Music Video Mondays: Yuck

WARNING! This video not safe for work, as it contains boobs (not to ruin the surprise....)

It still feels weird getting nostalgic about the '90s, which to me were an era filled with adolescent angst over boys and getting your period -- but this video, from London rockers Yuck -- totally brings me back, and makes me wonder if those grungy, muggy days (I don't know why I always associate the '90s with mugginess -- perhaps because I always had frizzy hair) -- and wonder if we weren't better off.

Not for those with a queasy stomach, as there may be some flesh-slashing involved.

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The 5 Levels of Hipster Revile

As a music blogger/person involved with the "scene" (whatever that means), I'm always hyper-aware of what's popular in hipster culture. (And honestly: it doesn't take much more than a few glances around the Barbary.) As a result, I'm also totes aware of what's UNcool. And while it may seem obvious to some, it's really not that simple.

Consider, for example, a few weeks back, when my Dad (a cool dude, but certainly not a hipster) suggested a Bruce Springsteen song for my radio show. I had to ask him: what album is it on? Bruce Springsteen is tricky with hipsters: he started off as definitely un-hip (if only because he was getting old, and high production value was akin to "selling out" in the 90s) -- but in recent years, '70s Bruce Springsteen (and even The River) have become acceptable again. Or, to put it another way -- Springsteen moved from the category of "Hipster Revileus" (generally icky) to "Hipster Redemptious," (sorta ok!) due to the passing of time and popularity of bands like the Hold Steady (who started off cool, but are quickly falling into the "Hipster Contentious" category.)

See, the cycle of Hipster Revile works like any other cycle -- where uncool things can become cool again under the right circumstances, and super cool things can get less cool with time. (Some things, of course, there is no hope for ever.) And thus I present: THE FIVE LEVELS OF HIPSTER REVILE. Study them closely, as there will definitely be a test.

"Name 5 Wilco songs, and tell me what this painting is about. GO!"

Hipster Exterminus (the Big Five: the ickiest, most unhip things ever)

SUVs
The Dave Matthews Band
Walmart
The Religious Right (see also: Walmart)
"The Man"

"Just crash...a tourbus into me."

Hipster Revileus (Generally unhip; should be avoided at all costs)

The non-religious right
Religion in general (except for Asian religions and funny Jews like Woody Allen)
The South (except for the 3 A's -- Atlanta, GA; Athens, GA; and Austin, TX)
The suburbs (the place, not the Arcade Fire album)
Starbucks
Chain restaurants
Ugg boots
Natty Ice
The Jersey Shore look

"We have a Situation...the sparkles on my shirt are blinding me!!"

Most major league sports teams (except for the Philadelphia Phillies, of course, and European sports like soccer)
Yacht rock (ok if liked ironically)
Popped collars (ditto)
Coldplay
Bono

"Kanye West has the same shades (but I had mine first)"

Hipster Phatred (Things hipsters pretend to hate but secretly love; things hipsters pretend to love but secretly don't give a shit about)

MTV
Pitchfork
Urban Outfitters
"The poor"
Manhattan
Brooklyn

"This bunny hat is legit. I'm a living art project!"

Hipster Contentiousness (Things that used to be cool but are slowly becoming uncool due to too many people finding out about them; "lamestreamers")

The Decemberists

I swear I thought of other ideas for this category; I just thought
it would be funny to list JUST the Decemberists.

Hipster Redemptious (Things that used to be uncool but are slowly becoming cool)


Al Gore
"Born to run" era Springsteen
Having your indie band featured in a commercial
Trust funds (the rest of us are poor and ok with you paying for our pizza)

"Your necklace is so hip!" / "My this meal is SAUCY"

Have anything else to add to this list? Leave it in the comments, below!

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Best New Music: Papercuts

Jason Quever -- writer, instrumentalist, and creative genius behind San Fran pop band Papercuts -- has always been a sorta low-key mood master: producing quiet, nuanced albums for bands like Port O'Brien, Beach House and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone (even if you don't know them, you can IMAGINE what they sound like), as well as his own dreamy pop concoctions.

And while everything he's touched has pretty much sounded...well, lovely -- he really steps it up a notch with Fading Parade, his forthcoming Papercuts LP on Sup Pop.

Quaver, meditating on life, love, and the pain of papercuts

From lush 12-string guitars to breathy crepuscular vocals and surprisingly driving beats -- Parade is 37 minutes of dream pop heaven: the type of tunes that immerse you in their swirls, nurturing and relaxing you at the same time.

