The Jeopardy of Contentment (A Lawrence & Kansas City Music Blog)

2011 Albums Of The Year (25-1)

2011-12-20T22:11:00.012-06:00

25. The War On Drugs - Slave Ambient

The War On Drugs second full length album is a marked improvement over an already good debut album. Through two albums and two outstanding EPs, The War On Drugs are starting to creep their way into the bands I've listened to most in the past year or two.

The War On Drugs - 'Baby Missles'

24. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne

This album is pretty much what everyone expected it would be, but isn't nearly as good as either artists solo albums. There are a handful of really great tracks here but also a few complete duds. Still one of the best hip-hop albums of the year.

Jay-Z & Kanye West - 'Murder To Excellence'

23. Other Lives - Tamer Animals

Other Lives debut album got some comparisons to the orchestral side of Radiohead. Coincidentally, they'll be opening up for Radiohead in Kansas City this March. This album can be a bit top heavy loaded with the better tracks but the first half is so strong it makes up for the second half.

Other Lives - 'Tamer Animals'

22. Fool's Gold - Leave No Trace

The best way to describe Fool's Gold would be a mix of Vampire Weekends and DeVotchka. This is one of my favorite band discoveries of 2011 and I still need to get a copy of their debut album. Leave No Trace has such a polished and well produced sound it's hard to believe it's only the band's second album. This one is definitely worth checking out.

Fool's Gold - 'Balmy'

21. My Morning Jacket - Circuital

Even though My Morning Jacket's six album Circuital is only their 5th best album, I love this band so much that their slightly average stuff is still better than many bands best stuff. A big improvement over the lackluster Evil Urges, it's nice to hear a bit of a return to form for MMJ.

My Morning Jacket - 'The Day Is Coming'

20. A.A. Bondy - Believers

I didn't love the new A.A. Bondy album on first or second listen, but after giving it some time to grow on me it's one of my top 20 of the year. There is much more depth than his previous two albums, even if the songs aren't quite as immediate.

A.A. Bondy - 'Surfer King'

19. Beirut - The Rip Tide

Better than the last Beirut album, but still not their best. This band is near the top of my list of bands I want to see live, but as far as I remember they haven't been through Kansas City ever. Hopefully that changes soon.

Beirut - 'Port Of Call'

18. Washed Out - With And Without

After the initial swell of the "Chillwave" genre bands subsided, a few bands that had actual talent seemed to keep going while the other ones faded away. Washed out is one of those bands. I loved their debut, but the songs and production are just so much better on With And Without it's not even close.

Washed Out - 'Before'

17. The Black Keys - El Camino

I agree with the sentiment that anyone that criticizes The Black Keys for selling out recently doesn't know what the hell they're talking about. The Black Keys haven't really changed their sound much from day one, withe exception of adding a couple of addition members on instruments. For better or worse, they play the same blues-rock hybrid they always have, and they do it really fucking well. El Camino is another in a line of brilliant albums from the Akron (former) duo.

The Black Keys - 'Nova Baby'

16. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

I'll never understand why some of the watered down pop stars all over radio are so popular but artists like Lykke Li aren't. She does some of the same things that ladies like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga do, but she does it far better in my opinion. Plus neither of those previous ladies have released and album as great all the way through as Lykke Li did with Wounded Rhymes.

Lykke Li - 'Get Some'

15. Mastodon - The Hunter

Although they're slowly morphing from a metal band into a hard rock band, Mastodon are he best hard rock band around. There even sounds like a song or two from The Hunter that could be played on mainstream rock radio. For a hardworking band like Mastodon you hope it happens as well...even if it means their killer shows are a little more crowded.

Mastodon - 'All The Heavy Lifting'

14. Future Islands - On The Water

The last Future Islands album made my top 5 albums of the year in 2010, so I had high hopes for their follow-up On The Water. This album might not be as catchy or as instantly loveable, but it's definitely a grower that rewards repeat listens. It's a crime too that I still haven't caught them the couple of times they've came through town.

Future Islands - 'Before The Bridge'

13. Wilco - The Whole Love

I'm really running out of things to say about Wilco because I feel like I'm always writing a few words about why their album made my top albums of the year list for that particular year. The new one, The Whole Love, is a return to form over a somewhat disappointing Wilco, The Album.

Wilco - 'I Might'

12. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Here We Rest

It's official that Jason Isbell's solo output since leaving the Drive-By Truckers is far greater than the output of DBT in the post Isbell era. His newest album, Here We Rest, is probably Isbell's strongest album to date. Songs like 'Alabama Pines', 'Codeine' and 'Daisy Mae' just prove that Jason is still a top notch songwriter of the highest caliber.

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - 'Alabama Pines'

11. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

M83's newest double album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming falls into the trap of most double albums and that's just a record that tends to run on too long. Trim these down to one record full of songs and it might be the best M83 album ever. Still, however, it includes one of the best tracks of the year in 'Midnight City'. I look forward to catching them at the Granada next May 5th at the Granada in Lawrence.

M83 - 'Midnight City'

10. Cut Copy - Zonoscope

So, Cut Copy have pretty much taken over for New Order these days. No one has been able to do New Order dancey-synth hooks quite as well until Cut Copy came along with their third brilliant album in a row. I got to see them play an amazing show at the Record Bar in KC few years back and have been itching for them to come back through town again.

Cut Copy - 'Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution'

9. Wye Oak - Civilian

One of the highlights of my concert season was the Explosions In The Sky show at the Uptown. Not only because they're one of the best live bands around but also because the fantastic Wye Oak opened the show. I've been a fan of Wye Oak since their first album, but didn't completely fall in love until Civilian came out. I could go on and on about how great the songs are or how solid the music is or how perfect her voices is but you should just check it out for yourself.

Wye Oak - 'Civilian'

8. Explosions In The Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

Speaking of Explosions In The Sky...another band that really does no wrong in my eyes. This is the first album from the band that sounds like they made an effort to expand and switch up their sound just a bit. Yet it still sounds completely like only Explosions In The Sky can. Like I said before they are also responsible for one of the top five concerts I saw in 2011 as well.

Explosions In The Sky - 'Postcard From 1952'

7. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

There were a lot of high hopes and expectations from Fleet Foxes and their sophomore album after the indie success of their debut. The band came through with an album that not only grew their sound from the debut album but also improved on it at times. The title track from Helplessness Blues also gets an easy spot in the top five songs of the year without a doubt.

Fleet Foxes - 'Helplessness Blues'

6. Real Estate - Days

Real Estate's debut album hinted at a band that could do great things but I never expected an album I love so much. Days is the perfect summer album, so it's a shame it didn't come out till the fall, but this is an album that will get continuous plays into the next few years. I got to catch them in Chicago in 2010 open up for Deerhunter and they're an excellent live band as well. If they keep putting out albums of this level of quality expect them to get big quick.

Real Estate - 'Green Aisles'

5. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Bon Iver's debut album was number two on my favorite albums of the 2008 list behind the debut Fleet Foxes album, but in the years since then I definitely think For Emma, Forever Ago is the far superior album. Regardless, no one really knew what to expect with Justin's follow-up and most people weren't expecting this. The sound is a complete sonic left turn from the acoustic debut with even a smooth rock jam thrown in for good measure. Bon Iver also would make my list of top five shows of 2011 with his performance at the Uptown.

Bon Iver - 'Beth/Rest'

4. Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine

The best of the Chillwave bands in my opinion is Toro Y Moi. Not only do they have one of the best Chillwave albums with their debut Causers of This, they've abandoned the genre almost completely with the follow-up Underneath The Pine. Their disco-esque jams blew the doors off the Riot Room when they played there earlier this year.

Toro Y Moi - 'New Beat'

3. Tom Waits - Bad As Me

Waits is pretty much a God and the man can do no wrong in my eyes. His albums are always a messy carnival of characters and adventure in themselves and Bad As Me is no different. Waits took his wife's advice to keep the songs and the album at a short clip and it pays off with an album that never gets stale.

Tom Waits - 'Hell Broke Luce'

2. Atlas Sound - Paralax

I had a text message conversation recently with a friend where we both came to the agreement that Bradford Cox is one of the few musical genius in rock music today. He's certainly without a doubt one of the most prolific as well, and almost everything he makes is utterly amazing. His albums under the Atlas Sound moniker tend to be a bit more pretty and mellow, but they're also more lush and sweet. There are very few people around today that I would say can write a truely great pop song as well as Bradford Cox.

Atlas Sound - 'Te Amo'

1. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo

I had to search back through my blog archives to realize that I have written very little about Kurt Vile. Really though, I'd recommend him highly enough to just say that you should pick up this year's Smoke Ring For My Halo and 2009's Childish Prodigy immediately. It's hard to describe but Kurt Vile's music has an unexplainable vibe about it that I absolutely love. I really can't say enough about this album, it's one I'll sometimes play three or four times in a row because I don't want to listen to anything else...just check it out.

