OMG how good is this gonna be. Cannot wait for this show. AND IT’S FREEEEEEE! Friday 16 March 2012. Yiew.

http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/

AND! ARIEL PINK ON SUNDAY 11 MARCH! SICKNUTS!!!!

“I guess I was wrong. Maybe it was a bad idea to start a buzzband / record label / blog / viral meme blog / aggregator of memes / party promotion firm / PR firm / online video series / site on the internet that changes the way that we interpret journalism / diy venue space / playhouse / mumblecore film collective / documentary film series / alt non-profit scam / party photo website / cassette tape label / online design company / microblogging service / alt-fundraising website / vintage store / online vintage store / t-shirt making company / art gallery space / booking agency / food truck / vegan restaurant / creative agency / zine / magazine / alt comedy troupe / [miscellaneous alt venture].”

http://www.hipsterrunoff.com/2012/01/i-am-trying-save-my-alt-business.html

Name: JackKnife the Ghost Knife

Qualification: All of them

Expertise: Jackknife joined us in 2008 as the Defender of the Dark Arts. Since becoming Champion of the Universe in 1992, Jackknife has explored such roles as Keeper of the Keys and Herald for a New Dawn. Jackknife brings an immense knowledge of everything, and is completely fucking unstoppable.  Jackknife believes in teamwork and working with people, but you don’t work WITH Jackknife, you work FOR Jackknife. Jackknife saved the President of Togo’s life four times in 2011 and has been awarded national medals by no less than 7 European monarchies. Jackknife is currently the only known to fish to not only be able to breath out of water, but also hold down a steady job.

AS IF YOU WOULDN’T WANT A JACKKNIFE OF YOUR OWN

Ford & Lopatin – Channel Pressure

This album is mental insane. I’m not even going to go into detail. Just download this fuckin thing. This is dead set my equal best album of 2011.

Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx – We’re New Here

What is it: The all round awesome Jamie xx takes the freshly recorded vocal stems from Gil Scott-Heron’s 2010 album I’m New Here, fucks with them on a foundation of UK underground garage, electro and dubstep and creates a cohesive collection to the point where you wouldn’t believe it’s a remix. Oh and most of it was made on The xx tour bus.

When to listen to it: On the way to a party. The sharp edge of the synths, the twisted warping of the vocals and the driving beats make it the perfect pick me up.

Favourite tracks: Home, NY Is Killing Me

The Second Best Albums of 2011 (11 way tie)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra

What is it: Part Jefferson Airplane, part Jay Reatard. Following on from the untimely demise of The Mint Chicks, Unknown Mortal Orchestra blew up when Ffunny Frends went viral and they wasted no time dropping this solid effort. Guitar and vox melodies vibe like they’re on acid and flow over smooth repetitive rhythms. 

When to listen to it: In the car. Or in private if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like getting caught belting along to guitar hooks. 

Favourite track: Ffunny Ffrends

James Blake – James Blake

What is it: Dubstep, I think. Sparse production. Hi hats. And classic James Blake vocal fuckery. His strange style is intimidating and totally confusing, but smooth and flowing and wicked catchy. This album would probably have had the best chance of coming in first in the absence of We’re New Here.

When to listen to it: When you have absolutely nothing to do. This album isn’t the greatest motivator. The beat won’t drive you to do anything but relax. You should probably be smoking weed to it to be honest.

Favourite tracks: Wilhelms Scream, To Care (Like You)

Metronomy – The English Riveria

What is it: Pure pop goodness. To me it just feels like the 80s. But a fun 2011 version of the 80s. No gimmicks, no glam just catchy melodies, funky basslines and cheesy vocals.

When to listen to it: When you’re in the mood to sing and hum the melody. Sunny days driving with the window down on the way to somewhere fun.

Favourite track: She Wants

St Vincent – Strange Mercy

What is it: Art rock? I suppose so. Weird timing, lots of layered instrumentals, and a hauntingly beautiful voice that follows it’s own rhythm. It’s really clever music, meticulously constructed and elegant. 

When to listen to it: Anytime. It’s a beautiful album that leaves you feeling good. 

Favourite track: Chloe in the Afternoon

The Weeknd – House of Balloons

What is it: Part of the new prog RnB movement, it’s a soulful, passionate album that plays on Abel Tesfaye’s voice to convey harsh emotions. The beats are tight with heavy production, but it’s the new prog style, using guitars and Siouxsie and the Banshees samples that gives this album a real edge. It’s kinda fucking scary too. 

When to listen to it: When you’re coming down.

Favourite tracks: High For This, House of Balloons – Glass Table Girls

John Maus – We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves

What is it: Ariel Pink bandmate John Maus creates another contemporary pop album that sounds like it was ripped from an 80s VHS soundtrack. Almost on par with Before Today, the album is sludgy and lo-fi, with cheap synths and droning vocals.

When to listen to it: Doing the dishes, or any other household cleaning. I don’t know why psychedelic synth pop just does it for me when I’m cleaning, but it does.

Favourite tracks: Streetlight, Quantum Leap

Washed Out – Within and Without

What is it: Chillwave bro.

When to listen to it: When riding chillwaves.

Favourite track: Before

Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost

What is it: Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, The Beach Boys. Girls are the epitome of good old school rock music. Their influences are apparent and yet no one song could be considered a rip off. Their sound is huge. Guitars, vox, bass, drums, maybe a touch of organ. Fuck the rest. 

When to listen to it: Whenever you want to feel shit about why your band sucks. Listening to Girls makes you realise it’s because you’re just not that good.

Favourite track: Vomit

Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica

What is it: Experimental madness. Oneohtrix Point Never sounds like their name would suggest. Fucking weird. Sample mashups sit on odd timings with a lot of repetition. There’s not much to sing along too, you can’t even really hum the melodies. Which is why I like it. It’s different. 

When to listen to it: At work. It’s too unpredictable to distract you. You’ll never find yourself lost in the melodies or hanging for the next verse. And the complete lack of lyrics mean you can write to it easily without new york is killing me.

Favourite tracks: Replica, Up

Battles – Gloss Drop

What is it: Weird like Oneohtrix but in a different way. Battles pretty much just play guitars in many, many ways. Actually I wrote a review of it back in the AU days. http://www.theaureview.com/albums/battles-gloss-drop-2011-lp

When to listen to it: At the gym, believe it or not. The lack of standout pop melody removes distractions and the steady, repetitive rhythms just sit well to zone out to your reps.

Favourite tracks: Africastle, Rolls Bayce

PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

What is it: Classic PJ. What more can I say. If you love PJ, you’ll love this. Her best album to date? Probably not. But another addition to an already impressive catalogue. 

When to listen to it: A BBQ with friends. Harvey’s wailing voice hanging out while you drinks beers and talk shit.

Favourite track: Let England Shake

Tom Vek – Leisure Seizure

What is it: Leisure Seizure is one of those albums that doesn’t fit into any neat mold. Vek’s voice is unique, it’s drony and sounds like he’s bored. But perfectly bored. Entertainingly bored. Ha! He plays with a whole heap of synths and is heavy on production technique. And this accents the big focus on beat. From the first song you know the whole rhythm section is off tap.

When to listen to it: Pre-drinks. It’s a bit of a funky sounding hipster album. Rent a hotel room before you go to the city and drink vodka and dance to this. 

Favourite track: Seizemic

The Best of the Rest of 2011

M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

Neon Indian – Era Extrana

Ty Segall – Goodbye Bread

Cults – Cults

The Antlers – Burst Apart

Tyler, the Creator - Goblin

Cass McCombs – Wit’s End

Danger Mouse & Danielle Luppi – Rome

Gotye – Making Mirrors

Foster the People – Torches

Frank Ocean – Nostalgia, Ultra

Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean

City & Colour – Little Hell

Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why There Are Mountains

Toro Y Moi – Underneath the Pine

Zola Jesus – Conatus

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong

Real Estate – Days

Ones that I’ve downloaded but haven’t listened to yet enough times to know if they’re really worthy of a best of title

Fiest, Com Truise, The Vaccines, Friendly Fires, Sebastian, Holy Ghost!, The Horrors, The Weeknd (Thursday), The Rapture, Das Racist, Shabazz Palaces, Wu Lyf, Atlas Sound, Kurt Vile, Lykke Li, Bon Iver, Handsome Furs, SBTRKT, The War on Drugs, The Field, Youth Lagoon, EMA, Gang Gang Dance, Tuneyards, Panda Bear, Yuck, Wooden Shjips, Explosions in the Sky, Elbow

Disappointments of 2011

Justice – Audio, Video, Disco

DJ Shadow – The Less You Know, The Better

Wilco – The Whole Love

TV On The Radio – Nine Types Of Light

The Strokes – Angles

Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde

The Man Who Sold The World – Nirvana (David Bowie)

Hurt – Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails)

Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley (Leonard Cohen)

I’d never really seen any band crowd fund successfully before, but I spose if anyone is gonna do it in Adelaide, it would be The Honey Pies. I think they were going for $3000, of which you could contribute anything you wanted. $30 got you a whole swag of goodies and $100 got you even more. I dropped a $30 and got a digital copy of the album, some other downloads, a piece of art from the Hair of the Dog animation, and entry to their gig. And heaps of other shit too. It was a knockout deal really, and there was no way I wasn’t gonna do it. Im heaps looking forward to the launch on 16 December at Jive cos their launch last year was fuckin rock n roll. But my favourite gift by far was The Honey Pies Think Of England songbook. Seriously, look at the effort here, it’s fucking amazing:

16 December at Jive.

Tremé is a neighbourhood of New Orleans. As Im sure you’re aware, Hurricane Katrina fucked that city up royally. I just finished Season 1 of a new HBO show, Tremé, that captures everything that makes New Orleans awesome. The spirit of the people, the food and of course the music. I have to live in New Orleans at some point in my life. It even inspired me enough to dust off the old saxophone, which I haven’t played in a couple of years. Anyway you should watch it. And then we can jam.