Loss Leaders

Giant Drag + the Submarines = FREE Sunday Concert @ Downtown LA

2006-08-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

Little Radio is sponsoring another great Sunday afternoon BBQ downtown featuring Giant Drag and The Submarines ! Also on the bill are The Upside Down, and Restaurant. Little Radio's Summercamp BBQ has food $2 beers and $3 margarita specials. And the most amazing thing is .... the show is FREE. It's FREE!!! Seriously, we'll be anyone's indie rock prices or your concert is FREEEEEEEEEEEE! Come on down, jump in the Little Radio swimming pool and listen to some great music. 1218 LongBeach Ave LA, CA 90021 1:00-7:00pm. There's a rumor that the Subs may debut a super cool cover song this Sunday!!

LAist reviewed the Subs record release show with what I assume is the pinnacle for Rock Criticism:

"Everyone on dates got laid when they got home."

Actually Tony Pierce said more than that ... not only is it not too sweet, it's sorta the sweetest thing ever. The sad songs are sad. They both have a few of those. Only sometimes do they sing together. She looks at him. He looks at the ground. The crowd of youngins sighed and melted and were completely won over by Ms. Blake Hazard who sang beautifully and gently. At times the tunes sounded like adorable gen-x lullabyes." Then: "Everyone on dates got laid when they got home."

Check outLittle Radio for audio of the Submarines and Giant Drag sets!

Website: thesubmarines.com
Myspace: Submarines MySpace

Subs Audio Streams:
Peace and Hate
Brighter Discontent

Oh and did I say that everyone on dates will get laid?

The Submarines on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic

2006-07-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

The Submarines are on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" show today. (The NY Times called the hugely influential show MBE "appointment radio" and it's host Nic Harcourt a "star maker". Make an appointment to check out the Subs set today and let's hope the star maker label is true!)

I work with the Subs at Nettwerk as their A&R guy. While that makes me biased, I suppose, "Declare a New State!" is one of my favorite albums of 2006. You can download download Declare a New State!.

On Wednesday, July 12, tune in at 11:15 am PDT to hear a live set: The Submarines on KCRW

Check out these two album tracks: Peace and Hate and Darkest Things

Click here for a great review from: Music for Robots

And here's a cool piece from Magnet:

4th of July Songs

2006-07-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

Some songs to consider this 4th of July which ostensibly is about celebrating our independence and freedom. Freedom from what?

A Distorted Reality Is Now A Necessity To Be Free By Elliott Smith
Independence Day By Elliott Smith
Union Sundown by Bob Dylan
Spirit of America by the Beach Boys
America the Beautiful by Neil Young
When The Saints Go Marching In by Dr. John
Amazing Grace by Elvis Presley

Happy Holiday!

2006-07-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend I'll be posting a bunch of fun songs to celebrate the 4th of July.

I've always loved this song by Doktor Kosmos who was (is?) the keyboardist in the Swedish band Komeda .

Listen to Doktor Kosmos' Holiday

13 new songs for$3.99

2006-07-02T02:00:00.000-07:00

We have a new Nettwerk compilation up on iTunes. For ONLY $3.99 you can get 13 new songs from the Submarines, Josh Rouse, the Format, Jars of Clay, Pinker Tones, Nortec Collective, Weepies, Sara Valenzuela, Tresspassers William, State Radio, Venus Hum, MC Lars, Hem, Anathallo and Conjure One!

Download the Nettwerk Records Penny Candy sampler here!

Styrofoam and Ben Gibbard live in Amsterdam

2006-07-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

On June 25 Styrofoam opened for Death Cab for Cutie in Amsterdam. Ben Gibbard joined my new friend Arne and his band for the first ever performance of "Couches in the Alley" which is one of my favorite songs. In the past few months, Arne and I have worked together on remixes for the Submarines, Leigh Nash and (possibly) Josh Rouse. (Of course Arne did all the remixing!) He's a great talent as a remixer, producer and musician. One of the undiscovered "new" artists to be sure.

Check out the video from the Styrofoam / Ben Gibbard performance

Buy the new live Styrofoam EP which is really good and moody.

Listen to the original "Couches in the Alley"

TMBG records NSA ringtone!

2006-05-12T08:11:00.000-07:00

Oh my! How is this for fast!!!

The brilliant John Flansburgh and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants have recorded and posted 3 ring tones with a connection to phone calls -- and more importantly -- the NSA wiretapping scandal. My hunch is that these were written before the recent USA Today story that George Bush and his minions have been "data mining and trolling" (his words) through every phone call made since around September 11 by customers of AT&T, Verizon, Cingular, etc.

Listen to this great TMBG ringtone:
Call Connected Thru The NSA

Buy the rest here:
TMBG ringtones

RIP Grant McLennan

2006-05-07T11:33:00.000-07:00

This news just broke at Billboard: Go-Betweens' Grant McLennan has died at 48. All Music Guide called the Go-Betweens "arguably Australia's greatest pop group ever."

AMG also described them thusly:
The Go-Betweens were perhaps the quintessential cult band of the '80s: they came from an exotic locale (Brisbane, Australia), moved to a major recording center (in their case, London) in a sustained bid to make a career out of music, released album after album of music seemingly tailor-made for the radio in spite of their having little use for contemporary Top 40 musical/lyrical formulas, and earned considerable critical praise and a small but fervent international fan base.

Listen to these great Go-Betweens tracks:
Go-Betweens: Streets of Your Town
Go-Betweens: Quiet Heart
Ivy's Go-Betweens cover: Streets of Your Town

Corinne Bailey Rae does The Editors

2006-05-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

I predict sucess for Corinne Bailey Rae . She sounds like a cross between Norah Jones and Billie Holiday. She's a little funky, a little smooth. So check out one of her best album tracks and also her amazing cover of the Editors (from a BBC radio performance).

