Also,
Have you listened to Santogold? There's a lot of similarities between her sound and M.I.A.'s, which is why I've chosen to confuse things a little further by including this picture of both of them, as well as cult hero Santo Gold.
British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music?
I’ll admit that I haven’t listened to this album enough but I’d like to think I get the appeal of this band. Unfortunately, they’re too reminiscent of an aggressive joy division which was never a sound I liked to begin with but if that’s your style I’m sure they’d be up your alley.
Menomena – Friend and Foe
From what I’ve read this came out last year but I found it after browsing a couple favorites lists. The vocals, the piano use and the layering immediately reminded me of TV on the Radio. The instrumentation makes the songs lush and have character, especially the bells and keyboard and the occasional groove from the barisax which is funky and awesome. This is one that’s growing on me and I’d definitely recommend.
Vampire Weekend – ST
Someone reincarnated Paul Simon during his tribal years and made him the lead singer and song writer for Vampire Weekend. That’s not to say this isn’t good but it feels like I’m listening to a stripped down version of “In the Jungle” all over again. As I was first listening to it my girlfriend walked in the room and without knowing what band it was automatically started dancing around which says something for the grooves on this album. It’s undoubtedly a fun album and worth a listen if post-tribal Paul Simon sounds good to you.
Lightspeed Champion – Falling Off the
I don’t know the back story of this guy but judging from the cover of this album and his myspace page this group is slightly tongue-in-cheek. Very country/Americana/folk sound he’s developed, and I read he was from the
I’ll continue this thread with part II after I’ve listened to a couple other releases I’m sitting on at the moment. To be continued.

Pretty late with this review; oh well, gotta keep the blog alive. So this post is a little different from the rest - I figured since I was drunk at the show I might as well be drunk writing the review (excuses, excuses I know..) but I caught the BBoys earlier in the month at McCarren Park Pool in Brooklyn and it was straight on point. First off any show I can have easily accessible free parking, even according to NYCPD, is a fuckin’ hit in my books right off the bat. Got there with no problems and the park was set up right next to a couple bars and bodega’s all supporting Brooklyn Brewery which was served at the pool too.
Put back a few in the park across the street while one of the chicks from Luscious Jackson was DJ’ing then made my way into the show. Opened with Hello Brooklyn and closed with No Sleep ‘til Brooklyn and as I suspected on my ride to the show this was in fact the first Beastie Boys show in Brooklyn to date. The atmosphere was more or less a block party and the boys were playful with each other on stage and even brought out Rev Run at one point.
They mixed instrumental segments with DJ set and that kept everything moving nicely and apparently played a more varied set list than what was the norm for most of the tour. Everything was on point except having to wait 30+ min for a fuckin beer but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I think by now most of the show is all over YouTube but here’s a couple clips.