Band: Alec Ounsworth Label: Anti- Release: October 20, 2009
1. “Modern Girl” – 8.3 2. “Bones in the Grave” – 7.9 3. “Holy, Holy, Holy Moses” – 9.2 4. “That Is Not My Home” – 9.5 5. “Idiots in the Rain” – 8.2 6. “South Philadelphia” – 8.4 7. “What Fun.” – 8.2 8. “Me And You Watson” – 7.8
9. “Obscene Queen Bee #2” – 9.4 10. “When You’ve No Eyes” – 9.0
Comments: Flashy Python > Alec Ounsworth. How can an alter-ego of a man be better than the man himself? It’s possible and evident on this album. There seems to be a lot more dispiriting nooks and crannies on Mo Beauty; a greater dichotomy of styles than on Skin and Bones. The quasi-minimalism that reigns on tracks like “Obscene Queen Bee #2,” “That Is Not My Home,” and “Holy, Holy, Holy Moses” is Ounsworth at his best. For such a highly anticipated album, I am disappointed.
Band: Editors Label: Kitchenware Records Release: October 12, 2009
1. “In This Light and On This Evening” – 9.4 2. “Bricks and Mortar” – 9.5 3. “Papillon” – 10 4. “You Don’t Know Love” – 9.6 5. “The Big Exit” – 9.5 6. “The Boxer” – 9.8 7. “Like Treasure” – 9.7 8. “Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool” – 9.8 9. “Walk The Fleet Road” – 9.6
Comments: I’ve been anticipating this album in what seems like forever. Editors aren’t my 8th favorite band for shits and giggles! Their brand of post-punk/dark-wave has always struck a chord with me. Things get 20X darker on this album, though. Goodbye sweet melodies and accessible pop guitar riffs, and hello destructive drum patterns and rave-esque forces. Goodbye to the electric guitar (synthesizer/drum only). Immediately, I realize a lyrical theme: Tom seems to question the role of God. In the opening track and then on “Papillon,” Tom says “Darlin…if there really was a God here he would have raised a hand by now.” Is he talking about God being here on earth or God’s presence in general? I guess that’s up to us to decide. The first five tracks are purely robotic, almost dance numbers. “The Boxer” sounds more compatible with Editor’s past work, but fittingly there is a new raw layer of synths. Editors do the same thing that Animal Collective did with Merriweather Post Pavillion and that’s revolutionize a genre. Animal Collective changed the way we look at psychedelic pop. Editors have changed the way we should look at atmospheric modern day post-punk. Only top albums have this quality and that’s what this is…a top album. HOLD ON A SECOND GLEN. I must have been feeling good when I wrote this. It’s awesome, but not that awesome damnit.
While watching Chelsea Lately, Chelsea had mentioned a piece of news in which two idiotic Austrailian girls–both 10 and 12–fell down a drain. Instead of using their mobile devices to dial 000 (their equivalent of our 911), they used their phones to update their facebook statuses for someone to help them. Curious, I went online to check and see if this story was true. Low and behold, I found this: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/07/2678945.htm. Wow, I’m completely at a loss for words at their stupidity. What is our world coming to? As one of the comedians on her round table cleverly put it “That’s like being lost in the ocean and deciding to burn the boat!” I couldn’t have said it better myself!
LOVEBIRDS Steven and Kathryn share a well-organised home in bustling Las Vegas.
They have a neat, if compact kitchen, a furnished living area, and a bedroom complete with double bed, wardrobe and bookshelf featuring a wide selection including a Frank Sinatra biography and Spanish phrase book.
And they make their money in some of the biggest casinos in the world.
But their life is far from the ordinary.
Because, along with hundreds of others, the couple are part of a secret community living in the dark and dirty underground flood tunnels below the famous strip.
Comments: I believe the late Ubangi was once called the king of the three chord garage song. I see why! Ubangi sounded like a slightly more accessible Jay Reatard. Perhaps too like super lo-fi Ramones or the Beach Boys on salvia. B Jay’s catchy tunes no-doubt made him a legend in Atlanta punk circles. Real sappy stuff as Jared Swilley would probably say.
Grades: “Another Girl Like You” (9.8); “Greasers Lament” (9.2); “Back To You” (9.7)
——— If you are more interested in reading about Ubangi and the months and days leading up to his July 1, 2009 death check out this article.
The Tony Award winning musical Avenue Q officially closes on Broadway after countless performances. The highly original musical features Muppet-style puppets with actors on stage providing voices and the such. But the real drawing point was its “South Park” style sense of humor. Characters included Kate Monster, the leading lady, Brian, an unemployed 32-year old, Rod, a closeted conservative homosexual, his roommate Nicky (very similar to Bert and Ernie) and a colorful collection of others. Featured songs include “It Sucks To Be Me,” “The Internet Is For Porn,” and “Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist.” Below is a clip of “It Sucks To Be Me” from the 2004 Tony Awards. Avenue Q, you will be sorely missed.
There’s no easier way to start a rumor than online. Don’t believe everything you read. One of the hottest internet search trends out there right now is Matt Damon dead. Don’t believe it! He’s alive, well, and kickin’ it as usual. Why do these rumors start? Who actually believes them? Did anyone out there consider he has a family that could get freaked out by these stories?
Also be careful which links you click through to stories on “Matt Damon dead”. There could be a nasty virus lurking there.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 