SEVEN INCH FRIDAY: We’ve been avoiding our 7″ Friday posts shamelessly for months on end and finally here’s a good reason to bring you one. Fuckin’ Up Young by The Dirty Nil. Fucking-A! Blindly and without even thinking about it you should send them 5 bux for making a record like this. The b-side “Verona Lung” is just as good as the A side with it’s raw and distorted guitars. The vocals just belt out melodies and it’s indie rock just like should be. Reminds me of Tim from Kentucky or something from Tossing the Seeds by Superchunk.
ALBUM REVIEW: Captured nicely in the British neo-psychedelia vessels were alternative bands like Railway Children, The Mighty Lemon Drops and The Wonderstuff. All trying to sound in parts like Echo & The Bunnymen and sometimes unconsciously like the poppier side of Dinosour Jr. Years later it’s Two Thousand Eleven and enters Red Light Driver‘s 4th release. These Indianapolis, US rockers are as much a flashback to this sound as they are filled with spot-on swirly pop guitars like said music movement from the late 80’s. This band shows that they are actually from the midwest on tracks like “The Away Anthem” but I question their passport in a very British Sea Power kind of way (insert stuffy accent here) on the opening self titled cut “Celeste Celeste” and then later on “Diamond Rough” – leave it to some Americans to give you incomplete song titles. Anyway, this comparison mostly has to do with the call and response vocals and drums on choruses and use of twangy guitars and effects. The band freely admits this so no harm done. This combo is going to bring the genre back into vogue as they present their case in a oversaturated market of internet bands who care more care about how cool their beards looks than the music. This well groomed Celeste Celeste EP shines a bright light on the genre where the bands were veering away from punk in order to be pop-stars and who did not quite survive the grunge era. In this case each cut has the naughty rock-n-roll bits re-exposed and re-examined and not in a lame Jim Morrison kind of way.
80’s Brit Alternative Pop: That’s Entertainment MP3 by The Wonder Stuff from Never Loved Elvis Another Town MP3 by The Railway Children Inside Out MP3 by The Mighty Lemon Drops (1988)
Bonus Cover: Paint It Black MP3 Stones cover by The Mighty Lemon Drops
EDITORIAL: Over-all I feel Record Store Day was a smashing success all over the world and as I watched the tweets and the enthussiam eb and flow it’s apparent the fans sort of loosely fall into a few categories. 1) Ebay swindlers 2) Rabid Early Bird fans 3) Slackers. I fit into category 2 & 3 for the most part. I’ve only bought the occasional item on ebay all of which were implements for making noise as I prefer the hunt. Anyway, a lot of what the stores get depends mostly on what they can afford to buy from their regular stock purchases. The store with the deeper pockets received more of what they requested for their particular clientele at least what my understanding is. So until they opened their boxes of goodies they could not even begin to hold stuff for their preferred customers. I don’t think a RSD point system would work but perhaps a lottery for entry might be better? Which would allow for the frequent customer to get a edge over the shysters. Also, not to mention Record Store Day is about celebrating commerce with your local merchant instead of cowardly downloading gobs of music you’ll never appreciate. For me it’s about the interchange of art but at the end of the day first come first server is pretty damn fair.
The bigger picture is really centered around the indie retailer staying alive and re-engaging music fans to take part in celebrating and re-discovering music not just one time a year but all year around. Us oldsters knows there is just too much music to consume in any given day; which is why we’re addicted to every part of the pleasure of listening. Sure we’re all going to download stuff to see if you like it (em-hem this music blog) but what happens when you hard-drive crashes? Isn’t it nice to be able to go to your own “record” library and reload the CD? Of course collectible vinyl is little bit harder to do and it’s an expensive habit to keep up – Trust me I’m a bandito with not enough time to even listen. I know I’m being really rightious but I’ve paid my dues and know it takes money to keep the good stuff coming. I see it as a re-investment into something I care about. All this schwagg I bought also reminds me personally of just sharing and spinning music for the shear enjoyment of it and a little bit is the music snob in me or sucker – however you want to look at it but damn is this new to me FELA 45 Morning in Lagos Part I & II awesome. When I find the time it’s bliss. Which is the point. Musicians and artists need to make a living so fans should PAY tribute every once in awhile not just every 364 days. Anyway enjoy some of the spoils that were available. What did you get?
Out of Print Again! D-7 MP3 by Nirvana covering The Wipers from the Hormaoning EP Pay To Cum MP3 by Bad Brains from their 1st 7″ Black Grease MP3 by The Black Angels EP from Light in the Attic which sounds amazing on vinyl like if a orgasm were like hot melting thick chocolate to yours ears. Crank to 11.
