Dan the man Auerbach, rides again.

After a very enjoyable, albeit lost weekend, I came back home to my  girlfriend’s busted up computer, and my own riddled with viruses. Needless to say I've been less than eager to sit and do a review. Luckily, I've found just album to come home to. 

Dan Auerbach, of Black Keys fame, comes through this effort in a blaze of gritty rock glory, sporting a fancy new Yusaf Islam look to boot. Musically, we travel  no road not previously Google mapped before. Difference being, this time he goes not alone, or at least sans drummer producer Patrick Carney. The result, a fully fleshed out, and truly realized album. Not unlike when Jack White broke away to do the Raconteurs, but without the feeling there was a lot of ego stroking behind the scenes. This is one man's fully realized vision, with the proper accompaniment to ease him along.

It rocks, it grooves, and it swaddles me all the while, unfortunately setting the bar for the Keys on their next outing. I'd go as far as to pose the question, who's the real side project here.

Well, just wanted to get a quickie out of the way to shake the rust from my fingers. Have a couple more coming, including Woodpigeon, and the Black Lips.

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Grading the Lily.

Lily Allen- It's not me, it's you:

Is a follow up to, Alright, Still, released in Dec. '06, and album I found myself liking more than I like to admit. I still wonder how much that has to do with the creepy old man factor, when I thought she was only a 17 or 18 (at best) year old girl. In actuality she's only a few years younger than I. She blends dry catty Briticisms, powder-puff power pop, and pseudo introspective lyricism, to create a facade of vunerability with a girl interrupted wild streak.

Musically, very little of this album I would listen to on my own volition. I typically hate heavily processed studio albums. Last week we covered the Bird and the Bee which straddled that thin line, and came out, for the most part, for the better because of it. I try not to come into a review with a predetermined criticism, but sometimes it's the elephant in the room when evaluating my criticisms. 

I found Lily's last album to be fun and cheeky, and at the times, I thought her lyrics to be quite adult and risque for a young girl, but seeing how she's 23 now, I'm not sure how lenient I can be when the chorus to one of her songs is simply "Fuck you, very, very much". 

A few exceptions throughout were several stripped down tracks. Musically simplified, drum machines at half capacity, and she just sits and bares her soul, dropping the former pretension, found at the front of the album.

I'm curious how much concern she truly has for the issues she addresses. That is to say, if she truly has any real concern over the Sierra Leone blood diamond trade, or if she's just singing to hear her own voice. While I can't pretend to see into her heart on this, I typically frown on preachy artists, no matter what the issue. I don't even like when Bono does it, and he's won Humanitarian awards. Saul Williams, yes. Kanye West, maybe. Lily Allen giving her 2 cent's on God, not gonna happen.

Truth is, her bread and butter are the smash and grab relationship tracks. When she starts to get preachy about the seedy nature of things, I have to tune out. 

Bottom line: I surprised to find this album so well reviewed. That's why I chose it before even listening to it. That and I liked her first LP. I feel this is really aimed to a much more easily impressed audience. I heard it all already last time, and she adds very little new on this effort. Aside from a few stellar tracks peppered throughout, I feel it to be a mediocre follow up at best.

Letterman shines!

I'll probably comment later, currently at work, but I just laughed my balls off. Please watch the late great Joaquin Pheonix make a dick of himself on national TV. That's what he gets for trying to rap.

I love David's last remark. If you don't get the reference, google Farah/Letterman.

Rock royalty have rubbed him for luck.

Thanks to Timeout NY (link above). 

Just when I began to think I was was reading too many music blogs, and getting too revolved around the indie scene for my own nerdy good, I was blessed with this post. 

Matt Pinfield's personals ad. 

I can't even make fun of this. It's just damn funny. Rock's own Uncle Fester is on the prowl. Think of how much tail he's gonna get from college drop outs who want top slip him their demo tapes. They would have to subject themselves into being Pinphiled... Yuckers!

Kind of felt bad there for a second, almost forgot Matt Pinfield was a real person. Fuck it, he worked for Mtv, the station that has done everything to bastardize aural art and retard pop culture for the masses, diabolically imaginable.

Also, new Podcast out. I did what may be my last audio segment. I realized halfway through that if I felt bored talking about my hobby, it must be shit. Feel free to shut it off after the 2 album reviews. 

Blue's the new red.

Hate linking to a  MSN post (click title), but I had to jump on the Autotune hate wagon.

Death Cab For Cutie decided to wear blue ribbons to promote hack musician awareness. Well, they phrased it better.

I love these dorks. I like their music, love the fact I'm sure I can take any one, of not all of them at once in a fight, and now the fact that they're doing something completely insensitive towards real causes.

