Best New Music: Shannon and the Clams

Shannon Shaw, Clams front woman, has one of those voices in rock: bluesy, gritty, perhaps a tad boozy -- that makes for a raucous, growl-y good time. On sophomore release Sleep Talk, good times are flowing, as Shaw and the band rip through 12 retro charmers with energy, wit, and just the right amount of "ooga-boogas."

OOGA-BOOGA!!!

Check out my full review over at Phrequency, and scoop the sweet vid for the title track.

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XPN2 Playlist, 11/28/11

6:00

Film School, “Bones”
Fission

The Broken West, “Perfect Games”
Now or Heaven

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The White Wires, “Did You Forget My Name”
WWII

Thee Oh Sees, “Carrion Crawler”
Carrion Crawler / The Dream

The Depreciation Guild, “Dream About Me”
Spirit Youth

Illinois, “Nosebleed”
What the Hell Do I Know?

The Beets, “Dead”
Stay Home

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Bad Sports, “I May Be Cruel”
Kings of the Weekend

Total Babes, “Someone to Blame”
Swimming Through Sunlight

Cake, “Sick of You”
Showroom of Compassion

Gentleman Jesse & His Men, “I Get So Excited”
Gentleman Jesse & His Men

The Clash, “Washington Bullets”
Sadinista!

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M. Ward, “One Hundred Million Years”
Hold Time

Savoir Adore, “Honestly”
In the Wooded Forest

The Dodos, “Black Night”
No Color

The Dogs, “We Don’t Have to Do Anything”
Camping

The Black Keys, “The Go Getter”
Brothers



Google image result #2 for "Brothers." Cute, right?
(Except for the couch, which is hideous)



7:00

Portgual. The Man, “So American”
In the Mountain in the Cloud

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Neon Indian, “The Blindside Kiss”
Era Extrana

Washed Out, “Eyes Be Closed”
Within and Without

The Golden Filter, “Solid Gold”
Sisters

Tom Tom Club, “Genius of Love”
Tom Tom Club

Of Montreal, “Wraith Pinned to the Mist (And Other Games)”
The Sunlandic Twins

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Cut Copy, “Where I’m Going”
Zonoscope

Klaxons, “Golden Skans”
Myths of the Near Future

Lykke Li, “I Follow Rivers”
Wounded Rhymes

Frou Frou, “Let Go”
Details

Cults, “Never Saw the Point”
Cults

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The Kinks, “I Need You”
The Ultimate Collection

The Zombies, “Friends of Mine”
Odessey & Oracle

The Beatles, “The End”
Abbey Road

Yo La Tengo, “If it’s True”
Popular Songs

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Foreign Born, “Winter Games”
Person to Person

Tune in again next week for more sweet jamz!

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Music Video Mondays: Spectrals

Bad Penny, the debut album from new Slumberland signees Spectrals, is full of easy-going vintage grooves perfect for easing back into these last 3 weeks of work before the holiday. This tune debuted on my radio show last week, but I liked it so much I decided to include it again here:

Something in the styling reminds me of early Sondre Lerche -- which is to say, classically-influenced, delicate, and sweet. Much <3!

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Turkey Day Soundtrack: 5 Tunes to get you in the mood (for food)

Ahh Thanksgiving. America's celebration of food, family, and gluttony is almost upon us, and if you're anything like me, that means major stressing over travel and turkey-basting. But it doesn't have to be that way! Head over to Phrequency.com to check out my Thanksgiving playlist...then queue it up, and let the food coma begin!

Domesticity, 11/20/11

Happy Thanksgiving from Underwater Explosions!

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XPN2 Playlist, 11/22/11

6:00

Duchess Says, “S.O.H….”
In a Fung Day T

Dive, “Sometime”
Sometime

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Class Actress, “Love Me Like You Used To”
Rapprocher

Yeasayer, “Ambling Alp”
Odd Blood

TV on the Radio, “Wolf Like Me”
Return to Cookie Mountain

Atlas Sound, “Mona Lisa”
Parallax

St. Vincent, “Cruel”
Strange Mercy

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Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, “Maniac”
Hysterical

The Feelies, “Waiting”
Time for a Witness

Fergus & Geronimo, “Powerful Lovin’”
Unlearn

Rachael Yamagata, “Stick Around”
Chesapeake

Lissy Trullie, “Madeleine”
Lissy Trullie

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Calexico, “Writer’s Minor Holiday”
Carried to Dust

Felt, “Spanish House”
The Strange Idols Pattern and Other Short Stories; Ignite the Seven Cannons

Elf Power, “We Dream in Sound”
A Dream in Sound



From Elf Power's FB


7:00

Another Sunny Day, “The Center of My Little World”
London Weekend

Wilco, “ELT”
Summerteeth

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Spectrals, “Get a Grip”
Bad Penny

Girls Names, “Bury Me”
Dead To Me

Widowspeak, “Harsh Realm”
Widowspeak

Let’s Wrestle, “I am Useful”
Nursing Home

Architecture in Helsinki, “Denial Style”
Moment Bends

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Dom, “Living in America”
Sun Bronzed Greeks Gods

Computer Magic, “Running”
Electronic Fences

The Rosebuds, “Go Ahead”
Loud Planes Fly Low

Keep Shelly In Athens, “A) The Rogue Superhero B) Ready to Pay the Price”
Own Our Dream

Head Like a Kite, “My Very First Ransom Note”
Dreams Suspend Night

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Blackbird Blackbird, “Dreams I Create”
Summer Heart

Real Estate, “Wonder Years”
Days

Mayer Hawthorne, “Dreaming”
How Do You Do

Of Monsters and Men, “Little Talks”
My Head is an Animal

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The Kooks, “Eskimo Kiss”
Junk of the Heart

Tune in again next week for more hot jamz!

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White Birds: In Photos!

I've already documented my love for new Philly band White Birds (see here, and also here); last Sunday I was fortunate enough to stop by the band's session for XPN's The Key and snap a couple photos. You can check 'em out there...and stay tuned for the full session shortly!

photo Kate Bracaglia for The Key.

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Best New Music: Of Monsters and Men

Of Monsters and Men hail from Iceland, a country I associate with Bjork, putting random v's and j's in the middle of words, and the bad guys from Mighty Ducks 2. A few years from now though, I wouldn't be surprised if these guys were the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Iceland -- so engaging and dynamic are their tunes.

also engaging: their band photos, like this lil gem (from Facebook)

No, really. On debut record My Head is an Animal the band displays a penchant for grand sweeping theatricality and cathartic tunes that burrow in your skull for days. Read my full review at Phrequency.com, and check out a live performance of standout single "Little Talks."

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Haiku Review: Architecture in Helsinki

Talking Heads-style

moves, plus sonic silliness
equals aural joy


photo Kate Bracaglia for A.V. Club Philly


Read my full review (Wednesday night, Union Transfer) here!

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Haiku Review: The Kooks

Blithe tunes made blither

thanks to high spirits, passion,
and SO MUCH DANCING


Photo Kate Bracaglia for A.V. Club Philly


Read my full review (Tuesday night, Trocadero) here!

Previously on Haiku Review: Cold Cave

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XPN2 Playlist, 11/14/11

6:00

Mannequin Men, “Don’t Grow”
Mannequin Men

The Really Cooks, “Claude Monet”
Dr. Lemonade Stand

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The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
El Camino

Dinosaur Jr., “Pieces”
Farm

No Age, “Eraser”
Nouns

Pavement, “Summer Babe (Winter Version)”
Slanted & Enchanted

Maritime, “Air Arizona”
Human Hearts

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GoodBooks, “Passchendaele”
Control

The Cribs, “Save Your Secrets”
Ignore the Ignorant

Blur, “Country House”
The Great Escape

Fruit Bats, “Tangie and Ray”
Tripper

Bright Eyes, “Lover I Don’t Have to Love”
Lifted or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

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Pulp, “This is Hardcore”
This is Hardcore

Gorillaz feat. Lou Reed, “Some Kind of Nature”
Plastic Beach

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, “Another Morning Stoner”
Source Tags & Codes



Google result #2 for "Another Stoner." (Apparently TOD have a trademark
on the phrase "Another Morning Stoner" b/c all image results for this are
pics of the band. Whatevs. Animals can be stoners too.)


