I couldn't resist to be some of the first to review some recent releases on emusic. Discover a Lovelier you by Pernice Brothers, The Meadowlands by Jersey's Wrens, ok this one has been out for awhile but it was new to emusic this past week. In my top 10 for the year is also, Bright Ideas by Portastatic and the most noteworthy political release On the Offense by The Poster Children.
Jack Rabid from the Big Takeover takes a stab at the ellusive topic on this emusic article. We all have our answers and some of these answers might not be music related at all. To me an ultimate punk song is "12XU" or perhaps something by Black Flag like "six pack". The movie Suburbia helped define what the asthetic is and still remains oddly the same to this day, w/ spiked belts, funky hair and self made clothing. Tight pants or baggy clothing.The body is the hanger art and some take this to the extreme. For better or for worse what is great about punk is that it should be free for every little skater to decide in mid-air or when they land.
Armed with nothing more than a Fosters Oil can, Ginsing tea for lunch and some late work-nite spunk, I present to you my top 5 out of 10 for the year so far. Considering that business is in it’s 4th quarter stretch and there are some juicy releases yet to be released or found and be noted right before cmj. Here it goes in no particular order.
Ok, so I can’t remember the two’s indie’s as I have not copied over the files from my home computer to work computer, and well frankly my life is rife with details and a few slip to the way side only to be recalled at very weird times. Sometime during a piss and the guy next to me thinks I’m nuts. Other things that are on my radar are The Bigger Lovers, Grandaddy and anything by The Flamming Lips (see related post)
From Mr. Kasuda comes this very weird mix of a Beatles medley called "Imagine this" with Mr.Bush bullshiting America.
Welcome to review stalker, todays free search bar track from emusic is off a pretty decent comp on Polyvinyl record fall 2005 sampler "So Begins Our Alabee" by Of Montreal. It's electronic and earthy. If you're looking for other bargains, vinyl addict, is a good place to drill into the world of the thrifty album hunters who are looking for that $1-5 dollar first pressing.
A pretty decent Pitchfork Review of a cd compThe 101'ers / Joe Strummer: Elgin Avenue Breakdown Revisited / Walker OST, three albums on one shiny disc. In my opinion though if you are going to invest in any post Clash strummer material, start with street core and work your way around. Reserve this new release for your deep dive. The man was a visionary and icon who's everyday working man ways tell the tale of a approachable humble perspective, not just thru punk but incorporating world music. To talk and live a little in the same shoes would be a powerful a action. To invite a stranger for a pint, give him all the dough in your pocket or give him/her your ear if you thought it would help, and I think it is the listening bit that made joe larger than life.
Our homework is to unfocus on our baggage and when your out and about you will soon realize you've go it good. You've got a blog and too much time on your hands.
The Black Ark is a pretty cool reggae site. I go into the kick recently having noticed an essential Lee perry listing on itunes. Reminded how deep reggea genre is and how influential this guy was to bands like the clash and 100s of other reggea bands. Some of my favorites like Black Uhuru, the upsetters and of course Bob Marley and the Wailers are just the tip of island, mon. Sunday mornings usually start off with Reggae Schoolroom with Jeff Sarge on wfmu, to be honest most of the time it seems to meld, like jazz once did, but slowly the subtle differences make this music great stuff to listen to when it's blazing hot outside.
What does jazz grunge guitar sound like? You should attend to this NJ. "Now that word has spread throughout the tri-state area of what is being
billed as the Jhon Thumb Homecoming, it is confirmed that Bruce Steinert
Jr. has booked a flight from San Francisco to Newark so that Buzzkill can
join the guitar-face faceoff. Who will win? Will it be Chris Wargo?
Betting is now open. Will you be the first one to be punched in the face
by Dan Roorda? Will Jhon make it to the stage before being thrown out?"
re-live it: Tonight 8/28 Court Tavern
download:lovegas | buzzkil | Jhon THumb
Well Not Just Anyone can be as ambitious as Tris McCall. He has given himself a challenge, which for him just a pittance. He is going to post a free mp3 on his once a week. The hello or The fireside chats took it one step further a couple years ago by writing and recording a new song once a week. Not as easy as it sounds. Sure, if you have a back log it is do-able, as I'm sure Tris has. His claim is that "Not just anyone" is the best recording he never released, almost. Says track comes from his Straw Man Special cassette. The recording is clean and a good sampling of what he is all about. check it out.
