OT: New Music?

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:22 pm

Going to see Xiu Xiu tonight. Should be interesting to say the least. Wish me luck.

Boltman · Post by **Boltman** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:55 pm

Chiming in real late, I dont usually post in music threads because I hate to argue, I'm a huge raging Ska fan. Here is my input...........

I'm posting this first, for those of you not familiar with the genre of music that I am referring to, here are refferences to check out.

Famous Ska, weather it be OG (lots of Reggae, Ja influence), Two tone (My fave, I grew up on, Madness, The Beat, The Specials), or 3rd wave (which is also awesome, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Sublime, No Doubt, Reel Big Fish, Leftover Crack, Streetlight Manifesto).

Check out these guys if you can, if you are too lazy to not google or youtube, check... The Dualers. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... D=39362704

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:00 pm

I'm going to see Mastadon with Cursive and These Arms are Snakes. I'm going pretty much 99% for Cursive though. It's in a few weeks.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:36 am

Airdog wrote:I'm going to see Mastadon with Cursive and These Arms are Snakes. I'm going pretty much 99% for Cursive though. It's in a few weeks.

make sure to let us know how the show was..curious to hear what cursive is like LIVE

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:00 am

Sudz wrote:
Airdog wrote:I'm going to see Mastadon with Cursive and These Arms are Snakes. I'm going pretty much 99% for Cursive though. It's in a few weeks.
make sure to let us know how the show was..curious to hear what cursive is like LIVE

Sure will. I'm glad they're one of the opening acts, because I fear I won't be able to hear much after Mastodon's done playing.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:36 pm

So much good new music has entered my ears the last few weeks:

Arctic Monkeys -- "My Favourite Worst Nightmare." Not a huge departure from the first album, but I still like it.

The National -- "The Boxer." Knew nothing about this band until I heard a few tracks on a music blog. Very good lower-fi stuff.

Blonde Redhead -- "23." First heard this band on the EXCELLENT NPR podcast "All Songs Considered." Very cool, moody, sometimes creepy, atmospheric rock. The chick lead singer has an enchanting voice. This album is blowing me away, to be honest.

Ibrahim Ferrer -- "Mi Sueno." I'm a massive Ferrer fan, as I could listen to him sing names out of the White Pages. This was the album of bolero songs that Ferrer longed to record, but sadly he died in 2005 midway through the recordings. Apparently he recorded all of the vocals, but it was feared those tapes were lost. They were found, the music was added posthumously, and the result is a beautiful record. Lord, this man's voice is a world treasure. Thank God recordings will sustain it for future generations.

Feist -- "The Reminder." Another enchanting album from Leslie Feist. 'Nuff said. Really enjoy this one.

Tinariwen -- "Aman Iman." EZSnappin said it all about this record from this African group. Just cool as hell. Another great recommendation from Erik.

Nine Inch Nails -- "Year Zero." I'll admit, NIN is an acquired taste for me. I jumped on the wagon with "Pretty Hate Machine" and "The Downward Spiral," and fell off it afterward because I could only enjoy those records in doses because parts of them were just too noisy, like Phil Spector on acid. But I like what I've heard so far of the new record. It's still intense and angry in parts, but it seems a bit more lo-fi, at least by the standards of the first two NIN records that I mentioned.

Konono No. 1 -- "Congotronics." I finally got my mitts on this entire album, which is a few years old, after hearing most of the tunes individually. It's one of the most most unique, interesting and cool records I've ever heard. African, rhythm-based electronica played on street instruments basically made of panhandlers' junk. WTF? Nope, an amazing record.

Take care,
PK

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:53 am

If anybody knows how to get a couple of tickets for either the Toronto or Chicago performances of Arcade Fire, let me know. I need two. I'm sure this is pretty much impossible, but hey.

EDIT: I know you can get them at exhorbitant prices, but I'm not interested in that.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:52 pm

blonde redhead...HORRID live show.

ugh

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:50 pm

Sudz wrote:blonde redhead...HORRID live show.

ugh

Too bad, as it's very cool music.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:39 pm

The more I listen to "The Boxer" by The National, the more it's becoming an early candidate for Album of the Year for me. It's much, much too early for that proclamation, but I think this record will stick in my top 10 for the year much like Neko Case's early 2006 release did for me last year.

Thank God for music blogs. I never would have discovered this band and this album without them. There's so much damn good music out there if you just shut off commercial radio, drop your preconceived sonic barriers and explore around the Web.

Take care,
PK

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:21 pm

pk500 wrote:The more I listen to "The Boxer" by The National, the more it's becoming an early candidate for Album of the Year for me. It's much, much too early for that proclamation, but I think this record will stick in my top 10 for the year much like Neko Case's early 2006 release did for me last year.

I'm slowly coming to the same realization in regards to the National's latest. My first listen time through I thought it was nice, if a little innocuous. Each additional spin, however, makes me like it more and more. Three or four times it has drawn me in and I've had to hear the whole thing before moving on, which is rarer and rarer in this digital age. I'm sure I'll get a hard copy when it hit stores the end of next month.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:43 pm

Absolutely, E. There's just so much subtlety, such as the tinkling of strings, a few piano notes, a faint horn, etc. It seems like such a simple record, but it's so quietly lush. Every note seems to have a purpose and a place, with little or no excess.

Plus Matt Berninger's voice is so unique, definitely a beautiful case of less is more. I listen to these screaming pop stars and idiots on "American Idol" that most Americans think are great singers, and then I listen to a wonderful, smoky, expressive voice like Berninger's and think, "What the f*ck is wrong with people?"

I just started listening to lyrics closely tonight, and they're pretty damn cool, too.

Man, this is a damn fine record.

Take care,
PK

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:41 am

pk500 wrote:The more I listen to "The Boxer" by The National, the more it's becoming an early candidate for Album of the Year for me. It's much, much too early for that proclamation, but I think this record will stick in my top 10 for the year much like Neko Case's early 2006 release did for me last year.

Thank God for music blogs. I never would have discovered this band and this album without them. There's so much damn good music out there if you just shut off commercial radio, drop your preconceived sonic barriers and explore around the Web.

Take care,
PK

That and satelite radio which is were i first heard them. Left of centre on Sirius is a great channel for new music. They also have blog radio at nights, very cool.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:55 am

Anyone watch the "live' at&t webcasts from coachella? I was kinda impressed with the presentation. Arcade Fire last night was a hoot. It was the 'festival' without all the B.O..... I missed Of Montreal on friday.

http://attblueroom.com/inc_event_mediap ... p?id=#vtop

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:22 pm

Is it just me or does anyone else think the new Rush album is really good?

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:35 pm

I've heard whispers about it being good, but I haven't liked any Rush album that came out in the last 23 years. I look forward to giving it a listen, though.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:14 pm

Leebo33 wrote:Is it just me or does anyone else think the new Rush album is really good?

I've only heard the single, but I like it. Manages to have the energy of Vapor Trails, but with a better sound for them (I didn't mind the distortion on some of the songs, but it was a little much across a whole album). They are my favorite group and in the "automatic buy" category for me.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Thu May 03, 2007 12:54 am

Went to go see Ted Leo live tonight (Toronto). Amazing show to say the least. For those that haven't seen him in the flesh, he basically lays it all out on stage. You feel exhausted yet rejuvenated at the end of it all.

He played a lot of his new album, plus a lot from Hearts of Oak, Shake the Sheets, etc...

And just so I can tie it all back to sports (this being a sports site and all), he and the crowd were trash talking each other about the Nets/Raptors series. He's from Jersey of course.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu May 03, 2007 2:12 am

The music ain't new, but it's absolutely amazing. PBS is running a new American Masters about one of my heroes, Ahmet Ertegun. It's not the most hard hitting journalism, but it's a tremendous survey of the life of a really unique individual.

TheHiddenTrack · Post by **TheHiddenTrack** » Thu May 03, 2007 2:35 am

pk500 wrote:The more I listen to "The Boxer" by The National, the more it's becoming an early candidate for Album of the Year for me. It's much, much too early for that proclamation, but I think this record will stick in my top 10 for the year much like Neko Case's early 2006 release did for me last year.

Thank God for music blogs. I never would have discovered this band and this album without them. There's so much damn good music out there if you just shut off commercial radio, drop your preconceived sonic barriers and explore around the Web.

Take care,
PK

I like the new record, but you need to listen to "Alligator" if you like The National. I listened to that non-stop for nearly a summer.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu May 03, 2007 10:04 am

TheHiddenTrack wrote:I like the new record, but you need to listen to "Alligator" if you like The National. I listened to that non-stop for nearly a summer.

Thanks. I grabbed that one, too, and it's good.

Take care,
PK

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Thu May 03, 2007 10:29 am

TheHiddenTrack wrote: I like the new record, but you need to listen to "Alligator" if you like The National. I listened to that non-stop for nearly a summer.

I'm loving The Boxer, but I tried to get into Alligator when it came out and it did nothing for me. It is entirely possible my tastes have matured, or that I finally "get" what The National are doing, so I'll have to give it another try.

I don't know if anyone else shares this next particular taste, but I've been listening to a number of current bands who are updating the psychedelic hard rock of the late 60s/early 70s; Mammatus' upcoming album The Coast Explodes, The Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound's debut Ekranoplan , and the band Earthless (I haven't got to hear their upcoming album, but am still rocking their last, Sonic Prayer). I love hearing bands expand on the sound of Blue Cheer, Hawkwind, Ummagumma-era Pink Floyd, early Sabbath, Flower Traveling Band and the like. The Assemble Head promo material describes them as Mudhoney meets Haight-Ashbury. If anyone's interested in this stuff drop me a PM.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Thu May 03, 2007 10:33 am

fanatic wrote:Went to go see Ted Leo live tonight (Toronto). Amazing show to say the least. For those that haven't seen him in the flesh, he basically lays it all out on stage. You feel exhausted yet rejuvenated at the end of it all.

He played a lot of his new album, plus a lot from Hearts of Oak, Shake the Sheets, etc...

And just so I can tie it all back to sports (this being a sports site and all), he and the crowd were trash talking each other about the Nets/Raptors series. He's from Jersey of course.

Fanatic, I just saw him in Iowa City last week. Really enjoyed the show and you're right, he's super energetic when he plays. But his bass player needs to cut his hair -- he looks like Kip Winger!

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Thu May 03, 2007 11:11 am

Brando70 wrote:Fanatic, I just saw him in Iowa City last week. Really enjoyed the show and you're right, he's super energetic when he plays. But his bass player needs to cut his hair -- he looks like Kip Winger!

Yeah, there are "cool" over-the-top long hair looks and then there's what this guy had going. He seemed a little spaced the whole show if you asked me.

However, watching the drummer was crazy! The dude talks to himself while he plays and looks generally possessed. He was awesome, along with Ted Leo of course.

slimer · Post by **slimer** » Thu May 03, 2007 12:09 pm

Been listening to Blonde Redhead daily since PK's recommendation. Can't quit listening. Great pickup.

Also picked up Congotronics. While I like it just fine, I am not seeing the groundbreaking sound that people are talking about. It seems like I have it heard it plenty every time I stepped off the cruise ship in the Caribbean. There are one or two spots where I hear a very deep rumbling electronic sound which is really cool, but I am not hearing that throughout. The rest seems pretty standard, impromptu jamming.