The Wordy Album Review #1

Do you ever wonder how a critic decides an album deserves an 8.8 out of 10 instead of an 8.6? Do you find yourself befuddled by overwrought, self-indulgent album reviews that make your head ache? Music criticism can be exhausting to read and write: unknown bands are referenced; otherwise useless comparisons become essential (“Does this singer sound like Iggy Pop/Michael Stipe/Lou Reed, or is he more David Bowie/Adam Durst/Neil Young?”); somehow a screeching banshee of a lead singer becomes “innovative.” Well, I’ve attempted to come up with an alternative. I will listen to an album a few times, come up with several words or phrases that describe the music itself and my reaction to it, then leave it to you. If the description entices you, try a song! If my reaction deters you, well, try a song anyway! It’s up to you. One person’s Celene Dion: Live In Concert is another person’s Abbey Road. Note: I am concerned with the album, not specific songs. Some songs may be standouts, but if they are marooned in a sea of shitty ones, the review will be about the sea. This also works in reverse when a bad song is on a good album. Obviously, if you never discover music you love, I have failed.

This idea also came about as I brainstormed ways to keep finding and sharing new music without it absorbing too much time.  This way, I get to spend all my time actually listening to music, instead of thinking of ways to write about it. Whoo hoo!

All of these albums came out this year:


Beach House – Devotion
Sleepy. Dreamy. Sedative. Cozy. Intimate. Homogenous. Underwhelming.
www.myspace.com/beachhousemusic – Listen to “Heart of Chambers”


The Black Crowes – Warpaint
Freewheeling. Bluesy. Greasy. Celebratory. Rollicking. Uplifting. Rousing.
www.myspace.com/theblackcrowes – Listen to “Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution”


Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
Inventive. Symphonic. Atmospheric. Poignant. Tender. Sincere. Gratifying.
www.myspace.com/elbowmusic – Listen to “Grounds for Divorce”

The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
Driving. Boisterous. Fist-pumping. Raucous. Derivative. Unimaginative. Stale.
www.myspace.com/theholdsteady – Listen to “Constructive Summer”

My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
Eclectic. Routine. Unfocused. Disappointing.
www.myspace.com/mymorningjacket – Listen to “Evil Urges”

One Day As A Lion – One Day As A Lion (EP)
New project from Rage Against the Machine singer Zach de la Rocha.
Aggressive. Political. Violent. Unmistakable. Myopic.
www.myspace.com/onedayasalion – Listen to “Wild International”

The Rosebuds – Life Like
Poppy. Simple. Unremarkable. Forgettable.
www.myspace.com/therosebuds – Listen to “Life Like”

Sun Kil Moon – April
Patient. Gentle. Pensive. Overlong. Monotonous. Tiresome.
www.myspace.com/sunkilmoon – Listen to “Lost Verses”

The Verve – Forth
Sprawling. British. Indulgent. Uninspired.
www.myspace.com/theverve – Listen to “Love Is Noise”

Why? – Alopecia
Urban daily grit. Rhymetastic. Crass. Clever. Original. Wicked.
www.myspace.com/whyanticon – Listen to “The Hollows”

Fleet Foxes and a diatribe...

Four the last four years, I've been obsessively searching for music on the web and otherwise only for the same reason that I ever listened to music in the first place: it makes me feel good. A better summation is by Berthold Auerbach: "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." How true. When listening to bands or searching online, I've always looked for quality and sincerity, never novelty for the sake of it. Actually, all I really want is something that "works" for me and what might, hopefully, work for you. It is such a great feeling to be moved by music or art or life, maybe it's what we live for, but to share it with others amplifies those harmonious feelings a million, billion, trillion times. Yet, one man's treasure is another man's trash, even if what they are ultimately trying to discover is the same thing; this is unavoidable.

What I'm getting at is that primordial saying that is so true, often overlooked, but needs to be emphasized regardless (if not just for my sake) again and again: "it's about the music, man." Or maybe, "it's about the art" or "it's about the holy moments you feel by yourself or shared with friends." No combination of style, hubris, or "internet hype" will actually make a band's music worth your time. It may, in fact, make you feel nothing, even amongst millions of devout followers.

I think there is a lot of white noise in the music and art world vying for our attention, at all times, in all places, wherever you walk, in any city or town you find yourself in. This is, I suppose, a result of the information age we live in. It feels more like constant information overload to me, most of the time. But maybe it's still possible to dig through the hype, the aberrant noise, the throngs of fans (or lack thereof), the magazine articles, the illustrious buzz of a new band gaining media attention, to just see something for what it is or, rather, what it might be to you: a single song that simply opens up the clouds and lets the sun shine on you for a moment. If you're lucky that moment will last a little while longer. It may even happen every time you listen to that one song. I say, in complete sincerity, "God bless that song!" and shall we go looking for more of those with our eyes closed.

Anyway, gee whiz, gosh almighty, on with the freakin' music!

Fleet Foxes in their own words: "We're a group of five from Seattle that sing for the fun of it and are into all kinds of music. We'd call this stuff baroque harmonic pop jams. Our names are Skye, Robin, Joshua, Casey, and Christian. We'll make some mistakes along the way but we hope you enjoy our little family business."

In order, here is their Sun Giant EP, recently released by Sub Pop; a mere 18 minutes of music. They are putting out a new album very soon and are currently touring as well.

Rock on wit yo bad self,
Chris :)

Sun Giant EP - Fleet Foxes

The Dodos - "Fools"

Hello. It's been much too long. I have trouble getting behind my own efforts, but let that not stop us from moving on.

There is a place called San Francisco. There is a band that lives in this place called The Dodos. They make music and this is what it sounds like.

The Dodos on Myspace
www.dodosmusic.net
The Dodos Daytrotter Session

Video: Sam Amidon - "Saro"

Originally from Vermont, Sam Amidon (or Samamidon) is the son of a large musical family that seems to be making a name for itself.  He has recorded five albums with his band Assembly, contributed to Doveman and Stars Like Fleas, and after Assembly's disassembly, began a solo endeavor built on traditional folk songs, either popular or those buried by time, which he plays straight or reinterprets with the aid of his counterparts. His second and newest album, All is Well, continues in this direction with help from composer Nico Muhly and Icelandic producer Valgeir Sigurosson, who also put out the record on his Bedroom Community label.

Although I can't honestly (yet) speak for his back catalogue or even all of the new album, the song "Saro" struck me as quite touching and heartfelt. The history involved in this song--where it came from, who wrote it, who it helped get by as times got really tough and food short--seems to be its emotional weight and centerpiece. Sam Amidon's performance of the song, and his backing crew, gives it the attention it deserves without any maudlin theatrics, only better amplifying the cry of trying to find a place for yourself through hardship.

Some other songs off of All is Well are available below.

www.samamidon.com

www.myspace.com/samamidon

Tim and Eric - Nite Live Valentine's Day Episode

If you haven't heard of Tim and Eric (which is, indeed, their professional title), then you are simultaneously deprived and fortunate: deprived because they are funny as hell, fortunate because they are insane, most of the time.  They made a little show that appeared on Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) called Tom Goes to the Mayor, made a new show called Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! also currently on Adult Swim, and now produce Nite Live for the online comedy "channel" SuperDeluxe.com. Their comedy is difficult to describe, but it's kind of like watching Kids in the Hall on acid; it's not for everyone.

They also have a stage show which tours every once in a while.  From what I've heard, it's not really a show so much as an experience.  And guess what, you're in luck, because they may be coming to a town near you soon. Portland "experience" is on May 3rd @ the Bagdad Theatre.  Come if you dare (to laugh)!

Video: Vampire Weekend - "A-Punk"

Here's a charming little number by the band Vampire Weekend. Their new s/t album sounds like Paul Simon during his Afro years mixed with a little island music and certainly has a lot of moxie. Do people still say moxie?! Well, I say moxie, dammit, so get used to it showing up once in awhile. Anyway, the point is that it is easy to appreciate. Plus, their album is dirt cheap ($7.99) at Amazon right now, if any of you out there still pay for music.

www.vampireweekend.com
www.myspace.com/vampireweekend

PS: they are playing/biting necks in Portland on March 25th @ the Doug Fir Lounge

Video: Justice - "D.A.N.C.E."

JUSTICE - D.A.N.C.E.
Uploaded by edbangerrecords

Here is a kick ass video from the electronic duo Justice. Their record came out some time last year, but it's super-awesomeness was recently brought to my attention by my brother. Plus, they are about to go on a massive tour, which I'm sure will be gloriously headache inducing. Somebody please start making the shirts in the video!

Justice on myspace
Myspace Music Tour featuring Justice

Portland show is on Wed., March 26th @ the Roseland w/Diplo + Fancy

Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature

To write a great book, a writer needs pen and paper—the pen to transmit his or her thoughts, the paper to record them. Whether it’s War and Peace or Everyone Poops (as equally riveting as The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts), the creative tools are the same. By equal measure, all you really need to record a great song is an instrument and a tape recorder. Use only the essential, press record, and let an airy, bedroom performance become the finished product.

Swedish singer/songwriter Jose Gonzalez embraces this minimalist approach to song creation on his new album In Our Nature. Armed only with an acoustic guitar and his whispery voice, Gonzalez presents each breath and note with purpose. The exciting part is not simply the decision to use less; it’s the atmospheric effect of emphasizing the very sound of the things that are used. Buzzing guitar strings, a stray pick scraping across the guitar, the creakiness of a chair—these are all elements of Gonzalez’ song craft and feel as essential as the hooks of the songs themselves.

Closer “Cycling Trivialities” highlights this lo-fi folk style with a swirling guitar line that slowly builds to the album’s emotional peak, but then fades out steadily to a crawl until all you hear is the sound of Gonzalez sitting in a chair, he puts his guitar down, shuffles a bit, then faintly chuckles and the album ends. This final minute of silence points out how noisy silence really is. Perhaps he is illustrating the futility of the noise/silence duality. Or maybe he just wanted to end the album with a serene hush and the laugh indicates that even he couldn’t take the “noisy silence” that seriously. Either way, it works marvelously.

Other songs do have some instrumental accompaniment. A song about personal salvation or humanity’s unfriendliness, “Down the Line” is driven forward by subtle percussive clicking while Gonzalez muses, “I see problems down the line/I know they’re mine.” The knee slaps/hand claps in memorable “Killing for Love” and “Time to Send Someone Away” adds momentum to the sparse melodies. There is even an earnest, pulsing cover of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop”, though the original remains superior.

Thematically, In Our Nature largely covers familiar issues of humanity’s fall from grace. Why are we greedy and selfish (“How Low”), why does religion get out of hand (“Abram”), why do we kill each other (“In Our Nature”)? Due to Gonzalez’ sincere delivery combined with his skillful guitar playing, the lyrics are effective, but often fall short of revelatory.

As with his debut, Veneer, which was a critical and commercial success in Europe, In Our Nature continues to explore the boundaries and boundlessness of minimalist songwriting. It feels fresh among its polished, track-heavy contemporaries. Apparently, Gonzalez is something of a star in his home country. He may soon find his simple, down-to-earth method landing him in the fish bowl over here. All the better for us.

Jose-Gonzalez.com

Jose Gonzalez @ Myspace

In Our Nature - José González

Video Nostalgia: Foo Fighters - "Big Me"

I've been listening to the first Foo Fighters record a lot recently and remembered this hilarious video of "Big Me."  Rock in the '90s, those were simpler times.  At least I can always come back to it and get warm, fuzzy feelings inside.  And not just in a goat boy, "hey, remember the '90s"-kind of way.

Video: Menomena - "Evil Bee"

This is my first attempt with this whole embedding process. A great video to a great Menomena song "Evil Bee" from their recently released album Friend And Foe [Barsuk Records].