np: "juicebox" - the strokes

Wow. This was completely not what I was expecting from a new Strokes song, but it is completely wonderful. Julian's vocals are way different from the last album, more up front and a far cry from his standard "couldn't give a shit" delivery. My favorite parts after about 10 listens are the Peter Gunn inspired(?) bassline and the awesome guitar effects that kick in for the mini solo at about the 1:20 mark. Once the chorus kicks in you can definitely tell its a Strokes song, but the rest of it is different enough to showcase some interesting new directions the band could be taking with First Impressions of Earth when it drops early next year. After this tasty preview, color me stoked. Click the song title above to sample it for yourself.

For those of you who enjoy this sort of thing, direct your browser over to Static and check out my review of the new Sufjan Stevens album that just went up.

np: "busted in baylor county" - shooter jennings

When I was growing up, my dad used to play a lot of the classic "outlaw" country albums. The booming voice of Johnny Cash frequently blasted out of our old Quasar speakers, or other times Waylon and Willie would be beggin' the mamas not to let their babies grow up to be cowboys. These were the days when I used to walk around in cowboy boots with a huge belt buckle dangling off of my six year old frame. The "cowboy" phase was much the same as any kid goes through, but my Saturday morning fantasies were usually soundtracked by the legends of country music.
By the time I got to high school names like Waylon and Hank and Johnny were replaced by guys with names like Alan and Garth and Randy. It just wasn't the same to me, not even close. So for the longest time I pretty much ignored country music. Every now and then I'd try to give it another chance, but the bland pop-lite ballads quickly reminded me why I never really flipped my dial in that direction.
So now its a rare thing indeed when I purchase a new "country" album, anything that is even embraced by CMT in the slightest is enough to put me off. But after hearing "Fourth of July" by Shooter Jennings, I realized that I may just be wrong about all modern country being unlistenable crap. I went out couple weeks later and picked up Put the 'O' Back in Country, Shooter's debut album. I figured anybody with Waylon for a father had to be somewhat talented, but I didn't realize that I would fall hard and fast for the entire fucking album. In fact, as it turns out, "Fourth of July" is just about my least favorite song on the whole thing - it being the most blatant stab at commercial airplay. From mournful ballads ("Sweet Savannah") to kiss off blasts ("Manifesto No. 1") to rockin' reminders of country's youth ("Southern Comfort"), the album reminded me of the power of country music to hit you straight in the gut. It may be some time before we put ol' Shooter up there in the outlaw hall of fame, but if this record is any indication - he's got a long, ass-kickin' career ahead of him. Click on the link below the picture and take a listen for yourself.

np: "size too small" - sufjan stevens

How do I sum up Saturday night's Sufjan Stevens show at the Metro? If I were to sum it up in one simple word - "fun". It's been far too long since I've smiled and laughed that much at an indie rock show, it made me realize that some performers just know how to put on a great show and Sufjan is definitely one of those. I was a little worried that the cheerleading schtick would grow old by the end of the night, but the band was obviously having fun with it and this in turn kept it interesting. Maybe more bands should look into the onstage human pyramid thing. I was slightly disappointed not to hear "John Wayne Gacy Jr.", but the rest of the set was so great that I can't really complain. The set opening "Fifty States Song" was wonderful, that really needs to get an official release soon. The Illinois songs translated very well to a live setting, managing to capture all the various moods quite well. The setlist stuck to the new album for the most part, except for a brief detour to "All The Trees of the Field Will Clap Thier Hands" from Seven Swans. If you haven't had the chance to catch Sufjan live yet I suggest you do so, especially on the current tour - you won't regret it.

np: "the chiselers" - the fall

Not only am I dealing with playing catch-up from my four days away from the office, but I'm also dealing with a killer cold that is determined to destroy my sinuses. So not much of an update for now, hopefully something better coming along later this week. If you are really that bored and need something of mine to read, my review of the new Longwave album is up at Static. Peace.

np: "st. petersburg" - supergrass

There aren't very many bands that exploded during the mid-nineties Britpop craze that are still around making albums, let alone making great albums. Blur is probably the first that comes to mind, but beyond that there aren't many choices. Pulp? Too missing. Oasis? Too spotty. Manic Street Preachers? Maybe. Supergrass, however, have managed to survive the decade just fine - cranking out solid albums like 1997's In It For The Money and 2002's Life On Other Planets. They were probably the least likely band of the bunch to progress as they have, seeing as how they were just snotty little punks when they burst onto the scene with "Caught By The Fuzz". But as Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day knows quite well, even the snottiest of punks has to grow up sometimes. Unfortunately most punks don't have the talent to write wonderful pop songs like "Sun Hits The Sky" and "Alright" (most Americans know the band from this song's inclusion on the Clueless soundtrack).
"St. Petersburg" is the first single from Supergrass' latest album, Road To Rouen. The album was just released in the UK, but unfortunately those of us in the States have to wait awhile before it hits our shelves. In the meantime, click on the link above and listen for yourself. Better yet, run out and pick yourself up a copy of Supergrass is 10: 1994-2004 and find out why this is one of the best singles bands of the past decade.

np: "birthday" - the junior boys

In case the song isn't enough of a hint for you - today is indeed my birthday, the 29th one in fact. Last year before I should start acting like a real grown-up... nah. That's the reason you see Tug's picture up there, the best celebrity I share my birthday with. Sure, Cameron Diaz and Andy Roddick also blow out the candles today - but who wouldn't be excited to share a birthday with a man who not only went by "Tug" in his professional career, but also gave birth to the man who grew up to marry Faith Hill and duet with Nelly? Rock.
I went shopping today to pick up a present to myself, two of my most anticipated albums of the summer - Death Cab for Cutie's Plans and Kanye West's Late Registration. I've managed to avoid downloading or streaming any of these tracks, sticking with only catching the respective singles on the radio or MTV in order to keep the anticipation high. Plus there's just something about holding out until I can get actual object in my hands, flipping through the liner notes while I give the album its first spin. That, and the fact that Kanye's going to sound a hell of a lot better blasting out of my car stereo on the way home than it will on my shitty computer speakers. I'll be sure to let you know what I think of both albums once I've spent ample time with them.
In the meantime, just want to send out some hopeful thoughts to any of you down on the Gulf Coast spending the day cleaning and recovering - I hope you and yours are all safe and sound today, if a little wet and waterlogged. For those of you that aren't, maybe you can lend a hand.

np: "bull's eye" - the barry harris sextet

Thanks to my wonderful girlfriend, I was lucky enough to check out Barry Harris and his trio at the Jazz Showcase on Saturday night - it was a wonderful time. I'll admit that I am far from an expert when it comes to jazz, but its something that I've always appreciated and wanted to learn more about. This was a great chance to catch a legend in the flesh and it left me in awe of both his work and the power of live jazz. The passion that flowed through his fingers could be felt throughout the room, it was simply amazing to watch a 75 year old with more energy and excitement than half the rock bands i've seen in my life. One particular highlight for me was the jam he put together by asking for random numbers from the audience, "4-3-7-5" was bouncing around my head for hours after the set.

np: "major label debut (live at intonation)" - broken social scene

So awesome - I think I've finally fallen head over heels in love with Broken Social Scene. Yes, You Forget It In People was always awesome, but it's only been the past week where my BSS obsession has gotten kicked up a notch or twelve. I suppose you could say it has more than a little to do with the leak of the forthcoming album or with the Intonation set i found online, but I like to think it goes beyond that. Since watching them at Intonation, I'd been finding myself pulling out YFiiP more and more often - digging into songs that hadn't been among my favorites initially. "Shampoo Suicide" and "Pitter Patter Goes My Heart" were two in particular that have recently grown in my favor after many repeated listenings. The whole album is just such a treat, one of those rare albums worthy of every ounce of hype thrown at it in the years since its release - and one that, rather than losing interest in over time, one that has continually grown on me.
Although I do have to admit that having the chance to listen to both the forthcoming self-titled disc and the Intonation set repeatedly over the past couple days have helped me appreciate the band even more. The new album is awesome, that's about all I can say at this point. I've made it through about five full listens so far and I'm very impressed. It's much too early to make proclamations like "album of the year" or anything of that sort, but let's just say I will be very surprised if it doesn't end up making my top twenty at the end of the year. Early favorite tracks include "Fire Eye'd Boy", "Superconnected", and the lush, whispery "Hotel" - but there's really not a single weak track to be found. I'll still be picking this one up the first day of release, however, because I want to hear the fast version of "Major Label Debut" included on the bonus EP that hopefully matches the awesomeness of the live version they've been playing.
Anyway, if you have yet to be exposed to the joy and excitement that this Canadian collective provides - by all means go pick up You Forget It In People at your favorite record store and enjoy. Or if you are already a charter member of the BSS fan club, get ready for October 4th.

* - For a limited time, you can click on the link at the beginning of this post to download the Intonation version of "Major Label Debut". Enjoy, and leave a comment to tell me what you think about the track or Broken Social Scene in general.

(BSS live photo courtest of Pitchfork)

np: "where cedar nouns and adverbs walk" - the most serene republic

alright, i know i've let you all down by not posting in several weeks - but i promise that its not all my fault. my internet connection at home went down for about a week, so that's partially to blame for the lack of updates. other than that though, i really don't have much of an excuse - i've just been out enjoying the summer and keeping busy with work.

i'm sure you've all been waiting for the report on the Ben & Rufus show at Ravinia earlier this month, so here's a brief rundown. opener Ben Lee sounded pretty good, i enjoyed his set much more than i expected to. Rufus was wonderful but i was a little disappointed that he didn't play "Oh What A World", i can't really complain beyond that. he sounded like he was having a good time and it came through in the songs, "Hallelujah" was a high point. Ben Folds also seemed to be having a good time playing with a band again, but the portion of his set i heard suffered from too many songs off the new album. it would have been great to have heard more Ben Folds Five classics, but i suppose he's still trying to distance himself from that a little. we ended up leaving about halfway through Ben's set, but we at least got to hear "Philosophy" before we hit the gates. overall i'd have to say i really enjoyed the night, the weather was fabulous but the overcrowded lawn definitely was not. i didn't realize Mr. Folds was pulling in such a huge teen following, but they were in full force at that night's show much to my dismay - as they were obviously there so see Folds and Folds only and used Rufus' set as an excuse for lots of loud talking on cell phones. it would be awesome if places like Ravinia would put up those cell phone scrambling devices that some stores use, because some of us go so we can actually hear the music. enough of the ranting though, it was a fun night and i'll probably be back to Ravinia again soon - maybe on a less crowded one.

other than that i'm just gearing up for a new batch of reviews over at Static, i'll be sure to link you once they are up on the site. things are kinda slow on the show circuit right now, but September looks to be exiciting as i've already got tickets to see Sufjan Stevens, Wolf Parade, Arcade Fire, The National, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

np: "gay messiah" - rufus wainwright

everytime i listen to Rufus, i start to wonder why i don't do it more often. he's one of those artists that i rarely find myself "in the mood" for, but whenever i do - i kick myself for not getting in that mood more often. i could seriously listen to Rufus sing a telephone book and i would enjoy the hell out of it, there aren't many singers who i could say the same for. i used to think that i could listen to any song that Chris Cornell provided the vocals for (hell, i even bought that solo album) but it seems Audioslave has managed to wean me of that particular habit.
i can't say i've been a long-time fan of Rufus, though i'd always enjoyed what i'd heard of his work. last year a friend hooked me up with a great mix of his stuff and i realized how much i had been missing. many dismiss the overblown theatrics of his work, but i think he's one of the few artists out there that can pull those kinds of things off. from his more intimate moments to the full-blown orchestral showstoppers, Rufus can own any song he takes on. except maybe "Hallelujah", but really - who can touch Jeff?
anyway, i'm listening tonight to prepare for the Wainwright and Ben Folds show at Ravinia later this week. i'd much rather have caught Ben back in the "Five" days, but i hear he can still put on one hell of a show. totally not feeling that last album though dude, the Scissor Sisters can do Elton far better than you ever will - so don't even try. i haven't been to Ravinia for years, so i'm very excited to be hitting this wonderful venue up again. let's just hope for great weather.

np: "the day we caught the train" - ocean colour scene

i've been drowning myself in '90s Britpop over the past week or so, due to a poll i tried to initiate at a message board i frequent from time to time. unfortunately, the poll seems to be mired down in arguments of what is (and, more importantly it seems) what isn't considered "Britpop". so while that poll may never fully take off as i intended, i'll share the results of my hard work with you dear reader.

via//chicago's top 95 Britpop songs
95. Elastica - Waking Up
94. Kula Shaker - Hey Dude
93. Morrissey - Alma Matters
92. Black Grape - In the Name of the Father
91. Chemical Brothers - Life is Sweet
90. Super Furry Animals - The Man Don't Give a Fuck
89. Manic Street Preachers - Theme From M.A.S.H. (Suicide is Painless)
88. Rialto - Monday Morning 5:19
87. Ride - Twisterella
86. Cast - Finetime
85. Placebo - Nancy Boy
84. Sleeper - Inbetweener
83. The Verve - Lucky Man
82. Pulp - This is Hardcore
81. Charlatans - Can't Get Out of Bed
80. Seahorses - Blinded by the Sun
79. Catatonia - Mulder and Scully
78. Boo Radleys - Wake Up Boo
77. Cornershop - Sleep on the Left Side
76. Elastica - 2:1
75. Pulp - Do You Remember the First Time?
74. Supergrass - Caught by the Fuzz
73. Cranberries - Zombie
72. Travis - Driftwood
71. Lush - 500 (Shake Baby Shake)
70. Suede - Trash
69. Ocean Colour Scene - The Circle
68. Elastica - Line Up
67. Cast - Alright
66. Supergrass - Sun Hits the Sky
65. Dodgy - Staying Out for the Summer
64. Gene - For the Dead
63. Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out)
62. The Bluetones - Slight Return
61. Tricky - Christiansands
60. Inspiral Carpets - This is How It Feels
59. Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go
58. The Verve - This is Music
57. Suede - Animal Nitrate
56. Kula Shaker - Hush
55. Oasis - Some Might Say
54. Dodgy - Good Enough
53. Charlatans - The Only One I Know
52. Reef - Place Your Hands
51. Travis - Why Does It Always Rain On Me?
50. Ocean Colour Scene - You've Got It Bad
49. Pulp - Sorted for E's & Wizz
48. Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be
47. Blur - End of the Century
46. Super Furry Animals - Hermann Loves Pauline
45. Longpigs - On and On
44. Morrissey - The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
43. The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work
42. Blur - Country House
41. Sleeper - Statuesque
40. Cranberries - Dreams
39. Blur - For Tomorrow
38. Boo Radleys - C'mon Kids
37. Space - Female of the Species
36. Seahorses - Love is the Law
35. Supergrass - Late in the Day
34. Manic Street Preachers - A Design For Life
33. Underworld - Born Slippy (NUXX)
32. Ash - Girl From Mars
31. Radiohead - Just
30. Kula Shaker - Tattva
29. Placebo - Every You Every Me
28. My Bloody Valentine - To Here Knows When
27. Lush - Ladykillers
26. Super Furry Animals - Something 4 The Weekend
25. Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
24. Oasis - Acquiesce
23. Radiohead - High and Dry
22. Cornershop - Brimful of Asha
21. Ride - Leave Them All Behind
20. Stone Roses - Love Spreads
19. Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun
18. Oasis - Don't Look Back in Anger
17. Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees
16. Pulp - Disco 2000
15. Primal Scream - Come Together
14. Elastica - Connection
13. Suede - So Young
12. Oasis - Wonderwall
11. Blur - To The End
10. Supergrass - Alright
9. Babybird - You're Gorgeous
8. Suede - The Drowners
7. Radiohead - Creep
6. The La's - There She Goes
5. Blur - Girls and Boys
4. Pulp - Common People
3. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
2. Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored
1. Oasis - Live Forever

as you can see, i decided to widen my definition of Britpop past the holy trinity of Oasis, Blur, and Pulp. i looked at bands that helped to launch and inspire the mid-90's scene - hence the inclusion of My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Inspiral Carpets, and Stone Roses. timeframe or no, i find that "I Wanna Be Adored" has come to define everything i look for in that era more than any other song, with the exception of Oasis' all-time classic. i also looked at bands that fit in with the overall spirit of Britpop, even if the sound was quite removed - see Chumbawamba, Cornershop, and Underworld for example. anyway, feel free to leave some thoughts below in the comments section.

np: "on the edge of" - low

after a couple of slow months in the new releases department, things are starting to heat up again as release dates are announced for some of 2005's more anticipated albums. here's a quick list of ones i am most excited for, with expected street dates:

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl (08.23.05)
stellastarr* - Harmonies for the Haunted (08.23.05)
Death Cab for Cutie - Plans (08.30.05)
Kanye West - Late Registration (08.30.05)
The Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang (09.06.05)
Sonic Youth - Goo (reissue - 2xCD) (09.13.05)
Sigur Ros - Takk (09.13.05)
Wolf Parade - Apologies to Queen Mary (09.27.05)
Metric - Live It Out (10.04.05)
My Morning Jacket - Z (10.04.05)
Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have Had It So Much Better With... (10.04.05)
Broken Social Scene - Windsurfing Nation (10.04.05)
The Constantines - Tournament of Hearts (10.11.05)
DangerDoom - The Mouse and the Mask (10.11.05)
Boards of Canada - Title TBA (10.18.05)

its shaping up to be a great fall for new music, i'm imagining (and hoping) that many of these will place highly on my year-end lists.

np: "sjutton" - dungen

picked up the domestic reissue of last year's fantastic Ta Det Lugnt by this Swedish psych-rock group. the track i'm currently listening to comes from the bonus disc of five previously unreleased tunes, mostly instrumental. the original album itself is amazing, so the bonus stuff is like adding even more icing to the tasty cake. they surprised me at Intonation and continue to surprise me with every song i hear, i'm looking forward to a long career from Dungen. get your butt out to your favorite indie shop and pick this one up, or get it direct from the cool cats over at Kemado.

np: "the skin of my yellow country teeth" - clap your hands say yeah

because one David Byrne wasn't enough. but seriously, this album is pretty fun and i'm excited to see them later this fall. anyway, i'm thinking about temporarily changing the name of this blog to via//miami or some shit, because my ass got rocked like a hurricane by Starlike Collision and Logic of Elliott last night at the Empty Bottle. the bands played as part of a benefit for Estrojam 2005 and both were in fine form, bringing Western Avenue a much needed Thursday night dose of rock action. LoE bassist Ella's channeling of Bon Scott on a devil-horn raising cover of "Highway to Hell" was a definite standout. seriously, go see one of these bands.

DangerDoom's The Mouse and the Mask has leaked and its pretty solid. the [Adult Swim] cameos are not as intrusive/out of place as i feared they would be, in fact they blend in pretty damn well with Doom's cartoony style and Dangermouse's beats. it's far from classic, and the novelty will probably wear out quickly, but for now i'm enjoying it much more than MM Food. the cameos from Ghostface and Talib Kweli are pretty hot, i can't wait for the Doom/Ghostface album. shit will be red-hot.

a few other random things i'm enjoying lately:
"John Wayne Gacy Jr." - Sufjan Stevens (harrowing track, this proves why the man is worthy of all the hype)
Howl - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (unexpected direction for the band, great results)
Sour Patch Kids (best movie snack ever)
The Jungle - Upton Sinclair (makes your job seem not quite so bad)
Rocket From the Crypt (i wish i'd discovered these guys sooner)
sleep (never goes out of style)

and yeah, the Lolla and Intonation pics will be coming soon. promise.

Lollapalooza 2005 Wrap-Up
alright, i won't draw this one out to a three-parter like i did with Intonation. this will be one nice and concise wrap-up of my second two-day festival of the summer. i'll just get this out of the way first - it was fucking hot out there, over 100 degrees on Sunday. so that dampened my enthusiasm just a little, but i was still able to hear some damn fine music. here's some thoughts on the bands i saw...

Day 1 - Saturday:
M83: great way to kick the weekend off, sitting in the grass and drifting away with the music. they sounded fantastic and the songs translated very well to the huge stage.

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead: very intense set for an outdoor festival, full of gratuitous instrument destruction and frequent use of the f-bomb. the two drummers added another level on intensity to the set, more enjoyable than i had expected even if the destruction was a little overdone.

Brian Jonestown Massacre: i've been wanting to check BJM out for a long time now, even before Dig! - but especially since having seen that movie. Anton lived up to his reputation, both as a musical genius and as a wacked-out frontman. when the band was actually playing music, it was sublime - timeless psych-influenced rock that at times actually makes you want to believe he can kickstart his much beloved "revolution". but the set was dragged down by huge breaks between songs, which found Anton alternating between insulting Dashboard Confessional (whose loud set was nearly overpowering BJM at times) and fiddling with the knobs on his amp and keyboard. i'd love to see them play a longer, more consistent set sometime.

Cake: didn't really pay a lot of attention to this set, just kinda say down and soaked it in. they played "Frank Sinatra" and "Rock and Roll Lifestyle", which was good enough for me.

Billy Idol: i was doubting this one, but my girlfriend was excited to check this out and away we went. i'm not sure how much Billy has spent on trainers and plastic surgery, but he looks pretty damn good for his age. even more importantly, however, is that he sounded great and seemed to really be enjoying himself. he whipped out all the old classics and a couple of not as bad as expected new tracks, all of which combined for an entertaining set.

The Black Keys: didn't get as close to the stage as i would have liked for this set, but they sounded pretty fantastic from where we sat. the festival setting seemed to be a really good setting for the boys and the crowd seemed pretty receptive.

The Pixies: the set wasn't very different from the show i saw at the Aragon last fall, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless. the crowd was really into it and the band seemed to be having loads of fun, especially Kim.

Weezer: i've always managed to miss out on Rivers and the crew in the past, so this was my first time seeing the band. which made it very exciting for me, as i've been a fan for over a decade now. they didn't disappoint, as most of the set consisted of stuff off the first two albums. "El Scorcho" was a definite highlight, as was the encore closing "Surf Wax America". any of the new tracks off Make Believe could have been traded for "The Good Life" though, i was really hoping to hear that one. the crowd was excellent for this set, and it was awesome to hear them singing along with every "ooooh-ooh" as "Undone (The Sweater Song)" faded out.

Day 2 - Sunday:
The Ponys: this local Chicago band sounded great on the big stage, tearing their way through songs off of both albums - but it was the ones from Laced with Romance that sounded best.

Kasabian: i know there's not a lot of love for this band with the hipsters out there, but i've been diggin' them since my girlfriend brought back word of them from Europe last year. the band seemed to be thrilled to play to such a large and appreciative audience, who danced and sang along to "L.S.F." and "Club Foot" despite the 100 degree heat. but for a band with such solid beats, the lead singer has some of the most un-funky dance moves ever. points for politeness and enthusiasm though.

Dinosaur Jr.: i was really impressed with the reunited J, Lou, and Murph. i had missed this original line-up the first time around, but had always heard stories of how great a live band they were. this was clearly evident on Sunday, as they tore through classics like their cover of "Just Like Heaven" and "Freak Scene". J plays guitar with twice the passion of guys half his age, you should make sure to check them out on this reunion tour.

Drive-By Truckers: these Southern boys (and girl) were about the perfect choice for Lollapalooza this year, as their tales of hard living and tough loving translated really well to the summer stage. it was evident that there were already many DBT faithful in attendance, but the awesome set surely converted quite a few more. this really made me want to check out the live DVD they recently put out.

The Arcade Fire: simply put, this was by far the best performance of the entire weekend. i'm even tempted to include this in the Top 20 live performances i've ever seen in my life, that's just how damn good it was. the band took to the stage in full funeral gear, black dresses and suits all around, never letting up from the get go. they fired through nearly every song on last year's Funeral, including the amazing "No Cars Go" from the debut EP and a couple new tunes. there was a buzz of energy and excitement from the moment they took the stage until the last note faded away. any band that can move a crowd of that size, in that oppressive heat, deserves many accolades. but for a band to do it with that much natural flair and talent is nearly unheard of, believe every bit of hype you have heard - this is a live band that is not to be missed.

Spoon: any band that i saw after that amazing Arcade Fire set was bound to be a slight disappointment, so we took this opportunity to cool down with some shaved ice and just listened to the music from a spot in the shade. Spoon sounded great, especially on the Gimme Fiction material and "The Way We Get By" got even the most uninterested head nodding along.

The Killers: this set was... really good, but by no means great. the hits sounded good and were played with lots of energy which the crowd returned in spades. but it was very clear that the band desperately needs to work on some sort of stage presence. good looks and solid hooks are not enough to carry an hour-long performance, no matter how willing a band is to admit its own shortcomings. but it was a lot of fun to see and hear "Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me" with an enthusiastic crowd.

Death Cab for Cutie: after all of the heat and excitement of the second day, it was a real treat to wind down with this relatively mellow set played out using the beautiful Chicago skyline as a backdrop. the set was heavily weighted towards the Seth Cohen approved Transatlanticism album, but they occasionally dipped into the back catalog to pull out a gem or two. the two new songs sounded really great, leaving me excited for the new album (due out on my birthday, very awesome). a great end to a terrific weekend.

some final thoughts:
- it was a surprisingly well executed festival given its size, lines were never too long and things seemed to run very smoothly.
- with a few exceptions, the feared bleeding of music from one stage to another never got very bad. as long as you didn't sit in the middle of the park you were able to concentrate on only the band you wanted to hear.
- this was a beautiful location for a show that the city needs to take advantage of more often. there's no reason things like this should be shoved into the awful Tweeter Center over an hour away from the city proper. Grant Park and the skyline are beautiful, we should take full advantage more often.
- many thanks to Katherine for not only the ticket, but for being willing to go and dealing with my stage-hopping to see all the bands i wanted to see. you are wonderful.

alright, now that the recaps are out of the way, look for some pictures of both Intonation and Lollapalooza soon.

Intonation Festival 2005 Wrap-Up Part 3
alright, i promise this is the end of the Intonation coverage, as i'm sure anyone who cares is already getting burnt out on all the coverage this week from places like Chicagoist, the Village Voice, and Pitchfork itself. this last look is going to sum up what i found to be good and bad about the festival, and my dream line-up for Intonation 2006.

The Good:
- the amazing line-up. maybe not perfect, but very solid and a better variety than i expected.
- the two-stage alternating set-up. made it possible to have virtually no dead-time between bands and allowed the fans not to have to choose between two bands, you could see them all baby.
- the price. $22 for a two day ticket, over 20 bands? a no-brainer. but the prices for concessions, while not dirt cheap, were nowhere near as high as they are likely to be at this weekend's Lollapalooza.
- the variety. in addition to the awesome music you could have spent your time checking out local vendor's, working on craft projects with your kids, shopping for sweet clothes and homemade crafts, or even gone digging for vinyl at the WLUW sponsored record fair (which is where i scored Japanese Whispers on vinyl).
- the short beer lines. it was way too hot to drink lots of dehydrating beer, but when you felt like grabbing a cold one there was viturally no wait at all. very unexpected.
- the great crowd. for the most part the crowd was really great - there to enjoy the music and not act like drunken idiots. again, something that will probably not be the same at Lollapalooza.

The Bad:
- the "press pit" for certain bands. when The Hold Steady took the stage, it seemed as if everyone who'd ever met the band suddenly was let into the pit area directly in front of the stage. i'm perfectly happy to see writers and camerapeople in that area, but this was a little crazy. there ended up being 20-30 people in there, many of whom were obviously just there to drink beer and rock out. not a huge complaint, but it somehow seemed to cheapen the hard-earned spot i saved in front of the stage. maybe next time there can be a limit to the number of people allowed in that area at one time.
- the weather. definitely not something that could have been controlled, but damn was it hot - especially on Sunday. thankfully the organizers made sure free water was available and allowed us to bring in sealed water containers (nice move).
- the long ATM line. to be fair, i'm sure no one expected the ATM to be such a big hit over the weekend - but waiting 30-45 minutes for your turn was a bit of a drag.

anyway, that's all the complaints i have. i had an amazing time and i'm already anxiously awaiting Intonation 2006. and while we're on the topic, who would you want to see perform next year? drop me a comment and let me know your dream line-up. meanwhile, i'll leave you with how i would book Intonation 2006.

Day 1 - Saturday:
The Reputation
Okkervil River
The Ponys
David Pajo
Annie
Caribou
Clinic
M. Ward
Stars
Mission of Burma
The Shins

DJ Tent:
Matt Sweeney
Nick Catchdubs

Day 2 - Sunday:
Comets on Fire
The Juan Maclean
Iron & Wine
Oneida
MF Doom
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
Boards of Canada
Neutral Milk Hotel
Spoon
Stephen Malkmus
Belle & Sebastian

DJ Tent:
Thurston Moore
James Murphy

np: "gamera" - tortoise
yeah, i'm still on that Intonation buzz. the promised part 3 of my wrap-up will come later tonight, but for now i wanted to pass along some information on the 2005 Mercury Prize. yesterday the shortlist was announced for this prestigious UK prize, which has most recently been awarded to Franz Ferdinand and Dizzee Rascal. the final winner will be announced September 6, so until then let the speculating begin...

2005 Mercury Prize nominees:
Antony and the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Coldplay - X&Y
The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Hard-Fi - Stars of CCTV
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
Seth Lakeman - Kitty Jay
The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers
M.I.A. - Arular
Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger
Polar Bear - Held on the Tips of Fingers
KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope

British gambling houses have made the Kaiser Chiefs early favorites, but i wouldn't discount M.I.A. just yet. i'd be very happy to see either her or Bloc Party win this one.

Intonation Festival 2005 Wrap-Up Part 2
and now let's take a look at the bands from the second day of Intonation...

Day 2 - Sunday:
Thunderbirds Are Now!: to be honest, i didn't catch much of this set as i was late arriving to the park and was getting settled in. but what i was able to hear left me feeling the same way as i did when i heard Justamustache, very uninspired.

Dungen: this was one of the biggest surprises for me over the course of the two days, as the boys from Sweden put on one hell of a set. they really seemed to be enjoying themselves and it really came across in the performance. Ta Det Lugnt is an astonishing album full of brilliant psych influenced rock so i was expecting a good show, i just wasn't expecting to be blown away all over again. i got a little nervous when the lead singer pulled out a flute, but all of my worst Jethro Tull fears were quickly laid to rest.

Xiu Xiu: i was a little nervous about this set, being not at all sure how Jamie Stewart's manic performances would translate to an outdoor stage in the sunshine. not to worry, as Jamie left the more hushed moments behind and spent his time making a more frantic noise. "Pox" was an especially inspired song, as Jamie wrenched and wrestled with the cacophony behind him. you'd never expect so much noise to come from just two people on a stage.

Out Hud: i've never really been able to get into Out Hud as much as i have !!!, so i wasn't as intent on pushing my way to the front for this set. from where i ended up, it sounded like i should have put forth more effort. i was bouncing my head and tapping my toes from across the part, part of me really wanting to ignore the nearly 100 degree temperatures and start dancing my ass off. luckily i remember just in time that i can't dance and saved myself (and probably many others) the embarassment.

The Hold Steady: just... wow. without a doubt this was one of my two favorite performances of the weekend. i've been slowly falling more and more in love with this band over the past several months, but seeing Craig Finn and company live made one thing very clear - this is my new favorite band. the band kicked things off with "Hornets! Hornets!" and tore thier way through songs off both albums, "Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night" and "Most People Are DJs" being two of my personal favorites. do yourself a favor and check this band out live, you will not be disappointed. you could always check them out on Conan tonight or Carson Daly tomorrow night, but i don't think it'll be quite the same.

Andrew Bird: so this was one of the biggest draws of the weekend apparently, as the buzz for this guy was positively enormous. i'm not sure just how the hype surrounding Andrew has gotten quite so big, but he sure drew the crowds. personally, i'm just not feeling him that much. he's a terrific musician and a wonderful composer, but something about him just leaves me a little flat. kinda reminds me of a more talented, less annoying Jack Johnson.

Deerhoof: this is another one of those bands that i just don't get the hype for, seems like the type of things that many other bands have done earlier and better. they didn't sound awful, but i wasn't really impressed by the set either.

The Wrens: after the last two lackluster sets, i was looking forward to something to get me excited again - and The Wrens delivered plus some. i'd only listened to The Meadowlands a handful of times so i'm wasn't a huge fan of the band going in to the festival, but i certainly walked away from that performance a believer. "She Sends Kisses" was a personal highlight, but pretty much the entire set was phenomenal.

Les Savy Fav: remember when i said the Hold Steady gave one of my two favorite performances of the weekend? i hope so, since it was like three paragraphs ago. anyway, i didn't think that one could possibly be topped by any of the remaining bands on the bill. Les Savy Fav proved me wrong, very dead-fucking-wrong. Tim Harrington was on fire from the get-go - tossing sponges into the crowd, stripping to his black skivvies, enticing the crowd to sit down on the grass, donning an aluminum foil crown, and even dousing his genitalia with a 312 (Chicago brewed "urban" ale, good stuff from Goose Island). oh yeah, and the music kicked major ass as well. "The Sweat Descends" and "We'll Make A Lover Out of You" being just two of the especially tasty jams. forget about everything you've been hearing about The Go! Team's performance, this was the true memorable gem of the Festival.

The Decemberists: much like Andrew Bird, i hadn't realized that this band was pulling in such a huge amount of fans. it makes complete sense, but i wasn't aware that they had been able to penetrate the mainstream as much as they apparently have. this was a solid choice to end the weekend with, sending the fans out on a lighter tone after the frenetic energy of Les Savy Fav. Petra Haden has been an excellent addition to the band's live show, adding another very talented layer to the sound. it wasn't a particularly amazing set, but enjoyable enough to send everyone home happy.

again, many thanks to everyone who helped put this Festival together, and here's looking forward to Intonation 2006. tomorrow i'll finish up with the promised general thoughts and my dream line-up for next year's festival.

Intonation Festival 2005 Wrap-Up
just got back a few short hours ago from the Intonation Festival, the little music thingie that Pitchfork has been hyping for a minute or two. before i get any more detailed, i just want to give a huge 'thank you' to everyone involved in this event. without a doubt, this was the best two days of music i've been through in, oh, ever. from cheap ticket prices to an awesome lineup to things being run pretty damn smoothly, i have to say it was quite a wonderful experience. i'll probably try and write a little more on my general thoughts in a couple of days, but while everything is fresh in my mind i wanted to run down what i thought of each band.

Day 1 - Saturday:
Head of Femur: i was in line outside the gate for most of this set, but i have to say i was a little disappointed in what i heard. the latest album, Hysterical Stars, is a lush pop nugget that i've been enjoying quite a bit as of late; but i'm thinking something was just lost in the translation to a large, outdoor venue. but it's a tough job to open a festival with such huge expectations, so props to them for a solid, if not top-notch, performance.

Pelican: this was another slight disappointment for me, but again i think this was due to the translation to an outdoor venue. i expected something a little more mammoth and head-crushing, but things seemed to run-off into the post-rock noodling territory. there were some pretty awesome moments though, i'd love to see these guys in a smaller club sometime.

The M's: local Chicago boys that i'd never been able to see before, but i was very glad to get an up close look at them during Intonation. very enjoyable set of rock and roll, they deserve just as much praise is being lavished upon The Ponys. Chicago rock is far from dead.

A.C. Newman: due to a much needed food break i wasn't able to get very close for this set, but he sounded pretty excellent from my spot in the shade with my lemonade and cheeseburger. "35 in the Shade", while not at all appropriate given the temperature in Chicago this weekend, was a standout to these ears.

Magnolia Electric Co.: this was definitely the highlight of my day, as Jason Molina and his band put on one hell of a rock show. i wasn't sure whether we were going to get the somber Molina or the rockin' out Molina, but it was much more of the latter. i was surprised at how energized his band was, as they gave the tunes from his last two albums workouts that would have done Neil Young proud.

Four Tet: i was much more impressed with Four Tet than i expected to be, as his albums have never really done much for me. i found myself a nice spot in the grass and sat back, letting the beats and clicks wash over me. i wasn't left awestruck, but it was enough to make me want to relisten to his albums.

Broken Social Scene: if this was my first and only exposure to BSS, i would have been left wondering just what all the fuss was about. it wasn't a bad set by any means, just a solid set that fell far short of awe-inspiring. a couple of the new songs they played leave me excited for the new album though, especially the Malkmus tribute(?) about the girl that dreams of a better tomorrow, dreams of Pavement (i forgot the exact title).

The Go! Team: it was obvious that this crew was a highlight for a big portion of the crowd, but all the fun and happiness on stage just seemed a little forced. Thunder, Lightning, Strike is one hell of an enjoyable album, but the live show left me feeling like i was watching Scary Spice run Out Hud through a set of funk covers. but, as i said, a lot of people there seemed to love the set so maybe i was just missing something. cute move to bring the local kids up on stage to dance though.

Prefuse 73: i wasn't up close for this one either, but it sounded pretty good from where i sat. by the end of his set i was kicking myself for not pushing closer, as the beat was making my head nod all the way across Union Park. i need to see him again.

Death From Above 1979: there had seemed to have been minor sound problems on the Holiday stage off and on all day, and i think DFA1979 really seemed to suffer for it. i think everyone was ready for these two guys to rip shit apart, but all the devil-horns in the world couldn't have kicked this up the two notches it needed. some monster riffs just seemed to bury themselves in the muffled sound, maybe it sounded more brutal right next to the stage.

Tortiose: i started out listening to it from the bleachers all the way across the park and i wasn't all that excited, but halfway through i got up and just wandered aimlessly around the grounds and just let it all wash over me. about 10 minutes later i found myself completely lost in the music, i think this is all i needed to be proven why Tortoise was headlining the night.

that wraps it up for day one, i'll be back tomorrow with coverage of the day two bands and a few more general thoughts.

np: "brandenburg concerto no. 1" - j.s. bach

no, really. i've been on a big classical kick lately, something i really never thought i would dig into all that much. but after spending some time in the right environment to hear this stuff, i was suitably impressed and decided to delve right in. so, of course, i'm starting basic and cheaply - by picking up two of those bargain priced mega-compilations to kick this thing off. decided on Bach and Mozart to begin my training and appreciation, more as things progress i'm sure.

so last time i promised some words on rock action of some sort or another and i'm never one to disappoint, so here we go. i hit up Schuba's a couple weeks ago to see two of my very favorite Chicago area bands, both of which i know i've mentioned on here many times before. my close personal friends in Star*Like Collision got the call to open a show for The Reputation which right away guarantees a recipe for awesomeness. as usual things were really excellent, with both bands in fine form. bit of a sad note in the air, however, as it was bass player Joel Root's last performance with the band. he's heading off to Oregon to pursue some new directions and we (read: me) here at via//chicago wish him nothing but the best.

this week's big excitement? Intonation. hell yeah. Hold Steady, Les Savy Fav, Xiu Xiu, The Decemberists, Magnolia Electric Co., Four Tet, and Head of Femur among many others all within a couple miles of where i live... who could ask for more? i'm stoked, and with Lolla the weekend after i've got nothing but awesome live music to look forward to.

tomorrow night i'll be at The Note to see the girls in The Logic of Elliott rock my ass again as they compete for a slot at Warped, you should join me.

anyway, that's about enough for tonight - time to go get my classical on.

iPod random 10:
been awhile since i did one of these...

the fall - "prole are threat"
the bravery - "no brakes"
the monks - "oh how to do now"
dead meadow - "jusiamere farm"
the dismemberment plan - "do the standing still"
clinic - "2/4"
pavement - "fillmore jive"
idlewild - "blame it on the obvious ways"
boards of canada - "olson"
nirvana - "breed"

later today, a little bit on the rock action from last night.

np: "300 bars and running" - the game

"300 Bars" is quickly becoming one of the most talked about rap songs of summer 2005, lighting up message boards around the net almost as much as "Wait (The Whisper Song)" or "Dear Summer". for those that don't know, this track appears on Nu Jerzey Devil & DJ Skee's latest mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 3. the song is Game's epic attack on the G-Unit crew, who's signature call is parodied as "g-g-g-g-g-G-U-Not" throughout (i'm sure these guys would approve). i say "epic" because this 18 minute track could be called little else. it kicks off with soundbites of little kids spouting off against Fiddy and the G-Unit clique before the beats kick in and Game goes to work. those that have doubts about the longevity of Game's career should have them put to rest be the end, as he hits hard and stays on target throughout. the beats he rhymes over are taken from some of hip-hop's biggest hits over the past few years, from Hova's "The Takeover" to Kanye's "Diamonds" and Dre and Mobb Deep between. his lyrical jabs don't really break new ground and his continual comparisons of Olivia to a man get tiresome quickly, but overall Game really shines. his knowledge of hip-hop's history is on display, as he ably adapts to each new beat and even does a slight bit of vocal mimickry (most noticably over the "Diamonds" portion). first The Documentary proves to be a more solid album than The Massacre, and now Game proves he can kill it for 300 bars without growing stale. this kid's got a lot more future than a lot of people originally gave him credit for.

np: "maureen" - fountains of wayne

Fountains of Wayne, arguably one of the best power-pop bands of the past ten years has released a double disc collection of rarities, unreleased tracks, and a couple of new songs - and its pretty fantastic, as expected. i say arguably, because i think Sloan (who also recently released an excellent singles comp) is about the only band right now that would give them any sort of competition for the title. anyway, those of you who only know FoW from "Stacy's Mom" need to get your head straight and check out any one of thier three delicious albums, each chock full of hook-filled power-pop goodness. Utopia Parkway is my personal favorite, but you really can't go wrong with any of them. Out-of-State Plates, the new collection, is a fantastic addition to anyone's collection - FoW newbie or fanatic. from the newly recorded "Maureen" to the old school "California Sex Lawyer" there are at least 8-9 tracks guaranteed to get caught in your head like a fly in a windowsill. if you are looking for some fun road trip music for the summer, do yourself a huge favor and invest in some of Jersey's finest - you'll thank me.

np: "drown" - smashing pumpkins

and the summer solstice brings unexpected news, as Billy Corgan announced that he is bringing back the Smashing Pumpkins. he announced the news by placing full-page ads in the Chicago Tribune and by appearing on XRT to chat and spin some tunes from his debut solo album, TheFutureEmbrace, out today. cheap publicity stunt to boost sales? half-assed attempt to recapture fading glory? it doesn't matter. i'm excited as hell about this news and i'm just going to contain my cynical side and enjoy this one as a fan. no word yet on who will be involved, but i'm betting that at least Jimmy will be a part of it. i sincerely hope James is also a part of the reformed group, but i have my doubts after he and Corgan's war of words over the past few years regarding the breakup. i always knew the reunion was inevitable, but i wasn't expecting it for 3 or 4 more years. i'm going to try to not get my hopes up too much for whatever the future holds for the Pumpkins, but how could i not be excited when my favorite band ever reforms?

2005//Top 20 Albums so far...
as we approach the halfway point in 2005, perhaps its time to take a moment and look back on the music we've heard, loved, and enjoyed. well, at least i will. presented here are twenty albums that i've really taken to over the past several months; albums that have soundtracked the hectic process of moving twice, settling in, and falling deeper in love. take a look, maybe something on here will tickle your fancy. come on, you know you want your fancy tickled. admit it.

the top 5...


1. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (V2)
recommened tracks to check out: "Like Eating Glass", "Blue Light", "This Modern Love"
this kicks off with one of the strongest opening tracks i've heard in years with "Like Eating Glass" and doesn't let up until long after. Bloc Party is one of the most promising young bands in Britain today, and if this album is any indication they are going to have an extremely long and amazing career. start following them now,


2. The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday (Frenchkiss)
tracks: "Your Little Hoodrat Friend", "Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night", "Multitude of Casualties"
without a doubt this is the best straight-ahead Midwestern rock and fucking roll album you will hear all year. music with heart snd from the heart. Huey Lewis was right, the heart of rock and roll is still beating, but who knew it was hanging out in Minnesota?


3. M.I.A. - Arular (XL)
tracks: "Hombre", "Sunshowers", "Galang"
if you haven't heard of this girl by now, this must be your first time ever reading a music blog. she's been the darling of the online hipsters since her first mixes with the Diplo crew surfaced, and big expectations have been laid upon her since then. her debut delivers and then some. it may not have blown up with mainstream audiences like it should have, but she will eventually. rumored collabs with Missy Elliott and Kanye West are on the way. hotness.


4. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy (Jagjaguwar)
tracks: "For Real", "A Glow", "In A Radio Song"
this band came out of absolutely nowhere for me and astounded me. i really can't being to explain how hard this album struck me, its an album that must be heard to be fully appreciated. chock full of soaring melodies, this is a haunting album that will stick with you for a long time.


5. LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsytem (DFA/EMI)
tracks: "Daft Punk is Playing at My House", "Disco Infiltrator", "Tribulations"
some people will try to tell you that this album is only worthwhile for the bonus disc of all of James Murphy's previously vinyl-only singles. those people are so. fucking. wrong. this album is like a crash course that plows through the world's greatest record collection - bouncing from the Beatles to Can to Daft Punk to Neu and back again, keeping you ass shaking the whole way through.

and the rest...


6. M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us (Mute)
tracks: "Don't Save Us from the Flames", "A Guitar and a Heart", "Lower Your Eyelids to Die with the Sun"


7. The Kills - No Wow (Rough Trade/RCA)
tracks: "No Wow", "Dead Road 7", "Murdermile"


8. Bright Eyes - Digital Ash in a Digital Urn/I'm Wide Awake It's Morning (Saddle Creek)
tracks: "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)", "Easy/Lucky/Free", "First Day of My Life", "Road to Joy"


9. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (Merge)
tracks: "I Turn My Camera On", "Sister Jack", "I Summon You"


10. The National - Alligator (Beggars Banquet)
tracks: "Abel", "Looking for Astronauts", "Karen"


11. Ryan Adams - Cold Roses (Lost Highway)
tracks: "Magnolia Mountain", "Beautiful Sorta", "How Do You Keep Love Alive"


12. Youth Group - Skeleton Jar (Epitaph)
tracks: "Skeleton Jar", "See-Saw", "Why Don't the Buildings Cry"


13. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods (Sub Pop)
tracks: "Jumpers", "Let's Call It Love", "Wilderness"


14. Dalek - Absence (Ipecac)
tracks: "Asylum (Permanent Underclass)", "Culture for Dollars", "A Beast Caged"


15. Magnolia Electric Co. - Trials & Errors (Secretly Canadian)
tracks: "The Dark Don't Hide It", "Almost Was Good Enough", "Cross the Road"


16. Stephen Malkmus - Face the Truth (Matador)
tracks: "Baby C'mon", "Post-Paint Boy", "No More Shoes"


17. Oasis - Don't Believe the Truth (Epic)
tracks: "Let There Be Love", "Turn Up the Sun", "Lyla"


18. Low - The Great Destroyer (Sub Pop)
tracks: "Everybody's Song", "When I Go Deaf", "Pissing"


19. Gorillaz - Demon Days (Virgin)
tracks: "November Has Come", "Feel Good Inc.", "Last Living Souls"


20. Weezer - Make Believe (Geffen)
tracks: "The Damage in Your Heart", "This is Such a Pity", "My Best Friend"

others to consider:
Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze, Coldplay - X&Y, Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth, Archer Prewitt - Wilderness, Bonnie "Prince" Billy & Matt Sweeney - Superwolf, Doves - Some Cities

Double Door is saved!

"The owners of the Double Door tavern and its landlords on Thursday found a way to keep the storied music venue from closing, ending a year of rancor with 2½ hours of talks in a Circuit Court hallway.The agreement restored faith for some that an element of cool could remain in the face of rising property values in the hip Wicker Park neighborhood and narrowly pre-empted a civil suit scheduled to start Thursday afternoon.The pact, which will extend the Double Door's lease until at least 2009, with an option to extend until 2014, brought cheers from two dozen tavern supporters packed into a 26th floor courtroom in the Daley Center."

read more here.

np: "now you're leaving" - prefuse 73

how fucking excited am i about this team-up? DJ Dangermouse (he of Hova/Beatles mash-up infamy) and MF Doom are stepping in the ring all tag team style to bring you some hot beats on some next level [Adult Swim] shit. read more here, and check out preview track "Mince Meat" on this joint.

The Logic of Elliott is a Chicago trio that you are going to want to remember the name of. caught a quick set at the Pontiac last weekend and got my ass throughougly rocked. think Sleater-Kinney with a little more of a metal heart. hot shit though, for sure. i think i'll expand on my thoughts next week and offer up a song for y'all.

X&Y is good. that's all i'm gonna say on that. i'll be sick of it once "Speed of Sound" and "Fix You" get played to death, but for now i'm enjoying the album more than i expected to. hate if you must, but i really think Coldplay takes a lot of shit they don't deserve.

i don't know what i think of Get Behind Me Satan just yet. it's good, i just don't know how good it really is. but while i do figure it out, ponder on the fact that Jack and Meg have now released 5 consecutive really solid to downright outstanding albums. that's no simple task and a streak that a lot of bands would kill to match. i'm curious to see how the Strokes will match up after album number five ( if they make it that far).

speaking of the Stripes, how awesome is "Blue Orchid"? its even better when you imagine Jack is actually singing "you got an erection... you tickled my orchid / turned it blue". but whats up with that single cover? is that R. Kelly and his closet?

anyway, thats it for today. i'm gonna head off to Reckless here in a bit and get my shop on. enjoy the weekend. and let's hope the Cubs crush those BoSox.

np: "mucky fingers" - oasis

somehow, more than a full decade after storming the UK charts this band remains one of the most divisive groups in rock. six albums into their career and they are still a love 'em or hate 'em kind of thing, very few people seem to think Oasis is "sorta decent". how else could a band without a major U.S. hit in over 6 years manage to sell out Madison Square Garden within an hour? people seem to either worship at the Gallagher Temple or try to knock the damn thing down, and the reviews for Don't Believe the Truth seem to back that up. while fanatics are busy hailing it as a "return to form" of the mid-90s heights, the more *ahem* "hip" guardians of taste are dismissing it as a career nadir for a band that has been on a consistent decline since the release of Be Here Now in 1997. so which one comes closer to the truth?
before i answer that question, however, i have to engage in a little full disclosure. i am one of those people who falls squarely into the "love 'em" category - always have, most likely always will. discovered them after hearing "Live Forever" back in the summer of 1994 just before i headed off to college. since then i have awaited every new album and tabloid appearance by the band, hungrily snatching each import single that trickled into shops for those ever so pleasant b-sides.
now, i will be the first to admit that the band has underwent a noticeable decline in quality of the last three albums, but there have always been moments of glory that have kept me listening all of these years. with this frame of reference, let me tell you that DBTT is neither a career nadir or a return to form - just a damn solid rock album. opener "Turn Up the Sun" kicks things off nicely before taking us into the surprising stomp of "Mucky Fingers". but as a listen to the album closer "Let There Be Love" will show, Oasis is at their strongest when creating epic pop tunes with a bloated sense of grandeur. this song will fit in well with songs like "Champagne Supernova" and "Don't Look Back in Anger" when the inevitable best-of comes around. this album also shows off a more collaborative Oasis than we are used to, as songwriting credits are divided amongst all the members. this is no longer just the Noel and Liam show, Andy Bell and Gem Archer are proving their worth by contributing strong tracks. no, this isn't going to hold up as well as (What's the Story) Morning Glory or Definitely Maybe, but i'm certainly finding it a hell of a lot more enjoyable than Standing On The Shoulders of Giants. yes the band is still extremely derivative, ripping off prominently from the Stones on first single "Lyla", but that is just one of the things we've come to accept with this band.
if you're an Oasis fan you probably won't need me to tell you to pick this one up, and if you are one of the many haters my opinion isn't going to change your mind. but if you are one of those rare people still on the fence when it comes to this band, go ahead and pick it up. you might be surprised by what you've been dismissing. or if you are one of those fairweather fans that quit paying attention during the string of sub-par releases, you should pick this up as well. there may just be a few moments that remind you just why you used to love this band.

np: "sugar, we're goin' down" - fall out boy

this song just keeps getting better and better every time i hear it. i shouldn't be so surprised considering this type of stuff was my bread and butter years ago, but i wasn't expecting to be this floored by a post-emo explosion pop-punk song by a band i'd never even given a second listen to before. much like last year's My Chemical Romance hit, "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", this song completely explodes in the chorus. this is a strong contender for my single of the year with 7 months to go, but it hasn't knocked off Kelly Clarkson just yet. for serious, i heart "Since U Been Gone" to death.

in other, more important news - help save the Double Door:

On June 9, 2005 Double Door, Chicago's preeminent small music venue, will be fighting for its very existence before Cook County Chancery Judge Billik. The trial, whereby Double Door is seeking to enforce an extension to its lease, is set to begin at 2PM at the Cook County Courthouse, Room 2601 in the Daley Center. The trial hinges upon Double Door's position that it appropriately notified the owners of the building, Harry and Brian Strauss, of its intention to exercise its option in it's lease. The Strauss' dispute this claim.

Double Door has become a fixture in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood and an integral part of the cultural and music scene in Chicago since it's opening in 1994. The club has played host to some of the biggest bands in the world including The Rolling Stones, bringing national and international exposure to Chicago. Double Door served as the site for debut material from two albums of Chicago's own Smashing Pumpkins. Artists like Kid Rock, Macy Gray, The Strokes and The Killers have all graced the Double Door stage early in their careers. The club has nurtured the careers of many of Chicago's most successful local artists including Chevelle, Local H and Liquid Soul.

The Strauss family has no interest in preserving the cultural integrity of the neighborhood or the Double Door. It is their intention to force the closure of Double Door and to replace it with a national retail chain.

Double Door filed its suit against the Strauss family knowing that it has met its obligations under the lease. This trial will determine whether the institution that is Double Door will remain a fixture in Wicker Park and a key part of the cultural and musical scene in Chicago.

Chicago's musical landscape will not be the same without Double Door.

TAKE ACTION!

Attend the court hearing on June 9th, 2005 at 2pm at the Cook County Courthouse, Room 2601 in Daley Center.

Write a letter to Alderman Manny Flores expressing your support for Double Door at ward01@cityofchicago.org

Write a letter to the editor expressing your support for Double Door -
Chicago Sun-Times - letters@suntimes.com
Chicago Tribune – ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com
Chicago Reader - letters@chicagoreader.com
(from the Double Door website)

np: "abel" - the national

so yeah, i'm still slacking majorly on updating this thing. it'll get better once the living situation gets settled and work slows down - i promise. in the meantime, just a random bunch of thoughts from the past couple weeks:

- the new Weezer is nowhere near as bad as most people would lead you to believe, i'm finding it a pretty decent driving album in fact (maybe second only to that fantastic new Spoon album). we all know we aren't going to get another Blue album, let alone another Pinkerton, so how about just enjoying this one for what it is? i could really do without "We Are All On Drugs" though.

- on the subject of new albums, chalk up both the new Ryan Adams and Nine Inch Nails albums in the 'much stronger than expected' columns. but unfortunately you can drop that hotly anticipated new Ponys' album, Celebration Castle, into the 'minor disappointment' column. maybe it'll grow on me over time, but this one pales in comparison to Laced With Romance after the first couple spins.

- those damn Brits do it again. Coldplay was kept off the number one slot this week because of some mobile phone ringtone advert involving an anatomically correct animated frog covering the theme song to a 1980s American film. how fucked up is that? not that the new Coldplay was all that great anyway, Amerie should have been the one bowing atop the charts. but much love for the Gallagher boys as they hit number one with "Lyla" last week. Britpop ain't dead, yo.

- speaking of Britpop, how fucking tight is that new Gorillaz joint? the single, "Feel Good Inc", featuring the boys in De La is smoking hot - but i'm all about that team-up with MF Doom. good ol' Metalface and Damon on the same track? pinch me.

- gotta use this space here to give a shout-out to my boys and girls in StarLike Collision for the kick-ass show last week at Double Door. there was a reason they put you on last. for those of you that haven't witnessed the glory of SLC in person do yourselves a favor - click on the link in thier name, check out the show dates, and go see some fine rock action at one of thier many Chicagoland shows. you might even spot members of another hot Chicago band in the crowd.

- my reviewing gig at the excellent Static Multimedia is still going strong, so check out some of my recent reviews of Ash, The Hold Steady, The Kills, and the awesome rockumentary Dig!

and with that, i leave you for the time being. oh yeah, go check out The National. peace.

np: "i can't win" - the strokes

i know, i know, i know. almost a month without updates, i'm sorry. the main reason is my current living situation. the lease on my old place ended April 30th and my new one doesn't start until June 1st, so in the meantime i've moved in temporarily with my girlfriend. that has gone really well and i'm having a great time with it, but it has left much less time for things like blogging. i promise to get this thing really cranking along again soon, most likely after June kicks in. a big thanks to anyone who's still been checking in for updates.

in the meantime...


Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West

What essential indie rock album are you?

Slop From The Pops: UK Pop Chart 04.03.05
i've decided to take a new format starting with this week's SFTP, since the old list format was a little too cumbersome on the page and quite a bit more time-consuming for me. this new format should also make for an easier read for all of you people, more of a summary sort of thing than just a list with my random comments.

unfortunately tony christie and peter kay continue their stranglehold on the UK charts, holding on to number one for the third straight week with the Comic Relief charity single "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo". not only is this at the top of the singles chart, but Tony Christie manages to grab the top rung on both the albums chart and download chart as well. you wacky Brits need to stop with this shit, seriously. Elvis Presley knocks crooner Mario from number two with one of his stronger singles in this reissue campaign, "You're the Devil in Disguise". with Mario hanging back at number three, that leaves spot four open for Mariah Carey's latest comeback single "It's Like That". hmm, i don't think so ms. carey. it's more like, remember when you used to use your vocal range for good and not evil? yeah, i'm just not feelin' this new single. 50 Cent drops one spot to five with "Candy Shop" as pint-sized cutie Kylie Minogue scores another UK Top 10 by placing her latest, "Giving You Up", at number six. this track is an upbeat ditty from Kylie featuring yet more fantastic production, but it still pales in comparison to her last single (it's hard to top the Scissor Sisters, yo). the godawful McFly track falls to seven as Will Smith "switches" to number eight (yeah, that was really lame). Lemar hits number nine with yet another bland ballad and the ever-improving Rachel Stevens closes out the top ten with the single of the year contender "Negotiate With Love". seriously, this track is white-hot, hit up iTunes and check it for yourself.

just missing out on the top twenty is the mighty Morrissey, coming in at number eleven with a double-a side containing songs from the just released Live at Earl's Court Album. said album is surprisingly solid, as is this single's performance of Smiths' classic weeper "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out". Studio B comes in just behind Morrissey with a lame-ass attempt at "rapping" over a lame-ass attempt at "dance music". random lyrics about how hot girls are, thanks for the newsflash. no other new entries in the top twenty, but good news in that Jennifer Lopez and Nelly are both about to drop off. i don't think i could stomach another week of "Get Right" and "Over and Over". nice to see Basement Jaxx still hanging around though.

and now on to the lower half of the charts - Avril Lavigne and "He Wasn't" pop in at number 23, finding Avril back to her *cough* punky *cough* roots with a single that would be quite decent if it weren't for the annoying shouts of "Hey! Hey!" throughout the chorus. we only get a brief snippet of Dead 60's, but from what i can tell "The Last Resort" sounds like average new-wave garage rock that probably belongs at the number 24 it placed. Chicago native Twista shows up with his rapid fire delivery at number 25, but this time he spits over a slow jam featuring nice vocals from Faith Evans and an anemic acoustic sample. dammit kids, if you are gonna ride the "positive" tip please try harder. you gots ta kill that shit, and this one wasn't even maimed. those hyped to death Canadians in Arcade Fire hit a disappointing 30 with "Laika", while your mom' s favorite crooner Michael Buble lopes in at 31 with a track that probably explains the drool spot on my shirt. Estelle, who's scored recent hits with the awesome "Free" and "1980", flounders this time around with a weak shot at the haters in the world as "Go Gone" places at 32. Do Me Bad Things place at 33 with "Whats Hideous", which just may be if only the BBC would see fit to let me judge for myself by actually playing it. a very twee sounding band going by the unfortunate name of Yeti comes in at number 36 with "Never Lose Your Sense of Wonder". never lose your sense of coming up with a good band name either, whoops too late for that. the brothers Hanson bring "Lost Without Each Other" in at number 39, proving to me two very important things. the first being that, yes, they still suck; and two, "Penny and Me" earlier this year was a complete fluke (but still an enjoyable song, alright?). closing out this week's Top 40 are the romantically named Bullet For My Valentine who scream out "4 Words (To Choke On)" in that ever endearing emotional way that the kids seem to love these days.

np: "mr. brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke remix) " - the killers



i remember absolutely hating remixes when i was younger, circa 7th and 8th grade. i was always disappointed when an artist threw a remix on the flipside of a cassingle or record. why waste the space that could be used for an unheard song with a crappy "extended" version of one i already knew? since then, of course, i've come to see how stupid i was being and i've grown to appreciate the art of the remix. in the past several months one remixer in particular has been getting lots of spins around the via//chicago homestead, one Mr. Jacques Lu Cont. he's done quite a few mixes for a wide variety of artists, under both his name and the Thin White Duke alias (and sometimes both at the same time). i first fell for his work on his "Breathe On Me" mix that appeared on the bonus disc that came with Britney's greatest hits album. but the song that pushed me over the edge is his recent re-working of one of the best pop singles of the past six months, "Mr. Brightside". this gives off an entirely different vibe than the original - slowing down the tempo and stretching things out a little bit. if the original was the pacing about the room fretting about his girl's unfaithfulness, this mix is the same guy six hours later resigned to his fate and slumped in the leather easy chair with an untouched martini dribbling out of his limp wrist. follow the link below and check it out for yourself...

The Killers - Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke remix)