Enter their magical universe with a live video performance, and more, at Phrequency.com.

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YRock on XPN Playlist, 2/21/11

New tunes and feel-good tunes for a snowy Monday!

6:00

Telekinesis, “Got to Get It Right Now”
Album: 12 Desperate Straight Lines

Yuck, “Operation”
Album: Yuck

The Babies, “Breakin’ the Law”
Album: The Babies

Vivian Girls, “I Heard You Say”
Album: Share the Joy

Dum Dum Girls, “He Gets Me High”
Album: He Gets Me High (12”)

Alex Winston, “Sweet James”
Album: Sister Wife

Deerhoof, “I Did Crimes for You”
Album: Deerhoof Vs. Evil

PJ Harvey, “The Words That Maketh Murder”
Album: Let England Shake

The Strokes, “Under Cover of Darkness”
Album: Under Cover of Darkness

…And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, “Pure Radio Cosplay (Reprise”)
Album: Tao of the Dead

Lovett, “Heartattack”
Album: Heartattack (Single)

Polytechnic, “Won’t You Come Around?”
Album: Down til Dawn

Kate Nash, “Paris”
Album: My Best Friend is You

Darwin Deez, “Radar Detector”
Album: Darwin Deez

Duke Special, “Flesh and Blood Dance”
Album: I Never Thought This Day Would Come

Brazilian Girls, “Berlin”
Album: New York City

Elvis Costello, “Every Day I Write the Book”
Album: The Very Best of Elvis Costello

Lindsey Buckingham, “Holiday Road”
Album: National Lampoon’s Vacation


Lindsey Buckingham, Helllllllllllo


7:00

The Monroes, “What Do All the People Know?”
Album: Just Can't Get Enough - New Wave Hits Of The 80s

Exit Clov, “District Menagerie”
Album: Memento Mori

The Talking Heads, “Life During Wartime” (Live)
Album: The Best of the Talking Heads

YACHT, “The Afterlife”
Album: See Mystery Lights

Franz Ferdinand, “No You Girls”
Album: Tonight

Miike Snow, “Animal”
Album: Miike Snow

Monsters of Folk, “Man Named Truth”
Album: Monsters of Folk

The Lovely Feathers, “Agrotaker”
Album: Fantasy of the Lot

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, “Bright Lit Blue Skies”
Album: Before Today

Electric Light Orchestra, “Mr. Blue Sky”
Album: Out of the Blue

Guster, “Keep It Together”
Album: Keep It Together

Local Natives, “Airplanes”
Album: Gorilla Manor

Guided by Voices, “Teenage FBI”
Album: Do the Collapse

Lissy Trullie, “Ready for the Floor” (Hot Chip cover)
Album: Self-Taught Learner

Tune in again next Monday from 6-8 for more great tunes!

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Music Video Mondays: Lovett

Not to be confused with the aging country star of the same name -- OR the keyboard-ing, accordion dude from Mumford & Sons -- Lovett is the tour-de-force of former film composer Ben Lovett, whose rousing, foot-stompin' take on alt-country has already made him a bloggy favorite.

"Heartattack" is the second single from his debut, self-titled album (out mid March on Lovers label) and and features the type of balls-to-the-wall, no-holes-barred debaucherous bash that makes me wish it was Friday night all over again. Check it, and get your party on -- then tune in to Y Rock on XPN this evening from 6-8 p.m., when this very same tune might be making an appearance on my radio show.

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My Feet are Smiling

It's sandal-weather!!!!!!

Mes pieds, all sad that they're in a cubicle

(Also, because I can't type "My feet are smiling" and NOT be reminded of the 1972 Leo Kottke album [once referred to by my dad as the "Best album title ever"] here's a vid of the man going crazy/ letting his geese farts on a muggy day fly:]

The opening track to Smiling, live in 1997 (25 years later!!)

It's too nice out today to sit and read the internet -- go outside, and let your feet smile!

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Best New Music: Alex Winston

She's young, unfairly beautiful, and in possession of a unique voice that has won the attention of everyone from the tastemakers at Neon Gold to mixmasters The Knocks. No, I'm not talking about Ellie Goulding (although the same could be said for her!) -- but Detriot-bred breakout artist Alex Winston, whose new EP Sister Wife is an unexpected musical treat SO delicious, it's a wonder Dairy Queen doesn't sell it soft-serve style with gummy bears and sprinkles on top.

