Photo by Adam Koebel

OK so one of our fave Vancouver bands, Fan Death (although they say they are from Christmas Island, which does sounds pretty magical) are opening for one of my other fave bands, Vampy Weekend for their almost completely sold out UK and European dates.  As well as Little Boots in NA.

AND

They are taking one of Vancouver’s finest talents to drum for them, the one man spectacle, Mr Tony Dallas (who has graced us on many occasion at our NMS night).  This is rad right?

Vampire Weekend – Cousins (myspace rip, purchase the newly released version)

Fan Death – Reunited (CCENTURIESS Remix)

Hunk The Drunk – When The Bump’s Right (Fan Death vs Spank Rock)

You should check out the other bands Tony’s in, Boogie Monster, The SSRI’s, Junior Major, Mexican Drug Patrol & Supercassette.

Hurry on back Tony, you will be missed.

Vampire Weekend released their debut album in 2008, aptly titled Vampire Weekend. I liked it. I don’t care. Many people claimed they were ripping off Paul Simon and calling it Preppy, Indie AfroPop. This is not music to feel tough to. This music makes you want to wear blazers and match your belt and shoes and smoke cigarettes out of holders and watch Wes Anderson movies and guffaw at zingers. Which are things I like to do, sometimes! Don’t Judge.

Vampire Weekend have a new album coming out early January 2010, Contra. But! What they’ve done is put a FREE NEW song on their website that you can go and download and decide if you still like them or if it was more of a summer fling.

GO GET IT!

Vampire Weekend – One – Blake’s Got A New Face (Hunk The Drunk Edit)

Now all we do is worry about dying!!!!!

The weekend is here and we have some parties for ya. First off, tonight, we have a Winnie party. Myself and Christian Flores are at Library Square playing all our favorite songs from the 90′s at the SHOW ME LOVE night. Shout for list.

Two big parties at Funky Winkerbean’s. Tonight we have the first night of Mutant Disco being done by the people who did the Weirdness parties at the Biltmore.  Expect lots of rad-italo with a splash of cheesy 80′s and maybe even a Mr Vain or two.

Saturday at Funky’s, Winnie Cooper presents, Garland + Yarn at our NO MORE STRANGERS night, which is always a good time. But really, how can you go wrong with $1.75 beers? Hope to see you there.

aaaaand some tunes.

Vancouver’s Piper Davis

Dj Neighbor & Piper Davis – Rhinestone Cowgirl

Winnie pals, Rocca with their latest effort

Rocca – The Road

Discovery is a collab between Ra Ra Riot‘s Wes Miles and Vampy Weekend‘s Rostam Batmanglij. They have an album coming out in 09. Exciting, exciting.

Discovery – Osaka Loop Line

Winnie pals, Cof Cof have a new mini LP out. It’s rad and available for download here.
Cof Cof – T-shirt

Fesity and Benny G!
Feist + Ben Gibbard – Train Song

Canada’s k-os is keeping hip hop alive. He has an excellent new album out called, “Yes”.  I give it 4 out of 5 Winnies. Look out for our upcoming Winnie-TV segment with k-os!!
k-os – I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Animal Collective have the two biggest albums of the year so far. Here’s AC take on YYYs hipster anthem.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero (Animal Collective remix)

I’m a sucker for a good cover
Magic Arm – Daft Punk Is Playing In My House (LCD Soundsystem Cover)

And for almost all things Beach Boys
The Beach Boys – God Only Knows (Aeroplane Bootleg Remix)

Pharrell’s behind these dudes. This has been out for a while. So far I’ve only found this one single to be good and the other stuff to be more disappointing.
Chester French – She Loves Everybody

Luvs me a TPC remix
Tokyo Police Club – Graves (Nightsweats Remix)

Luvs me a FR remix too
Fever Ray – If I Had A Heart (Fuck Buttons Remix)
Appaloosa – The Day We Fell In Love (Ted & Francis Remix)
Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks

Japandroids, “Post Nothing” has been on heavy rotation. Definitely another one of the best albums of the year.
Japandroids – Young Hearts Spark Fire

I don’t want to worry about dying,
I just want to worry about sunshine and giiiiiirls.

We have a brand new No More Strangers mix just in time for our 1 year birthday celebration this Saturday.

Hope to see you there! xox

ps, we are going weekly!

No More Strangers Vol. 3 – Mixed by Hunk The Drunk

tracklisting

Leonard Cohen – Stranger Song

Pegase – Without Reason

Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You (Juxx Remix)

Jeremy Jay – Gallop

Pacific! – Hot Lips

Silent Talk – My Risonare

Say Hi – Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh

Sebastien Tellier – Divine

Handsome Furs – Legal Tender

Don Cash – Jeanette Cassette

The Teenagers – Feeling Better (Minitel Rose Remix)

Vampire Weekend – The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance (Miike Snow Remix)

Peaches – Talk To Me

Miike Snow – Animal (Crookers Remix)

Pet Shop Boys – Always On My Mind (Hunk’s 12′ Cut Up)

Swedish producers Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg aka Blood Shy & Avant were behind Britney’s “Toxic” and “Piece of Me” as well as doing work for Kylie Minogue (which is a good excuse to add a Kylie photo).

They have teamed up with Andrew Wyatt of Fires of Rome & Black Beetle and are producing work under the moniker Miike Snow.

They have a debut self titled album coming out June 9th.

Vampire Weekend – The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance (Miike Snow RMX) courtesy of RCRDLBL

Miike Snow – Animal (Crookers Remix)

Miike Snow – Burial (DJ Mehdi Remix)

I have a mix I made it back in September to share. It has a lot of my fave tunes from 2008 in it and some sneaky older ones.

Hunk The Drunk – Music To Ride Your Bike To

50min

tracklist:

Johnny Cash – Port Of Lonely Hearts (Midnight Juggernauts Remix)
The Glimmers – Physical
Vampire Weekend – Walcott (Insane Mix)
Yacht ft Claire L. Evans- Summer Song
Lykke Li – Little Bit (Mattas Berlin Remix)
Crystal Castles – Courtship Dating
MGMT – Electric Feel (Jutice Remix)
Donald Byrd – Love Has Come Around
South Rakkas Crew – Hotter Than Them
Inner City – Big Fun
A Guy Called Gerald – Voodoo Ray
Moby – I like To Move In Here (Crookers Remix)
Chromeo – Fancy Footwork (Crookers Remix)
The Gaylettes – Son Of A Preacher Man
PRGz – Bama Gettin Money (Diplo Remix)
Metronomy – Heartbreaker
Esau Mwamwaya – Chalo
Township Funk – Mujava
MGMT – Kids (Soulwax Nit Version)

~ Your Only Friend

10.Tilly and the wall-o
Cute indie girls and tap dancing is a combination that never fails. I was a huge fan of their last album “Bottoms of Barrels” and 08s  O offers more of the same sing-songy girl vocals with some added synth here and there.  Tall Tall Grass and Jenny Lewis’s  Acid Tongue are tied up for my favorite Indie Girl Jam of the year.

Tilly and The Wall-Tall Tall Grass

9.Facing New York-Get Hot
Progressive funk Rock at its best. I blew these guys off for so long for some unknown reason and I’m glad I stopped that nonsense cause this shit’s my jam.  If you’ve ever enjoyed a Dismemberment Plan song check these guys out.

Facing New York- All A This

Facing New York- Me N My Friendz

8.Girl Talk- Feed The Animals
It’s Girl Talk, ya people have been mashing up tracks forever, but not like this. The man pretty much perfected his skill on this album. Take a rap accapella and layer it with a classic 90′s drum beat and a classic rock guitar riff and just keep repeating that process.  Makes for the perfect roadtrip mixtape.

Girl Talk- Hands In The Air

7.Louis La Roche-The Peach EP
This kid is 18 years old and people were mistaking his work for new tracks by Thomas Bangalter. Really?! He came out of nowhere and dropped in my opinion the best french house EP of the year. Ya the tracks repeat a bit but. dude is 18 cut him some slack. Already finished his LP due next year. expect big things.

Louis La Roche- Do You Remember

6.Vampire Weekend-S/T
Pretty much delivered on the hype of their EP. Everythings already been said about these guys. M79 is my jam.

Vampire Weekend-M79

5.The Cool Kids- The Bake Sale
This was my LA summer album. Bumpin 88 with the roof down driving down the PCH can’t  beat it.

The Cool Kids-88

4.Crystal Castlees-S/T
At the beginning of the year they put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. On Halloween they were terrible which  pretty much sums up crystal castles. Stealing a bunch of ideas and coming out with in my opinion the most unique  I don’t give a fuck sounding album of 08. Courtship Dating better be on everyone’s  top 10 tracks list.

Crystal Castles- Magic Spells

3.Cut Copy-in Ghost Colours
Nothing beat this album sonically. So relaxing and chill yet so danceable. Ya Hearts on fire came out at the beginning of 07 but any album that has that killer sax solo  deserves to be on a top ten list.

Cut Copy- Lights and Music

2. Forgive Durden- Razia’s Shadow
So I grew up being obsessed with Seattle’s pop punk scene.  Which will explain my top two albums of the year as both stem from musicians out of the area. Razia’s Shadow is a musical created by two brothers Thomas and Paul Dutton and a host of guest vocalist playing the different characters throughout the story. I’m not going to get into the details but it’s a mix between Moulin Rouge and Aladdin with Aaron Weiss of Mewithoutyou Narrating in-between songs to get the full context of the story . For someone who had little to no recording budget this is a masterpiece of a musical.

Forgive Durden-The Missing Piece

1.Kay Kay and His weathered Underground
I suck at writing ( Which is why I write for music blogs where a simple sentence is adequate to sum up a post) so I’m stealing this  summery of my favorite album of  the year from  I guess I’m floating.

For those unfamiliar with the ways of Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground, here’s a bit of backstory: the band was formed from the ashes of Gatsby’s American Dream. Kirk Huffman and Kyle O’Quin picked up the pieces and brought over their quirky songwriting and peripheral instrumentation, crafting their debut album over three years in Seattle. Upon completion and release early this year, the band played a sold out show at the Triple Door, about which Huffman remarked “I thought we’d be playing for ten people. This is the greatest night of my life!”

mellifluent orchestral vibes, free-flowing bigtop circus music, drums that thump as much as they float, and melodies you won’t be able to escape for days. Everything but the kitchen sink. It’s epic.

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground- Hey Momma

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground- Birds ( On A Day Like Today)

WE ARE ENDING THE YEAR OFF WITH A BUNCH OF BEST OF LISTZ!


To get things started we have Hunk’s picks for the best albums of 2008.

10. Cut Copy [In Ghost Colours]

2008 was a big year for Australian music. In Ghost Colours was the highly anticipated, follow up to the groups 2003 debut which rescued electronic music from the death grips of the sub-genred, drugged-out route it was going in.  The album proved the wait was worthwhile, it’s a pleasurable listen from beginning to end.  The album also added fuel to the disco resurgence as well as keeping the retro 80′s vibe alive.

Cut Copy – Feel The Love


9. MGMT [Oracular Spectacular]

MGMT were easily one, if not the most remixed group of 2008.  This album really grew on me and i think others as well as its now, as of recent being played on mainstream radio.  The band was easily one of the most up hyped groups and deservingly so, although id say they are bordering on overplay and in definite need of some new tracks to add to the fire.

MGMT – Kids

8. Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit [The Very Best]

Diplo & Santogold [Top Ranking] &

Girl Talk [Feed The Animals]

3-Way Tie

disclaimer: I couldn’t decide between these and decided that they’re all similar being “mixes”, made up of bits of already composed music.

2008 was the year of the promotional, internet distributed mix tape.  Diplo followed up his 2005 MIA mix tape effort, Piracy Funds Terrorism and reminded everyone that he’s still a major player in the game with this 35 track 80 minute journey through reggae, electro, hip hop and the kitchen sink.  Top Ranking is truly an enjoyable listen, featuring the ebs and flow, peaks and valley missing from lesser mixes.  Alongwith showcasing Santogold work, the remix work takes this album beyond a simple collection of songs into something worthy of a top spot amongst albums of original content.

Diplo vs Santogold – Top Ranking – I’m a Lady (Diplo Mix ft Amanda Blank)

2008 introduced Esau Mwamwaya and his take on African music to the mainstream music world.   Teaming up with Radioclit, the pair have created something completely unique by adding an African element to more traditional sampling . There upcoming debut release is high up on the albums to look forward to in 2009 list. Oh and did I mention, this and the above we’re released for free via the net. (search the archives for them)

The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit) – Hide & Seek

Dj’s of the world take note, nobody rocked a party quite as hard as Greg Gillis did in 2008.  Laptop djing once looked down upon is looking to be the future.  Nobody has ever mixed as many genres as successfully as “Feed The Animals” does and everyone from frat boys to discerning music snobs have seemed to take notice to the mass appeal of it all.   My only complaint is that the album is so ADD and party that you really have to be ready to go if your putting this album on, but is that really a bad thing?

