Someone must have found the cause of all the leaks, 'cause they were dry last week! Hopefully the drips will start again soon!
Monday: Deer Tick + Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson @ Southpaw 7:30pm $8
Two of the new boys on the block are starting to get their names heard loud and clear in these parts. Both Deer Tick and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson are up-and-comers that me be close to the coming if you catch my drift. Anyhow, these two sharing the same stage should be just what you need to forget the first day back to your shitty jobs after a weekend of free shows. I know it's what I have in mind.
Deer Tick -"These Old Shoes"
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - "Drive"
Tuesday: The Feelies @ Maxwell's 9pm $25
We all know the big ticket this week is Friday's Fourth of July spectacular with Sonic Youth, but opening that show is the awesome and reunited Feelies! It's pretty sweet that they're back, but of course on Friday they'll have to be sharing the spotlight with the legends that are Sonic Youth, so why not check out their reunion in all it's glory when it's on its own here at Maxwell's? Simple answer, there is no reason. Get your asses on a ferry and rock the hell out!
The Feelies - "The Good Earth"
Wednesday: Oxford Collapse + Frightened Rabbit @ Souhtpaw 8pm $10
You guys might have caught word that there's an excellent new Oxford Collapse track out there (okay it's also below so check it out!!!), which means there's a good chance the boys have some other new material up their sleeve for tonight's performance! Catch it now before it's old news. Oh, and the opener Frightened Rabbit just happened to make my list of 25 albums from this year so far. Certainly worth checking out.
Oxford Collapse - "Birthday Wars"
Frightened Rabbit - "Head Rolls Off"
Thursday: Love As Laughter @ R Bar
Last I checked R Bar had a stripper pole on it's stage. That in itself is a reason to frequent a place, but if they start booking bands like Love As Laughter on a regular basis this joint may just become a player in the Lower East Side yet.
Love As Laughter - "Temptation Island"
Friday: Sonic Youth + The Feelies @ Battery Park 3:30pm FREE
Shit, if you haven't heard about this show before now consider yourself fucked. You can just crawl back under whatever rock you came from 'cause all the tickets are gone! If you got yourself some tickets, sweet, I'll see you there and I'll be rocking out right next to you!!! Thanks River to River Festival for once again curating my 4th of July!!!
Sonic Youth - "Kissability"
The Feelies - "The High Road"
Saturday: Dengue Fever + Apollo Heights @ Central Park Summerstage 3pm FREE
Last weekend I saw three shows for the grand total of $0, this week it's more of the same thanks to all these competing stages. Both of these bands have some dynamic stage shows and some danceable music, so bring your dancing shoes and have yourself some fun dammitt!!!
Dengue Fever - "Sober Drive"
Sunday: Ronnie Spector + The Rabbit Factory Soul Revue @ McCarren Park Pool 2pm FREE
Ronnie Spector is an musical legend. Show her some respect and go see her! It won't even cost you anything!!!
Ronnie Spector - "All I Want"
Two of the new boys on the block are starting to get their names heard loud and clear in these parts. Both Deer Tick and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson are up-and-comers that me be close to the coming if you catch my drift. Anyhow, these two sharing the same stage should be just what you need to forget the first day back to your shitty jobs after a weekend of free shows. I know it's what I have in mind.
Deer Tick -"These Old Shoes"
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - "Drive"
Tuesday: The Feelies @ Maxwell's 9pm $25
We all know the big ticket this week is Friday's Fourth of July spectacular with Sonic Youth, but opening that show is the awesome and reunited Feelies! It's pretty sweet that they're back, but of course on Friday they'll have to be sharing the spotlight with the legends that are Sonic Youth, so why not check out their reunion in all it's glory when it's on its own here at Maxwell's? Simple answer, there is no reason. Get your asses on a ferry and rock the hell out!
The Feelies - "The Good Earth"
Wednesday: Oxford Collapse + Frightened Rabbit @ Souhtpaw 8pm $10
You guys might have caught word that there's an excellent new Oxford Collapse track out there (okay it's also below so check it out!!!), which means there's a good chance the boys have some other new material up their sleeve for tonight's performance! Catch it now before it's old news. Oh, and the opener Frightened Rabbit just happened to make my list of 25 albums from this year so far. Certainly worth checking out.
Oxford Collapse - "Birthday Wars"
Frightened Rabbit - "Head Rolls Off"
Thursday: Love As Laughter @ R Bar
Last I checked R Bar had a stripper pole on it's stage. That in itself is a reason to frequent a place, but if they start booking bands like Love As Laughter on a regular basis this joint may just become a player in the Lower East Side yet.
Love As Laughter - "Temptation Island"
Friday: Sonic Youth + The Feelies @ Battery Park 3:30pm FREE
Shit, if you haven't heard about this show before now consider yourself fucked. You can just crawl back under whatever rock you came from 'cause all the tickets are gone! If you got yourself some tickets, sweet, I'll see you there and I'll be rocking out right next to you!!! Thanks River to River Festival for once again curating my 4th of July!!!
Sonic Youth - "Kissability"
The Feelies - "The High Road"
Saturday: Dengue Fever + Apollo Heights @ Central Park Summerstage 3pm FREE
Last weekend I saw three shows for the grand total of $0, this week it's more of the same thanks to all these competing stages. Both of these bands have some dynamic stage shows and some danceable music, so bring your dancing shoes and have yourself some fun dammitt!!!
Dengue Fever - "Sober Drive"
Sunday: Ronnie Spector + The Rabbit Factory Soul Revue @ McCarren Park Pool 2pm FREE
Ronnie Spector is an musical legend. Show her some respect and go see her! It won't even cost you anything!!!
Ronnie Spector - "All I Want"
Last week at the After the Jump Fest, Titus Andronicus put on a show that was powerful and left me wanting more. So much more in fact, that I braved the elements today to see the band perform at the East River Amphitheater. It was obvious that the elements kept away scores of people, but for the few that did show up they got to see a fairly solid, though rain shortened set.It seems the boys of Glen Rock are more for the indoor set, where they can prance and frolic about and not have to worry if a torrential down pour would interrupt their set. Either that or their previous night's performance at the Knitting Factory had left them a bit haggard and hungover today. Whatever the case may have been, Titus Andronicus weren't quite on par with what we saw at the Music Hall last weekend. Today they had problems with equipment, were a bit more frayed at the ends, and didn't have the best sound quality, which obviously isn't there fault. The band trudged on though with front man Patrick Stickles bouncing across the stage with either his microphone, his guitar, or his harmonica in tow and magnetized the audience that didn't go running for cover.
Like I said the set was short, 7 or 8 songs in the rain picked up steam and the band announced two more songs and that would be it. Stickles and company made it count, bashing through their final song, leaping off the speakers, and positively killing the last song because they called off that other one.With that the band promised more this evening at Bodega, but obviously I'm not there and so I'm missing out on that show. But the two times I've seen them this week were enough to convince me that this is one of the stronger local talents we have these days. They're a solid band that are growing with each passing day, but there energy and assault on the music makes up for anything they lack in talent, and the songs are scream-a-long punk anthems of the good old days. This is a band worth taking note of now!
Titus Andronicus - "No Future"
Titus Andronicus - "Titus Andronicus"
Shoegaze Across America Tour:
June:
Wed 06/25/08 Washington, DC Rock And Roll Hotel
Thu 06/26/08 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's
Fri 06/27/08 New York, NY Knitting Factory
Sat 06/28/08 Brooklyn, NY 123 House
Sat 06/28/08 New York, NY East River Amphitheater
Sun 06/29/08 Allston, MA Great Scott
July:
Fri 07/11/08 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's
Sun 07/13/08 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
Mon 07/14/08 Philadelphia, PA Circle Of Hope
Tue 07/15/08 Pittsburgh, PA Garfield Artworks
Wed 07/16/08 Columbus, OH Cafe Bourbon Street
Fri 07/18/08 Bloomington, IN Bear's Place
Sat 07/19/08 Chicago, IL Union Park
Mon 07/21/08 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
Tue 07/22/08 Des Moines, IA Vaudeville Mews
Thu 07/24/08 Kansas City, MO The Pistol Social Club
Sat 07/26/08 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge
Sun 07/27/08 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
Tue 07/29/08 Seattle, WA FunHouse
Wed 07/30/08 Portland, OR Holocene
August:
Fri 08/01/08 Eureka, CA Red Lion Inn
Sun 08/03/08 San Francisco, CA Hemlock
Mon 08/04/08 Los Angeles, CA Echo
Tue 08/05/08 Phoenix, AZ Modified
Thu 08/07/08 El Paso, TX Hush Gallery
Fri 08/08/08 Austin, TX The Mohawk
Sat 08/09/08 Dallas, TX Club DaDa
Sun 08/10/08 New Orleans, LA Dragon's Den
Tue 08/12/08 Atlanta, GA The EARL
Wed 08/13/08 Cincinnati, OH Gypsy Hut
Sat 08/16/08 Washington, DC Rock And Roll Hotel
Mon 08/18/08 Philadelphia, PA The Barbary
Video Below this Post
More Pics on Flickr
Free Shows: (and the hot summer sun!!!)
Friday July 4th: Sonic Youth + The Feelies @ Battery Park
Sonic Youth - "Teenage Riot"
The Feelies - "It's Only Life"
Saturday July 5th: Dengue Fever + Apollo Heights @ Central Park Summerstage
Dengue Fever - "Sober Driver"
Thursday July 10th: St. Vincent @ Castle Clinton
St. Vincent - "Land Mines"
Friday July 11th: No Age + Telepathe @ South Street Seaport
No Age - "Teen Creeps"
Telepathe - "The March"
Sunday July 13th: The Breeders + Matt & Kim @ McCarren Park Pool
The Breeders - "Divine Hammer"
Matt & Kim - "No More Long Years"
Thursday: July 17th: Ted Leo & the Pharmacists @ Castle Clinton
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - "Me & Mia"
Thursday July 17th: The Fiery Furnaces @ East River Amphitheater
The Fiery Furnaces - "Here Comes the Summer"
Friday July 18th: Deerhoof @ Prospect Park Bandshell
Deerhoof - "Milk Man"
Saturday July 19th: Siren Fest @ Coney Island
Broken Social Scene - "Baroque Social"
Times New Viking - "Teen Drama"
The Dodos - "Red And Purple"
Sunday July 20th: Liars, Fuck Buttons, Team Robespierre @ McCarren Park Pool
Liars - "Freak Out"
Fuck Buttons - "Colours Move"
Team Robespierre - "Ha Ha Ha"
Friday July 25th: Atlas Sound + El Guincho @ South Street Seaport
Atlas Sound - "Balcony"
El Guincho - "Costa Paraiso"
Saturday July 26th: Ghostland Observatory + Bear Hands @ Prospect Park Bandshell
Ghostland Observatory - "Heavy Heart"
Bear Hands - "Bad Blood"
Sunday July 27th: MGMT, Black Moth Super Rainbow, + The Ting Tings @ McCarren Park Pool
MGMT - "Kids"
Black Moth Super Rainbow - "Sun Lips"
The Ting Tings - "We Walk"
Thursday July 31st: Jukebox the Ghost @ Union Square Park
Jukebox the Ghost - "Hold It In"
Cheap Shows: ($10 or less)
Wednesday July 2nd: Oxford Collapse + Frightened Rabbit @ Southpaw $10
Oxford Collapse - "Birthday Wars"
Frightened Rabbit - "The Greys"
Tuesday July 8th: Crystal Antlers @ Mercury Lounge $10
Crystal Antlers - "A Thousand Eyes"
Saturday July 12th: Chairlift, Shy Child, Vivian Girls, + Ponytail @ The Yard $10
Charilift - "Evident Utensil"
Shy Child - "Astronaut"
Vivian Girls - "Tell the World"
Ponytail - "Sky Drool"
Sunday July 13th: Titus Andronicus, Abe Vigoda, + Ponytail @ Mercury Lounge $10
Titus Andronicus - "No Future"
Abe Vigoda - "Animal Ghosts"
Ponytail - "G-Shock"
Friday July 18th: The Death Set + The Mae Shi @ Cake Shop $7
The Death Set - "Around the World"
The Mae Shi - "Run to Your Grave"
Saturday July 19th: White Williams @ Glasslands $tba
White Williams - "Headlines"
Monday July 21st: The Mae Shi @ Market Hotel $tba
The Mae Shi - "The Melody"
Tuesday July 22nd: Bound Stems + The Muggabears @ Union Hall $10
Bound Stems - "Andover"
The Muggabears - "Nadia's Pair"
Tuesday July 29th: Extra Golden + Icy Demons @ Knitting Factory $10
Extra Golden - "Obama"
Icy Demons - "Miami Ice"
Not So Cheap Shows: ($20 or less)
Thursday July 10th: Boris @ Webster Hall $16
Boris - "Huge"
Friday July 11th: Tim Fite @ Mercury Lounge $12
Tim Fite - "Yesterday's Garden"
Monday July 14th: A Hawk and a Hacksaw @ (le) poisson rouge $15
A Hawk and a Hacksaw - "Salt Water"
Friday July 25th: Early Man + Monotonix @ Bowery Ballroom $13
Early Man - "Death Is the Answer To My Prayers"
Monotonix - "Lowest Dive"
Sunday July 27th: !!! @ Music Hall of Williamsburg $20
!!! - "Break In Case Of Anything"
Monday July 28th: Margot and the Nuclear So and So's @ Bowery Ballroom $14
Margot and the Nuclear So and So's - "Skeleton Key"
Wednesday July 30th: Bon Iver + Bowerbirds @ Music Hall of Williamsburg $15
Bon Iver - "Flume"
Bowerbirds - "Dark Horse"
Thursday July 31st: Wolf Parade @ Terminal 5 $20
Wolf Parade - "Call It A Ritual"
Mad Expensive: (more then $20)
Saturday July 5th: RZA (as Bobby Digital) @ Webster Hall $25
RZA - "Good Night"
Wednesday July 9th: Fesit @ Prospect Park Bandshell $35
Feist - "My Moon My Man"
Tuesday July 15th: Spoon, White Rabbits, + Jay Reatard @ Prospect Park Bandshell $35
Spoon - "The Way We Get By"
White Rabbits - "Kid On My Shoulders"
Jay Reatard - "Let It All Go"
Saturday July 26th: She & Him @ Terminal 5 $25
She & Him - "Sentimental Heart"
Tuesday July 29th: The Butthole Surfers @ Webster Hall $35
The Butthole Surfers - "Pepper"
Sonic Youth - "Teenage Riot"
The Feelies - "It's Only Life"
Dengue Fever - "Sober Driver"
St. Vincent - "Land Mines"
No Age - "Teen Creeps"
Telepathe - "The March"
The Breeders - "Divine Hammer"
Matt & Kim - "No More Long Years"
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - "Me & Mia"
The Fiery Furnaces - "Here Comes the Summer"
Deerhoof - "Milk Man"
Broken Social Scene - "Baroque Social"
Times New Viking - "Teen Drama"
The Dodos - "Red And Purple"
Liars - "Freak Out"
Fuck Buttons - "Colours Move"
Team Robespierre - "Ha Ha Ha"
Atlas Sound - "Balcony"
El Guincho - "Costa Paraiso"
Ghostland Observatory - "Heavy Heart"
Bear Hands - "Bad Blood"
MGMT - "Kids"
Black Moth Super Rainbow - "Sun Lips"
The Ting Tings - "We Walk"
Jukebox the Ghost - "Hold It In"
Cheap Shows: ($10 or less)
Oxford Collapse - "Birthday Wars"
Frightened Rabbit - "The Greys"
Crystal Antlers - "A Thousand Eyes"
Charilift - "Evident Utensil"
Shy Child - "Astronaut"
Vivian Girls - "Tell the World"
Ponytail - "Sky Drool"
Titus Andronicus - "No Future"
Abe Vigoda - "Animal Ghosts"
Ponytail - "G-Shock"
The Death Set - "Around the World"
The Mae Shi - "Run to Your Grave"
White Williams - "Headlines"
The Mae Shi - "The Melody"
Bound Stems - "Andover"
The Muggabears - "Nadia's Pair"
Extra Golden - "Obama"
Icy Demons - "Miami Ice"
Not So Cheap Shows: ($20 or less)
Boris - "Huge"
Tim Fite - "Yesterday's Garden"
A Hawk and a Hacksaw - "Salt Water"
Early Man - "Death Is the Answer To My Prayers"
Monotonix - "Lowest Dive"
!!! - "Break In Case Of Anything"
Margot and the Nuclear So and So's - "Skeleton Key"
Bon Iver - "Flume"
Bowerbirds - "Dark Horse"
Wolf Parade - "Call It A Ritual"
Mad Expensive: (more then $20)
RZA - "Good Night"
Feist - "My Moon My Man"
Spoon - "The Way We Get By"
White Rabbits - "Kid On My Shoulders"
Jay Reatard - "Let It All Go"
She & Him - "Sentimental Heart"
The Butthole Surfers - "Pepper"
Man do I love the Seaport shows that the wonderful River 2 River folks put on for us each Friday night during the summer! Is there anything better then get a 32oz. beer for $4.50, and sitting as the sun sets behind us watching some awesome bands? No, there's really very little that compares to it. The Pool Parties are close, but at the Seaport were in twilight and get the river breeze so it's a bit cooler giving it the points to take the lead. Anyway, a few hours ago I was at said Seaport watching two awesome bands bring their A-games to a couple thousand people watching. Both King Khan & His Shrines and A Place to Bury Strangers were at top form this evening and if you missed for some reason (like to see Cold War Kids for the 342nd time) well then I feel sorry for you folks.
King Khan & His Shrines got the evening off to a roaring start with a set that was bombastic right from the introduction. The band took the stage sans Khan, and began playing, before long they introduced Khan and he was led to the stage by his lovely cheerleader and the show only got better from there. Bits of rock, soul, the blues, all fused together into one rhythmic dissertation on how music should be played on the Seaport stage this evening, and my friends in the audience all danced spastically as the hipster sect are likely to do. It was a special performance to say the least. The band were on all night, lost in the music, bouncing around the stage like trained masters in the art of getting people to shake their asses. Khan wandered the stage, microphone in hand, like he owned the place. He sang and yelled and played some guitar and held us in all the glory that is his stage pressence. He's not much for banter, only the occasional snippet here and there, but he put's on one heck of an animated show. Dancing about, singing, and wailing like a madman, he keeps the audience in the palm of his hand and doesn't let go till the very last note. It was a stirring and rousing performance, and it only makes me regret having never seen him and his band before. King Khan & His Shrines were absolutely awesome, and this is just the first free show they'll be doing here in New York, but I'll tell you about that later.
