Ble ittno søvn i natt… Føler meg helt på trynet nå, blir deilig å legge seg i dag. Nå har jeg vel ikke akkurat gjort mitt beste for å fikse døgnrytmen… egentlig litt mer sånn, eh, tvert imot. Så jeg har bare meg selv å takke, når alt kommer til alt
Sitter og diller på polyvore igjen nå. Tidsfordriv ja. Liv er et ukjent begrep, hoho.  Tenkte jeg skulle komme meg tidlig opp i morgen, så rekker jeg treninga uten for mange folk også. Sist jeg løp på tredemølla ble en teit fyr stående og glo på meg i evigheter. Dét var digg. Han bare SKULLE ha den tredemølla jeg brukte, enda det ble ledig både her og der.

Var på jobb i dag, mye å gjøre. Men da slapp vi iallefall å vase for mye rundt på slutten slik det ofte blir. Tenkte jeg skulle finne meg en brun, strikka lue. Men brunt er tydeligvis ut igjen? Hvorfor er det alltid sånn? Hver gang jeg finner ut at; oi, det der må jeg ha! så har alt bare forduftet… haha. Merkelige greier. Ikke greit å henge etter! Capsen kom jo ikke i dag heller, jeg begynner å bli litt desperat etter noe som kan skjule mitt skamklipte hår. Hm. Kanskje jeg må begynne å strikke ja…

Dagens låt! Funnet via min søster som har en forkjærlighet for gutter med emobriller. Ikke at det egentlig har noe med saken å gjøre. Sånn bortsett fra at man kanskje kan skimte et par slike briller i løpet av videoen et sted? Ellers synes jeg videoen var veldig søt. Kule capser, kjenner jeg blir litt misunnelig ja!

Indie bands using violins and other orchestra-approved instruments has been in vogue for a while now, long enough where the shock of seeing a cello amongst electric guitars has all but vanished. At first glance, seeing something called the “Riddim Saunter Orchestra” leads to assumptions that you’re bound to hear yet another wide-eyed group of kids singing about hefty topics. Thankfully, the orchestra in question is actually the spazzy rock band Riddim Saunter, who’ve employed the help of a string section for their song “Sweet & Still.” It never lags – think Jens Lekman only with a small orchestra instead of samples. If that doesn’t peak your interest, this hopefully should – Baltimore speed punks The Death Set dig Riddim Saunter according to their MySpace.

this is belated, but our deepest condolences to the death set + crew. what a terrible thing to happen and an awful thing to cope with. we love you.

xoxo,

krissyk

A mixtape I made with turntables and a cassette deck. Click the photo to download for free. Hope you enjoy!

“Ninjasonik has always been known – and liked – for their left of center music that falls somewhere between Digital Underground and GG Allin. First it was art school girls, now it’s Mexican Star Wars. The rap-slash-indie-slash-punk-slash-electronic outfit from Brooklyn is back at it again but this time with Telli the rapper’s alter-ego Darth Baño.

This time Darth Baño is in the form of a mix in conjunction with native BK neighbors Mishka. The mix features an all-star cast of musical guests such as Spank Rock, Theophilus London, The Death Set, Blaqstarr, Hollywood Holt, Johnny Nelson, Zakee Kuduro, and many more. Highlights not only the musical genius of Telli, but also the vast and highly eclectic influence of Mishka, Darth Baño silences anybody who thinks Ninjasonik only knows how to write songs about tight jeans and the internet. It’s a mixtape, better yet an album, better yet a movement. Get involved.”

Mishka presents: Ninjasonik – Darth Bano Mix

I’m fed up, Yoon Yoon sucks. Last post Mika Miko was lauded as the next big thing. My bad, I exagerrated. They’re really fly though and I would give up anything to see them live. So last Friday, same day of the last post, why would Yoon Yoon inform me Mika Miko and the Death Set were playing a show after the show was pretty much over? She hate me?

Despite Yoon’s aversion:

The Death Set is playing on thursday not too far from me. Just thought you might want to know. You’ll probably have to go alone cause that last time I went to the Ottobar I saw girls licking girls and boys licking boys, a big black dildo, and someone’s cooch was displayed for everyone to see. I’ve developed an aversion to it now.(Yoon Yoon)

I hopped on the greyhound bus to Baltimore to check out The Death Set:

They were rocking out with Ninjasonik:

I ended up bent in Philly and miss 2 buses, so missed the show. I guess I could have drove but the greyhound to Bmore is alot like Soul Plane…In the regards where comments such as “It’s my birthday, I’m about to get my eyelashes on and popping”, are standard fare…It’s alot of fun if you’re comfortable. Much like the monthly Deep Sugar party in Baltimore. Deep Sugar is an oldschool, warehouse-style jam where the house heads, old heads, scenesters, gays, thugs, addicts, and the occasional prostitute come together for dope music and performances. Before the party though, Yoon Yoon took me to some swanky restaurant where the dj was learned with Funk 45’s. I put my elbow on the table and knocked back jack n cokes with what Yoon calls din din.

