Faith No More - King For A Day (1995)

posting because Kevin told me to. 

RIP - Jerry "The Guitar Man" Reed

so Jerry "The Guitar Man" Reed recently kicked it.   

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/arts/music/03reed.html

i had a short term fascination with Jerry a few years back... so this news got to me a bit.  and since my record player is temporarily out of service, i found myself trying to dig up digital versions of the songs i've only ever heard on scratched and poppy vinyl.  although i'll admit that  stylistically JR laid down more than his fair share of questionable material, as a guitar man his chops are bordering on unbelievable.  and when you combine his fretwork with his down-home Southern boy persona and that voice, he is in rare company.   but still few seem to know of him beyond a few hit songs from the early 70s or his cameo roles in the Smoky and the Bandit movies.  so i thought i'd take this opportunity to honor the memory of JR by sharing five tracks that I feel well represent him and his guitar.  

Ra Ra Riot "The Rhumb Line"

I often run at the YMCA and read Rolling Stone and Spin magazines looking for reviews of new, unfound records. Last week, I read about a Syracuse, NY band called Ra Ra Riot.  The review really got my attention with this paraphrased quote, "Ra Ra Riot combine Arcade Fire's Orch Pop sound  with Vampire Weekend's pop sensibilities creating an album that is both effervescent and heartbreaking." That was enough for me to download it. Check out tracks 1, 5, & 6. 

Doomtree

After numerous solo releases and pseudo-official compilations, the Doomtree collective has released their first official full length album. Self titled, this album features the best of the Twin Cities underground punk and hip-hop scene. If you are a fan of Atmosphere or P.O.S., then check this out.

Pretty Things - Parachute

Here is another album from the late 60's early 70's. The Pretty Things, Parachute was named "Album of the Year" in 1970 by Rolling Stone Magazine. It beat out: Let it Be by the Beatles, Layla by Derek and the Dominoes, Morrison Hotel by the Doors, Pearl by Janis Joplin, After the Gold Rush by Neil Young, Moondance by Van Morrison, and Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel. The melodies and guitar work are excellent. Give it a listen and tell me what you think.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow was an underrated '60s psych-pop band that was a cross between Barrett-era Floyd and the Beatles Revolver period. With quirky English characters, backwards tapes, Eastern modalities, baroque keyboard touches, and trippy british lyrics, it is vintage psychedelia. Tomorrow had some well known musicians: John Adler (The Pretty Things), Steve Howe (Yes), and Keith West. Tomorrow never really made it big. This is their one and only album.

David Byrne and Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

The new album is now posted. There is a good review on the TIMESONLINE site.

Ben Folds Way to Normal

Ben's forthcoming album is set to be released on 9/30/08. He has been playing songs off his new album for the couple of months during his live shows. A few weeks ago a member of BenFolds.org. Said he had 9 tracks off the studio album, and was very down on the album. This is what Combing the internets this is what I have found out:

New Ben songs leaked, by somebody, maybe Ben himself. There are songs with the same names of the new songs that he played live this year, but they are different songs. There are other new songs. There are songs that aren't on the album. There are possibly real songs.

That's it. Everybody is speculating. The only truth right now is that 9 songs that are definitely Ben were leaked.

So there you have it. Other things I know is the cover art with these tracks are is not the cover art that was listed in Stereogum's recent article.

Unfortunatly the concenus between the internets fans is that the 9 songs are blotted self referential pop music that is more akin to Weezer then anything else. I have to disagree,the songs are good, not great, but very very catchy. Are these the real tracks? Are these fake tracks? Are they a mix of both? I guess we will have to wait until 9/30 to find out.

Also for you is the video for Hiroshima


On a side note Stereogum is a great place for all kinds of music news, and free mp3s. Check it out.

That is all


***************Update***********************************************

Ben admits the album is fake. He leaked it himself. Totally Awesome

Read it here in Rolling Stone

*****************end of update*************************************

Yes Fragile

In the pantheon of 70's prog rock Yes has stood the test of time. Their albums still have the great hooks of a well crafted pop song still remaining true to the essence of prog.

The band's breakthrough album, dominated by science-fiction and fantasy elements and new member Rick Wakeman, whose organ, synthesizers, Mellotrons, and other keyboard exotica added a larger-than-life element to the procedings. Ironically, the album was a patchwork job, hastily assembled in order to cover the cost of Wakeman's array of instruments. But the group built effectively on the groundwork left by The Yes Album, and the group had an AM-radio sucker-punch, aimed at all of those other progressive bands who eschewed the notion of hit singles, in the form of "Roundabout," the edited version (sort of "highlights" of the album version) of which pulled in millions of young kids who'd never heard them before. The single clicked, most album-buyers liked the long version and all of the rest of what they found, and the band was made.

That is all.

Hold Steady-Stay Positive

Brooklyn's super cool Minnesota band The Hold Steady just released their 4th album entitled "Stay Positive."  Here in the cities the Hold Steady are praised as rock royalty; what I can't figure out is why.  I have three theories: 1) they are a good band, 2) some of the members of the band are from the Twin Cities (and Minnesota LOVES to celebrate its own) or 3) its cool for hipsters outside Minnesota to listen to music about another town.* 

Nevertheless, the Hold Steady's 4th record is much like their previous three. Its Bruce Springsteen's E-Street band playing blue-collar rock n roll while a guy in a Twins jersey talks about the relationships of made-up people.  The Current is playing tracks 1, 2, & 8 as the singles. Enjoy because I like the Hold Steady.

Final thought: The Twin's catcher Joe Mauer (from MN) should be nicknamed Hold Steady. He, like the band, is from Minnesota,  catcher's help to "hold" runners on base, and finally, Joe takes pitches and is a very consistent or "steady" presence in the middle of Gardy's line-up. 

*Steal.this.song founder Kyle came up with this theory. 

Sigur Ros: Part Deux

Reuploaded the Sigur Ros file. Sorry for any frustration. It's worth the wait.

If the .Mac file isn't working, give this link a try:

Sigur Ros

Happy Listening.

Dengue Fever-Venus on Earth

Here are some reviews for this album.
http://www.realworldrecords.com/catalogue/venus-on-earth

Beck teams up with Danger Mouse to create an interesting record that has rich electronic texturing, subdued baselines, funky beats, 1960s sound, and happy/sad lyrics. Turn it up and give it a listen.

Sigur Ros: Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust

These guys never disappoint. Paul was talking up track one, but I love me some track two. It's much less their typical speed and I dig it. There are themes that run through their music, and I'd like to see them rock out a bit more on this album, but the vocals are great and I love that I can't understand the lyrics. This means these guys get heavy play while I slay the dissertation monster. Enjoy.

Listening Party, Pat Boone, Scarlett Waits?

Okay , first I think it is awesome that my Itunes library classifies Listening Party as "folk". I mean I guess. But they are not James Taylor or Iron and Wine. Anyhow cool band from Canada that is touring with Wolf Parade and that Paul, Greg, and myself took a shining to. This album is called "Who are we missing?"

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=74527025


The second album I posted is an oldie but goodie, prolly all but forgotten Pat Boone album of 80's metal covers, "In a Metal Kind of Mood." It rocks.

Third, at first I thought to myself: "How long have I been sleeping to not know that there is an album on which Scarlett Johannson does Tom Waits covers?" And then I heard it. Two rights do not make another right in this case. It's awful. Luckily I heard before I bought it on some strange combination of impulse and amorousness. Here is a link:

http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/04/scarlett-johann.html

Arthur Brown The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

Weird late 60's British Psychedelia. Drop a tab and sit back and listen. I am the god of hell fire and I bring you FIRE!

For your pleasure there is this:

the heavy - great vengeance & furious fire

the Brits have done it again.  the Coleen single got my attention with it's 70s soul funk throwback sound (curtis mayfield mostly comes to mind)... and dare i say it, the infectious grooves wouldn't leave me alone (ok said it).  I was pleasantly surprised to find the album didn't disappoint.  i give you... the heavy.

Wolf Parade-At Mount Zoomer

As much as I, a Minnesotan, enjoys make fun of Canada (our maple leafed friends to the north rank slightly lower then Wisconsinites) their brand of indie rock is currently the best in the world. Next year when the best of the decade lists start to show up many Canadian bands will be ranked near the top. Think about this list of currently great bands: Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, and the New Pornographers. 

Wolf Parade must be placed on this list. 

Their debut "Apologies to Queen Mary" should be on constant rotation in everyone's iTunes. Trying to avoid a Vs. or In Utero (yes, a throwback to grunge rock) Wolf Parade's sophomore record will, inevitably & unfairly, be labeled as a sophomore slump record. Its not as good as their first, but still a very good record. I am excited to see them at First Ave. on July 9. As for recommended tracks...after one list try 1, 2,3, & 7 to start. 

The Swell Season - Live in Madison, WI at Overture Hall 6/16/08

A year ago, I took Kristen to see the movie Once on it's opening weekend, because it starred Glen Hansard, lead singer of The Frames, a band that she unequivocally worships. It was a wonderful little movie that contained some wonderful music, and it did really well for a tiny little independent Irish movie. Later that year, it started gaining steam as an award contender, getting nominated for a couple Grammys, winning Best Foreign Film at The Independent Spirit Awards, and culminated with a Best Music Oscar win for Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. Truly, an "out of nowhere" movie if there ever was one.

Soon after their Oscar win, they announced a tour in support of the film and the music within it, and lo & behold they had a Madison date. Of course Kristen and I went, and it was a spectacular show.

This upload is that concert. Highlights for me were "Seven Day Mile", Glen's completely unplugged version of "Say It To Me Now", and their beautifully layered climax "Fitzcarraldo." Enjoy.

P.S. If anyone wants the actual soundtrack to Once, just leave a comment. Also, I uploaded the original .zip file I got, instead of archiving it myself. Let me know if there's any problems with downloading it.

P.P.S. I noticed some of you are uploading stuff but not blogging about it. C'mon, let us know it's out there! I don't open the drive unless I see something on the blog about it.

Tapes N Tapes "Walk It Off"

New Tapes N Tapes.

Its an OK record. 

Cloud Cult-Feel Good Lost

This is the new Cloud Cult record "Feel Good Ghosts." I am excited to see them at the Walker in on the 21st. The first 2 tracks are a great example of the busy, yet, genuine Twin Cities Rock n Roll. On the way to a Hulk screening, Greg and discussed if they are Christian rock band. If anyone knows or has a theory-please share.  

Finally, if people want I can post their previous release "The Meaning of the 8" I will post that. 

Jonathan Coulton

Geek rock is not a term that really gets thrown around much anymore. With They Might Be Giants moving into the realm of Children's music, Ween falling to their own excesses, Barenaked Ladies being too Canadian for anyone to notice anymore, Mike Doughty's recent stuff having too much bacon for the pan to handle, and Ben Folds next album seemingly years away, it appears geek rock has gone the way of Disco, prog rock and Elvis. We can't leave the geek rock mantel to Weezer, even though Pork and Beans has a hilarious video, they suck.

Is there no place for well crafted songs with humor, that are about over educated, undersexed, video game loving males between the ages of 25-40? Riding his guitar like a white steed to the rescue the geeks rescue is Jonathan Coulton. You may remember Johnathan from this post, about John Hodgman's 700 Hobo names. Jonathan actually comes from the world he writes about. A former computer programmer his songs seem like Office Space or an episode of the Office put to music. Songs like Code Monkey, RE: Your Brains, and Pizza Day are songs about office life that could only been written by some one who has actually lived it. RE: Your Brains, by the way points out my fear of an office being taken over by Zombies, but that is another story.

Jonathan has the required songs about historical events, presidents, and NPR morning hosts. But where Jonathan really shins are his songs about unrequited love. They are painfully funny and heartbreaking. Songs like Soft Rocked by Me, Madeline, and I'm Your Moon, one wish he would get laid and one wishes he wouldn't so he will continue to write songs just like those.

Jonathan also has the odd ball songs that are about every day life, but with an odd geek twist. And for some reason a song about people having sex outside. Jonathan also has a strange obession with Monkeys.

As with geek rock pioneers, They Might Be Giants, Coulton has used the internet and other ways of licensing his music to get it to the geeks. Jonathan uses Creative Commons licenses, which allows the artist to choose how they want to control their work. For example an artist can have all rights reserved to have an open free source type stuff. Jonathan's stuff is closer to the later. So basiclly you don't have to feel bad about stealing it. Though f you like it you can donate to Johnathan here (I did).

He also has a song about curling. So that is cool.

For your listening pleasure I have uploaded his four songs a week thing. Number two is prolly the best. Enjoy.

daniel johnston - selections & why me?

the semi-legendary 47 yr old reclusive genius singer songwriter artist who still lives with his parents.

if you haven't seen the documentary entitled The Devil and Daniel Johnston, it should be on your short list.
http://www.sonyclassics.com/devilanddaniel/aboutthefilm.html

there's a lot of recording material to sift thru, but with many diamonds buried in the rough... so i've posted a collection of my favorites along with a live album entitled Why Me? love or hate it.

Andrew Bird Soldiers On

I give you the newest Andrew Bird release, Soldier On, an eight-track EP. If you are familiar with Bird's Fingerlings series, this release will fit right into the same mold. Full of experiments, sketches, things that got crowded off of albums, and remarkable live performances.
Pitchfork Review

Also, the cover artwork is done by the ever-talented Jay Ryan (if you have ever been to my house, you may recognize a few of his pieces). Brilliant in his own right.
The Bird Machine

She and Him Volume One

Now I don't like M. Ward. Why? I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it is the love he get from almost everyone I talk to; maybe it is his pretenious name of M. (there is only one dude who should ever be called M and that is this guy and he had the sense to realize M was a dick way of saying I am better then you); maybe it is because I got into an on-line argument about M Ward being the next Bob Dylan. Mainly I would say it is voice, it is too annoying. It is the point of this whispery smoked addled sound that breaks into this false falsetto at the end and beginning of lines. You can hear him straining to be cool. It is not.

You know I don't know who I hate more that I should love M. Ward, Colin Meloy, Sufan Stevens, or Ben Gibbard.

With that being said, he is a hell of a producer. His collaboration with actress Zooey Deschanel is down right amazing. Going by the moniker of She and Him, the record Volume One is a collection of more She then Him. Zooey writes most of the songs on the album (less a view covers and a collaboration with Max Fischer) and does a majority of the singing. M. Ward's vocal input is thankfully limited, though his voice does not grate on my nerves in his short harmonies with Zooey.

The album in a nut shell is short, beautiful, with a antique feel. This may unfortunately have a limiting effect on the shelf life of the album, but right now it is one of my favs. There isn't a bad song on the album. The single "Why Do Let Me Stay Here," is the standout. Though the Beatles cover works well too.


Well enjoy suckers.

A Belated St. Patrick's Day Message from Ryan Adams

Don't Comb The Leprechaun from Ryan Adams on Vimeo.

Mike Doughty - Golden Delicious

Mike Doughty's new album continues his ambition to showcase his music with more of a "band" feel, and here he takes it to another level, allowing many of the songs to include all out jam sessions. Mike's music continues to mature, and this is as good as he's ever been. Tracks like Fort Hood, I Just Want The Girl In The Blue Dress, and Nectarine are pure Mike Doughty. But on most of these tracks he brings his band more to the forefront. Another highlight is the full-band, amped-up, re-recording of 27 Jennifers (originally heard on the Rockity Roll EP). While this song's overly polished slickness seems like overkill for a song that started out as a simple accoustic number, you can't help but tap your foot along anyways. Now if we could just figure out why he decided to include the silly and out-of-place More Bacon Than The Pan Can Handle, which is a pretty embarrassing track on what is otherwise a superb album.

Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend is the best new band of 2008, according to every hipster in 2007.  I would describe their music as the Soundtrack to a Wes Anderson about upper middle class college-age kids from out East on vacation and drinking in a tacky tiki bar, but I'm not a writer so I'll cite the people with these jobs. 

I dig tracks #1, #5, & #8 after the first listen. Since then everything has changed I like other songs just as well. Enjoy. 

Posted will listened to Barack Obama is great talk. 

Real Emotional Trash - Stephen Malkmus & Jicks

Somewhere in the post Pavement world Stephen Malkmus decided that it would be a good idea to try to bring back the jam. Why he decided this is beyond anyones guess because according to anyone who knows anything that any song over 10 minutes is inherently terrible. Anyone who has sat through a Phish show and was not stoned knows what I am talking about. Real Emotional Trash has only one of these songs, which is good. It's not that the title track is a bad song, it is actually quite good, it is too damn long, and has some unnecessary parts.

I like this record. It maybe SM's closest work to Wowee Zowee era Pavement. Former Slater Kinney drummer Janet Weiss makes a solid addition to the Jicks as the cornerstone to the rhythm section. Hilites of the record include the stoned out opener Dragonfly Pie and the first single Baltimore. I also really like Elmo Delmo which seems like a left over track from The Terror Twilight, if it was about 3 minutes shorter.

What is missing from this album is a sense of fun. Oh I am sure SM & Jicks had a great time with is record, but there is a lack of playfulness within the songs. There are no psychedelic freakouts, references to Geddy Lee, or Oysters. Which I think ever song or album should contain.

Anyway Enjoy,

A Fine Frenzy: One Cell in the Sea

I didn't own an album by a female singer until I graduated from college. I have nothing against them, it just happened. I had a soft spot for Natalie Imbruglia for a while, but never bought her album. Lately, though, it's all I seem to be listening to. This is A Fine Frenzy's One Cell in the Sea. It's poppy, with the requisite piano. Give a listen to Come on, Come out; Almost Lover; Ashes and Wine; Hope for the Hopeless.

Sunset Rubdown--RandomSpiritLover

If you love Wolf Parade, and you love pop music in general, you will love Stephen Krug's latest masterpiece under the name of Sunset Rubdown. I have no idea where he got that name. This album is from October 2007. Enjoy it or else.

We are now on-line. The album should be available. Enjoy!

Radiohead- Scotch Mist NYE Webcast

Not too much to say about this, I'm sure you have all by now heard the excellent album (and my pick for album of the year) IN RAINBOWS.

Well, Radiohead recorded a live set of the entire album and put it up as a webcast on NYE. You can download the podcast of the webcast on iTunes for free, but I have provided just the audio for your iPod pleasure.

Do You Like Rock Music?

The amazing new album from Brighton Bad Boys, BRITISH SEA POWER, hits the states in February. Those of you in Minneapolis, they are playing the Triple Rock, and it is NOT to be missed.

Their first album, The Decline of British Sea Power, is an amazing mix of Arcade Fire style epic songs with the indie mentality of the early 2000's. They followed this instant classic with Open Season, which left some of the epic(ness) at the door, trading it in for more smooth indie rock.

BSP brought the Epic back in force on their new album. The first single, Waving Flags, has been described as a summer festival mainstay, so epic in nature it has to be compared to Arcade Fire.

Please enjoy and support this excellent band that gets shafted constantly in the states.

New Doughty

It's not often where I'm excited....genuinely excited....for an album to come out. The feeling I used to have when I was just a kid and it was a week before Christmas....the feeling I had when the new Matrix sequels were almost out. The feeling that something truly special, something near and dear to my heart was about to come out, and I was 110% sure that it would be spectacular. the new Mike Doughty release is instilling that feeling in me once again. I think it's safe to say that he is my favorite musician, period. His new album Golden Delicious is set to drop Feb 19, but I found an mp3 for download. Check it out:

http://www.herohill.com/MP3/TheBlueDress.mp3

Requests from 2007

Who's going to scratch this itch?

Iron and Wine: Shephard's Dog
Arcade Fire: Neon Bible
New Pornographer's: Challenger
The National: Boxer
Aesop Rock: None Shall Pass
Editors: An End has a Start
A Fine Frenzy: One Cell in the Sea
Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Brother Ali: The Undisputed Truth

[Note: If you're of the mind that a music sharing website shouldn't take requests and should instead rely on the fickle goodwill of its members to buy, zip, and post albums of interest when they so damn please, then feel free to ignore my request. Otherwise, let's see what you got.]

Request.

