March 27
House of Blues Boston
Almost as good as Pixies + Jay Reatard…maybe not.
Spoon’s all right as I indicated in my CD Review of Transference, but I’m really going (unless it gets sold out) for Deerhunter and Strange Boys.
Category Archives: Music
CD Review: Transference [2010]
Band: Spoon
Release: 2010
Label: Merge
1. “Before Destruction” – C
2. “Is Love Forever?” – C+
3. “Mystery Zone” – B-
4. “Who Makes Your Money” – C+
5. “Written In Reverse” – B+
6. “I Saw the Light” – B-
7. “Trouble Comes Running” – B
8. “Goodnight Laura” – C
9. “Out Go the Lights” – B-
10. “Got Nuffin'” – A
11. “Nothing Gets Me But You” – B-
Comments: Warning Spoon: never again put an average song as an album opener. Fans pretty unfamiliar with your music might be disappointed. “Before Destruction” sounds like a song that was purposely done pretty shitty to sound artistic. “Is Love Forever?” is a tad better, but still runs on a rather weak beat. Almost as expected, “Mystery Zone” is an improvement, but isn’t any sort of true achievement at all; quite close to filler material. “Who Makes Your Money” features what seems like a 50 Cent sample. “Written In Reverse” comes off as the album’s high point (at this point). The first thing that came to my mind was a similarity to Cold War Kids. “I Saw the Light” has some sweet effects, but that’s only original and cool up to a certain point. Unfortunately, not every song on here can be as good as “Got Nuffin'”. It’s got a catchy guitar pattern and a really great bass line.
Grade: B- (81)
Black Lips To Perform Cover Song
Daily Telegraph (Australia)
EVER wanted to know what Black Lips would sound like performing your favourite song of all time?Trying something new, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival organisers have lined up Black Lips, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Dappled Cities and Danimals to perform cover songs harking back to the music they respect or just have fun playing – whether personal or legendary.
Titled PUMA Archive Uncovered, they pay homage to the art of the cover song. To find out more about the day on January 31, head to http://www.lanewayfestival.com.au
What if your favorite song of all time is by the Black Lips? Get to hear it twice?!
Website Recommendation
It’s geared to those interested in independent releases of mainly the garage, lo-fi, punk, and noise variety. There are reviews and a forum, in addition to the blog.
Upcoming Classic Reviews!
I’m not sure if I am going to be able to listen to a lot of new music at college; fortunately, I did just receive a generous gift of several discs. I’ll be listening to them and reviewing them soon!
– Drive-By Truckers A Blessing and A Curse
– Counting Crows August and Everything After
– Mojo Presents Abbey Road Now!
– Rolling Stones Steel Wheels Outtakes + Stripped
– Genesis Live 1974
– Bob Dylan Live @ Paris 1978
– Roger McGuinn (Byrds) Solo Live 1989
– The Cure Live
Jay Reatard = Yuppie Punk
What are you called when you have three Blackberries, an iPhone, and a real name like Jimmy Lee Lindsey?
A YUPPIE PUNK.
Word.
CD Review: Heligoland (2010)
Band: Massive Attack
Release: 2010
Label: Virgin
1. “Pray For Rain” – B
2. “Babel” – C-
3. “Splitting the Atom” – D+
4. “Girl I Love You” – D+
5. “Psyche” – C
6. “Flat Of The Blade” – D
7. “Paradise Circus” – B+
8. “Rush Minute” – C-
9. “Saturday Come Slow” – D+
10. “Atlas Air” – B–
Comments: Trip hop you tell me? Since there seems to be a genre for everything, I’ll run with it. “Pray For Rain” is a R&B house jam (similar to Gnarls Barkley) that slowly improves throughout its duration. “Babel” doesn’t do anything for me mainly because it relies on too much chaos. It wouldn’t be that bad if it was slowed down. “Girl I Love You” what? What is this? “Psyche” is average, but it’s not something that’s worth listening to again. “Flat” picks up at certain points, but is relatively boring and unoriginal. I really do enjoy the female vocalist in “Paradise Circus.” Best song on this album! The man singer is mad boring except on “Atlas Air.”
Grade: C- (73)
Song of the Day: Electro Style
Casiokids – “Fot I Hose”
Animal Collective Brothersport Video
F’ed up as usual.
Also, I can’t believe this leaked more than year ago. That’s crazy!
CD Review: Stale Champagne
Band: State Champion
Release: 2010
Label: Sophomore Lounge
1. “Thanks Given” – B+
2. “Keeping Time” – A-
3. “Bite the Dust” – B+
4. “Come See What I Have Done” – B+
5. “Help Me Sing” – A-
6. “The World Don’t Need Me Around Much Anymore” – B+
7. “Just An Answer” – A-
8. “The Years” – A
Comments: Sounding like Dinosaur Jr. if Dinosaur Jr. got hit in the face by a steel plow and was toned down greatly. This is country punk, with more country than punk. I won’t say I like country, but I don’t mind it (and sometimes thoroughly enjoy it) if it is combined with other styles. I really like the live feel to this record. You can hear crackling and other noises you get during lo-fi production. For a young band that’s gotten hardly any recognition (besides being signed to a very low-brow independent label), I have to give them so much respect. Their build-ups are cool, no doubt, but my favorite parts of this album are the short winding downs in between the explosions. Great use of violin in “Just An Answer.” The album closer is probably my favorite track. It’s pretty much fast paced through-and-through with occasional “breaks.”
Grade: B+ (89)
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 