Uffie already wrote that song with Justice. Get real.

Too bad. Uffie, a female rapper, along with electro gods Justice, wrote “Tik Tok”  2 years ago. It was called “The Party” then and was one of my favorite songs off of one of my favorite albums. After hearing “Tik Tok” I knew that the two songs were virtually identical, but it wasn’t until my sister (whom I have infected with a passion for Justice as well) played the two simultaneously that I realized how bad the situation was.

First of all:

Compared to…

Now that you have listened to both let’s compare. Both choruses start at almost exactly the same time (roughly 0:35). Granted that both have simple pop structures, and similar tempo, it’s still eerie when the songs are played together. The worst part is the vocal delivery is identical. Uffie’s rapping was so unique and Ke$ha completely ripped it off. And to top it off, the lyrics are so similar. The two songs have the exact same theme and topic. Let’s look line for line:

Uffie: (opening lines)*

“Let me tell you what I do when my day is over.

After picking the right clothes for about an hour.

Oooh, I’m turning orange from all the carats around my neck.

Tonight, I’m takin’ out the bling and I’m dressed to impress.”

Ke$ha: (opening lines)*

“Wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy

Grab my glasses, I’m out the door, I’m gonna hit this city

Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack

‘Cause when I leave for the night, I ain’t coming back”

*NOTE: Both have the exact same meter and syllables..

Uffie: (Chorus)

“Lets get this party started right,

Lets get drunk and freaky fly,

You with me so its alright,

We gonna stay up the whole night.”

Ke$ha: (Chorus)

“Don’t stop, make it pop

DJ, blow my speakers up

Tonight, I’mma fight

‘Til we see the sunlight

Tick tock on the clock

But the party don’t stop, no”

And the last point goes to the Auto-Tune effect. No, there is no Auto-Tune, or not a noticeable amount, on “The Party.” However, on “Pop the Glock,” one of Uffie’s biggest hits, she is using a Vocoder/Auto-Tune effect.

“Tik Tok” is catchy, and is certainly a great party song, but let’s be real here — Ke$ha did basically a parody of “The Party” and dumbed it down for the mainstream. Congratulations music industry. I really hope that Justice/Uffie sue her ASAP.

Photo copyright 2009 Jeffrey Remick Photography

I am not the biggest fan of pop-punk, unless it is done exceptionally well, Say Anything being the best example. But these guys — and girl — are all from right around Bangor and have been causing quite a stir on that tight knit scene. They’ve got a great sound, a very peppy take on the genre. Like many pop-punkers, the internet has helped propel them from dorm rooms to nationwide tours. Read all about them here.

-Kegan

This is the link.

-Kegan

On Saturday, [dog] and [pony] will be holding a DVD release party of their first season at SPACE Gallery. Performers include some of our favorites Marie Stella and almost-former-tourmate, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper–along with others.

And a week from Friday, Jakob Battick & Friends will be playing at The Big Easy with our other good friend, Geoff Zimmerman, for a CD release/sweater party. It’s 21+ and $8 at the door.

"The Devil Dancing" by Brown Bird

I’ve seen Brown Bird twice now, and both times they have completely blown me away. Whether it’s just front man David Lamb and string player MorganEve Swain, or the full band, Brown Bird is always on top of their game. I am not a huge folk-junkie, other than classic Dylan tunes, but something about this band just cuts me deep. They are the most relaxing and uplifting band out there, even when playing morose, down-tempo songs. I don’t get it. Anyway, “The Devil Dancing” is a phenomenal record and I can honestly say one of my favorite this year. They hold their own against any nationally recognizable artist and give Portland a great name. Read the full review here.

-Kegan

New single from the upcoming album came out digitally about half an hour ago. It’s called “Written In Reverse,” and it’s amazingly good. Lots of Spoon songs feature heavy, simple, percussive grooves, but they’ve never sounded quite so hysterical and manic before. It helps that Britt Daniel spends the chorus screaming at the top of his lungs in a way he hasn’t done since their early, wish-we-were-the-Pixies records. They seem to be abandoning the chilled-out, quietly scathing sarcasm of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga et al. in favor of something more desperate, and generally much better.

If the rest of the album is like this track and “Got Nuffin,” then Transference will be Spoon’s best album.

UPDATE: Listen here.

-Kegan

However, for whatever reason, the Indie Rock Powers That Be have aligned themselves to dash out a few exciting-looking EPs.  We’ve got Deer Tick and Animal Collective coming up most noticeably, and Spoon just put out a disc called Got Nuffin in support of their January album.  That EP, I have to say, feels more like a single–the title track is pretty edgy, B-side-of-Gimme Fiction stuff with heavy drums, but the supporting tracks mostly feel like filler (“Stroke Their Brains” is growing on me).  Hell, here’s the title track.  See what you think.

I guess what I’m saying is gear up for a month or so of few interesting national releases.  Snag the EPs, bust out some old stuff (when did you last listen to the Sonics?) and wait for January, when Spoon, Vampire Weekend, and Flying Lotus will provide us with some juicy new stuff.

(Portland music fans, however, should probably pick up Brown Bird’s The Devil Dancing right the frig now, and also probably download Wesley Hartley’s album fo’ free.)

-Kegan