XPN2 Playlist, 5/30/11

Songs to kick off summer!

6:00

Camp North Star Kids Chorus, “Are You Ready for the Summer?”
Meatballs Original Motion Picture

Alice Cooper, “School’s Out”
School’s Out

The Undertones, “Here Comes the Summer”
The Undertones

Wavves, “King of the Beach”
King of the Beach

Surfer Blood, “Swim”
Astrocoast

Best Coast, “Summer Mood”
Crazy for You

The School, “Summer’s Here”
Loveless Unbeliever

Mosquitos, “Sunshine Barato”
Sunshine Barato

She & Him, “Ridin’ in my Car”
Volume 2

Jamestown Massacre, “Summer Sun”
Summer Sun (Single)

Belle & Sebastian, “Song for Sunshine”
The Life Pursuit

Foreign Born, “That Old Sun”
Person to Person

Animal Collective, “My Girls”
Merriweather Post Pavilion

Islands, “Jogging Gorgeous Summer”
Return to the Sea

Gospel Claws, “Summer Nights Lakeside”
C-L-A-W-S

Vampire Weekend, “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”
Vampire Weekend

Beck, “Girl”
Guero

Don Henley, “Boys of Summer”
Building the Perfect Beast


Henley + the Perfect Beast?


7:00

The Swimmers, “Give Me the Sun”
People are Soft

Superchunk, “Learned to Surf”
Majesty Shredding

The Spinto Band, “Summer Grof”
Moonwink

Javelin, “Vibrationz”
No Mas

Foster the People, “Helena Beat”
Torches

The xx, “Basic Space”
Xx

I Monster, “Cool Coconuts”
A Dense Swarm of Ancient Stars

Local Natives, “Camera Talk”
Gorilla Manor

Xylos, “X-Ray”
Xylos

Sex Bob-omb, “Summertime”
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Unicycle Loves You, “Mirror Mirror”
Mirror, Mirror

Seals and Croft, “Summer Breeze”
Summer Breeze

Wilco, “Summer Teeth”
Summerteeth

Phoenix, “Countdown (Sick for the Big Sun)”
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

The Beach Boys, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice?”
Pet Sounds

Simon & Garfunkel, “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, & Thyme

Camera Obscura, “Honey in the Sun”
My Maudlin Career

Next week I'll be traveling to St. John, Canada -- but I'll be pre-recording a special show of CANADIAN MUSIC in advance, to air the regular time. That's next Monday from 6 to 8 p.m., only on XPN2.

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Song of the Week: The Extraordinaires

One great thing about being a local music fan is getting to watch the bands you know and love grow and change with time. The Extraordinaires have worn many different hats (both figurative and literal -- those boys love their hats) since I first saw them in 2007 -- but their sound has remained consistently awesome. By which I mean: quirky, snarky, and served with a side of good spirits.

With Hats (a long time ago)

January 2010 marked a new stage in their EXTRAORDINARY (see what I did there?) history, as the band's line-up shifted: bassist Matt Gibson hit the road with Man Man and Zach Poyatt (lead guitar, vocals) Evan Smoker (drums), Koofreh Umoren (Trumpet) and Adam Ravitz (bass) came on board. As a result, the band's sound progressed, from straight-up silly to more emotionally complex. And that's a good thing. SO good in fact that their new single "Laugh Out Louder" -- straight off their Postcard EP -- is this week's Song of the Week over at A.V. Club. Head over there for the full scoop, and more on this extraordinary discovery (sorry, couldn't resist!)

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Best New Music: Man Man

As a Philly chick with a penchant for the ridiculous (case in point: right here) it's no surprise that I also adore Man Man, the ridiculous -- and ridiculously creative -- Philly gypsy punk tornado.

Yes, they are.

And while pretty much the band's entire oeuvre is in constant rotation in my iTunes, I'm feeling extra love for Life Fantastic, their newest and most oddly (yet smartly) discordant yet. Read my full review over at XPN's All About the Music blog ...then rock out, cuz it's almost Memorial Day and Life's Fantastic!

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Best New Music: Foster the People

I've heard them described as the next MGMT, or even an American Phoenix. I'm not completely sure I agree...but one thing is for certain. This summer, lots and lots of beach parties and backyard bbqs will be getting down to the sounds of Foster the People.



A California trio who craft effortless, groove-able, disco-infused summer pop anthems -- FTP's debut album, Torches, comes to us after months upon months of widespread anticipation, and -- amazingly -- totally delivers. Read more about your new favorite band at The Place for New Favorite Bands, Phrequency.com.

