Ivan & Alyosha

Good stuff, brought to you by my musical go-to, Jeff:

New music Monday

And for good measure.....a classic.

New Music

Music man KM sent me a CD from this band, Nouvelle Vague, which does punk, post-punk and New Wave covers with a bossa-nova flair. It's fantastic.

Here is a taste - they cover Love Will Tear us Apart:

Shakin' off 2009

...and dancing into 2010.

I just spent the last hour doing just that, to Vampire Weekend's new album Contra. It doesn't disappoint - still has that privileged, spunky spiffiness that's a popped collar on a warm and sun-soaked Martha's Vineyard afternoon. I dug it enough to shimmy myself into a good mood...

I am excited about this year's music offerings. So far, a few good concerts tix burning a hole in my pocket - Yo La Tengo, BRMC, and Mr. Dando. Debating about Galactic...not quite there yet. Asobi Seksu is dropping by The Old Rock House, highly recommended.

Some new music that's been burning up my iPod as of late:

Small Black - Small Black
Titus Andronicus - The Airing of Grievances
Japanese Motors - Luxury Wafers Live
Fever Ray - Fever Ray

And a special surprise...

M83 - Saturdays = Youth
It sounds like my Jr. High days...Drakkar Noir, Breakfast Club, high-tops, making out at the movies, perms and crusing main.

At the end of today, my coworker came over to discuss our plans for Yo La Tengo, and we got on the topic of electronica and New Wave. Erasure, Joy Division and Depeche Mode were discussed, as was Kraftwerk. My coworker in the next cube overheard, and keyed up "Autobahn".....bahn, bahn, bahn....autobahn. Good stuff, hadn't heard it since my college days.

That said, I give you a taste...of the mighty Kraftwerk! Pop Stew, circa 1975 - "Kraftwerk have a name for this, "machine music"....classic!

No post-holiday blues here

The holiday was near perfect - the weather didn't cooperate 100%, other than that a good time was had by all.

I heard from many friends, old and new, over the break and it was great fun catching up. Spent a lot of time with my family, played games and watched movies, ate and ate, and generally experienced bliss 24/7. My marathon brunch session yesterday was decadent - over 4 hours of great dish, the verbal and consuming kind.

Getting tickets today for Yo La Tengo and the BRMC (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club). Cha cha cha!

Some new music was gifted to me over the weekend. Have yet to get to the others as I can't break away from my love of The xx. Thanks again Kenny!

Life is good.

Upcoming Concert

Viva Voce, a really good band that my friend Ken turned me onto, will be at the Firebird on Tuesday. Worth checking out - here's a sample:

Hmm

The Airborne Toxic Event.

I like this.

FOR YOUR EARS

Concert alert.

Tuesday night at Off Broadway, Eli "Paperboy" Reed and his fine band The True Loves will grace St. Louis with their presence. Grace, I say - there's no other word for what he's putting out.

Horn section - check.

Soul - check.

Funk - check.

Young Boston Jewish boy throwing down deep and throaty Delta-South tunes for the good folks of the Lou - check.

Enjoy.