Pasta Primavera

Monthly Archive for August, 2008

Sound The Alarm For Arms

Published on August 31, 2008 in Artist Reviews. 2 Comments Tags: .

Years ago a great blog, Sixeyes, turned me onto The Harlem Shakes.  I became an instant fan and probably played their demos a little too much on my car stereo.  A couple of years later another great blog, I Guess I’m Floating, turned me onto Todd Goldstein, the guitarist of The Harlem Shakes, and his solo project Arms.  That EP from Arms also received a heavy dose of play in my car stereo (Tiger Tamer especially).  Now after many years of planning and recording, Mr. Goldstein has released his debut, Kids Aflame, and yes I’m probably playing it a bit too much in my car stereo.  You see Arms is a perfect blend of the energy and spirit of The Harlem Shakes with Todd’s unique voice and songwriting chops (that remind me somewhat of Andrew Bird actually).  Kids Aflame features the tracks from his EP, but completely reworked and orchestrated brilliantly, and of course the new tracks are deep, earthy songs that have you singing with glee in no time (the title track Kids Aflame is my favorite right now).  Now hopefully this little review sparks another listener to play these songs a bit too much in their car stereo…wait…I think I’m going to go for a drive…right now…  Photo by Oto Gillen

mp3: Arms – Kids Aflame

mp3: Arms – Tiger Tamer

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The Run Down – Sunday August 31, 2008

Published on August 31, 2008 in The Run Down. 0 Comments Tags: .

The last day of August brings some good shows to the area.  Here in Baltimore the Ottobar has The Endless Summer Fest with The Oranges Band, Two If By Sea, and Snowmen.  Down in Virginia, Iota has Pash, Poor But Sexy, and Clubscout.  Finally in Philly Johnny Brenda’s has Grandchildren, The Poison Arrows, and King Kong Ding Dong.  Also tomorrow in DC don’t miss Parachutes perform at DC9.  Enjoy!

mp3: Grandchildren – Saturn Returns

mp3: The Oranges Band – All That Money (You’ll Get Over It)

mp3: Pash – Palindrome

mp3: Parachutes – Tree Roots Turn To Forts

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Stars Announce Sad Robots Tour/EP

Published on August 30, 2008 in News. 3 Comments Tags: , .

So I’ve been pretty impressed with Stars since…um…I first heard of them way back when Nightsongs came out.  Well they’re at it again and about to embark on a new tour with the fabulous Bell X1.  For this tour they’ve adopted a new visual and audio them, Sad Robots.  Fans attending these select shows will not only get Stars’ magnificent sound, but they’ve packed in some visual excitement too.  For those able to attend, be sure to look out for the Sad Robots limited edition EP featuring 5 brand spanking new tracks and a live version of Going, Going, Gone (off of Nightsongs).  This EP will only be available at these shows so go grab it if you can.  Stars, being the gracious band that they are, will put the live track of Going, Going, Gone up for free download here September 1st for all those fans who can’t quite wait until the show.  Check the full line up of dates and the EP track listing after the jump, and here’s something to get you a little pumped for the tour:

mp3: Stars – Going, Going, Gone

mp3: Bell X1 – Reacharound

Continue reading ‘Stars Announce Sad Robots Tour/EP’

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The Run Down – Saturday August 30, 2008

Published on August 30, 2008 in The Run Down. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Tonight in Baltimore the Hexagon (Lo-Fi Social Club) has Lucinda Black Bear and Aspiga.  Also in Baltimore is James Jackson Toh, Small Sur, and Dutchess and the Duke who play the Talking Head.  In DC the Red and the Black ahs Prabir and the Substitutes, Tereu Tereu, Red Racer, and Wakey Wakey.  Another DC event is at the Black Cat with Bellman Barker, Andy Zipf, and Cobra Collective.  Finall in Philly Violens, Relay, Ape School, and Pink Skull play Johnny Brenda’s.  Enjoy!

mp3: Prabir & The Substitutes – Oh, Marie

mp3: Tereu Tereu – Don’t Be Sore, Farmer John

mp3: Violens – Violent Sensation Descends

mp3: Relay – Driver

mp3: Bellman Barker – Top Of The Stairs

mp3: Cobra Collective – Legionnaire

mp3: James Jackson Toth – Nothing Hides

mp3: Small Sur – Sand Dollar

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To The Future With The Tough Alliance

Published on August 30, 2008 in Artist Reviews. 0 Comments Tags: .

