Riley Nagler described Starfucker’s self-titled debut as “surprisingly enjoyable fluff,” which is an apt description. These Portland, OR boys play that melodic synth-driven electro-pop that’s all the rage these days. And, as they proved at the Radio Room during the My Old Kentucky Blog showcase, they play it very well.
With the members sporting sweet headbands and the stage packed with electronic equipment, Starfucker’s set contrasted starkly with the preceding set by The Phenomenal Handclap Band. The Radio Room, which had cleared out after TPHCB, filled to near capacity as soon as Starfucker’s set hit its stride. Lead vocalist Josh Hodges is a good looking guy, and a charismatic frontman, making him the perfect leader for this gang of likeable hipsters.
Although buried behind a mountain of equipment, Hodges was impressively active---marching, dancing/flailing and playing catch with his AutoTune. As a whole, the band looked like they were thrilled with playing at SXSW. When I saw the Starfucker guys later that night, still in matching headbands, running around the streets of Austin, they looked equally and justifiably thrilled with being all the rage.
DOWNLOAD: Starfucker - Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second (MP3) or Follow us for more Starfucker MP3s (Twitter)
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
that is not josh hodges, its ryan biornstad who does the dancing and flailing…
He flails beautifully!
yea he does. wish i was a star :>