As promised: The state of my “2009 awesomeness” playlist, in which I collect the songs that catch my ear as the year progresses in order to not make my best-of list a last-minute-of-December clusterfuck sort of thing. (It inevitably winds up being like that, but you know, I have noble intentions.) It’s after the jump, and has some contextual links added in. Feel free to make your own and share it here! MORE »
Posts Tagged ‘yeah yeah yeahs’
somethin 4 the weekend
What Would Be On Your “2009 Awesomeness” Playlist Right Now?
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Try To Add Something To “Saturday Night Live”
This weekend’s Saturday Night Live was another sign that the show’s writers are still trying to figure out how to navigate the post-Sarah Palin landscape, with a sorta-depressing skit about host Zac Efron’s realization that he will never shake the “teen idol” tag placed around his neck by High School Musical being the nominal highlight; there was also a sketch featuring Bon Jovi “opposite band” Jon Bovi that went on so long, I pictured the show’s director waving frantically behind the camera, making gum-stretching gestures at Jason Sudeikis and Will Forte out of fear that the show would end at 12:45. Oh, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs played, too; the trio performed their new single “Zero” (which I really want to hear the Killers’ take on, to be honest; at the very least, Karen O and Brandon Flowers are kindred spirits in shoulder-plumage) and the old chestnut “Maps,” I guess in the hopes that the Zac-loving tweens who tuned in would remember the song from their brothers’ endless Rock Band sessions. Clips after the jump. MORE »
Reading And Leeds Try To Keep Things Current
Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Fall Out Boy, the Prodigy, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs are among the acts playing this year’s Reading and Leeds Festivals, the twinned festivals that will be held in the UK during the last weekend of August. The Guardian notes that unlike other outdoor extravaganzas in the UK, Reading and Leeds are not sowing the oats of nostalgia, picking for its headliners acts that have actually had albums come out during the latter half of the ’00s. Progress sure looks funny these days! Full bills after the jump. MORE »
leak of the day
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Embrace Their Destiny
ARTIST: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
TITLE: It’s Blitz!
RELEASE DATE: April 14, 2009
WEB DEBUT: Feb. 23, 2009 MORE »
leak of the day
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs Learn Their Letters And Numbers
ARTIST: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
TITLE: “Zero”
WEB DEBUT: Feb. 16, 2009 MORE »
somethin 4 the weekend
Admit It: There’s No Better Musical Valentine Than A Well-Executed Cover Song
Between this Monday’s release of the latest covers-stuffed War Child charity album—which includes the Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ take on “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” and Lily Allen’s drowsy reworking of “Straight To Hell”—and the “what are your favorite cover songs” meme going around Facebook lately, I figured it would be fun to have us all share some of our favorite reworkings of popular songs. A few of mine after the jump, presented with minimal comment because after a week of scandals and Grammys and people not being dead I am wiped out. Feel free to share yours! The newer the better! MORE »
listening station
N.A.S.A. Gets Ready To Invade The Internet’s Space
OK, so N.A.S.A. actually stands for North America/South America, and the project from Squeak E. Clean (Spike Jonze’s brother; you may also remember him as the guy who created the Karen O song for that Adidas ad) and DJ Zegon certainly has transcontinental goals. Its track listing reads like a lineup card for the Hype Machine Vs. Elbo.ws All-Star Internet Music Blog-Off (Tom Waits! The RZA! Lykke Li!), and the latest song to leak from the album, “Whachadoin,” is more proof of that, what with it featuring M.I.A. and Santogold and Spank Rock and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner. So you have a “banger” beat and M.I.A. shouting, and Spank Rock being filthy, and Santogold… in there somewhere. If anything, it brings to mind the Converse ad where Santogold, Julian Casablancas, and Pharrell do their own schtick without ever cohering. I guess the endless remix culture perpetuated by blogs (LIKE THIS ONE) had to come to a point where the songs were already pre-chewed-up-and-spit-out for people, right? Anyway, another track from the album—with David Byrne! and Chuck D! so eclectic!—is after the jump. MORE »
