Officially A Yuppie: September 2015

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Quick News

As a music festival in D.C. over the weekend, Julian Casablancas confirmed that The Strokes are currently in the studio working on a new album.

Kula Shaker will release their first album in six years, Eclipse, next year.

Flying Lotus, Thundercat and Shabazz Palaces have all come together to form a new super group called WOKE. The band released their debut single via Adult Swim earlier this week and FlyLo spoke to Pitchfork about the project. He was asked if an album will be in the works and replied: "There's nothing set in stone. We have a bunch of ideas. There's about like nine songs kind of floating around. There's more stuff with George [Clinton], too. We've done a lot of recording over this year. I want to make sure that all the stuff that we do is in the same room together. I'm not trying to do e-mail shit; I really want it to be organic and a true collaboration."

Next month, Kendrick Lamar will perform his flawless new album, To Pimp a Butterfly, with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. This apparently will be a one-off performance.

Kid Cudi has announced that his new album, Speedin' Bullet to Heaven will be a double album. No official release date has been given.

In October and November, respectively, Sigur Ros will reissue Takk and () for the first time on vinyl. Both reissues will feature a remastering of the original albums.

In December, the soundtrack to the acclaimed Kurt Cobain documentary, Montage of Heck will be released. The soundtrack will feature home recordings, snippets, demos and experiments that would eventually become Nirvana songs. Take a look at the cover, below:

Catfish and the Bottlemen on Corden

Watch Catfish and the Bottlemen perform "Kathleen" on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

FIDLAR on Kimmel

Watch FIDLAR perform "Why Genertaion" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Live Review: Ghost @ Terminal 5

On the night of a Super Blood Moon and Pope Francis finished his whirlwind trip to North America and after he blessed Cuba, Washington, Philly, and New York, metal's Pope Papa Emeritus III and the rest of Sweden's Ghost descended on New York City and turned Terminal 5 into a Rock and Roll Cathedral.

As the band embarks across the U.S. for their "Black to the Future" tour, they are bringing their alter along with them for fans to worship. As the stage inside the massive Terminal 5 was decked out like that of a house of the holy, incense burned, the lights were dim, and the sound of monks and choirs chanted all through the room before they hit the stage. It was Sunday and Papa had a mass to perform.

Just after 9 p.m., the five nameless Ghouls appeared on stage in faceless devil masks and black attire, they occupied their instruments and riffed away. As Papa appeared behind the stage and walked onto his alter, his room of worshipers generated the loudest cheers one could endure in a venue of that size.
Behind him was a stained glass-inspired backdrop that mimicked him and the Ghouls. As he was dressed in black robes, his signature face paint and a Pontiff hat featuring the band's inverted cross with a 'G' strategically placed in the center, this is how he would deliver his sermon.

Beginning their set with the opening numbers from their latest, Meliora, "Spirit" and "From the Pinnacle to the Pit," Ghost had the room feeding out of their hands as if it was holy communion. Their style is more than just metal. It combines the harmonies of The Beatles mixed with the progression of Rush and the chomping and heavy sounds of Black Sabbath. While their show is a spectacle to be seen with enough strobe lights that would rival any DJ, they choreograph each number making the show something not just to be heard and seen but experienced.

In between songs, Papa (in a very broken and fake Spanish accent) would address his disciples. For nearly an hour on stage with his robe, it was time Papa went into causal attire -- taking off his hat and robe, he came out dressed like a member of My Chemical Romance's "Black Parade."Keeping his facepaint on, this was the part of the show where he would get serious and crank out the hits like "Body and Blood," "Devil Church," "Year Zero," and "Absolution." For nearly two hours, the 19-song set was enough to make anyone a believer -- a believer that this band is not just a very good gimmick, but legitimately very good musicians with very clever songs that can entertain night after night. While one Pope has left America, another has just entered and beginning his tour.

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10 Artists That Should Do a James Bond Theme

Now that Sam Smith's James Bond song, "The Writing's on the Wall," the theme to the upcoming SPECTRE has been released, we look at 10 other artists that have not done a Bond theme and deserve one just as much as Idris Elba deserves to be the most famous spy in all of cinema once Daniel Craig hangs up his tux.

Read: The 10 Best James Bond Themes

10 - Depeche Mode

The British doom-and-gloom electro rockers have been reinventing themselves for over 30 years and have appealed to generations, so not only would it be fitting and ideal, just think of the sexy, mysterious, and compelling song they would make?! It would be the ethos on Bond in under five minutes.

9 - Noel Gallagher

Earlier this year, Noel Gallagher told Digital Spy he would write the next Bond tune "In a heartbeat," so with his songwriting chops, popularity, and Bond-esque swagger, why are we dragging our feet on picking him?

8 - The Chemical Brothers

How much fund would a Chemical Brothers 007 tune be? It would be as adventurous as one of the spy's many missions around the globe. Given their dabbling into the soundtrack world with Hanna, they would be a solid choice.

7 - Lana Del Rey

With Adele and Sam Smith's Bond themes, it seems as if producers are going back to the cinematic, brooding style of songs of old. As Lana Del Rey's latest, Honeymoon, shows, she can do all of those styles and would make an interesting choice.

6 - Rihanna

Sexy, stylish, seductive -- That is how you can describe both Rihanna and James Bond. Since she shares so many of the same traits as the character, she would seamlessly fit into the character's universe as a performer and could even be a Bond girl.

5 - David Bowie

Now that the Thin White Duke is back writing songs for film and TV, there really is no explanation needed as to why he would be the perfect choice to do a theme song.

4 - Frank Ocean

Daniel Craig gave 007 a certain vulnerability and that mood can get tapped into and transformed into music thanks to Frank Ocean. With his R&B and mellow hip-hop style, Ocean can make Bond walk on water.

3 - Florence and the Machine

While most of Florence's music feels like it belongs in a film and has such a grand nature to it, her Bond theme would be just as epic as one of his missions.

2 - James Blake

While every man wants to be Bond and women want Bond, he is a moody bastard. Which is why James Blake could make a winning theme thanks to his moody yet brilliant delivery.

1 - Arctic Monkeys

Many artists try and go for a Bond theme that will be remembered and be embraced by all. Arctic Monkeys would want none of that. In fact, the Sheffield band would probably try and craft the loudest and fastest Bond theme around and make it one sexy number.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

The Arcs on Colbert

Watch The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach perform with his new band The Arcs as they make their TV debut on The Late Show.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Big Grams on Fallon

Big Grams aka Phantogram and Big Boi made the TV debut on The Tonight Show last night. Take a look!

Kurt Vile on Conan

Watch Kurt Vile play "Pretty Pimpin'" and "Wild Imagination" on Conan.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Great Soundtrack: Tron Legacy

It was five years since fans got a new Daft Punk album, so when they returned to the spotlight in 2010 on the Tron Legacy soundtrack, some thought it was a perfect fit and others scratched their heads. The long awaited sequel to the 80's classic arrived five years ago and doing the score were France's robot rockers.

The soundtrack, which had elements of the duo's hard electronica, was their first venture into the musical score territory. It sounded like a Daft Punk album but didn't feel like one, probably because the folks at Disney had something to say about it. Nonetheless, the soundtrack is still a cosmic trip out of this universe and into the next.

Quick News

Ryan Adams has been confirmed as Trevor Noah's first musical guest on The Daily Show which will begin next week. Adams will appear on October 1.

Kanye West spoke to Vanity Fair about a number of topics, but one that came up (one that we care about) is that his new album, tentatively titled SWISH, may arrive next year. He said: "I’m not sure. I’m not worried about the years. I’m worried about the life and the body of work that I can put out while I’m breathing."

For the first time on CD / DVD, Madness will release their infamous Madstock ’92 concert along with four rare bonus tracks, next month. The album was recorded during a concert weekend in a North London park in the summer of 1992.

Bob Dylan will release his latest Bootleg Series in November. This one, The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12, will feature demos, alternative versions, and outtakes from Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, and Blonde on Blonde.

A new J Dilla compilation called Dillatronic will be released in November. It will feature over 40 never-before-heard instrumentals from the beat master.

During a Twitter Q&A Pharrell was asked if NERD would be making a new album and the singer replied "Of course." While he confirmed that the band will be giving new material a-go in the near future, he never mentioned when it would be released.The group's last album, Nothing, was released in 2010.

Roger Waters has confirmed to NME that he is looking to make a theatrical musical out of Pink Floyd's classic, The Wall, which he has been touring for the last few years. The singer said: "We've done workshops with it as a theatrical piece, and I suspect we'll see it sooner rather than later," Waters said. "I've been working with Lee Hall, who did Billy Elliot, writers and producers, and I think that team will put it on the stage first in London, then New York and then maybe it'll tour. People have been reduced to both laughter and tears in the workshops, which is a great sign."

Jesus and Mary Chain's Jim Reid has confirmed to Time Out New York that the band are indeed making a new album. He said: "We are! We're doing an album now. We actually just started recording. It's early days, but I would say it's a more mature sound for the Mary Chain. But let's just wait and see."

Stream Deafhaven's New Album

NPR is streaming Deafhaven's brutal new epic, New Bermuda. Take a listen!

Pearl Jam on Colbert

Watch Pearl Jam perform "Mind Your Manors" on the Late Show and bring out host Stephen Colbert for a rendition of Neil Young's "Rockin in a Free World."

Stream Eagles of Death Metal's 'Zipper Down'

Thanks to NPR, Eagles of Death Metal are streaming their new album, Zipper Down, for all to enjoy. Take a listen!

El Vy Share New Song Inside A Brussels Studio

El Vy, the band featuring Matt Berninger of The National and Brent Knopf of Menomena, shared a new song, "No Time to Crank the Sun" from a session they did inside a Brussels studio. Take a look.

Their debut, Return to the Moon, comes out October 30.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Royal Blood on Corden

Watch Royal Blood rip through "Figure It Out" on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

QUICK SPINS

New Order – Music Complete

In the decade since their last album, New Order broke-up, then reunited without founding member Peter Hook and now released their 10^th album – as much as fans may scratch their head that it isn’t New Order without Hooky, this album is some of their best material since the 1980’s. New Order take the new wave style they helped usher in, add more Euro trashness to it and sharp delivery for a record that is a party from start to finish. What is missing is Hooky’s signature bass lines and playing but it is made up for in Gillian Gilbert and Phil Cunningham’s synths. New Order fans of every generation will eat this record up.

FINAL GRADE: A

Everything But The Girl - Walking Wounded / Temperamental (Reissues)
The final two reissues and the final two albums from one of the most underrated groups of the last 30 years has been released. Everything But the Girl's 1996 underrated classic The Walking Wounded and 1999's Temperamental still resonate and hold up to high standards today. It was on these records you can hear how the duo were a clear cut influence on artists like The xx, Lana Del Rey, The Weeknd, and James Blake. These reissues remaster the records sound and coupled with bonus cuts, it makes for the ultimate guide to the ultimate throwback. One of the finest reissues of the year.
FINAL GRADES: A

Foals – What Went Down

British indie rockers Foals have been pushing the boundaries with their sound since they bursted onto the scene a decade ago. Their latest album, What Went Down, is an epic adventure that makes the listener feel as if they are surfing the highest waves and then crashing down at the beach after 48 minutes and 12 seconds.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique – Love is Free EP

Sweden’s finest pop princess and La Bagatelle Magique team up with Maluca to honor late Magique member Christian Falk on their debut EP, Love is Free. The EP is a confession for the dance floor and brings Falk back to life with the sounds of Europe on this collection of songs.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Craig Finn – Faith in the Future

The Hold Steady’s front man Craig Finn goes on his second solo outing and this time the lyrical master gets more personal than ever before. Faith in the Future is his unofficial love letter to his time in New York City since moving to the Big Apple from Minneapolis at the turn of the century as well as finding beauty in negative spaces. The record is also his most minimal in terms of music forcing the listener to pay attention to his brilliant songwriting and story telling.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Ghost – Meliora

As the Pope arrives in New York City this weekend, Ghost have given the papal visit something to sing about. The doom-and-gloom rockers return with another tongue-in-cheek look at Christianity and the church.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Public Enemy – Man Plans God Laughs

The 13^th album from Long Island rap icons Public Enemy might be their best this millennium. Chuck D has channeled all of his anger, frustration that has gone on in the news and crafted his most vicious and headline worthy lyrics in a while. This is a Public Enemy album for all to endure and hear.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Mac Demarco – Another One

Canada’s Mac Demarco currently lives in the Rockaway section of Queens, New York, and found a way to tie in his homelands into one creative mini album. The record is for Demarco’s fans that have been with him every step of the way.

FINAL GRADE: B

Willis Earls Beal – Noctunes

The artist and musician that is Willis Earls Beal never fails to impress and Noctunes does just that. It is a record that what written at the end of his marriage and creates lullabies that he can calmly sing himself to sleep with at night and now his most personal thoughts are exposed before you go to bed.

FINAL GRADE: B

Spector – Moth Boys

English rockers Spector return with their sophomore effort, Moth Boys, and still bring the slick Britrock inspired tunes that gained them attention when they first arrived.

FINAL GRADE: B

Radkey – Dark Black Makeup

Finally! The debut from Missouri’s Radkey has arrived and does not disappoint. The young garage band of brothers combines the ethos of early Arctic Monkeys and Strokes and mix it with the attitude of Fishbone for a solid first outing.

FINAL GRADE: B

Beach House – Depression Cherry

Beach House return with another lush, sexy, and often times musically erotic LP to seduce your new lover to.

FINAL GRADE: B

Teenage Time Killers – Greatest Hits Vol. 1

This massive metal super group features everyone from Dave Grohl and Nick Oliveri to Corey Talor, Randy Blythe, members of Clutch, Fear, Alkaline Trio, Sun O))), Corrosion of Conformity, and a shit load of other dudes that plug in their gear and blow the fuck out of each other in a room.

FINAL GRADE: B

Lana Del Rey – Honeymoon

Everyone’s favorite songstress to hate, Lana Del Rey, returns with her third album and like her other moody releases, this one does nothing different and it proves she doesn’t have to.

FINAL GRADE: B

Beirut – No No No

Four albums in and Beirut’s Balkan-inspired folk and pop is as infectious as ever.

FINAL GRADE: B

The Arcs – Yours, Dreamly

The debut album from Black Keys front man Dan Auerbach’s other band is here and basically sounds like The Black Keys with a full band.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Slayer – Repentless

It is a new Slayer record, there is no need for a review.

FINAL GRADE: \m/ \m/

Health – Death Magic

The LA noise rock superstars Health return with their first album in six years and third overall and still have the same flavor they did when they were at their height.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes – Blossom

When Frank Carter left Gallows to form Pure Love, his electronic experimental project, he left a void in the hardcore and punk scene. Now one of the greatest frontmen to ever do it is back in the genre he was born for.

FINAL GRADE: B-

No Devotion – Permanence

Former Thursday front man Geoff Rickly teamed up with the innocent members of LostProphets and created No Devotion. Now, after a few years together, the band have released their debut which is a post-punk extravagaza that is almost a natural progression for the Welsh band and the New Jersey post-hardcore singer since the fall of their prior groups. For fans of Rickly and LostProphets this is one to hear.

FINAL GRADE: B-

M.E.D., Blu, Madlib To Release Collab Debut

Rappers M.E.D., Blu, and Madlib are releasing their debut collaborative LP, Bad Neighbor in November.

Take a look at the cover art, above, and the star-studded tracklisting, as well as the first single "Knock, Knock" Feat. DOOM, below:

01 Greetings:
02 Serving [ft. Hodgy Beats]
03 Peroxide [ft. DâM-FunK and DJ Romes]
04 Get Money [ft. Frank Nitt]
05 Streets [ft. Oh No and DJ Romes]
06 The Stroll [ft. AMG]
07 Knock Knock [ft. MF DOOM]
08 Mad Neighbor
09 The Strip [ft. Anderson .Paak]
10 Finer Things [ft. Likewise and Phonte]
11 Burgundy Whip [ft. Jimetta Rose]
12 Drive In [ft. Aloe Blacc]
13 Belly Full [ft. Black Spade]
14 Birds
15 The Buzz [ft. Mayer Hawthorne]

Quick News

Arcade Fire are releasing a deluxe edition of their last album, Reflektor with a bonus album of songs at the end of this week. Band member Will Butler spoke to NME about how they are beginning to work on their next record. He said: "We're all itching to play music together and start recording things. We're basically in the demo and play together phase, and historically that's led to realising that, surprisingly, we're 30 per cent into a record, so we'll see if that happens. It's a bit different this time because everyone's older and fatter and lazier, so it might take longer, but we're playing music together. Win and Regine got a place in New Orleans so I think we'll spend some time there, because why wouldn't you? But apart from that we're in the old HQ [in Montreal].

Once again, Noel Gallagher was about an Oasis reunion. This time on Radio X in the UK and he said: "Probably not in the very near future. One should never say never though, when someone’s waving a cheque for a quarter of a billion…I’m sure there are countless, thousands of people who would love it. But there’s one that wouldn’t…me."

It has been over 20 years since David Bowie has recorded anything for TV or film, but now The Thin White Duke is recording a 'dark, brooding' theme for SKY TV's The Last Panthers. The show will air in Europe this fall.

In November, A Tribe Called Quest will reissue their debut, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm and it will be the first in a reissues from the iconic hip-hop group. Take a look at the trailer, below: