Category Archives: reviews

Art, Bradford Cox, Classic Album Review, Classic CD Review, Deerhunter, Honorary KLAYMERS, Music, pictures, reviews, Video

Classic Review: Deerhunter- Carve Your Initials..

Leave a comment

Full Title: Carve Your Initials Into the Walls of the Night
Artist: Deerhunter
Year: 2005
Tracks:
1) Bright and Early
2) Cicadas
3) Rotation
4) But, I’m A Boy
5) Three Dolphins Melting Into Orange Wax
6) Snow Dogs
7) Dogs Are Cool
8) Homorobotic
9) Cordless
10) When I Taste Blood

Comments: On Saturday, December 12, 2009, Bradford Cox made this old, obscure, 2005 Deerhunter recording freely available to download from the Deerhunter blog (http://deerhuntertheband.blogspot.com/). He also had this to say: “Responding to several requests I have dug up an old copy of this 2005 Deerhunter CD-R. It features only me and Moses and is very experimental in nature. This was during our “tape phase” when we would often play shows as a duo (or as a trio with colin) playing only tape machines and vocal loops. Recorded live to 2-track cassette machine at Moses’ old house on North Ave & Ponce
“Mastered” at the Old Notown building on my dad’s ancient PC using Soundforge,
Scans of all orignal artwork from the Notown Xerox Machine included.”

Now, considering this was just a private recording not intended for official release this is more of a shout out then a review. It’s more of a way for me to keep things interesting and spread the word of some of Deerhunter’s lesser known work. I consider them to be one of the best Rock and Roll bands today and of all time, for that matter. This recording from 2005 is to me their most experimental and shows the different intricacies and dynamics of their sound and perhaps how it has evolved. What we hear on this recording is far different from much of their output and as I said far more experimental with practically none of the pop elements we are accustom to in Deerhunter’s music, which is totally fine and cool in a way. I always enjoy hearing something by a band that is completely different from anything else they have released.  At the same time, one can definitely see how this is Deerhunter and how these sounds/elements/vibes would eventually find their way into later works.  On this reocrding, we hear a lot of dance- club scene music (especially on “But, I’m a Boy) which could faintly be heard on their debut LP Turn It Up Faggot, also from 2005 (though recorded in 2003 or 2004).  Except on that record, they were far more beastial, garage, and chaotic- also there was a full band, if I’m not mistaken. Bradford always describes that record in a negative manner, saying they weren’t ready and that they were a young band.  That could be said about Carve Your Initals.. but I feel like this recording is actually the stronger of the two and feels more complete; I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. I actually prefer Faggot, but this record (if you want to call it that) has its sound down pat and as far as experimentation goes, it seems like it is alway open to anything, while the former felt confined, albeit nice to rock and freak out to. There is a lot to be appreciated here and best of all it shows the potential and neat character of what would later become an amazing band.

I know I’m a  year and half late on this, but thanks for this free CD Bradford!

Art, Bradford Cox, Classic Album Review, Classic CD Review, Deerhunter, EP Review, Hicks Vid of the Day, Honorary KLAYMERS, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews, Video

Classic EP Review: Deerhunter- Fluorescent Grey

Leave a comment

Artist: Deerhunter
Full Title: Fluorescent Grey EP
Year: 2007
Label: Kranky
Tracks:
1) Fluorescent Grey- 9
2) Dr. Glass- 7/8
3) Like New- 7
4) Wash Off- 9
Comments: Fluorescent Grey is a strong release from the always mind blowing Deerhunter. FG is a good middle ground between the more experimental aspects of Deerhunter’s earlier career and what would become their far more accessible, pop driven style in future albums. In this sense, this EP is a nice companion to their then previous LP Cryptograms (2007), as they often appear together as one full package. FG is representative of the more traditional pop song half of Cryptograms, leaving the more experimental, ambient half behind for this release. In some ways, Deerhunter recycles many of the same ideas and sounds from that record, but overall the songs are so strong it really doesn’t matter. I can’t say there’s a huge progression, except maybe in the title track, which is easily one of the group’s finest songs in all of their catalog, but who cares?! This is an EP, and a great one at that. Deerhunter’s lesser works are half your average band’s strongest records, if even that. Anyway, I love the opening guitar riff to FG and the vocals are really creepy, but what stands out the most is definitely when the song “explodes” midway through after Bradford utters the classic line “you were my God in high school.” Just everything about the song is fantastic, the simple drums the contrast between mellow, calm vibes and complete chaos, violence; a great microcosm for Deerhunter as a whole. The next two tracks “Dr. Glass” and “Like New” are pretty solid and demonstrate the band’s talent as songwriters, but they are not on par with the first last and tracks. Speaking of which, “Wash Off, ” the final song is now one of my favorites from these guys. It’s a really catchy song, and the guitars sound like they are from some sort of 80s John Hughes flick: it simultaneously displays the pop side of them with the equally bizarre side of their music. In terms of lyrics, these are some of the most fascinating I’ve seen from Bradford (actually that could be said for all the songs here)- I love how it gets really manic and wild when Bradford starts singing “I was sixteen” over and over again. For whatever reason, it just makes the music seem that much more intriguing and strange for that matter. WO really showcases the Punk, Garage, if you will side to the band, which is usually there, but not as apparent. Here, Bradford, Lockett, Josh, Colin, and Moses place their Atlanta roots on their sleeves. I feel like this track perfectly captures the frenetic aspect of early Deerhunter in perhaps a bit more soothing fashion, but very tight and purposeful, and that’s the way I like it! So, now after hearing this EP, I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to actually sit down and listen to all four of these songs as one collective. Without a doubt, a sound record and as with all of Deerhunter’s releases, powerful enough to stand alone, but shares that wonderfully distinctive, calmly menacing quality that runs throughout all of Deerhunter’s discography.

Grade: 8/10

Art, Bradford Cox, CD Review, Deerhunter, Honorary KLAYMERS, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews

Digital Release Review: iTunes Live From SoHo

Leave a comment

Artist: Deerhunter
Full Title: Deerhunter iTunes Live From SoHo
Year: 2011
Tracks:
1) Desire Lines- 9
2) Hazel St.- 9
3) Don’t Cry- 9/10
4) Revival- 9
5) Helicoptor- 9
6) Fountain Stairs- 9
7) Rainwater Casette Exchange- 8
8) He Would Have laughed- 9

Comments: Having seen Deerhunter three times now, I can say with certainty that this is the real deal. Of course, not the same as seeing them physically live, but I can imagine this is as close as you will get to experiencing the band live from a recording. In any case, Deerhunter is one thee finest live acts around, so when I heard they released a live performance via iTunes I jumped at the chance to hear it. This recording is a strong indicator of the group’s sets in the past year, with a heavy emphasis on their most recent release, the incredible, Halcyon Digest (2010). The show begins with the new classic “Desire Lines”- truly a perfect opener. DL is one of Deerhunter’s defining songs as a Rock and Roll band, which they undeniably are; few modern musical acts share this same presence- it must be an Atlanta thing :). Seriously though, for my money these guys tap into this sort of epic Rock and Roll band of The Rolling Stones, Who, and Led Zeppelin variety, that powerful. And absolutely DL displays this. Moses’ drumwork just gets you pumped for what will happen next and the strong, pulsing guitars complement this. Lockett Pundt’s vocals are extremely welcoming and easy on the ears, and yet they are driven by a fantastic Rock and Roll/pop song force, you can tell he and the whole band have done their homework. Overall, I prefer the studio version and the vocals are a little bit too soft for me, but it’s still a pretty solid way to get things started. What I really dig, by far one of my favorite aspects of this release is the transition from DL to “Hazel St,” from Cryptograms (2007), one of the few non-Halycon tracks. I defnitely appreciate Hazel more when the band rocks right into its catchy opening lines. This time around Bradford Cox takes care of the vocals and he does the tunes’ studio counterpart justice. It’s not a carbon copy, but if you like the studio version, you should really enjoy this one as well. In particular, the guitars stand out the most. Once again, one of my favorite parts is the transition from this song to the next (“Don’t Cry”)- easily one of my favorite from the last record and in general. This song showcases Bradford’s talent as a frontman (if he is- I think he hates being called that and I agree Deerhunter is more of a whole band experience, not just the Bradford show as some critics, fans, etc. like to think). But, without a doubt, he just has that presence to him. DC is a comforting, amazing pop song and to reiterate Deerhunter simply can pull off what most bands seem to try. We’ve seen this song before, we see it all the time in so many (weaker) bands, I feel it could be a song that U2 would fuck up. Deerhunter is a much stronger band and therefore there is far more weight to the words, the music, and the overall delivery. My favorite song from SoHo or let me rephrase that the best performance here (“Don’t Cry is my favorite in general) is definitely “Helicoptor,” a song I reall dig on record, but I feel like everything is enhanced live, as if it was meant to be heard just live. I love the beginning, another great example of how their songs build and build in anticipation. The reverb is also excellent here. Another stand out song, well this tune always stands out to me live is “Rainwater Cassette Exchange,” the other non-Halycon cut. Rainwater live sounds much different (at least to me) than the version heard on the Rainwater Cassette Exchange EP, which is always great when any band switches it up a little bit. I love the almost 80s- like drum beats and I love the little guitar hook, very danceable, I get that impression anyway. In general, that EP was always very un-Deerhunter to me, but in good way and it shows in this performance for sure. Last, but certainly not least, “He Would Have Laughed,” (in honor of our boy Jimmy Lee Lindsey or more micro-famously known as Jay Reatard) is the closer, an obvious, but no less thrilling way to conclude the set. In fact, this is also one of the few tunes I prefer over the original. I adore the sound of the drums and as a whole I think the song just works better live, much like “Helicoptor,”- it is more effective. On record HWHL is a bit long-winded, though still awesome, it starts to lose its effect toward the end. But, live the song takes a whole new character and doesn’t feel drawn out, but rather essential like every word is purposeful, even if that’s not the case. A sweet and sincere eulogy. I also find humor when Bradford sings “Ohh shut the fuck up” in such an almost apathetic voice before he sings the more expected line “shut your mouth.” All in all, I really dig SoHO and how it captures Deerhunter in concert instead of trying to mimic their studio sound like most live releases do.

Grade: 9/10

Art, concert review, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews, Video, White Wires

Concert Review: White Wires, Big Big Bucks, Luau @ Starlab (4/29/11)

Leave a comment

Bands: Luau, Big Big Bucks, White Wires, Colleen Green
Location: The Starlab (Somerville, MA)
Date: Friday, April 29, 2011
Comments:

Act I– Luau: These fellas rocked pretty hard and had a lot of enthusiasm, I was definitely rockin to their set. At the same time, I wanted a bit more and if I see them again, hopefully I’ll see a longer set. I felt like they had an old school hardcore edge to them, maybe, maybe not, but not limited to just that. I was also amused by the in between song banter- funny stories of mushrooms tripping and why you shouldn’t watch Reservoir Dogs during such activities. I think we can all agree on that account.

Act II– Big Big Bucks: I saw these guys last year (almost exactly last year, matter of fact) opening for Uninhabitable Mansions. That was a decent show and so was this one. The Bucks follow a similar trend as Luau, playing loud, fast Punk. I thought they played a solid set, but I feel like if I was more familiar with their material I would enjoy more. Thus, I will have to check out their music at some point and give it its due. Overall, I thought they were slightly better this time around.

Act III– White Wires: Straight up, the White Wires were the band we came for and without a doubt it was worth it. The Wires’ played a great set of fun, beachy, Rock and Roll anthems that put me in a fanastic, summery mood. Some of my favorites included “Let’s Go to the Beach,” “Girly Girly Girly,” and “Ha Ha Holiday.” All of which seemed to garner a positive crowd response in the form of euphoirc, fun filled, light moshing, albeit a late arrival for said mosh pit. We were also treated to an entertaining interlude a la luau in which we learned about the great town of Mianus- apparently it’s pretty tight in Mianus! Overall, I enjoyed the set, especially Allie’s steady drumming; always looks like she’s having the most fun! Well everybody had tons of fun lol.

Act IV– Colleen Green: Sadly, we missed Colleen’s set :( but there is a link to her awesome music down below. Do yourself a favor and check it out. Can’t wait to see her live!

http://colleengreen.bandcamp.com/

Grade: 7/10- All in all, a fun night and pleasant first experience at the Starlab.

Art, Film Review, Films, Food, pictures, reviews, Root Beer

Classic Film Review: Away We Go

Leave a comment

Full Title: Away We Go

Director: Sam Mendes

Year: 2009

Comments: Sam Mendes blew my mind before with the 90s classic American Beauty and though this film does not live up to that fine piece of cinema, it is without a doubt a smart film worthy of praise.  Away We Go centers around two thirty-somethings about to bring a baby into the world, uncertain of where they should raise their newborn; the couple spends the rest of the film scouting for new locations for their future family life. On the way, they encounter various, amusing, often bizarre characters that either promote or deter their search, usually the latter. This most definitley keeps the film interesting and entertaining, it is always moving forwards and doesn’t linger on irrelevent details like most movies do. At the same time, despite the sharp writing and direction of AWG, I can’t say I love this film and I have to admit, I find nothng about this moive particularly memorable. In terms of quality, it is without a doubt above average, bettet than most hip, “indie” flicks, the acting, the screenplay, plot, etc. is decent. But, for me there really isn’t much to make this feature stand out from the next “big thing.” I feel like this movie tries to be both Garden State and Juno, but lacks the sentiment and the joy of both, respectively. All in all, a good film, but not in the league of the best of the “indie” films of the Double Ohhs.

Grade: 7/10

Art, Concer t Review, concert review, Local Music, Music, pictures, reviews, The Growlers

Concert Review: Pongos Groove, People With Instruments @ Dirty Douglas (4/8/11)

Leave a comment

Artists: Pongo’s Groove, People With Instruments
Date: Friday, April 8, 2011
Location: Dirty Douglas (Lowell, MA)
Comments: As with my first visit at the Dirty Douglas, this show was another pleasant addition to my concert attending history. Once again the sound was great, I can’t help but pay props to the PA of the Douglas. Last time, we heard garage esque bands, this time it was Full Out Funk! Apparently, a first for the Douglas. In any case, it was a stellar show and people seemed to respond with enthusiasm and plenty of dancing. Pongo’s Groove had plenty of grooves and I loved their jams. Specifically, I adored the classic soul/funk jam, “You Can Make It If You Try,” by Sly and the Family Stone. PG more than did the song justice; it was exceptional. Next up, was People With Instruments. These guys were also great musicians, but I didn’t appreciate their musicianship as much as the previous band, but maybe that’s just me. They were definitely a fun group, but I was definitely less interested in their performance. With that being said, when they played Dr. John’s “Right Place, Wrong Time” I was estatic! Their renditon was spot on and simply the right song for the time being. Overall, I had a good time, long live the funk!

P.S.: Brett Mason had an awesome supply of Surrealist (at least to me) art work, which I thoroughly appreciated. Spread the word, his work is excellent.

Art, concert review, Magic Kids, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews, Video

Concert Review: Magic Kids & Superhumanoids @ Brighton Music Hall (4/1/11)

Leave a comment

Artists: Cults (didn’t see! :( ), Magic Kids, Superhumanoids
Date: Friday, April 1, 2011
Location: Brighton Music Hall (Brighton, MA)
Comments:
Act I: Superhumanoids– These guys were nice and chill, for lack of better adjectives. But, in many ways that’s precisely how I would describe them. They could definitely rock out at the same time and had some hooks, but I simply appreciated just a nice, relaxing experience. A good segue way into the Magic Kids…

Act II: Magic Kids– The happiest band in the world, it seems. The music of the Magic Kids simply jumps out at you and grabs you and says hey let’s play Twister and have a Pajama Party! Not to get too Calvinist on you, but that’s really how it is. Their music is to the Beach Boys what Hunx and His Punx is to 60s Girl Groups. In other words, they have the whole Brian Wilson pop dynamic down to a tee, and they have added their own flavor to the mix. The Kids’ opened with “Candy,” an incredible number from last year’s Memphis LP. Honestly, the sound was amazing, I couldn’t think of a single flaw, I could hear everything, it sounded better than the record itself. They continued with other Memphis classics like “Summer,” “Skateland,” “Superball,” and perhaps their most well-known song, “Hey Boy,” which was probably my favorite moment of the evening. In particular, the drums were fucking epic, it was impossible not to be impacted in one way or another. They also played a new song called “Awesome,”- an eight minute ditty. All in all, they played a nearly 40 minute set and I can say with no hyperbole, the Magic Kids were one of the best bands I have ever seen. Unfortunately, it seemed like the crowd wasn’t overly enthusiastic for their performance, but these Memphis natives didn’t let that nonsense intefere with their fun. Neither did I, can’t wait to see them in the future, perhaps headlining!

Grade: 8/10

NOT from last Friday’s show!

Art, Concer t Review, concert review, Music, pictures, reviews, Uncategorized, Video

Concert Review: Glassjaw, These People, Tidal Arms @ Paradise (3/25/11)

Leave a comment

Artist: Glassjaw, These People, Tidal Arms
Date: Friday, March 25, 2011
Venue: Paradise Rock Club (Boston, MA)
Comments:
Act I: Tidal Arms- These guys certainly had the musical chops and perhaps could be better appreciated by musicians or those that value technique as a high standard of musical quality. Not to say they were mind blowing musicians, they weren’t, but some of the drummers I attended the show with were definitely impressed with the musicianship displayed by Tidal Arms. For me, they fit too nicely in the typical rock band realm and didn’t do much sonically outside those confines.

Act II: These People- These people were better than the previous people. I felt like I was watching a combo of a less experimental Sonic Youth (especially in the vocals) meets the danceable quality of a Lemonade.  They didn’t totally floor me, but kept my intersted and I certainly enjoyed their performance. They were more on the inventive side than Tidal Arms and for me that is far more appealing than being a virtuso or a techncially sophisticated musician.  Overall, TP’s set was short, but sweet.

Act III: Glassjaw!!!-“You don’t know! You don’t know! You don’t know!” screams singer Darryl Palumbo as they open with the new classic ” You Think You’re John Fucking Lennon.” I think we do know Darryl; we know that Glassjaw is an unflinching powerhouse, a force to be reckon with. The band’s set placed heavy emphasis on their 2002 sophomore effort Worship and Tribute, an album that contains some of the group’s finest and most recognizable songs, This in turn got the crowd all riled up and I must say GJ fans appear to be some of the most energetic out there. Memorable moments included “Ape Dos Mil,” “Convectuoso,” “Tip Your Bartender,” and easily the most exhilerating number all night-“Siberian Kiss,” one of the band’s angriest/heviest tunes- a wise closer on their part. Alas, this was the only song from that LP- a major qualm for me and many others, with it being arguably their most beloved work. Also, while I enjoyed the fact that they played many of their current songs, I thought the choice of performing an encore consisting of an entirely NEW EP (Coloring Book ) was a poor one. And though I appreciated the music, I felt like coming off the intensity and heightened engagement of “Siberian Kiss,” playing solely subdued, reserved, more mellow music was a little too much. With that being said, as a whole GJ and particularly Darryl, with his frentic style and off the wall antics/persona, put on an amazing show of upwards to 105 minutes of pure, sonic insanity.

Set List:

You Think You’re (John Fucking Lennon)
Tip Your Bartender
Mu Empire
Stars
Ape Dos Mil
The Gillette Cavalcade Of Sports
Pink Roses
Jesus Glue
Natural Born Farmer
All Good Junkies Go To Heaven
El Mark
Convectuoso
Two Tabs Of Mescaline
Siberian Kiss

Encore:
Black Nurse
Gold
Vanilla Poltergeist Snake
Miracles In Inches
Stations Of The New Cross
Daytona White

Grade: 8/10

Excuse me for the extremely late arrival of this review! You guys deseve better… I’ve been very busy with school, work and the whoel shabang, but better late than never fuckers!

Art, Film Review, Films, pictures, reviews

Classic Film Review: Faat Kiné

Leave a comment

Full Title: Faat Kiné
Director: Ousmane Sembène
Year: 2000
Comments: Faat Kiné is a Senegalese woman, who runs a successful gas station- a rare feat in the male dominated, oppressive world of Senegal. Kiné’s character is seen as a heroine in her community, having suffered and struggled most of her life to give her kids (whom she had out of wedlock) the education and privileged life she never had. One of the film’s main themes is the repudiation of the old generation. The movie makes itself clear that the former traditions of Senegal are slowly dissipating. As a whole, I thought this message was communicated well and I would say for a movie, this is informative in terms of learning about Senegalese culture. With that being said, it was overall pretty average and did not floor me in any way. There is enough to be appreciated, but not enough for it to stand out as anything of significance. Some parts were mildly amusing, some things were shocking, but the running time without a doubt could have been trimmed, much like most American films. If you read this site’s film reviews, you know we don’t really cover too much foreign material (for no particular reason other than not coming across them and/or not making any effort to come across them either), but I don’t feel like my lack of enthusiasm for this feature has anything to do with a language/culture barrier; I treated this review like any other one. All in all, I would only recommend this to someone that wants to learn about Senegal (and/or how it has changed in somewhat recent years) via entertainment.
Grade: 4/10

Art, concert review, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews

Concert Review: Hurricanes Of Love, Ladderlegs, Sinbusters, Human Tail, Thick Shakes @ Dirty Douglas (2/12/11)

2 Comments

Thick Shakes

Artists: The Human Tail, Thick Shakes, The Sinbusters, Ladderlegs, Hurricanes Of Love, Gangsta Love
Date: Saturday, February 12, 2011
Venue Dirty Douglas (Lowell, MA)
Comments: This was my first time at the Dirty Douglas, a DIY venue in Lowell, and from the looks of it there’s a pretty rad scene going on in this Heavenly city, as Frank- singer/guitarist for Hurricanes of Love would put it. Good old Frank is from Atlanta, GA and is well-acquainted with our tru gangsta home boys, The Black Lips! Frank and his saw playing bandmate put on a nice, warm folksy-bluesy set that didn’t blow me away, but was still solid. I also really dug Frank’s rastafarian esque interludes in which he always made it a point to thank his Heavenly brothers and sisters. The rest of the evening consisted of various Punk and/or potentially Garage acts. The Human Tail delivered a fast, rockin’ performance and I could easily see them appearing on a small, national label in the vain of Burger or Goner someday. The Thick Shakes bore a similar aesthetic and certainly rocked just as hard, but with a little bit more of a pop element. Speaking of “Garage” influence, Thick Shakes certainly displayed it more than any other band on the roster. Even on their myspace page they descirbe themselves as “Garage” and if their raw, 60s Hard Rock sound didn’t convince you enough just a glance at their influences: The Kingsmen, The Sonics, and In the Red greats, Thee Oh Sees (according to their myspace page) should be enough to end the debate. I suppose for these reasons TS stood out the most to me. The Sinbusters and Ladderlegs rounded out the show, each continuing the trend of heavier, energetic, Garage oriented Punk. Sinbusters actually reminded me of Thick Shakes’ faves, Thee Ohh Sees, especially listening to them now on myspace. Ladderlegs also contains an undeniable savage and certainly strange quality and reminds me of earlier hardcore punk, but a bit more experimental and also some early Reatards vibes, but much more fleshed out and musical. Overall, the sound was top notch for all of the bands, thanks in part to the venue’s audio, I assume. I can’t say my mind was blown by any of the artists, but I did enjoy myself and this show introduced me to several talented, garagey bands that I had never heard of before. Each artist was decent in their own right, so I can’t complain.

The following is a list of the bands and their myspace pages or websites. Check em’ out!

The Human Tail
http://www.myspace.com/thehumantail
Thick Shakes
http://www.myspace.com/thickshakesmusic
The Sinbusters
http://thesinbusters.bandcamp.com/
Ladderlegs
http://ladderlegs.bandcamp.com/
Hurricanes of Love
http://www.myspace.com/hurricanesoflove