This is the kind of bad joke I would do, and I'll defend it like it's my idea. It was funny at the time, and anyone promoting awareness thinking a stupid ribbon is really help their cause, is usually lazy and conceded. And it's a joke!!!

When you look at me like that, it's a joke!

Dear John gets a letter.

Loney, Dear- Dear John

I wasn't surprised to find out he's touring with Andrew Bird, as I found lot of similarities between the album last week and this. In fact the album starts quite intensely and amusing with a very pop friendly sound, much like that Of Montreal before the went all trippy synth Prince style a couple albums back. Then the material starts to slow down into a modern folk routine much like Andrew Bird, or Bon Iver without the haunting vocals. 

In fact this album, more than any in recent memory, had me scratching my head thinking what each song reminded me of. I found similarities to Wolf Parade, Death Cab, Gomez, and the one that I kept trying to think of, sat at stuck in my memory like a caraway seed, or popcorn shell caught between molars, and the more I tried to think of it the further it sank, and I even started singing original soundalike song, but it continued to elude me. I finally placed it though, it was the track “Summers” that reminded me of “I Made a Resolution” by Sea wolf off their Get to the River Before it Runs Too Low EP.

That's why I have to pass on recommending this album, although I did feel this was a competent release, I couldn't pass the feeling I've been down this road before. Originality is paramount for me, and while I wouldn't accuse them of plagiarism, I couldn't help but think how everything reminded me of something else, with little new material. It's one thing to have a completely uninspired sound, It's another to just do something I had liked better the first time I heard it. Can't say I hated this release because it has some good tracks, but I quickly got indifferent to it, which artistically is a fate worse than fail.

John working solo, 'cus it's his bar and can't no one say "boo"!

Well, Finally talked to the man himself. John Condron okayed my posting of his performance last week.

I was treated Thursday to another solo performance, laced with his best originals, and quite a few covers. Check the video feeds below and you'll know why this is a guy my gf asks for nights off whenever he's performing. All she wanted was his CD's for her birthday, which he obligingly signed for us.

Here's what I love about John, other than the fact he has yet to kick me out of my favorite Pub: When he performs, I can see the love, passion, energy, and enthusiasm for his craft. Those things I can only write about, he can express in the ways I will never know first hand. Luckily he has been so kind to not only let us get first crack at his new album (tba), but to answer a small Q&A for the site and podcast (will submit and post ASAP).

While I live in a small town in Il. I'm lucky enough to live stumbling distance from my favorite watering hole. Not only do they have a killer selection at reasonable prices, and know how to pour a perfect pint, but somehow they manage to bring in some fun and wonderful acts. I don't get a chance to make many concerts these days, so it's a real treat to make it out and see the likes of Brendan Loughry, Allison Moroni, The Righteous Hillbillies, Lupe Carroll, Deconstructing Jim, Chicago Farmer, etc... That's why it's a pleasure to introduce you all to John, a man who's even more excited and supportive of local music than I. The hallmark I've come to identify him with, is his enthused mantra shouted at the beginning and end of each of his performances, "Support Local Music!". A moniker I've proudly stolen, and incorporated with my podcast page.

These are only 2 flicks, a brief sample of what the guy is capable of. I seen him perform many times, but only once was I treated to Hallelujah, originally Leonard Cohen, but covered a million times since then, and I kid you not when I say I feel he knocks all the others out of the water. I'm not even trying to sound ass kissy either, not like I need to. If you think I'm blowing smoke, check out his cover of Dear Prudence, courtesy of his homepage.

Quite frankly, I don't need to toot anyone's horn. I podcast about music with a couple friends for the fun of it. I started a little blog to give myself the opportunity to talk even more about my favorite subject. We've been dieing to start doing little interviews with local artists, to bring a better insight to to artform we love, and can only critique and stand in awe of. (More to come, as next week I hope to nail down Lupe Carroll, he mentioned working on some demos, and I hope he has an idea when he will finally release an album.)

Without further ado, here is, what I hope is to be the first, of John doing what he does best.

Hopefully the next time we'll get the whole band! I'll have more to come btw, so stay tuned. In fact add my RSS feed so you don't miss a thing!

P.S. Here's links to the original files (right click, save as, etc.) for the Quicktime downloadable version, with "slightly" better audio. It was taken from a camera phone, so don't expect magic!

VID 1 VID 2

Also trying to get some fishing in, but have some album reviews to come.

Not local news famous, rush to change Wiki famous.

Ex... No! Eternal Cramps frontman, Lux Interior has passed. I have little to say about this other than the smart ass title above (click it to read whole story).
But I do have a Bill Hicks, qoute: "Sing from you fucking HEART!!!" -By doing so, he's granted a seat in heaven.
Thanks to The Daily Swarm.

