Now Downloading: New Releases 04.29.08

I spent my weekend and Monday taking care of my two small boys, and since that's usually the time I spend absorbing the new releases for the week (and pumping out the weekly Ear on TV bit,) I find myself impossibly behind, so I'm going to keep commentary on this week's haul short and semi-sweet. Highlights this week include the latest from Portishead, Jamie Lidell, Robert Forster, Santogold, Constantines, 65daysofstatic and the stateside release from Sweden's Robyn, which took three years to cross the pond.

Playlist: New Releases 04.29.08

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Album: Portishead - Third

Since I didn't get to hear this until release day, I don't feel qualified to comment too much on it, other than to say it shocked the hell out of me, based on my prior experience with the Bristol trip-hop pioneers. Third is more than a departure, as other than Beth Gibbons' voice, there's little at all that's recognizable from their prior releases of over a decade ago. Instead of trip-hop, it's a (very) dissonant rock album, one that's as hard to categorize as a latter day Scott Walker release (come to think of it, his releases also have decade long gaps). Musicians Adrian Utley and Geoff Barrow have said that they wouldn't fall back on any instruments or sounds that appeared on prior albums, and that alone pushes the album to a different place. But the pacing here is also new, with the opening track ("Silence") seeming twice as fast as anything song prior. Opening single "Machine Gun" openly defies radio to play it, with it's industrial staccato and dissonant atmospherics. Where Dummy and Portishead might've lied like place settings at a dinner party, it seems that Third is more content to throw said dinner plates into the hearth. It's guaranteed to make many best of lists at year end, but for me it's too early to say... such a dense and sinister sound demands more time, but after only two days in my ears, it already feels important. (NME, Village Voice, Pop Matters and many more know it to be true.)

Stream "Machine Gun" from band's MySpace page

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Album: Jamie Lidell - Jim

Jamie Lidell's switch from electro/raver to soul singer was one of the more radical style shifts in years, and his latest, Jim, perfectly captures the 60's/70's soul of Stax and Motown. His soulful voice evokes Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder and even Otis Redding at times, which would be just vocal calisthenics if it weren't for the songwriting to back it up. From the opening handclaps of "Another Day" all the way to the feel good funk of "Hurricane," Jim is the perfect tonic for those ears grown tired of the depressing guitar squall of indie rock (it happens). It's certainly nothing groundbreaking about it (like Portishead's Third,) but it sure feels gooooood.

Free album stream from AOL

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More on the radar this week:
Hayden - In Field & Town
Les Savy Fav - After The Balls Drop: 3 AM 1-1-08 NYC
Robert Forster - The Evangelist / "Pandanus" [mp3]
Santogold - Santogold
Constantines - Kensington Heights
Robyn - Robyn
65daysofstatic - The Distant And Mechanised Glow Of Eastern European Dance Parties
Langhorne Slim - Langhorne Slim / "Rebel Side of Heaven" [mp3]
Make Believe - Going to the Bone Church
Estelle - Shine / Free album stream from AOL
The Roots - Rising Down
Dizee Rascal - Maths + English / "Where's Da G's" [mp3]
South - You Are Here / Free album stream from AOL / "Better Things" [mp3]
Firewater - The Golden Hour
Boris - Smile
Madonna - Hard Candy
Awesome Color - Electric Aborigines
Bearsuit - Oh:io
Y-Love - This is Babylon
Lil Mama - VYP - Voice of the Young People / Free album stream from AOL
David Karsten Daniels - Fear of Flying
Nerf Herder - IV
Eli "Paperboy" Reed - Roll With You
Joy Division - The Best Of
REISSUE
Steve Earle - Copper Road


tags: music, album review, portishead, jamie lidell, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody

Devil's Deal

Somebody was taking notes during the strike. After last night's episode, all the complaints about Reaper not delivering on the promise of it's pilot have been answered and the series delivered it's best episode since the pilot. That's now three great episodes that look to the future for the frosh series, hitting it's stride as it awaits news of renewal or cancellation. To wit, last night featured not only the return of Tony (Ken Marino,) but the introduction of two more familiar faces: Lucy Davis (BBC's The Office, Studio 60 and Kandyse McClure (Dualla on Battlestar Galactica,) the kind of casting you don't expect from a series near death on The CW.

We understand what the show is now and what it can be. I think now that we're in this groove, all of a sudden, in a weird way, instead of narrowing what our prospects are, it just opens them up. 'Oh, I can see what Season 3 is now, and Season 5.'
Co-creator Michele Fazekas in the LA Times, April 28, 2008

One of the fixes in the past couple episodes, was dealing with painfully boring relationship between Sam and Andi. Either bring Andi into the Scooby Gang, the complaint goes, or at least give us more reason to care about whether Sam and her ever get together. Well, they finally got together last week, and this week Andi was brought into the circle -- an inevitability of getting together. While I'm sure Sam would prefer her to remain safe on the sidelines, you have to imagine that Andi is going to participate in the escapades going forward, giving the character more to do than just prank Ted -- not that it isn't an important job.

The other biggest complaint about the series was how it fell into a 'soul of the week' routine that offered nothing more. Since the strike, the hell-bound souls have been more interesting and at the same time taken a back seat to an over-arching plot line involving a rift between the devil and his demons. To that end it was also nice to see Ken Marino returning as the gay demon Tony, with the show utilizing his comic timing. Watching him cooking in full demon getup was a highlight (and begs for a SciFi/Food Channel mashup show called Demon Chef... someone get on that). If there's a common thread to the rebirth of the series, it's got to be the work of Marino, who's place here is not unlike his turn as Vinnie on Veronica Mars.

The theme of the episode was making a deal with the Devil (a drastic measure which the series itself want to look into to get renewal,) with the obvious instance being Sam's literal handshake deal with Old Scratch over letting Andi in on his work. His end of the bargain, though, is to again be party to the downfall of his friend Tony, spying on his little uprising. The other deal, of course, is Ben's Green Card marriage to Sara (Lucy Davis) and him finding his Sue Grafton-reading dream girl Cassidy (Kandyse McClure). Sock, of course, has the perfect solution: "You tell them you have an open Green Card marriage!" Other comic Sock highlights include, "my head is going to some pretty awful places with this one," echoing our own thoughts trying to figure out what special powers the semen demon (Ian Gomez of Felicity fame) might possess.

Musically, there was 'Sock's Tunes for Humping,' which maybe we'll hear more of, but in this case, we hear some close-to-real cover of Hendrix's version of "Hey Joe." Only Sock would think "shoot my old lady" is ripe for romance. Sam quickly changes it to a more appropriate enchanting bossa nova number from the London-based, São Paulo raised, singer Cibelle, called "Luisas." The rest, I couldn't figure out, but The CW does update their music page later in the week, so check back there to find out.

Previously: Cell Number of the Beast (Episodes 1.14).

Ear on TV: The Week of April 28

A decade ago, Robyn was poised to be the next Britney Spears, with her hit "Show Me Love," but the teen hype machine employed by major labels then was repellent, and Robyn retreated back to her native Sweden to rethink her career. Considering where her career path might have led, it's all the remarkable that Robyn is back stronger than ever with her self-titled release, even if it took over ten years to do it. Robyn was released in Sweden in 2005 to rave reviews, and slowly found it's way to the ears of music fans here in the U.S. via import and illegal download. Even though it's three years removed, the album still sounds as fresh as ever (aside from the Teddybears cover "Cobrastyle," as the original is now in the 'tired' column). On Thursday, Robyn makes her US network television debut on Letterman. Considering it will be International Workers' Day, I guess it's only appropriate that it took eleven years of hard work for her to finally make it to this point.

Elsewhere, Neil Diamond is back in the spotlight, first as the feature guest on American Idol (Tuesday/Wednesday) and then performs on The Today Show Friday, showing off a tune from his soon to be released album of gritty acoustic originals (Home Before Dark). Diamond has hooked up with producer Rick Ruben for the second time, hoping to capture some of the same magic that Johnny Cash achieved with Ruben's spare approach.

Also, check out She & Him, the Zooey Deschanel / M. Ward collaboration, as last week's performance on Conan featured Yo La Tengo backing the band (video).

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, April 28
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Roots with Chrisette Michele
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Morrissey
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Georgie James
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Santogold
Tuesday, April 29
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Cinematic Orchestra
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Morrissey
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Beat Union
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Natasha Bedingfield
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Kills
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Serj Tankian
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Def Leppard
Wednesday, April 30
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Def Leppard
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Grand Archives
FUSE: The Sauce: Chuck D
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Feist
Thursday, May 1
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Robyn
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: She & Him
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Was (Not Was)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Does It Offend You Yeah?
Friday, May 2
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Estelle
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Nick Lowe
NBC: The Today Show: Neil Diamond
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Sleepercar
NBC: The Today Show: Ben Harper (REPEAT)
RAVEHD: Later with Jools Holland: KT Tunstall, Mutya Buena, Band of Horses, Beirut, Martin Simpson, Ting Tings, Gabriella Cilmi
Saturday, May 3
PBS: Austin City Limits: Alejandro Escovedo

30 Rock Me Amadeus

The strike was tough on us, I have to admit it, so perhaps that makes the return of all these new episodes look rosier to me than they should, but I think when all is said and done this 30 Rock will go down as one of their finest. The second half homage to Amadeus alone was (forgive the term) genius, but on top of that they gave perhaps the best explanation of the Uncanny Valley theory of human facsimile (Tom Hanks in The Polar Express is indeed creepy).

Tracy as Mozart is a leap to be sure, but as a genius trying to bridge the Uncanny Valley in merging video games with porn it worked great. It's a quest that's been tried before, namely by Frank (and "history's greatest perverts -- Walt Disney, Larry Flynt, the Japanese.") Pitting Tracy's Amadeus against Frank's Salieri wouldn't have worked if it weren't for the use of Mozart's "Requiem: Lacrimosa," which you hear throughout the episode's latter half. The piece was of course his final work that a jealous Salieri helped coax out of him, which the scene of Frank dictating to Tracy parodies so well ("duo becomes a trio ... and a trio becomes a quartet ..."). Even Kenneth takes on the role of Constanze, Mozart's wife and protector.

And, if the music and theme is the only reason for Dr. Spaceman to be running through the studio in a cape, it's worth it, don't you think?

Favorite lines:
"I've got to do something important so my kids respect me -- like be a senator, or a wizard." - Tracy
"My genius has come alive, like toys when your back is turned." - Tracy
"I want my mother to know before she dies so she goes to the grave a defeated woman." - Jack on his promotion to head of GE
"Suck it monkeys, I'm going corporate!" - Liz to the writers
"It's like rich drunk, either way, it's legal to drive." - Jack explaining "business drunk" to Liz
"You've got the charm and spark of a young Leona Helmsley." - Don to Liz

Did anyone else see Liz' turn as an executive was a metaphor for living with the apes, a la Diann Fossey? Perhaps it was just a joke they set up that they couldn't deliver on effectively and decided to let it go?

Song: "Requiem: Lacrimosa" - Mozart

Now Downloading: New Releases 04.22.08

I'm a bit torn on whether this is a good week for releases... on the one hand, it's right in my wheelhouse as far as soundtracks go (Flight of the Conchords, latest from Barry Adamson,) but I think on the whole it's too early to tell. Other new releases this week come from Elbow, Tokyo Police Club, Chris Mills, Lyrics Born (poached in last week's post,) Thalia Zedek Band, Billy Bragg The Night Marchers (John Reis of RFTC), Don Cavalli, a collection of mixtape odds and ends from Clipse, and the new single from Scarlett Johansson foray into music.

Playlist: New Releases 04.22.08

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Album: Flight of the Conchords - Flight Of The Conchords

This album seems to serve mostly as a reminder of how funny the HBO comedy series is, as it's essentially a collection of songs mostly as they appeared on the first season. Fans of the act are familiar with many of the songs from their live acoustic act, and on television the transformation of these songs into full blown studio productions wasn't jarring in that the banter before songs was also translated into a full blown fictional setting. Without that visual in your mind, I wonder how these songs would come off? It's hard for me to separate the two, so I'm at a quandary how to judge the album on those merits -- but then again, how many people are going to purchase the album that aren't familiar with the visuals? Bottom line, if you loved the series, you'll love this. If you didn't, I doubt this will change your opinion. If you're completely unaware, Netflix it already.

Full Album Stream from AOL
Download: "Ladies of the World" [mp3]

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Album: Barry Adamson - Back to the Cat

Barry Adamson's post-punk pedigree (Magazine, Birthday Party, Bad Seeds) always throws people for a loop when paired with a solo career highlighted by soundtrack style compositions. His noir jazz-tinged spoken word work sounds at times like Leonard Cohen if he decided he wanted to compose for James Bond movies. Since his landmark debut, Moss Side Story, this Manchester born bassist has written soundtracks for films that don't exist, inhabiting the space that the music to The Man With the Golden Arm helped create. Back to the Cat is another throwback to that, full of David Holmes grooves and Lynchian darkness (Adamson composed for Lynch's Lost Highway. Song highlights include an Elvis turn for "Spend a Little Time," the obvious single "Walk on Fire," and the nod to Serge Gainsbourg in "Psycho_Sexual." I've been anxiously anticipating this release since Adamson's "Jazz Devil" made an appearance recently on Nip/Tuck, and I have to say I'm not at all disappointed.

Listen to album free at last.fm
Download: "Spend a Little Time" / "Walk on Fire" [mp3]

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More on the radar this week:
The Replacements Let It Be/Hootenanny/Stink/Sorry Ma Forgot To Take Out the Trash (AOL Stream)
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Lyrics Born - Everywhere At Once / Free album stream from AOL
Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell / Free album stream from AOL
Chris Mills - Living In The Aftermath
Billy Bragg - Mr. Love & Justice / "Nothin 2 Hide [mp3]
The Night Marchers (John Reis of RFTC) - See You In Magic / Free album stream from AOL / "Who's Lady R U" [mp3]
Make Believe - Going to the Bone Church
Thalia Zedek Band - Liars and Prayers / "Lower Allston" [mp3]
Scarlett Johansson - Falling Down (Single) / Free album stream from AOL
Clipse - Re-Up Gang The Saga Continues
El Perro Del Mar - From The Valley To The Stars / "Glory to the World" [mp3]
Don Cavalli - Cryland
Sarandon - Kill Twee Pop! / "Welcome" "Mike's Dollar" [mp3]
Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Sh*t Gold - Standard Edition
Shelley Short - Water For The Day / "Swimming" [mp3]
Anna Ternheim - Halfway to Fivepoints / "To Be Gone" [mp3]
Malcolm Middleton - Sleight Of Heart
Sleepercar - West Texas
The Young Knives - Superabundance
The Cat Empire - So Many Nights / Free album stream from AOL
Cinematic Orchestra - Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Pyramids - Pyramids
Juno Reactor - Gods & Monsters
Jack Rose - Dr Ragtime & Pals / Self Titled
Spectrum Meets Cpt. Memphis - Indian Giver
Jukebox The Ghost - Let Live and Let Ghosts

tags: music, album review, fotc, barry adamson, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody

(Cell) Number of the Beast

Before I begin, let's draw an imaginary circle around this post so the Devil won't hear: It's looking more and more like Reaper isn't going to get picked up for second season. That inevitability is unfortunate, as they've finally started to hit their stride, especially since the introduction of The State vets Ken Marino and Michael Ian Black as Tony and Steve, the demons that live next door. Or, more to the point, the gay demon rebels next door.

"We're part of an underground alliance of demons planning to overthrow the devil," says Steve, sounding more like a cheerleader than the leader of a rebellion. And what a plan it was... putting change in parking meters, walking old ladies across the street, not eating children, you, know, being killing the Devil with kindness. Probably would've taken centuries to work, but Steve seemed to be on to something, as it annoyed Old Scratch to no end (recall how he even specifically pointed out his hatred of Steve a couple episodes back). It was obvious once Sam and the Devil's cell phone number entered the picture that Tony's more aggressive approach would win out (he's obviously the top in the relationship,) but I still wonder how someone who fought alongside Lucifer could be that far off in underestimating his foe. And is it just me, or did the killing off of the rebellion happen a little too soon in the storyline? If Michael Ian Black is gone now, I guess at least we have Ken Marino's Tony living to fight on another day.

Speaking of fighting with Satan, it's about time they introduced some of the classic stories of the devil into the Reaper mythology, even if the sword of Archangel Michael turned out to be a cheap Korean town knockoff. Even a breadcrumb trail of Milton's Paradise Lost is worth a meal in Reaper geek returns. Or why not mine take inspiration from DC comics' Lucifer, the Mike Carey written spinoff of Neil Gaiman's legendary Sandman series? Even with the demons presumed dead, save Marino's Tony -- who looks like a revenge candidate for the finale -- there's still plenty of opportunities to... oh, wait. Who am I kidding? We both know that this series is not long for the tube. Sad as it is, though, it's nice to dream about what might've been.

Music? Yeah, there was some of it there. 'Fraidy cat song "I See Spiders When I Close My Eyes" by the twee band Boy Least Likely To played as Sock confronts Josie in the parking lot to little effect. Another chance to score some soundtrack points was lost with the generic cover of the Cure's "Just Like Heaven." It's tough to think of a version of the song that would've worked as intended, but the sentiment was there. Sam's day involves a lot of Hell, and to get a taste of Heaven in a makeout session with Andi is most certainly just like heaven. I still think don't think it would've been too distracting to have Dinosaur Jr's amazing version, but that's just me.

Previously: Before the Devil Knows Your Dread (Episodes 1.12-13)

Ear on TV: The Week of April 21

For the second time in six months, NBC/Universal is delivering a 'Green Week,' aligning itself with Earth Day. Based alone on the fact that we won't be subjected to a candle-lit Sunday Night Football, it's bound to work much better this time around. To that end, Radiohead is making a special non-appearance on Conan Wednesday night, in honor of the eco-friendly theme -- and by non-appearance I mean they're going to stay home and contribute a live recording of them playing "House of Cards." Prior to playing, frontman Thom Yorke will deliver a message explaining that by staying home, "they avoided leaving a carbon footprint equivalent to driving one's car for a solid year." I guess that's the telecommuting angle of going green. Rest assured, though, that Radiohead will be embarking on a tour that involves them being at venues live and in the flesh, but they're taking great pains to make sure that their carbon footprint will be minimized.

Those pains are the basis of service for the non-profit organization Reverb, who help musicians make eco-friendly choices on their tours. Started by Guster guitarist/singer Adam Gardner, Reverb was born out of a necessity, as Guster and other artists fought record labels to try and make their tours more eco-friendly. Current TV's Fix Extended Play focuses in on the organization, speaking with Reverb clients Andrew Bird and Jose Gonzalez, who perform and discuss raising green awareness on their tour.

Meanwhile, to continue with NBC's Green Week, Leno on Friday night will be subtracting yellow and adding red. Color enthusiasts know I'm talking about purple, and that of course means Prince. His royal badness probably won't spend much time about being eco-friendly, but instead using the Tonight Show stage as a warm up for his headline gig this weekend at Coachella. Even so, keeping his fans at home that night to watch him shake his bum hip might do more for than the environment that we give NBC credit for.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, April 21
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Black Tide (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Voxhaul Broadcast
NBC: The Today Show: Alicia Keys
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Grizzly Bear
Tuesday, April 22
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Paul Thorn
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Kathleen Edwards
CURRENT: Fix Extended Play: Andrew Bird, Jose Gonzalez
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Goldfrapp
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: She & Him
Wednesday, April 23
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Vampire Weekend
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Tokyo Police Club
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Tegan and Sara
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Radiohead
Thursday, April 24
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Tim Fite
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Old 97's
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Airborne Toxic Event
Friday, April 25
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
NBC: The Today Show: Madonna
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Prince
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Matt Costa
RAVEHD: Later with Jools Holland: The Coral, Jack Pinate, Rilo Kiley, John Dankworth & Cleo Laine, Bassekou Koyate & Ngoni Ba, David Gray
Saturday, April 26
OVATION: Beat Route: Havana - Buena Vista Social Club, Ruben Gonzalez, Compay Segundo, Chucho Valdez, Des'ree
PBS: Austin City Limits: Franz Ferdinand, What Made Milwaukee Famous

April's showers bring Summer music festivals

It's April, so it must be raining outside. Let me rephrase that... it's Seattle and it's not summer, so it must be raining outside. What a better way to spend a drizzly day than to dream about all the great music festivals hitting the Northwest this summer.

Playlist: Sasquatch Music Festival (May 24-26)
The kickoff to the season is the Sasquatch Music Festival, which year after year, gets the most best tasting/less filling lineup in the country. Doesn't get the press that Coachella gets, but the lineup is top notch, and it's hard to beat watching your favorite band with Grand Canyon Jr. (the Gorge) as a backdrop. Bands like R.E.M., Modest Mouse, The Cure and Death Cab For Cutie are great decoys for the real entertainment on a second stage. That's where you can see acts like Destroyer, Stephen Malkmus, Battles, Okkervil River in a slightly more intimate setting.
Must See: Fleet Foxes

Playlist: Sub Pop 20th Anniversary Festival (July 12-13)
The initial lineup was just announced this week, but rumors of a Green River reunion have been circulating since the fall. Not only do we get a GR reunion, but also reuniting for the event are Red Red Meat, Fluid, Seaweed and Beachwood Sparks. (What, no Tad?) The rest of the lineup is filled with current roster acts like Wolf Parade, Iron & Wine, Fleet Foxes and Flight of the Conchords, but no sight of the crossover successes - The Shins and Band of Horses. Portland's Sub Pop contingent is missing as well -- perhaps Hazel, Pond and The Spinanes can get their act together in time for the event?
Must see: Green River (duh?)
Website: SP20 Details

Playlist: Pemberton Music Festival (July 25-27)
This is a first for the Whistler area and I for one was surprised to see the local residents approve the festival. With a camping set-up and acts like Black Mountain, Jay-Z, Tom Petty, My Morning Jacket (see full lineup) it's a good thing Canada is much looser with their Marijuana laws. They even have a family section for camping, which presumably won't have the same cannibas fog surrounding it.
Must see: Sam Roberts Band (when in Canada...)
Website: Pemberton Festival

Playlist: Capitol Hill Block Party (July 25-26)
Occurring at the same time as Pemberton, CHBP has grown leaps and bounds throughout the years, but finally seems to have settled on a size, as this year resembles the last couple in size and strength (manageable and 'like bull', respectively). Vampire Weekends' got a busy, uh... weekend playing both CHBP and Pemberton fests. Other highlights for this neighborhood party include The Hold Steady, Kimya Dawson and Jay Reatard.
Must see: Jay Reatard!
Website: The Stranger's CHBP site

Playlist: Bumbershoot (August 30–September 1)
The annual labor day weekend arts extravaganza is always the bohemoth lying in wait... the giant straw that breaks your festival going back. I believe I've attended now every year since 1987, which makes my attendance this year of drinking age (21 years!) The beer gardens better watch out! A preview lineup has been announced featuring Beck, Neko Case, M. Ward, Dan Deacon and Wreckless Eric (!) among many others. It's too early to say how it's going to look, though, as there's a lot of time for plenty of surprise announcements to come. We'll of course be monitoring the situation.
Must see: Man Man (just added)
Website: Bumbershoot.org

So, who wants to fly to the Seattle area for the summer now?

Supersonic soul crusher

Tonight the Sonics potentially play their last game as a Seattle entity and that depresses the hell out of me. Since the sale of the team to the Okie blokes the loss of the team has been felt here as an inevitability, with all claims of 'good faith' in negotiating, for the most part, pure theater -- on both sides. It's common knowledge that the NBA has their own 'don't ask, don't tell' policy (see the Jason Kidd trade) where, as long as you keep up appearances, all parties have deniability. You break that code (as Jerry Stackhouse found out) and things have to be set straight.

Well, the emails that have gone public have pulled loose that veil of deniability, which is why we're seeing a change in posture. Lawsuits have been filed (Schultz sues to get back Sonics,) letters have been written (Gov. Gregoire, Senators Murray and Cantwell... yet Commish Stern continues to play along with the charade. Accordingly, public opinion in the Northwest has gone through an adjustment. The usual indifference here in Seattle has turned to anger, but when you get down to it, nothing has really changed. Deep down, the fans and non-fans alike knew that Clay "I am a man possessed" Bennett and co. planned from the start to move the team. But since we all have a part to play in the charade, on with the show --- (Save our Sonics).

Song: "Never To Be Mine" - Tommy McCook and the Supersonics

Now Downloading: New Releases 04.15.08

After last week's riches, it's hard not to feel a bit of a letdown. However, thanks to some early arrivals from The Black Angels, Lyrics Born and Make Believe along with the new releases from M83, Black Francis, The Child Ballads, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Kooks, it's still a better than average week for releases.

Playlist: New Releases 04.15.08

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Album: The Black Angels - Directions to See a Ghost

The latest from Austin's The Black Angels isn't actually due in stores for another month, but through the ingenuity of Drake fave label Light in the Attic Records, you can go to participating stores and buy a pre-sale card for $12.99, which gives you a unique online code to download tracks from LITA. Then, once May 13th arrives, you can go back to the store and pick up your deluxe embossed CD digipak release, with bonus CD EP of 4 unreleased tracks. It's a brilliant move on LITA's part, even knowing that this is The Black Angels last release on the label (they've since signed on with Interscope imprint Suretone). Because the virtual purchase also also buys you the CD, Directions to See a Ghost should get a corresponding spike on Billboard it's first week. Still won't be top 40, mind you, but it's bound to get LITA a heatseeker notice, which is a good way for the Angels to leave the label that gave them their start. Enough about the delivery of Directions -- how does it sound? Is saying it's Passover pt. 2 a bad thing? It might be pure laziness on my part, but if you liked their debut, you're going to like this one as well. The hypnotic Velvet Underground-meets-13th Floor Elevators sound is still on full display, should be enough to go on. If the one-two punch of openers "You On The Run" and "Doves" doesn't grab you, then try "Mission District," which effortlessly transports you to the Bay Area's pyschedelic past.

Full Album Stream

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Album: Lyrics Born - Everywhere At Once

Listening to the Bay Area's Lyrics Born won't get you any street cred, but who needs the street when planning a party. LB's funk grooves and good time party rap aren't the kind of joints that speak of a hard-knock life, but the good natured funk grooves are too infectious to worry about being 'authentic.' He's no Young MC, though, as LB's got a full band behind him now, recalling some of the Gap Band grooves along with party beats not unlike those that Afrika Bambaataa employed during his heyday. Hot tracks like "Don't Change," "Hott 2 Deff" and "I Like It, I Love It" will make many mixes in the coming summer, each proof in their own way that there's no shame in loving a little LB.

Full Album Stream from AOL

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Album: M83 - Saturdays=Youth

Frenchman Anthony Gonzalez (aka M83) gives up some of the My Bloody Valentine layered guitars for an ode to 80's synth acts like Cocteau Twins and early Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (who fittingly enough, this week see the reissue of their great 1983 album Dazzle Ships). The lush 80's soundscapes explore the themes of youth, so you have to forgive the lyrics at times, which sometimes seem like the scratchings from a Pee-Chee. "Kim & Jessie" is pure 80's brilliance, capturing young lovers who have a secret hiding place, and "Graveyard Girl" is a deliberate nod in the direction of the John Hughes' film Pretty in Pink, even name dropping Molly Ringwald. Too bad this album wasn't done two years ago, as it would've been perfect for Sofia Coppola's re-imagined Marie Antoinette, with it's rich new wave textures. It's an album that hits a bullseye on the target it's aiming for, but I can't help feeling that in a month or so I won't be as drawn to it's charms, unlike, say, Pretty in Pink.

Free AOL Album Stream

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More on the radar this week:
Make Believe - Going to the Bone Church (in Rhapsody a week early)
Black Francis - Svn Fngers
The Child Ballads - Cheekbone Hollows (Pop. 1/2 Life) / "Cheekbone Hollows" [mp3]
The Kooks - Konk / Free album stream from AOL
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - My Bloody Underground
Joseph Arthur - Crazy Rain / "Nothin 2 Hide [mp3]
Does It Offend You, Yeah? - You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into
Phantom Planet - Raise the Dead / Free album stream from AOL
Tristan Prettyman - Hello / Free album stream from AOL
James McMurtry - Just Us Kids
Jordan Zevon - Insides Out / Free album stream from AOL
Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
The Autumns - Fake Noise from a Box of Toys / "Boys" "Killer in Drag" [mp3]
The Plastic Constellations - We Appreciate You / "Stay That Way" [mp3]
Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Vol. 3 & 4: Air & Earth
The Gossip - Live In Liverpool / "Yr Mangled Heart (Live)" [mp3]
Reissues
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) - Dazzle Ships

tags: music, album review, foals, man man, nick cave, wye oak, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody

Ear on TV: The Week of April 14

I had to admit I was initially skeptical at the prospect of seventy and eighty-year old senior citizens singing rock songs from the likes of Sonic Youth, The Clash and the Ramones. But in the hands of The Young@Heart Chorus -- and the arrangement of 54-year old director Bob Cilman -- the songs take on new meaning given the age and circumstance of their interpreters, and it's hard to hear the song the same way again. This week, the nearly two dozen retirees from Northampton, Mass. appear on both Leno (Wednesday,) and Ellen (Thursday,) out doing their part to help promote the documentary they're featured in, Young@Heart out this Friday, April 18.

The film is billed by it's director Stephen Walker as a rock musical for getting old, but that shortchanges the subject manner a bit, I'd say, a problem that's also apparent in his over use of narration -- the only issue I have with an other wise perfect documentary. (Why couldn't he just shut up and let the film tell the story?) At the center of the film is our own mortality, which isn't just some elephant in a room full of folks near the end of their life. Over the years, the chorus has lost over 70 of it's members to the inevitability of time, even losing a couple in the making of the film. One of those deaths leads to the incredible touching moment of a duet that's forced into a solo, as the remaining singing partner Fred lends some gravity to Coldplay's "Fix You" (video.)

The film challenges not only our perceptions of age and getting old, but also our initial perceptions of the songs themselves. When the chorus takes on Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia" (video) or David Bowie's "Golden Years" (video,) both the lyrics and the music are lifted to a place you wouldn't think it would go. What it brings to mind is the outsider music of The Langley Schools Music Project, a recording of Canadian elementary school children singing rock songs of the time (1976-1977.) Where the octogenarians take Bowie is not that different from nine year old voices in the suburbs of Vancouver with "Space Oddity." They're just at different ends of their life.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, April 14
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Daniel Lanois
FUSE: The Sauce: Gnarls Barkley
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Spoon (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Morrissey (REPEAT)
Tuesday, April 15
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Rogue Wave
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Perry Farrell
FUSE: The Sauce: G. Love
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Ingrid Michaelson
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Brother Ali (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Tristan Prettyman (REPEAT)
Wednesday, April 16
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Gossip
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Bell X1
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Young@Heart Chorus
Thursday, April 17
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Black Keys
OVATION: Afro-Cuban All Stars: At the Salon of Dreams: Afro-Cuban All Stars
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Young@Heart Chorus
Friday, April 18
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lyrics Born
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Liam Finn
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Flogging Molly
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Kooks (REPEAT)
RAVEHD: Later with Jools Holland: Reverend and the Makers, Stephanie Dosen, Josh Ritter, Larry Harlow's Latin Legends of Fania, Bela Fleck, The Who
Saturday, April 19
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Vampire Weekend (REPEAT)
OVATION: Beat Route - Seville: Vicente Amigo (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Ray Davies (REPEAT)

Now Downloading: New Releases 04.08.08 (cont.)

I haven't done this before, but there was so much great music (and so little else out there currently I'm caring to write about) that I'm giving new releases and extension of sorts. Yesterday, I hit the latest from Nick Cave, Man Man and Wye Oak, and if you count the week prior's poach of Foals and Monday's 'Ear on TV' sideways glance of the latest 'effort' from Tapes n' Tapes, I've already hit on five releases this week. But that still leaves so many still worthy of digital ink, like the latest from The Breeders, The Long Blondes, Jason Anderson, Clinic and more. This is Motherload '08, my friends, so I'll just tackle what I can without keeling over. (M83's latest is even in Rhapsody a week early, but for practical purposes, I'm pretending it's not here until next week.)

Playlist: New Releases 04.08.08

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Album: The Breeders - Mountain Battles

Back six years after the under-appreciated Title TK, Kim Deal's Breeders pick up where they left off, with this similarly anti-Last Splash follow up. Odds are, then, that Mountain Battles will suffer the same lack of appreciation, which is too bad considering how many great moments there are to uncover in this album. Back to turning knobs is producer Steve Albini, who has helmed their best efforts (aforementioned Title TK and debut Pod,) but here his usual contributions are harder to notice. That's partially because, aside from "Walk it Off" and "German Studies," the songs don't lend themselves to Albini's trademark drum sound, instead relying more on a more sublime sound, as if Kim used Breeders old great oddities "Oh" and "Roi" as a blueprint for what to record. Or perhaps this is an equal and opposite reaction to the 2004 behemoth Pixies reunion (for instance, sister and Pixies tour mate Kelly sings beautifully in Spanish on "Regalame Esta Noche.") Whatever it is, I'm thankful that this simple artistic work came to fruition.

See the Deal sisters laying vocals for a demo of "Walk it Off" on the doc loudQUIETloud
Full Album Stream from AOL
Download: "Bang On" [mp3]

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Album: The Long Blondes - Couples

Full Album Stream from AOL

When this Sheffield outfit released their debut (review 06/05/07,) post-punk geeks everywhere lost their shit. Lead singer Kate Jackson's come hither vocals came with a kick in the junk, and the guitar-based attitude hit a sweet spot. With their second release, they're seem to be charting post-punk's progression and roots, opting to infuse their sound with disco, noting Donna Summer's influence on the genre. Where the first album opened with one long squall of guitar feedback, Couples begins with one long synth note ("Century,") changing expectations immediately. It comes as less a surprise then to find out London DJ Erol Alkan is behind the production, and his hand is especially felt on the sleek track "Guilt," which is the obvious single here. In case folks are worried they've given up the harder edge, "I Like the Boys" and "Here Comes the Serious Bit" up the tempo and the attitude, while final track, "I'm Going to Hell," serves as a perfect ending to a fun ride. I can't wait to see where they take us next.

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Album: Jason Anderson - The Hopeful and the Unafraid

The prolific Jason Anderson makes a valiant attempt to make a Born in the USA for 2008 ("El Paso,") opting for a fuller studio sound for his back of the bar stories. Here he's recording with former members of Magnolia Electric Co., pushing forward a more roots rock sound. The album was recorded in two days, while on a short break in the middle of his tour, with nearly everything live and the vocals all first take. As such, it has an immediate feel, which serves as the album's strength. Anderson's enthusiasm is hard to deny (he's also a children's music teacher,) and the only thing holding him back here is the feeling that some of this sounds like something to be co-opted for a car commercial. Put the blame it on John Mellencamp.

Full Album Stream from AOL

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More on the radar this week in previous post.

tags: music, album review, clinic, the long blondes, jason anderson, the breeders, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody