Brown Chicken Brown Cow

A Couple Show Reviews

2009-04-09T14:33:00.002-05:00

The NME tour is exactly what you'd expect from a British magazine titled New Music Express. Two of the better new British acts sharing the top billing, and opened by the logical choice of a San Diego band. White Lies and Friends Fires are two of the more buzzed about bands from across the pond right now, but they are about as opposite as two bands following the same career arc can be. White Lies are following the Editors/Interpol mold that takes a lot of influence from Joy Division, where regardless of what the lyrics seem to imply, even regardless of the tempo and beat of the music, it has a gloomy feel to it. White Lies make it a little easier, because a majority of their songs are about death and gloom, with their biggest hit so far being a song called "Death." The debut album "To Lose My Life" is very polished and I was surprised how polished and clean sounding their live show was as well. I have heard very few voices sound as much like the record as it does live as the White Lies lead singer, and I think their show benefits from that. It will be interesting to see if they continue to go the way of Editors or if they try and move in the direction of Muse. I could see them going either way after this album. They also don't seem to like people embedding their videos, so go search em out yourselves.

Friendly Fires, on the other hand, are pure chaos on stage. Their sound is a lot like a disco infused Bloc Party, and their live show reminds me of what Ghostland Observatory would be with a full band, energy wise. It may have been because the show started late, but White Lies easily drew more people, while Friendly Fires had the crowds complete attention. Another bonus is they played "Jump In The Pool" as the second song, which in my opinion was one of the best songs put out last year, and while the album is strong all the way through, I saw what I wanted early and everything else was like playing with house money.

The Sebastien Grainger show at the newly renovated Crocodile Cafe could also be classified as a success for everyone involved. The opener New Villager is getting a lot of buzz, and will probably be liked by anyone who runs in the circles that have heard of New Villager. The best way I could think of describing them while watching them (they have like 2 or 4 songs recorded, so I prep I could not) is if Prince became a terminator and fronted OMD. There was some dance, glam, new wave, and a little robotic sound...but it worked pretty well.
Sebastien Grainger gets bonus points for being the first to get a BCBC hat trick: A record review, a placement in my year end list, and now a live review. It also cements my status of having no impact whatsoever, because this was a pretty lightly attended show. Grainger and his band killed it, adding some really impressive solos and jams to most songs, but still making them sound like the record. Plus the Croc is back, and while its unrecognizable to the history soaked venue of the same name and location, the sound is better, the capacity nearly doubled, and it had (and I guess now, will continue to) outlive a majority of the bands that people associated it with. Let the new era begin.

Restaurant Albums

2009-03-26T15:58:00.004-05:00

This is not about music that is nice for restaurants, because I really don't believe in listening to music while eating. At least music with vocals. A lot of it has to do with the one rule that really held strong at my home while growing up,which was "no singing at the table," but also for the logical reason that if no one wants to see you talk and eat, in all likelyhood they don't want to see you sing and eat either. What I'm instead talking about is the album that makes you want to check out other work by the artist. Say you find an amazing dish at some restaurant. Odds are, you'll want to go back there and with this new found faith test out another item. If you're the type that finds something good and then will be happy ordering that exact same thing everytime...you have no guts and the logic of this will be lost on you and you can quit reading right now. It's pretty simple to be classified as a restaurant album in my book. It can't be the first album the artist/group has done, but it has to be the first I've heard, and it has to be interesting enough for me to want to check out their other stuff.

The newest El Ten Eleven is the newest one for me. They're a two piece instrumental rock group that can sound like a collaboration between Justice and Ratatat. It's not the longest release, eight songs and about 35 minutes, but it was enough to make me check out their other stuff, which is just as enjoyable. Plus they have song titles like "I Like Van Halen Because My Sister Says They're Cool."

I Like Van Halen Because My Sister Says They Are Cool - El Ten Eleven

Some other stuff to check out now...

07.Jungle Drum - Emiliana Torrini

Emiliana Torrini's newest album is a cool mix of Larkin Grimm, Goldfrapp and Nancy Sinatra, to me at least. Plus "Jungle Drum" is just a really catchy song.
The new Dan Deacon album Bromst is about as awesome as the music nerds that it would be. He still has a lot of the chipmunk sounding vocals, but the sound is bigger, more realized and I think more creative than 2007's Spiderman of the Rings. This is also where I bring up the fact that I could have met this dude and introduced his set at Bumbershoot if I had the right badge on...but noooooooo. Still good stuff though. The last minute of "Paddling Ghost" is bananas.

Paddling Ghost - Dan Deacon

Scientists Predict The Future Will Be Far More Futuristic Than We Thought

2009-03-09T20:51:00.007-05:00

If you liked Donnie Darko, and you haven't watched Southland Tales, you may want to. It's written and directed by Richard Kelly (who did both for DD) and is the same confusing/entertaining mess. Anyway, that's what the subject quote is taken from. Plus it's one of the first two quotes I think about regarding the future, and the other is Yogi Berra's "The future just aint what it used to be," and that's the antithesis of what I'm going for here. Instead of recapping everything that has come out recently, I'm going to look into the future for a bit. It sounds good.
Everything leaks now. Some artists handle it better than others, some enjoy it, whatever, it happens to everything now. I was talking to a member of a band with an EP coming out in April and he was wondering if it had leaked already, because it was something he worried about. It's a problem that won't stop, if you ask me. I work at a radio station...sometimes, and as long as records are sent to stations and to webzines/blogs for review or promotion, someone will find a way to get it online. So here's some upcoming releases to watch out for, pickup, or just agree with me on because you've heard it too.

Röyksopp - Junior - This Norwegian duo have a great combination of synthpop and slightly down tempo beats with a pretty good collection of Nordic women doing guest vocals. Lykke Li, Robyn, Karin Anderrson (of The Knife and Fever Ray) and Bel Canto's Anneli Drecker all fit seemlessly into the beats and music. If you're a fan of the knife, but want something a little lighter, this is the way to go. Or if you want a record with a song that uses the kids joke "6 is afraid of 7, because 7 8 9." I do.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz! - I really like this album. Probably more so than either of the first two. I think it will go both ways with fans though. There is more synths than the previous releases, and Guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Nick Zinner takes more of a back seat to Karen O than in either Show Your Bones or Fever To Tell, which I think will turn some people off. Either way, the opening two tracks, Zero and Heads Will Roll, are two of the strongest for the band yet.

The Decemberists - Hazards Of Love - There are two things Colin Meloy and The Decemberists do extremely well: take forgotten old stories and make them into fluid albums, and make those albums full of great melodies. They've already been compared to 70s bands like Yes and Jethro Tull because of their prog/art rock, highly literate sound, but this time they break out with more muscular sounds. There's still a healthy dose of meandering indie folk, familiar to fans of the band, and that sounds great as well, but when they unleash the guitars and the attitude, like in The Rake's Song...its terrific, if you don't mind songs about a guy who wants to kill his kids. Probably my favorite song right now (so I clearly don't mind), and Hazards Of Love has at least a share of my best album title of the first quarter of '09. Good Stuff.

The Rakes Song - The Decemberists

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest - Easily the most talked about leak going right now. My 1/15 post actually predicted what is happening right now. People heard the leak and are now locked in a 9 month debate over which album is better, this or the Animal Collective release. I need some sort of recognition for that, so I'll give it to myself. Way to go. People seem to really enjoy this release. They also really loved Yellow House, their previous effort. I'm on the fence. I absolutely love the song The Knife from YH, but that's about it. I liked my first listen to Veckatimest, but nothing stuck out. Not a bad listen at all, and I need to hang with it a while longer probably, but it didn't knock my socks off like the inevitable buzz that's about to happen. My best comparision is slightly long and confusing, but oh well. If Animal Collective play a version of folk, its where they're in a shed with one window to a wide open field, so they see the wide open field but play a busy version of it, because they're trapped in a shed. Maybe one with weapons and knives like the barn in the end of Twister. Grizzly Bear play like they're in a large glass shed, so they get a larger feeling of being in a field, but they're still pint up. I also equate folk music to needing large grassy fields for motivation...I have no idea if artists get motivated by that, but can you picture Fleet Foxes better in a studio or a field? Exactly.

Metric - Fantasies - The fourth album from this Canadian group is pretty strong. The strength seems to be in the simplicity, just straight forward indie rock that is filled with melodies and is instantly catchy.

Finally, just a heads up on a band I've been digging lately that doesn't have anything out yet to my knowledge. Their called Wild Yaks and they are on their way to the top of the "multiple people chanting/singing" game.

What You Heard...It's What's You Hearin

2009-02-23T23:53:00.002-06:00

I'm quickly realizing that not only do I know more DMX lyrics than I thought, they can come in handy every once in a while, if edited. It also looks like I lied at the end of the last post, because we're almost through the midget month and I didn't recap January. So here's whats been good up to now, and a couple weeks into the future, because ambition isn't against the law.

Animal Collective, Fever Ray, Handsome Furs, Matt & Kim - Look down a few posts...or look at any music website to find out about AC. Also, I'd like to say I told you so about their Sasquatch appearance. I told you so.

The new Say Hi album is another great one in his underrated discography. Perfect bedroom electronic pop.

Gui Boratto's a Brazilian musician who has just put out an incredibly melodic minamilistic techno album that is perfect background music. Not busy enough to distract, but there's enough there to make you realize it.

William Elliott Whitmore's put out my favorite blues/rootsy album so far. Not too far behind is The Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach's solo debut.

P.O.S. has brought another solid hip-hop record infused with some punk rock mentality and beats.

The new Youth Group album, released last year in their home of Australia, is coming to America (today!...only for Neil Diamond) in April I believe. With the internet being what it is, I really don't understand waiting a year to release it in another country. It's still what you'd expect from them, a mix of Doves/Elbowish Britpop and Death Cab melancholy.

The Franz's have both put out albums worth checking out as well. Franz Ferdinand expand on their dance pop with good results. Franz Nicolay, multi-instrumentalist for The Hold Steady, also put out a record that is a fun listen. If Tom Morello's The Nightwatchman sounds like a man who only listened to Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen sing Rage Against The Machine covers, Nicolay sounds like a man who listened to a lot of Bruce Springsteen singing covers of The Replacements, with a little Devotchka in there as well.

N.A.S.A....not the space program, but just as impressive, while spending less money

2009-02-06T00:02:00.004-06:00

N.A.S.A. (stands for North America/South America) is the collaboration of two artists, DJ Zegon and Squeek E. Clean, and includes an even bigger list of who's who than the benefit compilations I talked about below. When I first saw who was on each track, before looking up any info on the project of listening to it, I thought it had to be a Girl Talk type experiment, using artists previously released work. I was wrong, which makes this even more impressive. While the artists seem extremely varied (I'll get to that and who in a minute), it is all tied together by the two DJ's great beats behind the artists, notably their affinity for a Brazilian funk sound. Right off the bat, you have David Byrne (who seems to be everywhere at the moment) with Chali 2na (Jurassic 5, Ozamatli), Gift of Gab (Blackalicious) and DJ Z-Trip. Then the next track combines even more Byrne, with Chuck D, Seu Jorge, Ras Congo and Z-Trip. The project doesn't really slow down the whole way. Tom Waits barks along to a rapping Kool Keith. M.I.A. handles a chorus while Spank Rock handles the raps above the guitar work of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's Nick Zinner, while fellow YYY member Karen O sings along with the late ODB on another. Then, Swede Lykke Li joins forces with Santogold and Kanye West for one of the catchier cuts on the album. After all the great guest spots, the two DJ's (who either are great at blackmailing, or are the nicest people on Earth, or they're just really talented... its gotta be one of the three to get this guest list) remind everyone that it's their project by putting one of the catchiest beats on the final track "N.A.S.A. Anthem," which doesn't include any guest. If that's not enough to get you interested, some of the collaborations I didn't mention include RZA, Ghostface, John Frusciante, George Clinton, Del The Funkee Homosapien, The Cool Kids, KRS-One and a boat load of others. So check this out. It will be in stores 2.17. Sometime before February gets halfway through, I'll post the January recap...so get excited.

Do Some Good, Hear Some Good

2009-01-26T00:16:00.007-06:00

There's a 2-disc/3LP/Digital Download compilation coming out Febuary 17th called Dark Was The Night. Its benefitting the Red Hot Organization, a charity that raises funds for HIV and AIDS awareness. There is a catch though, you have to wade through 31 quality tracks by some of the biggest names in indie rock. That's rough, doing good and getting great music out of it. The compilation was produced by the Dessner brothers, Bryce and Aaron, of the band The National and includes some covers and artist collaborations. Feist works with Ben Gibbard on a track and helps Grizzly Bear on another, while The Dirty Projectors combine with David Byrne on a song as well. The songs by Spoon, Arcade Fire, David Sitek of TV on the Radio, and The New Pornographers were highlights for me, but there's so much different stuff on this, odds are you'll enjoy it. If you don't, take solace in the fact that you helped out a good cause anyway. Speaking of good causes and good music, KEXP is taking donations for their fifth compilation of exclusive live performances (you then get the comp before the lowly public can). While the proceeds go to keep the station alive and well, I always hold out hope that in some way it might influence corporate radio to try something better. So if you've got money to burn...give some to me first, then help out these two organizations and get some good music in return.
UPDATE: A third karma enhancing album is on its way as well. This one benefitting Warchild, and titled Heroes. It comes out 2/16 and spans 16 tracks. The cool thing about this is its a covers album, but the artists being covered chose who did the track. Beck did Dylan, Bowie chose TV on the Radio for the title cut, Lily Allen is doing The Clash's "Straight To Hell," (better known right now as the sample for M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes") among others. The one I'm most looking forward to is Hot Chip's take on Joy Division's "Transmission," considering the sound of those two bands can be completely opposite.

We want some mo, we want some mo

2009-01-23T01:22:00.003-06:00

Just a follow up on the Animal Collective full on love assualt of 2009. Merriweather Post Pavillion has garnered a 91 on metacritic.com. If you don't check that site out for music and movies, you should. It puts every review on the same scale and makes it easy to check out what everyone thinks of specific titles. Anyway, the two most common top albums from last year, TV on the Radio (everyone copied me, I swear) and Seattle's own Fleet Foxes both had like 88 or 89. So based on positive reviews, it should only get beat by a foreign release and some slighty obscure electronic album if I know metacritic like I think I do. Also, they put on a sick live show and are about to hit the road, but if you're a Seattlite like myself you have to hope for Sasquatch! to see them. Or to travel roughly the same distance north or south to Portland or Vancouver. They have a five day gap between those dates, and if I'm correct in placing Memorial Day weekend right in that gap, I predict Animal Collective at Sasquatch. You heard it here first. Another prediction? Radiohead won't be there.

So another couple of releases came out recently that are pretty fantastic, so here's a heads up. Matt & Kim dropped their second album Grand and are going to be in Seattle on the 29th of January. They bring the catchy danceable guy girl duo pop music about as well as anyone out there right now. A lot of people are saying its a more mature release, but I'm not so sure I like that. Maybe the lyrics are little more grown up, but to me that implies an immature debut. It wasn't, it was just happy and youthful. Grand is as well, but it also is a fuller and more realized set of songs. Listen to a song like "Yeah Yeah" from the self titled debut and then the final song on Grand, "Daylight Outro," and you know its the same band, just more ambitious.

A second album to check out is The BPA's "I think We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat." BPA is Brighton Port Authority. Brighton Port Authority is Norman Cook and friends. Norman Cook is also Fatboy Slim. Instead of using a lot of samples, Cook this time uses guest vocals, done well by plenty of recognizable names like David Byrne, Jamie T, Iggy Pop and plenty more. The thing I like about Cook and his 1990s to now contemporary Moby is that their albums usually sound like soundtracks because of their diversity. There's usually really good production and music, but you don't get tired of the vocals because its someone different almost all the time. That's the case with this BPA album. A lot of catchy songs done in various styles.

Speaking of Cook and Moby, I think at some point someone has to have the discussion of who gets the title of Best Sample Based Mainstream Musician From 1995 To Now. These guys both just kept bringing the hits using various old blues, gospel, R&B and rock vocals and new beats behind them. They each hit their peaks (so far) in the late 90s and now continue to put together decent or good music. Actually, instead of finding out who gets the title, I think they should just put out a record together. Cook's best work is fit for a party, while Moby's best stuff is more of the hangover/recovery of the day after the party. Plus that way they could combine their vinyl crate digging efforts, and in today's world my friends, its all about sharing.

And Here We Go Again (Featuring the worst intro into reviews in the history of the blogOsphere)

2009-01-15T20:55:00.006-06:00

I try to go to as many shows as I can. Usually that depends on the amount of money I have, or how much is costs compared to how much I want to see the band(s), or if I have anyone to go with me. Unlike movies (except comedies, I'll only go to those with other people...I draw that line very clearly) it can get pretty lame flying solo to shows over and over again. It can also be just as bad dragging someone to a show not knowing if they'll like it or not. Putting that problem aside, a lot of my enjoyment depends on the crowd. In high school, I'd get as close as possible to the band and leave every show dripping in everybody's sweat. Those days are long passed, now I tend to stay back and take in the wide angled shot. Here's the thing though, I don't want the crowd disrupting my enjoyment, like the hammered dudes at the Vampire Weekend shows in 2007 at Neumo's and The Croc at the very front that kept yelling for "The Kids Don't Stand A Chance." I also understand unless you're a select few bands, you won't put on as great of a show if everyone does what I do, and just chill out and clap at the end of songs, with a little head bob added when desired. Putting that problem aside as well, show crowds relate very well to blog commenters. When you go to these sites, you can become a part of them and make valid points, or add news, opinions and speculation. That's fine and like crowds, you take the good comments with the bad ones. Not me though, because nobody reads this and I have no comments, but I'm finally getting around to the point. Last month everyone came out with their best of lists and then people pointed out what was too high, too low, missing, or stupid, or (once in a blue moon) actually "correct." Then came the backlash about how everyone is sick of lists (because you're forced to read them. Again, look at how people don't read mine. Clearly you have options not to.) So that was about two weeks ago. Now those same people are clammoring about what may be the very best album of 2009, two weeks after hating lists. Yes, the race is over 350 days early. Guess what? I'm also going to set aside that problem. I'm no hero. What I am going to do, is say everyone will probably be in the ballpark with their assumption (told you that was a bad intro).

The new Animal Collective album Merriweather Post Pavillion will probably end up being one of the five or ten best releases this year. Its that good. Plus the cover art is crazy. It also had all the momentum you need for this kind of thing. 2007's Strawberry Jam and AC member Panda Bear's solo release Person Pitch were both excellent, as was last year's EP Water Curses. Then the band Grizzly Bear says its amazing (whose word is as good as gold right now, because I don't think anyone has heard the new GB yet, and its already in direct competition with MPP for album of the year. Crazy stuff dudes). Put that together, then add more harmonies to the experimental folk sounds (the Beach Boys harmony comparisons actually aren't much of a stretch) while still being completely different than what any other band is doing and you have a great release. Try not to like the track Brothersport.

Aight, also exploding from the starting blocks of 09 in great form are two side projects. Fever Ray is the project of the sister in the Swedish electronic duo The Knife. I'm guessing this will probably get overlooked because I think The Knife are also releasing an album this year, and 2006's Silent Shout was a very well received piece of work. Plus they sound very similar. Fever Ray is basically a more down tempo, darker version of The Knife. Both have a very haunting sound. The Knife would fit better for a late night chase scene in a movie, Fever Ray more like a view from the criminal while they sneak up on someone, in a good way.
The other is the side project of Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner called Handsome Furs. Wolf Parade has alternating singers, Boeckner and Spencer Krug, with each being absolutely nothing like each other (think more Blink 182 contrast than Alkaline Trio similarity, hence the "absolutely nothing like each other."). For my taste, I like Boeckner's vocal sound more. Also on the positive side, this record goes for a very consistently upbeat and rocking pace. If you like Wolf Parades track "Shine A Light" then check this out. If you haven't heard that song, listen to this anyway. Or, finally, if you liked Handsome Furs debut Plague Park, you will not be disappointed either.

Playlist 2008

2008-12-17T23:07:00.004-06:00

Couple business items...I think I should have found a place on the best record list for the new David Byrne & Brian Eno release and the James Blackshaw record, but I didn't. I doubt they care.

I tried just listing songs like last year, but it got long, so I'm just gonna bust out my as-close-as-possible-without-really-thinking top 60.

60. Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes
59. Jenny Lewis - The Next Messiah
58. Pete & The Pirates - Knots
57. The Features - The Temporary Blues
56. Foals - Cassius
55. Ghostland Observatory - Dancing On My Grave
54. The Gaslight Anthem - Old White Lincoln
53. The Saturday Knights - Dog Park
52. Langhorne Slim - She's Gone
51. Devotchka - Transliterator
50. Ida Maria - Oh My God
49. Ryan Adams - Magick
48. The Knux - Bang Bang
47. White Lies - Death
46. Blitzen Trapper - Furr
45. Alaska In Winter - Streetgang Parts 1-3
44. The Secret Machines - Atomic Heels
43. The Gutter Twins - Idle Hands
42. Alejandro Escovedo - Sister Lost Soul
41. Drive-By Truckers - The Man I Shot
40. Astronautalis - Two Years Before The Mast
39. Hot Chip - Wrestlers
38. Bang! Bang! Eche! - 4 To The Floor
37. Common Market - Trouble Is
36. Brazilian Girls - Losing Myself
35. Freshkills - My House
34. The Broken West - Ambiscade
33. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
32. Amazing Baby - Supreme Being
31. Mercury Rev - Senses On Fire
30. JJ Grey & Mofro - Orange Blossoms
29. Michael Franti & Spearhead - Life In The City
28. Black Keys - Strange Times
27. Amadou & Mariam - Sabali
26. Catfish Haven - Set In Stone
25. Kanye West - Love Lockdown
24. Pop Levi - Never Never Love
23. Flight Of The Conchords - Inner City Pressure
23. Hercules & Love Affair - Blind
22. Elliott Brood - Write It All Down
21. T.I. - Whatever You Like
20. Cold War Kids - Something Is Not Right With Me
19. The Heavy - Colleen
18. David Byrne & Brian Eno - Strange Overtones
17. Atmosphere - Wild Wild Horses
16. We Were Promised Jetpacks - Quiet Little Voices
15. TV On The Radio - Shout Me Out
14. Kings Of Leon - Crawl
13. The Dodos - Fool
12. Firewater - Electric City
11. MGMT - Kids
10. The Mae Shi - Run To Your Grave
09. My Federation - Don't Wanna Die
08. Jay Reatard - Hammer I Miss You
07. Bon Iver - Skinny Love
06. Fujiya & Miyagi - Knickerbocker
05. Friendly Fires - Jump In The Pool
04. Cut Copy - Far Away
03. Fleet Foxes - Mykonos
02. M83 - Kim & Jessie
The Big Cheese. The Dutchess & The Duke - I Am Just A Ghost

Whammy. That's three full mix cd's of fun.

On a side note, I'm not too happy that people leading the whole "save the environment" fight calling it Global Warming instead of what it is, Global Climate Change. I want the warming, not the six inches of snow.

Enjoy your holidays, I suggest the 3 headed monster of Elvis, Neil and Bing...but that's only because I have impeccable taste.

Top 30 Records of 2008

2008-12-03T18:07:00.060-06:00

I'm guessing the title explains it all. This also started as The Top 21, like last year, then became The Top 25, and now its not. Gotta give the people more for their buck. Its the economy. The top songs and a 2008 playlist will be coming in the near future. Because I feel like I'm leaving a bunch of stuff out, know that I suggest you also check out the records that those soon to be said songs can be found on. Enjoy.

30. Black Mountain - In The Future - Vancouver, CA band that has now put out two really good 70s rock albums. They don't change much from the format of their debut, but they improve on what they were doing. Both big, heavy guitar riffs and sweeping, pastural/pyschedelic elements blend effortlessly. Listening to this almost guarantees your hair will grow to you shoulders and a mustache will appear, while a vest comes in the mail.

29. Feral Children - The Second To The Last Frontier - Because they shared a producer, some have labeled these guys a more "feral" Arcade Fire. I don't buy it. But I do buy into the young Modest Mouse comparisons, if you mix in some !!!. A high quality debut indie rock record.

28B. The Saturday Knights - Mingle - A rap soaked rock album. Great energy both on the record and live. A perfect compliment to...

28A. The Knux - Remind Me In 3 Days - A rock soaked rap album. Sounds a little like some early Outkast, but with a lot more guitars.

27. Freshkills - Freshkills - Self-released album by this Brooklyn group sounds a lot like a mix of The National and Interpol on speed. There's a hint of 80s influence as well as punk, and plenty of anthemic choruses to go along with it all.

26. Astronautalis - Pomegranate - Not many releases can incorporate a growl like Tom waits, rap, and melodic vocals in the same album, much less the same song. An incredibly diverse and hook filled release that also tells some interesting stories.

25.The Dutchess & The Duke - She's The Dutchess, He's The Duke - Very 60s blues/folk, especially since it was recorded using 8 track. There's not usually much more here than a duke playing guitar and singing and a dutchess playing a little percussion and backing him up vocally, but it works amazingly well.

24. Michael Franti & Spearhead - All Rebel Rockers - Par for the course for Mr. Franti. Recorded in Jamaica, its an album of smart, hope filled, world conscience lyrics behind reggae, hip-hop and rock beats. Perfect warm weather, happy music that means something.

23. The Notwist - The Devil, You & Me - German group that creates understated, minamalist electronica about as well as possible. It's their first album in about six years, and after this, no one will want to wait that long for a follow-up. Great in either the foreground or the background.

22. The Black Keys - Attack & Release - Before Ike Turner died, they were set up to work with him and Danger Mouse, and after, DM stayed on to produce and the Turner influence is easily heard compared to some of their earlier releases. Not as raw as their earlier stuff, but it doesn't feel restrained either.

21. Sebastien Grainger - Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains - The more melodic half of Death From Above 1979 puts out a melodic release. Imagine that. There are a couple songs that are hints of his previous work, but overall it leans more towards indie rock and refined garage sounds that at times sound similar to The Strokes.

20. The Flight Of The Conchords - The Flight Of The Conchords - "You know you're not in high finance considering secondhand underpants." "He's gonna wake up in a smoothie!" Listen and laugh and sing along.

19. First Communion Afterparty - Sorry For All Mondays - Right up there with Ra Ra Riot as sounding like the years most Arcade Fire-ish release. Plenty of layers. A very lush sounding record. Basically, if you have enjoyed anything from the two artists in this mini-review/description, you should check this out.

18. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular - There are about four decades worth of influences bouncing around this record. A lot of glam, pysch, electronic, pop...whatever you like, there's probably something here for you. Plus, they seem to be opening the door for a bunch of other bands (check out Amazing Baby if you like these guys) and that deserves some sort of recognition.

17. The Broken West - Now Or Heaven - I don't know if this what they intended, but they have the Kill The Moonlight era Spoon down perfectly. That works for me.

16. Alaska In Winter - Holiday - Their previous release sounded more like Beirut, and was aptly titled Dance Party in the Balkans. Holiday still has some of the dance party in it, but it also has a lot more electronic sound. Like they're journeying westward through Europe, musically speaking.

15. Pop Levi - Never Never Love - Not as big and immediate as last year's release, but still very good. Levi seems to take some of the T. Rex glam rock influence away and bring in more 80s synth instead. Once you realize that, it becomes a pretty strong record.

14. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound - East coast punk rock that sounds very blue collar and early Springsteen. Like the title suggests, there is a lot of older themes here, even a Bob Seger quote, intentional or not, and they have the attitude and sound to pull it off. After one listen through, you'll be singing along with almost every chorus.

13. Firewater - The Golden Hour - Just a great, eclectic rock record. A lot of this was recorded in the Eastern hemisphere, and that is not only reflected in the sounds, but also in the lyrics. It doesn't sound like he's had the best time in his recent past (check out song "This is my life"), but the music isn't lacking at all, and something should be said for that.

12. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend - These guys have gotten plenty of exposure, and it's well deserved, especially if it gets the public any closer to seeing how rad African pop music. After the first listen, you know two things about this record; I haven't heard anything like this recently, and wow.

11. The Whip - X Marks Destination - These guys have a formula that you would think could get old fast. Its a basic verse chorus verse, with pretty simple lyrics, really repetitive, and songs all ranging from 4 to 6 minutes. But the quality and catchiness of these songs easily outweighs whatever chance there is of it getting tiresome, and the longest songs still seem short when you consider that they get stuck in your head and your singing them over and over for another day or so.

10. Jay Reatard - 06/07 Singles & The Matador Singles - This dude just keeps putting out music. And it's good. Some is garage, some is new wave, some is punk, all of it is generally short, fast and loud...and very well done.

09. Amadou & Mariam - Welcome To Mali (Digital and import only until '09) - If Vampire Weekend is the entry gate on the bridge to African pop music, Amadou & Mariam are one of the main support beams in the middle. I have no idea what they're singing about on most tracks, but I like it. Just a vibrant, positive, youthful release. - If you like this, also keep you eye out for the collaboration The Very Best, who put out an amazing free mixtape The Very Best Mixtape, a precursor to their album out this next year (I think/hope).

08. The Features - Some Kind Of Salvation - If I ever won MegaMillions, I would put aside a bunch of money to start a record label, and throw cash at about 6 different artists/bands, saying "I don't care how or what you do, but I want to get your music to as many people as possible." These guys are one of those 6. Really distinct vocals, and just a nose for catchy, hook filled songs. Like a southern version of The Wrens.

07. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive - Each album they put out (this is their 4th) is great, and each one gets better than the last. Craig Finn keeps evolving from basically speaking to singing and the rest of the band is backing him up better than ever. They still tell stories you can pick up on, follow, and imagine, and the rest of the music carries it perfectly.

06. Girl Talk - Feed The Animals - Both the party album of the year and the pop culture scrapbook of the year. Check out the wikipedia page for the album and try and figure out how all these samples work out to be incredibly listenable and fun. I'm partial to this just because when all I had was cassettes and a boom box I would record phrases (saying samples would give me too much credit) from cds, songs on the radio and commercials, and try and make it sound like a song. It was funny and entertaining to me then, probably annoying to everyone now. So this is the completely accomplished opposite of my childhood pasttime. That should be the sticker quote on the cd.

05. My Federation - Don't Wanna Die - Probably the best accumulation of high quality choruses on one album this year has produced. Some of the stuff reminds me of southern rock for some reason, even though they live across the pond, while others have a more electronic feel. Real good stuff.

04. Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold - The production is the best they've done. The lyrics are more mature than anything before, as well as being some of the most descriptive stories of any release this year. The hooks work as well as or better than their best stuff previous to this. Bottom line, it was my favorite hip-hop release this year, and just an all-around great record.

03. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours - Synth driven Aussie electronic jams. If you can't get into "Far Away" and "So Haunted," then I'll bet you don't like synth driven Aussie electronic jams.

02. Pete & The Pirates - Little Death - Extremely catchy, jangly, hook filled British indie rock. Really impressive for a debut. Nothing groundbreaking or especially new here, but it's done about as well as anything similar in the last 5 years or so.

The Big Cheese. TV On The Radio - Dear Science - One of the 5 or 6 bands that I think will end up defining the best music of this era. They continue on a similar path to 2006's Return To Cookie Mountain, but the songs do more for you, are easier to get into (with the exception of RTCM's Wolf Like Me, which will be hard to top in that department), and are decidedly more positive. More horns are added than I remember in their previous work, and it adds a nice touch. Plus, if band member David Sitek can produce Scarlett Johansson's release and make it sound really listenable, this is like an batting practice fastball for him.

If you thought most of these descriptions got old and kind of repetitive, congratulations, because I thought so too.

There's something happenin' here

2008-11-04T02:23:00.007-06:00

Betchya didn't know there's an election coming up! While I really don't care whatever way you're leaning, I would like to interject my opinion on my biggest problem with this whole thing. What is the problem with having more than two viable options? There are only two scenarios that I can think of right now where lumping Americans into 2 categories (Rep/Dem) is acceptable: Sex (M/F) and hating or loving Duke University basketball. Everything else has other options. What's the problem with having as many ideas about fixing our country as we can? It makes no sense to me that there are options on the ballot that get looked down upon as being "wasted votes." The idea that someone's leadership ability and thoughts are not taken seriously because they don't have a donkey or elephant backing them up is the single most frustrating thing that these last two presidential elections have left with me. Even our economic model says that competition brings out a better product. A lot of it might be made easier with a really strong third party candidate, which hasn't happened since Ross Perot, but I still think that it would get derailed by the whole electability argument. There's a sign on the side of an overpass near my place that reads "Vote Your Hopes, Not Your Fears...Vote Third Party." How about voting for someone you like, instead of not voting for someone that scares you? Now I'm not saying one of the two big guys isn't the best choice, but with more options, I think we'd have a better idea. With that said...if things don't go your way, you can complain via song.

"Protest Songs, In Response to Military Agression! But The Battle Raged On! - Against Me! (Protest Playlist)

20. Makeshift Patriot - Sage Francis
19. 16 Military Wives - The Decemberists
18. No One Left - The Nightwatchman
17. Big Business - Dilated People ("Is the opposite of Progress Congress?")
16. Get Up Stand Up - Bob Marley
15. From Her Lips To God's Ears - Against Me!
14. B.O.B. - Outkast
13. For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
12. Politik Kills - Manu Chao
11. Yell Fire - Michael Franti & Spearhead
10. Come Together - Common Market
9. Strange Fruit - Billie Holliday
8. The Clampdown - The Clash
7. Killing In The Name - Rage Against The Machine
6. Ball Of Confusion - The Temptations or Rare Earth
5. Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones
4. War - Edwin Starr
3. What's Goin On - Marvin Gaye
2. World Wide Suicide - Pearl Jam
1. Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival or Todd Snider (CCR's version is pure energy and Snider's version is pure...not. Just an acoustic, blues take on it. Somehow both ways express the same amount of frustration. I think that means this song does its job.)

Album Review: Sebastien Grainger - Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains

2008-10-24T01:31:00.000-05:00

If you're sitting around wanting something new from the Strokes or Death From Above 1979...that sucks, but not as much as it has for most of the year. The Strokes are still on a break, but you can check out either of Albert Hammond Jr's solo albums, Julian Casablancas' converse song with Santogold and Pharrell, or drummer Fabrizio Moretti's project Little Joy, or combine all of them at the same time and see if they sound like the Strokes. Death From Above 1979 are still broken up, but drummer/singer Sebastien Grainger has put out a solo album that is as close to combining the two aforementioned bands as you could ask for. And if you're musical tastes are anything like mine, then this is awesome. Even if that doesn't sound awesome, this record is really worth checking out.

Grainger does pretty much everything on the album, so The Mountains are whatever he or you wants them to be. It sounds a lot cleaner than DFA1979, especially the vocals, and while it leans more to the pop side, there are some songs that remind you of his past, especially the fast, screaming "Niagara." His production and musical layering is also very impressive, as is evident on my favorite track "(Are There) Ways To Come Home," and even more so on simultaneously dancy and haunting "(I Am Like A) River." For a one man show, the album is an incredibly diverse listen, and there really isn't a song that disappoints. Plus, on the final track "Renegade Silence," he may be the first person to put out a solo release that features his own side project (the Rhythm Method). I don't even know how that works. "Hey, this is my album, and on this song I have a little help from...me."

Album Review: Cage The Elephant - Cage The Elephant

2008-10-24T00:39:00.001-05:00

It always seems weird to me when an American band makes it bigger and sooner overseas than it does it on US soil. In the usually slow crawl of non major label acts, it doesn't seem to make sense. Even with some Major label acts. Tourmates Kings of Leon and We Are Scientists are both a lot bigger in Britain than the US, even with people trying to claim Kings of Leon as a "southern-fried Strokes" early in their career and now more of a "southern-fried U2." The same can be said for Kentucky based Cage the Elephant. Looking at their upcoming tour schedule, they have multiple sold out shows in England, whereas in the States I doubt they could really do much of a successfull headlining tour at all, for whatever reason. When I first read about them, I thought they were British, not only in sound, but I read about them in NME, a British mag. I don't know how this happens, but if I'm them, I buy the ticket and take the ride across the pond for as long as cash is there.

As for their album, it's a quick, energetic listen and a really solid debut. It mixes garage, blues, punk and classic/southern rock as well as any album out this year and reminds me a lot of Oregon band RocknRoll Soldiers, if that means anything to anybody. There is a little hint of early Kings of Leon (not too surprising, KOL being from Tennessee) mixed with the attitude of the Arctic Monkeys and some of the faster paced songs of the San Diego bands The Muslims and Delta Spirit. I've seen some people comparing it a little to Kid Rock, but I don't see it. Yeah there's some southern rock and some quick vocals, but I'm not buying the comparison. The highlights are singles (genius), "In One Ear," and "Aint No Rest For The Wicked." Opener "In One Ear" will be stuck in your head for days with vocals that just fly at you and a anthemic chorus. "Aint No Rest" really reminds me of "Aint No Easy Way" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and that's a very good thing. While the album is worth a listen, the majority of the reviews I saw for these guys are based on their live show, which is apparently a tornado of energy, flying bodies and booze.

Album Review: Shugo Tokumaru - Exit

2008-10-09T01:32:00.000-05:00

Tokumaru, a 28 year old Tokyo native, has put together one of the best pop-electronic albums of the year, an album that is both impressive in sound and sheer musical talent; Shugo used over 50 instruments while recording this in his bedroom. There is some distinguishable eastern influence (most words are in his native Japanese) but this sounds like it could have been recorded in a bedroom in Sweden or Portland just the same. The best comparison I can come up with be if Sufjan Stevens fronted the Shins and wanted to experiment with some lo-fi electronic sounds. Since that probably doesn't help much, I recommend you check this record out. Like Sue Jorge or Malajube, the beauty of the music isn't in understanding the lyrics, so the language barrier is not one at all. If anything, it takes the whole "meaning" idea out of the question and justs adds the vocals as another instrument. Unless of course, you speak Japanese, then by all means, enjoy whatever it is he has to say. Highlights for me are La La Radio, which erupts into the biggest song on the album midway through, and Green Rain, where you can just picture his bedroom walls lined with instruments everywhere, most getting some use here. Also worth checking out are the videos for some of the songs, easily found on (take a guess) the youtube. This is his third full length, but first to get wide release in the States, so if you really dig this, it will take some actual digging to get a hold of his older stuff.

Check Out OTIS TAYLOR...Please.

2008-10-03T02:29:00.003-05:00

When someone who doesn't know me asks me what type of music I listen to, I do the typical response of "pretty much anything." When they get to know me, they find that to be about as true as can be. Now if someone who knows me asks what genre of music I like the most, they wouldn't get an answer because my head would probably just shut off after hours of trying to decide. But if push came to shove, I think I'd choose blues. A little different because I'm a pacific northwestern white dude who's biggest problems stem from his own idiocy, but I don't think you can beat good blues or the current blues influenced rock (Dax Riggs and everything on Fat Possum Records, JJ Grey and Mofro, a lot of Jack White stuff, seattle band Whalebones, a bunch of others I'm forgetting right now, and please let me know of other good ones you know) That's why I will never bash the movie Shooter (what?). The closing credits of that Mark Wahlberg sniper flick introduced me to Otis Taylor and his amazing and haunting song "Nasty Letter." The Chicago-born, Denver transplant has been one the most rewarding musical descoveries of the year for me, its probably the best because of his nice sized back catalog of blues that I've been able to track down and listen to like new. Most is based around mandolin, guitar and harmonica, but this year he came out with a release trying to get banjo back into blues. Taylor played the banjo years ago, but gave it up after finding it had been used almost exclusively with bluegrass music for the past however many years. While I recommend all of his releases, here's some highlights from the albums I've checked out so you can make a solid Otis Taylor mix tape/playlist if you would like. If you dig this, also check out the late great RL Burnside, who did a lot of similar things with current blues and rock, and adding some well known guests as well.

White African - won an award for blues debut
- Round and Round (crazy harmonica)
- Hungry People
- My Soul In Louisiana
- Momma Don't You Do It (crazy banjo)

Respect The Dead
- 32nd time
- Three Stripes on a Cadillac
- Just Live Your Life

Truth Is Not Fiction - my favorite of his releases, so far. Real fast paced, pressing blues rock
- Nasty Letter
- Rosa Rosa
- Babies Don't Lie

Double V - more of a full band sound than previous efforts, so it sounds a little less bluesy, but still solid
- Mandan Woman
- Buy Myself Some Freedom
- 505 Train

Below The Fold - mix of electric and acoustic blues with some strings mixed in very well
- Boy Plays Mandolin
- Went to Hermes
- Government Lied

Definition Of A Circle - more electric guitar, some stuff that is almost completely rock n roll, some toned down blues as well
- They Wore Blue
- Love and Hesitation
- Few Feet Away

Recapturing The Banjo - an attempt to reconnect people to the roots of banjo blues, including a great list of guest musicians
- Hey Joe (Hendrix Cover)
- Little Liza Jane

And The Cat Came Back, The Very Next Day...Plus 3 Months

2008-10-03T02:05:00.003-05:00

As the title suggests...I haven't done anything with this in 3 months. But if nobody reads this, does it really exist? Or if I write this and no one reads it, what is more pathetic, the blog or the blogger? Those questions I can't answer, but some non-questions I can do. So here are some statements to help set up a more fruitful mission.

- I'm going to try and write a review at the least, every other day. It will either be an album, artist or show review. Maybe movie if I feel compelled, or run out of music, but that's probably going to be rare.

- I don't do grades. My only problem with music reviews, internet or magazine, is that they feel like they have to be graded. Why can't everyone agree that if a person or organization likes the music, they talk about it? If they don't like it, skip over it. I'm perfectly fine with someone saying they don't like something, but giving something a bad grade makes it seem like it actually is bad. I have a hard time calling art bad. Some stuff I don't like, that doesn't make it bad or poorly done. It'd be like telling someone they have a bad face, then watching their spouse come up and kiss them. There's something for everyone. This is a long way of saying, if I write about it I recommend it.

- My goal for this site is to have at least 20 readers by the end of the year that don't know who I am. I won't resort to chain mail. Yet.

So there you go. Hopefully you enjoy at least some of the artists in this, or you'll be wasting a lot of time.

Uh, We Lost May

2008-06-02T23:35:00.005-05:00

Same drill as before, with a couple things to get through before we get to the albums...because I know a lot of people care.

- I'm claiming this idea right now, so everyone else just forget about it. Before I'm 30 I will travel across America for a summer and film a documentary on rec softball leagues. I googled and IMDB'd it and it has yet to happen, so I have nominated myself as the person to get this done. It will be a facemelting display of cinema.

- Some DJ just leaked Lil Wayne's new album because he was mad about something Wayne said. If Napster existed in 96 instead of 99, Tupac and Biggie would be alive based on this passive form of punishment. Of course then Diddy wouldn't be as big and Mad TV couldn't do a gay rap spoof of his song and say "it's all about the Benjamin's, the Tony's and the Steven's," which would suck.

- I don't know what makes sense or whats more impressive but I would like to know; Did the creators/writers of "Lost" know everything in advance or have they been making this stuff up on the fly? If this was the plot all along, how could they fit anything else in their heads? If this is just how things unfolded over time, they have to be regretting killing Mr. Echo. Or they don't care and are too busy calculating the money they'll make off of DVD sales when it's all said and done.

ALBUMS

The Do - Mouthfuls - So if Santogold can sound like M.I.A. and Tegan & Sara, The Do can sound like M.I.A. and Neil Young, just not at the same time. While I don't like comparing a bunch of artists to the same M.I.A., there aren't a lot of people doing what she does. The opening track "Playground Hustle" sounds like M.I.A. and the Go! Team, and then acoustic guitar comes out and a nice rythm falls into place. Plus there's a song in French, which just sounds cool and you don't have to care what the lyrics are about...unless you speak french.

Subtle - ExitingArm - Similar to the previously reviewed band Why? in that they incorporate a bunch of different styles, but the vocals can push people to put them in a box of hip hop. Maybe the best thing that can describe them, besides the fact that it's generally fast and fun to listen to is that this group premiered the album in Seattle at the Lazer Dome, which should probably start happening a lot more.

Walter Meego - Voyager - Very similar to MGMT in that its about as catchy, danceable and hook driven as you can make synth-driven music. If "Forever," "Girls," or "Keyhole" doesn't get stuck in your head or make you move...good luck.

The Tallest Man On Earth - Shallow Graves - This folksinger is from Scandinavia, and sounds like what I think Dylan would sound like if he grew up there. A guy with an acoustic guitar, slightly nasaly voice and a very casual delivery. Except there are no political angles in the songs because, while this is just a stab in the dark, I don't see any major problems in Scandinavia right now. Best of luck if there are any.

The Wet Secrets - Rock Fantasy - Some of the most fun releases are the ones that sound like a bunch of buddies who wanted to see if they could make a band, and whooops, they actually sound alright. It's even better when they have songs telling people to get their own apartment and grow their own mustaches. The album title says it all.

PLAYLIST

My Federation - Don't Wanna Die

Fight Like Apes - Do You Karate

Ponytail - Beg Waves

Beg Waves - Ponytail

Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus

Walter Meego - Forever

Coconut Records - West Coast

West Coast - Coconut Records

The Roots - Get Busy

Ladytron - Ghosts

Ghosts - Ladytron

Langhorne Slim = She's Gone

MGMT - Kids

Yo April

2008-05-06T15:41:00.004-05:00

Fourth month, same as the first...here's stuff to check out.

Albums

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig - Inspired by the stories of Harry Houdini and Lazarus, this is one of the only concept albums that actually gets it right with a story (loosely) and exceptional music (The Streets being the other). Whether on purpose or not, last year's side project Grinderman seems to have rejuvenated Cave, as this album leans heavily on the rock n roll, and it is better for it. Besides the great musicianship, this record includes some of the most humorous lyrics in a while.

Firewater - The Golden Hour - Speaking of Nick Cave, the vocals on this album swing between sounding like him and the singer in They Might Be Giants. The focus of the album is frustration with the world today, and many worldly elements are included in this. Frontman Tod A. spent three years traveling the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia, recording musicians along the way and incorporating them in the album.

Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Sh*T Gold - While Ant and Slug are generally pretty creative when it comes to using a variety of instruments and sounds as backing beats for Slugs vocals, this album takes it to another level. The live band is used on a lot of the album, and more synthesizers are used than before. The majority of the lyrics are reflecting on parenting, adding to the step in a different direction from before.

M83 - Saturdays = Youth - For the last 3 albums, M83 has been what I would pick for a soundtrack for space. The music just fits in such an expansive and soaring arena. Saturdays = Youth is the easiest full album to listen to yet, and the space idea still works, except you replace planets with clips of '80s movies. Kim and Jessie is my favorite song of the year so far.

Pete & The Pirates - Little Death - Anthemic and jangly indie pop at it's best. It's hard not to move when a song starts out urging "Come on feet/One, two, three" followed by hand clapping. The vocals are similar to the Futureheads, with a little more giddy-up.

Jim Noir - Jim Noir - I can't really tell if this would fit better in the '60s, '80s, now or maybe ten years from now, and that probably means this is even better than I'm giving it credit for. This is just an album that once you start listening to, you want to hear what's coming up next. Like a more electronic and British Beck.

Santogold - Santogold - If Tegan & Sara did the vocals for M.I.A., you would come up with something very similar to this new artist (and Bud Light Lime soundtracker). Maybe the catchiest album out this short year.

Playlist

M83 - Kim & Jessie

Firewater - Electric City
Electric City.mp3 - Firewater

Phantom Planet - Raise The Dead

Raise The Dead - Phantom Planet

Atmosphere - Puppets

Pete & The Pirates - Knots

Cut Copy - Far Away

Santogold - L.E.S Artistes

Mike Doughty - Fort Hood

Guillemots - Get Over It

The Muslims - Beside Myself

Walk It Out. The March Is Done.

2008-04-06T18:27:00.018-05:00

One quarter of '08 is outta here. I'll take a mulligan if possible...but if that's what you want to read about, that makes one of you than my prediction. Musically, this year keeps getting better, so here's what I thought was the best stuff that came out around March. Plus I'm going to try and put up some music videos for the playlist section, so don't stop believin'.

Albums

Why? - Alopecia - My favorite find of the year so far. A lot of reviews are calling them a "hip-hop band" but I don't really agree. Yes, the vocals are done in a very rap-like way, but it almost borders a poetic delivery more so than rap. The closest comparison in hip hop is probably Busdriver. Either way, intelligent and humorous lyrics abound, and about four of the tracks, namely Vowels Pt 2 and Sad Song of the Assassin, I can't get out of my head. Just a really unique listen.

Neon Neon - Stainless Style - Probably will garner a lot of comparison to Gnarls Barkley, in that it's unique and formed by a producer and front man, and if it doesn't, it should. Besides what was just mentioned, if Gnarls were all about the '80s instead of soul, this is what they may sound like. A fun release, with a very '80's techno leaning vibe.

The Matches - A Band In Hope - For my money, The Matches are one of the more underrated punk bands to come out in the last five years. This release goes in a little different direction than their previous two and adds a very distinctive new wave sound. You can still catch the punk sound on multiple tracks, but I think this album is a nice step, considering it branches out more than previous efforts.

The Dodos - Visitor - Simply put, this is what an acoustic guitar would sound like if it wanted to be an electric. They get a sound that is about as forceful and driving as is imaginable from a couple of acoustic guitars, and it works beautifully.

The Kills - Midnight Bloom - The best combination of cold, cool and dark out there right now.

The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely - While it may not have the breakout radio hit like their debut album, this record seems more accomplished and as a whole, stronger. The dualing and contrasting vocals of Brendan Benson and Jack White are put to great use here.

Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts - For me, no band out there can deliver the impact of a desired emotion the way Cloud Cult does. You feel what they're playing, and what they're playing is great, anthemic music. Plus they make their albums by all recycled products and give profits to charity, so it's tough not to like these guys.

