Bonnie "Prince" Billy - PJ Harvey Cover

Will Oldham does his best Eddie Vedder impersonation.


Bonnie Prince Billy - "Sweeter Than Anything " MP3
Support the Artist Here

Has this turned into the official Jose Blog?

Jose Gonzalez "Heartbeats" (Late Night with Conan O'Brien)

Video from Jose's performance on Conan O'brien on prefix:

http://www.prefixblog.com/prefixmag_blog/2006/03/jose_gonzalez_h.html

Great Northern - The Bats

A new band we can't stop listening to is Great northern from Los Angeles. Pop indie magic that belongs on the Garden State 2 soundtrack. Great Northern features a member from Earlimart, who we don't enjoy as much, and two young ladies from southern California.


Great Northern - "Waxing/Waning" MP3
Support the Artist Here

Jose Gonzalez Video Live from Joe's Pub

Jose Gonzalez - "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

Watch video from Jose's performance at Joe's Pub.

The Streets - Hotel Expressionism

More new streets have surfaced. Check out another track from the forthcoming album.

The Streets - "Hotel Expressionism" MP3
Pre-Order Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living Here

Jose Gonzalez Joe's Pub March 28th

Jose Gonzalez played a good set at Joe's Pub last night. He played two shows there last week as well. His set was pretty standard for him, with one new song in the encore. Catch Jose tonight on Conan O'brien.

Free Ticket to Jose Gonzalez Tonight @ Joe's Pub

Free Ticket to Jose Gonzalez Tonight @ Joe's Pub

We have one extra ticket for tonight's Jose Gonzalez show at Joe's Pub tonight. First person to email us at bushwickisbeautifulblog@yahoo.com, we will add your name to the guest list.

Jose Gonzalez - "Futures" MP3
Support the Artist Here

Update: The spot is now taken, sorry.

New Streets

Well the new Streets album leaked. There's not much to say other than enjoy.

Streets - "War of the Sexes" MP3
Support the Artist Here

Sia Live SXSW Showcase 2006

Sia Live SXSW Showcase 2006

Sia plays new song while looking at lyric sheet.

Yes we did party this weekend

Yes we did party this weekend

Clip 3 Bosque Brown

Future Star in the Making: Bosque Brown SXSW Clip

Superchunk

Superchunk SXSW 2006

I hope this SXSW performance means there is more to come from Superchunk. They played 3 new songs, and a great set of familar songs.

More Video we Shot SXSW 2006

Here is another clip we shot of Psychic Hearts SXSW Showcase. The locals seems scared...

Levy Rotten Love Live SXSW 2006

Why go to SXSW when you can stay at home and watch every band's performance on the blogs?

Levy Rotten Love Live SXSW 2006

SXSW Drunken Demo Swapping

One of the best things about SXSW is the drunken demo swapping which occurs every year. This usually ends up being the first time you hear some great new artists. This year I was handed a demo with the popular tag line "This is good stuff, everyone likes it". I had to agree, check it out and share your opinion.

Sea Wolf - Hometown: Southern cali?


Sea Wolf - "You're a Wolf" MP3
More Info

New Goldfrapp Single

The new Goldfrapp single is on heavy rotation in our apartment. We give it points for ripping our favorite 60's song. Is it spring yet?

Goldfrapp - "Ooh La La" MP3

Buy The Album

New Jose Gonzalez SXSW 2006

Live from SXSW 2006 ~ Jose Gonzalez "Sensing Owls" (KEXP Radio Session)

Jose Gonzalez - "Sensing Owls" MP3
Support the Artist Here
A preview of the new album from Jose Gonzalez.

Mail

I'm a 20 year kid who is familiar with Bushwick. I'm not a hipster, and I'm not too familiar with Indie music and culture. The first time I went to Bushwick was with someone I went to school with years back. I could feel the tension. I have walked through East New York, where I was once stopped by police, Brownsville, Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Williamsburg, and Greenpoint. But Bushwick, even for me seemed a bit intimidating and dangerous. I saw graffiti on apartment buildings and shady looking characters hanging out in the vestibule of my acquaintance's building. I heard loud music and kids hanging outside of the buildings even late at night. There were some crazy drivers. The police were patrolling around Maria Hernandez Park and no one was allowed there after a certain time. Bushwick was once one of the most dangerous areas in NYC. Bushwick started out as a German neighborhood. There were several Breweries which closed by the late 1970's. Bushwick then became largely Italian. In 1977 Bushwick was affected by looting during the blackout. In 1979 mobster Carmine Galante was assassinated outside Joe and Mary's Restaurant at 205 Knickerbocker Avenue, with the cigar in his mouth apparently. That was all over the N.Y. Daily News the next day. By the mid 1980's the almost all of the remaining Italians and other White Ethnics left Bushwick and the area became one of the most dangeous in the city. It was almost all Black and Puerto Rican. The area has improved. Latinos from other parts of Latin America have moved to Bushwick. The area has improved a lot but it still has rough edges. The first time I walked around there by myself, a kid outside a bodega pointed his finger at me and made pretend it was a gun. He was playing around. He asked me if I was with anyone. I said "no". I still see the good in Bushwick. I try to see the good everyone and my kindness comes with a price. Bushwick is beautiful in a New York gritty way. It is still a true blue New York 'hood. Rock on Bushwick is beautiful despite what the naysayers say. The pizza joint on Dekalb and Knickerbocker is the bomb. Rock on, Bushwick is beautiful!!

Thanks for the email David

SXSW Twilight Singers 2006

The Twilight Singers sold out Friends and had people in the street watching them. Great show even if from outside.

Von Iva SXSW (Fri. 1pm)

Von Iva SXSW (Fri. 1pm)

San Francisco Band Feat. Liz Davis

Beauty and the Beast

It's good to be back in New York.

New Zero 7 Feat. Jose Gonzalez

New Zero 7 Feat. Jose Gonzalez

Thank you to Music is Art for turning us on to the new Zero 7 track featuring our lord and master Jose Gonzalez. Amen.

Zero 7 - "Futures" MP3
Buy The Single Here

Bosque Brown SXSW Showcase 2006

Bosque Brown's Showcase SXSW(Sat. night)

Psychic Hearts SXSW Showcase 2006

Psychic Hearts SXSW Showcase 2006

From Athens, GA

Zykos Party SXSW 2006

Zykos perform live at the Beauty Bar on the final night of SXSW.

Sia Soundcheck Astralwerks Showcase (Sat. Night)

Sia Soundcheck Astralwerks Showcase (Sat. Night)

Thank you to the people at the label that let us come early and shoot this.

No More SXSW

Finally back from SXSW. No more vodka red bulls or day parties. Must sleep for 15 + hours to recover.

Flaming Lips @ SXSW, 3/15/06

Flaming Lips Live SXSW (Wed. Night)

Andy Dick @ SXSW

Andy Dick @ SXSW

SXSW Day 4

SXSW Day 4 -

The rain is coming down hard right now which might make tonight a little rough. It's been a long 3 days already. Drinking from noon until 3am will really rip you a new one. Favorite show of this years SXSW has to be Philly's Make a Rising. They wear masks, play melodic odd masterpieces, and have a flaming lips vibe to them. Tonight we are going to check out Zykos, Western Keys, and Bosque Brown. More video to come.

SXSW 2006 Levy "King James" (Thurs Night)

SXSW 2006 Levy "King James" (Thurs Night)

SXSW - Make A Rising (Wed. Midnight)

SXSW - Make A Rising (Wed. Midnight)

From Bushwick to Austin

From Bushwick to Austin

We are headed down to SXSW tomorrow. We will be recording all sorts of video for you to enjoy. Check back for daily updates.

Portishead - Morning Air

Portishead perform: "Mourning Air"

Another New Post from Portishead over the weekend:

"(man flu part 2)
Current mood: annoyed

cant believe im ill again.....fukin flu.

its what happens when you have kids.....little buggers.

ive also decided that no other than about 2 people will like the new record , i think people have a hugely different perseption about our music than we do....

so just to let you know ive always hated modern lounge , trip hop-down-tempo electronica style moby- boards of canada - style music ive always thought it was souless pap.

i dont think people have ever understood that our music was made from our influences which were hiphop - film- jazz- experimental music....and not some electronica trip hop shit....

when we first released our records people took them back to the shop cos the said they sounded odd.....and distorted.

our aim was not to make people chill out and smoke a blunt, but fuck with peoples heads

now music like dummy is being used to sell relaxation courses.. .. and that makes me sick to the guts...

so why on earth would we wanna sound like that agin.........really.

sorry about the rant but its most probaly the flu winding me up!

geoff"

Flunk - Morning Star

Flunk - Morning Star

A big thank you to a wonderful new blog Music Is Art for turning us on to Flunk. Yes we are suckers for music that sounds similar to sia, air, or portishead. This band defiantly fits into that category. If you like these two tracks, you need to go over to itunes and get the rest of the album.

