Conchords Take Flight, Picking a Fite, Monkeys Sound Alright…Also, Battles, Beasties, Stripes, Tap and Amazing Videos

“New Zealand's 4th Most Popular Gangster Folk Group” is on the brink of things that are bigger than what they have previously been doing; something they hope they can say again this time next year, like they did last year. One of the better Alternative Comedic Satire Duo’s who play guitar and sing about the “issues” from New Zealand I have seen in years (Bret and Jermaine, names pronounced much like they read), Flight of The Conchords, building off the success of a run through the elite comedy fests, an HBO special and a BBC miniseries, are now currently filming a 12 part series to air on HBO starting this summer (June 17th), also scheduled is a new album for later in 2007; later in this post, more run on sentences
Don’t you want a little taste, to see what it tastes like?


Jermaine aka "Justice" is also in his feature debut, Eagle Vs. Shark, which has great potential:

TIM FITE, HILLBILLY WITHA' CAUSE

The simpliset way to discribe Tim Fite’s sound is to imagine The Good ‘Ol Boys playing as Beck’s supporting band from his first two albums, singing Tom Waits meets Ween covers, who happen to have put out a hip hop album that sounds a lot like Eminem. Then take that and mash it up and pour whiskey on it. In other words it’s not easy to descirbe this New Yorker by way of Pennsylvania’s sound, and that’s what makes him so gosh darn intriguing.

Standout compositions and heartfelt lyrics make this oddball come to life, sounding like nothing else on the barren landscape of common pop music. “Heavens to Betsy, the man’s out to get me. He’s raisin my rent and takin my money. While the rich get rich, us poor don’t get shit. Except shit on by rich men, and shit on by women and shit on by everyone shitting.”-Away From the Snakes
After establishing himself as the next alternative folk star on his amazing debut Gone Ain’t Gone, Fite surprised fans and critics alike by releasing a flat out assualt on modern society and the hip hop culture by making a. . . hip hop album. Over the Counter Cuture, a COMPLETELY FREE ALBUM, is at times extremely clever, poignant and aggressive and always self aware. “I want you to buy my record, So I can sell out in 60seconds; At the Best Buy, I wanna be the best guy, You know that I’m better than the next guy; Even though we sound exactly alike, Is that Jadakiss or is that That Tim Fite?"- It's All Right Here.
http://www.myspace.com/timfite


Amazing videos from amazing bands. Director Vincent Moon captures bands out of the confines of studio or venue, takes them to Paris and puts them on the street… and in elevators. The series is called The Take Away Shows from La Blogotheque. The live films are shot with hand held camera and the final product is some of the best footage available. Highlights include: The Shins, Andrew Bird, Arcade Fire, Tapes ‘N Tapes, Cold War Kids and Islands. There are several other Eurobands on there as well, but I am ignorant and never learned to speak a foreign language so I kinda miss out; better luck to you.
Blogotheque

…another intimate look at great bands; Sophie Muller directed and Nigel Godrich produced From the Basement. These videos can be purchased on iTunes (White Stripes, Thom Yorke(Radiohead), Kieran Hebden and Steve Reid…Beck etc. to come.
From the Basement
More from Steve Reid… TAP THIS

ARCTIC MONKEYS
Speaking of Euro’s, the UK’s Favourite Worst Band dropped their new album this week, will give it another whirl and start on a review, so far its pretty solid. For now here’s something to think about…

BATTLES
For fans of “math rock,” Battles are about to release their much aniticpated new album Mirrored. The band features an assembly of gents from various other projects of wide background, most notably John Stainer of Helmet. The beats are unreal, the vocals take some time and may never work for ya, regardless this one of the coolest videos out there.

WHITE STRIPES
White Stripes new single Icky Thump hits the stores and iTunes this week. There are three versions of the single, with different B-sides on vinyl 7”, white vinyl 7” and CD. The new album also titled Icky Thump is being bought by me on June 19th, you can also buy it then. There is also a new Raconteurs album in the making…my man crush of Jack White grows stronger with each passing day. '07 Tour dates: Canada and the US states they have yet to visit.

BEASTIE BOYS
Awesome: I Fuckin' Shot That, the award winning film of a Beastie Boys concert shot by 50 fans with handheld cameras airs until May 21st on Showtime; here’s the trailer . New album out in ’07 as well as a slew of fest appearances including instrumental only shows; which would be awesome to see. Info on the The Mix Up, going back to the Paul's Boutique/Check Your Head sound.

THE GREATEST BAND EVER IS BACK, AGAIN!!!!!
Spinal Tap To Save the Planet. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6591253.stm

My EYES will have something to say again soon, so keep LISTENING