OT: New Music?

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:40 pm

I don't want to go ranting like I did on Yo La Tengo, but can I just say I don't get The Hold Steady love? A mish-mash of The Replacements and Springsteen, without assimilating either. I would have expected that after a decade of doing this (counting Lifter Puller) that Finn would have digested his influences and come up with his own thing. I just don't hear it. Though the Thin Lizzy riffs weren't on Separation Sunday, so I guess that is something new.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:48 pm

EZSnappin wrote:I don't want to go ranting like I did on Yo La Tengo, but can I just say I don't get The Hold Steady love? A mish-mash of The Replacements and Springsteen, without assimilating either. I would have expected that after a decade of doing this (counting Lifter Puller) that Finn would have digested his influences and come up with his own thing. I just don't hear it. Though the Thin Lizzy riffs weren't on Separation Sunday, so I guess that is something new.

They are definitely not an original band in terms of their sound, but to me it's the execution that seals it. They make unabashed classic rock and roll music infused with vivid lyrics. Finn may mine the same characters and situations, but his wordplay is so good that it seems fresh to me.

I had the same reaction to this record that I did to Rancid's And Out Come the Wolves and Interpol's two records. Yes, the influences are practically sewn into the sleeves and the sound isn't terribly original. But there is so much passion and energy in every song that I can't help but love the album.

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:10 pm

Brando70 wrote: They are definitely not an original band in terms of their sound, but to me it's the execution that seals it. They make unabashed classic rock and roll music infused with vivid lyrics. Finn may mine the same characters and situations, but his wordplay is so good that it seems fresh to me.

I had the same reaction to this record that I did to Rancid's And Out Come the Wolves and Interpol's two records. Yes, the influences are practically sewn into the sleeves and the sound isn't terribly original. But there is so much passion and energy in every song that I can't help but love the album.

I can get behind that reasoning. I think the Rancid comparison is apt as far as influences and assimilation point. And Out Come The Wolves is such a Clash pastiche, but the pasion does sell it. I'm not a big enough Joy Division fan to have listened to much Interpol. "Narc" was a good song, despite the familiarity.

Thanks for helping to clarify the appeal for me. I still listen to The Replacements far too much to crave something else in that vein.

If you're interested in full blown snark I "took issue" with The Hold Steady and The Killers on my blog.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:19 pm

First off, let me say thinks to this thread for introducing me to “The Hold Steady” band.

I still can’t figure out what to make of them though…It funny, I have the same feelings that both those for and against have in reader reviews and even opinions here. Part of me thinks they are pretty rockin’ with a nice, solid feel and creative lyrics. Then the other part of me feels like the lyrics are totally sophomoric, the music is redundant and the singing is unbelievably repetitive. There is something that is drawing me to listen more though.

I’ll tell you what, the second track on their “Almost Killed Me” album is just awesome, but then after that it is more of the same but not quite as good. Then there are some flashes of brilliance here and there that make me keep listening.

I am torn. I think they will be a nice additional to my “shuffle” on my iPod since they seem to be better to me in smaller doses.

This thread also introduced me to Neko Case whom I had heard of but never made the connection to The New Pornographers. He newest album is quite nice.

I have also been investigating TheHiddenTrack’s suggestions and none of them have panned out fully yet but I am still dabbling. I am very intrigued by Quasi and Menomena and slightly intrigued by that Danielson album. Can’t find them anywhere to fully “preview” (other than snipits in iTunes) so I’ll have to bite the bullet and get one of them and see what I think.

Thanks to everyone in this thread though for the great suggestions!!!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:32 pm

I don't think Finn apes Springsteen nearly as much as Rancid aped The Clash. Rancid was a Clash cover band, pure and simple, especially on "And Out Come the Wolves." All that band needed to do was play every Friday night at a hip Ramada, and it would have been the ultimate Clash cover band.

That said, like Brando, I didn't mind that album. And I also agree with Brando that the execution of The Hold Steady is what grabs me. Plus Finn writes lyrics that I can relate to. I couldn't relate to a lot of Springsteen's more "open road" and "blue-collar working man" lyrics, but as someone who grew up as a Catholic in the sometimes f*cked-up world of white, upper-middle class suburbia, like Finn although 10 years earlier than him, I can relate.

Finally, again like Brando, I just like how this is an unabashed rock-and-roll album. Much like "Separation Sunday," it just feels dirty to play this on random shuffle, even within the same album. This is a record that was meant to be played in order of tracks, and you don't get that very often in albums today.

OK, enough apeing of Brando. I've become a Brando cover poster.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:35 pm

EZSnappin wrote:Thanks for helping to clarify the appeal for me. I still listen to The Replacements far too much to crave something else in that vein.

