Music IS What Matters: November 2010

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Darius Rucker - Charleston, SC 1966

Darius Rucker - Charleston, SC 1966

2010, Capitol Records Nashville

Darius Rucker rose to fame as the voice of Hootie & The Blowfish, blasting out of the South Carolina bar/frat scene in the early nineties with a string of Top-40 hits from their 19-times platinum debut album Cracked Rear View. While never matching the magnitude of their initial success, Hootie & The Blowfish carved out their own niche in pop music over the course of five successful studio albums and significant charity work. Rucker's first foray into solo work was with the 2002 R&B album Back To Then, a moderate success. In 2008, Rucker signed with Capitol Nashville as a country artist, releasing Learn To Live, which generated three #1 singles, a platinum album and CMA Award for Best New Country Artist. Rucker recently returned with his second country album, Charleston, SC 1966, already earning his fourth #1 country single.

Charleston, SC 1966 opens with ?This", a love song that gives thanks for all the things that didn't work out along the way ala Garth Brooks' "Unanswered Prayers?. The song is a brilliant blend of country and the sort of pop/rock associated Hootie and other Charleston bands of the early 1990's. "Come Back Song" is a feel good country/rock with a solid melody; a competent album track. "Might Get Lucky" is all about using honey to get sugar. It's a love song written from a predominately male perspective, where utilitarian meets a realization of how lucky he is.

"Southern State Of Mind" is a brilliant tune about missing/loving home. Much like Billy Joel's "New York State Of Mind" in title and approach, "Southern State Of Mind" features a vocal performance that simply rolls into your ears and the melody sticks with you. "Love Will Do That" is a catchy country rocker that explores love's ability to turn your world on its ear, particularly when it?s new. "The Craziest Thing" keeps this idea rolling with practical application. Exuberant and full of joy, "The Craziest Thing" is as catchy a tune as you'll find on a 2010 release, and it wouldn't be hard to imagination this one providing Rucker with a fifth #1.

"We All Fall Down" is a song about the humanity of humanity, as it were. Rucker manages to sound mournful and confident at once, inspired by a beautiful and stirring melody. "I Don't Care" is a good-time buddy song about girl watching and features Brad Paisley in a duet with Rucker. Drop this as a single leading into the summer months and it will rule country radio all season long. "She's Beautiful" is a celebratory love song, one of two or three songs on the album that's decent but a bit mundane. This one will at least inspire some interest as a dedication/mix tape song. "I Got Nothin'" is enjoyable country/pop with a sad edge, with a great melody that manages to be catchy in spite of the melancholy feel. Rucker closes with "In A Big Way", a song about getting back to the joys of a simpler life where things like home, family and time spent together mean the most. This is another potential big hit for Rucker; a wonderfully memorable melody with an iconic feel and gorgeous cadences that make you want to sing along.

Darius Rucker could succeed in almost any genre, in almost any era. Mixing an iconic voice, a brilliant sense of melody, an affable personality and a team of crack co-writers who keep him honest, Rucker could turn out hits by the dozen over the years. Longtime fans were a bit surprised by Rucker's turn to country music in 2008, but he showed not only that he belonged with Learn To Live, but also the sort of humility and grace that are rare in a top-shelf performer. Charleston, SC 1966 finds Darius Rucker picking up where he left off. The songwriting is superb, and Rucker's voice is as enjoyable as ever. Perhaps most importantly, Rucker has made sometimes melancholy country form his own without losing the easy grace of his earlier work with Hootie And The Blowfish. One suspects that the time will come when Rucker will cross back over into the pop/rock realm not so much by forsaking country music as by dragging it across the divide with him. Charleston, SC 1966 is utterly brilliant, a Wildy?s World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Darius Rucker at http://www.dariusrucker.com/ or www.myspace.com/dariusrucker. Charleston, SC 1966 is available from Amazon.com as a CD, Deluxe Edition CD with DVD or Download. iTunes has the album in both Standard and Deluxe versions.

Source: http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2010/11/darius-rucker-charleston-sc-1966.html

Monkey Swallows the Universe Heavenly Komeda Smudge

Behind The Scenes Of The FA Cup Draw With Serge Pizzorno And Noel Gallagher

Behind the scenes footage of the FA Cup 3rd round draw featuring Noel Gallagher and Serge Pizzorno who confirmed their status as 'supreme beings' by engineering fate and setting up their dream FA Cup tie on Sunday.

Manchester City fan Gallagher, of Oasis fame, and die-hard Leicester City supporter Pizzorno, the creative force behind Kasabian, were stunned when their fantasy fixture became a reality.

The creative pair were at Wembley to make the draw for the Third Round Proper and the song-writing duo could not have written a better version of events.

The Kasabian axe-man, who regularly performs in front of tens of thousands of fans, admitted that the co-incidence shredded his already jangling nerves.

Click here to win a Black Bomber Jacket (Lime Trim) from Pretty Green.

