Tell you what. You *don’t* get the set and I’ll throw in the DVD.
Posted by adspeert | Filed under Uncategorized
David: Hey, Paula.
Paula: Yeah?
David: I gotta tell you something. I’m really excited about it. Uh, for the first time today, I woke up, I came to the store, and I feel confident to say to you that if you don’t take this Michael McDonald DVD that you’ve been playing for two years straight off, I’m going to kill everyone in the store and put a bullet in my brain.
Paula: David, what do you suggest we play?
David: I don’t care. Anything. I would rather… I would rather watch “Beautician and the Beast”. I would rather listen to Fran Drescher for eight hours than have to listen to Michael McDonald. Nothing against him, but if I hear “Yah Mo B There” one more time, I’m going to “Yah Mo” burn this place to the ground.
Paula: You’re such a smartass. Get back on the floor.
[Paula walks away]
David: [cough-mutters] Ah-fuck you!
Grizzly Bear - While You Wait For The Others (feat. Michael McDonald)
Tags: Alternative/Indie, Grizzly Bear
A twisted word in a tangled wood of Radiohead output?
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“I mean, obviously, there’s still something great about the album. It’s just, for us, right now, we need to get away from it a bit.”…”In Rainbows was a particular aesthetic and I can’t bear the idea of doing that again. Not that it’s not good, I just can’t… bear… that.”
-Thom Yorke
Ever since the announcement a week or so ago that Radiohead no longer plans to produce full length LPs, I’ve been struggling to be open-minded and reconcile that this isn’t necessarily bad news. While I respect that this gives Yorke and Co. more flexibility in pursuing creative directions without being constrained by a single aesthetic, I can’t help being somewhat disappointed (especially in the wake of In Rainbows) to hear this from a band who has been perhaps the greatest contemporary contributor to the album form.
Which brings us to the latest submission of this new era, a single release “These Are My Twisted Words” (below). Now I wouldn’t be one to complain about a steady stream of new material, however, this song doesn’t do much to assuage fan apprehension over the lack of structure in this new mode of output. It’s not bad, but it just kind of meanders, like it’s a garage jam in some places. In it’s defense it does carry a pretty powerful mood, but in short, it doesn’t stand on it’s own as a single.
Anyhow, here’s to hoping that this ends up being a period of stirring creativity for the band, and provides them with what sounds like a much-needed respite from the pressures of living up to their own artistic standards. And one can hope that it’s not too long before they find the inspiration to undertake another full-length effort too.
Any thoughts?
Radiohead - These Are My Twisted Words
Tags: Alternative/Indie, Radiohead
Countdown: Where The Wild Things Are
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Ever since the first trailer for Where The Wild Things Are was released at the end of March, it has been highest atop my most anticipated viewing list. With a formula including Spike Jonze as Director, Dave Eggers on script-writing (partnered with Jonze), and Karen O tasked with the soundtrack, the potential for greatness is heady. Even as I write this, the furr on the back of my neck is standing up.
As the movie’s currently scheduled Oct 16th release approaches, the powers that be have stoked the fire with another trailer release just last week (watch it below). While this trailer opening didn’t give me the same chills as the first one, it did it’s job to reinforce my excitement. On another note, I also just heard that Eggers and Jonze are releasing a new extended version of the book to coincide with the movie release. The cover (below) looks pretty cool.
Below is the Arcade Fire track from the trailer(s), as well as a song by Patrick Watson titled “Where The Wild Things Are”. In light of the fact that Karen O is writing “pretty much the whole” soundtrack, it’s may be safe to assume Watson’s track won’t be featured, but it’s still a fittingly awesome song.
Patrick Watson - Where The Wild Things Are
Arcade Fire - Wake Up (trailer version)
Tags: Alternative/Indie, Arcade Fire, Movies, Patrick Watson
Can’t you feel the Knife?
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Grizzly Bear
It’s always tough to plunge back into responsibility after a few days of freedom, but I’m coming back around and wanted to drop something quick.
Ever since this weekend’s Pitchfork Fest, I’ve had this song stuck in my head and so should you…
…and just for the hell of it.
Grizzly Bear - Knife [Girl Talk Remix]
Tags: Alternative/Indie, Girl Talk, Grizzly Bear, Pitchfork
Pitchfork Music Fest sampler
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A few tracks from some of the bands I hope to catch this weekend in Chi-town….(in order of appearance)
Dutchess and the Duke - Reservoir Park
Mick Jagger called…?
Yeasayer - Sunrise
excited about this one
Beirut - Postcards From Italy
a great song from a recent favorite
Sunday Funday
Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation
two Sundays in a row?
