Rilo Kiley

More Adventurous, Rilo Kiley's third album released last Summer in North America, comes out next month in the UK and several other European countries. This is a must-have for any true indie-rock fan who loves well-crafted songs with exuberant power-pop melodies, imaginative bridges, layered guitars, incisive political commentary and bitter introspection in the lyrics, and powerful, sulking vocals. Their new single is one the highlights of the album, the anthemic 'Portions for Foxes.' (No, Jenny, you can't be bad news!).

Mar adentro (The Sea Inside)

I'm very happy that Alejandro Amenábar won an Oscar tonight for his new movie, Mar adentro (The Sea Inside, in English). Ever since it opened in Spain last Fall I've heard nothing but good things about it, and I think it's very brave to make a movie about such a difficult and controversial issue --although the results can be very rewarding indeed, and tonight another film on that same topic has been recognized with Oscar gold too.
I really liked Amenábar's first three films (I guess The Others was the most popular of them outside of Spain), and I love Javier Bardem as an actor, so I'm really hoping that this award will, among other things, make sure that the movie finally gets to play in Pittsburgh! --so I can see it at last.

¡Enhorabuena, Alejandro!

Tom Vek / M.I.A.

The latest next big thing to come from London, Tom Vek's debut album just got a release date: April 4th (UK only for now, of course). His music is retro dance/garage rock, with sassy bass lines and catchy synth drums, and vocals full of punk attitude with the occasional witty lyrics. New single 'I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes' comes out next month and further showcases his punchy electro-rock sound, but in the meanwhile let's revisit his last single, the raw and funky 'If You Want'.


Talking about release dates, the one for M.I.A.'s album Arular has been pushed back at least until mid-March due to legal issues over a sample used on the record. The Sri-Lankan-born, London-based rapper Maya Arulpragasam released two infectious and groundbreaking singles in the last few months, and the anticipation for her full-length debut has been building up to a point only comparable in recent times to the high expectations generated by Bloc Party or LCD Soundsystem. Here's hoping that, like those two debuts, M.I.A.'s doesn't disappoint either. For now, I'll just keep dancing to the absolutely irresistible 'Galang'.

Antony and the Johnsons

So it turns out the Antony and the Johnsons show at the Warhol last night was sold out. I had been calling the museum regularly throughout the week hoping for a miracle in the form of a ticket cancellation and subsequent resale, but with no luck. Well, I guess it is good news that there's sufficient local demand (and, may I say, good taste) for a decidedly non-mainstream show like that to sell out in Pittsburgh. I'll just have to set up tent by the Warhol next time to make sure I get a ticket! In any case, the beatiful, bluesy cabaret crooning of the fabulous Antony and the breathtaking winds of his orchestra the Johnsons constitute the perfect soundtrack to a wintery Sunday afternoon at home. From his new album I Am a Bird Now, and featuring an intro by Lou Reed, here is 'Fistful of Love'.

Sí

Today I cast my vote in the Spanish referendum on the constitutional treaty for the European Union. For those countrymen of mine who are still undecided on how to vote, or even on whether to vote at all, I recommend this article from yesterday's edition of El Periódico.
As I walked out of the post office, I realized I have now voted more times as a foreign resident than as a regular citizen when I still lived in Barcelona. I really miss the old ritual of going to an actual polling station to stand in line, show my ID and finally introduce my vote in the ballot box on election day. I guess adding 'and ten first-class stamps, please' after handing out the envelope just pretty much takes away all the magic. Oh well.
Ok, enough about me and my nostalgia, Bill Maher's show is about to start...

Cherryfalls

Their singer sounds like a grown-up Fran Healy or a teenage Thom Yorke, and their songs follow the moving, soul-baring, guitar-ridden alt-rock mid-tempo style of The Bends or Parachutes. In other words: they are going to be huge. And quite frankly, with tracks like this one, their upcoming new single 'My Drug' (released March 14th in the UK), it's almost impossible not to like them. By the time debut album Winter Winter comes out, right at the end of the cold season, millions will have warmed up to Cherryfalls already. Check out the first big indie pop anthem of 2005 before it becomes inescapable here.

I'm Not a Gun

John Tejada and Takeshi Nishimoto return with the product of their regular weekly meetings since the release of their debut album. Our Lives on Wednesdays is again full of dreamy mid-tempo instrumental post-rock tracks tinged with otherwordly electronic sounds capable of producing the same relaxing effects as an evening by the beach in a deserted island. Their first single, 'Sundays Will Never Change', is best enjoyed lying down with the lights off. Enjoy...

13 + God

Regular readers of this blog will be familiar with my soft spot for the Notwist. The German band has joined efforts with the California-based, similarly experimental duo Themselves. The result of such association is an album to be published in April under the name 13 + God, from which a first single, 'Men of Station', has already been released.
Melancholic lyrics; detached vocals; subtle electronic beats; simple, beautiful guitar and piano notes; a careful and layered production, all contributing to create an absorbing atmosphere of introspection and tranquility... This is a remarkable track that heralds a very promising album indeed.

Calvin and Hobbes

The last few days have been pretty hectic, but I'll soon be posting some new good stuff that I've managed to get my hands on recently. In the meanwhile, enjoy the wisdom and the irony of Calvin and Hobbes.