80's Remix: Somebody That I Used to Know

Among the literally dozens if not 100's of covers, remixes and parodies, this is a pretty damn good one.

I think partly per Somebody That I Used to Know has an 80's vibe and tone to it.

Also among others, it has often been compared to 80's Peter Gabriel.

Anyway, this is fun.

2017-2018 Calendar/Projected Anticipated [AS OF SPRING 2018]

4/18/18

April
13: Josh Rouse - Love in the Modern Age
June
15: Chromeo - Head Over Heels

4/7/18-4/9/18

June
22: The Sea Within - The Sea Within
May
25: Bend Sinister - Foolish Games
Shown on Cordova Bay Records

4/5/18

May
18: Dream the Electric Sleep - The Giants' Newground



10/15/17 12:51PM
I post an entry like this every year or maybe 2-4 times a year, etc.

So I'm not sure if I'll bump this, or just post a few more of these over the next 3-6 mos.

The intention is to EDIT it and bump it; not *STICKIE* it per I don't desire to have 1 entry stuck at the top.

At any case, as the news, announcements, and speculation for new albums come up, this list will have more titles.

If any of the names get bumped up to be released before Halloween, obviously it'll be removed/posted likely separately. But given it's October 15th, the odds of that are not too high.

November
17: Galactic Cowboys - Long Way Back to the Moon
30: Harakiri - Alchemy Choir

December
1: The Dear Hunter - All is as All Should Be [EP]
1: The Faceless - In Becoming a Ghost
1: Nicholas Krygovich - In an Open Field
1: U2 - Songs of Experience
8: Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs
8: The Gloomcatcher - Blade in the Belfry [EP]
16: Greg Herriges / StellaRoma - Revel and Ritual
Esperanza Spalding - Exposure (+Undeveloped)

January and later:

January
12: Typhoon - Offerings
12: Umphrey's McGee - it's not us 
18: Cloud Cult - The Great Alone (OST, instrumental)
26: In Vain - Currents
26: Orphaned Land - Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs

February
2: Field Music - Open Here
2: Long Distance Calling - Boundless
23: Gleb Kolyadin - Gleb Kolyadin
23: Grimus - Unmanageable Species

March
9: Between the Buried and Me - Automata I
9: Jeremy Messersmith - Late Stage Capitalism
15: Fjokra - Evening Lights [1B]
16: The Decemberists - I'll Be Your Girl


April
6: The Family Crest - The War: Act I
13: Kindo - Happy However After
20: Kimbra - Primal Heart
21: Inferi - Revenant
27: God is an Astronaut - Epitaph
27: Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer

April 2018-April 2019
Dirt Poor Robins - TBA 1 song per month
Josh King - Into the Blue (singer from House of Fools) 

May
18: Dream the Electric Sleep - The Giants' Newground
25: Spock's Beard - Noise Floor
25: Bend Sinister - Foolish Games 

June
15: Chromeo - Head Over Heels
22: The Sea Within - The Sea Within

Confirmed Titles:
Antemasque - Saddle on the Atom Bomb
Between the Buried and Me - Automata II
Chic - It's About Time
Joey Eppard - Word to the Wise
Fish - Weltschmerz
Ours - Spectacular Sight
Sculptured - The Liminal Phase
Tears for Fears - The Tipping Point

Confirmed/Likely to be Released (but no Title or Release Date Yet)

Flying Colors
Foals
For the Imperium
Genders
Gotye
Imogen Heap
Lehto and Wright
Live
Native Construct
Neverending White Lights
Shelter Red
Soundscape
Tiny Giant
Vennart

------------------------------

*speculation/hope*

Bruce Peninsula
Chroma Key
Disillusion
dredg
East of the Wall
Extreme
Fjokra
Jazzkamikaze
Journal
Karnivool
Spencer Ludwig
Pepe Deluxe
Red Paintings, The
Jessy Ribordy new band/project
Sigur Rós
System of a Down


I'll believe it when I hold it in my hand

Guns N Roses
Tool

The Basics - The Age of Entitlement (2014-2015) (Gotye)

New album actually released tomorrow August 14th from Gotye's band The Basics. I remember liking some of their music when I checked them out back in 2011. Not as much as his solo stuff of course, but regardless. The track below "Roundabout," posted in July, is pretty catchy.



1. Whatever Happened To The Working Class?   3:31
2. A Coward's Prayer   4:49
3. Roundabout   2:57
4. Time Poor   2:24
5. Good Times, Sunshine!   2:38
6. Every Part Of Me   3:20
7. To Think Of You   2:54
8. Ashleigh Wakes   3:25
9. Tunaomba Saidia   3:37
10. Hey Rain!   3:50
11. Feels Like Love   5:13


12. I'm A Woman (Waterfront bonus track) 3:34
13. Gimme Some Lovin' (Live at the Corner Hotel) (Waterfront bonus track) 3:09
14. Jailbreak (Live at the Corner Hotel) (Waterfront bonus track) 5:32
15. Call It Rhythm & Blues (Live at the Corner Hotel) (Waterfront bonus track) 4:04
16. My Old Mate (iTunes bonus track) 3:07
17. The Lucky Country (Live from the Truck) (iTunes bonus track) 4:06



August 14th is a pretty busy day for new albums:

The Basics
Miracles of  Modern Science
Mother Falcon
Dead Letter Circus

Kimbra: The Song that Changed Her Life (from The Mars Volta)

"Cicatriz E.S.P."..not a bad choice/explanation from her. I also like the fact she mentions later getting into bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Genesis.

Now if only a lot more of her fanbase would seek out The Volta and some others, I probably wouldn't feel like I'm weird for suggesting Kimbra is for people who love progressive rock.

This podcast of a kind, I'd be curious on who else has appeared, namely in music.

CAN ANYTHING BE DONE ABOUT ONLINE TICKET SCALPERS????

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ticket-Scalpers-Suck/173144312767873

this post I made on mp.com is probably worth sharing again. Not that the Varsity Theater really has any concern about it, but it doesn't change the fact something should be able to be done about it, and it likely never will.

