He gave up GBV for lent

Play it: Just a few requests for tonight's show

So tonight is Fat Tuesday, and tomorrow's the beginning of Lent. Well... tonight I celebrate by seeing Robert Pollard sing close to 50 songs with a great backing band (guitarist Tommy Keene and Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster, among others.) Since Uncle Bob has another album already in the can awaiting release later this year, and he's got a double-album he's touring in support of, I suspect they'll take up the bulk of the show, but I'll still find myself yelling out a few tunes that I hope he'll play tonight.

* "Do Something Real" (Not in Rhapsody)
* "Subspace Biographies"
* "I'm A Widow"
* "Maggie Turns To Flies"
* "I Expect A Kill" (Not in Rhapsody)
* "Conquerer Of The Moon"
* "Get Under It"
* "Kick Me And Cancel"

More photos (like above) from show in S.F., 2/25/06 (by billyverde)
Concert review from Cat's Cradle (Chapel Hill, NC) 1/27/2006 (Harp)
Set list from that show (gvvdb.com)

Previously:
2nd Impressions of 2006
Early surprise from Uncle Bob (FaCE review, 11/11/05)
The Electrifying Conclusion Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

tags: playlist, music, robert pollard, guided by voices, tommy keene

If the USA doesn't bomb you

Play it: Morrissey " I Will See You in Far Off Places"
Stream the single "You Have Killed Me" at Myspace
Download: "You Have Killed Me" (scoops the podcast)

If your God bestows protection upon you
And the U.S.A. doesn't bomb you
I believe I will see you someplace safe
- "I Will See You in Far Off Places" - Morrissey

[The titles on these tracks are wrong (should be reversed,) for those who play it in Rhapsody.]

Recently, Morrissey claims to have been investigated by both the FBI and UK Intelligence (Special Branch,) concerning his threat to both governments. "They were trying to determine if I was a threat to the government, and similarly in England," the 46-year-old singer told NME. "But it didn't take them very long to realize that I'm not."

By the looks of the first track (from the forthcoming Ringleader Of The Tormentors) leaked earlier, "I Will See You in Far Off Places," Moz probably bought himself a ticket for (unwanted/warranted) cavity searches. In it, his lyrics align himself with the Muslim world - following the lyrics profiled above, religious chants are layered into the song, just in case we didn't get the idea.)

As most know, I'm as anti-Bush as they come, and am forever critical of US foreign policy, but these lyrics and the song itself feel very naive and misplaced. At it's heart, I imagine, is less a real belief then an intention to say 'bugger off' to America, and rile some folks up. In that I think he might be successful, although I wonder if the label (Sanctuary) is hesitant, as they've been militant about stopping the leak of the track, and the lead single title has switched to "You Have Killed Me," which is much lighter fare even considering the metaphoric title.

Elsewhere:
Stereogum Readers Suggest Fake Moz Song Titles

tags: playlist, music, morrissey, moz

How's my hair?

Play it: Rhett Miller The Believer

It was less a matter of me putting myself into someone's hands and more a matter of me using this system, where I had written these songs, but I was now also interpreting them, like I was Bing Crosby or something.
- Rhett Miller on recording the album

The story goes, producer George Drakoulias (The Jayhawks, Black Crowes, Tom Petty) saw Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller performing his songs solo/acoustic, and he was busting strings, and generally acting frustrated. Drakoulias sees this and decides on the spot that for this album, he should be Frank Sinatra. Lose the guitar, forget that you wrote the songs, and instead just sing and interpret them, backed by a top-notch studio session band.

Forget for a second that the band included friend (and producer of previous album, The Instigator) Jon Brion, the end result sounds like session musicians, quite unlike the 'warts-and-all' appeal of the Old 97s. Other helping hands include Rachel Yamagota (duet on "Fireflies") and Gary Louris (singing backup througout.) His previous album saw Brion holding back on his magic (until the beautiful closer, "Terrible Vision,") whereas this album feels more spit-n-polished then anything he's done. Don't get me wrong, there are some great songs here ("Brand New Way," the Brion/Aimee Mann penned "I Believe She's Lying") it's a bit too MOR of the Adult-Alternative genre.

Miller is now L.A.-based, and his latest photos relect that change. He's ready for his close-up (literally... he's already got the Old 97's appearing in the forthcoming Jennifer Aniston/Vince Vaughn comedy The Break-Up.) Check out that hair! This album has a bit of that hair goop sheen to it, and I'm hoping he washes it out and sleeps on it for the next Old 97's release.

tags: playlist, music, rhett miller, old 97s, jon brion, george drakoulias, album review

What Kurt Cobain couldn't do

Play it: Os Mutantes Tecnicolor

For one night only, the Brazilian band Os Mutantes will reunite to perform at Barbicon Art Gallery/Hall in London (May 22nd,) as part of Tropicalia: A Revolution in Brazilian Culture, a festival celebrating the Brazilian art movement Tropicalia, that arose in the late 1960s and encompassed theatre, poetry and music. Os Mutantes, along with Caetano Velaso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa and Tom Zé, were all heavies in the movement and will all be performing. The lineup for the show includes brothers Sergio and Arnaldo Baptista along with drummer Dinho, but no Rita Lee, unfortunately. Kurt Cobain tried to get them to reunite in '93 for Nirvana's South American tour, but was flatly turned down. A later compilation released by David Byrne's Luaka Bop (Everything is Possible, 1999) drummed up even more interest w/ them reuniting, and have since been name-dropped by Beck (see song "Tropicalia" on Mutations) Mac McCaughan (Superchunk, Merge Records, and Portastatic - see his cover of "Baby" on the De Mel, De Melao EP)

This past week saw the reissue of the Os Mutantes album Tecnicolor, which was originally released in 1970. It's a collection of their best work reworked in the English language, hoping to crack the American and European market. Some of the tracks lose a lot of their appeal w/o the beauty of the Portuguese language, but for the most part, they all still stand on their own. The hilarious "El Justicero" (sung in Spanish) and psych-Beatles songs "Tecnicolor" and "Virginia" would later appear on Jardim Eletrico (1971.) The Luaka Bop compilation is still the best place to start with their catalogue, but for long-time fans it's nice to finally have something else digitally available.

More:
Pitchfork News reports Os Mutantes Reunites

tags: playlist, music, brazil, os mutantes, tropicalia, tropicalismo, kurt cobain

Farewell Leilani Lanes

Play it: A Karaoke farewell to Leilani Lanes

As many of you know, Drake Lelane is actually my nickname, but many aren't aware of it's origin. Years ago (what is it...seven now?) I chose the name 'Drake' as my karaoke (stage) name (at the Lani Kai Lounge, Leilani Lanes) in honor of "The Drake" from a classic Seinfeld episode ("The Labelmaker,") and also in reference to Spoon frontman Britt Daniels' solo name, Drake Tungsten. The last name (used only for bowling at the time,) was homage to the place the alias was born: Leilani Lanes. The moniker became my nickname following a spirited performance of "The Safety Dance" (at the aforementioned Lani Kai Lounge.) The (I assumed drunken) crowd started a "Drake" chant, and the rest is history.

Well, speaking of history, these beloved Leilani Lanes are soon to be history, following the sale to a developer who plans to level it and put in an apartment/retail structure. After 44 years (and famous Earl Anthony/Dick Weber bowling face-offs) Leilani is closing it's doors forever, and like any relationship, you have to make sure to say goodbye to them (before they say goodbye to you.) So Saturday night (babysitters in tow,) a bunch of us did our best to send Leilani Lanes off.

The drink of the night was the Pink Pussycat (gin, grapefruit juice, and a little extra 'meow') so I just had to start the evening off with a couple of them and the Tom Jones/Burt Bacharach classic "What's New Pussycat." There were only three notebooks (w/ song choices) available to peruse and the choices were much more limited then in the past, so it wasn't nearly as good as we remember it being - like where was my new fave "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)"? and old standby "Rock the Casbah"? I ended up singing the former w/o the aid of Karaoke (and w/ the aid of much alcohol.)

Anyway, much fun was had - that is until morning, when Eli's 5AM wake-up call was very unsympathetic to the condition my condition was in.

"What's New Pussycat" - Tom Jones
"Burning Down the House" - Talking Heads
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - Elton John w/ Kiki Dee (duet w/ my Tootie)
"Brandy" - Looking Glass
"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" - Kenny Rogers & the First Edition

More:
It's a turbulent farewell for Leilani Lanes bowling alley (Seattle-PI)
Tiki Central message board laments the closure

Some great pics of Leilani from other flickr folks:
The 360 degree open fireplace, with waterfall (by goldberg)
The Lanes (by leff)
More lanes w/ bowlers and balls (by ntisocl)

tags: playlist, music, karaoke, leilani lanes, kenny rogers, tom jones, the drake, seinfeld, drake tungsten

Winter games walks on the wild side

Play it: Lou Reed rocks the Winter Olympics

We started it off with a little Carla Bruni flag-handling, so why not end the games with the cult-icon Lou Reed.

Friday night, Reed performed at the Olympic medals ceremony, keeping his usual low profile. There was concern that he wouldn't make it, after he cancelled several NY shows leading up to the performance, but in the end, his show exceeded all expectations. Besides his first-rate backing band (Rob Wasserman, Tony Thunder Smith, Fernando Saunders, Mike Rathke) he also included his Tai Chi master, a discipline from which Reed now finds inspiration, even writing music to accompany the moves.

tags: playlist, music, lou reed, winter olympics, torino

The man who loved music

Play it: Essential Scott McCaughey

The only reason I'm still playing music is because I get along with people...I know for sure that I wouldn't be in R.E.M. except for the fact that I'm a fun person to hang out with and have a drink with. That's my biggest qualification over my musicianly skills.
- Scott McCaughey

Rhapsody just added three Young Fresh Fellows albums... couple that with the recent release of The Minus 5's s/t release and you suddenly have a plethora of releases from McCaughey to choose from. The YFF and Minus 5 frontman has been a Seattle music scene fixture since the early 80's, both as popular musican/singer and as columnist for local music rag, The Rocket. After connecting later with Peter Buck, McCaughey not only had him playing in his side project, The Minus 5, but also booking shows for his wife's rock club, The Crocodile.

The Young Fresh Fellows were everyone's favorite party band, often getting compared to The Replacements. Paul Westerberg was a fan and even had them play at his wedding. Westerberg, NRBQ and They Might Be Giants all were name-dropping them, and while it was flattering, it did little for album sales. Their album The Men Who Loved Music (Play it) was a top-to-bottom masterpiece of fun rock. It almost even garnered them a hit (college radio airplay, anyway) with "Amy Grant" (Play it) which famously confessed "when she comes home from church/she's gotta take off those pants/that's what I like about Amy Grant." Co-founding member Chuck Carroll left shortly after, needing to feed his family, and was replaced by Fastback guitarist/songwriter Kurt Bloch. It took a couple albums for them to gell as a band (as they did with Electric Bird Digest,) but by then, a lot of momentum was lost, and grunge had taken over the city.

Meanwhile, McCaughey had already recorded a solo album (My Chartreuse Opinion, 1989) and had enjoyed the collaborative feel of the process. In 1992, R.E.M. mixed Automatic for the People in Seattle, and Peter Buck met his wife Stephanie, co-owner of the Crocodile Cafe. Buck became a Seattlite, and when your a musician in Seattle, you get to know McCaughey. By '94 McCaughey had already recruited him for a new collaborative project he called The Minus 5. They released the Old Liquidator, which featured Buck, The Posies, and members of NRBQ. McCaughey soon found himself as a touring member of REM, but continued to be dedicated to releasing a Minus 5 album with regularity. In 2000, McCaughey hooked up with Wilco (after meeting at a Lounge Axe benefit) to record the Minus 5 album, Down With Wilco (Play it,) which promptly got mired in similar major label difficulty like Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which was making the rounds at the time. McCaughey songwriting has become more and more meloncholy over the years, and remains knee-deep in 60's pop.

The Young Fresh Fellows also continue to get together and perform to the delight of rapid fans here (and in Japan.)

Previously:
Out there on the Maroon (Minus 5 S-T/Gun Album)

tags: playlist, music, scott mccaughey, wilco, peter buck, young fresh fellows, rem

Kite gets Smooshed

Play it: Head Like a Kite Random Portraits of the Home Movie
Download: "Noisy at the Circus" (feat. Asya from Smoosh) (Pattern 25)

I was checking out the band Head Like a Kite today, not knowing anything about them other then having heard the name somewhere before, when the nifty song "Noisy at the Circus" came up, and heard the distinct voice of 13-year old Asya from the sister band Smoosh. Turns out Head Like a Kite is Dave Einmo, guitarist for local band Sushirobo.

Recorded by Brian Deck (Iron & Wine, Modest Mouse, Red Red Meat) in Chicago, Random Portraits samples from Einmo's old Super 8 home movies and wires his keyboards into a collection of old, analog guitar effects for a disjointed, yet organic original sound. Some of it comes across as Kraftwerk-like experimental journeys ("Tell Mommy You Want a Sip of Beer,") while elsewhere it's more straight ahead indie guitar power pop ("Noisy at the Circus.")

For those not initiated into the phenomenon of Smoosh, they're a Seattle-based sister duo, ages 11 and 13, who play endearingly happy (and sloppy) indie rock. Jason McGerr (now drummer for Death Cab for Cutie,) was 8-year old Chloe's teacher and suggested she play with other musicians to get an idea of how percussion works in rock, so she went home and nabbed her 10-year old sister keyboardist/singer-songwriter sister Asya and Smoosh was born. They're wonderful 2004 debut She Like Electric (on Pattern 25 records, like Head like a Kite,) is in Rhapsody and worth your listen (below.) They've finished recording their new album (as of 01/10/06,) showing amazing balance between middle school and indie rock.

Play it: Smoosh She Like Electric
Download: "Massive Cure" (Pattern 25)

Also, you have to check out their video that made rotation on MTV2 last year, if for no other reason then to see some of the cheesiest clay animation ever (and, of course, Asya and Chloe rocking 'Musicland.')

Video: "La Push" (Quicktime)

tags: playlist, music, head like a kite, smoosh, sushirobo, seattle music, indie rock

Novel Sndtrck: Glass Soup

Play it: Novel Sndtrck: Glass Soup

Jonathan Carroll's Glass Soup is a sequel (of sorts) to his novel White Apples (which I Novel Sndtrck'd last month.) Whereas White Apples dealt with the living realm, Glass Soup spends much of it's time in the land of the dead. The realm of the dead is built from the dreams - and nightmares - of the living. Octopuses drive buses. God is a polar bear. And a crowded highway literally leads to hell (where AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" blasts from all passing cars.) Main characters Vincent and Isabelle are back, as well as chaos' form and of course the concept of life as a mosaic (glass soup.)

Not as much music this time around, especially considering Rhapsody's AC/DC hole ("Highway to Hell" is prominent.) But not a song is wasted here.

* "Eggs And Sausage (In A Cadillac With Susan Michelson)" - Tom Waits (referencing the album Nighthawks at the Diner)
* "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" - B.J. Thomas (Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid)
* "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" - Otis Redding

Official site for Glass Soup

Previously
Novel Sndtrck: White Apples
Novel Sndtrck: Kafka On The Shore (Ribaldry and Schmaltz's J Shifty)
Novel Sndtrck: Killing Yourself To Live (Drive Like Hell's Dallas Hudgens)
Novel Sndtrck: Drive Like Hell
Novel Sndtrck: Fortress of Solitude
James Frey's My Friend Leonard
Jonathon Lethem's The Disappointment Artist

tags: playlist, books, jonathan carroll, acdc

Bad name, overhyped, and now toast

Play it: Test Icicles For Screening Purposes Only

Test Icicles' debut (finally made it to our shores a couple weeks ago (and to Rhapsody this week) and in response, they've, well... broken up... not even going to bother with their scheduled US tour.

Speaks volumes of how they sound as a band... like three people pulling in different directions at all times... pure pandemonium, and for the most part - overhyped shite. Add them to the growing list of NME and internet-created iPop's (bands hyped to the point that their albums have to disappoint upon release.)

RIP. Good riddance. Hasta la never.

tags: playlist, music, test icicles, nme, ipop, indie rock

A gorge-ous lineup

Play it: Sasquatch Music Festival 2006

The lineup for this year's Sasquatch Music Festival has been announced, and like last year, it kicks some serious ass. Unlike last year, they've made this Memorial Day weekend festival stretch out over three days (last year was a Saturday-only event.)

I'm not excited about Friday's lineup (Nine Inch Nails) but Saturday and Sunday promise serious listening pleasures. Saturday features The Flaming Lips, The Shins, Neko Case, Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Rogue Wave, Sam Roberts, Constantines and Architecture In Helsinki; while Sunday features Beck, Death Cab For Cutie, Queens of the Stone Age, The Decemberists, Nada Surf, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Arctic Monkeys, Chad Vangaalen, Rocky Votolato and Laura Veirs.

If you have the chance, it's an absolutely gorgeous backdrop (The Gorge Ampitheatre, WA,) to hear great music like this. And if you do go... I may recruit you to give your report on it, as I'm going to be at my nephew's Bar Mitzvah in Minneapolis.
I'm just a victim of bad timing.

Previously:
An amazing day (Sasquatch 2005 recap)
Sasquatch, Yeti... Wookie?
Sasquatch Music Festival 2005 lineup announced

tags: playlist, music, sasquatch, gorge, northwest, sasquatch music festival

As the wealthy American underground wept

Play it: Destroyer Destroyer's Rubies

Two of the best albums of the year were dropped on us today, Two Gallants What the Toll Tells (not Rhapavailable) and the much anticipated Destroyer's Rubies from Dan Bejar's Destroyer. Taking the sentiments and pop structures of Streethawk; and the instrumentation and looseness of This Night; (and borrowing phrases and more from every previous Destroyer album;) Destroyer's Rubies is like a mosaic of all of Dan Bejar's best work as Destroyer. Lyrically, the Vancouver, B.C. native has always been a giant, but seemed (at times) barely able to keep up with himself, whereas now his usual poetic couplets are tossed off with such swagger and confidence, it's hard not to fall in-step behind his every stacatto'd syllable.

I have this theory that when The New Pornographers formed and Bejar made his power pop contributions, his own Destroyer project moved further away from pop as a result, whether consious or not. I'd argue now that the Pornographers, with Twin Cinema, have themselves moved a little away from their poppier beginnings, Bejar's able to go back to pre-Pornographer ways, ala Streethawk and the like. Not that a person has only a finite amount of pop they can write in a year, or anything, but it's only natural to keep them differentiated, dontcha think?

Regardless of where Bejar's head was at in the authoring, it's an amazing album. But don't take my word for it:

The Onion A/V club gives it a score of 100
Dusted gives it a 90
Pitchfork explains why they didn't give it a 10.0

More:
Already a Destroyer's Rubies Drinking Game?
Bejar-O-Matic Lyric Dispenser
The Destroyer Wiki
Six Eyes' Dan Bejar Interview (Feb 6, 2006)
"The Enigma Next Door" Discorder (February, 2006)

Previously
No, I wasn't born to rock (Destroyer This Night)
The New Pornographers' Twin Cinema

tags: playlist, music, dan bejar, destroyer, new pornographers

Two days short tomorrow

Play it: Two Gallants The Throes

Tomorrow sees the second release from the S.F. duo, Two Gallants (What the Toll Tells) but since it's on Saddle Creek Records, I hold little hope for it being Rhapavailable (although, I have secured my copy.)

Don't get your head down, though Rhapsodoggies, as their fine 2004 debut snuck in recently, and it's far too heady and gut-wrenching to have been made by two 20 year-olds, but alas, these prodigies done did it. The Throes kicks like The Pogues funneled through The Grapes of Wrath, but still rockin' West Coast... and all just good old guitar and drums.

It's little wonder the Steinbeck lyrical nature is making a comeback, as during the 30's, the working class was ravaged by floods, drought, massive layoffs and mismanagement by our government, which sounds kind of familiar now. Something to think about as this President's Day winds down.

Previously:
Two Gallants' What the Toll Tells streamed
"Las Cruces Jail" Single and Two Gallants profile

More:
Pitchfork gave The Throes an 8.5 last year.

tags: playlist, music, two gallants, saddle creek, presidents day, john steinbeck, the pogues

Maybe partying will help

Play it: Minutemen "Maybe Partying Will Help"

How best to bring everyone together after a major tragedy like Hurricane Katrina? Throw a big ass party like Mardi Gras.

New Orleans is back... alcohol, masks, beads, alcohol, bared-breasts, more beads and more alcohol. Can't blame 'em... it's in the air.

Know why I'm partying? The Minutemen are in Rhapsody! Apparently they snuck in while I was on vacation (late January?) Thankfully, J Shifty noticed last night, otherwise I'd still be in the dark. Best I can tell, SST is making baby steps into being Rhapavailable. So far it's only the Minutemen, Black Flag, and the Descendents. We're missing the other big guns, though, with Husker Du (and don't forget Soundgarden and Screaming Trees released some great albums on SST.) A couple other great SST bands already had their SST albums sold off... Meat Puppets (to Rykodisc) and Dinosaur Jr. (to Merge Records,) so we're pretty close to having a decent size SST sampler. Other SST artists I'm looking forward to are Bad Brains, ALL, Leaving Trains and fIREHOSE.

We'll put together a proper SST post when a few more roll in... and try to not take Greg Ginn too much to task for his mistakes with the label.

More:
SST signs with The Orchard for digital distribution (Yahoo News, 01/11/06)

tags: playlist, music, sst, mardi gras, new orleans, minutemen, black flag, descendents, husker du

Flotsam, jetsam and Curtom

Play it: Curtom Records

Last week I was alerted by the illustrious J Shifty of the treasure trove of material that washed up on the shores of the Rhapsody library recently, was much of the Curtom Records library (owned now by Rhino.) Since we love indie record labels, and it's black history month, Curtom Records is a good fit for a playlist/profile.

Curtis Mayfield started Curtom Records when he left The Impressions to go solo in 1970, and his first batch of solo releases (Curtis, Roots, and Superfly) on that imprint are the cream of the crop as far as soul goes. Consequently, Curtom was the most important black-owned record label of the 1970's. Curtom Records initially got off the ground so well because of Mayfield's experience as the staff producer on the famous Chi-town OKeh label, and he knew to surround him with talented people like Dony Hathaway and Leroy Hutson. Hathaway worked on staff as a musician, singer and songwriter, while Hutson (who took Mayfield's spot in The Impressions) was given his own imprint (Gemigo) on the label as an outlet for his activities as a producer and arranger.

Other artists on the label included the tragic Baby Huey (born James Ramey) who died of a drug overdose before his album was even released. His backing band, The Babysitters, continued on oddly enough with a teen-aged Chaka Khan taking over his vocal duties (Baby Huey and the Babysitters continue to perform, at a Bar Mitzvah near you.)

Linda Clifford was Miss New York State at one time, and recorded six albums on Curtom, with "Runaway Love" as her biggest hit (peaked at number three on the R&B charts, 1978.)

Other acts include The Natural Four (who were produced by LeRoy Hutson,) The Five Stairsteps, Ed Townshend (co-wrote "Let's Get it On,") Billy Butler (younger brother to the great Jerry "Ice Man" Butler,) Mavis Staples, The Staple Singers, and of course, The Impressions.

Discography of the Curtom Label
The Curtom Story is an import-only 51-song double CD on Charly Records.

tags: playlist, music, curtom records, curtis mayfield, the impressions, leroy hutson, baby huey, linda clifford, donny hathaway

No, I wasn't born to rock

Play it: Destroyer This Night
Stream: "Here Comes the Night"
Stream: "Trembling Peacock"
Play it: New Pornographers - Bejar Contributions

Relax trembling peacock
No I wasn't born to rock
Oh I was just plain born
and then I kinda grew
and then, well Vancouver made me, I guess it's true

That shaking you feel is the rumbling of the impending release of Destroyer's Rubies, from New Pornographer Dan Bejar's outfit Destroyer. Many believe it to be his breakthrough, and it is quite good, from the half of the album I've been listening to. In anticipation of that, I thought I'd tackle the first two-thirds of his Vancouver trilogy (City Of Daughters and Thief,) as they were in Rhapsody when I last wrote about Bejar (for The New Pornographers Twin Cinema release.) But, alas, at some point since then, they've been removed from the Rhaplibrary. All that's left is Destroyer's Merge debut, This Night (2002,) and while it's an excellent album (many folks' fave) with plenty to write about, it wasn't what I was prepared for, so forgive this quickly put-together fumbled review/profile.

To talk about This Night, you have to go back to the previous three albums (City Of Daughters, Thief, and Streethawk: A Seduction) for the back story. This trilogy about his home city of Vancouver was obviously a labor of love for Bejar, and when it was finished, I suppose it's appropriate that he had to get out of his beloved city for the next album. Bejar spent a lot of time in the Mile-End neighborhood Montreal, and much of This Night reflects that (like "Here Comes the Night:")

So you stole that Schwinn and rode out into the Winner's Circle of the Sun
Now Mile-End is claiming ‘Hey you're one of those! Take off those clothes! You're one of them!

Where previous releases felt very calculated (and Bowie-esque) Bejar here finds himself trying to both stretch out and contract Destroyer's sound, adding more 'rock' to it, yet keeping it as loose as possible (perhaps Neil Young-esqe?) I liken it to Neil Young's Tonight's The Night, and Bejar kind of acknowledges (and refutes) it with his "Tonight is not your Night" refrain in "Self Portrait With Thing" (visit Bejar-O-Matic for more obtuse lyrical fun.)

This Night not the best starting point for the unitiated (until this coming Tuesday's release, that honor goes to Streethawk: A Seduction,) as it's sprawling and unfocused, almost as if listening to songs still being worked out. But it is the best precursor, style-wise, to ever approaching Rubies, with it's rock instrumentation. Tracks like "Here Comes the Night" and "Trembling Peacock" contain some of Bejar's best moments caught on tape, and the album, while excessively long in all respects, has a lot to offer the patient listener - especially given all it's context, both chronologically in Destroyer's cannon, and geographically in Bejar's head.

More:
Already a Destroyer's Rubies Drinking Game?
Bejar-O-Matic Lyric Dispenser
The Destroyer Wiki
Six Eyes' Dan Bejar Interview (Feb 6, 2006)
"The Enigma Next Door" Discorder (February, 2006)

Previously
The New Pornographers' Twin Cinema

tags: playlist, music, dan bejar, destroyer, new pornographers

Fighting off the pricks

Play it: New Radiant Storm Kings The Steady Hand
Download: "The Winding Staircase" (Darla Records)

I already laid out my love for New Radiant Storm King last June, not realizing they were going to be putting out another excellent album (The Steady Hand, released yesterday,) to reinforce that sentiment. It's been six years since their last (Winter's Kill, Play It) was recorded (1999,) released (2002,) and subsequentially ignored, during which time guitarist/singer Peyton Pinkerton has had success playing (and recently engineering) with The Pernice Brothers. Going further back, it's been 17 years since Matt Hunter and Peyton Pinkerton formed New Radiant Storm King at Hampshire College (Northampton, Ma,) and each record has shown a growth in maturity (especially since the past few have been spaced out so much.) Looking back at all the bad luck they've endured (see their incredible timeline,) it's amazing they're even still a band (especially considering this.)

Peyton Pinkerton's songs (full band credited for songwriting, but Peyton sings these ones) encompass most of the highlights here. "The Winding Staircase," "Fighting Off the Pricks," "Quicksand Under Carpet" and "Come On And Let Yourself Win" are some of the best work Pinkerton's ever written, immediately brash and pop-y at the same time (much like Bob Mould's Sugar.) Meanwhile, Matt Hunter's work here serves more as a change of pace and are slower to grow on you, however "Hands and Eyes" has already taken up residence in my brain. I remember gravitating to Hunter's work earlier on in their releases, and it wasn't until '96's amazing Hurricane Necklace before Pinkerton's songs hit me the way they continue to now.

I'll still take the immaculate Hurricane Necklace as my fave, but this Steady Hand is nearly as good, and is the perfect time capsule back to mid-90's noise rock... and it sounds as good now as it would've then.

Maybe this will be their Meadowlands, since they've had a similar story to The Wrens, especially w/r/t Alan Meltzer and Grass/Wind-Up Records. They could tour together on the "Screw You Alan Meltzer! Tour." Just an idea.

More:
Darla Records, NRSK's current label, has talked of releasing their out-of-print back catalogue, specifically My Little Bastard Soul (1992), Rival Time (1993) and Singular, No Article (1998); each disc replete with bonus tracks including (but not limited to) demos, singles and hopefully a video or two.

Previously:
The Unheard Gem: NRSK
A Sad Status Quotient (The Pernice Brothers Discover a Lovelier You)

tags: playlist, music, new radiant storm king, noise rock, pernice brothers, peyton pinkerton, the wrens, alan meltzer

Sweet heart said

Play it: Shelley Short Captain Wild Horse (Rides The Heart Of Tomorrow)
Download: "Tomorrow Night", "Like Anything, It's Small"

One final sweet note for your Valentine's day. Shelley Short's second release, Captain Wild Horse (Rides the Heart of Tomorrow) (Hush Records,) is a like a little Valentine for your ear. Think Be Good Tanyas, with a little Patsy Cline thrown in for good measure. Short began her musical career in Portland but has since moved to Chicago, following a similar trajectory of one Neko Case (Pacific NW to Windy City,) and perhaps is not such a bad comparison to add as well...with a bit less of vocal prowess, and more... well... sweetness thrown in.

Enjoy... oh, and Happy Valentine's Day.

tags: playlist, music, shelly short, americana, chicago

The Transfiguration of John Fahey

Play it: I Am The Resurrection: A Tribute to John Fahey
Play it: John Fahey's Original Versions from Tribute
Play it: Return of the Repressed - The John Fahey Anthology
(mostly reassembled from great Rhino compilation)

Any tribute album of John Fahey is bound to fall short of his growing legend. I Am The Resurrection, however, does achieve one very important thing. It makes you want to hear the real thing. With contributions from indie stars like Sufjan Stevens, Devendra Banhart and M. Ward, it's apparent where his influence lies (see Freak Folk Beginnings.)

Naturally, since guitar is the focal point with Fahey, the tribute follows suit (with the exception of Howie Gelb, who understands that Fahey plays guitar like the piano, and thus interprets "My Grandfather's Clock" so succinctly.) Other standout tracks include Pelt's run through "Sunflower River Blues," Calexico's "Dance of Death" and the courageous "When the Catfish is in Bloom" from Peter Case. The rest are a mixed bag (Stevens decides to play up the hymn buried in "Commemorative Transfiguration and Communion at Magruder Park,") mostly reminding you just how good Fahey was at his craft. The tracks selected lack the full range of his catalogue (Native American, Raga, Tibetan chants, sounds of nature, etc.,) and instead focus on what only influenced them (blues picking,) which is fair enough... but it begs a listen to the original 'Blind Joe Death' himself. An excellent compilation is Rhino's Return of the Repressed: The John Fahey Anthology, which isn't in Rhapsody, but I've mostly reassembled here for you (Play it.)

Also listen to selections from the tribute on Myspace.com's site for the album.

tags: playlist, music, folk music, john fahey, sufjan stevens, devendra banhart, pelt, calexico, peter case, howie gelb

My obligatory V-Day post

Play it: Conversation Hearts

So love is in the air... I'm feeling it. Buying my chocolates, thinking of my sweetie-pie, anticipating putting my son to sleep tonight, etc. That's all you need to know.

I put the above playlist together last year, but never bothered to post on it for some reason. Looking back now, it just might be one the best playlists I've ever done. Certainly not a romantic one, but...any playlist that can get Billie Holiday, Drive-By Truckers, Prince, David Bowie, King's X, Blondie, Syd Barrett, Of Montreal, Buddy Holly, Yaz and Beat Happening all together under one tent deserves some sort of pat on the back, even if it's my own hand doing the patting ;)

(The RealGuide is using it today as a Rhapsody.com featured playlist.)

tags: playlist, music, valentines day, conversation hearts, blondie, billie holiday, king's x, drive-by truckers

Can't stop walking

Play it: Eli's Walking

Ok... first off, the kid took his first steps almost a month ago, but I was waiting to capture it on camera. Problem is, anytime you pull out the camera, Eli stops and walking and poses. Anway, this weekend he started pulling himself up on his own and walking all over the place. Now you can't keep in a stroller/high chair/backpack, etc. for very long because he demands to be untethered and walking.

So here's a tribute to first steps, with The Flaming Stars and I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House. I've thrown in some Robert Pollard because Eli's got Pollard's rock pose down now (like a "50-Year Old Baby,") complete with spilling his bottle down his chin. I'm also anticipating seeing Pollard live two weeks from tomorrow night.

tags: playlist, music, baby, first steps, robert pollard

Accidental Akron/Family gathering

Play it: Akron/Family Akron/Family

Last night, quite unplanned, I ended up at an Akron/Family show. It was our monthly wine club get-together (wine from the Languedoc region of France for this go 'round,) this time w/o wife and child (wife feeling under the weather, child ready for bedtime.) Following our wine guzzling, our excellent host (Kevin) informed us that the band Akron/Family was playing across the street, the prospect of which made me very happy. Their self-titled debut has been haunting me for the past couple months, and I was eager to see what was behind this Brooklyn quartet's compelling freak folk sound.

The band deftly employs dynamics, which can be a challenge live as there were some talkative attendees who were making it difficult to pick up some of the quieter moments. But outside of that, the intensity and enthusiasm that Akron/Family displayed were contagious, and I found myself swept up in their soundscape (with help, no doubt, from a belly full of good wine.) Much of the performance is improvisational in nature, which is briefly disconcerting, but then out of the blue they'll join lockstep in beautiful 4-part harmony.

At the end of the show, they wandered into the audience w/ acoustic instruments and hand percussion, and by the end, all of us were giddily adding our voices to the harmony of "peace and distance."

A lot of wine, a few tall PBR's and an amazing live performance had this music fan staggering home in the cold with a smile on his face.

Akron/Family also appeared on Michael Gira's Angels of Light album The Angels Of Light Sing "Other People" (Play the album.)

Video from an instore performance in Minneapolis (Schedule Two - thanks to Steven for pointing out)

tags: playlist, music, akronfamily, tractor tavern, angels of light, michael gira

How to warm up the winter games

Play it: Carla Bruni Quelqu'un M'a Dit
Download: Carla Bruni "Le Ciel Dans Une Chambre"

The Winter Olympics opening ceremony got a much needed boost from the appearance of Turin-born model turned singer Carla Bruni. She carried the Italian flag in for the ceremony, which is fine if you forget the fact that she was raised in France and considers her primary language to be French (she sings in French anway.) But what other Turin native is gonna fill that Armani gown but Bruni?

Really, this is just an excuse to put her mug on the page. You may remember Carla as Mick Jagger's mistress, or her liasons with Eric Clapton, Donald Trump or Kevin Costner. Well, she left the modeling (and mistress) world awhile ago, and has since used her well-earned connections to break into the music biz. Her album, Quelqu'un M'a Dit, was released last year and actually is pretty good (even if her face wasn't on the cover.) Her breath-y vocal delivery is incredibly pleasant, and most of the album is quite captivating, like Bruni herself. Just take a listen to the opening and title track ("Quelqu'un M'a Dit") and be swept up in it.... like a luge (or something segue-ish back to the Winter Olympics ;)

tags: playlist, music, winter olympics, carla bruni, model

Mucha Lucha Libre!

Play it: Viaje de Puerto Vallarta
Video: Nacho Libre Trailer
Download: "Mucha Lucha" by Chicos de Barrio
Play it: Mucha Lucha (Soundtrack selections)

I just got back from Puerto Vallarta, and I've got Lucha Libre fever! I didn't actually witness any while I was there, but saw plenty of the Lucha masks for sale (and I did buy my son a Mucha Lucha hat.) One of the reasons I didn't buy a mask, is on my way home from my half-bro's wedding (at the beautiful Quinta Maria Cortez B&B,) I lost my wallet in the cab (not, as legend has it, in El Segundo.) And since my wife left her wallet at home, we were in a pickle. Thankfully, my newly discovered family was able to come to our rescue... I guess borrowing money really makes us family now.

Back to the hook of the post, Lucha Libre is loosely translated as 'freestyle wrestling' and in Mexico has a rich tradition involving masks and signature moves. The wrestlers are called "luchadores" (or singularly, a "luchador",) and are commonly divided in two groups - the rudos (bad guys) and the técnicos (good guys.) There's a couple federations in Mexico (the AAA, and the CMLL,) but have found popular offshoot shows in the US as well, specifically Lucha Va Voom (who has an annual Valentine's 3-Day Show coming up this week in LA.)

When I got back earlier this week, one of the first things I noticed forwarded to me via email, was the trailer for the new movie Nacho Libre, starring Jack Black. Directed by Jared and Jerusha Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) and written by Mike White (School of Rock, Orange County, Jack Black's next door neighbor) and that's pretty much all you need to know to want to watch. It's about time someone capitalized on the Lucha Libre phenomenon, and I'm glad it's this triumvirant (Hess, White, Black) that's doing it (and not Ben Stiller, for instance.) (Play video trailer.)

But it's been ripe for some time, even a kid's cartoon has made a go of it. Mucha Lucha started in 2002, and it became an international hit (it's getting huge in Mexico, and it's even in Gaelic now.) I've got the DVD of the first six seasons on hold for me at the library, so I'm stoked for that.

Download: "Mucha Lucha" theme song by Chicos de Barrio
Play: Mucha Lucha soundtrack selections from the cartoon

More: Desayuno @ La Casa de los Hot Cakes

tags: playlist, music, lucha libre, puerto vallarta, nacho libre, mucha lucha, jack black, chicos de barrio, mexico