Why we don't review the raps.

I usually thank the original source for breaking a story, but fuck you Pitchfork. First they said this was a rock song? These guys work in and around the industry? They know musicians? They run a music festival?!
This is about the suckiest suck to ever suck. This guy managed to rhyme the word nigga' with nigga' about 15 fucking times in a row. If, you're offended I used that word, so am I. He insulted my intelligence, that's personnal, race is general.
Listen to Saul Williams, and come back to me, anyone who would defend this song.
And we are reviewing a rap cd this week BTWays. Dalek -Gutter Tactics.
I refuse to offer a link to the youtube of this song based on principle (I'd rather be Rick Rolled), click the post title above to see the original article, and the video from there.
And as for you Waynely, You're a grown ass man, drop the Lil. And I'm not calling you Weezy, grow the fuck up, and stop aiming for the lowest common denominator. If your fans ran out of shit to listen to, they might read a book. Alright, that's a lie, but still, cut the shit.

Sometimes you wake up with a good story.

Well, I've been meaning to add John to the to main site for a while, but he mentioned working on some new material so I held off. Well, I caught some of his performance the other night, and just realized I had caught some of the performance on my gay LG enV, you know the kind that flips up to text so I look like a 16 year old girl.
So put the vids on my main site (above link) for all to enjoy. Just click the pics of John. There are two. I swear it's not Antony and the Johnsons... Shaun.

Does it have bluetooth so I can order Chinese?

Thanks to Reg Hardware UK for this (click title link above for the article).
So I saw these, let's call them Fuck Fones, and the horny geek in me said put them on the gold card, there's points to be earned.
They're headphones that motivate your sin making (hard to believe you could love someone and look them in the eye while wearing these), based on heart rate monitoring. With musical and vocal motivation and correctional responses, not to mention they come in iPod white. Love to see that energetic two tone commercial.
Look for The Love Tutor at your local BB and Apple store, next to the Bose, and Dr. Dre Beats demo booths. It'll be the one with a "ballot box" curtain to draw.

Once you do a commercial, you're off the artistic role call.

Reference to a Bill Hicks line. We rushed this week's show cause we all had Super Bowl plans, luckily I missed the BobDylan/whore commercial. The good news is he's past his relevance now, so the fact he decided to suck the devils cock only hurts my once fond memories.
Cus' I felt I skipped around in my review to condense for time, so I'll just post my write ups over the course of the week.
Franz Ferdinand- Tonight: Franz Ferdinand:

A follow up to '04's Self Titled, and the quick turn around sophomore release in '05 You Could Have It So Much Better. Leaving a nearly 4 year gap in between always builds up ? marks. Expectations can become cumbersome when reviewing, either you never live up to them when they're too high, or you are so pleasantly surprised it doesn't suck, a mediocre release comes off as an excellent outing.

After the 4 year drought of new material, the first things that are clear and apparent is all the standard FF fair has made a welcome return. Dance floor rock stomp, plainly suggestive innuendo, and a continuous string of pick-up line lyrics that are notch less brazen than Louis the XIV, are all still there. Then again I wasn't hoping "Ulysses" was the start of a concept album based upon the James Joyce classic here.

New to the affair is the addition of electro fuzz that layers several tracks (Tom, and Dan decribed it as a glam rock rock revival, my words, their thoughts). Recording with the Hot Chip producer makes for an updated sound that tweaks but doesn't break the mold.

This leads me to my main concern, lack of originality and ingenuity. My key expectation and concern coming into this album was that they would exploit the bend but don't break method of songwriting and not add enough new elements to make this a worthy follow up to their previous success.

Upon first listen I found myself biting my nails in fear they'd disappoint, as I found the few tracks very cookie cutter. The high point of the A-side being their single Ulysses (or Ulis-eez, as it's pronounced in Franz Ferdinese), which most prominently, yet briefly, shows off their attempt at a twist to their well established sound. Think dark disco beats. I found myself digging the sound, then it would stop. I really wanted to hear it explored further. I finally got my wish on the B-side, namely the sub 8 min Lucid dreams.

Final verdict: entertaining, but not overly impressive. I think fans who haven't moved on may really enjoy this. The biggest hurdle it had against it, is that in the 2 weeks I've been listening to this, I've also heard quite a few excellent albums that have proven more inspired. That being said, I have in fact listened to this album a bunch of times, and have really enjoyed it, despite the fact that there's not much depth to explore, it's still damn fun.

I found my hero

Pitchfork media is showing the film Desperate Man Blues, only a few minutes at a time. Catch ep 1 as it's only up for a week.
Old dude as over 25,000 records. All vinyl. Kinda' makes your MP3 player full of pirated music look like a purse don't it?
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