This album cover is truly shite, but Phoenix is not. 
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Rivers Cuomo is Joe Dirt
Seriously, I don't want to be petty and knock someone's bad hair day, but f'real Rivers, wtf??New Eagles of Death Metal
For a band that is sort of gimmick (lead singer is sort of pseudo-hill billy with a funny mustache with a penchant for Elvis) and a Queens of the Stone Age-side project for Josh Homme, I'm starting to like the Eagles of Death Metal better than Queens. It's not like it's filler-free album by any means, but with songs like "Wannabe in L.A.," double entendre-titles like Heart On, and visceral, eye-catching album art--too bad no one gives too [two? --Ed.] shits about album art or liner notes anymore--I can't help but like this band. [You would, you smug yuppie punk--Ed.]
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
New Snow Patrol
Gary Lightbody's earnestness kind of wears on me over the course of a whole album, but A Hundred Million Suns has its genuinely rocking moments--reminding me of Pete Yorn and later-day Beck. Still, a little goes a long way.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Hip Hop-Golden Oldies Mash @ its very finest
Duh, for those living in a cave (not you Osama, I mean no disrespect...don't be bombing my @ss), that's the chemical structure of heroin. I'm not sure where I came across this, but it is bit reminiscent of Girl Talk if Girl Talk were to sample bands like Steely Dan instead of the most blatantly obvious samples of the past decade. Seriously, download this. You will not be disappointed. In my opinion, this is what makes hip-hop worth listening to and staying in tune with.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Admit it: Lindsey Buckingham...yes. that Lindsey of Fleetwood Mac, is the Shimm
I am a geek for Fleetwood Mac, i won't lie, I got nothing to be ashamed of. The era preceding my man Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks was hot shimm, no doubt. Peter Green was hot fire as a guitarist. Underlying almost decades of stellar music was the rhythm section of John and Christin McVie and Mick Fleetwood. That's paying short shrift to Christin McVie who provides notable vocal leads throughout much of the band's history. Anyway, Buckingham/Nicks made a name for themselves as songwriters under the banner of Fleetwood Mac from 1975 onwards. After years of bickering and substance abuse, President Clinton resuscitated the band and galvanized them to play at his first inauguration. You could argue that the band wasn't willing to get together until Buckingham and/or Nicks had sufficient material. Whatever the case, Fleetwood Mac's mid-90's live album, The Dance, proves their place in the rock'n roll hall of fame. Getting finally to LIndsey, his inventive songwriting and guitar playing underlies the band's success in popular culture. Anyone that has seen Lindsey Buckingham playing the guitar parts of at least 2 persons realizes just how talented he is. "Trouble" comes off a Lindsey Buckingham solo album from 1981, but to these ears it sounds far from dated--the production faintly reminding me of Grizzly Bear's or Department of Eagles'.
New Ray LaMontagne (for Doctor Robert)
Ray LaMontagne might be encroaching on Jamie Lidell-faux Otis Redding blue-eyed soul territory, but it was bound to happen. Anyways, this is shimm blue-eyed soul, so back the fuck up and respect it.
Fujiya & Miyagi
I've got a secret that I'm gonna let you in on. I've recently been listening to "Sore Thumb" while taking the occasional jog. While not a huge fan of the new Fujiya & Miyagi album Lightbulb, I've been digging on "Sore Thumb." So mid-jog, as the song ramps up into a sick keyboard solo, if no one is around, I do a pretty awesome air-keyboard solo along with the song. Any tune that encourages me to act like a crazy fool in public is some shimm worth posting.Ra Ra Riot with the Morning Benders Live @ the Middle East
Ra Ra Riot are playing in Cambridge tomorrow night (saturday) at the Middle East. The Morning Benders are opening, and they are pretty good too. Check out these up-and-comers!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Department of Eagles are freaking religulous (Alternative title: Dan Rossen is freaking g-d)
So I gushed last week about the new Annuals album Such Fun for its immediate and exhilarating charms--I've been wearing it out all weekend, its title is apt. But its immediacy might be its biggest drawback, like an attractive girl that gives up too much on the first date, it's almost too easy. This week, I gush over the Department of Eagles for exactly opposite reasons. Like Grizzly Bear's Yellow House (a freaking incredible album, of which no amount of heaping praise is sufficient), In Ear Park is a total fucking minimalist grower. What begins with delicate acoustic guitar picking or strumming and minimalist percussion ripens into incredibly, exhilarating pop majesticness of the highest caliber. This sounds like and is hyperbole and its totally apt in this case. Quite simply, In Ear Park might be the most quietly devastating album I've heard all year. this is headphone music of the highest quality. It's intimate, spare and unapologetically beautiful. the torch is being passed, folks. Get this album. When I hear music like this in this day and age, I get optimistic.It's Columbus Day: It's Time to Get Down
One of my favorite cuts off one of my favorite soul records. Reflecting their Philadelphia environs, the O'Jays' philly-soul sound was rougher, occasionally bitter/jaded (dig that album title) than the soul/r&b coming out of Motown, but "Time to Get Down" is almost ecstatically, effusive, as if they just been blown away by how good this song is. There is pure joy in those vocals. Sunday, October 12, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
New Thievery Corporation
If Thievery Corporation doesn't make the finest music coming out of our nation's capital, then undoubtedly they make the most exotic. D.C., especially when the GOP is running the show (hopefully for not too much longer), has a reputation for being staid. Thievery Corp specialize in producing a unique brand of world music set to techno/house/whatever grooves. It's instantly recognizable and arguably better listened to in smaller portions--maybe it's my adult onset ADD but I can't bring myself to listen to this whole album in one sitting. But I say that about 93% of all the music I listen to. I think I'm addicted to the shuffle.
Drill Here, Drill Now
I don't know much about fixing our dependence on foreign sources of oil. But forget T. Boone Pickens and his Plan, I'm getting behind Aaron Tippin. This awesome patriot just might be the next Vice President, someday in a Palin Administration (this true-blue American caucasian patriot can dream, can't he?) Who knew the solution to this intractable problem was so g.d. easy??! Thanks Aaron!! Ya know, I've been just beside myself trying to choose between Obama and McCain, but this awesomely reactionary tune "Drill Here, Drill Now" might just put me in the McCain-Palin column. Why don't more people LOVE country music????!
Well the winds of change are blowin’
Yes and we recognize that need
But tractors, trucks, cars and planes can’t run on tomorrow’s dreams
So while we’re workin’ on the future we can’t ignore today
Cuz who knows how much time the alternative might take
Somethin’s gotta be done right now cuz friends it won’t be long
Before this great big country comes grinding to a halt
Drill here, drill now
How ‘bout some oil from our own soil that belongs to us anyhow
No more debatin’ we’re tired of waitin’ everybody shout out loud
Drill here, drill now
Stereolab
At the Stereolab show last monday, I got this 2 song Stereolab cd that can only be purchased at shows. Turns out, it's pretty good. "Explosante Fixe" is my favorite of the two.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The New Annuals Album "Such Fun" is such fun
Well g-d damn, it's Yom Kippur. And I won't apologize for just starting to love this new Annuals album Such Fun on the g-d dang holiest/saddest day of the year. It's the Annuals major label debut, and it totally delivers on the promise of Be He Me. This album capitalizes on the band's strengths, the sung-scream vocals are perfection. WARNING: my description sounds scarier than it actually is...whatever it is, it's a dope vocal concoction. Such Fun reminds me slightly of Pinback's best moments, but they are a better band than Pinback. Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Albert Hammond Jr. -- Borrowed Time
this album kind of sucks. "Borrowed Time" is the high-water mark on Como Te Llamas?
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Bad Plus
The Bad Plus play jazz in the loosest sense of the word. They improvise but there's an underlying song structure. This is jazz for those like myself who have short-attention spans. Moreover, the Bad Plus covers at least one or two classic rock tunes on every album, a great way to market to jazz novices; it caught my attention any way. I have seen the Bad Plus live at least once, and they are not bad. Check out this cover of Rush's "Tom Sawyer."
Monday, October 6, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Counting Crows
Anyone remember this one? One of my favorite old school Counting Crows tunes, "Einstein on the Beach."
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
News of Sarah Palin set to Bob Marley's "Buffalo Soldier" by Rula Brown
I know what you're thinking, it's about g-dd@mn time news regarding Sarah Palin was read by a man of Jamaico-Caribbean-descent backed up by Bob Marley's "Buffalo Soldier." An interesting concept, no doubt, check it out.
New Vampire Weekend -- "Ottoman"
I'm really not sure if this film is an ode to those like myself who are obsessed with their iPods and their playlists. But I have my doubts about this movie. I hope movie producers don't think the popular masses will continue to flock to another night-in-the-life movie, featuring George Michael (yes I know that's not his real name) in another movie with him doing the same meek-suburban-secretly Canadian-Jew character that he's been doing since Arrested Development. Well don't expect me to fawn over the film's attempt at being hipper-than-thou. Well, i thought the trailer seemed kind of lame-o, and I'm not sure this speaks to those older than 25. While this wouldn't be my desert island infinite playlist, it does feature a new Vampire Weekend tune called "Ottoman," which is pretty good. It sounds like a b-side from their last album, and perhaps it is.
Annuals
Be He Me is one of the more underappreciated albums of the past couple years. the Annuals have a new album coming out next week. There is some pretty cool sound engineering going on with the vocals on "Dry Clothes."
Pretty shitty writing, right??
Pretty shitty writing, right??
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