glogster

glogster's tag line is "poster yourself". one part blog, one part friendster, one part photoshop. a social network site for kids to make a screen with images, videos, etc. very easy to use. i'm not sure what to do with this aside from using it as a background on myspace. here's a quick one i made. they're giving away ipods for the people with the most "points". i guess i get points for this post?

into >> the >> future.
Moby's next record due in March 2008. Sample tracks at his official website.

Moby's thoughts: "it's a lot more dance oriented and electronic than my last few albums, probably as a result of all of the dj'ing i've been doing lately........Last Night is basically a love letter to dance music in New York City. What i love about the New York approach to dance music is the eclecticism and the open minded-ness on the part of the musicians, the dj's, and the people in the bars and clubs. In making Last Night i essentially tried to take a long 8 hour night out in New York City and condense it into a 65 minute long album."

The Vandelles: s/t EP (Safranin Sound)
release: October 16, 2007
style: "Kill Surf City"
similar: Jesus and Mary Chain, Raveonettes, A Place to Bury Strangers, Singapore Sling
[rating: **1/2] Not to be confused with the Vandals, the Vandelles are two girls and two boys from NYC. While the girl vocals are underused, the boy vocals seem forcefully low and whispery in the mix, very calculated along with everything else, which is a complete rip from Jesus and Mary Chain's Beach Boys surf meets distortion drenched feedback rock n roll. But as it turns out, Vandelles, you're lucky, cause i'm a sucker for this sh*t and you'll get air time on my radio show. Still, it's quite mild as far as noise-rock goes, lacking stand-out melody and harmony of the Raveonttes and dangerousness of JAMC. Maybe the Vandelles will take it to the next level like the Raveonettes did with Chain Gang of Love. The hidden squal at the end is a killer backwards track that twists noise-pop like a tornado. -Kenyon
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Condor Moments: ...And Though We're Told We've Got it All, the All We've Got is Freezing Cold... (What Delicate recordings)
release: October 2, 2007
style: confusion
rating: **
Condor Moments are a lounge version of Frank Zappa. In this version the band goes from [insert genre] to [insert genre] within an individual song. A few segments take a baby step towards serious symphonic songwriting until Condor Moments move on to something else. And about that song title "Liquorice Fish Dish." You're killing me, guys. -Kenyon

thanks for the add. now i will go clutter your comments. suckerrrr.

Michael Marton- [Canada] - In his press bio, Marton says he got a letter from Island records in response to his demo asking for more music. Listen, you don't need them. Just look at Radiohead! This Canadian is sporadically a pop-rock version of Johnny Cash, notably when his voice goes baritone. The gruff vocals for "I Won't Go" aren't working and don't even sound like the same person. Stop, you're killing me. Stick with the Johnny Cash, okay? There's a quote on his bio: "once you put it in your CD player, it'll be hard to take it out." Kenyon ain't gonna be played for a fool by cliche reviews. I took it out. -Kenyon

ATOMICTOM [brooklyn] - Atomic Tom is ready to take it to the next level. The list of influences don't add up to their streamlined rock (stuff like BRMC, Cardigans, Goldfrapp, M83, tatu, Pinback), but it's clearly professional and confident enough to open for Editors or Under the Influence of Giants. -Kenyon

Matt Gangi [brooklyn/LA] - On his myspace page, it reads he's from Los Angeles, in his EPK it reads Brooklyn. Don't screw with me Gangi. Gangi is "often associated with the New Weird America movement." Okay...this is news to *me. I'll tell you what this is for real: psych-folk possessing non-annoying falsetto vocals and delicate instrumentation. "Subject Positions" is number one, almost too good to be an original and practically re-inventing early Bob Dylan and Rolling Stones. Wow that was a bold quote for you to use, Matt Gangi. You're welcome. -Kenyon

classic vintage video
Night Ranger- "When You Close Your Eyes" (1983)
that chimp represents something.

