Friday, January 21, 2011

Magnetic Man - Getting Nowhere ft. John Legend

Coachella lineup is officially posted so let the research begin.

Magnetic Man, new project from Dubstep legends Skream & Benga, will likely be a Sahara Tent headliner.


Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Coachella 2011 Lineup

Struggling a bit here on the initial pass. I've skimmed through twice and found new things both times. Digging deeper and finding some gems...just didn't expect to have to read the fine print to get excited.

Coachella Predictions - Part 2

Method #2 "Who released an album in 2010 and DIDN'T do the Spring/Summer U.S. festival circuit?"
Do take note to review the previous years poster to make sure you're not duplicating.

My predictions are as follows:

Arcade Fire - while they are violating a once tried and true disclaimer (can not have ever played a Coachella before) this is no longer a rule with Coachella in it's twelfth year. They've not ever been a main headliner and believe this is pretty much a shoe in.
Foals - One of the best albums of 2011. Didn't play in 2010 and west coast tour dates in March & May. Shoe in.
Big Boi - Again, one of the best albums of 2010. I'm a little more skeptical about this one, but would love an Outkast headliner. Long shot.
Janelle Monae - As one of 2010's up-and-comers I'm thinking shoe in.
Mumford & Sons - They did a bit of the US festival circut last year, but no Coachella. Shoe in.
Sufjan Stevens - Heard from a birdy that they're continuing to tour until September but couldn't get any further details. I'm going to put this in the "most likely" category.
Tame Impala - didn't play 2010. I'm thinking shoe in.
Delorean
Best Coast
Zola Jesus
Emeralds
Caribou
The National
Four Tet (hell yes!)
Twin Shadow
Das Racist (hell yes!)

Girls
The Walkmen
Oneohtrix Point Never
How To Dress Well (hell yes!)

Erykah Badu - putting this as a maybe...
Sleigh Bells
No Age - shoe in. West coast tour dates in May w/ the Kills.
James Blake - shoe in.
Deerhunter - shoe in
Kanye?????




Method #3 "Who's on tour already, and does not have April 15, 16, & 17 scheduled somewhere else"

This is an especially easy one for any non- North American band. With SxSw in Austin in mid - March there is often an easy correlation between the UK bands playing there, and what UK bands Goldenvoice has already locked in.

My predictions are as follows:
James Blake
Bombay Bicycle Club (yes K, they'll be at SxSw, you might get lucky here)
Fujiya &Miyagi
Toro y Moi
The Kills
No Age
Lykke Li
Foals
Interpol (already confirmed to be at Coachella)
Cut Copy
Dan Deacon
The Strokes
Twin Shadow
Cave Singers
Kyle Minogue - long shot but open schedule on the appropriate weekend.

I could continue, but the lineup should be out at 5pm and I should really get some actual work done.

Monday, January 10, 2011

James Blake - Limit to Your Love

After reading nothing but raving reviews amidst all of the 2010 year end countdowns I'm now venturing into the world of James Blake. So far I've only scratched the surface of his versatility. Some say Dub, others say R&B, and most are saying what can only be said about this sound (and most electronic music right now, for that matter) and that is, you can't really put a label on it.

Altered Zones is featuring Blake's self titled album as one of their "favorite records in the world right now"

Enjoy.


James Blake - Limit To Your Love from James Blake on Vimeo.

Made in Heights - Skylark Interabang?

New side project from Blue Scholars, Sabzi, Made in Heights. Everything this guy touches turns to gold so don't expect this to be anything less than amazing.

Even better? Free download of the new EP, Winter Pigeons.

Winter Pigeons (Songs To Raise Your Dead Spirits) Cover Art

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Best Coachella thread...ever


http://coachella.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40103


Thankfully I didn't have to deal with this last year, though, there will ALWAYS be a Tiesto...which is still rather unforunate.

Coachella Predictions - Part 1

I've spent some time over the past few weeks cruising the Coachella forums, and googling "Coachella 2011 lineup" to see what people are starting to say about this years lineup. I'll admit I haven't committed too much time to it just yet, however, in what little time I have wasted perusing the interwebs I don't feel that I've found much of anything that has a heartbeat.


Perhaps those of us veterans (read: old farts) don't really care to spend our time and energy speculating anymore because we know that Goldenvoice will, and always has (with the exception of a Jack Johnson headliner in 2009) brought it. So far, what I have found on the forums has been complete nonsensical posting that must be from a bunch of 17 year olds from the suburbs of L.A. who apparently have the ability to wrap their heads around what "electro" and "dubstep" and "indie" music REALLY is and thus are consistently attempting to define it - thereby negating any and all credibility that would be had from anonymously posting an opinion on a website. Then again, perhaps I, being the aforementioned "old fart", don't have a line on what the kiddies are using to discuss such subjects. Maybe? But probably not.

All of those things said, I can't help but do the leg work myself in an attempt to get psyched about my ticket purchase prior to the lineup release date. There are a few different methods to the madness in doing the research, all of them time consuming, so you must actually enjoy the run around. By the time you've (um, well, I) finished compiling your (um, well, my) list - the lineup will actually be announced. I've narrowed my list making down to using 3 different methods when compiling your (I mean, my) list.


Method #1 "Who's releasing an album in the 1st quarter of 2011"
*Note that the stipulation to using this method is that the headliner prediction cannot have been a headliner in the last year or two.

Below are my predictions based on albums that have a release date set for early 2011.

Social Distortion
Iron & Wine
The Go! Team
Mogwai
PJ Harvey
The Dears
Drive By Truckers
Devotchka
Toro y Moi
Cake
Smith Westerns
Tennis
Fugiya & Miyagi
Esben & the Witch
Millionyoung
Tapes n Tapes
Decemberists (barf, but likely)
Ducktails
Klaxons
The Books
Cold War Kids
Destroyer
Talib Kweli
MEN
The Streets
Cut Copy
Diplo
James Blake
Jamie Smith (Jamie XX)
Lykke Li
R.E.M. (I'm putting this one pretty high up there on the Most Likely going to headliner bet)
Kode9 & the Spaceape

Album release date for the below artists is TBD for 2011 but worth mentioning in reference to speculative Coachella performances.

Aerosmith
Fiona Apple (I would be able to die having had an amazing life, officially, if this happens)
Battles
Beyonce
Black Lips
Blondie
Bush
Busta Rhymes
Coldplay
Dr Dre (10 years in a the making. God damn I hope this album is worth the wait. Seriously what better place to debut than in So Cal?)
Estelle
Eve
Fleet Foxes
Foo Fighters (they're headlining Sasquatch so an appearance is imminent. Headliner is a possibility)
Franz Ferdinand
Green Day
Hercules & Love Affair
Jane's Addiction
Jamiriquoi
Wyclef
Lady Gaga (well she headlined Lollapalooza so maybe??)
Kraftwerk
Justice (no thanks)
Marilyn Manson (I would love this)
My Morning Jacket (have sub headlined before so probably not)
Outkast (OMG this would be UH-Mazing and given the success of Big Boi's new album, likelihood is high)
Radiohead (I'll believe it when I see it)
The Shins
The Strokes
Wilco


Mount Kimbie - Before I Move Off

Not sure what I love more...the song, or the video.