Nick The Stripper

VIDEO: The Birthday Party - Nick The Stripper

I don't think I would be out of line if i said that Nick Cave is one of the most important Australian artists we have ever seen. His music has had such an impact with his incredible narratives and stark songwriting with his Bad Seeds over the best part of two decades. Nick's first band The Birthday Party were a raw and ferocious post-punk assault, and as he said himself, they sounded 'evil'. Sure they did, but their charm comes about from the fact things seem like they are ready to fall apart at any time with a loose and angular rhythm section backing Cave's revealing and slightly self-deprecating subject matter . Those chilling horn stabs punctuate an already frightening yet influential piece of Aussie punk history.



OMFG if these rumours are true. Pitchfork has reported that the illusive Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel fame may be making a comeback after he sort of dropped off the planet post Aeroplane .Read what they said here, lets hope this is true.

What's an Xquabed?

Much like the Eagles of Death Metal, Xquabed are a band who line up with a drummer of high credentials. Lucretia Lead Singer & Sydney heart throb The artist currently known as Javid VDP has come together with an all-star line up featuring Slick Popping Daddy Mick on bass guitar and frontman The Shaker Maker Mean Dean, what at first would seem like an unlikely trio has turned out to produce some very unisen & colloborative noises. A real trump card in the Xquabed arsenal (haha arsenal...funny anyone?) is first time frontman The Shaker Maker Mean Dean, the articulation, relevance and assimilation that one can gain from his lyrically styling is nothing short of a find for any band. Influences by a diversed and unlimited range of musicians, don't like their comedic styles underestimate their extent of musical savvy. Combining the fast flipping spits of frontman Mean Dean & the timely injections of drummer Dayve, the music is guilty of having too much fun. Titles like "ballad of a hungry man", "banana jazz" & "slap n tap" would normally make you think it's nothing more than a few shits n giggles, but once the music opens up it is like a kanye west tour bus ripping through the deserts of texas, you didnt realise it at first but now you wanna be anywhere else!

Myspace: Check out Xquabed's "Ballad of a Hungry Man" & "Remote Controls"

Why the Shaker Maker you ask?... wait until you seem him in the bedroom.



A change of pace now finds us checking out Riot in Belgium with the track The Acid Never Lies. It meanders along seemingly going nowhere, becoming just another one of those average electro songs that start nowhere and end somewhere even worse. Don't let the rife drug stereotype and its relation to dance music fool you, once this song kicks, it kicks! Ofcourse being a crucial element, the song whacks out some fine synth stylings and is without doubt a dancefloor winner! Might need to increase the tempo as they did with a remix of "45 & Rising". Proudly an Australian outfit contrary to the name and that only makes me love it more!

Myspace: Check the Track on the Flatline Management Myspace page along with a host of other great acts.



And finally a facinating little dit bit on coocky coolers Tv on the Radio. There new album entitled "Return to Cookie Mountain" sparked Triple J presenter Zan Rowe to ask why they want to get back there and where is "Cookie Mountain". Much to all our delight and curiousity, Triple J discovered that 6 months after the record comes out, you will be able to buy a map to get to "Cookie Mountain" for around 15 dollars!!! Can't Wait.

Baile Funk Bootlegging

MP3: Bonde Das Impostora - Fotologger

I was listening to Fat Planet the other day on FBI on the way home from work and Stuart played this track which made me dance like a fool while I was trying to drive. Iv'e recently really taken a shine to Baile Funk, a native Brazilian genre fused with the spirit of samba laced with grimey beats, random samples and bold South American raps.
'Toxic' is a pretty great song on its own, but the Britney sample sounds so fantastic in this track. The Portu-english call and response yelps and that dirrrrty rhythm make me want to take a flight to Rio and shake my money maker with those Brazillian honeys. I recommend checking out some more Baile Funk because it is really an exciting genre of music.


Good news for all those Presets fans out there, the boys will be playing their last Sydney show for 06 at the Gaelic Club in Surry Hills on the 20th July with Midnight Juggernauts. Its 22 bucks, and its all ages. If you havent checked out Pitchfork's very unkind review of Beams, check it here. 3.7 out of 10 is a little harsh I think.

