Off the Records

Top Songs of 2008

2008-11-25T12:52:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Songs of 2008

Yes. It's that time of the year again, somehow. I didn't feel like putting them in any order this time. Noneoftheless, here are my top 10 favorites (not necessarily best) from this year:

1-10

"Smokin From Shootin" - My Morning Jacket (Evil Urges)

Hard to choose just one awesome song from a record chock-full of them. Smokin From Shootin epitimizes everything epic and wonderful about MMJ. It begins with the faint pulse of a far-off and ominous bass drum, resonating like an approaching helicopter. Layers are added and the song builds til the inevitable napalm explosion during the thrilling climax. Jim James' scream is so fucking rock & roll baby!

"I Still Care For You" - Ray LaMontagne (Gossip in the Grain)

Trippy as shit. "I Still Care For You" finds LaMontagne exploring new musical territory. He still delievers his prose in that familiar mournfully hopeful tenor. In this song his voice trudges through a howling Nor'easter of soft guitars and cymbal-laden drums; all the while drenched by rainbuckets of ghostly reverb. Similar vibe to Radiohead's "How to Disappear Completely." It's so depressing, but soo good.

"Hometown Glory" - Adele (19)

The 20 year old from Enfield rocketed to international stardom this year, powered by a soulful debut album and pipes that bely her years. "Hometown Glory" is an instant classic; a simmering piano-ballad with spiraling Etta James vocals. Perhaps it's the simplicity, or maybe the conviction in her voice, that draws you in.

"The Rat" - Dead Confederate (Wrecking Ball)

Five Georgia boys find their inner-Cobain and craft a beautiful record. "The Rat", their first single, is a great place to start if you haven't heard them. Very strong debut.

"Writer's Minor Holiday" - Calexico (Carried to Dust)

Frontman Joey Burns channels Dylan for this low-key indie-folk feast, served over a chilled platter of choirs and acoustic guitars. The echo effects conjure images of a winter sleigh ride across cold snowfields.

"Viola" - This is Ivy League (S/T)

Duo strikes gold with this lovely acoustic Bohemian love song, told from the perspective of an audience member enthralled with a girl singing onstage. I love the simplicity and chilled out vibe. For Kings of Convenience fans.

"Lost Coastlines" - Okkervil River (The Stand Ins)

Will Sheff & co. take us along for an epic 5 minute voyage. Our vehicle? Rich lyrical imagery, chugging guitar and plenty of tambourine. Picture Arcade Fire covering The Strokes.

"Graveyard Girl" - M83 (Saturdays = Youth)

Pure bliss at times. "Graveyard Girl" sparkles with bright energy like the E-Street band on steroids. Complete with enough synths and over-dubbed guitar to do any shoegazer proud.

"Love Me For Nothing" - The Alternate Routes (The Watershed Ep)

"Everybody needs a thrill," croons vocalist Tim Warren, and the first new AR material released in three years is certainly no let-down. This song is the sequel to "Ordinary" I've been waiting for. Up-beat, folk-tinged and hopeful; it's perfect for those long summer drives with the windows down.

"Human" - The Killers (Day & Age)

I'm not a huge fan of the Killers. This song contains all the elements I usually despise: '80s vibe, Brandon Flowers and Brandon flower's retarded lyrics. However, inexplicably, I became obsessed with this song for a period after it was released. I guess it's one of those "stars align properly" kind of deals.

11-20

"Blank Slate" - The National
"Can You Tell" - Ra Ra Riot
"Walcott" - Vampire Weekend
"Halo3" - +/-
"Biko" - Bloc Party
"In the New Year" - The Walkmen
"In My Room" - Albert Hammond Jr.
"Magick" - Ryan Adams & the Cardinals

2008-07-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to pick up a copy of Beck's new album, Modern Guilt, in stores today. I will be heading straight for Best Buy whenever I get off of work. Also out today: Albert Hammond Jr.'s new record, Como Te Llama?.

New Alternate Routes

2008-07-01T12:11:00.000-07:00

After nearly two LONG years on the road, The Alternate Routes had time to duck into the studio for a breather. The end result, titled The Watershed Ep, will be released July 8th on Vanguard.

Three cuts have been posted to their myspace page. They also added a beautiful acoustic rendition of "Please Don't Let it Be" from their unplugged cd, The Brooklawn Sessions.

Pre-order The Watershed Ep here before July 11 and recieve a free track!

Friday the 13th (cont)

2008-06-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

..We arrived at the covered stage for Minus the Bear, the shade felt pretty terrific after being under direct sunlight during Jose's set. During this time period we were missing bands left and right. Adele, Tegan & Sara and Umphrey's McGee were all going on at the same time. But the extra time allowed us to get right up close for:

Minus The Bear! I just wish I had brought a real camera with zoom, so you could actually see the band in the photo. It's hard to see anything, but we were pretty close to the front.

The crowd went absolutely NUTS when they came out on stage - this had to have been one of the largest crowds they've played for - and the band seemed almost taken aback by the sheer volume of bodies stretched out in front of them.

I don't remember their setlist exactly, but they played a lot of songs off their latest record, Planet of Ice (buy).

