New Music Video: Julian Casablancas

The Strokes frontman came out with a successful solo album this year and the lead single off Phrazes for the Young, "11th Dimension" comes with a killer and entertaining video. Talk about a smorgasbord of allusions and nods to classic icons. That Julian Casablancas -- he's all right.

"Forgive them, even if they are not sorry" - J.C. (haha)



"11th Dimension" - Julian Casablancas


P.S. 2009 Best Ofs and Superlatives are in the works.

Merry Christmas All

Wishing everybody a safe and Merry Christmas.

"Santa Stole My Girlfriend" - The Maine


THE BEST CHRISTMAS CAROL EVER
"Carol of the Bells" - Vienna Choir Boys (By no means the Best/Only version [i have 7 version of this song in my library])

New EP: The Rocket Summer

The Rocket Summer, comprised of just Bryce Avary who plays every instrument, couldn't be doing better. The festival junkie is done for 2009, but will be starting up again in 2010 with buddies from the Warped Tour. Maybe SXSW is in the plans for 2010 as well? Here's hoping. Bryce recently released

"Hills and Valleys" - The Rocket Summer

A Good Excuse to Post a Snow Patrol Song

Let's be honest, do I NEED an excuse?

I always get excited when movie trailers feature good songs. And this one is just so fitting! Snow Patrol's "Just Say Yes" for a movie about a girl going to Ireland to find her boyfriend so she can propose?! Also, I sort of, kind of like Amy Adams.

Here's the trailer for leap year:



Which features the single "Just Say Yes" from Snow Patrol:

The Next Big Dance Craze?

Ok, ok, I know the Jerk has been around awhile, but perhaps these guys will push the movement a little further.

Audio Push, as this emcee duo (Oktane and Price Tag) call themselves, put together an exciting, danceable track in "Teach me How to Jerk". They're about to hit big, and the best part is, they don't need a high profile name to co-sign. I sense a Soulja Boy-esque YouTube phenomenon in the making with this video:



And here's the official music video, which is a lot of fun:



Check out their Twitter for links to free downloads too!

For now, here's the audio for "Teach Me How to Jerk" by Audio Push

You'll Have to Pull My Heart Away from Jack Peñate

I love any guy who can mix soul, rock, pop well AND can play the guitar with his own hands.

Jack Peñate, the 25 year old Londoner who released his second LP in August, has proven that he can make a guitar driven album in 2007's Matinee whose songs he wrote when he was 19-20 years old. Now, with his most recent album Everything is New, Peñate has proven he can make a musically well-rounded album too. With a few synth beats (I should emphasize that he doesn't overdo it), some emotionally gripping songs and a great, mature voice Jack Peñate has produced a 9-track novel of an album, with a really great story. NME Magazine recently said, "He used to sound like the past, now he sounds like the future."

Personally, I'm looking forward to more collaborations with Jack and his best buddy Adele (she's featured in "My Yvonne" on his first album and "Every Glance" on the new album).

Plus, who can resist those eyes on the cover of Everything is New!

Two fun facts before I get to the actual song:

1. His full name is Jack Fabian Cassius Bethany Louise Peñate. Yeah, Bethany Louise.

2. There's a traditional stage invasion at his gigs for the song "Torn on the Platform". During one such event, his distortion pedal was stolen. His reaction? “D’you know what? Whoever’s got it…keep it! Just make sure you play a Telecaster through it and not a Gibson!”.

Now for the song!

"Pull My Heart Away" - Jack Peñate from his second album Everything is New




P.S. He's got a pretty entertaining Twitter. Apparently he loses his wallet a lot.

As SOON as Finals are Over...

...I'll be updating non-stop. I can't wait.

Here's a 505 remix of "Get Shaky" by the Ian Carey Project to hold you over. Or not.

"Get Shaky the Click Click Bang Remix" - Ian Carey Project

GOOD Indie Pop: Tyler Kyte

Tyler Kyte's got this rough, sexy voice, but he's not the macho type. Kyte's a talented guitarist and quite awhile ago gained modest recognition for acting in Are You Afraid of the Dark and Goosebumps.

Also, he volunteers and donates to charities for people with special needs! Go Tyler!

Cartel Impress

Cartel's new third album Cycles is good, and while the first single is "Let's Go," there are some other really great tracks. I've this particular one on repeat. "Deep South" is a hard hitting force with some really sweet lyrics. The band itself is from a small town in Georgia (Conyers), and the lyrics allude to it. I don't usually do this, but I'm going to post the lyrics. Read them, give it a listen and you'll find it's a lot deeper than typical Cartel, but definitely one of the best.


"Deep South" - Cartel


"I was born in the south
Given to a town raised on hand to mouth
Born on the same day as the sun
Holding in the Earth's seed one by one

I died in the cold and waited to rot
Frozen like stone, all is for naught
All that I am is churning inside
All that I am is screaming...

Go and get my bones
Bring 'em to the deep south
Oh yeah somewhere they can thaw out
Here in the deep south
Go and get my bones
Bring 'em to the deep south
Oh yeah somewhere they can thaw out
Here in the deep south

I feel it in my skin
Coming undone again and again
Torn at the seam my heart had sown
Holding back the tears shed on my own

If dying is bold, then courage I've got
I could grow old, but I forgot
All that I am is churning inside
The voice in my head is screaming...

Go and get my bones
Bring 'em to the deep south
Oh yeah somewhere they can thaw out
Here in the deep south
Go and get my bones
Bring 'em to the deep south
Oh yeah somewhere they can thaw out
Here in the deep south

I was born in the south
Given to a town raised on hand to mouth
Born on the same day as the sun
Counting every heart beat one by one

Go and get my bones
Bring 'em to the deep south
Oh yeah somewhere they can thaw out
Here in the deep south
Go and get my bones
Bring 'em to the deep south
Oh yeah somewhere they can thaw out
Here in the deep south

Go and get my bones
Bring 'em to the deep south
Oh yeah somewhere they can thaw out
Here in the deep south
Go and get my bones
Bring 'em to the deep south
Oh yeah somewhere they can thaw out
Here in the deep south"

BONUS:
"Lose It" - Cartel (from their second album entitled Cartel)