(bandwidths) | New Music Tuesday
April 06, 2010
(bandwidths) provides the soundtrack to your 2(x)istence. Because it’s getting warmer, the top is coming down on the convertible, and you don’t want to get caught cruising down the street listening to really cheeseball tunes
Each time Sigur Rós released an album, it was granted an automatic berth on critics’ end-of-year lists. That’s pretty heady stuff, but imagine the surprise of fans when the Icelandic group announced an indefinite hiatus to each pursue outside projects. Lead singer Jónsi (aka Jón Thor Birgisson) was first out of the gate, dabbling in his first post-Sigur Rós outing with boyfriend Alex Somers. Working under the name of Jónsi & Alex (with the latter also providing much of Sigur Rós’ graphic design work on concert posters and albums), the duo released the well-received Riceboy Sleeps. But with Go, the spotlight is entirely on Birgisson, and the recording’s nine sublime singles are a showcase for his distinct falsetto. The critics’ reaction? More (unsurprising) “Best of” accolades.
Over 3.5 million people in 32 countries jammed with Madonna on her 2008-2009 Sticky & Sweet Tour. Now, her Madgesty releases a live CD/DVD of the concert, recorded in Buenos Aires. (Lest you forget, Ms. Ciccone filmed Evita here, and honors her audience by performing “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.”) Though you may already own the original recordings, Madonna:Sticky&Sweet serves up fresh beats and new arrangements of older songs (“Into The Groove”) and amped-up orchestrations of newer material (“4 Minutes”). Sweet, indeed.
Nothing’s better than free, and Phoenix certainly agrees. The French alterna-rockers offer up Live in Sydney as a gratis download off their website. (At press time, the link is broken, but that’s nothing a Google search won’t fix … but you didn’t hear that from us.) The tracklist focuses heavily on their last album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, including the singles “Girlfriend” and “Lasso.”
Show now at shop.2xist.com
Read the rest of this entry.(bandwidths) | New Music Tuesday
March 30, 2010
(bandwidths) provides the soundtrack to your 2(x)istence. Or at least something to play whilst holding a boombox over your head in the rain (and nothing else but No-Show Trunks).
MGMT‘s next album, Congratulations, isn’t slated to bow until April 13, but with the threat of online leaks, the band decided to allow a free stream off its own website. The result is a nine-track album rich with psychodelic riffs and their signature “indie” sound (whatever that means anymore). Plus, the cover art makes us want to slip on some SURF briefs and look for that missing Trapper Keeper.
Erykah Badu gave up calling Tyrone long ago, and if you haven’t listened since, then download a copy of New Amerykah, Pt.2: Return of the Ankh. While the title is a mouthful, the sound is still intact — Ms. Badu’s soulful, thoughtful R&B still resonates.
Courtney Love may have returned earlier this month with Hole‘s “Skinny Little Bitch,” but former bassist Melissa Auf der Maur counterstrikes with Out of Our Minds. The also-former Smashing Pumpkin‘s second outing is the musical companion to a pending short film and graphic novel involving (what else?) Vikings, but regardless the 12-track album is a melodic, alternative joy.
Read the rest of this entry.(debriefing) | Wednesday, March 24
March 24, 2010
(debriefing) is a rundown of tasty links and news, curated for your daily consumption.
SURF-ing the concrete waves | kennethinthe212
The next crop of Hollywood heartthrobs | details
Christina Aguilera‘s identity crisis | justjared
On Facebook? Use protection | Daily Telegraph
In case your other hand (for whatever reason) is busy whilst online | DesignScene
[Illustration: Keith Geldof]
Read the rest of this entry.(bandwidths) | New Music Tuesday
March 23, 2010
(bandwidths) provides the soundtrack to your 2(x)istence. Or at least a playlist of music for dancing in nothing but no-show briefs.
English electropopsters Goldfrapp roar back with Head First, a 1980s-tinged album cut for the dance floor that’s decidedly more upbeat (and commercial-ready) than their last album, Seventh Tree.
Indie actress fave Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward return with their sophomore outing as duo She&Him with Volume 2. Expect more twee alt-style leanings similar to their lead single, “In The Sun.”
South By Southwest Video Special:
First, Welsh act Marina & The Diamonds (it only sounds like a group, but really it’s just singer Marina Lambrini Diamandis) performs “I’m Not a Robot,” followed by Danish band Alphabeat with the unapologetically poppy “Fascination.”