I really LOATHE the way some of these concerts, the ticket sales get BOGARTED by the SCALPERS and all the tickets are sold out in 10 Minutes, and then soon after put up on sites like Stubhub.com for 2, 3 or as much as 6 or 7 times the cost.

The Venues don't seem to care since they are still selling out their shows.

It happened last year for the Gotye shows (in Minneapolis among other towns), and it just happened with Fitz & the Tantrums. The venue, The Varsity Theater, usually sells some tickets via their sister club, The Loring Pasta Bar. But they decided to make the Fitz & the Tantrums concert on June 17th, an ALL-INTERNET sale show. Tickets went on sale on the Ticketfly.com link to their site, and they were totally SOLD OUT in 10 MINUTES. I find this out on Saturday when trying to buy tickets in person at both The Loring Pasta Bar and another Ticket outlet, the record store, The Electric Fetus. I then check Stubhub.com and find 82 different tickets being sold on that site for the show ranging in prices from $72-$155 PER TICKET, which were sold on TICKETFLY for $25-$35.

Something should be done about this unfair system for selling tickets. But other than Presales, I'm not sure what. SCALPERS have gotten away with this BS for decades, and it never seems to end.

"Somebodies: A YouTube Orchestra" (a remix of covers of the Gotye song)

This ain't bad, at least in spots. But I will repeat as I have in the past a few things.

1) The Walk off the Earth cover, which is likely still pathetically, the most viewed/known cover of this song, is probably the worst (and the most pretentious to not only hear, but WATCH)

2) This is great and everything, but like Walk off the Earth, it would impress me and I'm sure a lot of others, if these artists would actually show some evidence of being able to write their own original songs 1st and foremost. And for that matter, use the time they spent recording the cover, to try and write an original song instead.

3) The man's name still should be learned how to be pronounced correctly. It's "Gore-Tih-Yuh." or "Gore-tih-Yeah" (or at least "Gore-tih-Yay," instead of "Goh-tee-yay" how seemingly 90% or more of the globe says it). But the odds of this ever happening now are minimal at best.

4) I'm not sure on why this is being referred to as a "YouTube Orchestra." I guess maybe if it were "The YouTube Orchestra" that might be worse, because my cousin is a violinist who actually auditioned (and performed with/had his work included in-with a recording for) what was referred to as "The YouTube Orchestra" not that long ago. And I'm pretty sure many if not all of the clips from this remix of covers are not members of said "YouTube Orchestra." But that is just a guess, maybe primarily based on the kinds of groups my cousin typically has played with. And how "The YouTube Orchestra" he was involved with, was somewhat exclusive if I recall.

That all being said, I will admit to actually being curious about a couple of these. The 1 female vocalist at the end, genuinely sounds like she has a good voice. And even the guitarist shown whose clip follows her I'm curious about.

Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know (Star Wars Parody)

535,000 hits in 2 DAYS?, LOL

This is worth sharing (as I am), and it does have some Weird Al-ishness to it in a Star Wars-Fan/SciFi-nerd/DVD-nerd kind of way. But that number of hits in 2 days? Rather pathetic. It doesn't take much (despite how much time/money/resources etc this required to make) to get attention.

Also, they should have got Chad Vader to appear.

Kimbra September/October 2012 NA Tour (w/ Stepkids)

http://www.kimbramusic.com/news/headlining-tour-announced

Kimbra has announced her first- ever headlining tour of US and Canada! The month- long run kicks off September 25th in Vancouver, BC and runs through to October 27th in Toronto, ON. The Stepkids will support. Ticket on- sales begin Friday, June 15th.

Headline Tour Dates:
Sept 25 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
Sept 26 – Showbox @ the Market – Seattle, WA
Sept 27 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
Sept 29 – Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mountain View, CA
Sept 30 – Majestic Ventura Theater – Ventura, CA
Oct 03 – Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
Oct 05 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
Oct 09 – The Depot - Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 10 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO
Oct 12 – Verizon Theatre – Grand Prairie, TX
Oct 14 – Austin City Limits – Austin, TX
Oct 16 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN
Oct 17 – Metro – Chicago, IL
Oct 20 – Webster Hall – New York, NY
Oct 21 – Theater of the Living Arts –Philadelphia, PA
Oct 23 - 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
Oct 24 – Royale Nightclub – Boston, MA
Oct 26 – Corona Theatre – Montreal, QC
Oct 27 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON

Tuesday evening October 16th in Minneapolis at The Varsity. Stepkids open. If only Ramona Falls could also join the bill. Of course I just saw and enjoyed Stepkids open for Mayer Hawthorne.

link for the Minneapolis show

I just came up with 2 potential plans for avoiding the pathetic situation that occurred last winter with the scalpers for the Gotye show with Kimbra. And it will involve me leaving work for a short period of time this friday, hehe.

Kimbra: More Videos

It's amazing how much stuff there is on Youtube that you don't know about.

This 1st video is from Australia's version of 20/20 is rather in-depth, although there is not much about her music specifically, but it's more of a getting-to-know background kind of thing. Interesting about her manager not only discovering her 4 years ago, but more or less INVESTING in her financially, which I would guess should pay off now, given her success already. But that is kind of a bold move, although perhaps he's done that with others that didn't quite work out.

Also nice to see some comments from Gotye about Kimbra. I haven't really seen much about his thoughts of her music and album, so that was nice.

Her rapport with the interviewer, a Diane Sawyer-type, wasn't bad although it did seem she was digging for any kind of dirt. But perhaps this appearance, which shows multiple occasions of meeting and interviewing Kimbra, might lead to follow-ups.




These videos below, frankly, don't really resemble the Kimbra that most people know or are getting to know. The 1st one is an appearance she made from some group called Miami Horror. It's not a terrible tune, and I'm not certain if it's Kimbra portraying both female singers in the video, as the 1st one doesn't look exactly like her. Also the electronic effects on this song might be it's worst aspect.



These two are videos from her singer/songwriter phase, which as 1 person posted on youtube, basically sound like cookie-cutter Adult-contemporary kind of stuff ala Natalie Merchant or even Sheryl Crow a little. I honestly was bored by them, other than a few moments. It wouldn't surprise me Kimbra sees those and kind of laughs herself, as I watched a video of her from last year having her talk about her older music sounding like a lot of other music, whereas the last couple of years, her new music has given her her own voice.

Also interesting on how the guy in 1 of them resembles like a younger Gotye a bit, which is kind of funny.

But I suppose down the road for the hardcores like I am/may be, these songs will not be forgotten, especially tracing the evolution of her music's sound.

Mayer Hawthorne

I'm sure many people know the experience of a significant other and their favorite band/singer etc. Well for me, I didn't really until I started seeing someone a little over a year ago. My girlfriend's favorite musician of all-time is Michael Nesmith, and her favorite band more or less of all-time is The Monkees.

But being that she is a music-head like myself, she has plenty of other favorites. And I'm not sure how long it has been, but at least within the last year, her favorite modern artist is this new Blue-Eyed Soul singer/songwriter/dj etc Mayer Hawthorne.

Now, I checked out Mayer's music out last year, specifically his new record How Do You Do, and while I didn't find it bad, I also didn't hear the genius behind it like she did. For one, his vocals at times, almost sounded like Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers. Which, I don't hate, but again, don't find a lot of motivation to go back to.

But in hearing more of his music, and revisiting some of the How Do You Do tunes, I suppose that specific side to his sound, is limited.

Last Fall, my girlfriend attended the concert at First Ave in Minneapolis that Mayer Hawthorne opened for Chromeo, another band she recently got into. Not as much as Mayer, but definitely one that I continue to hear around her, and also not a band I mind, but also don't find addictive up to this point.

Following that concert, she kept reminding me how it was the best show of the year, and how I missed out. And I did feel bad for missing it, but I sort of was having to pick and choose between something like 6 shows in 10 days, and it ended up being one of the shows I skipped in that short window of time.

She talked about how great Mayer was, how everyone danced, and how Mayer requested they dance, otherwise they didn't have any business coming. And later, she got to meet him not once, but twice at his Merch Booth. Including mentioning to him how I couldn't make it, lol. I suppose that part sort of hit me worse than missing the show.

So, the next time he came here, I really had NO CHOICE but to attend. And that show was last Friday evening, at First Ave again. A concert, a bit like the recent Gotye/Kimbra concert in Minneapolis at Epic (moved from The Varsity Theater), where the demand for tickets got so big, it had to move venues, from The Fine Line to the Mainroom at First Ave.

Luckily, I and my girlfriend (along with a good friend of hers) purchased tickets to this show right when they went on sale in February. Because this show sold out pretty fast, largely in part to the nature of radio stations like 89.3 and Cities 97, pimping it and a few of Mayer's singles to their hipster (sheep-ish) audience.

The crowd demographic reflected that to a large extent, as in observing the difference from the concert last fall, the people who went to the show on Friday night were not the R&B/Soul/Dance loving crowd that apparently were at the show last Fall. Which, I suppose ultimately shouldn't matter, as long as the concert and performance of the music is good. But sadly, Mayer has become Hipster to extent, so much so, I told my girlfriend about how I was reminded of the experience where "my little band isn't MY band anymore" with the likes of Local Natives and Warpaint to an extent.

And Mayer actually never came out to meet the fans, as far as we knew, after the show. Why? My girlfriend and I could only guess due to time. In fairness, we didn't hang around for hours; but it definitely seemed a little different from the other shows she had seen him.

The show itself though, I'd say more than lived up to the hype and expectations. His songs and namely his BAND are really worth the price of admission. They are a very TIGHT group live. The grooves were groovier, the playing is rather energetic, and Mayer does play to the crowd quite well. Although it's noteworthy how at times, he does sound like the DJ he is, just in his voice and vernacular.

But he's Caucasian, and perhaps even Jewish, 2 things I share in common with him among others, which is an ongoing (and maybe always will be) thing to smirk about with my girlfriend. Although she connects with him in a number of things as well, outside of his music; such as Thrift Store shopping, Food exploration and his love of Vinyl/Vinyl shopping. Along with just his background with music and love of Soul and R&B. Including for example Hall & Oates, another Blue-Eyed Soul Artist, whom Mayer covered "You Make My Dreams Come True." And I'll fully admit, I thought was a Billy Joel tune when I heard Mayer go into it, but I was of course corrected immediately by my girlfriend. Although, I'm pretty certain Billy Joel has a tune that is rather similar to it, but I can't come up with at the moment.

I'd surmise this show only had maybe 2 or 3 songs that lost me, which I believe were ballads. But even some of the ballads eventually I ended up enjoying. I more or less concluded Mayer Hawthorne is a superior live performer, than his studio work. Although I probably need to revisit his recordings again, after enjoying this show as much as I did.

He even performed what sounded like a new tune, that sounded like one of the lyrics in the chorus were "I'm on Fire." In glancing at a set list, the song I'm thinking of may have been the single "Love in Motion" by an artist named Sebastian, Mayer was featured on last year. It seemed to be funkier than anything else of the evening. I told my girlfriend, it almost sounded like Prince's song "Kiss" at times.

Although I'm not certain the track with the lyrics which sound like "I'm on Fire," may not have been another tune. But among the set list posted below, that's the only song not on either of his LPs.


Mayer is not Prog, nor Metal of course, and not really College-Rock either. Yet, he does seem to blend a bunch of styles simultaneously, without ripping any artist off. He receives the 60's Soul or Motown tag a lot, and he is from Detroit originally, so that almost makes sense. But there's also something uniquely modern about his songs.

I suppose he's pulling off, in some different ways, what Pepe Deluxé, Janelle Monáe, Kimbra and some others are, by paying homage to his elders and older influences, but still not sounding exactly derivative.

Plus the songwriting along with his band, are things that make his music more endearing to me, and why I can't avoid saying I'm looking forward to not only seeing him live again, but what he records next. Perhaps he'll even collaborate with some of them; Janelle I know he's a fan of anyway.

This is a set list taken from the Detroit show last Tuesday, and I'm pretty sure this is nearly the same (if not the same).

You Called Me
Make Her Mine
Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin'
The Walk
One Track Mind
Love In Motion
No Strings
Shiny & New
Dreaming
You Make My Dreams Come True (Hall & Oates)
A Long Time
Finally Falling
Green Eyed Love
A Strange Arrangement
Just Ain't Gonna Work Out
Hooked
The Ills

Encore:
Maybe So, Maybe No
Henny & Gingerale

"Henny & Gingerale" may have been the biggest highlight of the show, as I and I imagine many others in the crowd, kind of felt we didn't want it to end. We wanted Mayer to stay and perform longer. That is one of those great live tunes, where all the band members got to jam a bit (but not excessively), so much so, I think it could have gone on for 10 or 20 minutes and not felt too long. The flow of it just works incredibly well live.

Mayer claims First Ave is his favorite venue in America to play, and I get the sense he may enjoy coming to play in Minnesota, more than some other towns. A bit like Fair to Midland perhaps in that sense. Why? maybe our History with Prince, The Time and the recent hip-hop scene here. He even has come and DJ-ed at First Ave, as that is actually his background. And it wasn't a tour, but just a one-off event of sorts I guess.

But depending how big he gets, and how much 89.3 and the Hipsters latch on to him, it may dictate how eventful his shows will become. We'll see if the *new-ness* factor wears off and maybe his crowd goes back to being more Soul fans like my girlfriend, and less flavor-of-the-month groupies that seemed to be the jist of the population on Friday night.



It's also probably worth adding The Stepkids opened, and were actually pretty interesting. They had a rather surreal, trippy color/lighting background, sort of in the Pink Floyd or you name your psychedelic/dreamy/space-rock approach. I was reminded of a few groups in watching them, namely The Besnard Lakes and School of Seven Bells and White Denim (the last bluesy/riffy/jammy tune especially). And I think seeing them in the settings I've seen those other groups I mentioned, where it may be more intimate and less spread out, might enhance how dreamy/trippy of an effect their music could have live. If they comeback and play say The Turf Club or Triple Rock, I'll definitely be interested to see them in a smaller environment.

Coheed and Cambria - "Somebody That I Used to Know" live 4/29/12

Go to about 9:15 into the video.



Despite the quality, I actually really like this cover. It's a different take on the tune really. To me, THIS is how you do a COVER. You take the basic melody or something that stands out about the song, and change it enough to distinguish it from the original. But it still captures what is great about the original at the same time.

Perhaps it doesn't hurt hearing Claudio Sanchez sing the parts instead of how many wannabes on Youtube (including of course that flash-in-the-pan Walk Off the Earth's version, which I think I've said it before but it bares repeating. Maybe consider posting a video of one your own songs, instead of creating some kind of attention-seeking video, that sadly, has become almost more known than the original video and song itself).

It also is interesting this is from their 1st concert with their new lineup (new bassist Zach Cooper, and Josh Eppard back on drums..I could be wrong, but I think this is his 1st show since rejoining the band).

Gotye with Kimbra on Jimmy Kimmel Live 2/1/2012

Great performance. My biggest issue though continues with the lack of notice and appreciation of Kimbra. I guess it should be worth thinking about that until after her tour with Gotye is over. But if she doesn't start to blow up then and at the point when Vows comes out, then all my efforts seem to be somewhat of a waste, and I was pretty much wrong. But until then, the people not recognizing her music, or not even thinking to check it out after seeing her with Gotye are either missing something, or just lazy.

Maybe it's the wrong crowd. Maybe she needs to be with Janelle Monáe or a Nina Simone tribute or something. lol.

Kimbra supporting Gotye this Spring in the US

story

Kimbra to join Gotye on US tour

31 January 2012

by Shannon Andreucci

That haunting cameo appearance in Gotye’s multi-platinum smash hit Somebody That I Used To Know has got to be the best career move Kimbra ever made for herself. The 21-year-old singer-songwriter has just been invited to tour the US in support of the man of the moment himself, Gotye.

The nationwide run kicks off in late March and will see the pair embark on a 14-show stint through the States, not too long after their highly coveted slot on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show goes to air. 

Kimbra is also locked in to perform at the SXSW Music Conference in Austin, TX prior to the spring tour.

Originally from New Zealand, Kimbra Johnson has been spinning her jazz-inflected pop magic since the age of 14. She first made her mark on the Australian scene with debut album Vows, which spawned three hit singles, platinum status and won an ARIA Award for Best Female Artist.

But it was her arresting vocals on the chart-topping Gotye track that has propelled her onto the international stage. The video clip forSomebody That I Used To Know currently enjoys over 54 million views and is climbing the US radio charts at enviable speed.

Gotye -- 2012 North American Tour Dates
February 2 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey
February 6 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
March 22 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club 
March 23 Philadelphia, PA @ TLA 
March 27 New York, NY @ Webster Hall 
March 29 Boston, MA @ Paradise 
March 30 Montreal, QB @ Corona Theatre
March 31 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre 
April 3 Chicago, IL @ Park West
April 4 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre 
April 6 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre 
April 8 Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre 
April 10 Seattle @ Neptune 
April 11 Portland, OR @ (venue TBA)
April 12 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent


Absolutely no fucking way will I miss this (April 4th in Minneapolis) show even more now.

FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First Ave, get your heads out of your ass and move this fucking show to YOUR MAINROOM so those who don't have a ticket (who deserve one) can still buy one, thanks to the scum of the music industry in

trying to sell a bunch of tickets between $119-$200 here and for $223 and $225 here
and others
$223 and $225 here
$221 and $223 here
$229 and $231 here
$218 and $220 here
$220 and $222 here
$223 and $225 here

despicable filth of the music industry. But I have a few plans already to acquire a ticket, likely before the day of the show now.

