LiquidGeneration Music

LiquidGeneration Interview: Quasi

Ah, here it is.  Your weekly-ish fix of in-depth journalism with only the highest standards.  Not Spin, or Rolling Stone, or even Pitchfork ask the hard hitting questions like we do here at LiquidGeneration.  I mean where else could you find out what type of food Sam Coomes of Quasi compares the band to?  And let me tell you, it's definitely not a steak.  So sit back, clear your mind of all impure thoughts and be bewildered by the LiquidGeneration e-mail Interview with Quasi.  But first, go to this post from Tuesday and download "The Rhino" from their new record When The Going Gets Dark out now on Touch & Go Records.  Enjoy!

LIQUIDGENERATION: Have you ever met a celebrity type (be it another musician, actor, producer or whatever) that was just a complete ass for no apparent reason?  If so, we would like to give you the opportunity to tell that person what you think of him/her.

QUASI: Ah jeez, I feel like if I just went talking shit about whoever for no good reason, just to be amusing or whatever, then I’d be just the sort of complete ass you’re referring to.  I’m not interested in celebrity types anyway.  Musicians in general I tend to get along with.

LG: So we hear that one of the key developments to the style of Quasi was the use of a Roxichord.  Since we here at the world renowned LiquidGeneration studios only use Casio Keyboards, could you please tell us exactly what a Roxichord is?  Oh I can’t resist, is it what Brian Eno plays on For Your Pleasure?

QUASI: I think, if I remember right, Eno more or less just twiddled knobs & made sound on those records, not really keyboard per se. You’re making a play on words.  I  heard the Dr. John song “Right Place Wrong Time” on the radio the other day, & that has a roxichord going all through it.  I run it through a fuzz box when I play it, but I don’t actually use it too much any more.

FRIDAY FEATURED BAND: VOXTROT

I caught about three songs of the Voxtrot set at the Stuff magazine party down at SXSW and I haven't been able to stop listening to them since.  They are one of those bands that slipped off my radar after one listen to their Raised By Wolves EP.  I remember liking it, but for some reason never made my way back to it.  I am glad that they're starting to get some hype, and for once Pitchfork was actually right...kinda.  Anyway, here's the title track from their new Ep titled Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives.  They definitely have a Belle & Sebastian meets the Smiths thing going on...more of the B&S on this track.  If you like it I suggest you check out the other EP as well.  For more music check out their MySpace page.  Enjoy!

Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives.mp3 (Link Expired)

FLAMING LIPS VIDEO

Go check out the new Flaming Lips video for "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" over at Yahoo! Music.

And while your watching stuff, check out all the indie rock on the TV last night.  Prefixblog has the Yeah Yeah Yeahs on Letterman, The Strokes on Leno and Jose Gonzalez on Conan.  Surprisingly I think the Strokes performance was the best of the three.  What say you?

Oh, and look how pretty Karen O looks!

LIVE: Lavender Diamond, Great Northern and Irving

Last night I went to the record release party for Irving at King King! in Hollywood.  It was the first  "big local" show that I've been to out here, and it was refreshing to see that while the music was entirely different, the feel of the show reminded me of a night in Chicago.  Everyone was in a band, everyone was into the show at times and then only half paying attention at other times, there was the one kinda creepy older guy that seemed to know everyone, the price of drinks changed every round depending on who ordered and everyone was drinking like it was their last night on Earth.  Now, I would have been happy just to sit there and join everyone else on what seemed to be a mission to puke, but as an added bonus I also got to see three good bands...

Lavender Diamond - I only caught about half their set, but what I saw was pretty fantastic.  It kind of reminded me of what Nico would sound like if she sang songs from the Wizard of Oz.  There was definitely a little bit of old country and maybe just a hint of granola in their sound as well.  Lead singer and primary songwriter Becky Stark has a voice that can't be described in words.  Let's just say it's a constant falsetto that never seems to become piercing or annoying.  Hear for yourself and check out their Cavalry of Light EP:

Lavender Diamond - You Broke My Heart.mp3 (Link Expired)

Great Northern - My favorite thing about Great Northern was the awesome synth strings they used in almost every song.  At first it seemed like a weird sound for them to be using in the type of songs they were playing, but the more I heard it the more it grew on me.  They are a five piece with two keyboards, bass, drums and guitar.  Live they had duel vocals from front-woman Rachel and guitarist Davey.  I posted an MP3 of theirs from the SXSW website and was happy I had a chance to check them out live.  For more downloads and stuff check out their MySpace page.

Irving - This was the band everyone came to see, and they did not disappoint.  I have only heard a couple of songs from Irving's studio stuff, but really enjoyed all the songs live.  They are "on the cusp" and you will probably be hearing/seeing more about them soon.  I know they are going to have a video on MTV2 debuting soon...I bet that made them happy.  Anyway, they have silly good harmonies and songs that remind you of summer.  Oh and the Farfisa.  I love the Farfisa.  Check out songs on their MySpace page and the video for their single "Situation" on their website.

The Heavy Blinkers...I'm really surry, eh.

I have never been the biggest fan of the Heavy Blinkers.  I have always enjoyed their music and thought that they were very capable musicians, but there was always something about them that just rubbed me the wrong way. 

Well I think I finally figured it out. 

I was listening to their new single called "Try Telling That to My Baby," and was actually really enjoying the sunny feel and ridiculously good arranging (as usual) when I happened to glance at their latest press photo.  Immediately the song lost a bit of it's bounce and I quickly started growing tired of it.  You see, the Heavy Blinkers just look too damn Canadian for me to really like them. I know, I am a bad person.  I shouldn't judge a band by how they look, and I usually don't.  If that were the case, then I would have never bought a single Ned's Atomic Dustbin record, when in fact I own three...yes I even bought a copy of Brainbloodvolume.  So ashamed.  I don't know what it is about the Heavy Blinkers, but something about the way they look just freaks me out!  Maybe it's the hair, but I'm thinking it's more because of the awkwardly huge amount of Canadianess they exude.  Of course if I were to judge the music simply on its own, then I would say you have to check out the new single and buy the new record, The Night And I Are Still So Young, out in May on Cooking Vinyl.  Here's an MP3:

The Heavy Blinkers - Telling My Baby.mp3 (Link Expired)

Oh, and here's the video (QUICKTIME)......if you can handle it!

Brothers and Sisters in Canada.  I love you all, and I totally know you know what I'm talking about...

LiquidGeneration Playlist: Love Thyself

We here at LiquidGeneration would like to present the first, in what we hope is a long line, of original Playlists.  Some of the songs you can download right here, and others you will have to go and find all by your lonesome.  If you have an idea for any type of Playlist, please comment or e-mail us and we will insert the data into the LG Super Computer and it will totally give us the best 10 songs ever made in regards to your suggestion.

Since LiquidGeneration picked up and moved from Chicago to Los Angeles, some of us have been a bit starved for, err, let's just say affection.  So, we can REALLY relate to these songs...

1. Devo - Praying Hands  (Link Expired) (Go Here!)

2. The Dresden Dolls - Coin-Operated Boy.mp3 (Link Expired) (Go Here!)

3. Roxy Music - In Every Dream Home a Heartache  (Link Expired) (Go Here!)

4. Dandy Warhols - Get Off.mp3  (Link Expired) (Go Here!)

5. Generation X - Kleenex (Link Expired)

6. Buzzcocks - Orgasm Addict.mp3 (Link Expired) (Go Here!)

7. The Futureheads - Man Ray (Link Expired) (Go Here!)

8. XTC - Pink Thing (Link Expired) (Go Here!)

9. Electric Six - Vibrator.mp3 (Link Expired)  (Go Here!)

And of course, a song you've all heard far too many times...but probably never really listened to:

10. Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun (Link Expired) (Go Here!)

SUMMER IN CHICAGO...LOTS OF ROCK TO BE HEARD

It's kinda weird how Chicago has become the epicenter for Summer Festivals, but I guess it makes sense in that it's sort of in the middle of the country and people there like to drink.  It's true.  I am one of them.  After all, location and liquor consumption are two of the most important elements of any festival, case in point Glastonbury.  People get so hammered there that they light plastic on fire and use it to cook sh*t.  Seriously.  Anyway back to Chicago.  This year there are three major festivals: Lollapalooza, Intonation curated by Vice Records and the Pitchfork Music Festival.  I know that last summer Pitchfork was behind the Intonation Festival (which was crazy successful) and I've been trying to get some dirt on why they went their own way this year, but have been unable to find anything (Please e-mail or comment if you have any info.).  I am just curious to hear from people that live in the Chicago area and in other cities, countries or planets about which festival they think is the most worthwhile?  Or if you think that none of them are really worth it.  Personally I think it's awesome for the City of Chicago, the "indie rock community," and the Music Industry as a whole that the traditional Festival is starting to make a come back.  You can check out the full lineups at the festival sites above, but here are some of the notable artists at each.

