Coming out of the blue…

Hi everyone.

Apparently I took ages to get here. I was so shocked about Bonde do Rolê’s new vocalists announcement. Actually… not really. It’s just I’ve started in a full-time job this week and I spend my nights at uni. It may sound depressing but it’s nice. As a result, I’m with a big problem atm: lack of spare time. It doesn’t mean I’ll completely vanish from here :-)

I know these things aren’t your business but… well, nevermind.

Today’s band has the hardest name to pronounce ever. Basia Bulat. Accordingly to Wikipedia it’s /ˈbæʃə ˈbʊulæt/; phonetically: BASH-a BOO-lat. BASH! BOO! BOO! BASH! Hahaha! Isn’t it addictive?

Ok, it’s not. Just me being stupid again.

The sweet Basia Bulat and her sweet guitar

Actually, Basia Bulat is not really a band. It’s a Canadian singer. Apart from Metric, I’m not really into Canadian music. With influences from Motown (yey!!! – by the way, Phil Spector’s collection is highly recommended! – thanks Rob for the present), Beach Boys and The Beatles, she mixes folk with indie rock brilliantly. Her album, “Oh My Darling”, is one of the sweetests things I’ve ever heard.

When I first saw Basia (through pictures, unfortunately), for some reason I thought of a cute and clean version of Emily Haynes. No idea why.

By the way, I think Emily is now in my top 3 favourite female singers with Rosay (The Pipettes – the first one always!) and Kate (The Long Blondes). In my top 3 favourite male singers, though, I have Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) and Rodrigo Amarante (Los Hermanos).

Ok, give Basia Bulat a listen. She definitely deserves…

DOWNLOAD: Basia Bulat – Before I Knew

PS: Have you heard Kaiser Chiefs covering Klaxons in “Golden Skans”? Really nice. Thanks my NME boy for that! ;)
PS2: Klaxons? Where are you, Klaxons? The Brazilian crowd is waiting for you!

Solta o funk e vem com a gente!

Oh yeah. The new Bonde do Rolê’s vocalist will be announced this week. On saturday, they are performing at Clube Gloria (Minas Gerais, 830 – Bela Vista, São Paulo), which used to be a church and a theater, Teatro Bixiga, now is considered a great alternative nightclub.

I’m curious about this secret girl, by the way. I’ve seen some of these strange girls who were trying to travel, sing and dance for free (he-he) and I can give them just one adjective: bizarre.

Where’s Marina Gasolina?

I asked her last week about her future and everything and she told me she is going to London this week to start recording. I can’t wait to see her live in this solo project.

Rodrigo, Marina and Pedro are “releasing the chicken”

I’m really not into Brazilian funk, I swear! But I do like the way Bonde do Rolê makes fun of it. Even with rude lyrics (which I think I should translate for English some time), IMO they are much nicer than CSS (don’t kill me, new ravers).

Apart from that, the most exciting fact for me, a Brazilian girl, is that 14 bands from my country are attending South by Southwest (SXSW) 2008 in Austin, Texas. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome:

- Pierre Aderne (Rio de Janeiro)
- Alexia Bomtempo (Rio de Janeiro)
- Curumin (São Paulo)
- Debate (São Paulo)
- Fruet & Os Cozinheiros (Porto Alegre)
- Tita Lima (São Paulo)
- Lucy and The Popsonics (Brasília)
- Marcelo D2 (Rio de Janeiro)
- MQN (Goiânia)
- Nancy (Brasília)
- O Quarto das Cinzas (Fortaleza)
- Pata de Elefante (Porto Alegre)
- Telerama (Fortaleza)
- Vamoz (Recife)

I’ve seen Lucy and The Popsonics at Planeta Terra Festival in November last year. Their album is nice, but they are much better live. Recommended!

DOWNLOAD: Bonde do Rolê – James Bonde

My last name is “Cheesy”

Happy Valentine’s day you all! A special kiss for the one who is making me the happiest person in the whole universe. Love you lots, sweetie :)

Ok, enough, enough…

Let’s talk about Devonte Hynes, ex-Test Icicle, also known as the main head guy from Lightspeed Champion. Extremely different from his previous musical experiences, it’s easy to find now strong rumours about performances at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, for March this year.

Dev Hayne – Lightspeed Champion

I admit: I just decided to download the debut album “Falling Of The Lavender Bridge” after realising that Dev and Mr Alex Turner are good friends.

(Arctic Monkeys live are REALLY amazing – even all of them being drunk…)

Signed with Domino Records, the same as Bonde do Rolê, Elliot Smith, Sons and Daughters, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, The Royal We (before their split), Teenage Fanclub, etc), I’m assured this album will be part of my life for the Best Albums during 2008.

DOWNLOAD: Lightspeed Champion – Dry Lips

Next stop: Bonde do Rolê and news about Marina…

That’s not my… name!

(Yes, I’m watching/listening to Liverpool playing against Chelsea in London while writing this post. And of course I’m a Liverpool supporter)

I’ve been thinking of bands with nice names. Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong, New Young Pony Club, Operator Please, Billion The Vision & The Dancers and… The Ting Tings. What a nice English two-people band, by the way.

And a list. I think I should add this here.

- Upcoming albums I can’t wait to hear -

• The Ting Tings
• The Pipettes
• !!! (Chk chk chk)
• Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS)
• Friendly Fires
• Bonde do Rolê (without Marina Gasolina…)

Ok, let’s go back to The Ting Tings. One more NME band, I know, but they are amazing. For some reason they remind me of New Young Pony Club. It’s really not possible to just listen to “Great DJ” or “That’s Not My Name”.
They are now on NME’s Tour with Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong, Does It Offend You, Yeah? and The Cribs.

Read more about The Ting Tings: [x] [x] [x] [x]
DOWNLOAD: The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name

Superafim de mim?

I particularly used to get a bit annoyed when people started telling me how much I look like Luísa Hanaê Matsushita, also known as Lovefoxxx, the Cansei de Ser Sexy’s vocalist. Friends, acquaintances and even stranges in so many different days, places and situations. And I still think she looks like my older sister, but everyone disagrees… :-(

Anyway, there’s something that bothers me about CSS. Why non-Brazilian people find them so nice? I mean, they are ok. Just this. Their album is funny with those weird lyrics, live they aren’t that bad as well…

Why? Why? Why?

I’m still trying to find out. Please let me know if you have the answer for this question.

“Superafim” is part of the Brazilian version for CSS’s album “Cansei de Ser Sexy”. In my opinion, the nicest track in it. Have fun!

DOWNLOAD: Cansei de Ser Sexy – Superafim

Dance lessons for boyfriends

Not for mine, obviously.

No, you’re not gonna teach my boyfriend how to dance with me, and no, you can’t stand under my umbrella-ella-ella-eh-eh-eh.

Kate Nash playing the killer… chord?

After recording Arctic Monkeys’ “Flourescent Adolescent”, my dear Kate Nash decided to transform Black Kids’ “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You” into… The Nicest Thing (argh! what a horrible joke).

I must confess that the first time I’ve heard Ms Nash last year I didn’t like. “Caroline’s A Victim”. I took at least 3 weeks to get used to the yummy-cakes fan repeating “Killer killer killer killer killer killer beat” and to find it funny instead of weird. After her debut album’s release, “Made of Bricks“, my opinions changed considerably. Probably because, at first, it sounded like a mix and blend (ha-ha, I’m all funny today) of Regina Spektor with Lily Allen. For some reason, I think Kate’s second album will be something totally different. Something totally… KATE NASH, if you know what I mean.

By the way, I heard some rumours about Regina Spektor coming to Brazil in August this year. If so, hope I don’t get too disappointed seeing her live as I got with Lily Allen. Tip of the day: pretending drunkness and forgetting lyrics is definitely not something I appreciate on and off stage.

Also, I need to add that Kate’s dresses are amazing!

I promise I’ll tell you more about Black Kids later. If I’m honest, I don’t know them so well to recommend and I don’t want to read something fast, copy, paste and pretend I’m their biggest fan at the moment.

DOWNLOAD: Kate Nash – I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You

Home, sweet home

Let me just skip those boring cliches introductions…

No, I’m not an old man looking for some well-fit female-fronted bands.
No, I’m not a woman trying to go out on a date (and, hopefully, get pregnant) with a famous musician.
And, obviously, I’m not an American teenager trying to spread a three-chords song on the net.

Ok, all you need to know by now is that I’m an 18-year-old Brazilian girl from São Paulo who is start studying International Relations and Politics in 2 weeks and is a proud Carnival’s hater. And yes, I did say “Carnivals“, and yes, I did use the noun “hater“.

I’ll try and explain. While in bed this morning (yes, I think lots before getting up) I’ve got a conclusion: this festival is just an excuse for people to extend holidays or to act promiscuouslly for some days. It’s unbelievably common to hear sentences like “Brazil starts working properly after Carnival”. Also, it must be considered the increase of pregnancy and HIV/AIDS cases. Argh! I won’t waste my sacred time talking about the… noise… in this… party.

I spent hours (just a couple of minutes actually) trying to work out my first suggestion. Here I go:

Mr Rivers “The Hero” Cuomo

Weezer is one of my favourite bands ever. Rivers, the vocalist and guitarist, has been working on his solo project since 1992 and released last month his debut album “Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo“. 18 tracks, 45 minutes, synthesizers, guitars, amazing lyrics. By the way, this last one was the main criteria for today’s choice.

“Happiness is such a fickle thing
Nothing compares to what you can bring
You can bring meaning to what I do
That is why I want to be with you “

DOWNLOAD: Rivers Cuomo – I Was Made For You

PS: More than obvious, the song and post here are totally dedicated to the one I was made for. Love you lots, my dear.