Jan/Feb/Mar/Apr 2010

Jail la la la la la la!

What’s definitely coming out and when it’s coming out! Of course, I only post what I think looks interesting:

(2/16) – Dum Dum Girls – Jail La La 7″ – Sub Pop
(2/16) – Vivian Girls – My Love Will Follow Me 7″ – Wild World
(2/23) – Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me LP – Drag City
(2/23) – Shearwater – The Golden Archipeligo LP – Matador
(2/23) – The Strange Boys – Be Brave LP – In The Red
(3/02) – Rogue Wave – Permalight LP – Brushfire
(3/02) – The Ruby Suns – Fight Softly LP – Sub Pop
(3/09) – Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – The Brutalist Bricks LP – Matador
(3/16) – Ty Segall – Caesar 7″ – Goner
(3/16) – Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Rush To Relax LP – Goner
(3/30) – Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be LP – Sub Pop

7″ Review: Daydream

Band: Beach Fossils
Release: 1/2010
Label: Captured Tracks

1. “Daydream” – A+
2. “Desert Sand” – A+

Comments: Props to this band for they will be playing at a DIY space near you in the immediate future! For those in the Boston area, that space happens to be at The Cottage in Dorchester. Don’t ask me where it is; ask them! This is real music I tell you! “Daydream” has got an awesome surf rock hook and pretty much psychedelic Madchester era vocals. That song is prime for placement on a FIFA soundtrack since it has the “world” quality that’s oft-associated with that game. “Desert Sand” continues the vibe of awesome that “Daydream” created, this time reminding me of Peter Bjorn and John’s Writer Block material. I really want to see this band now, dammit! I mean, I could and it would be awesome since they are playing with the Beets (of No Age Wellesley show fame), but then again we’re talking Dorchester. I’ll see, but all I know is that this is going into rotation! Oh yeah and awesome album cover! I love the aura of this record so much!

Grade: A+ (97)

FUCK THE TROOPS!

Alright, so let’s take turns shoving our cocks inside these brave men and women to show our support! Kidding…. In fact, the truth is I have never professed to such narrow minded slogans as “fuck the troops” or “support the troops” blah blah blah. Of course I support them; support as in wish them no harm. Now, if you mean support as in condone their activity, then fuck no! I personally don’t believe they are defending our freedom and civil liberties. But, those that support the military seem to espouse to this ignorant way of thinking and yet they so blatantly contradict themselvse often. As I mentioned before they claim that they fight for our freedom and yet whenever such (often tasteless and cruel) groups like “fuck the troops” arise, they are the first ones to petition for it’s censorship. Welly welly well, here’s a pickle. Why would you remove the free speech you supposedly die for?! Free speech is free speech. An extremely apropos Noam Chomsky quote comes to mind whenever I see such behavior: ” If you believe in freedom of speech, you believe in freedom of speech for views you don’t like. Goebbels was in favor of freedom of speech for views he liked. So was Stalin. If you’re in favor of freedom of speech, that means you’re in favor of freedom of speech precisely for views you despise.” Let’s not mince words here. I wholeheartedly sympathize for our brave men and women, whom selflessly thrust themselves into harm’s way and in many cases parish for what they see as a noble cause. That’s really intesne and admirable. They definitely don’t deserve to be treated like trash. So, how do we solve our little dilemma? For starters, we can inform ourselves of what is actually happening instead of blindly following traditional doctrine. I suggest those that favor free speech to be consistent in their views, no matter how they feel about the military or foreign policy. I recommend the pansies that initate these mean groups like FTT to consider the sacrifices their fellow men and women are making and more importantly how ineffective and destructive their means of speech is to the antiwar movement. Finally, y’all military brats and friends and family of such to open your eyes to the atrocious crimes our governement is committing and has always committed against millions of innocent people each day, including our once again brave soldiers, whom are mere pawns in this rotten machine’s sick game of greed.

P.S. I don’t necessarily agree with the slogan triumphantly displayed in the above photo, but I found it humorous and it reminded me of something Jerry Rubin once demanded.

Chris

Not Out Unless It’s Amazing

Old King Cole Younger told folks at LAist.com that Black Lips aren’t going to put out the new record unless it’s amazing.

Excerpt:

Have you started recording your next album?
Yeah, we’ve started recording it. We’re doing it with Lockett (Pundt) from Deerhunter in his studio in Atlanta. The game plan is that we’re not gonna have a deadline. We’re not going to put it out unless it’s amazing. We’re really a live band. I don’t really care if we ever put out a record again. If it sucks, we’re just going to tour. I’m not too worried about our marketing plan. I mean our last records have some great moments, but they all could be better. We’re not putting out another record until it’s all great.

What one of the things that you disliked on the last album that you want to change?

We didn’t let enough people hear it before it came out. I guess we were too worried that it was going to leak, so we hid it from our friends, and you need friends to tell you things. They’ll let you know if it’s bad. This time we’re not going to be so scared to show it to people.

CD Review: There Is Love in You [2010]

Band: Four Tet
Release: 1/2010
Label: Domino

1. “Angel Echoes” – D
2. “Love Cry” – D+
3. “Circling” – C-
4. “Pablo’s Heart” – F
5. “Sing” – D+
6. “This Unfolds” – C-
7. “Reversing” – D-
8. “Plastic People” – C-
9. “She Just Likes to Fight” – C

Comments: My major gripe about electronic music is that it can be super boring. Tell me that “Angel Echoes” is exciting in at least one way. It’s not at all. It did keep me on the edge only because I was waiting for it to get better. That’s why it got a D and not an F. Filler on the fourth track? Damn, such a trick doesn’t work too well on critics who grade every song. I might as well spill my guts on this one because I can’t really say anything positive. To be considered for a “C” range, some sort of thought of “maybe I’ll play this one again later” must come to my head. If it doesn’t, that’s where Ds and Fs come in. All right so the last song is pretty bearable, just so y’all know. It’s not fun, it’s just bearable.

Grade: D (66)