The First Ever via//chicago Mix
It's supposed to top out around 97 or 98 degrees here in Chicago this weekend, reason enough to stay inside and listen to some great music - right? Even if you aren't trying to escape the heat, I'm proud to present you with the first ever via//chicago mix. Just shy of 80 minutes of great recent music, just enough to fill up a CD or to make a great iPod playlist. Click on the link just below to download the mix, and remember to support these artists (click on the artist name for more info + the album title to purchase).
via//chicago mix 01: july 2006
01. "Love Me or Hate Me" - Lady Sovereign (taken from the forthcoming Public Warning)
02. "We Will Vacation, You Can Be My Parasol" - Be Your Own Pet (taken from Be Your Own Pet)
03. "Cheated Hearts" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (taken from Show Your Bones)
04. "New Years" - Asobi Seksu (taken from Citrus)
05. "The Great Salt Lake" - Band of Horses (taken from Everything All The Time)
06. "Pittsfield" - Sufjan Stevens (taken from The Avalanche)
07. "Boy Soprano" - Xiu Xiu (taken from the forthcoming The Air Force)
08. "Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me" - The Pipettes (taken from The Pipettes)
09. "Future Foe Scenario" - Silversun Pickups (taken from the forthcoming Carnavas)
10. "Pink Steam" - Sonic Youth (taken from Rather Ripped)
11. "Lex" - Ratatat (taken from the forthcoming Classics)
12. "Game Over (f. Jay Dee + Phat Kat)" - Dabrye (taken from Two/Three)
13. "Love Like Winter" - A.F.I. (taken from Decemberunderground)
14. "Beanbag Chair" - Yo La Tengo (taken from the forthcoming I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass)
15. "Lost In Boston" - The Walkmen (taken from A Hundred Miles Off)
16. "Love's Been Good To Me" - Johnny Cash (taken from American V: A Hundred Highways)
17. "The Signifying Wolf" - Bonnie "Prince" Billy (taken from Cursed Sleep)
18. "So Far We Are" - French Kicks (taken from Two Thousand)
19. "Around the Gills" - What Made Milwaukee Famous (taken from Trying To Never Catch Up)
20. "Build Me Up (f. O.D.B.)" - Rhymefest (taken from Blue Collar)
Jul 13, 2006
iPod Baker's Dozen Shuffled
1. "Only" - Nine Inch Nails
The only NIN song I have on my iPod right now, mostly because it's a great track for a workout mix. For, you know, those times when I actually work out.
2. "Big River" - Johnny Cash
Oh man, I love this Johnny song. I'm also a big fan of the live Grateful Dead versions.
3. "Eros' Entropic Tundra" - Of Montreal
I finally went back and picked up Satanic Panic In The Attic, what a great frickin' record. I think maybe I just need to work my way backwards through this band's catalog.
4. "Dead Queen" - Espers
The most beautiful song on a beautiful album, one of this year's most pleasant surprises.
5. "Jah Didn't Kill Johnny" - Sage Francis
Not only did I get a Johnny Cash song, but a song about Johnny Cash too. Awesome.
6. "Last Day of Winter" - Pelican
I love this band so much, but it makes for an interesting transition from Sage.
7. "Fall of Another Year" - Can
I really haven't spent enough time with the Can reissues yet, as evidenced by me totally not recognizing this song. It's pretty good though.
8. "Late Night Scamerica" - Psycho and the Birds
Yet another Bob Pollard side project. Not as good as the Keene Brothers, but still a decent tune.
9. "Daughter In the House of Fools" - Enon
I always, always, forget about Enon being on my iPod. I don't know why, they are such a great band.
10. "Head Held High (Live @ Bonnaroo)" - My Morning Jacket
This whole set is phenomenal - the best active American live act in rock? Probably.
11. "The Neutral" - Sonic Youth
A decent Kim song from the new album, not one of my favorites on the disc though.
12. "Talking In Code" - Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
Another of 2006's pleasant surprises... a heartbreaking tune off an excellent album. I think it's safe to say that I'm in love with this song.
13. "The List of Dorms" - Pavement
From the reissued Slanted and Enchanted, which only reminds me how great it will be when the Wowee Zowee reissue hits late 2006/early 2007. That's my favorite Pavement record ever, so bloated and glorious.
1. "Only" - Nine Inch Nails
The only NIN song I have on my iPod right now, mostly because it's a great track for a workout mix. For, you know, those times when I actually work out.
2. "Big River" - Johnny Cash
Oh man, I love this Johnny song. I'm also a big fan of the live Grateful Dead versions.
3. "Eros' Entropic Tundra" - Of Montreal
I finally went back and picked up Satanic Panic In The Attic, what a great frickin' record. I think maybe I just need to work my way backwards through this band's catalog.
4. "Dead Queen" - Espers
The most beautiful song on a beautiful album, one of this year's most pleasant surprises.
5. "Jah Didn't Kill Johnny" - Sage Francis
Not only did I get a Johnny Cash song, but a song about Johnny Cash too. Awesome.
6. "Last Day of Winter" - Pelican
I love this band so much, but it makes for an interesting transition from Sage.
7. "Fall of Another Year" - Can
I really haven't spent enough time with the Can reissues yet, as evidenced by me totally not recognizing this song. It's pretty good though.
8. "Late Night Scamerica" - Psycho and the Birds
Yet another Bob Pollard side project. Not as good as the Keene Brothers, but still a decent tune.
9. "Daughter In the House of Fools" - Enon
I always, always, forget about Enon being on my iPod. I don't know why, they are such a great band.
10. "Head Held High (Live @ Bonnaroo)" - My Morning Jacket
This whole set is phenomenal - the best active American live act in rock? Probably.
11. "The Neutral" - Sonic Youth
A decent Kim song from the new album, not one of my favorites on the disc though.
12. "Talking In Code" - Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
Another of 2006's pleasant surprises... a heartbreaking tune off an excellent album. I think it's safe to say that I'm in love with this song.
13. "The List of Dorms" - Pavement
From the reissued Slanted and Enchanted, which only reminds me how great it will be when the Wowee Zowee reissue hits late 2006/early 2007. That's my favorite Pavement record ever, so bloated and glorious.
A Piece of that Devil's Pie
Since there's still no word on the official release date for Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liqour, we'll have to settle for another rising Chicago rap star in the meantime. Tuesday saw the release of the hotly anticipated Blue Collar, by Kanye collaborator Rhymefest. It's a solid album that I need to spend a little more time with, but there were two tracks that jumped out at me immediately (click on the song titles to hear them for yourself):
"Stick" - The typical misogyny in the lyrics is a little much, but the minimal snap-hop beat mashed with Licensed to Ill era Beastie guitars makes for a fun listen.
"Devil's Pie" - This is the one that you may have heard mentioned on other blogs, the one in which a digitally modified sample of The Strokes' "Someday" forms the track's backbone. Another fun track that props up the second half of Blue Collar.
Since there's still no word on the official release date for Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liqour, we'll have to settle for another rising Chicago rap star in the meantime. Tuesday saw the release of the hotly anticipated Blue Collar, by Kanye collaborator Rhymefest. It's a solid album that I need to spend a little more time with, but there were two tracks that jumped out at me immediately (click on the song titles to hear them for yourself):
"Stick" - The typical misogyny in the lyrics is a little much, but the minimal snap-hop beat mashed with Licensed to Ill era Beastie guitars makes for a fun listen.
"Devil's Pie" - This is the one that you may have heard mentioned on other blogs, the one in which a digitally modified sample of The Strokes' "Someday" forms the track's backbone. Another fun track that props up the second half of Blue Collar.
Jul 12, 2006
Threes is the Magic Number
It looks like the fall of 2006 is shaping up to be a good time to be a fan of either of the splintered halves of At the Drive-In, as both Sparta (October) and The Mars Volta (August 22nd) will each be releasing their third album. Considering how bloated and messy Frances The Mute could be at times, I think I may be more excited at the prospect of a new Sparta disc (something I never thought I would say). Here's the tracklisting for both, along with the cover for TMV's release - seems they are reaching even further back to '70s prog with the ugly album art.
The Mars Volta - Amputechture
1. Vicarious Atonement
2. Tetragrammaton
3. Vermicide
4. Meccamputechture
5. Asilos Magdalena
6. Viscera Eyes
7. Day of the Baphomets
8. El Ciervo Vulnerado
Sparta - Threes
1. Untreatable Disease
2. Crawl
3. Unstitch Your Mouth
4. Taking Back Control
5. Erase It Again
6. Atlas
7. The Most Vicious Crime
8. False Start
9. Weather the Storm
10. Red.Right.Return (Straight In Our Hands)
11. Without A Sound
12. Translations
Visit Sparta's MySpace page to stream "Taking Back Control".
It looks like the fall of 2006 is shaping up to be a good time to be a fan of either of the splintered halves of At the Drive-In, as both Sparta (October) and The Mars Volta (August 22nd) will each be releasing their third album. Considering how bloated and messy Frances The Mute could be at times, I think I may be more excited at the prospect of a new Sparta disc (something I never thought I would say). Here's the tracklisting for both, along with the cover for TMV's release - seems they are reaching even further back to '70s prog with the ugly album art.
The Mars Volta - Amputechture
1. Vicarious Atonement
2. Tetragrammaton
3. Vermicide
4. Meccamputechture
5. Asilos Magdalena
6. Viscera Eyes
7. Day of the Baphomets
8. El Ciervo Vulnerado
Sparta - Threes
1. Untreatable Disease
2. Crawl
3. Unstitch Your Mouth
4. Taking Back Control
5. Erase It Again
6. Atlas
7. The Most Vicious Crime
8. False Start
9. Weather the Storm
10. Red.Right.Return (Straight In Our Hands)
11. Without A Sound
12. Translations
Visit Sparta's MySpace page to stream "Taking Back Control".
Jul 11, 2006
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Sad news today, as I've just learned that founding member of Pink Floyd and legendary musician Syd Barrett has passed away at age 60. Although he was only around for the very beginning of the band's career and only had a hand in the first couple of albums - Syd's influence on all sorts of music, not just British psych-rock, is immeasurable. I've heard him (half-jokingly) described as the godfather of indie rock, which while maybe not entirely accurate does contain an element of truth. Judging by recent reports, it seems that Syd had recently made peace with a lot of the demons that had haunted him over the years - so let's hope that his was a peaceful passing and that he has no more reason to suffer.
Sad news today, as I've just learned that founding member of Pink Floyd and legendary musician Syd Barrett has passed away at age 60. Although he was only around for the very beginning of the band's career and only had a hand in the first couple of albums - Syd's influence on all sorts of music, not just British psych-rock, is immeasurable. I've heard him (half-jokingly) described as the godfather of indie rock, which while maybe not entirely accurate does contain an element of truth. Judging by recent reports, it seems that Syd had recently made peace with a lot of the demons that had haunted him over the years - so let's hope that his was a peaceful passing and that he has no more reason to suffer.
Jul 10, 2006
Sailing The Seas of Smooth
If you haven't yet fallen for this wonderfully random and hilarious web show, do yourself a favor and head over to Channel 101 to watch and/or download all ten episodes. I can't decide which one is my favorite - either the Warren G episode (#7) or the Steely Dan/Eagles feud one (#10). It was time this unfairly overlooked piece of musical history got its due. If you happen to live in the Chicago area, you can take this all one step further - by heading to the Empty Bottle tonight for a viewing of the entire series with director/writer JD Ryznar. Smooth soundtrack to be provided by the Soft As Fuck DJs. Man, I still can't get over that "Skunk" Baxter moustache.
If you haven't yet fallen for this wonderfully random and hilarious web show, do yourself a favor and head over to Channel 101 to watch and/or download all ten episodes. I can't decide which one is my favorite - either the Warren G episode (#7) or the Steely Dan/Eagles feud one (#10). It was time this unfairly overlooked piece of musical history got its due. If you happen to live in the Chicago area, you can take this all one step further - by heading to the Empty Bottle tonight for a viewing of the entire series with director/writer JD Ryznar. Smooth soundtrack to be provided by the Soft As Fuck DJs. Man, I still can't get over that "Skunk" Baxter moustache.
Jul 9, 2006
Girls Aloud To Split?
According to News of the World, one of my favorite female pop groups of the past couple years may soon be no more. Here's a snippit from the article linked above:
But now the most successful female band since the SPICE GIRLS will release their last album — a Greatest Hits compilation.
The source said: "They will split next year.
"They've decided to go their separate ways because things have got so bad between them. They keep trying to outdo each other and it's got ridiculous."
Well, at least that Greatest Hits compilation will be fantastic - it's just a shame that the Girls never had a chance to break over here in the States. I'm not exactly sure how valid the source is, however, so you may want to take this with a grain of salt.
According to News of the World, one of my favorite female pop groups of the past couple years may soon be no more. Here's a snippit from the article linked above:
But now the most successful female band since the SPICE GIRLS will release their last album — a Greatest Hits compilation.
The source said: "They will split next year.
"They've decided to go their separate ways because things have got so bad between them. They keep trying to outdo each other and it's got ridiculous."
Well, at least that Greatest Hits compilation will be fantastic - it's just a shame that the Girls never had a chance to break over here in the States. I'm not exactly sure how valid the source is, however, so you may want to take this with a grain of salt.
2006//Top 20 Albums @ The Half-Way Point
During my month-long absence from updating this site, the half-way point of 2006 came and went, so it is beyond time to look back on some of my favorite albums of the last six months. 2006 has been an interesting year for music, in that while there has been quite a few good-to-great discs released; there has yet to be anything stunning enough to warrant bucketloads of hype or praise. Below is a list of twenty albums that I've spent a lot of time with this year and have a good chance at staying in high rotation for the next six months as well.
20. Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming (Absolutely Kosher)
Check Out: "Stadiums and Shrines II", "Shut Up I Am Draming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings", "Snakes Got A Leg III"
19. Hot Chip - The Warning (DFA/Astralwerks)
Check Out: "Over and Over", "(Just Like We) Breakdown", "And I Was A Boy From School"
18. AFI - Decemberunderground (Interscope)
Check Out: "Miss Murder", "Love Like Winter", "The Killing Lights"
17. Mogwai - Mr. Beast (Matador)
Check Out: "Glasgow Mega-Snake", "We're No Here", "Travel Is Dangerous"
16. Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - The Dust of Retreat (Artemis)
Check Out: "On A Freezing Chicago Street", "Skeleton Key", "Dress Me Like A Clown"
15. Mission of Burma - The Obliterati (Matador)
Check Out: "1001 Pleasant Dreams", "Donna Sumeria", "Nancy Reagan's Head"
14. Robert Pollard - From A Compound Eye (Merge)
Check Out: "Dancing Girls and Dancing Men", "Love Is Stronger Than Witchcraft", "I'm A Widow"
13. Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam (J Records)
Check Out: "Come Back", "Marker In The Sand", "Life Wasted"
12. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Domino)
Check Out: "A Certain Romance", "When The Sun Goes Down", "Fake Tales of San Francisco"
11. The Sword - Age of Winters (Kemado)
Check Out: "Winter's Wolves", "The Horned Goddess", "Iron Swan"
10. Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche (Asthmatic Kitty)
Check Out: "Dear Mr. Supercomputer", "Saul Bellow", "Adlai Stevenson"
9. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (Geffen)
Check Out: "Pink Steam", "Do You Believe In Rapture?", "Jams Run Free"
8. Comets On Fire - Avatar (Sub Pop)
Check Out: "Jaybird", "Lucifer's Memory", "Sour Smoke"
7. Liars - Drum's Not Dead (Mute)
Check Out: "It Fit When I Was A Kid", "The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack", "Hold You, Drum"
6. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale (Def Jam)
Check Out: "9 Milli Bros", "Back Like That", "Kilo"
5. Boris - Pink (Southern Lord)
Check Out: "Pink", "Woman On The Screen", "Just Abandoned My-Self"
4. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (Dangerbird)
Check Out: "Future Foe Scenario", "Dream At Tempo 119", "Lazy Eye"
3. Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies (Merge)
Check Out: "European Oils", "A Dangerous Woman Up To A Point", "Painter In Your Pocket"
2. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere (Downtown)
Check Out: "Crazy", "Smiley Faces", "Gone Daddy Gone"
1. Be Your Own Pet - Be Your Own Pet (Ecstatic Peace/Universal)
Check Out: "Adventure", "We Will Vacation, You Can Be My Parasol", "Love Your Shotgun"
During my month-long absence from updating this site, the half-way point of 2006 came and went, so it is beyond time to look back on some of my favorite albums of the last six months. 2006 has been an interesting year for music, in that while there has been quite a few good-to-great discs released; there has yet to be anything stunning enough to warrant bucketloads of hype or praise. Below is a list of twenty albums that I've spent a lot of time with this year and have a good chance at staying in high rotation for the next six months as well.
20. Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming (Absolutely Kosher)
Check Out: "Stadiums and Shrines II", "Shut Up I Am Draming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings", "Snakes Got A Leg III"
19. Hot Chip - The Warning (DFA/Astralwerks)
Check Out: "Over and Over", "(Just Like We) Breakdown", "And I Was A Boy From School"
18. AFI - Decemberunderground (Interscope)
Check Out: "Miss Murder", "Love Like Winter", "The Killing Lights"
17. Mogwai - Mr. Beast (Matador)
Check Out: "Glasgow Mega-Snake", "We're No Here", "Travel Is Dangerous"
16. Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - The Dust of Retreat (Artemis)
Check Out: "On A Freezing Chicago Street", "Skeleton Key", "Dress Me Like A Clown"
15. Mission of Burma - The Obliterati (Matador)
Check Out: "1001 Pleasant Dreams", "Donna Sumeria", "Nancy Reagan's Head"
14. Robert Pollard - From A Compound Eye (Merge)
Check Out: "Dancing Girls and Dancing Men", "Love Is Stronger Than Witchcraft", "I'm A Widow"
13. Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam (J Records)
Check Out: "Come Back", "Marker In The Sand", "Life Wasted"
12. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Domino)
Check Out: "A Certain Romance", "When The Sun Goes Down", "Fake Tales of San Francisco"
11. The Sword - Age of Winters (Kemado)
Check Out: "Winter's Wolves", "The Horned Goddess", "Iron Swan"
10. Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche (Asthmatic Kitty)
Check Out: "Dear Mr. Supercomputer", "Saul Bellow", "Adlai Stevenson"
9. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (Geffen)
Check Out: "Pink Steam", "Do You Believe In Rapture?", "Jams Run Free"
8. Comets On Fire - Avatar (Sub Pop)
Check Out: "Jaybird", "Lucifer's Memory", "Sour Smoke"
7. Liars - Drum's Not Dead (Mute)
Check Out: "It Fit When I Was A Kid", "The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack", "Hold You, Drum"
6. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale (Def Jam)
Check Out: "9 Milli Bros", "Back Like That", "Kilo"
5. Boris - Pink (Southern Lord)
Check Out: "Pink", "Woman On The Screen", "Just Abandoned My-Self"
4. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (Dangerbird)
Check Out: "Future Foe Scenario", "Dream At Tempo 119", "Lazy Eye"
3. Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies (Merge)
Check Out: "European Oils", "A Dangerous Woman Up To A Point", "Painter In Your Pocket"
2. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere (Downtown)
Check Out: "Crazy", "Smiley Faces", "Gone Daddy Gone"
1. Be Your Own Pet - Be Your Own Pet (Ecstatic Peace/Universal)
Check Out: "Adventure", "We Will Vacation, You Can Be My Parasol", "Love Your Shotgun"
Jun 6, 2006
06.06.06 - The Number of the Beast
Since it's almost mid-day and the world is still functioning as usual, I'm assuming that you're all safe and sound and no apocalyptic catastrophes have struck you on this supposed day of the devil. More like a lame marketing gimmick that people like those responsible for The Omen remake or the new AFI album will benefit from. As far as I'm concerned its just another grey Tuesday here at via//chicago, although I'll probably give Reign In Blood a spin before the day is out, just to take part.
I am excited for one new release today, and that is the debut LP from Nashville's Be Your Own Pet. I've heard two singles from the band so far and I'm on the verge of declaring them my favorite new band of the year. This is what rock and roll is all about folks, hyped up kids making a noisy racket. And apparently Thurston Moore agrees, as he's taken them on for his Ecstatic Peace label. I'll be looking forward to checking them out at Lollapalooza this summer.
Looking for something to read? Click here and read all about the awful debut album from Madrepore.
Since it's almost mid-day and the world is still functioning as usual, I'm assuming that you're all safe and sound and no apocalyptic catastrophes have struck you on this supposed day of the devil. More like a lame marketing gimmick that people like those responsible for The Omen remake or the new AFI album will benefit from. As far as I'm concerned its just another grey Tuesday here at via//chicago, although I'll probably give Reign In Blood a spin before the day is out, just to take part.
I am excited for one new release today, and that is the debut LP from Nashville's Be Your Own Pet. I've heard two singles from the band so far and I'm on the verge of declaring them my favorite new band of the year. This is what rock and roll is all about folks, hyped up kids making a noisy racket. And apparently Thurston Moore agrees, as he's taken them on for his Ecstatic Peace label. I'll be looking forward to checking them out at Lollapalooza this summer.
Looking for something to read? Click here and read all about the awful debut album from Madrepore.
May 22, 2006
v//c:preview 1.2
I know I talked about making this a more regular feature here on via//chicago, and I still most definitely plan to do that, it's just that - well, I've been slacking. At least as far as updating goes, I've been busy as all get out in almost every other aspect of life right now. But what better than to calm the pace and help you through than some exciting new music, right? So today I've got three new songs I'd love to share with you, really running from one end of the music spectrum to the other...
Naledge - "Life"
I mentioned Naledge recently when I talked about the Chicago Rocks showcase at the Metro a couple of weeks ago, his set being one of the night's highlights and giving us a local guy to really look forward to hearing more verses from. First up is one of my favorite tracks off his recent mixtape, hosted by Mike Love, Will Rap For Food. The production by Memo is pretty solid, but I think it's Naledge's lyrical skills that really elevate this track. Check it out and remember the name, especially once his Rawkus debut drops later this year.
((click here to purchase Will Rap For Food: The Mixtape))
Naledge - "Cold Outside"
This second track, "Cold Outside", also comes from the Will Rap For Food mixtape, presented by Kidz In The Hall. This track is a little more hard than some of his other material, but I like the local flavor and Chicago imagery it provides. Rather than focusing on the gang-related lyrics, I like to think that this is a way to let heads know that Chicago shouldn't be slept on and that there is more talent here than just Kanye and Twista.
((click here to purchase Will Rap For Food: The Mixtape))
Beirut - "Brandenburg"
And now, for something completely different... we'll switch things up and take a look at an amazingly talented 19 year-old, originally from New Mexico, by the name of Zach Condon. Zach, who has just released his debut album under the Beirut moniker, pieces together wonderfully engaging tunes that bring to mind images of Eastern Europe and drunken polkas in the early morning hours. Yeah, I said "polkas", but don't let that keep you from checking out this track. Condon tosses in accordions, horns, and even ukeleles to create these tunes that are both engaging and refreshing. Maybe I only like these songs because they are so far removed from the typical guitar-oriented indie rock I listen to, but I dare anyone to keep their toes from tapping or head from bobbing by the end of "Brandenburg". Only nineteen? What have I been doing wrong?
((click here to purchase Gulag Orkestar))
As always, click on the track names to download the songs and please remember that these are for evaluation purposes only. If you like 'em, please click on the links provided to support the artists that bring us these wonderful songs. Thanks.
Am I the only one excited to check out We Don't Need To Whisper tomorrow? For those who haven't heard about it yet, Angels and Airwaves is the new project of former (still current?) Blink-182 guy Tom Delonge. Debut single "The Adventure" has been getting heavy rotation on local alt-rock station Q101 and I've really fallen for the nu-emo meets epic post-punk/electronic sound. I've heard it called Tom fronting U2, but I think the single sounds way better than what would be expected from that description. The fact that its some sci-fi concept album worries me a little (how many of those are actually good?), but I'm willing to give it a fair listen. Of course I consider Blink 182 to be one of the most consistent rock-oriented singles bands of the last five years, so make of that what you will (for real, that Greatest Hits just kills).
Also, take a peek at my just up review for the debut album by J Mascis side-project Witch.
I know I talked about making this a more regular feature here on via//chicago, and I still most definitely plan to do that, it's just that - well, I've been slacking. At least as far as updating goes, I've been busy as all get out in almost every other aspect of life right now. But what better than to calm the pace and help you through than some exciting new music, right? So today I've got three new songs I'd love to share with you, really running from one end of the music spectrum to the other...
Naledge - "Life"
I mentioned Naledge recently when I talked about the Chicago Rocks showcase at the Metro a couple of weeks ago, his set being one of the night's highlights and giving us a local guy to really look forward to hearing more verses from. First up is one of my favorite tracks off his recent mixtape, hosted by Mike Love, Will Rap For Food. The production by Memo is pretty solid, but I think it's Naledge's lyrical skills that really elevate this track. Check it out and remember the name, especially once his Rawkus debut drops later this year.
((click here to purchase Will Rap For Food: The Mixtape))
Naledge - "Cold Outside"
This second track, "Cold Outside", also comes from the Will Rap For Food mixtape, presented by Kidz In The Hall. This track is a little more hard than some of his other material, but I like the local flavor and Chicago imagery it provides. Rather than focusing on the gang-related lyrics, I like to think that this is a way to let heads know that Chicago shouldn't be slept on and that there is more talent here than just Kanye and Twista.
((click here to purchase Will Rap For Food: The Mixtape))
Beirut - "Brandenburg"
And now, for something completely different... we'll switch things up and take a look at an amazingly talented 19 year-old, originally from New Mexico, by the name of Zach Condon. Zach, who has just released his debut album under the Beirut moniker, pieces together wonderfully engaging tunes that bring to mind images of Eastern Europe and drunken polkas in the early morning hours. Yeah, I said "polkas", but don't let that keep you from checking out this track. Condon tosses in accordions, horns, and even ukeleles to create these tunes that are both engaging and refreshing. Maybe I only like these songs because they are so far removed from the typical guitar-oriented indie rock I listen to, but I dare anyone to keep their toes from tapping or head from bobbing by the end of "Brandenburg". Only nineteen? What have I been doing wrong?
((click here to purchase Gulag Orkestar))
As always, click on the track names to download the songs and please remember that these are for evaluation purposes only. If you like 'em, please click on the links provided to support the artists that bring us these wonderful songs. Thanks.
Am I the only one excited to check out We Don't Need To Whisper tomorrow? For those who haven't heard about it yet, Angels and Airwaves is the new project of former (still current?) Blink-182 guy Tom Delonge. Debut single "The Adventure" has been getting heavy rotation on local alt-rock station Q101 and I've really fallen for the nu-emo meets epic post-punk/electronic sound. I've heard it called Tom fronting U2, but I think the single sounds way better than what would be expected from that description. The fact that its some sci-fi concept album worries me a little (how many of those are actually good?), but I'm willing to give it a fair listen. Of course I consider Blink 182 to be one of the most consistent rock-oriented singles bands of the last five years, so make of that what you will (for real, that Greatest Hits just kills).
Also, take a peek at my just up review for the debut album by J Mascis side-project Witch.
May 17, 2006
Track by track: Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
So this should have been up here about a week ago, but as is often the case I've been distracted by the million other things going on in my head these days. But as promised, here is a closer look at the excellent new self-titled album by Pearl Jam.
((buy it here))
"Life Wasted"
Things get off to a scorching start with this rocker that features some excellent guitar work and impassioned Vedder vocals, reminding us just how hard this band can rock when they want to.
"World Wide Suicide"
The lead single continues the momentum of "?Life Wasted"?, building out of an almost Strokes-like guitar riff into a fiery chorus punctuated by Cameron's insistent beat and some crunchy guitars. Some nice spacey, echoed effects around the two and a half minute mark add texture and keep this from getting stale.
"Comatose"
More than a little reminiscent of "?Spin the Black Circle", this is a quick burst of punk-inspired Jam that sounds like it could become a live highlight on this year's tour.
"Severed Hand"
A slow building into turns into an uptempo, driving rocker complete with some trademark Vedder vocal tics and a particularly inspired guitar solo. Outside of the solo this is nothing special, but I could easily see it becoming a good jam vehicle during the live sets.
"Marker in the Sand"
This has been one of my favorite tracks since my very first spin, one of the most poppy Pearl Jam songs since the "Last Kiss" cover. The chorus is one of those transcendent moments that the band used to crank out on a regular basis, it will stand the test of time as one of the band's classics. Boom's organ at the end is a beautiful touch.
"Parachutes"
This attempt at a pretty, waltz-like melody falls flat for me, coming across a little bland and lifeless after the great "Marker". The quivering guitar at the end nearly comes close to redeeming the song, but overall the songs serves as little more than a palate cleanser.
"Unemployable"
This is a nice little character sketch about a man fearing for his future after losing his job. "Thinking if he can't sleep / how will he ever dream?"? is a great line, nicely capturing the anxiety of the situation. Eddie's delivery and poppy harmonies make this a deceptively upbeat tune.
"Big Wave"
Vedder's obligatory surf and ocean references are taken care of in this song, which sounds like it would have been better suited by B-side status. Not a terrible song, but is sounds like exactly the kind of song these guys can toss off in fifteen minutes. But, like many of the band's weaker album tracks, the excellent instrumentation keeps it from being completely skippable.
"Gone"
This is another highlight, featuring piano and acoustic guitar driven verses that lead into epic choruses recalling the classic early albums. Atmospheric guitars and an understated Cameron performance add to the sense of drama that keeps this engaging.
"Wasted Reprise"
This is a pleasant enough interlude that consists of the "Life Wasted"? chorus over a pump organ.
"Army Reserve"
One of the more blatantly topical songs on the album, this one conjures up the intertwining fear and anxiety of a family who's patriarch has been sent off to war. A simple but effective solo makes this a compelling late album entry.
"Come Back"
An obvious touchstone for this gem is "Yellow Ledbetter", but this is by no means a blatant attempt at recapturing the magic. Instead of the blues basis of "Ledbetter"?, this one emerges from more of a soulful, organ embraced sound Â? a classic tale of loneliness and bittersweet hope capped off by a devastatingly beautiful solo. Another song sure to be hailed as a Pearl Jam classic.
"Inside Job"
This slow burning anthem is a fitting choice to end the album on. Rather than replicating the angst-ridden epic closers of Ten and Vs., this is more of a hopeful note to close out the proceedings. Eddie pledges to look within and get "?on my knees to rise and fix my broken soul / again"?. It's a beautiful sentiment and song, the perfect ending for the band's strongest album in years.
So this should have been up here about a week ago, but as is often the case I've been distracted by the million other things going on in my head these days. But as promised, here is a closer look at the excellent new self-titled album by Pearl Jam.
((buy it here))
"Life Wasted"
Things get off to a scorching start with this rocker that features some excellent guitar work and impassioned Vedder vocals, reminding us just how hard this band can rock when they want to.
"World Wide Suicide"
The lead single continues the momentum of "?Life Wasted"?, building out of an almost Strokes-like guitar riff into a fiery chorus punctuated by Cameron's insistent beat and some crunchy guitars. Some nice spacey, echoed effects around the two and a half minute mark add texture and keep this from getting stale.
"Comatose"
More than a little reminiscent of "?Spin the Black Circle", this is a quick burst of punk-inspired Jam that sounds like it could become a live highlight on this year's tour.
"Severed Hand"
A slow building into turns into an uptempo, driving rocker complete with some trademark Vedder vocal tics and a particularly inspired guitar solo. Outside of the solo this is nothing special, but I could easily see it becoming a good jam vehicle during the live sets.
"Marker in the Sand"
This has been one of my favorite tracks since my very first spin, one of the most poppy Pearl Jam songs since the "Last Kiss" cover. The chorus is one of those transcendent moments that the band used to crank out on a regular basis, it will stand the test of time as one of the band's classics. Boom's organ at the end is a beautiful touch.
"Parachutes"
This attempt at a pretty, waltz-like melody falls flat for me, coming across a little bland and lifeless after the great "Marker". The quivering guitar at the end nearly comes close to redeeming the song, but overall the songs serves as little more than a palate cleanser.
"Unemployable"
This is a nice little character sketch about a man fearing for his future after losing his job. "Thinking if he can't sleep / how will he ever dream?"? is a great line, nicely capturing the anxiety of the situation. Eddie's delivery and poppy harmonies make this a deceptively upbeat tune.
"Big Wave"
Vedder's obligatory surf and ocean references are taken care of in this song, which sounds like it would have been better suited by B-side status. Not a terrible song, but is sounds like exactly the kind of song these guys can toss off in fifteen minutes. But, like many of the band's weaker album tracks, the excellent instrumentation keeps it from being completely skippable.
"Gone"
This is another highlight, featuring piano and acoustic guitar driven verses that lead into epic choruses recalling the classic early albums. Atmospheric guitars and an understated Cameron performance add to the sense of drama that keeps this engaging.
"Wasted Reprise"
This is a pleasant enough interlude that consists of the "Life Wasted"? chorus over a pump organ.
"Army Reserve"
One of the more blatantly topical songs on the album, this one conjures up the intertwining fear and anxiety of a family who's patriarch has been sent off to war. A simple but effective solo makes this a compelling late album entry.
"Come Back"
An obvious touchstone for this gem is "Yellow Ledbetter", but this is by no means a blatant attempt at recapturing the magic. Instead of the blues basis of "Ledbetter"?, this one emerges from more of a soulful, organ embraced sound Â? a classic tale of loneliness and bittersweet hope capped off by a devastatingly beautiful solo. Another song sure to be hailed as a Pearl Jam classic.
"Inside Job"
This slow burning anthem is a fitting choice to end the album on. Rather than replicating the angst-ridden epic closers of Ten and Vs., this is more of a hopeful note to close out the proceedings. Eddie pledges to look within and get "?on my knees to rise and fix my broken soul / again"?. It's a beautiful sentiment and song, the perfect ending for the band's strongest album in years.
May 16, 2006
Kick... and Push... and Coast.
Saturday night I was lucky enough to hit up the second night of the annual Chicago Rocks hip-hop showcase at the Metro. Put together by the Molemen, this event is a great chance to check out some of the hottest hip-hop artists the city has to offer - and this night was certainly no exception. In addition to long time Chicago favorites like Diverse, Vakill, and Juice; this particular night was anchored by recent breakout star Lupe Fiasco. While most people currently know him as "the other guy" in the most recent Kanye single "Touch The Sky", that should all change as his debut single "Kick, Push" climbs up the charts. He put on a very energetic, if brief, set near the end of the night on Saturday and had the crowd eating up every word. He started things off by rhyming over a couple of Kanye beats ("Sky" and "Diamonds") before switching over to some material from his upcoming Food & Liquor album. He finished up with "Kick, Push" and the crowd went crazy. Rap can always be hit or miss in a live setting, but if this charismatic performance was any indication Lupe's got a long and exciting career ahead for him. Other highlights from the night included a set from Typical Cats' Qwel and one of Just Blaze's favorite young Chicagoans, Naledge (recently signed to the rejuvenated Rawkus). Not to mention the awe-inspiring moves displayed by the legendary Brickheadz crew and some onstage graf artwork. Not only was it a fun night, it went a long way towards proving just how vital and thriving Chicago's hip-hop scene is - we've got a hell of a lot more than just Kanye and Twista to offer the scene.
(By the way, be on the lookout for Lupe's "Kick, Push" video which was filmed not too far from where I live. I never thought I would see a rap video on MTV (ok, MTV2, but still) filmed so close to my own 'hood.)
Saturday night I was lucky enough to hit up the second night of the annual Chicago Rocks hip-hop showcase at the Metro. Put together by the Molemen, this event is a great chance to check out some of the hottest hip-hop artists the city has to offer - and this night was certainly no exception. In addition to long time Chicago favorites like Diverse, Vakill, and Juice; this particular night was anchored by recent breakout star Lupe Fiasco. While most people currently know him as "the other guy" in the most recent Kanye single "Touch The Sky", that should all change as his debut single "Kick, Push" climbs up the charts. He put on a very energetic, if brief, set near the end of the night on Saturday and had the crowd eating up every word. He started things off by rhyming over a couple of Kanye beats ("Sky" and "Diamonds") before switching over to some material from his upcoming Food & Liquor album. He finished up with "Kick, Push" and the crowd went crazy. Rap can always be hit or miss in a live setting, but if this charismatic performance was any indication Lupe's got a long and exciting career ahead for him. Other highlights from the night included a set from Typical Cats' Qwel and one of Just Blaze's favorite young Chicagoans, Naledge (recently signed to the rejuvenated Rawkus). Not to mention the awe-inspiring moves displayed by the legendary Brickheadz crew and some onstage graf artwork. Not only was it a fun night, it went a long way towards proving just how vital and thriving Chicago's hip-hop scene is - we've got a hell of a lot more than just Kanye and Twista to offer the scene.
(By the way, be on the lookout for Lupe's "Kick, Push" video which was filmed not too far from where I live. I never thought I would see a rap video on MTV (ok, MTV2, but still) filmed so close to my own 'hood.)
May 11, 2006
Recent Release Round-Up and Random Notes:
Pearl Jam week isn't officially over just yet, the track-by-track rundown of the new album is on the way very soon. Between switching headquarters over to a new computer and preparing for out of town visitors, things have been a bit crazy this week - but I didn't want to leave my loyal readers hanging for too long. So here's a smallish update to keep you satisfied for the time being. If you yearn for more of my thoughts, head on over to Static and check out my review of No Trigger's new album. They are a surprisingly talented young punk band sure to turn many heads at Warped this summer.
Now, let's catch up on some recent releases.
Tool - 10,000 Days (Volcano/Zomba)
Well, it's been five years so it was about time we got another disc jam-packed with prog-metal deliciousness from Maynard and company, right? Of course it was, the world could always use some more Tool. Which is exactly what we get with this album - more Tool and that's just about it. 10K Days is sure to satisfy the band's legions of rabid fans, but isn't very likely to win them many new ones. Not because this is a bad album, but because it doesn't do anything new with the sound. This is just 70 plus minutes of Tool doing what they do best - churning out dirging epic prog. but I can't shake the feeling that the band is just kinda treading water at this point. The packaging is freaking amazing though. (7.9/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Vicarious", "Rosetta Stoned", "Right In Two"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (Warner Bros)
Hmmm. This album had two strikes against it before I even heard it, that being the horrible album name and the godawful artwork that looks like a rejected design for NOW! 437. And let's be honest, the world needs a RHCP double-album like they need another Eagles goodbye tour. But lead single "Dani California" wormed its way into my head (as did Frusciante's excellent solo), and my hopes were raised a little bit. The verdict? Well, I gotta say that I am perfectly whelmed with this album. Not over, not under - just "whelmed". There are some definite standouts and flashes of the old-school funk that I thought RHCP had compeltely abandoned in favor of MOR waters, but to be perfectly honest there was no reason for this to be a 28 track double album. Take the best fifteen or sixteen and it would have been another very respectable addition to the band's catalog, but as it is this verges on being a bloated mess. Just exercise some self-editing and you can probably come up with your own very pleasing single-disc version. (6.9/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Storm In A Teacup", "Tell Me Baby", "Dani California"
Snow Patrol - Eyes Open (A&M)
I can't claim to be a longtime fan of Snow Patrol, I only caught on to them with 2004's really enjoyable Final Straw, mostly thanks to killer opening cut "How To Be Dead". I've heard a lot of hardcore fans complaining about the new album, saying that it is a blatant "sell-out" album and a big disappointment. I don't know about all of that, I think Eyes Open is just more of a pop streamlining of the sound they explored last time around. This is epic, guitar-driven pop that never really tries to extend itself too far and thus ends up usually hitting the mark without lapsing into Coldplay-lite wimp rock. "Hands Open" is a great single though, with or without the Sufjan namecheck. (7.6/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Hands Open", "Chasing Cars", "You're All I Have"
The Stills - Without Feathers (Vice)
Wow. Without a doubt, this album is one of the biggest disappointments of the year so far. After slowly falling in love with Logic Will Break Your Heart over the last couple years I was hoping for great things from them the second time around. No dice, however, as this one is nothing but lifeless and limp. I'm not sure what happened, but I couldn't even bring myself to listen to the damn thing more than twice. The only worthwhile track on the whole album is "Baby Blues", thanks to the presence of Metric's Emily Haines. (3.8/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Baby Blues"
Pearl Jam week isn't officially over just yet, the track-by-track rundown of the new album is on the way very soon. Between switching headquarters over to a new computer and preparing for out of town visitors, things have been a bit crazy this week - but I didn't want to leave my loyal readers hanging for too long. So here's a smallish update to keep you satisfied for the time being. If you yearn for more of my thoughts, head on over to Static and check out my review of No Trigger's new album. They are a surprisingly talented young punk band sure to turn many heads at Warped this summer.
Now, let's catch up on some recent releases.
Tool - 10,000 Days (Volcano/Zomba)
Well, it's been five years so it was about time we got another disc jam-packed with prog-metal deliciousness from Maynard and company, right? Of course it was, the world could always use some more Tool. Which is exactly what we get with this album - more Tool and that's just about it. 10K Days is sure to satisfy the band's legions of rabid fans, but isn't very likely to win them many new ones. Not because this is a bad album, but because it doesn't do anything new with the sound. This is just 70 plus minutes of Tool doing what they do best - churning out dirging epic prog. but I can't shake the feeling that the band is just kinda treading water at this point. The packaging is freaking amazing though. (7.9/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Vicarious", "Rosetta Stoned", "Right In Two"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (Warner Bros)
Hmmm. This album had two strikes against it before I even heard it, that being the horrible album name and the godawful artwork that looks like a rejected design for NOW! 437. And let's be honest, the world needs a RHCP double-album like they need another Eagles goodbye tour. But lead single "Dani California" wormed its way into my head (as did Frusciante's excellent solo), and my hopes were raised a little bit. The verdict? Well, I gotta say that I am perfectly whelmed with this album. Not over, not under - just "whelmed". There are some definite standouts and flashes of the old-school funk that I thought RHCP had compeltely abandoned in favor of MOR waters, but to be perfectly honest there was no reason for this to be a 28 track double album. Take the best fifteen or sixteen and it would have been another very respectable addition to the band's catalog, but as it is this verges on being a bloated mess. Just exercise some self-editing and you can probably come up with your own very pleasing single-disc version. (6.9/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Storm In A Teacup", "Tell Me Baby", "Dani California"
Snow Patrol - Eyes Open (A&M)
I can't claim to be a longtime fan of Snow Patrol, I only caught on to them with 2004's really enjoyable Final Straw, mostly thanks to killer opening cut "How To Be Dead". I've heard a lot of hardcore fans complaining about the new album, saying that it is a blatant "sell-out" album and a big disappointment. I don't know about all of that, I think Eyes Open is just more of a pop streamlining of the sound they explored last time around. This is epic, guitar-driven pop that never really tries to extend itself too far and thus ends up usually hitting the mark without lapsing into Coldplay-lite wimp rock. "Hands Open" is a great single though, with or without the Sufjan namecheck. (7.6/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Hands Open", "Chasing Cars", "You're All I Have"
The Stills - Without Feathers (Vice)
Wow. Without a doubt, this album is one of the biggest disappointments of the year so far. After slowly falling in love with Logic Will Break Your Heart over the last couple years I was hoping for great things from them the second time around. No dice, however, as this one is nothing but lifeless and limp. I'm not sure what happened, but I couldn't even bring myself to listen to the damn thing more than twice. The only worthwhile track on the whole album is "Baby Blues", thanks to the presence of Metric's Emily Haines. (3.8/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Baby Blues"
May 4, 2006
Pearl Jam Week Part IV
So yesterday was all about the recent Pearl Jam album cuts, well today is all about the live experience. What fans have always known, and others may never have realized, is that Pearl Jam is one of the most consistent touring rock bands active right now. Night after night this band cranks out exciting, compelling, and well executed live sets that blow away expectations each and every time. But don't just take my word for it, listen to these awesome tracks from recent tours and discover for yourself. (Song title will allow you to download the tracks, the other link will take you to more information on that particular show)
"Given To Fly"
Recorded Live @ Palau St. Jordi; Barcelona, Spain
May 25, 2000
An exceptionally impassioned version of this longtime fan favorite.
"Daughter"
Recorded Live @ Bryce Jordan Center; University Park, Pennsylvania
May 3, 2003
This song has grown into an always exciting addition to the setlist, as the band is known to incorporate tags for a huge variety of other songs. This terrific version includes bits of "Highway to Hell" and "Another Brick in the Wall".
"Rearviewmirror"
Recorded Live @ Alsterdorfer Sporthalle; Hamburg, Germany
June 26, 2000
Excellent version of this classic, complete with one of Mike McCready's monster solos.
"Immortality"
Recorded Live @ Key Arena; Seattle, Washington
November 6, 2000
One of the many highlights from this tour ending hometown show, make sure to pay attention to Matt Cameron's nice drum solo.
And there you have it, some live highlights to help you understand why hardcore Pearl Jam fans are still that way - even more than a decade past the band's commercial prime. Hopefully these past couple of days have helped to bring the band some new fans, or even reignited the interest of a lapsed fan. While we're at it - go pick up the new album. It's excellent.
So yesterday was all about the recent Pearl Jam album cuts, well today is all about the live experience. What fans have always known, and others may never have realized, is that Pearl Jam is one of the most consistent touring rock bands active right now. Night after night this band cranks out exciting, compelling, and well executed live sets that blow away expectations each and every time. But don't just take my word for it, listen to these awesome tracks from recent tours and discover for yourself. (Song title will allow you to download the tracks, the other link will take you to more information on that particular show)
"Given To Fly"
Recorded Live @ Palau St. Jordi; Barcelona, Spain
May 25, 2000
An exceptionally impassioned version of this longtime fan favorite.
"Daughter"
Recorded Live @ Bryce Jordan Center; University Park, Pennsylvania
May 3, 2003
This song has grown into an always exciting addition to the setlist, as the band is known to incorporate tags for a huge variety of other songs. This terrific version includes bits of "Highway to Hell" and "Another Brick in the Wall".
"Rearviewmirror"
Recorded Live @ Alsterdorfer Sporthalle; Hamburg, Germany
June 26, 2000
Excellent version of this classic, complete with one of Mike McCready's monster solos.
"Immortality"
Recorded Live @ Key Arena; Seattle, Washington
November 6, 2000
One of the many highlights from this tour ending hometown show, make sure to pay attention to Matt Cameron's nice drum solo.
And there you have it, some live highlights to help you understand why hardcore Pearl Jam fans are still that way - even more than a decade past the band's commercial prime. Hopefully these past couple of days have helped to bring the band some new fans, or even reignited the interest of a lapsed fan. While we're at it - go pick up the new album. It's excellent.
May 3, 2006
Pearl Jam Week Part III
Now that I've spent a little time looking back on the band's releases, it's time to try and convince some of you lapsed and flat-out non-fans that this band isn't worth overlooking any longer. And what better way for me to do that than to allow you to hear for yourselves? So here are three different songs from the most recent three albums, all slightly different and ones that I love for entirely different reasons. Anyway, click on the links below and give the band another shot. If you like what you hear, follow the other links and order the albums. Or just delete 'em, whatever. Can't say I didn't try. So here we go...
"Grievance"
From 2000's Binaural (buy it here)
"Thumbing My Way"
From 2002's Riot Act (buy it here)
"Marker in the Sand"
From 2006's Pearl Jam (buy it here)
So there you have 'em, plain and simple. I decided not to elaborate on them in this post, I'd rather have everyone who hasn't heard them yet just dive in and appreciate them on their own terms. Tomorrow check back for a couple of terrific live cuts that showcase the Jam in full-on rock mode.
Now that I've spent a little time looking back on the band's releases, it's time to try and convince some of you lapsed and flat-out non-fans that this band isn't worth overlooking any longer. And what better way for me to do that than to allow you to hear for yourselves? So here are three different songs from the most recent three albums, all slightly different and ones that I love for entirely different reasons. Anyway, click on the links below and give the band another shot. If you like what you hear, follow the other links and order the albums. Or just delete 'em, whatever. Can't say I didn't try. So here we go...
"Grievance"
From 2000's Binaural (buy it here)
"Thumbing My Way"
From 2002's Riot Act (buy it here)
"Marker in the Sand"
From 2006's Pearl Jam (buy it here)
So there you have 'em, plain and simple. I decided not to elaborate on them in this post, I'd rather have everyone who hasn't heard them yet just dive in and appreciate them on their own terms. Tomorrow check back for a couple of terrific live cuts that showcase the Jam in full-on rock mode.
May 2, 2006
Pearl Jam Week Part II
Today we continue with our brief review of the band's discography, picking up with the first of many (many, many) official live albums. If by any chance you haven't gone out and picked up the new one today as of yet, please make sure to do so soon (or click here to order it). As usual, the packaging and artwork make the disc well worth picking up even if you were one of those that downloaded the tracks early. Anyway, on with the show...
The Discography (Part Two: Live On Two Legs through Riot Act)
Live On Two Legs (1998)
Live On Two Legs was released just six months after Yield and was recorded during the tour in support of that release, but you wouldn't really know it based on the track selection (only a handful of songs from Yield appear). Instead the band put together a really outstanding setlist that balances all of the classics with the high points of the more recent discs, proving that much of the new stuff was really just as strong as the material off of Ten and Vs. But unfortunately this disc just doesn't quite capture the intensity and fire of a Pearl Jam live show. Anyone who caught the band during this tour knew how great the band had been, but this just feels a tad bit understated compared to the full experience. The disc sounds great though, it was well recorded and there are a couple of worth hearing highlights like the cover of Neil Young's "Fuckin' Up" and "Daughter" in particular, the latter of which incorporates bits of "W.M.A.". Luckily the band's decision to release official boots of full tours beginning in 2000 allowed fans to fully appreciate the band's power on stage.
Rating: 8.3/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Corduroy", "Black", "Fuckin' Up", "Daughter"
Binaural (2000)
Even though the band hit unexpected Top 40 chart heights in 1999 with the release of non-album single "Last Kiss", 2000 found Pearl Jam in an increasingly unfamiliar rock landscape. When it came to mainstream rock, the classic leaning sound of Pearl Jam was about as far from popular as one could get. But rather than concern themselves with what was popular on MTV and the radio playlists, the band dug in even deeper and bounced back with a very focused and polished effort. The addition of former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron livened up the band's sound a great deal, allowing tracks like the Cameron co-penned "Evacuation" to explode out of the speakers. There weren't as many standout cuts as on the last two efforts, but this album worked much better as a more precise, cohesive whole.
Rating: 8.7/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Nothing As It Seems", "Light Years", "Grievance", "Of The Girl"
Riot Act (2002)
After the more tightly focused attack of Binaural, the band loosened things up a bit and took a few more chances with the follow-up, 2002's Riot Act. While not quite as strong of a statement as the last go round, we are nonetheless treated to some of the band's greatest songs of the second half of its career. "Love Boat Captain" is a delicate tune that appropriates The Beatles in order to address the 2000 Roskilde festival tragedy in which 9 fans were killed. Some may cry foul for the lyric borrowing, but Vedder turns the line into a beautiful plea for love and compassion. Cheesy or overdramatic? Perhaps, but it's one of the most honest songs the band has recorded and it really shows. Other standouts include "You Are" with its intense guitar effects and the raging "Save You". The less said about the Dubya baiting "Bu$hleauger" the better. While not likely to be mistaken for the band's best album, it is nonetheless another satisfying entry in the band's impressive catalog.
Rating: 8.5/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Love Boat Captain", "Save You", "You Are", "Thumbing My Way"
Lost Dogs: Rarities and B-Sides (2003)
This long overdue collection was a fan's dream, finally compiling all of the band's wonderful B-sides, soundtrack contributions, and compilation cuts into one outstanding collection. Ever since the Ten-era B-side "Yellow Ledbetter" exploded onto alt-rock radio in the early 1990's, fans have raved about how great Pearl Jam's non-album material was - and how right they were to do so. From the haunting "Footsteps" to the fan favorite "Dirty Frank" to the fun surf send-up of "Gremmie Out of Control" to the driven, pissed off "Leaving Here", the band has put tremendous amounts of effort into each and every track no matter where it ends up being released. When you listen to the earliest of the songs on this collection it becomes even more clear as to how amazing this band was at it's peak, this is a must have for casual and hardcore fans alike.
Rating: 9.2/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Yellow Ledbetter", "Drifting", "Leaving Here", "Footsteps", "Alone", "Wash"
Benaroya Hall: October 22nd, 2003 (2004)
This live set is a definite curiosity and well worth calling out for special attention due to its unusual nature. This set was recorded during a benefit for the YouthCare organization, featuring mostly acoustic instrumentation and a setlist full of covers and rarities. There isn't exactly anything groundbreaking about this set, but it is a fun listen and the band seems particularly inspired to be playing for these kids. Bob Dylan ("Masters of War"), The Ramones ("I Believe In Miracles"), and Victoria Williams ("Crazy Mary") are all covered to tremendous effect, but the true gems here are the live rarities - "Fatal", "Down", and a fun acoustic cover of the usually hyper-charged "Lukin". The band plugs in again for an amazing finale, featuring one of the better "Yellow Ledbetter"s to make it to official release.
Rating: 8.8/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Man of the Hour", "Masters of War", "Crazy Mary", "Yellow Ledbetter"
And there ends the via//chicago run-down of the band's discography, but that really only scratches the surface. In addition to the very many fine official bootlegs, here's a few other Pearl Jam related items well worth your time and money:
rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) (a great place for beginners and lapsed fans)
Single Video Theory (an interesting look into the recording process for Yield)
Touring Band 2000 (great live DVD from the 2000 U.S. tour)
Live At The Garden (live at Madison Square Garden on the Riot Act tour)
Today we continue with our brief review of the band's discography, picking up with the first of many (many, many) official live albums. If by any chance you haven't gone out and picked up the new one today as of yet, please make sure to do so soon (or click here to order it). As usual, the packaging and artwork make the disc well worth picking up even if you were one of those that downloaded the tracks early. Anyway, on with the show...
The Discography (Part Two: Live On Two Legs through Riot Act)
Live On Two Legs (1998)
Live On Two Legs was released just six months after Yield and was recorded during the tour in support of that release, but you wouldn't really know it based on the track selection (only a handful of songs from Yield appear). Instead the band put together a really outstanding setlist that balances all of the classics with the high points of the more recent discs, proving that much of the new stuff was really just as strong as the material off of Ten and Vs. But unfortunately this disc just doesn't quite capture the intensity and fire of a Pearl Jam live show. Anyone who caught the band during this tour knew how great the band had been, but this just feels a tad bit understated compared to the full experience. The disc sounds great though, it was well recorded and there are a couple of worth hearing highlights like the cover of Neil Young's "Fuckin' Up" and "Daughter" in particular, the latter of which incorporates bits of "W.M.A.". Luckily the band's decision to release official boots of full tours beginning in 2000 allowed fans to fully appreciate the band's power on stage.
Rating: 8.3/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Corduroy", "Black", "Fuckin' Up", "Daughter"
Binaural (2000)
Even though the band hit unexpected Top 40 chart heights in 1999 with the release of non-album single "Last Kiss", 2000 found Pearl Jam in an increasingly unfamiliar rock landscape. When it came to mainstream rock, the classic leaning sound of Pearl Jam was about as far from popular as one could get. But rather than concern themselves with what was popular on MTV and the radio playlists, the band dug in even deeper and bounced back with a very focused and polished effort. The addition of former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron livened up the band's sound a great deal, allowing tracks like the Cameron co-penned "Evacuation" to explode out of the speakers. There weren't as many standout cuts as on the last two efforts, but this album worked much better as a more precise, cohesive whole.
Rating: 8.7/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Nothing As It Seems", "Light Years", "Grievance", "Of The Girl"
Riot Act (2002)
After the more tightly focused attack of Binaural, the band loosened things up a bit and took a few more chances with the follow-up, 2002's Riot Act. While not quite as strong of a statement as the last go round, we are nonetheless treated to some of the band's greatest songs of the second half of its career. "Love Boat Captain" is a delicate tune that appropriates The Beatles in order to address the 2000 Roskilde festival tragedy in which 9 fans were killed. Some may cry foul for the lyric borrowing, but Vedder turns the line into a beautiful plea for love and compassion. Cheesy or overdramatic? Perhaps, but it's one of the most honest songs the band has recorded and it really shows. Other standouts include "You Are" with its intense guitar effects and the raging "Save You". The less said about the Dubya baiting "Bu$hleauger" the better. While not likely to be mistaken for the band's best album, it is nonetheless another satisfying entry in the band's impressive catalog.
Rating: 8.5/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Love Boat Captain", "Save You", "You Are", "Thumbing My Way"
Lost Dogs: Rarities and B-Sides (2003)
This long overdue collection was a fan's dream, finally compiling all of the band's wonderful B-sides, soundtrack contributions, and compilation cuts into one outstanding collection. Ever since the Ten-era B-side "Yellow Ledbetter" exploded onto alt-rock radio in the early 1990's, fans have raved about how great Pearl Jam's non-album material was - and how right they were to do so. From the haunting "Footsteps" to the fan favorite "Dirty Frank" to the fun surf send-up of "Gremmie Out of Control" to the driven, pissed off "Leaving Here", the band has put tremendous amounts of effort into each and every track no matter where it ends up being released. When you listen to the earliest of the songs on this collection it becomes even more clear as to how amazing this band was at it's peak, this is a must have for casual and hardcore fans alike.
Rating: 9.2/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Yellow Ledbetter", "Drifting", "Leaving Here", "Footsteps", "Alone", "Wash"
Benaroya Hall: October 22nd, 2003 (2004)
This live set is a definite curiosity and well worth calling out for special attention due to its unusual nature. This set was recorded during a benefit for the YouthCare organization, featuring mostly acoustic instrumentation and a setlist full of covers and rarities. There isn't exactly anything groundbreaking about this set, but it is a fun listen and the band seems particularly inspired to be playing for these kids. Bob Dylan ("Masters of War"), The Ramones ("I Believe In Miracles"), and Victoria Williams ("Crazy Mary") are all covered to tremendous effect, but the true gems here are the live rarities - "Fatal", "Down", and a fun acoustic cover of the usually hyper-charged "Lukin". The band plugs in again for an amazing finale, featuring one of the better "Yellow Ledbetter"s to make it to official release.
Rating: 8.8/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Man of the Hour", "Masters of War", "Crazy Mary", "Yellow Ledbetter"
And there ends the via//chicago run-down of the band's discography, but that really only scratches the surface. In addition to the very many fine official bootlegs, here's a few other Pearl Jam related items well worth your time and money:
rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003) (a great place for beginners and lapsed fans)
Single Video Theory (an interesting look into the recording process for Yield)
Touring Band 2000 (great live DVD from the 2000 U.S. tour)
Live At The Garden (live at Madison Square Garden on the Riot Act tour)
May 1, 2006
Pearl Jam Week Part I
In celebration of this week's release of the band's eighth(!) studio album, we here at via//chicago decided it was due time to celebrate one of our long time favorite bands - Pearl Jam. Today and tomorrow we will take a look back at the previous entries in this band's exciting discography, starting off with the classics and working our way through the under-appreciated albums of more recent years. After that I'll spend a day or two tossing up some tracks that fairweather fans of the band may have missed and a couple live songs that demonstrate just how awesome of a live presence this band still is. Finally, I'll wrap up this celebratory week with a track-by-track look at the new self-titled album. So break out your flannels and Docs, get your 1992 on, and join us in celebrating the band once known as Mookie Blaylock.
The Discography (Part One: Ten through Yield)
Ten (1991)
This was the classic that introduced the band to the world and, for better or worse, kickstarted the "grunge" revolution of the early 1990s. Nirvana may have had the bigger cultural impact, but let's face it - Pearl Jam was the band that launched a thousand musical imitators. The classic rock influence was clear from the get go, but that didn't lessen the impact of these often raw and visceral songs - in fact it made this batch of songs all the more timeless. Some of these songs may have gotten played out by alternative radio over the last fifteen years, but placed within the context of this powerful album they haven't lost a bit of the impact. Not to mention the other nine killer tracks that make up this amazing debut. From the uplifting and anthemic to the powerfully emotional, Ten is still Pearl Jam's most cohesive album and definitive statement.
Rating: 9.5/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Jeremy", "Black", "Why Go", "Release", "Alive", "Once"
Vs. (1993)
Despite the expectations of many critics and fans, the band knew they were never going to be able to top Ten on it's own terms so they used this opportunity to develop the band's sound and progress in several new directions at once. Gone are many of the more polished and deliberate moments of the debut, replaced with an ever-so-slightly looser and more organic feel. Some of the experiments fell a bit flat ("Rats", "Leash"), but others effectively showed off new elements of the band's sound (the passionate "Blood", the poppy "Glorified G"). Less motivated fans may have bemoaned the album's lack of a new "Jeremy" or "Black", but those who listened a bit more closely grew to appreciate the more nuanced sound on display.
Rating: 9.0/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Blood", "Animal", "Elderly Woman...", "Glorified G", "Daughter", "Rearviewmirror"
Vitalogy (1994)
Casual fans will tell you that this album is when the band's downhill slide began, pointing to the admittedly hard to love experiments like "Aye, Davinita" and "Bugs" as proof of the band's lack of direction. But those fans are allowing those red herrings to take their attention away from the true beauty and power of this third album, in full evidence on "Corduroy" and "Immortality" - two of the best songs the band has ever put to tape. "Better Man" seems to be the only song from this album to still get many repeated spins on alt-rock radio, but that one isn't even one of the album's five best songs. "Not For You" and "Spin the Black Circle" reflected a new found fire in the band's belly, while the ballads "Tremor Christ" and "Nothingman" added a true sense of delicacy and beauty to the album.
Rating: 9.3/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Spin The Black Circle", "Tremor Christ", "Corduroy", "Immortality", "Not For You"
Merkinball (1995)
It may have been just a two song single comprised of toss-offs from the Mirror Ball sessions with Neil Young, but what an amazing pair of songs. "I Got ID", familiar to many fans as "I Got Shit", is a brooding rocker that features one of Vedder's more fiery vocal performances. "The Long Road" is another solid track that gives a hint of things to come on the band's next full-length.
Rating: 9.6/10.0
Essential Cuts: "I Got ID", "The Long Road"
No Code (1996)
At the time this album was widely believed to be quite a big failure for the band, haters were quick to point to the relatively sluggish sales and weak performance of lead single "Who You Are" - but they were missing the point. At this point the band was hoping to shed the "most important band in rock" baggage and get back to focusing on the music they wanted to write. Once expectations for another "Jeremy" or "Alive" had fallen by the wayside, the band moved on and explored some interesting new directions. Not to say that this album was a complete success however, Vedder's spoken word "I'm Open" and Gossard's Neil Young aping "Mankind" would probably have been better suited to B-side status. But songs like "Off He Goes" and "Red Mosquito" more than earn their place in the Pearl Jam Hall of Fame. If you were one of those who left the fold after Vitalogy, pick this one up and find out what you've been missing this past decade.
Rating: 8.6/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Hail Hail", "Off He Goes", "Red Mosquito", "Habit", "Sometimes"
Yield (1998)
Even though mainstream expectations for this album were relatively low, fans seemed to be chomping at the bits for this album mainly due to the amazing lead single "Given To Fly". An easy choice to kickstart the promotion for this disc, "Fly" soars to a powerful climax both lyrically and musically - reminding fans that this band was still able to pack an emotional punch when needed. Other tracks like "Brain of J" and "Do the Evolution" rocked harder than anything since the Ten era, while "In Hiding" and "Wishlist" pulled forth a more subtle emotion through sincere, simple beauty. The band also made a brief return to the world of music videos with the Todd McFarlane helmed animated clip for "Do the Evolution", a chaotic sprint through evolution and armageddon that bravely matches the intensity of the song itself.
Rating: 8.9/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Brain of J", "Wishlist", "Given To Fly", "Do The Evolution", "In Hiding"
In celebration of this week's release of the band's eighth(!) studio album, we here at via//chicago decided it was due time to celebrate one of our long time favorite bands - Pearl Jam. Today and tomorrow we will take a look back at the previous entries in this band's exciting discography, starting off with the classics and working our way through the under-appreciated albums of more recent years. After that I'll spend a day or two tossing up some tracks that fairweather fans of the band may have missed and a couple live songs that demonstrate just how awesome of a live presence this band still is. Finally, I'll wrap up this celebratory week with a track-by-track look at the new self-titled album. So break out your flannels and Docs, get your 1992 on, and join us in celebrating the band once known as Mookie Blaylock.
The Discography (Part One: Ten through Yield)
Ten (1991)
This was the classic that introduced the band to the world and, for better or worse, kickstarted the "grunge" revolution of the early 1990s. Nirvana may have had the bigger cultural impact, but let's face it - Pearl Jam was the band that launched a thousand musical imitators. The classic rock influence was clear from the get go, but that didn't lessen the impact of these often raw and visceral songs - in fact it made this batch of songs all the more timeless. Some of these songs may have gotten played out by alternative radio over the last fifteen years, but placed within the context of this powerful album they haven't lost a bit of the impact. Not to mention the other nine killer tracks that make up this amazing debut. From the uplifting and anthemic to the powerfully emotional, Ten is still Pearl Jam's most cohesive album and definitive statement.
Rating: 9.5/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Jeremy", "Black", "Why Go", "Release", "Alive", "Once"
Vs. (1993)
Despite the expectations of many critics and fans, the band knew they were never going to be able to top Ten on it's own terms so they used this opportunity to develop the band's sound and progress in several new directions at once. Gone are many of the more polished and deliberate moments of the debut, replaced with an ever-so-slightly looser and more organic feel. Some of the experiments fell a bit flat ("Rats", "Leash"), but others effectively showed off new elements of the band's sound (the passionate "Blood", the poppy "Glorified G"). Less motivated fans may have bemoaned the album's lack of a new "Jeremy" or "Black", but those who listened a bit more closely grew to appreciate the more nuanced sound on display.
Rating: 9.0/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Blood", "Animal", "Elderly Woman...", "Glorified G", "Daughter", "Rearviewmirror"
Vitalogy (1994)
Casual fans will tell you that this album is when the band's downhill slide began, pointing to the admittedly hard to love experiments like "Aye, Davinita" and "Bugs" as proof of the band's lack of direction. But those fans are allowing those red herrings to take their attention away from the true beauty and power of this third album, in full evidence on "Corduroy" and "Immortality" - two of the best songs the band has ever put to tape. "Better Man" seems to be the only song from this album to still get many repeated spins on alt-rock radio, but that one isn't even one of the album's five best songs. "Not For You" and "Spin the Black Circle" reflected a new found fire in the band's belly, while the ballads "Tremor Christ" and "Nothingman" added a true sense of delicacy and beauty to the album.
Rating: 9.3/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Spin The Black Circle", "Tremor Christ", "Corduroy", "Immortality", "Not For You"
Merkinball (1995)
It may have been just a two song single comprised of toss-offs from the Mirror Ball sessions with Neil Young, but what an amazing pair of songs. "I Got ID", familiar to many fans as "I Got Shit", is a brooding rocker that features one of Vedder's more fiery vocal performances. "The Long Road" is another solid track that gives a hint of things to come on the band's next full-length.
Rating: 9.6/10.0
Essential Cuts: "I Got ID", "The Long Road"
No Code (1996)
At the time this album was widely believed to be quite a big failure for the band, haters were quick to point to the relatively sluggish sales and weak performance of lead single "Who You Are" - but they were missing the point. At this point the band was hoping to shed the "most important band in rock" baggage and get back to focusing on the music they wanted to write. Once expectations for another "Jeremy" or "Alive" had fallen by the wayside, the band moved on and explored some interesting new directions. Not to say that this album was a complete success however, Vedder's spoken word "I'm Open" and Gossard's Neil Young aping "Mankind" would probably have been better suited to B-side status. But songs like "Off He Goes" and "Red Mosquito" more than earn their place in the Pearl Jam Hall of Fame. If you were one of those who left the fold after Vitalogy, pick this one up and find out what you've been missing this past decade.
Rating: 8.6/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Hail Hail", "Off He Goes", "Red Mosquito", "Habit", "Sometimes"
Yield (1998)
Even though mainstream expectations for this album were relatively low, fans seemed to be chomping at the bits for this album mainly due to the amazing lead single "Given To Fly". An easy choice to kickstart the promotion for this disc, "Fly" soars to a powerful climax both lyrically and musically - reminding fans that this band was still able to pack an emotional punch when needed. Other tracks like "Brain of J" and "Do the Evolution" rocked harder than anything since the Ten era, while "In Hiding" and "Wishlist" pulled forth a more subtle emotion through sincere, simple beauty. The band also made a brief return to the world of music videos with the Todd McFarlane helmed animated clip for "Do the Evolution", a chaotic sprint through evolution and armageddon that bravely matches the intensity of the song itself.
Rating: 8.9/10.0
Essential Cuts: "Brain of J", "Wishlist", "Given To Fly", "Do The Evolution", "In Hiding"
Apr 27, 2006
v//c:preview
I figured it was time to introduce a new semi-regular feature to via//chicago, one that allowed me to be more consistent in sharing some great music with my loyal readers (all three of you). So here is the first edition of v//c:preview, an outlet for me to hook you up with some tunes that you might be interested in hearing. Anyway, click on the links below and follow the easy instructions to download these songs - and remember, if you like what you hear please support the artist! If you don't delete it and save precious hard drive space for something more up your alley. And away we go...
Wolfmother - "The White Unicorn" (EP version)
First up is an older song from via//chicago favorites, Wolfmother. I know I posted something about them not too long ago, but I wanted to take this opportunity to share something else as we prepare for the stateside release of the debut album this coming Tuesday. This track, "The White Unicorn" will appear on said album in a re-recorded and truncated version, so here's your chance to hear the whole thing in all it's rock glory, as it appeared on the band's first EP.
((click here to purchase Wolfmother))
Taking Back Sunday - "Twenty-Twenty Surgery"
As a follow-up to my last post, I figured it would be a good idea to share my favorite track off the new Taking Back Sunday album, Louder Now, so you can hear exactly what I was talking about. This is a great example of how great these guys are with a hook, this will probably be bouncing around your head for a long time after the first couple listens. Maybe some of you doubters out there will take a chance and realize that this band shouldn't be dismissed entirely just because of the dreaded E-M-O tag. Enjoy.
((click here to purchase Louder Now))
So that's it. Hopefully, at the very least, I'll have given you a little over ten minutes of music to pass the time on a slow Friday sitting at your desk. Feel free to leave me some feedback, its all appreciated.
I figured it was time to introduce a new semi-regular feature to via//chicago, one that allowed me to be more consistent in sharing some great music with my loyal readers (all three of you). So here is the first edition of v//c:preview, an outlet for me to hook you up with some tunes that you might be interested in hearing. Anyway, click on the links below and follow the easy instructions to download these songs - and remember, if you like what you hear please support the artist! If you don't delete it and save precious hard drive space for something more up your alley. And away we go...
Wolfmother - "The White Unicorn" (EP version)
First up is an older song from via//chicago favorites, Wolfmother. I know I posted something about them not too long ago, but I wanted to take this opportunity to share something else as we prepare for the stateside release of the debut album this coming Tuesday. This track, "The White Unicorn" will appear on said album in a re-recorded and truncated version, so here's your chance to hear the whole thing in all it's rock glory, as it appeared on the band's first EP.
((click here to purchase Wolfmother))
Taking Back Sunday - "Twenty-Twenty Surgery"
As a follow-up to my last post, I figured it would be a good idea to share my favorite track off the new Taking Back Sunday album, Louder Now, so you can hear exactly what I was talking about. This is a great example of how great these guys are with a hook, this will probably be bouncing around your head for a long time after the first couple listens. Maybe some of you doubters out there will take a chance and realize that this band shouldn't be dismissed entirely just because of the dreaded E-M-O tag. Enjoy.
((click here to purchase Louder Now))
So that's it. Hopefully, at the very least, I'll have given you a little over ten minutes of music to pass the time on a slow Friday sitting at your desk. Feel free to leave me some feedback, its all appreciated.
Recent Release Round-Up:
Still trying to get back on the ball with updating this thing on a regular basis, so part of that will include catching up on the past month or so worth of new releases and some brief thoughts on them. Here's a batch, this time with P-Fork style numerical ratings for those that like that sort of thing.
Morrissey - Ringleader of the Tormentors (Attack)
You Are The Quarry was the big "comeback" album, so how does this one fare? Pretty well as it turns out, though not quite as successful as the last one. As you've probably read elsewhere, Morrissey seems to have found love in his life and for once he's not really holding back on letting us know. RotT actually includes one of his most direct love songs in "To Me You Are A Work of Art", but with the expected cynical Moz twist. The album, full of epic climaxes and string sections, aches to be larger than life and grandiose but ends up a little too overbearing at times. And not one but three songs with the ever-popular kiddie chorus seems a little much for one album. But still, tracks like "Dear God Please Help Me" and "You Have Killed Me" are full-on Moz classics sure to please any fan. (8.1/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Dear God Please Help Me", "You Have Killed Me", "In the Future When Alls Well"
Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops (Reprise)
This disc was bound to be a slight disappointment no matter how good it ended up being, thanks to my hefty expectations after falling hard for the debut and killer live show. I expected something that pushed the bombast of the first album further into outer space, but instead the band seems to have tightened things up a bit and toned down the heaviness. The opener and closer are both wonderful tracks that showcase the band's talents perfectly, unfortunately the stuff they bookend doesn't hold up quite as well. It's difficult for me to pin down exactly why this album doesn't work as well as the last one, but it has something to do with the way many of the tracks slide right on past without leaving much of an impression. Ten Silver Drops just doesn't seem to have the same ear-grabbing intensity as Now Here is Nowhere, and it nearly kills the flow of this one. I have a feeling some of the tunes may grow on me over time, but for now I'll just hold on to the hope that their Lollapalooza appearance renews my faith. (7.3/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Alone, Jealous, and Stoned", "Daddy's in the Doldrums", "1,000 Seconds"
Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now (Warner Bros.)
Spare me the grief - I am, and always have been, a sucker for well-crafted songs on the poppier side of the punk/emo continuum and TBS is one of those bands that can usually be counted on for quality songs of that vein. Nothing groundbreaking, but they've always seemed to have a way with hooks that elevates them above the millions of soundalike clones. For the jump to a full-fledged major label, the band ditches some of the more emo tendencies that showed up on the two earlier albums and instead focuses on a more straight-ahead rock feel. It's easy to see why people might have dismissed this band in the past (songs titles like "Cute Without The 'E'" certainly didn't help), but I think its fair to say the band has moved beyond some of the nu-emo stereotypes that may have given pause. This is a band that deserves the same kind of mainstream attention My Chemical Romance got last year and this should be the album to break them wide open (releasing "Twenty-Twenty Surgery" as a single should help). (8.0/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Makedamnsure", "Twenty-Twenty Surgery", "Miami"
Still trying to get back on the ball with updating this thing on a regular basis, so part of that will include catching up on the past month or so worth of new releases and some brief thoughts on them. Here's a batch, this time with P-Fork style numerical ratings for those that like that sort of thing.
Morrissey - Ringleader of the Tormentors (Attack)
You Are The Quarry was the big "comeback" album, so how does this one fare? Pretty well as it turns out, though not quite as successful as the last one. As you've probably read elsewhere, Morrissey seems to have found love in his life and for once he's not really holding back on letting us know. RotT actually includes one of his most direct love songs in "To Me You Are A Work of Art", but with the expected cynical Moz twist. The album, full of epic climaxes and string sections, aches to be larger than life and grandiose but ends up a little too overbearing at times. And not one but three songs with the ever-popular kiddie chorus seems a little much for one album. But still, tracks like "Dear God Please Help Me" and "You Have Killed Me" are full-on Moz classics sure to please any fan. (8.1/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Dear God Please Help Me", "You Have Killed Me", "In the Future When Alls Well"
Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops (Reprise)
This disc was bound to be a slight disappointment no matter how good it ended up being, thanks to my hefty expectations after falling hard for the debut and killer live show. I expected something that pushed the bombast of the first album further into outer space, but instead the band seems to have tightened things up a bit and toned down the heaviness. The opener and closer are both wonderful tracks that showcase the band's talents perfectly, unfortunately the stuff they bookend doesn't hold up quite as well. It's difficult for me to pin down exactly why this album doesn't work as well as the last one, but it has something to do with the way many of the tracks slide right on past without leaving much of an impression. Ten Silver Drops just doesn't seem to have the same ear-grabbing intensity as Now Here is Nowhere, and it nearly kills the flow of this one. I have a feeling some of the tunes may grow on me over time, but for now I'll just hold on to the hope that their Lollapalooza appearance renews my faith. (7.3/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Alone, Jealous, and Stoned", "Daddy's in the Doldrums", "1,000 Seconds"
Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now (Warner Bros.)
Spare me the grief - I am, and always have been, a sucker for well-crafted songs on the poppier side of the punk/emo continuum and TBS is one of those bands that can usually be counted on for quality songs of that vein. Nothing groundbreaking, but they've always seemed to have a way with hooks that elevates them above the millions of soundalike clones. For the jump to a full-fledged major label, the band ditches some of the more emo tendencies that showed up on the two earlier albums and instead focuses on a more straight-ahead rock feel. It's easy to see why people might have dismissed this band in the past (songs titles like "Cute Without The 'E'" certainly didn't help), but I think its fair to say the band has moved beyond some of the nu-emo stereotypes that may have given pause. This is a band that deserves the same kind of mainstream attention My Chemical Romance got last year and this should be the album to break them wide open (releasing "Twenty-Twenty Surgery" as a single should help). (8.0/10.0)
Recommended Tracks: "Makedamnsure", "Twenty-Twenty Surgery", "Miami"
Apr 26, 2006
Ok, wow. I knew it had been a long time since my last post, but damn this is ridiculous. I have a (partially) valid excuse though, in that I've spent the better part of the last month up to my neck in all kinds of stuff. Moving into a new place was the biggest time consumer, but now that I'm starting to get settled in the awesomely improved digs I plan to get back to updating this thing on a much, much more regular basis.
I am still writing reviews for Static, although it's been a little while since anything new has been published (I'm sorry Brett, more coming very soon I promise!) - although a couple of the most recent ones include Immaculate Machine, Stephen Yerkey, Get Set Go, Teddy Thompson, and a vocal lesson DVD (really).
Anyway, this blog is far from dead and I promise to have some more significant updates very soon. In the meantime be sure to check out the newly updated set of links to the left and read some of my favorite locations around the net. Thanks for sticking around.
I am still writing reviews for Static, although it's been a little while since anything new has been published (I'm sorry Brett, more coming very soon I promise!) - although a couple of the most recent ones include Immaculate Machine, Stephen Yerkey, Get Set Go, Teddy Thompson, and a vocal lesson DVD (really).
Anyway, this blog is far from dead and I promise to have some more significant updates very soon. In the meantime be sure to check out the newly updated set of links to the left and read some of my favorite locations around the net. Thanks for sticking around.
Mar 7, 2006
np: "Dimension" - Wolfmother
Yeah yeah, I know what you're thinking - the last thing we need is another band with the word "wolf" anywhere in its name. Well unfortunate name or not, this Australian power trio (and I don't think I can emphasize POWER enough) is a buzz band well worth paying attention to. They've been making some noise on their home continent for some time now, but are just getting ready to bust out in the States in a big way. If, as some people are saying, metal really is the new indie rock - these guys may very well be this year's Led Zeppelin. A very apt comparison given this band's classic heavy metal/classic rock vibe - but one that is very justified this time around. Best part is how fresh these guys manage to make a, let's face it, tired and stale genre sound. The Zep, Sabbath, Floyd, and Allman Brothers comparisons are all very much accurate in their own ways - but please don't let that stop you from checking out one of this year's most promising new bands. The band's Dimension EP is already available across the U.S., while the full-length self-titled disc is due out later this year. Click on the link above and the one below to get a taste of the rock action.
"Where Eagles Have Been" - Wolfmother
Mar 5, 2006
Mar 2, 2006
np: "Gold Lions (Diplo Remix)" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Both versions of the lead single off the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album are fantastic, leaving me very excited to hear the whole thing when it drops.
I meant to add these to my last post but I apparently forgot, more of my reviews are up at Static - the fantastic Jason Collett, the latest Robert Pollard solo album, and a recent Lou Reed DVD. Click on the links to read my thoughts.
Some other albums I've been diggin' on lately:
J Dilla - Donuts
Mclusky - Mcluskyism
VA - Big Apple Rappin': The Early Days of Hip-Hop Culture in NYC 1979-1982
Liars - Drum's Not Dead
Nine Black Alps - Everything Is
Both versions of the lead single off the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album are fantastic, leaving me very excited to hear the whole thing when it drops.
I meant to add these to my last post but I apparently forgot, more of my reviews are up at Static - the fantastic Jason Collett, the latest Robert Pollard solo album, and a recent Lou Reed DVD. Click on the links to read my thoughts.
Some other albums I've been diggin' on lately:
J Dilla - Donuts
Mclusky - Mcluskyism
VA - Big Apple Rappin': The Early Days of Hip-Hop Culture in NYC 1979-1982
Liars - Drum's Not Dead
Nine Black Alps - Everything Is
Feb 28, 2006
Recent Release Round-Up:
Yes, I am still alive - just been really bogged down the past month with real life details like trying to juggle work, lots of writing, and keeping some semblance of a sanity restoring social life. For my first post-hiatus entry, I'll take a look at some of the recent records I've been spinning and exactly what I think of them.
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Domino)
These guys have been pretty much unavoidable in all the usual music forums over the past few months and with good reason, as they've managed to completely storm the British charts and are preparing to start making waves here in the States (starting with an SNL appearance in a few weeks). This debut managed to become the UK's fastest selling debut since some little band by the name of Oasis dropped their debut in 1994, and the first two singles have both gone straight to number one. So are they worth getting excited over? For the most part. This is by no means going to stand up as a classic album in the vein of Definitely Maybe or even Up The Bracket, but it is far more enjoyable than detractors would lead you to believe. There's nothing more than a group of kids having some fun and singing about what they know best - lusting after girls, running from the cops, and observing the seedy side of nightlife from a safe distance. The key part is the fun they are having, which gives these tunes a level of spunk and vitality that is all too often missing from current rock radio.
Recommended Tracks: "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor", "A Certain Romance", "Fake Tales of San Francisco"
Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies (Merge)
Considering how much has already been written about the latest album from sometimes New Pornographer Dan Bejar, there's really very little worthwhile for me to add other than echoing all of the praise and hype Rubies has received. This is definitely my favorite album of this young year so far and a very likely contender to finish in the top ten come the end of 2006. Bejar is a true craftsman when it comes to his albums, welding his intelligent and oftentimes witty meta-lyrics to dense instrumentation that engages from note one. I'd really be hard pressed to pick just one favorite moment off of this disc, but the lead in to the guitar solo that kicks in after the "she needs to feel at peace with her father, the fucking maniac" line in "European Oils" would probably come the closest - still gives me chills after fifteen listens.
Recommended Tracks: "European Oils", "Painter In Your Pocket", "Rubies"
She Wants Revenge - She Wants Revenge (Geffen)
People sometimes accuse me of liking far too many things that I talk about on this blog, wondering if I'm just easy to please or scared to slam albums or songs. The simple answer is that I really prefer to spend my free time writing about things I enjoy, it just seems rather pointless to waste time and energy on stuff I don't really like when I'm writing for "fun". But since I've decided to start doing this recent release round-up thing, I figured I should give some of the stuff I didn't find so exciting some space as well. The self-titled debut by She Wants Revenge falls squarely into the "didn't enjoy" camp, in fact I'd have to say that it is quite possible the worst album I've heard in months. Ripping off Interpol and Bauhaus with vaguely misogynist lyrics over weak new-wave "beats" is pretty much a horrible idea for anyone to undertake, let alone for a pair as uninteresting and uninspired as these former rappers are. The Bravery may have been posers too, but at least they cranked out one worthwhile single. To be fair, the single "Tear You Apart" isn't completely awful, but its pretty hard to wash the stink off the ten tracks of shit you have to wade through to get to it.
Recommended Tracks: "Tear You Apart" (that's it, avoid the album and download it from iTunes)
Kid Rock - 'Live' Trucker (Atlantic)
Any live album that uses Bob Seger for artistic inspiration has to be pretty rock-tastic, right? Well, in this case the answer is an unfortunate no. Hate all you want, but I managed to catch the Kid during the tour from which this album is pulled and I have to admit that the guy puts on one hell of an entertaining show. Problem is, this particular show recorded in front of a hometown crowd at Cobo Hall completely fails to capture the energy and fun of the one I witnessed. Rather than sounding like an inspired party guy, Rock sounds winded and tired through most of this set as he passes lines back and forth with his band. "Bawitdaba" and "American Badass" still manage to pack a punch and Gretchen Wilson taking the Sheryl Crow part in "Picture" works pretty well, but most of the rest of this set falls disappointingly flat. This could have been a great chance to show the doubters how far he's come as an entertainer and showman, but this will only confirm the suspicions that he's a washed-up rap-rock has-been. Which is a shame, because as anyone who head his self-titled 2003 album knows, the guy has far too much talent to be lumped in the same category as Fred Durst.
Recommended Tracks: "Bawitdaba", "Son Of Detroit", "Picture"
Yes, I am still alive - just been really bogged down the past month with real life details like trying to juggle work, lots of writing, and keeping some semblance of a sanity restoring social life. For my first post-hiatus entry, I'll take a look at some of the recent records I've been spinning and exactly what I think of them.
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Domino)
These guys have been pretty much unavoidable in all the usual music forums over the past few months and with good reason, as they've managed to completely storm the British charts and are preparing to start making waves here in the States (starting with an SNL appearance in a few weeks). This debut managed to become the UK's fastest selling debut since some little band by the name of Oasis dropped their debut in 1994, and the first two singles have both gone straight to number one. So are they worth getting excited over? For the most part. This is by no means going to stand up as a classic album in the vein of Definitely Maybe or even Up The Bracket, but it is far more enjoyable than detractors would lead you to believe. There's nothing more than a group of kids having some fun and singing about what they know best - lusting after girls, running from the cops, and observing the seedy side of nightlife from a safe distance. The key part is the fun they are having, which gives these tunes a level of spunk and vitality that is all too often missing from current rock radio.
Recommended Tracks: "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor", "A Certain Romance", "Fake Tales of San Francisco"
Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies (Merge)
Considering how much has already been written about the latest album from sometimes New Pornographer Dan Bejar, there's really very little worthwhile for me to add other than echoing all of the praise and hype Rubies has received. This is definitely my favorite album of this young year so far and a very likely contender to finish in the top ten come the end of 2006. Bejar is a true craftsman when it comes to his albums, welding his intelligent and oftentimes witty meta-lyrics to dense instrumentation that engages from note one. I'd really be hard pressed to pick just one favorite moment off of this disc, but the lead in to the guitar solo that kicks in after the "she needs to feel at peace with her father, the fucking maniac" line in "European Oils" would probably come the closest - still gives me chills after fifteen listens.
Recommended Tracks: "European Oils", "Painter In Your Pocket", "Rubies"
She Wants Revenge - She Wants Revenge (Geffen)
People sometimes accuse me of liking far too many things that I talk about on this blog, wondering if I'm just easy to please or scared to slam albums or songs. The simple answer is that I really prefer to spend my free time writing about things I enjoy, it just seems rather pointless to waste time and energy on stuff I don't really like when I'm writing for "fun". But since I've decided to start doing this recent release round-up thing, I figured I should give some of the stuff I didn't find so exciting some space as well. The self-titled debut by She Wants Revenge falls squarely into the "didn't enjoy" camp, in fact I'd have to say that it is quite possible the worst album I've heard in months. Ripping off Interpol and Bauhaus with vaguely misogynist lyrics over weak new-wave "beats" is pretty much a horrible idea for anyone to undertake, let alone for a pair as uninteresting and uninspired as these former rappers are. The Bravery may have been posers too, but at least they cranked out one worthwhile single. To be fair, the single "Tear You Apart" isn't completely awful, but its pretty hard to wash the stink off the ten tracks of shit you have to wade through to get to it.
Recommended Tracks: "Tear You Apart" (that's it, avoid the album and download it from iTunes)
Kid Rock - 'Live' Trucker (Atlantic)
Any live album that uses Bob Seger for artistic inspiration has to be pretty rock-tastic, right? Well, in this case the answer is an unfortunate no. Hate all you want, but I managed to catch the Kid during the tour from which this album is pulled and I have to admit that the guy puts on one hell of an entertaining show. Problem is, this particular show recorded in front of a hometown crowd at Cobo Hall completely fails to capture the energy and fun of the one I witnessed. Rather than sounding like an inspired party guy, Rock sounds winded and tired through most of this set as he passes lines back and forth with his band. "Bawitdaba" and "American Badass" still manage to pack a punch and Gretchen Wilson taking the Sheryl Crow part in "Picture" works pretty well, but most of the rest of this set falls disappointingly flat. This could have been a great chance to show the doubters how far he's come as an entertainer and showman, but this will only confirm the suspicions that he's a washed-up rap-rock has-been. Which is a shame, because as anyone who head his self-titled 2003 album knows, the guy has far too much talent to be lumped in the same category as Fred Durst.
Recommended Tracks: "Bawitdaba", "Son Of Detroit", "Picture"