Kurt Vile - 'Babys Arms'

-Matt

2011 Albums Of The Year (50-26)

2011-12-14T21:29:00.002-06:00

I apologize for not putting as much time and effort into my albums of the year post this year. I'm only actually writing a bit on the top 25, but still want to include 50-26 because these are all really, really good albums. It was a fairly good year for music when there are albums not even in my top 50 that I genuinely enjoyed as well in 2011.

Here are my 50-26 favorite albums of 2011:

50. William Elliott Whitmore - Field Songs

49. The Dodos - No Color

48. Cass McCombs - Wit's End

47. Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will

46. Roadside Graves - We Can Take Care Of Ourselves

45. The Weeknd - House Of Balloons

44. Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital

43. The Low Anthem - Smart Flesh

42. Cults - Cults

41. Battles - Glass Drop

39. DeVotchka - 100 Lovers

38. Radiohead - The King Of Limbs

37. Sole and the Skyrider Band - Hello Cruel World

36. Neon Indian - Era Extranifa

35. Junior Boys - It's All True

34. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

33. Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire

32. Childish Gambino - Camp

31. The Antlers - Burst Apart

30. Wild Beasts - Smother

29. TV on the Radio - Nine Types Of Light

28. The Roots - UNDUN

27. Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde

26. Russian Circles - Empros

Stay tuned for 25-1 in the next few days.

-Matt

Concert Announcements: The Hold Steady, Mastodon & more

2011-09-20T09:25:00.003-05:00

A few concert announcements that I wanted to throw up here quickly. First off is The Hold Steady will be appearing at the Midland Theater in KC for 96.5 The Buzz's Halloweenie Roast show on Thursday, October 27th. Headlining the show is the always great Social Distortion. Also on the bill are Viva Brother and local favorites The Architects.

Here are the rest of the shows I'd recommend that have been announced over the past week or so:

Tue 10/25 Helmet @ The Riot Room, KC

Thu 11/03 Future Islands @ The Jackpot, Lawrence

Sat 11/12 Guns N' Roses @ The Sprint Center, KC

Mon 11/14 Mastodon/The Dillinger Escape Plan/Red Fang @ The Beaumont Club, KC

Sun 11/27 Peter Murphy/She Wants Revenge @ The Beaumont Club, KC

-Matt

Favorite Songs of the 2000's: The Walkmen - 'The Rat' (2004)

2011-09-13T07:37:00.000-05:00

There are only a few songs that can be classified as "indie rock" and still have enough balls to fit in a snowboarding video. When playing The Walkmen for a friend of mine, his ears perked up when 'The Rat' started. Apparently it accompanies some epic snowboarding sequence in a video he owns, which actually makes sense.

The highlight of this song to me is the drums, rarely nowadays does a drum beat drive a song like this. The Walkmen front-man Hamilton Leithauser always sounds like he's singing with a significant amount of desperation and urgency, but rarely can the band match his intensity like they do on 'The Rat'. Regardless of how brilliant their albums have been before and after Bows + Arrows, they've never quite rocked out like this, and I kinda wish they would.

Here's the video:

-Matt

New Song: Lana Del Rey - 'Video Games'

2011-09-11T20:41:00.003-05:00

Lana Del Rey is the moniker of 24 year old New Yorker Lizzy Grant. I heard this song for the first time tonight and now I've listened to it about a half dozen times in a row. The song is reminiscent of a mix between Stevie Nicks and Chan Marshall and will be featured on a digital single and a limited 7" out on October 9th. Lana Del Rey is currently working on a full length that's expected to be out early next year. Check out the video for the hauntingly beautiful track below:

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Wilco

2011-09-02T16:07:00.002-05:00

Another JoC all-time favorite Wilco will be making an appearance in Kansas City this winter. They'll be at the Uptown on Saturday, December 3rd. They drew over 3000 to the Crossroads back in 2009, so this will certainty sell out in minutes. No word yet though on when tickets go on sale. Wilco's 8th studio LP, The Whole Love, will be out on September 27th.

-Matt

Sigur Rós Live Album & Film

2011-08-30T07:06:00.000-05:00

If I had to make a list of the top 20 bands making relevant music today, it would no doubt include Sigur Rós. I'm constantly listening to music at my job and time after time I return to the Sigur Rós discography as I never tire of their albums. They also happen to be one of the best live bands around. Their concerts are really emotionally intense events and if you haven't been lucky enough to see them, you'll get close when they release the live DVD/CD Inni in November.