Flunk - "Skysong" MP3
Flunk - "Play" MP3
Support The Artist

Mogwai - Mr. Beast

Mogwai - Mr. Beast

The band return for their 5th studio record. Slimed down from previous releases, the band presents a polished focused effort. Here is our favorite track " I Choose Horses".


Mogwai - "I Chose Horses" MP3
Buy The Album Here
Band Website

Coldcut is Back

Coldcut - Sound Mirrors - Ninja Tune

From the Ninja Tune site

"Lets just say it right at the start. In Sound Mirrors Coldcut have made the best album of their long and illustrious career. Its not something you can state lightly, but there you are. Their production has never sounded better, their ideas have never been more various or interesting, they havve never had such a great cast of guests and then integrated them into their sound so well. Yes, its a record that is deeper, funkier, cleverer, more engaged and more engaging than anything they have done before. And, it follows from that, its deeper, funkier and cleverer than just about anything else around right now.

At a time of intense musical conservatism its bracing to find a production team who are still willing to push and to keep pushing but who, in doing so, create inspired, accessible music that transcends genre. This is a record which shows once again that Coldcut acknowledge no boundaries and set themselves no limits and, that in doing so, they create timeless records for whoever is prepared to join them. A moments reflection should be enough for you to know that its time to listen. "

Coldcut - "True Skool" MP3
Band Website
Buy the Album Here

Sound Team - Work

Sound Team - Work EP

Austin band that just signed with Capitol and released a nice EP in December. Here are two of our favorite tracks from that release.

Sound Team - "The Fastest Man Alive" MP3
Sound Team - "In The Dark No One Can Here You" MP3
RIYL: Strokes, Spoon
Support the Band Here
Sound Team Myspace

New TV On The Radio Track

Fresh off signing with the evil empire, Interscope Records, a new song leaks. Call it coincidence, call it planned, at least we have some new music. This track makes us excited for the new record. Are you listening Gun's and Roses?


TV On The Radio - "Province" MP3
Support the Band Here

Morrissey - Ringleader Of The Tormentors

Morrissey - Ringleader Of The Tormentors

April 4th is the release date for the new Morrissey record. The first of many big anticipated '06 releases that actually delivers. The entire record is really a step up from You are the Quarry which was a deep record in it's own right. Sample this track and pre-order the album. We have been listening to the record non-stop all weekend.

Morrissey - "You Have Killed Me" MP3
Pre-Order Album Here

The Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound

The Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound

Somehow, food comes to mind while listening to the Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound. No real appetite afforded, rather a peek through a camera obscura, a sea of amplified swirling caramel, washing into a drone of creamy white froth. One could direct his/her gaze through the little puncture on the Assemble Head’s supposed shoebox, looking towards the shadowed corners, where the beach of this sea might lie, and find crystalline cherries and paisley lemon drops growing out of day-glo vessels, and a gnomish man telling fortunes to children made of skulls. A phantasmagoria camera obscura, to say the least.

So, what is all this getting at? The Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound could easily be classified as a psychedelic rock group out of San Francisco, who sound like Blue Cheer, Love, Jefferson Airplane, and so on. But what good does that do for the listener, let alone the musicians themselves? It’s a bland statement about a group that deserves a more concentrated look. Even the name of the band implies something far more outrageous and cosmic than such a meek categorization.

Throughout each listen, the AHSS’s 10” release becomes more like aural reflexology. As the term suggests, I was prompted to react to this album in a calming way, as if The AHSS were rubbing calluses through the depths of their music. Even within the heavy head-spinning free-for-alls, where instruments unite into one horrific rock beast, the listener can find a cozy spot next to the keyboard, where the buzz stays evenly sonic and whirring. The soft meandering jams seep through the initial abrasive stylings, the primary riffs that could melt plastic and set a head of hair ablaze. It’s like the old proverb about the mean old man who wasn’t really cruel, but was merely trying to look after the herd.

