Side One: Track One

The Mynabirds

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:43:18 PDT

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: Yesterday I was sent a couple of videos that I think you should check out. One is from Reptar for the song Sebastian, and the other is from Future Of The Left for Sheena Is A T-Shirt Salesman. Expect both to help you smile while wasting a little time at work.

Laura Burhenn is awesome, and I'm really excited about the upcoming sophomore effort from her current band, the Mynabirds. If it's anything at all like their debut, then I imagine it will find a spot on my year-end album list. You'll be able to bring Generals into your home when the always fantastic Saddle Creek releases it on June 5. Enjoy.

:The Mynabirds - Body Of Work: To be honest, this upbeat track with its upbeat message struggles to not totally come off as nothing more than a cheesy mess. I, however, still dig it. I know I'm "Burhenn forever," but I really do find the song to be full of charm, and that especially goes for the joyously dance-worthy arrangement. You should be able to have fun with this.

ACL/Beerland Show (Dan)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:20:57 PDT

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

I'm writing this as the Indiana Pacers try to win the pivotal game five against the Miami Heat, so forgive me if this is unorganized. My hated of the Heat makes it tough for me to focus. Now, onto my miscellaneous stream of consciousness musings.

As most of you know by now, the lineup for Austin City Limits was announced yesterday. Naturally, the reactions to the list vary widely. Some people are psyched, while others are disappointed. The Red Hot Chili Peppers seem to be the most divisive, love 'em or hate 'em choice. While I haven’t listened to a RHCP album in many years, I can’t hate the group. They were the first real band I ever got to see up close. Back in 1989 they played a small college in my dinky town. There were only a few hundred people there and I was in the front row the entire show. The band deserves derision for spawning countless shitty funk-rap-rock fusion groups and for some truly embarrassingly bad songs themselves, but the 17 year old me will always think they’re awesome.

I perused the full ACL lineup and I didn’t recognize many Austin groups. Perhaps I missed a few but it looks like Gary Clark Jr., Quiet Company, The Wheeler Brothers, Aaron Ivey Band, and The Eastern Sea are the only local acts. Quiet Company is definitely deserving and Gary Clark, Jr. is a potential breakout star, but I wish they had selected a few more local bands. The show and festival were originally focused on Austin music, so it’s key that the concert organizers don’t stray too far from their roots. Here’s hoping bands such as No Future, Not In The Face, Bill Callahan, or T-Bird and The Breaks get the call next year.

This is a MP3 blog, so I suppose I should include some tunes. Tomorrow night Beerland features a stacked lineup of garage rock and ugly pop bands. It’s a mix of local and touring bands: The Wolf, The Cry (Portland), Sweet Talk, Something Fierce (Houston), and Pharaohs. Admittedly, I’m most excited for Something Fierce, but I’m definitely intrigued by what I’ve heard from the other bands, especially Pharoahs. Unfortunately, their album is still being mixed, so I can’t share a track, but you can listen to a number of songs on their Facebook page.

:The Wolf - Love Minus Three:

:The Cry - Sleeping Alone:

Sweet Talk - Talk

:Something Fierce - Future Punks:

Best Coast (Zoe)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:19:29 PDT

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Oh hey, it’s your resident Best Coast fan girl, reporting for duty. Did you forget last fall’s post about my deep admiration for BC? You’re lucky you dodged this bullet till now; after 35 Denton I almost wrote a lengthy essay, "Why I traveled four hours to Denton to stand at an outdoor festival in shorts and a t-shirt in 40 degree weather while it rained, just to see a band that I had seen 5 times already, Best Coast." And that was just the title!

Well, as of May 15 Best Coast released a new album, The Only Place. This is great for two reasons; it temporarily justifies the amount of time I listen to, think about, tweet about, and talk about Best Coast, and it’s actually a really awesome album. There’s been a lot of discussion about The Only Place, mostly because it’s been deemed "more mature." It’s certainly a slightly smoother sound - the old 7" style fuzzy/buzzy Best Coast distortion is nowhere to be found. The songs are a bit more introspective. But at the core, it’s the same old Best Coast that we know and love. While that’s garnered its own criticism - i.e. why haven’t they grown more artistically - I’ve always believed in those wise words of many backwoods Texans; "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."

My two favorite tracks on the album (so far) are Better Girl and My Life. These songs are pop-rock at their best. Better Girl treats us to upbeat, lazy complaining that seems made for ladies to wistfully sway their hips to, in that odd, noncommittal indie rock show dance. My Life is a little more intense - although it may seem like a light song at first, the hint of violin and layered vocals give it heart-haunting depth.

Enjoy these two gems; but I highly recommend you give the whole album a spin. I may be a superfan, but there really isn’t a bad song on it. And of course they’ll be in town the first week of June for Chaos in Tejas at Emo’s - you can get tix here.

:Best Coast - Better Girl:

:Best Coast - My Life:

Veronica Falls

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:06:52 PDT

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: If you happen to have some free time today, I advise checking out a couple of full lengths that are now streaming. Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zero's Here is ... here, and the Walkmen's Heaven can be found here.

I didn't give Veronica Falls' self titled effort a listen until 2011 had already came to an end, and I sort of hate myself for it, as I know for sure it would have landed on my year-end album list. Oh well. At least I'm not missing out on plugging the My Heart Beats single that VF recently released via Slumberland. It awaits you below. Enjoy.

:Veronica Falls - My Heart Beats: Like everything else on this band's last album, this is one of those songs that is as infectious as can be. Once it's in your head, it never leaves. Just so you know, the b-side for this single is also really good. So, now you are devoid of any reasons to not immediately run out and order a few copies for yourself and your closest friends.

Quickdraw (Broncho, Lemonade, Perfume Genius, My Great Ghost, Baauer)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Mon, 21 May 2012 06:56:37 PDT

Monday, May 21, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: There's a strong lack of shows going down around Austin tonight, so it looks as though you're just going to have to stay in. I advise finding as many episodes of VEEP as you can. That show is hilarious.

My deaf neighbor recommended today's music. Enjoy.

:Broncho - Try Me Out Sometime: This act released a full length titled Can't Get Past The Lips towards the end of last year, and apparently I just totally whiffed on giving it a listen. Shame on me! Also, thanks for nothing, President Obama. In any case, this a niece piece of punk, and I look forward to the chance to see the band play at the Mohawk on June 27.

:Lemonade - Softkiss: I'm not going to say that this track is better than their last single (it was called Neptune, in case you don't remember), but it's still got plenty of synthy goodness going for it. Technically, you won't be able to snatch up Diver until True Panther releases it on May 29, but it's currently available in its entirety on Spotify. Go check it out, friends.

:Perfume Genius - Rusty Chains: Over the last month or so I've made an effort to spend a little time with PG's Put Your Back N 2 It, and it's actually pretty good. Granted, I have to listen to it with headphones and I kind of need to be in a particular mood before I can hit play, but I do think he crafts quality music. This track is apparently something he's been doing live and getting a good response to, so he cut a studio version. Get it now.

:My Great Ghost - Plain Sight: This track is just a straight ear pleaser. It's so well crafted, especially when it comes to the variety of layers that constantly swirl around as the song moves along. You have to make sure that you throw on a nice pair of headphones before you hit play. My Great Ghost is all set to release their self titled EP on July 10.

:Baauer - Harlem Shake: Normally, I don't at all dig songs that could double as house music in a club I'd never even consider going to, but this track turned out to be surprisingly infectious. I think you'll see what I mean if you make sure to listen to with the volume thoroughly cranked. This song was just released via Jeffree's, which is a Mad Decent offshoot.

Weekly Movie News Rundown

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Sun, 20 May 2012 10:06:05 PDT

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Time for your weekly notable news update! Below you'll find a slew of sentences meant to provide a brief glimpse of what's been going on over the past week in movieland. If something leaves you desperate for more info then my advice is to do a little extra research on one or all of the following fantastic sites: Latino Review, Dark Horizons, Ain't It Cool News, CHUD and/or JoBlo. Now, read on!

Simon Pegg will star in Hector And The Search For Happiness. I will let you guess what the movie is about.

Mark Wahlberg may star in The Disciple Program. The film is said to follow a man trying to solve the mystery of his wife's death.

Lionsgate/Summit are looking at possibly bringing in Ryan Reynolds to star in a Highlander reboot.

Duncan Jones (Moon) is reportedly set to direct a biopic on James Bond creator Ian Fleming.

Daniel Radcliffe is said to be interested in joining the cast of Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio.

Hampton Fancher, who wrote the original Blade Runner, has been hired to pen the sequel for Ridley Scott.

Alex Proyas will direct Gods Of Egypt for Summit. No word yet on an exact plot.

Liam Neeson will star in A Walk Amongst The Tombstones. The film will follow Neeson around as he beats up a slew of bad guys.

James Badge Dale (24) has landed a role in Iron Man 3. The part is rumored to be that of the character Eric Savin, who is also known as Coldblood.

John Woo is set to direct Day Of The Beast, which is a remake of Youth Of The Beast. The original dealt with the dealings of the Yakuza.

Scott Z. Burns (Contagion) has been hired to write the sequel to Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes.

Aaron Sorkin will adapt Steve Jobs for Sony.

Jay Roach is set to direct El Presidente. The movie is said to be about a secret service agent that has to protect a sleazy former president. Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr. are said to be the frontrunners to star.

Channing Tatum will star in Roland Emmerich's White House Down.

Robin Williams, Mila Kunis, and Peter Dinklage will star in The Angriest Man In Brooklyn. It will reportedly center around a doctor trying to find a patient that he mistakenly told only had 90 minutes to live.

This Week's Notable Trailers:

Quickdraw (Fang Island, Ms Mr, California Wives, Yeasayer, Tashaki Miyaki)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:25:08 PDT

Friday, May 18, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: I know we already plugged it twice this week, but don't forget to head down to the Mohawk tonight for the Midgetmen's 10th Anniversorry Party. It's going to be great. I promise.

These are the five songs I wished for at my birthday party in the third grade. Enjoy.

:Fang Island - Asunder: This is a nice Friday song. It's easily accessible, and there's something about the anthem-like nature of the whole thing that works well when it comes to putting yourself in a proper mindset for the weekend. Maybe we'll get lucky and the rest of their upcoming full length will be this fun. Expect to be able to snatch up Major on July 24 via Sargent House.

:Ms Mr - Hurricane: I gave this one listen and then immediately had to consider it to be one of the better tracks I've come across so far in 2012. I love the 90s pop slant that it has going for it. And the chorus? Good luck on finding a way to get it out of your head. I would like more music from this act, so someone get on with making them give me some.

:California Wives - Marianne: This band is probably best described as cookie cutter indie pop, but that has yet to deter me from liking them. I think it might have something to do with how they always managing to fill their sound with plenty of charm. The band just signed to Vagrant Records, and they're currently working on their debut full length.

:Yeasayer - Henrietta: Does the world still love Yeasayer? A year or so ago they seemed to be all the rage, but now I hardly hear anyone championing them. As for this track, it's a good one. I don't know if it'll manage to get you all worked up about the band again, but count on it at least pleasing your ears for a bit. No word yet on if this is one-off effort or the first single from a new full length.

:Tashaki Miyaki - Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Father John Misty Cover): While it's debatable as to whether or not Father John Misty has been around long enough to warrant someone covering his material, I do think this is a pretty nifty effort. In fact, I may even like it more than the original. This is just a random tune, so grab it while it's here in front of you.

The Tallest Man On Earth

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:46:38 PDT

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: Trying to put "creativity back into schools" is a rather worthwhile cause, so be sure to stop by the Mohawk tonight for the Attendance Records benefit. The show starts at 7:15pm, and for just $5 you can see the Sour Notes, Matt Hines, Mother Falcon, Guns Of Navarone, and more.

It's pretty rare that I genuinely get excited about the impending release of a new album from a folk artist, so you know it actually means something when I say I'm pumped for the new Tallest Man On Earth effort. The sure to be great full length is titled There's No Leaving Now, and it's expected out on June 12 via Secretly Canadian. Enjoy.

