Steve Almond's "rock and roll will save your life"
(cool web site as well)
We discovered Steve when me and Liz listened to the classic Candyfreak (aka the chocolate underbelly of America) on a trip to Vertmont. As much as we enjoyed it, I had no idea how much we had in common. For instance, his daughter is Josie and she calls him Papa.
This book profile his life as a "drooling fanatic." What is a DF? We are people who love music. We always have music on in the background. We always are looking for the next thing as well as trying to sell our freinds/colleagues/complete strangers. Our back catalog triggers memories more powerful than a Proust madeleine. Steve does a much better job (and much funnier) than I can do justice. But I am pretty sure if I ever run into Steve (he lives in Somerville and we have all the same haunts ie the late Disk Diggers), we'll have plenty to talk about. I'll be able to set him straight on some muscial choices. But as proof of my own DF-ness (pronounced deft-ness?), it sent me scrambling to the internet to check out his recommendations. And he does agree with me on the ability of Dave Grohl over Kurt Cobain.
Misses from 2009
Avett Brothers - I and Love and You - I thought I would love this one and it has delivered as promised. Basically a punk version of alt-country bluegrass (or maybe the other way around)
XX - XX - Biggest screw up of last year. I listened back in the fall but didnt grab me. I understand why: it is minimalist and understated or maybe just "chill." But repeated listens, its catchy hooks (but did I mention understated) worms into your subconcoious. Someone described it as eavesdroping to a couple arguing in the room next door, but that doesnt really get the sexual tension (maybe its eavesdropping on either hook up, make up or break up sex). But clearly a big miss on my part.
Metric - Fantasies - A more radio friendly mix up of electronica and rock and roll and blues. Love gimme sympathy ("beatles or rolling stones")
2010
The Hold Steady - Heaven is whenever - The greatest rock and roll band since, well its been a long time. My first take was this was Rick Springfield to previous Bruce Springsteen outings. It is definatly more 80's sounding than the 70's sound of the previous outing. The exit of keyboardest Franz Nicolay has pushing them to the back and the layered sound of horns and non-rock and roll instruments pushed back which is fitting now they are a foursome. They are still there just more subtle. After several listens, I think it makes sense as an evolution and songs like "Hurricane J" and "Soft in the center" speak to me as much as anything else they have put out. Can't wait to see them live again (is is just me or is the cover art just a little too similar to RRWSYL's cover if if less literal?).Spoon - Transference - One of the top bands in America today, they deliver another great one with this one. I beleive I jinxed them if this was to be their U2 moment to explode on the mainstream. But the album is fantastic beginning to end. One of those albums tough to pick a favorite song or even a couple.
Beck's Record Club - Kick - A cover album of INXS with ST. Vincent and others? Just as the Hold Steady is engineered to be irresistable to someone like me (with muscial experience of classic rock and pop of the 70's to 80's hard/arena rock to 90's alternative - an interesting question I will have to return to), this "album" is punching so many of my musical buttons from so many era's, i cant stop myself.
Johnny Cash - American IV - It's Johnny f-ing cash! no need to say more. Also recommend the graphic novel I see a Darkness. It goes a little easy on him but captures the history.
Drive By Truckers - the Big To-Do - Another band that can write a song that instantly grabs me. That they have four different writers/singers that can do that it is amazing. But I guess deep down inside, there's a southern rock in my DNA.
Ciao My Shining Star - A cover album of Mark Mulcahy songs, the main man in Miracle Legion and Polaris. I would recommend the originals (see links) but this album is like a reunion of 1992.
Holy Fuck - Latin America - Now thats what I call techno.
Laura Viers - July Flame - originally a Neko Case knock off, but find myself checking the touch everytime she come on. She's like an alt-country Sundays.
Serge Gainsburg - Monsieur Gainsburg - Even though he's French and the Dandy Warhols based their carreer on his stuff (my opinion), or maybe because of those two facts, this is amazing stuff from the 60/70's featuring Bridgette Bardot. Think an avant-gard Roxy music with too many cigarettes. But still good.
Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tatoo - I dont know why but I love everything these guys put out.
Undecided (as I can download music faster than I can listen and more importantly digest):
Peter Gabriel - Scratch my back - Widely panned but enjoying the pureness of his voice out in front
Slash - Slash - classic guitar
Yeasayer - first single really grabbed me but not fully digested
Mos Dub - caught him on Austin City Limits - it was his sophistication that caught me off gaurd.
Kate Nash - seems good but might be too cute second time around
Ike Reilly - from RRWSYL and free at amazon.
Dawes - alt-country
Here Lies Love - David Byrne and Fatboy Slim - what a collection, each track featuring a different female singer. With 20+ songs, a bit to sort through but I like it.
Clem Snide - Meat of Life - re-united after breaking up post album which I think was two years ago, more of the same, and that good.
Broken Bells - Danger Mouse lastest this time with the Shin's dude.
Coming Soon
Wolf Parade - Tim turned me on to these guys and new album coming out
Sharon Jones - ordered the new one but not received yet
SXSW - I downloaded a ton of music from bands associated with this but am working my way through
Black Francis - NonStopErotik - If I need to explain this to you, and you are over 30 or under 50, please go elsewhere.
B.o.B. - I dont mean the single here
7 world collides - a double album charity from Finn and Friends - a lot to work through
1 comment:
Past couple weeks I've had instances where clicked over to Pandora to find out what that awesome song is — and turns out to be The Metrics. Guess everybody's been ahead of me on that.
This from the local alt-newsweekly, on independent record stores. Sadly, nobody's commented with recommendations of shops in town.
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