To put simply, or perhaps more intricately, the AHSS keeps a beat so the listener doesn’t forget to breathe. It serves as a reminder of regulation, a circular Zen sort of application, so the guitar and keyboard don’t transport the brain into some sort of ninth dimension, where anyone who surpasses can float, withstand the heat of a star, and roam distant galaxies. Their self-titled record is a two-sided hallucination and they are the maestros. It has an intensity that is almost enough fuzz and screaming guitar to cause the human race to go extinct.

In fact, The Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound is the combination of 1920s science fiction books, hallucinogens, and the west coast. If there were a soundtrack for Pranksters who went on a voyage in outer space, the Assemble Head would be first request. A specific track comes to mind that would fit the soundtrack famously, “Kurtz’s Shroud.” In and of itself, an interesting literary character to choose a song title for, a correlation that reveals the weight of what could otherwise be considered a dreamy haze of a folk tune. However, Marlow in Heart of Darkness experiences a similar expedition to that of the AHSS listener, one that navigates to the center of an unknown, unpredictable terrain. So, the link is legitimate.

Even their website insists: “hallucinatory rock n’ roll and pastoral moonbase laments that voyages from the kingdoms of the acid rock masters to Morricone’s desert soundscapes…” I couldn’t agree more.

Time to backtrack to the camera obscura. I get the feeling that the Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound shoebox is bigger than this album can appropriately fill. After all, they each grew up blasting varying musicians from their stereos, from the Music Machine to Dave Burrell to soundtracks from the spaghetti westerns. I foresee an array of explorations from these Westside jammers in the years to come, perhaps even a prophecy.

Thanks to Kate Hensley of Dusted Magazine for submitting this to us. Next time include an MP3 so we can all hear the damn thing. Great review though, keep them coming.

Dusted Magazine

Natalie Portman Jamba Juice Skit

Natalie Portman Jamba Juice Skit - SNL March 4th

The great thing about this skit last night is that there's a lot of truth in it. Also, two things dorks like us love, Natalie Portman and Jamba Juice.

Naughty Boob Tape - Japanese TV

The Japanese are very very naughty. That's why we love them. Hai domo!

Hail Social

Hail Social - Polyvinyl Records

Behold Hail Social, the latest addition to the indie dance rock scene. Falling somewhere right in the middle of The Stills and Death From Above 1979, albeit faster paced than The Stills and softer than Death From Above 1979, but equally as melodic as both! Consider Hail Social a more melodic and consistent Elefant if you will. The album starts off with "Hands Are Tied", probably the heaviest track on the album, which plays a little like a Bloc Party song. It's a great song to start with. Next we suddenly reach the apex, "Get In The Car", Hail Socials gem. This song is beautiful through and through. I particularly enjoy it when lead singer Dayve Hawk (what a name!) goes off: "This is for real. This is for real. SO FOR REAL!" While the lyrics are nothing too intuitive to the artists involved, the melody represented is just completely hypnotic. "Come Out Tonight" is the most alternative track on the album, it's a bass led song which sports some more incredible melodies. "Repetition" slows the tempo of the album down, and not in any bad manner. While it's a slower song, it is by no means slow. Again, I can't emphasize it enough how melodic these guys are. This song is amazing. The album ends with "No Title", which sounds like a pun, I know. But appropriately enough it is one of the better songs on the album. Other stand outs are "Another Face", which has one of the best choruses on the album, "Feeling Is Wrong" and "Track #1". The only song I find myself skipping is "More Time", which isn't necessarily a bad song... Overall, this album is amazing. Like any band of this nature: The Bravery, Elefant, Death From Above 1979, Bloc Party and The Stills, the main focus of Hail Social is not the lyrics. All the aforementioned bands including Hail Social are melody driven bands, and if you like any of the bands I listed as comparison, do yourself a favor and check out Hail Social, as they just joined the best of this genre.

- Kevin

Hail Social - "No Title" MP3
Support the Band Here

Your Complete March Show List

Your Complete March Show List

MARCH
3/2 Man Man @ Mercury Lounge, 3/2 Okkervil River @ Southpaw, 3/2 Belle & Sebastian, The New Pornographers @ the Nokia Theatre, 3/2 Ted Leo & the Pharmacists @ The Hook, 3/2 Miguel Mendez @ Tonic, 3/2 Brazilian Girls @ Warsaw,
3/3 the Kamikaze Hearts @ Union Pool, 3/3 Of Montreal, Grand Buffet @ Bowery (sold out) 3/3 Belle & Sebastian, The New Pornographers @ the Nokia Theatre, 3/3 Wolf Eyes @ Northsix, 3/4 Ester Drang, the Metal Hearts @ Knitting Factoy, 3/4 Wolf Eyes @ Knitting Factory, 3/4 Smoking Popes @ Northsix, 3/4 Man Man @ Sound Fix,
3/5 Jel, Blockhead, DJ Signify, Sixtoo @ Mercury Lounge,
3/6 Gogogo Airheart, the Jai Alai Savant, Subtitle @ Mercury Lounge, 3/6 Mogwai @ Avalon, 3/6 Serena Maneesh and Asobi Seksu @ Bowery,
3/8 Say Hi To Your Mom @ Rothko, 3/8 Knife Skills, No Things @ Union Pool, 3/8 the Wedding Present @ Bowery, 3/8 Nada Surf, Rogue Wave @ Webster Hall,
3/9 the Oxford Collapse @ Knittin Factory, 3/9 the Rogers Sisters, Celebration @ Northsix, 3/9 Mike Ladd @ The Kitchen, 3/9 USA is a Monster @ Syrup Room, 3/10 USA is a Monster @ Tommys Tavern,
3/10 Islands (ex-Unicorns) @ Webster Hall, 3/10 Mike Ladd @ the Kitchen, 3/10 Les Savy Fav @ Warsaw
3/11 HOT CHIP @ BOWERY, 3/11 Film School @ Mercury Lounge,
3/17 Get Him Eat Him @ Sin-e,
3/18 Silver Jews @ Webster Hall, 3/18 No Fun Fest @ The Hook, 3/18 Stereolab @ Town Hall, 3/18 Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins @ Irving Plaza,
3/19 No Fun Fest @ The Hook, 3/19 Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins @ Irving Plaza, 3/19 Sam Prekop (of the sea & cake) and Archer Prewitt @ Southpaw,
3/20 the Go! Team @ Bowery (sold out), 3/20 Annie @ the Mercury Lounge, 3/20 Michael Stipe, Rufus Wainwright, Bright Eyes, Fischerspooner, Peaches, Chuck D, Devendra Banhart - Hammerstein Ballroom(Bring Em Home Now Benefit Concert),
3/21 Casiotone for the Painfully Alone @ Cake Shop,
3/22 Casiotone for the Painfully Alone @ Glasshouse Gallery, 3/22 Jose Gonzalez @ joe’s pub, 3/22 Camera Obscura, Maria Taylor (of Azure Ray) @ Knitting Factory 3/22 the Go! Team @ North Six, 3/22 Sir Richard Bishop (of Sun City Girls), Jackie O' Motherfucker @ union pool,
3/23 Animal Collective @ Webster Hall, 3/23 Controller.Controller, Amusmement Parks on Fire @ Mercury Lounge,
3/24 The Books, Jose Gonzalez, Death Vessel @ Bowery (sold out), 3/24 Noisettes @ Mercury Lounge, 3/24 Sir Richard Bishop (of Sun City Girls), Jackie O' Motherfucker @ union pool,
3/25 Animal Collective @ Bowery (sold out), 3/25 The Gossip @ The Knitting Factory, 3/25 Arctic Monkeys, Spinto Band @ Webster Hall (sold out), 3/25 Joggers @ Rothko,
3/26 Ted Leo & the Pharmacists @ Knitting Facory (sold out), 3/26 The Minus 5, Richard Buckner @ Southpaw,
3/28 Magnolia Electric Co, Destroyer, Nedelle @ Avalon, 3/28 The Minus 5 @ The Mercury Lounge, 3/28 Magic Numbers @ Webster Hall,
3/29 Dangerdoom @ Warsaw,
3/30 Vietnam, the Silent League @ Tonic,
3/31 Flaming Lips, Pink Mountain Tops @ Webster Hall, 3/31 Clogs @ the Kitchen

Rare Radiohead Video

This rare Radiohead video has surfaced online this week. The band sings "Wolf at the Door" to an adoring crowd in Mt. View California.