2009-02-26
2009-02-24
Important Dates
The lineup at the bug jar is getting sicker by the minute:
3/15 - The Robotanists (friend's band) ok not a good way to start a poignant post but hang on ...
4/1 - Handsome Furs - if you like wolf parade, you like this band ... i got one of their albums ... its currently in reg rot ... teeatts
4/27 - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - if you like the smiths go to this show ... also this is like ... don't miss
4/30 - Jeremy Jay - i have only heard one song by this guy, but i'm pretty much sold ... more to come when i have actually listened to more of his body of work. The bastard has some old school cool dance jaunts though. I love it.
Also remember that quote "But the band's epic slow-burn indie still sounded incredible, ringing and echoing all over the field. Since then, the band's sound has only gotten bigger and more assured, and these days its shows are basically must-see" .... i just ran out of room in my pants ...
3/15 - The Robotanists (friend's band) ok not a good way to start a poignant post but hang on ...
4/1 - Handsome Furs - if you like wolf parade, you like this band ... i got one of their albums ... its currently in reg rot ... teeatts
4/27 - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - if you like the smiths go to this show ... also this is like ... don't miss
4/30 - Jeremy Jay - i have only heard one song by this guy, but i'm pretty much sold ... more to come when i have actually listened to more of his body of work. The bastard has some old school cool dance jaunts though. I love it.
Also remember that quote "But the band's epic slow-burn indie still sounded incredible, ringing and echoing all over the field. Since then, the band's sound has only gotten bigger and more assured, and these days its shows are basically must-see" .... i just ran out of room in my pants ...
2009-02-20
fantastic friday frenzy
Overall I would say this week supplied little in the way of interesting news on the music front. However there are a few things worth noting:
Once again it seems the music gods have smiled upon western new york. The Thermals announced their tour and despite stops in Cleveland and Toronto (then Montreal) they decided to make a stop in Buffalo!!!! I'm there like a prom date pimple ... ya heard? My goal for this show is to advance my career as an indie rock roadie. I mean hey, i've got experience (almost 1 year to the date of the thermals show actually). What i lack in physical strength i think i more than make up with in the enthusiasm department. And I work for the right price (gratis of course!)
My goal is to get to 10 boxes of t's, 3 hobo's, and midget dressed as a clown on my shoulders all at the same time by may ... ready ... go!
I totally got my hands on the new Coconut Records album ... some dude totally ripped the stream off the myspace page. I hate it ... but i love it.
I got through all my seasonal mix albums since 2002 this week. My favorite transition out of all of them was off of "Winter Jams". I believe that was circa 2003. I had Jerkoff by Tool trail into In Other Words by BK. That was pretty amazing right there. Also when I was done I put in Strawberry Jam. I think that album is once again listenable ... holy shit did i overdo it with that one.
Remember that one time I couldn't remember the title to the song Tonight Tonight Tonight? Don't worry, i paid dearly, 60 lashes with a cambodian death noodle ought to prevent such silliness from transpiring again.
Still seraching for a guitar on c-list. I need one! Oh and rochester made the music news this week for something coo... wait no it super lame .. the yoosh. Oh and
MY FUCKING RECORD PLAYER COMES IN TODAY!!
Once again it seems the music gods have smiled upon western new york. The Thermals announced their tour and despite stops in Cleveland and Toronto (then Montreal) they decided to make a stop in Buffalo!!!! I'm there like a prom date pimple ... ya heard? My goal for this show is to advance my career as an indie rock roadie. I mean hey, i've got experience (almost 1 year to the date of the thermals show actually). What i lack in physical strength i think i more than make up with in the enthusiasm department. And I work for the right price (gratis of course!)
My goal is to get to 10 boxes of t's, 3 hobo's, and midget dressed as a clown on my shoulders all at the same time by may ... ready ... go!
I totally got my hands on the new Coconut Records album ... some dude totally ripped the stream off the myspace page. I hate it ... but i love it.
I got through all my seasonal mix albums since 2002 this week. My favorite transition out of all of them was off of "Winter Jams". I believe that was circa 2003. I had Jerkoff by Tool trail into In Other Words by BK. That was pretty amazing right there. Also when I was done I put in Strawberry Jam. I think that album is once again listenable ... holy shit did i overdo it with that one.
Remember that one time I couldn't remember the title to the song Tonight Tonight Tonight? Don't worry, i paid dearly, 60 lashes with a cambodian death noodle ought to prevent such silliness from transpiring again.
Still seraching for a guitar on c-list. I need one! Oh and rochester made the music news this week for something coo... wait no it super lame .. the yoosh. Oh and
MY FUCKING RECORD PLAYER COMES IN TODAY!!
2009-02-12
2009-02-11
free tunes
I'm freaking out ... they're totally back!
ok, ok gotta get my to do list in order here:
1. get a haircut, and clean myself up
2. write a thousand fake love letters to make it look like i'm lovelorn and romantic
3. practice my stalking exercises
Also they're totally back too!!
So it was a good day for new and free music ... yay.
Every time I go to buffalo I come back with a new song that I can't get out of my head. If you haven't ever listened to Plasticities by Andrew Bird ... man you should. That is a great tune and has gotten me terribly excited to see him live ... well that song and the barrage of amazing live performances shelley kept playing on youtube ...
Also, I have a new record for the amount I paid for a concert ticket. Of course bonna is 4 days and includes a campsite. So I guess if you count ticket + "accomodations" + an extra day of rock its actually cheaper than Lolla was.
Time to get me some phillipians ... also anyone who is interested the Handsome Furs are playing the bug jar ... I am going ... you should come with.
Also the heavens have answered my prayers ... enjoy
ok, ok gotta get my to do list in order here:
1. get a haircut, and clean myself up
2. write a thousand fake love letters to make it look like i'm lovelorn and romantic
3. practice my stalking exercises
Also they're totally back too!!
So it was a good day for new and free music ... yay.
Every time I go to buffalo I come back with a new song that I can't get out of my head. If you haven't ever listened to Plasticities by Andrew Bird ... man you should. That is a great tune and has gotten me terribly excited to see him live ... well that song and the barrage of amazing live performances shelley kept playing on youtube ...
Also, I have a new record for the amount I paid for a concert ticket. Of course bonna is 4 days and includes a campsite. So I guess if you count ticket + "accomodations" + an extra day of rock its actually cheaper than Lolla was.
Time to get me some phillipians ... also anyone who is interested the Handsome Furs are playing the bug jar ... I am going ... you should come with.
Also the heavens have answered my prayers ... enjoy
2009-02-06
finally something pertinent!
I am finally ready to make my final assessment of the album Chemistry of Common Life by Fucked Up ... here goes.
Though Chemistry of Common Life came out many months ago it has taken until just recently for me to be able to find the patience to grasp the apirations asserted on this album. Indie rock review sites (all of them) hailed this album as a great return for punk rock, some even describing it as "hardcore punk".
Upon my first review the only thing I found hard was listening to the lead singer's (Pink Eyes - yes, that is really what he goes by) voice. I didn't find the album to be anything as it was being lauded for.
Facts that helped change my opinion: 1 - I found out they were canadian. Once upon a time I was a hardcore opponent of all canadian music. Quoting "Rush is the only good thing musically to come from Canada". This prejudice has since evaporated and many of my favorite bands hail from the great north. However, there is always going to be slight hesitation when I hear a canadian musician, its like their faces ... there is intrinsically something a little bit off. woah.
2 - I out loud said "the singer's voice reminds me of the first time i listened to the mighty might bosstones". Which alluded to the fact that my two best friends who loved the bosstones would play dicky barrett's howling voice and party while i sat there basically preteneding that I didn't want to rip my own ears off. Obviously that changed, and saying that out loud now ... was the catalyst to give this album another chance.
That said I can now offer these insights. Chemistry is a damn good album. I'm still not entirely sure why its being so pumped up. I do NOT think it is hardcore punk. Its just like this weird rock / punk fusion with some super growly vocals which ... if you into that sort of thing then this will be right up your alley. The album has currently made its way into my regular rotation, and I would recommend you at least give it a shot. It plays fast. There are no slow downs or hang ups, or tangents into the musical punk abyss. I suppose maybe if I had any of their previous work I could compare and understand what this album does that their other ones did not. However I think it best to judge the work based on what it is, not where it came from. I honestly can't tell you that its going to blow your mind, but if you give it a shot I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I haven't yet devised any sort of proper ratting system so at the moment I'm going to stick to an "out of 5". That said I give it a: 3.5 / 5 ... honestly i'm not even sure what that means besides I like it.
Though Chemistry of Common Life came out many months ago it has taken until just recently for me to be able to find the patience to grasp the apirations asserted on this album. Indie rock review sites (all of them) hailed this album as a great return for punk rock, some even describing it as "hardcore punk".
Upon my first review the only thing I found hard was listening to the lead singer's (Pink Eyes - yes, that is really what he goes by) voice. I didn't find the album to be anything as it was being lauded for.
Facts that helped change my opinion: 1 - I found out they were canadian. Once upon a time I was a hardcore opponent of all canadian music. Quoting "Rush is the only good thing musically to come from Canada". This prejudice has since evaporated and many of my favorite bands hail from the great north. However, there is always going to be slight hesitation when I hear a canadian musician, its like their faces ... there is intrinsically something a little bit off. woah.
2 - I out loud said "the singer's voice reminds me of the first time i listened to the mighty might bosstones". Which alluded to the fact that my two best friends who loved the bosstones would play dicky barrett's howling voice and party while i sat there basically preteneding that I didn't want to rip my own ears off. Obviously that changed, and saying that out loud now ... was the catalyst to give this album another chance.
That said I can now offer these insights. Chemistry is a damn good album. I'm still not entirely sure why its being so pumped up. I do NOT think it is hardcore punk. Its just like this weird rock / punk fusion with some super growly vocals which ... if you into that sort of thing then this will be right up your alley. The album has currently made its way into my regular rotation, and I would recommend you at least give it a shot. It plays fast. There are no slow downs or hang ups, or tangents into the musical punk abyss. I suppose maybe if I had any of their previous work I could compare and understand what this album does that their other ones did not. However I think it best to judge the work based on what it is, not where it came from. I honestly can't tell you that its going to blow your mind, but if you give it a shot I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I haven't yet devised any sort of proper ratting system so at the moment I'm going to stick to an "out of 5". That said I give it a: 3.5 / 5 ... honestly i'm not even sure what that means besides I like it.
2009-02-05
moving forward
woah, so i think i am finally ready to jump back into some new music
so last year I had this moment in time where London Calling was like the only album that I would listen to. I have since then been afraid to listen to another clash album for fear that it wouldn't be as good. well, i made the leap to Combat Rock. So far I've been enjoying it, but I haven't been able to drill down to the second half of the album. The first half is easy because there's a couple of burners, plus a couple of well knowns .... more to come ... i hate to sound like some band wagon douche, but the clash are pretty awesome.
I got the new Franz Ferdinand. Admittedly I enjoyed the first two so I really owed it to myself to get this one. I have only listened to it once, and it didn't stand out immediately like hte last two albums. However, there were a few songs that really caught my attention and I think I might have to keep this one in rotation .... i mean pfork likes it so it must be good, right? haha.
Also I got albums by Iran, The Notwist (i guess they're pretty popular already?), St. Vincent, and Parenthetical Girls (i have heard them before and I think I'm already in love this one).
Going to be a busy listening day for me.... those are the best.
edit: i also have this album by a band called Low vs. Diamond. I'm not sure where I heard them, but they seem alright i guess. I've got like six mopey vocals + piano/strings albums now ... so that might get annoying quick.
so last year I had this moment in time where London Calling was like the only album that I would listen to. I have since then been afraid to listen to another clash album for fear that it wouldn't be as good. well, i made the leap to Combat Rock. So far I've been enjoying it, but I haven't been able to drill down to the second half of the album. The first half is easy because there's a couple of burners, plus a couple of well knowns .... more to come ... i hate to sound like some band wagon douche, but the clash are pretty awesome.
I got the new Franz Ferdinand. Admittedly I enjoyed the first two so I really owed it to myself to get this one. I have only listened to it once, and it didn't stand out immediately like hte last two albums. However, there were a few songs that really caught my attention and I think I might have to keep this one in rotation .... i mean pfork likes it so it must be good, right? haha.
Also I got albums by Iran, The Notwist (i guess they're pretty popular already?), St. Vincent, and Parenthetical Girls (i have heard them before and I think I'm already in love this one).
Going to be a busy listening day for me.... those are the best.
edit: i also have this album by a band called Low vs. Diamond. I'm not sure where I heard them, but they seem alright i guess. I've got like six mopey vocals + piano/strings albums now ... so that might get annoying quick.
2009-02-04
the bonnaroo lineup
So yeah the bonnaroo lineup is seriously solid I did a bit of this yesterday in an email to Bill but I will now try to rank (proper) the shows ...
Would punch elderly people in the throat to see:
1. Band of Horses - this may seem like an odd pick, but band of horses is one of my favorite bands. They have two albums, and they don't have a bad song. Their lead singer is a whiny douche indie rock star. They haven't toured close to Roc in like 3 years (missed my chance when they came to buff). I'm nervous they will be too big and won't come any closer every again ... and i really really really want to see these guys.
2. Animal Collective - yeah I know. I"m going to see them in toronto. Where they're going to play like a long ass awesome set full. But anyone who has had to bare a conversation about AC with me in the last month knows that I truly believe these guys will have a better show outdoors than indoors. They have an outdoor sound that is going to fill the sky with magic. And I need to be there to experience that.
3. Of Montreal - Is basically a cross between the first two. This band is super influential to me at the moment. Their lead singer is like the jebus of indie rock stars. Their shows are the basic equivelant to a flaming lips show except with more songs that i like. (I changed that from songs that are good because I really like the flaming lips, i just like of montreal more).
4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - when people ask if i like / how I feel about the yeah yeah yeahs I only have 1 response. Or at least one lead in response and that is "i want to be karen O. ... no seriously, i want to be her." Its an ongoing goal of mine to dress as her for a halloween. Every year I chicken out because i don't think people would get the reference and they would just think i dressed as a girl and I would be disappointed. Anyways if you have ever listened, read, or watched Karen O. she is pretty much incredible. It doesn't hurt that their music is pretty fuckin tight as well.
I would probably just trip an elderly person with their own walker and/or push them off of their rascal to see these for the first time:
Crystal Castles - dude, i may have to throw another chick into the potential marriage pot here.
Tv on the Radio - ummm ... fuck all
Wilco - redemption redemption redemption!!
Beastie Boys - if they don't play paul revere i'll fuckin break mike d's collarbone myself.
Bon Iver - if he wears that goofy winter hat, he lives.
Yeasayer - missed them last year, hoping to not make that mistake again this year.
These are the bands that I have seen, but are sure fire fucking amazing sets:
The Decemberists - as long as they play at least 1 song off of something besides the last two albums then i'm satisfied
Mars Volta - As long as they decide to just jam instead of playing anything off the pile they've amassed (omar should play old money!!)
Girl Talk -two summers in a row i am going to be at the best dance party in the country.
Nine Inch Nails - this was a good set last summer, i feel kind of cheated to have to see it again. Should have swapped out for like ... My Bloody Valentine ...
Interested as long as there's not a time conflict:
Andrew Bird
Elvis Costello
Neko Case
Okkervil River
Grizzly Bear
Ben Harper
Coheed and Cambria
MGMT
Oakenfold - he must be like 90 by now but I'm sure the beats will still be heavy.
Wild Cards
Phish/Boss - I don't need to be up front, but even if you're not a fan, its still going to be an epic spectacle.
Santogold - heard nothing but good things about her. liked one song i heard. should be a fun show?
Al Green - dude, this i think is going to be the true wild card, i'm excited. Hope i can make it.
St. Vincent - don't know shit other than what i've read. this could move up the ladder in the coming months.
Dude ... WTF DAVID BYRNE IS PLAYING? ... I don't know shit about the talking heads but fucking every hippy in america is going to rape donkeys to be at this show ...
I forgot who was added on later after the initial lineup for lolla. but I am hoping a few more bands that I haven't seen get added to this venue. Also, I'm super nervous because I think I may actually want to go to the pfork fest instead and its going to be this whole debacle of whether I should go to both or whether I should sell my bonna ticket. Well lets just get the ticket first and we'll worry about the problem of choosing which show later. Yeah. David Byrne ... christ this fest is going to be crawling with dirty hair and tie dye.
Would punch elderly people in the throat to see:
1. Band of Horses - this may seem like an odd pick, but band of horses is one of my favorite bands. They have two albums, and they don't have a bad song. Their lead singer is a whiny douche indie rock star. They haven't toured close to Roc in like 3 years (missed my chance when they came to buff). I'm nervous they will be too big and won't come any closer every again ... and i really really really want to see these guys.
2. Animal Collective - yeah I know. I"m going to see them in toronto. Where they're going to play like a long ass awesome set full. But anyone who has had to bare a conversation about AC with me in the last month knows that I truly believe these guys will have a better show outdoors than indoors. They have an outdoor sound that is going to fill the sky with magic. And I need to be there to experience that.
3. Of Montreal - Is basically a cross between the first two. This band is super influential to me at the moment. Their lead singer is like the jebus of indie rock stars. Their shows are the basic equivelant to a flaming lips show except with more songs that i like. (I changed that from songs that are good because I really like the flaming lips, i just like of montreal more).
4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - when people ask if i like / how I feel about the yeah yeah yeahs I only have 1 response. Or at least one lead in response and that is "i want to be karen O. ... no seriously, i want to be her." Its an ongoing goal of mine to dress as her for a halloween. Every year I chicken out because i don't think people would get the reference and they would just think i dressed as a girl and I would be disappointed. Anyways if you have ever listened, read, or watched Karen O. she is pretty much incredible. It doesn't hurt that their music is pretty fuckin tight as well.
I would probably just trip an elderly person with their own walker and/or push them off of their rascal to see these for the first time:
Crystal Castles - dude, i may have to throw another chick into the potential marriage pot here.
Tv on the Radio - ummm ... fuck all
Wilco - redemption redemption redemption!!
Beastie Boys - if they don't play paul revere i'll fuckin break mike d's collarbone myself.
Bon Iver - if he wears that goofy winter hat, he lives.
Yeasayer - missed them last year, hoping to not make that mistake again this year.
These are the bands that I have seen, but are sure fire fucking amazing sets:
The Decemberists - as long as they play at least 1 song off of something besides the last two albums then i'm satisfied
Mars Volta - As long as they decide to just jam instead of playing anything off the pile they've amassed (omar should play old money!!)
Girl Talk -two summers in a row i am going to be at the best dance party in the country.
Nine Inch Nails - this was a good set last summer, i feel kind of cheated to have to see it again. Should have swapped out for like ... My Bloody Valentine ...
Interested as long as there's not a time conflict:
Andrew Bird
Elvis Costello
Neko Case
Okkervil River
Grizzly Bear
Ben Harper
Coheed and Cambria
MGMT
Oakenfold - he must be like 90 by now but I'm sure the beats will still be heavy.
Wild Cards
Phish/Boss - I don't need to be up front, but even if you're not a fan, its still going to be an epic spectacle.
Santogold - heard nothing but good things about her. liked one song i heard. should be a fun show?
Al Green - dude, this i think is going to be the true wild card, i'm excited. Hope i can make it.
St. Vincent - don't know shit other than what i've read. this could move up the ladder in the coming months.
Dude ... WTF DAVID BYRNE IS PLAYING? ... I don't know shit about the talking heads but fucking every hippy in america is going to rape donkeys to be at this show ...
I forgot who was added on later after the initial lineup for lolla. but I am hoping a few more bands that I haven't seen get added to this venue. Also, I'm super nervous because I think I may actually want to go to the pfork fest instead and its going to be this whole debacle of whether I should go to both or whether I should sell my bonna ticket. Well lets just get the ticket first and we'll worry about the problem of choosing which show later. Yeah. David Byrne ... christ this fest is going to be crawling with dirty hair and tie dye.
2009-02-03
act now!!
i think i NEED to go to bonnaroo this year. Personally I'm really not that stoked about any of the headliners. But I was thinking that this will actually work to my advantage.
At lolla i wanted to see the headliners so bad. But with that I kind of had some expectations about "seeing" a band. The problem being at a festival with 250k other people most of which want to go see the headliners as well. As you can imagine its not exactly a initimate setting.
This works for me that the boss and phish are playing because it won't be that big of a deal if i am seated like 8 miles away, and hanging out with the drum circle kids. Plus after a day of fucking absolute shit house rocking out ... it might be nice to just chill at the end.
Anyways, I want to go to bonnaroo now. I'm officially on board for that deal. I only need one other person to say yes, and tickets will be purchased
At lolla i wanted to see the headliners so bad. But with that I kind of had some expectations about "seeing" a band. The problem being at a festival with 250k other people most of which want to go see the headliners as well. As you can imagine its not exactly a initimate setting.
This works for me that the boss and phish are playing because it won't be that big of a deal if i am seated like 8 miles away, and hanging out with the drum circle kids. Plus after a day of fucking absolute shit house rocking out ... it might be nice to just chill at the end.
Anyways, I want to go to bonnaroo now. I'm officially on board for that deal. I only need one other person to say yes, and tickets will be purchased
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