OT: New Music?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:54 pm

The more I listen to "Stay Positive," The Hold Steady's new album, the more I like it even more than "Boys and Girls in America." And I liked that one a LOT.

There are few rock bands that can put together a more complete rock album -- in the classic 60s or 70s sense of a complete album -- right now than The Hold Steady. It's not just a collection of songs -- it's an album. And a damn good one.

Take care,
PK

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:12 pm

pk500 wrote:The more I listen to "Stay Positive," The Hold Steady's new album, the more I like it even more than "Boys and Girls in America." And I liked that one a LOT.

There are few rock bands that can put together a more complete rock album -- in the classic 60s or 70s sense of a complete album -- right now than The Hold Steady. It's not just a collection of songs -- it's an album. And a damn good one.

Take care,
PK

This one is a lot darker than BAGIA I think, and doesn't have quite the hooks and pop sense that the last one had. As an album, though, it's outstanding. There's really only one track (Navy Sheets) that I'm not thoroughly enjoying, and even that track has some things that I appreciate.

But Constructive Summer, Sequestered, Cutters, Lord I'm Discouraged, Stay Positive, Joke About Jamaica and Slapped Actress are absolutely fantastic songs. They're playing a sold-out show at the legendary First Avenue here in Minneapolis on July 22nd. I can't wait to hear some of this live with Finn's energy affecting the place. "Our Psalms are sing-along songs" indeed.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:42 pm

"Sequestered" grabbed me the first time I heard the record, but "Slapped Actress" is the song to which I continue to return over and over.

I'm jealous that you're seeing them. Have a great time!

Take care,
PK

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 2:57 pm

I'm really excited. The last time I saw them was at a larger theater here in town. It was a tight show, but the energy was down from the 1st Ave shows. Finn and Kubler put on a hell of a show for their hometown, so I'm expecting an epic show.

And you're right about Slapped Actress. That should be really fun live.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:06 pm

I just don't get The Hold Steady. The lyrics are incredibly witty, but the band just is (rarely) up to the challenge. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see people latching on to them over 100's of other bands, but there's just nothing interesting about them other than the great lyrics IMO. I do dig how they wave their "we're an american (bar) band" flag - best of luck fellas...

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:23 am

greggsand wrote:I just don't get The Hold Steady. The lyrics are incredibly witty, but the band just is (rarely) up to the challenge. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see people latching on to them over 100's of other bands, but there's just nothing interesting about them other than the great lyrics IMO. I do dig how they wave their "we're an american (bar) band" flag - best of luck fellas...

They consitently come up with great hooks, have expanded their sound with keyboards and horns while retaining their identity, and play with a high level of energy. They don't necessarily offer anything new, but they do a good job blending some of the best elements of 70s classic rock with Finn's evocative, slice-of-life lyrics. That's what keeps me coming back to them.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:23 am

Brando70 wrote:
greggsand wrote:I just don't get The Hold Steady. The lyrics are incredibly witty, but the band just is (rarely) up to the challenge. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see people latching on to them over 100's of other bands, but there's just nothing interesting about them other than the great lyrics IMO. I do dig how they wave their "we're an american (bar) band" flag - best of luck fellas...
They consitently come up with great hooks, have expanded their sound with keyboards and horns while retaining their identity, and play with a high level of energy. They don't necessarily offer anything new, but they do a good job blending some of the best elements of 70s classic rock with Finn's evocative, slice-of-life lyrics. That's what keeps me coming back to them.

Very well said.

The Hold Steady are a rock band, an increasingly rare commodity in music these days. They're not art rock, emo, alternative, grunge, metal, experimental, prog-rock, pop-rock, baroque rock, world-beat rock or any other pigeon-holed variety of rock.

Take care,
PK

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:43 pm

My early contender for Album of the Year may be a little different than most of yours, but it's Real American Music of the highest order. Just a beautiful record:

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/586 ... the-blues/

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:48 pm

Got the new Beck yesterday and, after a couple of listens, am enjoying it as much as any other Beck I have on my IPod. I'm really looking forward to Mellencamp's new release next week.

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:59 pm

RobVarak wrote:My early contender for Album of the Year may be a little different than most of yours, but it's Real American Music of the highest order. Just a beautiful record:

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/586 ... the-blues/

I pretty much hate Wynton but this album is unbelievably good. With this, the box set and the deluxe reissue of Stardust, it seems like Willie's year.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:19 pm

EZSnappin wrote:
RobVarak wrote:My early contender for Album of the Year may be a little different than most of yours, but it's Real American Music of the highest order. Just a beautiful record:

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/586 ... the-blues/
I pretty much hate Wynton but this album is unbelievably good. With this, the box set and the deluxe reissue of Stardust, it seems like Willie's year.

I run hot and cold on Wynton's music, but he's great on this. I love the way they integrated Willie's idiosyncratic guitar style and Mickey Raphael's harp.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:27 pm

pk500 wrote:
The Hold Steady are a rock band, an increasingly rare commodity in music these days. They're not art rock, emo, alternative, grunge, metal, experimental, prog-rock, pop-rock, baroque rock, world-beat rock or any other pigeon-holed variety of rock.

Take care,
PK

That is how I feel about Kings of Leon!

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:30 pm

Spooky wrote:
pk500 wrote:
The Hold Steady are a rock band, an increasingly rare commodity in music these days. They're not art rock, emo, alternative, grunge, metal, experimental, prog-rock, pop-rock, baroque rock, world-beat rock or any other pigeon-holed variety of rock.

Take care,
PK
That is how I feel about Kings of Leon!

