Fuzzy Lion

Oh Doves, where have you gone? The Last Broadcast was such a brilliant album. Some Cities had its moments, but since then you’ve been MIA!

I hear rumblings all the time that you’re working on your “fourth LP” but still nothing.

Let’s get with the program boys. I’ve been waiting a long-ass time for some new music and I’m getting a little antsy here.

Filed under: Music on April 23rd, 2008 | No Comments »
Entry Tags: Doves

Last night on Conan, one of my all-time favorite bands, Yo La Tengo, served as the backing band for She & Him, probably one of my most listened to albums of 2008, to create the ultimate viewing experience. I’ll post a higher-quality video as soon as it pops it’s little self up on Hulu, but in the meantime here’s a YouTube clip. You can also view it directly at NBC.com here.

Filed under: Videos on April 23rd, 2008 | No Comments »
Entry Tags: Conan O'Brien | She & Him | Yo La Tengo

I absolutely adore Scotland-based band Frightened Rabbit. Their debut album Sing the Greys was fantastic and one of 2007’s best (and most sadly overlooked) albums. As is the case with many artists, the sophomore record can really separate the good bands from the great bands. Frightened Rabbit’s new album, The Midnight Organ Fight, is a complete masterpiece and has carved out a spot for these guys in my all-time favorite bands category.

This band has literally created two albums in which I don’t just like, but love every single song. From the first listen of The Midnight Organ Fight I knew this was going to be one of those special albums that will remain a staple of my music collection for the rest of my life. These guys are special bunch and once the secret gets out and the masses hear this band, they are going to be the next big thing, and deservingly so.

To just pick one song to showcase how amazing these guys are is a virtually impossible feat, so I’ll pick three. If you like what you hear I urge you to pick up a copy of both albums as they are as consistently good as the tracks below.

From The Midnight Organ Fight:
“Good Arms vs. Bad Arms”

“The Modern Leper”

From Sing the Greys:
“Be Less Rude”

[Download mp3]

On the web: Official Website, MySpace, iTunes

Filed under: Downloads on April 23rd, 2008 | No Comments »
Entry Tags: Frightened Rabbit

Check out the track “Black Party Hats” by Lexington, Kentucky-based band Bedtime. I recently received a copy of their self-titled album and have been really digging it. Keep your eyes out for them, I think they’re very promising…

[Download mp3]

Head on over to their MySpace page to hear more.

Filed under: Downloads, Music on April 23rd, 2008 | No Comments »
Entry Tags: Bedtime

Can’t wait for this…

Filed under: Music, Videos on April 8th, 2008 | No Comments »
Entry Tags: The National

One of my all-time favorite bands, James, have just released their new album Hey Ma after a several year hiatus. I’ve purchased every album the band has ever put out and Hey Ma was to be no exception. Unfortunately, the record is not available in the United States and probably won’t be until the Fall at the earliest.

Normally I would just say “fuck it” and head on over to my favorite BitTorrent site and grab the album for free, but James is a band that I want to support and give my money to. Unfortunately, Universal International doesn’t want to let me do that.

I know, I can always head to Amazon and pay $35+ to import the album, but why should I have to do that? Why should I have to pay more than double the price of the album just so I can cover shipping costs and other bullshit import fees when I could just head on over to the iTunes UK store and get it there? Well, as you may or may not know, the iTunes UK store doesn’t let you purchase from there unless your credit card has a UK billing address.

Okay, well what about 7digital.com, one of the biggest iTunes competitors in the UK? I’ve been able to buy stuff from them in the past with my US credit card. Turns out the album is not available on there!

So basically I’m left with no other choice but to pirate the album and the band will get no money from me.

What the fuck is wrong with the music business and it’s inability to work out these territory issues when it comes to digital releases? I can reluctantly give the labels a pass on physical distribution outside of their territories, especially if the band isn’t insanely popular around the whole world. I understand it costs money to ship albums around the globe and if they aren’t going to sell that is a lot of lost revenue. What I don’t understand is why these same restrictions are in place with digital downloads? I would gladly click on over to the iTunes UK store and pay a little more money due to the exchange rate to buy an album if need be, but to prohibit me from spending my money to actually pay for something I want is just stupid!

The record labels really need to get with the program here. Digital distribution is not the future, it is the now. These ridiculous border restrictions are pointless in the digital world and the labels should be doing everything they can embrace technology to maximize their dollar rather than drive people to piracy.

Filed under: Music on April 8th, 2008 | No Comments »
Entry Tags: James

Hello Tokyo is one of those bands that I’ve heard of, but never really was familiar with their music. When I received a promo of the new record, I was very anxious to have a listen and see what they were all about. After only one listen I was hooked and knew right away this album was going to get a lot of my attention for the foreseeable future.

Hello Tokyo has earned a pretty impressive string of successes behind the scenes, having their song “Radio” chosen as the theme song for an Animal Planet series television show, as well as many more tracks used for the past few seasons of MTV’s The Real World and Road Rules.

I find it hard to really compare the band to other acts out there today, but the best I’ve heard was a more danceable version of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. Fans of Rilo Kiley should also easily gravitate to Hello Tokyo.

The band will start touring on April 11th with a free show at Bar Matchless in their hometown of Brooklyn. Complete tour dates are as follows:

Listen to “Steady the Gun,” the first single from Sell the Stars:

[Download mp3]

Sell the Stars is released on 4/22

Filed under: Downloads, Music on April 4th, 2008 | No Comments »
Entry Tags: Hello Tokyo

Fuzzy Lion has been gratefully asked to participate in the Hey Nielsen Pop Culture Trivia Challenge. Simply head on over to the site and sign up to answer trivia questions, some of them created by yours truly! There are some pretty kick-ass prizes to be won, so get to it!

Filed under: Contests on April 2nd, 2008 | No Comments »
Entry Tags: Hey Nielsen

E, the frontman for one of my favorite bands Eels, recently did an acoustic performance of a few songs on BBC Radio…

“Birds”
 
[Download mp3]

“Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues”

[Download mp3]

“Ugly Love”

[Download mp3] 

Filed under: Downloads, Music on April 1st, 2008 | No Comments »
Entry Tags: Eels

As you anxiously count down the May 13th release of Death Cab’s new album Narrow Stairs, here’s a lovely acoustic rendition of “Cath…” which recently premiered on a BBC interview & live performance with the band. The first single “I Will Possess Your Heart” is also for sale at iTunes to even further satiate your fix.

[Download mp3]

Filed under: Downloads, Music on March 28th, 2008 | No Comments »
Entry Tags: Death Cab for Cutie