I hate when a passing F or G train makes my turntable skip. sigh.

The King Is... Great

I've listened through a few times, and with the vinyl currently spinning on my record player, I can now officially say: I love The King Is Dead.

The Decemberists' latest is slightly stripped down and firmly on the folk side of their usual folk-prog-rock. I have to admit, as awesome as The Hazards of Love was, it often lost me. "The Rake's Song" was the only takeaway. BUT The King Is Dead is way more accessible without losing that distinct sound they've come to cultivate. Definitely on the lighter, jauntier side, leaving some of their epic sensibilities behind.

If you haven't already, go buy this album. It's seriously making me consider getting tickets to their Beacon Theater show. Yes, I would go uptown to hear this album!

Revamp, Reactivate!

"My poor little blog has gone dormant too long. TOO LONG!"
- People all over the interwebs circa January 1st, 2011

But seriously, along with my other New Year's Resolutions and some recent blog envy, I'd like to start writing this blog again. Lucky you!

Welcome to the new Dinosaur in Brooklyn!
Featuring the very finest musings (I have) about music (and dinosaurs).

Let's start with the dino news:

In April, a display of sauropods, the WORLD'S LARGEST DINOSAURS, comes to the American Museum of Natural History! (via NewYorkology)

Now the music stuff:

1. The new Decemberists album, The King Is Dead, is streaming on NPR! It is very good! You should listen to it!

2. On December 21st (aka my birthday) Vampire Weekend released an iTunes Session featuring my favorite Bruce Springsteen song, "I'm Going Down." It sounds a lot like this version:




Good to be back, guys.

When Did This Become a Yeasayer blog?

Probably my favorite track on the (somewhat uneven) new album, the video for "O.N.E." is rocking my world.



No one does Crazy-Weird as awesomely as they do (I'm looking at you Gaga!).

God I wish I was seeing them at Webster Hall in May.

mind = blown

What do I love more than Vampire Weekend and Yeasayer? VAMPIRE WEEKEND/YEASAYER MASHUP!!!





Standout tracks both, I cannot BELIEVE how well this works. I never want to listen to anything else.

Surprise, Surprise

I love the new Vampire Weekend. Contra is charming and wholly delightful. I won't bother reviewing it, mainly because there are only so many times a person can use the words "catchy" and "adorable" at one time.

Instead, I'm going to share this, an in-studio performance of Contra standout "California English" (courtesy of Pitchfork), not just because it's a good performance of a good song, but it is also hilarious. I literally gasped at 1:08.



I love how they just laugh and keep playing. What pros.

Nevermind What Anybody Else Does

Based on the single "Ambling Alp," I am super excited for Yeasayer's new album.

The nudity and yellow goo laden video:



SO WEIRD! I LOVE IT!