big bummer reported about the famous modesto band via cmj & NME known as grandaddy. Fans saw it in the lyrics, and i suppose they had to keep a front to secure funds from their label for awhile, shame they that don't have the energy for the farewell tour. Grandaddy would have cleaned-up had they toured on the new record slated for release in May. I smell a solo career for jason Lyttle.
On a google search for the Archers Of Loaf and the realization that my copy of icky mettle(cassette review copy -eh-hem for jersey beat eons ago), has been long gone for quite some time, I landed on this Chicago hipsters mp3 blog called Shake your fist, his snap-shot of some tracks from a lounge ax benefit cd is a nice little find; including The Apples in Stereo, and a Helium track. His top 2005 list is here and of course some mp3s for evaluation. In general I found a lot bands who's bloggin' buzz peaked my interest, including some newish band called tapes n tapes, whose sound is reminiscent to early pixie meanderings, where there is some guy yapping behind the core of a simple song. One school of my demented pov are transitions: for the best songs should stand on their own via a guitar and melody first, expand with a jam, minor studio layers, and then there is the live execution. An example of this transition theory are in these live Archers of loaf tracks. Where they conciously took lots of risks from the first steps and kept to their guns. For some reason the progress of aol, SY and polvo are hard to find in all this retro lo-fi-rock. 3 steps forward and 2 steps back I suppose is in motion.
After 5 years of god know what happens in iowa, this spring comes a new record by built to spill called you in reverse. A single is posted on myspace, "going against your mind", very jammy, very spacey, everthing you love about Martsch and co, undiscript yet collaborative sounding and distinct. Don't forget to get your new dj spork on podcast free music download and RSS featuring: art brut, wesly willis, the hold steady and other indie rockers.
Self promotion is damn-easy. Please enjoy the latest and first DJ Spork presents podcast of 2006. [RSS] recorded in glorious analog and then digitized for your podlovin' pleasure. The DJ spork persona digs around the archives and top 50 lists of 2005 and spins some rock music.
Now, sure I prod and poke the PFM dorks for having a mixed-inclusive 2005, as think top 10-100 list should be categorized appropriatly because, as emusic's owner Michael Azerrad (MA) points out there is never bad in year music and some of good stuff never trickles up to main stream public. The number one album, as written by MA, is this Afrian release congotronics by Konono No.1 and you know what it's pretty cool,o, It sound like it is made from the earth and run on car batteries which indeed when they need aplification it is. Although, it is clear that MA has an agenda to promote independent artist they sell, no problem with thatthankfully and you sure as hell ain't gonna find any bad pop-music on their site, so that filter is gone, and their prices are more than reasonable, well enough said. I took the first congotronic track and then another and the stuff is mezmerising. I am probably have A-D-D but the navigation and writing on the site will satisfy any music addict. Their 2005 list will keep me busy for awhile. I am not one to download a whole record and blow my 40 track wad, i am impulsive and usually will have to remember to back-track to complete a collection of songs, for instance this congotronics record. Emusic, has also included their member poll (methodology, an album receiving a first place vote was given five points, a second place vote four points and so on), which hits some of the obvious choices and some interesting ones as well, I took a sampling and some risks on The National release Alligator @ #6, which has this baritoney alt-country thing but start with atrack called "all the wine" has the safe cool guitar hooks, next up at #7 is Josh Rousch, a singer-songwriter type that i think move to spain but not before leaving his 5th record Nashville, it decent alt-country slide guitar, sounds like P. Westerburg a little so if that hits your cool meter dig "It's the Nightime. Another reach-back to sexpistol-sarcastic brit-punk is Art Brut's debut Bang Bang Rock & Roll" @ #16, the lyrics are dumb and literal which at its core has the heart of discovery to quote "my little brother just discovered rock and roll"; Bloc Party is polished in comparison for you new rockers or old-guys who dug The Fall. Same shit different decade -amen.
I have a basement of poster art but no Derek Hess work to speak of. I did play in a band that he made a poster for, really the headliner was Don Caballero, and I wasn't in the band Bubblegum Thunder yet, but I digress. Mr. Hess's interview on the cmj site is pretty good. Hard to believe this chicken wing chopping poster art guy has something in the damn Louvre but it's true, there is taste out there. Eventhough, it is in France. Today's nitty gritty free mp3 single download recommendation can be had from Matador Records via the band Early Man with a track called "death is the answer" -has this black sabbath thing going on. Don't forget to catch the djspork podcast wave. The RSS 2006 indie rock playlists is in the works. If you got new material you want reviewed or played contact me and send it my way.ok, thanks rockon.
Ok, so never say that the secret world of music addicts and obnoxious tastemakers don't invite you to put in your two cents. Rock your vote on Tris Mccall's 2005 critics poll and be a part of the people's history of pop-music. I for one can't believe that the pitch dork staff made such a pure rock record like Gimme fiction by Spoon number 43. Granted they get thousand of more swag and usually error on coolness and obscurity for their choice of round-up. Although, they did remind of Franz Ferdinand record, at number 30 You Could Have It So Much Better should have been in any reasonable, not forgetful, persons top 10 cd list that i actually bought list and totally liked. I am/was surprised that they mixed urban/hip/hop in their top 50 list, eventhough Ryan Schrieber's worst of 2005 list was too insider for me to give a crap about and his problems related to having too much bandwidth to come-up with such a lame list. Really spare us next time. Rip a good record like the good ole'days when Brenden Reid used to write.
For those of you who love to keep lists, and check them twice, and then realize you forgot to buy a present for your 13 yr old nephew or neice; top ten lists and extensive 2005 absracts will make you seem like the hip uncle that Tris McCall is. Oh, the man can widdle a pop-song from a pair of old socks and have it's meaning deep dive somewhere smart, but his choice to include all things pop, things i'll personally just hiss at, he takes the time to encapsulate what actually happened from his perspective. I prefer some of the artists to be a far away memory but allas he is good guy and has a fairly diverse choice of artists. Not that i'm at all implying he bought some the music he talks about, why would he? He's nut but not crazy. He's writes about that damn pop music you can't but escape and scratch your head for some of them and wonder why do people like this? Why do I care about miss Simpson? Gimme the real cornbread midwestern punk rock like New Bomb Turks, Nine Pound Hammer any day of the week 24-7-365 but I will tell you this I watched when she stunk and stunk again. Not like the replacements stunk but just because it's unbelievable how somebody who has no roots was able to get her daddy to do all the work to make her suddenly appeal to all these kiddies who were just born 10 years ago. An amazing homogenized feat, when somebody can figure out how to re-spin someting unoriginal so it seems like an old idea. Innovation is everywhere. So beware in this 21st century of ours.
I can't friggin' believe it's been a year almost since last years Flaming Lips show at MSG, which was surely a surreal naked and bubblelishcious experience, and I was only drinking beer and there was no need for psychodelia, nor a reason to get deep into it right now. Except that their music just translates into performance and therefore excellent live entertainment.
If you're looking for some golden out of print nuggets, with somewhat of a Jerzee edge, you should check out the PDB take it a like a mun music blog, by MC Trucks. Lots of cool and free download links to be had.
On tour with the band X, sister hater Juliana Hatfield popped her band into the more familiar territory of Maxwells, the home of great beer, food and rock. This night was Jule's chance to show-off her guitar playing, although shy on solos as she put her back away from video camera and audience, she was slaying the guitar strings at points. She is still very sexy at 37(i think) and even can be found on myspace probably doesn't have an email and still suffering from stalker syndrome (oh the irony). If you have not downloaded or purchased her new record Made in China, you should, it is definetly in my top 20, as i went out of my way to check her out, I was expecting her to play solo like i saw her few years ago play at Rutgers outside. She has a great band and they played a long ass 1:15 set, and although not pitch perfect, she is a rocknroll chick, very approachable and personable.
Had a good time last nite with wifey seeing the original verion of Dino jr. They played all the hits from their first 3/4 records. Lou Barlow is a ripping bass player(still), although I am more of a van of Mascis's tunes, the backbone of dino jr, besides the obvious J riffage, is the sonic boom of Freak scene and rythem section. Only one ma semi celeb in attendance that I noticed was Mr. Hilly Krystal and only one frat boy thrown out for pushing some young fan. Which funny enough Lou made fun of the same dude for asking them to play The Wagon telling him that it was insulting since he didn't play on the song. They played the song anyway and it was pretty awesome. I did notice a taper in the audience and it didn't seem to be one of the AV guys recording the shows for upcoming live dvd. Lots of head bobbin 90's style for all.
Technological innovation makes things almost too easy, although some production values are better than others but now more than ever you can find some interesting clips of shows you might of missed. Billy filo w/ True love as back-up band live at Maxwells and a clip of The Bigger Lover's final show in Philly. Some things you can't just relive but would be pretty nostalgic to catch a City Gardens show. There was the one time I should have gone down to there to see Nirvana but didn't or time a fugazi show was sold out! oh sweet bootlegs.
On a complete different note and en route to mt bikin' i spun the mighty ming mix tape #2 and after further digestion will write a proper review.
