"Therefore, there are patterns, everywhere in nature."

simply cool

David Byrne connected an organ to a huge building.... This is just very very cool.

via flux=rad

these kids today and their not-math rock

According to the oracle¹, "math rock" is a style of rock music characterized by "complex, atypical rhythmic structures" and "asymmetrical time signatures." I don't love the term, but it's there, and it actually does fit. But I've been noticing it getting a lot of use lately, and none of the bands it's being applied to these days, as far as I can tell, ever stray from 4/4 time. It seems some of the other qualities that commonly went along with the weird time signatures, such as "angular" melodies (whatthefuckever that means), or "strident" vocals, or simply a lack of vocals at all, are enough these days to qualify for the genre. Battles, Les Savy Fav, and Foals are examples that come to mind, along with what I think of as "new prog" bands like Explosions in the Sky. (How much better Mogwai were than Explosions will ever be is another post.) These bands get labeled math rock because they sound a little weird, I guess.

I guess that's my only point. I'm just getting a little Andy Rooney on the indie rock scene. Heh.

Real, good math rock: Jetpack, Don Caballero, June of 44, Rodan...


¹On a side note, a Yale undergraduate I mentored this year, who is now going on to one of the top medical schools in the country, cited Wikipedia more than all other sources combined in her final term paper, and then complained about getting a B+ in the course. Yeah.

Parts and Labor

Vision of Repair and Brighter Days, from Mapmaker

Changing of the Guard, from Stay Afraid

Anything that, when it comes through on shuffle at work, causes my colleagues concern for my sanity is well worth posting about. Friends and labelmates^1,2,3 of Pterodactyl, Parts and Labor definitely make even more noise. My favorite tracks of theirs, especially from Mapmaker, not only have great energy but put great lyrics sung to catchy melodies over the earthquake-at-45rpm foundation. (Yes, a foundation that is like an earthquake. It works.)

For more samples and a video of a performance of Changing of the Guard, click through:

www.partsandlabor.net

JAGJAGUWAR records

new heights for nerd rap

The Economist really is an excellent publication.

In regards to their unbiased news coverage, might I propose that non-party people put your hands in the air and wave them just like you do not care? Or like you care but don't let it influence your news coverage?

Via the FP blog.

testing disqus

1 2 3

don't trust the news...

...the military-industrial complex is alive and well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/washington/20generals.html

have you heard the huge white guy with a big red beard version?

try to make it all the way to the polaroid part...

Nina Simone and a fantastic sample

A "sampler and sampled" post.

Talib Kweli - Get By (Quality)


Nina Simone - Sinnerman (Anthology)


And let me just say that the Nina Simone Anthology is a fantastic collection that should not be missed. Check out a selection here.

Yahoo! Media Player

We've now adorned ourselves with the Yahoo! Media Player, which plays mp3s linked on this page in a handy flash player at the lower left corner. Just to test it out, here are a few random tracks.

MC5 - Gotta Keep Movin' (High Time)
The Rock of Travolta - Keep Them All Afraid and They'll Consume (Silver Rocket SR50) (pop quiz: name that sample!)
Juno - You Are the Beautiful Conductor of This Orchestra (A Future Lived in Past Tense)