The Walkmen - We’ve Been Had
heard they reach for the rafters
Grizzly Bear - All We Ask
album highlight from indie darling of the year
The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
awesome sounding project, but am not sure it can compete with the potential spectacle that is a Flaming Lips show
The Flaming Lips - Fight Test
craziest concert I have seen, ever
Tags: Alternative/Indie, Beirut, Blitzen Trapper, Concerts, Dutchess and the Duke, Grizzly Bear, Pitchfork, The Flaming Lips, The Very Best, The Walkmen, Yeasayer
Summer through a window for Jens Lekman
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Another recent indie darling I have come across is Jens Lekman. I had actually been told about the Swede over a year ago by a random acquaintance, but when I had tried to look him up at the time I found no online presence. That is not the case today.
Whether it be on La Blagotheque or the HypeM blogs, I regularly come across his name, and when I do I typically take notice. Today I followed his name and found out he has swine flu.
As he relates on his website:
I picked home one last souvenir from South America, it’s called the H1N1 virus. Wrongfully known as the Swineflue.
I was crossing the Atlantic when things started getting really bad, the fever was hallucinogenic and shaking me like a leaf and I grabbed the sleeve of the Air France steward. “I’m not feeling well, I should see a doctor” I said and the reply came as a brilliant mix of death anxiety and french rudeness: “Uh, yes… Terminal D… go there maybe… when we land”. After that the stewards and stewardesses took long detours. A ring of empty seats formed around me. Peoples eyes were kind but determined, they read “Poor you, I really wish you all the best but if you come near me or my kid I will have to stab you with this plastic fork”. I got up and went to the bathroom where I fainted.
Now I’m in quarantine for ten days. I can see the summer through my window and it’s just perfect. Summer is always best through a window.
Sounds like he is taking it a lot better than I would. Below is one of his only songs I have downloaded, I plan to get more exposure to him perhaps once he is out of quarantine. Anyhow, I have always been a little jealous when I listen to this song because it sounds like they are having so much fun. I picture a party on a beach on the coast of Spain or something and want to be there. Hopefully Jens recovers in time for some summer fun.
Jens Lekman - A Sweet Summer’s Night On Hammer Hill
Tags: Alternative/Indie, Jens Lekman, Swedish
The Dears @ The Indy - 5/24/09
Posted by adspeert | Filed under Concerts
It’s been a couple weeks since I saw Canadian, indie band The Dears at the Independent during Memorial Day Weekend so this is somewhat belated, but I’d been moved to commemorate the show and so I guess it’s as good as any topic for my first music post. (this write-up is fairly lengthy, so if you don’t really care, skip to the bottom for some music)
My introduction to the Dears was recent when a friend recommended them as his favorite band, ranking them among the likes of Radiohead. I had also since read that their shows were “the sonic equivalent of seeing the face of god”, and while I am not a religious man I can say that I was pretty blown away.
The show started with the venue in darkness and the baritone voice of the band’s enigmatic leader, Murray Lightburn, softly crooning over the drone of a church organ and a dragging synth beat (song below). It wasn’t until a minute or so in that I looked over my shoulder and realized that he was slowly walking through the crowd, a flashlight held afloat (which I’ve gathered was a regulatory substitute for a candle) scanning the silent faces of the audience. As the song slowly reached it’s crescendo and Lightburn broke into Ben Harper-like cries of “I’ll make it right”, I half-expected him to place a palm on the head of some fan who would thereafter crumble to the ground. I knew it was going to be a good night.
As the full 7-piece band (including 2 ladies playing keys on both sides of Lightburn-one of which being his wife Natalia Yanchak, 2 guitarists, a bassist, and drummer) took the stage for the second song, I briefly feared that the result would be a bit of sonic mess. However, that apprehension quickly melted away as the band unfolded richly-layered arrangements (with perhaps just the right amount of raucousness) and Lightburn bled passion throughout.
Highlights of the show included “Lights Off”, which Lightburn introduced with a semi-coherent backstory about the song’s inspiration coming from looking in on his daughter one night (Lightburn and Yanchak are touring with their 4-year-old in tow). Apparantly the song was inspired by a crappy IKEA nightlite that struck him by the profundity that we are a little scared of the dark. This song showcased the band in full force (and rousing the strongest comparison to Radiohead), with the ladies earily singing background and a ripping guitar solo that “gently wept”. I was inspired.
The second highlight for me came during the encore whereupon briefly screwing with the crowd under the guise of drunkeness, Lightburn broke into “22 - The Death of all the Romance” which is a fantastic song that benefited incalculably from the life the band poured into it. The song ended around midnight and the crowd shuffled out, perhaps exhausted and elated from the energy exuded before them.
Oh, and Great Northern who opened was really good too…
(all song links are right click, “save as”)
The Dears - Saviour (11 minute intro)
The Dears - Lights Off (*DFS pick)
Tags: Alternative/Indie, Concerts, Great Northern, The Dears
