Local Natives on La Blogotheque
And so, I must share their Local Natives sessions with you. As always, the video and the music are both emotional, beautiful, and perfect.
Yim Yames: Valentine’s Day Show
When Jim James plays a solo show, you know it’s gonna be something great. This past Valentine’s Day, Mr. James, or Yim Yames as he tends to go by these days, put on a fantastic solo show in Louisville, KY where he played a mixture of My Morning Jacket songs, and awesome covers (including a beautiful version of “Just The Two Of Us”).
Much thanks to Yonah for sending me the show. Enjoy.
I Will Be There When You Die
Only Have Eyes For You
Just The Two Of Us
Tonight I Want To Celebrate With You
Wonderful (The Way I Feel)
Hopefully
Bermuda Highway
The Right Place
Look At You
His Master’s Voice
Wonderful Man
Blue Moon
Take My Breath Away
It Beats 4 U
Sweetheart
Knot Comes Loose
True Love Ways
Good Morning Dove
Smokin From Shootin
All The Best
Anytime
I’ve Got Bugs!!!!!
These days, there’s a lot in my life revolving around bugs. Beyond to obvious roach issue that every New York resident is familiar with, there’s another Bug reference that I hope to be able to share with you in the coming weeks.
Until then, enjoy the tracks.
Pearl Jam – Bugs (Audience Boot)
A Tribe Called Quest – Buggin’ Out
Elliott Smith Live in DC (4-17-98)
It’s always the best who die young. Elliott Smith may very well have been one of the greatest songwriters of our generation, but his life was cut tragically short by two self inflicted stab wounds to the chest. Like many great musicians, his life was dominated by alcohol and drug abuse, which translated into fantastic songwriting.
Check out this bootleg, and enjoy the man at his absolute best.
Angeles
Division Day
Clementime
Waltz #2
Between The Bars
Southern Belle
Jealous Guy
Say Yes
Oh Well, Okay
No Name #4
Rose Parade
Alameda
Pictures Of Me
Some Song
Biggest Lie
St. Ides Heaven
Care Of Cell 44
Speed Trials
Thirteen
No Name #3
Ben Sollee @ Joe’s Pub in 2 Weeks
In case you don’t follow my Buzz and/or Twitter feeds, you may not yet be aware that Elana and I will be attending the Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore concert at Joe’s Pub on the evening of March 6th.
For those who don’t know, Ben and Daniel just released a new album called Dear Companion, and it’s just fantastic (review to come). I’ve heard great things about his live performances and I’m excited to check it out.
If you’re interested in coming, here’s the info:
March 5 – 7PM
March 6 – 9:30 PM
Tickets: $20
Hope to see you there!
Popout
Pearl Jam Scheduled as Musical Guest for March 13th Episode of Saturday Night Live
Local Natives: Gorilla Manor
Ten years from now, when compiling my list of Top Albums of the 10s, this is going to be up there. I’m going to be saying that one of the best albums of the decade came out just a few months into the decade, and I’ll use this post as proof that I predicted it.
Hailed by Pitchfork as Grizzly Bear of the west coast, Local Natives is in many ways an LA version of their Brooklyn-based brethren. Their album is even called Gorilla Manor, which recalls the name Grizzly Bear. It’s kind of like The Black Keys and The White Stripes; both bands are duos with similar names and similar stripped down sounds. But coincidences are coincidences, and all four of these bands are fantastic. While Local Natives does crossover with Grizzly Bear in terms of vocal stylings, their music is quite different with an unbridled happy aggression that is usually absent in most of today’s indie rock.
In many ways, Pitchfork is right; Local Natives truly are the west coast surfer punks to the ivy league, boat shoe, button down shirt tucked into khaki wearing Grizzly Bear of the New York area. Just as Kerouac couldn’t truly realize himself until he made his way out west, NYC indie rock needed that raw California emotion to reach its potential. Gorilla Manor is that realization.
Check out the tracks, check out the album, and please enjoy the music.
Monday Blues
Monday’s are never fun. Monday’s are even less fun when the rest of the world has off. Columbia University, however, decided that President’s Day was not important enough to give us an extended weekend. So I came home from the snowy wonderland that was Baltimore, and ventured down to school.
After class, I headed to the pool to try to kick out 25 laps. It just wasn’t to be. Besides for the fact that my body gave out after 15 laps, I had the most annoying swimmer sharing my lane. As he was swimming slower than me, I tapped his foot to indicate I’d like to pass him, yet every time we got to the wall, he wouldn’t let me past. When he finally let me go by, he decided that it was time to speed up and kept slapping my foot. So I let him pass me again, at which point he decided to slow back down. Eventually I gave up and hit the showers, only to find out that the hot water had run out.
Then my equipment in my lab wasn’t working, and I got home to a full garbage and a sink full of dishes. Today has been a Monday for the ages. Here’s to hoping Tuesday’s a bit better.
Buddy Guy – Stormy Monday Blues
Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughn – Stormy Monday Blues
The Avett Brothers: 7/20/05
I’ve recently been taken by The Avett Brothers. I dabbled a bit in their most recent album. Then saw them on Austin City Limits. And now, I’m just hooked. Something about them is just captivating and sounds refreshing and new every time around.
Check out this bootleg from 2005.
Pretty Girl From Annapolis
Please Pardon Yourself
At The Beach
Pretend Love
A Lover Like You
SSS
Pretty Girl From Raleigh
Pretty Girl From Matthews
Distraction 74
Left On Laura Left On Lisa
Old Joe Clarke
Pretty Girl At The Airport
Nothing Short Of Thankful
New Love Song
Sixteen In July
Salvation Song
Hesitation Blues
I Killed Sally’s Lover
A Blizzardy Mix
And the snow keeps on storming.
My class today was cancelled, but so is the bus that I was supposed to take home to Baltimore for Shabbat.
Anyway, here are a few wintry tracks to listen to while staying cozy and warm inside. In case you’re wondering why I included “Wish You Were Here,” it’s because of the blizzard-like winds at the end of the track that always make me feel a bit cold inside. It’s the perfect song for wanting to curl up with some hot chocolate.
Explosions in the Sky – Snow and Lights
The Tallest Man on Earth – The Blizzard’s Never Seen the Desert Sands
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Radiohead: Haiti Benefit (1/24/10)
A few weeks ago Radiohead played a show in LA to benefit Haiti. While the audio quality isn’t perfect, it’s the most recent RH live show. So enjoy!
Intro
Faust Arp
Fake Plastic Trees
Arpeggi
The National Anthem
Nude
Karma Police
Kid A
Morning Bell
How To Disappear Completely
A Wolf At The Door
Brooklyn Brooklyn Take Me In
The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You
Load the car and write the note
Grab your bag and grab your coat
Tell the ones that need to know
We are headed north
One foot in and one foot back
But it don’t pay, to live like that
So i cut the ties and i jumped the tracks
For never to return
Ah Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in
Are you aware the shape I’m in
My hands they shake my head it spins
Ah Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in
When at first I learned to speak
I used all my words to fight
With him and her and you and me
Oh but its just a waste of time
Yeah its such a waste of time
That woman shes got eyes that shine
Like a pair of stolen polished dimes
She asked to dance I said it’s fine
I’ll see you in the morning time
Ah Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in
Are you aware the shape im in
My hands they shake my head it spins
Ah Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in
Three words that became hard to say
I and love and you
What you were then, I am today
Look at the things I do
Ah Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in
Are you aware the shape I’m in
My hands they shake my head it spins
Ah Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in
Dumbed down and numbed by time and age
Your dreams to catch the world, the cage
The highway sets the travelers stage
All exits look the same
Three words that became hard to say
I and love and you
I and love and you
I and love and you
Owen Pallett: Heartland
For those of you already familiar with Owen Pallett and Final Fantasy, forgive me; this album is my first exposure to his music under either moniker. And while I will have to check out his FF stuff eventually, right now I’m spinning Pallet’s new album Heartland and I’m liking what I’m hearing.
My first thoughts are a cross between Animal Collective and Andrew Bird; broad luscious soundscapes that include th electronic hippieness of the former and the looped violins and soothing vocals of the latter.
I haven’t listened closely enough to the lyrics yet to make much of them, but Pitchfork seems to think that “these twelve songs are monologues from Lewis, an “ultra-violent farmer” in a world called Spectrum, as he tries to come to grips with his own creator, Owen Pallett.”
But the best thing about this album to me, is how it sounds better on each subsequent listen. Each time I spin it, I like the songs more, and find more things to love about the album and Mr. Pallett.
So please check Owen Pallett out, and as always, enjoy the music.
Owen Pallett – Midnight Directives
Owen Pallett – Keep The Dog Quiet
Surfer Blood: Astro Coast
This is what Vampire Weekend would sound like if I had my way. But this isn’t VW, this is Surfer Blood. This is the band that should be garnering all the critical acclaim, all the blogger hatred, and all the indie rock kid obsessions.
Surfer Blood’s debut album Astro Coast is filled with indie rock gems that don’t get repetitive and sound nothing alike. This is an album full of funky rhythms, grungy guitars, polished vocals, and upbeat fun music. But what makes this a true standout indie album is the guitars. The interwoven parts can’t be deciphered as rhythm or lead; they can only be defined by their greatness and brilliance.
This is a band that has set down their potential for greatness. Yet, unlike certain other bands that will remain nameless, Surfer Blood’s long reaching style that can’t be clearly defined or pinned down shows a maturity and breadth of musical abilities. We can only hope that this will lead to more awesome music down the line.
For now, check out Swim, the single released last year, Harmonix, my personal favorite off the album.
The Masses Are Kind Of Stupid Sometimes
I will never like Coldplay. It won’t happen. And for exactly the same reasons, I will never like the TV show Lost. It’s not that either of these forms of entertainment are bad. It’s not even that I bear a personal grudge against them either; Chris Martin never insulted my intelligence and I’ve never watched more than five minutes of Lost – not nearly enough time to allow me a vendetta against the program.
It’s just that I’ve lost faith in the opinions of the masses. This is a populace that gave Taylor Swift the Grammy for album of the year. This is a nation of TV watchers that pushed Conan out in favor of Jay. This is a nation of imbeciles that wants their music boring and their comedians predictable. In truth, I can’t speak about Lost as I’ve never watched an episode, but from what I’ve heard it’s not all that different from other network dramas; a show based on a weird hitch that favors plot turns over acting and storylines, and tends to get more confusing and less entertaining in later seasons, as the writers attempt to raise ratings by substituting writing for non-believable events. Now, in a perfect world, the masses would see through this. In a perfect world, formulaic shows likeHouse, Prison Break, and (dare I say it?) Lost would get terrible ratings and would fall off the air after a season. But it’s Arrested Development that ends up getting cancelled. I wouldn’t be lying if I said I’d lost my faith in the public’s ability to appreciate good television.
The same goes for bands like Coldplay. But with music, it’s a little more complicated. In general, at least in the rock music world, bands need to impress s lot of people to get attention at all. It’s not as if there are a limited number of channels and TV shows and all you need to do is impress TV execs. In the music business, you need to impress record execs, bloggers, concertgoers, and CD buyers. Needless to say, Coldplay did this. But to put your faith even in the music loving community is dangerous. Because for every few that the masses get right, there are so many that we get wrong.
Here’s the problem; once the masses like you, their opinions are sealed. They like you as you are, and never want you to change. They want you to record the same album with similar songs over and over. What would Radiohead be if they creatively peaked with Pablo Honey? Or The Beatles had they recreated Please Please Me over and over?
You see, everyone loves Coldplay. And everyone loves Vampire Weekend. And everyone loves Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear and Kings of Leon. And when everyone loves you, the easiest thing to do is keep doing what you’re doing. This works surprisingly well. The general populace wants bands to put out familiar safe albums that sound like the last one. This is the populace that loves Jay Leno because they know what joke he’s going to say before he says it. This is a populace that loves Taylor Swift because she’s cute, writes simple songs and will always stay that way. (And if you saw her duet at last night’s Grammy’s with Stevie Nicks, it was clear that the elder stateswoman’s voice is far better than Ms. Swift’s, and sadly, Taylor will probably never mature to the point where she can sing like Stevie.)
Coldplay, in a big way, fell victim to this rut. They put out a pretty good debut album; it wasn’t revolutionary, but it certainly showed promise. Vampire Weekend did the same; I was a bit annoyed with the songs, but they showed promise of a talented band that could go somewhere. And both of those bands, drunk on the fumes of their popularity, decided to take the easy way out and create more of the same, knowing full well that the majority of music fans would eat it up. Or maybe I’m giving them too much credit. Maybe these bands just aren’t as talented as it seemed when they released their debuts; maybe those first albums showed the limit of their songwriting abilities. Whatever the case, neither of these bands has put out a musically relevant song since their first albums.
Animal Collective, it seems, has been able to avoid this. By their nature, they happen to be an ever evolving band, both musically and sonically; painting broad textures of sound that are always different and always a dream to listen to. Kings of Leon have continually changed and adapted their sound, I only hope that they don’t fall into the U2 rut that marked their last album. Grizzly Bear too needs to avoid falling prey to the sirens of success, and will hopefully continue to adapt their sound, and give us great music.
So there you have it. I don’t hate Coldplay. I just don’t care about them anymore. They’re no more musically relevant than any other one-hit wonder. Just because they were able to blow our minds once, doesn’t mean they’ll do it again. So if predictable music is your game, then by all means, listen to Coldplay. But if you want something that rocks, or something that blows your mind, then do yourself a favor and listen to something real. Challenge a band to do something cool, something new. Listen to something worth listening to. Because, we only have so many years to crank out the jams before our ears blow out. How about we spend that time with some quality music.
Animal Collective – What Would I Want? Sky
Grizzly Bear – While You Wait For The Others
Fleet Foxes: Live in the Netherlands
CSNY was known for their harmonizing. Their live shows, however, were unable to replicate the pristine vocals that were captured on the albums.
The Fleet Foxes are a band that can recreate those harmonies in concert. If you don’t believe me, then give the tracks a listen to.
Intro
Sun Giant
Sun It Rises
Drops In The River
English House
White Winter Hymnal
Ragged Wood
Your Protector
Crayon Angels
Oliver James
He Doesn’t Know Why
Mykonos
Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
Blue Ridge Mountains
Outro
J.D. Salinger, Dead At 91
Jerome Davis Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye, Nine Stories, Franny and Zooey, and many other great works of fiction died today at the age of 91.
To the literarily inclined, Mr. Salinger was one of the greatest. His unique writing style was patently American, and his sparse dialogue wasn’t just unique, but was representative of the speaking and thinking style of many of the teenagers that he was writing about.
And while the author spent most of his life as a recluse (his last work was published in 1965), he remains one of the greatest American authors of all time.
Miles Davis & John Coltrane – Fran-Dance
Okkervil River – Singer Songwriter
Wilco – Ashes of American Flags
New Music: The Tallest Man On Earth
At the beginning of this year, I compiled a list of bands I love, who are supposedly releasing albums this year. The Tallest Man On Earth was on that list, and I’m happy to share this gem of a song with you.
The new album, to be called The Wild Hunt is going to be released on April 13th by the label Dead Oceans. The label’s website had the following to say about the forthcoming album:
With unbridled excitement, we bring you The Tallest Man on Earth’s second LP, The Wild Hunt. It is all here: The words. The voice. The melodies. Ten perfect songs.
So there you have it. Check out the track, and as always – enjoy the music.
The Tallest Man On Earth – The King Of Spain
(thanks to AD for the track)
Radiohead: Lotus Flower
Popout
Check out Stereogum’s coverage here.
Ticketmaster – Live Nation Merger
It’s finally happened, and it’s not good. After months (years?) of debate, the Justice Department finally gave the two ticket giants the go ahead to merge and form a monopoly.
While it’s upsetting, this shouldn’t be a surprise. With the large record companies unable to make a buck by selling albums, the next obvious money maker in the music industry is the live show. The worst part is, while music fans were able to get around sky-high album prices by illegally downloading the tracks, it’s going to be tough to get into concerts without purchasing a ticket from one of these monoliths. So we’ll continue to purchase tickets, and the price will continue to rise, with the big guys getting the largest cut, and the rest of us wallowing in the pit empty wallets and bank accounts just because we wanted to see a few of our favorite bands.
As Jim DeRogatis put it in his 2003 book Milk It:
[Woodstock '99] set a new low for the blatant disregard of live music fans as anything but willing sheep ready to be fleeced for every last dollar while being bombarded by the forces of marketing.
He’s right, but what else can we do? Those of us who love music, and aren’t writers or don’t have friends in the industry will always have to shell out cash to see our heroes. And to tell you the truth, I can afford it. But it’s the teenage fans who can’t. It’s the young music fans, the ones usually most passionate about the bands and the songs, who are going to be shafted by this deal.
For more info on the merger, check out Rolling Stone and The Wall Street Journal.
Here’s to hoping this decade doesn’t destroy the concert like the last one destroyed the recording industry.
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (12-31-91)
Grace Potter – Ticket To The Show (7-23-06)
Pink Floyd – The Show Must Go On
Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison: Live
Looking back at this recording, it’s tragic to think how these two artists’ lives were cut so tragically short. At the time this show was bootlegged, Hendrix was 25 and Morrison was 24. Both would be dead before their 28th birthdays.
So we’re seeing two revolutionary artists at their prime, and the show does a great job of reflecting this by portraying each of these characters at their musical extremes. Hendrix’s guitaristry is fiery and fierce, as he plays his Strat like no one else can. Morrison’s vocals are dark and frightening, and he uses the microphone to express his frustrated poetry.
Check the show out, it’s a gem of a classic bootleg, and I’m proud to be bringing it to you.
Red House
Wake Up This Morning and Find Yourself Dead
Bleeding Heart
Morrison’s Lament
Tomorrow Never Knows
Uranus Rock
Outside Woman Blues
Sunshine Of Your Love
Eddie Vedder: My City of Ruins
As many of you remember, Eddie Vedder performed Bruce Springsteen’s song My City of Ruins for the Kennedy Awards at which Springsteen was honored. While the entirety of the song wasn’t played on the broadcast (a verse was cut out), it’s now available from iTunes, with all the money going to benefit Haiti.
So, get off your butt, click the link if you haven’t already, and buy the song. It’s for a good cause, and it’s pretty freaking amazing.
The Death of the Record Store
There are so few left. So few true record stores left in this world. While the album may or may not have died, the record store certainly has. Sure, there are a few hanging on for dear life, but most are gone.
In 2006, Tower Records filed for bankruptcy and shut down many of their stores, including the one in downtown Manhattan. While Tower was a large chain, it had a small record store feel to it, selling more obscure and rare records and always hosting live music.
Enter No Longer Empty, a a group of artists and art lovers who set up exhibits in vacated storefronts in New York City. In the former Tower Records building on the corner of Broadway and 4th, NLE has set up an exhibit calledNever Say Goodbye, using a number of artists’ depictions of classic albums, including tile versions of Nevermind and London Calling, a glitter encrusted version o Bowie’s Space Oddity, and Miles Davis’ Bitched Brew featuring what looks to be Jay-Z on the cover.
So, while the record store may have died, art is alive and well. Open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays until February 13th, make sure you head down there if you’re in the New York area.
Enjoy the pics, and, as always, enjoy the music.
Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Van Morrison – Caravan
Counting Crows – Caravan
And the caravan is on it’s way
I can hear the merry gypsies play
Mama mama look at Emma Rose
She’s a-playin with the radio
La, la, la, la…
And the caravan has all my friends
It will stay with me until the end
Gypsy Robin, Sweet Emma Rose
Tell me everything I need to know
La, la, la…
Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long just to hold you in my arms so that I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night I shall reveal you
Turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher radio
Turn it up, that’s enough, so you know it’s got soul
La, la, la, la…
And the caravan is painted red and white
That means ev’rybody’s staying overnight
Barefoot gypsy player round the campfire sing and play
And a woman tells us of her ways
La, la, la, la…
Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long just to hold you in my arms so that I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night I shall reveal you
Turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher, radio
Turn it up, that’s enough, so you know it’s got soul
So you know, So you know it’s got soul, So you know it’s got..
So you know it’s got soul. so you know it’s got soul
Turn it up now! Turn it up
One more time!
So you know!
One more time! One more time! One more time! One more time!
Lou Reed: Metal Machine Music
Do not listen to this album. Do not download the song, and please do not stream it. It’s not worth your while.
Well, now that I’ve got your attention, here’s a bit of background: I’ve recently attained a copy of Lou Reed’s album Metal Machine Music. I had read Lester Bang’s take on this album years ago, and have been wanting to hear just what he was talking about. To quote Mr. Bangs:
You know when you get so tense and anxiety-ridden that all the nerves in the back o your neck snarl up into one burning ball? Well, if that gland could play music, it would sound like this album.
The album is four tracks of nonsensical feedback and distortion. It’s a mess. It’s annoying. It’s offensive to the ears. Yet, after a while, it becomes somehow soothing. Seriously. A minute and a half into the first track, and you’ll want to punch yourself in the head. But four minutes in, and it almost turns into peaceful background noise; white noise if you will.
Mr. Reed claimed that there was symphonic harmony to this album. He claimed that every sound, every nuance of amplified sound fed back into itself was planned and perfectly written out. Mr. Reed was full of shit. But while he didn’t create a masterpiece of sound, he did pave the way for many other bands to create beautiful music using distortion. Without this album, there would never have been Sonic Youth. There never would have been Pavement. There never would have been My Bloody Valentine.
What makes my discovery of this album so much more exciting is that I just received an email from school informing me that the Fireworks Ensemble, under the direction of conductor Ulrich Krieger, will be performing this album at Columbia’s Miller Theater using classical instruments. I’m intrigued as to how it will sound, and totally would go if it wasn’t on a Friday night.
So, if you must, give the first track a bit of a listen, but don’t say I didn’t warn you; it sounds like crap.
Lou Reed – Metal Machine Music Part I
Pearl Jam Lollapalooza Rumors
a little birdie told me that PJ, Them Crooked Vultures and Soundgarden will be performing/headlining at Lollapalooza this year. this is just what i was told. nothing officially confirmed though.
I scoured the PJ forums and tracked it down to here.
Two Feet Thick, however. pointed out that this wasn’t an official moderator tweet.
So there you have it. You can choose to believe, not believe, or not care. Just keeping you updated on the info. More as it comes.
Ben Sollee: I Can’t
This ain’t the life I thought I’d live
This ain’t the home I hoped we’d make
This ain’t the path I thought I chose
This ain’t the sky I’d hoped we’d see
This ain’t the tree I thought would grow
This ain’t the god to which I pray
This ain’t the song I thought I’d write
These ain’t the words I want to say
I can’t be your man
This ain’t the flag I thought we’d raise
This ain’t the wind I’d hoped would blow
This ain’t the ship I thought would sail
This ain’t the rose I’d hoped would bloom
This ain’t the play I thought we’d stage
These ain’t the hills I’d hoped we’d roam
This ain’t the sword pulled from the lake
Yours ain’t the heart I want to break
But I can’t be your man
This ain’t the end I thought it’d be
Are you someone I’ve loved before
In this the song the caged bird sings
Is there some law I choose to ignore
This is a faith I must defend
I’ve tried, I can’t pretend
There is a hope I must contend
We’ll find the thread with the strength to mend
I can’t be your man
Least not this time around
And it’s something unpredictable
Like where a leaf might fall
And it’s something unrestrainable
Like a rooster’s morning call
I can’t be your man
Miles Davis: Antibes Jazz Fest 1969
With Chick Corea on electric piano, Wayne Shorter on saxaphone, Dave Holland on bass, and Jack de Jhonette on drums, this Miles Davis set shows him at his most electric. His playing is fierce and unparalleled, and his fabulous backing band keeps up brilliantly.
Enjoy the show.
Directions
Spanish Key
I Fall In Love Too Easily
Masqualero
Miles Runs The Voodoo Down
No Blues
Nefertiti
Sanctuary
Jay Reatard Remembered
After reading through the comments on Stereogum’s article about Jay Reatard’s passing, I feel like I owe him a more complete eulogy.
No, I haven’t listened to much of his music. And no, if you asked me to name a song of his, I probably couldn’t. But that’s not the point; the point is that someone died. This death is no more important than anyone else’s, but now that we’ve heard about it we owe him our respects. Sure, he may have been a douchebag who abused his body chemically and didn’t take care of himself. But that doesn’t mean he was a bad person, and it doesn’t mean we should trash his memory.
So, to honor his memory as a musician, here’s a few songs to check out. Let’s celebrate his life by being inspired and moved by his music even now that he’s gone.
Jay Reatard – Always Wanting More
Haiti
As you all know, catastrophe struck Haiti this week when an earthquake ravaged the already impoverished city of Port au Prince. The relief efforts are only just beginning, and a lot more help and support is going to be neccesary.
Here are a few ways to donate to the cause:
- Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to RedCross relief efforts
- Donate via Oxfam
The Arcade Fire – Haiti
Andrew Bird – Natural Disaster
Pearl Jam – Tremor Christ (2-6-95)
Computer Down
My computer is officially down. While trying to clear some space on my laptop I deleted Open Office, which I rarely use anyway. Suddenly, Microsoft Word wouldn’t open and I was unable to open any executable files.
I’m currently trying to restore my computer to its factory settings (and writing this post from my phone). Hopefully everything will be back up and running in a few hours and I’ll be able to post some stuff for y’all.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
R.I.P. Jay Reatard
I didn’t love his music all that much but he was a well respected musician and will be sorely missed.
The Mountain Goats: Psalms 40:2
The Mountain Goats – Psalms 40:2
Pulled off the highway in Missouri and low our hearts were heavy laid
Made for the chapel with some spray paint for all the things we’d held in secret
Lord lift up these lifeless bones
Light cascading through the windows
all the rainbow’s heavy tones
He has fixed his sign in the sky
He has raised me from the pit and set me high
Left that place in ruin, drunk on the Spirit and high on fumes
Checked into a Red Roof in stayed up for several hours and then slept like infants
In the burning fuselage of my days
Let me mouth be ever fresh with praise
He has fixed his sign in the sky
He has raised me from the pit and set me high
Each morning new
Each day shot through
With all the sharps small shards of shrapnel
that seem to burst of me and you
Head down towards kansas We will get there when we get there don’t you worry
Feel bad about the things we do along the way
But not really that bad
We inhaled the frozen air
Lord send me a mechanic if I’m not beyond repair
He has fixed his sign in the sky
He has raised from the pit and he will set me high
Delta Spirit: People, Turn Around
Delta Spirit – People Turn Around from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
Delta Spirit – People Turn Around
Eighteen and jaded with guns in their hands
They were fighting for freedom, and just what is that?
Bills to the banks and food for the kids
Money for college, but couldn’t get in
Made all the grades, but got taken to task
By a man in an alley wearing a mask
Screamed and she begged as the people walked by
The man he just laughed and the woman she cried
Well it’s time all you people turn around
For the life we’ve been living, messing around
The blood we’ve been spilling will bleed us dry
The life we’ve been killing is the life like mine
The needle is sweet and the snow it is pure
The pain I’ve been hiding from, I’m finding a cure
The night it is warm, well the light it is cold
The family I’m robbing, I’m calling them home
It’s time all you people turn around
For the life we’ve been living, messing around
The blood we’ve been spilling will bleed us dry
The life we’ve been killing is the life like mine
My heart it is thumping the veins they’ve been blue
The blood that’s been pumping still hasn’t met you
The beard that I’m growing, not fully grown
The years are not coming the way I thought they would
I’m hoping and waiting for something to sing
Like the angels in heaven, the bones on the street
Hoping for love to find a new voice
The song that’s needs singing has already been sung before
It’s time all you people turn around
For the life we’ve been living, messing around
The blood we’ve been spilling will bleed us dry
The life we’ve been killing is the life like mine
It’s time all you people turn around
For the life we’ve been living, messing around
The blood we’ve been spilling will bleed us dry
The life we’ve been killing is the life like mine
Vampire Weekend: Contra
Something needs to be clarified: I don’t despise Vampire Weekend. I did not hate their first album, nor do I entirely entirely hate their second album, Contra. Sure, I disliked them in concert, and probably won’t pay to see them again. But I don’t hate them, and think that they have what to contribute to music.
That said, I do not like their music all that much. I can listen to about 1/3 of any one of their songs before I feel like someone’s trying to force feed me a popsicle and it’s getting all over the place, and not in the 3rd grader eating a fudgesicle kind of way where it’s cutely smudged all over his face, but in the awkward middle aged man on the train with ice cream stains on his shirt and fingers. Their music is an unwelcome sugar rush that seems more fitting on a Radio Disney album than on the radio.
Before all of you VW fans try to drive a stake through my heart (yes – that vampire pun was intended), let me take a step back. I do think that they are a unique sounding band. I also think that they are talented songwriters and musicians. I just happen not to like their brand of music. And this is fine. I’m ok with it, and I hope you are too. I guess I was hoping that they would depart from this childish style for something more appealing to my ears. They did not, and thus the band and I will remain at a distance.
In their review, Pitchfork states that “Vampire Weekend sound like they’ve fallen in love with what they started and are hugging it tight without shame or apology.” I guess I just really wanted to like this band and this new album. Maybe someday my ears will change their opinion of the band and their style. Until then, I’ll sit back and listen to something else.
…Hmmm. This wasn’t much of an album review; it was more of a tirade against a style that I dislike. So, if you want to check out the album for yourself, please stream it on their My Space page. Hope you enjoy it more than I did.
New Animal Collective: Brothersport
Like most AC music, the video is a real trip. The only think I can really compare it to is a Jon Hopkins video screen at his live shows (check him out if you can!).
Enjoy!
Popout
The Allman Brothers Band: Live at the Beacon (3/14/06)
To those of you who have been religiously following this blog for the past two years – I apologize. Almost two years ago to the day I posted this concert for the few who were reading this blog in its humble beginnings. But now, as we’ve grown, it’s high time to post this show again. Plus, the Allmans will be returning to New York this Spring, but not to the Beacon Theater; this year they will be performing at the United Palace Theater, in Washington Heights – right around the corner from me.
One of the more exciting things about this to me, is Gregg Allman’s desire to use Wash-Hi as a hangout during their few week tenure at the venue.
The band is also looking into other ways that it could make the Washington Heights neighborhood more familiar to its itinerant followers, who might not have spent much time there. Mr. Allman said he and his colleagues might rent a bar there during the residency that would offer “a safe, safe place to get loaded or talk to the pretty women — do the things that us guys do.”
While I’m not really in the business of “getting loaded and talking to the pretty women,” I do think it would be pretty cool to have the Brothers hanging out in the neighborhood.
This is the show I attended when The Allmans graced the Beacon four years ago. It’s been a while, and I think it’s time for me to see them again.
Revival
Midnight Rider
Firing Line
Rocking Horse
Gamblers Roll
Trouble No More
Into The Mystic
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Samething
What The Hell Is Going One
19 Years Old
Got My Mojo Working
Egypt
Leave My Blues At Home (Drums)
No One Left To Run With
Southbound
Soundgarden: Live in Denver
With the news that Soundgarden is reuniting, it’s high time to post some of their music. I found this bootleg of a ’96 show in Denver, CO, and though the sound isn’t perfect, it shows a band with a well honed live sound; a bootleg that belongs in this series.
Spoonman
Searching With My Good Eye Closed
Let Me Drown
Pretty Noose
Burden In My Hand
My Wave
Ty Cobb
An Unkind
Improvision
Fell On Black Days
Helter Skelter
Boot Camp
Rusty Cage
Black Hole Sun
Outshined
Dusty
Blow Up The Outside World
Search and Destroy
Slaves and Bulldozers
Never The Machine
Jesus Christ Pose
The Year in Review
It’s also been a great year for albums. And a great year for concerts. And a great year for music in general. Here’s a sum-up of the posts relating to all of those this year.
Concerts (that I’ve attended)
- My Morning Jacket – Madison Square Garden (12.31.08)
- Kings Of Leon – Madison Square Garden (1.29.09)
- State Radio – The Bowery Ballroom (2.16.09)
- Eddie Vedder – Lyric Opera House (6.15.09)
- Andrew Bird – Radio City Music Hall (6.18.09)
- The Derek Trucks Band – Lincoln Center (8.13.09)
- Pearl Jam – United Center (8.23.09)
- Pearl Jam – United Center (8.24.09)
- Pearl Jam – The Spectrum (10.28.09)
- Pearl Jam – The Spectrum (10.31.09)
- Sonic Youth – The Bowery Ballroom (11.25.09)
- Phish – Madison Square Garden (12.2.09)
- U2 – No Line On The Horizon
- Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
- Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey & The Groo Grux King
- The Decemberists – The Hazards Of Love
- Yim Yames – Tribute To
- Steve Earle – Townes
- Pearl Jam – Backspacer
- State Radio – Let It Go
- The Mountain Goats – The Life Of The World To Come
- Top 10 of 2009
- Top 50 – 41 Albums of the 00s
- Top 40 – 31 Albums of the 00s
- Top 30 – 21 Albums of the 00s
- Top 20 – 11 Albums of the 00s
- Top 10 – 1 Albums of the 00s
- Stream of Consciousness: From Jack Kerouac to Miles Davis
- The Death Of The Album & Attempted Murder In The Music Business
My Morning Jacket: New Years Eve 2009
Last New Years Eve I attended one of the best parties ever; My Morning Jacket’s concert in Madison Square Garden. And even though the New Year has come and gone, I figured I’d share this concert with you as a part of the bootleg series. Enjoy!
intro music – What Are You Doing
Move On Up (Curtis Mayfield)
Evil Urges
Off The Record
Gideon
The Way That He Sings
Thank You Too
I’m Amazed
Golden
Librarian
You’re All I Need (marvin gaye)
Express Yourself (charles wright)
Wonderful Man
Lay Low
Phone Went West
Look At You
Dondante
Smoking from Shootin
Touch Me Part 2
Run Thru
The Wanderer (Dion)
Dancefloors
Magheeta
new years’ countdown
Celebration (kool & the gang)
Get Down On It (kool & the gang)
Wordless Chorus
Highly Suspicious
Cobra
Islands in the Stream (Dolly Parton)
Bring It on Home to Me (Sam Cooke)
Cold Sweat (James Brown)
Anytime
One Big Holiday
Auld Lang Syne (sung by Jim James)
Soundgarden Reunion!
At midnight last night, as 2009 slid into 2010, Chris Cornell posted the following on his Twitter page:
The 12 year break is over & school is back in session. Sign up now. Knights of the Soundtable ride again!www.soundgardenworld.com
It seems like the wait is finally over, and the boys will be either getting back into the studio or heading out on the road in the coming year. I guess that’s what Eddie Vedder meant when he said that Pearl Jam may not be coming back for a while; it would be pretty hard for them to play without Matt Cameron, drummer for both Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.
Unless of course PJ and SG tour together and Matt plays both sets… Here’s to hoping!
Top 50 Albums of the 00s: 10 – 1
40 – 31 can be found here
30 – 21 can be found here
20 – 11 can be found here
Drumroll please for the TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE DECADE (imho)
10. Eddie Vedder – Into The Wild (2007)
I know one of my rules this list was no soundtracks, but if you look closely at how I formulated the rule, you may notice that I stated that “Nocompilation-style soundtracks” are eligible for this list. And yes, I did that precisely so I could include this album. Because it is, in fact, an album much greater than the movie. I’m pretty sure no one knew that Ed had such a folksy quality to him until this album was released. A true folk rock troubadour, Eddie astounds listeners with his beautiful fingerpicking and his longing vocals. This album contains 11 gorgeous songs, all sung and played impeccably. What’s more, this is the album that led to the Eddie Vedder solo tours, and if you’ve seen any of those shows you know that this album deserves a place up on the mantle as one of the best.
9. The Arcade Fire – Funeral (2004)
This band is Canadian. Which explains all the French in their songs. I guess in my idealistic indie world The Arcade Fire would actually be French, it just seems to fit so well. I have no idea why, but they just seem like Frenchmen to me. But onto the music: This album takes indie rock to the next level. Instead of sad sorry derivative music that encompasses a lot of stuff classified as indie, this album is anything but repetitive. Sure, it sounds gorgeous and somehow familiar, but try to equate this band or this album to anything else, and nothing comes up. At every twist and turn we get a new style and a new sound, all without sounding forced or fake. From simple violin riffs to crunchy distortion, this album spans every genre and is an overwhelming presentation of creativity at it’s best. The Arcade Fire has earned the right to be in a class all their own. This is the album that bought them that right.
8. The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely (2008)
The premier prophet of our generation, Jack White strikes again. After successfully conquering the world and our ears with The White Stripes, Mr. White neither burned out, nor did he fade away. Nay! He turned around and decided to create a new band, The Raconteurs. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a raconteur as “the narrator of an anecdote or story, esp. a person particularly skilled in this role.” Mr. White and his bandmates are truly this. But their mode of storytelling isn’t a book or story hour at the library; it’s music. The album name comes from a quote on the side of the Washington DC Post Office that reads: “Messengers of sympathy and love, servants of parted friends, consoler of the lonely, bond of the scattering family, enlarger of the common life.” This album truly lives up to that; a unique sound, but familiarly based in the blues and in storytelling. Jack White knew that we, the music fans, needed something deeper than the brashness of the early 00s. He knew that at the heart, all we really wanted were some freaky bedtime stories set to music.
Well now you heard another side to the story
But you wanna know how it ends?
If you must know, the truth about the tale
Go and ask the milkman
Thanks for the milk, Jack.
7. Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)
This is the album that solidified the Kings as rock gods in Europe, though America wasn’t quite ready for them yet. Ironically, it’s the patently American South sound that makes KOL great, but we can’t seem to appreciate that. This is a sophomore album for the ages, described by the band as the hangover after the party of their first album. And what a hangover it is. These road-tested warriors are chock-full of stories from their travels, about girls, drinking, and good ole Southern fun. Sons of a preacher they may be, but this album is about as far from religion as we can get. Caleb Followill’s voice also shows it’s first glimpses of brilliance with his recognizable growling screech that simultaneously makes listeners feel the urge to clear their throats and chug a bottle of bourbon. So sit back and listen to the raw guitars, the ever rawer vocals, and be delighted by this unbelievable band, and eve unbelievabler (sic) album.
6. Radiohead – In Rainbows (2007)
This is an album full of love songs. Strip away the computerized drum beats, the electronic sounds, and Jonny Greenwood’s tinkering, and you’re left with with Thom Yorke’s lyrics about love, life, and loss. But that’s not Radiohead, and that’s not this album. In Rainbows is another leap in the innovative machine that comprises this band. It’s another step forward and another push to change the state of music and creativity. We can listen to the simply beautiful sounds of pop music, or we can listen to the haunting beauty of Radiohead, which is both beautiful on the outside and the inside. This album is a just that; a collection of songs that are both catchy at first listen, and magnificently revealing on each subsequent spin. One of the happier sounding Radiohead albums, Thom Yorke and co. continue to excel at the creation of music as art – and continue to push the envelope creatively, artistically, and beautifully.
5. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001)
The guys at Reprise Records must be kicking themselves for this one. Upon hearing the record for the first time, the execs at this Warner Bros subsidiary complained that there was no single, and subsequently dropped Wilco from their label. The album has since gone gold, and Wilco has proven to be a huge force in the music business, releasing successful album after successful album. This album, however, takes the cake as Wilco’s best. Though the album was written before 9/11, it has a haunting post-catastrophe feel to them, with titles like Ashes of American Flags, and two tall buildings on the cover art; it’s almost as if Jeff Tweedy and co. put out this album as a consoler in the potential event of a tragedy. Well, ten years down the line these songs are still just as heartfelt and as meaningful as they were when they first came out. I would like to salute the ashes of American flags. We salute you too, Wilco. Salute your brilliance. Salute this albums beauty. And salute you, for changing the face of music as we know it today
4. My Morning Jacket – Z (2005)
The glory of My Morning Jacket was solidified with this album. Every single song is an absolute winner, and more importantly, this is the album where we see Jim James and co begin to explore their experimental jam-band roots, combining the sound they had already become known for with a newer type of sound that’s not quite definable; it’s alternative, jam band, progressive, and folksy all at the same time. It’s also on this album that we first see Jim James as the master of all trades that he is, with the golden pipes, the rhythm guitar efficiency, and the lead guitar mastery that he shows over and over again, song after song. We are the innovators, they are the imitators wails James during Wordless Chorus, the album’s opener. And it’s all too true. This album is one of the most significant declarations of musical innovation this decade.
3. Jay-Z – The Blueprint (2001)
One of the best rap albums of all time, Shawn Corey Carter’s The Blueprintwas one man’s statement to the world that he was the greatest there ever was. Take into account the fact that this was all amid two pending criminal charges, and numerous feuds with other rappers, and it’s astounding that Jay-Z still had that much confidence in himself and in his abilities. But I guess when you’re the best, you know it. Angry at times, soulful at others, Jay-Z abandons gimmicks and some of his more poppy radio friendly beats, and just raps. His beats are catchy and his rhymes are smooth. Backed mainly by producers Kanye and Just Blaze, the Brooklyn native lets it all out on this one, rapping about his court cases, girls, and family. This unabashed approach strikes the listener deep and combined with unforgettable backing tracks, forces the listener to return to this album over and over again.
2. Radiohead – Kid A (2000)
Noises. Lots and lots of noises. And yet, they sound so beautiful. Having already released three successful albums, Thom Yorke and Radiohead decided that it was time to buck the trend once again, and step out of the arena of rock music and into the world of creation; not just the creation of new songs or a new album, but the creation of an entirely new sound. The album opener Everything In Its Right Place sets the tone for the musically absurd with vocals that ooze into some sort of song. Kid A is pure cacophony, but in a weirdly good way. From there, the album just keeps getting both stranger and better. The creative genius of this band is quite apparent in their ability to craft patently unique songs that are both unfamiliar and familiar at the same time. This was the album that changed Radiohead. This was the album that changed music.
1. The Strokes – Is This It? (2001)
That first sound says it all. It sounds like a tape recorder trying to rewind something as its batteries are running out. I’m pretty sure this wasn’t The Strokes’ intention with the sound, but I see it as the death rattle of all the bad music that defined the late 90s, before we hear the first ever Strokes drumbeat, and damn it if it doesn’t sound absolutely glorious. And looking back, I think everyone who came of age in the 00s can relate all to well with this album. Is this really it? Isn’t there more to life than the monotony that defines the everyday? I remember the first time I heard a Strokes song -Last Nite. It was in my dad’s car on the way to school one morning, and I kept thinking that the opening of the song sounded exactly like the interlude in Tom Petty’s American Girl. But once the song began, it was clear that this was very different from anything else I’d ever heard. That year, at least once a week the song would be on during our seven minute morning drive to school, mostly when we were getting into the car, with me always hoping that the post-verse break was the one before the solo and not the one right before the song ended. I felt a connection to this band unlike many other bands I’d heard before. This was my music, and this was my band. Is This It? was the thesis statement for the entire decade, and the saving grace for a generation starved for music would be theirs and theirs alone.
HAPPY 2010!
Top 50 Albums of the 00s: 20-11
40 – 31 can be found here
30 – 21 can be found here
20. My Morning Jacket – It Still Moves (2003)
While not my favorite MMJ album, this one has a ton of amazing hits, and all of them translate amazingly live. From Magheeta, to Dancefloors, toGolden, to… Ok, before I name every single song on the album, I’ll stop and just let you know that I love all of them. This is MMJ’s first true masterpiece. Just to focus on my favorite song off the album, let’s shmooze about One Big Holiday. Everything about the song is perfect. We have the intro riff that sounds like something out of an AC/DC song (specifically the song TNT) that moves ever so delicately into the main riffage, which is potently grungy. That riff then descends into a perfectly alternative verse chorus combo. I’m not sure if it’s the crazy combo of styles that gets me going, but something about this song is just so good. Listen, and if you don’t agree, you’re just wrong. This isn’t opinion, it’s fact.
19. Ben Harper – Both Sides of the Gun (2006)
It’s not really fair to look at this as one album, but we will anyway. This is one of Ben’s most mature and best written albums. To give you a bit of background, this is a double album, the first of which is softer acoustic songs (a-la Ben’s first two albums) and the second of which is his heavier stuff (a-la Ben’s later albums). It’s rare that I’ll listen to a double album all the way through, but this one can’t be done any other way. The soft side opener Morning Yearning sets the stage with the heartbroken wake up call of a stranded lover waking up without his beloved. The rest of the side continues with the same theme of sad longing songs. By the time we get to the second half, Ben has transformed into a changed man, ready to take on the future. Is Better Way about moving past a relationship or changing the world? Depending on whether you see the song in the context of the entire album or on it’s own changes your perception of the track. Black Rain, is obviously about the floods in New Orleans, while Please Don’t Talk About Murder While I’m Eating could be about anything. The album closer, Serve Your Soul, sounds eerily like Led Zeppelin’s When The Levee Breaks. Possibly Ben equating the theme of the songs with the levee them in Black Rain? I’m not sure, but I sure am glad that he’s given us such a beautiful album open to such vivid interpretation. It’s pretty freaking awesome.
18. The Black Keys – Rubber Factory (2004)
This album was recorded in an abandoned warehouse in Akron, Ohio, and hell if it doesn’t sound like that. Gritty. Dirty. Messy. Bluesy. The duo of guitarist/singer Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney sound larger than life on this blues workhorse of a third album. I’m not sure what’s more amazing: that two musicians can produce such a full sounding album, or that these white boys from Akron can play the blues so damn well. It’s certainly not your father’s blues, but there’s no other way to describe it. This album exemplifies everything great about the Keys. When The Lights Go Out, 10 AM Automatic, Grown So Ugly, and Aeroplane Blues all prove why this band is so great, and why this album deserves a spot in the Top 50. No bones about it, this is a modern blues band that just plain brings down the house. So flip on the album, crank it up, and watch your neighbors complain. Then invite them in to listen, because no one can really resist this band; they’re too darn good.
17. Amy Winehouse – Back To Black (2006)
They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said ‘No! No! No!’
Oh Amy, how we love you. You sing like you’ve been smoking and drinking since you were born, which, considering your binges and gaunt figure, sounds about right. Amy’s sophomore album is without a doubt her best, and the one that introduced most of the world to just how soulful her voice can be. But beyond her voice, her lyrics and songwriting skills are unparalleled in the pop world; no one else can do it as well as Amy. Always in the tabloids for her famous binges and public displays of debauchery, Amy is that tragic artists who uses drug and alcohol abuse as her muse. But we’re willing to forgive all of that, as long as she continues to put out amazing albums like this one.
16. Radiohead – Amnesiac (2001)
No other band in the world goes so far off the deep end experimentally, and manages to succeed and gain even more fans. Radiohead never goes about anything conventionally. Amnesiac, the second album from the studio sessions that produced both it and Kid A, is the second and possibly more approachable of the two album. I personally love it. It’s quirky and thought provoking. We have weird instruments, radio clips, and sounds that can’t be placed. But that’s just me; I love stuff like that. I love it when guitars get stranger and stranger, and the music keeps me guessing, almost to the point where it’s bothersome. I love that stuff. I’m just not sure what the masses (the same masses that ate up NSync and Britney that year) see in this album. This album is one of my favorites ever. And apparently the world agrees. I just have no idea why.
15. Kanye West – The College Dropout (2004)
First things first. Kanye West is a douchebag. We knew it long before he stole the mic from Taylor Swift. We even knew it before Bonnaroo when he cried to the promoters that Pearl Jam played for too long. How did we know? I think it had a lot to do with those sunglasses, but we knew. Either way, he’s a damn good producer and an even better rapper. Not all of his songs are perfect, but this was one of the first times a producer successfully made the switch into rapping and that itself is admirable.Jesus Walks is one of the best rap songs of all time. I don’t care that he’s being annoyingly preachy. I don’t even care that he’s self referential or that he uses a line from Happy Gilmore. What matters is that this song is unbelievably good. As is the rest of the album. So continue to hate Kanye all you like. Just remember that he kind of is as awesome as he thinks he is.
14. Pearl Jam – Binaural (2000)
I’ve always derided this album as one that lacked flow. And while I don’t entirely disagree with that thought, I do think this is one of Pearl Jam’s best; certainly the best of this decade. Let’s start with qualifications: every song on this album is amazing (except of course for Evacuation which is nothing short of horrid in my opinion, but hey – you’re allowed one crappy song per album). The two opening rockers Breakerfall and Evacuation set the stage for the album, before letting Light Years lead us swirling away from the grunge and into PJ experimental territory; experimental but with a pop-like quality. The Mike McCready solo-fest Nothing As It Seems follows, which is basically 5 minutes of McCready soloing away; over lyrics written by…Jeff Ament? Betcha didn’t see that one coming. Thin Air is another calm rocker, which uses Ed’s reaching vocals to take it from an ok track, to a superb one. Insignificance is an PJ gem, and the first time the band took advantage of Matt Cameron’s unique staccato drumming style. Of The Girl falls in the purely experimental category, and Grievance is one of those songs that sounded ok, until we all heard it live, and our heads were blown clear off of our bodies. Rival is the sleeper pick of the album, one that I barely noticed until recently, but rocks with a patently Vitalogy feel to it. Slight of Hand, Soon Forget, and Parting Ways close off the album calmly and quietly – leaving the listener wanting to hear just a bit more of the grunge that started it all, forcing us to flip the record back over to side one and start all over. And that, is the mark of a great album.
13. The White Stripes – White Blood Cells (2001)
This album changed the world. This album (along with a few others) helped usher out the terrible albums that marked the end of the 90s, and helped return brash guitar music to the forum. Listen to Fell In Love With A Girl, and try not to think about the summer of 2001, or the cool lego music video. This was a band that knew how to play their instruments (at least Jack did). They just chose not to. It’s almost as if Jack White knew that rock and roll needed to be saved, and he knew that we needed simplistic guitar rock to do it. So he put a hold on his blues rock, and like a stranger with a piece of candy, enticed us to come into his van and join him in his musical journey. Well, once we heard the first few notes, we were hooked and music was saved. I’m pretty sure Jack White is a prophet, and this album is the proof.
12. Radiohead – Hail To The Thief (2003)
Many people have told me I’m crazy that I like this album better thanAmnesiac. But this is my list, not theirs (I’m talking to you, Avi Sher). I know that this album is a bit more approachable, and maybe I like it more because it was one of the first Radiohead albums that I truly enjoyed. Or maybe I really like when songs have two titles. Or maybe the album is just awesome. Sit Down, Stand Up (Snakes & Ladders) just really does it for me. . A microcosm for an actual rainy day, before the rain actually has begun, the song builds up and churns, like the clouds gathering for a storm, leaving the listener anxious about what is to come. And it keeps building, until we finally feel the first drop. But there’s no full release yet, and we keep building and building until the clouds finally break and the raindrops, the raindrops is repeated over and over. The entire album is a storm of brilliance and poetic beauty. Just listen for yourself.
11. Eminem – The Eminem Show (2002)
This was the best selling album of 2002. A rap album by a white guy that sold more than any other album in 2002. That’s a big deal. But screw stats; listen to the songs. Em rhymes better than almost anyone else in the business and this album has him at his absolute best. This is a guy who somehow transcends race while at the same time flaunting the card in every song and lyric. But what’s amazing about his rapping not only that he annunciates every single word, but that he tells stories with his songs. It’s not the classic rap structure of a few cool sounding words followed by a chorus; it’s storytelling. Eminem’s songs actually make you stop and think. And while I ignored this album for quite some time, I’ve gotta thank Elana (I think it was Elana…) for turning me onto this one. It’s one of the best.
More tomorrow…
Top 50 Albums of the 00s: 30-21
40 – 31 can be found here
30. Okkervil River – The Stage Names (2007)
This album quite possibly had the greatest blog hype of 2007; it was uncanny how many bloggers loved this band, and how much I initially hated them. But at a certain point, something clicked. At a certain point I began to appreciate and fall in love with this band’s distinct style and sound. From the rhythmic Unless It’s Kicks, to the bass driven A Hand To Take Hole Of The Scene, to the soft flow of A Girl In Port the album is chock full of terribly catchy songs. Emotionally riveting at times, the album also includes nods to earlier bands and songs, most obviously the references to 96 Tears and 99 Luftballoons in Plus Ones, and the Beach Boy’s homage at the end of John Allyn Smith Sails. But while the album may have some lyrical familiarity, the music is anything but, as this band has taken great strides to be original, innovative, and amazingly musical.
29. TV On The Radio – Dear Science (2008)
“It sounds like Flight of the Conchords,” complained my roommate Sammy, as I blasted this album in our apartment while cleaning up one Friday afternoon. But while Brett and Jermaine of FOTC write comical songs, TVOTR seems to want to be taken seriously. And so we shall take it. The new-age sound that this band has created is both futuristic and punk-tastic at the same time; using electronic sounds almost as much as their regular instruments. When your band’s guitarist lists his main instrument as “programming,” there’s bound to be a lot of computer generated sounds in your music. Why is this album so good? Precisely because it sounds like nothing else, yet is so unbelievably approachable at the same time. Brilliance.
28. Green Day – American Idiot (2004)
When Yocheved, Gilad, and I bought tickets to see Green Day during the summer of 2004, I didn’t expect to see a great show; I just wanted to relive these pop-radio heroes of my youth. And then they proceeded to play an unbelievable show that was not only impeccably performed, but with the energy of kids half their age. What else should I have expected? American Idiot was just that; an brilliantly crafted album with the angst and energy of kids in their 20s. The idea of a rock opera about middle American kids was brilliant, especially in a time when America was becoming quite disillusioned with itself and it’s place in the world. The fact that the songs actually rock takes this from an album that tries hard, to an album that’s one of Green Day’s best.
27. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges (2008)
These guys can do no wrong. This album is hailed (by idiots mainly) as one of their worst. Yet it manages to boast songs like Evil Urges, Touch Me I’m Going to Scream, Pt. 1 & Pt. 2, Librarian, and Aluminum Park. I’m sorry, but even if this is MMJ’s worst album, it’s still better than 90% of everything else out there. This is the album where MMJ continues the experimental stance they began with 2005′s Z, and brings their wackiness to new heights, all taken even higher with Jim James’ angelic vocals. On a recent episode of American Dad, Stan becomes obsessed with the band to the point where he refuses to listen to any other music. The fact that that doesn’t seem like such a bad idea to me only furthers the point that these guys may very well be the best band in the world right now. Peanut butter pudding surprise!
26. Drive-By Truckers – Southern Rock Opera (2001)
This is an album that unabashedly focuses primarily on the members of the band having never had the chance to see Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert. Sure, along the way we touch on high school drunk driving, Alabama politics, race issues, and AC/DC, but this band’s love for the Southern rock icons is proven and shown with absolute certainty. This is straight up whiskey music, and all of the songs drip of Jack Daniels (a drink that this band enjoys swigging from bottles onstage). The transition of the few spoken word songs into their full band counterparts is a crafty way to introduce the listeners to the topic in the upcoming song, and has an eerie haunting quality to it. The album lives up to it’s name: a true opera of Southern rock.
25. Jet – Shine On (2006)
Many people hate this band. The same goes for this album. Some go as far as to liken it to a chimp urinating in its own mouth. While I have no idea what Pitchfork really meant to say with that video, I do know that I disagree with everyone who has bad things to say about this band. True, their rock songs are straight forward and basic, they still manage to inject a certain amount of grit that other bands just can’t seem to mimic. Additionally, this album features two of the band’s most beautiful piano ballads in Kings Horses and Shine On. The songs show a maturity that wasn’t noticeable in the band a few years earlier. With this 2006 release, the band songs are a bit more carefully written, the melodies sharper, and the guitars tighter. Pitchfork: you guys have no idea what you’re talking about.
24. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008)
A chorus of angels. No other term better describes this bands sound. The jangly acoustic instrumentation coupled with heavenly harmonies give this band a Levite (Bible joke!) quality that few others possess. The hippie-bearded-acoustic-jangliness that defines this band’s sound takes what Iron & Wine was trying to do a step further by incorporating full harmonies, instead of one hoarse guy’s vocals. Listen to the intro to Blue Ridge Mountains and try to convince yourself that this is only a few guys harmonizing, and not an entire choir. Their voices and instrumentation take on identities of their own and tend to soar high above the plane of reality. As the song works its way past the first chorus, the music just explodes with a beautiful sonic boom, a microcosm for this band’s explosion into our lives.
23. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love (2009)
On July 6th, when reviewing this album, I implored my readers to “Buy this album right now. I’m not kidding. It’s that good.” Almost six months later, I still agree with every word I said. Their Homeric epic poem of an album is a masterpiece of storytelling and musicianship. The different musical themes for each character in the story makes this an album that’s both interesting and familiar the whole way through. Completing a task like this is not an easy one, and The Decemberists executed it with class, elegance, and musical brilliance. The Crane Wife, my foot. This is the best Decemberists album.
22. Daft Punk – Discovery (2001)
Most people know Kanye’s Stronger, featuring Daft Punk. What most people don’t know is that the song comes from Daft Punk’s 2001 albumDiscovery, and Kanye basically just added his own backbeat and a few limited raps to Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger – an amazing song in its own right. The funniest part of it all is that the original Daft Punk version also features other bands’ samples, making the Kanye version a twice removed sample. In truth, I know very little about electronic music, and even though Wikipedia hails this album as marking a “shift in sound from Chicago house… to disco, post-disco, and synthpop,” I can’t say I really know what that means. What I do know is that this is an electronic album that even I can love, making this album either a failure in that world, or a huge success in the contemporary one. I’m gonna go with the latter.
21. The Black Crowes – Lions (2001)
What makes this album so great is that it shows a more explorative Crowes. The sound is less classic rock, and more…well, more everything else. We have the grungy Midnight From the Inside Out, the anthemicCome On, the gospel Soul Singing, and the undefinable Young Man, Old Man. And even the straight forward rockers sound somewhat different from the regular Crowes song structure. Greasy Grass River, Cypress Tree, andLosing My Mind all have a bit of a different feel, while at the same time being quite obviously Black Crowes songs. Having seen the Crowes in concert, it’s easy to see these songs fitting perfectly into the rest of their repertoire. It’s only when you take a look at this album as an entity that you see this new and amazing direction that the Crowes chose to take with this one.
Sorry for the delay on the list. Time for a bit of sleep… I’ll post the next ten tonight. Till then.
Top 50 Albums of the 00s: 40-31
40. The White Stripes – Elephant (2003)
While White Blood Cells established The White Stripes as a force of minimalistic alternative rock, Elephant showed a band who’s repertoire went deeper than three power chords and a bass drum. Winning a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album in 2004, Jack White could finally show his true colors: as a bluesman. But then again, this wasn’t your father’s bluesman. This also wasn’t your Stevie Ray-esque clone. This was a bluesman who had used the same 12 bars as Muddy, Buddy, and B.B., before veering off into extraordinary venues. While at this point we had no idea of Jack White’s musical genius, with our hindsight bias it’s quite easy to see this album as him solidifying his position as a rock god.
39. Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass (2007)
I’m by no means a big hip hop or rap fan; I can’t even define the difference between the two genres. But every now and then, an artist comes around that just forces me to sit down and listen. This album was my introduction to Aesop Rock, the stage name of the MC Ian Matthias Bavitz, and I was immediately hooked. The way he raps, annunciating every syllable while at the same time allowing the words to slowly roll off his tongue is unmatched by any other rapper that I know of. None Shall Pass features a the rapper’s 5th full length album, and it shows him at his most mature; better beats, better rhymes, and better flow to each of the songs. If you haven’t checked him out yet, it’s time.
38. John Butler Trio – Grand National (2007)
From the opening banjo riff of Better Than to the last acoustic jam of Gonna Take It, the John Butler Trio released a cornucopia of acoustic jam rock music with 2007′s Grand National. We’ve got love songs (Daniella,Caroline), political rants (Used To Get High, Gov Did Nothin’), and plain old feel good tracks (Funky Tonight, Groovin’ Slowly). This album also sees JBT depart from being a band focused on acoustic jams, and allowed them to explore the art of the slide-infused blues rock. Devil Running, a perfect example of this, features the intertwining of rhythmic drumming with John’s almost angry slide guitar. The combination is both brilliant and amazing, as the power chord driven chorus pushes JBT’s music to new heights; but not without intricate fingerpicking to bring things back home again. This album shows the band at their absolute best.
37. Deer Tick – War Elephant (2007)
There’s nothing like whiskey infused blues country rock to get your motor running. Deer Tick combines these styles flawlessly, all the while, seeming to have wisdom and grit well beyond their 20 years. Somehow, this band plays and sings as if they’ve already experience a life full of pain and angst. From the country jangle of the album opener Ashamed, to the drunken rock of Standing At The Threshold, Deer Tick uses their debut album to establish themselves as future mainstays of the Southern/country rock scene, joining forces with bands like the Drive By Truckers and The Black Crowes, and using as many overdriven guitars as they can, as much voice box straining as humanly possible, and enough Tennessee Mash Whiskey to fill a barn.
36. Counting Crows – Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings (2008)
Adam Duritz is an emotional wreck. We know. That’s part of why we like him anyway, so stop using that as a reason why we shouldn’t listen to his music anymore. For those of you stuck in 1994, CC have moved well beyond the innocent ballads of August & Everything After into the madly self aware rock songs of Saturday Nights. Unable to commit to anything, Adam Duritz puts his heart and soul into the first side of this two part album, baring his soul clear about his own sin, disillusionment, and the inevitable fall from grace that accompanies every hypothetical Saturday night. The second part of the album tones the music down a bit, wherin Adam awakes on a Sunday morning sick to his stomach at what occurred the night before. But instead of being immediately cleansed with sweet acoustic songs, we’re informed that the heartbreak is still there, and now it’s time to slowly pick up the pieces of life again. This emotional rollercoaster of lust, love, self hatred, and forgiveness, while somewhat ignored by critics, is pure poetic and musical genius.
35. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest (2009)
It’s psychedelic. It’s bluesy. It’s indie. It’s pop rock. Truth be told, Grizzly Bear’s third album is all of these things. Southern Point introduces us to their jangly harmonies and melodies, coupled with acoustic rock brilliance. Then Two Weeks takes things up a notch with that catchy piano riff (though the video is a bit too creepy for my tastes). The rest of the album follows suit, with song after song of catchy well written tracks. In the summer of 2008, I spent an evening listening to the sounds of Grizzly Bear echo in the Camden air, as the sun set over the Philadelphia skyline. Then, knowing very little about them, I was convinced that this band was destined for greatness. Veckatimest is the next step in that direction.
34. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife (2006)
Stories set to music are amazing, and The Decemberists have an uncanny knack at successfully telling them. According to band leader Colin Meloy, the story is as follows:
It’s a story about a peasant in rural Japan who finds a wounded crane on an evening walk; there’s an arrow in its wing. He revives the crane and the crane flies away. A couple days later, a mysterious woman shows up at his door and he takes her in. Eventually they fall in love and get married. But they’re very poor, so she suggests that she start weaving this cloth which he can in turn sell at the market—the condition being that when she’s weaving it, she has to do it behind closed doors and he can’t look in. So this goes on for a while and they actually become kind of wealthy. But eventually, his curiosity gets the best of him and he looks in at her while she’s weaving and it turns out that she’s a crane and she’s been pulling feathers from her wings and putting it into the cloth, which is what makes it so beautiful. But him having seen her breaks the spell, and she turns back into a crane and flies away. That’s the end.
If you have the time, give the album a listen to. Whether you love stories or just great music, this one’s totally worth your time.
33. The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible (2007)
Indie rock gods The Arcade Fire’s second album, Neon Bible, while not the innovative genius of their debut (only because they already did it) kind of defines the decade for me. Alternative rock in the 90s was just grunge music with a few major chords. Alt rock of this decade was offered in grandiose nature such as this. While I’m not taking a pot shot at my fave decade (90s), I do think that everything this band touches turns to gold immediately. Songs like Neon Bible, Keep The Car Running and Ocean of Noise are at the same time easy to listen to, exciting, fun, and inspiring all at the same time, The Arcade Fire will hopefully continue to wow us with amazing albums like this.
32. Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha (2007)
This is Bird’s masterpiece. Perfectly crafted songs, all accompanied by harmonies, violins, and most importantly - whistling. The way he weaves his melodies with his violin, layering sound over sound, noise over noise, until the listener can’t even tell what they’re listening to anymore, is astounding. His mastery of his loop pedal is only matched by his virtuosic mastery of the violin. Toeing the line between uncomfortable and majestic, Bird creates songs that are both peaceful and intriguing at the same time. He’s an artist unmatched by many of this generation, and this is only talking about his studio offerings; his live shows take him to an entirely different plane occupied by only the best. So please, listen to this album; you’ll hate yourself forever if you don’t.
31. The Strokes – Room On Fire (2003)
I was heading back to Israel, having returned home for a few days to celebrate my brother’s Bar Mitzvah in Baltimore. An avid Strokes fan, I discovered that their sophomore album would be released just days after I left the US. Distraught and disappointed, I consoled myself with the fact that I would be able to hear it in just a few months when my parents were scheduled to visit. And then fate struck. Wandering London’s Heathrow Airport during my stopover, I waltzed into a music store, and discovered Room On Fire sitting on a display. Could it be? Was it possible? Apparently, the album was released earlier in Europe, and I, your humble narrator, was able to benefit from this pre-release. I immediately purchased the album and popped it into my Discman (this was before first iPod, when I carried a book of 300 CDs everywhere I went). From the first notes, it was sonic love. The entire album picked up where Is This It? left off, making me, and my ears, quite happy on the flight back to Israel. Unless you don’t like being happy, you should listen to this album right now.
10 more tomorrow….
Top 50 Albums of the 00s: 50-41
50. Explosions In The Sky – How Strange, Innocence (2000)
Most fans of this band will deride my choosing this Explosions album as their lone appearance in my top 50 list. But there’s something beautifully juvenile and gorgeous about the recording. The quality is shoddy, and the buildup jams aren’t as intricate as they become on later albums. But there’s something pure about this album. There’s something that touches home about a group of high school kids just recording their own music, unsure of the future of their own band, with all of the beauty and innocence of youth open and visible in their music. This is the emotional yearnings of a bunch of teenagers, put to instrumental jams, and it’s so damned beautiful.
49. Wilco – A Ghost Is Born (2004)
The final cut on Wilco’s 2004 offering opens with the lyrics: “The greatest last track of all time.” And they might be right. This unbelievable followup to the groundbreaking Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (more on that later) features Jeff Tweedy and co. at their absolute songwriting best. From the piano ballad-turned alternative crunch of At Least That’s What You Said, to the soft billowiness of Hell Is Chrome, to the endless churning of Spiders (Kidsmoke) to “The greatest last track of all time,” (The Late Greats), Wilco once again proved that you don’t need radio-friendly singles to be a great band. Just amazing albums.
48. The Strokes – First Impressions of Earth (2006)
To many music fans, it’s as if The Strokes only put out 2 albums. Everyone knows about Is This It?, and most musically aware folks are pretty familiar with Room On Fire as well. But ask fans about FIOE, and they’ll either respond that they didn’t know The Strokes put out a 3rd album, or that they listened to it and hated it. Well, bullocks to all of you! The only problem with this album is that it came after two unbelievable albums. Brushing aside this album would be akin to ignoring Hail to the Thief just because it followed Kid A and Amnesiac. Take a step back and look at this album in the context of music. Then listen to the album the entire way through, and try to tell me that it’s not one of the best of the decade. I dare you.
47. Jack Johnson – In Between Dreams (2005)
Jack Johnson is not my favorite musician. His acoustic writing style is not my favorite either. But I think he’s got a number of things going for him. First of all, he ushered in an entire genre of relaxing indie-acoustic rock, and managed to do it without seeming annoyingly emo. Secondly, he doesn’t consider himself a great musician. He’s a surfer, and a filmmaker, and a musician. He plays acoustic guitar well, and writes chilled out songs. He doesn’t think he’s changing the world (Coldplay) or the best blues guitarist since SRV (John Mayer). I’m not sure why this effects my impression of his music, but I guess it just makes it more palatable. And songs like Better Together and Banana Pancakes are just too good to ignore.
46. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium (2006)
It’s never easy to release a double album. On the belated hells of 2002′s By The Way, when RHCP succeeded at releasing a relevant 28 song album, something unheard of in this day and age. With singles and mixtapes dominating airwaves, and album sales at all time lows, releasing a double album takes a combination of confidence and gumption. RHCP has both, and neither were misplaced. The album screams open with Dani California, followed by the gorgeously arpeggios of Snow (Hey Oh). From there, the album spans all of RHCP’s styles; from the funk tracks, to the ballads, to the straight rock songs. Winning a Grammy for Best Rock Album in 2007, this is one of RHCP’s strongest offerings ever.
45. Pearl Jam – Backspacer (2009)
Well, what can I say that hasn’t been said. Clocking it under 37 minutes, the album is a grunge rock mini-masterpiece; exploding out of the gate with three raucous tracks, before taking a step out of the classic PJ form with the new-age Johnny Guitar. Just Breathe takes us all back down to earth with “Into the Wild” inspired Ed-Ved fingerpicking. The album continues with the highs of Amongst the Waves, followed by the Wishlist-esque Unthought Knownwhich then explodes into Supersonic, a song with possibly the best PJ bridge ever, courtesy of Mr. Stone Gossard. Speed of Sound brings us back to the soft stuff, before we’re introduced to Force of Nature, a seemingly standard rocker that just keeps on revealing more and more of itself on each subsequent listen. The album closes off with the tear-jerking ballad The End, a dying man’s heartbreaking last words to his family. To those who thought Pearl Jam was a 90s band, start rethinking that. This is a band for the ages.
44. State Radio – Us Against the Crown (2005)
The band’s first full length album is quite possible their best. After departing from Dispatch, vocalist and guitarist Chad Urmston started his own band, State Radio. Focusing on political lyrics and reggae beats injected into alternative music, Chad and co. released Us Against the Crown in 2005, and followed it up by touring relentlessly the next few years. The album features some of the band’s best songs, including: Mr. Larkin, Camilo, Right Me Up, and Man in the Hall. One of the best alternative bands to emerge in this decade, SR continues to tour and release albums that somehow manage to go under the radar of major labels and magazines. Too bad; this is a band for the ages.
43. Girl Talk – Feed the Animals (2008)
It’s not everyday that such a revolutionary album comes out. DJs and those in the know just claim that Greg Gillis was the first guy to start using the pre-made “cut it and match it” technology, and that he himself isn’t much of an artist. But that’s really the point of great artistry: I too could’ve stuck a bicycle on a stool, but Duchamp is famous because he did it first. Same goes with Girl Talk. Now, beyond the innovation, this guy straight up knows how to mix and match great songs. With a minimum of 15 different samples on every single track, Gillis astounds and amazes listeners with his ability to combine so many great songs into one that’s just fun to dance to. It may not be your father’s music, but damn if it isn’t awesome.
42. The Vines – Highly Evolved (2002)
At the height of the supposed “garage-rock” revival, The Vines released their first album. The album switches back and forth between hard rock and psychedelic ballads, from Get Free to Autumn Shade. Songs like Mary Jane take listeners on a Pink Floyd inspired trip, while 1969, a seeming straight rocker, creates something of a sonic freakout, by speeding up the song more and more, until the listener is just begging for the release, wherein the too fast riff fades out in a scream of feedback, only to be brought back by a groan and overdriven guitars. Musically, the album is both innovative and amazing. While it was lumped together with bands like The White Stripes and The Strokes, this Vines album only shares one thing with those other two artists: a step away from nu-metal and pop-punk, and back to straight forward rock.
41. Audioslave – Audioslave (2002)
Lets just start off with the basics. Both Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine were better bands. But this wasn’t just a band. This was a supergroup. Combining the vocal power of Chris Cornell with Tom Morello and his rhythm section, Audioslave’s self titled debut album was a musical powerhouse, even if it did sound kind of like RATM with a more-singy/less-rappy vocalist. From the opener Cochise (what does that even mean?), the album exploded with straight-forward rock songs, featuring the patented Tom Morello guitar fidgetry. While I Am The Highway actually sees Morello playing a straightforward solo, the rest of the album relies on the tested and approved screechy sound method, with Morello rubbing the strings while flipping the pickup switch back and forth. Sure, this album isn’t Superunknown, and it isn’t Evil Empire. But if we can get past those two bands, we’ll be able to see this album for the rock masterpiece that it is.
Tomorrow: Albums 40-31
The Death of the Album & Attempted Murder In The Music Business
The album should have died. Music should have been reduced to mixtapes and singles, with the art of the full length studio offering going the way of map reading and newspaper folding. Just to take a step back and bring you up to speed, I’m pretty sure that the recording industry tried to kill music in the 00s. This was not a cognitive decision, nor can one single action be pointed to that tells us why or how albums came under attack.
The decade started off brightly for the music industry, with ‘N Sync selling 2.4 million copies of “No Strings Attached” in 2000. Record execs sat back, and smoked their cigars; confident that they had discovered the perfect formula for pop music, and thus the perfect money making machine. But what they forgot, was that the people don’t want a a formula; they want music. This, in essence was the fatal error of the record companies, and what led to both the destruction of the recording industry, and a musical revolution.
While it’s impossible to point to any moment in time when this happened, let’s take a trip back to 2001, when Wilco presented Yankee Hotel Foxtrot to their label, Reprise Records. Certain execs are said to have hated the album, and unable to find a ‘decent’ single to release, they decided to drop Wilco from the label
The album, hailed as one of the best of the decade by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, NME, Paste, Uncut, and many others, wasn’t good enough for Reprise Records, a small subsidiary of Warner Brothers Records. It was probably more important for Reprise to release Mandy Moore’s self titled offering that year, an album which she herself admits “sucked.” But then again, Mandy had singles, while Wilco did not.
Pushing aside the fact that Pot Kettle Black, Jesus, etc., and Heavy Metal Drummer all should have been viable options for singles, what’s most frightening is that one of the greatest albums of the decade (ever?) was almost never released, because it was deemed un-radio friendly. Wilco, unwilling to let this ruin their plans for alt-rock domination, gained rights to the album, and began streaming it for free on their site.
Music 1, The Man 0.
And suddenly, the industry began to decline sharply. The record industry responded by releasing singles, and selling tracks one at a time on Amazon, iTunes, and a myriad of other sites. Bands responded by writing great albums and touring relentlessly. And so, the distance between the artists and the labels was again widened.
In 2006, Pearl Jam broke away from Sony to release their self titled album. This past year, Backspacer was ranked 11th best album of the year by Rolling Stone, and was only distributed by Target, and small record stores.
Music 2, The Man 0.
Radiohead released one of the best albums ever in 2007 by offering it for free on their website. When they eventually released physical copies of the album, it still sold surprisingly well, proving that people want to own good albums.
Music 3, The Man 0.
Girl Talk released 2008′s Feed the Animals for free on his MySpace page. Not only did this take a shot at record companies by sampling music from their artists without compensation, but it was in Time Magazine’s top ten albums of 2008, #24 in Rolling Stone’s top 50, ranked 16th best album of the year by NPR listeners, and #2 of 2008 according to Blender magazine.
Music 5 billion. The Man 0.
And so it goes. Record companies think the populace wants pre-packaged pop, music responds with what we truly want. Record companies think we want our music one song at a time, music responds by creating albums of amazing artistic expression.
Just yesterday, my own brother in law made the claim that this decade featured the death of the album. So Shua, I implore you to go through this list of albums, and then try to reform that opinion. No two decades are the same, but what the 00s proved more than anything, that no matter what – music will never die, and the art of the album will continue to exist, as long as there are people out there who love music.
The first installation of the Top 50 Albums of the 00s will be posted in just a few. Try to keep your pants on until then…
Top 10 Albums of 2009
10. Steve Earle – Townes
In memory of his mentor, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle put out this album full of covers. From the patently country White Freightliner Blues, to the harsh blues of Lungs, Earle does a fantastic job paying tribute to his hero and his friend.
9. U2 – No Line on the Horizon
“Get on your boots. Sexy boots.” Needless to say, the first single didn’t sound promising. And then the album came out. Opening with the anthemic title track, the studio offering explodes with a U2 that I haven’t seen since the 90s. Soaring at times, humbling at others, the entire album runs from the gamut of human emotions, from the religious, to the personal, to the purely sexual; a strong offering from a band that never seems to let up.
8. Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
While not the epic masterpiece of 2007′s Armchair Apocrypha, Noble Beast is a whirlwind of sounds and excitement. Once again, Mr. Bird has almost single-handedly created a symphony of sound using his violin, a guitar, his voice, and his beautiful whistling. Fitz and the Dizzyspells, Oh No, and Effigy are all tracks worthy of an Andrew Bird greatest hits CD, thus making this album a highlight of 2009.
7. Silversun Pickups – Swoon
I never wanted to like the Silversun Pickups. Something about this so-called “grunge revivalist” band rubbed me the wrong way. And then I heard Swoon. Sure, he sounds just like Billy Corgan. Ok, so they all sound like the Smashing Pumpkins. But who cares? The Pumpkins stopped putting out good records 10 years ago; the Silversun Pickups are just picking up where they left off. Highlights include There’s No Secrets This Year and Panic Switch.
6. Wilco – Wilco (the album)
This is a band that can do no wrong; Jeff Tweedy’s voice is just too damn sweet. Every single emo-rocker is trying to get pack the emotion that Tweedy seems to get into every word, and none of them come close. And he does it packaged under the pretense of alt-country rock. From the ironically self aware Wilco (the song) that opens the album, to the ballad – Everlasting Everything – that closes it, Wilco has managed to stay both relevant and musically brilliant.
5. The Mountain Goats – The Life of the World to Come
While I only recently discovered The Mountain Goats, their 2009 release blew me away unlike many other albums I’d heard this year. Armed with an acoustic guitar and a powerful voice, singer/songwriter John Darnielle uses the Biblical themes of his songs to chastise and inspire his listeners; a fiery preacher singing songs of hope, love, and faith to his devoted parishioners. I too, Mr. Darnielle, have become a believer.
4. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
It was just about a year ago when this album was leaked. By the first day of 2009, most bloggers had concluded that this would be the best album of the year. Not wanting to be swayed by their excitement, I decided to give the album a listen myself. Now, while it’s not necessarily the best album of the year, it’s certainly up there. Songs like In the Flowers, My Girls, and Summertime Clothes have this uncanny ability to captivate listeners, both confusing and delighting them. This wacky LSD-infused circus explodes in your ears and leaves you wondering when the freak show will be returning to your town next.
3. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
It’s psychedelic. It’s bluesy. It’s indie. It’s pop rock; truth be told, Grizzly Bear’s third album is all of these things. Southern Point introduces us to their jangly harmonies and melodies, coupled with acoustic rock brilliance. Then Two Weeks takes things up a notch with that catchy piano riff (though the video is a bit too creepy for my tastes). The rest of the album follows suit, with song after song of catchy well written tracks. In the summer of 2008, I spent an evening listening to the sounds of Grizzly Bear echo in the Camden air, as the sun set over the Philadelphia skyline. Then, knowing very little about them, I was convinced that this band was destined for greatness. Veckatimest is the next step in that direction.
2. Pearl Jam – Backspacer
Well, what can I say that hasn’t been said. Clocking it under 37 minutes, the album is a grunge rock mini-masterpiece; exploding out of the gate with three raucous tracks, before taking a step out of the classic PJ form with the new-age Johnny Guitar. Just Breathe takes us all back down to earth with Into the Wild inspired Ed-Ved fingerpicking. The album continues with the highs of Amongst the Waves, followed by the Wishlist-esque Unthought Known which then explodes into Supersonic, a song with possibly the best PJ bridge ever, courtesy of Mr. Stone Gossard. Speed of Sound brings us back to the soft stuff, before we’re introduced to Force of Nature, a seemingly standard rocker that just keeps on revealing more and more of itself on each subsequent listen. The album closes off with the tear-jerking ballad The End, a dying man’s heartbreaking last words to his family. To those who thought Pearl Jam was a 90s band, start rethinking that. This is a band for the ages.
1. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
On July 6th, when reviewing this album, I implored my readers to “Buy this album right now. I’m not kidding. It’s that good.” Almost six months later, I still agree with every word I said. Their Homeric epic poem of an album is a masterpiece of storytelling and musicianship. The different musical themes for each character in the story makes this an album that’s both interesting and familiar the whole way through. Completing a task like this is not an easy one, and The Decemberists executed it with class, elegance, and musical brilliance. The Crane Wife, my foot. This is the best Decemberists album.
Honorable Mentions:
- The Flaming Lips – Embryonic
- Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King
- Ben Harper and the Relentless 7 – White Lies for a Dark Time
- Jay-Z – The Blueprint III
- Sonic Youth – The Eternal
- Deer Tick – Born on Flag Day
- Truckstop Coffee – For Dear Life
Listmania!
The end of the year is always an exciting time for bloggers; when we get to compile lists of our favorites of the year. The end of the decade is almost too much for me.
What should I include in my Top 50 Albums of the 00s list? What bands make the cut? Should I include Christina Aguilera just because Elana told me the album is amazing? Should I base this on my favorite albums, or the albums that I think are the best. Is there a difference between them? Should there be a difference?
There’s so much to take into account. In one instance of my Top 10 Albums of 09 list, I had Backspacer ahead of Vekatimest. Yet, Grizzly Bear’s offering was included in my Top 50 of the 00s, while this PJ album was left out. It’s tough to keep all of this straight, especially when I’m not entirely sure what albums I like better. And how do I even judge a band like Pearl Jam in relation to everyone else? I know I’m going to be biased when it comes to judging their albums, so how do I compensate for that? And should I?
To try to keep things simple, I’ve created a few rules for determining which albums are up for contention:
- No live albums. If I didn’t have this rule, my list would be Nirvana’s Live at Reading, and 49 other Pearl Jam bootlegs.
- No compilation-style soundtracks. This means what it sounds like. Almost Famous is out of the question, while Into the Wild and There Will Be Blood are fair game.
- No Greatest Hits albums. Sure, Fall Out Boy’s Greatest Hits wasn’t really in the running anyway, but in case you were concerned, now you know it’s out for sure.
New York City Cops
As many of you may know (via Tweets and FB status updates) my amazing girlfriend Elana got me The Strokes’ album Is This It? on vinyl for Chanukah. Besides the fact that this makes her the coolest girlfriend ever, it also gave me a new Strokes song that I previously hadn’t owned.
New York City Cops, a track mocking NY’s Finest, was cut from the US release of Is This It?, as the album came out soon after 9/11. It was, however, included on the British release of the album, and on all vinyl editions. I myself had heard a few live versions of the song, but never the original studio cut. (I know, Hanan, it’s sacrilegious that I hadn’t heard it until now.)
So, to prevent y’all from having to have the same NYCC deprivation that I’ve had all these years, I present to you the studio cut, and The Strokes at their finest.
The Strokes – New York City Cops
Colbert and Alicia Keys
Popout
My Morning Jacket: Bonnaroo 2006
My Morning Jacket: Bonnaroo 2006
Intro
Wordless Chorus
Beats 4 U
What A Wonderful Man
One Big Holiday
Older Guys – Head Held High
Lowdown
The Way That He Sings
Masterplan
At Dawn
Golden
Gideon
Xmas Curtain
Dondante
Dancefloors
Anytime
Mahgeetah
A Quick One
Loving Cup
Attitude
Off The Record
Lay Low
The Dark
The Bear
I Will Sing You Songs
Heartbreakin’ Man
Evelyn Is Not Real
It’s About Twilight Now
It Makes No Difference
Phone Went West
Run Thru
Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Nirvana – Where Did You Sleep Last Night
My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me,
Tell me where did you sleep last night.
In the pines, in the pines,
Where the sun don’t ever shine.
I would shiver the whole night through.
My girl, my girl, where will you go?
I’m going where the cold wind blows.
In the pines, in the pines,
Where the sun don’t ever shine.
I would shiver the whole night through
Her husband, was a hard working man,
Just about a mile from here.
His head was found in a driving wheel,
But his body never was found.
My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me,
Tell me where did you sleep last night.
In the pines, in the pines,
Where the sun don’t ever shine.
I would shiver the whole night through.
My girl, my girl, where will you go?
I’m going where the cold wind blows.
In the pines, in the pines,
Where the sun don’t ever shine.
I would shiver the whole night through.
My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me,
Tell me where did you sleep last night.
In the pines, in the pines,
Where the sun don’t ever shine.
I would shiver the whole night through.
My girl, my girl, where will you go?
I’m going where the cold wind blows.
In the pines, …the pines,
……… sun,
……….shine.
I shiver the whole, night through!
Phonograph Fridays
Suggestions for what we should call this feature are welcome.
Right now it’s at Phonograph Fridays, but I know that kinda sounds dumb, so please leave your suggestions in the comments.
Blogaversary: 2 Years and 1 Week Later
Thanks to Avi forgetting his own blogaversary, I realized that not only do he and I have the same blogaversary, but that I missed mine as well.
It’s been 2 years and 1 week since that first post, inspired by the Lollapalooza episode of The Simpsons when Homer was introduced to Billy Corgan:
“Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins.”
“Homer Simpsons, smiling politely.”
And now, on this belated two-year-anniversary, it’s time again to post about the Smashing Pumpkins. Yes, it’s true that Billy Corgan was recently seen with Jessica Simpson. And yes, this makes the lyric “Emptiness is loneliness,” all the more ironic, considering he’s seeking a relationship with an actress who has little in the brains department.
But, despite the fact that I just dedicated the last paragraph to BC’s personal life, it’s basically irrelevant to me. Sure, I know a ton about the intricacies of pop music and the persons involved in it; but as any true follower of this blog knows – it’s all about the music.
Looking back at my comments from over two years ago about the Pumpkins, I still agree with everything I said:
There’s something about their music that just soars. It’s crazily heavy, and it Corgan’s voice is screechy at times (understatement?)- but the music just seems to soar. Not sure how he does it, but it’s fantastic.
Two years later, the fact that I’m still this passionate about this blog (and even still agree with some of my earlier comments), coupled with the fact that I’m getting around 500 hits per day, makes me just want to continue doing this for a long long time.
Smashing Pumpkins – Silverfuck
Buy the Smashing Pumpkins @ Amazon.com
Electrochromic Devices What?
Just finished presenting my Electrochromic Window research project in Optical Systems class. Gotta love spending 1.5 weeks doing research, and getting results just hours before the deadline. Ahhh. Science.
Wilco – Hell is Chrome (buy @ Amazon.com)
Guster – Window (buy @ Amazon.com)
John Lennon: 29 Years Gone
Twenty nine years ago today, John Lennon’s life was tragically cut short. It’s tough to write about such a prolific and influential musician, if only because there’s too many accomplishments to focus on in too few years. While he’s not my favorite Beatle (George Harrison takes the cake there), he incidentally did compose most of my favorite Beatles tracks.
Unwavering in his vision; dedicated to his position as a musician, performer, and artist; and both the voice and the guitar of more than one generation; John Lennon and his music will forever remain alive in our hearts, minds, and ears.
Rest in peace, John.
Ben Harper – Strawberry Fields Forever
Stereophonics – Sgt. Pepper’s Reprise
The Black Crowes – Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
Pearl Jam and Neil Young: 6/24/95
Just today, I received an email from a TSU follower who wanted to know if I had an mp3 of Pearl Jam and Neil Young performing Cortez the Killer in 1995. He was, of course, referring to the famous San Fransisco show where Eddie came down with a stomach bug and couldn’t finish the set, only to be relieved by Neil Young, who proceeded to pound through an entire set of his songs (including Rockin’ In The Free World twice) with PJ as his backing band.
Phish: Live at the Garden (12.2.09)
Last night, I had the sincere pleasure of attending my first ever Phish concert. There’s something truly magical about the first time you see a band; especially one as hyped up as this. You’re not really sure what to expect and because of that, nothing can disappoint.
Popout
Ben Harper: Bonaroo 2007
I know I’ve posted this one before, but it wasn’t up for too long, and I got many requests for it to be reposted. So here it is; Ben Harper’s unbelievable set from Bonnaroo 2007.
Sonic Youth: Live in Williamsburg
Nine years ago, at my first ever concert, Sonic Youth was supposed to open for Pearl Jam. A personal emergency ensued backstage, and the band was never able to take the stage. During the beginning of Pearl Jam’s set, Eddie Vedder addressed the crowd as to the situation:
Jay-Z: Empire State of Mind
Jay-Z is a genius.
Popout
Pearl Jam: Immortality
So here it is for you: Eddie’s supposed eulogy for Kurt Cobain, had it’s premier on April 11th, less than a week after Mr. Cobain’s life was tragically cut short. This version is from the very next night, and one of the few times they played it with these lyrics.
Enjoy.
I could take the sun
I could call the couple anyone
I won’t tell the comfort in the world
I can’t take it off
I won’t say, “Enough, it’s not my fault”
I won’t care, there’s something in the wind
Take me as I am
I don’t need this
I die just to live
Immortality…
I could paint the moon
I could reflect light into a room
If I could, the fortune all be there (?)
I could paint it all
I won’t say, “Enough, it’s not my fault”
I won’t call the altar in the air
Take me as is
I don’t need this
I die just to live
Immortality…
I can’t take a walk
I won’t fight this world
I won’t save it all
It is not my fault
Take me as is
I don’t need this
I die just to live
I won’t stay long
I’ll be long gone
I die just to live…
Band of Horses: Bonnaroo 2009
I don’t know all that much about BoH, but they seem to put on a pretty good show.
Deer Tick: War Elephant
Shared by you
I posted about these guys a few months ago, and then again in a recent post; but that’s not going to stop be from taking a gander at War Elephant, Deer Ticks 2007 debut album.
Rage Against the Machine: The Battle of Dusseldorf
Sometimes, I’m a complete musical ignoramus. Take Bruce Springsteen’s classic The Ghost of Tom Joad. In this weeks Rolling Stone Magazine, on the cover article’s photo page, the collage contains a picture of Tom Morello with the caption: “Tom Morello added punk energy to Springsteen’s The Ghost of Tom Joad.” The article is about the historic concerts to celebrate the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 25th birthday. But that isn’t what this post is about.
Zac Brown: Live at the CMA Awards
Shared by you
Popout
And get excited. Because there’s sure to be more ZB posted in the coming weeks.
Pearl Jam: Just Breathe
To the chagrin of some, and to the joy of others, I haven’t been posting all that many Pearl Jam mp3s in recent months. This is mostly out of fear of a lawsuit. Sure, I know what I can and can’t post, but I’d rather let things settle and avoid any unnecessary confrontation.
Year One
Shared by you
Today marked the first anniversary of the day Elana and I started dating. That’s right; I’ve been going out with the same lovely lady for over a year now. It’s pretty freaking awesome. So in her honor I present this post to mark the end of our first wonderful year together. Here’s to many more.
Forgotten 90s: Volume 6
Shared by you
It’s been quite some time. Over a year, actually. But worry not, because the 90s will never die. Never. I mean, look at the music scene. Pearl Jam’s new album is ruling the charts, Alice in Chains is touring, Weezer is putting out an album, and on top of all that Nirvana just came out with a live album and there are rumors of Soungarden getting together for a tour.
Grizzly Bear: Boston 8/14/08
Nirvana: Live at Reading and 12.31.91
Interested in hearing what all the hype was about (and by hype I refer to Will Leitch, former editor of Deadspin,tweeting about listening to the album 13 times the day it came out), I decided to purchase Nirvana’s recently released Live at Reading album.
Server Down
Shared by you
Sorry guys. My server finally crashed and burned. Or, they decided to redo their entire company without telling anyone. So now, none of my files exist anymore, and my account has been downgraded. I’m going to upgrade to more bandwidth soon, but it’s going to take a bit longer to upload all the files for previous posts.
Pearl Jam:Philadelphia 10-31-09
When we finally boarded that SEPTA train for the Saturday night show, after the Sabbath had ended and we were able to begin making our way to the concert, Gilad and I took a look at Friday night’s setlist. As we read, we began to groan. Tremor Christ. Deep. The Mama-Son Trilogy. Breath. Sonic Reducer. Baba. Jeremy with strings.
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 10-28-09
Shared by you
So it’s 630, and were still waiting on Stevie to make it to the Lower East Side so we can head out to the show. I begin nervously pacing around Yishai’s living room, trying to convince myself that well make it to the spectrum before the ticket window closes at 915, and my 10 club tickets are lost forever. At 634 Stevie calls to tell us he’s right around the corner, and me, Elana, Yishai, and Gitler bolt out of the apartment to hop in the car.
We drive through Brooklyn to avoid the parking lot that is the Holland tunnel during rush hour and make it out of the city in pretty good time. According to our friendly GPS, our ETA in Philly is 820, which will give us lore than enough time to pick up our tickets and get to our seats before PJ goes on.
And then we hit traffic. Turns out that it’s really important to turn three lane into one at this hour of the night; no matter that no actual construction is going on. And our ETA keeps rising. 825. 830. 840. You can feel the anxiety and impatience in the car, beginning to reek up the small sedan, as we all begin sweating, wondering if and when we’ll actually arrive at this show. At around 830, we finally make it past the construction that forced three lanes into one and begin burning some serious rubber toward Philly. Our ETA is now a nervous 843 and somehow still rising.
At 854 exactly, we finally pull into an unattended Spectrum parking lot (as the attendants had probably abandoned guarding the entrance hours ago, after all the sane fans had already arrived. So it’s 854 and the ticket window is supposed to close at 915, but who knows if they’re going to close it early. So Elana and I, the only ones who need to pick up 10 Club tix from Will-Call, bolt from the car and literally sprint around the outside of the entire building until we find the window.
“Schwartz,” I pant, totally out of breath.
“ID.”
I hand him my drivers license.
“Sign here.”
I sign, and quickly glance at the tickets. Section 213, row 15, seats 9 and 10. Sweet.
We run through security, and run straight into our section, which was thankfully right where we entered the building. As we enter the arena, the commemorative Spectrum video is playing on the screens. We fumble through our row to claim our seats, the lights turn down, and we hear that familiar thunderous roar, as the Rocky theme plays over the loudspeaker, signifying the band’ entrance. We get to our seats, and before we even have time to get our bearing we hear Matt’s sticks pound four short times on a tight high-hat, and the band rips into Animal.
The concert just took off from there with show stopper after show stopper. As Stevie put it, it was Yield night at the Spectum, with GTF, Wishlist, No Way, and Push Me Pull Me (first time since 98). And they played Greivance. And The Real Me. And Porch. And Lukin with strings. And Johnny Guitar Watson Starin’ At Me. And so many more.
My brothers, who hadn’t been to a show since last year weer a section over from me and Elana, and we spent the whole show just exchanging looks of excitement as they kept playing our faves. Garden for Gilad, Just Breathe for Ezra, Gone for Elana, and for me…
ITS
MY
BLOOOOOD!!!!!!!!
The show was unbelievable, as they always are. Can’t wait until Saturday night. Only time will tell if they actually go “All Night.”
Finally, much thanks to Stevie and Yishai for taking care of transportation, and props to Steve for confusing the t-shirt salesman to the point where we were able to buy 4 shirts for $20. Can’t wait to do it again with you guys.
Till then, cheers.
U2: Live in San Jose
Shared by you
So I’m sitting here, pretending to do my homework, and watching the U2 live concert broadcast on youtube. And what amazes me the most is their ability to still seem to emotionally connect with an absurdly sized crowd.
The Mountain Goats
Shared by you
It’s been a while since I was honestly moved by new music. This past week, while cramming for my Data Structures midterm, I put on The Mountain Goats’ new album The Life Of the World To Come. The album is 43 minutes long, and I spent those next 43 minutes barely touching my work; unable to stop focusing on the beautifully simple melodies and emotionally poignant lyrics.
Happy 19th Birthday, Pearl Jam
Shared by you
19 years ago today, a young band, calling themselves Mookie Blaylock played a one-off show at a small club in Seattle. The band, having risen from the ashes of the demise of their previous attempts at stardom, would soon change their name to Pearl Jam and would explode along with the rest of the grunge scene.
But while the rest of the grunge movement has succumbed to death, breakup, and overdose, Pearl Jam remains a formidable force in rock music; releasing a Number One album, getting radio airplay, and still selling out concerts. This is a band that was, and continues to be, a powerhouse in rock and roll music.
Here’s to another 19 years. Cheers.
Pearl Jam @ Off Ramp Cafe: 10.22.90
My Morning Jacket Covers
Shared by you
One of the things that makes MMJ shows so exciting is the fact that you know they’re bound to whip out three or four random cover songs a night. We’re not talking Pearl Jam style covers where you can expect something from Neil Young or The Who. We’re not talking Phish style covers where you can expect one weird but predictable hip hop song. (And here’s where the onslaught of Phish commenters is bound to begin.) We’re talking about a totally random song; a-la the Bruce Springsteen random audience request method, except for the fact that the band (seemingly) chooses and plans the covers themselves.
Bon Iver: Bonnaroo 2009
Shared by you
It’s really late, and I can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong with my Computer Science homework. Yet, here I am – posting for y’all.
It’s A Girl!
Shared by you
My sister just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, and so I’ve become an uncle. It’s a pretty exciting time for the family, so I thought I’d put up a tribute post.
Islands in the Ghetto
Shared by you
Sometimes I’m a bit of a music ignoramus. Exhibit A: Last New Years Eve’s My Morning Jacket concert [Edit: I love how many capital letters are in a row in this sentence] during which the band covered a song called Islands in the Stream. Now, any self respecting music fan should know that this song written by the BeeGees, and made famous by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. But of course, I just kept hearing the chorus to Ghetto Superstar over and over in the song.
Waffles Request!
Hey Readers,
Girl Talk: Live at Yale
Shared by you
The holiday season is finally over, and with it comes a return to regular posts… that is until midterms begin, which happens to be Wednesday. But don’t worry, because we have this sick Girl Talk bootleg to whet your collective appetites for the time being. Thanks to YANP for posting this boot, and enjoy!
Pearl Jam: LA Tour Highlights
I can’t got this far into a tour without giving a few updates; especially after the 4 nights just played in LA. The 3rd and 4th shows in particular (10/6 and 10/7) stand out with amazing setlists, rarities, and special guests.
Tuesday nights show was pretty standard; until the second encore that is, when they played Once, Footsteps, Hunger Strike with Chris Cornell, and closed the show with Jerry Cantrell filling in on Alive.
Before last night’s show, rumors were swirling that the band would be pulling out a few deep cuts. And cut deep they did, playing Alone, All Those Yesterdays, Crown of Thorns, and MC5′s Kick out the Jams (again with Cantrell filling in).
Popout
Popout
Popout
Popout
Popout
David Byrne: Bonnaroo 2009
Shared by you
In an effort to post as much as I can this week, I’m going to share a bootleg that I just recently heard for the first time.
State Radio: Let It Go
Shared by you
I am a State Radio “superfan”. It’s quite hard for me to be objective about this band’s music; I usually find myself to be overly critical, and obviously I am almost just as often awestruck. I’d also heard many of the songs on this album before, because Chad Urmston (frontman) prefers to test out his new songs on the road long before recording them in the studio – leaving fans (like me) who collect concert recordings with months (and sometimes years!) of anticipating how the album versions of these songs will sound. In order to try and combat this handicap, I refrained from listening and even singing State Radio songs for about four months prior to receiving the album. While this certainly didn’t cure my subjectivity in either direction, it did help – and I’m hoping that you will see the benefits as you read further.
Try as hard as I could, I simply could not find a song on this album that I wanted to skip. Nonetheless, the album definitely has some moments that are far stronger than others. Here’s a look at its strongest moments:
The whole album features terrific coordination between the three band members (Chad on guitar, joined by Chuck Fay on bass and Mike “Maddog” Najarian on drums). The ebbs and flows of Mansin Humanity show a band that has all its members on the same page, and all playing extremely well. The song’s opening riff grabs you right at the beginning, and continues to do so when it shows during later parts of the song, matching the lyrical content perfectly – the song describes the desperate and failed attempts of a diplomat in Turkey to warn the world about the Armenian genocide after World War I.
The bass solo, bridge, and outro of Arsenic and Clover rock harder than any song in the band’s catalog up to this point. The song describes Chad’s confused emotions as a young adult visiting Zimbabwe, having contracted some sort of local disease and being told that the only cure was drinking a concoction containing arsenic. I had seen the tremendous intensity in this song when they played it live, and it is definitely captured in the studio.
Knights of Bostonia has an Irish punk rock feel, a la Dropkick Murphys. It tells the story of young kids in Boston fighting to keep the summer around and not have to go back to school in the fall. The opening accordion and swelling drums that carry the song from the intro into the body of the song are definitely a highlight – and the song is just plain fun.
True roots reggae form is shown in Calling All Crows, Bohemian Grove and Evolution, but pulled off better in the latter, which describes a theoretical evolution of society into one where all levels of humanity become more and more kind towards one another. Bohemian Grove’s catchy protest chorus (“don’t need your world control, and the opinion of the inner elite”) and the genuine hope shown in Evolution affirm this band’s right to be described as one of this generation’s strongest links to the reggae tradition of Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley and The Wailers.
Held Up By The Wires is recorded well enough to make you believe that the band is playing for you in your living room. This is absolutely a must-listen, period. The song is about “the indomitable human spirit”, and that is displayed quite accurately in its power and punch.
The harmonica playing in Blood Escaping Man was a surprise, as in the 7 years that this song has been played live it had never been played with a harmonica involved (excluding shows between the recording and release of the album). I find it quite enjoyable; it gives the longtime fan favorite more muscle and brawn than it had before. The story being told is a fictional addendum to The Odyssey – As Penelope waits for Odysseus to return, there are suitors pressuring her to choose them over him, trying to convince her that he will never come back. She tells her late teen male servant that she would rather choose him over the suitors, but the servant convinces her that she should really wait for Odysseus – whom he has seen in town dressed up as a beggar, showing tremendous sacrifice and ability to not judge people by their look. The storytelling together with the harmonica echoes Bob Dylan in the best way possible.
Still and Silent recalls Us Against the Crown’s Man in the Hall lyrically, but far outdoes it musically. The intricate structure and spirited outro make for an excellent song.
And now for the weak moments:
The ending of Doctor Ron the Actor – This song descends into a mess of horns and distortion that is just hard to understand.
The lyrics in Calling All Crows – Those of us who follow the live recordings know that these lyrics were changed from “it’s a veritable revolutionary rookery” to “said the rebel to the revolutionary – come with me.” Dumbing down lyrics is rarely a good idea.
The production of Bohemian Grove – The bubblegum backup vocals in the chorus and poppy use of keys and synthesizers make this song hard to listen to. It’s probably hard for power trios to know how much is too much when it comes to production, but they should have realized that this was too much.
The chorus of Let it Go – Why a band known for intelligent lyrics would choose to make a chorus with 3 words repeated over and over is beyond me.
The various unoriginal snippets along the album – 2:48-3:00 of Mansin Humanity sounds too much like 1:00-1:10 of The Shins’ “Fighting in a Sack”. 2:58-3:20 of Doctor Ron the Actor sounds like Green Day, which is almost never a good thing. The vocals in the verses of Let it Go sound too much like Eddie Vedder (except for the fact that they are intelligible).
All in all, this album is more subtle than sledgehammer, and therein lay its strength. Previous songs by this band have been titled Guantanamo, CIA, Fight No More Forever, and Fall of the American Empire – and focused on specific political topics. Nearly all of Let it Go is more personal than political. Indeed its biggest failures come when the songwriting becomes preachy. This band has tremendous talent, and is still quite young. This album will not go down as their best work, but it’s getting there. It’s closer to Rubber Soul than it is to Sgt. Pepper. Musically, this is by far their best album yet – Chuck and Maddog are absolutely on top of their game, and Chad is not far behind. The restraint shown in most of the songwriting coupled with the tight musicianship make for an album just short of classic.
Track Listing:
“Mansin Humanity” – 5:07
“Calling All Crows” – 3:38
“Doctor Ron The Actor” – 4:02
“Arsenic & Clover” – 3:06
“Bohemian Grove” – 4:35
“Knights of Bostonia” – 4:26
“Let It Go” – 3:12
“Evolution” – 3:55
“Held Up By The Wires” – 4:37
“Blood Escaping Man” – 3:32
“Still & Silent” – 4:06
“Indian Moon (Reggae) (Hidden Track)
*Physical copies of the cd contain a front-ended bonus track called Sybil III, and I strongly urge all who can to acquire that song through any means possible…
[Bootleg] The Derek Trucks Band: 8-13-09
Shared by you
I know I haven’t been great with the Sunday boots lately, but those of you who keep the Jewish holidays are probably aware that during years like this, all of our Sundays are taken up by holidaying, and thus no posts. Add to that too much homework and many trips to and from NY (to Baltimore three times, to Chicago once) and we have good reason for me to be sparse on the posting.
Phish vs. White Stripes
It’s always fun when you have two song riffs that are exactly the same. Elana brought this one to my attention: Phish’s “Sample in a Jar,” and The White Stripes’ “The Air Near My Fingers.”
Popout
Popout
Shopping Music
Shared by you
Elana and I were shopping in Frank’s Market tonight when a song suddenly came over the loudspeaker. Both of our ears immediately perked up, as we both racked out brains for who was singing. Sure, the guy singing backing vox was clearly Jack Johnson, but who was singing lead?
Brother
Pearl Jam: Backspacer Review
I can never really tell, right when the album comes out. My over excitement about hearing new Pearl Jam material prevents me from being an entirely unbiased reviewer of the material. But then again, I certainly felt something for this most recent offering that I hadn’t felt for any of the past three albums. Binaural had fantastic songs, but lacked flow. Riot Act had great flow, but isn’t the best in terms of quality songs. Avocado was a great return to their punk roots, but still seemed a few steps short of greatness.
Enter Backspacer. Gone is the Bush dynasty and with it Ed Ved’s political rants- some of which were turned into sub-par PJ songs (see: “Bushleaguer”). As anyone who has heard the first single, “The Fixer,” has noticed, it almost sounds as if Eddie is happy. Anyone who has followed Pearl Jam throughout their career knows that most of PJ’s songs are either sad or angry; happy is not an adjective usually associated with this band, and it’s weird and almost unnerving – but in a good way.
The album explodes in a way we haven’t seen since Ten and Vitalogy. (PJ buffs may argue that Binaural had three hard rockers to open, but I will respectfully counter that the relative uselessness of Evacuation as a song renders that album’s explosiveness a moot point.) First we have “Gonna See My Friend,” (or as Yonah calls it “Gonna Punch My Friend in the Face,” due to it’s hard-rocking nature, and how it makes both of us want to run around screaming and hitting things – in a good way. Eddie’s vocals are howling in a way that recalls songs like Deep, Rats, and Leash, and the overall speed and raunchiness of the song makes it a dream as an album opener. We’re lead directly into “Got Some,” Eddie’s stab at post-modern self referential bullshit, as he croons that we, the listeners, just want to hear a rock song – so here’s a rock song. The lyrics may leave what to be desired, but the song punches right on through leaving the listener salivating for more, which we get with “The Fixer.” Now, many PJ fans have derided this song as sell-out, radio-friendly, bullshit that has no purpose on a Pearl Jam album; from the perfectly distorted intro, all the way through to the sing-along chorus. But then again, most of these fans haven’t seen the song live yet. While I don’t particularly love the studio version, the song takes on an entirely new identity in concert. The distortion is more grungy, the piano licks in the chorus more pronounced, and the sing-alongs just so damn awesome. So take my word for it, the song straight up rocks.
Which takes us to “Johnny Guitar,” a song written from the perspective of a young music fan who falls in love with a model on an album cover. Both lyrically and musically, the song ventures into areas that the band hasn’t touched before. The story is weird, but probably biographical. The music sounds like something off an early Stooges album, and Eddie seems to be doing his best to sound like Iggy Pop. It’s not classic Pearl Jam, but it’s entertaining and innovative, and therefore awesome. Just Breathe is a continuation of “Tuolumne” from the Into the Wild soundtrack, and takes the album’s pace down a few steps as Eddie sings about life, love, and loss.
At this point, the album changes from just being a great hard rock album, to a fantastically constructed masterpiece with beautifully composed songs. “Amongst the Waves” quickly establishes itself as the catchiest song on the album, and one of the most beautiful. Brendan O’Brien’s influence can clearly be seen in the music, while the guitars remain sparse until the chorus- letting bass, drums, and organ dominate the verses. The opening lyrics set the stage for the poetry that marks the rest of the album:
What used to be a house of cards
Has turned into a reservoir
Save the tears that were waterfalling
Let’s go swim tonight, darling.
The song explodes into an immensely catchy chorus, with both Mike and Stone rocking out hard- letting the song crescendo beautifully and perfectly. After dropping back into another verse and chorus, Mike lets loose and entertains us with a perfectly written solo (yes, that’s right – Brendan made Mike actually write out the solo to that song, as opposed to letting him wing it like he normal does) which continues into the outro choruses, during which we see not one, but two vocal-inflection brilliances on Ed’s part.
“Unthought Known,” follows, with a musical buildup that mimics a lyrical one. We open with one guitar and a lone person’s thoughts. That sound is expanded with the addition of guitar and organ, as the lyrics move from being inside one’s head, to walking along a road. Another guitar joins in the music, as another character enters the song – the lover or partner. Now the love moves from the road up into the air, as the keys pound more heavily. Suddenly, Matt’s drumming takes a turn, as the story takes off into the sky, past the moon. Now, the song has reached it peak, and as there’s no higher for either the song or the lyrics to ascend, the music continues jamming, while Eddie croons “Nothing left,” over and over again. The song ends with another quick buildup, but this time the moon, the path, the dreams are all combined in one verse, where Eddie joins everything together. As for the poetic analysis of that, I’ll leave it up to each listener to determine for themselves.
“Supersonic” stole the riff from “Mankind,” but no one cares. Not only does the song rock my socks off, but the slow jam interlude that Stone breaks out at 1:20 is so freaking good that I’m nervous I may wear the grooves off the record for that part. “Speed of Sound” seems to be one of those songs that fans will never agree on. I love it, but many seem to hate it. The atonal intro melody just makes the beautiful vocal lines that much more gorgeous, and the full band version is a huge improvement from Ed’s solo version.
The final two songs, are probably some of the most beautiful and haunting poetry that Ed has ever written. “Force of Nature” starts off like a standard rock song, with a trademark Matt backbeat, and a groovy lead guitar intro (which I’m guessing is Stone, but have no way of knowing). The story begins about from the perspective of a woman who is described as a “force of nature,” who is “letting go,” and quickly shifts to a “common man” who seems to be desperately trying to save his love. The first chorus uses some of the most vivid imagery I’ve seen from Ed yet:
One man stands the edge of the ocean
A beacon on dry land
Eyes above the horizon
In the dark before the dawn
The story continues using the analogy of a hurricane to describe the storm that is his love to this woman can’t seem to hold on anymore. He’s waiting for her to come back from something. Did she leave him? Did she lose her mind? Did she die? It’s unclear from the lyrics, as we’re only privy to Ed’s description of this man’s tragic loss of his love.
Suddenly, the song shifts to the first person, and we hear Eddie’s editorial on the situation:
Makes me ache
Makes me shake
Is it so wrong to think
Love can keep us safe?
While I’ve only scratched the surface of the poetry of the song, it’s the music that truly carries the message through. The song is perfectly structured, and has one of the most beautiful choruses I’ve ever heard.
Which brings us to “The End.” From the first time I heard it, bootlegged from the Eddie solo shows, it was clear that Eddie was back in full form. In an almost “Off He Goes” style of a ballad, this time it seems that this is a love song not to a lover, but to us – the fans. While this is probably not PJ’s final album, it seems that the end may be coming.
What were all those dreams we shared those many years ago…I’m just a human being…I just want to hold on and know I’m worth your love.
This is entirely my own opinion, but I would like to think that this is Eddie’s gift to his fans, a song written for them, about them. He seems unsure about the future, but if this is it, then it’s certainly been a fantastic ride.
Give me something to echo in my unknown future, you see, my dear, the end, comes near, I’m here, but not much longer.
Happy New Year
Hey folks. I know I haven’t posted much this week, but it’s been an insane past couple days, filled with the new Pearl Jam album, my first couple problem sets of the semester due, the official Chicago PJ boots released, and, oh, did I mention that Backspacer leaked?
Pearl Jam Update
Shared by you
Hey loyal listeners.
Pearl Jam Backspacer Leak
Finally. Sure, it’s only a week before the album is to be released, and the PJ people probably let it leak themselves. But who cares? I’m currently listening to the album in its entirety for the first time, and I’m loving it. It’s a but more upbeat and happier than their previous offerings, almost with Yield-esque feel to it.
Covering Pearl Jam
A lot of people (read: obsessive PJ fans) enjoy focusing on the myriad of covers that Pearl Jam has played over the years; from The Who and Neil Young, to The Ramones and The Clash, to The Dead Boys, CCR, Thin Lizzy, Bruce, Mother Love Bone, and tons of others. But fewer people turn that model inside out and search for the bands covering Pearl Jam.
School’s Back in Session
Shared by you
The semester is about to begin. I’m sitting here in 545 Mudd, more than 12 minutes early to my first class of my final year of schooling. This will probably be, the last time I’m this early for a class…ever. But, I figured I’d start off the school year on the right track.
Pearl Jam: 8-24-09
Shared by you
Sorry for keeping you waiting, but this weekend included many birthday celebrations (thanks E!) and I had little to no time to dedicate to the blog. But here it is: Pearl Jam Night 2 in Chicago. Enjoy!
The Anniversary of the Day of My Birth
Shared by you
So, I know I may have promised you guys the Monday night PJ show from Chicago, but I’m going to digress a bit from the norm, as today is the anniversary of the day of my birth. Yes- it’s my birthday.
Pearl Jam: 8-23-09
I’m feeling like sharing today. And thus, I present to you night one (part one?) of Pearl Jam’s stint in Chicago last week. And if I’m feeling up to it, I may even post night two tomorrow.
Grace Potter: 7-23-06
Sorry for the brief hiatus from posting. After getting home from Chicago and posting about PJ, I spent the rest of last week watching The Simpsons and occasionally popping my head in at work. Then, this past weekend was spent at home in Baltimore for some quality family time, and a pretty freaking awesome wedding last night.
Pearl Jam in Chicago: August 23-24, 2009
Shared by you
As Tony drove us back to West Rogers Park last night, we sat in his back seat speechless. We were on our way back from the second show of Pearl Jam’s two-night stint at the United Center in Chicago, and for once, words failed us.
Chicago
So, I’m off to Chicago tomorrow morning for the weekend to hang out with Elana and her family, and to see Pearl Jam. I probably won’t have time to post between now and when I get back, so here’s a few Chicago tunes to tide you over.
Pearl Jam: Supersonic
Shared by you
Supersonic, a new song off Pearl Jam’s upcoming album Backspacer, was played for the first time ever last night at the PJ show in the O2 Arena in London, England. This song wasn’t just played live for the first time, but was actually the first any non music insider had heard the track.
It’s 3AM And I Want to Go To Bed
Shared by you
Well, I’m up at the crack of dawn for the ride to Cornell for a research presentation conference thingy. I’d give more details, but I just slept for 2 hours, and my mind isn’t all there. Uch. I just want to get back into bed.
Woodstock: 40 Years After
Shared by you
Billed as an “Aquarian Exposition in White Lake, NY” no one really knew what to expect with the festival that presented itself as “3 Days of Peace and Music.” 60,000 tickets were sold to the event, and the promoters expected around 100,000 people would show up. When 800,000 people attempted to make the trip (many of whom never actually made it to the festival) the promoters were forced to let the torn down fences lay as they were and declared it a free festival.
Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes): 7-11-09
Shared by you
The Derek Trucks Band: 8-13-09
Shared by you
A lone Gibson Les Paul guitar sits in the middle of the stage, a tribute to it’s namesake who had just passed away early that day. Directly to the left of the guitar stands Derek Trucks, celebrated slide guitarists, just 30 years of age, of the lengendary Allman Brothers Band, and his very own Derek Trucks Band. His bleach blond hair slicked back in a tight ponytail, Derek’s glass slide glides along the strings as his unique bluesy style emerges from his amplifiers, lighting up the night at the Lincoln Center Out of Doors summer concert series.
Summertime Heat
Shared by you
It’s so freaking hot outside. Anyone taking the subways in NYC this summer, or trying to save a bit of cash by sleeping without the AC knows what I’m talking about. It’s when you take a cold shower and still come out sweating. It’s when you dread leaving work because it means going home to a hot apartment. It’s when naps are no longer worth it- because even if you manage to fall asleep in the heat, the cold sweat you wake up in negates any benefit. It’s when you start collecting sweat stains the second you walk outside.
Jonny Greenwood or Stone Gossard
Shared by you
Is it just me, or does Stone Gossard look like Jonny Greewood these days? They’re even wearing the same shirt.
Pearl Jam: Live @ Lollapalooza 1992
Shared by you
For our second Lolla boot of the day, we’re digging deep into the Pearl Jam archive to pull out one of their 1992 Lollapalooza shows. For those of you who don’t remember, Lollapalooza used to be a traveling festival- not a one shot deal.
Radiohead: Live @ Lollapalooza 2008
Shared by you
As Lollapalooza 2009 comes to a close tonight, I figured it be apro pos to post not one, but two Lollapalooza bootlegs. We’ll start with Lollapalooza 2008 with healiner Radiohead’s set.
Pearl Jam @ Virgin Fest
Shared by you
So, Pearl Jam kicked off their tour last night in Calgary, headlining the Virgin Fest there. The set looked pretty killer, with gems like Brother and The Real Me (The Who). The set was cut short due to curfew, but if you add Release (which wasn’t played) and all the crossouts (Comatose, RVM, and Corduroy) then this sounds like a pretty freaking awesome show.
Encore 1: Betterman, BROTHER!!!, Black/improv, Spin The Black Circle
Encore 2: Crazy Mary, THE REAL ME!!!, Yellow Ledbetter
Videotape
Shared by you
There’s a reason that Radiohead is one of the greatest bands of all time. And the song Videotape, the final track off In Rainbows, is a perfect example of what makes this band so fantastic.
Popout
Summertime Blues
Shared by you
Every now and then, you get than feeling where you just need to listen to some blues. Not because you’re sad, or feeling down- but because you just need to hear that pure raw soulful music.
The Decemberists: SXSW
Shared by you
The first time I heard The Hazards of Love, the new album by The Decemberists, was when I first listened to this bootleg from 2009′s South By Southwest (SXSW) festival, where they debuted the album in it’s entirety. This was quite a feat, considering the fact that most of the bands at SXSW are limited to half hour sets- creating audiences that are expecting to hear a few of the performers’ hits, before moving on to the next act. For The Decemberists to play for an entire hour, and not play any hits until the encore, was a gutsy move that proved brilliant.
Happy Weekend!
Shared by you
So, the weekend is almost upon us, and what a weekend it’s going to be. The 3 week period of mourning for destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem has ended for us Jew-people, and it’s time to crank the music back up, and start listening to those weekend appropriate songs.
Enjoy!
Harpo- Homeward Bound (Od M’at Shabbat)
The Honey Tongue Devils- Sunday Morning Blackout
Speed of Sound
Shared by you
Diverging from the short punky songs, and catchy ballads of the past few albums, Eddie and PJ seem to have created a gem with this new song. The rumors going around are that this is only an Eddie demo, and that the album version will sound different; this is entirely possible as he seems to be the only musician and vocalist on the track. The rhythm is definitely Eddie, and the lead could be him as well. Similarly, the lead vocals are Ed, and the backing vox sound like him too.
So- what do we think of the song?
In the vein of the Into the Wild soundtrack, the song opens with Eddie’s fingerpicked guitar, quickly followed by his vocals. But while the three second guitar intro sounds like something that could be found on the movie, once Ed begins singing, we’re quickly thrown off by the slightly atonal chord and melody. Some listeners may find this disconcerting; I’m hopeful that this is a Pearl Jam that is ready to begin challenging their fans and listeners again.
But besides that bit of dissonance in the beginning of the verse, the rest of the chords and melody flow beautifully. The song gently builds up during the chorus, with Ed’s own backing vocals lending depth to this otherwise simple song.
The lyrics to me are almost Kafka-esque in their claustrophobic nature; putting the protagonist in the song stuck in the darkness, looking towards the light, with either the inability or the lack of desire to reach it; unsure whether the voices in his head are real or imagined; all made more confusing by the contrast between a slow beautiful song and a title that evokes speed. The atonality combined with the beautiful melody seem to also be playing on this notion of “holding tight to a dream of distant light,” while at the same time being painfully aware that we’re “waiting on a sun that never comes.”
As a solo offering, this song has quietly grown on me over the 14 times I’ve listened to in the past few hours. We’ll see how it turns out with the rest of the band.
Yesterdays, How quick they change
All lost and long gone now
Want to remember anything moving at the speed of sound
With the speed of sound
And yet I’m still holdin’ tight to this dream of distant light
In that, somehow I’ll survive, but this night has been a long one
Waiting on a sun that just don’t come
Can I forgive what I cannot forget
And live a lie?
I could give it one more try
Why deny this, drive inside, just looking for some peace
Every time I get me some it gets the best of me
Not much left, you see
And yet I’m still holdin’ tight to this dream of distant light
In that, somehow I’ll survive, but this night has been a long one
Waiting on a word that never comes
A whisper in the dark
Is that you or just my thoughts
I’m wide awake and reaching out
It’s gone so quiet now
Could it be I’m farther out
Movin’ faster than the speed of sound
Pearl Jam on Sporcle
Shared by you
PJ quiz on Sporcle here!
Pearl Jam Artwork Game
Shared by you
If you want a free PJ download and have time to go around searching the web, go to
http://www.pearljam.com/backspacer/art/
and play the Pearl Jam artwork game.
The PJ people have hidden the album artwork on various websites. In order to play, add the name of the website after “art/”
Example: If you think there’s some art at target.com, then type
http://www.pearljam.com/backspacer/art/target.com
Just to give you a headstart- target is not one of the sites. To start you off, try a couple of music magazines, and electronics magazine, and a search engine that isn’t google.
Happy gaming!
Pearl Jam: 10-4-96 (Charlotte, NC)
Shared by you
Well, it’s Sunday bootleg time again, and I finally got a PJ request that I have- so I’m going to share this one with you guys. This show was commenter JStock’s first show, and he’s been searching for the boot ever since. And, as it’s a pretty solid setlist with good sound quality, I couldn’t help but post this one.
Enjoy, and don’t forget to wish Elana a happy birthday for the next hour and a half.
Pearl Jam: 10-4-96 (Charlotte, NC)
Long Road
(Getting to be Friends)
Last Exit
Animal
Spin the Black Circle
Hail, Hail
In My Tree
Corduroy
Lukin
Not For You
Jeremy
Better Man
Red Mosquito
Black
(Two Steps Back)
State of Love and Trust
MFC
Habit
Rearviewmirror
Immortality
Alive
Porch
Gloria speech
Who You Are
Even Flow
Whipping
I Got Id
Leaving Here
Daughter/The Real Me/Noise of Carpet
Yellow Ledbetter
Monsters of Folk
Shared by you
So, Monsters of Folk is coming, and it’s quite exciting.
For those not in the know, Monsters of Folk is the moniker that Conor Oberst, Jim James, and M. Ward chose for their very own supergroup. In this era that’s experiencing an enjoyable revival of folk music, it’s exciting to see these talented singer/songwriters all collaborating on one project.
Besides Say Yes, the song that’s free for download on their website, I haven’t found any other songs anywhere. As the album release date (9/22) draws sooner, hopefully more songs will be found.
For now, check out this song, and the tour dates listed below.
Monsters of Folk tour dates
10/13: Vancouver, BC @ Orpheum
10/14: Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
10/15: Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
10/17: Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
10/18: Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
10/20: San Diego, CA @ Spreckels Theatre
10/21: Phoenix, AZ @ Orpheum Theater
10/22: Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
10/28: Omaha, NE @ Holland Center
10/29: Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
10/30: Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre
10/31: Louisville, KY @ Louisville Palace Theatre
11/02: Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
11/03: Boston, MA @ The Orpheum
11/06: New York, NY @ United Palace
11/08: New York, NY @ Beacon Theater
11/09: Philadelphia, PA @ Academy of Music
11/12: Stockholm, SE @ Philadelphia Church
11/14: Berlin, DE @ Huxleys
11/15: Copenhagen, DK @ Vega
11/17: London, UK @ Troxy
11/18: Paris, FR @ Elysee Montmartre
11/19: Koln, DE @ E-Werk
11/21: The Hague, NL @ Crossing Border
11/22: Antwerp, BE @ Crossing Border
New Pearl Jam: The Fixer
Shared by you
Pearl Jam released The Fixer, the first single off their upcoming album Backspacer, today. After close to 20 listens, the track seems to be a bit more…happy than most PJ songs. It’s short, poppy, and definitely different. Still unsure what my thoughts are…
Leave your thoughts on the track in the comments.
Drive-By Truckers: Vic Theater (5/19/05)
Shared by you
DBT is a band that has taken the folk-country genre (see yesterday’s post), added just more than a pinch of electric blues, and led the musical style to it’s next step. Far from alternative country, and even further from radio-friendly rock, these southern rockers sound as if they were weaned at the feet of Steve Earle and Lynyrd Skynyrd- combining the rock of the latter with the country of the former.
Check out the show, and let us know what you think of them.
Drive-By Truckers: Vic Theater (5/19/05)
One of These Days
Lookout Mountain
Decoration Day
Feb. 14
Gravity’s Gone
Sinkhole
Never Gonna Change
Aftermath U.S.A.
Carl Perkins’ Cadillac
Easy on Yourself
Dead, Drunk, and Naked
Guitar Man Upstairs
Ronnie and Neil
Outfit
The Living Bubba
Marry Me
Tales Facing Up
Goddamn Lonely Love
18 Wheels of Love
Women Without Whiskey
Do It Yourself
Danko and Manuel
Wednesday
Putting People on the Moon
Let There Be Rock
The Day John Henry Died
Zip City
World of Hurt
Buttholeville
People Who Died
Townes
Shared by you
I know little about Steve Earle, and even less about Townes Van Zandt. Most of what I know about both of them, I read in an article in a recent issue of Rolling Stone. I know so little about Steve Earle that when I saw his picture in the article, I was puzzled as to why the actor who played Walon (Bubs’ sponsor) on The Wire was gracing the pages of my magazine.
And then I read the article, and learned the story of two folk troubadours who lived the true lifestyle; a lifestyle that centered around addiction, storytelling, and music. But while these friends shared their penchant for alcohol and heroin, they also shared an ability to dig deep into their souls, and write and perform country and folk music unlike anyone else.
Those who claim to appreciate country music, and immediately rattle off Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, and Jason Aldean as their favorite artists, are not listening to the same country music that these true-blood musicians were playing. This music isn’t rock with a dab of fiddle, this is pure folk-country; music tainted with the pain of the blues. This is the legacy of Johnny Cash, of the true dark personas, of the internal turmoil of the soul being wrung out in the only way these artists know how- with a guitar and their raspy, smoke addled, voices.
On the album Townes, Steve Earle takes his favorite Townes Van Zandt tunes, and covers them with the respect and admiration of a true friend and mentee. So check out this album, and open your ears and hearts to music that may be a bit darker than what you’re used to, but can also be more beautiful than anything in the world.
The Fixer Commercial Clip
Shared by you
Tonight, Fox aired a commercial during the All Star game which featured 30 seconds of Pearl Jam’s forthcoming song The Fixer. It’s kind of had to hear, but towards the end, you can hear Eddie’s voice clearly.
The song sounds pretty good and upbeat- can’t wait to hear the entire thing.
Pearl Jam- The Fixer clip 1 (alt download)
Pearl Jam- The Fixer clip 2 (alt download)
Yim Yames: Tribue To
Shared by you
When George Harrison passed away in 2001, Jim James, folk music troubadour and bandleader of My Morning Jacket, recorded a few of his favorite Harrison tracks under the quirky yet clever moniker Yim Yames.
I have no idea where these tracks have been for the past eight years, nor do I know why James has decided to release them now, although it could have something to do with his two upcoming folksy releases: the highly anticipated Monsters of Folk album, with fellow folk rockers Conor Oberst and M. Ward, and James’ own upcoming solo album.
But none of that really matters. What matters is that these songs sound brilliant- James’ voice and guitar playing do both justice to the originals, and also innovate in a very Jim James way. Six of the tracks are currently available, and the rest of the album, to be called Tribute To will be released on August 4th.
So enjoy the music, and keep your ears out for the rest of the album.
Pearl Jam: Seattle (12/7/93)
Shared by you
So… only one guy actually commented with a bootleg request, and it happened to be a show that I don’t have. That kinda sucks, and I feel like I’ve let him down, but hey- not every show was recorded; you can’t recreate a recording that doesn’t exist.
Anyway, I decided to dig deep into the vault for a late 1993 show- one in PJ’s hometown; Seattle. This showcases the band after they’ve had major success with their sophomore album Vs. with the band almost going platinum in it’s first week of sales. This commercial success confirmed in the eyes of the media that this quintet from Seattle wasn’t just a one-hit-wonder, but they were truly a force to be reckoned with.
But we don’t care about that stuff, and neither did the band (or at least they professed not to). What the fans cared about were the shows. Eddie had since gained a reputation for climbing all over the stage during his shows, using his mic chord to pull himself up into the scaffolding, and jumping out into the crowd. As early as 1991, Pearl Jam had proven themselves as a “must see” band, as their wildness at their shows was only made better by an incredible tightness and massive live sound, a feat rarely achieved by young bands.
By 1993, their show had only gotten better. So check out this homecoming show, one that starts off with a bang, ripping through Go, Animal, Why Go, and Deep to start things off. The sound quality is pretty good and the band just sounds incredible.
Pearl Jam: Seattle (12/7/93)
Go
Animal
Why Go
Deep
Jeremy
Glorified G
Daughter/Golden Years/Across the Universe
Evenflow
State of Love and Trust
Black
Alive
Blood
Improv
Ed Talking/Don’t Touch Me There
Porch
Rearviewmirror (Song Stopped)
Rearviewmirror
Whipping
Garden
Ed Talking
Leash
Indifference
The Tallest Man on Earth
Shared by you
They say he sounds like Dylan. And it’s true; he does. Sometimes, it almost sounds like he has a better voice that’s being curtailed so that he can sound more like the epic songwriter. But then again- who would actively want to sound like Dylan- a great tunesmith, but an average songwriter at best.
So, we’re going to have to compare this man to Dylan, because there’s no way to view his music independent of the man formerly known as Robert Zimmerman. While his songwriting isn’t in the same league the master, his guitar playing is much better. His album is well crafted, and his singing is also a bit better than Dylan’s (in my opinion). So, you can brush this guy off as a Dylan clone, or you can get excited that people are going back to writing music in the style of our favorite singer/songwriter/poet/civil-rights-activist.
Enjoy!
PopoutTallest Man on Earth – The Gardener – A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
The Tallest Man on Earth- The Gardener
The Tallest Man on Earth- The Blizzard’s Never Seen the Desert Sands
Buy The Tallest Man on Earth on Amazon.com
Pearl Jam Voting
Hey y’all. So.. it seems I’m not as below the radar as I thought. I have been asked to remove them by Rob, who it seems works for Pearl Jam. The email went a little something like this:
Yitzchak Schwartz,
Please remove the two EV songs that you have on your blog
http://troubledsoulsunite.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-pearl-jam.html
.
I was hoping you’d get the hint when I removed them the other day, guess not.
As stated on your blog:
And if you represent an artist and would like a song taken down, please contact us via email.
So, I’m contacting you via email. Please remove the songs and links from your blog.
EV has requested that no recordings be made of his solo shows. Please respect his wishes.
Rob
Anyway, in my overwhelming excitement for the Pearl Jam shows that I’m heading to Chicago to see in the end of August, coupled with the fact that the band just announced a mini-tour (where I will hopefully be making the drive down to Philly to attend), I’ve decided that it’s time to start posting some old school PJ bootlegs. And, as I am a man of the people, I thought I would let you, the fan, decide what shows I post.
Here are the rules for voting:
1. The show cannot be one that was released as an official bootleg.
2. The show cannot have been a live album that was sold in stores.
3. Basically, if you can buy this show in a store or online- I’m not posting it.
4. Please leave your requests in comment form.
5. DO NOT EMAIL ME WITH YOUR REQUESTS. And if your show doesn’t make it, feel free to beg me to post it in the comments, but ONLY in the comments.
So start thinking about that show you saw in 92 or 98 or whenever, and I’ll take your requests, and decide which ones to post.
Let the games begin!
More Bandwidth!
Shared by you
Ok people. Now’s when I ask for a little something in return. I hate to do this, but I’ve gotten so many complaints about running out of bandwidth, that I decided to leave it up to you- the reader.
Here’s the long and short of it: More bandwidth costs money. I’m a poor student, and have very little to spare. I’m already spending $25 a year for file hosting and bandwidth- but that only gives me 10 gig of bandwidth per day. For $50, I can get 25 gig of bandwidth per day.
So I leave it up to you, the reader. If I get $50 in donations in the next few days, then we can say goodbye to out bandwidth issues. If not, we’ll stay at 10 gig per day- which is just fine as well. From my perspective, I don’t really care. This one’s in your court.
Jet- Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Olin & the Moon- Turn Me Into Money
Buy Jet, Olin, and Patti @ Amazon.com
New Pearl Jam
Shared by you
Well folks, I may get in a ton of trouble for posting these for you. Lately, PJ has been pretty strict with blogs posting stuff from Eddie’s solo shows, but I think I’m far enough under the radar to get away with this one.
First things first. Eddie played a new song called The End in Philly on June 12th. According to Visions magazine (or this translation of the article), this is the final track on the upcoming album. Unclear how it will sound with the full band, or if Eddie will just do it solo, but for now- it sounds pretty great.
Moving along to the show in Honolulu on July 2nd, Eddie debuted another song that is supposed to be on the new album, entitled Speed of Sound. Again- sounds great acoustic, but not sure how the full band version is going to look.
Enjoy the tracks while they last. I’m guessing this post will be taken down shortly.
Eddie Vedder- The End
Eddie Vedder- Speed of Sound
The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love
It’s actually surprising that so few bands venture to undertake what The Decemberists have done with their latest album, The Hazards of Love. In a day and age when the internet has super-saturated the amount of available music, it’s a wonder that bands don’t come up with innovative ways to make their music stand out. While The Decemberists have enough of a unique style to stand out based on their musical innovation alone, they still managed to put themselves in a league populated by bands like The Who, composers like Beethoven, and epic poets like Homer.
The theme is one that is mentioned often, but rarely executed, and almost never successfully. The Who created their rock opera with Tommy- but the story didn’t exactly make sense. Green Day attempted it with American Idiot, but again- not a story that flows well. But The Decemberists, well, not only was their execution perfect, but their “rock opera” was more of an epic poem set to music. For the entire story, check out this link here, or, listen to the album and figure it out for yourself. I want to focus more on the execution of the feat than the story itself.
What stands out as brilliant about this artistic venture is the musical themes that are obviously constant throughout the album. Like the great classical composers would do with their symphonies, basing entire pieces of music on one recurring motif, and expanding on that to create long unique pieces that somehow sound familiar yet original the entire way through.
Each character in the story has their own “theme music” that is evident in every song about them, lending distinction to the different parts of the story, while at the same time letting the listener know that this is a character they have already met. To further this point, the band makes use of numerous vocalists of both genders- giving each protagonist in the story their own unique voice- literally.
What ensues is a masterpiece of modern music; an album for the ages that is beautifully constructed and perfectly executed. Musically, The Decemberists have expanded their pallet, as this album is their heaviest to date, yet still stays within the confines of “folksy” most of the way through.
Buy this album right now. I’m not kidding. It’s that good.
The Decemberists- The Hazards of Love 1
The Decemberists- The Queen’s Rebuke/The Crossing
Buy The Decemberists @ Amazon.com
Cage the Elephant
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to apologize for the continued screwup with my files and server. Things are up and down there, and I’m beginning to look into using new guys, but that would involve the tedium of moving all my files, and would also cost me money. And so, unless the donations start pouring in, we’re probably going to have to sit this one out, and you’ll have to be satisfied with my writing during the time being. And on to the album review.
A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine (Julez) sent me a track by a band then unknown to me. The song was called No Rest for the Wicked, but a band that went by Cage the Elephant. I listened to it a few times, and quite enjoyed it. The vocalist reminded me of a cross between Dylan and Jason Mraz, in a very strange sort of way (as he sounds like neither of them), using Dylan’s unique half-speaking/half-singing approach to vocals, coupled with Mraz’s lyrical ADD- throwing as many words into as few beats as possible, making him sound pretty much like a five year old who can’t decide whether the need to urinate outweighs the story he wants to tell you, and ends up trying to relate as much information as quickly as possible before he urinates all over his self… in a good way. (He also looks like Beck.) The music is likewise enjoyable, sounding a bit like The White Stripes album, White Blood Cells, with it’s garage rock guitars and stocattoed rhythms.
A few days later, I was watching a live webcast of Bonnaroo while eating my Sunday breakfast, and realized that the band I was watching was Cage the Elephant. I was quite entertained by the eccentric frontman’s stage antics, and I spent a while just watching him flounder all over the stage in a red spandex bodysuit (the top half of which, due to the Bonnaroo sun, he was forced to remove, leaving the audience with a hilarious picture of a man still trying to run around the stage, while also holding the bottom part of his jumpsuit up at the same time), as his band crunched and grinded through the songs along with him.
So of course, I procured for myself a copy of the album, and gave it a few listens to. For a band’s first offering, this one is pretty good. Mind you, they do need to expand their sound a bit. Some of the songs sound drastically similar, and a few are patently boring. But when they’re on, they’re on. Songs like No Rest for the Wicked, and In One Ear are both musically invigorating, as well as lyrically though provoking. On Free Love, the guys channel the passion of Hendrix and the intensity of the Chili Peppers, on this drum heavy and funk-a-licious (sic) track.
The album is thankfully free of any ballads (the closest being the Strokes influenced Lotus, and the fact that the song sounds Strokes-ish is proof enought that it is definitely not a ballad), as this is a band that knows what they do well, and didn’t try to throw in any cheesy “I miss my girlfriend” slow songs for fans to stick up their lighters to. These guys seem content for their fans to go nuts, mosh, and bob their heads while the band themselves go nuts onstage.
So check the album out; I freaking love it, and so should you. And I’m sorry for not being able to post any mp3s at this time, but here are a few videos for you to check out. Peace.
Popout
Popout
Rest in Peace, Michael
Shared by you
Writing obituaries is probably the hardest thing I do on this blog. Yet, it’s probably the best way to deal with losses like this.
I must admit; I don’t feel as personally hit by this one as I did a few months back when Leroi Moore passed away. I was never the biggest fan of pop music, and though I do have a copy of Thriller on record, I wouldn’t put Michael Jackson up there with my favorite musicians.
That being said, this one still hurts. He was, without any question, the unrivaled King of Pop. What he did to popular music was revolutionary. Starting out in the family-centric Jackson 5, it was soon clear that Michael stood out from his siblings. He broke away from the family band in 1971 at the ripe old age of 13, and began one of the most brilliant careers of any popular musician anywhere.
He was an entire entertainment package- from his voice, to his songs, to his dancing, even to his controversial persona in the public eye. He became one of the earliest crossover musicians to be fully accepted by all music fans, effectively breaking down color barriers in music. He changed pop musicianship from just being a singer to being a performer. Where Elvis shook his hips, Michael took that a step further, as he changed the face of dancing in music- something that all pop musicians have striven to imitate, with most coming up short.
Possibly the most popular musical icon of our generation, Michael will be sorely missed by fans of music everywhere. Rest in peace, Mike.
Michael Jackson- Will You Be There
Michael Jackson- Black or White
[Bootleg] Andrew Bird @ Radio City Music Hall
Shared by you
Last week I saw Andrew Bird put on a fantastic performance at Radio City Music Hall. (Check the review here.) And, as I did not post a bootleg this past Sunday, coupled with the fact that I just found the boot of this show, whose quality happens to be stellar, I thought it apropos to post the show for y’all.
Enjoy!
Andrew Bird: Radio City Music Hall
Intro
Sweetbreads
Fiery Crash
Opposite Day
Fitz and the Dizzyspells
Masterswarm
Oh No
Effigy
Anoanimal
Imitosis
Cataracts
Skin Is, My*
Scythian Empires*
Tables and Chairs
Why?
Don’t Be Scared
Fake Palindromes
* with Calexico
Backstage at Aerosmith and ZZ-Top
Shared by you
So it’s two thirty in the morning, my hearing is severely impaired and I just got home from the craziest show of my life. Aerosmith and ZZ Top; backstage; on stage for the show. What could be cooler? I know what you’re thinking- How the hell did Ariel’s brother, albeit an awesome and great looking brother, get the hook up for this? I’ll tell you the tale.
To give you some background info, my oncologist’s sister knows the guy who runs Nissan Pavilion so I got hooked up to hang around with him all day before the Aerosmith show this past sunday.
The first part of the day was pretty chill. I met the guy Ryan who runs the place, and we chatted a bit, and he remarked “Yeah hopefully you’ll have a pretty cool night” Little did I know….
So after meeting some of the staff, and driving around in the golf cart through the backstage area, taking care of some misc. stuff, we headed to the Aerosmith meet and greet, which the Aerosmith people graciously let me go to. At this point in the day I learned that my oncologist’s sister also knows Aerosmith (?) or something like that. Needless to say, I was pretty excited to meet them, get a picture and get my one item signed. I actually was put at the front of the line, before the two kids who won the guitar hero contest (they were kinda weird), and before the two dozen other people who probably payed close to three thousand dollars for the same thing I was about to get for free. I guess I’m pretty lucky.
Here’s where it gets cool. I walk up to the guys by the picture tent, and Steven Tyler immediately signs my hat. I hand my ticket to a decidedly dazed and confused Joe Perry, which he signs, and as we get ready for the picture I proceed to have the greatest conversation of my life.
Steven: (jokingly) Hey they say I have a zit on my face
Me: Nah man, you look great
Steven: Yeah, so do you, so do you
(Picture Taken)
Steven: Hey man, so are you doing ok?
Me: Yeah I’m doing great, thanks…
Steven: So where are you sitting?
Me: VIP Box 203
Steven: (aloud) Let’s this guy on stage for the show….
WTF?? It seems as though Steven knew why I was there and was informed of my medical situation. How did that happen? And in a move that displayed his graciousness and good heartedness, he immediately upgraded me to the best seat in the house.
I waited until the meet and greet was done, and I went with some of Aerosmith’s guys backstage to get me a pass to get on the stage. I then proceeded to the VIP box they had to watch ZZ Top open the show.
Now for the music…
I never really ‘got into’ ZZ Top. They’re just one of those bands that everyone loves to listen to and that plays good southern rock blues. In my VIP box I had a pretty good view of the stage, and the sound was damn good. The word I’d use to describe their sound is heavy; you feel the thickness of the strings and the deep, grungy, booming riffs crankin’ out of the amps. I wasn’t familiar with all of their songs, but they were all similar and pretty rockin’. After a finale that included La Grange and Tush, I decided that ZZ Top puts on a decent live show and was satisfied with their set.
Just a little bit about the atmosphere in the box. If you’ve ever been in a VIP box you’ll know its a totally different atmosphere than a lawn seat or even a regular pavilion seat. There are chairs around tables and waitresses that come around bringing food and drinks. To me it was very strange; it almost seemed as if the music was an afterthought, sort of like music to accompany dinner. I’d probably rather be in a regular seat during a concert (although I can’t really complain). The other thing that drove me nuts was the abundance of fat middle aged women getting drunk and trying (horribly) to dance. It really was not the greatest sight to see but I guess it’s inevitable at a concert like this.
So ZZ Top finished and there was a 45 minute break in between the bands, since Aerosmith has a shitload of equipment to set up. I met up with Ryan again, and we headed into the back again to get me set up on the stage. I got set up in a seat that was literally right on the side of the stage. About ten feet in front of me was the spot where the bass player would be jamming all night. [Editor's note: Mike's side of the stage. PJ fans know what I'm talking about.] I was seated next to a disabled lady named Cathy (I think it was Cathy, or Kathy) who was clearly a huge Aerosmith fan. When I told her this was my first show, she looked at me like I was nuts. The roadies helped us settle into our little area and told us that we definitely had the “best seats in the house”. There was a huge black curtain in front of us that pretty much blocked our view of most of the stage, but we were assured it would go down once the band got out. I felt like the kid from Almost Famous when he gets whisked backstage for the Stillwater show. Crazy.
Aerosmith walked onstage to Bob Dylan’s ‘Everybody must get stoned’ [Editor's note: the song is actually called 'Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35'], and the crowd happily sang along, reveling in the apparent condoning of drug use and drenched in the excitement of the oncoming foray of rock n’ roll. As Aerosmith started playing the chords to ‘Train Kept a Rollin,’ the huge curtains came down and we were struck with an incredible view of the stage and the 14 thousand fans in the stands and lawn. It was a surreal experience, and it kept getting better. They played hit after hit, including the full album ‘Toys in the Attic.’
Throughout the show Steven periodically would come to the right side of the stage and sing directly to Cathy, myself and the rest of those lucky enough to be on stage. But the best part of the night came during ‘Walk This Way’. Steven screamed Cathy’s name and ran over to let her sing a verse of the song with him, finishing off by giving her ‘a little kiss, like this.’ I took a picture with my phone (since my camera died halfway through the set) and the look on Cathy’s face directly afterwards was one of pure joy. She was so happy that her idols had granted her this opportunity, and she had shared in the rock star glory.
After the first set ended, Joe Perry came out and did a guitar battle with his Guitar Hero character who played on the big screen. The real Joe Perry eventually won, as the video game version burst into flames, and the rest of the band ran on stage to perform an encore of ‘Rag Doll’, and ‘Come Together’ (which kicked ass). When the show ended I chilled with Ryan and drove around the parking lot in our golf cart, hanging out with drunk chicks. I finally drove home at midnight, and here I am trying to retain the glory and excitement of the night. I have my pictures, autographs and backstage passes to remember the night by, but nothing will match actually being there.
The music, the rock stars, the experience was amazing; truly once in a lifetime.
[Editor's note: Check out the video from the show. If you look to the little ramp on the left side of the stage, you can see some people sitting behind it. Gilad is the one in the black t-shirt with his arms crossed. Pretty sweet, considering that when I saw Aerosmith at the same venue back in '01, I was in the back of the lawn section.]
Popout
Buy Aerosmith and ZZ Top @ Amazon.com
Andrew Bird: Radio City Music Hall
Shared by you
It was my first time at Radio City Music Hall, and what stood out most to me were the bathrooms. I ventured downstairs to relieve myself after catching a few songs of opener Calexico’s set, and was taken aback by the amazingly luxurious bathroom that stood before me. There was an entire room with couches and comfy chairs leading into the room with the stalls, urinals, and sinks. This has absolutely nothing to do with the music itself, but it did exude the sense of high-class-ness (sic) that a venue like Radio City Music Hall represents.
It seemed that Andrew Bird himself was taken aback by the quality of the concert hall as well. A few songs into his performance he informed the crowd that “I don’t even know how we got here.”
Mr. Bird may not have been sure how he arrived to the venue (whether he was referring to literally being unsure of how he arrived at that night’s show, or he was speaking more existentially- being not quite sure how his solo career had brought him to such a prestigious venue) but he sure as hell put on a fantastic show.
This was my first time seeing Mr. Bird in concert, but I had been forewarned that his shows were something special. As an avid concert-goer, I took these words with a grain of salt, skeptically thinking that he couldn’t possibly be that great. I mean, it’s just an guy looping his violin- what’s so special about that.
And then, we began to hear music from behind the curtain- a sweet piercing violin sound. The curtains rose to reveal Mr. Bird standing alone with his violin perched neatly beneath his chin, playing the intro to Darkmatter. (Note: this seems to be something of a debate. Some setlists claim that a song entitled Sweetbreads was the opener. It seems that Sweetbreads is an earlier version of Darkmatter, and that it was that version which opened the show on Thursday night.)
But what made the show so amazing was Mr. Bird’s command of the music. He would begin each song by playing a short piece on his violin- either in the classic under-the-chin method, or turned sideways like a mandolin. After looping the piece, he would proceed to loop another piece on top of that. Sometimes more violin, sometimes some whistling, and other times some guitar. After all his looping was finished, he would proceed to play the entirety of the song with his band- continually aweing the crowd with their amazingly tight musical talents.
And beyond the music, his voice stands out as incredible. He has a soaring voice that filled Radio City quite well; at times piercing, at times sensual- but always incredible.
Though, I think I need to stop. Not because I have nothing more to say, but because I can’t quite think of how to say it. You can listen to his studio tracks, live bootlegs, watch youtube videos- but none of that can come close to actually seeing him live. This is one of those shows that you need to attend to properly understand. So, for lack of being able to competently describe the hold Mr. Bird and his bandmates had on the entire crowd for close to 2 hours, I will just implore you to see him live yourself. It is certainly something to be experienced.
Updates
Shared by you
A few things I wanna let all of you guys know:
- The Eddie Vedder show was reblogged yesterday by the Pearl Jam superfan site Two Feet Thick. Check it out here.
- In less than an hour, I’ll be headed down for the Andrew Bird show at Radio City Music Hall. For those of you going, it’s bound to be an amazing show. For those not, look forward to a review coming up soonish.
- My file host is down again. I keep trying to get in touch with them, but they are being quite difficult about everything. If anyone has suggestions as to a better server, lemme know.
Other than that, things are pretty cool. Listening to Olin and the Moon’s new album, starting to like Silversun Pickups, and have recently discovered the amazingness (sic) of Cage the Elephant. Oh, and one more thing- Eddie Vedder played a new song at a few of the solo dates this tour. Once my files are back up, that one will be shared with you as well.
Till then, enjoy the music.
Eddie Vedder: Lyric Opera House Baltimore (2)
Shared by you
It’s always difficult to transmit ones feelings about an experience to those who themselves have not experienced it. And so, I’ve always had trouble with concert reviews, especially when I’m writing for people who may not have seen this particular artist in concert themselves. Yet, when thinking about the Eddie Vedder solo show I attended last night, there’s only one word that comes to mind to describe the night:
Stunning.
My brothers and I arrived at the beautiful Lyric Opera House at 645PM for a show that officially began at 730, to ensure that we’d be able to buy as much merch as we wanted (an awesome poster for me, and t-shirts for them). The doors to the theater opened at 7, and we were greeted by ushers who handed out playbills; and so from the outset, it was clear that this was no ordinary concert- this was to be a night at the theater.
By the time Eddie came on a bit after 830 (Liam Finn opened the show- but more on that in a later post) the place was almost entirely filled up. When the lights finally went down, and the curtain came up, there was a mad rush through the theater doors, as the rest of the concert-going patrons filed in and quickly found their seats. Eddie walked out to thunderous applause.
A bit about the stage- a few stools, plush armchairs, a chair in the shape of two feet (you kinda have to see that one to know what I’m talking about), his amp with the bat-like wings on the top, a tiny bass drum box, and a few guitars, and a bottle of wine. Yet, instead of taking swigs directly from the bottle, Eddie had a glass with him, and it seemed that this touch of class was a microcosm for the entire night. Instead of a mosh pit, there were velvet seats, and instead of the crowd standing the entire time, Eddie urged everyone to sit down with him and enjoy the evening. And besides for the annoying drunken hecklers and their annoying screams of “play State of Love and Trust!” and “hey Eddie, I wanna party with you,” to which he responded- “what the fuck do you think we’ve been doing all night?” besides for those minor annoyances, the evening was successfully transformed from a rock concert into (in Yonah’s words) “a night at the theater.”
And sure, all of that added to the overall ambiance, but what made the show truly stunning was the music. Eddie opened with Walk the Cow, before segueing into a verse of Brain Damage (Pink Floyd) as an intro to Sometimes- by which time Eddie’s vocals began to truly shine through as brilliant. He moved onto Trouble, and then into Around the Bend, but not before heckling right back at the locals with his idea for a new song: “the words are ‘I’m from Baltimore and I’m an asshole,’” a jest that the crowd received in good humor, laughing along with Ed. From there Eddie played one last Pearl Jam song (I Am Mine) before moving into his Into the Wild tunes. He began that section of the show by letting the crowd know that Chris McCandlesses (the young man who Into the Wild is based on) sister was in the crowd tonight, hearing the songs live for the first time. It seemed as if letting us know that gave him a bit more energy to sing the songs, as he launched into (yes, I’m going to use the word again) stunning versions of Far Behind, No Ceiling, Guaranteed, and Rise. He then pulled out the Tom Waits classic Picture in a Frame, followed up by You’re True, and Open All Night by Bruce. And suddenly things were kicked up a notch- Driftin’, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away, Let My Love Open the Door (!!!), Parting Ways, a beautiful sing-along version of Small Town, and a glorious acoustic rendition of Porch.
Thus endeth set 1.
The second set (first encore?) was riddled with guests. First Ed brought out Jerry Hannan for Society (Jerry wrote the song), then Liam Finn for Throw Your Arms Around me, and EJ Barnes for Golden State. Eddie continued on his own with Forever Young (as a happy birthday song to anyone who has a birthday in the coming year), Wishlist, and a hauntingly perfect version of Arc- pulled off with the aid of a looping machine, over which Eddie dubbed at least ten different vocal tracks. He finished Arc, and let it continue to play on a loop as he walked to the edge of the stage and shook hands with everyone lucky enough to be that close.
As the curtain went down, a few people headed for the exits, but most expected him to come back out with Liam (drums and vocals) and EJ (vocals) for a closer of Hard Sun. Not one to disappoint, Eddie returned in full force with this meager backing band, leading the entire crowd in the (finally) stand up sing along.
The show was a basketful of goodies for any PJ fan, with Forever Young, Throw Your Arms Around Me, and Let Love Open My Door. But beyond those covers, what made this show was Ed’s impeccable playing and singing, and his ability to command a room as a lone man on a stage. From heckling back at the hecklers, to telling stories about his 2 year old daughter questioning his lyrics (check it out here); this was an exceptionally special night for everyone in attendance.
If you get the chance to check Eddie out for his solo act, get off your butt and do it. It’s not the same as the full Pearl Jam experience, but it’s certainly something not to be missed.
Crying
So, my girlfriend’s sister and brother in law came in for the weekend. Being the awesome boyfriend that I am, I offered to watch their two young children while the girlfriend and her sister went out to a show. And while the 6 month old went to sleep right away, the 2 year old spent close to an hour crying for her “Ima,” “Daddy,” and just plain “out!”
Jose Gonzalez: 930 Club (10/2/07)
Shared by you
Storm
Hints
Suggestions
Heartbeats
All You Deliver
Stay in the Shade
In Our Nature
How Low
Lovestain
Remain
Down the Line
Killing for Love
Cycling Trivialities
Teardrop
Deadweight on Velveteen
Crosses
Time to Send Someone Away
Small Town Boy
Dave Matthews Band: Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
Shared by you
I haven’t bought a DMB album since 2000′s Everyday (an album which I quite enjoyed). I guess I saw them more as a live band than anything else, and didn’t feel any need to purchase their studio recordings. But for some reason, last night I decided to go out on a limb and iTunes their new album. I had heard some pretty good reviews of the album, and wanted to see if the hype was well deserved.
Additionally, this is the first album released since the tragic passing of saxaphonist Leroi Moore, and I knew that it was dedicated to his memory.
I could not have been more pleasantly surprised with what I heard. This band has taken an entirely new direction with this album. It’s as if recording the album in New Orleans forced the band to incorporate bluegrass and delta blues into the music- leaving them with a record that sounds as if it was soaked in a liter of whiskey before released to the public. But beyond the bluesy grooves and banjo fills, the horn section- sans the late great Moore- sounds staggeringly different.
The album opens up with the instrumental Grux, a recording of Lerio just noodling on his horn, while Carter adds a bit of precussion in the background. The album then kicks into high gear with Shake Me Like a Monkey, which opens with piercing trumpets- a stark contrast to Leroi’s constant saxaphone drone that marked DMB songs until now. Whether this was just a result of no longer having Lerio in the band, or an intentional departure, it’s clearly a new direction for this band’s sound. Shifting to the first single, Funny the Way It Is, the band moves back into familiar territory- even the horns sound Leroi-ish. Lying in the Hands of God sounds like a song Coldplay would’ve written if they were talented. Skipping ahead a few songs to Squirm, Dave and Co. pull out the big guns with this heavy blues track, before the hoedown jam of Alligator Pie. Seven has Dave using his voice creatively and Time Bomb begins slowly but gets insane about two and a half minutes into the song. (Actually, if I’m being totally honest- the riff played at the end of the song sounds mysteriously similar to The Rolling Stones’ song- Bitch, a track that DMB covered last summer. Hmmm.) The album ends off with two more chillers- My Baby Blue and You and Me, (which itself ends with a jam that sounds like a Leroi phrase that was looped over and over- and kinda sounds a bit weird).
So that’s my track by track analysis. But the album as a whole rocks my socks off. These guys rocked the Beacon Theater on Monday night, and the entire show is on Hulu. Check out the show, because these songs seem to translate quite well live.
Popout
Dave Matthews Band: Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
Shared by you
I haven’t bought a DMB album since 2000′s Everyday (an album which I quite enjoyed). I guess I saw them more as a live band than anything else, and didn’t feel any need to purchase their studio recordings. But for some reason, last night I decided to go out on a limb and iTunes their new album. I had heard some pretty good reviews of the album, and wanted to see if the hype was well deserved.
Additionally, this is the first album released since the tragic passing of saxaphonist Leroi Moore, and I knew that it was dedicated to his memory.
I could not have been more pleasantly surprised with what I heard. This band has taken an entirely new direction with this album. It’s as if recording the album in New Orleans forced the band to incorporate bluegrass and delta blues into the music- leaving them with a record that sounds as if it was soaked in a liter of whiskey before released to the public. But beyond the bluesy grooves and banjo fills, the horn section- sans the late great Moore- sounds staggeringly different.
The album opens up with the instrumental Grux, a recording of Lerio just noodling on his horn, while Carter adds a bit of precussion in the background. The album then kicks into high gear with Shake Me Like a Monkey, which opens with piercing trumpets- a stark contrast to Leroi’s constant saxaphone drone that marked DMB songs until now. Whether this was just a result of no longer having Lerio in the band, or an intentional departure, it’s clearly a new direction for this band’s sound. Shifting to the first single, Funny the Way It Is, the band moves back into familiar territory- even the horns sound Leroi-ish. Lying in the Hands of God sounds like a song Coldplay would’ve written if they were talented. Skipping ahead a few songs to Squirm, Dave and Co. pull out the big guns with this heavy blues track, before the hoedown jam of Alligator Pie. Seven has Dave using his voice creatively and Time Bomb begins slowly but gets insane about two and a half minutes into the song. (Actually, if I’m being totally honest- the riff played at the end of the song sounds mysteriously similar to The Rolling Stones’ song- Bitch, a track that DMB covered last summer. Hmmm.) The album ends off with two more chillers- My Baby Blue and You and Me, (which itself ends with a jam that sounds like a Leroi phrase that was looped over and over- and kinda sounds a bit weird).
So that’s my track by track analysis. But the album as a whole rocks my socks off. These guys rocked the Beacon Theater on Monday night, and the entire show is on Hulu. Check out the show, because these songs seem to translate quite well live.
Popout
Additionally, DMB will be on Jimmy Fallon tonight, so be sure to tune into NBC a few minutes before 1:30 AM EST to catch the performance.
Dave Matthews Band- Funny the Way It Is
Dave Matthews Band- Alligator Pie (Cockadile)
Buy Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King @ Amazon.com
Pearl Jam: Holiday Single
Shared by you
These guys have been all over the blogs as of late. Last week, about 300 unemployed Seattleites were “hired” to be extras on the music video of an unknown band. The band turned out to be Pearl Jam. Then, just yesterday, the guys debuted the Get Some, a new song off the forthcoming album (supposedly to be called Backspacer) on the debut of Conan Obrien’s new Late Show.
But that’s not what this post is about. We can discuss the new song later; first things first- the Pearl Jam holiday single finally arrived. I finally had a chance to give it a spin tonight, and was quite happy with what I hear. I’m mostly excited because both songs are acoustic, and thus game to be played at the Eddie Vedder show I’m going to in two weeks’ time. Santa Cruz is a chilled out rocker and Golden State is a beautiful duet between Eddie and Corin Tucker.
I feel particularly connected to listening to the single at this time, as I just returned from my 25 hours in LA a few hours ago (I had a friend’s wedding there). So, the California theme of the single definitely resonates with me.
So check out these tracks, try to get to an Eddie show, and keep your eyes and ears posted for some new PJ.
Fleet Foxes @ The Black Cat (7/7/08)
Shared by you
It’s been a few weeks since we’ve done our Sunday Bootleg series. From moving apartments, to finals, to weddings- it’s been quite a busy past couple of weeks. But now I’m back, with a fantastic Fleet Foxes show from the Black Cat in DC last July.
What’s truly amazing about these guys is how spectacularly perfect their harmonies are. When going through my father’s records a few years ago, I came across a copy of CSNY’s live album, 4 Way Street. The first track I listened to was Find the Cost of Freedom, one of the greatest vocal songs of all time. But while the studio track is pristine, the live rendition left what to be desired. Not so for Fleet Foxes.
This was my greatest surprise when hearing this boot for the first time. I was astounded by their ability to perfectly recreate the layered vocals on every single song. There were no cracks, no off key slips, no pitchiness; none of that.
But don’t take my word for it, check out this beautiful concert for yourself.
Fleet Foxes @ The Black Cat
Sun Giant
Sun It Rises
Drops In the River
English House
White Winter Hymnal
Your Protector
He Doesn’t Know Why
Crayon Angels (Judee Sill cover)
Oliver James
Mykonos
Blue Ridge Mountains
Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest
Shared by you
Grizzly Bear’s latest offering, Veckatimest, is the next step for all indie rock- the right direction for a genre of music that seems to have been stagnating in depressing acoustic ballads and balladeers for the past few years.
With this album, Grizzly Bear has properly positioned themselves amongst the leaders in this new indie movement- amongst the movers and shakers, not the posers. This Brooklyn based, Banana Republic poster boy style band looks a bit like Vampire Weekend on the outside- but has something entirely different going on on the inside. What stands out about their sound is how well the songs seem to flow with each other. The rhythms are tight and well constructed; the guitars sharp and distinct, and the vocals almost syrupy.
Take, for example, Two Weeks, the second track on the album. With chiming harmonies that would not sound out of place in an Apple ad, GB uses original rhythm styles and spares instrument placement to get this song. They could’ve easily used the same chords to write a boring acoustic song- with one vocal track singing the words that, frankly, I haven’t even taken the time to listen to- as every time I listen to this song, I’m captivated by the rest of the music. But they didn’t. They went a step further- taking this from one guy’s solo effort- to a track that has the touches of every member of the band (all of whom have fantastic voices, by the way).
And maybe that’s just it. That’s exactly what this second coming of indie rock is all about. We’ve heard the Elliot Smiths, and the Garden State soundtracks, and all the sad bastard music that goes with it. (I’m excluding Bon Iver, because I love his sad bastard music- but that’s a topic for a different post.) What we want now, is full band indie rock. Creative, innovative, and tasteful- we want bands that are doing new things, that are stretching the boundaries of music as we know it.
With vocals harmonies as good as anything by CSNY or Fleet Foxes, a psychedelic drone reminiscent of Strawberry Alarm Clock and The Black Angels, and original rhythms unlike anything I’ve heard before- Grizzly Bear has stuck indie rock gold with his new offering. Apparently, Radiohead knew what they were doing when they had these guys open up for them on last summer’s tour. It’s about time the rest of us followed suit and gave these guys the credit they deserve.
The Gaslight Anthem: State of Love and Trust
Shared by you
Ok ok. This band isn’t the greatest. They sound like a cross between Allister and The Dropkick Murphys. Fine. I’ll admit it- I kind of like these guys’ sound. But that’s not what this post is about. We’re not going to talk about the skeleton in the closet that is my love for pop punk with nostalgic lyrics and sing-along choruses. We’re going to talk about Pearl Jam.
Why? you ask. Well, because this New Jersey band has been covering Pearl Jam’s classic track State of Love and Trust. They did it on Letterman (see the mp3) and in Milan (where, amazingly- the entire crown in the pub seemed to know all the lyrics. Pretty cool for a song that doesn’t appear on any of their albums. Check that one out on the video)
So, you may love these guys, and you may hate them- but we can all agree that they do a pretty rocking cover of State of Love and Trust.
Popout
The Gaslight Anthem- State of Love and Trust (Letterman)
The Gaslight Anthem- The ’59 Sound
The Gaslight Anthem- I Coulda Been a Contender
Buy TGA @ Amazon.com
Siamese Dream
Shared by you
There may be those of you who disagree with me, but I’m pretty sure that Siamese Dream is the Smashing Pumpkins’ greatest album. Don’t give me Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Don’t give me artsy music videos. Rewind to pre- shaved head Billy, and to before every emotionally messed up teeny bopper out there owned the Zero t-shirt. Take a trip back to the Pumpkins’ second album.
This was an album wrought with depression, band fighting, and drug abuse. Bassist D’Arcy and guitarist James Iha had recently broken up. Corgan was suffering from depression and had just been through a nervous breakdown. Drummer Jimmy Chamberlain was hopelessly addicted to heroin. And Billy’s perfectionism didn’t do anything to help the band dynamic. Convinced that D’Arcy and Iha were sub-par musicians, Billy would overdub their parts- confident that he could do it better than them, and to ensure he got the sound he was looking for.
While the album ended up a ton of money over budget, and was released long after the expected release date, it all seemed to be worth it. Billy’s obsession, along with the guidance of produced Butch Vig, allowed this album to revolutionize the alternative sound, taking it beyond Seattle grunge, and extending it to noise rock a-la My Bloody Valentine. The heartfelt lyrics on the album clearly express Billy’s depression during this time, and the soft acoustic inspired ballads sound painfully true.
For the amazing noise, check out the middle section of Silverfuck, which basically chills for 3 full minutes, before kicking back into high gear with a wall of noise. For the quieter stuff, check out Sweet Sweet.
But wait- you may ask. Why am I reviewing this album now? Isn’t it 2009? This album came out in 1993, a whole 16 years ago. Well, to be honset, I just found a cheap copy of the record in a Barnes and Noble, and as it’s one of my more favorite albums of all time, I figured I’d purchase it. I’ve been listening to it non-stop since than, and figured I’d share with you a few of my favorite tracks. Enjoy!
Smashing Pumpkins- Sweet Sweet
The Arcade Fire: Ziggy Stardust for the 21st Century
Shared by you
I was walking to school last week, listening to The Arcade Fire when I had a musical epiphany. Now, The Arcade Fire’s music could fit into more than a few musical genres; yet, I don’t think I’ve heard anyone describe them as glam rock. But I saw it, and apparently David Bowie did as well.
See, the epiphany I had was that of the obvious connection between The AC’s album Funeral, and David Bowie’s revolutionary The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.
I’m going to take a step back for a second. In general, I do not think The Arcade Fire would be considered glam rock; I don’t even think that Funeral is a glam rock album. But there are certain moments that sound hauntingly similar.
It’s going to be difficult to convince you (the reader) of this fact, but I implore you to listen to both albums and then make a decision for yourself. But even before I do that, I’ll try to make a few comparisons. Both albums begin with slow wide open songs, before kicking it up a notch. But the strongest similarities, in my eyes, are in Bowie’s songs Soul Love and Moonage Daydream (which sound more like one two-part song than two distinct tracks) and The AC’s Wake Up. Both songs open similarly- vocally and harmonically. And both songs have 2nd parts that kick it up a notch and speed things up.
If you don’t believe me, just ask Bowie himself. As I began to do a bit of research for this post, I googled “the arcade fire and david bowie” to see what came up. I surprisingly came up with 231,000 hits. Apparently, Bowie was the one who discovered The Arcade Fire and, in the words of Wikipedia “brought them to the attention of label oweners.” So it was Bowie who basically made them popular beyond the blogging world.
But what did Bowie see in them? Why did he decide to take this young band under his wing and to ensure their major label success? Obviously, because of their similarities. Bowie heard a 21st century version of Ziggy Stardust and wanted to make them as popular as possible.
If you disagree with me, then you’re probably wrong, but you’re welcome to leave comments and insult my intelligence (as I have yours).
The Arcade Fire and David Bowie- Wake Up
The Arcade Fire- Five Years (David Bowie cover)
Popout
Popout
Buy Bowie and TAC @ Amazon.com
The Decemberists on Jay Leno
Shared by you
Here’s a band I never really got. They always struck me as a boring carbon copy indie rock/folk band- nothing all that special, and certainly undeserving of all the press they’ve been getting.
That is, until I saw them on Jay Leno tonight. Where I always imagined them sounding sorta like a lame version of Joni Mitchell, they played “The Wanting Comes in Waves,” a song off their new album, a song that began like slowly, but built on itself until the band sounded like the demon child of Janis Joplin and Sonic Youth, between the female vocals rocking out the end and the noise rock feedback at the end of the track.
I’m not entirely sure what these guys used to sound like, what the rest of their new album sounds like, or what they’re trying to sound like. But this song is money. Just plain money
Popout
Buy The Decemberists @ Amazon.com
Fleet Foxes
Shared by you
Why does this always happen? Time and again, every reputable music blog hails some unknown band, I give them a listen and decided they’re crap, only to come back months later and realize these bloggers were right on. It happened with Okkervil River, and now again with Fleet Foxes.
Actually, to set the record straight, my friend Max first told me to check these guys out over a year ago. I listened, thought they were boring folk rock, and dismissed them as another popular indie band with little to no talent, that I could never lover.
Fast forward to last week when, with my discovery of La Blogotheque, I found a video of Fleet Foxes singing Blue Ridge Mountains in an abandoned university rotunda in Paris. The mesmerizing vocal harmonies and acoustic instrumentation immediately grabbed me, and made me realize that this was a band to be contended with.
Now, my goal with this post is to describe the album to you, so as to convince you to give it a listen. The beautiful harmonies are reminiscent of CSNY; they have that rare ability to perfectly layer vocal harmonies. The actual songs sound like a cross between folk rock, and bluegrass. But while much of the music in those genres tend to rely on simplistic musicianship and lyrics, FF are anything but that. Their lyrics are smart and well thought out; they speak about love and life and tell stories quite well. Yet, I doubt that one discerns the actual words the first go around- not because they’re not prominent in the music; this is basically folk rock, vocals and lyrics are the driving forces behind most of the songs. Nay, a listener may miss out on the actual verbiage because the music itself is so overwhelmingly beautiful. Simple guitar parts are layered with mandolins and keyboards so expertly, that the vocals sometimes get lost in the music.
But not always. My favorite song on the album, Blue Ridge Mountains, is quite the opposite. Beginning with simple open chords, vocalist Robin Pecknold’s vocals prominently drive this gorgeously constructed song. Keys join in for most of the first verse, before dropping out for the vocally led interlude, which is surprisingly dissonant- lending more evidence to the fact that these guys seem to know what they’re doing musically. And then things take off. The entire band joins in as Pecknold’s voice soars high above the jangling music below him, carrying the entire song on his coattails. Not to say the instrumentation itself is somehow subpar; the song would stand on it’s own had it been an instrumental. Yet, the stunning vocals lift the song even higher.
This is a band that has a clear grasp on their talents, limitations, and what they’re trying to do with their music. I could go on describing each and every song on the album like this, but I’d rather you let the music inform you own opinions of them before I attempt to do so.
So give these guys a listen. And then go out and buy a copy of the album; this is one worth owning (thanks E!).
Fleet Foxes- Blue Ridge Mountains
And here’s the La Blogotheque video I posted the other week, for those of you who haven’t seen it yet
PopoutFleet Foxes – A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
My Morning Jacket: Lousisville, KY (11/23/05)
Shared by you
And so, the school year has finally drawn to a close. If you’ve been wondering where I had gone, and why there had been few posts in the past week or so- it’s because finals and moving apartments have been dominating my life. But don’t despair! I’m back, and it’s summertime- so I will hopefully be posting more often than I’ve been doing lately. And don’t worry about me going away on any extended vacations; I spent all my money on Pearl Jam tickets this summer, so I’ll be spending the rest of my time working off those bills in my lab at Columbia.
But enough about me, back to the music. We skipped the Sunday bootleg, so I’m going to give you one on Tuesday night (or, possibly Wednesday by the time all these files get uploaded). I recently realized that I have not posted any full MMJ shows. (I know I recently posted a Jim James solo show, but that’s a different animal altogether.) This is quite the tragedy, as I frequently praise their amazingness (sic) as a live act.
As I write up this post, I’m listening to this boot for the first time. The sound quality is pretty good, and Jim’s voice sounds spot on (or as spot on as his unique falsetto can be). So give it a listen, and lemme know what you think.
My Morning Jacket: Louisville, KY (11/23/05)
Wordless Chorus
It Beats For You
Gideon
One Big Holiday
What a Wonderful Man
Lowdown
I Will Sing You Songs
Golden
Sooner
Hell
Lay Low
Off the Record
Dondante
Dancefloors
Anytime
Louisville Pride
I Will Be There
Bermuda
At Dawn
Run Thru
Magheeta
Pearl Jam in Chicago
Shared by you
So, PJ will be playing 2 dates in Chicago at the end of the summer, on August 23 and 24. I will be roadtripping out there for both show with a few friends. And here comes the first ever TSU contest! Well, it’s not actually a contest.
Basicaly a friend of mine is buying 10-Club tickets, but isn’t sure if he has a second person to go with him, as it’s difficult to find people willing to make the drive from the east coast to the mid-West. As PJ requires it’s club members to purchase tickets in pairs, if he wants to get the presale tickets, he’s going to need to buy 2 tix, and fast- as the presale runs out tomorrow night.
So, if you’re at all interested, comment with your information, and we’ll see if we can hook you up.
The Real Heaven is a Porch Filled With Monkeys and Me
Shared by you
I recently came into possession of the entire Pearl Jam catalog. Now, you may ask: shouldn’t he already have every studio album that PJ has put out? I mean, c’mon- he seems to post them all the time. If I was that much of a fan, I would have all of their albums.
So let me rephrase- I just came into possession of every existing Pearl Jam recording. This includes not only the bootlegs that they’ve been releasing since the 2000 tour, but every unofficial audio and video bootleg as well- amounting to around 100 gig of Pearl Jam.
Now, the only challenge is to sort through it all, a challenge that I am excited to spend way more time than is healthy, doing. Today, I’ve listened to two 1994 shows the Orpheum Theater show in Boston on April 12th, and the Bayfront Amphitheater show in Miami on March 28th. Now, while the Orpheum show is a classic- choc full of rarities as Eddie allowed the crew to make up the setlist, it was the Miami show that caught my attention- specifically with this rendition of Porch.
The version begins quicker than than any other I’ve heard (and I’ve heard a fair share) and the band sounds incredibly crisp as well. And then, they took it to another level. While the band jams out, instead of climbing precariously into the rafters (as he was known to do) Eddie begins singing. It’s difficult to make it out in the beginning, and then it becomes clear that he’s singing The Pixies song: Monkey Gone to Heaven. And if this wasn’t enough, he launched into the Who’s classic The Real Me.
So check out the track, and revel in the wild boar-like intensity of the song.
Pearl Jam- Porch (Miami 3/28/94)
The Pixies- Monkey Gone to Heaven
Buy PJ, The Who, and SY @ Amazon.com
Delta Spirit
Shared by you
And finally, we’re back. Mp3s are up and running (for now, at least), and I can finally share some great music with you.
For some inexplicable reason, during finals I tend to fall in love with tons of new music. This semester has been no different. Thanks, primarily to La Blogotheque, I’ve been listening to a ton of new bands- most of whom I will post about eventually. But today, I would like to do a post on a San Diegan (yes, San Diegan is the correct term for people from San Diego) band called Delta Spirit. These raucous rockers play their instruments with a sense of their own impending mortality- as if if they don’t play loudly or intensely enough, something terrible may happen. So they “throw down the mic” (figuratively) on every song, playing with the intensity of a coke addict with a penchant for soulful northwestern folk rock.
Now, I realize that calling them “soulful northwestern folk rock” may immediately convince you that these guys sound exactly like Neil Young: he sings soulfully, is from the northwest (is Canada NW?), and definitely plays a ton of folk rock. Yet, this is an entirely different brand of northwestern folk soul, or as I like to call it- NWFS.
So check out the videos (of course, from La Blogotheque) and the mp3s (yay! we can post mp3s again) posted below. And if you think these guys suck, then I truly feel for you, because if that’s the case, chances are you have a lump of coal where your heart should be, and a soul that’s devoid of all feeling. And if you give them a second listen, and still don’t get it, then watch the video and pay close attention to the singer’s face as he sings. It’s pretty freaking amazing.
PopoutDelta Spirit – People Turn Around from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
Delta Spirit- Gimme Some Motivation
Delta Spirit- People, Turn Around
Delta Spirit- People C’mon
Buy Delta Spirit @ Amazon.com
Iron and Wine- Boy With a Coin
Shared by you
So, the file host is still being annoying and not allowing me to upload. Additionally, it’s reading week- so I’m kind of really busy. But in the meantime, check out this beautiful video. I’ve never really been into Iron and Wine, but after this video, I’m definitely going to check out more of their stuff.
Popout
Iron & Wine- Boy With A Coin
La Blogotheque
Shared by you
Since the file host is down again, I figure I might as well post a great website that I just discovered. For anyone who likes good music, and good film- this site will be a gold mine. La Blogotheque features filmmaker Vincent Moon’s avant garde music videos with various famous artists. Basically, Moon and these musicians walked around the streets of Paris and they played while he filmed. But these aren’t just any live videos- each one of them has something more.
He’s got Animal Collective playing an enchanting rhythm on a shopping cart pushed by a random dude, Jason Mraz playing It’s A Lovely Day with a homeless man on the street, The Arcade Fire playing Neon Bible in an elevator, Andrew Bird just playing as he walks through the streets, and many more that I have yet to watch.
But beyond being cool videos, what exactly does is the point of the videos? What propels Mr. Moon to make these videos? And even further, what propels the musicians to agree to these videos? And I think the answer is quite simple: this is art. While I don’t think this is the future of music, it’s an interesting direction to take music. The convolution of creative cinematography and beautifully crafted rhythms fits impeccably well together in all of Moon’s videos. Moon wants to create something unique and entertaining, and all of these musicians seem to want to be a part of it.
So check out the site, and here are a few of the videos for your viewing pleasure:
PopoutFleet Foxes – A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
The Deadly Snakes
Shared by you
I love searching through my iTunes, and discovering entire albums that I’ve never yet listened to. The Deadly Snakes are such a band. I’m pretty sure a friend of mine (Paul Adam) gave me this album, but at the time, I had no space on my iPod and thus- never really got around to listening to it.
So I have them a listen to today, and discovered an amazingly eclectic band. The Deadly Snakes were formed in 1996 for a one-time gig at a friends birthday party, but decided to continue on as a band, and eventually became pretty popular in the Toronto scene. Their sound is something of a mix between psychedelic rock, country/Americana, and straight up blues. Whether this is an effect of their not being able to decide on one specific genre, or an impressive ability to cross-over different styles, is something for you to decide.
But if you want to, you’re going to have to give them a listen to first.
The Deadly Snakes- Debt Collection
The Deadly Snakes- High Prices Going Down
The Deadly Snakes- So Young & So Cruel
Buy The Deadly Snakes @ Amazon.com
Andrew Bird: Live @ the 930 Club
Shared by you
I guess it was only a matter of time before I was to come under the enchanting spell that Andrew Bird casts with his music. Every aspect of his music is incredibly appealing. As a classically trained violinist (thanks E!) Mr. Bird is able to integrate sounds into his songs, that most rock bands are unable to utilize. But beyond his virtuosic instrumental talents, his singing/whistling too, is quite stellar. Using a voice that sounds at times like Thom Yorke, and at other times like Jim James (thanks again E!) Mr. Bird has a voice that convinces a listener to listen closely, because this guy has something soulfully important to say. Ok, he may be singing about board games or loving his own songs- but, as with many great musicians and songwriters, his message isn’t driven my words. The lyrics are merely an additional media to help carry his music to the masses. It’s the sounds themselves that are important. What Mr. Bird has to say isn’t expressed in a textual message- it’s in a passionate whistle, or in a whimsical yelp, or in a shredded violin run.
This is music at it’s purest. It isn’t lyrical poetry or storytelling. It’s pure unadulterated musical greatness. And it’s glorious. So check him out, and be sure to listen to this concert from this past February, recorded in the 930 Club in DC. As you will soon see, while his studio recordings are phenomenally well done, it’s as a live musician that he truly shines.
Andrew Bird: Live @ the 930 Club
Instrumental
Tables and Chairs [Encore]
Buy Andrew Bird @ Amazon.com
Eddie Vedder Links Re-Posted
Shared by you
Again, sorry for the temporary inconvenience, and hopefully we’re back up for good.
Deer Tick Throws Down The Mic
Shared by you
I was listening to a podcast of a Raconteurs show when I heard NPR’s Bob Boilen announce that “Jack White threw down the mic.” While it soon became clear that Boilen was making a literal reference to White having actually thrown the microphone (along with it’s stand) to the floor, following the conclusion of their set, at first I wasn’t so sure. At first, it seemed to me like some sort of creative way to desribe the intensity of the performance.
And then it occurred to me that music journalists, critics, and bloggers are always trying to come up with new ways to describe the music they hear. Striving to be creative and original is something that isn’t always so easy when it comes to using words to paint an audial picture. Some writers have a knack for it. Those who frequent this blog know of my obsession with Lester Bangs, and much of my fascination stems from his unique style of critical prose and his ability to express how he feels about a particular song/album/artist/ band.
I too, am always looking for new musical idioms; new ways to describe the sounds I hear and wish to share with you. So, I think it would be appropriate to describe Deer Tick as having “thrown down the mic.” Comprised of only a guitarist, a drummer, and a cellist (celloist?), their infectious sound combines folksy blues with a vocalist who sounds like he’s been smoking for the past 70 years- an incredible feat considering these guys are in their 20s. Basically, these guys have crafted, and phenomenally well at that, old-man country blues songs. That they’re able to sound like geriatric alcoholics is only a testament to their incredible talents. Check ‘em out, and celebrate the fact that my file hosting server seems to be back up. More blogs for everyone!
Deer Tick- Still Crazy After All These Years
Eddie Vedder: Live in Chicago
Shared by you
So, as many of you hopefully know, Eddie Vedder will be playing a handful (well, a few hands full) of shows early this summer. To my excitement, he decided to play two dates in my hometown of Baltimore, MD. The venue is the beautiful Lyric Opera house, and on June 15th, I will be one of 2564 lucky fans in attendance. I may not have the closest seats, but the venue is small and intimate enough that every seat in the house is bound to be amazing.
In preparation for this exciting show, I’ve decided to share an amazing Eddie boot from last year. This is his second Chicago show, the last date from his solo tour last summer. Enjoy.
Eddie Vedder: Live in Chicago
Sometimes
You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away
Web Sheriffs and Musical Freedom
Shared by you
Music, in our glorious era of technological advancement, has done nothing but surge forward. The internet has been able to literally bring music to the masses; allowing bloggers in Kalamazoo County to listen to bands from Finland, without forcing the fan to travel to Europe, or the band to do a world tour.
Yet, despite all the glory that the internet has to offer in terms of spreading music to the masses, something you would assume both the fans (for obvious reasons) and the musicians (for popularity reasons) would appreciate, not everybody is so happy about the state of digitized music these days.
Just yesterday, I was reading an article in Rolling Stone Magazine about a Web Sheriff. Apparently, bands like Animal Collective, Van Morrison, and Prince have hired this individual to remove links to their leaked music, websites that contain photos of the band, and in Prince’s case, even a photograph of a fan’s tattoo of Prince’s likeness.
Now, I’m not going to lie, I do not purchase every single song that I have on my computer. And I love getting leaked albums early. In the past few months I’ve listened to leaked copies of Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion, U2′s No Line on the Horizon, and Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest (review post coming). And I know this may make me guilty of certain copyright laws, and who knows, the Web Sherriff may be coming for me next.
So let’s start with the basics. I realize that musicians need to make money, and I realize that selling music is how they do that. And I don’t want to go around justifying my downloads- that seems apologetic, and I hate that. But I don’t understand bands that aren’t willing to give away their music for free, at least for a time. Take bands like Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, and Girl Talk. All of these bands offered their new albums for download, allowing the fan to choose the price. Present this money-making scheme to an economics and they’ll laugh at you. But somehow, it worked. Radiohead fans were so grateful for a new album, that many of them decided to pay for an album they could’ve gotten pro-bono. Maybe they looked at it as a donation to the band. Maybe they saw it as a ‘thank you’ gift for writing some of the best music of all time. Or maybe they just felt guilty receiving a piece of art without paying for it. Whatever it was, Radiohead actually made money on these free downloads.
But let’s say they didn’t. Take Girl Talk, for whom fans probably weren’t as willing to shell out a few bucks. What did he lose by offering the album for free? You could say he lost potential sales, but then again, he also probably gained a ton of fans. I myself never would have made it to a Girl Talk concert had I not downloaded his album (legally, on his site). Girl Talk probably wouldn’t have received the positive press that he did after deciding to give away the album, had he tried to sell it. He probably wouldn’t have sold out Terminal 5 in Manhattan three nights in a row either. So, while he may have lost a bit in the CD sales department, he gained a ton in fans and concert income.
And I think that’s the point. Digital music, in my opinion, should be free. If fans want an actual copy of the album, with album art, thank yous, and a lyric sheet, then they can pay for it. If fans want see a band play their album live, then they should pay for that. These are tactile things that can be bought and sold, and these are things in demand. But digital downloads, mostly due to the fact that they can be copied so easily, with no actual cost, make them harder to sell, and harder to convince people to buy.
But while this is something for the musicians to decide for themselves, it’s at the Web Sheriff that I direct this post. There is nothing as despicable as a man who’s job it is to go around the internet, sending threatening warning emails to young music fans who truly love the music they’re listening to, and are doing whatever it takes to get that out there to the masses. These are the biggest fans out there, and some bands and their Sheriff are taking huge shits on these kids; kids who have no way of fighting back, who have no way of knowing that it isn’t the least bit illegal to post picture of Van Morrison, or pictures of Prince tattoos.
Who do these artists think they’re fighting? Do they think these are seedy music haters, sitting in their basements, contriving ideas of how to destroy the music business? No. These are music’s biggest fans. These are they kids who love the bands, who buy Rolling Stone magazine, who follow the bands all summer on concert, who write loving posts about their heros. These are the kids who are getting music out to the masses- something the record companies seem to be at a loss to do.
As Lester Bang’s beautifully put it; “The ultimate sin of any performer is contempt for the audience.“ So today, I raise my glass to all those music bloggers out there. Let’s drink to their continued success, and to the failure of Web Sheriffs everywhere.
Spin the Black Circle
Shared by you
There’s something magical about buying a new record. Ripping off the plastic covering, spreading the cardboard open, sliding the vinyl disc out. The album art, the creative inside casing, the Thank Yous, the excitement of putting the record on the player and dropping the needle down. There’s just something about it that makes listening to music so amazing.
Now, dissenters will claim that no musical quality can come close to the digital prowess that CDs can offer. And they’re totally right. As an electrical engineering student, I know the science behind analog and digital. Everything I’ve learned should tell me that CDs should sound superior to records.
The problem is, they don’t. Sure, sometimes there’s a bit of hissing or buzzing if the record is dusty or if the needle is dirty. But the overall sound is warmer, richer, and more enjoyable to listen to. One of my Professors, the very one who taught us everything we know about digital and analog systems, after going through all the specifics of digital music sampling, and after explaining to us how digital is the best way to accurately recreate the sound; after all this he threw up his hands and admitted that he still thinks records sound better.
Maybe all of us record listeners are shutting our ears for the sake of nostalgia (and for myself, nostalgia for a time before I was born). Maybe we just want to like records because it allows us to snub trendy mp3 players for chic cool turntables.
All this could be true. Yet, as I sit here listening to my newly purchased copy of Radiohead’s In Rainbows on vinyl, it somehow sounds better than it has ever sounded before. Better than listening to the mp3s that were sampled at 160kbps through my $150 headphones. My speakers are emitting a warm sound that seems to envelop the entire room. Sure, the drums may not be as sharp as they are on a digital copy, but the rest of the sound seems to be superior.
“But wait,” you interrupt. “Even if a record sounds better, I’d rather have a way of getting it onto my iPod.” Herein lies the biggest pitfall (in my opinion) of record sales. Portability of music is probably the most important thing to people nowadays. Take a look at headphones, for example. Over-ear headphones are cheaper than in-ear ones, and the sound is also exponentially better. Consumers, however, prefer the in-ear buds, which allow more portability. So, for someone who doesn’t want to illegally download a digital copy of an album they just purchased, records seem to be a pretty silly purchase.
I would concur, though I myself think that as long as I’ve purchased a copy of the album, be it in analog or digital form, I should be able to download a digital copy of the album. I think that it should be the responsibility of the record companies to provide record purchasers with digital copies to go along with their analog purchase. The buyer just spent 20 bucks on a record- throwing in some digital downloads would be nice. And it’s not like this would cost the record companies anything- downloads are absolutely free.
My Morning Jacket has taken this a step further. Included in each of their records (at least in the ones that I saw in Record and Tape Traders) is a CD copy of the album purchased. Wow! What innovation! How corteous of them! They took my download idea a step further and actually included a physical CD. When I saw this, I put down my $12.99 CD of their 2003 album It Still Moves and picked up the $19.99 record and CD combo and marched right to the checkout counter.
While paying for my two records (In Rainbows and It Still Moves, in case you’ve already forgotten) I realized that both of these bands found a way to give their fans free digital copies.
Radiohead brilliantly gave them away for free on their website. I say brilliantly, because tons of fans still decided to purcahse the album. In Rainbows had the most sales of any record in all of 2008. It could be that all Radiohead fans are pompous audiophiles who refuse to listen to anything digital, or it could be that these fans were so appreciative of getting an amazing album for free that they were willing, nay, wanted to go out an purchase a copy of the album.
And MMJ’s decision to include CDs with their records is just another all-star move by an all-star band. If you’ve ever been to an MMJ show, you’ll know that these guys are all about the fans. When these guys played MSG on New Years, they seemed genuinely overjoyed to be playing such a venue on such a night. They were like little kids, and they kept thanking the fans over and over again. So, the fact that these guys decided to give a little bit back to their fans is no surprise to me.
So, musicians, we’ll make a deal with you. We’ll stop downloading all of your music and we’ll purchase your records. Just make sure to throw in some digital goods along with the package.
Radiohead- Like Spinning Plates
Pearl Jam- Spin the Black Circle
Buy Radiohead, Pearl Jam, and Olin & the Moon @ Amazon.com
Indie Rock Cred
Shared by you
I was sitting in the Yeshiva College writing center the other week, when I overheard a few professors discussing how much easier academic research is, now that everything is on the internet. And it got me thinking about how Al Gore’s invention affected not only one’s ability to research more accurately and efficiently, but it also changed media as we know it.
Due in part to the fact that I’m currently reading Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, his magnum opus of a novel that explores (among many things) the addictive aspects of entertainment, media and entertainment have been on the mind.
Back in the day, in order to watch TV or movies or listen to music online- you needed to either stream them, or download them; both illegal. Movies and television have made bold steps in the right direction, with sites like Hulu that allow interneters to stream media along with commercial breaks. Music, however, doesn’t seem willing to make that next step.
Yet, while those who make internet music laws don’t seem to be budging, those sharing music on the internet are at the forefront of the industry, and seem to be the new critics that rock radio has desperately needed for the last ten years.
When I grew up, I got all of my music from the radio. The system worked well when 98 Rock and WHFS played Pearl Jam, Nirvana, STP, Weezer, and the Pumpkins. But when bands like Puddle of Mudd started getting absurd amounts of radio play, I was forced to settle for classic rock radio. Not to say there’s anything wrong with classic rock, I just don’t aspire to the belief that rock died in the late 60s or early 70s. I believe that great music continues to be made, and will continue to do so as long as creative and emotionally distressed people are out there to create it. The key is being able to find it.
Which brings to light the music blog world. In the past three years, I’ve probably been exposed to more music that I never would have heard of had I not begun perusing what the internet had to offer. I never would’ve known about Girl Talk, would never have given My Morning Jacket a second chance, and certainly wouldn’t have discovered bands like Daft Punk, Animal Collective, Andrew Bird, Band of Horses, or The Arcade Fire.
But while this exposure is great for both bands and fans, it takes something away from the music. True music geeks used to be able to haughtily snub us radio folk, chiding us by saying that the music we were listening to was nothing compared to the stuff they liked. We never really knew where they got their music from- I myself can’t imagine discovering this stuff withtout the internet. But somehow they found it and were able to throw it in our faces.
These ivory tower, greasy haired, Licorice Pizza loving, geeks would retreat to their musical nerderies and would revel in the fact that they listened to bands with true indie rock cred, and that somehow, because of that, they were better people. But today, in the day of sites like Stereogum and Pitchfork, where bands like Animal Collective are hailed, and radio starts like Miley Cyrus snubbed, what exactly does indie cred mean anymore?
In a word- it means nothing, just as it should. To asses somethings worth based on it’s unpopularity is counterintuitive, and shows little faith in mankind’s ability to assess good art. Art critics don’t complain that Picasso is too famous, nor do literary nuts complain that Hawthorne sold too many novels.
So yes, while I understand that sometimes it sucks for the fans when bands start playing larger venues, try not to complain too much. Sometimes it’s nice when good art is appreciated by the masses, and it’s always cool to be able to claim that you saw The Beatles before they were famous. But tell anyone that spent their life listening to the radio that you saw Captain Beefheart before he was famous, and a blank look will register on their face- a look that says:
a. Who the hell is Captain Beefheart?
b. If he was famous, I’d probably have heard of him?
and c. Why are you telling me this?
And so, here are a few bands or songs that you’ve probably never heard before. Because isn’t that the point of this whole blog thing? Oh, and if you have heard any of the songs before, let us all know about your musical awesomeness with a comment. Cause (sic) us writers love comments, and don’t see nearly enough of them.
The Pixies- Monkey Gone To Heaven
Buy these guys @ Amazon.com
Okkervil River live in DC: 9/30/07
Shared by you
And next in our Sunday Bootleg Series we have…. Okkervil River!
Okkervil River puts on a fantastic live show. I’ve only seen them once, but they managed to blow me away. So check out this show, and next time they come around, make sure you’re in attendance.
Okkervil River: Live in DC
A King and A Queen
A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene
Our Life is Not A Movie, Or Maybe
Encore
A Stone
Buy Okkervil River @ Amazon.com
The Exodus, In the Style of Metallica
Shared by you
Wednesday night marks the anniversary of the Jews Exodus from Egypt. To celebrate that fact, let’s remember the Exodus in the best way possible- through the medium of metal music. Metallica, in their song Creeping Death, retold the story of the final plague- death of the firstborn. While the theme of death is in no way foreign in Metallica’s music, the Bible is.
So let’s celebrate this holiday by listening to these guys’ artistic interpretation of the final and most deadly of all of the plagues. Happy holidays!
Jim James @ Newport Folk Festival 2008
Shared by you
My Morning Jacket may very well be the best live band consistently today- a fact that I’ve said before, and one that I will probably repeat over and over. The band’s ability to interweave their well written songs with exciting jamming is something that no one does as well as them. As such, one might think that a solo show by Jim James, MMJ’s frontman, would leave what to be desired.
Surprisingly, this isn’t so. Similar to Pearl Jam’s frontman Eddie Vedder, James manages to put on an exciting solo show, despite missing the backing of his phenomenal live band. James’ reworking of MMJ’s tunes sounds great, and this show is a ton of fun to listen to.
Jim James @ Newport Folk Festival 2008
Tonite I Want To Celebrate With You
The Black Keys: Live @ the 9:30 Club
Shared by you
It’s Sunday afternoon, and time for another bootleg. Not sure if this is going to happen every Sunday, but I’ll do my best to keep it up.
This week, we’ve got a boot of the Black Keys, ripped from an NPR podcast of their May 18th 2008 concert at the 9:30 Club in DC. After hearing this boot, I desperately want to see the Keys in concert. To recreate such a unique brand of heavy blues in concert would be impressive with a full band; it’s nothing short of incredible with just a guitarist and a drummer.
Not too much more need be said about this boot. The quality is great and the band sounds awesome, and so- I implore you to download this boot. You won’t be disappointed.
The Black Keys: Live @ the 9:30 Club
Girl On My Mind
Buy the Black Keys @ Amazon.com
Obadiah Parker
There’s a pretty decent chance some of you have heard of Matt Weddle, the singer-songwriter-guitarist for the folk trio Obadiah Parker. You may have heard his cover of Outkast’s Hey Ya, on which he took the hip hop track and transformed it into an acoustic masterpiece.
Well, if you liked that one, check out the cover of Radiohead’s Idioteque. The sound isn’t the greatest, but the track is quite amazing. I implore you to give this one a chance, even if you’re bored by the piano intro. The meat of the song is just fantastico (sic).
Thanks E!
Obadiah Parker- Hey Ya
Buy Obadiah Parler @ Amazon.com
Monday Morning Covers
On this deceivingly cold Spring Monday afternoon, I think it’s time for a few phenomenal cover songs. I have nothing else to say, partially because I have no desire to ramble about these bands right now, but mainly because class has begun, and I should start paying attention.
Screaming Trees- Tales of Brave Ulysses (Cream cover)
John West- Umbrella (Rihanna)
The Black Keys- She Said, She Said (Beatles cover)
Buy these guys @ Amazon.com
The Raconteurs: Live @ Glastonbury 2008
This is a band that I’ve been pining to see in concert for a very long time. Hearing this boot only makes it worse. This short set (which is even shorter in mp3 version, as 4 songs seem to be missing from my version of the show) is amazingly energetic and charged. This is a band that whose sound and talents fit so perfectly in a live setting. Their musicianship is honed and phenomenal, they work off each other well, and they just rock so freaking hard.
Radiohead with the USC Marching Band
I’ve been meaning to post this song for a while, but never got around to it. For those of you who watched the Grammy’s you probably saw Radiohead’s phenomenal performance of their song 15 Step, accompanied by the USC Marching Band.
The percussive heaviness of the song makes it the perfect one to play with an entire marching band. So check out the video, and 2 mp3s of the live track below. It’s two different versions, and I’m not sure which one I like better, so I’m posting both of them. You decide which one you like. Enjoy!
Popout
Radiohead- 15 Step (w/USC Marching Band) [1]
Radiohead- 15 Step (w/USC Marching Band) [2]
The Kinky Wizards
Shared by you
What is this?
It’s Vince and Justin.
Who’s that?
The little skate fuckers.
No way.
Yes way.
It’s really… it’s really fucking good
Ever since I first saw High Fidelity, I totally agreed with John Cusak and Jack Black’s characters: the song really was good. But I had no idea who wrote it, what it was, or where I could find it. Until today.
Apparently the song, which is attributed to Vince and Justin’s band The Kinky Wizards, was written by a band called Royal Trux. I don’t know very much about the band or any of their other songs, but this one is pretty damn awesome.
Royal Trux- The Inside Game
Buy Royal Trux @ Amazon.com
Pearl Jam: Revisited
Shared by you
This week, Pearl Jam finally released their long awaited remixed version of their debut album Ten. And it’s about freaking time. The band had been begging producer Brendan O’Brien to remix the disc since the band was working on their sophomore album Vs. (Sic- I’m really not sure how to put a period at the end of a sentence when the last word in the sentence has a period in it. Should it be Vs. or Vs..?)
Yet, while the band wanted the album redone, O’Brien was hesitant, as he didn’t want to mess with such a classic album. And there’s something to be said for that. There’s something to be said for listening to music in it’s original context, with all the errors and issues that go along with it. There’s something much more musically fulfilling about listening to a Dylan record, where you can hear him catching his breath and his fingers scratching the strings, than a Boston record that’s been overproduced so many times with so many guitar tracks that it almost sounds fake.
But then again, by remixing the album, PJ wasn’t producing it further; they were taking a step back. The original album ended up being overproduced, with their heavy grungy sound being a bit muffled with syrupy reverb, and cutting back the edge from the vocals, drums, and guitars. When comparing the original album to the remixed version, it almost sounds like the tone knob had been turned down for the past 18 years, and suddenly O’Brien cranked it back up- allowing us to finally hear all the secrets Ten had to offer.
The remixed version is grittier in every way, but probably most in terms of drums. I noticed it during my first listen-through, and Rolling Stone commented on it as well in their latest issue: Dave Krusen was an absolute beast. So to give a feel for what I mean, check out these two drum heavy tracks.
The Dead Weather
Shared by you
Jack White can’t seem to do wrong. Whether he’s playing loose garage rock and tight blues with the White Stripes or straight up rock and roll with the Raconteurs, here is a guy who always adds his own flair of musical talent to whatever project he’s working with.
So, of course, it’s not surprising to hear that he has a new band- The Dead Weather. While touring with The Kills this summer, Jack White teamed up with Raconteurs bassist Jack Lawrence, and Kills’ singer Alison Mosshart to record Are ‘Friends’ Electric, a psychedelic rocker by Gary Numan. With White taking his long forgotten place behind the drumkit (the first instrument he learned), Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Fertita soon joined their ranks to even out the band.
Their music sounds both familiar and new at the same time, taking it’s cues from both of White’s former bands, but adding a unique psychedelic feel to some of the songs, and a distincly late 60s/ early 70s fuzz sound to the tracks.
So check out this third offering from Jack White, who seems to be falling into the role of the musical visionary with more ideas whirling around his head than time or bandmates to actualize them.
The Dead Weather- Are ‘Friends’ Electric
The Dead Weather- Hang You From the Heavens
Buy The Dead Weather on iTunes
Ben Harper: Live @ Bonnaroo 2007
Shared by you
It was almost two years ago when I first heard this bootleg. I was sitting in my sister’s Ramat Aviv apartment, jet lagged out of my mind from arriving in Israel two days before. So, at 2 in the morning, instead of sleeping, I was watching a live video broadcast of Bonnaroo. When I tuned in on my computer, Ben Harper was in the middle of an amazing rendition of Dazed and Confused with John Paul Jones. I quickly began to rip the video so that I would be able to retain the audio. And thus, I came into possession of part of this bootleg.
But it wasn’t complete. I had missed the first half of the set, and the songs were interrupted whenever the video feed stuttered or went silent. I tried to retrieve the rest of the set by ripping YouTube videos (you’ll remember this,Tokayer), but all the videos were in two parts, leaving me with a few mp3s of half of a song.
So I spent my days listening to half a bootleg. I myself had from halfway through Black Rain until the end of the set, with a few inopportune sound breaks in the middle, but mostly pretty decent audio quality. But Ben’s performance was so stellar that I was willing to listen to this cut up recording.
In the back of my head, however, I knew there was a good recording out there. Somewhere. And it took me years to find it.
Actually, I began looking for and found it last night, all in the span of a few minutes. So here it is, for your listening pleasure. And make sure to check out Ben’s killer vocals on Dazed & Confused and the amazing jam/bass solo on Black Rain.
Ben Harper: Live @ Bonnaroo 2007
Please Don’t Talk About Murder While I’m Eating
Diamonds On The Inside/Tomorrow Is A Long Time
Don’t Take That Attitude To Your Grave
Dazed & Confused (with John Paul Jones)
Get Up Stand Up (with Ziggy Marley)
St. Paddy’s Day
Shared by you
Drunken Irishmen are the best kind of Irishmen. And St. Paddy’s Day is the best day of the year to meet a drunken Irishman. Well, truthfully, most are drunk throughout the year- it’s the rest of the world that decides to drink today. So, chances are, if you’re reading this blog, you’re not a drunken Irishman (my apologies to any drunken Irishmen who are fans of this blog).
So to channel your Irish drunkenness, grab a bottle of Jameson and have a listen to this playlist of Irish drinkin’ songs. Oh, and if you’re a fan of HBO’s The Wire, you’ll appreciate the first track.
The Pogues- The Body of an American
Dropkick Murphys- I’m Shipping Up To Boston
Whiskey In The Jar (not sure who this one is played by, but it’s a classic Irish drinking song)
Buy The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys, and Flogging Molly @ Amazon.com
50 Songs Esquire Wants You To Listen To
Shared by you
Beyond the obvious grammatical faux pas of starting each paragraph of the article “50 Songs Every Man Should Be Listening To” with the word Because (example: “Because these reunited Brooklyn-based alt-country pioneers are staging two comebacks- one for themselves, the other for the kazoo.” referring to the song Me No by Clem Snide), Esquire has gone out on a limb to not only advise it’s readers to listen to some pretty horrible music (new Guns N’ Roses, new Metallica, any Coldplay at all) but their reasons for listening to the songs run the gamut from being straight up absurd, to downright offensive.
Chuck Klosterman advises Esquire readers to listen to a song by Benji Hughes based on the way the musician appears on the cover of his album. “The moment I saw the cover, I knew: I was going to love this music.” Now, don’t get me wrong; I love Klosterman’s writing. His breadth of knowledge of popular culture makes his writing immensely entertaining, and usually allows him to have pretty astute analyses of music and musicians. But then again, only half of his writing actually seems to take itself seriously; the rest of it is mostly incomprehensive dribble about his inability to cope with women and reality. So chalk this one up as one of Chuck’s misses, because to judge the quality of an album or song by the cover art is as absurd as deciding to buy a dog because you think the dog food package looks cool.
But it gets weirder. The 13th song that “Every Man Should Be Listening To” is Sex on Fire by….James Morrison? WTF? Didn’t Jim Morrison die in 1971? Upon further internet based research, it has come to my attention that there is a British singer-songwriter (whose parents must have been huge Doors fans) who plays soft acoustic pop. Now, I admit I know very little about his musical abilities, or how well he plays this song. But cmon! The Kings of Leon just put out (in my opinion) their most listenable album to date. It may not be their best, but it’s certainly their most approachable, as evidenced by them finally getting radio recognition in the US- most notably with the single SEX ON FIRE! Not only is the song amazing, but the entire populace of the US seems to agree! Why would Esquire tell me to listen to a boring (I’m assuming) acoustic version of such a solid song?
But let’s move on to where it gets downright offensive. Describing Dear Wife off My Morning Jacket’s Live from Las Vegas album, Esquire opines: “Because this live recording of a previously unreleased tune doesn’t offer the My Morning Jacket trademark high-pitched vocal. (We’ve never gotten the falsetto. And we don’t want to get the falsetto.)” Now, I can understand being of the opinion that Jim James sings strangely, or just not liking the band at all; I myself wasn’t a huge fan for a while (see MMJ post). But then again, the weird vocals are such a huge part of what this band is about. Right now, MMJ is probably the best live band out there (all you Phish fans out there can start your screaming now, but I’m standing by my opinion) and so much of what they do is based on Jim James’ unique voice. If you don’t like his voice, fine- you’re missing out. But don’t for a second try to make the point that this band would be better off if he sang just like every other boring band out there. These guys are different and have a great thing going for them.
While there are many more decisions that I disagree with, I will commend the editors of Esquire for posting songs by Dan Auerbach (When The Night Comes), The Raconteurs (Old Enough), and Mos Def (Quiet Dog), three great bands/artists who do not get nearly enough recognition. The rest of the suggestions look like a cross between a Top-50 Hit radio stations daily playlist, and last weeks posts from Pitchfork, two forms of media that I try my best to ignore. (Sidenote: I do check Pitchfork from time to time, but I find their offerings to be repetitive and boring, a la Sufjan Stevens and M. Ward.)
So while the editors of Esquire may have had a few “hits,” try not to give too much credence to the rest of the article; after all, these are the guys who tell us how to dress and which cocktails will impress our friends the most. Music, understandably, is not exactly their forte.
My Morning Jacket- Hot Fun in the Summertime (live @ Bonnaroo) [Sly and the Family Stone cover featuring a healthy dose of Jim James' falsetto]
Dan Auerbach- When The Night Comes
The Raconteurs- Old Enough (live acoustic)
Buy Dan, The Raconteurs, and Mos Def @ Amazon.com
Josh Dion Band: Bowery Ballroom 9/6/08
Shared by you
So, I just discovered that this boot exists. I hope that this will give you guys a bit more of an idea of what this band is all about. Those of you who read first post about these guys and downloaded the tracks may not have understood what I liked about this band. Sure, they’re a great pop rock band, but some of you out there may have been wondering if there was anything beyond that.
Here it is. These guys happen to put on an amazing live show. Me and a few friends discovered them when we went to a Pete Francis show (he sucked pretty badly) last September. We arrived early and walked into the venue as a shaggy bearded guy wearing an ascot sat down at the drums, and proceeded to lead his band through an immensely entertaining set. I have never seen anyone play pop rock drums with more intensity. With his beard and hair flying in all directions and his sweat spraying the first few rows of fans, he led his band through a tight but rowdy set of catchy songs. As Ilan put it “I’ve never seen anyone go beserk on the drums like that before.”
So try to listen to the drums, and imagine the weirdo in the picture going psycho on his drum kit while playing sweet sounding pop.
Josh Dion Band: Live @ the Bowery
Line ‘em Up
Take the Time
Buy JDB @ Amazon.com
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
Shared by you
As of late, I’ve been on something of a roots music bender. So, as any self respecting (deprecating?) music critic, I was forced to think about the music, and specifically what I liked about it. So I racked my brain, trying to understand how I could love both the intricate electronic rock music brilliance of a band like Radiohead, while at the same time appreciate loose, raw, blues-folk.
And then I realized that it’s the Americana aspect of the music that appeals to me. It’s the ability to scorn perfection in favor of doing something different. It’s the desire to be a Norman Rockwell or a Jack Kerouac, and to rewrite the rules of art- and to throw away convention for passion. This is what the blues has always been about, and this is what Slim’s has been doing for years.
So check these guys out. I think they’re pretty awesome, so you should too.
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club- An Introduction to the Power of Braces (Arms)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club- Children of the Lord
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club- Boom Magalina Hagalina
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club- An Introduction to the Power of Braces (Faith)
These United States
Shared by you
Ahhhh, Spring Break is finally here. You know what that means, all you TSU fans: I’ll be posting every day! Ok, so I’ll probably end up getting lazy, but I’m going to do my best to bring you music that you’ve probably never heard of, all break long.
And, to get things started off, we have These United States. This is just straight up solid blues-folk music (let’s call it blolk) with a hint of Americana roots rock, and a pinch of soul. Their more rocky sound is reminiscent ofThe Whigs and The Henry Clay People, while their folksy influences scream of bands like Olin & the Moon(though, as O&tM is a failry unknown band, I think it’s safe to say that they aren’t actually one of TUS’s influences).
So check them out, and make sure to listen carefully to Honor Amongst Theives, as the band pronounces the H in the word “honor,” something I find both gramatically appealing, and highly entertaining.
These United State- First Sight
These United States- Honor Amongst Theives
These United States- Twelve Gates to the City
Check out their website here, and buy their CDs here.
311
Shared by you
Thanks to Josh, it has been brought to my attention that I have yet to post any 311. So, I’m not gonna lie, Josh could do a much better post than I’ll be able to do, as my exposure to this band ended shortly after the release of their self titled album in 1995. Sure, I’ve heard the singles off the later albums, but never really delved into them like I’ve delved into this album.
So here they are: my favorite tracks off 311 by 311. Enjoy.
The Roots (again)
Shared by you
So, Conan Obrien is moving up in the ranks, and Jimmy Fallon, former SNL star, is taking his place at the late late show. Though Fallon’s comedy may still be awkward in a not so funny way, and his interviewing skills need a bit of work, there are two things that have so far redeemed the show in my eyes.
Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood- Live @ Electric Ladyland
Shared by you
Here’s a good one: What’s the probability that I would decide to listen to post this bootleg given I listened to it while studying probability?
The Roots
Shared by you
So, Conan Obrien is moving up in the ranks, and Jimmy Fallon, former SNL star, is taking his place at the late late show. Though Fallon’s comedy may still be awkward in a not so funny way, and his interviewing skills need a bit of work, there are two things that have so far redeemed the show in my eyes.
Gogol Bordello
Shared by you
There’s something uncannily hilarious about Easter-European punk rock. I’m not sure exactly what makes this style of music so funny; it could be the singer’s heavy Russian accent, their absurd lyrics, or just the overall weird musical combination of polka and punk rock. But something about this music makes me crack up.
So, on this snowy Monday (on which I sadly have both school and work) take a break from whatever you’re doing, and get ready to be be weirded out, and highly entertained at the same time. Oh, and much thanks to Yonah for pointing these guys out to me, and to Joey for dumping them on my hard-drive all those months ago.
Gogol Bordello- East Infection
Gogol Bordello- Strange Uncles From Abroad
Buy Gogol Bordello @ Amazon.com
My Bloody Valentine
Shared by you
Getting turned onto new music, or more specifically- music you’ve never really heard before, is literally (sic-hehe) one of my favorite things. It’s like there’s an entire world of awesomeness out there to be tapped, that I’ve yet to experience, and when someone opens a new musical world for me, I get quite excited. Normally, however, that person is a friend, or a musical acquaintance; it’s rare that the guy who gets you into new music is the random guy living on your couch.
But that’s how it went for me. From mid-September until mid-October, Joey/West Coast Joey/New Joey/ Joey on the Couch spent most of his days on my couch, either prostrate or sitting up- but rarely moving from there the entire time. Of course I’m exaggerating, but thinking back, he did spend an absurd amount of his waking hours sitting on that couch, which isn’t as strange as it may seem at first, as our couch happens to be quite comfortable.
All that aside, before Joey sadly “moved out” and found his own place in Queens, he took my external hard drive and loaded it up with a ton of music he insisted that I listen to. Of course, it took me until last week- more than four months after he moved out- to actually begin listening to his musical gifts.
One of the first bands I dumped on my iPod was My Bloody Valentine, a band I knew very little about except that they were some sort of punk band in the 80s that put out one record, and then broke up for all time. Well, apparently I knew less about them than I had thought, because almost all of the information that had been in my head was wrong.
MBV put out 2 albums in their career, the second of which, entitled Loveless, came out in 1991. Following the release of this album, the band went into the regular emotional and mental fallout that usually follows good artists after completing a masterpiece at a young age, and were unable to record a followup album. It had seemed that this young masterful band would go the way of so many other musicians, burning out way too soon, that is, until last year when they suddenly began touring the festival circuit once again, and have spoken about releasing a new album sometime soon.
But while their disappearance and subsuquent reappearance gives a mystique and aura to band that music fans seem to salivate over (It’s part of the uber music nerd-fan syndrome that causes these greasy haired obsessors to scan record stores for rare and “only released in Japan” Smiths singles; harcore music fans love nothing more than to be listening to something that only they can listen to. They love to elevate their own selves by having a copy of some random basement tape, that probably never got released because it sounded horrible, because then their supposed level of superiority in this subculture is once again heightened, to the chagrin of all the other music freaks. I myself am guilty of this as well, which is probably why MBV was the first band that I decided to check out from the list of 40 that Joey put on my HD), it’s actually their sound that makes them stand out.
Their sound if complex in a confusing way in that they basically make lots of noise, and somehow form melodies out of it. But that’s really only the half of it. There’s a ton going on in every one of their songs, and each one seems like an artistic masterpiece, not only because it sounds great, but because at first listen, you realize that there are so many levels to the song, which can be overwhelming at times.
Some may argue that these guys just combined pretty vocal melodies with heavily overdriven guitars. I say that even if that was all they had done, their music would’ve been noteworthy, as to accomplish that feat is no simple task. But in my opinion, their music is so much more, from the churning rhythms, to the melodies that lull you into a false sense of comfort, to the blaring guitars that continue to loop and repeat thoughout the song, giving the album a discomforting yet peaceful appeal.
My Bloody Valentine- Only Shallow
My Bloody Valentine- To Here Knows When
The Doors with Eddie Vedder
Here’s a classic boot that’s been begging to be posted every since I laid my hands on it. When inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the remaining members of The Doors performed three songs with Eddie Vedder. With those immensely large and troubled Lizard King shoes to fill, Eddie stepped it up and gave a stunning performance, paying homage and tribute to his hero- Jim Morrison.
The Doors (with Eddie Vedder) – Roadhouse Blues
The Doors (with Eddie Vedder) – Break on Through
The Doors (with Eddie Vedder) – Light My Fire
Breaking The Norm
Shared by you
On my way home from school today, in the elevator at the 168th Street station, I noticed that the lady standing to my immediate right was sending something of an amused smile my way. For a few seconds I was confused as to what I could be doing that would be entertaining to her, and then I realized it: my headphones were on a bit loud, and I’m pretty sure that she was amused that the very white and very Jewish looking boy next to her was listening to Snoop Dogg, circa 1994.
Personally, I think everyone should be comfortable listening to whatever they like. There’s a phenomenal ad on the NYC subways for a music downloading service that shows a bunch of different people sitting on the subway listening to music. Yet, pasted on top of each person’s face is the album cover of whatever music they’re supposedly listening to. So we have the businessman listening to the gangsta rap, the young black kid listening to Dylan, and a few more people seemingly breaking through the stereotypes of what they “should” to be listening to.
So ignore what you’re supposed to be doing. Because music isn’t about fitting into expected molds or about what everyone else tells you to do; it’s about breaking the rules and doing what you want. Rap and rock may be very different genres in terms of musical style, but they do share this ideal of rebelling against the norm and going against the grain.
Here’s a few more songs off the playlist I was listening to:
Mos Def- Do It Now (feat. Busta Rhymes)
Buy Snoop, Biggie, Coolio, Blackalicious, and Mos Def @ Amazon.com
Dan Auerbach
Shared by you
Dan Auerbach, lead guitarist and singer for the blues rock due The Black Keys, has recently come out with a solo offering; a disk of his own. The tracks sounds very much like the Keys’ stuff, but without the heavy percussion, which makes sense- as this album features all (sic) the members of the Keys sans the drummer.
So, whether you’re looking for some chilled out gritty blues, or just some softer Black Keys tunes- check these tracks out, and for those of you in NYC, check him out next week at the Bowery Balroom (March 3).
Dan Auerbach- Heartbroken, In Disrepair
Review: The Steps- The Steps
Shared by you
Hailing from Austin, Texas, The Steps have created a retro brand of rock that sounds something like the lovechild of Jet and The Strokes that was dropped on it’s head as a baby, and then began smoking crack to nurse itself back to health- in a good way. There’s something both raw and tight about their music; two sounds that at first glance would seem to be contradictory.
The album is a whirlwind of short fast songs (with the longest clocking in at 4:01) and it screams of youthful exuberance that’s normally only found in a band’s first offering. They shy away from ballads, and just provide balls to the wall rock and roll. It’s refreshing to see a young band like this, willing to just rock out to their hearts’ content. So check these guys out and enjoy the song.
Most of their upcoming tour dates are in Texas, but in case any of you readers hail from that part of the country, go check them out- they’re bound to be a great live band.
February 10 – Charlottesville, VA / Bel Rio
February 12- Charlotte, NC / Milestone
February 18 – Austin,TX / Stubbs w/ Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights
February 19 – College Station,TX / Fitzwilly’s w/ Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights
March 5 – Austin,TX / Pangea w/Fastball< March 19 – Austin,TX / SXSW Music Festival May 2 – Austin,TX / Pecan Street Festival w/The Boxing Lesson, nelo, more…
Check out their site for more info @ www.wearethesteps.com
U2- No Line on the Horizon
Shared by you
So the new U2 album is due out in about 2 weeks (March 3rd) and it’s supposed to be a good one. From what I’ve heard (sic) it’s something of a return to The Joshua Tree era, but with a bit of a heavier edge. Basically, it sounds like everything Coldplay has come up short trying to achieve in the last ten years. To put it simply, only U2 is U2, and this album certainly has that stamp in it; in a way that’s been missing from some of their last few albums.
So check out the title track, and purchase the album when it comes out; it will definitely be worth the money.
State Radio: February 16th 2009 (Bowery Ballroom)
Shared by you
Living in NYC is amazing for those who love to frequent concerts. Not only do you get to see tons of bands, but you get to see your favorite bands numerous times, which is awesome because you become familiar with their onstage antics, and get to brag to your friends at the show that this is the n¬th time you’re seeing this band, thus raising your music-cred in their eyes, or at least making them think you’re a pompous elitist asshole.
That being said, it’s not all fun and games. See, when you end up seeing a band too many times, you start to construct lists in your head of songs you’ve never heard them play, and you NEED them to play those songs at the show, or else the show becomes a disappointment. They could’ve put on an amazing show, with a kick ass setlist, but you, sitting on your ivory tower of concert greatness, can’t seem to appreciate that anymore. No, not you. When asked if you liked the show, you have to respond with something like: “It was pretty good, but not even close to when I saw them 5 years ago, back before they were big.”
Now listen up, dear readers; I’ve put this entire post in the second person up until now in order to make it seem like I wasn’t talking about myself. And in truth, that person is only partially me. Part of me only wants the rarities, and wants to brag about all the shows I’ve been to, but there’s still the rest of me that will love any well played show.
Which brings me to last night’s show: State Radio. These guys are tied with Pearl Jam for the highest number of shows I’ve seen from a single band (6), which means I should probably rank them as one of my favorite bands. But let’s focus on why this band is still able to wow me after having seen them so many times.
State Radio, headed by Chad Stokes/Chad Urmston/Chetro, and backed by Chuck Fay on bass and Mike Najarian (Mad-Dog?) on drums, did something I’d never before seen a band do. They showed everyone that they cared. How? You ask. How did they do this? Well, I’ll tell you.
First of all, they did one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen a band do. Before the show, they had “How’s Your News” open up for them. “How’s Your News” is an MTV program that run by 5 reporters with mental and physical disabilities. The crowd was treated to a 15 minute clip from their latest show, and then saw their band perform 4 songs with Chad. To see a band like State Radio supporting a cause such as this, to the extent that they brought them out at their show was amazing.
After “How’s Your News” played, State Radio took the stage and ripped through an awesome setlist (which is now in the hands of my girlfriend), and they brought the HYN guys out to play along on a few more songs.
But what really surprised me was what happened after the show. The band didn’t retreat backstage, nor were we forced out of the venue by the ushers. Everyone sorta hung around and chilled with the HYN band, reporters, and staff, and with the guys from SR. I myself got one of the drum sticks which I giddily brought up to each of the guys in the band asking them to autograph it for me. I felt like a 4th grader, but it was just so much fun. One of my friends got his yarmulke autographed by the band (also on the beanie are the signatures of the member of the John Butler Trio), and we just all chilled around for a while- enjoying the company of a bunch of wonderful people.
So yes, I can be an elitist sometimes, and every once in a while I’ll be disappointed with a show. But when something as fun and as awesome as this comes around, it would take a real negative Nancy (yes, I just used that cliché) to walk away feeling gypped.
So, here’s to great bands, great causes, and great people.
Valentine’s Day Playlist 2009
Shared by you
While presenting some of my choices for a V-Day playlist, a friend of mine commented that some of the songs don’t seem appropriate for the day. When I questioned her questioning of my choices, she responded by telling me that “When I think of V-day, I don’t think of missing someone; of being sad.”
That being said, I think this “holiday” works both ways. I’m not really sure what it started out as, or how it developed into a commercialized day filled with chocolates, teddy bears, and roses- but it somehow has come to be a day for those in relationships to express their feelings for each other. For me, it’s merely my mother’s birthday (which makes buying birthday flowers for her quite a hefty expense) and not much more. But I nonetheless constructed a playlist of some of my favorite love songs- not neccesarily happy songs about successful relationships, but songs sung by those in desperately in love. Sadly, most of those songs happen to be sad ones, about loss and longing. And I think, im some ways, this fits in with a realistic approach to such a holiday- one that on the outside is supposed to look picture perfect and happy, but could be extremely sad to one who has recently lost a loved one.
Now, humble readers, try not to read any of my comments into my own personal life; these are merely my musings on the art of the love song and how such a day could be both emotionally amazing for some, while demoralizing to others. So, this day, I suppose, is a microcosm for love songs in general. The emotion is there in all of them, it’s just a matter of how we relate to it.
Counting Crows- Goodnight Elisabeth
Nirvana- Where Did You Sleep Last Night
The Dire Straits- Romeo and Juliet
They Might Be Giants- New York City
Buy all of these guys @ Amazon.com
Modest Mouse
Shared by you
And once again, I’m retreating to the vault of songs Yoni introduced me to on that mix; songs I never would’ve had access to back when I was in high school. God only knows where he found them. So, while I do have a bunch of MM on my computer, this is the song I choose to share with you- because it’s the one that was shared with me.
Interpol
Shared by you
Again, I’d like to bring back a song from an indie band I learned about in high school, and then neglected to find anything else about afterward. I’ve head a bunch of songs by these guys, but this is the only one I like. So if you read this post and think “holy crap, this guy is crazy, this band has so many better songs!” then tell me. Post a comment and let me know what I’m missing. Until then, I’m going to enjoy this song by a band who curiously named themselves after the European International Police.
The Flaming Lips
Shared by you
I really know very little about this band,very little beyond the two songs that Yoni put on that mix for me back in 12th grade. I do know, however, that these songs are pretty awesome, and that their live shows are often accompanied by confetti, cool costumes, massive prop hands, and giant life-sized hamster balls. That should be more than enough to get you to check out these 2 tracks.
The Flaming Lips- Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
Grammy Disappointment
Shared by you
As expected, the 2009 Grammy’s were a huge disappointment; with mediocre bands winning it all, and phenomenal bands getting snubbed once again. Like middle school student council elections, the Grammy winners tend to be the “coolest” and most popular artists, as opposed to the best.
Joey: This One’s For You
Shared by you
Fire is one of those things that’s a pretty awesome musical theme, but sometimes sucks in real life. So, in memory of 910 Eileen Street, I would like to dedicate this post to you, Joseph. If you need a place to crash, my apartment is always open; as you know well, our couch is often frequented by persons with your name. So Joey, this one’s for you.
Nice Girls Singing Gangsta Rap
Shared by you
There’s something amazingly disquieting about someone like Nina Gordon (formerly of Veruca Salt) singing a song like “Straight Outta Compton.” This late 80s cut from retroactive rap supergroup N.W.A just seems to fit amazingly well with Nina’s sweet sounding pipes- that is until you listen to the actual lyrics.
But who cares? Put on your headphones (in case you’re listening at home and your mom is opposed to nice girls dropping the f-bomb) and crank up this track. It’s bound to bring a smile to your face.
Nina Gordon- Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A cover)
State Radio to Play Bowery Ballroom
Shared by you
For those of you music fans out there in NYC, let it be known that State Radio will be playing the Bowery Ballroom on February 16th. Tickets went on sale this past Thursday and you can get them at ticketmaster.
Kings of Leon: January 29th 2009 (MSG)
Shared by you
There’s something magical about the venue. Sure, it’s not the most intimate of settings, with it’s 20,000 person capacity, and standing up next to your seat doesn’t even come close to moshing around with a bunch of people you’ve never met before (yes, I wasn’t able to secure floor seats). But there’s just something about a band playing their first ever show at Madison Square Garden. Granted, these guys just headlined England’s legendary Glastonbury Festival in ’08, but that was across the pond. For their entire careers, these guys were unable to match their amazing success in Britain; at least not in a mainstream way.
Which brings us to Thursday night’s show. Selling out MSG, this just months after this band was opening for Pearl Jam on the first half of their tour, is an amazing step forward as to their popularity in this country. They have, as is colloquially said “made it.” But making it comes with a price. Sure, the band was overjoyed that they were able to play such historic venue, but many fans are somewhat less excited.
With the release of 2008′s Only By The Night, many fans claimed that KOL were taking their raw unabashed Southern style rock and were selling out for a more radio-friendly sound. And at first glance, it’s hard to argue with them. They were playing 100,000 people festivals, had a song featured on Gossip Girl, have been nominated for a few Grammy’s, and of course- just sold out Madison Square Garden. But while this may seem like selling out to many fans, to me this is just an amazing new direction in their sound. With their new album, they somehow managed to combine their toxic mix guitar driven rock with a soaring arena style sound that brings to mind both U2 and the Smashing Pumpkins. To call this “selling out” is merely to sell this incredibly talented band short.
The show opened up with a wall of guitar feedback as the band launched into Crawl, an incredibly heavy rocker off their new album. The setlist was peppered with a well thought out mix of new and old songs, with Caleb’s voice soaring on some of the newer material, and screaming on much of the older stuff. And while some of the songs probably would’ve sounded better in a smaller venue, say at the Bowery Ballroom, but newer songs like Sex on Fire and Use Somebody were nothing short of transcendental (not the best word choice, but it’s the best I’ve got right now).
In the infamous words of those guys from 311, “Fuck the naysayers because they don’t mean a thing because this is the style we bring,” the Kings of Leon should continue to bring it like they’ve always done, and should continue to let their sound develop in the amazing ways it has for their entire careers.
The Whigs
Shared by you
In about an hour, I’ll be heading down to Madison Square Garden to see Kings of Leon in concert. While I’m really excited to see them, I’m also pretty excited to see the opening band- The Whigs.
A band that I recently discovered, these guys have a pretty rocking sound- something in between Centro-matic and Jet, with a hint of White Denim here and there. So check out these tracks for now, and I’m sure I’ll have more to say about them after the show.
The Whigs- I Got Ideas
The Whigs- Right Hand On My Heart
Carolina
Shared by you
Ben Gibbard- Carolina
Every scream went bleeding through these paper walls
And all the make-up in the world couldn’t hide the scars
I leave today, I’m packing light: a suitcase, some toiletries
The rolling hills and willow trees of Carolina wait for me
You never learned, the rules have changed since we were nine
This isn’t school, boys don’t assault the girls they like
The taste of blood, the claim of love
these two will here on cease to be Sprouting from your fists and tongue ’cause Carolina waits for me
Fields of grain go whipping by from the window seat
I’m drifting in, I’m drifting out catching up on sleep
I couldn’t get indentured since the very crest of 17
I left my keys and broken dreams ’cause Carolina waits for me
I will never forgive a single day
Mile markers seem to call my name and say,
“You’re safer now through every town, we’ll light your way in reflective green” All the way, the entire state of Carolina waits for me
Album Review: Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
Shared by you
You never know what to do when music blogs promote an album as “The Best Album of 2009” during the first week of 2009. So when Stereogum decided that Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective was “The Best Album of 2009” on January the 5th, a mere 5 days into the new year, I figured the album was worth taking a listening to.
And while I doubt that this album will be my fave of the year, it certainly warrants a listen or two.
If I was forced to describe the sound on the album, I would call it a sugar-coated circus on acid. They sound like an overly poppy of Explosions in the Sky, but not pop in the plastic sense, pop in the sense that this album could is both radio friendly, and musically significant. The songs are innovative and complex, but the sound is easy to listen to. There are moments that are reminiscent of Sgt. Pepper’s style Beatles, even though the music is an entirely different style.
So check these guys out, and decide for yourself whether or not this album deserves the title, The Best of 2009. Plus, the album is named after one of my favorite music venues- Merriweather Post Pavilion- where I saw my first ever concert.
Animal Collective- In The Flowers
Animal Collective- Summertime Clothes
Buy Animal Collective @ Amazon.com
I’ll Rise
Shared by you
Ben Harper- I’ll Rise (Based on Maya Angelou’s poem)
You may write me down in history
With your bitter twisted lies
You may trod me down in the very dirt
And still like the dust Ill rise
Does my happiness upset you
Why are you best with gloom
Cause I laugh like Ive got an oil well
Pumpin in my living room
So you may shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes
And Ill rise
Ill rise
Ill rise
Out of the shacks of historys shame
Up from a past rooted in pain
Ill rise
Ill rise
Ill rise
Now did you want to see me broken
Bowed head and lowered eyes
Shoulders fallen down like tear drops
Weakened by my soulful cries
Does my confidence upset you
Dont you take it awful hard
Cause I walk like Ive got a diamond mine
Breakin up in my front yard
So you may shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes
And Ill rise
Ill rise
Ill rise
Out of the shacks of historys shame
Up from a past rooted in pain
Ill rise
Ill rise
Ill rise
Buy Ben Harper @ Amazon.com
Crash Course in Brain Surgery
Shared by you
In honor of my brother’s recent release from the hospital, here’s a few “head case” songs to honor the staples in the back of his head.
Metallica- Crash Course in Brain Surgery
Rage Against the Machine- Bullet In The Head
Inauguration 2009
Shared by you
In honor of yesterday’s historic inauguration, here’s a quick playlist to commemorate the event.
Goo Goo Dolls- America Girl (live @ The Concert for NY)
moe.- Captain America (live @ Nissan Pavilion)
Jimi Hendrix- Changes (live @ The Fillmore East)
John Mayer- Waiting on the World to Change
Drive-By Truckers
Shared by you
First things first: the Drive-By Truckers have one of the coolest band names of all time. I’m not sure I really need to say anything else about these guys; I’m going to assume their awesome name will speak for itself…
Actually, I must admit that when I first began listening to this band, about six months back, I was quite unimpressed. I had bought their most recent offering “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark,” and decided that I disliked the album before I even made it home from the record store. I went as far as to return the album without even loading the songs onto my computer; apparently I disliked it that much. A few weeks later, when a friend asked if I wanted to come see them in concert, I politely declined, informing him that I didn’t really like their sound.
Oh, how our musical tastes develop. Maybe it was the song I heard the other day that opened me up to their guitar driven country rock. Or maybe it was my emotional state of mind that allowed me, at that point in time, to appreciate everything I missed less than a year ago. Whatever caused my sudden change of heart, I was hooked.
They have an awesome blend of country and southern rock that somehow sounds original in a world of Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Black Crowes rip offs. These guys have managed to create their own original niche in that genre without stepping on anyone’s toes, or stealing any material.
So check these guys out, and check out these live tracks from the legendary Vic Theater in Chicago. If you want the full show, you can get it here.
Drive-By Truckers- One of These Days (live)
Drive-By Truckers- Feb 14 (live)
Drive-By Truckers- Aftermath USA (live)
Drive-By Truckers- Dead, Drunk, and Naked (live)
Drive-By Truckers- Let There Be Rock (live)
It’s Ok
Shared by you
I sit here bewildered at everything that’s going on. Those of you who know me and my family personally will understand that we’re going through some tough times, and things don’t seem to be getting better.
So, while everyone has their own way of dealing with things, music is the only way I know how to deal with stuff. And even though it’s not really going to be ok, we still need to tell ourselves that.
And when you go to bed at night, you try to tell yourself ‘It’s gonna be ok.’
But last night I was thinking that, maybe it’s not.
It’s getting harder and harder to say ‘It’s Ok.’
So will you help remind me?
If I say ‘It’s OK’ will you say ‘It’s Ok?’
Pearl Jam- Daughter/It’s Ok
Power Drainage
Shared by you
Alas, my laptop charger is busted. Home in Baltimore for vacation, my charger has become loose, and no longer charges my computer- forcing me to share a desktop computer with the rest of the family. And thus- I have been unable to post for the past few days.
So, here’s a little short post, using the music on the family computer, and I should be back in full force soon enough.
Stream of Consciousness: From Jack Kerouac to Miles Davis
Shared by you
One of the greatest things about writing a blog is being able to ramble on incoherently. Just writing “stream of consciousness” style, and letting the thoughts that run through your head get put down on paper; or at least typed down into a word file.
I recently finished “On the Road,” the literary masterpiece written by Jack Kerouac. The book is considered to have laid the stepping stones for the “beat” culture and writing style. Kerouac writes in sentences that are way too long for their own good; like an overly excited kid who moves on to the next sentence before finishing the first. Kerouac’s leaping from idea to idea in the span of a few sentences bewilders the mind, and reminds the reader of the wonderment and amazement that comes with childhood, and the selfish mind of an adult who still thinks he is a child. And this, is exactly what Kerouac is; an overgrown child who can’t seem to think of anyone but himself. It is, an effect of the soul searching lifestyle and journey; anyone whose primary focus is to find themselves must definitely be selfish. Yet, selfish doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In Kerouac’s world, his selfishness is necessary for his existence, and fuels his incredibly attractive writing style.
And while his storytelling is great, and his travel descriptions evocative, his real strength lies in his ability to write about music; specifically about jazz- the style that is most commonly associated with the beat movement; the style that fits most happily with stream of consciousness writing, as it itself can be thought of as a stream as well- a stream of instruments, ideas, collaboration between different players, between different sounds and feelings; the jazz that weaves in and out of different thoughts and modes taking the listener from one side of the world to another in the span of a few phrases. Kerouac has the ability, just like jazz does, to transform his reader from wherever they happen to be reading him, to his world, by painting his pictures so vividly, and by enticing his readers to allow themselves to be lost inside his childish mind of excitement, drama, and appreciation. It’s at this point, where the boundary between music and writing is broken, and the reader forgets if they’re reading a description of music, or hearing the actually music and merely thinking Kerouac’s thoughts in their own minds. When the hands forget they’re holding a book, and the mind forgets it’s piecing together streams of words into ideas- this is when the stream of consciousness takes over and convinces us that we are truly hearing the moaning of the horns, the keys, the brushes; the entire band- as we let ourselves get lost in the sounds; in the smoke that surrounds the bar as the band plays late into the night and the early morning, into the sounds, the sadness, the yearning, and all the other emotions that jazz brings along with it.
Read the poetry of the beatnicks, the books of it’s founder, and the music of it’s master; and let yourself get lost in the stream that is our consciousness.
My Morning Jacket: New Years Eve 2009
My Morning Jacket continues to amaze me. It wasn’t too long ago when they were a little known band, opening for Pearl Jam on their 2006 summer tour. Fast forward two and a half years later, and these guys are selling out Madison Square Garden for a marathon 3+ hours New Years Eve show.
The band was dressed to the nines, emerging from backstage a bit after 9PM, wearing black tuxedos and top hats. But this was to be expected from a band that posted the following on their website a few weeks before the show:
We invite and encourage everyone coming to the new years show to “dress to the nines,” in your finest and classiest party wear: suits/tuxedos, frilly dresses/luxurious ballgowns, top hats and canes, 2009 glasses, etc – as we intend to really “class up the joint” and celebrate the monumental year that 2008 was, whilst gazing forward to the thrills and chills that 2009 will hold.
A class act like no other, these alternative rockers have been on the rise since they began their careers in Louisville, Kentucky in 1998. Five albums and ten years later, MMJ has generated a dedicated fan base due to touring incessantly and gained a reputation as a band that would regularly play sets at least 3 hours in length.
Between 9:15 and 12:50 on New Years Eve 2009 (sans a 20 minute encore break before the New Years countdown) MMJ entertained concert-goers with their innovative brand of alt-rock, with tinges of southern rock and country combined with a jam-band attitude towards playing live. Selecting songs from 4 out of 5 of their studio albums, the band also peppered their set with a wide range of cover songs, from Sam Cooke’s “Bring it on Home” to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ “Islands in the Stream.” This combination of jammed out classics and fun covers led to an amazing show that beyond being well performed was just plain fun.
So check out the posted tracks- they’re from the actual show (Higlights:Nicole Atkins’ backing vocals on “You’re All I Need”, the jam at the end of “Touch Me Pt. 2”). If you want the entire show, you can download it here.
My Morning Jacket- Evil Urges (live)
My Morning Jacket- Off the Record (live)
My Morning Jacket- Gideon (live)
My Morning Jacket- You’re All I Need (Marvin Gaye) [w/Nicole Atkins] (live)
My Morning Jacket- Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 2 (live)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
For once, I can’t seem to find the words to put down on paper. Words, my foremost mode of expression escape me at the moment. But maybe it’s better that way. Music always has been what this friendship was based on. So even though you’re leaving town for a far off land, take this music as a parting gift. From mutual acquaintance, to concert buddy, to great friend- this one’s for you Jenn.
David Gray- Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
The Simpsons Rain It Purple
It’s a classic Simpsons moment. In Special Edna (Season 14, Episode 7) Little Richard (and not James Brown, who happens to be pictured above) guest stars as himself to present the Teacher of the Year award. Here’s how it goes down:
Homer: Purple Rain!!
Little Richard: Shut up!
Homer (to Marge): Oh my God, Michael Jackson just told me to shut up!
Ahhh. The show is amazing. So here’s a bit of MJ, LR, and Prince for you to sink your teeth into as you wait forthis episode to load.
My Morning Jacket: New Years Eve 2009
Shared by you
My Morning Jacket continues to amaze me. It wasn’t too long ago when they were a little known band, opening for Pearl Jam on their 2006 summer tour. Fast forward two and a half years later, and these guys are selling out Madison Square Garden for a marathon 3+ hours New Years Eve show.
The band was dressed for the occasion, emerging from backstage a bit after 9PM, wearing black tuxedos and top hats. But this was to be expected from a band that posted the following on their website a few weeks before the show:
We invite and encourage everyone coming to the new years show to “dress to the nines,” in your finest and classiest party wear: suits/tuxedos, frilly dresses/luxurious ballgowns, top hats and canes, 2009 glasses, etc – as we intend to really “class up the joint” and celebrate the monumental year that 2008 was, whilst gazing forward to the thrills and chills that 2009 will hold.
A class act like no other, these alternative rockers have been on the rise since they began their careers in Louisville, Kentucky in 1998. Five albums and ten years later, MMJ has generated a dedicated fan base due to touring incessantly and gained a reputation as a band that would regularly play sets at least 3 hours in length.
Between 9:15 and 12:50 on New Years Eve 2009 (sans a 20 minute encore break before the New Years countdown) MMJ entertained concert-goers with their innovative brand of alt-rock, with tinges of southern rock and country combined with a jam-band attitude towards playing live. Selecting songs from 4 out of 5 of their studio albums, the band also peppered their set with a wide range of cover songs, from Sam Cooke’s “Bring it on Home” to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ “Islands in the Stream.” This combination of jammed out classics and fun covers led to an amazing show that beyond being well performed was just plain fun.
The show went on until close to 1AM, when the band closed out their stellar performance by making up the words to singing Auld Lang Syne (“May all acquaintance be forgot… and whatever the rest of the lyrics to this song are…”) as the crowd happily applauded
So check out the posted tracks- they’re from the actual show (Higlights:Nicole Atkins’ backing vocals on “You’re All I Need”, the jam at the end of “Touch Me Pt. 2”). If you want the entire show, you can download it here.
My Morning Jacket- Off the Record
My Morning Jacket- You’re All I Need (Marvin Gaye) [w/Nicole Atkins]
My Morning Jacket- Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 2
Top 10 Concerts of 2008
10. The Josh Dion Band (September 12)
These guys surprised me with their catchy pop-rock songs, and impressively entertaining live show. Check out the review here.
9. Arrested Development (July 17)
This show was just a load of fun, as this early 90s hip hop group apparently still has it, and is still able to rock the stage, and the mic, like they were always know to do. Check out the review here.
8. Kaki King (April 9)
Kaki King is one talented guitar player. Her virtuosity and sheer brilliance of play was exemplified in this amazing live show. Check out the review here.
7. Foo Fighters (February 19)
Dave Grohl is a BAMF. No questions asked. If you get the chance, see these guys as soon as you can.
6. Dave Matthews Band (June 4)
Check out the review here.
5. Counting Crows (March 26, October 30)
Every time I see this band, I’m blown away by the emotional journeys that Adam Duritz takes his audience on every time he performs. Check out the reviews here and here.
4. Girl Talk (November 18)
Girl Talk was one of the most fun shows I’ve ever been to in my life. If you’ve heard his albums and you appreciate them, you gotta check out his live show. There’s nothing quite like a long haired, shirtless dude- sampling and mixing tracks on his laptop, while the entire audience goes crazy both on the floor, and on the stage.
3. Okkervil River ( October 7)
Any band that totally rewrites one of their songs in honor of the Presidential debate that was going on that night is awesome in my book. Okkervil River totally redid “The President’s Dead” changing the lyrics to The President’s live on Fox 5… The show just went on getting better from there. Check ‘em out sometime if you get the chance.
2. Radiohead (August 12)
As expected, Radiohead blew me away with their amazing live show. Check out the review here.
1. Pearl Jam (June 22, 24, 25)
As I’ve said many times before, Pearl Jam’s live show is a religious experience. In this respoect, the shows I saw this year did not disappoint. Check out the reviews here, here, and here, and next time they come around- make sure you see them.
Favorite Posts of 2008
Reading back on my words over the past few days, I’d like to share with you my top 5 favorite posts of this past year (in no particular order).
Top 10 of 2008
Shared by you
As a Metallica fan since the early days of my youth, I felt it necessary to include this bands first original release in over 10 years. Yes, that’s right, I’m not including St. Anger as one of their albums- it just wasn’t them; it wasn’t their music. And this is why Death Magnetic deserves a spot in the Top 10 of 2008; because it signifies a great band returning to do what they do best- record heavy metal music. The album may not be that innovative, but it sounds like a nice amalgam of all of their previous studio albums.
9. Okkervil River- The Stand Ins
This second half of what was initially intended as a double album may give off the impression of being full of B-sides. With the first half called The Stage Names, an album titled The Stand Ins could easily be perceived as second rate songs; it’s anything but. The album stands out on it’s own as another great release from a great band that we can expect to see great things from in the future.
Okkervil River- Lost Coastlines
8. The Black Keys- Attack & Release
Ths album is just plain killer. The furious twosome takes a step back from their heavy raw-blues sound, and plays songs that go much deeper than that. You can still hear their guitar/drums blues rock tracks here, but they’ve integrated more of a Zeppelin feel to the blues this time; allowing themselves the opportunity to write more ballady and meaningful songs. Feel free to check out the review here, and the track below.
The Black Keys- Things Ain’t Like They Used to Be
7. Olin & the Moon- 40 Miles of Bad Road
Having just discovered this band courtesy of 9 Bullets, and having reviewed it a few months back, I don’t feel so much of a need to rejustify this bands position on the list. But I will go and restate the fact that these guys are phenomenal songwriters, and have broken onto the list of my favorite bands of the year. Check out the review, and the track.
6. My Morning Jacket- Evil Urges
I’ve recently become enamored with these guys, partly becuase I have tickets to see them New Years Eve in Madison Square Garden, and partly because of their amazing take on alternative rock. Their vocals may be awkward sometimes, but they just plain rock, as this album clearly shows.
5. Girl Talk- Feed the Animals
Girl Talk just blows me away. While his albums are only secondary to his live shows, they do a great job of replicating what he does so well onstage- sample, mix, match, and DJ the hell out of all styles of music. This album was released for free on his MySpace page and is amazing to listen to. If you’re ever wondering what to put on at a party you’re hosting, this album is guaranteed to turn some heads.
Girl Talk- Play Your Part (Pt. 1)
4. Counting Crows- Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
The Counting Crows are one of the bands that always sound better live than in the studio- not because they record poorly, but because their live shows are done so well. This album, however, managed to capture the emotional intensity of Adam Duritz’s live repertoire. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve heard so many of their recordings where Adam explains the emotional aspect behind the album, but I also think that he’s more in touch with his emotional instability on this album than he’s been in a long time. Check out the review here.
3. The Raconteurs- Consolers of the Lonely
The Raconteurs are one of the bands who will save rock and roll. This album was amazingly brilliant in it’s raw brutal energy, combined with a straight up rock and roll sound. Their musicianship is stellar, and the only thing holding them back is the fact that they’ve only released two albums so far. If this album is a sign of things to come, the music world is in good shape.
The Raconteurs- You Don’t Understand Me
2. Kings of Leon- Only By the Night
While their previous releases have been more focused on their Southern Rock roots, this is the album where KOL expands their horizons and incorporates U2-style ballads with soaring vocals into their unbridled southern style cooking. Some hardcore fans think this is a step in the wrong way. I would argue that this is the only step to take, and that these guys have probably just released the best album of their young careers.
1. Radiohead- In Rainbows
Headbanging May Be Harmful To Your Health
So on this lovely Christmas morning, make sure to bang your head to this one.
Given To Sign
Shared by you
The whole thing is pretty amazing, I’ve never before seen someone sign at a concert, and the fact that someone who is deaf would come to a Pearl Jam show just speaks to the raw energy emitted by the band- an energy that exceeds sound waves and moves beyond that.
Eight Crazy Nights
The festival of lights is upon us again, and as usual, I forgot to get myself a menorah before the holiday began, which forced me to use a makeshift candelabra constructed out of shot glasses, olive oil, and wicks. But still, to celebrate Chanuka this year, let’s listen light-filled songs, and get in the holiday spirit.
The Rolling Stones- Shine a Light
Explosions in the Sky- Snow and Light
Pete Yorn- When You See the Light
The Black Keys- When the Lights Go Out
Buy The Stones, Explosions, Pete Yorn, and The BK @ Amazon.com
Guest Post at 9B
In the meantime, I want to draw your attention to my guest post at 9-Bullets, one of my personal favorites when it comes to the world wide bloggingdome.
So keep your eyes peeled for the new post, and check me out at 9B.
The Who Examines Your Zipper
The picture you see should, if you are a fan of classic rock, look familiar to you, but somehow off. It is, in fact one of the pictures from the photo shoot for The Who’s classic album- Who’s Next.
As the story goes, the photographer wanted this monolith on the album cover, and the band spent most of a day taking all sorts of pictures around the concrete protrusion. At the end of the day, however, everyone was still unsatisfied with the photos taken. So the band proceeded to urinate on the structure, leaving four wet spots. This is the shot that made the album cover, complete with urine stains and band members zipping up their flies and rebuckling their pants.
Enjoy this new look at a classic album cover you probably never looked at in this manner before, and enjoy this classic Who track from the Monterey Pop Festival.
Circuits
Hi all. I realize it’s been a few weeks since the last post, and that I seem to keep saying that I’ll try to write more often, but midterms turned into reading week, which has turned into finals.
The best time for me to write, however, is in that hour before each final, which I set aside as relax time for myself (if I can afford it). So, as not to spend all of my hour creating this post, I’m just going to post a pretty good track by Centro-Matic, a band that I’ve posted about in the past.
So check them out, check out the new track, and wish me luck in my circuits final.
Rock and Roll is Dead and it’s Vampire Weekend’s Fault
I stood there, watching a sea of over-happy preppy-children bouncing up and down, sometimes even waving their hands, all in unison, as the band played their jumpy indie pop, that, despite the fact that it sounds pretty decent on album, just sounded empty, repetitive, and boring onstage. “At least all their songs sound familiar to me,” I thought to myself, trying to salvage at least something from the night, trying desperately to get into the show, and not to be that bitter disenchanted guy; the one who everyone knows is a music snob, and is just too much of an asshole to let his guard down and just enjoy the show. “If their songs sound familiar, then I must know them, and I should be able to get into it.”
And then I realized- it’s not that I knew their songs, it’s that I knew a few songs; and all the rest follow exactly the same formula: high pitched guitar intro, keyboard based pre-chorus with the drums taking a bit of a break, and then a guitar driven (and I use that word lightly) chorus with a penchant sing-along “whoa-o-oh” or some sort of falsetto wailing. Every song. One, after the next, after the next; with the happy-go-lucky prepsters bouncing up and down the whole way through, as if they had no idea that they were just listening to the same exact track on repeat for an hour.
“An hour,” you might say to me, while reading this slightly negative review, “they surely played for longer than an hour.” Alas, it was not to be. They went on at 9:15 PM, left for the encore at a few minutes to 10, and were off by 10:15. One hour. That’s even less than Coldplay played for- and that was a free show. I don’t care if they only have one album worth of music. If I’m paying $25 (plus the cursed Ticketbastard fees) I expect more than an hours worth of entertainment.
While I was somewhat happy to be free of the claustrophobia that can occur while surrounded by indie-rock “Guy Smileys” for so long, and I was quite relieved to find that the show let out early enough for us to catch the express A train back uptown, it’s the principle of the matter that I speak of; play some covers (and that crappy Fleetwood Mac song that they did cover (Everywhere) does not count- it sucked), extend your songs, go into some jams- DO SOMETHING, but do not, and I will repeat this for emphasis- do not play a concert for only an hour. Congrats VW- you sold out two nights in a row, but if you want to keep your fans, you’re going to need to play for a bit longer, and make it a bit more interesting.
And it all boils down to this one point. Sure, I could’ve ignored the annoying fans had the band actually done something interesting at the show. What they did, quite adequately, if not exceptionally, was recreate- exactly- the sound on the album. It was as the band got all dressed up, grabbed their instruments, stood onstage, and lip synced and played while someone played their CD. There was no innovation, no jamming, no extended songs, no interesting covers- nothing too exciting.
But that’s exactly what I should’ve expected. This isn’t a band that’s looking to make it big on a tour following. Looking around in the crowd, those weren’t the type of fans they had already wooed. These were radio fans, the everyday music listener, who will go to one concert a year, maybe, if the band they’re currently in love with happens to stop off in their city. These fans have been force-fed VW via the radio waves and their favorite DJs, and have responded in kind.
So what’s going to happen when it hits the fan? Sure, they’ll come out with a new album soon, and it’ll probably have one or two popular singles. Hey, maybe it will be the next Dark Side of the Moon, and I’ll look back at this post, laughing at myself for my immaturity, claiming that at this show I “just didn’t get them” in order to save musical face, and not look like a total douchebag in case I turn around and decide I like them. That may happen, but I highly doubt it. These guys have two options in front of them: they’ll either make it huge on the pop rock scene, and will jump straight to playing shows at huge venues that will be attended by teeny-boppers who’s parents will be willing to shell out the $70 they’re going to charge for tickets, or- they’ll fade into one-hit-wonder obscurity, popping up ten years from now when bloggers do “Remember the 00s” posts, and we’ll all listen with forgetful nostalgia, wondering where they went wrong.
Well, I’m telling you right now- this band went wrong with their live show. If they would do it right, and try to gather a following of live music fans- the losers who will come back and see their favorite bands over and over, instead of radio music fans- the cool kids who’re gonna jump on the next big thing the moment it hits the airwaves, forgetting what they loved about their last favorite band, if VW does that, then they’ll survive. If not, then it’s goodbye yellow brick road for these guys.
And what’s so sad, is that there is a ton of potential in these guys, and it’s so obvious that they’re being stunted by the record companies to keep their songs short, radio friendly, and poppy, instead of brash, exciting, and innovative. Their music has no swagger, it ha