The newer songs sounded great live, better than they do on record. But my heart still remains with their older material, and they absolutely nailed those. Classics staples "The Fix" and "Pachuca Sunrise" were my favorite songs of the set.

Standing to watch bands is tiring, I have no clue how people make it the whole day, much less 4 straight days of standing and rocking out. I was pretty wiped out after watching Minus the Bear, so I decided to go to the autograph tent and get one of their records signed.

We had to wait in line for what seemed like forever (a flustered staff member said that the band was 'missing'!) But they eventually found their way to the autograph tent. I bought the re-issue of their 2004 Ep, They Make Beer Commericals Like This (buy).

The guys looked genuinely happy to be there and didn't seem to mind that people were snapping pictures of them every two seconds. Music helps define our identities and it's always amazing to meet of the artists behind it.

Missed out on The Raconteurs to get the autograph, but I think it was worth it. Especially because Steel Train was going on literally right next door to the autograph tent!

Steel Train is going to be absolutely huge someday. Their songwriting just gets better and better, right up to their latest release, Trampoline. (listen to them here). As you can see from the picture there was a good amount of people at the stage to catch their second set of the day. Personally I think EVERY band should play two sets so that people don't have to make hard choices about skipping bands.

From there we caught a few songs by State Radio. They sounded great live, I'll definitely check them out if they ever blow through town. Unfortunately I had to split next door to see Rilo Kiley!

Too bad this image is so small. We were on the rail up front, but unfortunately waay off to the side. In fact directly to our right were a set of speakers blasting a steady stream of bass into our skulls. To the right of the curtain you had an unobstructed view of the drummers, the kit was on an elevated platform.

I'm not embarrased to admit that I frequently listen to Rilo Kiley. I am more or less in love with Jenny Lewis, and having her standing some 50 feet away was unreal! She does a fantastic job making sure evey member of the audience feels loved, going out of her way to sing from all corners of the stage.

I was not a real fan of their newest album, Under the Black Light (buy), but the songs sounded pretty good and I might have to re-check it out. Suprising amount of dudes in the audience singing along; not just to the new stuff but also old songs like "It's a Hit", "Spectacular Views" and of course "Portions for Foxes".

So everything so far that day had been awesome. Unfortunately a little Friday the 13th karma kicked in with a heavy rainstorm. I was totally planning on catching My Morning Jacket's set rain or shine, but it was coming down so hard I just couldn't justify it. Even worse, our tent sprung a leak and its contents got drenched!

I slept in the car.

Bloggaroo Pt 2

2008-06-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

Friday The 13th

Friday, June 13, 2008

I awoke this morning to a brilliant sunrise (not nearly as pleasant as it sounds). I thought I would sleep like a rock until at LEAST ten or so after a long Thursday. Obviously I didn't learn anything from last years experience. But yeah, I woke up at 6:30am, with six hours to kill until music of any sort started playing.

We sat around at the campsite for a while, but it was already hot as hell outside and we had no cold beverages. Centeroo is open 24 hrs., so we headed there. Began our day with a DELICIOUS breakfast and then browsed the usual mixed bag of vendors.

The problem with music festivals, especially the good ones, is set-time clutter. In other words, if you like enough of the artists, chances are that one or two (or 4 or 5!) will be scheduled to play at the same time.

This was certainly the case Friday. Right off the bat, Drive-By Truckers, Steel Train, and Jose Gonzalez were all playing around 12:30. I had to sacrifice DBT because they were playing halfway across the universe from the other two. Would have been nice to see them, maybe next time.

Steel Train sounded great, but they played twice so I'll talk about them later. I left after a few tunes and met up with my friend Michelle to see Jose Gonzalez.

Friday always makes for the most crowded festival experience. By then pretty much everyone and their grandmother has arrived in Manchester, and hasn't had enough time to exhaust themselves yet. Simply walking around felt like one giant game of frogger.

See that picture up there? That's not from this year, but it gives you an idea of how many goddamn people were at that stage watching Jose Gonzalez. It was an odd mix of die-hard fans, casual fans, people who heard "that one song on the commercial", and spectators simply seeking refuge under the shaded roof.

As expected, Jose played by himself. Just imagine being a lone person onstage, armed with only a silver voice and an acoustic guitar, up against a sea of thousands. I think I would have passed out right away from stage-fright to be honest.

Against all odds, he put on a wonderful show. Even as louder sets adjacent to his stage threatened to overpower his mellow sound, he was in complete control of the spellbound audience.

First off, stage presence. You have it or you don't. Jose was SITTING DOWN, and still projected a powerful aura. So you couldn't look away while he was playing (even though it was crowded and I couldn't really see him too well).

Also, I didn't realize what a fantastic rhythm player he is. Watch him do his thing in a captivating rendition of "Down the Line", a song off his second full-length In Our Nature (buy).

No rest for the weary. After Jose's set we had just enough time to grab a quick lunch before scurrying over to get up close for Minus the Bear.

..to be continued..

Thursday

2008-06-17T13:09:00.001-07:00

I will be posting little recaps of my Bonnaroo experience.

A Warm Up

Thursday, June 12, 2008

BonnaROO!

My friends and I arrived at the festival around 4 p.m., and the wait began. This was the first time we used GPS navigation, which led us to a different entrance via Hwy 55 (see map). The line moved sluggishly at times, but we made it past the checkpoint in under two hours. On to the campsite!

As we were herded like cattle to slaughter by hoards of yellow-shirted flag-wavers, I saw the perimeters of the festival area shrink in my rear-view mirror. We ended up roughly a 20 minute's walk from Centeroo. Not too shabby.

Modern art or just one big mess to clean up?

We were in camp zone 8...or as I heard one guy put it: the "chewbacca campgrounds". He was probably talking about our camp's artwork (see above), but could just as well have been referring to endless parade of shirtless cavemen running about!

Some of our neighbors' tents

In a hurry to get into the actual festival, we set up our modest campsite with much difficulty (don't ask). Met some nice girls who go to Harvard and a cool dude named Jeff who said he came down from Jersey by himself to see Metallica & Pearl Jam.

But you don't care about that, you want to hear about the MUSIC:

Let me tell you about Nicole Atkins. I wandered to her stage by accident - MGMT just wasn't doing it for me - in an attempt to meet up with some other friends who came down seperately, and she was playing.
Her music is kind of that post-Michelle Branch, folk-pop, vintage American sound. Martha Wainwright if she kicked more ass. (listen here) Excellent set, definitely one of the more energetic acts I saw Thursday. Maybe some of the performers had opening-night jitters.

You can't blame the weather, a cool breeze fanned our bodies as the hot Tennessee sun set slowly on the horizon. Meanwhile I was rocking out to Nicole's set. Immediately afterwards I ran over to the CD tent and picked up a copy of her debut record, Neptune City (buy).

Left the CD tent and half-sprinted accross the festival grounds to catch the opening notes of:

Vampire Weekend! You've probably heard of them, or sick of hearing about them, if you follow the music biz at all. Those silly Ivy-League kids who sing tunes about New England in the vein of The Strokes, all while drawing on musical influences from 3 continents.

If you haven't heard their debut record, shame on you (listen here). Live, they sounded a whole lot better than I expected, I've heard their live sets can be hit or miss. But the songs sounded extremely fresh. Great energy and vibe. They drew a massive and energetic crowd who came to sing & dance their asses off.

The thing about these big festivals is that where you stand might dictate how much you enjoy a band's set. For instance, when they opened with "Mansard Roof" I was at a horrible angle, and the mix sounded like shit. Fortunately, I found a great spot decently close where the sound came through 1,000 times better.

After being couped up in the car all day, and especially after a few drinks, Vampire Weekend really hit the spot. Their music is sickingly upbeat and happy, like Belle & Sebastian on crack and Red Bull.

They closed their set with "Walcott", one of my favorite cuts from their self-titled debut full-length (buy).

Caught the middle of Lez Zeppelin's show. They were OK, but you know they're just a glorified cover band, so really there's no big deal. I wasn't feeling it at all, so I went back to the campsite around 12:30 and just crashed till I passed out.

Thursday is usually the warm-up day for Bonnaroo, as only 75 percent of the people attending are actually there yet. So the food lines were a little shorter, the stages less crowded, the walkways more walkable. A good start to the weekend.

..Coming soon: Friday the 13th..

here it is kids

2008-02-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

(bold = i want to see)

Pearl Jam

Metallica

Jack Johnson

Kanye West

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss featuring T Bone Burnette

Phil Lesh & Friends

My Morning Jacket

The Allman Brothers Band

The Raconteurs

Willie Nelson

Death Cab for Cutie

B.B. King

Sigur Ros

Levon Helm and the Ramble on the Road

Ben Folds

O.A.R.

The Bluegrass Allstars Feat. Luke Bulla, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Bryan Sutton

M.I.A.

Umphrey's McGee

Iron & Wine

Yonder Mountain String Band

The Swell Season

Talib Kweli

Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi

Soul Stew Revival

Gogol Bordello

Broken Social Scene

Robert Randolph's Revival

Rilo Kiley

Mastodon

Lupe Fiasco

Against Me!

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings

Pat Green

Ozomatli

Tegan & Sara

Solomon Burke

Drive-By Truckers

The Avett Brothers

Israel Vibration

Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck

A Very Special Acoustic Performance by Larry Campbell, Jackie Greene, Phil Lesh & Teresa Williams

Aimee Mann

Ladytron

The Fiery Furnaces

Orchestra Baobab

Ghostland Observatory

Jose Gonzalez

Dark Star Orchestra

Minus the Bear

Donavon Frankenreiter

Lez Zeppelin

State RadioBattles

Jakob Dylan

Two Gallants

The Sword

Vampire Weekend

Little Feat

Nicole Atkins

The Felice Brothers

Mason Jennings

MGMT

The Lee Boys

Black Kids

Serena Ryder

Steel Train

Grupo Fantasma

Back Door Slam

..stacked, as usual. What, you expected otherwise? overall I am pleased with this line up..not quite as good as last year. However, I think the addition of Ben Folds tips the scales way into awesome territory.

In case you were wondering, Lez Zeppelin is an all-female Zep cover band. they pretty much sound the part (listen here)..still I'm disappointed that the real deal won't be there.

I'll be anxiously awaiting the additional artist announcements.

Top 10 records of 2007

2007-12-19T13:03:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Records of 2007
Cobbled together mostly from memory, hopefully I touched on the important ones. There were a few records that were tough to leave off. Leave comments if you think anything is missing.

1) Brand New - The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me

You're probably tired of my eternal songs of praise for this album, so I'll keep it short. This record finds Jesse Lacey and company further shedding their emo-pop roots. It's powerful, dark and moody. The lyrics are dark and poetic as ever. The soft parts will drop till you're straining to hear them, and the loud parts will rock your brains out. My unquestionable numero uno.

Key Tracks: Jesus Christ, Degausser, Limousine, Not the Sun, Archers

buy

2) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Writing a good sophomore album is tough, especially after your first one sets the bar high. Arcade Fire picks up right where they left off on 2003's Funeral. The band expands even more on the huge chamber sound of the first record. Think the E Street Band doing Bowie, or vice versa. The special edition definitely wins the award for coolest packaging job.

Key Tracks: Intervention, The Well and the Lighthouse, Windowsill, No Cars Go

buy

3) The Electric Soft Parade - No Need to Feel Downhearted

This is my "from out of nowhere" album of 2007. Beach Boys vocal harmonies augment the distorted guitars and keyboards, set to modern drum grooves. Influences range from The Beatles to Television to The Strokes, but never quite settle on one. This album deserved much more attention and praise than it recieved.

Key Tracks: If That's The Case Then I Don't Know, Misunderstanding, Cold World, Come Back Inside

buy

4) Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

Wilco has never been content to jog in place from record to record, changing their sound with each cd. Frontman Jeff Tweedy says Sky Blue Sky is more straightforward than recent efforts. The loose, folky vibe recalls the Grateful Dead circa Terrapin Station era. At times, the mood seems a little TOO laid back, but guitarist Nels Cline spashes enough color in all the right places to make the picture interesting.

Key Tracks: You Are My Face, Impossible Germany, Please Be Patient With Me, What Light

buy

5) Matt Pond PA - Last Light

Matt Pond and company keep churning out solid albums. Last Light sticks to their well-rehearsed formula: ridiculously catchy indie-pop. The difference is in the production. Pond produced the record himself, and opted to bring crunchy guitars more to the forefront of the action. The result is a more aggressive sound than usual, but it works. The prevailing theme of the album is twilight, and the mix of emotions that accompany the night. Thoughtful lyrics and infectious tunes make this one of my favorites of 2007.

Key Tracks: Last Light, Honestly, Taught To Look Away, Basement Parties

buy

6) Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone

A cacophony of noise. A symhony of beauty. This new record by the instrumental Texas quartet showcases the power of dynamic contrasts. The songs build from nothing to hellbent intensity and vice versa. As usual, their sound is anchored by lonesome keyboards, moody guitar and pounding drums. The melodies wander about like lost souls, and this record follows their long journey. I didn't care much for it at first, but I've grown to appreciate the musicianship and sheer magnificance of their sound. Perfect for doing homework or late night road trips.

Key Tracks: The Birth and Death of a Day, What Do You Go Home To?, So Long Lonesome

buy

7) Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

The third effort from indie-icon Sam Beam is a departure from his previous works. On Shepherd's Dog Beam trades his usual intimacy for songs augmented by impressively ornate arrangements. Take the tune "White Tooth Man" for example. This mid-tempo raga is complete with sitars, tribal drums and tambourine, sounding like vintage late '60s Beatles. There's variety, from the back-porch sunny r&b of "The Devil Never Sleeps" and the vermillion slow accordian cruise of "Flightless Bird, American Mouth." Sounds like a really fun record to make in the studio, I'm jealous.

Key Tracks: Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car, White Tooth Man, Boy With A Coin, The Devil Never Sleeps

buy

8) Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha

One of the most talented performers and songwriters on the Chicago circuit these days, Andrew Bird has outdone himself yet again. Whether it's the gypsy swagger of "Imitosis", the rolling hip-hop groove of "Simple X" or the primal beauty of the closing instrumental "Yawny At the Apocalypse" Bird always seems to capture the essence he's looking for in each song. The song "Armchairs" is a sprawling seven-minute epic, with lyrics about "ancient sea slugs" and the cruel passing of time. This is probably my favorite Bird record so far.

Key Tracks: Imitosis, Armchairs, Simple X, Spare-Ohs, Yawny at the Apocalypse

buy

9) Bruce Springsteen - Magic

This record has recieved heavy attention from critics already (check out Fricke's review), so there's not much new to write. It's definitely vintage old-Bruce. This record harks back to the days when rock music was simply bigger, the days of Damn The Torpedoes, Hotel California and the Boss' own Born to Run. Springsteen is always at his best when he has a bone to pick, and the songs are chalk full of emotion and edgy when needed. Lyrics aside, these are some of the best melodies Springsteen has come out with in a long time.

Key Tracks: Radio Nowhere, Livin' in the Future, Girls In Their Summer Clothes, Long Walk Home

buy

10) As Cities Burn - Come Now Sleep

Another "out of nowhere" album. One of the most beautiful, hard-rocking collection of songs I've heard this year. This is the first album I've heard by them, which is fortunate because they used to have post-hardcore vocals. Seems like they haven't lost too much intensity though. The chorus for "The Hoard" rocks harder than anything Circa Survive has put out. Songs like "Contact" and "Empire" have some of the best guitar-work I've heard this year, not from a technical but musical perspective, the licks are very fluid like water, seeping around the melodies. Check them out in case they get big.

Key Tracks: Contact, Empire, The Hoard, New Sun, Tides

buy

Live Bandits

2007-12-06T16:23:00.000-08:00

WOW. Fresh off the presses..Please go here and purchase the Rx Bandits live set from Bonnaroo 2007 off of itunes. This shit is HOT. Listen to the samples if you don't believe me.

The opening jam is incredible, and be sure to check out the extended breakdown in "Only for the Night."

Other Bonnaroo acts released on itunes today:

Bob Weir & Ratdog

The String Cheese Incident

North Mississippi Allstars

Hot Tuna

Dierks Bentley

James Blood

Ulmer

Xavier Rudd

David Bromberg and Angel Band

Mavis Staples

Dr. Dog

Robert Glasper Trio

80's band 'Journey's to Asia in hunt for singer

2007-12-06T15:37:00.000-08:00

So it seems as if the rumors were true. Philipinno singer Arnel Pineda is indeed the new frontman for Journey. He replaces Jeff Scott Soto, the most recent member of what is becoming a line of long-haired mic-wielders.

Journey guitarist Neal Schon reportedly saw the 40 year old Pineda perform on Youtube and invited him to the states for an audition. Cower before the powers of the internet!

here's a video of Pineda performing Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" with his cover band The Zoo:

he's from a cover band? somehow fitting...

Pineda and the band are reportedly in the studio cooking up a new record, which would be released sometime in 2008. "(Pineda) is the real deal. Just phenomenal," record producer Kevin Shirley said.

As for the new record being good...don't hold your breath.

Brand New/Thrice Show

2007-12-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

Brand New, Thrice, Mewithoutyou (Sunday 12/1)

Drove off to Baltimore Sunday night with a monsoon-worthy downpour beating against the windows. Arrived at UMBC despite the elements' best counterefforts.

It's a quaint little campus (albeit in the middle of nowhere), however it'd be nice if they had a few signs along the roads so one doesn't have to drive around the circle three or four times! Fortunately a friendly police officer was able to direct me to the 4000 cap. fieldhouse, where the show was being held.

Arrived fashionably late and missed out on Mewithoutyou, but I wasn't too remorse. They put on an energetic live show, but I didn't really care for their last record too much, and my excitement for seeing Brand fucking New was kind of overriding any desire to wait through two sets by other bands PLUS the downtime in between. However I did get to see...

Thrice
Entered the gym to the last chorus of "All That's Left", apparently the opening number of Thrice. I don't have their setlist, but it was the usual mix of 60 percent new record, 40 percent old material. One or two songs from every record but Identity Crisis were played.

I was blown away at how much their sound has improved in the four years since I last saw them. It's much more polished and cohesive now, with few notes wasted. Dustin Kensrue's voice was positively spine-tingling as he serenaded the crowd with "Digital Sea", a haunting cut off Thrice's new record The Alchemy Index: Vols I & II.

Older songs such as "Kill Me Quickly" and "Silhouette" sounded just as good. Of course they played "Deadbolt", with a rocking extended outro, and closed with a monsterous rendition of "The Earth Will Shake."

Wonderful set, had kind of lost interest in them lately, so this show has re-invigorated me to them. I'm going to go buy the new album as soon as I get a chance.

Thrice - Burn the Fleet - this song just KILLED live

buy "The Alchemy Index: Vols I & II" at Amazon!

Brand New

The event I've been waiting years for! Needless to say, having only several rows of bodies between me and songwriting idol Jesse Lacey was nothing short of a religious experience. Despite Brand New's reputation for being pompous assholes in real life, I decided to not to pre-judge.

Setlist:
Play Crack the Sky
Luca
Jesus Christ
Handcuffs
Limousine
Welcome to Bangkok
Sic Transit Gloria (Glory Fades)
Okay, I believe you...but my tommy gun don't
Archers
Jaws Theme Swimming
Degausser
Millstone
You Won't Know
Sowing Season (Yeah)

Encore: Untitled jam

Drawing exclusively from their last two albums, the show began with Jesse alone center-stage, armed with an acoustic guitar and draped in a golden spotlight hue. He busted out with "Play Crack the Sky", a slow ballad from Deja Entendu. It caught the majority of the crowd, who were expecting a rocking beginning, off-guard. Hearing the man who wrote the song deliever the words was great though, and most people were singing along.

The new songs translated live more effectively than I thought they would. The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me is a slow record and I was worried that the energy might sag, but that wasn't the case. Tunes like "Luca", "Jesus Christ" and "Limousine" were skillfully navigated by Lacey and his band, who have the crescendo from nothingness to hellbent intensity down pat.

The crowd seemed a little lethargic at first, sleepy college kids bundled in jackets from the sub-zero rain outside were perhaps less inclined to get into than usual crowds. A lot of younger people, which is suprising to me because the new album is less poppy.
But then Brand New launched into "Sic Transit" and the kids went BATSHIT. I used to hate that song, but it was actually one of the better ones of the night. This began the "Deja" section of the setlist, in which two out of the next three songs were off that abum.

Never a band to shy away from grandeur and excess, Brand New brought out not one but TWO drumkits which were used for only two numbers that I could tell, the semi-pointless instrumental "Welcome to Bangkok" and the encore: an extended jam version of the song "Untitled" on the new album. It would have been nice for a couple of the slower songs to be traded out for "The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot" or even something off their first album Your Favorite Weapon. Brand New is notorious for shunning their old material though, so I wasn't too suprised or disappointed.

Brand New - The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows (live) ...wish they had played this

buy "The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me" from Amazon.

Overall great show, well-worth the 25 bucks.

Top 10 Songs of 2007

2007-11-26T10:10:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Songs of 2007

Wow, somehow it's that time of year again...

..and yes I know there's technically a few weeks left in the year, but there's nothing really mind-blowing coming out in December sooo here we go:

1) Jesus Christ
Brand New
The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me

No song this year paints a better image of dark and brooding. The first thing you hear is a single guitar, playing a simple little motif that will haunt your dreams. The vamp continues throughout the verses. Anticipation builds and builds until to the intense bridge comes out of nowhere to hammer you fiercely over the head.

Frontman Jesse Lacey waxes poetic, digging in with his mournful crooning voice, and strikes occasional gold: "Jesus Christ, that's a pretty face/The kind you'd find on someone that could save."

I've spun this song more times than I care to remember this year..definitely more than any other song..making it an easy choice for numero uno.

listen

2) Ghost White (Radio Version)
Rupesh Cartel
The Disco and the What Not

This song is the muthafrickin TRUTH. Pulsing with energy, this synth-rock number never lets up on the gas from start to finish. The vibe never sags or dissipates, and the chorus is pure adrenaline.

The synths truly do sound ghostly at the beginning, whirling around at devilish paces like spirits at play under a Van Gogh moon. The vocal patterns fit the verse perfectly, explosions of words spelled by breaks that prove the ghost vacuum of silence can be louder than words.

listen

3) Contact
As Cities Burn
Come Now Sleep

I've been more or less obsessed with this tune for months now. This year's slow-burner lulls your senses in a warm liquid bath of reverb guitars and swirling vocals. Smooth guitar licks dance overhead like fireflies stopping to drink from the current.

'Contact' still remembers to hit the afterburners in the second half though, building the intensity with pounding drums and waves of distortion. The lyrics hold such a fornlorn longing, both in their delivery as well as their content, and your heart aches for the voice of the song as he searches for greater meaning.

Definitely a song that gets better with each listen.

listen

4) Thin Layer
The Honorary Title
Scream and Light up the Sky

The first track on an waay underrated album certainly isn't lacking in the grand department. It reaches for the stars, grabbing at the cosmos more ably than The Killers' Sam's Town. The verses move along quickly, mere stage-setters for the HUGE chorus.

Its easy to picture frontman Jarrod Gorbel delivering the words prone with arms outstretched to the heavens that The Honorary Title reaches with this tune. Ringing guitars provide the rope ladder leading up and beyond.

Just when you think the song is winding down, it comes back up again one last time for an scything, unforgettable ending.

listen

5) Impossible Germany
Wilco
Sky Blue Sky

I had the privilege of seeing Wilco perform this song at the 930 Club long before this record was recorded, and was blown away by its sheer elegance. Fortunately that same vibe carries over to the studio version.

The guitars take you along for the ride, a midnight waltz through an enchanted forest sipping bubbly from opaque fountains sprouting from the soft earth. Jeff Tweedy's voice provides the narration in his usual vague manner.

After the verses, the woods open up and resident fret-shredder Nels Cline is allowed room to operate, which he does with surgical precision. The call and response interplay between him and guitarist Pat Sansone is not to be missed.

listen

6) Night is Alive
Innerpartysystem
The Download EP

Imagine a futuristic goth prom, bodies swaying in a dark room lit by pale flickering of strobe lights. I picture this song playing in the background.

"Night is Alive" opens with an ominous sounding bass line that soon gives way to simmering groove. The bass keeps thumping away, joined by ambient synths, and drummer Jared's foundation of solid dance beats.

Oh, and then the chorus begins; prepare for face-melting balls to the wall mayhem. The singer effortless hits the high major 7th on the outro and it's pure bliss. One of the best electro-rock songs of 2007.

listen

7) Fake Empire
The National
The Boxer

I'll admit I didn't like this song at first, but it's really grown on me over time. The guy's voice is truly compelling, you find yourself unable to walk away. Something about the way he delievers the lyrics works really well. Think Leonard Cohen doing Sinatra, sitting in a fifth avenue bar at 2am nursing a scotch.

'Fake Empire' works in layers, adding them gradually along the way. The momentum really starts during the third verse with the introduction of the drums. Don't forget the snappy brass at the end thrown in for good measure.

listen

8) CIA
State Radio
Year of the Crow

Don't know too much about these guys, but their new record has some pure jams. This political thriller features lyrics such as "Don't you ever let let us down C.I.A./As you call in sick your empire needs protecting."

Politics aside, the music is good too. It morphs from the Wailer's reggae of the verses to an invigorating punk rock chorus that dares you not to sing along. By the way, it's the singer foremerly of Dispatch, but don't let that ruin it for you because this is actually good.

listen

9) Don't Make Me a Target
Spoon
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Instantly one of my favorite songs by Spoon, "Don't Make Me a Target" swaggers lazily along at a medium groove, but there's a definite underlying current of urgency in the choppy guitar rhythms.

Another political song, this one pokes fun at Bush with lines like: "Clubs and sticks and bats and balls/For nuclear dicks with their dialect drawls/That come from a parking lot town."

The urgent tension finally releases when the band doubles up the time for the instrumental breakdown. Usually with Spoon's music I feel like they're holding something back. I still get that a bit with "Don't Make Me a Target", but I was won over completely by their blazing live rendition.

listen

10) No Cars Go
Arcade Fire
Neon Bible

Think BIG. The Arcade Fire certainly have musical aspirations greater than the sum of their parts. They craft musical bodies large enough to swallow star systems whole.

"No Cars Go" explodes with galactic energy, the band kicking off with a euphoric swirl of no less than accordian, brass, strings, and choir behind them.

The song was actually written a long time ago. It was written about a remote location discovered by singer Win Butler, as evidenced by the lyrics: "We Know a place where no planes go/We know a place where no ships go".

After the happy go lucky verses, military drums bust through the door for the bridge, armed with a copy of Joshua Tree in hand, and Butler channels Bono in his prime for a huge energy swell.

listen

Rock Band

2007-11-18T23:33:00.000-08:00

Holiday shopping fervor has already infected the American mindset. Among the hottest commodities of the year will be two video games: "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" and "Rock Band".

"Guitar Hero III" came out last month and made $115 million in the first week alone. "Rock Band" is poised to come out this Tuesday, Nov 20th. Both games are developed by Harmonix Music Systems, based in Massachusetts.

prices at bestbuy:
"Rock Band" (with microphone, guitar, and drums): $169.99
"Guitar Hero III" (with guitar): $99.99

check out a demonstration of "Rock Band" at this year's E3 video game convention

Personally I detest these games, especially as they are being cranked out in fast food quantities these days. They are thinly-veiled marketing vehicles.

But most importantly, I've played both games and I have to say neither is as fun as playing the actual instruments. I would encourage prospective buyers to re-consider, and instead drop $100 on a cheapo guitar.

2007-11-12T08:34:00.000-08:00

Blender.com just recently posted a list of their all-time top 100 rock & roll movies. They did a decent job, with a few odd choices that have little to do with music (Trainspotting?) here and there.

Here are my personal top 5:

1) Almost Famous (Cameron Crowe): The film is based on Crowe's real-life experiences as a teenage journalist for Rolling Stone Magazine. It paints a beautiful portrait of the changing musical landscape of '73, including an increasingly corporate-based record industry and bands merely looking to cash in on the spoils of fame. Rock music is the life-blood and driving force behind this film.

2) A Hard Day's Night (Richard Lester): Smart comedy sheds human light on The Beatles and showcases each member's unique personality. The Fab Four are a delight in front of the camera, and none of the dialogue sounds forced. Came out at the height of their fame as pop stars before they stopped touring.

3) This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner): The gold-standard for fake documentaries. Christopher Guest, Michael McKeon and Harry Shearer star in this absurd yet painfully truthful spoof of late 70's glam rock bands. Hits a home run showing the difficult and sometimes ridiculous lifestyle of rock stars.

4) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Live in New York City (Chris Hilson): This is a TV specical, not a movie, but noneoftheless remains one of my favorite live performances captured on film. On the grand New York stage of Madison Square Garden, New Jersey's beloved son rocks the house with amped up versions of crowd favorites such as "Atlantic City". The moving rendition of ballad "The River" will send electric tingles up your spine.

5) I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (Sam Jones): This documentary was shot during the recording of Wilco's album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Director Sam Jones got behind-the-scenes access to the band, and captured unexpected in-band squabbling and turmoil on camera. Does a great job of showing the uncertainty that goes along with making an album, as well as record label politics.

Black Kids

2007-11-04T06:39:00.000-08:00

Black Kids are among the most promising new artists of 2007. Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, they've gone from obscurity to fame in a matter of months. Their meteoric rise lends further credence to the notion that in the electronic era of the internet, one can truly become an overnight sensation.

Things really took off for them in August after playing a scorching set at the Athens Popfest in Georgia, where numerous members of the media were present. Soon after, Black Kids became a hot buzz word for bloggers and music press alike.

"Black Kids are amazing," says NME.com.

They remain unsigned to a label, and their only release to date is their five-track ep, "The Wizard of Ahhhs", which they have up for download on their myspace page.

listen to their songs or download them for free

Their sound is familiar, striking a balance between old school indie punk (The Clash) and new (The Arcade Fire). While it doesn't transcend any new ground, it's an impressive batch of songwriting for a debut effort.

Really looking forward to a full-length in the near future.

Pirate Site Shut Down

2007-10-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Online music pirates lost a major resource last week with the shut-down of OiNK, a UK-run private bittorrent site with a vast music selection.

British police arrested the site's administrator, a 24 year old IT worker. Working in tandem, Dutch police shut down Oink's server in Amsterdam. (read an article on the arrest here)

Music on OiNK ranged from hard-to-find old records to new releases. It also functioned as a social hub for many downloaders. The site was meticulously organized and was maintained through member donations.

This is a big blow to members who used the site as a source of new music. It gave lesser-known bands a great platform for exposure. Those fans will now have to rely more heavily on the blogosphere and the media as sources of new music.

New Itunes Format

2007-10-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

InnerPartySystem is quickly rising to the elite ranks of the Philadelphia electronic scene. Their style is a club rave cocktail with intermittent flavors remniscent of synth pop artist Shiny Toy Guns and indie dance-rockers Minus the Bear. A touch of glamour ala Interpol and The Killers is splashed in for good measure.

I just purchased their "Download Ep" off itunes. I couldn't help but notice that the files I got are encoded in Apple's new and improved Itunes Plus mp3 format.

The new files are better quality, play on every platform, and now cost the same as the old format (.99 USD).

Last week, Steve Jobs announced that Itunes Plus prices will be reduced from their original cost of $1.29.

In the past, music downloaded from Itunes came with copy protection, otherwise known as digital rights management. DRM limits which devices songs can be played on (for instance, Itunes music only works on Apple's Ipod).

The new format, according to Apple's website:

"There are no burn limits and iTunes Plus music will play on all iPods, Mac or Windows computers, Apple TVs, and many other digital music players."

Additionally, where itunes downloads were previously available only in 128kps quality (320 is the best), the new format is encoded at 256kbps.

Not all is rosy though.

Users have expressed a few concerns about privacy issues relating to the new download format. blogger Aaron West provided some good links about those concerns on his blog.

Great Soundtrack

2007-10-15T00:17:00.000-07:00

click image to see trailer

Released with suprisingly little fanfare, Across the Universe is a musical that delves into a chunk of mid-to-late 60's culture in America. At first it seems like the soundtrack (comprised by covers of Beatles tunes) serves as the backdrop for the film...until you realize that it's actually the other way around.

Very tastefully done, with only a few cheesy moments. Across the Universe really does the songs justice, and shows how The Beatles' musical style adapted along with the times. The film was directed by Julie Taymor. Her myspace page has some great video clips from the movie that really showcase the music/film interaction.

The music features wonderful singing performances from the cast, most notably stars Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, and Evan Rachel Wood. There are also a few cameos of note, including Bono singing a rocking rendition of "I am the Walrus". The soundtrack was released by Interscope Records, but contains only 16 of the 33 songs featured in the movie.

No fears though, as they also discreetly released a 2-disc deluxe edition which has all 33 of the tunes. This can be purchased here from Amazon. Kind of a shady move, as unsuspecting people who bought the single disc version of the soundtrack would agree...

Hear a few cuts from the album on the official myspace page.

The Death of Record Companies

2007-10-14T23:01:00.000-07:00

Radiohead dropped an atom bomb on the industry this week with In Rainbows, the suprise album of the year.

With no distribution deal in place (Radiohead is currently unsigned), the band elected to release the record digitally via their website. In a stunning move, payment for the download is left to the listener's discretion.

From a business standpoint this is a terrific decision. First of the money will be going straight to the artists instead of going to retailers and the record company. Also it shows the band realizes that people would have downloaded the cd for free anyway, and doing this allows them to at least do it on their own terms.

..Oh and by the way, it's an amazing record.

Music review websites have been blog-ed down this week as everyone tries to get their two-cents in about the band's first new material since 2003's Hail to the Thief. The new album is an eclectic batch of songs that sound neither re-hashed nor completely new.

One of best cuts, "Nude", is typical of In Rainbow's sound: ghostly vocals floating over a smooth rhythm guitar ocean. Other highlights include the uptempo groovy grunge-fest of "Bodysnatchers" and the beautiful "All I Need", which swells from almost nothing to a dramatic finish.

What others had to say:

* "All of it rocks; none of it sounds like any other band on earth; it delivers an emotional punch that proves all other rock stars owe us an apology." - Rolling Stone
(full article here)

* The Chicago Tribune posted a nice little article which includes commentary about each song on the album. See that here

* Radiohead performed the tune "Bodysnatchers" last year at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn. See that here

Amaze Disgrace

2007-10-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

October.
The bells tolling the start of baseball's second season are ringing. With summer's last gasp as the backdrop, the MLB Playoffs will kick off this week with many hungry faces feasting their eyes upon the big prize: a World Championship.

The New York Mets, however, will not be among those faces.

With Sunday's 8-1 loss to the Marlins, coupled with Philadelphia's 6-1 triumph over the Nationals, the Mets have completed one of the worst collapses in sports history.

As many as two weeks ago they were leading the AL East by a gaping 7 game margin, a lead seemingly set in stone.

You really have to feel for Mets manager Willie Randolph, especially now that he has to watch his Bronx counterparts gear up for yet another title run.

It's also got to be hard on the Mets' veterans. In particular, Sunday's game was certainly one starter Tommy Glavine would like to have back, as he allowed 5 runs in the first alone. Hopefully the bad taste in his mouth will lead to the cagey pitcher returning for another season.