January 26, 2010
Today The Magnetic Fields officially released their new album Realism. The “no-synth” trilogy is now complete, following previous albums “i”, and “Distortion”. To flesh this out a bit, Stephin Merritt is in fact one person I’d go gay for.
Download it here: http://extratorrent.com/torrent/2174595/The+Magnetic+Fields+-+Realism+2010-MP3-CovBubanee.html
January 19, 2010
Gyms are for squares. Dance Party 2010.
Elijah Brumback GVL staff writer
Every winter I can normally anticipate gaining a few extra pounds of insulation on my betoken physique. I find it natural as other fellow mammals might. This is acceptable to me, minus only the fact that it becomes just slightly more difficult to put on socks. Normally I would find this winter weight comforting and a sign of my commitment to extravagant and leisurely pursuits e.g. downloading music, fine works of literature, Ice cream and of course drinking and smoking.
The trouble is that I’ve started to become suspicious of the pounds that seem to just roll-over kind of like cell phones minutes, if you’ve got a good plan. But this is not a good plan, for anyone, and considering my coif is of a red, yet flossen nature, I can only assume the adjectives festive and jolly lie in wait as I pack on the pounds.
That is why I’ve made a late new year’s resolution and decided to leave making fatty deposits limited to something I do at the bank. Not to mention the recurring nightmares of playing Tim Allen in the Santa Claus, one, two and three offered me some rigid inspiration.
Pablo Picasso: Le Moulin de la Galette
The grandest part of it all is that I’ve discovered the most pleasurable way to literally dance my way to a figure rivaling that of Da Vinci’s, David. I might not be there yet, but I’m damn sure on my way and I’m not talking about some cockamamie DVD you can buy on late-night infomercials. If you’ve ever been to a Justice or Daft Punk concert you know what I’m talking about. Good old-fashioned non-stop rump shaking.
It’s a simple as putting on my IPod and terrorizing my roommates with David Lee Roth style Leg kicks and Henry Rollins intensity. When something is fun you can do it for hours and not notice. This is that kind of fun. I suppose the best way to categorize what I’m speaking of as a kind of interpretive dance. All you really need is music.
I laugh when I see people running stationary on a treadmill with all their faces looking like they’ve been playing Farmville for a solid 72 hours. In fact I recommend putting on your IPod or taking your boom-box down to the gym and just start grooving hard right in front of those poor suckers. In 2010 gyms are for squares.
Another great facet to my new mode of suitability is that it’s essentially free and capable of being done virtually anywhere. If you’re not opposed to awkward starring and pointing I fully suggest a public domain to showcase your fitness and undoubtedly unique dance prowess. Now, I know some people are less premium dancers compared others and being embarrassed is not something you might be actively looking for. Be that the case try cutting some serious rug in the privacy of your own room. Becoming a true master, like any skill-based activity, takes time.
Sometimes I like to imagine my own personal miniature David Bowie, androgynously spurring me on to excellent conditioning and dance enlightenment. If you want, you can even imagine your own favorite artist encouraging you on too. I won’t be mad or jealous if you use David Bowie either. Ian Curtis from Joy Division did and he only punched one person in the face ever, and it wasn’t even over David Bowie.
Beyond all that though the main goal is simply, as Iggy Pop would say to search and destroy! Let it all hang out. Shake what your momma gave ya. There are no judges or weigh-ins, ultimately, it is a release mentally and physically accompanied by the added benefit of burning calories. Now you know why every Raver and Hipster you’ve ever met has been rail thin and such a mean dancer. They get-down whenever, wherever they can.
I’m a firm believer in the idea that people who dance always have more fun, ever. I wish you all a totally healthy, epic, super jam, to-legit-to-quit, dance party 2010.
ebrumback@lanthorn.com
February 13, 2009
The subtle art of album artwork comes alive on the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s new album cover.
Classic high speed camera action works serious magic capturing the brilliant egg smashing. Never has an egg been captured in such a glorious explosion.
Often when you break an egg in hand its not especially awesome but rather and major bummer. Not here folks.
The album, which will feature guest artists from TVOTR will probably make you want to smash eggs all over your house. Karen O has said that this album is nothing like they’ve ever done before.
Be on the look out April 14th when the album is expected for release.
January 30, 2009
Pecknold, while debunking the rumor that they were heading to mega label Virgin ended his blog post by saying he had cut off all his hair. The music now sounds completely different. He might also be wearing a watch and no longer likes plaid shirts, boots and jeans. Don’t even ask about beards.
January 29, 2009
Recently Pitchforkmedia.com reported that Pepsi will be airing ads during the Super Bowl this Sunday featuring songs written expressively for Pepsi by Bob Dylan and Will I am. What ungodly amount of money did they throw at Mr.Dylan to do this? I can imagine something like a large swimming pool filled with crisp hundred dollar bills for him to swan dive into. The only other thing I can come up with is boredom. Boredom is the answer for this. Bob is just getting his kicks and taking them straight to the bank.
Pepsi also might be selling the song on itunes, if you think you just might need to hear it again and tell yourself that indeed this is reality or confirm your plot to prove that Dylan is actually a fan of Coke.
On the other hand Will I am is really no stranger to this kind of promotional fiasco so no real surprise there. I half expected to see either him or Fergie somewhere in the commercial blitzkrieg of the Super Bowl. If I recall correctly the Black Eyed Peas allowed use of their song “Let’s Get Retarded” edited to “Let’s get it Started” off the Elephunk album for NFL promotion ads some years ago.
So I suppose its a good thing that Pepsi didn’t decide to ask Dylan to destroy one of his original songs. But, its not like he doesn’t have a capacious amount of average material to mangle if he allowed it. No one might actually give a shit really except for maybe the purist. Purist are often elitist or assholes or both so again no one should care that much. It’s just sad, that’s all.
Well it seems all of our music innovator idols are destined for mass media sell out. I just can’t wait for the day where when I want a Pepsi, Bob Dylan will actually reach his hand through the TV screen and hand me one. I’ll cry then wish he had decided to sell PBR instead.
Gatorade also is potentially releasing an ad with Lil Wayne rapping about the letter G. This on the other hand is great and should have been done already.
Yet again Pepsi flexes it’s titanic wallet to buy cultural influence. I wonder who’s going to help sell Coke.
December 18, 2008
If you think you have to be in New York, Los Angeles or Austin to experience great live music and be engulfed by sounds from around the world, you are sadly mistaken, misinformed, and definitely not hip. No offense old people, but you probably don’t care anyway.
You can literally find any music genre you want to hear or prefer, probably right out your back door, you just don’t know it. If you think Motown was the only prominent musical happening ever to be born in Michigan you might just want to come out from under that rock and….rock.
All types of great music have been alive and well in Michigan for decades. And recently more music festivals have been sprouting up all over the state.
We’ve even got our hands on a MEGA festival, Rothbury, in its first year lined up artist from the very steeples of pop music from Dave Matthew’s to Snoop-Dogg.
Another such festival that will have your young tight pants screaming is Dirtfest. It’s fairly recent and caters to a young crowd.
Dirtfest features artists in the punk, metal, hardcore, alternative and emo genres. The dirt is not just for rolling or wallowing in either. Dirt fest also features Motor X exhibitions.
If you’re not into head-banging and indistinguishable guttural noises there’s Blissfest too. This one’s for all you aging hippies out there. You can celebrate 29 years of grass roots folk, bluegrass, blues, cajun, celtic, jazz, latin, ethnic and world music here and let your freak flag fly, in tie dye of course.
It’s a great family festival with some gorgeous scenery to boot.
For those you who wish to avoid those crunchy folk and rather not hear stories about being a conscientious objector you can go dig the Dunegrass festival.
Focused mainly in blues, Dunegrass has been around for nearly 17 years. Held in Emipre, MI right next to the Sleeping Bear Dunes this festival let’s you burry yourself in soulful tones for 3 days and nights.
So if you can’t find live music you like in Michigan, you’re probably just deaf. Sorry. But, for the rest of you now you know where you can get down, shake your groove thang and enjoy great tunes in a great state.
A Quick Guide:
Rothbury: Held at the Double JJ Ranch (Western, MI) July 3-6, 2008 (thu-sun)
Single day tickets are not available, weekend tickets $245 or $475, RV passes additional
Camping, Bungalows and Cabins
Major food vendors including beer tents
Blissfest: Good Hart, July 11-13 (fri-sun)
Weekend Tickets $30 to $85
Camping and Rv camping, under age camping also
Local food vendors
Shuttle to Sturgeon Bay
Craft vendors
Dunegrass: Empire (northwest lower peninsula) Jul 31 – Aug 3
Advance Tickets: up to $109 for full festival pass
Camping and RV camping extra
Food vendors
Dirtfest: Birch Run Expo Center (north of Flint) Aug 2, 2008 (sat)
Tickets 29$ at the gate, advance ticket sales online
No lodging
Small vendor stands
Merchandise stands
Visit the websites for more Info. Just Google it dummy
Where the Bears Dance 