5/28/09

more music videos or die!!!!

New single out June 17.


album of the week - 5.4






Grizzly Bear
Veckatimest
Warp Records (2009)

Why you'll love it: intelligent, well crafted, modest, emotional
Why you'll hate it:  slow, totally different than the radio single track

Ever since Grizzly Bear performed the song "Two Weeks" on David Letterman a year ago, the indie music community has been eagerly awaiting this month.  While the band has had its share of critical acclaim in the past, "Two Weeks" has seemed to really stick.  The music video seen below even sent me overhype mode.  

So here we are.  Their third album, Veckatimest, is finally in the public's hands.  With litle surprise, "Two Weeks" hardly represents the full album at all.  No other track even comes close to having such a immediately catchy hook or structure.  No big deal to me.  This was the same case with their previously biggest song, "Knife", and the rest of their 2007 album, Yellow House.  So before I get into what the real album is - to all of you who have only heard "Two Weeks" and love it, you will be disappointed by this album!

The real Veckatimest is a dense, layered, and modest collection of songs.  It may take you 4 or 5 playthroughs until certain songs begin to click.  The opening track "Southern Point" sounds like a mess of acoustics at first, but once you return to it after playing the full album, all the little factors begin to shine.  Grizzly Bear has done an amazing job of taking their laid back Yellow House formula, syphoning out most of the country gimmick, and tightening the hell out of their songs.  These are like mini-post rock songs, they pack in so many progressions from high to low and build melodies in such little time.  What would normally be a 9 minute song is only 4 minutes.  I honestly don't know how they do it and still have it sound so natural.  

Veckatimest is an epic album that only spans 50 minutes in 12 songs.  Once you become in tune with their harmonies, it's a wonderful listen.  There is, although, a drawback to this.  If you come across moments that you find boring or unsatisfying, it's very hard to get back on that horse.  The song "Dory"  stops the record dead for me.  It's got a corny whimsical tone, and I don't like the way its sung.  Now that I've lost it,  I'm searching for some instant gratification, and Grizzly Bear's pace doesn't offer it.  Even though the next two tracks are great songs on their own, the album becomes a chore to get back into.  I've found that if I skip "Dory" and the pointless short "Hold Still" the second half of the album is nearly as strong as the first, and intriguing all the way to the satisfying closer, "Foreground".

I had a lot to say about this album, mostly great stuff; but it wasn't really the mindblow I was expecting.  The more I delve into the album, the more I get out of it, but that is a problem in of itself.  If you aren't paying strict attention, you won't get much out of the album other than "this sounds pretty sometimes, for background music."  If you're the type of person who just plays music to sing along to in your car, this isn't for you.  If you are the type to sit alone quietly with headphones, this will be one of your favorites of 2009.

5/24/09

Music video of the week!

Lots of cool music videos coming out this year.  odd  Here is one by Grizzly Bear.  Freaky as hell but a great song, and the payoff at the end is brilliant.


Two Weeks


The new album is out this Tuesday I'm super psyched. Expect a review at the end of the week.

5/19/09

album of the week - 5.3






Polysics
We Ate The Show!!
KRE(SME)(M) (2008)


why you'll like it - first Polysics live album in 9 years
why you'll hate it - CD doesn't have the whole show

With nothing much coming out this month, aside from a lackluster Green Day album that you can get just about anywhere else, let's dip back into 2008 for another overlooked gem...

The CD/DVD Polysics live extravaganza, We Ate The Show!! has been something I've been trying to get my hands on (for less than $60) since its release last October.  This is a very rare album at the moment, and something every Poly fan should be excited to hear/watch... well except for maybe the stubborn old school fan.  

Aside from usual set list mainstays "New Wave Jacket" and "Buggie Technica", there are no pre-2003 songs on the CD.  There are also no b-sides.  Usually this wouldn't bother me.  I love We Ate The Machine, and fully expect - nay - anticipate a band to be performing their latest songs on their latest tour.  But, if you observe the DVD set list, which has the full unedited concert, it's got "Urge On!!""Uno Dos""P!", and a karaoke performance of "イロトカゲ".  I'd much rather have a double CD of the whole show, than see material be cut.  

The DVD is entertaining, and Polysics is surely a band to be seen as well as heard; but I'll probably watch these performances two or three times at most.  I'm listening to my iPod all the time.  I'd love to have a nice hi-quality "Urge On!" live mp3 without resorting to ripping it from the DVD.

That's the only real gripe, inconvenience.  We Ate The Show!! rocks.  Polysics is a great live band that brings unique surprises to just about every show they put on.  Make sure to catch em next time they play within 50 miles of you.

5/14/09

album of the week - 5.2








Mademoiselle K
Jamais La Paix
EMI France (2008)


Why you'll love it:  Energetic indie rock
Why you'll hate it:  French, vague rock star vibe.


If there ever was an argument to be made in favor of the blissfully ignorant music fan, Mademoiselle K would be my exhibit A.  While not anywhere near the best releases of 2008, Jamais La Paix has great indie rock hooks and no real weak spots.  I can't help but wonder if this is all because the lyrics are in French.  

I'm no stranger to foreign music, but something gives me the impression that if I understood French, I'd be disappointed in this band.  I've lost count of the times as a teenager, loving so many ska-punk bands, until I finally sat down and actually listened to the god awful stupid lyrics.  I just get this feeling, mostly from the music video for "Grave", that Mad K could be a bit of a oversexualized diva spouting BS.

This is where all those years of taking high school Latin (what the hell was I thinking?) instead of French pay off.  Through a strong "ignorance filter", only the melodies resonate.  Vocals are nothing more than another layer.  Over some catchy guitar riffs, K delivers the vocals to the album's title track as if driving a spike.   She could be singing "Ice cream is tasty!" for all I know (actually, that would be pretty awesome), but the inflection leaves an impression.  On other songs like "AVO" and "Enjoiver", she rants off tempo, and once again, the lack of understanding enhances that feeling of confusion I love to get from music.

It's only in moments that the band really shines.  Each song has at least one little moment where everything comes together brilliantly, be that a fleeting one.  As a whole album, this isn't a very satisfying release, but something nice to have when you are playing your music library on shuffle; if only to shake things up a bit.

5/11/09

Music videos won't die.

Peter Bjorn & John's turn to the creepy/surreal continues to impress me.

I thought that video was going to turn into Hard Candy for a moment there.

Also, lol Thriller.

5/8/09

album of the week - 5.1







The Ricky Gervais Guide To... (Series 1)







why you'll love it: Karl Pilkington is a genius
why you'll hate it:  Karl Pilkington is a round-headed fool

While this isn't music, you'll be happy to listen to this.  Ricky Gervais teams up with his Office/Extras co-writer, Steve Merchant to discuss science, arts, and culture.  While Ricky's name is plastered all over the podcast, the real star is their "educationally subnormal" Northern friend, Karl Pilkington   Karl... has the most amazing mind in modern culture.  I will say no more, as not to ruin the shock and hilarity of what is discussed in the podcasts.

Also included are short preview podcasts of nearly all the episodes.  I hope this format will be continued with another series later this year...  We can never have enough drivel.

Why am I always the last to find these things?