Monthly Archives: January 2010
CD Review: Hidden (2010)
Band: These New Puritans
Label: Angular/Domino
Release: 2010
1. “Time Xone” – C
2. “We Want War” – B-
3. “Three Thousand” – B-
4. “Hologram” – C-
5. “Attack Music” – B-
6. “Fire-Power” – C
7. “Orion” – C-
8. “Canticle” – C+
9. “Drum Courts (Where Corals Lie)” – C
10. “White Chords” – C+
11. “5” – B-
Comments: This is a classical album, what? After “We Want War,” I’m wishing they stuck with classical. That song is a screwed up cross between rap-rock and experimental post-punk. I hate to be the one to shit on TNP parade (considering this release has gotten pretty much across the board high marks), but what makes this special? Most of these tunes barely get by as average and probably would work semi-well on a major motion picture soundtrack. Filler alert: “Canticle.” “5” is pretty tolerable and might just be the best on here.
Grade: C (76)
Girls Of Punk!
The Dig Opening For Editors
The Dig…kid! I saw them two nights in a row when they opened for The Walkmen and now I just read that they will be opening for a Walkmen inspired band, Editors, at the House of Blues on February 18. Also opening will be the Antlers, but I don’t know those guys…yet.
Bradford Cox on Jay Reatard
“Jay was what few people have the capacity to be. He created an undeniably classic album that contained so much pain transfered to tape in such an explosive way that it made you feel different after hearing it. He was transgressive and honest. His flaws were something he focused on and overdubbed and distorted until they made you forget who he really was – a person with feelings and a good heart. He loved music and worked hard from a young age to pursue it. He was a self-made and unmade man. I am truly sickened to see him go. “- Bradford Cox. Below is Jay’s cover of Deerhunter’s Fluorescent Grey.
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Chris
Pop Master
Perhaps two of the best words to describe the late, great (it still sounds strange) garage rocker. In my opinion he wrote the catchiest music in the history of Rock and Roll. Well, The Ramones probably have him beat and The Misfits are close, but yeah I’d say he is the 2nd catchiest artist of all time. At least for my money. In his own words, he described his aesthetic: “I make it up on the spot, improvise lyrics, usually start with a drum beat, come up with a chord progression and then start layering melodies and pulling ones out that don’t work. I end up with what I end up with. It’s kind of like a Polaroid of your music. It’s right then and there and I think that’s how it should be… It’s easier to hear they’re pop songs now.You can add anything you want to a pop song, but when you get away from that being a base, you kind of lose people.”- http://newsroom.mtv.com/tag/jay-reatard/
Chris
Film Review: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
I went to the movies to go see “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.” And I was not disappointed. I will go so far as to say this is the best film of the year….. no one will see. “Imaginarium” tells the story of Doctor Parnassus (a phenomenal Christopher Plummer) as he struggles to save his daughter Valentina (Lily Cole) from The Devil (Tom Waits) as Parnassus made a deal for eternal life that any child he fathers will become property of The Devil when they turn sixteen. The whole plot of the movie is Parnassus makes another deal that if he can get 5 souls before the Devil, then he will save Valentina. Parnassus and his merry band, Valentina, Anton (Andrew Garfield) and Percy (Verne Troyer) try to get these souls by having them go through the Imaginarium, which projects your imagination. They don’t start out so hot. That is until they find Tony (Heath Ledger) hanging from the side of a bridge. If your a Monty Python fan, you will see traces of it as it was directed by Terry Gilliam. The worlds portrayed in the Imaginarium are colorful and gorgeous and amazingly creative. Now, you probably know that Ledger died while making this film. However, Ledger’s buddies stepped in to finish the project. Now this transition isn’t one frame its Heath Ledger and next its Johnny Depp. No. They put in as whenever Tony goes into the Imaginarium, he transforms. These different transformations are portrayed by Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell. It is done very stylistically and very cleanly. An overall phenomenal film that no enough people will see cause you know it has… thoughts and ideas to it. Bravo Mr Gilliam. Bravo.
Overall Grade: A+
An Ugly Death, It Ain’t Gonna Save Me, No!
As some of you may know, a cool and talented musician, Jay Reatard, recently passed away. Though I personally didn’t know him, and I only knew some of his music, some of my friends did. As I type these words down, it makes me so much more aware of how life can be gone in the blink of an eye, and how we all take our lives for granted. Death is a natural part of life, something that just happens, but when that time comes with certain people, we can never accept it fully, and right now, it’s still hard to accept that I won’t be seeing him in concert anytime soon with my friends; however, as I’m typing this, I hope that his spirit is now much happier — much freer — than it was when it was living.
When I saw him live at Harper’s Ferry for the first time, his music was purely amazing! He blew my mind — and my eardrums. Too bad I didn’t listen to him as much as my friends did, and that only after he died did I appreciate his music more. Jay, you were a true musical genius. Here’s to you, man! You seemed like such a kickass person and someone with musical talent which poured out of you during your shows and recordings. In honor of him, here’s one of his good songs, See/Saw :]
– John
TSA WANTS YOU NAKED
After a lone Nigerian would-be terrorist tried to detonate explosives in his underclothes Christmas Day on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, TSA immediately grabbed for even more invasive power over American citizens.
Most disturbingly, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wants to implement full-body scans at the nation’s airports—allowing unelected bureaucrats to virtually strip-search and gawk at kids, moms, grandmothers, grandfathers — you and all other American passengers — through your clothes.
Predictably, misinformation on the graphic nature of the images and ability of TSA personnel to copy, photo, and save the images poured forth from TSA flaks.
Ow-oh!
Songs To Check Out!
“Teenage Kicks” – Undertones
“Tonight She’s Dead” – Lover!
“You Don’t Like Rock ‘N Roll” – Hunx & His Punx
“I’m Gonna Get Drunk Tonight” – M.O.T.O
“What Do I Get?” – Buzzcocks
“Another Girl, Another Planet” – Only Ones
“Hold On” – Mark Sultan
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 