Category Archives: video

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Poetic Memory: Man Man (List)

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Full album stream: Man Man – Life Fantastic
MP3: Man Man – “The Ballad of Butter Beans” (from 2008’s Rabbit Habits)

The gloriously wacky Philadelphians known as Man Man are coming to San Diego on May 11, and we couldn’t be happier. The upcoming Casbah gig is one of O&B’s most anticipated shows of the year, and the band’s fourth album, Life Fantastic (out today), is already shaping up to be one of 2011’s best releases.

Produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk), the new disc builds upon the schizophrenic sound of Man Man’s O&B-acclaimed third LP, 2008’s Rabbit Habits. As should be expected, Life Fantastic‘s tracks are at times morbid and hilarious, but always musically impeccable. The new album is a little more melodic — and dare we say, more accessible — than their past efforts, and while catchiness has never been a problem for the group, this time around the songs are more infectious than ever.

In anticipation of tomorrow’s Casbah show, drummer Christoper “Pow Pow” Powell sent us a list of his favorite YouTube videos, which include everything from Salt N Peppa to The Muppet Show. Check it out below…

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Poetic Memory: Dessa (List)

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When your first album has people favorably comparing you to Joni Mitchell and Roseanne Cash, you’re off to a good start. But when you update those influences with a hip-hop edge, you’re off to an even better one.

Such has been the case for the one-named Dessa, who released her debut, A Badly Broken Code, last year. The Minneapolis native’s unique combination of rapping and singing has earned her plenty of attention, and her current headlining tour should only add to the buzz.

Dessa will play the Casbah on Sunday, May 8, along with Doomtree label-mates Sims — whose latest album, Bad Time Zoo, is currently at the top of the CMJ hip-hop charts — and Lazerbeak. For a taste of what to expect, you can watch Dessa’s video for “Dixon’s Girl” above.

Tickets for the show can be purchased here. In anticipation of the event, Dessa was kind enough to share her top 5 influences, in order of appearance: Continue reading…

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Video: Fleet Foxes – “Grown Ocean”

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MP3: Fleet Foxes – “Grown Ocean”
MP3: Fleet Foxes – “Helplessness Blues”
MP3: Cave Singers – “Swim Club”
MP3: Cave Singers – “Black Leaf”

On May 3, Fleet Foxes released their sophomore effort, Helplessness Blues. It’s a rich, layered labor of love that finds the band shelving some of its crutches in favor of a more complex, thoughtful sound. Just like its self-titled predecessor, Helplessness Blues is receiving plenty of praise from critics, and the band’s concert tickets are selling like hotcakes. Continue reading…

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Live Video & Photos: April Smith and the Great Picture Show at M-Theory Records, April 25, 2011

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April Smith and the Great Picture Show brought their swinging, old-timey pop to M-Theory Records on Monday. The New Jersey native and her band were surprised by the big turnout at the Mission Hills store, but they shouldn’t have been. Anybody who has heard their excellent album Songs For A Sinking Ship is most likely a fan, and hearing Smith belt those notes in a live setting was clearly an offer San Diegans couldn’t refuse.

Of course, seeing as how Smith and Co. just finished a tour opening for Fitz and the Tantrums, it’s safe to assume that Monday’s crowd wasn’t the biggest they’d ever played for. But that didn’t stop them from launching into renditions of songs like “Colors,” “Terrible Things,” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous” with enough gleeful energy to fill an arena.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth a thousand pictures — but we’re bloggers, not mathematicians, so we’ve got both for you. Check out the video for “Colors” above and the pictures of April Smith and the Great Picture Show below, which should tide you over until the next time they come to town. Continue reading…

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MP3: TV on the Radio – “Caffeinated Consciousness”

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UPDATE: According to SD Dialed In this show has been postponed until May 13. The good news is that we are extending the entry deadline for this contest to May 10.

MP3: TV on the Radio – “Caffeinated Consciousness”

TV on the Radio‘s latest album, Nine Types of Light, will be released next Tuesday, April 12, and it’s full of love songs. The amorous vibe is a change of pace from the band’s usual tales of urban distress, but it doesn’t mean the Brooklyn boys have gone soft. Continue reading…