Mala in Se is this metal punk noise outfit from Cincinnati, Ohio which could be art if you consider huge cannon like nailguns something you’d want to hang in a audio gallery. This is what the music sounds like. Have no fear for a trio they sound like 10 men battling to an epic death with their guitars on fire on Phratry Records. If you like the boredoms you surely will pick up on the strangeness of music that Mala in Se sculp. Not sure what the hell the band name means but they do their thing fast too with classic thrash style tweeps and twerp notes that will fuck with the sense of what you think your inner metal actually is. Decide for yourself but enter exposition at your own risk.
Other experimental sonic art metal stuff: Bo Go MP3 by Boredoms from Pop Tatari Lucky Star MP3 Tristan Psionic from TPA Flight 028. This a Canadian band Aviso’Hara played with once at The Bug Jar in Rochester, NY. They really made the show a lot of fun. Total energy which brought up our game. If you like the sonic youth you’ll love these guys. They were on Sonic Unyon.
There are many many great bands that I’d say are truly Irish and tons of no name heroes who play the traditional stuff in pubs around world. Obviously there’s U2 but just as important to me are The Pogues and The Frames. Both of these bands embody some pretty stunning lyrics and music that really captures this culture of travelers along with the spirited charm of the Irish. Lets not forget songs about the green beer.
I remember seeing Glen Hansard the singer for The Frames play at this small gallery called Be in Asbury Park, NJ to about 50 people with all these other singer songwriters playing sets before he went on. Oh and by the way I used to hate this genre but seemed like a mellow evening. Mostly because I associated the genre to James Taylor (whole other story there). That is until I saw Glen perform. Holy Cow. On personality alone he’s a great Ambassador to his country on another note he embodies all this stuff I list above. He’s a meastro of his audience and makes some pretty dynamic music and to me I thought there was a whole band behind him when it was just him. Then you see his band (4 or 5 times over the years) and you understand this troubadour. You probably just know him from that Once movie with Marketa Irglova. Regardless if you ever get a chance go out of your way. Even if you only know a few songs he’ll have you singing songs; even ones you don’t know.
On the other end. What I always thought of with Irish bands were The Pogues. Smoking and drinking at the pub, dancing the ghig and good old fun until your liver gives out. The beauty beyond all these things have always been the lyrics and stories as sung by Shane Mcgowan. Lord knows you can’t understand them if they are not singing but it’s what makes these songs like living poems. Anyway here’s a a couple from each band. I think you know what U2 sounds like.
Most cop cars are Crown Vics. Any kid could tell you this. You don’t drive unmarked one’s in bad neighborhoods without locking them up and driving one will give you a certain amount of highway respect – even if you are not a cop. Which makes it perfect fodder for a song title. That’s an easy bet. Here’a new song by Eastern Anchors which is every bit Chavez as it is HUM sounding. All good things for consumerists of the noisy rock variety. This Anchors song is stealth though like most cruisers with tinted windows and weird guitar tunings disguising itself as a good pop song once its intension are revealed. Check it out. Various other such musical crimes will be committed live this forth coming Friday night but you’ll need to attend in person to be a witness. Because the kids won’t say shit unless you put the cuffs on them.
SINGLE REVIEW: So here’s The “new” Strokes song “Under Cover of the Darkness”. These jean jacket city boys are back to their quirky guitar play that they ripped-off in 1st place but hey you know the 30 something and milfy chicks are going to follow them right? They are the 2003 Mick Jagger of alt-bands. I mean why mess up a sound they borrowed in the first place -lord knows there is a lot of really pathetic disco out there. Also compared to their 2003 guitar playing this is much much better. Here’s their new single in video form. Still waiting on my mp3 to get to my inbox though but whatever.
Nothing really original. Is This it? Is still a hell of a lot more catchy so far. Full length gets released in March so we’ll give them a chance and lets certainly not blame Justin Beiber on them either ok? i want in on the guest list because it’s gonna be quasi comeback as the boys have been busy touring and doing solo stuff.
I think oh myrockness said it best on Twitter today. “The new Strokes song is totally ripping off The Strokes.” Which is totally their right to put up a follow-up record that’s late to their sound everybody expected them to release on their sophomore release but here it is leading the wave four records later. Or maybe it’s a trick? Releasing this single to remind you of what they once were and then BAM! Something new as a follow-up single. we’ll see. If so these guys are fucking geniuses! So lets see…
Because Julian did his 80’s EMF/New Order disco thing and Albert Hammond Jr kept it real on his solo effort.
Downloads: 11th Dimension MP3 by Julian Casablancas from Phrazes For The Young In Transit MP3 by Albert Hammond Jr. from Yours to Keep by himself somewhat reminds of Britt Daniel’s singing from Spoon.
Bob Marley Vs Lee Scratch Perry by the Upsetters was recorded in 1970 and originally released as two LPs, Soul Rebels and Soul Revolution. To say Bob touched many facets of life would be a understatement as he brought Reggae and peaceful idea of brotherhood to the masses. The Clash recognized Lee Scratch Perry just as much as what Bob and the Upsetters laid down early on before the Wailers existed. This record has some killer psychedelic reggae that Lee Scratch Perry produced and even had influence on Hendrix & Sly and Family Stone. I think I knew about Bob Marley before The Clash but when they did their reggae like on “The Guns of Brixton” it was as natural for as them as embracing disco.
The Guns Of Brixton Mp3 Live in Passaic NJ, 1980! Police & Thieves MP3 by The Clash Written by Junior Murvin and produced by Perry. Apparently way back in 1977 Perry mentioned this cover to Bob and he in turn gave them a shout out in a song called Punky Reggae Party MP3. I need to find a better version of it! Revolution Rock MP3 by The Clash from London Calling originally written and performed by Jackie Edwards, Danny Ray as Danny Ray and the Revolutioneers in 1976.
This is a original written by Joe Strummer and was played at his funeral. Here’s Joe doing the song with The Mescaleros in 1999 at a festival in Cologne, Germany. I originally thought it was a cover but apparently not!
I love the joke in the Blue Brothers movie: So what kind of music do you guys have here normally? “Both Kinds. Country & Western.” Well the answer around here is about the same but I thought it would be a good idea to focus on some pop music for a change. So here’s a cover by Clair Reilly-Roe doing “New Years Day”. Some pop can really gets under your skin mainly because you hear it too much or it all sounds the same, etc. Easy to be a hater for sure but every once in awhile there is some music that is pretty pleasant and you find yourself humming along because it’s just a good song or they actually do have taste. I literally pictured some Rastafarians jamin’ behind her in my mind when I hear her cover this song in her style and I’m then suddenly transported to a fancy beach front bar in the Hamptons or Cape Cod maybe. You get the picture. This music will help you escape your miserable winter doldrums. Also helps if the singer has some flammable assets and the music is recorded really well so there you go. Clair’s voice will burn right through with a blink of eyelash so check it out.
Back story short and full disclosure. I met Clair on a video shoot for the Create or Else documentary series that I’ve been working on for awhile. She is one of the many independent artists being produced by Tony Black’s music production umbrella and is a featured artist in the mini-doc. She spiritedly says about her tunes:
“…girls say that it’s good make out music!“
As is appropriate around these parts stalk her on twitter @ClairReillyRoe She’s got a city soul but you can check her out for yourself at The Bitter End Thursday Jan 20th 7pm
“a great pop song walks the fine line between charming and annoying“ – Tony Black
Clair hamming it up with Review Stalker Editor on set Somehow I get around.
Case in point here’s another very hotish indie pop singer Nicole Atkins from the Jersey Shore (not that dirty Jerzy Shore) doing a great Can cover.
MP3 Vitamin C (Cover) Nicole Atkins From a recent 7″ B side on Razor & Tie.
MP3 Vultures is the A side from the 7″ and also single on her new record Mondo Amore. Sort of a haunting track reminds me of a darker bluesy Tiny Lights with the same jam band pop country feel. [Buy]
BONUS:
MP3 Song of the Weak by Tiny Lights from their stellar record Prayer For the Halcyon Fear (1985). Features the bass playing of my old pal Dave Dreiwitz (Ween). Everything always comes full-circle.
Is Ophiuchus the 13th Zodiac Sign? Let me see if I can figure this out. The issue has been debunked by some astrology experts in order to save their books and mythical practice because the zodiac is moon based per The Babylonians, but what the scientists are saying is that the constellation and earth’s axis moved for sure making “alignment” off by 30 or so days. Also, the earth, sun and constellation does not align like it did 3,000 years ago but this you all knew right? You see there is nothing “new” perse that was uncovered but seems like the shift is real science and astrology is what it is. I was reading that there were originally 13 signs even as far as the Babylonians recognized but because it did not fit as a nice and even number with the seasons and their calendar they had created way back in A.D. they let serpent man go (AKA Ophiuchus or Serpentarius interpreter of dreams, healer and a misunderstood leader see more »). The Romans were making mythology all up as they went along too and Julius Caesar created Libras for some time to signify justice and for political reasons. The scales represented Justice for Scorpios for the Greeks. It’s all convoluted huey but according to this Nasa article all constellations reside on this imaginary line — which has moved! The thirteenth one is Ophiuchus and this constellation aligns with sun and earth for about 18 days a year! This very simple star finder explanation for kids helped explain it all to me. So in reality scientifically speaking I’m a Virgo not a Libra. Um what? So just remember Astrology is not a science like Astronomy it’s mythical entertainment to help us figure people out and any Ophiuchuses(Nov 30 – Dec 17) out there. DOWNLOAD:
1. Zodiac by the Melvins from their Chinese Pinyin: gong1 niu2 based record Bullhead
2. Zodiac Lung by Monster Magnet from the stellar record Spin of God. Which also has bull on the cover. What gives? What other Zodiac songs are out there?
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