tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204623652024-03-19T16:39:38.467-04:00Left of the DialA blog about music by Nate AdamsMr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.comBlogger302125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-69321888036615636002011-06-22T15:57:00.007-04:002011-06-22T16:19:28.783-04:002011 Music: The Year so Far<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.urlesque.com/media/2010/05/haterbatman.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 573px;" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.urlesque.com/media/2010/05/haterbatman.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />With the year half over, here is a quick breakdown of the 10 best albums of the first six months of 2011.<br /><br />A few notes: This list comes from a dude who has stopped listening and consuming music at the breakneck pace he once maintained. A lot of things have slipped through the cracks, and even more things just haven’t had the proper time to be processes. By the end of the year a much more comprehensive, trustworthy and meaningful list will exist. Likely, some albums that appear here will no longer be on the list in any capacity, while other albums will come roaring out of the night to take the top spots.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://alienzone.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/wpid-DJ_Quik_2011_The_Book_Of_David-450x4501-150x150.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://alienzone.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/wpid-DJ_Quik_2011_The_Book_Of_David-450x4501-150x150.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Albums still being processed: </span>Fucked Up’s <span style="font-style: italic;">David Comes to Life</span>, Okkervil River’s <span style="font-style: italic;">I am Very Far</span>, DJ Quik’s <span style="font-style: italic;">The Book of David</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Albums to be listened to: </span>Bon Iver’s <span style="font-style: italic;">Bon Iver</span>, Cults’s <span style="font-style: italic;">Cults</span>, Death <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.reviewrinserepeat.com/sites/reviewrinserepeat.com/files/imagecache/album_cover_150/album_covers/tyler-the-creator-goblin.jpeg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.reviewrinserepeat.com/sites/reviewrinserepeat.com/files/imagecache/album_cover_150/album_covers/tyler-the-creator-goblin.jpeg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Cab for Cutie’s<span style="font-style: italic;"> Codes and Keys</span>, My Morning Jacket’s <span style="font-style: italic;">Circuital</span>, Tyler, the Creator’s <span style="font-style: italic;">Goblin</span>, any number of punk releases that I’ve been missing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Albums that didn’t make the list but still deserve to be mentioned: </span>The Stroke’s Angles, Cut Copy’s Zonoscope.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The 10 Best Albums of the First Half of the Year:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10) PJ Harvey – <span style="font-style: italic;">Let England Shake</span></span><br />Harvey has long been one of my musical blind spots: this is her first release that I’ve ever owned and listened to with any kind of consistency. I can’t say exactly how this album stacks up in her catalog, but it’s weird charms and off-center take on pop music and classic rock make it more than worth a listen.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RV3Soul18iE" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="300"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9) Frank Ocean – <span style="font-style: italic;">Nostalgia Ultra</span></span><br />Considering all the buzz around Tyler, The Creator, there is a certain poetic justice in this less-heralded member of the Odd Future collective finding crossover success with “Novicane,” a song that is seemingly about how it’s not good to have cocaine for breakfast. Ocean’s samples are either refreshing or annoying in their modern nature and minimal alteration, and while some may focus on his tendency to be like an emotional dude at karaoke, his open lyrics are a refreshing change from the alpha-lover bravado usually found in modern R&B.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BVDojFhnW2I" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="300"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8) The Mountain Goats – <span style="font-style: italic;">All Eternals Deck</span></span><br />On the one hand, the Mountain Goats have failed for two albums to reach the near-rock heights of 2008’s eternally great <span style="font-style: italic;">Heretic Pride</span>. On the other hand, when mellow songs come as fully-formed and well-written as “Damn these Vampires” and “Outer Scorpion Squadron,” who gives a shit?<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j47lkX6WtHA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="300"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7) Lupe Fiasco – <span style="font-style: italic;">Lazers</span></span><br />I was initially down on <span style="font-style: italic;">Lazers </span>upon its release due to the turmoil surrounding its release and the obvious grabs for crossover success in the album’s beat selection and collaborators list. Upon repeat listens, all these flaws are forgiven thanks to Fiasco’s personality and dexterity as a rapper, coming off like a more even-tempered, more thoughtful, more vocally accomplished Kanye West. Even at his worst, rap is a better genre with him in it.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7pT66VLxggM" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="300"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6) Parts and Labor – <span style="font-style: italic;">Constant Future</span></span><br />For a minute, I tried to convince myself that Parts and Labor was my favorite band: one part keyboard-rock group that didn’t forget to maintain the second half of that equation and one part Big Country. I’m off that kick now, though, and just happy to have an album of experimental punk that can achieve innovation without sounding like a soupy pile of hippy noise.<br /><br />Incidentally, I didn’t care much for Panda Bear’s latest album.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/e0gItTSBxg4" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="300"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5) Monument – <span style="font-style: italic;">Goes Canoeing</span></span><br />Monument is the latest band to reach for Cap n’ Jazz’s spazzy emo throne, and the first band to come within spitting distance since Algernon Cadwalader. <span style="font-style: italic;">Goes Canoeing</span> borrows a little more from the punk side of the cocktail, rocking a little harder and noodleing a little less while still maintaining the wide-eyed optimism and “it could mean anything or everything” lyric style of CnJ.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/v9eyTO4K8Vs" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="300"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4) Restorations – <span style="font-style: italic;">Restorations</span></span><br />The older I get, the harder it is for me to justify my love of really stupid pop-punk. Thankfully, Restorations are here to inject a little dignity and maturity to my favorite genre. Part Constantines, part National and part Gaslight Anthem, the band’s first full-length is an absolute joy for the punk rock kids who are still just a little too young to grow old.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p8zYTAMfOqs" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="300"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3) Tv on the Radio – <span style="font-style: italic;">Nine Types of Light</span></span><br />10 years in and this NYC-based band keeps brining the hits. Originally penned as a rock and roll band hiding under Radiohead-like production, <span style="font-style: italic;">Nine Types of Light</span> finds the band more fully embracing its doo-wop roots while still turning out smart, well-written pop songs. Someday, this band will stop sneaking up on me and I will just be outright impressed with them instead of going “holy shit, this album is wonderful” after five listens.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XilUXJh_l2Y" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="300"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Drive-By Truckers – <span style="font-style: italic;">Go-Go Boots</span></span><br />America’s last great southern rock band slowed things down on its 2011 release, dialing back the endless anthemic guitar solos of 2010’s <span style="font-style: italic;">The Big To-Do</span> for more a more stripped-down country sound and a focus on building tiny worlds of small-town crime and painful lives. The shift works, especially on Patterson Hood’s calm masterpiece “The Fireplace Poker.” However, the song of the year probably goes to “Cartoon Gold,” a simple Chris Cooley number than can stand toe-to-toe with the genre’s best love songs.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NzG4PaInROU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="300"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Kurt Vile –<span style="font-style: italic;"> Smoke Ring for my Halo</span></span><br />Vile is done fucking around. After doing his best Velvet Underground impression with his band, the Violators, the Philadelphia songwriter scales everything down to a dude with his guitar and a head full of thoughts he can’t understand. Simple songs with a haunting quality and an innocent lyrical focus that could come off as amateurish in someone else’s hands sound like words of a new folk-rock icon coming from Vile, who finally fulfills the promise of all those magazine articles a few years back. There is a lesson to be learned here: talent and skill will always stand out, even if it’s just from a dude and his notebook.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QikFgmAv7xc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="300"></iframe>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-19619406308938620002011-01-08T12:12:00.005-05:002011-01-08T15:34:57.559-05:00You Guys Just Sit Around Doing SuperCool All Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://narnackrecords.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/wpsc/product_images/sisters-ghostfits-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 242px;" src="http://narnackrecords.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/wpsc/product_images/sisters-ghostfits-2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist: </span>Sisters<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> Ghost Fits<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Year:</span> 2010<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Short Review:</span> Like a better, more accessible No Age. This could totally be two dudes you know making fun, fuzzy, punky dirt-pop.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Long Review:</span> At its worst, Sisters do nothing more than ride the current fuzz-rock trend of rehashing the best parts of the underground from the 80s and 90s. At its best, the duo’s debut album, <span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost Fits</span> is a fun, easy blast of accessible guitar crunch, not unlike a low-fi, no-impact version of Superchunck, or a less bullshit-y Sonic Youth.<br /><br />Recalling the straightforward thump of Japanther, the band get by more on its charms and taste for melody than it does on originality. Opening track and album highlight “The Curse,” which starts with some chunky strumming, wouldn’t be much more than a mid-tempo basement punk song if not for a killer second guitar part that highlights just how much can be down with few chords.<br /><br />And so the album goes. Every song is held together by a simple beat, a straightforward guitar part and some kind of additional keyboard or guitar melody (see “Glue,” “Sky”). On a track-by-track level, not every song works. Overall, however, the album is a fun diversion for people who think the underground has gotten too artsy.<br /><br />Perhaps Sister’s biggest strength is its charm. The album is refreshingly free of any subtext or deeper meaning beyond “Hey, how cool does this guitar solo sound? How fun is that drum beat?” This is not a homework project or a great artistic gambit: it is two guys from Brooklyn who probably fell in love with Dinosaur Jr. and Japandroids at some point and decided to make rock music in their basement. The real secret triumph of <span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost Fits</span> then, is how good a job these two amateurs did imitating giants.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Key Tracks:</span> The Curse, Sky, Glue, Highway Scratch<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip:</span> <a href="http://narnackrecords.com/beta/products-page/artists/sisters/sisters-ghost-fits/">Buy, for sure.