The Carpenters
OR
Sonic Youth
I have to agree with Jason Bateman’s character in Juno (2007) this is a masterpiece and one of the finest cover songs ever recorded. I love The Carpenters’ version, but Sonic Youth enhance the weird/haunting vibes of the original even further. But, what do you guys think? Let us know.
Band: The Growlers
Release: 10/2010
Label: Everloving
1. “Graveyard’s Full” – A-
2. “Nosebleed Sun” – B
3. “What It Is” – A-
4. “The Moaning Man From Shanty Town” – B
5. “Sea Lions Goth Blues” – A+
6. “Badlands” – B
7. “Let It Be Known” – B
8. “Camino Muerto” – B+
9. “Underneath Our Palms” – A
10. “Hula Hula Hideout” – B
Comments: The Growlers are pretty distinctly So. Cal, which is a pretty daunting statement to make in an age where there is striking diversity among bands from that area. What I meant to say is they aren’t too far away from Mexico and listening to their music confirms this. Opener “Graveyard’s Full” features lead and bass guitar riffs that border on traditional Mexican/Caribbean. Singer Brook Nielson’s vocal style — part raspy/part laid-back eerie — fits genuinely on tunes like this. Short ditties like “Nosebleed Sun” add to the mystique of the band. What the hell are they singing about, anyway? I haven’t been able to discern such, but such does not matter much. Rhyming, for the win. Anyway, “Sea Lion Goth Blues” is this release’s best song and it’s not like its new or anything. Far from it. Other versions of “Sea Lion” have featured a more prominent lead guitar — one of the best of its kind that I’ve heard in the last year or so. The surf notes are compelling. Still, the added echo and reverb on Brooks’ vocals and the respective instruments are refreshing. My second favorite song on here is probably the second-to-last ditty entitled “Underneath Our Palms.” It’s plainly neat.
Grade: B+ (88)
I put my ipod on shuffle and here’s what exploded on the screen:
The Replacements- Can’t Hardly Wait
Nobunny- It’s True
The Almighty Defenders- Death Cult Soup N’ Salad
Bill Hicks- My Parents
Incubus- New Skin
Bloodshot Bill- Ring the Bell
Tool- Forty Six & Two
Frank Zappa- Muffin Man
The Doors- Alabama Song
Black Lips- Let It Grow
Black Lips Juvenile! (studio version)
It’s been a while since I posted a “Hicks Vid of the Day.” Enjoy a bit from one of the Dark Poet’s finest hours.
9 years after the death of the forgotten genius of the Beatles, George Harrison, I figured for the next edition of “Who Did it Better?” we would look at, in my view, Harrison’s greatest single musical contribution to the Beatles, the song ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ (this is up for debate I know but just go with the premise on this one). This time we have the original and two covers done, by arguably two men who rank in the top ten guitarist category of all times.
First up, the original:
Next up, we got Carlos Santana featuring Indie.Arie & Yo-Yo Ma
Lastly Eric Clapton & Paul McCartney
I am going with the original, but I gotta say Clapton is feeling it during his performance.
So on December 4th I am going to see Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order bassist) perform Joy Division’s debut album ‘Unknown Pleasures’ from beginning to end, and I have nothing but the highest expectations. For those that haven’t heard it ‘Unknown Pleasures’ is universally considered a classic album (and in my top ten), and is one of the most important albums of the 70’s (yes I said it and I will stand by it). Good news is set list wise, I know what I am getting, the album cover to cover with maybe some stuff from the second album ‘Closer’ thrown in as an encore (sadly lead singer of Joy Division Ian Curtis committed suicide after two albums). Bad news is performance wise I don’t know what to expect, for those who have heard Joy Division know that as strong as the music was Ian’s vocal’s is what really made the album special, so I don’t know who Peter found for vocal’s. Also will the experience be a pure rendition of ‘Unknown Pleasures’ or will it be a bassist focused version. Personally I would also love to hear stories about the old days too, but who knows if I will get that. In any case I know Ian is dead, the living members hate each other with a passion, so this is as close as I will ever get to seeing Joy Division live, so for one night I am looking forward to closing my eyes and pretend that it’s 1979.
The Onions are a product of The Last Daughters of Compton, a band that was featured over 9,000 years ago on the cover of Minimum Rock and Troll.
They are fronted by disgruntled Wisconsin master baiter, online radio superstar, organic farmer, lead guitarist and vocalist Brad X. Brad X looks something like this:
Brad X posts on the Terminal Boredom forums, a gathering place for ass-worshipers, A.D.D record collectors, and most of all punk purists who scoff at the notion that the Black Lips are still a great band. Jared Swilley, Black Lips bassist, was known for logging in TermBo late-night and freaking out on the haters. His most epic diss was: “I have an extremely powerful attorney. i do whatever i want. i travel the world. i get laid by chicks hotter than you douches can dream of (im in her room). and i get paid like a motherfucker. fuck you. your lives suck. i am so fucking happy right now.” The late great Jay Reatard spent a fair amount of time on the forum as well. Nobunny remains the best boarder in the game.
At any rate, behind the internet shit-talking and what have you, lies a fairly accomplished musician who knows the art of the catchy punk song.
Take a look at The Onions MySpace, listen to this reel-to-reel, or go to Texas in March to watch them play at SXSW.
‘
The BBQ unleahes some classics in this recent Philly concert. Here is “I Am the End” from his latest album $ (2010)
More Videos!
Vomit Squad’s “Burning With Beelzebub”
Lindsey Buckingham
The Walkmen
http://www.avclub.com/video_embed/?id=48355
The Walkmen cover “Holiday Road”
For some reason Ham doesn’t feel right singing it, but for obvious reasons I think The Walkmen’s instrumentation is much better. ’80s vs. ’10s. C’mon, guys.
