I am done I am done I am done LA LA LA LA LA LAAAAAAAAAAAA! I kicked so much ass this semester. now, let's commemorate my three weeks of freedom (which I plan to devote to leisurely reading and listening to music and NOTHING else) with some excellent songs:
Built to Spill is like, the ultimate in indie cool. They've managed to avoid the wrath of bloggers as they have not gained too much fame, but their music is superb. The Idaho based band doesn't try to sound bigger than they are (I'm looking at you, Coldplay), and stick to steady chord progressions, some interesting guitar riffs here and there and a singer who is very comfortable in his range.
They've been together since '92 (hot damn!) and have released 6 superb LPs to date, the most recent, "You in Reverse", in 2006 "Keep it Like a Secret" is one of my favourite records, ever.
For fans of: Guided by Voices, Modest Mouse, Yo La Tengo, Pinback
"we are in the early stages of making the follow-up to Boxer. We will let you know when we can what the plans are for its release, but it's likely to find its way to you in 2010."
also, two of the band members (Aaron and Bryce) have produced a charity record called "Dark Was The Night" for the Red Hot Organization that comes out on February 17th worldwide on 4AD.
All profits from the sale of the record will go to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The album features 32 exclusive tracks (!) and will be released as a double CD and on triple Vinyl.
The National wrote and recorded a new song for the record called "So Far Around The Bend". Aaron and Bryce also collaborate on the record with Bon Iver and Antony Hegarty respectively.
get your hands on it in February of 2009
The full artist list: Andrew Bird Antony + Bryce Dessner Arcade Fire Beach House Beirut Blonde Redhead + Devastations Bon Iver Bon Iver & Aaron Dessner The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti) Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues The Decemberists Dirty Projectors + David Byrne Kevin Drew Feist + Ben Gibbard Grizzly Bear Grizzly Bear + Feist Iron & Wine Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Kronos Quartet Stuart Murdoch My Brightest Diamond My Morning Jacket The National The New Pornographers Conor Oberst & Gillian Welch Riceboy Sleeps Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio) Spoon Sufjan Stevens Yeasayer Yo La Tengo The National - Brainy (Alternate, Boxer bonus track)[mp3]
it sounds a bit like Ulysses ,but is more guitar driven, less synthy. the verdict? I freaking love the new stuff the boys are putting out. Franz Ferdinand have yet to disappoint me, let's keep it that way!
Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (their third album to date) is set to be released on 26 January in the UK, and on the 27th in the US. I will keep you posted with updates
this episode was not as funny as anything on the first season, but it is still really really good.
for those of you unfamiliar with this GENIUS show, it showcases Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, two Kiwis trying to make it as folk musicians in the big apple. the soundtrack is pure joy, but you can only really enjoy it if you've watched the show buy the first season on dvd and start laughing your troubles away!
ah! I freaking love Noisepop. for those not from the SF area, it is a week long indie music/art/film festival which showcases some incredibly talented artists!
it will take place between February 24 and March 1
some confirmed bands so far are:
Stephen Malkmus, St. Vincent, Josh Ritter, French Kicks, Ra Ra Riot, Martha Wainwright, Broken West, The Morning Benders, The Submarines, Antony & The Johnsons, New Pornographers frontman AC Newman, No Age, Goblin Cock, Clues and Dear And The Headlights
visit the official NOISEPOP website for more info or for an all access pass (just a tad over 100 dollars)
"The singer has teamed up with 'Saturday Night Live' trio The Lonely Island, aka writers Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone and cast-member Andy Samberg, to record 'Boombox' for the album entitled 'Incredibad'."
LA based Red Cortez were the first opening band. They were decent, I didn’t like the lead singer’s voice very much, though. I liked that the drummer used maracas as drum sticks, that was awesome. Their fast songs were the best of the bunch, but when they played slower songs, it just didn’t work very well. When the lead singer pulled out a harmonica, it just went downhill. Stay clear of that, boys, keep up the good guitar work and you might have a chance to get signed someday. The lead singer banged the keys of the keyboard with his elbow on the last song, which I guess was meant to be cool but it was just kind of disrespectful. They had this weird energy thing going on, where they didn’t know where they belonged: slow folks-y songs or let’s-get-trashed-and-rock-out attitude. But yeah, their guitarist and drummer redeemed the set, which was a tad too long (at 40 minutes). 2/5
Next on came The Dead Trees, from Portland, OR. These guys more than made up for the mediocrity of the previous band. They had everything a band should have on stage: good energy, excellent sync and an awesome sound. I would classify them as somewhat bluesy, but more edgy rock-ish. They had an extra member playing with them, bass player Tad’s brother Tory, who was on an extra drum kit and keyboards. Their songs were strange at times and tambourines were busted out in a quick frenzy, but they pulled it off somehow. The crowd was dancing along; the Dead Trees put us right in the mood for Little Joy. 3.25/5
Little Joy was superb. They felt like a family on stage. They were having so much fun, and the crowd was LOVING it. They were joined by Matt Romono (the drummer from Albert Hammond Jr’s band) for most of the set. For the last song, “Brand New Start”, they were joined by The Dead Trees, and the three people who Fab thanked profusely (“without whom Little Joy would not have happened”): Noah Georgeson (their producer), Devendra Banhart (“the coolest fucking musician I have ever met”), and Greg Rogove. Greg later wore a scarf that we argued about, he insisted that it was Persian and not Palestinian, and I asked if he was Persian and he seemed offended. It was quite hilarious.