Filmed by Vincent Morisset, who directed Arcade Fire's Miroir Noir, it contains footage a London show at Alexandra Palace in 2008. Where Sigur Rós' 2007 DVD Heima was very lush and beautifully shot, Inni appears to be much darker. This is due to Morisset first filming the shows digitally but refilming the digital footage on 16mm. Morisset then re-filmed the footage a third time “sometimes through prisms and other found objects.”

Check out the short teaser trailer for 'Inni' below:

-Matt

David Bazan Ticket Giveaway!

2011-08-27T16:41:00.001-05:00

We're happy to announce another ticket contest here as the kind folks at Barsuk Records are letting us give away two tickets to see the incredibly talented David Bazan. The coolest part about it is the show will be held in about the most intimate setting possible: a living room in Topeka, KS. That's right, someone has volunteered to open up their home to a small audience to hear David perform mere feet away from you. The show takes place on Thursday, September 8th and will be one you won't want to miss.

If you aren't familiar with David's solo work or his work as the leader of Pedro The Lion, you need to remedy that immediately by picking up his second solo LP, Strange Negotiations (which you can purchase here). You can also hear the first track from Strange Negotiations by clicking on the MP3 link below.

If you want win tickets to the house show in Topeka just shoot me an email at jeopardyofcontentment(at)gmail.com with your favorite David Bazan song. Make sure to reference David Bazan in the subject line. Anything will count whether it's a solo track or something from the Pedro The Lion catalog. The contest will end on Saturday, September 3rd so get your submissions in as soon as possible. We'll notify the winner via email with a pair of tickets as well as the location of this living room show.

Good Luck!

MP3: David Bazan - 'Wolves At The Door' (from Strange Negotiations)

MP3: David Bazan - 'Cold Beer and Cigarettes' (from Fewer Moving Parts)

-Matt

Upcoming Show: The Low Anthem & Balmorhea

2011-08-26T14:10:00.004-05:00

I would have posted this a while ago if I hadn't been on an unexpected hiatus for a few months. Rhode Island's The Low Anthem will be at The Record Bar in KC this Monday, August 29th. They've been a favorite of mine for a while but I haven't had a chance to see them live until now. With orchestral, post-rock Austin band Balmorhea opening the show, this should be unforgettable.

I'd definitely recommend picking up The Low Anthem's most recent album, Smart Flesh as it's one of my favorites of 2011. You can watch the video for 'Boeing 737' below.

-Matt

New Song: Gotye - 'Somebody That I Used To Know'

2011-08-22T10:41:00.000-05:00

I'm not completely sold on this whole album yet, but I can't get enough of this song. I tend to gravitate towards the anti-love songs, as usually they're the most interesting. There is a ton of emotion in a breakup song like 'Somebody That I Used To Know'. Apparently Gotye are huge in their native Australia. We'll see if they do anything in America, but with the Peter Gabriel-esque voice, they could make a impression.

Here's the video for Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used To Know' (featuring Kimbra):

-Matt

Concert Announcement: HUM

2011-08-20T20:25:00.000-05:00

One of the main reasons I am such a big music nerd is because of my two older sisters. There are a ton of bands that I never would have heard of as a kid if not for my them and one of those bands is HUM. Certainly most people older than 25 that have ever listened to alternative radio have heard the song 'Stars'. The album that song came from is a classic and is definitely one of my top albums of the decade. HUM has reunited and according the the Record Bar's facebook/twitter feed, they'll be in KC on Friday, November 4th. Ticket info has yet to be posted but this could be one that sells out quickly.

-Matt

Upcoming Show: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

2011-08-19T21:59:00.004-05:00

Jason Isbell continues his fantastic solo career with a third really solid album in Here We Rest. Isbell has probably written at least a dozen songs between his solo stuff and the Truckers that I would consider classic tunes of the last ten years. The last time he came through town he played a killer show at the Bottleneck in Lawrence. This time he'll be playing at Knuckleheads in KC on Friday, September 16th. This is a show I'd highly recommend checking out if you can.

-Matt

Covers: 'I Can't Make You Love Me'

2011-08-19T21:09:00.003-05:00

Some might consider it a guilty pleasure but I genuinely love Bonnie Raitt's 1991 single 'I Can't Make You Love Me'. It's without a doubt one of the best songs about unrequited love written in my lifetime. When I heard Bon Iver would cover it for a b-side of a single, I knew it was a perfect choice for Justin. Although not included on the new Bon Iver album (Bon Iver, Bon Iver) their second full length album is one of my favorites of the year so far. If you haven't checked either Bon Iver album out, do so immediately.

