Hipsters Happen

2007-12-16T13:15:00.000-06:00

My Top Ten Albums of 2007 in no particular order.

Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

Band of Horses had their work cut out for them on their sophomore effort. Their previous release was on my top 10 list last year and there was concern as to whether they would wow me like they did last year. Not only did this album blow away my expectations, seeing them live secured their spot as one of my favorite releases of the year as well as the best concert I saw at First Ave this year. The lead singer kept complaining that he couldn't hear himself and he repeatedly and quite sincerely apologized for, "sounding like shit". His words couldn't have been farther from the truth. I honestly didn't know what to expect of his voice live. It was amazing, moving, filled with emotion, and completely unlike any other voice I've heard live. Best album of 2007. Sunday Football viewers can't escape the Ford Edge commercials featuring a song from last year's album. I still haven't gotten sick of it, despite its appearance in EVERY commercial break. I hope they scored some serious scrilla for use of that song.

Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's Block

Peter Bjorn and John were road warriors this year. There was very heavy worldwide touring support of this album. I saw them twice in Minneapolis and once in Chicago if you count watching them blow their amps on the first song. They are super high energy in concert and I think it comes across in their music as well. Both Minneapolis shows had Peter soaking wet with sweat just a few songs into their set. The biggest surprise for me was that Peter actually performed the whistling live from the indie hit Young Folks. I imagine he had to do some pretty rigorous breathing and cardio exercises in order to sing, whistle, and play the bongos in the same song without keeling over. That is musical multitasking.

Albert Hammond, Jr. - Yours to Keep

Based on this album's individual tracks' play count on my iTunes, one could assume correctly that I am über-obsessed with The Strokes' Albert Hammond, Jr.'s first solo album. It's pure pop rock gold with a hint of classic rock sensibility. I anxiously await his new album being recorded this winter.

Digitalism - Idealism

This album was recommended to me via iTunes. I didn't know what to expect. I downloaded it and was blown away. I like the variety of the songs. The instrumentals bang just as hard as anything with vocals. Its too bad many of the songs, the best ones at that, are featured in commercials (Pontiac). Sigh. Recommended listening for anyone that likes Daft Punk, Justice, or anything else Ed Banger for that matter.

Justice - †

Truth be told, I like D.A.N.C.E., but it is not my favorite song on the album, It introduced me to Justice and the Les Rhythmes Digitales remix is 8 of the best minutes on wax (or what is a hard drive made of? I digress); however, there are far better songs on the album including: Waters of Nazareth, New Jack, and Phantom. Just about anything on this album should make you shake your tushy. The one song that is cringe-worthy is the Uffie rapped "The Party". The song and Uffie for that matter is totally unnecessary and out of place. Have fun finding all 50 billion remixes of D.A.N.C.E released this year.

Kanye West - Graduation

The best rap album of the year destroyed 50 Cent in a sales show down the week of my birfday. Watching 50 eat his words was the icing on my birfday cake. Both 50 and Kanye are egomaniacs but Kanye has the talent to back it up. The album featured THE single of the year, The Good Life feat. T-Pain. As talentless as T-Pain is without his production tools and vocoder, the song wouldn't be the same without him (Let us pray that he doesn't make a mistake re: this years Hip Hop Honors and try singing live sans vocoder again any time soon). The Good Life also features my favorite lyrics of the year, "Haters giving me those salty looks... Lawry's".

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

I was skeptical of all the blogs and music reviewers. This album was instantly proclaimed the best album of the year. Bloggers declared The Arcade Fire the best band ever. I scoffed. After a few weeks to maybe a month or so I purchased the CD. I was slightly disinterested upon first spin. After subsequent spins I heard new things. I heard all the instrumentation in layer upon layer of sound. I still hesitated to put them on the pedastal that many a blogger has placed them on; however, I now concede that this album is dynamite and deserves a place in my Top 10.

Chromeo - Fancy Footwork

Chromeo brought us one of the year's most remixed albums. Their throwback 80's style synthesizer and vocoder funk is enough to make John Lithgow cut footloose. Nearly every DJ and their mother took a run at it overwhelmingly remixing Fancy Footwork and Tenderoni. Tenderoni was a new word for me, or so I thought. Michael Jackson sends out love to his tenderoni in P.Y.T. and Vanilla Ice told us, "...what it's like {Beat box fill} have'n a roni..." Check and respect wikipedia for it's definition here: tenderoni.