First Ave should try and move this show to THEIR MAIN ROOM now, even more so. I know there's another show on April 4th, an arttist named Lucero. But perhaps they could have an ALL-AGES SHOW start around 5PM and have enough time to still get the Lucero show in. There's MORE THAN ENOUGH DEMAND for the tickets. If by some miracle it happens, those douche-scalpers better not pull off this same bogarting shit again.

Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know (Sound Opinions MB Blurb)

#11 2011 Singles Poll

Post



"This song (and its consecutive video) will become your everything."

That sentence was the first thing I saw about this song on another message board one day last August. I had never heard of Gotye, but this song immediately caught my attention. The chorus is one of those rare examples of an Earworm that is so strong, it lasts for hours if not days later in your head.

"But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know"

Through listening to this song and watching the striking video (which reminds me of among others, Peter Gabriel), it became something I almost had no choice but to keep going back to. And subsequently pass along to as many places online as I could. This song was just too good not to share. And in those 4+ months since, the interest or even addiction to it has seemingly spread exponentially. So much so, there's a cover of it here that seems to be all the rage on Youtube, Facebook and many other sites right now.

Lyrically, this song drew myself and many others in, with what could be interpreted as a classic story of the lonely man thinking about how things ended with his ex-girlfriend. He's still contemplating with the fact he screwed up and will never get her back, even just as a friend. The two-perspective idea is used with the female vocal explaining, as much as she may still miss him, he screwed up, likely due to infidelity, and that is why she is now just someone he only used to know (but doesn't know anymore, by her cutting off contact with him).

The story seems to channel the drama that I'm sure has ensued, with countless examples, between two people in a relationship, in many cases online (changing a facebook status and un-friending someone perhaps?), or in direct, personal situations. It does have that sad, regrettable tone to it. Which as Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree has often said "I always find the saddest music is also the most beautiful," and I think this song being as sad as it is, is that way.

"Somebody That I Used to Know," while it has introduced the globe seemingly, to Gotye, is as significant for exposing how talented a musician he is, as it is introducing the globe to Kimbra as well. Although Gotye's music has been and may still be in the future, pigeon-holed from this one song. Over some time, at least enough people should come to discover his other music isn't really like this one song all that much. And that this song, while as impressive, addictive, inspiring, emotional, therapeutic as it is to many, is not exactly representative of the sound on Making Mirrors, nor Gotye's past work, namely the somewhat successful Like Drawing Blood from 2006.

Regardless, it (and the video for it) will be thought-of as one of the most popular songs from 2011. Whether it remains Gotye's one and only hit the rest of his career is unclear, but it is definitely a case of a rather talented artist, regardless of how arty or pretentious they may come across, creating something that appealed to the masses. Plenty of other examples have justifiably done this, and failed to reach that wide an audience. But I suppose it does hold hope for others, even when the statistics don't seem to suggest it's very likely to happen.

Gotye - State of the Art (Video)

pretty slickly animated video. This song is great, and hopefully the lemmings finally catching on to Gotye, who I have been into since August by the way, will recognize songs like this represent his style of music and art a lot better than "Somebody That I Used to Know" (or some lame cover a band uses to get attention they don't really deserve)

Gotye Spring 2012 North American Tour

more dates likely to follow if you notice the gap in the dates in February.

Gotye -- 2012 North American Tour Dates
February 2 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey
February 6 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
March 22 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
March 23 Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
March 27 New York, NY @ Webster Hall
March 29 Boston, MA @ Paradise
March 30 Montreal, QB @ Corona Theatre
March 31 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
April 3 Chicago, IL @ Park West
April 4 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre
April 6 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
April 8 Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
April 10 Seattle @ Neptune
April 11 Portland, OR @ (venue TBA)
April 12 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent

fuck yeah, April 4th, Varsity. But of course, 89.3 The Hipster and 1st Crapenue will probably put their foot into this show, but so be it. Maybe a 2012 North American tour for Kimbra will follow and she'll be at The Varsity as well.

edit: fucker is SOLD OUT already, as I am noticing they may have gone on sale as early as December 7th. I don't care, I will go down to the show and do everything I can to find my way in. Perhaps tickets like that will end up on tickethub.com

edit 2: yeah, except some douche here wants $237 and $239 PER TICKET for them, lol.

edit 3: and some idiot is also selling them on Stubhub.com between $98 and $250.

LOL, it's pretty obvious this is 1 or 2 buffoons who realized "Somebody That I Used to Know" is getting played on 89.3 The Hipster and online everywhere, and bought between 20-50 tickets for this show to make a sizable profit. I anticipate seeing said SCALPER and offering him what I typically do outside shows when I don't have a ticket. Gotye is big, but not $98 or $250 BIG, LOL. Why the FUCK is the show being held at The Varsity Theater and Not 1st Crapenue in the 1st Place???

I guess if I end up getting into the show, at my only acceptable price or less, it won't matter. But this is definitely case of the pathetic process of Ticket Scalping. Why I do I suspect said douche ended up buying those 50 or more tickets right when they went on sale. And I'm sure I'm hardly the 1st person interested in seeing this show that couldn't buy a ticket due to this piece-of-shit-who-has-no-interest-in-the-show-to-begin-with, bogarting the tickets for his own greedy interests.


There is 89.3 The Hipster's giveaways (and maybe Radio K if they might get their head out of their ass and start playing Gotye), along with the obvious going-down-to-the-show and looking for someone with extras.

But this does kind of piss me off, a) I didn't realize this show was coming here, b) And now that I do, it already sold out. And there's a chance it may get moved to 1st Crapenue, although at least if it did, I'd be able to purchase a ticket now, as much as it pains me to be feeding 1st Crapenue, I want to see this guy live.

edit 4: and another explanation as to how/why this is already sold out: 1st Crapenue listed it and all the lemming Hipsters flocked.

edit 5: I'm not actually sure when tickets went on sale, as one or two things google pulled up suggested they may not have been available until this past week (January 4th). But in looking at First Ave's schedule, they have some group called Lucero scheduled on April 4th for the Mainroom at 8PM. Perhaps Gotye could get rescheduled and play earlier like an all-ages show at 5 or even 6PM. Otherwise, unless the venue is under the First-Ave umbrella (i.e. not places like The Pantages Theater), I don't know where it could get moved to. But it's pathetic how I and I am guessing many others will not have a ticket come April 4th if it doesn't get moved, largely due to these greedy bastards trying to make their living, Scalping tickets for this and the dozens of other shows I'm sure they do this with.

edit 6:

On sale: Saturday, December 10 at 12:00pm CST

link


Gotye’s intricate set was orchestrated to a tee. Acclaimed animation teams faultlessly backed his music and lyrics with jaw dropping, dizzying, at times creepy, but always emotive visuals. Brendan Cook’s dystopic endowment for opener and lead single Eyes Wide Open was the perfect spearhead for the visual banquet. The audience sang long proudly as Gotye’s musical phalanx materialised our aural memory of the track. Award winning illustrator, animator and director, Lucinda Schreiber then held the audience in a jubilant daze with her quirky morphing bear-man in second trackSmoke and Mirrors.

2011 Album Index 50-41

50a. The Gloomcatcher - Starla Over the Fences [EP]

Jessy Ribordy's overflow project in the process of making music for The River Empires over the last couple of years. The debut LP from 2010 Slow Chorale I really enjoyed much of, and still find has not found quite the numbers from TRE and The Dear Hunter fans as I'd expect.

And this EP was I guess some material that he hadn't quite finished when Slow Chorale came out. Unfortunately, not many people talked about it or knew it was released this Summer. Although I did post some stuff about it, but in the grand scheme of things, 1 blog can only reach so many people, right?

Musically, it does share a lot with the Slow Chorale songs. The folky, dramatic, ironic lyrical style anyway. I'd say where it differs is primarily the use of keys, namely on the 1st 2 tracks "Junelight" and "Younger Wives." The other songs are more singer/songwriter, which hearing Jessy make those kind of tunes, I'm definitely more into than most typical singer/songwriters.

The concept behind it being about a Trial in the 1880's is not exactly mentioned in detail, but perhaps the lyrics are including more about the backgrounds of the people involved in the trial.

Overall, a good, solid EP, but I suppose The Gloomcatcher's potential is still unclear as there's a lot to like with this EP and Slow Chorale, but neither release has reached the addictive level of other great records. I guess depending on Jessy's schedule with The River Empires, Falling Up, and/or any other outside work, like scoring music for movies, The Gloomcatcher's future (or lack of sadly) may be based on.

Suggested: Younger Wives, Junelight, Horses


50b. Memoryhouse - The Years [EP]


This is technically the re-release/re-recording/re-mastering I guess of this Toronto based duo's debut EP from 2010. It includes a few new tracks as well. I guess the best thing to say about it is reminded me at times of a couple of groups I have adored. Warpaint, but maybe moreso, Kacica. The dreamy, ethereal, healing tone. And I'm a sucker for that trippy, sad, therapeutic music. I swear at least 3 or 4 times I listened to the tune "Modern, Normal" and thought I had been so mesmerized, I could have been somewhere else. Like astral-projection, something metaphysical, or having a dream and not realizing it.

And I'll credit Radio K for this one, as I heard them air songs off it a handful of times this Summer and Fall. Even though with the Radio K and P4K pimping, I'm still on board with this group. One of those (potential) rare hipster finds that are at least intriguing when they become visible. And their debut full-length is coming out on February 12, 2012 titled The Slideshow Effect. I guess we'll see if that ends up retaining their charm and special brand of hypnotic music.

One note about this though, as some people I know can't deal with drum machines, as I believe at least some of this does not include real drums. But their style of music actually doesn't seem to warrant much if any drums.

Suggested: Sleep Patterns, Modern, Normal


49. Opeth - Heritage

A polarizing record, and one that I can't say is even close to their best work. But I am not down about it really. It is what it is. And it's not Metal, which is not a big deal. But, it is more in the vein of Damnation, for me not to look at it like another band almost.

It really is Mikael getting to play Jethro Tull and King Crimson in some ways. Or Wolfmother for that matter. The 70's psychedelic (at times stoner) rock worship has been done by a number of other artists over the last 5 years especially. Some I found a waste of time (remember that band Astra?) to one-album wonders (Black Mountain) to some like Wolfmother, who don't try to reinvent any wheels.

And Opeth did not try to reinvent any wheels here. They just decided to make a retro-sounding record. And it worked for the most part. The songwriting is still good enough, and ear-worm worthy, namely "The Devil's Orchard" and "Slither."

Is this where Opeth is going? who knows. I do wonder if using the harsh-effect of growling on Mikael's voice all these years has led him to retire that trademark of his and the band's sound. Which may be sad, but understandable to me. But like some other records this year (that'll be in this years Index), this another case of the masses making too big a deal about what they expect from an artist with a large legacy they really have no responsibility to live up to.

So I'm just sitting back and not really expecting much. Much like 2008's Watershed, there's far too many who overreact and overrate things. Meanwhile, I just find other music to lean towards, and just enjoy this for what it is.


48. Jonas Bjerre - Songs and Music from the Movie Skyscraper

The 2nd release (or more?) in as many years from Mew singer/frontman Jonas Bjerre, outside of Mew. 2010's Apparatjik project, was a nice diversion and way to hear him sing in something similar, but slightly different than Mew. And this, I'd say also has that similar-to-Mew-but-not-exactly-Mew element as well.

This is a soundtrack to the Danish film Skyskraber (or "Skyscaper"), and the cinematic part of the music is evident. When I 1st heard it, I was rather impressed, almost to the point I wondered how addictive it might get. However, over some time, I guess a lot of the songs seem to blend, or have a similar melodic style. Some of that is just the vocals Jonas sings on here. And part of that likely is just what worked for the movie, which I'll admit, to not having seen.

But, it's a record that's enjoyable, and has enough moments like "There's a Cloud In My Brain" "The Story of a Would-be Traffic Light and "Waste It" that are dreamy, playful, calming like a lot of Mew's last record No More Stories, I still got enough from this recording. The interludes, instrumentals, and slower ballads I suspect involved much of the story, which I guess is a coming-of-age-story about a young man who faces challenges involving family, love, social anxiety among other things.



47. Pain of Salvation - Road Salt Two


This was a bit of a comeback record to me as I didn't expect a ton given how uninterested I was in 2010's Road Salt One. Although some of that could be how forgettable Road Salt One was, there was almost no chance this record would even be half as bad. So, I'd say it wasn't.

The 70's blues and psychedelic rock influence is here again of course, but with some nice flourishes and orchestral sections. "Healing Now," "To the Shoreline," "The Deeper Cut," "The Physics of Gridlock" all have their moments. Jazz-like drum work from Leo Margarit, to sweeping acoustic guitar. Even the previously released "Mortar Grind" has it's charm and memorability.

Is this a step in the right direction? I might say yes, but with Fredrik and Johan Hallgren now leaving, the bar is still rather low for what Pain of Salvation does next. That is the best way to avoid being burned I've found, and with this record even placing this year (as opposed to RS 1 not placing in 2010), it might say something about learning from experience. I just wonder if eventually I'll never expect Daniel to ever make anything resembling the style or quality of their "peak period" (Entropia through Remedy Lane) sadly. But its not like every band/artist even has a "peak period" in their history anyway.




46. Glen Campbell - Ghost on the Canvas

Much of this was very unexpected. Thanks to a caller named Tony on Used Bin Radio for suggesting this record to the hosts Brad and Joe, and then myself taking their recommendation. Some of this is orchestral, some of it is epic. Some of the melodies stay with you. It's not overwhelming, but it's also not really boring.

The title track may be the song you retain the most. But others like "A Thousand Lifetimes" "It's Your Amazing Grace" "In My Arms" and even some of the segues tracks and sections of songs, add to the charm of this album. Some great banjo, piano, and mix of slide, acoustic and electric guitar add to how well this record came out.

Bittersweet how the man has alzheimers, and how this could be his Swan song work. But I don't sense his condition hurt how well this record came out.



45. Canon Blue - Rumspringa


One week over the summer I noticed at KFAI we got a copy of this record. Around the same time, Radio K was playing the 1st track on their air "Chicago" quite frequently.

This band reminds me of a couple of other bands, namely Mutemath or even Paper Route.
It's that textured, loopy, almost-electronic style of poppy Rock they fall into. But they also include many chamber elements like horns and strings, almost like Sufjan Stevens. The songwriting is pretty consistent, which features rather precise drum work on nearly every song.

The songs are all named after different cities, almost entirely in the Upper Midwest. They are from Nashville I guess, so maybe that was mostly inspired from their time on tour. I'm not sure if there's any more to that being a concept of a sort, but for what it's worth, the record sounds pretty cohesive.


Suggested: Fading Colors (Bloomington), Indian Summer (Des Moines), Heavy Heart (Minneapolis A), Chicago (Chicago)


44. Trent Romens - Aware


This is the debut record from a new, young blues-rock/singer-songwriter from Minnesota. I just posted some stuff about this album a few weeks ago after purchasing a copy of this at a headlining show he did with The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra.

Like the show I saw, I guess I became unexpectedly surprised how much of the blues, and the guitar solos got my attention here. Blues rock often features those great solos, and when they work, they are really tasteful to me. Among the songs on here that do include those, the track "Loves Lost Cause" is probably go-to track 1st and foremost. I just can't help but turn my head when he goes into salsa-prog mode on that one.

Other songs on this record add to its flow and consistency such as "Fairy Tale" "Right Back Where I Started" "Key to the Highway" and "Going Down Slow" "I'm Sorry Sheriff.." Twang guitar, keyboards, vocal harmonies, and the less-is-more feeling I get from it, really impressed me. Given this is his 1st release, Trent Romens seems like he may have a bright future for fans to look forward to, locally in Minnesota or otherwise.

43. Gotye - Making Mirrors


"Somebody That I Used to Know" the song featuring Kimbra, probably has been and still is the best song I've heard all year. At least the most memorable and addictive. And after a ton of buzz in Gotye's native Australia this Summer, it seems the last few months, it's finally reaching the audience it warrants. The video being as visually noteworthy, in a Peter Gabriel-esque way also has helped.

And this record should finally be released in the US in 2012, which probably will get his name out there even more. Although whether the interest in Gotye's new album will go far beyond that specific song is unclear. But for myself, this record does go beyond that tune.

"Easy Way Out" reminds me of The Beatles "Daytripper" for some reason. "State of the Art" uses what sounds like vocoder and some other voice-effects, pretty well, even as it can sound a little silly at times. That song also features some samples, which having listened to his previous record Like Drawing Blood, is one part of his music I really enjoy..

"Eyes Wide Open" almost sounds New Wave-ish. "Smoke and Mirrors" is another one that has a vibe that I retain, with it's moody, mystical element. "I Feel Better" almost sounds like it could have been written in the 60's, and is a rather uplifting power-pop-ish tune. "In Your Light" is rather percussive and almost tribal sounding, but also including horns.

The only thing I guess hurt this record is there's like 3 or 4 tunes, specifically towards the end, that are more or less forgettable. Because along with it's hit, this record has a lot of meat to it, that it probably could've warranted placing a fair amount higher. But perhaps being attached to Kimbra's record and his previous one hurt the way I saw this, and how addictive it was. However, I wouldn't be surprised if I end up listening to it more in the coming years still.



42. Marketa Irglova - Anar


The female presence of the duo The Swell Season. The globe got to know her when the 2007 movie Once came out, and then the following Movie Awards season saw them nominated and win at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and Independent Spirit Awards for the song "Falling Slowly."

