Saturday Music Definitions: Dreams

my mind works in strange ways. I never knew what a "lucid dream" was, but the Franz Ferdinand song of the same name didn't compel me to look it up. it wasn't until I heard it alluded to in an Animal Collective song called "Bluish" (my favourite off of their new record) did I bother to wikipedia that shit.

[[the lyric was: "pulling me into another dream, a lucid dream"]]

anyhow, a lucid dream is defined as "a dream in which the person is aware that they are dreaming while the dream is in progress".

I looked this up a few hours before I hit the hay. now, my dreams are usually quite interesting. I dream in chapters. little vignettes. and I remember almost all of them, all of the time. I have a terrible memory but I somehow manage to remember my dreams.

anyways, these "chapters" are usually separated by me half-waking up sporadically. I am a very light sleeper. ANYHOW. here comes the cool part of the story:

after my first chapter, my semi-awake mind thought "hey, let's try to force a lucid dream". it didn't work at first. but then, in chapter 3, IT WORKED. it was so awesome. I knew I was dreaming, so I started to teach my friends how to fly by assuming a somewhat strange yoga position. they, of course, were confused because they weren't aware that this was a dream. haha oh the marvels of the human mind.

now, here are some top notch tunes for your enjoyment.

Ryan Adams - Dreams of a Working Class Clown [mp3]
unreleased. delicious. highly recommended.

Rilo Kiley- Dreamworld [mp3]
man I really love this one. it really feels like being inside a dream. a retro, mesmerizing dream.

David Bowie - Moonage Daydream [mp3]
from Bowie at the Beeb, my favourite Bowie comp EVER.

The Drifters - I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas [mp3]
I don't care that Christmas is over. this is one of my all time favourite songs. it brings back memories of Home Alone and makes me nostalgic for the white Christmases I never had. yes, living in California has its downsides.

James Morrison - Dream on Hayley [mp3]
I can't get enough of this Brit. his voice is amazing.

John Mayer - Dreaming with a Broken Heart [mp3]
yes, I listen to John Mayer. no, I am not ashamed to admit it. yes, the man is a douche bag but he has an ear like nobody's business.


Louis Armstrong - Dream a Little Dream of Me [mp3]
nothing like a little Louis to tie everything together.

now, go forth and DREAM.

BONUS:
Smashing Pumpkins - Disarm [mp3]
from "Siamese Dream", one of my all time favourite records. this song just kills me.

Fall Out Boy and The Killers announce new tour dates

I am a fan of both of these bands, who love to feud, but they both are awful live. Both The Killers and Fall Out Boy have severely disappointed me in concert, but maintain to please me on record.

I would warn against it, but, if you insist on going, here are the tour dates:

FALL OUT BOY:

Mesa, AZ Mesa Amphitheatre (April 3)
Las Vegas, NV Pearl (5)
San Jose, CA SJSU Event Center (7)
Sacramento, CA Memorial Auditorium (8)
Portland, OR Expo Center (9)
Seattle, WA WaMu Theatre (10)
Vancouver, British Columbia Thunderbird (11)
Salt Lake City, UT The Great Saltair (13)
Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium (14)
Dallas, TX Nokia Theatre (17)
Houston, TX Sam Houston Race Park (18)
New Orleans, LA Lakefront Arena (19)
Miami, FL Mizner Auditorium (21)
Orlando, FL UCF Convocation Center (22)
Atlanta, GA Gwinnett Arena (23)
Charlotte, NC Bojangles Coliseum (24)
Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion (25)
Troy, NY RPI Fieldhouse (26)
Lowell, MA Tsongas Arena (28)
Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun (29)
Philadelphia, PA Festival Pier (May 1)
East Rutherford, NJ Bamboozle (2)
Memphis, TN Beale Street Music Festival (3)
Toronto, Ontario Ricoh Coliseum (5)
Montreal, Quebec Cepsum de Montreal (6)
Detroit, MI EMU Convocation Canter (8)
Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena (9)
Cleveland, OH TWCA at Tower City (12)
Columbus, OH LC Pavilion (13)
Indianapolis, IN The Lawn at White River Park (15)
Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom (16)
Minneapolis, MN Roy Wilkins Auditorium (17)

THE KILLERS:

Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre (April 16)
Las Vegas The Joint (17)
San Jose, CA San Jose Event Center (19)
Seattle, WA Wamu Theatre at Qwest Field Events Center (22)
Victoria, BC Save On Foods Memorial Centre (23)
Vancouver, BC UBC Thunderbird Arena (24)
Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome (26)
Edmonton, AB Rexall Place (27)
Milwaukee, WI The Eagles Club (30)
Indianapolis, IN Murat Theatre (May 1)
Bonner Springs, KS Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone (2)
St. Louis, MO Fox Theatre (4)
Columbus, OH Lifestyle Communities Pavilion (5)
Cleveland, OH Time Warner Cable Amphitheatre at Tower City (6)
Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center (8)
Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena (9)

Band of the Week: Hockey

I haven't been this excited about a band since I first heard The Virgins.

Incidentally, this band also sounds like my ever so beloved Strokes. Think The Strokes + of Montreal + Justice set in the late 70's/early 80's.

download both of these songs! you can't afford not to listen to this band. they know what they are doing.

Hockey - Song Away [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]
this sounds like the love child of Lou Reed and David Bowie.

Hockey - Too Fake [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]
more synth driven, this song shows off the eclectic palette of the Portland based band.

for fans of: good pop music, dancing, and clever lyrics

visit them on MYSPACE!

they are all sold out of their debut CD ("Mind Chaos") , but have still have copies a la vinyl in stock.

they also have a handful of tour dates, unfortunately none in my area.

Jan 21 Union Hall Brooklyn, New York
Jan 22 Santos Party House NY, New York
Jan 23 Mercury Lounge NY, New York
Jan 24 Pianos NY, New York
Feb 17 Audio Brighton
Feb 19 Bullingdon Arms Oxford
Feb 20 Cooler Bristol
Feb 23 Cargo London
Feb 24 02 Academy 3 Birmingham
Feb 25 Ruby Lounge Machester
Feb 26 Captains Rest Glasgow
Feb 27 The Brudanell Social Club Leeds

many thanks to MUSIC FROM A GREEN WINDOW for exposing me to this band!

new song: The Decemberists - "The Rake Song"

think Interpol with a slight Americana twist and loud angry bass work.

The Decemberists - The Rake Song [mp3]
most excellent. I had my doubts about the Decemberists in the past (some of their songs really hit home with me but others failed utterly), but this is sounding great. Colin Meloy finally grew a pair! The beginning of the song really reminded me of "Seeing and Believing" by Wild Sweet Orange, but mostly just because of the cadence and lyrical/thematical overlap.

new Beirut video - "La Llorona"

beautiful, beautiful. Zach Condon possesses my heart.

"March of the Zapotec" Track listing

1. El Zocalo
2. La Llorona [mp3]
3. My Wife
4. The Akara
5. On a Bayonet
6. The Shrew

"Holland" Track listing

1. My Night With a Prostitute From Marseille
2. My Wife, Lost in the Wild
3. Venice
4. The Concubine
5. No Dice

Record Review: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion

Listening to “Merriweather Post Pavilion” is like walking in the shoes of Mark Renton in “Trainspotting” as he is determined to kick his heroin addiction: first, there is the full out, super enthused head-first dive; then withdrawal, managing to convince yourself that it wasn’t a good idea in the first place; and finally, a more practical middle approach of acceptance.

The guys at Pitchfork must have been high when they gave Animal Collective’s latest record a 9.6 rating, but then again, drug consumption is only appropriate, given the subject matter at hand. Animal Collective are the new Pink Floyd in the sense that people love to listen to them in a state of altered consciousness.

But, regardless of the amount of respect I have for this band, I don’t agree at all with its over-rated reception. Don’t believe the hype. This is not the best record of the year (from the handful of albums that I’ve heard so far, at least 4 or 5 are better than this one). And it is most certainly not the band's best album so far. It lacks the amount of punch that its predecessor, "Strawberry Jam" has.

The first two tracks are quite inspired and tasty morsels for those of us starved for new songs from Animal Collective, but then the band loses their momentum, slipping up on “Daily Routine” (what the hell is going on here? this song is strange in a bad way-EVEN FOR ANIMAL COLLECTIVE STANDARDS-and goes on for far too long, at 5:48). Animal Collective have taken a new approach, with no songs exceeding 6 minutes, but this doesn't guarantee that the songs will be interesting or even concise.

They quickly redeem themselves on the next song, however, as “Bluish” is the best track of the bunch. The combination of water-bubble sounds, gorgeous pianos and transcendent lyrics are more than enough to alter your mind without the aid of drugs. Contemplate the line “back to the time when we were green” for a moment. That is Animal Collective in a nutshell.

“Taste” is strangely Marley-esque, but strange in the sense that I would not expect it from Animal Collective, not in an off-putting way at all. It works great, and is one of the more innovative songs on the record.

