The Greatest Cover Band of All-Time?

The answer to the above question is obviously impossible to know. There are innumerable objective metrics (and even more completely subjective inputs) that would comprise a reliable equation capable of determining the GCBOAT. Although the sample size is small, and the song they covered is by one of the most annoying musicians in pop music today... Ukraine's own Los Colorados is on the short list of GCBOAT contenders with their cover of Katy Perry's "Hot and Cold." There are too many things to like about this video:

• 4-piece band with accordian, acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, and marching-band style bass drum/cymbal/tambourine. Also known as "The Ukranian Special."
• The "Dress for Success" style of all band members... except of course for the drummer, who's rockin' a Miami Vice look with his light-colored suit and rolled-up coat sleeves. Coincidentally, season 1 of Miami Vice just aired on Ukranian television.
• Ummm... the accents are amazing. It's more fun singing this song with their accents than singing any other song. Ever.
• Back-up singers are all over the repeated lyrics... "like eh gehrl!"... "PMS!"
• The fact that, by all accounts, they're on live TV and completely screw up the transition to the bridge... but keep going like champs!
• "Ein... Svie... Drie!!"

Without further ado... Los Colorados!

A Little of This, A Little of That

We're definitely not on the first-line of new things coming out... maybe not even the second. Regardless, here are some things that've been floating around the internets for a hot minute. Enjoy!

Beirut: Live at Music Hall of Williamsburg
Who has time to go to a concert? I mean, really... everyone should. But if you don't, this is the next best thing. Kicking it off with a song he wrote at 17, Zach Condon and the rest of the Beirut offer up a number of tracks, the majority of which come from their newest album, March of the Zapotec. So impressed.
Video: Beirut: Live at Music Hall of Williamsburg

Animal Collective: Live at the Paradiso (Amsterdam)
Yeah, that's right... TWO concerts for you to watch today! Although I get the feeling less people will be interested in watching/listening to this one, it's really cool to see AC manipulate the loops and sounds they use while also singing and going a little crazy. Acid not included.
Video: Animal Collective: Live at the Paradiso (Amsterdam)

Department of Eagles: "No One Does It Like You" Video
One of the best songs off of In Ear Park, and definitely one of the most immediately accessible, "No One Does It Like You" gets the artsy work-up on video. It even debuted at MoMA! Not bad for a Grizzly Bear side project.


Arcade Fire: Where The Wild Things Are Trailer
Acoustic version of "Wake Up" + Spike Jonze + Dave Eggers + Childhood Memories = chills. Basic math.


Ra Ra Riot: "Can You Tell"
If you listened to their post yesterday, you no doubt wanted more of Ra Ra Riot. They played on Craig Ferguson not long ago... it's not Letterman/Leno, but at least he didn't have to be around Jimmy Fallon. Because that guy's the worst!

What We're Listening To

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Heads Will Roll
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are blowing up right now... and "Heads Will Roll" might be one of the reasons. Although the album leaked months ago, and was released as a download March 10th, I wasn't the only one picking up a copy of It's Blitz! at Criminal Records yesterday. Just a phenomenal album and first-quarter candidate for Top 10 Album of the Year.

Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Ye...

Clipse (feat. Ab-Liva): Pop Champagne
Road To Till The Casket Drops is a mixtape that Clipse made to promote their Play Cloths clothing line, the actual tracks are much less disappointing than the reason for making the album in the first place. "Pop Champagne" has an incredibly infective hook, and Ab-Liva summons up We Got It 4 Cheap-esque raps for his contribution. Plus it's a mixtape, so you can get it all for free!
Streaming MP3 & Album: Road Till The Casket Drops

St. Vincent: The Strangers
St. Vincent (nee Annie Clark) knocked one out of the park with Marry Me, and if "The Strangers" is any indication, her new album Actors will be just as solid. It has a very Alice In Wonderland feel to it, from the spiraling sound to the repetition of "Paint the black hole blacker," I can't stop thinking of falling down the rabbit's hole.
MP3: St. Vincent: The Strangers

Spoon: The Fitted Shirt
I'm revisiting Spoon... get ready to read about them in the not-too-distant future. Going back through all of their discography has reminded me how much they fucking rock. And they do it without the bombast and opulence of so many artists. Each sound is necessary, nothing is excessive. "The Fitted Shirt," from Girls Can Tell is actually one of their more sonically full tracks, but it's been stuck in my head for days.

The Fitted Shirt - Spoon

Death Cab For Cutie: Cath...
I realize that Narrow Stairs is not in any way current, but my iPod was on shuffle and this song popped up. And it's really good. And really sad. Kind of like songs Death Cab used to make. We're probably on the part of the graph where it's uncool to like Death Cab, but "Cath..." is good songwriting, pure and simple.

Cath... - Death Cab for Cutie

Ra Ra Riot: Ghost Under Rocks
Pretty much the perfect combination of traditional indie rock sound and strings, Ra Ra Riot's "Ghost Under Rocks" is the opening track off their impressive The Rhumb Line (nope, I don't understand it either). Hailing from Syracuse, NY, I'm hoping they take the image of "less pretentious Vampire Weekend" and run with it.

Ghost Under Rocks - Ra Ra Riot

Download LetDown - AI Recap

Anoop - After I give you props on your outfit last week - you pull out this monstrosity of a jacket?  I'm hurt.  Good to see his playful side back again but definitely not his best.  C+

Megan - When I heard the words Megan and Bob Marley together I wanted to scream.  Can someone please tell this girl she doesn't have to "dance" to every song she sings.  It's OK...in fact it's preferable to just stand there.  It's also preferable to hit actual notes but I don't want to ask for too much.  D

Danny - One of the few times I haven't really enjoyed Danny's vocals.  I liked the song choice but he hit quite a few sour notes.  It amazes me that sometimes the judges pretend not to hear these things.  B-

Allison- I liked the beginning better than the end but all in all another great performance.  She's proving to be one of the most consistent in the competition.  B+

Scott - Raise your hand if you were surprised Scott sang Billy Joel....that's right.. no one.  Scott is starting to remind me of the musician in the piano lounge on my senior cruise.  He played the same mix of Elton John and Billy Joel every night.  The only difference was the cruise guy was actually enjoyable.  C

Matt - Just the type of song I've wanted Matt to sing.  I didn't think he was that bad and I'm pissed that the judges seem set on sending him home. B

Lil - Oh my...Celine?  Interesting song choice when there are about 1000 better ones available.  To me Lil sounded like she was pushing her voice to the very edge throughout the whole song and I was just cringing waiting for her voice to crack.  She got through it but I still think she needs to step it up if she wants to make it much further. B

Adam - We get it.  Adam can sing and hit ridiculous notes.  I really didn't like the arrangement of the song (thought it took away some of the funkiness) but I am glad to see he's once again ditched the eyeliner and the emo-kid hair.  B+

**TV Crossover Moment - The actor who plays Marco on Privileged in Adam's cheering section...could he be his boyfriend???

Kris - It's about time my baby got the show closing pimp spot!  By FAR the best performance of the night and I don't say that just because I want to have his children.  The arrangement was fantastic, vocals were spot on and he did it all while looking the hottest he has all season.  A!

Who should go home?  Hopefully America will get it right and send Megan Joy on her way.  I could see an unfair bouncing of Matt but hopefully that won't happen.

Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose.

Friday Night Lights has been renewed for not one but TWO seasons!! This is honestly the best news I've heard in 2009 as FNL is my favorite show on TV today. That may seem strange seeing that it has yet to make an appearance on GSATW (that will change soon) but honestly nothing I could ever write would do this show justice. Chronicling the small town lives of the denizens of Dillon Texas, FNL strikes the perfect balance between drama and comedy, ensemble performance and individual character portrayal, heartbreak and triumph. The writing is realistic (we'll just forget about that "I Know What You Did Last Summer" anomaly in season 2) and I challenge you to find better actors than Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton. After every episode I'm just in awe that yet again it was that good.

If you watch any television at all and you don't watch Friday Night Lights you're doing yourself a serious disservice. Lucky for you all of the episodes are available online here. Start at the beginning and don't stop until you're caught up. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll thank us later.

Note: We don't talk a lot about non-reality television on this site, because... let's be honest... reality TV is ridiculous and makes for some pretty hilarious and prone-to-critique situations. But we watch a lot of other things. The name of this blog is from "30 Rock." Between Audra and I, we watch things as disparate as "24" and "One Tree Hill." Now, I can't speak for my counterpart, but if I had to pick the greatest drama I've ever seen, it would be "The Wire." I couldn't possibly do that show justice through a short blurb, but one of the things that drew me in so completely was the intricate and beautifully written character development. I cared about each of those characters, and with VERY few exceptions, every character was both flawed and had redeeming qualities. I'm not sure I have ever felt a more visceral reaction to a movie, television show, or novel as when Omar, by all accounts a violent and terrifying drug dealer/thief, was killed. I felt like I was losing a friend. Long story short, this is how "Friday Night Lights" makes me feel. Is it as good as "The Wire?" No... but it's also restricted by network TV and the stupid shit NBC probably makes them write about to attempt to boost ratings. The relationships are genuinely human, not theatrical or uber-dramatic. So many of the characters are flawed, yet work towards something good. I'm not ashamed to admit that basically every single episode this season has had a tear-producing moment (usually involving Coach Eric Taylor), and anyone who is keeping themselves from watching this show because "it's about football" is missing out on the best entertainment currently on television. I'm so excited that NBC has decided to extend the show for 2 more years, and even if they continue to show it exclusively on DirecTV in the Fall before showing it on NBC in the Spring, I won't complain. As long as the town of Dillon remains, I'll be happy. "Clear Eyes?".... not likely....
-Matt

March Music Madness - "Analysis" of the Poll Results

Last time we left the bracket at We Listen For You, we'd commented on the Sweet 16 participants (both positively and negatively). They're down to the Final Four, so we'll spend a little time wondering how we got here, and go on to predict who the readers will eventually deem the National Champion of Indie Music (or at least of an arbitrary reader poll). On to snobby remarks:

The Sweet 16

• Arcade Fire (79.1%) over Cat Power - Arcade Fire is not currently relevant. I'm going to keep saying it until it's no longer true. Ball's in your court, Canada.
  
• Fleet Foxes (65.8%) over Andrew Bird - Completely understandable, although I will say... after spending some additional time with Noble Beast, I feel like this could've been a pretty competitive match-up. Still, this results is defensible.
  
• The National (63.4%) over Franz Ferdinand - I support
  
• Sufjan Stevens (60%) over Girl Talk - I kind of support
  
• Animal Collective (58.9%) over Spoon - I understand, but it stings
  
• Of Montreal (57.3%) over Beirut - WHAT?!?!?! This makes less than 0% to me. Granted, I have an anti-Of Montreal bias. I do. But are we really saying that the band with the Outback Steakhouse commercial jingle is better than Beirut? I hope that's not the case.
  
• TV on the Radio (56.4%) over MGMT - The last result combined with how close this result is makes me wonder what the readers enjoy about music. They're a really confusing group.
  
• The Decemberists (50%) over Feist - I'm not exactly sure how this result ends in a win for The Decemberists, but I'm glad that it did.
  

The Elite 8

• Fleet Foxes (60.3%) over Of Montreal - Thank God that Of Montreal is finally out of the tournament... three rounds too late.
  
• Animal Collective (55.1%) over The National - The National made a respectable run, but Animal Collective has too much firepower right now.
  
• Arcade Fire (54.4%) over The Decemberists - [mouth agape]
  
• Sufjan Stevens (50%) over TV on the Radio - [smashing head against desk]
  

So the We Listen For You Final Four includes: Fleet Foxes, Animal Collective, Arcade Fire, and Sufjan Stevens. Two bands that deserve to be there, and two bands that deserve to be there in 2006. The final match-ups pit Fleet Foxes vs Animal Collective and Arcade Fire vs. Sufjan Stevens. Based on past votes, our prediction is a National Championship of Animal Collective vs. Arcade Fire, with Arcade Fire winning. Yes, I realize that this makes no sense whatsoever, but neither have a lot of the votes. Hopefully people will come to their sense and make Animal Collective the winner (GO HERE TO VOTE!), but I highly doubt it.

The tournament ends this weekend. Thanks for following along (if you can still take it)!

PS: Our Final Four includes: Lil' Wayne, Beirut, The Decemberists, and TV on the Radio. Not necessarily better by any stretch, but it's interesting how different the two brackets look (again, this could be due to changing match-ups to mirror their NCAA Tournament counterparts).

March Music Madness - Elite Eight

Today, we provide all of the Elite Eight match-ups and end with the Final Four! Comments about each competition will be really short in anticipation of in depth analysis for both the Final Four and the National Championship. Tomorrow, we'll breakdown the current results from the We Listen For You reader poll (similar to earlier this week) and we'll predict the winner of their tournament. Without further ado...

(1) Animal Collective vs. (2) Lil' Wayne
Winner: (2) Lil' Wayne
The only 1 vs. 2 match-up in the four regions... it shows just how competitive both of these artists are. One of the hip-hop artists was going to make it into the Final Four, and since I can't put Kanye ahead of The Decemberists, I'm vaulting Lil' Wayne past Animal Collective. And although Animal Collective is one of the hottest bands on the indie scene right now, Lil' Wayne is the hottest act period. I don't even feel that bad about this decision.


(4) Beirut vs. (11) M.I.A.
Winner: (4) Beirut
M.I.A.'s Cinderella run comes to an end, as Beirut advances to the Final Four. Maybe it's just me, but if you don't have an accordion and/or mellophone prominently featured in your music, it's hard for me to take you seriously. So it's just me then... cool.


(1) Kanye West vs. (4) The Decemberists
Winner: (4) The Decemberists
After spending three rounds talking about how forward-thinking and consistent Kanye has been throughout his musical career, he gets taken down by a band that, for all intents and purposes, is very retro-thinking. Unless I'm not getting the "man swallowed by whale plots revenge against those who have wronged him" headlines in my RSS.


(1) TV on the Radio vs. (7) Antony and the Johnsons
Winner: (1) TV on the Radio
I've made no qualms about labeling TVOTR as the prohibitive favorites for me in this tournament, and as excellent as Antony's The Crying Light is, it just can't compete with the raw energy of Dear Science. TVOTR is looking like Louisville right now, and that's a bad sign for their competition.