Best New Music: Islands

Sometimes I like to pretend, that in an alternate universe, Nick Thorburn, Islands frontman, and I are best friends. I think Nick would make a great b.f.f., especially given our shared love of Twitter, sparkles, and lush, quirky indie pop.

Other shared interests: Valentine's Day cards, beer, couches (from FB)

Of course, being a B.F.F. means sticking by your friend through thick and thin -- and luckily for alternate-dimension Kate, heartbroken Nick sounds just as magical as zany, synth-pop Nick. His new record, A Sleep & A Forgetting is a gentle collection of passion-fueled piano confessionals that reveal the man BEHIND the sparkles. Listening all the way through is like peaking into his (beautifully) destroyed soul...and reveling in the melody behind the pain. Check out my full review over at Phrequency.com, along with the morbid new vid for "Hallways."

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XPN2 Playlist, 2/27/12

6:00

Pink Mink, “Hidden Beach”
Pink Mink

Guided by Voices, “Chasing Heather Crazy”
Isolation Drills

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Dive, “Corvalis”
Sometime (7”)

Wavves, “Baby Say Goodbye”
King of the Beach

She & Him, “Sweet Darlin’”
Volume One

Belle & Sebastian, “Write About Love”
Write About Love

Princeton, “Florida”
Remembrance Of Things To Come

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Screaming Females, “It All Means Nothing”
Ugly

The Ettes, “The Pendulum”
Wicked Will

Mr. Dream, “Fatherland”
Fatherland

The Strokes, “Under Cover of Darkness”
Angles

La Sera, “Break My Heart”
Sees the Light

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White Rabbits, “Temporary”
Milk Famous

Crocodiles, “Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)”
Endless Flowers

Grouplove, “Lovely Cup”
Never Trust a Happy Song

Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Down on the Corner”
Willy and the Poor Boys

Django Django, “Default”
Django Django


photo by Joss McKinley


7:00

Animal Tropical, “Black Magic”
Doom Years

Sleigh Bells, “End of the Line”
Reign of Terror

Memory Tapes, “Today is Our Life”
Player Piano

Frankie Rose, “Night Swim”
Interstellar

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School of Seven Bells, “The Night”
Ghostory

White Birds, “We Both Scream”
When Women Played Drums

Fanfarlo, “Shiny Things (Yeasayer Remix)”
Rooms Filled With Light

New Order, “Bizarre Love Triangl '94e”
(The Best of) New Order

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Magic Kids, “Cry With Me Baby”
Memphis

Pineapple, “It Doesn’t Matter”
Pineapple

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

Jaill, “We’ve Won”
There’s No Sky (Oh My My)

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Dr. Dog, “These Days”
Be the Void

The Cinnamon Band, “Hammond Song”
12x12

A Band of Bees, “Hot One!”
Octopus

Yo La Tengo, “Mr. Tough”
I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

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Islands, “Hallways”
A Sleep & A Forgetting

Tune in again next week for more sweet jamz!

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Music Video Mondays: Screaming Females

Jersey's favorite shred-punk trio, Screaming Females, are set to release their 5th LP, Ugly (produced by Steve Albini!) this April on Don Giovanni Records. "It All Means Nothing" is the first single, and comes complete with a vid that is truly sick, in more ways than one.

Really gives new meaning to the whole New Jersey: Only the Strong Survive thing.

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Best New Music: White Birds

I'll admit: I've had a band crush on local guys White Birds for some time now...but that didn't prepare me for the awesomeness that is When Women Played Drums, their debut, self-released LP.

sun-drenched vibes, sun-drenched faces

A hazy, sun-drenched collection of lo-fi gems, Women is not only delightfully melodious and scintillating, but explores a striking range of emotions, from heartache and pain to eventual triumph. Check out my full review over at Phrequency.com, along with the gorgeous new vid for "Hondora."

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XPN2 Playlist, 2/20/12: The John Bracaglia show

Last night on XPN2, I welcomed my dad, John Bracaglia, to the studio to spin some old + new skool jams. Here's what he played.

Rocking the headphones


6:00

Who, “I Need You”
A Quick One

The Rolling Stones, “Tell Me”
Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass)

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Doughboys, “I’m Not Your Man”
I’m Not Your Man

Indigenous, “Blues This Morning”
Things We Do

Stevie Ray Vaughan, “Pride and Joy”
Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Stevie Ray Vaughan

Los Lonely Boys, “Crazy Dream”
Los Lonely Boys

John Lee Hooker, “This is Hip”
I’m in the Mood

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Peggy Lee, “Fever”
Things Are Swingin’

Harry Connick Jr., “The Way You Look Tonight”
Your Songs

Donald Fagen, “I.G.Y.”
The Nightfly

Van Morrison, “Bright Side of the Road”
Into the Music

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The Master Plan, “14th Street”
Maximum Respect

The A-Sides, “Jump Back Jack”
Hello, Hello

The Replacements, “Alex Chilton”
Pleased to Meet Me

The Decemberists, “Valerie Plame”
Always the Bridesmaid: Vol. 1


My mom, dancing around the studio



7:00

Norman Greenbaum, “Spirit in the Sky”
Spirit in the Sky

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The Waterboys, “Fisherman’s Blues”
Fisherman’s Blues

Bob Dylan, “It’s All Good”
Together Through Life

Little Feat, “Rad Gumbo”
Representing the Mambo

The Subdudes, “Papa Dukie & The Mud People”
Behind the Levee

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Spirit, “1984”
Clear

Locksley, “There’s a Love”
Darling It’s True (7”)

Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”
Doolittle

The Guess Who, “Share the Land”
Share the Land

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Tom Waits, “Swordfishtrombone”
Swordfishtrombones

John Hiatt, “Master of Disaster”
Master of Disaster

Uncle Tupelo, “Chickamauga”
Anodyne

Bonnie Tyler, “It’s a Heartache”
It’s a Heartache

The Rumble Strips, “Oh Creole”
Girls and Weather

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Seatrain, “Out Where the Hills”
Seatrain

Tune in again next week for a return to your regularly-scheduled, Kate-curated jamz!

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Music Video Mondays (x2!): The Pack A.D. + YACHT

It debuted on my radio show back in August; now, 6 months later, androgynous Vancouver rockers The Pack A.D. return with this aggression-fueled video for "Sirens," featuring the bad-ass moves of one skinny mo-fo. If you see him on the street, please, run!

And on a more uplifting note (because violence first thing Monday morning is not good for anyone)...have you seen this whimsical vid for YACHT's "Shangri-La?"

As a snarky, East Coast individual, I'm generally inclined to believe heaven is NOT in L.A. -- but this video makes a pretty good case for it. I'd take gelato with Jona and Claire over working in an office any day!

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Best New Music: Frankie Rose

Brooklyn vixen Frankie Rose has an airy, affecting voice and formidable talent for songwriting. So it's about time the young songstress -- who's played drums for Vivian Girls, Dum Dum Girls, and Crystal Stilts -- finally stepped out of the shadows, and into the spotlight.

With former backing band, the Outs

And in the spotlight, she will surely shine, as her new record, Interstellar, positively radiates glamour and sheen. But don't expect the brash, lo-fi guitar sounds you'll find in her other projects -- instead, Interstellar is all about synths, and paying tribute to the '80s with dreamy new wave sounds. Check out my full review over at Phrequency.com, along with the stunning, space-y vid for single "Gospel / Grace."

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XPN2 Playlist, 2/13/12. The Valentine's Day show!

Last night on XPN2, my boyfriend Matt joined me, and we attempted to create your perfect <3 day playlist (with a fair amount of <3 day skepticism.) Check out what we played below, then tune in again next week when my dad (yes, I'm serious) helps take over the airwaves.

6:00

Speedies, “No Substitute”
Speedy Delivery

The Cigarettes, “You Were So Young”
Will Damage Your Health

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Neverever, “Wedding Day”
Shake-A-Baby

X, “True Love”
More Fun in the New World

Dum Dum Girls, “Bedroom Eyes”
Only in Dreams

Donnie Iris, “Ah! Leah!”
Back on the Streets

Michael Jackson, “The Way You Make Me Feel”
Bad

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Beck, “Think I’m in Love”
The Information

Cake, “Love You Madly”
Comfort Eagle

Bloc Party, “This Modern Love”
Silent Alarm

A Place to Bury Strangers, “In Your Heart”
Exploding Head

Summer Camp, “Nobody Knows You”
Welcome to Condale

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Fabienne Delsol, “Mr. Mystery”
Between You and Me

Stardust, “Music Sounds Better With You” (Radio Edit)
Music Sounds Better With You

Algebra Suicide, “What I Like Doing Best”
Tongue Wrestling

Kennedy, “Karate”
Life is a Party


Google image result #2 for "Life's a Party." Party ducks!



7:00

LCD Soundsystem, “Someone Great”
Sounds of Silver

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Littlemores, “Femme Fagin”
Idle Idols II

Girls at Our Best, “Warm Girls”
Pleasure

Joy Division, “Love Will Tear Us Apart”
+- (Remastered Singles)

Minimal Man, “To Hold You”
Sex With God

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The Pipettes, “Because It's Not Love (But It's Still a Feeling)”
We Are The Pipettes

The School, “Valentine”
Loveless Unbeliever

BOAT, “Kinda Scared of Love Affairs”
Dress Like Your Idols

Talking Heads, “I’m Not in Love”
More Songs About Buildings and Food

Belle & Sebastian, “I Don’t Love Anyone”
Tigermilk

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Princeton, “Shout it Out”
Cocoon of Love

Mosquitos, “Free as Love”
Sunshine Barato

Camera Obscura, “The Sweetest Thing”
My Maudlin Career

Whitney Houston, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”
Whitney

The Supremes, “You Can’t Hurry Love”
Supremes A’ Go-Go

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Chairlift, “I Belong in Your Arms”
Something

Think you can tell the Kate picks from the Matt picks? You might be surprised!

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Music Video Fundays: Valentine's Day with the Polyphonic Spree

Happy Valentine's Day! For those of you in a relationship currently: good job! I hope you revel in it with chocolates and mediocre sex. (And for all the single folk outs there: don't worry. All you're missing is chocolate and mediocre sex.) But before we get swept away in the sweeping romance of it all, let's take a minute to remember what the holiday is really about: a 15th century Roman priest, who was beheaded for marrying Christian couples. (No, really.)

This is REALLY what you're celebrating Feb. 14th

Oh yeah -- and also it's about love, I guess (or at least that's what Hallmark insists), which makes this video from the Polyphonic Spree all the more fitting. Because love means a lot more than just romance, and that's what <3 day is REALLY about.

Happy Valentine's Day everybody!

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Best New Music: Django Django

I first wrote about Django Django here back in August '10, when I stumbled upon the video for stompin' single "Wor." Now, a year and a half later, the band has readied its debut full-length, which romps, rollicks and frolics like a blister on a cowboy galloping through the desert in the sun.

Desert riders

From sunny pop numbers ringing with choral harmonies -- to art-y psych rock dirges and frenzied cowboy chases -- Django Django covers a lot of ground in its 48 minutes, and always keeps the listener guessing. Head over to Phrequency.com to check out my full review, as well as another stunningly weird video.

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XPN2, 2/6/12

6:00

The Cure, “The Lovecats”
Greatest Hits

Lilys, “Accepting Applications at University”
The 3-Way

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Grimes, “Nightmusic”
Visions

Of Montreal, “So Begins Our Alabee”
The Sunlandic Twins

Is Tropical, “The Greeks”
Native To

Blouse, “Firestarter”
Blouse

The Jesus and Mary Chain, “April Skies”
Darklands

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The Big Pink, “Give It Up”
Future This

Seaborne Spiders, “The Keeper”
Seaborne Spiders

M83, “Raconte-Moi Une Histoire”
Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

The Drums, “What You Were”
Portamento

Beach Fossils, “Daydream”
Beach Fossils

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Lana Del Rey, “Born To Die”
Born To Die

New Young Pony Club, “Ice Cream”
Fantastic Playroom

Janelle Monai feat. Big Boi, “Tightrope”
The ArchAndroid


Google image result #1 for "Tightrope." Seems about right.


