Friday Bears: Nick Cave, Cats, and the Nightlife

The Cat Piano, an award-winning animated short from filmmaker Eddie White, is a surreal tale of the torture of searching and saving love, and the sheer pain of thought. Fittingly so, as if the man's entire catalog was set to a film (not named The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), Nick Cave narrates the film.

It's creepy, cool, dark, and worthy of a viewing.

The Cat Piano

Thursday Bears: Something Almost As Important

On a normal day I'd write about whatever new crap catches my attention in terms of original music and the most relevant music of the day, but today marks a day of a bit more significance for me not having anything at all to do with music. Football.

Tonight the Tennessee Titans and the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers will start the 2009/10 NFL season at Heinz Field at 8:30. So I'll be busy with anticipation later, almost avoiding any old regularity of my life for a day.

But, for those who need music to sustain their distorted appetites, or just don't give a shit about sports (Mike), here's a couple new songs from Banjo or Freakout and Mark Ronson.

Banjo or Freakout - Breathe Out - MP3
Mark Ronson - Animal (Miike Snow Cover) - MP3

MP3's Courtesy of Pretty Much Amazing and Pitchfork

Complex.com's Top 100 Albums of the Decade

Complex.com premiered their version (another one) of their top 100 albums of the 2000's today. The list is compiled mostly of hip-hop acts that get little notice from the likes of Pitchfork, with Jay-Z's 2001 album The Blueprint taking the top ranking, and Kanye West's 2007 album Graduation holding in as runner up.

The compilation, while given credit for following the route not typical of the other music publications, is still fraught with confusion and questionable ranks. For instance, New Orleans alternative hip-hop duo The Knux debut album Remind Me in Three Days was placed at number 58 on the list, followed by Bubba Sparxxx's (likely the first and last time I write his name here) 2003 album Deliverance.

While these albums certainly have their fans, just for point of reference I'd like to note that Modest Mouse's Good News for People Who Love Bad News was ranked at number 96. So, you can maybe make some kind of point.

Complex.com Top 100 Albums of the 2000's

Wednesday Bears: New Kurt Vile

Kurt Vile's Matador full-length album debut Childish Prodigy, which features the previously mentioned single "Overnight Religion," is due out October 6. The Philadelphia native's new single (the opening track on Childish Prodigy) "Hunchback" is a bit heavier than Vile's previous work featured on last year's low-hum LP Constant Hitmaker, but it still features the slurry Lou Barlow-esque psych-pop that endeared his work.

Those who pre-order the album will receive a free copy of Vile's "He's Alright" 7" as well.

Kurt Vile - Hunchback - MP3

MP3 Courtesy of Stereogum

Tuesday Bears: New Atlas Sound

I'm finding it nearly impossible to gather my meager life in order at the moment, so these posts on Bears and Bullets have become very sporadic in the last several weeks. So, as it may stand (for however long it lasts), I'll attempt to continue my regular blogging rituals.

Atlas Sound, which everyone who reads the website (or any other on my blogroll for that matter) should know is the side-project of Deerhunter singer/guitarist Bradford Cox. Cox's new album Logos, which features the intrinsic "Walkabout" featuring Animal Collective's Noah Lennox (Panda Bear) that, more than likely, everyone who's reading this has heard before.

The album itself, which was leaked last year by Cox himself, has had some significant updates, altering it almost completely from the pseudo-original version. Logos (the real, full-length one) will be available October 20 via Kranky Records.

Atlas Sound - Kid Klimax - MP3

Atlas Sound - Walkabout (ft. Panda Bear) - MP3

MP3's Courtest of Pop Tarts Suck Toasted