I Wonder Why We Listen to Poets...

Songs for living the high life...

2007-04-30T18:24:00.000-05:00

I put this playlist/mix together for a friend, but feel free to poach as you see fit. YSI links will expire in a week, so act quickly...

01. Snow (Hey Oh) [Red Hot Chili Peppers]
02. Jacksonville [Sufjan Stevens]
03. Rock & Roll [The Velvet Underground]
04. Crazy [Ray Lamontagne]
05. Burning [The Whitest Boy Alive]
06. Sympathy For the Devil [The Rolling Stones]
07. You Only Live Once [The Strokes]
08. Acquiesce [Oasis]
09. The Seed 2.0 [The Roots]
10. Stuck Between Stations [The Hold Steady]
11. West Coast [Coconut Records]
12. Baby One More Time [Travis]
13. Riot Van [Arctic Monkeys]
14. Kick, Push [Lupe Fiasco]
15. 5-4 [Gorillaz]
16. Lucky Man [The Verve]
17. Holiday [Green Day]
18. Badfish/Boss DJ [Jack Johnson]

New Ben Harper studio album in August

2007-04-23T16:35:00.000-05:00

Virgin Records' Upcoming Releases site has been updated to include a listing for a "new studio album" from Ben Harper, slated for an August 28 release.

According to benharper.net's Gavin Connity, the new album is called Lifeline and will include 11 songs, including the title track (which has been performed live a handful of times over the last two years) and "In the Colors" which debuted April 5 during a live session on Triple J Radio.

More: [here]

UPDATE: A little digging (and I do mean a little) through the message boards turned up an mp3 of "In the Colors" from Triple J. As one of the board posters commented, it sounds like Ben's channeling his inner Van Morrison and the early results sound good. The last time I got to see Ben in concert, I remember taking away the impression that he's really starting to transform into a more soul, crooner mold which this track certainly backs up..

Anxiously awaiting the return of Jack & Meg

2007-04-18T09:49:00.000-05:00

The media got a first listen to the next White Stripes release, Icky Thump, at the XL Records offices a few days ago. After reading a couple of reviews, I'm not sure I could be more interested to hear this one. Some of the reports remind me of hearing that Get Behind Me Satan featured the marimba... marimba! ... and having absolutely no idea how that sound would work out. Of course it did (settle down 'Nurse' haters), and we're all the better for it.

So when I hear things like this:

The strangest two tracks are "Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn" and "St Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air)". The former begins like, yes I know, "Gallows Pole" before the bagpipes turn up and the Scottish imagery gets denser and wilder.

...I am definitely intrigued. Then to contrast the above with word that there are some songs that recapture the early sound of songs like 'Astro' means that this album promises to be yet another sonic pinball machine from the Stripes. The full run-down is here.

More: [NME]

Gomez Live from the Vic webcast April 18

2007-04-16T13:28:00.000-05:00

Gomez's March 2 show from the Vic Theatre in Chicago is going to be webcast at MSN's "Control Room" on Wednesday, April 18 at 1 p.m. CT.

MSN currently has a teaser of the concert online, featuring clips from the concert mixed among portions of an interview with Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball followed by the night's full rendition of 'Get Myself Arrested.' He only grows for guuyyyys he knows, and me..

Hopefully this won't be the only medium that sees the concert's release, I'd be thrilled to have the show as a DVD some day (it looks like the show will see a lengthy online archival at MSN at least).

I'll be watching the 'cast with vested interest regardless; I'm dying to see how the encore break was edited. My friend and I jokingly started chanting 'ole, ole, ole' we could no longer sustain a more American encore-invoking tradition (i.e. clapping/yelling). To our surprise the whole room picked it up until the band came back to the stage. It was incredible to hear... hopefully it makes the cut.

Related: [full setlist]

Take Away Shows: Vincent Moon

2007-04-11T02:43:00.001-05:00

It has been difficult for me to write about the work of French filmmaker Vincent Moon without sounding like a overbearing first-year film student, but I do want to try to pass along some of his amazing work. Over the last few weeks, Moon's Take Away Shows have earned a lot of attention on my computer and iPod. The concept behind Take Away Shows is to present some of the world's most talented musicians performing spontaneous, single-shot takes of their songs in an urban environment.

Several weeks ago, Moon debuted Episode 40, featuring two songs from The National's forthcoming LP Boxer. (Those of you that are familiar with this blog might remember my second-ever post featured three Moon-shot videos of The National performing live. In my mind, Moon's take on "About Today" is still a perfect marriage of the music and moving image.) Moon's use of light and shadow is again a perfect foil for the acutely nuanced mood The National creates in its songs.

On the acoustic "Start A War," the band enlists its dinner guests to join in on percussion with whatever they have in front of them, a seemingly happenstance occurrence that succeeds in creating the kind of shared yet intimate moments evoked in the music.

Dailymotion blogged video

Other Take Away Show highlights:
The Arcade Fire, "Neon Bible/Wake Up" - An amazing take on Neon Bible's title track performed by the band in a service elevator. Watching Jeremy replicate the song's understated percussion by ripping pages from a magazine is a moment of genius. [In English]

Tapes 'N Tapes, "Insistor" (2nd video) - The best moment comes at the end when the band punctuates the closing moments of the rhythm-heavy song by kicking the scaffolding that lined the street as they walk by. [In English]

Okkervil River, "Song Of Our S0-Called Friends" (2nd video) - Will Sheff and an acoustic guitar performing one of my favorite songs from Black Sheep Boy.

Love for the new collection at Full Bleed

2007-04-05T13:26:00.000-05:00

I wanted to take a break from only surveying music and show some love for the collection to tees at FullBleed.org. The work of Rob Dobi, his Series 5 shirts have been on my wish list for the last few days. Well, I held out as long as I could, but caved this morning and ordered two. Thank you to my credit card companies for making it possible..

Aside from the amazing artwork on each shirt, I appreciate FullBleed's dedication to letting the shirts speak for themselves:

"I decided early on that FullBleed wouldn't be branded like the rest of the 'clothing companies' that exist nowadays. You pay enough money for a shirt, why have it act as a billboard?"

Judging from the work I've seen, such branding isn't necessary. I can already see random people coming up to me and asking where I got my shirts.

From what I can tell the Series 5 line was just launched April 1 and people far more in the know than I have jumped on it. I missed out on a couple of my favorite designs because my size was already out of stock. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for the second runs.

FullBleed on myspace.
[via]

Live: Bloc Party at the Congress

2007-04-03T15:44:00.000-05:00

Friday, March 23, 2007
Chicago, IL

Set: Song for Clay (Disappear Here), Positive Tension, Hunting for Witches, Waiting for the 7.18, Banquet, This Modern Love, Sunday, The Prayer, Uniform, Little Thoughts, So Here We Are, Like Eating Glass. Encore: I Still Remember, She's Hearing Voices, SRXT, Helicopter. Encore 2: Pioneers.

Live: TV On the Radio at the Metro

2007-03-14T13:55:00.000-05:00

Monday, March 12, 2007
Chicago, IL

Setlist: Dirty Whirl, The Wrong Way, Dreams, I Was A Lover, Province, Young Liars, Wolf Like Me, Blues From Down Here, Blind, Wash the Day. Encore: A Method, Staring At the Sun.

It should come as no surprise to anyone any more that TV On the Radio doesn't lose much in the live presentation of their songs. I had read about the band's ability to translate from studio to stage, but this was my first chance to experience with the band live. I was not disappointed; the band was adept and innovative in creating the textures you hear on the records and invigorating them with an extra adrenaline rush of guitar and drums.

The opening 'Dirty Whirl' set the tone for the performance, with extra attention to Kyp and Dave's guitar playing, the song had the extra muscle it needed live. 'A Method' was also a highlight. Joined by members of the opening band with everyone playing some kind of percussion, the resulting sound was something only a band like TVOTR is capable of right now. I'll also commemorate Dave Sitek's use of chimes hanging off the end of his guitar as an ingenious little detail from the show that I'll look back on from time to time.

Live Music Log 2007

2007-03-05T12:57:00.000-06:00

Well, it's a new year and a new list. I'll be using this space to keep the list for the coming year.

Upcoming Shows:
15. Bloc Party, Andrew Bird & more. - 9/7-8, Hideout Block Party
--
14. Handsome Furs/The Besnard Lakes - 7/24, Schubas Tavern
13. Catfish Haven - 7/21, Sheffield Garden Walk
12. Pela - 7/18, Schubas Tavern
11. Decemberists w/ Grant Park Orchestra - 7/18, Millennium Park [two songs only]
10. The National - 6/9, High Noon Saloon (Madison) [More | 2]
09. The National - 6/7, The Metro
08. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - 5/24, The Vic [More]
07. Kings of Leon - 5/17, The Rave (Milwaukee)
06. Arctic Monkeys/Be Your Own Pet - 5/8, The Riv
05. Bloc Party/Albert Hammond Jr. - 3/23, Congress Theatre
04. TV On the Radio - 3/12, The Metro
03. Badly Drawn Boy - 3/10, The Metro
02. Razorlight - 3/3, Martyr's
01. Gomez - 3/2, The Vic

Rise and shine, all you gold digging mothers...

2006-09-27T11:43:00.000-05:00

Feels like an ideal title for a post offering a live Kings of Leon bootleg...

Kings of Leon @ Big Day Out
Sydney, Australia || January 26, 2006

FM source: sounds great but there are a couple of radio promos thrown inbetween songs that distract from the 'live' ambiance... still crisp though...

1. Triple J Intro
2. Molly's Chambers
3. Pistol of Fire
4. Wasted Time
5. Razz
6. Soft
7. The Bucket
8. Milk
9. Four Kicks
10. King of the Rodeo
11. California Waiting
12. Spiral Staircase
13. Slow Nights, So Long
14. Trani
15. Head to Toe (out of order)

Great to hear a nice live version of "Trani." This song is rather surprising, in that it's a showstopper. I would generally assume the band would go out with a hard rocker, but the band picked well to make this their set closer... a slow burner, that just completely takes off at the end. Another reason why Kings of Leon is one of the best bands around right now. I'm anxiously awaiting the new album. The new songs they played when I saw them at Summerfest were already really strong.

(I've switched to using yourfilelink.com to host these songs. It is an easier DL process than rapidshare.de and offers the same link activity, etc. I think you can only DL one at a time, but that appears to be the only drawback. In general you should find it an improvement. As always, if you're not already supporting this band by buying their music, you should be ashamed.)

Bob Marley Live from Rotterdam

2006-09-21T16:04:00.000-05:00

Back in the day, I had an amazing Bob Marley bootleg on tape from Holland's Ahoy Club. It was a a really crisp SBD -- especially considering it was recorded in 1978. Well, I lost the tape (left it in a friend's car and it got "lost") and vowed to try to get another copy of the show if at all possible.

After years of searching, I finally found it! I thought I'd post some highlights for anyone who wants to take a listen.

Bob Marley and the Wailers
Ahoy Hallen - Rotterdam, Holland
July 7, 1978

Setlist: Positive Vibration, The Heathen, Dem Belly Full, Concrete Jungle, Rebel Music, War > No More Trouble, Crisis, Running Away > Crazy Baldheads, I Shot the Sherrif, No Woman No Cry, Is This Love?, Jammin'.
Encore: Easy Skanking, Get Up Stand Up -> Exodus.

You do it to someone else...

2006-09-08T10:05:00.000-05:00

Generally, I find tribute albums pretty unfulfilling. It is difficult for another artist to come in and recreate the brilliance of another's piece of work and most attempts just don't resonate. While the occasional cover can absolutely make a performer's live show, recording those versions are often a mistake.

That said, you have to hear this version of Radiohead's "Just" from the Exit Music tribute. DJ/producer Marc Ronson absolutely nails it. The song is completely reimagined with big band horns and Shaft guitars. It smokes... and is just the type of song that begs for mix tape inclusion.

Mark Ronson feat. Alex Greenwald || Just (Radiohead cover)

(Songs hosted by rapidshare.de will be avialable until one month past the last download activity. Please support the artists and purchase the music if you enjoy it.)

Conan O'Brien 1864 Baseball

2006-09-07T13:37:00.000-05:00


There should be no argument that Conan is the funniest man in late night television. As good as he is on the set, however, he's at his best in segments like this one where his ability to think on the fly and improvise really shines. The Onion AV Club had a great interview with Conan last week. Well worth a read.

Brewgrass

2006-08-31T13:49:00.000-05:00

Thinking of hitting up the Brewgrass Microbrew & Music Festival in a couple of weeks. I haven't seen Keller and think this might be a good venue to accomplish that. Don't know much about a ton of the people playing, but this is the kind of thing that would probably be pretty cool irregardless of the music.

Patchchord has a contest for two free tickets (ends 9/6).

Live Log 2006

2006-08-24T11:49:00.000-05:00

A list of the concerts I've seen in 2006...

16. The Raconteurs - 12/30, The Riviera Theatre (Chicago)
15. Keller Williams - 9/9, Brewgrass Music Festival (Bircham Park, Lawrence, KS)
14. Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals/Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley - 8/25, Starlight Theatre
13. Rusted Root - 7/3, Harley Davidson Roadhouse (Summerfest, Milwaukee)
12. Kings of Leon - 7/2, Miller Lite Oasis (Summerfest, Milwaukee)
11. Constantines/Oakley Hall - 6/19, recordBar
10. Starlight Mints/Dios (Malos) - 5/20, recordBar
09. Gomez - 5/15, Grand Emporium
08. Martin Sexton - 4/28, The Bottleneck
07. Destroyer/White Whale - 4/2, recordBar
06. Soledad Brothers/Heartless Bastards - 3/31, The Bottleneck
05. Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah/The Brunettes - 3/30, The Bottleneck
04. Wilco/Mess Hall - 3/21, Uptown Theater
03. Arctic Monkeys/Spinto Band - 3/18, The Metro (Chicago)
02. Railroad Earth/Hackensaw Boys - 3/8, The Bottleneck
01. Robert Randolph and the Family Band - 2/10, Uptown Theater

Three More Days...

2006-08-18T14:15:00.000-05:00

Apparently Ray Lamontagne is a bit of a Sensitive Sally, but his new song is the balls.

Ray Lamontagne || Three More Days (from the upcoming Till the Sun Turns Black LP out on Aug. 29)

From my computer to Graham's...

2006-08-17T21:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a mix (mostly of some crisp live tracks) to celebrate the new design of I Wonder Why We Listen to Poets...

Gold To Me > Fight For Your Mind || Ben Harper
(Summer '96 Mix)

Here Comes the Breeze || Gomez
(Live from Chicago '98)

Twist || Mike Gordon & Leo Kottke
(Live from World Cafe, Phish cover)

Blue Ridge Laughing || Carbon Leaf
(Ether... the first CL song I really got into)

The Weight || Travis
(b-side from the Coming Around single)

Astral Weeks || Secret Machines
(Van Morrison cover, Road Leads Where It's Led EP)

Staring at the Sun || The Subways
(live, TV On the Radio cover)

Better Man/Save It For Later || Pearl Jam
(live 9-11-98)

More on the Whigs

2006-08-16T11:33:00.000-05:00

Scratch that "Southern Strokes" thing from yesterday ("Technology" does ape "Take It Or Leave It" though). If Parker Gispert was Britt Daniel, you would have already heard this:

The Whigs || Half the World Away (from Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip)

I had the chance to give Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip a listen last night and it has some pretty good parts. The middle gets a little same-y, but the two closing tracks and a couple of other stand-outs (see above) are really solid and show that the band has the potential to grow into its own style.

If they sound a little like Spoon in the meantime, that's not that bad either.

Tracking: The Whigs

2006-08-15T18:05:00.000-05:00

Rolling Stone calls them:

"A fiery, young and timelessly tuneful rock trio from Athens, Georgia -- may well be the best unsigned band in America."

ATO Records took care of that last part, by signing them and re-releasing their debut Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip. ATO generally doesn't go wrong with its artist roster (Mike Doughty, North Mississippi All-Stars, etc.) so you know they're worth a listen.

Sometimes it just takes a week.

Every once in awhile while I'm actually hard at work, my iTunes will wander. Most of the time I know where it goes, however, sometimes a song from uncharted territory will find its way into the queue. The Whigs, specifically "Technology" found the balance between being instantly familiar and being unable to place the song/artist playing from my computer.

I never thought Kings of Leon's "Southern Strokes" label fit the Followill brothers all that well, but the Whigs of Athens, Ga., might be the band that wears that brand well -- at least with "Technology." The song is a looser take on "Take It Or Leave It," full taut guitars, vocal distortion and that rhythm the Strokes practically invented back in Ought-one.

More:
eMusic
thewhigs.com

The Whigs || Technology (Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip)
The Whigs || Don't Talk Anymore (Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip)

(Songs are for sampling purposes only. Hosted by rapidshare.de and are available until 30 days after the last download. Please support the band however you can. Thanks.)

Dude, I missed July...

2006-08-02T16:23:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it takes a break to show you who your readers are... because they yell at you and tell you that you had better stop being such a slacker and post something soon... or else. Well, no promises on discontinuing my slacker ways, but here's some good stuff I've been checking out recently.

Drive By Truckers || Gravity's Gone

Great chorus:

"So I'll meet you at the bottom if there really is one / They always told me when you hit it you'll know / But I've been falling so long / I feel like gravity is gone / And I'm just floating"

The Black Keys || Have Mercy On Me

From the Keys' Chulahoma tribute to Jr. Kimbrough. A bit of a break from the Black Keys' minimalist two-man blues stomp, the songs on this album see the guys stretch out a bit more. I wish there were more than six songs on this one. Hopefully you'll see some of this vibe work its way into the upcoming release of Magic Potion (due out Sept. 12).

Well, I've got to run out for the day. I have a working computer at home now, so maybe I'll try to post more from there. Enjoy for now!

The Secret Machines

2006-06-21T16:26:00.000-05:00

I've become a big fan of the Secret Machines' latest effort Ten Silver Drops of late. The Brooklyn-via-Austin three-piece has been burning up my iPod for the last few weeks.

A perfect soundrack for traveling -- or perhaps, time traveling -- TSD makes any trip feel epic, be it flying home for the weekend or heading out to the grocery store. Every time I hear "Lightning Blue Eyes" I feel like something significant is poised to happen.

Thanks to the Live Music Blog for championing the band and posting the picture (second one down) that made it essential I check them out. Sometimes getting turned on to new music takes the perfect synergy of strong reviews, positive endorsements and a stunning visual hook. Secret Machines seem to have all of that and more.

Secret Machines || Lightning Blue Eyes
Secret Machines || 1,000 Seconds

I've recently purchased the group's spectacularly-titled debut Now Here Is Nowhere, so hopefully I'll have the chance to dig deep into that one soon as well. From what I've read, it is a pretty stellar effort and I'm excited to check it out.

(Songs hosted by rapidshare.de until they have been inactive for 30 days. The intent is to preview, so please support the band any way you can.)

Live: The Constantines/Oakley Hall

2006-06-20T11:42:00.000-05:00

recordBar || Kansas City, MO

Monday, June 19, 2006

While some people in the Windy City got to see a life-affirming Radiohead show last night, those of us who weren't able to score tickets had to find other things to keep us occupied. For that I turned to Canada; taking solace in the season finale of our northern neighbors' national sport and a show by the Constantines, who -- if they are not already -- should be the country's national rock band, Tragically Hip be damned.

The Constantines are the current torch-bearers to the legacy of Joe Strummer, creating earnest, driving rock music for the people. Despite the intimate crowd, there were the makings of an epic experience from the beginning. Lead vocalist Bryan Webb sounds like he's singing through gravel, and the hard-won vocal style fits the band's blue collar persona.

Lyrically, the band's songs play populist. One of the night's standout moments came in "Sub-Domestic." Behind a loose delta blues vamp, Webb's line "seeking out a living through the postures of politics" is weighted with sharp contempt for a political system that rewards fake and ineffective politicos to the detriment of anyone else.

Seriousness aside, the Constantines really only seem to care about one thing: the rock. Up close you can appreciate the constant comparisons to Springsteen the band receives. It is not necessarily the music, but more the band's work ethic that draws the more potent parallel. Keyboardist Will Kidman and bassist Dallas Werhle play convincing rock star roles, providing energy and excitement to the stage show, while Webb inhabits the more austere role of the serious artist. Combined they create a force to reckon with, a band that sounds much larger than their venue.

The Constantines || Shine a Light [from Shine a Light LP, 2003]
The Constantines || Nighttime/Anytime (It's Alright) [from Shine a Light LP, 2003]
The Constantines || Sub-Domestic [from Shine a Light LP, 2003]

(Songs are hosted by rapidshare.de and are available until they have been inactive for 30 days. Songs are provided for sampling purposes and those that download should try to support the bands in any and every way possible.)

Live: Starlight Mints/Dios Malos

2006-05-22T19:57:00.000-05:00

Record Bar || Kansas City, Mo. || May 20, 2006

Went for Dios, was redeemed by the Starlight Mints. Saturday night's set at the recordBar was a study in contrast. I had known a little about Dios Malos going into the night and was looking forward to seeing how they played out; my feeling now is that Dios is one of those bands that is well suited for the recording studio with their brand of melodic, too-indie-for-The OC Cali rock. Live, the vocal melodies that define the records take a back seat to the muddled sounds of the band's playing. I've come to trust recordBar's sound system for its quality, so there was something in the Dios mix that didn't quite gel.

The kicker is that there are some really interesting songs I've heard on the albums, so it was dissapointing to have them sound so one-dimensional at the show. On the plus side, I've never seen rhythm guitar played exclusively on a 12-string.

The feeling of dissapointment was short-lived, however, as a band I knew nothing of before their set, proved to be immensely entertaining. The Starlight Mints play light-hearted indie pop, that is too weird to be mainstream, but too infectious to be dismissed. The stage show was impressive, as the Norman, Okla., five-piece played with multi-colored background images that moved and changed to the music, turning the recordBar from intimate dive to de facto art house.

The Mints' energetic pacing played nicely following Dios' stoner-friendly plodding, making the Mints' set feel that much more fresh. However, while Dios is a band I'll still check out on CD (okay, download), I'm nervous that the Starlight Mints lose something in a singular-media format. The songs were good, but the mixed-media presentation gave them more depth.

In all, it was a night that inspired compound adjectives, good and bad. In the end, that's all you can really ask for from your $8.

Hear the Starlight Mints on myspace (check "The Bandit").
Hear Dios Malos on myspace (check "Feels Good Being Somebody").

Gomez on KEXP

2006-05-19T15:55:00.000-05:00

I failed in ripping Gomez on Morning Becomes Eclectic this morning (ugh!), but I did capture the Ben, Ian and Tom's in-studio performance on Seattle's KEXP a few weeks ago. The set is pretty standard, but does showcase a good portion of How We Operate. I'm a big fan of "Chasing Ghosts With Alcohol."

Live on KEXP (March 21, 2006)
1. How We Operate
2. Hamoa Beach
3. Chasing Ghosts
4. girlshapedlovedrug

Check out the streaming performance from MBE here. The live, extended "How We Operate" is worth a listen. Songs played were: Notice, See the World, HWO, Interview, Hamoa Beach, gsld and Chasing Ghosts.

Live: Gomez

2006-05-18T21:37:00.000-05:00

I've been really enjoying the new Gomez effort, How We Operate. The band has created a strong set of songs that sound very refined, but without sacrificing the essence of what has made them a great band -- the songs are polished, but Gomez sounds very loose. The band's signature diversity is still present, but is presented in a way that doesn't isolate a song or group of songs as prior albums had at times. After four proper albums, Gomez finally play to their stregths all the way through, namely Ben Ottewell's raspy vocal and a strong sense of melody.

ATO Records has done a strong promotional job behind the release as well, something Gomez deserves after Virgin glossed over it last two efforts. The title track, and lead single in the U.S., is one of the band's best songs to date. I'm still not sold on the lead U.K. single (and presumably the second U.S. release) "girlshapedlovedrug." The album's lone plateau, the song isn't catchy enough to make it stand out from its competition on radio, nor enough of the band's signature sound to further the Gomez brand. A fine song, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't shine like so much of the album. A record label wouldn't be brave enough to release it, but I think "Cry On Demand" would be a stellar choice to release to radio. It isn't Ben sung, but it's both interesting and poppy enough to be a player on the major rock radio formats. My release schedule would be as follows (planned U.S. releases in parenthesis):

1. How We Operate
2. All Too Much (girlshapedlovedrug)
3. Cry On Demand (See the World)

Grand Emporium || Kansas City, Mo. || May 15, 2006
On Monday night, I had the chance to see the band play live, packt like sardines in the tiny Grand Emporium. The band was dynamic as always and proved itself to be one of the better live bands around.

Setlist: Shot Shot, All Too Much, Silence, See the World, Nothing Is Wrong, Ping One Down, Notice, Blue Moon Rising, "Who's taping Grey's Anatomy?", How We Operate, Ruff Stuff, Hamoa Beach, Girlshaped, Detroit Swing 66, Tear Your Love Apart, Fill My Cup, Get Myself Arrested.
Encore: Chasing Ghosts, Devil Will Ride, Whippin' Piccadilly.

"How We Operate" is already an amazing live song, the band take it for a little walk when the song-proper winds down; it also served as the marker when the night really started to pick up some momentum and the Monday night crowd started to loosen up, a bit. "Ruff Stuff" and Ben's brilliant delivery on the "Come backs" was the tipping point and the remaining laggards in the crowd were overwon.

Tomorrow, I'll put up some live stuff from recent radio sets. I'll also try to update more steadily. It's hard to think what I'm listening to is post-worthy, since it's either Gomez or albums that I didn't dive into when they were released (Elbow, Bloc Party) or have covered already (Both Sides of the Gun).

