All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: Sisterworld (2010)

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Band: Liars
Release: 2010
Label: Mute

1. “Scissor” – C
2. “No Barrier Fun” – D+
3. “Here Comes All The People” – C
4. “Drip” – D+
5. “Scarecrows On A Killer Slant” – B-
6. “I Still Can See An Outside World” – C+
7. “Proud Evolution” – B
8. “Drop Dead” – B-
9. “The Overachievers” – B+
10. “Goodnight Everything” – C
11. “Too Much, Too Much” – B-

Comments: Based on what I’ve read about Liars, I was expecting something along the lines of No Age on this album. I hate the term “alternative rock,” but does this boil down to anything other than that? It’s the kind of freaky experimental rock that wouldn’t disappoint metal-heads or hard-rockers who appreciate sub-mainstream modern roll. I have more fun listening to Lady Gaga than this! But wait! After four miserable tunes, things brighten up for these folk who now call Berlin there home. They change-up their style from straight up eclectic to pop-eclectic (art rock). “Scarecrows” is a kind of ode to the noise-surf of Wavves. It still blows (a little bit), but it’s a very nice departure. “I Still” is the equivalent of aVeckatimest B-Side until some fuzzy noise enters. I can definitely see bitchfuck media raving about this album in the same way they did Veckatimest, perhaps hailing it as some major breakthrough experimental crossover in “chill-wave” or whatever the kids are going to call it in 20-10s since “chill-wave”  is soooo 2009. “Proud Evolution” is Liars’ best attempt at duplicating The Verve’s sound. It’s a corny repetitive ditty that is admittedly somewhat catchy thanks to it’s rock solid beat. You can only be so artsy before becoming too corny. I’ll give them props on “The Overachievers.” That’s a really catchy one. For freaks sake, they should just cut to the chase and open up with noise. Quit messing around!

Final Grade: C (76)

Entertainment, humor, Music

Black Lips Fan Boy!

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I saw you guys last night at Terminal 5, opening for the Raconeturs. With all due respect, you guys SUCKED. Seriously. I don’t usually go out of my way to criticize, and I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but in all honesty, your guys’ set may have been the most awful experience of my life.

Too much yelling, too much use of that stupid echo mic, too much sounding like the 4th place contestant at my high school battle of the bands. I actually boo’ed you guys but you were so loud and obnoxious that nobody else could hear it.

And another thing, when the lights come up, and the PA music starts playing, GET THE FUCK OFF STAGE. You are the shitty opening act, nobody wants to hear another shitty song from your repertoire.

Entertainment, Music, News, Random, religion

Merry Christmas KLYAMers

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Happy Birthday to Jesus Christ, whose birth is the most universally celebrated in the entire world. Where would we be without Jesus? That’s my question of the week.

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Since this is mainly a music blog (but it’s obviously more than that), I’d thought I share with you a 7″ that I just discovered. Two years ago King Khan helped his six year old daughter Saba Lou record her first CD.  Jared Swilley coaxed Saba Lou into releasing it on Die Slaughterhaus and the rest is history.

Here is a link to the music video for her song “Physical Nothing” which was penned completely by her; daddy Khan is just playing the music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ13hSUWKSc

Entertainment, Lists, Music

Glen’s Fave Drummers (2000s)

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1. Dean Allen Spunt – No Age –  Dean makes up for No Age’s lack of a bass player in a tremendous way. He is both a crafty artist and a heavy hitter. He defines some of No Age’s best tunes (Cappo, Every Artist Needs A Tragedy, Here Should Be My Home, etc), not to mention the fact that he sings on every one of them as well.

2. Matt Barrick – The Walkmen – The thing that I really love about Barrick is his pacing and control of tempo. He is just a commander from behind the drum set, whizzing through each song with passion and friendliness. A man of small stature and youthful appearance, Barrick is just as great on fast songs like “The Rat” and “Thinking Of A Dream I Had” (a personal favorite) as he is on a slower one like “Canadian Girl.”

3. Joe Bradley – Black Lips – Joe is simply the man, providing a solid vocal/drum combination for my favorite band. He’s incredibly high energy and intelligent. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves. On record, admittedly I don’t really pay attention to his drumming as much as I do the other instruments; live, it’s a thing of a beauty to watch him play.

Entertainment, Lists, Music

KLYAM Boston Venue Guide

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These aren’t known levels or anything; a mix of opinion and fact, if that’s all right with you.