Listen to these great Corinne Bailey Rae tracks:
CBR covers the Editors' Munich
CBR's original Breathless

Brunch Tunes: Solomon Burke - The King of Rock n' Soul

2006-04-29T10:45:00.001-07:00

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Solomon Burke's two albums from 1968 have been rereleased in a two-fer package of King Solomon / I Wish I Knew . Solomon's greatest hits compilations are essential for the hits. But this twofer is a great way to hear Solomon's music in context. His cross-over potential between R&B and Country music is evident in these sessions covering everyone from Spooner Oldham & Dan Penn, to Allen Toussaint, Joe Tex, and Don Covay.

We did a Guest DJ session on KCRW's The Open Road with Solomon Burke on October 20, 2002 right before he opened for the Rolling Stones at the Wiltern in Los Angeles. In it King Solomon discussed his album Don't Give Up On Me which returned him to national prominence and included new songs written by Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello,and Tom Waits. Solomon also played some of his favorite tunes from the past 40 years, including "Soul Meeting'" with Joe Tex, Don Covay, Ben E. King and Arthur Conley. Other highlites include a brilliant version of "Proud Mary" and the original Tom Waits demo for "Diamond In Your Mind." My favorite moment is the once in a lifetime live take of Solomon Burke reciting the lyrics to his original "The Price" over his cover of Elvis Costello's "Judgement" which was written as a sequel to the 1964 song. The effect of the older Burke singing a dueting with the younger Burke is more than powerful.

Solomon Burke's soulful, funky, spiritual and passionate music has changed my life. It's also often a lot of fun!

Listen to these great Solomon Burke songs:
Don Covay's Party People
The Staples Singers' It's Been a Change
Spooner Oldham & Dan Penn's Take Me (Just As I Am)
Ray Charles' What'd I Say

Brunch Tunes: David Byrne's Brazil Classics Vol. 1, Beleza Tropical"

2006-04-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

I'm getting my Brazillian groove on and cooking pancakes as I write this!

David Byrne's Brazil Classics, Beleza Tropical preceded the height of popularity of Tropicalia during the latter part of the 1990s. Performers include like Beck, Dios Malos and others were as influennced by tropicalia as they were American songwriters. This compilation includes such influential Brazilian musicials as Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Jorge Ben and their recordings from the 1970s and '80s. This album is a wonderful portal into a world of inspired and brilliant music. Byrne deserves some big credit for conqureing one of the main challenges inherent in the World Music genre in the late 1980s: access. Expertly chosen, David Byrne's Brazil Classics Vol. 1, Beleza Tropical is an absolutelu essential part of a music collection. Subsequent collections cover Samba and Forro.

Listen to these great Brazillian classics:
Jorge Ben's Ponta De Lanca Africano (Umbabarauma)
Caetano Veloso's Um Canto De Afoxé Para O Bloco De Ilê (Ilê Ayê)
Gilberto Gil's Quilombo, O El Dorado Negro
Nazaré Pereira's Maculelê

React: Do you recognize the part of Quilombo, O El Dorado Negro which was sampled by the Beastie Boys?

Brunch Tunes: Little Richard

2006-04-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my friend Michael and I were talking about music for a chill Easter Sunday. We came up with some good suggestions between the two of us but, considering the timing, we both gravitated towards some cool gospel music. So my first suggestion for a great musical accompaniment for a fun weekend is .....

Little Richard's God is Real was recorded in 1959 after Richard's 2 year hiatus from rock n roll and enrollment in Bible college. Little Richard's gospel singing career makes up some of his lesser known material and some of his most surprising. It's heartfelt approach and genuine passion makes "God is Real" among some of Little Richard's most personal music.

Listen to these great Little Richard songs:
Everytime I Feel the Spirit
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
I'm Tramping
God Is Real

React: What do you think of Little Richard's gospel songs?

Look What I Found in My Garage: (Good) Beatles covers

2006-04-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

Round four:

Ok so the George Harrison posting got me thinking about Beatle's covers. There are some great ones out there. Heresy you say??? True, there aren't any that improve on the originals but I offer these songs to you as the best Beatles covers I know...

Listen to these great Beatles covers:

She's Leaving Home Harry Nilsson recorded this version ten days after the release of Sgt. Pepper's. His debut record was supposedly loved by the band.
We Can Work it Out -- this (Little) Steve Wonder version is perhaps the best Beatles cover EVER!
Yesterday -- Ok this Marvin Gaye cover is much sexier than virtually anything the Bealtes ever recorded. This has to be considered one of the best too.
With a Little Help From My Friends Ok so this version by George Burns is terrible...but you can't hate on God can you???
Norweigan Wood -- I'm sure this will be controversial... but I prefer the PM Dawn version to the Cornershop version which you can hear here: Norweigan Wood

React: Tell me about your favorite Beatles cover in the comments!

Look What I Found in My Garage: George Harrison's unreleased songs!

2006-04-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

Round three:

The first band that I wanted to dust off all my old records and get on the shelf first was the Beatles (followed by the Beach Boys and Buddy Holly -- I'm in a back to the beginning mood these days!). I bought this cd at record surplus for like $8. Crazy!

Did you know that George Harrison's 1981 album Somewhere in England was first rejected by Warner Brothers!?! George Harrison released some of the rejected songs on a very limited edition (2500 copies) cd and vinyl EP called Songs by George Harrison on his own Dark Horse label to coincide with a book of the same name which was out around the time of "Cloud Nine."

I reviewed Songs by George Harrison for All Music Guide when I was a contributor to their fine encyclopedia:

"This limited-edition CD was released in 1987 and includes songs unavailable on any other commercially available disc. "Sat Singing," "Lay His Head," and "Flying Hour" were all written for the LP Somewhere in England but were rejected by Warner Brothers. After being bootlegged for years, this is the first and only appearance of these songs on an official release, making this one of the essential additions to any serious Beatles or George Harrison collection. An additional song from the same sessions, "Tears of the World," remains unreleased, raising the question of when a Harrison box set might be produced. The fourth track is a mono version of "For You Blue," a different version of which most recently appeared on the Beatles' Anthology 3. Songs By George Harrison is remarkable and the songs are classic Harrison."

Amazingly these tracks were not included on the recent collection of all of George's solo records: The Dark Horse Years 1976-1992.

Listen to 4 "unreleased" songs by George Harrison:

Sat Singing
Lay His Head
For You Blue
Flying Hour

FYI: George is my favorite Beatle ... who is yours?

Look What I Found in My Garage: Innocence and Despair

2006-04-11T22:17:00.000-07:00

Round two:

The garage discoveries continue with the gem of The Langley Schools Music Project

This record really speaks for itself -- and you love it or hate it. (No haters read Loss Leaders do they?? If so scram!) But a little introduction does set it up nicely: In the mid-1970s an amazing music teacher (do they still exist??) worked at the Langely School in British Columbia and recorded two albums with the school's chorus and pressed records for their own enjoyment. Lost for decades until Bar/None released the music commercially for the first time. The music is pure joy and a wonderful piece of found art...

Richie Unterberger in All Music Guide put it well: "The kids are engaged and having fun, certainly; there's not much despair here. But they sound close to what you would expect 50-strong vocal ensembles of nine- to 12-year-olds singing in a school gymnasium to sound like. What does probably lift this above most other vanity school music class pressings (and you know there must be plenty more where this came from) is the spooky, minimal strangeness of most of the arrangements. It does indeed sound refreshing and interesting to hear the Beach Boys, Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, and Neil Diamond songs with weird off-kilter xylophones, off-the-wall cymbal crashes, and teacher Hans Fenger's basic singalong acoustic guitar and piano. It's more valuable as a cultural curiosity and something to get the guffaws going at parties than it is a deep listening experience."

Cultural curiosity / Deep Listening experience ... are those mutually exclusive??

Listen to two LSMP Beach Boys covers:
In My Room is one of my favorite Brian Wilson songs. This haunting performance imbues the song with a lonliness implied by the original but fully captured here. Listen and imagine a bunch of pre-teens singing about the their refuge and dreams. And then the attempts at those high notes...!

Good Vibrations is a pretty bold song to even attempt for an elementary school chorus! I'd be proud if my son was in the group doing this version.

Two good pieces on the album:
NPR feature
NY Times article

Look What I Found in My Garage: Morphine

2006-04-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

So I've finally found the system that I think will help me keep my cds organized. (Bold proclimation I know!) So as I've been getting some cds out of the deep storage...I've come across some truly wonderful music. Every day for a while I will post songs from some of my favorite bands that are now shaking off the cobwebs and dust bunnies.

First up:

Morphine, the Boston-based trio was an anomoly in rock n roll: a guitar-less band that kicked butt. All Music Guide praised the album Cure for Pain thusly: "unquestionably one of the best and most cutting-edge rock releases of the '90s." The band's music is best described as noir-ish, like the soundtrack to a series of Edward Hopper paintings. (Like this, this and this. These are two of my favorite Morphine songs. The album's title track is one of my top 10 songs of all time. Perhaps their best album, "Cure for Pain" is the best beginning point in discovering a great band.

Cure for Pain is a song about redemption, fulfillment and the crutches we use on the way there.
Mary Won't You Call My Name has some of the best use of rhythm in lyrics. The song tells a story with poetics, passion and a building pace.

Flaming Lips, Thievery Corp and ... Os Mutantes ?!!??

2006-04-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

Legend has it that Kurt Cobain asked Os Mutantes to reunite and supprt Nirvana on a tour. (What would have been one of the most awesome tours ever by the way!!) Sadly that never happened.

However!! On Sun. Jul 23 at 7:00 PM Os Mutantes will rock the Hollywood Bowl with the Flaming Lips and Thievery Corporation in an event sponsored by KCRW and their annual World Festival. "Take a trip with the explosive sounds of indie rock heroes, The Flaming Lips and the progressively trip hop of DC's Thievery Corporation." Considering the Lips appear on the latest Theivery Corporation album, could we see a major collaboration at the Bowl??

Recently the 1970s Os Mutantes album Technicolor was re-released. The original alubm was an attempt to re-record the band's best songs in an attempt to crack the American and European markets by adding English lyrics. Other Brazillian stars like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil would also release albums like this.

Listen:

Os Mutantes: She's My Shoo Shoo (A Minha Menina) and Bat Macumba
Thievery Corporation with Wayne Coyne: Marching the Hate Machines
Flaming Lips: Free Radicals

Music For America's Indie Night School @ Noise Pop this Sunday in SF

2006-04-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

I will be up in San Franciso tomorrow for Noise Pop 2006 which has included some really cool bands from the Flaming Lips to Brit Daniel of Spoon to Nettwerk's very own Submarines who did a stripped down boom box/sampler show with Jason Collette of Broken Social Scene last night.

This Sunday I will be moderating and participating in two panels hosted by one of my favorite organizations, Music For America as part of Noise Pop's Indie Night School which is designed to "explore the many aspects of running a band professionally and independently."

Alternative Ways to Get your Band Noticed (1-3:00)

Dan Droller, Music Director, Music For America
Dave Kostiner, Attorney, Attorney, Davis Shapiro Lewit Montone Hayes
Jamie Stewart, Xiu Xiu
Windy Chien, iTunes producer, former owner of Aquarius Records
Cecily Freyermuth, Corporate Counsel for Digital Music, RealNetworks
JT Griffith, Director, Film & Music, Nettwerk Music Group

Building a Brand Out of Your Band (3:30-5:00)

Nate Query, Decemberists
Hari Berrier, Zeitgeist Artist Management
Jonathan Wood, Product Manager for GoodStorm Inc
Adam Gothelf, AG Music Merchandising Co.
Carol Grey, Manager of Artist Relations at Cinderblock
JT Griffith, Director, Film & Music, Nettwerk Music Group

Come down and get your indie learn on!

Make Out Room

BART

BART station guide

nearest BART station

Goldspot - "Timebomb" Video

2006-03-30T18:13:00.000-08:00

This video is for one of my favorite Goldspot songs and the showstopper when played live. The Who-like guitar riffs ring out over and over signialling the culmination of another great concert. I think the song's theme of being on the, cusp, of a big moment is captured well in the video, but I also found it surprisingly touching.