Source: http://stopcryingyourheartoutnews.blogspot.com/2010/11/behind-scenes-of-fa-cup-draw-with-serge.html

Interpol The Helio Sequence Love Is All Great Lakes

Within Temptation Frontwoman Expecting, Band Reschedules Spring 2011 Dates

Sharon den Adel, Within Temptation’s talented vocalist, has exclusively revealed on the band’s website the joyous news that she is expecting a baby! At the same time though, she apologizes to fans that this means the tour dates for Spring 2011 have been re-scheduled for Autumn 2011. She openly states: ”To be honest, this was not planned, but we are very happy about this surprise! Our children are an enrichment of our lives.” Visit www.within-temptation.com for Sharon’s comments in full.

Within Temptation are very honored that the clamor by fans for tickets has meant that the dates in London, Paris, and Copenhagen have already been upgraded to bigger venues.

Due to this strong demand, the band are pleased to announce 12 additional shows to the re-scheduled European tour. The tour now kicks off on September 21^st and will also see the band visit Portugal and the Czech Republic.

Within Temptation are currently in the studio finalizing their long awaited fifth studio album with producer Daniel Gibson. Titled The Unforgiving, this is the band's first concept album and is based on a comic book story written by script writer Steven O'Connell (BloodRayne & Dark 48). The band asked comic artist Romano Molenaar (Witchblade,Darkness and X-men) to draw the characters and scenery of The Unforgiving.

The album is set for release in March 2011, via Sony Music in Continental Europe and Roadrunner Records in the U.S., U.K. and Ireland, Japan, and Australia.

Within Temptation European Headline Tour September / October / November 2011

Tickets purchased for the original dates will remain valid for all rescheduled dates.

21-09-2011 – HEERHUGOWAARD (NL) - Waerdse Tempel (moved from 25-02-2011)
23-09-2011 – TILBURG (NL) – 013 (moved from 27-02-2011) – SOLD OUT

25-09-2011 – TILBURG (NL) – 013 (additional show)

27-09-2011 – AMSTERDAM (NL) – Paradiso (moved from 28-02-2011) – SOLD OUT

28-09-2011 – AMSTERDAM (NL) – Paradiso (moved from 01-03-2011) – SOLD OUT

29-09-2011 – GRONINGEN (NL) – Oosterpoort (moved from 06-03-2011)

06-10-2011 – LILLE (F) - Laeronef (additional show)

07-10-2011 – NANTES (F) – Le Zenith (additional show)

08-10-2011 – LYON (F) - Transbordeur (additional show)

10-10-2011 – MADRID (E) – La Riviera (moved from 25-03-2011)

11-10-2011 – PORTO (P) - Coliseum (additional show)

12-10-2011 – LISBON (P) - Coliseum (additional show)

14-10-2011 – BARCELONA (E) - Razzmatazz (moved from 24-03-2011)

15-10-2011 – TOULOUSE (F) – Le Bikini (additional show)

17-10-2011 – MILAN (I) - Alcatraz (moved from 22-03-2011)

18-10-2011 – ZURICH (CH) - Volkshaus (moved from 21-03-2011)

20-10-2011 – VIENNA (A) – Gasometer (moved from 18-03-2011, original venue: Arena)

21-10-2011 – PRAGUE (CZ) – Kd Vltavska (additional show)

22-10-2011 – KRAKOW (PL) – Studio (additional show)

23-10-2011 – WARSAW (PL) – Stodola (moved from 15-03-2011)

25-10-2011 – COPENHAGEN (DK) – KB Hallen (moved from 11-03-2011, original venue: Vega)

26-10-2011 – GOTHENBURG (S) – Trädgårn (additional show)

27-10-2011 – STOCKHOLM (S) - Arena (moved from 09-03-2011)

28-10-2011 – OSLO (N) – Sentrum (moved from 10-03-2011)

04-11-2011 – LUXEMBURG (L) – Rockhal (moved from 01-04-2011)

05-11-2011 – KERKRADE (NL) – Rodahal (moved from 02-04-2011)

06-11-2011 – PARIS (F) – Le Zenith (moved from 27-03-2011, original venue: Le Bataclan)
08-11-2011 – BIRMINGHAM (UK) – Academy (additional show)

09-11-2011 – MANCHESTER (UK) – Academy (additional show)

10-11-2011 – GLASGOW (UK) – Barrowlands (additional show)

11-11-2011 – LONDON (UK) – Brixton Academy (moved from 30-03-2011, original venue: Shepherd’s Bush)

13-11-2011 – BRUSSELS (B) – AB (moved from 31-03-2011) – SOLD OUT
15-11-2011 – STUTTGART (D) - Longhorn (additional show)

16-11-2011 – COLOGNE (D) – E-Werk (moved from 28-03-2011)

19-11-2011 – HAMBURG (D) – Docks (moved from 13-03-2011)

21-11-2011 – BERLIN (D) - Columbiahalle (moved from 14-03-2011)

23-11-2011 – DRESDEN (D) - Schlachthof (moved from 17-03-2011)

24-11-2011 – MUNICH (D) - Tonhalle (moved from 20-03-2011)

25-11-2011 – FRANKFURT (D) - Hugenottenhalle (additional show)

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/story.aspx?newsitemID=22452

McCarthy Gentleman Reg Suburban Kids With Biblical Names Milton and the Devils Party

Titus Andronicus, Hallelujah The Hills, Yellow Fever @ Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto (July 14, 2010)

Titus Andronicus: photo by Michael Ligon

What seems more and more like a rare occasion for me, I actually got out to a show on a Wednesday night last week at the Horseshoe Tavern, specifically to see buzz-y Jersey rockers Titus Andronicus and also to see Boston's Hallelujah The Hills who I'd remembered liking when they opened for Silver Jews at Lee's Palace in September 2008. Also on this night's bill were unknown entities Austin duo Yellow Fever, although having read some good things about them on Pitchfork I was intrigued to check them out.

I arrived a little after 9 pm with Austin duo already into their set and a small audience present. The duo, of the guitar-drums variety, played a set of askewed pop music, with a penchant for succinct guitar playing and drumming, and dry vocals. My mind kept wandering to images of early 80's post-punk, or more recently a band like San Francisco's The Aislers Set, minus the reverb. The band was most satisfying on more straight ahead tracks like the more poppy "Culver City". They were comfortable enough on stage, but didn't feel much motivation for banter, although perhaps that'll change as they continue their exhaustive North American summer tour. Catch them in your town.

Next up were Boston's Hallelujah The Hills. Specializing in an amalgam folk-rock influences like cello and working-class roots-rock, the set was occasionally anthemic but otherwise much of it was infused with a sense of urgency. Occasional cello and brass, melded nicely with conventional rock instrumentation and the raucous lead and group vocals. The band's second album entitled Colonial Drones is out now through Misra Records and based on their live set and the favourable response from the crowd, they'd be a band to keep your eye on.

The band I was there to see specifically was New Jersey's Titus Andronicus. With fellow Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem also in town that night, Titus Andronicus' frontman Patrick Stickle thanked the crowd for choosing to see them over Gaslight Anthem. Much of my motivation to check them out was based on liking their raucous single "A More Perfect Union", a sublime slab of sloppy rock n' roll. It seemed that I was a little behind the curve as the venue was comfortably packed by the time the band hit the stage, and as the band performed each song, there was many a fan singing along.

Named after the Shakespeare's earliest and bloodiest work, it's the latter description that really was reflected in the Titus Andronicus' visceral rock n' roll attack. It's that attack that took me off guard because the young band didn't quite look like they were capable of it - for example, one look at violinist/guitarist Amy Klein who looks like a high school girl in her knee-length cut-off jeans and I'd never have thought she'd be rocking out as much as she did. Whether intentional or not, the band's sound was like an homage to classic influences likes The Clash, The Replacements, Bruce Springsteen, Sex Pistols and The Pogues, and for the most part doing those influences justice. Perhaps the band utilized the formula on several songs a little too often where they'd start a song with a subdued Pogue-ish / Shane McGown-ish folky vocal before the band dropped like a rock n' roll bomb, but no doubt the formula was used to good effect each and every time. And when the crowd is slam-dancing AND body-surfing, you know the crowd is loving it. As a bonus for the night, the band invited ex-guitarist Liam Betson, who's also recently transplanted to Toronto (for what I don't know), to join them onstage for a surprise rendition, and what turned out to be a sincere version of Weezer's "Undone". It seems there's been such a diversity in music genres lately, I could have almost imagined someone about to declare the death of rock n' roll. But Titus Andronicus prove it isn't that time yet and hopefully it shall never be.

Photos: Titus Adronicus, Hallelujah The Hills, Yellow Fever @ Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto (July 14, 2010) (still to come)
MySpace: Yellow Fever
MySpace: Hallelujah The Hills
MySpace: Titus Andronicus

Source: http://mligon08.blogspot.com/2010/07/titus-adronicus-hallelujah-hills-yellow.html

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin Voxtrot Tullycraft Lightspeed Champion

Here is a kickin Christmas Album. Read this review which explains it very well:

To commemorate Twisted Sister's 30th anniversary, they have released a collection of classic Christmas songs done in typical Twisted Sister style!

As soon as I saw this cd in my local cd store I just knew I would have to have it and let me tell you it does not disappoint at all. If you've heard Twisted Sister, than you know what to expect. Now combine that with Christmas music. Sounds like a hell of a good time awaits!

The holidays are all about fun and celebration; and with guitars blazing, it's great to hear a band that knows that better than anyone.

Twisted Sister melds classic Christmas tunes with their favorite heavy metal songs to create a disc like no other. For instance, singer Dee Snider realized that the chorus to the band's biggest hit "We're Not Gonna Take It" is almost note-for-note the same as the melody to "O Come All Ye Faithful." So the band played the backing music for the Twisted song, while Snider sung

Source: http://4metal.blogspot.com/2007/11/here-is-kickin-christmas-album.html

Scrabbel Oh No! Oh My! The Go-Betweens The National

Got Nuffin? How about more cheap music then

Wow, so Brock was really on to something with his Sara Bareilles-Black Friday find. According to Amazon.com, every day until Cyber Monday they'll be offering a few more random albums for $1.99. Something about the $2 price tag is really striking a chord with me at the moment, and I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a few more of these. Here's the good stuff I've found so far:

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs $1.99

Spoon - Transference $1.99

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon $1.99 (some of us don't own it already, okay?)

The National - High Violet $1.99

John Mayer - Battle Studies $1.99

Ok, so I may be off about the John Mayer being on a list of "the good stuff," but for $2, maybe there's something on there worth listening to.

Also, I've attached a track, "Got Nuffin," from the $2 Spoon album. I purchased that album when it was first released and, after many listens on repeat, I can confirm that it does not disappoint. It's not their best album, but it's certainly worth this ridiculous price of admission (ridiculous in a good way of course, unless you're really that stingy). Amazon also has "Got Nuffin" as a free download; get it right here.

In a related note, I really, really dislike that Amazon forces you to install its pitiful "MP3 Downloader" to download albums. Believe it or not, that was the biggest obstacle/annoyance I had to get over to start getting these albums. You can do better Amazon, you can do better.

Source: http://www.sellthelie.com/?q=node/369

The Go! Team The Honey Buzzards Helen Marnie Malcolm Middleton

Girls Roll With It After Meeting Liam Gallagher

Staff at a Rawtenstall fashion store rubbed shoulders with rock ?n? roll bad boy Liam Gallagher at a prestigious awards ceremony.

Sunday Best attended the 20th anniversary Drapers Awards in London after being shortlisted for Independent Retailer of the Year.

They bumped into former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, who won Menswear Brand of the Year for his very own limited edition clothing line ?Pretty Green.?

Jan Shutt, Sunday Best owner, said: "It was so great to meet Liam, we?ve all been taking note of his new fashion line so we sat chatting about it for a quite a while.

"When he was awarded the award for Menswear Brand of the Year, we all gave him a really big cheer.

"The whole evening was amazing and we were over the moon about being shortlisted for such a prestigious award.

"It?s an honour to be recognised by the industry as one of the leaders in the independent retail market.

"What a year this has been for Sunday Best, all topped off with meeting Liam.

"We?ve told him he has an open invitation to pop down to the shop any time he?s back in the north."

The glamorous ceremony saw 1,000 of the UK?s top fashion retailers and brands, from the length and breadth of the UK, gathered at Grosvenor House to congratulate the winners.

Source: menmedia.co.uk

Click here to win a Black Bomber Jacket (Lime Trim) from Pretty Green.

Source: http://stopcryingyourheartoutnews.blogspot.com/2010/11/girls-roll-with-it-after-meeting-liam.html

Georgie James The Pastels Miou Miou The Postmarks

Murderdolls Premiere Their Brand New Video "Nowhere"

All last week, Murderdolls teased fans with stills from their brand new video "Nowhere" over at their Official Facebook page and today the band have premiered the video over at their Official Website!

Head on over to this location NOW and see the video in it's entirety! "Nowhere" marks the second video from the band's long-awaited sophomore album Women and Children Last, which debuted to critical acclaim earlier this year. Go here to get your copy of the angst-ridden album, and if you need more Murderdolls, then go right here to see the first video for "My Dark Place Alone."

Murderdolls are getting ready to hit the road in the US on the Violent Night, Deadly Night tour which kicks off December 3rd. Get a full list of tour dates and ticket information by going RIGHT HERE.

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/story.aspx?newsitemID=22455

Ida Maria The Shins Throw Me the Statue The Remains of Brian Borcherdt

Monday, November 29, 2010

The year was....2004

Random playlist for 2004:
1. N.E.R.D.-She Wants To Move
Bring the funk Pharrell and company. And bring the funk they did.
2. The Beta Band-Assessment
The song borrows from early U2 and the video is just superb. Unfortunately, it was the end for the band.
3. Modest Mouse-Float On
Who made it through the summer of 2004 without hearing "Float On". Not I. Left field hit of the year.
4. U2-Vertigo
Probably U2's best single of the decade. 1-2-3-14.
5. Gwen Stefani-Hollaback Girl
2004 was full of guilty pleasures, this has to be at the top of the list.

6. Franz Ferdinand-Take Me Out
Art rockers from Scotland bring a danceable hit to the table. "I know I won't be leaving here...."
7. The Walkmen-Little House Of Savages
Can't think of many songs where organ/drum combo propels a song to the stratosphere.
8. Morrissey-First Of The Gang To Die
Morrissey comeback. And it was quite good The last of the playboys to the first of the gang.
9. Green Day-American Idiot
I'm over this. But it does paint the year where Green Day won the lottery.
10. Wilco-Handshake Drugs
"Taxi cab was driving me around...to the handshake drugs I bought downtown...."
11. Loretta Lynn w/Jack White-Portland, Oregon
Perhaps, my favorite duet in the last 20 years. Me and AHO's theme song for nights at the bar.
12. Kelly Clarkson-Since U Been Gone
Miss Clarkson struck gold in the hearts of fourteen year old teens and 55 year old critics everywhere.

7 Albums worth revisiting from 2004:

1. Arcade Fire-Funeral
2. The Streets-A Grand Don't Come For Free
3. Loretta Lynn-Van Lear Rose
4. Franz Ferdinand-Franz Ferdinand
5. Kanye West-The College Dropout
6. Drive By Truckers-The Dirty South
7. Modest Mouse-Good New For People Who Love Bad News

Random Quote From a 2004 Song:
Jealousy/Turning Saints Into The Sea/Turning Through Sick Lullaby/Joking On Your Alibi/But It's Just The Price I Pay/Destiny Is Calling Me/Open Up My Eager Ears
The song....

Random Thoughts On A Song From 2004:

Every time you close your eyes. Lies! Lies! As strikingly good as Arcade Fire's debut album "Funeral" was, "Rebellion" is the one song that with it's anthemic qualities notches a gash in the pole for helping make the band relevant and the first cornerstone to legendary status. Will we be talking about Arcade Fire in some shape or form twenty years from now? I'd like to think so. I bought the album on a wave of good criticism, and by the end of 2004, was delighted at hearing an album full of mournful tones with joyful melodies. "Rebellion" fits that mold perfectly with Win Butler's lyrics portraying a sort of Pied Piper calling for children not to believe the lies they hear from their parents over a stomping march and the band backing his chorus with a chant of Lies! Lies! I remember driving to my new home in Indianapolis from Connecticut in the late spring of 2005, a few months after the release of "Funeral", listening to the album, ready for another chapter to start in my life, when I turned on the radio and there was "Rebellion" playing somewhere outside Scranton. It's not like they've built a franchise on radio hits, but they've become the country's biggest cult band since 2004 selling out Madison Square Garden for two nights. Those kind of successes are phenomenal to hear and see, and it all goes back to this fine anthem they unleashed on the world in 2004. Well played. Sleeping is actually giving in...so go out and enjoy life while you can, just be wary.
Every time you close your eyes....

Source: http://www.jhostation.com/2010/11/year-was2004.html

The Like my little airport The Vines Liquid Blue

Listen To Andy Bell's Set From The Pretty Green Club Night!

Last night Pretty Green held its first-ever dedicated club night at the Garage in Islington, London. Beady Eye's Andy Bell was one of the DJs performing at the event.

Andy's very kindly let us grab his set from him and you can listen to it below. He managed to cram in some great tunes from the likes of Kid Koala and DJ Dangermouse as well classics from The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones!

Fans with keen ears will also be able to pick out Beady Eye's cover of 'Sons Of The Stage' - the World Of Twist track we used to tease you with recently! - as well as triumphant set closer, 'Bring The Light'.

Click here to listen to the set.

Source: www.beadyeyemusic.co.uk

Click here to win a Black Bomber Jacket (Lime Trim) from Pretty Green.

Source: http://stopcryingyourheartoutnews.blogspot.com/2010/11/listen-to-andy-bells-set-from-pretty.html

Matt and Kim The New Pornographers The Pipettes The Long Winters

Treat Your Mother Right!!

Today MAY 9, 2010 is MOTHER'S DAY!! Yup!! That's one week after that very successful TEARS FOR FEARS CONCERT here in MANILA which I was able to watch and one day before the very first automated Philippine Presidential Election which is tomorrow. I wonder why Roland and Curt didn't perform "MOTHER'S TALK" on their concert? It would have been a perfect Mother's Day gift for all the Moms who watched them perform "LIVE". Generally, the TEARS FOR FEARS concert here in MANILA was great!! So to all the Mom's "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY"!!

I'll leave you with this Music Video coming from Laurence Tureaud aka. MR.T who was very popular back in the 80s as ROCKY's(Sylvester Stallone) foe on "ROCKY III" and of course as Sergeant Bosco "B.A." Baracus on the 80s Legendary TV show "The A-Team" which incidentally is being revive for the big screen and It will be shown within the year so do watch out for the New Generation of "THE A-TEAM". So here's "TREAT YOUR MOTHER RIGHT" from MR. T which also became a hit here in MANILA back in the 80s. Well, I find this song and video cool so ENJOY!! Very funny too since I just can't believe it that he did this considering his persona back then. He He He!!

WATCH "TREAT YOUR MOTHER RIGHT" by MR. T
uploaded by MrDavy on YoutTube:

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 2010!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

Source: http://docmuzic.blogspot.com/2010/05/treat-your-mother-right.html

Neva Dinova Jens Lekman Tilly and the Wall Rogue Wave

NYC & CMJ (October 20, 2010)

The Drums @ Santos Party House, NYC: photo by Michael Ligon

If you look at my photoset for my second day in NYC, you'll see I had a fixation on one aspect of NYC, namely Times Square. As visually spectacular as it was, it's not so much what it was but what it represented for me, namely the diversity and energy that is New York City. I spent a good four hours in the area first taking in a late morning coffee & breakfast at Starbucks and using the free WI-FI there then sauntering around the Square taking photos and absorbing the vibe. Damn, there's a lot of tourists there. If people watching is your thing and your in NYC, you must go to Times Square. Back to the West Village for some exploring, then to the hotel for a late afternoon nap, and later off I was for my second night of CMJ.

One of my favourite new discoveries was Bologna, Italy band A Classic Education playing at Lower East Side venue The Delancey located just shy of the Williamsburg Bridge. Online research has revealed to me that lead vocalist Jonathan Clancy is Canadian born may explain to me why he didn't seem to have an Italian accent when he spoke or sung. There was a sparkling tone to their indie guitar-pop, reminding me a bit of a band like Echo and The Bunnymen. Unfortunatley, I'd only caught about three songs although it was enough for me to make my one and only purchase of the entire festival, their 5-song First EP, in a hand-made cloth CD sleeve.

After a short stop at Other Music, I headed just down the street to get to Ace of Clubs where Canadian electro-act New Look were just about to start. I was impressed by the duo when they played Canadian Musicfest in Toronto this past March, with the irresistibly cool vocals of Sarah Ruba, her subtly effective keyboard arrangements and her cohort Adam Pavao's sumptuous programming and beats. Playing against a white screen backdrop which showed a continual stream of colourful geometric patterns, it was a alot more satisfying visually though harder to photograph, but overall made it a more enjoyable experience. The strapped keyboard slung over Ruba's shoulder while she coyly sung, is one of the sexier things I've seen in a long time. Yes, sometimes music needs to be sexier.

As it turns out, I would spend the rest of the night a bit more Uptown at Santos Party House, a lot of it waiting in line trying to get in to the venue as it was at capacity. As it turns out, I was fortunate enough to get near the front of the CMJ badges line and though they were at that point making even badgeholders pay, I gladly forked over $5[as I'd RSVP before, or else I'd have to pay $10] and got it to catch a few songs of local indie notable Marnie Stern. She definitely had a garage vibe but more often than not expressed a willingness to experiment with vocal phrasing and dynamics. Yes, she is from New York but had I not known that I'd still have thought she felt very NYC - gritty, creative and bursting with energy.

During Marnie's set, she bantered jokingly along the lines about Wild Nothing being up next and hoping for the crowd that they were something rather than nothing. Well, Wild Nothing were definitely something; maybe they should change their name. An unknown entity to me prior, there seemed to be a good number of people in the audience looking forward to them. Wild Nothing, the project of a one Jack Tatum, turned out to be fairly entertaining. They sounded like they came from the same indiepop-school as Brooklynites Pains of Being Pure At Heart, though favouring a slighter cleaner guitar sound most of the time and displaying a slicker level of musicianship. For that latter factor, I sometimes wished the band would loosen up a bit, play rawer, but still they had some great melodies.

For the time I'd been in Santos Party House, I'd never even ventured to the second stage in the basement of the venue, instead sticking it out for the secret headliners of the mainstage who turned out to be buzzy locals The Drums. Caught up in a tremendous amount of press since the beginning of the year, the band had recently played The Mod Club in Toronto which I didn't make it to so to catch them in NYC was a real treat. I'd only previously heard their infectious, though polite-sounding single "Let's Go Surfing" so when the band proceed to turn up the notch during this live set several levels, I was pleasantly surprised. Melodies galore, and tantalizingly succinct guitar lines are the band's main strengths, the band oft compared to The Smiths and Joy Division. As I said, the band really turned it up, seemingly upping the tempos and infusing everything with a good dose of energy. I can't describe lead vocalist Jonathan Pierce's dancing as anything better than prancing; it had a fey quality and felt somewhat affected but hey if that's the way he felt like moving, how can I fault him. At the very least, it expressed how deeply in the moment he was and it really rubbed off on the audience who seemed as energetic as the band were. Excellent way to close off day two of CMJ.

Photos: NYC & CMJ (October 20, 2010)
MySpace: A Classic Education
MySpace: New Look
MySpace: Marnie Stern
MySpace: Wild Nothing
MySpace: The Drums

Source: http://mligon08.blogspot.com/2010/10/nyc-cmj-october-20-2010.html

St. Christopher The Lucksmiths The Ting Tings Mean Red Spiders

NEW ORDER - State Of The Nation

NEW ORDER was an English New Wave band formed back in 1980 by Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris in the wake of the demise of their previous group Joy Division, following the suicide of vocalist Ian Curtis. They were soon joined by additional keyboardist Gillian Gilbert who incidentally was Stephen Morris' Girlfriend back then who ultimately became his wife too. This band is just so famous among PINOY NEW WAVERS and PUNKS and their songs have been on regular airplay on Legendary Philippine New Wave Radio Frequencies WXB 102, POWER 105, and NU 107 back in the 80s. Last JULY 26, the Filipinos heard the first ever "State Of The Nation Address" aka. SONA by the newly elected PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III and so I thought of featuring the song "STATE OF THE NATION" by NEW ORDER here in my little blog "The Doctor Is In". Of course, there's a much more popular "STATE OF THE NATION" song for Filipinos which was the one sang by "INDUSTRY" but we will be featuring It on a different blogpost. Btw, last year July 12, 2009 Bernard Sumner revealed to Mojo Magazine the official disbandment of the band. That's no new album from New Order and sad news for their supporters and fans.

"STATE OF THE NATION" by NEW ORDER was a single by the band back in 1986 and was first played here in MANILA by WXB102 back in 1987. The 12" version of the song is almost twice as long as the 7" version that included an additional verse and It's B-side is entitled "SHAME OF THE NATION". Huh? Will that be true for the recent SONA Kabayans? Well, some Filipinos were contented hearing and watching the SONA while others find it to be lack of substance. I guess, to each his own. I really love both songs from NEW ORDER and the synthesizers will perk you up to go club dancing. He He He!! Though not included on most standard releases of the album "Brotherhood", the 12" version of "State Of The Nation" was included as a bonus track on some versions and was originally included on the US 12" version of "Bizarre Love Triangle." The 12" version of "Shame of the Nation" on the other hand, was included on the 2008 Collectors Edition of Low-Life. Memorable songs indeed for Pinoy New Wavers!!

"The State of the Nation Address" aka. SONA in Pilipino "Talumpati sa Kalagayan ng Bansa" is an annual event here in my country, the Republic of the Philippines, wherein the President of the Philippines usually reports on the status of the nation, normally to the resumption of a joint session of the Congress that includes the House of Representatives and the Senate. I do hope and pray that we will see some improvements in the coming six years of P-NOY's term. THANKS for dropping by!!

LISTEN and WATCH THE MTV of
STATE OF THE NATION by NEW ORDER:

Yes, STATE OF THE NATION!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

Source: http://docmuzic.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-order-state-of-nation.html

This Providence The Flatmates You Say Party The Submarines

Tired Pony = Country Snow Patrol

Two records popped up on my radar in the last two days and I still haven't wrapped my head around what I want to say about the new ARCADE FIRE record, so I pontificate about this oddity instead.

TIRED PONY is a side project of SNOW PATROL front man Gary Lightbody. Lightbody has referred to this as a country record using some heavyweight American musicians to support his musings. What the record does is highlights one of the conundrums facing all singers...namely, that he can't change how he sings. "Dead American Writers", the first single, is exactly like every Snow Patrol song ever written only with a slide guitar. Using Singer/Actress Zooey Deschanel as a duet partner on two songs rekindles his work with Martha Wainwright on earlier records. His songwriting style of stream of conscious lyrics with no chorus is still here as well. One would think that a solo venture would challenge Lightbody to tinker with his sound.

Then there is Peter Buck. Buck has long been one of my favorite guitar players for his way of attacking songs and giving them edge and fire. Even when he takes to the mandolin he does it so distinctly that his signature is all over the songs. His work with the MINUS 5, HINDU LOVE GODS and TUATARA showed that even outside of REM he still remains distinct. Here though he seems replaceable. There is no sight of his imprint on the band's sound. It's as if he was swallowed up in Lightbody's songs and can't find his own place in them. "Pieces" does have echoes of some of the guitar work from later era REM, but elsewhere he could be any guitar player for hire.

Is it a bad album? No. It's a remarkably easy record to listen to, like most Snow Patrol records. "Northwestern Skies", "Dead American Writers" and Get On The Road" are nice pop songs that are catchy. But one wonders what might have been if Lightbody had been more adventurous and Buck a little more prevalent in the songwriting mix.

(mp3) Tired Pony -- Dead American Writers (link removed due to DMCA Complaint)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/sQBf/~3/Rk4MVlkI_Ao/tired-pony-country-snow-patrol.html

Ladyhawke Maow The Love Language Hayden

Alex Hirsch - Naturally...

Alex Hirsch - Naturally...
1997/2006/2010, Key Wins Productions

You might say that Alex Hirsch was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but all of the silver in the world can?t make up for talent. Hirsch has proven his talent over the years, collaborating with folks such as Elliot Randall, Ice-T, Bionik, Too Short and Griffen. Alex Hirsch is the son of actor Judd Hirsch (Taxi, Dear John, NUMB3RS) and has certainly benefited accordingly, but Alex?s approach to music has always had a DIY slant. A few years back Hirsch borrowed money from family members and started his own record label, Key Wins Productions, focusing on releasing albums made with real instruments by real people. Hirsch?s latest album, Naturally?, is steeped in highly original songwriting that blends progressive and classic rock styles with doses of 1960?s psychedelia and jazz.

Naturally? opens with ?Martian Advance?, featuring churning guitars and an exotic progressive rock sound ala The Rheostatics. Lyrically the song is more of a riff than a complete idea, but the grand crests and theatric turns play like a film score element. ?Naturally? is ethereal rock with a lot of open space in the arrangement all done up in reverb. It?s a love song full of sadness and memory; Hirsch?s lyrics are intelligent if a bit off the map for your typical love song. You might be forgiven for thinking this is geek rock with a refined touch, as Hirsch mixes a distinctive breed of intelligentsia with a charismatically finessed low-fi sound. Hirsch takes on pure jazz form with ?Structure?, offering wicked guitar and bass solos and filling in on piano is subtle but tangible fashion. Rush fans may be reminded of the sort of structure and style displayed on their Gangster of the Boats Trilogy.

?I Speak The Truth? is an odd bit of atypical blues featuring simply Hirsch and his guitar. Sparsely arranged and intriguing, the song is like eavesdropping on someone?s internal dialogue. ?Nova? is a dreamy ode detailing the moment of falling in love in graphic detail, reveling in the wake of the emotional explosion. ?Christine? revisits a chance meeting at the wrong time, where possibility and romance churn against limited time and circumstance in a mix of hope and frustration. The chorus on this song is hauntingly familiar. ?One Confession? is an angry emotional jam with minimal lyrics. Dark and vibrant, the song is full of anger and seeks an answer in no uncertain terms. ?5755? is dreamy 1960?s folk/pop ala Crosby, Stills and Nash written with a 1970?s singer/songwriter pastiche. Well constructed, this tune is simply a pleasure to listen to.

?Jail? is a jazzified rock composition with theatrical elements. There?s a diffuse sense of humor running through this song that?s mildly entertaining as well. ?Girlfriend? is full of reverence; intelligent and off-beat. Hirsch moons in a stream-of-conscious vamp in a blend of spacey rock, jazz and singer-songwriter styling. The solo version of ?Christine? sounds to be recorded live in the studio and is a bit more affecting than the standard version. Hirsch manages to capture a live energy in this recording that casts the song in a better light. ?The Day? is a diffuse, open arrangement; a memorialization in song dotted with Branford Marsalis-style saxophone fills and runs. ?Time And Space? plays like two songs. The first half is a long instrumental jam. Once the vocals kick in Hirsch creates vocal triads that sound a great deal like early 1980?s Asia. ?Time And Space? has a finding-our-way feel to it that?s communicated in both the lyrics and arrangement, in what may be the most dynamic and original songwriting in a highly original collection of songs. Natually? closes with ?Lennon?, a tribute to the ex-Beatle that?s both musically and emotionally committed. It?s a well-written and well-executed closer.

Alex Hirsch hits all of the right notes on Naturally?, following his muse wherever it leads. Influences run through the album in veins, playing off of Hirsch?s natural musical proclivities and creating dynamic musical moments, helped along by highly intelligent lyrics and an intense creativity that seemingly never rests. Naturally? is an exciting listen; you never know what?s around the next musical turn, or what else Hirsch might have up his sleeve. Naturally? is an album that will keep you coming back.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Alex Hirsch at www.alexhirsch.com or www.myspace.com/alexhirschmusic. Naturally... is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download. The album is also available digitally from iTunes.

Source: http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2010/11/alex-hirsch-naturally.html

Metric Pulp The Magnetic Fields Free Energy

Six HALLOWEEN Songs

I guess it's this time of the year again when the creatures from the black lagoon will rise up together with the zombies. It's HALLOWEEN 2010 and my little blog "The Doctor Is In" is presenting to you Six Halloween Songs entitled "HALLOWEEN". YUP!! You got it right!! For my special blogpost today I'll be giving you six songs from my "JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH : NEW WAVE HALLOWEEN" compilation CD which I have featured last year HALLOWEEN 2009 wherein I also made the whole CD available for download. This compilation CD contains 15 tracks and 6 of it are entitled "HALLOWEEN" thus this blogpost of mine was born from the ashes of that CD. He He He!! I uploaded all six songs for you to listen and download just in case you are interested. You can DOWNLOAD the INDIVIDUAL TRACKS or you can DOWNLOAD the whole CD wherein the link will bring you to my 2009 blogpost. PRESS PLAY to LISTEN and PUSH DOWNLOAD BUTTON to DOWNLOAD. Well, the choice is yours and this is definitely 80s music. For my KABAYANS, have a safe UNDAS holidays okay!! So brace yourself guys for another "The Dr. Stirring Rhod Way" of bringing to you a HALLOWEEN special blogpost!! ENJOY EVERYONE!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

SIX HALLOWEEN SONGS!!

1) HALLOWEEN- by SONIC YOUTH

2) HALLOWEEN - SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES

3) HALLOWEEN- THE MISFITS

4) HALLOWEEN- THE DREAM SYNDICATE

5) HALLOWEEN- DEAD KENNEDYS

6) HALLOWEEN - MUDHONEY

CLICK my NEW WAVE HALLOWEEN CD Photo to enter my 2009 blogpost and DOWNLOAD the entire CD:

I hope you enjoyed this exclusive HALLOWEEN blogpost special of mine. THANKS for dropping by again my little blog!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2010
EVERYONE!!
-DR. STIRRING RHOD

Source: http://docmuzic.blogspot.com/2010/10/six-halloween-songs.html

The National Yo La Tengo The Grenadiers Grizzly Bear (band)