This is the final post on the good ol' blogspot page for AZLTRON. But fear not, life goes on and I have moved over to my own domain at http://blog.azltron.com where you can still read my musings and take part in my music sampling. This is not the end, but the beginning! AZLTRON MUSIC BLOG
EELS is a band that is known for it's beautiful and melancholic lyrics and instrumentation which originate from the songwriting mastery of the band's front man Mark Oliver Everett who is perhaps better known as "E". E has experienced more than his fair share of tragedy, having lost his sister and mother due to suicide and cancer. So naturally his songs end up on the darker end of the spectrum, but often times there's a spark of optimism and light at the end of the tunnel in each of the songs that he hand crafts. For those of you still [...]
Austin Texas ' indie darlings Spoon are poised to release another dose of their captivating musical spell with their new album "Transference" out next Tuesday (Jan 19th). Spoon is one of my favorite bands of all time, so there's no doubt that I'm extremely excited that they have a new album coming out. This time though, there is no major producer coming in and polishing the edges off of this raw and choppy collection of songs. Singer/Guitarist Brit Daniel must have caught the producing bug after producing White Rabbit's latest album "It's Frightening". That said, they still have their [...]
No doubt you've heard the controversy about Jay Leno bumping Conan out of the way so he can return to the Tonight Show. I am not pleased with this at all. I have never liked Leno. I am a big Conan fan and feel that his humor and show has so much more to offer than his contemporaries. Every character on the show is priceless. The writing is always top notch and what I really like about Conan is that he really seems authentic onstage. When faced with with the smarm of old timers like Letterman and Leno and the [...]
I recently had the chance to catch up with the Michigan Native and Mason Proper front man Jonathan Visger about his Tagalong EP under his new solo moniker "Absofacto" and other happenings in his realm. Why the name change from Bug Lung Baby to Absofacto and what does Absofacto mean? A few people independently told me it would come out "Bung Lung Baby" when they said it quickly, haha. I soured on it myself after a while and decided to go with the other name I was kicking around at the [...]
Taylor Hollingsworth - Christmas Blues Snowden - White Christmas Bright Eyes - Blue Christmas Sufjan Stevens - That Was the Worst Christmas Ever! Sally Shapiro - Anorak Christmas I'm So Look You - Last Christmas (George Michael Cover) Julian Casablancas - I Wish it was Christmas Today The Walkmen - Christmas Party [...]
Another year, another year end list. Crazy that this is the third I've compiled. Has it been three years already? Crazy! Anyway here is my list of the top 30 albums of the year. Granted, I am just one man and I may have not had a chance to listen to every album ever made this year. I am speaking from my bubble of experience so if your fave isn't on here, it doesn't mean it sucks, it just means maybe I haven't heard it. Or that I didn't like it. Ha! Well get to those mp3's and enjoy! Never [...]
Peter Hook of Joy Division/New Order fame recently performed with The Detachments to benefit the Salford Foundation Trust. Also there's a cool little New Order Tribute album coming out to benefit the trust as well. Here are a few of the tracks. The Detachments - Perfect Kiss Win Win Winter - Regret Kites with Lites - Dream Attack [...]
The Secret Machines are back with a snippet of a new single called "Like I Can". Like usual the songs' lyrics fit together like finely tuned gears churned forward by those pounding lock step drums, only this time around there's a string section carving out a melody. The full song is set to be released digitally in January with another track called "Terrible Light". From what I can hear TSM is moving in a good direction. Their last album always leaves me feeling weird despite my wanting to love it. It has definitely grown on me though. In [...]
Jonathan Visger of Mason Proper has again returned under another moniker, "Absofacto", with a collection of old songs that clung on to dear life and were eventually completed. The collection features the quirky melodies and rhythmic crunch that we've come to expect from Visger. Be on the lookout for some bird calls and hallway bullies. Also, there's a new video by Adam Netsky for Absofacto's song "Paper Crane". It's green-screen-alicious. If that's not enough for you, Absofacto released another new song not too long ago that you can listen to here . in fact all [...]
It's December and I haven't posted a mix in what seems like forever. Deadlines, midterms, work and finals have been beating in my head for the past few months and have limited what I've been able to post. So I've decided to post a mix anyway even though I should be working on something else. The snow has hit the ground and we need some tunes to motivate us to carry out our daily routines through the ice and slush. The Golden Filter - Thunderbird Pretty [...]
Digits is Alt Altman, a Toronto native who combines electronic and analogue music stylings into pleasant laid back electro jams. If you paired Erlend Oye with the Junior Boys you might get something that sounds like Digits. I always feel when winter reels it's head around each year that laid back electro jams are the perfect thing to keep you warm. Digit's tunes hit that very spot for the beginning of the winter season. Digits - You're Going to Age AZLTRON MUSIC BLOG
By: Aaron Z. Lee Ray McCarthy is a comic book inker known for his work on DC Comics' "Adventures of Superman", "Batman: Shadow of the Bat" and Marvel Comics' "X-Force" and "What If?" books. After a hiatus from the comic book industry to go back to school, Mccarthy has begun inking regularly again on issue number six of the DC comic book "Red Robin". When did you decide that you wanted to work in comic books? [...]
The UK's brother-sister duo Arcade Eden, Lawrence and Clare Welling, sound like a funky amalgam of The Ting Tings and Crystal Castles. Their jam "Black Light" is set for a December 7th release. If you're in the mood for some deer antler disco balls and some high waisted sparkly shorts check them out. I just can't get over those sparkly shorts... is this a new trend? Am I morphing into a grandpa, overly concerned with dress of today's youth? Either way I'm eager to hear more from these two. [...]
French band Tahiti 80 is set to release their fourth studio album "Activity Center" on November 24th. These feisty Frenchmen have crafted another euphoric pop masterpiece, rich with chiming guitars, twinkling keyboards and waves of pure fist pumping pop rock. From the opening track "24x7 boy" it's clear we're in for a bit of a changeup from their last album, 2005's "Changes" as the band has opted to forgo the big beats that won them a spot on the 2007 FIFA official video game with their single "Big Day" and have steered towards a rawer live band sound. [...]
I had a chance to correspond with Jimmy from the up and coming electro dance group Pretty Good Dance Moves (PGDM) about the beginnings of his band their ties to Bjorn from Peter Bjorn and John and what's in store for their future. How did you guys meet up and form "Pretty Good Dance Moves"? We are old friends. Aaron had a ton of old vintage synthesizer and keyboards and actually lived below a recording studio. I picked up a few drum machines and learned how to use them. Together [...]
It seems that Chicago is bursting at the seams with awesome new bands. Add to that list The Glide , whose new album "A Future for the Dead" is a celebration of everything sweaty, synthy, and rockin'. The band is made up of singer/guitarist Darius Lafkas, keyboardist/programmer Jason Little, lead guitarist Hector Segura, bassist Nick Lazas and percussionist Trevor Warren. Their core shaking bass, persistent beat and off kilter guitar solos are perfect for the Halloween season. Very Fun, but just dangerous enough to be exciting. I spoke with them about the origins of their band, their inspiration and [...]
Echo and the Bunnymen , a band known for their soulful and chilling post punk/neo psychedelic rock are set to release their 11 th studio album entitled "The Fountain" on Tuesday, November 10 th . The album is the 12 th studio album collaboration between the two remaining original members, singer Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Seargent if you count their 1995 grunge collaboration, Electrafixion's "Burned". The album is a soaring return to form for the band, which has endured through band tensions, critical acclaim, commercial success, the replacement of their lead singer, complete disbandment, death, their reformation [...]
The eclectic stylings of French band Tahiti 80 are back! With their new album "Activity Center", due out November 24th. Their lead single "Unpredictable" is a sunny romp through ample beats and cute keyboards, accented perfectly by their illustrated cut and paste video . The track is also available below, so if you want to banish those awful songs from your head and replace them with some slick sublime pop, please do so! Tahiti 80 - Unpredictable [...]
Cast Spells is the side project of Maps & Atlases singer/songwriter Dave Davison. His meticulous and playful songwriting has earned a lot of critical acclaim as well as a coveted spot on itune's "What's Hot" list. I spoke with Dave about the inspiration and process for his new EP "Bright Works and Baton." Cast Spells are set to play a show with Good Old War December 7th at the Westcott theatre in Syracuse, NY. First off, why the name "Cast Spells"? Do you have [...]
AZLTRON
The Shins: “September” (b-side of “Simple Song” 7”)
St. Vincent - 'Cheerleader'
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as In Paris (Explicit)
OK Go - Needing/Getting - Official Video
M.I.A. - Bad Girls (Official Video)
My Funny Valentines
Download: James Blake Live Album (Unofficial)
Lana Del Rey - Without You (Kill Paris Remix) [Dubstep]
Miike Snow - “Paddling Out” Jacques Lu Cont Remix (MP3 Stream)
Iron & Wine and Patty Griffin
