Pretty Much Amazing! The Music Blog

Festival Off!

 

Over here in Britain, ‘to festival’ has become the fashionable verb of the in-crowd. Everyone ‘does’ them, so to speak – from Kate Moss to David Tennant (our current Dr. Who). Indeed, 2008 could well be the year of the trendy festival. But when did - with all the celebrity buzz and media hype - festival makers begin caring too much about photo opportunities with stars and less about the actual artists hitting the stage? Basically, when did line-ups take backstage?

 Yes, there is more to Glastonbury than the headliners – so why are the number of ticket registrants down on last year? Similarly, Leeds and Reading festivals still have day tickets available some two days after they went on general sale. Take a look at the line-ups and it is not hard to see why. Festivals should be about catching that new hyped-up band for the very first time, about rushing home to by an act’s CD because you stumbled across the wrong stage at the right time, about being blown away by the oh-so-now act – not about watching The Killers, Metalica, Editors or Kings of Leon perform the same set list as you saw them last year.

Where are our favorite acts? MGMT, Hot Chip, Foals, Vampire Weekend, Robyn, Justice, Bonde de Role, Sebastien Tellier so name but a few… C’mon festivals – we’ve been soul mates for a good five years now, don’t start letting me down now!

 As a new writer on this here pretty amazing blog and in a bid to allow you to get to know me, I have opened up by iPod and below are the first five shuffled tracks to appear - 

Regina Spektor - Buildings:  Download | Link 2

Cocteau Twins - Sugar Hiccup: Download | Link 2

Hercules and Love Affair - Blind: Download | Link 2

Goldfrapp -  Caravan Girl:  Download | Link 2

Digitalism - Pogo:  Download | Link 2

Tags: festival, Glastonbury, Justice, kate moss, Live, metallica, MGMT, The Killers, Vampire Weekend

To-Do List: Talk About Kelly Clarkson, Giveaway These Coachella Tickets

I have some sweet swag for a couple of lucky readers. You may have heard of this little music festival called Coachella, well the shindig is going down Friday, April 25th all the way through Sunday, April 27th. I have two 3-Day Passes to giveaway. But more on that later.

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It has been one crazy week here at the PMA Offices (my MacBook). Nothing has ever been more noteworthy in PMA History than the Kelly Clarkson Demos that I “leaked” this passing week. The attention generated from these four demos blow Green Day doing the Simpson’s, Icky Thump, and the new Foos out of the water. As per usual, the user comments are a pain, but I’m not really complaining, the traffic boost is nice. Still is.

But the most shocking thing to happen because of these demos has been that Billboard Article.

The new material from Clarkson, never one to escape controversy, surfaced earlier this week via the Los Angeles-based music blog Pretty Much Amazing.

Blog editor Luis Tovar says his traffic skyrocketed this week, both with fans looking to hear the tunes, as well as staunch defenders of Clarkson’s right to keep her work private.

“The ‘Crazy Clarkson Fans,’ as one person called them, were amusing at first, annoying later,” Tovar tells Billboard.com. “But it’s great to see the brand loyalty out there. These people are ready to go to war for Clarkson. It’s kind of cute, almost.”

Tovar says he’s unaware of the songs’ origins, saying only that a friend passed him a disc that contained them.

Although it makes me out to look a bit like a jerk, it’s still fucking cool!

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At the moment, I am deciding whether I should move out of this Wordpress.com outfit and transfer the blog on my private server I recently purchased. I am LOVING Wordpress.com’s user-friendly getup, and I almost don’t want to even make the hassel of switching servers. Yes, it does have its limitations like NO ADS, NO THIRD PARTY SCRIPTS, or EMBEDS other than YouTube. It seems the only way I can get around these silly rules is to become a “VIP”. And the only way to become a WP.com VIP is to have somewhere around 500,000 pageviews a month. Which sucks because in March, I hit 125,000. Oh well, maybe one day I will become a VIP.

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Before I tell you how to get your greedy hands on those Coachella Tickets, I want to share a little mix I made up last night. I was feeling sort of sick, exhausted, and bored. So let’s spread the misery.

MGMT - Electric Feel (J-La’s BK Futures Edit)
KRAFTWERK - Neon Lights
Yeasayer - 2080
Evangelicals - Midnight Vignette
Black Kids - I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again)
Vampire Weekend - M79
Ghostland Observatory - Heavy Heart
Datarock - Computer Camp Love
Radiohead - The Bends

It was completely random, but it got me through the night. Especially after some drunken idiot crashed just outside my place. It wasn’t much fun having 4 or 5 city official vehicles flashing their shit four about an hour.

HAHA, I’m just a ray or sunshine today, aren’t I?