I'm sure when a band rolls along trying to ape Wilco in five or 10 years, I'll feel the same way. So no worries.

Question is: Will there be a band good enough to do it? I have my doubts ...

Take care,
PK

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:35 pm

Oh…I forgot to update those that helped me earlier in this thread with the Guided By Voices recommendations.

I am hooked! Completely!!! I “get” them now. I have most all their stuff with the exception of the box sets which freak me out a little. Thanks foe all the suggestions on that.

Anyone listen to a band called Super Furry Animals? I have 3 of the albums and they are very unique and quite interesting. It’s good stuff. Not off the charts amazing, but very solid. I can’t even begin to compare them to anyone though.

Not sure if I mentioned this before but I am absolutely loving the new TV on the Radio album, “Return to Cookie Mountain”. I liked it from first listen but all subsequent listens have made it even more amazing. I got their other, first full length album but am not quite as thrilled about it.

The new Trey Anastasio album, Bar 17, is actually very, very good and not too ‘Phishy’. It is the most solid, fully realized and original solo work he has done yet, by far IMO.

I also just picked up the Clap your Hands Say Yeah CD and it is a fun listen. They are a mix of quite a few different influences and the singer may get on some people nerves, but I like it a lot.

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:25 pm

If you like their latest, you owe it to yourself to get TV On The Radio's first EP , Young Liars. I think it is the best thing they've done, and Return To Cookie Mountain sounds like its follow up. I didn't much care for Desperate Youth . I like the Super Furry Animals - they remind me of some demented hybrid of Blur and seventies Kinks (Misfits/Low Budget era). Rock and roll you can dance to.

Glad to hear the Trey Anastasio is good - he has such great chops, but doesn't always no when to say when.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 4:25 pm

Maybe it's just my middle-aged ears, but when I listened to The Hold Steady, I heard bits and pieces of Thin Lizzy in Finn's vocals and narrative based songs. They just need some dueling twin guitar leads and the transformation will be complete.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:58 pm

I've said it before in this thread and I'll say it again: Damn you guys are white! LOL

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:25 am

Does anyone have a copy of Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 1&2 (the Billy Bragg/Wilco co-op project on Woody Guthrie's songs) that they would be willing to burn for me. (Insert "cheap ass trying to save a few bucks" crack here)

I'll pay for the CD's and postage. Thanks.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:32 am

RobVarak wrote:I've said it before in this thread and I'll say it again: Damn you guys are white! LOL

Were you listening to your Geto Boys CD when you wrote that

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:07 pm

RallyMonkey wrote:Does anyone have a copy of Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 1&2 (the Billy Bragg/Wilco co-op project on Woody Guthrie's songs) that they would be willing to burn for me. (Insert "cheap ass trying to save a few bucks" crack here)

I'll pay for the CD's and postage. Thanks.

Yes. But my copies are only from MP3's in the 128-192 kbps range. So if you're looking for something burned straight from CD to a WAV file, I can't help. Sorry.

PM me with your details if you're still interested.

Take care,
PK

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:30 pm

Brando70 wrote:
RobVarak wrote:I've said it before in this thread and I'll say it again: Damn you guys are white! LOL
Were you listening to your Geto Boys CD when you wrote that

Nah, The Roots "Game Theory" as I recall.

I mean 8 pages of posts and it looks like the 700 club in here

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:20 pm

RobVarak wrote:
Brando70 wrote:
RobVarak wrote:I've said it before in this thread and I'll say it again: Damn you guys are white! LOL
Were you listening to your Geto Boys CD when you wrote that
Nah, The Roots "Game Theory" as I recall.

I mean 8 pages of posts and it looks like the 700 club in here

Hey, since when has Robert Randolph been vanilla? And for the record, I like John Legend's new album, too.

So I'm not the David Duke of pop music. Maybe closer to George Wallace instead.

Take care,
PK

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:37 pm

pk500 wrote:Hey, since when has Robert Randolph been vanilla? And for the record, I like John Legend's new album, too.

So I'm not the David Duke of pop music. Maybe closer to George Wallace instead.

Take care,
PK

Does that make me Lester Maddox?

But seriously, I just go with the flow and hate on everyone's taste. But I'll listen to most everything. Game Theory is solid, as is the new John Legend. Can't seem to make up my mind about Lupe Fiasco - that "outro" is just NOT something that needed to be on the album. That's what liner notes are for.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:27 pm

pk500 wrote:
Hey, since when has Robert Randolph been vanilla?

Since he opened for Eric Clapton.

Actually, I saw him open for EC a couple years ago and he was brilliant. Turned the s***-hole barn that is the United Center into an intimate venue through shear enthusiasm.

I hope that you've heard the Sacred Steel records that launched Randolph's career. If not, they are a must-hear! Also, the record he did with the North Mississippi All Stars called The Word is pretty good.

EZ, I like the Lupe record and definitely agree on the shout-outs. I do like it better than the Rhymefest album, though.

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:33 pm

I just ordered this package through Amazon.ca (I would've ordered it through the record label page but they're out of stock/backordered):

Sufjan Stevens Presents: Songs for Christmas. It's a pretty cool little package including five Christmas EPs he has released over the last 5 or so years and a few other cool little things (essays, sing along book, STICKERS!!!, short stories). A pretty solid value at $22.99CDN and a lot of the songs will be good for my Christmas party coming up - yes, I have friends.

If you click on the link below you can check out what comes with the package as well as stream all of the EPs so you can hear the music before you actually pay for it/download it off of BitTorrent sites.

http://www.asthmatickitty.com/suf_xmas/suf_xmas.php

On a related note, I was recently recommended to pick up the Weakerthans' album "Left and Leaving" and after a few listenings I like it. It's by no means "new music" as it was released in 2000.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:41 pm

The new Clapton-J.J. Cale album, "The Road to Escondido," is a decent strummer. No songs with any urgency or passion, but a good "front porch" listen.

I doubt there are many country fans here, but Vince Gill's new four-disc release, "These Days," is a stunner. Each disc has a different theme -- country-rock, jazz-torch songs, traditional country and gospel-bluegrass. It seems pretentious as hell, but only a guy with Gill's musical talent could pull it off. This is not your typical "hat of the week" Nashville schlock.

"These Days" is the album Ryan Adams wished he made in 2005.

Take care,
PK

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:41 pm

DeVotchKa. Gypsy mariachi shoegazing pop played by folks from Denver. Terrific stuff. Their new EP is a collection of covers, including a gorgeous version of "Venus in Furs."

For you Minnesoohhhtans, they are at First Avenue this Thursday and are, by all accounts, absolute magic live.

And one of the best band names ever.

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:42 pm

Oh, and Amazon's clever roose to encourage the customer to add more merchandise in order to qualify for free shipping worked on me: I added Richard Wagamese's "Dream Wheels" to the order, which was actually a better price than I have seen around here anyway.

Wagamese is a Native Canadian author and I've read two novels of his before, with my favourite being "Keeper N' Me". If you're interested at all in aboriginal North American philosophies/culture at all, I impolore you to pick up either "Keeper N' Me" or "For Joshua". His writing also encouraged me to visit a reserve here (well, not quite here - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) last Winter and that turned out to be an amazing experience.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:59 pm

RobVarak wrote:
Brando70 wrote:
RobVarak wrote:I've said it before in this thread and I'll say it again: Damn you guys are white! LOL
Were you listening to your Geto Boys CD when you wrote that
Nah, The Roots "Game Theory" as I recall.

I mean 8 pages of posts and it looks like the 700 club in here

I did pick up TV on the Radio's Return to Cookie Mountain and like it a lot. So that breaks my Stevie Wonder Bread trend!

Seriously, a very good album, one of those CDs that's hard to describe because it blends a little bit of everything: hip hop, soul, rock, ambient. "Wolf Like Me" is a great song and getting repeated play while driving.

I picked up the new Trail of Dead CD, So Divided..and I'm kind of divided. I'm a little disappointed, but can't tell if it's because their Source Tags and Codes album was so good, anything would be a disappointment, or if they are becoming a bit stale. I need a few more listens to know for sure. Still, some good prog-punk stuff on here.

devilsjaw · Post by **devilsjaw** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:21 pm

If any of you guys are into country/folky type music with a little bit of an edge, I highly recommend Tim Barry. He just released his first album and has a demo cd out as well that is damn good. Raw, honest lyrics with simple music that is very powerful. Check out his myspace page if you want to hear a sample: http://www.myspace.com/timbarryrva

It's all I've been listening too lately. An independent artist that I think is deserving of a little praise.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:37 pm

I picked up the TV on the Radio as well ($9.99 at Target, gotta love that), and haven't really had a chance to give it much listen yet, but one of the songs in the middle really grabbed me the first time through. I'm not usually into the whole Prince/soul sound, but I've got a feeling this one may grow on me a lot.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:35 pm

LOVE TV On The Radio. I'm also digging the hefty new Tom Waits and the gorgeous remastered Belle Album by Al Green.