As night finally fell on New York, A Place to Bury Strangers took the stage. The three piece band are known for absolutely ferocious and deafening live shows, but on the big Seaport stage it seemed they were taking it easy on all the passerbys who weren't there for the show, with a slightly quieter set then ever before. It's okay, it was still plenty loud, just not as deafening as their reputation holds them to. APTBS isn't quite as dance friendly as King Khan was, but the crowd still seemed to be enjoying themselves just fine by either banging their heads or standing in awe of their crazed noise skills. The band was certainly on point, tight and furious as the always are, but following King Khan is not an easy thing to do for any band. For some reason it didn't quite flow like other Seaport shows do, the band were really good and I want to stress that point, but it was nearly impossible to follow the engaging show from King Khan & His Shrines.All in all it was great night for live music. We saw two awesomely powerful bands, just in a strange order, and in two completely different ways. I would highly recommend seeing either band, just you might want to avoid seeing them together.
A Place to Bury Strangers - "To Fix the Gash In Your Head"
King Khan & His Shrines - "Torture"
King Khan & His Shrines Tour Dates:
June
28 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas
29 Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
July
1 Huntsville, AL @ Flying Monkey Arts Center
3 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
4 Atlanta, GA @ Lenny's
5 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
6 Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
8 Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room
10 Los Angeles, CA @ Echo
11 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
12 Portland, OR @ Dantes
13 Seattle, WA @ The Tractor Tavern
14 Vancouver, BC @ Red Room
16 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
17 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
20 Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
21 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
23 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe
24 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe
25 Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
26 Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod's
30 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse
31 Boston, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
August
1 New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine
2 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
3 Brooklyn, NY @ McCarren Pool (for FREE!!!)
#1 - No Age Nouns; When I was composing this list I had absolutely no doubt what my top album was going to be. It was truly the only record that had solidified it's place and there was nothing that could have moved it from it, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say that when I renew this list December that it will still be standing here on top. That is how good No Age's Nouns is! Building on the strength of last year's Weirdo Rippers, No Age have taken the noise to a new level, ripping apart ear drums when cranked to the right decibel but also lacing those songs with intricate bits of pop music. Their songs are dance happy, clap along anthems that are absolutely mesmerizing and addictive. I have listened to this record so many times that I know it backwards and forwards and as soon as I put it on and finish listening to it I am ready for another go. There have been terribly few albums that I have loved as much as this one, not just this year but in my entire life! I am in complete awe of what No Age are doing and I am in love with Nouns!No Age - "Eraser"
No Age - "Sleeper Hold"
#2 - The Dodos The Visiter; When Visiter was released it slipped quietly under my radar. I didn't even know it was coming, I had never heard of the band, and I picked a couple other albums to spotlight the week it came out. But shortly after it's release I heard all the buzz about it and decided to give it a listen, call me a bandwagon hopper if you must because in this instance I certainly am, but I am so glad the buzz reached me on this one! Visiter is a beautiful record, existing somewhere between folk and punk, and loaded with some of the most ridiculous drumming I've heard all year. That percussion is the backbone of this record, but it's the songwriting that truly makes it an addictive record. Songs like "Fools" and "Ashley" are gorgeous examples of songwriter at the top of his form, and they are sung so well that it's difficult to switch to another record once you've put this on.The Dodos - "Fools"
The Dodos - "Ashley"
Who: The NotwistWhen: October 13th
Where: Webster Hall
More Dates
Listen: The Notwist - "Gravity"
Thoughts: I've never seen The Notwist play before, but I'm really digging the new album so maybe that will be the incentive to get my butt out to Webster Hall. Then again I haven't been to Webster Hall in about two years now so why would I start going back now? Just for one band? That seems crazy. Maybe if there was something else there that I really wanted to see I could truly consider going back to one of my most hated venues. Then again this band is really solid. So maybe I'll attend, what are your thoughts?
Who: Tokyo Police ClubWhen: October 18th
Where: Webster Hall
More Dates
Listen: Tokyo Police Club - "Your English Is Good"
Thoughts: I thought for a few seconds that this was the first CMJ date to be released, but it's a few days before the marathon gets underway so not quite. Like with The Notwist, I have my issue with Webster Hall, but I really love Tokyo Police Club. What to do what to do??? Maybe they'll add a show at a venue I like more! That would be freakin' sweet!!!
Who: The KooksWhen: September 10th
Where: Central Park Summerstage
More Dates
Listen: The Kooks - "Always Free"
Thoughts: In case you were wondering what my stance on The Kooks is, I am not too much a fan. I know a lot of my faithful readers are so think of this as a public service announcement. And just like the TV channels that air PSA's I don't really enjoy doing it, but I feel I have to.
Who: The KillsWhen: October 3rd + 4th
Where: Music Hall of Williamsburg
More Dates
Listen: The Kills - "Tape Song"
Thoughts: I liked the new album from The Kills but I really haven't gone back to it all that much in recent weeks. Maybe it's time to change that and give it another go around, see if it blows my mind away this time around. That said, the live reputation of The Kills is pretty solid so it may be worth making the trek out to the 'Burg for one of these shows.
Who: PinbackWhen: September 27th + 28th
Where: Music Hall of Williamsburg + Bowery Ballroom
More Dates
Listen: Pinback - "Wasted"
Thoughts: I don't know why but I've never really listened to much Pinback. I know that may seem like heresy to say here on the musical internets, but I just never found my way into their music. I know more then a few of you adore the band so think of this as your notice that these shows are going down. I don't know if I'm ever gonna break into them, but there's always that outside chance.
Who: Silver JewsWhen: September 6th + 7th
Where: Music Hall of Williamsburg + Bowery Ballroom
More Dates
Listen: Silver Jews - "Suffering Jukebox"
Thoughts: I love the Silver Jews! Out of all of this week's tour news this is the one that I am easily the most excited for! In fact I'm so excited I may even try to make it to back to back dates this time around. I'd suggest you guys get your butts to at least one of these to hear the awesome new tunes from the 'Joos!!!
The term "Americana" stirs up some pretty passionate feelings deep inside me. For some reason there is no musical genre that irks me as much as "Americana" does, yet I love artists like Wilco and Bonnie "Prince" Billy who often find themselves thrust into this unnerving genre. To me it implies some sort of country asctetic and I don't really think that's the case with the better bands that get this label. The really shitty bands that litter the genre do however sound like bad country bands, but that rant will be saved for another time. The War On Drugs have been picking up some steam thanks to the release of their very solid debut Wagonwheel Blues, and their placement inside of the "Americana" genre actually does makes some sense. A good portion of their sounds apes Bob Dylan, vocally and with occasionally twangy guitars, but they pair this wholesome sound with the white noise commonly associated with shoegaze. It's a trip to hear these two completely different genres of music melding together to sound like this, within one song you have the nasally voice singing his quiet lyrics and throughout it there's fuzzed out guitars being run through all sorts of effects petals. It creates a vibe that is a bit ethereal, a lot rocking, and really very original. I don't know about you but I like it when a band goes out and creates on their own, and that's exactly what The War On Drugs is doing by blending the different elements of their sound as they do. This is a damn fine record, something you should pick up soon!!!The War On Drugs - "Arms Like Boulders"
The War On Drugs - "Reverse the Charges"
I don't know why, but I always seem to have a problem articulating myself when it comes to discussing electronic dance music. So maybe tackling the latest album from Ratatat, aptly titled LP3, is not the best idea. But after listening to this all day, bopping along as the album rose and fell, and enjoying the majority of the album I thought it would be nice if I told you folks to go out and buy this album on Tuesday when it officially hits stores. It's a solid dance album, without a word, and completely minimalist in it's approach. Okay, maybe not Berlin minimalism, but it's still pretty damn simple. The music is allowed to build until it hits a high point and it stays there for quite some time, allowing you to get your dance on, before it slowly begins to fade. It's the right way to make dance music, start out slow (lest your dancers catch a painful cramp) and steadily build to a crescendo where you sit and let everyone get all sweaty before you send them off to the bar to cool off. It's a really solid album, give it a listen.Ratatat - "Mirando"
Ratatat - "Shiller"
(Nothing but FREE shows this weekend!!!)
Friday June 27th:
A Place to Bury Strangers - "To Fix the Gash In Your Head"
King Khan & His Shrines - "Torture"
Cold War Kids - "Hospital Beds"
Elvis Perkins - "While You Were Sleeping"
Sam Champion - "Your Party Was Yesterday"
Times New Viking - "Mean God"
Saturday June 28th:
Titus Andronicus - "Titus Andronicus"
Ecstatic Sunshine - "Anagram"
Sunday June 29th:
The Hold Steady - "Lord I'm Discouraged"
Extra Life - "The Refrain"
Aa - "Thirteen"
Pterodactyl - "Esses"
Fiasco - "Oh Your Horny Monster"
Stars Like Fleas - "She for the Woods"
Tall Firs - "So Messed Up"
#3 - Titus Andronicus The Airing of Grievances; I generally attempt to stay away from band comparisons. In my mind it's just lazy music criticsim, but with each passing listen to the wonderfully robust The Airing of Grievances I can't help but feel that this is the record that could have been made if the E Street Band merged with the Clash! Yeah, it doesn't make much sense when you read it but listening to this overwhelmingly punk record will show what it sounds like when punks know how to play their instruments and write songs for the working man. Titus Andronicus are a powerful band throughout this awesome record and obviously you'd have to be to get comparisons to the two bands mentioned above. Some of my favorite songs of the year are on this record and I really cannot get enough of listening to the impassioned cry at the end of "Fear and Loathing in Mahwah, NJ" directly from the Shakespeare play Titus Andronicus! It's soooooo good!!!!Titus Andronicus - "No Future"
Titus Andronicus - "Titus Andronicus"
#4 - Times New Viking Rip It Off; The other day a friend of mine told me he loved noise rock, but only when it has a song structure placed somewhere in there. Lucky for him there are bands like Times New Viking who craft every bit of noise on top of solid pop songs. On Rip It Off the band wail and swim in their reverb, but below all the static and noise there are genuine songs that are made all the more powerful when shrouded in the mystery of electronic garble. This album is absolutely loaded with short bursts of noisy pop brilliance, and if you haven't listened to it yet take a listen now and listen deep to the pop songs beneath the noise.Times New Viking - "Mean God"
Times New Viking - "(My Head)"
The Good: Beck - "Gamma Ray"; Beck really dropped a bomb with his last release. The Information may have been his weakest album to date, and that paired with a fairly quick turn around time left my anticipation for his next album at an all-time low. But the news that he was working with Danger Mouse changed that up a bit, and on "Gamma Ray" we hear for the first time how well that pairing has worked out. Truly psychadelic sounds abound and Beck sounds pretty damn good throughout. This is a good sign for the new Beck album and my hopes have been revived a bit!
Grade: B+
Duchess Says - "CcutUp"; This track starts off sounding a bit like an electro version of something Rush may have created, but once the intro gives way to the rest of the track whoa does it explode! This is like nothing we have heard from the Montreal scene in the past few years, powerful, gritty, wailing, dark, geez this is pretty awesome throughout! Love the wailing vocals to death and love the rest just as much! This is great.
Grade: A
Lily Allen - "Guess Who Batman"; It seems like it's been forever since we heard anything new from Lily Allen, but I think that's more of this newish internet time making me expect something new from everyone practically every month. Anyway, Lily returns with a terribly short tune (in fact mine cuts out midway through a chorus, sorry folks) that basically bashes people for hating on other people. It's a nice statement and it's paired with an awesome chorus. "Fuck you, fuck you very very much" it goes and then it explains that she hates you and your narrow minded views. Nice job Lily!
Grade: B
Middle Class Rut - "All Walks of Life"; This is my first taste of Middle Class Rut, but based on this awesome introduction to the band I don't think it'll be my last. This hard hitting duo is blasting on all levels, creating something that sounds a bit like Death from Above mixed with some Rage Against the Machine and I like it!
Grade: B
Track of the Week: The Game (feat. Travis Barker) - "Dope Boys"; Holy shit! There's a track from The Game that I actually like! That hasn't happened since "Hate It Or Love It", which was dominated by 50, and now this track shows off something from The Game we haven't seen yet. Like you know lyrics that are pretty solid, a flow that kicks, and of course that beat provided by a live drummer by the name of Travis Barker! This is solid all around, I really like this.
Grade: A
Old School Track of the Week: Ben Folds Five - "Brick"; This song magically appeared when I was shuffling the other day and I promptly played it three or four times in a row! This is such a great song in every way. Thought you guys might also wanna listen to it a few times in a row!!!
Grade: A
The Bad: The Bronx - "Knifeman"; I was a bit surprised when I got an e-mail telling me that The Bronx had a new tune for download that was to help promote their summer on the Warped Tour, but after listening to this song it makes a lot of sense. This like a harder version of The Offspring to the core. Ouch. Not that good.
Grade: C-
The Mae Shi - "Se U Again" (Miley Cyrus cover); Ugh, I hope covering Hannah Montana doesn't become some big time trend! I really like The Mae Shi and their album is fantastic but this is utter crap. There is no redeeming value to a cover like this.
Grade: D-
Video of the Week: Damn, my video streaming is not working right now so I haven't seen any videos this week. Hopefully I will be able to resolve this issue soon!!!!
Grade: B+
Duchess Says - "CcutUp"; This track starts off sounding a bit like an electro version of something Rush may have created, but once the intro gives way to the rest of the track whoa does it explode! This is like nothing we have heard from the Montreal scene in the past few years, powerful, gritty, wailing, dark, geez this is pretty awesome throughout! Love the wailing vocals to death and love the rest just as much! This is great.
Grade: A
Lily Allen - "Guess Who Batman"; It seems like it's been forever since we heard anything new from Lily Allen, but I think that's more of this newish internet time making me expect something new from everyone practically every month. Anyway, Lily returns with a terribly short tune (in fact mine cuts out midway through a chorus, sorry folks) that basically bashes people for hating on other people. It's a nice statement and it's paired with an awesome chorus. "Fuck you, fuck you very very much" it goes and then it explains that she hates you and your narrow minded views. Nice job Lily!
Grade: B
Middle Class Rut - "All Walks of Life"; This is my first taste of Middle Class Rut, but based on this awesome introduction to the band I don't think it'll be my last. This hard hitting duo is blasting on all levels, creating something that sounds a bit like Death from Above mixed with some Rage Against the Machine and I like it!
Grade: B
Track of the Week: The Game (feat. Travis Barker) - "Dope Boys"; Holy shit! There's a track from The Game that I actually like! That hasn't happened since "Hate It Or Love It", which was dominated by 50, and now this track shows off something from The Game we haven't seen yet. Like you know lyrics that are pretty solid, a flow that kicks, and of course that beat provided by a live drummer by the name of Travis Barker! This is solid all around, I really like this.
Grade: A
Old School Track of the Week: Ben Folds Five - "Brick"; This song magically appeared when I was shuffling the other day and I promptly played it three or four times in a row! This is such a great song in every way. Thought you guys might also wanna listen to it a few times in a row!!!
Grade: A
The Bad: The Bronx - "Knifeman"; I was a bit surprised when I got an e-mail telling me that The Bronx had a new tune for download that was to help promote their summer on the Warped Tour, but after listening to this song it makes a lot of sense. This like a harder version of The Offspring to the core. Ouch. Not that good.
Grade: C-
The Mae Shi - "Se U Again" (Miley Cyrus cover); Ugh, I hope covering Hannah Montana doesn't become some big time trend! I really like The Mae Shi and their album is fantastic but this is utter crap. There is no redeeming value to a cover like this.
Grade: D-
Video of the Week: Damn, my video streaming is not working right now so I haven't seen any videos this week. Hopefully I will be able to resolve this issue soon!!!!
Two weeks ago at Rock the Harbor I was formally introduced to Brownwater, a band that I had heard about but had never heard or witnessed before that fateful day. Well the collective known as Brownwater proceeded to kick of the fest with one of the best sets of the day, an exuberant exaltation of rhythms and sounds that could not be topped all day long! I bought their EP that day for the amazing price of $1 and I neglected it for the week leading up to After the Jump, but I am back to listening to music again and this was the first thing I popped in on Sunday afternoon. Consider my ass blown!Brownwater's Belushi Eyes EP is an album that defies classification. It swoons from one musical genre to another without much of a thought as to where its going to wind up, but it doesn't matter what sound they touch on they just obliterate it in every way. The 4-songs here are freaking awesome, loaded with a cacophony of musical instruments and sounds, and some really cool (odd) lyrics too. It's party music for a very strange house party, and it's awesome in every way whether you reside in that house or not. This is one of the best recordings I've received from a Staten Island band in some time and I'm thoroughly hooked.
I'm gonna try and get these guys roped to my next Staten Island show, so make sure you keep it in your minds and we'll invite you guys all out to see how awesome this shit is in person. For now though sample the two songs below and check out some more on their Myspace! It's really worth the listen, I'm not just talking up another Staten Island band 'cause I live here, I swear it!!!
Brownwater - "Belushi Eyes"
Brownwater - "The Brown Green Lantern"
Brownwater on Myspace
Upcoming Shows:
July 1st @ Martini Red
#5 - Lil' Wayne Tha Carter III; For the past few years rap music has been just about as stagnant as it could have been. Artists were popping up and disappearing at alarming rates, and only a handful truly set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd. Lil'Wayne has been one of those rappers that has stepped up to the plate, whether with his mixtapes or his true releases, and on Tha Carter III he takes his game to a whole other level completely! This album is fierece, it's gritty, and features some of the best rhymes of Wayne's career! Plus there are sick tracks produced by Kanye and Swizz Beatz, there are guest rhymes that are outstanding from Jay-Z and others, and as whole this sets a new bar for the rap game as a whole! This is by far the best rap album of the year and would probably challenge any of the last five years for supremecy.Lil' Wayne (feat. Jay-Z) - "Mr. Carter"
Lil' Wayne - "Dr. Carter"
#6 - The Mountain Goats Heretic Pride; For years John Darnielle has made a living by making music built around deeply introspective songs. So what would happen if he didn't have his drug addled days or his harsh childhood to write about? With Heretic Pride Darnielle answers that with a work of resounding fictional songs that are beautiful and majestic. This may be the most full album The Mountain Goats have made, it includes varied instruments, vocal harmonies, and whole lot more, but with The Mountain Goats it always comes back to the lyrics of the song. Every song on here is strong, whether he is writing about the life of a writer or the trial of a heretic, Darnielle makes you feel within each song. The feeling is nothing new for Darnielle, it's the subject matter that has changed to drastically, and it may not be for the best but it worked out well on this album.The Mountain Goats - "Heretic Pride"
The Mountain Goats - "Sept. 15 1983"
Things are looking pretty good for the boys and girls of Ra Ra Riot right now. The Syracuse quintet recently signed to Barsuk Records, who will be releasing their long awaited debut full length The Rhumb Line in August and have a slew of festival appearances slated for this summer including a slot on the always awesome Siren Fest! I had a chance to chat with guitarist Milo Bonacci about the bands recent string of good fortune and a lot about what to expect on the upcoming album.PTST: Congratulations on signing to Barsuk! How do you guys feel to be on a label like Barsuk?