Also, Bon Iver will be at the Uptown on Friday September 9th. The lady and I drove to Omaha to see him a few years ago and drove back that same night. It was miserable and completely worth it. Don't miss it.

Here's Bon Iver's cover of 'I Can't Make You Love Me':

-Matt

Let's Try This Again...

2011-08-19T21:04:00.001-05:00

I haven't posted in over six months and the thought of putting the blog to rest permanently has crossed my mind. I've been updating the concert calendar regularly, so keep checking that out regardless. I don't think I'm going to kill this off quite yet though. I'll definitely continue to post my albums of the year every year. I haven't decided how heavily invested I'll be in this otherwise, but I hope to post some stuff on at least a semi-regular basis.

-Matt

Concert Announcements: The Black Angels, The War on Drugs, Foals, Interpol and many more

2011-02-01T14:38:00.003-06:00

I've once again been really, really bad about updating this blog. There have been a ton of great concert announcement in the past month and toping the list is news that The Black Angels are returning to Lawrence. They are a favorite of mine and they've killed each time I've seen them live. They also put out one of my top 10 favorite albums of 2010 with Phosphene Dream. They'll be at the Bottleneck on Saturday, April 23rd.

Here's the long list of shows I've missed posting about in the last month:

Thu 02/17 Tennis/Holiday Shores/Soft Reeds @ The Jackpot, Lawrence*

Mon 02/28 The Forms/Soft Reeds @ The Record Bar, KC

Thu 03/10 Merle Haggard/Kris Kristofferson @ The Music Hall, KC

Sat 03/12 The War On Drugs @ The Riot Room, KC*

Tue 03/14 Middle Brother/Deer Tick/Dawes @ The Granada, Lawrence*

Sat 03/19 DeVotchka @ The Midland Theater, KC*

Mon 03/21 The Dodos/Reading Rainbow @ The Record Bar, KC

Wed 03/30 Das Racist @ The Granada, Lawrence*

Fri 04/01 Toro Y Moi/Adventure/Saharan Gazelle Boy @ The Riot Room, KC*

Sat 04/02 The Smoking Popes @ The Riot Room, KC

Sat 04/09 The Raveonettes/Tamaryn @ The Record Bar, KC*

Tue 04/12 Phosphorescent @ The Jackpot, Lawrence*

Thu 04/14 Justin Townes Earle @ The Bottleneck, Lawrence*

Wed 04/20 Mike Watt & The Missingmen @ The Bottleneck, Lawrence*

Fri 04/22 Foals/Freelance Whales/Naked and Famous @ The Beaumont Club, KC*

Sat 04/23 The Joy Formidable/The Lonely Forest @ The Riot Room, KC

Sat 04/23 The Black Angels/Suuns @ The Bottleneck, Lawrence*

Sun 04/24 Interpol @ The Beaumont Club, KC

Tue 04/26 The Black Lips/Vivian Girls @ The Beaumont Club, KC

Tue 05/03 Social Distortion @ The Beaumont Club, KC*

Sat 05/07 Of Montreal @ Liberty Hall, Lawrence

Sun 05/15 S. Carey (of Bon Iver)/Other Lives @ The Record Bar, KC*

*Highly recommended

-Matt

New Music: Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde

2011-01-14T23:37:00.002-06:00

Out of the albums slated for the first month of 2011, none so far are as good as the second album from Chicago trio Smith Westerns. Dye It Blonde gets it's influences from all the right places. A little garage rock, a little psych rock, a little T-Rex and a little Bowie. As young as these guys are, they're pretty great songwriters. Each song on the album is catchy enough to still be stuck in your head hours later. This album had been dominating my headphones for the week or two and I don't see it stopping anytime soon. The album is out officially on Fat Possum on Tuesday the 18th, I highly suggest picking it up.

The group will be at the Record Bar in KC on Tuesday, February 22nd. Don't miss it.

Here's a video for the first track of the album, 'Weekend':

-Matt

2010's Most Overrated/Disappointing Albums

2011-01-04T18:57:00.009-06:00

I did one of these posts back in 2008, but skipped last year for some reason. Not all of these albums are bad per say, some are just weak albums from bands/musicians I usually enjoy. Except that Sleigh Bells album...that one is just bad.

