Music, music video, Video

Who Did it Better: ‘Shadowplay’

1 Comment

Back with another edition of Who did it better? They were not around a while but Joy Division was and remains one of the most influential and sometimes copied bands of all times. This time we are looking at the first track off their debut album “Unknown Pleasures” (sadly they only have two albums due to the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis, the rest band would later reform under the name New Order)

Here is Joy Division’s ‘Shadowplay’:

Next is the Killers:

Lastly here is a Silversun Pickups version:

For me nothing comes close to the original Joy Division version, but the two covers aren’t without their own certain charm. Of the two though I like the Killers version a bit better though.

CD Review, Music

CD Review: The Liminanas [2010]

Leave a comment


Band: The Liminanas
Release: 2010
Label: Trouble In Mind

1. “Darkside” – B-
2. “Down Underground” – B
3. “Je ne suis pas tres drogue – B-
4. “Funeral Baby” – A-
5. “Chocolate in my Milk” – B
6. “Tigre du Bengale” – C+
7. “Mountain” – B-
8. “Je suis une go-go girl” – A-
9. “Berceuse pour Clive” – B
10. “Tears” – B-
11. “Tigre du Bengale” – B-
12. “Got Nothing to Say” – A

Comments: To quote insound.com’s description of this album: “This LP has a very cinematic feel.” As a result, a lot of the songs feel pretty orchestrated and calculated. Don’t let some of the English titles fool you — this is mainly a French affair. Like I’ve mentioned in previous posts, my knowledge of French is very minimal. I don’t know what they are talking about, but that’s okay…I’ve never been all that good at/interested in interpreting lyrics anyway. “Funeral Baby” is the band’s first attempt at no frills garage-pop and the result is an awesome song. It reminds me of Davila 666, but from the South of France. As far as the rest of the record is concerned, it’s an all-together different approach to music making. There are some semi-instrumental tracks and other consistently weird rockers. Album closer “Got Nothing to Say” is a favorite from this. “Tu m’a dit que tu t’es “okay” — “You told me that you are okay” — is what I think is repeated, BUT this does not matter!

Grade: B (84)

Best of 2010, Black Lips, Box Elders, concert review, Deerhunter, Gentleman Jesse and His Men, Girls, Harlem, King Khan, Music, No Age, Nobunny, The Growlers, The Walkmen

Glen’s Best of 2010: Concerts

Leave a comment

It looks like another year in concerts has concluded for me. I got to see 22 shows (25 in 2009) at quite a few different venues and three happened to have taken place in New York City (reppin’ Queens). While I’m not so sure 2010 can top 2009 in terms of overall favorite shows, I think it’s safe to say I had a great time concert-going. Looking back, I’m going to rate shows based on three factors: opening bands, headlining band, and experience. A great experience for me is a combination of a great venue, a great crowd, and second-by-second fun. I tend to be pretty analytical about this kind of stuff, so for math people the weighting is as follows: 20% opening bands, 20% experience, and 60% headlining band. Also, I’m usually stricter when it comes to these end of the year tallies.

A
1. Black Lips – Temptress, NYC [95]
2. No Age – Middle East Downstairs [95]

A-
3. Black Lips – Middle East Downstairs [93]
4. King Khan & The Shrines – Royale [92]
5. Wavves – Great Scott [90]
6. Nobunny – PA’s Lounge [90] 

B+
7. The Walkmen – Royale [89]
8. Editors – House of Blues [89]
9. Spoon – House of Blues [87]

B
10. Paul Weller – Apollo Theater, NYC [86]
11. Girls – Paradise Rock Club [86]
12. Beach House – Paradise Rock Club [86]
13. Harlem – Great Scott [85]
14. Deerhunter (AUG) – Royale [85]
15. Those Darlins – TT The Bears [84]
16. The Growlers – TT The Bears [84]

B-
17. Deerhunter (OCT) – Royale – [83]
18. Uninhabitable Mansions – Middle East Upstairs [82]
19. Mission of Burma – Paradise Rock Club [81]

C+
20. Vivian Girls – Great Scott [79]
21. Black Lips – The Shank, NYC [78]
22. Kurt Vile – Harper’s Ferry [77]

Uncategorized

Concert Expectations: Brandon Flowers

2 Comments

So the day after Thanksgiving, some friends and I are taking a little trip to see Brandon Flowers at the House Of Blues. As a giant Killers fan, I am expecting an amazing show. The Killers are amazing in a giant venue, I can only imagine what its like in a more intimate venue like the House Of Blues. I’m expecting Brandon to play most of, if not all of the songs, off Flamingo. I also hope he plays some Killers stuff. I am insanely excited to see one of my favorite performers going today and will probably not sleep tomorrow night. A full review will follow the show after I recover from my (hopefully) blown mind.

Uncategorized

Queen- Somebody to Love

1 Comment

Today marks the 19th anniversary of the death of one of the greatest frontman in Rock and Roll, Freddie Mercury (he’s gotta be in at least the top ten). He died one day after announcing he had Aids. Granted not everyone is a Queen fan, but Mercury’s voice and charisma was one of a kind, so in tribute here is my favorite Queen song ‘Somebody to Love’

Art, Film Review, Films, pictures, Punk, Video

Classic Film Review: Over the Edge

Leave a comment

Full Title: Over the Edge
Director: Jonathan Kaplan
Year: 1979
Fun Fact: This was Kurt Cobain’s favorite film and served as inspiration for the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video.
Comments: This here is a molotov cocktail in your very hands for you youngsters out there. Yeah, I know y’all didn’t catch my little Jerry Rubin reference, but catch this a town filled with tired and uninspired teenagers abandoned by their wealthy parents, whom only care about making more money while their community is rotting from the inside. Edge is the dark version of Dazed and Confused (1993); kids in the 70s, apathetic, anarchic, and ready to Rock and Roll: having a good time is the top priority. I must say being a fan of youth oriented/teen/coming of age films, I really dug this work and while watching it I had a myriad of reactions. It really felt like I was watching some sort of archive footage from the 70s. In some ways the story seemed schizophrenic, meaning I could not tell if the movie was rooting for the kids or for the adults. There was this afternoon made for TV movie special feeling to it (which was actually kinda cool!) and simultaneously a Rock and Roll High School (1979) youth rebellion aesthetic to it as well. I have come to the conclusion that this ambiguous combination serves as a reminder that life in general is never black and white and this film does not need to shove a message down your throat to say something. Overall, I have very little to no gripes with this film; I thoroughly enjoyed it and I look forward to watching it again and again. It is not perfect, but honestly I don’t think I would like this film if it was. Ya dig?

P.S.: Going back to Cobain, with the characters in this flick I could totally see a little Kurt in some of these kids- before you know it they will be at their first Minor Threat/Black Flag show!

Grade: A-

pictures

Question of the Week: Porn

Leave a comment

Is porn degrading to women? men? Does it matter what kind of porn? How has this affected the relationship between men and women? What do you guys think? For some of you these questions may seem obvious and I must look like an idiot for posing them, but I intentionally made them broad to encourage dialogue and not have my opinion dictate the post. Perhaps I will reveal some of my views in the comment section, but first let us know what you think.

Boston based shows/fests – DIY, punk, noise