Where the Wild Things Are

Sooooo....probably the billionth blog about this, buuuut...

It is here.
Finally.

So long have I waited for this to be released and finally it is. The official "Where the Wild Things Are" trailer. A film that's vision was almost destroyed by a stupid film company that almost made Spike Jonze scrap the entire film and film it again. *cough*warnerbros.*cough* Anyway, enough of that.

My (and perhaps everybody's) favorite book as a child is finally coming to life with a live action movie that has been in the works for some time now. Since it's announcement, I have been patiently waiting for some sign of life and a while back when test footage was "leaked" onto the internet, I was super excited. This film has to be great, it just has to. Spike Jonze has always done pretty damn good things with his talents and music co-written by Karen O for the film, it must deliver. Not to mention Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" in the trailer.

Ah. I'm very excited.

Enjoy.

3/14/09

A bit late, but, as this week's show, better late than never.

I had physical computer problems this week and was lucky enough to have it all right before my show, buuuut, i got it fixed and was able to start, albeit a bit late.

I'd like to thank everyone who listened and also my friend Marcus for joining me for the broadcast.

Here's the playlist,

1. Les Savy Fav - The Equestrian
2. At the Drive-In - Chanbara
3. The Mars Volta - Ouroborous
4. The Dismemberment Plan - Academy Award
5. Cursive - The Lament of Pretty Baby
6. Shonen Knife - Tomato Head
7. Crystal Castles - Loving and Caring
8. Gogol Bordello - American Wedding
9. Torches In Trees - Good Samaritan
10. Q And Not U - Wet Work
11. Bloc Party - Positive Tension
12. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 2
13. The Faint - Let the Poison Spill From Your Throat
14. -Comic Relief- Mitch Hedberg (R.I.P.) "Cookies" from his album Strategic Grill
    
15. Matt & Kim - Someday
16. Say Hi (to Your Mom) - A Hit in Sweden
17. Sonic Youth - Death Valley '69
18. Silversun Pickups - Comeback Kid

Thanks to everyone who tuned in. I won't be here next week, but you should listen to all the great shows on http://radio23.org.

See you guys in a couple of weeks.

peace & love
.erick.

Featured Release Fridays

Hello all.

So, every month I will have a new album release calendar, and to accompany that, I've decided that every Friday, I will be doing a Featured Release article about an album that was released the Tuesday preceding that Friday. Sometimes I may even do two albums, but of course, it depends on the releases and what I can get my hands on that Tuesday.

Now, just to clarify, I am not going to be scoring these albums with any kind of rubric, bracket, scoring scheme or otherwise and these are not necessarily going to be album reviews. Now, I will give my own personal opinion of the album, but that does not in anyway represent a general review of the album, nor does it in anyway represent a review of the album by Aural Life. It will be my [Erick] personal opinion of the album and nothing more.

I believe that musical tastes and opinions on the quality of music is subjective. I am not a fan of bands or artists such as Katy Perry or Fall Out Boy, nor do I have anything remotely close to something positive to say about their music, but that doesn't mean I'm going to say Fall Out Boy cannot and does not sell out entire stadiums that are later filled with screaming prepubescent boys and girls who believe they have some sort of cool pre-teen "angst", because that does happen. Main point, there are bands/artists that people like and others don't, so I'm not big on actual "Album Reviews."

Anyway, that being said, I am going to start this Friday with Cursive's Mama, I'm Swollen, which was released yesterday and which I have been hyping up a lot since I believe Cursive is an amazing band and they have yet to let me down, and Mama, I'm Swollen does not change that.

If you'd like to know more, check back on Friday and check out the first of Featured Release Fridays !

Also, I may occasionally to a Retro Feature or Retro Featured Release for an album that was released on a day that week or just something that I personally feel deserves some recognition.
Now, I use the term "retro" loosely. It could refer to something released a year ago, three years ago, or thirty years ago. So be on the lookout for updates and thanks to all who check out Aural Life.

Also, don't forget to tune in to Aural Life [Radio] on http://radio23.org every Saturday evening from 8pm-10pm PST.

Thanks everyone.
Peace & Love
.erick.

3/7/09

Hey everyone!

Thanks to all who listened to the show.
Here's the playlist, which contained select tracks off of Cursive's new release, "Mama, I'm Swollen", that comes out on March 10th and I also have a blog post about it here.

1. Idiot Pilot - Losing Color
2. Cursive - In the Now
3. The Dismemberment Plan - Gyroscope
4. Fugazi - Burning Too
5. Be Your Own Pet - Adventure
6. Cursive - I Couldn't Love You
7. Albert Hammond Jr. - Victory at Monterey
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Graveyard
9. Death From Above 1979 - Blood On Our Hands
10. Clinic - Family
    
11. Torches in Trees - Pillars Fall
12. We Barbarians - Walls
13. Cursive - Donkeys
14. TV on the Radio - A Method
15. The Faint - Casual Sex
16. Zoé - Asteroide
17. Tokyo Police Club - Nature of the Experiment (RAC Mix)
18. Death Cab for Cutie - We Laugh Indoors
19. Halos - A Rowboat in the Perfect Storm
20. The Breeders - Drivin' on 9
21. Cursive - Mama, I'm Satan
22. At the Drive-In - Doorman's Placebo
23. Blonde Redhead - Elephant Woman
24. Broken Social Scene - Looks Just Like the Sun
25. Bad Brains - Big Take Over
26. Davenport Cabinet - Thieves
27. Dinosaur Jr. - Tarpit
28. Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen
29. Bear Vs. Shark - Bloodgiver
30. TV on the Radio - Love Dog

Thanks to everyone who listened. Hoped you all enjoyed the show. Be sure to listen next weekend, same time, same place.

Aural Life
Saturdays, 8pm - 10pm PST
http://radio23.org

Thanks everyone,

Peace & Love
.erick.

Album Release Calendar: March 2009

So, here are some albums that are coming out this month.
It's obviously not every album coming out this month, but the one's that I thought were fairly important or worth noting.

March 3rd
Bela Fleck - Throw Down Your Heart, Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol: 3 Africa Sessions
Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
Say Hi (formerly Say Hi to Your Mom) - Oohs & Aahs

March 10th
Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen (currently available for digital download from store.saddle-creek.com)
David Bowie - Live in Santa Monica '72
Razorlight - Slipway Fires
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz! (Digital release)

March 17th
Les Claypool - Of Fungi and Foe
MSTRKRFT - Fist of God

March 24th
Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Stephen Lynch - 3 Balloons


March 31st
Jim Gaffigan - King Baby
Leonard Cohen - Live in London
Peter, Bjorn & John - Living Thing
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz! (Physical release)

If I find more, I'll add them.
Hope there's something exciting on there for you guys.
I know there is for me!

Mama, I'm Swollen

So I recently received an e-mail from Cursive's mailing list e-mail updates. The subject line of the e-mail reading "$1" and the only thing you saw when you opened it was this image.

Cursive is a band I love dearly and was actually the headlining band I went to see at the very first concert I ever attended. I've loved them for a long while, and they've yet to disappoint. On March 10th, they will be releasing their 6th Full Length album (not including "The Difference Between Houses and Homes" which was just a compilation of old 7" singles and various songs) entitled "Mama, I'm Swollen."

Now, I have already required the mp3 of this album. Illegally, you assume. But alas, NO! But for the great price of just $1. Of course, I will be purchasing a physical copy of the album after its release on March 10th. Now, to explain the aforementioned e-mail and image, Cursive and Saddle-Creek have made "Mama, I'm Swollen" available for the great price of not $1 (anymore...), not $2 (anymore...) but at this point, $3! Everyday until it's March 10th release, "Mama, I'm Swollen" will be available to download for the dollar amount corresponding to the day of the month. So today, March 3rd, it will be available to purchase for $3, tomorrow, March 4th for $4 and so and and so forth until March 9th, where it will be $9, then I believe it'll be permanently available at the regular download price of $9.99 from March 10th onward.

I snagged my download for a dollar, cause I couldn't wait to hear new Cursive! If you are a Cursive fan, and/or have a few bucks to spare, DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM!

I haven't listened to it in it's entirety, or at least not attentively, yet, but what I have listened to, I really enjoy.

That being said, I will be playing some tracks off of Cursive's new album, "Mama, I'm Swollen" this Saturday on Aural Life. So if you haven't downloaded it or don't have the money to spare right now, you can get a preview of it before it comes out this upcoming Tuesday, March 10th.

So, those who wish to purchase a download can do so here. It's only three bucks today! C'mon!...and it's CURSIVE!!! YAY!

Well, hope to have you guys tune in to Aural Life this Saturday from 8pm - 10pm PST, and don't forget to tune in to my good friend Gabby on Avant-Noise Radio a few hours before my show from 4pm - 6pm PST.

Thanks everyone.
Peace & Love.
.erick.

2/28/09

Hey everyone,

I enjoyed doing last nights show. I decided to pick some music I truly enjoy, and I hoped a lot of you who listened enjoyed it as well.
As per usual, here is the playlist from last night's programme.


1. The Dismemberment Plan - A Life Of Possibilities
2. Les Savy Fav - The Year Before the Year 2000
3. Cursive - Sink to the Beat
4. Desaparecidos - What's New For Fall
5. Tokyo Police Club - Box
6. Georgie James - Look Me Up
7. Q And Not U - Hooray For Humans
8. Broken Social Scene - Almost Crimes
9. Colour Revolt - Circus
10. Torches In Trees - Satchel
11. Wolf Parade - I'll Believe In Anything
12. Sonic Youth - Skip Tracer
13. Of Montreal - Requiem for O.M.M.2
14. Sondre Lerche - Airport Taxi Reception
15. We Are Scientists - It's A Hit

-=Comic Relief=-
Demetri Martin
Comedy from his album, "These Are Jokes"
Watch "Important Things with Demetri Martin"
Wednesdays at 10:30pm.

16. Bloc Party - Trojan Horse
17. Crystal Castles - Alice Practice
18. Broken Spindles - Events & Affairs
19. TV on the Radio - Poppy
20. Silversun Pickups - Future Foe Scenarios
21. The Crimea - Opposite Ends
22. At the Drive-In - Ticklish
23. mewithoutYou - Tie Me Up! Untie Me!
24. ¡Forward Russia! - Two
25. The Willowz - Ulcer Soul
26. Death From Above 1979 - Do It!
27. As Tall As Lions - Ghosts of York


To those who listened to the show last night, thank you very much. For those who didn't, tune in when you can! =]
Thanks to all and continue to listen and support http://radio23.org! =]

Peace & Love
.erick.