CuzinMankSays,

CUZINMANK IS NOT DEAD

cuzinmank — Mon, 17 May 2010 18:40:08 +0000

MATERIALIZING HIMSELF TO SANITY…

More Than Just Beats and Blinking Lights

cuzinmank — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:34:20 +0000

New Pretty Lights album dropped yesterday in no other fashion but FREE from his website. No better way to describe the album but from the artists own words:

Making Up A Changing Mind is a collection of six tracks, produced in January and February of 2010. Stylistica…lly I fuse hip-hop production with elements of electro & dubstep, and combine that with the organic timbres and raw feeling of old school soul & funk, to, hopefully channel a number of feelings that pertain to the concept of the EP… In more than one way, this EP is a reflection of the massive changes I’m going through in my life and recent decisions I’ve had to make regarding my relationships, my career, and my music. From the lyrics of the vocal samples, to the fusion of production styles, even to the model and timeframe in which this EP is being released… this album speaks to the importance of adapting in a changing and surprising world. All will change with time… the future none can see. In the reconciliation of seemingly opposing options (making up a changing mind) we can hope to find new perspectives and better ways to move forward. ~Derek Vincent Smith

Digging deeper into an artists psyche and gaining insight on what they were feeling when producing their art usually gives me more of an appreciation for the music and the person. This just proves that point again that this guy is not just making hits for the masses to make the all mighty dollar. As if it wasn’t obvious already, he only distributes his music online free of charge. After a quick listen before heading off to work box, I can only say this album continues with the infectious grooves and head bobbing space beats. All the emotion promised is delivered with samples spanning the decades, even a little 1920′s horn breakdown something a flapper would groove to. The song that took my breath away was “Understand Me Now,” it just really hits it you in a place that if you haven’t felt the feeling before, it’s hard to explain. The entire album has its differences, some to make to make you dance, some to make you dream, all will make you feel. Download this album and experience something you never knew was possible.

PRETTY LIGHTS @ COACHELLA IS A BIGGER DEAL THAN TIESTO

Pajama Pants Jesus Delivers Religious Experience With Music and Reverb

cuzinmank — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:55:03 +0000

After enduring a less then spectacular performance (to be nice about it) by The Watson Twins, and a short amount of time to set up the 10 piece band and ensure enough reverb was on queue, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zero’s abruptly took the stage laughing about it and told the crowd “It felt like the wrong time to go on so we did” setting the tone for what kind of night it would be. The show was everything spectacular is supposed to mean and more. Armed with only a scarf, pajama pants, and a wife beater, band leader Alex Ebert (or the fictitious Edward Sharpe) and fellow merry makers ran through their album full of ballad sing-a-longs and empowering harmonies. The barefoot Alex talked about his Pre-dirtied pajama pants he had received earlier from a friend. The set was an excellent mix of slower spacey songs then back to a foot stomping shout with audience participation and interaction. Jade with an Audrey Hepburn 60′s type style, asked Alex if he wanted to go Home and immediately the crowd went into a full on sing-a-long and stomp. The shared experience up the interaction when a bearded fellow with a violin crowd surfed to the front and was invited on stage by Alex and to play the whistle solo in the middle of the song and a freestyle violin jam at the end. Full audience participation was required once more on the final song as some were invited on the stage as Alex claimed he “couldn’t do it by himself.” The rest of the crowd in the audience was instructed to be seated and enjoy the song sitting, giving a more intimate setting and a real nice touch. The modern day Jesus ( as he looks ) made a pirate hat sing and his band including 9 0ther members ranging from guitars, congas, pianos and even an accordion delivered power of the Arcade Fire but in a more vintage 60′s style. The fully confident and care free band leader was fully interactive with the crowd laughing into the reverb saturated microphones. Alex and band made this show a moving and religious experience as one audience member stated, ” Felt like she had just gone to church and was touched in a spiritual way unlike any other show in a long time.” Something beautiful if you ask me ,and No I assure you she was Not on acid =).

Unfortunately the venue for the show seemed to act like this was a very strict camera/recording policy but of course there were glows everywhere in the crowd. I must invest in a small pocket camera again for these “no camera” shows I laugh at. The pictures provided are from a fortunate one with camera access, but it’s hard to capture the magic. If you have the opportunity to see them, I highly recommend it for a higher experience, you might only find at church, but fortunately Edward and His Zero’s are preaching the church of love and music.

all pictures by christopher victorio of SfWeekly

Darkside of The FLips

cuzinmank — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:51:51 +0000

So Bonnaroo is delaying the lineup, for better or for worse we shall find out. Someone had something to say about the lineup though, Mr. Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips told Spinner that they would be performing at Midnight on Friday of this year’s festival. At first you might say, well we already been there and done that right? What could beat 2007′s celebration that was over 2 and half hours of all the Flips fan friendly singalongs, throwbacks, and even a Black Sabbath cover that wasn’t even part of the actual set. Just a surprise sound check song for those of us not reliving Sting and friends past while the Police played on the main stage. Confetti cannons, lazer pointers,dancing animals, Santa Clause , Captain America and even a guy in a towel was in attendance! So what’s the incentive this time? I mean this is the Flaming Lips , who always put on a spectacular show that will send you home feeling like you just attended a birthday party for everyone in the crowd. This time we shall see the darkside of the Lips. Not because their album Embryonic explores Wayne and friends darker side with psychedelic nuances and spaceman noises from the great beyond, that start you off in fear but with like any Flips song, leave you with a better sense of being in the universe. Nope still not all that, this time after the Flips finish their traditional set, they will close out by playing the entire Dark Side of the Moon album by Pink Floyd. This news comes following previous speculation and rumors of Mr. Roger Waters (you know the bass player from the original Pink Floyd), performing the entire Wall album at Roo also. My head is about to explode with excitement and anxiousness about the potential of having both the Flaming Lips and Roger Waters at the same place! Having seen both of these acts in grand fashion, I cannot help but feel I had my time and experience with both of them respectively. Either way, I asked Bonnaroo to bring it and well, they are definitly attempting to make me shudder and make me want to go. Every year I say I wont be going unless something amazing happens, I assume nothing amazing is possible having seen most of all the Greats, but then Roo always shows me why they are the real deal and not something to write off. The lineup is delayed until the 8th so we can only wait to see what else the all mighty Bonnaroo has in store for us. Will I be attending Bonnaroo for a 5th year? We shall see!

Initial List Of Coachella Love

cuzinmank — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:01:38 +0000

Hello folks I’ve been meaning to come here sooner to talk about the lineup for this years Dance in the Desert Coachella! The bands I am excited about up to this point are the following in no particular order except the day they play:

FRIDAY

LCD Soundsystem

Them Crooked Vultures

deadmau5

Grizzly Bear

Avett Brothers

Yeasayer

Dillinger Escape Plan

Deer Tick

Wolfgang Gartner

SATURDAY

Muse

Pretty Lights

Dirty Projectors

Les Claypool

Faith No More

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Bassnectar

Porcupine Tree

Portugal The Man

White Rabbits

Beach House

The Dead Weather

SUNDAY

Gorillaz

Thom Yorke

Phoenix

Orbital

Spoon

Matt and Kim

The Big Pink

Miike Snow

Florence and the Machine

I haven’t even begun to make a dent on new discoveries as I’ve been mostly tied up with my first new loves; Beach House, deadmau5, Miike Snow, Wolfgang Gartner, Bassnectar and Deer Tick. I cannot wait to see them! With the ever growing list of new bands I am adding to my list of acts I can’t miss, also brings fear of more possible conflicting set times. January is just ending, I cannot begin to worry just yet about such things, but we cant help it. I will continue to seek out good stuff and give a little better idea on some of these keys picks I enjoy most. On another topic, I read Roger Waters is considering touring the Wall in 2010, 2011. Bonnaroo rumors of his presence surfaced last week, not sure about that. Bonnaroo would be showing me they still got tricks up their sleeves and would tempt me. Oh Roo what are we gonna do? We shall see.

I leave you with one song from each of my new favorite artists from Coachella. Enjoy.

Whatcha Got Roo? Lineup 2010 Coming Soon!

cuzinmank — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:07:10 +0000

Make sure to have access to the internet on February 2nd, as Bonnaroo will be unveiling this years lineup! Not only is this the season for the Coachella lineup to be given to us but also shortly after you can always count on the Bonnaroo announcement! The good people from Bonnaroo tell us to expect “many surprises” as rumors of The Rolling Stones and Jay-Z have been circulating with a recent tweet from Bonnaroo stating:

Festival partners @AC_Ent & @SuperflyGroup have some big announcements coming soon! 2010’s gonna be a much bigger bang….

They then follow up with:

Sorry, what I meant to say was: 2010’s gonna be big because @AC_Ent & @SuperflyGroup be big pimpin, spendin cheese…

These tweets immediately caused large speculation of the Stones in regards to the Bigger Bang reference which was the name of their previous tour. They have denied touring in 2010 but a one off show could happen. It is Bonnaroo afterall. The reference of big pimpin, spending cheese is obviously a direct quote from Jay-Z himself. Having played Glastonbury and now Coachella and Isle of Wight which is right before Roo, I don’t see why this wont be a reality. I myself have no issue with him playing whatsoever. I respect Jay-Z and feel he will deliver a great show. I don’t know if I personally will be watching at Coachella solely because I am almost positive someone will be doing something amazing elsewhere and I’ll do what I gotta do. Either way I welcome him and know this has to be better then Kanye West. Kanye makes me feel as good as having shit in one hand and puke in the other.

With other rumors of Avett Brothers, meat metal monsters GWAR, Kings Of Leon ( blah ), Alberta Cross, Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers ( the actor? ), Pavement, Ingrid Michaelson, 311, Mew, and Mayor Hawthorne just to name a few, we shall see who becomes a reality, and who fades into next years rumors, or a next round addition. Unlike Coachella where additions happen but unscheduled and mostly unannounced, Bonnaroo will announce new round additions and post a list. So if you didn’t get who you want, wait for another round and hope for the best.

I don’t think I’ll be making it to the farm this year sadly. I’ve gone the last 4 years and Yukon has gone like 7 or 8 times and I’m not sure if he is either. It’s a very sad thought but shits a little different in the world right now with money allocated to other grown up things, but only time will tell. If not this year, I shall return again sometime. Every year I tell people “Oh I dunno this year, I probably won’t be going..” and most people say “yeah right” and laugh at me, knowing someone will play that I will say “I have to go.” This year I have thought really hard about it and cannot think of a band that I would want or need to see there that I either havn’t already seen there because I’ve seen some of the best of them, or it is because some bands don’t exist or are not playing, IE Pink Floyd. If Floyd played I’d be there in a second and I know Yukon would be as well. So hear you go Bonnaroo, now is your chance to Blow me away with something so spectacular I’ll have to come back. I’ll cash in my coins and sell my disks and take the risks for another life changing visit on the farm!

Midnight Rider Gonna Let It All Hang Out

cuzinmank — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:51:10 +0000

If ya don’t know, now you know! Pretty Lights debuted 2 new tracks at his spectacular NYE show in Chicago which are available for download off his site (like all of his material!). First Track I listened to was titled After Midnight which immediately hooks you with the main jam from the Allman Brothers Midnight Rider layered cleverly over a head bobbin beat. Next is the fun part when Erik Clapton/JJ Cale lets you know how a Pretty Lights crowd gets down by letting it All hang out! All your favorite Pretty Lights chops,edits,zip zwomp synth attacks and whole lotta body moving created by this music. The next track (which is actually the first track on the download) titled Final Countdown is a powerful track that uses a very familiar horn synth sample from a song I know I’ve heard but never knew who it was. Partially because it sounds like a butt-rockish Rocky song.

Come to find out its the band Europe’s Final Countdown song, so I guess it was butt-rockish after all. Never the less this was done ever so tastefully with plenty of buildups and climaxes to really feel the music and grab some emotion brought to you by Dj Shadow’s Midnight In a Perfect World mashed with Europe! Since this is a live show, you get to hear the countdown to 2010 New Year then the real party starts…Its A Celebration! =) DOWNLOAD THIS SHIT!

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN, COACHELLA 2010

cuzinmank — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:44:49 +0000

The lineup is finally here and it is as big as I promised! Most if not all the names I have been throwing at you from the sources from the internet (especially Consequence of Sound) have indeed become a reality and am personally very happy with the results of the initial lineup. Some might not be too thrilled, even with some of the amazing bands that are billed. Don’t worry kids as I’ve told you all many times, these Coachella promoters love to give us something to chew on, and then over the course of the months leading up to the actual event they add bands. A lot of smaller bands and midlevel acts to fill in the bill, but sometimes you will get a name that will change it all causing the world to go into a frenzy! That’s the beauty of Coachella. Enough talk here it is:

FRIDAY APRIL 16: Jay-Z, LCD Soundsystem, Them Crooked Vultures, Vampire Weekend, Deadmau5, Public Image Limited, The Specials, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, Echo and the Bunnymen, Benny Benassi, Fever Ray, Grace Jones, She & Him, Erol Alkan, The Avett Brothers, Calle 13, The Whitest Boy Alive, The Cribs, La Roux, Yeasayer, Lucero, DJ Lance Rock, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Proxy, Ra Ra Riot, Deer Tick, Wolfgang Gartner, Aeroplane, Iglu & Hartly, Sleigh Bells, P.O.S., Baroness, Hockey, Little Dragon, White Rabbits, Wale, Kate Miller-Heidke, As Tall as Lions, Jets Overhead, Alana Grace, Pablo Hassan.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17: Muse, Faith No More, Tiësto, MGMT, David Guetta, The Dead Weather, Hot Chip, Devo, Coheed and Cambria, Kaskade, 2Many DJ’s, Major Lazer, Dirty Projectors, Gossip, Z-Trip, The xx, John Waters, Les Claypool, The Raveonettes, Mew, Sia, Camera Obscura, Tokyo Police Club, Porcupine Tree, Old Crow Medicine Show, Aterciopalados, Bassnectar, Frightened Rabbit, Dirty South, Flying Lotus, Corinne Bailey Rae, Pretty Lights, Shooter Jennings, RX Bandits, The Almighty Defenders, Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, Craze & Klever, Zoe, The Temper Trap, Portugal. The Man, Band of Skulls, Girls, Beach House, Steel Train, Frank Turner.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18: Gorillaz, Pavement, Thom Yorke????, Phoenix, Orbital, Spoon, Sly and the Family Stone, De La Soul, Julian Casablancas, Plastikman, Gary Numan, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sunny Day Real Estate, Yo La Tengo, MUTEMATH, Deerhunter, Infected Mushroom, Club 75, Matt & Kim, The Big Pink, Gil Scott-Heron, King Khan and the Shrines, Florence and the Machine, Yann Tiersen, Little Boots, Miike Snow, Talvin Singh, Ceu, B.o.B., Babasonicos, Owen Pallett, The Glitch Mob, Mayer Hawthorne, Local Natives, Rusko, The Middle East, Hadouken!, The Soft Pack, Kevin Devine, Paparazzi, Delphic, One EskimO.

As mentioned previously, I am very happy with this lineup and cannot wait to go! So many good names, so many potential new favorites, I look forward to investigating and researching these bands. I will be posting rumors, band additions, my finds and my recommendations for this years festival as move we forward to the festival. Some exciting months ahead of us with more band adds, more rumors and whole lot of new music to discover! Check back for updates and let the countdown begin!

The Lineup Is Coming, The End Is Near!

cuzinmank — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:10:25 +0000

So here we are coming ever closer to the big announcement that will be our fate as Coachella’s lineup shall be announced! Most of us are sitting around trying not to look at the time and are clicking and refreshing various sites hoping for the first sign of a leak or big announcement. The rumors have been flying high as we come near reality. Consequence of Sound mentions Muse to be a lock for Friday, Jay-Z apparently is Saturday, and The Gorillaz to be closing out Sunday. Jay-Z might not be everyones favorite brew, but Coachella will definitly be hooking it up with someone amazing in the other tents, especially the Sahara or “Dance Tent” as it’s often referred to by, with names like LCD Soundsystem, Pretty Lights, and now rumors surfacing of Underworld finally making a long awaited reappearance since 2003. There will be plenty to do this year friends as tons of additional rumors regarding bands like Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, Orbital, Porcupine Tree, Avett Brothers, Devo, Spoon, Passion Pit, Deerhunter, Yeasayer , The XX, Miike Snow, The Dirty Projectors, The Beastie Boys, The Dead Weather, Cornelius, Tiesto, and even some more! Wow I’m not sure which of all those will materialize to become a reality, but damn this year looks like it’s gonna be fun as hell! I can’t wait to see the lineup and I know my eyes wont be able to read it fast enough! I’ll try my best not to shit myself but its cool I got a change of pants. As always, KROQ promises to announce the lineup sometime tomorrow morning but we all hope once the clock strikes midnight our prize will be delivered. I sure hope so because I hate finding out the lineup while I’m working, which is where I’ll be tomorrow morning. This is it friends, the lineup is coming! Good Luck!

This Year’s Destiny Served Tuesday, Coachella Lineup 2010!

cuzinmank — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:58:05 +0000

I might be late in conveying my late night/early mornings findings, but either way here it is via our friends at Consequence of Sound:

By CoS Staff on January 15th, 2010

When you log onto your computer Tuesday morning, following a weekend of rest and relaxation, the 2010 lineup for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will be available for your viewing pleasure –barring any last minute problems! Of course, having just read that, you’ll probably now dedicate your entire weekend to hitting the refresh button. That’s ok, because we will be too.

Anyhow, we have spent the last few days emailing and calling anyone who may know anything, and thought we’d share the results with you ahead of the big announcement. Here’s what we know:

As mentioned, the lineup will be officially announced Tuesday morning on KROQ radio in Los Angeles. Based on past experience, we can assume the lineup will be unveiled, via Coachella.com or the Los Angeles Times, sometime around 12:00am PST. So, expect no sleep.

As best we can tell, the lineup should look something like this: Muse will headline Friday, while the Gorillaz will debut its latest album, Plastic Beach, by closing out the festival on Sunday. Saturday remains a bit unclear and, according to several folks with knowledge of the festival, could play out in one of two ways: A “surprise” headliner or Jay-Z, who would apparently be accompanied by Kanye West and Alicia Keys. At this moment, it is unknown who that “surprise” headliner may be or what factor will determine the two options.

Others names we expect to appear on the lineup include the Beastie Boys, Faith No More, Wilco, LCD Soundsystem, Phoenix, Spoon, Yeasayer, Hot Chip, Devo, The Dead Weather, Passion Pit, She & Him, The Big Pink, and The xx.

An appearance by Pavement, which at one point appeared to be a given before rumors surfaced the band would not be playing, still remains a possibility. According to a person familiar with the band’s plans, “don’t count them out.”

A separate source has told us that Radiohead’s Thom Yorke is set to appear at Indio for a solo performance, however, we have been unable to confirm this.

We’ll of course continue working throughout the weekend and will let you know as soon as we hear more. Be sure to check out our Coachella Outlook page for all the latest lineup news and rumors….

Shit your pants a little? I did! Can we believe this breaking news or will this lead us to follow a dead trail like last year? Last year seemed to have hit a bump when Paul had to assure us everything was fine but the lineup would be delayed. I feel confident though and believe we shall have our initial lineup this Tuesday! Might I also add with all the mentioned names on the “expected” list I am very happy and excited to see them! Stay tuned folks for my reaction and responses as soon as it is humanly possible following the unvealing!