Like Independence Day. But less stupid.

After sepnding a couple of years performing terrible/blinding shows (depending on who you ask), the Brian Jonestown Massacre are back with a new album, entitled My Bloody Underground. (If you don’t know what band that’s in reference to….shame on you)

The album is still awaiting a physical release, but it is available for download on the band’s website.

Dropping Bombs On The White House (Anton being his usual subtle self), is the lead-off track, and it’s pretty bloody good (even if it only resmebles the aformentioned Kevin Shields group in it’s closing seconds).

Download it! (Expires in a week)

FallIs Is Here, Fall Is Here, It’s A Wonderful Time Of Year…

Seeing as everyone else is doing it, I guess it’s time for the Akuhei Bakery Autumn Mix!

(Cover image from Pingmag)

Also known as “Old & New Songs I’m Currently Obsessed With” or, for the less twee and indie, “A Bunch Of Songs Which I Found On My Computer”.

Download It! (52.9MB)

TRACK-BY-TRACK-ANALYSIS (sort of)

1. Kanye West - Good Morning (Intro)
Opening track of Kanye’s new album, Graduation. Minimaist beats, his usual sublime rhymes (err, which are better than mine), and, as the title suggests, a good intro song.

2. Geinoh Yamashirogumi - Kaneda
From the soundtrack to seminal 80’s anime Akira; tribal drums and apocalyptic chanting suit the film pretty well, I’d say.

3. Lightspeed Champion - No Surpise
Dev “Test Icicles” Hynes suprises with tender alt-folk. Unsuprisingly, he’s toured with the likes of Bright Eyes and his debut album is produced by one of their on-again, off-again cohorts.

4. They Might Be Giants - Don’t Let’s Start
Whoever thought they’d top the Malcolm In The Middle theme tune? I didn’t, foolishly, and only remembered about the group after hearing the song Experimental Film. This song is one of many greats they put out in their long, ecletic career.

5. Bob Dylan - The Man In Me
Already posted on the blog before, so short and sweet: Big Lebowski soundtrack, soul backing, raspy-voice Bob. Awesome.

6. Lupe Fiasco - I Gotcha (Blackwho? and Yambeard Rework)
Pretty-damn-good Lupe track made better with a jazzy reworking. But jazzy in a good way, not jazzy in the tat-my-Dad-likes way.

7. Beck - Loser
I love Beck. He rocks my socks. His first hit, which music fans who were around in the 90’s are probably sick of, but I love.

8. Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks
Yes, overplayed, re-released far too many times and, arguably, overexposed, but God-damn if this isn’t a near-perfect song

9. The Besnard Lakes - Devastation
Candian husband-and-wife duo make beautiful, apocalyptic (there’s that word again…) music. I first heard them on the Sound Opinions podcast, and haven’t looked back since.

10. Dizzee Rascal - Wannabe (featuring Lily Allen)
Rascal (using his “surname” sounds slightly less silly than saying “Dizzee”) puts is spin on the “I’m a better rapper than you, you gangsta poser” cliche of hip-hop (which we’ll see more of on the last song). Raised up by Rscal’s self-deprecating, hilarious lyrics, and a cameo appearnce by Lily Allen.

11. Supergrass - Caught By The Fuzz
First heard years ago, forgot about, then reminded by Hot Fuzz credits. Best song about cocaine since White Lines.

12. Geto Boys - Damn It Feels Good To Be a Gangsta
Also previously featured on the blog. Misoginyst, sexist, glorifying violence - everything about gangsta rap I tend to loathe. But I friggin’ love it here.

A case of the Mondays

Hey, look, more film music!

Yesterday I watched Office Space, having bought it, like, a fortnight ago. I had seen the film before, after watching Idiocracy with my uncle and him telling me about this film, by the same guy (who i would later find out is Mike Judge, who also created Beavis & Butthead and King Of The Hill).

At first, it didn’t seem to make much of a initial impression; the humour (generally) is pretty understated, but on further watching I found the characters and situations just laugh out loud funny. Especially Lumbergh, ut I think that’s ground the internet has covered several times over.

A weird thing about the film is the soundtrack - pretty much exclusivley, late-90’s gangsta rap. Except, unlike most gangsta rap…I kinda liked it. Though more in a guilty-pleasure sorta way than “OhmygodthisblowsPublicEnemyoutofthewaterit’sawesome” sorta way.

Anyway, for your listening pleasure I present Geto Boy’s song Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta, which, unlike most modern crap-rap (the equivalent of ‘cock-rock?), has a laid-back, rather than loud and confrontational, feel to it.

God, am I trying to intellectualise gangsta rap? I’m gonna shut up now.

Geto Boys - Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta (Expires in a week!)
Buy the Office Space soundtrack