12 Days of Punch The Floor...'tis the season...

It's time to get regular. Things need to flow. I can't rely on any of you anymore. Enough is enough.

Tonight will begin the "12 Days of Punch The Floor"...12 days, 12 posts, incredible mind blowing topics of interest, all revolving around super chunes and the artists behind them.

Buckle up. Here's a preview:

Prefuse 73 - what the future holds
(Ode to) Deftones
(Ode to) Snapcase
Jonah Matranga - where is he now?
Madlib/Quasimoto - split personalities and soooo different
Aesop Rock
Cool Kids
Rob Sonic
CD Review
Busdriver
Doomtree
Verse - why they're the greatest thing to hit HC in 10 years

Plus I'll be reviewing just about every show coming up:

Above This Fire, 11/22
Cool Kids, 12/4
The Faint, 12/16
Wu Tang, 12/17
Russian Circles, 12/30 (Columbus)

Good things to come...

Cool Kids...

"What it is, what it is....come check tha noise....it's tha new black version of tha Beastie Boyzzz"

OK. I'll write more later. I think I'm gonna be sick...I can't focus my eyes...it's that good.

Cool Kids = The Recommendation of The Year

The biggest hi-five ever goes out to AZ...

I'll take an Alias chopped salad with a side of O H to the yeah...

Again. What do we pay you people for.

Do I have to find everything on my own?

Just picked up the new one from "Alias", titled "Resurgam". If you, like I, are mourning the soon-to-be loss of Prefuse 73 from the music scene as Prefuse 73, you want to surround yourself with as much Prefuse-esque delicious goodness as possible. FYI, Prefuse is releasing his last album next spring.

Alias will do this for you. If you're a fan of anything shoegaze, electronic, break-beatey, read: Prefuse 73, Portishead, Unkle, etc., you'll love Alias.

I'll have a new mix tape up on PTF by tomorrow. I'll have some Alias in the mix.

Hold on to your sweet toosh, this is one of the best album's of the year. Betta rec.

Big ups to the dudes at Bent Crayon for the recommendation...

MKTH + Grog = Bass in yo face son!

Miss Kittin & The Hacker were here last week and they were nothin but dance-o-mite.

If you're a fan of Ladytron, Felix da Housecat you ssshhhhwilll like MKTH.

Big ups to MKTH for being French and chill enough to let us hang out for a minute with them after the show...I know things didn't go that well for them, keyboard stands, some dude obsessin over The Hacker on stage (I LOVE YOU!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!). All in all, it was super fun and an experience I'll want to repeat if they ever come back.

Wish groups like MKTH would fly the pond a little more and come to the States to pump us up. It's much needed and sorely missed...

I heart Kate Nash.

Aight so listening to Kate Nash doesn't make you wanna PTF, but she does have the power to melt you into a puddle of liquid YOU.

She's got a new song on her website for free download, just have to register for it.

Miss Kittin & The Hacker in 2 days and counting...

Daedelus is one of the Transformers.

Alfred Darlington, aka Daedelus, aka Automaton the Infamous Button Pusher, is playing the Grog next Tuesday in Cleveland.

His musical weapon of choice, the Monome, will be on display during his performance - pretty sick stuff. Saw him open for Busdriver and looking forward to this show...

Check out this video - he was on the cover of XLR8R (great rag) this month, read it while I was up in Seattle...

http://xlr8r.com/tv/71

Word.

Photo courtesy of a camera from XLR8R.

Radio in my head...

I have a new found respect for Radiohead - just saw them on Monday night and they were fantastic.

"In Rainbows" will probably be one of my favorite albums of the year. You'll just have to wait until December to see my fav's.

Until then, you can sweat it out like everyone else.

Is been long time?

One Day As A Lion

One Day as A Lion

Zack de la Rocha

+

Jon Theodore

Rage against the machine

+

Mars Volta


I should have at least listened to one song before I posted....but C'mon!

I haven't been this giddy since the announcement of Audioslave. Hopefully this will be a lot better.

Lady-trizzzzzzzon - cominatcha!

Dearest Ladytron -->

I noticed you have a lapse in touring schedule between June 18th and June 25th while promoting your new EP titled "Velocifero: Ghosts". You'll be leaving Detroit (hopefully wearing body armor) and on your way to New York.

Guess what?

We're pretty much on the way.

Stop in Cleveland please. Play the Beachland. We'll pack the place like last time. And then I'll talk with you afterwards like I did last time, and we'll giggle and cry.

Thanks for reading this...I know you guys are loyal PTF readers. Believe me, I know. I track everything you do.

Maura kinda tops all though. We're pretty weird.

Most truly yours,

Punch The Floor Executive Board

We have another finalist...

"Station", Russian Circles new full-length is easily going to move into the PTF top 3 for 2008. It's without a doubt one of the best albums I've EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE.

Yep. That's right, your eyes aren't crossing, you're not smoking anything, and all is right in your universe. Russian Circles has quickly become one of the most exciting, energetic, and floor punching bands out on the scene right now.

And I'm gonna say it. My friends will be mad. Russian Circles may write me some hate mail.

Pelican and Red Sparowes: time to step up your game, cuz these guys are better than you.

How's that for some friendly, heated controversy?

That line of smack was sponsored by the letter R and floor punchers everywhere.

P is for Punch You In The Portishead

Yep. That's right. You know what the P is fo.

It's fo sho!

After an entire decade, (that's 10 years for the mathematician's in the circle pit) Portishead has released a new album, titled "Third". I can only imagine how creamy and delicious it is.

A loyal PTF'er bought me the album today and I'll be listening to it ALL DAY tomorrow. I'll post my thoughts on how great it is, over the weekend.

In closing Portishead thoughts, you can't tell me that you weren't completed addicted to the trip-hoppy tinglieness of Portishead for years at a time. They bring out the shoe-gazing goodness in everyone. (Except for that lame dude at the PGMG show that needed to recog-noise.)

On a related PTF note, just to keep with our loving Maura trend, Denali has gotten back together for a reunion show - but they're only playing Virginia. Ugh. Thanks a lot girlfriend.

Female Phenoms

We here at PTF have no shortage of awe for the gentler gender especially when it comes to music. Perhaps you may have noticed our almost stalker like tracking of Maura Davis' every move and band name change?

The following two artists have been particularly inspiring to myself as of late. They can strike awesome poses too.

Imogen Heap

Imogen Heap sounds like a really cool band name. In actuality, Imogen is her first name. It threw me until I read her bio. Which you can check out at her website . Imogen oozes creativity. She writes and produces every stitch of her auditory complexities and compliments them with her unique vocals. Sampling anything that makes an interesting noise. It seems that in any aspect of her life she is always intent on being creative, whether it be her clothing, home decor or extravagant parties. Her forthcoming album (to be released towards the end of the year) will be based around the theme of the house that she grew up in, which she recently acquired. Featuring such sampled sounds as her shower and feet galloping on the second floor.

In an ingenious way on Imogen's part, she has made my admiration level higher than just for the great music I can listen to. Through her quality produced (and funny) video blog she lets her fans into her day-to-day life every couple of weeks. We get to follow her through the creation of the next album and all of the things that happen along the way. From the setup of her new studio to getting a nifty car (with a newly procured driver's license) to spring daffodils conversing about getting bees in their face. It may demystify and separate the void between artist and fan, the untouchable pedestal that we place our favorite acts on. But through the videos you get to feel that you are her close friend and develop a deeper connection to her music.

Yes, another schoolboy crush by a PTF writer. I think I will have to write a Refused or Snapcase post now.

Buy her album "Speak for yourself". You will have to try very hard not to get emotional if you've never heard "Hide and Seek" in it's original form. Which has been remixed many times. My favorite track on the the record is "Headlock". Find and listen to it or watch the video for your first taste. Then you'll want to go out and get the rest of Imogen's discography while you wait eagerly for the new album. I did.

Dorit Chrysler

Dorit Chrysler is a talented thereminist I found today on YouTube checking out vids for the reacTable (a tangible virtual synth). The video had the reacTable accompanying her Moog midi enabled theremin (mucho $$$). Then came the subsequent search for anything I could find on her. I found that she composes and produces her own music much along the lines of Imogen (which inspired this post) highlighting the eerie sounds of the theremin. I myself have a theremin but am no where close to playing anything melodic. The most I can do is add delay and make spooky sounds (and mount it onto a 3'-0" tall plastic alien). To adeptly control an instrument without even touching it is a skill worthy of an orchestra seat. Which she has accomplished as a co-producer of a 10 piece theremin orchestra played to a sold out crowd at the Frank Gehry designed Disney Hall in Los Angeles. I'm tracking down any recording I can get my hands on, as it looks like a lot of releases were overseas.


I sure hope all of my crushes don't get jealous over me. However it would be fun to see a catfight with Maura fencing Immi's keytar with her telecaster and Dorit parrying Bjork's attack swan with her invisible forcefield.


Image credits: Allen Clark & Mrs. Lee

Tucker!!

