Ranting, Raving, Crazy Complaining

The lovely lads over at The L Magazine asked us to spill our biggest gripes about the Brooklyn music scene, and du-f course, we happily obliged. Taking one of my vices and personality pitfalls and turning it into an editorial piece is a complain train I'll happily hop aboard, and being given the opportunity to talk about our feelings — because we have a lot of feelings — was grand.

Find out what some fabulous Brooklynites chimed in about and see what drives us two crazy riiiight over here. A hint: we love blogs, and hate blogs, and aren't scared to talk about them. (blogs, that is.)

Couch Session: Ambassadors

Couch Session #34: Ambassadors

From the first second, all you can think is, "that voice!",
as Sam pours his heart out like he simply has no choice.
Even in the run-throughs, he'd sing like his life was on the line,
like he had nowhere left to go, running out of time,
It's that unbridled passion that makes this band so unique —
a word taught not to use, but there's relishable fun in defeat.
This one blows me away, and it's not hard to go,
How is everyone else not already flipping their lids over this band? How is that so?
I suppose thats the beauty of reveling in the unknown.
Luckily for this band, that won't last all too long,
with that downright stunning first videotaped song.
Not to undermine their others, as they shine bright as stars,
but "Unconsolable" is one of the best i've heard, by far.
If chills are what you're after, this song will deliver,
like standing outside pantsless in a cold, arctic winter.
But enough with the weather, we'll let you enjoy it for real,
and find out why our Ambassadors session is such a big deal:

MP3

Ambassadors - "Unconsolable (Big Ugly Yellow Couch session)"

Ambassadors - "Body Bag (Big Ugly Yellow Couch session)"

Ambassadors - "Falls (Big Ugly Yellow Couch session)"

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Getting Into: Woodkid

This one actually comes courtesy of Donald, who's been effectively mesmorized by that little gem above, and with good reason.

The war-influenced whirlwind was directed by Yoann Lemoine, who when he's performing music, goes under the name Woodkid. Yep — Lemoine Renaissance man'd the shit out of this one, turning his brooding track into a smoldering, ashen piece of artwork.

It must be said that anything featuring Aggy Deyn is enough to make me profess my love faster than the honorees of a late-night Las Vegas wedding, but in this video especially, I think I gotta give my trophy of excellence to that horse. Check out that horse! Damn, horses in slow motion — they should have scrapped African Cats and made a Disney Nature exclusive of horses neighing ever-so-slightly instead. Totally worth $12.50 and two hours of my time.

I've never been the type of bugger to dig on war films, but this one's worth nervously peeking at. Weenie alert: there's no blood. Please proceed and enjoy without peeking thru a hand full of ring-covered fingers, like one of us may or may not have first experienced it.

Maps & Atlases — Live At Bowery Ballroom

It's been almost a year since we've had these boys over on the couch — well, on the floor, mostly — and all I can say is christ, I just want them back. 

For someone who either has a miserably bad memory or has actually never seen them play on a stage before, it's beyond odd to see it backwards, to have the stripped-down set come months (and months) before hearing their actual sound. And with the, yeah, I'll say it, vigor of their live show, I've clearly been missing out on a lot.

If a genie magically appeared at the East Village coffee shop I'm currently at and granted me three wishes, I'd first ask him to give me the ability to eat a muffin without looking like I'm a pauper, since apparently the pinch-and-scarf method is the only feasible way to consume a breakfast pastry. (Do people bite into muffins like bagels? Is that how they do it? Is that how muffins work? So many questions.)

The second wish, though, would definitely be to just borrow Dave Davison's voice for a day. Ooh, to wail my way through a world of customer service phone calls! Coffee orders! Meetings! I'd moan my way through calls with relatives I should have phoned circa my last birthday and friends from elementary school to confuse them as to "what I'm up to in New York". And I'd definitely, definitely do karaoke.

(As for the third, I'd obviously have him grant ten more wishes, because I can't make up my mind, would like an exotic zoo animal as a pet and a best-friends-forever status with Sir Bourdain.)

I'm nostalgic for this one in a handful of ways, as it happened in our old, old home (more on that later), but if it stands for anything, it's that ten months later, we're still swooning over their songs as much and possibly more as we did back then. And to stand the test of time, something neither fresh fruit, Best Coast or men's tank tops could do, is the mark of something truly special.

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Big Ugly Yellow Couch Session: Maps & Atlases

Couch Session: Matthew Hemerlein

Couch Session #33: Matthew Hemerlein

We've rarely been graced by such an intriguing presence,
Referencing trips abroad, in temples and on elephants,
If you don't think this is the best, don't press your musical luck —
who else do you know that has shot a music video on an animal with a trunk?
We had no oversized mammals, except maybe the pigeon man across the way,
who feeds flocks of birds and lets them perch on his windowsill all day.
But where personalities are concerned, Matthew takes the cake,
He's spiritual, gifted and unbelievably great.
The first time we heard him, we were instantly floored,
as he's one of those special performers who just...strikes a chord.
We've made a lot of discoveries while running this site,
but this one's so different, ages beyond just "all right".
His songs give me chills from beginning to end,
the multi-instrumentation, the melodies, I incessantly recommend.
We shot three sessions that day, and it all began with this one,
And the performance we had been anxiously awaiting was a total home run.
I want to swim in these songs as the sea, be surrounded for all time,
to float in its melodies would be simply divine.
Stunning — it's just stunning, and there's no more left to say,
we'll have the music speak for itself, and let Matthew take it away:

 MP3

Matthew Hemerlein - "Luminescent Braid (Big Ugly Yellow Couch session)"

Matthew Hemerlein - "Gyllenhaal Sandwich (Big Ugly Yellow Couch session)"

Matthew Hemerlein - "#88 (Big Ugly Yellow Couch session)"

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