7:00

The Front Bottoms, “Maps”
The Front Bottoms

Quasi, “Chocolate Rabbit”
R&B Transmogrification

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Pants Yell!, “Reject, Reject”
Alison Statton

Papercuts, “Chills”
Fading Parade

Dum Dum Girls, “Always Looking”
Only in Dreams

Galaxie 500, “Blue Thunder”
On Fire

Helium, “Superball”
The Dirt of Luck

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Super Furry Animals, “Sidewalk Serfer Girl”
Rings Around the World

Beck, “The New Pollution”
Odelay

Supertramp, “Breakfast in America"
Breakfast in America

Happy Mondays, “Country Song”
Bummed

The Ting Tings, “That’s Not My Name”
We Started Nothing

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The Danvilles, “I Tell You”
East

Swimsuit, “The Grit”
Swimsuit

BOAT, “Dress Like Your Idols”
Dress Like Your Idols

Peter Bjorn and John, “Living Thing”
Living Thing

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Wyldlife, “Invisible Boy”
Nicotine

Tune in again next week for more awesome jams!

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Music Video Mondays (x2!): Wyldlife + Seventeen Evergreen

This tune from NYC punks Wyldlife debuted on my radio show last month -- here's the fantastically rowdy video, which proves that punk is not dead, although it's still fond of stupid haircuts:

Feeling the punk <3? Tune in to my show tonight to catch another cut from Wyldlife!


In the meantime, speaking of adventures in fashion...

This nugget from San Fran duo Seventeen Evergreen hit the blogosphere last week -- I've always imagined this type of stuff goes on at Philly Aids Thrift late at night.

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Best New Music: Mannequin Men

Chicago hooligans Mannequin Men write sloppy, sloshy, easy-going rockers that combine elements of all my favorite things: power-pop euphoria; lo-fi jangle; and drunken resolution -- into a venerable sing-along of boozy joy.

Mannequin Men living up to their name

On their 4th and self-titled album, they present their strongest batch of songs yet, and the perfect soundtrack for low-key weekend, killing a case with friends. Check out my full review over at Phrequency.com, and party on.

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XPN2 Playlist, 11/7/11

6:00

Faces on Film, “Knot in the Vine”
Some Weather

Fanfarlo, “Deconstruction”
Deconstruction

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Wavves feat. Best Coast, “Nodding Off”
Life Sux

Superchunk, “Seed Toss”
No Pocky for Kitty

Surfer Blood, “Drinking Problem”
Tarot Classics

Yuck, “Get Away”
Yuck

Wu Lyf, “Spitting Blood”
Go Tell Fire to the Mountain

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The Drums, “Book of Revelation”
Portamento

Mazes, “No Way”
A Thousand Heys

Islands, “Don’t Call Me Whitney, Bobby”
Return to the Sea

Vampire Weekend, “Holiday”
Contra

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, “Counting Down the Hours”
Shake the Sheets

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The Vaccines, “Blow It Up”
What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?

The Replacements, “Can’t Hardly Wait”
Pleased to Meet Me

Guided by Voices, “Motor Away”
Alien Lanes

The Thermals, “No Culture Icons”
More Parts Per Million

,

Brass Band, “Begs Me Not to Beg”
Melt White

Mazzy Star, “Lay Myself Down”
Common Burn / Lay Myself Down


The happiest Mazzy Star has ever looked


7:00

Justice, “Civilization”
Audio, Video, Disco

Brakes, “All Night Disco Party”
Give Blood

YACHT, “One Step”
Shangri-La

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Phantogram, “16 Years”
Nightlife

M83, “Steven McQueen”
Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

Belle & Sebastian, “Blue Eyes of a Millionaire”
Come on Sister

MGMT, “Siberian Breaks”
Congratulations

Yo La Tengo, “Season of the Shark”
Summer Sun

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Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps, “Calliope”
Little Wind

William Fitzsimmons, “Psychasthenia”
Gold in the Shadow

Rafter, “A Frame”
Animal Feelings

Wolf Gang, “Stay and Defend”
Suego Faults

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Dum Dum Girls, “Bhang Bhang I’m a Burnout”
I Will Be

<3 music? (Who doesn't?) Tune in again next week for more sweet tunes!

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5 "It's Always Sunny" Episodes That Need to Happen, Stat (a.k.a., Kate has fun with Photoshop)

A classic Sunny moment

Sometimes when I get drunk and watch TV, my brain is filled with enlightened thoughts about ideas for future episodes. Here are the results of one drunken evening with It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: 5 classic Philly-isms that have yet to be explored, plus some sloppy Photoshopping, completed while at work.


