tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66220857330487693482024-03-13T08:53:26.501-04:00Side PonytailSingle songs & assorted albumsK.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-60535387698084953682011-02-14T11:25:00.002-05:002011-02-14T11:27:16.422-05:00SP has moved!<center><a href="http://sideponytail.wordpress.com"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/0031sy7b" border="0"></a></center><br /><br />Side Ponytail has moved to a new home! You can now find SP on wordpress at <a href="http://sideponytail.wordpress.com">sideponytail.wordpress.com</a>. All of the old content has been imported to the new site and all future posts will appear on wordpress!<br /><br />If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at heysideponytail@gmail.com<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />KK.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-86525646638993527472011-02-07T20:56:00.001-05:002011-02-08T15:42:14.948-05:00The Weezer Time Machine<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/0031gkd2"></center><br /><br /><blockquote>As a woman, hearing the word "you" repeated so many times over the course of an album primarily about how terrible and hurtful and disastrous it is to interact with any woman, anywhere, ever, induces a deep and primal irritation.<br /><br />But maybe you have to be a girl to notice it. -- Sady Doyle on Weezer's Pinkerton in her essay <a href="http://www.theawl.com/2010/04/sex-offender-week-rivers-cuomo-messes-you-up-forever" target="_new">Rivers Cuomo Messes You Up Forever</a><br /><br />"I didn't think girls liked Weezer." -- Some Dude, standing next to me at a Weezer show<br /><br />"I love you so much, I love you sooooo much. Ooh ooh, ooh ooh." -- Weezer, "Jamie"</blockquote><br /><br /><b>EDIT:</b> Drew tweeted some important corrections to me re: this blog entry. It has been updated as per his specifications. (I would have updated it sooner, except I didn't know about them until I went home to eat lunch and was greeted by him saying, "Didn't you see my tweet?! Your piece is full of factual errors!!!" (this is mostly a paraphrase, by the way.)) Drew was also disappointed that this blog entry didn't encourage people to listen to <i>Maladroit</i>.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/0031hb49"></center><br /><br />On Friday January 7th, Drew and I drove to Chicago for the Weezer Memories Tour Driven By State Farm, a two night event (I reiterate: driven by State Farm!) that involved the band playing both the eponymous "Blue Album" and <i>Pinkerton</i> in their entirety over the course of two performances. Each album was accompanied by a "Greatest Hits" set and a brief presentation on the History of Weezer, Driven By Karl Koch. And I am going to try to figure out how to talk about it.<br /><br />So, I'm a casual Weezer fan. I had the Blue Album growing up and I had <i>Pinkerton</i>, too. When the Green Album came out, I had a mad crush on Brian Bell as seen in the "Hash Pipe" video and dreamed of him endlessly during my drafting classes. Unfortunately, beyond Bell's eternal dreamboat status, it turned out that the Green Album didn't have much to offer me and I haven't bought a Weezer album since (though my mom did buy <i>Make Believe</i> when that came out, if that counts for anything.) <br /><br />Drew on the other hand? Drew is a rabid Weezer fan. Awhile back when I wrote that piece for <a href="http://www.tigerbeatdown.com" target="new">Tiger Beatdown</a> on Rivers Cuomo and Liz Phair and how we have gendered expectations for song writers, especially when they are writing about sex, I made a joke about Drew being a source because he has an honorary PhD in Weezology. Except if that was a degree you could get? Drew would have it. He would graduate Magna cum Laude from Weezer U with a PhD in Weezology and graduate certificates in Karlification and Matt Sharp Studies. He knows so much about Weezer that it gives me a headache and makes me bored. And me? I'm like, "I just want to see Rivers Cuomo jump on a trampoline and hear them play 'Surf Wax America*'"<br /><br />Totally Unrelated: I know I won't be able to work this in anywhere else, so I just want to say this: guitarist Brian Bell is truly an impeccable dresser. I can see why hardcore Weezer fans call him "the sass master**."<br /><br />It's probably already obvious that I'm not really interested in talking about the technical proficiency of the band (surprise! they are professional musicians and are good at playing their instruments!) What I do want to talk about? The weirdness of being a girl, particularly a girl with progressive feminist politics, in a space built around worship of cultural products that are hostile towards women. (I also want to talk about the weirdness of Weezer in general.) <br /><br />On the first night of the Memories tour, Drew and I were standing near the stage by a group of guys. One of these guys took a look around the audience and said, "I didn't think girls liked Weezer." Now, I don't know if I'm just being conservative in my estimates of how many women were in attendance that night, but let's just say this: from where I was standing, there weren't a whole lot of girls. And the next night? When the band played <i>Pinkerton</i>? There were even fewer. On <i>Pinkerton</i> night, Drew estimated that he saw four guys for each girl that he saw (this was after I prompted him by asking, "How many girls do you think are here?") In the space where I was standing, I could see a handful of women (maybe 5-7) and a veritable sea of dudes, so it's not even like there was an unusual number of ladies to set off this guy's Lady Alarm. (Which begs the questions: Who do we expect to see at concerts and why? What preconceived notions do we have about who constitutes an audience for a band and where do those preconceived notions come from? Consider: Would this guy stand amidst a sea of ladies at a Tegan and Sara show and say, "Huh, I didn't even think girls listened to Tegan and Sara"?)<br /><br />Now, in all fairness, as a girl, I can think of a lot of reasons why girls might not like Weezer. The most important of which is the tendency of their songs to include narratives about not liking women because they are selfish lying heartbreakers. Plus there are the songs about wanting to control women, wanting women to be subservient sexual objects, etc. Don't get me wrong -- "Surf Wax America" is all well and good, but "Getchoo"? "Butterfly"? "No One Else"? These are, for me, as a woman, deeply creepy and uncomfortable songs. And yet I was one of 5,000 people singing along with my fist in the air. Of course, there are a handful of reasons why girls might enjoy listening to Weezer, starting with the fact that their output consists almost entirely of incredibly catchy pop songs.<br /><br />Anyway, although I might be troubled by the lyrical content of some of Weezer's best known jams, I'm (almost equally) troubled by the audience member's assertion that girls can't, shouldn't, or don't consume cultural products made by men that speak to the "male experience." I mean, if there's one thing that women have gotten really good at, for better or for worse, it's living in a culture that more often than not erases the female experience in favor of endless reruns of Masterpiece Dude Theater. To suggest that women can't/don't consume cultural products produced by men is <i>absurd</i>***. It's not like, "I didn't think girls liked Weezer," is nuanced critique or anything. It was just some dude's off the cuff honest observation. And it's one that got to me, because as soon as I heard him saying that, I couldn't stop thinking about how I reconcile my personal politics with the act of listening to Weezer (and liking it!)<br /><br />Kate recently had an entry on her blog, Her Five Dollar Radio, called <a href="http://herfiveradio.blogspot.com/2010/12/listening-while-feminist.html">"Listening While Feminist"</a>, where she addresses the challenges of looking critically at one's own music consumption. Every now and then, Drew calls me out on the ways in which some of the music I consume (particularly hardcore punk and rap) rubs up against my feminist politics. Like Kate, I'm in a place where I'm struggling to reconcile my political beliefs with the cultural products I consume (and enjoy.)<br /><br />Sometimes art tells ugly stories about who we are as a culture and I think that Weezer songs tell some pretty sad, ugly stories that have the potential to tell us a lot about one type of (adolescent) male experience. While a lot of people look at the Blue Album as a collection of 10 heartfelt geeky pop songs, it's just as easy to see at as a 41 minutes and 17 seconds of an emotionally stunted yearning for love and acceptance. The "ugliness" of <i>Pinkerton</i>, often described as an emotionally "raw" album, is a little more apparent (why hello there, reprehensible racial and sexual politics, full-on Orientalism, etc.!) What's so interesting to me, though, is the fact that although I'm aware that the personal politics outlined in these songs are often diametrically opposed to my own, at my core, I still like them. I want to hear them. I want to sing along to them. It's not because I like the messages encoded within the songs, but because I like the songs themselves, the way they sound, the way it feels to sing them (which begs the questions: Is the whole of a song (music/lyrics/production) a text of its own that can be read differently from "just" the lyrics, "just" the music, etc.? What do we erase from a song when we remove its politics from our analysis of it? Are all songs inherently political or are some songs just songs?)<br /><br />Aside from the juggling of personal politics and pop/rock politics, the Memories Tour was straight up one of the most surreal concert going experiences I've ever had. I know that there's an element of performance/constructed identities and experiences to every live show, but this was the first time I had been to a show so consciously constructed and performed. Before the shows even began, you had to walk through a lobby where State Farm reps were handing out fake Rivers Cuomo glasses and offering to take pictures of concertgoers with big backdrops of the covers of the Blue and Green albums (former members Matt Sharp and Mikey Welsh were cut out of the covers so that you could place your face where their faces had been.) You were clearly being set up for an Experience from the outset.<br /><br />As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, the first half of each night was a ten song "greatest hits" set -- the greatest hits set started with the most current hits and moved backwards in time (sitting cross-legged on the floor of Lora's apartment at craft night the other week, I explained the experience of the greatest hits sets by furiously waving my arms in the air and saying things like, "And then Rivers was like, EVERYONE CLIMB ABOARD THE WEEZER TIME MACHINE! WE'RE TAKING YOU BAAAACK!") This was the part of the night that involved Rivers Cuomo jumping on a trampoline.<br /><br />In between the Greatest Hits and the Main Event, Karl Koch came out and gave a brief presentation. For those of you who aren't Junior Weezologists, Karl is a longtime friend of the band & has been involved with them for over 15 years now. Karl's role with the band is such that he even has his own WikiPedia page, describing him as "U.S. Rock Band Weezer's webmaster, friend and historian." Karl's presentation consisted of a slide show of rare Weezer photos and fliers particular to the Blue and <i>Pinkerton</i> eras. Having an archival component to the show was really, really interesting in terms of identity construction -- over the past few albums, this "new" Weezer vs. "old" Weezer narrative has really taken hold, so it was interesting to see the band kind of harness that narrative, effectively dividing their show into "new" Weezer and "old" Weezer sets, separated by a stage-setting presentation of "old" Weezer artifacts. <br /><br />I'm still processing the tension between Weezer and my personal politics (and may never be done doing so), but I feel like a month later, I finally <i>got</i> the Memories tour. The other day, I was sitting at my desk at work, listening to the Blue album, and something in my brain just <i>clicked</i> as I realized, "Shit, I saw this <i>performed</i>." & honestly? I'm not really sure what else I can say about it beyond that.<br /><br />* Even right now, writing this, I am like "Wait, is 'surf wax' one word or two?" These are the kinds of Weezer questions that Drew <i>never has to ask himself</i>.<br /><br />** Much like "surf wax" I am unsure as to whether "sass master" is one word or two.<br /><br />*** This is not to suggest that these cultural products can't be hostile, alienating, or both, just that they are real and omnipresent and many women can and do consume and/or identify with them.<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/0031fw5p" align="left" align="right">To accompany this totally TL;DR mess, I have ten of my favorite "rare" Weezer songs offered with minimal commentary (rare is in scare quotes only because with the advent of the internet, pretty much nothing is rare anymore.)<br /><br />10 =W= tracks, (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6sxddco43ya7qod">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br /><br />01. <i>Mrs. Young</i> - recorded by Matt Sharp and Rivers Cuomo, later became "Please Let That Be You" by The Rentals (who in grand Matt Sharp tradition knocked the life out of a beautiful demo and turned it into a beige album track.)<br />02. <i>Let's Sew Our Pants Together</i> - from the Kitchen Tape Demo, the best part of Rivers wailing, "We made a [liar] of desiiiiiiire." (To me it sounds like they are saying "knot," not "liar," but I am going to trust Drew on this one.)<br />02. <i>Autumn in Jayne</i> - a live recording of the Rivers Cuomo Band, circa Cuomo in Harvard.<br />04. <i>I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams</i> - Features Rachel Haden (ex-that dog.)<br />05. <i>Blast Off!</i> - Opening track from <i>Songs from the Black Hole</i>, Weezer's scrapped space opera (post-Blue album, pre-<i>Pinkerton</i>.)<br />06. <i>Thief You've Taken All That Was Me</i> - Kitchen Tape demo<br />07. <i>Jamie</i> - Another sweet jam written about Weezer's lawyer, Jamie Young. "Jamie" is a pre-Brian Bell song & features Jason Cropper on the guitar. It was recorded by an LMU student as a project for a music recording & sound engineering class & was assigned a grade of B+.<br />08. <i>Sheila Can Do It</i> - Another Rivers Cuomo Band live track<br />09. <i>Tired of Sex</i> - <i>Songs from the Blck Hole</i> demo version, <i>Tired of Sex</i> was re-recorded as the first track on <i>Pinkerton</i><br />10. <i>Lullaby for Wayne</i> - Appeared as a live recording on the Weezer DVD, <i>Video Capture Device</i>, as "Lullaby for Pat" (in reference to Patt Finn, not Weezer drummer Pat Wilson.)<br /><br />10 =W= tracks, (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6sxddco43ya7qod">DOWNLOAD</a>)K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-14727005294195272702011-02-07T11:06:00.002-05:002011-02-07T11:20:38.569-05:00SP on 8tracks<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/0031eg63"></center><br /><br />A couple of weeks ago, I signed up for an <a href="http://www.8tracks.com">8tracks</a> account as a sort of experiment. I have a few friends who use 8tracks to listen to music at work because it's not blocked by their employer and allows them to stream music (eliminating the need for bringing an mp3 player to work or having to load music onto their work computer.)<br /><br />I'm still not entirely sold on 8tracks, but as a sort of experiment I'm going to try making a mix for streaming every two weeks. 8tracks has a nice licensing agreement that makes sharing via their site free and legal (for now, at least), which is nice for me because it alleviates some of the worries that occasionally accompany uploading music (I haven't gotten any trouble, aside from one takedown notice from Mediafire... for a file that the artist requested I upload and share.)<br /><br />Anyway, 8tracks' licensing agreement does prohibit you from providing a complete track list for your mixes & it also scrambles the track order upon repeat listening (two features I struggle with!), so I'll always be sure to post a complete track list here.<br /><br />February's mix is available <a href="http://8tracks.com/sideponytail/february-mix-1">here</a> and the track list is as follows:<ol><li>Nur Ein Wort - Wir Sin Helden</li><li>Oh No! Another E-mail from You! - Allo Darlin'</li><li>Carrie's Song - Tiger Trap</li><li>My Favorite Town (Osaka) - Shonen Knife</li><li>Mouly - The Barbarians</li><li>Silver Lining - Beulah</li><li>Do I Sound Like My Self Now? - Witches</li><li>Labor Day - Snoozer</li><li>When You Were Mine - Prince</li><li>Kinda Sorta Maybe - The Strawberry Jams</li></ol>K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-77414684240372526502011-01-25T11:30:00.004-05:002011-01-25T11:47:48.868-05:00Tonight in CLE<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/0031dpta"></center><br /><br />Tonight in Cleveland, Cloud Nothings will be celebrating the release of their new album with an in-store performance at <a href="http://www.musicsaves.com/">Music Saves</a> at 8pm. The in-store will be followed by an album release show at <a href="http://www.beachlandballroom.com">the Beachland Tavern</a>. Doors open at 9pm and tickets are $2. Total Babes and Library Time are also on the bill.<br /><br />You can stream the entire Cloud Nothings album on <a href="http://www.thefader.com/2011/01/20/exclusive-stream-cloud-nothings-debut-album/">the Fader</a> (it's just under half an hour of lo-fi hooky pop bliss) and you can check on their new video for "Should Have" <a href="http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/musicvideo/11591-cloud-nothings-should-have-carpark">on Pitchfork</a>. Pitchfork also has a <a href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15031-cloud-nothings/">nice review</a> of the album up for your reading pleasure ("Cloud Nothings' pop has become deceptively dense-- there is literally (and paradoxically) so much hook to be found here from corner to corner that, unlike similarly, ostensibly simple records, multiple listens are required to appreciate the taste of all its herks and jerks.")<br /><br />I'll definitely write more after the show tonight (I've been listening to the album non-stop lately), but just wanted to get this out there for now!K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-27335092037837399732011-01-25T11:30:00.000-05:002011-01-25T11:30:27.870-05:00Summer Twins<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/0031bxd1"></center><br /><br />Yesterday afternoon* (while hard at work at my day job), I was browsing the <a href="http://burgerrecords.webs.com/">Burger Records</a> website and I saw, at the very bottom of the page, a banner that said "COOL BAND!" with a little photo and text that said, "Summer Twins, cassette coming soon!" The photo used to promote Summer Twins on the <a href="http://burgerrecords.webs.com/">Burger Records</a> site struck me as so different from the imagery that I'm accustomed to seeing from them that I felt like I had to learn more!<br /><br />Summer Twins is a four-piece pop rock outfit formed in Riverside, CA by sisters Chelsea and Justine. Their 6 song EP, <i>The Good Things</i>, is available for free download on <a href="http://summertwins.bandcamp.com/">their Bandcamp</a> site (you can also send them $5 for a physical copy of the release on CD.) In a time when winter seems determined to cast the entire Cleveland landscape in an impenetrable shroud of gray slush, I'm struck by how fresh and clear the songs on <i>The Good Things</i> sound. It's cheesy as all get out, but this EP really is like a little ray of sunshine streaming out of my speakers. <br /><br />Again, you can stream <i>The Good Things</i> (and if you like it, download it!) for free <a href="http://summertwins.bandcamp.com/">here</a>. Physical copies of the EP are available for $5 (ordering instructions are on the <a href="http://summertwins.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp</a>.) If you like what you hear, keep your eye on the <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/burgerrecords">Burger site</a> for info on their forthcoming release with Burger Records.<br /><br />* I started drafting this over a week ago, so clearly things have picked up at the office.K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-53404443642657009032011-01-03T21:00:00.000-05:002011-01-03T21:00:26.113-05:00Tiny Idols: Transmissions from the Indie Underground 1991-1995 vol. III<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/0031addd"></center><br /><br />Small Factory, "What to Want" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?7oaoda6irf1vhr6">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br />Radon, "Kibbles and Bits" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?qux21nr7i4r0b8d">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br />Kicking Giant, "Satellite" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?1tyxnq45qk5z4q9">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br /><br />I get a lot of e-mails from people about things they want me to write about and think I would like, and it's really cool that people do that & I am really very appreciative (even though I don't write about everything that I'm e-mailed about, I do my best to listen to all of it), but usually the things I enjoy listening to the most are things that I find out about completely incidentally, with no "please write about this" attached to it.<br /><br />On Monday afternoon I came home to a stack of packages -- some 7"s and CDs from <a href="http://www.jigsaw-records.com">Jigsaw</a> (really, really, I cannot say enough good things about what Chris is doing with his corner of the internet -- he has an amazing selection of indie rock and pop, the prices are good, and the shipping is expedient. It's everything you could ever want (and more!) from mail order), some <a href="http://reddingk.com/">Jordan Crane</a> comics, and a mysterious package wrapped in plain brown paper.<br /><br />The mystery package turned out to be a very generous and surprising piece of mail from <a href="http://www.taewonyu.com">Tae Won Yu</a>. I'm quite a fan of Tae's art and music, and was nothing short of blown away to find this on my doorstep. One of the things in the package was a copy of <i>Tiny Idols: Transmissions from the Indie Underground 1991-1995, vol. III</i>. I took a quick look at the track listing & realized that I didn't recognize any of the bands (other than Tae's band, Kicking Giant), which made me even more excited to listen to the collection. So, I raced through lunch & then walked back to work, sat down at my desk, & plugged in my headphones.<br /><br />& you know what? It's really, truly stunning. Mark from <a href="http://www.snowgloberecords.com/">Snowglobe Records</a> has curated a truly beautiful comp. There are 22 tracks and each of them brings something unique to the overall collection. It's hard to pick out favorites when each of the tracks are so strong (and so new to me!), but Small Factory, The Hazeltones, Witch Hazel, and Radon are definitely bands that I'll be looking to dig up some more on. The <i>Tiny Idols</i> series functions almost as an indie rock and pop <i>Nuggets</i>, collecting tracks from "lesser-known and underappreciated artists from the era who deserve reappraisal."<br /><br />What I really love about <i>Tiny Idols</i>, aside from the music, is the care and attention that went into the compilation. The CD is accompanied by a beautiful, twenty page booklet that includes a bio of each of the 22 featured bands. A lot of information is packed into the bios, including a brief history of the band, major/notable recordings, band members, related projects, etc. It's not often that I come across a compilation so purposefully thought out & thoughtfully put together. <br /><br />So often, independent music exists in tiny pieces of ephemera. It's easy to forget bands as old concert bills get crumpled and cassette tapes disintegrate. Scenes are packed away in boxes in closets and emerge later to be resold on eBay. Last month, Patton Oswalt had an article about geek culture on Wired where he said that the internet has changed the act of collecting knowledge -- that as we move towards an increasingly digital culture, we get closer and closer to "everything that ever was, available forever," and with it, instant, downloadable expertise. It's clear that the internet has changed the way that music is not only shared, but preserved, especially with regard to music that has been produced independently. It may not be possible to find a physical copy of a 7" limited to 200 copies or a tape limited to 75, but technology allows people to digitally transfer & instantly share these releases with each other (I won't lie, though, I'll always prefer a physical product to a download.) I like <i>Tiny Idols</i> because it's a compilation that seems to speak both to and against the concept of "everything that ever was, available forever." <i>Tiny Idols</i> gives you fragments of a scene, letting you peek into the windows to hear bits and pieces, but gently reminding you that the Big Picture, the experience of being there, is something that cannot be recreated. As our cultural products become increasingly digital (and everlasting), I think it's important to be reminded of the ephemeral and to recognize the importance of something that can't be perfectly preserved or recreated.<br /><br />Volumes 1-3 of the <i>Tiny Idols</i> series are $10 each from Snowglobe Records, you can order online <a href="http://www.snowgloberecords.com/mailorder.php">here</a>. If the third compilation in the <i>Tiny Idols</i> series is this strong, I can't imagine how good 1 & 2 must be. Mike also has a <a href="http://tinyidols.blogspot.com/">Tiny Idols blog</a>, though it's light on content and hasn't been updated for awhile.<br /><br /><u>Complete Track Listing</u><ol><li>"I'll Be Around" - Sardina</li><li>"What to Want" - Small Factory</li><li>"Sugar Juice" - Vacation Bible School</li><li>Delirious" - The Hazeltones</li><li>"2,000" - Coctails</li><li>"Send" - It Thing</li><li>"Loon" - Poole</li><li>"Too Close" - The Christines</li><li>"Endure Me" - Honeybunch</li><li>"Just Don't Try" - Witch Hazel</li><li>"Today is a Fine Day to Die" - Apollonia Heck</li><li>"Kibbles and Bits" - Radon</li><li>"No Surprise" - Glue</li><li>"Bruce Jenner" - Honda</li><li>"Balboa's Canyon" - Zoom</li><li>"Crazy Steven" - Zen Frisbee</li><li>"The Girl with 10,000 Holes" - Baldo Rec</li><li>"Satellite" - Kicking Giant</li><li>"Pedal" - Crayon</li><li>"Ultra Crush" - Her Tears</li><li>"Girlwish" - Fudge</li><li>"Senile Felines" - Aleka's Attic</li></ol>K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-57182537128468223422011-01-03T09:55:00.004-05:002011-01-04T16:12:34.298-05:00Bedroom Problems<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/0030hz39"></center><br /><br />Dear Tumblr, there's a lot I have to thank you for -- getting my through seemingly endless workdays, aggregating photos of cats and scans from vintage comic books, occasionally thought provoking political writing and cultural criticism, but one of the better things that's come out of my relationship with Tumblr (at least, in the past few weeks) are these six songs by Bedroom Problems.<br /><br />Bedroom Problems is the home-recording project of <a href="http://theoreticalgirl.tumblr.com">Maria</a>, whose Tumblr indicates a spot-on taste in music & a discerning sense of style. The six songs that Maria has recorded and made available for free download have a great range -- I initially thought that Bedroom Problems would be a garage-y band (the first track, "You're Boring," has a relentless buzzsaw guitar coupled with howling vocals), but it's striking how much some of these songs (especially "At Least Counting is Easy" and "See You Next Wednesday?") remind me of Young Marble Giants in their catchy minimalism (also worth noting: the way she sings the word "you" in "See You Next Wednesday?" sort of reminds me of Sue Tompkins from Life Without Buildings.)<br /><br />Lately I've been thinking a lot about taste-making, wondering how I develop a personal canon of what's I like (Mirah, Guided By Voices, Hüsker Dü, Kaia) and what I don't like/straight up don't care about (Radiohead, Girl Talk, uh, most stuff, actually, now that I think about it.) As I've gotten older & as my taste has expanded, I've realized that what I actually appreciate is music that reminds me of the possibilities of the individual/the "amateur." Maria's songs are very clearly the product of someone who loves to make and listen to music & I love that.<br /><br />You can stream Maria's songs on her <a href="http://bedroomproblems.bandcamp.com">bandcamp</a> and download them for free (you just need to provide an e-mail address.) If you're on Tumblr, Maria blogs as <a href="http://theoreticalgirl.tumblr.com">theoreticalgirl</a>, and she also hosts a radio program, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/herjazzwithmariat">Her Jazz</a>, on WPRB in Princeton, NJ. Maria is also in a Go-Go's cover band, Lust 2 Love. You can stream their version of "Vacation" <a href="http://herjazz.org/post/2577122329">here</a>.K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-6601057466535571932010-12-22T09:33:00.005-05:002010-12-22T11:37:40.853-05:00New album from Prisoners<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zxfh0"></center><br /><br />Prisoners, "Fix Yer Head" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?bgfx4mlbcb4hjww">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br />Prisoners, "Brain Drain" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?yz80lpdqy952i2d">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br /><br />So, Drew asked me to write about the new Prisoners album, <i>Pass the Stone</i>, & was even kind enough to send me a Mediafire link with a download of the album, which is a big change from him handing me a CD and asking me to burn 5 copies of it, which is why I actually have three different versions of this album on my computer, BUT ANYWAY, it's actually pretty hard/weird for my to write about it for a lot of reasons, including, but not limited to:<ol><li>The inevitable conflict of interest one enters into when they write about a project that their partner is involved in. (I worry that I will be either too nice as to avoid hurting feelings or too critical to prove that I'll say whatever I REALLY feel, even if my boyfriend is in the band.)</li><li>The fact that I'm actually accustomed to writing complete and total gushing praise for indie pop and lo fi indie rock bands, and what Prisoners do is something pretty different.</li><li>Also, thinking about writing about this album makes me feel like I'm really bad about writing about music.</li></ol>So, that's my "full disclosure" list. All that aside, there are a lot of things that I really, really like about this album & two of those things are the first two songs, "Fix Yer Head" and "Brain Drain." In fact, I'd just as happily have accepted a 7" with just these two songs in place of an entire album (which is not to say that the album doesn't have any other good songs, it's really just that I like 7"s and have a relatively short attention span.) Honestly, it was an act of pretty good faith on Drew's part to even ask me to share my thoughts on <i>Pass the Stone</i> since my previous nuanced commentary of Prisoners has included such jams at, "It's so sad that you guys will never have a song as good as 'Freewheel' by Team Dresch."<br /><br />Anyway, I think that part of what makes this album so interesting to me is that, over the last few months, I was really able to hear it develop. (You know, because every time they had a new set of mixes Drew would A) make me listen to it in the car and B) put it on my computer and burn copies so that other people in the band could listen to it.) The fact that I was able to hear these songs in various stages of development and sequenced in multiple ways really lends something to the experience of listening to the final product. In fact, the experience of watching the band in general grow, writing new songs, working to tighten up their live shows, etc. has helped me to reframe my own feelings about them (initial feelings: Does a band really need three guitars? <i>Really?</i>, present day feelings: It is sort of hard to imagine this band playing a show with only two dudes playing the guitar.)<br /><br />The aforementioned "Fix Yer Head" and "Brain Drain" are both fantastic (and will be familiar to anyone who has seen Prisoners play a show in recent months), but aside from these two, the album's closing track, "Art Song," is probably my favorite (which is really saying something considering how frequently I complain about not liking slow songs.) The album also includes live show staples, "Boom Cha Cha," "Make You Cry," & "Street Creep," which are all all right songs (I know, I know, this is a really, really noncommittal statement -- I think talking about these "middle of the album" songs is where I really, really struggle, partially because of the overload of having heard these songs so many times & partially because, for me, some of these songs just don't "click.")<br /><br />Prisoners have garnered a lot of comparisons to The Replacements in Cleveland's local music press -- something that Drew has whined to me about at length because he "just [doesn't] think [they] sound like The Replacements." I think that The Replacements comparison is an easy (and, to a degree, lazy) one to make, based largely on the fact that they wear flannel, have sloppy live shows, & feature a lead singer with a sometimes raspy sounding voice. I think there's also the fact that they're more or less a straight up rock and roll band with some garage and country influences at a time when there aren't many other young bands in Cleveland with a similar sound. I can see how comparing them to The Replacements might seem like a natural thing to do (especially when you hear the last 45 seconds of "Goner," which has undeniably Westerbergian elements.) Regardless of Drew's thoughts and feelings, I think that this comparison is one that's going to follow them for a long time.<br /><br />I'm not going to lie, albums are all well and good, but I think that Prisoners' strength is really their live shows. They're honestly just a fun band to go see. I know I've seen them upwards of ten times this year & it's not just me -- I see a lot of the same people coming out for show after show. In fact, they have a show tonight with Wooly Bullies and The Prohibitionists at The Boo Box (1834 W. 45th in Ohio City).<br /><br />If you can't make it out tonight, their album release show is December 30th at the Grog Shop with Cloud Nothings and Very Knees. Their new album will be available on cassette from <a href="http://cylindricalhabitatmodules.blogspot.com/">Cylindrical Habitat Modules</a>. (Their first album is still available on vinyl from <a href="http://smogveil.com/ecom/cart.php?target=product&product_id=213&category_id=69">Smog Veil</a>.)<br /><br />Prisoners, "Fix Yer Head" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?bgfx4mlbcb4hjww">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br />Prisoners, "Brain Drain" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?yz80lpdqy952i2d">DOWNLOAD</a>)K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-8429332654518862772010-12-15T09:11:00.005-05:002010-12-15T09:30:14.395-05:00Brave Irene (New music feat. Rose Melberg!)<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zs89d"></center><br /><br />I am so excited about this!!! This morning I got an e-mail from <a href="http://a.kitchenquiet.net/">Alexa</a> (who, practically a lifetime ago, hosted some of my poorly made websites) saying, that she was sure I had already heard, but just in case I hadn't, Rose Melberg was releasing a new EP this February. I hadn't heard! I am thrilled!<br /><br />According to <a href="http://exclaim.ca/News/rose_melberg_unveils_new_slumberland_release_with_brave_irene">this Exclaim article</a>, Rose has been fronting an all-female five piece band, Brave Irene, since December of 2009. They'll be releasing a debut 8 song EP on <a href="http://www.slumberlandrecords.com">Slumberland Records</a> on February 15, 2010.<br /><br />Midheaven Mailorder has reviewed the EP and based on <a href="http://www.midheaven.com/item/st-by-brave-irene-cd">their description</a> I am <i>super stoked</i> to hear it!<blockquote>Melberg’s latest project is the Vancouver-based Brave Irene. Formed in December 2009 around the core of Melberg and Caitlin Gilroy, Brave Irene is comprised of five best mates whose friendship and camaraderie shines through the warmth of these lovely recordings. Gilroy’s and Jessica Wilkin’s keyboards play a prominent role in Brave Irene’s songs, adding a slightly psychedelic vibe that slots in well with early Flying Nun releases and even some of the Los Angeles Paisley Underground scene.<br /><br />Opener “No Fun” is a fuzzy gem that recalls New Zealand legends Look Blue Go Purple in its organ-driven folk / pop groove. The rhythms are really key here, with Laura Hatfield’s muscular drumming giving the songs a real oomph and momentum that perfectly complements their catchy-as-heck tunes. “Tangled Line” is an uptempo rocker that sports a unforgettable melody and droning organ lines. “Longest Day” continues where “No Fun” leaves off, the harmony vocals pushing the song forward. The EP wraps up with “Good Ideas” and “Campfire,” two more uptempo tunes full of great melodies, jangling guitars and those bubbling organs.</blockquote>Brave Irene's EP will be available on 12" and CD on February 15th, 2010. According to <a href="http://exclaim.ca/News/rose_melberg_unveils_new_slumberland_release_with_brave_irene">Exclaim</a>, the tracklist is as follows:<br /><br />1. "No Fun"<br />2. "River to Sea"<br />3. "Tangled Line"<br />4. "Bank Holiday"<br />5. "Longest Day"<br />6. "Hit the Grass Running"<br />7. "Good Ideas"<br />8. "Campfire"<br /><br />Brave Irene does has a <a href="http://www.myspace.com/braveirene">MySpace</a>, though there are no songs on it yet. (Hopefully as we get closer to February, the band will throw something up there.)<br /><br />Though I've really enjoyed Rose's solo work, I'm very, very excited to hear that she's working with a full band again and hearing that this new release would fit well with early Flying Nun stuff has me even more excited. Thanks again to <a href=http://a.kitchenquiet.net/">Alexa</a> for so thoughtfully remembering how much I love Rose and sending this e-mail my way!K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-59413848070911466772010-12-13T16:15:00.010-05:002011-01-03T11:18:41.079-05:002010 in Review: 7"s<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002z2xp6"></center><br /><br />Slowly (but, hopefully, surely) I'm continuing with my 2010 year in review posts. Last week I wrote about my favorite albums of 2010, this time I'm working on 7"s. There are a few other posts I'd like to make before the end of the year (most listened to artists, albums, and songs, best shows, & maybe a post about the handful of releases that don't fit in either the 7" or the album category...) Anyway, here are my 10 favorite 7"s of 2010 presented in alphabetical order by artist.<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zcgg8"><br /><br /><i>Best Coast, Something in the Way</i> (PPM, out of print)<br /><br />I tried not to double up on these lists (i.e. if someone was on favorite albums, I tried not to put them on favorite 7"s as well), but I couldn't help it. As much as I love the glossy (at least, comparatively glossy) sound of Best Coast's debut album, there's a soft spot in my heart for the fuzzed out pop sounds of this 7". "Something in the Way" is great, but "Already Gone," a sorrowful, drone-y meditation on lost relationships is (for me) the standout track. <br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iGeSOfZe0w8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iGeSOfZe0w8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />("The Road")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zdst9"><br /><br /><i>The Blanche Hudson Weekend, Hate is a Loaded Gun</i> (Squirrel Records) <a href="http://www.squirrelrecords.co.uk/the-blanche-hudson-weekend/hate-is-a-loaded-gun/">BUY IT!</a><br /><br />God I love The Blanche Hudson Weekend. Really, I do. The Blanche Hudson Weekend consistently releases some of the most amazing songs out there. It sounds cheesy, but you get the sense that they really <i>craft</i> their songs. Every track on <i>Hate is a Loaded Gun</i> is a perfect mix of layered guitars and echoing vocals. <i>Hate is a Loaded Gun</i>'s dark title and stark cover art suggest a series of bleak songs, but "Let Me Go" is an uptempo tune with driving pop guitars and a beat that, at times, mimics hand claps. "So Sick" is a little darker, with a composition that actually mimics the feeling of having a pounding headache (at least, as someone who currently has a pounding headache, that's what it sounds like to me.) The EP's closing track, "Song for Kristen," finds the space between "Let Me Go" and "So Sick" and settles in perfectly. It's just amazing.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/toEHSKgiaQc?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/toEHSKgiaQc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />("Let Me Go")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002ze2cy"><br /><br /><i>Cloud Nothings, Didn't You</i> (Old Flame Records) <a href="http://oldflamerecords.com/store/">BUY IT!</a><br /><br />2010 was a big year for Cleveland's Cloud Nothings. They released a handful of great 7"s, did a ton of touring, and recorded their second album (forthcoming on Carpark), their 2009 debut <i>Turning On</i> (originally released on Bridgetown Records) was reissued on Carpark and Whichita... But my favorite thing Cloud Nothings did in 2010 is the b-side of this 7". "Even if it Worked Out" is the perfect pop song. I first heard the band play it earlier this year at the Happy Dog. I was sitting down playing a game of Ms. Pac Man, turning around in between completing boards so that I could see the band. Everything about "Even if it Worked Out" is just right on. I can't wait to see/hear was Cloud Nothings does in 2011 and am stoked about attending what is (I believe) their last show of 2010 (at the Grog Shop with Prisoners and The Very Knees on December 30th) -- hopefully <a href="http://yoursecretaryisout.wordpress.com">Jami</a> will be there with me!<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9Ix1y3Ynpb8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9Ix1y3Ynpb8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />("Even if it Worked Out" (live))<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zfady"><br /><br /><i>Japandroids, Younger Us</i> (Polyvinyl) <a href="http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/store/index.php?id=1182">BUY IT!</a><br /><br />Japandroids are probably the bro-est music I listen to, excepting the hardcore punk of my teen years that I refuse to let go of. "Younger Us" is the ultimate youth anthem -- the opening line, "Remember when we had them on the run," conjures up every last late night, legs up on the dashboard and out the window while friends drove, walking along train tracks, spitting at dudes who catcalled us. It doesn't hurt that the b-side, a cover of X's "Sex and Dying in High Society," is totally solid, too.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0R2pZQ0eqs8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0R2pZQ0eqs8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />("Younger Us")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zgwyp"><br /><br /><i>Mirah, Don't!</i> (Mississippi) <a href="http://www.krecs.com/Shop/product_info.php?cPath=87&products_id=4463">BUY IT!</a><br /><br />What would any list of mine be without something by Mirah? Though Mirah didn't have any new albums in 2010, she did release this stunner of a single. "Don't!" originally appeared on Ragazza Pop, a girl group inspired comp, & I had initially thought that this single was just a re-release of that version -- instead, Mirah re-recorded it with a slight country twang, mixed with girl group-esque backing vocals, and just a hint of horns and piano. It sounds fresh and perfect and Mirah's voice is clear as a bell. I sincerely hope that 2011 brings me another Mirah album because I could listen to a solid hour of songs that sound just list this.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5hmd30zPLIo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5hmd30zPLIo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />("Don't!" (Ragazza Pop version))<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zhcdy"><br /><br /><i>The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Say No To Love</i> (Slumberland/Fortuna Pop) BUY IT! <a href="http://slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/show/144">US</a> and <a href="http://fortunapop.com/release_details.php?cat_no=FPOP96">UK</a><br /><br />My favorite thing about "Say No To Love" (aside from the moment in the impeccably crafted video where Peggy eats a soft pretzel) is the line where Kip sings, "with the parking lot kids, with the loneliest crowd." Those few words hit me with such intensity and such precision, calling up the most specific, beautiful, and dark teenage memories I can recall. This song is heartbreakingly gorgeous and the Pains' second album is high atop my list of things to look forward to in 2011.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qMyURfKRTEM?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qMyURfKRTEM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />("Say No to Love")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zk2w7"><br /><br /><i>Seapony, Dreaming</i> (Double Denim, out of print)<br /><br />It's fitting that Seapony should follow the Pains in this alphabetical list since it was Kip's recommendation that motivated me to listen to them in the first place. Seapony makes some of the music that I like best -- jangly, poppy, "Hey, I could do this!" sort of music. Though I occasionally venture into something edgier or harder or more "advanced" sounding, it is this kind of simple pop that I am most grateful for, that really reminds me of why I collect records and why I occasionally get my guitar out and play the few simple chords my tiny hands can handle. Though this 7" is sold out all over the place, you can stream it <a href="http://seapony.bandcamp.com/">here</a>.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kVK-rUDru_k?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kVK-rUDru_k?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />("Dreaming")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zpzyt"><br /><br /><i>Sourpatch, Mira Mija</i> (HHBTM) <a href="http://hhbtm.com/item.php?item_id=245">BUY IT!</a><br /><br />Sourpatch is the perfect band and it's breaking my heart that I have yet to catch them live. (I'm not writing an entry about the biggest letdowns of 2010, but if I was, my boss denying my request for time off and preventing me from attending the Athens Pop Fest would DOMINATE LIKE NO OTHER.) Anyway, <i>Crushin'</i> (released last December) was one of my favorite albums of 2009 and for good reason -- it took everything I like, mixed it all up, and spit it back out in a perfect half hour. The <i>Mira Mija</i> 7" brings four new songs echoing (and, in some cases, advancing) the pure pop perfection that was <i>Crushin'</i>. "Sky is Falling" is probably my favorite track -- it starts out with a dark guitar riff that reminds me of something from <i>Black Candy</i> and quickly builds into a simple & beautiful love song built around incredibly simple lyrics and accented with moments of feedback.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wVlSyI3awoU?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wVlSyI3awoU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />("Deli Dream")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zqryc"><br /><br /><i>Sweater Girls, Pretty When You Smile</i> (HHBTM) <a href="http://hhbtm.com/item.php?item_id=257">BUY IT!</a><br /><br />I was late to the game as far as Sweater Girls are concerned & only started listening to them earlier this month thanks to Matthew from <a href="http://www.skatterbrain.org/">Skatterbrain</a> Good god, what I've been missing out on! Finally, a band that perfectly occupies the space between All Girl Summer Fun Band and The Softies. I'm so glad that I gave Sweater Girls a chance prior to the end of the year so that they could assume their rightful place on this list!<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mlqU8uDFE2I?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mlqU8uDFE2I?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />("Pretty When You Smile" (live))<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zrxpg"><br /><br /><i>Weed Hounds, Beach Bummed</i> (Iron Pier) <a href="http://www.ironpier.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=59">BUY IT!</a><br /><br />Weed Hounds consistently produce some of my favorite shoegaze-pop blends out there. The two songs on <i>Beach Bummed</i> continue right where last year's debut tape left off. The b-side, "Skating Away from the Cops" is hazy and winding, like a summer afternoon in suburbia. Something about Weed Hounds' songs feels rough, incomplete, not quite form, and in that absence of perfection: perfect. <i>Beach Bummed</i> happens to be the only Weed Hounds release with the privilege of still being in print & I'm not sure how long it will last, so snap a copy up while you can.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TkO1ubtDfUg?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TkO1ubtDfUg?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />("Skating Away from the Cops")K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-90633692228924284522010-12-08T13:31:00.002-05:002010-12-09T15:26:48.724-05:002010 in Review: Albums<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002z2xp6"></center><br /><br />It's <i>so hard</i> for me to make end of the year posts. I know (without a doubt) that I will forget something, that I will misremember my relationship with an album, that something I will <i>absolutely fall in love with</i> will come out as soon as I "publish" my list, etc. Last year I did a post with my 10 favorite songs, 5 favorite albums, and 5 favorite shows of 2009. This year I'm going to start things off with my 10 favorite albums (UNRANKED, I cannot rank things!) and see how things go from there.<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002z1ggt"><br /><br /><i>Allo Darlin, s/t</i> (Fortuna Pop) <a href="http://fortunapop.com/releases_query.php" target="new">BUY IT HERE!</a> (available on CD and vinyl)<br /><br />Allo Darlin topped my list of favorite songs last year with their single "Henry Rollins Don't Dance" and their full length album was probably one of my most anticipated albums of 2010. Thankfully it didn't disappoint! In fact, it probably exceeded my expectations. I don't know exactly what it is, but something about Allo Darlin just strikes a chord with me -- their lyrics are thoughtful, but never pretentious, their songs are catchy, and each one leads seamlessly into the next. The songs on <i>Allo Darlin</i> work well as songs but they work even better as a whole, coming together to assemble an album that works its way deep into your heart and stays there, keeping you young and sentimental.<br /><br /><b>Song That Caught Me By Surprise?</b> Normally I don't like slow songs. In fact, I may or may not whine, "No slow songs!" any time Drew tries to listen to something slow in the car. Because of this, I didn't expect to develop any deep affinity for "Let's Go Swimming" & was more or less shocked when I found that it's one of the songs from <i>Allo Darlin</i> that's most likely to be stuck in my head at any given time.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/57eii7Bdf3g?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/57eii7Bdf3g?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />(video for "My Heart is a Drummer")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002z36sk"><br /><br /><i>Best Coast, Crazy for You</i> (Mexican Summer) <a href="http://www.mexicansummer.com/shop/best-coast-crazy-for-you/" target="new">BUY IT HERE!</a> (available on CD and vinyl)<br /><br />So, I really have to give <a href="http://aprilmarches.tumblr.com">April</a> credit for getting me into Best Coast. I wasn't a huge fan of Pocahaunted, so it's very likely that Best Coast would have flown right under my radar if she hadn't been actively championing their cause. Over the last year or so, I snapped up every Best Coast 7" I could find & fell in love with Bethany and Bobb's brand of sun drenched power chord driven pop ballads. I was worried that <i>Crazy for You</i> would be almost like a Best Coast Best Of, collecting their out of print 7"s, so I was stunned & surprised when they released an album that was almost 100% new material! "Goodbye" and "I Want To" are perfect pop songs -- they go as straight as an arrow right into the most teenage part of my heart, tapping into a sense of nostalgia that I didn't even know I had.<br /><br /><b>My favorite thing about this album?</b> That it motivated me to start playing the guitar again.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_fjMYI33E8Q?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_fjMYI33E8Q?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />(video for "Boyfriend")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002z462y"><br /><br /><i>Grass Widow, Past Time</i> (Kill Rock Stars) <a href="http://www.buyolympia.com/krsnew/Item=KRS533" target="new">BUY IT HERE!</a> (available on CD, vinyl, and mp3)<br /><br />Just like I owe April for Best Coast, I also owe her for Grass Widow. So much great music came out in 2010, but Grass Widow's <i>Past Time</i> was one of the first albums I heard in a long time that made me catch my breath and say, "Who is that and what are they doing?" Grass Widow is art and science. Listening to their music is like watching something come to life -- small sounds knit themselves together and unlikely words and phrases weave in and around each other and all of these elements come together in this beautiful, fragmented whole. Listening to a Grass Widow album is like getting the auditory equivalent of a micromosaic. I feel simultaneously overwhelmed and comforted by the mysteries of the universe.<br /><br /><b>Something weird that comes to mind when I listen to <i>Past Time</i>?</b> About a million years ago, I remember seeing this animated show about kids who were enrolled in a mysterious academy where they were engaged in a series of duels that took place in an upside-down castle in the sky. The song that played as they were preparing to duel (an odd and frantic mix of pop, rock, and opera) comes to mind whenever I think of Grass Widow.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uLc0FU5JeU8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uLc0FU5JeU8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />(video for "11 of Diamonds")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002z5z9k"><br /><br /><i>jj, jj n°3</i> (Sincerely Yours and Secretly Canadian) <a href="http://www.secretlycanadian.com/onesheet.php?cat=SC212">BUY IT HERE!</a> (available on CD and vinyl)<br /><br />You know? I really wasn't sure that I was going to put this album on this list, mainly because I was worried that people would think it was a bad pick. But you know what else? Nobody cares what I think, so why should I care what other people think? jj was one of the most disappointing live acts that Drew and I caught in 2010 & I know that experience <i>totally ruined</i> them for Drew, but I'm not gonna lie, I still really like jj. A lot of people panned this album when it came out & it does have a slow start, but there are some really, really gorgeous songs toward the middle/end of the album. Cleveland is literally enshrouded in snow today -- you can't see anything except this moving blanket of snow -- and it's perfect weather for listening to this album. I'm sitting at my desk with a mug of hot chocolate, a peppermint brownie, and "You Know" on the stereo and it just sounds/feels perfect.<br /><br /><b>If you still like jj in spite of their mega-bad live performances</b> They have a new mixtape that will be dropping on Christmas eve!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CkS8Y6RdgS8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CkS8Y6RdgS8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />(video for "Let Go")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002z6xqk"><br /><br /><i>Marnie Stern, s/t</i> (Kill Rock Stars) <a href="http://www.buyolympia.com/krsnew/Item=KRS516" target="new">BUY IT HERE!</a> (available on CD, vinyl, and mp3)<br /><br />I first got into Marnie Stern during my senior year of college. I was working in a data entry job for a non-profit. The work was mind numbing and there were days when Marnie's tapping was the only thing that could keep me going at my desk. I was so stoked when I heard that Marnie was going to have a new album and the more I heard about it, the better it sounded. Stylistically, this album is not a departure from Marnie's previous work, but there's something else happening here... There's an emotional undercurrent, a sense of immediacy -- I feel like on this album you get to hear Marnie as a person, not just as a guitarist. Maybe that's why this one is self titled?<br /><br /><b>Loving this album in spite of</b> that bizarre Marnie Stern/Best Coast "feud." <br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Iq1omYjyQqM?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Iq1omYjyQqM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />(video for "Nothing Left")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002z7a9t"><br /><br /><i>No Joy, Ghost Blonde</i> (Mexican Summer) <a href="http://www.mexicansummer.com/shop/no-joy-ghost-blonde/">BUY IT HERE!</a> (available on CD, vinyl, and mp3)<br /><br />There's a lot to love about No Joy's debut album. The first track, "Mediumship," is one of my favorite first songs on an album this year. I loved No Joy's first 7" on Mexican Summer and had been looking forward to their album for the last couple of months. <i>Ghost Blonde</i> is a dense swirl of guitars -- the albums ebbs and flows in terms of intensity, but it never stops being engaging. No Joy is definitely a band that I would love to have the opportunity to see live.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AivFulF-NPk?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AivFulF-NPk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />(video for "You Girls Smoke Cigarettes")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002z8stk"><br /><br /><i>Robyn, Body Talk</i> (Konichiwa) <a href="http://www.insound.com/Body-Talk-CD-Robyn/P/INS81831/" target="new">BUY IT HERE!</a> (CD only)<br /><br />The first CD single I ever owned was Robyn's "Show Me Love." The video was in heavy rotation when I was in the 5th grade and I vividly remember hanging out at my neighbor's house & watching video countdown shows so that I could hear & see Robyn. Much, much later, I saw the movie <i>Fucking Åmål</i> (notable not just for being a good movie, but for reminding me that "Show Me Love" existed), and even later, Robyn reinvented herself, ditching RCA & starting her own label. I feel like <i>Body Talk</i> seems almost out of place on this list, but seriously? It is so good! I mean, there are a dozen amazing songs on this album & I love it because listening to this record is like having my musical interests come full circle. Now, the kid I was like 15 years ago can connect with the person that I am now.<br /><br /><b>The only letdown?</b> Robyn is coming to Cleveland and I would <i>totally</i> go, except she's playing at the House of Blues and I have a strict policy about not supporting chain venues in Cleveland. It's one of the few areas in my life where I can afford to "vote with my dollars." BUMMER.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-3a2qoyONVA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-3a2qoyONVA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />(video for "Hang with Me")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002z9s38"><br /><br /><i>Sleigh Bells, Treats</i> (N.E.E.T.) <a href="http://www.insound.com/Sleigh-Bells/A/44705/" target="new">BUY IT HERE!</a> (available on CD and vinyl)<br /><br />I spent a big portion of time (here on this blog) trying to decide whether or not I should write about the Sleigh Bells album. I mean, calling it "polarizing" makes it seem like a really big deal, but seriously? I feel like I spent a ton of time this year watching people bicker about whether or not the Sleigh Bells album was "good" or "interesting" or "gimmicky" or whatever. You know what? I really don't care. This album is full of jams! You know that <i>Sweet Valley High</i> book where Jessica Wakefield decides that she is sick of being a goody two shoes (which is sort of weird because it's not like Jessica was ever a particularly "good" person) and she dies her hair black and starts acting really bitchy? This album is that book! (Without a French accent.) Seriously, Sleigh Bells is the band that could have happened if Jessica Wakefield decided she wanted to adopt an edgy "musical" persona and stole the guitarist from The Droids (Sweet Valley's most popular and only band.)<br /><br /><b>What makes this album is</b> The riffs! The riffs on this album fucking rule. Sometimes they're lifted from Funkadelic songs, sometimes they sound like they could have come from a lost Waitresses demo, sometimes you wonder if someone has replaced the lead guitar with some weird space guitar gun. RIFFS, PEOPLE. RIFFS.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2kJ05P-71gY?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2kJ05P-71gY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />(video for "Tell Em")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zbs9q"><br /><br /><i>Surfer Blood, Astrocoast</i> (Kanine) <a href="http://kaninerecords.com/surfer-blood" target="new">BUY IT HERE!</a> (available on CD, vinyl, and mp3)<br /><br /><i>Astrocoast</i> came out way back when in January -- it's almost like a distant memory. The songs still sound just as fresh, though. Surfer Blood came out of nowhere for me -- Drew mentioned offhand that he had heard something about them and that he wanted to hear their album & the next thing I knew, I was gushing all over the place about how good <i>Astrocoast</i> is. If jj was my surprise live act disappointment of 2010, Surfer Blood was my surprise live act "hey, they turned out quite well, didn't they?" They had a dynamic stage presence & seemed to honestly be having a great time playing their songs for an audience which is something that I feel like I sometimes don't see a whole lot of. I was shocked to hear that they'd signed to a major label (Warner Brothers), but it will be interesting to hear whatever comes from them next.<br /><br /><b>It was weird (but cool)</b> to hear "Fast Jabroni" on last year's season finale of <i>Community</i>.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ps1wS5w2HfQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ps1wS5w2HfQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />(video for "Swim")<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002zazyy"><br /><br /><i>Superchunk, Majesty Shredding</i> (Merge) <a href="http://www.mergerecords.com/store/store_detail.php?catalog_id=717" target="new">BUY IT HERE!</a> (available on CD, vinyl, FLAC, and mp3)<br /><br />It's no secret that I love Superchunk. I would probably put any old Superchunk album on my top ten list, whether or not I even liked it all that much, just out of solidarity with my love for Superchunk. In fact, I actually listened to <i>Majesty Shredding</i> twice before writing this just to make sure it's actually good & I'm not just looking at the world through Superchunk colored glasses. Fortunately, I am not delusional and <i>Majesty Shredding</i> really is an awesome album. Superchunk has been a constant for me for something like the past ten years & <i>Majesty Shredding</i> was a particularly exciting album for me because it was more or less the first "new" Superchunk album since I started listening to them.<br /><br /><b>In case you were wondering, the best thing about a new Superchunk album</b> is that it's just as strong/good as an old Superchunk album.<br /><br />(video for "My Gap Feels Weird" <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYN79LNnFzw" target="new">here</a> -- embedding disabled)<br /><br />A sampling of additional albums that could have been on this list...<br /><br />Dum Dum Girls, <i>I Will Be</i><br />Janelle Monáe, <i>The ArchAndroid</i><br />Kanye West, <i>My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy</i><br />Kevin Greenspon and Cloud Nothings, <i>split CD</i><br />Let's Wrestle, <i>In the Court of Wrestling Let's</i><br />Los Campesinos!, <i>Romance is Boring</i><br />Tender Trap, <i>Dansette Dansette</i><br />Wavves, <i>King of the Beach</i><br />Wild Nothing, <i>Gemini</i>K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-89913898764526577662010-12-02T11:30:00.005-05:002010-12-02T11:41:04.154-05:00Double Murder Suicide (Yes, Again)Double Murder Suicide, <i>lexlugersexmagik</i> (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6pdb45qpq4ro3zu">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br /><br />A couple of weeks ago I wrote an entry about <i>lexlugersexmagik</i>, a lo-fi concept album about wrestling that Drew brought home a mystery copy of. Josh (the mind behind said lo-fi concept album about wrestling) has since given me permission (via a very friendly blog comment) to upload the entire album here (thanks, Josh!) So, for those of you who read about <i>lexlugersexmagik</i> & were, perhaps, intrigued by what you read, you're welcome to <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6pdb45qpq4ro3zu">download the entire album</a>.<br /><br />You can read some really thoughtful prose on Josh's work <a href="http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/3276/joshua-goldberg">at Coke Machine Glow</a>. You can read my not so nearly as thoughtful prose <a href="http://side-ponytail.blogspot.com/2010/11/double-murder-suicide.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Double Murder Suicide, <i>lexlugersexmagik</i> (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6pdb45qpq4ro3zu">DOWNLOAD</a>)K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-60776317998815197102010-12-02T09:24:00.005-05:002011-01-03T11:20:16.531-05:00Might I Direct Your Attention Toward...I have been keeping these little post-it notes on my desk at work with reminders of things that I wanted to write about at great and extra-lengthy-length here, but the list just keeps getting longer and longer to the point where I am feeling not so much like "It will be fun to write about these things," but more like "Help me, help me, oh god, oh god." So here is my list, offered up with minimal commentary! I promise, I'll write more soon (I've been working on my end of year lists, so hopefully I'll actually get those done before, uh, the end of the year...)<br /><br /><b>Seapony (free EP + 7" on Double Denim Records)</b> <a href="http://seapony.bandcamp.com/">Seapony</a> has been getting a lot of buzz lately & that buzz is well-deserved! Their free downloadable EP (available on their <a href="http://seapony.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp site</a>) is a pop delight and so is their 7" (released on Double Denim Records.) Sadly, the 7" seems to be sold out (I snagged a copy from Rough Trade last week, but it looks like they're all gone now!), but you can still stream the 7" tracks <a href="http://seapony.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-7-sold-out">here</a>. I wouldn't be surprised if this was repressed (I also wouldn't imagine that it's too difficult to find mp3s online.) Seriously, though, if you're into Sourpatch or any number of great recent and classic pop groups, this won't be a disappointment.<br /><br /><b>Bad Banana</b> Bad Banana's <i>Crushfield</i> demo is 10 songs of pop-ish, punk-ish nature written & performed by sisters Allison and Kate (who you may be familiar with by way of P.S. Eliot.) Their demo is up for <a href="http://badbananaband.tumblr.com/post/1199342468/bad-banana-crushfield-demo">free download</a> and you can stream four of the demo tracks on <a href="http://badbanana.muxtape.com/">Muxtape</a>. On December 12th they're getting ready to hit the road with Sourpatch for a handful of east coast dates (Sourpatch will then head over to the UK and Bad Banana will continue touring the US.) You can view tour dates <a href="http://badbanana.muxtape.com/">here</a>.<br /><br /><b>Johnny Reb</b> Okay, okay, I'm always talking about how I get these e-mails saying, "Listen to this!" and I am like, "Oh, okay," and then I don't and then months later, I think, "Well, maybe I'll give this a shot" and it turns out that it's something I would have really liked all along? Well, that happened again (surprise!) Johnny Reb has three tracks up for streaming on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/johnnyrebsound">their MySpace</a> along with relatively little information to accompany them. I don't really know who Johnny Reb is or if they have any official releases, but I do know that "When Were Spring" is an <i>awesome</i> song that I could listen to for quite awhile before burning out on it. Really, all three of the songs are quite good in a way that takes you by surprise in bits and pieces -- a lyric here, a guitar line there. I can sincerely say that I'm looking forward to hearing more. (You can read another write up of Johnny Reb <a href="http://brilldream.blogspot.com/2010/11/johnny-reb.html">on Brill Dream</a>, who clearly responded to their press release in a much timelier fashion than I did. When will I learn?)<br /><br /><b>New 7" & video from Allo Darlin</b> Allo Darlin's debut album was one of my top albums of 2010 (an entry with more on these "top albums" is likely forthcoming) and I have basically accepted the fact that I am just going to buckle down and buy every single single that this band releases. "My Heart is a Drummer" (a gorgeous Paul Simon-esque pop song) was one of my favorite tracks on their self titled album & it's just been released as a single on Fortuna Pop. You can pick up a copy <a href="http://fortunapop.com/release_details.php?cat_no=FPOP107">direct from the label</a> (to my knowledge, there aren't any US distros currently carrying this.) "My Heart is a Drummer" also recently got the video treatment -- you can check the video out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57eii7Bdf3g">here</a>. <br /><br /><b>New 7" from Sweater Girls (& re-press of their first 7")</b> Sweater Girls have a new single out on HHBTM (featuring great pop jams and adorable cover art by <a href="http://pieforblackbirds.com/">Leslie Dallion</a>.) I'd heard a lot of buzz about Sweater Girls, but didn't give them a chance until recently (thanks to Matt from <a href="http://www.skatterbrain.org/">Skatterbrain</a>.) I've ordered the <a href="http://hhbtm.com/item.php?item_id=257">new single</a> from HHBTM along with the <a href="http://hhbtm.com/item.php?item_id=243">repress of their first 7"</a>. You can stream some Sweater Girls tracks on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/sweatergirls">their MySpace</a>.<br /><br /><b>New single from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart</b> On December 14th <a href="http://www.slumberlandrecords.com">Slumberland</a> will release a new single from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. The a-side, "Heart in Your Heartbreak" has been floating around on the internet for awhile, but the b-side, "The One", recently became available for free download via Fortuna Pop (which will release the single in the UK.) You can download it for free (you just need to supply an e-mail address) <a href="http://www.fortunapop.com/free_download.php?id=20">here</a>.<br /><br /><b>New Blanche Hudson Weekend Release</b> The Blanche Hudson Weekend was one of my top bands of 2010, so I'm so stoked to say that Squirrel Records has put together a CD compilation of their 7"s. <i>Reverence, Severance, and Spite</i> features tracks from The Blanche Hudson Weekend's 3 7"s along with a handful of new tracks and early demos. You can view a full tracklist and order direct from the label <a href="http://www.squirrelrecords.co.uk/the-blanche-hudson-weekend/reverence-severance-and-spite/">here</a>. To my knowledge, there aren't any US distros that have this in stock, though <a href="http://jigsaw-records.com">Jigsaw Records</a> does have the first 2 Blanche Hudson 7"s.<br /><br /><b>Broadcast One (Dandelion Radio Compilation)</b> I always look forward to hearing from <a href="http://www.oddboxrecords.com">Odd Box</a> about their new releases because they're either things that are right up my alley or they're things that challenge me & push me in new directions. Odd Box's latest compilation, <a href="http://www.oddboxrecords.com/shop/release_details.php?cat_no=BOX005">Broadcast One</a>, pays tribute to <a href="http://www.dandelionradio.com/">Dandelion Radio</a>, an online radio station broadcasting in the tradition of John Peel and named after Peel's Dandelion Records label. Broadcast One features over an hour of music handpicked by Dandelion DJs (you can see a listing of who chose what song <a href="http://www.dandelionradio.com/releases.htm">here</a>.) You can pick up a copy of Broadcast One from <a href="http://oddboxrecords.com/shop/release_details.php?cat_no=BOX005">Odd Box</a>.<br /><br /><b>Odd Box Singles Club</b> And speaking of Odd Box, they've sold out of the early bird edition of their singles club, but it's not too late to subscribe at the regular price. For (roughly) $56, you get 6 split singles featuring exclusive tracks from 12 different bands. I'm most excited about The Blanche Hudson Weekend and Bracelettes, but there's loads of great artists (you can view a full lineup and get more ordering information <a href="http://oddboxrecords.com/?p=627">here</a>.)<br /><br /><b>November Singles from EardrumpsPOP</b> There's been another batch of free downloadable singles from EardrumsPOP. November offered new originals and covers from Insect Guide, Sometimes Always, and Baffin Island. These singles continue the series that EardrumsPOP began in October. I absolutely loved "Bats" from the Insect Guide single and "You Can All Hide" from the Sometimes Always single, both of these tracks are available to stream online on the EardrumsPOP site. Keep an ear out for new singles on the 10th and 20th of every month!K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-34808804731515587892010-11-19T09:32:00.003-05:002010-11-19T10:33:35.488-05:00Old News is Good News: Free to Fight Comp<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002yy82q"></center><br /><br />Various Artists, <i>Free to Fight</i> (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?a1a1bnt9o1too17">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br /><br />Two things:<br /><br />1. So, the other day I was watching videos of Team Dresch on YouTube and I was watching a performance of "Freewheel" from a few years ago and there was this really sweet (as in heartwarming) moment where Jody Bleyle pumped her fist in the air at the point in the song where everyone shouts "Freewheel!"<br /><br />2. I was reading <a href="http://jigsawunderground.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-does-it-all-mean.html">this post</a> on Tobi Vail's blog <a href="http://jigsawunderground.blogspot.com">Jigsaw Underground</a> where she poses some really interesting questions about the "meaning" of being in a band/being an artist. The question that really caught my attention was: <i>is it really enough to make a cool sounding record? Was it ever?</i><br /><br />I don't think that all art has to be political in intent, and I suppose it doesn't have to become political in interpretation, but I do think that over the years, I've become the kind of person who is unable to depoliticize their media consumption. In response to Tobi's question, I don't think it's "really enough to make a cool sounding record." BUT, as a consumer of cultural products, I think that people on the consuming end have the same opportunity to politicize a cultural product as the producer does and, in my opinion, I think that the consumer is invested with more power than the producer when it comes to acknowledging/interpreting/acting on political messages that may or may not be encoded into cultural products. <br /><br />So, Tobi's question, for me, intersected with that moment of watching Jody Bleyle pump her first in the air & I was brought back to my early teens and listening to a copy of Jody's <i>Free to Fight</i> compilation dubbed onto cassette. <i>Free to Fight</i> was released on Jody's label, Candy Ass Records, in 1995 on double-CD and double-LP. The songs on <i>Free to Fight</i> mingled seamlessly with spoken word tracks featuring self defense tips. The compilation was accompanied by a 72 page booklet featuring work by feminist theorists, writers, and artists (if only I had a .pdf of the booklet to share with this!)<br /><br />I'm not the kind of person who says things like "punk rock saved my life," but I am the kind of person who can sincerely say that <i>Free to Fight</i> helped me learn not just how to take steps toward better defending myself, but (more importantly) that I had the right to defend myself. As a young person, I saw and heard <i>Free to Fight</i> in the most immediate of senses: I was experiencing violence and needed help in learning how to respond -- now, I'm able to step back and consider (outside of the violence I experienced as a young person) the systemic issues that facilitated the need for a compilation like <i>Free to Fight</i>. I'm able to think about the fact that, in many ways, creating <i>Free to Fight</i> and touring behind it was an innovative way for artists to educate themselves and their communities about violence against women, how women can respond to acts of violence in the moment, how women can work with each other to address violence in their communities, etc.<br /><br /><i>Free to Fight</i> is a cool sounding album, yeah, but it also speaks to a larger need. I don't think that every artist is obligated to do what Jody and the artists featured on <i>Free to Fight</i> did, but I do think that art can be made more meaningful and interesting when artists and listeners seek to engage politically, whether that engagement is direct or indirect*. <br /><br /><b>Trigger Warning</b> The songs/self defense tips/spoken word on <i>Free to Fight</i> may be triggering for survivors of assault. Listen with caution.<br /><br /><b>Track List</b><br /><br />1. Sarah Rides the Greyhound (spoken word)<br />2. Monster Snack - The Third Sex<br />3. Definition of Self Defense (self defense strategy)<br />4. Song for Anne Bannon - Team Dresch<br />5. Sleep'n wit' the Enemy - Mizzery<br />6. Violence is Violence (self defense strategy)<br />7. Killing Your Clone is Still Murder - Sue P. Fox<br />8. Carnation Red - Rebecca Gates<br />9. Body Language (self defense strategy)<br />10. Don't - Fifth Column<br />11. Yelling (self defense strategy)<br />12. Real Defense - 151<br />13. Make a Scene (self defense strategy)<br />14. The Martyr - Containe<br />15. Assertiveness Practice (self defense strategy)<br />16. New Terror Story - Nikki, Jen, Rueben<br />17. St. What's Her Name - The Lois<br />18. Alice's Story (spoken word)<br />19. Primary Targets (self defense strategy)<br />20. Target Practice (self defense strategy/song)<br />21. Striking (self defense strategy)<br />22. Disgracias - Cheesecake<br />23. Laura Sister Nobody Crosses the Street (spoken word)<br />24. Daddy's Crazy - Azteca X<br />25. Get Out of My Head - Heaven's to Betsy<br />26. Sylvia Gets Fancy (spoken word)<br />27. Forever Fired - Excuse Seventeen<br />28. Lucky One - Nikki McClure<br /><br />Various Artists, <i>Free to Fight</i> (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?a1a1bnt9o1too17">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br /><br />* I'm definitely interested in thinking more about music that is political, but that doesn't share a direct political message. I think <a href="http://jigsawunderground.blogspot.com/2010/11/grass-widow-past-time.html">Tobi's review</a> of Grass Widow's <i>Past Time</i> speaks pretty eloquently about this.K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-50504211957735934832010-11-08T09:45:00.003-05:002010-11-08T10:31:35.686-05:00Double Murder SuicideDouble Murder Suicide, "Jake's A Snake" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?27eu91bv6eueysy">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br />Double Murder Suicide, "Turned Heel too" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?jmfgj1d4jol65gb">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br /><br />Some people, especially people who actually know me, will probably think I'm kidding when I say that the best new (or, at least, new to me) album that I've heard lately is by a band called Double Murder Suicide, is called <i>lexlugersexmagik</i>*, and is all about wrestling.<br /><br />But seriously, I'm not kidding.<br /><br />Drew brought <i>lexlugersexmagik</i> home on Friday night after his show at The Happy Dog and I didn't really think much about it. I may have said, "That's cool," sort of half-heartedly, you know, in the way one does when one has been woken up at 2:30am after falling asleep while reading a particularly trying passage of <i>Infinite Jest</i>, but I'm pretty confident that I didn't have any profound commentary to share.<br /><br />So, the next day Drew and I listened to the album in the car and I was really surprised when it turned out to be <i>totally fucking awesome</i>.<br /><br />Okay, I don't know <i>anything</i> about wrestling. <i>At all.</i> I didn't watch wrestling growing up and I'm an only child, so I didn't have brothers who watched wrestling, and this morning while I was brushing my teeth and thinking about writing this, I tried to remember anyone I knew who had watched wrestling and only three people came to mind: two boys that I went to grade school with who wore oversized black t-shirts with famous wrestlers on them and who were always drawing swastikas and bomber planes on their desks and a boy I went to high school with who went to great lengths to try and cover up the fact that he watched wrestling as a kid and still had a massive wrestling action figure collection. Drew and I did watch <i>The Wrestler</i> once, so I guess that sort of gives me an idea (albeit a totally depressing one) of what wrestling is all about. Full disclosure: I actually had to google the names used in song titles (Lex Luger, Eric Bischoff, Chris Benoit, Kevin Nash) so that I could get a sense of who was being talked about.<br /><br />Fortunately, you really don't need to know anything about wrestling to listen to this (though I would imagine that it's a more engaging listening experience/there are more opportunities for deeper level discourse around the album if you know a little bit -- or even a lot -- about wrestling.) Double Murder Suicide layers guitars, drum machine beats, and audio clips from televised wrestling matches to create amazing lo-fi pop songs... about wrestling. Really, the "about wrestling" part can even sort of be secondary. The primary thing you need to know is that these songs are super-catchy and fun to listen to.<br /><br />I'll be honest -- the opening track didn't really grab me, but things pick up fast. "Jake's a Snake," "The Warrior Lives in Me," and "Turned Heel Too" are all fantastic. If you'd like to get a copy of lexlugersexmagik, send an e-mail to jg242302@ohio.edu. Sorry I don't have any actual information (like, you know, how much it costs.)<br /><br />* I feel like an idiot for even typing this out because I assume it's the kind of thing that everyone already knows, but just in case: The title is clearly a parody of (homage to?) the Red Hot Chili Peppers' <i>Blood Sugar Sex Magik.</i><br /><br />Double Murder Suicide, "Jake's A Snake" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?27eu91bv6eueysy">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br />Double Murder Suicide, "Turned Heel too" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?jmfgj1d4jol65gb">DOWNLOAD</a>)K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-9836362697029694242010-11-01T10:56:00.004-04:002010-11-02T13:12:27.502-04:00Live in Oberlin, Guided By Voices<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002y9aaw"></center><br /><br />Guided By Voices, "Big School" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?c7i22h9qfb9v44b">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br />Guided By Voices, "A Good Flying Bird" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?vt5ik6kaftlsul7">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br />Guided By Voices, "Let's Ride" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?llhcq5p4xpqryeo">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br />Guided By Voices, "Mincer Ray" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?9yzvi20jb5dz6q2">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br /><br />On Sunday night I saw the Guided By Voices "Classic Lineup" show down in Oberlin. I was really apprehensive about going (I always get nervous before "big" shows), but ended up having an amazing time. The band was tight and they played a near-perfect set. Every single song was a song that I wanted to hear -- though I was especially stoked on all the Tobin Sprout songs that were played ("A Good Flying Bird"!!!) All in all, it was <i>totally worth</i> the $30 ticket price.<br /><br />I think that when bands reunite, it becomes even easier to view them as being commodities and/or potentially disingenuous in their performance. (Though the "genuine" nature of performance is, of course, negligible to begin with.) But I think it's especially interesting to consider the question of performance as a commodity in conjunction with a band like Guided By Voices. Throughout the show, Pollard frequently reminded people that the band members were from Ohio, that Ohio has a superior drinking culture, and that Guided By Voices is a drinking band. There's definitely an element of performance to GBV's drinking but that performance plays a critical role in the way that the band constructs community within their fan base (example: last night Pollard passed a bottle of tequila from the stage into the crowd and encouraged fans to pass it around amongst themselves.)<br /><br />Last night's show definitely drew a varied crowd -- it wasn't difficult to differentiate GBV veterans from people who just really liked <i>Bee Thousand</i> from people who had friends that caught them earlier in the day and said, "Hey, are you doing anything tonight? Because if you're not..." The great thing about a show like last night's was that it welcomed people at all levels of interest in/experience with Guided By Voices. Of course, as someone who enjoys (but is not obsessed with) GBV, it may have been easier for me to have a good time. I know my Aunt (who first saw GBV in 1991 and spent the better part of the following 15-ish years attending any show they played within reasonable distance), struggled a little more with the crowd and construction of community than I did. On the way home, she brought up the "feel" of the show and mentioned how disheartening it was that last night's show didn't have the same sense of community as past Guided By Voices shows.<br /><br />I really wish that I could have been at this show with friends. It had been such a long time since I was at a big show where the crowd didn't make me feel freaked out or uncomfortable. I mean, there were some displays of aggression at the show, but they were (for the most part) comfortable and enthusiastic. It would have been awesome if <a href="http://yoursecretaryisout.wordpress.com">Jami</a> or <a href="http://bluebeadsandbones.tumblr.com">Brittany</a> could have been there (on our first Columbus Dream Date, Jami and I were able to realize our dream of driving around in a car with <a href="http://bluebeadsandbones.tumblr.com">Brittany</a> and <a href="http://veryemergency.tumblr.com">Alana</a> singing along with <i>Bee Thousand</i>. Best day!)<br /><br />The rash of recent indie rock and pop reunions (Pavement, GBV, Unrest, Go Sailor, etc.) also has me thinking about the expectations that people have for bands they grew up with (but have maybe never seen live) and how those expectations play into the experience they have when they attend a reunion show. I know Drew felt let down after we saw Pavement and he felt the same way about GBV last night. But I was thrilled with both shows (ok, so the crowd at Pavement left something to be desired, but the band was great.) I missed the Go Sailor reunion shows (San Francisco, CA and Athens, GA), but I feel like my coming of age was knit so tightly to their music that I'm almost uncomfortable with the idea of seeing them play -- it would just be too much. I'm honestly not sure what you're supposed to expect from a band that's recently reunited. I mean, I expected to see old dudes playing songs that I loved & that's what I got & I thought it was awesome. Maybe other people were expecting something different?<br /><br />The only real disappointment last night was the $5 pizza Drew bought from the pizza truck waiting outside the venue. NOT A GOOD PIZZA!<br /><br />Remaining tour dates for the Hallway of Shatterproof Glass Tour can be found <a href="http://www.gbv.com/">here</a><br />Everything you've ever wanted to know about Guided By Voices can be found <a href="http://www.gbvdb.com/">here</a><br />Guided By Voices is working on making out of print releases available via download <a href="https://www.gbvdigital.com/">here</a>K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-48709949528213952642010-10-28T11:35:00.003-04:002010-10-28T12:00:44.438-04:00Old News: The Poop Alley Tapes<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002y54wb" width="400" height="400"></center><br /><br />Various Artists, <i>The Poop Alley Tapes</i> (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?bn8wrs5bnd3k4t6">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br /><br />Last night, Drew woke me up at like one in the morning because he was losing his mind over the fact that the deluxe edition of Weezer's <i>Pinkerton</i> had leaked. My initial thoughts on the matter: I really don't think that I give a fuck about this. Of course, it's almost 12 hours later and I'm listening to the DE at my desk at work. Some of these songs are still great ("Tired of Sex," definitely still great, "I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams" (b-side featuring Anna Waronker from that dog., still great.) The best songs on <i>Pinkerton</i> would have fit perfectly on <i>The Poop Alley Tapes</i>, a 2 CD compilation of L.A. bands who had recorded at Tom Grimley's Poop Alley Studios (though not featured on this comp, Madigan and Jen from Tattle Tale both recorded at Poop Alley.)<br /><br />Anyway, the high notes on this comp are HIGH. "California" by the Rentals is amazing (it's only about a hundred thousand times better than the tweaked version, "Barcelona," that showed up on <i>Seven More Minutes</i>), "Adam in June" by June Blake is another winner. Like any comp, this has its share of forgettable songs, but the good ones are so good that you totally forget the bad ones.<br /><br />If nothing else, <i>The Poop Alley Tapes</i> is an artifact of a mostly lost scene & the only place you'll hear most of these bands. Which is a real shame, because I could listen to album after album by June Blake or The Strawberry Jams.<br /><br />DISC ONE:<br /><br /> 1. The Rentals - "California"<br /> 2. Benett - "Love On The Rocks"<br /> 3. Recess - "Study No. 1 For Symphony No. 1"<br /> 4. Josh Haden - "Ten Nights"<br /> 5. Jackknife - "Teenage Blues"<br /> 6. that dog. - "Ridiculous"<br /> 7. Too Much Girl - "Fascinating Girl"<br /> 8. Radies Man - "Honky Tonky Woman"<br /> 9. The Strawberry Jams - "Kinda Sorta Maybe"<br /> 10. Rump - "Alan's Got An Axe To Grind"<br /> 11. Crib - "Sty"<br /> 12. Fleabag - "Fading Fast"<br /> 13. The Haves - "Nevadaesque"<br /> 14. The Neptunas - "Hot Custom Long Board"<br /> 15. Bobby & The Magic Pacer - "Drinking Dogs"<br /> 16. Waldo The Dog Faced Boy - "Turkey's Lament"<br /> 17. Speculum Fight - "Hello There Chico"<br /> 18. Rod Poole - "Excerpt From The Composition"<br /><br />DISC TWO: <br /><br /> 1. Polar Goldie Cats - "Reverb Wa Doko"<br /> 2. Geraldine Fibbers - "He Stopped Loving Her Today"<br /> 3. Beck - "Girl Of My Dreams"<br /> 4. June Blake - "Adam In June"<br /> 5. Lowercase - "My Shame Your Shame"<br /> 6. Kryptonite Nixon - "Whiffle Ball"<br /> 7. Charles Brown Superstar - "Solid Gold"<br /> 8. Shady Ladies Of The Mother Lode - "Moistened"<br /> 9. Danny Frankel - "Rainbow Wig On Haight St."<br /> 10. Brown Cow - "Out?"<br /> 11. Nastassya Filippovna - "Ungodly Purple Watt"<br /> 12. Vector 3Niner - "The Deep Complexity Of Quotidian Chaos (Let's Vector)"<br /> 13. Slug - "Silver Man"<br /><br />Both discs are included in the same .zip file.<br /><br />Various Artists, <i>The Poop Alley Tapes</i> (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?bn8wrs5bnd3k4t6">DOWNLOAD</a>)K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-14276305037046438542010-10-25T18:15:00.003-04:002010-10-25T19:18:06.834-04:00Inaugural Singles from EardrumsPop<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002y459a"></center><br /><br />So, have you heard about the singles project that EardrumsPop have been working on? Each month this fall they plan to release two free download-only singles (singles will be released on the tenth and twentieth of each month.) All singles will feature three songs (two originals and one cover) and will be accompanied by a pdf booklet featuring more original artwork, an interview with the band, and a photo interview conducted in collaboration with <a href="http://anegativenarrative.com/">A Negative Narrative</a>.<br /><br />In the past, I've really struggled with digital releases/netlabels. In theory, I love the idea of music that is free and accessible to anyone with internet access, but I miss the feeling of exploring a new package, of having a physical product to hold. I think what I like best about the EardrumsPop singles is that they work to approximate that feeling of opening something new and listening to it for the first time & while all elements of their singles series are strictly digital, they come pretty close to hitting the mark.<br /><br />The first two singles in the fall series (the October 10th and October 20th releases) are out now and are available to download <a href="http://www.eardrumspop.com/releases-2/singles/">here</a>. Tiny Fireflies and Paper Fangs have each released a three song single for the series. Both bands craft warm and welcoming indie pop with electronic influences -- perfect for the time when (at least, here in Ohio) fall begins to turn into winter. <br /><br />If you're interested in keeping up to date on future EardrumsPop releases, you can sign up for their newsletter <a href="http://www.eardrumspop.com/newsletter/">here</a>.K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-66560910347131425772010-10-24T20:32:00.003-04:002010-10-24T21:25:11.358-04:00Haunted Houses + Drew HillRemember a long time ago when I said I got a big box of tapes in the mail from Bathetic? It took me ages to get around to reviewing their reissue of Angel Olsen's <i>Strange Cacti</i> cassette (review <a href="http://side-ponytail.blogspot.com/2010/10/angel-olson.html">here</a>) & then it took me even longer to get around to assessing the rest of the mystery box's contents (okay, so I am actually still in the processing of addressing the rest of the box.) In addition to the Olsen tape, there were four other tapes (two of which are now sold out out -- Jon wasn't kidding when he said their stuff goes fast) & a 7". I'm coming to the end of a long, slow Sunday & thought that now might just be the right time to dig back into that box and see what else Bathetic has to offer.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002y3h5r"></center><br /><br /><b>Drew Hill, Seasons in Rust</b><br /><br />Yesterday my friend Kate and I went to the Cleveland Museum of Art where we worked our way through three floors of immaculately preserved/restored artwork, ending up in the basement at the precipice of a traveling exhibit called "Treasures from Heaven." The words "Treasures from Heaven" make me think of Precious Moments figurines -- porcelain girls sheltering wide-eyed lambs, first communion dresses, and specially engraved mementos from Things Remembered -- but the actual exhibit was dark and sinister, tiny pouches containing saints' teeth and chips of bone, hunks of petrified wood with rust-colored blemishes on them, oxidized nails, boxes never meant to be opened. The songs on <i>Seasons in Rust</i> are like the audio equivalent of these artifacts and the reliquaries they were housed in -- eerie and unsettling, but you can't not look, you can't not listen.<br /><br />You can view a track list & stream "Show Me a Grave" <a href="http://www.batheticrecords.com/2010/07/bath025-drew-hill-seasons-in-rust.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002y2s7g"></center><br /><br /><b>Haunted Houses, Make Believe You're Dead</b><br /><br />The first song on <i>Make Believe You're Dead</i>, "Dark Abandoned Rooms," sounds exactly like it's title would lead you to believe -- these are the sad and scary sounds of every abandoned party house. <i>Make Believe You're Dead</i> sounds like my life from ages fifteen to twenty condensed into a 35 minute cassette -- mournful, distorted sounds that bring up images of sunken in couches and rooms littered with cigarette butts and empty red plastic cups. For every moment of audibly palpable desperation, there are seconds of unexpected beauty (not unlike the moments in Guided By Voices albums -- the two songs out of 35 -- that remind you that people are probably right when they call Bob Pollard a genius.)<br /><br />You can view a track list & stream "Evil Practices in Ritual" <a href="http://www.batheticrecords.com/2010/06/bath022-haunted-houses-make-believe.html">here</a>.<br /><br />I like listening to these tapes from Bathetic because they challenge me in a way that most music doesn't. I'm the kind of person who likes what they like, and most of what I like is easy to listen to. I know I've said it before, but I'm a fan of conventional pop music. I tend to focus on lyrics, I like to sing along to things. These tapes are, generally speaking, not sing along music. They force me to focus on something other than words -- to find meaning in the way that sounds are arranged. <br /><br />Bathetic is currently running a special where US customers can get any 2 items for $12, North American (non-US) customers can get any 2 items for $14, and customers in any non-US/North American country can get any two items for $17. Shipping is included in these prices. You can view Bathetic's catalogue <a href="http://www.batheticrecords.com/">here</a>.K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-65890669663635342282010-10-19T12:24:00.002-04:002010-10-19T13:32:18.915-04:00MiniBoone/Sippy Cup Everything Showcase Info<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002y1hsq"></center><br /><br />Oh man, when am I ever going to learn to stop letting things linger in my inbox? About a week ago Mike from <a href="http://sippycupeverything.com/">Sippy Cup Everything</a> sent me a quick e-mail about a new track from MiniBoone from their forthcoming 7" & he tagged on some CMJ information as well. And, of course, I let it sit there and thought, I'll definitely get to it soon. And then I went out and bought the new Marnie Stern album and listened to it over and over again all weekend long while Mike's e-mail languished in my inbox.<br /><br />Anyway, after tearing myself away from the Las Robertas album this morning, I decided to listen to the track Mike passed on to me so that I could at least post the CMJ showcase info in good conscience & whoa! It's nearly six minutes long & not a second of those six minutes is boring.<br /><br />"The Other Summer" is a high energy epic pop song -- Mike compares it to Springsteen, Queen, & Andrew WK, & yeah, yes, all of those -- but I also hear the good humored power pop of Pansy Division & the driving, sincere sound of J Church. This is a sleek six minutes -- it doesn't sound like anything else I've been asked to listen to or write about lately. If you're a fan of frenzied pop ballads, you probably ought to listen to this (you can stream it <a href="http://sippycupeverything.tumblr.com/miniboone">here</a>.) "The Other Summer" is the a-side of a forthcoming 7", so keep your eye out for that.<br /><br />If you're going to be at CMJ this week, you can catch MiniBoone at any of their six performances:<blockquote>10/20 WED @ 9:00pm | Gigmaven Showcase @ National Underground<br />10/22 FRI @ 8:00pm | Whitesmith Entertainment Showcase @ Otto’s Shrunken Head<br />10/22 FRI @ 9:30pm | RethinkPopMusic Showcase @ Crash Mansion<br />10/23 SAT @ 7:00pm | Showcase @ Parkside Lounge<br />10/23 SAT @ 10:15pm | Deli Magazine Official CMJ Showcase @ Spike Hill<br />10/23 SAT @ midnight | AMI Entertainment Showcase @ Ace of Club</blockquote>Sippy Cup Everything is hosting a showcase of their own on Friday, the performance schedule is as follows & all performances are taking place at Spike Hill:<blockquote>1:00pm <a href="http://littleracer.bandcamp.com">Little Racer</a> (NYC) <br />1:50pm <a href="http://thebigbigbucks.com/">The Big Big Bucks</a> (Boston)<br />2:40pm <a href="http://myspace.com/youngadultsband">Young Adults</a> (Boston)<br />3:30pm <a href="http://slowanimal.bandcamp.com/">Slow Animal</a> (New Jersey) <br />4:20pm <a href="http://youngmammals.com/">Young Mammals</a> (Houston) <br />5:10pm <a href="http://prettyandnice.com/">Pretty & Nice</a> (Boston)</blockquote><a href="http://miniboone.bandcamp.com">MiniBoone on Bandcamp</a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/minibooneband">MiniBoone on MySpace</a><br /><a href="http://www.miniboone.com/">MiniBoone official site</a><br /><a href="http://www.drugfrontrecords/miniboone">MiniBoone releases on Drug Front Records</a><br /><a href="http://sippycupeverything.com/">Sippy Cup Everything on Tumblr</a>K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-88576092672363859372010-10-19T09:42:00.003-04:002010-10-19T12:23:18.627-04:00Las Robertas<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002y0by3"></center><br /><br />Last week Art Fag Recordings released <i>Cry Out Loud</i> the debut full-length from Las Robertas, a sun-drenched-noisy-all-girl trio from Costa Rica. The record is 10 songs long and it's longer than half an hour, but shorter than 31 minutes. It sounds like you might expect it to -- crashing cymbals, buzzsaw guitars, layered, echoing vocals... I go back and forth in my feelings re: contemporary garage rock. Most of the time, I think it's boring, hollow sounding, and overdone. I'm not especially interested in current garage-style bands &, more often than not, just don't pay any attention to them. I guess that Hipster Runoff called Las Robertas “‘the final piece’ in commodifying the genre of ‘female garage rock bands,’” and in some ways I can get behind that, but in others I think it's important to push back on that statement.<br /><br />I recently finished reading <i>Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution</i> by Sara Marcus. While I had mixed feelings about the book overall, one of the ways it succeeded was in reminding me of the importance of recognizing the challenges that women making music in a "traditionally male" genre often face. (And, to a larger extent, the challenges that women musicians in general are confronted by on a daily basis.) I think that garage is one of those genres that tends toward being male dominated (for lack of better phrasing), but lately there's been a shift in that. I'm hearing more and more all-girl garage bands, which is cool, but sadly, most of these groups don't strike me. I may listen to an album or a few songs and think, "Oh, that was nice," but I'm rarely motivated to listen again or to dig deeper.<br /><br />So, here is where I stand with the Las Robertas LP -- <i>Cry Out Loud</i> is growing on me. At first listen, I wasn't exactly wowed. There is an overwhelming sense of sameness between songs. For me, it's a kind of sameness that isn't exactly suggestive of a pervasive aesthetic or a desire to create an album that moves seamlessly between songs... Instead, it's just sort of... the same. (This "sameness" is usually what prevents me from enjoying garage rock in general.) <i>But</i>, I'm on my third listen now (I'm really, really trying not to write this album off, especially since I have a copy of it coming in the mail) and what I'm finding is that there are some great moments in this record. Repeated listening helps to give you a sense for the way the album feels and, slowly but surely, individual songs begin to emerge ("In Between Buses" and "The Curse" are especially striking.)<br /><br />If you're a fan of girl garage in the vein of Vivian Girls and/or ramshackle homemade pop, this album is not a hard sell. You will like it! It is that simple. If you are not a die-hard fan of these things, this might not catch you right away. It might grow on you slowly. It might not grow on you at all. It's easy to write groups off, especially all-girl groups working within male dominated genres. It's easy to choose not to give something a second or a third chance, but it's hard to predict what albums will do, so I recommend giving this time and space to grow on you.<br /><br /><center><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KPxig5Q31LQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KPxig5Q31LQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></center><br /><i>"V for You," Las Robertas</i><br /><br /><i>Cry Out Loud</i> is available from <a href="http://www.artfagrecordings.com">Art Fag</a> on cassette, CD, and LP. You can stream some tracks from the album on Las Robertas' Bandcamp and MySpace pages, you can also (links below.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lasrobertas.com/">Las Robertas Official Website</a><br /><a href="http://lasrobertas.bandcamp.com/">Las Robertas on Bandcamp</a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/lasrobertas">Las Robertas on MySpace</a><br /><a href="http://lasrobertas.blogspot.com/">Las Robertas on Blogspot</a><br /><a href="http://artfagrecordings.com/">Art Fag Recordings</a>K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-85727266753635938962010-10-17T18:44:00.003-04:002010-10-18T10:07:42.090-04:00What's In My Car<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002xzyg8"></center><br /><br />I know that this is, for all intents and purposes, a music blog, but there's a lot that I think about and one of the things I've been thinking about lately is the ways in which the consumption of cultural products contributes to the creation/presentation of identities. People get ideas about other people based on what they like, what they own, etc. People who read this blog probably get a certain idea about me based on what I write about/how I write.<br /><br />Anyway, I cleaned out my car today and pulled the following 15 CDs out of my glovebox and I was thinking, the music that you listen to when you're alone and have no one to impress is probably the music that speaks the most to your actual (non-constructed) identity. So, in the interest of transparency (and to better advance my quest to prove just how un-cool I am), here is what I pulled out of my car:<br /><br /><b>Asobi Seksu, Asobi Seksu (Friendly Fire Recordings, 2004)</b> I got this for $1 from the Half Price Books in Mayfield. Shoegaze, dreampop, cheap as all get out. <br /><br /><b>Big Star, #1 Record/Radio City (Stax, reissued 1992)</b> This belongs to Drew -- it's perfect for late night drives. The last time I listened to this I think we were driving back from Oberlin. It sounded just right in the country-dark.<br /><br /><b>The Casual Dots, The Casual Dots (Kill Rock Stars, 2003)</b> I bought this when I was a junior (?) in high school because I was obsessed with their cover of "Bumblebee." It's still my favorite song on the album.<br /><br /><b>Gaze, Mitsumeru (K Records, 1998)</b> Best pop CD! I could listen to this album over and over -- "Jelly Beans" and "Peeking Shows His Ignorance" are perfect songs.<br /><br /><b>Husker Du, The Living End (Warner, 1994)</b> Husker Du live album. I got this from the used bin at Music Saves. Normally I'm not crazy about live albums, but this isn't half bad. I mainly keep it in the car so that I don't have to keep more than one Husker Du album with me.<br /><br /><b>Liz Phair, Exile in Guyville (Matador, 1993)</b> Another album that I bought in high school. It will never get old.<br /><br /><b>Lois, Strumpet (K Records, 1993)</b> If you're going to keep just one Lois album in your car, it should be <i>Strumpet</i>. I feel like a lot of people overlook Lois, which is a real shame -- she writes solid songs and has collaborated with some great musicians. She's definitely one of my favorite K artists.<br /><br /><b>Los Campesinos!, Hold On Now, Youngster... (Arts and Crafts, 2008)</b> These songs are just so good! Honestly, when this first came out, I thought I would burn out on it pretty quickly, but years later I still feel my heart get caught in my chest during "This Is How You Spell "HAHAHA, We Destroyed the Hopes and Dreams of a Generation of Faux-Romantics"" when Gareth says, "I know. I am wrong. I am sorry."<br /><br /><b>Mary Lou Lord, Got No Shadow (Sony/Work, 1998)</b> Mary Lou Lord can be kind of tepid, it's true, but "Some Jingle Jangle Morning" is perf -- especially the "no one sees much of anyone these days" line.<br /><br /><b>The Microphones, Mt. Eerie (K Records, 2003)</b> Drew bought this for me for $1 from the CD/Game Exchange on Coventry -- honestly, I'm not super crazy about this for general listening, but it's good for solo nighttime drives.<br /><br /><b>Mirah, C'mon Miracle (K Records, 2003)</b> My favorite Mirah album for the car is actually that rarities comp that Modern Radio put out a couple of years ago, but <i>C'mon Miracle</i> is full of sweeping, majestic pop songs tinged with sophistication and sadness. <br /><br /><b>The Promise Ring, The Horse Latitudes (Jade Tree, 1997)</b> From the second this starts up and I hear that opening line ("There will be ice cream"), I always feel my spirits lift.<br /><br /><b>Shonen Knife, Heavy Songs (Confidential Recordings, 2003)</b> Another Music Saves used bin find -- Japanese all-girl pop punk trio. <br /><br /><b>Sugar, Copper Blue (Ryko, 1992)</b> I love Husker Du and I love Bob Mould and I love Sugar and "If I Can't Change Your Mind" is singular in its greatness.<br /><br /><b>Various Artists, Fall Mix '09 (made by Alana, 2009)</b> This is a mix that my friend, professional tattoo artist and karaoke enthusiast, <a href="http://veryemergency.tumblr.com">Alana</a>, made me. It's all nineties emo (The Promise Ring, American Football, cap'n Jazz, etc.) and it rules. Maybe I'll upload it since it's fall again.K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-55640200223976636302010-10-11T10:27:00.003-04:002010-10-11T12:02:00.702-04:00New Release(s) from MJ Hibbett & The Validators<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002xygd1"></center><br /><br />So, I keep referring to this "backlog" of things I have to listen to, you know, like I'm just <i>so overwhelmed</i> with things to listen to (what a <i>tragedy!</i>), but it's true, I have a huge backlog of things that I was e-mailed about ages and ages ago and I feel downright awful (and ridiculous) that it's taken me so long to get to <s>some</s> most of them, especially when people made the effort to, you know, e-mail me well in advance so I can do things like talk about the shows they're playing to promote their releases.<br /><br />Back on September 3rd (so, like, a month and a week ago which is like <i>a zillion years</i> in internet time), MJ Hibbett was kind enough to send me an e-mail about his latest releases with The Validators: <i>Forest Moon of Enderby</i> and <i>Hibbett's Superstore</i>. It is like MJ Hibbett is <i>exactly in tune</i> with how long it typically takes me to get things done, because I'm able to squeak this in <i>just in time</i> for his tour information to still be relevant(!!!) and for this to be posted before <i>Forest Moon</i> and <i>Superstore</i> are officially released.<br /><br /><i>Forest Moon of Enderby</i> collects 12 rare b-sides and it comes packaged with a second rarities collection (a multimedia album entitled <i>Hibbett's Superstore</i>, containing an additional 23 tracks.) Back in May, I reviewed the MJ Hibbett & The Validator's album <i>Regardez, Ecoutez, et Repetez</i> and it's hard not to just copy and paste big quotes from that review because <i>so much</i> of what I liked about <i>Regardez</i> is done just as well in the songs on <i>Forest Moon of Enderby</i>, especially the fact that while MJ Hibbett & The Validators have such a great, youthful pop sound, their songs are, lyrically, deeply thoughtful and reflect a wide range of adult attitudes and experiences. I think you hear this especially in "Billy Jones is Dead," "Leave My Brother Alone," and "Graffiti On The Cenotaph."<br /><br />While <i>Forest Moon of Enderby</i> collects rare full-band material, <i>Hibbett's Superstore</i> is focused primarily on Hibbett's solo recordings. The songs on <i>Superstore</i> range wildly in topic and length, but they're strung together by the same sensibilities that ground Hibbett's full-band work with The Validators: the lyrics are both sincere and clever and the music is relentlessly catchy.<br /><br />MJ Hibbett & The Validators are unable to do a "traditional" tour in support of this release, but they've worked out a nice way of getting around that. Starting tonight, MJ Hibbett will be performing an acoustic set every two weeks in the upstairs room at The Lamb in London. Each performance will then be released as a free to download podcast. Hibbett's shows at The Lamb will involve collaboration with Chris T-T, The Bobby McGees, Gavin Osborn and members of Pocketbooks. If you can't make it out to The Lamb, podcasts will be available to download from <a href="http://www.mjhibbett.co.uk/totallyacoustic/">Totally Acoustic</a> and iTunes starting October 15th.<br /><br /><i>Forest Moon of Enderby</i> (packaged along with <i>Hibbett's Superstore</i>) will be released on Oct. 18th and is currently available for pre-order <a href="http://www.mjhibbett.co.uk/releases/release.php?filename=forestmoonofenderby">right here</a>. If you're interested in even more MJ Hibbett & The Validators, be sure to peruse their <a href="http://www.mjhibbett.co.uk">website</a>.<br /><br />TOUR DATES<br /><br />Mon 11 Oct with Gavin Osborn and Dr Neil Brown<br />Tue 26 Oct with Winston Echo and Pete Green<br />Mon 8 Nov with Frankie Machine and The Bobby McGees<br />Tue 23 Nov with Dave Green and Jenny Lockyer<br />Tue 7 Dec with Keith TOTP and Tim Eveleigh<br />Tue 21 Dec with Chris T-T and Andy from Pocketbooks<br /><br />All gigs take place in the upstairs room of The Lamb at 94 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LZ and start promptly at 7:30pm, finishing at 9:15pm.K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-5086010677019893192010-10-11T10:11:00.000-04:002010-10-11T10:11:22.880-04:00Silje Nes<center><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/exchangediary/pic/002xxtq5"></center><br /><br />Silje Nes, "The Grass Harp" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?h6n1w247g4h7wjl">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br />Silje Nes, "Crystals" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6atjzatd47wy6yg">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br /><br />Miranda Lange from <a href="http://www.pmapronline.com/">PMA PR</a> first e-mailed me about Silje Nes about a month ago -- I don't know why, but I hesitated to act on her e-mail. To be honest, I'm not used to being e-mailed by PR people, I typically get e-mails from either bands/artists or labels (or I don't get e-mailed by anyone at all.) So, I let Miranda's e-mail sit while I went about my usual business of listening to the same mix CD 30 or 40 times in the car & then I got another e-mail from Miranda and then I got another (persistence and follow up is also something new to me.)<br /><br />This morning I finally gave in and listened to <i>Opticks</i>, Silje's latest release. <i>Opticks</i> is Silje's second album and like her first it's home recorded and works within layers upon layers of sound, blending organic and inorganic elements to create pop songs that feel like cocoons. <i>Opticks</i> is not the type of music I typically listen to, so it's hard for me to come up with solid points of comparison, but I think that if you imagined a mix between Björk's <i>Vespertine</i> and Lykke Li's <i>Youth Novels</i>, you wouldn't be too off the mark.<br /><br />Final Thought: It's fall here in Cleveland and soon it will be winter. <i>Opticks</i> seems destined to be a winter album -- something for crisp, colorless mornings spent indoors with a laptop and your headphones.<br /><br />Order <i>Opticks</i> direct from FatCat Records <a href="http://fat-cat.co.uk/fatcat/release.php?id=330">here</a> (US release is this coming Tuesday, 10/12; it's already available globally.)<br />Stream more songs by Silje and check out her UK/Europe tour dates on her <a href="http://www.myspace.com/siljenes">MySpace</a><br /><br />Silje Nes, "The Grass Harp" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?h6n1w247g4h7wjl">DOWNLOAD</a>)<br />Silje Nes, "Crystals" (<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6atjzatd47wy6yg">DOWNLOAD</a>)K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622085733048769348.post-81963199748734830212010-10-10T12:20:00.003-04:002010-10-10T15:54:29.666-04:00Live in CLE (Last Night)Last night I went to a four-band, $5 show at <a href="http://www.happydogcleveland.com">the Happy Dog</a>, which is probably one of my favorite places to see bands play. Full disclosure: as much as I love going out, sometimes instead of being packed in elbow to elbow with a bunch of people I don't know, I kind of just want to sit down, eat a hot dog, and listen to some music and the Happy Dog is the only place in Cleveland that lets that dream of mine come true. Also, I don't know why, but the older I get, the more skeptical I am about going out, but last night was a temporary break in my bad attitude and a nice reminder that cheap late nights can easily be as fulfilling as nights where I literally fall asleep face down in an English translation of a Norwegian novel, which is actually how most of my nights have gone lately.<br /><br />Anyway, last night offered up four bands, two local (<a href="http://www.myspace.com/librarytime">Library Time</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/clevelandprisoners">Prisoners</a>) and two touring (<a href="http://www.myspace.com/partyphotographers">Party Photographers</a> from Philadelphia, PA and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thesaintchristopher">SPORTS</a> from Rochester, NY.)<br /><br />I had never seen Library Time before -- they play fractured pop songs held together by synths & a saxophone. To my knowledge, they don't have any releases currently available, but you can stream their song "Africa" on their <a href="http://www.myspace.com/librarytime">MySpace</a> and if you like what you hear, they have a Cleveland show set up at the Cool Ranch on Nov. 12th.<br /><br />Party Photographers were a four piece with a lead singer who looked like Clare Grogan and sang like Calvin Johnson, which is basically all I could hope to dream of re: people who front bands. They were touring in promotion of a new 7" (if they're not playing in your city, you can order it online via their <a href="http://www.myspace.com/partyphotographers">MySpace</a>.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thesaintchristopher">SPORTS</a> from New Rochester reminded me of Elvis Costello & The Attractions. They were passing through Cleveland on a two day mini-tour and will (I hope!) tour more extensively when their LP is released. I'm currently having non-buyer's remorse over the fact that I didn't pick up one of the CDs they were selling because they were just so solid & fun (definitely listen to "Side Effect of Talk" on their MySpace.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/clevelandprisoners">Prisoners</a> played last & they sounded great. If you're in the Cleveland area & you haven't seen them play yet, you should come out next time they play. They've got a full-length LP out on Smog Veil and their second album is forthcoming. Prisoners have upcoming shows at Now That's Class and the Happy Dog, you can get the dates on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/clevelandprisoners">their MySpace</a>.<br /><br />Upcoming Shows at the Happy Dog can be seen <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cleveland-OH/The-Happy-Dog/49480797348?v=app_2344061033">here</a>.K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16033963441572502569noreply@blogger.com1