EPISODE 10

EPISODE 10: The Season Finale

Song: 'Night By Night'
Artist: Chromeo
Album: Night By Night Single (2009)
Label: Green Label Sound 

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome to Episode 10 of Music Snob Nite Presents: The Snob Cast! Professor B.H. Dew, and his faithful attorney Counselor Africa here: here being a smoking pile of rubble and deli meats known not 48 hours ago as Montreal. We’re here at ground zero of the Canadian indie rock explosion to track down the Besnard Lakes and P.O.S. (see episode 10 and 1 respectively) for their thoughts on getting played without permission and how Montreal might take steps to protect themselves from future Snob-Cast-Visit-Devastation. We start things off with something from Montreal’s favorite sons Dave-1 and P-Thugg. Night By Night is available through the ‘Green Label Sound’ project, along with a long list of novel one-off releases and remixes from some of our favorite bands – all compliments of the artists. Apparently the new record’s gonna play a lot like this. Less Prince, more post-Prince.

Song: 'Hope In The Mirror'

Artist: Zoot Woman

Album: Zoot Woman (2003)

Label: ZWR

These Brits have been credited as the forerunners of Electroclash, which is saying alot in this day and age where everyone and their cousin seem to be laying down KORG synth lines over their medicore songs. These guys have been around a while and paid their dues in defining this electronic sound that has taken off as of late. I think what sold me on them was my partner in crime, Afrika recommending them to me and advising to 'just download their whole catalog, seriously'. So Im passing that info on to you.

Song: 'The High Road'

Artist: Broken Bells
Album: Broken Bells (2010)
Label: Sony 

This is Shins singer James Mercer and DangerMouse (just call him ‘Brian’) in their ‘new band’. I still can’t wait for a new Shins record… or even better a reunion – but in the meantime – when Broken Bells is at their best, they come very close to hinting at what the next one could sound like. You can’t beat that voice. Those melodies. This track in particular is easy favorite for the year.

Song: 'Superfast Jellyfish'

Artist: Gorillaz
Album: Plastic Beach (2010)
Label: Parlophone 

Would you have to come to expect anything less from the Snob Cast over these past 9 episodes, than to have your back when it comes to the newest jams? 'Course not. Just being released this past Tuesday is the newest from Gorillaz chocked full of guest spots including the likes of Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Lou Reed, Gruff Rhys and De La Soul to name a few. A bit of a departure from their last offerings but still comes out strong and is still what we've come to love from Gorillaz. The fact is, when it comes to the competition between all those Brit-Pop bands of the 90s/00s (Oasis, Blur, Pulp, etc.) Damon Albarn wins. Won. And is STILL winning. This is the pop album that we envision, when picturing a far off future.....and the future looks good.

Song: 'Daisy'

Artist: Fang Island

Album: Fang Island (2010)

Label: Sargant House

For us, Fang Island just sorta came outta left field and hit us with a surprise boot to the dome. I think Afrika summed it up best when he said 'this is the sort of record I'd want to make' or 'I wish I'd have produced that'. Its true. These guys are definitely on to something unique. They describe their sound as 'everyone high-fiving everyone'. There ya go. What more motivation do you need? 

Song: 'Ending With You'
Artist: Yppah
Album: You Are Beautiful At Times (2006)
Label: Ninja Tune 

This Texan maestro (pronounced Yippah) has produced this little diddy strait off the back of playing in rock band after rock band, all the while becoming a more than proficient hip-hop dj/turntablist. This is truly a superb debut album full of beats that could be compared to early DJ Shadow releases with indie style atmospherics and BAM! you've got yourself a start to finish fantastic disc.

Song: 'And This Is What We Call Progress'
Artist: The Besnard Lakes
Album: The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night (2010)
Label: Jagiaguar

Ok. Album Release Party – we were there, and I’m writing to verify that The Besnard Lakes ARE the Roaring Night. Glorious recorded. As Glorious live. Catch this tour. They’re expecting you. We crashed in on Jace to gush about the record, and see what he thought about never being asked about being played on the cast… for free.
SC: MAN! That was FUCKING AMAZING! We do a podcast and we’re building the set and the episode around coming here to hear this show! How do you like THAT!?
Jace: That’s awesome, man! Thank you!
SC: We’re playing ‘And that’s what we call Progress’! MAN! The way the rhythm section just keeps plowing along along – it’s just so straight-ahead and raw – like when we heard this is what just like – they have such a great handle on what a fucking rock song should be and…
Jace: Aw! Yeah – I should tell your people – I actually wrote that song based on a Phil Collins song!
SC: WHAT?!?!!
Jace: Yeah – Love on The Run – the way the bass and drums just keep it steady, and togeth…
SC: We have to leave.

Also – the last record – ‘The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse’ – also true. So worth hearing.

Song: 'Your Life Is A Hellscape'

Artist: Crudbump
Album: Nastyjams (2010)
Label: Sharing Machine

We’ve been fans of Drew from Crudbump long before he was changing the hip hop game: Marriedtothesea.com If you get this, you’ll probably wanna grab the album after you get off the floor. If you don’t, please disregard.

Song: 'Rusty Nails'
Artist: Moderat
Album: Self Title (2009)
Label: BPitch Control 

This is another big-deal collab between Modeselektor and this smoky City’s formerly own Apparat. One of the better dance records of last year, full of big fat sawtooth basslines underlying the cold, dusty dubstep textures famously perfected by Burial and the Hyperdub label, recently. Been needing to play this in the cast since that hypnotizing bus ride through the city to Rusty Nails on an endless loop. As POS opener and Honeydew crush Dessa would say ‘music to bleed out to’. Absolutely gorgeous track.

Song: 'When I'm Small'

Artist: Phantogram

Album: Eyelid Movies (2010)

Label: Barsuk Records

This duo has such a diverse sound, that by rattling off bands they've opened for, you probably couldn't guess what their sound would be. Gracing the same stage as Minus The Bear, Zero 7, Ra Ra Riot and Death Cab For Cutie, Phantogram have coined themselves 'street beat, psych pop', almost portraying a happier Portishead. According to many reviews thus far, 'Eyelid Movies' is in the ranking for album of the year already (wait..isnt it only March?!) This should be reason enough to want to check them out.

Song: 'Foreground'
Artist: Grizzly Bear
Album: Veckatimest (2009)
Label: Warp

Anyone heard of these guys?
So… I think we’ve managed to get everything we needed to into season one. No wait... one more…

Song: 'Losing My Edge'

Artist: LCD Soundsystem
Album: LCD Soundsystem (2005)
Label: Capitol

Looking forward to the new one from James and the gang. This was the LCD SoundSystem track that first faceslapped us back in ’03, and no better way to kick off our temporary retooling hiatus in lieu of Bunsen’s commission of International Musical Snobbery Ambassodoryship (it happened to Montreal. Watch out, Denmark).

It’s been a great first season. Doing this for the peoples, and knowing people are hearing what they love and loving what they hear and punching what they don’t is a huge thrill for us, and we can’t wait to turn the lights out on Games Night once again. Till then, keep those noses up, and those gettins down. Biggest of Special Out-Shouts to Texas, Johannesburg, Cirque Japan, and all of our people out on the water, behind them Crew doors! We Love you! SNOBS OUT!!! BWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUUUUooooooooo…….