Vicious Vicious - Parade

2007 brought us Erick Applewick's finest creation yet, VV's third studio album, Parade. Erick is most famous for being Tape's 'n Tapes bassist, but let us not forget that he is a the former co-lead singer of The Hopefuls and prior to being in Tapes 'n Tapes, he produced their debut album. This very talented Minneapolis resident knows pop music. He knows how to write a hook and get funky. He channels Beck at his funkiest. His two previous VV efforts were very good, but Parade finds V Squared much more polished in the form of a much cleaner studio album. My favorite live track "Don't Let Me Down" finally finds a home on compact disc and you can find it spinning in my car and bumping out of my iPod.

Klaxons - Myths of the Future

The Klaxons are this year's "new-rave" "disco-punk" darlings. They are the new Arctic Monkey's who were previously the new Bloc Party. Beyond a rock song you can dance to this album has a rock opera-esque quality to it that I attribute to the soaring falsettos and future space talk. I imagine a very similar stage show to anything David Bowie did as Ziggy Stardust or Styx in the late 70's and early 80's. Only I think there would be more lazer beams.

Honorable Mention:
Calvin - Harris - I Created Disco, Cassius - 15 Again, The New Pornographers - Challengers, Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release, Radiohead - In Rainbows, Daft Punk - Alive 2007, UGK - Underground Kingz, Timbaland - Presents: Shock Value, Wilco - Sky Blue Sky, Fujiya & Miyagi - Transparent Things, The-Dream - Love-Hate, VHS or Beta - Bring On The Comets

Single of the Year (tie)
Kanye West - The Good Life and The-Dream - Shawty is da Shit

2007-12-07T09:36:00.000-06:00

Last year, Girl Talk created a mash-up masterpiece. There's nothing new to be said about the album Illegal Art. Enjoy the video for Bounce That, my favorite song from the album. It's kind of reminiscent of the Beastie Boy's Shadrach video off of Paul's Boutique.

2007-12-02T15:00:00.000-06:00

My google adsense ads on this page are shit. It's probably my own fault for writing stupid posts. I want to see ads for the following:

adult diapers
penis pumps
breast augmentation
stuffed animals
cotton candy
six flags
hand lotion
Arrested Development
Twins Baseball
Dentyne Ice Gum

Let's see if any of things pop up. That would be a hoot. Speaking of hoots this week at work I needed the definitions for both Hootenanny and Hoedown. If you are also interested, please follow the links below. Prepare for a fascinating jump to my favorite friend Wikipedia.

Hootenanny

Hoedown

2007-12-02T14:57:00.000-06:00

I snoozed on this song, but after a visit to Aw Ski Ski Ski set me straight, I have a new favorite song and video.

Snoop's Sensual Seduction

Wow, this has everything I look for in a song, Vocoder, check, sexy bitches, check. I guess my demands for songs and videos are pretty few. This video warms me up on a snowy wintery Sunday.

2007-11-23T13:08:00.000-06:00

Do you like entire free concerts of big name alternative rock and/or roll bands in the form of NPR podcasts? Get your buns over to the iTunes Store and subscribe to NPR: Live Concerts from All Songs Considered. Did I mention they are free?

NPR: Live Concerts from All Songs Considered Podcast

Over 56 concerts including:

Art Brut
The Hold Steady
Neko Case Live from Disney Hall
Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew
Nickel Creek
The New Pornographers
Spoon
Stars
Josh Ritter
Jose Gonzalez
Okkervil Rive
Iron and Wine e
Animal Collective
Rilo Kiley
John Vanderslice
The Apples in Stereo
Nick Lowe
Travis
Femi Kuti
The Polyphonic Spree
Richard Thompson
The National
Andrew Bird
Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard
Bjork
Konono No. 1
Au Revoir Simone
Fujiya and Miyagi
Peter Bjorn and John
The Frames
Low
Loney Dear
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Nellie McKay
Explosions in the Sky
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Arcade Fire
Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton
Cat Power
OK Go
French Kicks
The Black Keys
The Black Angels
Jenny Lewis
Sleater Kinney
Fiery Furnaces
The Walkmen
Mogwai
Neko Case
Martha Wainwright
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Arctic Monkeys
Belle & Sebastian

2007-11-16T20:36:00.000-06:00

Good song, great video.

Enter Shitdisco, the latest band to appear in the supposed disco punk or new rave scene. I hate those words, disco punk, new rave, ugghh. I really wish somebody would have came up with a better name for music like Bloc Party, The Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys, etc. But here we are. I'm going to call it "rock music to sway your hips and tap your toes to" or R.M.T.S.Y.H.A.T.Y.T.T.

For your viewing pleasure, Shitdisco - OK

2007-11-10T18:17:00.000-06:00

Cover to Cover.

