Apr 30, 2008

IUPAC Nucleic Acid Codes

Hans Bernhard - Self Portrait (2002)

"have you ever felt the real randomness in full control and in full impact? time changes direction, constantly, 4 dimensionally, the backvector works against the waterflow of time as we agreed on knowing it, the feeling of randomness takes control over ratio and emotions, one touch of your hand could lead to something else somewhere else by someone else to something else to something else to something else by someone else with something else multiplied by something else and someone else working on something else somewhere else and divided by something else. a little string of pseudo-randomness, it can't be described, it can only be experienced or not, probably. so my mind went white and i stared deep, frozen and hyper into the nothing, but i was fearful, because randomness means responsability of nature. mankind or specified organism living in our space and time do have very different responsabilites.

psychological cross-reactions are trying to gain control, to be very precise and slow in everything the random-experienced does. but in the end, the mathematical-philosophical concept of random has an overwhelming power over technical analyses of voter behaviour and/or dna-sequences and the world as we "all agreed" on to perceive it."

-- Hans Bernhard [from www.hansbernhard.com]

Ox - Bipolar (mp3)

Apr 28, 2008

Fake For A Reason?

David Cordero - Blessing (2007)

Short answer: Yes. I do realize that I've posted two covers this week. Covers of classics whose sounds actually recycle scratchy like crushed soda bottles. Oh, and yes, I plan to continue. With a contestant from American Idol, no less. Yes. Yes, it's Mariah Carey. This one stretches broad in the lights of over-production. It's as manufactured as hope comes these days.

David Cook - Always My Baby (mp3)

Apr 26, 2008

More Great Songs of 2007: 31-40


Zoe Charlton- Token (2006)

2007 music lives on and so does my countdown "More Great Songs of 2007"... a list of my father's additions to my 100 Great Songs of 2007 project. [See previous #s 1-10, 11-20, 21-30]. Not so slyly, this 31-40 segment includes a song by Wilco... about Germany.

31) Maxїmo Park – Books from Boxes (mp3)

32) Modest Mouse – Missed the Boat (mp3)

33) Robert Pollard – Count Us In (mp3)

34) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Please Read the Letter (mp3)

35) The Shins – Phantom Limb (mp3)

36) Spoon – My Little Japanese Cigarette Case (mp3)

37) Suzanne Vega – New York is a Woman (mp3)

38) Ted Leo & the Pharmacists – A Bottle of Buckie (mp3)

39) Tegan & Sara – I Was Married (mp3)

40) Wilco – Impossible Germany (mp3)

Apr 25, 2008

God Only Knows


Ehren Salazar & David Dineen-Porter - MD64

Today's glitchy music & art collaboration comes to us courtesy of David Dineen-Porter of PDF Format. The video was a contribution to last year's Animatron animation festival - featuring the work of such amazing visualizers as Portland's Wonka-rockers Hooliganship and Canadian's gruesome beauty collective Crystalbeard.

PDF Format - God Only Knows (mp3): PDF's heavy stomp and honest vocals are exactly what my Nintendo and I needed to take our relationship to the next level. A ballad as sincere as I've ever heard.

Apr 21, 2008

JustSayin Summer Series: Viking Moses

Viking Moses - I Will Always Love You (mp3)


Viking Moses - Werewolves in the City (mp3)


Viking Moses - Country Gown (mp3)


Apr 20, 2008

House of Fools for 4/20



TONIGHT

come support

www.JustSayinIsAll.com and Dane101.com

PRESENTING

Enon
with His & Her Vanities

The Annex on Regent Street
(8PM $7)


There is no better way to spend your 4/20.

Enon - Believo (mp3)

Apr 19, 2008

Live at the Pabst: Stars

Robert Elfgen - Untitled (2008)

Stars brightly lit up the historic Pabst Theater in Milwaukee tonight. Their music perfectly translates to their live presence, as they are whimsical, reflective, romantic, and fairytale-esque... taking the crowd on a journey of hardships, desperation, and inner turmoil, but leaving them with inevitable, prevailing beauty. Much like a rose’s thorn that cuts deep into you, their music tears harsh, stinging, tense wounds that heal into sweetness.

