Today we conclude our two-part segement with the other albums that could end up in my Top 10 when 2008 rounds out several months from now.
There's nothing I love more than a record that has a down home feeling, the feeling that you are in the room with said artist as they lay down the tracks that make up a masterpiece. That's the vibe Jennings gives off with his first album on Jack Johnson's Brushfire imprint. Listen to the piano clang over to your right on "I Never Knew Your Name"; get your campfire-sing a long-boot stomp game face on for the crowd pleasing "I Love You And Buddha Too." But what makes this album imperfect, or feel more like an EP or collection of outtakes, is the strangely displaced live track right in the middle. What's up with that, Mason? [Buy Here]
As much as I love these guys, I cannot say enough about how this album is missing something. Actually, it's not that it's missing something, it's all there. It just needs to be arranged a little bit better. If anyone has read my review, you'll know that I was upset with how the album was resequenced at the last minute or whatever, moving original closing number "See These Bones" up to lead off which was just totally bizarre. The rest of the first side stayed intact, while someone played 52-pick up with the second side. But at the middle, at the heart of the record is quite possibly their finest moment in "Are You Lightning?" A song I once thought was about impending parenthood is about what I really thought it was about anyway: impatiently waiting for true love to find you. [Buy Here]
I decided last year that I was going to finally make due on something I had wanted to do for quite a while now. Upon completion of their new album, I was going to finally go and see R.E.M. in concert. Sadly, I did not, but that doesn't mean they haven't made their best album in a decade. yes, the purveyors of the Athens legends are true when they say this is their "return to form" album, I'll totally drink the Kool-Aid on that statement. I read somewhere online how "Man Sized Wreath" reminded them of GBV, so I immediately put it back on and, by God, Peter Buck's guitar licks totally mimic that of Doug Gillard. Or was it Doug that stole from Peter? Haven't we all borrowed from them anyway? They do have the whole Godfathers of College Radio title to hold on to. [Buy Here]
Allow me to be honest - upon first listening, this album did not do it for me. It had great moments, like "Made Concrete" that I had been salivating about for well over the past year. For some reason, I felt Color was paling towards the end. But with every listen I'd find something new to enjoy about it, a new favorite song, a new sound not heard on the last listen. And before I knew it, it became clear that Color wasn't so dull after all - it was bright and full of life. And with this mention, they have to be the band I have blogged about the most so far this year. [Buy Here]
And from most blogged about to a record (and band) I've yet to even mention here. This album has been under my radar for several months and is one of the best things to come out of my homestate of PA since, well, ever. The 10 minutes that it takes to get through the licks and drones of "Show Me The Coast" are so epic that, thanks to the updates to Muxtape, it'll open a future mix as I'll challenge all to get through it. But it doesn't stop there! The album is covered in swirly guitars and dirges that haven't been displayed with such pinache and style since "Teen Age Riot" 20 years ago. Sonic Youth fronted by The Boss? That's all you can say about them. [Buy Here]
Showing posts with label R.E.M.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label R.E.M.. Show all posts
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Monday Afternoon Newsletter (04/14/08)
He was busy filing his taxes this morning, so we now give you the rare Monday Afternoon Newsletter from our own Jose Fritz.N.E.R.D. is releasing a new album this June titled Seeing Sounds. Members Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo said the title was inspired by their synesthesia -like symptoms traced to a batch of tainted weed acquired in Pittsburgh. Sometime member Shay Haley said “You gotta learn to grow your own dog.” They embark on a tour with Kanye West this Spring.
Mariah Carey is rumored to be working on a work-out video due out this summer. She intends to follow that with a series of recorded lectures on her recommendations for liposuction, saline breast implants, collagen injection, botox and rhinoplasty.
R.E.M. vocalist Michael Stipe stated this week that he firmly believes public figures should be open about their sexuality. Stipe was listed in the Out magazine list of gay celebrities in 1995, and in a 2001 interview with time magazine described himself as a “queer artist.” I thought it was pretty obvious. How could you not fucking notice? Get your gaydar checked." Stipe said.
Vanilla Ice was arrested for domestic violence again this week vying with long-time record holder Bobby Brown for most wife-beating arrests. The one-hit wonder was released from Palm Beach County Jail Friday with a restraining order. Jose still thinks nothing is funnier than his appearance with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
My Morning Jacket’s new album Evil Urges is scheduled to hit June 10. They did a sneak preview live set for NPR back in March. And have followed that up with a bigger video teaser for Rolling Stone.com. This will be their fifth album and second with producer John Leckie.
The Documentary Young @ Heart begins screening next week. It follows the Young At Heart Chorus, a group of senior citizens covering punk and rock songs by artists like Sonic Youth, The Ramones, and the Sex Pistols. It started as a 2006 BBC documentary, but screened well at Sundance film festivals in 2007. There are literally members of this group performing with oxygen tanks.
This week Matchbox Twenty canceled a planned July 18th performance at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Lead singer Rob Thomas explained "We ask that you please understand that it would be impossible for us to put ourselves in the position of making money from what we believe to be the mistreatment of tasty, tasty animals."
Les Claypool will be contributing videogame music for the upcoming "Mushroom Men" video game series due out later this Fall. The series will have compatible releases for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS. His new DVD, the semi-satirical Electric Apricot will be out May 13th.
The Christian and Gospel music community will gather this week in Nashville for the GMA Music Week, the Gospel Music Associations’ annual gathering of the flat earth society. The show will be broadcast live from the Grand Ole Opry for the first time since 2002.
Volcom Records will be releasing a new record by Totimoshi this July 8th. The album, Milagrosa, was produced by former Helmet front man Page Hamilton. Page Hamilton found time to contribute guitar and vocals now that his solo project Gandhi is on hold. In other words Gandhi lasted as long as victory in Iraq and Page is looking for work.
Friday, March 21, 2008
New R.E.M. Video - "Living Well Is The Best Revenge"
R.E.M. have been spending a lot of time with Vincent Moon lately as they prepare to drop Accelerate on April 1st. He was there when they played those Dublin shows last July that are forever immortalized through clips on the Ninety Nights site, he directed the video for first single "Supernatural Superserious," and now the band unveiled he's filmed a clip for Accelerate's rousing opener, "Living Well Is The Best Revenge." You can download the video for free, right now, via iTunes.Also be on the lookout for the newest issue of Spin, in which the Athens legends grace the cover. Oh, aren't they still dreamy?
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