Creepy Depeche Mode

Stylus listed their "Top Ten Creepiest Depeche Mode Songs" - and came up with great explanations as to why the songs were "creepy." (Via LHB) The writer points out that "creepy" is not an insult to the song, but rather the ten listed songs deal with sexuality/religion/domination/suicide in such a vivid and believable way that they made the listener feel something strange. My favorite description was for #7, "The Sweetest Perfection" off of Violator:

During one of my two trips to a strip club ever, I watched a stripper perform to this song. That twangy bass line acts as the leash; it gets layered upon but never actually dissipates. Static drum march, sparse guitar wails…then the beat steadies itself and hips move before a pseudo masturbatory bridge is reached. It worked perfectly because you weren’t sure whether to be aroused or simply weep at the maudlin disposition—which is how I normally feel at strip clubs.

That description really nails it. I remember when I was in 6th or 7th grade and managed to get my hands on a nice stack of porn. Violator happened to be the soundtrack as I was flipping through Penthouse or Playboy or whatever. And it was such the perfect soundtrack - dirty, sensual, and slightly creepy. Even when I hear Violator today, I can't not think of porn mags.

Goldfrapp at Irving Plaza

I just picked up tickets to see Goldfrapp at Irving Plaza on May 15th. They were a little pricey because it was through Ticketmaster - $82 for a pair. Couldn't resist though - Supernature is one of my current favorite albums and "Ride the White Horse" and "Slide In" are two of the best songs I've heard in the past year. Down and dirty electro. I imagine that this is the kind of music people in space have sex to.

Mylo at Hiro

Mylo will be doing a DJ set at Hiro Ballroom on Wednesday May 10th. Not sure if he's going to play only his own material (which would be great) or if he'll mix in others' tracks as well. Mylo's Destroy Rock and Roll is one of the best electro albums to come out in the past few years, and any chance to see him should be taken. Tickets are $12 in advance or $20 at the door. Advance tickets available at giantstepstore.net and at Other Music (212-477-8150).

The Beauty of Tapes

Danger Mouse discusses the danger of the download and the beauty of not being able to fast forward easily with The Observer:

'Music was better when we were kids. We had longer attention spans back then,'
Danger Mouse continues. 'When we were young we had tapes, and you listened to
every track. You didn't fast forward in case you overshot. And songs you didn't
like turned out to be your favourites, because the album became a person. It
grew on you. Now, if kids don't like the first few bars, they're gone."

It's true. I remember numerous occasions when it was such a pain in the ass to fast forward the tape and I just ended up listening to the song I thought I didn't like. And in the end, I grew to like that song. One example was "Disintegration" by The Cure. I always hated the fact that it broke up the down "The Same Deep Water As You" and "Homesick" with its sharp crashes and jarring sounds. But since I hated fast forwarding, and then rewinding if I overshot, I ended up listening to "Disintegration" a lot, and now I love that song. So Danger Mouse speaks the truth. He's also right about "the album" too - I think people really viewed an album as a whole body of work before digital downloads became available - now that we can pick and choose at the iTunes buffet, we ignore the album and a song's whole musical context. But what can you do - a lot of times it's only worth it to buy one or two songs off an otherwise crap album.

Cure-osion - Saturday at Luke and Leroy

Mr. X and I are DJing Corrosion this Saturday night at Luke and Leroy. It's a tribute night to The Cure, so we'll be throwing in Cure songs all night amongst the rest of the Electro / New Wave / Indie stuff that the kids like to dance to. 21 7th Ave. South between Carmine and Leroy. 10pm to 4am.

Incidentally, The Cure are my all time favorite band (rotating with The Smiths and Lush, depending on my mood), so I'm pretty fired up about DJing this night. Any thoughts on what I should play?

You really need to come out and party with us sometime soon, if not because of us, but because Luke and Leroy might be sold soon!

Charlatans at Webster Hall

The Charlatans (or "The Charlatans UK" for some of you) are playing Webster Hall on May 16th! Definitely worth seeing. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon for $25. Their new album Simpatico is out now.

Northsix

I just noticed two good shows coming soon to Northsix. !!! on June 11 - sucks that it's a Sunday, but this is $15 worth spending. And if you like your tunes a little more swirly and shoegazing, Unlove, Alcian Blue, Daylights for the Birds (r.i.p. On! Air! Library!), and A Place to Bury Strangers will be there on May 25.

Help Madonna Buy a Mansion

So the ticket prices to Madonna's 2 (now 4) shows at Madison Square Garden are absurd - up to $350 per ticket. Brooklyn Vegan has chronicled this insanity, and says that eBay scalpers are charging up to $2,000 for a pair. And even Ticketmaster is getting involved in the scalping, as they are offering a "premium seat auction" for minimum bids of $380 to $750 per ticket! Jesus.

Corrosion at Luke and Leroy - this Saturday

It's Erasure Tribute Night at Corrosion. This Saturday night, DJ Mister X plus special guest The Christopher Effect spin the best of New Wave, Synthpop, Electro, Indie & more at the infamous Luke + Leroy. No cover.

When: Saturday April 8, 2006 at 10:00 PM
(The Christopher Effect spins from 10 to 11:45)
(Mr. X spins from 11:45 to 4)

Where:Luke and Leroy's 21 7th Avenue South, betw Carmine & Leroy Sts., NYC

How: 1/9 to Houston St.; A/C/E, F/V, B/D to West 4th Street

Break the Night With Colour

"Oh Reege." Richard Ashcroft performs "Break The Night With Colour" on Live with Regis & Kelly and yucks it up with Regis afterwards. (Thanks Torr for the heads up). "Break the Night" isn't a bad song, but Rich sure is getting closer to that dreaded singer/songwriter territory and away from his rocking out Verve days. Alone with Everybody was great, but Human Conditions was awful, except for "Check the Meaning." I haven't fully formed an opinion about Keys to the World yet.

Serge

Le One Night Stand is throwing their anniversary bash tomorrow night at Hiro Ballroom, entitled J'aime Serge. That's right, a night dedicated to all things Gainsbourg. If you're a fan of Serge or if you don't really know Serge but are curious about his music, or even if you just want to see a great show and dance at one of the best parties in town, then you must go to the anniversary celebration. Three local bands, La Laque, Die Romantik and Nous Non Plus will perform Serge covers, and for the occasion, Melody Nelson herself will be joining the boys of Die Romantik on stage for a live performance!! They're covering Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin and France Gall (all songs written by SG of course). Following the bands, the Le One Night Stand DJ's will play IndieEuroPop the rest of the night. Show starts promptly at 8pm - it will be $5 before 11pm (during the live bands) and free after 11pm. Come out and play.

New Sense in New York

New Sense passed along some show info and tunes. Milwaukee's finest upbeat indie rock will be in town next week, playing a sold out show at the Mercury Lounge on the 9th, Pianos on the 12th and Rothko on the 13th (which is a free show). They have played with Phoenix before, and frankly, they sound a lot like Phoenix, which is great if you're into that sort of thing.

Please right click and save Ready to Leave. It's fantastic. So right click and save! You must! (More tunes on their website).