Noel Heroux of Hooray for Earth (one of the worst-named bands of '07, according to the Onion):

"My Top 5 Songs Released in 2007"
1_Elliott Smith, "New Disaster"
2_Björk, "Wanderlust"
3_Malcolm Middleton, "We're All Going To Die"
4_Arcade Fire, "Neon Bible"
5_Zambri, "God"

Hooray for Earth celebrate the release of their new Cellphone EP (Dopamine) with a listening party at Middlesex Lounge February 6 and a show downstairs at the Middle East February 29.

Previously: Noel Heroux, "I Don't Want To Get Over You (Magnetic Fields cover)"

1/22/2008 8:11:09 PM by Will | Comments [0] |  

Dead Trees, "I Have I Want" (Live at Middlesex Lounge, 11/12/2007)


Viva Viva, "Heartbreak Sweepstakes" (Live at Middlesex Lounge, 11/12/2007)


Age Rings, "NYC" (Live at Middlesex Lounge, 11/12/2007)

We've watched those Dead Trees kids since they were but little pups playing far better Pavement knbockoffs than a bunch of 16-year-olds had any right to. So when we heard they were moving to Oregon, and throwing one last farewell bash with the best bands in town, we grabbed a couple of cameras and headed over to the Middlesex Lounge (a place where we haven't seen a live band since the Lot Six played the club's opening night . . . on a double bill with Hollertronix).

Show: pure awesomeness, with great sets from Viva Viva, Mittens, Age Rings, Tulsa, and a singer-songwriterly gal whose name we didn't catch. (Drug Rug were a late scratch.)Our video, however, suffers from a lack of candlelight. Darkness shrouds the documentation, yo. It really was that dark, which isn't a problem in the real world, but our cameras huffed and puffed to pick up shadows. We also had our audio recorder set on "Guitar Wolf," so everyone sounds more garage-punk than they perhaps are -- except for Viva Viva, who really are exactly that fucking raw. The Age Rings tune above (full disclosure: that's the Phoenix's Will Spitz on guitar) is a new one, from what they're hoping will be a full-blown double-LP.

Dead Trees played a relatively short set for a band that was about to skip town, opting to leave everyone wanting more -- the song streaming above is a new one that certainly leaves us anticipating the next record. Also, as they admitted, they were really drunk by the end of the night. Apologies in advance for the shadowy-land-of-shadows cinematography; we're already lobbying for a do-over next time the Trees come through on tour, which -- if bands like Frank Smith are any indication -- won't be too long from now.

11/18/2007 3:32:35 PM by On the Download | Comments [0] |  

For those of you reading this at work: the weekend ain't over yet, snitches. Many of you will have Tuesdays bookmarked as Hearthrob night, but they're going early this week to accomodate a dude who we'd postpone Christmas to see. Even if you don't listen to SINDEN's UK radio show or have the funds to fly over the pond to catch his resident sets at Fabric, you've probably encountered his remixes, sets, image, and likeness on this blog and many others (those Mad Decent guys, for example, are obsessed). His Counterfeet label, with Dave "Switch" Taylor, is runnin' thangs.

And, of course, he's now MIA's DJ. Really, we tried to put that part off as long as we could. But now that it's out there, we expect to see hipsters in spades.

If there's a line out the door at M-sex, walk a little down the street. On any other Monday, we'd be directing you to the Enormous Room, where tonight's "Beat Research" is also awesome: our friend Brian Coleman, of Check the Technique fame, is holding down the early set with "beats culled from his Vinyl Dungeon . . . A Random Pantload of Ill '80s Hip-Hop Instrumentals. Subheadline: a Tribute to Leccos Lemmo, the Dub Hop Show and the man called Magnus." Science!

DOWNLOAD: Sinden, "Beeper" (mp3)

10/1/2007 1:24:48 PM by On the Download | Comments [0] |  

Mistaker brings the Rub up to the Middlesex Lounge tonight -- always a good time. And if you happen to notice a bunch of sweaty bloggers with ping-pong paddles, just don't even bother asking.

Speaking of the Rub, those dudes are making history -- more to the point, they're 11 (eleven!) volumes into their "The Rub History of Hip-Hop" mp3-mix series, which is so good we can't believe they're giving it away for free. Consider it remedial homework for anyone who wasn't alive -- or who was otherwise engaged with Duran Duran -- during rap's first decade. Essential from front to back, but we have a special place in our heart for 1984-1986, for our money the best three years of rap music, or any music, between 1967 and 1991.

DOWNLOAD: The Rub Hip Hop History 1986 (mp3)
DOWNLOAD: The Rub Hip Hop History 1985 (mp3)
DOWNLOAD: The Rub Hip Hop History 1984 (mp3)

Get the whole series and tracklists here.

5/1/2007 11:47:47 AM by On the Download | Comments [0] |  

Juiceboxx: rad to the bone

Retard Disco-style geek-rap phenomenon JUICEBOXXX brings his spazztastic, totally rad, straight-outta-Milwaukee steez to town tonight, and nobody could be more psyched than our favorite DIY partytime crew BIG DIGITS, who own this shit locally and are "presenting" -- but not performing -- tonight's gig. In any case, they would likely have been in the front row even if they weren't involved, and if anyone needed more incentive to get out the crib this evening, the Juicy one is bringing DRE SKULL, his partner-in-crime on a legitimately bonkers new single, "Sweat," that comes out this month and bosts a flipside remix from Spank Rock's XXXChange. The missing link between hipstery-Baltimore club rap and the dorkus message board rappers who love to love it? "Sweat" just might be that jam. The boys get wet tonight at Heartthrob, the industry-night party that's been taking back Tuesdays and blowing up the spot over at Middlesex Lounge.

DOWNLOAD: Juiceboxxx and Dre Skull, "Sweat (teaser)" (mp3, via myspace)
DOWNLOAD: Dre Skull, "Got Your Money (Freestyle)" (mp3)

1/9/2007 4:37:38 PM by On the Download | Comments [1] |  

IF YOU GO:

• "Make It New" 2nd Anniversary Party two live acts, four DJs, including Juan MacLean
  Middlesex Lounge, Cambridge
  $5
  
• "Paper" featuring XXXChange and Rockwell
  Bill's Bar, 5 Lansdowne St., Boston
  $5

Clone yourself. We don't know what to tell you. Possibly you've already seen the Spank Rock DJ team and so can somehow justify missing XXXChange & Rockwell tear shit up tonight at Paper. Possibly you've seen former Six Finger Satellite guitarist (the) Juan MacLean work the decks like he was born gay and black in Detroit and so can justify missing him tonight with the rest of the absurdly talented "Make It New" crew (not just saying that because, and all). As it is, we still have no idea which one we're going to. Coin toss?

Make It New crew includes our own David Day, the hardest working columnist in Boston, who not only spins awesome shit but works really hard to make things happen, like giving Juan a home in what was, after all, Juan's hometown -- a place he hadn't felt welcome in 10 years. Read about the extensive list of DJs and goings-on over at the Squar3 blog. Present from the Make It New crew: Juan Atkins (yes, Juan MacLean's namesake) giving one of the classics a workover:

DOWNLOAD: Inner City, "Good Life (Magic Juan Remix)" (mp3 via sQuar3 Productions blog)

10/19/2006 3:25:42 PM by On the Download | Comments [0] |