Category Archives: Music
Jan/Feb/Mar/Apr 2010
What’s definitely coming out and when it’s coming out! Of course, I only post what I think looks interesting:
(2/16) – Dum Dum Girls – Jail La La 7″ – Sub Pop
(2/16) – Vivian Girls – My Love Will Follow Me 7″ – Wild World
(2/23) – Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me LP – Drag City
(2/23) – Shearwater – The Golden Archipeligo LP – Matador
(2/23) – The Strange Boys – Be Brave LP – In The Red
(3/02) – Rogue Wave – Permalight LP – Brushfire
(3/02) – The Ruby Suns – Fight Softly LP – Sub Pop
(3/09) – Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – The Brutalist Bricks LP – Matador
(3/16) – Ty Segall – Caesar 7″ – Goner
(3/16) – Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Rush To Relax LP – Goner
(3/30) – Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be LP – Sub Pop
7″ Review: Daydream
Band: Beach Fossils
Release: 1/2010
Label: Captured Tracks
1. “Daydream” – A+
2. “Desert Sand” – A+
Comments: Props to this band for they will be playing at a DIY space near you in the immediate future! For those in the Boston area, that space happens to be at The Cottage in Dorchester. Don’t ask me where it is; ask them! This is real music I tell you! “Daydream” has got an awesome surf rock hook and pretty much psychedelic Madchester era vocals. That song is prime for placement on a FIFA soundtrack since it has the “world” quality that’s oft-associated with that game. “Desert Sand” continues the vibe of awesome that “Daydream” created, this time reminding me of Peter Bjorn and John’s Writer Block material. I really want to see this band now, dammit! I mean, I could and it would be awesome since they are playing with the Beets (of No Age Wellesley show fame), but then again we’re talking Dorchester. I’ll see, but all I know is that this is going into rotation! Oh yeah and awesome album cover! I love the aura of this record so much!
Grade: A+ (97)
Jay’s Amoeba Bag
His liking of Galaxie 500 surprised me. I can hear subtle influence on a few of his slower tracks.
Not Out Unless It’s Amazing
Old King Cole Younger told folks at LAist.com that Black Lips aren’t going to put out the new record unless it’s amazing.
Have you started recording your next album?
Yeah, we’ve started recording it. We’re doing it with Lockett (Pundt) from Deerhunter in his studio in Atlanta. The game plan is that we’re not gonna have a deadline. We’re not going to put it out unless it’s amazing. We’re really a live band. I don’t really care if we ever put out a record again. If it sucks, we’re just going to tour. I’m not too worried about our marketing plan. I mean our last records have some great moments, but they all could be better. We’re not putting out another record until it’s all great.
What one of the things that you disliked on the last album that you want to change?
We didn’t let enough people hear it before it came out. I guess we were too worried that it was going to leak, so we hid it from our friends, and you need friends to tell you things. They’ll let you know if it’s bad. This time we’re not going to be so scared to show it to people.
Here Comes A Regular
CD Review: There Is Love in You [2010]
Band: Four Tet
Release: 1/2010
Label: Domino
1. “Angel Echoes” – D
2. “Love Cry” – D+
3. “Circling” – C-
4. “Pablo’s Heart” – F
5. “Sing” – D+
6. “This Unfolds” – C-
7. “Reversing” – D-
8. “Plastic People” – C-
9. “She Just Likes to Fight” – C
Comments: My major gripe about electronic music is that it can be super boring. Tell me that “Angel Echoes” is exciting in at least one way. It’s not at all. It did keep me on the edge only because I was waiting for it to get better. That’s why it got a D and not an F. Filler on the fourth track? Damn, such a trick doesn’t work too well on critics who grade every song. I might as well spill my guts on this one because I can’t really say anything positive. To be considered for a “C” range, some sort of thought of “maybe I’ll play this one again later” must come to my head. If it doesn’t, that’s where Ds and Fs come in. All right so the last song is pretty bearable, just so y’all know. It’s not fun, it’s just bearable.
Grade: D (66)
Classic Review: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah [2005]
Title: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Release: 2005
Label: None [Self-Released]
1. “Clap Your Hands” – A-
2. “Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away” – A-
3. “Over and Over Again” – A
4. “Sunshine and Clouds (And Everything Proud” – A
5. “Details Of The War” – B
6. “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth” – A-
7. “Is This Love?” – B+
8. “Heavy Metal” – A+
9. “Blue Turning Gray” – A-
10. “In This Home On Ice” – A+
11. “Gimmie Some Salt” – A-
12. “Upon This Tidal Wave” – A-
Comment: Hear me out! This album is awesome, but not over the top best of the 2000s kind of material. The gems are kind of obvious: “Over and Over Again,”In This Home On Ice,” and “Heavy Metal.” Though, strangely, I prefer Ounsworth’s early demo of “Heavy Metal” to the one on here. Still, it’s one of my favorite songs at any rate. The little instrumentals are not filler at all and this is something other bands just should (have) take(n) note of! On another note, I don’t really have many negatives to dish out. I’m willing to hope some of these songs grow on me (which is weird to say a mere five years after the album’s initial release).
Grade: A- (91)
My MAIN Influences
Of course I have encountered several diverse voices over the years that have influenced me in various ways, but there are a select few that have strongly shaped my specific perspective/philosophy. With that being said, technically my environment has been my biggest influence, but just for fun here’s some real people in no particular order.
Bill Hicks: Biting, caustic social/political satire. Love KO Fear!
Noam Chomsky: Dissent of mainstream American media and American foreign (as well as domestic) policy. Basic anarchist ideas such as the necessity of the state to justify its actions or it should be dismantled.
Rage Against the Machine: Perhaps my oldest influence; their music drew me to such topics and increased my cynicism/hatred for the American government. They also led me to discover Chomsky.
John Lennon: “Give Peace a Chance” :)
Howard Zinn: Brought new meaning to the words “history,” “patriotism,” and “resistance,” for me. Helped me understand that the people on the bottom rung of society make the fundamental changes and not those on top.
Ralph Nader: It is possible to create change within the system and run honest campaigns, even if you don’t win them! Often refer to him for current politics.
Timothy Leary: Fantastic propagandist and overall champion of social change through new ways of experimentation.
The Yippies!: Chiefly Abbie Hoffman (right) and Jerry Rubin (left). Their wacky/bizarre media tactics and dissection of Amerika has been one of my biggest influences on both my writing and philosophy. I adore the equal importance of fun and revolution. After all, how can you have liberation without some kind of joy?
Hunter S. Thompson: Sarcastic social commentary; major influence on my own writing/sense of humor and early social/political influence.
Malcolm X: Provided with the great insight into the hardships of blacks in America and how we raped them of their culture. This doesn’t mean I can relate to this personally, but it does offer me a perspective and has shaped my opinions on these matters. His speeches, writings, etc. have also stood as great examples of how to make an argument with integrity and also how what the institution teaches you is usually false with the complete opposite intent. So, for Malcolm it was White is NOT right and Black is beautiful. For me it’s the media’s purpose is to (Mis)inform the public.
Emma Goldman: The beauty and basic principles of Anarchism.
Dave Dellinger: One of the greatest models of a nonviolent revolutionary; he was the American Gandhi. Stressed the importance of love and social justice in all movements. I’m proud to say one of the most inspiring Americans shares the same hometown as me!
Jello Biafra: Culture Jam! Pranksterism. Perhaps some of my first glimpses at anarchism. Similar to Yippies! but with more serious objectives: Anti-War, end War On Drugs, and so much more. Like Chomsky, Nader, and others, Jello is one of my key political references. For many that probably sounds frightening haha!
Judge James P. Gray: I owe much of the factual basis for my arguments for bringing down this filthy machine known as the War on Human Rights, excuse me, excuse me, I mean the War on (certain!) Drugs to my boy Jim. My views on this topic were basically already there, but I can sharply back them up with the help of the judge’s wise and so obviously reasonable suggestions. Since, he falls from the center-right on the political spectrum, he and I would more than likely disagree on a host of issues. With that being said, he is spot on with his indictment of our current prohibition and I highly recommend his book, Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It.
Mumia Abu-Jamal: His strikingly accurate views on a plethora of issues, particularly race relations and constant investigation of this corrupt and sick government. His story serves as one of the best arguments for how fucked up our criminal/prison system really is. FREE MUMIA NOW!
Steve Albini: Tearing down major labels and any other faggedy artist in sight in the most offensive way. Merciless satire at its finest!
Ian Mackaye: DIY Punk Ethic/Aesthetic. You can’t put a dollar sign on your art and if you do then you should be in a different business!
Chris
Black Lips 5 Years Ago
Yeah, that’s Mark Sultan! And also, King is in another video from this show.
“We already played those songs, you asshole!”
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 