“Brothersport” ends the album with a bang, and in a very signature Animal Collective fashion, they manage to have a lot going on without overwhelming you in a bad way. The song is like a synth version of folk melodies. Love it.

With 9 great LPs since 2000, Animal Collective are doing just fine thank-you-very-much. But if you’ve never experienced the band, I wouldn’t suggest that you start with their latest release; try “Feels” (2005) or “Strawberry Jam” (2007) instead.

3/5

Animal Collective - Bluish [mp3]

by the way, I totally just got the whole trippy thing for the first time as I studied the album art a bit more closely. awesome, give it a go and watch those leaves sway!

"Sixes & Sevens", another overlooked album of 2008

apparently, the latest album from Adam Green was released in March? why had I not heard about it before? maybe all music bloggers and/or music journalists hate Mr. Green or something.

anyhow, I'm loving "Rich Kids", it strangely reminds me of one of my favourite Christmas songs ever, "Baby It's Cold Outside"

if you guys are unaware of who Adam is, he was in the Moldy Peaches with Kimya Dawson (of Juno fame), but, being the more talented of the two, was inevitably more underrated.

Adam Green - Rich Kids [mp3]

(many thanks to RCRD LBL for opening my eyes to the fact that the album existed.)

once I listen to the whole album thoroughly, I'll let you all know if it's worth your time.

my favourite two tracks off of "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand"

No You Girls [mp3]

What She Came For [mp3]

Record Review - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

What can I say about the new Franz Ferdinand album?
In a nutshell? It’s brilliant.

The entire album grapples with lyrics along the same lines as “If I Fell” by the Beatles, the insecurities that come with the heftiness of the “l” word. “Oh, you know, you know, you know, that yes I love---I mean I'd love to get to know you,” Alex sings on “No You Girls.” He puts up an impenetrable wall, as not to get hurt. We've all been there.

After kicking off with a killer opening track (their first single, “Ulysses”), Franz don’t falter one bit. The synth driven energy is high as a kite (“Live Alone”), the guitars ferocious in a way that would make Jack White proud (“Can’t Stop Feeling”), and we get some classic sounding Franz with “No You Girls”, plus an irresistible bass line. “Lucid Dreams” is electronica heaven. Did I mention that the guitar solo in “What She Came For” is one of the best I’ve heard in ages?

But then Alex and the boys turn it down a notch, using what sounds like a triangle in “Dream Again” to ease you on into one of the most contemplative songs in pop music today, “Katherine Kiss Me”, where you can find a slow, acoustic, piano ballad (get images of the Fray out of your mind. This is what slow songs should sound like. Think “Sylvia Plath” by Ryan Adams.) This last song references the previously crass lyrics in a disapproving way, and Alex declares "Sometimes I say the stupid things I think I mean...and do you ever wonder how the boy feels?" Franz Ferdinand are in touch with their emotions. Go figure.

One of the problems that most bands face is creating albums that are well rounded and strike a good balance, leaving listeners in awe, completely satisfied with what they have just listened to, and compelled to listen to it over and over again. In that respect, Franz have excelled. They retained their danceable sound, incorporated some more advanced songwriting, and thrown us a curve ball with the final two slow songs, just to stick it to the rest of us that we cannot be as cool as these Scottish rockers.

Put on your dancing shoes and your sensitive pants, this album is guaranteed to please on every level possible.

4.5/5

I am LOVING this new Beirut song

if you didn't know already, Beirut create music based on different countries. "Gulag Orkestar" showcased Balkan music, "The Flying Club Cup" took you through the streets of France. next, get ready for the release of two new EPs, "March of the Zapotec" (invoking Mexico) and "Holland" (more synth-pop oriented), on the 17th of February.

Beirut - My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]
(off of "Holland")

I've had this song on repeat for about 20 minutes now.

watch Zach give Animal Collective a run for their money.

I haven't been mesmerized by a song like this since I heard "Ulysses" by Franz Ferdinand for the first time. speaking of which, expect a record review within the next few hours, after I get back from the gym.

Ryan Adams: there is a difference between taking a break and quitting

fucking aye. my RSS feed was FLOODED with "Ryan Adams has quit music" posts, which made me start to tear up. really.

on his blog, he updated:

"Of course everything i said got taken out of context.
as always,
i did not say i was quitting i said i was taking a step back…
so thanks…..thanks again"

Ryan Adams - When the Stars Go Blue [mp3]

anyhow, here is the original post which was deleted off of his blog if you all are interested:

me- 34- a non smoker and happy, for the first time in my life.. i am excited to finish this wonderful time i have had with the cardinals and whatever new adventures may come after march. atlanta will be my last venture with the band and i am grateful for the time we have had and maybe someday we will have more stories to tell together. i am however ready for quieter times as i think it is very evident i am struggling with some balance and hearing issues.

also, no drama or anything but i am okay to step back from all of this right now and i think i did enough manic blogging when i felt alone and isolated during the last few years of travel. these last few years were the hardest i can remember and the most rewarding but i have loved ones to care for now and i am lucky i have been given a chance to turn around and see just what i am capable of as a friend and as someone who is not gone forever every year- it rendered me incapable of things i needed to be to myself and others- and my schedule sometimes never ended when the shows did- and some of that was my doing. and i lost someone i loved, and i lost myself.

that changed. i got to know just who i am in this little spell of time here recently. and change is the nature of the world and i naturally embrace that.

i won’t be blogging here anymore either- but not for effect- it just is not being kind to myself- i need a life that is mine- i need to grow up and grow in to who i have subtly been working back towards since i stopped all that nonsense and i know also no matter what i choose to do in the music world, because i chose to do things my way and never lie i will always be viewed as an “asshole” ( i hear and have seen things in the past) and i am not, and i know the truth and i know who i am.

also it is kind of ridiculous to blog as i am a musician and anything i say here just gets reprinted at some point out of context. i say NOT FAIR but it doesn’t matter what i say anymore or what is fair anymore really does it- the 21st century media has it’s own rules about what is true and what is not. it is not a life- not one i want to live anyway and i don’t really care to participate in narcissistic over-indulgent behavior anymore- that was never my intention- i just wanted to fight for my right to make music and to be given the benefit of the doubt. now, because i have stood up for myself and fought for myself i am labeled all kinds of awful things. well, i will walk away now and it will not matter what anyone say’s. there are other things i can do in this life, other ways to be creative and to try and help others and be expressive without being demonized for attempting to gain the same things any other human being desires- love- friendship- understanding- and being able to express yourself without constant fear of being mistreated for speaking up

i have friends to make, brand new books coming (two of em’ not counting that one already printed and on it’s way out there and i LOVE writing….yay!) and a whole lot of living and learning to do.

i am excited to step away. i lost more than anyone will ever know (hearing, someone i loved, my sense of dignity, a never ending losing battle with stage fright and now my hearing and balance due to an inner ear issue- people accusing me of not being sober when i am suffering tremendous pain and nausea from my inner ear symptoms- people accusing me of theft (THEFT- ….awful) and this is not much of a life, not glamorous like those ridiculous video’s a long time ago television played and no it is not monetarily as rewarding as people would like you to believe and yes, it is soul destroying. especially when you spend your life trying to write about the really difficult stuff and you stand there losing your way and people yell at you like you were in a circus. when it was your dream to matter and you realize one day, it never mattered- i mean, i am a punch-line and a footnote in what is worse to yell at someone besides “free-bird”. i mean, i lost. and it’s okay because i seriously snuck some pretty neat idea’s in there in the work when i was making those mistakes or they were being made by others. this business is no science.

andf you know, whatever this is- it’s not my dream. and it is a punishing thing to endure when you are getting worse and worse- it’s not my dream, my dream was to try and tap into that energy i saw watching Minutemen vcr tapes when i was just a little shit in NC of mike watt’s crazy shaking leg and his electric fingers- or how sonic youth droned into beautiful clouds those guitars shaking, kim and steve rattling the pulsing lines into feverish thudding imaginary subway cars racing through my heart- and how it felt to just let go and static up a riff and find the sweet spot- but getting yelled at for just being a songwriter- to be called so many horrid things because i chose to love music so much, and also to look for peace and balance in my life- that is not kindness and just not my thing. at least not now.

quitting smoking was a good step and i am happy i also am just now beginning to understand how important it is i take better care of myself in every way right now.

anyway, enjoy these shows and know that i am not abandoning anyone and that i loved playing music in the cardinals and hell, even before i was in a place to try and learn to be well, music was my life source-

maybe i will play again sometime but this is the time for me to step back now, and i wish everyone peace and happiness and if music is your dream, or if just dreaming is your dream, may you find your way through the rough patch with ease and i hope you let go and it takes you all the way there-

loving kindness to all.

R

Concert Review - The Killers @ The Warfield, 12 December 2008

wayy overdue, I know, but I just dug out my notes from my desk last night.

I have major denial issues when someone warns me that one of my favourite bands are horrible live. I therefore proceeded not to heed the numerous warnings which I had received about the Killers, and went enthusiastically to their December 12th Warfield show.