Return of the King!

Sorry about the hiatus whiteboydancefloor faithful. Exams are finished for both the whiteboydancefloor crew and we're ready to start squeezing it daily again.

So I thought what better way to start than with the 5 worst albums of the last few months. Weeks even.

So lets get it started!

5. A.F.I - December Underground

For a band that could promise to deliver an album as brilliant as Sing the Sorrow, It saddens me to say that A.F.I have gone down their own yellow wood and with the two roads diverged in it, did not take the one less travelled. They took the Greenday route, opting to take those HEY HO shouts to the enth degree. It was an effective A.F.I tool which they have overkilled to a joke. Now their fashion sense is a bland and ridiculous as the music. For a virgin, there is nothing you could not like about this album, but for an A.F.I fan, this band has taken a shit on our graves.

4. The Futureheads - News & Tributes

I'd be tempted to put this album higher up the shit chain however the debut that these former outrageously jangled new punkers gave us was nothing short of melodically facinating with a live show that had you wondering where all the sounds were comming. On their sophomore release, they have lost their edge, their schick and what set them apart. The Kaiser Chiefs set out to make a very easy recipe for stardom and vomit fused into one, unfortunately the Futureheads have followed suit. There are reasons why your lead singer almost gets run over, its no accident. The first single gives you the best advice that The Futureheads could, "skip to the end".

3. Rihanna - A Girl Like Me

This girl gave us "S.O.S". She hot and really, it's no surprise her album is terrible. The beyonce b grade wanna-be succeeds in being a fucking hot little vixen, but after actually listening to this album, I think she'll struggle to even get a second single out of her debut. I mean we shouldn't be surprised, rock and roll fucktards Rollingstone did give her album 3 stars ***. The album title should be I'm hotter than beyonce, so I'll do as I like.

2. Angels & Airwaves - We don't need to whisper

Well to Tom Delonge I say this, we dont need to listen to this shit. I didn't give it the number one spot because we should know better than to listen to anything that comes out of the mouth of a former member of Blink 182. In Blink 182, tom actually began making digestable music, which scared him so much that he had to find something that hadn't actually become good. This album could have a better reception with real critics if they didn't hype this album to the shithouse. It's not darkside of the moon, therefore: it doesn't warrant the hype. It is as Tom describes it, "stadium / arena punk rock" but really, it hasnt got even enough hooks to keep the masses of braindeads interested for more than the opening song.

TAKING OUT THE NUMBER 1 POSITION.



1. Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam

I am sick and tired of pearl jam. Eddie Vedder was better off running as far as he could from Pearl Jam and sticking to creating soft and beautiful acoustic balladry like his cover of the beatles "hide your love away". This album is a return to everything the world is sick of. Yes we know, Mike, you can play guitar solos, get over it you old dick. I dont hate this band, I just hate their still alive. I fully recognise that Pearl Jam have produced some of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time, but I mean there is a reason why Kurt Cobain shot himself in the head.

BRB

Hey everyone...

Whiteboydancefloor are not squeezing it daily at the moment due to exams. Expect it all to be back in full swing on Wednesday / Thursday.

We're currently going through some administrational and structural reassessing to make whiteboydancefloor bigger, better and more squeezable.

Be Your Own Pet on Conan, Linus Loves someone who isn't Lucy

MP3: Linus Loves - Rock Chk
MYSPACE: Linus Loves

I didn't know of any other artists on Mylo's Breastfed imprint until I discovered this chap from Glasgow. Linus Loves aka Duncan Reid is a producer who you probabaly remember from that mix of 'In My Arms' that was on every DJ's playlist last year. Influenced by the sounds of 80's new wave, pop and electronica, Linus Loves delivers retro-edged yet futuristic electro-house that exudes cool and danceability, whilst not forgetting the nuances of sound that make electronic music so engaging off the dancefloor. I really hope we hear more of him in clubs around the traps because many of his songs are true dancefloor fillers. Also Dan from Cut Copy makes a vocal cameo on his new album 'Stage Invader', which you can buy from Amazon.com






To those who missed out on Be Your Own Pet's frenetic and blistering performance on Conan O'Brien the other night, here is the video. To me its like hearing The Grates on speed or something else illicit and pleasureable. Enjoy, because I sure did.

