Albert Hammond Hearts Me

Every once in a while a song comes up on my iPod that makes me reach for it to see who it is. And for the past couple of weeks, I would say 7 times out of 10 it is a song from the upcoming Albert Hammond, Jr LP, ¿Cómo Te Llama?. Sorry Miami, Bro (love you), but I don't think the Strokes music is "musical diarrhea".

I go with the mindset there is a time and place for (most) music. And sometimes you want want fun music. You don't want to think about it, you just want the music to be good. I know The Strokes have a tainted past in some indie mindsets because of their "priviledged" upbringing, and perhaps their luck at getting signed was not so much about talent or luck. I don't really by it, but either way I was entertained by the music and ultimately that is what I want from it.

I would say Hammond's latest release is a far more polished (less garage) sounding album than any of The Strokes album leaning more towards Spoon than, well, The Stokes.

Oh so funny Albert Hammond story, when The Strokes first played Miami at Billboard Live (that promising live music venue that fizzled and now is Dolce - yes that Dolce of Dolce Gabana) my friends and I waited outside for the band to come out. Between one friend standing in the street to prevent the bus from moving so she could see Julian Casablancas and my other friend getting a kiss from another band member, my girlfriend at the time got my shirt signed by Hammond. Except he though he was signing it for her so now my Strokes shirt shows how much he "hearts" me. Oh and Julian finally did come out and blow my friend a kiss right before the bus almost ran her over.

MP3: Rocket zhsare/ysi
MP3: Borrowed Time zshare/ysi

And from his previous release, Yours To Keep ..

MP3: Back to the 101 zshare/ysi

Time to rock it from the Delta to the DMZ!

Goooooooooooooood morning Vietnam!In a role he didn't suck in. Like Mork and Mindy.

I loved the tag line of the movie. I still remember it.

The wrong man. In the wrong place. At the right time.

Perfectly 80's! It seems that decade could make light of even the heaviest thing. Speaking of heavy... (you like that?)

Has anybody heard the ridiculousness that is Sample and Hold? It is Simian Mobile Disco's remix album. It seems artists have been intermingling a lot more lately. And SMD have brought on Cosmo Vitelli, Joakim!!, Shit Robot, Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve and others to remix the last album Attack Decay Sustain Release.

Anyways, thought you needed something to wake you up on a Monday morning.

MP3: Simian Mobile Disco - Tits And Acid (Oscilation Remix) zshare/ysi

Link back ya here?!

Hit up Winnie Cooper for the Cosmo Vitelli mix...

And it seems the duo are the next in line for the FabricLive series. FabricLive 41: Simian Mobile Disco is out on August 11th. I am a huge fan of the series, so I cannot wait for this release.

The Mighty Midnight Juggernauts....

One of my favorite new bands at the moment is the Midnight Juggernauts. Hailing all the way from Australia, a current hot spot for dancey electronic music (Cut Copy, Presets, Riot in Belgium, etc..)

They have just released an amazing debut album 'Dystopia' which should be available in the US soon. This duo, now trio manages to seamlessly blend electro, rock and pop like few can. It's a classic record that doesnt fit easily into any category. It's got 80's synth/electro & indie rock influences all rolled into one.

They've been getting rave reviews all over the blogs. Even Justice recently cited 'Dystopia' as the best electronic album of 2007! Not a bad endorsement to have huh...

Two of my favorite tracks so far are the Singles 'Road to Recovery' and 'Into the Galaxy'

I like the edited version of 'Into the Galaxy' from the video better than version on the album so I'll post the video instead. Their videos are also great and different from each other as well. I posted the video to 'Road to Recovery' a few weeks ago if you wanna go back and check that out or go to you tube. They have a bunch of stuff worth checking out.

'Road the Recovery' was the first track I heard from MJ months ago and I still find it amazing (despite many repeated listens!) It has an amazing driving beat that leads you to a super catchy anthemic chorus of enlightment w/classic 80's new wave synthlines. A great song to sing along to in the car or boogie to in the club.

'Ending of an Era' is another great track on the album that reminds me a bit of U2's 'Numb'. Mostly due to the singing style on the track. The lead singer mouths off random rhyming lyrics for a bit until the chorus comes in and the singing returns.

Another great track on the album is the title track 'Dystopia'. This ones a slow dark jam that reminds me of Pink Floyd/Scissor Sisters. Slow brooding, dark and delicious. A great change of pace from alot of the dancier stuff.

With no further delay, here are the Midnight Juggernauts....

Enjoy!


MP3: Road to Recovery (YSI)

MP3: Ending of an Era (YSI)

MP3: Dystopia (YSI)

M.I.A. Brings it with Kala!

Just got a copy of the new M.I.A album 'Kala' which will be hitting stores Tuesday, August 21st!

So far digging what I hear!

