All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

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.

CD Review, Music

CD Review: Sports [2010]

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Band: Weekend
Release: 11/2010
Label: Slumberland

1. “Coma Summer” – B
2. “Youth Haunts” – C+
3. “Monday Morning” – C
4. “Monongah” – A-
5. “Landscape” – B-
6. “Age Class” – B
7. “Veil” – C
8. “End Times” – B+
9. “Afterimage” – C-
10. “Untitled” – B

Comments: Slumberland is a hot bed for noise pop these days. Pains of Being Pure at Heart released a structured self-titled debut that definitely was more pop slime than anything else.  Weekend’s music on this album, conversely, is more of a reflection of the kind of extended shoe-gaze that we just don’t to see much of anymore. The drumming, across the board, is really awesome. The bass lines are typically catchy, as well. The guitars — well, what do you expect? — are loaded with feedback and other sorts of effects that aren’t atypical of this style of music. “Monongah” is my favorite tune on here. For one, it is one of the shortest; we get more “song” than anything else. You’ve got to be a real noise-phile to love Sports ’cause I sure don’t! I like tennis. No, not that Tennis.

Grade: B- (80)

Band Recommendation, Music

Band Rec: The Castillians !!!

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So NuRaveBrainWave is the one site where the authors have one hell of a taste in music. Seriously. Reading that website will give you exposure to music you’d normally never get (exposed) to. And most of the time, it is kick-ass stuff.

Introduced today was The Castillians from Birmingham, UK. A lo-fi Strokes, of sorts…or as “He Said, She Said” Fanzine wrote: “They are the sound of pop losing its virginity all over again. They are the musical magpies of the modern age, taking inspiration and adding perspiration to create a cocktail of potent strength and desire. The dirt under their finger tips is the compost of the rock n roll’s dream, learning from the past and creating the future, the Castilians will show you the light while dancing drunk in the shadows.”

CHECK OUT THEIR MYSPACE MUSIC: http://www.myspace.com/thecastillians

CD Review, Music

CD Review: Strychnine Dandelion [2010]

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Band: The Parting Gifts
Release: 11/2010
Label: In The Red Records

1. “Keep Walkin” –  A-
2. “Bound To Let Me Down” – B+
3. “Strange Disposition” – B+
4. “My Mind’s Made Up” – B+
5. “Shine” – A-
6. “Born To Be Blue” – A
7. “Staring” – A
8. “Don’t Stop” – B+
9. “My Baby Tonight” – B
10. “Sleepy City” – A
11. “Don’t Hurt Me Now” – A-
12. “Hanna” – B+
13. “I Don’t Wanna Be Like This” – A
14. “Strychnine Dandelion” – A-
15. “This House Ain’t A Home” – A

Comments: Greg Cartwright is an accomplished musician from one of earth’s top mecca’s of garage rock: Memphis, Tennessee. Cartwright — known as Greg Oblivian when he was in The Oblivians — has a knack for crafting solid oldies pop songs. This collaboration reeks of roots rock: old country, rockabilly, trash rock, etc. The verses on “My Mind’s Made Up” are virtual rockabilly re-takes on the verses on The King Khan & BBQ Show’s “Too Much in Love”. Credit to Cartwright and Coco Hames of the Ettes for dating this thing. Take the lyrics on “Born To Be Blue” for instance: “It’s a lonely stand/When a girl loves two and she must choose. Please understand/I still love you, but he needs me, too.” Classic girl group stuff, which re-appears on “Sleepy City.” Fans of everything that I’ve mentioned (and more), please check this out. It’s one of the best records that In The Red has released this year.

Grade: A- (90)