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Alright, here’s the deal, if you want the tickets (yes, both of them). You have to:
1. Email Me!
2. In the email you will: give me the two names of the people that are planning on scoring these Godsends, beg for the tickets, tell me how awesome I am, give me a nice ear full (or eye full?) about how you’ve never been to Coachella and why you HAFTA GO this year because Jack Johnson makes you cream your pants or something…
3. Wait till April 22nd when I email the winner with further instructions.

Tags: Add new tag, Black Kids, Datarock, Evangelicals, FRAFTWERK, Ghostland Observatory, Giveaways, Kelly Clarkson, MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer

19 Things I Loved About March

Its April already! Kinda sad to see March leave though, it was quite a month. Here are a few of my favorite moments of 03/08.

1. Vampire Weekend’s Pop Fame
   This month Vampire Weekend was the cover of Spin Magazine sending their self-titled debut up to top 10 iTunes Stardom. I even hear them on Top 40 radio stations!

   Vampire Weekend - Campus: Download

2. Lil Wayne Doing the T-Pain
   Lil Wayne went pop with Lollipop!

   Lil Wayne ft. Feat T-Pain & Gabriel Antonio - Lollipop (Remix): Download

3. The Roots Channeling Gym Class Heroes
   “Birthday Girl” isn’t the revolutionary shit we’ve come accustomed to hear from the Roots. It sounded a little… “Cupid’s Chokehold” like.
4. The Roots Being All Sorts of Amazing
   But a few days after “Birthday Girl” leaked… “Rising Up” reassured us of the Roots’ talent.
5. Death Cab For Cutie Possessing My Heart
   DCFC’s new single may not be capturing everyone’s heart, but I really can’t get enough of it.
6. The new Panic at the Disco album is Pretty. Damn. Good.
   One of 2008’s most pleasant surprises for sure.
7. 21’s Fucking Amazing Soundtrack
   From this soundtrack some Hype Machine royalty spawned.

   MGMT - Time To Pretend: Download

   Rolling Stones - You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Re-Mixed and Re-Edited by Soulwax): Download

8. SXSW!
   Last year it was Amy Winehouse, the year before was the Arctics. This year’s break-out? N.E.R.D., dude.
9. Beyonce’s Dreamy, Mysterious Leak
   “Beautiful Nightmare” is hopefully just a taste of what’s to come
10. Madonna and Justin Save the World in Under 4 Minutes
    Madonna is back, in the most galling of ways.

    Madonna - 4 Minutes (DJ Illo’s Stutter Mix) : Download

11. Britney Breaks the Ice, Anime Style
    Its Britney, Bitch… lookig sexier than ever.
12. Hot Chip cover Snoop Dogg!
    This was just wonderful.
13. DVNO was the Next D.A.N.C.E - Almost
    All over the blogs? Check. Hundreds of remixes? Check. Ground-breaking Music Video? Semi-Check?
    
14. Fall Out Boy and John Mayer Cover MJ!
    These 3 or 4 minutes are the best you’ll ever hear from Patrick Stump.
15. Arcade Fire Plays for Obama
    What the fuck?

    Arcade Fire - Five Years (David Bowie cover) :Download

16. Nine Inch Nails Bank Big and Out-rebel Radiohead
    NIN vs Radiohead!

    Radiohead - Talk Show Host: Download

17. Stereogum’s Tribute to Bjork
    Just as good as their Radiohead and R.E.M. tributes!
18. The Raconteurs outdid the Stripes!
    Consolers of the Lonely is overwhelmingly edgy and satisfying compared to Icky Thump’s underwhelming sense of urgency.
19. XXXChange Remixes Panda Bear
    Pitchfork’s best album of 2007 gets an dancey edge on its star-track

Tags: Arcade Fire, Britney Spears, Entertainment, Justice, Lil Wayne, Madonna, MGMT, Rolling Stones, Soulwax, T-Pain, The Roots, Vampire Weekend

Coachella? All Points West? Pfft! Screw That!

JP’s Blog has a great and informative post of all the hot action going down in the UK Festival scene. A nice change. I was getting tired of reading about All Points West or SXSW…

Zoo Thousand And Eight Festival:
First there is the Zoo Thousand And Eight Festival which has The Cribs, British Sea Power, The Young Knives and The Rascals playing. Others playing at the festival include Lethal Bizzle, MSTRKRFT, Hadouken!, Friendly Fires, Does It Offend You Yeah? and The Rumble Strips. It will take place between July 4-6 at the Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in the Kent countryside. For the rest of the line-up go here.

The Great Escape Festival:
There is also the Great Escape Festival which will take place in Brighton, England May 15-17. It will have over 25 venues with hundreds of bands. Some acts confirmed include: Hold Steady, Vampire Weekend, Black Lips, No Age, Okkervil River, Iron & Wine, Black Mountain, Sunset Rubdown, Yeasayer, the Twilight Sad, Bon Iver, Times New Viking, Fujiya & Miyagi, Crystal Castles, Saul Williams, the Futureheads, and more. For the rest of this line-up you can go here.

Underage Festival:
For some of you that are underaged there is the Underage Festival in which you need to be 14-19 years old to be able to purchase tickets. It will take place in London’s Victoria Park on August 8. Band playing at the festival include: Foals, Gallows and The Horrors, The Teenagers, Bombay Bicycle Club, Ipso Facto and more. To see the rest of the acts annouced so far go here.

Field Day 2008
In it’s second year Field Day 2008 will take place on Saturday 9 August 2008 in Victoria Park Hackney London E9. It’s line up faetures: Of Montreal, Foals, Lightspeed Champion, Mystery Jets, Simian Mobile Disco and other. Other confirmed acts can be seen here.

Vampire Weekend - Ladies of Cambridge: Download | Link 2 | Link 3
of Montreal - Jimmy (M.I.A. cover): Download | Link 2 | Link 3

Tags: Black Mountain, Bon Iver, Crystal Castles, Entertainment, Foals, Of Montreal, Teenagers, Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer

Giving Away a Vampire Weekend 7-inch A-Punk

In support of Record Day, Vampire Weekend have announced that they will release a 7″ single of ‘A-Punk’. The single will include the Rehearsal version of ‘Oxford Comma’ as a b-side. The single will be out on Record Store Day, April 19. But it will only be avaliable at record stores participating in Record Store Day. I was lucky enough to have a friend hold/swipe (just kidding…) a couple of these singles. I won’t get them until April 19th, but thats ok, I can do this now anyway. I am going to give away one of the singles, as I want to keep one for myself.

Remember that if you subscribed to Pretty Much Amazing’s feed via email, I will have your email address at hand (sorta) and will automatically enter you for any future giveaways.

So to enter for this giveaway and any future giveaways, click this link and follow the directions to a T. Remember that you have to activate your subscription (like click on the link that will be emailed to you… no biggie) if you want to be apart of the giveaway.

Oh and just a notice. I did not forget about that NIN Ghosts Deluxe package and the $100 American Outfitters Gift Card I was giving away before DreamHost tore down and deleted a month’s worth of posts. I still have the ability to give those away, they are just on hold. So watch out for the next PRTTY MCH MZNG NWSLTTR for that and an extra bonus.

Vampire Weekend - A-Punk: Download | Link 2 | Link 3 

Tags: Entertainment, Giveaway, Vampire Weekend

Flickr (Rarities) of the Day I

The Power Fart. Served Chilled, with a side of covers.

The Smiths - Across The Universe (Beatles Cover) [DL]
The Streets - Your Song (Elton John Cover) [DL]
Mobius Band - Digital Love (Daft Punk Cover) [DL]
Vampire Weekend - Exit Music (Radiohead Cover) [DL]

Image Cred

Tags: Beatles, Elton John, Flickr of the Day, Mobius Band, Radiohead, Smiths, Streets, Vampire Weekend

New MP3s: Death Cab, Vampire Weekend, Hot Chip and More…

First, a little Public Service Announcement for those of you who live in Los Angeles. Do any of you have plans for tonight? Well, if you don’t, I have two tickets to go see Low vs Diamond TONIGHT at the Troubadour in West Hollywood at 10:15. If you want the tickets, email me here with the first and last names of the two (2, dos, deux, zwei, twee) people who will be attending the show. The first ones who email me will get the tickets. Thanks!

Meanwhile… New MP3s

1. Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart MP3 | YSI
Never mind the four-minute instrumental intro in which Ben Gibbard (sort of) rocks out — once he starts singing, it’s still the same sad, mopey glum rock that made Zack Braff (and us) fall in love with him in the first place.

2. Vampire Weekend - Arrows MP3 | YSI
Here’s a Japanese Bonus track off of Vampire Weekend’s ubiquitous self-titled debut. Its quite apparent why the track wasn’t on the album itself, it doesn’t hold its own when placed against the rest of Vampire Weekend. But its worth a listen though.

3. Hot Chip - Sensual Seduction (Snoop Dogg cover) MP3 | YSI
I’m slowly starting to like this song, first Snoop got Robyn on the track with him, but this Hot Chip power was enough to push me through the threshold.

4. Justice - DVNO REMIXES GALORE

• Justice Remix MP3 | YSI
• Todd Edwards Remix MP3 | YSI
• Les Pitits Pilous Remix MP3 | YSI

5. Nelly ft. Fergie - Party People MP3 | YSI
Nelly is back with Fergie’s help. This song is about as tired as “Grillz” was. So expect mass radio hysteria.

Tags: Contest, Death Cab For Cutie, Entertainment, Fergie, Hot Chip, Justice, Nelly, Vampire Weekend

Daily 6-Pack: Vampire Weekend/Star Wars (1/3)

Random News and Tidbits that will Save your Life… really.

1. Vampire Weekend’s Chart Success!

Blog sweethearts Vampire Weekend have tasted the sweet juices of chart-dwelling life. Vampire Weekend’s self titled debut opened at No. 17 just six weeks ago thanks to the massive hype that surrounded their demos, namely their Blue CD-R. After ditching Langerado, VW played SNL topped the iTunes album charts (for a few days) and skyrocketed up to No. 26 (from 61) on this week’s charts — making it this week’s greatest sales gainer.

I even heard “A-Punk” on the radio today. On mainstream ‘rock’ radio. I gotta say, I’m pretty happy for them fellers, they deserve the success they’re getting, a whole lot more than other ‘artists’ like Ashlee Simpson who’s apparently set to rock our Ya Ya Ya’s April 22nd (that was an example of mass media giving attention to tone deaf people).

Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (Black Dominoes remix) MP3 | AUDIO
Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (Superprince Edit) MP3 | AUDIO

2. Star Wars is Back! New Movie Aug. 15

“Lucas offered a glimpse into the latest creation in his sci-fi universe at the theater-owners convention ShoWest on Thursday, showing a sequence from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a computer-animated movie due in theaters August 15. It will be followed by a TV series of the same name, to air on the Cartoon Network and TNT this fall… Set in the years between episodes II and III — Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith — of the big-screen “Star Wars” chronicle, the movie and series present fresh adventures of Jedi warrior Anakin Skywalker, his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and other colleagues.” - See En En
There’s a WTF moment for ya.

Tags: Charts, Daily 6-Pack, News, Star Wars, Vampire Weekend

Pretty Much Amazing vs Elbo.ws

Before the blog-blockage of last weekend, I wrote up a PMA vs Elbo.ws vs Hype Machine post comparing the top artists of each respective party. That was fun and games, but I think it all really comes down to the songs. Its basically the meat between the two breads, if you ask me.

So lets get this cracking. Pretty Much Amazing’s Top Songs:
1. Radiohead - Bodysnatchers DOWNLOAD | LISTEN
2. Duffy - Ready For The Floor (Hot Chip cover)
3. Gnarls Barkley - Run DOWNLOAD | LISTEN
4. Portishead – Silence
5. MGMT - Time To Pretend
6. Does It Offend You, Yeah? – We Are Rockstars
7. Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma DOWNLOAD | LISTEN
8. Vampire Weekend – A-Punk
9. Black Mountain - Tyrants
10. Radiohead - Electioneering

Elbo.ws Top Songs:
1. The Notwist - Good Lies DOWNLOAD | LISTEN
2. Tokyo Police Club - In A Cave
3. The Breeders - Bang On DOWNLOAD | LISTEN
4. Colin Meloy - We Both Go Down Together
5. Gutter Twins - Idle Hands
6. The Ruby Suns - Tane Mahuta
7. The OaKs - The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter DOWNLOAD | LISTEN
8. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Cold Son
9. French Kicks - Abandon
10. Shearwater - Rooks

As I was writing this up, I got a brilliant idea. What about I make this into some sort of poll. Kind of like the Gossip Girl vs Chuck posts (that have somehow disappeared from my interests… for now). Alright good people, I want you to vote on music taste. Does elbo.ws (meaning the “music blog community” as a whole) have better taste than good ole Luis?

CLICK TO VOTE!

Tags: Gnarls Barkley, PMAvsElbows, Radiohead, The Breeders, The Notwist, The OaKs, Vampire Weekend

Pitchfork Music Festival 2008

Gather ’round, lovers of live music, summertime, the great outdoors, the Windy City, and certain festive occasions where all these things come together. The time has come to announce that annual rite of indie passage, the Pitchfork Music Festival!

The 2008 edition of our yearly sonic bonanza returns to Chicago’s Union Park on Friday, July 18, Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20. We’ll spare you our usual bombast and bad puns and take you straight to the initial lineup:

Friday, July 18:

Pitchfork Music Festival and All Tomorrow’s Parties present “Don’t Look Back” Public Enemy performing It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
+ more, to be announced

Saturday, July 19:

Animal Collective
!!!
Vampire Weekend
Dizzee Rascal
No Age
Atlas Sound
Fleet Foxes
+ many more!

Sunday, July 20:

Spiritualized
M. Ward
Boris
Extra Golden
El Guincho
+ many more!

Of course, that’s just the beginning, so look for further lineup announcements to grace these pages in the near future.

via

!!! - Is This Thing On? - Rub N Tug Remix
Vampire Weekend - Campus

Tags: Animal Collective, Chk Chk Chk, Dizzee Rascal, Pitchfork, Vampire Weekend