Girl Talk – Still Here


7. The Dodos [Visiteur]

Slightly lesser knowns, The Dodos have put together an excellent solid debut showcasing their art folk sound.  The drumming on the album alone is worthy of a spot on my list.  Pitchfork drew warranted comparison to Led Zepplin – III.  All they need to do now is come back and play Vancouver again.  Please…

The Dodos – Jodi


6. Chad VanGaalen [Soft Airplane]

This album has replaced the spot once held by VanGaalen’s 2004 debut “Infiniheart” as one of my all time favorite albums.  CVG is often compared to Neil Young with his peicingly soft falsetto voice, with this album I think he has surpassed those comparisons by making this remarkable piece of art.  His home-made basement aesthetic provides an unmatched intimacy.  My only complaint is that he always pushes the experimental envelope a little too far on one or two songs, without those tracks the album would play out better, and would be number one on my list.  However, there’s no way CVG could of ever gotten to the place he is now without constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries to his unique sound.

Chad VanGaalen – Molten Light


5. Fleet Foxes [self titled]

I don’t think there was a single person in the room that didn’t feel a shiver pass through them, with the opening notes of their live show here in Vancouver, this album is like that.  Their musicianship is excellent, their debut self titled album is a breath of fresh air to the sometimes stale indie rock sound where a lot of bands end up sounding the same.  Almost a re visitation to the folk sound of the 60’s but with a unique twist on things as if the group has existed in a void, isolated from everything else going on in music.

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal


4.Born Ruffians – [Red, Yellow & Blue]

People are still sleeping on this little Toronto band. Their live act will blow you away.  Their album Red, Yellow and Blue is stocked full of indie barn funk jams and their call and answer style is dancey as fuck, what ever that means?  Go and listen to them for yourself and then we can discuss this in further detail.

Born Ruffians – Foxes Mate For Life


3. Bon Iver [For Emma, Forever Ago]

The internet is finally going nuts on Bon Iver (pronounced EEVUR) as they are currently at the top of the Hype Machines most blogged artists.  This album fills the void when it’s been a long day and you need something soothing to get you back home.  For Emma, Forever might be my most listened to album as well (blogging is really hard on the soul).  

Bon Iver – For Emma


2.Crystal Castles [Self Titled]

Easily the best thing to happen to electronic music as of recent saw it being fused with elements of hardcore and, dare I say, goth-rave meets the video arcade on acid.  The group’s minimalist sound with the cut up vocals of lead Alice Glass charted new territory sampling everything from what sounds like he-man cartoons to the 8 bit sounds of a nintendo gameboy, the album found a perfect fit with me in 2008.  While the biggest hit of the album, Crimewave got a lot of people’s attention, the other album tracks provide greater depth into all that is CC and are just as good, if not better.  The enigmatic group’s explosive live performances led by vocalist Alice Glass (Maybe the hottest “indie Cindy” of 2008) also helped.

Crystal Castles – Vanished


1.Vampire Weekend [Self Titled]

Definitely one of the most loved and hated groups of 2008, it’s almost as if some people hold having an ivy league education and their listenability against them??  Their influences are diverse, a little bit of Africa, a lot of New York and something that’s reminiscent of a feel good 80′s movie about girls.  I think they made a lot of new fans with their their live act as they are truly talented musicians both when playing live and in the orchestration on the album.  Their self titled debut took top spot for me as there isn’t a bad song on it, their sound is distinct, enjoyable and survivable of intense multiple listenings.  If I could time travel to the future and bring back any album it would be their next output. 

Vampire Weekend – I Stand Corrected


Honorable mentions to:

Yo! Majesty – Futuristically Speaking: Never Be Afraid for helping to usher out the 50 cent era, bringing life back to hip hop and showing that they’re here to stay. Radiohead – In Rainbows, definately could of been on my list but they’re Radiohead everything they do is great, you don’t need me to tell you that.  The Ting Tings -We Started Nothing, because there is nothing like getting slapped around a bit by a rocker chick even if they do get a little too poppy.  Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell for being Canadian, Lykke Li – Youth Novels if only for her unique voice and lyrics. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III for making me actually like something Lil and for his improvisational rapping style n lyrics.  Hot Chip – Made In The Dark for continuing to be Hot Chip and making me wish I needed glasses so that i could wear some like, Alexis Taylor’s. I must say also Tv on the Radio’s Dear Science and Portishead’s Third as I have to admit that I still havn’t listened to them but have heard they probably could of made the list as well as a few others i might of missed but there’s only so many hours in a day and far too much good music to listen to.