Milo: Thank you! It feels like home. Our relationship is still fresh, but it certainly is exciting!
PTST: Was there ever any thought of signing with any other labels for this record?
Milo: Yeah, we had met with a handful of other labels within the last six months or so. It’s a difficult to have to chose between one and another, because there were things we liked about each and every one of them. Barsuk just felt right, and everybody there is super enthusiastic, friendly, and smart!
PTST: Were there any bands already on Barsuk that gave you advice on signing with the label? Are there any Barsuk bands you guys love/look up to/aspire to be like?
Milo: As far as I know, nobody sought advice from other Barsuk bands before the signing… When we were in Seattle the time prior to us coming to a decision, Barsuk had brought all their superstars to our show. It was a bit overwhelming, but we did have a chance to mingle with some of these people. Personally, I really like Menomena. I’ve been a fan of their music for a few years now and I don’t think it has quite hit me that we are label mates with them yet…
PTST: Your first album on Barusk is going to be The Rhumb Line, where did that title come from?
Milo: “The Rhumb Line” is a nautical navigation term, as well as the name of a pub in Gloucester, Massachusetts, which partially inspired the song “Saint Peter’s Day Festival.” We were intrigued with the idea of a rhumb line, in terms of a metaphorical and hypothetical journey, and our direction and perspective of the world. We’re all in the same boat.
PTST: The track listing for The Rhumb Line has a bunch of songs that have already made appearances on your EP and have been around in some way for quite a while, what made you guys want to put these songs on your debut full length rather then loading it with completely new material? Have songs like "Ghost Under Rocks" and "Each Year" been tweaked for the album?
Milo: Everything on The Rhumb Line has been recorded specifically for the album. The songs that also appear on the EP have been re-worked and re-recorded. I think that we just felt that some of the songs on the EP had greater potential… we wouldn’t be doing them justice if we just limited them only to the EP.
PTST: I know you guys have changed some of the lyrics on "Can You Tell", what drove you to make changes to songs that are already beloved by your older fans? Would you still consider playing the original if me and my girlfriend Rachael wind up getting married?
Milo: I can’t really speak of lyrical changes, but I suppose it is possible that we’d play the EP version some day. The changes we made to "Can You Tell", and the other songs for that matter, really were just driven by a desire to keep things fresh and fun for us. I think we grew tired of certain aspects of those songs, and when it came time to figure out what we were going to record, we had a chance to re-evaluate and keep what we liked and get rid of what we didn’t like.
PTST: Are the newer songs in line with some of the older stuff you guys have done? Has there been any major change to the sound or attitude of Ra Ra Riot?
Milo: I think the newer stuff is a lot more dynamic. The entire album, I think, strikes this balance between huge, and intimate, between loud, and quiet. A couple of the newer songs were written or arranged as we were sipping tea near the wood-burning stove in our practice space. That coziness and intimacy comes across, and is contrasted by the energetic songs that were written in the context of over-crowded basement parties. Somehow, they compliment each other.
PTST: Do you guys have a personal favorite song to play live?
Milo: My favorite song to play live is "Too Too Too Fast". If the mix on stage is right, it is a really satisfying song to play… and it builds and builds until it spills… and gives us all a chance to tweak out.
PTST: You've only got a couple of festival appearances lined up for the summer, is it your plan to lie low for the summer and then hit the fall touring? Are any of your festival appearances more anticipated then the others?
Milo: We spent the first five months of 2008 on the road, so we were really ready to take a break… Being on the road, at least in the capacity in which we are able to tour, is very tiring. Other than the festival dates we have later this summer, we’re trying to save our energy for the fall and the tours that surround the album release. Also, we’ll have a little bit of time to write so… hopefully we’ll get started on the next one!
PTST: What else do you guys have planned for the summer?
Milo: We’ve got a couple of shows in new, exciting places we’ve never been like Portugal, Paris, Ireland and Milwaukee!
I once saw Smashing Pumpkins at Radio City Music Hall. It was during the Adore tour and Billy Corgan came onto the stage from the side riding a huge organ. It was a very cool moment, but the show was just okay from that point on. They refused to play anything off of Siamese Dream, and the rest of their fans didn't seem to mind this fact in the least. Personally I could have gone with a lot less of the new stuff that day and a lot more of the stuff that actually rocked!I have no actual memory of hearing Smashing Pumpkins for the first time, it was probably on the radio somewhere and the song was most definitely "Today", but what I was doing, where I was, nothing like that immediately springs to mind. Such was the fate of Smashing Pumpkins as a whole. Their music was always pretty solid for the most part, but it was never so unbelievably awesome that you could vividly recall hearing it for the first time. Not like some of the other bands of those times like Nirvana or Pearl Jam or even Green Day. Those ones I can picture, I can hear it, I can frame everything about those moments, but somehow Smashing Pumpkins gets lost in the shuffle. It's kind of unfortunate, Siamese Dream is a solid album from start to finish with a few outstanding songs, a couple of okay ones, and a few that no one would miss if they never heard them again. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is an okay record too, but try to really remember listening to these back in the 90's and I'll say it's a tough feat to pull off.
When Siamese Dream finally hit record stores Nirvana was well on their way to recording their second great album, Pearl Jam was a mainstream hit, even Soundgarden was quickly building steam, and here comes this band that got lumped in with all those grunge acts that sound nothing like the grunge bands. Instead Smashing Pumpkins were experimenting with elements of prog rock and shoegaze, and no one even cared enough to notice that about them. They just knew they were alternative and so they must by that logic be grunge as well. It was sad, but it really goes a long way to explaining the whole Smashing Pumpkin story. This band fought all the time, the had drug addicts and control freaks and an ex-couple in the midst and had so much trouble just putting out one record that it's pretty remarkable they lasted as long as they did. Now people will say the episode that they guested on The Simpsons was the best thing they ever did with their career, and it's tough to argue that fact.
Still, if you listen to Siamese Dream these days, and I'm sure some of you still do occasionally, you will notice so much more about this music then you did in the past. You'll notice little things that were radically different from the dominant sounds of their times, things that sort of paved the way for some of the bands we listen to today but that no one will give them credit for. This was once considered a really good record and I'm sure there are still a few fans out there that feel that way, but there is just nothing completely memorable about it at all. It's kind of sad.
Smashing Pumpkins - "Cherub Rock"
Smashing Pumpkins - "Today"
Smashing Pumpkins - "Disarm"
Smashing Pumpkins - "Mayonaise"
#7 - Fuck Buttons Street Horrrsing; The electronic scene has been bursting at the seams so far this year with album after album that sound exactly alike! I don't know what it is about this genre that breeds such absolute repetition but I'm glad Fuck Buttons didn't catch the bug of trying to sound like everybody else. No this British duo is crafting loud, droning, electronic music that's not quite dance music, but certainly not far from it. Street Horrrsing is a never ending wave of ever expanding sounds. It flows like an ocean, creating waves that are bigger or smaller depending on how they fit the flow of the piece. It's a beautiful, moving piece of music that sounds devoid of humans save for a few distorted wails and shrieks and mumbles. This has been played constantly on my iPod throughout the year and I think you guys should have been playing it just as often.Fuck Buttons - "Colours Move"
#8 - Be Your Own Pet Get Awkward; This album is so powerfully good it got three songs thrown off of it in the US! Come on, if that's not proof of a good punk rock album then I don't know what is. Seriously though, Be Your Own Pet are a band of teen miscreants who have tempers and what you to know all about it! On Get Awkward the band took the show one step further putting out an album of ballsy punk anthems that can be beat by nothing! It's hard hitting, it's in your face, and it's awesome.Be Your Own Pet - "Becky"
Be Your Own Pet - "Twisted Nerve"
Who: The Black GhostsLocation: London, England
elbo.ws Ranking: #12
Thoughts: I have apparently missed the boat entirely on this electronic duo knowns as The Black Ghosts. Oh well, better late then never right??? Anywho, I've finally come across their self-titled album and I gotta say I'm liking it pretty much straight through. It's not quite as engaging as some of the electronic music or anything like that, but it's pretty damn solid especially when it comes to the vocals on it. It's a little like Hercules & Love Affair, or Hercules is a little like it, I'm not quite sure which came first. Whatever, the case may be and despite my utter ignorance of their existence until now this whole thing is a pretty solid listen all around. It's not something I'd listen to everyday but once a week or once a month is not out of the question.
Verdict: Buzzworthy, but you knew that already.
Listen: The Black Ghosts - "Until It Comes Again"
The Black Ghosts - "I Don't Know"
I cannot type the Icelandic title of the new Sigur Ros album, my HTML skills are not that far progressed and so I will regrettably just type the English version of the title from here out. With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly, is completely different from anything Sigur Ros has ever done, so much so that fans of the band may initially question whether or not it is the real deal new album from the band. Luckily the band prepared us for quite a change with the slight shifts to a more pop oriented sound on Takk..., even though it wasn't entirely pop. This time around the band has progressed even further, using plucking guitars, spring like melodies, and even the English language to push themselves even further towards the pop end of the spectrum. And I have to admit that the shift in sound, though a little disconcerting at first, should be wholly embraced with open arms and ears.Kicking off with perhaps the finest song of their career, "Gobbledigook", the band set the tempo right from the start. A natural, warm sounding guitar starts it all off and the change is unmistakable from there. It sounds like Sigur Ros has been listening to a lot of Animal Collective and that all that listening has changed their perspective on what music should sound like and it's a truly beautiful change. The song, and the album as a whole, sounds like a warm spring day. It's freeing and natural in every way, just like the album cover of young, naked boys frolicking about. There are small, noticeable parts that are reminiscent of the old Sigur Ros, like the slow building opening to "Festival", but even then it builds into a grandiose pop ode. It's the most mainstream thing the band has ever done, but it's still a bit left of the dial for sure.
At this point I'm sure some of the older Sigur Ros fans are a bit worried by what they're hearing about the new record, but fear not fans for this is a beautiful Sigur Ros record in all respects. Remember that initial feeling of listening to something different when you first heard this band, and be open to the changes and you will have no problem falling in love with this updated version of the band. I'm not sure yet but this may just be my favorite Sigur Ros album to date.
Sigur Ros - "Gobbledigook"
Sigur Ros - "Daginn"
Sigur Ros - "Illgresi"
Also Released Today:
#9 - New Bloods The Secret Life; When 2008 began the New Bloods weren't even on my radar. I had never heard of the Portland based trio, but now it's difficult to go even a few days without listening to this awesome debut album. On The Secret Life this all female band is completely rewriting the idea of what punk should sound like, eschewing the standard guitar, bass, drums setup for a violin, bass, drums setup that is completely open to vocal harmonies and discordant sounds. It's a tremendous album that is powerful in it's ideas and lyrics, and equally powerful musically making for a punk album that is imaginative, aggressive, and impassioned. Simply put, this album is a re-imagining of the punk spirit for a 2008 crowd!New Bloods - "Tree"
New Bloods - "The Cycle Song"
#10 - The Lisps Country Doctor Museum; Who would have thought that here in 2008, with all the available technology at our fingertips, that an album full of old vaudevillian and bluegrass sounds would have such an impact on the music listeners of today? Obviously it's not something that should work, but I think it's because of that reason that Country Doctor Museum is such a refreshing listen. They take old sounds and make them new, but they do it with a romantic side to everything. Songs of love and passion abound throughout this album, but they do it with humor and humility which take the cheese factor down a few notches. Some people might think of it as a shtick, but having witnessed these songs being performed by a more then capable band I can say that it's not shtick, but an absolute love of making old sounds new again. The Lisps have created an awesome, interesting album of music here and it should be listened to a lot!The Lisps - "Depravity"
The Lisps - "Destiny"
Who: Abe VigodaTitle: Skeleton
Label: Kid City
Release Date: July 9th
Thoughts: Ah, the new LA punk scene! Is there anything as much fun in all the lands these days? I don't think so, hell I've hated the city for most of my life and yet even I'm tempted to make a pilgrimage there thanks to the burgeoning scene. Led by bands like No Age and Mika Miko, the scene has exploded recently and it's only getting better as new bands are discovered each and every day. This week brings us Abe Vigoda, no not the actor silly, who have been on that LA scene for some time and thanks to the waves made by their brethren are getting some well deserved attention for their forthcoming record Skeleton. Basically this album is like what No Age would have sounded like if they had listened to Graceland one or two more times. There's that element of noise with the buried vocals and rapid fire percussion, but it also blends in elements that are a bit Afro-funk and a bit tropical in nature. It's a very cool mixture of sounds and it gives us a sound that you can bounce around to all day long. If things keep going this way for the LA scene I may have to brave the smog and traffic for glimpse of what life is like at the Smell!
Listen: Abe Vigoda - "Animal Ghosts"
Abe Vigoda - "The Garden"
Who: EarlimartTitle: Hymn & Her
Label: Majordomo
Release Date: July 1st
Thoughts: Earlimart have been making the same soft indie pop for more then a decade now, granted the band has had shifting lineups and slight variations in their sound but for the most part they have stayed consistent in their approach. They generally go for quiet vocals, lots of harmonies, and gentle sounds throughout their records. Hymn & Her is no different in that aspect, and it may be even more stripped down then any of its predecessors. This time around Earlimart is going at it as just a two piece, using expansive bits of space and standard boy-girl harmonies to make their same old sound. But that's the problem with Hymn & Her, it's too similar to everything they've done before and it's too similar to too many indie pop acts of the day. Maybe that's why they've basked in the shadow of Elliott Smith for so long! Hymn & Her isn't necessarily a bad album, it does have some lovely little pop bits on it, but it's a mostly ho-hum, boring album and not something that I can picture myself listening to too much of.
Listen: Earlimart - "For the Birds"
Earlimart - "Cigarettes and Kerosene"
Monday: Growing @ Europa 7:30pm $10
After back to back weeks putting on a promoting festivals I am taking off from show going the first half of this week to get some rest. But for those that just attended the awesome events, please feel free to keep going and to enjoy Growing on Monday! Growin is an awesome, loud drone band in the same vein as a Boris! Get out and don't forget to bring some ear plugs.
Growing - "First Contact"
Tuesday: The Austerity Program @ Union Pool 8pm $8
In case you missed this tremendous two piece metal group at After the Jump Fest on Saturday you now have another chance to see them! Of course it's not as free as After the Jump was, but you will be seeing them in a smaller place, so it should be just as rocking! If you haven't seen these guys yet make sure you get out to this show!
The Austerity Program - "Song 11"
Wednesday: Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears @ Southpaw 8pm FREE
You may notice that a lot of the bands I'm stumping for this week are have just completed playing After the Jump Fest, well there's a reason for that - they were all awesome! I know it's not the same as seeing them in the middle of North 6th Street but seeing them anywhere should be enough!
Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears - "Venus Ambassador"
Thursday: Dinowalrus @ Galapagos 8pm $8
Yep, another one of those pesky After the Jumpers (they're everywhere!). Dinowalrus rocked everyone on Saturday including bands like Titus Andronicus and Fiasco, so if these cool bands are onto it don't you think you should too? Yeah I thought you'd see my point in that.
Dinowalrus - "Duke Nuke 'Em"
Friday: A Place to Bury Strangers + King Khan & His Shrines @ South Street Seaport 7pm FREE
These bands didn't play After the Jump Fest, but they are playing an awesome outdoor stage for free tonight anyway! Both of these bands are tremendous acts and should scare the bejesus out of anyone just there for some pizza or shopping!!! That in itself should make this a worthwhile event to attend!
A Place to Bury Strangers - "To Fix the Gash In Your Head"
King Khan & His Shrines - "Torture"
Saturday: Titus Andronicus @ East River Amphitheater 2pm FREE
Titus may have been the my favorite part of After the Jump! They were so good I'm a definitely planning on seeing them again on Saturday and it really does help that it's yet another free outdoor show! I'm sure I'll see you all there.
Titus Andronicus - "Titus Andronicus"
Sunday: The Hold Steady @ McCarren Park Pool 2pm FREE
At the moment The Hold Steady may just be my favorite band in the world! Now they are kicking off a summer of free Sunday Pool Parties and I think I'm going be excited out of my mind on Sunday! This is some way to kick off the final year of the Pool Parties!!!
The Hold Steady - "Lord I'm Discouraged"
After back to back weeks putting on a promoting festivals I am taking off from show going the first half of this week to get some rest. But for those that just attended the awesome events, please feel free to keep going and to enjoy Growing on Monday! Growin is an awesome, loud drone band in the same vein as a Boris! Get out and don't forget to bring some ear plugs.
Growing - "First Contact"
Tuesday: The Austerity Program @ Union Pool 8pm $8
In case you missed this tremendous two piece metal group at After the Jump Fest on Saturday you now have another chance to see them! Of course it's not as free as After the Jump was, but you will be seeing them in a smaller place, so it should be just as rocking! If you haven't seen these guys yet make sure you get out to this show!
The Austerity Program - "Song 11"
Wednesday: Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears @ Southpaw 8pm FREE
You may notice that a lot of the bands I'm stumping for this week are have just completed playing After the Jump Fest, well there's a reason for that - they were all awesome! I know it's not the same as seeing them in the middle of North 6th Street but seeing them anywhere should be enough!
Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears - "Venus Ambassador"
Thursday: Dinowalrus @ Galapagos 8pm $8
Yep, another one of those pesky After the Jumpers (they're everywhere!). Dinowalrus rocked everyone on Saturday including bands like Titus Andronicus and Fiasco, so if these cool bands are onto it don't you think you should too? Yeah I thought you'd see my point in that.
Dinowalrus - "Duke Nuke 'Em"
Friday: A Place to Bury Strangers + King Khan & His Shrines @ South Street Seaport 7pm FREE
These bands didn't play After the Jump Fest, but they are playing an awesome outdoor stage for free tonight anyway! Both of these bands are tremendous acts and should scare the bejesus out of anyone just there for some pizza or shopping!!! That in itself should make this a worthwhile event to attend!
A Place to Bury Strangers - "To Fix the Gash In Your Head"
King Khan & His Shrines - "Torture"
Saturday: Titus Andronicus @ East River Amphitheater 2pm FREE
Titus may have been the my favorite part of After the Jump! They were so good I'm a definitely planning on seeing them again on Saturday and it really does help that it's yet another free outdoor show! I'm sure I'll see you all there.
Titus Andronicus - "Titus Andronicus"
Sunday: The Hold Steady @ McCarren Park Pool 2pm FREE
At the moment The Hold Steady may just be my favorite band in the world! Now they are kicking off a summer of free Sunday Pool Parties and I think I'm going be excited out of my mind on Sunday! This is some way to kick off the final year of the Pool Parties!!!
The Hold Steady - "Lord I'm Discouraged"
For several months, 20-New York City music bloggers conspired to bring Brooklyn a day of music it would not soon forget. Yestrday was the culmination of all that conspiring and from my vantage point it was quite a success. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people floated in and out of our four different stages, witnessing a variety of acts from across the country (and one from Denmark!) that absolutely floored us all with inspired, passionate performance. It seemed everyone brought their A-game yesterday and the people in attendance reaped the benefits of a lot of people's hard work. The day kicked off with a performance from L.A.'s Evil BBC, the final band added to Saturday's roster. They had won the contest our sponsor Stereofame.com had run and showed why they were the winners with a resoundingly strong set. It may not be the music I run to most often, but their brand of pop music soared through North 6th Street and only began the day of great music! It was an awesome kick off and soon people from all over Brooklyn were flocking to North 6th to see what all the noise was about.
Inside of Galapagos, Bell and Phil and the Osophers got the darkest of our two stages going. It was a little tough adjusting from the bright light outside to the darkness inside, but once you got acclimated you were treated to some of the cooler bands from around the five boroughs. Bell's set was solid (though I only caught a couple of the songs) and Phil and Osophers showed that I rightly picked them as a Band of the Week. The duo pounded out songs after song, and the couple that I saw were absolutely awesome. Just so you know I didn't catch more then three or four songs from any band, one of the draw backs of running such a venutre, but I loved everything I did get to see.
Music Hall of Williamsburg was probably my most anticipated stage of the day! It was packed with noisy, aggressive bands that I knew would either drive the crowd towards deafness or completely rock their asses off! It all started with the Jersey punks known as Alex and the Horribles who were on for all of their early set. It kicked off with a pummeling punk anthem and then just kept on going. Alex was magnetizing with his Tom Cruise like sunglasses and the Horribles could shred despite their collectively young ages. Seeing as this was the first of a handful of teenaged bands it appears that the younger generations are picking up the rock torch and running with it. 
Dinowalrus were up after Alex and the Horribles, and the band seemed to be riding a wave of good press into the fest. Every band I talked to about the fest mentioned wanting to see this noisy trio and as far as I'm concerned they didn't let anyone down with the set they put on. It was rollicking and powerful and a shit load of fun, and it definitely rates high on my favorite sets of the day. 
The first act of the day that I had actually seen before was Bridges and Powerlines, and act I love to death and will book for any show until the day I die (well maybe not every, that might get boring for them). For some reason when they took the stage at Galapagos the band took on a new life, playing by far the best set I've seen them do so far. Considering the amount of times that I've seen them and the fact that I've loved them every time, that's truly saying something! They were awesome yesterday and I think they may be evolving into something much bigger.
In the past I have written a lot about The Austerity Program and how much I love their metal flavored rock, but I had never witnessed the Astoria based duo. Seeing them yesterday though issued further proof of why I love these guys. As loud and ferocious as they can be on record, they take it up a couple of notches when they get in front of the fans! They absolutely floored me with both their volume and their skill and I think everyone in attendance for their set will echo those sentiments!
I've seen Wakey! Wakey! so many times that there is very little he can do to surprise me, yet when he hit the main stage yesterday he seemed to channel all the energy flowing from the crowd and the power of the sun on all of us into something magical! The set was powerful right from the start and I even caught myself singing along more then once! I love Mike's music, even if it's not the normally noisy stuff I tend to listen to, there's something soothing and emotional to it and I love every minute of the rollercoaster ride he takes us on.
Our sole international act this year was Denmark's Snake & Jet's Amazing Silver Bullit Band. I've been listening to their new album all year and have posted a lot about it and live the band does nothing but solidify themselves as a solid two piece rock group! They were pretty outstanding and I only wish I could have seen the whole set!!!
Some of you may recognize Noveller from her work as a new member in Parts & Labor, but as a solo artist she stands pretty tall as well! Her work with a double necked guitar on a stand is remarkable. She produces such a cool sound that it's tough to walk away from, but unfortunately I had to and my time with her was far too short!!!
Another band that I was seeing for the first time was Autodrone, who fit in perfectly in the darkness that was Galapagos! The band has this sort of dark vibe about them and it comes through in buckets when they hit the stage. It was a very cool sound though, something I need to catch a lot more of next time around!
I don't know of any more word to use when describing The Antlers that I haven't used to describe them already. They are my favorite New York City band right now and each time I see them they get tighter and better at what they do. I heard they did a few new songs yesterday, but I only got to see two of their older ones! Still, I know I'll see the new stuff soon and the older songs are still so awesome that it really didn't bother me at all!
Out of all the bands that played the fest yesterday, Cursillistas may just have been the most determined. The four piece drove all the way from Maine to play the show and then drove all the way back up north in the span of a day. Considering the amount of time they spent in the car I was thoroughly impressed with their set. It's a cool, natural sound that is bombarded by percussion and lovely. It's almost like a noisier Port O'Brien! Very cool stuff, I hope they come back down soon!
The Shackeltons are a live band that hit the stage with a lot at stake. They have garnered a reputation that demands they be on the top of their game at every tour stop and luckily they did not disappoint on North 6th. They brought trees with them, and wore them, and rolled around in them, and rocked the entire neighborhood so freakin' hard! It was awesome and it was one of my favorite sights of the day!
Extra Life brought something a little different then what we've seen from them in the past. Performing as a two-piece with just a guitar and violin, the band toned down their songs a bit for the crowd but still managed to rock us. I'm always impressed by the number of ways a band can create their sounds, and Extra Life proved on Saturday that they don't always have to be conventional to make it work. 
The young guys of Fiasco put on a really strong set to close the day at Galapagos! Their punk sound was a fitting finish to a stage that had seen so many different acts prancing around, and despite their young age they showed up and proved that kids can rock just as well, if not better then everyone else. 
I only got to see one band from out night show due to taking apart the outside stage, but lucky for me it was the band I wanted to see the most out of the 40-bands we had booked! Titus Andronicus has been a huge part of my 2008 so far, their awesome album has been ringing in my ears for weeks, and so I was desperately wanting to see them for the first time and they did not disappoint in any way! The band played a rocking set at the Music Hall, covering most of the material off The Airing of Grievances and giving the crowd way more then their $10 worth! It was an awesome set, I didn't see the whole thing though, and I'm definitely going to see them again on Saturday!After Titus I was shot. My legs were wobbly from a day of running around and from drinking one too many Brooklyn Brews! After a day like yesterday I am invigorated, though a bit tired, and really looking forward to next year! Thanks to everyone who was involved in this event, my fellow bloggers, the bands, the sponsors, the sound guys, the venues, the security staff, everyone and especially all the people that came out to have a good time in the sun! We'll see you all next year, if not sooner!!!
On Monday I'm gonna start posting my ten favorite albums of the year so far, so I thought I'd precede that with what would be taking the places from #11 - #25. I'm sticking them in alphabetical order because there's very little keeping these from being at either end of this list. Let me know what your list looks like!!!
Atlas Sound Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel; When I was first putting together my list for the most anticipated albums of 2008 this was pretty high up on the list, and fortunately it did not disappoint in the least! Instead it has stayed in regular rotation throughout the year and would have been higher on the list if there weren't so many good records coming out this year. Though the same could be said about a number of the albums in this post.
Atlas Sound - "Quarantined"
The Cool Kids The Bake Sale EP; Hype is a fickle mistress and sometimes it can lead to your shit stinking faster then you even realize, but somehow The Cool Kids managed to surf the tide of hype and deliver on every bit of it with their Bake Sale EP. For a short player this record is loaded with far out tracks that should be listened to regularly. It's certainly one of my favorite rap albums in a while, and definitely one of the better releases so far this year.
The Cool Kids - "Black Mags"
Cut Copy In Ghost Colours; Cut Copy somehow manage to blend electronic dance music and indie pop without flaws, and this release may wind up being a landmark album setting the tone for the next couple of years from electronic bands. It's an awesome sound and it flows so effortlessly that I am still at a loss of words in trying to aptly describe it.
Cut Copy - "Stranger in the Wind"
Dan Friel Ghost Town; Since you already know Parts & Labor you technically already know of Dan Friel's music, what you may not know is that Dan has a solo album out and it has been rocking my ass up and down the street for weeks. It is definitely an unexpected surprise out of all the albums that have come out this year, mostly because I didn't know Dan was working on his own stuff. This is a great release.
Dan Friel - "Ghost Town Part 1"
The Death Set Worldwide; No track on this album is over 2-minutes and 30-seconds along, yet within it's brevity it manages to pack quite a punch! Leave it to the Baltimore punks to come up with something that sound raunchy, hip, danceable, and crazed all at the same time!
The Death Set - "Around the World"
El Guincho Alegranza!; If Panda Bear and Dan Deacon had a baby it would probably look just like El Guincho! This is one of the coolest albums that has come out this year and it's mixed beautifully, with some strange vocal works, and hypnotic electronic sounds. Really a cool album from anyway you look at it.
El Guincho - "Kalise"
Frightened Rabbit Midnight Organ Fight; The latest in the line of sad bastard Scottish music is Frightened Rabbit. Lyrically, this is as deep and dark as anything ever written by Belle & Sebastian or The Twilight Sad, but it also drives the music with a little more aggression then Belle and a little less noise then The Twilight Sad. It's a perfect middle ground and a great album.
Frightened Rabbit - "The Modern Leper"
Hercules & Love Affair Hercules & Love Affair; Dance music has been making some major strides in recent years, experimenting with all sorts of odd genres and Hercules & Love Affair are certainly taking it to the next level. With their pairing of electronic sounds, break neck beats, and absolutely beautiful vocals, this band/group has made a huge splash with their self-titled debut. Try and find a music site that hasn't shit themselves over this album, I dare you.
Hercules & Love Affair - "Athene"
High Places 03/07 - 09/07; High Places earned my devotion late last year with just a handful of songs, and even though the band still doesn't have a proper release (this was released as an eMusic sampler), they have dominated a huge portion of my music listening this year and deserve a place on this list. This is an outstanding digital album, and even though we're still probably a couple months away from a new release this will more then suffice for the next few months.
High Places - "Head Spins"
Los Campesinos! Hold On Now, Youngster...; I'm getting a little tired of using songs from your demo or EP on your full length debut, but at least in the case of Los Campesinos! they used some fantastic songs that fit right in with the new stuff. The whole album is a treasure trove of twee classics, and should not be missed by anyone that enjoys some dark, indie pop tunes.
Los Campesinos! - "My Year In Lists"
The Mae Shi HLLYH; I have listened to The Mae Shi as much as any other album on this list if not more. Listening to HLLYH is like receiving an aural Red Bull, and no matter how tired I am I know I can turn to this and be energized in to time. This is some good old punk rock, let me tell you.
The Mae Shi - "Run to Your Grave"
Man Man Rabbit Habit; Man Man had already earned my devotion as a fan for life before this record had even seen the light of day, but thanks to this solid follow-up to Six Demon Bag I am even further in love with this band. They pushed it to a whole new level throughout and some of these tunes may be the finest the band has ever written.
Man Man - "Top Drawer"
Neon Neon Stainless Style; How could you not love an album that is basically a love note to the Delorean? I don't know either, that's why Neon Neon's album finds itself on this list and probably why it should be on your list. Aside from that it's loaded with 80's influences and more great sounds then you can shake a stick out. Do you really need more then that?
Neon Neon - "I Told Her On Alderaan"
Pattern Is Movement All Together; Mixing prog rock and a classically trained voice is not something you hear everyday, but it's that uniqueness that set Pattern Is Movement apart from the rest of the sound-a-like indie bands out there these days. This album is full of crazy drums, insane keys, and of course that deep, bellowing, operatic voice that I just can't get enough of!
Pattern Is Movement - "Bird"
The Ruby Suns Sea Lion; Seeing The Ruby Suns live has been one of the highlights of my concert going year, but obviously a great live show does not necessarily mean it translates well to record. Lucky for The Ruby Suns they use the power of the record to expand their sound into every nook and cranny possible. This album is loaded with sounds all playing on top of each other and it sounds awesome!
The Ruby Suns - "Remember"
Atlas Sound Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel; When I was first putting together my list for the most anticipated albums of 2008 this was pretty high up on the list, and fortunately it did not disappoint in the least! Instead it has stayed in regular rotation throughout the year and would have been higher on the list if there weren't so many good records coming out this year. Though the same could be said about a number of the albums in this post.
Atlas Sound - "Quarantined"
The Cool Kids The Bake Sale EP; Hype is a fickle mistress and sometimes it can lead to your shit stinking faster then you even realize, but somehow The Cool Kids managed to surf the tide of hype and deliver on every bit of it with their Bake Sale EP. For a short player this record is loaded with far out tracks that should be listened to regularly. It's certainly one of my favorite rap albums in a while, and definitely one of the better releases so far this year.
The Cool Kids - "Black Mags"
Cut Copy In Ghost Colours; Cut Copy somehow manage to blend electronic dance music and indie pop without flaws, and this release may wind up being a landmark album setting the tone for the next couple of years from electronic bands. It's an awesome sound and it flows so effortlessly that I am still at a loss of words in trying to aptly describe it.
Cut Copy - "Stranger in the Wind"
Dan Friel Ghost Town; Since you already know Parts & Labor you technically already know of Dan Friel's music, what you may not know is that Dan has a solo album out and it has been rocking my ass up and down the street for weeks. It is definitely an unexpected surprise out of all the albums that have come out this year, mostly because I didn't know Dan was working on his own stuff. This is a great release.
Dan Friel - "Ghost Town Part 1"
The Death Set Worldwide; No track on this album is over 2-minutes and 30-seconds along, yet within it's brevity it manages to pack quite a punch! Leave it to the Baltimore punks to come up with something that sound raunchy, hip, danceable, and crazed all at the same time!
The Death Set - "Around the World"
El Guincho Alegranza!; If Panda Bear and Dan Deacon had a baby it would probably look just like El Guincho! This is one of the coolest albums that has come out this year and it's mixed beautifully, with some strange vocal works, and hypnotic electronic sounds. Really a cool album from anyway you look at it.
El Guincho - "Kalise"
Frightened Rabbit Midnight Organ Fight; The latest in the line of sad bastard Scottish music is Frightened Rabbit. Lyrically, this is as deep and dark as anything ever written by Belle & Sebastian or The Twilight Sad, but it also drives the music with a little more aggression then Belle and a little less noise then The Twilight Sad. It's a perfect middle ground and a great album.
Frightened Rabbit - "The Modern Leper"
Hercules & Love Affair Hercules & Love Affair; Dance music has been making some major strides in recent years, experimenting with all sorts of odd genres and Hercules & Love Affair are certainly taking it to the next level. With their pairing of electronic sounds, break neck beats, and absolutely beautiful vocals, this band/group has made a huge splash with their self-titled debut. Try and find a music site that hasn't shit themselves over this album, I dare you.
Hercules & Love Affair - "Athene"
High Places 03/07 - 09/07; High Places earned my devotion late last year with just a handful of songs, and even though the band still doesn't have a proper release (this was released as an eMusic sampler), they have dominated a huge portion of my music listening this year and deserve a place on this list. This is an outstanding digital album, and even though we're still probably a couple months away from a new release this will more then suffice for the next few months.
High Places - "Head Spins"
Los Campesinos! Hold On Now, Youngster...; I'm getting a little tired of using songs from your demo or EP on your full length debut, but at least in the case of Los Campesinos! they used some fantastic songs that fit right in with the new stuff. The whole album is a treasure trove of twee classics, and should not be missed by anyone that enjoys some dark, indie pop tunes.
Los Campesinos! - "My Year In Lists"
The Mae Shi HLLYH; I have listened to The Mae Shi as much as any other album on this list if not more. Listening to HLLYH is like receiving an aural Red Bull, and no matter how tired I am I know I can turn to this and be energized in to time. This is some good old punk rock, let me tell you.
The Mae Shi - "Run to Your Grave"
Man Man Rabbit Habit; Man Man had already earned my devotion as a fan for life before this record had even seen the light of day, but thanks to this solid follow-up to Six Demon Bag I am even further in love with this band. They pushed it to a whole new level throughout and some of these tunes may be the finest the band has ever written.
Man Man - "Top Drawer"
Neon Neon Stainless Style; How could you not love an album that is basically a love note to the Delorean? I don't know either, that's why Neon Neon's album finds itself on this list and probably why it should be on your list. Aside from that it's loaded with 80's influences and more great sounds then you can shake a stick out. Do you really need more then that?
Neon Neon - "I Told Her On Alderaan"
Pattern Is Movement All Together; Mixing prog rock and a classically trained voice is not something you hear everyday, but it's that uniqueness that set Pattern Is Movement apart from the rest of the sound-a-like indie bands out there these days. This album is full of crazy drums, insane keys, and of course that deep, bellowing, operatic voice that I just can't get enough of!
Pattern Is Movement - "Bird"
The Ruby Suns Sea Lion; Seeing The Ruby Suns live has been one of the highlights of my concert going year, but obviously a great live show does not necessarily mean it translates well to record. Lucky for The Ruby Suns they use the power of the record to expand their sound into every nook and cranny possible. This album is loaded with sounds all playing on top of each other and it sounds awesome!
The Ruby Suns - "Remember"
Who: HEALTHLocation: Los Angeles, CA
Listen: HEALTH - "Triceratops"
ATJ Slot: Night, 12am
We have made it to the final band profile for the After the Jump Fest! I've done 20 of these bad boys and that means I've only talked about HALF the bands playing all day on North 6th Street! Health isn't the last band that will play the festival but they are our headliner and so it seems appropriate to end with them. It helps that they thanked me and about 30 other bloggers in their most recent liner notes, but this band is seriously a treat to behold. I am sure they will bring their A-game to headline our little benefit show, so why would you even think about missing it?
Buy $10 tickets here (last chance)!!!!
Who: Power Douglas
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Listen: Power Douglas - "Pangea"
ATJ Slot: Music Hall, 5pm
Thanks, in part, to contributions from TV on the Radio and Dragons of Zynth, Power Douglas has really built up some strong buzz. But don't for a minute think that all their success is derived from a few high profile guest appearances, no this band has chops that are all their own and one listen to their incredible debut should convince you of that. I had a chance to chat with Power Douglas and here's how it went...
PTST: It seems like critics are having a tough time describing your music, how would you guys describe the Power Douglas sound?
Furor Thin: A bouquet of viscosity sewn to a decibel hue which is the magnesium that thwarts systemic conditioning.
PTST: Does getting compared to artists like TV on the Radio and Public Enemy set unfair expectations on your band? Do you even think you sound like those bands? Who influenced you guys musically?
Furor Thin: It's the nature of journalist to be predecessor associative,there's miniscule space between a facsimile and being exploratory,we endeavor to hunt in a new forest. We're our own audible context, who laud their material and grind to expound upon the lineage before us. I'm influenced by the awkward anomalies elusive chicanery and the great Pharoes .
PTST: There is obviously an underlying political aspect to your music, from your cover to your lyrics, do you guys feel its important to make a statement with your music?
Furor Thin: This world is in peril, and ones ideaology is porous so your heart's ingredients will be responsive to the enviroment.The disenfranchised and tortured are my people, I will always be bellicose toward oppressive sanctions utilizing every conduit acessible to me!
PTST: What type of message do you think the cover of your album sends to people?
Furor Thin: You can not assassinate an ideal, freedom is immortal, and there are modish seismic tremors that will duel any regime that suffocates them.
PTST: With such a powerful, emotional album, do you find it emotionally draining to bring your music to the stage?
Furor Thin: It takes emotional resiliency to exist as an open spirit in this life, often feelings compound and germinate during a performance. Exorcism is the mineral to grasp!
PTST: What brought about your collaborations with TV on the Radio and Dragons of Zynth? Do you think you would have been able to make the same album without their additions to it?
Furor Thin: Tunde, Aku, and Akwetey are our brethren. Their acumen is vulgar and we invited them to reciprocate with us so they freaked it! Without them our principality remains bit the architecture shifts.
PTST: What are your plans for the summer?
Furor Thin: Developing a charter school/non-profit initiative, performing, halo dancing, and dealing with all the new labels and agents courting us.
PTST: Are there any other acts your looking forward to seeing at After the Jump?
Furor Thin: I'm absorbing the festival from the pith of the moment. I'll be hearing everyone else for the first time when the flesh of the space is warm.
Who: Crystal AntlersWhen: July 8th + July 12th
Where: Mercury Lounge + TBA!
More Dates
Listen: Crystal Antlers - "Owl"
Thoughts: Since landing a spot on Pitchfork's Best New Music listings, Crystal Antlers have been the buzz of the internets. That's kind of similar to just about every big band out there right now and of course their stamp of approval doesn't mean it's a sure thing. I do enjoy listening to the EP, but as you all know live music is the true test of any musician, and in that field the jury is still out. But we should be finding out real soon if all this love is merited or not.
Who: Conor OberstWhen: August 12th
Where: Bowery Ballroom
More Dates
Listen: Connor Oberst - "Danny Callahan"
Thoughts: So Conor Oberst is stripping himself of the Bright Eyes tag for a little bit. Big deal, you know that using his own name isn't going to change a thing about the man, except how his name looks on the marquee of the venue you see him at. Still, it's at least a little bit interesting the Oberst is going about this change and I'm eager to see what the results are. I'm just hoping that for once I don't get my hope up over another Oberst album for absolutely nothing. We'll see.
Who: The Long WintersWhen: July 31st
Where: Castle Clinton (FREE Show!!!)
More Dates
Listen: The Long Winters - "Rich Wife"
Thoughts: I have never seen The Long Winters play before. I'm ashamed to even say that, but it's damn true and I'm looking for fix that when the band hit the city for one of those awesome free shows! This is one of those bands that should mentioned whenever you get into the discussion of who writes the lyrics, and though they may be topped by the likes of John Darnielle or Craig Finn, it's not by very much!
Who: Port O'BrienWhen: August 13th + August 15th
Where: Mercury Lounge + Union Hall
More Dates
Listen: Port O'Brien - "I Woke Up Today"
Thoughts: I caught Port O'Brien at Pianos a while back at the behest of my girlfriend (in short she wanted to see them, I didn't, she won) and I left the venue completely unimpressed with what I had seen. I'm pretty sure I didn't even write about it because I felt it would just be cruel. Since then I have come to really enjoy the one song Port O'Brien has become popular for so I may give them another chance this time around, but if they blow it I'll write them off for good!
Who: Sigur RosWhen: September 17th + September 18th
Where: United Palace Theater
More Dates
Listen: Sigur Ros - "Festival"
Thoughts: To anyone who caught Sigur Ros at MoMA the other day I would like to pass on a message, I am super jealous of you! I did not make it to that show and I still have yet to catch the band in person and I hate, hate, hate having that feeling! I have never been to this United Palace thing, don't even know where it is, but I will do my damndest to find it and see this band come September!
Who: Hercules and Love AffairWhen: August 8th
Where: Irving Plaza
More Dates
Listen: Hercules and Love Affair - "Blind"
Thoughts: Hercules and Love Affair are another band I missed last time around and that one pissed me off too! Everyone raved for days about how awesome their set was at Studio B, and how does this band follow that up? By booking a show at Irving? Come on guys, your booking agent should know better then that! But I will suck it up, because I am pretty much desperate to see this band do their thing and nothing will stop me this time around!
Who: Boston SpaceshipsWhen: October 1st
Where: Highline Ballroom
More Dates
Listen: Boston Spaceships - "Go for the Exit"
Thoughts: Just yesterday I posted the first song from the new Robert Pollard project, Boston Spaceships. Then today came word of a tour and so I thought I'd post the dates here for everyone so you could mark your calendar way, way, way in advance! Like October advance! Craziness, but it could be good, plus Pollard shows are the thing of legend!
Last night I got home from work and the first thing I did when I walked through the door was order Chinese food, hey a guy's gotta eat! After that though I sat my ass down and downloaded the brand new Girl Talk album Feed the Animals since that time I have done nothing but listen to this album on a constant repeat while dancing around my apartment! What an awesome, fun album, and I really hope you guys all paid for it because there is no doubt in my mind that Greg Gillis is gonna get sued because of this album. Last time out Gillis mixed his samples down, keeping everything as short as he could but this time out he shows no such restraint, hiding absolutely nothing within these songs. You can hear every bit of every tune that he's pieced together here, and there's a freakin' lot of them and they are all easy to name huge freakin' hits! There is no doubt that just about everyone with access to a radio in the last 20-years will be loving this album, but I don't know how the artists that "contributed" to the album are gonna feel about it all being spliced together like this. It's awesome though, so I don't really care and will probably rail against anyone that looks to harm Girl Talk in anyway! If you haven't yet download this whole album and give Greg some money to hire a really good lawyer!Girl Talk - "Shut the Club Down"
Girl Talk - "Like This"
The other day I was working at a site that had a receptionist named Becky. It took a lot of self-control not to stab Becky, because be Your Own Pet told me to on their Get Damaged EP! That's right folks, this is the EP with the three songs that were banned from the band's US release of their outstanding new album, and obviously it was banned for a reason. I really hated this unrelated Becky the other day, she obviously tormented Jemina Pearl and we just cannot stand for such discretions against our favorite teenage punk princess. Seriously though, "Becky" is my favorite song on the band's international release so I was terribly disappointed to see it left off here and now we can own it on our own little uncensored piece of musical history. What could be better then that? Oh actually getting the songs in the first place, or not having artists we love censored, hmm keep dreaming folks.Be Your Own Pet - "Becky"
After spending all day in the sun last Saturday afternoon rocking out at Rock the Harbor I felt I had to keep the Staten Island love going by giving some love to our resident ska revivalists Happy Anarchy. Okay, maybe it's not fair to go out and label them as ska, since ska has been beaten dead for nearly a decade now, but anything with a trombone in it runs the risk of getting lumped in with a bunch of Reel Big Fish cover bands and Happy Anarchy are no different in that respect. Luckily for us (and for the band) they have a lot more influences then some old school ska bands, and the manage to blend some indie rock, some classic rock, and a few other musical subcultures into a pretty excellent sound. The do utilize a full horn section though, and it does at time remind me of the mid-90's, so you have been warned but it is definitely still worth the listen.Happy Anarchy - "At the Bottom of the Sea"
Happy Anarchy - "In Reverse"
Friday June 20th:
Jukebox the Ghost - "Good Day"
Via Audio - "Harder On Me"
The Depreciation Guild - "In Her Gentle Laws"
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - "Woodfriend"
Daniel Johnston - "Casper"
Saturday June 21st:
Sunday June 22nd:
Polvo - "Light of the Moon"
Birds of Avalon - "The Reeds"
Care Bears on Fire - "Everybody Else"
Come out to After the Jump Fest this Saturday!
Free t-shirts, Photographs and Giveaways all day!
Plus Raffles to win a pair of tickets to Virgin Mobile Fest, VIP passes to Siren Festival, CMJ Badges and a new Zune with a free 3 month download subscription!
Metromix.com, your online guide for arts and entertainment in New York, will be kicking it all day long at After the Jump Fest 2008, with their very own Street Stage right in the middle of N. 6th st. in downtown Williamsburg. They will also be there taking pictures of the fabulous crowd to post in a special photo gallery.
Make sure and come out to see Pela, Ponytail, Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears, The Forms and over 30 more free bands starting at Noon!
And hey, let us know you are coming! RSVP here ny@metromix.com for your chance to win an Ipod Shuffle courtesy of Metromix.com.
After the Jump would like to thank its sponsors for helping make this year's festival possible:
| Gen Art Pulse |
| Vitamin Water | Snoozer Loser |
| Uncensored Interview | Blog Fresh Radio |
| CMJ Music Marathon | Rize |
Who: Titus AndronicusLocation: Glen Rock, NJ
Listen: Titus Andronicus - "My Time Outside the Womb"
ATJ Slot: Night, 11pm
The Airing of Grievances has been one of my favorite records of the year so far. It's loaded with some brilliant music, derived from shoegaze, and tweaked with some punk. It's an awesome sound and I find myself listening to it at least once a week. But Titus Andronicus are more then just a record band as anyone who has ever seen them can attest to. The band is positively electric live and that's why they'll be our second headliner of our nighttime benefit show. I had a chance to chat with the band and here's what they had to say....
PTST: Your band shares its name with one of Shakespeare's earliest and bloodiest plays, a story that is bathed in revenge, did that play into the naming of the band at all? Is there anyone out there that you wish to get revenge on? Was there ever any though in naming the band after one of his more popular plays?
Titus: None of the other Shakespeare plays would make as good names for bands as Titus Andronicus, I feel, though I did briefly think that starting a two-piece band called Two Gentlemen of Verona was a good idea. Our band has a pretty big axe to grind, what, with all of our talk of the enemy being everywhere, so we are in the process of taking our revenge on the world at large.
PTST: From the looks of your schedule you guys are big on hitting the road and playing shows, what is it about touring that makes you want to get out and hit so many towns?
Titus: Because they are there and, I have been led to believe, full of punks. Ian says: "Touring is the best way to promote yourself. Also, this is what Black Flag would have done."
PTST: Are there any particular places you like playing more then others? Any new places you're going to this time around that you're really looking forward to?
Titus: Ian says: "The state of North Carolina has always welcomed us with open arms. As far as new places, we have never played show out west - we are looking forward to doing that."
PTST: The Airing of Grievances has gotten a shit load of fantastic write ups, did any of the positive response surprise you at all?
Titus: I suppose that all you can really do is try to please yourself. Of course, I absolutely hated the record by the time we were done with it, having had to listen to it so many times. Furthermore, much of the recording process was kind of emotionally trying - much discussion of how I was a very poor singer and how the arrangements were all wildly bloated and stuff like that, so the completion of the record came with a lot of doubt. I was pretty confident that the record would pretty much disappear and we would all continue with our regularly scheduled lives. For better or worse, the kids seemed to like it and now we are stuck with it.
That said, the real surprise was how much people who write about the record seemed to have the right idea, aside from always saying that we are an emo band or something. I dreaded reading about how pretentious it was or how the songs were all about girls, but all the reviews I have read seem pretty spot on about what we were getting at. You kids on the blogosphere sure are sharp.
PTST: Amongst all that great press you were bestowed with the coveted Best New Music tag on Pitchfork Music, has this led to the fame and fortune and scores of beautiful women you truly deserve?
Titus: Most all the fellows in the group have serious girlfriends, so we don't have much use for beautiful women. We do eat almost every day though, which is as good a definition of fortune as I can think of.
Ian says: "It has lead to a lot of MySpace plays."
PTST: On your myspace site you have a list of the 20 reasons NOT to like Titus Andronicus, do you still believe the items on this list to be true? Why don't you have a list of 20 reason TO like Titus Andronicus?
Titus: That was just sort of a funny way to big up all of our friends' bands, who are superior to ours in a variety of ways, and to promote humility. A healthy amount of self-hatred has always been an integral part of our group aesthetic, so it seemed very natural. They are really all great bands though, it is true, and any sensible person should spend just as much time with them as they do with our band.
PTST: If you guys weren't in Titus Andronicus what do you think you'd be doing right now?
Titus: Today, June 18th, would have been my sixth day of graduate school if not for this accursed group. I was so close.
Ian says: "Using our college degrees to get a 'real' job."
PTST: Are you guys as excited to play After the Jump as we are to have you?
Titus: I don't know how excited you are to have us, so maybe?
Ian says: "Doing it for the kids."
(Note: We are really, really, super excited to have Titus Andronicus on this bill!)
PTST: Are there any other bands you're looking forward to seeing at After the Jump?
Titus: Dinowalrus. Also, my girlfriend really likes Wakey! Wakey!, so I look forward to seeing him for purposes of telling her about it later. Also, the singer of Pela looks exactly like this one guy I went to high school with, so that is going to be great.
Buy $10 tickets to the night show!!!
Who: Pela
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Listen: Pela - "Waiting On the Stairs"
ATJ Slot: Main Stage, 7:30pm
Pela are one of those bands that absolutely own any stage they stand on. They get on there and they demand your attention. For that reason alone it was a no-brainer to make them our 2008 headliner! I've only seen Pela twice before I see them on Saturday but both times they made me want to not leave the venue. They held me there, capturing every bit of my attention and didn't let go until the final notes had been played. I doubt Saturday will be any different, in the Brooklyn sunset, on North 6th, it has the makings of something truly beautiful! Don't miss it!
RSVP by e-mailing Metromix.com and you could win an iPod Shuffle!
The Good:
Clipse - "Fast Life"; Solid new track from Clipse. Do you really need to know anything else about it? No come on really? Just listen. Seriously.
Grade: A
Boston Spaceships - "Go For the Exit"; Robert Pollard doesn't sit still very long and now he's got himself a new band of sorts. Featuring Pollard, Decemberist John Moen, and long time GBV-collaborator Chris Slusarenko, Boston Spaceships sounds a lot like Guided By Voices. This is their first release and it's pretty damn good (way better then the last solo Pollard album). Give it a listen!
Grade: B+
Christian Keifer, Matthew Gerken, and Jefferson Pitchers (feat. Marla Hansen) - "James Monroe: The Last Cocked Hat"; There's this new huge boxset of songs about all 43 presidents, good and bad. This is the first song off it and I gotta say I love the whole idea behind this one. Plus with guest stars like Marla Hansen you've definitely got some solid names in your stables. As a bonus it kind of sounds like Sufjan, so you know what you're getting yourself into.
Grade: B
Track of the Week: Cody ChestnuTT - "Afrobama"; Cody ChestnuTT has always shrouded himself in mystery, but here the singer lets us all know who he's supporting in the upcoming election, and he does it in a beautiful way. He mixes actual Obama speeches with his blend of funk and soul and it comes out sounding great. Very cool song, and definitely the right time!
Grade: A+
The Bad:
Lindsay Lohan - "Bossy"; Okay, so first of all this has a watermark through the whole thing telling me who this is and when I can buy the album. That is the best part of the track. Ouch.
Grade: F
Diplo - "Drew Barrymore"; Boring! Yawn!
Grade: C
Video of the Week:
Buddy System - "Return to Horse Mountain"; I don't think I've ever even heard of this band before but I am loving the odd colored animation of this whole video!
Grade: B+
Clipse - "Fast Life"; Solid new track from Clipse. Do you really need to know anything else about it? No come on really? Just listen. Seriously.
Grade: A
Boston Spaceships - "Go For the Exit"; Robert Pollard doesn't sit still very long and now he's got himself a new band of sorts. Featuring Pollard, Decemberist John Moen, and long time GBV-collaborator Chris Slusarenko, Boston Spaceships sounds a lot like Guided By Voices. This is their first release and it's pretty damn good (way better then the last solo Pollard album). Give it a listen!
Grade: B+
Christian Keifer, Matthew Gerken, and Jefferson Pitchers (feat. Marla Hansen) - "James Monroe: The Last Cocked Hat"; There's this new huge boxset of songs about all 43 presidents, good and bad. This is the first song off it and I gotta say I love the whole idea behind this one. Plus with guest stars like Marla Hansen you've definitely got some solid names in your stables. As a bonus it kind of sounds like Sufjan, so you know what you're getting yourself into.
Grade: B
Track of the Week: Cody ChestnuTT - "Afrobama"; Cody ChestnuTT has always shrouded himself in mystery, but here the singer lets us all know who he's supporting in the upcoming election, and he does it in a beautiful way. He mixes actual Obama speeches with his blend of funk and soul and it comes out sounding great. Very cool song, and definitely the right time!
Grade: A+
The Bad:
Lindsay Lohan - "Bossy"; Okay, so first of all this has a watermark through the whole thing telling me who this is and when I can buy the album. That is the best part of the track. Ouch.
Grade: F
Diplo - "Drew Barrymore"; Boring! Yawn!
Grade: C
Video of the Week:
Buddy System - "Return to Horse Mountain"; I don't think I've ever even heard of this band before but I am loving the odd colored animation of this whole video!
Grade: B+
Passion and aggression. They are two traits I seek out from bands, but they are also two of the tougher traits to ascribe to a band. Obviously if you make music you should have some sort of passion for it, it doesn't take much just a desperate feeling that you need to make music. Aggression, well it's pretty simple too don't you think, a little bit of rage, a healthy dose of anger, and a sped up tempo should just about set you on your course to getting aggression notched under your belt. But for whatever reason there are a lot of bands these days that just don't get these two important aspects in the music they are making, Le Rug is not one of those bands. Instead, this Brooklyn band is showing passion and aggression with each note of each song. The music is furious in it's delivery and it's approach, and the band truly wears it's hard on its sleeve. When passion and aggression are combined like they are all over Le Rug's music it's a beautiful thing. Take a listen, see what I mean. It's undeniable. Le Rug - "Perodafodil"
Le Rug - "The Loveless Fuzz"
Le Rug - "Tripper"
Le Rug On Myspace
Who: Pattern Is MovementLocation: Philadelphia, PA
Listen: Pattern Is Movement - "Bird"
ATJ Slot: Night, 10pm
At this point I believe most of you know of my adoration of Pattern Is Movement. The band has held me in the palm of their hands since the first time I saw them in the basement of the Cake Shop and I don't think they plan on letting go anytime soon. Their sound is completely different from anything you've ever heard, mixing classical music, prog rock, and many other elements into on beautiful sound. And live, somehow they pull off everything live. It's led by the voice and the drums, but everything else falls in to place beautifully as well. This is an act you don't want to miss and if you haven't seen them yet you should really consider attending our benefit show. You won't regret it at all!!!
Buy $10 tickets to the night!!!
Who: Ponytail
Location: Baltimore, MD
Listen: Ponytail - "G-Shock"
ATJ Slot: Music Hall, 5:45pm
The Baltimore scene has been blossoming beautifully lately. The scene has already built up some pretty big stars in Dan Deacon, Beach House, and The Death Set, and it just keeps churning out some fantastic music! Ponytail is the latest in the line of bands hailing from just outside of D.C., and like the others they are creating something completely their own. A little bit punk, a little bit noise, and alot of quirk go into the sound of Ponytail and their live show is something to behold. We're really happy to have them headlining our Noise Stage and we think you guys are gonna have a blast seeing them! I know I'll be rocking out!!!
RSVP by e-mailing Metromix.com and you could win an iPod Shuffle!
There's no good way to do this. I could spend a couple hours trying to truly mix this and make it sound good, or I could post if alphabetically and go watch the Celtics beat the Lakers. Hmmm...
Alex and the Horribles - "Eskimo Girl"
Autodrone - "Through the Backwoods"
Bell - "Echinacea"
Bridges and Powerlines - "Half a Cent"
Brilliant Sweaters - "Sexy Genius"
Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears - "The Blood Club"
Chairlift - "Garbage"
Cursillistas - "Caves Carved in Golden Light"
Dinowalrus - "BEAD"
Evil BBC - "When Sally Goes South"
Extra Life - "The Refrain"
Fiasco - "Oh You Horny Monster"
Health - "Triceratops"
Lissy Trullie - "Self-Taught Learner"
Mixel Pixel - "Great Invention"
Monotract - "Cafe Y Kaka"
Noveller - "Rainbows"
Papercranes - "Treasure"
Pattern Is Movement - "Bird"
Pela - "Waiting on the Stairs"
Phil and the Osophers - "High Art"
Ponytail - "Sky Drool"
Power Douglas - "Pangea"
Project Jenny Project Jan - "320"
Snake & Jet's Amazing Silver Bullit Band - "Ten Cities Beyond"
The Antlers - "Sylvia (An Introduction)"
The Austerity Program - "Song 17A"
The Bloodsugars - "Purpose Was Again"
The Forms - "Bones"
The Shackeltons - "The Breaks"
The Swimmers - "It's Time They Knew"
Titus Andronicus - "My Time Outside the Womb"
Wakey! Wakey! - "Cokehead"
Download as a ZIP here!
Buy tickets to the night here!
RSVP with Metromix for a chance to win an iPod Shuffle!
Alex and the Horribles - "Eskimo Girl"
Autodrone - "Through the Backwoods"
Bell - "Echinacea"
Bridges and Powerlines - "Half a Cent"
Brilliant Sweaters - "Sexy Genius"
Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears - "The Blood Club"
Chairlift - "Garbage"
Cursillistas - "Caves Carved in Golden Light"
Dinowalrus - "BEAD"
Evil BBC - "When Sally Goes South"
Extra Life - "The Refrain"
Fiasco - "Oh You Horny Monster"
Health - "Triceratops"
Lissy Trullie - "Self-Taught Learner"
Mixel Pixel - "Great Invention"
Monotract - "Cafe Y Kaka"
Noveller - "Rainbows"
Papercranes - "Treasure"
Pattern Is Movement - "Bird"
Pela - "Waiting on the Stairs"
Phil and the Osophers - "High Art"
Ponytail - "Sky Drool"
Power Douglas - "Pangea"
Project Jenny Project Jan - "320"
Snake & Jet's Amazing Silver Bullit Band - "Ten Cities Beyond"
The Antlers - "Sylvia (An Introduction)"
The Austerity Program - "Song 17A"
The Bloodsugars - "Purpose Was Again"
The Forms - "Bones"
The Shackeltons - "The Breaks"
The Swimmers - "It's Time They Knew"
Titus Andronicus - "My Time Outside the Womb"
Wakey! Wakey! - "Cokehead"
Download as a ZIP here!
Buy tickets to the night here!
RSVP with Metromix for a chance to win an iPod Shuffle!
Metallica is back! Well, who knows if they are really truly back or just coming to us with another album like Load, St. Anger, or Reload, but hopefully they are back. Unfortunately time has not been too kind to Metallica and we've all witnessed the demise of a once great and powerful band. I know most of you will still rock out any time "One" comes on and most of you will profess undying love of the first three Metallica albums, but instead of reminiscing about one of those albums I am going to wax poetic about Metallica or The Black Album as it is better known. For some reason there are few albums that were as successful as Metallica that still get hated on for some unknown reason. Personally, I think Metallica is the strongest song-for-song album in the history of the band. Songs like "Enter Sandman", "Sad But True", and "The Unforgiven" are classic rock songs. And almost every other track on the album is just as strong. Yet people will hate on this album with a passion, citing this as the turning point of Metallica for the toilet bowl and not Load like it should be. It may have something to do with it's absolute success or maybe it has something to do with Nevermind being released in the same year, but whatever the reason behind it I just can't support such unnecessary hatred of a truly great album.Back in 1991 I went to school with only a handful of kids that were actually into music like this. My school was dominated by pop and hip-hop and there was only one table in the lunch room that was truly dedicated to the metal/alternative worlds. Luckily my next door neighbor was one of those kids and I got to hear the songs from Metallica way before I was truly into music. Basically they would be in his basement listening to Kill 'Em All or Master of Puppets, I would come over and hear a song or two, and then we'd go play basketball or something. It wasn't that I hated it or anything, it just wasn't in me to spoil a beautiful day in a basement listening to loud records.
A few years later the album somehow found it's way into my collection and became a constant in my daily rotation. Few songs would get me pumped up on a Saturday morning like Enter Sandman" and I loved how it was hard and dark and a bit scary. No it wasn't as hard or as fast as earlier Metallica but it blew away almost everything else in my music collection in pure venom. It was a powerful record and then they cut their hair and released Load and the world mourned the demise of a once great band.
In 1999, I came home from my one year away at college and began working at the bookstore in the mall. It was a cool job. Big discount on books, lots of attractive women walking by, and some cool, geeky people to work with. By far my favorite person to work with was this dude named Teddy. Anyone who has ever stepped foot in Waldnebooks should remember Teddy. He was the guy always dressed up, with spiky black hair, really short, and wired like no non-drug addict I've ever met before or since. He was awesome, but his one draw back was the fact that his record collection hadn't grown much since about 1992. Luckily he had Metallica and every night as we cleaned the store we would blast this and he would run around wildly, singing every song at the top of his lungs. It was so much fun, even though I know it probably doesn't sound that way.
Anyway, Metallica is easily my favorite album by the band ever. No amount of persuasion could convince me otherwise. From the opening notes of "Enter Sandman" to the very last bar of "The Struggle Within" puts the rest of the Metallica catalog to shame. There are some great songs littered in elsewhere, but once you put this on it's hard to top it with any metal album.
Metallica - "Enter Sandman"
Metallica - "Sad But True"
Metallica - "The Unforgiven"
Metallica - "Don't Tread On Me"
Metallica - "Nothing Else Matters"
Who: Mixel PixelLocation: Brooklyn, New York
Listen: Mixel Pixel - "Great Invention"
ATJ Slot: Night, 9pm
I know I didn't give the most favorable of reviews to the new Mixel Pixel record last week, but I really do like this band a lot, I just liked their older stuff a bit more then this new record. When they're on stage I have absolutely no qualms with this band whatsoever! I have never seen them play a bad stage, not even in a bad venue like Canal Room, so chances are they won't be letting me down this time around! So whether you like the new stuff or not make sure you get your butts to the Music Hall early enough to see Mixel Pixel!!!
Buy $10 tickets here!!!!
Who: The Forms
Location: New York, New York
Listen: The Forms - "Red Gun"
ATJ Slot: Main Stage, 6:30pm
I have seen The Forms three times in the last 7 or 8 months, and each time I have seen them they have gotten a little bit crazier then they were the time before. The crowd keeps building, the music gets a little louder, and the band gets way tighter with each passing show. This is the type of music that could blow up in a hurry if the right people catch wind of it, and hopefully you folks that will be coming to see them on Saturday are the right kind of folks. I'm thinking they are once again gonna attempt to trump themselves, especially on an outdoor stage in front of all of North 6th St! This could be their biggest performance to date and you folks would be truly wrong to miss it!!!
Who: Dream BitchesLocation: Brooklyn, NY
elbo.ws Ranking: #44
Thoughts: These days it seems quirky indie pop is being done to death! Every time I turn around there's another band that sounds just like 50 other bands and before I know it my head is spinning in the midst of all this quirk. Luckily, for every 30 bands that sound the same there are bands like Dream Bitches that add a bit of originality no matter how much they sound like Camera Obscura! The five-piece, all New York band is finally starting to get some attention for their intelligent, cutesy songs and it's about damn time! I mean these girls have been around since 2003 and you're finally taking note!?!? It's good though, and it's well deserved as most of these songs are really fantastic bits. There's a little bit of anti-folk to them, like The Moldy Peaches or pre-Thermals era Hutch and Kathy, and a lot of that Brit-pop sound that's been dominating the scene for ages. But no matter how many styles it resembles there's a lot of originality to it especially in the songwriting, which is strong, intelligent, and pretty easy to sing along with (for the most part). All those qualities make Dream Bitches a band on the rise and hopefully you guys will agree with me and get to listening to this awesome new New York band.
Verdict: Buzzworthy!
Listen: Dream Bitches - "Hierarchy Island"
Dream Bitches - "Bronxy Marie"
Dream Bitches - "Mother's Day"
On Tanglewood Numbers, the Silver Jews took a step away from what they had done in the past. While their previous albums had a decidedly country flavor to them, Tanglewood was more of an indie-rock record thanks in part to the heavy influence of Stephen Malkmus. A lot of people whined and complained about the record, but it was a solid record no matter how far it strayed from the Jews of the past. Now, three years later, David Berman is once again changing course but this time he resorts back to his old country twang while moving forward in his sober lifestyle. Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is a beautifully subtle record, relaxing a bit on the musical bits while filling every nook and cranny with lovely, poignant lyrics. Such is the power of the country sound, which has alway lent itself to lyrically strong songs.While most of Tangelwood Numbers took on the feeling of one of the twelve-steps, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea sounds like an album from someone who is happier then he has ever been before. Songs like "Strange Victory, Strange Defeat", "Suffering Jukebox", and "Candy Jail" all seem to imply a sense of having recovered from a terrible point in one's life and feeling rejuvenated by being passed those times. It's a relief to listen to Berman on this record and to hear joy coming from his lyrics. It also helps that his wife, Cassie Berman, plays a much larger role on this album. From her really solid bass parts to her beautiful vocal harmonies with David, it shows that his love and his new sober life have worked wonders on his life and made him a much happier individual.
The one thing I can honestly find some disappointment with is that Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea truly lacks is some standout music. It all seems to be stripped down and sparse, allowing for greater focus on the lyrics, but it also leaves the album feeling a little bit more empty then some of the older Silver Jews records. There are songs like "San Francisco B.C." that have interesting bits and pieces to them, but most everything else on the album puts the emphasis on the words David Berman is singing. The lyrics do make up for it though and the more subtle music does play well with the focus on the words.
I was a big fan of Tanglewood Numbers but for some reason the album never felt quite right amongst the rest of the Silver Jews' discography, so the return to form found on Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is thoroughly welcomed back and I'm sure most Jews fans will agree with me on that one.
Silver Jews - "What Is Not But Could Be If"
Silver Jews - "My Pillow is the Threshold"
Silver Jews - "Candy Jail"
Also Released Today:
Who: Project Jenny, Project JanLocation: Brooklyn, New York
Listen: Project Jenny, Project Jan - "320"
ATJ Slot: Benefit Show, 1am
At first glance Project Jenny, Project Jan may seem like they are trying to tease the audience. With juvenile lyrics and childish choruses the band may sometimes seem like they aren't quite putting their best foot forward, but the lyrics play perfectly well with the duos mannerisms and their musical abilities. Behind Sammy Rubin's digital mixing skills and Jeremy Haines outgoing (to say the least) personality this band has built up quite a reputation as a wildly fun live band, and as a pretty solid band. We thought they were the perfect fit to keep the party going well into the early morning after Health and so here they are on the After the Jump bill! Make sure you stick around for this duo no matter how late they go on, they'll make sure the evening winds up being all the fun it should be!
Buy $10 tickets to the show!!!!
Who: The ShackeltonsLocation: Chambersburg, PA
Listen: The Shackeltons - "Tremble"
ATJ Slot: Main Stage, 5:30pm
PTST: I'm gonna go ahead and assume that Ernest Shackelton is the inspiration behind your name, but what made you choose him as your band's namesake? Who is more badass, Ernest Shackelton or The Shackeltons?
Shack: We did name ourselves after Ernest. Being stranded in the Arctic Ocean and leading all 27 men through (after over a year of being stranded) to safety- that is pretty badass. We got stranded in Fayetteville, NC with a broken transmission. That was tough, but Ernest wins the badass award. I will have to say that life in general takes courage, faith, hope, love, persistence, songs, and a good dose of humor- that is what we have in common with Ernest. We don't want to give up, and we know that this journey is definitely not all peaches and creme. But we will survive and we will have a story for our loved ones.
PTST: My knowledge of Pennsylvania is a bit limited, so where is Chambersburg? Is there any sort of a scene there?
Shack: Chambersburg is 25 miles west of Gettysburg, PA. Abe Lincoln made a speech there. Chambersburg was the most northern town to be burned to the ground by the Confederate army. I am now informed that it was burned twice. Currently it is one of the quaintest towns with absolutely no night life. Unless you love little league baseball. Who doesn't? The scene is DIY. The Shackeltons were the only scene here for a while- we used a local warehouse that was a homeless shelter/food pantry/clothing bank for our shows. We usually had Brooklyn's Skeletonbreath or Kiss Kiss and Ramona Cordova come play these shows with us and some young local bands, and it was always brilliant. Our next show here (Aug 1st) will be at the historical Capitol Theater, and the mayor of Chambersburg asked us to play. Skeletonbreath will be playing with us, and hopefully the West Philadelphia Orchestra.
PTST: What's the best thing about being in a band from Chambersburg? Aside from questions about it, what's the worst?
Shack: Best thing: Cost of living! I have my own apartment with a balcony, and a few feet away from a park with a waterfall- $300 for rent. Tall ceilings and huge old windows. There are 4 wonderful thrift stores, 2used book stores, 2 coffee shops, 3 Mexican eateries, 1 original pizza joint (Cajun chicken white pizza or Thai white pizza), 2 Italian restaurants, 3 nifty diners, and a historical library that rules- All in our little downtown (not to mention the other stores). And, my mom lives a block away- she is a sweetheart with humor and great food.
Worst things: There is a lack of a social and artistic scene. Feels quite lonely at times. But this makes for room to write aching songs about burning towns and searches for love in the ruins.
PTST: Your music has been described as raw, emotional, and epic, where does music like that come from? Does it start with lyrics or music?
Shack: Both. We make each song as a group. No one comes in the room with a completed song. One guy starts playing something, then each guy adds to that, and it grows and grows... until the song is a young man or woman. I write the lyrics on the spot most of the time, but sometimes,I take from something I wrote in my notebook. The burning of Chambersburg is a bit like my heart. I have seen lives of my loved ones buried. I have seen the minds of my loved ones lost. I have seen the tears of orphans and widows. Life is short, and I know it. Oh to love, to cry, and to actually see new life spring from the ruins.
PTST: As passionate as your music is your live show is way more intense and visceral, is there a conscious effort to perform at that high level or is it more a spur of the moment the music is driving me type of feeling? Is there such a thing as a too intense Shackeltons show?
Shack: There is a balance between madness and genius. I'm not sure where west and. That uncertainty makes for good art. Not knowing if you are trying too hard or not trying enough is a good place to be. You are thinking and caring- you are alive. This is the place we all are each day in our relationships at work/home/school/bed. Sometimes we can't sleep at night. I guess when the rage that comes from the deepest frustration in the middle of the night can play itself out on the stage. What is your frustration? What is your elation?
PTST: Is there a need to top yourself with each passing show?
Shack: Yes. This uncertainty makes us a problem and a potential. Like the kid who has an over-protective soccer mom. We have our shin guards on,but mom is concerned that the kick will hurt. We want to do better,but mom needs to let us do our thing and not worry about our tender shins.
PTST: How do you feel about the idea of performing on the outdoor stage at After the Jump with all of North 6th St. at your feet?Have you put any thought into what could come out of you there?
Shack: Jimi Hendrix played a live show in Harlem. It was at the height of his career. The neighborhood pretty much left as he played. He wasn't their music. He wasn't their black music. It was a terrible show. We are not NYC. Jimi was from Seattle. Jimi missed his mother. She died when he was young. He longed for a home in his heart. We are not a part of a frat scene or a hipster-super-fly-I'm-gonna-make-you-impressed vibe. I miss home in my heart.
PTST: Do you guys have any plans post After the Jump?
Shack: We play the XPN festival on July 12th (Philly- w/ Blind Boys of Alabama, O' Death, Beth Orton, etc), a homecoming show in Chambersburg, and shows in Philly and Brooklyn (Union Hall), and then head out for a full blown USA tour (Aug-Sept) that will include Bumbershoot in Seattle (w/ Beck, STP, Band of Horses, the Walkmen, TI, etc). We will also be recording a few songs while in Seattle.
PTST:Are there any other bands you're looking forward to seeing at After the Jump?
Shack: Pela, The Antlers, Ponytail, Pattern is Movement, and HEALTH. And meet the amazing folks who put this Festival together!!!
I'm not even going to attempt to try and spell out or pronounce the name of the new Sigur Ros album. Instead I will refer to it as album from here on out, or record, or Sigur Ros' new one. I hope that doesn't offend you guys, but it would take me like an hour to find all the html accents for that title and instead of wasting that hour looking for them I'm gonna listen to the album and write about it a bit. Anyway, the new album is pretty stellar. Opening track "Gobbeldigook" is a pretty album with a steady drum beat throughout giving the album the slight air of an Animal Collective record. And it kind of continues from there, with distant vocals, elegant keys, and steady, constant percussion in each track. But its obviously not a copy cat record, it's just influenced a bit by what the Animal Collective do. For the most part though this is a true Sigur Ros album with pretty vocal harmonies and perfectly planned music, it's a really good indie pop album from start to finish. I've only gotten the chance to listen a couple of times but I am in love with everything I'm hearing here.Sigur Ros - "Daginn"
Sigur Ros - "Festival"
Albert Hammond Jr. is single handedly keeping alive the memory of The Strokes. Though his solo stuff really has no resemblance to the band whatsoever, he alone has kept making some good music since the last we heard from The Strokes. It's a bit odd, I think most of us would have expected Julian Casablancas to perform that role, but instead Hammond has already released one pretty good record and now he's following that up with another solid release. ¿Como te LLama? is another solid record, it's not quite spectacular, or ground breaking but it's really good. Albert Hammond Jr. plays a really strong guitar throughout the album. It's powerful and awesome on every track, but his vocals could be worked on just a little bit. Still, while the world has been waiting for a new record from The Strokes, Hammond is here putting out some good music and if you're willing to forget The Strokes for a bit you might really like some of it.Albert Hammond Jr. - "GfC"
Albert Hammond Jr. - "Borrowed Time"
The Weekend Is Over, Here's Some Links...
- Bon Iver did a Take Away Show!
- Music Snobbery interviewed We Are Scientists!
- P.S. 1 added to the summer show calendar with the announcement of their DFA heavy Warm Up shows! (via Fader)
- Daytrotter did a session with some little old band known as Spoon!!!!
- Pitchfork interviewed Black Lips!!!
Monday: Love Is All @ Bowery Ballroom 7:30pm $12
If you missed out on the two smaller Love Is All shows don't fret too much because the band is playing a slightly bigger one at Bowery tonight! This is a band that doesn't come around often enough so if you haven't gotten to see them yet now is the time to do so!!!
Love Is All - "Darling Nikki"
Tuesday: Mannequin Men @ Southpaw 8pm $10
Mannequin Men absolutely rocked my CMJ day show last October and for the first time since then the band are returning to New York. We tried to get 'em for After the Jump but things just didn't work out so make sure you head out to Southpaw tonight to catch the furious Chicago band!
Mannequin Men - "The Boys"
Wednesday: Annuals @ Sound Fix Records 6pm FREE
Annuals are on tour right now playing a host of venues smaller then what they normally play. In New York they'll be playing at Union Hall so if you can't get into that I suggest you head over to Sound Fix to catch them a few hours before that show. Get there early though 'cause this should fill up pretty fast too! (Win tickets to Union Pool & other tour stops!)
Annuals - "Sore"
Thursday: Man In Gray @ The Delancey 8pm $6
Tonight Man In Gray will be playing their final show! It's sad but the band aren't really breaking up, there's just a member moving away (Goodbye Bryan!), so it's probably not gonna be all that sad of an affair. Instead plan on seeing Man In Gray leave it all on the stage as they have so many times before! New York will miss Man In Gray, but something tells me we'll see them all again someday in some for or another.
Man In Gray - "Brakelights"
Friday: Jukebox the Ghost + Via Audio @ Union Hall 8pm $10
If you're not planning on resting up the day before After the Jump like I am then head out to Union Hall to hang with some chill people and to see one of my favorite not from New York, but seem like they're from New York acts - Jukebox the Ghost! The band are fresh off playing Grammercy Theater so this scaled down show should be a blast!
Jukebox the Ghost - "Good Day"
Via Audio - "Harder On Me"
Saturday: After the Jump Fest @ North 6th St. 12pm FREE
It has taken months of hard work and planning but the culmination of all that effort is about to pay off!!! After the Jump Fest will be taking over 4 stages with over 30 bands on Saturday and we think there's pretty much something for everyone!!! The bands are ready, the bloggers are set, all we need is you guys to come down and have a freakin' blast!!!
Pela - "Good Foot on a Bad Doorstep"
Ponytail - "Sky Drool"
Fiasco - "Oh You Horny Monster"
Extra Life - "The Refrain"
...then After the Jump Benefit Show @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 8pm $10
If the day show doesn't wear you out you can feel free to pop into our night time benefit show at Music Hall! This lineup is stacked with bands either right on the cusp or right at the cusp and should be just as much fun as the day show! Plus it's all for a good cause as the proceeds go to helping out musical education in the schools here in New York!
Health - "Triceratops"
Titus Andronicus - "Fear and Loathing in Mahwah, NJ"
Pattern Is Movement - "Jenny Ono"
Sunday: Polvo + Birds of Avalon @ Maxwell's 9pm $15
I'll be sleeping off the whole After the Jump event on Sunday, but if you're not too tuckered out go check out these bands.
Polvo - "Light of the Moon"
Birds of Avalon - "The Reeds"
If you missed out on the two smaller Love Is All shows don't fret too much because the band is playing a slightly bigger one at Bowery tonight! This is a band that doesn't come around often enough so if you haven't gotten to see them yet now is the time to do so!!!
Love Is All - "Darling Nikki"
Tuesday: Mannequin Men @ Southpaw 8pm $10
Mannequin Men absolutely rocked my CMJ day show last October and for the first time since then the band are returning to New York. We tried to get 'em for After the Jump but things just didn't work out so make sure you head out to Southpaw tonight to catch the furious Chicago band!
Mannequin Men - "The Boys"
Wednesday: Annuals @ Sound Fix Records 6pm FREE
Annuals are on tour right now playing a host of venues smaller then what they normally play. In New York they'll be playing at Union Hall so if you can't get into that I suggest you head over to Sound Fix to catch them a few hours before that show. Get there early though 'cause this should fill up pretty fast too! (Win tickets to Union Pool & other tour stops!)
Annuals - "Sore"
Thursday: Man In Gray @ The Delancey 8pm $6
Tonight Man In Gray will be playing their final show! It's sad but the band aren't really breaking up, there's just a member moving away (Goodbye Bryan!), so it's probably not gonna be all that sad of an affair. Instead plan on seeing Man In Gray leave it all on the stage as they have so many times before! New York will miss Man In Gray, but something tells me we'll see them all again someday in some for or another.
Man In Gray - "Brakelights"
Friday: Jukebox the Ghost + Via Audio @ Union Hall 8pm $10
If you're not planning on resting up the day before After the Jump like I am then head out to Union Hall to hang with some chill people and to see one of my favorite not from New York, but seem like they're from New York acts - Jukebox the Ghost! The band are fresh off playing Grammercy Theater so this scaled down show should be a blast!
Jukebox the Ghost - "Good Day"
Via Audio - "Harder On Me"
Saturday: After the Jump Fest @ North 6th St. 12pm FREE
It has taken months of hard work and planning but the culmination of all that effort is about to pay off!!! After the Jump Fest will be taking over 4 stages with over 30 bands on Saturday and we think there's pretty much something for everyone!!! The bands are ready, the bloggers are set, all we need is you guys to come down and have a freakin' blast!!!
Pela - "Good Foot on a Bad Doorstep"
Ponytail - "Sky Drool"
Fiasco - "Oh You Horny Monster"
Extra Life - "The Refrain"
...then After the Jump Benefit Show @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 8pm $10
If the day show doesn't wear you out you can feel free to pop into our night time benefit show at Music Hall! This lineup is stacked with bands either right on the cusp or right at the cusp and should be just as much fun as the day show! Plus it's all for a good cause as the proceeds go to helping out musical education in the schools here in New York!
Health - "Triceratops"
Titus Andronicus - "Fear and Loathing in Mahwah, NJ"
Pattern Is Movement - "Jenny Ono"
Sunday: Polvo + Birds of Avalon @ Maxwell's 9pm $15
I'll be sleeping off the whole After the Jump event on Sunday, but if you're not too tuckered out go check out these bands.
Polvo - "Light of the Moon"
Birds of Avalon - "The Reeds"
I know I promised pictures this time around, but with a rain delay and over 100 pictures to upload I hope you can forgive me! The bands have been amazing so far all day long and I'll have a lot more coverage once I get home today and tomorrow and maybe even Monday. For now rest easily that if you're reading this you are missing one hell of a festival!!!
We have just received the camera delivered to my hands minutes ago! There will be pictures! And videos, and all that good stuff!
Matt Wilson, unfortunately will not be pictured! But the man, the myth, the legend truly rocked our asses off if only they hadn't sweat off minutes before! With a guitarist and a drummer in tow, the man really brought it to the stage today dazzling us with an array of originals and covers that will probably be forgotten within the next beer or two.
Julius C literally just wrapped their set and were excellent as well. Since this is my first listen to them I'm gonna take a few extra minutes to digest what I just saw.
Lots more to come including most of my 10 Reasons to Rock the Harbor! Stay tuned!!!!!
Matt Wilson, unfortunately will not be pictured! But the man, the myth, the legend truly rocked our asses off if only they hadn't sweat off minutes before! With a guitarist and a drummer in tow, the man really brought it to the stage today dazzling us with an array of originals and covers that will probably be forgotten within the next beer or two.
Julius C literally just wrapped their set and were excellent as well. Since this is my first listen to them I'm gonna take a few extra minutes to digest what I just saw.
Lots more to come including most of my 10 Reasons to Rock the Harbor! Stay tuned!!!!!
My camera is dead! It doesn't want to take more picutres. Luckiloy I'll have a camera courtesy of an awesome friend soon, so don't fret my dedicated readers!
In the meantime...Brownwater Music Collective got us off to a rip roaring start with an awesome set somewhere between punk and bluegrass. It was outstanding. Since then I have been drinking beer, watching some comedy from Mancrush and catching up with some of the bands.
Mark Sica gave all the country fans a little bit of music for their money, I'm not too big a fan but a few dozen people seemed to really enjoy it.
B-liminal is on now, rocking the crowd with their 311 inspired music.
Next up for me is Matt Wilson on Stage 2. Should really start kicking this into high gear!
More later....with pictures (fingers crossed!)
In the meantime...Brownwater Music Collective got us off to a rip roaring start with an awesome set somewhere between punk and bluegrass. It was outstanding. Since then I have been drinking beer, watching some comedy from Mancrush and catching up with some of the bands.
Mark Sica gave all the country fans a little bit of music for their money, I'm not too big a fan but a few dozen people seemed to really enjoy it.
B-liminal is on now, rocking the crowd with their 311 inspired music.
Next up for me is Matt Wilson on Stage 2. Should really start kicking this into high gear!
More later....with pictures (fingers crossed!)
Okay folks, this is the final reminder that Rock the Harbor is going down tomorrow beginning at 11am!!! Tickets will be available at the gate for $20, bands will be rocking till 8pm, there will be after parties, and beer, and food, and lots of fun!!! If you can't make it to the Island for the fun you'll be missing out by I'll have live coverage from the fest all day right here on Pop Tarts Suck Toasted! Here's all the information you could shake a stick at!
Set Times:
Main Stage:
12pm - Mark Sica of Nashville Attitude
1pm - Heavy Weather
2pm - The Delay
3pm - Julius C
4pm - Heavenly Tenants
5pm - Happy Anarchy
6pm - Paragraph
7pm - The Budos Band
Stage Two:
11:30am - Byron Zanos
12:30pm - B-Liminal
1:30pm - Matt Wilson
2:30pm - The Corrao Q
3:30pm - Bluish
4:30pm - The Great Unwashed
5:30pm - The Rabbits
6:30pm - Wahoo Skiffle Crazies
Welcoming Stage:
11:00am - Brownwater Music Collective
11:45am - Paul Strayfer
12:35pm - Drew Hepkins
1:20pm - Matt Lindauer
2:10pm - Therina Bella
3:00pm - Canopy
3:50pm - Farwell Division
4:40pm - Paperbombs
5:30pm - Kilgore Trout Is Dead
Directions: Take 1 to South Ferry/or 4, 5 to Bowling Green/or R to Whitehall Street, walk over to Staten Island Ferry. Once aboard the Staten Island Ferry if you stay to your right you will see the Statue of Liberty, if you stay on your left you will avoid tourists. Once off the ferry take S40 bus to Snug Harbor Rd., ask the bus driver for the stop he'll help you out! Get off, walk to main entrance, present ticket, rock out!!!!
Ten Reasons to Rock the Harbor:
#10 - Paragraph
# 9 - Canopy
# 8 - Matt Wilson
# 7 - Captain Ahab and the Sea Crackens
# 6 - Kilgore Trout Is Dead
# 5 - The Delay
# 4 - The Great Unwashed
# 3 - The Heavenly Tenants
# 2 - The Rabbits
# 1 - The Budos Band
Listening Station:
Canopy - "Skin On Skin"
Canop - "Stormy"
Captain Ahab and the Sea Crackens - "The Ballad of Johnny Surfelstein"
Captain Ahab and the Sea Crackens - "Surf Home Plotzed"
Happy Anarchy - "Is That Right"
Happy Anarchy - "Personal Judas"
Kilgore Trout Is Dead - "Surf Song"
Matt Wilson - "Don't You Know"
Matt Wilson - "Yesterday"
Paragraph - "Gurli"
The Budos Band - "Ride Or Die"
The Budos Band - "King Cobra"
The Delay - "Flesh"
The Great Unwashed - "Mirage A La Mode"
The Heavenly Tenants - "Had It All"
The Heavenly Tenants - "Fifteen"
The Rabbits - "Out Of Our Heads"
Wahoo Skiffle Crazies - "The Fox"
Wahoo Skiffle Crazies - "Which Side Are You On"
Who: The Budos Band
RIYL: Beirut, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Konono No. 1
With twelve members, The Budos Band is literally one of the biggest bands on Staten Island these days, but with their association to Sharon Jones and their growing name worldwide they are also one of the bigger bands in terms of stature. With a bit of funk, a bit of afro-pop, and a bit of soul, The Budos Band aren't your traditional indie rock band, instead they like to use their talented members to create something a bit bigger and a bit different. It's a really cool sound, something a lot of bands have been trying lately but one that few can really pull off without all the involved parts. The music of The Budos Band is something you could easily chill to or get down to, it has few limits and that's probably the best thing about the band. They were the obvious choice to headline Staten Island's first indie fest, and playing an outdoor stage at Snug Harbor may just be the ideal setting to see this band in. Don't miss it!!!
Listen: The Budos Band - "Budos Rising"
Ten Reasons to Rock the Harbor:
#10 - Paragraph
# 9 - Canopy
# 8 - Matt Wilson
# 7 - Captain Ahab and the Sea Crackens
# 6 - Kilgore Trout Is Dead
# 5 - The Delay
# 4 - The Great Unwashed
#3 - The Heavenly Tenants
#2 - The Rabbits
Who: Fiasco
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Listen: Fiasco - "True Story (The Aquarium)"
ATJ Slot: Galapagos, 5:30pm
PTST: You guys have been getting a lot of press lately comparing you to the likes of Sonic Youth, Bad Brains, Slint and so many other amazing influential bands. How do you guys feel about being likened to bands like that?
Julian: Those three specifically are some of our favorite bands ever. In our early days, we did a lot of punk covers, and we've covered two Bad Brains songs and a couple Slint songs too. It's sort of honoring when people compare us to these awesome classic bands.
Lucian: Yeah it is pretty nice when we get compared to that. But its also kind of funny because in a sense I feel like those bands sound more like our earlier stuff, not the latest stuff we've been coming up with.
Jonathan: All the compliments we've received in general have been really cool. We've gotten some other interesting ones, like Pavement, Don Caballero, Minutemen, Lightning Bolt and Philip Glass… all of which we're big fans of. It'd be nice to hear some criticisms though.
PTST: Does it put a lot of pressure on you guys to go out and record a monumental record? Are you guys even old enough to know who these bands are?
Julian: Our first record, God Loves Fiasco, was probably the longest punk album ever on 1 CD - there's like 12 blank seconds at the end of the CD or something - so I guess you could say that's monumental. Our upcoming album, Native Canadians, is much more epic-sounding though.
Lucian: and much shorter. And instrumental.
Jonathan: Fortunately, we were lucky enough to be exposed at younger ages to the bands we're compared to and many others, which would probably explain why we're compared to them. I don't think any of us feel much pressure to record an album, it's actually kind of fun.
PTST:What's high school like for you guys? Are you the talk of the school with all the success you've been having so far? Do your parents still make you do your homework?
Lucian: High school is high school. We're not the talk of the school at all. Jonathan and my grade is really small and a lot of kids in our grade aren't really into going to shows. Although now I've seen more coming, which is nice.
Jonathan: High school's fine. A majority of people at our school aren't really into the music we play, which is fine, because as Lucian said there's a growing minority of kids who are into it, and come to the shows with friends from other schools, which is great.
PTST: Do you guys have any plans for college?
Julian: Just to stay in New York so we can continue everything.
Lucian: Yep. Get out of the city, but stay in New York, in order to be close to the city.
PTST: Considering your age do you guys ever have any problems with the 21+ venues you've been playing? Do you prefer keeping it to the DIY shows like Todd P stuff and things like that?
Julian: We don't really play 21+ shows anymore, so it's not usually a problem. And our favorite shows to play are the awesome all-ages ones like the ones Todd P puts on.
Lucian: For us playing a 21+ show is just kind of stupid. Most of our friends are under 21 so it's really not like anybody's going to come see us in the first place.
Jonathan: The problem in my opinion is 21+ shows. It's ridiculous that people have to restrict other people from hearing music just so they can sell more alcohol. Even more ridiculous is 16+, now that is some really fucked up shit. And yes, we definitely prefer DIY all-ages shows.
PTST: What's the best thing about being a teenager in a band?
Julian: Getting to play music all the time!
Jonathan: Shattering skeptical people's expectations of what teenagers are capable of. And yeah, what Julian said.
PTST: What drove you guys to start playing music? Did you start a band to get laid or to get rich and famous? Or was it really all about the music?
Julian: We just wanted money. Actually that's not true, we really just wanted to perform. Originally the band was going to be a comedy act, but then we decided it would be fun to play music.
Jonathan: Yeah, as clichéd as it may be, it really was all about the music. We were in 6th grade, so girls and making lots of money were sort of off the radar.
PTST: You just signed to Impose Records, how does it feel to be all legit like that? What's gonna happen with Beautiful Records now that you guys are on a different label?
Julian: It was awesome to sign to Impose Records. I feel like now there's no excuse for people to be like "ah, they're just kids, they're not serious." Beautiful Records isn't really connected to Fiasco, so we're going to continue putting out small releases probably.
PTST: How is the new record coming along? What's it like working with Billy Pavone?
Julian: The new record sounds awesome and we're really excited!
PTST: Do you have any big plans for the summer? I mean aside from After the Jump and finishing your record.
Julian: Besides playing a ton of NY shows, we're going to tour in August, which should be awesome.
Lucian: I got a big plan to get a driver's license.
Jonathan: Yeah the tour should be great, props to Michelle from Panache.
PTST: Are there any other bands on the After the Jump bill you're looking forward to seeing?
Julian: Pretty much all of them, but especially Ponytail, Power Douglas, Health, Titus Andronicus, Dinowalrus, Extra Life, Chairlift, and Phil and the Osophers.
Lucian: I think Julian pretty much covered it.