:The Tallest Man On Earth - 1904: Kristian Matsson is such a talented bastard. This is a warm, well crafted, nicely written song, and while you could just sit around with headphones on as you stare out of a window, it's more than accessible enough for everyone. So, crank it up and let the neighbors check it out. My guess is that they'll probably come over and thank you for it.

Breakdown - Battleship (John)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:24:25 PDT

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

For the sake of not having to write the same intro a million different ways throughout the rest of time, just know that this column avoids the overly long and sometimes dull process of full film reviews and instead opts to break things down based on what I thought going in, what happened while I was there and what I learned at the end of it all. Hope that's OK.

Read on!

The Breakdown - Battleship

The Impression:

Peter Berg (The Kingdom, Hancock) takes Hasbro's Battleship (yes, the game) and adapts it for the big screen.

The Reality:

Nice try, Government! I'm on to your games. You tried to cover up the fact that this movie was made with the sole purpose of showing directionless young men that they could become Earth-saving heroes by joining the service, but all the fancy explosions and Rihanna's stiff acting just couldn't conceal your mission. Also, there's the fact that you may have made one of the funniest films of all-time, and that totally works against you. I mean, it's as though even you weren't able to take your big-budgeted recruitment campaign seriously.

The Lesson:

Military propaganda films can be fun! Now go enlist!

Django Django (Brad)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:33:22 PDT

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Ever since I caught them at South By in March, I was content whiling my time away here on Side One without mentioning the likes of Django Django, because I thought, "Surely, these guys have been mentioned plenty on here by now." But it turns out I was wrong. And what a wrongdoing! Not a single mention. Shame on my Side One brethren; shame on me!

This quartet stumbled onto the likes of each other at an art school in Edinburgh, and it seems not all art school projects are crafted out of papier-mâché and the weird. It was years back that the quartet laid out the blueprint for their adventurous and psychedelically-bruised art-rock with the release of a modest double-A single in 2009. It’s taken all the years since then for the group to properly make their debut, and it’s one hell of an introduction.

Django Django carries a wonderfully weird sound that you would only expect to come hurtling out of an art-based expedition. The British quartet craft a sound that reveals in music what one gets when subjecting light to a prism - put another way, their music makes me see colors and shapes, maaaaan. It’s a cosmic sound of swirling melody, electro flourishes and bending sound set against a staunch, percussive, beat-driven base. Add to this perfectly jangled guitar hooks and sweet, sweet harmonies, and you’ve got an enormously enjoyable psychedelic wonder of an album that’s a cohesive mix of the bold and bizarre. It’s an ambitious debut that’s exquisitely experimental and succeeds in all it’s endeavors. Django Django firmly hold a spot as one of my most-played albums and continue to see heavy play. As early as this call may be, they’re surely set to take a spot of my top albums come the close of this year.

:Django Django - Default:

:Django Django - Hail Bop:

Midgetmen (Jennifer)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:32:07 PDT

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The lifespan of a local band is often quite short. The Midgetmen, however, have beaten the odds in an ever changing local music scene by surviving 10 years together as Austin's premiere, or maybe only, "slop punk" band.

This Friday they're throwing their 10th Anniversorry (yes, that is the correct spelling for this special event) party at the Mohawk and celebrating "a decade of daring to be stupid." They've put together a packed lineup of local talent including several of my favorites (The Pons, The Sour Notes, Shivery Shakes, La Snacks, and BOY), plenty of complementary beverages, and a photo booth to document your possible drunken antics. The party starts early with doors opening at 6pm and music kicking off at 7:30pm. If you have the stamina to stay to the end, you'll be subjected to ... uh, I mean, get to experience the 1985 greatness of The Midgetmen playing all the songs from Weird Al Yankovic's Dare To Be Stupid. Last year I had my first "Anniversorry" experience, and it was a blast. I highly recommend kicking off your weekend at the Mohawk.

You've got to love The Midgetmen because they actually dare to have fun when they play - no moping or gazing at their shoes here. They're also sincere supporters of Austin music and invite a bunch of their friends and favorite local bands to join them. 10 cheers for 10 years - thanks Marc, Jon, Justin, and Alex for sticking around.

:Midgetmen - King Kong:

Guided By Voices

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:48:06 PDT

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: Tonight I get to see Battleship. I imagine that it's going to be wildly stupid, but I'm at least intrigued enough by it to give it a shot as a no brains allowed sort of free for all action flick. Expect to get a breakdown of it by tomorrow.

Nothing like some semi-new Guided By Voices to make your Tuesday worth remembering, right? Check out the track below. The Class Clown Spots A UFO 7" single was released today, but a new full length (it actually carries the same title) isn't expected to be put out for the masses until June 12 through Guided By Voices, Inc/Fire. Enjoy.

:Guided By Voices - Class Clown Spots A UFO: I referred to this track as "semi-new" because for a couple of decades it's been floating around in the GBV catalog with the title of Crocker's Favorite Song. Now, here it is, all cleaned up, rearranged, and sounding rather good. Kudos to them for holding onto it and then offering it up when the time was right.

Quickdraw (Fergus And Geronimo, The Maccabees, CocoRosie, The Danks, Family Band)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:24:35 PDT

Monday, May 14, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: I know it's only Monday, but I need you to go ahead and make plans to be at the Mohawk on Friday for the Midgetmen's 10th Anniversorry Party. It's going to be a great time. BOY, The Sour Notes, La Snacks, La Migra, The Pons, The Misguided Lemming, Shivery Shakes, the Gary, Mole People, Treaty Oak, and Teen Noir are all playing. Plus, the Midgetmen are doing Weird Al's Dare To Be Stupid in its entirety. SO, mark this down on your schedule now, or no one is going to like you ever again. Tix are just $8.

Today's music was found at an estate sale. Enjoy.

:Fergus And Geronimo - Roman Tick: This is a quick track that seems to only offer a catchy hook, but if you dig around in the lyrics you'll find some stuff worth remembering. For instance, "Signed up for online dating/Because I'm a modern man." That line constantly makes me laugh. Hardly Art will release the nicely titled Funky Was The State Of Affairs on August 7.

