Hold Steady-Stay Positive

Brooklyn's super cool Minnesota band The Hold Steady just released their 4th album entitled "Stay Positive."  Here in the cities the Hold Steady are praised as rock royalty; what I can't figure out is why.  I have three theories: 1) they are a good band, 2) some of the members of the band are from the Twin Cities (and Minnesota LOVES to celebrate its own) or 3) its cool for hipsters outside Minnesota to listen to music about another town.* 

Nevertheless, the Hold Steady's 4th record is much like their previous three. Its Bruce Springsteen's E-Street band playing blue-collar rock n roll while a guy in a Twins jersey talks about the relationships of made-up people.  The Current is playing tracks 1, 2, & 8 as the singles. Enjoy because I like the Hold Steady.

Final thought: The Twin's catcher Joe Mauer (from MN) should be nicknamed Hold Steady. He, like the band, is from Minnesota,  catcher's help to "hold" runners on base, and finally, Joe takes pitches and is a very consistent or "steady" presence in the middle of Gardy's line-up. 

*Steal.this.song founder Kyle came up with this theory. 

Sigur Ros: Part Deux

Reuploaded the Sigur Ros file. Sorry for any frustration. It's worth the wait.

If the .Mac file isn't working, give this link a try:

Sigur Ros

Happy Listening.

Dengue Fever-Venus on Earth

Here are some reviews for this album.
http://www.realworldrecords.com/catalogue/venus-on-earth

Beck teams up with Danger Mouse to create an interesting record that has rich electronic texturing, subdued baselines, funky beats, 1960s sound, and happy/sad lyrics. Turn it up and give it a listen.

Sigur Ros: Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust

These guys never disappoint. Paul was talking up track one, but I love me some track two. It's much less their typical speed and I dig it. There are themes that run through their music, and I'd like to see them rock out a bit more on this album, but the vocals are great and I love that I can't understand the lyrics. This means these guys get heavy play while I slay the dissertation monster. Enjoy.

Listening Party, Pat Boone, Scarlett Waits?

Okay , first I think it is awesome that my Itunes library classifies Listening Party as "folk". I mean I guess. But they are not James Taylor or Iron and Wine. Anyhow cool band from Canada that is touring with Wolf Parade and that Paul, Greg, and myself took a shining to. This album is called "Who are we missing?"

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=74527025


The second album I posted is an oldie but goodie, prolly all but forgotten Pat Boone album of 80's metal covers, "In a Metal Kind of Mood." It rocks.

Third, at first I thought to myself: "How long have I been sleeping to not know that there is an album on which Scarlett Johannson does Tom Waits covers?" And then I heard it. Two rights do not make another right in this case. It's awful. Luckily I heard before I bought it on some strange combination of impulse and amorousness. Here is a link:

http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/04/scarlett-johann.html

Arthur Brown The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

Weird late 60's British Psychedelia. Drop a tab and sit back and listen. I am the god of hell fire and I bring you FIRE!

For your pleasure there is this: