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Thursday, April 29, 2004

Coachella

Well, I'm leaving in about 15 minutes for Minneapolis. There, I will watch my little brother's lacrosse game, celebrate my sister's birthday, then board a plane bound for Phoenix tommorrow morning at 10:30. From there I shall lounge beside a friend's pool, cocktail in hand, as I wait for his plane to arrive from the Motor City. Once he's arrived, we will commence catching up, ingest more cocktails, and prepare to witness a music festival of ridiculous proportions. Au revoir bloggers, I'll be back on Tuesday with a play by play account of my travels and hopefully a bunch of pictures to boot.

James | 4/29/2004 08:26:00 AM

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Wednesday, April 28, 2004

T-Wolves; Smith

The T-wolves nearly gave me an ulcer last night, barely beating a Denver team that was essentially minus Carmelo Anthony. The Wolves aren't playing very well right now, as KG admitted in a post-game interview, calling their play the last two games "crappy." They do, however, have a 3-1 lead that almost guarantees them a spot in the next round versus Sacramento. Let's hope Wally can come back (though Fred Hoiberg had a huge 4th quarter) and Sprewell and Olowokandi can get on track.

I read this Elliott Smith news here first. This makes me happy and, of course, sad at the same time. The good news is that I'll be in Coachella to catch whatever film footage of him that they're showing. Should be interesting.

James | 4/28/2004 09:35:00 AM

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Tuesday, April 27, 2004

RIP HS, Jr

I just found out that one of my favorite authors died yesterday of chronic pulmonary disease. "Last Exit to Brooklyn" shocked the hell out of a 20 year-old me the first through fifth times I read it. I also think that Darren Aronofsky did a good job with "Requiem for a Dream." Why? Some of my friends still ask me how I can watch it. In my demented world that's a good sign. I always respond by asking them if they've ever read "Last Exit to Brooklyn?" Usually the answer is no so I borrow them the book, giddily waiting until they return it a week later and forgo speaking to me for a while.

James | 4/27/2004 01:48:00 PM

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Homegroan

Dont' get me wrong, I'm elated that the Homegrown Festival is actually going on. However, I am a little disappointed at some of the scheduled times. Seriously, who in their right mind would schedule Bone Appetit at 7:30 at the MAC (a no liquor facility)? That's just plain stupid. Bone rawked the fuck out of Quinlan's at midnight (or was it 1:00am?) last year to the delight of a packed house. This, simply put, is an absolute injustice. I like the Undesireables as much as the next guy, but who can justify their closing slot at the NorShor on Friday? No way, that should have been the Bone. And what, praytell, is with the Pizza Luce lineup? I understand that the MAC wants people to come through their doors (thus a Snakes closer on Friday, that's cool) but that Saturday lineup is lackluster at best and I'm not going to even comment on the Friday night acts save Baby Grant. Luce is far and away the best venue in town (right now, involved in Homegrown, barely edging out the 'Shor and don't get me started on Quinlan's) and the best the organizers can put together for a closer Saturday night is Trampled By Turtles? I love 'em, they're all great guys, they draw a lot of people, and their music is cool as hell in the right context, but in no way are they a Homegrown closer. Not even close.

Maybe I'm wrong and getting old. Who knows, maybe this'll be the best Homegrown ever? I'm just saying that for a Homegrown closer I want a SHOW! Where are The Dames!? Why not The Black Labels or even Words to A Film Score (I'd also say the Snakes, but I get why they're playing at the MAC)? Shit, I'd happily take Bone Appetit sloppily blowing my brains out at 2:00am over an acoustic act that specializes in making one tap their toes.

I'll still be there, drunk, happy and probably tapping my toes, but...

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's a bitch to deal with the artists, venue owners, etc. I'm just exercising my right as an American to gripe a bit. )

James | 4/27/2004 11:57:00 AM

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This Isn't Happening

First Wilco cancel their Coachella appearance and now possibly Radiohead? Apparently Thom Yorke's throat is all messed up and they've had to cancel some recent Austrailian shows. Now, granted I have seen Radiohead three times, this would still disappoint me greatly.

James | 4/27/2004 10:47:00 AM

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The Good Times are Killing Me

I'm nervous for the Timberwolves game tonight. I don't think that the Nuggets have a realistic shot at winning the series if KG asserts himself, but if he doesn't, like in game 3, the Wolves are in trouble. I don't think that losing Sczerbiak will hurt all that much if Hoiberg can step up his game a bit, but losing a former All-Star is not a good thing. Especially if the T-Wolves can get past the Nuggets and have to play (probably) Sacramento. I'm predicting a revitalized KG dominates the Nuggets tonight then closes the series out at home in Game 5.

On a side note, my boss at work was glad the Wolves lost one game because he's got Game 5 tickets. Let's hope that's all they need.

I broke down and am testing out a beta Gmail account; Google's new email service. Gmail gives you an ungodly amount of space for free, but tailors its advertisements according to the content of your emails. That's a little scary, but I'm hoping Google gives me a heads up on their IPO.

I just completed a story recently on I Am the Slow Dancing Umbrella for this week's Norhtland Reader. They're playing on Friday the 30th at the NorShor with Podland and Portrait of a Drown Man. I strongly suggest checking this show out as they're all good kids and very talented musicians. Even though I've only seen I Am the Slow Dancing Umbrella live, I've heard Podland MP3s and they're quite good. I'm still waiting on some Portrait of a Drown Man stuff in the mail.

If I were going to be in town I'd be at this show with a beer in my hand. However, I'll be here. I cannot fucking wait!

Playlist:
Modest Mouse-Everywhere and his nasty Parlour Tricks(lp)
Oblivians-Popular Favorites(cd)
The Jesus Lizard-Down(cd)

James | 4/27/2004 08:53:00 AM

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Monday, April 26, 2004

Holy Shit

I just got this email from some publicist person at Matador.

GUIDED BY VOICES RECORD FINAL ALBUM

After almost 20 years, assorted lineups, and countless albums, EPs, singles, triples, stolen bases, misdemeanor convictions, and broken hearts, Dayton, OH's fortunate sons are taking leave of your senses. Half Smiles Of The Decomposed, to be released August 24 on Matador Records, will be the final album from Guided By Voices, one of the most acclaimed independent rock bands of all time.

"This feels like the last album for Guided By Voices," explains Robert Pollard, GBV's lone constant member, lead singer, and famously prolific songwriter. "I've always said that when I make a record that I'm totally satisfied with as befitting a final album, then that will be it. And this is it."

Half Smiles Of The Decomposed is the band's 15th full-length studio release, following 2003's Earthquake Glue (called "the most consistent and satisfying Guided By Voices album to date" by All Music Guide) and retrospective box set, greatest-hits, and DVD releases. Although its tour later this year will be the band's last, Robert Pollard will continue writing, recording, and (possibly) touring as a solo artist. "I love the guys in the band, but I'm getting too old to be a gang leader," he explains. "There's a sense of maturity, and even integrity, I think, in continuing as one's own self."

Looks like I'm gonna hafta check out a handful of these gigs. Some part of me is really sad, but another part of me knows that this had to happen eventually. In memorium, it's gonna be all GBV all day for me.

James | 4/26/2004 09:44:00 AM

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Friday, April 23, 2004

Back

I decided that I wouldn't post this week unless something was really bugging me--no more of the Live Journal style entries (at least for this week anyway). Anyway, last night at the liquor store this obviously intoxicated black guy comes in to buy some booze. I pay the man no mind because it's not like drunk people are an out of the ordinary occurrence in our store. Drunk man asks my co-worker where "the fuck the Cat 40s at?" My co-worker points them out to the man and he grabs two.

There's a detail in here before I get to the point of this story that merits some mentioning. Every once in a while we feature $.99 forty ounce bottles of malt liquor. Most of the time they're either Cammo, Magnum, or, in this case, Wild Cat Ice (i.e., the shittiest of the shitty beer). For some reason we've had this enormous stock of The Cat Ice (what it actually says on the bottle) for about a month and a half that, even though we go through four cases a day, we still have tons of. I've always had a theory that goes something like this: the relationship between the price of 40s on Duluth's Hillside and the amount of violent (verbal, sexual, domestic) acts that occur are inversely proportional. Or, as the price of 40s go down, the acts of violence go up.

Now, back to the story.

So, our drunk villain sets his two 40s on the counter right next to this inconspicuous 21 year-old girl trying to buy a 12-pack of Michelob Golden Draft bottles. This man begins to not only slobber on this girl in a disgusting attempt to pick up on her, but then also begins to beg her for a dollar. She's obviously uncomfortable, but manages to admirably ignore the heathen, collect her change and beer, and maneuver outside before the drunken slob can further accost her. I decide to hold my tongue since the girl had managed to avoid any type of exchange with the man and think to myself, Good for you. But now he's got his bloodshot and slightly crossed eyes set on me.

I ring his two bottles of malt liquor up and ask the guy for $2. The man proceeds to throw his two dollars at me and sloppily ask me if we've got a bathroom. I tell the guy what I tell everyone: "Not a public one."

The man lists to one side before responding:
"Yeah, you just ain't got one for black people's all."

This pisses me off. Who the fuck does this guy think I am, a fucking clansman? Do I have KKK tattooed on my knuckles? Does our store have Jim Crow laws plastered to the wall? I'm absolutely dumbfounded at this man's fucking comment. I respond by asking him if I said that? Did I say no blacks? No. I said no public pissing fucker.

"I was just saying," he says, giving me a fuck you, you white motherfucker glare.

"And I was just telling you, buddy. No public bathroom."

I wanted to get into it with this guy. I wanted to push him up against a fucking wall, spittle flying from my lips and embedding itself on his cheeks, as I belittled him for his fucking ignorance. I wanted to say to him that we don't play sides, we're an equal opportunity destroyer. We provide relief/pain/death/happiness in a bottle for anyone who's got the cash to pay us for it.

But I don't.

