All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

Jay Reatard: Live At Golden Plains [2008]

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Comments: Hundreds of videos have been taken of Jay Reatard’s live performance, but never until now has there been an official live release. This LP captures Reatard’s live assault near perfectly — one song after another, little pause, screamed song titles before each, the occasional extended jam. This is from March 2008, so the set is heavy on Blood Visions and singles material. After “My Shadow” we hear a receptive cheer from the audience, but that is quickly lost after Reatard, Pope, and Hayes reel into “Oh It’s Such A Shame.” I remember seeing Reatard for the first time in July 2009 and thinking damn his set was way faster than this one, but that might be because he made more of an effort in pacing/slower playing for this occasion than during a usual show. Still, though, Jay’s slow is a normal person’s lightning quick. The barebones aspect of the performance really comes through as well. Reatard’s vocals aren’t as perfect (obviously) as they were mixed on record and some singing parts are ommitted like “she creeps me out” on “See Saw” in favor of an instrumental jam. Billy’s drum playing is heavy on the snare, man he loved doing rolls (“Fading All Away”) on that instrument. One song that particularly stuck out to me on this Live LP that never really had much of an effect on me on record is “So Useless.” I never appreciated its beauty. I was missing out! “So useless, I must be, to waste time with you!” “Hammer I Miss You Let’s GO! Hammer I Miss You” shouts Jay. Showing off his vocal varieties — a precursor to the bullshit Nicki Minaj now pulls — he really plays the shit out of that tune. Owning it. Jay can barely keep up the chorus on “Death Is Forming” and by this point in the set he must be exhausted to no end. “Death is forming death is forming death is forming forming death forming death fucking death forming” The set closes on “Let It All Go” with its constant barrage of guitar noise, pop hooks, and unpredictable finish. This is something that I highly recommend sharing with others who maybe never got to see a Jay Reatard show. It’s the closest we’ll ever get to Jay.

CD Review: Angles [2011]


Band:
The Strokes
Release: 3/2011
Label: RCA

1. “Machu Picchu” –  B+
2. “Under Cover of Darkness” – A
3. “Two Kinds of Happiness” – A-
4. “You’re So Right” – C+
5. “Taken For A Fool” – B+
6. “Games” – C+
7. “Call Me Back” – C
8. “Gratisfaction” – B
9. “Metabolism” – C+
10. “Life Is Simple In The Moonlight” – A-

Comments: While this is no Is This It, I’m not sure anyone — band, fan, or critic — was expecting it to be something of that magnitude. Instead, it’s a pretty solid record that does a lot of soul searching in terms of sound, which is probably its primary downfall. We all heard “Under Cover of Darkness” first and from the way that sounded, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. It had a nice Phoenix vibe going on the verses and a pretty poppy chorus so overall I thought…nice, but not overly impressive. Upon a lot of listens, it grew on me and I actually throughly enjoy that tune. I can’t say that for too many more on here. The first and third tracks stand out — “Two Kinds” because it oddly sounds like “Two Tickets to Paradise,” though I’ve seen perhaps more apropos comparisons to The Cars. “You’re So Right” sounds Yorkian and quite average at that. “Games” and “Call Me Back” are draggy and have potential in some places…they really do…except…”Call Me Back” disappoints when it reports back to average Yorke. If this was Guts, do you HAVE IT? “Gratisfaction” is pretty borderline so we’d have to check with Mo to see. So yeah, the recording process was a horrible one for most of the dudes, though it’s pretty hard to tell that Julian sent mp3s of his voice and they were copy and pasted on the songs. Modern technology guys. This is it. Calm down on the Muse-y ambition on “Metabolism” guys, that shit is not where you wanna go! Aw too late. “Life” gives us hope. No pun intended, it’s a quality revival jam. Good thing Julian only got two seconds of average Yorkian at the end AGAIN ! damn that impersonation ! This isn’t KLYAM recommended, but check it probably. It’s on their website.

Grade: B (84)

NEWS: Arabia Mountain Tracklist !

Out June 7 on Vice!

1. Family Tree [LIVE VID]
2. Modern Art
3. Spidey’s Curse
4. Mad Dog
5. Mr. Driver
6. Bicentennial Man (Prod. Lockett Pundt)
7. Go Out and Get It (Prod. Lockett Pundt) [LIVE VID/ MUSIC VID]
8. Raw Meat [LIVE VID]
9. Bone Marrow
10. The Lie
11. Time [LIVE VID]
12. Dumpster Dive
13. New Direction [LIVE VID @ 4:00]
14. Noc-a-Homa
15. Don’t Mess My Baby
16. You Keep on Running

SHOW: Arctic Monkeys @ HOB [May 19]

New LP coming SOON from Arctic Monkeys. More importantly, though, they are playing at the House of Blues on May 19. You know time flies when it feels like you just saw a band, when in actuality it’s been 16 months or so. I was just thinking about the Monkeys the other day and how I got to see ’em e at the Paradise then a few months later at the HoB. They seem to like touring in America, which is nice for us fans.

So it’s May 19. Tickets on sale March 12.

CD Review: Screws Get Loose [2011]


Band:
Those Darlins
Release: 3/2011
Label: Oh Wow Dang

1. “Screws Get Loose” – A-
2. “Be Your Bro” – A
3. “Let U Down” – A-
4. “Hives” – A-
5. “Mystic Mind” – B
6. “Tina Said” – B+
7. “$” – B
8. “Boy” – B+
9. “Fatty Needs A Fix” – B+
10. “Waste Away” – B
11. “Bumd” – B+

Comments: Those Darlins have the country/garage thing down to a tee and this record goes to show that. “Screws Get Loose” is a fantastic way to open things and the exquisitely true to life “Be Your Bro” is a fitting follow-up. “I just want to run and play in the dirt with you, you just want to stick it in!” How ’bout that! We get a taste of the songwriting/singing of drummer Linwood Regensburg on “Let U Down,” a dive into Costello-esque power-pop. It’s pretty obvious after the first few songs that this is an extremely exciting work of art for the Darlins. The rest of the album is a lil bit more country (some slower points) until “Fatty Needs A Fix,” a WINNING combination of Weird Al, Devo, and Taylor Swift. “Bumd” sounds like “Do The Fuck Yourself” by Nobunny. Fo’ real. Cool stuff. So yeah, this is a funstix record.

Grade: B+ (88)