It was nothing but fitting for Stars to launch out flowers to the crowd throughout the set. As band members shot out everything from fresh carnations to roses, fans, unlike blushing bridesmaids, didn’t mind getting cut by the thorns or poked by stems to get their little piece of pleasure from the pain.

Quite possibly one of the best vocal duos around, Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan feed off each other’s antics, perfectly balancing each other’s whims. Torq is one of the most passionate musicians around, as he calculates his theatrics and sings with such a wide range, full of animation. Beside him stood the gentle Amy Millan, whose soft, angelic, yet strong presence brightly illuminated the theater. Her warm, wispy vocals and graceful vulnerability lends her a certain power and intensity. Through it all, Stars were endearing and gracious, generously covering songs from Heart, Set Yourself on Fire, and In Our Bedroom After the War.

With Stars, you just don’t know what they’ll do next, if they will be broken or whole.

-- Beth Wick

Stars - Your Ex-Lover Is Dead (mp3)


Apr 18, 2008

More Great Songs of 2007: 21-30

Paul Fryer - Nagasaki (2007)

Sounds of 2007 continue to dance in our heads and so does my countdown "More Great Songs of 2007"... a list of my father's additions to my 100 Great Songs of 2007 project. [See previous #s 1-10, 11-20] Aside from great music, the list subtly introduces his interests in African public health, dark beer, and anything connected to Broken Social Scene.

21) Annie Lennox - Sing (mp3)

22) The Apples in Stereo - Energy (mp3)

23) Dinosaur Jr. - I Got Lost (mp3)

24) The Fiery Furnaces - Restorative Beer (mp3)

25) A Fine Frenzy - Whisper (mp3)

26) José González - In Our Nature (mp3)

27) Kate Havnevik - You Again (mp3)

28) Lucinda Williams - Are You Alright? (mp3)

29) Matt Pond PA - Locate the Pieces (mp3)

30) Metric - Soft Rock Star (mp3)

*Download 21-30 as a zip file*


Apr 15, 2008

I Was Only Dancing

Carlo Van de Roer - Swim

Stars Like Fleas - I Was Only Dancing (mp3): There is lightning that forgets its umbrella at work and walks home in the rain. There are aircrafts that check the mailbox hours before it will be delivered. There are seagulls that don't think they should have to lock the door in the spring. These are the neighbors who are filled with life, but mostly with thoughts of life. Who dance in the shower, but mostly just shower. What is today without the defenses, the meticulously crafted statutes, the corrugated bath mats? It is the stars like fleas.


Apr 13, 2008

Live at the Majestic Theater: Jesse Malin, Light

Fallen Fruit - Bananas (2004)

Jesse Malin is a rare citizen of New York. He is in several rock bands, keeps the company of Jakob Dylan, Ryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen and Josh Homme, yet he is pretty normal in his aspirations. His sound is very polished and his songwriting is admittedly centered around “hope, struggles and smiles; about finding ways to keep on keeping on." Not the type of New York rock star we are accustomed to, but he does what he does and he does it well.

Let me be straight, Jesse Malin is a professional musician.
He seems to be living a life that is beyond most of us, bloggers and fans alike, accurately living as a rock and roll star without the embellished glory. No one wants to be Jesse Malin... he doesn’t bring an austere of culture that is hip or even desirable. So isn’t that what we are always complaining about - a fake scene of blogs and message boards that is transient and full of hollow hype?

If that was the case, we should be embracing this man's honesty and his craft. But this is exactly where he seems to miss the mark by feeling overproduced, dwelling on every moment for sonic crispness. Upon listening a few times, it is apparent why people like Ryan Adams and the Boss are drawn to him. Those men have respect for the industries of Nashville and Abbey Road. They appreciate this style as a tool to harness their overflowing ability to communicate what is desirable about rock music.

(5:42PM)

In Madison tonight, Bon Iver is playing the Orpheum and Cloud Cult is at the High Noon with American Music Club. Tough choices, and Malin is apparently not the most popular choice.
The show is empty, save for 20 or so people scattered around the Majestic Theater. Jesse Malin comes out with just his guitar and another guy on the electric piano. There will be no duet with Bruce Springsteen tonight, just as there will be no drums or bass. But there were plenty of stories, as Jesse Malin reflects in the silence of tonight - interrupting every slight pause in the show with a verse from his life.

Since the show was Jesse Malin light, here are a few highlights from his storytelling.

1) He complains about being in a rock band: the classic complaint that it is not as easy or glamorous as it seems. “Not everything is cool. It’s not cool when a guy puts on the plastic glove at Subway and takes your order. It’s not cool when you have to check your mattress for bed bugs at the hotel.”
Then, song.

Some bands do not consider the ability to eat and sleep at a hotel un-cool. It beats mustard sandwiches and van seats.

2) Next, he explains that life was rough for the young Jesse Malin. “I remember when I used to get made fun of for wearing a Ramones t-shirt. In Queens, if you’re even a little bit different, everyone attacks you. This girl comes up to me and gives me shit for being a punk. By the way, this is the girl who had the teased hair, the acid-washed jeans and all that shit that they used to wear.” Then, song.

Hypocrisy layered upon hypocrisy makes for irony. Jesse Malin didn’t control the irony, though, so it was a bit uncomfortable. But the worst was yet to come.

3) He explained that Cracker Barrel has a policy of feeding touring musicians for free if they sign some glossies. So, over the years he has developed various schemes to get free food from the unassuming Cracker Barrel, and in the process became well versed in all things Cracker Barrel. This includes their policy for not serving homosexuals. Not sure if this is official, unwritten, or just made-up by Malin.

So I walk in there and I say, (in a high society-type accent) ‘Do you serve fruits?’ And she’s like (in a hick accent) ‘What?’ So I repeat it, ‘Do you serve fruits?’ And she still has no idea what I’m talking about, so I say it again: ‘Do you serve fruits?’ And she finally gains her bearings and says, ‘Oh, we have peach cobbler, apple, cherry…’ (laughter) Sometimes you got to stand up for them.” Then, song.

How I imagine Jesse Malin got like this:

I picture Jesse Malin as a boy living in Queens, seeing all different types of people swimming around the metropolitan landscape that is New York. His eyes fill up with disco balls, impressing girls with the way he moves. There is no flaw in young Jesse’s confidence. Not until he sees someone with a ripped t-shirt, speaking with a fake British accent, does he meet what he consideres an equal. Young Jesse does what any good Queens boy would do and calls him a fruit. The punk spits in Jesse’s face and casually ambles towards the tavern. Various personas later, trying desperately to re-create the same awe in other people that loathing punk once created in him, Jesse Malin reads charts and sings for the everyday people.

-- Mitchell Bandur

Jesse Malin - Aftermath (mp3)


Apr 12, 2008

Cold Dead Flesh Banging Against the World

Art on Acid - Apes on Acid (2008)
[featured by Anxiety Gallery at the new Cha Cha
]

Like Henry Cowell, tonight is shaped through meticulous notation at the ends of a cluster of noise. It's a buzz off into into the. Heh and to the gam into gim. kkxxrr. , relax. Harsh. Hoouu Uuuooo ooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo. oooooooooo. oooooo oooo oooooo ooooooooooooooooo.

Atlas Sound - Friday Night We Took Acid And Laid On Matt's Bedroom Floor Staring at His Ceiling Fan While His Parents Watched TV Downstairs (mp3)


Apr 10, 2008

With Hands Behind Her Back

Amy Stein - Grasp

Adele - Daydreams (mp3): I love how Adele's voice is so eager that it seems to roll down a hill, wild and textured but perfectly controlled. She pauses only occasionally when she suddenly seems to realize that you may want to hear the guitar too. But you miss her the second she's gone. Hers is an a capella richness that needs nothing but quiet.

Apr 9, 2008

Sinyou

Christian Holstad - Members Of Leather Beach Hold A Meet N Greet To Discuss The Daily Agenda (2007)

Colin Meloy - Red Right Ankle (mp3): Colin massages slowly from left to right, "we together make a limb." The crowd purrs silently, "mmm mmm." We are not a limb, we are why we don't need limbs. But this is very difficult to talk about on a subway with a stranger. "This is the story of the boys who love you," the stranger says. It's not. It's the story of why we are love without the lovers. The crowd purrs silently, "mmm."


Apr 7, 2008

Packed Like Frozen Food and Battery Hens

Steinar Christensen - Romeo The Champ (2007)

Dark Meat - Freedom Ritual (mp3): If this intro is a trick to get me to listen to a free form jam-rock song, it actually kind of works. The style hints at Radiohead's "Life In A Glass House" as its lazy vocal crescendos into passionate big band chaos. But substitute Thom with an even higher falsetto and then a strong Southern accent, the subtle dynamics with brash transitions ripped out of notebooks, the intriguingly balanced jazz with saxophones that are much too curious. Ok, so it's not a great comparison... but I'm grasping at reasons why I find this song "neat" instead of awful.

Apr 6, 2008

If I Could Cry

Martin Creed - Work #503 (2006)

I wanted to be the person that came to you with answers. "I've figured it out," I'd say. "Our society can rise up and be enlightened". Apparently, my tiny actions were art to motivate Pangean shifts in this situation and I knew better than the rest. Talking about abstract concepts were important transformations for people I had never met. Instead, this speech is about failure. About empty rooms. About thinking something could be changed without defining what that was. About trying to satiate a personal need with shallow attempts at glory. I'm sorry for putting that on you. It was a strange time in life, I'd think... strangely as I was still here. "It's time to go to sleep." I'd say. I'd be more than right. And I'd set the pen on the pillow. And still wonder where you were tonight.

Jens Lekman - If I Could Cry [It Would Feel Like This] (mp3)

Apr 5, 2008

Sunday Sexy Nerd Party

Beeple - IV.7 (annoyingly small mix)
[
being screened at the Wisconsin Film Fest at 3:30 this afternoon]

Polish your TI-89 calculator and dancing shoes for The Woodhands, OCD Automatic, and Loop Retard tomorrow (Sunday April 6th) at the Project Lodge. The Woodhands are bringing the sassy electro-pop (think Crystal Castles in high school in Canada), OCD Automatic is bringing the hits, and Loop Retard is bringing the deconstruction. You bring the party. Festivities start at 7PM and end by 10:30PM so the neighbors have time to recover. Hopefully you never will.

The Woodhands - Under Attack (mp3)


Apr 3, 2008

Wide Webbed World

Aleksandra Radonic - Nana (2006)

Agitated Radio Pilot - World Winding Down (mp3): This is for those of you on porches in the dark tonight watching the empty trash cans on the curb. It's black and wide and chilly like eleven o'clock. And ornamented sparse with a single crow on a silent telephone line above. Imagine how it feels to die from stab wounds on a night like this, in a city like this. World winding down around you like this.

Apr 2, 2008

Saying Hello To Thunder

OliverLaude_YossefsBuck

You must remember this, darling: That there is no artist better than the disagreement your circadian rhythm has with the sun. Some days your epic spirit will circle like puddled oil in your blue tea of the clear sky. And that'll be the stuff of clouds. Your stormy screams will have the effect of caffeine as you sit next, wrap your arm around the back of the chair, and giggle into the evening.

Lykke Li - Little Bit (mp3)




Apr 1, 2008

Vote Wyndham



The Headlights - TV

Come support www.JustSayinIsAll.com as we present The Headlights and The Evangelicals at the High Noon Saloon in Madison tomorrow evening (4/2) at 8pm. It promises to be a room filled to the brim with fresh indie pop and a Midwestern subtlety that glances at its shoes before it knocks your socks off with it's smile. Tickets are only $7 and available here or at the door. Ryan has an interview with Josh of the Evangelicals today at Muzzle of Bees.

The Evangelicals - Skeleton Man (mp3)


The Headlights - Cherry Tulips (mp3)





The Headlights - Cherry Tulip