I put the guy's beers in a bag and hand them to him. He grabs them with the same fuck you whitey glare, we have a nice little stare down as he stumbles out the door, and then he's gone. As he leaves I can feel the temperature of my head shoot up what feels like a million degrees. I'm fucking steaming.

The two people in line behind the guy question me, asking something or another like, How can I handle people like that? I answer that I've seen it all a hundred times and that it's really nothing. We are, after all, on the Hillside.

What I'm thinking deep down, though, is that even though I'd like to throttle this fucking idiot, I really feel kind of sorry in the same breath. At some point in life everybody fails. Some people get back up and have another go at it, while some people spiral down even further. Those that spiral down usually never take a look in the mirror and ask themselves why they are where they are and instead decide to blame everyone else around them. They take up drugs or alcohol and lash out at their parents, siblings, spouses, or even a lowly liquor clerk to make that pain go away; to prove to them self that it's not their fault that they're a fuckup--it's that racist motherfucker down at the liquor store's.

So I picture this guy on a dirty apartment floor somewhere, his two 40s of Cat Ice consumed, and I hope that nothing terrible has happened. I hope that he hasn't beaten his wife or his girlfriend or his children to a messy pulp. I hope that he hasn't maimed or tortured or berated some innocent bystander minding their own business or that girl at the counter who he tried to proposition earlier. I also hope that at some point he has that moment of clarity people talk about where God or whoever speaks to him and leads him on a path to redemption or sobriety. But I'm not holding my breath; one thing I've learned about the Hillside is that it's long on pain and short on happy endings.

James | 4/23/2004 10:24:00 AM

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Saturday, April 17, 2004

No Sampras

While my tennis game has gone woefully downhill in the past couple of weeks, I am pleased to say that I just ate a delicious meal at the Lake Avenue Cafe. Caribbean Chicken...mmmmm. Just the thing to ease the biting sting of a 6-2, 6-2 thrashing at the hands of a less than worthy opponent. Not only has my serve failed me, but I cannot hit a forehand for shit.

As I expected, I was not among the final 10 to interview for the DAMF/ First Ave. job. I wasn't really expecting too much, so I s'pose I'm not too disappointed. Well, maybe a little.

No other news to report from my ivory tower. I hope that everyone has a good time at Geek Prom tonight. I won't be attending because those types of gatherings are not exactly my cup of tea.

MP3 of the Day:
Haley Bonar-"Ransom" (Dirty Knobs Payback Remix)

You can also check out some other new Dirty Knobs' stuff here.

Playlist:
Joy Division-Heart and Soul: Disc 3

James | 4/17/2004 01:38:00 PM

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Friday, April 16, 2004

Oh Bill

Bill Cosby--anti-drug crusader keeping the nation's children from becoming deranged drug addled pimps, pushers and prostitutes.

MP3:
"Dope Pusher"

Dig it as the children join Bill for the refrain of "I don't need no bad drugs."

Hell no Bill, I need the good drugs! Where they at?!?!

(Thanks Fluxblog)

James | 4/16/2004 11:27:00 AM

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Thursday, April 15, 2004

Low Fans

Don't never say I never did nuthin' for ya.

"I Remember" (Empire State Human Remix)

Check out Empire State Human's website here since the MP3 link does not work.

James | 4/15/2004 10:55:00 PM

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T-Wolves Thursday

Last night the T-Wolves clinched their first Midwest Division crown and secured the number one seed in the Western Conference playoffs (and consequently home court advantage through the Western Conference finals) by dismantling the Grizzlies 107-90. This game was joke by halftime and I didn't even watch the fourth quarter the Wolves were kicking ass so badly. If you're a Wolves fan you've got to feel good about riding a nine game winning streak into the playoffs against a pretty weak Denver team. I think that the Wolves are really going to have to step it their level of play to get to the NBA Finals, but that dream has never been more within their reach.

KG=MVP...end of story. KG is the first man since Wilt the Stilt to lead the league in total points and total rebounds. Congrats KG.

I've been listening to the new Wilco album all day today and the jury is still out. I like it, but it really hasn't blown me away like first time I heard Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I am definitely not complaining though.

I had something else to say, but now I can't remember. Oh well.

Playlist:
Wilco-A Ghost Is Born(internet stream)

...Oh yeah, everyone should read The Epicure's Lament, if only to not be like Hugo (well, I don't think he's all that bad, but...) Plus, it's really good. I like character driven stories much more than plot driven, so I like The Epicure a bit more than The DaVinci Code (which was OK) and a lot less than Love In the Time of Cholera (which was amazing).

James | 4/15/2004 11:37:00 AM

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Wednesday, April 14, 2004

Seriously...

Check this out because some of it's pretty fucking good. Also, I've reversed my earlier decision on The Grey Album. It's only OK. There are probably three tracks worth listening to. This is waaaaay better--I promise.

Website:
Beatallica

MP3:
"Everybody's Got a Ticket To Ride Except For Me And My Lightning"

James | 4/14/2004 01:28:00 PM

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Master! Master!