</a><br /><br /><br /><object width="400" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gogTb10Psl4?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gogTb10Psl4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-91015570210970224112010-05-20T01:53:00.004-04:002010-05-20T02:14:31.954-04:00Department of Squandered Good Will: Streetlight Manifesto Edition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzAPQpEDZFLQZxQDWBWNU4KJ-7uX7zUS1httGtCmMTHwV46Zl3x6Hd1dI9CMba-N8kbfajbX4iAPfI7eMTkNwoiUretjTt1R-niI11ghuk7ZJWldXuJygb2v45EU4I3MecVtvrg/s1600/streetlight+mani.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzAPQpEDZFLQZxQDWBWNU4KJ-7uX7zUS1httGtCmMTHwV46Zl3x6Hd1dI9CMba-N8kbfajbX4iAPfI7eMTkNwoiUretjTt1R-niI11ghuk7ZJWldXuJygb2v45EU4I3MecVtvrg/s400/streetlight+mani.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473230087132041138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist: </span>Streetlight Manifesto<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album: </span>99 Songs of Revolution<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments:</span> For a minute there, Streetlight Manifesto was poised to become the one ring of ska bands. One horn to rule them all, one horn to bind them.<br /><br />The Sauron, the dark master of this strained metaphor, is Tomas Kalnoky, band leader and brainchild of both Streetlight and Catch 22 before them. After the success of the group's super-tight 2003 debut <span style="font-style: italic;">Everything Goes Numb</span>, an album that succeeds with no small thanks to Kalnoky's songwriting and flair for punk-ish arrangements, the group developed a cult-like following who was chomping at the bit to buy whatever ska-morsels the band saw fit to throw their way.<br /><br />Then things...got weird. Like, totally bat shit weird.<br /><br />Three years after<span style="font-style: italic;"> Numb</span>, the band opted to release a remake of <span style="font-style: italic;">Keaseby Nights</span>, Kalnoky's other ska classic with Catch 22, enleau of a new album. The group eventually got around to putting out a proper followup in a year later, the diminishing-returns-factory of <span style="font-style: italic;">Somewhere In Between</span>, a record that sounded just like their first one in all the wrong ways.<br /><br />Now, after baffling moves and unreasonable delays, the few faithful have been rewarded with...an album of ska covers! Woo.<br /><br />If nothing else, <span style="font-style: italic;">99 Songs of Revolution</span> proves what many suspected after the band re-released <span style="font-style: italic;">Keasby Nights</span>: Kalnoky is out of ideas. Creatively, the man has been treading the same ground since 2003, and putting out an album of covers isn't going to do much to reverse that perspective.<br /><br />As far as the album goes, it's exactly what one would expect: fucking ska covers of popular songs. There's a Radiohead cover (now with horns!) and a Paul Simon cover (now with more horns!) and a Postal Service cover (with, you guess it, horns!). Truth be told, the cover of "Such Great Heights" is pretty good, if only to hear the band replicate the frantic opening techno notes with brass instruments. Otherwise, this album is a wash.<br /><br />I mean, if you were waiting for a band like Streetlight Manifesto, a band totally capable of putting out classics, to get back to the business of making rock music, would you give a shit about their cover of "Punk Rock Girl?" Of course not. You'd put on <span style="font-style: italic;">Everything Goes Numb</span> and imagine they broke up immediatly after its release. It would have been a much more graceful way to go.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks: </span>Punk Rock Girl<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip: </span>Skip<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xo76ijhUqjE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xo76ijhUqjE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >I'm not linking to the covers. Let's pretend it's 2003.</span></div>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-44638826491135598992010-05-19T10:33:00.004-04:002010-05-19T10:39:45.507-04:00The Swedes Won't Stop Making Pop Music, No Matter How Many Small Animals I Kill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTCtwv_iKu_TILOJ57vMokOE9DR6KsWiE7IjaWDlLKJMYMgMkYpwsI7B9aQwocLihnKMgsgwAqVuSErKRhXG1Uetg9kLQi84s0r_Yx6Kd9HBJbab-DrtxVLLS2Cle4cJNPTH9jg/s1600/radio+dept.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTCtwv_iKu_TILOJ57vMokOE9DR6KsWiE7IjaWDlLKJMYMgMkYpwsI7B9aQwocLihnKMgsgwAqVuSErKRhXG1Uetg9kLQi84s0r_Yx6Kd9HBJbab-DrtxVLLS2Cle4cJNPTH9jg/s400/radio+dept.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472989620486052722" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist:</span> The Radio Dept.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> Clinging to a Scheme<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments:</span> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/jenslekmanmusic">The Swedes make good pop.</a> The Radio Dept. is a Swedish pop band. Put two and two together. Review over.<br /><br />...<br /><br />...<br /><br />...<br /><br />...<br /><br />...<br /><br /><br />OK, fine.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Clinging to a Scheme</span> is the band's third album, and it's a dreamy little affair. Their tunes are not forceful or overly-bright as much as they are hazy and warm,<a href="http://www.laughinglarry.com/images/box/lazy_cat.jpg"> free of urgency, with simple, almost lazy</a> hooks. There aren't much drums to speak of, outside the occasional canned computer beat. Still, the lack of percussion suits the light, airy nature of the songs.<br /><br />The album's best tracks, however, are the ones that are less simple strings of pleasant music and more straight-forward songs. Take, for example, the second single "Heaven's On Fire:"once one gets past the asinine quote about <a href="http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/Homepage.jsp">"capitalizing on you youth culture,"</a> the song kicks in with flirty guitars and a bouncy, easy keyboard melody that will set twee-hearts a-cuddlin'.<br /><br />Things are a little childish on <span style="font-style: italic;">Clinging to a Scheme</span>, never getting deeper than the skin, never getting darker than slightly overcast on moodier numbers like "Domestic Scene" and "The Video Dept.," and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristin_Chenoweth">the sunny disposition of the album can get a little over-bearing</a> at times. Still, its a fine album to just throw on and go about one's day with. It's so sweet and well-made that, when the occasional real song comes along a sticks to the ribs, it feels like an added bonus more than anything else.<br /><br />And, come on, complaining about the<a href="http://www.atara.net/a/131a.jpg"> twee-pop record being too cheerful </a>is like complaining about the ocean being too wet.<br /><br />The Radio Dept.'s latest is well-made, feel-good music for people who like to feel good. By no means a meal, it makes for a fine snack at any hour of the day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks: </span>Domestic Scene, Heaven's on Fire, This Time Around, David<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip:</span> Buy<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dsuLsb-jrt0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dsuLsb-jrt0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-68812697409499094712010-05-18T09:37:00.003-04:002010-05-18T10:02:37.005-04:00Crime In Stereo's Challanging Little Success<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WbzMSQt5XVtP0dT4BW2s00mXZm2ak8yKoY-PfpciCEG6PQ9jdy6GkqiWxUJfKMR93Xd1bXVv6t4MB5RddDgfS1kMl9r6qdnjVWFff_LuD5ZlAK9FqfiEZ_5yCa-pcTPYzOCZNQ/s1600/crime+in+stereo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WbzMSQt5XVtP0dT4BW2s00mXZm2ak8yKoY-PfpciCEG6PQ9jdy6GkqiWxUJfKMR93Xd1bXVv6t4MB5RddDgfS1kMl9r6qdnjVWFff_LuD5ZlAK9FqfiEZ_5yCa-pcTPYzOCZNQ/s400/crime+in+stereo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472609909207763778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> Crime In Stereo<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Comments:</span> As far as post-hardcore goes, no band is currently more true to the genre than Crime in Stereo. They used to play hardcore, and now they don't. It doesn't get much more straight forward than that.<br /><br />Still, trying to pinpoint the sound on <span style="font-style: italic;">I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone</span> is a fool's errand. The album is unlike any other I've heard in some time. It stretches the ideas of punk in new directions, resulting in something that sounds very modern and cerebral while still maintaining an aggressive edge through vocals and guitars.<br /><br />So, yeah, this is a punk rock record. But it's a punk record the same way that <span style="font-style: italic;">OK Computer</span> is an alternative rock record, or the same way that<span style="font-style: italic;"> Illinois</span> is a folk record. These albums, while technically just simple genre pieces, are actually much more for what they accomplish and how different they sound than anything else like them. I don't think Describe You will fall into the same game-changing category of the other two records, but it's just as good.<br /><br />Patches of this album are downright melodic. This record has been out since February, and I'm still listening to the guitar melodies and vocal hooks of tracks like "Type One" and "Drugwolf." Indeed, the vocals are a big part of why these songs work. Singer Kristian Hallbert doesn't do much more than scream, but he has a real sense of melody, and, along with the band's skill of playing off the quite-loud dynamic, his hooks are a big part of why the record is such a success.<br /><br />Vocal dexterity aside, this is a guitar record. I've never seen Crime in Stereo live, but I'd imagine that its guitar players are some of those guys who have dozens of pedals at their feet. There is a lot happening from the six strings, and, honestly, I'm not sure how a lot of it is happening. There are a lot of little electronic, ambient touches, like on “I Cannot Answer You Tonight,” that are difficult to pinpoint but are paramount to the album's success. The straight forward riffs are mighty good, too.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone</span> is a fitting album name. It is nearly impossible to explain this record's greatness on paper. Punk rockers who come into it blind, expecting some straightforward rock in the vein of Bear vs Shark or Polar Bear Club will be disappointed. However, forward thinking rock fans will be decoding this mysterious gem for months to come, enjoying it all the while.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Key Tracks:</span> Drugwolf, Exit Halo, Not Dead, Type One, I Cannot Answer You Tonight<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Buy, Steal, Skip: </span>Buy<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VkffxvjKD6Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VkffxvjKD6Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-25573164577855485062010-05-17T01:11:00.004-04:002010-05-17T01:19:12.584-04:00Jim Ward is Pretty Good, Too<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7igrymbsommBWpl_1HrQLwPk52kaB82FF2XGOU-Zw3GN4gXW-1U81gp9Bm5a88CANOczaoyVFbv_-NpwvhS_Q_i1Z8Yd9nQGJApzsWcBJqh9TmKHSCghaWIJ6FXiPEXJJCPWDQ/s1600/the_tallest_man_on_earth_the_wild_hunt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7igrymbsommBWpl_1HrQLwPk52kaB82FF2XGOU-Zw3GN4gXW-1U81gp9Bm5a88CANOczaoyVFbv_-NpwvhS_Q_i1Z8Yd9nQGJApzsWcBJqh9TmKHSCghaWIJ6FXiPEXJJCPWDQ/s400/the_tallest_man_on_earth_the_wild_hunt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472103540600836850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist:</span> The Tallest Man On Earth<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> The Wild Hunt<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments: </span>I don't usually go for singer songwriters. Too often I find their music to be self-indulgent, repetitive, devoid of ideas and delivered in a voice that is either emotionally absent, or so overwrought that I want to hurl my fist into someone's face. <a href="http://www.thisishereisnowhy.net/2009/09/jason_mraz_fucking_sucks.html">I don't like to chill out, man, so take that flaccid bullshit back to the beach bonfires and high-school basement parties.<br /></a><br />Of course, there are a few exceptions to my distaste. Take, for example, the sparse and powerful tunes of The Tallest Man On Earth, whose latest album <span style="font-style: italic;">The Wild Hunt</span> is like honey for my ears. By combining simple, enigmatic lyrics with an ethereal, almost rustic songwriting sense, the album is both familiar and excitingly new.<br /><br />No, TTMON isn't re-inventing folk music; it is still just a man and a guitar singing about love through the lens of observation and fantasy. Still, it is hard to remember anyone doing it as convincingly, as enjoyably, as free of excess or pretense.<br /><br />Maybe it is simpler than even that. Maybe there is just enough joy to be taken in a man who sings bravely and strongly, taking no time to whimper or whisper or wail. Surely one can just draw on the guitar playing, which is confident and firm despite its relative simplicity. Maybe it's just enough that the pretty songs are pretty, the rocking songs rock, and the lyrics are specifically ambiguous enough to apply to any situation.<br /><br />Still, I say there is more. There is a comfort in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Wild Hunt</span>, a domesticity, like meeting an old friend and finding them exactly as they were. And while the album will not yield new surprises on repeat listens, it will settle into your bones with all the warmth of November apple cider. Take note, young acoustic guitar players: this is what to shoot for.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks: </span>King of Spain, Love is All, You're Going Back, Troubles be Gone<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip:</span> Buy<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ulKPDPSDNSc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ulKPDPSDNSc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-1924204352566170992010-05-14T11:50:00.003-04:002010-05-14T11:59:51.067-04:00I'm Going To Brooklyn This Weekend, But I'll Be Back For NBTI hope I see these guys:<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XQTJZ-Oix7k&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XQTJZ-Oix7k&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Or this dude:<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dNJFq6VjHJI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dNJFq6VjHJI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Maybe I'll get to do coke with these cats:<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vhgYg_ktRdE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vhgYg_ktRdE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />I'll probably run into at least one of these dudes:<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p1Js_jVJUhU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p1Js_jVJUhU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Jared will probably be there:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwEdtVZehGZtnZrM4oEiHSuyDoE0wjTaS_XWvjMDJiFdXJbpZEEt5GZ3lzHywN4b6ra44xlwNbMs3PM57pi7LYkfPYAIdRMyufu_9Q6VkSbG4N4XHUf6p4Rmm6xtnT11WdjAVFg/s1600/jared.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwEdtVZehGZtnZrM4oEiHSuyDoE0wjTaS_XWvjMDJiFdXJbpZEEt5GZ3lzHywN4b6ra44xlwNbMs3PM57pi7LYkfPYAIdRMyufu_9Q6VkSbG4N4XHUf6p4Rmm6xtnT11WdjAVFg/s400/jared.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471155625644662482" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thenextbigthingrock"><br />But don't worry, I'll be back in time for this</a>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-83279296948913806692010-05-13T13:46:00.006-04:002010-05-13T14:46:40.492-04:00I Don't Need To Write Rhymes, I Write ChecksThe video for Diddy's "Hello Good Morning" was released earlier today. Keeping in line with all of the producer / rapper's other hits, the song is a catchy piece of pop-candy with a video that looks more like a movie than a companion to the song.<br /><br />Now, I've got a lot of problems with Sean Combs, but there is no denying the man's gift for making boatloads of money off of mediocre talent, and his penchant for making over-the-top, hyper-stimulating videos. Below are a few of his career highlights, ranging from songs that are actually good (Black Rob, whatup!) to songs that are just catchy nonsense (...uh...Ben Stiller?).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Hello Good Morning - 2010<br /></span></div><br /><object width="575" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.vevo.com/VideoPlayer/Embedded?videoId=USUV71000945&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&playerType=embedded"><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.vevo.com/VideoPlayer/Embedded?videoId=USUV71000945&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&playerType=embedded" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" width="400" height="324"></embed></object><br /><br />What's more impressive: Rick Ross suddenly being able to rap without drooling on himself, the soupy, keyed beat being saved by some solid drums, Diddy not changing his dance moves or rapping flow since 1998, or that Diddy can stiff afford explosions and helicopters in his videos (A HELICOPTER? In this economy?). Still, the track isn't bad. It falls apart in the third to an extend, largly because it doesn't have T.I or Rick Ross to pick it up, but it'll be another notch on Diddy's hit-belt.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">COME TO ME - 2006<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AQiQxhqWaEk&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AQiQxhqWaEk&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Considering that this track reached the top 10 in Billboards Hot 100 back in '06, and taking into account that Press Play debuted at number one, going on to sell over 100,000 copies in an increasingly world-weary music landscape, I suppose I'd have to call "Come To Me" a hit. Regardless, this is the first time I've heard this totally benign song. Further proof that Diddy should stay behind the mic. Oh yeah, there is a Pussycat Doll on this song. Fun.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I NEED A GIRL PT 2 - 2002</span><br /></div><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pc8CIHgvKlA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pc8CIHgvKlA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">This song, however, I do remember. Quick story: I used to play football in high school, and one of the more, ahem, feminine of our wide receivers used to play this song all the time in his Escalade (yeah, I went to the kind of school where kids had Escalades. Not me, of course. I used to ride around in my buddy Mannion's two-door coup, listening to <span style="font-style: italic;">Tha Block Is Hot</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Bringing Down The Horse</span> on a boombox in the back seat.). Incidentally, that same wide receiver used to get blow-jobs almost gratuitously in his car, usually with this song or one like it playing. If that doesn't make it a hit, fuck if I know what constitutes "a hit."</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">BAD BOY FOR LIFE / LET'S GET IT - 2001</span><br /></div><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q2Ufk_5PnMU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q2Ufk_5PnMU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object style="font-weight: normal;" width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/az7pn5zfUsU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/az7pn5zfUsU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Now we're getting somewhere. "Bad Boy For Life," with its Travis Barker and its Ben Stiller and its Dave Navarro and its Scooters, was a super-mega hit, far outdistancing the superior "Let's Get It" in popularity. Its a shame about "Let's Get It," which is still, to this day, one of my favorite rap songs ever. If there is one thing the world needs more of, it's nasty mugs like Black Rob. Even G-Dep comes off like a champ on the song, spitting my favorite line ever: "Shit I was born ready / And I was already on fish and spaghetti." Amen, G-Dep. What ever happened to him?</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">DIDDY - 2001</span><br /></div><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gul0ZDtnGzI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gul0ZDtnGzI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Another single off <span style="font-style: italic;">The Saga Continues...</span>, an album that was way more huge than I originally realized. I could talk about The Neptunes beat, a marker of the group's fast-approaching high water mark, or I could talk about how, once again, Sean Combs needs to get off the mic. But I'd rather talk about how much time it took for me to find this video on YouTube (try searching "Diddy" on there and see how long it takes you).</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Satisfy You - 1999</span><br /></div><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/f_1t6X0EOR4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/f_1t6X0EOR4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">This track is off <span style="font-style: italic;">Forever</span>, also known as The P-Diddy Album That Time Forgot, and it really only worth mentioning because the beat is great. So great, in fact, that I wish someone, ANYONE else was rapping over it. Sadly, we get Diddy. The man can make a hit, but he cannot rap to save his life.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Victory / Mo Money Mo Problems / All About The Benjamins / Been Around The World - 1997 (Aprox)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Listen...I'm not sure what to say about "Victory" other than it is the most extravagant, over the top, extreme rap video of all time. It should be required viewing for anyone over the age of 10, and is the benchmark against which all bat-shit insane videos should me measured. Truly a work of art, truly a classic.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here is the video, and another with just the audio, in case you want to hear the music over the EXPLOSIONS!</span><br /><br />The rest of Diddy's 1997 hits range from Iconic (Mo Money Mo Problems) to Hilarious, but listening to these songs, it isn't hard to see why dude made so much money. Dude was, and is, a hitmaker.<br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J4jX0kbzVdw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J4jX0kbzVdw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><div style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3px; width: 435px;"><div style="width: 100%; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><a href="http://www.elyrics.net/song/p/puff-daddy-lyrics.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">Puff Daddy lyrics</a></div><embed src="http://xml.truveo.com/eb/i/2072444051/a/70a7dc249f1af3e321b3e0e9402c6b65/p/6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width=" 425" height=" 335"></embed><div style="width: 100%; text-align: center; font-family: tahoma; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><a href="http://wiredseek.com/ringtones/?id=wvideo" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.videocure.com/images/vidplayer/videocure/vring.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.videocure.com/video/180977.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Puff Daddy The Notorious B.I.G Victory Video</a> - <a href="http://www.videocure.com/music-videos/p/2adc2286c5f8bc7d5f464df6e075d4ac.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Puff Daddy Music Videos</a></div></div><div style="width: 425px; text-align: center; font-family: tahoma; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><a href="http://www.videocure.com/" target="_blank">Music Videos</a> by VideoCure</div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/twkh0YiInPM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/twkh0YiInPM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fn-z7K8fu0I&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fn-z7K8fu0I&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1k456in_fDA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1k456in_fDA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This rock remix is...just...the best lil' video. Things start out insane, then get EVEN MORE INSANE.<br /></span></span></div>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-1348817969870410882010-05-12T11:51:00.003-04:002010-05-12T21:59:48.541-04:00Ratatat - Party With Children (And Other Things Worth Looking In To)1) Ratatat are at it again.<br /><br />The electronic-duo are gearing up for the release of their fourth album, the aptly named LP4, and have released a video for the album's lead single, "Party With Children."<br /><br />It is, far and away, the best anti-video since "Bastards of Young."<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RYpqE0_VpWA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RYpqE0_VpWA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />2) Jay Electronica released a new song last week.<br /><br />"The Ghost Of Christopher Wallace," is really good for a couple of reasons:<br /> <br /> A) The beat is, as the kids say, bananas<br /> B) It features Diddy shouting a bunch of nonsense, which is always fun.<br /> C) It's a new Jay Electronica song, idiot!<br /><br />Speaking of Diddy, some might say his presence on this track, as a close personal friend of BIG, is a blessing to Jay Elect to use his name. Some other, more cynical people might say it is a continuation on the part of Diddy to cash in on his dead friend. I'm not going to weigh in, but I think its the second one.<br /><br />Either way, good song.<br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/g-BgsHqggo4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/g-BgsHqggo4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-57649195813801034832010-05-11T09:43:00.004-04:002010-05-11T09:54:31.600-04:00Drake: Possibly Bitch Made?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOCOF6QApm0LfjDUVP502nkPwSuU7McewW_fTODP5XhH_rjYLLiclMgsRZGiI_9TXTf8_zn4YlnSsHg3Hq3ZpCN5EQnWvs0eh9-Oon1DKYNZ55kLaKjqTgPO6gFDcp9fycpyCzA/s1600/drake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOCOF6QApm0LfjDUVP502nkPwSuU7McewW_fTODP5XhH_rjYLLiclMgsRZGiI_9TXTf8_zn4YlnSsHg3Hq3ZpCN5EQnWvs0eh9-Oon1DKYNZ55kLaKjqTgPO6gFDcp9fycpyCzA/s400/drake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470009386944860194" border="0" /></a><br />Its hard to know what to make of Drake. On one hand, its very possible that he might be a legitimate dude to watch, rap-wise. On the other hand, he might just be an R&B jokester with a little heat, <a href="http://hiphopwired.com/2010/05/02/diddy-visits-lil-wayne-in-jail/">benefiting from the Lil Wayne vaccume</a>.<br /><br />Either way, here's his new video for "Find Your Love," presumably a single from his forthcoming album. The song isn't bad: it has a prototypical Drake R&B beat, but the vocals owe a lot to both <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVA-xTBeHyM">Rhianna's singing on "Run This Town,"</a> and Kanye West's <span style="font-style: italic;">808s and Heartbreaks</span> album. The video is a mini-movie about Drake trying to find a hot woman he likes in a country of foreign origin. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/">It even has a twist ending!</a><br /><br />So, yes, this song will probably be popular, as will his soon-to-drop album. But, will it be another pop record, or will it be a worthwhile piece of hip-hop? Too soon to tell, but <a href="http://hdiddydollar.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/drake_patron.jpg">I'm leaning towards the former.</a><br /><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11642081&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11642081&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-40601612434193226942010-05-10T12:59:00.003-04:002010-05-10T13:07:36.589-04:00Sorry, Dudes. My Bad<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrLjyvHZXZEiZX3YuZp0H9goCzTrsc6H-a9oU3UGf1sJSxIk4dOz9MfVZarHjrYfwneNrxUxVzG9G4QUfTyqDHbDuLNUTG39aSSAjPghUBhAr_1nXo5jmtt5kbhSmC0pP-fXziw/s1600/shrug.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrLjyvHZXZEiZX3YuZp0H9goCzTrsc6H-a9oU3UGf1sJSxIk4dOz9MfVZarHjrYfwneNrxUxVzG9G4QUfTyqDHbDuLNUTG39aSSAjPghUBhAr_1nXo5jmtt5kbhSmC0pP-fXziw/s400/shrug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469688300603057442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So, I haven't been updating this blog in the last week or so.<br /><br />My blast.<br /><br /><a href="http://ridgewood.patch.com/search?keywords=nate+adams">Been working on some shit</a>, trying to get a job an all that chocolate hobnob.<br /><br />So, with the whole "being unemployed" thing, I don't really have much money to buy new records. At the same time, with this new computer and all, I'm not in a rush to go out and pirate shit, either.<br /><br />So here's the plan. I'll borrow CDs from friends. I'll listen to streams. I'll write about the backlog of shit I've got on my to-do list. I'll try to do news updates. I'll link to <a href="http://picassoblueyo.blogspot.com/">other</a>, <a href="http://cropulis.blogspot.com/">more</a> <a href="http://somemostenjoyablediversions.blogspot.com/">successful</a> <a href="http://scienceclubforever.wordpress.com/">blogs</a>. Whatever.<br /><br />The people will have Left of The Dail!<br /><br />Is...is this fan-made video of a Say Anything song a good enough apology?<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YXYOs8h0Hm4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YXYOs8h0Hm4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />No?<br /><br />Fuck you, then!<br /><br />You'll see! You'll all see!Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-34516249102987754382010-04-28T13:14:00.003-04:002010-04-28T13:20:14.861-04:00Diamond Eyes Doesn't Develop, Dissapoint<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl-kta0mmqdAhma3Eb6bwV0vUtQ0m4CjbhB14iIDryNH_mcM_5GRe7bXkPedcgEM0WhaxXT986r-jx7lqXEmpaE9dIB7NqYsbnGcpljMJPaaxClPcWmZydBt2nOfYseGkxIMhqA/s1600/Deftones-Diamond-Eyes-cd-cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl-kta0mmqdAhma3Eb6bwV0vUtQ0m4CjbhB14iIDryNH_mcM_5GRe7bXkPedcgEM0WhaxXT986r-jx7lqXEmpaE9dIB7NqYsbnGcpljMJPaaxClPcWmZydBt2nOfYseGkxIMhqA/s400/Deftones-Diamond-Eyes-cd-cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465239109455551714" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist:</span> Deftones<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> Diamond Eyes<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments: </span>Like New Found Glory, the Deftones are a band that time forgot. Their fall from grace is not due so much to a decline in the quality of their music as it is due to a changing of society's taste. For the Deftones, the world turned and left them in 2000, when the band released their career high water mark <span style="font-style: italic;">White Pony</span> at the same time that the rap-metal genre they were (unfairly) lumped into began to collapse. By the time all us grade school metal heads were listening to The Strokes and Franz Ferdinand, the Deftones were an afterthought.<br /><br />Of course, no one bothered to tell the Deftones they were old hat. The band released two more albums, a self titled album and their so-called “comeback”<span style="font-style: italic;"> Saturday Night Wrist</span>. Both records were received with somewhat mixed reviews. As if being passed by the public wasn't enough, in late 2008 Deftones bass player Chi Cheng was in a car accident that has rendered him comatose to this day.<br /><br />And so, with little to no widespread attention and a man lying mostly-dead in the hospital, the Deftones have released <span style="font-style: italic;">Diamond Eyes</span>, a holding-pattern album for a band with no motivation to hold pattern.<br /><br />It is important to note that none of the songs are particularly bad. Most tracks follow the same trajectory the band set out on <span style="font-style: italic;">White Pony</span>, especially “Rocket Skates” and “CMND / CTRL.” Nu-metal kids and hardcore fans will probably find things to like. Chino's vocals are as dexterous and as punishing as ever, and the band isn't hurting musically for the loss of their bassist.<br /><br />I'll level with you: I have no desire to tie this band to a tree and bash them with my pretension stick considering that their only crime is operating in a stale genre. The album is good if you like the Deftones, but if you are some high-school nostalgic looking to get back into your former heroes, <span style="font-style: italic;">Diamond Eyes</span> will be a disappointment.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks:</span>...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip:</span>...<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/woR6ohiFeYE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/woR6ohiFeYE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-47071620015172599052010-04-26T23:38:00.004-04:002010-04-26T23:57:22.448-04:00Pretty Much Every UK Band I Ever Liked Is Mentioned In This Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60S9zWa0vFt0uOQIf3zVFgqhkKgbhPF3cNN_AeAfuOFM1z-nGXxossKbRQIqHnzyp-4EVaZGHPDum2f06eKBijT4THkn7zxtHQA3mm-fSFrV9oREFJZaXsgQkYT11eWp5uCF7Pw/s1600/lets-wrestle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60S9zWa0vFt0uOQIf3zVFgqhkKgbhPF3cNN_AeAfuOFM1z-nGXxossKbRQIqHnzyp-4EVaZGHPDum2f06eKBijT4THkn7zxtHQA3mm-fSFrV9oREFJZaXsgQkYT11eWp5uCF7Pw/s400/lets-wrestle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464657304284382258" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist:</span> Let's Wrestle<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> In The Court Of The Wrestling Let's<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments:</span> One of the ramifications of the Internet's strangle-hold on our lives is the hyper-acceleration of culture. More specifically, sub genres come and go from the public eye faster than ever before. Sometimes, this shortened attention span works in favor of the world at large (so long, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl6BiileOrg">Rap-Metal</a>! Hasta La Vista, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtD0V6ADL5Y">Reggeton</a>!) but it also robs us of some better ideas that need more attention. I'm sure that, somewhere in the UK, pub-rock is alive and well. I just wish we had more bands like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_f_hbXK29M">the Fratellis</a> to pump out radio-friendly, upbeat drinking music here state-side.<br /><br />What we do have is Let's Wrestle, a young new trio from <a href="http://www.ayton.id.au/gary/genealogy/images/map-england.gif">some such country in Europe</a>. The band's debut <span style="font-style: italic;">In The Court Of The Wrestling Let's</span> merges indie-rock guitar strumming with the humor and good-natured youthfulness of the Arctic Monkeys or<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN_zY3P5i7M"> Hot Club De Paris</a>, resulting in a sort of Strokes-meets-Wombats monster for the new millenium.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCRHqx3y2CghgilB4SyuSdtMdv8AYuuVJCuRxG37QZsTcEAFn_dugLFYGuuzcF4_ouNuwirACmrRZCsRsau3GcFASpyKNTKF0gD1F6FQ4DHPAhCjPaPA3rDjj7ig_IirAl-v0nw/s1600/jason-statham1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCRHqx3y2CghgilB4SyuSdtMdv8AYuuVJCuRxG37QZsTcEAFn_dugLFYGuuzcF4_ouNuwirACmrRZCsRsau3GcFASpyKNTKF0gD1F6FQ4DHPAhCjPaPA3rDjj7ig_IirAl-v0nw/s200/jason-statham1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464660593120454594" border="0" /></a>While groups like Louis XIV played their music like cock-sure fuckheads, Let's Wrestle are much more comfortable fumbling through their youth like awkward bespectacled soccer players. Instead of<a href="http://www.fakebands.com/graphics/limozeen-album.JPG"> killar riffs and sexy lixx</a>, the band uses the drones and echo tones of 80s American college-rock to illustrate the frustration and comedy of being someone young, stupid and in love. Most of the album sticks in this indie-minded middle gear, resulting in some pretty agreeable tunes like “My Schedule” and “I'm In Love With Disaster.” The former almost sounds like a 50s pop song, while the latter dissects the failings of young love without getting all wimpy, which is nice.<br /><br />However, when the band does decided to kick shit up past 6 and actually play their guitars, the songs do get pretty fucking good. Album opener “My Arms Don't Bend That Way, Damn It!” and “Song For Old People” both sound better with a little spine behind them, and record highlight “We Are The Men You'll Grow To Love Soon” is a bonafide pop-rock hit in <a href="http://somemostenjoyablediversions.blogspot.com/">the grandest booze-drinking tradition</a>.<br /><br />At the end of the day, however, Let's Wrestle aren't a pub band as much as they are a <a href="http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/articles/blog/1790000379/NaNaNaN/Small%20Party2.jpg">“drinking with a few friends in a second floor apartment”</a> kind of band. They walk the line between frivolous drunk music and indie rock swirling well enough that one never needs them to fall on either side. <span style="font-style: italic;">In The Court Of The Wrestling Let's</span> has its share of good songs and there is more than enough present to make this band one to watch out for.<br /><br />Now, if we can just get Europe to make some kind of Libertines / Hold Steady hybrid, we'll be guzzling pints like there is no tomorrow<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnGB0oiZAhQ"> (wait...they already did!?).</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks:</span> We Are The Men You'll Grow To Love Soon, Song For Old People, My Schedule, I'm In Fighting Mode<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Buy, Steal, Skip:</span> Steal<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5RN4-WlzHME&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5RN4-WlzHME&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-85765771559243218762010-04-25T13:32:00.003-04:002010-04-25T13:47:04.750-04:00How Do You THINK This New Flobots Album Sounds?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgME6hBiRLnZT9yCU_zAw5r5BLPMXj2AbC-FWyb_7yO4gJAe5O3qI8AugJCuw8g79fONXdGxLiLmoWt75QPHVOGTg_ZCB7lROxrbGfND6dS1utm4WD-4JlOOmH8c8x6ty3BMAEl_A/s1600/flobots.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgME6hBiRLnZT9yCU_zAw5r5BLPMXj2AbC-FWyb_7yO4gJAe5O3qI8AugJCuw8g79fONXdGxLiLmoWt75QPHVOGTg_ZCB7lROxrbGfND6dS1utm4WD-4JlOOmH8c8x6ty3BMAEl_A/s400/flobots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464129919609263186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist: </span>Flobots<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> Survival Story<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments:</span> Let me get my praise for Flobots out of the way early. There are a few tracks (well, two tracks) that work pretty well. “By The Time You Get This Message” and “Airplane Mode” both have pretty good flow and instrumentation. They are above-average songs with above-average beats. They will probably make you bang your head. Any lyrical missteps come quickly and lightly enough to be forgotten. However, as these songs are in the middle of the album, one would be forgiven for not sticking around long enough to find them.<br /><br />Now then.<br /><br />The latest album from Flobots, A.K.A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rage_Against_the_Machine">Rage Against The Machine</a>-lite, A.K.A My First <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coup">Coup</a> album, A.K.A Rap for <a href="http://www.delsea.k12.nj.us/academic/mediacenter/hs/read%20across%20america/08photo10.jpg">9th Graders Who Like Cake </a>is a big pile of unfocused, vaguely political bullshit rap-rock for a fan base that doesn’t exist past age 16.<br /><br />Quick story: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348333/">I used to work at a restaurant.</a> Sometimes, when I was at work, a group of lawyers would come in and eat. While there, they would “talk” about politics. What I mean by this is that they would spout off the most half-assed, cliche commentary on current events that anyone has ever heard. They spoke loudly, like idiots often do, about things which they very clearly had no idea about outside of the sound bite someone told them. They were the worst kind of dangerous, because they are half-informed. At least the uninformed keep their mouths shut (They should have spent more time with <a href="http://theministryofgeneralmayhem.blogspot.com/">the Ministry</a>).<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Survival Story</span> is like this. The Flobots message is anti-war, anti-government, standard teenage rallying cry of “Let’s smash the system” with no clear idea or message past that. To cop a line from the Joker, they are like dogs chasing cars, with no idea what to do with one if caught. But at least<a href="http://www.whysoserious.com/"> the Joker was interesting</a>. Flobots are benign and irritating. They are a tea-bagger rally. Do not want. Avoid at all costs.<br /><br />Unless, you know, you are 14 and you like rap-rock.<br /><br />Then, by all means, suck this swill down.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks:</span> ...Please.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip:</span> Skip<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm not going to support Flobots by putting their music up. Instead, dig on these songs. You know, music ACTUALLY worth listening to.</span><br /></div><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fZ_gFyB6GnA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fZ_gFyB6GnA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1JSBhI_0at0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1JSBhI_0at0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-43143831749546266062010-04-24T09:08:00.005-04:002010-04-24T09:20:23.773-04:00Pay Attention!: 400 Bars<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pHWGLggCj2zSIZLAeiZznh4qrVmQ_3VB0C1tyGXdVDSKK09bCLQjPNtXdUPsF6sUD_IcyiPZq-5_9UfBSRSuJWIK2gSGjluEsbcCCchd2-yXF4-m0n8q7w4qLPVRerVn0_hWlQ/s1600/game.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pHWGLggCj2zSIZLAeiZznh4qrVmQ_3VB0C1tyGXdVDSKK09bCLQjPNtXdUPsF6sUD_IcyiPZq-5_9UfBSRSuJWIK2gSGjluEsbcCCchd2-yXF4-m0n8q7w4qLPVRerVn0_hWlQ/s400/game.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463691790417747026" border="0" /></a><br />A <a href="http://www.datpiff.com/Love_Killed_Kurt_The_Game_Tru_Xclusives_16.m114858.html">new Game track</a> recently showed up on the web. It features "400 Bars," a 20-minute long class on how to flow outrageous. Bonus points for the whole thing using Jay Electronica's<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc09HB7nEbA"> "Exhibit C"</a> beat, which is still probably the most head-knocking jam of the last two years. The track isn't as incendiary as <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x613cs_the-game-300-bars_music">"300 Bars"</a> is, but considering that one can count the number of rappers capable of this kind of display <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassidy_%28rapper%29">on</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadakiss">one</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Lif">hand</a>, this shit is something.<br /><br />I'm officially excited for Game's forthcoming album. Needless to say, if you at all like rap, or even words in general, this is one to behold.<br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rMO0HPRQIgs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rMO0HPRQIgs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M0ckRtyecQc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M0ckRtyecQc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-23773655409863191432010-04-22T12:20:00.003-04:002010-04-22T12:27:48.656-04:00Earth Day 2010 / Rap Video ThursdayProtect the planet, ya dicks!<br /><br />We want everything to be nice so we can get more videos like this!<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EYRwE9HPgpM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EYRwE9HPgpM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />...And this!<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TshWB77-7M4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TshWB77-7M4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />...And more or less everything that happens in this movie!<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RZYIfUdIyfs&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RZYIfUdIyfs&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Listen, I'm no activist, but let's at least make an effort to not be cocks to the environment. Turn off lights, take the bus, pick up some litter, etc.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">********************<br /></div><br />As I'm sure many of you have heard, GangStarr might Guru passed away earlier this week. This is a shame, not only because he died so young (49), but because hip hop has lost a top-notch MC. Too few dudes are making music like this, and it is always sad to lose one. R.I.P. Guru.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p5vuTToYN8M&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p5vuTToYN8M&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-87370478791037857802010-04-21T14:56:00.004-04:002010-04-21T15:15:41.398-04:00Eat A Dick, Williamsburg!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRkgTd2oc2IU_bd3xS5euCTnaqWa_xjoD_GOWqLs4prQYGb1kJ6M8_s1AC5KUY5iKqrUStydrja1YB_PVF4BFj0BMi8nQMZjbjBvA3SXdPa3gVDXYGh3AMVafJzXmvEctOIKymA/s1600/drink+up+buttercup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRkgTd2oc2IU_bd3xS5euCTnaqWa_xjoD_GOWqLs4prQYGb1kJ6M8_s1AC5KUY5iKqrUStydrja1YB_PVF4BFj0BMi8nQMZjbjBvA3SXdPa3gVDXYGh3AMVafJzXmvEctOIKymA/s400/drink+up+buttercup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462668468446628194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist:</span> Drink Up Buttercup<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> Born and Thrown on a Hook<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments:</span> Once upon a time, there was a Philadelphia band named <a href="http://www.myspace.com/teeth">The Teeth</a>. The Teeth were awesome. They made 60s style pop music but with a scary, drugged out feeling to it. Which is to say, if one were to have a<a href="http://thumbnails.hulu.com/8/749/25498_512x288_manicured__sEH69HYsQ0iMmlA1-FVq0g.jpg"> bad trip at Cirque De Soleil</a>, the Teeth's broken carnival pop would have made an excellent soundtrack.<br /><br />Now, does Drink Up Buttercup sound exactly like the Teeth? No, not exactly. I just want to point out that Philly has the market cornered on warped Beach Boys / Beatles-style tunes for the new millennium. <a href="http://www.scenepointblank.com/reviews/covers/00856.jpg">Suck on that, Brooklyn!</a><br /><br />Now, if you are thinking “Well, fuck, man, does the world really need another band that's making music inspired by 1963 – 1973?,” you do make a good point. <span style="font-style: italic;">Born and Thrown on a Hook</span> isn't exactly reinventing the wheel. But here's what I'm saying: sometimes, its enough to<a href="http://englishrussia.com/images/porsche_discs/2.jpg"> just make a really good fucking wheel.</a><br /><br />Of course, there is more to this record than period-aping. These songs are much darker in spirit than anything the sun-pop crafters of our collective heyday were ever keen on making.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QNQmWwAk9Pc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QNQmWwAk9Pc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="200" height="200"></embed></object><br /><br />There is something sinister hanging just behind the curtains in every song, as if Drink Up Buttercup are nothing more than<a href="http://www.dottyparker.com/blog/images/spider.gif"> siren organ grinders</a>, calling young children from their beds to be devoured by wolves.<br /><br />This dichotomy is apparent on “Little Ladies,” a track that mixes a fun, poppy hook with sinister minor chords and vaguely threatening lyrics. Indeed, the subtle sense of danger that lies in the underbelly of the album is one of band's strongest attributes.<br /><br />Of course, dangerous weirdness will only get you so far. At some point, motherfuckers have to actually write songs.<span style="font-style: italic;"> Born and Thrown on a Hook</span>, thankfully, is more than thunder and noise, boasting some varied, catchy numbers that run the gamut of 60s favorites from Beach Boys pop music (“Young Ladies”) to keyboard driven Brit-rock stock (“Even Think”), hitting every stop in between. The best two songs on the album, “Lovers Play Dead” and “Mr. Pie Eyes” even manage to stand on their own, sounding totally original amongst other tracks that could, at worst, be tagged for being derivative.<br /><br />So here's what it come down to: Drink Up Buttercup's first album is a mass of old-time pop ideas repackaged with weirdness and apprehension to maxim effect. Indeed, those who can get past the thin layer of weirdness that covers <span style="font-style: italic;">Born and Thrown on a Hook</span> will be rewarded with a pop / rock album that offers more than the usual touchstones to a better era. Also, if you like the Teeth, you'll like Drink Up Buttercup <a href="http://ihatenewyorkcity.com/">(eat a dick, Williamsburg!)</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks:</span> Mr. Pie Eyes, Lovers Play Dead, Little Ladies, Even Think, Seasickness Pills<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip:</span> Buy<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GRaLxVaD5Ic&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GRaLxVaD5Ic&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-15701954374948352172010-04-20T11:28:00.004-04:002010-04-20T11:39:44.376-04:00Striking Out With Kaki King<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKMwaTsQyeM1QB-Y8j7l5qqWm-t9cC1LHI9mm7dl_0vTiCb0t-cFRLw0tUQZGKRuoMAmffJ5jA6-KCwzIVG3mCwpNmertiYTvY16o8G8-Va3TFiEoefAnjzdncsRqA87ZfU3E9A/s1600/kaki_cover_select.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 361px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKMwaTsQyeM1QB-Y8j7l5qqWm-t9cC1LHI9mm7dl_0vTiCb0t-cFRLw0tUQZGKRuoMAmffJ5jA6-KCwzIVG3mCwpNmertiYTvY16o8G8-Va3TFiEoefAnjzdncsRqA87ZfU3E9A/s400/kaki_cover_select.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462243156480085266" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist:</span> Kaki King<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> Junior<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Short Review:</span> High on talent but low on ideas, <span style="font-style: italic;">Junior</span> is a well-made non-factor of an album.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Long Review:</span> True story: I had a friend in college who was the worst with women. I mean, just <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQVPjLAulaM">absolutely, mind-fuckingly terrible</a>. It was as if this guy would go out of his way to shoot himself in the foot when it came to meeting ladies. In fact, to this day I can only remember him ever having what could be charitably referred to as a “girlfriend.” Really, she was more of a one-night-stand that he couldn't let go of. You might be surprised to hear that their relationship, such as it was, didn't last more than a month.<br /><br />I bring this up only because this overly-polite young woman was enamored with Kaki King. The one awkward time I hung out with the two of them, I ended up asking about music as a means to shatter the uncomfortable, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwTJ08lb73Q"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Office</span>-like queasiness</a> that had settled in the room, and was rewarded with a dissertation on how awesome Kaki King was.<br /><br />After listening to <span style="font-style: italic;">Junior</span>, King's fifth album and first on Rounder Records, I can sort of see where the obsession could come from. Which isn't to say that the record is especially good (because it isn't), just that King has potential.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Junior</span> shifts between two phases: paranoid, narrative rock music and wandering ambient guitar strumming, two subgenres she is able to handle with ease. There is no questioning her chops as a guitar player, as the woman can play a mean lick. Her style is reminiscent of fellow she-rocker Marnie Stern, though King is much more composed and less rawkus than Stern. For example, Stern would never play something as restrained as “Everything Has An End, Even Sadness,” an example of one of the album's better ambient works.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BACk6pb3gH0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BACk6pb3gH0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Then again, Stern's albums<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-waJkiflb0"> never get boring, either</a>. Rocking tracks like “The Betrayer” and “Spit it Back Into My Mouth” are solid, but by “The Hoopers of Hudspurt,” she's run out of ideas. And as far as the ambient stuff goes, ones enjoyment will depend on how much moody guitar riffing one can handle before that shit gets old. Me personally, I can't take much of it.<br /><br />What is frustrating about <span style="font-style: italic;">Junior</span> is King's obvious talent. It is clear that this is a woman capable of a level of musicianship most artists can't achieve, yet she seems unable to do anything more with it than repeat a few good ideas with diminishing returns. While the album isn't bad by any means, it isn't stand-out in any way. For super fans, like that would-be girlfriend of my luckless pal, the album might be enough to hold over until the next release. For average folks, however, there is too little to get excited about.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks:</span> The Betrayer, Spit It Back In My Mouth, Everything Has An End, Even Sadness<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip: </span>Skip<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/d5UBw_kp46k&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/d5UBw_kp46k&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-12945233767691572222010-04-19T13:09:00.004-04:002010-04-19T13:34:27.266-04:00Record Store Day Recap<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQGtre0Nr3xePxMD3ybN_YlM0dr2qdoD2aN3q-htjTP0mSX28yFXvEuZqwR9tgDYo9d6BJts0mULofS5m9T9PPwHvhxOjxYsM9PC09IVGNTFsyPVmvxgtaEvEWE-RaMnwBQ7cHw/s1600/record+store+day.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQGtre0Nr3xePxMD3ybN_YlM0dr2qdoD2aN3q-htjTP0mSX28yFXvEuZqwR9tgDYo9d6BJts0mULofS5m9T9PPwHvhxOjxYsM9PC09IVGNTFsyPVmvxgtaEvEWE-RaMnwBQ7cHw/s400/record+store+day.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461899568180291922" border="0" /></a><br />Saturday, April 17 was<a href="http://www.recordstoreday.com/Home"> Record Store Day</a>, the national holiday celebrating independent and local record stores across the country. Artists and labels of all types use this day as an opportunity to release limited edition, hard to find tracks to the world, as a way to say thank you to both the stores that carry their music and to the people who buy their music in the age of digital theft.<br /><br />It was my first record story day. I came home with $130 dollars worth of vinyl.<br /><br />Admittedly, <a href="http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/Reviews/shin/heres%20johnny.jpg">I went a little nuts.</a> But, hey, at least I stimulated my local economy. And I get to add a few inches to my indie-cred dick.<br /><br />What follows is a description of what I picked up and whether or not it was worth it. All records were purchased at<a href="http://www.reporecords.com/"> Repo Records in Philadelphia</a>, my favorite place to buy punk music.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />**********<br /><br />Ted Leo and The Pharmacists 7in Single:</span><br /></div><br />This little number, which features two non-album tracks from the band's latest, <a href="http://mrdogg.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-these-tough-times-you-can-count-on.html">LOTD-approved <span style="font-style: italic;">The Brutalist Bricks</span></a>, was one of the more exciting buys of the day. Sadly, it was also one of the more disappointing. The two tracks, “The Oldest House” and “North Coast,” were clearly left off <span style="font-style: italic;">Bricks</span> for a reason, as neither of them is very good. Of the two, I prefer “North Coast,” which at least has some pretty solid riffing going on. Both are straightforward punkish-rock songs, and neither of them leaves a very strong impression.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Worth It?:</span> Nah<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">**********<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yeah Yeah Yeahs </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Skeleton</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 7in:</span><br /></div><br />While the record has grown on me some, <span style="font-style: italic;">It's Blitz</span> is still my least favorite YYYs album to date. “Skeleton” is a pretty good track, though, and the live cut of the song on the single's b-side is hauntingly true to the original recording. It is fun to hear how much breathier and warbly Karen-O is in real life, and the live cut does pack <a href="http://www.ipaa.org/Blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/we-need-more-power.jpg">a little more energy</a> into the song than the album cut does. While no means an essential piece of the collection, its still a neat lil' single, perfect as a gift for a girlfriend or an effeminate friend who thought <span style="font-style: italic;">Show Your Bones</span> was too punk rock.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth It?:</span> Just Barely<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">**********<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Passion Pit </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Little Secrets</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Red 7in:</span><br /></div><br />Full disclosure: I didn't actually buy this one, my girlfriend did (but I totally would have if she hadn't). “Little Secrets” is probably my favorite song off of Passion Pit's<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manners_%28album%29"> excellent <span style="font-style: italic;">Manners</span></a>, so having a single of it is a pretty nice little addition to the (her) collection. The Felix Da Houscat remix is also pretty good, though with a song as dance-ready as “Little Secrets,” a remix does seem kind of redundant. Still, this doubles as not only a good get but the prettiest record of the day.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Worth It?:</span> ...Yes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">**********<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Japandroids <span style="font-style: italic;">Art Czars</span> 7in:<br /></div><br />Another pretty-looking piece of vinyl, this Japandroids single takes a cut from one the band's pre <span style="font-style: italic;">Post-Nothing</span> Eps and pairs it with a cover of Big Black's “Racer-X.” The cover is a little lacking; without a full band behind it, the cover fails to <a href="http://www.shockya.com/news/wp-content/uploads/inglorious_basterds_roth_pitt_photo.jpg">reach the brutal heights</a> of the original. “Art Czars,” however, is a bitchin' tune that finds the band bringing more punk than drone. All told, this is a fun little single from this decades <a href="http://www.deathfromabove1979.com/">Death From Above 1979</a> that is getting me giddy for their eventual second album.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Worth It?:</span> Totally<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">**********<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Against Me! <span style="font-style: italic;">I Was A Teenage Anarchist</span> 7in:<br /></div><br />Speaking of building momentum for a release, here's the single for “I Was a Teenage Anarchist,” a track from the band's forthcoming <span style="font-style: italic;">White Crosses</span> album. This song is going to piss off the Against Me! purists, as it strikes the same <a href="http://hardrockhideout.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/nitroband.jpg">stadium-ready, pop-leaning</a> songwriting style that the band nailed on <span style="font-style: italic;">New Wave</span>. Still, if you like big-ass pop-rock and aren't brain dead, you'll probably be into this song. And, for all you folk-punks out there, the single includes a stripped-down acoustic b-side that is also pretty good. <a href="http://picassoblueyo.blogspot.com/">My friend Joe Pelone</a> had a problem with this single, though I'm not totally sure what it was. Maybe you should as him about it? Either way: good single, totally pumped for <span style="font-style: italic;">White Crosses</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth It?:</span> For big fans, totally. For average shits, nah.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">**********<br /></div><br />I also got this cool looking Built To Spill single, but I can't listen to it yet because <a href="http://www.marieclaire.com/cm/marieclaire/images/miley_cyrus%283%29.jpg">I'm kind of an idiot.</a> I'll get more into that later.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">**********<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pavement <span style="font-style: italic;">Quarantine The Past</span></span><br /></div><br />Different track listing than on the CD. Double vinyl. Custom artwork. Pretty great stuff. Since I have all the band's music already, I will admit that shelling out for a best-of might seem like a lame idea. My defense is two fold: 1) Now I can play this for my friends without having to worry about tracks like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6X5zHBJc6E">“Hit The Plane Down”</a> turning them off and 2)<a href="http://17dots.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/pavement-rad.jpg"> Fuck you, I love Pavement.</a> I'm pretty excited to get drunk sometime this week and bust this puppy out, close my eyes and pretend it is 1995.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth It?:</span> Again, not for super-fans. However, if you were ever looking to get someone into Pavement, this is as good a gateway record as any.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">**********<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Modest Mouse </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Moon And Antarctica </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">10th Anniversary Reissue</span><br /></div><br />Truth be told, this was one of my two reasons for wanting to get involved with Record Store Day (the other being a rumored Hold Steady silk-screen advance of their forthcoming <span style="font-style: italic;">Heaven is Whenever</span> that I couldn't find) and I couldn't be more excited to have it in my collection. Not to sound like some kind of elitist dick-mouth, but I love the sound this record puts out. The beauty of having it on wax is in the subtle sound changes that just don't get picked up on the digital version. There are new loops and layers that are missed when listening to the record on an ipod. Modest Mouse and vinyl seem to just be meant to be. <a href="http://pitchfork.com/news/38211-record-store-day-vinyl-reissue-of-modest-mouses-the-moon-antarctica/">Pitchfork has a rundown of everything cool about this edition</a>, but really it just comes down to the fact that the shit sounds better coming out of a hi-fi.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth It?:</span> Absolutely<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">**********<br /></div><br />Days like this remind me why I want my record player in the first place, and how fun the process of actually holding something in your hands can be. God bless you, Record Store Day. I'll see you next year.<br /><br />Now I gotta go find a job so I can justify spending a week's groceries on music.Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-70324828812488217222010-04-15T15:09:00.003-04:002010-04-15T15:20:35.387-04:00Broken Bells: Meh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7HNbp-Xijrvi-DjYI5BgLsoSkdnfOl1aj98HtUydbflyrbrVTXi0i_GkvNA51IoN4qz-tzXr4a17LbJUCr1r3b21p3aQ-6f7NGJYKluVDulJHAOvXlixPnXHQSzCk4K9Zjr39w/s1600/broken-bells.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7HNbp-Xijrvi-DjYI5BgLsoSkdnfOl1aj98HtUydbflyrbrVTXi0i_GkvNA51IoN4qz-tzXr4a17LbJUCr1r3b21p3aQ-6f7NGJYKluVDulJHAOvXlixPnXHQSzCk4K9Zjr39w/s400/broken-bells.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460445031447735698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist:</span> Broken Bells<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> Broken Bells<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments:</span> A few nights ago, a friend and I decided to get drunk on his rooftop porch. We discussed myriad things (<a href="http://www.break.com/index/miketysonpunchout.html">Mike Tyson Punch-Out</a>, girls with flat stomachs,<a href="http://www.rockband.com/"> rock bands</a>, which direction South was), but the most compelling conversation we had was about collaboration.<br /><br />Artists and creative types will go on and on about how important collaboration is to the creative process. And, yes, there are<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madvillainy"> plenty</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/armalite">of examples</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9cQOcAC_K8">to back</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaZCZnmdmbA"> this up</a>. However, no amount of collaborating can ever substitute for clear creative vision, and sometimes team-ups are nothing more than people coming together to mix talents that don't naturally run perpendicular to each other.<br /><br />Broken Bells, the new project featuring the Shins' James Mercer and Gnarls Barkley's Danger Mouse, is an example of the second kind of collaberation. Their self-titled debut album isn't so much “bad” as it is “unnecessary.”<br /><br />The record is a moody pop affair, sounding somewhat like the emotional, brooding little brother to Danger Mouses' other, <a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/12/10/1260470209678/A-fleshed-out-reconstruct-001.jpg">more fleshed out</a> albums with Gnarls Barkley. At its best moments, the album is able to combine Mouse's soulful dark soul music with Mercer's finer pop sensibility, resulting in songs that are sad, but pleasant ("Your Head Is On Fire"). At its average moments, it sounds like Gnarls Barkley b-sides ("The Ghost Inside").<br /><br />What the album lacks is focus. <span style="font-style: italic;">Broken Bells</span> is an album of electronic sad-pop made for no other reason than the boredom or stagnation of the primary artists' other gigs. There is no drive, no greater idea past “Danger Mouse makes a song, and Mercer sings on it.”<br /><br />Does it make for good music? Kind of, but it is never so good that you will really care about it.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Key Tracks:</span> Any of them, I guess. This is such a benign album that I don't even have the energy to go back and see what I like.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Buy, Steal, Skip:</span> Skip it.<br /><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gWBG1j_flrg&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gWBG1j_flrg&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-66515687508862981082010-04-13T11:07:00.002-04:002010-04-13T11:44:21.890-04:00Regarding This New, Shitty Gorillaz Album<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://magnetomagazine.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/gorillaz-plastic-beach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://magnetomagazine.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/gorillaz-plastic-beach.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist:</span> Gorillaz<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> Plastic Beach<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments:</span> I am not British. I prefer my rap music to have dominating, narrative driven lyrics or unique vocal delivery (and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27ll_Sleep_When_You%27re_Dead">If I can get both</a>, well <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madvillainy">fuck it, I’m sold</a>). My interests in electronic music don’t go much further than well made dance music, engaging ambiance or all out audio-fuckery. Keep these things in mind when I tell you that <span style="font-style: italic;">Plastic Beach</span> is a lame album.<br /><br />I would understand if you didn’t believe me. <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/gorillaz/plasticbeach">Almost every source of meaningful critical output</a> has raved about this record. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jcgw">BBC Music </a>called the album “a new benchmark for collaborative music” in its review. The hipster taste-makers over at <a href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14008-plastic-beach/">Pitchfork</a> gave the album a more-than-solid 8.5, making it their favorite Gorillaz album to date. Even my buds over at No Ripcord loved this damn thing, giving it <a href="http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/gorillaz/plastic-beach">a perfect score</a> and calling it one of the best albums of the year (not like that really matters, people are handing out <a href="http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/raekwon/only-built-for-cuban-linx-part-2">9’s</a> and<a href="http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/titus-andronicus/the-monitor"> 10’s</a> over there like they were free kittens). It is entirely possible that I am missing the point.<br /><br />Fact remains, though, that this is my least favorite Gorillaz record ever. It is the least fun to listen to and the least rewarding to spend time with.. <span style="font-style: italic;">Plastic Beach</span> takes everything I liked about the project and flips it around. Instead of having cartoon-y, goofy funk beats over spirited alt-rap verses (like on the excellent <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBie-xdbLeM">“Dirty Harry”</a> or “Feel Good Inc”), this album is full of wiggly, overwrought production devoid of any engaging rapping to be found outside of “White Flag.”<br /><br />So pretty much anything catchy or fun has been replaced with more serious and “creative” endeavors this time around, resulting in an album that serious people love, at the expense of anything an unwashed shit like me can use. The whole thing ends up sounding like a Radiohead album if Radiohead were a “rap” group instead of a “rock” group.<br /><br />Look, I understand that, as an artist, the ultimate goal is to push oneself further and continue to evolve in one’s own craft. I get that stillness is death, and anyone not moving forward isn’t really moving at all. That being said, Gorillaz used to be able to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgsbPY1dykE">manufacture off-center pop music that defined a clear genre and still struck a chord with the masses. </a><span style="font-style: italic;">Plastic Beach</span> does not do this. I promise you this: when the year-end best-of lists are released, this album will be on all of them. However, you will be hard pressed to find five people who can honestly say they enjoyed this album more than <span style="font-style: italic;">Demon Days</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">Gorillaz</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks:</span> White Flag, Stylo<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip: </span>Honestly, it could go either way. I bought this record. I expect that I will probably play it three or four more times trying to find the secret to its success before it fades into background music and gets sold to Repo. So let's go with skip.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Cant find a video to embed right now...so...let's all listen to Crazy Train!<br /></span></div><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JRbPWcLode0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JRbPWcLode0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-6533038577411118962010-04-12T13:18:00.006-04:002010-04-12T13:48:25.679-04:00FANG ISLAND FOREVER<span style="font-style: italic;">(Ed's Note: This is, far and away, the goofiest review I've written. It is rotten with hyperbole and probably not very good. That being said, I cannot stress enough how excellent Fang Island is. It is not only a must-have record, but a mortal lock for everyone's Top 20 lists at the end of the year. Get this shit today.)</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvuDtG_2-McxY9-CMEZi_rTCeJ83tRDvqZswINNjKwB8nYlAWlkIEiY8RvdP3F1FKBJDI7dQcWfTqRoM6oQCm3MdbGJ2rV3IfbRbefeyE9Rnupjj7Q0yZn2eTbHqabjALx13t7w/s1600/fangisland1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvuDtG_2-McxY9-CMEZi_rTCeJ83tRDvqZswINNjKwB8nYlAWlkIEiY8RvdP3F1FKBJDI7dQcWfTqRoM6oQCm3MdbGJ2rV3IfbRbefeyE9Rnupjj7Q0yZn2eTbHqabjALx13t7w/s400/fangisland1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459302863204692914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Artist:</span> Fang Island<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> Fang Island<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments:</span> Fang Island's latest album both begins and ends with the sound of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUaTLBAzzKI&feature=related">fireworks going off</a>. Never in the history of music has an album had a more fitting preamble and epilogue.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fang Island </span>is, hands down, the most fun rock and roll to come out since <a href="http://californiawives.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/andrewwet.jpg">Andrew W.K.'s <span style="font-style: italic;">I Get Wet</span></a> forced us to party back in 2001. Until some manner of audio-controlled force-feedback vibrating codpiece is invented by science pervs, no album can offer the same level of satisfaction.<br /><br />Listening to<span style="font-style: italic;"> Fang Island</span> is like eating a <a href="http://www.eskimo.com/%7Etracyr/computerschool/foods/crystal_favfood/menu_Giant_Brownie_Ice_Cream_Sandwich.jpg">giant, mixing-bowl size serving of the most decadent ice cream conceived by man.</a> No indulgence is spared, no whim not exercised. This record is everything that your 15 year old mind wanted in rock music: guitar solos so intricate and catchy that they could be used to wrangle and tame Dinosaurs played as speeds so blazing that it could only be preformed by some kind of<a href="http://www.toplessrobot.com/robocop.jpg"> human-robot hybrid from the future</a>, returning to our own time to teach us how to love.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EIurAP4yHtQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EIurAP4yHtQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fang Island</span> sounds like a metal band that decided to play the entire score to a<a href="http://www.singlehop.com/blogimages/OT/screen1.png"> fictional Sega Genesis game that I wish existed</a>. Never before have guitars and keyboards come together so beautifully to slam-fuck your ears.<br /><br />Seriously, I cannot stress enough how much of a pants-shedding good time this album is. If you are at all, in any way, a fan of upbeat music overflowing with positive energy, this record is a must buy.<br /><br />Did you ever like pro-wrestling? <a href="http://www.wrestlingworld.it/Historical/Approfondimenti/trattatousodroghe/rude.jpg">Ever?</a> Did you ever want to be a firetruck or a spaceship when you grew up? Do you like roller coasters, summer time, playing wiffle ball or jumping off a high ledge on to a trampoline, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUt39Jm1MbA&NR=1">only to bounce into a big warm lake with all of your friends from grade school?</a> If the answer is yes to any of these questions, <span style="font-style: italic;">Fang Island</span> is required listening.<br /><br />Do you like the technical skill of DragonForce but wish they didn't play speed-metal about JRR Tolkien? Do you wish your pop-punk had a few more guitar solos? <span style="font-style: italic;">Fang Island</span>, my man, <span style="font-style: italic;">Fang Island</span>.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MCaojIXbsB0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MCaojIXbsB0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br />Detractors will detract. Cynical, negative shit-mouths will say it is too light-hearted. Attention deficit speed-freaks will bemoan the lack of traditional lyrics and vocal delivery, as Fang Island chooses to use group vocals and prefer to let its message live in its music rather than what some front man spouts. <a href="http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/">Fuck those people</a>, they clearly have given up the better part of themselves a long time ago.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fang Island</span> is a time machine, weather machine and Prozac pill all in one. It will take you to a better, warmer, happier place as long as you are willing to keep up and let your seriousness go for a half hour or so.<br /><br />If you are ever lonely, sad, friendless or bummed, this album can save you, pull you out of it, make it seem like a cheering audience is waiting just behind your stereo to hug you, pick you up, keep you going.<br /><br />The last song putters away into fireworks. The first one picks up with the same. Clearly, this is an album meant to be listened to on repeat. There is no reason not to. <a href="http://rlv.zcache.com/the_great_escape_bear_shark_cavalry_poster-p228113044249181071qzz0_400.jpg">Fang Island forever</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks:</span> Careful Crossers, Daisy, Life Coach, Treeton, Davey Crockett, Welcome Wagon, Dorian<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip: </span>Buy.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WBnTxK8fiiU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WBnTxK8fiiU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="285"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-56774595651286601512010-03-29T22:18:00.003-04:002010-03-29T22:32:01.353-04:00All You Need Is Love Is All<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLteU89NtZeqRc0IRnHU0cuQx-CXFtAe-xoSwI9d79bQYYIbLzs2p8KvaBftmzDuzGVkKIr-slGHKVTvfYeT3CPVNOq8a1U3Rm8hrE-kywZ6i5x534qkUePbVnV8AjCkrEPavkw/s1600/love-is-all-two-thousand-aa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLteU89NtZeqRc0IRnHU0cuQx-CXFtAe-xoSwI9d79bQYYIbLzs2p8KvaBftmzDuzGVkKIr-slGHKVTvfYeT3CPVNOq8a1U3Rm8hrE-kywZ6i5x534qkUePbVnV8AjCkrEPavkw/s400/love-is-all-two-thousand-aa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454247139053944674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist: </span>Love is All<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album:</span> Two Thousand and Ten Injuries<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments:</span> Considering how quickly the turnaround from indie superstar to trend has-been can occur, it is nice to have a band one can rely on.<br /><br />Love is All is such a band. Their third album <span style="font-style: italic;">Two Thousand and Ten Injuries</span> continues a trend of quality and reliability that surpasses any other blog band around.<br /><br />A quick history: the band emerged with <span style="font-style: italic;">Nine Times That Same</span> Song in 2004, a record that mixed 50s girl-pop with fuzzy art-rock and featured songs almost exclusively about relationships and the like. Their followup <span style="font-style: italic;">A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night</span> came out in 08 and while it featured a few more disco numbers, it was essentially the same album.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Two Thousand</span> isn't a big departure, sound wise.<br /><br />Lead singer Josephine Olausson is still as vocally dexterous as ever, warbling adorably when need be and giving her Swedish accent a harsh punch when the song calls for it (doing the former on "Never Now" and the latter on "Bigger Bolder"). Nicholaus Sparding still anchors the band with his jumpy guitar licks and well-placed backup vocals. Songs still sound like they were recorded in a reverb factory, jumping from mopey sadness to righteously indignant at the drop of a hat. Sure, there aren't as many horn songs this time around (<span style="font-style: italic;">A Hundred Things</span> was horn crazy in the best way), but that only means the guitar gets a bigger slice of the rock-pie.<br /><br />The untrained ear might be tempted to write off <span style="font-style: italic;">Two Thousand</span> as more of the same. While there are occasional songs that sound like re-treads, by and large this album represents a strengthening of what makes the band great.<br /><br />The 50s doowop vocals are as strong as ever, making Love is All sound like some kind of bizzaro Beach Boys (especially on "Early Warning" and "Kungen.") The lyrics are tightening up, too. No one does heartbroken like Olausson; her songs have an honesty and simplicity that other bands would be wise to take a que from.<br /><br />While slightly more rocking than previous efforts, <span style="font-style: italic;">Two Thousand and Ten Injuries</span> is no stadium rock record. Rather, it is a different take on the bedroom album. Good as a heartbreak-balm, an above-average way to spend a night in bed or just something to dance with your special lady / man / whatever to, Love is All's latest proves that they can be counted on to bring quality pop, no matter what.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks:</span> Repetition, Less Than Thrilled, Kungen, Never Now<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip: </span>Buy<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zl1PqiluWic&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zl1PqiluWic&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-16093663518351677012010-03-28T21:50:00.003-04:002010-03-28T22:01:41.691-04:00Low-Class Victory Lap<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOSNdG1HeiBw00lO6erlYDwJRLa191Zh3Jx4uFuaGG4riakVxClo-HjjZgy2mUH_3hIzvDoT6oNlKaOvwDLJBCjB4AwX1JRJJo5Yigc1bFz7EZljm5-spz1acuCghzxHr4N-ncQ/s1600/drive+by+truckers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 396px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOSNdG1HeiBw00lO6erlYDwJRLa191Zh3Jx4uFuaGG4riakVxClo-HjjZgy2mUH_3hIzvDoT6oNlKaOvwDLJBCjB4AwX1JRJJo5Yigc1bFz7EZljm5-spz1acuCghzxHr4N-ncQ/s400/drive+by+truckers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453867918176225570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist:</span> Drive By Truckers<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album: </span>The Big To-Do<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments: </span>Fresh off their 2008 career revitalization album<a href="http://mrdogg.blogspot.com/2008/12/top-25-albums-of-year-15-1.html"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Brighter Than Creation's Dark</span>,</a> The Drive-By Truckers are back with<span style="font-style: italic;"> The Big To-Do</span>, an album of beer-swilling southern rock music that suggests everything will be OK even when the lyrics remind the opposite.<br /><br />Seriously, if you ignore the lyrics, this is one shit-kicking, good time record. Classic rock arrangements, complete with Lynard Skynard guitar solos, pop hand claps and <a href="http://crobaraff.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/23.jpg">Springsteenian keyboards</a> explode out of the tracks, giving way to images of crowded clubs packed with sweaty, dancing people chugging bud light and trying their damnest to have a good time. Half the fun of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Big To-Do</span> is getting to hear the band do its thing: there are too few rock band left that can play this sort of music, and even fewer that can play it as well as The Drive-By Truckers.<br /><br />The other half of the fun, however, is in the unfolding of lead Trucker Patterson Hood's tragic stories. Turning his focus from his own personal life (a subject he covered pretty well on <span style="font-style: italic;">Creation's Dark</span>), Hood tells stories of a sexually abused preacher's wife ("The Wig He Made Her Wear"), a boy <a href="http://gallery.lost-media.com/albums/userpics/10425/LOST_Y4_074_042.jpg">waiting for his “pilot” father to come home</a> ("Daddy Learned To Fly") and a criminal who better be dead, or else ("Drag The Lake Charlie").<br /><br />Like all great storytellers, the Truckers succeed in the little details. For example, the excellent "Drag The Lake Charlie" would be a sweet little pop song even without snapshots like this one: “Remember what happened last time Lester went on the make/ I heard it took the cleaning crew two weeks to clean the bar / <a href="http://www.impawards.com/1997/posters/i_know_what_you_did_last_summer.jpg">they never found that teenage girl, they never found her car.</a>” Dark touches like that one really sell the stories, make them something more than simple pop songs, something closer to actual literature, or at least one-act plays set to the best bar band you've ever heard.<br /><br />As <span style="font-style: italic;">The Big To-Do</span> unfolds, with its swelling solos and stories of tired strippers and trophy wives, it does tend to run out of steam. Out of the album's 13 tracks, the last three are the weakest. But of the other 10 tracks, no less than seven are dick-swingin', beer chuggin', life crushingly depressing romps through lower-class America.<br /><br />Indeed, this music isn't so much about location (Southern Rock / Northern Rock, whatever) as much as it is about the haves and the have nots. Right now, there isn't a band alive that understands the struggles of the latter quite like the Drive By Truckers. There isn't a band around that <a href="http://www.yourneighborhoodnews.net/Photo%20Archive/Resized%20Photos/FeteDesLacs/Tailgate%20Party%20R&B%20Softball%20Team.jpg">makes their trials sound more fun.</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks:</span> Daddy Learned to Fly, Drag The Lake Charlie, The Birthday Boy, (It's Gonna Be) I Told You So<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip:</span> Buy<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9tY99X56xn4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9tY99X56xn4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20462365.post-79512594487562908632010-03-25T09:26:00.002-04:002010-03-25T09:31:07.539-04:00(Indie) PROG ROCK!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jkKN1laNpWQuQ62WwrZNmiU3LV15Uv8RelBu59JZMsW85mytcmVyiGmeW_XK8f-9_HU9Eh39stuo5EDIa9AAJFQwrCCXvJGQB4pjatC-ItBx4Jde_-UMnpzrnloMLJc0Dq4k0Q/s1600/Desert.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jkKN1laNpWQuQ62WwrZNmiU3LV15Uv8RelBu59JZMsW85mytcmVyiGmeW_XK8f-9_HU9Eh39stuo5EDIa9AAJFQwrCCXvJGQB4pjatC-ItBx4Jde_-UMnpzrnloMLJc0Dq4k0Q/s400/Desert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452563262948407186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artist:</span> The Besnard Lakes<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Album: </span>The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comments:</span> Before the Besnard Lakes came along, I was sure that I knew what prog-rock was.<br /><br />Not that <span style="font-style: italic;">The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night</span> has really changed my total perspective. I still think that, by and large, prog-rock is a genre sick with technical prowess and little regard for what actually sounds good to human ears (it's that old jazz argument: you have to listen to what they AREN'T playing to truly understand!). However, the Montreal four-piece's third album has shifted my beliefs some.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Roaring Night</span> is progressive, to be sure. Tracks often meander into the six and seven minute range, locking in on tight grooves and peppering in a guitar solo here, a blast of welcoming fuzz there. Songs like “Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent Pt 1: The Innocent” uses this Yes-meets-Arcade Fire pattern to maximum success, resulting in a sprawling song that never feels tired despite its simple arrangement and repetitive nature.<br /><br />Indeed, this isn't your Uncle's prog-rock. Gone are the overwrought keyboard solos, the odd time signatures and the greek mythology / space exploration back stories that choked the great Prog dinosaurs of the 1970s. This is indie-prog, my friends, full of harmonies, restrained pop sensibilities and sound layering. So, yeah, if you were looking for the next Rush or King Crimson, one would be better off with the latest Mars Volta record.<br /><br />Indeed, the Besnard Lakes are much less Yes and much more Yo La Tengo, making guitar heavy shoe-gaze rife with band-wide vocal harmonies, walls of fuzzy sound and a general sense of grandeur that suggests some great big sunrise awaits us all just over the horizon. <span style="font-style: italic;">Roaring Night</span> isn't a game changer, but it makes for excellent late-night soundtrack fodder, and it offers a little more complexity than the average indie rock album. At the very least, it'll hold us over until the next Broken Social Scene album.<br /><br />So, no it doesn't change the prog-rock game. It does, however, make the shit not only listenable but relateible as well. Besnard Lakes deserve credit for that, if nothing else.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Tracks:</span> Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent Pt 1: The Innocent, Albatross<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy, Steal, Skip:</span> Worth listening to, but not worth paying for. Steal.<br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vWAGQGFxQrQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vWAGQGFxQrQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>Mr. Dogghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12113342831207181849noreply@blogger.com0