So Cosmic dude.

Cut Copy - So Cosmic (Mix)

Some of you may have heard rumors floating about the blog-o-net that Cut Copy has a new mix that they're giving out on the Australian Daft Punk tour, who they're supporting and seem to be really excited about. For those of you down under, here's a ticketmaster link... might as well see if there's any tix left you know? There are still two shows: one on the 20th and one on the 22nd.

Anyway, from the Cut Copy blog:

"we've been putting together a psychedlic disco mixtape called 'So Cosmic' containing snippets of new tracks and music that inpired the record"

So, this is said mix, and it is excellent. Interestingly, much like the FabricLive mix the Cutters did last year, it would seem that they're on the same wavelength as me and David, w/r/t the stuff we like to play at PDDNM, so you can expect some great disco-futuristic stuff. Really rad. Thanks to Modular for the hook-up on this one.

Grab the mix and enjoy it. Stay tuned to MFR for more Cut Copy news in the new year!

Updated: new official cover-art!!!
Updated again! track-by-track breakdown of the mix by Dan after the jump...

The trick is, you do not get on that interstate bus

Friends, do you need a good kick in the ass as much as I do? I love this time of year, but damn if it isn't exhausting. You've got the whole friends and family thing, the whole shopping thing, and, if you're in any way affiliated with the music media (or even if you're not), you may have the year-end Best-Of list thing. This was a great year for music, but not a great year for sleep.

Enter Thao Nguyen, who, with her band the Get Down Stay Down, is about to release a really enjoyable record called We Brave Bee Stings And All. This is Nguyen's debut for Kill Rock Stars.

Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down - Bag Of Hammers.

I would love this even if I didn't need aural caffeine, but since I do, I'm loving it all the more. Nguyen, on this track and elsewhere, has a great knack for using rhythm to make a song take off. She reminds me of Modest Mouse in this way - I recognize the same syncopation in, say, "Float On." It's like the rhythm section for a military funk band.

The Virginia-bred Nguyen is only 23, which I mention because it means we'll hopefully hear lots of other great things from her in the future.

You can get We Brave Bee Stings And All on January 29.

PSA: Mark Your Calendar, PDDNM turns one year old

This is it guys! David and I are super-excited to be hosting a rare DJ set from Darshan and Morgan together as METRO AREA!!! We are also super pysched to have finally pinned down globe trotting, Beats in Space making, T & T producer TIM SWEENEY!

This is going to be insane. We turn 1 (already?!?) and disco birthday party mayhem ensues. We recommend buying advance tickets to guarantee entry and save your self some hassle at the door.

People Don't Dance No More - 1 Year Anniversary Party
Friday January 4th, 2008
with very special guest DJs:

METRO AREA (Environ)
+
TIM SWEENEY (DFA)

Resident DJs:
Robot Blair + David Bruno

Studio B
259 Banker Street (between Calyer and Meserole)
21 + / 10 pm - 4 am
Advance Tickets $7 at Ticketweb/$10 at the door

Xmas Time #2

Malcolm Middleton - We're All Going To Die

“Dying is a bit like writing a letter to Santa. Unless you've been a good boy or girl, you're fucked.”
- Malcolm Middleton

Middleton's entry in the race for the Christmas #1 slot is on a slightly different tack than the ABCQ video I posted yesterday. This makes sense when you know Middleton's music, such as his work with Arab Strap, or like "A Happy Medium" which I posted about a couple of years back. Happy-sounding sad songs about drinking and fucking pretty much sums it up.

For those of you in the UK who think a drunk, angry Scottish Santa should be the number one Christmas single, visit the micro site for the single to learn more - it is out now on iTunes and will be on 7" next week. The song also appeared on this year's album, A Brighter Beat, which is worth checking out too. Christmas cheers!

Its XMas Time

A Band Called Quinn - Its Christmas Time

You might as well get into the spirit. It feels like Christmas here in the city, with whole parts of town done up in lights and bows and such, Christmas trees sold on the street every few blocks, the relentless commercialism. Well, that's not really a positive, but the city is really pretty this time of year, so enjoy it.

Over in the UK, they go overboard with Christmas singles and getting to the number one slot (see the subplot in Love Actually as reference), but sometimes the songs are actually really good. Like this one by the Glaswegian group A Band Called Quinn. If you like it, you can download the whole Christmas EP that this song appears on via their site. Happy holidays!

Please don't axe another evergreen

I went to Aimee Mann's Christmas show at the Guthrie Theater this week, which was a really good time. Mann isn't typically known for, um, joy, but she's got a great sense of humor, loves Christmas, and puts on a good show. Her Christmas variety show featured stand-up comedian Paul F. Tompkins; a short film featuring Patton Oswalt, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Bob Odenkirk, and Weird Al (!); Morgan Murphy as the Hanukkah Fairy; Adam Levy from the Honeydogs; and Nellie McKay conversing with a toy reindeer.

Nellie McKay - A Christmas Dirge.

McKay played this at the show, and she's giving it away on her site. She does, however, request that you donate to the Nellie McKay Disaster Fund. No, seriously.

Nellie McKay lives in that uncomfortable place between funny and serious. I love that she can be both heartbreaking and hilarious, often at the same time, and this song is no exception. Plus, I've got a soft spot for sad Christmas songs.

Mann's Christmas show stops in Ann Arbor tonight, with additional dates in New York and Virginia. It really is a fun time, and (spoiler alert!) the show ends with a group rendition of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", complete with horn section and snow falling from the ceiling.

For more information, go here.

They're back from down under!

Y'all remember robot buddies APSCI, right (check MySpace or their site to jog your memory if needed)? The hubby-wifey NJ/Bronx/Aussie beatboxing operatic electronic hip hop duo? I mean, if you know two groups that fit that description, please drop me a line.

Their first release, out on Quannum projects in 2005 is still a solid listen when you come back to it, but in trying to quell the inevitable hankerings for something new, you get to asking "where they been?" Well, down under, specifically. But they're back! In the Big Apple, ready to play an intimate show and play all kinds of crazy cuts from their new album Best Crisis Ever coming out in 2008. Want to get in on the fun? Come meet them APSCI kids and buy me a beer, and remember to RSVP for the $5 list!

The show deets:

APSCI
Wed, Dec 12 @ 9pm
205 Chrystie
$10 / $5 with RSVP

See y'all there!

PSA: Save the date

A year of PDDNM. Big show. Big stuff... stay tuned for more info.

As promised: Free EP and bonus goodies!

It's live and on the interweb! The FREE covers EP of great 90's tunes (how much am I loving killing My Name Is Jonas on GHIII, btw?) from Cassettes Won't Listen is ready for your download love, and as an added bonus also features full instrumentals and acapellas so you can get your 90's love holiday remix thing on. Free EP! Makes a great gift for your materially co-opted holiday of choice! Go download it here.

Tracklist includes songs by Pavement, Butter 08, Blind Melon, Liz Phair, and a Sebadoh doubleshot! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go try and get 100% on My Name Is Jonas for the 45th time...