The Classic Brown: Down with Fun
(self-release)
release: fall 2007
style: indie rock, indie pop
similar: Juliana Hatfield, Spinanes, Feist, Frente
[rating: ***] Me like the band name. Band name is good. Record title is a favorite too. Canadian Stacey Brown leads this band currently consisting of people from New Jersey band Up Up Down Down Left Right... Me wonder how that works, i will ask Brownie. People are going to compare Brown's voice to other current indie rock "darlings" like Rilo Kiley or Stars or Feist. That works, and so does a comparison to mid-90s indie rock band on major label. Following a mix of mature indie rock and inviting indie pop, me especially like the timid closing song "Americana." -Kenyon

The Motion Sick
The Truth Will Catch You, Just Wait... (Naked Ear)
unusual release date of January 1, 2008
style: rock, pop/rock
rating: [**1/2] Boston-living, Kurt Vonnegut-inspired The Motion Sick cover "Love Will Tear Us Apart." Whoa hold up. If you're gonna do Joy Division, it better be good. The Motion Sick is not a band you'd expect to be doing this either. They do an okay job. At least they aren't trying to replicate it (i'm hardcore Joy Division, you know it). As for the originals, the band is pretty much rock light. There are exceptions though: 1950s-style innocence rock and the potato-tossing "Walk on Water" with the awesome line "i can walk on water as long as it's frozen." "The Owls are not What They Seem" contains their rock edge side, which has an example of a Weezer-like chorus. The final track is an enjoyable dance mix out of leftfield which puts the Motion Sick in a whole other place. -Kenyon

rock n rolllll [guitar riff] never looked so beautiful.
Semi Precious Weapons last night at Galapagos Brooklyn [main room] plus k3nyon DJing!

autodrone was originally the only band on the bill i cared to see, based alone on songs posted on webby. ironically enough, autodrone was unavailable and Brooklyn's Semi Precious Weapons ended up setting the night on fire with late '70s punk rock n roll breaking the law with Diamond Nights, a glammed-up Ima Robot and a hard rocking Placebo. photos are mine from last nite but my camera battery power was lost (mainly on me stupidly taking photos of myself with flash), so the video is from another SPW gig (recorded by user wwwhatsup at youtube). the band was f-ing great, the only thing is that it's unclear whether the singer is completely serious or putting on an act. maybe a little of both? you decide. either way i'd be surprised if they aren't headlining venues the size of Bowery Ballroom or bigger within the year. -k3nyon

and because they're my favorite new band of the week-

classic vintage video.
Eddie Murphy with Rick James- "Party All the Time" (1985)


if i was there i would be high 5ing all those dudes. the comments on youtube are some of the funniest ever. on wikipedia it's categorized as "synthpop." wow.

clairecord reviews

Ifwhen: We Will Gently Destroy You (Clairecords)
release: November 6, 2007
style: experimental post-shoegaze
similar: Glifted, all natural lemon and lime flavors, Melt Banana
[rating: ****] In his previous band, All Natural Lemon and Lime Flavors, vocalist + guitarist + programmer Merc helped assemble some of the best hypnotic noise since Loveless. Ifwhen, which also includes bassist Kentaro and keyboardist Mary MacDowell, now has the ball in their court. While there are definite reminders of All Natural Lemon's sound effects and androgynous vocals, Ifwhen is even more adventurous and mind-bending. "Escape Method," for example, features warped soundage and extra airy vocals. As a matter of fact, all the other tracks are like that too. Trippy. -Kenyon
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The Brother Kite: Moonlit Race EP (Clairecords)
release: November 6, 2007
style: indie rock, indie pop, dreamy pop
similar: the Delays, Band of Horses, Pet Sounds
[rating: ***] Another solid, harmony and reverb-rich Christmas present from one of Clairecords' top artists. The end. -Kenyon
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Electro Group: Good Technology (Clairecords)
release: September 2007
style: jangle dream pop
similar: Pale Saints, other bands on Clairecords
[rating: ***] Arriving an astonishing 6 years after the first LP (seven-inches and other things were in between), Electro Group's Good Technology can confidently air on a hip, new music college radio show and no matter what track is selected there's no worries. This is very non-confrontational, child-like swirling dream pop in basic form. The vocals are extra low and soft in the mix while the guitars have hints of Swervedriver. Using candy to rate, this is a peanut butter twix bar. Twix is pretty high up cause it's got cookie. -Kenyon

k3nyon DJing at galapagos art space in brooklyn this saturday december 8!