And the party:

N’ Dea Davenport (Brand New Heavies) was next level:

#1 couple in Baltimore for sure (real and chill):

note…this isn’t going to be another one of those party blogs, mainly because my motivation to take nice fotos declines after each drink…see above.

Despite the somewhat terrifying name of the Greenpoint venue, this show will definitely be a fun one.  It’s the start of the Newmore Switchblades Tour, which encompasses all of these bands and multiple states (plus Totally Michael, whom I know nothing about but sound fun based on their myspace).  NinjaSonik is a tongue-in-cheek hip-hop group (I’m on the internet bitch!  I’m fucking famous!).  The rest of the bands are high-energy, intense, dance punky electronicy bands, or some derivation thereof.  I can almost assuredly say that if you go to this show looking to have fun, you will have fun.  Consuming a few beers probably wouldn’t hurt, either.  Check out mp3s below.

MP3: “This Feels Perfect” – Team Robespierre

MP3: “Tight Pants” – NinjaSonik

The Death Set, Ninjasonik, Team Robespierre, Totally Mickael, & Cerebral Ballzy are playin at JewMa’s on Saturday. Should be pretty wild.

Click the image to jump to the tour’s Myspace. You’ll find links to the bands there.

BV

Here’s volume 2.

It’s 1h18min44sec of indie mixing with dance. Again it’s an AAC file that when played within iTunes is capable of fast forwarding to the next chapter. AAC files will play in all iPods. You may also convert it to a single mp3 file within iTunes by going to the ‘Advanced’ tab at the top of the player and selecting ‘Create mp3 Version.’ Click the photo to download or here.

This is the official ironic picture of the band Air Bud.

Hello. I am Marquis Meowmers IV, and I have been asked by Edward to provide you with interesting things to listen to. My title of Marquis denotes that I am above an Earl, but below a Duke. I one day hope to assassinate my father, the Grand Duke Whiskers, so that I may take my rightful place in the Kingdom of Stupid Pet Names. But I digress… for today, my friends, I am here to present to you the explosive music of Air Bud.

Air Bud is related to E-603 by way of members; Ethan (the ‘E’ of E-603) plays keyboards, drinks beer, and screams his lungs out. Though this may excite some of the mash-up fanatics that frequent this site, you should be warned that this new material takes a significantly different direction from Something For Everyone. Direct comparisons can be drawn to electro-punk outfit, The Death Set, with hints of Dan Deacon (who has new tunes up on his MySpace) and Matt & Kim (who just put out a new album) thrown in. Ultimately, Air Bud sounds exactly like the party scene from 10 Things I Hate About You* (you know, the one where Kat gets too drunk and dances on a table to, like, Sublime) combined with the party scene from SLC Punk (you know, the one with the fight between that guy from ‘Friends’ and some Morman rednecks). Super-fun synths plus drum machines plus mindless screaming plus lyrics like “You people think we’re dogs / but we just want to rock / you think we give a shit / but we don’t give a fuck” combine to make one super-fun, 4-song EP. While this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, those with the urge to chug PBR while shooting skeet with grandma’s china set instead of clay pigeons might enjoy this shift of tempo.

The best part? The EP is free off of their MySpace site by way of ZShare.

Sample one song here: The Internet – Air Bud

*R.I.P Heath Ledger

(EDITOR’S NOTE: AS IF YOU NEEDED ANY FURTHER REASON TO LISTEN, CHECK OUT THIS PICTURE OF THE BAND. AWESOME, RIGHT? — Ed. Edw.)

(EDWARD’S NOTE: ALSO, MARQUIS MEOWMERS IV IS THE NEW WRITER I PREVIOUSLY REFERRED TO AS “DOUG.” HE TOOK THIS WHOLE ANIMAL SHOW THING FAR TOO LITERALLY. I STILL SUPPORT THE SUPER-COOL PEN NAME.)

You have reused last night’s teabag for your morning cuppa  and carefully emptied a half-ration of Lidl cornflakes into your cereal bowl. The newspaper articles are bearably depressing, but there is only so much of George Lee that you can stomach with your cardboard and coloured water repast. Yet, one cannot switch off entirely from the collapse and ruination of the country either… So what to do?

Fear not, soon-to-be-cave-dwellers, help is at hand with No Ordinary Fool’s mixtape to soundtrack your ever-growing sense of dread to. Now you can enjoy the worrying newspaper headlines in peace, as you try to remember what exotic luxuries like sugar and milk once tasted like.

Enjoy the tape here!

I think…

The Death Set – Negative Thinking

Tom Waits – ‘Til the Money Runs Out

Lykke Li – Complaint Department

Billie Halliday – Gloomy Sunday

Aimee Mann – Real Bad News

Frank Zappa – Trouble Every Day

B.B. King – Depression Blues

St. Vincent – What Me Worry?

A brief chronology of The Death Set in five dot points:

1) Born Johnny Siera and Beau Velasco. Raised on the Gold Coast.
2) Form electro-punk duo that rocks so hard, then-Premier Peter Beattie orders they be exhiled to Baltimore, USA.
3) Make name for themselves in Baltmore, playing noisy two minute tracks in warehouses and basements, as well as jamming alongside the likes of Girl Talk, Spank Rock, Dan Deacon, and Japanther.
4) Sign to Ninja Tune rock imprint, Counter, and release debut album.
5) Announce they are returning to Australia for series of tour dates, including support for indie-pop queen, Santogold.

Now you’re up to speed,  here are the tour dates:

Gold Coast – 2 January @ Elsewhere
Melbourne – 5 January @ Billboard (supporting Santogold)
Sydney – 6 January @ The Forum (supporting Santogold)
Sydney – 9 January @ Spectrum
Melbourne – 10 January @ Espy
Perth – 17 January @ Shape Nightclub

Download: The Death Set – Negative Thinking

As well as tearing the roof off with their usual live insanity, the crowds at Sydney’s Spectrum and Melbourne’s Espy will be lucky enough to catch a DJ set from the band under the moniker, ‘The Motherfucking Reset’. Here’s their recent remix of Daedelus’ hit, “Fair Weather Friends”…

Download: Daedelus – Fair Weather Friends [The Death Set Reset]

You can buy The Death Sets’ ‘Worldwide’ now here, or hear more from the Death Set at their MySpace.

Roll up, roll up! Yes, folks, it is no less than the third installment of this nano-epic retelling of the tunes that 2008 provided us with. On today’s menu, we have a couple of Irish artists in Carly Sings and Chequerboard, not to mention some old friends in Cat Power and The Constantines.

However, pride of place has to be given to Chad VanGaalen, who brought out one of the best albums of the year and Baltimore’s The Death Set, who performed like their lives depended on it in Crawdaddy back in the summer. The fact that there was only a handful of people there to see them made no difference whatsoever to their hyperactive set.

Click here to listen to the tape.

(25) Carly Sings – You Are Travelling

(26) Castlemusic – One Two Three

(27) Cat Power – Song to Bobby

(28) Chad VanGaalen – Phantom Anthills

(29) Chequerboard – Winter Arcade

(30) Cloud Cult – The Tornado Lessons

(31) Colourbook – The Wimbledon Riot

(32) The Constantines – I Will Not Sing a Hateful Song

(33) Cory Woodward – Slipping Away

(34) Crystal Stilts – Departure

(35) David Karsten Daniels – Falling Down

(36) The Death Set – Negative Thinking

Don’t know if any of you have gotten around to picking this up yet, but wow these guys are what I really hope punk becomes.  The Death Set, originally hailing from Australia but currently residing in lovely Baltimore, sure know how to make good punk/electronic/noise rock, and have recently released a badass new CD entitled Worldwide.  Along with one of the best album covers of the year (seen above), they have managed to string an impressive 18 songs into a short 26 minute album, and seem to always keep me amped up.  Here’s their new single Intermission, on which they do in fact let you know that this is the mother fucking death set.

The Death Set – Intermission

My partner Yoon is still around being busy busy. I think mostly with trying on all her new joints from Tokyo and bragging about how her flannel is stronger than mine. I just tell her shes gaining weight and I don’t wear flannel. 

It’s okay don’t feel sorry for her, it never works. Besides we work better not liking each other a few days a week. And if I really wanted to I could just defeat her by throwing on a fresh poster by The Death Set (no link google it)

I highly recommend seeing the deathset live in Baltimore and heading over to East Baltimore to get a bite to eat when you’re done…the Wire anyone? Of course don’t ride a bike through those parts of town because you’re likely to get bodied unless you’re like kevin bacon in Quicksilver.

Sorry for the bad attitude and no updates on limited edition Nookas (doesn’t their website look like Uniqlos before they got sloppy) but its cold on the East Coast. If you want happy, 5th and Prospect will not be the jawn for you this winter. I suggest buying something purple at Karmaloop and checking out Complex magazine online. I’m sure Yoon will kick me in the shin for this post and I will be back on track next time but maybe I should just move to the west coast, rock Fairfax and listen to this guy all day. Blu is serious.