I was so disheartened by the performance, I immediately listened to Hot Fuss on my mp3 player right after the concert to remind myself why I love them so much.
It’s hard, sometimes, to be objective when it comes to bands that you personally adore.

But, I’ll say it.

The Killers suck live.

Let’s recap the pleasant parts of the evening:

1. Mark sang surprisingly pleasant background vocals on “For Reasons Unknown”.
2. Dave busted out impressive guitar work on “When You Were Young”.
3. Ronnie was the best of the four, which isn’t really saying anything, because his performance was decent at best. Actually, come to think of it, the best of the performers was actually the guy playing sax in the background.

Brandon, oh Brandon,
You should have been a dancer, with all of that fancy footwork which you displayed on stage. What happened to your voice? Horrid, horrid.

The least appalling song of the set was “Losing Touch”, which Brandon sang decently, and the band managed to actually capture that excellent, powerful, soaring sound which can be found on record.

Brandon ruined “Mr. Brightside” for me. He barely sung it, letting the audience screech the entire thing. Doesn’t that song mean anything to you, sir? Am I the only one who thinks that it is a significant stride in art and should be displayed proper respect?

Mr. Flowers abandoned his strangely high-yet-flat vocals and went for a more subtle, touching approach by playing “Smile Like You mean It” on piano and singing in an ostensibly sincere way that just came off as another epic failure on his part as a performer. I wasn’t moved at all.

The worst part of the show? The crowd ate the entire thing up.

Oh, the glories of commercialism.

1.5/5

Do yourself a favour. Save your money. Don't be stupid and blindly unwilling to face the truth like I was. Do not go see the Killers live. It may just ruin them for you, permanently. At least I can still listen to their albums without being angry. I can look past their shitty performance, but I don't know if you can.

Set List:

Human
Neon Tiger
For Reasons Unknown
Somebody Told Me
Losing Touch
Spaceman
Read My Mind
Joy ride
Smile Like You Mean It
Sam’s Town
Bones
Mr. Brightside
All These Things That I have Done

ENCORE:
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
Sweet Talk
When You Were Young

NEW COLD WAR KIDS TOUR!

YES!!!

New York, NY Mercury Lounge (January 28))
Miami, FL Bicentennial Park – Langerado (March 7)
San Diego, CA 4th & B Concert Theatre^ (26)
Los Angeles, CA Orpheum Theatre^ (27)
Boston, MA Wilbur Theatre* (April 2)
New York, NY Terminal 5* (3)
Rochester, NY Water Street Music Hall* (4)
Denver, CO Gothic Theatre^ (20)
Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom^ (21)
Seattle, WA The Showbox at The Market^ (22)
Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge^ (23)
San Francisco, CA The Fillmore^ (28)

CWK - Electioneering (Radiohead cover) [mp3]

Beirut: European tour dates

AH! I AM SO BLOODY JEALOUS. Beirut are phenomenal live. I saw them for the first time without having heard any of their albums, I went with my boyfriend at the time, who really liked them. Needless to say, I purchased both of their albums right after the show and have been in love with them ever since.

here are the tour dates (courtesy of NME):

Hamburg Fabrik (May 3)
Amsterdam Paradiso (5)
Brussels Cirque Royal (6)
London The Forum (8)
Minehead All Tomorrow's Parties - The Fans Strike Back (9)
Paris Bataclan (12)

Beirut- Mount Wroclai (Idle Days) [mp3]

Beirut - Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen cover) [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]

Ben Kweller on Daytrotter!

head on over for some free mp3s and an insightful article, as usual.

Ben Kweller - Today [mp3]

photo by Steve Hopson, www.stevehopson.com

Sunday-er, Monday- Morning covers

sorry for the late post guys!

I have one thing and one thing only for you all today. it's an AMAZING cover of a song originally by a band whom I cannot stand because their music is obnoxiously catchy and if I even hear a bit of any of their music, it gets stuck in my head forever. that being said, you take one of their songs, and get someone to sing it well, and you get a happy Hanan.

Maroon 5 - Closer (Nine Inch Nails cover, acoustic) [mp3]

if you all followed that, reward yourself with the mp3
and if you didn't, go ahead and reward yourself anyways, I usually can't even keep up with my own brain
(basically, I love Maroon 5, hate NIN, but cannot deny Trent Reznor's ridiculously catchy song writing. is it so bad that I really love the lyrics to "Closer"? yeah, it is.)

happy Monday everyone! I'm off to the DMV in a few hours...watch out world, Hanan is about to be a licensed driver. muahaha.