W♥M

Potpourri: Phil Anastasia, David Yazbek, Lykke Li, Scarlett Johansson

nobody@vox.com(W♥M) — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:12:18 -0500

05/08/2008 04:00:02 ♥ written by vu ()

Music is Good (5-7-2008)

NEVER GET OUT OF THIS

David Yazbek And His Warmest Regards

Links

Philanastasia

http://weheartmus...

I have here The Outfit Movement Vol 1 by Philanastasia (official/myspace), a New York-based unde...

David Yazbek

http://weheartmus...

David Yazbek is not only a Tony award nominee for musicals like The Full Monty and Dirty Rotten S...

Okay, so these were all going to be different articles was actually meant to go live on May 6^th to today, but you know how it is when things don't go exactly according to plan.

I'm actually feeling a little under the weather (coughing/horrible throat issues and too much mucus build up). I just feel incredibly miserable right now.

Item #1: Christopher's Rollo Armstrong article is featured on vox.com/music - but the real conspiracy is that doesn't feature any The Crimea.

David Yazbek - We Heart Music Promo

Phil Anastasia - We Heart Music Drop

Phil Anastasia - Simon Says

Item #2: One of the PR company that sends us music to review did some promo for us and among the 20 tracks, these are my favorite: Phil Anastasia and David Yazbek, only because they really deviate from the standard "you're listening to We Heart Music" script that they were probably given. Phil Anastasia especially cracked me up and I had to play that back a few times when I first heard it.

I do have a note I wanted to mention about Yazbek, I was shopping at Cheapo Records in Uptown. Yes, I still buy CDs, although I have to admit, often used. Anyway, I was in the very end of the Jazz area when I happened to see that distinctive Evil Monkey Man cover! I had to smile to myself as if there was some kind of inside joke with the punchline of "I saw you on W♥M, dude".

Item #3: By the way, speaking of Jazz, one of my favorite shows that I listen to is NPR's Jazz Profiles, which I get as a podcast.

This is such a great program. It's often very detailed, and in fact, the last episode I listened to on Charles Mingus was so long and rich with interviews and history that it was split up in two parts.

Even if you don't love Jazz, I think you'll enjoy listening to host Nancy Wilson as she takes you on a journey of some of American's famous (and not-so-famous) Jazz musicians.

Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance

Lykke Li

Lykke Li Tour Dates

05/08/08 New York, @ Bowery Ballroom
05/09/08 Boston, MA @ Middle East
05/10/08 Montreal, QUE @ Lambi
05/11/08 Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
05/12/08 Chicago, IL @ Shuba’s
05/14/08 Vancouver, BC @ Red Room
05/15/08 Seattle, WA @ Triple Door
05/16/08 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
05/18/08 San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s
05/19/08 Los Ang, CA @ El Rey Theatre
05/31/08 Siesta Hässleholm
06/01/08 Blue Flowers London
06/02/08 Night & Day Manchester
06/03/08 Hi-Fi Club Leeds
06/04/08 Cargo London
06/06/08 Albert Brighton
06/07/08 Stealth Nottingham
06/08/08 King Tuts Glasgow
06/10/08 Jericho Tavern Oxford
06/11/08 ICA w/ El Perro del Mar London
06/12/08 Sugar Club Dublin
06/14/08 Hultsfred Festival Hultsfred
07/03/08 Quart Festival Norway
07/04/08 Arvika Festivalen Arvika
07/05/08 Roskilde Festival Roskilde
07/06/08 Eurockeennes Festival Belfort
07/31/08 Storsjöyran Ostersund
08/07/08 Öya Festival Oslo
08/08/08 Haldern Festival Lower Rhine
08/09/08 Way Out West Göteborg
09/05/08 Bestival Isle Of Wight

Item #4: Lykke Li releases Little Bit EP on said Tuesday, and Buster called her album, Youth Novels:

Pretty much flawless. With a perfect balance of catchy sweet pop tunes, and depressing slow jams, it's going to be one of the best albums of 2008... if not the best.

Those are some pretty bold words.

Now, I actually listened to just one of her b-side, "Dance Dance Dance", and I'll have to say that it's actually pretty good. She has a very sweet voice, a little bit creepy, and I'm even going to refrain myself from saying "me lykke".

She's currently on tour with fellow Swedes, Anna Ternheim (read more) and headliner, El Perro Del Mar, who we've previously mentioned, many, many, times, throughout the US.

Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head

Item #5: Okay, I'm not even sure why this fascinate me, but apparently hot girl Scarlett Johansson has an album coming out called Anywhere I Lay My Head on May 20^th. What probably saves her is that they're all Tom Waits cover songs!

There's not really too much I can add to this, except that I remember the first time I saw Johansson on Dan Clowes's "Ghost World", I thought she was going to go places. By the time "Lost in Translation" came out, she was already a star.

I don't know, maybe I see her differently now, but now I just group Johansson with other popstars and I can't really take her seriously.

That's all I can muster up, I'm heading back to bed now. Goodnight and thank you.

Links: www.lykkeli.com

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Simon Says

nobody@vox.com(W♥M) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:15:50 -0500

I'm sure you've all played Simon Says when you were a kid, right?

The game's simple enough, one person gives instructions and you must obey it (but only if he says "Simon says"). Failing to follow Simon's instructions, you are eliminated from the game.

So, Simon says enjoy these songs:

Discography

[2008] The Outfit

[2008] The Outfit Movement Vol 1

Sounds Like

House of Pain

http://weheartmus...

House of Pain was an Irish-styled American hip-hop group who released three albums in the early t...

Phil Anastasia - Simon Says

I have here The Outfit Movement Vol 1 by Philanastasia (official/myspace), a New York-based underground hip-hop artist that reminds me of House of Pain (in fact, the opening song on this promo album is a reimagined "Who's the Man"). His biography lists him as "a white boy that isn't trying to sound like Eminem", which I think is a good thing.

The Outfit looks like a group of rappers (Lazy K, Neph-E-Neph, The Last American B-Boy, Dyverse The First, King Just, Lounge-Lo, Rahsaan, and Dr. Ama), under Phil Anastasia's umbrella, doing original rap lyrics over existing recorded music.

What impressed me about this album is that it sounds remarkably clear as the whole thing is recorded live, hosted by one of the Outfitters, DJ Lazy K.

When I heard Gorillaz's "Feels Good Inc" as the backing track for PA, King Just & The Last American B-Boy's raps, I had to smile at how different this song suddenly turned out.

Pharoahe Monch - Simon Says

Anyway, the Outfit's mix of "Simon Says" is not that different from the original Pharoahe Monch's version and variants - includes all the rude boobies lyrics.

If you like underground hip-hop, you'll definitely want to check out Philanastasia. If you want a copy of The Outfit Movement Vol 1, it is actually free for a limited time if you purchase their main original album, The Outfit (both CDs can be yours for the low price of $7.99). I don't need to tell you that this is a very good price for a full length.

The Shangri-Las - Simon Says

The Shangri-Las named themselves after a New York restaurant and was together for about six short years. You might have heard of "Leader of the Pack", which is their most well-known song.

If you think two of the girls look alike, that's because they are identical twins Marge and Mary Ann Ganser, while the other original members were also sisters: Mary and Betty Weiss (Betty rarely made public appearance, however).

Their very first recording was actually "Simon Says" in December 1963. This was very early in their career and it definitely has that Motown and Northern soul dance vibe. I love it! I just want to dance whenever I hear this song.

They also have an alternate version called "Simon Speaks", which I don't think I liked as much as "Simon Says".

When they had recorded this song, they were all under the age of 18, with Betty being the oldest at 17.

At the height of their popularity, in 1964, they opened up for the Beatles, The Drifters and James Brown.

Unfortunately, the band went into early retirement after disputes with their record label. They were only 21 and 22 :)

The Pipettes - Simon Says

Speaking of pop songs and cute girls, The Pipettes (thepipettes.co.uk) have a b-side called "Simon Says" off their Judy single.

This is pretty standard-Pipettes sound, and since I've already spent far too much time talking about the band early on their career - I would suggest you check out my various articles on them.

They've been pretty quiet lately, their album was released in the US last October with a new cover and I can only assume they are writing new songs in 2008. If I hear any announcements, I'll be sure to let you know.

1910 Fruitgum Company - Simon Says

Finally, 1910 Fruitgum Company (1910fruitgumcompany.com) are actually still around since the 60s.

Their first major hit was actually "Simon Says" in 1968. If you listen to the song, it's very bubblegum pop - which is kind of funny, seeing as the band's named after a candy wrapper that singer Frank Jackell found.

According to their official website, they are now performing with the original band members and recently released brand new albums with old and new hits.

04/02/2008 01:12:08 vu my♥posts www.weheartmusic.com

Read and post comments | Send to a friend