Rock and Roll is not dead, it's just damn hard to find. Can be trickier than tracking Carmen San Diego "I think I heard her say she was interested in visiting Big Ben". One has to know where to look to find Rock and Roll these days, or have someone with good taste give really OBVIOUS clues on where to look. What happend to music from bands like Thin Lizzy, The Cars, many more I can't think of at ...
Let's start with a few simple facts. I love Alice Glass. It's going to be tough to top this album for me in 2012. I've only had my hands on the album for a day and I'm convinced this is not only my favorite album of 2012, but my favorite Crystal Castles album so far. If you are new to Crystal Castles, this album is actually a pretty good place to start. The amazing thing about Crystal Castles to ...
I love the sheer audacity of posting my top album lists for the previous year later and later every year. I apologize and thank any loyal readers who still manage to keep track of The Giant Panther. I truly love the opportunity to share my love of music with you. I keep hoping something will wake John from his blogging slumber, maybe this list will inspire him to do his own best of 2011. I figure getting it out before ...
I had to triple check my TGP post searches, because I was 100% convinced John must have already blogged about either this amazing band or album, unless our search engine stinks, he has not. The Jesus and Mary Chain's second album Darklands, is in my opinion one of the shining examples of dark underground indie alt rock perfection. It basically combines everything I love about indie music into one amazing sound. I hear many of my other favorites ...
Audio streaming sites are a dime a dozen these days, and to be honest I had all but given up on using them at all. Having music on hand is not a problem for me, and probably not for most modern day music listeners. Ever slimmer/cheaper storage drives, cloud, mobile music, and the portability of our music libraries in general have all but eliminated ever being without music. The real trick is not providing free streaming music, it's packaging ...
Clams Casino is by far my favorite leaving beat/instrumental producer. The guy makes ethereal beats in an incredibly unique way to anything else I've heard. He's been making beats for the likes of A$AP Rocky and Lil B, but for me it's the beats and not the MCing that I love about this songs. His first mixtape made my Favorite Albums of 2011 list, and his new mixtape which he just released is sure to be on my end ...
I have to tell you, for my money, it doesn't get much better than Tom Petty's 1985 song "Don't Come Around Here No More" from the album Southern Accents. The song came from Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. According to this website, he mentions in his book and in an interview he did with Howard Stern, that this song was inspired by Stevie Nicks, who had recently had a breakup with Joe Walsh. During a substance filled night Stewart ...
Disclaimer - I have not been paid, or even solicited to give this app a Giant Panther Seal Of Approval. I had to copy and paste this Craiglist ad which rather eloquently illustrates the exact problem I had always had until this week when I stumbled upon Songkick. Has this ever happened to you?? [...]
I have a lot to write about. Today I just bought - yes bought - two great albums: the Alabama Shakes debut, and Bear In Heaven's third LP, I Love You, It's Cool. While I was initially more excited to grab Alabama Shakes, after listening to both records, I became completely consumed by this Bear In Heaven record. I keep playing it over and over again. Always a good sign. Based upon the so-so reviews I've read so ...
One of my absolute favorites, J. Tillman, has announced he is leaving the band Fleet Foxes. While on one hand, this could have potentially really bummed me out, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I've always loved his solo work - quite, beautiful acoustic songs. He has a new project, Father John Misty, who will be releasing their LP on May 1 2012. I had the pleasure of sharing a beer with Josh after his ...
Came across this new track from School of Seven Bells the other day. It looks to be the first single from their forthcoming LP Ghostory, which is set to be released Feb 28 2012 (I refuse to use the term "drops"). Just the right mix of 80s pop/new wave and shimmery synths - think Cocteau Twins meets Inxs. Looking forward to the full album if this single is at all reflective of their work. I had their album Alpinisms ...
Mark Knopfler - Sultans of Swing So Far Away Robbie Blunt - Big Log Mike Campbell - Don't Come Around Here No More You May Also Like: Radiohead to release Remix Album October 11 in U.S. Album Review: Gil Scott-Heron/Jamie XX - We're New Here Lost Classics - Eat A Peach One Track Mind - Willy Deville My Insipid Record Collection - Robbie Robertson
"I ain't wasting time no more - because time goes buy like hurricanes, and faster things" - it's damn near time I saw the Allman Brothers. I've passed up probably 20+ opportunities in my 32 years to see the Allman Brothers, but, unbelievably, I never actually have seen them live. My friends in high school all went to a number of Allman concerts, but at the time I was too busy listening to Dr. Dre and the Beatles and ...
Talk about bending the rules - not only is Beggar's Banquet FAR from a lost classic, it's also being blogged about by an author who wasn't alive when it was released. I'm completely unqualified to write this post, other than the fact that I'm a huge Stones fan. I'm hoping by me writing this instead of John, it may inspire him to awaken from his blog posting slumber. With a gun to my head, I would probably say Exile ...
Editors Note: Yes, I realize how ridiculous it is to post a Best Albums of 2010 writeup in August of 2011. I thought I had finished this long ago, but turns out it was sitting in my draft queue gathering dust. Any other post I would have thrown away, but I love to look back years from now on how silly my taste was at the time. So here it is in all its glory. Happy New Year everyone, ...
Just finished streaming the new Radiohead remix double album featuring remixes from guest artists. Really looking forward to owning this one on October 11. Stream the whole album here. You May Also Like: Radiohead - Kid A Album Review: Gil Scott-Heron/Jamie XX - We're New Here The Giant Panther's Best Remixes of 2009 New Sigur Ros Out Today Via Download Neon Indian Remix
We threw a small end of summer bbq that went long into the night. The last few stragglers that remained into the twilight all gathered around the firepit with a drink, and we started playing my favorite game, one that I love to think I invented. It's basically giving everybody a chance to be the DJ for a song, a mix between a jukebox, and that game where you start telling a story and then the next person finishes. I love ...
I've been putting off reviews of two of my most loved albums of 2011 for two long now. Given both these artists recently collaborated on a track together, I figured it was good timing to finally dust off this review. The two artists in question are non other than Bon Iver and James Blake. Judging by playcount, these have been my two most listened to new releases of 2011 so far. They recently collaborated on a track that premeiered on the BBC, "Fall Creek Boys Choir", it's primarily Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) on vocals, and production from James Blake. Great [...]
As a New Englander, we get a bit jaded around here. I find it really hard to take overblown (get it?) prognostications of foul weather very seriously. I distinctly remember one time it cost me dearly though. I was working in Framingham, MA and there was a big snowstorm in the offing. Why I went to the office that day I'll never know, but I think I was scheduled to have lunch with a friend of mine if memory serves. There was some kind of announcement at work and the office was closed by 11 AM. Everybody was scampering [...]
I came across a track from this new 2011 LP on a MOG mix done by David Byrne, which was quite eclectic and enjoyable. It peaked my interest enough to pick up the full album, and upon further listening, I'm really glad I did. For those of you that don't already know (like me), Gil-Scott Heron was a soul/jazz/spoken word artist coming up in the 70s. He recorded an album last year titled I'm New Here. This album is a completed reworked/remixed version of that album done by Jamie Smith aka Jamie xx from the indie group XX, who I [...]
The Giant Panther
[Listen] Daft Punk - "Horizon" (Japanese Bonus Track)
MP3: Daft Punk – “Horizons” (RAM Japanese Bonus Track)
Giorgio Moroder – Live at Deep
Introducing: Swords