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YRock on XPN Playlist, 5/23/11

Songs you <3 (and then some.)

6:00

Deerhoof, “Let’s Dance the Jet”
Album: Deerhoof vs. Evil

The Futureheads, “Robot”
Album: The Futureheads

The Flaming Lips, “Fight Test”
Album: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi, “Season's Trees (feat. Norah Jones)”
Album: Rome

Calexico, “The Ride, Part II”
Album: The Black Light

Cherry Ghost, “A Month of Mornings”
Album: Beneath this Burning Shoreline

Jenny and Johnny, “Big Wave”
Album: I’m Having Fun Now

Zelazowa, “Spin That Trick”
Album: Love is Lunacy

Fear of Music, “The Waltz”
Album: Actor / Actress

The Joy Formidable, “Cradle”
Album: The Big Roar

The Jesus and Mary Chain, “Just Like Honey”
Album: Psychocandy

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, “Heart In Your Heartbreak”
Album: Belong

Jawbreaker, “Boxcar”
Album: 24 Hour Revenge Therapy

Masshysteri, “Vår del Av Stan”
Album: Vår del Av Stan

Les Savy Fav, “Comes and Goes”
Album: Let's Stay Friends

La Sera, “Never Come Around”
Album: La Sera

Thee Oh Sees, “AA Warm Breeze”
Album: Castlemania

The Modern Lovers, “Roadrunner”
Album: The Modern Lovers


Modern Lovers: apparently also a clothing company? I feel like Jonathan
Richman would approve.


7:00

Fugazi, “Cashout”
Album: The Argument

Sonic Youth, “Superstar”
Album: Hits Are for Squares

Buffalo Springfield, “Mr. Soul”
Album: Buffalo Springfield Again

Rafter, “Innocence, in a Sense”
Album: Quiet Storm

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, “How Near How Far”
Album: Source Tags & Codes

Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”
Album: Doolittle

The Velvet Underground, “Stephanie Says”
Album: VU

The Morning Benders, “Hand Me Downs”
Album: Big Echo

Yawn, “Toys”
Album: Yawn

Dinosaur Feathers, “I Ni Sogoma”
Album: Fantasy Memorial

The Donkeys, “I Like the Way You Walk”
Album: Born With Stripes

I Am Arrows, “Green Grass”
Album: Sun Comes Up Again

Headlights, “Cherry Tulips”
Album: Some Racing, Some Stopping

Gerry and the Pacemakers, “How Do You Do It?”
Album: Gerry Cross the Mersey: All the Hits of Gerry and the Pacemakers

Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, “(I Don't Want to Love You But) You Got Me Anyways”
Album: Super Hits of the '70s (Have a Nice Day) vol.17

Black Lips, “Cold Hands”
Album: Good Bad Not Evil

Tune in again next week for sweet, it's-summer-fuck-yeah Memorial Day tunes.

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Music Video Mondays: Alex Winston

It's sexy, bizarre, exquisite and disturbing...not that I'd expect anything less. Check out the new video for "Sister Wife" -- the song about polygamy -- from NYC vocal goddess Alex Winston.

...Why do I feel like real-life "sister wives" are not quite as glamorous? Also, what the hell is going on with the cat?

Previously on Underwater Explosions: Best New Music: Alex Winston

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Let Michael Stipe be your pre-Rapture guide...

Number 1 on my Apocalypse playlist for the weekend:

What will YOU be listening to when Judgment is upon us?

Where do I get one of those sweet shirts?

More updates coming Monday, assuming we're all still around by then.

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Best New Music: Danger Mouse + Daniele Luppi

He was named one of Esquire's 75 most influential people of the Century -- and has produced albums for everyone from Gorillaz to the Black Keys, in addition to his own, stunning solo work. I'm talking of course about indie rock auteur Danger Mouse (aka: Brian Burton) who tapped famed Italian film composer Daniele Luppi for his most recent project, the movie-soundtrack-for-a-movie-that-doesn'-t-exist, Rome.

Burton and Norah Jones, looking sepia-y

Half beguiling instrumentals; half gorgeous, blustery vocal tracks -- Rome chooses as its time and place the American Old West (think: cowboys, cacti, and showdowns at high noon) -- for a result that is both bleak and bewitchingly beautiful. Jack White, Norah Jones and famed Italian choir the Cantori Moderni provide guest vocals. It rules hardcore. Check out my full review -- including a song-by-song analysis, and more deets on the process -- at Phrequency.com.

