the prodigy@glastonbury

new video

So Glastonbury is over for another year and what have we learned? That the BBC coverage was awful, that according to the Guardian Blur were the best headliners ever and that, as ever, it looked like a whole load of fun!

Although people would have you believe that Blur were the only thing to see on Sunday, I think I would've opted for The Prodigy... and judging by this video I wouldn't have regretted it - they look and sound brilliant!
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final glastonbury 09 post (til it's over)

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This is where my vote goes...

Have fun!
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kanye west, zach galifiankis and will oldham

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My love for all things Zach Galifianakis has recently returned - largely due to watching The Hangover. Now I could post a load of youtube videos highlighting how beautifully artful and free his comedy is, but instead I'll just post the video he made for Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (how had I forgotten about this?).

Apparently, he made it on the condition that he could do whatever he wanted and that Kanye wouldn't see it until after it had been edited. As a result it's brilliant - and features a hilariously bizarre appearance from Will Oldham (Bonnie "Prince" Billy).
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mixtape for (alt) glastonbury

side a
Eagles of Death Metal (Saturday, Pyramid) - San Berdoo Sunburn
The Aliens (Sunday, Queen's Head) - Sunlamp Show
Animal Collective (Friday, Park) - My Girls
First Aid Kit (Saturday, Park) - Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
Low Anthem (Friday, Queen's Head & Saturday, Park) - Charlie Darwin

side b
Cold War Kids (Sunday, Park) - God, Make Up Your Mind
Micachu & The Shapes (Sunday, Park) - Golden Phone
Jesca Hoop (Sunday, Rabbit Hole) - Murder of Birds
Metric (Saturday, Other) - Help I'm Alive
Slow Club (Friday, Guardian Lounge) - I Was Unconscious, It Was A Dream

and here's a link to a .rar file of the entire tape

Going over the Glastonbury lineup this year doesn't fill one with a sense of artistic excellence and excitement; it's pretty dull stuff (I know Glastonbury is much more than just music!). However, there are a few highlights - Bon Iver, Neil Young, M Ward, Q Tip, Fleet Foxes and Jamie T to name pretty much all of them!

This tape is filled with some other artists that might be worth checking out (First Aid Kit, Micachu, Animal Collective) and a few that would be certainties in my book (Low Anthem, Eagles of Death Metal, Jesca Hoop, Cold War Kids).

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mixtape for june

side a
Mos Def - Supermagic
Magic Arm - Bootsy Bootsy
Cryptacize - Tail & Mane
The Joy Formidable - Austere
The Phenomenal Handclap Band - I Been Born Again

side b
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse - Just War (w/Gruff Rhys)
Oasis - (Get Off Your) High Horse Lady (Devendra Banhart Remix)
Holler, Wild Rose! - Peace Lily
Arthur Russell - A Little Lost
Jeff Buckley - Morning Theft

And here's a link to a neatly packaged .rar file of the entire mixtape

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jay z - d.o.a. (death of auto-tune)

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Jay Z will release Blueprint 3 in September and I didn't think that, after his total destruction of Glastonbury and then hearing "Jockin' Jay Z (Dope Boy Fresh)" (an instant classic!), I could be more excited. I was wrong. It's not 'vintage' Jay Z in terms of hooks but in terms of subject and lyrics - it's great. You gotta love anyone who's gonna attack the way that, like, 80% of today's records are made.

Kanye said it was gonna be a real b-boy record and be the 'anti auto-tune'. Here's the proof. Play Loud.

Jay Z - D.O.A. (Death Of AutoTune)

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desiderata

Although I'd never encountered this piece, 'Desiderata', until last night my understanding is that it is really quite famous. I do know that, despite what it says, it wasn't discovered in a Baltimore church (though that would've been impressive!) but it is, to my mind, very good. Very simple. Very positive. Very soothing.

And it fuels my quasi-religious ferver!

Whilst it doesn't re-invent the wheel with what it says it is quite striking to see these things written out. Food for thought in our confusing times.

Click on the pic to see it clearly.
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more grizzly bear

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My love for Grizzly Bear currently knows no bounds and it's enhanced by seeing live performances like this. The thought that they can do justice to the beautiful and intricate recorded music that they produce makes me even more excited to see them live in August! Yay!

These videos are very good.


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