Just needed to point out the obvious. Go take your fad and shove it up your foot. Oh, and while we’re at it, heaven forbid we buy something direct from the source rather than iTunes, Amy. As if self-released is somehow a negative…
I’m off for two weeks to the UK + Ireland. We’ll have a good time.
|
|
For those that are keeping track, April was quite possibly the month of quality releases this year. And I’m lucky for that because the new releases will hopefully be my saving grace after doing this mix last minute. I hope you’ll forgive me for doing a quick roll call of the included bands, because it’s getting late and I ‘m tired like I’m in the center seat on a red-eye flight and the 2 guys flanking me are named “Sneezy” and “Dopey.”
I shouldn’t have to mention Frightened Rabbit, but their new album is really amazing - and lived up to the unreal expectations I had of it. It goes against my better judgement to make outlandish predictions like “ZOMG! Album of the year!” - but if I wasn’t of sound mind at this moment, I’d be shouting that all over the place. I very nearly put “Old Old Fashioned” on this mix, but with an album filled with a full sequence of ridiculous tracks, “Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms” managed to be this month’s selection. I’m a sucker for the slide guitar action. But the surprise of this year may go to EMC, the album out of 41 year old hip-hop legend, Masta Ace, along with his accomplished tourmates; Punchline, Wordsworth & Stricklin. I love “The Grudge” for its honest memory of youthful spite, and in a month where my favorite local cuisine has been threatened by some ill-intended city legislation and my cellphone was stolen by an airline employee, I definitely have a grudge (and I’m not gonna budge). I also thought there was supposed to be a Les Savy Fav live album out yesterday, but it turns out that it’s a digital-only release.
I’m finally sticking the unbelievable Walter Rocktight track, “Make Love” on here, along with some of the most upbeat drum programming you’ll hear me listening to. The Hectors are making a second appearance on the monthly mixes after Octavius finally gave me their new EP that I asked him to pick me up probably about 6 months ago when I wasn’t able to make their release party. The blog world is familiar with Alaska In Winter as being a pseudo-side-project of Beirut, but I think it stands on its own and “Your Red Dress” is a testament to that. The Sound of Arrows is so upbeat and poppy you have to know it has to be a new Labrador signing. And capping of the selections is Under Electric Light - a band from Montreal that recently sent me along some tracks that are fucking awesome in a Radio Dept/New Order sort of way, but totally mature in a way that you wouldn’t expect of a band with those sort of influences. Ok, I’m off to bed.
[banner photo by stadtbild]
May 2008 Mix
01 EMC - The Grudge
02 Frightened Rabbit - Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms
03 Big Star - O, Dana
04 The Hectors - I Drove All The Way From Bridgeport To Make It With You
05 Alaska In Winter - Your Red Dress
06 Walter Rocktight (feat. Chauncey) - Make Love
07 Leadbelly - Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
08 The Sound of Arrows - Danger!
09 Tsunami - Hockey
10 Under Electric Light - Your Rainy Days
|
|
I promise not to constantly fill up this site with videos from Pitchfork’s new .tv site, but today’s airing of Bill Callahan’s rooftop set seemed mentionable, and it is worth noting how well put together the site is - collecting videos along with exclusive live sets, interviews and occasional documentaries (The Pixies 2 weeks ago was great). I must admit that the Luddite in me only worries that the video side of music helps established acts and shuts out the unknowns… But it is very well thought out and programmed: it loads fast, has good quality video (try it in full screen mode), and is easy to browse through. And in context, I don’t think it is unfair to compare Pitchfork’s new venture to that of Stereogum… Gerald is not entirely out of line in labeling the latter ‘an abortion.’
|
|
The last time Wilderness came through L.A., they headlined a show that was under-attended and inexcusably short. I don’t remember exactly how few songs they played, but it was a 30 minute or so set, and my disappointment with their lack of stamina overshadowed what was otherwise a pretty engaging show. They played almost entirely songs off of their recent release at the time, Vessel States, but based on what appeared to be a disdain for the L.A. audience (combined with their relative silence since), I got the impression that it would be the first and last time I’d have a chance to see them.
But I hoped to hear more from them. I even put them on my most anticipated list for the year (though Zoviet was quick to point out that with no news from them, it was unlikely anything would be coming). And so it came as complete surprise to find out that Wilderness was back, and playing only 4 shows on the west coast of all places. They played Spaceland last night and will be ending this short exposure tomorrow night at The Casbah in San Diego.
If you aren’t already into Wilderness, I don’t really know how to help you. Forget comparisons, they are unlike anyone else out there. My least favorite music reviewer’s assesment of Vessel States mischaracterized this uniqueness in comparisons to PIL, Fugazi and Lungfish. You could not possibly listen to Wilderness alongside any other band and think that they sounded like them. They may give hints of their influences - I’d add Joy Division - but to say they sound like anyone else is ridiculous. They only play their most recent songs at shows; much as the 2006 show at The Echo consisted of only tracks from their recent LP, the show last night consisted entirely of new songs (well, actually I think I might have heard “Living Through“). The vocals are uncanny (I have to stand by my assessment back in 2005 that James Johnson’s chant-like singing sounds like a Lord Of The Rings wizard conjuring up a spell). Their drums are far more inspired than other acts that get credit for their percussion. Probably the most conventional aspect would be the guitar and bass, but even these have a fullness with minor-key harmonies that one would be hard-pressed to match.
I find myself captivated by the band’s live intensity and last night was as intense as ever. They don’t even take a break between songs. I guess I’m also captivated by Johnson’s slow-motion kung-fu dance moves. Its as if everything about Wilderness is unique to the band - right down to the stage performance. Regardless of some sub-par mixing (the vocals were totally muffled), the new songs were good. I’m assuming that these represent the next LP, and that this left-coast tour is an opportunity for them to try out the new songs away from home. I’m just happy that the show 2 years ago didn’t turn out to be the end.
|
|
Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks that today’s “avant-garde” is tomorrow’s Kenny G. And this is not to say that I have a problem with our modern-day adult contemporary on the face. Actually, I think it’s great that more people are listening to indie rock - which I often think of as being better, more artful music (Sufjan would exemplify that). And while I find a some of these bands boring (Great Northern, I’m looking at you), I still think they make decent music - just not music that I especially want to give my attention to. What bothers me about indie-adult-contemporary are the empty acts that treat their audience as a ‘market’ and cater to them with shit songwriting that is as generic as it can be to cater to the broadest segment of this market. And to the public who listen to and perpetuate it. Yet again in America, status is assumed to be something that can be bought; and so if you buy an iPod, you automatically have acquired taste through the act of consumption.
I occasionally belay the fact that I don’t think especially highly of Nic Harcourt’s Morning Becomes Eclectic. The backstory of my distaste stems from the fact that I am essentially forced to listen to it almost every morning at my office. The show is littered with the exact sort of yuppie-market bands that succeed when people desire to buy “indie,” rather than enjoy music on its own merits. I hope that I’m not the first to say that Nic’s new favorite, Glass Pear (warning: not safe for ears), plays some empty, worthless and unimaginative garbage. Can’t we find a more original way of expressing feelings rather than whining “I love you” over and over again? That shit is straight up adult contemporary.
In other other people’s adult contemporary news, Feist will make an appearance on Sesame Street. I’ll give that a fully-non-sarcastic “awesome!” And here’s a Cap & Jones mix that kicks off with Fabulous over Peter Gabriel. Now! that’s what I call adult contemporary!
|
|
Where’s the empty dance floor? We own those Tuesday nights. Raise my glass for a cheer; this time all the tears came out. I’m starting this one off casually with Brian Eno’s “The Big Ship,” which has been forever changed for me since the song was featured in the intro/build-up of Adam Curtis‘ The Power Of Nightmares BBC series. If you haven’t seen it and have never really understood what the hell is going on in the world, take some time and let him connect the dots for you. I still get goosebumps every time I listen to it. Evan Voytas sent me a few tracks last week and I can’t stop listening to “The Yellow World Of ‘83.” I have no idea what the idea behind the title is, but I do know what a healthy amount of 90s-style reverb is and this one serves it up a la Helium. Then there’s PWRFL POWER, a project by Kazutaka Nomura that Catbird released recently. His simple, but unexpected lyrics (”You are not that attractive / But something makes me feel that you are going to be my girl”) have a cute feel that might pique the interest of Moldy Peaches’ fans. I especially like his slight Japanese accent and inflection (note his pronunciation of “boobs”). A Mad & Faithful Telling’s “New World” is among the most epic DeVotchKa tracks to date, complete with a “How It Ends” feel, without really sounding formulaic. OK, maybe just a little bit. It is the album closer and probably would have made sense to close out this month’s mix, but I saved that spot for The Van Pelt this week. “We Intersect” was my favorite track off of the Souls Of Mischief’s self-released post-Jive album, Focus, and was the track that convinced me that A-Plus was at least the second best producer in the Hieroglyphics crew (for the record: I’ve since come to think that Opio has surpassed him). I like the new Magnetic Fields album, but I’m using an older track because Colleen reminded me about it recently on her show and it’s too good not to use it. Oh, and Meiko… She might be the realm of this new indie-adult contemporary genre that I harp on, but she’s good. Think Feist.
[banner photo by Gabriel Mendes]
April 2008 Mix
01 Brian Eno - The Big Ship
02 Evan Voytas - The Yellow World Of ‘83
03 Azure Ray - Rise
04 PWRFL POWER - Alma Song
05 DeVotchKa - New World
06 Souls Of Mischief - We Intersect
07 The Magnetic Fields - All The Umbrellas In London
08 Meiko - Reasons To Love You
09 Marmoset - Pass It Along
10 The Van Pelt - Do The Lovers Still Meet At The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial?
|
|
I don’t think I’ve read a single review of Zero Star that doesn’t note that he is from Columbus, Ohio, or how his talent somehow relates to fellow Columbus hip-hop artists Copywrite, Illogic, Rjd2 & Blueprint. It’s not entirely unwarranted; Columbus hip-hop is a niche market in relation to other midwest cities, Chicago and Detroit… but Zero Star’s location and musical lineage seem to be elements that overshadow his talented lyricism in a way disproportionate to upcoming rappers of other cities.
One of Zero Star’s strengths is his beat selection - from bangers by Ree-Dic, unique PRZM tracks, to melodic and soulful Blueprint beats. Then there is his emotive delivery, which rivals that of Blueprint, but with a cool composure that is incredibly engaging. His name-dropping flow on “PTI (Pardon The Interruption), off of Forever’s Really Never That Long (his debut LP on Blueprint’s Weightless Recordings), should convince just about anyone that he has skill to match the beats.
Ever since Chet Betz’ ridiculously good Columbus scenecast for Cokemachineglow, which featured the undeniable “Help Is On The Way,” I’ve been meaning to post about his LP. This month he followed it up with an appropriately titled, downloadable mixtape, Take’em Or Erase’em, available here. It has some good tracks; “Reality” in particular is one of my favorites. Many of the tracks are dedicated to former collaborator and beatmaker, DJ PRZM, who passed last year from heart complications he had struggled with for much of his life. Other tracks consist of tracks cut from his album and some nice freestyles over RZA, Pete Rock & Kanye beats. Zero Star explains the mixtape as a ‘take it or leave it’ introduction to his craft. I’m definitely going to “take’em,” but for the really great stuff, go pick up his album.
