How's the pie?: Music That's Soooo Good

How

2009-12-26T19:25:00.002-05:00

SB3 Update

2009-04-02T21:32:00.002-04:00

Hey guys,

New album's still set to drop this summer.

Here's some updates:

- SB3 will now contain four discs, each carrying anywhere from 18-22 tracks. One disc will be a grocery list with a rap for every item on the list. Tentative track list: 1.) Cheese 2.) Milk 3.) Double-stuffed Oreos, so on so forth.

- The title has been changed from SB3 to Lord Neanderthal and the Seven Red Hens of Milford Haven.

- DH has exhausted his collection of 70's soul samples, and the group has made a collective decision to return to the MIDI-file format supported by the fabled lost EP Scyther Dies.

-CK will not be rapping on two of the three discs, but will instead sing (with vocoder of course) throughout the entirety of the discs, including over DH's verses. Words will be made up as he goes along.

-There's a song about condoms and when to use them.

Things are coming along nicely for our best album yet. Until then, feel free to purchase a copy of last year's breathtaking A Renaissance, of Swords for $26.99.

Thanks for your continued support.

-Courtney K

I Really Want To Do

2009-02-19T19:46:00.000-05:00

Just what my body wants to.

(I keep it locked!)

Life In Technicolor II: Video

2009-02-04T18:29:00.002-05:00

This is coming kind of late and many of you may have already seen this but the Coldplay video for Life In Technicolor ii is absolutely hilarious.
If you haven't seen it you should watch it.

People Make Love. We Make Art.

2008-12-18T02:42:00.002-05:00

January 7, 2009

Get Ready to Make Babies

-AS and MG

Staff is reunited

2008-12-18T01:31:00.000-05:00

AIM Chat with Andrew Stone , Matthew Gasda , reasonableman61612/18/08 12:11 AM
chat room?
reasonableman616 has joined this chat.
did the chat room whistle at you guys too
haha no
scared the shit out of me
fuck which aim is andrew?
the one with blue
okay
to me i'm red
wait you're both blue to me
we're waiting on that skank erik now
im red!
blasphemy
i like how matt's here twice
i don't have names on mine, just icons
like he thinks he can have twice as many votes
matt is here twice?
he has yet t ospeak
it says 5 people here on my thing
i didnt realize
and two of them are matt lol
oh guys by the way
haha
first official human face transplant
was in the paper today
which leads to
what!?
the possibility of face off
>:
becoming a reality
hahaha

i want to take
his face
....offff
hahaha
lets go back to debating the logistics of the red vs. blue names
is that a bad movie
no its amazing
in a half bad half good way
half awful
i cant explain it
that means joey won't like it
no no
he absolutely will like it
you haven't even mentioned who's in it
let's get it for the beach house
that's the selling point
i know whos in it
ok
nicholas cage
and the scientologist
i believed you
haha
yea its the perfect beach house movie
i watched milk online today
can we go to the beach house without erik
the face transplant
did you like it joe
is really just htem like putting the faces on like a mask
in the surgical room
it makes no sense
i saw it the other day
it was good
it was so good
i need to see it
sean penn was a total bad ass
i thought it was really good
i really wanna see trh wrestler
i don't
sean penn is just the man
because they diss nirvana in the trailer
he was awesome
emil hirsh was good too
yeah he was
yeah the whole cast was good
i watched frost/nixon online
wait whats the wrestler
not nearly as good
ah i want to see tha
i want to see that new clint eastwood one
its worth seeing but i saw it on the same day as milk
and it paled in comparison
anybody in here excited for merriweather???
no

unless you're referring to safety brandon merriweather
then yes
haha i was actually
someone invite erik
no
no
this might be the first album of the century not to leak
no
not true
it will leak
if it doesn't
they send out retail copies this week
the radio station is having a listening party jan 6
its gonna leak
yo uguys wanna start a leak pool
ok its leaking
a leak pool sounds gross
a leak pool sounds like a real thing
like in erik's yard
haha
wheres erik
with rats
jesus
i tried to surpress that day
haha no
you cant supress it
what are we doing in here again
pfork draft right
talking about how much erik hates mexicans
its fun just to be together
dude don't get erik started on mexicans
lets all talk in spanish when he arrives
si
mi picke de uno es un fleet foxes recerdo
haha
no me gusta mexicans
ok is anyone even makign an effort to invite erik
i tried
i don't know how on a mac
but didnt know how
someone else needs to
mac o a pc
matt
do it
pc
have you seen that girl talk commercial
erik wants an invite
do it matt
none of us know how
actually
oooh got it
Erik Kelechava has joined this chat.
yay
hello
wooo!
hola
chava
make your font bigger
i can't read it
fuck you ethan
thats his font
his font IS his font!
ah i just lol'd
FUCK
my font is my font
I WILL TALK LIKE THIS
broke my streak of eighteen days without laughing
ror
haha really?
yeah
i was fuckin stoic for ahwile there
NEVER BELIEVE ANDREW
LIAR
erik
shut up erik
andrew doesnt lie
HO CHAVS

hahaha
best use of emoticon ever
i'll call it on myself i dont care
that thing is hilarious
okay let's pick an order
okay
did jane's addiction release an album this year
if so i'm picking it
erik you have a calculator
do you have a random number generator
what makes you belive he has a calculator?
do you have a compass?
yeah seriously
calculators don't pertain to his major
yeah
ethan
jeez i'm sosorry

yo guys i told joe this already
well probably, but im not gonna get it
fuck you
just find one online
it cant be that hard
but my screenwriting final today was comprised of wii bowling and donut holes
you do it
it was like joe's dream final
ahh thats like a weber class
http://www.random.org/integers/
haha thanks erik
weber never bought us breakfast
we had to go to burger king and buy him shit
what a dick
it seriously took me like 5 seconds
haha seriously
clap... clap
bravo
do it in 4 and i'll really be impressed
magic bullet style
ill do it in 3
order is
matt
fuck that
me
randomize again
fuck
erik
wrong
right
andrew joe
motherfucker
k
lets go
game on
NOW
GO MATT
you guys finally have a chance for redemption
GO MATT GO
deerhunter
after i owned you in '06
boooooooo
nice pick if you want to lose
seriosuly
seriously
haha
ethan!
now!
can i pick weird era cont.?
foxes
haha no
NO
cut copy
drew
tv on the radio i'll be back in one minute
tha carter 3
do i get another pick now?
si
hercules
keep track of your own picks and then email them to me
while we're waiting for andrew
ok uh
http://www.kansascity.com/440/story/929637.html erik how do feel about this guy
oh joe... you took my next 2
haha
vampire weekend, they seem to enjoy those polo-shirt afficionados
ah well chosen
uh
dodos
dumb choice erik
but we will continue
erik thats not on the list
HAha
portishead
haha nice
hahaha
dodos got honorable mention today
thats like taking mike vick
just proves erik's the least geeky of us
in fantasy football
2008 sunset rubdown
mike vick is coming back
and will put big numbers
less egregious than sunset
on the cowboys hopefully
who does an honorable mention the day before they put a list up
that is so pretentious
haha pfork
fine
erik take someone else
booooo
i'd take vick if i'm building an '09 team
fine
let erik lie in the bed he's made
should we be hard on eirk?
yes
ill be hard on you for your misspelling
okay
vick is totally coming back
misspelling of what
my name
lets continue drafting
ror
wait, are you really letting me choose again or what
i guess not
gasda pick twice
give me erik's failed pick
as in the dodos
or a chance to pick another album
no age
i mean i want an extra pick because erik failed
pick again
im thinking
haha
portishead
already gone\
uhhh...
shit
haha
even i knew that was already gone
haha
god matt
take the new common album
alright give erik 2 this time around, let's keep this in good fun
hahaha
one second
fucked up
your pick or your list?
m83
pick
let erik pick two?
yea do it
alright
you served penalty
yeeeeeea
beach house
missed a few turns as penalty
bon iver
walkmen
umm
the bug
and...
the hold steady
fuck what else do they like
uhhhhhh
the fuck buttons
haha
there goes my pick
y yo tambien
sorry guys... guess i'm pushing all the right buttons
wooooo
wow
um
youre right, what else do they like
keane
lol
haha
08 was also a mad shitty year for the record
haha
zoomer
yeeeeeaaaa
didn't forget today
that was the idea there
yeah chava!!!!
vivian girls
hope wolf parade splashes in at 1
or not on the list
how awesome would that be
yeah probably not
two consecutive krug snubs
erik would you flip shit?
i wouldnt be surprised
chava you would be so happy if that heppened
1
why?
that is
ah
i remember you were really unhappy with the sunset 8.6 last year
was i? i do find the first record to be better
gasda pick two
both those sunset records are great
yeah but the first one is more consisten
i think
lets speed shit up
bonnie prince
lindstrom
yo matt
yea
do you know how far away from our houses becca sheplock lives
she lives on pennsylvania
she lives down the street from me
right by rose garden
oh ok
not that close to rose garden
i guess it doesn't matter that much in the grand scheme of the 3 hour drive tomorrow
pick pick pick
ahh!!!
oh youre getting a ride from her
no it doesnt
a ride....so to speak
she's goin back with my dad and me
jeez i don't remember what they liked
i can't look at best new music
times new viking
GOOD PICK

its over
ethan won
right there
definitely
chava pick
all you erik
i think were gonna see an amazing zoomer comeback
one up that pick
bejar had an album this year
haha
uh
yea that really got buzz
lupe
nice
ill go with that
its cause of your exciting review matt
the death...of the cool
lupEND will definitely top next years list
the three discs will be one two three
been waiting all day gotta pop this niggah UNNNGGGHHH!!!!
gemstones
haha
gemstones is my hero
oh is it my turn
si
ummm
that dj/rapture album that just came out
i think it was best new music
so sounds safe
88
let's try to pick 10 that way we can see if we can correctly nail top 50
safe
or how many out of them
yeah
YEA!
great idea
i switched faces for erik
with*
so if he wins
i really win
'09 1. merriweather 2. everywhere 3. nowhere 4. down there 5. panda bear
ok i pick spiritualized
or who you think i am
just to continue the rhyming
hmm i think my face is still intact
haha
chava you growin that mustache?
of course
i cant grow one
what about SB3?
so it doesnt relaly matter
neither can i
really
i shaved everything but the stache today
nice
whos turn is it?
joey again
my second pick...
you guys are gonna be shocked when i come in with my tom selleck tomorrow
i hope thats true..
i really do
renaissance, of swords
hahaha
the chances thats on there is so slim
no but really renaissance by Q-tip
good album
ethan i'm gonna pull one off your list
titus andronicus
thats a good call
so good
im going to go out on a limb here and say the new sigur ros
why not
we should post htis on pie
gang gang dance
this is a whole blog post waiting to happen
this whole chatroom
chat
just all on pie
let's do
it
enjoy... after that list i'm retired from pie for at least a month
now i see why joey got out the game
i dont have access
haha
hahaha
o well
i'll post it gasda
im coming back in jan
i did thimble and horse in 05
hold on
o thimble and horse
so i know how it feels
joe would like to make an announcement
thanks ethan
what i already did
i think that will make a great post
say it into the mic
im returning in jan to pie
oooh
woooooooo
O WTF
!!!!!
soooo many questions
can i be an admin?
merriweather has reinspired my taste in modern music
no pun intended
brandon or ac
did james fracno's performance in milk inspire you to return?
yes
did it inspire you to become gay?
well franco, though fracno was good too
no, matt
sean penn did though
im in love with sean penn
people don't become inspired to be gay matt
haha
it's not a lifestyle choice
chava is the dan white of bethlehem
asshole
haha
though you make me wonder...
poor dan white
haha
hahahah
dan white was just misunderstood
why are you all saying that?
hahaha
matt pick two
who's pick is it lol
isnt it ethans turn?
no i just picked gang gang dance
did anyone take portishead yet?
atlas sound
i did
yes
and blitzen trapper
ooh fancy
MATT
what?
GREAT PICK PAL
thanks sexty
why dont you pick pavorajuh matt
you can start putting hotels on your bradford cox properties now
whatever that is
haha
yeah really
its european
yeah so is sigur ros
haha
and the libertines
erik whoes stephen malkmus?
hahaha
is he european too
did you tell everyone your story andy?
to ethan's joke for the record
haha
which story dude
the spiral stairs one
scott kanneberg!
i really enjoyed that
yeha
hahaha i sent a text to some people
haha
that was awesome
we went out saturday night
she's fucking see animal collective on january 20
the day of the release
i apologize for not responding i was asleep... it really warranted one
oh wow
seeing *
lets wrap this shit up
whoes next
this sucks
you suck
yeah cause i'm gonna win
walker is on in five minutes
joe are you at home
or scottwill
at my brothers house
oh
are your finals over?
crystal castles
one more tomorrow morning
just watch walker while doing this
he deserves my total attention
yeah i just watched hannity and colmes
hahaha
haha
whose pick
drewm
isn't it eriks?
one of my roommates tried to get weber to smoke weed when he visited
o yea eirk
yeah its my turn
he told me that haha
im going to go with the david byrne and brian eno album from this year
i feel like that will make the back of the list
did weber decline due to religious beliefs?
i'll go with that album with the longass name
marnie stern
pf gave paavorajuh 8.3
oh fuck
ah
good call
i forgot about that
logically we all should have 10 to make 50
i say we make the last 2 or so rounds ridiculous though
correct
nah
let's try to get as many of the 50
and then we can have a ridiculous round
i'm running out of pitchfork approved artists
ok
if someone wants to call joey, he's probably immersed in walker
i think we can do it
where are we in this
whose pick!
i think i have 7
i have 7
yours
joey
i have 8
erykah badu
wtf
dodos don't count erik
and...
haha right
good pick for coke machine
james blackshaw
are we doing a coke machine lsit?
i love that james blackshaw album
of course you do
i forgot to put it on my list
no but it is good
its a good running album
the last one is good too
yea
if we do a cokemachine list i'll have like 3 right
not for running though
imo
my pick is los campesinos
which one!!
dick
uhhhhhhh first
though nme likes the second more
nme draft?
libertines
pete doherty
the kooks
the gossip
last shadow puppets
i win
definitely
who's gonna take the glass passenger?
biro in absentia
we need a zack draft
god
i guess me, am i zacks representative?
he already gave us his list
no we draft a list of things zack likes
i know it would be easy as shit
FIFA
erik you should pick before walker commercial break or joe's gonna be pissed
i didnt realize it was my turn
what channel is walker on
hallmark lol
did you pick neon neon andrew?
a channel i do not get
no
i just assumed you would be the only one
i think fork gave it like a 7.6
so ill go with that
i just turned on walker and my dad got pissed i turned off pimp my ride
haha
my parents are alseep
i turned on vh1 today
oh no
and could literally feel my lifeforce draining as i watched
CD goes undercover in a rest home where patients have died at the hands of two doctors testing their alzheimer's research, which includes a drug banned by the FDA
walker summary
hahah
hahaha
nice
crystal stilts
whoes pick
you
oh man i just thought of a pick that's gonna light shit up
merriweather?
yes matt
merriweather
my guide says: cd poses an al alzheimers patient in a convalescent home to investigate mysterious deaths
mine was more specific
whenever you talk i assume your really thinking about merriweathe
r
and made the doctors sound more evil
brandon merriweather got an al michaels call out on sunday night football a few weeks back
lets go
i got drunk and jerked off
did you guys catch the brodney pool call in the eagles game
that's my natural reaction to anything merriweather
no
haha yeah
mike tirico channeled his inner al
i assumed it was a different safety who caught it at first
madden glitches can happen for realz
whoesup?
you
still you lol
merriweather doesn't count...
unless we're gonna give you erik treatment
go with water curses
there was a great pregame interview with andy reid
me
oh shit
where they asked how he dealt with philadelphia pressure
prurient
and he just said "i eat a lot"
hahaha
i dont believ you
harve milk
true story
thats not an album
it's the no-shit answer of the year
hahaha nice pick matt
yes it is erik
you pulled an erik
FUCKJ
i knew that
i said that to myself earlier
no sympathy for you this time i say
thats an album
but an honorable mention
fuck
you've had fiteen minutes two picks and you took an honorable mention
harvey milk?
eh we'll let him pick when it's his turn again
i least prurient will make it
just take the there will be blood OST
i dont need 10 picks
hahahaha
oh i woudl
if we were drafting a matt list
why havent we been doing that?
lykke li
all my picks would be dildo
haha
hahah
maybe different brand names
like the quarter pounder
great name
or the "jeff garcia will not lead the eagles to the superbowl but instead will take it up the butt"
my roommates and i are doing a similar thing
hahahahah
i forgot about that
hehe
hahaha great group
bets ever, really
best
lets see
i will go with
santogold
whatever erik
nick cave and the seeds
whatever
anyway we're doing an albums list and my friend included rick ross and weber's "running in a skirt ep" as he called it
i dont know any more pitchfork approved artist
man man
weber's such a fad
and...
though i'm looking forward to his next new radicals cover
hopefully 'mother we just can't get enough'
jakob dylan
he's gonna do "torn" on friday
but i'll take 'someday we'll know'
jesus
are those real?
you do realize its not just him
haha
man man is
yea
excuse
me
i heard a story abotu some girl who got fucked in teh ass by someone in man man after a show
scott pine and the conifers are covering torn
that better erik?
you dont know that
i'll go with be your own pet... they broke up so pfork will respond
i'll take be your own pet
uh
ok...
Andrew Stone has left this chat.
alright
wtf andrew!
i know
what a major dick
can i go
he has nothing better to do
no
is it my turn
no
no
no
uh
malkmus
this is gonna mkae hte best pie pos
t
i still have to study guys
bye
yikes
for what
wait
joey
JOE
comparative politicvs
can you email me your list
stevenet@bc.edu
andy was kicked out
ok
someone invite him
i don't know how
i did
i dont know why he isnt accepting
well he just signed off and on
this is horrible!!
im sleep
y
Andrew Stone has joined this chat.
i'm back i think
yayy
yeah
whos turn
im done
and the chat room whistled at me again
what did you take e?
whoes turn
SM
lol malk
he took SM
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
not that funny though
erik what was the other half of chellyns number one album of the year
still funny
i'd give it a hehe
i dont respond to such absurd names
i called you erik
touche
haha
so you implied
that you accept chellyn
you indentify with chellyn
ethan your email didnt work
its just such an ugly looking name
i'll take high places
i heard kellyn gives great hand jobs
stevenet@bc.edu
didn't work?
wtf
therefore afirming apriori that you are chellyn
i heard josh gives great head
josh howard?
josh smith?
josh harnett?
josh harnett, yeah
joshua tree?
lol
knew the joshua tree was coming
i didnt
try again and then if it doesn't work do yahoo fenwayfan210@yahoo.com
i didnt know it til i typed it
surprise
whos turn is it
ok its all good
i want the ridiculous round
bye guys
got it
see ya joe
reasonableman616 has left this chat.
TOODLES
bye joe!
bye
seeya
whoes pick?
did ollie byrd come out with an album this year ethan
i don't think so
no but kevin ollie did
we need to post about byrd
haha
kevin ollie's jazz hits 1986- 2008
...its a comp
goddammit
matt take one
there are still like 85s outstanding
max tundra
two actually since you screwed up
mount eerie
ok im out
things i think we missed
i was at mout zoomer and saw mount eerie in ear park
black milk
and.........
that was a CMG favorite
pavement reissue
pavement doesnt count
haha
red album
lots of good sawngs
okay everyone email me
pet sounds
loads of sawngs
i'm gonna post the whole convo
on pie
oh goodie
its gonna be so long
actually
denins wilson reissue
just so you knwo
i had to get out of it when it quite on me
it doesn't come up as different names
quit
so it will just be different lines of text
hmm
o well
people will decipher
will they
mine does... but again it quit so i don't have it
its better we arent connected to this
so random will be funny
and less damning
no i want everyone to know i took marnie stern
the fonts are different
then have a seperate
post
that says
ifucked took marnie stern
did you see that she's opening a kissing booth
erik we should do the same over break
you can be kellyn
and i'll be erik
it'll be chellyn's kissing booth
what a horrible idea
can i just sit there and watch?
oh you can watch
can i just sit there and jerk off
yeah
ohh yeah
definitel
uhhhhh
want you to watch
thing is
we don't even take customers...
yeah i have to say, thats not really a kissing booth
there'll be kissing
just not on the mouth...
i'm gonna continue making this creepier til everyone leaves
yeah im out
Erik Kelechava has left this chat.
okay andrew can you email me
matt you too
ttyr
what do you want again?
the albums you drafted
ok whats your email
stevenet@bc.edu
gotcha
you guys wanna do something tomorrow night
i emaled fenway
no
i wanna stay home
and watch gossip girls
can i join
yeah sure
its just getting good
i gotta watch my ho sister until 830
let's go bowling
fuck no
Matthew Gasda has left this chat.
he gone
ok peace ho

How's The Pie Second Annual 'Top 50' List

2008-12-16T15:33:00.022-05:00

Without further ado:

50. Invincible- ShapeShifters

49. The Fuck Buttons- Street Horrrsing

48. Surf City- Surf City EP

47. Titus Andronicus- The Airing of Grievances

46. Re-Up Gang- '08 Mixtape

45. Los Campesinos!- We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed

44. Neon Neon- Stainless Style

43. The Cool Kids- The Bake Sale

42. Erykah Badu- New Amerykah, Pt. 1 (Fourth World War) (Ed: Just a terrible title)

41. Beck- Modern Guilt

40. Crystal Stilts- Alight of Night

39. Animal Collective- Water Curses EP

38. Stephen Malkmus- Real Emotional Trash

37. Abe Vigoda- Skeleton

36. Flight of the Conchords- Flight of the Conchords

35. Lupe Fiasco- The Cool

34. Sigur Ros- Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust

33. Jean Grae- Jeanius

32. Los Campesinos!- Hold on Now, Youngster...

31. Santogold- Santogold

30. Marnie Stern- This Is It And I Am It Etc.

29. Girl Talk- Feed The Animals

28. T.I.- Paper Trail

27. My Morning Jacket- Evil Urges

26. MGMT- Oracular Spectacular

25. Steinski- What Does It All Mean? 1983-2006 Retrospective

24. Death Cab For Cutie- Narrow Stairs

23. Jack's Mannequin- The Glass Passenger

22. Pavoorajuh- The Life and Times of Pavoorajuh

21. Ra Ra Riot- The Rhumb Line

20. Ponytail- Ice Cream Spiritual

19. No Age- Nouns

18. Coldplay- Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

17. Gang Gang Dance- Saint Dymphana

16. Portishead- Third

15. Department of Eagles- In Ear Park

14. Wolf Parade- At Mount Zoomer (Ed: 15 and 14 back to back is pretty funny)

13. Beach House- Devotion

12. Of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping

11. Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend

10. The Hold Steady- Stay Positive

9. Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago

8. Lil' Wayne- Tha Carter III

7. Deerhunter- Microcastle

6. M83- Saturdays=Youth

5. The Walkmen- You & Me

4. Cut Copy- In Ghost Colours

3. The Dodos- Visiter

2. Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes

1. TV On The Radio- Dear Science

So after hours of anticipation for Erik's list, we finally have a definite top 3. As it turns out, not many surprises in it- though TV On The Radio and The Walkmen were sharing a spot at #1 for a while, until Erik's list arrived and bumped Hamilton and company down to 5, while propelling TVOTR to a landslide victory. Expert analysis at the top of the hour but for now, here's the top 10 of everybody's individual lists.