Jonathan: Word.
Who: The DodosWhen: July 19th + September 28th
Where: Siren Fest + Spiegeltent
More Dates
Listen: The Dodos - "Fools"
Thoughts: A few months ago I went to Sound Fix to witness the full power of The Dodos live set. I was stuck all the way in the back but the show was still one of my favorites of the year so far and since then their album Visitor has been in a regular rotation! I'm really glad the band is finally coming back so we have another chance to catch them, but I'll be seeing them in Chicago instead of at Siren and I'm definitely gonna try and get to see them at Spiegeltent. This is one of the best new bands of the year, make sure you don't miss out on seeing them!
Who: The WalkmenWhen: August 18th + 19th
Where: Bowery Ballroom
More Dates
Listen: The Walkmen - "Louisiana"
Thoughts: Somehow in all my time doing this I have only managed to see The Walkmen once. I don't what's wrong with me! They were so good that one time I saw them and yet I've neglected the every time they've played since. It's shameful really, but I think maybe, just maybe it's time to make up for that oversight. If you've never seen them or only seen them a couple times you may want to be there with me.
Who: The Budos BandWhen: June 14th + July 18th
Where: Rock the Harbor + Midsummer Nights Swing(?)
More Dates
Listen: The Budos Band - "Chicago Falcon"
Thoughts: On Saturday The Budos Band will be headlining the Rock the Harbor Fest in Staten Island. Of course those of you that read my site regularly already know that bit of info. What you may not know is that the band are also set to do a big old fashioned tour! Aside from the one date on Staten Island there's another New York date performing at something called a Midsummer Nights Swing??? I have no idea what or where that is, but if The Budos Band are playing it it'll certainly be worth attending!
Who: Collective Soul, Live, + Blues TravelerWhen: July 30th
Where: Hammerstein Ballroom
More Dates
Listen: Collective Soul - "Over Tokyo"
Blues Traveler - "Run Around"
Thoughts: Wow! Talk about your Blast from the Past lineup right here! Amazingly I still own albums by all three of these acts, though I don't really listen to them all that much. The really amazing thing is that these three acts are playing at Hammerstein Ballroom which is freakin' huge!!! Do they really have the combined strength to fill up that room anymore? I guess we'll find out!
Who: Mogwai + Fuck ButtonsWhen: September 18th
Where: Terminal 5
More Dates
Listen: Mogwai - "Yes I Am A Long Way From Home"
Fuck Buttons - "Bright Tomorrow"
Thoughts: By the time Fuck Buttons hits the stage with Mogwai in September I will have already seen them three or four times. That's a lot to see a brand new electronic act in one year, but they're really good. The real draw for me is the fact that I've never seen Mogwai and I would really love to. The real draw back is that it's at Terminal 5, my least favorite of all the Bowery Presents venues. Guess I will have to weigh the pros and the cons before I make a final decision on this one.
Who: GZAWhen: September 12th
Where: Irving Plaza
More Dates
Listen: GZA - "4th Chamber"
Thoughts: Talk about beating a dead horse. Instead of getting in the studio and recording something new, GZA is touring the shit out of his classic album Liquid Swords. The album is absolutely brilliant, but I think this show will be his third time performing it here in less then a year! Don't you think that's a bit much GZA???
Who: Apples In StereoWhen: July 31st
Where: Brooklyn Masonic Temple
More Dates
Listen: Apples In Stereo - "Stephen, Stephen"
Thoughts: I've never seen the Apples in Stereo and I'm not really sure that I need to. I enjoy their music, but I've never been ape shit crazy over it like a lot of the indie rock folks are. It's good stuff though and it's a great venue to see a band so maybe I'll finally succumb and go out and see them. Who knows, maybe after seeing them I will go all ape shit over them and become their latest die-hard fan. Oh, and while they're in New York they're also gonna be stopping by The Colbert Report!
Who: Black KidsWhen: July 25th
Where: Santos Party House
More Dates
Listen: Black Kids - "Hurricane Jane"
Thoughts: Following their debacle at The Annex during last year's CMJ Music Marathon I had all but written off Black Kids as nothing but the result of internet hype. I had forgotten about them and stopped listening to them and I was happy. But then the word came down that they'd be touring with Cut Copy and I really wanted to see them so I went to the show. Well, long story a little shorter, I was completely floored by the show Black Kids put on. It was nothing like the mess that was made at The Annex, instead they had me bouncing around and enjoying every minute of their set. Now they're coming back and I may be the first person on line to see them again!
Who: Tim Fite + The Watson TwinsWhen: July 10th + July 11th
Where: Music Hall of Williamsburg + Mercury Lounge
More Dates
Listen: Tim Fite - "The Barber"
The Watson Twins - "Just Like Heaven"
Thoughts: I don't know much about The Watson twins, but I love me some Tim Fite! Tim's latest album is in constant rotation on my iPod and the one before that still creeps in every once in a while. But as good as those albums are, his live show is something that should not be missed by anyone! If you are within driving distance of one of these shows make sure you get your butt to one!
Who: The Mae ShiWhen: July 18th + July 21st
Where: Cake Shop + Market Hotel
More Dates
Listen: The Mae Shi - "Run To Your Grave"
Thoughts: I am absolutely in love with The Mae Shi! Their album is constantly spinning in my ears and I love almost every minute of it! I haven't gotten to see the band live just yet, but with these two shows coming up in small New York locations you can bet that you'll be seeing me at at least one of them. If you knew what was good for you you'd make your best effort to be at one of them too. Trust me this band is freakin' awesome!
Friday's Weekend Linkage:
- Pitchfork talks with BYOP's Jemina Pearl about the band's banned tracks! I still say "Becky" is one of the finest songs of the year!!!
- Also on Pitchfork is a Guest List spot with Wolf Parade whose At Mount Zoomer hits store shelves Tuesday!
- Speaking of At Mount Zoomer, Stereogum just told me that the album is streaming over at Myspace!
- Fader has video of last night's Love Is All show at the Cake Shop!
- Ruined Music interviews After the Jump artist Ponytail!!!
- Daytrotter has a couple of outstanding sessions, one with The Ting Tings and one with Headlights!
- R. Kelly is innocent bitches! Now let the man pee in private!
Can you believe this is already Mixel Pixel's fifth release? I know I can't, it seems like just yesterday that these guys were the new kids on the block,, now they are veterans of the New York indie scene yet they are still making some rookie mistakes. For one thing the band has once again decided to experiment with it's sound, which may not be a bad thing most of the time, but on Let's Be Friends they strip away half of what we've come to love. Gone are the psychedelic guitar sounds, replaced electronic sounds that could have come from 80's video games. It's a lame switch and it makes Mixel Pixel seem like they are trying to conform to the times instead of influencing the times they are living in. It's not a terrible record, but it's definitely lighter then anything the band has done before and I was kind of expecting a bit more from them. Oh well, at least we know they can still put on a pretty solid live show!Mixel Pixel - "Great Invention"
Mixel Pixel - "Cats"
I had heard people talking about the Finnish collective known as Paavoharju but I don't think I was quite prepared for what I would hear from them. They had told me it was dance music, but this is a strange form of dance music to my ears. With ambient drones, electronic pieces, and some wuiet female vocals, this is a more subtle form of dance music then what I'm used to. I was thinking it'd be more like the Swedish pop artists, but it is nothing like that. Instead it's more like Panda Bear on a KTU kick. It's a weird sound, but definitely something I find myself being intrigued by and something I need a lot more listens to to fully digest everything going on here. There's definitely some stand out tracks like "Kevatrumpu", but there's also songs on here that are a bit loose in definition and not really quite dance music. But like I said, I definitely need a little more time with it before I fully grasp the album. Take a listen, what do you think?Paavoharju - "Uskallan"
Paavoharju - "Sumuvirsi"
Friday June 13th:
Fiasco - "True Story (The Aquarium)"
A Sunny Day In Glasgow - " Summerlong Silences"
Oneida - "Inside My Head"
Saturday June 14th:
The Budos Band - "Chicago Falcon"
The Great Unwashed - "Mirage A La Mode"
The Physics of Meaning - "Down at Columbia and Cameron"
Vampire Weekend - "M79"
Sunday June 15th:
Mission of Burma - "Outlaw"
Who: The Rabbits
RIYL: The Cure, Radiohead, music
In the past I have written many times about Dead Rabbit, a Staten Island band I fell in love with a few years back and have supported without fail since. But unfortunately some things change in this world and Dead Rabbit parted ways with their bassist, brought in a new one (Matt Wilson, of solo and Sea Cracken fame!), and renamed the band The Rabbits. I'm not the biggest fan of the name change, but the music has remained as one of the finest examples of indie rock to ever hit Staten Island. If The Rabbits were from Brooklyn labels would be tripping over themselves to sign this band, but they're not so they remain our favorite little secret for a little bit longer. It won't be much longer now though, nothing this good can stay a secret for very long!
Listen: The Rabbits - "Out Of Our Heads"
Contest Reminder: You have until today at 5pm to enter my contest to win a pair of tickets to Rock the Harbor! Just e-mail me now with the word "Contest" in the subject line!
Ten Reasons to Rock the Harbor:
#10 - Paragraph
# 9 - Canopy
# 8 - Matt Wilson
# 7 - Captain Ahab and the Sea Crackens
# 6 - Kilgore Trout Is Dead
# 5 - The Delay
# 4 - The Great Unwashed
#3 - The Heavenly Tenants
Who: Wakey! Wakey!Location: New York, New York
Listen: Wakey! Wakey! - "Cokehead"
ATJ Slot: Main Stage, 2:30pm
At this point I have made my infatuation with Wakey! Wakey! quite clear, so it shouldn't surprise any of you that I strongly supported having the band on the bill for After the Jump. And why wouldn't we want Wakey! Wakey! on the bill? He's fantastic, and as his band has grown larger his live shows have gotten more and more engaging and fun. Last time I saw Wakey! was at Maxwell's opening for Los Campesinos! and the band absolutely killed it, we're expecting nothing less when he hits the main stage at After the Jump! I believe he's also planning on having his full huge orchestra there (though I am not 100% positive) and if he is, well that's something that just cannot be missed as it's only happened once before! Oh yeah, I almost got so excited that I forgot about the interview I recently did with Wakey! Wakey!, so here it is....
PTST: How did you come to choose the name Wakey! Wakey!? Do you think the name has taken on any further meaning as you've added more and more band members?
W!W!: I wrote most of the songs as break up songs to the government. I wanted them all to be really palitable as love songs that could get into your head, then resonate and become something more. I chose Wakey!Wakey! to sort of be a hint to the whole thing. There are extreme personal reasons for the name as well that few people will ever know or probably care to. I always wanted to have a huge band, and as it grows and grows, I'm happy that it has a name and isn't to closely affiliated to my family's name or mine. The show is much more than just the songs. Our shows really do become carnival, and no matter how many strings I break on pianos, nothing beats a good healthy wall of sound sometimes. I'm happy that Wakey!Wakey! represents a family. Much less pressure that way.
PTST: How many people are in your band these days, it seems there are more everyday? Oh, and who are the players?
W!W!: I still enjoy touring solo. Gene Back has been a huge inspiration to the whole process. He's our violinist. We do shows with just the two of us sometimes, and they're just as much fun for me as the whole band. Anne Lieberwirth is our bass player, and general mama to myself and the band. She keeps my head on straight. We've recently added Kristin Mueller on drums and I couldn't be happier with her amazing playing and vibe. She's always uplifting to play with. Then it's like the collective spirit, and people sort of come. Misty Boyce plays keys with us a lot, and adds volumes. Then we have Tarrah Reynolds who arranged most of the string parts, and tons of beautiful strings and horns and bells and singers and accordians... I'd like to add a spaceship landing at some point.
PTST: It's been a while since we've heard any new tunes from you, got anything new coming to us at After the Jump?
W!W!: There are things in the works. I think I wrote the saddest thing I've ever done last night...
PTST: Do you have any plans to jump into the studio and record a proper studio debut album?
W!W!: We are excited to be going into Bunker studios in the next week or so to create some singles first, then we'll be focusing on a proper album. We're hoping to involve some musicians in the process that I've been fans of for a long time. I can't really give any details until things are recorded and done of course, but I will say that I feel very lucky to be where I'm at right now.
PTST: A lot of songs seem to be rooted in some form of misery or another, do you feel that it's important for an artist to suffer in order to produce great music? Are you suffering right now?
W!W!: Of course I am! Suffering doesn't hurt, but it's all two sided. You need the intense joy to experience the intense pain, so I just let myself go where ever my silly brain pulls me. I do get pretty low sometimes, but I love it all.
PTST: It seems you write a lot from personal experiences, are you ever concerned that the person who one of your songs is about will be in the audience? Has anyone ever confronted you about their place in a song?
W!W!: When I posted Blame You on my myspace I heard from 4 ex-girlfriends in one month. It wasn't even about someone I'd dated... haha. Every song starts with a spark, then a million things barf onto the page. I think for the most part, the people who involve themselves with me in that capacity know what they're signing up for.
PTST: You recently did a slew of covers that you released as a limited edition album, which of the covers was your favorite to perform? Were there any covers that you tried but didn't work out?
W!W!: I really wanted to do "Waiting Room" by Fugazi, but it never really came together. My favorite was probably "New Partner". I did that at Monkeyboy studios with Brad Albetta. We literally finished the first take, and he stood up and was like- "OK, what's next?" It was the first time I'd ever tried playing the song, and I felt really connected to it. We've worked out our first full band Wakey-style cover for Mercury Lounge this Saturday. Maybe it'll make it to the Jump stage if it goes well!
PTST: Do you have any plans for the rest of the summer post After the Jump?
W!W!: We're excited to be branching out of the city a bit. We just did the We Fest tour, and talks are on for a northern loop to Maine. We've got a huge show in DC with Tereu Tereu in July that I'm super excited about.
PTST: Are there any bands you're looking forward to seeing at After the Jump?
W!W!: Everyone knows about the amazing headliners, but you'll see me front and center for Bell's opening slot at Galapagos. I've been an outspoken fan of her's for some time now. I'm also really into the Bloodsugars. They were on our We Fest tour, and besides being amazing guys, they write songs that have been in my head and making me smile for the past 2 weeks. I'm also excited for Chairlift and the Antlers. Why isn't Lowry on this bill? I'm obsessed with them right now and would like to mention that.
The Good: BOAT - "Four Beds for BOAT"; A few months back I named BOAT as one of my Bands of the Week, now the band are releasing a 4-song vinyl EP called Topps and it's led off by this fantastic, quirky pop song. I love this band and what they do with their sound and I really think you would too if you'd give 'em the chance. Now if we could only get them to come east to New York we'd be set!
Grade: B+
Nas - "Hero"; So Nas finally buckled down and changed the controversial name of his new album, but then he goes and releases a mixtape that has the same controversial name in the title. Sigh, I guess some people will never learn that a word can set society back no matter how it's used. But this isn't about words, well not really, it's about Nas' outstanding new song "Hero". The Green Lantern produced track is freakin' sick in the truest sense of the word. Throughout the track Nas is energized and hyped and flowing right, and the beat is pretty outstanding too! This is definitely worth checking out as is the rest of the mixtape.
Grade: A
Perhapst - "'Quote'"; John Moen has been doing just fine as The Decemberists drummer, but musicians these days are rarely satisfied with just one project. Like his fellow Decemberist Colin Meloy, Moen has now struck off on his own naming his project Perhapst and allowing his multi-instrumentalist side to take over. This first track of his upcoming album is pretty and nice and really shows off a penchant for some pop songs. Nice introduction to yourself Moen, but we'd also like to get a taste of those tracks that feature a certain musician named Malkmus! Can we get one of those early???
Grade: B+
Raekwon (feat. Mika) - "Once In A Lifetime"; Like Method Man and Ghostface before him, Raekwon has finally recorded a heartfelt track with an R&B chorus. The song is supposed to be on his new record, but who knows about that. Instead for right now I'm gonna sit back and enjoy the smooth groove that permeates this whole track and the lovely vocals by Mika, who dominates most of the track. It's a little surprising, but really good anyway.
Grade: B
Track of the Week: Vivian Girls - "Tell the World"; Yeah it's double accolades day for Vivian Girls who have been my saving grace for a crazy and hectic week! I have been loving the album that I wrote about earlier, and this is probably my favorite track off of it. Fantastic melodies, blended onto a shoegazey sound, with that non-stop snare beat, it's a thing of beauty! Get down with these girls today!!!!
Grade: A
Old School Track of the Week: Cat Stevens - "Father & Son"; Being as it's Father's Day on Sunday and all I thought I'd post perhaps the greatest song ever to be written about the relationship between a father and his son. It's a really nice song, beautiful, deep lyrics, and important life messages
Grade: B+
Nas - "Hero"; So Nas finally buckled down and changed the controversial name of his new album, but then he goes and releases a mixtape that has the same controversial name in the title. Sigh, I guess some people will never learn that a word can set society back no matter how it's used. But this isn't about words, well not really, it's about Nas' outstanding new song "Hero". The Green Lantern produced track is freakin' sick in the truest sense of the word. Throughout the track Nas is energized and hyped and flowing right, and the beat is pretty outstanding too! This is definitely worth checking out as is the rest of the mixtape.
Grade: A
Perhapst - "'Quote'"; John Moen has been doing just fine as The Decemberists drummer, but musicians these days are rarely satisfied with just one project. Like his fellow Decemberist Colin Meloy, Moen has now struck off on his own naming his project Perhapst and allowing his multi-instrumentalist side to take over. This first track of his upcoming album is pretty and nice and really shows off a penchant for some pop songs. Nice introduction to yourself Moen, but we'd also like to get a taste of those tracks that feature a certain musician named Malkmus! Can we get one of those early???
Grade: B+
Raekwon (feat. Mika) - "Once In A Lifetime"; Like Method Man and Ghostface before him, Raekwon has finally recorded a heartfelt track with an R&B chorus. The song is supposed to be on his new record, but who knows about that. Instead for right now I'm gonna sit back and enjoy the smooth groove that permeates this whole track and the lovely vocals by Mika, who dominates most of the track. It's a little surprising, but really good anyway.
Grade: B
Track of the Week: Vivian Girls - "Tell the World"; Yeah it's double accolades day for Vivian Girls who have been my saving grace for a crazy and hectic week! I have been loving the album that I wrote about earlier, and this is probably my favorite track off of it. Fantastic melodies, blended onto a shoegazey sound, with that non-stop snare beat, it's a thing of beauty! Get down with these girls today!!!!
Grade: A
Old School Track of the Week: Cat Stevens - "Father & Son"; Being as it's Father's Day on Sunday and all I thought I'd post perhaps the greatest song ever to be written about the relationship between a father and his son. It's a really nice song, beautiful, deep lyrics, and important life messages