February 18th through February 20th, 2009

Okay people, we've got some ground to cover.

MUSIC:

HOLY SHIT, I'll bump down my N.A.S.A. rant for this: Anamanaguchi, my absolute favorite 8bit group, got coverage on Pitchfork, and has a proper LP coming soon - like, a couple of goddamn weeks soon! The best news? The song kicks serious ass. If you don't buy their EP/T-shirt bundle, you, sir or madam, are a fool.

Okay, time to come down from the high and tackle the low:

Pitchfork is equal parts music webzine and twisting-knife-in-gut, so I'm not particularly surprised at their abysmally low score for N.A.S.A.'s Spirit of Apollo album. Honestly, the review and score seem at odds; records have suffered far sharper textual barbs and come out in the 3.0-4.5 range, and I'm not a big fan of using a score to stir controversy - if your review isn't valuable enough on its own to warrant the internet's attention, people will know it, and your exaggerated score comes off as cheap and exploitative. Well, reviewer Tom Breihan seems like kind of a prick anyway, albeit an honest one. A fun Ryan Dombal speculative-silliness chaser should do you just fine.

Or you could just take solace in some of Pitchfork's free MP3s. Swan Lake's MP3 is definitely quality, pointing to a really good album. Then, the Friendly Fires/Air France pairing here seems destined to be one of my favorite songs of the year, without hesitation - a sparse, oscillating take on a brilliantly executed pop song? Come on, what more do you need? Oh, if it's an anthem you need, Ladytron/Great Northern will hook you up.

Speaking of MP3s, RCRD LBL has been quite industrious. A rad kudoro-via-Hot-Chip MP3, and their Sholi track is really quite good as well. But clear and away, the best tracks on the site are by The Antlers (I was sucked in by the Vanderslice comparison) and sweet lord, this is good. Album comes out March 3rd... Great Album Day #2, anybody?

That kickass dance video was evidently just a prelude to a badass week on Fader. The Trey Songz track glistens with sheen and bright melodies. Then, they look on as "My President is Black" gets nerdily and awesome-ly dissected.

Leonard Cohen is touring. Hot damn!

Don't know who to link to here, because this was very word-of-mouth, what-am-I-missing-out-on websurfing (I guess RapReviews namechecked it, my search may've started there) but I just found out about Drake's "So Far Gone" mixtape and it's really solid. Spacey production, gooey vocals, a restrained aesthetic, and those shiny names after the abbreviated 'ft.' I mean, when you're with Young Money, I guess you're kinda blessed in more ways than one, yeah?

Rufus Wainwright is a fun person to follow.

TMT reports on a band paying you to download their album; the ploy, as my beloved mixtape lovers point out, is about 3% as clever and meaningful as it sounds.

New St. Vincent album! You can start swooning now.

Hanson / Smashing Pumpkins is no longer just the weirdest mashup on your iTunes bootleg playlist; there's kind of a band with members from both now.

FILM:

I really, really like Edgar Wright.

The Funny People trailer looks somewhat promising, although that could just be my massive man-crush on Schwartzman talking.

I want a Metal Gear Solid movie, and if Watchmen does well, it may friggin' happen!

Also on Collider, a convenient list of all those Watchmen clips floating about. I'll hold my judgement.

Inglorious Basterds posters? Yes, please!

WEIRD:

Demetri Martin knows his palindromes.

The Wrestler's steroid dude got arrested because he had steroids. They're taking this "harmonic performance" thing way too far.

WORLD:

The New York Times reports on the role the U.S. is playing in Pakistan's internal crisis; specifically, our covert attacks on militant rebels.

The BBC reports on Secretary Clinton's attempts deepen relations with China.

PERSONAL:

It has been a wild week. This semester is far more demanding, creative, and messy than the last; in short, it's far more fun.

Wendy and Lucy tomorrow/today! At last!

2009 FILMS SEEN: 2.5
2009 SONGS ON MY ITUNES: 402
Current Computer Situation: MacBook Pro, exhausted from so much blogging.