It's a Ted Leo 2-for-1 cover song video and mp3 bonanza. Last week in Austin, Mr. Leo transitioned his song Little Dawn into Daft Punk's One More Time. Check and respect the youtube video below.

I've also included a link to what has to be a) the greatest pop song of the last 5 years, and b) the best cover ever. I've considered this song at karaoke, but it would pale in comparison. Ted acoustically covering Kelly Clarkson's Since You Been Gone is so punk it hurts. I admit to liking the original, but enjoying Ted's rendition gives me that hipster credibility I so greatly desire. I can pretend I like it simply because it's ironic or camp, versus digging it on its own merit as a fucking dyanamite pop song. Let's keep my admiration for Kelly Clarkson and Since You Been Gone between you and me ok?

Ted Leo - Since You Been Gone (zShare)

2007-11-06T14:33:00.000-06:00

Worst Rap Song/Video ever.

The Pack - In My Car

It's bad, repetitive, and yet awfully catchy. For some reason the ridiculously simple (and terrible) chorus gets stuck in your head. I liken it to hearing Cyndi Lauper's Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun and having it loop in your head on never ending repeat while trying to create a massive Excel spreadsheet filled with formulas and macros.

Listening to this song will actually make you dumber.

2007-11-02T08:59:00.000-05:00

This is your Friday morning dose of Rock and/or Roll. This is almost as gratifying as making a mixtape. Enjoy!

2007-10-13T12:15:00.000-05:00

Technically, this is music

2007-10-13T11:52:00.000-05:00

I just came across Chromeo's video for Bonafide Lovin off their newish release Fancy Footwork. I'm a big fan of the 80's throwback synthesizer playing vocoder singing band and I am equally into the cheesy video. It's a lift from the 80's video "Money for Nothing" by the Dire Straights which featured the "high-tech" melding of "futuristic computer graphics" and live video. I would have to think that Money For Nothing is probably the most popular song featuring homophobic lyrics to receive substantial air play on MTV, ever.

"...See the little faggot with the earring and the makeup
Yeah buddy that's his own hair
That little faggot got his own jet airplane
That little faggot he's a millionaire..."

- Dire Straights - Money For Nothing (feat. Sting)

Again, I've totally digressed. Here's the video:

2007-10-03T20:17:00.000-05:00

The Klaxons debut album Myths of the Near Future produced a shit ton of remixes this year. It also propelled them to international superstar status and got them featured on albums like this year's Chemical Brothers album.

I missed two opportunities to see them this year, first at First Avenue's much smaller 7th St. Entry stage, second at the U of MN/Dinkytown's Varsity Theater. I promise you that those two shows are the last small venues the Klaxons will ever play in Minnesota.

So anyfart, a little about the remixes I chose for this post. I am absolutely obsessed with Todd Edwards remix of Gravity's Rainbow. At 9 minutes any other song would get stale and tired; however, all the vocal tweaking and chopping sounds so cool and original. It also has a great beat and it'll make a neighbor dance. Todd Edwards is probably most famous for helping write and perform Daft Punk's Face to Face. He's also famous for occasionally inserting Christian lyrics into the remixes he does (See his remix of Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better, where he blatantly throws in the lyrics "Thank you Jesus"). I prefer my music secular, but, hey, what are you going to do.

Kavinsky and SebastiAn, Ed Banger label mates, produce two more solid remixes. I hope the popularity of other label mate, Justice, propels these guys towards similar stardom. I'd like to see them both release full length original albums in the near future. As for right now I'm dreading having to buy all their EPs on iTunes or on CD's if that's even an option. My iTunes tracks are always quieter than the rest of my MP3's, but I digress...

The Digitalism remix of Atlantis To Interzone is really unexpected. The only elements that remain from the original recording are the sirens and the vocals. They strip the vocals of any studio effects and they lower the pitch and slow it down a little to the point that it sounds almost monotone. The end result is something that sounds really f-f-f-f-fresh over a Digitalism beat.

Gun's N Bomb's does a solid high energy remix of Gravity's Rainbow as well. If you like what you hear look for their remix of Chromeo's Tenderoni.

Enjoy!

2007-10-02T13:42:00.000-05:00

My Top 10 Albums of 2007 (Thus far...)

