March 23, 2008

"I'm Afraid to Forget You, I Am Remembering You"

I went to another 2 shows this weekend that I'll be having to atlk about at some point soon... how soon depends on how much time I've got in the next few days...

I came across this band by the name of the Hospital Bombers, and instantly knew that they too were fellow Mountain Goats lovers (because the name of their band comes from a Mountain Goats song). While the music isn't very Mountain Goats-y, it's still pretty fun. Give it a shot:

Hospital Bombers - The Devil's Music

Another little band that crossed my path that I enjoyed quite a bit is a band by the name of mr. Gnome. Spirited and haunting and fun and cute, the people of mr. Gnome knows what they're doing. Can't wait to see them here in a few weeks.

mr. Gnome - Pirates

oh yeah, and this too: I always like to fill requests, especially when it's as easy as re-uping an old set. Here ya go:

Band: My Brightest Diamond
Date: 2007-02-25
Venue: Le Ciel, Grenoble, France

Feeling Good (Nina Simone cover)
L'enfant et les sortilèges (Based on Ravel's opera) (favorite of the set)
Gone Away
(Unknown)
Dragonfly
Something of an End
We Were Sparkling
The Robin's Jar
Golden Star
Je n'en connais pas la fin/Hymne à l'amour (Edith Piaf cover)
Disappear
Magic Rabbit
Workhorse
No Quarter (Led Zeppelin Cover)
Freak Out
Youkali (Kurt Weill cover)
Joy in Repetition (Prince cover)
Be My Husband (Nina Simone)

March 19, 2008

B(l)ogged Down, Pt. 1

Yea-Yuh! The blog broke 10,000 hits!

in other news: I've been thinking about adding another little thing denoting the genre of the album underneath the name of the album ... but I'll have to keep that on the back burner as I am the worst person at describing genres.

I've got a live set I need to post and a few live shows I've been to recently that I need to talk about. What's the hold up? I'm on Spring Break, and have gotten entirely too lazy. Also I've been working on this 5 part post. I'll get to that stuff here in a little bit (I'm especially sorry about the hold up on the live set, I know there's a nice person out there patiently waiting to get their hands on it and I feel bad).

I've become so bogged down with CD reviews which I've just put on the back burner that its starting to get out of hand, and adding all that to all the slacking I've been doing, that leaves a lot of music I've got to cover in a short amount of time. So, today I'm going to be short with words, but generous in verdicts and mp3's. If this keeps up, then I'm thinking I'll do an explosion of reviews every 3 months, just to clear the slate. We'll see though. Here you go (some of them don't have any explanations as to why I did or did not like them, and that's because I was just sick of thinking about it and am really just trying to clear my mind):

The Audition - Champion
Verdict: Didn't Like (ø)
Just not my style. Too much like Panic! at the Atrocious-Excuse-For-Music. But if you like that, then hey, you might dig this:
The Audition - Warm Me Up

Louis XIV - Slick Dogs and Ponies
Verdict: Like ()
Man, this album has such an amazing opening track, but everything after that just kind of sounds a little forced and contrived. I dunno. I loved it on the first listen, but then it kind of fell apart on the second and third listen.
Louis XIV - Guilty By Association (amazing amazing song)
Louis XIV - Sometimes You Just Want To
Louis XIV - Misguided Sheep

Ghengis Tron - Board Up The House
Verdict: Love (<)
Wow. I really liked these guy's old stuff for it's innovation, but it seems like with this album they've become a little more bland. Granted, their shit is still hard as hell and in awkward time signatures, but it's not as outlandish as it used to be. That said, the album is effing awesome. I only didn't rate it "Love More" because it's a little more conformed to the rules than their old stuff.
Ghengis Tron - Blow Back
Ghengis Tron - Things Don't Look Good
Ghengis Tron - City on a Hill

Zumpano - Look What The Rookie Did
Verdict: Like ()
Nothing outrageously inventive or experimental, but you can tell these guys are having a good time at least.
Zumpano - I Dig You
Zumpano - Platinum Is Best Served Cold
Zumpano - Jeez Louise

The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Verdict: Like ()
Soothing and peaceful and really fairly competent, but it's a little too Coldplay/Keane-ish for me at times, and, while I like those bands, those bands all ready exist, so we don't need a whole lot more of their stuff (frankly I only like about 2-3 Coldplay songs anyway).
The Helio Sequence - The Captive Mind
The Helio Sequence - You Can Come To Me
The Helio Sequence - Shed Your Love

HorrorPops - Kiss Kiss Kill Kill
Verdict: Love (<)
Now I'm not what most people call a fan of Rockabilly, but this shit is rad. Amazing opening track too.
HorrorPops - Thelma & Loiuse
HorrorPops - Everything's Everything
HorrorPops - Hitchcock Starlet

Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creations Dark
Verdict: Like ()
Very Alt. Country to the point where it might not be Alt. anymore, but because I've grown so used to Alt. Country that my mind has just made the leap and now I like country. I doubt that though. Hella smart album.
Drive-By Truckers - Home Field Advantage
Drive-By Truckers - You And Your Crystal Meth
Drive-By Truckers - The Man I Shot

Wisely - Wisely
Verdict: Like ()
It was cute, but the only reason I really liked it much at all was because I listened to it over and over to see if there was just something I was missing that a lot of other people saw. I see potential, but not the promised land.
Wisely - Nothing But The Wind
Wisely - Only Losing Me
Wisely - Through Any Window

The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath
Verdict: Love (<)
Schizophrenic-Electro-Rock-Jazz as only The Mars Volta has ever really done. Another hella epic. If you liked their old stuff, then why don't you all ready know to own this? If you're skeptical that the band would ever top themselves, listen up:
The Mars Volta - Metatron
The Mars Volta - Tourniquet Man
The Mars Volta - Ouroborous

Mute Math - Flesh And Bones Electric Fun
Verdict: Indifferent (~)
Simply not my style.
Mute Math - Stare At The Sun/Obsolete [Live]

The Hearers - Flowers and Flames EP
Verdict: Like ()
Nice little EP. As always, I'd like to hear more, so I'll be looking out for their new album (which I hear is out now).
The Hearers - Songbird, Pt. 2

North Mississippi Allstars - Hernando
Verdict: Like ()
Deep Roots Blues Country Classic Rock N Roll. Kind sounds a little Hendrixy, kind of a little Rage Against the Machiney. For some reason it reminds me a lot of Pork Tornado. All in all, it was okay.
North Mississippi Allstars - Shake (Yo Mama)
North Mississippi Allstars - Keep The Devil Down
North Mississippi Allstars - Long Way From Home

Saviors - Into Abbadon
Verdict: Didn't Like (ø)
Kind of like a bad mix of Celtic Frost/Hellhammer and Motorhead. Sorry guys, but those bands have all ready come out with a billion CDs. But, if you're having fun, then I guess, by all means ...
Saviors - Firewake Angel

Destroyer - Trouble in Dream
Verdict: Love (<)
So, this guy sings in a very strange matter, and has very peculiar lyrics, but all in all I enjoy it. I don't know if I'd like it as much as I do if my buddy Casey hadn't explained how much he enjoys him, because when a good buddy of mine whom has good taste in music likes something, I'm usually more likely to like it. Either way, Destroyer has an awkward way of writing music that is just ... head-shakingly-amazing. Also, it's reminiscent of Pink Floyd
Destroyer - Blue Flower/Blue Flame
Destroyer - the State
Destroyer - Shooting Rockets (From the Desk of Night's Ape)

B(l)ogged Down, Pt. 2

Eric Matthews - The Imagination State
Verdict: Indifferent (~)
The songs remind me of the slow, mocking songs that Dog Fashion Disco did for their album Adultery, which isn't a good sign. Maybe I've just not got the right mind frame to really enjoy his music.
Eric Matthews - That Kiss of Life

Foxy Shazam - Introducing...
Verdict: Love More (<3)
What a fun album :). It's just unabashedly out of control Power Pop (ish) Piano Dance Punk. Really crazy and epic at times too. This album sometimes sound like like what would happen if the Electric Six went Hardcore, sometimes if it was Bruce Springsteen who'd gone Hardcore. Heck, sometimes it's 1950's pop influenced. Hecka fun.
Foxy Shazam - Introducing Foxy
Foxy Shazam - The Rocketeer
Foxy Shazam - It's Hair Smelled Like Bonfire

Green River - Dry As A Bone/Rehab Doll
Verdict: Indifferent (~)
Kind of Classic Rock influenced frat party grunge. Really didn't strike my interest all that much. despite it's cultural importance.
Green River - Hunted Down

The Do - A Mouthful
Verdict: Love More (<3)+
Wow. This shit is all over the place. It's like Feist, Nellie McKay, a female fronted Kings of Leon, the Pierces, CocoRosie, Lily Allen, and a few others I can't recall. Super impressive.
The Do - At Last
The Do - Stay (Just A Little Bit More)
The Do - Tammie
The Do - Unissasi Laulelet


The Epochs - The Epochs
Verdict: Love (<)
This one took a while to grow on me too, but it really did grow on me. It reminds me of TV on the Radio, and I like that. But they're enough of their own band that they're actually pretty charming.
The Epochs - Opposite Sides
The Epochs - Right On
The Epochs - Mouths to Feed


Bob Mould - District Line
Verdict: Indifferent (~)
When I listened to this album, I got the feeling like if I'd been a long time fan of Bob Mould, I would be in love with this album. But I'm not, and, really, an album shouldn't rely on that to be a good album. It was all right I guess.
Bob Mould - Stupid Now


Chris Joss - Teraphonic Overdubs
Verdict: Like ()
It's groovy and jam-tastic and really reminiscent of the Blue States actually. I'm kind of a fan.
Chris Joss - Count The Daisies
Chris Joss - Get With It
Chris Joss - A Room With a VU Meter


Clark - Turning Dragon
Verdict: Like ()
The first thing I thought was "huh, kind of sounds like Justice." As the album progressed I could tell Clark had his own "voice," and that it was actually more enjoyable that Justice's at times. Granted, I only really really like 1 Justice song, so that's not saying much, but I did like this album. IT was pretty dancy and grimy and mashupy.
Clark - Volcan Veins
Clark - New Year Storm
Clark - Truncation Horn


DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist - The Hard Sell
Verdict: Love (<)
The album, which is broken up into 2 tracks, is basically a music time line, so that's pretty rad. It goes from 50'sish pop to 90's hip hop ... I'm pretty sure. Some of the stuff is hard to pin down. Super well mixed and genius for any party.
DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist - Clip 1
DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist - Clip 2


Get Set Go - Sunshine, Joy And Happiness: A Tragic Tale of Death, Despair...
Verdict: Indifferent (~)
Campy and fun at the start, but the gimmicky power pop sound kind of got old kind of fast. Granted, the sometimes brutal lyrics matched up with poppy music is kind of fun, but all in all it reminds me too much of Sublime, and I don't much like Sublime.
Get Set Go - Hell On Earth


Willie Nelson - Moment Of Forever
Verdict: Didn't Like (ø)
You know, I think we don't really need another Willie Nelson album, but I guess that's just one man's opinion. That's what it is though, slow, kind of sad sounding country, sung by Willie Nelson. And can I just say it's awkward to hear Willie Nelson talk about getting over a relationship...

Heaven Shall Burn - Iconoclast (Part 1: The Final Resistance)
Verdict: Love More (<3)+
I was skeptical at first because I've started to be come wary of bands who are trying to be a little too "evil" because it usually end up just looking dumb. But I was thoroughly impressed with this album. This album really got me thinking about what makes a good or great or amazing Death Metal album, and I've come to the conclusion that I have no idea, and probably never will. In some regards it's just as brutal as a whole bunch of other albums, and if you turn them up loud enough, all albums are essentially just as loud, and all Death Metal albums have plenty of blast beats and guttural screams and chugging guitars ... so what sets this album apart? The only thing that I can think of is that it's well composed. It's actually quite beautiful. I honestly could have randomly picked any songs off of this album and I would have given you a good taste of the awesomeness this album represents.
Heaven Shall Burn - Endzeit
Heaven Shall Burn - Murderers of All Murderers
Heaven Shall Burn - Quest for Resistance
Heaven Shall Burn - Against All Lies


The Heavy Circles - The Heavy Circles
Verdict: Indifferent (~)
It didn't hold my interest, but that doesn't mean it's not good. I just moved on quickly.
The Heavy Circles - Confused

B(l)ogged Down, Pt. 3

Enon - Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds
Verdict: Love More (<3)+
Um, this one is a no-brain-er. Enon Freaking Rocks. Granted my favorite is still Hocus Pocus, but this one is still really rad. This is one of the 07 albums I'm sad I missed out on in 07, because it would have been pretty high on the list of amazing albums.
Enon - Mirror on You
Enon - Colette
Enon - Dr. Freeze
Enon - Sabina

Perimeter - Odium Humani Generis
Verdict: Love (<)
Wow. Harsh/Brutal/etc. So good. Though, may I express my fear that this band might be a Nazi band? because I'm a little afraid that they are, because one of their songs has a title that has the word "Hatecore" in it, and Hatecore is associated with Nazi-ism, and that is SO NOT COOL. So, if they're not Nazi's (which, after stalking them on myspace, I really can't find any evidence that they are), then it's a good album, and I recommend it, because Death Metal is rarely done well, and this is it being done well Granted, it's not as good as the new Heaven Shall Burn album, but it's still pretty impressive. Also, can I mention that there is a horn solo in one of the songs? a song that is Jazzy? nuts.
Perimeter - Blood Red Attitude
Perimeter - The One Great Sterile Death
Perimeter - Total Fuckin' Anti Positive
Perimeter - Watch How We Manage Your Lives (Scene From The Selection) [this is that Jazzy song]

Kelley Stoltz - Circular Sound
Verdict: Like ()
Sweet jingly-jangly popish feel good tunes that honestly didn't hold my for more than about 3 listens, but I did like our time together.
Kelley Stoltz - Tintinnabulation
Kelley Stoltz - When You Forget
Kelley Stoltz - Morning Sun

The Box Social - Get Going
Verdict: Indifferent (~)
Someone recommended these guys to me, so I checked them out. I feel bad because the PR person really was trying to just get these fella's name out there, and I respect hard work, which I try to reward, but the thing is that I didn't much like these guys. They have a few good qualities, but over all it's just not for me. I do like Big T however.
The Box Social - Big T
The Box Social - Pay Attention
The Box Social - A New Low

Yip-Yip - Two Kings of the Same Kingdom
Verdict: Love (<)
You know, I didn't get it at first. Then I thought "you know, this kind of reminds me of Dan Deacon." Then the fact that Dan Deacon's true charm comes from his live shows, so I youtubed the boys of Yip-Yip and checked out their live shows. I have to say my favorite was the video of them playing a Homecoming Dance and everyone just looking confused as hell. Anyway, after watching the videos, I understood that the music really comes to life live. But that doesn't mean that I really want to listen to the music when not seeing Yip-Yip. It's rather enjoyable not live, but I can't imagine that it even compares.
Yip-Yip - Anarchist Clog
Yip-Yip - Sprinkle Council
Yip-Yip - Car Picnic

Promise of Redemption - When the Flower Blooms
Verdict: Didn't Like (ø)
Waaaaaaay over produced. I just couldn't identify with the lyrics, and wasn't interested in how the guitar sounded. The vocals just didn't match with the whole "acoustic guitar" thing either. Sometimes that's good, this time I feel it was not.

