CUGEROCK

Nada Surf @ The Bowery Ballroom: LIVE STREAM on YouTube - 10pm TONIGHT

2012-01-24T16:12:00.001-05:00

Check out the Nada Surf YouTube channel tonight at 10pm for a live stream of their show at the Bowery Ballroom.

CLICK HERE AT 10PM: http://www.youtube.com/nadasurf

They will be on Jimmy Fallon on 1/30 also.

I still have yet to listen to the new album. Pitchfork panned it but that means absolutely nothing to me (see an old post here for a reference). Missed out on tonight's show but will be seeing them @ Webster Hall on 4/7. I'll let you know how that goes. Cheers.

CUGEROCK TOP 15 ALBUMS OF 2011: IN ORDER!

2012-01-10T13:33:00.001-05:00

Sorry for being late in the game with this post. So much stellar music came my way this year but here are my top album picks. Some press darlings in there but hopefully some other stuff you've haven't heard of. Happy New Year kiddos. Psyched to see what's in store for 2012. At The Drive In and Refused reunion announcements are a good start!!! Enjoy.

1. Wild Flag - Wild Flag

2. Real Estate - Days

3. Fucked Up - David Comes To Life

4. Maritime - Human Hearts

5. Arctic Monkeys - Suck It And See

6. The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar

7. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Mirror Traffic

8. Yuck - Yuck

9. Mates of State - Mountaintops

10. Washed Out - Within & Without

11. Trail of Dead - Tao of the Dead

12. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

13. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

14. Cults - Cults

15. Sloan - The Double Cross

Mates of State Live on Letterman - "Palomino" (10/10/11)

2011-12-22T20:19:00.001-05:00

A little late on this post but I was watching this again and forgot how kickass this performance was. Pretty sure this was their first network TV appearance but prove me wrong Cugerockers. Best albums of 2011 coming soon. Happy Holidays!

Happy Halloween! No tricks, all treats.

2011-10-31T16:05:00.000-04:00

Treat #1 - Superchunk covers The Misfits Where Eagles Dare available for download for Halloween

http://www.superchunk.com/mp3/Superchunk-WhereEaglesDare.mp3

Treat #2 - Danzing/Samhain/Misfits (Glen and Doyle) video of the Danzig Legacy live show in Chicago on 10/7 (full hourlong show) Amazing. Also amazing that I learned about the 10/29 NYC show too late. Hellfire.

Thanks BrooklynVegan for the links.

VIDEO: Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - "Senator"

2011-10-14T13:14:00.003-04:00

Star studded...

Summer Album Reviews: "Comin Atchya"

2011-10-07T15:52:00.001-04:00

Hey kiddos. I've been meaning to roll out a number of album reviews over the summer but got a little sidetracked...sidetracked meaning I got engaged (roaring applause). Godblessher. That all said I figured I'd combine all of the reviews into a very truncated format with some videos to boot. Enjoy.

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks: Mirror Traffic
Excellent record. Concise and catchy tracks. No long ass jams seen in previous albums. Similar to Pig Lib.

The Joy Formidable: The Big Roar
One of my favorite new bands. I saw them perform Austere on Subterranean. Then the same track live on Conan. I proceeded to but their latest EP and Album (a few overlapping tracks). I'd really like to see them live. They were insane on Conan and I've only read solid reviews of their live shows.

Fucked Up: David Comes To Life
My first summer album pick-up which was highly anticipated as I'm a huge Fucked-Up fan. The album is over an hour long. Its a rock opera of sorts but don't let that throw you off. Its amazing and I'm as jaded as they come. If you've never heard Fucked-Up before then this may be an acquired taste or total distaste (you can hear the hardcore roots in Damians voice). All of the tracks are solid but songs like A Little Death and The Other Shoe come to the top. Madeleine Follin (Cults...see below) guest vocals on The Other Shoe and a few other tracks I believe. All in all a great evolution for this band but not too evolved (see my MoS comment)

The Rapture : In the Grace of Your Love
A few mediocre tracks. I wish they would bring back their early/more rockin style on previous records or at least reminiscent of dance/punk Echoes (which is one the top albums of all time). Its like they lost their drive. Very disappointed.

Wild Flag: Wild Flag
Top notch super group of riot gals who pushed out a equally top notch album. Great to hear Carrie wail while Janet pounds the skins again. Mega pumped to see them in a few weeks.

Mates of State: Mountaintops
I love these guys. Always have. They also seem like a cool couple that I would totally be BFFs with but why oh why cant they bring back the organ more. We need another Team Boo. Don't get me wrong. The album is high energy and pop-tastic but I just wish bands would stop experimenting and go back to the sound that built their fanbase.

Cults: Cults
Saw a video for Go Outside on MTV2 (below) and noticed that it starred that douchey character that was on Scrubs - The New Class (or whatever they called it). That realization quickly faded as I listened to the song. Incredible. So I bought the album. Very good dreamy pop. An easy listen like that Best Coast record but not something on repeat at the moment.

Washed Out: Within and Without
Once I heard that Washed Out was responsible for the theme song to the Portlandia IFC show I had to pick up the latest record. Not to mention the album was repeatedly in the press. The bad news is that the Portlandia theme song (Feel it All Around) is on the Life of Leisure EP...which I subsequently picked up also. Both are good records if your into the genre...which is electronica I guess? (Dom help me out). I place them on the same bill as M83. Stellar compositions but again...not something I toss into an album shuffle...maybe a few tracks in a playlist.

Iceage: New Brigade
Garbage. Another Pitchfork pumped-up disappointment. Sounds like a cat thrown into a lawnmower...in Denmark.

Artists I need to explore...

James Blake - Never heard this cat but he seems to be on everyone's must listen list
Jens Lenkman - Heard one song years ago and it was awesome. That's all I got.
The War On Drugs - Hot press and recos from my friends (mainly Meg)
Battles - Mirrored didn't blow me away as much as the critics but I like some of the tracks I heard on Gloss Drop. Should I pick up?
M83 - Really dug the other records and saw a killer live show. Even if he looks like Ryan Reynold's. The new album is supposed to be kickass

If you have any of these records and can throw some reviews in the comment section I would very much appreciate it.

Bands/artists I'm sick of hearing about...

Das Racist
Girls
Weeknd
Neon Indian
Wilco
Jeff Magnum

BTW - Pre-ordered the new Surferblood album Tarot Classics (out 10/25) which came with a free download of an advance track (Miranda). Decent. Nothing earth shattering but decent. Psyched to hear some new stuff from these young bucks.

Going to see Maritime and Wild Flag in the coming weeks. I'll try and throw up some reviews following. Have a great Christopher Colombo weekend.

Cuge

Let's Talk Nada Surf For A Moment Shall We?

2011-09-16T14:39:00.000-04:00

Ok. Lets get this out of the way. I'm sorry for my lack of posts over the summer. Its been busy on the cugefront. Changed jobs, weddings, had some family milestones etc. I actually saw DFA79 during that time (Brooklyn) but it was literally hottest day on record in NYC so sorry for not jumping on my laptop afterwards. No excuse...despite the heat the show was incredible (worthy of the shirt in my cugerock pic and decal on my Honda).

I actually ran into a few people at the thousand weddings I attended over the summer that commented on my lack of content. I was initially flattered that they followed Cugerock then very disappointed at myself for being MIA. Apologies.

I was/am going to come back with a post surrounding the many albums I've been listening to this summer (Joy Formidable, Cults, Washed Out etc) but had to take a brief moment and discuss Nada Surf.

So I got the three Nada Surf albums I own (Let Go, Lucky, The Weight Is a Gift) on shuffle "on the pod" and it got me thinking - "man these guys are good, I wonder if they're playing any upcoming shows....wait...didn't they have a new album come out last year?". So I got into work and checked their site. No shows in NYC in 2011...boo. Then I remembered that the album If I had a Hi-Fi came out in 2010 but I never listened to it. The next step there was to go to Pitchfork to see if they reviewed it. No....they didn't...but they did review Let's Go...and gave it a 3.8. I was mystified. Then I read the review.

Doooooouche. He obviously only knows Nada Surf from their 90s one MTV hit wonder Popular. He rips on song titles containing the chorus lyrics? Welcome to pop music asshole. You need to look at certain bands and their genres for what they are...in Nada Surfs case...its indie pop. Deal with it. I usually get angry when reviewers knock albums that I have an affinity for but in this case I was more confused and amused by his lack of rationale.

Let Go is a phenomenal album. Blizzard of '77 should be on every mix anyone's ever compiled. It's one of those records that immediately brings me back to a time and place....specifically to my days living in the East Village in my 20s. Its one of the top records in my collection and I forgot how good the other two albums are as well. Given these guys do live in NYC I guess I have a better appreciation of the lyrics (see also: Paper Boats) but the album is solid for any rock fan in any city. Yeah...there are a few misses on Let Go...mainly the song in French (and its nothing against the language..I'm a HUGE Stereolab fan) but all-in-all its a top notch effort. Psyched for future recordings/shows and will now think twice before referencing critics reviews.

Jaysus...I have Spotify...why don't I use it more or buck-up for the mobile app. Need to make some changes peeps. Fall is coming. Yes! No more sweat and bring on the sweatshirts!

Here's some Nada Surf videos. Enjoy.

David Indeed Comes To Life!!

2011-06-16T20:24:00.000-04:00

If you haven't picked up the new Fucked-Up album David Comes To Life yet...please do so now. It is an epic masterpiece. A true step forward for these Canadian hardcore alums. I'm pumped to see these cats with Dinosaur Jr in NYC next week. I've seen them many times before but never in a venue this size (Terminal 5).

Lets see if Damian can muscle through the crowd and get up on the bar for this gig. Check out my prior F-ed up show reviews on Cugerock HERE and HERE

Also, here is some history on the band and the concept behind David Comes To Life. So fing good.

Weezer Covers Radiohead's "Paranoid Android"? (Scanners head explosion)

2011-06-01T20:25:00.000-04:00

In my mind Weezer hasn't put anything good out since Pinkerton (Maladroit was ok) but this is pretty freakin rad...a pleasant surprise if you will. Enjoy.

Show Review/Retrospective: Trail of Dead & Surfer Blood (Bowery Ballroom NYC 4/29/11)

2011-05-20T16:14:00.000-04:00

And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead (or “Trail of Dead” in the short form) came in guns blazing with the 2002 LP Source Tags & Codes which was arguable one of the best albums of the decade (Pitchfork rated it a perfect 10.0) and then then followed up shortly after with an EP in 2003 (The Secret of Elena’s Tomb) of equal caliber. They had recorded a few albums before Source Tags which were decent but this was truly their breakout album.

So I went to see them at Irving Plaza back in the early millennium. They were good live but didn’t blow me away…a little drunk but so was I…so no big deal. Saw them a few more times and show by show they would sound progressively worse…and get progressively more drunk. I saw then at the Siren Fest in Coney Island and they were so hammered they could hardly structure a song.

It seemed this lack of regard (for their fans and themselves) translated to their subsequent recordings like Worlds Apart (2005) and So Divided (2006). These albums (in my opinion) got progressively worse. Each album after ST&C I would think – “Ok, maybe they pulled themselves together and will come out with another epic recording”. Notsomuch. There were literally one or two good tracks on each album. I pretty much wrote them off moving forward as a band of low expectations.

Eventually their major label dumped them so they decided to start their own label. Aside from founders Conrad Keely and Jason Reece, a few members have left over the years hence the lineup has changed a bit. Because of this and the label change seemed to be a catalyst for sobriety in many forms.

When 2009’s The Century of Self came out it was very refreshing as I was then completely jaded with this band (see the CugeRock review HERE ). They felt tighter. Despite some lengthy tracks with a few poppy elements mixed in, they sounded so much better and getting back to their roots (with some experimentation which was welcome). Didn't floor me but showed promise. I didn’t catch them on that tour but after I picked up the latest album 2011’s Tao of The Dead (a rock solid album/ST&C grade)…I had to see them live. Good thing my sis purchased tickets for their Bowery Ballroom show way in advance (thanks Amy) and on top that they were playing with Surfer Blood, a young new outfit which I believe put out the best record of 2010 (see the CugeRock review HERE ).

The Bowery Ballroom is and always will be my favorite venue to see a show. Perfect space…perfect sound...great location...great downstairs bar. The billing of this show was a little mysterious as you didn’t know going in who would open given both bands are headliner-worthy. Trail of Dead being the indie-prog vets with Surfer Blood being the young upstarts on the indie scene.

Trail of Dead started it off….and how. They came out with Strange News From Another Planet and just pummeled their set. The songs were so tight, the vocals were clear, they were lucid and they played all of my favorite tracks from the entire catalog (I love when bands do that). One great thing about experiencing a Trail of Dead show is that Conrad Keely, Jason Reece and Jamie Miller switch instruments for a number of the songs. It is testament to how freakin seasoned these guys are and how great they can sound when they’re not 20 drinks deep. Jaime Miller on drums was especially strong…insane actually (Rob Strickland cant attest).

Here is the setlist:

Strange News From Another Planet
Summer of All Dead Souls
Ebb Away
Will You Smile Again For Me
Caterwaul
It Was There That I Saw You
Relative Ways
Fake Fake Eyes
A Perfect Teenhood

Here is the only decent pic I got.

Seeing TOD again after so many years with such a tight and rockin performance made me fall back in love with the band. I will most definitely attend future shows. Although their t-shirts offered at the merch table sucked…bummer. Now Surfer Blood on the other hand used a Joy Division slant on their shirt design which = “XL please”. Like most band t-shirts I purchase I will beat this one to death. Oh and it’s that soft/light urban outfitters grade fabric. Here’s a photo.

Speaking of Surfer Blood, after such a riveting performance it would be tough for Surfer Blood to maintain the current crowd energy…and they kinda failed at the onset. The opened with Floating Vibes but they looked a little off and out of sync…like awkward teenagers. The band is notably young and compared to Trail of Dead they were like the “junior senators” to the seasoned vets. Lead vocalist John Paul Pitts (or JP) tried some theatrics with the opening track but proceeded to knock the mic stand over (“awkwaaaaard”).

After that first song the enormous talent of these young guys overtook any on-stage shortcomings. They really started to coalesce and got progressively better song by song. They only have one album so it was great to hear all of the tracks live. They played some new stuff also that sounded pretty damn good. Couldn’t locate the setlist so I don’t have the new song names just yet.

Here are some more crude pics.

JP’s voice is unique and really captivated the audience (couldn’t think of a better word…”enthralled”…”mystified”…”impacted”?). JP even tried to take the mic into the audience for one song (which was awkward but you have to respect the initiative) but the whole time he was moving through the crowd his lyrics were clear as a bell…even when they were hoisting him back on stage.

Yeah…these guys are young and looked the part on-stage but their talent is limitless. I only expect these guys to grow into more advanced territory as their albums progress. Psyched to see what the future holds from these young Florida chaps. Oh and I believe they closed with Catholic Pagans…one of my favorite tracks on Astro Coast.

Here are some Trail of Dead and Surfer Blood videos for your leisure/pleasure.

DFA'79 is back baby!...well...for a few shows at least.

2011-02-21T18:03:00.000-05:00

Death From Above 1979 is one of many short lived bands that I absolutely obsessed over. They put out a few records..and EP...then dissolved. I was lucky to catch them live @ the Bowery Ballroom in NYC right before they broke up and I can honestly tell you it was one of the best live shows I've ever experienced. One of those shows where I threw my beer down and screamed and danced...then subsequently felt like I just competed in the Iron-man triathlon as I staggered out of the club. I proceeded to buy all merch available including two shirts (featured in my cugerock pic), buttons, a sticker (still on the back of my honda) and oddly a DFA79 soccer scarf (currently draped over my "wall of rock" in my apt).

DFA is a two-piece outfit with a guitar/bass hybrid and a drummer/vocalist. When they split, guitarist Jesse Keeler went on to form funk/dance/electronica mashup MSTRKRFT and Sebastien Grainger went on a rock solo pursuit. I'm not impressed by either. So I thought there was no hope of the magic reforming...then I saw this...

http://pitchfork.com/news/41467-death-from-above-1979-release-statement/

Needless to say I am beyond pumped that they are coming back for a few shows. I have high hopes that they might catch the Pavement bug and extend this into a full on tour of the states. Stay tuned. Devil-horns crossed.

Bands We Lost in 2010

2011-01-07T13:51:00.000-05:00

(via Stereogum)

Shockers (or the bands that I care about) are as follows: Wolf Parade (no-clue), Supergrass (heard rumors), Mobius Band (no clue), Isis (no clue) These Arms Are Snakes (didn't realize they were still active), Scorpions (see These Arms Are Snakes).

CUGEROCK TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2010!!! (cue pyrotechnics)

2011-01-02T21:10:00.001-05:00

Well kiddos. Another year of rock has ended and a good one to boot. My apologies as I know I'm a little late with this post. I am also fully aware that my posts have been lacking in frequency for the past 6 months or so. 2010 has been a "transformative" year for me personally to say the least. One of my many New Years resolutions for 2011 will be to carve out more time to hit up more shows, buy more records and post more friggin Cugerock posts for Gods sake (all intertwined).

To kick it off...here is a recap of my top 10 albums of 2010 (counted down to #1) plus some honorable mentions and duds. Some great new bands mixed with some new material from a number of indie rock mainstays.

TOP TEN OF 2010

10. Quasi - American Gong

Was skeptical given the prolonged absence of the Roxichord but was more than pleasantly surprised. I think Sam and Janet have found a solid trio with the addition of Joanna. See the Cugerock show review HERE

9. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - The Brutalist Bricks

Ted Leo come back full force with a more punk rock record than the last disappointment. Pure rock record through and through.

8. Beach House - Teen Dream

Such a great unique sound. Love it. I honestly thought the lead vocalist was a dude this whole time until I saw them on Conan recently. Check it out.

7. Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love

Doesn't quite compare to the last record and takes a few run throughs but there are some stellar tracks on this late 2010 release. They use more synths and slow jams which I enjoy (oddly).

6. Superchunk - Majesty Shredding

Um. Did these guys ever lose their skills after a decade? I feel like this is a follow up to Foolish. Man this record is solid.

5. The Walkmen - Lisbon

A healthy mix of sounds from Bows-And-Arrows and You And Me = Perfection.

4. The Black Keys - Brothers

A more bluesy take on this one. On repeat. Soooo good.
3. Best Coast - Crazy For You

Such an pleasurable listening experience. A fresh yet retro sound if that makes any sense. Another record that I cant stop listening to. Highly recommended.

2. The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack

Extremely close 2nd. I can't stop listening to this band (formerly known as The Muslims - Thanks for the reco Dom). Really need to catch them live.

1. Surfer Blood - Astro Coast

I called it last March. Nothing tops this album. Hands down the best of 2010. See the Cugerock review HERE

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record

Tokyo Police Club - Champ

No Age - Everything In Between

Past Lives - Tapestry of Webs

The Thermals - Personal Life

Vampire Weekend - Contra

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

HO-HUM/NOT IMPRESSED

Interpol - Interpol

Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

The New Pornographers - Together

The National - High Violet

I'm sorry Faust siblings...I'm trying but I just cant get into these guys. Too mellow in most areas for me or maybe its his vocals.

ALBUMS I STILL NEED TO LISTEN TO/MAD AT MYSELF

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - I Learned The Hard Way

Well...there you have it. Best of 2010. Hope 2011 will do its part to push rock (and myself) forward. Happy New Year Cugerockers. xoxo T

TGIFU

2010-12-03T17:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday...

For my good pal Chris Budzilowicz...brace yourself man.

2010-12-02T13:22:00.001-05:00

The Walkmen cover "Holiday Road"

CB...wasn't this your ringtone (in addition to the Benny-Hill theme)? So awesome. Enjoy.

Thursday - Full Collapse - 10th Anniversary Tour

2010-11-17T22:11:00.000-05:00

http://www.thursday.net/

I dreamed this day would come. This album anniversary tour thing seems to be the trend these days. I feel like the Pixies started it off with the Doolittle tour or Sonic Youth with Daydream Nation then the Flaming Lips, MMJ, Weezer and others followed.

When I first heard Thursdays Full Collapse it was a style like nothing had ever heard. The term "screamo" gets tossed around and stuck to tons MTV friendly bands these days but Thursday was the originator...and it was done well. At least for Full Collapse. I liked hardcore...I liked melodic punk...I liked hard rock...these guys combined the three in a way that wasn't prevalent amongst any bands back in 2001. Please pickup this album if you like hardcore rock and roll. The later albums were decent...but nothing could ever compare to Full Collapse. Its been a constant listen among my collection over the past 10 years. Can't wait to see this live.

They are also sharing this tour with Underoath...another great hardcore screamer...I think they are a christian band? Serious. I have a few of their albums...pretty intense.

Game #3 Loss - Recap

2010-10-20T14:34:00.000-04:00

Pavement Tour Review - Philly (9/17/10) & Brooklyn 9/19/10)

2010-10-11T18:48:00.000-04:00

Pavement has been one of those very impactful bands in terms of my young adult life. The first album I heard was Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain during my freshman year of highschool via my good buddy Matt. He would throw it in on our drive to lacrosse practice (so suburbs). I was immediately hooked, buying up any/all recordings and seeking out shows. Pavement was very obscure for the time (early/mid 90s) even falling out of the grunge and emerging indie scene. For Matt and I and a few of our friends Pavement was a band that fit our personality, the lyrics were ridiculous and the music was chaotic but so unique. We would be the rebels and throw them in at high-school parties when no one was looking and belt out the lyrics and blast them from our shitty cars while driving down to the beach over the summer. I have so many great memories of driving from the burbs and into Philly seeing Pavement multiple times at the Trocadero. Getting so pumped that before the encore I had to go into the bathroom and suck on the faucet as to not pass-out from exhaustion. I remember seeing them at Lollapalooza ‘95, the WDRE Fest in Camden etc. Its just one of those bands that stuck with me and brings back so many great memories.

I continued to listen Pavement all throughout college. They eventually broke-up right before I moved to NYC and right after the Terror Twilight tour ended. I was it a bit of a transition period so I missed that tour. I made every other since Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. The catalyst for the break-up is debatable but seemed to center around front man Stephen Malkmus’s desire to pursue a solo career. Seeing Malkmus over the years was great too as he has a solid band but just hearing his voice and guitar reminded me of Pavement. The past decade there have been rumors upon rumors of a Pavement reunion tour. This time last year the dream came true. The first show scheduled was in NYC at Central Park Summerstage…then there were three more…then it became a world tour. I jumped on tickets for Philly and Brooklyn. I had tickets for Central Park but had to bail last minute due to adult/work-stuff. The Philly and Brooklyn shows were phenomenal. Here are the set-lists and some pics. Take a guess which ones were taken from a pro vs me and my buds. Hmm?

Philly – The Mann Music Center 9/17/10

SET-LIST

1.Grounded
2.Cut Your Hair
3.Kennel District
4.Heckler Spray
5.Elevate Me Later
6.Frontwards
7.Silence Kit
8.Starlings of the Slipstream
9.Box Elder
10.Unfair
11.Fight This Generation
12.Shady Lane
13.Perfume-V
14.Spit on a Stranger
15.Stereo
16.Two States
17.In the Mouth a Desert
18.Conduit for Sale!
19.We Dance
20.Rattled By The Rush
21.Range Life

Encore:
22.Date w/ IKEA
23.Trigger Cut
24.Stop Breathin'

Encore 2:
25.Gold Soundz
26.Here

PICS

Williamsburg, Brooklyn - The Waterfront 9/19/10

SET-LIST

1.Cut Your Hair
2.Date w/ Ikea
3.Rattled By The Rush
4.Elevate Me Later
5.Grounded
6.Frontwards
7.Shady Lane
8.Unfair
9.Perfume V
10.Fight This Generation
11.Silence Kit
12.Box Elder
13.Stop Breathin'
14.Two States
15.Father to a Sister of Thought
16.Heckler / In the Mouth a Desert
17.We Dance
18.Summer Babe (Winter Version)
19.Fin
20.Stereo

Encore:
21.Spit on a Stranger
22.Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite at :17
23.Starlings of the Slipstream

Encore 2:
24.Gold Soundz
25.Kennel District
26.Range Life

PICS

They played every track I wanted to hear...except for Debris Slide which I found out later that they played it in CP...so pissed. Box Elder was the suprise highlight for me as I don't remember them playing that in highschool or college.

All said both shows were insanely good. The Philly show I thought was better played (something was off for a few of the BK songs) and held a special place for me given I experienced it with friends that grew up with the band with along side me. Brooklyn was equally sentimental as I rocked along with my sister who is always there to dance with me even when lame NYC crowds wont. The bands we've seen together over the years I cant even begin to count. Another "point of reflection" is that my first NYC apartment was in Williamsburg not too far from where Pavement took the stage...really hit me how much has changed in both the neighborhood and for me personally in the past 10 years or so. Sad sappy sucker.
While new recordings from Pavement are extremely doubtful and a reunion tour in 2020 would be even more doubtful, I was glad to be transported back to the alt-rock 90's...if only for a few nights.

The lyrics to Range Life really sum it up nicely. Enjoy.

Pavement - New Music - More Music Videos

Remember When I Said...

2010-09-30T13:46:00.000-04:00

Neko Case and The Klaxons had the greatest album covers of all time? Well folks...this is a close second....or could trump them all. So many levels of "awesome".

Here's a video...TONS of cameos.

Pavement Plays Colbert!!! Malkmus Does An Awkward Interview!! (not shocking)

2010-09-21T14:53:00.003-04:00

(via Pitchfork/Audioperv)

"Gold Sounds"

"Awkward Interview"

I am in the middle of my "Pavement Tour 2010" (Philly Friday, Crooklyn Sunday and Central Park tonight) so I will have a more detailed show review with pics int he coming week(s). All I can say upfront is that the set-list both nights KILLED. Box Elder, Two States, Summer Babe etc...stay tuned.

How..How did I not know about this? UGH!

2010-09-15T17:26:00.000-04:00

If you ever get a chance to see these guys...do it...regardless if you're a punk fan or not. So many great show memories from my high-school/college days. Ask me about when I stage-dove at a show in Philly in high-school...and the crowd parted like the red sea. BMOC.

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2010/09/bouncing_souls_14.html

Ladies and Gentlemen...The Greatest Album Cover of ALL TIME (The Sequel)

2010-09-10T14:50:00.000-04:00

Remember when I posted last year that Neko Case had the greatest album cover of all time for Middle Cyclone. Well...there's a new contender for 2010. I only have a few tracks from these dudes from their last album (some good..others too abstract....Golden Skans is a top-notch track) but I have seen them interviewed and that said...this choice of cover-art does not surprise me at all. Purrrrfect.

If I pick up The Klaxons latest Surfing The Void I will throw out a review.

Are You Kidding Me?

2010-08-31T23:49:00.000-04:00

Unreal. This is the kind of pairing you (aka me) dream about. R.E.M. was a big part of my childhood and The Walkmen my adulthood. This song in particular brings back some memories. Cant wait to see them in October...The Walkmen. I probably should check out R.E.M. the next time they tour.

"The power lines have floaters so the airplanes won't get smashed..."

The Walkmen cover R.E.M.

NEW THERMALS SONG/VIDEO - "I Don't Believe You" (featuring Carrie Brownstein from Sleater Kinney)

2010-08-23T15:09:00.001-04:00

(via BrooklynVegan.com)

Show Review: QUASI @ Johnny Brendas - Philadelphia, PA (4/23/10)

2010-07-23T14:19:00.000-04:00

I know this is mega late but I needed to make sure I had this evening on the CugeRock record. The last time a saw Quasi live was…the Sword of God tour…I think. It’s been a long time. I got into Quasi in college. I was always a Sleater Kinney fan so I knew Janet Weiss was a solid drummer but didn’t know much about Sam Coomes or his other bands including Heatmiser which he played with Elliott Smith.

True story – I rode my BMX to a house party at U of D back in 1998 with my Sony sports walkman (yes…walkman). While most guys were trying to get laid and drunk I was only interested in talking music with some friends…and getting drunk. My buddy Karl was a big music freak who worked at the local record shop. His recommendations were always on-point/highly regarded. He had mentioned this band Quasi who he was really into at the moment. The party was blaring Phish or DMB or some other jam-bandy/hippie crap so he brought me upstairs to listen to the Featuring Birds record in which (after hearing the first track) I immediately had him tape for me. For some reason I remember the dubbing process taking forever. Late night I was wasted and popped the tape into my player and listened to Our Happiness is Guaranteed while swerving downhill on main street back to my house. One of the great college/music related memories I have.

The “signature Quasi sound” I fell in love with was the distorted Roxichord keyboard Sam would pound on while Janet kept the beat and backed his vocals. After the Sword of God album…the albums were strictly guitar rock…which…while good…didn’t blow me away hence I lost interest after purchasing Hot Shit and When The Going Gets Dark hoping for at least a few Roxichord tracks…no dice. Apparently Sam would still break out the Roxichord at live shows but couldn’t use it for recordings (which makes zero sense to me). I was just turned off. Then I started reading press leading up to the release of their latest album American Gong.

They added Joanna Bolme from Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks for a fuller sound. I thought "OK, I'll bite". I was pleasantly surprised. The tracks on American Gong are so rocking…so much so I forgot why I fell in love with this band in the first place (Roxichord). Janet is the most insane drummer Ive ever seen…on par with Neil Peart and Travis Barker. I am always mesmerized. Don’t tell my girlfriend but I've always had a crush on Janet. I brushed her arm once while watching an opener at one of their Maxwells shows I saw with my sister…I was creepily jazzed about that interaction (see the “Quasi Tour” from a prior post - http://www.cugerock.com/2009/07/tommys-top-rock-show-memories-thus-far.html )

When I saw they were playing in the spring at Johnny Brenda's in Philly I jumped at the chance. It just so happened to coincide with the same weekend of my Uncle Eds 70th birthday so my sis, her hubby, my girlfriend, cousin and his girlfriend all made plans to go (rollin deep son). Johnny Brenda's is such a small/cool venue that they were right on top of us. It reminded me of when I saw them at Brownies in NYC years ago. They played all of the top tracks off of American Gong like Bye-Bye Blackbird, Repulsion and Little White Horse but then I saw Sam break out the Roxichord and I knew “it was on”. He played Our Happiness is Guaranteed, as well as The Poisoned Well and I’ts Raining (I think). My sister and I were PUMPED. Then they encored with a few covers from The Who! I remember Pictures of Lilly and I Can See For Miles and Miles but I think they played a few more. Such a great show and it was Sam's birthday that night to boot. The openers Let's Wrestle came out and sang him the Happy Birthday song along with the crowd (which was otherwise…pretty dead…which is odd for Philly…NYC yes). Seeing Janet drum in such an intimate venue was amazing. The sound was great despite the odd architecture of the venue. Here are some crude pics of the show.

Here’s where it gets interesting - The bar is right next to the stage and the merch table was across for the bar. We hung out at the bar for a bit after the show to have some Kenzingers (cheap/awesome Philly beer) and eventually Janet and Sam came out to hang at the merch table. Joanna was seen breaking down the set then disappeared....almost like she was their roadie...weird. They were signing LPs, CDs and shirts so I immediate picked up a signed LP. My sis got a cd and Danny got a signed shirt BY JANET EXCLUSIVELY. Living in NYC for so many years I rarely would get star-struck...but when it comes to musicians I love and respect…I turn into a 14yr old….alcohol doesn’t help (ask Danny about the time he hung out with Ted Leo in Boston…I expect a comment to this post DC).

I have a pretty deep history with Quasi and given Sam was good friends with Elliot Smith (who, like Ben Folds, got me through some tough times and is one of the top if not THE top songwriters of all time in my opinion) and Janet is one of the best drummers in history…why the fuck wouldn’t I introduce myself. The the conversation should have went down like this:

Me: “Hi guys. I’m Tom (shaking hands) Great show. I’ve been a huge fan since day one”
Sam & Janet: “Thank you. That’s great. Thanks”

Then I walk back over to the bar....

How it really happened was somewhat different. I introduced myself and (since there was literally no one else at the bar besides us, Sam, Janet and their merch manager) began rambling about my history with them. I spoke about the Quasi tour of 2002….then specifically told them about the time when we saw them at Brownies NYC (during our tour) where I proceeded to steal the setlist from under Sams keyboard after the show (I was drunk…shocker). They both looked bewildered as I described what went down back in '02.

My brother-in-law Rob stood next to me and witnessed the present carnage...then I called my cousin Danny over…"Danny…c’mere…remember that Brownies show?” So I roped him into the embarrassment. I still have that setlist which I placed in a frame (pictured here)

See this prior post which provides a little more detail on "the great heist" - www.cugerock.com/2009/06/quasi-is-back-new-album-coming-in-fall.html

I didn’t get the vibe that they were pissed I stole the setlist but rather that I was STILL TALKING TO THEM. At one point I turned to Janet and was like “Brownies…you remember Brownies?” She was visibly irritated and replied “Of course I remember Brownies man. C’mon” (exact quote could be exaggerated). The conversation then pretty much came to an awkward end and we walked back to the bar.

All-and-all this was phenomenal show that was intense and brought me back into the Quasi die-hard fan club. Not only did I get to enjoy their music but I also got a chance to share a piece of my life/music history with them via face to face conversation (which is extremely rare). Whether they enjoyed the stories or not (leaning towards not) it was pretty amazing to actually explain to them how they played a significant role in many of my more prominent/positive rock and roll memories. "Boom"

The Thermals Cover Green Day @ PMF

2010-07-18T13:14:00.000-04:00

(via Pitchfork TV)

So so good. I really hope this becomes a regular cover at their future shows.

The Charlatans UK Are Back! Again! In the US!!

2010-07-13T16:10:00.000-04:00

The Charlatans UK (http://www.thecharlatans.net/) is one of my favorite brit pop bands of all time. Ask any of my friends growing up and they would tell you I was an avid fan through the 90s until present day. I was even a subscriber to their fanzine "109". I still have a copy. Albums like Up To Our Hips or Between 10th and 11th are monumental in sound and songwriting in my opinion. The b-sides I would pick up off singles were just as good. In fact...many of these tracks were much better in respect to the album single they were released with. I remember Repo Records in Ardmore PA would be chock full of these "imports" when I was a teen....ahh those were the days.

Like other bands (Stereolab, Alice In Chains etc) when a key member of the group dies...a good bulk of the fanbase dies with he/she. The sound just doesn't seem the same. This was the case for the Charlatans. Rob Collins, the keyboard player, passed away via car accident in the mid 90s. The sound Rob achieved with the organ/piano/synths had a lot to do with why the Charlatans were so unique in sound in relation to the other brit rock acts around at the time (Blur, Suede etc). That all said I pretty much stopped listening to the Charlatans after Robs death. Telling Stories was the last album I purchased (a great album despite Robs absence). I read reviews from time to time of the more recent "post Rob" albums and they always got satisfactory to poor marks. I should know better than to trust the critics but I just lost interest.

More recently I was watching a program called London Live around xmas which features live British rock acts with accompanying interviews. This particular program happened to feature the Charlatans...present day Charlatans. The tracks they played were mostly from the albums that I knew and they sounded great...like they didn't skip a beat. The band (fronted by Tim Burgess) didn't appear too weathered either. It made me think...man I hope they come to the US and play a few shows. Sure enough last year I thought my dream was realized...then blown to bits when they cancelled. Then I see this latest news bit.

http://tinyurl.com/26z9jsg

I'm excited for the NYC show but a little disappointed about the Philly show for a few reasons. First, I live in NYC now so I can't make it to a weekday show in Philly (unless it was a Minor Threat reunion or Fugazi show). Secondly, they are playing at Johnny Brendas. Ive seen a few bands at Johnny Brendas. Its a very small venue. Its one of those bitter-sweet deals in that you would love to see them at an intimate venue...but you feel bad that the band couldn't book a larger space. I felt this way when I saw Gene at the Mercury Lounge in NY back in the day or more recently Sloan (which could sell out huge venues in Canada) at the North Star Bar in Philly.

I guess its just a fact that I'm getting older and some of the bands from the 90s/early 00s that I love may have faded from the spotlight a bit. HOWEVER, I would much rather go see one of my favorite bands at the Bowery Ballroom or Johnny Brendas than MSG or Wachovia Center...Weezer, DCFC, Radiohead, Metallica Im looking in your direction.

Anywho, seeing The Charlatans UK at a place like Johnny Brendas would be like having them play in your buddy's basement...anyone who can make that show please do.

Mates of State: Crushes (The Covers Mixtape) out TODAY ($2.99 as Amazons "Daily Deal" TODAY ONLY)

2010-06-15T17:27:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the late heads up. Been "busy". I have some show/record reviews coming shortly. Now on to the Cugerock news of the day.

Mates of State released their latest record Crushes (The Covers Mixtape) today and you can get it for cheapskis as Amazons "Daily Deal" for $2.99. You can get there directly from http://www.matesofstate.com/.

Here is the track list and corresponding artists. Some great picks....

1. Laura (Girls)
2. Son et Lumiere (The Mars Volta)
3. Sleep the Clock Around (Belle & Sebastian)
4. Technicolor Girls (Death Cab for Cutie)
5. Long Way Home (Tom Waits
6. Love Letter (Nick Cave)
7. Second Hand News (Fleetwood Mac)
8. 17 Pink Sugar Elephants (Vashti Bunyan)
9. Roller Coaster Ride (Dear Nora)
10. True Love Will Find You in the End (Daniel Johnston)

You'll notice that they cover Belle & Sebastian's Sleep Around the Clock as well as Dear Nora's Rollercoaster Ride...which is the title of a track on Belle & Sebastian's The Boy With The Arab Strap. Sadly these are two completely different songs. Not "sadly" is that they are both excellent songs in their own right. Wow...that was some meaningless/buzkill-esque info there. Lo siento. Been a long day.

Mates of state is one of my favorite bands of all time ever since I saw/heard them for the first time live opening up for Beulah @ The Khyber in Philly...many...many years ago. I can not f-in wait to see these covers live this summer when they're on tour.

ENJOY!

Show Review: The Thermals - Brooklyn Bowl NYC (4/20 & 4/21)

2010-05-14T15:13:00.002-04:00

The Thermals via Portland Oregon are one of my favorite bands of all time. I've seen these cats three or four times in NYC and twice in Philly. I initially saw them on MT2 Subterranean back in the day in their video for How We Know from the album Fuckin-A. I was immediately hooked. I started seeking them out live after I picked up The Body, The Blood, The Machine (one of the top albums of all time in my opinion). As a guitar/drum/bass three piece their shows are loud and energetic = fun rock. With Hutch Harris (lead vocals/guitar) and Kathy Foster (bass/backing vocals) at the helm since day one they seem to have a Spinal Tap-esque rotation of different drummers over their career but the latest guy seems to be here to stay as he's been along for the last two tours. He loves the crowd and has a shit-eating-grin as he pounds away. Their albums are a good mix of punk and pop with lyrics that can make you think...but not too much. Dark humor is the best way to describe them especially on their last record Now We Can See. The lyrics on BBM are a playful stab at Christianity that should be viewed as just that...playful...whether your Christian, Agnostic or Atheist. Now lets talk about the shows...

Brooklyn Bowl (http://www.brooklynbowl.com/) which opened its doors in Williamsburg last year is a place I've never been to. I lived in Williamsburg back in 2000 on Bedford and South 2nd street as it was just beginning its hipster/gentrification build. There were minimal bars/clubs/restaurants/people. I feel like an old timer when I go there now as its 1000x more vibrant. Like the East Village on ritalin. Abandoned warehouses have been replaced by clothing/art/restaurant/loft installations. Not to mention the modern condos that litter the neighborhood (much to my dismay).

Brooklyn Bowl is a bowling alley/bar/restaurant/music venue which is pretty freakin cool. The space is unique to say the least. It looks like a refurbished brick warehouse (no windows) that may have been used prior by the Brooklyn Brewery which it backs into off of Wythe Ave and north 11th street. The space is completely open so if you are lucky to reserve an overpriced lane around 10pm then you'll also get to check out some live music behind you. Still trying to figure the whole situation out.

The first night I went with my friend Tracy and her boyfriend. The second night I went with a few friends (Amanda & Ridge) and my girlfriend Tracy (pictured here). Go figure.

The venue about the size of Irving Plaza in NY or The Troc in Philly but slightly smaller with no balcony. The first night was sold out but there was room to move. I caught the tail end of the first opener (The Coathangers...I think). They were God awful. A bunch of wannabe riot grrrls with no musical talent. just screaming and drumming and keyboards while pissing the crowd off between songs. That's my assessment. The second opener Past Lives was a different story. As they began playing I thought the lead singer and a few of his bandmates looked familiar as well as the sound. Turns out they are 70% of the recently broken up band The Blood Brothers. I'm a HUGE Blood Brothers fan. I believe two of the BBs including the lead vocalist teamed up with former Pretty Girls Make Graves members to form Jaguar Love while the remaining members including the backing vocalist formed Past Lives. Similar sound as the BBs but way more structured/melodic. Extremely great live on both nights. I have to pick up their record ASAP. Here are some pics (click to enlarge).

The Thermals took the stage the first night and just killed it. I was in the back of the venue and the sound was still incredible (despite the stage adjacent to a bowling alley). Like a nerd I tried to capture notes on the set list during the shows using my blackberry calendar (proooobably should of used the "memo pad" application...idiot). My blackberry subsequently died this past weekend so I'll have to go by memory. Here is the set list from the 4/18 show in Boston at The Middle East which gives you an idea. They pretty much played the same tracks on both nights but in a different order. (Bold = NEW!)

1. Now We Can See

2. We Were Sick

3. I Let It Go

4. When I Died

5. It's Trivia

6. How We Know

7. St. Rosa and the Swallows

8. Only For You

9. I Don't Believe You

10. A Passing Feeling

11. Back to Gray

12. Separate

13. Here's Your Future

14. I Might Need You to Kill

15. Test Pattern

16. When I Was Afraid

17. An Ear for Baby

18. A Pillar of Salt

19. No Culture Icons

20. Returning to the Fold

The band sounded great as always. The crowd sucked on the first night per NYC standard (people talking/yelling over the music, motionless, young girls texting and looking around everywhere but the stage). The crowd was a little more lively the second night. That assessment could be skewed as I was way upfront for the 2nd night and closer to "the action". Tracy is a peanut as is my friend Amanda so getting close to the stage was priority #1...less tall dudes to look around. I'm a big freak so if they made a adult-sized Baby Bjorn I would accommodate. They played a healthy mix of tracks from old albums (How We Know, No Culture Icons, Our Trip) as well as newer favorites (Here's Your Future, Now We Can See, A Pillar of Salt, We Were Sick, St Rosa & The Swallows, When I Died, Returning To The Fold).

However on both nights they played three or four brand new songs which were SOOOOOO GOOD (no Canada unfortunately). Usually I get a little skeptical when bands test out new tracks on the road but I was pleasantly surprised (mainly cause I cant sing along/bob my head from memory). Very melodic lead riffs with some heavy/fast bass lines as well. The also played the track Separate off of their Record Store Day split 7inch with The Cribs. The new tracks sounded like a perfect hybrid of song structure from the last two albums. That said I am mega psyched for their new album which will come out later this year.

Here is a video I captured of one of the new songs on the second night. Blogger couldn't upload directly so I had to create a YouTube account (whether I create a CugeRock YouTube channel remains to be seen).

I don't think this track was played in Boston judging from the set list above. I remember they played I Don't Believe You and Separate in NY and Only For You just doesn't seem right given the chorus (Power Lies? Power Lines?). The video quality is great but the audio seems to cut out every time I zoom or "woo"...sorry.

All and all both shows were incredible as usual. A mix of old, recent and brand new tracks. They encored with Returning To The Fold on night one and Our Trip on night two (which was awesome). If you ever get a chance to see this band in your city please please please do so. You will be fully satisfied with a meal of pure rock goodness?

New Blur Single - "Fool's Day" (Record Store Day 7-inch)

2010-05-11T17:45:00.000-04:00

Not bad. Not bad at all. This is the first new song from Blur in 7 years! Fools Day was the single they released as a 7" in the UK for "record store day" that sold out almost immediately. I was bummed but (thanks to a heads up from my buddy Steve) I found out the band wanted everyone to have access to the single so they just released a free download. Go to http://www.blur.co.uk/ to get the free download (MP3 or WAV).

Blur frontman Damon Albarn was interviewed recently and said that they aren't planning on touring again or recording a new album any time soon given the lack of material and all of the work he is doing with Gorillaz (plus the 1000 other side-projects he is involved in). However, he did say that Blur will record some more singles to be released in the near future. I'll take it. It's so good to hear a new song from one of my favorite bands of all time (I know...I say that to all of the bands). Enjoy.

Village Voice 10th Annual SIREN FESTIVAL (7/17/10) : Line-Up Announced

2010-05-05T17:52:00.001-04:00

http://siren.villagevoice.com/2010/

Umm Ted Leo + Surfer Blood = I'll see you in Coney Island on 7/17.

Matt & Kim should be solid live as well...although I was hoping to see them for the first time in a smaller venue like The Troc or Bowery Ballroom rather then an outdoor show. Wait...whats that? It's still free? Yes...yes I will shaddup. I'm not a huge fan of indie press darlings Pains of Being Pure at Heart but seeing them live should be interesting.

I've been to almost all of the Siren Festivals since its inception in 2001. If you can shake off your hangover from the night before and brave the long subway ride and the heat...every year its hot as all hell.....then this is an experience you need to have. The sound always sucks but its Coney Island for gods sake. Beers on the boardwalk, corndogs, THE CYCLONE, vomiting from the beer, corndogs and Cyclone. Man I love Coney Island...however I'm really nervous to see what they've done with some of the old time amusements to make way for the "revitalization" of the area. I'm glad they kept The Cyclone...hell of a ride. You feel like a kid afterwards exclaiming "lets do it again! Again!"...then you puke.

Some of the more notable bands that come to my mind from the past Siren Festivals I've attended include Sleater Kinney, Quasi, The Shins, Liars, Trail of Dead (drunk per usual), Superchunk, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Q and Not U, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Rainer Maria, We Are Scientists...off the top of my head. The top slots/headliners we usually didn't stick around for because (A) we were exhausted and (B) you don't want to hang out in Coney Island after the sun goes down. "Dicey"

NEW INTERPOL TRACK: "LIGHTS"

2010-04-29T14:11:00.000-04:00

Dark and mysterious. Classic Interpol. Enclosed is a widget in which you have to confirm you are over 18 and provide your email address to have the download sent to you. Open up the zip file and it will be automatically added to your iTunes library. The song is decent but nothing revolutionary. Regardless I love it as I have always loved this band. Anything new is exciting. Paul Banks (aka Julian Plenti) recent solo album is not to shabby either. It could almost be a sub-par 4th Interpol album. The new Interpol album is slated to come out at some point this year but the band is being...well...dark and mysterious about a release date/touring. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the heads up on this Mr Faust.

Extreme Makeover: CugeRock Edition

2010-04-20T11:30:00.000-04:00

Hey y'all. I apologize for the lag in posts. I've been redesigning CugeRock over the past month and finally forked up the cash to register the custom domain name of http://www.cugerock.com/. The site is still serviced via Blogger so it will be pretty seamless if you are a "follower" and if you visit the old http://www.cugerock.blogspot.com/ address you will automatically be redirected to Cugerock.com. Let me know what you think of the look/feel/attitude (going "global" son).

I'll have some new posts in the coming weeks. Might have some show reviews as I will be pulling a "double-header" in checking out one of my favorite bands, The Thermals, in Brooklyn (Bklyn Bowl) tonight and tomorrow night then checking out Quasi at Johnny Brenda's in Philly on Friday. I also picked up the new Ted Leo and Miles Kurosky albums (which are SOLID) so I will try to get those reviews up as well.

Enjoy the spring weather kiddos (excluding Icelanders).

ALBUM REVIEW: SURFER BLOOD - ASTRO COAST

2010-03-17T17:07:00.022-04:00

Um...wow. I can honestly say that I haven't heard an album this good in a loooooong time. I think everyone will have different (albeit positive across the board) interpretations of FL band Surfer Blood and their influences in making Astro Coast. I have read many positive comments about this album from my friends and over the interwebs/blogosphere. I did see a high rating on Pitchfork but didn't read the review as I wanted a completely unbiased/untainted Cugerock perspective on this one.

From the first track Floating Vibes I was immediately transported back into to early 90's. I thought "hmm...Sonic Youth? Dinosaur Jr?". That's not to say their sound isn't unique or dated. I believe Astro Coast is a pioneering record but certain chord progressions and song structures overall remind me of tracks from indie bands I was listening to in high-school/early college. There are songs like Slow Jabroni that start out broken and slow then (around the 3:40 mark) transform into a heavenly/mesmerizing/bob-your-head-slowly straight rock jam that tend to remind me of tracks indicative of early indie albums. So freaking good no matter how you categorize. However there are some more recent influences that can be heard as well.

There's some Sonic Youth, Sugar, Shins, Hum, Autolux, Archers of Loaf, Cribs, Superchunk, Cursive...hell even some quick Vampire Weekend (Take it Easy) and Fugazi (intro to Anchorage) sounding portions that are in there. Again, this is my interpretation. There are so many I cannot pinpoint. I welcome comments (as always) in regards to to some bands I haven't thought of. I feel like I'm missing a few.

Vocally they are relatively unchallenged but for some reason I hear a Tim Kasher (Cursive) or Ryan Jarman (The Cribs) similarity in a lot of the songs. Specifically with Swim that screamed "Ryan Jarman" and Harmonix that could have been a track on any Cursive record (skewing towards the more recent). The lyrics themselves are solid. They aren't too complex and have certain lines that jump out at you....specifically on Anchorage, Twin Peaks and Catholic Pagans.

I also will NOT note some of my "favorite tracks" as every single song is amazing from #1 to #10. I've had this album on repeat for weeks now. Please, please pick up this record.

BOLD STATEMENT ALERT! There are a ton of new albums that have come out and are scheduled to come out in 2010 however I do not see Surfer Blood Astro Coast leaving my #1 album of the year designation any time soon. Prove me wrong Thermals, Band of Horses, New Pornographers, Interpol, B&S etc....

BONUS CONTENT:

Live performances (via their MySpace page)

Video for Swim

Show Review: F**ked-Up & Kurt Vile - The Middle East, Cambridge, MA (2/20/10)

2010-03-02T16:47:00.048-05:00

"You reminded me, that I would never be 22" is a lyric from a Promise Ring song (Make Me a Mixtape). One can interpret that line however they want. It never really had any significance to me until I started to ascend into my late twenties. I saw it as meaning...basically...there are experiences you have in your present life that would have been much easier had you were facing them at a younger age OR some present experiences will take you back to a time where you had a little less "weight" on your life. It can be nostalgic and good but strangely depressing sometimes. Ha! There are songs and movies and people that serve as reminder of that. Seeing a Fucked Up show recently in Boston was one of those moments...and it was just what I needed.

I went to the show with my cousin Danny who lives in Boston and a buddy of his. Danny's "show buddy" as we like to call it (Chris Budz & Cathy are my Philly equivalents as Scotty, Horton & Tarik are my NYC compadres...and Danny most times). The show was at the Middle East club in Cambridge Mass which is just over the river from the city of Boston. I'm not sure if it is zoned as Boston proper but I'll just refer to it as Boston to make things easier (less letters to type). Cambridge is the home of Harvard and a Saucony outlet store (cheap Jazz kicks). When I saw on Fucked-Ups tour schedule in the fall that they were playing a Saturday at the Middle East (which I've never been to) and with Kurt Vile (who I don't know much about other than he is from my hometown) I knew we had to make this happen. Seeing as I hadn't visited Danny in 5 years it made it all the more pressing.

Now I've seen Fucked-Up before in Philly at the "intimate" Northern Liberties Club - Kung Fu Necktie. I wont rehash the experience but check the link from a prior post - http://cugerock.blogspot.com/2009/01/fucked-up-pissed-jeans-kung-fu-necktie.html

The Middle East is a significantly larger club than KFN. That said I thought there was no way I would see lead vocalist Damian "Pink Eyes" Abraham take the "liberties" with the space/crowd/mic-cord that I saw in Philly. I was pleasantly mistaken. More about that later.

While we were checking coats (so punk rock) I noticed Damian just hanging out by the merch table. I had a few beers in me so I thought I would go talk to him. I introduced myself, gushed like I was meeting the hardcore equivalent of the Jonas Brothers and he was mega cool and very appreciative. I then asked him if he remembered the KFN show last year, more specifically, when he poured hot candlewax on is fat chubby chest while standing on top of the bar. His reply (laughing) "Hahah ooooh yeah...it didn't hurt that bad cause I was sweating so much". True Champion.

Kurt Vile opened up to a crowd that was literally shaking in anticipation for Fucked Up. I've never heard his music before but read up that it was alt-rock/folk-ish. To anyone who didn't know that FU & Kurt were Matador labelmates then this would have been viewed as an odd paring. He played ok. He had no drummer and just a rhythm guitarist to join him. His voice is solid and the tracks he played were pretty good. I'd mos def like to catch him again with a full backing band. The crowd was very respectful despite the headliner. Any women that were currently at the venue were long gone after he finished. I honestly could count the number of girls present for FU on one hand...and one of them is in the band.

So Fucked Up takes the stage. I think they opened with Son the Father but who the hell knows. The loud opening chords just placed the whole place on fire. The "pit" immediately formed and expanded, with the edge a few people in front of us. We all had our forearms out to block any stray moshers. We were Id say 1/3 of the way back from the stage-left (close to the bar). I couldn't locate the set list online but here is one from 6 days later at a Toronto show:

1.Son the Father
2.Magic Word
3.David Comes to Life
4.Days of Last
5.Golden Seal
6.Crusades
7.The Two Snakes
8.Crooked Head
9.No Epiphany
10.Black Albino Bones
11.Twice Born
12.Baiting the Public
13.The Chemistry of Common Life
14.Bodies (Sex Pistols cover)
15.Police

Since before the last show I had only heard the latest FU full length, Chemistry of Common Life, I made sure I bought the singles collection recently released (Couple Tracks 2002-2009).

Basically a compilation of 7-inches. If you want a taste of how good this compilation is then I suggest you download Black Hats. So good I kept yelling it out to Damian in hopes that they'd play it...no dice.

Fucked Up is unique as they are by all means a "modern-hardcore" outfit, yet the music has more rhythm/layers to it which isn't hardcore standard (remember when Helmet came on the scene?). Maybe that is why FU are Pitchfork darlings but I think its more of the band make-up, Damian's personality on/off stage and his willingness to collaborate with just about anyone. Oh and they won Canada's Polaris Music Prize.

The crowd was going absolutely nuts including myself. I didn't think it was physically possible for Damian to get off-stage and into the crowd. I even said to Danny "There's nooooo way he can get on top of either bars" (there was one a few steps up stage-right and one on the floor a few feet from us). Minutes after I make this prediction I look on stage and he's no where to be found (still screaming lyrics mind you) but I look left and sure enough he's on top of the bar, then back on stage, then back on the bar, then on the floor where we were (patrons supporting the mic-cord over their heads), then up on the bar (next to a disco ball oddly enough - here is what I captured from my Blackberry shit-camera)

...then he jumped off and fell down on the floor in front of us so we picked his sweaty ass up. The whole time the band continues to look forward and belt off the music like "ho-hum...classic Damian". Might I also add that the band was SO TIGHT (Danny can back me up on this). The only distortion I sensed was in Damian's voice ...which was normal.

Towards the end, the energy was so intense and the pit was so close a drunken voice inside me said..."you gotta get in the pit old man"...then I said to the guys "I'm going in!". I'm a big dude but I was getting knocked around like a skinny straightedge vegan, swirling around in a sweaty mass of positive manergy eventually getting feet from the stage and screaming lyrics and pumping my fist.

To cap it off they encored with a Sex-Pistols cover Bodies with a surprise appearance from none other than TED LEO!!! As if the night couldn't get any better then Ted freakin Leo jumps up on stage to sing Sex Pistols!!! With Fucked Up?!!!! (visualize Scanners head explosion).

Easily one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. Such a positive show which reminds me why I love music so much and how live music can be so therapeutic in so many ways. Not one douchebag in the crowd. All participants were just amped on a Saturday night to see one of the most energetic live band performances out there.

After the show the band was hanging out by the merch table so I went over and made a point to tell them how ridiculously awesome the show was. Kurt Vile was also hanging out. I shook his hand and said "Im from Philly dude" or something to that drunken effect. He gave me a "right on" and looked scared as I was glassy-eyed and sweaty.

The Aftermath: The next day, not only was I hungover but my voice was shot from screaming and my muscles ached from "dancing". Soooooooo worth it. As I noted prior, this show reminded me that I would definitely never be 22 again...but a decade older...I can still slam with the best of em. Age is merely a number my friends. Thanks Advil.

CUGEROCK BONUS: To get an idea of the live Fucked-Up show experience, here is a short film from Ray Concepcion which completely captures the spectators view. A "couple tracks". Enjoy.

Every Man for Himself and God Against All: Fucked Up from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

SimpsRock

2010-02-02T16:15:00.001-05:00

Excellent feature.

http://tinyurl.com/ykbhc8s

Best performance:

Best Quote:

"Hullabalooza isn't about freaks; it's about music, and advertisement, and youth-oriented product positioning." --Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon

THE CUGEROCK TOP 15 ALBUMS OF 2009!!!

2009-12-29T16:03:00.036-05:00

2009....what a great year for music despite a shit-year for our country. One helps the other I guess.

Here are my top album picks for 2009. Not as obscure as pitchfork (no pun intended given my top pick)...I go by what Ive continually had in my playlists across the year or what Ive picked up recently that I'm "beating to death". Hipster media darlings don't always make for repetition on the street, in the car or at home over time.

1. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career: Late pickup but I cant stop listening...incredible album. I loved their last one and this one "kills-it". Best of '09 by far.

2. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix: See my post on 6/11/09. Media blitzkrieg but a rock-solid showing from my favorite Frenchmen. Relatively on par with Its Never Been Like That which is one of my top albums of all time.

3. The Thermals - Now We Can See: Saw them a few times over 2009 and they continue to sustain themselves through their records and live performances as one of my favorite bands of all time .

4. Dinosaur Jr. - Farm: Saw them live recently with Sonic Youth which didn't blow me away per usual (see my post from 5/7/09) but this album is so strong. Takes me back to the Without A Sound/Where You Been/Hand It Over days.

5. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest: Great work boys. Album is solid. Thanks for the reco Stricklands.

6. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion: See my post on 2/4/09 - Takes a bit to get used to but the sound is so unique its like no album Ive ever heard. Start off with the singles and you'll warm up to the full album.

7. Sonic Youth - The Eternal: See my post on 9/4/09. Unreal how these legends continue to raise the bar of rock year by year. Most evident in their live shows...just saw them on 11/21/09 in NYC with DJr...blown away.

8. The Von Bondies - Love, Hate and Then There's You: See my post on 3/26/09. Sleeper hit of '09 for me.

9. Superchunk - Leaves In The Gutter EP: See my post on 5/22/09. Its like they were cryogenicaly frozen for a decade. Awesome.

10. Real Estate - Real Estate: Recent pickup (per a Facebook reco from my old college buddy Carl) that oddly matches all of the reviews of being Beach-Boys esque, "dream-pop" etc. Solid.

11. Built To Spill - There Is No Enemy: See my post on 11/18/09.

12. Matt & Kim - Grand: Album and subsequent videos make me miss my younger NYC days.

13. Lamb of God - Wrath: NSFE. You want to let off some steam (aka - smash something) buy this album (ladies...might want to side-step)

14. The Doves - Kingdom of Rust: These brits continue to make solid rock records. Id say this album is parallel to Last Broadcast which was my inaugural Doves listening experience.

15. Silversun Pickups - Swoon: Got bad reviews from the music press but I think their sophomore record is pretty rockin yet different from Carnavas.

In conclusion...

I still have a few to listen to per the top '09 lists Ive been receiving from my friends including these Dirty Projectors I keep hearing so much about. Been a little preoccupied the past few months.

There's so many albums dropping in early 2010 so this year should start off "correct" then climax when I see the first NYC Pavement reunion show in Sept (suckaz!). Then we got Halloween, my birthday, turkeyday and the return of crappy-sappy holiday jewelery commercials.

See you in "Oh-Ten" kiddos. -TC

DUST OFF YOUR DEVIL-HORNS COMPADRES!!

2009-12-17T17:36:00.011-05:00

Well...(sigh)...looks like I'm going to "summer" in Poland & the Czech Republic come 2010.

Holy...

http://tinyurl.com/yey48d9

This divine intervention of metal (ironic choice of words as most of these bands are affiliated with Satan) better come state-side or I will threaten to get my 7th grade metal band Solitaire back together and we will "counter-tour". Then it will be metal up YOUR ass Lars.

BUILT TO SPILL: The Trocadero 10/16 (Philly)

2009-11-18T17:11:00.012-05:00

One of the fondest memories I have of college was when I was blaring the Built To Spill record Keep It Like a Secret while scrambling to get cleaned up for an early morning graduation commencement at the University of Delaware (I may or may not have been still drunk from the night before...my sister can confirm). I was pretty pumped to graduate despite a "heroic" intake of cocktails the night prior. Every time I listen to that album I get flashbacks of me gleefully running around dodging passed out stragglers in my POS house on North Chapel St.

I haven’t seen Built to Spill play live since the Ancient Melodies tour. I didn’t catch the Perfect From Now on album tour last year or any You In Reverse touring. That said I was pretty psyched to see them again for the Know Your Enemy tour and not in NYC (apparently Doug agrees..I’ll explain later). The Trocadero in Philly has so much history not only as an old burlesque hall in the late 19th/early 20th century but also for me personally has I saw so many bands there for the first time (Pavement) and some for the very last time (Elliot Smith). So many memories of packing into cars out in the burbs and driving into the city only to leave more sweat-soaked and jazzed up then when we were on our way in. I digress.

I caught a set-list from a recent B2S show in NYC off Brooklyn Vegan and was floored…tracks like Kicked it in The Sun, Stab and Time-Trap. My cousin Danny will tell you...I’ve been waiting to hear Time-Trap live for a decade. Every show we would go to in NYC I would be “that guy” yelling out (booze on breath) “Tiiiiiiime Traaaaaaaap” constantly. Its worked only a few times in my life…one time at a Lemonheads show I yelled out “Frying Pan” and Evan responded “I can do that”. I think it worked at a Quasi show at the Knitting Factory once as well for “All Bent Out of Shape” a rare gem. Again I digress.

I thought I knew what to expect by looking at prior setlists. I almost wished I didn’t see the NYC set-list prior cause I was pretty blown away from the Philly set. Here is is:

Traces
Distopian Dream Girl
Stab
Nowhere Lullaby
Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss
Wherever You Go
Else
Nowhere Nothin Fuckup
Stop The Show
Planting Seeds
Sidewalk
Untrustable/Part 2 (About Someone Else)
(Encore)
The Weather
Goin' Against Your Mind

The crowd was amazing. Young, old...me. They were so into it. Doug made a point to mention to the crowd how awesome they were and that the NYC crowds that he just played to nights before absolutely sucked. Knowing that NYC crowds in general suck from my 8+ years of going to shows there...I knew he was being sincere and it wasnt "lip-service" ("Hello Cleveland!")

The biggest highlights for me was Nowhere Nothin' Fuck-up and Sidewalk. I normally wasnt to thrilled with Goin Against Your Mind off the YIR album...however as a live ENCORE...un-fucking real. Its absolutely floored me (see also: "Oops, I crapped my pants").

They played the full catalog which is always refreshing as no one wants to hear a live version of the new album. However, the new album is SOLID and the tracks live sounded great. Sadly...no Time Trap...oh well...next time. It is truly my white-whale.

Happy Turkeyday kiddos.

"Its gross"

2009-10-13T13:48:00.003-04:00

http://pitchfork.com/news/36792-watch-sonic-youth-on-gossip-girl/

(fingers in ears, eyes closed, stomping feet) LALALALALALALALALALAICANTHEARYOUICANTHEARYOUICANTHEARYOU.

Remember when the Walkmen were on The OC?...multiply that feeling x100.

Remember when the Doobie Brothers were on What's Happening?...subtract that feeling x100.

BEULAH UPDATE...sort of

2009-10-08T14:07:00.003-04:00

http://tinyurl.com/yaomx5z

(I told you Pitchfork was still my place for news)

So that’s what Miles from Beulah has been doing the past 5 years…growing out his hair and hanging out at Hooters…with…with hooters. “Miles Kurosky – Owl Whisperer. “

I know I’ve peppered Beulah into a few of my posts. They are one of those great bands that remind me of college/early NY. I first heard tracks off of “Handsome Western States” on WVUD while driving around Newark, DE delivering pizza (Grottos) my junior year. There was no iPod auxiliary jack (or CD player for that matter) in the Ford Escort/Pizza Warmer hybrid they had me pilot. Wild West kids…wild western Delaware.

HWS was such a hard album to find if I remember correctly. I think it was an Elephant6 release which didn't have much distribution at the time...let alone to college indies. I scoured Bert’s on Main St but I think I ended up picking it up in Philly. Great story Tom…cheeeesus.

Pitchfork’s Top 500 Songs of the 2000’s: A CugeRock Commentary

2009-10-02T13:10:00.012-04:00

Out of all of the music sites I check on a regular basis…I go to Pitchfork for news and reviews most every day. News is news and the reviews used make sense to me despite being two paragraphs longer than they should have been. Lately I haven’t agreed with some of their reviews retroactive to me purchasing and listening to the album reviewed. This concerns me.

On a similar note, their “Top x of x time period” lists are always way off the mark in my opinion. Currently on the site they are doing a “Top 500 Tracks of the 2000’s” ( http://tinyurl.com/qn9ygo ) or what they view as the top 500 influential songs given the past decade. They also have many other related articles and lists including the top 200 albums of the past decade which oddly enough I completely agree with…aside from a few rankings in question.

Now back to the issue at hand. Someone high up at Pitchfork (I’m acting like its Globex Corp.) or Mr. Pitchfork’s son/daughter (Pete or Penny Pitchfork) must absolutely love the band The Knife cause I feel like they’re on every top whatever-the-fuck list they put out…and they suuuuuuuuuuck. Antony & the Johnsons is a close second. One year I think two of the Knife’s albums were in the top 5 for the year. So I thought…wow…these guys must be good. Notsomuch. I know Pitchfork doesn’t like to make obvious ranking choices but peppering in obscurity for obscurity’s sake or pop-music singles for pop-music singles sake does not do anyone any good. You shouldn’t reward artists who cater to what would sound good at a pro basketball game during a timeout. I used to give Pitchfork the benefit of the doubt as they are music experts (and honestly…I still do) but once you read the disparities below you’ll see how I’m starting to have doubts. Keep in mind…this what they are saying is the top 500…FIVE HUNDRED SONGS OF THE PAST 10 YEARS….top 500….last ten years.

KEY MATCHUPS IN QUESTION - (#Ranking. Artist – “Song” vs #Ranking. Artist – “Song”)

1. Outcast – “Bombs Over Baghdad” vs 301. The Shins – “Kissing The Lipless” (SHOULD BE #1…or at least in the top 10…301? Crickets!)

4. Beyonce – “Crazy in Love” vs 142. Flaming Lips – “Do You Realize?” (I don’t deny Beyonce’s hit track and its importance but #4? Whaaa? #142 for the official state song of Oklahoma!)

5. Daft Punk – “One More Time” vs 99. MGMT – “Time to Pretend” (Time to check your list one more time so I can pretend you’re not serious. Wheeoa!)

7. Missy Elliot – “Get Your Freak On” vs 44. Franz Ferdinand - “Take Me Out” (That’s fair…oh gaaa!)

17. Annie – “Heartbeat” vs 155. Coldplay – “Clocks” (makes ZERO sense)

19. R.Kelly – “Ignition (Remix)” vs 89. Postal Service – “Such Great Heights” (I feel like R.Kelly pissed on my head from a very SHORT height when looking at this ranking. Swish!)

21. Kelly Clarkson – “Since You’ve Been Gone” vs 84. Peter, Bjorn & John – “Young Folks” (So not fair…Young Folks has been played to death but its such a unique and important song within the decade in indie that it should have ranked ahead of “Miss Independent”)

28. Antony & The Johnsons – “I Hope There’s Someone” vs 286. ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - "Another Morning Stoner" (MY GOD THIS GUY SUCKS. WHY? WHY DOES PITCHFORK SUPPORT THIS GUY? He sounds like a cup of vanilla pudding on valium. They gave TOD album Source Tags and Codes a 10.0 rating in which I gave PF the utmost respect but then ranked the top track #286 Arrrrgh!!!)

29. Hot Chip – “Boy From School” vs 175. Usher [ft. Lil Jon and Ludacris] - "Yeah" (More like the boy from drool…hahaha. No? Guys?)

32. Amerie – “One Thing” vs 123. Kanye West – “Jesus Walks” (Ok. Who the f is Amerie? I fully admit my tastes do not skew to the “blazin hip-hop and r&b" genre but I’ve heard of every other artist on this list aside from this one. And she ranks #32? Really? The “one thing” I’m not complaining about is the album cover – sorry ladies...that was inappropriate)

63. The Hold Steady – “Stuck Between Stations” vs 196. NoAge – “Teen Creeps” (why…why do people like the Hold Steady?…they sound like a Thin Lizzy/Springsteen wannabe hybrid. Teen Creeps so out-rocks it)

77. Three 6 Mafia – “Stay Fly” vs 104. Eminem – “Lose Yourself” (I’m sorry…I would like to hear the argument that “Stay Fly” had a bigger impact than this track)

101. Jurgen Paape – “"So Weit Wie Noch Nie" vs 307. Wolf Parade –“Shine a Light” (see my comments below regarding frauline Paape. Ask anyone who’s heard of which artist…you know the result)

106. The Mae Shi "Run to Your Grave" vs 143. Feist – “1234” (makes sense…sigh. wow.)

111. Aaliyah - "We Need a Resolution" vs 364. Elliott Smith - "Everything Reminds Me of Her" (neither are RIP with this unfair ranking. I feel ill)

113. Kelis – “Milkshake” vs 395. Death From Above 1979 – “Romantic Rights” (I take this “diss” personally - I still have a DFA79 sticker on my car for gods sake…look at my shirt in the Cugerock photo!)

125. The Field – “Over the Ice” vs 216. Sleater-Kinney - "Jumpers" (The Field? This isn’t even a genre of music. A 6th grader could make this. Please listen to the song if you don’t believe me. Then listen to Jumpers. Good lord.)

133. Belle & Sebastian – “Your Cover’s Blown” vs 456. Doves – “Black & White Town” (The ONLY B&S song I skip)

141. Britney Spears – “Toxic” vs 186. Fugazi – “Cashout” (Jaaaaaaaaaaaysus f-ing Christmas…perhaps the most influential band of my generation…comes out with a stellar album after a 3 year hiatus…and hasn’t put anything out in 8 years…and you throw them 45 songs behind

Britney….my BPH is going through the roof. IM SEEING RED!!!)

146. Fennez – “Endless Summer” vs 255. At the Drive-In - "One Armed Scissor" (WHAT A LOAD OF FENNEZ CRAP – LISTEN TO THIS – IT’S NOT EVEN A SONG. How can you kick ATDI in the crotch with that ranking?)

158. Art Brut – “Formed a Band” vs 402. My Morning Jacket – “Off The Record” (Like the band formed…don’t understand the ranking or choice of song)

180. Gwen Stefani – “Hollaback Girl” (should be #500,000,000,000) vs 191. Vampire Weekend – “Oxford Comma” (Words…’pause’…sigh. Words can’t even describe how much I hate Hollabackgirl…the kids didn’t stand a chance)

197. Joanna Newsom - "Peach, Plum, Pear" vs 224. The National - "Abel" (Good, God, Why? Ugh. Fausts – back me up on this)

354. Tinariwen - "Matadjem Yinmixan" vs 363. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth" (clap your hands if you can pronounce that higher ranking band’s name…sheesh)

381. Crime Mob – “Knuck If You Buck” vs 401. The Walkmen – “In The New Year” (wow…I um….wow)

Oh and thanks for integrating “Lala” as a partner for this listing. Id say 90% of the tracks require you to register before listening. Now bands that I wanted to preview (given they’re on this list) and possibly purchase in the future I swiftly dismiss and move on cause I’m pissed…30 second sample…that’s all I would have needed. Bad marketing…bad. There’s other ways to drive conversions. Don’t piss off the potential consumer. Hmph!

Maybe it’s just me but the list seems to have too much LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip, Robyn and of course…Outcast. Don’t get me wrong most all of the pop-songs I detail above are no doubt important and should be a part of this list as they have had relevance across the decade…I mean…especially Jurgen Paape – “So Weit Wie Noch Nie”…no one could deny the catchiness of that one (eyes rolling like a slot machine). Seriously, just because I personally don’t like them doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be included or are important (except for Jurgen…I mean…c’mon). Outcast songs like “Hey Ya”, “Ms. Jackson” and “Bombs Over Bagdad” are great tracks. I love them…any normal human being would. “I am foreaaaaal”. I only have issue with the ranking…I just have issues in general. Bombs Over Baghdad…the top song that defines the decade? I’m sorry….am I being completely biased to rock songs here?

TRACK MIS-STEPS: No tracks on the list were off of the latest Fucked Up album? They threw an older track on for indie cred I guess. No New Pornographers songs off of Twin Cinema? Sing me Spanish Techno? Bones of an Idol?

BANDS LEFT OFF THE LIST ALLTOGETHER: Mates of State, The Anniversary (No DANB tracks?), Quasi, Maritime or Promise Ring (No Electric Pink EP tracks? That was 2000), Stephen Malkmus, Stereolab, Blood Brothers, Matt & Kim, Pilot to Gunner, Radio 4, SLOAN (you have something against Canada?), Rainer Maria, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Beulah. Really…no Stereolab…nothing off Sound Dust. Really? WTF LMAOOL OMG Pitchfork.

My friends will tell you that I enjoy making people mixes…often. I do repeat bands within the mix on RARE occasions. In terms of the top 500 songs of the decade so many tracks could have been cut from bands who appear multiple times on the list (albeit good bands) and so many great tracks could have been included from the aforementioned bands left off.

I could go on but I feel so jaded that there is a sense of physical pain. I’m not an angry person…but when it comes to music...I can get spicy. I just don’t understand the logic applied in terms of what songs are considered more important or more influential than others not to mention the bands that were left out entirely. Please give me a job at Pitchfork and we can discuss…as frienemies.

(Special thanks to Ms. Cathy Cribb for her awsome graphic design skills. Not easy to marry Brit with Ian with Carrie. "Great Job!")

SONIC YOUTH: Retrospective/Album Review -The Eternal

2009-09-04T11:21:00.015-04:00

This post is dedicated to Eric & Carrie who pushed me to start this blog a year ago and are huge Sonic Youth fans. They recently welcomed a brand spankin new lil munchkin into their home named Poppy…who totally rocks. Congrats again guys. Your daughter is a peanut btw.

Some bands that have been around awhile, 25 years or so and still tour (less likely to record new tracks) usually sound like garbage…more pop…lyrics lose complexity…tempo decreases. The term “going through the motions” comes to mind. They play the songs that made them popular as an opener and encore but they are usually a lot slower than the originals. Then there is Sonic Youth.
When I heard the Sonic Youth track 100% when I was a kid I thought. “Ummm this is cool”. That was probably the first track I ever heard…then I heard Dirty Boots and said to myself “Umm holy shit this rocks”. They had a way of closing tracks so kick-ass. Then I proceeded to pick up the albums Goo and then Dirty (on cassette tape). I especially liked Goo as this was a nickname I had for a brief period when I was a pre-teen (don’t ask). I listened to them constantly as I delivered pizza in high school. I must be honest that I didn’t dig Kim Gordon’s voice at first…that quickly changed when I heard Kool Thing. Man she’s awesome. Her duet (so to speak) with Chuck-D was reminiscent of Debbie Harry, Blondie-esque but for a new generation. Daydream Nation I didn’t get into later although it came before those other two albums mentioned. Teenage Riot is hands down one of the top songs of all time in my opinion. When I lived in a dingy (that’s being polite) basement on 2nd St in the East Village with my cuz we would go to this local bar called The Library for happy-hour pretty much every other Friday. We would throw in 3 or so bucks and would play the same songs every single time…mine were Minot Threat and Misfits. Danny’s were Pavement and Sonic Youth…no other song but Teenage Riot.

Sonic Youth has so many albums that on the later records I would only pick and chose tracks to download as most of them sucked in my opinion. They were too much of what they are famous for which is long track times filled with feedback. Rather Ripped was refreshing as the tracks had some structure and vocals to them (Download - Reena). I remember seeing them when I was in high school with Pavement, Bosstones, 311 etc at the Philly WDRE fest in the early 90’s. They headlined but their set sucked as all they played were 10min long songs filled with distortion (that’s what I remember). As a teenager I didn’t really “get” what they were trying to do with a live show. I was filled with angst. “Whatevs”. I wonder if that tour many years ago brought them together with former Pavement bassist Mark Ibold…who is now a permanent SY band member. Hmmm. I heard them live two other times. Once my cuz and I couldn’t get into the Central Park Summerstage show so we listened from outside the fence…so good. The last time was literally a year ago on Labor Day weekend when I saw them at the final Macarren Park Pool show in Brooklyn. That weekend actually spawned the Cugerock blog. They were so freakin good. The songs they played were across the catalog and the sound was amazing. Thurston played guitar behind his back for Gods sake. Such a great night. That brings me to their latest album The Eternal.

This album is truly a Sonic Youth album but the melodies and guitars are slightly different. It has the perfect mix of distortion and melody which skewed other albums one way or the other. The first track Sacred Trickster could have been off of Dirty. Same goes for Thunderclap For Bobby Pryn which comes later in the album. Pretty hard not to rock along with either of these tracks. That said they weren’t very different from that their back-catalog. The first track that hooked me was Leaky Lifeboat as it didn’t sound like the normal SY intro. While Anti-Orgasm, the second track is one of those classic 6minute distortion rants. Antenna (the 4th track) is 6minutes of great rock melody and vocals (with a little distortion mixed in which is expected). What We Know if very rockin and pop-ish. Its refreshing and puzzling altogether. Total rocker…maybe Mark had some influence on it?…theeeeen you hear the distortion….classic SY. That was Thurston’s turn and Kim was next with Malibu Gas Station. I feel like Thurston took a few pages out of his solo effort Trees Outside the Academy with tracks like Walkin Blue. This is my favorite track on the album. The husband and wife come together (rare) on No Way which is so kick-ass I can’t even tell you. If I ever hear this live I will pee my pants. Good thing I’m going to see them with Dinosaur Jr in November. WHU-WHU-WHAAAAAAAA??? Such a lineup….reminiscent (yeah I’ve used that word twice in this post) of the Swervedriver/Hum tour.

Like I said, Sonic Youth has such an extensive catalog of music. My bro in law Rob, Eric or my cousin Danny could definitely school me on SY history. I only have experienced a small chunk which had a definite impact on my teenage years….stepped away…and now is back in a significant way. The staying power and relevance of this band is unparalleled. They are an influence on countless bands from mainstream to indie. Most bands from the 80s that are still “on the scene” just plain suck now - U2 I’m looking in your direction. “Blackberry loves U2”…great well Tommy doesn’t. I “Used2”. Ha!

Happy Labor Day kiddos.

Grizzly Bear News

2009-08-31T15:10:00.010-04:00

Two things I observed today regarding the band Grizzly Bear:

1. I heard "Two Weeks" in CVS over the in-store radio station (file under "wtf")

-See Video Here - Pretty cool/creepy. http://tinyurl.com/nvomtq

2. Apparently Michael McDonald is a guest vocalist on one of their upcoming singles (that said they may be my favorite band now)

That is all.

Joe Pernice (of Pernice Bros.) @ Tin Angel - Philly (8/8/09)

2009-08-14T12:25:00.005-04:00

I’ve been a Pernice Brothers fan for many years now but the only full album I own is 06’s “Live a Little” which was their last. I have five or six tracks from every other record. I think there are four others. Unfortunately iTunes won’t let me “Compete My Album” for any of them. The first track I ever heard was “Baby in Two” and then I was hooked. I was delighted to hear more upbeat tracks as I sampled more of their music including “Clear Spot” which was apparently on the Gilmore Girls soundtrack. This is a point of confusion that I will address later in the post. Like I had said, I’ve been listening to them for a few years now and I’m still not sure if there are actual Pernice “Brothers” or if that is just Joe Pernice’s name for when he plays with a backing band. I think his brother is/was in the band. I know the band is 100% of Massachusetts origin (home of indie music legends such as Dinosaur Jr, Sebadoh, Pixies etc) born and bred in Dorchester Mass. Joe Pernice also has been in two other bands – The Scud Mountain Boys & Chappaquiddick Skyline - which I just recently learned about. Joe also has written a novel called “It Feels So Good When I Stop” which was just released. Everything is starting to make sense to me. Joe has to have three different bands and a book because he has too much to say.

For me personally, the one thing that makes the Pernice Brothers different from any other band I listen to (and I listen to many) is the lyrics. The lyrics really get to me. My girlfriend laughs because I am definitely a “tunes first, ask questions about the lyrics later” kind of guy. Plus unlike her I don’t read many “books” per se. I read a lot of content on the web, city papers and magazines…that counts right? Its called AADD…look it up. The music is important of course but Joe Pernice tells a short story in every song which has always drawn me closer to his personal story. The songs/stories often deal with women, money, love, drugs, booze, social standing etc but not in the typical rock-star lyrical formula you’re used to. It’s hard to explain but for me personally, the songs are very relatable yet unrealistic in the same vein. They remind me of situations I’ve been in throughout my adult life but I couldn’t give exact matching contextual detail if you asked me to. You’ll see when you download tracks like “Blinded by the Stars”, “One Foot in the Grave”, “PCH One”, “How Can I Compare”, “Clear Spot, “Working Girls” and “Somerville”. I’ve been trying to keep tabs on Joe Pernice as the years went on hoping to catch a show. After the last album was released, every so often I’d read an article about Joe moving to Canada (he lives in Toronto) or him guest lecturing at UMass (he has an MFA in creative writing) or some other side project. So when I read that Joe had written a book and more importantly was playing music to compliment/support it I was pretty psyched. There were two weekend dates in close proximity to me geographically. Friday at the Bowery on NYC or Saturday at the Tin Angel in Philly. I attended the Tin Angel performance…

I had never been to the Tin Angel. The venue is located in the Old City section of Philadelphia. It is a small upstairs venue with table seating/singular waitress service…a far cry from the sweaty venues I normally frequent (aka it was refreshing). Seeing as Joe played at the Bowery Ballroom the night before I guess I expected something slightly smaller but nothing like this…the place was tiny. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I thought in the back of my mind that Joe just might get up there solo with an electric acoustic. I was right. We walked in and he had a small table set up by the sound board with copies of his books, the IFSGWIS album and some Pernice Brothers recordings. He also had some eco-friendly cloth grocery bags with his label logo (“Ashmont Recordings”) on them. The opening act was a comedy duo consisting of two brothers from Mass called “The Walsh Brothers” (I think?). Pretty hilarious improv. Then Joe came on stage. Surprisingly he had a noticeable Boston accent. His singing voice sounds 180 degrees different then his speaking voice. Honestly…I was scared as you know when you really get into a band but never had seen them perform (or even any photos) so you have a certain expectation of how they’ll look or act? The way they appear in your mind when you hear the tracks on your iPod or in your car. You are afraid “the real deal” will ruin it. I know it sounds silly but it’s true…at least in my case. Luckily Joe looked and acted how I expected. He was a little more average-Joe (no pun intended) in personality than I thought but it really didn’t matter.

The whole show was kinda mellow and laid back that I felt like he was playing on my friends back porch or something. There also wasn’t any mention of the city he was playing in. There wasn’t any cliché greetings like “Hello Philly”, “Great to be back in Philly” or “Philly…hell of a town”. This was again…refreshing. However he was very conversational with the crowd. He got up and joked around, explained what he was going to do which was read some passages from his book then play some of the covers from the album. He opened with a passage from the book. The story of the novel revolves around a young NYC struggling musician who meets the love of his life then leaves the city her after one day of marriage and heads to Cap Cod/South Shore Boston. The story goes back and forth from the past to the present (which reminds me of 500 Days of Summer). Of course this is how the book is described and what I felt from the readings. I haven’t read it yet. The passages were hilarious and well written (a la Joe Pernice). One passage involves a funny story about Joe meeting Lou Barlow from Sebadoh/Dinosaur Jr outside the late Brownies music club in NYC. Apparently in real-life Joe called Lou and told him he was putting him in the novel but not to worry because he made him out to be a good guy. Lou basically said to Joe – Thanks for the heads up but you can write me in as a total dick if you want.

I’m calling it now. If the entire book is anything like what he read that night…this will be turned into a High-Fidelity-esque indie film years from now. Again…just a hunch…I have to read it first. Joe actually makes reference to High Fidelity in some interviews (that he’s trying to stay away from that comparison) and is apparently friends with Nick Hornby.

The covers he played are amongst his favorite songs that had a significant impact on his life and thus translated well to the story line of the book. I heard of most of the bands but never heard any of the tracks he played except for the Sebadoh track “Soul and Fire”. There was one song “I’m Your Puppet” by Bobby & James Purify that I particularly enjoyed. Most of the bands were obscure and pretty old school (in my eyes at least). I guess the Pernice Brothers have an older skewing fan base judging by the attendees at the show which were in their late 30s/early 40s. I think we were the youngest people there besides the waitress. Given the press I’ve seen and the Gilmore Girls association I thought maybe he appealed to a younger sect as well. Why do I even care? All I’m saying is that it was just noticeable. Regardless the songs were great. I shouldn’t judge. I’m a Blink-182 fan (dead serious).

Then after Joe was done with the book reading and song covers he said he was going to play a few Pernice Brothers songs. My eyes lit up. TOTALLY unexpected. He picked a few tracks he thought would translate better to acoustic versions including “How Can I Compare” which has significance to me personally and one of my favorites so I was pretty blown away. After the show was over I immediately bought a book (yeah) and walked over to Joe to introduce myself and get it signed. He was a really nice guy. I was completely star-struck…you’d think after seeing celebs on pretty much a monthly basis living in NYC for 8 years I’d play it cool. It’s different when you meet someone who created something that has such a significant impact on your life. He asked me who I should make the autograph out to and I said “Tommy” (like I’m fucking 10 years old). My girlfriend seeing that I was incapacitated, stepped in and asked Joe if he could make it out to “Cuge”. Thanks T. I might as well of had a bib on…however I hope I never lose that level admiration for musicians…at any age.

BOOK EXCERPT: http://tinyurl.com/lcc8w8

DOWNLOAD THESE: Somerville, Blinded By the Stars, PCH One, Clear Spot, How Can I Compare, Baby in Two, Lightheaded

Album Cover Wars: Jay-Z vs. Secret Machines

2009-08-04T14:34:00.008-04:00

Just saw Jay-Z's new album cover for The Blueprint 3 and the first thing that came to mind was the album cover for Secret Machine's early millenium Now Here is Nowhere. Jay's is a little more "crumpled" or packed with "instrumentation" with a dash of color but similar no? BTW - Download Jay-Zs new track DOA if you haven't already...good beats (why wont any other artists follow suit?)...and I can't fucking stand Auto-Tune. Which puzzles me as to why his next single release was a collaboration with Kanye...aka "Mr. Auto-Tune". Wtf I say. Am I missing something?

Afternoon Delight: Videooh-yeah

2009-07-31T11:28:00.019-04:00

Wasn't there a show called "Friday Night Videos" on one of the networks back in the 80's when MTV came out? Anywho, as a Friday treat I thought I'd share some of my favorite music videos with the Cugerock readers (all 3 of them). Most are relatively recent. Take a look at your leisure. Happy Friday kiddos.

1. Architecture in Helsinki - Do The Whirlwind: Get out you Turbo Grafix, a packet of Big League Chew and some Garbage Pail Kids. Love this video...current yet nostalgic.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/architecture-in-helsinki/56960/do-the-whirlwind.jhtml#artist=1244091

2. Mogwai - Batcat: Such an intense track and the creepy video matches the song so well...I really haven't seen a better fit.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/mogwai/293394/batcat.jhtml

3. Blur - Coffee & TV: How can anyone not identify with this guy?

http://www.mtv.com/videos/blur/181200/coffee-tv.jhtml

4.The Eagles of Death Metal - I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News): Good cameos and a great song...man I wish I could pull off a mustache and aviators.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/eagles-of-death-metal/77014/i-want-you-so-hard-boys-bad-news.jhtml

5. Every Time I Die - Ebolarama: One of my favorite hardcore bands from Buffalo NY. Fuck disco...hardcore flows so much better at the roller rink.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw_6dNXxyJM

6. Belle & Sebastian - Step Into My Office Baby: Ha! I can like...so relate to this. Reminds me of my first job in NY. "Cheeky Scottish humor"

http://www.mtv.com/videos/belle-sebastian/25091/step-into-my-office-baby.jhtml

TOMMY'S TOP ROCK SHOW MEMORIES: THUS FAR...

2009-07-27T17:50:00.006-04:00

Haaaay y’all. I know…I know. I’ve been lagging on posts. This usually happens when my professional and personal lives join forces to get a little more frantic than usual. Why can’t I just blog for a living? (whu-waaa) I’d have so much crap to say you’d get sick of me. Anywho, I’ve had three weeks or so to reflect. I thought now would be a good a time as any to take a trip down memory lane and rank the top shows I’ve seen in my life thus far (since I was a young punk).

1. RUSH “Roll The Bones” Tour (or was it Presto?) - The Tower (Philly) - 1980something – My first show EVER (My aunt Joanne instructed my cuz Danny & I “not to breathe” while in the venue – marijuana reference…we had no clue what she was talking about at the time)

2. Death From Above 1979 @ Bowery Ballroom (NYC) 2005 – I threw my full cup of beer to the ground I was so pumped…my voice was shot for a week

3. Quasi, Elliot Smith and Sebadoh @ The Astoria in London 1999 (Study abroad…the line up from heaven in my book…one of a few times I saw Elliot…once in Philly/NYC/London…my friend Cathy and I bailed on a class mandated theatre outing…umm I think it was worth it…f-the Old Vic).

4. Guided By Voices + The Strokes + David Cross – Apollo Theatre – NEW YEARS EVE - Harlem NYC 2001 - Need I say more? This was exactly what we needed after such a shit-September (thanks Osama). Unfortunately that was the only time I’ve been to the Apollo. Tried to go to one of those Morrissey shows but the Moz as always was sold out)

5. Any Pavement or Bouncing Souls show ever seen…most taking place at the Troc in the early to mid 90s

6. Sonic Youth – Last McCarren Park Pool Show – August 2008 - The term “still got it” is insulting…the night was steamy but clear…rocked so hard…Thurston played like he was 18yo…”I love you Kim” was a common outburst by men and women

7. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Bowery 2002 – JSBE are one of the top live acts I ever seen…Elliot Smith came out midway through the show as a surprise to debut some new stuff…it was the last time I saw him before he passed

8. Blur - The Black Cat - DC - 1996 (Favorite brit rock band of all time…I wept)

9. Swervedriver/Hum @ Irving Plaza (NYC) 1998 – Chris…remember?…so seeeeeck

10. The Quasi Tour NYC 2002 w/ Danny Cuge – Brownies, Knitting Factory, Maxwells and Coney Island for Siren Fest (Manhattan/Brookyn/Hoboken NJ)

11. The Charlatans – Irving Plaza 1996 (I was obessed with these guys in high-school. I think this was before their keyboardist Rob Collins passed away…I had foot surgery the day before..it was a delicate situation but I managed to stay up front)

12. The Thermals – First Unitarian Church Philly 2007/Bowery 2006 – Both Unreal (The Philly show was on my b-day….yaaaaay Tommy)

13. Morrissey – Electric Factory – 1998 - I felt like a little girl….he covered “Shoplifters Unite”

14. The Lemonheads – Black Cat - DC – 1990somethin (Car/Button/Cloth Tour?) - Wasn’t that crowded…my friend Paula and my sis got on stage and sang with Evan Dando…hilarious…absolutely hilarious

15. Mates of State – Knitting Factory – New Years Eve 2006 (NYC) – They Covered Anne Murray’s “Danny’s Song”…nuff said.

16. Mars Volta/The Rapture 2003 - Roseland – Rapture was so much better - I was on crutches and I think my girlfriend at the time broke up with me the very next night…”swish!”

17. Weezer – The Roseland – 2002 - So good…they played a boatload off of Pinkerton and the blue album…not much off of the crappy green album which just came out

18. Blood Brothers – Irving Plaza 2006 - Rawkous. God I’m so pissed they broke up…along with DFA79…The Kinison…the list goes on.

19. Beastie Boys, Roots & Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – OLD Phila Civic Center 1992? - We got really drunk in Ron B’s minivan before the show…Creepy Rick P puked on the side of a Wawa

20. H2O, Bosstones, Warzone – 1996 UMD Student Union – I chatted with Dickey Barrett after the show and Warzone ended up staying in our apartment as my roommate was the college radio program director…and they were broke….and they were definitely not acting “straight edge”

21. Hall and Oates & Chicago at the Sony E-Center/Tweeter Center/Susquehanna Bank Center/Partridge in a Pear Tree Center – Camden 1998? - We were the only people under 40 there but god damn are those guys are legends…Chicago played all of their old tracks with a horn section…incredible

22. Fucked Up, Pissed Jeans – Kung Fu Necktie (Philly) – 2009 – See my post from 1/29/09 & 2/2/09

23. New Pornographers - 9:30 Club (DC) - Winter 2005 - Twin Cinema Tour, Neko on vocals, my sister was 7-months preggers with my niece "Rosie" so her husband and I were holding onto her belly with one hand...beers in the other...one of those shows I'll never forget. Chris...remember when Rob tackled an evergreen tree in the park after the show? Sorry Amy. "Three Men and a Baby...almost"

Those are the top 23 off the top of my fat head….in no particular order except for maybe the top 3. I’m sure there’s a ton I am forgetting. There were a number of SKA shows I went to in the early-mid 90s but nothing crazy comes to mind. In terms of most recent (in the past 12 months), I’ve seen M83, Phoenix, Walkmen, Thermals (Philly & NYC shows) among a few others. These were top-notch shows and the first time I had seen M83 or Phoenix but nothing so life-changing that I would throw it on the aforementioned list. Phoenix would have made it up there if we hadn’t missed the first 3 or 4 songs. TIP – If you are going to see a band at Terminal 5…get there at 9pm no later. There are many shows coming up in the late summer/early fall I want to hit up including Animal Collective, Bouncing Souls/Lifetime, Joe Pernice, Slackers, Dinosaur Jr and another round of Phoenix shows so there will definitely be “Volume II” of this post…when Im 50. Hopefully I can keep this going till I’m an old man and die. Yeah…I’ll be that guy at a show.

(In the “future”)
Kid #1: “Who’s that geezer in the back?”
Kid #2: “I know…so lame…doesn’t he know that Green Day broke up in the 20’s”
Kid#1: “Hahahah what a loser…you want a hit of these neon space-dust-crystals”
Kid #2: “Totes McGoats bro...let's get stoopid”

Happy Independence Day America

2009-07-02T12:12:00.005-04:00

"No Taxation Without Representation"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzhnMyCxQG0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u2HAZcpfWA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHDMm6jtBXI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nwf9afokOE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmp-DrtSWj4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDDRoyKSh_M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwMRSnRa-k8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C63RxYeQZDY

JON & KATE + EIGHT + JOEY?

2009-06-26T14:18:00.008-04:00

Does anyone else think Jon from J&K+E looks like Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago? Compare the photos but then look at this Pixies video for Head On live (Jesus & Mary Chain cover).

http://tinyurl.com/nkd7kj

I was so pissed this live version wasn’t on Trompe Le Monde (at least the one I had) but rather the more produced track. Anyway, take a look. Its uncanny I tell ya.

Blur = Catalyst For World Change

2009-06-22T13:59:00.002-04:00

I don’t think the return of Blur could have come at a better time. The global economy is in shambles. Civil unrest overseas. Heidi and Spencer are getting tortured on live TV. Britain needs this. America needs this. The world needs this. I personally need this right now. The universe absolutely needs this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oiIUaQCrkI&NR=1

Thank you boys. If you come state-side I guarantee universal harmony all over the world will be achieved (whatever the f that means). Now if only Obama could open the shows with some witty stand-up. “Good evening ladies and germs. How about them Blur boys huh? (cheers) Aaaaanybody here from the USA? (thunderous cheers)”. Hope/Change.

QUASI IS BACK - NEW ALBUM COMING IN FALL

2009-06-19T14:29:00.004-04:00

….now whether they're bringing “sexy” with them is another story.

http://www.killrockstars.com/news/

http://www.theequasi.com/

(eyes closed, fingers-crossed with a rabbits-foot dangling from my wrist) Please have Roxichord on the new album…oh PLEEEEEEASE. I miss you Sam. Your guitar skills are great but it’s the Roxichord (distorted clavinet-ish, guitar sounding organ thingy) which hooked me from the beginning (Our Happiness is Guaranteed…first Quasi song ever heard…but that’s a whole other post). I know you dig it out for live shows but I need some new tracks son. Bottom line…we need another Sword of God. A live Quasi show is something to be seen my friends (saw Sam hump the keyboards a few times). Just seeing Janet drum in general is a thing of beauty.

Fun Facts: I saw Quasi so many times when I lived in NYC that my cousin Danny and I (Cugini means “cousins” in Italian btw…look it up) went on the “Quasi Tour 2002” seeing them in Manhattan (Brownies), Brooklyn (Coney Island) and Jersey (Maxwell’s) over a 5-day period. Here is the set list I swiped from under Sam's Roxichord after the Brownies show.

We were going to talk to Sam & Janet…but we were pretty hammered. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a white loose-leaf sheet of paper under the keyboards. So I went for it! (cougar sound). I was acting all stealthy-like (sweating, drunk, heart racing, giggling). It was the best feeling I’ve ever had. Second best feeling - When the opening band was playing at Maxwell’s (during Cugini Quasi Tour ’02) I realized that I was standing next to Janet Weiss (Quasi/Sleater Kinney/SM & the Jicks). We were sort of off to the right towards the back of the crowd. In a bold move I brushed-up against her (my lower forearm to her upper – she’s kinda short). Only so I could say to my friends “I touched Janet Weiss” (sounds creepier then it is….oooor not). I’ve been bragging about it ever since. Pathetic. Oh and I also shook Heidi Klum’s hand (not a joke). Been bringing that one up for years. (see also: pathetic).

A year prior to the CQT02 we saw Quasi at the Knitting Factory down in lower Manhattan on Leonard Street…not even a week after 9/11. They just started letting people back down below Delancey St. I’ll never forget the smell (like turpentine mixed with gasoline and burnt rubber x1000) before and after the show. During the show I didn’t really think of what was going on outside the venue. Thank God for music. xoxo

OMGOMGOMG!

2009-06-12T15:01:00.003-04:00

Read the last paragraph of the interview. Oh man I would be psyched for a ATDI tour. Then check the second link to find out why I would be psyched.

http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4137051?most-read

One-Armed-Scissor:

http://www.mtv.com/videos/at-the-drive-in/55550/one-armed-scissor-version-2.jhtml

ALBUM REVIEW: PHOENIX – "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"

2009-06-11T17:02:00.007-04:00

Ok…this is going to sound weird but the last Phoenix album It’s Never Been Like That reminds me of my mom’s 60th birthday. I was home from NYC running around in my folk’s car trying to pick up poster-board, markers, double-sided tape and other supplies for my moms party. Going into this mission I knew I needed tunes but unfortunately my dad did not have an iPod adapter and there were no cds in the car except for Cary Simon and Sade. That said I immediately popped into Coconuts Music in Exton, PA and picked up Phoenix per a recommendation from a friend. God forbid I drive around for 30 minutes listening to the radio. The album was so tight that I couldn’t stop listening to it all weekend while at home. That was 2006 and I really haven’t stopped listening to it since. It was one of those “life-changers” or “milestones” records for me. Some albums just sink in when they come around. Albums more prominent in your memory and played a lot more as they remind you of going through certain abnormal periods of your life.

Needless to say the lead-up to the latest Phoenix album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was torture. I’d get little snippets of news now and again. The song 1901 was released in April (I had thought that was the title of the album for a long time given what they cryptically had on their website). I’m glad they led off with that track in terms of singles. Then all of a sudden they were booked on SNL (see my post on 3/26). Any news related to the new recordings slowly leaked out from early ’08…then all of a sudden they were all over the place. They even sponsored an episode of Free Radio on VH1 (which is hilarious btw). The sound of WAP skews more towards the electronica spectrum but in a good way. Some bands try to go new-wave and miss the mark completely. Don’t get me wrong the new Phoenix doesn’t have a new wave sound. They just added in some synths to their already guitar-pop stylings. Songs like 1901 and Fences illustrate this new direction more readily than Lisztomania which is the other single. Fences actually sounds like their earlier work from United (the few tracks I know). All of the tracks on Wolfgang are different and most all of them are completely rockin like Countdown and Armistice but there is one track…one track…that absolutely floors me and that’s LASSO. If you throw this song on and don’t start grooving when the chorus kicks in…then I don’t want to know you anymore. I’m not kidding. Pick up Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. You’ll dig it and if you don’t have Its Never Been Like That yet then please go pick up that album prior to WAP. Listen to one then the other and see if you have the same view of album progression as I do. If you don’t then…again…I don’t want to know you anymore. Hahahaha…this time I’m totally kidding…OR AM I????? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8of00uEVRRA

If you haven’t seen Phoenix live you’ll be happy to know that they seem to be ever adding US tour dates. Unfortunately most are sold out at the moment. Thank God (more like "Thank Rob") I am going to one of the NYC shows.

http://wearephoenix.com/journal/?page_id=254

RANT ALERT: NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL

2009-06-05T12:34:00.001-04:00

Is anyone else sick of hearing about Neutral Milk Hotel or Jeff Mangums latest projects…none of them ever involving new music. “NMH help save a carousel”…”Jeff Mangum joins the circus”. If it isn’t about Neutral Milk Hotel or Jeff Mangum recording new music then I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT. Then there will be articles about speculation of Mangum maybe…maybe…hopefully…oh god please…showing up to play acoustic at some Elephant 6 collective or Merge related event. Does it ever happen…no. Please comment on this post and correct me if I’m wrong. It’s like Jeff Magnum thinks he’s the living ghost of Jeff Buckley, Elliot Smith or Kurt Cobain...oh…what’s that? HE’S ALIVE?!!! Record some new shit Man-gum. I can only be this harsh because I enjoyed NMH albums so much and think Jeff is a gifted musician/vocalist. It absolutely KILLS me that they haven’t put anything out since the late 90s (see also: Fugazi). Why do they keep getting press like they’re still an active band? Enough already!!! I am so fucking mad at bands that put out absolute life-changing music then fade into obscurity after a few albums…think about the fans for once ya jerks. (sigh…eyes closed) I need a Mr. Pibb.

ALBUM REVIEW: SUPERCHUNK - "Leaves in the Gutter EP"

2009-05-22T13:20:00.004-04:00

There are very few bands that take a long hiatus (5-10 or so years) then come back with recorded material that has the identical sound and energy of their previous work. Superchunk is one of these bands. After a long hiatus of any popular alternative band, the material is usually a bit slower, more produced, a band member or two may be missing and the lyrics become formulaic (Weezer I’m looking in your direction). While Metallica has to enlist Rick Rubin to get back that feeling of old-school speed metal with Death Magnetic, Superchunk just seemed to plug in their instruments. Their latest EP Leaves in the Gutter, has the intensity and melodic chemistry of any of their previous albums recorded in the 90s. Mac’s higher pitched vocals have honestly not dropped a decibel. It’s really kind of strange…like they have been teleported from 1995. The lead-off track Learned to Surf might as well have been off of 1995’s Here's Where The Strings Come In. Misfits and Mistakes on 1999’s No Pocky For Kitty and Knock Knock Knock could have been a additional tracks on 1993’s Foolish. Screw It Up has a newer sound which I cant quite match yet but its kickass. Some tracks like Learned to Surf and Misfits & Mistakes are fast paced and raw while others like Screw it Up have more harmonious aspects to them. I must say I have never enjoyed an acoustic version of a hard rock track more than Learned to Surf (which closes out the EP).

I was kind of a late bloomer with this band, not really getting into them until the late 90s. Once I heard Hyper Enough live I couldn’t get it out of my head and was on a mission to pick up whatever album it was on...turns out it was HWTSCI (my personal favorite album of the band). It was the early Promise Ring, Modest Mouse or Ben Folds Five effect in where once I heard one album I had to get them all YTD recordings immediately. Superchunk kind of dropped off the scene as a band after 2001’s Here’s To Shutting Up came out. They (two of the band members I believe) concentrated on running their own label MERGE (such a solid roster of artists) and subsequently I had thought the band would never record again. I’m pretty glad that they did. Please pick this EP up whether you’re a long time fan or newcomer. A new full length is still TBD but look for them on tour this summer (7/17 with Versus @ South Street Seaport NYC).

“I can’t hold my breath anymore, I stopped swimming and learned to surf”

DOWNLOAD THIS: Learned to Surf, Screw it Up, Hyper Enough, Driveway To Driveway, Iron On, Detroit Has a Skyline

HOLY FU#K!...BUY OUR PRODUCTS!

2009-05-15T12:35:00.003-04:00

I heard a Holy Fuck song in a Chrysler commercial the other night. Thanks government bailout. Good band name choice for your "we're rebuilding" ad campaign. The song was Lovely Allen…which…I must admit lends itself well to the re-branding of a failed auto company. Although, I hope no middle America soccer moms (hip to the internet) think to themselves (imagine Sarah Palin's voice) “Oh gee whiz, that is a mighty catchy tune…I’m going to search for the music group that performs it and download the song…oh…here it is…oh…oh dear.”

Many musicians have whored-out their talents to support advertisers since the beginning of time. Being a music freak and working professionally in the advertising field…my senses are heightened, Whether it’s personalities in the ads themselves - Chris Brown (boooo) endorsing Double-Mint Gum, Santogold,/Julian Casablanca’s endorsing Converse and MXPX endorsing Pepsi or songs used in place of a “jingle” such as The Postal Service endorsing UPS, Blur endorsing Levis/Nissan or Of Montreal plugging Outback Steakhouse (aka - oh my god if I hear that one more time I’m going to murder…a bloomin’ onion…dammit) . The most notable are typically car commercials as there really isn’t a lot to communicate expect the car driving in an unrealistic setting (outdoorsy or futuristic). There no need for detailed ad copy so attention grabbing music is key for sustainability.

I used to be a complete snob when hearing these songs, crying “sell-out!” I was visibly upset when I heard Modest Mouse in a mini-van commercial back before Johnny joined the band and more recently with Interpol in some cologne ad? Then I reached my 30s and realized that musicians do not make a ton of money (at least not consistently over the long term) unless you’re U2, Coldplay or Madonna. A little extra cash (depending on the campaign you can make a great deal of money….after you split it with the record company and ad firm). Most are done tastefully (Mates of State for Royal Caribbean) but with others you totally want to throw up and burn your records (Weezer cover for Sandals Resorts).

I think I finally let go when I saw the recent ad campaign for Cadillac staring Kate Walsh. She’s all sexy and soft spoken then slams down the pedal in her stilettos while the thundering riff of Hum’s 90s epic trak Stars thunders as the sports car speeds down the highway. There are two ways I could have taken this.

1. "WTF…now some yuppie car company is having that Grey's Anatomy spin-off chick pedal their product using our beloved alt-rock gods Hum? That’s bollocks."

2. "Holy shit…I forgot how f-ing kickass that song is and revolutionary that band was…time to throw all of my Hum albums into a playlist. Thanks advertising! (giving the double thumbs-up to the camera)"

(Answer Key)
#1 = 22 year old TommyC
#2 = 32 year old TommyC

WEEKEND “TRIPLE-DIP DOWNLOAD” RECOMMENDATION (NEW FEATURE!)

2009-05-08T17:14:00.002-04:00

Support the artists…go to their websites/iTunes/Rhapsody etc and purchase downloads. I’ll make weekly recommendations…I’ll try to do it daily. This “job” keeps getting in the way. Crickets.

OLD: “Start Choppin” from DINOSAUR JR (off Where You Been in honor of my last post)

SLIGHTLY WORN: “Cheap Champagne” from SLOAN (see my album review of Sloan’s Parallel Play in the “Top Ten ’08 Albums” post on 12/19/08)

NEW: “Learned to Surf” from SUPERCHUNK (off the Leaves in the Gutter EP – Full Cugerock review next week)

DINOSAUR JR - GOOD AS NEW

2009-05-07T15:31:00.015-04:00

New album out 6/23 entitled Farm. I first saw this on IFC Music Blast/Pitchfork Airwaves and was blown away. If you’re a longtime Dinosaur Jr fan (since highschool for me – Faust/Danny/Budz…you know the deal) you will “cream your jeans” when you watch this video for a new Farm track recording entitled I Don’t Wanna Go There. If you you do some exploring on the site you can see the band interviewed and check out another new track.

http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/episode/75-dinosaur-jr/2

I was never crazy about the old-old albums with the Lou Barlow/Murph line-up (Bug, You’re Living All Over Me, Dinosaur) but the last album Beyond (2007) with them reunited proved me wrong (download – Crumble). One of my vivid memories from high school was me trying to wire up boom-box speakers to my Suzuki Samurai car stereo so I could blast D-Jr's Where You Been album and more importantly the lead-off track Out There…I also felt compelled to blast Mudhoneys Suck You Dry. Such powerful tracks…I guess I’m a child of 90s alt rock. Seeing frontman J.Mascis play live has always been an experience I can’t really describe to people. You have to be there to witness it…however this video gives you a pretty close idea of the pure sensory overload you would experience. Do not let the grey hair fool you. If you are close to the stage…tears well up…the solos are so fucking powerful and skilled you are left with a gaping mouth…regardless whether you’ve ever played yourself. If you have played the guitar in the past, which my cousin Danny has, try to get up front to see what pedals Jay is using to get that sound. Danny & I once saw J.Mascis solo at the Mercury Lounge in NYC…yeah…small venue + loud guitars = awesome. Danny pushed toward to the front to get a glimpse of the hardware. Not sure if any conclusions were made. Danny?

WARNING: If you do have a chance to go see Dinosaur Jr live…please wear ear-plugs. There was a legend about a Lollapalooza show back in the 90’s where a man who was in the audience sued the band claiming that Dinosaur Jr was so loud that they literally blew-out his eardrums. I laughed at that story for a long time…siding with the band and dismissing the story as a gold digging scam…then I saw them live. Holy…

2nd Annual Record Store Day! - Sat. 4/18

2009-04-17T13:25:00.004-04:00

Werd up kiddos. THE 2ND ANNUAL RECORD STORE DAY IS TOMORROW!!! Please go out and support your local independent record stores. This is a fitting lead-in from my last post (thank you for pointing that out in advance Dominic. Go Flyers). With digital and mass market music distributors taking over, the smaller locally owned/operated record stores face big challenges to keep up. THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT. This is the second annual record store day and there is so much going on I can only give you some highlights. There are countless rare split 7inches, collaborations/compilations, t-shirts, vinyl/CD re-issues, unreleased live material and in-store performances. Please check the official website (http://www.recordstoreday.com/ ) for participating shops in your area. If you live in the northeast here are some Philly/NYC notes on in store performances (I may have missed some so triple check the site):

- Generation Records NYC: BOUNCING SOULS ACOUSTIC!!!!!! (Not sure what that’s going to sound like but it’s the Souls so it should be pretty kick-ass?)
- Other Music NYC: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Prefuse 73 (again not sure how this will go live)
- Main Street Music PHILLY: Good Ol’ War (a newer version of CSNY in my opinion...should be cool live)
- AKA Music PHILLY: Smog (thanks Chris B)

RELEASES: Some special releases that deserve highlighting (sorry for the crude format):

Bad Religion
Original EP 7" reissue
colored vinyl; 6 tracks from 1981

Blitzen Trapper
"War is Placebo/Booksmart"
7" - two exclusive tracks w/die cut sleeve

Bruce Springsteen
7" "What Love Can Do"/"A Night With The Jersey Devil"
packaged in clear sleeve with 3x5 photo

Camera Obscura
"French Navy" 7"
7" (RSD exclusive)

Cold War Kids
Live at Fingerprints 5 song EP

Cursive/Ladyfinger
Split 10" picture disc
four songs, two unreleased and two new
Dandy Warhols
Remix CD #2

Death Cab For Cutie
T-Shirt - exclusive design for Record Store Day

Dead Weather
Hang You From the Heavens 7"
Jack White's new band! The debut release from both the Dead Weather and Third Man Records

Depeche Mode
7" "Wrong"/"Oh Well"

Dr. Dog/Floating Action
Split 7"- exclusive

El Grupo Nuevo de Omar Rodriguez Lopez (Mars Volta)
“Cryptomnesia”
Limited Edition Vinyl for RSD (3,000 pieces)

Elvis Perkins
"Lorraine Lookout" 7"
two tracks, one unreleased

Flaming Lips/Black Keys
split 7" "Borderline"/"Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles"

Flight of the Conchords
"Pencils In The Wind"/"Albi The"
7" - two exclusive tracks w/die cut sleeve

Gaslight Anthem
Live from Park Ave 10" - 6 tracks

Grizzly Bear
Live on KCRW 7"
two tracks, "While You Wait For The Others"/"He Hit Me"

Gomez
Airstream Driver 7"
non-album b side

Guided By Voices
Hold On Hope LP
Three bonus tracks

Heaven & Hell
7" "Bible Black" / Neon Knights (Live)
Created exclusively for Record Store Day

Jane's Addiction
7" "Mountain Song" / "Standing in the Shower…Thinking"
7" Mtn. Song/Standing In The Shower- Packaged in original replica picture sleeve

Jenny Lewis/Elvis Costello
7" --"Carpet Baggers"/"Go Away"
Never before available in the US

Jesus Lizard
9 x 7" pack
A pack of nine 7"s

Loney Dear/Andrew Bird 7"
split 7" - hand-silk screened covers; tour & mail order item

Mastodon
T-Shirt - exclusive design for Record Store Day

MC 5
7" "Kick Out The Jams"/"Motor City Is Burning"
Packaged in the original rare picture sleeve, first time available since 1969

Metric
"Help I'm Alive" 7" Picture disc
"Help I'm Alive"/"Help I'm A B-Side"

Misfits
Walk Among Us LP
Pressed on 140 gram vinyl

Modest Mouse
7" --"Satelite Skin"/"Guilty Cocker Spaniels"
both tracks are brand new

My Morning Jacket
Celebracion De La Ciudad Natal
CD & 2 x 10" Vinyl - 4-14 Street, Vinyl one time shot. Recorded LIVE in LOUISVILLE

New Order
7" (live) "Temptation" / "Hurt" - as and A&B side.

Neil Young
Sugar Mountain Live at Canterbury House 1968 2LP
The special vinyl package

Oasis
Falling Down Remix LP
Falling Down Remix LP

Pavement
"Live in Germany 1988" LP
unreleased show from 1988

Poison The Well
Six track CD
6 track CD, taken from 2 7" singles that the band sells on the road, and an upcoming 7" single that will be out later this spring

Radiohead
10" vinyl series (see list of titles in NOTES)
THESE ARE BEING RELEASED EARLY FOR RSD: Drill, Creep, My Iron Lung, High & Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, Just, Street Spirit, Paranoid Android, Karma Police, No Surprises, Pyramid Song, 2+2=5

Rivers Cuomo
Live @ Fingerprints CD and CD/DVD Combo

Russian Circles/These Arms Are Snakes
Split !2 - Previously Unreleased songs on Clear Vinyl (1,000 pieces)

Silversun Pickups
Pikul 12"
exclusive release ahead of their new album

Slayer
7" single "Psychopathy Red"
packaged in special X-Files-style, "confidential" packaging

Sonic Youth/Beck
split 7" (RSD exclusive)

Sonic Youth/Jay Reatard
split 7" (RSD exclusive)

Sublime
"Superstar Punani"/April 29, 1992" 7"
7" single with 2 live tracks, first time on vinyl

Taking Back Sunday
7" Carpathia/Catholic (live)

Talking Heads
77 LP [reissue]
Pressed on 180 gram vinyl

The Decemberists
7" "The Rake's Song"/"East India Lanes"
B-side, "East India Lanes" is unreleased

The Smiths
7" "The Headmaster Ritual" /"Oscillate Widly"
Never before available in the US as a 7" single.

The Stooges
7" "1969"/"Real Cool Time"
Packaged in the original rare picture sleeve

Thermals/Thao
split 7" Get Down Stay Down (4 tracks unreleased)

Underoath
T-Shirt - exclusive design for Record Store Day

Wilco
Ashes of American Flags DVD
DVD is released with an exclusive window of two weeks for indie stores and mail order

Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs
It’s Blitz LP
vinyl version of forthcoming Yeah Yeah Yeahs CD

So much I am getting anxiety just looking at the offerings. Really…I’m experiencing shortness of breath.

GET OUT THERE AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT YA BEAUTIFUL SONSABITCHES!!!!!

ALSO - It doesn’t hurt that the weather on Saturday is going to be (singing) soooooooo sweet. Um in the northeast at least.

Are CD Collections Akin To The Laserdisc?

2009-04-14T17:39:00.008-04:00

I have a pretty massive CD collection. I know we are living in a digital age and I have countless gigs of music on my computadora as well but I still take pride in my CD collection. Is that wrong? Should I be hiding these CD towers of power? Every once in a while I like to dig through my collection and whip out old classics and load them into my iTunes. Plus, certain album jackets take me back to certain times in my life. The college ones usually have some weird stains or burns on them as cd often doubled as coasters or cigarette “resters” (while you tossed you darts or launched a ping-pong ball). Any of the REM records I pull out bring back such vivid memories I can’t even tell you. Then I think about all of the CDs that I’ve tossed and sold throughout the years (not many) and wonder of the lost potential. I know my friends often like to browse the collection and say “Whoa…I forgot about this record or this band”. Lately I’ve been re-kindling my love-affair with punky SKA bands from the 90s with such legends as the Pietasters, Mustard Plug, Bosstones, Goldfinger, Stubborn Allstars, Buck-O-Nine, Skankin Pickle, Dance Hall Crashers, Slackers etc. Slackers are still good. See…this is why I have a cd collection. Who’s with me?! (crickets) Anyway, I’m now trying to build a vinyl collection but it’s slow going. I look at my CD collection and feel a sense of accomplishment and security. Which I guess is all that matters but thought I’d put it out to the group. I had a pretty big tape collection in high-school as well often duplicating my CD collection….mainly because I was a pizza delivery guy and music freak combo. I was too cheap to buy a cd player for my car (Suzuki Samurai) or a CD walkman. Sony-Sports bitchaz. Auto-Reverse.

ALBUM REVIEW PEPPER SPRAY

2009-03-26T17:59:00.009-04:00

Let’s face it. We live in a fast paced society. The kids want quick, short bursts of communication. If you’re not tweeting their language then you’re out…ya blew it. It’s called the “fragmentation of media” people. There’s an engagement factor that must…(mid-sentence pause)

OK...here’s the deal. I’ve been incredibly busy (which is good given the hell-hole that our economy is in…freaking consumers out will bolster confidence right?). I’ve listened to numerous albums in the past few weeks but I don’t have time to review them to you in the long (winded) format so here is the “short-short” version of a few…

Trail of Dead – Century of Self

The full length album definitely did NOT live up to the excitement generated around the Festival Thyme EP (see my review on 11/11/08). Bells of Creation and Inland Sea remain the top songs on the full length. Century of Self is not bad by any means. Its a lot more rockin that the previous concept-esque albums. The faster guitars mixed with some mellow piano tracks and vocal pair-offs between Conrad and Jason (seen on Far Pavilions) is reminiscent of their masterpiece Source Tags & Codes. However, this album is so “polished” it’s a little concerning. Some songs I couldn’t tell if I was listening to TOD or Fall Out Boy (ok…maybe that’s a little extreme…but you’ll get my point). Century of Self is good but falls a little short…oh but the album art is UNREAL…serious. Take a look. Download this: Bells of Creation, Inland Sea, Far Pavilions, Ascending

Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
I’m gonna be honest. The “feeling” behind the cover of Neko Case’s latest album Middle Cyclone didn’t really match the sound in my mind. All I hear is “Barracuda” when I see that cover. Anyway, I listened to Neko’s solo work for the first time with this album. She is truly an amazing vocalist. I only knew her previous work with the New Pornographers with songs like Bones of an Idol on Twin Cinema and the title track off Challengers just to name a few. As for Middle Cyclone goes, it is a pleasant listen but lacks anything unique in my opinion. It’s a true Singer/Songwriter recording. The lyrics and harmonies in songs such as the opener This Tornado Loves You, Vengeance is Sleeping and The Pharaohs are sublime. I could have done without Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth (I hope that track was meant as a joke) and the 30minutes of “nature sounds” at the end. All in all I feel like this album is parallel to Jenny Lewis’s solo work. It’s nice and pretty and folksy and could be more easily played on your local adult contemporary (light hits) radio station than on some indie stream/satellite channel. I know many will disagree but I’m just being honest here. Download This: This Tornado Loves You, I’m an Animal, The Pharaohs

Von Bondies – Love, Hate & Then There’s You

I was wondering what these cats were up to. Everyone loved ‘04s Pawn Shoppe Heart (including the FX network as C’mon C’mon remains the theme from Rescue Me) but since then all I really can remember is that a few members left the band and Jason Stollsteimer got punched in the grill by Jack White. So I heard the new single off of LHTTY called Pale Bride and was like…”alright, I’m picking this one up”. I was pleasantly surprised. The album is pretty rockin. Some of the tracks are a little too poppy (aka title track) and forced but the bulk of the album is good. I miss the rawness of the prior album (see also Been Swank) but the new album has some meat to it. Tracks like The Chancer and 21st Birthday deserve heavier rotation. That said. Download this: Pale Bride, 21st Birthday, The Chancer, Modern Saints

Thursday – Common Existence

This might turn into a long winded one. Thursday’s album Full Collapse is in my top 10 records of all time/thus far. When it came out during the early millennium it sounded nothing like anything I had ever heard before. It blended hardcore with emo like those old Reeses commercials. To this day when a track from this album pops up on my iPod in shuffle-mode I think to myself "oh hell-yeah”. The genre “Scremo-core” began with this record. Now a billion bands mimic their sound. Once Geoff Rickly was featured on a Spin Magazine cover back in 2000(?) with Karen-O of the YYYs, Justin Hawkins of the now defunct Darkness (see also: drugs) and some other “it” music personality…I guess it freaked him out a bit. I feel like the band stepped out of the dim alt-rock spotlight after that right when War All the Time was released (Full Collapse follow-up). For me War All The Time was a let-down at first cause it wasn’t as powerful and didn’t have enough…umm…screaming…to be honest. However the more and more I got over that initial feeling and actually listened to the music and vocal arrangements, I grew to like the album…a lot. Most of the time I’m a brat when it comes to bands “maturing” their sound. The album after that was A City by the Light Divided which was even better than WATT. A great deal of the tracks were arranged differently than any of the other albums and most were pretty strong and pounding. That said when I picked up Common Existence I had high hopes. Looks like I set the bar too high. The album has no differentiating factor. It’s just bland, over produced hard rock songs. Its not awful, just strange as I’ve heard their sound evolve from Waiting (1st LP) till now and thought either (A) the sound would take a new turn or (B) they would return to form given their earlier work. I should have known there was trouble when I saw they were playing on the “Taste of Chaos Tour: Sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink”. They seemed to go through the motions on this one. Major disappointment. Download this: Subway Funeral, Resuscitation of a Dead Man

Phoenix on SNL?

2009-03-26T13:44:00.003-04:00

http://pitchfork.com/news/34921-phoenix-to-play-saturday-night-live/

Wtf. Sometimes bands go on SNL that are virtually unheard of in the mainstream...but not very often. Music snobs like me would like to keep it that way. This reminds me of when Teenage Fanclub was on SNL when I was a kid (which exposed me to the "Bandwagonesque" album which changed my life). Crap...I guess I should let go of my snobbery/sell-out-itis from my 20's and be psyched...I am. More psyched for the new album to come out. The last Phoenix album ("It's Never Been Like That") is in my tops of all time/thus far. At least America Ferrara, Steve Martin or Michael Phelps isn't hosting. When is Robert Loggia gonna host? Robert Loggia. http://www.trilulilu.ro/Ana/bffd82441bbe6a

Ladies & Gentlemen...the Greatest Album Cover of All Time

2009-03-05T18:07:00.002-05:00

I probably should have an album review to go with this but I haven't picked it up yet. I was floored by the "awesomeness" of this cover. Review will come shortly. Sorry....it's been a busy week and I had a stomach flu last week (TMI bitches). Waaaaaaaaaa. No crying on the blogosphere.

OMFG

2009-02-26T13:43:00.002-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovm3_UjISiQ

The only potential reunion that ever mattered to me (besides Pavement). Graham is back on board and they are starting off with some Hyde Park shows in foggy London town (on American Independence day weekend). Anyone want to fly out there with me? (I think the shows sold out in a matter of nanoseconds) Well...if not I'm sure we can look forward to some shows stateside in late '09 or early '10 depending on if they are recording or not...which I believe they are. Why do some 90's alt-rock reunions never result in new material? Some actually do which can be incredible (Dinosaur Jr) or "sub-par" (Breeders). I'd like the Pixies or Swervedriver to come out with some new stuff...otherwise you just know these reunions are "forced" by reasons of increased mortgage rates etc. Duh. I'm sure they all are but they don't have to make it obvious by not writing any new songs. My zero cents.

Album Review: Cold War Kids - Loyalty To Loyalty

2009-02-23T16:13:00.001-05:00

Something is not right with me. I know what you’re thinking. “Yes…we know this Tom. We’ve known this since you were in diapers and your current behavior continues to reinforce this widely known fact”. Well, sorry to disappoint you (jerks) but I am referring to track #4 on Cold War Kids latest offering - Loyalty To Loyalty. This is one of those “late-bloomer albums” for me as I believe it was released back in the fall. Something Is Not Right With Me was the first track I heard and for some reason I thought for a split-second that it was off of their debut album Robbers & Cowards which came out a number of years ago. SINRWM is a killer track sonically with great lyrics…which in turn made me pick up the album. After listing to Loyalty To Loyalty I wondered why I didn’t listen to the last album more. Loyalty to Loyalty is a truly excellent album. What’s unique about this band is primarily Nathan Willets vocal delivery and the lead guitar sound similar to bands like the Walkmen, Pinback or Modest Mouse (pre-Johnny Marr). Tracks like Dreams Old Men Dream are prime examples of this sound. I think the reason I didn’t go full force into the last album was that I thought the vocals on the most popular tracks like Hang Me Up To Dry or Hospital Beds were alt-pretentious and the hype around the band turned me off. Hype amongst critics who were more trend followers/buzz agents than appraisers of good music. I saw Cold War Kids interviewed recently and they seem like a grounded group of musicians. They’re “good people”. Loyalty to Loyalty starts out with Against Privacy which is almost a mission statement-like opener setting the tone for the rest of the album. It’s a mellow track that just builds into the last minute of chugging loud guitar riffs (I love build-ups). If Against Privacy is the novel forward then Mexican Dogs is chapter one which makes you say to yourself. “Well all right…we’re moving now”. Cold War Kids uses synthesizers moderately in tracks like SINRWM and Relief but it melds well with the guitar/vocals. It’s not just thrown in there to differentiate one indie rock band from another or make them seem “new-wavey” (just made that up). A number of songs on L2L are bluesy in concept but something if off...like everyone ripped down shotguns of Jolt Cola. There are a few mega-mellow sleepers like Avalanche in B and Every Man I Fall For but the lyrics are still great. The second single that caught my ear was I’ve Seen Enough. What a STELLAR track. Slow/Fast switch-up that rocks along with some guitar fills that in my opinion wasn’t amplified enough when it was recorded. I saw them live on Conan and it’s those loud signature fills that give them their signature sound. Oh well. Pick this one up. If you can get accustomed to the vocals then you’ll be completely satisfied with Loyalty To Loyalty. DOWNLOAD THIS: Something Is Not Right With Me, I’ve Seen Enough, Relief

Liveticketnationmaster - Hybrid Monster Alert

2009-02-13T16:42:00.000-05:00

Some of you may have heard that Live Nation, a venue promotions entity is merging with ticketing behemoth (Satan) Ticketmaster. My stomach turned when I was informed of this. I thought to myself - “How could purchasing tickets for shows online get any fucking worse?” The good news is that Live Nation is buying out Ticketmaster to form “Live Nation Entertainment”. Ticketweb is the most efficient service in my opinion but I had no beef with Live Nation. They always seemed to have had reasonable pricing (limited surcharge) and operated a user friendly site. My fears are that Ticketmaster….those “Convenience Charge” whores…will infect the Live Nation Entertainment pricing methodology like “hoof-n-mouth”.

NY Senator Charles Schumer (I have always dug Chucks policy views) echoes my fears claiming that - “This merger would give a giant, new entity unrivaled power over concert-goers and the prices they pay to see their favorite artists and bands.”

The Live Nation CEO assured the public - “Too many tickets go unsold and too many fans are frustrated with their ticket-buying experiences…the new company will work to simplify the ticketing process and increase attendance at events.”

For the love of God just ease-up on the surcharges. If you want to sell more tickets then make it somewhat reasonable to consumers financially. In the long run this builds a relationship and ultimately will yield a better profit for vendor/venue/artists. Don’t charge a 30% premium strictly for convenience (ridiculous). At least Ticketmaster called it for what it was without masking it in ambiguous language like “service” or “handling” or “back-handed”.

BOTTOM LINE - Not everyone lives near the venues to pick up the tickets in person at the box office. Many people have fallen on hard economic times and going to a concert, theatre or sporting event may be the only outlet which brings them enjoyment, relaxation and sanity. If this emotional outlet can not be realized given ridiculous pricing models, then these pent up frustrations are often channeled into other forms of "release" such as booze/drugs/karaoke/clog-dancing. No one wants that. I apologize to the strung-out cloggers of the world. I happen to enjoy booze and karaoke in moderation. Please rock responsibly.

GRAMMY RANT!! YAAAAAY!

2009-02-09T17:46:00.000-05:00

Case of the Monday’s alert. Grammys? More like “Grannys”. The award itself is a Gramophone for god’s sake. I’m sorry, maybe I’m being snobbish and close minded but why does the Grammys consistently suck every year? I think it maaaaaaay have been around the time when Metallica lost to Jethro Tull for “Best Heavy Metal Album”. I tuned in sporadically last night and was consistently disappointed. First disappointment was the “new” U2 song which opened up the show. About as unoriginal as it gets. And the protest language flashing up on the big-screen? Bush is out…no need for that anymore. Show some youtube clips of drugged-up toddlers or resurrect ZooTV. Moving on. Does anyone else find it odd that there is this sudden groundswell of pasty-white British soul singers (Winehouse, Duffy, Adele…wasn’t she in that hipster band “The Gossip”)? Don’t get me wrong…great vocalists all of them…just find it incredibly strange. So, another revelation from last night – Boys II Men are still around? (holding up megaphone) I LIVE AND WORK IN PHILADELPHIA AND HAD NO CLUE. I also saw Kid Rock nominated a number of times…Kid Rock…really? Wow. Aside from those gems, the Grammys were pretty predictable in my opinion. Lots of Coldplay, Jonas Bros, John Mayer. Josh Grobin…old artists collaborating with them. I guess nominations and performances from MIA, Radiohead and DCFC were supposed to indie/youth-it-up….theeeeeeeeen Robert Plant & Allison Krauss become the big winners of the night (booooooo). Hahahaha…so close!. I think they won “Record” and “Album” of the year (wtf is the difference?). In my opinion (and I remember having so many fights about this) Led Zeppelin is and forever will be the greatest rock-and-roll band that ever existed (sorry Beatles/Stones fans). Everyone loves Robert Plant…and I’m sure his album of duets with Ms. Krauss was great. HOWEVER, I’m not sure how the award winners are picked but you’d hope they’d make way for some new talent like MIA or artists that deserve the recognition for the inventive ways they are changing music…like Radiohead (still considered “alternative” by the Grannys standards). There was a 10% ratings bump against adults age 18-49 from last year but I have a feeling that may be attributed to “The Jonas Effect”. My mother actually texted me asking me if I was “watching the Jonas brothers”. Squeaky clean punks. The hip-hop acts I can’t really comment on (but I will then go into a tirade) except that I’ve heard recordings from Lil’ Wayne, TI, T-Pain and Ne-Yo and they’re all god-awful. I took a chance on buying some new Kanye as well. Terrible. Why cant he stick to rock solid singles like “Jesus Walks” or “Lights”. The new stuff is so tone-deaf. What happened to using obscure samples? Any samples at all or just killer beats? I’m so sick of that computer voice modulator over awful beats and slow unoriginal rhymes. It’s such garbage. In terms of mainstream appeal what happened to the NWAs (Dre/Cube solo), Wu-Tangs, Beasties, Jay-Zs, Gangstars, TCQs and Ghetto Boyz of the world? Obviously I’m stuck in the 90s but I haven’t heard ANYTHING that is anywhere near the skills of the aforementioned groups. Nas was right…hip-hop is dead…and the Grammys died in the late 80s. Anyone reading this blog please…please enlighten me. I heard this underground rap outfit P.O.S which I’ve been meaning to pick up (heard a killer track called “Drumroll”…the man can rhyme at lightning speed). I’ll review it shortly.

I guess the one good thing I can commend MTV on is the uniqueness of their awards shows…the only on-air content actually music related about the flagship channel. XOXOXOXO

Album Review: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

2009-02-04T15:54:00.000-05:00

Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion could be described as a “that was unexpected” album…for me at least. I heard some good things about the newest album so I picked it up. Animal Collective tracks I’ve heard in the past were not my “bag” and sounded completely different sonically then what is on MPP. I took a train to NYC this past weekend. Train rides or long drives are great album testers. Captive environment with limited distractions. Flights never work for me. Too white-noisey and the whole ear-popping deal. The first track “In the Flowers” gave me an initial “buyers remorse” vibe until the drums kicked in. I thought it would be an hour of experimental electronic mellow 10min tracks. The second track “My Girls” is the one that got me interested (http://myanimalhome.net/). Easily the best track on MPP. Hard to describe ACs music style on this album. Electronica? Electro-Pop? Beat-Pop? (I made that last one up). I guess is the best term out there would be “Electro-Pop” but if I read that on a blog I’d probably back away. You can get an idea of what they use in the “My Girls” video in the link above. Keyboard elements, Synths, drum machines, live drums, mixing boards, hand-claps, etc. I believe the majority of the songs on the album are past the 5-min mark. The reason for this is that each track builds a few minutes before the tootsie-roll-center of the harmony arrangements kick in. You’ll need to have a plan before throwing this album on for a full listen. The vocal style and lyrics somewhat vary per track between the two leads in the band. One of the vocalists I confused with Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) on a few of the tracks. During my first run-through I honestly thought he contributed some guest vocals. Some tracks make you very relaxed (No More Runnin/Taste) while others keep you on your toes (Summertime Clothes/Bluish). The last track “Brother Sport” is my second fav behind “My Girls”. Those two songs (and maybe Summertime Clothes) would be considered singles if this band was radio-friendly. The instrumentation is unique and the lyrics/harmonies on “Brother Sport” towards the close repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat…but you don’t want it to end. Pick the album up and you’ll see. “Two snaps in a circle”

Addendum Alert!

2009-02-02T14:10:00.000-05:00

In reference to the prior KFN post - My buddy Chris who attended the "gathering of ladies and gents for the enjoyment of hardcore musical theatre" pointed out a very important "happening". I forgot to describe that while Damian was singing through the crowd and on the bar...at one point he busted into the nearby men's bathroom and surprised/pulled a guy out (might have been "mid-pee") into the crowd. Just another positive attribute of smaller venue shows....unless you have a small bladder I guess. Wheeeeoa! (light applause)

Fucked-Up & Pissed Jeans: Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA (1/21/09)

2009-01-29T17:01:00.000-05:00

Well. This was my introduction to the relatively new Philly bar/music venue “Kung-Fu Necktie” (tried to find a definition…I think it’s a pretty graphic executionary move). The bar is located literally under the subway tracks in Northern Philly (Fishtown). I went with a few friends to see two bands - Fucked-Up and Pissed Jeans (if those names aren’t punk rock I don’t know what is). The show was sold out. Given the “character” of the bands scheduled to play and the rumored smaller size of the venue…we knew the night would be “interesting” to say the least. Ohhhh boy we got out moneys worth. Or at least Chris did as I still owe him $10 for the ticket. (GONG!) So here’s the play-by-play - We walked into an already crowded bar. They had such a great DJ/soundsystem we thought the show already started when we approached the bar from the outside. Turns out it was just some obscure hard-core record being pumped. We grabbed some adult-sodas, shot the shit blah-blah-blah. Members of both bands were carrying amps and instrument casings through the crowd. Pretty normal for a small venue engagement punk rock or folk rock or yacht rock. Right before PJ began to play the place got insanely packed from the bar to the stage (30ft) and with the ramp-slope up from the bar to the stage we couldn’t actually see PJ play from the edge of the bar…and I’m 6ft-1. They sounded great in true noise/rock style. I couldn’t discern the songs from the last album (Hope for Men – Download “I’ve Still Got You”) with the new tracks peppered in. What ever the last song played was…it was pretty damn rockin. Might I add the sound a KFN was surprisingly good even for a feedback junkie like Pissed Jeans. After PJ finished they crowd thinned out a tad (“a tad”…I never write that) and we grabbed a few “fresh-ones” to get ready for Fucked-Up. We were able to move forward a bit to have a level view of the band…not that it would matter (you’ll see). The lead singer (Damian Abraham aka “Pink Eyes”) was a presence in size and voice…and wit. He came on stage wearing basketball shorts and a leather baseball cap. FU is Canadian so he made some Canada jokes as expected, talked about Obama etc. He was funny as hell and talked for a good 10min before “Son the Father” (the lead off track from the new album) kicked off like a punch in the throat. Amazing sound. The “pit” was in full force. No one was safe. I’m getting too old for that shit anymore however I was so amped up I wanted to throw my PBR down and sock the person next to me. Problem was the person next to me was 2ft shorter…and female. I have the latest FU album (see my review from 12/12) but to be honest I don’t know the names of most of the songs (some bands are like that for me). I think they played a good number of tracks from the early releases. OK. Here’s where it gets interesting. It was not long after the first few songs that Damian (now shirtless) jumped off the stage in mid lyric and pushed through the THICK crowd making his way to the bar. The mic was on a cord that must have been 100fit long and an inch thick (insert penis joke here). He was wailing into the mic, giving skinny hipster guys noogies, throwing the mic in peoples faces to sing along. Ol’ Pink Eyes then climbed up onto the bar. The whole time this was going on the band didn’t pause for a second and was cranking out rock like woodchipper. It was a sweaty punk rock scene. Reminded me of Bouncing Souls shows from high-school. Anyway, so when he was up on the bar I tried to get a phone-pic. The only one that came out ok (you could recognize shapes) was the one above. He barreled back through the crowd…sang another song or two…then came back to the bar. He took a candle and poured hot wax on his man-breasts then tried to stick the candle to his forehead. Awesome…I mean awful…awfully awesome.

The moral of this story is. If you every have a chance to see Pissed Jeans or especially Fucked-Up in a small venue…do it. If you think you’re too old for certain shows…shaddup…please go…just stand in the back and listen…make “back in the day” comments to anyone standing around then gauge reactions.

To give you a taste of what we experienced check out this Rhapsody link from a 12 hr show in NYC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWZroIFhLyo&feature=related and a video link from Pitchfork TV. http://pitchfork.tv/a-d-d-/fucked-up/son-the-father

What a fucked up show…I nearly pissed my jeans. HA! (crowd boos)

Album Review: Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

2009-01-12T17:29:00.000-05:00

Beard-Rock alert (air-raid sirens sound) So I read up a lot about the band Fleet Foxes compiled with a number of recommendations from my friends/relatives who I trust. Seeing as they will be on SNL this weekend I thought I’d get my review in. I guess I was a “late adopter” for this band. I had downloaded a few of tracks a while ago then recently “completed my album” in regards to the self-titled debut LP. When you listen to Ragged Wood…lets be honest…it sounds like it could have been pulled from an older My Morning Jacket album like It Still Moves (kick-ass record btw). There are similarities between the lead vocalist and Jim James from MMJ on certain tracks. I’m still trying to get past that. That said Ragged Wood is phenomenal song. There is a Grateful Dead-esque break in the middle which I surprisingly enjoy. The album as a whole is fantastic but nothing new or earth shattering in my opinion. The music is on the mellower side but sonically perfect. White Winter Hymnal has a very unique sound and vocal harmony which is epic in scale. Tracks like Blue Ridge Mountains, Your Protector and Oliver James tell stories that one can visualize with great detail (depending on the strength of you imagination). If that makes any sense. When I listened to the album in its entirety recently I was cruising down the PA turnpike towards the western burbs with snow flurries coming down. It was the perfect setting as the album reminds me of driving through the country during the autumn or winter. I feel like the album is seasonal…like a September-March album (??). Most of the time when I think “seasonal” I usually concentrate on albums that would be summertime hits (Beach/Backyard BBQ/Shoes/Pong). This album I’m not sure I could pump when it’s 78 and sunny (maybe at night when it cools to 66 degrees). Is the album worthy of the top ‘08 rankings? Ofcourse. I love the album and strongly recommend you pick it up as you won’t be disappointed. There are a few tracks off the previous Sun Giant EP which are "easy-on-the-ears" as well (Mykonos/English House). Does the Fleet Foxes self-titled LP warrant the #1 top-spot on PM’s ’08 album ranking? I personally don’t think so but not many people agree with my top ’08 picks (hence why I encourage comments). Maybe the FF album is like one of those movies that gets so hyped up that it lays down a sub-conscious bias or unrealistic expectation when finally viewed. Or maybe I’m just a bad critic. Meh. Go Eagles.

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2008!!!!

2008-12-19T17:03:00.000-05:00

1. The Walkmen - You & Me

Incredible in my mind. Saw them recently at the TLA in Philly…one of those out of body rock experiences (and I had a couple drinks). Random Fact - The lead singer looks like my sisters husband. Some think the album is too mellow compared to Bows and Arrows which had songs like "The Rat" and "Little House of Savages". I beg to differ. Yeah there are some mellow almost crooning tracks (Canadian Girl) but the style is completely unique and sonically its unparalleled. There are a number of upbeat tracks such as "In The New Year" and "Postcards From Tiny Islands". Bows & Arrows was truly a great album. You & Me surpasses it. We wont talk about the last Walkmen album - "A Hundred Miles Off"...too easy to comment based on the title. DOWNLOAD THIS: "Canadian Girl", "Donde Esta La Playa" & "The New Year"

2. Tokyo Police Club -Elephant Shell

I must be honest. When I heard their first album I was a little snobbish and thought they were indie brats..then I found out they were Canadian and everything changed. Ha! I like Canada. Seriously, the first album "A lesson in Crime" is good…darn good. A little raw and poppy but you'd dig it. Elephant Shell I'd say is 30% better. A lot more keyboard, a lot more parts-melodic. All in all it’s a pretty f-ing good record. I mean..I even heard most the album played while shopping in urban outfitters…and one of the hipster clerks was singing along…AND I DIDN'T GET PISSED. I guess I'm maturing…or just giving up. I had tickets to see TPC at the First Unitarian Church in Philly. They were playing the night of the final Phillies World Series Game. I'm a music freak but I couldn't’t pass up. Never heard how the show was but…poor Canadians trying to get out of the city on that night (google"World Fucking Champions") DOWNLOAD THIS: "Graves" & "Tessellate"

3. NoAge -Nouns

Just recently picked this album up after hearing "Eraser" on Subterranean. So refreshing. I absolutely love a two-piece such as Death From Above, Quasi, Black Keys or Mates of State but these guys in NoAge are truly a punk-rock duo. The whole album is just a raw collection of gems. That punk-rock mixed with some melody that...just works. After listening to the album I flipped through the album booklet (yeah I still buy cds) in which has a photo of their cassette tape collection. For about 10 seconds I honestly through it was taken from my room circa 1996. Morrissey stacked next to early Metallica, Fugazi and Public Enemy. From then I knew they were legit and not Avril Lavingne wearing an Iron Maiden shirt. The music is proof positive. DOWNLOAD THIS: "Eraser", "Sleeper Hold" & "Teen Creeps"

4. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

I really don’t need to say much about this band. They were hyped from the beginning…I snobbed up. I got beat over the head by people telling me how good this self titled album is. So I picked it up…only hearing APunk prior. Man, what a great album. There is really not much to dislike. Its rock/ska/Paul Simon? Whatever it is it was an album on repeat over the summer. You could put it on for kids/teens/old-folks and you couldn’t go wrong. Every track is a gem and the last track “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance” is my absolute fav. If you can catch it on youtube/hulu/mtv.com, they did “The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance” with Chromeo live at the MTV-U Woody awards. Unreal. Hopefully they won’t fall victim to the Sophomore Slump. DOWNLOAD THIS: “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance”

5. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

Last album (Apologies to Queen Mary) was top notch…this one is parallel. Might take a few listens but you'll get into it. I still say the lead vocalist sounds like Beck but no one has fully agreed. Such a good band they will only get betterandbetterandbetter. Please pick up anything they've ever put out. DOWNLOAD THIS: "Soldiers Grin"

6. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals

First of all, the album cover is “so sick”. Secondly, the Girl Talk (aka DJ Gregg Gillis) album itself “Feed the Animals” is more of a mix-tape from the gods that anything else. It's an unreal blending of samples from 80-90-00’s acts ranging from Ace of Base to Wu-Tang. He takes some hard core 90s rhymes and throws it over a back-beat from some whitebread/euro 80’s pop acts…even some 70s freedom rock bands. I’d tell you to download a track but there are no tracks. I think it’s around designated “Track-6” (???) that he mixes early Radiohead with Jay-Z. Genius DJ skills. The record company f-ed up big time releasing this in the Fall as if “Feed the Animals” was released in May it would be summer incarnate…still has legs for summer ’09. DOWNLOAD THIS: Entire album.

7. Sloan - Parallel Play

Sloan…another great band from Canada. Another 120 minutes pick-up when I saw the video for “Everything You've Done Wrong” (album - One Chord to Another). I was hooked. Got me through a lot in HS/College/NYC and still does to this day. After “Between the Bridges” the albums lacked…then something just fell back into place a few years ago when they released a 20+ track rock gem called “Never Hear the End of It”. It was like a punk-rock discography a bunch with 1-2min songs but rock-pop. “Parallel Play” came out earlier this year and I was psyched. Went to see them at the relatively smaller venue The North Star Bar in Philly with some Brooklyn friends who came down. Unreal rock show. Bought the album on site. They brought back the power-pop excellence that I loved from the 90s. Such a straight forward rock album. Please pick up their entire catalog (except Action Pact and Pretty Together). Navy Blues is my fav. Their double disc live record “Four Nights at the Palais Royale” is phenomenal as well. I don’t like many live albums (Fugazi excluded). DOWNLOAD THIS: “I’m Not a Kid Anymore”

8. Deerhunter – Microcastle/Weird Era. Cont.

Was never that into this band until now. I must admit the top rating on Pitchfork swayed me to impulse buy the album. That and the top-recommendation of my buddy Chris-B. I’ll let him give the more in-depth review on Cugerock later as he knows more about the history. The music ranges from indie pop to psychedelic to somewhat punk. A stellar eclectic mix of styles. The bonus disc “Weird Era” has a better pace in my opinion and is actually my fav of the two. DOWNLOAD THIS: “Nothing Ever Happened”

9. Trail of Dead - Festival Thyme EP

SEE MY ALBUM REVIEW POST FROM 11/11/08

10. The Anniversary - The Devil on Our Side (B Sides and Rarities)

I know a B-sides album shouldn’t be placed on a best-of but whatareyagonnado? The Anniversary is one of many bands I loved dearly that made two albums and just ducked out of sight (see also: HUM). The early millennium album “Designing a Nervous Breakdown” ranks up there in my top 10 albums of all time/thus far. They might as well of named the album “Woodside Queens” as I listened to it non-stop the 2 years that I lived there (00-02 also brings back some more unpleasant memories of 9/11 but…like all music it helped me muscle through it). The Devil on Our Side is basically a continuation of “Nervous Breakdown”. A few unreleased tracks sounding like the latter “Your Majesty” album (too produced but not bad) but mostly the indie rock rawness with a dash of male/female vocal harmonies with some synths mixed in. I was so happy…not one of those b-sides records put out for $$$ that is basically garbage. DOWNLOAD THIS: “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter”

Album Review: Fucked-Up – The Chemistry of Common Life

2008-12-12T16:29:00.000-05:00

This wont be a long review cause I don’t have much to say expect this band is about as ROCKIN as you can get (can’t you tell by the name?). Now the album leads in with some solo-flute notes...then all hell breaks loose…sort-a. The music on the album is something you just want to crank when you’re psyched about something in your life or incredibly pissed about something in you life. It’s straight up hard-rock with a dash of indie/fuzz elements (if that makes any sense). I honestly never heard of this band. I think they are former Canadian hard-core kids. I was “intrigued” by the title. Pitchfork made them out as metal but anyone who knows metal knows this isn’t metal (say that phrase as fast as you can). If they were hardcore they’ve sonically moved on but there are some ghosts in the album.

CAVEAT: One thing to note is the Fucked-Up vocalist is a little harsh if you can get past that you’ll love this album. You can take the hardcore out of the music but not out of the vocals.

TANGENT ALERT: It’s a recurring attribute for certain “alt” bands such Sleater Kinney (Corin Tucker), Fugazi (Guy Picciotto), Pissed Jeans, Blood Brothers (Johnny Whitney), Modest Mouse (early albums before they sucked), The Kinison etc…etc. Either you love-em or hate-em. I happen to absolutely love all of them albeit most of them are out of commission/on-hiatus. But I am honestly still warming up to this Fucked-Up vocalist. It took me an album or two for Sleater Kinney back in the day as well. The Fucked-Up music is so damn good I think I’ll get past it.

M83: Starlight Ballroom - Philadelphia, PA (11/15/08)

2008-11-25T16:15:00.000-05:00

M83 is one of those bands (yeah it’s now a live band) that you love to throw on a record but never think you would ever catch them live. Kind of like a number of brit-pop acts I enjoyed growing up (Suede I’m looking in your direction). M83 is basically one guy from France (Anthony Gonzalez) that weaves guitar, synths, pounding drum-machines and muted vocals into unreal tracks. There are definitely some additional elements (female backing vocals) but that is basically it in my opinion. That said I didn’t know what to expect when my buddy Chris had given me the heads-up about the show. Result – Unreal live performance. I heard in the recent past that Anthony used to get on stage solo and have everything pre-recorded (aka – it sucked). Not this time – Full on band. The most amazing part for me was the drummer who was incased in a plexi-glass cage in order to amplify the beats and make them more crisp (?) or less drowned out by the other instruments (replicating the sounds on the albums). I only had heard a handful of tracks from the most recent album “Saturdays = Youth” but from what I understand they played most all of them including "Kim & Jessie” and “Graveyard Girl” which were awesome. I “caught wind” of this band back in ’05 or ‘06 (still weird to call it a band) with the “Before The Dawn Heals Us” album. I heard a few tracks on MTV2 late night and I was hooked. Hence, when I heard them start up on tracks like “Don’t Save us From The Flames” or “Teen Angst” at the show I was pretty psyched. Incredible live. (please download every track I've mentioned thus far). The Starlight is a “unique” place to see a show for sure. The crowd was great...from hipsters to hardcore kids…and guys like Chris and myself. I’d like to think of us as “Aging Scenesters”. (applause) If M83 comes to your town please go see them. If not, pick up the last two albums. Haven’t heard any of the earlier stuff (comments welcome). Such a solid show.

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Festival Thyme EP

2008-11-11T16:31:00.000-05:00

In my mind ...the And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead album, "Source Tags & Codes” is one of the best albums of all time (behind Sebadoh’s Bakesale…my #1 until I die). Not because the 2002 TOD release from the Austin TX natives was the only album that ever received a Pitchfork 10.0 rating (the only one I’ve ever seen)…cause lately I haven’t taken too much stock the pitchfork reviews (some current recommendations I did not agree with…too critical/wordy...even for me). The basics of a review in my mind are - Does it rock? How does it rock/sound? What genre of music is it? Life-changing? How does it compare to their past work/other bands? Is it a “grower”?

The TOD ep “Secrets of Elena’s Tomb” immediately following Source Tags was phenomenal as well (download “Crowning of a Heart”). Theeeen something happened with the following two albums “Worlds Apart” & “So Divided”. They completely side-stepped the “pounding guitar/drums, experimental stop/start, interlaced with backing melodic vocal” aspects. Ha! Worlds Apart was a wannabe in-your-face follow-up to STAC but turned into a pop princess that tried to be “edgy”. It’s like the sophomore slump for a 3rd year freshman. “So Divided” went for a prog-rock-opera-esque something or other. Slow and experimental…aka boring. Every time I would see TOD live they would get drunker and drunker and drunker with the music that suffered (“they blew it”). Piss poor shows combined with the post STAC releases made me “write them off”. Don’t get me wrong…there are a few rockin tracks on WA & SD but nothing comparing to the aforementioned STAC and SOET ep (I work in marketing…acronyms are my game). There were a few older albums before STAC…raw, fuzzy and unorganized. Not bad…but not essential to your collection.

This takes me to the review in question...the latest EP “Festival Thyme”. Verdict = Back to form. It totally rocks like Source Tags but has some new elements to it (i.e. title track). Kind of like the new Metallica album…Master of Puppets…with a twist. I feel that once Interscope dumped the band given the last two flops…they sobered up (literally) and got back to a more straight forward approach. The first track “Bells of Creation” is so refreshing. I thought – “Ahhh…they’re back”. This will be included on the TBD full length. More loud harmonies via Conrad Keeler vocals and loud-pounding guitar/drums. HOWEVER, this lead-off track has (machete mix) next to it. Doesn’t sound like a remix so I hope they don’t blind-side me with some crap LP. The second track “Inland Seas” is just as rockin as the first with some “LOUD then soft” aspects to it with piano mixed in but it doesn’t take away from their signature sound (not a ballad)…intro is pretty damn sweet. That’s what I loved about the band from the beginning…intros (download “Another Morning Stoner”). Title track “Festival Thyme” is a bit more light-hearted but catchy and brings in more piano melodies in which rounds out the EP. The final track “The Betrayal of Roger Casement and the Irish Brigade” is just what the title suggests…a long and obscure instrumental…but again…loud…it brings in some great harmonies and non-stop almost muted guitar at times that can cause you to zone out a bit…but very enjoyable nonetheless. The track titles worry me about another rock-opera attempt but the music is good so I really don’t care.

The Festival Thyme EP is not a “life-changer” but given what came before it’s clearly a solid listen. It’s not one of those EPs that has one good track packaged with 3 or 4 downers. “All and all” I have it on heavy rotation and I’m pretty confident that the new LP (comes out sometime in ‘09) will be good if they stick with this current formula. -TommyC

Endtroducing…

2008-10-24T16:49:00.002-04:00

Man…what a great album. Name the artist and win…well umm…be happy you could name the artist.

Well, I thought I’d start a “blog”…seems to be the trend nowadays….more particularly a “music centric blog” or “music content themed blog”?...seeing as I’ve been passionate about music since I was in diapers…and I love writing (I also love the “…” which you’ll see) …seems like a good fit am I right? Cause there’s probably no music blogs around right? (eyes rolling). I’m actually a contributor on another “humor-centric” blog that is pretty much dead…last post was in April…most recent posts altogether are by me. Maybe I’ll transfer some posts over to this one…provided they are remotely music related.

My friend Carrie can be credited for pushing me to do this music blog thang…I gave her a mix for letting me crash at her & her man’s (my friend Eric) place in Brooklyn. The mix spurred on one conversation...then another…I have compiled more mixes in my day than I can count. They had a pseudo roof deck party where the conversation was centered around music as we were all going to see Sonic Youth at the final McCarren Park Pool show that balmy summer evening.

Hence the blog was born…

I moved to Philadelphia (“The illadelph”) from NYC after 8 years of extreme fun, extreme discovery and extreme frustration. It’s been about a year here in Philly and I think I’m just getting around to adjusting. I’m from the white-bread Philly suburbs originally…something I would hide when going to Lower East Side roof parties…now I’m older and done with being disillusioned about where I grew up…it wasn’t Philly…it was 30 minutes west of Philly and I was lucky to have trees and creeks and bored cops and field-parties and such.

Back to the music…

HISTORY: November 1976-PRESENT (Diapers to Pimples to Keggers to 401K)

When I was little my folks would listen to the typical soft rock of the late 70s/early 80s (see also: iTunes Essentials “Yacht Rock”…my mom also loves Anne Murray). My dad was/is a big rolling stones fan. I never really got into them until that helicopter scene in Goodfellas (I’ll tell you later). My pivotal bands growing up were normal in some respects – U2, REM, The Cure, The Smiths, Violent Femmes, B-52s, Replacements, Pixies….Nirvana, Teenage Fanclub, Matthew Sweet and many others in my jr high years (see also 120 minutes). My older sister’s friends were in bands in jr high and would make her mix tapes which she would give to me in elementary school. Now that I think about it…I guess it was a little strange listening on my headphones to Psychedelic Furs, Replacements, Sid Vicious solo work or the Circle Jerks on 5th grade bus trip to the Philadelphia Zoo. REM really sticks out the most when I think of my childhood.

My older cousins on one end (mom’s side) were a big influence…listening to Squeeze, U2, Talking Heads…in fact…my cousin Scotty gave me my first tape…EVER…which was Talking Heads – Little Creatures…followed by Run DMC – Raising Hell and Beastie Boys Licensed to I’ll (all on one birthday)….my other cousins (dads side) were more hard rock/metal…starting me off with classic rock (Led Zep/Hendrix) into arena rock acts like Boston and Rush then the 80s hair/thrash/heavy metal that followed (Metallica, Def Leopard, GnR, DRI, Megadeth, Slayer, Suicidal etc.). I honestly didn’t get into hardcore until my college years…highschool was all about Pavement, Weezer, Dinosaur Jr, The Sundays, Bouncing Souls, Blur, Charlatans, Suede, J-Church, Mudhoney, Sebadoh, Gene, Sonic Youth, Lemonheads, SLOAN, Hum, Sugar, Sunny Day Real Estate, Swervedriver, Punk/SKA (bosstones, pietasters, special, DHC, slackers, mustard plug, toasters, op-ivy and countless compilations). Oh and remember Ned’s Atomic Dustbin? There was a brief stint in highschool where I was into Phish and The Dead which I’m not particularly proud of…gross…respect the musicianship…but…gross.

With friends from NY/LI, Boston, & MD/DC my freshman-sophomore years in college opened me up to a whole new realm of rock, hearing (and seeing most) bands such as Avail, Turning Point, 311, Clutch, Fugazi, Minor Threat, Sublime, 7seconds, Black Flag, Beck, JS Blues Explosion etc. My second half of my college years gave me exposure to more “indie” (as was classified at the time) bands such as Beulah, Apples in Stereo, Ben Folds Five, Stereolab, Bell & Sebastian, Elliot Smith, Promise Ring, Get Up Kids, Quasi, Modest Mouse, Sleater Kinney etc….however if we had a party…it was always Beastie Boys, Desmond Dekker or the Funky Meters…that was a given.

Moving to NYC in late 1999 (Q4) I already had a lot of exposure under my belt but there I actually came into some more eclectic groups (the invent of Napster & MTV2 Subterranean helped)…old and new…such as DJ Shadow, Death Cab For Cutie, Broken Social Scene, Taking Back Sunday, Superchunk, Mates of State, Thursday, DFA 79, Tribe Called Quest, ATDI, Rilo Kiley, Neutral Milk Hotel, Guided By Voices, Thermals, Gang-Starr, The Anniversary, Cursive, the whole Hives/Strokes/White Stripes period…so many others…again these are the ones that stick out in my mind. In NYC you’d think it was all about following the trends in music but for me it was more appreciation of the old early 90s and 80s rock (reminiscing with people who grew up in other parts of the country) while keeping an eye on Vampire Weekends and Battles of the world. The trends were always in your face so you didn’t have to search very far. My cousin/roommate for a few years Danny…another music freak…joined me in discovering all things music in NYC…alcohol…like minded friends and the Village Voice (paper not website) helped.

An added bonus of moving back to Philly was the music. Philly is steeped in music history and is a top notch city to see shows and learn about music with a local scene that I have yet to know much about…which excites me…none of this Nokia Theatre crap. Although there is an “At the Filmore presented by Live Nation sponsored by Jostons class rings” element to any city.

There are local based bands that receive critical acclaim, rock acts such as Man-Man, Dr Dog or Pissed Jeans (not so much about “acclaim”) and hip-hop/dj acts like The Roots, RJD2 or Diplo that…again…I’m not going to pretend I’m a huge fan or know everything about them…cause I don’t. I have a pissed jeans album in which I only enjoy 1-3 songs and frequent a bar where one of the guitarists bartends. That’s the point of the “blog”…sharing/contribution.

Well…just gave you a taste of my life-music-story. I’ll probably refer back to some of these milestones in later posts. The top attribute of music (for me personally) is that certain songs or albums take you back to a time in your life whether good or bad…so vividly you can’t even explain it. I’ll have an “album memories” segment later on. The latest Walkmen Album – “You & Me” and Maritimes 07 – “Heresy & the Hotel Choir” will be two of those albums….sooooo good I can’t even describe.

Just had a thought - Can anyone relate to any of these experiences or am I twisted man in his early 30s? Oh well…I really don’t care….this is very therapeutic.

Anywho…I’ll try and post once per week…feel free to comment…good or bad…and spread it around and don’t worry…I will have more topical and shorter posts later on…the aforementioned was just a “purging” process.

Oh…and if anyone has extra Henry Rollins tickets for 11/2 in Philly…PLEASE…let me know…sold out…my b-day (toilet flush sound).

-TCuge