In no particular order:

Band of Horses - Cease To Begin
Digitalism - Idealism
Justice - †
Kanye West - Graduation
Chromeo - Fancy Footwork
Albert Hammond, Jr. - Yours To Keep
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Vicious Vicious - Parade
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Peter, Bjorn, and John - Writer's Block

Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost

Albert Hammond, Jr. - Everyone Gets a Star

Honorable Mention:

The Bravery - The Sun and the Moon
Cassius - 15 Again
Dinosaur, Jr. - Beyond
Estate - The Vacation
Fujiya & Miyagi - Transparent Things
Anything/Everything Lil Wayne released this year
Tim O'Reagan - Self Titled
New Pornographers - The Challengers
UGK - Underground Kingz
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga
Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release

UGK - International Players Anthem (feat. Outkast)

2007-10-02T09:09:00.000-05:00

What's new in R&B, you ask? Vocoders are back, many thanks to T-Pain. If there's a bad T-Pain song I haven't heard it. He's responsible for Kanye West's best song and video off of Graduation. This is the kind of stuff I am digging on, right now, in the more ghetto vein of R&B.

The-Dream is a dream come true. He's singing songs about his Shawty and crooning about his best gal's orgasm, in a falsetto.

"She like ooh, ooh, baby, ahhh, ahhh, ooh!"

The-Dream - Falsetto

"Shawty is Da Shit" is all about growing up and noticing that the girl you played with as a Young G is growing up too, and out, I suppose (see Bewbs). "We Used To Kick Up At The Park, Now She's All Growwn Up, Rockin Them Stilettos, Jumpin Out That Mercedes Truck..."

The-Dream - Shawty is Da Shit

Nothing beats R. Kelly, the king of R&B's "I'm A Flirt Remix". Special guest none other than T-Pain. It's a club banger, booty banger, d*ck swanger.

R. Kelly - "I'm A Flirt (feat. T.I. & T Pain)

Old Skool R&B Jam of the day

Jeffrey Osborne - You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song

(You'll have to jump. Sorry, embedding has been disabled by YouTube)

2007-10-02T08:51:00.000-05:00

... But this takes the cake.

First I have to come clean. It's 9:50am on a Sunday and I've been watching VH1 Classic for a good hour now. Yikes.

What I just saw shocked me and gave me the whilly wacks, bad. I'm not talking Michael Jackson 'bad' meaning 'good'. I'm talking Michael Jackson touching boys and giving them Jesus juice bad.

Van Halen's video for their remake of Roy Orbison's (Oh) Pretty Woman is fantastically weird and makes no sense whatsoever. it has nothing to do with the song, the lyrics, the band, and in no way honors Roy Orbison. Had he not been alive during the production of this video, Roy would have rolled over in his grave. In fact it might be responsible for his untimely death from a fatal heart attack in 1988.

You might say, "Ryan, the song and corresponding video was released in 1982, he's sure to have approved it or at the very least seen it in the 6 years between its release and his death". My response is... God, I hope he didn't see it, I wish I didn't see it, and now without further adieu, I force you to join me in my awful confusion and pain:

Explain to me why they are in the past! Why is Quasimodo watching TV? It didn't exist! They are all on the telephone. Does Tarzan know how to use a telephone? He shouldn't need one. Doesn't he just yell and beat his chest? George "David Lee Roth" Washington shows up in a limo and the video just ends. What? Come on. Why does the woman wear a wig? Why is she hideously ugly? And about half way through the dwarfs have hats on, an Indian Chief hat and a top hat. Where did these come from? What does it signify?

Why does this Super Friend-esque group of historical characters including Quasimodo, a samari, Billy The Kid, Tarzan, and George Washington a) never fight the supposedly evil midgets, and b) why don't they do stuff to the allegedly "pretty" woman (who in my opinion barks louder than Scooby Doo... I'm saying she's a dog, capisce?) Shouldn't they gang bang her at the end or SOMETHING? It's very anticlimactic.

My last question, which maybe should have been the first is: What the f' was the budget for this monstrosity? $20? Lordy.

2006-08-29T18:13:00.000-05:00

Nothing says hipster like "Faux hawk"

My hipster coworker David is the 5th result on Google Image Searches of the words faux hawk. He even beats out David Beckham! So this blog is my feeble attempt to help raise his google image return status. Together, people, we will bump him up to at least 4th! Say it with me people "Faux hawk, faux hawk, faux hawk, faux hawk!"

Excelsior!

2006-07-25T20:58:00.000-05:00

This is the humble beginnings of a Hipster Hangout google map. The great thing about it is you, the reader at Hipster Mania, can add/edit/delete your favorite hipster hangout.

So... Let's get nuts

2006-07-25T16:10:00.000-05:00

What is a Hipster? Where do they come from? Where can I see one in his or her natural habitat? Am I a hipster?