Moving House Feb 4th 2013.

You might remember reading about Moving House in our "Best of 2012" report and yes the rumors are true; a full length album is on the way! Announced today, Moving House will release their debut album on February 4th, 2013. The band consists of Andre Gideon Montgomery Pienaar (Ashtray Electric) and Rob Davidson (ex Zebra and Giraffe, Blind Watchmen). The amazing thing is that Andre and Rob both live on opposite sides of South Africa but still they make it work as a band. They displayed their dedication, musical talent, passion and creativity when they streamed their rehearsal online for everyone to see...



February 4th will not only be the release of their debut album, but also their first music video "Tongue in Cheek", directed by Andre Gideon Montgomery Pienaar. Check out the teaser below.

Coachella 2013.

I'm too excited to write about this line-up. Look for yourself and imagine...

New Music Monday: Natomas Slimm

First off, a big thank you to everyone who submitted new artists to be considered for New Music Monday. Just because I haven't posted it yet, doesn't mean I'm not going to.

One of many submissions; Natomass Slimm really struck me this week. An up and coming Hip-Hop artist hailing from the Golden State of California (Los Angeles/Sacramento/Inland Empire). "She Gettin It" already has over 12K views and it doesn't even have a video. He is gaining a solid fan base and if he can keep on dropping tracks like these, I think we'll be seeing more of him.

--keep it pg--

Best of 2012.

It was an interesting year to say the absolute least. Presidential elections, the Olympics, first man to break the sound barrier and lets not forget about Kanye and Kim Kardashian getting together. But more importantly, the new music of 2012, the music that moved us, the music that got us out of our chairs, the music that made us run a little faster and the music that made us go “damn, that’s good.” But like every year, there are the highs and there are the lows. Lucky for us, it was a year of highs, and we have made it easy for you to find the good and weed out the bad. You’re welcome. Check out our compilation of the best of 2012 and what we are looking forward to in 2013.

Best Albums of 2012

When we say the best, we mean the best. We may use the term best pretty loosely, but not when it comes to the best albums of 2012. It was a rigorous process of defining what was the best, but through blood, sweat, tears, and many hours of jamming those sweet sweet jams through our speakers, we finally came up with the list. 

10. Deftones - Koi No Yokan

9. Ashtray Electric - WTF

8. Crystal Castles - III

7. Tame Impala - Lonerism

6. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist

5. Kendrick Lamar- Good Kid M.A.A.D. City

4. Metric - Synthetica

3. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die/Paradise Edition

It was a rocky start for newly rebirthed singer Lana Del Rey. After much hype over her sultry voice and puffed up lips, she completely bombed it on Saturday Night Live where she made her television debut. But after going in to hiding, some revamped music videos, and heading out on a small L.A. and N.Y.C (sold out) tour, Lana Del Rey has come back in full throttle with an extended version of her Born To Die album called the Paradise Edition and with bigger hair and and dirtier lyrics. We want to hate her, but we just can’t. So instead, I bow down to thy Lana. 

Our favorites include - National Anthem & Ride 

2. Mumford and Sons - Babel

Making a hit first album is easy. But making a second one is harder. Some bands fade after the downfall of their second album, but Mumford & Sons have completely triumphed that. Our favorite bango playing men are back again with their impressive second album Babel; which has already broken records of being the fast selling album in their first week of release in the UK and biggest selling debut of any album in 2012 in the U.S.  Much more to look forward to of Mumford who have already said they are working on their third album. We are literally at the edge of our seats.

Our favorites include - Babel & I Will Wait

1. Ellie Goulding - Halcyon

If you still don’t know who Ellie Goulding is, you’re messing up, messing up really hard. And the next time you blink she will be on top of the charts. U.K. singer Ellie came out with her first album 2010 with her hit song Lights that climbed slowly up to the top of Billboard’s charts. Her new album Halycon, is mixed with her roots of Lights with more of a synthetic edge from her at the time DJ boyfriend, Skrillex and heartbreakingly beautiful songs. There is no voice as unique as Ellie’s; you can’t help but get lost in the lyrics, to move to the beat, and let her music transform you. There is no escaping it. Every song on her album is a story and an experience and produced and sung beautifully. And if you have a chance to hit up one of her shows during her U.S. tour that is going on right now, I urge you to go.

Our favorites: Anything Could Happen & Only You

Honorable mentions (close, but no cigar)  

  

5. The Lumineers -self Titled
4. Matt and Kim- Lightning
3. Grimes - Visions
2. Purity Ring - Shrines
1. Frank Ocean - channel ORANGE

Worst Album of 2012         

The Killers – Battleborn

With tears in my eyes, it is extremely painful for me to say the most terrible words, but I must speak the truth and say to the world that The Killers highly anticipated new album Battleborn, was the WORST album we heard this year. As an avid Killers fan, I cannot express how much disappoint there was with Battleborn. The Killers claimed they were heading back to their roots when coming out with Battleborn and that they were proud and ecstatic to release this album and head back on the road. Battleborn is filled with rock vocals, but anticlimactic lyrics and redundant guitar chords. The Killers even came out with one of the most amusing trailers for their new albums I have seen. But since the release of the album, Battleborn is accompanied with unamusing music videos and still no word of their next U.S. tour. The saddest part of it all is that they released the song Miss Atomic Bomb that is the counterpart the beloved Mr. Brightside. Thanks Killers, for just stabbing me in the heart one more time with a boring song and an even worse music video for it. le sigh, I shall always hold a place in my heart for this Las Vegas band, but my heart has no place for Battle Born. 

Example - Miss Atomic Bomb 

Most Hipster of 2012  

     

Urban Dictionary’s definition of hipster is “ a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter.” But hipster has turned into coffee loving, american apparel wearing, thrift shoppers of the 21st century that enjoy wearing their grandma’s hand me downs and liking new bands before they make “their big breaks”. They’re a perfect combination of awesome, awkward and refurbished 70’s. 2012 has been booming with these born again hipsters and constant changing of their ways. Hipster is now a genre, a theme, a look. These music videos fit that bill. 

5. Bloc Party - Octopus

4. Haim - Forever 

3. Grimes - Oblivion

2. Tanlines – Not The Same 

1. Macklemore/Ryan Lewis- Thrift Shop

Best New Artist of 2012         

Moving House
Originating from the Cape Town music scene, Moving House is the product of a long budding friendship between Ashtray Electric lead singer, Andre Pienaar and former Zebra & Giraffe member, Rob Davidson. They made a huge splash with their debut single, "Tongue in Cheek" on 5FM and we can't wait for their debut LP in 2013!

Walk The Moon
From opening for Weezer and Panic! At The Disco to playing the main stage at Lollapalooza, Walk The Moon have achieved a lot in a very short career. Their self-titled album peeked at number 10 on the Billboard Alternative Rock Charts and number 20 on the Billboard Rock Charts.

Best Songs of 2012

          

Whether you want to admit it or not, you were singing one of these songs on our best songs list of 2012 in your car at the top of your lungs. And we can guarantee that these songs have a play count of 50+ on your iTunes. You can’t help it, these songs are just so damn catchy and so damn good. So many to choose from this past year, it was a hard list to make. We send our condolences to those who were hoping Gangnam Style and Call Me Maybe would be on here. This isn’t your 12 year old sisters list. But lets me real, these are way better. 

10. Calvin Harris/Florence Welsch - Sweet Nothing
9. Gotye/Kimbra- Somebody That I used to know
8. Icona Pop - I Love It
7. Grimes - Oblivion
6. Tanlines - All of Me
5. Skrillex- Breakin a Sweat
4. Japandroids- The House That Heaven Built
3. Kanye/JayZ/Big Sean- Clique
2. Ellie Goulding - Anything Could Happen
1. Macklemore/Ryan Lewis- Thrift Shop 

Most Anticipated 2013

10. Tokyo Police Club

9. Moving House

8. The Strokes

7. Jimmy Eat World

6. Sound City

5. The Black Keys

4. Black Sabbath

3. Coachella Line-Up & Ultra Line-Up

Two of the biggest festivals around and every year their line-ups keep on getting better and better! Rumors are servicing that The Rolling Stones, Daft Punk, Phoenix and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs might be headlining Coachella in 2013, we'll just have to wait in anticipation. The Ultra Music festival will run over 2 weekends in 2013 and the line-up includes the biggest names in electronic music today. You can take a look for yourself HERE. 

2. TOOL

It has been 6 years since TOOL released their last album, 10 000 Days, and we were promised a new album in 2012 but never happened. The guys confirmed a 2013 release and we can't wait for more details on the album.

1. Queens Of the Stone Age

Josh Homme and the rest of the guys promised us a new album back in 2011, but since their famous Facebook post last year a new album will arrive in 2013. Dave Grohl also posted pictures of himself recording drums on the album so we can expect something similar to their 2002 release, "Songs For The Deaf". 

Hanging Out With Jack White & Conan O' Brien.

On "Serious Jibber-Jabber," Conan O'Brien has lengthy, uninterrupted conversations with interesting people on topics which fascinate him. In this special episode shot entirely on 35mm film, Conan and Grammy-winning musician/producer Jack White talk for over an hour over drinks about art, success, and upholstery. Yes, upholstery.

Oscar Nominations 2013.

Just as we suspected... Spielberg is smiling all the way! Lincoln grabbed 12 nominations and Life of Pi a close second with 11. Take a look at all the nominations after the jump.

--keep it pg--

BEST PICTURE

Amour
Argo
Django Unchained
Les Misérables
Life Of Pi
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Silver Linings Playbook

BEST DIRECTOR
Life Of Pi - Ang Lee
Lincoln - Steven Spielberg
Amour - Michael HanekeSilver Linings Playbook - David O. RussellBeasts Of The Southern Wild - Benh Zeitlin

BEST ACTOR
John Gatins - Flight
Buzkashi Boys
Denzel Washington - Flight
Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln
Hugh Jackman - Les Misérables
Joaquin Phoenix - The Master

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin - Argo
Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained
Robert De Niro - Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Master
Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln

BEST ACTRESS
Emmanuelle Riva - Amour
Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook
Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty
Quvenzhané Wallis - Beasts Of The Southern WildNaomi Watts - The Impossible

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams - The Master
Anne Hathaway - Les Misérables
Helen Hunt - The Sessions
Sally Field - LincolnJacky Weaver - Silver Linings Playbook

V FOR VENDETTA by MONDO.

MONDO always delivers high quality limited edition prints and this one is no different. On Thursday, January 10, 2013 MONDO will release this beauty. Limited to 300 pieces, hand numbered and will run you $35. Not bad at all.

PG TIP: If you want to buy one, follow these steps (believe me, it's not easy)

Step 1: Follow MONDO on Twitter

Step 2: Keep an eye on their Twitter feed between 11 & 12am EST. (They say random time, but it's usually between those times)

Step 3: As soon as they post the link to buy one; you better click on it

Step 4: Hope and pray you can access the page because site traffic will be off the charts (it always is)

V FOR VENDETTA, Poster by César Moreno. 24"x36"

Robot Band.

A robotic 4 armed drummer, guitarist and a bassist, now let them play Ace of Spades by Motorhead and you have a real metal band... literally. All I can say is watch the video. Absolutely mind boggling!

--keep it pg metal--

Talk of the Town: Katherine Webb

Alabama quarterback, AJ McCarron, had a great game, in fact he became the 1st QB to win consecutive BCS titles. That's really great and all but no one, not even the announcers were paying attention to that. Everyone was focusing on the stunning, Katherine Webb. 

The winning quarterback's girlfriend got a lot of attention from the TV cameras, ESPN announcers and Twitter. It went so far that ESPN had to apologize. ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said: “We always try to capture interesting storylines and the relationship between an Auburn grad who is Miss Alabama and the current  Alabama quarterback certainly met that test. However, we apologize that the commentary in this instance went too far and Brent understands that.”

Miss Webb's Twitter following went from a few thousand to over 175, 000 in just over 24 hours. Not even being part of the Miss USA pageant got her this much attention. The power of Football. 

Is she worth the hype? You can decide for yourself. More after the jump. 

--keep it pg--

New Music Monday - Who The Fuck is HAEZER.

Ya I know, sounds like a bad Sylvester Stallone movie from the 80's but I think this has a lot more kick to it. Originating from the South African trash/electro scene, HAEZER built a name for himself in Cape Town by opening for big acts like Steve Aoki, Gtronic, Djedjotronic and Le Castle Vania. The Toxic Avenger met up with Haezer on his 2009 tour to South Africa, a meeting that later resulted in HAEZER being invited to remix his new single N’importe Comment featuring Orelsan, recently released on ROY Records (France).

To date HAEZER has headlined at most major festivals such as I Love Electro, Oppikoppi, Earthdance, Rocking the Daisies and Synergy and can be seen on a regular basis at the Assembly’s Discotheque massively popular electro dance parties. He has also recently started his own party with DJ/Producer Markus Wormstorm (Sweat-x) called Garden Boys, held monthly at Fiction in Cape Town.

#NMM