I hate to keep stringing people along without any payout, but I just finished a crossword for Sabbath's Master of Reality. It was a lot harder than the others, but well worth it. That makes four for anyone counting:

Pavement--Slanted & Enchanted
The Replacements--Let It Be
Neutral Milk Hotel--In The Aeroplane Over the Sea
Black Sabbath--Master of Reality

Wey hey! I need a real job .

James | 4/14/2004 01:08:00 PM

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The Dames

Radio K just played The Dames cover of "All Along the Watchtower" from the Duluth Does Dylan comp. Ok, while it's cool that Radio K are playing The Dames, why couldn't they have played something from Divorce ("The Masochist?" "Piss Pot?"?) or even "Taiwan?" Oh well.

Playlist:
Radio K Stream

James | 4/14/2004 10:34:00 AM

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Yeah, Yeah I Know

This blog is due for some insightful ranting or proselytizing, but I've not been in the mood lately. Instead, I'm just going to be monotonous and boring and post a review of the Pixies show at the Fine Line last night. I can't wait until that bootleg arrives in the mail; this setlist makes me want to cry for not being there.

Concert review: Pixies' first reunion concert is special
Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune
April 14, 2004

No nostalgic speeches were made. No $250 golden-circle tickets were sold. Nothing the Pixies said or did Tuesday night at the Fine Line Music Cafe suggested they were playing their first-ever reunion concert _ and that, of course, made the show all the more special.

The T-shirts on sale called it the "Pixies Sellout" tour, but the truth is the Boston band that helped give birth to the early-'90s alternative rock boom could have done a lot more to milk its first public gig in 11 years.

Tickets originally sold for $30 were going for as much as $400 on EBay. Judging from the 500 or so fans who were lucky (or rich) enough to get in, the quartet could have charged twice that amount and gotten away with only playing half of the 27 songs in Tuesday's setlist.

Actually, there were a lot of noticeable omissions in the fast-paced, 90-minute performance. Like many groups who split up less than amicably, the Pixies stuck mainly to early recordings _ from when things were still fun and innocent in the band.

Only one song from each of its two final albums were played, while three-quarters of its first two LPs and even a big chunk of its little-heard 1986 debut EP were offered. It didn't matter, though. The crowd howled along to obscure oldies such as "Broken Face" and "Levitate Me" as readily as it did to latter staples such as "Here Comes Your Man" and "U Mass." The only song that wasn't widely recognized Tuesday was a cover of Neil Young's "Winterlong," which tells you a little something about the primary age and record collection of the Pixies' cult fan base.

This truly was a reunion concert Gen-X style, something the kids of boomers have really only experienced with one other band, Jane's Addiction (which has unfortunately milked its reunions). The Pixies pre-dated the post-Nirvana days when cool alternative bands got played on FM radio, so there really weren't "hits" to play. That left them to terrific, deep-album cuts such such as "No. 13 Baby" and "La La Love You," the latter of which was introduced by bassist Kim Deal as "one we never, ever played live."

The few other comments made by the bandmembers fit the self-deprecating tone of the T-shirts. When frontman Frank Black/Black Francis (real name: Charles Thompson) struggled to tune his guitar before "Vamos," he remarked, "This is starting to seem like our first gig."

There were some assorted missteps, too: a botched bass part in "Tame," an out-of-tune "Velouria," and the poorly paced encore lagged except for a singalong version of "Where Is My Mind?" On the other hand, Francis' scream of a voice was in great shape, and he and Deal _ who were at odds with each other all these years _ could still harmonize like best buddies. Thankfully, though, that's as close as they got to appearing sentimental.

Pixies set list:

"Bone Machine"
"Wave of Mutilation"
"U Mass"
"Levitate Me"
"Broken Face"
"Monkey Gone to Heaven"
"The Holiday Song"
"Winterlong"
"Nimrod’s Son"
"La La Love You"
"Ed Is Dead"
"Here Comes Your Man"
"Vamos"
"Debaser"
"Dead"
"No. 13 Baby"
"Tame"
"Gigantic"
"Gouge Away"
"Caribou"

Encore:

"Isla de Encanta"
"Something Against You"
"Velouria"
"In Heaven"
"Wave of Mutilation" (slow version)
"Where Is My Mind?"
"Into the White"

James | 4/14/2004 09:02:00 AM

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Monday, April 12, 2004

DAMF/First Ave.

I just had a telephone interview with a person at First Ave. for a job opening soon with their Developing Arts and Music Foundation. While I would love to get this job, it means that I'd have to move to Minneapolis pronto--like next week. This puts me in a very stressful position. My (potential) house is here, my girlfriend is here, my home is here. I frickin' love Duluth and Lake Superior and Michigan Street and Hawk's Ridge and New Scenic Cafe and Lake Avenue Cafe and Uncle Louis' Cafe and...I think you get the picture.

James | 4/12/2004 12:24:00 PM

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New Week Rising

Highlights from this past weekend:

Friday--City Councilor Donny Ness came into the liquor store and purchased a 12-pack of Killian's Red and a six-pack of Moose Drool Brown Ale...got drunk at Pizza Luce and uttered an inappropriate comment to one of the servers (I think she liked it though)...came back to my house and drank Crown Royal until 4am.

Saturday--worthless. Read half of The Epicure's Lament and watched American Splendor--again!

Sunday--Watched Phil Mickelson pull off an incredible Master's victory by holing a 14 foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole to beat Ernie Els by one stroke. This Master's is destined to go down in history as one of the best ever. Els has got to be really bummed about this loss. The man did eagled two holes plus pulled out (if my memory serves me) at least three miraculous par saves. I thought he had the thing for sure, but ohhhh Phil. Seriously, I've been pulling for this guy since 9th grade. Mickelson is the most likeable player on tour because he's pretty much a better version of John Daly (minus the drinking and drugs and stuff). He smiles, he pats people on the back, and carries himself with certain amount humanity and humility that you never see from Tiger Woods. I'm rambling here--and my girlfriend thinks I'm crazy--but I'm really, really happy about that win.

Congratulations on your first major Phil!

Playlist:
I-Collide-Instructions
Madvillan-Madvillainy

James | 4/12/2004 10:55:00 AM

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Saturday, April 10, 2004

...

wow.

James | 4/10/2004 08:53:00 PM

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Friday, April 09, 2004

Ok, I Lied

I've got to post a link to this, because I almost peed myself. (Thanks to M. Matos' blog)

Mr. T, Bitch

Only Mr. T can use the word absoludicrous, bitch.

James | 4/09/2004 12:21:00 PM

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NMH

Just finished a crossword for NMH's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Now I just need to find some way to scrounge up $50.

Starfire got Found Magazine to come to Duluth. Awesome!

The New Year are coming out with a new album. Awesome!

I've got to go to work in an hour. Awesome!

No more posts today. Awesome!

Playlist:
KEXP Stream

James | 4/09/2004 12:13:00 PM

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Thursday, April 08, 2004

Still Got Tha Skillz?

Do the Beasties still have tha skillz ta pay tha billz? My guess is that they do. I'm excited for the new album. Ahhhh...I remember the summer of Hello Nasty fondly: idling around Marcy Park with a tab of acid on my brain; riding my bike to and fro--Dinkytown to Uptown and back; drinking Miller High Life through a straw (another story altogether) on hot Minneapolis summer nights. Those were the days. A return to the Mini-apple may be in the cards. We shall see.

Playlist:
Radio K Stream

James | 4/08/2004 12:06:00 PM

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Wednesday, April 07, 2004

A New Thing

I'm going to try a new thing for this blog if I can manage it. In the past two days I've put together two album based crossword puzzles. One is for The Replacements Let it Be and the other is for Pavement's Slanted and Enchanted. These things are really easy for me to do, but the software that I'll need to put them on the website is $50 and my credit card bill is already astronomical.

Other albums that I've got in the works are The Beatles White Album, Van Halen 1984, Nirvana (I can't decide which one to do), Oasis Definitely Maybe and I'm thinking Black Sabbath (can't decide between Master of Reality or Paranoid) and Sonic Youth Daydream Nation.

I think that posting one or two a week would be fun. What do people think?

These things will be pretty easy to solve if you use the web, but pretty tough otherwise unless you actually own the album or are a die hard fan (in which case you probably already own the album). I think the Replacements one is 22 clues and the Pavement one is 24.

I wish I could post a sample to print out.

James | 4/07/2004 08:06:00 PM

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Again? Wow!

The Pixies must really like Minneapolis because they're returning this November to play Roy Wilkins Auditorium (ugh!). Here are all the fall dates:

09-04 Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphitheatre
09-06 Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
09-18 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits
10-14 Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre
11-11 Minneapolis, MN - Wilkins Auditorium
11-13 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
11-24 Toronto, ON - Arrow Hall

That Austin date looks pretty choice ( better set your VCRs...I mean Tivos) as does the Aragon Ballroom. What's up with Wilkins though? I suppose it provides a larger seating capacity than First Ave., but I was really looking forward to First Ave. That's a bummer.

James | 4/07/2004 07:22:00 PM

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Calling All Geeks

Everyone should go to Geek Prom.

Everyone, that is, who has ever obsessed over Choose Your Own Adventure Books, worn pants that were too short for them (we're not talking Capri pants here folks), or has kept a running tally of every CD and vinyl record that they own.

You know who you are, you know who you be, so go visit with other like minded geeks see?

get your geek on

To watch a movie go here:
Geek Prom (Quicktime movie 12.8Mb)

James | 4/07/2004 07:52:00 AM

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Tuesday, April 06, 2004

Uh Oh

Let's hope that Tweedy gets himself sorted out. As we all know, those prescription drugs can really mess you up. Oxycontin anyone?

I'm out to go buy this cd and enjoy the day. You should too!

In case you're going to stay in, maybe you should read this if you have an opinion on selling out. (I feel like I've posted this think before. Have I?)

James | 4/06/2004 08:49:00 AM

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Monday, April 05, 2004

Kurt, Kim, Thurston, et. al.

I won't post any Kurt Cobain hero worship stuff because I'm sure you've read or seen it somewhere else by now. However, this is a very interesting tour diary from Dave Markey who filmed and photographed Sonic Youth and Nirvana as they traipsed across the European countryside in 1991. Markey's footage would eventually be assembled into a film called 1991: The Year That Punk Broke (a copy of which everyone who even remotely likes what one might have once called alternative rock should own).

Read in wide eyed splendor as Dave scores a pre-release copy of Nevermind and really likes it! Imagine that.

Another cool entry is Markey's last of the tour where Courtney Love enters the backstage area and introduces everyone to her (then) boyfriend Billy Corgan. Everyone was, in Markey's words, "vastly underwhelmed." I guess Courteney musta picked up on shit, dumped Billy's ass quick like, and hopped on the Cobain pony express. And the rest, as they say, has been packaged and sold numerous times by now so as to make a lotta people a lotta money. Ahh the early 90's...

Go here to view the whole diary.

James | 4/05/2004 11:22:00 PM

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This is the Best Thread Ever (for Music Geeks)

...and everyone says so about every tenth post or so. If you don't have at least an hour to peruse this thread on ILM I suggest waiting until you do.

Access it here.

James | 4/05/2004 11:07:00 AM

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Equanimity

I've just been alerted to this band's presence on the Internet. I thought that the site had gone inactive quite a while ago, but they just changed URL. So, in the spirit of equal representation...I present the new band link at left.

ps: this issue is now officially dead

James | 4/05/2004 09:00:00 AM

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Why I Love 'em

This news article serves to underscore why people love this band so much.

Playlist:
Madvillain-Madvillainy(lp)
The Smiths-Louder Than Bombs(cd)

James | 4/05/2004 08:37:00 AM

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Sunday, April 04, 2004

A Change

I've been coaxed into changing my Both review a bit. I'm actually happier with it now because I've ironed out the inaccuracies that inhabited the earlier review. The tone hasn't changed, nor has my opinion of the album, but I took out the "rhetorical question" and "riff" rock bits since they were apparently inaccurate. I also amended my comments on the song "Growdsup Bad"--a song that I like despite the vocals. I'd appreciate comments from the few of you who leave them if you believe I've caved into pressure by changing this a bit. I don't think that I have, but as we all know, different people have different views on things.

Here it is:

Both

Bleat for Help

Self-released

The first line of "Brick to the Face," the lead track from Both's forthcoming album Bleat for Help, begs the question, "Do you really want to party?" The nature of the question notwithstanding, Both definitely do not want to party. You couldn't guess that from the song however--a fast paced rocker with finely placed keys and effects--because it actually makes you want to get sweaty, rock out, and yes, god forbid, even party. However, throughout the vast majority of Bleat for Help Both manage to evoke little more than a heart palpitation. Working through songs that are, at turns, terribly repetitive ("Gay Christian Metal"), verge on mom-and-dad-rock ("The Thing I Could Not Know"), or would have been better left as instrumentals ("Growdsup Bad"), Bleat for Help puzzles more than pummels. Especially since "I Can't Be Faded"--which slowly simmers to devastating climax of nefarious riffing, bass thuds, and cymbal crashes--and "Farewell" (with Haley Bonar on lead vocals) nearly make up for the rest of the record.

James | 4/04/2004 07:37:00 PM

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Saturday, April 03, 2004

Hmmmmm

I received an email today (which follows the CD review) forwarded to me from the Ripsaw. I understand the touchy feelings that stuff like this will stir up in people. For everyone's amusement, but mostly my own, here's my unedited (I'm not sure which version Dave Hendrick saw) CD review for Both's latest CD:

Both

Bleat for Help

Self-released

The first line of "Brick to the Face," the lead track from Both's forthcoming album Bleat for Help, begs the question, "Do you really want to party?" The question is rhetorical, because with Bleat for Help Both don't want an answer and they definitely do not want to party. You couldn't guess that from the song however--a fast paced riff rocker with finely placed keys and effects--because it actually makes you want to get sweaty, rock out, and yes, god forbid, even party. However, throughout the vast majority of Both manage to evoke little more than a heart palpitation. Working through songs that are, at turns, terribly repetitive ("Gay Christian Metal"), delivered without passion ("Growdsup Bad") or verge on mom-and-dad-rock ("The Thing I Could Not Know"), Bleat for Help puzzles more than pummels. Especially since standout tracks "I Can't Be Faded"--which slowly simmers to devastating climax of nefarious riffing, bass thuds, and cymbal crashes--and "Farewell" (with Haley Bonar on lead vocals) nearly make up for the rest of the record.

The Response I Received Today

The review of Both's forthcoming "Bleat For Help" album is poorly conceived, inaccurate, and myopic.

As a review, the initial paragraph is constructed as an analysis of meaning from the first lyric of the song "Brick To The Face". The reviewer assumes that the first line, "Do you really want to party?" is a rhetorical question and one that does not require an answer. If the reviewer would've taken the time to analyze their analysis, they may have come to the conclusion that, instead, the question being asked by Greg Cougar Conley is,

"Do you really want to party or is it the Juliard in you?"