As if Japan wasn’t already awesome enough, it had to produce the phenom known as ‘Tucker’. Tucker spins vintage vinyl from the years where console record players took up an entire wall. Mixing beats with the music likely heard on Zombo’s Mondo Record Party. His skills are not limited to the turntables however. Do your “holy crap!” sensory nerves a favor and check out how he scratches a gas can, guitar, organ ribbon controller, infant toys, a turntable-gold chain-bass contraption, cassette player and on top of that totally rocks out on drums and an organ set ablaze!

Watch all of these

Tucker’s ingenuity is inspiring and shows that you don’t need all the gadgetry to make engaging music, although it’s still fun to amass collections of blinky noisy gizmos.

Currently tracking down his two CD's and a DVD that comes out April 25th. Although it looks like I may have to trek to Japan to catch him live.

Edit: I'm going to add more links as I find them to make you all Tucker believers.

1)
Some sort of Walkman commercials. Watch these first if nothing at all.

2)
From the comments.

In true PTF fashion.

If you're in the need to pick up some change, pull some weeds or throw some 'bows - listen to "Circle Pit" by Refused.

Wait for it.....wait for it....

One minute and 45 seconds into the song is a classic breakdown.

That my friends, is the Punch The Floor sponsored "Breakdown Of The Week".

This site is in some serious need of a redesign. The green is really starting to annoy me.

We'll get there...stay tuned.

OK, it's official.

In the race to win my heart and musical interests, we have a new leader:

1. Russian Circles
2. Prefuse73
3. TBD - the bids are still out there, act fast.
   

Seriously. Check out 'Carpe' by Russian Circles. Is it not one of the greatest songs ever?

On a PTF note:

3/12 - A Fine Frenzy, House of Blues, Cleveland
3/28 - Murder By Death, Grog Shop, Cleveland
4/17 - Saul Williams, Grog Shop, Cleveland
4/21 - Meat Beat Manifesto, Grog Shop, Cleveland
4/24 - We aint' go no place to go so let's go to a punk rock show - MXPX????, Grog Shop, Cleveland
4/28 - The Dear Hunter, Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland
5/1 - To Be A High Powered Executive, Grog Shop, Cleveland

I can't focus my eyes.

Because Russian Circles have officially blown my mind.

You better get with it.

A Fine Frenzy...oh shooky shooky nah!

Here's the song that A Fine Frenzy performed on Letterman last night:

I want to punch, punch, punch the fli-zo-zo-zoh when I listen to her. Obviously in more of a skipping-through-the-meadows-while-hifiving-life way, versus the way we all feel when listening to a melodious Refused song.

Allison Sudol...please come to Cleveland. I will buy one shiny ticket, and I'm sure the millions (possibly billions, still verifying) of PTF enthusiasts will do everything they can to be there as well.

Up, up, and upcoming shows in the area and other notables...

My peoples.

Tomorrow. To Be A High Powered Executive. Beachland Ballroom. Bring your clapping hands.

Outside of that...

2/16 - Agora - The Bravery
2/28 - Grog Shop - Russian Circles
3/2 - Agora - The Hives
4/17 - Grog Shop - Saul Williams
5/6 - House of Blues - Saves The Day

Has anyone noticed that late night TV has had GA-REAT musical guests lately? I mean, huh, heh, huh, heh - last night for example, Letterman had The Fine Frenzy and Conan had Dillinger Escape Plan! Conan even brought out the glow stick to show his love and support!

I've got 'em DVR'd and I'll be watching them again when I return home.

But first...how about a nice long work day, shall we?

Must.....keep.....blogging...

What is happening in the wide wide world of music to my ears?

Going to see Band of Horses tomorrow night. Totally sold out show in Cleveland @ the Beachland Ballroom. It took me a while to like Band of Horses...had to listen to the new CD about 10 times. I think I'm in for a good time at what is appearing to be the Most Concentrated Gathering of Mustacheless Bearded Men in All of Cleveland.

To Be A High Powered Executive - look out for these dudes. They opened for Trail of Dead, and pretty much blew everyone's minds. The bassist plays his guitar with a cello bow. He has to re-string after every show because of the resin on the bow! That's dedication.

Really, really in to Circa Survive right now. In fact, I think it's time to update the Currently Punching list...yep it's about that time. Actually, this whole blog design is in for a makeover. It's coming people. Brace yourselves. Just don't go buying up all of the Dramamine all at once...I need some for my trip this weekend.

Just picked up:

Les Savy Fav - "Let's Stay Friends"
Circa Survive - "Juturna"
Circa Survive - "On Letting Go" - this album is delicious

I'll keep everyone posted.