Sorry for the small amount of posting that has been going on, the crew are hard at work with exams so that is taking up most of our time....plus the World Cup.

Feel the force...

MP3: DragonForce - Through The Fire and Flames


Forget The Darkness, the band that everyone should be taking notice of that references the glory days of 80's metal/hard rock are clearly DragonForce. These guys from London are only a relatively recent signing to the Roadrunner stable despite a few indie releases, and probabaly are their trump card with a main stage spot at Ozzfest '06 and brnad new album on the way. 'Through the Fire and Flames' delivers some serious staccato guitar riffage ,soaring vocals ala Bruce Dickinson and some keyboard work ever so slightly channeling the spirit of Dio. Seriously this is cracking stuff and even though it is nothing new, it's nice to hear 80's metal nostalgia done so well.


Nick Southall from Stylus Magazine has recently composed a couple of really fascinating articles relating to the 'loudness' of modern music, the scourge of compression in music production and on the way we hear music. If you are really into that sort of thing, I highly recommend reading them. They are lengthy but well worth it.
http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/imperfect-sound-forever.htm
http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/soulseeking/imperfect-sound-forever-revisited.htm

Its only the group stage, but who cares?

Wow. First off, I can't believe the Socceroos are in the Cup. Second of all, I can't believe we beat Japan. Convincingly. We dominated possession, and although it was far from a perfect performance, the boys smacked them. Tim Cahil, give that kid a pay rise Everton. 3-1, bring on Brazil!

MP3: Freedom of Thought - Green and Gold
The merits of this track have been debated ad nauseum in the press over the past few weeks. The selection of the official Socceroos team song. SBS ran a competition for budding musicians to see who could come up with the best song to represent the Australian football team on their journey to Germany '06, with much controversy. It's an 'interesting' choice, from the lads from South-Western Sydney's Freedom of Thought. Not what you would call inspirational or stirring, however the guys obviously can string together a competent song. I think we need something along the lines of 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot', maybe with less ridiculous lyrics.



MP3:Herbert - Something Isn't Right

Matthew Herbert is back with a new album of jazz and electronica fusion entitled 'Scale'. On this record he creates stunning soundscapes with bucketloads of sampling and electronic instrumentation. He has employed a plethora of fantastically timbred vocalists who gel perfectly with his beautifully arranged rhythm sections. To me he seems like the ultimate music nerd, but I mean that as a great compliment. Herbert is amazing, and so is this track.

Buy 'Scale' from Amazon.com


If you like your blogging with an introspective and philosophical flavour, check out my friend and work colleague Josh Redwood's fantastic blog Veritas Infitias Inceptum. It's a clever blog from a very clever young man and he will make you think. Enjoy!

All in the family

MP3: Shapes And Sizes - Wilderness

Don't laugh at their press photo, no wait, yeah laugh because it is pretty funny, but don't judge them on it. Shapes and Sizes are from British Columbia and their folky brand of indie pop is in truth quite stunning. One of their several vocalists sounds suspiciously like Dan Bejar of Destroyer fame (it isn't him) whilst their subtle horn and guitar-laden textures make them slow-burning gems. Their self-titled LP is out on the 11th July through the kids at Asthtmatic Kitty.


I felt like such a dweeb when I looked everywhere in the local record shops for the new Hot Chip record then I realised it isn't even out yet. I'm not as privledged as other more 'important' music blog and reviewer types so I can't get my hands on a copy, so streaming it here will suffice for now.

Trash N' Treasure

So much time and so little to say.

Rarely before on whiteboydancefloor do we concern ourselves with throwing around props to an overall record label (death from above and modular records being exceptions). Even the greatest of labels have their weaknesses (wolfmother).



However, the stable of acts on show from west hollywood record label Eenie Meenie Records is nothing short of impressive. Before my chance encounter with this record label, never before had I heard any of the bands they were promoting. Much to my delight, a random myspace friend request resulted in this blogger discovering some great indie bands.