I’ve Been eagerly awaiting this.  Uni pals Chromeo & Vampire Weekend’s first collab.

Vampire Weekend - The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance (Chromeo Remix)

Chromeo have a new album slated for the new year.  

This is from a set of remixes specially commissioned from Fools Gold by Bacardi B-Live for the Pemberton music festival.

Chromeo - 100% (Nacho Lovers’ BLIVE Pemberton Mix)

Has anyone else been getting sick of the constant electro drivel that the internet has been saturated with lately?  Esau Mwamwaya is going to save the day.

For those of you unfamiliar with Esau:

Esau Mwamwaya was born in Mzuzu in Malawi, East Africa. He grew up in the capital, Lilongwe, where he played drums in various bands such as Masaka Band.           

In 1999 Esau Mwamwaya moved to London, England and he currently runs a second-hand furniture store in Clapton, East London.

Esau’s store is on the same street as Radioclit’s studio, and after the Radioclit boy’s bought a bike of Esau and invited him to one of their house warming parties, they made friends and started working on music together. 

The first big splash he made with this version of Paper Planes, which is quite possibly the best of the 200 or so alternate versions of the track.

Esau Mwamwaya & M.I.A. - Tengazako

The past June, work was completed on Msau and Radioclit’s collaborative album which will feature tracks with M.I.A, Ezra from Vampire Weekend, Santogold and Marina of Bonde Do Role. They are waiting for a licensing deal to come into place before the album will drop.

In the meantime take a listen to these gems. Esau does Architecture in Helsinki’s “Heart it Races” and his version of “Cape Cod Kwassa”    

 
Esau Mwamwaya & Vampire Weekend – Cape Kod Kwassa Kwassa

Esau Mwamwaya & Architecture in Helsinki - Kamphopo

Some nice videos with more?

[youtube width="425" height="355"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4F8kwrGX58[/youtube]

Low fi is the new hi fi

[youtube width="425" height="355"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt_iqzjVF3I[/youtube]

This is coming second hand from a tip, apparently there is a Vampire Weekend remix album in the works by none other than my bejeweled princes of funk, Chromeo. 

Vampire Weekend did a live interview on Much Music while at the Rogers Picnic in July when this tidbit was leaked.  I have not been able to find anything on the net to confirm that Chromeo are indeed remixing the entire VW album though.  I have been able to confirm that there is at least one VW remix in the works by Chromeo.  

The two groups have bff status having both attended Columbia University, where Dave 1 is currently studying towards a Ph.D in French Literature.   

Anyways, I hope it’s true… Heres some Vampire Weekend remixes to tie you over for the mean time.

*** The remix “album” has been confirmed as untrue, however the single Chromeo remix is apparently shortly up.  Stay tuned. 

Vampire Weekend - Walcott (Insane Mix)

Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma (Burntpiano Edit)

ABX - Punk Your Mind

Vampire Weekend make an infectious brand of indie pop that incorporates world influences, and their music has rather quickly attracted legions of fans. Their sound has been compared to Paul Simon in his Graceland era.

Some critics slam Vampire Weekend for making what they call “Passport Rock.” Because of the quick success of Vampire Weekend, these same critics don’t look forward to the throngs of imitator bands, anxious to show off the international sounds they have “discovered” while traveling to lesser privileged countries.

Ross and Chris from the band don’t feel these criticisms apply to Vampire Weekend, since no one in the band has been to Africa. According to them, they simply like to incorporate disparate influences—basically everything they like, including hip hop. Vampire Weekend are doing everything they can to make indie rock interesting again.

Hey, I’m Scott Wood. I was a huge fan of the late, great Versus blog, so it was awesome when the guys at Winnie Cooper invited me to post here, on their new blog.

Download my interview with the band, recorded on a sunny but windy Vancouver day. And check out these tracks… Vampire Weekend does not disappoint.

Every Monday, you can look forward to me posting an interview (along with a track or two)… Enjoy!

Vampire Weekend on the interview show

Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma

Vampire Weekend – Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa