After 5 days away in Byron for Splendour In The Grass the time has come to leave and I really don't want to go home

'Forbidden Holiday' Bridezilla

I had to check work emails today for the first time in a few days and saw the news that Merce Cunningham had died. He was such an incredible artist and choreographer. If you never saw him perform, try and track down some footage somewhere - he moved so beautifully and has such a precise and unchallenged understanding of the body and how it could be used.

Time to pack. Bye Byron

burt sings for you

For my first reader in Costa Rica

Do you know the way to San Jose? Ive been away so long. I may go wrong and lose my way.
Do you know the way to San Jose? I'm going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose. L.A. is a great big freeway. Put a hundred down and buy a car.In a week, maybe two, they'll make you a star. Weeks turn into years. how quck they pass. And all the stars that never were, Are parking cars and pumping gas.

Do you know the way to San Jose? They've got a lot of space. There'll be a place where I can stay
I was born and raised in San Jose I'm going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose. Fame and fortune is a magnet. It can pull you far away from home, With a dream in your heart you're never alone. Dreams turn into dust and blow away And there you are without a friend. You pack your car and ride away

Ive got lots of friends in San Jose. Do you know the way to San Jose? Cant wait to get back to San Jose.

(I know Burt's singing about CA, but hopefully you could just go with it)

x Michaella

Kid Cudi 'make her say'

I used to like Cudi's boyish arrogance... but this is ridiculous:



Universal have just released the video for his latest single 'Make Her Say' featuring two of my favourite contemporary hip hop heavyweights Kanye West and Common.



Kanye has long mentored Cudi, but here he steals the show. His phrasing is impeccable, he pronounces everything properly, and he wraps words together with an understanding of the space between them. Common tells stories as always, and Cudi just sounds like he's rushing.

I like that the video splits the screen in two and shows two angles of the same image, but once that novelty wears off it's not enough to hide how boring the clip is! And why are the women there again? What are they doing exactly? They look nice, sure, but do they serve any other function? Maybe they're the ones being poked in the face? Makes me wonder what Lady Ga Ga would say...

washed out

Washed Out sounds like he belongs on Sincerely Yours after spending sun-drenched days wandering the streets of Goteborg Sweden gathering inspiration for the impending endless days of darkness spent crouched over a computer in a studio at the back of his parent's house in some backward, quaint town.

His songs also sound like they belong in an 80s teen romance starring Andrew McCarthy, when Andrew is thinking about how he has almost missed his chance to tell his love interest how he really feels about her, and runs to the bus stop where she waits to be taken to college in a far-away state to confess his love.

'Get Up' Washed Out

Hear more at npip and at his Myspace

Dreamy goodness that is gentle enough to warm souls, but not sickly sweet. And thankfully no steel drum, which most of the producers of this ilk seem to be fascinated with at the moment.

this is exciting

I don't usually get into super groups... Dead Weather for example, I just can't get that excited about. To me they just seem like another Jack White crush come band- first he had Brendan Benson, now he has Alison Mosshart. Maybe the album is really good, just wish I cared.

This, though, I do care about.

Filmed at the Woodsit/Captured Tracks 4th July festival after party:



Cassie from Vivian Girls + Kevin from Woods + Justin from Bossy = Babies

Name is TBC and they've only performed together as a band three times, including the W/CT after party. Despite this, they've already written enough material for an album release so we'll see where they takle it from here.

(thanks to p4k for the heads up)

Vivian Girls premiered their new single 'When I'm Gone' a few days back (sophomore album Everything Is Gone is out September 8 on In The Red), and are touring Australia in September thanks to the wonderful Mistletone

'When I'm Gone' Vivian Girls

VIVIAN GIRLS AUSTRALIAN TOUR
Friday September 25, Spectrum, Sydney (tickets from Moshtix)
Saturday September 26, Spring Tones at Roxanne, Melbourne (tickets from Mistletone)
Sunday September 27, Brisbane Hotel, Hobart (tickets from venue)
Wednesday September 30, Northcote Social, Melbourne (tickets from venue)
Thursday October 1, Metro, Adelaide (tickets from CIB ticket outlets)
Friday October 2, Step Inn, Brisbane (tickets from Oztix)

Blue Roses

When I first heard Laura Groves she was releasing demos with soft vocals and gentle thumb piano under her own name.

Now, she's kept the thumb piano (marimbula) but is performing under the name Blue Roses

Weaving together contemporary British anti-folk and classic Americana with nods to Joanna Newsom, Kate Bush and Emmy The Great, her debut is delicate, naive, and charming.

'I am leaving' Blue Roses

Her debut, self-titled album as Blue Roses is out now on Rough Trade

lily's 22

Motivational pop?



Hear hear lily!

I went to my parents for dinner last night and got into a heated discussion with my grandmother, mum, dad and brother about the responsibility of governmental bodies to practice bias towards women in an attempt to even out the scales. There was a report in the SMH yesterday that claimed women in managerial roles are still earning 40% less than their male colleagues, stating this inequality was in part due to women fewer shorter hours than men. Hmmm....

Its kinda lamely sugarcoated, but Lily does ask a good question; Why does society STILL suggest a woman's social position (and earning capabilities) halts once they've passed middle age?

My fingers are crossed for a Oprah+Meryl Streep style career trajectory!

woven bones

I'm in the mood for scuzzed out rock and roll today



Feedback and fuzz aplenty, Austin's Woven Bones sounded like Wavves, only a little more sinister.

Now Wavves has broken his wrist.. maybe they can step up and play for him at the Bowery Ballroom tomorrow night?!

'With You Alone' Woven Bones

Download 'Your Sorcery' from rcrdlbl here

Order Janie 7" here from Needless records - try your luck and you still might be able to get one of the 100 limited edition pressings on clear green vinyl in cream colored jacket.

Very pretty covers for loud and lary songs.

the scare

How times have changed

'No Money' film clip 2009


with NME magazine 2007


The Scare used to be a bunch of arrogant ratbags who earnt themselves a reputation for bad interviews and drunken stage performances. A few years on and a failed UK move later, they're back with their second album Oozevoodo. I approached the album with terrible prejudice, thinking I'd have one listen and throw it in the bad 70s rock rip offs pile. I was really wrong.

The Scare have really turned themselves around and written a killer sophomore album - with simple guitar melodies, anthemic chorus lines, and Sam Pearton's staccato drumming, the is album full of wonderfully catchy and uncomplicated tracks rooted in rock and roll with real pop cross over appeal. They've clearly been working hard on developing their stage show, and have matured musically and personally - when once they wanted fame and fortune without having to lift a finger, The Scare are now spending great lengths of time in the studio perfecting their sound and endlessly touring the country on various tour supports. Daniel Johns produced this album, and you can hear his influence in the delicate simplicity of the rock melodies. That sort of sound is hard to achieve, but i think they've done a pretty good job at it.

'Could be Bad' The Scare

Hear more at their myspace - the album is out August 7

the times are changing?

Kate Bush, Neneh Cherry, The Supremes, Cat Power, Sinead O'Connor, Madonna, Grace Jones, Vashti Bunyan, PJ Harvey, Chrissie Hynde, Sonic Youth (Kim Gordon), The Knife, Nina Simone, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bjork, Dusty Springfield, Nancy Sinatra, Laurie Anderson, Tori Amos, Elastica, Mazzy Star, Sleater Kinney, Salt n Pepper...

Triple J have spent the last week broadcasting the Top 100 Songs Of All Time as voted by their listeners and today announced the final 10 songs. Remarkably, of the entire 100 tracks, one featured a female vocalist (Massive Attack 'teardrop') and only a further three songs featured female members in the band lineups: Pixies, The Dandy Warhols and The Smashing Pumpkins.

I was sent the press release for the list a few hours ago and since the final song was announced the web has been full of discussions about where songs were placed and who was and wasn't included.

As Australia's premiere national youth broadcaster, Triple J is supposed to be representative of the youth and their tastes. But looking at the list (top 10 listed below) urges the question: how many of those youths actually voted in the poll?

Top 10:
1. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
2. Rage Against the Machine - Killing In The Name
3. Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
4. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
5. Radiohead - Paranoid Android
6. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
7. Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye
8. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge
9. Foo Fighters - Everlong
10. Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven

Click here for the full 100

Rock songs released in the 70s and the 90s took precedence. I like listening to white girls singing pop and folk music most of the time so I'm possibly not the best judge for deciding what songs are relevant to the Triple J audience. But I do listen to the station, and at 24 do fall within their target demographic, and was disappointed that none of the females listed above (and those not listed who are more than deserving) made the poll. I should have voted more than once!

Looking at the list, I have three questions:

Do young Australians favour guys with guitars?
Are men better songwriters?
Does the list expose the sexism of contemporary music appreciation?

Most music journalists are men, most of the influential music blogs are edited by and owned by men, and most record labels I can recall are run by men. I've never met a female record producer, and I know of one female who has the Music Director position at a radio station. However, many of the songs listed in Triple J's list would be also among my favourite songs of all time.

Perhaps those Triple J listeners who voted love women, but just like angsty guitar rock with male vocals better?

'I think its gonna rain today' Dusty Springfield

weekend warpaint

Sitting at my desk on a Friday night, working away (but with a beer so its OK)

This song is perfect for an empty office

'Billy Holliday' Warpaint

Warpaint announced they were releasing their debut on September 22.

That's my birthday - pretty great birthday present!

Gaggle

All my music dreams come true.

Gaggle are an all female 22 member riot grrl choir who combine the brashness of Peaches, the pop of the Pussycat Dolls, the psychedelic rock of the Flaming Lips with fiery, unapologetic sexiness.

The Londoners were brought to my attention via a recent q&a in Vice where when asked about their philosophy they answer: "Gaggle are smart women with big plans. We want to be happy." YES!

Live at Bardens Boudoir in May via Gaggle girls blogspot

'Crows' Gaggle Mp3

They totally need to team up with Romance Was Born

A wonderful way to pass the time

Something for the diary this week:



Next Monday night in LA, Family and Alleged founder/ANP Quarterly editor Aaron Rose present three films about the legendary pop artist and activist Sister Corita.

The first is a new film titled Become A Microscope (2009) which documents the world of the Immaculate Heart school, and the other two are archival films Mary’s Day (1964) and Survival With Style (1966) to be screened on 16mm prints and accompanied by a live score.

I have a Sister Corita print in my bedroom which I wake up opposite every morning and it always reminds me to take each day as it comes, and to value those things and people I am lucky enough to be surrounded by. Aaron Rose curated a showing of her work at the Monster Children gallery in Sydney last year which was just spectatular.

Buy tickets

dappled cities

Dappled Cities are a band who deserve to be much more famous that they are. They write grand pop songs and are consistent, well versed performers. This, coupled with them being really nice guys, makes me wish more people overseas knew about their albums.

They're spent the past 6 or so months recording their third album Zounds, and also singing to kids about instruments for Disney (which is just the best, cutest, catchiest project in forever). To launch Zounds they've asked 12 Aussie artists to create an artwork to match the mood of each of the 12 album tracks. They won't say exactly which artists were chosen for the project, but it is being unveiled next week so I'll take some pictures at the launch and post them here for you. The artwork is for sale with all profits are going to the artists involved.

'The Price' is the first single from Zounds and the band released a video last week

The Price - Dappled Cities

Dools is a big fan


See them at Splendour In The Grass and then on the road throughout August and September. Details and tickets here

drake

Is this kanye's directorial debut?

Drake "Best I Ever Had" from kwest on Vimeo.

ass and titties, shaking ass and titties

did you watch until the end?


Bombay VS Stansson!!

what a great way to end friday

what are you looking for in a partner?

too amazing



via italians

samuel hodge

For the next fortnight, independent Sydney publishing collective Rainoff Books has set up a temporary curated bookstore in Surry Hills.

Rainoff are publishing a book of photography by my friend Sam Hodge, which is being launched tonight at a party celebrating the opening of the temporary Rainoff store.

Sam's photographs allow short glimpses into his subject’s most intimate experiences. His work opens windows into other people's worlds, however fleeting, and renders permanent those everyday moments often dismissed; a lover’s admiring glance, a sibling’s warm touch, a parent’s knowing look.

The Rainoff Books temporary curated store is open July 1- July 14:
SHOP 25 / 114 BURTON ST, DARLINGHURST, 12 - 7pm

PRETTY TELLING I SUPPOSE by SAMUEL HODGE
Wednesday July 1st, 6pm - 8pm

soft circle + high places

Exciting news. A match imagined in heaven.

After touring together earlier this year, High Places and Soft Circle decided they'd release a split 12", scheduled for release late July. I totally forgot they were releasing this until today when insound's newsletter reminded me!

High Places have said they're taking the summer off to write and record their new album, and Hisham has been writing his second record for the past year and a bit, also keeping busy exhibiting his art in galleries all over the world.

Preorder forthcoming 12" at insound

Buy High Places' debut (2008) from Mistletone shop

Buy Soft Circle's Full Bloom (2007) from itunes via Eastern Developments

I'm really looking forward to hearing new recordings from both.