I just want to take this time to wish everyone a Happy Halloween from Audictive to you at home.

My classes are starting to slow down, so I hope to make more frequent posts, and at an earlier time. Maybe even multiple posts in one day. Fingers crossed on that one.

In the spirit of the holiday, here’s three music videos that I remember seeing in high school. They scared the hell out of me at the time, and they still do. Maybe you’ll experience the same…

Aphex Twin: “Widowlicker”

WARNING: If you’re offended by bad words and racial slurs, you should probably avoid this one.

VAST: “Pretty When You Cry”

I remember constantly glancing over my shoulder when I first saw this one. Needless to say, I’ve never forgotten this one.

Taco: “Puttin’ on the Ritz” [Original Version]

Laugh if you will, but have you actually seen this thing?

Britian’s been notorious for churning out monsterously good bands along with some freaky new genres of music. Lately though, I have no clue what’s going on in the UK, as new rave (new wave/second wave meets rave music) has been exploding onto the charts. At the forefront of the scene is London’s Klaxons.

Klaxons, officially “Klaxons (Not Centaurs),” are a trio of pill-popping lads who are mixing dark, freak post-punk with deep house beats and psychedelia. It’s music that you’ll either love or hate.

The group’s been quickly jumping into the mainstream after having released a limited pressing of their single “Gravity’s Rainbow” in 2005. Last week they released their long-awaited EP Xan Valleys was finally released in the States via Modular Records. The EP collects four of their earlier tracks and two remixes, and is meant to hold everybody over until their full-length debut Myths of the Near Future is released in January.

Klaxons are worth checking out, especially if you’re looking for some furiously dark dance music.

MP3s

Klaxons: Gravity’s Rainbow

Klaxons: Not Over Yet

As a Halloween bonus, here’s the video for “Magick,” their latest single from Myths of the Near Future. It’s probably one of the most unsettling and disturbing music videos I’ve ever seen. Enjoy.

For more audio from Klaxons, visit their MySpace page. The Xan Valleys EP can be downloaded here from eMusic.

In the spirit of Halloween I have treats to give you all.

Last year Vice Records compiled an all-star cast of musicians (and comedian David Cross) under the alias of the North American Halloween Prevention Initiative. As a charity event, the NAHPI released “Do They Know It’s Hallowe’en?,” a satire of the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The project featured Beck, Devendra Banhart, Feist, Peaches, Subtitle, members of the Arcade Fire, Les Savy Fav, the Postal Service, R.E.M., Rilo Kiley, Wolf Parade, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s and many other artists (click here for the complete list).

The result was a “We Are the World” for Halloween. It’s the perfect novelity song for that special time of the year.

MP3

NAHPI: Do They Know It’s Hallowe’en? (The charity event is over, so I don’t feel bad for posting this)

Click here to view a pretty cool video of the song.

Not to miss out on the holiday spirit are Oklahoma’s Evangelicals, who released “The Halloween Song” earlier this week. It’s a silly and catchy lo-fi ode to the holiday, complete with ghoulish accompaniment.

Evangelicals: The Halloween Song

For those of you unfamiliar with Evangelicals, they released their debut So Gone earlier this year on Misra Records. The record’s gotten lots of great reviews and has really free, organic song structures.

Evangelicals: Diving (from So Gone)

Check out Evangelicals on MySpace for more audio and a list of concert dates.

Last weekend I made the mistake of downloading iTunes 7, and like many Windows users, I had serious problems with it. After connecting my iPod, iTunes freaked out and erased half of tunes on the iPod. In a way I’m glad it happened, because it’s totally freeing to have so many empty gigs again. But now I’m left with a big problem: trying to find bands that will satisfy every music inkling I may have in the future. Lucky for me, Indianapolis’ BIG BIG Car has got things covered.

BIG BIG Car is a perfect example of why indie groups rarely make onto modern radio or MTV; they’re just too damn different. BBC’s sound falls into this “different” category as it’s a pop-rock kaliodoscope that doesn’t stay on one tempo too long. They’re a smoothie made with Modest Mouse, TV on the Radio, the Mountain Goats, Apollo Sunshine and just a pinch of Sigur Rós.

In July the sextet released Limestone Throne/Kid Fight on Standard Recording Company (the same label as Arrah and the Ferns and Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s). The album follows Michaela through his triumphs and hardships in middle school. Even though the songs are about getting picked for teams at recess, estranged relatives and your cool cred based on your sneakers, there’s an underlying commentary about who’s really able to say what matters.

MP3s

BIG BIG Car: Oh, Let’s Race

An excellent introduction to the band because of its cocktail musicianship and urgent and aggressive lyrics.

BIG BIG Car: Raspberry Grandpall

A bouncy folk-pop gem about estrangement, complete with a sing-along chorus.

If you’re around the Illinoise or Indiana area, you can catch BIG BIG Car live by checking out their MySpace page. The group’s also posted four additional songs on it. You can also buy Limestone Throne/Kid Fight for $9 here or download it here from eMusic.

Mirah has always been one of my favorite artists, partly because she was one of the first indie acts I was introduced to. Her 2002 album, Advisory Committee, was instantly accessible with its dark melodies and lush vocals, and 2004’s C’mon Miracle just improved on these qualities and her strengths. So, needless to say, it was exciting to hear that she’ll be releasing a new album next month.

Joyride: Remixes doesn’t have new tunes per say. Like the title states, it’s a remix album.

Remix albums have become the big thing for artists the past couple of years because, I guess, they enjoy hearing how someone else can butcher their discography track record while they “showcase a different side of the group/musician.” Call me unimaginative, but remixes, especially an entire album’s worth, always make me skeptical, as I have a hard time accepting someone else’s interpretation of a song I’ve already heard. Fortunately, like the title implies, this collection of Mirah remixes is a fun getaway. And, most of them are quite good.

Joyride: Remixes pairs Mirah’s soulful vocals with remix extraordiners like Anna Oxygen, YACHT (1/2 of The Blow), Tender Forever, Khaela Maricich (the other 1/2 of The Blow) and dozens others. If it still seems like strange idea, it is. But, it works. Here’s some tracks to prove it.

MP3s

Mirah: Nobody Has To Stay (Original version from C’mon Miracle)

Mirah: Nobody Has To Stay [Shawn Parke's Nervous & Blandsow C. Remix]

Mirah: La Familia [Guy Sigsworth Mix]

Mirah’s Joyride: Remixes comes out Nov. 21 on K Records.

Prepare to have your life changed again. It’s official. The Shins‘ latest Wincing the Night Away leaked this evening. Wincing is currently planned for an early January street release, although this may change since the album is three months early (better than Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? which leaked five months early).

Back to The Shins though. I had read somewhere that they were unhappy with SubPop Records and this would be their last release on the label. It just makes you wonder.

It’s a possibility that when M Coast releases Say It In Slang next Tuesday, it will be a wonderful little nugget of indie pop/rock gold.
M Coast is the new incarnatin of Athens-based Marshmallow Coast. The group was formed by ex-Of Montreal member Andy Gonzalez.

Honestly, I’m not sure how to describe M Coast’s sound, as each of the songs posted are completely different. “Out of the Water” is psychedelic pop/rock perfection that sounds a little like a missing track from the New Poronographers. “Sailing Around the World” is an jazzy upbeat number complete with saxaphone solo. “Johnny Kasai” is a loose new wave track about a “badass dude who goes by Johnny Kasai.” Whatever the classification, M Coast is definately worth a listen.

MP3s

M Coast: Out of the Water

M Coast: Sailing Around the World

M Coast: Johnny Kasai

Say It In Slang, on Happy Birthday To Me, can be purchased here for $9. Be sure to check out the group’s MySpace page while you’re at it.

London’s The Marshmallow Kisses sound exactly like their name implies: light, fluffy and oh so sweet.

Last spring the duo of Peter and Edine released I Wonder Why My Favorite Boy Leaves Me An EP on the Taiwan label Silent Agreement. They compare their sound to Belle & Sebastian, which isn’t quite accurate, as Peter and Edine are more delicate and sugary. Their song “My Dear Giant” was featured in a few commericals in China, which is luckily how I happened to hear them.

The Marshmallow Kisses are guaranteed to melt your heart.

MP3s

The Marshmallow Kisses: My Dear Giant

The Marshmallow Kisses: Everyone Else Is Ahead, Far Ahead

If you don’t live in Hong Kong or Taiwan and would like to purchase the seven song I Wonder Why My Favorite Boy Leave Me An EP, you’ll have to send Peter an email, and he’ll hook you up.

For more audio and some video, visit The Marshmallow Kisses on MySpace.

Britian’s Damon Gough, Badly Drawn Boy to most of us, released his fifth album, Born in the U.K., today.

Since Born in the U.K. leaked last week, bloggers have been ripping it apart, calling it his worst yet and even saying that its predecessor, One Plus One Is One, is The Hour of Bewilderbeast compared to this album. Harsh.

I’ve been listening to it for a week too and, in my opinion, it’s not that bad. Yes, it’s no Bewilderbeast, but as Badly Drawn has proven with each release, that album was a fluke. While Born is mostly full of those piano-driven plaintive ballads that we’ve become accustomed to, Gough seems more focused and plays to his strengths. All in all, it’s probably his best release since About A Boy. Don’t take my word for it though. Here’s some audio for you to decide.

MP3s

Badly Drawn Boy: Promises

Badly Drawn Boy: Welcome to the Overground

To watch the charming video for his single “Nothing’s Gonna Change Your Mind,” visit Badly Drawn Boy on MySpace.

Also released today was Be He Me by those lovable rascals, Annuals. Click here for my info about Annuals and four exhilarating tracks from the group’s debut that’s sure to make several top 10 lists.

This week is the last week that you can download The Blow’s 2004 EP Poor Aim: Love Songs for free from their label’s homepage. It’s definately worth it as it’s a good EP (especially for free) and it’s encoded at 256kbps. While you’re there, you can also download Paper Television a week in advance for only $5, which again is worth it. Those of you with eMusic accounts can also download Paper Television.

If you’ve never listened to anything from this skullfaced duo, two track from Oct. 24’s Paper Television can be found here. Make sure to listen to ” Parantheses,” as it’s one of the best songs released this year.

Last year M.I.A. (Maya Arulpragasam) released Arular, a brilliant genre-buster of an album that mixed sputtering electronic blips and thuds with hip-hop beats and politically-charged lyrics. It was an eclectic rump-shaker chock full of near terrorist lyrics and pop culture references that was in the top 10 list of nearly every critic, and is still one of my favorite albums.

So last week when M.I.A. sanctioned the release of an official leaked demo from her upcoming album next year, I was estatic. “XR 2″ is a welcomed suprise from M.I.A. Still present are the spastic electronics and hip-hop drive, but her delivery has taken a sharp left turn. Instead of bringing chaos in her lyrics, she delivers a near-monotone rap that callbacks 1992 pop-culture and allows the handclaps and distorted horns do the damage. It’s incredibly reserved and incredibly good.

If you’ve never listened to M.I.A. before, the experience can be quite overwhelming at first as it just sounds like noisy chaos. But give it a chance and listen to it several times. Everything will eventually make sense.

MP3s

M.I.A.: XR 2

M.I.A.: Sunshowers

M.I.A.: Bucky Done Gun

Check out M.I.A.’s MySpace page for more audio, info and tour dates, and pick up a copy of Arular if you haven’t already.