Category Archives: Music
20 Bands I Really Want To See Live
Swedish pop sensation Jens Lekman
*Does not include bands that I’ve already seen live or bands that I plan on seeing live in the next two months!*
1. Alec Ounsworth/Flashy Python
2. Almighty Defenders
3. Arcade Fire
4. Babyshambles/Pete Doherty
5. Beirut
6. Cheap Time
7. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
8. Cold War Kids
9. French Kicks
10. Grizzly Bear
11. Jens Lekman
12. Mando Diao
13. Peter Bjorn and John
14. Rogue Wave
15. Shout Out Louds
16. Strange Boys
17. Tapes N’ Tapes
18. Uninhabitable Mansions
19. Vampire Weekend
20. Wolf Parade
Weird Al To Join Pixies
(LINK)
At a December 8 benefit show at the Echoplex in L.A., “Weird Al” Yankovic will sing a Pixies song with members of the Pixies. This will obviously be an incredible thing to see.Yankovic will sing the Doolittle jam “I Bleed”. But maybe if we bug him enough, he’ll subject a Pixies song or two to the “Weird Al” treatment. “Here Comes Your Spam”? “This Monkey’s Gone to 7-11”? This needs to happen.
I think he’s more than capable.
Nov./Dec. Shows
There may not be a stretch of as amazing shows as the ones I attended in the period September 1 through October 31. That said, November and December look to be pretty awesome months for rockers. The next concert that I am excited for most is Sonic Youth November 22 at the Wilbur Theatre. The perennial alt-rock noise band released a pretty well-received album in 2009 called The Eternal on Matador. They’ll be back the next day for another show. The Feelies, a Velvet Underground influenced group that disbanded in 1992 and reunited in 2008, will be opening. Then just four days later on the 27th, Pixies will be performing their classic album Doolittle in its entirety as part of a big 20th anniversary tour. The two-day show will take place at the Wang Theatre and will feature Memphis garage-pop king Jay Reatard as the opening act for the first night. Three or so weeks later on December 13th the Arctic Monkeys, who made a trip to Commonwealth Avenue back in August for a Paradise show, will be at the larger House of Blues for a second go-around in as many months. Noisy-punks Screaming Females will open.
Promotion For Promotion’s Sake
This album probably kicks ass. Get at it.
CD Review: Still Night, Still Light
Band: Au Revoir Simone
Label: Moshi Moshi Records
Release: May 2009
1. “Another Likely Story” – 8.3
2. “Shadows” – 7.2
3. “All Or Nothing” – 8.9
4. “Knight of Wands” – 8.9
5. “The Last One” – 7.5
6. “Trace A Line” – 9.3
7. “Only You Can Make You Happy” – 8.7
8. “Take Me As I Am” – 8.3
9. “Anywhere You Looked” – 9.5
10. “Organized Scenery” – 8.9
11. “We Are Here” – 8.0
12. “Tell Me” – 9.0
Comments: One has to expect a band with the name Au Revoir Simone to be artsy and have at least two girl members. Right? When it comes down to it, this is the kind of obscure pop act that’s sure to be considered rather household in that genre, comparable to toned down electro-pop outfits like the German quartet Lali Puna. Whereas bands like Handsome Furs, Editors, and most recently Clap Your Hands Say Yeah offshoot Uninhabitable Mansions (of which ARS’s Annie Hart is a member) have embraced elements of this genre in putting together instantly catchy tunes, Au Revoir Simone requires some patience on the part of the listener. The best songs that ARS has on this album are infectiously dreamy and fast paced. I’d be lying, though, if I said that there is a lot of lasting appeal to these numbers. They are great if you want a quick mix of quirky electronics and attractive female vocals.
Grade: 8.5
I Am Busy…
I hate making these posts, but I use it more as a heads up for upcoming posts that I have not forgot about; it helps me remember to do them. I have some homework to attend to today and other duties. Yesterday I was out nearly all day. I have concert, cd, and film reviews on the way, and I’m sure others too. So stick around!
Yeah, I know some of my sentences ended in prepositions, but I DON’T GIVE A FUCK! (look out for the King Khan & BBQ Show concert review part II to Glen’s exciting review of their first Mass concert this week.)
Chris
Bringing Back The Old Jams
12 Old-sounding classics in the tune of Garage:
1. “Peeping Through Your Curtains” by The 4 Counts – Rockabilly Revival
2. “Zombies” by King Khan and BBQ Show – Blues/Punk Influences
3. “Tenleytown” by The Walkmen – Punk Influences
4. “Pie In The Sky” by Frank Black – Rockabilly Revival
5. “Beautiful Girl” by Mark Sultan – Hard Swingin’ Rhythm
6. “Getting Thin” by Sleeping in the Aviary – Aggressive Male Vocalist
7. “Getaway” by The Giant Robots – A Light Swing Groove
8. “A Clean X” by Three 4 Tens – Basic Rock Structure
9. “No Way Out” by Three Head Coats – Unusual Vocal Sounds
10. “We Who Wait” by Jay Reatard – Mild Rhythmic Syncopation
11. “Que Lindo Sueno” by King Khan & His Shrines – R&B Influences
12. “(When In Doubt) Turn It Out” by The Dirty Novels – Extensive Vamping
CD Review: Real Estate
Band: Real Estate
Release: 2009
1. “Beach Comber” – 9.5
2. “Pool Swimmers” – 8.7
3. “Suburban Dogs” – 8.3
4. “Black Lake” – 8.8
5. “Atlantic City” – 8.8
6. “Fake Blues” – 9.2
7. “Green River” – 9.4
8. “Suburban Beverage” – 9.3
9. “Let’s Rock The Beach” – 9.3
10. “Snow Days” – 9.4
Comments: For all you Boston area folk the best I can do in describing Real Estate is to say I hear Faces on Film. Real Estate is less minimalistic, heavier, and generally more accessible than Faces to the non “zomg I <3 folk” diehards of the world. I also hear a little Built to Spill here and there and I might as well throw in Cotton Jones as a similar band as well. I’m not going nuts over this album, but it doesn’t lack in the chill department. It’s soothing, depressing, and exciting. I like hearing songs called “Atlantic City” that remind me of the old boardwalk and the feel-good resort casino atmosphere. Speaking of feel-good, how can the “Fake Blues” riff not make someone smile? “Green River” is almost a perfect tune for this time of year. It’s sad in a way, at least for me, because it reminds me of opportunities missed. The instrumentals make the latter part of this album. Just awesome stuff.
Grade: 9.1
Pic of the Day
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 