Midlake - The Courage Of Others

I absolutely adore Midlake's second album, 2006's The Trials Of Van Occupanther. The placement of Midlake's most recent effort on this list is mostly due to how much I loved the last one. There isn't anything wrong with this album and, in fact, the tone is very similar to Van Occupanther, but this album just bored me. There are two or three stand out tracks, but the rest of the album is unfortunately very forgettable.

Sleigh Bells - Treats

The debut album from the duo of Sleigh Bells gets it's placement here because it got a ton of praise from all over the place and I really don't get it. I tried listening to this album the whole way through on multiple occasions and just ended up with a headache. I'm sure there is someone out there that loves this album and I'm sure they can find something on my best of list that doesn't suit their tastes as well, so to each his own. Personally I think that The Go! Team pulls off this sound so much better than Sleigh Bells ever could.

Jenny and Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now

There might not be a more misleading title of any album released in 2010. As someone who really enjoyed Jenny Lewis' work with Rilo Kiley and loved her first solo album, I'm starting to worry. Pair this utter disappointment with a lackluster second solo album and it's starting to seem that Lewis might be losing steam. I can't lie, I'll still go see her play live whenever she comes through town but giving my time to another effort from her might not be in the cards.

Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz

Like the Midlake album, Sufjan's recent effort isn't a bad album at all, but it's not up to the quality of his three full length albums before it. Stevens said recently in concert that he quit writing songs and is now working more with sounds and sonic textures. It certainty is clear here that songwriting wasn't the main focus at all. So much of this album seems unfocused and half baked. I'm not against any band changing up their sound, but this album just never clicked for me at all.

The Whigs - In The Dark

Athens, Georgia trio The Whigs were set to inherit the pure rock and roll throne that The Hold Steady and Drive-By Truckers have partially abandoned in the last few years. Instead, after hearing In The Dark, it seems they are now going down the path of a band like Kings Of Leon. I can't fault a band for cleaning up their sound and trying to make it more radio friendly, but In The Dark is just horrible.

-Matt

2010 Albums Of The Year (25-1)

2010-12-20T19:20:00.008-06:00

25. The New Pornographers - Together

I'm not sure if I could trust someone that doesn't like The New Pornographers. Carl Newman seems to be an endless factory of catchy power pop tunes. Now on their fifth album and they have yet to release one that hasn't ended up on my favorite albums of the year list. As always it must be noted that if you have Neko Case and Dan Bejar just there singing backup and the occasional lead vocal, it's almost like you're cheating.

24. Black Mountain - Wilderness Heart

I'm running out of things to write about Stephen McBean's bands (Black Mountain, Pink Mountaintops) on my year end lists. Black Mountain's third album still evokes sounds of Sabbath and Zeppelin, but there is much more of a folk element in this most recent album. They've lead what's turned into quite the 70's hard rock revival in music today along with The Black Angels (who are on tour together, but note coming through KC).

23. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

I wish I could put this one higher and I know it's going to (and already has) topped many year end lists, but This Is Happening just wasn't as good as it could have been. There are a few great, great tracks like 'All I Want', 'Home' and 'Dance Yrself Clean' but there are also at least a couple of songs that I skip some of the time I listen to the record. Still, all but those one or two songs are still better than most of the junk that gets played on the radio.

22. Suckers - Wild Smile

The thing that I love about Suckers debut album Wild Smile, is the same thing I fell in love with on Yeasayer and TV on the Radio's debut albums. It's electronic while still sounding organic and it's all over the map. There is a certain tribal quality that all three bands share as well that really comes through on standout tracks like 'Black Sheep' and 'A Mind I Knew'. This is a band that could definitely be big with a great sophomore effort.

21. Menomena - Mines

Although Menomena have taken a step away from the more experimental nature of their earlier stuff, the band's new direction really shows what fantastic songwriters they are. Although they still test the limits and sometimes sound on the verge of chaos, Mines also has some of the most mellow stuff I've heard from them. Ultimately they've shown themselves to be a consistently great band on album after album.

20. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can

If I hadn't gone through an intense phase earlier this year of listening to Mumford & Sons all of the time, I wouldn't have heard this great Laura Marling album. I had gotten a copy of it before I heard M&S but after finding the connection between the two bands I went back to Laura Marling's second album. I'm really glad I did because it's got a lot of what I loved about M&S debut. Laura Marling is able to be upbeat and intense on some tracks and absolutely melt my heart on others.

19. Cee Lo Green - Lady Killer

I wrote about this album in one of my last post before this list and mentioned that I'm a longtime fan of all things Cee Lo. The song everyone's heard by now, 'Fuck You', was catchy but grew old after hearing it so many times. Luckily, the rest of the album has a lot of great stuff on it. If you're looking for Cee Lo to rap at any point on the album, look elsewhere, this is all R&B and that's okay with me (for now anyway).

