All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

EP Review, Girls, Music

EP Review: Broken Dreams Club [2010]

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Band: Girls
Release: 11/10
Label: True Panther Sounds

1. “Thee Oh So Protective One” – A
2. “Heartbreaker” – A
3. “Broken Dreams Club” – A+
4. “Alright” – A-
5. “Substance” – A
6. “Carolina” – B

Comments: “Thee Oh So Protective One” is Girls first major composition. There are an array of horns, shakers, and other instrumentation that Girls have not historically taken a crack at. Another thing is the outwardly Latin American feel. “Heartbreaker” continues in the same spirit, though with far less instrumental explosiveness. I must say the lead and rhythm guitars on “Heartbreaker” are up there with the best of what we heard on Album. Typical Owens lyricism from the get-go, but most especially apparent on the slower “Broken Dreams Club.” It’s not just that Owens is lonely. It’s more macrocosmic than that. The world “keeps going nowhere” with wars, poverty, and broken dreams abound. “Substance” reminds me of the scene in Nice Dreams where the dude asks the other dude for the “key” to get him out of the nut house. Timothy Leary puts the “key to the universe” — LSD — in the dudes’ mouths and they go for a “simple ride.” “Carolina” doesn’t really pick up until the song is six minutes deep. Even then, it hardly picks up. Don’t worry though — the first four tracks are pretty spectacular. This is a really good record.

Grade: A- (92)

Classic CD Review, Music, No Age

Classic CD Review: Nouns [2008]

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Band: No Age
Label: Sub Pop

1. “Miner” – A
2. “Eraser” – A+
3. “Teen Creeps” – A++
4. “Things I Did When I Was Dead” – A
5. “Cappo” – A+
6. “Keechie” – A-
7. “Sleeper Hold” – A++
8. “Errand Boy” – A-
9. “Here Should Be My Home” – A++
10. “Impossible Bouquet” – A-
11. “Ripped Knees” – A++
12. “Brain Burner” – A++

Comments: Truly one of the more outstanding records that the 2000s saw. It exemplifies the power of a near-perfect meshing of raw punk, noise, and melodic pop. The first three songs all have their heavy moments and these heavy moments define this record. Even a softer, more atmospheric number like “Things I Did” serves as a terrific change of pace tune. No Age can pull this off so effectively. An even more ambient tune is “Keechie.” From reading KLYAM you guys have probably figured out ambient usually isn’t my thing, but meaningful and fitting ambiance is a rare art. No Age produces rare art. The five tunes that I gave A++’s too. Those are all-time favorite heavy hitters. Check ’em.

Grade: A (96)

Music, News

Lucky Dragons + Needy Visions Opening For No Age

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Interesting bands, for a lack of a better phrase, always seem to open for No Age! First time I saw them electro/psychedelic group High Places and tropical punk band Abe Vigoda opened. The next time I got to see two bands signed to Dean’s PPM: one-man psych-band (at the time…now I believe it is a duo) Soft Circle and New York dark-wave/electro bunch Silk Flowers. Finally, the third time I got to experience fun dance vibes from Lemonade (who coincidentally will be opening for Delorean this Saturday at the Middle East Downstairs) and the now much more appreciated Beets from Jackson Heights! So what about the bands who will be playing tomorrow? 

Lucky Dragons
From: Los Angeles
Music Style: Electronic

Needy Visions
From: Weymouth, Massachusetts
Music Style: Garage/psych rock
Sounds: Awesome!

Cole Alexander, Entertainment, humor, Music

Old King Cole Younger Playing In Philly 2Nite

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Old King Cole Younger, the alias of Cole Alexander of Black Lips, will be playing what looks to be his first show (ever?) tonight in Philadelphia. At least a few Philly newspapers are reporting that he is opening for lo-fi psychedelic band Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. Is this true? If so, this is great.