Ditto. And speaking of the Kings, Rolling Stone had a short preview of their new cd (due in September), which again sounds killer:

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/i ... st-listen/

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 11:38 pm

RobVarak wrote:My early contender for Album of the Year may be a little different than most of yours, but it's Real American Music of the highest order. Just a beautiful record:

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/586 ... the-blues/

Ah, can't wait to get my mitts on this when I return from vacation tomorrow. I adore Marsalis and dig Willie.

Best show I've ever seen in any genre was The Marsalis Family when Ellis and his boys went out on a very small tour about four or five years ago to small theaters.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:05 am

Don't guffaw or choke, but Mellencamp's new album is quite good. Very acoustic, very melancholy, very much the work of a guy who knows he's entering the fourth quarter of his life and is pretty scared.

Take care,
PK

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:55 am

Love Mellencamp, and agree his new one sounds excellent. Just wish his tour was coming somewhere near Atlanta.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:44 am

A few bands that I just discovered that I am really enjoying...

Idaho
The Appleseed Cast
The Coach & Four
Ghosts & Vodka

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:24 pm

I know I'm very late to this party -- hell, the artist to which I'm about to refer is dead! -- but I discovered Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti this week, and I'm seriously HOOKED. What an amazing combination of music and lyrics.

I'm not quite as late to this party, but I finally got around to listening to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' new "Dig, Lazarus, Dig," and I dig it -- pun intended.

Take care,
PK

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:41 pm

pk500 wrote:I know I'm very late to this party -- hell, the artist to which I'm about to refer is dead! -- but I discovered Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti this week, and I'm seriously HOOKED. What an amazing combination of music and lyrics.

Fela's an original, to say the least. There has been a huge renaissance of Afrobeat and African funk collections in the last few years - if you enjoy Fela and want to hear his contemporaries, his influences and his followers it is much easier than ever before.

What Fela did you discover? One of the anthologies or some of his albums?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:51 pm

EZSnappin wrote:What Fela did you discover? One of the anthologies or some of his albums?

Anthology:
The Best of the Black President

Albums:
The L.A. Sessions
Fela's London Scene
Shakara
Gentleman
Confusion
Expensive Sh*t
Zombie
Shuffering and Shmiling

As I said, I'm into it.

Take care,
PK

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:47 pm

Are the albums you "acquired" the doubles? Like Expensive Sh*t/He Miss Road, Confusion/Gentlemen, etc? If not, look for the other parts. Also, make sure to find Roforofo Fight - it is one of my favs, along with He Miss Road. The original Black President album is pretty hot too - "I.T.T." is the jam - damn, just get whatever you can find!

He was definitely influenced by James Brown, but I'll take Fela over the Godfather every day of every week.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:12 pm

EZSnappin wrote:Are the albums you "acquired" the doubles? Like Expensive Sh*t/He Miss Road, Confusion/Gentlemen, etc? If not, look for the other parts. Also, make sure to find Roforofo Fight - it is one of my favs, along with He Miss Road. The original Black President album is pretty hot too - "I.T.T." is the jam - damn, just get whatever you can find!

Nope, got the individual albums.

EZSnappin wrote:He was definitely influenced by James Brown, but I'll take Fela over the Godfather every day of every week.

After listening to Fela, I agree 100 percent. Almost a perfect mix of worldbeat, funk and jazz -- three genres I really dig.

I've done some reading on Fela, and I know some have called him the James Brown of Africa. Good analogy, but I'm hearing just as much of Miles and Coltrane in many of his tunes, too.

Take care,
PK

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:25 pm

pk500 wrote: After listening to Fela, I agree 100 percent. Almost a perfect mix of worldbeat, funk and jazz -- three genres I really dig.

I've done some reading on Fela, and I know some have called him the James Brown of Africa. Good analogy, but I'm hearing just as much of Miles and Coltrane in many of his tunes, too.

Fela came out of the Nigerian Highlife tradition - highlife being a very swing and bop oriented nightclub music. In the late 60s he came to LA (as documented on one of the albums you found) and was exposed to James Brown, funk and black power. That heady mix gave his music a nationalistic stance and fusion of all sorts of musical influences.

For others working in a similar vein, look for the out-of-print Nigeria 70 collection. Two discs of Nigerian afrobeat & funk. Upthread somewhere I mentioned the new Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-76 collection which covers some of the non-Lagos contemporaries. There are two sister collections as well - Nigerian Disco Funk Special and Nigerian Rock Special, both of which are also ace. Fela is going to open worlds of sound - though he is arguably the greatest, there are other great artists from that time in West Africa like T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, Fela's drummer Tony Allen, and especially Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders. You'll also like the family tradition - his son Seun just released a pretty solid album with backing from Fela's last great band, Egypt 80.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:17 pm

Thanks, E. I forgot to mention I grabbed Seun's record, too, as a cut from it played on NPR's "All Songs Considered" is what exposed me to this wonderful music.

P.S.: That keyboard solo in "I.T.T." sounds like the African Ray Manzarek. Cool!

Take care,
PK

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:51 pm

Spooky wrote:
pk500 wrote:
The Hold Steady are a rock band, an increasingly rare commodity in music these days. They're not art rock, emo, alternative, grunge, metal, experimental, prog-rock, pop-rock, baroque rock, world-beat rock or any other pigeon-holed variety of rock.

Take care,
PK
That is how I feel about Kings of Leon!

Yeah, except for the 3 "handlers" 2 "stylist", and 1 publicist that travel with them on-tour. Other than that, just your ave rock band.

[edit] ah, that's probably not fair. just because KOL is a never-ending marketing project, does not mean they're not a quality band. I like them, but I'd love to see them tell the labels to f'off & not make any more songs like "on call". *shivers*