Who in the world has balls big enough to follow the epic and revolutionary sets of Hollywood Holt and Kidtronik?

The Death Set, that’s who.

Here’s a picture of The Death Set playing at one of their packed concerts:

If I had to say one good thing about The Death Set, it would be this:

At least they weren’t another rap group.

How does one describe the music of The Death Set and do so with a straight face?  Well, you can’t – it’s impossible – so I’ll attempt to describe their fan base:

They’re young, most likely tone deaf, enjoy skateboarding, and survive on a steady diet of Taco Bell and Red Bull.

Yeah, I think that about covers it.

The Death Set hail from… somewhere, and I’m sure the people from that place The Death Set are from hold a special place in their hearts for them, but we big city folk have an issue with guys standing up on stage, mindlessly banging away at their instruments and shouting nonsense into microphones.

Except when Kidtronik and Hollywood Holt do it.  Those dudes fucking ROCK!

When The Death Set walked out on stage, nobody really knew what to expect.  Rap music was playing in the background, but we saw two guitars and a drum set, and we all know neither of those things have anything to do with rap.  Then the drummer sat down and started playing samples of the most random songs you’ve ever heard.  There was something from the Jackson 5, something from Salt n Pepa, and something from some rapper who – let me tell you – was no Hollywood Holt.  But things got weirder when the drummer (and nobody else) would play along to the sample.  The crowd would go wild, and I would think to myself:

Wait a second… is the crowd actually cheering the drummer as he plays along to a prerecorded song?

Yes… yes they were.

So, The Death Set drummer would bang away at some stupid song – that wasn’t theirs – for thirty seconds, then the rest of the band would break into one of their own songs (and I use the term “songs” very loosely here).  The average length of a Death Set song was 1 minute, 49 seconds, and while I couldn’t understand the lyrics, I’m certain each song was about the $700 billion Government bailout and the Mensa meetings the band members attend each week.  At the end of the song, the drummer would play another random sample, (“Look, he’s playing along to ‘New Sensation’ by INXS!”), and then the band would play another one of their songs.

The only conclusion I can come to as to why they play other people’s songs in between their own songs is this:

People can’t boo you if you never stop playing.

My favorite Death Set song of the evening was the one with the droning one-note guitar played at blinding speeds, the screaming, unintelligible lyrics, and the abrupt, senseless ending.

In other words: every one of their songs.

And just in case you think I’m giving these guys a bum rap because I’m a grumpy old bastard, see for yourself…

It was hard to tell from where I was standing at the concert, but it looked like the lead singer was 5-feet 1-inch tall. Nobody said that height is a requirement for full-on, balls-in-your-face rocking (right, Maroon 5?), but this guy is way too short to be fronting a… whatever kind of band this is.

It was now 9:45 – over two hours since Hollywood Holt took the stage – and our test of endurance sanity patience was now over.

It was time for the fun to begin.

(PART 5, The Conclusion… Friday)

Sorry for the lack of posts this week, Nicks been very busy and I’ve been diligently working on the top 20 (which has now become a top 25, 26 actually, as two albums share the 23rd position). So the plan is to hopefully count down the top 25/6 in 4-a-week increments starting from next monday and ending some time in December.

And from then onwards? I’m not sure, hibernation? pictures of nick and me eating chocolates? business as usual? We’ll see.

Anyway here’s the ten records I’m probably going to regret not including in the count down the most. In alphabetical order:

l Boston Spaceships – Brown Submarine (Guided By Voices Inc.) myspace

ll Crystal Stilts – Alight of Night (Slumberland) myspace

lll The Death Set – Worldwide (Phantom Sound & Vision) myspace

llll Karl Blau – Natures Got Away (K) myspace

lllll Kasai Allstars - Congotronics 3: In the 7th Moon, The Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of His Enemy by Magic (Crammed Discs) myspace

llllll No Age – Nouns (Sub Pop) myspace

lllllll Oneida – Preteen Weaponry (Jagjaguwar) myspace

llllllll Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Real Emotional Trash (Matador) myspace

lllllllll Times New Viking – Rip It Off (Matador) myspace

llllllllll Wavves – S/T (Fuck It Tapes) myspace

DOWNLOAD here

This is a little delayed with all the CMJ madness going on but a recap from last weekend. Dan Deacon’s crazy shitshow, Baltimore Round Robin, wrapped up in New York last weekend. Heres a little song in case you missed out. The Death Set is more of a punk band but mixed together with Dan Deacon’s electro genius (dude has a masters in electroacoustic composition…whatever that means), the remix of “Impossible” is pretty awesome.