Web Toolbar by Wibiya Bears and Bullets: 2009-12-06

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Wednesday Bears: New Harlem - Friendly Ghost

Harlem premiered the first single from the Austin band's upcoming Matador debut (about the 300th time I've mentioned that this year) earlier today.

The single, "Friendly Ghost," is a jangly mess of garage fusion and lo-fi fun-loving fuzz, like the majority of here-and-there singles from 2009.

The new album, Hippies, is scheduled for release April 6 of next year.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Tuesday Bears: SPIN'S Best Albums of 2009

2009 is drawing towards its inevitable close and with that many have us have seen the ridiculous amounts of "Best of the Year" and "Best of the Decade" lists that not only clog the blogosphere, but that I very often allude to.

Entertainment Weekly, Amazon, and many many other publications and Web sites have offered there take of the year and decade that was, and it's only a matter of days before I go off on my long-winded tangent of what I believe were the best Songs, Albums and Movies of the decade, along side my annual Top 25 Songs of the Year countdown.

But before that day comes we have plenty of other lists to look at, examine and scrutinize. Today's came from SPIN Magazine, a publication I often talked about early in the history of Bears and Bullets but has since been mired in a little bit of obscurity like most magazines.

The list, while probably a bit out of order for most, has the majority if not all of the year's best albums in good spots, complete with indie faves, some popular acts and a couple of confusing picks that we'll just say belong on some list somewhere.

SPIN'S Best Albums of 2009 list available here.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Monday Bears: Kickspit Underground Rock Festival and Shy Ronnie

Blake Lively, star of the CW's Gossip Girl, hosted last Saturday's Saturday Night Live with musical guest Rihanna for what many regarded as the best episode of the season.

Two skits in particular - "Underground Festival" and "Shy Ronnie" - resonated overall. "Underground Festival" obviously pokes fun at the annual Gathering of the Juggalo Festival held ... somewhere in the Midwest I imagine.

The other video, "Shy Ronnie," features Rihanna in what would appear to be another Lonely Island hit, as Ronnie (played by Andy Samberg) can't seem to gather enough to courage to rap in front of the classroom. Watching both is encouraged.

Underground Festival



Shy Ronnie