Gomez Tonight!

2006-05-15T16:45:00.000-05:00

I'm going to see Gomez tonight. Full report tomorrow.

Tuesday Boozeday...

2006-05-02T16:33:00.000-05:00

At least, if you're from Detroit...

Pearl Jam and Gomez released albums today.

Pearl Jam is airing a "second" set of tunes from its new album and some old favorites from the Ed Sullivan Theater on May 4. After recording its segment for Letterman, the band will return to the stage for a special webcast at cbs.com tentatively scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m. ET.

Make sure to enter Muzzle of Bees' Gomez contest. You can win a copy of How We Operate, an autographed poster and a limited-edition single. All you have to do is say where you'd like to visit.

Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood played three new songs last night during a benefit at KOKO in London. You can check out mp3s of Arpeggi, Bodysnatchers, Cymbal Rush here.

In other Radiohead news, tickets for its North American dates in June go on sale this weekend. Certainly some of the hottest tickets this summer. Chicago shows on June 19-20 hit the net on May 6.

Give your TiVo a late night workout, Ben Harper is the guest on Last Call with Carson Daly for the rest of the week.

In "Your Band is Way Too Famous" news, Dave Matthews Band was joined onstage by The Edge at Jazz Fest last weekend. He played electric on "Smooth Rider."

Steve Yzerman exits the ice after what may be his last NHL game.

Martin Sexton Bottleneck mp3s

2006-05-01T16:55:00.000-05:00

As promised, here are some mp3s of Martin Sexton's amazing performance from Friday night. "Can't Stop Thinking 'Bout You" is one of those songs that has stayed out of the limelight for me off of Martin's Black Sheep album. It really demanded attention on Friday night. Martin really dug into the vocals and played up the blues angle. "Glory Bound > She Cries and Sings" was a huge highlight for me. One of my favorite songs, it was my first chance to see "Glory Bound" live. Thanks to KCMoeJoe for taping; please visit archive.org to grab the full lossless show.

Martin Sexton live at the Bottleneck
Can't Stop Thinking 'Bout You
Glory Bound >
She Cries and Sings

Live: Martin Sexton

2006-04-30T22:11:00.000-05:00

Friday night was Martin Sexton. I had almost forgotten how inspiring his shows can be, especially in the close confines of a venue like the Bottleneck. The last two times I had seen Martin were festival sets (at Wakarusa and opening for Robert Randolph/Los Lonely Boys at City Market) and didn't nearly do justice to the experience.

Among the best shows I have seen of late, I was amazed by the feeling of community Martin creates throughout the night. Part of it through awe -- in many ways his performance defies logic, with so many different sounds from just one person on stage -- but part of it through the active role you play as a member of the crowd. I don't know if I've had more fun singing, clapping and echoing. There's something about it that's just sublime. My friends hadn't seen Marty before and they were blown away as well. It is one thing to hear, but another thing to see and feel.

A performance of "Hallelujah" from Martin's Earth Day set outside of Grand Central Station as part of the Green Apple Music Festival:

One of our great local tapers, KCMoJoe, has already uploaded the show to archive.org. I will be downloading from work first thing tomorrow and will try to post some highlights here after that.

Martin Sextin at the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS) - April 28, 2006
Setlist: Angeline, Diggin' Me, Freedom Of The Road, Hallelujah, The Beast In Me, Where Did I Go Wrong, Diner, My Faith Is Gone, Free World, Can't Stop Thinking 'Bout You, Glorybound > She Cries and Sings, Gypsy Woman
Encore: Love Keep Us Together, Turn On Your Lovelight > This Little Light of Mine > Turn On Your Lovelight

The Annotated "City Middle"

2006-04-27T20:24:00.000-05:00

For whatever reason, the academic side of me had always been fascinated by those Annotated Grateful Dead lyric books. Not only did Garcia, Weir and Hunter write a ton of songs, those songs were also packed with allusion, history, hidden meanings and inside jokes. The depth of meaning each song can hold is staggering, and while much of the information is rather trivial in the big picture, occasionally you learn something that deepens the song's meaning or reveals the lyricist's inspiration.

Recently I started reading Jonathan Ames' novel Wake Up, Sir after reading The National's Matt Berninger recommend it in an interview. The book really is an entertaining read and I see a lot of similarities in Ames' and Berninger's writing styles; among other like qualities, both have keen eyes for absurdity as it relates to their characters.

Part way through the novel I came across a paragraph that informs a line in "City Middle" I had always found interesting:

I have weird memories of you
Parking your car, you said, I'm overwhelmed
You were thinking out loud, you said, I'm overwhelmed
You were parking your car, you said, I'm overwhelmed
You were thinking out loud, you said, I'm overwhelmed
You said, I think I'm like Tennessee Williams
I wait for the click
I wait, but it doesn't kick in
I think I'm like Tennesse Williams
I wait for the click
I wait, but it doesn't kick in

The mood of despair here had always stirred something in me. It's dire and real, however the second half of the line always escaped me. I knew what it meant or what it was supposed to mean, but I couldn't give it any meaning to add to the emotional connection I drew from the first section. Until I came across this paragraph in Wake Up, Sir.

In Ames' story, the main character (reluctantly aware of his alcoholism) sits down to dinner in a small town restaurant and bar. He orders a beer and is powerless to keep from drinking, despite his best intentions, fully knowing that his weakness at this moment will lead him into certain trouble.

Then I took a second long sip, nearly finishing the beer, and feelings of transgression left me. There was no more awareness of possibly doing myself harm, whether I found it thrilling or not. You see, that Tennessee Williams click arrived almost immediately. The click that says: Everything is going to be alright. I guess it's a lie, but it's a very believable lie.

I sometimes find it amazing that one form of art can inspire another in such a meaningful way. That one person can respond to something, turn it around in their creation, and build on that initial emotion. It's enough to make you believe everything really might turn out alright.

The National || City Middle [Black Sessions live, here in full]
The National || High Beams [unreleased*]

"Karen take me to the nearest famous city middle where they hang the lights"
Kansas City's Plaza in the winter

* If anyone can tell me anything about when/where this was recorded I would love it/you.

Wes Anderson

2006-04-25T13:16:00.000-05:00

Tip from Buzz Patrol. A new AmEx ad featuring Wes Anderson.

My God it's been so long, never dreamed you'd return...

2006-04-25T11:49:00.000-05:00

Rollingstone.com has an extended interview with Eddie Vedder from this issue's Q&A feature. It's nice to hear Eddie speak candidly and at length. It almost feels strange to read, like Eddie Vedder? Relaying information? No way!

How much fun did you have getting onstage with the Kings of Leon?

It's a great record, and the song "Slow Night, So Long" -- I had disappeared onto some little island to write and surf and the only record I had besides the Pearl Jam stuff I was working on was that [Aha Shake Heartbreak]. I played it for some of the locals, who didn't know anything outside of their local traditional music, and they had such strong positive reactions to the record. It was a clean slate to bounce it off of. I was excited, and when they opened up for U2 -- I hadn't met them, but I wanted to tell them that story -- that their record transmits really well to unbiased ears. We started hanging out, and the second night we bashed some tambourines and it felt exciting.

In related news... an avacado? wtf?

New Music Monday

2006-04-17T16:59:00.000-05:00

A couple of quick updates from the day...

I've added Fresh Bread to the blog roll. If you're interested in finding some stellar photos from New York shows and some quality reggae every Friday make sure to pay a visit.

Gorillaz at the Apollo brought to you by Fresh Bread (this shot reminds me of the Muppett Show):

I've been listening to two songs all day today. One is a fantastic cover by Ray Lamontagne. The reigning No. 1 single in the UK at the moment, Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" is a perfect fit for Lamontagne's raspy vocal delivery. I'm sure it didn't take long for Ray to realize he could give the song an extra dimension. Both versions are pretty stellar (as are Dangermouse and Cee-Lo's promotional pics aping costumes from well-known films).

Ray Lamontagne || Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover)

The other song I've had in heavy rotation today is "Out in the Black" from Imaad Wasif (Lowercase, The New Folk Implosion). I had seen Wasif's name a couple of times last week in conjunction with the release of his self-titled debut on Kill Rock Stars. The song has a classic throw-back sound that seems like a perfect fit for the quickly-warming weather. If the rest of his album sounds similar, I think I'll get a lot of play out of it this summer (we'll see when my eMusic account renews tomorrow).

Regardless, the song is a fitting companion to Lamontagne's version of "Crazy;" I've been looping them both all afternoon and will likely do so for a good portion of the morning.

Imaad Wasif || Out in the Black (from Imaad Wasif; free track on eMusic)

I don't have a hawk in my heart

2006-04-14T13:33:00.000-05:00

CMG: A lot of the songs, like “Baby, We’ll Be Fine” or “All the Wine,” seem to have a really ironic tone. You’re saying one thing but meaning another. Is exploring irony and exploring contrast something that you’re really going for?

MB: I don’t think of it like that. “Baby, We’ll Be Fine” is a song about having to go work and trying to tell yourself that you can do this and you can be a mature responsible person, but it’s also… a lot of the songs, they strive for something, but they are also self-mocking in a way, making fun of your own inner dialogue and your own insecurities. I don’t think of it as being irony, I think it’s more of spilling your guts on one thing and laughing at yourself for your own pathetic heart-on-your-sleeve emotional stuff. They’re definitely self-conscious, but the twists and the humor, when it sounds very earnest one second but switches to ludicrous and over the top, I think it’s a natural reaction to the stuff that I’m writing about.

Read the rest of Coke Machine Glow's interview with Matt Berninger here. Take in some more National pictures, en francais, here.

Live: Soledad Brothers

2006-04-10T20:57:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago, I took in the Soledad Brothers' show at the Bottleneck in Lawrence with a couple of friends. I first became familiar with the Soledads when Jack and Meg covered "Going Back to Memphis" on the White Stripes' Live Under Blackpool Lights DVD. From that point, the Soledad Brothers were a band I kind of monitored from afar, awaiting a chance to see what they were all about, away from the significant shadow a White Stripes endorsement can cast.

I had that opportunity on the last day of March (I know, I know it's been awhile since my last blog...) and to be honest, I was a little let down. Shows rarely leave me dissappointed, partly because I love seeing music live and partly due to the fact that I generally have a pretty good idea about what a band is like before I go into the show. With the Soledad Brothers, however, I was left wanting much more -- and very little of that was due to the band's music, but more with their attitude towards the audience.

I'm the first to grant some solid leeway when it comes to artists with attitude. I assume artists are going to be a little off from the norm and I understand that occasionally the same thing that helps write a great song or tell an interesting story also makes them come across as standoffish and I completely accept that equation. And I knew, going in, that the Soledad Brothers were not lacking in the attitude department. But they still owed us a show. In the time since, I've thought on a couple of occasions about the contract between performer and crowd. Specifically, what does a band owe to the people that came to see it play?

Playing to a small crowd -- among which even more left after a solid opening set by the Heartless Bastards -- the Soledad's appeared upset from the moment they hit the stage. Understandably, the Bottleneck, which holds under 400 at capacity, was embarrasingly empty. Everyone was aware of it. All 75 of us.

The band responded by playing what seemed like an abbreviated 45-minute set, of which the last 10 was an experiment in feedback between guitarist/singer Johnny Walker and multi-instrumentalist/4th Brother Dechman. I can understand loosening up, experimenting and trying something new if there's a small crowd. Have fun with the show, play around, make some mistakes... whatever; just don't make me feel like I'm at fault for the fact that more people didn't make your show.

As it were, people were into the show from the start. At the end, people were confused. Ten minutes of feedback; no encore to reward the audience for sticking with them through it all. The band was trying to empty the place.

There is no place for that. We paid our $10 and expected a full show. As for the band, I can understand the dissappointment of taking the stage to an empty room. But I can't forgive a half-assed performance, especially for a band with so much potential.

On second thought, if you are going to fuck the show, give me a spectacle. Let me know you are pissed. Acknowledge the elephant in the room, knock over a few mic stands and call it a night. At least, I'll feel like it was worth my time.

In office vacation...

2006-04-05T16:58:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updates so far this week. I've been busy at work and my laptop was commandeered for work usage over the weekend, so I haven't had a chance to post outside of work. I have a couple of things I want to put up from the last weekend, which included an epic run of three shows in four days.

To that end, here's my updated shows list for 2006 following the conclusion of a busy March (click link for reviews, comments):

07. Destroyer/White Whale - 4/2, recordBar
06. Soledad Brothers/Heartless Bastards - 3/31, The Bottleneck
05. Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah/The Brunettes - 3/30, The Bottleneck
04. Wilco/Mess Hall - 3/21, Uptown Theater
03. Arctic Monkeys/Spinto Band - 3/18, The Metro (Chicago)
02. Railroad Earth/Hackensaw Boys - 3/8, The Bottleneck
01. Robert Randolph and the Family Band - 2/10, Uptown Theater

On the horizon in April is another set of great shows. I'm not sure how many of them I'll be able to attend, as I'm feeling pretty broke right now but I'll try to make it to a few:

12. Gomez - 5/15, Grand Emporium [tour]
11. Martin Sexton - 4/28, The Bottleneck [tour]
10. North Mississippi All-Stars - 4/19, The Bottleneck [tour*]
09. Benevento Russo Duo - 4/18, The Bottleneck [tour]
08. Nine Black Alps - 4/12, Grand Emporium [tour]

* Note: this date is not yet listed

Once again, it looks like I could make the Bottleneck my second home...

Mitch Hedberg, Feb. 24, 1968 - March 29, 2005

2006-03-30T10:16:00.000-06:00

Yesterday marked one year since the passing of Mitch Hedberg. He was one of the most original comics I've ever heard and he's had a huge impact on what I find funny (and sub-consciously, how I tell a joke). Mitch's delivery and candid on-stage commentary were his hallmarks, but his jokes are timeless, as well.

I've got a business card, because I want to win some lunches. That's what my business card says: Mitch Hedberg, Potential Lunch Winner.
Let's do lunch... if I'm lucky!

One of the best Mitch moments comes, invariably, once every couple of months when a friend will e-mail a bunch of our friends with a Mitch joke. For the rest of the day, we'll send Mitch Hedberg lines back and forth.

I was in downtown Boise, Idaho, and I saw a duck and I knew the duck was lost, because ducks aren't supposed to be downtown. There's nothing for 'em there. So I went into a Subway sandwich shop and asked for a bun. But she said I couldn't have just the bun, she said I had to have something on it. It's against regulations to sell just the bun; I guess the two halves ain't supposed to touch. So I said, alright, put some lettuce on it. She said it was $1.75 and I said, 'It's for a duck.' She said, 'Well then it's free.' I did not know that. Ducks eat for free at Subway. Had I known that, I would have ordered a much larger sandwich. 'Let me have the steak fajita sub, but don't bother ringing it up, it's for a duck! There's six ducks out there and they all want Sun Chips!'

Mitch Hedberg || Bed and Breakfast (from Mitch All Together)

I couldn't believe it when I found out he had died. I feel very fortunate that I got to see him perform live just a month before in February; you never know when you won't have another chance to see your favorite artists perform. Thankfully Mitch left us with two great albums, which I don't think will ever get old.

If I had a friend that was a tightrope walker and we were walking down the street and he fell, I would find that completely unacceptable.

You can download Mitch on both iTunes (albums and video from his Comedy Central Special) and eMusic. I'd highly recommend buying Mitch All Together in the store for the bonus DVD, which includes both the Comedy Central Special and the uncut performance from which it was taken. The uncut performance represents what made Mitch's performances unique; it is full of brilliance, insecurity and his unique way of self-deprication that always won over a crowd.

I'm sick of following my dreams. So I'm just going to ask where they're going and hook up with them later.

Lots more Mitch from Wikiquote.

Arctic Monkeys live on NPR's All Songs Considered

2006-03-29T14:47:00.000-06:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, live Arctic Monkeys from Monday's All Songs Considered, webcast by the wonderful people at the National Public Radio Internet site. Click "live Arctic Monkeys" above to find a link to stream the archived set. Below, you can find the concert in .mp3 form.

Arctic Monkeys
Live at 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.
NPR "All Songs Considered" Webcast
March 27, 2006

01. Intro
02. View From the Afternoon
03. I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor
04. You Probably Couldn't See For the Lights...
05. Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong, But...
06. From the Ritz to the Rubble
07. When the Sun Goes Down
08. Red Lights Indicate Door Are Secured
09. Dancing Shoes
10. Leave Before the Lights Come On
11. Mardy Bum
12. Fake Tales of San Francisco
13. A Certain Romance

Enjoy! and:

[public service announcement] Bear in mind that your local NPR station may be in pledge drive mode right at this very moment (I know the 90.9 The Bridge in KC is), so get a last-minute deduction in on your tax return and hit your local station up with a little something... [/psa]

(Note: The above photo was shamelessly stolen from brooklynvegan (and subsequently cropped). He has some other great pics and links as well, so make sure to check that out.)
(All songs are hosted by rapidshare.de until they have been inactive for 30 days. mp3's are for the purposes of furthering obsessions, please support the bands -- and stations -- in question whenever and wherever possible. If you would like a link removed, e-mail me and I will gladly oblige.)

The Trapeze Swinger

2006-03-28T14:33:00.000-06:00

please remember me, happily
by the rosebush laughing
with bruises on my chin, the time when
we counted every black car passing
your house beneath the hill, and up until
someone caught us in the kitchen
with maps, a mountain range, a piggy bank
a vision too removed to mention

but please remember me, fondly
i heard from someone you're still pretty
and then they went on to say that the Pearly Gates
had some eloquent graffiti
like: “we'll meet again” and “fuck the Man”
and “tell my mother not to worry”
and angels with their great handshakes
but always done in such a hurry

and please remember me, at Hallowe’en
making fools of all the neighbors
our faces painted white, by midnight
we'd forgotten one another
and when the morning came i was ashamed
only now it seems so silly
that season left the world and then returned
and now you're lit up by the city

so please remember me, mistakenly
in the window of the tallest tower
call, then pass us by, but much too high
to see the empty road at happy hour
gleam and resonate just like the gates
around the Holy Kingdom
with words like: “lost and found” and “don't look down”
and “someone save temptation”

and please remember me as in the dream
we had as rug-burned babies
among the fallen trees and fast asleep
beside the lions and the ladies
that called you what you like and even might
give a gift for your behavior:
a fleeting chance to see a trapeze-
swinger high as any savior

but please remember me, my misery
and how it lost me all i wanted
those dogs that love the rain, and chasing trains
the colored birds above there running
in circles round the well, and where it spells
on the wall behind St. Peter's
so bright with cinder gray in spray paint:
“who the hell can see forever?”

and please remember me, seldomly
in the car behind the carnival
my hand between your knees, you turn from me
and said the trapeze act was wonderful
but never meant to last, the clowns that passed
saw me just come up with anger
when it filled the circus dogs, the parking lot
had an element of danger

so please remember me, finally
and all my uphill clawing
my dear, but if i make the Pearly Gates
i’ll do my best to make a drawing
of God and Lucifer, a boy and girl
an angel kissin’ on a sinner
a monkey and a man, a marching band
all around the frightened trapeze-swinger

nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah …

Iron and Wine || The Trapeze Swinger (live)

Tracking: The Frames

2006-03-27T16:36:00.000-06:00

Household names in their native Ireland, The Frames are still largely unknown throughout most of America. My love for most things British made it imperative that I gave them a listen when I saw them trumpeted as Esquire Magazine's "Best Band You've Never Heard," followed by comparisons to I Wonder Why We Listen to Poets... favorites like Radiohead and Damien Rice.

The band's fifth album, Burn the Maps, released on their own label in Ireland and Australia in early 2005 and later in the U.S. on Anti-, is hailed by the bands' supporters as something of a masterpiece, the long-awaited result of the band's most cohesive song writing and a thematic triumph. I will be the first to admit that such lofty praise makes it difficult for the actual product to measure up, especially if the name of your band isn't Radiohead, and predictably -- perhaps unavoidably -- Burn the Maps falls short.

Though not for the reasons one might expect. On the surface, The Frames make the right poses. They juggle the tension between soft and heavy like a moodier Foo Fighters. The songs that stand out on first listen are arena-rock ready (see "Fake") with the best of the Smashing Pumpkins. The problem is not with the music, per se, but with who it references most closely. The prevailing tags aren't Radiohead, Damien Rice or, getting closer to the root, Doves (though they are there in places), but the Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters and early Nada Surf. That's not a knock, but the '90s rock nostalgia on Burn the Maps gives it a dated, sepia-toned finish.

While the end of "Ship Caught In the Bay" is certainly the band's attempt at "Idiotheque," The Frames are no more Radiohead than "Creep."

Some more time with this album will certainly allow certain songs to establish themselves. "Fake" might go down as one of those songs that comes on with iPod set to suffle and surprise you with how familiar it feels. Maybe one or two others will assert themselves, but I'm not positive -- with a leaning towards music that makes progress from what has already been played -- that Burn the Maps is progressive enough to keep me interested for the long run.

See for yourself:

The Frames || Fake (from Burn the Maps)

Download some live Frames tracks via archive.org.

(Songs hosted by rapidshare.de will be active for until they have been idle for 30 days. Songs are for sampling purposes only. Please support the bands whenever and however possible.)
(Photo from The Frames official Web site.)

Ben Harper Live on Morning Becomes Eclectic

2006-03-24T16:34:00.000-06:00

Hopefully you had a chance to see -- yes, see, they had streaming video as well -- Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals play songs from their new album Both Sides of the Gun this morning on KCRW's stellar "Morning Becomes Eclectic."

They stream the program until the next one airs, so you still have all weekend to check out the video of the performance. I decided to experiment with pulling streams from the Internet and I think I did okay. You can check out mp3s of the show, including Nic Harcourt's interview with Ben, below.

Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
Live on Morning Becomes Eclectic
March 26, 2006
(Recorded 3/21/06 at the Villiage Auditorium in Los Angeles, Calif.)

1. Morning Yearning
2. Reason to Mourn
3. Better Way
4. Both Sides of the Gun
5. Engraved Invitation
6. Interview with Nic Harcourt
7. Black Rain
8. Please Don't Talk About Murder While I'm Eating
9. Picture In A Frame
10. Waiting For You

In related news, KCRW's Sounds Eclectic Evening is this weekend (Saturday, March 25) at the Gibson Theater in Universal City, Calif. Death Cab For Cutie is headlining an incredible line up which includes Ben Harper, Gomez, Fiest and several others.

This kind of sidetracked my day -- in the best of ways -- so this weekend I have a couple of things I want to get into. I'm checking out The Frames (Burn the Maps), by way of a strong review in Esquire of all places (in the Rosario Dawson cover issue), and I finally pulled the trigger on In the Aeroplane, Over the Sea, which I'm told is either a masterpiece or a just a piece depending on who you ask. I'll check in with what I can this weekend.

Two quick hits before I go home:

Chromewaves reviews The National's show in Toronto and also hips us to a link for a Clutch interview with National guitarist Bryce Dessner. I'm very sad to not be at their Chicago show tonight.
NME.com reports that the Arctic Monkeys are releasing an EP in April, entitled Who the Fuck Are the Arctic Monkeys. The five-song set includes "A View From the Afternoon" and four new tracks.

(All songs are hosted by rapidshare.de until they have been inactive for 30 days. Songs posted are only to further people's obsessions. If you would like any songs to be removed, let me know and I will take them down expiditiously. And seriously, you need to get Both Sides of the Gun because it's a really, really good listen.)
(Image from virginrecords.com)

Live: Wilco / Mess Hall

2006-03-22T12:00:00.000-06:00

Uptown Theater -- Kansas City
March 21, 2006

Setlist: Hummingbird, I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, Don't Forget the Flowers, Airline to Heaven, Handshake Drugs, Muzzle of Bees, At Least That's What You Said, Either Way, Hell is Chrome, Spiders (Kidsmoke), Jesus Etc., Theologians, Walken, The Good Part, I'm The Man Who Loves You, A Shot In the Arm.
Encore: Magazine Called Sunset, I'm Always In Love, War on War, Kingpin, The Late Greats.
Encore II: Misunderstood, Thanks

When did "Kingpin" become a kick-ass live song? I'd like to know. I'm secretly beginning to formulate a hypothesis that that song started Wilco down the track we've seen them on today. It is such a departure from the other songs of its era, I wonder if something inside of Jeff Tweedy's mind switched on after he wrote it. Most of Summerteeth seems to long for the lyrical freedom "Kingpin" brought about (atypical structures, non-sequiter, use of the sound of words over the meaning) while maintaining the more typical song structure. [See "Via Chicago," "She's a Jar"]. Somewhere before Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Tweedy discovered how to capture it both lyrically and muscially. (Pitchfork opines it happened when he met Jim O'Rourke and made the first Loose Fur album. I won't disagree, necessarily.) If you have another way to explain how we get lyrics like "I assasin down the avenue" and "spiders are filling out tax returns," I'll take it. At any rate, I've seen "Kingpin" played at the last two Wilco shows I've seen. Both times it floored me how great it is. Maybe it's always been this way and I just never noticed?

Spiders (Kidsmoke) is only on an album so they have an excuse to play it live, where it really benefits. I sometimes -- okay, most times -- think it gets stale on the album after four and half minutes. Live, it soars.

Wilco's new songs, especially "Walken," sound like Crazyhorse playing Zeppelin. It's like you could just hear them gearing up for a take on "Whole Lotta Love" as they wound down from "Walken." I like the new tack the band has taken (i.e. lots of electric guitars; more rock and roll, less country/folk), though I think in some ways the sound distances the band from the crowd. Maybe it was just that everything seemed almost too professional. I'm not sure it is a criticism -- Tweedy did remark on how they didn't feel like talking out of respect to Mikael who couldn't (cold) -- but it was almost as if the band was almost too surgical in its presentation, all while the crowd was too respectful, if that makes sense. Somewhere along that continuum it was more about seeing a band at the height of its powers rather than feeling the music or feeling like you were a part of a group experiencing something special, momentary and fleeting. I'm kind of left feeling, the day after, like Kansas City could have been any city on any night.

Is it possible that Wilco is too good?

As for mp3s, I have two to offer. A great (and vastly different) solo take on "Spiders" from Tweedy's recent solo tour and "The Ruling Class," a preview from the new Loose Fur album (Tweedy, O'Rourke, Kotche side project -- follow link above for review).

Jeff Tweedy || Spiders (Kidsmoke) [live, 11/6/2005]
Loose Fur || The Ruling Class [From the forthcoming Born Again in the USA LP]

(Songs are hosted on rapidshare.de and will be live until they have been inactive for 30 days. mp3s posted are for purposes of furthering obsessions. Please support the bands in question whenever and however possible! If you are the owner of this material and would like it to be removed from this site, let me know and I will happily comply.)
(Photo by "chango" from viachicago message boards.)

This is a blog about Wilco

2006-03-21T11:56:00.000-06:00

My incredible March concert tour continues tonight with one of my favorite bands, Wilco. I was first introduced to Wilco when a friend of mine that I used to trade Phish and Dave Matthews Band bootlegs with in high school put part of a Wilco show on as filler (he told me I had to hear this song "Misunderstood") at the end of one of the tapes -- yep, tapes! Maxell XL-IIs -- we'd trade back and forth. I liked the song and got Being There, which had just come out, shortly afterwards. That summer I didn't have much to do, being 15 and all, so I spent a lot of time playing video games and listening to the album. I think I've scored more goals playing NHL '96 on Genesis while listening to "Monday" than any other song.

I purchased Summerteeth when it came out, but didn't spend as much time with it until later. At the moment it wasn't where I was at musically. Then Yankee Hotel Foxtrot came along and cemented Wilco as one of my all-time favorites. I listened to YHF constantly in college and think it is among the best records that has been released in my lifetime. That the entire soap opera was captured, at the time unwittingly, on I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco By Sam Jones only adds to the incredible circumstances that surround the record.

After YHF, Wilco became one of the bands from which I had to hear everything: live, b-sides, demos, anything. (Currently, the completist group is Wilco, the White Stripes, Ben Harper, Gomez and -- recently -- the National.)

Luckily, Wilco lends itself to the completist's spirit by creating a ton of unreleased material. The band's most recent release, Kicking Television: Live In Chicago, has two "bonus" cuts available from various Internet ordering incarnations. Its even better that both tracks are older songs since KTV is skewed towards their more recent (albeit pretty incredible) material. You heard about my ties to "Monday" above; "How to Fight Loneliness" has the distinction of being the first Wilco song I could play (loose usage of that word) on guitar. Plus it is the highlight performance on the outtakes disc from IATTBYH.

Wilco || How to Fight Loneliness (Kicking Television bonus track)
Wilco || Monday (Kicking Television bonus track)

(Songs are hosted on rapidshare.de and will be live until they have been inactive for 30 days. mp3s posted are for purposes of furthering obsessions. Please support the bands in question whenever and however possible! If you are the owner of this material and would like it to be removed from this site, let me know and I will happily comply.)
(Photo from wilcoworld.net)

Live: Arctic Monkeys / Spinto Band

2006-03-20T20:21:00.000-06:00

The Metro -- Chicago, IL
March 18, 2006

Saturday night with the Arctic Monkeys lived up to the best of expectations. The band was tight and the live setting gave their songs an added dimension. The venue was great; easy to get drinks and back to your friends without fighting through too much of hassle to get back to where you were (right of the soundboard, two/three feet in front of the balcony). The crowd was impressive, given I was fearing a worst-case scenario going into the evening; they were knowledgeable and, most importantly, excited about the show. There was an air of expectation, curiosity and excitement in the air and the Arctic Monkeys came out and lived up to it all.

Our initial question, how long the band would play (given their catalog is one record and 40 minutes long...), was answered walking through the front doors of the Metro, where the night's schedule was taped. Spinto Band, 7:15 - 7:45. Arctic Monkeys, 8:15 - 9:15.

Despite the early end time of the show, it was a solid hour of music. (Wasn't overly impressed with the Spintos. Had I heard them on a record before the show I might have been able to pick out some lyrics or grab onto a hook or two, but there wasn't much that stood out on first listen...). Arctic Monkeys took the stage on time with "View From the Afternoon."

The night before the show, my friends and I talked about how we felt a couple of songs would stand up really well live and they certainly did. Songs like "Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong, But..." and "Mardy Bum" were show highlights, though they are likely my least favorite on the album. Those two songs, especially, sound like they were written in the live setting and exist there well.

"From the Ritz to the Rubble" was my personal highlight. Alex Turner extended his stage banter (rare, but not uncommon all night) to include the opening lines before launching into the song. I love this song on the record and its live presentation brought it up another level.

There are few criticisms I can make of the show. The band is still finding its legs playing shows to larger audiences, but there was nothing that told me it wasn't capable of pulling them off. Given their audience and the songs they write, I'm not sure the material will ring true in a venue much larger that a theater, but from a performance standpoint they could pull it off.

I'm writing from my home computer, so I don't have my music to post at the moment. I'll check in tomorrow with the rest of the Arctic Monkeys' KCRW set I posted with on Friday.

Also tomorrow, the Wilcos.

UPDATE (3/21): I had completely forgot to mention this in the proper review, but the Arctic Monkey's took the stage to Warren G's "Regulators" which was fucking sweet.

Here are the rest of the tracks from the Arctic Monkey's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" set from KCRW. I can't remember exactly, though I'm almost 100 percent sure I got these from So Much Silence at some point. Thanks!

1. View From the Afternoon
2. Dancing Shoes (see previous post)
3. You Probably Couldn't See For the Lights, But You Were Staring Straight At Me
4. Fake Tales of San Francisco
5. Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong, But...
6. From the Ritz to the Rubble
7. A Certain Romance (see previous post)

(Songs are hosted by rapidshare.de and are live until they have not been downloaded for 30 days.)

Anticipation has the habit to set you up for disappointment...

2006-03-17T11:10:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow night I'm seeing a show I am really anticipating. The Arctic Monkeys have received a ton of buzz on both sides of the Atlantic -- they are so widely hyped it has certainly started the backlash -- and I'm looking forward to seeing how they hold up in a live setting, which I feel is the true test of a band's worth. I saw them on SNL last weekend and thought they did okay. It was their first U.S. television appearance (U.S. performance?), so I'll throw them a flyer on not blowing me away. Some bands have good songs and little stage presence, other bands have both. AM fell somewhere in between, although in a fairly atypical environment.

Here's the thing. Songwriters that create interesting characters and tell a compelling story almost always earn heavy kudos in my book, so I'm prone to like the Arctic Monkeys for that reason alone. You can dig on the Arctic Monkeys' music as being derivative (and for this reason alone not being worthy of "the next big thing" label) -- and I'll concede that they are not reinventing the wheel here -- but you can't take away Alex Turner's ability to synthesize a common experience and turn it into something all at once novel and familiar. Turning lad culture into something relevant and interesting is not a small feat. Turner takes something no one thinks about (escapism is not about thinking) and draws interesting conclusions from it, to go along with an interesting narrative.

"Get on your dancing shoes /
There's one thing on your mind /
Hoping they’re looking for you /
Sure you'll be rummaging' through /

And the shit, shock, horror /
You've seen your future bride /
Oh, but it's oh so absurd /
For you to say the first word /
So you're waiting and waiting /

The only reason that you came /
So what you scared for? /
don't you always do the same /
It's what you there for, don't you know"
-- "Dancing Shoes"

Of course for as much as I'm looking forward to seeing the show and perhaps being a part of the narrative world Turner has transcribed -- it certainly carries a romantic (in the idealized sense) weight, in my mind -- I'm also worried that the show will pull back the curtain. While the band doesn't need to be "performers" by a long stretch (a good amount of their appeal is the "everyman" image they sing about), I want them to show they are smarter than your average guy at the bar looking to take someone home. Smarter than me.

There is also the chance that the hype machine has already taken the organic appeal out of it all; that the crowd will be the Abercrombie kids will outnumber the hipsters. Both carry their own stereotypes, but one is decidedly more reserved. And for as nostalgic as the music might make me for the times where getting wasted and acting a fool where common, I'm happy have grown out of that stage and have likely (to my horror, oncoming maturity!) passed the point where seeing kids acting like kids is entertaining. (Editorial note: I can't believe I just wrote that last paragraph... shakes head at self)

"Well oh they might wear classic Reeboks /
Or knackered Converse /
Or tracky bottoms tucked in socks /
But all of that's what the point is not /
The point's that there isn’t no romance around there /

And there's the truth that they can't see /
They'd probably like to throw a punch at me /
And if you could only see them, then you would agree /
Agree that there isn’t no romance around there /

It's a funny thing you know /
We'll tell them if you like /
We'll tell them all tonight /
They'll never listen /
Cause their minds are made up /
And course it's all okay to carry on that way /

Over there there's broken bones /
There's only music, so that there's new ringtones /
And it doesn’t take no Sherlock Holmes /
To see it's a little different around here /

Don't get me wrong though there's boys in bands /
And kids who like to scrap with pool cues in their hands /
And just cause he's had a couple of cans /
He thinks it's alright to act like a dickhead /

Well over there there's friends of mine /
What can I say, I've known them for a long long time /
And they might overstep the line /
But you just cannot get angry in the same way"
-- "A Certain Romance"

Broadly, Arctic Monkeys make music about why you go out. Why it's an escape and why you do it every week ("It's just something to talk about / a story to tell" -- "From the Ritz to the Rubble"). For an entire region (the U.K.), that has resonated. They are songs about lives led every day in boring towns with nothing to do, not celebrity lives no one actually leads, and it fills a wide hole in the culture. You can't underestimate the appeal of peers telling stories to peers. Quickly, you're seeing the Arctic Monkeys same success translating to the U.S. where kids are just as bored and just as lost. Finally, someone is talking to them, not at them.

This is my backstory going into the show Saturday. As is the custom, I'll let you know what takes place. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Arctic Monkeys || Dancing Shoes (live from KCRW)
Arctic Monkeys || A Certain Romance (live from KCRW)

Martin Sexton

2006-03-16T16:40:00.000-06:00

An exciting e-mail came across my Inbox today announcing Martin Sexton's show at the Bottleneck on Friday, April 28. I've been fortunate to see Marty play four or five times and every show has been a treat. His unique take on the singer-songwriter genre is always inspiring and, while he has gathered a devoted and passionate following, I've found that he hasn't quite garnered the widespread recognition I think he deserves.

For one, he's an incredibly well-traveled musician, having played shows and toured for the better part of a decade. Second, he wrote one of my all-time favorite songs, "Glory Bound," about having the will to keep on doing just that. It is one of those tracks that I have gone back to time and time again; it never gets old or tired. Follow the dream, kind souls:

"So I packed it up and I went to the winds /
And I lived out of a VW bus for a year or two /
Ain't nothing but a pipe dream and my guitar /
Livin off of apple fields and old cigars /
Diggin this microphone checking it out every night all alone /
The car battery is dead again so I got my head dead set against it"

If the lyrics above resonate with you at all, make sure to give Martin a listen by downloading tracks from his website or via the SextonJukebox. I've added a couple of my favorites below. I will note that Martin did sell out his show a year ago when he visited the Grand Emporium in KC, so I would plan on getting tickets in advance. The Bottleneck holds about 350, if that.

The show is part of a three-week run that hits the Carolinas, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Texas. Martin is also pulling double-duty at New York City's Green Apple Music Festival with an appearance at the Jammys on April 20 and an "unannounced" show (with Assembly of Dust) at the Cutting Room the next day.

Martin Sexton || Glory Bound (from Black Sheep)
Martin Sexton || In the Journey (from Live Wide Open)
Martin Sexton || Freedom of the Road (live, Wakarusa 6/17/05)

I'll try to get a quick post in tomorrow; I'm taking a half day tomorrow and flying to Chicago. Arctic Monkeys/Spinto Band at the Metro on Saturday. And then there's this basketball tournament going on -- I might watch a game or two...

(Songs are hosted by rapidshare.de and will be live until they have been inactive for 30 days. Songs are for sampling purposes only, please support the artists whenever and however possible.)
(Image from martinsexton.com)

Live: Marisyahu / Balkan Beat Box (3/7/06)

2006-03-15T16:19:00.000-06:00

[Editor's note: While I missed out on Matisyahu's show in Kansas City, my friend Mark caught them a week later at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom. The show celebrated that day's release of Matisyahu's new album Youth. As will be the custom at I Wonder Why We Listen to Poets... every once in awhile my friends will chime in with their thoughts on concerts, music, life, culture, etc. Here is Mark's take on Matis.]

-----

It’s hard to figure out exactly what just happened. A Hasidic Jewish reggae/rapper isn’t something I’m that familiar with but there are definitely familiar points. A reformed Phish-head, some of that influence plays out in Matisyahu's music. The show opened with some very trippy guitar sounds, some light and smoke effects, and then some of Matisyahu’s high-pitched reggae yodels (what do you call those?).

As full disclosure, I’m not the most familiar with his songs – I’ve listened to Live at Stubb’s a bit but I wouldn’t say I know more than a few songs. It was the day his new album, Youth, came out so I may have been a little out of my element. However, each tune is really easy to get into, the way reggae usually is, with head bouncing and hip swaying and beats that make you feel good. Throughout the show I really wanted to be listening to the music while drinking a beer on someone’s porch in nice weather.

The one thing that was kind of a let down was that the energy wasn’t sustained all the way through. There were several times ("King Without a Crown," "Chop ‘Em Down," the encore) when everyone was flailing around and really upbeat. His beatbox showcase was incredible, kind of like Rahzel crossed with Yahweh and Michael Winslow from Police Academy.

There were some lulls though -- good chill music but it felt a little out of place. There was also a guest rapper that came on who I could have done without. He said he was from White Plains (not a good selling point if you’re trying for credibility as a rapper). The best thing that came out of that collaboration was that I definitely appreciated Matisyahu’s speed on the mic and his melodic voice. If that was the point, then I guess it was a success.

A big part of the let down could be the fact that I was one of the oldest people there. My brother (19) first told me about Matisyahu six months ago, and he was at this show. If I was a sophomore in college, this would definitely be an act that I would have heard about and gone to see. Unfortunately, that age has passed me by. Getting shoulder tapped [Ed. Note: I have no idea what this is!] is pretty fun, but standing next to high school kids that can’t handle their booze isn’t too great and that is the kind of crowd Matisyahu has right now.

When it comes down to it, it’s really good music to listen to, but in a live setting I just expect more. The beats are solid, the jams are ok, but when haven’t I heard better? Whenever I expected a soaring solo, it would end abruptly. Seeing Phish or Widespread or moe. so many times kind of overwhelms that part of my expectations.

Quick note on the opener, Balkan Beat Box: these guys started out like animals. There were six dudes – three horns, guitar, bass, drums. They were all over each other, playing some kind of Indian techno that was pretty addicting. Then they started playing with their computer and brought out a guy who could rhyme "Zion" with "Zion" and it went downhill. If they dropped that schtick, Balkan Beat Box wouldn't be half bad.

-- M. Graham, 3/8/06

Monday's Blog: Joey Cheek

2006-03-13T15:00:00.000-06:00

It was a slow weekend for I Wonder Why We Listen to Poets... I spent most of the time listening to the same ol' stuff I've been writing about over the last week or so (not that there's anything wrong with that, sometimes I think blogging makes you want to jump to the next thing too quickly). I wasn't going to post today, but then I saw something and it stirred me to write.

iTunes recently added U.S. Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek's "Celebrity Playlist." It's a pretty good compilation of indie (Andrew Bird, Death Cab) and 90's alternative (STP, Pearl Jam) and cements Joey as the kind of guy I'm glad to support. I became a big Joey Cheek fan during the Olympics and I had wanted to write about him, so this seems like the perfect segue into that.

It is a big world and there's a lot of stuff that happens in the outside the United States that doesn't necessarily get the press it should. As a public, we are often subject to agendas we do not control and therefore have a hard time finding news from within in our traditional media outlets that is unfiltered, unbiased or unweighted. Certainly the genocide in Darfur is one of those things that hasn't been a priority for the U.S. media given all the other U.S.-centric events in which we are engaged.

That's where Joey Cheek's actions in the Olympics comes in.

I'm glad Mr. Cheek (see, now I can use my Wall Street Journal style guide) has taken his 15 minutes and directed the attention away from his achievements, towards something far more important. By pledging his medal bonuses (around $40,000 I think) and urging his sponsors to match, Cheek has helped the people of the Sudan gain valuable attention. It's hard to feel like we can accomplish much as lone individuals, but I hope that one person in the spotlight turning our attention towards the Sudan is just a start to the good we can help bring about.

For anyone who's seen a movie like Hotel Rwanda -- so not a date movie by the way -- or has read anything about the horrors of a genocide, it is all we can do not to turn our eyes away when those people need the world's help and compassion.

Further reading:
"Cheek's generosity rates medal" || San Francisco Chronicle
"Redicovering the Olympic ideal" || Washington Post
"U.S. must work to halt Darfur genocide" || Boston Herald

With that I thought I'd post some uplifting/thought provoking tunes, enjoy and make sure to check out Right to Play.

Van Morrison || St. Dominic's Preview (one of my all-time favorite songs, by one of my all-time favorite artists)
Van Morrison || Caravan ("Turn it up / Radio / So you know it's got soul")
Pearl Jam || Indifference ("I will scream my lungs out, / 'til it fills this room")
Pearl Jam || Breath ("I suggest you get off your porch / Run away my son / See it all / See the world")

(Songs are hosted by rapidshare.de and will be live until they have been inactive for 30 days. Songs are for sampling purposes only, please support the artists whenever and however possible.)

First Listen: Both Sides of the Gun

2006-03-09T18:48:00.000-06:00

[I think one of the things I will try to regularly incorporate is a "First Listen" feature where I'll sit down with a new release and write about what comes to mind on that all-important first listen (okay, maybe we'll shoot for an *early* listen). I really enjoy giving albums a scholarly look and think it's a worthwhile endeavor to take some time, think about the music and try to pin down what might be going on with it.]

My first installment of "First Listen" is Both Sides of the Gun. I've been looking forward to this release for ages now. If you've been following along, Ben Harper is tops among peers in my mind. The best thing is that you never know what you're going to get from him; each album is an adventure and an exploration. I think this one will show us another side of Ben's varied repetoire.

Play.

Better Way - Great slide work in the middle. Another uplifting song from Ben, "I believe in a better way." I like the scream at the end. I think it's the only way to convey those lyrics. "Reality is sharp because it cuts like a knife. Everyone I know is in the fight of their life." It's affecting. The Middle Eastern vibe at the end is new. I didn't pick it up from the video.

Both Sides of the Gun - Feels like soul. I'm already liking the direction of his more upbeat songs. That 70s soul vibe needs to make a come back. Sam Cooke, Marvin in his hey- Backup singers make an appearance. Definitely from the Isaac Hayes ouvre. Short at 2:44 could be stretched out a bit more...

Engraved Invitation - Harder rock. I've heard AC/DC comparisons on the boards, the lead riff could be, but it's a little more ZZ Top I think. What lyrics I'm picking up are good. Can't wait to delve in a little further. Ben's straining on the last chorus, really pushing the words out there. You can tell he's feeling it.

Black Rain - "You left them swimming for their lives down in New Orleans / Can't afford a gallon of gasoline." This song, I knew would be one of my favorites, and it might be for a long time. Like the strings... nice presence. Lots of soul. Politics are sharp. "And it won't be long 'til the people flood the streets / To take you down / One and all / It's a black rain / Gonna fall / Gonna fall." This should be a single.

Gather 'Round the Stone - Onto the acoustic for the first time. Would have loved to have heard the Blind Boys on this one. Could have added some punch to the chorus, but the layered vox the third time around are okay; I want to hear them deeper though. The idea is there. The backing instruments are too in/out. "You whip the back of freedom / Till it bleeds an oil stream"

Please Don't Talk About Murder - Nice rocker. Sounds like it will be fun live. One of those that will age well, I think. You can hear a lot of opportunity for the IC's to take off in the live setting.

Get It Like You Like It - Organ intro. Sounds pretty Stones-y. The Johnny Damon line is classic. "In 1918 the Great Bambino kicked a piano into Willis Pond / But Johnny Damon swung a bat / That was that, an 86 year old curse was gone." What a great moment in time... Hand claps, another great live song. I'm really excited to see some shows. Hopefully there are a few in the midwest.

The Way You Found Me - Interesting take. Jazz club feel. Feels like something you can hear at the Blue Room. We haven't heard this influence from Ben before. Piano is nice. Jazz, man, you got me. I'm amazed at how loose all these songs feel. It's cool, almost like you're listening to demos or live takes. Less polished, but I think that suits this set of songs so far (one to go on this disc). Wish it was longer... 2:53 only.

Serve Your Soul - Here's some length, 8:22. Zeppelin comes to mind right off... a circular electric riff into some acoustic work and strings. Need some wind instruments and you've got "Stairway." A heavier-ish electric solo fades into acoustic strumming backing a building solo. Definately rock. Nice little jam around 5:00. Catches a second wind in the last minute. Violins come in... definitely epic in scope. I like. Approve.

Morning Yearning - Strings are here. Acoustic is set back in the mix, less prevalent than the RTL2 live version. Drums are subtle but nice as well. "Baby crying kept us all night / With her morning yearning." A lot of tension in the vocals. String swells, upright bass. "Like a summer rose / I'm a victim of the fall / but I'm soon returning." Nice play on "fall's" multiple meanings.

Waiting For You - Sounds like a Verve song. Richard Ashcroft would be proud.

(Side note: Sabres 5, Lightning 4 - second period... new goals every time I look up at the game. Wide open game... no goaltending right now)

Picture In a Frame - Lap steel makes an appearance. Nashville. So far, this is certainly a different disc, but calling it "acoustic" or "ballads" isn't the right description. If the first disc is "A Change Is Gonna Come" then this disc is "Moolight Mile" or "Wild Horses." AM radio hits of the 70s for sure.

Never Leave Lonely Alone - A different acoustic style from Ben. The piano has played a really understated role throughout this album. Just guitar, piano and an upright bass on this one.

Sweet Nothing Serenade - Weissenborn on the lead? Or just a lap slide? ~~Long-ish instrumental intro~~ ~~long instrumental intro~~ instrumental.

Reason to Mourn - Feedback/tuning for the first :24. For all Ben's various indulgences, he's been fairly judicious with his use of strings. All very effective and I haven't found any too egregious. There's definitely an influence for this disc, but I'm not pulling it down right now. It will come to me. Early 70s Stones? A little more stately take on Harvest?

More Than Sorry - As in "What more than 'sorry' do you want from me?" Two guitars... three? No other accompanyment.

Crying Won't Help You Now - Sounds like it was a bad relationship. Here's a ballad.

Happy Everafter in Your Eyes - Great melody Ben pulled for this one. A very gentle song. Reminiscent of a Burn to Shine-era ballad in a way (thinking Beloved One...). Will have to spend some more time with this one. I'm sure it will be one of those that clicks one day and might be very important for some stretch of life.

I'm really happy with listen number one. It did not dissapoint at all. I really like the first disc's vibe. Those songs don't quite feel fleshed out, but it might sound differently on the stereo than in headphones. I think the loose feel will lend itself to volume. If those songs are a 4, I can only say the subsequent (imminent?) live album will be a masterpiece. I think they could do with some live growth and they'll really flourish, but as they stand, they are a good collection. The second disc was fascinating. I need to pin down the similarity. It reminds me a lot of Nashville in the 70s when rock went country.

-----

J.Jakes. - you are the man for hooking me up with this early. I'm geeked to have a chance to sit with it, especially since I wasn't sure if my pre-order would have even made it to me by the 21st. I'm commissioning a statue in your honor, my friend. Thank you sir...

Great day for the Internet

2006-03-09T18:07:00.000-06:00

All my regular bookmarks came up with great content today. Here are the highlights:

Expert fantasy baseball advice from a humor website? I think so: "Irrefutable roster of characters from classic Nintendo video games" (McSweeney's).

Muzzle of Bees offers you live Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah. Still on the fence? Hoard free, live mp3s until you turn the corner and join the rest of the gang. It's nice around the corner.

It sounds like a premise for an article in The Onion headline, but it's not: Inventor of the cubicle regrets his invention. (Via Buzz Patrol)

When I move and sell my broke-down couch rather than truck it to the next apartment, I'm going to advertise using this method.

Live: Railroad Earth / Hakensaw Boys

2006-03-09T02:44:00.000-06:00

First off, I can't summarize this show without a soundtrack:

Railroad Earth || Lordy Lordy
Railroad Earth || Cold Water
(From the Black Bear Sessions)

Railroad Earth is an incredible live band. There's no disputing that fact as the impressive Elko attests (seriously, eMusic is practically begging you to sign up and use some of your 50 free downloads to get this album).

During the first set the band proved its mettle with a strong trio from its first album: "Cold Water," "Lordy Lordy" and "Stillwater Getaway." I'd spent most of my time with Elko lately, so I hadn't listened to these songs in awhile. Their familarity was readily apparent though and it was reassuring to know that only three songs in they had played nothing but winners and yet nothing from the new record so there was much more in store.

The first set reached its peak with its closer, "Like a Buddha." The first notes were definitely an argument on behalf of live music. For a moment, that moment itself was irrelevant and the music was the only thing that deserved your attention. It was a transcendent moment; which made me wish I had a few average reviews under my belt to prove I wasn't just gushing superlatives for last night's adrenaline's sake.

The song "Elko" was the highlight of the second set, again for its lyricism as I blogged about Monday, but a different set of lyics stood out to me in the live setting:

"I need a card / I need a card / Hit me Lord, but not too hard / I need a winning hand"

The interaction between the crowd and band, singing the last words of the main set was fitting, given the size of the room and intimacy of the crowd with the band.

Heading into the encore, the only song I wanted to hear hadn't been played. I was happy to have an affirmative look my way when my call for "Long Way To Go" was heard. Following a great instrumental jam, they played the song and the night was complete. Sometimes the stars align and the show is that good. If you have the chance to see Railroad Earth in your town, do so.

"I like the Hackensaw Boys now, if only because they let us get up front." -- Graham Gerjerts

The Hackensaw Boys were a decent opener. Not the kind of band I'd ever see on their own, nor really invest any time in, but there's no harm in watching them open the show. They do have an interesting percussion set up in the family of tin cans and warshboards. They each referred to each other as Jake Hackensaw or Bill Hackensaw. And I got to see the guitarist open his beer bottle with his teeth, so I guess that was cool. During RRE's set break, the Hackensaws performed an inpromptu (?) acoustic set by the merch table which drew a crowd and inspired the above quote. Good times.

And then there's this... World Wide Suicide

2006-03-08T11:13:00.000-06:00

Pearl Jam || World Wide Suicide (first single from the upcoming Pearl Jam LP; via pearljam.com)

Vintage.

PJ has also released the dates for the first leg of its U.S. tour with My Morning Jacket.

More info here and here (pdf; interview with Ed and Ten Club mgr. Tim Bierman about the new album).

UPDATE (12:38 p.m.): And here.

Wednesday links

2006-03-08T09:19:00.000-06:00

A few links from this morning:

Live Online Tonight: Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah (npr.org) - I won't be there to hear it, but you should listen.

Gomez Show How They Operate (RollingStone.com) - I know, I know, more Gomez... but I'm not going to apologize; I'm geared up for the new album and happy to see that it looks like they're getting a fair shot at it this time around.

"Their last two releases, for Virgin/Hut (EMI), got caught in what Gray calls 'major-label bullshit.' Weeks before the release of 2002's In Our Gun, an amped album full of Gomez's signature acoustic harmonies and electronic psychadelia, EMI downscaled the label. Their last album, 2004's more pop-focused Split the Difference, was released in the wake of Hut's shutdown."

Pete Doherty: 'Making Progress' Against Drugs (NME.com) - Enough already... how many times does he have to get arrested in the same day before they treat his problem seriously. Aside from what seems to be a weekly court appearance, are there any consequences for this guy? Let him do what he'll do, but stop wasting my time. On second thought, don't click this link, just know it is there. And ridiculous.

Raconteurs Unveil Debut LP Tracklist (pitchforkmedia.com) - Jack White has it in for the bloggers, though I imagine he was just having a tough day (maybe Karen accidentally put some reds in the wash with his whites). I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Why? Oh yeah, because he can do no wrong.

The Raconteurs || Steady, As She Goes

That's that friends. For the moment. Stay tuned this week for a review of the Railroad Earth show I'm seeing tonight and a special post from guest-author/savant M. Graham about Matisyahu in NYC...

Sometimes I Rhyme Slow

2006-03-07T16:48:00.000-06:00

Cruising around the web today, I was introduced to the "mash up" of Jose Gonzalez' album Veneer with various hip-hop artists for the compilation Sometimes I Rhyme Slow. I listened to the samples on Myspace for like an hour straight. If you like hip-hop but feel it's missing something without live instrumentation, this is the mix for you (me...).

Head over to Josh Spear for more information and links.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Go + All You Deliver, Common

2. Get ‘Em High + Lovestain, Kanye West feat. Talib Kweli & Common

3. Good Mourning + Deadweight on Velveteen, Reflection Eternal

4. The Light + Heartbeats, Common feat. Erika Badu

5. Two Words + Slow Moves, Kanye West feat. Mos Def & Freeway

6. Dreams + Crosses, The Game

7. My Favorite Ladies + Remain, MF Doom

8. One Love + Stay in the Shade, Nas

9. The Greatest Show on Earth + Hints, Aceyalone

Catching up with some favorites

2006-03-07T11:18:00.000-06:00

A couple of quick hits this morning to clear the queue:

BenHarper.net has two clips up promoting the upcoming release of Both Sides of the Gun (T-minus 15 days...), including 12-minute preview of the album with some always interesting commentary from Ben himself. Additionally, .net has the video for the album's lead single "Better Way."

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Gomez launched it's new website yesterday, gomeztheband.com. It is the first time the band has had control of their own website, so it looks like they might actually keep it updated after the push for the new album is complete. On first look, the best feature might just be the journal.

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Check out Rolling Stone's review of Elko. (via the Live Music Blog... thanks for the mention!)

Railroad Earth, Elko

2006-03-06T16:57:00.000-06:00

This weekend I was able to spend a lot of time listening to Railroad Earth's recent live release Elko in a couple of different settings and I'm not sure I can express how impressive (and good!) it is without throwing out a ton of lofty adjectives that won't really mean anything -- besides that I know a lot of synonyms for "incredible" and I won't hesitate to apply them liberally to this album.

Over the course of Elko's two discs, RRE gets ample opportunity to play with the conventions of roots music and it's all sweet. At times I find them a lot more Grateful Dead ("The Hunting Song," "Elko") than Garcia/Grisman, which is a welcome change of pace from the traditional bluegrass form -- which I like and respect, but am not generally over the moon about. I find that I like that I like roots music, more often than I actually like roots music (if you follow me).

The presence of Carey Harmon's drum kit is the thing that sets them apart. The percussion allows them to go places with the music that other bands can't get to given the limitations of the instrumentation. Songs like "Warhead Boogie" and "Like a Buddha" legitmately find a groove and don't let up. This characteristic of their music might perhaps be the most vital reason RRE has developed its extensive following in the live music scene.

Todd Scheaffer's songwriting also stands out. The title-track paints a vivid picture of the town where truckers, drifters, poor boys and boozers alike pass through in the night. This month's issue of Relix magazine has a great feature on the band (unavailable online) that describes the tune:

It was the band's many trips out to California that inspired the road tale from which Elko takes its name. One of the group's preferred stops on its way home from the High Sierra Music Festival, Elko, California, is a funky little slice of Americana, a Nevada-California bordertown that's home to the annual cowboy poetry convention and a vaguero-themed casino where a weary Railroad Earth can score a hotel rooms for 25 bucks and drink and gamble all night. "Poor boys and gamblers / Road dogs and ramblers /Shutting it down for the night," Scheaffer sings on his tribute to the town.

From Elko (an amazing value if you have an eMusic account by the way):
Railroad Earth || Long Way to Go
Railroad Earth || Like a Buddha

Via the band's website:
Railroad Earth || Mighty River (live)
Railroad Earth || Elko (live)
Railroad Earth || Head (live)

Of course, I get the chance to see them live on Wednesday night; stay tuned for a full review on Thursday.

(Photo: C. Taylor Crothers 2005)
(Songs are hosted by rapidshare.de and will be live until they have been inactive for 30 days. Songs are for sampling purposes only, please support the artists whenever and however possible.)

Upcoming Shows

2006-03-03T15:04:00.000-06:00

My show calendar hits its stride in the month of March. Averaging one show per week this month will be tons of fun... missing out on Matisyahu the other night was just the tip of the iceberg.

Names, dates, places:

5. Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah - 3/30, The Bottleneck
4. Wilco - 3/21, Uptown Theater
3. Arctic Monkeys - 3/18, The Metro, Chicago!
2. Railroad Earth - 3/8, The Bottleneck

I'm extremely excited for all four shows. I missed Railroad Earth's set at Wakarusa last summer (to see North Mississippi All-Stars and nap on the lawn) and reports were that it was one of the weekend's best. I've been wearing out the Arctic Monkeys lately. At just twenty years old, man, they get it. I can't wait to see them live in Chicago (on St. Patty's Day weekend no less) and then tear down the Windy City afterwards. You can't go wrong with Wilco and this will be my second time seeing them live. Besides, they are the namesakes of this blog (or is that the other way around?). Lots to say about Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah, but I'll save that for its own post. Needless to say, I'm very interested to see what their live show is like.

If I still have anything left, I might go check out the Soledad Brothers on March 31 at the Bottleneck. I haven't heard much from them, besides being name-checked by Jack White and the Black Keys, so if anyone has any input make sure to leave it in the comments. I like what I have heard, though, so I'm likely going.

Soledad Brothers || Downtown (via Alive Records, from the LP The Hardest Walk)

2006 Show List to date:

1. Robert Randolph and the Family Band - 2/10, Uptown Theater

My God it's been so long...

2006-03-02T09:15:00.000-06:00

Add it to the calendar:

Pearl Jam is set to release its new self-titled LP on May 2. Pearl Jam will be preceded by the first single "World Wide Suicide," available for free download next Wednesday (March 8) from pearljam.com.

More: "Pearl Jam to Release Eigth Studio Album," NME (note: albums are released on Mondays in the UK, thus the difference in dates)

Matisyahu at the Beaumont

2006-03-01T14:18:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it is just inevitable that you'll miss shows that you want to see. Tonight is going to be one of them for me (see also: Cash, Lack thereof). Matisyahu is playing at the Beaumont Club in Westport.

I'm especially upset to be sitting this one out because I'm completely curious as to what this show will look like. For those who haven't heard of him before, Matisyahu is both an incredible reggae artist and a Hisidic Jew. I can't quite wrap my head around what it will all look like in person. While Matisyahu isn't exactly catering to the Mitzvah circuit, the actual process of playing religion-inspired music in the midst of such a secular venue and crowd is intruging to me for a number of reasons.

I've been doing some reading on him and I have to admit, I'm amazed at the dedication it takes to maintain his lifestyle on the road -- including giving up stage diving because of the chance he might come in contact with a female in the process or not playing shows on Friday nights so he can observe the Sabbath.

The whole thing adds up to a pretty unique experience, I'd imagine. So I'm sad I'll have to miss out.

From very informative feature in the Washington Post:

"I don't see myself as a religious musician. I'm not trying to make myself more marketable or more mainstream. My music, and my message, is more marketable. It's emet, it's truth. And I feel like that's for everybody."
-- Matisyahu

I've been listening to Live at Stubb's quite a bit recently. "King Without a Crown" is an amazing song. The more you listen and absorb his music, the more it becomes clear that his songs and their messages are truly universal. Reggae is a genre that benefits greatly by trumpeting a strong message, with the emergence of Matisyahu as the "Hasidic Reggae Superstar," the genre has found a very powerful voice.

Matisyahu || King Without a Crown
Matisyahu || Chop 'Em Down

The new album Youth comes out next week (March 7), so I imagine this is just the start of the talk about a pretty solid artist.

(Photo by Helayne Seidman for The Washington Post)

Tuesday night blog

2006-02-28T21:54:00.000-06:00

I should be playing hockey tonight, but I went instead to the Boys & Girls Clubs' "Kids Night Out" fundraiser featuring the star of Snow Dogs and Los Angeles Kings fan, Cuba Gooding Jr. I had to applaud when he started talking hockey. At least the NHL is back in action and I can watch the end of the late-night games while I add this.

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A couple of cool shows in Kansas City tomorrow night. 90.9 The Bridge, which is pretty much the only station I listen to these days when I listen to the radio, is sponsoring Ben Taylor and Tristan Prettyman at recordBar. Muzzle of Bees recently featured a short "review" of Tristan's recent show in Madison and is holding a contest to award a copy to her new album, twenty three. I'd say your chances to win are pretty good if you enter.

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Also Wednesday, Matisyahu is playing at the Beaumont Club. More on this tomorrow morning.

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Earlier today, I added Out the Other to my Blog Roll on your right. I find myself going back to it pretty regularly and enjoy Janet's take on new bands. Half the time opening up to new music is all about its presentation; she's got it down. Besides, she hooked me up with my first link back to this site at the end of her post on Gomez.

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Well, I don't have any music on this computer, but I did grab this and haven't even had a chance to listen to it yet.... from the engineer demos of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, you can hear early traces of the lyrics to "Radio Cure."

Wilco || Corduroy Cutoff Girl

More on The National

2006-02-27T12:18:00.000-06:00

Filmmaker Vincent Moon added the three videos he shot live for The National aboard La Guinguette in Paris last December to YouTube. Visually, they are stunning, water-color-and-shadow portraits that find a fitting companionship with the music.

The black-and-white take on "Baby We'll Be Fine" is my favorite, I think... One of my favorites from Alligator, the song's lyrics are wonderfully evocative and emotionally bare. It's a powerful song about feelings of failure, need and regret. You know, happy stuff... 'cause baby, we'll be fine.

All night I lay on my pillow and pray / For my boss to stop me in the hallway / Lay my head on his shoulder and say / 'Son, I've been hearing good things...' /

Part 1: Abel
Part 3: About Today

Enjoy!

Of St. Louis, Jack Johnson and Antibalas...

2006-02-24T11:34:00.000-06:00

A couple of quick updates today. I'm heading to St. Louis this weekend for the city's Mardi Gras celebration in Soulard. I'm not sure what to expect, except that it should be a good time and my cold will be worse the wear when I get back to KC...

Some quick reviews:

Jack Johnson - Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies From the Film Curious George

If you've listened to Jack Johnson before you know what to expect from his albums by now. For some people that's a detractor, but I think its fine. I like the vibe of Jack's music and really just enjoy listening to it, even if some of the songs tend to use the same chords or have a lazy strum-slap acoustic reggae vibe. That said, creating songs for the Curious George soundtrack did force him to approach his music from a slightly different angle, as one of the target audiences and main fans of the film is children. Jack (sometimes I feel like I should refer to people's last names and use 'Mr./Ms.' to lend some Wall Street Journal culture to the blog) does a great a pretty admirable job bridging the gap and his "kids" songs are among the album's best and most enjoyable tunes ("Sharing Song", "The 3 R's" - that's Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by the way).

The prevailing reason to give the album a listen is for Jack's choice of cover songs, the White Stripes' "We're Going to Be Friends" and Ben Harper's "With My Own Two Hands." The retooled acoustic version of "Two Hands" is awesome, and is exactly the type of song kids, of all ages, should grow up with. The lead single "Upside Down" (a reworked version of the unreleased "Who's to Say [G.A.T.E.]") is among Jack's best; but if you tired of Jack's recent albums than you might want to grab a couple tracks and leave it at that.

Jack Johnson || Upside Down
Jack Johnson (with Ben Harper) || With My Own Two Hands

Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - Who Is This America?...

One of my best pulls from emusic last month was Antibalas' Who Is This America?... Antibalas plays African-influenced rhythmic funk music, that is equal parts James Brown and Fela Kuti. I first heard the band at the opening of Danny Clinch's doc of Bonnaroo 2003, "270 Miles to Graceland." After attending a set by Senor Oz at recordBar, where he did some pretty stellar things with reggae, afrobeat and Jay-Z songs, I decided I needed to have some more of this kind of music on the ready.

Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra || Big Man

NOTE: You can hear more samples of Antibalas' music on their site, including the new EP "Government Music".

Have a great weeeknd everyone!

(Songs are hosted by rapidshare.de and will be live until they have been inactive for 30 days. Songs are for sampling purposes only, please support the artists whenever and however possible.)

Jens Lekman

2006-02-22T17:11:00.000-06:00

For some reason I've been working on the "J" section of my iTunes list for the last day or two, which has meant a lot of Jack Johnson and his new Sing-A-Longs & Lullibies From the Film Curious George and, luckily, Jens Lekman's Oh You're So Silent, Jens.

Feeling kind of sick last night gave me the chance to really take some time and give it a good listen.

I read about this album when it came out and picked up the song "Black Cab" shortly afterwards. After spending some time with that song, I decided it was time to hear some more. Lekman's music has a very vintage sound that sets him apart from his peers. He's part Bacharach, part Drake, part Elliott Smith.

The whole of Oh, You're So Silent, Jens is various incarnations of good -- ranging from spectacular to interesting to respectable -- though one might anticipate some unevenness from an album that was culled from various EPs, singles and outtakes released over a period of several years. Regardless, it's a good album for lazy Sundays and sick days.

I think Jens' strongest quality is his lyrics; he somehow makes lines work that you won't expect (and even finds ways to earn partial credit for those that fall short).

"She said, 'We were just make believe' / But I thought she said 'maple leaves'"
-- Maple Leaves

Even a song like "A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill" has a great line that lends the song some weight to justify its spiral into a '60s doo-wop toss off sung by a chorus of available friends or just passers-by, turning a throw away track into a quirky, respectable gem:

"Oh I still remember 'Regulate' with Warren G / Could I be back in the sweet summer of 1993? / It was a sweet summer's night on Hammer Hill"
-- A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill

Lekman's songs remind me of tiny Wes Anderson movies, filled with characters flawed and failing, endearing, unique and immesurably interesting.

"Now there's nothing left / but love, enough to feed a family / Well, I just wanna feed Emily / with lukewarm English beer and vegan pancakes"
-- I Saw Her at the Anti-War Demonstration

"What will you do when you graduate? / If you stay here you will suffocate / And all your friends are moving to London / While the cherry trees are still in blossom / Oh Julie, I'm a firecracker"
-- Julie (remix)

If you like these, you can find more on both emusic and iTunes.

Jens Lekman || Maple Leaves (EP version)
Jens Lekman || Pocketful of Money
Jens Lekman || Black Cab

Jens has a few other songs for download at his website, here.
You can read a recent interview with him at Pitchfork.

(Songs are hosted by rapidshare.de and will be live until they have been inactive for 30 days. Songs are for sampling purposes only, please support the artists whenever and however possible.)

Big Ideas (Don't Get Any)

2006-02-20T15:29:00.000-06:00

Great news today out of Camp Radiohead: the band is working on the song "Nude" (a.k.a "Big Ideas [Don't Get Any]") for their upcoming album. I've always thought this song was killer back when I tried to listen to any and every note Radiohead had ever played and was glad to have an excuse to go back and listen to it today.

From the band's recording journal, Dead Air Space:

monday morning.

jonny is hastily writing out scores for a string quartet who are comign tommoro.

right now we are working on nude, it sounds beautiful, as far as i can tell.

i hope we dont get i'll. there is a lot of sickness about. especially for the children.

thm

The song is a hold-over from the OK Computer days; it can be heard in the essential Rh doc Meeting People Is Easy. More on its history and lyrics here.

Radiohead || Nude (live 4-17-1998)

You can find a solo version of the song from Thom's set for the Trade Justice Movement here, if you want to do some work to unpack them... a couple unreleased gems are also included for your patience.

(Songs are hosted by rapidshare.de and will be live until they have been inactive for 30 days. Songs are for sampling purposes only, please support the artists whenever and however possible.)

Elbow on So Much Silence

2006-02-20T11:37:00.000-06:00

Over the weekend, So Much Silence posted some great Elbow .mp3's from an Xfm radio session. I don't see them in the same light as Coldplay at all - "Mexican Standoff" sounds tons like Radiohead's "The National Anthem" though - but I do think Leaders of the Free World is step up for the band [website]. There was something about Cast of Thousands that I never really got into (maybe it was the old "11 songs, same tempo" debate), but Leaders is a much easier listen and has a little more kick in its step.

Interestingly, Leaders is released in North America tomorrow, Feb. 21, in three formats (CD only, CD + bonus DVD disc, DVD only) despite the fact that it has been out in Europe for quite awhile now.

What's the symbology of that?

2006-02-18T02:06:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that I am watching The Boondock Saints on the WB at 2:00 a.m. If you haven't seen the movie, you should do yourself a favor and check it out. I'd say its a classic, but I have no idea how many people have even seen it. I know all my friends and everyone I know has seen it and loves it, but I get the feeling that it's not a 100% home run already with the indie scene... I think... it should be. Very good film, especially when you can talk about it with friends.

SMECKER: So now we got a 'huge guy' theory and a serial crusher theory, good job.

So if you haven't seen it put it on your Netflix queue, if you have know you're in good company...

GREENLEIGH: These guys are long gone by now. The only way you're gonna find them is to drag a potato through South Boston. Good luck. Thanks for comin' out!
MURPHY: You'd probably have better luck with a beer.
SMECKER: Hey Greenleigh, onion bagel. No cream cheese.

Have a good night, all. I'm going to see how they deal with the 1,000,000 1/2 swear words in this movie.

Go WB...

Ben Harper from RTL2 Radio

2006-02-17T19:24:00.000-06:00

For the record, Ben Harper is my musical hero. He was my first live show (back in '96) and he's become such a standard in my daily listening habits that it is odd for a day to go by without hearing at least one Ben song... especially with iTunes and my iPod where I have everything right at the tip of my fingers.

Ben's new album Both Sides of the Gun comes out on March 21. It's a 2x CD and from what I've heard so far, Ben's leaning heavily towards that 70's soul vibe and some rootsy acoustic stuff. And for the first time since FFYM he's got some politics behind his lyrics. From Ben's new bio:

Beyond a newfound confidence, he claims that working with the Blind Boys - and a subsequent session with the incomparable Funk Brothers for the Standing in the Shadows of Motown film - gave him the sense of immediacy and urgency that underscores Both Sides of the Gun.

So, March 21... I'm so there.

On Feb. 2, Ben played two new songs for RTL2 Radio in France. Here's the audio from that performance (he didn't break between songs, so they're both on the same track):

Ben Harper || Morning Yearning/Gather 'Round the Stone (live on RTL2)

The incomparable crew at BenHarper.net is offering a pre-order of Both Sides, complete with a limited-edition bonus disc, so if you're interested you shouldn't miss out on that.

Bonus disc tracklist:
- Gold to Me (Live Acoustic)
- Get It Like You Like It (Live Acoustic)
- Gather 'Round the Stone (Live Acoustic)
- Beloved One (Live)
- Waiting For You (Alternate mix)
- Morning Yearning (Alternate mix)
- Reason to Mourn (Alternate mix)
- Gather 'Round the Stone (Charlie Musselwhite version)
- Dressed In Black (Live with Charlie Musselwhite)

(Songs are hosted by rapidshare.de and will be live until they have been inactive for 30 days. Songs are for sampling purposes only, please support the artists whenever and however possible.)

How We Operate

2006-02-17T12:46:00.000-06:00

I was extremely excited to read the news that Gomez has a new album coming out in May on ATO Records. "How We Operate" shoots right up the list of releases I'm looking forward to in 2006.

From what I've read thus far it looks like it should be among Gomez'z (possessive!?) best material. It will be interesting to see what effect working with a producer [Gil Norton (Pixies, Foo Fighters)] for the first time has on their tunes (Tchad Blake came in at the end of recording Split the Difference as more of a consultant to sate the label's desires, but wasn't necessarily a true "producer" per say.)

I think this will be a positive development:

'What was interesting to me about making this album,' said Norton, 'is that Gomez had never done pre-production on any of their previous albums so we got together in a room to really work out each song before we recorded them in the studio.'

I feel that Gomez is one of those bands that suffers a little from having three incredible songwriters and you could see it in their more recent albums. They guys seemed to be writing their own songs away from the band and then bringing them back when it was time to record, making the final product feel more like the work of three different bands than of a cohesive unit. Their first two strikes, Bring It On and Liquid Skin, worked so well because the whole band really worked together on crafting the songs, no matter the original songwriter.

Hopefully this brings them back to that process. I'm definately encouraged by the above quote.

I was going to post some b-sides in celebration of the new album (and lack of new songs to share) but a couple of tracks have found the airwaves already. Pioneering individuals ripped the streams and they are availble for everyone to preview.

Gomez || See the World
Gomez || Notice

And because I love 'Mez'z b-sides:

Gomez || Pick Up the Pieces (Whippin' Piccadilly single)
Gomez || Bed Hairdo (Internet and Sweet Virginia single)

A three-man acoustic promotional tour (Ian Ball, Ben Ottewell and Tom Grey) will take place in advance of the album's release, while the band proper has been booked at SXSW, Bonnaroo and Wakarusa later this year.

(Photo from here.)
(These songs are hosted by rapidshare.de and will be live until they have been inactive for 30 days. Songs are for sampling purposes only, please support the artists whenever and however possible.)

The National on Pitchfork

2006-02-09T16:32:00.000-06:00

One of my most prized discoveries of 2005 was The National's Alligator. "All the Wine" is battling for the top spot on my iTunes Top 25 Most Played, but Alligator might be one of the only albums where I can legitimately say that every song has been my favorite at some point. Matt Berninger's lyrics are somehow full of confidence, bravado, despair and self-doubt all at the same time, often in the same song. I find myself continually impressed, even after repeated listens.

This interview was posted on Pitchfork on Monday (2/6). I'm not sure how I missed it that day, but I'm glad to have found it now.

Berninger seems like a very thoughtful interview:

I think that one thing that I was trying do with Alligator is cut out any lyrics that sounded like obvious statements or big lyrical ideas. ... They might make sense and sound right for one day, then you'd realize that it's just not quite true, not quite right, that the truth is a little mushier than that.

This one seems like an apropos first real post. I might add a few quick hits later tonight from some interesting discusssions going on elsewhere. Stay tuned this weekend for some other stuff I've got planned, including two bonus tracks from Kicking Television.