Song of the Weekend

Hope you enjoy your long weekend as much as these royal dudes from the East Coast. Hit the beach. Grab some In-N-Out. Beat down a surfer. Whatever. Just make sure you spend some time thanking our men and women that have made this fun possible.

Hunger Strike

Rip recently caught Pearl Jam at the Garden. The Black Keys opened. But he was really bummed that he missed Band of Horses opening the following night. Hate to break it to you, brother, but Eddie Vedder and Ben Bridwell filled up the arena with "Hunger Strike," the rarely-sung-live Temple of the Dog classic. Vedder sounds in-the-pocket as always in this excellent fan footage. And Bridwell hits Chris Cornell's high notes with aplomb. Notice how the easy-going South Carolinan is uncomfortable singing slaves. Damn, he is talented, cool, and nice.

Song of the Week

Check out this epic, in-the-zeitgeist, post-dancerock track from LCD Soundsystem's new release, This Is Happening. James Murphy sings "You wanted a hit / but maybe we don't do hits." Ummmmm, right. If you heard this song while entering a record store, you would not make it out alive--like entering into the hippest wormhole in the time-space continuum, the vortex keeps spinning around until you succumb to the outer reaches of coolness. You wanted a hit? Baby, you just got something bigger.

Five Things

Heading for the weekend. Life is good. Still like music too.

• With twenty-four contestants left, The D Man predicted that Lee Dewyze and Casey James would be the last two men standing in American Idol. Easy peasy. Lee Dewyze, a naturally-gifted vocalist and former paint sales clerk from Chicago, should now win the entire thing.
• Best hair metal song of the moment: "Last Summer's Evil" by TNT. !!!!!!!!!!
• Janelle Monae's "Tightrope" (featuring Big Boi) is some Outkastic funk.
• Band of Horses hits the sweet spot everytime. Check out an electric version or chilled-out acoustic version of "Laredo."
• "Empire Ants" from Plastic Beach is an incredible track straddling two seemingly disparate soundscapes. Damon Albarn's production values are vivid.

Song of the Week

Get up close and personal with the Brood King on The National's new video for "Bloodbuzz Ohio." Matt Berninger's narrow baritone takes flight with (a swarm of bees and) an exquisite rock'n'roll arrangement that lesser mortals scarce can comprehend.

The National

After The National's performance last night on Letterman, The D Man can confidently proclaim that, right this very minute, there is not a better band on the planet. And who provides those ethereal backing vocals on "Afraid of Everyone," both last night and on the album version? None other than long-time friend Sufjan Stevens. Go pick up High Violet today, now out in your local record store and even on sale for $7.99 at Target. Probably the best bang for your musical buck since you pilfered In Rainbows.

Five Things to Remember While The D Man Is In Trial

The D Man is going all Matlock for the next two weeks. (Here is hoping that my lucid arguments do not get overruled). So while The D Man is out seeking justice in a venerable courtroom of this great state, his loyal cadre of readers should remember the following five things:

• Some (potentially) great albums come out in May: Broken Social Scene, The Hold Steady, The Dead Weather, The National, Band of Horses, and LCD Soundsystem will be hitting a record store near you. Even Crash Test Dummies drop a new album called Oooh LaLa! Who knows, right?
• May is a great time to listen to the following songs: "Street Lights" by Josh Rouse, "Sometimes Life Isn't Easy" by Mew, and "Pushover" by The Long Winters. Just saying.
• If you haven't fallen in love with Teen Dream, well, there is not much that The D Man can do for you.
• Sun Kil Moon is releasing its fourth full-length, Admiral Fell Promises, on July 13th. Buy the record straight from Caldo Verde Records and get the four song I'll Be There EP.
• Did The D Man mention that The National is releasing an album? Check out a live performance of "Terrible Love" called The Castle Rock Session here.

Song of the Week

Band of Horses are on the run again in "NW Apt." The song's straightforward, guitar-chugging goodness will propel you down the street and make you smile at well-placed choruses and simple chord progressions. Check out Infinite Arms when it hits record stores this May.

NW Apt.

Band Of Horses | MySpace Music Videos