True story: I heard "Ruby Soho" at a sushi bar last week and I instantly thought that Vampire Weekend would sound great performing this. And they do. Everyone's favorite chart-topping indie darlings stopped by a popular radio show, and covered Rancid's "Ruby Soho", an event to which I will ascribe cosmological significance to, given what happened at the sushi bar. I've always felt that the best covers are those that wouldn't sound or feel misplaced in an artist's body of work. Vampire Weekend's rendition "Ruby Soho" sounds like it would fit perfectly between "Campus" [...]
Los Angeles-via-Pennsylvania multi-instrumental singer and home recordist Evan Voytas -- sort of a more clean-cut Ariel Pink -- creates strange synth-pop/space-disco outings that feel danceable but private and insular. The idea's explored in the video for his most recent single "I Run With You, Spirit Animal." The clip was directed by Carlos Charlie Perez, who recently finished the upcoming Vampire Weekend video and shot those tongue-in-cheek promos that showed up on ithinkuracontra.com . You'll find that playfulness, here as well, after Voytas locates a place to rest his plank of wood while he tries on sunglasses and animal masks. [...]
Hey remember Hot Chip, that quirky electro dance band that always keeps it silly and fun? Well let me introduce you to Hot Chip, that quirky sometimes quirky electro dance electro dance-influenced indie band that always keeps it silly and fun sometimes keeps it silly and fun but suffers from heartbreak, just like the rest of us. Let me then introduce you to their fourth first album, One Life Stand . As they have mentioned in several interviews, Hot Chip has shied away from the sometimes-considered "shallow" dance music for [...]
We love musicians because of what they offer us: songs that fill us with emotions and that allow us to celebrate and even forever cement a particular moment in our lives. And with the recent tragedy in Haiti, many musicians are looking to give back. While some did it with the songs they're known for , others are taking a different path: making arts and crafts. According to TwentyFourBit , it's not so much arts and crafts as it is decorating and designing items for Artists For Peace and Justice , a non-profit that [...]
Gerry Rafferty - "Baker Street" MP3 Foo Fighters - "Baker Street" MP3 It's going to be tough to justify this one. I first started thinking about Gerry Rafferty when I was driving home from Boulder, Colo., recently. "Right Down the Line" came on some generic easy-listening station and I was frozen in my seat, warmed by the laid-back whiteboy grooves as if they were a hot-shot of heroin (not [...]
Tune in today for My Old Kentucky Blog Radio on SIRIUS XMU ! Channel 26 on SIRIUS & channel 43 on XM. The program starts at 12pm ET, last two hours, and is replayed again at Midnight ET! Tape Deck Bros - Science Fiction Prizzy Prizzy Please - Large Hadron Collider Jookabox - Don't Go Phantom (Amtrak Remix) [...]
Photography by Elle Well... The weather outside is frightful, but the fire's soooo delightful. I wish there was no place to go today, but alas & alas, here we are and here we must be, no snuggling in a bed all day for us today. As the French say, "kest le vye, kest le vye", that's life man. One thing about the snow, it's keeping me indoors on the various stationary bikes. Not cool. BUT, made the most of it and did my first product review [...]
NPR is streaming the new Local Natives album, Gorilla Manor , in its entirety. The Montreal Gazette lists three of the Residents' best concept albums. At the Barnes & Noble Review , Robert Christgau reviews the new Vampire Weekend album, Contra . [...]
Midlake 's stellar new album The Courage of Others is out now via Bella Union, and is receiving critical praise from around the globe. The Denton, TX music collective's latest effort finds the band in a darker mood than their last album, 2006's The Trial of Van Occupanter , and continues to receive worldwide praise, earning 5 star reviews and recommendations from outlets such as Paste, The Onion AV Club, Time Out, NME , and many more. Watch [...]
NPR is streaming the new Local Natives album, Gorilla Manor , in its entirety. At the Wall Street Journal , Alton Brown lists his favorite cookbooks. The New York Times examines the trend of adapting novels into graphic novels. The Montreal Gazette lists three of the Residents' best concept albums. [...]
Pearl Harbor Jeff Weiss gives the awesome indie women music-makers of L.A.––Nite Jewel, Pearl Harbor, et al–– their due. † The Suspended Claw has won some kind of production award. So it was all worth it in the end ... [Spinner] † Who are the best drummers (according to the readers of Rolling Stone )? † Do you think the White Stripes would ever authorize the Air Force to [...]
:: High on Fire has a full slate of dates in April , as well as only one appearance at SXSW. Guess that means HOF won't be playing the Buzzgrinder/Buddyhead two-day SXSW showcase, then. :: I've thought for a while that Vampire Weekend can at times write decent songs, only to ruin them by performing said songs. Turns out, they're pretty good at ruining other people's music, too . :: Michael Jackson 's doctor was officially charged with manslaughter . That will almost certainly absolve Jacko of any [...]
This review was posted by guest contributor Peter Lanceley on This Music Wins , which you can visit to discover much more new music. Click image to download full album Sounds like: Animal Collective, Gang Gang Dance Download audio file (05-ONE.mp3) What's so good? The days of downbeat acoustic songs for charity compilations are over. Everything about this Middle [...]
LOL. Last week when Vampire Weekend stopped by BBC Radio 1 they covered Rancid's " Ruby Soho ". I haven't heard this song in such a long time and it was refreshing to hear them cover it and make it their own. I can tell Rancid fans and punk fans are not loving this...but I do. It's such a fun pop-py cover, and totally their style. As a Vampire Weekend fan, I approve. Vampire Weekend - "Ruby Soho" (Rancid Cover) [...]
In the past month there have been some really great covers emerge. Phoenix doing Bob Dylan is as good as anything on Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Jay Reatard's death brought an old cover out back to prominence, Major Lazer have added a whole new depth to a Beyonce track and lo fi indie rockers Little Girls have a stunning take on a new Beach House track. Enjoy these and please feel free to link to your favorite covers in the comments. Major Lazer - HALO (Beyonce Cover) Solange Knowles - Stillness [...]
Best Coast's Bobb Bruno & Bethany Cosentino Hello everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Far too many exceptional shows last week including last night's NO CANCER! Benefit show with No Age , Vivian Girls , Best Coast , Graham Forest , Darker My Love and more. I do believe Bethany from Best Coast 's performance as one of their most entertaining yet. [...]
Uur 1: MGMT – Electric Feel The Soft Pack – C'Mon Port O'Brien – My Will Is Good Holly Miranda – Waves Kashmir – Pursuit Of Misery Love Is All – Repetition Surfer Blood – Swim The Sunshine Underground – I Ain't Losing Sleep Noah And The Whale – Stranger Lali Puna – Remember iLiKETRAiNS - Terra Nova Midlake – Core Of Nature White Hinterland - Icarus Pantha Du Prince – Satellite Snyper Uur2: The Decemberists – [...]
Welcome back. I had to hit the brakes on the blog after my father (and favorite dude in the world) passed away last week. After taking some time off from every day life I was able to catch my breath and am now ready to get back into the groove of delivering quality music. Recently the NN inbox has been overflowing with the work of talented individuals and scholars in the field of making your feet move. I had thought about dropping all recent submissions into one M-M-M-MEGA post but that didn't seem fair considering the time and [...]
Vampire Weekend - "Ruby Soho" (Rancid cover) I'll be brief. This song is too good to pass up! Vampire Weekend definitely add their own style to this track, but the sound of Rancid shines through and makes me feel all nostalgic. Basically, this cover combines my past and present musical tastes perfectly. Download it for free here .
*MP3: Vampire Weekend - "Ruby Soho" (Rancid Cover) Vampire Weekend leaked a cover of Rancid's timeless "Ruby Soho" today. Vampire Weekend's new album, Contra , is out now. Official Site (Ian Anderson)
This Week's Other Releases
Essential Mix - Riva Starr (Feb)
Cover That Don't Suck
Remix Review