Here’s a story:

So it’s the future.  Yup.  Music has become stale and overplayed.  The world government, in search of musical inspiration to try to curb the spike in the suicide rate, decides to spearhead a project in which the amazing and Brian Wilson (of the Beach Boys) is brought back to life.  Using advanced robotics and loads of plastic surgery, the legendary Wilson (who was put on ice a century ago just in case this happened) is revived only to find himself in a much different world void of nature and sunlight.  He asks the doctors immediately, “Why did you bring me back?”

They reply, “To restore world order.  You’re our only hope.”

Wilson ponders this for a moment, then says, “Why do I have a European accent?”

They reply, “It’s the future…everyone has European accents.”

To which Wilson replies, “I see, well if it’s like you say it is then I’d better get started.  Bring me my piano.”

They reply, “This is the future.  No pianos.  Only computers.”

Then Wilson says, “Ooookaaay…bring me a computer…and some drums.”

They reply, “This is the future.  No drums.  Only computers.”

This is the point where Brian Wilson could have went into shock, but like the legend that he is, Wilson pressed forward to record Pet Sounds 2: The Electric Boogaloo…and peace was restored…or something.

Okay.  Back to reality.  This story is a representation of the feeling I get when I listen to The Tough Alliance or TTA from Sweden.  Their debut, The New School, has just been released in the US for the first time through the Summer Loves Unlimited label.  You should check it out.  It will tell you a bedtime story for the ages.

mp3: The Tough Alliance – The New School

mp3: The Tough Alliance – Holiday

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Calexico’s New Album Preview Video

Published on August 29, 2008 in News. 0 Comments Tags: .

NPR has just put a preview video of Calexico’s new album Carried to Dust which is due out on September 9th on Touch and Go/Quarterstick and can be pre-ordered here.  The video is very insightful on how the album was recorded and put together in their city of Tucson, Arizona.  Plus you get to hear a number of cuts off of the album.  Overall Carried To Dust sounds like it’s going to be pretty amazing.  Check the video here and as a bonus….here’s a great track off the album:

mp3: Calexico – Two Silver Trees

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In Case You Missed These

Published on August 29, 2008 in Video. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

There have been some great live videos circulating the net this week, most notably Radiohead’s live cover of Neil Young’s Tell Me Why at the Hollywood Bowl and My Morning Jacket performing Tyrone with Erykah Badu in Dallas.  In case you missed them, enjoy!

mp3: Radiohead – Tell Me Why (Neil Young Cover) Live At the Hollywood Bowl

mp3: My Morning Jacket – Tyrone (Live In Dallas) ft. Erykah Badu

Thanks to punchbrad and redsoxfaan03 for posting the videos and rono’s blog for the pics.

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The Run Down – Friday August 29, 2008

Published on August 29, 2008 in The Run Down. 1 Comment Tags: .

Tonight Baltimore’s Talking Head has FFHH, E. Joseph, Red This Ever, and David Daniel.  In DC the Velvet Lounge has Relay, Timberwolf Division, and Girl Loves Distortion.  Up north in PA, the Fillmore at the TLA hosts Sonic Youth and The Hold Steady, Cafe M has The Swims and Perkasie, while the Wachovia center has NIN and Does It Offend You, Yeah?.

mp3: Sonic Youth – Sugar Kane

mp3: Relay – Context

mp3: FFHH – The Body

mp3: Does It Offend You, Yeah? – Epic Last Song

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