Timebomb Video

Nacional Records Day at Barracuda

2006-03-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

Our new publishing and musical partners over at Nacional Records sent us this heads up:

Barracuda Goes Nacional
Good news for Los Angeles fashion and Latin-alternative music fans - popular Melrose boutique Barracuda is letting Nacional Records (label home to Nortec Collective , Aterciopelados , Mexican Institute of Sound) take over its store on Sunday, April 2nd for ‘Nacional Records Day’. From 12Noon – 6PM, DJ’s will be spinning the label’s artists and offering special CD and clothing giveaways. The event is FREE, so if you’re looking for a good excuse to take a stroll down Melrose, no te lo pierdas!
(Barracuda – 7600 Melrose Ave – Los Angeles)

Barracuda

Also check out two new Nacional artists we publish:

Sara Valenzuela
the Pinker Tones

MC Lars - Download This Video!

2006-03-24T19:00:00.000-08:00

If you don't know and love MC Lars and his Post Punk Laptop Rap yet, this song is perhaps the best introduction! It is very catchy, highly verbal, smartly political and culturally relevent -- just like MC Lars. "Download This Song" may be the first step towards the successful endgame when the RIAA no longer sues fans for downloading mp3s . The first Lars song I heard was Hurricane Fresh on a website a few years ago. (The lyric "I ripped one track in .mp3, till Lars Ulrich came after me" provided -- at the time -- the best call out of the RIAA's lame crack-down on Napster. It also started my boycott of Metallica.)

Download this video!

QuickTime Real Video or Windows Media

Disclosure: MC Lars is represented by Nettwerk Management and his new record The Graduate is distributed through Nettwerk Records. Last summer I connected MC Lars with Robert Greenwald and Lars wrote an original song for a documentary called Wal-Mart: The High Cost of a Low Price. Download his brilliant, incisive take on the issue: Wal-Mart Nation.

Ironically, you can buy MC Lars music at Wal-Mart's mp3 store but don't be a jerkoff. Buy it at iTunes or eMusic

RIYL: Bloodhound Gang, Barenaked Ladies or Bowling for Soup.

Mates of State - "Fraud in the 80s" video

2006-03-22T22:33:00.000-08:00

Mates of State rocked hard at SXSW in Austin and have an incredible new record that has gotten pretty good reviews from Pitchfork and All Music Guide. (Though, AMG, what up with the flawed Beach Boys reference in the last sentence??)

The new Mates of State video has some of the fun quirky qualities of the Jared Hess -directed Postal Service video for We Will Become Silhouettes and is well worth checking out: QuickTime or Windows Media

Listen to the whole album "Bring it Back" by checking out this E-Card Download the "Fraud in the 80s" MP3 .

Click here for more on what would might make Mike Love proud ...

New Band Alert: The Submarines

2006-03-20T23:00:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles's own the Submarines are one of my favorite new bands and their debut is finally out digitally. I'm absolutely in love everything about the Subs -- their music, the album art, and the band members (John Dragonetti -- aka Jack Drag -- and Blake Hazard). The Subs have a catchy, crunchy indie rock sound similar to the Postal Service or Stars. The album is good from start to finish and, upon close examination, has thematic threads throughout like a good concept record. The subject matter is the aftermath of a painful break up one that reveals the wonder of a second chance. Simply put this is a great debut record made by two great people absolutely deserving of support. So far KCRW (and Morning Becomes Eclectic!) is playing a bunch of Subs songs as is Indie 103.1 FM. XM's The Loft even named the Submarines album one of the Top 5 of 2005 even though the album isn't even out yet!

Ok so enough hype! Please check out these songs and if you like 'em please buy Declare a New State! Listen with headphones cause these songs are very well produced!

Brighter Discontent
Peace and Hate
Vote

Next concert: the Submarines are playing with Jason Collett of Broken Social Scene at Noise Pop in San Francisco at Cafe Du Nord at 9pm on March 31st.

Check out their My Space page. The Submarines are also one of Filter's Artists to Watch

Disclaimer: I work with the band at Nettwerk. But don't trust me...listen to the songs. I hope you love 'em too!

The Best Hamburger in Los Angeles Eat Off, Round #1: In-N-Out vs Johnny Rockets

2006-03-08T22:43:00.000-08:00

While right now I would vote for The Apple Pan or Pie n Burger as the best, the dominant choice for "Favorite Hamburger in Los Angeles" seems to be In-N-Out. While not a bad choice, the label best has to be reserved for #1, numero ono.

(Think the In-N-Out "secret menu" an urban myth? Loss leaders has uncovered the animal-style truth!!!)

And, speaking of animal style, Blogging.la , reports that Johnny Rockets has what I think is a new Boca Burger sandwich option and -- with sponsorship from PETA for Meatout 2006 no less -- is giving us the chance to try one for free! Ryan over at LosAnjealous coined the wonderful food term “pornographic”. And, if THIS In-N-Out item isn't “pornographic” I don't know what is!

Because Los Angeles needs an official delicious patty vs. delicious patty taste test, I declare the First Annual Best Hamburger in Los Angeles Eat Off open! So go try these two burgers this weekend -- Round 1 is meat vs. SOY and we will eventually crown the "Official Hamburger of Los Angeles." (For no other reason than it sounds fun, right??) What are the essential hamburgers in Los Angeles?? Please post your thoughts, reviews and suggestions here! Help me crown the "Superdongburger"!

To kick off a willful ignorance of Super Size Me's lessons, enjoy this great song (as heard in the film) "Rock N Roll McDonalds" by the late Wesley Willis. (I bought this song via iTunes but a free MP3 is on his label's website. Rock it like a magic kiss.)

Find a Johnny Rockets location or a In-N-Out location near you.

The Sound of LA @ Little Temple tonight!

2006-03-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the night. Plug Research is celebrating the release of the new 2 volume "The Sound of LA." at Little Temple. Daedelus and DJ Nobody (and many others) will be playing or spinning live. ($5 / 21+ / 10pm)

Download a new DJ Nobody track "All the Golden Fronts" from Vol. 2 which re-imagines the Van Dyke Parks song "All the Golden" from his brilliant album "Song Cycle." The Sound of LA Vol. 1 also includes the first new Dntel song in years (it's very good!). The compliations are great with standout tracks by Cut Chemist, Jermajesty, the Young Jazz Rebels (madlib side project). Buy The Sound of LA Vol. 1 and The Sound of LA Vol. 2 here.

SKETCHBOOK, PLUG RESEARCH AND DUBLAB PRESENT....
THE SOUND OF LA & IN THE LOOP 3 RECORD RELEASE PARTY!!!

Come celebrate these progressive vinyl offerings with a night of live performances & dj sets by:

LIVE:
DAEDELUS, FLYING LOTUS, BLACK MONK, RAS G, ERIC COLEMAN, SACRED, KUTMAH

DJ'S:
KUTMAH, COLEMAN, TAKE RENEAU AND SPECIAL GUEST DJ NOBODY

the Little Temple
4519 Santa Monica Blvd
Silverlake, 90029
323.660.4540
================

The Weepies - perform tonight at Hotel cafe (#1 iTunes in 5 countries!)

2006-03-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

Come out to the Hotel Cafe tonight for the record release party for the Weepies album "Say I Am You."

The Weepies are a new band I work with at Nettwerk. Their record is beautiful and when it was released digitally on iTunes over the holidays shot to #1 on iTunes in 5 countries, out-selling Damien Rice and Bob Dylan! Featuring the focus singles "Take It From Me" and "World Spins Madly On". The digital release led to the Weepies topping the charts as iTunes #1s in 5 Countries (even during the holidays!)

The wistful 3rd track, "World Spins Madly On" from the new album, can be heard in the upcoming Jennifer Aniston film, "Friends with Money", which opens the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. The Weepies have previously had tracks in Todd Solondz's Palindromes, and Nicole Holofcener's Lovely and Amazing.

Where: Hotel Cafe, 1623 1/2 Cahuenga Blvd.
When: Tuesday, March 7.
Time: 7pm Sharp!

You can hear music here:

Weepies Album

Best Original Song: And the Oscar goes to...

2006-03-05T11:45:00.000-08:00

As has been widely reported, this is only the SECOND year in Oscar history that only three (3!!) songs have been nominated for "Best Song." That is pathetic because I think there have been enough good songs written specifically for films in 2005 that were good enough to be nominated.

How about the Jarvis Cocker, Jonny Greenwood, Phil Selway, etc. song "Do the Hippogriff" from this year's Harry Potter film ? Or the Danny Elfman songs from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"?? The new Oompa Looma songs were seriously great. How about the Chantal Kreviazuk songs from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? Something is wrong with the qualification restrictions -- or the Academy if only three songs in all of filmmaking rise to the level of Oscar!

(Disclosure: my colleague Maria played a large role in getting the Dolly Parton song "Travelin' Through" on the "Transamerica" soundtrack which she helped produced and my employer Nettwerk Music Group released.)

If I had a vote...

Hustle and Flow -- "It's Hard Our Here for a Pimp" would win because it was the only song of the 3 nominees that was written for and about the story of the film. I would want to reward the diagetic use of songs because I think a) musicals have suffered a far too premature death and b) this type of use is much more creative overall than hiring a well-known songwriter or singer to write a song for an end title. Amazingly Three 6 Mafia will be the first hip hop group to perform a nominated song at the Oscars.

Hear Terrance Howard sing "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp"

Transamerica -- "Travelin' Through" WILL win which will certainly make a big difference to the film and to our soundtrack. I also think that she's a great and under-rated songwriter (she was previously nominated for "9 to 5"). Felicity Huffman's performance is likely and deserving to win. If I was a betting man i would bet on Transamerica to win. Check out our awesome e-card for Transamerica's Soundtrack .

Hear Dolly Parton sing "Travelin' Through"

Crash -- "In The Deep" would be hard for me to vote for. I loved this movie and the music was used very well. I can't vote at all much less for vote for 3 songs to win Oscar. Bird York has been working hard for years and this win would change her life. But sometimes it really is an honor just to be nominated.

Hear Bird York sing "In The Deep"

Other links:

NPR discussion on the dearth of this year's nominees

NPR interview with Terrance Howard on "Hustle and Flow" :

The Oscars? Tonight? Does LA Care ...?

2006-03-05T11:30:00.000-08:00

I get pissed off by generalities like this in the Chris Ayers weblog: "most Angelinos care about only one thing: getting into the right parties on Sunday night." WHAT? I disagree chap, I think most Angelinos hate rerouting their lives so blocks and blocks of their fair city are shut down starting 21 days before Oscar night to prevent al-Qaeda from blowing up Tom Cruise or Rachel Weisz. Most Angelinos don't have an Oscar expense account and don't get invited to anything more than a co-worker's Oscar party (um where was my invite this year?? I got the tux out and everything!) Me, I will be working during the Oscars as KCRW's "The Open Road" does not take a pit stop for any award's show.

THAT being said ... the Oscars are the ONLY award ceremony I care about. My first Oscar memory is of the show being on way past my bed time and my mom being very excited when she saw a star she cared about (Dianne Keaton, Fred Astaire, Johnny Carson, etc.). Her reaction to each of the winners (it may have been the Annie Hall Oscars) instilled in me a feeling that the Oscars celebrated some sort of artistic royalty. The Grammys are certifiably bullshit and meaningless (ignoring the Arcade Fire? Death Cab? Oh please...!) and the Emmys, do they even televise the Emmys anymore? The Oscars are LIVE in West Coast have the coolest trophy, the potential for the best speeches: Tom Hanks' or Bob Dylan's

So I'll be watching the Oscars on the TV in my SUV while I drink my haf-caf soy vanilla latte as I talk on the phone with my agent to decide, if arriving late, should I go to the Vanity Fair party first or Sir Elton's ... Damn! It always comes down to the gift bag. And you know Elton doesn't fool around with that! See you there. Ciao!

Petra Sounds "God Only Knows"

2006-03-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

Last year Petra Haden's a capella version of "The Who Sell Out" thrilled and delighted my friend Gary who is a huge Who fanatic. Petra's vocal-only reinterpretation of the Who's classic album was a concept-upon-a-concept and it worked brilliantly. I saw her 10 women choir performance at the LA Weekly Awards last year at the Henry Fonda and was blown away. However, I am only a moderate fan of the Who, but ... I would have been as ga-ga as Gary if I first heard what I hope will soon become "Petra Haden Sings: Pet Sounds"

"God Only Knows"

1966's Pet Sounds is deservedly one of the best America rock albums ever and "God Only Knows" is one of its strongest tracks. The original showcases a lead vocal from Carl Wilson and a playful French horn expressing a wistful lover's (slightly obsessive) plea for love and committment. Supposedly it is Paul McCartney's favorite song from the album he dubbed "the classic of the century." Petra's version is tastefully restrained yet packs an emotional whallop at times with the harmoies and tender vocals.

Hear Petra Haden and Mike Watt discuss how the Who idea came to be reality on KCRW's The Open Road.

Check out Petra's website for more music, including a version of Michael Jackson's Thriller

I found that cool Brian Wilson cartoon at "Toothpaste for Dinner which sounds like something Brian would eat.

The Sound of LA, Vol. 1 & 2 (New Dntel, Madlib, DJ Nobody tracks)

2006-03-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

Ryan at Plug Research hit me up about the record release happening for their new 2 volume compilation on Tuesday March 7th at Little Temple. Daedelus and DJ Nobody (and many others) will be playing or spinning live.

Download a new DJ Nobody track "All the Golden Fronts" from Vol. 2 which re-imagines the Van Dyke Parks song "All the Golden" from his brilliant album "Song Cycle." The Sound of LA Vol. 1 also includes the first new Dntel song in years (it's very good!). The compliations are great with standout tracks by Cut Chemist, Jermajesty, the Young Jazz Rebels (madlib side project). I just bought them both on iTunes and put them in one playlist that's perfect for today's sunny, 66 degree afternoon. Buy The Sound of LA Vol. 1 and The Sound of LA Vol. 2 here.

SKETCHBOOK, PLUG RESEARCH AND DUBLAB PRESENT....
THE SOUND OF LA & IN THE LOOP 3 RECORD RELEASE PARTY!!!

Come celebrate these progressive vinyl offerings with a night of live performances & dj sets by:

LIVE:
DAEDELUS
FLYING LOTUS
BLACK MONK
RAS G
ERIC COLEMAN
SACRED
KUTMAH

DJ'S:
KUTMAH
COLEMAN
TAKE
RENEAU
AND SPECIAL GUEST DJ NOBODY

check the records... http://www.plugresearch.com

DRINKS SPECIALS AND GIVE AWAY COURTESY OF PLUG RESEARCH!

$5 / 21+ / 10pm

the Little Temple
4519 Santa Monica Blvd
Silverlake, 90029
323.660.4540
================

Madonna at Coachella - confirmed!

2006-03-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

This is crazy...

See for yourself: Madonna is confirmed for Coachella 2006.

Madonna at Coachizzy sounds like a perfect way for the organizers to rally a slighty flat-lined interest in the headliners. The indie band component is pretty A+ but I'm not going to get out in the desert for some Tool and Depeche Mode. I've never seen Madonna live in concert before and I think it would be a trip ... however I remember 2 years ago when I couldn't even SEE THE TENT in which Beck played. Think you are going to "see" Madonna? No Way. Unless you miss every other band that day. Putting her in the dance tent is lame. She's way to freaking big of a star ... I predict a riot!

In all seriousness: is Coachella sponsored by VH-1? Who is on the bill next year? Wham and Midnight Oil? Bon Jovi?

The Spinto Band's Guest List Giveaway

2006-02-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

Download the Spinto Mask here!

The Spinto Band has devised a nifty way to get to see them on their current tour (partially in support of some band called Arctic Monkeys -- has anyone even heard of the Arctic Monkeys??):

"Hey Folks... We realize that perhaps you got screwed when you attempted to buy tickets to see us open for Arctic Monkeys in March. Well, here is an attempt to make a few people feel even better. We will be offering two guest list spots to the following show"s:

San Francisco Cafe Du Nord 3/12/06
Los Angeles Spaceland 3/14/06
Chicago Metro w/Arctic Monkeys (sold out) 3/18/06
Chicago Schubas 3/19/06
Toronto Phoenix Theatre w/ Arctic Monkeys (sold out) 3/21/06
Montreal Le Spectrum w/Arctic Monkeys (sold out) 3/22/06
Boston Paradise w/Arctic Monkeys (sold out) 3/23/06
Wash. DC 9:30 Club w/Arctic Monkeys (sold out) 3/27/06

Just follow these steps:

1. Download and Print your own Roy Spinto mask, which can be found here.
2. put the mask on.
3. Take a photograph of you or someone you love wearing the mask.
4. email the photograph to: spintoband@gmail.com

The spinto band will be judging the photographs, and the one they feel is the most original, interesting, and bodacious will win 2 GUEST LIST SPOTS. The deadline for the competition is March 10th, so get started!

Check out the band's MySpace site with some songs.

Aesthetic Apparatus Poster Retrospective & Reception Tonight!

2006-02-25T11:34:00.000-08:00

Subliminal Projects has invited the cool indie design team Aesthetic Apparatus to put on a retrospective of their indie rock poster design at 3780 Wilshire Blvd #210. The show runs from February 25 to March 25. But the kickoff reception is tonight Feb 25. The A.A. guys did a similar show recently in St. Paul, MN and showcased their 225 posters they've designed for the likes of Spoon, The Go Team, Josh Ritter, Stereolab, etc.

Check out video of the St. Paul retrospective to see what to expect. I have it on good authority too that Dan and Michael from Aesthetic Apparatus will be at the reception tonight.

Here's a map

Of Montreal videos

2006-02-25T11:32:00.000-08:00

Kevin Barnes continues to make yummy ear and eye candy!

Check out the new Of Montreal video for Requiem for OMM2

And the previous videos for So Begins Our Alabee , Wraith Pinned , and Disconnect the Dots

My favorite Los Angeles Song

2006-02-24T11:10:00.000-08:00

Download Los Angeles Blues . I would have included a link to buy the record from Amazon but it is not available! I bought a copy at Amoeba so I didn't think it was out of print...

The record is one Peggy's coolest concept records from the 1960's. Produced by Quincy Jones, "Blues Cross Country" is a set of upbeat blues about various American cities. Peggy Lee combines more general travel songs like "Come Fly With Me" with specific geographic standards like "Basin Street Blues," "St. Louis Blues," "I Left My Sugar (In Salt Lake City)," "Goin' to Chicago Blues" with original collaborations with Q on "Los Angeles Blues," "New York City Blues," and "The Train Blues." One thing that makes "Blues Cross Country" special is that Peggy Lee wrote lyrics for 4 songs on the record which was rare for a singer known more an interpereter of other's material ...

"Los Angeles Blues" is my favorite song about LA because the lyrics express that the City of Angels is the best city in the US of A and does so with a nostalgia that is especially touching in the year of the demolishing of the Ambassador:

Lyrics:
"If you have sunshine and beaches how can that be so hard?
And maybe oranges and grapefruit growing in your own back yard?
If you had mountains and the ocean and a great big smiling sky...?
There is very little that is blue here so the blues pass Los Angeles by.

Everybody has a BBQ. Everyone goin' swimming too.
With that kind of living how can you be blue?
You can go to a mountain and ski down the side.
You can go to the beach and take a surf board ride.
City Of the Angles has a lot of pride but the blues have passed it by!

And the folks are nice in the tropical clim' although they talk about the weather lots of the time.
They call it unusual if the rain comes down.
They don't believe in blues in this old town.

You can go to the desert in an hour or two.
Where the sun and sand are so good for you.
Where living's that easy how can you be blue. Yes the blues have past it by.
You can live in the valley where the grass is green.
Or you can live on a hill with a view to be seen.
People do say that on a real clear day you can see Catalina (though it's pretty far away).

Oh you can watch the Rams or Angels or Dodgers play on a sunny California smog-free day. If the boy's are winning it's easier to say that the blues have passed Los Angeles by!"

Mates of State - "Bring it Back" is best ever!

2006-02-23T10:46:00.000-08:00

The Mates of State are back with a steller new record following the great "All Day" EP. Kori and Jason's new CD will be released by the awesome indie Barsuk in March after putting out 2 records and 1 EP on Polyvinyl (one of Loss Leaders' favorite labels). The new collection of songs is their best so far. As I first listened to it I imagined I was finding a greatest hits album in a store where every song was new to me! "Bring it Back" is the first MOS record where the confluence of their strongest songwriting and more adventurous production exists on the same project. "Think Long" reminds me of a Phil Spector/Brian Wilson-esque anthem with a crunchy meoldy and a powerful chorus that is guarenteed to be the highlite of thier forthcoming live shows. "What it Means" "Like U Crazy" and "So Many Ways" are standout tracks. In a way the new record is to MOS as "Plans" is to Death Cab. Long time fans should be happy to hear a new album that progresses forward without deviating too far from a familiar sound. More importantly, "Bring it Back" is likely to be a well-deserved commercial breaththrough for MOS.

Download Fraud in the 80s from Barsuk. (Hint: reload the page after the error message.) This song sounds like a perfect climatic anthem for a John Hughes flick with a little sprinklings of Yo La Tengo and the Go-Gos. YUM!

Also go to their web site!

Ming Tea returns! (sort of) Susanna Hoffs / Matthew Sweet

2006-02-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs have teamed up for a primer of 1960s pop called UNDER THE COVERS VOL. 1 due out in April on Shout Factory! This is the first project they've colloborated on since teaming up to be Austin Powers’ on-screen band Ming Tea. For this project, however, they take the moniker Sid & Susie (at least online -- the record has their real names. Susanna and Matthew are two truly under-rated songwriters and performers and are scholars of the pop craft of the late 1960s. The tracklisting looks impressive too. A great compaion piece to Children of Nuggets , on which (it is NO coincidence) songs from both Matt and Sue appear.

Their MySpace page has full versions of 3 songs:

The Beatles' And Your Bird Can Sing
The Bee Gee's Run to Me
The Velvet Underground's Sunday Morning

1. I See The Rain (The Marmalade)
2. And Your Bird Can Sing (The Beatles)
3. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (Bob Dylan)
4. Who Knows Where The Time Goes? (Fairport Convention)
5. Cinnamon Girl (Neil Young And Crazy Horse)
6. Alone Again Or (Love)
7. Warmth Of The Sun (The Beach Boys)
8. Different Drum (The Stone Poneys)
9. The Kids Are Alright (The Who)
10. Sunday Morning (The Velvet Underground)
11. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (Neil Young And Crazy Horse)
12. Care Of Cell ..44 (The Zombies)
13. Monday Monday (The Mamas And The Papas)
14. She May Call You Up Tonight (The Left Banke)
15. Run To Me (The Bee Gees)

New Flaming Lips song!

2006-02-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

Last week I got a present in the mail -- one of those treats that makes me super glad I do what I do for a living: an adavnce of Flaming Lips' "At War with the Mystics." The cd is one of those super-protected, encoded numbers. Stereogum posted an MP3 of the "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" which the Lips performed for the second time at the wrap party for Adam Goldberg's film I Love Your Work for which Steve Drozd composed the score.

NME has details about the new Flaming Lips video and the official site confirms Lips appearances on both Saturday Night Live and Letterman as well as SXSW the home of their most creative experiments .

The first Lips record since Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, 'At War With The Mystics', will be released on 4 April 2006 in the US and 3 April 2006 in the UK.

"Stop Dancing and Cry" - a Violet Valentine at the Echo with Dntel, Nobody, etc.

2006-02-12T21:30:00.000-08:00

A night of DJs at the Echo (9pm / $5 / 18+)

with the Long Lost...and more morose musicians with depressing discos played by: Jimmy Tamborello, frosty, Nobody, Tommy DeNys. Free teardrop face painting...boohoo.

This sounds like a fun night out on Valentine's Day. Hit "The Strip" (eastside) and hear some great music by two of my favorite LA DJs (and a few more!), get a photobooth shot at the Shortstop, play a little Galaga... A night of technopop, poetic electronic moods and someone special? If you haven't heard Nobody's cover of the Flaming Lips "What is the Light" fix that now. My favorite Figurine song (one of Jimmy's projects) is sort of a Valentine's song: "Let's Make Our Love Song "

The Echo homepage
Dntel MySpace
Nobody's MySpace
Plug Research

Downtown: REDCAT, McSweeny's and The World Explained

2006-02-12T14:51:00.000-08:00

The exploration of downtown Los Angeles continues...

We took the Gold Line from our home station to Union Station and then the Red Line one stop to Civic Center to see the local premiere of McSweeny's "The World Explained" at the CalArts REDCAT theater. Disney Hall (the beautiful home of the REDCAT space) was visible from the station entrance but hunger called so we headed one block south and then 4 blocks east to the corner of 2nd and Werdin to Pitfire Pizza. The walk was pleasant and the streets were virtually empty. The well lit "Daily Planet" (City Hall) provides a nice point of orientation by the way. The Pitfire is a highly recommended spot for a downtown meal on a downtown trip like ours. Collectively we ordered three personal pizzas: BBQ chicken, Sausage and Veggie Deluxe. We also ordered pasta and a salad and, while they looked tasty, turned out to be less exciting than our pizza. The soda bar seemed like a good deal but there's also a good selection of Jones soda and pink lemonade. (Still no beer but a pending liquor license was posted in the window!) The bathrooms were clean, the staff was friendly and the clientele was a diverse mix of downtown denizens / families and nighttime visitors like us. The music was a fun mix of 80s and 90s (ok I can only remember one REM song. But it was enjoyable without being painfully hip. (Pitfire offers KCRW members a 15% discount and also one free entree after you buy 10.) Safe to say that we'll be back for our next downtown night on the town.

The McSweeny's show was awesome (though not without some slow parts and what seemed like an illadvised intermission) and was hosted / MC-ed by comedian Patton Oswald and included inspired musical interstitial by Jon Brion . The night began with two clips from McSweeny's new DVD video compilation including a brief visit by a Hovercraft and a Dutch performance artist who sings classic rock songs (in this case "Stairway to Heaven") but with an interesting twist. Satirical comic strip artist David Rees shared some of his new strips and his revelation that maybe -- because of Up-State NY grocery shopping and spacious truck space -- our invasion of Iraq was worth some young men's lives. Rees ended with a strip of alienated office workers who ride motorcycles around their offices prompting Jon Brion to do a great instrumental version of Gary Numan's "Cars." Other highlights included the editorial staff of Yeti Researcher discussing Teddy Roosevelt’s obsession with Sasquatch, Mike Colton recounting his coming of age with his mom (as heard on This American Life), and McSweeny's own Eli Horowitz leading the debut fashion show of plural / multi-user garmentry !

My favorite visiting scholar of the night was world renowned John Hodgman who discussed the history of the late great Furry Old Lobster with musical accompaniment by the brilliant andferall mountain man Jonathan Coulton. His web site includes a version of the song Furry Old Lobster

To top it off the event was a fundraiser for the LA chapter of the great non-profit writing / tutoring program 826 LA. FYI: other benefits happen from time to time at Largo.

Our night ended with a pleasant walk from Disney Hall through Little Tokyo to Union Station where we hopped the last train home, which is 12:52 am. (Seriously the MTA needs to re-extend service until 2:30 am so people can actually make use of downtown all night long.)

REDCAT directions / parking
REDCAT Theater at Disney Hall map
KCRW downtown restaurant discounts
Red Line Schedule
Gold Line Schedule
826 LA

Of Montreal - Polyvinyl re-releasing 3 albums

2006-02-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

Big ups to Matt and the crew at Polyvinyl for re-releasing THREE (3) out of print Of Montreal records previously on the now defunct Kindercore: The Bedside Drama: a Petite Tragedy, The Bird Who Continues to Eat..., and The Early Four Track Recordings. Each one is $10 but there is a Buy Three special for $25. One of my favorite bands also has a remix project in the works and is playing at the Echo this Saturday.

Buy tix to the Echo show:
Echo Tix - Saturday

Downloads tracks:

"Just Recently Lost Something of Importance "

"If I Faltered Slightly Twice"

"Dustin Hoffman Thinks About Eating The Soap"

Buy CDs

NPR did a good feature on the Sunlandic Twins album recently.

Listen to NPR's Feature

Of Montreal - official site

TV Alert: Weepies and Submarines on One Tree Hill

2006-02-02T00:37:00.000-08:00

Anyone see the Submarines and the Weepies on "One Tree Hill" last night?? Two of our bands at Nettwerk in one episode. Both songs were used in creative ways and were featured prominently. For those who think TV is selling out, the Weepies shot to the top of theiTunes charts -- #1 song and #1 album!

B.Fleischmann's new album

2006-02-02T00:12:00.000-08:00

The Humbucking Coil drops in Germany this month. The domestic is due in March. It's a fabulous electro pop dream.

"Static Crate" is a crunchy, melodic fuzzy gem. Listen to it:

Static Crate

Morr Music
B. Fleischmann home page

Welcome

2006-02-02T00:11:00.000-08:00

It took me a long time to get back into the online blog thing. I co-founded the webzine Jam! Online out of NYC in 1995. We did some cool features on indie bands and some major label alternative groups too. Our claim to fame was that we were one of the first to include online music files and were one of the first online "leaks" of a record when we posted two songs from the Sneaker Pimps. Those downloads nearly shut down our host server!

One of the issues that has kept me from launching a blog is some perfectionist desire to have some predetermined blog concept, a spiffy logo and generally an awesome, sexy blog from day one. Well, obviously, will is some growth here before Loss Leaders is the next Stereogum. And honestly, I'm not sure if I even aspire to that...

Loss Leaders will spotlight cool, new musical happenings in and from Los Angeles, California and will celebrate the special sounds and emerging talent from my hometown, the City of Angels. Occasionally some topics that my favorite blogs tackle will appear here too: yummy restaurants, the Dodgers, best bar jukeboxes, etc.

Richard Scarry rules.

BO!