz – Stylo (Ft Mos Def & Bobby Womack)
Spoon – Mystery Zone
Midlake – Acts Of Man
Vampire Weekend – White Sky
Caribou – Odessa
JJ – Let Go
Joanna Newsom – Good Intentions Paving Company
Phoenix – Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands
Snooki Of Jersey Shore – Interview w/ Phoenix at the Grammys
Major Lazer – Halo (Beyonce Cover)
Shout Out Louds – Fall Hard
Peter Gabriel – Flume (Bon Iver Cover)
St. Vincent – Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood
Album Leaf – Falling From The Sun