Titus Andronicus - The Monitor (XL)
Have you ever heard the line "Go big or go home?" I hate that catch phrase. I also hate New Jersey, even though I've never been there and don't think I've ever met anyone from the state. My discontent stems from a barrage of phone encounters with New Jerseyians who seem genetically disposed to being miserable fucks trying to make everyone else as miserable as they are.
Titus Andronicus hales from New Jersey, they seem miserable, and they're aiming for the upper deck with their sophomore effort, The Monitor, a loosely knit concept album featuring a barrage of indie guest stars fueled by pony kegs and a desire to be a part of something special.
It's the kind of album that can get reviewers in trouble; The Monitor is such a blatant attempt at musical martyrdom that you want to immediately discount it. However, it's delivered with such drunken stumbles and underdog charm that it's easy to get caught up in its anthemic reverie and blindly champion it.
Continue reading "Titus Andronicus - The Monitor" »
Below are the things we've posted to Twitter recently. In reverse chronological order, just like Twitter... We're reposting 128 tweets this time with a total of 84 links to stuff that (mostly) didn't end up on GLONO.
# "Suddenly, you realized that every great band or musician you love also loved Alex Chilton and Big Star; it's certain." http://ow.ly/1ozyj about 2 hours ago
# Jack White (cont): "In the end she's laughing all the way to the Prada handbag store. She wins every time." http://ow.ly/1oze3 about 2 hours ago
# Jack White (cont): "For that, they repay her with gossip and judgment." http://ow.ly/1ozcj about 2 hours ago
# Jack White on Meg: "She can do what those with 'technical prowess' can't. She inspires people to bash on pots and pans." http://ow.ly/1oza1 about 2 hours ago
# "This line here, 'Bring your friend, her friend and a blender'...? That's real good." http://ow.ly/1oyqP about 2 hours ago
# #FF @loudersoft for delivering the Chilton scoop without any sense of self-aggrandizement. about 6 hours ago
# RT @MOJOmagazine: Alex Chilton 1950 - 2010. A personal tribute to the reluctant Big Star legend, by Martin Aston. http://tinyurl.com/yez8xw2 about 6 hours ago
Lots more below, and you might consider following us on Twitter if you want to keep up with this stuff as it happens...
Continue reading "Twitter Roundup #12" »
Dream Syndicate - Medicine Show (A&M)
When Medicine Show was released in 1984, the Dream Syndicate turned from affectionate adulation to despised sell-outs for many of their fans. It was a noticeable departure from the Velvet worship of their debut Days Of Wine And Roses and Syndicate frontman Steve Wynn seemed to be trading his Lou Reed affection for Neil Young. In fact, the closest Wynn gets to Uncle Lou is with a sarcastic "You know I couldn't hit it sideways, baby!" during "Armed With An Empty Gun."
There's a lot of references to guns, death, and character flaws types throughout Medicine Show; it's almost like Wynn is contemplating killing the career of his band with what was their first major label offering. To me, Wynn finally takes notice of his Southwest U.S. surroundings and decides to kill off the N.Y.C. distractions instead.
Continue reading "Lost Classic: Dream Syndicate - Medicine Show" »
Dan Penn (in glasses) and Alex Chilton lounging at the Sam Phillips Recording Service, mid-1970s. Photo by William Eggleston.
"September Girls" on a mixtape. That started it all. I've got nothing to say that hasn't been said already. I'm thankful we have his recordings. Fucking mortality. But records don't die. So put some music on and make sure the people you care about know you love them.
I mean, jeez, I haven't even been able to get my head around Mark Linkous dying (just two days after we randomly posted his cover of "Dark As a Dungeon"). And now another one of my musical heroes...gone.
There's a William Eggleston exhibition going on at the Art Institute of Chicago through May 23. He shot the photos used on the covers of Radio City and Like Flies on Sherbet. I'm going to have to go see that.
Oh, and the Box Tops are underrated. Soul Deep is a really good collection.
Continue reading "Alex Chilton, Dead at 59" »
Detroit Social Club at Other Rooms
Newcastle, March 1, 2010
"Kiss The Sun" EP release party.
Continue reading "Photos: Detroit Social Club Live in Newcastle " »
To Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Modest Mouse's The Moon & Antarctica, Epic/Legacy Recordings is reissuing a vinyl version of the album on April 17. The album has been out of print on vinyl for more than five years.
According to the label's press release, "The Moon & Antarctica, newly-struck on 12" heavy double vinyl, has been remastered using the band-approved 2004 CD master. The album features restored original artwork and replicates the infinite lock groove found in the original vinyl pressings of 2000. The new vinyl reissue includes a download card for The Moon & Antarctica."
And just in time for Record Store Day!
