Category Archives: Music
Back In Time: Angry Angles On WFMU
Jay Reatard, Alix Brown, and Ryan Rousseau play a set on WFMU back in 2006 on WFMU. Included in the set is “Blood Visions” and “Nightmares,” both of which were kept around as Jay Reatard solo songs on Blood Visions.
CD Review: Smoke Ring For My Halo [2011]
Band: Kurt Vile
Release: 3/2011
Label: Matador
1. “Baby’s Arms” – A-
2. “Jesus Fever” – A-
3. “Puppet to the Man” – B
4. “On Tour” – B-
5. “Society Is My Friend” – B
6. “Runner Ups” – C+
7. “In My Time” – B+
8. “Peeping Tomboy” – B-
9. “Smoke Ring For My Halo” – B-
10. “Ghost Town” – B
Comments: Vile’s live show (with the Violators) has always been one of noise and layer. On record, however, the childish prodigy has excelled at displaying a softer side that, while layered in realms of noise, is more delicately catchy and intriguing than the in-person experience. Following the KISS [Keep it simple, stupid…not the band] principle that I’ve always been fond of as a fan of music, Vile can really do a lot with a little. Unfortunately, this record is a continuation of a trend I’ve noticed in Vile’s music over the years: lack of differentiation. I don’t really blame him, but just about every song flows and sounds quite similar to the previous/next one. “In My Time,” which was first released as the title track of his 2010 EP of the same name, belongs in the category of Vile’s stronger set of songs. It features a prominent electric guitar and more memorable melody. In the end, this album don’t impress-uh-me much (to quote Shania Twain), but there definitely are some good listens to be enjoyed in the sea of repetition.
Grade: B (84)
John Norris Interviews Jared Swilley [Black Lips!!!]
EP Review: He Gets Me High [2011]
Band: Dum Dum Girls
Release: 3/2011
Label: Sub Pop
1. “Wrong Feels Right” – B+
2. “He Gets Me High” –A
3. “Take Care Of My Baby” – A-
4. “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” – A
Comments: This one begins where I Will Be left off. Like its longer predecessor, He Gets Me High personifies the tag noise/pop that has been applied abundantly to Dum Dum Girls music. The first two tunes are of the variety of rock ‘n’ roll that we’ve gotten a taste of before from the Girls while “Take Care of My Baby” is a blissful rockabilly number — light instrumentation, beautiful vocals, a little tambourine. The production on The Smiths cover “There Is A Light” is absolutely stellar. The studio sound captured on here is something that probably couldn’t really be replicated as well live, but it is what it is and that’s really brilliant.
Grade: A- (91)
Excellent “Bratty B” Cover
I know I know, I’m sure y’all are all Best Coasted out for this week, but I needed to post this. Here is a cover of “Bratty B” from an adorable girl (under the YouTube name “SJSancheese”). Keep On Rocking!
P.S. I dig the guitar :)
Kids Watching Panda Bear!
THAT’S WHAT’S POLLUTING OUR BEACHES !
Those Darlins- “Be Your Bro” Music Video
New album is coming out in March, can’t wait to hear it!
Band of the Week: Wheels On Fire
Wheels On Fire! Go on YouTube, you won’t find too much tune-age. Tune your radio to WMBR and you might just hear these guys. I did this morning, in fact. Becky, the DJ of Breakfast of Champions (what a DJ by the way, playing my request of “Punk Slime” in a timely fashion), spinned “Losin” off their 2010 Liar, Liar record. That song was instantly catchy and I had no clue it was by Wheels On Fire. Thanks to Track Blaster, though, for showing me the way. At any rate, I haven’t heard a Wheels On Fire track that did not appeal to me. So Band of the Week, check them out somehow!
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/wheelsonfire
BUY RECORD: http://www.bompstore.com/servlet/Detail?no=12133
LISTEN:
Good Ole Music Limelight: Bishop Allen
Got into Bishop Allen in 2007 — around this time of the year. It was because of MLB 2k7. I heard “Middle Management” a few times (main menu!) and thought gee, this sounds good, let me look into this band. So I did and found out that they named themselves after a street in Cambridge, a street that we always travel on to go get to the Middle East, which is the best place to see music in and around the city. Anyway! Always get a little nostalgic about this band when driving on that road so here’s to an irregular feature where I talk about how I got into bands that I like. I’ve yet to listen to any of their albums completely and sincerely, but I have some songs to recommend: “Click Click Click Click,” “Rain,” “Middle Management,” “Eve of Destruction,” and “Ghosts Are Good Company.” Bishop Allen has been described as power-pop, which is pretty accurate, but I would say the band also has an outsider vibe going on — similar to Adam Green, The Moldy Peaches, et al. Listen below!
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 