Winston, so contemplative

And while the raven-haired songstress and Goulding share much in common, labeling her the American one-off is unfair -- as it totally overlooks all that makes Alex unique: like her obsession with throwback pop and sweeping, operatic flourishes.

But perhaps I've given too much away. Get the full story -- and check out one of her stunning (I'm serious!) vids, at Pop Music Lovers' Central, Phrequency.com

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YRock on XPN Playlist, 2/14/11 (Valentine's Day show!!!)

Classic love jamz, anti-love jams, make-out songs, break-up songs, and bemused romantic meanderings, for the holiday of hearts.

6:00

The Romantics, “What I Like About You”
Album: The Romantics

The Dave Clark Five, “Do You Love Me?”
Album: The History of The Dave Clark Five

The Monotones, “Book of Love”
Album: Doo Wop Box

Sam Cooke, “What a Wonderful World”
Album: Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964

The Beatles, “Love Me Do”
Album: Please Please Me

Peter and Gordon, “A World Without Love”
Album: Greatest Hits

The Beatles, “Oh! Darling”
Album: Abbey Road

The School, “Valentine”
Album: Loveless Unbeliever

The Go! Team, “Ready to Go Steady”
Album: Rolling Blackouts

Camera Obscura, “The Sweetest Thing”
Album: My Maudlin Career

The Searchers, “Love Potion No. 9”
Album: The Very Best of the Searchers

Queen, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”
Album: The Game

Mosquitos, “Love Remix”
Album: Sunshine Barato

Os Mutantes, “She’s my Shoo Shoo (A Minha Menina)”
Album: Tecnicolor

Pet Shop Boys, “Always On My Mind”
Album: Discography: The Complete Singles Collection

Of Montreal, “Enemy Gene”
Album: False Priest

Pixies, “La La Love You”
Album: Doolittle

Prozzak, “Strange Disease”
Album: Hot Show

Lovage, “Pit Stop (Take Me Home)”
Album: Nathaniel Merriweather Presents... Lovage: Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By


Dan "the Automator" Nakamura as his alterego Nathaniel Merriweather


7:00

Big Star, “I’m in Love With a Girl”
Album: #1 Record/Radio City

Bon Iver, “Skinny Love”
Album: For Emma, Forever Ago

Jets to Brazil, “Sweet Avenue”
Album: Orange Rhyming Dictionary

LCD Soundsystem, “New York I Love You”
Album: Sounds of Silver

The Dead Milkmen, “I Hate You, I Love You”
Album: Metaphysical Graffiti

The Soft Pack, “Down on Loving”
Album: The Soft Pack

Buzzcocks, “Ever Fallen in Love?”
Album: Love Bites

The Kaiser Chiefs, “Everyday I Love You Less and Less”
Album: Employment

The Yardbirds, “Heart Full of Soul”
Album: Having a Rave Up

The Fresh & Onlys, “Summer of Love”
Album: Play it Strange

The Magnetic Fields, “A Chicken With its Head Cut Off”
Album: 69 Love Songs

Rafter, “Love Make You Happy (When It’s Not Making You Sad)”
Album: Animal Feelings

The Supremes, "You Can’t Hurry Love”
Album: The Supremes A’ Go-Go

Erin and Her Cello, “Sober”
Album: Erin and Her Cello

Wilco, “I’m Always in Love”
Album: Summerteeth

Edison Lighthouse, “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)”
Album: The Best of Edison Lighthouse

Violent Femmes, “Eep Opp Ork Ah Ah (Means I Love You)”
Album: Saturday Morning Cartoon’s Greatest Hits

Tune in again next Monday from 6-8 p.m. for more sweet jamz!

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Haiku Review: Deerhoof

Twisted never felt
so lively and organic
(but no one's surprised)

Photo Inna Spivakova for Phrequency.com


Read the full review (Friday night, TLA) here!

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Music Video Mondays, Valentine's Edition: New Vids for Songs I Love

These tunes might not be new, but the videos are (new-ish), and I love them too much NOT to post them. Because Valentine's Day is about celebrating ALL the things you love, including music. Enjoy!

1. The Black Keys, "Howlin' for you"
This bad boy was all over Twitter this past week, and it's easy to see why. Todd Bridges, chainsaw guitars, bondage gear, and lines like "God thinks it would be a sin NOT to glorify that ass." Even if you've already seen it, it gets better with each subsequent viewing. Now when's this flick debuting in theaters?

2. Super Wild Horses, "Fifteen"
Are the youth cooler in Australia? Because this video definitely makes me feel like it. When I was 15, I was eating at Friendlies and studying for debate tournaments. Which I guess is why these chicks are in a super rad punk band, and I'm just a blogger.

3. The Apples in Stereo, "Hey elevator"
What makes this so awesome is NOT Rob Schneider's shiny jacket and shades (although they ARE sorta bad-ass), or the fact that the band's combined age is now approximately 500 -- but that this vid was shot in just 2 takes, impromptu-style, by the band's manager. How's that for nearly 2 decades of DIY?

4. Local Natives, "Wide eyes"
When sharks attack!

Looking for more, sappy Valentine's Day content? You're in luck. Tune in to Y Rock on XPN this evening from 6 to 8 p.m. when I spin all sorts of V-Day (and anti-V-day) jamz, straight from the studio to your ears. Happy V day, music lovers!

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Local Radar: Creeping Weeds

Much like a formidable dandelion clump or patch of skunk cabbage -- that starts out small then one day covers your entire yard -- Philly's Creeping Weeds have been slowly making a name for themselves, thanks to a smattering of awesome live performances and an excellent new album more than a year and a half in the making.

C. Weeds on the beach

The name of said album is See Through and it concerns itself mainly with questions of temporalness and escape -- both lyrically (through descriptions of "hidden portals" and "living on the edge of time") and instrumentally -- through hazy guitar layers, gurgling percussion, and gauzy, sun-drenched vocals that seem representative of another world: where vampires live in the heart, the ocean has magical healing powers, and a "weekend at the shore" is less drunken romp (à la Jersey Shore) and more spiritual journey. All in all, a fantastic retreat from this blustery winter, and something I've been zoning out to a lot lately.

Check out the album for yourself at Bandcamp -- then catch the dudes live TOMORROW (Saturday February 12) at their record release at Johnny Brenda's. Because sometimes, we all need to get away from it all, and musical escapes are cheaper than airfare.

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Best New Music: The Babies

When I first wrote about Brooklyn lo-fi champs Vivian Girls on this blog (back in winter 2008), I focused just as much on their music as their image -- that hipper-than-thou, careless, indulgent scenester thing -- and what it meant for lo-fi.

Now, more than 2 years later, it's practically a BRAND (if you can apply such a nasty consumerist word to a DIY movement)-- and Viv Girls are among garage rock royalty. Which is why -- according to Viv Girl Cassie Ramone -- she teamed up with Woods bassist Kevin Morby and formed The Babies: to "play fun, crazy shows" in small house and club settings.

Les Bébés.

Which is definitely where these songs sound best. A project with party punk sensibilities, boy/girl vocals, and hazy shuffling garage rock chords -- The Babies are more than just the sum of their parts. And their debut, self-titled record is a laidback, breezy gem that was many years in the making. What to read more? Check out my full review, and a video of the band live -- at Phrequency.com.

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YRock on XPN Playlist, 2/7/11

Garage-y jams, plus some blues-y stuff, and a trio of songs about and by Brian Eno.

6:00

Let's Wrestle, "I Won't Lie to You"
Album: In the Court of Wrestling Let's

Les Savy Fav, "High and Unhinged"
Album: Root for Ruin

Surfer Blood, "Twin Peaks"
Album: Astro Coast

Wavves, "Convertible Balloon"
Album: King of the Beach

Best Coast, "The End"
Album: Crazy for You

Cloud Nothings, "Been Through"
Album: Cloud Nothings

Pineapple, "It Doesn't Matter"
Album: Pineapple

Super Wild Horses, "Fifteen"
Album: Fifteen

Fergus & Geronimo, "Blind Muslim Girl"
Album: Unlearn

Drink Up Buttercup, "Mr. Pie Eyes"
Album: Born and Thrown on a Hook

Cherry Ghost, "Thirst for Romance"
Album: Thirst for Romance

The Drones, "Your Acting's Like the End of the World"
Album: Havilah

The War on Drugs, "Buenos Aires Beach"
Album: Barrel of Batteries

Beck, "Strange Apparition"
Album: The Information

The Booze, "Hard Luck Woman"
Album: Easy Beats in Modern Times

Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Looking Out My Back Door"
Album: Cosmo's Factory

Dr. Dog, "Jackie Wants a Black Eye"
Album: Shame, Shame

Brakes, "Crush on You"
Album: Touchdown

The Black Keys, "Howlin' for You"
Album: Brothers


The Black Keys, howlin' away. Straight werewolf style. (Photo from Green Shoelace)


7 p.m.