Meaning is a grey area that exists between an artist and audience, and as such, the reviewer should be free to infer their own meaning from the lyrics. However, it is clear that the question is not rhetorical and is examining the prudence of pro-party statements. To paraphrase,

"Is it your sincere belief that you desire the act of partying or is that you have been trained and conditioned to do so?"

In order to understand the complexity of the question being asked, one must first understand the nature of the artists who receive instruction at Juliard. These musicians aren't so much as educated as they are cattle-prodded into being the virtuosos of their respected instruments. And even if they do succeed in becoming the best oboist in the country or world, how then would one attain proper recognition? Is classical music training akin to B.F. Skinner's classical conditioning?

And how does it all relate to statements Andrew W. K. made about being classically trained? Should anyone give a rat's ass as to Andrew W.K.'s classical training?

The reviewer then points out that the music behind the lyrics is of a nature that would make one want to party. Rather than explore this zenesque duality, which permeates much of Both's universe, the matter is left untouched. Not exploring this attitude, this I-refuse-to-join-any-club-that-would-have-me-as-a-member mentality is almost as big a blunder as calling "Brick To The Face" riff rock. Riff rock, as a genre, tends toward pentatonic single note phrasing that is then either doubled or harmonized by a second guitar ala the first four Black Sabbath albums, anything you might hear at a Clutch concert, or Led Zeppelin II. "Brick To The Face" instead offers power chord driven rock ala The Who, the first Foo Fighters record, or Andrew W.K. This reaffirms the duality, the seeming contradictions of the everyday, that makes life interesting to Both.

Proceeding down the path most taken, the reviewer then pans songs in a manner which can only be called superficial. To write off "Gay Christian Metal" as being repetitive is just plain lazy. Music, in its poetic nature, is repetitive. From Debussy's "Le Mer" to the call-and-response format of gospel blues to Aphex Twin's "Come To Daddy", repetition of themes, lyrics, and structure is used to create an atmosphere of familiarity within a work thus facilitating a dialogue of ideas between an artist and an audience. No responsible music reviewer should be allowed to get away with calling music repetitive unless they go out of their way to qualify such a statement.

Perhaps the most infuriating moment of the review occurs when the reviewer misses the entire point behind "Growdsup Bad". The accusation that the vocal performance is short sighted. The song is a stripped down, lounged out, jazz number and the lyrics serve as a tribute to a loved one. To "American Idol" up the song with flashy vocal appregioes would've only distracted from the song as a construct, placing style over substance. Independent music has enough false grails in the form of front men. Both has no interest in this type of showboating and is instead interested in serving the song.

What follows is then an arcane and esoteric reference to "The Thing I Couldn't Know" as mom-and-dad rock. The only illumination to this statement is that the song puzzles more than it pummels. In a review that is dim and vague to the point of being pointless, I'll let that one slide.

Praise is limited to two tracks, "I Can't Be Faded" and "Farewell", if only serving as an opportunity to actually praise Haley Bonar. There in no mention of the Iron Maiden-esque explosion that is "Poopdeck" nor is there word of the dynamics in "Doesn't Anybody Want A Lover Anymore", an amazing song featuring some of Cougar's most amazingly poignant lyrics that, when performed live, features the audience as an instrument.

Not once in this review does the author examine the new direction of Cougar's lyrics. This album features a more introspective voice when compared to past records. This voice is asking questions that are asked by the everyperson everyday. As a body of work, the words to the music show a desire to connect and a sincere attempt to understand. This review, on the other hand, is quick to pass judgment of surface values, offering little depth and lacking any justified explanation.

Dave Hendrick
Bassist
Both

My take on the matter is thus: when given a short space there is little time for in-depth analysis of each and every facet of an album. I did thank Dave for correcting me on the "riff rock" mistake. That was my bad, as riff rock describes a genre of rock all together different from that which "Brick to the Face" presents. Hey, I can admit when I'm wrong, but as for his other complaints, I strongly suggest picking the CD up for youself and deciding. Reviews are people's opinions and I stand by my mine steadfastly. I was bored with the vast majority of Bleat for Help due large part to Greg Conley's passionless, seemingly uninterested vocal work.

As for Hendrick's other concerns:

"Do you really want to party or is that the Juliard in you?"

can also be interpreted:

"Do you really want to party? Or is that the Juliard in you?"

Without the benefit of a lyric sheet, I interpreted the line and translated it as the latter (obviously incorrectly). At the time the first part seemed a question in no need of an answer, hence, rhetorical. It seemed to me at the time (and even now) that Both don't wanna party and they don't want you to either because they're so serious to the point of tedium. Hopefully, you're able to glean a bit of this stifling, holier-than-thou tone in the response above.

But whatever.

People never like to hear that other people don't like their art. I can feel Mr. Hendrick's frustration at being misinterpreted, but it's pretty goddamn difficult to jump into someone's head and figure out what they're thinking and then convey that in the space of 150 words. Gimmie two weeks with the CD and 1,000 words and maybe we're talking.

This shit happens all the time though. Fuck, I don't even really think that these count as reviews, they're more like 150 word blurbs that, by their nature, only present a vague outline of what you can expect from a CD. I understand that I do have a responsibility to accurately portray the albums that I review and not slam them without merit, but I don't believe that I've ever done that. I take what I do very seriously as I'm sure anyone who considers themself a writer, painter, musician does.

I suggest, if you're really into music, reading publications who have the space to spare for longer reviews like The Big Takeover or Pitchfork. The space reviewers are given in these publications allows the reviewer to paint a more nuanced and detailed picture of CDs that they may not even like. Hell, in the old Ripsaw we were at least given 300 words.

One other thing:
Praise is limited to two tracks, "I Can't Be Faded" and "Farewell", if only serving as an opportunity to actually praise Haley Bonar. There in no mention of the Iron Maiden-esque explosion that is "Poopdeck" nor is there word of the dynamics in "Doesn't Anybody Want A Lover Anymore", an amazing song featuring some of Cougar's most amazingly poignant lyrics that, when performed live, features the audience as an instrument.

First of all, I didn't take the opportunity to praise Bonar as much as I thought it relevant to note that she did perform lead vocal duty on the song. It also, however, provided a much needed respite from Conley's singing, which, as I mentioned before, I don't care for. Maybe a sentence dedicated to that would have been prudent, but hindsight is...well you know. Second of all, I like Iron Maiden, but I didn't like "Poopdeck." And why would I bother mentioning songs that I don't particularly care for?

Oh well, it's all good. A free exchange of thoughts is a good thing and I appreciate any feedback on my writing that anyone wishes to provide me. So good luck to Both. I wish you all the best of luck.

James | 4/03/2004 11:22:00 AM

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Friday, April 02, 2004

Bummer

This, from a Dischord newsletter, isn't good news. I really liked Black Eyes s/t debut and was (still am I guess) really looking forward to their new record.

Dischord News and DC band and label updates:

Black Eyes announced from the stage friday night at the Black Cat that the show that night would be their last. Clearly we at Dischord are deeply saddened by the news that the band will be breaking up. Black Eyes represent, both musically and ethically, an uncompromising spirit of creative independence that we are proud to be a part of. The good news is that before their announcement the band delivered a stunning new recording, "Cough," that will still be released on CD and gatefold LP on May 31th.

In better news, the Gitchee Gumee Brewfest is tommorrow and I cannot wait. Brewfest day/night represents one of the two weekends that I always have marked on my calendar. The other is Homegrown, which, thankfully, is still going on this year.

James | 4/02/2004 02:43:00 PM

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Pixies Live Recordings

The Pixies are going to be releasing some limited edition live recordings of all the shows on thier new tour. All of the recordings are going to be hand numbered deals limited to 1,000 copies (except for Coachella where there will be 2,000 copies). Half of each batch will apparently be available to people attending the shows and the other half are available here. Get 'em while you can!

Playlist:
Pixies-Surfer Rosa(cd)

James | 4/02/2004 09:00:00 AM

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Thursday, April 01, 2004

Stupid People

People say dumb shit all the time. I'm reknown in my circle for nonsense, but these comments reek of ignorance. Here's an example:

"...know the code, ethics and culture of basketball, which is, in case anyone is new to the game like some of these idiots that apparently have responded in a negative fashion, the code is it's a black man's game and the white man is privileged to be allowed to step on the court."

These remarks were made in response to an earlier view that the Boston Globe's Bob Ryan had expressed in an interview, specifically that Western Michigan would upset Vanderbilt (note: they didn't) in the NCAA tourney because Vanderbilt "have too many white guys."

What if Ryan had commented on the game of hockey? Changing "basketball" to "hockey", "black man's game" to "white man's game", and "white man is privileged" to "black man is privileged" Ryan would have ingnited a national outrage and probably been unceremoniously dumped from his job pronto a la Jimmy the Greek.

The point: I am disgusted that people such as Bob Ryan and Rush Limbaugh continue to inject race into sport for no other reason than to showboat. I'm not sure that anyone has ever made a compelling argument as to why race matters in any sport where everyone has equal access to perform. Maybe turing a blind eye to the race issue in sports is naive (because it lurks everywhere in our country, simmering just below the surface whether we like to admit it or not), but perpetuating these stereotypes really has no useful purpose in any form of discourse--especially in the sporting ring.

The bottom line is that in sport--regardless of your race--performance is what counts (racial preferences and racism among coaches, general managers, front office personel or owners cannot be overlooked, but will not be disscussed here). Not making your jump shot? See ya. Can't hit that slider? Bye-bye.

Is basketball a "black man's game" anymore than hockey is a "white man's game?" No way.

While the NBA and college basketball may be predominantly made up of black athletes, I've seen more than my fair share of people playing hoops all around the country--they're old, fat, white, short, young, tall, American Indian and yes, black. So, to who does it really matter if 1% of 1% of the basketball or hockey players playing at the highest levels are of one racial group or not? The same people who walk into a crowded room, look around, and label everyone according to their attire. In short, idiots.

On a side note, the T-Wolves, though slumping a bit, are only 1 game behind the Kings for the number 1 seed in the Western Conference. Goddamn that'd be nice.

Playlist:
Scratch Radio

James | 4/01/2004 10:22:00 AM

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