Artist Spotlight: Tigercity

As promised, I wanted to do a spotlight on Tigercity - a four man outfit from Brooklyn. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys rip it up on multiple occasions in Boston. Having only released a 6-song EP titled "Pretend not to Love", they are currently jamming in relative obscurity, but they have the type of tunes and stage presence that have me convinced they will be big one day. Catch them while you can at a small venue. I dare you not to dance. As I mentioned in another post, their sound is hard to pin down - but this is a good thing - a unique sound is hard to come by these days. Their influences range from Prince to David Bowie to Daft Punk to Earth, Wind and Fire. They manage to sound like all of them and none of them at the same time. On top of these influences, throw in some infectious disco/dance beats, Bill Gillim's falsetto crooning and you have pure magic. Again, I can't say it enough, what you'll here below is great, but their live shows are incredible. In addition to their EP, they also have a currently untitled LP ready to roll out soon as well. Check it fools. . .

Happy Motherf-ing Monday: 12/8/08

. . . aaaaaaand we're back. Let's get to the tunes, shall we?

1. The Album Leaf - "Thule" These guys make some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard. Simple, clean, melodic and awesome.
2. Tigercity - "Are you Sensation" I saw Tigercity in Boston this weekend and they put on an amazing show. They only have an EP out right now "Pretend not to Love" - but they assured us an LP is in the works. More on these guys in an upcoming Artist Spotlight in a few days.
3. Q-Tip - "Won't Trade" A catchy song off Q-Tip's new album. This album reminds me of his Tribe Called Quest glory days.
4. Tennishero - "Alone" Makes me think of driving a thunderbird along an oceanside cliff in the summer. In the 80s. Why you ask? Not sure.
5. Au Revoir Simone - "Fallen Snow (Teenagers Remix)" A great song by Au Revoir Simone and one of the rare remixes that is better than the original.
6. The Killers - "This is your life" Probably the best song off their new album, "Day & Age".



And a few videos. . .

Fujiya & Miyagi have wireframe exoskeletons. And tanks. Sweet!

Fujiya & Miyagi - "Sore Thumb"


Evil Nine - "They Live"


Jay-Z - "Brooklyn Go Hard"

TV on the Radio - "Dancing Choose"


I can't get enough of these muppet videos. . .

Fraggle Rock - "Let Me Clear My Throat"

Songs of the Week: 11/24/08

As a Chromeo fan, I'm always pumped when I catch wind of a new song or remix by these dudes. When I heard they were performing "Kids Don't Stand a Chance" with Vampire Weekend on mtvU's Woodie Awards earlier this month, I thought it would be interesting if nothing else. Unfortunately, they laid an egg. Wow, did it f-ing suck. I blame Vampire Weekend - it sounded like they didn't want to be overshadowed by Chromeo's awesomeness. There was a glaring lack of Chromeo's 80's-R&B-synth vibe. Later, Chromeo released a studio version of the remix which was more along the lines of what I was hoping for.




I rustled up some videos for you too:

47 Miller Gang - "If You Blood Throw it Up"


Why? - "A Sky For Shoeing Horses Under"



I'd recommend seeing these guys live if you can. . .

The Go! Team - "Ladyflash"



Below is the first of three new Radiohead videos to premiere on MySpace Music this week. As a grand prize winner in Radiohead's animated video contest, a guy named Tobias Stretch received $10,000 to turn his winning entry into this full-length video. Yeah, it's weird, but it's too interesting to turn off.

Radiohead - "Weird Fished / Arpeggi"

Hump Day Tunes: 11/19/08

Happy hump day peoples, as usual, I've posted some songs from an array of genres for your listening pleasure: A new song from Beirut, one of Okkervil River's best, a Feist Remix by Boys Noize, a collaboration between Snoop and 100 Suns (a member of Massive Attack) which is featured in the "In Prison my Whole Life" soundtrack, a grooooovy Hercules and Love Affair track, a new song by Ultraviolence, Little Joy's first single and finally, my favorite song off Q-Tip's most recent comeback album, "Renaissance".

Moving Picture Shows: 11/12/08

Hi Friends, it's been awhile but back today with some videos, some new some old, that are fun for both the eyes and the ears. Enjoy. Happy Hump Day.

Sigur Ros - "Við Spilum Endalaust"


Gnarles Barkley - "Mystery Man"


Radiohead - "House of Cards"


BPA (aka Fatboy Slim) feat. Emmy The Great - "Seattle"


BPA feat. David Byrne and Dizzie Rascal - "Toe Jam"


Kid Koala - "Floor Kids"


Octopus Project - "I Saw the Bright Shines"


Tobacco - "Truck Sweat" (NOT SAFE FOR WORK)

Artist Spotlight: Emancipator

Last week I posted one of this guy's songs, because quite honestly, it was one of the best remixes I've ever heard (see "Shook"). What I didn't know was that the guy behind this remix was actually a 19 year-old college student from Virginia who also creates original tunes and has ridiculous talent. On his first album "Soon it Will be Cold Enough," he uses elements of jazz, hip-hop and down-tempo combined with violins, piano and samples. The result is beautiful. Listen for yourself below, I posted a few songs. The album is currently only available in Japan and can be purchased as an import, so if you like what you hear, buy his album so he has money to buy ramen noodles and booze, when he turns 21, of course.

Thank Carl it's Friday: 10/24/08

Here are a few songs that have given me a good, swift kick in the ass here on Friday. The first is a remix by Emancipator which melds Mobb Deep and Sigur Ros together seemlessly, who would've thought? I have a love/hate relationship with remixes, but when they're done like this, It's all love. The second is Matt & Kim's "Daylight", a catchy poppy song that you and I will likely hate in 2-3 weeks, but F- it, let's live in the NOW. I also added the video, which is slightly-to-moderately amusing. The last two are old favorites of mine, one by Apparat & Ellen Allien and one by Statistics. Merry Weekend. Oh, and I left you a treat at the bottom.



Matt & Kim - "Daylight"


I know it's old, but I simply can't get enough of this clip. At the risk of losing all credibility, I also think the song itself heats. . .

Songs of the Week: 10/20/08

There's no rhyme, reason or theme to these songs. . . other than the fact that they all kick ass.



Scrounged up the video for Sebastien Tellier's "Divine" also. Quite enjoyable.

Sebastien Tellier - "Divine"

Artist Spotlight: Passion Pit

Good day friends, I wanted to kick off the Artist Spotlight segment with a badass band from Cambrige, MA called Passion Pit. I've been listening to these guys for the past month or so and just can't stop. These guys are talented, unique and their music/beats are - literally and figuratively - tight. They have a self-described "euphoric and blissfully melancholic sound," which I'm going to go ahead and agree with. Even though there are only 6 songs released on their recent "Chunck of Change" EP, you can just tell there's something special about these guys, they just "get it"

There's also an interesting factoid about their recent EP. It was originally recorded and produced by Michael Angelakos (the lead/brains behind the group) as a Valentine’s Day present to his girlfriend which then prompted him to give it out to friends and fellow students at Emerson College. Angelakos wrote and recorded the entire record by himself.

Have a listen. . .



Here is the recently-released video for Sleepyhead. . . pretty sweet.

Passion Pit - "Sleepy Head"

Moving Picture Shows: 10/9/08

Hello friendos, I compiled some videos for you. Some are a little old, but I don't care. . .

Have you ever played music with the TV on mute and thought "Hey, this music sneaky fits the scene - but wait, now that I think about it, it actually kinda doesn't"? No? Screw you then. Well that's what this video reminds me of. Ratatat is all about the low-budget video, and this is no different. They take an ABBA video, cut and paste their eyes and mouths in different places, give it a splash of 80's graphics, and Voila! they have themselves a video. A little creepy, but a lot awesome.

Ratatat - "Shempi"



Cool video, great song. I've noticed there are a lot of great songs that sample children's voices in the background. I'll have to post a best of songs-that-sample-children's-voices-in-the-background playlist. Watch for it.

Daedelus - "Fair Weather Friends"



I'd be lying if I said this makes any damn sense whatsoever. It kinda looks like a skittles commercial directed by a wizard on acid. . .

TV on the Radio - "Golden Age"



This song simply HEATS, as does the video. . .

Justice vs. Simian - "We Are Your Friends"



Will Smith's hot new track. . .

Will Smith - "Nice Clean Rap"

Hump Day Tunes

Just a random compilation of some tunes that are helping me fumble through work today. . .

Songs of the Week: 10/6/08

This week I'm posting songs from artists who have held a spot in my music rotation for months. As much as I love looking for new music, I keep coming back to these bands who all have, and will always have, a special place in my ears.



On a related note, I had the privilege of seeing Ratatat and Chromeo here in Boston last week on back to back nights. If they come to a city near you and you don't go, that would be an extremely unwise decision. Here are a couple of videos from Chromeo and Ratatat for your viewing pleasure. . .

Chromeo - "Bonafide Lovin'"


Ratatat - "Mirando"

Song of the Week: 9/29/08

Every Sunday-ish or Monday-ish, I'll post a song or few that will knock your eardrums into oblivion.

The first installment of Song of the Week is "Super Copter" by Truckasauras. It's a catchy, blippy and beepy, Nintendo-esque slant on the Airwolf theme song. Yes, Airwolf - the preeminent TV action-espionage-drama of the 80s. . . that one.

Welcome Friends

Hello peoples. Welcome the inaugural Carl Winslow Vs. Science blog post. For those wondering what to expect from this blog, it is going to be dedicated mainly to really bitchin' music - although I may feel the need to comment about current events or sports at times. If you like it, awesome, thanks for reading. If you don't, read something else.

Enjoy,
Goo