Aaron Jerome - Time To Rearrange
Verdict: Love (<)
I didn't want to listen to this album for a while because I expected it to be another crappy singer/songwriter with a guitar (judging books by covers), so when I finially broke down and listened to it, I was wildly surprised to find a jazzy little gem of an album. It's good. Hecka good. Jazzy and beatnickish and hip-hoppy and eff yeah....
Aaron Jerome - Reel Time (feat. Voice)
Aaron Jerome - Time To Rearrange
Aaron Jerome - Light Night Mission (Feat Yungun)

Earth - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull
Verdict: Like ()
Ambient and a little too Jam-Band-ish than Post-Rock, but is was soothing. Definitely not redefining music though.
Earth - Omens And Portents I: The Driver
Earth - Omens And Portents II: Carrion Crow

Gates Of Winter - Lux Aeterna
Verdict: Love (<)+
This was another album I was fairly skeptical of at first, but after 2 listens, I really started to enjoy it. It's awkward, there's no doubt to that (strange time signatures), and it's not for everyone (symphonic metal), but if you can get into it, then you'll find a fairly awesome debut album from a group of very talented guys.
Gates Of Winter - Burning Kingdom I: A Dark Affliction
Gates Of Winter - Burning Kingdom II: Heavenly Insurgence
Gates Of Winter - Burning Kingdom III: Lux Aeterna

Lenny Kravitz - It Is Time For A Love Revolution
Verdict: Didn't Like (ø)
Wow. This reinforces my reasoning for not owning a radio or watching much TV (LOST is really the only thing good these days).
Lenny Kravitz - Love Revolution

The Whitsundays - The Whitsundays
Verdict: Like ()
The Whitsundays - I Want It All
The Whitsundays - Sorry James
The Whitsundays - Antisocial

Airbourne - Runnin' Wild
Verdict: Like ()
Starting out the album with a guitar riff reminiscent of a Helloween riff is always going to get you a point or two with me. Airbourne:AC/DC, Wolfmother:Led Zeppelin. I really did have a good time listening to this album, but I don't know if I'd listen to it all the time. Manly Sex Rock.
Aireborne - Stand Up For Rock 'N' Roll
Aireborne - Diamond in the Rough
Aireborne - Cheap Wine & Cheaper Women

Peeping Tom - Peeping Tom
Verdict: Like ()
Whoa. I was turned onto this band by my friend Beth who was just as surprised as I was that I hadn't heard of "them." Granted I've got a little bit by just about everything else Mike Patton has done, so I've heard of him, but this album is something different, as one might expect from a Patton LP. It's weird and good, but, as does a lot of Patton's stuff, it still kind of sounds like Faith No More.
Peeping Tom - Sucker (Feat. Norah Jones)
Peeping Tom - Getaway (Feat. Kool Keith)
Peeping Tom - Five Seconds (Feat. Odd Nosdam)

Mahjongg - Kontpab
Verdict: Like ()
I've been trying to think of a way to describe my feelings on this album for a while, but I don't even really know. I think I'm going to need to see them live to "get it." It was good, but I just can't place why...
Mahjongg - Pontiac
Mahjongg - Kottbussor Torr
Mahjongg - Tell The Police The Truth

Blood on the Wall - Liferz
Verdict: Like ()
Mega-Bass driven lo-fi shoegaze punk ... maybe. Like I said, I'm awful at genres, and just say it like I think it is. I liked the album more and more as I listened to it, but I think this is another band I'll just have to see to fully appreciate their sound.
Blood on the Wall - Hibernation
Blood on the Wall - Liferz
Blood on the Wall - Sorry Sorry Sarah

B(l)ogged Down, Pt. 4

The Loved Ones - Build & Burn
Verdict: Like ()
Smart Yell Punk with a softer side (on occasion).
The Loved Ones - Pretty Good Year
The Loved Ones - Brittle Heart
The Loved Ones - 3rd Shift

Abney Park - Lost Horizons
Verdict: Like ()
So, put every bit of pride you have aside, like when you were a kid or a teenager or if you have no pride now then you're on the right track, and then listen to these songs. They're unabashadly ridiculous and, to my knowledge, completely serious. Abney Park is the first Steam Punk band to ever exist (that I've heard of anyway [though I guess I did hear of a band that used steam-driven piano thingy's, but seeming how that's all I heard, I have my doubts]), and with that comes some serious fantasy-playtime-ridiculousness, (especially since they use synthesizers, which are very non Steam Punk). Man, it's campy, but if you can get yourself in the mood, it's fun and strange and makes you laugh at yourself a little bit. Indulge the Steam Punk inside yourself:
Abney Park - Airship Pirate
Abney Park - Sleep Isabella
Abney Park - The Secret Life Of Doctor Calgori

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - Calibration
Verdict: Like ()
I really wonder whether or not the term Avant-Garde even applies to music like this anymore, because, when one breaks down the term and thinks about it in terms of the music, one realizes that this kind of strange music has been done before, and that it's really not as inventive as it used to be. Granted, this album couldn't even really be called all that Avant-Garde, but I've heard it described as such, and it just makes me wonder. I liked it, but I hope I didn't just like it because it was weird and, at times, hard to follow.
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - Calibration
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - Sidewalk Fins
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - El Monte T'ai

KMFDM - Brimborium
Verdict: Didn't Like (ø)
Was there ever a time when these guys were good? I'm sure there was, but remixing their stuff probably isn't going to bring back those days. Time to retire or create a new song KMFDM, you've been pimping out that same one for quite a while now... (even Combichrist couldn't make me interested in the song he remixed).
KMFDM - Tohuvabohu ((Ms 20 Mix) By Combichrist)

Tift Merritt - Another Country
Verdict: Like () +
Let it never be said that I don't branch out. This album is Country. Not even Alt. Country or Indie Country or Country-in-the-vein-of-The-Watson-Twins (though I've heard the arguments for these classifications). That said, it's no Toby Keith. Tift sings from the heart, which is good not only for what it is, but because that's kind of a staple of the Country music scene. I have a hard time understanding what made me listen to this album, and what made me like it, but I did, and, I guess, there you go.
Tift Merritt - My Heart Is Free
Tift Merritt - I Know What I'm Looking For
Tift Merritt - Mille Tendresses

The Whigs - Mission Control
Verdict:
Like ()+
It's a groovy and nice album, it is, but I'm just not drawn to listen to it over and over again, stand out songs aside. The guitar is hecka fun, and the drums are dancy, and the bass line makes your booty shake, and the singer has the right stuff, but I'm thinking that maybe it's just not what I'm looking for.
The Whigs - Like a Vibration
The Whigs - 1,000 Wives
The Whigs - I Got Ideas

The Used - Shallow Breather
Verdict: Like ()-
You know, I had all but given up on the Used. Their first album was a bombshell of strange, and that's what I loved about it. Then the second album had a few good songs on it, but all in all showed them going down a conformist's path, which is so sad. Then the last album they did was just atrocious. I couldn't even get through it. So I was skeptical going into this album. But it's not bad. While the energy and awkwardness present in the first album is no longer really hanging about, they've resurrected a bit of it's ghost, and it makes minor appearances here and there. This album, even though it's a B-Side collection, is a bit of a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, I postulate that this is that last of the Used material that I'll take even minor enjoyment in.
The Used - Dark Days
The Used - The Back of Your Mouth
The Used - Slit Your Own Throat

Air Traffic - Fractured Life
Verdict: Love More (<3)
This album was so weird. I listened to it a lot because I kept forgetting to take it off my mp3 player and I really really really like the Charlotte song, so I'd end up listening to the full album over and over and you know what? It grew on me. I didn't like it all that much at first because not all the songs were like Charlotte, but then I grew to like the songs for their own individual reasons. Nicely done Air Traffic.
Air Traffic - Charlotte (one of the best songs ever)
Air Traffic - Time Goes By
Air Traffic - I Like That
Air Traffic - Come On

OOIOO - Taiga
Verdict: Love (<)
side Um. Heck in. I'm project? duh. Boredom's yes
OOIOO - Uja
OOIOO - Umo
OOIOO - Ats

Be Your Own Pet - Get Awkward
Verdict: Love (<)
Granted, it's more poppy than the last album, but it still has the playful childish punk values that the last album had, but, in some areas, expanded on. My friend Heidi saw that they were on MTV and said to me something like "oh great, that means you (referring to me) can't like them any more." In some cases the sell-out sound does correlate with an appearance on the M, that's not always the case. Sometimes pop culture takes notice not (just) because they see something they can bastardize, but because the music is genuinely good (in some way). Well that's Be Your Own Pet for you. They've not lost their love for music, and I'm glad their fan base is expanding and they're getting recognition in any form, because they deserve it. I, however, honestly wonder what BYOP talked about on MTV, because I bet it was hilarious.
Be Your Own Pet - Black Hole
Be Your Own Pet - Blummer Time
Be Your Own Pet - Zombie Graveyard Party

The Grand Archives - The Grand Archives
Verdict: Like ()
Five vocalists? what is this the next boy band? I jest, I truly do, because this album has more depth and emotion than any epic love ballad. It's soothing in an unfamiliar way. It's like a trip home for the summer (if you that's a good thing that is) to visit the good ol' boys down at the local non-denomination-pub. More than gimmicky, having 5 singers really seems to give the music a sense of love more than a great many things may be able to do.
The Grand Archives - Miniature Birds
The Grand Archives - George Kaminski
The Grand Archives - Sleepdriving

Hawk Nelson - Hawk Nelson Is My Friend
Verdict: Love (<)
Reminiscent of Sum 41 and all those power pop punk bands from the Odd 1 and 2's ... which is probably why I like it so much. A few of the songs are almost complete rip offs, but those songs aside, the album may not be inventive, but it's just a fun trip down memory lane. If you're making a 90's teenage angst film, this is what would play during the make-out-party scene.
Hawk Nelson - Friend Like That
Hawk Nelson - Just Like Me
Hawk Nelson - You Have What I Need

Ida - Lovers Prayers
Verdict: Like ()
I guess you learn something new everyday. Apparently the name of the genre that this band makes their music in is called Slowcore. I'd've described it as soft epic alt. rock folk, but slowcore works too I guess. It's just a nice sounding album.
Ida - Worried Mind Blues
Ida - Gravity
Ida - Kora

The Lackloves - Cathedral Square Park
Verdict: Like ()
The Lackloves - Another Kind of Girl
The Lackloves - Marlena
The Lackloves - On My Way

B(l)ogged Down, Pt. 5

Murder by Death - Red Of Tooth And Claw
Verdict: Love (<) +
Johnny Cash would be proud ... if Johnny fancied things with a little bit of punk that is.
Murder by Death - Comin' Home
Murder by Death - The Black Spot
Murder by Death - Rumbrave

Robots In Disguise - We're In the Music Biz
Verdict: Like ()
Like The Sounds meets the White Stripes, but dumbed down a little.
Robots In Disguise - We're In the Music Biz
Robots In Disguise - I Don't Have A God
Robots In Disguise - Everybody's Going Crazy

The Ruby Suns - Sea Lion
Verdict: Like ()
The Ruby Suns - There Are Birds
The Ruby Suns - It's Mwangi in Front of Me
The Ruby Suns - Ole Rinka

Sian Alice Group - 59.59
Verdict: Love (<)
Man. I really enjoyed this album. It was slow and soothing and strange and sexy and wow ... just amazing.
Sian Alice Group - When...
Sian Alice Group - Motionless
Sian Alice Group - Contours

Ursula 1000 - Undressed...remixed
Verdict: Like ()
Nice and Dancy but no album of the year
Ursula 1000 - Hello! Let's Go To A Disco ((Robosonic Remix))
Ursula 1000 - Kaboom ((All Good Funk Alliance Remix))
Ursula 1000 - Boop ((Skeewiff Remix))

Warbringer - War Without End
Verdict: Didn't Like (ø)
This album just weirded me out. Having an Angry Yell Death Metal band sing about Satan is just weird and unexpected. I mean, guttural yelling Death Metal, that just makes sense, but this is just strange to me. Plus, it's honestly not the most impressive album.
Warbringer - Instruments of Torture

The Lisps - Country Doctor Museum
Verdict: Love (<)
Sweet and soulful folk. Haunting in more ways than a few.
The Lisps - I'm Sorry
The Lisps - Heaven
The Lisps - The Familiar Drunk

Ghostland Observatory - Robotique Majestique
Verdict: Love (<)
The album had me torn. I think that the whole effect is lost on me since I'm seeing it performed live right before. Given that, it's still fun and ridiculous :)
Ghostland Observatory - Heavy Heart
Ghostland Observatory - Dancin' On My Grave
Ghostland Observatory - The Band Marches On

Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair
Verdict: Love More (<3)
You know how you were looking for that perfect dance party album? The one that would go well with LCD and !!!? well here you go. This album is so much fun I'm afraid it's going to set my house on fire.
Hercules and Love Affair - Blind (HECK YES!)
Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules' Theme
Hercules and Love Affair - Athene

Why? - Alopecia
Verdict: Love More (<3)
A shining beacon of hope in the dismal sea of horrible music.
Why? - Good Friday
Why? - Gnashville
Why? - These Few Presidents

Beach House - Devotion
Verdict: Love (<)
More chill than Greenland, this album will lull you into a false sense a security so comforting that it will make you gloriously comatose.
Beach House - Gila
Beach House - Some Things Last a Long Time
Beach House - Turtle Island

Andrew Bird - Soldier On
Verdict: Like ()
Few EP's or short releases find their way deep into my heart. Granted there are a few exceptions, but its pretty rare. This release, being so closely released to his last magnificent album, is kind of overshadowed and feels like a bonus disc more than anything. That said, it does have a good song or two. Check that, every song is pretty good.
Andrew Bird - The Water Jet Cilice
Andrew Bird - Oh Sister

March 16, 2008

hmmm... delay in posting thanks to Spring (i wish) Break. Blame the man, they're always a reliable scapegoat...

March 10, 2008

I went to this rad rad rad show at the Brook Center Arts last Saturday, and I'll be going to the Xiu Xiu/Thao Nguyen show Tuesday, and the Drew Danburry show on Wednesday. Thing is, I won't have the time to talk about these shows until basically Thursday. So yeah... I'll get to it, but it'll take a minute or two.

March 5, 2008

"Make New Friends and Punch Them Out"

(This fine piece of art is the work of Samuel Bak, an extraordinary everything)

Sorry this post is so late, I was up rather too late last night putting finishing touches on a paper that just didn't seem right that I'd been writing until the late hours of the night for the last few nights now. Now I get to look forward to having to do that again, but for a different class. Hopefully since it's a film class it'll go a little more smoothly...

So there are about a million shows in the next few days that I've convinced myself that I need to go to. And (as I review my schedule) by "the next few days" I mean basically the next month:

- Tomorrow night is the Monofog w/ Hearts of Palm (formerly Nathan & Stephen)/Nick Jaina show at the Hi-Dive
- I won't be attending the "British Sea Power w/ Colourmusic, Rabbit is a Sphere at the Hi-Dive" show on Saturday because I'll be at:
- The Lisps, Paper Bird, Finn Riggens, Zebra Junction, Magic Circles (Hunter Dragon and Matt Daniels) play at Brook Center Arts, also on Saturday
- Sunday is Panther, The Jim Jims, Asphodel, and Lil’ Slugger (see below for a review of their album) at the Larimer Lounge,
- Next Tuesday I'll be going to the Xiu Xiu/Thao Nguyen/Slight Harp show at the Hi-Dive
- But also next Tuesday Drew Danburry plays with CASTLES, Winderous Igloos, Thundersmile, and Sourboybitter at the Plummer House in Ft. Collins
- I'll be seeing Drew Danburry, however, when he plays the T-House next Wednesday

All that is just in the next week or so. 4 reealz. Get out and have some fun Denver!

Lil' Slugger - Sweethearts of the Overthrow
Verdict: Love More Than Music (<3>) [Please note this is the first time I've given this rating with my new method of reviewing albums]
This album took me a while to fully digest, but that's not because it was hard to like, but, rather, because it's, simply, a complicated album. Sounding a little bit like a myriad of different bands (Animal Collective, Man Man, Rock Plaza Central, the Shins, Clap You Hands Say Yeah!, Tractenburg Family Slideshow Players, Frog Eyes, Modest Mouse, 31Knots, Shearwater, and The Arcade Fire to name a few that come to mind first) for about 5 seconds. Lil' Slugger mostly just sounds like Lil' Slugger. The album is weird and heavy and fun and campy and dark and ridiculous and everything all at once in short bursts but never too much too fast too soon. It's the middle porridge. It sounds like what I could only imagine an acid trip in an avalanche of rocks and rubber balls would be like ... not sound like ... but be like. I'm honestly being haunted by one or two of these songs. They keep me awake at night, zooming in and out of my consciousness, taunting me ... and I love it.
Lil' Slugger - Pyramid (or $10,000)
Lil' Slugger - Strawberry Shortcake (You've come a long way, Fireball) (Good Humor)
Lil' Slugger - Us(L)urper (Devine Right)
Lil' Slugger - There Was A Change (Susan B. Anthony & The Wheat Cents)

Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)
Verdict: Love More (<3)+
I can hardly imagine that there in a universe that has a Cloud Cult CD that isn't amazing, though I'm sure that the demonic writers of Sliders could have cooked up a devilish world in which this was the case. Thankfully, we don't live in this horrible parallel dimension. This album is good. Really good. It's weird and experimental and everything we loved about the Meaning of 8, but a little more compact. I don't love it more than the Meaning of 8 ... yet ... but that's because I've had a chance to get to know the Meaning of 8 over an entire year. Give it time and I may love this one more.
Cloud Cult - The Tornado Lessons
Cloud Cult - Love You All
Cloud Cult - Hurricane And Fire Survival Guide

Hot Chip - Made in the Dark
Verdict: Love (<) +

You all ready know about this CD. You all ready know about this band. You know how I know that? Because its so poppy and good that there is basically no way that you couldn't have heard of them. My favorite part of the album is the "tick tick tick time delay" lyric is dropped. So yeah, it's good. There ya go. Preaching to the choir.
Hot Chip - Bendable Poseable
Hot Chip - Shake a Fist
Hot Chip - Ready For the Floor

Bauhaus - Go Away White
Verdict: Didn't Like (ø) +
My first reaction to this was "whoa ... those vocals've got to go." I absolutely can't stand the first track, save for the gritty guitar work. Really the only saving factor for this album is the distorted guitar work that done. It's top notch. I guess I may have liked it if I lived through the Bauhaus' pertinent period. I liked one or two of their older albums, but I recognized them as classics, and that may be skewed my opinion a little. This album wasn't the worst album ever, but it just isn't something I enjoyed all that much. Here are a few tracks that I actually did like:
Bauhaus - Adrenalin
Bauhaus - Mirror Remains
Bauhaus - Endless Summer Of The Damned

Die! Die! Die! - Promises, Promises
Verdict: Love (<)

I think the main reason I like Die! Die! Die! as much as I do is because it reminds me of the underground British punk that I listened to back in the Highschool years. It's gritty and dirty and, at first listen, underproduced. But then when one listens intently, one can tell that the grittyness is just how these guys sound, and that they're a cavalcade of sounds and emotions. Sure, the album is not perfect, but I love the effort put into it.
Die! Die! Die! - Death To The Last Romantic
Die! Die! Die! - Britomart Sunset
Die! Die! Die! - Sideways Here We Come

The Kills - Midnight Boom
Verdict: Love More (<3)-
Mmmmm, sexy and devoid of emotions not related to sexiness. If these cats were any more ridiculously sexy ... well ... I can't think of a scenario where that's even possible. Reminds me of the Raveonettes, but I can't quite give you a reason that I'm satisfied with.
[Edit: because I was very nicely requested not to host the tracks What New York Used To Be, Sour Cherry, and Alphabet Pony (my favorite tracks from the album {i.e. look out for those bad boys when you pick up the album}), I took them down, because that's a standing policy with me (you ask me not to host something, I do it, because it's not my music, and, in the end, decisions about it are not up to me {in my opinion}). So here are the two tracks (that are still very good) that the Kills are okay with you sampling:]
The Kills - U.R.A. Fever
The Kills - Cheep and Cheerful

Venus Verse - Phazes
Verdict: Love More (<3)
Neo-New Wave (not New Rave, mind you) with a hint of Shoegaze and a whole bunch of heart. They remind me of a younger, cleaner version of the Raveonettes (again, with being reminded of the Raveonettes). They've only got this EP, but I've all ready become very fond of these cats.
Venus Verse - Loving Arms
Venus Verse - Not Quite Juliet
Venus Verse - Whisper

A Silver Mt. Zion - 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
Verdict: Love More (<3)
Me being a long time of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, when I first heard of A Silver Mt. Zion shortly after their second release, I was a little more than curious, you could say. Well these cats certainly have grown from their humble beginnings ... okay ... so their beginnings weren't that humble, but still, they've really come a long way. The album proves that this penultimate Post Rock band may one day overshadow it's predecessor ... granted they've not quite reached that in my eyes, and I hate to think of them as an off shoot of the best Post Rock band ever, but sometimes we can't help what we do or how we feel. That said, I also feel that this album is astonishing. Since there are only 5 real songs on the album (the first 12 tracks are ~5 seconds of guitar squeals), I'm only going to post 1 song, and, as an exclusive bonus, I've combined the first 12 tracks into one, and am also hosting that. So yeah. OH! please note that the song I am posting is in 5/4 time (or possibly 11/4, it's hard to tell) ... and that's basically what made me want to post it over the other songs.
A Silver Mt. Zion - Tracks 1-12 combined
A Silver Mt. Zion - 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons

To make up for my not providing more songs by A Silver Mt. Zion, here's a live set by them that I'm fond of:

Band: A Silver Mt. Zion
Date: 2006-05-25
Venue: Le 4 sans, Bordeaux, France

(intro)
Godbless Our Dead Marines
Take These Hands and Throw Them in the River
(anxiety)
Teddy Roosevelt's Gun
Horses In The Sky
(disco song)
Ring Them Bells (Freedom Has Come And Gone)
BlindBlindBlind [OFF THE NEW ALBUM]
(repetition)
1,000,000 Died to Make this Sound [OFF THE NEW ALBUM]

March 2, 2008

"I Lie Awake Thinking of the Hope That's Laid on Me"

So our next regularly scheduled post that is just bubbling over with music is going to be delayed because of an outrageous amount of homework that I apparently couldn't dream of not putting off which has recently become .. well ... due. So here are a few reviews for today's post and I promise that the next regular post will be along at some point and have even more music than you could imagine ... possibly:

p.s. heard of Freddie Stevenson? This Scottish Singer Songwriter is a hilarious bunch of people in one person. With songs about J.K. Rowling stalking him, how could one not love his music? His new album is due to drop in April, so watch out:

Freddie Stevenson - Easy Now (the J.K. Rowling song)
Freddie Stevenson - If You Don't Kiss Me

O! The Joy - Zen Mode
Verdict: Like () +
We have some serious Mars Volta style Jazz/Rock fans here. Super competent and technical, this band knows what they want and how to get it to show.
O! The Joy - The Fault is Not Mine
O! The Joy - We Will Write The Next Chapter
O! The Joy - Zen Mode

Steve Smith - This Town
Verdict: Like ()
Ex-Dirty Vegas singer's first Solo attempt is a little preachy with the first track, but you can't help but think of it as at least slightly adorable. From that point on it's a pretty bass-filled general rock-from-an-ex-house-DJ-act CD (except when it becomes oddly country influenced), but it's not bad.
Steve Smith - That Town
Steve Smith - Comedown Queen
Steve Smith - Hit Me Up

Steve Smith Live Shows:
02/28 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Café
03/06 New York, NY Knitting Factory w/ The Diggs
03/08 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell’s
03/12 Austin, TX The Wave


Colin Stetson - New History Warfare, Volume 1
Verdict: Love (<) +
Basically one of the crazier albums I've heard in a while, and, to no shock and awe I imagine, it's a Schizo-Jazzy type of work, ranging from all sorts of influences. This guy has recorded with all your favorite artists (Arcade Fire, Tom Waits, TV on The Radio, Antibalas, Medeski Martin and Wood Burning Spear), so you might want to hear what they all ready think is cliched to say that you like:
Colin Stetson - Groundswell

Colin Stetson - Letter To HST

Colin Stetson Shows:
02/28 Chicago, IL Elastic Arts
03/05 Ann Arbor, Michigan The Kerrytown Concert House
03/15 Philadelphia, PA Gershmann Y Borowsky Gallery (Bowerbird Series)
03/21 Brooklyn, NY Monkeytown CD Release Event
03/22 Brooklyn, NY Monkeytown CD Release Event


The OaKs - Songs For Waiting
Verdict: Love (<)
It's folky and oddly strange (meaning I can't quite place why it's strange, but it is unconventional nonetheless). The album kind of jumps all over place, but has cohesive aspects. The Spooky vocals and upbeat folky guitar are what make this album worth it.
The OaKs - Masood
The OaKs - The Two Calls (of Dietrich Boneoffer)
The OaKs - The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter