LEAK

I literally drove straight back from Vegas last night at 2AM, got home, showered, wrote my review and put my phone on silent so I could sleep a couple of hours

what happens in the mean time?

ANGLES LEAKS.

this is why I don't sleep.

enjoy, kids

The Strokes Post #635

Gratisfaction.

concert review: The Strokes at the Chelsea, Las Vegas (12 March 2011)

this YouTuber so kindly captured nearly every song in the set with GREAT AUDIO

Do you want to lose fifteen pounds in 24 hours? It’s simple, just follow these steps exactly.
1. Wake up at an un g-dly hour to hop in your car and pick your brother up. Drive 550 miles from the Bay Area through the California/Nevada border to get to Las Vegas, city of entertainment. Pass through Mojave Desert, yell at squirrels.
2. Wait in line for 6 hours, get ushered in by rude staff toward line. Craftily bring your 17 year old brother to the 18+ show in the Chelsea Ball room, now converted with a stage to a concert venue on the fourth floor of the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Stand in the second row and realize that your younger brother is slowly drifting rows and rows behind you by rude and selfish concert goers.
3. Stand on your feet for two hours before opener Devendra Banhart comes on, listen to his band's short but sweet set (winding down at 10PM), in anticipation that The Strokes will be on soon. Then wait until 11PM for the headlining band to get out. In the process, enjoy being yelled and pushed and grabbed at by rabid Strokes fans, nearly all having traveled from far away places to see this great band.
4. Be grumpy, yell, mutter to yourself that this is the last time you try to be up front at a Strokes show and yell some more.
5. Be amazed by band in question, sweat your ass off, find yourself fifteen pounds lighter. Decide that all other ways of spending your time are fruitless, and start plotting your way to becoming the Deadhead equivalent of a Strokes fan (and eventually heroin-chic).

There’s something different about being at a Strokes show. People get there good and early, and nearly everyone breaks the cardinal rule of “don’t wear a band’s shirt to their concert”. You can talk and talk about The Strokes for hours with complete strangers who not only understand your (un?)healthy obsession with the perfection that is The Strokes, they reciprocate enthusiastically. People might push and shove and be taken out of the crowd from fainting, but at the end of the night, everyone is so elated that nothing else matters.

Last night, the Strokes played their first show in support of Angles, in Las Vegas, Nevada. What the night ended up being came nothing short of monumental. Fab and Nikolai, I'm looking at you. You two were tight as hell last night.

While most of us guessed that the band would open up with a new song or a familiar single, The Strokes kicked off the night with “I Can’t Win”, which was shortly followed by Julian bantering about how a lot of people in the room hate him, and things being out of his control. Was he talking about Angles or the extreme lateness of the band or both? It doesn’t matter. Because Julian Casablancas is one fifth of the greatest entity on earth, and he does not need to justify anything to anyone ever. And “I Can’t Win” is a good way to sum that up.

But the music the music the music. The band played four of the five songs which fans have heard and loved by now, including “You’re So Right”, “Taken for a Fool” “Life is Simple in the Moonlight” and the sweet as candy lead single “Under Cover of Darkness”. They did all of this during the first hour of the show, which Nick Valensi dominated by and far. Almost all of the songs (excluding “Under Control”) were Nick’s lead guitar songs, and he even brought a nifty spin to the beloved “Someday”. The spotlight on him was undeniable, especially during the mind boggling solos in the new songs.

Am I saying that The Strokes have become a polarized group, deifying a couple of members at the expense of the rest? No no no no no no no. Even though I know that a lot of people dislike “You’re So Right” (written by Nikolai but surprisingly with backup vocals from Nick), the live delivery of this song was stunning and powerful. I would go so far as to say that it was tied for best with “Life is Simple”. The newer songs all came off wonderfully live (least of which, however, "Taken for a Fool", although I do take partial responsibility for it not meeting my expectations, as I listened to the studio version way too much). I also do have to admit that the band needs to work on perfecting the sound quality coming from the amps for those songs, as they previously did with FioE. But back to my original point. The Strokes' long awaited fourth record (due out next Tuesday) is called Angles because supposedly they all contributed to it and it’s the beginning of a new era and yeah yeah yeah. But this is not supposedly true. It is absolutely true. The band’s dynamic during the set exemplified this. None of them overpowered any of the rest.

But wait, what about Nick? Didn’t he hog the spotlight? Let me just say this much. Nick, by sheer numbers, has more solos than Albert does. Nick’s contributions to Angles so far have been incredible and his mastery at playing the guitar continues to baffle me daily. But that’s not the point. The point is:

Nick might have had all eyes on him during the show, but Albert had all of the last glances.

The Strokes’ first encore song (after the smashing closer “Take it or Leave It”) was “Gratisfaction”. A brand new song. A brand new song with a new solo from Albert. And backing vocals from Albert (and Nick too). The song sounds like a Strokes version of a happy song from yesteryear. It’s light and effortless and magical. The most happy go lucky song I've ever heard from them. "Gratisfaction" is like a more badass version of Albert’s solo material, with Thin Lizzy and other 80's influences mixed in to a perfect vocal chorus by Julian. Nick’s guitar work might have driven and dominated the set, but Albert rocked the house down with TioLi. Three of the four encore songs were Albert's songs, including the rolicking "Last Nite", which ended the set. As the night was winding down at 12:15 AM, Albert looked toward Julian and grinned. He kept grinning as he played the solo in “Last Nite” really high in his arms. He was so happy. They all were.

Devendra Banhart called this band an amulet. I cannot emphasize how perfect that anology is.

Set List
I Can’t Win
Reptilia
Under Cover of Darkness
The Modern Age
Whatever Happened?
Under Control
New York City Cops
You’re So Right
Is This It
Juicebox
Someday
Taken for a Fool
Hard to Explain
Life is Simple in the Moonlight
Take It or Leave It

Gratisfaction
Automatic Stop
You Only Live Once

Last Nite

My camera broke a couple of weeks ago and the replacement still hasn’t arrived. I took pictures with my phone but only a few turned out well and then my phone died. I’m so sorry I didn’t get any video, I didn’t have enough power on my phone, and as I said, my camera with the divine audio quality is in the process of being replaced.

Please accept this picture of an excited me in lieu of Strokes footage and better photographs

read SPIN's review here

The Strokes Post #634

I'M GOING TO VEGAS.

I think my ovaries are about to explode.

this was my best last minute decision EVER.

new music: The Henry Clay People - California Wildfire

sometimes I forget that THCP are from California. they're so uncool and they embrace it and rock your socks off. kinda like Pavement, who are also from California.
anyways, this song is from their forthcoming This Is a Desert EP, and it's awesome.

The Henry Clay People - California Wildfire [mp3]

video: The National - Conversation 16

LOOK, IT'S ROGER!!! and Mel from Flight of the Concords, minus the craziness.

The National

this is actually my favourite National song and I listened to it a LOT yesterday. the video is...strange. but so are Matt's lyrics.

The Strokes Post #633

there is a reason that 30 sec previews don't do The Strokes (or Julian) justice.
Strokes magic (the natural phenomenon which doctors recommend you experience on a daily basis) lies in build up build up build up and RELEASE.

The Strokes - Machu Picchu [mp3]

The Strokes - Taken for a Fool [mp3]

new Sondre Lerche: "Domino" (+ forthcoming self titled album)

Sondre Lerche - "Domino" by Yep Roc Music Group

Sondre Lerche is out June 7th

tracklisting:
01 “Ricochet”
02 “Private Caller”
03 “Red Flags”
04 “Go Right Ahead”
05 “Coliseum Town”
06 “Never Mind The Typos”
07 “Domino”
08 “Living Dangerously”
09 “Tied Up To The Tide”
10 “When The River”

new music: Explosions in the Sky - Trembling Hands (+ tour dates)

this has a much faster, more upbeat energy than the instrumental band's previous work, but at the end it leaves you as breathless and awed as any of their other songs.