: Zero Star - Help Is On The Way :
: Zero Star - PTI (Pardon The Interruption) :
: Zero Star - Reality :
|
|
Among the many bands that WOXY was good enough to record in Austin during SxSW 2008 was Frightened Rabbit. Being that I’m counting the days until their 2nd album sees release (April 15), I was more than excited to hear a bunch of the new tracks from Midnight Organ Fight (in a convenient acoustic format). Below are the songs only; make sure to go to WOXY for the entire set along with an interview; in which Scott takes full ownership over the songs and threatens to kick his brother Grant out of the band. Ah, the mental warfare that goes on between brothers… “Old Old Fashioned” is especially awesome. I remember hearing that from their visit to L.A., and I love the pace to the song: more upbeat and rocking than the typical Frightened Rabbit ballad.
[image (and session, of course) by WOXY]
: 01 Fast Blood :
: 02 Be Less Rude :
: 03 Old Old Fashioned :
: 04 Head Rolls Off :
: 05 The Modern Leper :
|
|
I don’t know if it comes off to anyone reading, but I obsess over the selections for these monthly mixes. Since my posting is pretty haphazard, it is often the only way I end up recommending music, and my aspirations for the mixes are always a lot more lofty than 10 tracks will really allow. But I like the constraint of being succinct. I was pretty sure this month was lining up to be a disaster. There are so many songs that have been building up in the backlog… Meanwhile there are all these new albums; I don’t want the mixes to fall too far on either side of vintage or new. And then out of nowhere Frightened Rabbit came in to save the day with their brand new single. Another new track is this mastered version of a track by Grand Archives. For those who aren’t keeping up, Grand Archives is the band of Mat Brooke, formerly of Carissa’s Weird/Band of Horses. Oh, and Thao Nguyen, whose album from last year can be a bit poppy/college rocky for me, but “Bag of Hammers” might as well be by Arcade Fire, it is so good. On the other hand I’ve included a couple of my favorite local rappers, Murs and Aceyalone (I’m pretty sure I live directly between where they each grew up). I love the way the Acey track kicks off; rhyming the first line of each unsatisfactory rapper before laying into them. The production is great and minimal, but what really sells me is the way that he loses his breath during the calling out of “dapper rappers” at the beginning. Acey’s Crenshaw-adjacent Mid-City-repping counterpart, Murs, has been a favorite of mine since 2000 when he won me over with Murs Rules The World. His last two albums have been collaborations with Little Brother’s 9th Wonder, and while I occasionally feel that 9th’s traditionally-styled production is lacking in the midrange, there is no denying him on “Yesterday & Today.” Be sure to catch the video for it, and then check out the Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out themed “Murray’s Revenge” while you’re at it. Oh, and did I mention I’m excited for his major label debut? Yup, I did.
[banner photo by idle type]
March 2008 Mix
01 Aceyalone - Rappers Rappers Rappers
02 The Mary Onettes - Lost
03 Frightened Rabbit - Head Rolls Off
04 Charlie Feathers - Tongue Tied Jill
05 Thao With The Get Down Stay Down - Bag Of Hammers
06 A Smile and A Ribbon - The Boy I Wish I Never Met
07 Murs - Yesterday & Today
08 Grand Archives - Torn Blue Foam Couch
09 Ima Robot - Let’s Talk Turkey
10 Liz Phair - Nashville
|
|
Apparently my 13th favorite song of last year was only a dry run on what will probably go on to be one of my favorites this year. Fat Cat just released a video of Frightened Rabbit’s “Head Rolls Off,” the first single for Midnight Organ Fight. The video is adorable, and while it isn’t necessarily revolutionizing the world as we know it (it’s really not that far off from that Cold War Kids video…), I’d call entertaining a bunch of kindergarteners to be one of those “tiny changes to earth” that had me loving the song in the first place.
[Update 28 Feb: new url for the video AND the mastered version]
: Frightened Rabbit - Head Rolls Off :
: Frightened Rabbit - Head Rolls Off (demo) :
|
|