Under The Cover

...To know me is hardly wonder.

That line from Band of Horses "The Funeral" has always stuck in my head, beside the beautiful "ooohs" at the beginning of the song I always found that line to be particularly poignant and heart felt.

Serena Ryder & The Beauties have done a pretty faithful, although minimalist, cover of that song. She doesn't necessarily add to the beautiful sadness of the song. But, she does give it her own little spin.

MP3: Serena Ryder & The Beauties

Laughing On The Outside

The Laughing will take part in this year's Fun Fun Fun fest down in ol' Austin... the hometown of Gov. Good Hair.

They sound like a combination NYC bands Stellastarr* and Radio 4. They've got the punk aesthetic with the exaggerated vocals that are just right for partying. But, being that the band is from Austin, that kinda figures right in.

MP3: The Laughing - Runner

Can't Get It Out Of My Head...

Great song... great video.

Paper Champs

Chicago's Hey Champ have given the remix treatment to The Cool Kids "(We Are) Champions" that appeared on their very underwhelming Gone Fishing mixtape.

It sounds better than the original, which leads me to believe that maybe Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks need to work with some different producers. Hey Champ hits all the right buttons with this one.

MP3: (We Are) Champions - The Cool Kids vs. Hey Champ

A-Trak Makes Karen's Head Roll

It's not really hard to fuck up a song if it has Karen O's voice on it. You could probably have a garbage can as a drum and barking dogs for the backing vocals and as long as the lovely weirdness of Karen O is singing, it will probably be good.

A-Trak remixed Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Heads Will Roll" and turned it into a dance friendly, little electronic number.

MP3: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll (A-Trak remix)

Falling Into The Temper Trap

I finally watched some of my episodes of Subterranean the other night ago and noticed the first song video was from Temper Trap. Our good friends over at SubEx posted the remix of their song "Sweet Disposition," but, I absolutely fell in love with the original version.

Something very sweet and Brit poppy about it. Reminds me of young love... but, I digress.

Take a wissen.

MP3: Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition

Kanye Gets All Dramatical

Despite being an overall jerk and supreme narcissist most of the time, I have a lot of respect for the art he makes. He has gone against the grain in hip-hop and done things the way he wants to do them.

We Were Once A Fairytale is actually a good little short movie. Sure, 'Ye plays drunk very badly, but, it's actually pretty good.

About Last Night... Har Mar Superstar

So, it was technically like three days ago, but, it's all good. You can check out pics from the show here. And you can check out the "Last Night Review" of it here on DC9.

Ft. Worth's Best Fwends were, for me, the unlikely hit of the night. You have to give it to two nerds who perform back by music loaded on their iPod. Their stage presence was stellar and they knew how to work a crowd. And, throwing two large gargoyles into the crowed for them to bounce like balloons didn't hurt either.

OU/Texas Weekend

Ease Your Mind With A Naptime Shake

When I received an email announcing The Naptime Shake's Blood And Panic I wasn't sure what to do. I know their singer Noah Bailey through writing with the Observer and I was kinda afraid of what would happen if I didn't like it. But, my fear was eased from the first track of the album.

Once I got Blood and Panic started, the first track "Nourishment" reminded me of two things: Dr. Pepper and Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas--two things that always make-ah-me happy.

Don't get me wrong, not every track on the album is a winner, but, the band connects more times that it whiffs. I like the twanged-up ragtime sound of "Honeybear" and "Ease My Mind." It's not a sound that you often hear, if ever, coming from a twang band from The D. Oh, and did I mention they rock the kazoo on "Wolves And Water?" I didn't? Well, I should. Not since Old Crow's Eutaw album have I heard a kazoo... on anything... of any kind. But, I digress.

There are several tracks on Blood... that are really good songs, the first five songs on the album come to mind...

Noah can rest easy knowing he's joined the ranks of Neil Tennant and Chrissie Hynde as music journalists who've moved behind the mic and onto the stage and don't suck at it.

MP3: The Naptime Shake - Nourishment
MP3: The Naptime Shake - Ease My Mind

Headlights "Get Going" On Video

The Headlights may have churned out a less chipper version of their indie-pop than before, but, at least their videos are still entertaining. And Erin still looks like the indie darling she always is.

But, if you've ever been part of an office meeting you can see why they aren't as excited as you would expect... but, looking bored to tears while sitting on a couch doesn't scream excitement either.

Blind Pilot/The Low Anthem Ticket Giveaway

Hey kids! The good folks over at the Granada have given us two pairs of tickets to give away for the Blind Pilot/ The Low Anthem show on 10/28.

If you would like to get your grubby lil' hands on them send me an email at bonafidedarling (at) gmail.com with "Blind Anthem" in the subject and one pair will be yours. First come, first serve.

Congrats to our winners!

Have A Friendly (One-Sided) Conversation With Pearl Jam

Have you ever been sitting at work and thought "I'd rather be listening to Pearl Jam talk right now"? Well, my friends--today you can.

They are going to talk about Backspacer, touring and all kinds of jazz. Go here to listen at 2p. Enjoy.

Under The Cover

When I read that an electronic artist is compared to some of my favorites like Underworld, Depeche Mode and New Order you can bet my interest has been piqued. And, add that to the fact said band covered a favorite song of your my interest is piqued x2.

However, once you get into it you find out the group sounds nothing like your favorite bands and instead sound like a slightly better version of Neon Indian.

But, Relation have given the electronica treatment to the Pixies "Here Comes Your Man." It's definitely interesting to hear that song in a different genre and without my love Kim Deal singing on it.

MP3: Relation - Here Comes Your Man (Pixies Cover)

New Ronnie Fauss

Ronnie Fauss seems to be on a roll this year. He released his fantastic Songs For The Old Frontier, Vol. 1 earlier this year... and we really dug it. Now he's released I Can't Make You Happy, a lil' three-song EP that is available on iTunes.

Fauss is one of the alt-country/roots/indie/americana acts in Dallas that doesn't seem to get any kind of recognition. His songwriting teeters on heart string tuggers like "I Can't Make You Happy" and songs ready made for the honky tonks like "One Eye Open."

But, coming in January you'll get to see him open up play with Elkhart when both bands open up for Bosque Brown at our first show at City Tavern! Yes, I'm very excited about these developments... deets to come.

MP3: Ronnie Fauss - I Can't Make You Happy

Love The Low Anthem

Sometimes it takes a while for me to wade through label hype about a band and give them a chance. New York's The Low Anthem has been the latest to win me over. I've been listening to their album Oh My God, Charlie Darwin! this afternoon and you could "knock me over with a feather."

From the folky plaintive tenderness of "Charlie Darwin" and "To Ohio" to the bluesy stomps of "The Horizon Is A Beltway" and "Home I'll Never Be" the album is great.

They will be playing the Granada on October 28 with Blind Pilot. I for one will check them out.

MP3: The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin

[purchase album]

Temple of The Dog Reunion

It was a reunion... for one song. But, since it was at a Pearl Jam show that really only makes sense. Chris Cornell joined Ed for the vocal duties on "Hunger Strike" for a show last night out in L.A. Oh, and just as a side note, Chrissy can still hit the high notes... he just makes bad album decisions.

Download Passing By Behind Your Eyes

I've been told recently that I talk about Pretty Lights quite a bit. I was told it was every other-other day. Maybe. But, I can't help it the guy puts our really good records.

Anyhoo, I would've posted this yesterday but the man's site crashed due to the massive amount of people trying to down load the new album. But, it's back up and running today and you can get the new album here.

Once you download it, I HIGHLY suggest you check out the track "Keep Em Bouncin" and turn the ol' headphones/speakers to stun.

MP3: Pretty Lights - Sunday School

Comin' Down The Mountain...

PJ and Perry Ferrell, nuff said.

Musical Obsession

I think I got this record in the wrong season of the year... it's more of a Fall record for me than when I wrote about it back in the summer. Bird Automatic's EP Not Morning People has been on repeat on the ol' iPod here recently.

The vocals, vibe and melodies of the Aussie band get me where it counts. "About The Money" has been rolling around in my head when I'm not listening to the album, and when I do listen to it I find myself listening to it twiced.

If you love Britpop inspired music then you really need to check these guys out.

MP3: Bird Automatic - About The Money

Under The Cover

I'm not sure if it's the drizzly weather or the chill in the air that has been around lately, but, I've been thoroughly enjoying Dallas' Shock of Pleasure lately. Their downtempo, trip-hop vibe really gets me.

I wrote about them for The Squawker last week, but, I wanted to throw this up on BFD too. It's their cover of The Carpenters "Superstar." Sure, it doesn't have Karen Carpenter's sugary sweet voice, no, that's been replaced by singer Kelley Christian.

MP3: Shock of Pleasure - Superstar

I Said Hi My Name Is Mos

On my daily post I do for DC9 I mentioned the Black Keys are doing a hip-hop album. It's kinda surprising, but, kinda not. They seem like a band hip-hop guys would be into instead of Radiohead and Coldplay... which a lot of them are.

Anyhoo, as you can see in the above vidie Mos Def is taking part in the project and it makes me all kinds of giddy. I've been a fan of Mos for a while and I dig the shiz he does on the first track. I also find it amusing when he tells Dan Auerbach he's been a big fan of their for a while and Dan says "Since college?" Funny shit, Dan.

The collabo (that's what the kids call it, right?), Blakroc will be out drop November 27.

Where There's Smoke, There's Bosque?

So, I haven't been able to get a confirmation from Smoke, but, Bosque Brown's Myspace page says they're playing there tomorrow night. It should start at 10p and also be super great. I've been waiting for them to play in town again, since I missed them a few weeks ago.

So, maybe I'll see you there? 10p. Smoke.

Also, check out some vidies of Mara Lee singing in what looks to be a French cathedral of some sort. I can only assume it French, since all the copy for the website is in French.

MP3: Bosque Brown - Went Walking