Explosions in the Sky - Trembling Hands [mp3]
from the forthcoming Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

they play The Fox Theatre in Oakland May 1st. presale on Thursday, March 10th, password: bakesale
buy tickets for other cities HERE

2011 US tour
4/3 Amos' Southend, Charlotte, NC
4/4 The National, Richmond, VA
4/6 Radio City Music Hall, NY
4/8 Stage AE, Pittsburg, PA
4/9 Outland Live, Columbus, OH
4/10 The Blue Note, Columbia, MO
4/30 Hollywood Forever, LA
5/1 Fox Theatre, Oakland, CA
5/3 The Backyard, Austin, TX
5/4 Woodlands Pavilion, Woodlands, TX

check out their MYSPACE for European dates and more

The Strokes Post #632

Albert's smile makes my heart go warm and fuzzy.



BONUS:
SPIN has a photo shoot about the band called "10 Years of Downtown Cool",which includes a photo with Ryan Adams (and Courtney Love, unfortunately) which I had never seen before:


I liked this one too:

my only complaint is that SPIN, like a lot of other mags/blogs, continues to talk about Drew Barrymore as Fab's (ex) love interest and don't talk a lot about Binki, whom Fab has been with for a good few years now. at least since 2008, which was three years ago, and probably a little longer.

BONUS x2

I forgot to post this:
The Strokes - Life is Simple in the Moonlight (SNL) [mp3]

the guitar tone on Nick's solo is the purest sound I've ever heard

Wednesday Night: The Rumble SF presents Grand Lake, The Tellers, The Spyrals

another night of great free music for those who can legally drink. RSVP here or pay $5 at the door. music starts at 9PM.

Milk Bar is on 1840 Haight Street.

here's a new track from Grand Lake. catch the band tonight and on March 20 at Amnesia, they won't play any more shows for a little while.

Grand Lake - Which Days Were Those Days [mp3]

Grand Lake's website
The Tellers on MYSPACE
The Spyrals' website

sample all three bands HERE at The Rumble's website

The Strokes Post #631

you know how when Julian said he quit drinking he wasn't telling the whole truth?
I follow his example

The Strokes Post #630

up on a hill is where we begin...

The Strokes Post #629

mmmm Angles is building up to be monumental.
my attempts at lyrics:

Animals will take these things about some pain that they once felt
There’s no one that I disapprove more of or root for more than myself
I wanted to pretend that it was better better better on the phone
I didn’t wanna tell you I was jealous jealous jealous and alone
So we talked about ourselves in hell
To forget the love we never felt
Are we all jokes, then what’s the world?
It matters too
Don’t try to stop us, don’t try to stop us, don’t try to stop us
Get out of the way
Got to get to climb your tree in the light of the living ghost I see
She sees her father in the poor man’s eyes
It’s crippling he says (?)
Animals on tv singing about something they felt at some point
I wanted to tell you it was better better better
What’s the point?
As I watched the veil
With dreams so clear
And the door was closed
For forty years
Cause we hide what we don’t wanna hear
As we hide our dream here
He is coming from a part of hell
Well why then do I not go down well (?)
We can tell it well
I’m barely up
It’s a picture man, we dig as well
Making fools out of the best of us
Making robots of the rest of us
And the tale to tell a million girls today
Where’s our time just look
Don’t try to stop us don’t try to stop us don’t try to stop it
Get out of the way

at 3:48, while Jules is singing "I'll wait for you", I swear Fab is about to cry. HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, CAL! your dad is the coolest dude alive.

new Death Cab for Cutie: "Codes and Keys"

sounds like old Death Cab. Ben Gibbard played the following two songs last week at his sold out Noisepop show at Great American Music Hall. "Codes and Keys" is supposedly Brian Eno-esque on the album

Codes And Keys (Gibbard Solo, Live in SF) by TwentyFourBit.com

and here is a solo song from Ben, his contribution to the Arthur soundtrack (the 2011 remake of the 1981 film, starring Russell Brand)

When The Sun Goes Down On Your Street (Gibbard Solo, Live in SF) by TwentyFourBit.com

The Strokes Post #628

Albert's on twitter now

new Arctic Monkeys: Brick by Brick

this isn't my favourite, a bit repetitive but there's something interesting about it...

it gets better after the middle point for sure. the guitar gets sleezy and drawn out. I wish the lyrics were more involved but I do dig the dirtiness of the track. I'm an AM fan through and through and am very excited for their new release this year, more details on that soon.

and sorry, video, but the one for Cornerstone will always be the greatest AM video ever. Alex T, you're a fucking legend.

Arctic Monkeys - Brick by Brick [mp3]

The Strokes Post #627

so this combines everything I love about old Strokes with everything I love about new Strokes. UCoD in a nutshell, basically

he threw the mic stand! IN A STROKES VIDEO THAT IS NOT A LIVE CONCERT! I worship you, Julian C. that little grin at the end...my g-d that could make a fan girl out of Ozzy.

record review: Radiohead: King of Limbs

There is a certain unspoken "I'm kicking myself as I'm writing this" aspect of reviewing a Radiohead album. On one hand, it's Radiohead, that supermassive creative genius with Thom Yorke acting as it's neck and head. Thom Yorke, who's aeons ahead of you, musically and otherwise.

We're dealing with a super, super natural phenomenon here.

On the other hand, Radiohead is a band. A band with a catalogue of albums, some more impressive than others, some more colourful than others. One thing that can be stated across the board for all of RH's discography is that is takes some time for their music to sink in. But when it does, watch out, because it will take over your life and pale almost every other musical artist or album in comparison. Even King of Limbs' beat drenched predecessor which any music fan is bound to take a liking to almost immediately.

Radiohead's eighth studio album, King of Limbs, is a magnificent ode to individuality. It's like a musical coming of age, the same thing that avant garde artists like Anthony Hagerty do all of the time. It doesn't have to be loud or attention grabbing because it's Radiohead. It can be quiet and subdued and its own entity and still make a place for itself in the music world. This new album might initially come off as one that lacked editing, deliberation or the capacity for radio play. I think I read it described somewhere as an album of "b-sides". But that's like calling Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures an album of b-sides. Just because something strays from the commercial doesn't make it any lesser as a work of art that can be enjoyed by fans and critics alike.

All five members of Radiohead are very much present here. There may not be an abundance of "Paranoid Android" guitar licks but that's because Radiohead is a group of highly evolved musicians. They work together to recreate the sounds of nature, of the open airs and seas. They come together beautifully on the eerie single "Lotus Flower" and the closer, "Separator", which is the closest that Radio comes to In Rainbows.

That being said, my favourite two tracks on this album are the rollicking "Morning Mr Magpie" and the equally enthralling ocean floor ode "Codex". The latter song takes muffled horn sections and drowns them in an sea of Thom's slow and deliberate croon alongside a piano chord progression you would have to toil to forget. I swear Thom must have been possessed by the spirit of the late John Lennon when he wrote "Morning Mr Magpie". It's so very British, so very reminiscent of the history of rock music in that area. Thom's threatening repetitions of "you've got some nerve coming here" makes you think twice about all those wrongs that you pretend not to notice anymore. Give King of Limbs a chance. It might just surprise you and your preconceived notions of entertainment both.
4.6/5

Radiohead - Morning Mr Magpie [mp3]

The Strokes Post #626

I love this. almost more than "Under Cover of Darkness". almost.

this is the Juicebox to UCOD's YOLO.

it hits the spot in so many ways.

The Strokes - You're So Right

yo Nikolaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai. let's go. party.