And I've enjoyed seeing her live with The Swell Season, and their recorded music. But this is the 1st music I've heard from Marketa on her own. And some of this reminded me how much I love her voice on some of the TSS songs she's featured on.

Even though, many of her vocal parts don't vary here, there's a wonderful, almost melancholy element to this whole record. She has a subtle, touching soul to her voice, vocal harmonies, along with much of the instrumentation including strings and piano, I got sucked in to really enjoying this album, probably more than I expected.

And I now feel even worse not seeing the new The Swell Season documentary, along with missing her show at The Cedar Cultural Center on Black Friday (I went to see Rush Heads in Eau Claire, WI instead).

Suggested: Crossroads, Go Back



41. What's Left of Her - Perceptions


Technically, this is a 2010 album, given it was 1st made available from the band back in November. But as in this blog's history, I wasn't introduced to it or the band until early this year. And given the late point it was released last year, it qualifies for 2011.

In re-reading my comments earlier this year, their sound could be described as "progressive deathcore." Which most deathcore, I don't care for. But the way they use keys, including at times in a video-game toned/style, seems to allow them and this album to stand out. I also noted how the flow of this record was/is a reason I kept going back to it. Great energy, and lacking in dead spots. Along with very little to no issues with the cymbals clipping that I recall , I found myself going back to this album many times early in 2011.
(although streaming on youtube might not be the best way to tell, edit: yeah, the free mp3 zip on their facebook sounds VASTLY BETTER than the streams on youtube)

Along with Painted in Exile and a few others, this is one band who does hold some reason to still pay attention to the 'core styles of Extreme Metal.

Suggested: : A New Aesthetic, Oceans, Needlework, When I Was Human

Kimbra - Vows (2011)

1. Settle Down 4:17
2. Cameo Lover 4:03
3. Two Way Street 4:29
4. Old Flame 4:27
5. Good Intent 3:32
6. Plain Gold Ring 4:03
7. Call Me 4:32
8. Limbo 3:52
9. Wandering Limbs 5:27
10. Withdraw 4:06
11. The Build Up 8:21


I've been wanting to write something about her, pretty much when I started listening and then sharing the video for Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" a couple of weeks ago. And I finally got to hear this debut LP from her this week and am still digesting much of it. But if I manage to add to this entry at some point, I'm just going to give some initial thoughts.

Kimbra (or Kimbra Johnson) is a new, young singer/songwriter from New Zealand (edit: I guess I assumed she was from Australia. Then again, Gotye is originally from Belgium, lol..so nationalities can easily be mistaken).. And there's been much anticipation for this debut album of hers I guess, for even many years. I suppose in many ways, she does remind me of among others, 2010's great discovery artist in Janelle Monáe. But also the style of her music on this album does share things in common with Ms. Monáe. The genre blending, passion, and soulfulness in her vocals especially. The depth and flow of this record. And maybe most of all, she doesn't really come across as another pop-diva (which is what I initially pegged Janelle as). A few other names that I'll admit I'm reminded of that come to mind might be Imogen Heap or St.Vincent in a way as well. Heap perhaps in the use of textures.

Specific songs? I don't skip any track at this point, but perhaps the last 3 tracks "Wandering Limbs" "Withdraw" and "The Build Up/Somebody Please" have stood out the most. "Wandering Limbs" features a male singer named Sam Lawrence, who'll I can't deny, I thought was Daniel Johns from Silverchair/Dissociatives. I suppose like Kimbra in the Gotye song, maybe I should inquire about his music as well.

 But this is definitely an album I anticipate listening to a fair amount over the next few weeks or more, as I keep enjoying more things about it. Very much of an album-lover's album, like The Archandroid and some others. And while I am still enjoying Gotye's new record Making Mirrors, I guess I can already say right now, this is at least a bit better. Although I'd be surprised if I'll find any 1 song as good as "Somebody I Used to Know."

 

Team Me - TBA (2011)

no time for lengthly details, but this Norweigan band's debut EP Team Me EP, came out earlier this year, and I've enjoyed a bit over the last few weeks, amongst a handful of good new bands to me (Typhoon, Gotye, The Minor Canon).

Their music is kind of a mix of pop, dreamy psych and textured rock. I guess when this full length comes out, that style might be more clear. They remind me a bit of Early Ghost and some other layered Pop bands from Europe.

I didn't expect a full-length this soon from them, but actually in some ways I'm not surprised, as often when an EP is released, it's just a fraction of the music that was written at that time.

Now will they become Hipster and will Hip4K grab onto them and fuck with how they are promoted? hopefully not.

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Gotye - Making Mirrors (2011)

In just reading a topic on 1 forum I go to regularly, I noticed a lot of discussion about this song "Somebody I Used to Know" (featuring Kimbra) and this guy, who goes by the solo moniker Gotye. Which I want-to, and may always pronounced "Got-ya" but I guess it's pronounced "Gore-ti-yeah" lol.


Today I checked out Gore-tih-yeah's last album from 2006 Like Drawing Blood and liked a fair amount of it. Although I'm not sure how much he plays, and what is sampled or programmed. Namely the drums. But regardless, many good tunes on it, some instrumentals and cool sound clips from things. Almost reminding me of artists like DJ Shadow or even Stateless a bit. But also music like Peter Gabriel (an obvious, almost blatant comparison), Imogen Heap and maybe even George Michael on one or two tracks.

So, now as I'm home on a Friday afternoon, I'm checking out this new record of his, which I may not find to be as good as his last record, but I'm so new to his music, that's pretty unclear right now.

But I can say, that single is receiving a lot of praise, and frankly, for good reason. The lyrics and vocal lines especially are ear-worm worthy, and relate-able. It may end up as one of the best songs of 2011.

oh and also Karnivool, of all bands, covered one of his songs off Like Drawing Blood, "The Only Way" clipping cymbals and all. Not all that surprising though, given Ian Kenny of Karnivool also is in the more pop-oriented band Birds of Tokyo.