Parasites and Sycophants

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notes::Sunday Drivers & the Archetypes EP

Tuesday September 18, 2007

The members of Los Angeles-based trio Sunday Drivers literally traversed the globe before meeting each other. After traveling through the Middle East with a single pair of pants and a notepad, vocalist-guitarist Brady Erickson met bassist Marisa Dupuis. A few late-night songwriting sessions later, and the foundations of the band were in place. Once back in Los Angeles the two found the last piece of their puzzle in drummer Bryan Zaebst, a native Texan who had come to LA to attend art school. Together they created the Archetypes EP.
Archetypes EP tracklisting:1. The Sweetest Disguise
2. Endless Summer
3. Arms
4. Lions Of The Empire
The Sweetest Disguise.mp3

purchase the Archetypes EP on itunes

http://www.myspace.com/sundaydrivers
http://www.sundaydriversmusic.com/

album review::Matt Pond PA:Last Light

Monday September 17, 2007

Matt Pond PA releases “Last Light” on Altitude Records on September 25th. The album is the band’s seventh and first full length since the stellar 2005 release “Several Hours Later.” Topping “Several Arrows Later” is a large drink to suck down, but rest assured “Last Light” is stock full of songs about the dangers of breaking things down too much, and wondering how people can be having so much fun when what they’re doing isn’t really that interesting. Matt Pond PA descriptions used to characterize his music as chamber pop, but the chamber elements have been substituted for more solid straight forward production on “Last Light.” The album opens full swing with the title track and then moves into the upbeat People Have A Way, which is textbook Matt Pond only more poppy than usual. Things then tone down just a little for Locate The Pieces, where Matt declares that “lately I can’t recognize what’s right from what is wrong.” My favorite track on the album is Basement Parties which has some good lyrics and a chorus which takes you away, rivaling any of Matt’s best efforts. While this album may not top “Several Arrows Later,” “Last Light” is reassurance that Matt Pond PA is surely trying.

http://www.myspace.com/mattpondpa
http://www.mattpondpa.com/
http://www.altituderecords.com/index2.html

review::Flight of the Conchords:The Distant Future

Monday September 17, 2007

The fourth most popular novelty act in New Zealand Flight of the Conchords released their “The Distant Future” ep on SubPop over the summer. Bret and Jemaine have come along way since their days of mime guitar and “The Distant Future” showcases how adept they are at real guitars. Maybe it is because they’re New Zealanders that their brand of humour comes across with charm and sophistication. Or, perhaps it just the fact that the acoustic love funk of Business Time or the slinky slow jams like The Most Beautiful Girl In The Room, that these guys create are both truly original and at the same time mimicing the masters while adding in some magnificent deadpan humour. Generally, I don’t like comedy or zaniness in my music with the one exception of Zappa, but I guess now I have two. There is a lot to learn from Flight of the Conchords on this ep, including the fact that banter is simply professional talking. If you are one of the many that has seen their HBO series, or heard their BBC Radio 2 series, then you are already converted; if not check out Business Time below. There is joy to discover on The Distant Future and its’ six studio and live tracks.

Business Time live

http://www.conchords.co.nz/http://www.myspace.com/conchordshttp://www.subpop.com/
http://www.hbo.com/

album::Akron/Family:Love Is Simple

Monday September 17, 2007

album::Akron/Family:Love Is Simple Do you feel like you’ve stepped into some exotic bazaar or is that Akron/Family and their new record “Love Is Simple?” In the midst of this one you are liable to hear anything from stripped down acoustic guitars, loud electrics, chants, and who knows what else. Standout number Phenomena will fool you into thinking it is purely a calm folk exploit until the rock guitar comes in and changes the momentum entirely. Anyway, this record comes the closest to bridging the gap between the chaos, rock action, tribal bongo-banging and sentimental sing-alongs of their live shows and the necessarily more cerebral, or at least worked-over and layered process of recording in the studio. As ususal with Akron/Family, the music is engaging, surprising, and really just offers up more of a listening experience that what you are probably used to.

Ed Is A Portal.mp3Phenomena.mp3

Mon, Sep 17, 2007, Pour Haus, Raleigh, NC

Tue, Sep 18, 2007, Rock & Roll Hotel, Washington, DC

Wed, Sep 19, 2007, First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA

Thu, Sep 20, 2007, off

Fri, Sep 21, 2007, Wexner Center for Arts at OSU, Columbus, OH

Sat, Sep 22, 2007, LOLA Festival, London, ON

Sun, Sep 23, 2007, Lee¹s Palace, Toronto, ON

Mon, Sep 24, 2007, off Tue, Sep 25, 2007, Vinyl, Guelph, ON

Wed, Sep 26, 2007, Barrymore¹s Music Hall, Ottawa, ON

Thu, Sep 27, 2007, Club Metronome, Burlington, VT

Fri, Sep 28, 2007, Harper¹s Ferry, Boston, MA

Sat, Sep 29, 2007, off

Sun, Sep 30, 2007, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

Wed, Oct 10, 2007, Stanford University, Palo Alto, Ca

Thu, Oct 11, 2007, Independent, San Francisco, CA

Fri, Oct 12, 2007, The Troubadour, Hollywood, CA

Sat, Oct 13, 2007, Fernwood Resort, Big Sur, CA Thu,

Oct 18, 2007, Richards on Richards, Vancouver, BC Fri,

Oct 19, 2007, Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA Sat,

Oct 20, 2007, Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, ORhttp://akronfamily.com/mainstreet.htm
http://www.younggodrecords.com/

http://www.myspace.com/akak

notes::Frank151:Tuff Gong

Monday September 17, 2007

Frank151 has released the newest installment in their Frank Book series to date – Tuff Gong. These wonderfully put together issues in the form of small books are always well done and just feel great to hold in your hands. The Tuff Gong chapter may be the most socially conscious one to date. The Tuff Gong chapter will help readers to understand better the Tuff Gong legacy and the past, present, and potential future of Jamaica. For the Tuff Gong chapter, Rohan Marley, photographer Estevan Oriol, and Frank151 traveled to Jamaica where they explored the slums of Trenchtown, the countryside of Nine Mile, and the streets of Kingston.

You get to hear first hand from legend Lee Scratch Perry about the roots of the Tuff Gong name, meet up with Jamaica’s greatest herbalist, read an interview with Island Records founder Chris Blackwell who introduced Bob Marley to the world, and much more.

http://www.frank151.com/

album::Sightings & Through The Panama

Monday September 17, 2007

Sightings is bass, drum and guitars meshed together with a synthetic twine envisioned in future think tanks. Literally the sound of human progress darkened with a profound fidelity so loud the dark matter of the universe quivers in a deadly orgasm. Guitar, bass and drums reconfigured for a new purpose.Through The Panama is the band’s sixth album (out Oct. 28, CD on Load, LP on Ecstatic Peace) and takes the notch so much higher than previous efforts in terms of songwriting and production. With ANDREW W.K. as a producer, some of the caustic curtains that swathed past albums have been parted to reveal a coldly pulsing artificial heart. And the beat of this heart sounds off in an alien tongue of bass and drums. Guitars descend like unforgiving sheets of napalm from the smoldering skyline. Songs pop out of this miasma that tick off icy coolness with piano and vocal stylings. Indeed, hot and cool. To accentuate the difference this album has versus previous Sighting’s records, a Scott Walker cover is included.

perforated.mp3

SIGHTINGS TOUR DATES10/19 ::: NY, NY @ Knitting Factory w/ Ruins, Made In Mexico, Aids Wolf (CMJ)
10/20 ::: Brooklyn @ TBA w/ Made In Mexico, Aids Wolf
10/25 ::: Quebec City QC @ Bal du Lezard
10/26 ::: Ottawa ON @ End Hits
10/27 ::: Montreal QC @ Casa del Popolo
10/28 ::: Toronto ON @ Sneaky Dee’s

http://www.myspace.com/sightings http://www.loadrecords.com

album review::Black Francis:Bluefinger

Monday September 17, 2007

Last week Cooking Vinyl released “Bluefinger” the long playing return of Black Francis, recording under his Pixies moniker in place of Frank Black, for the first time since the band called it quits. Overall the music is louder, more upbeat, trashier, and more reminiscent of the classic Frank Black material that fans prefer. “Bluefinger” is inspired by the life of Herman Brood, the Dutchman known for his painting, music, and self destruction. Right from the start, opener Captain Pasty jets out of the gates with its choppy guitars. Then the Black Francis’ screech breaks open the most Pixie-ish song on the record – Threshold Apprehension which comes complete with vampy keys. You Can’t Break A Heart And Have It offers up more screaming nasty rock n roll and features his wife Violet on supporting vocals. Finally, “Bluefinger” is probably the best thing he has done since the Pixies and furthermore a welcome departure from whatever obsession which has plagued him for years.

http://www.myspace.com/cookingvinylusa
http://bluefingeronline.com/
http://www.blackfrancis.com/
http://www.frankblack.net/

musings::(not so) guilty pleasures

Sunday September 16, 2007

I’m standing here listening to Anne Murray’s “Love Song,” accompanied by a background of rain and the occasional drunk cackle from across the street. I know it sounds cliché, but something about the rain and AM seventies just go great together. On a similar note, it is late and it is time to get self-indulgent, and I can’t deny that sometimes at the end of the night what I fantasize about the most is to be at a karaoke bar. Often I come home late and proceed to play an assortment of classics which sound the way I want to feel. It is during those same moments when all at once I have been sure I could nail “There’s No Getting Over Me” by Ronnie Milsap, if I just had an audience. It has been said that you can’t plan epiphanies, but this has been happening to me lately.

Anyway, so I know I really shouldn’t give mating advice, but if you find yourself in a karaoke bar there are options if you’ve got the right group of folks. There are some songs which tend to bring some quality attention and simultaneously act as a filtering device if you execute them well. I mean do you really want to be with a woman who doesn’t get what you’re expressing when you do a song like “Love on the Rocks?” Moving on…, Gino Vannelli’s “I Just Wanna Stop” is a sexy number, which if you can get through the first line of “When I think about those nights in Mon-tre-al…..,” you will surely be rewarded later.

Whatever you do don’t try to pull off Paul Davis’ sentimental epic “I Go Crazy.” I know in theory it sounds like a great idea, but even if you do it well the song just has a way of making everyone feel weird.

And who among us hasn’t felt this way before…

First they say they want you
How they really need you
Suddenly you find you’re out there
Walking in a storm
When they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say,
You’ve got to leave, just get away
We all know the song

-Neil Diamond “Love on the Rocks” 1981

artist spotlight::Gringo Star

Saturday September 15, 2007

Gringo Star used to be A Fir-Ju Well, one of Atlanta’s most dependable straight-up rock acts and that tradition continues on in Gringo Star. In fact, Gringo Star is probably the best thing these guys have ever done. The name is a little silly and all, but this is quality power pop, though that term is probably a little confining for what Gringo Star does. Sure, there’s Badfinger, Big Star, the Kinks, the Animals, the Faces…all the greats are represented here with a distinctly Southern (and slightly Western and Spanish at times) flair. Add a touch of psych, and pow! you’ve got Gringo Star. It is always great to hear rock music, gimmick-free and well played with good songwriting and Gringo Star delivers on all fronts.

no reason.mp3

http://www.myspace.com/thegringostars

review::the Cave Singers:Invitation Songs

Saturday September 15, 2007

Seattle’s the Cave Singers release their first Matador album “Invitation Songs” on September 25th. “Invitation Songs” has been described as “folk approached by way of punk rock,” which means whatever it means. There are definitely folk elements, but for the most part the guitars and drums keep the music moving in a way that with some exception doesn’t feel like folk to me. Having said that, Oh Christine may be the most straightf orward folk effort on the record, and it is complete with harmonica. Pete Quirk’s vocals have been said to sound like Arlo Guthrie, but really I think they are more akin to Mike Scott of The Waterboys. Moreover, the vocals have a way of giving the music characteristics which range from eerie, haunted, lost, and so forth. No doubt the Cave Singers have made an original record that will surely win some hearts.

the Cave Singers interview:

the Cave Singers on tour with Black Mountain:
9/28 Salt Lake City UT @ Kilby Court
9/29 Denver CO @ HI-Dive
10/01 Omaha NE @ The Waiting Room
10/02 Minneapolis MN @ 7th Street Entry
10/03 Chicago IL @ Empty Bottle
10/07 Portland ME @ Space
10/08 Boston MA @ Great Scott
10/10 New York NY @ Mercury Lounge
10/11 Brooklyn NY @ Southpaw
10/12 Philadelphia PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
10/13 Cleveland OH @ Grog Shop at Coventry Yard
10/14 Bloomington IN @ Bluebird
10/15 Louisville KY @ Headliners
10/17 Norman OK @ The Opolis
10/18 Denton TX @ Dan’s Silverleaf
10/19 Austin TX @ Emo’s Inside Stage
10/21 Phoenix AZ @ Modified
10/22 San Diego CA @ Casbah
10/23 Los Angeles CA @ The Echo
10/24 San Francisco CA @ The Independent
10/26 Portland OR @ Doug Fir Lounge

http://www.matadorrecords.com/http://www.myspace.com/thecavesingers

Shoot’in The Tube:: It’s Saturday Morning!

Saturday September 15, 2007

The other day I had an old “remember when” discussion with friends. We brought up a bunch of stuff like: remember when Saturday mornings were cool? Growing up in the 70′s you got a glimpse of some left over trippy-psychedelic shows/commericals from the 60′s – Some of us remember the Sid & Marty Kroft shows – and alot of these “Children’s” progamming had it’s musical tie-in’s – and of course with youtube, the finds were endless. Here are some of those trippy discoveries – some are pretty common, others maybe not so – Paul if you’re reading this, I know you know all of these…

The Monkees “Kool Aid” 1970
These set of Kool Aid commercials began airing in 1970 when the Monkees TV show began airing in reruns on CBS TV. Peter Tork had left the year before – check out Micky and Mike’s enthusiasm – classic!

