Datarock finally Give It Up

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datarock_red

you gotta keep up your guard, you gotta hit quick and hard

Datarock – Give It Up

The Norwegians in the red jumpsuits are back! Their new album Red comes out later this year but various other tidbits have been surfacing lately. A few months ago the Kissy Sell Out remix of the lead singe “Give It Up” came out to some confusion because nobody had heard the original. I was pretty stoked on it but was holding off judgment for the original. Well, last week the video for album version of “Give It Up” came out and for many it was our first true glimpse of Datarock 2009. You many have stumbled across that video in the TBE TV box (up on the right) and experienced the raw awesomeness of Datarock meets “Bad” meets Romeo & Juliet. I really hope this amped up energy and tighter song-crafting are indicative of Red as a whole (Not to mention that hot-ass album art). Their debut had its highlights (below) but was mostly forgettable, whereas “Give It Up” hits harder and tighter and weirder than anything before it. It’s not easy to mix Romeo, Mercutio, a Tony Robbins-esque pep-talk and enemas in under 2 and a half minutes.

From Datarock’s debut Datarock Datarock:

Datarock – Computer Camp Love

“Computer Camp Love” was the ubiquitous Grease-quoting, geek flashback, humor track but it’s appeal was mostly novelty.

Datarock – See What I Care

“See What I Care” is my favorite track on the album. Its smooth vocals and more introspective lyrics layered over a whiplash 80s buildup beat are a recipe for head bobbing sing-alongs.

Bury your face in MySpace /// iTunes too

[CvrUpYrRmx] MGMT chills and Phoenix blows (In a good way)

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mgmt_time_to_pretendBy now I am sure we are all a bit sick of MGMT and their face-invading hype train that steamed through 2008. Let’s not even get into the fact that they only have 3 good songs. Instead, let’s get into the fact that TBE has uniquely mellow covers of those 3 songs that breathe fresh life into each.

Knatterjak – Time To Pretend (MGMT Cover)

Knatterjak is Dan McGrath of Buffalo, NY and he has taken Oracular Spectacular’s album opener and turned it into a piece of haunting piano-pop that is more urgent and honest than MGMT ever pulled off. Their isn’t much on this guy’s MySpace besides a Womanizer cover and a couple demos. Let’s hope he doesn’t stop there.

Cleast Eatwood – Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)

As well as having the most-difficult-to-say band name ever (just try to not say Clint Eastwood when you read it) Cleast Eatwood are a fair pair of Swedes who make hushed and minimal pop with a tasty funk side. Their cover of Electric Feel is beautifully simple, nearly a cappella and stopped me in my tracks (key-strokes?) the first time I heard it. I highly recommend their MySpace for two tracks with a little more groove and a great hand-clappiness.

Lady Danville – Kids (MGMT Cover)

Don’t let the bare-bones video or lack of an mp3 fool you, Lady Danville means business when they introduce a Cajon and three-part harmony to this MGMT favorite. This one just gets under your skin and sets up shop like there was no crisis. These guys are always playing in the L.A. are and have some great originals as well. Check out their MySpace and go see them live.

wolfgangamadeusphoenix1 – – – – –

Phoenix – 1901 (What Kind Of Breeze Do You Blow – E mix)

Those covers too mellow for your ADD sensibilities? Well I’ve got just the cure. If you haven’t already heard, the fab Frenchies of Phoenix have an album coming out in May and have already dropped a few singles. The first, “1901,” is available free at their website and is highly recommended. Here we have a remix of “1901” by one half of the Portland, Maine duo that goes by What Kind Of Breeze Do You Blow. I have heard of people passing wind that smelled like roses, but this dance breeze beats that hands down.

Gil Mantera’s Dreamscape Discussed

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dreamscapecover

don’t run away, come back

Gil Mantera’s Party Dream – Waking Vision

If you know me then you know my undying love for Gil Mantera’s Party Dream, the super-duo from Youngstown, Ohio who have been rocking my world ever since I stumbled into one of their legendary live shows 3 years ago. Gil (keyboards/beats/vocals/hyper-sexual dancing) along with step-brother Ultimate Donny (guitar/over-emotive vocals) play a brand of in-your-face and up-your-ass dance-rock that can only be seen to be believed/understood/fathomed. They are by far my most recommended live band, however it was when I saw them last August that I began to worry about their long-awaited follow-up to 2005’s epic Bloodsongs. The awesome dancing and minimal clothing was still there but the new songs just didn’t bring the heat. The usual frenetic jumping seemed to be replaced by (gasp!) swaying! My suspicions were further confirmed with the December release of The Ballerina EP. The title track didn’t hold a candle to Bloodsongs standouts like “Alligator Missions” (below) or “Elmo’s Song.” Hopefully you have been listening to “Waking Vision” (above) from their new LP Dreamscape so now tell me what you think. (For even more new stuff check out the weirdo cyber-sutra video for “Dreamlovers” at the GMPD website.) How does this compare to Bloodsongs favorite “Alligator Missions?”

Gil Mantera’s Party Dream – Alligator Missions

Am I flipping my wig over nothing? Is this just GMPD “maturing”? Should bands like GMPD ever mature? If you are an ol’ school GMPD fan then I want to hear what you think of this new direction. If you are new to Gil & Co then listen to “Alligator Missions” (above) and watch the fantastic Elmo’s Wish video and then let me know which makes your tits tingle.

–  Click on album art above to buy or peep GMPD on MySpace –

The Gay Blades bring it with O Shot

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gayblades

and the courage to change the things i can

The Gay Blades – O Shot

OK, where do I even start?  The Gay Blades are two dudes from the NYC area that have developed (and perfected) what they call “Trash Pop.” Don’t ask what that means, just listen to “O Shot,” the album opener off their stellar debut LP Ghosts. I withheld The Gay Blades from my What Up ’08? mix for only one reason: they are so good I didn’t want them to get lost in the shuffle. Grab this track, grab their album, and grab a hold of your eyeballs as you ponder this piece of music video wonderment which was made by some dear friends of TBE.

The Gay Blades on MySpace

Why is Norm MacDonald the King Midas of Comedy?

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I am loving this big ups to Norm MacDonald. Tell me again why Conan has a talk show and Norm doesn’t?