Label: Destree Records
Release Date: 6 May 2008

Every once in awhile an album comes along that truly shakes up the world: Pet Sounds, Abbey Road, Born to Run, Straight Outta Compton, OK Computer, and now… Turning Point by Steve Plock.

The first Chart Topping All Percussion album of all time!

Let me preface this edition of Listen Up by saying that this album has been dominating my ear drumbs for three weeks. It has taken precedent over the new Raconteurs and Dodos albums, both of which are very good. I suppose this means that Hercules and Love Affair can serve multiple musical purposes. I’ve used it as background music for layin around my apartment, dance music during some pregames, and on the pod walking to class.

Andy Butler is the man behind Hercules and Love Affair. Based in Brooklyn, he grew up throwing disco-themed parties for the die hards and kids with their parents dusty old dance albums. EMI UK has posted a video of Andy explaining each track of the self titled debut.

Try out Hercules and Love Affair if you dig some disco and aren’t afraid to admit it. I’ll leave you with the video of single “Blind.” Caveat: creepy orgy scene towards the end.

M. Ward’s 2006 release Post-War was one of my favorite albums of that year, topped only by some truly amazing works (The Hold Steady’s Boys and Girls in America for one). Accordingly, Zooey Deschanel is one of my favorite actresses. It is no wonder then that I expected something really cool resulting from this musical partnership now known as She & Him.

After hearing the single “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?”, I was only convinced further that the forthcoming album Volume 1 would be a vocal and instrumental gift. Unfortunately it did not deliver as a whole.

Deschanel’s vocals fell flat too many times to shake off with novice understanding. She is momentarily spot on and even quite impressive, but half-thought notes and dulled pitch bring her closer to ScarJo level. I’m sorry but “I Was Made For You” sound’s like a friend of mine doing her impression of Leslie Gore’s “That’s The Way Boy’s Are”. If you have seen Fishing with Dynamite perform circa this time last year you know what I’m talking about.

This album, unlike the vinyl masterpieces you no doubt have hidden under your bed, will not “set you free.”

There has not been a band that has enjoyed such ubiquitous blog buzz since let’s say Clap Your Hands Say Yeah as this week’s Listen Up, Vampire Weekend. Last night this band played a sold-out show in New York’s Bowery Ballroom (home to such greats as The National).

Vampire Weekend - Bowery Ballroom (1/29/08)

The show was their album release party for the self titled debut and featured all of the things that come with such a rapid rise to stardom: screaming fans, hipsters enjoying their last chance to be unpretentious, and a sense of the impending explosion.

This will most likely come in the form of energized fans everywhere dancing to their Smile-pop beats. Vampire Weekend’s stuff will make you feel good!

Here it is: Listen Up to Vampire Weekend

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová play nameless characters with a special musical connection

The film that should have been nominated for dozens of awards, but of course was snubbed for the most part, came out on DVD this week. Once is an awry romance about a heart broken singer-songwriter and the girl who follows him home with her broken vacuum.

The acting is great, but the music performances really put the film out of the reach of such duds as August Rush. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová have amazing chemistry despite their Irish-Czech differences.

If anyone is looking for a romantic movie to watch during the Holidays, Once is your best bet if you have already exhausted your copy of Love Actually.

Or Listen Up to the soundtrack!

I’m back you blog-reading freaks! Seriously, I just make most of this shit up and see who is gullible enough to believe it. Speaking of, I have some new updates from the break!

I acquired a copy of Daft Punk’s new live album Alive 2007. It is everything I wanted it to be. Simply put, the concert is a greatest hits show done like no other. The robot duo’s house prowess come through with each re-mixed, re-kickass beat. I feel like throwing an album release party at my apartment, dance floor and crazy lighting included. Anyone know where I can get a six foot pyramid?

Here is the album you should be listening to right now. Well, actually a compilation soundtrack.

Dylan obsession aside, the idea for this movie and soundtrack is great. I have yet to see the film, but it is number one on my list of thirty or more movies I don’t have money or time for.

These are the best Dylan covers I have ever heard. The artists involved are all at the top of their respected genres, although I usually don’t like to praise Jack Johnson for anything.

Disc: 1
1. All Along the Watchtower - Eddie Vedder & The Million Dollar Bashers
2. I’m Not There - Sonic Youth
3. Goin’ To Acapulco - Jim James & Calexico
4. Tombstone Blues - Richie Havens
5. Ballad Of a Thin Man - Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers
6. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again - Cat Power
7. Pressing On - John Doe
8. Fourth Time Around - Yo La Tango
9. Dark Eyes - Iron & Wine & Calexico
10. Highway 61 Revisited - Karon O & the Million Dollar Bashers
11. One More Cup Of Coffee - Roger McGuinn & Calexico
12. The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll - Mason Jennings
13. Billy 1 - Los Lobos
14. Simple Twist Of Fate - Jeff Tweedy
15. Man In the Long Black Coat - Mark Lanegan
16. Senor (Tales Of Yankee Power) - Willie Nelson & Calexico

Disc: 2
1. As I Went Out One Morning - Mira Billotte
2. Can’t Leave Her Behind - Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers
3. Ring Them Bells - Sufjan Stevens
4. Just Like a Woman - Charlotte Gainsbourg & Calexico
5. Medley: Mama, You’ve Been On My Mind/A Fraction Of Last Thoughts On Woody Guthrie - Jack Johnson
6. I Wanna Be Your Lover - Yo La Tango
7. You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
8. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? - The Hold Steady
9. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues - Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
10. The Wicked Messenger - The Black Keys
11. Cold Irons Bound - Tom Verlaine & the Millions Dollar Bashers
12. The Times They Are a Changin’ - Mason Jennings
13. Maggie’s Farm - Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers
14. When the Ship Comes In - Marcus Carl Franklin
15. Moonshiner - Bob Forrest
16. I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine - John Doe
17. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door - Antony & The Johnsons
18. I’m Not There - Bob Dylan with The Band

I can’t stop listening to Jim James croon on “Goin’ to Acapulco” and Karen O is sexy as usual covering “Highway 61 Revisited” with The Million Dollar Bashers. Yo La Tango is great on both tracks, but “I Wanna Be Your Lover” is masterfully done. Mason Jennings (opened for Guster last semester at Foellinger) comes straight out of the Civil Rights era with “The Times They Are a Changin’”. Even mah boy Sufjan chips in! Awesome.

The two artists that win the award for sounding most like this American icon won’t surprise, well maybe. Jeff Tweedy (the musician I consider the best songwriter alive after Dylan) is nothing short of kick ass covering “Simple Twist of Fate”. If any of you saw Star Course’s Tweedy show last year you could only expect such things from the Wilco man. Chan Marshall, the spunky kitty Cat herself, sounds so much like Dylan you could argue it’s actually him trying to sound like Cat Power. Listen to “Stuck Inside Of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again” and decide for yourself.

I love Bob Dylan and would be extremely upset if something didn’t do the man justice. I’m Not There does him every bit deserved.

This will be the first of many “Listen Up” blog entries in which I pretentiously tell you what should be coming out of your speakers. Today’s entry is brought to you by Sub Pop Records!

Wow Sweet Cover right?

Band of Horses makes their sophomore full length effort count with Cease to Begin. Although they have lost their Indie darling status as up and comers after selling huge numbers relative to their first album Everything All the Time, the music continues to impress. I really dig “Is There a Ghost”, “Islands on the Coast”, and “Cigarettes, Wedding Bands”. Also, reverb vocals are bad ass.