Baby T-Pain...

Scott's Pick of the Day: Hoodie Allen - Back to the 50's

"Hoodie Allen is a New York based hip hop duo made up of Steve Witz and Obey City. We live through the music we make and happily invite you into the world of two college kids from the big apple." - from the Hoodie Allen website.

I'm not sure whether to laugh or marvel at Hoodie Allen -- the white and Jewish rap duo from Long Island, NY -- but am nevertheless intrigued by this first single, "Back to the 50's." With a catchy melody and a good-hearted message, it definitely adds something new to today's hip hop scene.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are Back!!!

The YYYs have returned in full-force and, damn, does it make leather jackets and red lipstick look good. Lead singer Karen O, drummer Brian Chase, and guitarist Nick Zinner released their third full-length studio album, It’s Blitz! this past month. The record, which has been highly hyped due to some “release controversy,” was originally set for release April 13, but after a leak of the album onto the internet February 23 the release date was pushed forward to March 9 and March 31, for the digital and physical version, respectively, and an international debut April 6. But, hey, the most important thing is that the album is out!

Attention die-hard YYYs fans: brace yourself. While the YYYs have stayed true to their roots of sex-strutting rock, It’s Blitz! is surely unlike any other YYYs album. Gone are the epic guitar riffs of Zinner; gone is the gritty garage-rock of years past. It’s Blitz! is a menagerie of O’s quivering punk vocals, Zinner’s penchant for vintage synthesizer beats, and Chase’s pitter-patter on his drums as the band’s driving heartbeat. And, although the band is obviously growing older, It’s Blitz! seriously sounds like the YYYs have never had so much fun making an album. And this merry-making only reminds you that Karen O is still hands down the sexiest lead singer of our generation. The most compelling element of It’s Blitz!, though, is the YYYs’ ability to incorporate their soul-slamming, royally avant-punk rock with a much softer, mature, refined side of the band that the public has never seen before.

One the first go-round, one might be a bit mystified by the YYYs new sound. “Dragon Queen,” and “Heads Will Roll” remind you that dancing is something you don’t just do in your bedroom. “Hysteric,” “Little Shadow,” “Runaway,” “Skeletons,” and “Soft Shock” are like little rock lullabies that float around the album, but are obviously purposeful and definitely make you want to swoon. These lullabies are where the YYYs maturation shines it’s strongest. And “Zero” and “Shame and Fortune” drive home those classic rock hits. The only song that resonates with the old YYYs is “Dull Life,” which is reminiscent of old O’s fem-punk screams, Zinner’s stellar guitar, and Chase definitely gets into pounding on his drum set.

This progression to a more dancey set seems almost obvious: music in America is shifting towards pop-heavy (omg, like, if that's remotely possible), electro, post-punk genres (yes, yes, ok – dare to disagree, this is an opinion piece). Additionally, the YYYs have, to put it explicitly, reached their sexual peak. It’s Blitz! certainly touches upon the YYYs more sentimental, nostalgic side, with a streak of synth-brilliance and much deserved tranquility (if that is at all a possibility for this band!).

If you don’t have this album, buy it! This might be one that your kids ask you about when you’re a geezer. If NME can say that "It’s Blitz!'s heartfelt love letter to the transcendent possibilities of the dancefloor and is an unexpectedly emphatic reassertion of why Yeah Yeah Yeahs are one of the most exciting bands of this decade,” and Spin can claim that it is " the alternative pop album of the decade—one that imbues The Killers' Hot Fuss and MGMT's Oracular Spectacular with a remarkable emotional depth and finesse" – phew, baby, that’s heavy stuff.

Post written by Anna Lise Kvan.

Nine Crazy Albums for '09!

2009 is going to be chock-full of dance-ready industrial noise and electro-glam-goth rock. Anyone interested in truly rebellious and depraved music should check out the following (in no particular order):

1) Zeromancer - Sinners International - Myspace

Most frequently compared to Orgy, this Norwegian electronic rock group is considered by many to be superior to its American counterpart. The band's 2009 album (released earlier this year) picks up where previous albums left off -- and for fans, that's not a bad thing. Recommended: "It sounds like love, but it looks like sex."



2) KMFDM - Blitz - Myspace

The ultra heavy beat marches on! This veteran band still knows how to throw down harder than almost any other industrial band, but has never lost that urge to incorporate more pop-friendly loops. Listen to KMFDM's new album in full at the group's Myspace page.



3) Marilyn Manson - The High End of Low - Myspace

Some call him one of the few remaining rock 'n roll stars on the planet. Some are less accepting. This shock-rocker, though, has never been very bothered about what other people think. For 2009, Manson presents an album that in his own words "really wipes the floor with everything we've done before." We don't know if the final product (set for a May 26 release) will live up to the hype, but based on the two songs available now -- "Arma-God-Damn-Mother-Fuckin'-Geddon" and "We're From America" -- fans have reason to be excited.



4) VNV Nation - Of Faith, Power and Glory - Myspace

This British/Irish duo is known within the EBM/industrial community as a premier act; in a scene filled with cliches and tired beats, VNV Nation has consistently offered up dance-friendly songs that at the same time touch on real human concerns (war, global warming, etc.). The group's album is set for a June release -- check out some of its older work for a taste:



5) Julien-K - Death to Analog - Myspace

The brainchild of former Orgy bandmates Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck, Julien-K aims to showcase what could have been of the latter group should it have pursued a more electro-driven sound. Their debut album, released earlier this year, includes the single "Kick the Bass":



6) Dope Stars Inc. - Criminal Intents/Morningstar EP - Myspace

April 21 marks the release of DSI's latest release, which will feature both new tracks and previously unavailable/rare songs. These hard-hitting cyberpunk Italians are a force to be reckoned with.



7) The Birthday Massacre - Show and Tell - Myspace

Toronto-based new-wave post-retro Goth band The Birthday Massacre is what happens when Tim Burton meets Bauhaus, The Sisters of Mercy, and '90s-era electro-rock in the back seat of a seedy limo. The band's first live album is due soon:



8) Combichrist - Heat EP: All Pain is Beat - Myspace

After releasing a full-length album earlier this year, Combichrist returns with a CD full of remixes and B-side rarities. This is music for a rave — attended by crazed zombies.



9) Vanity Beach - Love is Dead - Myspace

Straight from Finland, this group has been described by Metal Hammer magazine as the type of band that'd "sleep with your mum and film it for you as a birthday present." I don't know what that means, really, but it's probably a good thing when it comes to discussing top-notch industrial rock. The band's full-length album is due out in mid-2009 — listen to their cover of "Batcave"...

SONG OF THE WEEK

Architecture in Helsinki - Heart it Races

The Australian-based, indie pop band, Architecture in Helsinki, snags this week's Song of the Week with a single off their third studio album, Places Like This. The reasons for this are many including the fact that they are veterans of Charlottesville's now-defunct Satellite Ballroom and the fact that I stumbled upon this neat remix by Spruce Lee and a kickin' cover by Dr. Dog over Easter weekend.

This tune and its reinvented counterparts should be able to tide you over until the quirky quintet (hopefully) comes back in town for another show.