Modest Mouse: iTunes, Amazon, Insound, wiki
Full press release after the jump...
Continue reading "Modest Mouse's The Moon & Antarctica Vinyl Reissue" »
Good for Ludacris who just landed his fourth No. 1 album. Gorillaz sold a bunch too. But you know who didn't? Broken Bells, the collaboration between James Mercer from the Shins and Danger Mouse. Back in 2007, Wincing the Night Away sold 118,000 in its first week. You guys left Sub Pop and signed to Sony/Columbia for that? Hope they gave you a big advance guys, because you're never going to recoup with sales like that.
1. Ludacris - "Battle of the Sexes" - 137,000 (debut)
2. Gorillaz - "Plastic Beach" - 112,000 (debut)
3. Lady Antebellum - "Need You Now" - 105,000 (down 17%)
4. Jimi Hendrix - "Valleys of Neptune" - 95,000 (debut)
5. Gary Allan - "Get Off on the Pain" - 65,000 (debut)
6. Sade - "Soldier of Love" - 52,000 (down 34%)
7. Broken Bells - "Broken Bells" - 49,000 (debut)
8. Lady Gaga - "Fame" - 47,000 (down 3%)
9. Black Eyed Peas - "The E.N.D." - 43,000 (down 8%)
10. Blake Shelton - "Hillbilly Bone" EP - 28,000 (down 60%)
Continue reading "Sales: Luda Is #1" »
Efterklang - Magic Chairs (4AD)
Love it or hate it, Arcade Fire's Funeral has reached international proportions to the point that even the second-tier bands can be found in such far reaching places like the Netherlands.
Here's the thing, when Efterklang began making records before Funeral, the records sounded a lot more like Sigur Ros. Whether or not the change in sound was a factor in the band getting signed or the result of it, Magic Chairs is yet another entry in orchestral pop world that began when people stopped smelling like teen spirit and began incorporating their friend with the cello into their rehearsals.
Continue reading "Efterklang - Magic Chairs" »
Remember back when Liz Phair came out with her Matrix-produced pop album and rebuked her indie fanboys by saying she's always been attracted to manly Marine type dudes as opposted to bookish music nerds? Well, bookish music nerds are getting rebuked once again by another 90s indie icon. This time Stephen Malkmus reveals that he's really, really into fantasy league sports to Chuck Klosterman in an interview for GQ.
The only member he consistently communicates with is multiinstrumentalist Bob Nastanovich, but that's mostly because they're in some of the same fantasy leagues. "Stephen is a pretty difficult guy to access," Nastanovich explains via telephone, calling from a racetrack in Illinois where he's working. "If you're not in the same town with him, you don't really hear from him. I've found that the easiest way to get in touch with him, even if it's about a Pavement-related issue, is to propose a trade in one of our fantasy leagues and attach my question in an e-mail memo."
Klosterman adds, "I cannot exaggerate the degree to which Malkmus enjoys fantasy sports; he almost seems to like them more than music. [...] Malkmus does not watch the NHL, yet he still participates in a fantasy hockey league. He's that kind of guy."
That's almost too weird to believe. Or is it? Lots of music geeks love sports, I guess...
Continue reading "Klosterman vs. Malkmus" »
Furthur at the Auditorium Theatre
Chicago, March 2, 2010
A couple of weeks ago, a buddy of mine emailed me: "This is it. This is the one." The subject line was "Furthur." He had just seen them play. Like me, he's a little obsessed with this stuff. He goes to see the post Grateful Dead bands when he can, like I do, and goes to see the new kids on the block, too - Umphrey's McGee, moe., etc. Since that email I've read similar comments in forums where like minded people congregate. On Tuesday, March 2, 2010, I got to see Furthur for the first of a two night run at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago - a theater steeped in Grateful Dead history. It was everything that I'd hoped it would be. Just a tremendous show. If you get the opportunity, go see a Furthur show this year. You won't be disappointed.
Continue reading "Taking it further: Furthur in Chicago" »
Slayer - World Painted Blood (Sony)
Perhaps the only issue that Slayer has—and, considering the band's potency, it's not even that much of an issue—is how they're incapable of change at this point in their career. Even if they wanted to, they'd jeopardize alienating their devout fan base, a substantial populous of such loyalty that to tinker with the formula would be career suicide.
The Ramones suffered from the same plight and—if you'll recall—twenty years into their own career, they began to wind the machine down until they finally imploded under the weight of their own pistons.
So if the Ramones represent a finely tune American V8, then Slayer adds a nitrous tank to it. And while the Ramones secretly pined for top forty success, Slayer seems completely ambivalent to it, perfectly content with appeasing their loyal fans with record after record of blitzkrieg bop, bam, and double-kick drum bash.
Continue reading "Slayer - World Painted Blood" »