The Duke Spirit, "Now Be Still"
Album: Lion Rip

Brian Eno and John Cale, "Lay My Love"
Album: Wrong Way Up

David Byrne and Brian Eno, "Strange Overtones"
Album: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

MGMT, "Brian Eno"
Album: Congratulations

Cats in Paris, "Foxes"
Album: Courtcase 2000

The Dismemberment Plan, "What Do You Want Me to Say?"
Album: Emergency & I

Metric, "Gimme Sympathy"
Album: Fantasies

The Byrds, "Wasn't Born to Follow"
Album: The Essential Byrds

Nada Surf, "Question"
Album: If I Had a Hi-Fi

The Moody Blues, "I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock'n Roll Band)"
Album: The Story of the Moody Blues -- Legend of a Band

Handsome Furs, "Radio Kaliningrad"
Album: Face Control

Harlem Shakes, "Sunlight"
Album: Technicolor Health

Belle & Sebastian, "I'm a Cuckoo"
Album: Dear Catastrophe Waitress

Missed the show this week? No worries. I'll be back again next week WITH A SPECIAL VALENTINE'S DAY SHOW!!. That's right. Love songs, anti-love songs, and everything in between. Don't miss it! 6-8 p.m on Y Rock on XPN.

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Haiku Review (Times two!): Tapes 'n Tapes + Chinese New Year with Sun Airway and Celebration

Tapes 'n Tapes

Rock vets? Maybe so
But still present and rocking
like it's all at stake


Photo Kate Bracaglia for Phrequency.com


Read the full review (Saturday night, Johnny Brenda's) here!


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Chinese New Year with Sun Airway, Celebration


Cold, smoky warehouse
warmed up by sweet, glittering
tunes, moves and hot vibes


Photo Teresa McCullough for Phrequency.com


Read the full review (Friday night, The Ox) here.

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Demographic Study: The Whisper

The Whisper, or Winter-Hipster, is the winter variant of your regular, year-round hipster. Much like animals who are apt to grow a thick coat and burrow themselves in the ground between December and March -- so too does the Whisper adapt certain behaviors and appearances in order to cope with freezing cold weather.

Google image result #6 for "cold hipster."

First among these behaviors is hair. Yes, hair. It's no secret that male hipsters are known to grow a beard in the winter months (to protect their precious chins while bike-riding, and also, to look more like Fleet Foxes, who make such delightful winter-y music) -- but did you know that many FEMALE hipsters also take to not shaving during pants season? I learned this while living in Pilam a few years back -- this not only provides a layer of insulation under your skinny jeans, but keeps shaved skin from drying out. (very practical, ladies!) Finally, BOTH sexes are liable to accessorize with animal hair during this season -- for its dual purpose of warmth+fashion.

Sexxxxy

Second is an increased consumption of whiskey during winter months, leading to what is often referred to as "Whiskey strench" (so named because any DIY house during this season will almost always reek of that sweet brew.) During the regular year, hipsters indulge in a wide variety of beverages -- PBR, Miller High Life, microbrews, gin, martinis/manhattans/mojitos -- but during the winter, they only drink Whiskey (sometimes alongside PBR, because, shit, they need a chaser.) This is because of the intrinsic warming effects of whiskey, and because it just sounds bad-ass. Plus, no one wants to get caught with vanilla vodka in their mustache flask.

Behind the flask, I look exactly the same.

Third and finally, during winter months, hipsters are more likely than ever to stay in, make Vegan brownies, and veg out on the couch and watch Teen Mom 2 (though most are wary to admit they like MTV.) This is because when it gets TOO cold and icy, it's difficult to ride bikes, and hipsters have no other mode of transportation. I mean, what do you EXPECT them to do? Hail a cab? Pssshaw. That would cost money....money that would be much better spent on whiskey and mustache flasks.

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Like this post? Check out other demographic studies here.

Programming Note

Underwater Explosions will be taking a short posting break this week while Kate battles with the flu. That means no Best New Music (tear), no radio show playlist (double tear that I had to cancel my show!) and no Haiku Review of the Best Coast/ Wavves show last night, which I was looking forward to for MONTHS (I heard she wore sweatpants on stage!!) but unfortunately slept through (waking up only to cough up lots of phlegm.)

Best Coast with the Beib, 2 nights ago on Letterman.

Posting should return by Friday, or whenever this Robitussin with Codeine decides to make me feel better, and not like the room is spinning...

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