The Bugaloos “Opening Theme” 1970

You may remember the more popular Sid & Marty Kroft creation – “H.R. Pufnstuf” (1969) – their next creation for NBC TV, from 1970 (and for some reason people don’t remember as much) The Bugaloos – four British teens who’s theme is reminiscent of the bouncy pop of The Monkees Theme. The show only lasted 17 episodes.

McDonalds “McDonaldland” commerical 1971

The popularity of H.R. Pufnstuf in the early 70′s brought many folks wanting to licence the characters for commericals – unfortunately that never materialized legally and McDonalds decided to go at it on their own, thus creating this kinda famous commercial with that Outasite song…groovy huh?

Mulligan Stew “Theme Song” 1972

Although I don’t think this one ran on Saturday mornings, it has a bit more Sesame Street/Electric Company vibe to it, but still incorporates that “band/group” theme that seemed to be a bit popular on TV in the 60′s/70′s and somewhat in the 80′s – and not many people remember it either – but yeah I know someone of you totally do! Throughout each episode the “Stew” would preach about nutritious eating – remember 4-4-3-2?

For More information:

The Monkees Kool Aid Commericals: www.angelfire.com/tv2/monkeesfilmtv/MonkeeCommercials/koolaid.html
The Bugaloos: http://www.bugaloos.com/
McDonaldland Commerical: www.straightdope.com/classics/a990827.html
Mulligan Stew: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulligan_Stew

notes::Blitzen Trapper new tour and EP

Friday September 14, 2007

Blitzen Trapper has announced details of a new EP, to be self-released October 9th in 7″ vinyl and digital formats. Titled Cool Love #1, the EP features three out-takes from the much-acclaimed Wild Mountain Nation album, along with a Daytrotter Session version of live favorite “Jericho.” The band will also be releasing its breakthrough album Wild Mountain Nation on vinyl for the first time on November 6th. These releases mark the first time any Blitzen Trapper music has been made available on vinyl. The band has also announced some new dates on their impending fall tour, including a couple headlining shows in rural Washington and Oregon, dates supporting Two Gallants in Omaha, New Orleans, and Hattiesburg, and one date with John Vanderslice and Two Gallants in Toronto. EP preorder link

Sci-FiKid(40ThievesRemix).mp3
check out their daytrotter session: daytrotter session

BLITZEN TRAPPER Tour Dates:FRI 9/14 Walla Walla WA @ Whitman College#
SAT 9/15 Pendleton OR @ Pendleton Arts Center#
MON 9/17 Portland OR @ Berbati’s Pan*
TUE 9/18 Vancouver BC @ Media Club*
WED 9/19 Seattle WA @ The Crocodile*
THU 9/20 Boise ID @ Neurolux*
FRI 9/21 Salt Lake City @ Kilby Court*
SAT 9/22 Denver CO @ Hi-Dive*
SUN 9/23 Rapid City SD @ The Imperial Inn*
MON 9/24 Fargo ND @ Aquarium*
WED 9/26 Minneapolis MN @ Turf Club*
THU 9/27 Iowa City IA @ The Picador*
SAT 9/28 Omaha NE @ The Slowdown*
SAT 9/29 Chicago IL @ Schubas*
SUN 9/30 Cleveland OH @ Grog Shop*
MON 10/1 Toronto ON @ El Mocambo^
TUE 10/2 New York NY @ Gramercy Theatre*
THU 10/4 Philadelphia PA @ First Unitarian*
FRI 10/5 Boston MA @ Middle East Downstairs*
SAT 10/6 Baltimore MD @ Sonar*
SUN 10/7 Washington DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel*
MON 10/8 Chapel Hill NC @ Local 506*
TUE 10/9 Atlanta GA @ Drunken Unicorn*
WED 10/10 New Orleans LA @ The Parish*
THU 10/11 Hattiesburg MS @ Thirsty Hippo*
FRI 10/12 Beaumont TX @ Votex*
SAT 10/13 Austin TX @ Mohawk*
MON 10/15 Tucson AZ @ Plush*
WED 10/17/ San Diego CA @ The Casbah*
THU 10/18 Los Angeles CA @ El Rey*

* w/ Two Gallants, Songs for Moms
^ w/ John Vanderslice, Two Gallants
# w/ At Dusk

http://www.blitzentrapper.net/