7:00

Charlotte Gainesbourg, “Greenwich Mean Time”
IRM

Clinic, “The Return of Evil Bill”
Internal Wrangler

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Wild Nothing, “Nowhere”
Nowhere (7”)

The Aliens, “Magic Man”
Luna

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

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

Burning Hearts, “Into the Wilderness”
Extinction

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The Growlers, “Sea Lion Goth Blues”
Hot Tropics

Twin Library, “Shaking Hands”
No Summer / Shaking Hands (7")

Twerps, “Coast to Coast”
Twerps

Nada Surf, “Clear Eye Clouded Mind”
The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy

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Django Django, “Hail Bop”
Django Django

Black Tambourine, “Throw Aggi Off the Bridge”
Black Tambourine

Low vs. Diamond, “Don’t Forget Sister”
Low vs. Diamond

The Pharmacy, “Dig Your Grave”
Stoned & Alone

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The Arcade Fire, “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”
The Suburbs

Tune in again next week for a special show of pre-Valentine's jamz, plus bonus on-air banter btw me and my snarky b.f. Matt.

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Music Video Mondays: Burning Hearts

Finnish duo Burning Hearts craft warm, dense indie pop teeming with dreamy layers. On single "Into the Wilderness," floaty keys and pounding bass lines make vocalist Jessika Rapo's smoky alto seem even more enthralling -- transporting the listener into a world of grainy footage and gorgeous watercolor skies. Perfect for a chilly Monday morning.

The band's sophomore record, Extinctions, drops February 21. In the meantime, tune in to my radio show tonight (Monday) from 6 to 8 to hear Burning Hearts on the airwaves.

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Demographic Study: The Hipstagram

A few weeks back, a friend of mine shared with me the details of a particularly disastrous first date. His date, a cute chick who could be vaguely classified under the label "scenester" -- seemed really into him at first, impressed by the fact that he was bearded and in a band.* As the night continued however, he noticed her zoning out when he brought up other topics (such as family, the economy, whether or not Groundhog Day is the best Bill Murray flick ever), looking up only when he mentioned local celebrities or buzz bands.

"It was really weird," he told me, one night over beers. "She just had this totally vacant expression on her face the whole time. And when I asked her what she was into, she just name-dropped a list of people she knew, without offering any opinion."

Google image result #1 for "Disastrous first date." Not sure what's
disastrous here, unless she is a Vegan and offended by his lobster shirt.
(p.s. -- result #4 is a picture of Jennifer Aniston)

It was at that point I realized my friend's predicament. The chick he was dating may have seemed a hipster bomb shell, but in all reality, was more of an empty hipster shell -- a swirling mass of reblogged tumblr posts and instagrams where her soul should be. I call these chicks (and dudes): hipstagrams (an amalgamation of "instagram" and "hipstamatic") for they are but hipster holograms, vapid collections of ideas and images with no real substance behind them.

Google image result #37 for "Empty Hipster Shell." Is that Dov Charney?

Of course, the very term "hipster" summons images of fashionable detachment -- art school students smoking cigarettes blankly and plaid-clad indie kids standing arms-crossed and motionless at shows. What sets the Hipstagram apart is that he or she is not capable of independent thought -- only reflecting and regurgitating all that is around them. As a result, the Hipstagram is always -- at least in some regards -- incredibly popular, for he/she spends all his/her time meeting the "right" people, and "forming" the "correct" opinions. And while "hipsters" in general (whatever that means) are always creating -- music, art, short stories, blog posts -- the Hipstagram contributes nothing but drunken sex and retweets -- plus offended sneers for all those not quite cool enough.

Google image result #15 for "drunken sex and retweets." SEXY!

In the end, the Hipstagram is not a bad person to have on your side -- they are always very well connected, and can help you get your foot in the door nearly anywhere. Invite them to a party and they'll up your coolness quotient -- just don't try to discuss anything serious, unless you want vacant stares.

*details changed to protect the guilty


Previously on Demographic Study: The iPhone Killjoy. (See all "Demographic Study" posts here.)

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