It's safer in the dark....

Animal Collective's upcoming album Strawberry Jam stirred up quite a fury with their record label after 3 of the songs leaked onto the Internet. Read the story here:
http://www.shoutmouth.com/index.php/news/16150

Meanwhile, Animal Collective member Panda Bear seems to have a completely different outlook on the leaks (after another three songs off the album were leaked):

"The only thing we’re really upset about with the leak is that it’s only parts of it. I think there are six songs out there now. People aren’t even able to get the full experience of the album, which bums us all out quite a bit. So if you’re listening leakers [speaking directly into the tape recorder], put up those other three songs, man, pronto." (Shout Mouth)

Talk about a bunch of laid-back, cool guys. In honor of Strawberry Jam's release in September, here's an excellent song (that is not going to be on the new album) that perfectly shows-off AC's stoner-rock, doing whatever the hell they want, style of music:

Animal Collective - Safer

ps. Since the time of the interview, the entirety of album has been leaked onto the Internet apparently on the Fourth of July (according to Wikipedia)......maybe as a present to the US, in honor of its "birthday".

Buy the album when it's released: Amazon

It's raining.........yuck.

Due to the fact that it's been raining for the good part of the day (preventing me from getting to go to the pool.), I've decided to make this post rain/weather themed.

I'm aware that it's not the most original idea. Oh well.

Enjoy,
Belle & Sebastian - The Fox in the Snow
Bishop Allen - Rain
Jarvis - Heavy Weather
Ryan Adams - City Rain, City Streets

....and finally:
Ween - Purple Rain (live cover)





Like the songs? Buy the albums from Amazon

Uhhh....

So, between work, playing my guitar (very badly), corresponding with my friends, and trying to design a cool image for the blog's header-thingie, I haven't had time to make a decent post today, and this pattern will probably continue until I get a break in action (Wednesday at the earliest).

I apologize for this disappointment to my fans, and I advise you to go read one of those great blogs that I've [ever-so-kindly] linked to on this page. At least until I get a legitimately good post up here, then you can (and should) give me bask some of you love (trust me, I need all the love I can get...)

All apologies,
calvin the super genius

Prince loves you.

...just not as much as that guitar of his.

Sorry.

With a new single Guitar of his upcoming album Planet Earth, Prince returns to the music game a little of a year after his previous release 3121, with yet another catchy love song. This time he's brought a bit of a twist along. Instead of proclaiming his love to [yet another] lovely lady, he's decided to chose a different subject to receive his affection. His guitar.

With an opening riff that sounds like it should belong to the Edge, rather than the King of Platform Shoes, this song brings out Prince's more rocking side. And yet, even with its catchy choruses, and pretty sweet guitar solos, this song seems to lack as a whole. The substance that is apparent in his more "epic" songs, (Purple Rain, Sign O' The Times, Black Sweat, Kiss) are unfortunately, absent in this tune. Another degrading factor is the fact that the guitar riff (which is prevalent through out the entire song) becomes quite annoying after only a few listens.

All-in-all, this is a decent song, but it in no way, lives up to the standard that is expected this super-short genius named Prince.

Try the track out for yourself:
Prince - Guitar

ps. Those Prince fans lucky enough to live in the UK, read this, you'll be happy: "The greatest newspaper giveaway... EVER!"

Buy Planet Earth (from Amazon) when it's released on July 24.

I am a sheep.

I've been recently asked (by the one person that actually reads [some of] this blog) about the origins of this blogs's name ("i am cow..." in case you were to lazy to scroll up the page to check). As a result, with this post I've decided to "shine some light" upon the mysterious inspiration behind the title of "i am cow..."

The title of this blog is taken directly from a song by Canadian comedy band, the Arrogant Worms, simply called I Am Cow. I thought the line "i am cow..." fit the witty, interesting, and semi-original frame that bog title's (in general) seem to fit. Plus, my first choice for a blog name ("I Am Not Afraid of You, and I Will Whoop Your Ass") didn't quite roll off the tongue in the way I originally expected.

I could write a biography of the Arrogant Worms for you, but that's what Wikipedia's for, right?

Back to the song. It's strange, no denying that. It can be described as an anthem for the cattle population of the world. With lines like, "I am cow/ eating grass/ methane gas comes out my ass/ and out my muzzle when I belch/ Oh, the ozone layer is thinner/ From the outcome of my dinner", it can also be considered a very informative and...umm...pleasant song.

At 1:59 it is just short enough to be funny (any longer and it'd start to lose it's humor, and would seem more weird...), yet long enough to be considered a "real song" (do you know what I mean? Thought not.)

For your listening experience and pleasure (hopefully you'll find some entertainment in this song):

Arrogant Worms - I Am Cow


This song can be found on their album Dirt! or their greatest hits compilation Gift Wrapped. (Amazon)


ps. I'm working on trying to make these posts shorter to help encourage people to actually read the content instead of just browsing the page for links...

A plane takes off from Baltimore, and touches down on Burbon Street.

Just another one-hit wonder band from the nineties. That may be one way to describe the Primitive Radio Gods, but that would imply that this band can be clumped in with a group of ordinary bands who had a "lucky streak". The problem then, would be that the Primitive Radio Gods should not be in such a group, because they are not an "ordinary nineties band".

There is no denying that the music on their career-launching album Rocket contains the qualities that are overly apparent in the popular rock music of the nineties (catchy choruses, driving guitars, witty lyrics, falsettos. umm....maybe not-so-much on the last one.) And yet, even within their most popular song with mainstream audiences, Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand, the abstract heavily overrules the familiar.

The song starts off with the sound of a phone being dialed. Simple-yes; inventive - yes; clever - kinda; cool sounding - definently. And as fast as you can blink the song suddenly launches into a hip-hop style beat, and B.B. King's howling voice preaching to the listener" "I've been downhearted baby, ever since the day we met." (a sample taken from the song How Blue Can You Get?)

With a vast array of sounds and styles, the Primitive Radio Gods show that they are not a one-trick pony, and instead are a prize-winning stallion.

Primitive Radio Gods - Motherfucker

Primitive Radio Gods - Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand

Primitive Radio Gods - Who Say

(all three of these songs are off their album Rocket)

The Primitive Radio Gods fourth (and most recent) album Sweet Venus (along with their other albums) are available for purchase on their website.

A Pleasant Surprise...

Thanks to the blog Bag of Songs (which I've just started reading again) I have just been informed of one of the greatest discoveries of the summer: in honor of the 1 year anniversary of the release of their album Dog Problems, The Format (starting on June 25th (tomorrow), and ending on July 15th) will be hosting the entire album on their website to download for free.

No DRM. (in short: DRM=not fun.)

No strings attached.

Are you happy? I know I am.

Bag of Songs' Original Post (which also has links to two songs to download, I highly recommend the song "Dog Problems")

The article on The Format's website: Click on "Summer Tour Dates and Your Dogs for Free"