Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
[2007]
[2009]Saturday, May 8, 2010
[2010]Thursday, May 6, 2010
Albums you Must own (for $5 a piece!) Nr. 03
Amazon.com is constantly running $5 album deals for mp3 albums.. Each month or so, they post a new list of 100 albums.
Here are a few albums from their list that should 100% be in your music collection.
1.
Local Natives
Gorilla Manor
2.
Minus the Bear
Menos el Oso
3.
Coconut Records
Nighttiming
4.
Spoon
Kill the Moonlight
Here are a few albums from their list that should 100% be in your music collection.
1.
Local Natives
Gorilla Manor
2.
Minus the Bear
Menos el Oso
3.
Coconut Records
Nighttiming
4.
Spoon
Kill the Moonlight
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Album Review - The National - High Violet
To be honest, the first 2 LPs that I heard by The National, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers [2003]
and Alligator
[2005] bored me. That changed in an instant with the introductory poly-rhythm of Boxer
's [2007] opening track, Fake Empire [mp3]. Some how, the combination of rhythm, textured pianos, bass and guitar, and Matt Berninger's remarkable baritone voice just clicked. Boxer was a phenominal album, recieved absurd (but deserved) amounts of praise, etc . . .
Now 2.5 years an one EP later (The Virginia
), they are back with a much anticipated follow up album, High Violet. Big expectations here, and they don't disappoint. An early single, released earlier this year, Bloodbuzz Ohio gave a hint at the new album's trajectory, and a full listen doesn't reveal many surprises. High Violet is as great as Boxer was, but doesn't represent anything greater (or new). Ok, perhaps there are some new textures - ie: Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks . . . but by and large this feels like a VERY closely related and natural extension of Boxer. This feels like a band taking a 2nd stab and redefining and establishing its sound. That is fine by me though - heck - I'll take 5 more LPs that fall in step with Boxer. Go ahead, make a career out of it, and I'll be one happy fan.
High Violent does not disappoint.
and Alligator [2005] bored me. That changed in an instant with the introductory poly-rhythm of Boxer's [2007] opening track, Fake Empire [mp3]. Some how, the combination of rhythm, textured pianos, bass and guitar, and Matt Berninger's remarkable baritone voice just clicked. Boxer was a phenominal album, recieved absurd (but deserved) amounts of praise, etc . . .Now 2.5 years an one EP later (The Virginia
), they are back with a much anticipated follow up album, High Violet. Big expectations here, and they don't disappoint. An early single, released earlier this year, Bloodbuzz Ohio gave a hint at the new album's trajectory, and a full listen doesn't reveal many surprises. High Violet is as great as Boxer was, but doesn't represent anything greater (or new). Ok, perhaps there are some new textures - ie: Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks . . . but by and large this feels like a VERY closely related and natural extension of Boxer. This feels like a band taking a 2nd stab and redefining and establishing its sound. That is fine by me though - heck - I'll take 5 more LPs that fall in step with Boxer. Go ahead, make a career out of it, and I'll be one happy fan.High Violent does not disappoint.
Release Date:
May 11
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Saddest song ever written: Damen Jurado - Medication
Medication [mp3], by Damien Jurado from Ghost of David
[2000].
I submit that this might be one of the saddest songs ever written. Jurado, ever a wordsmith and storyteller, here weaves together two parallels stories about . . . well . . . you'll just have to listen and find out. I am not a glutton for sad songs just for sad songs' sake. They have to be well-written. They have to be poetic. They can't be self-indulgent in piling on the tragedy. They have to be honest. Medication is all of that. The prayer at the end just kills me. (Lyrics below)
Enjoy
from Ghost of David [2000].I submit that this might be one of the saddest songs ever written. Jurado, ever a wordsmith and storyteller, here weaves together two parallels stories about . . . well . . . you'll just have to listen and find out. I am not a glutton for sad songs just for sad songs' sake. They have to be well-written. They have to be poetic. They can't be self-indulgent in piling on the tragedy. They have to be honest. Medication is all of that. The prayer at the end just kills me. (Lyrics below)
Enjoy
It just so happens I have many concerns
My brother's down the road and my lover in town
They both need affection
And some kind of love
Well I'm the one who gives it at any given time
From two in the morning to six
Call me up and cry
My lover keeps it secret that we meet under covers
When asked by her man if we two are lovers
She says, "I hardly know him.
Besides, he's not my type."
Her man's a policeman with a keen sense of trouble
He's known just by danger
And all kinds of liars
Brother called this morning in a terrible panic
Spies in the closet, bugs in the attic
He screams bloody murder saying,
"We're all gonna die.
Death is upon me, I know 'cause he showed me
Pictures of graveyards and us underneath."
I'm losing my hearing from my brother screaming,
"They're coming to get me and
Someone call the police."
Two in the morning, the phone disconnected
Her man knows I'm calling, it's what I expected
A note on my backdoor saying, "Baby not tonight."
So I sit with my brother who is nursing a cut wrist
He's mumbling "Forgive me."
And "Don't let them take me away."
I can be a good boy and stay out of trouble
Jackie I love you and
Don't let them take your brother
Strapped to a table, go in electrodes
"Jackie come save me the doctors will kill me."
"No, they're here to help you
Straighten out your mind."
The TV is blaring with some preacher saying that
God is among us and he hears our cries
Lord, do me a favor
It's wrong but I ask you
Take my brother's life
'Cause he's sick of the suffering
The pills he's inhaling
The cross he is bearing
That is his trouble mind
Monday, May 3, 2010
Album Review - Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
With certain bands, I walk into their new albums assuming they can do no wrong. Band of Horses is one of those groups - their previous releases have all been SO good. The 3 year wait for their new full length LP, Infinite Arms
, has been a long and difficult one (it will release on May 18th, btw).Well, I have given it my first full listen and I am a bit lost for words. It is good, but I don't know if it is great yet. The first 3 tracks, which have already been circulating - Factory, Compliments and Laredo - all suggested a great album to follow. Track 4, however, Blue Beard, left me not sure what to think. The predominant melody in the song smacks of Ben Gibbard - which is not a bad thing - but by the end of the track, it devolvs into a multi-layer harmony a bit too reminiscent of Afternoon Delight a la Will Ferrel in Anchorman.
The album regains its composure in track 5, Way Back Home, but alternately shines and falters throughout. The album closes with "Bartlet + James," an epic track that may rely a bit heavily upon the grandiose, but Band of Horses carry it well.
I wouldn't say that "the jury is still out," but a few of the tracks have yet to stick.
We'll see . . .
Release Date:
May 18
Album Review - Minus the Bear - Omni
These Seattle stalwarts have come a LONG way from Highly Refined Pirates
. In my book, it still may stand as their seminal work. Since then, however, they have delved deep through glitchy samples, electronic gadgetry, math-rock guitar noodlery, and most recently on Omni, all out dance grooves. I doubt they aimed to make a dance album, and I don't think I would actually call this a dance album . . . but . . . you cannot help but bob your head as it plays. Hook after hook, funky basslines, and irresistible grooves. Amazingly, as has been the case with each reinvention of Minus the Bear, this album (for all its uniqueness) is still thoroughly Minus the Bear. Through out their career, this band has done a masterful job of evolving and expanding their sonic palette while holding to some discernible core ethos and texture. I don't know how they do it, but I love it. Favorite Tracks include My Time, Into the Mirror, and Broken China [a b-side].
. In my book, it still may stand as their seminal work. Since then, however, they have delved deep through glitchy samples, electronic gadgetry, math-rock guitar noodlery, and most recently on Omni, all out dance grooves. I doubt they aimed to make a dance album, and I don't think I would actually call this a dance album . . . but . . . you cannot help but bob your head as it plays. Hook after hook, funky basslines, and irresistible grooves. Amazingly, as has been the case with each reinvention of Minus the Bear, this album (for all its uniqueness) is still thoroughly Minus the Bear. Through out their career, this band has done a masterful job of evolving and expanding their sonic palette while holding to some discernible core ethos and texture. I don't know how they do it, but I love it. Favorite Tracks include My Time, Into the Mirror, and Broken China [a b-side].Release Date:
May 4
Album Review - Josh Ritter - So Runs the World Away
Josh Ritter's 2006 The Animal Years
was a revelation of what forward-looking and innovative indie-folk can become when properly rooted in classic singer-songwriter, and troubadour folk tradition. It was amazing. The subsequent Historical Conquest of Josh Ritter
was good, but many tracks fell flat. Ritter's newest LP is a great marriage of the two: blending his folky singer-songwriter style of much earlier releases with some of the classic rock tones from Historical Conquests and more "indie" sounds of Animal Years. A great blending of it all! Favorite tracks include Folk Bloodbath and Change in Time.
Release date:
May 4
was a revelation of what forward-looking and innovative indie-folk can become when properly rooted in classic singer-songwriter, and troubadour folk tradition. It was amazing. The subsequent Historical Conquest of Josh Ritter was good, but many tracks fell flat. Ritter's newest LP is a great marriage of the two: blending his folky singer-songwriter style of much earlier releases with some of the classic rock tones from Historical Conquests and more "indie" sounds of Animal Years. A great blending of it all! Favorite tracks include Folk Bloodbath and Change in Time.Release date:
May 4
Saturday, May 1, 2010
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