Playlist

The Mae Shi - Run To Your Grave

The Kills - URA Fever

Why? - Sad Song Of The Assassin

R.E.M. - Living Well Is The Best Revenge

The Black Keys - Strange Times

Lil Wayne - Lollipop

Elbow - Grounds For Divorce

The Dodos - Fools

Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Epic Last Song & We Are Rockstars

Gnarls Barkley - Run

Neon Neon - I Told Her On Alderaan

The Heavy - Colleen

The Matches - Wake The Sun

Fleet Foxes - Mykonos

Totally Michael - Shake Your Booty or Die!

We Are Scientists - Ghouls

Devotchka - Transliterator

The Ting Tings - Great DJ

There are a bunch of good shows and albums coming up, so if I go to or listen to any I'll hopefully put them up before the end of April...otherwise wait until early May, when we'll be a third of the way through the year.

The Gutter Twins - Showbox - March 4th

2008-03-10T17:44:00.003-05:00

I'm not exactly sure why I have been so excited for the Gutter Twins release and live show, but they are easily one of the top acts I've encountered in this new year. A main reason is the past of the two frontmen, Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli, two of the survivors of early to mid 1990's rock. I spent most of that decade chasing the bands of Warped Tour, and being in junior high and high school, there really wasn't a lot of opportunities for anything else in an all ages venue. While I'm a fan of the Screaming Trees and Afghan Whigs, I got more into their side/solo projects of the Twilight Singers (Dulli) and Soulsavers (Lanegan) and Lanegan's solo work. So for most of the crowd, there was equal anticipation just to see two well respected musicians, as well as their current record. That point was made even stronger with the release of the album Saturnalia being that day, the record just wasn't well known to the majority of the crowd.

The atmosphere was darker than any show I had been to in a while. Not only was the crowd about 85% covered in black, but the average age was probably seven years older than most shows I've seen at the Showbox. Everything seemed to fit when Dulli, Lanegan and company enter the stage, three of them ignoring any idea of a smoking ban by rocking cigarettes for most of the show. I had read an article about the band prior to the show stating that Lanegan for the most part just hangs out with his mic stand while Dulli is the more animated and engaging performer. If Dulli did nothing besides smoke, he still would have been the more animated performer. Lanegan stood statuesque the entire show, contributing his deep voice and considerable height, but not much else. Dulli carried the energy and some minor stage banter, and it seemed to work for everybody.

As for the songs, it is what you would expect from two aging rock vets that appear to be winding down from their past achievements; blues soaked, dark rock music with two voices that are as distinct as they are contrasting. Each song focuses almost as much on mood as music, and when they hit the choruses on the more driving songs, it is confirmation that this collaboration is a good thing for these guys, as well as fans of any phase of either of their careers. The highlight of the show and album was lead single "Idle Hands" followed in a close second by "God's Children." LA's Great Northern opened.

The Basis of Optimism is Sheer Terror

2008-03-03T23:40:00.005-06:00

So we're about a sixth of the way through 2008. Sweet. Here's what I've been digging.

Albums

The Teenagers - Reality Check - Catchy new wave duo with a sense of humor and an affinity for cursing. A lot like if Flight of the Conchords were obsessed with the eighties and George Carlin.

Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead - A little more mellow than their past offerings, but more polished and easily one of my favorites so far. I didn't expect this to be this good.

The Shackeltons - The Shackeltons - I picked up their demos at a concert last year, mainly because they put on a great live show, but had no idea they could put out anything this good. A lot of early 90s influence, and a lot of different styles on this.

Magnetic Fields - Distortion - Like the title suggests, the theme here is the Jesus and Mary Chain. The similarities are extremely impressive, while remaining fresh and being positively catchy.

The Whigs - Mission Control - Quality rock music with a southern influence and singalong choruses.

Say Hi - The Wishes and the Glitch - Formerly called Say Hi To Your Mom, I think Say Hi may be one of the more underrated bands of the last four or five years. 3 very raw, but excellent pop albums, now a more mature and polished 4th release with the same distinct vocals.

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago - A majority of the focus on this album tends to go towards Justin Vernon's vocals and rightfully so, but this wouldn't be nearly as memorable without the heavyness of the guitars. In the same vein as Alexi Murdoch in my book.

January/Febuary Playlist

Hot Chip - Wrestlers

Ghostland Observatory - Dancing On My Grave

Lightspeed Champion - Dry Lips

Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead

Magnetic Fields - California Girls

Dengue Fever - Mr. Orange

British Sea Power - Waving Flags

The Teenagers - Sunset Beach

These New Puritans - Elvis

The Dirtbombs - Fire In The Western World (Dead Moon Cover)

Howlin Rain - Lord Have Mercy

Black Mountain - Stormy High

Say Hi - Northwestern Girls

Bon Iver - Skinny Love

Also, if you ever are depressed...remember that John Arbuckle's life sucks when you take out Garfield. Here's proof.

http://garfieldminusgarfield.tumblr.com/

The Double Edged Sword Of Hype

2008-01-02T16:20:00.000-06:00

If there is one thing in American culture that I find to be completely fascinating (besides our ability to put every emotion and experience to food/eating), it's the idea of hype and over/underexposure. Like pretty much every problem from here on out, be it fantasy sports or libel, the majority of the blame is going to have be on the world wide web. I can now find multiple sites that comb through everything and give me 10+ reviews for any album or movie I wanna see. Ten years ago I'd hear a song on the radio, get it stuck in my head, then skimp on lunch for a week and buy the CD with my extra lunch money. Now I take those 25 opinions and put them in basically three categories (good, bad, so-so) and preview the album online.
For information's sake, it's amazing. For opinion's sake, it can get excruciatingly annoying. It's like when a major story happens in sports. You hear about it quicker than ever, then you get to listen to 20 sportswriters argue about it for five hours, then you're so sick of the story and tomorrows paper hasn't even come to the doorstep. Anyway, back to the hype. The basic cycle/bell curve is pretty simple.

1. Band has a catchy song and energetic live show.
2. Blogs/sites/magazines go crazy.
3. People buy in.
4. Shows sell out, album starts selling.
5. Band slips into some mainstream area (MTV, commercials, award show)
6. Blogs/sites/magazines get annoyed
7. Band is overrated

To me, the problem is an extremely fine line. Everybody has a band they find out about just fall in love with. They make everyone listen to it in their car and can't stop talking about it. If they are me, they burn the album for anyone with a hand to take it and buy too many tickets to the concert and end up going alone while paying for three people. Soon enough, everyone is talking about the band and now it doesn't seem like it's "yours" anymore. What's the point in having a frickin sea bass with frickin lasers on it when every other Tom, Dick, and Harry have killer laser sea bass too?
There was a saying that was forced down my throat for a week at a leadership camp that said "People tend to support things they create." When the top 40 corporate radio station starts playing a "new" song you heard and loved 6 months before on a noncommercial radio station, you probably should be proud of the band, knowing they can now make another album because they're rolling in cash. You probably should, but you don't. Now they're on the verge of being overplayed and now the song just isn't that great. You support it less, because you part in "creating" it just got a lot smaller. The song sounds the exact same, but your reaction flipped about 90 degrees. Like you just got dumped listening to your favorite song. But without the anger or tears, hopefully.
The same goes with movies. I recently saw both Juno and No Country For Old Men (Just after writing that, I cracked up because the thought of combining these movies would be pretty sweet. Nothing like a guy with some crazy air gun chasing cross country runners through Texas for the chance to adopt a baby). From every review I saw, I thought I'd be going to two of the greatest movies in cinematic history. I wasn't. Don't get me wrong, both we're different and enjoyable, but I have no doubt that I would have liked both a lot more if I wasn't be told these are two of best movies put out this year.
Here's the rub. I have no solution for this. Sorry if you just wasted your time. There are two choices. Deal with it or go back to saving lunch money, and I don't get lunch money anymore. We will probably be oversaturated with information and opinions until the internet wins the presidency or the Duey Decimal system makes a startling comeback. The same band that was a "must see" in January of 2008 will be overrated by 2009 in half the camps while putting out the record of the year in the other half. As for me, I'll be at the show...by myself with three extra tickets.
Oh and Merry 2008. If you didn't start the new year in an elephant costume, I have a leg up on you.

2007's Playlist

2007-12-07T23:49:00.000-06:00

The Department Of Redundancy Department would like to inform you that this is another music post. This time the house special is songs. At least some of the songs will be my favorite track from my favorite albums list, then the other great tunes I heard. Because countdowns legitimize things, I'll put out my top fifteen at the bottom, but I'll also BOLDIFY the other ones I really think you should hear. So I guess this is three tiered system, of regular, bold and numbered. If you don't care then you're reading the wrong stuff, sorry. And yes, I probably overdid it.

Songs of 2007

Brother Reade - Life Ain't Easy For Yall
White Williams - Danger
Pharoahe Monch - Push
Kanye West - Good Morning
Pinback - From Nothing To Nowhere
Thee More Shallows - Night School
Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun
Dr. Dog - Heart It Races (Architecture in Helsinki Cover)
Pipettes - Your Kisses (are wasted on me)
The Blakes - Don't Bother Me
Jamie T - Calm Down Dearest
Kenna - Out Of Control (State Of Emotion)
The Cribs - Men's Needs
The Twilight Sad - That Summer At Home, I Had Become The Invisible Boy
Fujiya & Miyagi - Collarbone
Steve Earle - Steve's Hammer
Adam Kesher - P Katerine
Clinic - Harvest
Animal Collective - Peacebone
Bedouin Soundclash - Until We Burn Into The Sun
Vampire Weekend - Walcott
Maps - So High So Low
The Fratellis - Creepin Up The Backstairs
Band Of Bees - Love In The Harbour
Oakley Hall - No Dreams
Mofro - The Sun Is Shining Down
Black Francis - Threshold Apprehension
White Rabbits - The Plot
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Forever Heavy
Ash - Twilight Of The Innocents
Black Kids - I'm Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance
Black Rebel Motorcyle Club - Weapon Of Choice
Saul Williams - Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2 Cover)
The Nightwatchman - No One Left
Los Camposinos - You! Me! Dancing!
Ha Ha Tonka - St. Nick On The Fourth In A Fervor
Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe
M.I.A. - Paper Planes
Imperial Teen - Sweet Potato
Justice - Let There Be Light
Manu Chao - Rainin' In Paradize
Cave Singers - Dancing On Our Graves
Cloud Cult - Your 8th Birthday
Low - Breaker
BrakesBrakesBrakes - Margarita
Jose Gonzalez - How Low
Modest Mouse - Missed The Boat
Band Of Horses - Is There Ghost
Okkervil River - Life Is Like A Movie or Maybe
Pigeon Detectives - I Found Out
Dax Riggs - Living is Suicide
Voom Blooms- Thoughts Of Rena
The Lodger - Let Her Go
Dapples Cities -Hours
Parts & Labor - Fractured Skies
Les Savy Fav - The Year Before The Year 2000
Datarock - Fa Fa Fa
Panda Bear - Bros
Soulsavers - Revival

...And Finally The Top 15
15b. Electric Dream Machine - Dayman Remix (Not as cool if you don't watch "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and if you do, then go to EDM's myspace and listen to this...sweet sweet music)
15a. Against Me! - Thrash Unreal
14. The Features - Wooden Heart
13. Yeasayer - 2080
12. Dan Deacon - Crystal Cat
11. Editors - An End Has A Start
10. Pela - Waiting On The Stairs
09. Tim Armstong - Into Action
08. Shocking Pinks - End Of The World
07. Panther - How Does It Feel?
06. Caribou - Melody Day
05. Kings Of Leon - Black Thumbnail
04. The Besnard Lakes - Disaster
03. !!! - All My Heroes Are Weirdos
02. Pop Levi - Blue Honey
01. LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends

There you have it. Check em out, if you don't like what you hear, get some new ears. Or buy me some.

Solid Gold Albums - 2007 (Best Of)

2007-12-03T20:29:00.000-06:00

Like Midnight Oil says, "The time has come." While they may be talking about burning beds, I'd prefer to give to anyone and everyone my opinion on what quality music came out this year. I have no desire to rank 50 albums, because frankly, how do you choose what seperates number 42 from 29? So I divided some up by genre, then threw the others into a TI-82 calculator and came out with my top 21.

Cures for Insomnia (ambient/relaxing/chill sounds)

1 - Stars of the Lid - And Their Refinement Of The Decline
2 - M83 - Digital Shades Volume 1
3 - Burial - Untrue
4 - Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature
5 - Fujiya & Miyagi - Transparent Things

Friday Night Flows (Hip Hop)

1 - Blue Scholars - Bayani
2 - Brother Reade - Rap Music
3 - Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
4 - Pharoahe Monch - Desire
5 - Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth
6 - Kanye West - Graduation

British Invasion 2007

1 - Jamie T & The Pacemakers - Panic Prevention
2 - The Pigeon Detectives - Wait For Me
3- The Cribs - Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever
4 - Editors - An End Has A Start
5 - Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
6 - The Bishops - The Bishops
7 - The Rumble Strips - Girls and Weather
8 - The Lodger - The Lodger
9 - 1990s - Cookies

The Stuff I'll Bug You To Listen To The Most (Top 21 Of 2007)

21 - Parts & Labor - Map Maker I'll never know how a group can find a way to make a melodic sound out of this amount of noise, but they do it. It would be like putting a pizza in a blender and coming out with a calzone. Also check out similar side project of band member called Shooting Spires

20 - White Williams - Smoke Dude from Ohio whose toured some with Girl Talk. Strangely energetic and yet relaxing. The multiple comparisons to Beck are warranted.

19 - The Nightwatchman - One Man Revolution Tom Morello with an acoustic guitar and the same blunt anger you'd expect from a member of Rage Against The machine

18- Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog I loved The Woman King EP, but not a lot else from Sam Beam. This continues in that same arena, with some songs a little more driving than previous efforts.

17 - Against Me! - New Wave If any vocalist ever wore their heart completely on their voice, its the Against Me's lead singer. A very passionate and smart punk album.

16 - Vietnam - Vietnam Sounds a lot like a current take on the era they may or may not be named after. It's 50/50, but they don't sound like the country, I know that much.

15 - Dax Riggs - We Sing Of Only Blood or Love I love this guys take on the blues, and this album would be top five if the songs were longer. They all seem to end before three minutes. Also check out his project of a couple years ago, Deadboy and the Elephantmen .

14 - Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals The combination of Afrikan rhythms, chanting vocals and potent indie rock makes this one of the top debuts of the year for me. Also is one my more anticipated live acts to catch.

13 - Tim Armstrong - A Poet's Life Rancid frontman's amazingly catchy ska record. Backing band The Aggrolites are worth checking out in their own right, unless you don't like this

12 - Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank I think this is probably their most easily accessible release, and I definetely got into it quicker than their previous stuff.

11 - !!! - Myth Takes The happiest album of the year

10 - Teenager - Thirteen The only thing I know about this duo is that they're from Australia. I don't even really know how I found it, but I know I like it. Has an 80s vibe to it.

09 - Soulsavers - It's Not How Far You Fall, It's The Way You Land I'm a big fan of Mark Lanegan, and since he does a majority of the vocal work on the album, I'm a big fan of this album. Could be described as haunting or more than one occasion, and lyrically, the feelings of regret jump out in more than a couple songs.

08 - The Blakes - The Blakes They have about 4 or 5 different syles going on the album, and each one works well, and each one sounds the best depending on your mood. One of the more versatile non-electronic releases I've heard.

07 - The National - Boxer Like the majority of Alligator, these songs don't jump out at you until you've heard them three or four times, then you're hooked.

06 - Pela - Anytown Graffitti Solid indie rock. This stuff gets stuck in my head as much as any thing this year

05 - Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times This is probably a little more mainstream than any of their other albums, but I think the hooks are also stronger than the previous two albums. If the song Charmer wasn't in here, this would be higher.

04 - Maps - We Can Create Electronic-based release can go from mellow and introspective to soaring choruses and back without sounding out of place. If you put Postal Service on steroids, took out Ben Gibbards voice and all the beep-boops, you might have something like this.

03 - LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver I'm not crazy about the opening track , but North American Scum, Someone Great and All My Friends are easily the three best consecutive tracks on a record this year. The rest is almost as fresh and catchy but those three songs make this album for me.

02 - Shocking Pinks - Shocking Pinks Some amazing drumming and a cool voice. This is a combination of tracks from two albums not released in the US and you can tell that about half have a differernt, more energetic feel. A lot like Say Hi To Your Mom in that the vocal style stays the same thoughout, not changing the mood even if the rest of the songs do.

01 - Pop Levi - The Return To Form Black Majick Party A slightly high pitched wail, a lot of classic/glam rock swagger and some unique and creative uses of the mixing board help make this one of the freshest records of the year. You won't hear anything like this, and I didn't hear anything better than this.