The great thing about terrorists is, when they die, you can actually be happy.
New Delhi; and Islamabad, Pakistan – A US drone strike Wednesday probably killed Baitullah Mehsud, a senior Pakistan-based Taliban leader who organized dozens of terror attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan. His death may substantially weaken the Taliban insurgency within Pakistan, a country that some US leaders feared was careening toward collapse just a few months ago.
With an additional $2 billion in funding, the “Cash for Clunkers” program has a new lease on life until Labor Day. But it’s not clear if Clunkers, the sequel, will show the same robust results that the program did in its first week, quickly running through the $1 billion that was supposed to last until November.
Again, this was a great idea for the short term, but who knows what long-term effects it will have?
Some sad news…
Odds are you didn’t go to high school with John Hughes. Odds are it sure seemed like you did. Hughes, the popular, almost-mythical filmmaker who made teen angst hurt so good in biting comedies such as Sixteen Candles, only to leave Generation Xers largely on their own as the Molly Ringwald-ruled 1980s ended, died after suffering a sudden heart attack during a walk this morning in Manhattan. He was 59.
Along with writing and directing movies like “The Breakfast Club”, he wrote “Home Alone”, Glen’s favorite movie, “Home Alone 2”, “101 Dalmatians” with Glenn Close, and “Flubber”.
So I guess “Veni Vidi Vici” is a song fit for television. Virgin Mobile Canada uses the song, which is about religious conflict, in their latest cell phone commercial. Virgin carefully edited the track to project an image of the cell phone being the “greatest of them all.”
Band: Arctic Monkeys
Label: Domino
Release: 2009
1. “My Propeller” – 9.8
2. “Crying Lightning” – 9.8
3. “Dangerous Animals” – 9.9
4. “Secret Door” – 9.8
5. “Potion Approaching” – 9.6
6. “Fire and the Thud” – 9.4
7. “Cornerstone” – 9.7
8. “Dance Little Liar” – 9.8
9. “Pretty Visitors” – 9.7
10. “The Jeweller’s Hands” – 9.2
Comments: Spin almost hits the bulls-eye in a phrase of its review: “accomplished, but not particularly infectious.” Those last three words are pretty damn crucial. Just think about the first two Arctic Monkeys albums. Whatever People Say I Am excellent from top to bottom. Favourite Worst Nightmare picked up right where Whatever… left off and is packed with some of the best tunes of this decade. Humbug isn’t as instantly infectious. The first two tracks are darker and heavier, but just as noteworthy as what can be considered this band’s best. There are also some lighter, lyrics-focused songs that exemplify Alex Turner’s exquisite song-writing like “Secret Door” and “Cornerstone.” Definitely to me this is one of the best albums of the year. I’m embracing the new direction band has taken, if you want to call it that.
Grade: 9.7
Hahaha. That’s my reaction to Lumina’s (of the Horrors) cover of the Black Lip’s “I’ll Be With You.”It’s an extremely dark, shoe-gaze effort somewhere along the lines of The Cure meets Peter Bjorn and John meets Richard Cheese. It’s funny like that.
Listen here: http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com/Lumina%20-%20I%27ll%20Be%20With%20You%20%28Black%20Lips%20cover%29.mp3
Date: August 5, 2009
Venue: Paradise Rock Club (Boston)
Introduction
2:30 PM, August 5. eBay. 2:35 PM. Free Arctic Monkeys tickets. It’s funny how things work. You know, going from about to spend $100 for a pair of tickets to spending absolutely nothing. Lucky me I won two tickets through a Boston Music Spotlight giveaway that I learned about on Tuesday.
Modey Lemon
Unfortunately, unlike normal, I was not able to do much research on this band before hand. I was really impressed by their hard rock/garage ways during their 45 minute set. Their last song (no clue on its name) featured a lengthy guitar solo/jam that was perhaps the best of its kind that I’ve seen live.
Arctic Monkeys
Great! They started off with “Pretty Visitors” and “This House is a Circus,” both of which I haven’t heard much of. But the crowd immediately connected with Alex Turner and crew. “Brianstorm” really got every one going, myself included, as it was a flawless performance of an amazing track. The next noteworthy track in my opinion was a new one off Humbug, “Dangerous Animals,” that has Turner spelling out a catchy D-A-N-G-E-R-O-U-S. The group ended up playing four more spectacular songs off the new record: “Crying Lightning,” “My Propeller,” “Cornerstone,” and “Secret Door,” the first song during the encore. The best song of the night I thought was “Fluorescent Adolescent.” I’ve been a very big fan of this one for over two years primarily because of its heavy, post-punk flare and its great lyrics. The Arctic Monkeys added a light light part right in the middle of the song that was essentially a perfect fit. I was awe-stricken by the end of the song. “The View from the Afternoon” was another highlight! “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” obviously received the best crowd reception. That’s in large part because it’s better live than on record. “If You Were There, Beware” got the people around me to sing along and rock out. After that they played a “Red Right Hand,” a Nick Cave cover. I never heard the original, but this one sounded naturally fit to be an Arctic Monkeys tune. Turner’s ultra-British voice really came through on “Only Ones Who Know,” sounding quite like the man himself Pete Doherty. The set ended with the fitting “Do Yourself A Favor.” The men came back on stage a few minutes later after constant applause. Turner humored us by saying that he had his car key in the ignition, but just couldn’t leave. He seemed naturally interested in performing for “Bous–tin.” “Secret Door” with its warm and fuzzy opening segued into pounding drums and sweet guitar licks. The infectious “505” finished their 1 hour and 20 minute set off.
Conclusion: This concert will go down in my life’s history as the best free show of all time. Even if I did shell out $50 bucks a ticket, I still would have been just as pleased. It will also be placed amongst the best sounding and best performed shows I’ve seen. Unfortunately since I arrived a little late I had to settle for a side view instead of front and center, but that’s just what happens and you gotta deal! Overall, I give it a A/A+ rating.
“Crying Lightning”
Just when I thought that Jay Reatard was done with Harpers Ferry for good (after a rather miserable crowd on July 3)…the garage punk will be back on October 2. His latest release Watch Me Fall will be released on the 18th of this month. Four bands will play before the long haired guitar genius; this could suck a little because Reatard plays on average for only 25 minutes. Will I attend? It’s not out of the question, but I must keep in mind that Dinosaur Jr. is playing the next night at the Middle East.
A few months ago after watching some of his YouTube clips I thought to myself, “Damn, I bet Daniel Johnston never tours around here anymore.” Well, I guess I’m wrong. The outsider legend himself is coming to the Paradise Rock Club on October 15.
They haven’t moved to “arena rock.” They are that popular to fill up an arena like the Garden in Boston. A lot of their “fans” probably have only heard “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody,” two songs that have been played constantly on KISS 108. Allegations that the brother/cousin quartet are sell-outs don’t make a lot of sense. They’ve been signed to RCA since the release of their debut album in 2003. Their sound strikes a chord with the average “pop” music listener because they play an incredibly mainstream sounding garage rock. Like their major label counterpart The Strokes, they can be easily be confused as “indie” because their rhythm is comfortably between soft rock and punk.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 