Monthly Archives: September 2010

Art, Entertainment, Music, pictures, Punk

Woe is Kids Like You and Me!- H & E Time

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Woe Is H & E!

Gentlemen Jesse and His Men:
Hopes: They rock out really hard and become one of my favorite opening acts and I check out one of their LPs

Expectations They do in fact rock out and they are better this time than when I saw them open for the Black Lips, but they do not stand out enough for me.

Strange Boys:
Hopes: They play a nice 45 minute set featuring most of their classic material like “Woe” “No Slave” and “A Walk.”

Expectations: The Boys are awesome, but do not play as many of my favorites as I would have hoped and play for a shorter amount of time.

Those Darlins: The Darlins play most or all of my favorites such as “Red Light Love,” “Mama’s Heart,” “DUI or Die,” amongst others. They play for over an hour and its one of the top 15-20 best shows I have ever seen.

Expectations: They play for under an hour and play many of my faves, but not all. It’s a great show, but not one of the best

CD Review, Deerhunter, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: Halcyon Digest [2010]

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Band: Deerhunter
Release: 9/2010
Label: 4AD

1. “Earthquake” – B-
2. “Don’t Cry” – A
3. “Revival” – A
4. “Sailing” – A
5. “Memory Boy” – A_
6. “Desire Lines” – A
7. “Basement Scene” – A-
8. “Helicopter” – A-
9. “Fountain Stairs” – A-
10. “Coronado” – A
11. “He Would Have Laughed” – A+

Comments: Deerhunter is another one of those bands whose releases I greatly anticipate. Last year’s EP Rainwater Cassette Exchange tickled my fancy, as I gave it about as high of a grade as anything else I heard. I anticipated that I’d be doing the same with this LP. Not the case. There are some cuts that seem like leftovers from Rainwater: the jungle-jangle “Revival,” coincidentally the best song on here, the upbeat saxophone-included ditty “Coronado,”and “Don’t Cry,” an engaging encounter with a youngster who’s in a difficult situation similar to the one that Bradford was in at the same age. Though, more likely, it might just be adult Bradford talking to child Bradford. Next topic: atmospheric songs. These are quintessential to Deerhunter’s discography and probably always will be. Atmosphere + singing is a little bit better than plain old instrumental, but I’m a proponent in the belief that a band can do without these. The folk-tinged “Memory Boy” delves into some thought provoking issues. “Is there anyone who wants to see the sun go down, down, down, down, down, down, down?!” “Desire Lines” has Lockett Pundt and crew taking a stab via vocals, dominant bass lines, arpeggios, and consistent drum beats at the sound of ’90s alternative. “Basement Scene” is reminiscent of ’50s and ’60s Buddy Holly/girl group material with, of course, a decent amount of psychedelia thrown in the stew. “Helicopter” is refreshing and, for lack of a better word, chill. The Jay Reatard dedicated “He Would Have Left” is a similarly chill exposition that holds up well over its near 8 minute length. In conclusion, this record deserves a spot among Deerhunter’s best. It might not contain several game-changing songs that Microcastle or Rainwater possessed, but it does come close.

Grade: A- (92)

Band Recommendation, humor, Music

Band Recommendation: Red Mass

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Red Mass is a group of musicians who fit in the general category of a band. They’re on the psychedelic/experimental side of rock and roll AND will be opening for King Khan and the Shrines at select shows! Among those select shows is the Royale Boston one that we’ll be attending. Ahh, the excitement! Well, anyway, I like what I hear and thought I’d share them with all of you guys. You know, move them to the next level of recognition.

“Male Models” – Haha! This one is funny. They sound like they’ve been at this since the ’80s. The style is dance-rock, but it’s eclectic and nearly parodies mainstream ’80s rock while still maintaining an edge that none of the shitty bands ever had at that time.