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YRock on XPN Playlist, 5/16/11

Moody (and not-so-moody) rock songs, plus an hour of Silly Songs from 7 to 8!

6:00

Savoir Adore, “Bodies”
Album: In the Wooded Forest

Elf Power, “Skeleton”
Album: Winter is Coming

City Center, “Modern Love”
Album: Redeemer

Celebration, “Open Your Heart”
Album: Hello Paradise

GoodBooks, “Alice”
Album: Control

Handsome Furs, “Legal Tender”
Album: Face Control

Talking Heads, “Burning Down the House”
Album: Speaking in Tongues

YACHT, “I Believe in You”
Album: I Believe in You. Your Magic is Real.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Soft Shock”
Album: It’s Blitz!

Foals, “Cassius”
Album: Antidotes

A Place to Bury Strangers, “I Know I’ll See You”
Album: A Place to Bury Strangers

Elvis Costello & The Imposters, “American Gangster Time”
Album: Momofuku

Feist, “Sea Lion Woman”
Album: The Reminder

1990s, “Thinking of Not Going”
Album: Cookies

The Libertines, “Time for Heroes”
Album: Up the Bracket

Maritime, “Aren't We All Found Out”
Album: Heresy and the Hotel Choir

Roxy Music, “If it Takes All Night”
Album: Country Life

The Rosebuds, “Hello Darlin’”
Album: Life Like


The Rosebuds (plus some other dude.)


7:00

Man Man, “Piranhas Club” (Radio edit)
Album: Life Fantastic

Camper Van Beethoven, “Take The Skinheads Bowling”
Album: Telephone Free Landslide Victory

They Might Be Giants, “The Mesopotamians”
Album: The Else

BOAT, “(Do) the Magic Centipede”
Album: Setting the Paces

Grand Buffet, “Find the Cat” (Radio edit)
Album: Find the Cat (Single)

Guided by Voices, “Kicker of Elves”
Album: Bee Thousand

Let’s Wrestle, “In Dreams Part II”
Album: Nursing Home

Frank Zappa, “Valley Girl”
Album: Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch

King Kong, “To Love a Yak”
Album: Me Hungry

Cake, “Frank Sinatra”
Album: Fashion Nugget

The Extraordinaires, “Hi-Five the Cactus”
Album: Short Stories

Drink Up Buttercup, “Sosey and Dosey”
Album: Born and Thrown on a Hook

Humans, “Wake Up”
Album: Avec Mes Mecs

Ted & Francis, “I Wish I Was A Polar Bear (Arctic Urgency Edit)”
Album: Kitsune Maison Compilation 6

Barry Mann, “Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp Bomp Bomp)”
Album: The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll - Special Novelty Edition

The Lovin’ Spoonful, “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind”
Album: The Lovin’ Spoonful Greatest Hits

Todd Rundgren, “Bang the Drum All Day”
Album: The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect

Missed the show? Well, damn. Tune in again next week from 6 to 8 p.m. on YRock on XPN.

Music Video Mondays: Ben Folds

In high school, I really loved Ben Folds -- not to mention his snarky lyrics about life in the suburbs (which to a 17-year-old me felt so on point) -- but these days I have a hard time listening to his albums straight through, if only because the slow, whiny songs feel particularly slow and whiny. This definitely applies to Lonely Avenue, his most recent, and a collaboration with novelist Nick Hornby -- which mixes occasionally great tunes with depressing, water-logged ones. [Note: Not hating on these tunes. Just not for me.]

Among the great: this quirky, manic tribute to New York poet Saskia Hamilton, performed by YouTube superstar "Charlie." Exhibit:

It's amazing how a clever tune can make you smile -- which is why tonight, from 7 to 8 p.m., I'll be playing an entire HOUR of Silly Songs and Snarky Songs...for lyric-lover in you. Tune in at YRock on XPN. Ridiculousness will ensue.

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Surfer Blood; Trail of Dead lead raucous antics at F.U. Church

It was a great night for rock'n roll last night, as face-melting indie veterans (does 10+ years in the biz make you a veteran?) ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead joined fresh-faced up-and-comers Surfer Blood for a performance of epic proportions.

...And You Will Know Us by The Trail of Dead. (Click any photo to enlarge)

Trail of Dead took the stage first, kicking things off with massive, epic jam "Strange News From Another Planet," the closing track on the recently-released Tao of the Dead. Dual front men Conrad Keeley and Jason Reece thrashed about wildly -- jumping up in the air; squishing their faces to let loose inspired yelps -- while behind them, drummer Jamie Miller proved unapproachable in both racket-causing AND drumstick-twirling.

Their hour-long set spanned most of their discography -- starting with recent tracks, and working back to include songs from 2005's Worlds Apart, 2002's Sources Tags & Codes (their universally-acclaimed breakthrough!) and even a track apiece from 1999's Madonna and 1998's self-titled debut.





Part of Trail of Dead's appeal (at least for me!) has always been their ability to make everything they do sound anthemic -- and last night proved no exception. And while there is always the worry that TOO much anthemicness (anthem-nia? athemitis?) might result in indistinguishable bombast -- Trail of Dead never for a second rested on grand chord progressions or assumed catharsis -- but imbued every note with sweaty, sincere passion.

The end of their set saw some instrument shifts, with both Keeley and Reece taking a turn at the drums, and Miller tackling guitar -- as the crowd whooped and hollered enthusiastically. At one point, Reece ventured into the crowd, sweating and shredding with the fury of a rock'n roll madmen. They ended in a fit of musical bad-assery, ripping apart the drum set (or at least: knocking it over) and thrashing about like crazy men -- proving that after 10+ years in the biz, Trail of Dead still have what it takes.







--


Surfer Blood took the stage next with big shoes to fill -- then impressed everyone by doing a damn good job filling them. This was the second time I saw the guys live -- the first was in March 2010, shortly after AstroCoast blew up (see the review of that show here) -- and it's clear they've matured quite a bit since then. Front man John Paul Pitts seemed more confident and self-assured -- regaling the crowd with humorous comments, and thrashing about the stage recklessly -- as they rocketed through more than a dozen songs in a little over an hour.







The early part of the set saw both a Pixies cover (surprisingly sweet!) and a new tune (punk-y, awesome), as the band slowly warmed up to the crowd. By mid-way through, they were downright berserk -- Pitts diving off stage and crowd-surfing through the audience; climbing on speakers; and raising both hands above his head to signal Victory. By the time they reached closer "Swim", they entire venue was bouncing and heaving --an exuberant end to an unapproachably exuberant night.










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This Day in Music History: May 11, 1999

I'll give you a hint. It involves this:


...and a little bit of this:



Curiosity piqued? Head over to AV Club Philly to find out more.

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Best New Music: City Center

Think of it as emo's answer to chillwave, or maybe just a beautiful record. Fred Thomas and Ryan Howard of Saturday Looks Good to Me (and various other bands) team up for their second record as City Center -- a hazy, sun-drenched, ambient pop project with surprisingly intimate lyrics.

City Center

That record -- titled Redeemer -- dropped yesterday on K Records, and is already proving a "get lost in" fave -- with shimmering melodies, reverb-drenched beats and wafting moments of angst and wistfulness. Check out my full review at Phrequency.com -- then tune in to my radio show next Monday at 6 p.m. to hear a choice cut from Redeemer.

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YRock on XPN Playlist, 5/9/11

Woozy synths + hazy jamz for chilling out / getting through these last days of skool (for all the school kiddies.)

6:00

Dom, “Rude as Jude”
Album: Sun Bronzed Greek Gods

Youth Lagoon, “Cannons”
Album: July + Cannons

Grimes, “Devon”
Album: Halfaxa

CSLSX, “Keep on Shining”
Album: Keep on Shining (Single)

Sonny & the Sunsets, “Teenage Thugs”
Album: Hit After Hit

MGMT, “Weekend Wars”
Album: Oracular Spectacular

Blue Hawaii, “Dream Electrixa”
Album: Blooming Summer

Saint Etienne, “Method of Modern Love”
Album: Method of Modern Love

Craft Spells, “From the Morning Heat”
Album: Idle Labor

Twin Shadow, “At My Heels”
Album: Forget

New Order, “Bizarre Love Triangle”
Album: (The Best of) New Order

Portishead, “Sour Times”
Album: Dummy

Memory Tapes, “Swimming Field”
Album: Seek Magic

Javelin, “Moscow 1980”
Album: No Mas

Love Spit Love, “How Soon is Now?”
Album: The Craft OST


Love Spit Love...as heard in this great lost Hollywood blockbuster.


7:00

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, “Beverly Kills”
Album: Before Today

Architecture in Helsinki, “Sleep Talkin’”
Album: Moment Bends

Holy Ghost!, “Wait and See”
Album: Holy Ghost!

The Raveonettes, “Bang”
Album: In and Out of Control

The Postal Service, “Nothing Better”
Album: Give Up

We Are Trees, “Colorado”
Album: Girlfriend

Guillemots, “Kriss Kross”
Album: Red

My Morning Jacket, “Holdin on to Black Metal”
Album: Circuital

Fleet Foxes, “Battery Kinzie”
Album: Helplessness Blues

Monsters of Folk, “The Right Place”
Album: Monsters of Folk

The Antlers, “Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out”
Album: Burst Apart

The Dismemberment Plan, “Time Bomb”
Album: Change

Jonny, “Waiting Around for You”
Album: Jonny

The Searchers, “Some Day We’re Gonna Love Again”
Album: The Very Best of…The Searchers

Gentleman Jesse and His Men, “Butterfingers”
Album: Gentleman Jesse and His Men

Juston Stens and the Get Real Gang, “Outta Here”
Album: Juston Stens and the Get Real Gang

Jukebox the Ghost, “Hold It In”
Album: Let Live & Let Ghosts

Missed the show? Well, ok. Tune in again next week for more sweet jamz...including a set of SILLY SONGS. Because music should be fun. Or something.

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Music Video Mondays: CSLSX

My friends in CSLSX (that's "Casual Sex", without the vowels, in case you were wondering) dropped this lil gem last week, and already the blogosphere has gobbled it up like the tasty chillwave delight it is. Is CSLSX totes the next Toro y Moi?

It's hard to say -- but one thing is certain. If woozy dance grooves are your jam, CSLSX is your jawn. Wanna ride the chill wave alllllllll day long? Tune in to my radio show, tonight from 6 to 8, to catch a full set of hazy, sun-drenched tunez.

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Demographic Study: Shady McNotster

Most of the types explored in these studies belong to 2 categories: annoying hipster types (The WTTW; The Indie-dork; The Levelist; Lazy Summer Susan) and annoying hipster poseur types (The Pangolin; The Scene-cophant; The Virtual Scenester; I-Dress-Like-This-Normally Girl.) Shady McNotster falls into both categories, and comes in many shapes and sizes. All varieties share one commonality: a complete inability to do anything covertly.

Slater from Dazed and Confused: Shady McNotster

This generally refers to illegal activity -- such as drugs, trespassing, and petty larceny -- although Shady McNotsters certainly rear their ugly, unconcealed heads at other times too: like when they accidentally spill the beans about a friend's surprise party or blurt out a secret at a totes inapprops time. Mostly though, they're easily spotted as the guy (or girl!) at the back of a concert, trying to be super surreptitious about lighting a J, but actually being completely obvious.

Ben from Knocked Up: Shady McNotster

This lack of sneakiness might arise for several reasons: 1) Shady McN is already very intoxicated, and thus their sneak-o-meter is out of whack; 2) Shady McN is so intent on becoming intoxicated, their sneak-o-meter is out of whack; and 3) Shady McN is but a fledgling baby shadester, unaccustomed to the ways of the Shade. Shady McN's who fall in to the latter category are likely young, and experiencing shady activities for the first time, although sometimes they are just seriously awkward grown-ups who never learned to conquer their obviousness / have lived in an isolated environment too long.

Amy Winehouse: Shady McNotster

Shady McNotsters thrive in underground, DIY environments, where they can be wild and free with their habits without the fear of punishment. Many are surprised when they attend a large concert or dance party and are quickly thrown out by management for doing coke on the bar. But...no one's ever even NOTICED before, they protest. Others still are shocked when they're fired from their job for smoking weed in the bathroom -- since they totally always flush the roaches down the toilet.

James Franco at the Oscars: Shady McNotster?

Watching a Shady McNotster flail about in public is generally an amusing experience, but be careful should a Shady McN exist in your group of friends. No one is more likely to get the whole group thrown in the clinker for smuggling in vodka to a church (Note to self: remember for the F.U. Church) or stealing a rival school's/frat's/company's mascot. Should a friend start exhibiting Shady McN behaviors at a public event, a sharp admonition and slap on the wrist should do the trick; if their behavior worsens, it's best to pretend you don't know them. No use letting one obvious apple spoil the shade for everyone.


Previously on Demographic Study: The 5 Levels of Hipster Revile

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Best New Music: Sonny & the Sunsets

Seeing as I am the administrator of Facebook's Snark page (yes, it's true) -- it should come as no surprise that I also have a soft spot for Sonny & the Sunsets, the snark-tastic, fun-loving, San Fran surf rock foursome, whose new (snarkily-named) album, Hit After Hit, dropped last month on Fat Possum Records.

S & the S, live! (photo from Facebook)

It should also come as no surprise that an album on my "best of" list includes lots of sweet vintage accents, breezy boy/girl harmonies, and upbeat, jangly melodies that make you want to clap along. (What can I say, I'm a sucker for happiness.) Did I mention the songs have snarky names like "I Wanna Do It" and "The Bad Energy from LA is Killing Me?" Get the full scoop, and check out a sweet vid, at Phrequency.com.

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Songs in the Key of Philly

Totes wanna get into the local scene but don't know where to start? The good folks over The Key, in association with XPN and Y Rock, have you covered. Check out their newest 2-hour stream of "Songs in the Key of Philly", featuring sweet jamz from your fave (/soon-to-be-fave) local bands...including a half hour curated by yours truly!




Check out the deets here...and stream live here. Philly music, never stop being delightful!

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YRock on XPN Playlist, 5/2/11

Musical happiness, in many forms!

6:00

I’m from Barcelona, “Charlie Parker”
Album: Forever Today

The Snow Fairies, “El Misisipi”
Album: Feel You Up

The Lucksmiths, “Danielle Steel”
Album: What Bird is That?

Lykke Li, “Youth Knows No Pain”
Album: Wounded Rhymes

PJ Harvey, “Down by the Water”
Album: To Bring You My Love

Dengue Fever, “Cement Slippers”
Album: Cannibal Courtship

The Dell Vikings, “Come Go With Me”
Album: Doo Wop Box

Guided by Voices, “Sometimes I Cry”
Album: Forever Since Breakfast

Welter, “Son of Captain Obvious”
Album: The Bush Years

Green Day, “Welcome to Paradise”
Album: Dookie

Hot Snakes, “Suicide Invoice”
Album: Suicide Invoice

The Soft Pack, “C’mon”
Album: The Soft Pack

Jaill, “The Stroller”
Album: That’s How We Burn

XTC, “Grass”
Album: Skylarking

Mumm-Ra, “These Things Move in Threes”
Album: These Things Move in Threes

Harlem Shakes, “TFO”
Album: Technicolor Health

Tapes ‘n Tapes, “Insistor”
Album: The Loon

Born Ruffians, “Badonkadonkey”
Album: Red, Yellow & Blue


Born Ruffians, up to shenanigans


7:00

Foster the People, “Pumped Up Kicks”
Album: Foster the People

Jamaica, “Jericho”
Album: No Problem

Belle & Sebastian, “The Blues are Still Blue”
Album: The Life Pursuit

Blood, Sweat & Tears, “Spinning Wheel”
Album: Blood, Sweat & Tears

Wilco, “Box Full of Letters”
Album: A.M.

These United States, “I'm Gonna Assemble a City”
Album: Everything Touches Everything

The Hold Steady, “Sequestered in Memphis”
Album: Stay Positive

Eddie Floyd, “Knock on Wood”
Album: Knock on Wood

Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, “Express Yourself”
Album: Express Yourself

Fruit Bats, “My Unusual Friend”
Album: The Ruminant Band

The A-Sides, “Jump Back Jack”
Album: Hello, Hello

The Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun”
Album: Abbey Road

Rockpile, “Heart”
Album: Seconds of Pleasure

Telekinesis, “Awkard Kisser”
Album: Telekinesis!

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, “Ain’t No Easy Way”
Album: Howl

Condo Fucks, “Dog Meat”
Album: Fuckbook

Creaky Boards, “Now I’m in the City”
Album: Brooklyn is Love

Tune in again next Monday for more sweet tunes!

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Neighborhood Watch: Just a couple PIFA photos...

The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts took over Broad Street this weekend...and while mostly I was off gallivanting, I still managed to snap a few pics. Enjoy!

The Thermals, playing 3 blocks from my house, at 2:00 in the
afternoon. (Click any photo to enlarge.)

Getting thermal-y

This giant paper mache Mayor Nutter made an appearance...

Oh yeah, and these crazy French acrobats climbed a giant steel
structure, suspended over Broad+Spruce

They were soon joined by a bell orchestra...and the whole thing
lifted into the air

Amazing!

close up of the little dudes, spinning around

epic

Will the festival return again next year? I certainly hope so!!

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