Inbound Gowanus

Time to Die

2009-06-05T09:00:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone,

It's time to kill Inbound Gowanus. My new blog will be called "Patently Oblivious." It'll be at cliffness.wordpress.com. It's pretty ugly right now, but Becca is working on making it look purdy, so bear with the changes. Love you all!

The Beautiful Demise of Detroit

2009-03-11T17:41:00.002-05:00

Two French photographers, Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre, have documented the abandoned ruins of Detroit in a new series of photograps on their website. It's quite breathtaking.

Detroit's crumbling facade has become the de facto symbol of the faltering American auto industry. What was once an industrial mecca full of luxury hotels and fancy restaurants has, through deindustrialization and middle class flight, transformed into a postmodern symbol of the dark side of capitalism. Definitely worth a look.

And the Lions aren't gonna be decent any time soon, either.

2009: The Year It Became Cool To Be Smart

2009-03-10T18:58:00.005-05:00

After Obama's win in the 2008 election, there was a lot of talk about the end of the "dumb-as-I-wanna-be," Joe Six-Pack style of politics embodied by George Bush and, more recently, Sarah Palin. While labeling those two as practitioners of "dumb politics" is a bit reductive, there is a lot of validity to the idea that Obama is a bit more bookish than the average politician, and that played in his favor once the economic crisis started; it just felt better having a smart dude in the White House during times like these.

There have since been a lot of organizations trying to explain the financial crisis, as it is a situation so far beyond the understanding of normal folks. One of the best has been a public radio project called "Planet Money." It's a joint effort between NPR's Adam Davidson and Alex Blumberg, and it's been distributed mostly through the programs All Things Considered and This American Life. The shows that they've done for This American Life are among the most fantastic pieces of reportiing and storytelling I've ever heard. Listen to Part 1 ("The Giant Pool of Money"), Part 2 ("Another Frightening Show About the Economy"), and the latest, Part 3 ("Bad Bank").

Another example of how it's cool to be smart these days is the Khan Academy, a not-for-profit organization that provides tutorials on math, science and, most recently, finance and the banking crisis. In simple, 10-minute videos, the site breaks down concepts like liquidity, examines what happens when a bank fails, and traces the fall of housing prices. It's an incredible resource for anyone hoping to learn more about just about anything math or science-related.

It's quite encouraging that the response of so many people to this banking crisis is to try to learn more about it and understand the complexities. It's no longer acceptable to simply say, "Bankers have always been crooks, it's no different today," or "That's for other people to figure out." There's a sense that we're all in this together, that good ideas about the economy could come from anywhere. It's kind of scary, but pretty exciting too.

Going Galt

2009-03-09T13:32:00.005-05:00

Ayn Rand’s tirade against big government, Atlas Shrugged, finds a new set of devotees with each incoming class of college freshmen. It’s one of those books that will always resonate with a significant portion of the population. It hovers near the top of most lists of the most influential books of the 20th Century, and its sales have maintained a steady clip in the fifty or so years since its publication.

But something interesting has been going on this year. As the Economist reports, sales of Atlas Shrugged have been steadily rising and even spiking in conjunction with events like the bank bailout and the stimulus package. The sales rank of the book in the first months of the year was several hundred places higher than where it typically sits, reaching as high as #33 on January 13.

Looking back historically, there is evidence to suggest that any time governments begin to intervene in things that are usually private, sales of the book spike. Adding fuel to this latest flare-up are bloggers and right-wing pundits who are lamenting the control that the government is assuming. Many are even floating the idea of “going Galt” and, like the protagonist of the book, ceasing work so that the engine of the world stops. That’ll show ‘em.

The problem with this comparison (aside from the fact that bloggers and pundits consider themselves essential to the operation of the world) is that Rand’s philosophy is a model based not off of a reality but off of an ideal. Or, more accurately, the only way Rand could envision her philosophy was by defining what it was not. Rand grew up in Soviet Russia, a society so hindered by its government that it eventually collapsed under the weight of it. She was right on there. Trying to apply the principles contained in her books to our present situation is like trying to recreate M.C. Escher with an Etch-a-Sketch. Rand deals in broad strokes, and her philosophy only works in a vacuum. That’s one reason why they’re so popular among college students, the one population with very high intelligence but very low experience.

I find it surprising that people try to apply Rand’s philosophy to government. Where her ideas are valuable, and where I think her points are most salient, are in the arts. This is another reason why they are so popular among college students, a population that views everything with an earnestness and idealism that is usually the domain of artists. Howard Roark and John Galt are icons of the counterculture because they stood up against the machine and went their own way, regardless of how much resistance they faced. When you apply that to government, you get George W. Bush, and you get the sort of principles that led to the banking crisis.

Pundits can crow all they like about “going Galt” and the idea of the creative classes bringing the world to its knees, but it’s a notion that doesn’t have much basis in reality. It sure makes for some good TV though.

Top 20 of 2008: #1

2009-02-18T23:43:00.002-05:00

1. Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life

The Chemistry Of Common Life -...

Ok, where the fuck did this come from? That's what I hear you saying. And you're right. I have no business making The Chemistry of Common Life my favorite album of 2008. I like stuff like Ryan Adams and My Morning Jacket (who both had albums this year, by the way, one was ok and one sucked hard). I don't listen to hardcore. I don't even know how to distinguish good hardcore from bad hardcore. What the hell, Cliff?

I'll tell you what the hell. This record knocked my block off in a way that hasn't happened in years. From its very first notes (played on a flute, natch) you can tell something is different. There isn't anything typical about this record. Opener "Son the Father" slowly builds from that flute opening to a tsunami of guitar rage and Cookie Monster growling, punctuated by whipsmart lyrics like "It's hard enough being born in the first place, who would ever want to be born again?" This ain't your older brother's hardcore.

The rest of the album refuses to fall in line, going from the bongo-driven march of "Magic Word" to apocalyptic doom of "Days of Last" to the surrealistic power pop of "Black Albino Bones." These guys are falling all over themselves to do a mind job on you, both with their unconventional music choices and their incredibly smart, thought-provoking lyrics. Granted, you'll need a lyric sheet to keep up, but these guys sing about politics and religion with a unique and challenging point of view. It's totally unexpected.

No other album this year took my breath away like The Chemistry of Common Life. I listen throughout the year to stuff that I play again and again, but a few years on I find myself not even thinking about those albums any more. The majority of this list probably falls into that category, to tell you the truth. This album is going to stick with me for a long time. It made me relish the rush of hearing a song once and then immediately playing it again at twice the volume. It gives me chills. It's an instant classic, and it made me believe in the power of music yet again.

Top 20 of 2008: #2

2009-02-14T17:45:00.002-05:00

2. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight

The Midnight Organ Fight - Fri...

I get the sense listening to Frightened Rabbit's second record that they consider themselves to still be amateurs. They talk a good deal in interviews about the short amount of time between when they first started playing together as a band and when they began recording their debut album. And you can really hear that amateurism on their first album, a garbled mess of mumbled lyrics and sluggish songs that is not worth anyone's time, even as a novelty. I'm quite glad that they still consider themselves to be amateurs on The Midnight Organ Fight, because if they didn't they might not have written such amazing, raw, risky songs or played them with such abandon. Let's hear it for the amateurs!

Even if they still feel like amateurs themselves, the songs on the record display a sophisticated grasp of structure and pace that is nowhere to be found on their first record. The one-two opening punch of "The Modern Leper" and "I Feel Better" is about as good an opening combo as can be found in pop music, and they set the tone of the album beautifully. This is a break-up album through and through, but unlike other break-up albums (I'm thinking specifically of Blood on the Trackshere), you don't any sense of hope or strength. These are self-flagellating, angry songs that point the finger of blame squarely into the mirror. It's unconventional, and it works beautifully.

Despite the startling unanimity of theme, there is a shining bright spot towards the middle of the record called "Old Old Fashioned," an entreaty to a lover to turn the TV off and dance to an old radio. It's a beautiful song, and it feels like an old Polaroid that briefly interrupts a really bad night of wallowing. And it's just as earnest and open as the rest of the album, with lines like "Give me soft, soft static, with a human voice underneath." It's quintessentially Scottish.

I think the best thing about The Midnight Organ Fight are the razor-sharp lyrics. These guys know a great couplet. Some of my favorites are:
"I am ill but I'm not dead, and I don't know which of those I'd prefer"
"I left the house without a fucking clue, and left New York City, girl, without you"
"I might not want you back but I want to kill him"
"You're the shit and I'm knee deep in it"
I'm hoping that we keep getting great stuff from these guys, but for some reason this feels like "one great album" syndrome. Somehow I feel like these guys hit on something here that they may not be able to recapture. I hope for all of our sakes that I'm wrong.

Top 20 Of 2008: #3

2009-02-13T14:10:00.002-05:00

3. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!

Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! - Nick Ca...

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly 25 years since Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds first rose from the ashes of The Birthday Party. That first Bad Seeds albums, From Her to Eternity, was everything Jim Morrison wanted to be but never could - dark, literate, interesting and intensely sexual. Morrison could never get past his own ego. You always felt like Nick Cave could take or leave all of us who admired him. He'd be doing it even if we never paid attention.

25 years on, Cave has released on of the best albums of his career. He and the Bad Seeds have been on a hot streak since 2004. That year's double album, Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus, established their credentials as one of the best, most interesting bands making music. It broadened the band's horizons beyond the "band of misfits and ne'er-do-wells" label that lazy critics had tended to slap on them. Then, in 2007, Grinderman burst onto the scene spewing fluids and vitriol all over everything and everyone in its path. It was an intensely sexual album, and it signaled that Cave and the Bad Seeds may have gotten older, but they were just as depraved and energetic as ever.

Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! continues the attitude begun on Grinderman, but whereas that album was a bit of a one-trick pony in my opinion, Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! is a wonderfully varied effort that touches on every facet of the band's songwriting, from the jaunty storytelling of the title track to the dirty-old-man attitude of "Today's Lesson" to the quiet menace of "Night of the Lotus Eaters" and "Jesus on the Moon." There are a number of biblical references on the record, although in an interview last year with Terry Gross, Cave described the album as his least religious album to date.

The Bad Seeds have never sounded more vital as a band. There are all sorts of squeaks and whirrs on this album that sound like power tools creating not just percussion but melody as well. One imagines the band as Stomp on acid, a group of men so self-assured and familiar with each other that they could make music with just about anything you gave them. They're so good that they embody Cave's lyric on "Today's Lesson": "There oughta be some kind of law against me goin' down the street." Other bands simply don't stand a chance.

Top 20 Of 2008: #4

2009-02-12T20:54:00.002-05:00

4. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals

Feed the Animals - Girl Talk

In terms of sheer listening time, Girl Talk is far and away the winner of 2008 for me. I listened to it while running, driving, working, pretty much anything. It's an incredible achievement, a mash-up album that feels like a living piece of art rather than a novelty. And it mashes together Kelly Clarkson and Nine Inch Nails. Brilliant.

Going back and listening to Girl Talk's previous records, it's kind of hard to see where Feed the Animals came from. The previous records were novelty pieces, sped up to the point of mutilation and lacking a coherent vibe. Granted, there were some pretty cool tricks up his sleeve, but they were largely forgettable affairs, just more mash-ups to add to the scrum.

Feed the Animals is different in several ways. First, it's a single piece rather than a collection of songs, and so it feels like it's always driving towards something and adding to the whole at every point. Additionally, Greg Gillis has slowed things down. He doesn't rely any more on hyper-accelerated beats and frenetic cuts to create a mood. Instead, he blends recognizable pop together using the strengths of each song to propel momentum forward. The snobs dismissed those who loved this record as being late to the mash-up party, but in all honesty this is the first mash-up record since The Grey Album that's actually relevant to a mainstream audience. Say what you want about him, at least Gillis isn't just talking to himself like so many others who do this.

I wrestled over whether to give such a high ranking to an album consisting of nothing but found sound, but at the end of the day this album was a watershed moment in music. In my mind it signals the mainstreaming of sampling culture and the end of a previous era of copyright. The fact that no one has yet sued Gillis is amazing. I'm sure someone eventually will, and then we'll have to decide as a country how much power we want to put in the hands of media companies. It's absurd that art like this can't be created without fear of legal bludgeoning. It's a sign of a broken legal system and a broken copyright system. Here's to hoping that the ability to remix and remake culture remains a vital part of our human rights.

Top 20 Of 2008: #5

2009-02-09T19:26:00.002-05:00

5. Blitzen Trapper - Furr

Furr - Blitzen Trapper

2008 was pretty much the year of shaggy, sensitive dudes making records that sound, if not made in bedrooms, at least written in them. Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and Elbow all had break-out albums, and rightly so; they're all really good. Bob Dylan and Neil Young put out reissues that showcased their more introspective sides. But none reached the heights or stretched the boundaries like this Blitzen Trapper record.

Part of the reason I became so enamored with Furr is its refusal to tone down the wild eclecticism that Blitzen Trapper is known for. The album trips along from lo-fi Beck indie folk to Basement Tapes-type rave-ups to fuzzy, raucous space-rock tunes. But where their first record got criticized for being all over the place and not having much of an identity, Furr is the sound of a band realizing how to blend all of its influences into just the right potent punch of country-rock muscle.

The title track tells the story of a boy raised by wolves who meets a girl, returns to civilization and then ultimately returns back to the wild. It feels really timeless, like something you might have found on an Alan Lomax field recording in some form. These guys are fantastic storytellers, and they accomplish the rare feat of telling vivid, compelling stories in their music without inviting the dreaded label of "literary songwriters." Everything feels really rock 'n roll, with big attitude that is accompanied by a big brain and a big heart.

These guys have big beards and sing about nature and girls. Much like those other bands that got so much more press this year. But whereas I feel that Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver don't have much breadth to their craft, Blitzen Trapper is about to grow into a truly great band, one that has the potential to make some era-defining music. Expect great things from these guys in the coming years, but in the meantime enjoy this piece of rock perfection.

Top 20 Of 2008: #6

2009-02-08T16:28:00.002-05:00

6. TV on the Radio - Dear Science

Dear Science - TV On The Radio

This album has been on the top of a lot of year-end lists, and for good reason; it's a towering achievement. It's political, passionate, optimistic and inventive. All the things that TV on the Radio are. And I guess that's why it's only at #6 on my list. As good as it is, it's not a surprise from these guys.

More than any other album this year, Dear Science captured a political mood. The past eight years have given rise to some great music that came out of anger at the Bush administration, but this year seemed to be a pause, a moment of anticipation rather than activity. TV on the Radio didn't go that route. They created an album that is angry and hopeful at the same time, a call to arms for people that have felt left out for a long time.

The album is self-consciously arty, almost like they're making a statement that they are now the norm, they are the ones who will lead the way in the new era that is about to begin. They are staking a claim to thought leadership coming out of a time when thought was not something that was valued. They rail against the media a lot on this album, from pundits to newspapers, but it never devolves into a screed against all things mass. They create vivid portraits of individuals affected in various ways by the state of things and the coming change. It's more like a book of short stories than a book of essays.

There's not a lot of change here from a musical point of view. Their music still has that sort of metallic sheen that it has always had. In fact, musically, this may be their weakest; three albums in it just doesn't seem as fresh. So from that point of view, listen to the first two records if you want to be blown away all over again. But if you're looking for a rallying cry for the new era, this is a damn good record. Fuck will.i.am. This is music for the new revolution.

Top 20 Of 2008: #7

2009-02-05T15:51:00.002-05:00

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

Viva La Vida Or Death And All ...

I'm sick of everyone hating on Coldplay.

They've been described as an indicator of homosexuality, as music that couldn't hurt a fly. I get that they're easy to dislike. They're wildly successful at creating anthems that are loved by people who don't think about music very much. And that's very accurate. But they also do a really great job of making music that does not collapse under the weight of its own pretensions.

Indie music fans tend to like music that you really need to think about to appreciate. I've been guilty of that many times (see Marnie Stern). And if you can accuse Colplay of anything, it's of appealing to the lowest common denominator and making music that is deliberately populist and unoffensive. But somebody's gotta make that kind of music, and if it has to be somebody, I want it to be Coldplay.

The reason is that they have gotten really good at experimenting within those narrow confines. I thought X and Y was a really big step forward for them, an expansion of their sound that took the good stuff and left the bad stuff. Viva La Vida does that again, and while it's not as much of a step forward, it's a damn fine album. There are several tracks on the record that stretch into several movements, shifting on a dime into new thematic territories. For a band that gets accused of not taking any risks, they sure are experimenting with what a pop song can be.

Give 'em a break.

Top 20 of 2008: #8

2009-02-04T18:39:00.002-05:00

8. Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter III

Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne

My mom was really into the George Michael album Faith when it came out. And when one of my parents was really into an album in those days, it meant that it was all we listened to for a few months. It happened with many notable albums, Genesis' Invisible Touch and Paul Simon's Rhythm of the Saints among them. I remember asking Mom why she liked George Michael so much, and she said, "He uses his voice as an instrument." I thought that was a cool sentiment, and it's stuck with me over the years.

Hearing Tha Carter III brought that phrase back to my mind from its first song "3 Peat." Forget what Lil' Wayne is saying and just pay attention to how evocative his voice is. A lot of people have criticized him for using an autotuner too much on this record, but I don't get that. I mean, I get the criticism in general, but not here. Unlike on Kanye's 808's and Heartbreak, which has wall-to-wall autotuner to cover up the fact that Mr. West can't sing worth a damn, the autotuner on Tha Carter III is used like a paintbrush by Lil' Wayne. He colors his songs with his own mangled voice to amplify his persona as a total freak. If the songs were mediocre it wouldn't work. But these songs are anything but mediocre.

There's not a better wordsmith working today. Incredible couplets like "Swallow my words, taste my thoughts / And if it's too nasty, spit it back at me" flow out of him easy as breathing. Granted, not every song here is great, but the ones that are are better than any other rap out there right now. He's got amazing cadence as well, jagged and hurried and completely unique. In a time when so much rap sounds processed and drained of life, you can feel Lil' Wayne in every word here.

The kicker is that he's also the savviest businessman since Jay-Z. He whipped people into a frenzy of anticipation for Tha Carter III by giving music away. Are you listening Sony? Warner? Got it? This is the way to sell millions and millions of records now. Mixtape after mixtape came out where he played with the musical themes that would eventually make up the album. And he gave them away. Tha Carter III is a fantastic, smart album that might just be the blueprint for the new blockbuster.

The Choir May Have Been A Bit Much

2009-02-01T20:14:00.002-05:00

We now interrupt my slow-as-molasses Top 20 list to comment on the Bruce Springsteen halftime show at the Super Bowl.

-10th Avenue Freezeout - hell of an opener.
-To quote Brad, "Bruce 1, camera 0". A slightly mistimed but highly entertaining little stunt.
-Born to Run had to be there, but it could have been a lot better. It seems like every year it gets a little more mumbly.
-Workin' on a Dream - new material. Yawn. And the choir was definitely overkill for a 45 second song bit.
-Glory Days - perfect closer, and in spite of myself I thought the ref throwing the Delay of Game flag was pretty funny.
-Overall, the Bruce showmanship was there in spades. A for effort.

All in all it was better than Petty's halftime show last year, but I don't think anyone is going to top Prince from two years ago. That was truly awesome. But Bruce did a great job, all things considered.

Oh, and Bob Costas just made a horrible "Born to Run" reference to Pittsburgh's play to end the half. Sigh.

Top 20 of 2008: #9

2009-01-28T20:39:00.002-05:00

9. Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals

All Hour Cymbals - Yeasayer

It's kind of hard to write about Yeasayer's debut album. I find myself running into the same problem I have writing about any world music (or, in this case, merely world-sounding music), namely that I have no context in which to place the music. I therefore can only evaluate it based on whether the music and/or the words are pleasing and meaningful to me, which if you subscribe to that theory means I would hate Lou Reed, Marnie Stern and Tom Waits. Thankfully for me, I try not to evaluate music simply based on aesthetics.

So maybe I could evaluate Yeasayer as a band using the cloak of world music to evaluate the world around them in simple terms. Being indie rockers, they probably feel a lot of pressure to be quite clever and erudite, even snarky, about evaluating the world around them. But looking at their lyrics, there's not a lot of depth there. It's stories about red caves, germs and sunrises. Hmmm....

Well, at any rate, I do love this record. You can tell they had a lot of fun making it. It's great to dance to at very loud volume. So what the hell. Who needs a reason?

Top 20 of 2008: #10

2009-01-23T16:54:00.002-05:00

10. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound

The '59 Sound - The Gaslight A...

I didn't hear this album until about three weeks ago, and when I did I had one of those "Oh God I have to totally rethink my Top 20 list" moments. The album really knocked me off my feet on first listen. That high didn't completely hold up over the ensuing weeks, but this is a damn fine record that deserves a lot more than Springsteen and Ramones comparisons. Although those comparisons are right.

I think a more interesting point of reference might be Social Distortion. They were one of the first bands to draw the connection between '50's greasers and '70's punks, and as a result they became a true cult band, not widely acclaimed but loved a small group of devout fans. The Gaslight Anthem add a lot to the aesthetic that Social Distortion established, namely the themes of escape and belonging that guys like Springsteen and Dylan were so good at capturing. And while they're not in that echelon, they do it better than just about anyone working today (including Springsteen and Dylan, although those two have since moved on to new things.)

The major criticism of this album is the same one all punk rock albums get: it all sounds pretty similar. And it really does keep them from greatness. It's only on a few songs, like "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" and "Here's Lookin At You, Kid," that they break out of their full-steam-ahead mode and add some depth to their music. But then variety isn't really the point with guys like these.

The point is that these are songs to pump your fist to, to yell out of open car windows on hopeful Friday nights. More than just about any album this year, The '59 Sound captures a mood and an attitude. The songs are hopeful, cynical, brash and vulnerable. It's earnest music that doesn't hide anything, and there's way too little of that stuff going around these days.

Top 20 of 2008: 15-11

2009-01-22T19:39:00.002-05:00

15. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins

The Stand Ins - Okkervil River

I didn't pay much attention to last year's The Stage Names even though it got a lot of attention and acclaim. Everything about Okkervil River seemed affected and too clever for me. Right off the bat, though, The Stand Ins is impossible to ignore. "Lost Coastlines" is an infectious, joyful piece of songwriting that never failed to cheer me up and get my head nodding, and the rest of the album actually keeps that energy going.

Will Sheff's lyrics are, to use a too-often-overused descriptor, Dylan-esque. In this case, it's the madcap, stream-of-consciousness Dylan of the Bringing It All Back Home era. It's almost as if he's afraid that the words are going to fly right out his ears if he doesn't get them out. This results in a singing style that I would describe as the exact opposite of Willie Nelson; whereas Nelson is always a quarter beat behind, Sheff is a quarter beat ahead.

"Pop Lie" is another raucous gem that really gets me going, but it's the quiet moments on the record that push it to another level for me. People with Sheff's talent with words often come across as disingenuous when they attempt to be heartfelt and earnest, but he pulls it off beautifully. When he sings "God knows I just want to make this white light big enough to climb inside with you," I really believe him.

14. Matthew Ryan - Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State

Matthew Ryan Vs. The Silver St...

Sensitive singer-songwriters usually don't come out with with innovative, career-defining albums. They tend to plod along gently, gradually perfecting their craft until they get to the level of Grant Lee Phillips - respected but not groundbreaking. Some notable exceptions are Josh Rouse's Under Cold Blue Stars and Patty Griffin's Flaming Red. Add to that list Matthew Ryan's latest.

A lot of people think that Ryan's last record, From a Late Night High Rise was his masterpiece, and while that record was incredibly powerful, Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State trumps it in terms of songwriting maturity and breadth. Ryan's raspy whisper of a voice is able to convey an incredibly dense and complex web of emotions here, and his songs stick in the head without becoming annoying or mundane.

He's a lyricist of rare talent, an introspective writer who never comes across as self-indulgent of navel-gazing. "American Dirt" is one of his best, an intense and caustic meditation on regret that gets better with every listen. Given where he's been as a songwriter, this record is a quantum leap and, hopefully, a sign of even better things to come.

13. Santogold - Santogold

Santogold - Santogold

Forget the hype and just listen to it with fresh, non-judgey ears. This is a fantastic record. Nuff said.

12. Walkmen - You & Me

You & Me - The Walkmen

From its very first notes, You & Me feels like an album that captures our present like few others do. It's music for this recession, not just any recession. This recession still feels unreal in a lot of ways. We see financial disasters, we know people who have lost their jobs, and yet it still feels distant and hazy. The Walkmen strike a perfect balance here between nervy, brooding melodies and lyrics that, for all their darkness, are actually pretty optimistic.

Those expecting a dramatic departure in sound from their previous records will be disappointed. The jangly guitars, half-screamed vocals and five boroughs imagery are still here in spades. What's different about this record is that all of that stuff has finally been put into a relevant package. I don't think many people actively disliked the Walkmen, but they weren't a very exciting or interesting band. Their strange mix of optimism and darkness just feels right now though.

Everyone talks about "In the New Year" as the quintessential song on the album, but for my money the opener, "Donde Esta La Playa," captures everything that's great about this album. It begins with rolling drums and bass, with a world-weary vocal performance that then gives way to a screaming chorus, and then it all goes quiet again. The record is a wonderful ride, from start to finish.

11. Sigur Ros - Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust

Med sud I eyrum vid spilum end...

I feel like I've never really "gotten" Sigur Ros. They were good music to fall asleep to, or background music for staring off into the distance, or music to play before a staff meeting. They were novel but not interesting.

"Gobbledigook" smashes that all to hell. It begins with a single snare, followed by a strumming acoustic guitar, followed by an entire jungle of percussion screaming along in a joyous cacophony. It's fantastic, energetic and unlike anything they've done before.

My friend Tara described this album as "like standing on top of a mountain." I really can't think of a better description. It makes you glad to be alive, and I can't think of a better purpose for music than that.

Top 20 Of 2008: 20 - 16

2009-01-03T16:32:00.007-05:00

20. Deerhunter - Microcastle

Microcastle - Deerhunter

It is rarely a good thing for albums to flirt with mythology before they are even released, particularly when those albums are described as “taking the band into the next phase” or “raising the bar.” It usually ends in unmet expectations and disappointment.

No so with Microcastle. It leaked half a year before its release and was hailed as a masterpiece, and it largely lives up to those expectations. Bradford Cox is a songwriter in the vein of Stephen Malkmus and Bob Pollard, not content to let his melodies off too easy. They must compete with the texture and complication that he gives them through noisier elements. The meleodies thus have to be incredibly strong in order to shine through the haze.

If there’s a fault I can find with the album, it’s that it’s a bit too divided. The opening and closing sections are fantastically diverse, but the middle of the record is an ambiguous wash of drone and noise. It’s interesting, but it would be a lot more interesting if Cox had crafted those fragments into songs. Despite this, however, Microcastle is a fantastic listen, an album full of great songs that are somehow better as a whole than they are as component parts.

19. Army Navy - Army Navy

Army Navy - Army Navy

From the very first drum roll on Army Navy’s debut album, you sense that these guys live on the sunny side of life. Insanely poppy hooks and near-bubblegum sensibilities abound, and it’s great listening. It’s also a great antidote to the sad bearded dudes who are dominating indie music of late.

There’s not a lot of great lyrical content here. Frontman Justin Kennedy is an alum of Pinwheel, Ben Gibbard’s band before starting Death Cab for Cutie, and it’s clear who had the literary chops. But Army Navy more than make up for it with songs that transcend their sometimes cheesy peppiness and never devolve into a sugary mess. There’s a lot of sophistication in these songs. It’s like if Fountains of Wayne never got famous and dulled the edges of this music.

While the album is not incredibly diverse, they do manage to sound almost pensive on songs like “Slight of Hand” and “In the Lime,” slowing things down without getting boring. It was a frequent soundtrack to my Southern California summer. Guitars don’t get much more jangly than this.

18. Cat Power - Jukebox

Jukebox - Cat Power

Nobody does covers quite like Chan Marshall. She wraps her choices in her shimmery haze, evening out the inconsistencies without dumbing everything down. Every pick seems incredibly logical when you hear it, even when they’re as disparate as Hank Williams and James Brown.

Marshall has become an incredibly confident vocalist, and it’s her voice that’s the real attraction here. Once you get past the novelty of some of the changes she makes to these songs, you’re left with a sense of just how powerful her singing has become. The band is great, but she is always the star here.

It’s hard to pick standout tracks, but it’s actually her own “Metal Heart” that caught my ear the most. It displays a lot of maturity as a songwriter, which is particularly gratifying considering her tantrum-laden past. It also makes me able to say, for the first time, that I’m genuinely looking forward to the next Cat Power record.

17. School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms

Alpinisms - School of Seven Be...

Women with ethereal voices always get me, but my fascination usually fades with time. All the pretty voices in the world can’t make up for a lack of good songs. Thankfully, Alpinisms has both in spades.

Given guitarist Benjamin Cutis’s time with The Secret Machines, it’s no surprise that School of Seven Bells manages to find great songs in the midst of atmospherics. While not as metronomic and measured as the songs of his former band, the songs on Alpinisms show every bit as much maturity and willingness to stretch beyond convention. There’s a depth to the lyrics that lifts the songs above the usual New Age trappings that drag the genre down.

Above all, the voices of the Deheza sisters make this album. They duck and weave around each other, mixing in ways that suggest that they have been singing together since they were little girls. That familiarity is what makes this album shine.

16. She & Him - Volume 1

Volume One - She & Him

Maybe Volume I is just a delicacy, a fluffy record made by a pretty actress who happens to also have a pretty voice. Maybe it is just a retread of AM radio melodies and girl group sentimentality. Maybe it is the least accomplished work M. Ward has done.

Or maybe it’s a fantastic rediscovery of a genre that is often imitated but rarely done well. Maybe M. Ward’s arrangements indicate a maturity that extends beyond his usual virtuosity and propels him into a new phase as a musician. Maybe his guitar has never sounded as good as it does with Zooey Deschanel’s voice.

Whatever you believe about this record, it’s clear that these guys are having a great time making music together. This is a joyous, energetic album that still makes me smile when I listen to it. And for what it’s worth, their version of “You Really Gotta Hold On Me” might just top the original.

Top 25 Songs of 2008 (In No Particular Order)

2008-12-17T16:20:00.002-05:00

My buddy and awesome blogger Tara did this a few years ago, and I really enjoyed it. So here goes mine for 2008, which is turning out to be a much better year for music than I thought two months ago.

"2080" by Yeasayer
And the moon shines bright on the water tonight, so we won’t drown in the summer sound.

"Dig, Lazarus Dig!!" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
He never asked to be raised up from the tomb, I mean, no one ever actually asked him to forsake his dreams.

"Buffalo" by Kathleen Edwards
But I've run aground truth be told, and when it comes to me, I'll let you know.

"Cobwebs" by Ryan Adams
I always pause if I can on Fifth Avenue, look uptown with my head in the stars.

"Slight of Hand" by Army Navy
The thought of you makes me manic and brings tears to my eyes.

"Lovers in Japan" by Coldplay
They are turning my head out to see what I'm all about.

"Thirty-One Today" by Aimee Mann
I thought my life would be better by now, but it's not and I don't know where to turn.

"The Twist" by Frightened Rabbit
Twist and whisper the wrong name, I don't care nor do my ears, twist yourself around me, I need company I need human heat.

"Halfway Home" by TV on the Radio
The efforts to allay your dread, in spite of all you knew and said, were hard to see and harder still to say.

"Inner City Pressure" by Flight of the Conchords
You know you're not in high finance, considering secondhand underpants.

"Metal Heart" by Cat Power
How selfish of you to believe in the meaning of all the bad dreaming.

"Lights Out" by Santogold
TV's dead, where's there to run, watch everybody come undone.

"Lost Coastlines" by Okkervil River
And see how that light you love now just won't shine, there might just be another star that's high and far in some other sky.

"Whatever You Like" by Weird Al
You like Top Ramen, need Top Ramen, got a cupboard-full of 'em, I'll keep 'em comin', you want it I got it, go get it just heat it, dump a flavor packet on it and eat it.

"Half Asleep" by School of Seven Bells
These things I say I mean are just traces of something I long to feel again

"Four Provinces" by The Walkmen
Hey you, am I getting through? You're shining now as a crater in the moonlight.

"Furr" by Blitzen Trapper
You can wear your fur like a river on fire, but you'd better be sure if you're making God a liar.

"White Winter Hymnal" by Fleet Foxes
I was following the pack all swallowed in their coats, with scarves of red tied round their throats.

"A Milli" by Lil' Wayne
Who that said they gon' beat Lil' Wayne, my name ain't Bic but I keep that flame.

"Bryn" by Vampire Weekend
Oh Bryn, you see through the dark, right past the fireflies that sleep in my heart.

"Doves" by The Black Angels
I think you're nervous, prove me wrong.

"This Is Not a Test" by She & Him
The summit doesn't differ from the deep, dark valley, and the valley doesn't differ from the kitchen sink.

"Cath..." by Death Cab for Cutie
As the flashbulbs burst she holds a smile, like someone would hold a crying child.

"Home" by David Byrne & Brian Eno
Heaven knows what keeps mankind alive, every hand goes searching for its partner in crime.

"Great Expectations" by The Gaslight Anthem
I saw taillights last night in a dream about my first wife, everybody leaves and I'd expect as much from you.

And a hint...fifteen of these songs are from albums on my year-end Top 20 list, coming soon. Happy holidays everyone!

Love The Santa Pics

2008-12-09T12:44:00.002-05:00

Sneaks Up On You

2008-12-08T21:07:00.002-05:00

I've been thinking all year how crappy this year was in terms of music. So why can I not narrow my end-of-the-year list under 30 albums? Stay tuned folks, this one's getting heated!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

2008-11-27T14:26:00.001-05:00

I am thankful for football and beer today. And all of you beautiful people as well.

The Art of the Interview

2008-11-20T17:22:00.000-05:00

One of the unintended consequences of our move to L.A. has been that I’ve become an avid podcast listener. At the same time, mainly because of the election, I have also started watching Charlie Rose, Meet the Press and a number of other news (and opinion) shows. I have thus begun to be much more critical of interviewers and their styles, and I have also realized just how hard a job it is.

The granddaddy of interviewers working today, in my mind, is Charlie Rose. The guy is simply unflappable. See his recent interview of the slimy T. Boone Pickens for 60 Minutes or any of his shows on the economic meltdown. Or check how deftly he handles guests as disparate as Jay-Z and Antonin Scalia:

And, my absolute favorite of his interviews, Neil Young:

I think what I love most about Charlie Rose is that he elegantly guides each of his guests to explain themselves in terms that are clear, concise and, most of the time, flattering to themselves. I have yet to see him make anyone look like a fool.

On the other side of the “fool” coin, there’s Katie Couric. Now I never thought much of Couric as an interviewer or personality, and her reporting always seemed stiff and wooden to me. Her interview with Sarah Palin, however, was a study in how to pin someone down and not let them deflect questions. Unlike Charlie Gibson, who came across as smug and condescending, Couric always prodded Palin along and gave her every opportunity to explain herself. It really made me take another look at her as an interviewer:

A lot of people hold up various NPR personalities as good interviewers, but aside from Robert Siegel no one blows my skirt up. Garrison Kieler is annoying and egotistical. Terry Gross is so biased and klunky in most of her interviews it’s sometimes embarrassing (although I still religiously listen to Fresh Air because of the caliber of the guests she pulls in. Ira Glass has gotten better over the years, but he inserts his own personality and viewpoint into ever interview. It’s the curse of NPR that they get people who are too decidedly liberal for their own good. This from a die-hard liberal…

And then there’s the inimitable Studs Terkel. He’s been in the news quite a bit lately because of his death a few weeks ago, and NPR has been running a lot of commentary on his life and work. More than any other interviewer I’ve seen or heard, Terkel embodies the joy of curiosity. He was an incredible interviewer because he was genuinely curious about people. He didn’t approach them with any preconceived point of view or agenda. He just marveled at how beautiful and mysterious people can be:

Oh, that everyone were so interested in those around them.

Unparalleled

2008-10-15T19:55:00.001-05:00

Via Andrew Sullivan's excellent blog:

Breathtaking.

Book Review: LES Edition

2008-09-07T15:55:00.005-05:00

In honor of my trip to New York (and the reading time it gave me on the plane), I am writing a review of my newest Kindle completion, Richard Price's Lush Life. I first heard about this book on NPR's excellent program Studio 360. I don't typically dig crime novels that much, but I was intrigued by the way Price (the author of novels like Clockers and The Wanderers) described the way the Lower East Side functioned as the main character in the novel intrigued me, so I gave it a go.

The book centers around the murder of Ike Marcus, an aspiring actor/artist who tends bar on the Lower East Side. The real story, though, is about taking apart the Lower East Side as an example of the way gentrification operates and the way a few blocks in New York can contain more stories than an entire city. He paints vivid portraits of the different groups that make up those few blocks, from the cops to the trust fund kids to the project folks. He also examines how these groups see each other and react to each other in surprising and unexpected ways. He is a master of capturing the essence of a city.

While the plot is obviously not the point of a Richard Price novel, he does a great job of making the reader care about how the investigation into the murder develops. The story never becomes overbearing or goes off track, and he artfully uses it to reveal his characters. They jump off the page. In fact, there are too many characters for the story to hold. I found myself wanting to know more and more about characters incidental to the plot, and if there's one criticism that I have of the book it's that the supporting cast sometimes shine too brightly and take focus away from the main characters. It's not a bad problem to have.

Nostalgia works in very interesting ways. When I read books or see movies about New York, I often yearn for my days as a New Yorker. Each one accomplishes that differently. Winter's Tale makes me remember New York as a city of possibilities, even possibilities beyond the realm of logic. The Professional reveals the city as a jungle and playground for those willing to risk. Lush Life may be the first one to make me yearn for New York without sugarcoating it at all. Get it and savor it.

Asstard: The Dance Mix

2008-08-28T11:59:00.000-05:00

Me Right Now

2008-08-15T18:49:00.001-05:00

Just got a new computer at work. Love me some Mac action.

Kindle Love

2008-08-01T01:04:00.002-05:00

I had been flirting with getting a Kindle, Amazon's new wireless reading device, for a while. Then my loving, insightful parents gave me one for my birthday a month ago. I had been holding off getting one because I was afraid that it just wouldn't be the same as reading ordinary books, that I wouldn't be able to get lost in the story in the same way.

I was dead wrong.

The Kindle is fabulous. So far I have read The Host by Stephenie Meyer (decent but dragged on), When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris (moments of hilarity, and Netherland by Joseph O'Neill (brilliant so far). I have gotten totally and completely lost in all of them. The Kindle is not backlit, so it doesn't hurt your eyes, and its navigation buttons are intuitive and easy to use. Plus, new books only cost ten bucks, so I'm reading stuff that normally I wouldn't be able to afford until they came out in paperback.

The Kindle rocks, even if you're not as obsessed with books as I am. I heartily recommend it.

New Tool

2008-07-26T15:24:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone!

Sorry I've been away for a while. Work's been nuts, blah blah blah.

I've discovered a great new online tool called Muxtape, which allows me to upload twelve songs and create an online mix for all you wonderful folks to listen to. My mux is over at inboundgowanus.muxtape.com. It's got some songs I've been listening to a lot lately on it:

1. Oxford Collapse - Bikini Atoll
I've been into these guys since their excellent debut Remember the Night Parties. This one's a summery little indie rock gem.

2. Tift Merritt - Broken
I've never really loved Tift Merritt's stuff. I think she's a bit overrated. This song, though, is a perfect country-pop gem that's right in time for summer.

3. The Black Angels - Doves
These guys take their name from a Velvet Underground song, and that's certainly not all they take. But they manage to make a unique sound despite the obvious similarities.

4. The Whigs - Right Hand on my Heart
A sound straight outta a jet engine. Awesome!

5. Frightened Rabbit - The Twist
The best of the sad bastard Scottish bands. One of the best records of the year so far.

6. Aimee Mann - Freeway
She's never written a bad song. And this one is great for belting out when you actually are stuck on the freeway.

7. Santogold - Lights Out
Believe the hype. She rules!

8. Yeasayer - 2080
World music made by Brooklyn hipsters. So much better than that description makes it sound.

9. Vampire Weekend - Cape Kod Kwassa Kwassa
I know some of you are probably sick of these guys. I don't care.

10. The Avett Brothers - Murder in the City
These guys have a new EP out, a quieter affair than usual. The wit is still razor-sharp.

11. Chris Bathgate - The Last Parade on Ann St.
I know nothing about this guy. I think that makes the song even better.

12. Girl Talk - Shut the Club Down
Insane.

I just got back from Miami, and the most interesting thing happened. I actually found out that I missed humidity. As much as I hated it when I was living back east, I really miss it now. Weird.

Youth Is Wasted On The Young

2008-06-01T02:54:00.002-05:00

My favorite new things is the blog Things Younger Than John McCain. You'd be amazed the things that are younger than the Republican presidential candidate, including the margarita, the 5 digit zip code, and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Fantastic.

Charlie Rose

2008-05-25T00:05:00.002-05:00

I really love Charlie Rose. The guy is just on point. I've never seen anyone who asks such pointed, insightful questions while keeping his guests completely at ease. I'm watching him talk to Jeff Zucker now, and he's cutting through the talking head bull that Zucker is trained to spew and making him have a point of view on digital content, not just puking out a bunch of buzzwords like NBC has trained him to do.

They're talking a lot about Hulu, and I have to hand it to them, it's a pretty awesome site. And because Netflix streaming content doesn't yet work on Mac (sigh), Hulu is the closest thing to what I think the future of online content might look like.

Speaking of content online, I'm really digging my Emusic subscription. I was skeptical at first, but I get great music there every month. This month I've downloaded the Santogold album (good but not as good as you've heard), the new French Kicks (just as good as Two Thousand), and Kaki King, who can scorch an acoustic guitar like Rodrigo y Gabriela. Good stuff.

On a final note, we're all settled into our house in Redondo Beach, and that means it's time for all of you to come visit! We have a white picket fence, and you can see the ocean from our backyard. Go west, people!

This One's For Mom

2008-05-12T00:02:00.002-05:00

A photo I know will make my mom happy:

Our Backyard

2008-04-25T16:39:00.000-05:00

Our New House

2008-04-25T16:37:00.000-05:00

Great Lyrics

2008-04-25T12:45:00.002-05:00

"Are you still training for the big race by hoping the runners will die?"
-The Long Winters

Wish us luck in our move this weekend! I will post some pictures of our awesome new house soon.

Hatin' On The Media

2008-04-18T13:04:00.003-05:00

In this week where the media is coming under so much scrutiny for the way it covers, trivializes and denigrates our country and our world, I came across this snipet from Fox News.

I only wish that we would allow our politicians to be as open and direct as this man. I thought it was a particularly salient point, and one that has not been discussed in any major new outlet that I've seen, that Senator Obama and Reverend Wright are operating in two entirely different roles, one as Senator and one as preacher. Trying to equate those two roles, and trying to transfer systems of beliefs simply through association, is absolutely ridiculous. I am heartbroken that this issue continues to come up this way.

I am seriously considering boycotting ABC after that debate. Lost sucks now anyway.

Attention Rockers: THIS Is How To Age Well

2008-04-12T15:17:00.002-05:00

A new album from Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds is always cause for celebration, but I was particularly giddy about Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!, which came out on Tuesday. I have to say, this video went a long way to stoking that excitement:

How friggin' cool is Nick Cave? And he's fifty years old! I love him for the same reasons I love Tom Waits. People who hate him insist that he never does anything different, that all his songs sound the same. People who love him find a universe of variety in his music, and the new record is no different. It starts out with the tour de force title track, the best song I've heard in months and months. He keeps along the path he began following with last year's Grinderman, but he tempers the raw sexual energy of that album with all the menace and incredible literacy of his best work with the Bad Seeds. I'm not sure if I love it as much as 2004's Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus, but regardless of its place in the Bad Seeds' canon, it's a testament to the infinite variety and beauty of the creative pursuit that a guy like Nick Cave is still creating vibrant, relevant music thirty years into his career.

God, I Love Warren Zevon

2008-04-02T12:49:00.002-05:00

He's criminally underrated. I'd go so far as to say he is as good a songwriter as they come, right up there with Springsteen and Tom Waits.

And The Kin, but that's a different story entirely.

Terrible. F.

2008-03-24T13:12:00.002-05:00

Via Copyranter:

These are awful, terrible, no-good ads. So friggin' lazy.

People who pawn this sort of garbage off are as bad as what they rail against. I understand and agree with the sentiments expressed here, but if you really feel that way, put something worthwhile out into the world rather than some dumb manifesto videos with a logo tacked onto the end. Set an example rather than telling people how to feel about culture. Idiots. Gah!

Work It, Own It

2008-03-21T12:05:00.000-05:00

There Goes A Game Changer

2008-03-18T15:42:00.001-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T11:52:00.001-05:00

Reason #894 why I love the Muppets:

Fair Play

2008-03-14T17:05:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I Think They Just Tell Me What I Want To Hear

2008-03-14T15:49:00.002-05:00

Cool SXSW Drawings

2008-03-14T11:54:00.003-05:00

These awesome sketches were done by Mike Rohde (blog here), a design writer. They are his notes from the convention. Cool stuff. I love it.

Around the Internets

2008-03-13T20:01:00.004-05:00

Since Brad discontinued his blog, I'm going to steal one of his ideas, Around the Internets. This is where I compile some interesting things I found wandering around the tubes. Enjoy!

-Daily Kos has a great post about the Clinton campaign's two-pronged strategy for closing out primary season by trying to discredit both Obama and the primary process.

-AOL buys Bebo. Who? And they're buying what?

-The speculation is that Michael is coming back on Lost. I for one would give him a swift kick in the junk.

-Yet another reason to leave Los Angeles.

-I've been taking advantage of the Daily Lit, and it rocks. I'm currently receiving Swann's Way by Proust, and it's quite an experience. It's wonderful experiencing a novel so entirely rooted in the idea of the fleeting nature of memory in chunks that almost operate like memories do, providing respite from reality. Good stuff, and entirely free!!

-Blender, a publication I normally avoid, has an interesting list of the 20 biggest record company screw-ups of all time. Old favorites like the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot end-around-on-themselves, the Sisyphus-esque horror of Chinese Democracy, and some dude passing on the Beatles are represented. Most notable, however, is that three of the top ten have to do with the music industry's anti-piracy efforts. Unusually relevant stuff from the purveyors of Maxim.

That's what I got for now, fools. Ah, the Flaming Lips just came on. Must go float away in blissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers

2008-03-10T22:34:00.002-05:00

I've got a big thing for Kathleen Edwards. Her last album, Back to Me,is one of my favorite albums of the decade, one that I still listen to as much today as I did when it came out three years ago. She is a songwriter of rare quality. It's not an overstatement to say that her songs can hold their own against the best of Neil Young and Ryan Adams.

Needless to say, I was delightfully surprised last week when I discovered that one day earlier her follow-up, Asking for Flowers, was out. While it doesn't quite reach the heights of Back to Me, it's a solid effort. The first song, "Buffalo," is as good as anything she's ever written. It's a gradually building study of seasonal romance, and it's marvelous. Her voice sends me over the moon. She's seriously got one of the best voices around.

Nothing else on the album quite reaches those heights, but there are some really solid tracks. "Alicia Ross" is a devastating story about a woman telling her mother about the man who killed her, and "Oil Man's War" is a roaring indictment of ... well, you know. All in all it's a good listen, and it shows that she's not just a flash in the pan.

ALSO, if you haven't already checked out the Amplive remixes of In Rainbows, get your ass over there and check that mess out. You won't be sorry you did.

ALSO x 2, I would like to retract my prediction that Juno would annoy me. It rocks.

In Defense Of Words

2008-03-08T22:39:00.003-05:00

I’ve been watching this presidential election with a lot of interest. This is mainly because, like a lot of other people my age and younger, I finally feel like I’ve found someone in Senator Obama who makes me feel good when I think about voting. I’ve hesitated to really trumpet my political views before now, but something is really beginning to piss me off and I want to write about it.

Senator Clinton has made it a point to attack Obama with the argument that what he offers is words rather than solutions (which ostensibly she offers). She says that his words are what his entire campaign is built upon, that hope is merely an empty promise, and that his message of unification is merely that, a message that will remain only a message.

I understand that Clinton has been in the Senate four years longer than Obama. I understand that she has had the experience of putting forth a health care plan to the nation. I understand that she has visited 80 countries. I’ve visited 11 myself. Very exciting.

I take issue with the implication that words somehow don't matter. Words are terribly important in my mind. Some words that I think are particularly important at the moment are: diplomacy, imperialism, scare tactics, and yes, unification.

I believe that words are an indication of how someone thinks about the world. Senator Clinton talks about the country as if it is a challenge for her to solve, a proving ground for her to live up to her potential. Senator Obama talks about the country as if it is a wonder, an amazing gem with the potential to be so much more than it is. Which one sounds better to you?

I respect what Senator Clinton has done, and I have no doubt about her intentions. But being the First Lady counts little towards foreign policy experience. I love her husband, but they both have shown a scary ambition that often eclipses their good intentions.

How one speaks about the world, about the things he loves, is in my mind the clearest indication of what kind of leader he is. And from what I have seen of these two candidates, Senator Obama has an ability to lead the country that has less to do with experience than it has to do with optimism and energy. And I think that’s what we desperately need right now.

It makes me sad to see the kinds of statements that Senator Clinton has made about her opponents in this race. I put a lot more stock in how she has conducted herself than the fact that she lived in the White House for eight years. I just hope that enough people see it that way as well.

NYC > LA

2008-03-02T14:22:00.002-05:00

Watching The Gates yesterday afternoon on HBO, I was reminded of why I love New York City so much, and consequently I began to realize why I don’t like Los Angeles. The Gates is a documentary about Jean-Claude and Christo’s magnificent art project in Central Park. They were made of orange metal and fabric and lined the pathways of Central Park for two weeks in February of 2005. The film outlines the process of bringing The Gates to life, a process that took several decades and an incredible amount of tenacity, and also chronicles the reactions of New Yorkers to the installation, most of which were overwhelmingly positive.

The Gates were up during my last winter living in New York. I remember going up to Central Park with my best friend Ted and wandering around awestruck. We really had no words to describe The Gates. They were extraordinary. The best part, though, was the people around us. When you live in New York you come to detest but tolerate crowds. You avoid places like Times Square and The Great Lawn and try to capture your own New York that you don’t have to share with the city. The Gates drew a lot of their power, however, from the fact that they were a shared experience. They drew people into Central Park and forced us to be around each other, to interact with each other. I struck up conversations about art and the nature of collective experiences with complete strangers that day. The Gates invited the people of the city to be at their best, to celebrate art with each other.

I can’t imagine such an experience in Los Angeles. People simply don’t interact here in the same way. We drive around in our cars all day. We don’t have faces to put to the people around us, and that invites us to treat them as objects rather than as humans. There is also a complete lack of identity for any area of the city. For the most part, the only way to tell where you are by the amount of parking there is. Park Slope has an identity. The Upper East Side has an identity. Venice and Santa Monica do not, in my experience. It’s a city structure that doesn’t invite interaction or spontaneity, either. A night out in the East Village meant that you would most likely meet up with at least three different groups of friends and hang out. Los Angeles is so spread out and cloistered that it’s impossible to have that same sort of experience.

But, I don’t want this to turn into a rant. Watching The Gates made me realize how much I miss New York’s energy and generosity of spirit. It really is the greatest city in the world.

FREE!!!

2008-02-29T19:59:00.003-05:00

Today I got my hot little hands on the latest issue of Wired, and I have to say I can't wait to sink my teeth into Chris Anderson's cover story on the "cult of free." For those who don't know Anderson, he's Wired's Editor in Chief and author of the book The Long Tail, one of the most influential business books of the past decade. Normally I hate business books because so few of them actually have a point, but The Long Tail was different. Anderson argued in the book that mass culture is over, that the democratization of production and distribution has made it possible for companies (and individuals) to cater to increasingly niche markets. Consumers will arrange themselves into what he calls the long tail, increasingly smaller groups of people bound together by common interests. The great companies of the future will be the ones who can effectively identify and speak authentically to these micro-markets.
I haven't read the new article yet, but what I think Anderson is going to argue is that those same declining production and distribution costs that created the long tail are not eliminating mass culture so much as they are forcing those who want to cater to enormous audiences to offer their products and services for free (or nearly free). What they lose in traditional revenue they can make up for in advertising revenue and increased brand exposure/equity. We see this playing out in nearly every industry right now, particularly the various entertainment industries. I've gone on at length about my anger at the music industry for not realizing the potential of emerging technologies, so I won't belabor that point. But I'm very interested to hear what Anderson has to say on the subject.

More Oscar Week

2008-02-23T21:01:00.002-05:00

Don't bother! American Gangster is a mess, a bloated film barely held together by subpar performances from amazing actors. I love Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, I think they're both among the best actors around. But not even they can save this film from Ridley Scott's heavy-handed direction and Steve Zaillian's predictable script.
The film follows the rise and fall of Frank Lucas, a Harlem drug dealer who makes a fortune for himself importing heroin from Vietnam. Right from the start the story loses its way, stuttering along aimlessly. Montage after montage show Lucas rising at the expense of junkies everywhere. I can't help but be reminded of Team America's jokes about montages in action films substituting for an actual story. Denzel Washington does the best he can with the one-dimensional portrayal of Lucas in the script, but I don't think any actor alive could have presented Lucas as anything but a stereotype. When the film finally did get around to making a point, I couldn't help but think, "Really? That's it?"
Ruby Dee has about five minutes of screen time. She has one good scene, and she does it well. Unfortunately I haven't seen any of the other films in this category, but I've heard wonderful things about all of the other performances except Saoirse Ronan's. I simply can't justify pulling for Ms. Dee as a substitute for a "Lifetime Achievement" award. It's an unfortunate practice of the Academy that I hope doesn't happen this year as well. However, as Tara argues, she is an "adorable little 83-year-old lady," and it's hard to root against her! I guess I'm going to have to pull for Tilda Swindon here, she always impresses me and I've heard she's amazing in Michael Clayton.

More Oscar Week

2008-02-22T20:41:00.003-05:00

A few nights ago Becca and I watched The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, a movie almost as long as its title. Not to say that it wasn't good. It's an absolutely beautiful film. I once again assert that Roger Deakins is the greatest cinematographer ever, living or dead. He's up for two Oscars this year, for this film and for No Country for Old Men. I actually think his work here is stronger. The tale lends itself to more visual sumptuousness, and it really plays to his strengths as a Director of Photography.
The supporting cast is incredible, not just Casey Affleck but also Sam Rockwell, Paul Schneider and Garret Dillahunt (who also played Wendell in No Country, in case you're keeping score.) It was like a who's who of my favorite character actors! Affleck really does stand out in the film though, and it's clear why the Academy singled him out. His portrayal of Robert Ford is both creepy and heartbreaking, and sometimes you just want to cry for his awkwardness. It's a great leap forward for him, and it leads me to believe he might just show us some great things in the future.
There are a couple of weak spots in the film. First, the story meanders towards the end. There is too much time devoted to Ford's story after he kills James. This should have been gone through at a good clip, and although it develops Ford's character a bit more, it's not worth the significant increase to the running time. Second, Mary-Louise Parker, an extremely gifted actress, is absolutely squandered in the film. She plays James's wife, and aside from one or two lines of dialogue she has absolutely no role in the film. I have to believe that there was a whole side story involving her that got cut because of time, because it's just distracting having someone like her in a role made for a block of wood.
The film's main failing is Brad Pitt's, though. For the first half of the film he's superb, all menace and charisma done in a very subtle way. The second half, however, he falls into his 12 Monkeys comfort zone. He chews the scenery and laughs maniacally until you have to pick fragments of his performance out of your skull because he's hit you over the head with it so many times. He hasn't been able to move past this tendency when he's taken on roles like this, and I'm beginning to think he never will. He's gonna have to play a mentally challenged civil rights attorney who's running a marathon in order to ever get an Oscar for himself.
The film's long running time may turn some off, but it's worth watching. There's some great stuff, and the first half in particular weaves a pretty powerful spell.

Happy Oscar Week

2008-02-18T22:04:00.002-05:00

This year I've been really bad about keeping up with the Oscar contenders. I'm going to try to make up for it this week by seeing as many of the nominees as I can. I began this afternoon with No Country for Old Men, and I hope at the very least to see a few more of the best picture nominees before the week is out. No Country for Old Men is the frontrunner thus far in the Best Picture race, and with good reason. It really is a masterpiece for the Coens, who have long been ignored by the Academy. Coming up strong behind is Juno, the sole feel-good movie in the category. I get the feeling that Juno is going to annoy me, but I don't want to pass judgment before I see it. There Will Be Blood has also been getting a lot of attention lately, but seeing as Daniel Day-Lewis seems to be the surest bet of the night, I don't think Best Picture is in the cards. Plus, I'm sure that Paul Anderson will have many more shots at the big one.
My personal favorites of the acting nominees are Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises (for the sheer balls it took to play do that shower scene, har har), Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose (an amazing transformation), and Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men (literally gave me chills). I haven't seen any of the Supporting Actress nominees yet, but I have Gone Baby Gone at home right now from Netflix.
Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

Cool Cat

2008-02-18T14:45:00.002-05:00

I'm really digging the new Cat Power record, Jukebox. It's not a gigantic step forward from The Greatest, which in the eyes of most critics who have written about the album means that it's not as worthy of praise. I, however, beg to differ. As much as I liked The Greatest, some of her songs don't lend themselves to the hushed style of that album. It's the same problem people have with Bright Eyes' newer stuff. It's hard to change the way you write songs. Whereas The Greatest was deliberately slick at times, Jukebox feels comfortable and natural, like she's been playing with these songs since she was a girl. And that's just what she's doing, playing with the songs. She turns "New York" from a Sinatra standard into what I'm sure will become one of her signature tunes. And she turns George Jackson's "Aretha, Sing One For Me" an album high point. She moves fluidly from country to soul to jazz, and the songs she's picked to cover are really inspired choices. And her version of Dylan's "I Believe in You" absolutely kills. Having heard a number of shitty Dylan covers in my day, I understand how hard it can be to cover his tunes well. Makes me wish I hadn't ditched her set at Bonnaroo two years ago.

All Hail The Whigs!

2008-02-17T15:18:00.002-05:00

It's rare to find a band with a rhythm section like The Whigs any more. It's not that nobody pays attention any more, or that there's a lack of talent out there. It's that it takes a subtle interplay of instruments to create a great rhythm section. Bands that have done it amazingly (Nirvana, The Who and, much as I hate to admit it, Dave Matthews Band) involve the entire band in crafting propulsive, innovative rhythms. The Whigs are one such band.
I hadn't heard them before Mission Control came out, and from what I've heard of their debut, Give 'Em All A Big Fat Lip, I didn't miss much. There are some cool songs, but the Whigs' sound is not well presented in such a lo-fi way. They craft a solid wave of rock goodness that's meant to surround you. Rob Schnapf gives them a lot of room to breathe on Mission Control, and it's only on Mission Control that the true power of Julian Dorio, their amazing drummer, comes across. I can't wait to see these guys live, because I bet this guy is an absolute monster to watch. And the songs are incredibly catchy as well. Among the standouts are "Like a Vibration," the monster opener, "Sleep Sunshine," a lilting lullaby of a tune, and "Right Hand on my Heart," my candidate for Song of the Year so far. Check out the video, it's pretty infectious:

So check the album out. It's on EMusic, iTunes, Amazon, or whatever you're into. You won't be sorry you did.

Top 20 Of 2007: 5 - 1

2008-02-10T20:28:00.000-05:00

5. Tegan and Sara - The Con
I’ve always admired artists who can make the teenage experience sound like it really is. Most portray it one-dimensionally, either a celebration of epic proportions or an angst-filled mess. Both are true, and it takes a rare talent to mix those two things together and make it palatable to both adults and kids. Tegan and Sara have crafted an album that recreates the experience of being a teenager not just through content but also through form. About half of The Con’s songs are true pop songs, gems that burst through your speakers and have you humming all the day long. The other half are little song-ettes, snatches of melody and stuttering rhythm that give the album a sense of frenetic mayhem. Sometimes they’re lilting little pieces, like “I Was Married” and “Soil, Soil” (both of which are a mere minute and a half long), and sometimes they’re bursts of pure emotion, like “Knife Going In” and “Relief Next To Me.” It’s not always the shortest songs that fall into this category, either. The songs marry together to form a picture of a teenage psyche roiling with opinions and possibilities, a true glimpse into the way the young mind works, flitting from place to place, giving equal emotional weight to romantic flings and the idea of death. They are two incredibly gifted songwriters.

4. Radiohead - In Rainbows
You’ll have to forgive me if this review is a bit more soapbox than substantive analysis. First of all, the album is fantastic. It’s friggin’ Radiohead, of course it’s fantastic. It’s dark, stuttering and utterly captivating. No surprise there, and I tried to place it on the list according to its artistic merits rather than its method of delivery. But in a time in music where there are so many possibilities that are being squandered by revolting greed, it’s pretty awesome that the lads took it upon themselves to push the envelope. What really pissed me off about the industry reaction to it was the sheer number of people, people who make their living thinking and writing about music, who called it a gimmick and dismissed it as a marketing ploy. Really? That’s the best you can do? It’s not a sustainable model for all bands, they said. Of course it isn’t, fools! It’s not even a sustainable model for Radiohead! That’s not the point at all. The point is that they were able to say, “You know what, we’re gonna do this ourselves, and we’re going to do something more interesting than Capitol Records could dream.” What the process revealed was the ugly truth about record companies: they completely lack the imagination necessary to adapt to what music is doing. Not every band is going to be able to follow this model. Maybe none will. But it’s part of a series of death knells for the major labels. Madonna sounded another one this year by signing with LiveNation. It’s glorious music to my ears because it’s their own doing, and I have no sympathy for their whiny lawsuits or flimsy arguments. Next stop: movie studios. The writers’ strike is the least of your worries.

3. Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Ritter’s gotta be the most underappreciated dude working in music today. This is his third stone cold classic album (excluding Hello Starling, which was merely great), and he’s still not getting he recognition he deserves. I think there are several reasons for this. First, he is a very literary storyteller. His writes the way Marcel Proust writes, weaving a million ideas together in a minute. Even his slow songs leave you breathless with their pace. In “The Temptation of Adam” he weaves a tale of war and romance with the skill of a master poet, and it never feels slow or elegiac. Second, he inhabits the subjects of his songs so completely that he disappears. You never get the feeling that you’re hearing him sing about his own life or emotions, which makes him pretty unique among the sensitive singer-songwriters with whom he is most often compared. As a matter of fact I can’t think of anyone working today who writes quite like Josh Ritter. Finally, he just won’t stay put. The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter doesn’t sound all that different from his other albums, but at the same time it’s worlds away. He’s got a fantastic band around him this time around, and the result is an album that jukes and sprints around like a hummingbird, rewarding listen after listen with new delights.

2. M.I.A. - Kala
Talk about music to start a revolution! And to shake your ass a little bit as well. Kala is the most energetic, acrobatic, frenetic piece of music I’ve heard in a long while. I actually had a really hard time deciding whether it should be #1 on this list. I certainly predict that it’s going to end up being the most influential album of 2007. A woman from Sri Lanka making better hip-hop than anyone in the world is kind of big. The thing that makes this album such a quantum leap forward from Arular is the sheer variety of faces that Ms. Arulpragasam wears. Where Arular was consistent and steady, Kala careens all over the place. Recorded piecemeal in various countries with various producers, the album refuses to stay put or adhere to a steady flow. It’s crazy, frenetic and infectious. And while I love Diplo, who produced all of Arular, it gives me great pleasure to see Maya working with more producers this time. If for no other reason than to silence the idiots who said Arular belonged more to Diplo than to her. Kala proves once and for all that M.I.A. is the only game in hip-hop worth paying attention to.

1. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
I’m never going to forget where I was the first time I heard Person Pitch. I had just gotten back from a summit in New York the night before, and I was walking back into a ton of work. I had to give a creative briefing the next day for Under Armour, and my preparations for the summit had taken precedence over doing very much work yet on the briefing. And, to kick it all off, I was giving the briefing in front of one of the most self-absorbed, pretentious men I’ve ever had the displeasure of calling “Professor.” After staying up all night putting the briefing together, I put on “Comfy in Nautica” at 5am to try to keep myself awake. It made everything else melt away: all my anxiety and nervousness over the briefing, all my disdain and anger towards my professor, everything. Most of the albums I really like tend to be hard for a lot of people to swallow, but no one that I have played Person Pitch for has done anything but marvel at it and ask for a copy. It takes you by the hand and brings you outside to play and remember how much fun it is just to be you. I find it hard to describe the way it makes me feel without falling into cliché or just sounding like a hippie, so I’ll leave it at this: Person Pitch is aural ecstasy. Get it, own it, love it.

Once Again, I Suck

2008-01-28T01:32:00.000-05:00

Just like last year, I've dropped the ball on rolling out the final five of my list. I am hard at work on them now, and they are coming soon. In the meantime, Jonesey's guesses, while accurate on some counts, are not quite spot on. And, to give you a hint, CANADA SUCKS!

Ummm....

2008-01-15T15:08:00.000-05:00

Seriously? Is that it?

Sigh. Come on Apple.

Oops

2008-01-14T20:16:00.000-05:00

According to Tech Crunch, those Apple Keynote notes that I posted about earlier are bunk. Oh well, here's to hoping that the news DOES have at least something to do with apps and/or widgets for the iphone. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!!!

Apple Keynote Leak?

2008-01-14T15:45:00.001-05:00

Geeking around on the Tubes today, I came across this little nugget.

Highlights include a system for users to create and sell iphone apps, a new Macbook, and the ability to download Youtube clips in iTunes (for free, I'm assuming).

I can't vouch for whether this is the real deal or not, but if you're like me, you're anxiously awaiting the next slice of my free time that I can willingly hand over to my iphone.

Top 20 Of 2007: 10 - 6

2008-01-12T23:20:00.000-05:00

10. The National - Boxer
Of all the deep-voiced, melancholy singers to gain fame in the last few years (Interpol’s Paul Banks, Editors’ Tom Smith, etc.), Matt Berninger is definitely the creepiest. While Banks and Smith just seem to sing about how depressed they are, and maybe occasionally about killing someone, Berninger sings about sneaking into people’s apartments and wearing their clothes. For reals. That creepiness lends Boxer its edge, and The National’s songs are simply awesome, creeping along like black ooze into your ears. There are moments of true beauty (“Start a War,” “Green Gloves”) as well as full-on sinister moments and even a rocker or two. It’s a magnificent, dark album worth your time.

9. Marnie Stern - In Advance of the Broken Arm
Let me say right off the bat that Marnie Stern is really, really, really hard to listen to. Every time I’ve played her for someone, their lip kind of turns up and they look at me like I just gave them audio herpes. For the more adventurous, however, this is a fantastic album, right up there with Joanna Newsom’s Ys and Tom Waits’ Bone Machine. She shreds up one side of this record and down the other, and her unique finger-tapping style is more percussive than melodic. The songs are not devoid of melody, however, and some of them, like the opener “Vibrational Match,” are just a stone’s throw away from someone like Bjork. And no other artist this year can match the energy of this record. It explodes.

8. The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
My God, they just keep getting better and better. My cousin Johnnie introduced me to the Avett Brothers a few years ago with their excellent live album. They were fantastic because they were raw, but that rawness also held them back from being among the elite in the alt-country community. That problem has as much to do with the community as it does with the Avetts; much as I love Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch, they cater to an audience that isn’t really into wild and crazy. And the Avetts are like Old Crow Medicine Show on speed, so it's been hard for them to break through. With Emotionalism, however, they step up their game without diluting it. They still sound just as energetic and crazy as they always have, but they’ve controlled that chaos with an incredible mastery of songcraft. These are fantastic country songs, full of longing and joy, and the band roars through them properly. Songs like “The Weight of Lies” show that they know how to slow it down properly as well. Whereas before they could barely contain themselves during their ballads, they now patiently wait until they can kick our asses once again on songs like "Paranoia in B Major" and "Will You Return." This album proves that The Avett Brothers belong among the elite of alt-country royalty.

7. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger and Follow the Lights
I’ve written many times on this blog about Ryan Adams. I think that my journey through his music has been one of the most personal relationships I’ve had with anyone’s music in my life. I wrote about Easy Tiger here, and I don’t have much else to say about that album. It’s awesome. Follow the Lights, an EP that he released a few months after Easy Tiger, really brings to life the different phase of his development that he is in right now. It does so most saliently on his remake of his own song “This Is It” from his misguided album Rock N Roll. The thing is, he doesn’t really change the song that much. He just slows the tempo, gets rid of the rock star posturing, and shows us how great the song actually is. The rest of the EP is just as good, from the lilting title track to the fantastic “My Love for You is Real,” previously available only as a live track. Once again, he’s stepped his game up and shown us that there’s plenty more where that came from. And, more importantly, he finally sounds like he’s at peace with his own talent.

6. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
Everything All The Time really blew me away when I first heard it, for reasons that aren’t exactly objective. (Shocking, I know.) It came out right around the time that My Morning Jacket put out Z, which in my opinion was a turd of a record. Everything All The Time sounded like what I wanted MMJ to be doing: no-nonsense, kick-ass country-rock. I wish Jim James & Co. well in their new life as a jam band, but for my money I’ll stick with the new guys. And what a record this one is. “Is There a Ghost” is one of my favorite tracks of the year, a soaring anthem that sounds vaguely paranoid and also confrontational. From there the record is mostly mellow, but it’s not sleepy. They are really coming into themselves as musicians, and Ben Bridwell’s vocal performances just keep getting better and better. This is an amazing sophomore effort, and as much as I loved their debut, I honestly didn’t expect them to get this good right away. Fantastic work.

Top 20 Of 2007: 15 - 11

2008-01-10T02:23:00.000-05:00

15. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Me being me, this was one of my most anticipated albums of 2007. And Springsteen didn’t disappoint. At all. In fact, this is his best album since Tunnel of Love. Every song is just as catchy and memorable as the old classics, and he seems to have the energy of ten Bruces, plus two. I know that a lot of people are sick of hearing about his politics, but I think he feels like he is in a unique position to influence. His fan base undoubtedly consists of a good number of right-wing nuts, and knowing that their hero holds these views that they think are un-American may actually get them to think about something. Maybe some of them may even reconsider how they think about America. Aside from all of that, however, this is a great rock record, one that will last just as long as his best work.

14. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
The White Stripes are good again! A cause for celebration if there ever was one. After Elephant and Get Behind Me Satan, I had given them up for dead, or at least for the hipsters. But Icky Thump takes me back to White Blood Cells, the album that made me fall in love with the Stripes. It’s got huge, fantastic riffs to spare, and also bagpipes. Yup, bagpipes. Awesome.

13. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
As I said before, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Adding Johnny Marr was the best change that Mr. Brock & Co. could have done in the three years since Good News For People Who Love Bad News. He adds a dynamic dimension to their music without changing their sound at all. And “Dashboard” is one of the best songs written this year, period. This record is getting left off a lot of year-end lists, and I have no idea why. It rocks all the way from March.

12. Jason Isbell - Sirens Of The Ditch
I was quite saddened to hear that Jason Isbell left the Drive-By Truckers. They were truly one of the best bands around, with three songwriters who were among the best around. Isbell’s songs were some of the best, straight stories about true people. He hasn’t lost a step on Sirens of the Ditch, though, and it’s nice to hear more than a few of his songs at a time. There are definitely some stinkers here, but even those have their charms. This is a moving, almost poppy record. Here’s to more stretching on the next one.

11. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
I know a lot of people felt like they fell off on this record, but don’t listen to those people. They know not of what they speak. This is a great record, start to finish. It starts out with “Sleeping Lessons,” a dreamy tune that leads into a monster swell of pop goodness. “Australia” is probably the best song they’ve ever written. As a matter of fact, the songs are all awesome except “Pam Berry.” Whoever the hell that is.

Top 20 Of 2007: 20 - 16

2008-01-03T23:53:00.000-05:00

As always, I’m sure that I have missed some true gems. Last year, it was the Long Winters’ fantastic Putting the Days to Bed. This year, I can already tell that Raising Sand, the album that pairs Alison Krauss with Robert Plant, should be on this list. So until I get it, these will have to do.

20. Jesca Hoop - Kismet
“Jesca Hoop's music is like a four-sided coin. She is an old soul, like a black pearl, a good witch or a red moon. Her music is like going swimming in a lake at night.”
-Tom Waits

Oh yeah, and she was his kids’ nanny. Do you need more? Go get this album! It’s wonderful and dark, refreshing and true. How can Tom Waits be wrong?

19. Battles - Mirrored
Pitchfork describes Battles best:
“You know the costume parties where everyone gets lazy or cops out-- bad sweaters, sunglasses, funny hats-- and then someone shows up in a full-on gorilla suit? That would be Battles.”
Apart from being incredible musicians, Battles also love what they do. Their desire to make great music seeps through every note of this album, making it one of this year’s most enjoyable records as well as one of its most challenging.

18. Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
Sam Beam’s been getting mad props since his first record, and I had kind of begun to resent it. His music was great, sure, but he wasn’t stretching his sound at all. He stuck to the sensitive mountain man thing. The Shepherd’s Dog finally completes his growth into a band leader, and a wonderful one at that. It is a rich, complex album full of gypsy melodies and circus imagery. Drive with it at night.

17. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
Panda Bear and Avey Tare had quite a busy year. Panda had another album that will show up later on this list, and Avey spearheaded Strawberry Jam, the most fully realized and consistent Animal Collective album to date. Whereas Panda’s album soaks in gorgeous harmony, Strawberry Jam is full of percussion, chopping and propelling the songs from frenzy to downright insanity. It doesn’t let up for a minute, each song building on the last until you actually feel like you may be going insane. But then you turn it back on the next day.

16. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Last year’s 45:33 Nike mix first introduced me to LCD Soundsystem. I ran to that album, I drove to it, I worked to it and I wrote to it. It was a wonderful piece of work. Sound of Silver is just as good but in a completely different way. Rather than being a single piece designed to track a mood, it is a collection of completely awesome singles. They don’t hang together as a single piece, but they don’t need to. They rock on their own merits. No other album this year has made me want to shake my booty like this one.

'07 Part I: Excellent and Disappointing

2008-01-01T17:24:00.001-05:00

In advance of my annual Top 20 Albums list, I thought I'd talk about some of the best and worst things that happened in music this year, ranging from albums that didn't quite make the Top 20 to trends that excited and/or infuriated me. We'll start with the good, in no particular order.

YAY!!!

1. Rogue Wave - Asleep at Heaven's Gate
They trip up plenty here, but they make some interesting steps forward too. Nice job.

2. Grinderman - Grinderman
Nick Cave doing what Nick Cave does best. Not his best songs, but enough energy and bile to make up for it.

3. Pay What You Want
Radiohead was the most famous example, but Trent Reznor and Saul Williams also experimented with a new business model this year. And you can almost smell the record company fear. I love it.

4. Amy Winehouse
She’s a powerhouse singer, but there’s not enough yet to show me she’s not gonna get boring. We’ll see if she can keep her shit together long enough to do something different. In the meantime, long live the beehive!

5. Tinariwen - Aman Iman: Water is Life
I just found this album, and if I had found it earlier it may have cracked the top 20. It’s awesome nomadic music that sounds as if it’s been around forever. Check it out, seriously.

6. Burial - Untrue
If I still lived in New York, this would be in my top 10. It’s wonderful, moody music to wander the streets to. All my New York readers, you’d be well served to check it out and soundtrack your next long walk with it.

7. Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full
Fab again, and how sweet it is.

8. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
More of the same from Spoon. And that’s a good thing.

9. All Songs Considered podcasts
Bob Boilen may be pretentious, but the guy knows his shit. Consistently one of the best music podcasts around.

10. Live Nation and Madonna
Fuck. Record. Companies.

BOO!!!

1. Lyle Lovett - It's Not Big, It's Large
It's not good, it's bad. He sounds like a shadow of his former songwriting self. I hope it’s just a fluke.

2. Dan Deacon
You look like a creepy pederast and you act like Richard Simmons. No thanks.

3. The Overexposure of Feist
For someone whose politics are as left-leaning as Leslie Feist, I can’t cotton to her lending her talents to shill ipods and Verizon phones. I’ll take “Practice What You Preach” for 600, Alex.

4. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning got me to reconsider my hatred for Bright Eyes, but this album is just plain boring.

5. Patty Griffin - Children Running Through
Not a challenging song in the bunch. Come on.

6. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
God, how I tried! This is, without a doubt, the most disappointing album of the year. “Impossible Germany” is a gem, but I want to flush the rest of the album down the toilet. I don’t expect YHF every time, but I do expect something besides boring Dad Rock.

7. The Go! Team
Go! away.

8. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
I really don’t see what the big deal is. I could throw a rock in Brooklyn and hit six dudes who are in bands that sound just like this.

9. Kanye vs. Fiddy
Yeah. Awesome way to remember September 11. Jackasses.

10. The term "Math Rock"
Stupidest micro-genre name ever.

Stay tuned for my list of the Top 20 Albums of 2007. Whoopee!!

Catching Up On The Holidays

2007-12-01T15:56:00.000-05:00

Halloween came and went without much fanfare this year. I detest Halloween, so that was fine with me. The one fun thing that Becca and I did do was carve pumpkins. We decided to step up our efforts this year, so Becca found some patterns zooming around in The Tubes and printed them out for us. We also bought special pumpkin-carving tool kits, consisting of bendy knives, hole pokers and little plastic spoons ergonomically designed to scoop out pumpkin guts. After gutting the pumpkins, roasting the seeds (yummy!) and carving away, this is what we had:

Not bad for a couple of amateurs!

Becca is not, however, an amateur at Thanksgiving. Not only does she have the turkey recipe to end all turkey recipes (it involves much bacon), but she also has the market cornered on delicious side dishes, stuffing and pies. It was one of the most amazing Thanksgiving feasts I have ever had, even though the "feast" only consisted of two people! It was perfect, and it reminded me of one of the myriad reasons that I am the luckiest guy in the world. Here is just a glimpse:

Delish.

Any Suggestions?

2007-11-08T19:22:00.000-05:00

Hi dear friends,

As we approach the end of the year and another installment of "Cliff Makes a Self-Important Best-of Music List," I realize that while I certainly have a lot of great material from which to choose, there is probably an equal amount of stuff out there that slipped my notice. So I invite all of my well-versed readers to submit for consideration any albums that you feel did not get their deserved attention this year.

My own list thus far ranges from the obvious (you heard of this guy they're callin' Springsteen?) to the not so obvious (Marnie Stern will shred your ass up one side and down another!). So please send me your suggestions. Unless they include Arctic Monkeys. You can keep that shit to yourself.

You Suck And Everyone Knows It

2007-11-08T10:23:00.000-05:00

Dear Microsoft,

Why, oh why does Hotmail no longer work with Safari? Are you really that insecure that you have to get into these little pissing matches with Apple? The leader in a category is not supposed to acknowledge those below. Jackasses. And if you want to remain relevant, how about letting mail clients sync with your email addresses without paying your ridiculous upgrades!

I have recently been forced to use your assy software at my new job, and it's like returning to the Dark Ages. I had forgotten how nothing works on a PC. How the error messsages you get don't bother to tell you what you actually did wrong. How, in general, you say to your users, "We're too busy counting our monopoly money. You figure out what's wrong with the piece of shit we sold you."

You can kiss my grits.

P.S. For those of you who have been using my hotmail account, feel free to discontinue use of it. In its stead, please use:
adamsch79@gmail.com

Word.

The American Idea

2007-11-07T00:12:00.000-05:00

First of all, sorry for the long absence. My new job is pretty intense, and it gives me little brain power left for blogging. So until I get a bit more used to this pace, I will ape from other sources.

The Atlantic devoted their November issue to an examination of the American Idea. I found David Foster Wallace's response particularly thought-provoking:

Are some things still woth dying for? Is the American idea one such thing? Are you up for a thought experiment? What if we chose to regard the 2,973 innocents killed in the atrocities of 9/11 not as victims but as democratic martyrs, "sacrifices on the altar of freedom?" In other words, what if we decided that a certain baseline vulnerability to terrorism is part of the price of the American idea? And, thus, that ours is a generation of Americans called to make great sacrifices in order to preserve our democratic way of life - sacrifices not just of our soldiers and money but of our personal safety and comfort?

In still other words, what if we chose to accept the fact that every few years, despite all reasonable precautions, some hundreds or thousands of us may die in the sort of ghastly terrorist attack that a democratic republic cannot 100-percent protect itself from without subverting the very principles that make it worth protecting?

Is this thought experiment monstrous? Would it be monstrous to refer to the 40,000-plus domestic highway deaths we accept each year because the mobility and autonomy of the car are evidently worth that high price? Is monstrousness why no serious public figure now will speak of the delusory trade-off of liberty for safety that Ben Franklin warned about more than 200 years ago? What exactly has changed between Franklin's time and ours? Why now can we not have a serious national conversation about sacrifice, the inevitability of sacrifice - either of (a) some portion of safety or (b) some portion of the rights and protections that make the American idea so incalculably precious?

In the absence of such a conversation, can we trust our elected leaders to value and protect the American idea as they act to secure the homeland? What are the effects on the American idea of Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, PATRIOT Acts I and II, warrantless surveillance, Executive Order 13233, corporate contractors performing military functions, the Military Commissions Act, NSPD 51, etc., etc.? Assume for a moment that some of these measures really have helped make our persons and property safer - are they worth it? Where and when was the public debate on whether they're worth it? Was there no such debate because we're not capable of having or demanding one? Why not? Have we actually become so selfish and scared that we don't even want to consider whether some things trump safety? What kind of future does that augur?

Word. Check out the issue, there's a lot of great stuff in it. As my life is being swallowed whole by various methods of transportation, I may draw more from it.

Holy Crap

2007-10-29T15:10:00.000-05:00

I just got tickets to see the Boss tonight. Awesomest. Day. Ever.

There's a Mannequin in My Cubicle

2007-10-05T19:31:00.000-05:00

Seriously. If my phone wasn't dead I'd take a picture of it. Things are going pretty well out here in the City of Pornstars. My job is great, loving every minute of it so far. I'm looking forward to doing some more exploring of the city this weekend. If feel like I've only seen the equivalent of the Upper East Side. Poor metaphor, but you get my drift.

We had dinner with my good friend Kristin and her boyfriend Jacob last Saturday night, which was awesome. Then Sunday we went to the Santa Monica Pier and played skeeball. I forgot how bad I am at that. But we also played air hockey, which I am either very good at or Becca is very bad at. This weekend I have the last of the unpacking to look forward to, as well as a San Diego-Denver matchup on Sunday that should be awesome. Jay Cutler had better show me somethin'!

Day 4: Barstow or Bust

2007-09-20T13:11:00.000-05:00

Last night we stayed with Brian in Albuquerque, where we had some beers and learned all about the city's gang problem. No, really, a gang problem.

Rasta did not elect to pursue the moral high ground last night, choosing instead to yowl away in the middle of the night. He is getting knocked the hell out tonight.

We are now speeding our way across the Arazonia desert and resisting the urge to stop and gamble.

Sent from I-40 @ Goodwater, AZ

Reports of Our Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

2007-09-19T18:07:00.000-05:00

Many folks warned us that making this move in this way would test the limits of our relationship. We are happy to report that all three of us are doing great. Even Rasta is getting into the swing of things.

Sent from I-40 @ Cuervo, NM

Big Sky

2007-09-19T13:59:00.000-05:00

They call Montana "Big Sky Country," but skies don't get much bigger
than these.

Sent from I-40 @ Shamrock TX

Shakin' All Over

2007-09-18T16:51:00.000-05:00

If you're ever on I-40 in Arkansas, bring a helmet. They forgot to pave the road.

It's Alive!

2007-09-18T10:51:00.000-05:00

We're trying to make it through today without sedating the cat, so he is feeling much more lively today. Case in point: when we stopped for gas earlier, I left the top of his carrier unzipped a bit. As we were getting back on the interstate, his head shot out of the opening a la Snakes on a Plane. It scared the crap out of Becca, who bopped his head down Whack-a-Mole style. He was not amused. I was.

Sent from I-40 @ Bucksnort, TN (yup)

Tennessee Plates (with apologies to John Hiatt)

2007-09-18T07:52:00.001-05:00

Been awhile since I've been in the greatest state on earth.

Um... Different Kingston

2007-09-17T21:21:00.000-05:00

We have stopped for the night in Kingston, TN. A sleepy little burg if there ever was one.

Earlier this evening we had a truck blow a tire next to us on the interstate. It sounded like a shotgun blast and almost made me crap my pants.

Today has been long and stressful but good. We didn't make it quite as far as we wanted to today, but considering our car towing delays, I'd say we did pretty well. Hopefully we will be able to make up some time tomorrow.

Are We There Yet?

2007-09-17T17:24:00.000-05:00

Oh. My. God.

Sent from I-81 @ Greeneville, TN

Fashionably Late

2007-09-17T14:06:00.000-05:00

Car carrier? Check.
Tranquilized cat? Check.

Also, we have seen our first brush fire. I thought we would have to
get a bit further west for that, but whatever.

Sent from I-81 @ Christiansburg.

Just Call Me Sal Paradise

2007-09-17T09:40:00.000-05:00

And she's Dean.

Sent from I-64 @ Louisa.

Things You Don't Want to Hear When You Walk Into Penske to Pick Up Your Truck

2007-09-16T20:29:00.000-05:00

"I have good news, and I have bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"

Yes, friends, Penske has quasi-screwed us. Our car carrier that we reserved with our truck was either stolen, lost, or never left Harrisonburg. So now we have to go bright and early to see if it has arrived or if we are going to have to use a tow trailer. Me hates them!

In other news, our lives are now packed and our bodies are now aching. With some much needed help from my parents and my Aunt Jinny, we got everything jammed into our 16 foot truck with seriously inches to spare. We have way too much crap.

The cat is pretty peeved at us, but all things considered he is doing okay. Luckily for us, we have some kitty dope to give him tomorrow so that we all have a much more pleasant trip.

Tune in tomorrow for more cross-country hijinks!

FOOTBALL SEASON IS UPON US

2007-09-11T20:33:00.001-05:00

THE ONION VS. PITCHFORK

2007-09-10T23:41:00.000-05:00

Pitchfork Gives Music 6.8

CHICAGO—According to the review, the popular medium that predates the written word shows promise but nonetheless "leaves the listener wanting more."

Love me some liveblogging!

2007-09-09T20:26:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my recent snazzarific purchase, I will attempt to live blog our haul out to L.A. Stay tuned to see whether I actually succeed or not.

Viva la Penske!

Forgotten Culture: Use Your Illusion

2007-09-06T14:01:00.000-05:00

“Nobody got fucked by the age of irony like Axl Rose.” -Chuck Klosterman

I still remember the day that Use Your Illusion I and II came out. Metal fans, who back then constituted close to a majority of the record-buying public, had been whipped into a frenzy. There we were, in the age of the blockbuster album (Metallica, Garth Brooks, MC Hammer, Mariah Carey, etc.), and our boys were about to blow the lid off the whole thing by doubling the pot. These albums weren’t just gonna change what we listened to. They were gonna change how we listened to, thought about, and drew identity from rock music.

My mom had instituted a system of merit points that allowed my brothers and me to purchase albums with parental advisory stickers only after doing enough good deeds (helping someone without being asked, showing character, etc.) to amass fifty merit points. But UYI day was different. My older brother John and I were so excited about these albums that Mom went out and bought the tapes for us without making us give up any merit points. It was as if she knew the importance of this event, knew that it was above merit points or anything else. Or maybe she just knew that we would end up hearing them anyway because all of our friends were going to have them. At any rate, she gave UYI I to John and UYI II to me. It was, as I recall, one of the happiest moments of my adolescence.

Use Your Illusion II monopolized my ears for the better part of a year. I listened to it at least once a day for six months, memorizing every lick, every drum fill, every vocal fluctuation. I knew it from start to finish. John and I copied each other’s tapes of the albums, so I got to listen to the first one quite a bit too, but it was never the same for me. I would listen to "Don’t Cry," "November Rain," and "Dead Horse," but the rest of it wore on my nerves. Mainly because it just wasn’t Use Your Illusion II.

Ask anyone who ever had a passing interest in G N’R and they will most likely tell you that Appetite For Destruction is, in retrospect, the only G N’R album that matters. It’s certainly the only one that people still listen to today. Hell, you never even hear the singles off of Use Your Illusion on the radio any more (except on rainy days in November). Appetite rocks harder than the others and, at a lean 54 minutes, doesn’t ever get bogged down with fluff. In fact there isn’t a weak song on the entire album (which is more than I can say for Nirvana's Nevermind, by the way, even though Nevermind is always at the top of self-important rock-crit lists of the most important albums of all time).

But saying you like Appetite is like saying you like Picasso or Van Gogh. Who doesn’t? It’s obvious why people like it. It fucking rocks. It’s just one great blues riff after another, all played with the energy of a young band looking to make a statement. Ask anyone why they like it, and they will all tell you the same thing.

On the other hand, ask a bunch of people why they like Jackson Pollock. Half of them don’t, half of the rest don’t know why they do, and everyone else will have wildly varying reasons for liking those little splatters of paint. It’s the same way with Use Your Illusion. There aren’t many of us left who still think about those albums, but we think about them a lot and can tell you exactly why we do. I’m always more attracted to art like this, art that doesn’t immediately present its greatness to me. I like it when I have to dig.

I might not go so far as to say that the Use Your Illusion albums are great art. In fact, I would categorically deny that statement. But I find myself fascinated by them. What the hell were they thinking making some of this music? It’s weird, meandering, and downright cacophonous at points. Just go back and listen to “My World” and you’ll see what I mean.

But I think that the albums get to the heart of what G N’ R was about as a band. More than any other band of their era (except maybe Metallica), they had designs on something bigger than rock music. Motley Crue, Poison, Whitesnake: they just wanted to be rich, famous, and oversexed. G N’ R thought that they could take rock music into a new era, an era where it would be recognized as the leading art form of the day and be analyzed not just by music critics but by important cultural scholars. They really, truly believed that rock could change the world.

It’s a nice thought, but that don’t necessarily make it so. The albums were bloated messes, revealing schizophrenia rather than any grand design. There were moments of invigorating musicianship, but there were also too many WTF moments to count. There was only so long that they could go on before they self-destructed. But maybe that’s why we liked them. They kept things crazy, and we were all just waiting for the fireworks.

I’ve often thought about how I would resequence the albums into one leaner, more coherent album. What I’ve come to is this:

1. Don’t Damn Me
As close to a mission statement as they got.
2. Yesterdays
Start out lookin’ forward.
3. Don’t Cry (Original)
Ballads are the backbone of metal.
4. Dead Horse
Definitely better not as a closer.
5. Get in the Ring
A train wreck, but too important to their mythology to discard.
6. Breakdown
Izzy blues peppered throughout make for a palatable album.
7. November Rain
The centerpiece, and still the best song any of them will ever write.
8. Right Next Door To Hell
Start the second half off with a bang.
9. You Could Be Mine
It got way overplayed, but it’s still pretty damn good.
10. Pretty Tied Up
If only for the line, “The pearls of rock n’ roll decadence!”
11. Locomotive
Chugging guitars propel this one forward, a bit long though.
12. Back Off Bitch
A little misogyny goes a long way.
13. Estranged
A mangled masterpiece that never was.
14. Dust N’ Bones
Back to Izzy. Maybe he was the real genius..

So that’s my take on what could have saved G N’ R from themselves. But looking at it, I’m not sure I would have wanted them to make that album. There’s something about those two bloated albums that gives me more insight into rock music than Led Zeppelin’s entire catalogue. Most metal albums of that era gave us a rather clichéd look at the “tortured young male psyche.” Use Your Illusion gave us a real glimpse into the mind of a truly disturbed man.

It’s been said by many men smarter than I that we always learn more from our failures than our successes. I’ve found that to be very true in my life, and I’ve also found it to be true that “without the sour, the sweet ain’t as sweet.” A single volume of Use Your Illusion just wouldn’t cut it. We need it all, the great and the weird, the wonderful and the wince-inducing. It’s just not G N’ R without both.

“Use Your Illusion exemplifies what it means to get so caught up in the quest for pop totality that there is no way back. There has always been a fundamental inferiority complex to our championing the importance of pop music, a sense that it is a bastard art form: too crude and too pretentious at the same time. Use Your Illusion was lame crap by definition in the subculture that I grew up with as a college radio DJ and post-punk fan. Yet by 1991, as my taste group was about to briefly take over rock, I heard in Use Your Illusion something more unsettled, harder to grasp, than anything in Nevermind. And now, with ‘alternative’ as dated a term as hair metal, Use Your Illusion remains emblematic of the baroque fancies that musical obsession can inspire.” -Eric Weisbard

I really can't tell

2007-09-04T09:40:00.002-05:00

Is this genius or idiocy?

An open letter to Josh Rouse

2007-08-26T21:49:00.001-05:00

Hi Josh,

I don't like to beat around the bush with things like this, so I'll get right to the point: I'm worried about you. I've listened to Country Mouse, City House multiple times now, and it still sucks just as bad as it did the first time I listened to it. It's even worse than Subtitulo, and I didn't think that was possible. It's just boring, meandering music.

Is this really the best you can do now? There was a time when you were better than just about anybody else out there. 1972 is still one of the best albums start to finish in my record collection. Under Cold Blue Stars blew my socks off when I first heard it. It was dark, true, beautiful music. I can't even believe that was the same guy who is now writing stuff like "Sweetie" and "Domesticated Lovers."

I'm really happy that you've found someone you love and moved to Spain. That's awesome. But where is the fire now? Where is the guy who wrote "Miracle," "My Love Has Gone," and "Sparrows Over Birmingham?" Where is the storytelling of "James," of "Christmas with Jesus?" You used to tell great stories with your songs. Now they seem like random snapshots from a settled and, if you'll forgive me for saying so, rather boring life. They don't get outside yourself the way your previous stuff did.

Please don't take this the wrong way. I've got mad respect for anyone who follows his heart. But the things that you are writing now are not worth putting out on records. Please get your head on straight before making another one.

Still love ya, man!

TGI Bruce

2007-08-25T13:01:00.000-05:00

Listen to Bruce's new single, "Radio Nowhere," here.

Is it good? Well, it's Bruce, isn't it? Of course it's friggin' good!! Heather over at I Am Fuel, You Are Friends compares it to Warren Zevon's "Splendid Isolation." That's a pretty good comparison. It's got a dark melody, rolling thythm, and Bruce's signature sense of urgency. Can't wait to hear the rest of the album.

In other news, we've found an apartment out in L.A. I threw up in my mouth a little bit when the lease came, though. I haven't paid this much to live since New York. Yikes!! If anyone has any celebrities they want me to hunt down and photograph, let me know. I hear the kids all like Lindsey Lohan these days. And Debbbie Gibson. Huzzah!

L.A. on the brain

2007-08-23T14:23:00.000-05:00

Record Review
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight

Looking at the album cover for Under the Blacklight, you'd be right to assume that Rilo Kiley is trying to do something a bit different on this album. And in one big way you'd be right. It's still the same band, with the same sorts of melodic pop. But now they're sleazy.

Yes, sleazy. It's just about the last word that comes to mind when one thinks of Jenny Lewis. She and Neko Case have been battling it for the title of most lusted after indie songstress for quite some time now (anyone who throws Feist into that mix is dreaming), and when pressed I get the feeling that most indie guys would choose Ms. Lewis. Her porcelain doll looks and cooing voice go a long way to make that argument.

But she seems to be getting sick of that image. She's more obsessed now with the dirty side of life, the angel turned pornstar, the innocent turned filthy. The first sign of this was the video for The Moneymaker, starring adult film stars Faye Runaway, Hailey Young, and Tommy Gunn:

The cover of the record looks like a still from a low-budget snuff film, and Ms. Lewis sings of sleazy characters and supercharged sexual beings all over this record. On "Close Call" she sings of an uncommonly beautiful woman struggling on the edge of depravity, a real note of tension wavering across her voice. It seems like they are really trying to make a suite of songs about the sleazy side of life.

But it just doesn't work for them. This album is lyrically their weakest to date. They give up the frenetic, inspired wordplay of More Adventurous for surface stories of people on the fringes of life. Their offbeat words were always the strongest thing to recommend them as a band, but such things don't often translate well to major label debuts. There are, of course, exceptions on the album. "Dreamworld" has some interesting imagery in it, and "The Angels Hung Around" recaptures some of their previous lyrical magic. On the whole, however, they seem to be sacrificing their lyrical talents for the sake of a greater theme.

Under the Blacklight is a very good album in spite of this, however, because musically it is a magnificent piece of pop craftsmanship. The production is significantly stepped up on this album, but rather than drowning their songs, it fleshes them out and turns them into bigger, better things. Even their forays into disco, "Breakin' Up" and "Dejalo," are endearing rather than annoying, bright pieces of fluff that make you nod your head. The title track is the best songs I've heard from them, a lilting juggernaut of a song. The whole thing smacks of Southern California; it's the first album that they have made that roots them in a specific place.

I think I'd still choose More Adventurous if pressed. That album's strength is in its words, which survive long after the music grows tiresome. At a time, however, when I am picking up stakes and moving to L.A., I can not think of a better album to driving in a Uhaul across California than Under the Blacklight. It's a perfect piece of summertime pop.

They call Los Ang-ulus the City of Angels...

2007-08-18T09:47:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, my last few months have been devoted almost exclusively to searching for a job. And now, I am happy to announce, that search is over. We are no longer going to be East Coast kids!

Yes, Becca and I are headed for sunny, sprawling Los Angeles. I will be working at an agency called Team One as a junior planner. The people I have met there are just awesome, nice as they can be and very down-to-Earth. Those of you who have some familiarity with advertising people know how rare those traits can be. I'm going to get great experience out there. I really couldn't have asked for a better first job.

So that's the story! We will be headed out there in the next month. My first day of work is Sept. 24. Looking down the barrel of finding a place to live, a car that meets CA admissions standards, and some big, burly men to move our lives across the country for us, that date does not seem that far off. Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's.

So now, the obvious next step for me is putting together a California playlist. On it so far are:
"California" by Lucero
"California" by Rogue Wave
"Maybe California" by Neal Casal
"In California" by Neko Case
"Hollywood" by Jackie Greene
"California Blue" by Roy Orbison
"Sunset Strip" by The Riptides
"Hotel California" by The Gypsy Kings
"California" by Joni Mitchell
"California Stars" by Billy Bragg & Wilco
"California Man" by Cheap Trick
"California Sun" by The Ramones
"California Love" by 2Pac

Add your suggestions. You'll be amazed how many songs there about about California.

And now, I will leave you with an homage to the greatest L.A. movie of all time.

Love me some Onion!

2007-08-07T23:51:00.000-05:00

Especially the American Voices section, like this one about our Democratic-controlled Congress passing the surveillance measures:

Ed Albaugh,
Elevator Repairman
"You won't need to eavesdrop to hear this: I voted for you assholes because you said you were against shit like this."

Too true, Ed Albaugh, too true.

Get out of the heat!

2007-08-07T12:55:00.000-05:00

Stay cool, everybody!

The Unbearable Lightness of Covers

2007-08-06T08:39:00.000-05:00

Record Review
A Tribute to Joni Mitchell

Tribute records are undoubtedly hard to do. The last one I remember really liking was Encomium, the tribute to Led Zeppelin that came out in the mid-90's. As a matter of fact, that is the only tribute record that I remember being of any significance at all. Last year's tribute to The Band had some good tracks on it, like Death Cab's interesting take on "Rocking Chair" and My Morning Jacket's scorching version of "It Makes No Difference." Typically, however, the only good songs on tributes come from bands that share a certain philosophy or mindset with the band being covered.

Encomium was different, though, and I think it's because nearly everyone who thinks about music a lot has had a significant relationship with Led Zeppelin in their lives. Everyone goes through a period when they listen to little else but Led Zeppelin. Chuck Klosterman has some interesting theories about this, not all of which I agree with, but I think there's a lot of truth in the fact that Zeppelin is, in a certain way, more ubiquitous than both The Beatles and The Stones, the two bands that most often come out above them on lists of the best rock bands of all time. People's relationships with those bands are just different.

I was very interested to see what folks would do with Joni Mitchell's distinctive catalogue. As always with these records, there are some good and some bad. Mostly bad. People's relationships with Joni Mitchell range all over the map, and so the record seems a bit scattered. Everyone relates to Joni Mitchell differently, but I think everyone relates to Zeppelin in roughly the same way. This leads me to believe that there may never be another tribute album as good as Encomium. At least until someone puts together a Creedence tribute (and if they don't make reference to the flying spoon in the title of that one, I am going to be very upset).

Track by track, here's the album broken down.

1. Sufjan Stevens - Free Man in Paris

Yup, that's Sufjan Stevens. Next.

2. Bjork - The Boho Dance

An absolutely perfect match. Joni's esoteric lyrics are a perfect match for Bjork's interesting phrasing and enchanting voice. Honestly, I could listen to Bjork read the phone book and be enthralled.

3. Caetano Veloso - Dreamland

This one makes a lot of sense. It's not particularly exciting, but it's nice to listen to. Joni's talent for making observation of everyday life seem not trite was formidable, and the fluid style of most Carribean music is a great match for this type of song.

4. Brad Mehldau - Don't Interrupt the Sorrow

I love anything Brad Mehldau does, but this was not among Joni Mitchell's best songs. As always, there is lots of interesting melodic play in what Mehldau does with the song, but it is far from his best work.

5. Cassandra Wilson - For the Roses

Cassandra Wilson bores the crap out of me. This is no exception.

6. Prince - A Case of You

God, I wanted to love this. I really did. I absolutely adore Prince, and I absolutely adore this song. But it just doesn't work that well as a soul song. It comes across as easy listening pap. Damn it, Prince! Why do you torture me so?

7. Sarah McLachlan - Blue

Given that she hasn't made a good album in ten years now, I don't pay much attention to Sarah McLachlan any more. But this is a decent version of a song that Joni really did etch her signature on. Usually covers of an artist's signature songs fall flat on their faces, but this one only falls on its ass.

8. Annie Lennox - Ladies of the Canyon

Wow! I forgot how wonderful Annie Lennox's voice can be. This is definitely one of the highlights of this disc. She delivers a confident, fluid performance of a song that is perfect for her. Very, very good.

9. Emmylou Harris - Magdalene Laundries

The other indisputable highlight of this record. Emmylou has such a gift for interpreting other people's songs, and her voice is absolutely a national treasure. This is what you hope for with tribute records.

10. Elvis Costello - Edith and the Kingpin

Jazzy rendition of a pretty jazzy original. This is one of those Joni Mitchell songs that jazz musicians love to cover. But Elvis Costello is not a jazz musician, nor should he be. I would have much rather heard a rocking version of "People's Parties" or "Coyote" from Mr. Costello.

11. k.d. lang - Help Me

Standard version of a standard tune. Her voice is strong enough to make it listenable. Not much else to say.

12. James Taylor - River

Yawn.

I came away from this album thinking that Joni Mitchell is an incredibly hard artist to cover. Her phrasing, her lyrics, her breezy guitar style, and her charisma as a performer all blended together to make her the type of artist that she was. Few artists had all of that in one package. The album offers little insight into the songs, but it makes for some enjoyable listening on a rainy afternoon.

Picture roundup

2007-07-26T10:49:00.000-05:00

Haven't posted any pictures in a while, so here's some eye candy:

The New River at sunset.

Best bumper sticker ever.

I am an American aquarium drinker.

Big mirror balls are neat!

Does this mean I should move to Chicago? Who knows.

Chicago and St. Louis, other stuff

2007-07-14T11:38:00.000-05:00

-I am heading to Chicago and St. Louis this coming week for job interviews. Anyone got any good suggestions for stuff to do and see?

-Brad has been turning me onto some fantastic music lately, including The Cinematics' A Strange Education and Cloud Cult's The Meaning of 8. Good stuff.

-I finally got around to getting the new Brandi Carlile album after hearing so much about it. Pretty good on first listen.

-Is there anything better than brown ale?

The worst thing is, I wouldn't be suprised if this is genuine.

2007-07-10T08:52:00.001-05:00

I can't believe how much I rule

2007-07-05T15:44:00.000-05:00

INSTRUCTIONS: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so:
1. Harmonia’s Cuppa Tea
2. Vaguetarian Tea Room
3. Sugar and Lard
4. Bacon Press
5. Inbound Gowanus

Next, select five people to tag (I don't know what this means, so here are five people I think are cool):
1. Brian Greene
2. Chuck Klosterman
3. Chris Cooper
4. Neko Case
5. Noah Lennox

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Getting ready to go to college.

What were you doing 1 year ago?
Regrouping and recovering. And gardening.

Five snacks you enjoy:
1. Grapes
2. Cheez Doodles
3. Granny Smith apples
4. Hummus and Triscuits
5. Gummy Worms

Five songs that you know all the lyrics to:
1. Still Be Around by Uncle Tupelo
2. Incident on 57th Street by Bruce Springsteen
3. Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight by Whiskeytown
4. The Obvious Child by Paul Simon
5. Walking on the Moon by The Police

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Move to Nags Head
2. Give a lot of money to NPR
3. Open a bar.
4. Find a magazine to fund.
5. Go to a lot more concerts.

Five bad habits:
1. Biting my nails
2. Picking things apart
3. Ripping the labels off of bottles
4. Procrastinating
5. I have to fast forward through the credits on DVD's rather than pressing the menu button. I have no idea why. I guess that's more of a neurosis than a habit.

Five things you like doing:
1. Smooching
2. Biking
3. Laying in hammocks
4. Drinking good beer
5. Playing with dogs

Five things you would never wear again:
1. Expensive sunglasses
2. Sweater vests
3. Shoes with pumps on them
4. Badly made orthotics
5. A jersey with anyone's name on it but mine

Five favorite toys:
1. The Millenium Falcon
2. iPod
3. Starcom Pinball Machine
4. Speak 'n Read
5. Books (I'm a big nerd)

Best of the year so far

2007-06-30T12:18:00.000-05:00

Hey all,

Here are my top 20 albums of the year so far...

20. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Spoon has always sounded like they record in a room that is barely big enough to contain the band yet still produces a bit of an echo. I don’t know where this mystical room is, but it works for them. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is a bit of a departure for them in that they use a lot more effects than they have in the past. Not that they have been particularly averse to effects in the past, but this time they put them front and center on several songs. Interestingly enough, they enhance the songs rather than overshadowing them. It’s the songs without many effects that suffer on this album. It’s not their best bunch of songs by a long shot (there’s not really a clear standout), but it’s a solid and consistent album that shows them branching out a bit.

19. Feist - The Reminder

I stayed away from Feist as long as I could. Every once in a while an artist will get hyped in such a way that I don’t want anything to do with them. I still haven’t heard Let It Die, and I’m not sure I ever will. I’m stubborn that way. The Reminder, however, is a really strong album that made me reconsider my illogical aversion to Leslie Feist. Songs like “I Feel It All,” “My Moon My Man,” and “One Two Three Four” skip along at a delightful pace, and her slower songs rarely sink into boring introspection. One concern: she covers “See Line Woman.” Why the hell would you try to cover Nina Simone? The closest anyone’s ever come to doing one of her songs justice was Jeff Buckley’s cover of “Be My Husband,” and even that is a distant second to the original. Watch yourself, missy!

18. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver

Following last year’s wonderful Nike+ tie-in 45:33, a 45 minute mix of some of his best work to date, LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy has put out a really cool set of songs. The best one, Someone Great, is a section of 45:33, sadly the only one that appears on the album. The remaining songs are almost as good, however, and the album never seems drawn out or meandering. Whereas 45:33 was designed to be a running album, I get the feeling that Sound of Silver works best as a driving album.

17. Battles - Mirrored

The thing that I never got about progressive music, particularly industrial prog, was the fact that these huge songs had to be sustained through virtuosity. I eventually came to the conclusion that most of the time you can’t sustain a song for more than six minutes or so without relying on repetition unless your audience is other musicians. And for years musicians were one of the only audiences for prog. Battles is different. There’s still a lot of great musicianship on this record, but they anchor each song in a structure that always brings the listener back in with a repeating hook or rhythmic pattern. It’s what I always wanted prog to be.

16. Fountains of Wayne - Traffic and Weather

“Radiation Vibe” came out my junior year in high school, and I immediately loved it. I bought the album, listened to the rest of it, and promptly forgot about all but that song. Listening back to the songs now, I can see why I didn’t respond to them. Fountains of Wayne has always made music that adults hear and think, “I would have loved this in high school,” when in actuality only a very few high schoolers respond to the brand of pop subtlety that they create. It’s high school music for grownups. Their newest is certainly not their best, but it’s smart pop done well, and there’s certainly not enough of that going around these days.

15. Avett Brothers - Emotionalism

None of my Northern friends understand bluegrass. Come to think of it, they don’t really understand the South. They roll their eyes when they hear that (hell, sometimes I do too), but there’s something about growing up down here. You just get it. Now I’m not talking about the fist-pumping, Dixie-waving South. I mean the South that gets its identity from hating those assholes, from being forced to share an identity with them. The best bluegrass music, like the Avett Brothers, speaks to these people. It’s the anti-Kenny Chesney: subtle, witty, and loose, with attitude to spare. Also, they put on an amazing live show. Word.

14. Kathy Diamond - Miss Diamond To You

I’m not usually one for dance music. Probably because I am a terrible dancer, first of all, but also because it’s typically processed to the point of being commodified. There are only a handful of truly original acts in the history of dance music, and as such I typically stay away from the whole genre. The DIY movement has, however, revitalized the genre, and now we have people like Kathy Diamond making great records in their bedrooms. Miss Diamond To You is laid-back, vibrant, tight, and sexy as hell. All you NYC folks will especially thank me. I can’t imagine a better subway commute album.

13. New Pornographers - Challengers

It’s going to be a little tough to defend this album from Brad. I can see how it would be boring. But I just don’t care. Carl Newman is my kind of songwriter. This is by far not his best batch of songs. I might even rank it last among their albums. But their worst album is still an amazing piece of pop songcraft. They have such an inherent grasp on melody, harmony and rhythm that every song seems effortless, like they just pooped it out in ten minutes. Their lyrics are always clever, never precious. And come on, it’s Neko Case. That’s like kryptonite to me.

12. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

When a band’s debut is hyped as much as Funeral was, it is really hard to follow it up with something that raises the level of conversation without lessening the intensity of it. The Strokes couldn’t do it. Neither could Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Editors, Interpol, or Ray Lamontagne. Arcade Fire has managed it with Neon Bible. It’s just as dark and brooding as Funeral is, but it also brings a level of musical complexity to the table that their debut did not have.

11. Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full

Every single review of this album has branded it, in some way or another, as “music to soundtrack your latte.” Does Starbucks really have that much sway over our consciousness that it overshadows that album itself? Apparently so. And I have to say that when I heard the news that Paul McCartney was going to be the first artist on the Starbucks label, I yawned. Sir Paul has really made a great album, though, one that is a lot more Abbey Road than Give My Regards To Broad Street. And “Dance Tonight” belongs on everyone’s stereo this summer.

10. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away

Now that the summer’s here, this album is even more necessary. While this album falls a bit short of Chutes Too Narrow (honestly, what wouldn't?), it is a really cool step forward for them. They don't rest on a formula, they stretch their comfort zone. It almost always works, and a couple of times they hit it out of the park.

9. Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers

Thank God for hippies who don’t make hippie music. Laura Veirs is an amazing songwriter with the soul of a hippie but the disposition and sensibilities of an indie rocker. She evokes images of the natural world that are simply delightful while grounding her songs in solid emotional territory. I haven’t been this excited about a female musician since Kathleen Edwards.

8. The National - Boxer

This album has grown and grown on me, even though I really liked it the first time I heard it. It’s a slow growth. And based on Jonesey's review of their live show I don’t even know the half of it. It’s not quite hanging together as a cohesive whole for me yet, but I get the feeling that this is the sort of album that I will revisit many times in the coming years.

7. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

I think that Ryan Adams has finally found a balance on Easy Tiger. He’s made an album that is compelling without bogging it down by trying to write outside his strengths, like he did on parts of Gold and Rock N Roll. His maturity seems to have caught up with his talent. This is driven home even further by the album's closer, "I Taught Myself How To Grow Old." It's one of the best songs he's ever written, and it plays out like a tour through his fabled career. Just fabulous.

6. Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

No surprise here. Sam Beam has one of the most consistent runs in music today, and he’s showing no signs of sucking. He just keeps adding layers of texture and nuance to his unique sound, a mix of Southern gothic and folksy understatement. This is his best batch of songs yet, and while it’s less of a revelation than Our Endless Numbered Days, it’s no less of an album. It actually might be more of one.

5. The White Stripes - Icky Thump

It’s good to have you guys back. We’ll just forget about those last two. What the hell were you thinking??? I mean everyone has bad albums, but gee whiz! And how did you manage to convince all these rock critics that they were actually good? Oh well, water under the bridge. The new one is wonderful, fuzzy and bluesy and adventurous all at once. Good stuff

4. Tegan & Sara - The Con

This is the one I will probably get the most shit for, but I really don’t care. This is a great pop record. It’s fluffy, breezy, even a little whiny. But it sure as hell would be the soundtrack to my summer if I were sixteen again. Hell, it’s the soundtrack to my summer at 28. Like Fountains of Wayne, it is teenage music for adults. Tought thing to do.

3. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank

Following up the kind of success Modest Mouse had with their last album can be a pretty tough thing. Death Cab for Cutie went through a similar situation a couple of years ago when they were faced with following up Transatlanticism. And while Plans was a decent collection of songs, it wasn’t the kind of statement that many hoped it would be. Isaac Brock and company have bucked that trend. This is a great rock album, start to finish. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

2. Marnie Stern - In Advance of the Broken Arm

Shred it up, girl! Because nobody’s got chops any more. The guitar has become much less than it used to be. I can’t say that this fact has made me overly sad. There are few things that I detest more than pointless virtuosity, a la Yngwie Malmsteen. But listening to Marnie Stern makes me long for a new era of guitar greatness. She plays guitar like nobody I’ve ever heard, tweaking and plucking her way to euphoria without descending into pointlessness.

1. Panda Bear - Person Pitch

Person Pitch is what I think joy sounds like. The joy of living, of creating something and putting it out into the world. It’s an album of emotions rather than ideas. There is no great insight in the lyrics. They are about having fun, being great to each other, and celebrating everything you can. And as corny as it may sound, it’s the closest thing I’ve heard to what might be playing in heaven.

Soon to come

2007-06-19T16:34:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody. Sorry posts have been few and far between lately, I am currently in the process of moving a lot of crap from one place to another. My trip out to L.A. was great, and hopefully I will have some good news related to that next week. I have a lot of new music to write about, including great new albums by the New Pornographers, Iron & Wine, and Laura Veirs. Bear with me while I sweat and grunt while moving this week.

In the meantime, an oldie but goodie......

Sesame Street Awesomeness

2007-06-18T08:08:00.001-05:00

Easy Tiger

2007-06-17T09:35:00.000-05:00

Over the years Ryan Adams has written songs that wrap themselves around my life in a way that allows meaning to flow both ways. I remember listening to “Drank Like A River” and “Tennessee Square” when I was living in Nashville, letting those songs carry me down the highways that I would drive aimlessly to get away from Vanderbilt. I remember “La Cienga Just Smiled” and “Sylvia Plath” accompanying me as I walked through through rainy streets of London, wishing I had a girl to love. I remember “Magnolia Mountain” and “Cherry Lane” soundtracking a summer of getting re-centered and recovering my sense of wonder. The songs gave those times in my life more nuanced meaning, and listening to them now sometimes takes my breath away. There is a whole world of meaning now packed into those three or four minutes.
The best music does this. It brings you clarity and understanding when you need those things, and then it stores those experiences better than any photo album or scrapbook. So it’s hard for me to listen to any new Ryan Adams album with objective ears. I will always have my idea of what it should sound like. Sometimes it sounds that way, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes he surprises me, sometimes he disappoints me. But I always have an opinion right off the bat.
Easy Tiger is, first off, a really good album, in my opinion his best since Cold Roses. It’s a bit of a hodgepodge, and for that reason it reminds me at points of Demolition. But Easy Tiger succeeds where Demolition failed because its variety doesn’t get in the way of its cohesiveness. It’s less like a bunch of leftovers thrown together and more like a tour of where Adams is right now as a songwriter.
There’s not much new on Easy Tiger. Every song sounds like it would be right at home on another of his albums. It’s most closely akin to Cold Roses, starting off with three tracks that embody the breezy, jammy feel of that album. “Tears of Gold” is straight outta Jacksonville City Nights, “Off Broadway” is a welcome return to the melancholy of Love is Hell, and “Pearls on a String” even evokes a Whiskeytown vibe. The album’s masterpiece, though, is “I Taught Myself How To Grow Old,” a sparse and yearning tune that stands with his best work. I think it’s the best song he’s written since “Meadowlake Street.”
I think that Ryan Adams has finally found a balance on Easy Tiger. He’s made an album that is compelling without bogging it down by trying to write outside his strengths, like he did on parts of Gold and Rock N Roll. His maturity seems to have caught up with his talent.