8/9/08 Mixtape!

Here's the first of many from Bears and Bullets, the 8/9/08 Mixtape. Enjoy kids!

Tracks:

1. Bat for Lashes - A Forest

2. Brazilian Girls - Good Time

3. CSS - Move (Cut Copy Mix)

4. Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen

5. Kings of Leon - Crawl

6. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire

7. Beck (ft. Cat Power) - Orphans

8. Wilco - One Wing (Live at Lollapalooza 2008)

http://www.zshare.net/download/167965125432bdc1/

My Top Ten Lollapalooza Performances (Continued)

Number Three: Nine Inch Nails

It turned out to be a close call between Nine Inch Nails and my number two selection, but the latter narrowly won. Trent Reznor, amidst speculation of the shows cancellation according to numerous sources, gave a stellar performance for Lollapalooza's final outing. Even with an apparent illness (he told the crowd) Reznor gave an absolutely dynamic performance, complete with a light show that put any other (yes, even Kanye) Lolla artist to shame. Ranging his catalog from the recent The Slip (free on the NIN website) to 1989's debut album Pretty Hate Machine (particularly Head Like a Hole) he gave an enigmatic showcase worth waiting the entire day. Reznor's rumored to be a perfectionist (see; Thom Yorke) and his Sunday night show gave no indication of anything but. The songs were slick and toned, flowing effortlessly from one to the next, complete with Reznor's own embodied magnitude of stage energy and charisma. All of which may lead me to declare that Reznor was the singular star of the festival (Kanye would be pissed).

Number Two: Radiohead

It's somewhat shocking that I would place my favorite musical artist at a mere two on this list, but I digress my sympathies for myself. Radiohead gave, like everyone knew they would, the best performance for Day One of Lollapalooza. Yorke and Co. didn't shy away from playing older songs (a combined six from both The Bends and OK Computer) all the while sticking with the near entire In Rainbows track listing. The lighting and stage presence was climactic in a sense, given the fact that the band played longer than any other artist during the three days and also had their own fireworks. But what really sold the 75,000 Lollapalooza goers was the sense of placement and revelation Radiohead exudes from their shows. It was worthy of tears (which I came to during Fake Plastic Trees). The only disdain that I may have was for the people that could not get a good viewing position (see; friends).

Number One (with a bullet): Rage Against the Machine

Before my departure for Chicago I was torn between who to see during day two of the festival. Wilco or Rage Against the Machine. While I told my friends I would go to Rage, my Lollapalooza schedule indicated I chose Wilco instead. After a minimal amount of convincing (hey, I liked the band when I was eight) I chose to wait out for Rage Against the Machine.

By now you may have heard how ridiculously violent the concert was (de la Rocha stopped three times, asking the audience to calm down) from many sources. Hell, there was nothing like it. The crowd was a fury of (albeit, lame to say) rage and energy. There were dozens of pits laced amongst the massive crowd (protect your kids) filled with bloody, nearly nude concert fanatics. The experience of being there was worthy of Rage being number one on the list alone, but it goes without saying the Zach, Tom, Tim, and Brad were incredible. The band sounded like they never lost their touch over their hiatus, playing an ultimate track list with songs like "Testify", "Bulls on Parade", "Guerrilla Radio", "Sleep Now in the Fire", "Know Your Enemy", "Wake Up" (check out Zach's in-dong speech on Youtube), "Freedom", among many others. But their climactic finale of "Killing in the Name", in which a near 50,000 fans stretched their middle fingers in the air, screaming the chorus in near perfect unison, was the product's shining moment. Unforgettable is a word that comes to mind. And it truly was.

Counting Down the Days to Lollapalooza 2009 .......

Nike Courage Ad

I cannot get past how good the Nike company is at making TV advertisements. Last year it was the Shawn Merriman and Stephen Jackson promo directed by Michael Mann, and this year it's for the Olympics with The Killers providing "All These Things That I Have Done" to support the background. It's really incredible and awe inspiring to witness these things. Commercial art, if there ever was.

mp3 Remix: Friday Mixtape XVII (APW Edition)

Check out Alex Young's Friday Mixtape, including a set for All Points West.

mp3 Remix: Friday Mixtape XVII (APW Edition)

New BoB SwanS Mixtape!

Man he works fast. Recent friend of Bears and Bullets, BoB SwanS, has already issued his newest mixtape. Check out the Laptop DJ's Facebook Group Here and his Myspace.