Does anyone have Sam's Town by The Killers that they'd like to share? I'd love ya forever, and stuff.

buena vista social club

traditional Cuban tunes from a fantastic Havana dance hall group.... recorded circa 1997... there's also a documentary film of the same name. i'll supply the audio, you'll have to rent the film if interested. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club

Regina Spektor: Begin to Hope

Happy New Year music robbers. Jessica requested I snag this Regina Spektor album (her third) through LaLa, and it showed up today. Jessica never fails to point up quirky women vocalists, and this one pleases more than she disappoints. Give "Fidelity," "Samson," and "On the Radio" a spin. There's some quiet energy here and some rockin' piano. Echoes of Tori Amos, and it has some smarter moments.

Rogue Wave - Asleep At Heaven's Gate

Fresh from under the christmas tree, this is Rogue Wave's newest album, and it's pretty darn spiffy. Word.

EDIT: For those who want some additional info, here's what I got. This is Rogue Wave's third album, and it's great. I've really been digging this genre lately, with new albums from the likes of Iron & Wine, The New Pornographers, and Band of Horses taking up most of my listening time. Rogue Wave fits right in there, and their progression musically is great to follow. Their first album is basically all acoustic guitar, and it wasn't until their second album that the band's front man Zack Rogue really embraced the full band sound. This third effort elevates their sound even further. These three albums have become staple listening in the house for Kristen and I. Here's the first single they released from this album:

Atmosphere - Strictly Leakage

A nice little Christmas present from our friends Sean and Anthony. Those Atmosphere boys must've had a busy year. Grab this free album while you can and sit tight while you wait for their next release.

http://rhymesayers.com/atmosphere/

Top Ten of 2007 plus One

These are not necessarily my best songs of 2007, but they are the ones that summed up my year.

1. Fiery Crash - Andrew Bird
I spent a lot of time in airports and airplanes over the past year. This song sums up the feeling of waiting helplessly in Airports, and the only way to have a good flight is to imagine it crashing before you get it on.
2. Goodnight Rose - Ryan Adams
This song gets me every time. It is kinda cheesy, but damn if it doesn't make me want to go follow the Dead
3. I'm impressed - They Might Be Giants
TMBG is the first band I started liking on my own. I was glad to see them take a more rocking turn on this song. The kiddy stuff can get kinda annoying.
4. Wild Mountain Nation - Blitzen Trapper
I just found out about this band a last week. Described as Pavement meets the Dead scared me away, but damn if this isn't a fine album and a great song.
5. Between My Legs - Rufus Wainwright
Ah Rufus, you are so unabashedly gay you nearly become a stereotype. Do we need the Phantom of the Opera reference in this Song, no. Did we need the album of Judy Garland covers, prolly not. Are you one of the best song writers alive today, maybe. This song goes from Rocking to weird in the span of 4 minutes and 30 secs
6. Life on Mars - The Bad Plus
From their release Prog, takes my favorite Bowie song to its natural prog-rock/jazzy conclusion
7. What Would Jay-Z Do? - Ben Lee
I love Ben Lee, yes he has been described as a rainbow riding a unicorn, but damn if he doesn't write clever pop songs. And who hasn't wondered what would Jay-Z do?
8. All the Old Show Stoppers - The New Pornographers
Damn, damn, damn. Is there a better album out this year? Is there a better song on the album? I'll fight you if you want.
9. Lyndale Avenue User's Manual - Atmosphere
Remind of the early fall days of living in Minneapolis.
10. Dreamworld - Rilo Kiley
Yeah the album was boring, but I really like the Fleetwood Mac-esque song on this album
11. It's Only Divine Right - Michael McDonald
technically from 1979, but unearthed this year, it is truly a great song. Unfortunately the audio recording does not do it justice. Check out the video here

Daft Punk: Alive 2007

[Update] Pitchfork review captures the sentiment well:
Daft Punk Alive 2007

Eddie Vedder - Into The Wild

This movie soundtrack is a sparse, pleasant walk through Vedder's crooning and acoustic guitar playing. Vedder plays every instrument on the album, and wrote all but two of the tracks. Most of the songs are only around two minutes long, but at 33 minutes in total runtime, this album is best ingested as whole anyways.

PJ Harvey - White Chalk

Here is her new album, it is much different than anything else she has ever done. On White Chalk, Polly Jean just sings and plays simple piano, no guitar. The lyrics are sparse, haunting, and she uses her voice as an instrument to set the tone of the album. You could say this is her Sea Change album. Give it a listen then google some reviews.

I'm Not There Soundtrack

As both Paul and Colin can attest to I have been obsessed with Todd Haynes' Dylan biopic I'm Not There. I don't know if it is the subject matter or the pomposity of the six different actors playing Dylan (Cate Blanchett? Richard Gere, a 12 year old black kid?), but I am obsessed. This of course is not Rotten Tomatoes, so I am gonna save my review of the film itself for another place.

This is of course the place where I can wax philosophically about music, and albums. the official sound track to I'm Not There, is in essence a Bob Dylan tribute album. This albums reads like a list the most popular indie singer songwriters (Jeff Tweedy, Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine, Cat Power etc.) and a list of artist whom my dad might think is cool (Jack Johnson, Eddie Vedder, Richie Havens, Roger McGuinn, etc.). On any tribute album you can go one of two ways, first is to take the words/music of the orginal song and change them to fit your own personal style; or two pay homage to the song and play the song as close to the original recording as possible. This album does it both. For those artist unfortunate enough to attempt the latter the songs are in short miserable. The shining example is "Highway 61 Revisited," which sounds like Karen O decided it would be a good idea to get drunk and go down to the 400 Bar's Dylan sound like contest.

There are song great takes on Dylan songs here, I espeically like Tweedy's "Simple Twist of Fate" which treads the line perfectly between a homage and making the song his own. Sufjan takes his own brand of pomposity on "Ring them Bells" and makes it work. Also former Pavement frontman Steven Malkmus does a fine job on the two tunes he was charged to do.

It would be remissed, if I did not mention the back up band for many of the tracks, The Million Dollar Bashers. A supergroup of side men consisting of Sonic Youth stars Lee Ranaldo and Steve Shelley, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, Television guitarist Tom Verlaine, Dylan bassist Tony Garnier, guitarist Smokey Hormel and keyboardist John Medeski. They really shine and are the highlight of the album. Execept they play on the aforementioned "Highway 61," which is pure shit.

WEEN- La Cucaracha

Did I already post this? Oh well, it is deserved of a second listing.

This is the newest album from the brothers WEEN (actually not brothers and not named WEEN). For those unfamiliar, WEEN started as Gene and Dean Ween out of New Jersey, with their first album God WEEN Satan on Minneapolis label Restless Records. They would go on to record an album while high on gasses and glue (The Pod), an album of country music original classics (12 Golden Country Greats), the sexiest album cover of all time according to Playboy (Chocolate and Cheese), one of 2000's best albums (White Pepper) and one of the best albums Phish could only dream of recording (The Mollusk). I didn't even mention the other classics like Pure Guava, Quebec and the many live albums and website only releases.

La Cucaracha is classic Ween. Songs that break the barrier of definition, songs that meld early 90's electronica with Polka, songs that make you smile, dance, want to hit your bong (or your bubbler, depending on preference) and songs that just plain rock.

If you dig this album, I highly suggest checking out White Pepper, Chocolate and Cheese and The Mollusk.

Songs on La Cucaracha to listen to first: Sweetheart in the Summer, Friends, Blue Balloon, Learnin to Love and Spirit Walker.

Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

Sam Beam apparently hasn't read the indie rock handbook. Rather than keep with his traditionally sparse sound, The Shepherd's Dog features lush production and a new direction for Iron & Wine. Fans of Iron & Wine's early recordings may not care for this new direction. But I think it's a sign of maturity and natural progression of an artist. Beam brings the same delicate vocals and well crafted lyrics but this time with something much more substantial to back it up. Enjoy.

His Name Is Alive – Xmmer

Xmmer is the latest record from His Name Is Alive released on September 18, 2007. Lead by Warren Defever, HNIA hails from Livonia, Michigan (which is just outside of Detroit for those of you on the west coast). This is the second record to feature Andrea Francesca Morici (ANDY FM) on vocals.

I just bought this record after their show last night at the 400 Bar. Fantastic show. Great songs, great band with some noisy weirdness thrown in for good measure. They're live shows usually consist of homemade stage props made from painted cardboard and people in gorilla outfits running around passing out bananas. Before this show started, they handed out a dozen or so tambourines for audience participation throughout the show. This added a nice looseness and it was kind of like a hootenanny without all the singing. Lots of good shakers last night strutting their tambo skills. Nice.

Blockhead - Uncle Tony's Coloring Book

Blockhead is probably best known for his production work With Aesop Rock, as well as some Rhyme Sayers artists. Blockhead's newest solo album is faster and more upbeat than his two previous efforts, but it's still 100% Blockhead. Dig it.

In Rainbows album artwork

Thanks for the upload. It took me awhile to find the album artwork for this, but I believe this is the official one, for those of you who are as anal as me and give a shit about something this trivial.

For those who don't like this particular one, there's a pool of album art here.

Radiohead - In Rainbows

Sounds like the Radiohead we all know and love. I paid £ 2, service charge £ .45 for a total of $5.00. There is talk that the 128 bit rate is poor quality. Sounds OK through my earbuds. Enjoy

Muse - Absolution

In reading the reviews for this album, I noticed that everyone mentions Radiohead. So that means I have to as well. But these guys are more than a clone band, they have their own grand ambitions. I'll let another reviewer sum up the album:

[It's] the sort of opus that Queen might have made had they been 25 years younger and brought up on Radiohead and Metallica as well as classical music and opera.

Overall, Muse has won me over with their grandiose rockingness.

Atmosphere-Sad Clown Bad Fall (Number 10)

Fresh off the heels of Sad Clown Bad Summer (Number 9), comes the Fall EP. Similar in style to the Summer album, this one is supposed to be about the joys of fall, the depression of the end of summer, and, well, whatever Slug wants you to think.

Having just seen them live in LA this past week, I am glad to say their touring band (consisting of Ant on the one's and two's, and a full backing band) is amazing and ads that element to his songs that is missing when it is just him and Ant. Slug took in the LA love for the entire 2 hour set, breaking down old classics and new tracks, including 4 new songs from the forthcoming full length, When Life Gives You Lemons. If the tour is coming near you, I HIGHLY suggest it.

With that, check out Lyndale Ave Users Manual and Peyote.

bob - contract with the lord

for those of you who are not familiar with the often passed over "born again" era of dylan's career (roughly 1979-1982), here's a great live recording from one of twelve shows he did in San Francisco in Nov 1979, filled to the brim with jesus lovin' grooves, soapbox sermonizing, and random shout outs from the crowd. bob seems to do little without creating a stir, and that especially goes for this period in his career. opinions may differ on the music and ideas that came out of bob at this time, but one thing is for certain: this is no put-on, he believes every word of it.

the baddest yet of the bad plus

300

So I have a non-music entry. This is the movie itself, not the soundtrack or anything. I figured we just got a bump in storage recently, so why not. Let me know if the quality is decent for you guys.

The Fountain Soundtrack

Sometimes a piece of music can evolve way past it's original intent to become a culturally recognized cue. Clint Mansell created one of these with his leitmotif on the soundtrack for Requiem For A Dream, "Lux Aeterna." It's a piece that everyone has heard at least once, somewhere, in a movie trailer, in a commercial, or maybe on SportsCenter. Putting aside any issues someone might have of this being a simple sell-out job, "Lux Aeterna" remains a haunting, powerful, and brilliant piece of music. (if you wanna hear it, do a youtube search for it, you'll get a bunch of different versions of it.)

So, wait...why am I talking about music that I haven't actually uploaded? Well, for as good as "Lux Aeterna" is, I think that his most recent collaboration with Darren Arnofsky is even better. The soundtrack for The Fountain is one of those soundtracks that truly enhances the film, elevating it, making the film that much more powerful. It's really low-key & mellow, so pop this music in while you're star-gazing, or reading the newspaper on a rainy Sunday morning.

The New Pornographers-Challengers

There are no surprises, power pop with lots of complex melodies, even some semi-glam. The musical variety makes for good listening. I like track 1-My Rights Versus Yours and track 4-Myriad Harbour.

Tenacious D - Live

Posted is Tenacious D's live concert in Winooski, Vermont, Sept. 2001

It is not new (but still pretty funny).