Puttin' on the Dog - May 12th

It's no secret that I prefer the company of the four-legged furry variety over most humans. I have two rescues at home, and I always want to encourage others to help out the many different groups around Atlanta that help homeless animals. Here's a music event that does just that! Featuring the District Attorneys. You can get more info on tickets and scheduling from the New Leash on Life website.

Wednesday

Uggggh. I don't get where all this music that's landing in my email inbox is going. As in, do people play instruments anymore, or is everything an electronic remix now? Seriously, I'm gettin' a little teary-eyed over here thinking about the fact that the majority of music I hear now can only be classified as a rip-off. Sigh.

>>I'm sorry, I don't know what to say about this except that I could have done without subjecting myself to it. Sometimes I wish I did drugs so I could understand the hype. E4RTH has a tune out there called "It's Where We Live" that you can check out here. It's pretty reminiscent of some of the music I posted yesterday. It has an African feel to it. I like that beat, but I can do without all the other noise. I hate being in my car and listening to a song that has police sirens in it. Anyone else?



>>I got a submission from BeBe Boohgz (yet another person who takes someone else's music and doctors it...), and as I listen to it, I'm so offended I'm deciding not to post it. Maybe it's my old age. Maybe it's my love of the English language and using it with more class than what my poor ears are currently experiencing. I don't know. Either way, I'm not going to post it. I'll tell you the name of it, and you can Google it if you want. Kanye West ft Arie Dixon & DJ Khaled - "Way Too Cold TheraFlu" (JACKED) I also think Kayne West is a pompous jackass.

Blondfire Burns with "Hide and Seek"

No doubt these Blondfire kids are from L.A. When I'm listening to them, I'm reminded of the one time I visited there (I sported Pumas back then). While test driving one of their other songs, I feel it's a bit like a female-fronted MGMT, a band on a wagon that I could not force myself to jump on. I'll high-five 'em for their new single, but I ain't cray cray about ALL of Blondfire.

Listen to Hide and Seek.

Inbox Dump, April Edition

>>It's Tax Day! Well, it is for all you procrastinatin' slackers out there, at least. Google Play is having a sweet little flash sale on some albums (there's some old school Weezer in there!). Also seen: LCD Soundsystem, The Black Keys, and David Bowie, among others. I'm about to go digitally stock up. Only $2.99! Uh oh, iTunes, you might have some competition.

>>Got this sweet little musical treat in the gmail: Viceroy's remix of St. Lucia's "Closer Than This." Hey, if you're gonna tempt me with album art that makes me think I'm on a boat (like Lonely Island-style), I'm gonna listen. I feel like this ditty is the love child of The Sounds and Youth Group (wouldn't you love to witness THAT conception?!). You can listen here.

>>Sweetwater Brewery is holding their annual 420 Fest April 20-22 in Candler Park. If you're a noodler, you'll make fast friends at this event. And by noodling, I'm not refering to catching you a big ass catfish, either.

>>If you're interested in broadening your cultural horizons, head on over to this square of cyberspace and listen to Los Miticos Del Ritmo's version of "Another One Bites the Dust." Is it just me, or is does this make you think of sitting in a Latin restaurant being served by people in lederhosen?

>>Summer's coming (and, it's gonna be a scorcher!)...you might be road-tripping because you like spending lots of money on gas. If that's true, Zimmer can help you out with the soundtrack for your next roadtrip. So sweet of him! Try out "Desert Drive" here.

>>Lastly, William Beckett will be performing at the Masquerade on May 25. I am WAY too old to be hittin' these all ages shows, but I thought I would mention it because he is, after all, my most prized guilty pleasure. And, it's only $10 to get in. I mean, really...listen to this:

Black Forest

If you like the Avett Brothers or even early Kurt Vile (Constant Hitmaker era) then you might like the heady, indie-folksters Black Forest. The Brooklyn-based quartet's Seven Suns LP is now available for download or on limited edition vinyl. Ahhh, music so good you'll think the tree in your back yard looks super hot in high heels, ya dig?

Iron & Wine - Buckhead Theatre - 11/11/11

I hate when I am so stoked to see a band, and then can't make myself stay for more than three songs. This was, admittedly, my first time seeing I&W live in all of the years I've been listening to them. So, I have nothing as a comparison. But...here goes...

I feel like I should ask for my money back. When did this ethereal, lullaby-inducing group turn into the hipster's version of the Grateful Dead? Did I miss something? I&W had 11 people on the stage. I think two of them were donning brass instruments. It sounded nothing like anything I know of them. It was like the band is some kind of manic-depressive, and I've been having a relationship with the depressive part, only to show up to the wedding and realize I'm about to marry the manic. What gives?

I remember this happening to Dave Matthews. You know, they used to be good. They used to be a musical force to be reckoned with. Original. Witty. Passionate. And then, they started jamming and all the noodlers took over. Iron and Wine is next. I may cry.

I left the show after 3 songs. I'm REAL glad I spent $36 on a ticket. Really, I am. It was a lesson to never buy another ticket to Iron & Wine again. Jerks.

Barsuk's Newest Addition

Laura Gibson - Milk-Heavy, Pollen-Eyed from Mason Jar Music on Vimeo.

Barsuk recently added Laura Gibson to their roster and it looks like she will have an album out sometime in early 2012. Her last effort with Ethan Rose under the name Bridge Carols was tasty. You go girl! I can't wait to hear what's up next.

New Music from The Wandas

I kind of dig the Wandas but it looks like their two month tour is skipping over both Atlanta and Austin. Boo. If you're in the mood for a little Old 97s-flavor material, check out their new track "Longtime Running".

Emo's East

Believe it or not, Emo's is opening a new location in East Austin appropriately titled Emo's East. If you lived in Austin in the 90s you probably remember The Backroom. I had the pleasure of playing there once with my band and vaguely remember a stabbing occurring in the crowd while we were on stage. Moving along, Emo's has renovated the joint and opened it this week with a Butthole Surfers show. Yelpers are getting their mixed reviews on so I think I am going to have to investigate Emo's East for myself.

Bored at Work? Get Your Stream On.

Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Today is Tuesday, the weekly national holiday for all music listeners. Yep. You guess it. Albums come out on Tuesday ;) Pick up a copy of Girls new album Father, Son, Holy Ghost. If you're into buying your music by the track, download "Vomit" or "Honey Bunny". The "Vomit" video is also on Myspace. You can thank me later.