Despite the fact that they experienced some technical difficulties, as Fab’s guitar stopped working midway through the set forcing Binki and Matt had to keep the crowd entertained with an intermission of sorts, the set was perfect. They insisted that they kept messing up, but a few minor mistakes was nothing in the larger scheme of things. A funny point in the show was when someone yelled out “for no one’s better sake”, and Roderigo replied “we’ll play that in a minute!” and then Fab went “NO, we already did that one!”
Fab invited me and a couple of other people backstage, and I got to talk to the band, who were all SUPER down to earth. Roderigo told me that he wanted to move to the city because he really likes it here. I encouraged him to do so. I also told him that Little Joy really surprised me, as I just expected a mediocre side project-y thing, but what I got instead was one of my favourite records of the year. I told him I haven’t stopped spinning it since I first got it, after which he pulled out the record and said “ah! It’s alive!” and then proceeded to point out how cool it is that they hand engrave the number on the inside of the record. I never knew that before. Binki told me that the boys are teaching her Portuguese, but they tell her that her accent is perfect. And then Fab told me that what he loves about Little Joy is it is a lot more laid back from the Strokes (no duh haha). “Don’t get me wrong, I fucking love those guys, I’ve known them since I was 13, but the band is too obsessed with getting that perfect sound.” “Well yeah,” I said. “You are all very meticulous”. “It gets to you sometimes, though. Like tonight. We were all messing up and nobody cared. Not the band, not the fans. Everyone was having a great time”. He then offered us some beer and cookies, and about an hour later, Matt came in yelling “who ate all of the fucking cookies?!” hahaha
Set List: The Next Time Around How To Hang a Warhol No One’s Better Sake Unattainable (live at Slim's) [mp3] Shoulder to Shoulder With Strangers Keep Me In Mind *a cover of a Spanish/Portuguese song, I am sorry, I am culturally deprived and cannot identify it* Eat At Home (Paul McCartney cover) Don’t Watch Me Dancing Brand New Start
"Pretty Much Amazing is calling out bands everywhere (especially ones who email me wanting their material on this blog), COVER “WOMANIZER” AND GET PMA-EXPOSURE."
send submissions to pma.editor@gmail.com
just for the record, I really hate that song but I do love PMA so that's that.
Folie a Deux is, quite simply, Fall Out Boy’s weakest record to date. I’m listening to my beloved vinyl copy of “Give ‘Em Enough Rope” in an attempt to get the awfulness out of my ears. Only the Clash can save me from the mediocrity of a very very very very belated sophomore slump on FOB’s part. The record not only lacks momentum, but cohesion as well. There is no powerful feeling, no tracks that really stand out, no theme or anything. Pete had claimed that the guitars will explore new territory and we might mistake it for AC/DC. Lies. They barely scratch the surface with that claim.
I think the reason I am so mad at this record is because I know how good Fall Out Boy can be. Infinity on High was GENIUS (and helloooo Take This To Your Grave.) I think that Fall out Boy is trying too hard to sound like something that they are not, and it just isn’t working for them. Why try to reinvent yourself when you were good in your niche before?
The tracks jump around with many guest vocalists and different feels in each song, but it isn’t eclectic in a good way the way that Albert Hammond Jr’s newest record is. It is just…ugh. The songs on their own are ok, but barely.
Really, Fall Out Boy, I am disappointed in you.
2/5 (this is me being generous) Fall Out Boy - 20 Dollar Nosebleed [mp3] When this song started playing, I thought “this sounds like Fall Out Boy trying to be Panic at the Disco trying to be The Beatles” and then I heard Brendon Urie start singing and I just laughed. I SO CALLED IT. This is probably the best song of the bunch, but that isn’t saying much, as it isn’t anything special
note to self: NEVER GO TO SAN FRANCISCO IN A SHORT SKIRT IN THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER EVER AGAIN. Poor Bailey- A Common Cold [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!] this one gets a lot of repeat time. the happy guitars a la Beach Boys may even make you forget that it's winter
Margot and the Nuclear So So's - Cold, Kind and Lemon Eyes [mp3] I recently bought a copy of Animal! on vinyl and have been a tad disappointed. maybe I just haven't listened to it enough. regardless, the next time I get a paycheck, I'm buying a copy of Not Animal
Matt Costa - Cold December [mp3] not my favourite song by Matt, but it still outshines most of the crap that most people listen to. by a long shot.
Modest Mouse - The Cold Part [mp3] I love old Modest Mouse. I love new Modest Mouse. I don't really like Modest Mouse (one of those three statements is false.)
this Portland based band (originally from Boston) opened up for Little Joy on Tuesday night. the combination of their lead singer's scratchy carefree voice which gets intense sometimes when he yells verses (see "well I could use another helper to see me through" in 'Shelter') and their lead guitarist's uncanny talent (which meshes beautifully with the rhythm) is like a good kick in the groin, metaphorically speaking of course
Tad - bass
Matthew - lead guitar (he may or may not have been the highlight of the set. ok, fine, I'll say it. he. was. freaking. brilliant)
Michael - lead vox, rhythm guitar
Noah - drums
+ Tory (Tad's brother who plays an extra set of drums + keyboard + other miscellaneous things)
they are all lovely people, kind of broke though. poor Noah had to drop out of Berkelee because it was too expensive. support them and other starving musicians! go out to shows, buy their shit. they put all of their soul into their music, the least we can do is reciprocate with 15 bucks or whatnot.
for fans of: Grand Ole Party, The White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
unfortunately, the vinyl copy of King of Rosa that I bought didn't come with a digital download, so I am going to post the song floating on hype machine:
visit the band on MYSPACE and catch them on their remaining Euro tour dates with Little Joy!
Jan 10 2009 8:00P Botanique w/LITTLE JOY Brussels Jan 11 2009 8:00P Paradiso w/ LITTLE JOY Amsterdam Jan 12 2009 8:00P Gebaude 9 w/ LITTLE JOY Cologne Jan 13 2009 8:00P La Maroquinerie w/ LITTLE JOY Paris Jan 15 2009 8:00P Audio w/LITTLE JOY Brighton Jan 16 2009 8:00P The Leadmill w/ LITTLE JOY Sheffield Jan 17 2009 8:00P Stereo w/ LITTLE JOY Glasgow Jan 19 2009 8:00P Cockpit w/ LITTLE JOY Leeds Jan 20 2009 8:00P Academy 3 w/ LITTLE JOY Manchester Jan 21 2009 8:00P Dingwalls w/LITTLE JOY London
Oasis - I am the Walrus (Beatles cover)[mp3] I still haven't reviewed Wednesday's show, I am sorry! I have finals coming up and have been flooded with last minute work. I promise, it'll be posted before this Wednesday, though.
thank you Brooklyn Vegan. thank you so much. I have been periodically checking out this band's MYSPACE page for new tour dates and always have been disappointed.
FINALLY, MY TIME HAS COME! February 4th! that's only 2 months away!
best damn opening band of my life. one of the greatest live acts out there. if you see a show within a 50 mile radius of your residence, GO. this band will change your life.
um, I think that speaks for itself.
Dec 6 - Bowery Ballroom New York, New York Dec 7 - Webster Hall New York, New York Dec 9 - Bluebird Nightclub Bloomington, Indiana Dec 10 - Mercy Lounge Nashville, Tennessee Dec 11 - Bottletree Birmingham, Alabama Dec 12 - Juanitas Little Rock, Arkansas Dec 13 - Opolis Norman, Oklahoma Dec 15 - Santa Fe Brewing Co. Santa Fe, New Mexico Dec 16 - Solar Culture Tuscon, Arizona Jan 16 - EL REY Theatre (Headline Show) Los Angeles, California Feb 4 - Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, California Feb 5 2009 Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR Feb 6 2009 The Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA Feb 7 2009 Media Club, Vancouver B.C Feb 9 2009 The Neurolux, Boise, Idaho Feb 10 2009 Kilby Court Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah Feb 11 2009 Hi-Dive, Denver, Colorado Feb 13 2009 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, Minnesota Feb 15 2009 The Gargoyle Club, St. Louis, Missouri Feb 16 2009 The Basement, Columbus, Ohio Feb 17 2009 Brillobox, Pittsburgh, PA Feb 18 2009 Castaways, Ithaca, New York Feb 19 2009 Valentine’s, Albany, New York Feb 20 2009 Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge MA Feb 23 2009 Gravity Lounge, Charlottesville, VA Feb 24 2009 The Pour House, Charleston, SC Feb 25 2009 Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta, GA Feb 26 2009 Alabama Music Box, Mobile, AL Mar 1 2009 Pontiac Garage at HOB, Dallas, TX Delta Spirit - People C'mon [mp3]
I remember seeing these guys in the Daily Cal (our school's newspaper) before all of the internet buzz happened (during their support of The Kooks' and DCFC's tours). I was intrigued by their name and looked them up, liked their sound. Their album Talking Through Tin Cans is one of my favourites of the year
catch them TONIGHT at Rickshaw in the city at 8:30 with The Soft Pack (previously known as the Muslims)
the Berkeley based band is melodic heaven to the 7th degree.
for fans of: Voxtrot, Oh No! Oh My!, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Sondre Lerche, and of course, the very band that influenced them the most, The Beatles =)
I JUST finished folding laundry, organizing my room and vacuuming/dusting it. I feel very accomplished. I also found my camera cord which means you all get to enjoy these pictures
I didn't get a photo with Ben because my batteries died by the end of the show =( but here is something almost as good:
