Monthly Archives: February 2011

A Revolution

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I am not sure if you guys are aware, but there’s a pretty big series of events unfolding in Egypt. It certainly smacks of the word revolution. However, there are a lot that either haven’t heard much at all or only a little about it. Sad, eh? That’s the country we live in, folks. Where the halftime show for the Super Bowl – featuring what I called an embarrassment to Daft Punk fans everywhere – causes more of a controversy and sparks more debate than what an estimated 80 million people have to deal with on a daily basis. With a man we’ve supported, albeit in very private fashion, no less. Our tenuous support of Hosni Mubarak stems in large part from our dealings with Israel, so no doubt they’re keeping a close eye on this, also.

Well, regardless of what happens, this has become the biggest story in the world – and affected my travel plans. So hey, I’m providing much of a revolution of my own when it comes to fighting shady travel companies. Honestly? I’m pretty worried about the events unfolding. It has more of an impact on the world as a whole than I think people realize. It’s more of a trickle down effect, though. That entire region is unstable. From Sudan – which recently saw South Sudan vote to secede – to Tunisia, Jordan, and Yemen. What we’re witnessing is unprecedented in history. It could have long lasting ramifications with world relations. A revolution is what it truly is.

Click to Play The Beatles – Revolution

I could honestly go on and on about what is happening, but this story has so many layers and complexities to it, that I simply don’t have the room to discuss it. So enjoy your week, folks. And do try to pay attention to what’s happening in your world!

It’s been a long time since we drove your Pontiac

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Cake’s new album

I waited so patiently for 4 years for a new Cake album. I’ve really loved their whole discography from 1994’s Motorcade of Generosity to the B-Sides & Rarities compilation album that came out in 2007. I love the dry, almost spoken, delivery of frontman John McCrea’s singing. I love Vince DiForce’s addition of trumpet and keyboards to the music. I love that the music is witty and fun.

In 2008 the band decided to remove Cake’s studio from the dependence of California’s electricity grid and go 100% solar. This must make recording only possible in for a few hours during the day, since it took another 3 years for them to release their next album titled Showroom of Compassion. Released it is though, on January 11, 2011 to a NUMBER 1 spot on the Billboard charts! Wow! That must feel great to have your “comeback” record receive such praise. Except that it will own this distinction with an asterisk. You see, it broke a record for being a number 1 album with the lowest sales in history. 44,000 albums was all it took to secure a number one spot that week. That’s 2,000,000 less than the biggest opening week an album has had according to Billboard. (N-Sync March 2000).

Showroom of Compassion, even after all the hype, ends up being somewhat uninspired. I’ll showcase this by sharing a great song and a song that I call the Taco Bell of the record. More filler than beef.

Let’s start with the waste so we can end on a good note.

The opening track on SOC almost made me turn the CD player off. What garbage is this? The song is called “Federal Funding” and the lyrics, the music… all just amazingly boring. The big instrumental finish of the track saves it a bit, but it’s my opinion it could have been left off the album altogether.

Click to play Cake – Federal Funding

John McCrea Noel Vasquez,Getty Images

The best track on the album, ends up being what should have been the opener. Track 2 is called “Long Time” and that’s the opening track title for a “comeback” album. Maybe Cake, like LL Cool J, doesn’t want us to “call it a comeback”. I call it like I see it, and this is the perfect opener. “Long Time” is the track that will crystallize the experience of the rest of the album. It has all the Cake-like elements of greatness. The distinctive talky-singing, the bass slap, the jittery guitar riffs, the trumpet, the synth keyboards, ticking clock sounds, a glockenspiel. It’s all here.

Click to play Cake – Long Time

It’s been a long time
Since we tripped into this ditch
It’s been a long time
Since we drank the a-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-arsenic

Isn’t that a great Cake song? Makes me want to see them live again. It’s been a long time since I have seen the band Cake on tour. I’m hoping for a tour stop near enough for me to see them again. One thing I am sure hasn’t changed is the great live show Cake is known for.

Amazon has the album on sale right now…only $7.99! If you are a Cake fan, you need this one for your collection, and at that price I don’t think you should pass it up!

Need more of a push to buy the album? Check out the new video for the official first single from the album.

Still not sold on it? Go ahead and steal it, but I think you have to like them on facebook and listen to them pontificate about politics and the environment. That’s a fair deal…

twilight, sans sparkly vampires

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ser·en·dip·i·ty –noun

1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
2. good fortune; luck: the serendipity of getting the first job she applied for.

I’ve been working my tail off trying to get an advance copy of PJ Harvey’s new record, Let England Shake . That has yet to come to fruition, but I happened across something just as exciting along the way: the upcoming Twilight Singers release. It’s called Dynamite Steps . Here’s the title track:

Click to play The Twilight Singers – Dynamite Steps

For those of you not familiar with The Twilight Singers, let me give you a quick history lesson. The group was originally formed as a side project by Afghan Whigs frontman Greg Dulli. The lineup has changed quite a bit over the years, but Dulli has a way of pulling things together and making the sound cohesive and epic.

I’m a die-hard Afghan Whigs (RIP) fan to this day but I’ve never had any complaints about what Greg Dulli lends his talent to, whether it’s The Twilight Singers, The Gutter Twins, or any of his other asides. This new album manages to capture an array of styles we’ve seen from past projects, yet gives us some nice new twists. There’s the intensity and raw rock of the Afghan Whigs, the melancholy beauty of previous Twilight Singers albums, and Dulli can never quite escape his soul/Motown roots, but there’s still something special and unique about how it’s put together.

I’ll leave you with a couple more tracks. I need to get back to my quest for Miss Harvey’s new album, but I’ll have Dynamite Steps on in the background the whole time.

The album hits stores February 15th. Be sure to grab your copy then.

Click to play The Twilight Singers – Gunshots

Click to play The Twilight Singers – Get Lucky

All I know is you / No I can’t change

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I had just barely gotten into their last album when I heard a new one was being released. The Joy Formidable is a Welsh band who has been together since 2007. They released single after single in the subsequent years until putting them together on A Balloon Called Moaning in 2009. Well, 2009 in the UK. We didn’t get it in the States until May 2010. Seriously.

I really like each track on that album. Whether or not they were meant to be connected, they all sound simultaneously somber and energetic. I’m good with that. You know what’s interesting, is that their original label for this EP was none other than Black Bell, which is run by Passion Pit’s Ayad Al Adhamy. Huh. Yeah. I get that too.

Here. Listen to maybe my favorite track on Balloon, “Whirring”.

Click to The Joy Formidable – Whirring

So, here we have Ritzy Bryan leading us on vocals whilst strumming her guitar, Rhydian Dafydd on bass, and Matt Thomas on drums and other forms of percussion.

I love this sound and I can’t even understand half the lyrics.

I guess sometimes communication isn’t entirely important.

Well, wait.  Until you start banging things and yelling and being offensive.  I mean, that is communication but it’s not effective.  That’s how their full-length album starts out.  Noise.  Just, noise.  I should get the art angle they are going for.  I should be open to receive the music language they are speaking.  But, I’m not.  Oh well.

So, this full-length album came out in the UK last week, but – you guessed it.  NOT AVAILABLE IN THE STATES YET! So consider yourself lucky that I am sharing it with you now. Well, unless you are already reading this from across the pond. Then, chap, how about if you leave us a comment about their show this evening? Or head over to one of their upcoming shows… Glasgow King Tuts on Sunday, Edinburgh Electric Circus on Monday, wow… I am checking their tour dates and there are some cool venue names. Add that to the list. Go to indie performances in London.

And bring a sandwich.

I digress.

I mean because of the food.

No, but seriously. I digress.

After we get through the banging and clanging at the beginning of The Big Roar, we are right back into big, lovely sounds. This album was recorded with Camelback Music, which married Atlantic in late 2009 and operates on a “less is more” mentality.

Kind of how these three manage to make themselves sound like an entire Cricket team. Wait, how big is a Cricket team after all, mate? Big enough to at times sound like a choir is chanting the barely audible yet still powerful lyrics and a drum section is pounding out that percussion. Seriously.

Here. See what I mean.

Click to The Joy Formidable – The Magnifying Glass

Then check amazon.co.uk and see if you can get a hold of this year’s next year’s album!

The Beauty of Music

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So recently, I found out about a band that I didn’t know of. And this led me to be reminded why music is so important. I overheard a new co-worker discussing Grizzly Bear with another co-worker. I interjected, as I had seen them live once. Five minutes of music discussion later, I got a nice compliment – “Man, you really know your shit.” Thing is, I don’t. Or at least I don’t think so. He brought up the group I am sharing today, and I hadn’t heard of them. Well, after a good night out with a few co-workers, we all eventually took a listen to these guys. Which I think we all do from time to time. We get excited about the music we like and want to share it with the world. I mean, isn’t that the whole point of this blog?

Anyhow, the group he wanted to share was Caravan Palace. Now, they’re a French band. Imagine if swing and electronica had a baby. There are some that try to say that Daft Punk is one of those influences on them, but i don’t hear it in the music they play. I’d say more with the idea that electronica can be incorporated into almost anything. This sound has been done before, though. As George could tell you, for example, I played a ton of swing-house in the years I DJed. I genuinely liked a lot of it. I even featured one of the Greens Keepers tracks on this blog a couple of years ago.

Well, these guys are less about sampling, and more about creating their own swing sound mixed with drum kicks and electronic goodness. The self-titled debut album of these guys produced the track I’m posting today. “Jolie Coquine” is definitely reminiscent of the Squirrel Nut Zippers female vocals – which is where James Curd sampled from – and is very frenetic and catchy. The video for this track is even quite creative. So enjoy! And remember that music is a very open showcase. You’re welcome to dislike music, but keeping an open mind about what is out there is very rewarding!

Click to Play Caravan Palace – Jolie Coquine