March 2007 Archives

Timelines are helpful little illustrations to show the chronological evolution of events. Take for example the release of LCD Soundsystem’s new album Sound Of Silver.

December, 2006: Sound Of Silver leaks.

March 1, 2006: Group of DIY remixers reconfigure Sound Of Silver.

March 20, 2006. Sound of Silver is officially released.

Breaking it down now. SOS leaked a full four months before the scheduled release date. Not unheard of but still a wide margin especially since there were no plans to move up the release date. Thanks to the early leak, the same people who brought the remixed version of the Chemical Brother's Push The Button, retold as Flip the Switch, got an early start on LCD’s SOS. The reinterpreted version of SOS, known as Sounds Like Silver, was available for free download (and still is) a full two weeks before the official release of SOS. SOS was finally released and I don’t think any one cares. I don’t care. Maybe people in New York care. Maybe hipsters take care of their own.

First Hipster: “Aww, poor James Murphy, his record got leaked, like, totally early, maybe we should buy one to help him out. Or, failing that, buy an overpriced sticker from the merch stand.”

Second Hipster: “Hells no! That $4.50 sticker is almost half the price of a PBR. I needs me some more PBR!”

First Hipster: “But you have a trust fund . . .”

Second Hipster: “Yeah, but I spent this month’s allowance on ironic t-shirts, imported yak hair sandals and my Starbucks addiction got completely out of control when they introduced the new half-caf-soy-spresso-mocha-chino-diaper-latte.”

First Hipster: “What were we talking about?”

Second Hipster: “I don’t know. God, this indie-dance rock is so 2005, lets get out of here.”

Web Site: Here

Stuff to Sample: From LCD Soundsystem’s Sound Of Silver “North American Scum” and “Sound Of Silver”

Bonus: Go to LCDRemixed.com to download a copy of Sounds Like Silver.

eLarceny has been quite these past two weeks. The reason? C$ was galavanting about the globe, King Wookie quit, and OpAmp and Bone are MIA. As for me? Well, I’m just lazy. But let’s back this truck up for a second and discuss the departure of our resident caveman sports blogger.

The Wook stepped down in order to focus his creative energies on his band, the Sanderlings. I can’t blame him, it’s not like anyone reads this thing (also, there’s no monetary compensation involved – this is all about love, folks).

I know what, you’re thinking: “Aww, how cute, the Wookie gave up his day job as an eLarceny contributor to make some music.” I thought the same thing.“Well,” I said to myself, “now I’ll have to humor him and tell him that I like his band’s music.” But then I remembered that I’m a quasi-pseudo music critic operating this little dog and pony show and if his band’s music sucks, I’m going to tell the entire Internets (or the six people who read this site).

Unfortunately, I won’t have the distinctly sadistic pleasure of crushing (or trying to crush) my friend’s musical hopes and dreams because the Sanderling’s new EP I Heart Monogamy is awesome. Fucking awesome. To the max. I Heart Monogamy is chockfull of rock goodness, with assorted pop hooks, face-melting guitar solos and some kick ass, prog-tastic keyboard work. (Think the Decemberists mixed with My Morning Jacket – not as whiny but just as hairy).

You can hear the Wookie shredding on the guitar and working his caveman mojo behind the mic. Way to go, kid. Make us proud. Then get famous and disavow any knowledge of us.

Web Site: They don’t have one (yet?). And no, this myspace page does not count.

Stuff to Sample: The Sanderlings’ I Heart Monogamy EP “I Heart Monogamy” “Wrong (Just Tell Me)” “Killing Monsters” and “Revenge 1853”

OK, now that I’ve completely burned myself out on the new Kings Of Leon album, that I’ve been hypothetically being listening to nonstop for the past week, let’s move on to something else. The Apples in Stereo are a study of pop convention. The Denver, CO. group uses every trick in the book (most of which was written in the 1960s by the Beatles and Beach Boys) on their new LP New Magnetic Wonder to create up beat, extremely well crafted guitar pop full of fun hooks, goofy noises and sing-along choruses. It’s dripping in so much poppy goodness I feel almost ashamed to be listening to it. Don’t judge me.

New Magnetic Wonder is the Apple’s sixth studio album, they’ve been toiling in the indie rock trenches since the early nineties, and one of the first releases on Simian Records, a label founded by none other than Elijah Wood. I’d make some Hobbit joke right here but it’s been done before and I’d just be a douche baggins for even trying.

Web Site: Here

Stuff to Sample: From the Apples in Stereo’s New Magnetic Wonder “Same Old Drag” and “7 Stars”