1. The Gang Gets Hip.

Ironic '90s tee? Check. Fatty in a diaper + headband? Check. Charlie
photoshopped onto body of chick in tube top? Chhhheck.

Philly is full of hipsters, so how come there has not been an episode making fun of them yet? Maybe they meet some art school students and spend an episode trying to adapt to the lifestyle, wearing plaid and riding bikes, then get sad when they move to Brooklyn at the end. They could be probably even convince some of the UArts students to appear in this episode for free -- nothing says exposure like making fun yourself on national TV.



2. The Gang Gets Flash-Mobbed.

Guns of steel to the rescue

Major citywide catastrophe = majorly funny television episode. I'm thinking this would involve some sort of retaliation plan gone horribly wrong, possibly using Cricket as bait.



3. The Gang Versus the PPA.

Like Parking Wars...on crack

This would be a classic match-up of laziness and ego.


4. The Gang Steals the Rocky Statue.

Smooth moves

Seriously, how has this not happened yet?



5. The Gang Discovers a New Favorite Bar.

No photoshopping required

The gang stumbles into Mac's Tavern (i.e., the bar Caitlin Olsen and Rob McElhenney own in real life), and is weirded out when the bartenders are their dopper-gangers and the menu items are named after them. Like the "The Bizarro" episode of Seinfield, but weirder. Plus i would love to see Charlie get in a fight with himself!

Excellent!

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Best New Music: Phantogram

Uber-cool New York duo Phantogram craft sexy nighttime music that still sounds good during the day. Combining old-skool samples with blistering beats, hazy shoegaze guitars, and Sarah Barthel's dreamy, emotive vocals -- Phantogram manage to capture both sadness and exuberance on new EP Nightlife, detailing the emotional highs and lows of life on the road, experienced during last year's tour.

Looking dejected (From FB)

The result is a passionate musical journey that belies its 27 minute running time. Check out my full review over at Phrequency.com -- then tune in to my radio show next Monday at 6 to catch a track from Nightlife.

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XPN2 Playlist, 10/31/11

The Halloween show!

6:00

Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds, “Rare as the Yeti”
Dracula Boots

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Heads Will Roll”
It’s Blitz

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Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “Red Right Hand”
Let Love In

The Cramps, “I Was a Teenage Werewolf”
Songs the Lord Taught Us

Veronica Falls, “Found Love in a Graveyard”
Veronica Falls

Dead Man’s Bones, “My Body’s a Zombie for You”
Dead Man’s Bones

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No Kids, “For Halloween”
Come Into My House

Michael Andrews, “Slipping Away”
Donnie Darko

Echo & the Bunnymen, “The Killing Moon”
Ocean Rain

The Hooters, “All You Zombies”
Amore

M83, “Graveyard Girl”
Saturdays = Youth

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Screaming Females, “Ghost Solo”
Castle Talk

The Pixies, “Wave of Mutilation”
Doolittle

Murder City Devils, “Demon Brother”
In Name and Blood

Nine Inch Nails, “Dead Souls”
The Downward Spiral (Deluxe Edition)



"Dead Souls" live -- even scarier than you imagined (from this site)



7:00

Roky Erickson, “Night of the Vampire”
You're Gonna Miss Me: The Best of Roky Erickson

Warren Zevon, “Werewolves of London”
Excitable Boy

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Man Man, “Spooky Jookie”
Life Fantastic

The Who, “Boris the Spider”
A Quick One

Atlanta Rhythm Section, “Spooky”
Underdog

Babyshambles, “Back from the Dead”
Down in Albion

Creedence Clearwater Revival, “I Put a Spell on You”
Creedence Clearwater Revival

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Creepoid, “Grave Blanket”
Horse Heaven

Concrete Blond, “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)”
Bloodletting

Del Shannon, “Ginny in the Mirror”
Home and Away: The Complete Recordings 1960-1970

Donovan, “Season of the Witch”
Sunshine Superman

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Be Your Own Pet, “Zombie Graveyard Party”
Get Awkward

Jaill, “How’s the Grave”
That’s How We Burn

The Misfits, “Night of the Living Dead”
Collection

Elf Power, “I Walked With the Zombie”
Nothing’s Going to Happen

The Beach Boys, “The Monster Mash”
Concert

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The Misfits, “Halloween”
Legacy of Brutality

Tune in again next week for more (non-Halloween-themed) craziness!

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