Posted on 16 July 2010
The High Confessions is a collaboration between Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley, Ministry/Revolting Cocks vocal maestro Chris Connelly, Chicago metal multi-tasker/producer Sanford Parker (Minsk, Nachtmystium, Twilight), and another Chicago producer, Jeremy Lemos of White/Light. The quartet’s signed with Relapse to release Turning Lead Into Gold With The High Confessions, a title that promises some sort of alchemy. It works: The 5-song/50-minute collection’s a slow-release patchwork of dark clattering tones, drum rolls, drone, outbursts, noise-rock, shades of Current 93, weird industrial chatter. The old-school post-rock opener “Mistaken For Cops” is a scene-establishing intro that makes way for the four challenging, satisfying 10 minute epics that follow it. They’re best when they take their time:
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Posted on 01 July 2010
In the ’90s, Yanni was weirdly present in my life. I only watched Live At The Acropolis once (and maybe halfway through), but someone gave me a Yanni folder as a joke, I owned a promo copy of the album, and he came up often as a punchline in conversation (that hair, that mustache, the white garb, the orgasm faces, Linda Evans). If you take a step back, their is something interestingly prescient and worthwhile about his overblown New Age aesthetic. And we’re sure to see a few more angles as part of Beck’s most recent Record Club installment, a track-by-track remake of Yanni Live At The Acropolis with the assistance of Thurston Moore, Tortoise (obvious Yanni fans), and “several studio musician heavyweights,” all of whom “were brought in to read a heavily doctored score with interpolations of everything from Stravinsky to Shania Twain (look for others).” To get things started, Moore improvises lyrics for the usually instrumental “Santorini.” The results? We know what would’ve happened if Yanni went lite-jazz Beatnik.
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Posted on 29 June 2010
Jesus Lizard put on great shows in the ’90s. Just as intense, albeit in a different way, were Guided By Voices’ acrobatic karate-kicking, beer-swilling collagist epics. It’s unclear if Robert Pollard & Co. will have as much energy in 2010 (he will), but regardless, the “classic” ‘93-’96 lineup’s getting back together in Las Vegas for Matador’s 21st Anniversary Party in October. The event takes place 10/1-10/3 and also includes past and present Matador heroes like Pavement, Sonic Youth, Belle & Sebastian, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, Spoon, the John Spencer Blues Explosion, Girls, the New Pornographers, Cold Cave, Kurt Vile, Fucked Up, etc. You can read, so take a look at the flyer for the event while you check out some additional details.
The shows will take place at the Palms Casino & Resort in Vegas. You’ll be able to find out how to get tickets on 7/5. Keep watch at Matablog while listening to Alien Lanes and Bee Thousand on repeat.
Posted on 10 June 2010
Austin City Limits is gearing up for a huge television season as well as one of their best music festival lineups ever. They recently announced that Jimmy Cliff, Spoon and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue would both separately be joining the ranks of the musical elite that have graced that stage, and four more […]
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Posted on 02 June 2010
I like the new Crystal Castles — dark, catchy, noisy, snotty, tastefully goth. When Alice Glass screeches over white noise it can be like black metal of the WOLD or Team Prurient/Ash Pool sort … for club kids. (Look at the cover art, titles like “Year Of Silence,” “Suffocation,” and “Violent Dreams,” or just listen.) Even if its name makes me think of French BM aesthetes Celestia, “Celestica” is one of one of the least skuzzy and straight-up pretty, sorta disco tracks on the album. For one reason or another, Thurston Moore just shoved distorted guitars and extra grime into its skeleton, making it ultimately implode into the red like opener “Fainting Spells,” previously posted “Doe Deer,” etc. Nice to get another angle.
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Posted on 12 February 2010
Based on past experience, New York’s All Tomorrow’s Parties has become the festival you buy tickets for lineup-unseen. But for those who need to know, ATP just expanded the lineup of bands for this year’s Weekend At Kutsher’s: Saturday will include heavyweights Sonic Youth and the Breeders, as well as ATP favs Explosions In The Sky, Fuck Buttons, the Books, Apse, and Papa M.
The other big announcement is that filmmaker/part-time Catskills resident Jim Jarmusch who will curate Sunday’s bands. His picks so far: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Raekwon, Girls, Fucked Up, Wooden Shjips, the Black Angels and Vivian Girls. More announcements are forthcoming, though my hopes lie in Jarmusch bringing in Coffee & Cigarettes cast members like Tom Waits (who could re-enact his scene with previously-announced Iggy Pop in the Kutsher’s lobby), the White Stripes, and GZA and RZA. In fact, thinking about his close ties to the Wu-Tang Clan, (RZA also did the soundtrack for Ghost Dog, Jarmusch contributed to their 2005 LP), a partial reunion would be a remote, but nice possibility.
Posted on 30 October 2009
Remember Radiohead’s “From the Basement” videos?
It turns out those weren’t the only videos being captured by Nigel Godrich and crew. I’m not sure exactly when this new site launched, but FromtheBasement.tv is now a virtual treasure trove of amazing live (in studio) performances by a veritable who’s who of amazing contemporary bands and artists.
There’s simply so much good video on this site and it’s all high-quality. Here are just a few choice selections:
Andrew Bird | Beck | Cold War Kids | The Fleet Foxes | Gnarls Barkley | Jamie Lidell | My Morning Jacket | The Raconteurs | Radiohead | Sonic Youth | The Shins | White Denim
Thanks to Bob Lefsetz for the tip!
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Posted on 21 October 2009
If you’re a fan of Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Noise Nomads, Failing Lights, Dude War or drippy acrylic paint, these canvasses might be up your alley. Each is €4000 + shipping at Colette, and you can preview here. Or save your money for a Weezer Snuggie.
Posted on 13 October 2009
We were recently introduced to Chris Taylor’s new label with Ethan Silverman, Terrible Records, via its first release Acrylics earlier this month. CT takes a production credit on that band’s debut EP, as he has for Dirty Projectors (Rise Above), Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (self-titled), and Grizzly Bear’s Yellow House and Veckatmest. No surprise then that Taylor handles all facets of the release, recording, and production for the solo track “Ghosts,” his first issue under the name Cant. It’s a great cut, and great fun for fans of Grizzly Bear curious to hear how their sound comes together. With Rossen’s (not quite solo project but still) Department Of Eagles, we got to hear a relatively unchecked expression of his unique compositional sense. There’s an interestingly crafted song here, too, but with Cant the emphasis is on sound and aural vibe first, which is what you’d expect from the hands that shaped Grizzly’s studio efforts: “Ghosts” packs (yes) ghostly harmonies, the odd tambourine hit, that distinctive bass tone and spacious yet filigreed arrangement. You know the voice from myriad GB backing vocals; it’s nice to hear it out front for a change. The track does mix an spectral airiness with an underwatery wobble, which makes sense with all the allusions to swimming — and drowning.
Continue reading New Cant (Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor) - “Ghosts”…
Posted on 14 August 2009
On Episode 5, GG vet Thurston Moore will bring in the rest of Sonic Youth to play “Starpower” during a party for Rufus and Lily. Spoiler: Things will get dramatic. More at EW.
