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Category Archives: Music
Song of the Day- Harlem- Cloud Pleaser
Our boys Harlem on Fader TV performing the Hippies (2010) classic “Cloud Pleaser.”
Album Review: Ray Lamontagne and the Pariah Dogs-God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise
Artist: Ray Lamontagne and the Pariah Dogs
Full Title: God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise
Year: 2010
Label: RCA
This Mainer just released an album that 1971 would go crazy over. So take a trip up to Bangor, Maine, climb a mountain, light up a doobie, and put those head phones on. “God Willin’” is an unforgettable trip. Ray recorded this album in his farm home-turned studio in just a few weeks with his new band, The Pariah Dogs. Heartache and soul have never sounded so pristine.
The album kicks off with “Repo Man.” You know LaMontagne and the guys are jammin’ today. The track is a classic style blues riff with a modern twist. Phrases like “Didn’t take long fore’ I begin to see, that you got eyes for every man on the street” never sounded better. LaMontagne sure as hell ain’t your repo man! “New York City’s Killing Me” seems to be a personal take on a small country boy hitting the big city. The first single off the album, “Beg Steal or Borrow” sounds like Neil Young on steroids. “Are We Really Through” is undoubtedly the most beautiful ballad Ray has released. The quiet guitar pluckings will easily silence a room. The album ends with an upbeat track you will likely play at your next cookout “Devil’s in the jukebox.”
Though there is not a smash hit like “You Are the Best Thing” or “Hold You in my Arms,” this is still a fantastic album. “God Willin’” is only ten songs. The important thing here is that none of them lag. Each song is fresh, and when all is said and done, you will find Ray held your interest from start to finish. The album doesn’t explore anything new, or try to be bold. That’s perfectly fine! Simplicity works best for Ray and we all know it. Nothing gets in the way of his soothing vocal tones. Kudos to Ray and the boys, they we’re selling more records than over produced artists like Drake and Justin Bieber on the billboard charts. It’s nice to see an artist not using autotune or electronic beats being appreciated. That’s quite the accomplishment for a little ole’ country man. “God Willin’” is great fun, and the ideal soundtrack for your Fall season.
1. Repo Man-10
2. New York City’s Killing Me-10
3. God Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise- 9
4. Beg Steal or Borrow-9
5. Are We Really Through-10
6. This Love is Over-8
7. Old Before Your Time-10
8. For the Summer-9
9. Like Rock & Roll Radio-9
10. Devil’s in the Jukebox-10
Grade: A-
Elvis Perkins-Ash Wednesday-CD Review
Artist: Elvis Perkins
Year: 2007
Label: XL Records
Track Listing
1.”While You Were Sleeping” 9/10
2.”All The Night Without Love” 8/10
3.”May Day!” 9/10
4.”Moon Woman II” 8/10
5.”It’s Only Me” 9/10
6.”Emile’s Vietnam in the Sky” 9/10
7.”Ash Wednesday” 8/10
8.”The Night & The Liquor” 7/10
9.”It’s a Sad World After All” 9/10
10.”Sleep Sandwich” 8/10
11.”Good Friday” 9/10
Final Grade 95/100
Elvis Perkins father, the great actor Anthony Perkins, died a painful death in 1992 of complications related to AIDS, when Elvis was 26. His Mother, Berry Berenson, died in a plane on the September 11 attacks. While he started work on his first album before his Mother’s death, it is clear that the death of his Father and Mother was very influential in the albums creative process. As Elvis states the very title ‘Ash Wednesday’ “refers to being left on Wednesday with nothing but ash, because [my mother] died on a Tuesday – being left with ash on September 12. That was also the day my father died, September 12 [1992, of Aids]. It first occurred to me on Ash Wednesday itself – my consciousness was largely ruled by having lost my mother six months previously”.
Giving his history a person would expect an album full of death and destruction, an album asking questions that nobody can really answer, but Elvis Perkins is smart enough to go a different route. What he delivered is an album that is honest and based in reality, true it is full of lost and yearning, but it is also full of beautiful imagery, imagery of someone who has truly lived. The album opens with the haunting and beautiful ‘While You Were Sleeping’ (my favorite track on the album) where in his best Rufus Wainwright says “while you were sleeping, the babies grew, the stars shined and the shadows moved, time flew, the phone rang, there was a silence when the kitchen sang, its songs competed like kids for space, we stared for hours in our maker’s face, they gave us picks, said go mine the sun, and gold and come back when you’re done”. Elvis Perkins walks a fine line the entire album between the beautiful images he sees and the hardships he’s experienced. Musically he reminds me of Paul Simon and a dozen other folk singers, but he doesn’t copy a particular one, a rare feat. Overall it was an extremely strong debut and a promising effort from a very talented singer songwriter. If you are looking for good modern folk music, it will be hard to beat this album.
Nobunny Action Figure!
Haha not really though.
A Rave. Circa 1993.
For those electronic dance music freaks out there I know you don’t get a whole lot of loving here at KLYAM. That’s about to change. Here is a video of a rave. Circa 1993.
The Spits Read-Along Adventure
If you like to look at elementary school story books and listen to psychedelic rock in the background (at the same time!), you might just shit your pants because I’ve got the record (actually download…it will be available in major retail outlets in November) for you! It’s called Haunted Fang Castle and it is a free download over at Scion A/V Garage. Is Scion trying to make punx apart of their demographic? It’s up to you to decide. Either way, grab both the .pdf story and the mp3 folder. Set aside about thirty minutes and listen. People who document themselves listening to this and send the movie to klyamemail@gmail.com will receive a free life-time subscription to KLYAM. The choice is yours and yours alone.
Link to Haunted Fang Castle: http://www.scionav.com/music/scionavgarage/index.html#general6,19080323
The Slits- ‘Love und Romance’ – John Peel Sessions
R.I.P. Ari Up
Punk Pionner Ari Up of the Slits’ Dead at 48
Ari Up (born Arianna Forster) has died at 48, John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) has confirmed on his website. Lydon, who is married to Forster’s mother said she died after a long illness on October 20th. Up formed the Slits with drummer Palmolive in 1976 at the age 0f 14 and the original all female punk outfit, became well known for their unpredicatble and outragous antics, breaking the all boys club barriers of punk at the same time. During their formative years they released two very influental albums, 1979’s ‘Cut” which remains famous for having a cover photo of the band topless and covered in mud, and my personal favorite 1981’s ‘Return of the Giant Slits,’ before disbanding. In 2005 the Slits reuntied and released the under appreciated ‘Trapped Animal.’ in 2009.
In a interveiw with Spinner last year Up described the Slits legacy as being a mythology. “They’re like Xena the Warrior Princess. She knew what she wanted. The Slits were totally rebellious and crazy. We were the absolute threat to society. We were such a threat. For our people, we changed the world.”
Concert Review: Deerhunter, Real Estate, Casino vs Japan @ Royale (10/16/10)
Artists: Deerhunter, Real Estate, Casino vs Japan
Venue: Royale Boston
Date: Saturday, October 16, 2010
Act I: Casino vs Japan
This is not my kind of music whatsover, so yeah it was just unbearable electronic music to me. It always feels like these guys overstay their welcome, but maybe it’s just me. Aficionados of said music may have dug this chap, but nothing stood out to me, I have seen far more interesting purveyors of the style.
Act II: Real Estate
Not my favorite band by any means, but a good band and after Casino, they were a massive relief. I liked them slightly more this time around. They are just a chill, relaxing group with some rockin’ in them. If you like mellow music, I would recommend them.
Act III: Deerhunter
YESS! As one of my favorite bands, I was really excited for this show. Deerhunter always (in the two previous times I have seen them) blow my mind. But, before I felt a tad bit unsatisfied, just a teensy bit as they are amazing, but not this time. Sure, there were some flaws. The vocals were low, at times they were better, but much of the time they were indecipherable. Which was not that big of a deal because I feel like the vocal apsect of their music is better appreciated on record, whereas the live show is mostly concerned with the guitars. Brad, Lockett, and Josh produce shards of noise whilst still maintaing that calm, cool quality that is essential to their art. Not to mention, the pounding drums of Moses, also exquisite. In terms of the setlist, it was fantastic. Sure, I did not hear everything I wanted to, but numerous classic were dished out, mostly tracks from their latest release, the incredible, Halcyon Digest (2010). They opened with one of their best “Rock” numbers in the Halcyon track, “Desire Lines,” where Lockett carried vocal duties. For that album they also unleashed the catchy and evocative (Deerhunter can mash the two aesthetics together perfectly) “Revival,” “Don’t Cry,” “Memory Boy, “Helicoptor,” and “He Would Have Laughed,” in honor of our buddy Jay Reatard. From Microcastle (2008) we heard “Never Stops,” “Little Kids,” and “Nothing Ever Happened.” Then “Rainwater Cassette Exchange,” from the EP of the same name. “Fluorescent Grey” and other classics were performed as well. As serious of a band Deerhunter is, there is an amusing, almost goofy side to the band. Frontman Bradford Cox always seems to be cracking jokes: at one point he stops the show to ask Josh if he loves him and informs the audience that he will not continue to play until he hears Josh utter the words. Haha, stuff like that. Overall, I can safely say this is the best Deerhunter show I have seen and I really cannot wait to seem them again.
Grade: A/A-
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 