I am a weekend blogwarrior because being back at a large Agency means there is no time to eat, rock or crap. However those that have true music jobs like Jon Pareles, the new york times pop music writer, have hit the "weekend festival" 05 'pallooza's 2 days worth of shows in Chicago for us(me). His summary is that YES, The Pixies translate to the main stage. I already knew that and this is not news. There are no grandious mysterious claims like back in pooza 03. It is obvious the brand is established. Some lucky people are going there this year to see some of their favorite rockers and knowing why a water costs $10. I might be making the number up but I am sure I am pretty close. It's a very large water. Hitting the stage are: Chicago native Liz Phair(picture courtesy of ny times), Weezer (metal posers),...and you will know us by the trail of dead (fun name to not abbreviate and one of the Indie bands that is famous for destroying their gear after every show --at least the drums), Pixies (songs about monkeys and UFOS - both funny song topics), Digable Planets (old hip hop) and Perry Farel on the kidsapooza stage(follow- trends muchs?). Honestly, it is too bad it was not scaled down in scope instead of cancelled across the country. There are a couple fall tours to look forward to before the clear channel ruined large live rock shows as we know it because of the control they have over the airwaves(a blog for another time inself).
Chime in people
What are your poza memories? I just remember being pissed because I couldn't go see Nirvana and played a loozerpallooza indie show down in south jersey somewhere. Why do you think the clear channel suck?[easy target]
Maybe by then I will have part of my life back? If anybody else goes to see something cool I would love to get a report, a cd, a blog... Hey even a bootleg of 05 pooza! Since, I do have a foreseen steady commute for the next millennium, I will have time to listen to music again. So in those regards you win.
Fall indie shows to look forward to: NJ's Wrens and Built to Spill.
I have been underwater at my new Agency gig but allas, i will be dreaming and remembering a time that I actually went to rock shows and had a good time. This summer please drink lots of beer and enjoy: Teenage Fanclub, Arcade Fire, and Pretty Girls Make Graves.
I heard awesome things about the recent Dinosour Jr. reunion shows. They played mostly older material and sounded great, my buddy Walter said he heard people complaining at the Philly that people wanted to hear the more recent stuff and also said J Mascis looked like an old hippy man and has long lochs have gone completely grey, and somehow Lou Barlow looks like he is pulling 30. Now it's only a matter of time for firehose to get back together for a tour and get edFromohio off the bar stool down in the Carolinas. Who would you like to see get back together from when music was good?
Round 1 dismissal was a good choice. The best thing I can say is these wanna be Rock Stars are not INXS clones. That would be miserable. What makes it questionable is that for the most part you can pick who's images they are ripping off. Some of their first song choices were very telling. Come on people has there ever been a real Van Halen since David Lee fronted the band? Drummers and bass players are easy to replace. Personalities not so much. Guitar player's, well it gets a little tricky in particular if they are part of the sound. Isn't that right Mr. Dave Navarro ex-RHCP? We know you love yourself that is obvious. What will be interesting to see if they can really see something interesting in a performer and if said skills will also translate in their hits, as well as new material. The fans want to hear the old stuff. It's hard to bring the magic and then come back from the dead.
I got an email from Wayne of the Flaming Lips yesterday to check out a preview for their new single "Mr. Ambulance driver". You can listen to it: Windows or QuickTime which is on the wedding crashers soundtrack. It's fairly minimal, 70's-esque quagmire that builds itself up like all good Lip's tunes. Starts off with a nice guitar and electric piano talking about some sirens in the distance... Fairly fitting for the new kind of living 'Mericans are doing these days that the rest of world as already known for a very long time. Today's free emusic toolbar single "A Safe Bet" by Bats And Mice from their 2002 album Believe It Mammals is good rock. The chorus echos something classic emo by Sunny Day Real Estate mixed with some choppy midwestern bass riffage in the verses. Most definetly the better freebee mp3 of the week for sure. The hook relies on that sound found in more distinctive SDRE tunes but should make somebody curious enough to hear a couple more. There is a new Ep available on Lovitt records and as I parused the comeback of Bats And Mice makes sense because one of the guys played in Richmond's VA'sEngine Down, who are consequently calling it quits but not before going out on a long cross country tour in Aug.
What the hell is going on with all these bands breaking up? Catch a few free mp3s off of epitonic's site ED's 02 album Demure has some awesome guitar rock then do the dead on the cheap from emusic. Trust me on this one kids.