While all the bands display some unique integrity to what they're doing, clear favourites were Dimension Mix, Space Needle & the Highwater marks. I could go into all kinds of irrelevant detail about tracks and specific, but really if you've got yourself a spare hour, go through all the bands on offer and get a taste of some solidly devine music. It's nothing ground breaking, but certainly as i like to say a "positively refreshing" stroll through indie parks.



Ok, now, the topic on everyones lips... Have the chili peppers stolen from the great Tom Petty. Any blogger worth his wait in chips has to say something on this so im going to make it short and sweet. Parts of "dani california" does resemble the Tom Petty hit "Mary Janes Last Dance". Basically its a chord progression, nothing more, it does go beyond merely embracing your influence, but i dont care, after countless albums of ground breaking music, im not surprised even the chili's got a bit slack on the old originality scale. Still a great band and still more interesting than Tom Petty.

As always i emplore you to decide for yourself and listen to both songs.

But to add fuel to the fire, I offer you a mash up of the two just to get a few chili fans pissed off.

Cheeky Boy - Chili Petty.mp3 with thanks to Jarred Morris for hosting the great mash up.





Now for a bit of extra hollywood for you all, its pointless but potent. Pictures of Angelina Jolie's baby. Contreversial and worth 4.1 million. As everyone is saying, Shiloh clearly has her mothers lips. It's random and not really interesting but they I thought i'd throw it in.

Do we care, no, it is good for publicity... yes. so shut up.

Thanks to justjared.com for being first with the leaked picture.

***Some for some quick bits for you all***

*the new AFI album "decemberunderground" has just been released in Australia and I must say, I was expecting more... alot more for an album that was postponed and denied Aussies an AFI at the BDO 06.
* Rollingstone have hit new lows giving the album from that hot S.O.S chick 3 stars. For shame on you.
* Paris hilton is making music and it is without question horrific. Sadly though, there is a lot worse pop stars out there (Kasey Chambers). I'm not posting a link, I'm just giving you all a warning so you don't end up deaf like me from listening to filth. The things i do for you ay!
* Gang Awry have release their new single "pretty mess" and expect more on that in the comming days.
* Jack White's new band the Raconteurs or Saboteurs (pending what country your in) have released their debut album Broken Boy Soldiers. It's only bearable song is the first single "steady as she goes". I never thought i'd say "I miss the white stripes"... so i wont say that.

YoYoYoYoYo

Did anyone else catch VH1's celebration of all things metal yesterday? I thought it was pretty good, they covered plenty of ground, however most bands from outside the US and UK were overlooked. They played plenty of Sabbath and Iron Maiden which made me a happy man.



MP3: Spank Rock - Backyard Betty


Spank Rock really rocks my socks. The impression you get from listening to this off-the-wall rapper from Philly and his caustic production crew is that you are really hearing a changing of the guard in the Hip-Hop world. These guys with the LP YoYoYoYoYo have blown this wind of change through the often stale hip hop template and have created a unique and challenging rap sound. This track 'Backyard Betty' is a pummelling piece with deep synth bass contrasted with arpeggiated electronic riffage with Spank's snarling rhymes stirring the pot. They say that Kanye is the one leading the way in Hip Hop, well I think Mr.West has a bit competition on his very cocky hands.



MYSPACE: Deepchild

Deepchild is a part of the furniture in Sydney's electronic music scene, doing the rounds producing and DJ'ing all around the world for a number of years now. He makes some really danceable dub-infused electronica influenced by the likes of Kraftwerk, Herbert and by the sounds of Detroit and German electronica. The Wire and BPM Magazines have recently given him huge props and with his new album 'Lifetime' out now in Australia, he could well take over the world. Seriously he is that good.

"By the Universe, for the Universe"

A new whiteboydancefloor is upon us and "this is the arena, this is where we are"!

Lets waste no time.

In my internet travels accross the barren desert that is myspace, i have found some interesting pockets of musical flair.



The Ca$inos are Australia's answer to accomplishing prog rock music that evokes an electrically charged dance response which is deemed not totally, but partially acceptable to the ears.

With The Ca$inos, make no mistake I like what I hear and while I dont know if it's comedic value or sheer danceable noises I'd give them a thumbs up yet for what reasons I really can't appropriately explain... however i think The Ca$inos fair alittle better in self portrait than i do looking through the glass window...

"We are The Ca$inos from Melbourne Australia. Our Stylee is a diversely influenced prog pop sound which ranges from 'Mediaeval Fantasy Rock' to 'Retro Future Disco Jams' to 'Love Urgency Power Sleaze' to 'Balls on the Tarmac Action Riff-Play.' Jet stole the original bassist, but he's still our friend and so are they. We once supported 'Masters Apprentices' one afternoon in a Resturant in Geelong." - "The Arena" as purely typifying the sound The Ca$inos desired sound. A bit rough around the edges, but you make do when you don't have a recording budget like Jet.



Next on my Victoria Smorgosboard for those on a diet is a band called The Universe...or outer void intrepid sailor. Moving on... The music is atmospherically beatles-esque for small parts but isn't everything these days, basically im saying it's fantastic for what it's sets out to achieve. If music about "space" was their intention well they could not have done it more successfully. Some way argue it does not really embrace the ambient electronica mystery that most of us musically associate with "space music" but let em argue... i dont care. Go listen to a space odyessey for all i give a hoot.


For the benefits of your audio-sensory stimulation, i would suggest "the announcement" from the band's myspace page.



In some way another distantly inbreeded associate of Architecture in Helsinki is simplistic american jammers Dr Dog embodies. Their warming simplicity yet endearing take on rock and roll is nothing new, but definitely an aspect of music sorely missed. Without fully explaining their music in words, the philosophical energry surrounding this band is refreshing.

Dr Dog are a musical diet which won't produce instant effects, however it will contribute to prolonged mental sanity and increased insulation to the poisons of rnb.

All their songs are available for download of their myspace page and I wouldn't warn you off any of them. Be warned, if the words"raw" & "simplisticity" are words you associate with coldplay... do not attempt to digest.


If pain persists... consult chris martin.


....and shoot him.

Finally... some pure and shameless shout outs on my part must go to local radio disc jockette (that must be how you say it) Lauren. For those of us privileged enough, or maybe that should be under-privileged enough to live in the penrith-nepean area, Lauren serves up her radio show on WOW FM 100.7 every Tuesday at 4pm so dont be shy. She takes requests and all!

New Look and etc..

No you aren't going nuts, whiteboydancefloor has received a slight makeover. The header motif we used to promote the launch party was so popular we decided to run with it. Hope you all enjoy the new look!




The line up for one of the first major festivals of the Sydney summer, Parklife at Moore Park has been announced. Cold Cut, Freeform Five, Mixmaster Mike, Peter Hook from New Order, Midnight Juggernauts, Jamie Doom, Kid Kenobi and Tim Deluxe will all be playing on the 1st October.



Its a big month for the crew at FBI 94.5, who are holding their supporter drive to get all the kids who listen to their station to donate to the cause of bringing quality independent music to the airwaves of Sydney. They are giving away some sweetners to entice you to join the fold, with DJ lessons with the Bang Gang DJ's, an all access pass to a Presets show, dinner with Infusion or Spank Rock or a years free entry to Rebel Rebel at Home Nightclub. $30 bucks for students and $60 for the rest of you to join. Go to www.fbi.org.au to join or to stream their radio feed.

New Mountain Goats LP; Dave Grohl not deceased.

It has barely been a year since John Darnielle's lastest and superb opus 'The Sunset Tree' was released, but really, who cares? The more 'Goats the better I think. 22nd August is the US release date for the album entitled 'Get Lonely'. According to the folks at Pitchfork quoting a 4AD press release the album will be a 'reflective, intimate record' which will be the 'quiet, haunted aftermath' of Darnielle's 2005 LP. No word on an Australian release date as of yet.



Apparently the rumours circulating about Dave Grohl being dead are totally false, with an irate Mr Grohl upgrading his status to 'alive' after speaking to the NME , noting his dismay after he found out about his 'death' after hearing a condolance message left on his wife's machine. Maybe someone confused his death with the death of quality Foo Fighters music. I'm sure those bogan miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell (they were rescued, they did not make a 'Great Escape' as you claim Channel 9) almost choked on their caviar at the thought of their promised beer with Grohl being cancelled.