Blog: AZLTRON

10 Questions with Steve Schiltz of Longwave By: Aaron Z. Lee I was planning to see NYC indie rock band Longwave at the Mohawk in Buffalo, but in true crappy Central New York weather tradition the show was postponed to the spring due to a huge lake effect storm, but I still got a chance catch up with Longwave's modest frontman Steve Schiltz and discuss a few things including their current tour and electrifying new album that was #3 on my best of 2008 list. [...]

Jonathan Visger of Mason Proper once again strikes out on his own, this time under the moniker of "Bug Lung Baby". The new EP released under that name is entitled "Trilobite Trash" and it is a further exploration of the strange sonic world of Mr. Visger. This time around there is a less sparse soundscape and a warmer ambiance to the music. There are driving rhythms, bendy guitars, funky bass, and disembodied vocals sprinkled throughout the EPs four tracks. The First track "Nuetral Man", kicks off with a bouncy beat and the lyrics "All your friends are [...]

December has to have the highest concentration of holidays in the fewest number of days. I mean... Hanuka, Christmas, Kwanza, New Year's Eve, Boxing Day, and of course my birthday, which happens to coincide with New Year's eve. That's a lot of holidays! So I'm posting this ahead of time since I will probably be consumed with festivities on December 31st as I'm sure many of you will as well. So here is my birthday/new year's gift to you, a mix of some of the best remixes I've heard this year. Bon nouvelle année et joyeux anniversaire à moi! [...]

Here is a collection of the Cambridge, Massachusetts band Passio Pit's remixes that have been sent to me through various sources. Including Wallpaper's remix, who won the Finger on the Pulse remix contest! Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Mr. Vega Remix) Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Skitsnygg Remix) Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Wallpaper Dio Remix) AZLTRON MUSIC BLOG

The Japanese unit named I'm So Look You has released for the holidays a throbbing electro version of Wham!'s "Last Christmas". Best version of the song ever? There's a very good possibility...! I'm So Look You - Last Christmas (Wham! Cover) I'm So Look You Myspace AZLTRON MUSIC BLOG

This year has been a surprising one for music. After last year I thought to myself, "How could this year possibly be better than last year for music?" And you know what? Album after album I was shocked, no musical lull in sight. Nothing but quality as far as the eye could see. Well, quality in terms of the albums I was looking for. In particular, bands that released somewhat unimpressive sophomore albums came back this year with some intense and riveting releases. Bloc Party, The Stills, The Killers, and Longwave all regrouped and recalibrated to create releases that [...]

Welcome to the second installment of the AZLTRON Blog's top 30 Albums of the year! Here are some albums for your listening/reading pleasure! Here is the link to Part 1 . 20. Natalie Portman's Shaved Head - Glistening Pleasure This creatively named band feels like a joke band started between a few friends that somehow along the way they shocked each other with how good they became and decided to take the show on the road. The concepts featured on [...]

Well here it is, the wrap of the best albums of 2008. Here are the links to part one and part two. 30. Black Kids – Partie Traumatic Black Kids were kind of the Gnarls Barkley of this year, except... without the high powered up and coming producer and and dependable veteran performer. They did however come out of nowhere with a killer single named I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You , despite the title being [...]

Welcome to the second installment of the AZLTRON Blog's top 30 Albums of the year! Here are some albums for your listening/reading pleasure! Here is the link to Part 1 . 20. Natalie Portman's Shaved Head - Glistening Pleasure This creatively named band feels like a joke band started between a few friends that somehow along the way they shocked each other with how good they became and decided to take the show on the road. The concepts featured on the [...]

Merry Chrismahanakwanzika Everybody! Happy Holidays Too! Here's a compilation of some of the best Holiday songs that have been sent my way this holiday season, plus an original ditty by myself as well. AZLTRON - It's a Space Christmas! The Joy Formidable - My Beerdrunk Soul is Sadder Than a Hundred Dead Christmas Trees Microfilm - There's No Snow Here (For Christmas) 65 Days of Static - I'm Dreaming of a White Noise [...]

Welcome to the second installment of the AZLTRON Blog's top 30 Albums of the year! Here are some albums for your listening/reading pleasure! 20. Natalie Portman's Shaved Head - Glistening Pleasure This creatively named band feels like a joke band started between a few friends that somehow along the way they shocked each other with how good they became and decided to take the show on the road. The concepts featured on the album are just as ridiculous as the band's name and [...]

The UK indie group The Joy Formidable, has released a haunting single for the holidays in their song "My Beerdrunk Soul is Sadder Than a Hundred Dead Christmas Trees". While the title seems somewhat drawn out, the song is not. After the sleigh bells shake gently, the epic minor key melody kicks in, accented perfectly by vocalist/guitarist Ritzy. Their sound is as big as anything the Arcade Fire have done and there's only three members in the band! This drama filled single is not to be missed this holiday season. The Joy Formidable - My [...]

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Cheers Elephant is a band based out of the city of brotherly love, and whose sound has its roots in everything from 60's psychedelia, alternative country, folk, and rock. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Derek Krzywicki, bassist Travelin' Mat, lead guitarist Jordan del Rosario, and drummer Roberto Kingston. Their songs run through a gamut of melodic guitars, hazy swooning harmonies, phaser effects, and some irresistable classic rock stylings. Known for their fevered live shows and love of dark beer, if these cheerful elephants happen to be in your neck of the jungle, check them [...]

Pic Vicious are a three piece electro-pop group out of California who sounds like the slinky sound child of Gary Numan and Depeche Mode or Jim Morrison resurrected by Kraftwerk. Their new single LA Dreamer Utilizes all the analog keyboards and mega compressed drum sounds sure to drive you to the dancefloor. Pic Vicious - L.A. Dreamer from Pic Vicious on Vimeo . Pic Vicious - LA Dreamer Pic Vicious Myspace AZLTRON [...]

Gold seems to be a fashionable color for up and coming electro artists. First MSTRKRFT, then Heads We Dance, and now Truly Beautiful Disaster. The band is composed of one member from Greece and one from London. Combined they make the kind of electronica that makes me want to put on a cape and mask and fight crime with Hong Kong inspired impossible martial arts. TBD - Miranda's Veranda Truly Beautiful Disaster Myspace AZLTRON MUSIC BLOG

Some of you might remember the short lived but excellent New Wave band Elkland that formed out of Horseheads, NY (Upstate New York!). The band released their debut album Golden in 2005 and supported such bands as VHS or Beta as well as Erasure before breaking up. Singer/Sonwriter Jon Pierce soon after reformed his old band Goat Explosion with old friend Jacob Graham and produced a 4 song EP entitled Hope Is Alive . Then the band went quiet. Jacob resurfaced with a new band called Horse Shoes just recently and even more [...]

The Rakes are set to release their third album entitled 'KLANG' on the 23rd of March and will release the album one week earlier (March 16) on 7" and download through V2/Co-operative. The album was recored at Planet Roc Studios in Berlin by Chris Zane who has produced Les Savy Fav, The Walkmen and Passion Pit. The Full Tracklisting is: You're In It That's The Reason The Loneliness Of The Outdoor Smoker Bitchin' in the Kitchin' The Woes Of The Working [...]

In the spirit of giving this holiday season, the newly relocated Portland Oregon electro-duo Microfilm have released a special Christmas single called There's No Snow Here (For Christmas). The song is full of pulsating beats, mesmerizing synths, cello, and just a touch of sleigh bells. Perfect for slumbering by the fireplace, background music for your uber-indie Christmas party, or just rocking out in your puffy holiday sweater. Microfilm - There's No Snow Here (For Christmas) You can also get the song for free at the Microfilm Myspace AZLTRON [...]

At the end of November I was able to cross off an item off of my "Before I Die To Do List". I went to see David Byrne perform live at the landmark theatre in Syracuse. After a startlingly short drive (Less than an hour!) I arrived and with the help of an elderly usher found my spot. Always up to date on the current topics in the areas he tours, David Byrne opened with saying he hoped there were no shopping related deaths in the Syracuse area. Then Byrne and his first class band and three [...]