Intonation: The Streets, The Stills, Lady Sovereign, Bloc Party, Annie, Chromeo and Jon Brion.

Pitchfork: Spoon, Silver Jews, Yo La Tengo, The National, Ted Leo, Jens Lekman and Band of Horses

Lollapalooza: Kanye West, Wilco, Flaming Lips, Death Cab, Shins, Sonic Youth, Sleater-Kinney, Broken Social Scene, New Pornographers, Built to Spill, Andrew Bird, Stars, Blackalicious, Nada Surf, the Go! Team, Wolfmother, Hot Chip and way too many more.

Well I guess Lollapalooza has an unfair advantage, but I'm still curious to hear your thoughts on the whole festival idea in general.  Feel free to comment or e-mail me. 

TUESDAY MORNING TREATS

These are for you...because I care.

Television Personalities - She Can Stop Traffic.mp3 (Link Expired): This track is from the record My Dark Places, the first new LP from the Television Personalities in a decade.  If you don't know who they are, well, you should be ashamed of yourself.  (Hellooo, they were like totally Kurt Cobain's favorite band...or were they?) Anyway, you're here is to find out about the new and the old so here's a great site to get you edjumacated.

Margot & the Nuclear So & So's - On a Freezing Chicago Street.mp3 (Link Expired): I fell in love with this band at SXSW.  It is definitely a bit grandiose and maybe even slightly cheddar-ed, but I just can't help liking it.  Maybe it's the fact that it sounds like being in a new place for the first time...or does it sound like going back to a place you love.  Either way, it works for me.

Quasi - The Rhino.mp3 (Link Expired): The duo of Sam Commes and Janet Weiss have been at it since 1993 and don't show any signs of slowing down.  The latest record, When the Going Gets Dark, is out on Touch & Go as of last week.  Love that crazy piano...

LiquidGeneration Invades SXSW!

I know that SXSW was last week and it's already such old news, but over this past weekend our SXSW 2006 videos went live on LG.  The first video, SXSW 2006: The Music, is predictably all about the music and includes live footage from Snow Patrol, Magic Numbers, Shy Child, Metric, The Stills, Margot & the Nuclear So & So's, Guillemots, the Go! Team and more.  The second video, SXSW 2006: The Party, is pretty much myself and LG's very own Monkey wandering the streets of Austin, getting into trouble and being all around goof balls.  We hope to invade some of the Summer festivals this year and talk to many more of your favorite bands and make them make out with us!  You can check out the videos below...Enjoy!

LiquidGeneration Presents...SXSW 2006: The Music

LiquidGeneration Presents...SXSW 2006: The Party

NEW RELEASES - 03.28.06

There's not a whole lot of notable releases this week, but still a couple that you defintiely need to check out.  I fell in love with Margot & the Nuclear So and So's at SXSW last week, and their new record Dust of Retreat is my pick of the week.  Also give the new Ghostface Killah and Yeah Yeah Yeahs records a spin.  Enjoy!

Matt Costa - Songs We Sing (Brushfire Records)

Electric Light Orchestra - ELO 2 [EXP] [REMASTERED] (Sony)

The Cure - Pornography, Three Imaginary Boys, Faith [REMASTERED] (Elektra / WEA)

The Eternals - High Anxiety (Aesthetics Records)

Free Diamonds - There Should Be More Dancing (Deep Elm)

Ghostface Killah - Fishscale (Def Jam)

Giant Drag - Hearts & Unicorns [REISSUE] (Kickball)

Daniel Johnston & Hyperjinx Tricycle - Electric Ghost (Important)

Lost in Rhone - Beloved Be The Ones Who Sit Down (Good Life Recordings)

Bill Maher - New Rules: Polite Musings From a Timid Observer (Rhino)

Major Stars - Syntoptikon (Important)

Mammatus - Mammatus (Holy Mountain)

Roger Manning - Solid State Warrior [IMPORT] (Pony Canyon)

Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - Dust of Retreat (Artemis)

Morning Runner - Wilderness is Paradise Now [IMPORT] (EMI International)

People In Planes - As Far As the Eye Can See (Wind-Up)

Secondhand Stories - From the Talking Machine (Deep Elm)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones (Interscope)

Rob Zombie - Educated Horses (Geffen Records)

Chris Whitley - Reiter in (Red Parlor)