Sleater Kinney breaks up :(
Direct from the official site...
After eleven years as a band, Sleater-Kinney have decided to go on indefinite hiatus. The upcoming summer shows will be our last. As of now, there are no plans for future tours or recordings.
We feel lucky to have had the support of many wonderful people over the years. We want to thank everyone who has worked with us, written kind words about us, performed with us, and inspired us.
But mostly we want to extend our gratitude to our amazing fans. You have been a part of our story from the beginning. We could not have made our music without your enthusiasm, passion, and loyalty. It is you who have made the entire journey worthwhile.
With love and thanks,
Sleater-Kinney
And it appears as if the Webster Hall show on August 2nd, their last in NY, and their penultimate show over all, is sold out.
I'm just glad that I got to see them at Siren in 2002
Its been great guys, you will be missed.
Technorati Tags:
music,
sleater kinney,
break ups,
tour,
indie
Top 5 Album Closers
5. Brian Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets, from Here Come the Warm Jets
This song basically breaks down to being a meditation on the beauty of the Fuzz pedal. Layered processed guitars build up and repeat phrases of blissfully smeared melody. Scattershot drum tracks slowly coalesce and join the frothy goodness… its like a musical milk shake.
4. Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up, I am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings, from Shut Up, I am Dreaming
The promise of ‘Shut Up, I am Dreaming’ is realized on its final track. The whole album builds and builds, whispering the whole time that sweet release is on its way. The epic piano hop of the almost title track is joyous and playful, and desperate and longing.
“And if I fall into the drink,
I will say your name, before I sink.
So… don’t make a sound.
Don’t make a sound.”
Few bands can relish in and celebrate despair so convincingly.
3. Talking Heads - This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody), from
Speaking in Tongues
It’s not the funkiest, or smartest, or most rocking, or weirdest the Talking Heads have ever been… but its definitely the sweetest. The Talking Heads are not known for their love songs, but few songs have ever captured the naivety of new love so perfectly with out pilfering the archive of saccharin sweet clichés that every other song writer draws from. Its impossible to listen to this song with out being carted off to that naïve place in your own head that still believes in the power of love, and puts a smile on your face.
2. Pavement – Filmore Jive, from
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
The lo-fi demo-esque opening leads into a wonderfully overdramatic plea for a visit from Mr. Sandman… Reverbed, chorused, strangled, desperate… it describes the vocals and the guitar. This is the beginning of the artistic vision Stephen Malkmus would eventually realize with the Jicks, but he never again captured that vision so perfectly.
1. Beatles – A Day In The Life, from
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Everything about this song is perfect. The orchestration never overtakes the pop roots of the song, and the pitch perfect vocal performances from both Lennon and McCartney suck you in to the disjointed plotline. Its 2 songs in one, shifting back and forth; vignettes of pop tunes stitched together in perfect disharmony.
And then of course there’s
the chord.
Technorati Tags:
top 5,
music,
rock,
indie,
last tracks,
album closers,
lists
Actually I think Terry Riley might have invented the remix
So it seems that P Diddy is a liar... but we all knew that... what I didn't know is that in 1968, Terry Riley mixed up a version of Harvey Averne's You're No Good that looped sections of the song, chopped up the vocals and tossed in some Moogy goodness here and there. This could possibly be the first example of remixing as its known today.
Check it
An Alchoholic Psychiatrist's Best Friend
Eddie, as he was known on the hit show Frasierdied thursday. Just thought someone out there might care.
The World's Christianest Rock Band
Sin Destroyers
Awesome
Technorati Tags: christian rock, jesus, music, culture
... tuesday...
You know its hard to keep getting excited for New Music Tuesday when releases suck this much...
Today's highlights? include India.Arie, that so inoffensive she's offensive songstress that brought us "Video" drops Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationships.
The Return of Dr. Octagon is released today... I'm not to clear on the details surrounding this release, it doesn't even have album art on Amazon, but I'm sure it can't live up to Dr. Octagonecologyst
Snoop hangers on the Dogg Pound put out the wittily misspelled Cali Iz Active, and nu metal lite purveyors Lost Prophets dump Liberation Transmission on us...
Dashboard Confessional release yet the next chapter in their album arc / instructional audio series How to do the Polar Opposite of Rocking... or Dusk and Summer
The only release that I can muster even a passing interest in besides giggling at it is Dirty on Purpose's Hallelujah Sirens Pat over at pop tarts suck toasted is a big fan if that helps...
Technorati Tags: music, new releases, pop, indie, hip hop, rap, rock,
10 Years of digital pet madness
Tamagotchis!
Yes its true they haven't been popular here for a very long time, but they're still going strong in Japan.
Bandai is selling 3000 limited edition Tamagotchis (1,000 of 3 different colors) to celebrate its 10th aniversary...
Its hard to believe its been only 10 years since digital pets started makeing children throw tempertantrums in your local Toys'R'Us
Technorati Tags: japan, bandai, pop culture, gadgets, digital pets, tamagotchi, toys
Top 5 Summer Albums
So starting this week I will be posting a top 5 list every Wednesday.
In honor of the solstice, the 1st day of summer I present you with my top 5 summer albums.
I don't know what is more summery than block parties, forties, and hydraulics. Dre and his indispensable (at least on this album) partner Snoop Doggy Dog capture both the fun in the sun vibe of summer and the tensions that spill in to the inner city streets when the temperatures rise.
Something about the combination of John Bonham’s avalanche drums, Jimmy Page’s crushing, searing (sloppy) guitar heroics, and Robert Plant’s sex, drugs, and hobbits vocals makes me feel like I should be driving in a van down a stretch of desert highway, or performing manual labor in the August sun.
So at this point Sublime is kind of lame… it’s the soundtrack of my high school days, and many a frat party. But it is the very epitome of the summer album… so much so that I only think the album is great from June – September… the rest of the year I think it sucks.
You Forgot It in People is not a beach blanket, sand between your toes summer album… it’s a late night barbeque, cooler full of beer, broken air conditioner summer album. Its urban, suburban, rural all in one. Its full of warm fuzzy sounds that can make any summer night feel complete.
What could I possibly say about this album that you haven't already heard. If you don't know why this is my number one summer album then I don't know why you'd even care to read this list.
Please join in the fun, post you're top 5 in the comments.
Tuesday, Tuesday
Ahh... new music Tuesday.
The one day you can count on me posting something... anything...
This week unfortuneately does not see the release of anything of great interest.
Nelly Furtado's new album, Loose drops today, and while the single Promiscuous is a damn good time and I enjoyed Whoa, Nelly! more than I should have, I'm having a lot of trouble getting excited about the album.
Keane, the ugliest adult contempory emo band around, release a new album of dreary chubby faced mope pop called Under the Iron Sea. If Coldplay are just a bit too rockin for you... Keane is your band.
College station favorites Guster put out a woderful companion piece for your frat's more relaxed bashes... you know the ones where the cops are only called twice.
Only other even semi-notable release this week is Obie Trice. And thats only notable cause he spends alot of time hanging out with multiple gun shot victim "Fitty Cent" who is only really notable cause hes pals with Eminem and "the mutha fuckin D. R. E."
Bonnaroo Webcast
AT&T Blueroom is streaming the Bonnaroo festival live starting tomorrow.
Here's the lineup:
Times are in Central Standard
Friday June 16th Lineup*
12:30 PM World Party
01:00 PM Andrew Bird
02:00 PM Ben Folds
03:00 PM Steel Pulse
04:30 PM Devendra Banhart
05:30 PM Oysterhead
07:30 PM Bright Eyes
08:30 PM NEW! - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Saturday June 17th, Lineup*
12:30 PM Neville Brothers
02:00 PM Buddy Guy
03:15 PM Dungen
04:00 PM Gomez
05:30 PM Elvis Costello and The Imposters
07:00 PM Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley
08:30 PM My Morning Jacket
Sunday June 18th Lineup*
12:30 PM Brothers Past
01:30 PM Les Claypool
03:00 PM The Codetalkers feat. Bruce Hampton
04:00 PM Matisyahu
05:30 PM moe.
07:00 PM Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
08:30 PM Phil Lesh & Friends
10:30 PM Very Special Guest
Pitchfork Update
Pitchfork Media unveiled a mild face lift to the site and added an RSS feed.
I've been waiting for Pitchfork to add RSS feeds... plural...
dumping everything, Reviews, News, Features, Track Reviews all into one RSS feed is confusing and messy...
They also compacted everything on the site so that you no longer have to scroll down to see the Track Reviews...
Unfortuneatly it doesn't seem like they actually removed any content from the front page... They actually added a cover photo for the 2nd Record Review as well... and it might just be my perception but there seem to be more annoying Ads!
The whole thing just became even more cluttered than it allready was...
Who ever is doing the web design and whoever was incharge of the RSS project should be fired.
-Update-
Pitchfork removed the album art for the Villalobos Review...
Unfortuneately the 6 flash banner ads remain
RSS is gone... will it return with a better implimentation?
Holiday, Celebrate
Ah, Tuesdays... they can't come often enough.
This weeks notable releases include, Mr. Lif, The Futureheads, Sonic Youth, Hot Chip, Six Organs of Admitance and occasional Stroke colaborator Regina Spektor.
mmm... CDs...
Staten Island Edition
3 of the finest bands Staten Island has to offer will be playing the Knitting Factory on June 23.
Murray Dead Rabbit and Paragraph will be bustin up the Tap Bar for free. Show starts late so be sure to drink plenty of coffee, or Red Bull and Vodka if you're a multi tasker.
Crazy Ass Kidz Show
I caught this on Fluxblog.
This is some real HR Puff 'n' Stuff type craziness, with some video game bleeps and old skool beats thrown in for good measure. If this actually becomes popular with children they will definately grow up to be the most bizarre generation ever.
My Favorite-est of Holidays
Tuesday.
A.K.A. New CD Day.
The hope that something fantastic is on its way is what keeps me chugging through the week. This week we have Camera Obscura which I have only a passing interest in (I'll obtain my copy illegally is what I'm trying to say... sorry Camera Obscura).
But it also brings the release of Scott Walker's The Drift (which is my good pal Tim listed as his 10th favorite album of the year so far.) And Be Your Own Pet, the newest "Next Big Thing". These Nashville native, UK darlings are apparently comparable to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but none the less have peaked my interest.
We had joy we had fun... we had concerts in the sun
So for my inaugural post I decided to list off the wonderful shows going on this summer in good ol' NYC...
every one else is doing it so why can't I?
I've cherry picked my fav's and will be attempting to attend as many as possible.
6\02 - Super Furry Animals - South Street Seaport
6\30 - TV on the Radio, Matt Pond PA, Voxtrot - Prospect Park
7\04 - Belle and Sebastian - Battery Park
7\06 - Broken Social Scene - Prospect Park
7\11 - Puffy AmiYumi - World Financial Center Plaza
7\13 - Yo La Tengo - Prospect Park
7\13 - Okkervil River - Castle Clinton (I hate having to choose...)
7\16 - Amadou & Mariam, Daby Toure - Central Park Summer Stage
7\27 Philip Glass and Kronos Quartet perform live score to Dracula - Prospect Park
7\27 - The Hold Steady - Castle Clinton (I actually won't be attending this as I'll be on my way to Chi-town for a little Pitchfork Fest love)
7\30 - Lady Sovereign, Pete Rock, Jean Grae - Central Park Summer Stage (I'll still be in Chicago)
8\03 - New Pornographers, the Frames, Calexico - Central Park Summerstage (not free)
8\11 & 8\12 - Sonic Youth & Yeah Yeah Yeahs - McCarren Park Pool (not free)
8\25 - Ted Leo/Pharmacists - South Street Seaport
Hope to see you there!
