STRICTLY GLOBAL

Dude, seriously, I love music so much.  Like, one day, you hear the greatest jam ever, and you think no other song can ever top that-ever.  But then, the next day, you remember that Crystal Castles put out their new album, and now that you've chosen to live your life on Ramen so you can buy merch from touring bands for the rest of time, you can easily afford new music once again.  God I miss Tower Records.  Anyway- that's my deal- I get insta-crushes on new songs and bands every week.  And hopefully you do to, and will wanna cheat on your favorite band with some of the new stuff we got going on this week on Strictly Global.

Like a blast from the near past, UK's the Futureheads have just released their fourth studio album this week called The Chaos.   Did ya know they got their name from a Flaming Lips album?  Hit To Death in the Future Head. Wowsers. Their US tour in support of it starts in June, so hurry up summer- get here already!  Coincidentally, I recently caught up and chatted with one of Yukon Blonde's guitarist/singers, Jeffrey Innes, and we shared our love of the Futureheads' first album (s/t).  That full interview will be comin' soon ya'll, so giddy up.

Perhaps you want to take your music relationship to the next level with some Danish pop-rock.  Then might I suggest Efterklang, who recently released their 3rd studio album Magic Chairs.  No dates booked in the US as of yet, but they claim the Icelandic ash clouds won't prevent them from canceling the millions of dates they have lined up throughout Europe in the coming months.  So if you happen to be in Greece this summer, make sure to bring me cause I'll be your new best friend and we can check out their live show.  It'll be the bestest, Bestie.

Or maybe you wanna change the pace and mix things up with your music marriage.  This can be done via ^|SiCk0|^ who may or may not be human. "Originally"from Hamburg, Germany- ^|SiCk0|^, melds synthesizers with effect boxes to create chaotic noise fit for hockey riots (CAPS!!??) and late night Area 51 drive-bys.  Thanks to Intolerance Records for intro-ing this insanity to moi. Me likey.  

Usually around this time of year, I blow my tax refund on tattoos and beach vacays.  But I was totally denied that oppurtunity this time-around, so I'm a little bummed.  But just a little, because luckily my pal Danni was there to save the day, with hot tea and pretzels...  Oh the shenanigans of a Strictly Global shoot.  She will be intro-ing the latest music videos from around the globe this Friday, so get ready for it!

Like the latest from the Parisian electronica tango trip-hop group, Gotan Project.  Having been around since '00, this trio have recently released their 9th album (3rd studio), Tango 3.0, and will begin a Euro tour at the end of April that will last all summer!  With this album comes a blend of Buenos Aires, mixed with Mississippi blues, and a dollop of New Orleans, Nashville, and New York.  Break out your cha cha heels!  Sexy.

Also, we recently asked you all via Twitter/Facebook and on-air, what local band you love and support.  The response was phenomenal, and you all sent us some great new sounds to get into.  Such as the power exuding from Chicago's rockers, My Gold Mask.  Two members (Gretta Rochelle & Jack Armondo), two instruments, and a full wall of jangly noise fit for an early 60's Phil Spector session, infused with raw rock of the 90's and beyond.  Too cool.  Yet even cooler, their music was featured in New York Fashion week, and they will be performing alongside the New Pornographers this summer.  Get it ya'll!

And also on this episode will be the premiere of the interview I had with Emil Nikolaisen, singer/guitarist/songwriter of Norway's shoegaze alt. noise band, Serena-Maneesh.  It was only two "blogs" ago that I spouted off my love for this band, but I'm going to reiterate it regularly because their second release, S-M 2:Abyss in B Minor, is hands down the best album of the freakin' year.  I personally haven't listened to something on repeat as much as I have with this album since the Strokes' Is This It.  Hmm, wow, deja-vu- that was also blogged about recently.  Anyways, ... love it!

Hey alright, we are back from our brief spring break with a new episode this Friday.    But while the show was away, me and Danni managed to hit up touring artists galore to bring you awesome interviews in upcoming episodes.  Enough with the teasing though, cause on this week's episode we've got lots of requests to fulfill from you guys, as well as new music videos from Spain, Canada, the UK, and more.  A- woo-woo.

From Spain, we'll be showing the latest from the electro group Delorean who've recently released their 3rd studio album Subizia.  They've been touring the states in support of it for a lil' while now, but tomorrow is their last stop in L.A. so get over there and catch em'!  Not too long ago, these dudes got more music press recognition with their talent at remixing other current indie faves, such as the XX, Cold Cave, and the Big Pink.  But their music is gorgeous on it's own and deserves ones complete attention. Mmhmm.

We'll also check out the latest from UK's curly girly, Goldfrapp!  She's just released her new album Head First, and will be touring this summer in support of it.  But, she's only making several stops in the US, so fingers crossed that this lushy synthy splendor comes to a town near you!  Fans may notice how she tends to change up her genre just a lil' bit between albums.  This one seems almost Xanadu-like.  I like.

Speaking of genre-hopping, we've got the latest from the American/Australian collab rock band, Liars.  These dudes love a good rhythm, and manage to show it in different ways with each album, whether it's represented as art-punk, noise rock, dance-punk, what have you.  They've recently released their fifth studio album, Sisterworld, currently touring the states in support of it, before they head over to Europe for the entirety of May.  I wanna go.

I just want to see your face when I tell you that I wish it was Christmas today while wearing MC hammer pooper pants.  Perhaps that is the medicine talking (I'm not quite at swine flu level but pretty close,) but in some way or another- that delirious phrase does in fact correlate with the awesomeness that will be unleashed during this week's new episode.

From Oslo, Norway comes the ridiculously gorgeous noise fest of shoe-gaze and riotous alternative rock in Serena-Maneesh.  They just recently played several dates at the SxSW festival, and are still touring throughout the states.  Fans of My Bloody Valentine, The Velvet Underground, or Stereolab may easily fall hard in love with this band.  They've actually been around since 1999, and have just released their 2nd studio album S-M 2: Abyss in B Minor, which frontman Emil Nikolaisen has described as a "rock'n'roll chamber of magic."  Right on.

We'll also check out the latest from UK's animated band, the Gorillaz!  Mmhmm, that's right- Murdoc, 2D, Russel, and Noodle are back with a new album, Plastic Beach.  And they brought along hella guest vocalists, such as Mos Def, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon (the Clash!) Lou Reed, Snoop Dogg, and even the Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music.  What!?  My mind has been officially blown.

And right outta NYC, we'll check out the latest solo work from a man who made it huge overseas first with a little band known as The Strokes, before dominating the states (not to mention my heart ;P,) Julian Casablancas.  He's as global as they get ladies and gents, and is touring said globe right now.  A fever couldn't keep me away from that show, and as a devout fan of JC, I went in with a box of kleenex and came out temporarily healed as he rocked out "I Wish it Was Christmas Today" and the greatest song of all time ever infinity, "Hard to Explain."  It was magical.  Phrazes For the Young is out now, a genius record.  He's playing in your town soon, so I suggest you go!

Oh and for the MC hammer pants reference... you'll just have to tune in to find out. Cough cough...