I was a little worried that the new album might not live up to her debut 'Arular' which was a commerical and critical success and inspired many imitators. She was able to tap into a new sound/style that mixed middle eastern sounds/themes with hip hop, big bass beats and came up with her own unique style/niche. Artists like Uffie owe her big time for opening the doors. Except M.I.A. does it better!

I'm digging that she's trying some new things on this new album.

On Track #4 'Jimmy' she flirts with Disco and sounds like Dianna Ross straight out of the 70's. I love the fact that she's singing on this one too and not rapping. Sounds fresh and glad she had the courage to try something different.

Track #8 'Down River' is classic her with those amazing beats. First few seconds of the song and your already moving your head/body to the beat. A floor stomper that's sure to be a club anthem in no time flat...

'Bamboo Banger' starts the album off perfectly. Takes awhile to kick in but when it does it's a 'Banger, a Bamboo Banger!' Classic her with those middle eastern sounds/themes and similar messages of 'Power, Power...' We love that!

'Boyz' is outstanding as well and the single. We had that one on the Radar blog awhile back ago. Go back and grab that as well.

Enjoy!

MP3: Down River (YSI)
MP3: Jimmy (YSI)
MP3: Bamboo Banger (YSI)

Super Early Release

The Super Furry Animals are releasing their 8th studio album on August 27th. Continuing their tried and true blend of pop, folk, psychedelica and eccentric lyrics. Check out the song titles...

1. The Gateway Song
2. Runaway
3. Show Your Hand
4. The Gift
5. Neo Consumer
6. Into the Night
7. Baby Ate My Eight Ball
8. Carbon Dating
9. Suckers
10. Battersea Odyssey

Yes you read correctly, Baby Ate My Eight Ball. Here's to hoping they go back to their "Rings Around World" days. Their last albums have been a little ho-hum. Not horrible but not "Slow Life".

MP3: Neo Consumer
MP3: Into the Night

The bassist from Super Furry Animals is the next person chosen to handpick the tracks from Trojan Records vaults for a dub compilation. Furry Selection: Luxury Cuts of Trojan by a Super Furry Animal is out now. Excellent series. The last one was curated by Jonny Greenwood (Jonny Greenwood Is The Controller) and is up for a Mojo award for best compilation of the year.

Tegan and Sara Are Back In Your Playlists

Tegan and Sara are back with a soon-to-be released new album (out in July) and a new single to boot, Back In Your Head. Handling the production of their new album is Death Cab's Chris Walla. The track is easy, breezy indie pop.

MP3: Back In Your Head

(It seems they tried to get Mick Fleetwood to play drums on the album but he was out in Maui.)

It's too early for words...

My head is still fuzzy and soaked from this weekend. Off the Radar was off the chain this past Friday. Enough so that I had two separate tabs at the party. Lost my camera in a cab (found it yesterday...). And was trapped in bed until about 2pm when I mustered enough strength to heat me up a "it's not delivery, it's DiGiorno" pizza.

So I will post some a track from the upcoming Beastie Boys instrumental album The Mix Up. It is their first full release since 2004's To the Five Boroughs (It comes out later this month).

I have always enjoyed when the Beasties went wordless, scratch less and sample free. I am happy to see them go in this direction, at least for an album or two.

MP3: The Cousin of Death (it is what I felt like on Saturday morning after Off the Radar...)

The internets was busy this weekend with new stuff. And at Off the Radar we go through the crap so you don't have to... Stay tuned!

Why does it take TWO years?

... for an album to come stateside? I still do not understand it. Money is at the root. Or lack there of. But it still does not make sense. There are popular/respected/established artists that still only see their albums released as $30 "import" editions. Perhaps this will change as digital music takes a stronger hold on the market. But I am still a sucker for a nicely packaged album. Have you seen the 3D cover for Arcade Fire's Neon Bible? The faux suede cover of The Beach Boys Pet Sounds? Or Radiohead's "book versions" of Kid A and Amnesiac?

Junior Senior had their last album (released in Japan in 2005) shelved for U.S. release until this year! 2 years later. What changed? Anyways, their album is finally coming out here in August minus the import sticker price.

The single sees them growing up a bit and throwing a little more vocal, a little more Chromeo (not as shiny though so we got some variety), and definitely some funk. They get a little help from Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson of The B-52's!! By the end of song you can feel how much fun they had recording it.

MP3: Take My Time

They Are From London and NOT Teenagers!

This new single from Cobra Dukes (then again pretty much anything they put out at this point is new). It has a 80's synth feel to it but somehow seems updated (must be the vocals). Refreshing to hear something other than nu rave or teeny pop coming out of London.

The Cobra Dukes are already being played by Mylo, Touche, and Punks Jump Up (Kitsune) in their sets. Check out Shot Callin' for a Punks Jump Up remix of Digitalism.

