Band: Black Lips
Release: 6/2011
Label: Vice
Part Two: HERE
Part Three: HERE
A1. “Family Tree” – A++
A2. “Modern Art” – A++
A3. “Spidey’s Curse” – A++
A4. “Mad Dog” – A++
A5. “Mr. Driver” – A++
A6. “Bicentennial Man” – A+
A7. “Go Out and Get It” – A-
A8. “Raw Meat” – A+
B1. “Bone Marrow” – A
B2. “The Lie” – A
B3. “Time” – A
B4. “Dumpster Dive” – A
B5. “New Direction” – A+
B6. “Noc-A-Homa” – A+
B7. “Don’t Mess Up My Baby” – A++
B8. “You Keep On Running” – B+
Grade: A (96)
Dayemm, I’m really starting to get into Adam Green and this song is simply spectacular. I love the off color lyrics and awkward vocals. I’ve been a big Moldy Peaches fan for a little while now and I thinnk Green’s solo work is a nice, fucked up, musical venture for me to follow up on.
Hey y’all, we have a new band of the week: Lotus Plaza. Lotus Plaza is the solo project of Deerhunter guitarist Lockett Pundt. I just recently started listening to Lockett’s solo work and a couple of weeks back I made LP a “Band Rec,” but I enjoyed the music so much I decided, well fuck it let’s make em’ BOTW! LP has a very calm, atmospheric, dreamy sound, fans of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound as well should really appreciate this, like Atlas, I feel like this is really just an extension of Deerhunter, but instead this showcases the unique quality of Lockett’s songwriting. I know the whole shoegazy-dreamy description gets thrown around a lot, but it’s true. I find it best to listen to Lotus around dusk or when you can’t fall asleep at night or you’re half awake and about to start your day. In any case, it fits perfect with a hazy state, when your transitioning from one consciousness to the other. My favorite song right now is “Rain Down,” but I still need to hear more from Mr. Pundt. Thanks for the music.
Here’s an interesting and informative interview from one of our favorite guys. Be sure to check out Ty’s new record Goodbye Bread out on Drag City records.
July 19 @ PA’s Lounge and a lot of other places around the country on different dates.
Click Below To See All Thee Dates (From June 7-on):
Artists: SARALEE, Kal Marks, Peach Kelli Pop, and The Scamps
Date: Thursday, May 26, 2011
Location: Problem House (Allston, MA)
Comments:
Act I: SARALEE– This guy (drums) and girl (vocals, guitar)duo were a pretty cool band to kick things off. Apparently, they just started making noises not too long ago; I couldn’t tell, they sounded like pros! Seriously though, there was something that stood out to me about them in a sort of off-kilterish kinda way. The girl’s vocals reminded me of a cross between Joanna Newsom, Bjork, and the kind of screeching, high pitched vocals you would hear in a Harmony Korine flick. It was pretty cool.
Act II: Kal Marks– I gotta be honest I don’t remember too much from Kal Marks’ set, but I do remember enjoying it very much. I recall the group exploring various sounds and nicely jumping back and forth from soft to loud. I plan on looking up their music and most likely seeing them again. Good work.
Act III: Peach Kelli Pop!!!– YAYYY! I was very, very excited to see my favorite Ottawa Bubble Gum Rockers and they did not dissapoint me. I loved the ultra intimate quality of these basement gigs, so it was real nice to be up close and personal with PKP. Their music is so fun, exciting, and welcoming the Problem House was the perfect venue for this set. I only knew about 1/3 of the songs, most were not from the recent LP (at least to my knowledge), but it didn’t really matter because the energy was still alive and well. But, of course when classics like “Doo Wah Diddy,” “Do the Egg Roll,” and my personal fave “Eeenie Meenie Minie Moe” were unleashed I couldn’t help but dance my ass off and sing along! Congrats to Peach Kelli for their first show on their first American tour!
Set List:
1) Robin Hood
2) Julie Oulie
3) No One Else
4) Doo Wah
5) Stay Away
6) Eeenie Meenie
7) Egg Roll
8) Drive In
9) Panchito Blues ?
Act IV: The Scamps– Alas, we missed these guys :( next time!
Hey those guys hopping and boppin look real familiar…
Haha! Bring the kids, parents, hell even round up thee old geezers. Priceless.
Though, I’m actually surprised the band got a promotion like this… is this from MTV?
http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/1/1687-black-lips/2717-live-at-webster-hall/
Word… new album (Arabia Mountain) is hot.
Classic scene from The Decline of Western Civilization (1981).
Band: Arctic Monkeys
Release: 6/2011
Label: Domino Records
1. “She’s Thunderstorms” – A
2. “Black Treacle” – A
3. “Brick By Brick” – B+
4. “The Hellcat Spangled Shalala” – A-
5. “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” – B+
6. “Library Pictures” – A-
7. “All My Own Stunts” – B
8. “Reckless Serenade” – A+
9. “Piledriver Waltz” – A-
10. “Love Is A Laserquest” – A-
11. “Suck It and See” – A-
12. “That’s Where You’re Wrong” – A
Comments: The Arctic Monkeys emerged out of nowhere in 2006 with the release of their debut Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. Shortly thereafter the band became international sensations of sorts. This isn’t to say that they didn’t have to cover a shit load of ground in their native UK before attaining such a status. Somewhere along the line, they got recognized and quite deservingly so. It’s not so often a group of 20 year olds can so finely construct rock n roll gems. I remember checking them out for the first time on YouTube, a relatively new website at the time. I wasn’t blown away, but I liked what I heard. Five years and three records later, the band, led by principal songwriter Alex Turner, still has ‘it’. Turner’s voice is distinctive and aside from his signature vocals, the band ain’t all that different stacked next to their pop sensible “post”-punk revival contemporaries. The Arctics flirt with many a styling on Suck It and See: the soft verse/extremely catchy chorus Humbug-esque “She’s Thunderstorms,” the slow and thoughtful on “Piledriver” and “Love Is,” top notch power pop on “Black Treacle,”the guitar-driven psychedelic “Brick By Brick” and “Don’t Sit Down,” and so on and so forth. “The Hellcat” is reverb drenched with a fitting bass line included. We’ve heard about dancing shoes and the like before from these folks and we hear about ’em again on “All My Own Stunts.” That’s a good song, perhaps one of the only to not stick out too much. That’s all right, because what follows — “Reckless Serenade” — is Arctic Monkeys at their best. The bass, rhythm, and lead are all outstanding. Sometimes Alex is quite fancy with his lyrical content, but this one is fairly easy to comprehend. Humorous from the start, “Topless models…” There might be some Side A people, some Side B people. Side A people want to rock and roll. Side B just want to sit down and have some light music playing. Or maybe after rocking and rolling to Side A you’ll get tired and just toss on B as a way to rest. Either way, this is a truly enjoyable record, with a load of memorable songs. Great summer record player listening.
Grade: A- (91)
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 