Individual Top 10 Lists

Joe’s Top 10

1. Cut Copy- In Ghost Colours
2. Lil’ Wayne- Tha Carter III
3. The Dodos- Visiter
4. TV On The Radio- Dear Science
5. Steinski- This Jazz Is Hot, Vol. 1
6. M83- Saturdays = Youth
7. Beach House- Devotion
8. T.I.- Paper Trail
9. Jean Grae- Jeanius
10. Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend

Andrew’s Top 10

1. Of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping
2. Cut Copy- In Ghost Colours
3. The Walkmen- You & Me
4. TV On The Radio- Dear Science
5. Lil’ Wayne- Tha Carter III
6. Deerhunter- Microcastle/ Weird Era Cont.
7. Wolf Parade- At Mount Zoomer
8. My Morning Jacket- Evil Urges
9. Los Campesinos!- Hold on Now, Youngster…
10. M83- Saturdays = Youth

Matt’s Top 10

1. The Walkmen- You & Me
2. Deerhunter- Microcastle/ Weird Era Cont.
3. Pavoorajuh- Laulu Laakson Kukista
4. Of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping
5. TV On The Radio- Dear Science
6. Portishead- Third
7. Gang Gang Dance- Saint Dymphana
8. Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes
9. Department of Eagles- In Ear Park
10. Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago

Zack’s Top 10

1. Coldplay- Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
2. Ra Ra Riot- The Rhumb Line
3. Jack’s Mannequin- The Glass Passenger
4. Death Cab For Cutie- Narrow Stairs
5. The Walkmen- You & Me
6. The Hold Steady- Stay Positive
7. Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend
8. Girl Talk- Feed The Animals
9. Lil’ Wayne- Tha Carter III
10. Flight of the Conchords- Flight of the Conchords

Ethan’s Top 10

1. Deerhunter- Microcastle/ Weird Era Cont.
2. Ponytail- Ice Cream Spiritual
3. The Dodos- Visiter
4. Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes
5. Department of Eagles- In Ear Park
6. Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago
7. Wolf Parade- At Mount Zoomer
8. Marnie Stern- This Is It and I Am It, Etc.
9. The Hold Steady- Stay Positive
10. Portishead- Third

Erik’s Top 11

1. Cut Copy- In Ghost Colours
2. Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes
3. TV On The Radio- Dear Science
4. The Dodos- Visiter
5. MGMT- Oracular Spectacular
6. Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago
7. M83- Saturdays=Youth
8. Santogold- Santogold
9. Sigur Ros
10. The Hold Steady- Stay Positive
11. Stephen Malkmus- Real Emotional Trash

Top 25 Songs of 2008

2008-12-15T15:59:00.004-05:00

Andrew's List

Albums are coming later in the week (from everyone on the "staff"), but here are 25 whistle-while-you-workers to tide you over while that giant cherry slice of heaven cools on the windowsill.

25. Franz Ferdinand- Ulysses

How are these guys going to put out a Greatest Hits album? Aren’t all of their albums essentially Greatest Hits anyway? The first track off Tonight: Franz Ferdinand sounds a lot like Franz Ferdinand.

24. Be Your Own Pet- Becky

No wonder the album’s called Get Awkward. I’ve gotta say, no matter how awkward my social experiences got in high school, I never threatened to wait for a girl with knives after lunch. Actually I have.

23. Evangelicals- Skeleton Man

Actual Evangelicals = not as good, possibly more entertaining

For evidence, check this out.

22. The Hold Steady- Stay Positive

The only song of the year where you can actually see a thousand mugs of beer being fist- pumped into the air during the chorus.

21. Bon Iver- Skinny Love

Okay, I’ll be honest. Never heard this one before it was on Chuck. But from that moment on, I was down with it. P.S., you should watch Chuck to make up for you not watching Pushing Daisies.

20. Wolf Parade- Fine Young Cannibals

Chef Boekner serves us up an absolute feast of indie-rock guitar. The rest of the album won’t leave you hungry either.

19. Vampire Weekend- Oxford Comma

Seriously, man, who gives a fuck about those? As an English minor, I would basically be this guy if I owned, like, 30 more polo t-shirts.

18. Neon Neon- Steel Your Girl

“I Lust U” was the obvious track pick off Gruff Rhys’s killer electro-pop album, but this one stole my heart… along with your girl. Owned.

17. Kanye West- Paranoid

The only track off 808’s and Heartbreaks that doesn’t suck is also a complete club banger. Blonde dikes of the world, rejoice.

16. M83- Kim and Jessie

Further proof that we need a Tears for Fears reunion. Now. The world is finally ready.

15. Beach House- Gila

Whenever the melody plays, a beach house somewhere gets its wings. Or patio. Whatever grand reward that beach houses are entitled to.

14. Animal Collective- Water Curses

They’re jamming? They’re jamming. And I hope you like Strawberry Jam too.

13. Cut Copy- Feel The Love

It’s hard to describe the way in which my emotional compass swings every time “Feel The Love” kicks in to start the album. The only similar experience I had this year was when I masturbated in an elevator.

12. Los Campesinos!- Death to Los Campesinos!

This is power-pop at its finest. It’s so punk that it doesn’t even want to admit it’s punk. And that makes it sort of… adorable?

11. Surf City- Dickshakers Union

Probably a closer combination of My Bloody Valentine and Animal Collective than the Electioneers were, “Dickshakers Union” is an example of an exciting young band writing better songs than even they probably realize.

10. Big Boi feat. Andre 3000 and Raekwon- Royal Flush

Mad. Fucking. Ill.

9. Lil’ Wayne- Dr. Carter

This track, which involves Weezy saving the lives of three struggling MCs, single-handedly encompasses what makes Lil’ Wayne both revolutionary and excruciating. His penchant for rhyming the same word and still making it cool (“Arthritis in my hand from writing, but I’m a doctor they don’t understand my writing”), hilarious wordplay (“Let me put some mo’ vocab in your I.V.”) and lines that don’t make any sense whatsoever (“Fly go hard like geese erection”). Hip-hop, he saved your life.

8. The Walkmen- On The Water

Hamilton Leithauser sounds pretty calm on the duration of You and Me, but he’s fucking pissed here. It’s like Daniel Craig from Quantum of Solace suddenly took up an interest in Bob Dylan, grabbed a microphone, and started regretting taking the Bond role after realizing Bond movies all kind of suck.

7. Of Montreal- An Eluardian Instance

The centerpiece of Kevin Barnes’ twisted masterwork deviates from his Georgie Fruit persona long enough for him to tell the story of how he met his wife. Filled with blaring trumpets, a touching mid-section repeating the line “do you remember?”, and his usual sense of humor (“I asked your friend if you were available, she answered ‘yes but no, well, uh, well yes and no”), it’s absolutely fucking beautiful.

6. Grizzly Bear- Two Weeks (Live on Letterman)

Premiered on David Letterman, this incredible live track is a remarkable vocal feat, as well as a vast improvement over the songs on the solid but overrated Yellow House.

5. My Morning Jacket- Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 1

One of the most gorgeous pieces of music I’ve heard all year, it was also used as a title for a “One Tree Hill” episode. So that sort of evens things out.

4. Animal Collective- Brothersport

I don’t know how you open up one’s throat, exactly, but as long as this song keeps playing, I’m going to keep trying.

3. Cut Copy- Far Away

One thing that I just can’t conceive is how this thing hasn’t lit every club in America on fire. Literally, they should have burst into flames. After writing this song, they should have put a ‘Paste’ on the end of the band name. Cause they just pasted you.

2. Deerhunter- Nothing Ever Happened

Three, short ambient pieces lead up to “Nothing Ever Happened.” I’d call that excessive if the payoff wasn’t so big. “Nothing Ever Happened” is a jam for the ages.

1. Animal Collective- My Girls

If I had to choose between sex and “My Girls” for the rest of my life, I’d choose “My Girls.”

UPDATE: OK, so I forgot to include T.I.'s "Whatever You Like", which is basically the catchiest thing ever written. Just pretend its lumped somewhere between two of the 12 Animal Collective songs on the list.

New Animal Collective: My Girls

2008-12-08T19:44:00.004-05:00

I just...

Top 4 CSI's of 2008

2008-12-06T16:39:00.005-05:00

4. CSI: New York- oh, CSI: New York... will you ever reach the heights of your predecessors?

3. Law and Order: SVU- not even a CSI show, but still a better CSI than CSI: New York.

2. CSI- did you see the one with the dead guy? And the forensics specialists? Man, that was a good CSI.

1. CSI: Miami- call me crazy, but I'll just come out and say it. CSI: Miami is the best CSI on the air right now.

Honorable Mention: Juno. It's a movie from 2007 about a pregnant teenager, so that invalidates it, but somehow, it manages to out-CSI even CSI: Miami.

Zack's Top Ten Favorite Things of 2008!!

2008-12-06T15:27:00.006-05:00

As 2008 comes to and end I decided to take a look back at me experiences in the past year and arbitrarily rate them. Consider this my contribution to the end of year lists. I'll try to include as many music related things to my list as possible, but I can't make any promises.

10. NBA 2k9 Slam Dunk Contest

As far as video games go, the slam dunk contest in 2k9 is one of the most entertaining and frustrating things I've ever experienced. Despite the steep learning curve associated with the controls it is extremely entertaining. There's nothing quite like attempting dunks that defy gravity while jumping over a car. And hey, if you do well enough you might just get the chance to get your ass kicked by Tracy McGrady.

9. Iron Pigs
Going to ball games at Coca-Cola Park with some good friends and my dear buddy Calico Jack comes in at number nine. Even though the team sucked tremendously it was still a blast to go for the inaugural season. Who could pass up a chance to see the Zooperstars anyway.

8. Lehigh Club Tennis
Going to Nationals!!! Wooo!!

7.Shark Attack 3: Megaladon
I honestly don't remember much of this movie, but from what I saw it was hilarious. "And who would believe you? A disgruntled employee with stolen, confidential documents? My lawyers would have a field day with you! They are the REAL sharks!"

6. SBT - A Rennaisance of Swords
One of the greatest albums of our time. Look for SB3 in 2009!

5. Coldplay- Viva La Vida

...the album...not the song.

4. Ron Paul
Revolution

3. Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger
Can't stop listening

2. Phillies

1. Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog
I know it's not from 2008, but I keep finding myself wandering into Cathbad's Chamber

LET LIST SEASON BEGIN

2008-12-05T12:41:00.003-05:00

First up:

Top 10 U2 Songs of 2000

10. In A Little While
9. Wild Honey
8. Peace On Earth
7. Grace
6. Kite
5. New York
4. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
3. Walk On
2. Beautiful Day
1. Elevation

Discuss. Agree? Disagree? Feel "Kite" should have been higher? Should "When I Look At The World" have made the cut?

vote for pie!

2008-11-26T23:21:00.002-05:00

-ethan, briefly by request

Living Up To Their Promises

2008-11-05T19:09:00.003-05:00

2008 has been a big year. It's given us an African American president, a Phillies World Championship, and Chinese fucking Democracy. With that, 2009 has a lot to live up to as far as promises given this year or earlier go. Here's a few artists that have promised us big things are on their way- and the percentage that they actually deliver.

The Avalanches- 2nd Album
The Promise: They're sample-happy and they make us happy, and they claim that their second album is in the can. Problem #1: We've heard this claim several times for the past few years from The Avalanches and Problem #2: Where the fuck is it if it's done? If Australia has been listening to this in secrecy for the past three years and they're just holding out on us, I'm gonna be pissed. Of course, it's hard being that agitated when Since I Left You remains a religious experience every time you listen to it, some nine years later.

Chances It Actually Happens: 75%. It's looking good, but we could have said the same thing at the beginning of 2008.

Ghostface and MF Doom- Swift and Changeable
The Promise: A dope team-up between Ghostface and Doom, 'nuff said. Unfortunately, it's another project that's been rumored for two long, and Doom seems to be MIA lately, and not in a teaser trailer-approved "Paper Planes" type way. And even if this does see the light of day, will either MC have their heart in it?

Chances It Actually Happens: 30%. Who knows if this is even happening anymore?

Raekwon- Cuban Lynx II
The Promise: The long-shelved sequel to one of the most beloved Wu solo albums.

Chances It Actually Happens: 70%. If Rae doesn't let this thing out this year, a free Mountain Dew to everyone in America.

My Bloody Valentine- 2 New Albums?!
The Promise: Two new albums from My Bloody Valentine, who haven't released a single album in over a decade.

Chances It Actually Happens: 80%. For one, at least. They're in the studio, playing together, and they've seemed to respond for the notable lack of noise in rock nowadays.

Lupe Fiasco- LupE.N.D.
The promise: A triple-album send-off from hip-hop's poet laureate.

Chance It Actually Happens: 95%. Oh, it's happening. You'll be cutting Lupe's infinite mixtape down to one disc of your favorite tracks by June.

Radiohead- In Rainbows Follow-Up
The Promise: Not a promise as much as news that the band is in the recording process for their eight LP.

Chances It Actually Happens: Wait, just went to Thom's blog. It'll be out in 10 days.

-Andrew

Record Review: Of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping

2008-10-20T15:27:00.007-04:00

Love it or hate it, Of Montreal’s ninth album is a mysterious voyage.

Rating: 4.5/5

I feel like this review should start with a disclaimer, so here it is: this is a record made by Kevin Barnes for Kevin Barnes and anyone else who wants to join in on his sexploites. If you feel you can’t commit to a universe where freaking out on mountain goats, doing it softcore (or both ways), and ejaculating until it’s no longer fun are common practice, you may want to get out while you can. If, on the other hand, the concept of an album composed almost entirely of one to two minute, sexually ambiguous and sometimes awkwardly direct song snippets does not terrify you, you're free to board the craziest party boat since Onterio Smith introduced the world to the Whizzinator.

Skeletal Lamping is not going to be an album that is universally accepted, but it may wind up being a landmark moment in pop music ten years down the road. Conversely, it could be left on the side of said road to collect dust, a forgotten showcase of one man’s fragile psyche and his ill-advised expedition to cleanse himself.

That’s what Skeletal Lamping is, and why its title is one of the best in recent memory. Lamping is the cruel hunting practice of setting up a lantern in the middle of the night and waiting for animals to flock to it, setting up an inevitable slaughter. On the ninth Of Montreal album (though essentially the fourth Kevin Barnes solo album, as he has recorded each one since 2004’s Satanic Panic In The Attic by himself), Barnes attempts to use the same practice within himself, to cleanse his own personal demons.

Coming off the heals of last year’s painfully honest Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?, it comes as no surprise why Barnes would want to do this. But no one could have predicted how sexual this thing could have turned out. Without further ado, ten favorite lines from the album (and debate on this subject is both necessary and welcome):

10. I took her standing in the kitchen, ass against the sink.

9. You’re the only one with whom I would roleplay Oedipus Rex (Gasda).

8. I’m so sick of sucking the dick of this cruel, cruel city.

7. Just to look at her is God… can’t you see it baby?

6. Here’s the kind of guy that would leave you in a k-hole to go play Halo in the other room.

5. You know I would have given it up to almost anybody who had a little bit of money and was sweet to me.

4. When the hope of another wet nightmare is all we have to live for.

3. I want to make you cum two-hundred times a day.

2. I asked your friend if you were available/ She answered no but yes, uh well, uh well yes and no.

1. I want to hurt you bad/ Make you paranoid/ and say the sweetest things.

The last line comes from “Gallery Piece”, a thoroughly disturbing piece of perpetual contrasts that divide the psyche of Barnes from the sweet to the violent, from his external nature to his sexual urges. Like many Of Montreal songs, it sets an uplifting, funky groove over deceptively morbid lyrical undertones.

“Touched Something’s Hollow” is the purest, most honest moment on the album. Barnes asks, “Why am I so damaged girl? Why am I such poison girl? I don’t know how long I can go on, if it’s gonna be like this forever.” This lasts all of two unnervingly straightforward minutes, before blasting into the trumpets of album highlight “An Eluardian Instance”, recounting how Barnes met his wife.

Yeah, there’s a black she-male and a fun moment where Barnes admits he has no clue what he’s talking about, and dozens of other things I haven’t mentioned and probably should have, including the last thirty seconds of “St. Exquisite’s Confessions” and frontrunner for best Of Montreal song title ever, “Triphallus, To Punctuate!” You can even start the album with lead single “Id Engager” as the first track and play the entire thing backwards for an entirely different yet somehow still cohesive experience.

It’s all a matter of how much you feel you want to immerse yourself into this experience. As someone who’s heard the album dozens of times, now, it’s still fun to pick up new, subtle nuances, as if dissecting fragments of one long, psychodelic dream. To the untrained ear, this is nothing more than a series of song ideas that don’t really add up to complete songs. But to dedicated lampers, this concept of pop-song schizophrenia is nothing short of revelatory.

-Andrew

Review: Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger

2008-10-15T08:31:00.004-04:00

It's three years since Jack's Mannequin released their first album, Everything In Transit, and their long anticipated second album (at least I was anticipating it) is finally here! I know that this review has come a little late considering this album was released last month, but I'll have you know I was not planning on reviewing it at all. The rest of the 'How's the pie?' staff was heartbroken when they heard this, and they begged me to review it....so here goes.

I must admit that my first impression of this album was not great. It clearly had more consistency than Everything In Transit, but it was still lacking those incredibly catchy songs like Dark Blue and The Mixed Tape. I was very reluctant to give up on this album so I gave it a few more listens at home over fall break without the distractions of a college campus, and many of the songs have really grown on me. The post production and multilayering of many songs gives this album something extra that might have been missing on their first one.

The album leads of with "Crashin" and if you're willing to get past Andrew's scratchy vocals in the beginning you'll find this song has a very catchy chorus with probably the most beautiful piano part in the entire album. "Spinning" and "What Gets You Off" are also very good songs that have a similar build up from their low key verse to an extremely catchy chorus.

The album's first single "The Resolution" is probably the most memorable song on the album. The powerful vocals and piano melody certainly make it one of the most replayable songs.

Even though The Glass Passenger has its share of upbeat songs, tunes like "Swim", "Hammers and Strings", and "Orphans" among others tend to way down the album. Although these songs are emotionally significant given what Andrew has been through and how his lyrics reflect his experiences, they aren't quite as listenable as the previously songs previously mentioned.

What made this album so appealing for me on my third and fourth listen through were the lyrcis. It was very easy to identify with many of the songs and I have to say that piano rock is just so damn catchy.

Rating: 3.5/5

Record Review: Oasis: Dig Out Your Soul

2008-10-08T00:12:00.006-04:00

Not the one "that's gonna save" them.

Rating: 2.5/5

If someone wanted to list all the bands that have referred to The Beatles as an important influence to their music, it would probably take a few weeks. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with this; The Beatles are widely regarded as one of the best bands of all time. Unfortunately, Oasis didn’t realize that the first time The Beatles wrote classics like “Tomorrow Never Knows” and “Come Together,” they did it right. On Oasis’ seventh studio album, Dig Out Your Soul, they aren’t ashamed to rehash any ground already covered by their obvious inspiration, but still manage to give their fans something mildly worth-while.

Dig Out Your Soul opens with tight grooves on both “Bag it Up” and “Waiting for the Rapture:” full of catchy guitar hooks and Liam Gallagher’s classic abrasive vocals, but they also contain predictable crescendos and melodies. Not surprisingly, Oasis hasn’t evolved much since 1994’s Definitely Maybe. Their problems transcend the ability to develop resonating melodies; this material was only creative fourteen years ago.

Despite the fact that Oasis hasn’t changed its formula over the course of seven albums, Dig Out Your Soul still has its share of highlights. The acoustic guitar and piano based tune “I’m Out of Time” features pleasantly simple lyrics from Gallagher, “If I’m to fall / Would you be there to applaud / Or would you hide behind them all?” Clearly channeling Lennon, the ballad manages to capture the last bit of freshness that remains from past Oasis efforts.

Right before “I’m Out of Time” comes the leading single, “The Shock of the Lightning.” Driving percussion, noisy guitars and Liam’s coarse verse vocals make up for the obvious Beatles reference in the chorus lyrics, which repeatedly croon, “Magical mystery.” The Fab Four hijacking doesn’t end there; “(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady” lifts both a drum pattern and guitar hook that sounds eerily similar to the timeless “Come Together,” but doesn’t deliver the resonating bass line and powerful chorus that comes with the Abbey Road standout. “To Be Where There’s Life” contains plenty of sitar and psychedelic progressions to show the clear attempt to channel the Revolver closer “Tomorrow Never Knows,” but lacks the suspense and unearthly sense that the Beatles’ classic delivers.

Beyond the few highlights and an obvious influence of a certain 1960’s band, there’s nothing too exciting here. The last three tracks don’t contain anything noteworthy, except album closer “Soldier On,” which uses clichéd and ineffective reverb on Gallagher’s voice which spouts boring lyrics like “Hold the line, friend of mine / Sing a song / Soldier on / Shine a light for me tonight / Don’t be long,” make the band sound blander than ever.

Suffering from uniform instrumentation and consistently uninspiring lyrics, Dig Out Your Soul fails to accomplish anything substantial for the veteran Brit-rockers. Not only does it fail to reproduce a “Live Forever” or “Wonderwall,” Oasis’ standard songwriting formula does nothing to challenge new listeners. Beyond its struggles, Dig admittedly churns out a few worthwhile tracks, but nothing which makes it worthy of sitting next to Definitely Maybe or (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, let alone Revolver or Abbey Road.

-Ethan

Wake Up, Mr. West

2008-09-10T18:19:00.005-04:00

Uh... Kanye? I'm all for artists trying something new with their sound, but when the songs aren't going anywhere, that's a problem. Thus is the dilemma with "Love Lockdown", the newest single from self-proclaimed best MC on the planet and now not much of an MC at all Kanye West. With a repetitive drum loop and beyond awkward keyboard, it's a track that sounds like it would fit in better with some of the lesser songs on Hail To The Thief, rather than The College Dropout.

Sure, it could be that he's trying to share his soul with us following the passing of his mother, but that would be a lot more convincing without that shitty T-Pain vocal effect.

Maybe he should consider going for his Masters before continuing down this road, cause he's seriously in danger of SBT passing him.

-Andrew

Salem Bitch Trials Myspace

2008-08-31T17:26:00.006-04:00

After the release of their incredible album "A Rennaisance, of Swords" SBT has put up their own Myspace page. Now you can be kept up to date on all the important SBT updates!! Very exciting I know.

SBT-Myspace

SKINNNNERRRRRR!!!

2008-08-31T15:09:00.004-04:00

You can now watch two new music videos from the upcoming album by The Streets, titled Everything Is Borrowed. They're both exceptionally moving (the title track has got to be the frontrunner for video of the year), harkening back to Skinner's best work on A Grand Don't Come For Free. Though the end of the Streets is allegedly near, Skinner is showing us that he has enough gas left in the tank to go out on top.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8BHL5SWX0Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2c6g6eG1mQ

Awsome album art btw

-Andrew

A Rennaisance of New Music

2008-08-24T01:22:00.003-04:00

Bloc Party- Intimacy

Yeah, "Mercury" sucks. To make matters worse, it's sandwiched between two equally obnoxious tracks, "Ares" and "Halo". To make matters worse, these happen to be the first three songs on Bloc Party's sudden third LP. Having nearly completely abandoned the guitar rock of still-exciting debut Silent Alarm, Bloc Party's new elctro-dance-glitch direction is sure to turn off many with its way over-the-top beats (you complained about Partie Traumatic's production? Wait 'til you get a listen to this one.) Once you get past the messy start, however, there are a few redeeming tracks to be found in the back of the album, namely potential singles "One Month Off" and "Better Than Heaven", and the group's relentless energy and constant effort to reinvent their sound (this is their third album in just four years) inspires. Intimacy isn't going to do anything to help the nagging notion that Bloc Party don't really know how to write songs, but it's a small step up from the melodrama of 2007's Weekend In The Shitty.

Okkervil River- The Stand-Ins

Billed as the second part of a double-album, Okkervil River's new offering, the Stand-Ins, could barely stand as little more than that- a companion album. Coming off the heels of 2007's The Stage Names, a classic slice of hot, American pie, its sister album doesn't reach the same heights of "Our Life Is Not A Movie" and "A Girl In Port", but it is a solid sidekick. I won't go into great detail, but if The Stage Names left you wanting more, know that The Stand-Ins will finally make you full.

Of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping

OMG. Kevin Barnes is really, really fucking horny. Of Montreal's 9th album is really, really fucking insane. A large portion of it is devoted to the adventures of Barnes's alter-ego, a 40-year-old black transvestite named Georgie Fruit, who used to front a 70's band named The Arousal. It's fifteen tracks long, but depending on how you look at it, it could be anywhere from one to one-hundred songs. Each track is composed to four or five different pop segments, each strung together by the mind of Kevin Barnes, which explodes at least six times during the duration of this album. It's a trip through a fucked up, schizophrenic brain, and I recommend listening to it without taking notice of the track switches. That way, you honestly don't have a clue what's coming next. It's funky, it's sexy, and it's full of absolutely stunning, hard to pronounce pop songs like "An Eluardian Presence" and "Plastis Wafers". Oh, it's also unquestionably on the short-list for album of the year. But seriously, WTF?

SBT- A Rennaisance, Of Swords

Yes, the Rennaisance is finally done. Its release has been anticipated more than Cuban Linx II and Swift and Changeable combined, but this soon-to-be-legendary hip-hop sensation has finally surfaced. Masterfully produced by Donut Hole and tirelessly post-produced by Courtney Kalamar, both of whose identities remain cloaked in shadow, this purposefully misspelled Rennaisance throws insane beats and educationally-stimulated lyrical wordplay at you like a swarm of ninja throwing stars. Donut Hole, perhaps best known for his slick delivery and otherworldly talent for building metaphors, continues his dominance here with lines like "I bring heat like a toster/ Roasting every other one of your sculptors", completely abandoning the notion that toasters did not exist in 15th century Florence. Kalamar, meanwhile, never one to shy away from completely deviating from the song's topic in favor of lyrical spitfire, keeps the show from getting stale with his unique method of saying whatever the fuck he wants. Like Spencer Krug in Wolf Parade, his talents are kept in check by Donut Hole, ensuring that not every track devloves into a pop-culture referencefest. Though there are plenty of those to go around: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ian Brown, Harry Potter, Steve Holt, The Wire, Grand Theft Auto, butler Bernard, The Eagles, Stan Lee, Interpol, Jerry Maguire, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Michael Phelps, Fargo, Dice-K, Star Wars, The Revenge of Shinobi, Dewayne Wade, Veronica Mars, and the Spanish Inquisition are just a few of the modern-day pop culture phenomenons that make their way onto the Rennaisance. Newcomer Lil' Poltageist provides hooks on standout tracks "95 Theses" and "The Medicis", a breath of fresh air amidst misguided party tracks like Kalamar's "Get On Your SBKnees", a sexually confusing hodgepodge slightly resembling a rap song that will make you want to fuck everything you see for the rest of your life.

"Galileo", featuring a beat co-produced by former Electioneers frontman Matt Gasda, is another highlight, carefully splicing the line between SBT's haunting music and awe-inspiring, occasionally historically innacurate lyrics. But it's "95 Theses" that really welcomes the Salem Bitch Trials to the game. A sampled soul beat, two immaculately perfect verses by both MCs, an appearance by both Poltageist and fictional video game character Black Swan, and a legitimate respect for the Lutheran religion suggest that DH and CK, both presumably African American and in their mid to late 30's, are here to stay.

If you'd like your copy of the Rennaisance, contact either myself or Joe, both of whom are exhausted from spending three months on a hip-hop album and ferociously envious that it wasn't this one.

-Andrew

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

2008-08-14T11:34:00.001-04:00

...because we're all so eager to see it...

The New Walkmen Album Is Absolutely Delicious

2008-08-05T12:06:00.004-04:00

In terms of pie, that is. A band that makes Vampire Weekend look like four guys scrapped together at the last minute for a gig at the bible camp farewell bonanza, The Walkmen have delivered yet again on You & Me, a collection of songs that, unsurprisingly, deals with themes of winter, New Years, Christmas, and lead singer Hamilton Leithauser's perpetual distaste for his girlfriends.

Though not as Dylanesque as 2006's A Hundred Miles Off, Y&I nonetheless sounds like the work of an oddly comforting lovechild between a young Dylan and an old Rod Stewart. Take "On The Water," an absolutely stunning track that wouldn't sound out of place on Blood On The Tracks. Like all great Walkmen songs, it reveals itself slowly, taking several listens before you fully comprehend how masterful the songwriting and musicianship adds up to be. "You know I'd never leave you/ No matter how hard I try/ You know I'd never leave you/ And that's just how it is!" spits Leithauser before his band comes crashing in. It would absolutely be my song of the year if it wasn't immediately followed by "In The New Year", this record's stab at the unacceptable heights set by "The Rat" in 2004. God, this band's greatest hits album is gonna be so dope.

Please put Fleet Foxes down for a second and go buy this album. Now.

-Andrew

New Harry Potter Trailer!!!

2008-07-30T08:51:00.003-04:00

Since July of 2007 and my second visit to see Order of the Phoenix in theaters I've been eagerly awaiting the release of the sixth film. Even though we're still over a hundred days away from the actual release of the movie (SO FAR AWAY!!!) the first trailer is finally here. Judging by the trailer Half Blood Prince will kick some serious tail and rightfully so as Dumbledore looks to be even more of a badass than in the last film.

Check it out...

Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince

Best of 2008 (Q1/Q2)

2008-07-16T16:12:00.003-04:00

Here at Pie, we love lists. Maybe a little too much (I’m pulling for a lift on the Constitutional ban on man/list marriages…). We’ll look for any excuse to compile one. [ed: Does not reflect the opinions of the Pie staff] For example, one look at the Mayan calendar will tell you that 2008 is officially a little past the halfway mark. Here’s a (partial) listing of the greatest musical offerings January through June brought us (Don’t worry, to the chagrin of one certain Pie writer, and the joy of everyone else, it’s 100% Krug-free!) [ed: Again, does not reflect the opinions of the Pie staff]

Santogold – Santogold

On perhaps the debut album of the year, Philadelphia’s answer to M.I.A. delivers sublime hybrids of synth-pop, disco-punk, and many more hyphenated subgenres so fringe they don’t even exist. Don’t be deterred by the recent MTV endorsement; these songs are club bangers even you jaded indies can enjoy unironically.
Download: Creator; Lights Out; L.E.S. Artistes

Girl Talk – Feed the Animals

Yes, the whole mashup thing may be ‘so 2002,’ if you ask MC Lars, but Pittsburgh-based DJ Gregg Gillis takes the A+B concept and adds every other letter of the alphabet to create algebra hell, and pure genius. Magic happens everywhere on his fourth full-length, especially with extended blends such as International Player’s Anthem over Paranoid Android, and Woo Ha! over Every Little Thing She Does is Magic. An ADD-addled music nerd’s Valhalla.
Download: Play Your Part (Pt. 1); Give Me a Beat; No Pause

Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

Say what you will about the latest in the line of over-blogged indie acts (see also: Arcade Tapes N’ Monkeys), this debut is undeniably infectious. What “Graceland” would sound like if Paul Simon regularly said ‘fuck.’ Breezy, buzzy and with its fair share of steel-drum, haters will call it a mediocre cash-in on sounds of old, but just attempt to get “Bryn’s” central riff out of your brain within seven days. No small feat.
Download: Oxford Comma; Walcott; Bryn

Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords

Whoa, a comedy album, soundtrack and New Zealand oddity all wrapped into one (three usually acrid tastes rarely seen in Pie). The brilliantly-afroed duo from the HBO hit show of the same name deliver smart-yet silly send-ups of modern folk mixed with urban living. Come for the ‘80s synths, stay for the stilted rapping and awkward lady-worship.
Download: Robots; Boom; Inner City Pressure

Honourable Mentions:
Beck – Modern Guilt
Del the Funkee Homosapien – 11th Hour
M83 – Saturdays = Youth
Weezer – Weezer (Red Album)

So, what do we have to look forward to for the rest of this great year? Well, I guess the new Hold Steady is already out (too lazy to Google it)… Don’t expect anything new from Radiohead for another seven years… Oh well, we always have Chinese Democracy to pray for…

-Dan

Lil' Reviews

2008-07-11T19:28:00.002-04:00

I'll be frank. I had about a paragraph's worth to say about each of the following albums, and then, just as I finished, accidentally closed the window without saving. Guess that's just a testament to how slow the summer months have been. Maybe I'll get up the effort to rewrite about these, but for now, here's the skinny.

Beck- Modern Guilt: 4 pies. Buy it.

Black Kids- Partie Traumatic: 4 1/2 pies. Buy it.

Albert Hammond Jr.- Como Te Llama?: 3 pies. Give it a listen.

The Vines- Melodia: 1 pie. Burn it.

Not the classiest update, sure, but at least you now have some direction in your life again.

-Andrew

Jay-Z at Glastonbury: Watch It

2008-06-30T11:19:00.003-04:00

Following a much-publicized war of words with Noel Gallagher, Jay-Z kicked off his Glastonbury performance perfectly: by covering, in hilarious fashion, "Wonderwall." He proceeds to perform, with the help of Memphis Bleek for part of the show, such classics as "99 Problems," "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder." And oh yeah, he raps over "A Milli" and says "Fuck Bush" at one point.

Entire performance

Record Review: Sigur Ros: Með Suð í Eyrum vVð Spilum Endalaust

2008-06-25T14:44:00.007-04:00

The Icelandic post-rockers release their fifth album, whose title translates to "With a Buzz In Our Ears We Play Endlessly."

Rating: 3.5/5

I have a friend, at the moment, who is deeply, hopelessly in love with a girl who doesn't love him back. She is effortlessly beautiful, and knowing full well how my friend feels, has lead him on with endless half friendship, half courtship. People that beautiful, if they choose, can spend their lives being told how beautiful they are, instead of realizing it for themselves.

The music of Sigur Ros was in danger of becoming that girl after Takk, which had over-refined the transcendent, glacial aesthetic to the point of becoming good rather than great. How could we critics and fans, hopelessly in love after Ágætis Byrjun (a hypothetical full batch of pies) see the difference? How could the band possibly make their "difficult record" when the music community accepted their early minimalist 10 minute gibberish epics with joy? How can the band throw off these suitors and realize their beauty for themselves?

If the album cover and music of Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust provide any clue, it is to get naked. Sigur Ros have basically said, "Fuck it, you can turn off our amps, and we'll sound great with a few acoustics," and they do. But the acoustic/unplugged approach isn't original, and the nudity analogy isn't either.

Sigur Ros prove that they sound wonderful with simple production and in doing so reveal, with the exception of the first track, "Goobledigook," the limits of "naked" approach. Even though the songs hold up under more simple arrangements, they have not done anything remarkable with those arrangements. At first, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust seems like a confident realization of the band's naked beauty, but the bands methods haven't actually changed. They've pulled plenty of instruments out of the mix, but the idea is still to build tension very, very slowly. "Goobledigook" and the second track actually explore new ideas, like a faster pace and full organic instrumentation hinting at something like Feels, but that's as far the band goes before it slips back into more familiar territory. "Festival" and "Ara batur," the two longest tracks, leave plenty of space before the songs get big, but we always know the kick in is coming.

It's not that any of this is bad, I just hold Sigur Ros to the high standard they've earned for themselves. So while Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust is direct and beautiful, it lacks the element of mystery that would deepen its effect. The direction suggested by "Goobledigook," where acoustic instruments are something to be experimented with, rather than left unadorned, is just more interesting than what unfolds.

-Matt Gasda

Sigur Ros - Goobledigook

Buy: Amazon Insound MySpace

R.I.P. George Carlin

2008-06-23T10:53:00.002-04:00

Carlin, widely considered one of the greatest and most influential stand-up comics of all time, died of heart failure on Sunday, at age 71. He may have been best known for his controversial, Supreme Court case-sparking "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television" and for just being generally hilarious. Rest in peace, George Carlin.

Full story via CNN

New Music: Clipse (Re-Up Gang?)

2008-06-18T18:53:00.003-04:00

It's just Pusha and Malice on this one, but Malice spells R-E-U-P-G-A-N-G at the beginning of the second verse, which would suggest that this one's from the forthcoming Re-Up Gang LP (no, not a mixtape). The beat, provided by Scott Storch, is a decent enough synth-driven backdrop, over which Pusha T raps about "mov[ing] weight like sumo," and similar subject matter. It's not Hell Hath-caliber, but it will do.

Clipse - Fast Life

Record Review: Coldplay: Viva la Vida Or Death and All His Friends

2008-06-16T22:02:00.008-04:00

The massively popular British pop-rock band returns with its Brian Eno-produced stab at progression and (mild) experimentation.

Rating: 3.5/5

I was excited when the new Coldplay album finally leaked. I had, in fact, been checking everyday for a week for such an event. This excitement is against my well-cultivated critical and social instincts. Coldplay, my favorite band through my sophmore and junior years of high school are an embarrasment to my indie snobbery, and a weakness for my indie snob friends to poke fun at. Occasionally I'll turn on "Talk" or something, but only to mock the band's emotional populism in a half hearted attempt to atone for the days when I paraded the depressingly vapid X&Y as my favorite record ever.

So my eagerness for this record is at once hypocritical and revealing. I listened to Viva La Vida not as the pseudo intellectual critic but as the more open hearted teenager who still thinks "Clocks" is thrilling or "Don't Panic" is romantic. I write this review, having returned to my intellect from my heart, willing to give Coldplay and Viva La Vida a batch of 3 and 1/2 out of a possible 5 pies. May Chris Martin enjoy every bite of his success pie.

They have evolved from bland platitudes and easy stadium thrills without sounding labored. The album's most unusual quirk is that most of the songs contain several, essentially unalike movements. It reveals the strategy the band employed: they wrote 20 Coldplay songs and smushed them into 10 Coldplay songs. Is this a crutch belying the band's lack of subtly? Yes. Does it play to their strengths? Yes. Coldplay are never going to be a band a that explore one idea for too long without being boring. I don't think Brian Eno brought the David Byrne one chord playbook to the Coldplay sessions.

Martin is predictably big with his lyrics, but this time sort of like Neon Bible-era Win Butler, which constitutes an upgrade. It's also more palatable because of the Eno eclecticism, or whatever the hell you wanna call the band's new musical vocabularly. "Strawberry Swing" recasts the simple, pleasant feel of "Parachutes" as a touching African tune, while the title track is a barrelling highlight. These are both from the backhalf, which is brighter and more fun, starting with the mega epics "Yes" and "Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love." The darker fronthalf, from "Cemetaries of London" to "42," isn't a stylistic strength, but gives the album an excellent pace and build. Coldplay have done themselves a favor by putting these songs in a context. Lines like, "those who are dead/ are just living in my head" aren't classic philsophy, but in the dissonance of all the other impressions presented, something cohesive emerges.

No one, from Coldplay, to their record company, to Eno, ever intended to make Coldplay for Airports. Instead, they have made something like the album version of "Atonement." It's not the best picture of the year, but it has enough art-house tricks in to justify paying for another war epic.

-Matt Gasda

Coldplay - Violet Hill

Buy: Amazon Insound MySpace

News About My Two Favorite Musicians!

2008-06-13T23:21:00.002-04:00

Well, not really. The two people? Chris Martin and R. Kelly! The former walked out on a BBC interview and the latter walked out of a courtroom. Follow the link to read the full account of Martin's tantrum, but really, there wasn't much provocation. Something about the interviewer "journalistically twisting" Martin's words...I don't know, seems like he overreacted, but you'd be uptight too the week before you were about to release what is supposed to be a career-defining record. While the man behind the soon-to-be-multi-platinum Viva la Vida has been a little tense, the man behind Double Up is feeling quite relieved since, as you may have heard...HE'S BEEN ACQUITTED! Woo-hoo! Apparently, one key piece of evidence was that the man in the video has no large mole on his back, and Kels does. Too bad that Wesley Snipes and Robert Blake couldn't get off the same way. Anyway, R. Kelly allegedly celebrated by going out and screwing a 14-year-old girl...expect a trial sometime around 2017.

Viva la Vida review Monday or Tuesday, Trapped in the Closet, Chapters 23-33 review as soon as I'm done arm-wrestling with 'Twan.

Summer Movie Preview

2008-06-11T13:20:00.011-04:00

Granted, we're a bit late to the party- we've already seen the good (Iron Man) the bad (Indy 4) and the disturbingly sexy (Zohan) sides of what this year's summer blockbusters have to offer. However, seeing as how summer isn't yet upon us from a technical standpoint, here's a look ahead at films you should definately check out- or avoid. One thing's for certain; after last summer's record-breaking parade of threequels, it's kind of refreshing to see some new franchises emerging- or rebooting, in the case of The Incredible Hulk

Most Anticipated Movie: The Dark Knight

As with Tim Burton's original Batman film, the star here is not the caped crusador, but the main villain. Heath Ledger's startling take on the Joker, a role that may have in fact led to his death, has been getting a lot of Oscar buzz, and based on trailers it's easy to see why. Through stained facepaint and a knowing grimace, Ledger's Joker is a far cry from Jack Nicholson's legendary portrayal, and a closer representation of the comic-book version of Batman's nemesis. Which isn't to say that Christian Bale's been completely sidelined; he should continue developing Bruce Wayne, a protagonist established with a darker origin in Batman Begins. We'll also get treated to the origin of Harvey Dent, with all signs pointing towards him becoming Two Face for the final chapter of Christopher Nolan's trilogy. But for a superhero franchise that didn't have enough humor in its first installment, Ledger has given us a villain we can root for. As he says himself- "why so serious?"

Least Anticipated Movie: The Happening

Early buzz indicates that Shyamalan's latest is anything but happening. With a twist-less plot that seemingly revolves around evil trees, zero suspense, and an uninspired performance by Mark Wahlberg, it seems that the gifted Shyamalan may finally be done. I stood up for Unbreakable and Signs- hell, even The Village wasn't that bad- but if what critics say are true, this is going to be his second straight serious bust in a row. After Lady In The Water failed to gross more than 45 million, M. Night really has to hope the moviegoing public has nothing better to do on Friday the 13th and suddenly hates seeing Hulk movies (not going to happen- get it? Happen?)

Most Anticipated Comedy: The Foot Fist Way

With all due respect to Judd Apatow products Pineapple Express and Step Brothers, Danny McBride is about to become one of the biggest names in comedy. Coming off a hilarious role in Andy Sandberg's equally hilarious Hot Rod, McBride finally gets to see the release of this film, which originally premiered at Sundance in 2006. As long as its limited release doesn't bomb, it can only be a matter of time before this martial arts parody makes its way to multiplexes.

#1 Reason Everyone Loves Pixar: Wall-E

If Wall-E isn't the most adorable thing ever created, robot or otherwise, then I don't know what is. The concept seems to be slightly more daring for Pixar- less dialogue, less markatable characters aside from the protagonist- so don't be surprised if it doesn't make the big bucks (in Pixar standards- it will still come in at a comfortable number one, but I don't see it chasing Finding Nemo's enormous 340 mil), but once word of mouth spreads, it should see its fair share of green. Ratatouille, for example, had the second worst opening weekend of any Pixar Movie, but fell behind only Nemo and The Incredibles when all was said and done.

Most Under The Radar: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

In this summer of big-name superhero flicks- Iron Man, Batman, Hulk- it's easy to forget the little guy. This little guy, however, just happens to come from the mind of coveted director Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, The Orphanage). Hellboy 1 was entertaining enough, but here, Del Toro looks to incorporate more of the whimsy that made Pan's Labyrinth such a classic to Hellboy's styalized action scenes. Seeing as how far he's come from his days directing the original and Blade II, and taking the inspired performance of Ron Pearlman into consideration, Hellboy 2 could sneak up and become the film of the summer.

Also worth attention: Hancock, The Promotion, Midnight Meat Train

Avoid: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emporer, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Disaster Movie, Beverly Hills Chihuahua

-Andrew

Record Review: Lil' Wayne: Tha Carter III

2008-06-09T01:31:00.007-04:00

'Bout damn time.

Rating: 4/5

It’s here! Yes, music’s most divisive figure has finally released his long-awaited/long Tha Carter III, and it’s arriving in a big way: badass/hilarious cover art, #1 hit single, guest appearance from ex-Best Rapper Alive and a slew of beats from, uh, Best Producer Alive, pre-release leak controversy, and so on. Most fans either love him or hate him, and with the indie crowd, there’s generally more animosity than worship.

Admittedly, I have traditionally resented Mr. Carter’s off-kilter rasp, crunk-ish beats, and insistence on rapping on every single newly released hip-hop album (and that last one’s really only a slight exaggeration). However, with all the massive hype that built up around TC III, I had to give Lil’ Wayne a chance, approach his music with an open mind, set aside my East Coast bias for 80 minutes to try hear what all the fuss is really about. After all, when a guy’s proclaiming “Hip-hop, I saved your life” (on the jazzy, rapper-as-doctor metaphor “Dr. Carter”), and people don’t laugh him out of the room, it’s hard to ignore.

And certainly, now is the time to either jump on the bandwagon or get out of the way. Yes, Lil’ Wayne’s absurdly prolific, truly triumphant 2007 brought him a huge wave of critical acclaim, but it left something to be desired. Namely, the proper follow-up to his breakthrough Tha Carter II, the much-anticipated full-length that would truly cement his position as an all-time great (at least in eyes of Weezy himself and his followers). In this sense, the portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-child album cover is fitting: Tha Carter III is supposed to be Lil’ Wayne’s Illmatic, his Ready to Die, the classic needed to justify Wayne’s insistence that “when you mention Pac, Biggie, and Jay-Z/Don’t forget Weezy, baby!”

Well, it’s nowhere near the level of either Nas’ or Biggie’s best work, nor that of Jay-Z, nor that of 2Pac. However, consider me somewhat of Wayne convert: the disarmingly clever rhymes, inventive cadences, and outside-the-box voice inflections showcased on TC III are always refreshing and, when Weezy succeeds, damn near irresistible. The beats don’t always live up to the rapper, and the album would be better at three quarters the length, but the record, though far from perfect, is ultimately a success.

As far as standouts go, the Just Blaze-produced, Jay-Z-assisted “Mr. Carter” reigns supreme, the kind of sweeping, lush work Blaze has been doing for nearly a decade now, with the two highest profile MCs on the planet dropping inspired, top-notch lines over top. While Common’s Finding Forever and his own Graduation LP seems to have depleted Kanye West’s bag of tricks, the several beats he provides here are nonetheless exceptional, and Weezy tears them up: the sparse, solemn, deeply soulful “Tie My Hands,” which finds Lil’ Wayne reflecting on the effects of Hurricane Katrina on his hometown of New Orleans, is to TC III as “Roses” was to Late Registration, while “Let the Beat Build,” though a relatively unimaginative use of an strong initial sample, is welcome contrast to the some of the more ringtone-sounding, non-sample-reliant production on the album. “A Milli” finds Lil’ Wayne dropping some of his best rhymes (my favorite being “I don’t owe you like two vowels”), and he sounds just as razor sharp on the strange, Weezy-as-alien “Phone Home,” a track that would be a truly WTF moment for any other rapper, but is a perfect character sketch for this particular artist.

What shouldn’t have made the cut? The Busta Rhymes/Brisco-assisted “La La” is irritating from the start, and becomes a complete trainwreck after Wayne finishes the opening verse. “Playin’ With Fire” lays the piano/synthesized guitar melodrama on unbearably thick, while Weezy spits some bullshit about being like assassinated like MLK or something. The Juelz Santana/Fabolous-assisted “You Ain’t Got Nuthin’” is listenable but boring and unoriginal, and the last six minutes of 10-minute closer “Don’t Get It (Misunderstood),” during which Wayne criticizes (speaking, not rapping) Reverend Al Sharpton, is worth one listen, but no more.

And then there’s “Lollipop,” which I have tried so hard to hate and dismiss as 2008’s “Crank That,” but simply can’t. The song features little rapping (and it’s some of the worst on the album), but the refrain is just sooooo irresistibly catchy. It’s doesn’t have a whole lot of staying power, but my feelings on “Lollipop” pretty much represent my feelings on Lil’ Wayne in general: the more I listen, the more it sucks me in, strangely alluring, totally unparalleled…it’s good thing, then, that, as Weezy asserts on “Mr. Carter,” “two words [we’ll] never hear…‘Wayne quit’.”

Lil' Wayne - Lollipop

Buy: Amazon MySpace

Record Review: Fleet Foxes: s/t

2008-06-02T23:47:00.008-04:00

The much-hyped indie folk five-piece follows its excellent Sun Giant EP with its excellent full-length debut.

Rating: 4/5

Here we go again. Another artist who blew up (using the term “blew up” liberally) through MySpace…yet, it doesn’t seem so interesting, weird, or trendy anymore. It’s a good talking point for an intro to album review, but it says very little about the band. In this case, the band is Fleet Foxes, a much blogged about Seattle-based five-piece and, yeah, they’re good, which seems to be the key thing MySpace Stars have in common. (except for Kate Nash ;) )

If you’ve heard that Fleet Foxes sound like Grizzly Bear…well, those comparisons certainly have some merit, as the former’s debut record often recalls the harmonious, bucolic psych-folk of the latter’s fantastic 2006 effort Yellow House. Drawing connections between Fleet Foxes and a more middle-of-the-road contemporary like, let’s say, Band of Horses isn’t totally out of left field either, and to backtrack a few decades, parallels to artists like Neil Young or the Band could be drawn as well.

And the list goes on for pages and pages, if you wish. If you’ve heard FF’s Sun Giant EP, you know that the band isn’t out to revolutionize modern music. At the same time, if you’ve heard Sun Giant, you also know that Fleet Foxes are one of the most promising bands around, and that a band need not explore some new musical frontier if they can roam the old ones with such mastery. On both the EP and the LP, Fleet Foxes excel through golden harmonies, homespun, inviting warmth, and a flawless sense of dynamic, an impeccable ability to quickly but seamlessly build from skeletal balladry to full band jam and drift back down to earth with ease.

Dynamic songcraft is the band’s most important element, the one that separates Fleet Foxes from other up-and-coming bands and gives their songs unpredictability and uniqueness. Late album gem “Blue Ridge Mountains” is one of the best instances: it begins with quiet acoustic strums and faint harmonizing, a sort of bare, meditative stillness, but soon singer Robin Pecknold’s vocals emerge with crystal clarity over top a much crisper, quicker guitar-piano backdrop. It’s not long before the track ascends again, this time to the infectious climax, with Pecknold crooning poetic lyrics like “In the quivering forest/Where the shivering dog lies” while the band moves as a unified, propulsive unit behind him. Before you know it, it’s over, and you want to experience it all again.

Elsewhere, the previously released “White Winter Hymnal” gets a welcome reprise (albeit in a slightly truncated form), and, in the context of the album, nicely sets up the fuller, more up-tempo “Ragged Wood.” This type of one-two punch occurs frequently on Fleet Foxes, where understated, stripped down hymns set the table for straight-ahead rockers (okay, nothing on this record really “rocks,” but you get the idea). Like on “Blue Ridge Mountains,” the sense of dynamic is key in keeping an album fresh and engaging that could have easily fallen into a rut, a simple, unimaginative rehash of traditional folk, baroque pop, and the handful of other genres that comprise Fleet Foxes’ style.

Yet, for all of its deliberate shifts, nothing on Fleet Foxes seems even remotely labored or unnatural. In fact, it will likely be one of the most effortless and sincere records we’ll hear in 2008. Honestly, it doesn’t have any moments that completely knock my socks off, but Fleet Foxes exhibits a band with a distinct, rich sound and consistently strong songwriting. MySpace or no MySpace, what more can anyone ask for?

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

Buy: Amazon Insound MySpace

New Video: Weezer – Pork and Beans

2008-05-29T01:40:00.003-04:00

Say what you will regarding the leaking-as-I’m-speaking album and Rivers Cuomo’s terrifying facial hair, but you must hand it to the =w= this time. The leadoff single Pork and Beans and its resulting video bring a dying band out of Beverly Hills and back into the realm of (le gasp!) rock credibility. And also into the Iraq.

While we’ve seen this concept before (Barenaked Ladies’ “Sound of Your Voice” clip,) it’s still an entertaining concept: Let’s pay tribute to the real heroes, the stars of YouTube! The video cameos/parodies ‘em all, from the Mentos and Coke explosion dudes to the Chocolate Rain guy. From Brolsma (Numa Numa dancer) to Kelly (OMG Shoes, betch!). Even CATS shows up to tell us that all our pork and beans are belong to them. If you are even remotely an internet nerd (which hey, let’s face it, if you’re reading an obscure music blog, then you most likely are) it’s fun to recognize the nods and nuances (hey, that opening sequence sure looked a lot like Canon Rock...). Just add this one with the Muppets and Elisha Cuthbert.

Weezer - Pork and Beans

-Dan

New Vines Single! Wait... Scratch the Excitement

2008-05-28T14:37:00.003-04:00

As far as guilty pleasures go, 2006's Vision Valley was my quick stop and shop for rock and roll. The Vines' much-maligned 3rd album (following their much-maligned first and second albums) did its job, adequately playing guitar really loud for thirty minutes before getting the fuck out of the way. And it contained a hand-full of gems to boot; "Don't Listen To The Radio" is easily the best single in the band's repetoire.

LP4 for the Aussie trio is out on July 12. It's called Melodia, and based on first single "He's A Rocker", it's going to sound exactly like every other Vines album. So despite trying my hardest to feign an interest in Craig Nichols' work nowadays, that doesn't stop "He's A Rocker" from being a terrible, terrible song. If you thought The Vines' sound was generic beforehand, this completely lazy, incompetant effort makes half the cuts off Vision Valley sound like In Utero. Sample lyric: "Once there was a young man/ no one could understand/ wasting time every day/ he got nothing to say." Cue the chorus of "All he ever played was that rock and roll music, rock and roll music, yeah." Okay, so they're still a few albums away from their OK Computer, but hey, check out all those bands they beat out for the cover of Rolling Stone in 2002.

The full album review is coming in July, but with expected song titles such as "Get Out", "Hey", and "Scream", you can expect a lot of other songs that sound like "Ride." Until then, visit myspace.com/thevines if you want to go off your "rocker" as well.

-Andrew

New Music: The Hold Steady, Silver Jews

2008-05-23T14:34:00.003-04:00

The lead singles from two of the summer most anticipated rock records...yay! From the Hold Steady's forthcoming Stay Positive LP, we get "Sequestered in Memphis," which follows the Steady's typical Springsteen/Replacements blueprint, and from the Silver Jews forthcoming Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, we get "Strange Victory, Strange Defeat," which follows the Jews' typical humorous, Reckoning-like blueprint. Yeah, no surprises here, but, hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Enjoy:
The Hold Steady - Sequestered in Memphis
Silver Jews - Strange Victory, Strange Defeat

The New Beck Single is Hot (Wax Residue)

2008-05-20T14:36:00.001-04:00

Okay, so Beck's forthcoming eighth major-label LP still doesn't have a definitive title or release date (though all signs point to it being called Modern Guilt and a June release), but he's released the first of the ten new tracks, entitled "Chemtrails", on his website. He's describing the album as "sixties-style rock", and the single is certainly a departure from the oddities of Guero and electro-rap psychojargon of The Information. Though its spacious structure initially brings Sea Change to mind, the paw prints of producer Danger Mouse are all over this one, bringing his usual abundance of cymbal crashes and effectively juxtaposing the chorus with Beck's lyrics of "so many people" with the dissonant image of one man alone at a polar icecap.... or something to that effect. Seems that Mr. Hansen and Mr. Mouse could well become a formidable team.

In other mid-90's rock news, temperatures are indeed rising at the rotten Oasis. The Brit-rockers have announced a new album in a catalogue that's qualitiy eerily resembles that of the six Star Wars films. Observe:

Definately Maybe/ A New Hope= new and exciting, critically acclaimed.
What's the Story/ The Empire Strikes Back= arguably better than its predecessor.
Be Here Now/ Return of the Jedi= initially worshipped, looked back on in reterospect somewhat unfavorably.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants/ Phantom Menace: high expectations, dreadful results.
Heathen Chemistry/ Attack of the Clones: unfathomably awful.
Don't Believe the Truth/ Revenge of the Sith: alleged returns to form. In actuality, quite bad.

Someone should tell Noel there's a reason that George Lucas didn't make Episode 7.

Go to Beck.com for all your "Chemtrails" needs.

-Andrew

Coldplay: Music Video

2008-05-20T08:22:00.002-04:00

The music video for Coldplay's first new single Violet Hill is up on coldplay.com

Check it out
Violet Hill

New Release: Islands - Arm's Way

2008-05-19T21:46:00.002-04:00

I couldn't get up the motivation to write a full review for the Islands' sophomore LP, Arm's Way, but I felt I should highlight it anyway, because it's pretty stellar. It's kind of a creepier, more menacing record than Return to the Sea, particularly due to the ominous, cinematic strings and Nick Thorburn (nee Diamonds) singing about getting stabbed and being evil and hemorrhaging and getting attacked by dogs and stuff. It's hard to feel intimidated by Arm's Way, though; Thorburn offers such joyful, irresistible melodies that the album just can't muster the malice for which its often aims. This doesn't make it any worse, just not quite as large a departure from Sea as some might have expected. Still, many of the songs defy orthodox song structures, sometimes ignoring choruses altogether to make room for spontanenous danceable, Calypso-tinged passages (check the end of "J’aime vous voire quitter") and Beach Boys-type harmonizing. Nonetheless, nothing ever feels indulgent, but rather amusingly loose and impulsive, and altogether fun and unassuming. Essentially, though it's not quite as playful as Thorburn's previous work, Islands fans will eat this shit up. And really, I hope everyone does.

Take a listen:

Islands - Pieces of You

Buy: Amazon Insound MySpace

New Music: Raekwon (featuring Ghostface Killah)

2008-05-17T14:09:00.005-04:00

I've been a little light on the posting as of late, but of course I had to return for...Rae and Ghost! Yeah, this new joint, entitled "Jihad," is apparently off of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, and while the beat is nothing to write home about, Raekwon certainly continues his hot streak. Ya know, the one that includes guest appearances on Ghost's last two records, his verses on 8 Diagrams, and his work on the fantastic lead single from Big Boi's upcoming solo record. Ghostface's rhymes are hardly his best, but he still spits some decent ones here in describing, uh, getting a blowjob, which somehow causes a rift between him and one of his boys or something. Anyway, and most importantly, "Jihad" provides some real and much needed evidence that OB4CL II may actually exist. But honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if it, along with Chinese Democracy and Tha Carter III, never sees the light of day.

Raekwon - Jihad (feat. Ghostface Killah)

(from the forthcoming Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II)

Record Review: Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs

2008-05-12T00:43:00.008-04:00

The popular indie pop band follows up their 2005 hit-or-miss affair Plans with a darker, more adventurous, more consistent record, one that occassionally falls short but always sounds more interesting than Death Cab normally does.

Rating: 3.5/5

I am not afraid to admit it: I was, in fact, fully and completely duped by the April Fools fake leak of Narrow Stairs. Eventually I looked up the lyrics to discover that, yeah, I had downloaded the Velveteen album. I was mildly annoyed at first, but then got over it, and ultimately the fake leak provided a valuable service. The Velveteen record is quite shitty, in my opinion, and really forced me to open my eyes and concede that Death Can for Cutie aren’t as run-of-the-mill as I sometimes make them out to be. Velveteen is mediocre; DCDC is an occasionally boring but often enjoyable indie pop band. I bitch quite a bit that Death Cab frontman Ben Gibbard should spend his time with Dntel working on a sophomore Postal Service record, but I tried to approach Narrow Stairs with an open mind and offer a fair and balanced view.

And ya know what? Narrow Stairs isn't bad. It's a somewhat adventurous, often compelling, very focused work that doesn’t always nail the target, but always knows what it's trying to hit. Overall, the record, as you might have guessed from the band’s comments, is a considerably darker batch of songs than we’re used to from Death Cab and, even if it isn’t as musically experimental as it was hyped up to be, frequently finds the band pushing their own limits through fuzzy guitars, prog-tinged instrumental stretches, and shadowy, despair-drenched lyrical terrain. Which is to say, this is the sound of unsettling.

When the more dangerous sound works, it works quite well. On opener “Bixby Canyon Bridge,” Gibbard’s gentle vocals float nicely above quivering guitars, then gradually fade back into the mix as the track smoothly and decisively transitions from a clean, quiet ballad to a feedback-driven jam. The evolution of the next song, the epic lead single “I Will Possess Your Heart,” is even more impressive: four-and-a-half moody, ominous instrumental minutes over which the band seamlessly, constantly gains momentum, perfectly setting up Gibbard’s menacing, almost psychotic performance on the song’s back half. Both “No Sunlight” and “You Can Do Better Than Me” nicely juxtapose sunny, upbeat backdrops with sad, hopeless lyrics. The heart-breaking “Cath…” is perhaps best of all, the tale of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage, a tale told superbly by Gibbard.

And really, Gibbard owns this album. Yeah, his pop hooks and emo-ish tenor have been the stars of every Death Cab album, but on Narrow Stairs’ highlights, Gibbard steps his game to a new level, poetically contemplating decaying idealism, broken dreams, forest fires, and other sources of loss, fear, and uncertainty. Nothing here matches previous DCFC standouts like “Pictures in an Exhibition,” “Tiny Vessels,” or “Soul Meets Body,” but Stairs features more good songs than any Death Cab record has in quite some time, largely due to Gibbard’s stirring words.

Still, the album also offers several songs that are merely okay, not bad by any means but relatively pedestrian nonetheless. “Your New Twin-Sized Bed” is a mildly catchy but unspectacular typical Death Cab joint, while “Long Division” stands as the album’s one true lyrical misstep, a tale of a troubled relationship that Gibbard cringe-inducingly represents through the metaphor of long division (“And they carried on/Like long division”). The exotic drumming that begins “Pity and Fear” is an interesting sonic touch, but neither the refrain nor the distortion-fueled back stretch really demand repeated listens. “Talking Bird” is well-written and solidly executed, but sounds flat and purposeless when sandwiched between two superior cuts.

That being said, the gap between the crests and troughs of Narrow Stairs really isn’t that large. The weakest moments are listenable, the highlights aren’t mind-blowing, and overall, Death Cab’s latest LP is a consistent, slightly challenging slice of indie pop. I’m still waiting for Give Up II, but that doesn’t overshadow the fact that Death Cab for Cutie have made a decent album, one that commendably takes the band a little bit out of their comfort zone.

Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart

Buy: Amazon Insound MySpace

Frank Black Cannot Possibly Have Fallen This Far

2008-05-05T21:05:00.003-04:00

Frank Black is opening for the newly reunited Stone Temple Pilots. There's soooo much wrong with this situation. To sum it up into one tidy statement, Frank Black is a god among men, and Scott Weiland is still, a decade and a half after STP conquered the world with hits like "Plush," "Interstate Love Song," and the "Half the man I used to be" song, a thoroughly coked out Cobain wannabe.

(slowly shaking head in despair) How the mighty have fallen.... :(

Record Review: No Age: Nouns

2008-05-05T00:21:00.009-04:00

The LA-based noise-punk duo releases its second album, its first on Sub Pop.

Rating: 4.5/5

Weirdo Rippers was good. It was enthusiastic, raw, focused, simultaneously pretty and aggressive, and, clocking in at barely over a half hour, easy to listen to. No Age perfectly interspersed the album’s gentle, buzzing drones with moments of melody and three chord punk energy, and while the record’s style was neither revolutionary nor complex, it was loose, approachable, and not at all indulgent, allowing it succeed where many noise rock albums fail.

However, not everyone loved No Age’s static-y, lo-fi aesthetic, and to many listeners that album likely seemed downright boring, even oft-putting. Nouns features the same general approach, and thus, like Weirdo Rippers, may have a limited fanbase. At the same time, the album offers a tighter and more pop-oriented songwriting style, and may appeal to some of those listeners who couldn’t get into No Age’s debut. Even with singer Dean Spunt’s vocals still submerged in a wave of fuzz, melody shines through on nearly every song, with drone kept to a minimum and hooks taking center stage throughout the record.

Of course, a pig in a dress is still a pig; that is, a more pop sensible, structured sound means nothing if the songs themselves aren’t good. Nouns’ success rides on the fact that these songs are, at their base, quite terrific, and that the duo doesn’t try to overextend itself at any point. Time after time, No Age does things Psychocandy-style: find a simple yet catchy melody/chord progression, bury it in distortion, and draw each idea out to its natural conclusion, never, fortunately, pushing a song past two or three minutes. No Age isn't as spastic or unpredictable this time around, and there is a relative lack of Rippers-type minimalist, subdued moments on Nouns, but the slight (and it is truly slight) shift in style ultimately makes this record more enjoyable and consistent than its predecessor.

And occasionally, such as “Keechie” and “Errand Boy,” the due does revisit the whirring ambience that characterized much of thier previous work. However, tracks like lead single “Eraser” steal the show. “Eraser” doesn’t kick into gear until nearly a minute and a half in, and even then the lyrics are near indecipherable, but No Age sound so invigorated and inspired during the final minute, and like they’re having so much fun, that it’s hard not to enjoy it. This song, and the whole album, is just a seamless showcase of No Age’s ability to channel their emotion and liveliness into tight, irresistible, feedback-driven blasts.

Two albums into their career, No Age have already elevated themselves into the noise rock elite. Their genre may be well explored, but No Age never sound like any old Sonic Youth/Pavement/Spacemen 3-derived newcomer. Rather, the duo’s dirty, fuzzy bursts are entirely their own, exhibiting two musicians in tune with each other and in command of their forceful, exuberant sound. Weirdo Rippers was good, but Nouns not only one-ups No Age’s already strong debut, but also stands as one 2008’s best albums thus far.

No Age - Eraser

Buy: Amazon Insound MySpace

Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer: First Thoughts

2008-04-30T16:45:00.004-04:00

I have now gotten through AMZ three full times, and I can tell you, I am very pleased with this record. Let's start with the production. Drummer Arlen Thompson, who produced and engineered AMZ, did an absolutely fantastic job. I'll admit, I had my doubts about Wolf Parade switching from Issac Brock as producer, but the switch was definitely worth it. Thompson gives the music room to breathe, allowing the little things, like relatively unknown fourth member Hadji Bakara's synth loops, to come through. It makes for a distinctly different experience than, say, listening to one of the first Wolf Parade EP's. These guys have come a long way. The production is very reminiscent of Spoon's more recent works, if you want a comparison point. I can't say enough about how great this album sounds, even through a poor quality rip.

The songs, well, there isn't a lackluster song in the bunch. The songs are split evenly among Spencer and Dan, like last time, except where the two share vocals on epic closer "Kissing the Beehive." The album gets off to a rocking start with "Soldier's Grin," a fine Dan song. It works really well as an opening song, with it's catchy guitar lick and well placed keyboard loops. Next we go to Spencer, with his "Call It A Ritual," the first new song that was released to the public. One of the best Spencer songs on the record. A little on the short side, but it has a very interesting rhythm and feel, which should be able to hold your attention for at least a couple listens. Now we go back to Dan, and we get "Language City," which quite frankly, is Dan's best song on the record, and maybe the best song that he has ever done. The lyrics are nothing new, stuff about running away from the city and leaving his old life behind, which is basically what every one of his songs are about. However, the whole band really comes together on this song; every member has a distinct part, even the aforementioned Hadji, giving this song a sense of purpose. And it just rocks, really. Song 4 is Spencer's "Bang Your Drum." This is easily the weakest song on this record. Not bad, it would certainly be a fine Sunset Rubdown tune, but I can't see how the song, built around a dark keyboard riff, fits in on a Wolf Parade album. Of course, after this song we get Spencer's best song on AMZ, California Dreamer. A tale of a girl who runs away from the narrator to pursue dreams of fame in Los Angeles, it not only has some of Spencer's best non-artsy lyrics to date, but it also just flat out rocks. You'll see that I have been saying that a lot, but I really mean it, this album packs a lot more punch than ATTQM did.

On to side two! The Grey Estates, a Dan song, immediately put a smile on my face when I heard the opening synths come in. It's really the most 80s thing Wolf Parade have ever done, in fact, it reminds me of 80s Bruce Springsteen. That might just be because it is another Dan song of urban paranoia and isolation, similar to what the Boss always writes about, but it also seems to have the same sort of sound. The keyboard riff in the outro is also really cool. Sounds like a bad Mario synth. I guess I would have to call it the weakest song Dan does here, however, based upon the strength of his other songs. Like the next song, Fine Young Cannibals. Oh my god does this song sound like a Spoon song! Take out Dan, put Britt in, and you would have Spoon. But don't let that trick you into thinking this song is derivative or anything. It sounds distinctly like Wolf Parade, but it is a lot tighter and more solid than usual. The lyrics are also amazing, and much different than most Spoon lyrics. We go back to Spencer for the 8th track, "An Animal In Your Care." This song is...well, it starts off rather weak. Compared to the live versions of this song, many fans are bound to be disappointed at how low-key it has become. Good thing the song picks up around the two minute mark. Here we get a great outro, with some great Spencer howling. Still, this has to be one of the weaker songs on the album. Finally we have reached the epic closer, "Kissing the Beehive." This song...words cannot describe how ridiculous this song is. It is a full ten and a half minutes of Dan and Spencer sharing vocals, or basically, as some might call it, pure ecstasy. "As if you didn't know it would sting; kissing the beehive" says Spencer as the music slows down, which is the key lyric in this song. An epic climax which builds to a terrific outro in 9/4 time. It seems to abruptly end, however, I can't say if this is intentional or if this is due to a poor quality rip.

Okay, so concluding thoughts. Well, I think for one, I can say that this is my favorite album of the year so far, hands down. I also need to make it very clear that, despite my love for Spencer, Dan is the real hero of this album. Everything he does on this record is gold, really, and I truly believe that he has here come into his own as a songwriter. Overall, this sounds a lot more like the work of a band than Apologies did. Some will complain of the relatively short length, but I disagree, I think it is the mark of a great band to be able to release a self contained work under 50 minutes. Plus it will fit well onto one LP. Seriously, after listening to this record, well, four times now, I'm contemplating saying it is better than Apologies. Which in my world is downright blasphemous.

Video: Radiohead - "All I Need"

2008-04-30T12:32:00.002-04:00

I normally wince at the mention of MTV, but as it turns out, their EXIT (End eXploitation and Trafficking) campaign with Radiohead addresses a cause certainly worth paying attention to: forced child labor. As part of the campaign, Radiohead's video for In Rainbows standout "All I Need" tells a straightforward yet truly saddening, unsettling tale, one that has little to do with the subject matter of the song yet fits well with the track's vibe. This stand against the exploitation of Third World children for corporate profits is hardly a surprise for a band that has performed songs inspired by the writings of Noam Chomsky and considered naming one of its albums after Naomi Klein's No Logo, but Radiohead's anti-capitalist stand is no less compelling (or morally right) now than before. "Some things cost more than you realize." Well said.

Video: Radiohead - "All I Need" (via Pitchfork)

Coldplay: "Violet Hill" Download

2008-04-29T09:18:00.007-04:00

While waiting for my history final to start I decided to take advantage of Coldplay releasing their first single from Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. You can go to Coldplay.com and click on the 'songs' tab to receive your free copy of the song from the website. Just be advised that the site has been getting backed up so you might want to go to another source.

My first reaction to "Violet Hill" was that Phil Collins and/or Genesis were playing backup for Chris. If you know me you'll realize this is a compliment to Coldplay. The rhythmic verse uses a surprisingly authoritative guitar and builds into a very catchy chorus. The last 40 seconds gives us the familiar piano solo where Chris pours his heart out to us.

Overall I'm a little disappointed after all the hype, but I can guarantee you I'll be singing "If you love me, won't you let me know" for the rest of the week.

Rating: 4/5

New Music: The Twilight Sad

2008-04-25T19:42:00.002-04:00

"Are your hands cold?...cuz your fingers feel like snow!" screams James Graham on the new MySpace-posted Twilight Sad track, "Here, It Never Snowed, Afterward It Did." Graham's performance is as energetic, emotional, and, well, Scottish as anything off the Sad's consistently good, occasionally brilliant debut LP. However, no colossal wall of guitar or monstrously awesome crescendos here...actually the track (save for the vocals) is kind of subdued. It's still pretty good, though, and hopefully is an indicator of the band's sophomore LP. And to answer the question, my hands are quite warm, though they were cold during my days in the birdhouse.

Stream: The Twilight Sad - Here, It Never Snowed, Afterward It Did

Sad Day for America

2008-04-24T19:34:00.002-04:00

Why? Actor/vampire killer/tax-evading criminal Wesley Snipes has been sentenced to three years in prison for, yeah, tax evasion, a testament to the utter stupidity the criminal justice system. It used to be that being rich and a celebrity got you off no matter what the crime, that stars could hire top legal teams and produce some non-fitting gloves and walk out of the courtroom. Let's hope when the R. Kelly trial actually starts (if ever) prosecutors and jurors will show some well-deserved understanding for the celebs among us just trying to have a little fun.

Big Lineup Announcements: All Tomorrow's Parties, Rock the Bells

2008-04-22T23:31:00.004-04:00

Wow. I can only warn you that some pretty big...well, rather, earth-shattering names are about to be dropped, so small children and pregnant women might wanna step outside. First and foremost, of course, we must discuss My Bloody Valentine headlining the All Tomorrow's Parties fest in New York in September. It will be their first US show since, like, a long time ago, and almost certainly they'll come equipped with the songs that will comprise the history-of-mankind-defining Loveless follow-up. Of course, by that time I will already drilled the live bootlegs of their overseas shows into my brain, so you know how it is.

I hope you didn't think that was it. Oh, no no no no no. Built to Spill performing Perfect From Now On (an all-time favorite of mine), Tortoise performing Millions Now Living Will Never Die (an awesome record, though I'm more of a TNT guy), Meat Puppets unleashing Meat Puppets II (never been all that crazy about, but the Nirvana covers were fantastic), and Thurston Moore playing back his Psychic Hearts LP (which, believe it or not, I have never heard all the way through, despite my ownership of like 10 Sonic Youth albums). And oh yeah, Fuck Buttons, Mogwai, and some other bands I don't care as much about.

Yeah, so as mind-meltingly epic as that show is gonna be, the more hip-hop inclined among us will be enjoying the 2008 Rock the Bells tour, which has quite possibly the most potent and not-to-be-fucked-with roster of hip-hop acts assembled since, well, last year's uber-cool Rock the Bells tour. Who, you say, is playing? A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def, De La Soul, Ghostface, Raekwon, Method Man, Immortal Technique, The Cool Kids, and a bunch of other exceptional artists. I heard Biggie might play Ready to Die in its entirety. Just a rumor.

Record Review: Tokyo Police Club: Elephant Shell

2008-04-21T00:05:00.008-04:00

The much-hyped Ontario-based indie rock band issues its debut full-length.

Rating: 3.5/5

They’re from Canada, they released a promising, blog-approved EP, and their sound instantly recalls some of the most loved indie rock bands of recent years. So yeah, the bar is set quite high for the Ontario-based four piece’s full-length debut. Do they clear it? Well, Elephant Shell is like when a good hurdler keeps nailing his trail leg against the hurdles but pushes through the race anyway: his time isn’t necessary as fast as it could be, but the hurdler finished the race, and the results are, ultimately, respectable ones. That is, Tokyo Police Club’s debut is decent collection of two-minute indie rock ditties, respectable despite the sense that the clearly talented band isn’t quite running at top speed.

Perhaps I wouldn’t be slightly disappointed if the Lesson in Crime EP hadn’t shown what the band can really do. Though only 16 some minutes long, the EP packed an arresting, raucous punch, and suggested that Tokyo Police Club could be the latest top-notch Pixies-derived band to run laps around the competition. “Nature of the Experiment” alone kicked more ass than 90% of the albums I heard last year.

Something got lost in the transfer. For one thing, the production here is cleaner than that of A Lesson in Crime, with singer Dave Monks’ nasally vocals brought to the front of the mix and the band’s jerkier, rougher impulses smoothed out. The more polished sound doesn’t come as a shock, but nonetheless compromises the material in some ways, removing some of the unhinged fervor and urgency that characterized the EP. Elephant Shell still finds the band with energy and ideas, but we never get the “Operator, get me the President of the world!”-style gravitas of Crime, and the music here feels somewhat hesitant and confined in comparison.

Nonetheless, the production is only part of the problem. Rather, the songs and overall sonic approach are indeed where the record both succeeds and fails. Musically, while Dave Monks sounds more like Les Savy Fav’s Tim Harrington than The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas, Tokyo Police Club will likely draw comparisons to both the hyper emo of the former and choppy garage rock riffs of the latter (and the million other bands of both molds). However, Elephant Shell lacks the unpredictability and unstoppable momentum of LSF’s best work and the truly memorable hooks of the Strokes’ best.

Which is to say, if you tread in familiar musical waters, you better either bring consistently exceptional songwriting to the table, or offer a fresh stylistic twist. This year’s two best indie rock debuts, Los Campesinos!’s Hold On Now, Youngster and Vampire Weekend’s self-titled LP, provide a case for each point, with the former album built on nearly every well-worn convention of modern indie rock, yet succeeding on a non-stop stream of infectious, ecstatic pop songs, and the latter mixing African flavor into the typical formula to create something familiar-sounding and approachable yet novel. While the debut EP showcased TPC’s flair for confident, dynamic jamming and songwriting, Elephant Shell lacks both the songs and the style necessary to elevate the band to the level of their top contemporaries.

At the same time, the album is a very solid, listenable, unoffensive garage rock album that will likely draw decent to high praise from the typical indie listener. And yes, Shell’s best songs deserve such praise: single “In a Cave” offers a catchy lead guitar line and even catchier bridge, “The Harrowing Adventures Of…” switches up the album’s blueprint effectively with a pretty strings/acoustic guitar/bells interplay, and “Your English is Good” finds the band launching a powerful and focused two-chord attack.

Still, at the end of the album, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just the heard same song over and over. Even while clocking in at under 30 minutes, Shell plays too statically and redundantly, and even begins to drag toward the end despite its brevity. Everything melody and chord progression blends together, and while it’s relatively enjoyable more often than not, it isn’t an album that really demands you return to it. The first listen won’t really blow you away, and repeated listens only reveal that Elephant Shell has little to offer beneath the surface.

Still, the album isn’t as much a setback for Tokyo Police Club as it is an indication that they need some time to grow and find their identity. The band needs to find the midway point between the bursting might of A Lesson in Crime and the more refined approach taken here. Do I think they’ll get it right? You bet your ass. Just hasn’t happened yet.

Tokyo Police Club - In a Cave

Buy: Amazon Insound MySpace

Ahh, what would I do without The Onion...

2008-04-18T13:46:00.002-04:00

"Vacationing Teen Introduces Wilco to West Indies"

http://www.theonion.com/content/radio_news/vacationing_teen_introduces

The part where the guy talks about the "cross-pollination" of Jeff Tweedy's style and West Indies' musical traditions is hilarious.

New Music: Wolf Parade - California Dreamer

2008-04-17T23:09:00.008-04:00

Looks like we have obtained another new Wolf Parade track, doesn't it? This one, "California Dreamer," originally called "Stevie" when played live, sounds like a poppy Sunset Rubdown cut. It doesn't seem too changed from the live version, although I can't be sure, I haven't listened to that one in a while. Blah blah Wolf Parade Krug, you know the drill, just listen to the song.

PS: I think it skips in the middle...but who the hell cares?

(track removed upon request)

New Music: Lily Allen

2008-04-17T18:03:00.003-04:00

The newly blonde and continously sexy British pop singer posted two new songs on her MySpace earlier today, entitled "I Don't Know" and "I Could Say." The former is a sarcastic, materialism-mocking dance-pop anthem (or anti-anthem, I suppose, given the song's theme), while the latter is a post-breakup reflective piece, despite sporting a similar sonic approach. "I Don't Know" is the better of the two, offering a catchier hook and the type of sharp-tongued lyrics that Allen pens so effectively, including satirically labeling herself a "weapon of mass consumption." Check, and, mate! I feel like Ms. Allen and I share a lot in common, except for the fact that one of us is much better looking than the other. I am, of course, referring to me ;)

Stream: "I Don't Know"/"I Could Say"

This Just In: Noel Gallagher's a Douchebag

2008-04-16T22:15:00.003-04:00

In short, Mr. Gallagher blamed weak ticket sales for Britain's Glastonbury fest on the fact that rapper/CEO/coolest-man-alive Jay-Z is headlining, saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you break it, people ain't gonna go. I'm sorry, but Jay-Z? ... No chance." He later added, "I'm not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. No way. No. It's wrong." Festival organizer Emily Eavis defended the choice, and noted the "interesting undercurrent in the suggestion that a black, U.S. hip-hop artist shouldn't be playing in front of what many perceive to be a white, middle-class audience."

There may very well be racial aspect to the discussion (I would say so, though it would be naive to limit it to an issue of race), but beyond race, on a purely musical level, who the fuck does Noel Gallagher think he is? Oasis released two decent but overrated albums and then a series of shitty ones, while Jay-Z released one of the elite rap albums of the 1990s with Reasonable Doubt and then proceeded to establish himself as arguably the greatest rapper of all time, particularly with the still unstoppable The Blueprint, one of the century's best records. The rock world (critics, fans, and musicians alike) needs to come to terms with the fact that a rapper can be one of the top musicians on the planet. I mean, outside of the next Radiohead or (hopefully) My Bloody Valentine record, is there any album more anticipated than whatever Kanye West is cooking up in the studio? I think some critics have reached a just level of objectivity over the last couple years, with records like Late Registration and Hell Hath No Fury topping (or coming damn close) many year-end lists. Still, the average music fan, casual or serious, will laugh at someone like Rick Ross (which is, of course, deserved) but not realize the utter brilliance behind Ready to Die or Enter the Wu-Tang.

Had to get that off my chest. I feel better.

Bill Cosby to Release Hip-Hop Album

2008-04-16T21:37:00.003-04:00

Well, kinda. He's not actually rapping (thank God), but the album is of Cosby's conceptual design, with guest rappers providing rhymes and themes focusing on, according to Cosby, "the value of an education. [and] the value of respecting one's self." Basically, the album, entitled Cosby Narratives Vol. 1: State of Emergency is an answer to the profanity/violence/misogyny-driven hip-hop that has become quite popular. While this album may be ignored or ridiculed by many, I've always appreciated Cosby's outspokeness on social issues and I think it could be legitimately interesting if not outright entertaining. For me personally, listening to rap music can be somewhat of a tug-of-war between conscious and musical objectivity, with albums like, let's say, Cam'ron's Purple Haze showcasing jaw-dropping rhyme schemes and vibrant soul samples while also offering lyrics like, "The game and the chick/Like Kobe ima rape the bitch." Not to mention the criminal background of nearly every meaningful rapper on the planet...but anyway, Cosby's got a rap album...well, a Cosby-curated rap album, to my understanding, so we'll see what happens.

Wait...I'm Not Talking About Krug?

2008-04-16T12:46:00.007-04:00

I will now take a break from my usual Wolf Parade ranting to post some news on the new Weezer album. That's right, Rivers and company are releasing a new record June 24, which is apparently called the Red Album (clever, right?). I don't know why I am hopeful for this album. In my opinion, Weezer have not released anything attention-worthy in 12 years. And I know for a fact there is no way this new album could return to the old glory days of Pinkerton and the Blue Album. But in the time since the craptastic adventure that was Make Believe, Rivers has grown an obnoxious mustache, and he also somehow broke up the band and then got them back together randomly to release this new album that I am posting about here. This ridiculousness on Rivers' part is basically what gives me hope for this new record. Maybe it will mean a big, much needed change for these guys. And the ridiculousness continues on the newly leaked single, Pork and Beans.

Pork and Beans starts out slow, sounding like a Blue Album B-side. Again, that would still be better than anything the four have done since Pinkerton (I exaggerate a bit, but you see my point, I hope). Then comes the chorus, and boy, does Weezer sound young again. The song as a whole is reminiscent of El Scorcho to me, likely due to the self-mockery and humor found throughout the song. When Rivers sings things like "Timbaland knows the way to reach the top of the charts/Maybe if I work with him I can perfect the art," I can't help but laugh. So overall, I can see a lot of nostalgia in this song; maybe Rivers finally figured out that he needs to stop writing songs about his best friend and start rocking again. I am looking forward to the new album after hearing this song. More posts to follow.

Weezer - Pork and Beans

New Music: Wolf Parade

2008-04-14T12:30:00.002-04:00

The first (non-live) taste of Wolf Parade's forthcoming sophomore effort (due out June 17, though still without a title) has arrived. Built around Spencer Krug's marching piano chords, left-field poetry, and distinct croon, the song finds the band wholly in its comfort zone. Clocking in at under 3 minutes, "Call It a Ritual" doesn't build to the anthemic heights of Apologies' best tracks, nor does it showcase the electrifying energy and pure catchiness of which the band is capable. Nonetheless, "Ritual" acts as a much-needed snack for fans hungry for new Wolf Parade material, and should help everyone keep a calm head while waiting for the eventual and inevitable album leak.

Wolf Parade - Call It a Ritual

(title TBD, due out 6/17)

Record Review: M83: Saturdays=Youth

2008-04-14T03:01:00.001-04:00

French electronic maestro Anthony Gonzalez releases his fifth album, a collection of dense, dramatic new wave anthems.

Rating: 4/5

One of the most unsettling and shudder-worthy commercials on television may be that Taco Bell advertisement (for the cheesy melt or whatever it is) with Modern English’s “Melt With You” playing in the background. The commercial is, well, just kinda gross, which is a shame, because the song playing behind this rather disconcerting scene is a pop treasure. New wave classics like “Melt With You” aren’t just nice little amusing-because-they’re-cheesy artifacts from the Reagan years, but rather timeless and endlessly enjoyable gems, even if the fashion fads of the same era haven’t aged quite so well.

M83 mastermind Anthony Gonzalez apparently agrees, stating in a recent interview, “[F]or my part I consider the 80s in a really serious way, and there is no irony at all in my musical relation to the 80s. So yeah, I really can cry when I listen to a Kate Bush song or Simple Minds." I can’t say I ever cried listening to Simple Minds, but I feel like Mr. Gonzalez and I are basically on the same page here. Fortunately for the music-listening public, one of us went into the studio and channeled his affection for the decade of excess into Saturdays=Youth, a gigantic-sounding album packed with layered, skyscraping synthesizers, soaring, rapturous choruses, and arena-sized drums. That is, for M83 in 2008, Saturdays = new wave.

The album does, though, recall M83’s previous work to some extent. S=Y certainly features the same sort of dense, vast arrangements as Dead Cities, Red Seas, and Lost Ghosts and Before the Dawn Heals Us. However, between the absence of the MBV guitars that characterized these two albums and a much more structured and restricted approach, Youth marks a clear shift for M83. Neither of M83’s last two proper records featured songs so packed with vocals or ones so centered upon hooks, bridges, and the confines of the orthodox pop song.

This confinement could have easily been the make-or-break point for many fans, but as it turns out, it's the record's solidity and drama that will test the listener's patience. M83 thrived on both Dead Cities and Before the Dawn by balancing texture and atmosphere with structured songcraft, creating songs that act as both lush, aesthetically appealing electronic soundscapes and precisely arranged pop songs. Both with and without one-time collaborator Nicolas Fromageau, Gonzalez gave his compositions room to breathe and glide while simultaneously building toward the next inevitable climax. Particularly on Dead Cities, M83 masterfully balanced density and spaciousness, offering an abundance of jam-packed crescendos but taking the foot off the gas pedal when needed to avoid reaching the saturation point.

Saturdays=Youth, on the other hand, at times nearly collapses beneath the weight of its relentless maximalism. While Before the Dawn found M83 moving toward the more structured, vocal-driven approach found on Youth, that record featured valuable transitional pieces like “I Guess I’m Floating” and “Slight Night Shiver.” On Youth, the nonstop drama of the string of tracks from “Kim and Jessie” through “Highway of Endless Dreams” is nearly suffocating. Eventually, Gonzalez reels things back a little, but he would have been well-advised to intersperse the earlier more loaded moments with some quieter pit stops, mix in material along the lines of the low-key ambient pieces that comprised last year’s underrated Digital Shades, Volume 1, rather than attempt to mold every track into the greatest new wave anthem ever written.

Why is this album so good nonetheless? As claustrophobically dramatic as the record may be, more often than not, M83 comes damn near close to reaching the fantastic heights for which he strives. S=Y offers a multitude of memorable melodies, several sung (beautifully) by guest vocalist Morgan Kibby, and, to put it plainly, fully showcases Gonzalez’s impeccable ability to write wonderful new wave tunes. Youth’s more traditionally structured songs lack some of the unpredictability of M83’s previous work, yet “Kim and Jessie,” “Skin of the Night,” and “Up!” are hardly less euphoric, infectious, or thrilling for the verse-chorus-verse configuration, and though hard to swallow all in one bite, are irresistible when singled out. Essentially, Youth succeeds because, in the world of new wave, a collection of strong “Rio” disciples will always excuse questionable sequencing.

Furthermore, Gonzalez does occasionally unleash himself from the confines of the more restrictive song designs, particularly on lead single and album centerpiece “Couleurs.” On the eight-and-a-half-minute marathon, Gonzalez begins with a simple chord progression but constantly adds new components to the mix, seamlessly tossing the right ingredient in the pot at just the right time. He pulls in the reins briefly during the song’s third quarter, but this only sweetens the subsequent symphonic rush. The unstoppably momentous epic stands alongside “Unrecorded” and “Don’t Save Us From the Flames” as M83’s best, and more than anything else on Saturdays=Youth testifies to Gonzalez’s compositional genius.

This will likely be a hit-or-miss affair for most fans (M83 or otherwise), and you’ll likely realize your love or hatred toward the album after a mere listen or two. M83’s previous albums were already over-the-top, and Saturdays=Youth only ups the ante. Even as a fan of the album, I can barely listen to the spoken word goth poetry in the middle of “Graveyard Girl.” Still, M83 asks you to suspend your disbelief for a little while, to lose yourself in the album’s glorious ‘80s nostalgia, to face the Taco Bell-type cheesiness and melodrama with seriousness and willingness, to throw your fist in the air while “Don’t You Forget About Me” plays behind you, and, for good reason, love every minute of it.

M83 - Couleurs

Buy: Amazon Insound MySpace

Finally, the Damn Coldplay Tracklist

2008-04-11T15:09:00.005-04:00

So, yeah, um, it's ten tracks, and from what Billboard and Rolling Stone tell us, it's a bold shift for the band. While the more "experimental" nature of the record is old news at this point, the fact that we finally have a tracklist, an official title (Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends), and a release date (June 17) is refreshing. So sit tight, we have a little while to wait to actually hear the thing, though we'll probably get a lead single in about a month, give or take. Hopefully it's "Yes," described by Billboard as a song that "shifts from a string- and tabla-driven rocker into a shoegazer-y breakdown." LOL

Death and all his songs:

01 Life in Technicolor

02 Cemeteries of London

03 Lost!

04 42

05 Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love

06 Yes

07 Viva la Vida

08 Violet Hill

09 Strawberry Swing

10 Death and All His Friends

Radiohead Hits the Charts

2008-04-11T14:53:00.003-04:00

Radiohead's latest single "Nude" was this week's "hot-shot debut" (highest charting new entry) on the Billboard Hot 100. This is based entirely on the song's infectious, radio-ready hook, a hot new MTV-ready video, and a guest verse from Rick Ross. Or, perhaps, the fact that the band joined with iTunes for the "Nude" remix contest, in which fans buy the song's stems (bass, drums, vocals, guitar, strings) and put together their own remixes. All the stems count together as one song, so "Nude" was downloaded a shitload of times and debuted at number 37 on the charts, right ahead of Lifehouse, Linkin Park, and a song featuring T-Pain. I knew that when I first heard In Rainbows, there was something special about "Nude," that it had the pop gravitas to ride the charts and rank alongside "Creep" as the biggest hits of the band's career.

But seriously, this stem-sell approach (OK, that is officially the wittiest, most clever play on words of all time, and you're bitter you didn't think of it) could be a deadly marketing strategy. "4 Minutes" remix contest, anyone?

More Wolf Parade News ZOMG

2008-04-10T22:42:00.004-04:00

Subpop's most recent bulletin has released a tracklist for the new, untitled Wolf Parade album. To be released on June 17th, the tracks are as follows:

Soldier’s Grin
Call It a Ritual
Language City
Bang Your Drum
California Dreamer
The Grey Estates
Fine Young Cannibals
An Animal in Your Care
Kissing the Beehive

Now, I don't know about all of you, but this makes me even more excited than I was before. I don't really feel like matching fake live titles to real titles at this point, but I'll do it anyway. Soldier's Grin is Soldiers, Call It A Ritual is Billy J, Language City stays the same, not really sure what Bang Your Drum is, California Dreamer is Stevie, I don't know what the Grey Estates is, Fine Young Cannibals stays the same, An Animal in Your Care is Chinese Way, and Kissing the Beehive is Crazy Horse.

Sorry for that long-winded explanation there, but I can't help but be overzealous about this news.

It gets even better, actually! Press copies have been released, it is official. A leak will come soon!!! This week's All Songs Considered on NPR has a one minute snippet of Call It a Ritual. It is all Sub Pop will let them post. I am listening to it right now. Wow. Has a sort of cabaret feel to it. Very, very catchy. I'm going to be upset when this minute ends. It's over. Krug's vocals are very low in the mix, but they are effected in such a way that it isn't a bad thing. And the instrumentation is stellar. I'm very happy about where this album seems to be going.

Mr. Weber?!

2008-04-10T13:10:00.003-04:00

The day has come. I have gotten my hands on a William Weber demo. For those of you not in the know, Weber is a high school English teacher who taught many of the contributors to this site back when they were juniors. His classes were a fun and wild time...although I never actually had him for English class, I had class in the room next door, so I could hear everything through the wall. Sometimes I would even leave my class to go sit in on Weber's class. Eventually, we met and bonded.

Weber is known as an avid bird-watcher, once ranking 6th in the nation in birds seen. In his spare time, aside from driving 18 hours to see rare birds, he writes songs and performs at coffeehouses. This demo was recorded back in January, using nothing but GarageBand, various additional instruments and Weber's voice. It is a really incredible demo. Maybe it is just because I know the man personally, but I have a feeling that songs like "Running In A Skirt" and "The Sticker" should appeal to nearly everyone. The songs all have a different flavor to them, but Weber's songwriting really holds the whole package together, making it quite an exciting listen.

William Weber - Untitled Demo

NOTE: The demo is a bit unpolished, and at times the low frequencies get too loud and make the songs sound a bit distorted. But I have made it very clear that this is a demo, not an album, so don't complain to me about the quality. You probably won't even notice anyway, since the songs are so great.

Record Review: Tapes 'n Tapes: Walk it Off

2008-04-08T16:06:00.006-04:00

The Minneapolis-based, blog-beloved indie rock band releases the follow-up to their strong debut.

Rating: 3.5/5

Listening to Walk It Off is an akin experience to realizing that girl you had a summer crush on a few years back is suddenly in your life again, and your relationship with her may wind up being deeper than you originally thought.

Before I start gushing, here’s the main problem with Tapes ‘n Tapes, and it’s an admittedly troubling one. They virtually have no identity; the songs they make could honestly come from any indie band in the world. It’s fortunate, then, that they make such good songs, because they are basically every indie rock band out today compiled into one convenient unit.

Yet Walk It Off finds the band trying to demand a voice of its own. The album has two truly high points, the anthemic peaks they build on songs like “Hang Them All” and “Headshock” being the stronger of the two. If I’m ever in a position to see them live, I absolutely can’t wait to see the fist-pumping madness of the final refrain of the former, a legitimately powerful echo of “Hang them alllll, hang them a-la-lalll!”

Elsewhere, they’ve expanded on the emotional gravitas of Loon standout “Omaha.” “Time for Songs” puts Josh Grier’s ambiguous lyrics behind a tender guitar line and harmonious backing vocals, making you perfectly vulnerable before “Hang Them All” arrives to kick your ass. “Say Back Something” was the first point where I looked at Grier as a legitimate front man- the guy’s got pipes- while also showcasing the band as a whole at its best. Here, Grier is completely free of the vocal effects that occasionally plague the album, and the result is fantastic.

Song for song, the first half of Walk It Off matches up against the best things I’ve heard this year. Unfortunately, the second half sags a bit. Slightly maligned producer Dave Fridmann, mastermind of the critically-lukewarm albums Some Loud Thunder and At War With The Mystics, won’t be winning any awards here either. His most grievous offense is probably “Blunt”, a head-bopping pop-rock song hidden behind layers of unnecessary distortion. “Demon Apple” goes absolutely nowhere, and “Lines” would have made a much more suitable closer than the messy messy “The Dirty Dirty.” Oh, and there’s a song called “George Michael.” It’s decent enough, but… it’s called “George Michael.”

But kudos to Tapes for defying the blogosphere backlash (these guys were heroes upon The Loon’s arrival, only to be disowned months later by some of the same kids who initially embraced them.) I loved The Loon, and although Walk It Off contains a bit too many missteps for me to feel the same way, I’m more satisfied than not regarding the result.

So long live the Tapes, for they are here to stay. Everybody!
“Hang them alllll! Hang them a-la-lalll!”

-Andrew Stone

Tapes 'n Tapes - Hang Them All

Buy: Amazon Insound MySpace

New Electioneers Developments/Track Review

2008-04-07T10:33:00.005-04:00

No, not the kind that we are likely to see in the upcoming election. I am referring to the Bethlehem, PA 5-piece, from whom I have an advance copy of the single from their new EP, Forbidding Mourning. The song is entitled "Skeleton Stairs," and it is apparent from the first listen that Electioneers have come a long way since their Breaker In Cruise Control days. Matt Gasda's vocals are haunting, and they build up to a howling chorus that is likely his best vocal performance yet. The whole song is drenched in various nifty effects; I'm not going to pretend like I know what I'm talking about with those, just know that they work well to enhance the song's character.
Overall, this is a solid performance. While I would love to hear the lost Flood EP, I think I could settle for an EP of all new recordings, such as this one. Especially if they are all up to this standard. If you are in the Lehigh Valley area on May 24th, be sure to stop by the Ice House on Sand Island in Bethlehem, as Electioneers will be playing a show there. More details to come on that last note.

Electioneers-Skeleton Stairs

Coldplay!!!

2008-04-07T10:18:00.003-04:00

This Coldplay fun fact has nothing to do with the upcoming album so if you were anticipating news of another name change for the album prepare to be disappointed. I just think that the How's the Pie readers along with the staff (especially) will think this is funny.

According to a survey done by Travelodge Coldplay's music is the most likely to put you to sleep. Coldplay beat out James Blunt, Snow Patrol, Take That, and Norah Jones as the most likely to cure your (Radiohead induced) insomnia.

So if you're having a rough night, just put Sparks or The Scientist on repeat and drift off to dreamland. Playing Spies is not advised however because it can lead to increased paranoia, lack of peace of mind, feeling like you live as a fugitive, and less sleep.

Record Review: Neon Neon: Stainless Style

2008-04-04T21:22:00.010-04:00

Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys and underground hip-hop producer Boom Bip team up under the moniker Neon Neon for their excellent debut collaboration.

Rating: 4.5/5

Gruff Rhys has been on a roll lately. And by lately I mean since about 1996. Someone needs to please, please wake up and acknowledge this man as one of the key songwriters of this generation.

After eight stellar Super Furry Animals albums and two solo affairs, the next step for Rhys was obvious- a collaboration with American hip-hop producer Boom Bip on a retro-electronic concept album about the life of John DeLorean. Okay, so maybe not so obvious, but Rhys has emerged with his best album since 2001’s Rings Around The World and perhaps the most effortlessly fun dance album this side of Midnight Vultures.

The concept is a loose one at best (but what isn’t in these days of faux concept albums?), but the songs themselves certainly hit the mark. “I Told Her On Alderaan” is a pitch-perfect homage to The Cars with Rhys trying to defend his faithfulness to Princess Leia (no joke.) “Raquel” would make current electronic maestro LCD Soundsystem jealous (although those backup vocals sound really ripped from The Flaming Lips), and “I Lust U” is my favorite song of the year, hands down, a synthed-up version of Peter Bjorn and John’s “Young Folks.”

Even odd detours into hip-hop, though somewhat out of sync with the rest of the album, carry enough intrigue to keep your finger off the skip button. The album features several versatile cameos that pop up throughout the album, including everyone from rapper Yo Majesty to Strokes drummer Fab Moretti to Spank Rock, the last of whom appears on the indescribably cool “Trick for Treat.”

Now the first quarter of 2008 is officially behind us, and we’ve been treated to some quality musical moments, from Vampire Weekend’s fame-inducing debut, to Beach House’s beautifully dreamy sophomore LP, to R.E.M.’s electrifying return to form. But thus far, no record has demanded as many as repeated listens as Stainless Style. Neon Neon has ridden the new wave, and it will keep us dancing throughout the long year ahead.

-Andrew Stone

Neon Neon - I Lust You

Buy: Amazon Insound MySpace

False Alarm!...maybe?

2008-04-03T13:53:00.003-04:00

According to a source close to Wolf Parade guitarist Dan Boeckner, the new album is not actually going to be titled "Kissing the Beehive." Boeckner claims that he fed Pitchfork this title "to fuck with them," and that the record doesn't actually have a title as of yet. Further, the "old" new Wolf Parade songs (eg. "Things I Don't Know") will be released eventually via EPs or something of the sort. The release date for the is still June 17th though, so hopefully we will see a press release from Sub-Pop very soon.

New Music: Islands

2008-04-02T12:42:00.002-04:00

So...I totally got no response on the fake MBV story. Inevitable I suppose, but still...how funny would it be if MBV scored the forthcoming sequel to The Fast and the Furious? Anyway....

Let's abruptly change subject to discuss the second pre-release track from Islands' forthcoming Arm's Way LP, "Creeper." The track's programmed drums, twisting lead guitar line, synthesized strings, and metaphorically violent lyrics create an edgier and more aggressive tone than that of Return to the Sea standouts like "Rough Gem" and "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby." Still, the song is a brief, straightforward pop number and not at all a betrayal to the sound of Islands' first record. Arm's Way may be more "progressive" than Sea, according to Islands frontman Nick Thorburn, but if "Creeper" is any indication, we've got a lot to be looking forward to come May.

Islands - Creeper

(Arm's Way LP, due out May 20)

The Fast and the Curious: MBV To Score New Vin Diesel Movie?!?

2008-04-01T09:36:00.008-04:00

According to online buzz, in a move that defies all of the logic the earth has worked so hard to build up in its last ten billion years, news emerged today that once they are done with their newest album, My Bloody Valentine is going to begin work on scoring the newest entry in Vin Diesel’s The Fast and the Furious franchise. Although the prospect of not one but two possible MBV releases in one year is surreal, the image of Kevin Shields’ guitar jump-starting a nitrous oxide burst in a shitty street racing movie is frightening. The only saving grace I can think of is if the movie takes place at night, and it’s subtitled TFATF: When You Sleep.

How bizarre. Shields has contributed to two soundtracks before (Loveless’ “Sometimes” to Lost in Translation and “Fools Rush In (Kevin Shields Remix)” to Marie Antoinette), but this latest seems like a mismatch. Of course, My Bloody Valentine is My Bloody Valentine, and maybe Shields’ fuzzy, layered guitar and Belinda Butler’s angelic, drifting vocals can drown out Vin Diesel’s one-liners and Ja Rule or Ludacris or whichever rapper they get to join the cast this time around. Neither My Bloody Valentine nor TFATF developers Universal Studios have responded to the rumor.

The (now much-anticipated) movie is due out 2009.

Coldplay Update!

2008-04-01T07:49:00.000-04:00

Someone (It's not really clear who) got an interview with Chris Martin in the studio where he talks about possible tour stops and dates for a U.S. tour starting later this year. He also talks about the first single off of Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends while some unrecognizable song is playing in the background. It's possibly a sneak preview of something from the new album. This is worth checking out.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZOU8GIRUd_g

Kissing the Beehive! OMG

2008-03-31T15:30:00.003-04:00

So, it's official now, at least according to pitchforkmedia.com. The new Wolf Parade album is out June 17th, and it is entitled Kissing the Beehive. This is wonderful news...even if Pitchfork doesn't like the album title...what happened to the days when Pitchfork was respectable? It's an allusion to some sort of novel, there was no need to go and headline the news item "The New Wolf Parade Album Title Is Terrible." I would actually like it if Pitchfork kept hating on the new album, because then the staff of Pie and all our readers could enjoy its inevitable greatness for themselves. Stay tuned for more updates.

Record Review: R.E.M.: Accelerate

2008-03-31T00:19:00.006-04:00

The legendary alternative rock band returns to form with their invigorating, animated latest record.
Rating: 4/5

I’m not going to get overtly technical on this review (that’s coming in next week’s Tapes ‘n Tapes analysis). You really only need to know one thing. R.E.M., the greatest rock band to ever walk the planet, has returned. And guess what? They’re in fine form. Accelerate, the band’s fourteenth LP, is their best since- well, who really cares? It’s their best in a long, long time. Stylistically, the album is probably most similar to 1995’s Monster, but that’s a generous comparison. It’ll probably bring to mind the band’s later I.R.S. albums more, such as Life’s Rich Pageant and Document.

The opening three or four songs here are nothing short of murderously ass-kicking. “What is this, the mid-1990’s?” Mike Stipe croons on “Living Well Is The Best Revenge” (note: not a real lyric.) “Man-Sized Wreath,” is the best use of Mike Mills since, well, they stopped making use of Mike Mills. And damn it if “Supernatural Superserious” isn’t the most upbeat song the band has written in over a decade, a classic R.E.M. anthem with less jangle, more electric fuzz, and, yes, possible infringement upon a Matchbox 20 lyric.

Almost as good, though, is “Mr. Richards”, a strikingly well-crafted, politically themed rocker with a melody infectious enough to have been a leftover from the Life’s Rich Pageant recordings. The title track, meanwhile, is a different kind of awesome, the darkest track on the album and also the most intriguing. It doesn’t quite sound like anything the band has recorded before, an achievement considering that as energized as these new jam are, you can basically hum “Swan Song H” to every ballad and “What’s The Frequency Kenneth” to every rocker on Accelerate.

But before we get carried away, some perspective has to be brought into play. As for where Accelerate fits into the overall R.E.M. discography, it’s probably somewhere in between Green and (the underrated) Out of Time. There was no way that a new R.E.M. album could get off dirt-free without hitting a fair share of rough patches. “Houston” and “Sing for the Submarine” don’t leave much of a lasting impression, and “So The Day is Done” is middle-of-the line compared to classic R.E.M. ballads. Furthermore, as it’s been for most of this decade, Stipe’s lyrics lack both urgency and purpose (though we fully believe him when he tells us he’s going to DJ at the end of the world.)

But at the end of the day, Accelerate is easily the most satisfying album I’ve heard all year, for no reason other than that R.E.M. has managed to return from the FM-radio trappings of the past decade when no one was giving them any chance at rebirth. Twenty-five years after Murmur, the band remains a fascination not only because they’ve returned to prominence, but because they’ve done so behind a good album. Accelerate is the return to form we’ve been waiting for. Accelerate is the album you’ll be blaring from your car all summer.

Accelerate rocks.

-Andrew Stone

R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious

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The Cool Kids at Lehigh: March 29th

2008-03-30T09:45:00.028-04:00

Saturday night was the night of the many concerts...well two concerts anyway. While Erik was down in Philly seeing Mr. Malkmus, I stayed up at Lehigh to see The Cool Kids. Before I get to The Cool Kids I'd like to start with their opening acts.

The first group up was called Divine Rhyme. These two guys are Lehigh students that used other people's beats (because they "didn't have a DJ") and rapped about being indie and not in the business for the money or fame. I guess when you're a Lehigh student that comes from a high income family, it's hard to rap about the streets and interacting with people outside of Lehigh. Anyway, these guys weren't that bad for being two college kids, but a lot of their stuff sounded too similar. Here's some pictures I took and their myspace to check out:

Divine Rhyme

Next up was a group called Old Money. It was hard to tell what was going on with these guys 'cause they only played two songs. For the short time these guys were on stage they were hysterical. They did a skit before each song where they interacted with the crowd and talked about their haircuts. It was a lot funnier than I make it sound. I don't know much (if anything) about hip hop, but Old Money's music seemed to be more sophisticated and complicated. These guys were good and I think they're worth checking out. Here are some pictures and their myspace:

Old Money

Finally The Cool Kids got on stage around midnight. The first thing i noticed was that Chuck was wearing a Kansas sweatshirt which didn't earn points with me (go Nova!!!). Despite the support for the Nova-crushers, The Cool Kids were phenomenal. They had a lot of fun on stage and they knew how to work the crowd. They came out firing playing "I (Mikey) Rock", a crowd favorite, pretty early in the show. An interesting twist was the 'Best Dressed' competition they hosted by selecting the best dressed kids from the crowd, but this quickly turned into a dance competition which was much funnier. After giving the winner a new pair of Nikes, they went into the first part of NWA's "F*** the Police" which transitioned into "Gold and a Pager". The rest of the night was a mix of a few Cool Kids songs I was familiar with along with many more I'd never heard before. Throughout the show they invited kids to dance on stage and they even stopped the show at one point when Chuck dropped his mic through a crack in the stage while showing us some vintage 80s dance moves. It was a great show that was worth my...oh wait...it was free.
You know the drill...pics and myspace:

The Cool Kids

Chinese Effin' Democracy: Almost Here?

2008-03-28T13:46:00.003-04:00

Does anybody care? Seriously, Guns 'n Roses had one good album and then a slew of overblown bulltshit ones, one of which featured the indulgent, melodramatic monstrosity "November Rain," one of my least favorite songs of all time. Just to backtrack a little for those who haven't been keeping up the earth-shattering news regarding GnR and Dr. Pepper:

The soft drink company said they would give everyone in America a free Dr. Pepper if Guns 'n Roses deliver Chinese Democracy some time in 2008. That's pretty much it. And oh yeah, GnR frontman/enormous jerkoff Axl Rose apparently hired some new top-notch managing team to, I don't know, motivate him, I guess, though I would think if he really wanted to share CD with the world he would have done so some time in the last 13 years. This is where I'm supposed to make a joke about how Chinese democracy may actually arrive before Chinese Democracy...but I'm not gonna ;)

I don't even like Dr. Pepper, so there really isn't any upside of any sort. And how exactly is Dr. Pepper going to efficiently and accurately distribute that many sodas? Do prisoners get a soda? How about illegal immigrants? Cans or bottles? Will Sierra Mist follow suit and offer a soda to every American if Raekwon finally releases Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II? So many questions....

But seriously how cool would it be if Sierra Mist did that.

How's the Lineup? Sooooo loaded....

2008-03-28T11:41:00.002-04:00

As if Animal Collective, Public Enemy, Vampire Weekend, Spiritualized, and a laundry list of other kick ass acts wasn't enough already, we now have Mission of Burma (performing Vs.), Ghostface and Raekwon (spitting ill verses), and Dinosaur Jr. (with some, uh, non-rap verses) as well, with more acts to be announced, including a third ATP act. Maybe Ghost and Rae (performing on Sunday) will double up for Friday and do Cuban Linx, following in the GZA's footsteps and continuing the tradition of the annual Wu ATP performance. Or maybe they could bring along Cappadonna and he perform The Pillage in its entiriety. In which case, the world would see its most massive exodus since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Record Review: Gnarls Barkley: The Odd Couple

2008-03-26T15:32:00.007-04:00

Cee-lo and Danger Mouse follow up their successful debut album and massively popular single "Crazy."

Rating: 3/5

I don’t know if there’s ever been an artist who’s set themselves up to receive more sophomore backlash than Gnarls Barkley. No matter what they could have done with their follow-up to St. Elsewhere, it all boils down to one simple fact: everyone wants another “Crazy”, and The Odd Couple doesn’t have one.

So, Danger Mouse and Cee-lo had better prepare themselves. This thing is going to get hit hard, by fanboys who stopped caring two years ago, and to a lesser extent, by critics.

Thing is, for a group that set out to do little more than craft a set of likable pop songs, what they have given us isn’t all that terrible. While The Odd Couple won’t be making waves on any year-end lists, there are definitely worse duos with which to be spending your afternoon (Savage Garden, anyone? Actually…). Early highlights ensure that you’ll at least be giving side A several listens. “Going On” sees Cee-lo floating by on a magic carpet ride of funky rhythm, and “Run” is a club bopper that could be mistaken for a trippy Austin Powers outtake.

"Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” might be the best of them, though, effectively capturing the strengths of both producer and singer (effortless, minimalist strings and non-effected vocals in the foreground.) And there are a few gems (“Whatever”, “No Time Soon”) waiting to be found in the murky second half of the album. The most interesting of them, “Blind Mary”, hides all the way back at track eleven.

Still, too often, The Odd Couple misses the adventuring spirit of St. Elsewhere. This is evident right off the bat, as opener “Charity Case” contains only a fourth of the energy of “Go Go Gadget Gospel.” Elsewhere, the darker tracks, such as “Would Be Killer”, are disappointing in comparison to similar tracks off Elsewhere like “Just A Thought” and “St. Elsewhere.” As the album drags towards the later tracks, Cee-lo’s vocals sound more and more phoned in, a crime considering the soulful work he is capable of producing.

After this thing gets slammed, it’s hard to tell where Gnarls will go for their third LP (though Danger Mouse has recently become pals with Beck… Three’s Company, anyone?) What we have for the time being is an album arguably just as realized as St. Elsewhere… but with songs that just aren’t as good.

Does that make you crazy?

-Andrew Stone

Gnarls Barkley - Blind Mary

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I Have A Bone To Pick

2008-03-23T22:03:00.004-04:00

Although this is old news I would like to bring this to your attention. Last year Jens Lekman covered "Homeless" and "You Can Call Me Al" from Paul Simon's album Graceland which is one of my favorite albums ever...but on to my point. I would have no problem with my buddy Jens covering these songs if he were going to be gracious about it. Instead, Jens choose to take the low road by insulting Paul Simon and Chevy Chase.

"As a kid, I always hated the chorus of this song. And I always hated Chevy Chase's stupid, grinning face in the video..."

First of all, "You Can Call Me Al" is a great song in it's entirety. Not just the verse...the entire thing. Why else has it been played at every high school football game for the last twenty years. Jens has a lot of balls for trying to cover this song without a brass section or extensive backup band, but he has other issues if he hates the chorus of this song.

Secondly, Chevy Chase is a legendary American actor staring in such memorable films as The Three Amigos and Snow Day. I will admit that he is many years past his prime, but he was at his peak in 1987 which added to the greatness of the music video. Chevy's "stupid grinning face" is why we love him and frankly I think it's all he has left.

Shame on you Jen's Lekman. Others may be able to put up with your mediocre music and Paul Simon insults but I cannot.

Jens Lekman Rating: 2 stupid grinning Chevy Chase's/10

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HOiVaE-pKqM

Record Review: Destroyer: Trouble in Dreams

2008-03-21T12:06:00.009-04:00

The indie rock band, led by the prolific, beloved Canadian singer/songwriter Dan Bejar, releases its follow-up to the well-received effort Destroyer's Rubies.

Rating: 4/5

Dream life is a natural world for Destroyer’s idiosyncratic Den Bejar to explore. Bejar’s poetry of loosely constructed phrases and images has always defied clear interpretation. "We live in darkness/ this is the light of dream, you see…" he says in the eight minute “Shooting Rockets.”

Trouble in Dreams is the work of a confident songwriter. Bejar is unafraid to be theatrical, obscure, and self referential. If Bejar compromised his style and shortened songs, cleared up meanings, and took out peculiar references, he would instantly lose his startling originality.

Bejar, unlike many folk artists, uses his music to compliment his poetry rather then just provide a background. His music accentuates and many times mimics the words. He stretches the folk form, which relies on simple chords, by making the music essential to the effect of the words. This is the charm of Destroyer, from Bejar’s poetic and musical collage, memorable phrases stick out.

Trouble in Dreams fully realizes Bejar’s strength. It is a dense, fragmented psychological portrait of Bejar and his dreams. Bejar’s character tumbles through his songs; a wine and coffee drinking urban poet, obsessed women, government, religion, animals, and landscapes. The strength of Trouble in Dreams is it’s literary, novelistic essence. It will piss off listeners looking for a quick and easy emotional payoff, but it will reward listeners willing to get beyond Bejar’s original weirdness.

-Matt Gasda

Destroyer - Foam Hands

Buy: Insound Amazon MySpace

Wait! There's More!

2008-03-20T10:38:00.002-04:00

This is a note to to all of us who thought Coldplay's upcoming album would be "Viva La Vida".

The title of the album has been finalized and confirmed as "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends."

Sorry for the confusion and seemingly unending number of posts about Coldplay.

New Music: Death Cab for Cutie, RZA

2008-03-19T22:44:00.004-04:00

Death for Cab Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart (album version)

(from the forthcoming Narrow Stairs LP, due out May 15)

Other than its typical Death Cab title, "I Will Possess Your Heart" sounds nothing like the Death Cab you and I know. I mean, really. The album version stretches out to eight and a half minutes, all of it unsettling and insistent, from the tumbling piano chords to the drifting, droning guitar to unrelenting bassline. The vocals don't even emerge until close to five minutes in, and even then Ben Gibbard isn't spouting his usual "I love you, you love me" bullshit. He sounds possessed, not proclaiming "I will possess your heart" as a playful advance, but rather as an unavoidable future event, an absolute truth. Between Gibbard's inspired, almost intimidating vocals and the perfect instrumental build-up to them, well...I never thought I would say this, but Death Cab kicks ass.

RZA (feat. Inspectah Deck) - You Can't Stop Me Now

(from the forthcoming Digi Snax LP, due out this summer)

Oh, 8 Diagrams. Didn't like it when it came out, and only feel slightly more positive about it now. I came to realize how thoroughly Raekwon tore shit up every time he rapped, but still...too much U-God and RZA, not enough Ghost, and at no point does the Clan offer the jaw-dropping fire of yesteryear Wu. While "You Can't Stop Me Now" came from the 8 Diagrams sessions, it's surprisingly good. The RZA sounds uncharacteristically focused and under control, while everyone's favorite Rebel INS spits a decent verse of own. Certainly suggests more Diagram-type production for Digi Snax, but maybe RZA can mend fences with Ghost and Rae and hit 'em up for a couple guest verses, and, uh, leave U-God, Cappadonna, and Masta Killa (no, Masta Killa isn't that great; anyone who thinks No Said Date was some great Wu feat is misguided) to do their own business.

Viva La Vida

2008-03-18T16:54:00.006-04:00

Coldplay's upcoming album will officialy be called Viva La Vida (Long Live Life).

The album has also been pushed back from a projected May release date to June 16th.

Thanks for the tip Mike.

Also, Viva La Vida will have nothing to do with Ricky Martin.

NEW WOLF PARADE WAAA?

2008-03-18T00:24:00.003-04:00

The following statement was released this evening on wolfparade.nonstuff.com:

"After many months of speculation and anticipation about the new Wolf Parade record, we’ve finally been given some news from a very reliable source. The source states the following: The record is done and will be officially released in June. It will have 9 songs, some short and some long. Everyone in the band is really happy with it and they will start touring in July. A press release from Subpop is due out very soon with the full track list and title."

OMG! I'm so excited that all the rumors that I had been hearing are real! I can't wait until June, but hey, at least it's not that far off, and at least it's finally confirmed. This will tide you over, in the meantime:

Wolf Parade - Language City (Live)
Wolf Parade - Billy J (Live)

Record Review: The Dodos: Visiter

2008-03-17T01:17:00.005-04:00

On their second album (and first on French Kiss), the San Francisco duo offer up intimate, exuberant psych-folk gems like they’re going out of style, resulting in one of the best indie albums this year.

Rating: 4/5

Magnetic Fields’ Distortion will take the prize for most accurately titled record of 2008, but the Dodos’ came up with a perfect title of their own for their sophomore record. Visiter is a warm, inviting, unassuming, happy-that-you’re-listening, come-on-in-and-have-some-cookies affair, one that even during its more solemn moments still can’t contain its ebullience. We’re visiting our favorite relative minus the inconvenience of travel, and our favorite relative is, uh, offering gorgeous, addictive indie folk to celebrate our arrival.

The Dodos brings to mind some of the best indie bands of recent years, recalling the Microphones’ intimate, homespun aesthetic and both Animal Collective’s Sung Tongs-era acoustic craziness and that band’s more recent, “Purple Bottle”-type percussive backbone. Thinking back even farther, the lovesick “Winter” and the precious “Undeclared” bring to mind Magnetic Fields minus the synths, and, like many a modern left-of-center folk act, the Dodos have a little bit of Neutral Milk Hotel in them.

Well then, what makes the Dodos so special? Above all, while this album’s acoustic guitar-drum sound is a bare, straightforward one, guitarist/singer Meric Long and drummer Logan Kroeber are distinctly in tune with each other’s every musical impulse, with Kroeber’s percussion constantly propelling Long’s already lively strumming to even greater levels of unhinged zest. At the same time, Kroeber smartly steps back and leaves the brief, more contained ditties “Walking” and “Undeclared” for Long to handle solo. Kroeber’s drumming makes an impact, but never as the center-of-attention, and rather as an underlying force, perfectly setting the limelight on Long’s catchy acoustic trickery and infectious vocal melodies.

While the two Dodos work superbly together, Visiter sounds undoubtedly like the work of two musicians. John Madden-like obviousness since, yeah, it’s the work of two people, but a point nonetheless worth emphasizing, because this makes for a very uniform sound…one that might be a little too uniform for some listeners. The duo occasionally adds some horns to the drum-guitar arrangements, but there’s little sonic variation on Visiter. Yet, the Dodos excellently compensate for the homogeneous blueprint with their relentless energy and by effectively alternating between quicker, fleeting numbers and freewheeling epics.

The latter category gets to claim the album’s best track, the six-plus minute “Jodi.” The attentive blog-surfer will recognize it as one of the two pre-release tracks from Visiter (along with the uber-catchy “Fools”), and, unsurprisingly, nothing on the rest of the album upstages it. The song was the first thing from the Dodos that caught my attention, and, with its instantly memorable chorus and the Avey Tare-like hollering during the closing minute, stands as one of my favorite songs of 2008 thus far.

The Dodos aren’t the kind of crossover, blog-to-MTV band like, let’s say, Vampire Weekend, but Visiter doesn’t really want to be shared with the world anyway. “Jodi” and “Fools” and “Winter” and “Red and Purple” are made for campfires, not for stadiums. Return home at your own risk.

The Dodos - Jodi

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Harry Potter Movie News!!!

2008-03-12T18:39:00.003-04:00

Recently there have been some rumors floating around regarding the director of Deathly Hallows and the possibility that the movie will be released in two parts. The rumors were finally put to rest by producer David Heyman in an interview with the L.A. Times. Heyman said that the movie will be directed by Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince director David Yates despite rumors of big names like Speilberg. He also confirmed that the film will in fact be split into two parts with the first being released in November 2010 and the second in May 2011. Yates commented on the split by saying, "Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book. You can remove scenes of Ron playing quidditch from the fifth book, and you can remove Hermione and S.P.E.W. and those subplots...but with the seventh, that can't be done."

I'm not sure I agree with that 'cause we need all the quidditch we can get, but I'm very excited about this epic two part ending.

New Music: Peter Moren, Clinic, Hot Chip

2008-03-11T11:02:00.004-04:00

Yeah, so I have not posted anything in like a week, but have no fear...I've returned. I was on spring break, so there. Anyway, I am bringing you some new music now to make up for my inexcusable absence.

Peter Moren - Social Competence

Peter Moren's main act had that midly popular song back in 2006, and while the lead single from Moren's solo record ain't no "Young Folks," the finger-picking guitar and vocal hook are catchy enough to hold your attention for a few listens.

(From The Last Tycoon LP, due out April 8)

Clinic - The Witch

I haven't actually heard Clinic's forthcoming Do It! LP as of yet, but if "The Witch" is any indication of the record's sound, we can almost certainly expect another Internal Wrangler rehash. Is that a good thing? Kind of, I suppose, if the songs themselves are strong enough, though the band has been trying to recreate Internal Wrangler for some time now with only moderate success. In any event, this particular track kicks ass.

(From the Do It! LP, due April 8)

Hot Chip - My Brother Is Watching Me

This one's from the Ready For the Floor EP, though it probably could have displaced one of the weaker end-of-album tracks from Made in the Dark. "My Brother Is Watching Me" is a bare, dark ballad, but one with a gentle electronic pulse than Dark's slow numbers sorely lacked.

Buy: Amazon

And oh yeah, this isn't related to the above songs, but the first acts announced for the Pitchfork Music Festival lineup (Animal Collective, Public Enemy, Vampire Weekend) are pretty ballin'.

And so it begins...

2008-03-04T16:04:00.003-05:00

Pitchfork TV. It was really only a matter of time. As you would expect, we're getting documentaries, videos, interviews, live sessions, etc. Further, according to Pitchfork, "With all content available on-demand, we're putting you in control of the music you want, how and when you want to see it. Soon, we'll add personal playlist capabilities, so you can watch all your favorites in a row. And later this year, as part of a massive redesign effort, Pitchfork.tv will integrate with its parent site, presenting innovations and further advancements to the world of online music journalism."

The future is now. And I'm getting dangerously close to the point where I may be on laptop 24 hours a day.

Read it.

Record Review: Real Emotional Trash (2008)

2008-03-03T19:28:00.006-05:00

The new record from the former Pavement frontman sees him and his Jicks taking the longer, jammy songs he has always experimented with and fleshing them out to make an LP. The results aren't necessarily the best thing.

Rating: 3/5

I need to begin this review by stating an obvious disclaimer. I am incredibly biased towards Stephen Malkmus, as I am a huge Pavement fan. I love basically everything he does. From Slanted and Enchanted to Face the Truth, I enjoy it all. That being said, Real Emotional Trash was sort of a letdown for me. Not that it's a bad record, by any means, because it isn't. I definitely enjoy listening to it, but trying to review the record from the standpoint of a casual listener makes me feel a bit disappointed.

Tracks like "Dragonfly Pie," the title track, and "Baltimore" are clear standouts that will likely be remembered as highlights of Malk's solo career. The chief problem with this album is that the whole thing is too jammy. While Malkmus has certainly gotten exponentially better at guitar over the years, there is no way that he has the technical ability to jam for an hour and keep it interesting. Steve has always been at his best when he writes pop songs, and sadly, this album does not have such gems. Sure, the occasional jam song can be good; I enjoy "Hopscotch Willie" and "Wicked Wanda." And hell, even the songs I listed as clear standouts are pretty jammy themselves (the title track is over ten minutes long!) However, when the record itself is just 60 minutes of SM wailing on his guitar, I tend to get a bit bored.

This is a solid record, I can safely say that. And if you like Stephen Malkmus/Pavement, especially some of the more crazy Wowee Zowee-era stuff, then by all means, take a listen to Real Emotional Trash. You will probably enjoy it. But if you are just a casual fan who has heard about the Pavement frontman, but never actually took a listen to his work, you are probably better off listening to 2005's Face the Truth, which is more accessible, poppy and generally more enjoyable.

Stephen Malkmus - Dragonfly Pie

Coldplay News!

2008-02-28T15:30:00.002-05:00

We still don't have a track list or release date, but Rolling Stone has heard the new material, and so we now have the most in-depth hype yet surrounding Coldplay's forth-coming LP. Apparently, the Coldplay white board displays a radically different set of tracks than those floating around a little while back. Also, according to RS, "[the new songs] are refreshingly, bracingly different from Coldplay hits like 'Clocks' and 'Speed of Sound.'" Further, the band "explored a variety of sonic directions, something they attribute to Eno's encouragement." Also, the song "42" is being considered as the album's first single, "an elaborate three-part piece, with swirling pianos, strings and beat loops that build to an uptempo climax" which displays, according to RS, Coldplay's "willing[ness] to stray from their formula." Hmm. Verrrrrrry interesting.

Read the whole thing.

Water Curses EP: Now With Tracklist!

2008-02-28T12:05:00.005-05:00

Dorky to get this excited over an EP tracklist? Yes, I concede. But as an AC-oholic, any news is good news, and so I'm stoked for the four track Water Curses EP, due out May 5. Apparently, the material, mostly recorded during the Strawberry Jam sessions and which includes the oft-played-live "Street Flash," finds Animal Collective "exploring strange new waters."

Hip...hip...horray!

Track list:
1. Water Curses
2. Street Flash
3. Cobwebs
4. Seal Eyeing

Velvet Underground: "I'm Not a Young Man Anymore"

2008-02-26T15:59:00.004-05:00

I'm a few days late on the hot VU news regarding the previously unreleased Live at the Gymnasium bootleg, a show that spans five songs, with a completely ballin' rendition of "Sister Ray" (the song's debut, apparently) closing the thing off. The buzz, however, is around the never-before-released "I'm Not a Young Anymore," a raw, bluesy seven-minute jam well worth the time of Velvets' fans casual and devoted. And yeah, the rest of the show is worth hearing to.

Download it.

Record Review: Beach House: Devotion

2008-02-26T00:28:00.008-05:00

The sophomore record from the Baltimore-based dream pop duo tops their already impressive debut in nearly every conceivable way, even if the blueprint remains the same.

Rating: 4.5/5

You know how sometimes you’re having a really great dream and you wake up before the dream draws itself out to a natural conclusion? Or even worse, when you have a really surreal, fascinating dream and you wrack your brain trying to remember what happened and just can’t? Well, I don’ know, I could be crazy, but this seems like the kind of thing that everyone would experience to one extent or another. For me, Devotion, the sophomore album from Baltimore-based dream pop duo Beach House, is the perfect antidote, a near flawless set of dreams made music, ones you actually get to see through to the end, and ones you can (and will want to) return to again and again.

If you’ve heard the duo’s 2006 self-titled debut, Devotion’s sonic approach won’t come as any surprise. Victoria Legrand offers her hushed, velvety smooth, Nico-like vocals over Alex Scally’s warm, spacious soundscapes to create music that really can only be best characterized as dream-like. The two musicians have mastered their gorgeous aesthetic, their brand of lovely, soothing escapism, and they’re sticking to it. For better or for worse, they even opted to continue using a drum machine. Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Of course, while the band’s debut didn’t need to be “fixed,” per say, it did need some fine tuning. “Saltwater,” “Apple Orchard,” and “Master of None” showcased BH’s indisputable talent for crafting beautiful dream-ballads, but the album seemed timid at times, fumbling around for the light switch and hoping not to knock the lamp over in the process. Legrand sounded faint and uncertain, which at times worked to her advantage, as it helped to build sadness and vulnerability well-suited for the bleak backdrops. However, too often I felt like she should have taken charge and didn’t.

On Devotion, she sounds astronomically more confident and expressive. From the “Oh, your wish is my command” refrain of “Wedding Bell” to the unsure yet comforting “Will I swim out on your ocean?” ponder of closer “Home Again,” Victoria Legrand brings her A-game. Every melody floats perfectly atop her partner’s intricately-weaved web of slide guitar and keyboards (arrangements augmented effectively by Legrand’s organ), with every heartfelt lyric exhibiting her lively passion, every track gracefully flowing into the next.

One particular reviewer described the tone of Beach House’s debut as “evok[ing] the desolation of [autumn]” rather than celebrating the glories of summer the artist’s name might suggest. This time around, Beach House have created a winter record that can sense the imminent arrival of spring, an album with lovesick balladry (“You Came to Me” being the best of it) setting a dreary, sorrowful mood, but also one with moments of optimism shining through Legrand’s clouds of uncertainty and doubt. BH’s fuller, more assured sound inspires a sense of hope rather than fear, even when the duo try to paint a shadowy picture, with the pristine beauty of songs like standout “Gila” overpowering the material’s despair. Listening to this and looking out my window at the snow-covered ground…like, omg, I am sooo ready for spring!

Yeah, so, unfortunately, I have to wait a little while for that, depending on something to do with a groundhog and his shadow that I can’t remember…anyway, this is the album to be listening to right now. Beach House have progressed to such an extent that even the band’s detractors, those listeners bored by the good but not great debut, should give this one a chance. Artists don’t often make them quite like this, this irresistible and inviting, this singularly gorgeous.

Beach House - Gila

Video: You Came To Me

Buy: Insound Amazon Beach House MySpace

Songs For Snow!

2008-02-22T10:39:00.002-05:00

Yeah, it's been snowing like crazy outside. My only class for today got delayed, so I'm feeling really lazy right now. Anyway....

My Bloody Valentine - Soft as Snow (But Warm Inside)

Animal Collective - Winter Wonder Land

Pixies - Winterlong

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

Rolling Stone Talks to TI

2008-02-19T17:00:00.003-05:00

Rolling Stone spoke to the under-house-arrest rapper TI recently, and I wouldn't point this out except that at one point they asked him what he thinks about Jay-Z's American Gangster and he responded that he thought it was "one of [Jay-Z's] best albums since The Black Album." Well, including American Gangster, Jay-Z has released a whopping total of 2 records since The Black Album, so that's sort of like saying that dinner I just ate was one of my most fulfilling meals since I had breakfast this morning. RS asks TI about some other stuff, too, including his new album Paper Trail, so check it.

New Releases: Grand Archives, Atlas Sound

2008-02-19T15:52:00.006-05:00

No full album review this week (since I had business of massive, earth-shattering proportions to take care of over the last week), but both the debut Grand Archives album and the first proper Atlas Sound record hit stores today.

The Grand Archives (fronted by former Band of Horses/Carissa's Wierd member Mat Brooke) offer up some decent indie-country tunes on their self-titled debut, ones warmer and less sterile than the much of BoH's Cease to Begin. However, the album grows monotonous after a little while, and probably could have used an explosive, dramatic defining moment a la "Is There a Ghost" to break the easy-going feel. Still, a very pleasant, listenable indie pop record, one I would recommend for fans of the demos that surfaced last year.

Grand Archives - Torn Blue Foam Couch

Buy at Amazon Grand Archives MySpace

The Atlas Sound album, Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel, is the better of the two releases, a touching collection of ghostly, often heartbreaking ambient pieces, though one that may prove as divisive as Deerhunter's 2007 output. This isn't to say the record's is bad (quite the opposite) or to say Bradford Cox's solo effort sounds like Deerhunter (it doesn't, most of the time), just that Let the Blind won't be everyone's cup of tea.

Atlas Sound - River Card

Buy at Amazon Atlas Sound MySpace Deerhunter/Atlas Sound/Lotus Plaza Blog

Looking Back On In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

2008-02-16T10:59:00.003-05:00

Earlier this week, it came to my attention (through a particular web site) that ten years have passed since Neutral Milk Hotel’s landmark sophomore (and, as of now, final) album, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. I usually stick to sounding off on new music, largely because once I look back over the years and try to pick one album to write about I end up wanting to discuss everything. I have to limit myself, so I essentially shoot for one new-music review a week. However, I couldn’t resist honoring Aeroplane on its tenth anniversary.

Honestly, I never much liked the Elephant 6 sound. I mean, I don’t dislike it, but it has never been my cup of tea. I like the start of the one Olivia Tremor Control record, but then I lose interest during the eight billion different “Green Typewriters.” Save for that awesome 11-minute track in the middle of their last album, I have never liked Of Montreal that much, in part because I find artists with a live show as extravagant as theirs to be somewhat gimmicky and indulgent. I like Apples in Stereo a bit more, but nothing life-changing there.

Yet, I can’t resist In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. I don’t think it’s quite the perfect masterwork its devoted followers do, but it’s both incredibly distinct and tremendously moving, packed with songs relatively simple but immensely captivating. On first listen, it’s an album catchy enough to draw you back for a second, third, and fourth listen, but it possesses an emotional underbelly that you’ll wanna come back to time and time after that. In some ways, the record is almost indescribable; I guess I would qualify this music somewhere in between lo-fi indie pop and folk, but listen to it, and there’s so much more.

Of course, this is record is worshipped in the indie community, so you more than likely know it like the back of your hand and don’t need me to tell you why it kicks ass. Unless you really know what you’re talking about (which I, admittedly, do not) it’s hard to shine any new critical light on the oft-written-about Aeroplane. Still, trying to formulate a formal declaration of this record’s greatness isn’t nearly as necessary or interesting as describing how you felt when you first heard it, detailing the way in which “King of Carrot Flowers, Part 1” grabbed you and refused to let you go until Jeff Mangum gently lay his guitar to rest after “Two Headed-Boy Part 2.”

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is actually one of my brother’s favorite records ever, so his playing the title track and “Holland 1945” in the living room familiarized me with the material before I ever heard the album itself. I’m not gonna say I was overwhelmed by what I heard, but I was intrigued, so I borrowed his copy and spend a few days straight spinning it on the iPod. You have to understand, whenever I hear an album that’s considered a “classic” by critics and fans I sort of instinctively and even subconsciously try to find a reason why the album shouldn’t be placed in the same category as my all-time favorites. Usually, I warm up to the “classics” over time, with only the occasional record really baffling me as to the strength of its critical status.

This record was neither a work to which I needed to warm up nor one I discarded and slapped with an “overrated” tag. Aeroplane works immediately, and in every way. Everything carries instant appeal, everything from the melodies to the chord progressions to the gripping lyrics (loosely based around the tragic fate of Anne Frank) to what I call the “Mangum Scream.” The Scream really did it for me, in fact, the way Mangum can, paradoxically, sing wildly and uncontrollably and sing beautifully at once. There’s something really powerful, some great aesthetic value, about making order and music out of chaos, channeling some inner primal fury into a harmonious medium. In short, whenever I hear Mangum holler “I love you Jesus Chri-i-i-i-i-i-i-ist!” or “Choking with her hands across her fa-a-a-ce!” I’m blown away. He’s an uncanny, inspired, unrestrained musician, and few indie singer/songwriters pre- or post-NMH have ever matched his emotional fervor.

It’s fun to discuss who the next “It” band may be, which forthcoming album will stand among the year’s elite. However, it’s nice to look back at the forefathers of modern indie music, and, most of the time, listening to an album like this for the 50th time will beat hearing a whole year’s worth of fresh records anyway. It’s that good, that replayable, that timeless. My musical tastes have diverged greatly over the last year or so, to the point where I listen to more hip-hop, electronic music, and post-rock than I do alternative or indie rock. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is one of the albums that always draws me back to indie pop, a near-flawless work, and one for which I continue to pray for a much-needed sequel.

Pissed-Off Hitler

2008-02-15T18:23:00.002-05:00

"I just bought a T.O. jersey last week. Now I have to wait! Until next season! He might not be a Cowboy next season!"

This is great:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vYu68SHWh64

Everyone Should Read This

2008-02-15T15:42:00.003-05:00

I understand that many people find Pitchfork's particular tone and style to be arrogant and condescending, and at times I even agree, so I try to tone down the amount of directly Pitchfork-related content. However, P-fork scribe William Bowers (my favorite P-forker, for the record) just wrote a column on going to see the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus movie, which, knowing who may be reading this, you may have already read. The article is a brief but excellent comment on pop music and the sinister world of marketing, one more worth reading than most of the site's reviews, quite frankly.

Read it.

McCain's Daughter Suring Up The Blogger Vote For Dad

2008-02-14T23:52:00.004-05:00

Likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain has a 23-year-old daughter, Meghan, and she is one of several creative forces behind the music blog McCainBlogette.com. What music do she like? Well I'm sure she likes Soulja Boy, Panic! At the Disco, Fergie.... Oh wait, she listens to....

Radiohead, the Velvet Underground, the Shins, TV On the Radio, Bob Dylan, Gang of Four, XTC, Kanye West, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Band, Jay-Z, Peter Bjorn and John, Modest Mouse, Miles Davis, Jesus and Mary Chain, Spoon, The Who.....

The list goes on. This just in: John McCain is now polling at 88 percent among music bloggers, which could get him 12 votes or so. But seriously, one of Barack's daughters needs to release a counter-list of indie faves or I might switch sides. OK, I wouldn't, but still--the Velvets? Dylan? Radiohead? (and we're talking about "Weird Fishes" here, not "Creep" or "High and Dry")

The over/under is one week on John McCain switching his campaign song to "Here Comes Your Man."