The Sound From Under The Clouds
Big news, kids, regarding the legendary Murder City Devils. Shows scheduled all along the west coast, with the kick-off being at the Showbox February 11th and 12th. All I can say is “YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.”
Here’s a couple classic MCD cuts for your listening pleasure:
“Dance Hall Music”
“Boom Swagger Boom”
I really liked Big Rob’s idea of picking a favorite album to rave about every so often so I think I might just have to throw my hat into the ring as well.
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Grand Funk Railroad is one of my favorite classic rock groups of all time. I know most people either love them or hate them, and I a proud member one of the former. They have such a huge sound for a group consisting of three white guys. The late 60s and early 70s had so many good musical trios but this one stands out to me as being one of the best. Not only do they mesh elements of hard rock, funk, blues, soul and folk music, but they fit so much soul and emotion into all of their songs. I wish I could have seen them live on stage in their prime.
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Closer to Home was the first Grand Funk record I purchased and one of the first records I ever sampled. It was first issued in 1970 and contains some of my favorite riffs and change ups in any hard (now deemed ‘classic’) rock record. The intro track ‘Sin is a good man’s brother’ is nothing short of epic. The strain and emotion in lead singer Mark Farner’s voice and the sheer amount of tempo changes and breakdowns really set the listener up for a wild ride. ‘Nothing is the same’ has one of the hardest bass and drum intros of that era and is one of the catchier rock riffs you’ll ever hear. On ‘Get it together’ the band shows their versatility with downtempo rhodes organ licks that slowly pick up the pace to become full fledged in your face rock. The guitar solo and change up midway through the song are face-melting. Then they throw you into a soul choir extravaganza that screams for a Who-style rock opera. ‘I don’t have to sing the blues’ also comes with an amazing guitar intro and a drum/bass break that would make the Creedence Clearwater Revival jealous. ‘Hooked on love’ once again starts with such a furious riff that begs to be looped over and over, and has some serious blues influence. You can see a theme here…the riffs are spectacular on this record. Finally we have ‘I’m your captain’ - probably their most famous song - is just an amazing amalgam of soul, rock and blues. It comes in at just over 10 minutes and the breakdown around 4:30 with the bass, flute and ocean sounds coupled with Farner’s croon are the stuff of legend. It’s musical storytelling 101. Then they come back with an instrumental section that brings it all ‘Home.’
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Do yourself a favor and check this record. You’ll find one at just about any record shop in the greater Seattle area for under 4 bucks…hell maybe even in the dollar bin. Don’t let that fool you though, this LP has some serious cuts and will take you back to a time when people made ALBUMS.
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Grand Funk Railroad - Sin’s a good man’s brother
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Grand Funk Railroad - Nothing is the same
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Grand Funk Railroad - Get it together
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Grand Funk Railroad - I don’t have to sing the blues
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Grand Funk Railroad - Hooked on love
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Grand Funk Railroad - I’m your captain
And so the lists begin. Yes, it is that time of year, Music Nerds (that stands for Never Ending Radical Dudes, btw), where all your favorite on-line idiots tell you who and what they liked most in this wondrous year of 2008 (not counting Mr. Barry Obama). What made you dance? Who made you sing? What made you think? But, most importantly, what made you feeeeeeeeeel. And, if you’ve spent at least 1% of your leisure time reading this site, you’ll no doubt recognize some of the names below such as the Heavy Hearts, Sera Cahoone, Starfucker, Past Lives, Mono in VCF, Grand Archives, the Saturday Knights, Portugal. The Man, and many others who’ve graced these pages. I may have cheated and called Black Mountain ‘local’—whatever, I’m fine with that.
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Here today is the first edition of a two part series, where I’ve listed—along with the actual music (!)—my favorite listening tunes from our little hotbed of an enclave of a musical commune: the Pacific Northwest. Tomorrow I’ll give you my non-NW perspective. Most people know me as partial to albums over single tracks, but a little unconventionalism is always good for the soul. Chicken soup, if you will. Please remember that this isn’t necessarily intended to be a definitive “Top 10″ list where I snarkily snoot about the best of the best; it’s simply a thoughtful collection of all the rad shit I’ve been listening to these past 12 months. And why 21? Why the hell not 21?
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No particular order: (you can find audio players after the break)
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1. Sera Cahoone - “The Colder the Air”
2. The Heavy Hearts - “Attrition”
3. Grand Archives - “Sleepdriving“
4. The Helio Sequence - “The Captive Mind“
5. Fleet Foxes - “Mykonos“
6. Starfucker - “Isabella of Castile“
7. Past Lives - “Beyond Gone“
8. The Dutchess & the Duke - “Reservoir Park“
9. Mono in VCF - “Escape City Scrapers“
10. Portugal. The Man - “Colors“
11. Black Mountain - “Queens Will Play”
12. Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head - “L.A. Noir“
13. Head Like a Kite - “Daydream Vacation“
14. These Arms Are Snakes - “Lead Beater“
15. The Saturday Knights - “Nobody Beats Us“
16. Kinski - “Crybaby Blowout“ (This came out in 2007. I’m an idiot.)
17. Jaguar Love - “Antoine and Birdskull“
18. Man Plus - “Once In Awhile (Getting High Alone)“
19. Partman Parthorse - “I’m A Book“
20. Helms Alee - “Shhmna“
21. Venus Verse - “Dreaming Again“
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The Builders and The Butchers, Portland via Anchorage’s form of story telling folk can be quite captivating - intense to say the least. The band was recently awarded Willamette Week’s best new band, a prestige that has been bestowed to bands such as Talkdemonic, The Shaky Hands, and Menomena, and they are certainly deserving of it. Poised to contend for the current pinnacle of the Northwest staple of story driven folk akin to The Decemberists, or even Neutral Milk Hotel, The Builders and The Butchers weave compelling dramas into their music, focusing on storylines involving the typical terrors of folk music; gallows, dancing with demons, bottoms of lakes, slow trains, and the like, but without seeming contentious, trite, or even like they are imitating a tried and true method. The Builders and The Butchers take on intricate, banjo driven folk is completely fresh. The absolute conviction of this band live is a sight to behold - and completely amazing.
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You can witness all this Thursday night Dec 11th, at the Showbox when The Builders and The Butchers play with Amanda Palmer and The Danger Ensemble. Which is an equally, though different, interesting form of folk pop that recalls a burnt out version of a former pop hit rattling around an old radio, they’re all songs you’ve heard before, but you never knew their name, and you could never remember how they went, but man, were they stuck in you head for days. That’s the best way to describe the music, but certainly doesn’t touch on the videos or book that go along so nicely with the music. And that doesn’t even touch on her work with the Dresden Dolls. Zoe Keating also performs.
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Thursday December 11
Amanda Palmer and The Danger Ensemble
The Builders and The Butchers
Zoe Keating
Doors at 8
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Bottom of The Lake - Builders and the Butchers
Leeds United - Amanda Palmer
… I’d set it on fire in my yard. And piss on it to put it out.
It’s sad to report that on the anniversary of the death of John Lennon, a man who dedicated his life to peace and tolerance, and a creator of some of the most memorable and inspiring music in modern times, that septuagenarian crooner and all-around douchenozzle Pat Boone should puke out some misguided and completely hypocritical vitriol into the world.
No, not more terrible pop music, or Metallica covers. Someone’s given him a keyboard so he can use the webs.
Blogging from deep within his lonely Tent of Hate, the ignoramus Boone boldly compared the reprehensible acts of the terrorists who killed in Mumbai, India, last week with the legions of open-minded Americans who have taken up action to reject Prop 8.
Almost lost your mind, old man? Nah, I think it’s definitely gone.
John Lennon, Rest in Peace.
Released in 1976, A New World Record, was the record that helped ELO breakthrough in the UK. It was much more focused pop music than previous efforts and really showed what Jeff Lynne could do as a songwriter. It gave ELO their first top ten record in the UK as well as their first gold single in “Telephone Line”. Every time I hear “Telephone Line” I can’t get Steve Buscemi putting on lipstick out of my mind. Other great songs on the record are the amazing “Livin’ Thing” and “Rockaria!”, as well as the Monster.com approved “Do Ya?”
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Livin’ Thing
Telephone Line
I speak in jest, but I am truly dismayed by this announcement from one of this city’s most energetic and entertaining rock bands out there. Speaking from their home in Myspaceland, the gritty dance-punks in the Cops intimated: “After 4 1/2 years, 2 records, an EP, several tours and over 230 shows played, we’re taking a break for an undetermined amount of time. It’s bittersweet, but the time has come. 4 1/2 years of touring have been financially and personally taxing and some of the band members want to focus on other things in life.”
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Fans of the band—who I always thought resembled a black leather wearin’, back alley lurkin’, dirty American version of Franz Ferdinand—will undoubtedly be disappointed by this announcement, but, personally, I think it’s a good move. Free Electricity wasn’t exactly the splash the band was hoping for and there’s certainly no shortage of talent within their ranks. All four dudes operate their instruments insanely well. I for one will be mighty interested to see what “musical projects” Michael Jaworski has up his sleeve.
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Make sure you hit up this great lineup of local rockers, just in case the indefinite hiatus turns into a definite one. Cancer Rising, Kinski, the Whoremoans, the Fall of Troy, and Spiral Stairs are all solid bands, and what better venue than the Sunset? Jeezus H. Christ.
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Here’s “It’s Epidemic” from Free Electricity:
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Full message from Jaworski with show details after the jump.
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Neko Case is local, right? I mean, she lived here for a time (although I read somewhere that she moved to Chicago because she felt Seattle didn’t support its local artists very well—gah!), and she’s notably embellished the records of Vancouver, B.C. power poppers the New Pornographers, not to mention her repeated appearances at Sasquatch. But who cares, really. You don’t have to local to be awesome (though it helps), and Ms. Case is certainly that. It’s been three long years since we had the luscious alt-country musings of Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (”Hold On, Hold On” still wafts through my brain on frequent occasion, pleading with my hands to place the goddam disc in the player, already!), and now there’s word that Anti- will be releasing her latest, the nominally severe Middle Cyclone, March 3rd, 2009. They’ve described it as “bold” and “elemental”. Uh, ok.
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I haven’t heard any of the tracks yet, but hopefully I’ll be able to come up with something better than that. I for sure won’t be able to come up with something better than that album cover she’s got goin’ on. Hell yeah, I wanna be the fearless, sword-wielding firehead atop the hood of a vintage cherry muscle car. Who says I can’t dream?
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“‘Middle Cyclone ‘was produced by Case with Darryl Neudorf and recorded in Tucson, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Vermont. It features Case backed by her core band - guitarist Paul Rigby, bassist Tom V. Ray, backing vocalist Kelly Hogan, multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse, and drummer Barry Mirochnick - along with numerous guests including M. Ward, Garth Hudson, Sarah Harmer, and members of The New Pornographers, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Sadies, Visqueen, The Lilys, and Giant Sand, among others. In addition to twelve new songs written by Case, ‘Middle Cyclone’ includes covers of ‘Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth’ by Sparks, and “Don’t Forget Me” by Harry Nilsson.”
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Middle Cyclone tracklisting:
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1. This Tornado Loves You
2. The Next Time You Say Forever
3. People Got A Lotta Nerve
4. Polar Nettles
5. Vengeance Is Sleeping
6. Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
7. Middle Cyclone
8. Fever
9. Magpie To The Morning
10. I’m An Animal
11. Prison Girls
12. Don’t Forget Me
13. The Pharaohs
14. Red Tide
15. Marais La Nuit
The shit has officially been broughten!
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Let’s Start Some Shit! F/ Bruce Illest from Nick Dale on Vimeo.
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Plus, Cancer Rising collaborator and one of my favorite artists/deejays/emcees/bboys in the town - djblesone - just release his newest mixtape “West Coast.” This mixtape is a MUST DOWNLOAD for anyone that loves that westcoast pfunk shit. Click the cover to download!
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I’ll let bles tell it
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THIS MAY BE THE MORE UNDERGROUND SIDE OF djblesOne BUT ANALOG KEYS = THE 70S & 80S WEST COAST SOUNDS I GREW UP ON…THE WEST COAST ISN’T JUST A PLACE, BUT A FEELING, IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M TALKIN ABOUT THEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M TALKIN ABOUT…BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN LISTEN…TAKEN FROM DIFFERENT ALBUMS AND MIXTAPES LIKE THE CANCER RISING ALBUM, MASSIVE MONKEE SOUNDTRACK, STRAIGHT OUTTA WEST COAST & SOME THINGS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD, ALL REMASTERED, ALL IN ONE PLACE, SO SIT BACK, RELAX AND ENJOY THE RIDE…
The Cave Singers opening for Calexico earlier this year was the best show I’ve seen in ages. Even as the opening act, they had the crowd fully energized. Now I’m talking about energizing a SEATTLE crowd in a seated auditorium enough so that they were DANCING in the aisles with total abandon… and all with FOLK music. My God, man!
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The funny thing I’ve learned about the Cave Singers is that they never intended to be a folk band. They are not influenced much by it - in fact they’re much more apt to be listening to the Pixies - they didn’t grow up with it, yet, they’ve certainly hit their stride making it. And making it WELL. Standing in a growing swath of spotlight shared by the likes of other local “Folk Bands” such as Fleet Foxes, The Dutchess and the Duke, Band of Horses (ex-locals), and the Builders and The Butchers (PDX). (you’ll be hearing much more about them soon)
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I’m looking forward to seeing Cave Singers headline their own show and really getting into their own vibe. Their first album Invitation Songs (Matador) is easily in my top 10 of 2007 and rumor has it that they are releasing an album sometime in the near future so this might be a stage for bunches of new songs.
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Cave Singers (SEA)
With Lightning Dust (BC) and
Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death (SEA)
(Another great local up-n-comer)
$12 Adv/21+
8pm doors
Lyrics Born’s planning to bring a hefty dose of of that signature super funky style and energy he’s known for to the stage of Neumos, this Friday Dec 5th. LB is on the heel side of this tour in support of his newest release Everywhere at Once, the word smith’s second-solo release in which the backing tunes are almost entirely provided by a live band. The SAME live band that has been touring the country with him and - oh yeah - should be there on Friday too. Whether you love or hate hip-hop, this is music you’ll dig. These guys are famous for getting the whole room up and jumping. Now for those of you looking for OUR LB to be up there on stage.. I’m not making any promises but with enough encouragement, he just could be swayed. L to the B!!!!
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Now if you wanna check out the show, and you wanna do it for free, shoot any word(s) that rhyme(s) with pigeon to us here (info at seattlesubsonic) Winner will be picked and notified Thursday evening at 4:00.
Congrats to Gabriel who said “I ran into a pigeon. he said “can you move over a smidgen?” I said “I’m losing my religion.” and then he pooped on a scion.”
[It warrants a mention that I don't necessarily consider my posts here "reviews" or "critiques" so much; mostly I just write about shit that I like. If I don't like it--which happens frequently--you don't hear about it. I apologize if our four regulars find it annoying to always read the overtly "positive perspective". But here, today, I'm disappointed. Thus, you hear about it.]
So, something weird happened to me this past weekend. I was really excited for a show from a band whose latest album I’ve had on repeat the past few months. You might even say I love it. But since I’d only heard this most recent release, and hadn’t previously seen the band live, I figured the show would be mostly excellent and essentially emulate the record. THAT, my friends, was a stupid assumption.
On Censored Colors, Portland via Alaska progressive proprietors Portugal. The Man hop from one style to the next with ease. One minute they’re reeling from experimental-cum-classic guitars and perfect percussion, while the next sees the band soberly balladeering the touching subjects of life and death. Reggae and jazz influences are utilized but not exploited, acoustic folk is affecting without being cliché, lyrics are heartfelt without being tacky, and heavy metal is a force rather than a farce.
Unfortunately, amid a ridiculous amount of smoke and a flock of all-agers, the band chucked all that out the window and decided to morph every song into an exasperatingly bombastic prog-rock explosion with overt reggae jam sessions and type-cast, over-abused drumming. What the hell? Where was the restraint? Where was the charm? Where was the diversity? But mostly, where was the band that recorded Censored Colors? I’m no dummy: half the fun of live shows is experiencing the differences from a band’s recordings. But this was just lame. This was exhausting. This was disappointing.
I suppose I enjoyed a few of the songs off Colors that they managed to play (older songs made up at least half of the set list), but mostly I was just waiting for the show to end. I kinda felt like I was invited over to my best buddy’s house for an awesome, massive party, and when I got there all that was going on was him wrestling his dogs for a scant audience of elderly people in a tiny living room sprayed with empty cans of Red Bull. Hardly what I was expecting.