Level One
– Lizard Lounge (Local bands; usually unsigned; capacity 80)
– O’Brien’s Pub (Local bands; usually unsigned; capacity 70)
– Several other small venues without any prerequisite venues.

Level Two
– P.A’s Lounge (Typically signed w/ a good size following; capacity 150; example: Jens Lekman)
– Club Passim (Mid-size acts of the folk persuasion w/ good size following; capacity 125)

Level Three
– Middle East Upstairs (Prerequisite of Level One/Two shows; mid-size bands typically signed; capacity 194; example: Rural Alberta Advantage)
– T.T the Bear’s (Prerequisite of at least 3 Level One/Two shows; mid-size bands typically signed; capacity 300; example: Sam Roberts)
– Great Scott (Headlines fairly popular signed local/national/international bands, often from Northern Europe; capacity 240; example: Handsome Furs)

Level Four
– Harper’s Ferry (Headlines low-demand mainstream/high-demand independent bands; capacity 400; examples: Wale, Flobots, Jay Reatard)
– Middle East Downstairs (Headlines highly visible independent/slightly mainstream bands with strong followings; capacity 575; examples: Black Lips, Walkmen, Dinosaur Jr.)

Level Five
– Paradise Rock Club (Headlines established/new national touring acts  that easily sell out Level Four venues; capacity 728; examples: King Khan & the Shrines, Anti-Flag)
– Wilbur Theatre (Headlines national touring acts that have established quite an audience; capacity 1223; example: Sonic Youth)
– House of Blues (Headlines national touring acts, which may or may not be considerably mainstream, that have established quite an audience; capacity 2425; examples: New Kids on the Block, Animal Collective)
– Orpheum Theatre (Headlines national touring acts, which may or may not be considerably mainstream, that have established quite an audience; capacity 2763; examples: Regina Spektor, Yeah Yeah Yeahs)

Level Six
– Wang Theatre (Headlines highly visible bands and artists who have, usually over a number of years, developed a vast following; capacity 3700; examples: Pixies, Lady Gaga)
– Bank of America Pavilion (Headlines highly visible bands and artists who have developed a vast following; capacity 5000; examples: Flaming Lips, Elvis Costello)
– Agganis Arena (Headlines very big names in rock and pop; capacity 7200; examples: Weezer, Kings of Leon)

Level Seven
– Comcast Center (Headlines the biggest names in rock and pop; capacity 19900; examples: Radiohead, Nickelback)
– TD Garden (Headlines the biggest names in rock and pop; capacity 19580; examples: U2, Bruce Springsteen)
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Some bands, undeniably, have a greater potential to rise to the top than others. For instance, Kings of Leon have worked their way up rather significantly in the past few years. Just two years ago they played the Paradise. This past April, they played the 10X larger Agganis Arena. Take Radiohead. They played the ‘Dise back in 1995 and just a few years later performed at the 20,000+ Suffolk Downs race track. Even King Khan & BBQ Show have been an upwardly mobile success story. They went from TT The Bears in 2005 to Great Scott in 2007 to the Paradise in 2008. For other bands like Black Lips, it’s been a somewhat slower ride. A touring band since 2000, they hit up TT’s in 2007 before selling out Middle East Downstairs the past two years, thanks in some part to critically acclaimed album releases Good Bad Not Evil and 200 Million Thousand. I’m not going to put money on it, but I wouldn’t be totally surprised if they move up the ladder to the Paradise (provided dates are available) for their next U.S tour.

Entertainment, Lists, Music

Glen’s Top Albums (2000s)

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These albums really got me going at one time or another. After #1, the order doesn’t really matter. They’ve all been just about equally inspirational AND they are all pretty damn different.

1. Los Valienteles Del Mundo Nuevo (Black Lips/2007/Punk)
2. Nouns (No Age/2008/Experimental Noise Pop)
3. You and Me (Walkmen/2008/Post-Punk)
4. The King Khan & BBQ Show LP (The King Khan & BBQ Show/2004/Doo-Wop)
5. In Rainbows (Radiohead/2007/Art Rock)

Entertainment, humor, interviews, Music

KK BBQ Show Set + Interview

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This is a pretty new one that has in it Leo Chips (the SHOW in King Khan & BBQ Show). They play four songs and then do a little interview after. It’s all good!

BUT…you kind of have to skip some of it to get to the good stuff. Not to say that the first band/interview isn’t great, but come on now.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgRENddUHi0