MUST WATCH: Tadhana (live) by Up Dharma Down

It's not so obvious that I am a big fan of Up dharma Down, no?

Here's another live video of Up dharma Down singing their new single Tadhana which you can download legally here. By the way, this video is just a rehearsal. Watch them live! Check out their tumblr, twitter, facebook and website for gig info.




via TRageCapone

MUST LISTEN: White Moon by Beach House

White Moon is part of Beach House's iTunes Sessions EP which i am totally excited to download once I get credits. The EP contains the reworked version of previously released tracks from their awesome 2010 album Teen Dreams such as Walk in the Park, Norway, Silver Soul, and Real Love.

I can still remember the day when I first heard Norway. I literally cried. I didn't know why. I didn't even understand what the song meant. Anyway, White Moon is such a sway-your-head-side-by-side-with-a-smile-on-your-face kind of song. I guess I have a new morning music. Stream the song above and feel good in a major major way ;)

MUST WATCH: Congratulations by MGMT

What's with the dying freaks in music videos nowadays? Yeasayer has a walking one-armed, one-eyed tumor and now MGMT has this dismembering malnourished hairless beaked mammal. In fairness, I felt sad when that animal died. Oh well, watch this video for Congratulations.

I Bet You Didn't Know: Ninni

Yes, Ninni not Nina!

Ninni released an album back in 1999 which I discovered through a sale in Odyssey  Records back in highschool. I got her CD for only Php50 and if you take a listen to it, Ninni's album should worth more than that. Here in my blog, I just don't want to inform people about the latest music, I also want to share some hidden gems in our local music industry.

Ninni's brand of music is kind of hodge-podge. It has indie-pop, dance, electronica and straight up pop songs. I personally love the first track Oh!You Turn Me Around. It's such a sun shiny song which make me feel good everytime i play it. You must listen to Wakas ng Luha (End of Tears). If Robyn was a Filipino, this could be a possible hit. It's a dancey song with a bittersweet lyrics. And my all time favorite in this album is the last track. Pananagutan is a ballad that sings about responsibility and second chances in a relationship. It starts of as piano-driven until the drum and electric guitar parts rock it out midway of the song.

You can listen to the entire album below and tell me what you think about her music. I Wonder where she is right now? Anyway, enjoy the album.

ALBUM STREAM: Sufjan Stevens' All Delighted People EP

Sufjan Steven just dropped his new EP All Delighted People today and you, my dear reader, will be one of those lucky ones to stream it first. The eight-track EP is now available online for only $5.

BAND CRUSH: Youth Sounds

I get excited to post an entry every time I discover new music or artist that is worth sharing. Just like this new band from New Orleans called Youth Sounds. I received their 3-track EP The Bit Parts yesterday and up until I am still wishing that they'd send me more tracks. Coz like a sweet drug for a first time taker, I am wanting more and more.

Erika's voice is disarming as she whispers sweet music in your ears. Their music is moody and dreamlike but never loses a punch of edginess. It's like Sarah Mclachlan is singing the songs of Metric, Broken Social Scene, Stars and Club 8. Major love these guys.Check their MySpace for more info and to listen to their other track.

To Youth Sounds, thanks for sharing your music. Can't wait for your LP.

Here are two of the tracks from the EP.

As Strangers Would

Smoke and Mirrors

NEW MUSIC: Hands by The Ting Tings

I am not really sure if I like this new track from The Ting Tings but it sure is a catchy one. I only played it once in our communal stereo and our EIC was singing its chorus while exiting our office. I dunno, it's just way too disco gay for me. The duo teamed up with Calvin Harris in this track and you can download the unreleased remix of Hands here. Their sophomore album Kunst will be released this October.

Oh Mon Dieu!

Here's the teaser for the new season of my favorite chismosa from New York. Je ne peux pas attendre! (I can't wait!)

 

MUST WATCH: Madder Red by Yeasayer (feat Kristen Bell)

Who would have thought that a freaky creature that looks like a chuck of limb with one arm and blue eyes could get some affection from Kristen Bell. I'm sorry, but I tried to be sympathetic for that thing but it looks way too freaky for me. Kristen Bell is as charming as always so I guess, apart from that walking tumor, her performance did justice to the song. Madder Red is Yeasayer's most heartfelt song from their album and the video totally fits it. Not really sure about that i-dont-know-what-that-is thing, though. PUKE!

LIVE: Tadhana by Up dharma Down

Watch this live version of Up dharma Down's new hit Tadhana from their Route 196 performance. I haven't seen them sing this live so i got excited when I saw this on YouTube. There's a little change in lyrics on the latter part of the song and i like it when Armi does that. I just wish that Up dharma Down would make an exclusive live performance of this song on my blog and everyone would be happy!



image from martinvidanes.tumblr.com

Juvenile Rock Stars: They're Not That Innocent

They are still waiting for some bodily hair to appear but these young rockers definitely know how to use their electric guitars better than those other (older) rock star wannabes.

1. The Pretty Reckless

From Courtney Love feud to wardrobe indecencies, Taylor Momsen takes her rebellious character in Gossip Girl seriously and creates music that goes with the attitude. Her voice is surprisingly strong. I love the subtle huskiness of it. It's just good to know that she is rooting for this edgy direction instead of joining the teen star bandwagon. Just easy on the eyeliner, Lil J and everything is fine.


2. Tiny Masters of Today

Hailed from Brooklyn, New York, these punk rock siblings in their early teens just released their sophomore album Skeletons with collaborations with tiny and unknown names in the rock scene like Karen O and Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Fred Schneider (The B-52's) and Russell Simins (Blues Explosion). They are also being compared by the critics to The Ramones. How about that for some comparison to THE punk legend!


3. The Indecent

When I was 14 years old, I was busy collecting trading cards and memorizing the regions in the Philippines. Unlike these teens, they spend their time creating grunge music and giving it a youthful spin. If Kurt Cubain was still alive, this New York-based band would be a big threat in his career. When I first heard their single 25 Steps, I had no idea that it was by a band in their early teens. Yes! Like 12 years old or something. Their music is all out grunge. It's emotional, straight up rock and roll sound without any cute sugary in sight.  The Indecent's debut album will be released this September.

BAND CRUSH: Housse de Racket

One of the bands that I'd love to watch in Paris besides Phoenix and Juctice is Housse de Racket. The electro-pop duo is releasing 2 remix EPs of their early hit Oh Yeah which includes Synthetiseur and Sur Le Papier. Love! If you haven't heard of them, they are likely compared to Phoenix and Vampire Weekend especially in their song Oh Yeah. They sing in pure French so you might wanna brush up with your français
if you wanna sing along (perfect pronunciation and enunciation is a must).

Here's the video for Oh Yeah...



 ...and Synthétiseur


Check out their MySpace for more info

Belle & Sebastian New Album!

Here's the cover art of the new Belle & Sebastian album Write About Love. This is their follow up from 2006's The Life Pursuit. Love the cover! They always have the best cover arts for album and they never fail a single one. Oh wait, I hated the Storytelling album. Write About Love doesnt have a release date yet so keep on reading. :)

MUST LISTEN: Perfectly... Still by Curt Smith

Curt Smith, co-­‐founderof seminal music group Tear for Fears, releases “Perfectly… Still (featuring Universal Hall Pass),” the second single in a planned album-­‐length project of collaborations with, artists he meets via social media, on August 12, 2010. Smith is releasing “Perfectly…Still” via his KOOK Media label as a standalone single, which will be available in digital format from his website, AmazonMP3, iTunes, and other online retailers. It will also be available as a signed, limited edition CD single, sold only at concerts and via Smith’s website.

Smith met guest artist Universal Hall Pass (MelissaR.Kaplan) when one of his fans responded to a request for collaborator suggestions by tweeting: “Can I please be a complete slobbering fan girl and recommend the ethereal Melissa Kaplan?” Smith was captivated by Kaplan’s music and reached out to her via MySpace. Kaplan didn’t believe it was really him at first, but was ultimately convinced of both his identity and interest, and enthusiastically agreed to participate. As with his previous collaboration “All Is Love” with cellist Zoë Keating, Smith sent Kaplan the in-progress tracks, to which she added both vocals and instrumentation. To this day, the two haven’t yet met in person.



Check Curt Smith's website for more info

MUST WATCH/LISTEN: Hologram by These New Puritans

Watch this new video of These New Puritans for their third single Hologram and see how to make love with a piano courtesy of Sophie Sleigh-Johnson. You might wanna check out the Salem Remix of Hologram below if you feel like dancing.

LET'S GO: The Gentle Isolation EP Launch

If you enjoyed The Gentle Isolation's first single Let's Go Slow, which I featured on Band Crush, you can now listen to their other sweet delights as they release their EP It Started With An April Shower. Check out the poster above for the details of their launch. Let's go faster this time ;)

MUST WATCH: Animal Arithmetic by Jónsi

Yey! I knew Animal Arithmetic would be a single from Jónsi's solo album Go. The video shows us the whole anatomy of a drum set and how each instrument function in an up-close treatment. Eye love eat!

RARITY: Eyeliner/Pipikit Ako by Armi Millare

I saw this short film in UP way back in college called Pirouette directed by Alina Co and Malyn Punay. I forgot what the story was all about but what I clearly remember was the song in the end credits. I've searched for it on the net and asked Armi Millare herself if she had a copy but I got none. After 5 years of searching, I finally got in touch with the director and the writer of the song Alina Co through Facebook and asked for the copy. She didnt hesitate and sent me the file so we can enjoy this poignant and emotionally driven song called Eyeliner/Pipikit Ako.


Here's the lyrics of the song

"Pipikit ako, pipikit at magpapatihulog. 
Tutuksuhin ng hangin ang tastas ng aking 
paldang lumalagpas sa gilid ng bato. 
Nais kong lumangoy sa kawalan, 
lumangoy sa kawalan. 
Pipikit ako't sisisid sa karagatan ng mga bisig mo. 
Pipikit ako't sisisid sa karagatan, sa nalalabing karapatan ko. 
Nakabukas man o sarado ... 
Pagkatapos, sasabak ang aking katawan sa kawalan. 
Bahala na kung ano ang makita pagbukas ng aking mga mata. 
Mga matang nakapikit, nagpupumilit sumilip. 
Ooooh pipikit ako't sisisid ... pipikit, sisisid ooooh."

image from here

RARITY: Sugar Hiccup(Cocteau Twins cover) by Sugar Hiccup

Today's a good day for music hunting for me. I found lot's of new stuff as well as old ones. Just like this rarity by one of my favorite local bands from the 90's Sugar Hiccup. I have been searching for this song for ages and I finally got a copy.

Ever wonder where did they get their name? It's a song by the band who most influenced their music and sound- Cocteau Twins. Sugar Hiccup(song) was part of Cocteau Twin's EP Sunburst and Snowblind. Sugar Hiccup(band) then cover it for a tribute album for Cocteau Twins called Half-Gifts.

But what does Sugar Hiccup mean? Thoughts?

Here's the original version from Cocteau Twins:


And here's Sugar Hiccup's version:

Which version is better?

MUST LISTEN: Too Dramatic by Ra Ra Riot

I dedicate this new song to my drama queen friends. You know who you are!


And here's a preview for Too Dramatic's music video


Ra Ra Riot's sophomore album The Orchard is out on August 24th.

MUST LISTEN: Tadhana by Up dharma Down [new]

I just died!

Not just yet! I have to blog this first before everybody else would. We all love Up dharma Down. I personally love this band like I can marry them literally. But let's be honest, it's 'nakakasawa na' to watch these guys playing their old songs and covers.

Long wait is over! The new Up dharma Down single is finally out and it's a hot one. Tadhana comes from GMA 7's new fantaserye Ilumina. I know a lot of you would protest to this project and would cringe about the idea but nonetheless, UdD didn't lower their standards just to fit in the mainstream crowd. Rather, they made Tadhana something that everybody could relate to coz that's the reason why artists make music, right? So for those selfish hipsters snobs out there, you can hate this one if you must but as for me, it's one of their most well written songs. I dunno how are they going to market this one. Probably, there's a repackaged Bipolar in the works where they will include remixes, commercial jingles and other projects. I don't know, but third album is better.

Take a listen to this song and I'm sure it'll be one of your faves.



 image via updharmadown.com