Did I mention they have some remixes too? (Fine the remix may be a little nu ravish...)

MP3: Cobra Dukes - Leave the Light On
MP3: Cobra Dukes - Leave the Light On (Fredo and Thang Remix)

Get Ready, Summer Hits Are Coming Fast and Hard

M.I.A.

'Nuff said.


First single off her new album Kala. I'm just glad Timbaland did not produce the entire album. He's good and all, but it is hard to be original when every track out there is produced by him. (Can someone tell him to let go of that jungle beat he drops on every song?)

MP3: Boyz



A few months back I watched M.I.A. and Timbaland in the studio. I could not stand his
smugness with her.

He tells her "You dont have what I have. I hate to bust your little bubble. I got stuff".

He wants hits and nothing but hits. He takes his "hit maker" title very seriously. Sadly. If it worked once, it's gotta work again seems to be his mentality. How did this turn into a Timbaland rant post?

Either way, I still hit the dance floor when Timbaland and Magoo's Luv 2 Luv U comes on.

We're gonna get wet this weekend!!

It seems we may possibly be having a Tropical Storm party tonight! According to the Miami Herald, forecasters could be naming a system forming off of Florida's coast. TS Barry could making his way through our beach plans this weekend.

So what better reason to get these tracks and have your own dance party at home? Can't leave the flooding of Sweetwater to get to downtown? No worries! Pop these tracks and a few others from the site and turn up the bass real loud. Get your kid brother to flicker the lights, you are set. Any other libations are at your discretion. We just provide the music.

The first one is a slow burner from the upcoming Simian Mobile Disco album. The albums has all the hits and a few new tracks. This particular track 'I Believe' has a bit more vocals than their past stuff. According to acclaimed critic Ray, "Love that track, it's the Hotness!" So there you go. It's hot!

The second track is not a slow burner. my!gay!husband is a DJ out of Vancouver that is all over the indie map lately. I do not expect anything more than hyped up party music from him but that is a good thing. He is at hipster mecca in L.A. tomorrow at the newly re-established Check Yo Ponytail party (with Green Velvet) and later in the week at the rival Rich Kid Party hosted by Steve Aoeki. I would assume opening for Boom Bip who is also performing.

MP3: Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe

MP3: my!gay!husband - BASEMENTJAXXheartsSWITCH

Oh, forgot to mention that on his MySpace profile, my!gay!husband has posted links to various of his mix tapes (MP3s) with titles like "Indie Rave" and "Yacht Rock".

Nous Sommes Loup

Hailing from Montreal, We Are Wolves has a new track out that takes off from the first beat and does not let you catch your breath until 3 minutes and 4 seconds later. I think anything longer and there would be mass heart attacks on the dance floor.

Too messy. So they kept it short.

Their last album came out a couple of years ago. And their new one drops sometime later this year.

Here is a teaser from the new album.

MP3: We Are Wolves - Fight & Kiss

Okay fine, here's the B-Side. It's some good ol' rock 'n' roll.

MP3: We Are Wolves - Coconut Night

Same Chemicals but Different Outcome...

I have always liked The Chemical Brothers. But after 2005's Push the Button, I was skeptical. I understood what they wanted to do but they missed the mark. We Are the Night is working to change that. It seems to continue from where Come With Us (2002) left off instead.

Guests are abundant on the Brother's previous albums and We Are the Nights is no exception. Fatlip (formerly of the Pharcyde), Klaxons, Midlake, Willy Mason and Ali Love (featured on the first single Do It Again) all contribute to the album. However, it is the tracks that The Chemical Brothers are alone doing their own thing where the songs really take off.

There are definite dance floor killers on the album and towards the end the more introspective tripped out space epics prevail (think Beth Orton on Where Do I Begin from Dig Your Own Hole).

MP3: The Pills Won't Help You Know (feat. Midlake)

Video: Do It Again (First Single from the Album)

Edit this....

The Editors are back with a new studio album An End Has a Start which comes out June 25th in the UK and probably sometime in July for the States.

The new album follows their 2005 sleeper album 'The Back Room' which took awhile to catch on here in the US, but I think eventually earned them some accolades and positive reviews (despite contant comparisons to Interpol) This success was probably mostly due to their constant touring and great live performances.

I saw them perform Live here in Miami @ Studio A in 2006 and that was probably one of the best shows I have ever seen there. Before their performance I liked the band but it wasn't until after that show that I became a real fan.

You know studio records are great, but you get all the studio advantages. If you can perform the records out and sound just as good or better than the recordings, now that's hard to do. You don't see that too often anymore. Mostly live performances are let downs for me.

The Editors are the real deal though. They seem like they are reaching for something bigger (the heart mostly) with their epic music and you gotta love that voice.

Check out this new track from their forthcoming album...

MP3: Smokers Outside the Hospital Door