I’m not sure when I first heard the name Santogold. It might have been on Rolling Stone’s Artists to Watch List for 2008. Maybe I heard she opened for Bjork in New York. Maybe I read Creator was on Grey’s Anatomy. Regardless, there has been much digital ink spilled all over the shop about this Philly/Brooklyn artist and her debut record is just coming out this week. Basically enough hype to make you never want to hear her music.

Fortunately, the record arrived in my mail box a couple weeks ago and I gave it a listen without really knowing what to expect as I assumed I had not heard anything by Santogold. Then L.E.S. Artistes started and I realized I could sing along…obviously the song had snuck into my brain somehow over the past few months without me knowing it. But now that I actually listened to it I realized that the song is really, really fucking awesome.

And it didn’t stop there.

You’ll Find A Way starts off sounding like The Police. I hate The Police but I did not hate You’ll Find A Way. Well played, Santi, well played. Shove It expands on the reggae influence of You’ll Find A Way by showing off Santogold’s love of dub while Say Aha kicks up the pace with a chorus you will be singing in a few months.

By the time Lights Out finished I was convinced I’d heard the best pop song of 2008. I still am. Hell, one song even made me think of Pixies (can you spot the Kim Deal-esque bassline?). The album closes with Anne, another highlight and a surprisingly mature ending to what is a pretty great album.

While Santogold’s debut is far from perfect (there are a few songs that scream “average”) it never stops being fun. I will be incredibly surprised if Santogold isn’t kinda huge before 2008 draws to a close.

Download
Santogold – Say Aha

Watch the video for L.E.S. Artistes:

And finally, according to the cover story in this week’s Brag, Santogold may be heading Australia’s way in July. Expect the kids do go apeshit.

Just before I took off to Victoria this week I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Die! Die! Die! at the Oxford Art Factory. I had trouble writing my review…it was just too hard to put into words. I also forgot to mention the supports (The Ripping Dylans and Talons). Thankfully, others in attendance did a much better job and some have photos that better explain the madness of the gig:

Polaroids
Twelve Major Chords
FasterLouder
Joe Hardy (who is all over this post)

Joe has also started a petition to bring Yeasayer to Australia…
…and he is also sorting out all the details of Gotye’s impending invasion of Europe…
…while Tim has the promo shot to prove this invasion will succeed.

On Wednesday the Splendour in the Grass lineup got announced. I’m not super thrilled with the lineup and won’t be heading up to Byron, but the thought that Sigur Ros may return to Sydney soon has me very, very excited.

And from a bit further afield, Conor Oberst will be releasing a solo album in August on Merge.

And OMG Spoon cover The Smiths’ Panic…

OK, I think that’s enough catching up. I took the photo above while we were gallivanting around Victoria…it’s a beautiful place.

This is the new Constantines video for Hard Feelings. Their new album, Kensington Heights, is out now on Arts & Crafts. While I don’t think it’s their strongest effort, the album did sound absolutely fantastic on the Great Ocean Road this week as we drove to the 12 Apostles in the beautiful sunshine.

Download
Constantines – Hard Feelings

Before I went away I had also planned a wee bit of a rant about Arts & Crafts and the Cons for including their Feist duet Islands in the Stream as a bonus track when you pre-ordered from iTunes but giving the people who actually go out and buy the physical thing no reward….but I won’t.

Stream Islands in the Stream
Or (maybe) find an mp3 here

Recorded live in London rather than New York, as part of Conan’s “Green” show. Apparently House of Cards is also the new radio single in the US…not one I would have chosen. The song is also being used in an ad by the NBA:

After nearly 18 months since last seeing New Zealand’s Die! Die! Die! I finally had my head kicked in by their live show once again. What an absolutely mental gig. Five seconds after taking the stage, lead singer Andrew Wilson was in the crowd belting out Promises, Promises. It set the tone for the insanity that would follow: bass players jumping off amps, crowd surfing by band members, stage diving by crowd members…and a whole lot of devotion to the band. One eager fan seemed intent on giving a lengthy “leg” massage to the lead singer all night.

The insanity in the crowd only fueled my enjoyment of the gig. As Angus said after the gig, it was a “proper fucking punk show.” The band absolutely gave it their all on stage. The songs, while at times totally out of control, were incredibly intense. When the band left the stage every one in the room was left wanting more…I’m already waiting for them to come back to town. Die! Die! Die! are easily one of the best live bands going around these days. I implore you to get out and see them.

My blurry, chaos filled photos probably tell a better story of the night.

They are about to hit the road in the U.S. with The Von Bondies including a stop in Vancouver at Richards. You Vancouverites need to check these guys out.

Download
Die! Die! Die! – A.T.T.I.T.U.D.
Die! Die! Die! – Blue Skies
Die! Die! Die! – Sideways Here We Come

It was great to see you Josh and great to meet you Kristy! Good luck with Splendour on Wednesday.

And as always, Jonny (and his entourage), Angus, Maria, Cara, Adam and Joe…fun times. Beardy times.

Radiohead’s Nude remix project has elicited some pretty terrible remixes, but a few decent ones as well. This remix by Do Make Say Think is actually a pretty interesting blend of the styles of both bands.

Download
Radiohead – Nude (Re Make Say Think) (link from At Ease)

The Holy Fuck remix is another good one.

Download
Radiohead – Nude (Holy Fuck remix)

There’s also some that seem to be by other well known artists and producers…but are they legit? I for one really like the “Kevin Shields” remix below but I don’t think it’s actually him.

Speculate away…

In other Radiohead news, while the EMI double CD Best Of might be easy to boycott, the Best of DVD will prove a little more difficult. There’s some stuff on there that’s never been available on DVD before. Pop Is Dead! Finally!

A couple weeks back I saw Baseball and they kicked my ass. This Melbourne band really are something else. They sound like a bunch of possessed gypsies intent on assaulting your ears with as much insanity as possible. It’s that good.

Anyway, I’ve really been digging their album Animal Kingdom since the gig. I listen to it a lot and each time I come away feeling as though I’m hearing it for the first time. It just sounds like no other record in my CD collection. And I’m pretty sure you won’t hear anything else like this all year.

Download
Baseball – Soft Boy Factory
Baseball – Faith Like A Cross, Trust Like A Flag

I had a hard time choosing what mp3s to share, so I went with the opening and closing songs from the record. Everything that falls in between is just as amazing.

Back in January I wrote about A Silver Mt. Zion amidst the excitement of a new album announcement. Well that album has since been released, it’s called 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons, and it’s a big, bombastic record that seems to have polarized many. Drowned In Sound absolutely loves the record while Pitchfork was extremely underwhelmed.

I, for one, am really enjoying the record as it’s an unexpected one from the band. While in the past the strings have been at the forefront of much of the music, 13 Blues is all about the guitars. More than at any other time in the group’s career, this record sounds like a band standing together in one room and bashing out the songs as one. Bashing indeed…the guitars are loud and distorted, the drums violently echo through the tracks, and a small army of voices scream, chant, and sing Efrim’s lamentations.

While some may mourn the loss of the more quietly desperate moments of previous records (or even records where Efrim kept his mouth shut), I think 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons is a brave step in a new direction for the Montreal collective. Where they go from here is anyone’s guess.

Download
A Silver Mt. Zion – Black Waters Blowed (edit) (via Stereogum)

Since the band are pro-taping there are many Silver Mt. Zion shows for download/streaming on the Live Music Archive. The band are already playing some new songs in concert…

Download
A Silver Mt. Zion – Metal Bird
A Silver Mt. Zion – There Is A Light

The second leg of Radiohead’s North American 2008 tour went on sale last night just after 11pm local time. Now I’m not even sure if I will be able to make it back for the shows but just in case I do make it home for a visit we fought and fought and fought last night to get tickets (after having the page automatically refreshing for seven hours I was starting to see frightening orange shapes in the background image).

Normally W.A.S.T.E. presales are pretty smooth sailing…at least compared to last night. In 2006 we scored amazing seats to both shows in a small venue in L.A., the most in demand tickets, without any issues. But last night, servers died, everyone in North America was awake (these work better in the middle of the night) and pages just refused to load. But after 45 minutes of cursing and desperate refreshing we managed to score tickets to Vancouver as well as pit tickets in Seattle. Score. So thanks again W.A.S.T.E.

Now we just need to figure out a way of getting there…

Download
Radiohead – Big Boots (aka Man O’War)

And the blood suckers at EMI will be releasing a Radiohead Best Of in a couple months.

This came up on the iPod on the way home from work today. Arcade Fire recorded live by Triple JJJ in Sydney on January 23. I still get chills thinking about the show I saw at the Enmore.

Anyway, this performance (and recording) kicks ass and you must have it. You even get a little but of Highway 61 Revisited at the end…

Download
Arcade Fire – (Antichrist Television Blues) (live in Sydney 23/01/08)