Tracks:

1. Rico Tubbs - Ghetto Funk (Loop)
2. Ludachrist - Marta Girl (Original Bmore Version)
3. Ryan Riback - Boom (Lee Mortimer Remix)
4. Machines Don't Care - Beat Bang
5. Jesse Rose and Action Man - Take It Too The Club
6. Laidback Luke and A-Trak - Shake It Down
7. Rico Tubbs - Knuckle Sandwich Vip
8. Jim Sharp - Champion Sound (Bmore Remix)
9. Rico Tubbs - Do The Hump
10. Duke Dumont - Feltham (Borstal Beat)
11. Crookers - Magic Bus
12. The Black Ghost - Any Way You Choose To Give It (Fake Blood Remix)
13. Curses - This Is The Way (Drop the Lime Remix)
14. Pink Skull - Drugs Will Keep Us Together (Trevor Loveys Remix)
15. Vukasin - I Feel
16. Lazaro Casonova - Venganza
17. Nic Sarno-Watch This (Hijack Remix)
18. Eric Bo + Tony Will - The Funk Groove (Clark Able Remix)
19. Clark Able - Lemonhead (Hijack Remix)
20. A.C. Slater-Bassline Time

Get Your Taste Here.

http://www.xstreamist.com/download.php?mode=song_hifi&band_id=1671&song_id=4110

My Top Ten Lollapalooza Performances (Continued)

Number Seven: Broken Social Scene

I feel a little guilty putting Broken Social Scene here because I only actually caught the latter half of their show (I was meeting Jamie Lidell). But for the limited time I actually was there, I was astounded with the sonic breach of their sound. The band (which I can assume is in the high teens of members) played like one the festival's top billing acts and never failed to inspire the sheer adoration that they deserve. Horns and energy!

Number Six: Jamie Lidell

Like Broken Social Scene, Jamie Lidell was a case of only catching the last half of a show, but still being astounded. But unlike Broken Social Scene, who's band is all encompassing, Jamie provided the show (with a backing band) nearly all on his own. Full of showmanship and admiration, Lidell gave the audience a sheer jolt that only a few other artists that weekend did. He strutted the stage in his no shirt, blazer look, sang without backing music, and let the crowd join in on the fun.

Hell, I liked the show so much that I took it upon myself to meet him afterwards.

Number Five: The Raconteurs

Jack White, Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence, and Patrick Keeler make up The Raconteurs, who are apparently (Jack White said) from "Nashville Tennesee." We all know he's from Detroit, but why argue? He's awesome. I've heard good things about White's stage presence before, but man did he blow me away. The improvisational skills, coupled with his antics and charisma make him modern rock hero. Not to mention the rest of the band themselves. On a day where Radiohead dominated, The Raconteurs almost made it a close call. Almost.

Number Four: Gogol Bordello

It was a tough choice to decide who to see Friday between 4:15 and 5:15. Gogol Bordello or the Black Keys? While my friends chose the Black Keys (mostly in part because of the Raconteurs playing at the same stage an hour later) I instead voted to spend my time at Gogol Bordello. And all the while the Black Keys were apparently still good, Gogol Bordello may have blown them away (if you remember The Kills at number eight on this list, then take note that my friends thought that they were better than the Black Keys too). I've heard his live shows were intense, but I was astounded. The deafening energy and stamina of Eugene Hutz and Co. made me an instant fan, and I'll be more than sure to check them out again whenever they stroll around my town.

To be continued ...

BoB SwanS Mixtape Fix

The post on taRDyboy wasn't working, so thanks to BoB himself, here's the real stuff!

Thanks Bob!

Mixtape One

http://www.xstreamist.com/download.php?mode=song_hifi&band_id=1671&song_id=2462

Mixtape Two

http://www.xstreamist.com/download.php?mode=song_hifi&band_id=1671&song_id=2358

The Kills in Concert

Check out The Kills at SxSW last March via Baeble Music. The reason i'm posting this is because it's the identical setlist that I witnessed at Lollapalooza last week.



Feel the sex.

Damien Correll Mixtape

Damien Correll keeps coming back to me. Today I find that Bobby at Kitsune posted Damien's Mixtape on his blog. And hell, the album artwork is good enough for me to grab it, but I'd forget to mention that it's a pretty damn good mix. Grab it!

http://www.mediafire.com/?0wyzt0y9nmp" --> Here Comes the Sun (It Will Probably Destroy You) - MP3

BoB SwanS (On Purpose) Mixtapes

Via taRDyboy, here's Laptop DJ BoB SwanS new mixtapes. The Manchester located DJ is part of the musical collective The Nympho Youth Club that also runs their own Facebook group. Check out his Myspace for more. Hell, this guy has tons of stuff!

Mixtape One-

Tracks:

1. Sparks - Tryout For The Human Race (Kafka+BoB edit)

2. Roctakon - More Of What I Need

3. Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Gold Lion (Diplo Remix)

4. Shadow Dancer - End Hit

5. Boys Noize - Wu Tang Battery (Battery pt2)

6. Hocus Pocus - Heres Johnny

7. LFO - FreakBest

8. Fwends - First $ Money Maker

9. Crookers - Atomic Baile Boy

10. Fatboy Slim - Champion Sound (Switch Remix)

11. Crookers Ft. Mc Leka -Para de Grainha

12. Blaqstarr - Shake It To The Ground (Claude Von Stroke Mix)

13. Comfy In Nautica - Panda Bear

14. David E Sugar - Oi Berlin This Is London (Jesse Rose Garage Dub)

15. Timbaland - Misscomunication (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)

16. Charlie Fanclub - Dirty Dick Hazzard

17. Jean Nippon - Raw Krazy

18. Baldhead - Moth3f2ck8z (Midfield general Remix)

19. Party Crashers Unite - Put Your Hands Up For NY

20. Gucci Soundsystem - A Carpenter

Mixtape Two-

Tracks:

1. Jesse Rose - Your All Over My Head

2. DJ Toga Foam Party Vs. Armand Van Helden - Playmatebounce (BoBs EDiT)

3. Claude Von Stroke - Peanut Butter Jelly Time

4. Roxy Music - Editions Of You (Phones Remix)

5. Shit Disco - OK (Yuksek Remix)

6. Aaren San - Osc Low Nyzz (Blende Remix)

7. Boys Noize - Lavalava (BoBs EDiT)

8. Runhide Survive Soundsystem Vs. Goose - Bring It On (Teenage Bad Girl Remix)

9. Pharoahe Monche - Body Baby (Count Of Monte Cristal Remix)

10. The Proxy - Ready To Watching

Movie Review: Pineapple Express

Directed By: David Gordon Green

Starring: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride

Only two weeks after Step Brothers was released in theaters, another Apatow project made it's mid-week debut. Director David Gordon Green (Snow Angels) takes his first step into the mainstream and comedy with Seth Rogen's second (Superbad) brain child.

Rogen plays Dale Denton, a Civil Servant (hands out subpoenas) who goes from client to client handing people credit card debts and divorce lawsuits, disguised as someone they wont hate. Saul Silver (Franco) is Denton's drug dealer, and gives his friend his first taste of the "rarest of the rare" weed, 'Pineapple Express.' Through already seen circumstances (see; trailer) Denton and Silver have to escape from a gang of drug dealers after Denton witnesses them commit a murder. The long escape of dialogue and retarded situations are what really allure the audience in this film. It's not so much the pot culture, which may draw certain demographics away, but the sheer joy from Rogen and Franco's back and forth dialogue. Are they idiots? Of course they are. Whenever Apatow touches something the character's instantly become dumber. But that might be the biggest (aside from 'loser factor') lure into his projects.

Through Denton's relationship with his hot high school girlfriend (Denton's 25 and she's 18) and Silver's dilemma with his "Bubby," and their interchanging friendship with Red (McBride), you learn to love the characters. Denton provides the consistency and sanity, while Saul gives the relationship a twinge of immature familiarity. And Red's position is just weird (he cannot die?! awesome!). And befitting it's release date, nearly one year after Superbad, I can firmly declare that this was the funniest movie since last August.

Score: 8.9 out of 10

New Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire"

The Kings of Leon have released their new single "Sex on Fire" via their Myspace and Kingsofleon.com . Go on, feel the heat.

New Ghostly International Podcast

Via Ghostly, Eric Cloutier delivers the website's 13th podcast comprised of an hour of "sub-heavy techno." Get the podcast on Itunes of Ghostly themselves.

My Top Ten Lollapalooza Performances

Amidst the hundreds of details I could go off on about my amazing week in Chicago, I'll start it with a simple Top Ten List (which if you can't tell yet, I'm a big fan of using).

Number Ten: Girl Talk

The best way to describe a Girl Talk performance is the ultimate dance party. And it really, truly is. Among the near 10,000 fans at the Citi Stage (a lot for that small of an area) it was really hard to get a good position. But to dance for a solid hour straight with complete strangers with thirty-foot grey floats, 96 rolls of toilet paper, confetti, and dozens of balloons was more than just fun. Greg Gillis brought out Feed the Animals (free on his website, if you forgot) for the huge crowd, and even let a couple dozen (mostly VIP's) on stage with him. It got so big that you could scope the area and find a couple fans dancing in tree's. Including one Gorilla Man.

Number Nine: Flogging Molly

The boys (and lady) from Ireland were at hand Sunday to give a very unlolla-like performance, fueled by stereotypical Guiness. Lead singer Dave King greeted the crowd in a very hometown style by stating "How you doin' ya bastards?!" From then on Flogging Molly gave one of the most uplifting and energetic performances for what turned out to be the slowest day of the festival. From the beginning to end, the crowd was a flurry of mosh-pits and shoulder to shoulder circle's with no loss of energy from the band themselves. Epically entertaining.

Number Eight: The Kills

The most delightful surprise of Lollapalooza for myself and my friends (as a group) had to be the super-sexy music styles of Jamie Hince and Allison Mosshart; the husband and wife duet of The Kills. On the hottest day of the festival Jamie and Allison delivered a performance that, albeit, oozed sex. Jamie's unbeliavable riffs seemed to rival that of even Jack White while Allison strutted the stage in her gold pumps and tight black jeans. The two closed off with a killer version of "Fried My Little Brains" that no one watching could forget.

To Be Continued ...

Lollapalooza Contest Giveaway!

It's my first day back from Lollapalooza, which was without any outside doubt one of the greatest if not the greatest week of my life. As a thank you to living (I guess) i'm giving away an excess of Lollapalooza Itunes Cards (I grabbed a couple extra). Each card has a 28 song sample from select artists (sorry, not the big ones) from the event, and whomever emails me at Kormanmatthew@gmail.com responding to this contest will have a chance to win.

I'll be uploading pictures and video from the event shortly.

I fucking cried. I'm not kidding.

Oh, and I'm back.