JONATHAN FIRE*EATER

BEFORE THE WALKMEN EXISTED, THERE WAS A BAND CALLED JONATHAN FIRE*EATER THAT FORMED IN 1995. THEY WERE PRETTY DAMN SWEET UNTIL THEY SOLD OUT BY SIGNING TO DREAMWORKS. PUKE. THREE MEMBERS (WALTER MARTIN, HAM’S COUSIN, AND PAUL MAROON AND MATT BARRICK, THE DRUMMER) OF JFE JOINED FORCES WITH MEMBERS OF THE RECOYS TO FORM THE WALKMEN IN 2000. THE REST IS HISTORY, DAMNIT.

WATCH A YOUTUBE OF A JFE SONG HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm6ryXXq5Sw

TOUR CONSTANTLY

Jared Hondo Isaac Swilley says it all the time, but Beach House’s Alex Scally knows what’s up as well:

NYMAG
Since we started in 2006, the only way we’d have enough time to spend on music is to tour constantly. I kind of like it … it’s not like we’re Black Flag or anything, but it’s like a manta for us that the only way to survive is to tour constantly because that’s income and that spreads your name. I’m into what’s happening: There aren’t supermassive bands, the way it was in the sixties when the major labels rolled out twenty things and you chose the four that suited you. People that make music aren’t these weird gods that have a ton of money. I really like that we have all these sites where we can post pictures and have discussions and weird personal connections to all these people. Ultimately, we’re very lucky to have stumbled upon this thing, to get this music out there, to have it to mean something to people. People are always going to find way to support artists so that they’ll live.

A QUESTION…

I was sitting back pondering about culture and globalization and business. You know how some anti-globalization advocates argue that individual nation states should not go with the flow of current modernist, commercial, and economic trends? That these nation states have sovereignty over “global” trends? At what point should we stop respecting culture? In a sense Western business is culture-jamming others countries with our consumerist nonsense. How do we (or should we) balance international business and economic affairs while respecting culture or disrespecting culture? For example, should McDonald’s have gone into France even if the French don’t want our shit? Should we be open economically and culturally to our global brothers and sisters or should we cut ourselves off and just deal locally? There’s no denying that businesses are playing on a “global” field as the textbooks and pundits call it. Is that always a bad thing? Somebody (you know who you are) once told me that we should trade guitars for apples and live in a moneyless society. True story. Ask yourself these questions. It’s interesting.

Film Review: Edge of Darkness

Full Title: Edge Of Darkness
Director: Martin Campbell
Year: 2010
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10 (Way too high!)
My Rating: C-
Here’s Why: Ok, so briefly, let me give you a synopsis of the flick before I dissect it into teeny tiny pieces. Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) is literally craving to kill anyone that was involved with his daughter’s bizarre murder, which he has taken the liberty to personally (and illegally, since he is a cop himself) conduct his own investigation. As he stumbles upon more and more information he discovers that his activist, daughter, was a “potential terrorist threat” because she and other activists were uncovering the ins and outs of a major corporation, whom unbeknown to the people were making nuclear weapons for the government. She and her colleagues illegally attempt to reveal this information to the general public, but members are excuted one by one. The film utilizes the whole, cliched, government conspiracy cover up deal to death. Initially the plot is somewhat suspenseful and there is some decent scenes of action and thrills ( I actually did jump at one scene, if you have seen the film, you know which one I am speaking of and you probably jumped too lol), but overall it’s pretty average, nearly below average. I’m glad I only shilled out six singles for it, if it was twelve I would have been as vengeful as the main character.

P.S. The thing I hate about these kinds of “Big Brother” government films is that the big “crime” committed in reality is not secretive at all and is right out in the open in actuality. In the movie, some big coporation is secretly making nukes for the government. Ok… That’s no secret, that happens all the time. I don’t get it. The producers are trying to make it seem as though this kind of thing is sooo far fetched and far from the truth. Whatever.

Chris

CD Review: Be Brave [2010]

Band: The Strange Boys
Release: 2/2010
Label: Rough Trade/In The Red

1. “I See” – A
2. “A Walk on the Beach” – A-
3. “Be Brave” – A+
4. “Friday in Paris” – A
5. “Between Us” – A-
6. “Da Da” – B+
7. “Night Might” – A
8. “Dare I Say” – A
9. “Laugh At Sex, Not Her” – A
10. “All You Can Hide Inside” – A-
11. “The Unsent Letter” – A-
12. “You Can’t Only Love When You Want To” – B+

Comments: Strange Boys: you either love them or hate them. You can’t fault them for their classic R&B and garage sound. Ryan Sambol, the lead vocalist, might wear you out with his scratchy middle school girl southern hollers, but for me it’s just tea in a kettle. Sambol’s vocals “suggest a young Bob Dylan had he spent more of his formative years in juvie halls than coffeehouses.” 2009’s The Strange Boys and Girls Club was a top 10 album for me because it “brought back the old times.” The first two dits are noice, but “Be Brave” is of unprecedented quality. I can’t remember everything, but I don’t remember organs and horns on Club. Those are on here. Country music never sounded better! I spent most of my formative years listening to 50 Cent and Nsync so if I sound unreasonably excited about albums like this, don’t get all uppity! Through and through, I don’t find myself dissatisfied. Familiar tricks are rehashed on this album, but that’s absolutely okay. I find Sambol’s discourse of intercourse on “Laugh At Sex” particularly amusing. “Sex is like laughter, you do it differently with different people, sometimes you feel sick after.” The piano on “The Unsent Letter” reeks of Daniel Johnston, whom the Boys have toured with. This record isn’t as prolific as the band’s debut, but it’s nice!

Grade: A- (92)

GRIZZLY BEAR CAR COMMERCIAL!

QUESTIONS!!!

Did u ever play ‘punch buggy’ with ur sibling?
Will outsell Vampire Weekend in 2k11?
Is this the ‘best use of indie music in a mainstream commercial’ in the history of commercials?
Does commercial licensing make a band ‘more bank’ than ‘releasing full albums’?
R u enjoying the corporate indie arms race of the 2k10 decade?

RESPONSE!!!

Felt three emotions.

(1), annoyed b/c ternative music was ‘tainted’ by some corporation. GrizzBr’s rep is stained. Mnstrmrms would make it less authentic.

(2), mnstrmrs would finally discover some good music.

(3), no one would notice b/c car commercial music isn’t that ‘relevant’.

Boston based shows/fests – DIY, punk, noise