Goodbye R.E.M.

The above is what Michael Stipe and director Dominic DeJoseph have created for R.E.M.'s last proper single, "We All Go Back to Where We Belong."  I guess I just needed some reason to post this song besides the fact that it's probably their best track in recent memory.  There are two versions, both alluding to Warhol's screen test work, one with Kirsten Dunst and one with poet John Giorno...I prefer the Giorno version as it seems a bit more genuine.

The Electric Drone: sunn o)))

Check out this short doc on sunn o)))...low end guitar drone wizards (If you prefer, insert other synonym relating to a mysterious cloaked figure.). I haven't had the opportunity to see the guys yet, but it certainly won't be a 'fun' experience when I do.

Guided by Voices: "The Unsinkable Fats Domino"

New GBV! Whoa...and it sounds pretty much like all of their previous material which is a high compliment. Hey, that's some pretty sweet cover art as well.

Listen: "The Unsinkable Fats Domino"

Let's Discuss Young Ed Ved

Watch Eddie Vedder's Epic Stage Dives on PBS. See more from American Masters.

Young Eddie Vedder used to be RAD.

Gruff Rhys: "Whale Trail"

Dude loves a green screen. This is another pretty great Gruff Rhys song that's on the playful side- because it was made for an iPhone video game. Main objective? Well that would be to guide "...a whale through a Technicolor world, collecting bubbles along the way that will help you avoid the nasty Baron van Barry." Makes total sense.

Music For Landscapes: Central Park (Listen to the Light)

The Making of Listen to the Light by BLUEBRAIN from BLUEBRAIN on Vimeo.

This is an interesting idea from a duo calling themselves Bluebrain where they have created two apps, one for the National Mall in DC and another for Central Park in NYC, that utilize your phone's gps to relate your geographic location to a section of original music that they have composed. The group essentially mapped out regions of each park and put music to each zone which will change as the listener moves along the different geographic locations. I made a point to try out the Central Park version and it is an interesting experience (Although I was a tad skeptical at first because I wasn't sure if I wanted someone telling me how to have an experience.). I also wanted to figure out a bit on how the app changes between regions, how the mix is effected and what may happen if one stands in one place for a bit of time. The music changes between regions subtly where one piece gently gives way to another which appears at first low in the mix. If you stand in one place, the music is designed to loop, but not noticeably. The app is free, so if anything else, it's a good excuse to get to the park - if that excuse was really needed.

JEFF Does Fallon

This made my day (week probably)...These dudes just keep bringing it - I mean they brought a friend along to eat a burger in front of them while they play for the first time on national TV!  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of the burger guy.

Kurt Vile: "Life's A Beach"

The Feynman Series: "Beauty"

The creators of the Sagan Series have extended their work to include a 3-part series based on recorded interviews of physicist Richard Feynman.  Check out part 1, "Beauty," above which overdubs Feynman's voice over found nature footage and complementing music as he describes how he views beauty in the natural world.  This stuff is both interesting and inspirational.

The Vigilogna

The Daily Show
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Keeping with the Wall Street theme (if you will), Chris Meloni stars in the "The Vigilogna."  I haven't laughed this hard in a long time.