Be sure to keep an eye on their website HERE for updates and hopefully tour info.
Even with their busy schedules, there are plans for a few live shows and they've already released a video of their first single "Come Around". (Check it below, its double A a-awesome!)
It's a lot easier to head over there and read it, but too wrap it up in a nutshell and get you intrigued:
The author was hiking in California's, "Joshua Tree National Park"...a park that spans almost 800,000 acres of desert.
While hiking, the author found a CD (inside of an old floppy disc, inside of a plastic bag...) with an odd message on the cover and yes, I kid you not, a treasure map.
Upon listening to the CD, they found 11 tracks of odd noises, breathing, guitars, and voices. Some sort of sound like music, while others just sound like ethereal noises or background chatter.
There was an e-mail address listed , but no replies have been returned. When the CD was put into itunes, the track names were revealed, but the artist came up as, "???".
Anyways, be sure to hit the jump off and get in on this mystery! CLICK HERE
Hopefully with the help of the interweb, this case will be cracked.
UPDATE 1 "What We know so far"- News of this "mystery CD" is spreading around the internet. A lot of message boards/forums pretty much ignoring this as someone trying to get free publicity for their band or something.
Either way, it's still fun to join in the hunt. So here's what we've figured out so far.
The e-mail address was: andernestborgnineasdominic@gmail.com
This refers to the television series Airwolf...which starred Ernest Borgnine as Dominic. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086662/
On Track 3 ("Long Stem Road") - we hear what is clearly reversed sound. I re-reversed, and...it's pretty much nothing. You can hear, "beep bop doo doo doo" and then you'll hear a male voice say, "To me I suck"
On Track 7 ("Monied vs. Landed") - we are treated to a quote: "When you have lost yourself in the wasteland of unending nothingness, the night things will come." Turns out, thanks to Amazon, this is an excerpt from the book, "Necronomicon: The Wanderings of Alhazred)" [http://www.amazon.com/Necronomicon-Wanderings-Alhazred-Donald-Tyson/dp/product-description/0738706272 ] Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necronomicon
Update 2 "MetaFilter to the rescue" -
The metafilter community picked up on the story and immediately jumped into action. http://www.metafilter.com/86940/The-Crazy-World-of-andernestborgnineasdominic
As I mentioned, the initial 100 or so posts are all pretty much skeptical of the whole thing, which I understand but...it's TUESDAY, have some fun!
user 'pla' posted two GREAT points:
The tracks have number and "of" tags, suggesting twelve tracks with #9 missing (the ninth track on the site, "Gloomsday", identifies itself as track #10).
The 12th track (11th as listed) identifies the band as "Musky Taint" and the album as "Tres Mellow", from 2006. It also identifies the artists as "Evan: tremelo, Ilya: Delay, Dan: bass, Ken: Drums". A quick Google search for various combinations of those turns up nothing very promising.
User 'yoyo_nyc' took this information and of course Googled it, which brought up THIS SITE as pretty much the ONLY result.
It's a blog post from 3 years ago (2006) on a blog titled...gulp...get this:
SWAN FUNGUS
Do me a favor and scroll up to the original post I made...who did I give credit to on the WFMU site for finding the mystery CD? (If you don't want to scroll, the user was, "Swan Fungus".
DING DING, looks like we have a winner, and in this case...unfortunately it appears to be some shameless self promotion. This whole thing was like a musical version of the "Balloon Boy" hoax.
That's about all I know and really that's about all that makes sense. After watching it, I still have some questions...mainly about that last scene. (WTF is it? WTF is it from?)
*Note: No chipmunks were mentioned/harmed in this post. *
Alvin Band is a trip to listen to...plain and simple. A musical journey that finds the listener completely controlled and in the hands of Rick Alvin Schaier.
Schaier created the entire album in a friends bathroom using little more than a microphone and a Powerbook. As you might imagine, what came out this are 9 songs of incredible vocal compositions, not far off from the freak folk/indie sound we get from bands like Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear and Panda Bear. The album titled, "Mantis Preying" released this September and I'm finding it to be a GREAT car companion especially during these cold Fall and Winter months.
Below you can check out the official video for, "Temple Pressure" which is off the Mantis Preying album. Alvin Band have also released a 6-song EP known as, "Lady Portrait" and thats all. So Mr. Schaier, the people demand...more, more, more!
Alvin Band - "Temple Pressure"
Schaier is also drums/vocals for the band, "Miniature tigers", whom are getting nationwide attention thanks to solid reviews from Rolling Stone and Spin magazine.
Animal Collective's new EP, "Fall Be Kind" is set to release officially on December 8th, 2009. That said, we'eve already heard a few fantastic tracks off the album, released as singles or from live playings.
Here's their song, "What Would I Want? Sky" (Rated by pitchfork the rare 10...they do admittedly love their AC over there. Hey, so do we!)
Here we have Animal Collective at their very best, taking trippy percussion/blipping guitars and transforming them into into an indie pop jam with a very distinct AC timing.
Even bigger: The song features a sample from the Grateful Dead's, "Unbroken Chain"...the first ever legally cleared sample from the band EVER.
Stumbled across this great rehearsal session with Jerry on banjo.
I was looking for a live version of him and Grisman performing 'Shady Grove' couldn't on YouTube thoguh. Anyone know if such a thing exists?! Hit me up!
The end of the year always brings about "Top Album" and "Top Track" lists. Counting down the artists and the songs that were stuck in our head for 12 months. (Or if you're tastes are like mine, I remember my favorite tracks of 2008 cropped up late, November-ish.)
As we approach the end of 2009 however, the lists become extra epic. No longer "Best of the Year" but now... "BEST OF THE DECADE"
While many albums or songs are no-brainers, you will often find a few good surprises in the lists.
That said, I don't have the time, energy, or power to write one up myself. I'd make a list of my favorites only to be torn a new one by friends and readers for, "Not including MY favorite album!"
So without further ado, here are the best of the best from what's out there so far. These are the big names in music blogging/reporting. I will work to keep this update continually until the end of the year. So if you happen to have a list you would like added, please comment or shoot me an email!
I encourage you to dig deep into these, don't just see who they chose as #1. See who they chose as say, #23 and give them a spin! I mean, you are reading this post...I know you have nothing better to do.
Just press play and enjoy. If you like this, feel free to download the EP which MillionYoung has given away from from his website here. (NOTE: the link on his page is broken, use THIS ONE!)
Dock Ellis was a pitcher in the MLB during the 1970's.
While his career included a World Series win and a starting position for the NL in the All-Star Game...he is probably most remembered for pitching a no hitter with The Pirates in 1970.
The guys over atNo Masgot hold of a 2007 interview Dock Ellis gave about the fateful game and created an animated story of the tale. It's truly a great work.
This is what the internet is great for. We get to see some of our favorite funny men and women doing what they do best...without any middle man. No ratings to worry about, production values and second takes, or even regulations to follow.
In this video, which I came across via "Weird Al" Yankovic's (@ALyankovic) twitter feed, a bunch of comedians got together under the name, "Comedy Death-Ray Xmas Nativity Choir"
The choir members include:
Patton Oswalt, Mike Phirman, Jimmy Pardo, Brian Posehn & Scott Aukerman, Garfunkel & Oates, Aimee Mann, Chris Hardwick, Paul Scheer & June Diane Raphael, Doug Benson, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Nick Thune, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Cracked Out, Dragon Boy Suede, Natasha Leggero, Thomas Lennon & Ed Helms
Too often we see Top 5 or Top 10 lists of the best TV Theme Songs of all time. They're great and often bring about a sense of nostalgia. Albeit to say that a TV's theme song is the 'best of the best' it is important to choose a generation.
Dick Van Dyke or Mary Tyler Moore certainly have their place in the hall of fame. Just the same, the Fresh Prince of Bel Aire and Family Matters deserve to be hanging right beside them. Certainly these top TV theme songs are generational.
So today, I bring you, the Top 5 TV Theme songs on television RIGHT NOW! You can still turn on the TV after work and catch these theme songs as they play on a debut episode of the series.
Without further ado...the list...
5. Good Eats (Food Network - M-T, 8pm EST) I'm not sure if I love the simplicity of this song or just seeing Alton Brown's face. But after quite an extended number of seasons, I still get a joyous feeling when I hear this song. It just makes you happy.
4.30 Rock (Comedy Central - M-T, 11pm EST) The theme to 30 Rock is as quirky as the show itself. It's just enough to get you ready for the episode and quickly introduces the cast. Again, it's simple but works and is quite memorable.
3. The Office (NBC - Thursdays at 9pm EST) It's tough to take down the office. It's had a catchy theme song for many seasons now and the devoted fan base has covered it a thousand different ways which you can find on YouTube. It's still a classic.
2. Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX - Thursdays at 10pm EST) God I love this show...you get that first bit of funny...then the name of the episode...and BAM! You're hit with this theme which to me, is very Married With Children-esque. You hear the song and instantly relate it to the show.
1. Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO - Sundays at 9pm EST) I'm sure this wasn't any secret. Quite possibly the best show CURRENTLY on television.
Honorable Mention: Of course I wanted to include The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Southpark...but they were too obvious. They've been around for so long now that I'm almost annoyed when I hear them. Same goes for the Survivor Theme Song(s). There's been some 20+ seasons of that show and they all maintain the same dramatic chanting/tribal vibe.
Worst Theme Award: I had to include something for this category...and we have a clear winner.
Dog The Bounty Hunter (A&E - Wednesday at 9pm EST) "I'm the dog...the big bad dog." ...'nuff said...
I personally love the Fall season. The bright colors of the leaves on the trees just before they fall to the ground. The smells of fireplaces burning, warming the heart and soul. The sounds of plucking guitar strings forming a beautiful melody that just makes you feel good on the inside...
If you're with me on that, especially the last part, then I'm sure you're a fan of the Fleet Foxes.
Their sound to me, is the EPITOME of Autumn and Winter. Unfortunately they're not due to release a new LP until the Spring of 2010.
However the front man for the group, Robin Pecknold, has been releasing a lot of great solo EP's in the time off from the band. Along the same lines...he's been re-tooling classic folk tunes under the moniker White Antelope, in a way that only he can.
If you're like me and you're missing the Fleet Foxes...fear not. Mr. Pecknold is here to save the season.
White Antelope - "Silver Dagger"
White Antelope - It Ain't Me Babe (Bob Dylan cover)
This is an awesome mash-up of Pink Floyd's epic, "Dark Side of the Moon" with the first episode of the BBC's, "Planet Earth" television series.
My hat's off and a round of applause to Allan Corbett, who thought of the idea and created the amazing video. The audio and video tracks are completely unedited and are ripped of the original vinyl and DVD issues of each work.
(PS - oh...and this might be a great time check out the awesome online mash-up creator, "YouTube Doubler". It really doesn't get any easier than this...just provide two YouTube links and it automatically mashes them up in two separate players side by side. It couldn't possibly be any easier or more fun...give it a whirl.)
White Fury is a film prodcued by AIP Studios in 1990 to little or no fanfare. This can be attributed to the fact that...well...it was produced by AIP studios. Notorious for releasing a ton of low budget films in the late 1980's and early 90's. A majority of which were written and directed by the same core people. VHS after VHS of horrible dialogue and some inadvertently hilarious prop/scene mistakes.
How low budget are we talking here?
Check out the trailer for "White Fury" below and see for yourself. This as well as many other movies released by AIP have reached a cult status similar to The Room. You owe it to yourself to find these movies and check them out with some friends. Intoxicants not included, but recommended for an over the top, absurdly hilarious night.
My favorite current band in all the land, My Morning Jacket, are...believe it or not this is the oddest announcement I've made on Coffee Con..set to appear on the FOX cartoon, "American Dad"
The episode premieres November 22nd at 9:30pm...so set your DVR's immediately.
The episode is titled, "My Morning Straitjacket" and will be about main character Stan becoming obsessed with the band and deciding to become a groupie.
The first set of screens from the episode are mind blowing. Enough to make even the biggest "American Dad" basher realize this is a very big episode.
Certain songs, for whatever reason, just have an innate quality that help them stand the test of the time.
So can be said about "Baby What You Want Me To Do", originally written by the great Blues musician Jimmy Reed.
ORIGINALLY is the key word there, because since its creation, it has been covered countless times by a wide range of artists.
Erma Franklin took the blues classic and turned it into a funk & soul gem. Elvis used it to define himself in his '68 Comeback Special TV program. Watching him in the video below...there's no doubt he is...THE KING. ...and the list goes on. The Grateful Dead have covered this song, Johnny and Edgar Winter, and so on, and so forth.
It's good to look back and recognize Jimmy for his contributions to the world of music. A posthumous inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, you owe it to yourself to dig into his collection. (In fact you'll most likely hear a song and have that, "Aha! So this is the guy who originally wrote this song!?" moment)
That said, the videos below prove...you can never have too much of a good thing.
I thought about making the above quote the entirety of this post, but figured I should expand a bit more on this awesome rising star.
Signed to Matador Records in 2009 and hailing from Philly PA, Kurt Vile may just be THE IT artist of 2009.
Though you can't picture him, you may know him as the lead guitarist for the indie act, "The War on Drugs" (Also out of Philly...and also very awesome). Vile also plays with a backing band known as "The Violators"...makes sense if you think about it for a second.
Now you CAN picture him.
His most recent album, "Childish Prodigy" was released early last month and I can't stop playing it. (Seriously, even if you try to stop it, the songs are still going on in your head)
I encourage you to start early on this one...Kurt Vile is poised to take on the universe in the near future.
Here's his MySpace page and some streaming tracks off his newest album, ala YouTueb of course, to wet your palate.
Brings you back to much much simpler times. Disregard all the complicated issues of the modern world. Let Pokey, a veritable modern day Bob Dylan, settle your bones and make you feel like there isn't a worry in the world.
This is an incredible dog. It can dance the Mambo. This dog is incredible. Mambo it can dance. This is an incredible dog. It can dance the Mambo. This dog is incredible. Mambo it can dance. This is an incredible dog. It can dance the Mambo. This dog is incredible. Mambo it can dance. This is an incredible dog. It can dance the Mambo. This dog is incredible. Mambo it can dance.
After seeing Hoots and Hellmouth twice in the last 2 months I have to say I am impressed. They feature some fancy pickin' on acoustic guitars, a mandolin, and an upright bass. They also do a fair amount of stomping and jumping on a plywood tambourine contraption. It sounds great live. altsounds.com seems to think they suck pretty badly according to their review of the new album "The Holy Open Secret", but I disagree, I am digging it. Here's a taste.
There is an exhausting amount of show reviews still trickling out of indie blogs everywhere from this years CMJ Music Marathon in New York City.
One of the acts getting rave reviews is the Brooklyn electronic duo Sleigh Bells (Even the site everyone loves to hate, Pitchfork, had great things to say rating their song "Crown on the Ground" a 9.)
So what? Well give it a listen. The song sounds like they hired a 3 year old to sit behind the mixer. Each note crunches and grinds at an intolerable volume. It's annoying and you'll wan't to turn it off after 30 seconds. The only thing is you're hearing is fine and so is your volume. The songs are intentionally like this...it's their gimmick...and it's working.
The big bang comes 10 minutes later...when you say, "Wait a minute...let me play that again, I kind of liked it." You actually begin to miss all the noise. That is why, "Crown on the Ground" as well as the other tracks Sleigh Bells have released on their MySpace page are oddly addictive!
