SXSW: Pendulum, Sat. 12:45 at La Zona Rosa

Pendulum needs some American love. They’e big in the UK and Australia, with a Gold album and massively sold-out shows/tours. But on these shores… Check out this video of ‘Showdown’, which would sound great in the new Crank movie.  Don’t miss the section @ the 2:00 minute mark.

Best 25 Albums of 2008 (with downloads)

 

A unique Best Album list with some major surprises. I’m not giving in to the popular consensus or critical pressure. And I’ve heard the stuff the critics don’t even know exists. But what triumphs in the end is musicality and originality.  And sorry; no compilations, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend, or Mgmt here, despite how good they may or may not be. Chime in with your thoughts and favorites…

We’ll start with the lower half and work up to number one. The download links are to my favorite available track from that album.

25. Evil Nine – They Live  They Live

24. Paul Woolford presents Bobby Peru – The Truth  Erotic Discourse (Greg Wilson edit)

23. Meshuggah – obZen  Bleed

22. The Mars Volta – The Bedlam in Goliath  Wax Simulcra

21. Kiko – Slave of My Mind 

20. Beirut – The Flying Club Cup  Nantes

19. Red Snapper – Pale Blue Dot  Wanga Doll

18. Pendulum – In Silico  The Tempest

17. Lulu Rouge – Bless You  Sweeter than Sweet

16. Kings of Leon – Only by the Night  Sex on Fire

 

15. David Holmes – The Holy Pictures  Holy Pictures

(File under: shoegaze, film-score rock) A personal and gorgeous album from the man responsible for all the Ocean’s 11-13 scores. He writes sweet electronic rock songs with a composer’s eye.

14. Marnie Stern – This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That  Transformer 

(File under: art-rock) If only every good-looking blonde could also be called ‘The Best Female Guitarist of All-time”, Marnie writes trip-tych lyrics (see the album name?) and has time-shifting rhythms to die for.

 

13. Foals – Antidotes  Balloon

(File under: emotive dance-rock) With emotion and energy to burn, you can expect big things from this Oxford five-piece.

 

12. Rolo Tomassi – Hysterics  Macabre Charade

(File under: hardcore-rave) Perfect balance of metal guitars and synthesizers. I’m amazed at the roar that comes out of that cute and petite singer’s frame. The above track shows their immense potential.

 

11. Deerhunter – Microcastle / Weird Era Cont.  Never Stops

(File under: ambient-punk) Ten amazing tracks on both of these discs. Influences change in each song and seem to embody their cross-dressing frontman.

 

10. Juana Molina – Un Dia  Un Dia

(File under: Spanish folk-electronica) Minimalist folk vocals criss-cross and cast their spell on you. You can hardly detect an electronic presence.

 

9. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours

(File under: disco-pop-rock) I’m not going to even post a link for this, because this is the most blogged about band ever, and I’ve been a part of that monster. I can’t deny this is indestructible stuff; cheery and predictable in the best way possible.

8. Murcof – The Versailles Sessions  Louis XIV’s Demons 

(File under: ambient-classical) Murcof is part of the new generation of composers using technology as integral to the spectrum. Ambient crosses into classical crosses into opera crosses into electro-acoustic music. Every second is fascinating.

7. Datassette – Datassette LP 

(File under: intelligent-electro-tech) The blogosphere radar has yet to really discover this debut album that covers many of the electronic genre bases. Every song is a different planet, and you’re inner robot couldn’t be happier. ‘Remains’ is epic, like a welcoming party for the star race.

 

6. Chase & Status – More Than Alot  Eastern Jam

(File under: drum n’ bass for the masses) Chase & Status have released one of the best dn’b albums of all time. Every song is different than the last. Rock, dub, soul, eastern, hip-hop, and more soul. Aimed to crack America.

5. Buraka Som Sistema – Black Diamond  Sound of Kuduro 

(File under: kuduro-electro-ghettotech) Angola and Portugal in the house!! Ok, so I just wanted to say that, but these guys tear it up with the kuduro mixed with techno, dubstep, and electro. M.I.A. collaborates, and every track is All-Star.

 

4. Bohren & der Club of Gore – Dolores  Unkerich

(File under ambient-jazz) This is David Lynch jazz music, like drowning in alcohol in a detective film-noir. The rhythm is in limbo, floating in space. On a side note, ‘bohren’ means drilling, and club of gore means just that.

 

3. Crystal Castles – Self-titled  Vanished

(File under: Atari-punk) But it’s so much more than that. They show international finesse, poetic lyrics, and emotional range. Art school will never be the same.

2. Clark – Turning Dragon  (album sampler)

(File under: ?-blitzkrieg-art-dance?) Clark has finally ascended the throne left by Aphex Twin. This album is in turns violent, grooving, artistic, and suddenly haunting and beautiful. Mad genius. Prepare to be throttled.

 

1. Guy J – Esperanza   (myspace only)

(File under: melodic techno) An epic 20 track album that doesn’t have one weak link, this is a spellbinding journey from Tel Aviv producer Guy J. Stunning melodies unfold out of state-of-the-art rhythms. Good enough for relaxing at home or banging in the car. In the same vein as Nathan Fake’s Drowning in a Sea of Love. And as you see above, completely off the blog radar.

June’s 15 Summer Slammers

This month continues the trend of the French and Aussies blowing up the scene. There is also alot of artists taking over musical vacancies that other artists have moved on from. Also, electro-trance has arrived.

1. Pendulum – In Silico

Well it’s here and it’s an overwhelming success. Pendulum have fused stadium rock with electronic dance in a fresh and uniquely singular sound. They still have alot of room for improvement (make the rock parts more Tool than Silverchair), but this is a fantastic first step. Fans of NIN, Vast, or Prodigy should check this out immediately.

2.  The Presets – Apocalypto

Another Aussie outfit, these guys have aimed more for the clubs with this album, and it is their best yet. “If I Know You” could be a club smash in the vein of “Blue Monday”. Fans of Underworld, Depeche Mode, or EBM should also check this out immediately.

3. Apparat – Things to Be Freckled

This is a double CD set of Apparat remixes and others remixing them. When their name is involved you can expect state-of-the-art and next level production that goes for the jugular.

4. Padded Cell – Night Must Fall

These guys have plumbed the best sounds from the 70’s and early 80’s to create a gothic-funk throwback album.

5. Bumblebeez – “Dr. Love”, “Spaceships”, and “Rio”

More Aussies who throw rock’n’rave, grime, electro, and punk together for a decadent party. From the album Prince Umberto & the Sister of Ill

6. The Black Ghosts mixtape 

Electro that hits all the right buttons at the right times. Fil OK’s “Wink Wink (touche mix)” is one great electro track.

7. Cut Copy – “Hearts on Fire (Midnight Juggernauts mix)”

I’m astonished at the quality that Midnight Juggernauts continue to shell out.

8. Sebastian – “Momy”, “Army”, and “Dog”

Sebastian is working hard to combine rock and electro with mostly successful results. “Dog” actually tries to incorporate hardcore and electro while remaining club playable.

9. Jdsy – “Else”, “Saboteur”, and “The Beetle”

Imagine Aphex Twin with vocals. Fans of Matthew Dear step right up.

10. Little Boots – “Stuck on Repeat”

Here’s a perfect slice of vocal electro-house that takes the spot Goldfrapp used to inhabit before she went folk.

11. Noze – Songs on The Rocks

Filthy French electro-lounge album that gets jazzy and never bores.

12. Snoop Dogg – “Cool”

Yes, this new Snoop track is THE jam. You’ll hear this out for the rest of summer.

13. Rafael Frost – “Minimum”

Electro and trance are expertly mixed here to produce a slammin number.

14. Kraak & Smaak – “Squeeze Me” original & A Skillz remix

The video for the original is below and the A Skillz remix adds a nasty, grimy bass that should also kill it on the dancefloor.

15. Concord Dawn – “Fly Away Home”

Takes the spot that Pendulum left, which is drum n’ bass with a rock edge.

Pendulum – Propane Nightmares video

The Aussie drum and bass rockers are back, and this time they will settle for nothing less than world domination. The beats drop around the 1:15 mark, and the album goes worldwide on May 12.