YEAH YEAH YEAHS live at the MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG

I got on the train not sure I would have a ticket. At worst I expected I'd be standing around outside asking for extras, but for once it seemed like everything just worked out. I didn't have to spend like the Federal Reserve to get a ticket, and I got in for a fraction of the $200-asking prices on Cragslist. For a while I thought the show might not exist except for in some mystical PR bubble, after all why on earth would a band that just played Radio City put on a show in 500-capacity Williamsburg? At some point during the set, Karen O asked how many people were "on the list." I didn't know what she meant, I thought that may have been stage speak for "cool," but then she said "it should be about half of you." So this show was basically made for FOB's: friends of the band! Her dad and sister were there, so the reason tickets kept being released randomly over the last two weeks was because they were being released from the band's list. So in short, the ticket sales were a total farce. This morning I heard that some tickets were actually available at the door--for a "sold out" show.

Hello Brooklyn

Yesterday, I read a review of a show from my favorite live show reviewer (Jenny B Loves You). There was a line that stood out to me about how MTV had hijacked the associative power of music. That is, instead of remembering the way you first heard a song, you remember the manufactured outfits and dance moves of a music video. Even worse, almost necessarily a music video that the artist had no part in devising.

I discovered this track from a DJ mix tape coming out called Brooklyn Soul featuring Jay-Z over Marvin Gaye classics. Even though it wasn't the first time I heard it, the image that comes to mind is riding away from the Phoenix show in Central Park Saturday. Funny how driving has so much associative power.

Key Brooklyn references:
"But my bed's in the sky/While I flatten your bush"

Jay-Z (featuring Lil Wayne and Marvin Gaye) - Hello Brooklyn

Silvia

Save for a the regular synth flourishes, Miike Snow carefully treads the line between electronic and indie pop. Everyone seems to be pretty obsessed with the Mark Ronson remix of "Animal," which to me is not nearly as great as "Silvia." Either way though these guys write a great hook. The atmospheric synths along with a piano-line that plays like a bass-line fit cooly under the vocals. The even kick drum verses carry you so that you feel like you're moving, making it ideal for bus-riding, park-walking, freeway-driving underwater commutes.

Miike Snow - Silvia

Miike Snow - Animal (Mark Ronson Remix)

Nine, Nine, Oh, Nine

We've compiled a list of our favorite things that come in 9's. Pretty straightforward stuff. Follow along below, hover your mouse to see details.

The 9 best number 9 tracks.



The 9 best songs featuring "9" in the title or album.



And finally, THE 9 BEST SONGS OF 2009 (so far).





Picking 9 songs for an exceptional eight months of music was a real challenge, although they appear above in no particular order, that ninth spot in the corner was a toss up between "Lisztomania," "Two Weeks," "Evident Utensil," the acoustic "Help, I'm Alive," and the first few tracks of Face Control. Most of these songs can be found by searching the site in the right-hand bar, since I've written about nearly all of the new ones at some point.

Thoughts?

Summer Mixtape (Labor Day Edition)

This may be the final mixtape of the season--it's become instantly cooler since August ended and suddenly, the hot weather complaining is turning into hot weather nostalgia. It will soon be time to say goodbye to jorts, t-shirts and mini skirts, so it's important that we get another playlist in before you start hibernating with Bon Iver and that Fleet Foxes record that everyone went gaga over. Alas, do not worry, this mix will help you hang on to summer at least through Halloween.

Let's hear it for New York.