:The Maccabees - Go: I totally missed the news that this band had put together a new full length. They're a solid act, and I'm curious to see how it sounds. This is certainly a nice headphone-worthy tune. Given To The Wild is currently available through Fiction Records/Cooperative Music, and you'll be able to see them open for Florence And The Machine in the fall.

:CocoRosie - We Are On Fire: This track kind of weirds me out. I think the verses sound off, but the chorus is particularly good at getting lodged in my head. Does that make the song a winner? I have no idea, but I at least need to give it up to CocoRosie for consistently throwing out challenging stuff. Touch And Go will release the We Are On Fire single on June 5.

:The Danks - Automocar: I've seen a lot people give the band Howler favorable comparisons to the Strokes, but I think these guys are actually more deserving of that nod. I mean, just listen to the infectious everything in this track and try to disagree! Hidden Pony Records is all set to release Are You Afraid Of The Danks? to the masses on May 22.

:Family Band - Night Song: First of all, you're going to want headphones for this. It's wonderfully crafted and it for sure deserves all your attention. Secondly, I can't wait to hear the rest of the upcoming album Grace And Lies. I have a feeling it's going to make for a great listen. You'll be able to pick up the full length on July 24 through No Quarter.

Weekly Movie News Rundown

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:15:40 PDT

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time for your weekly notable news update! Below you'll find a slew of sentences meant to provide a brief glimpse of what's been going on over the past week in movieland. If something leaves you desperate for more info then my advice is to do a little extra research on one or all of the following fantastic sites: Latino Review, Dark Horizons, Ain't It Cool News, CHUD and/or JoBlo. Now, read on!

Gavin O'Connor will direct Yakuza. The movie will supposedly follow an American intelligence officer who gets involved with ... the Yakuza.

Guillermo Del Toro will co-direct a stop motion version of Pinocchio with Mark Gustafson (Fantastic Mr. Fox).

Kurt Russell and Sacha Baron Cohen have dropped out of Tarantino's Django Unchained.

Kyle Chandler (Super 8) has signed on to appear in Scorsese's The Wolf Of Wall Street.

David Wain will direct Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler in the romantic comedy They Came Together.

Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost will reportedly start shooting The World's End later this year.

Jeff Wadlow (Never Back Down) may direct a Matthew Vaughn-produced Kick Ass 2. The main people from the first film's cast are expected to return.

Cameron Diaz has landed a role in Ridley Scott's The Counselor.

Jessica Chastain will not be taking a role in Iron Man 3. The part may instead go to Rebecca Hall (The Town).

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-hun Lee (I Saw The Devil) have landed roles in RED 2.

Arnold Swarzenegger will star in Ten, which is about a DEA group that steals a bunch of money from a safe house.

Alec Baldwin has taken parts in the next Woody Allen film and a comedy titled Man That Rocks The Cradle, which will star Russell Brand.

This Week's Notable Trailers:

Quickdraw (The Intelligence, Superhumanoids, Megafauna, Ice Choir, Icona Pop)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:17:05 PDT

Friday, May 11, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: Feel free to come down to the Palmer Events Center tomorrow night for a little TXRD action. My wife's Rhinestone Cowgirls are playing the Hellcats. Bout starts at 7pm. Tickets are $15.

I found all of today's songs using a star chart. Enjoy.

:The Intelligence - They Found Me In The Back Of The Galaxy: The Intelligence have always been a little hit or miss in my world, but I can't deny that this is a pretty great song. It's got a relaxed confidence about it that I really like, and the lyrics are just snarky enough to not be overbearing. Everybody's Got It Easy But Me is due out June 19 via In The Red.

:Superhumanoids - Too Young For Love: Back in February this act had a song that I thought was pretty solid. This one is better. I don't know if it's the total shift to just having lady vocals, or if it's the fact that it sounds like it could come from School Of Seven Bells or Phantogram, but I can say for sure that I really dig it. You'll be able to grab Exhibitionists later this year.

:Megafauna - Love Project: SOTO's own Dan Corbin gave this local band a nice mention last year, so I'm probably swiping a post out from under him by posting this song. It's not my fault, though, as I just couldn't wait to share it with you guys. Be sure to slap on some headphones so that all of the nifty guitar work in it can just go directly into your ears. Megafauna just released the Eric Wofford-produced Love Project EP for free on Bandcamp.

:Ice Choir - Teletrips: Kurt Feldman, who you may know as the drummer for The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, is the main brain for this new act. He's apparently been working on the debut LP for about a year now, and I'd say it's been time well spent. I mean, this thing is packed with a variety of ear-pleasing layers. I can't wait to hear more. Afar is due July 31 via Underwater Peoples.

:Icona Pop - I Love It: If you're just looking for something that will help you dance right into the weekend (and maybe into outer space), then look no further. This seems to have been made out of pure feet-moving energy, and you just have to admire that it goes full out. Now excuse me, I need to catch my breath. This appears to be a one-off single, but the band does have an EP available.

Breakdown - Dark Shadows (Noah)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:49:25 PDT

Thursday, May 10, 2012

For the sake of not having to write the same intro a million different ways throughout the rest of time, just know that this column avoids the overly long and sometimes dull process of full film reviews and instead opts to break things down based on what I thought going in, what happened while I was there and what I learned at the end of it all. Thanks for reading!

The Breakdown - Dark Shadows

The Impression:

Tim Burton indulges in a truly bizarre dream project by adapting a cult-favorite television show from the 1980s ... a friend of mine told me, "It’s so terribly made, it’s pretty awesome." This is going to be a giant flop.

The Reality:

For two-thirds of Dark Shadows, there’s hope that Tim Burton escaped from the dark cell his captors have been holding him in, fought off the eerily realistic clone that’s been sullying his name for the last ten or so years, and actually managed to create a film that seemed more in line with his classics (Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood) than his recent abominations. Johnny Depp plays Barnabus Collins, a 17th century businessman who’s cursed by a spurned lover (Eva Green) to be a vampire, buried alive and woken again in the 1970s to try to fix all that has wronged his once noble family. For a daunting length Burton and Depp manage to keep attention solely based on the, admittedly, enjoyable character interactions. Barnabus Collins is the newest in a long line of very similar Johnny Depp characters, but somehow this stuffy aristocrat seems only mostly played out (almost entirely in the moments when Burton and company flog the age-old fish-out-of-water "the 70s were trippy" humor - which they do, a lot) and Depp is able to wring a few truly solid scenes, especially, in the early bits of the film, with Helena Bonham Carter's Dr. Hoffman. And though enjoyable, somewhere at the two-thirds mark it suddenly dawned on me that nothing had happened in the film, that what I was watching was a loosely stitched together collection of scenes that yes, showcased the kooky world of the Collins family, but didn’t actually aim to progress any sort of storyline. At first it seems, perhaps Burton is aping the meandering ways of bad television in some sort of meta play on the original series, but when the film comes shuddering to a halt with a prolonged and confusing action scene, the truth comes to the surface - Burton has as little idea what to do with the film as anyone watching it. Though it starts promising, even playing up an oddball crudeness I thought Burton had let die, it ends with bafflement, prompting this viewer to look back and see nothing worth recommending.

The Lesson:

Mr. Burton, your clone lives on.

Langhorne Slim And The Law

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:50:08 PDT

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: Lots of good shows around town tonight. Washed Out and Memoryhouse are at the Mohawk, The Boxing Lesson and Megafauna are playing ND, Electric Guest can be found at the Parish, and Wild Child and Sorne are set for a free appearance at the Belmont. See something, friends.

Because someone out there cares about me, Langhorne Slim is back with a new album. The effort is his first since 2009's Be Set Free, and it's called The Way We Move. Not much with him seems to have changed, as you'll see in the single below, but his band is now calling themselves The Law. June 5 is when you can expect Ramseur Records to release the LP. Enjoy.

:Langhorne Slim And The Law - The Way We Move: The nice thing about Langhorne is that I don't really want him to alter much from album to album. I'm a fan because of his great songwriting and the sincerity that pours out of his voice, so some sort of "new sound" isn't a priority for me. In other words, while this may not feature anything I haven't heard before, I certainly still dig it to no end.

Holy Wave, The Riverboat Gamblers, The Bye And Bye (Dan)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:17:03 PDT

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I couldn’t decide what to write about this week, so I figured I’d recommend a show, a new album, and a new band to check out. Look at that, I’m doing all your new music work for you! You’re welcome. First up, your next show.

Beerland is the place to be if you love dive bars and garage rock. I love both, so I’ll be there Friday, May 18 for OBN IIIs, Holy Wave, and Dikes of Holland. It’s the tour kickoff show for Holy Wave, who will be traveling the US in support of their excellent new EP, Knife Hits. If you missed the band at Psych Fest, you’ll want to catch them before the van departs to spread chaos across this great country. And if you’ve never seen OBN IIIs or Dikes of Holland, then you need to resolve that ASAP.

:Holy Wave - Albuquerque Freakout:

:OBN IIIs - New Innocence:

:Dikes Of Holland - Little City Girl:

Need a new album to add a little kick to your life? Then check out The Wolf You Feed by Austin’s own The Riverboat Gamblers. Its official release is on May 22 via Volcom Entertainment, but you can check it out now on Spotify (if you don’t have that yet, you really should by now). The Gamblers are punk rock vets known for their rad and ferocious live show. This album has a darker vibe than past work (especially on songs such as Gallows Bird), but it’s not creepy or dreary. It’s a power punk punch to the crotch. The production is pretty slick and honestly it’s cleaner than the punk tunes I usually listen to, but overall it's an album that still satisfies.

:The Riverboat Gamblers - Comedians:

Unlike all the bands mentioned above, Austin’s The Bye And Bye do not play garage, punk, or psychedelic rock. While they do bring a punk mentality to their music, the songs veer more towards traditional influences such as the blues and classic country while incorporating atypical song structures. They also work in some nice harmonies and some bad ass mandolin. I learned of The Bye And Bye while listening to the new podcast from the folks at STUCK. For those unaware of STUCK, they feature exclusive video, audio, and insight into Texas underground music. They produced a free EP of The Bye And Bye Austin that can now be downloaded at Bandcamp. Enjoy, my friends.

:The Bye And Bye - What Women Run From:

Sufjan Stevens, Explosions In The Sky, The Octopus Project (Zoe)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:15:29 PDT

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

It’s finals week and, to be honest, I've been left devoid of much creative inspiration. However, if there’s one thing I love as a study aid, it’s a good ambient or classical song. Just turn it on quietly in the background to help you sink into a focused state, or pump it up loudly to wake yourself up at 3:22 AM, when you’re just trying to finish the chapter notes. Thus I bring you: my top 3 study songs.

:Sufjan Stevens - Movement I, In The Countenance Of Kings: This song is so rich and lush. Listening to it almost feels like sinking into a moist chocolate cake, or a thick field of dewy green grass. The piano is dreamy, the crescendoing horns magnificent. If you’re a classical music nerd, you’ll love the arrangements. If you’re an indie rocker, you’ll adore the signature Sufjan silliness snuck in.

:Explosions In The Sky - West Texas: This happens to also double as my favorite song to fall asleep to. It’s calm and serene and the guitar tone is absolutely divine. When I close my eyes, I can see myself looking out across miles of flat, dry, dirty open space in West Texas. If you’re a Friday Night Lights fan, it might bring a tear to your eye - yeah, I miss it too.

:The Octopus Project - Fuguefat: The first time I heard this song was at "Hexadecagon" at SXSW 2010. I became obsessed. The Monday after SXSW I went to Waterloo to buy the record, and then I went over to my friends house, laid on the floor listening to this song on repeat, and pronounced it the answer to all my big life questions. I stand by that statement. Sure, on the face of it, it’s a great wake up song for sleepy studies. But if you listen closely enough, you might just hear something deeper than just brilliant keys and wild energy.

Passion Pit

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:01:37 PDT

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: If you're not catching The Avengers for a second or third time tonight, I hope that you made plans to attend to the sold out Tennis and Vacationer show that's set to go down at the Parish. I think it's going to be a really good one.

I know there's some sort of Passion Pit backlash that's been going on since they graduated from blogs to the Rolling Stone, but I think they're a pretty solid act. They've had some rather nice singles, and now they have a new full length that seems to be heading in a neat direction. Gossamer is due out July 24 via Columbia. Enjoy.

:Passion Pit - Take A Walk: I think this is a nice number, but know going in that there really isn't a strong hook and the lyrics are sort of silly. On the bright side, though, there's an infectious amount of energy in it, and I especially love that it doesn't feature an inordinate amount of falsetto vocals. It gives me some hope that the new LP won't just be more of the same from them.

Quickdraw (Metric, Turbo Fruits, Eternal Summers, Fidlar, Crocodiles)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Mon, 07 May 2012 06:34:49 PDT

Monday, May 7, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: As expected, The Avengers took in all of the money available over the weekend. At this moment it stands at nearly $650 million worldwide, and that's after just a week in theaters. Wow.

I found these five songs on the ground. Enjoy.

:Metric - Youth Without Youth: This plays like the safest possible choice for a first single, and yet I think it still serves as a sweeping statement for the band - their indie pop days are 100% gone. You can probably expect to catch Metric in an arena the next time you see them play. Synthetica, which is their first album in three years, is due out June 12 via Mom And Pop.

:Turbo Fruits - Sweet Thang: My level of affection for this act has always been inconsistent, but I think that's all about to change. I saw them put on a really nice set at SXSW, and now there's this infectious track that I seriously can't get enough of. I really hope that the Jim Eno-produced Butter is a winner. It's due out on September 11 via Serpents and Snakes Records.

:Eternal Summers - Millions: Here's an act that just continues to get better. They started with fuzzy, simple pop tunes, and now there's this song, which just shimmers and makes you want to spend the day with it on repeat. If you have an album release calendar, be sure to mark July 24, as that's when you'll be able to snatch up Correct Behavior via Kanine Records.

:Fidlar - Got No Money: I'm starting to think that if this band ever bothered to try and write a song without an infectious hook, they'd fail miserably. If you ask me, that's certainly not a bad thing to have to lay claim to. You can currently hit up iTunes or Soundcloud for the Don't Try EP. It was released a couple of weeks back through Mom And Pop.

:Crocodiles - Endless Flowers: I was hoping these guys would continue to show they've left behind their often too-fuzzed-out sound, and that's what they've done. This is another great pop single. We get to find out if the shift is an all-around thing when Endless Flowers is released on June 5 via Frenchkiss. FYI, the band will be at Stubb's on June 11 as support for the Temper Trap.

Weekly Movie News Rundown

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:33:04 PDT

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Time for your weekly notable news update! Below you'll find a slew of sentences meant to provide a brief glimpse of what's been going on over the past week in movieland. If something leaves you desperate for more info then my advice is to do a little extra research on one or all of the following fantastic sites: Latino Review, Dark Horizons, Ain't It Cool News, CHUD and/or JoBlo. Now, read on!

Jonah Hill has reportedly joined the cast of Martin Scorsese's The Wolf Of Wall Street. Leonardo DiCaprio is already set to star.

Sharlto Copley (District 9) has landed roles in Oldboy, Maleficent, and Open Grave.

Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson may star in David Michod's Rover. It's said to follow a guy who chases a group of thieves across the Outback after they steal his car.

Brad Bird has been hired by Disney to direct 1952. No word yet on the plot, but it was written by Damon Lindelof and Jeff Jensen.

Glee producer Robert Aguirre-Sacasa and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are said to be interested in putting together a Little Shop Of Horrors remake.

Luke Evans, David Tennant, and Rihanna are all said to be in talks to join Fast Six. Michelle Rodriguez recently made her return to the series official.

Jody Hill (Eastbound And Down) has been hired to pen a Dukes Of Hazzard movie.

Gary Ross (The Hunger Games) is reportedly in talks to direct Houdini for Summit. The film will follow the magician's "secret life" as a spy.

Marvel may be looking at a solo Hulk movie for 2015.

Gareth Evans (The Raid) is set to direct Breaking The Bank. The movie will be based on UFC fighter Lee Murray, who put together one of the largest cash heists in history.

John Hawkes will star in Too Late, which is about a private investigator that's in love with the woman he's been hired to find.

Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) has been hired to do a rewrite of the Catching Fire script.

This Week's Notable Trailers:

Happy Metal Fun Time (Chuck)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:38:41 PDT

Friday, May 4, 2012

It has been less than a "Happy Metal Fun Time" this month for those who know the history of modern metal. The legendary Roadrunner Records had its clocked cleaned after their recent buy out by WMG. You may not know it, but this signifies so much more than just another conglomercorp swallowing an already inflated label, as RR was one of the only majors that still gave metal a chance on their roster. Yes, they have Nickelback and Young the Giant, but that's what made them appealing to be bought out.

Metal fans discovered Fear Factory, Sepultura, Obituary, Cynic, Devildriver, and so many more through their ongoing support of the top end of the genre. With declining sales and bloated budgets it becomes harder and harder to sustain a label of that size. So, I'm guessing we will see trimmed rosters, limited variety, and less promotion in the name only version of RR.

Fortunately, it's hard for me to worry too much about the state of metal when there's good music still getting cranked out by so many others. Whether it's Metal Blade’s Cattle Decapitation, Victory’s God Forbid, or Nuclear Blast’s Unleashed, there are some great releases on the shelves right now you should check out.

:Unleashed - Fimbulwinter:
:Cancer Bats - Rats:
:Shadows Fall - Fire From The Sky:
:Cattle Decapitation - A Living, Breathing Piece Of Defecating Meat:
:Prong - Revenge Best Served Cold:
:Disfiguring The Goddess - Sleeper:
:Kreator - Phantom Antichrist:
:Enthroned - Deathmoor:
:Hideous Divinity - The Servant's Speech:
:Fear Factory - Recharger:
:Hellyeah - War In Me:
:God Forbid - Where We Come From:

Chuck hosts NO CONTROL Radio every Friday on 101.5 KROX in Austin, and he programs an HD2 stream of pure metal. Feel free to get in touch with him via e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter.

Breakdown - The Avengers (Noah)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:02:19 PDT

Thursday, May 3, 2012

For the sake of not having to write the same intro a million different ways throughout the rest of time, just know that this column avoids the overly long and sometimes dull process of full film reviews and instead opts to break things down based on what I thought going in, what happened while I was there and what I learned at the end of it all. Thanks for reading!

The Breakdown - The Avengers

The Impression:

Marvel’s been shakily building the path towards this unbelievably enormous film since Tony Stark swaggered on to the screen in Iron Man four years ago. They’ve baubled a few of the films along the way (Iron Man 2 and Thor, ahem) but with Joss Whedon behind the camera a film starring each and all of the main ass-kickers from their respective films suddenly sounds downright amazing.

The Reality:

For years and years and years (possibly to this day) every comic book character’s book would get an Annual - a super-sized behemoth rife with guest stars, and if well executed, big plot advances and character developments. Joss Whedon has created a near perfect end-of-the-year Annual. He clearly understands comic books, the big book especially, and his Avengers is a masterstroke in bringing together a group of disparate, super-powered personalities and letting them wreak havoc on each other and the world. Whedon understands that the big Annual, the collaboration book, isn’t about dense plot mechanisms, no no, it is about bringing together Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and giving enough small moments amongst the inevitable chaos. It’s about a simple three-act structure where Act I features the gathering of the group, Act II the lashing out of the collected super-heroes (on each other), and Act III in which the group comes together to fight off a horde of super beasts. Strangely enough in the smaller moments in the film, a fight scene between Black Widow and some Russians in particular, Whedon’s small screen experience rears its ugly head and we’re suddenly watching Buffy the Super Spy, but the final hour of the movie, one of the great "New York gets destroyed" moments in recent film history, proves Whedon more than an able big budget director. His final hour is densely peppered with memorable one-liners and scenarios that push forward character development (as slight as it might be) while forcing "oohs" and "aahs" from the collected audience. The favorite characters continued to be my favorite characters (Iron Man and Captain America in particular) but who truly stands out is The Hulk, a character so far mishandled. Here, The Hulk is a living weapon, so dangerous that even a group of superheroes fear his Dr. Jekyll like turning. Whedon smartly holds off The Hulk’s transformation until almost 2/3rds of the film, building the suspense and the expectation. When Bruce Banner suddenly turns from mild-mannered to hulking, the film truly takes off, leaving behind the weighty baggage of Marvel’s proposed multi-film narrative, and turning in to the most enjoyable romp in years.

The Lesson:

Joss Whedon needs to be making Hulk movies.

Breakdown - Headhunters (Noah)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:01:27 PDT

Twin Shadow

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 06:45:10 PDT

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: If you're slick and plan your night just right, you could catch the Strange Boys at the Mohawk, and then head over to a theater for a midnight screening of The Avengers. Just remember to try and not have too much fun.

While Twin Shadow's last album (2010's Forget) wasn't something that I can say I've been unable to live without, I am interested in their new full length. I think it's largely just because they seem like the sort of act that's going to keep getting better with every release. The band will put out Confess on July 10 via 4AD. Enjoy.

:Twin Shadow - Five Seconds: I really like this song. It's probably a bit too 80s for its own good, but you're crazy if you can listen to this and not get caught up in the energy of the quick-paced arrangement. Also, it's just one of those songs that feels like one big hook, which makes it easy to sing-a-long with. Confess is going to be a winner if the whole album is this good.

The Wave Pictures (Brad)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:19:12 PDT

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Wave Pictures are a British threesome packing a rather vintage sound in all their makings. Their recordings are pleasantly fuzzy - a vacuous sound with vocals that sound like they’re coming from the receiving end of a Dixie Cup telephone. There’s a string of melancholy to their songs, a rundown feel that’s in no doubt attributable to the notion that all of this is being sung by some poor sap. This vocal handiwork by their lead, David Tattersall, is a defining factor of the trio, and his wry, anguished crooning works alongside a comparatively more upbeat set of tune built on intricately picked guitar work and simple, throwback drumbeats.

It’s moody surf music, pick-me-up punk, underdog antheming - call it what you will. It’s incredibly skillful and well-done music, and it’s all the less surprising when you consider that they’ve been around since the latter part of the '90s. The Wave Pictures have built up a prolific pop discography in all their years together, and their latest offering, Long Black Cars, was released just last month. The band are currently on the US leg of their tour with British pop darlings, Allo’ Darlin. Whether or not you’ve got a British sensibility, be sure to catch what’s sure to be a great night of music if they run near you.

:The Wave Pictures - Long Black Cars:

:The Wave Pictures - Seagulls:

:The Wave Pictures - Leave The Scene Behind:

Melogrand, The Duke Spirit (Jennifer)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:17:48 PDT

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

I first heard Melogrand in 2010 when they released a two song EP. Their brand of psychedelic, folk tinged pop (think Fleet Foxes and Band Of Horses) really won me over. Things went quiet for a bit, but now they have a full length titled Waves For The Ages. A lot of the album features a mixture of layered harmonies and guitar riffs alternating from driving and psychedelic to gently strumming and jangly, and I greatly enjoy it. The band is having an album release party on May 11 at Frontier Bar. You should go.

:Melogrand - Ohio:

May 11 will also see one of my favorite UK bands, The Duke Spirit, arriving in Austin. They're playing a free show at Frank with Ringo Deathstarr and Rebecca Butler and The Richards, and then on May 12 they're opening for Jane's Addiction at the Bass Concert Hall. I've been a fan since hearing them on BBC 6Music and seeing them a couple of times at SXSW. The band is led by the captivating Liela Moss, who draws you in with her smoky, sensual vocals and charismatic stage presence. Credit is also due to the bluesy, punk-infused guitar riffs from Luke Ford and Toby Butler, and the tight rhythm section of Olly Betts and Marc Sallis. I'm looking to seeing them again in the intimate environment of Frank. They don't play Austin a lot, so I highly recommend going to the show. Their latest album, Bruiser, was released in the US back in February via Shangri-La/Fontana.

TV Girl

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Tue, 01 May 2012 05:53:38 PDT

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: There are two things that you may have missed late last night. The first is my breakdown of The Avengers, and the second is the brand new trailer for The Dark Knight Rises. Both should do a good job of making you excited about moves this summer.

I'm at that point with TV Girl where I'm just convinced that they don't know how to craft a bad song. It's actually sort of incredible. Kudos to them. The band is revving up to release a free 15-track mixtape called The Wild, The Innocent, The TV Shuffle this Friday via Greedhead. Below you'll find the latest song meant to support the effort. Enjoy.

:TV Girl - It Evaporates: While this exudes the high level of warmth that I've come to expect from every TV Girl tune, I will say it does showcase a slightly different approach from them in the sound department. They usually churn out very peppy pop tunes, and this is somewhat of a slow burner. It works well, and I'm actually hoping there's a few more like it on the mixtape.

Breakdown - The Avengers (John)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:26:26 PDT

Monday, April 30, 2012

For the sake of not having to write the same intro a million different ways throughout the rest of time, just know that this column avoids the overly long and sometimes dull process of full film reviews and instead opts to break things down based on what I thought going in, what happened while I was there and what I learned at the end of it all. Hope that's OK.

Read on!

The Breakdown - The Avengers

The Impression:

After five pretty good setup movies, Marvel finally assembles The Avengers. Expectations can only be described as astronomically high.

The Reality:

If I had to give you a permanent answer right now, I'd be willing to call The Avengers a great flick. I can't say how well it's actually going to hold up over repeat viewings (the first act is slow, and there are a sizeable variety of plot holes that have the potential to agitate), but I do know that it plays out like something that was made by a bunch of people trying really hard to make the right decisions. This results in a movie that constantly feels inspired, like a labor of love, and when I wasn't rooting for the characters on the screen, I was pulling for Joss Whedon and his crew to roll out another scene worth cheering out loud for. If you can't find something/anything to champion in The Avengers, then you should stop going to the theater.

PS - There's no reason to see this in 3D. It doesn't look bad or anything, but you get nothing in exchange for the extra cash you have to pay to get in.

The Lesson:

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Quickdraw (Ty Segall Band, Donora, Fiona Apple, Action Bronson, Todd Tobias)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:55:38 PDT

Monday, April 30, 2012

Today's Quick Mention: I get to see The Avengers tonight. I'm really excited. Anyone been lucky enough to catch it yet? I've heard nothing but great things.

Tunes assemble! Enjoy.

:Ty Segall Band - Wave Goodbye: I'm really beginning to think there won't be a moment in 2012 without something that doesn't have Ty Segall's name attached to it. The guy is everywhere these days. Anyhow, this fuzzy scorcher of a track can be found on Slaughterhouse, which is due out June 26 via In The Red. You'll be able to catch the band on May 25 at the Mohawk.

:Donora - And Then The Girls: I actually had to salvage Donora's info from my deleted items after I stumbled across this single on another site and realized that I had made a mistake in not lining it up to be shared. Hooray redemption! Hope you're ready for some sugary sweet pop. Boyfriends, Girlfriends is currently available for your consumption.

:Fiona Apple - Every Single Night: To be honest, it took a sizeable handful of playthroughs for me to actually listen to this once. It's such a quiet, subdued effort that I kept not paying any sort of attention to it while it played. With that being said, I do like the song. I advise headphones, solitude, and no distractions. The Idler Wheel is due out June 19 via Epic.

:Action Bronson - A Simple Man: Up until this weekend I had never really paid much attention to Action Bronson. His stuff just didn't seem like my kind of stuff. Or something. In any case, I really dig this overly chilled track. Feel free to recommend some other cuts for me to check out. I believe this is a one-off single, so grab it while it rests in front of you.

:Todd Tobias - Manatoc Enters The City - The Long Fall: If Todd Tobias is a name that sounds familiar, it's probably because the guy has produced Guided By Voices and frequently collaborated with Robert Pollard. He's good, and so is this oddly paced, swirling number. You can expect to be able to snatch up Medicine Show on May 24 via Hidden Shoal.

Hip Hop Hooray Monthly Mix (Leah)

sideonetrackone@gmail.com — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:09:21 PDT

Friday, April 27, 2012

I don't know about your time perception abilities, but my April went by very, very quickly. When John sent out his traditional PajamaGram(TM) to remind me of my column due date, it definitely came as a surprise. Luckily I had taken the time to acquire some pretty good new music to share with you in the last 30 days. The mix below features new tracks from Aesop Rock (new release forthcoming), El-P (new release awesome), I Self Divine, and many more. I put the Nicki Minaj track in there because if you haven't heard it you should - if only to be able to have any kind of informed conversation about popular hip hop, mainstream misogyny, and dope-ass beatz. Enjoy this last Friday of April mix responsibly: it is NSFW and if consumed in large quantities can lead to poor decision-making.

:Aesop Rock - Zero Dark Thirty:
:I Self Divine - The Origin Of Urban Crisis:
:Corduroi - Adventures:
:2 Chainz And Future - Beez In The Trap (Featuring Nicki Minaj):
:El-P - Drones Over Bklyn:
:Sene - Footprints:
:Edison - Zero Four:
:The Beastie Boys - Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun:
:Mayday - Badlands (Featuring Tech N9ne):
:Saul Williams - Penny For A Thought:
:Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip - Beat That My Heart Skipped:
:Take - Dream Suite (Featuring Ditch Massive):
:Instituto Mexicano Del Sonido - El Microfono:
:Psalm One - Sworn Habbit:
:Mac Lethal - A Cool Breeze:
:Night Owls - Freddie Bruno, RedCloud, Jeremiah Bonds:

Catch Miss Manners when she hosts KOOP 91.7FM's Hip Hop Hooray on Sunday's from 2-3PM. Also, feel free to email or tweet her anytime.