spacetoasters

Web Police is seriously ruining all my fun. Hopefully this music...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:29:00 -0800

Web Police is seriously ruining all my fun. Hopefully this music video of Cousins by Vampire Weekend, hosted by MTV, will stay online.

- “Hater of Internet Cops” Albert

Did you see him? Calvin Harris ran on stage during John and...

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:24:08 -0800

Did you see him?

Calvin Harris ran on stage during John and Edward’s X-Factor appearance on the live Saturday show. He held a pineapple on his head then ran off before being escorted out the studio.

Calvin Tweeted on Saturday: “Was just thrown out of x factor for jumping onstage during Jedward with a pineapple on my head.” He now plans to auction said pineapple on eBay for Great Ormand Street Hospital - the same charity the X-Factor single is raising money for.

Calvin told the BBC: “”I was inspired to make a mockery of the show. As a music competition it is a joke and I think it should be treated as such. “

But opinion is divided on whether this was a hilarious prank or an attention seeking stunt. On calvinharris.co.uk he is called everything from a “legend” to a “complete and utter cock”

- Albert

I’ve been MIA, sure, but I’m coming back full...

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:34:26 -0800

I’ve been MIA, sure, but I’m coming back full force.

Meanwhile, it’s here. Electro, indie, pop, whatever — I have a special place in my heart for John Mayer. And it’s fucking here.

- Lloyd

(Does anyone else think this is the most ridiculous album art ever?)

Owl City - Fireflies on Vimeo. Song was released awhile...

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:40:23 -0700

Owl City - Fireflies on Vimeo.

Song was released awhile ago, but I’m still giving it a listen every now and then. I can’t get over how similar it sounds to The Postal Service. The synth, the upbeat happy tone, and even the guy’s voice. He’s like Ben Gibbard Lite. Can’t miss out on the awesome nostalgia-induced music video filled with all sorts of toys and gadgets that I remember playing with.

Owl City - Fireflies.mp3

- Albert

The Strokes helped me ease into indie music back in the day and...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:45:15 -0700

The Strokes helped me ease into indie music back in the day and I thought it was only fair to give his solo album a shot. I fell in love with Julian Casablanca’s voice the moment I heard it back in the day. Now the frontman is releasing his solo album, Phrazes For The Young, on November 3rd (Amazon Link). It pretty much sounds like The Strokes, so there really isn’t much missing… which means I’m lovin’ it.

Julian Casablancas - Out of the Blue.mp3
Julian Casablancas - Left & Right in the Dark.mp3

- Albert

I’m sincerely surprised that this song from Major Lazer...

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:42:00 -0700

I’m sincerely surprised that this song from Major Lazer (Diplo and Switch collab) has not found its way to the airwaves. I don’t listen to the radio much, but when I do, it’s all repetitive garbage. This song however is accessibly mainstream, danceable, fun, and billions times better than the multiple plays that Jay Sean’s “Down” (vomit) gets. Personally, I like the original better than the Diplo remix. This song needs more praise.

Major Lazer - Keep It Goin’ Louder (feat. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze).mp3
Major Lazer - Keep it Goin’ Louder (feat. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze) (Diplo Remix).mp3

- Albert

PS. Swear I just turned on the radio to hear Jay Sean’s “Down”. (vomit again)

(courtesy of Kamarola) I’m taking a break from my endless...

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:26:41 -0700

(courtesy of Kamarola)

I’m taking a break from my endless script coverage to finally blog about something. I look off my balcony to finally the see the sun shining once again in Los Angeles, a sight that has been especially shy for the past few days. Rain, clouds, winds? In the beginning of Fall, something was off in Southern California. A freak incident?

It’s nice to hear the sound of my neighbor’s happy children screaming with joy outside, as they play in their mini playground in their backyard. A time to be happy and enjoy the fresh air. I feel like I’ve found a song that is cheesily fitting. The Very Best has just released an incredibly merry album that captures the cultural music of Africa. And you can’t go wrong with Ezra Koenig (which everyone seems to have a huge boner for, but rightfully so) who provides guest vocals for this celebratory song.

The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa (Feat. Ezra Koenig).mp3

Bonus: Just to remind us of the past few days in LA.

The Very Best - Rain Dance (Feat. M.I.A.).mp3

- Albert

The Swell Season - The Rain I’ve been especially swamped...

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:25 -0700

The Swell Season - The Rain

I’ve been especially swamped with work as of late, but that’s really no excuse not to blog. And speak of swamped, it seems like the whole world was caught in a downpour yesterday. Not entirely too encouraging that the rainy season is starting in mid-freaking-October. Hopefully the rain lets up at least for the remainder of this day so I can go to work unscathed…

The Frames frontman Glen Hasard has been teaming up with Czech pianist Marketa Irglova since 2006. Taking on the name The Swell Season, this duo brings some of the most heartwarming folk-pop music to the table. The two also co-starred in the movie Once back in 2007(an excellent movie that you should watch ) and were even once romantically linked.

The duo’s third album, Strict Joy, is due for release on October 27. While the two are both incredibly talented singers in their own right, they are at their best when they allow their voices to perfectly intertwine and complement each other. Hasard has his trademark “slightly accented, gruffy, raspy-but-not-as-bad-as-Ray Lamontagne’s” voice which is in turn offset by Irglova’s own soothing and ethereal vocals. The result is an incredibly poised album that knows exactly which emotional heart strings it wants to pull.

Instead of trying to fruitlessly trying to dissect the duo’s sound, I thought I’d let last.fm do it for me: (note the very descriptive Tags)

The album is superb and you should cop it by any means necessary, although if you can’t exactly wait for another two weeks, NPR is streaming it at their website:

NPR Streams Strict Joy

But for those who can’t wait, a few teasers: [my favorite tracks, per usual (:]

The Swell Season - The Rain

The Swell Season - The Verb

- Lloyd

P.S. Entirely too many references to water today: Rain? Swell? Stream? Jeez….

The things people do to hype their albums these days…...

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:13:00 -0700

The things people do to hype their albums these days… Vampire Weekend had a Girl Talk-esque moment earlier today, displaying a four hour countdown period on http://www.ithinkuracontra.com/, whereupon expiration, redirected you to their main website http://www.vampireweekend.com to the download of their new single for their upcoming album, Contra.

The band’s usual catchy guitar lines are abandoned in favor of the kalimba and the marimba to give the single a more traditional Mexican/Afrian feel…and the result ends up being rather catchy. Different, sure, but Ezra Koening’s smooth voice is there to remind you that you’re still listening to VW.

Contra drops mid January. Start getting excited because this means Vampire Weekend finally has new material for their set!

Vampire Weekend - Horchata

- Lloyd

Air - Sing Sang Sung In continuation with Phoenix’s...

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:10:00 -0700

Air - Sing Sang Sung

In continuation with Phoenix’s effort to bring Parisian Pop back to the top, Air drops their sixth studio album, Love 2, on October 6.

Hop on over to their myspace to get a full listen to the whole album before you decide if it’s purchase-worthy. Something interesting to note: it’s the first album produced entirely by the duo themselves. It’s mild and mellow, but kind of boring — certainly better than their previous two albums though. Butttttt, I’m in love with the CD’s first (proper) single.

Trop romantique. C’est magnifique, non ?

Air - Sing Sang Sung

Bonus:

Air - African Velvet <— Music for horny, French lovers who are DTF anytime.

- Lloyd

Classixx - I’ll Get You ft. Jeppe A week late, but...

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:10:00 -0700

Classixx - I’ll Get You ft. Jeppe

A week late, but whatever. I’ve been busy and depressed over my god damn Golden Bears.

The Bang Gang 12 label is doing a promotional deal where they’re releasing one mini-mix each week from their artists in anticipation for the label’s upcoming compilation CD releasing in October. Cassian’s was dropped last week, and boy is it funky. Perhaps the only thing that’s been helping me get over the travesty of Bay Area sports that was this past weekend. Australia is taking over the pop-electro scene.

Tracklist:
1. intro - ohmega watts
2. techno power - joe chile
3. jump to it - pat hughes
4. destination (cassian remix) - damn arms
5. african chant - scottie b
6. afro nuts (dcup remix) - yolanda be cool
7. i’ll get you - classixx <— <3
8. in your eyes (tensnake remix) - toby tobias
9. zuesapella - the eternals
10.down in la (shazam instrumental remix) - munk
11.i can do it - final destination
12.aNYway - duck sauce
13.make you mine (cassian remix) - miami horror
14.grow up (cassian remix) - swick
15.best party ever (jimmy2sox & air jordan remix) - toecutter
16.heartbreaker (discodeine remix) - metronomy
17.friday night - cassian
18.final round acapella - cassian

Cassian Round 1 Mini-mix: Download

- Lloyd

It’s rare to find an electro song that’s both...

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:45:07 -0700

It’s rare to find an electro song that’s both bangin’ AND mesmerizingly beautiful at the same time. Kudos Boys Noize.

Boys Noize - Gax.mp3

- Albert

One of my most anticipated films this year, Where The...

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:34:07 -0700

One of my most anticipated films this year, Where The Wild Things Are, spawns some of the happiest music I’ve ever heard. Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs devoted some time to creating an entire soundtrack for the film, under the name of Karen O and the Kids. It sounds very similar to Arcade Fire in regards to the instrumentals. The happiness primarily stems from the undeniably cute voices of the children that sing along, in conjunction with the free-spirited instrumentals. Drops September 29th. Take a sneak peak with these two songs.

Karen O and the Kids - All is Love.mp3
Karen O and the Kids - Rumpus.mp3

- Albert

A dramatic change has found its way to my life, as I have made...

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:16:57 -0700

A dramatic change has found its way to my life, as I have made the move down to Los Angeles. That’s right, I’ve left the heart of Silicon Valley in Northern California for work in the City of Angels. After months and months of drudgery searching and applying for jobs in the film industry, I’ve landed myself at a fairly major production company. While it’s not paid at the moment, it’s a great start for my career, getting my feet wet in the fast-paced world of movies. Excited, I am. But I definitely feel overwhelmed by the intricacies of the industry and the mere reliance on networking. Yet, this compelling industry breathes life into my seemingly motionless life. My job starts tomorrow.

I’ve also discovered my growing lack of interest in electro. I felt like the genre has come to a standstill in the past few months, as I reacquainted myself with the dulcet tunes of indie rock. Carefree and beautiful.

Hypemachine did little to waning fascination with electronic music, until recently, when the genre seemed to redeem itself in my eyes with two incredible remixes. It’s been awhile since a remix not only caught my attention, but also gave me some hard fast-paced synth that convulsed my body.

Major Lazer - Pon De Floor (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix).mp3

Whenever I think of Major Lazer and this song, it’s always reminded of its incredibly colorful and bizarro music video. But this remix perfectly captures the danceability of the song. Strong two step bass movements, oddly catchy vocal distortions, and that stuttered rhythm. I also don’t know what Chewy Chocolate Cookies’ intentions were when inserting the A-Team theme, but that’s pretty awesome too.

Boys Noize - Jeffer (Para One Remix).mp3

It was maybe a month or two ago that Para One announced that it would remix this Boys Noize song, and the wait was completely worth it. I still get chills listening to this song. It builds up perfectly, dumping one layer after another into a harmonious hard-hitting song.

Electro is back for Albert.

Life is good.

- Albert

Steve Aoki’s new banger, featuring Zuper Blahq...

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:04:00 -0700

Steve Aoki’s new banger, featuring Zuper Blahq (Will.i.am’s side project). The song itself is pretty whatever, but at least this video is triptastic.

Steve Aoki - I’m in the House feat. Zuper Blahq.mp3

- Albert

Albert: OMG OMG OMG PAVEMENT ARE FINALLY REUNITING! THIS IS THE...

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:35:25 -0700

Albert: OMG OMG OMG PAVEMENT ARE FINALLY REUNITING! THIS IS THE BEST NE…
Kanye: Yo Albert, I’m really happy for you. I’m going to let you finish, but Blink 182 had one of the best reunions of all time!
Albert: …

Albert: Fuck you.

Pavement - Cut Your Hair.mp3

- Albert

Damn you Daft Punk. Now I’m forced to buy yet another...

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:45:57 -0700

Damn you Daft Punk. Now I’m forced to buy yet another useless proprietary rhythm peripheral for my Xbox 360…

KiD CuDi’s anticipated album officially drops this...

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:00:00 -0700

KiD CuDi’s anticipated album officially drops this Wednesday and after a quick preview of his album, I’m excited to pick it up. I’m not quite positive who will win this next-gen rap battle between KiD CuDi and Wale, but KiD CuDi has a strong chance… especially with lively songs such as Enter Galactic. Strong production coupled with some great lyrical talent proves that he is going to be a promising contender for album of the year. Order his album from Amazon soon. As a reminder though, Wale’s album drops November 3rd, so prepare for a proper side-by-side comparison of both albums to truly find out which rapper can hold his ground.

KiD CuDi - Enter Galactic (Love Connection Part 1).mp3

- Albert

Art provided by: Crispy-Gypsy Yes, it’s that day. 9/9/09....

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Art provided by: Crispy-Gypsy

Yes, it’s that day. 9/9/09. No, it’s not the release of the Dreamcast 2. Rather, it’s a storm of The Beatles merchandise ready to cause devastation within your bank account.

1. The Beatles Rock Band Premium Edition ($249.99!)

Perhaps the most brilliant idea from the guys that brought you Rock Band since… well Rock Band. I was able to nab an early copy of this and have been playing it nonstop since. Harmonix has put in a lot of thought into this game. It’s not Rock Band featuring The Beatles. But rather, it’s The Beatles featuring the Rock Band engine. All the instrumental parts translate perfectly to the controllers and it sounds great. But by far the most enjoyable part about the game are the backgrounds that feature The Beatles in all their “phases.” From international music heart-throbs, to psychedelic acid-trippers, to the people’s chosen voice. Get this game, now!

2. The Beatles In Stereo ($179.99)

I’ve heard people complain about tampering with the original recordings to give a more modern stereo sound, but I’m all for it. Sure, it’s not the way The Beatles intended it to sound, but it sure does sound fantastic in my ears. That’s 14 classic remastered albums for $179.99. Easily a no-brainer for The Beatles fanatics.

So now here we are on the 9th of September in 2009, surrounded lovingly by The Beatles music, and I can only think of one way to contribute to this glorious day. And that is…

Albert’s Top 10 The Beatles Covers!

Keep in mind that I’ve chosen only a select ten song covers which intrigued me, moreso than replicating the original Beatles sound. I’ve leaned towards indie covers more than anything. Also, I’ve avoided choosing songs from the film, Across the Universe. Just remember, it’s only my opinion! Don’t hate yo.

10. Easy Star All-Stars - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (The Beatles Cover)

A genre I’d never imagine fusing with The Beatles. The Beatles meets… Reggae!

9. Elevator Suite - Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles Cover)
The Beatles meets… Jazz?

8. Bearfoot - Don’t Let Me Down (The Beatles Cover)

The Beatles meets Bluegrass… hahahaha. But it’s still worth listening to.

7. Elliott Smith - Because (The Beatles Cover)

I don’t know how such a dark man can hit such high notes. But this mystery doesn’t stop Elliott from lulling me into tranquility. RIP ES.

6. Sarah Mclachlan - Blackbird (The Beatles Cover)

This song is too cute for its own good…

5. Sufjan Stevens - What Goes On (The Beatles Cover)

SOOOOOOO Sufjan. He’s made it his own.

4. Rufus Wainwright - Across The Universe (The Beatles Cover)

I feel like if a sequel to The Beatles existed, Wainwright would be perfect.

3. Pavement - Something (The Beatles Cover)

Malkmus is so quirky and weird. Yet, his odd rendition is still something that should be heard.

2. Echo & The Bunnymen - Ticket To Ride (The Beatles Cover)

A brilliant “modern” cover of the song.

1. Fiona Apple - Across the Universe (The Beatles Cover)

Fiona’s alluring and captivating voice makes this song even more beautiful.

Bonus: Just because I love Belle & Sebastian so much…
Belle & Sebastian - Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles Cover).mp3

Happy Beatles Day!

- Albert

Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars And….we’re off!...

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:33:00 -0700

Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars

And….we’re off! It’s kind of hard to believe that I’m in my third year of college already — that there are less than two more years to slack off and live life scheduled around the next alcoholic beverage and problem set. While I can’t wait to see where I’m going to end up next, I sometimes wish that I could find one of those life-remotes like the one in that film Click (that Adam Sandler movie from a few years back) and just sloooooooooooow things down. Maybe I’d learn to appreciate things just a little bit more.

That being said, I’ve always been a nostalgic person at heart, and I freaking love the feeling I get when I see or listen to something that triggers fond memories of my past. Emo? Yes. Awesome? Totally. Relevant to the rest of this post? Vaguely, but surely!

Front runners of the Australian Electro scene for the past couple of years, Bag Raiders, recently repackaged their 2008 internet mega hit, Shooting Stars, and released it as their latest single on August 14, 2009. Originally included as an additional song in the Turbo Love EP, this standalone single now includes remixes from Cassian, In Flagranti, and Siriusmo. (Although sadly, the official release doesn’t include the other fantastic remixes done by Kris Menace or Shazam.)

Bag Raiders diverge a little from their previous sound of scale-happy synth usage and heavy electro guitar flair (think a clever mix between Futurecop! and MSTRKRFT) to bring you a bonafide euphoric listening experience in Shooting Stars. With a hook and lyrics that are more addictive than cocaine, the song features nothing but sunshine and more sunshine wrapped in sunshine.

I know it’s probably been mentioned before, but holy crap: Rhys sounds exactly like Dan Whitford from fellow Australian band Cut Copy. Fricken’ Unreal.

Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars

Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars (Cassian Remix)

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.

- Lloyd