18. The Radio Dept. - Clinging To A Scheme

The third album from Sweden's The Radio Dept. is an album that I haven't seen on many year end lists. I'm a bit surprised because this is a really worthwhile album. There's always the possibility they just haven't gotten enough exposure in the states or that folks are disappointed with their move away from shoegaze. I'll almost always have a soft spot in my heart for them because a friend who passed away a few years back got me into them.

17. The Black Keys - Brothers

When I'm writing a list like this and am talking about The Black Keys new album being outside of the top 15, I know 2010 was a great year for music. This album could have made it in the top 10 last year easily. What might be The Black Keys most accessible (not that they were ever inaccessible) and well produced album, Brothers will certainly keep the Ohio band's fanbase ever growing.

16. Beach House - Teen Dream

This is a record that held a spot in the top 5 of my list for most of the year. To be honest, if it had came out in November instead of January, it might still be. Beach House was always a band that I enjoyed, but Teen Dream is an album I love. I always hated descriptions like this, but it's a comforting album...sort of like a sweater you've had for 20 years. Although this didn't make the top 15, it will definiltely be an album I'll still throw on every once in a while years from now.

15. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today

This album tops the list for "album from bands I never thought I'd have in my top 15". I'm not usually a fan of lo-fi, under produced basement pop that Ariel Pink's previous releases thrived on. Turns out when he makes an album full of sleazy, retro pop I'm all ears. This album has so many great songs: 'Bright Lit Blue Skies', 'Fright Night' and 'Can't Hear My Eyes' but the one I have to provide to you is what Pitchfork recently named the best song of 2010.

14. Janelle Monae - The Archandroid

I remember hearing a lot of buzz about Janelle Monae before this album came out. I'm sure it was partially due to her being a KCK native, but still she's lived up to every bit of hype. The Archandroid is full of the alt-friendly R&B that Erykah Badu has had locked down for the past decade. Janelle isn't just riding on hype, she has the pipes AND songs on her debut album to back it up.

13. The Walkmen - Lisbon

The Walkmen now join the ranks of bands who can't make a bad album in my mind. There was no way they'd live up to their previous album (You & Me) which is one of my favorite albums of the previous decade, but Lisbon is still a great record. The album still has that trademark guitar sound and one of the best vocalists around in Hamilton Leithauser. There is no reason why these guys aren't as big as Wilco or The National by now (I'm looking at you people that weren't at the Bottleneck to see them play earlier this year...there were a lot of you).

12. Twin Shadow - Forget

There are so many ridiculous genres in music today I usually try to ignore them. Chill-wave was a particularly dumb genre name and most of the music that fell into that bucket was pretty bland as well. I almost didn't check out Twin Shadow because I originally heard them classified as such. It's too bad because I would have missed out on my surprise album of the year. If I had to classify Forget, I'd certainly tag it as more New Wave than anything. The songs are just so catchy (I'm a sucker for catchy songs) that it's hard not to love it.

11. Wolf Parade - Expo 86

As a constant champion of anything Spencer Krug touches, of course the third Wolf Parade album, Expo 86, made the list. The band recently announced they are going on an "indefinite hiatus" so, although unlikely, this could be the bands last album. Like the first two records, this one is full of solid song after solid song from both Krug and Dan Boeckner. Synths seem to be much more prevalent on Expo which makes you wonder if this was more Krug's baby. Either way if the band never makes another album they'll have one of the best three album streaks in past decade.

10. Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record

Another band that always seems to make my lists is Toronto's Broken Social Scene. They haven't ever seemed to step outside of their normal sound, but when you're able to keep things sounding this great when playing (somewhat) middle of the road indie rock I think you're okay. Of course having Feist, Emily Haines and Amy Milan all contribute vocals, you've got a decided advantage. Some of the bands best songs are on this album, particularly the instrumental track 'Meet Me in the Basement'.

9. The Black Angels - Phosphene Dream

The Black Angels are a band that absolutely killed me when I heard their debut album Passover. They were an amazing mix of some great 60's/70's bands (VU, Sabbath, The Doors) but their second album sort of fell flat with me. The band again impresses with their third album Phosphene Dream but they've evolved a bit as a band. They still have heavy stuff like 'Entrance Song' and 'River of Blood' but when you hear a song like 'Sunday Afternoon' and you can tell the band is willing grow musically.

8. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

I don't want to dwell on it too much, but I've heard and read this band get shit on a ton this year. Maybe it's because they're so popular after releasing only their debut album (they're even bigger in Europe). Either way, I'm not sure I get the hate. What I hear are a band that can play the hell out of their instruments and songs that continue to kill me after listening to this album endlessly. The one knock on the band I could see are the lyrics, which definitely have some cheese to them. It would be a shame though if someone passed over this album because of the hate it received on some hip music site.

7. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son Of Chico Dusty

If I made a list of my favorite rap groups of all time, it would be hard for not to put Outkast at the top. Andre might be my favorite MC of all time, but Big Boi isn't too far behind...and he's the only one of the two making rap albums right now. Big Boi is still one of the most entertaining lyricists in hip-hop and the level of production on these tracks is pretty insane. Just listen to songs like 'Shutterbug' and 'General Patton' and tell me you don't get fired up.

6. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

LA's Local Natives also fall into the category of bands that should be much bigger than they are. They've got a sound that's friendly to mainstream alternative radio while not sounding out of place at a party in Brooklyn. The reason this album makes it as high on this list as it does is because every song on this album is great. If I'm looking for something to listen to where I know I won't be tempted to skip tracks, Gorilla Manor is my go-to.

5. Future Islands - In Evening Air

The first time I heard the second LP from North Carolina's Future Islands, I was instantly smitten. It sounded at first like Tom Waits fronting a Joy Division & New Order hybrid which is all I needed to be intrigued. I haven't seen this on too many year end lists so this might be a hidden treasure. Something about the perfect spot right between New Wave and Punk always ends up being my favorite types of music. Future Islands do that just about as well as anyone I've heard in recent years.

4. The National - High Violet

At the risk of overusing this phrase, The National are another band that I'm not sure are capable of making a bad album. 2005's Alligator was one of the best albums of that year, 2007's Boxer was even better (and one of my top albums of the last decade) and now High Violet is the third album in a row that is flat-out great. Matt Berninger has continued the lyrical theme of the brooding man negotiating the landscape of middle class adulthood. Re-reading that sentence sounds like a knock, but I don't mean it to be. In fact, Berninger is one of my favorite lyricists and vocalists in music today. This band just can't do any wrong in my eyes.

3. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Just like many music fans my age, I think Arcade Fire's debut album Funeral is one of the best albums in a few years. There is something so intense and palatable about it that listening to it now some 6 years later it still sounds as urgent as it did then. Although the band definitely sounds more polished these days, Arcade Fire are still somehow able to capture that nostalgia of youth in a lot of their music. The Suburbs is a pseudo concept album that is essentially about Win Butler and his brother growing up in suburban Houston. It's no Funeral, but it's a much more well rounded album than 2007's Neon Bible. It also has what is now in the running for my favorite song by the band with the album's second to last track 'Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)'.

2. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

I know, I know...you probably hate Kanye West. Most people probably do and I understand it. If you're one of those people that haven't listened to his music because of that then you're missing out on someone's who's talent actually matches up to their ego. This is now Kanye's 4th near perfect hip-hop album out of 5 total albums he's released. That's a pretty solid reputation so far. Again, the production is top notch. West is continuously one of the most interesting producers in hip-hop music and he's never short on the impressive guest lists either. The highlight for a music nerd me is definitely the feature of Bon Iver on vocals throughout much of the album.

1. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

Nothing in 2010 got as many spins for me as the fourth album from Georgia's Deerhunter. After so many attempts to get into Bradford Cox's music (other than Atlas Sound whom I've always loved) I thought maybe I was missing something that many music fans seemed to love. I feel in love with Halcyon Digest instantly due to it being more accessible overall than most of their earlier stuff. The first track I heard 'Helicopter' was unlike anything that Deerhunter had ever released. It's just one of many different sounding pieces that fit to make a perfect total album. Bradford is also responsible for the best album ending track of the year with the Jay Reatard tribute 'He Would Have Laughed'. The best part is that two of the best songs on the album aren't even sang by Bradford but rather guitarist Lockett Pundt ('Desire Lines' and 'Fountain Stairs'). Halcyon Digest at times reminds me of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in the fact that a few imperfect songs can in context of a great album sound essential.

-Matt

2010 Albums Of The Year (50-26)

2010-12-14T20:21:00.005-06:00

My best-of post in 2009 stated that the year was a bit of a disappointment and that 2010 looked to be much better. Although I've heard folks say they thought 2010 was a bad year for music, I stand by my prediction. 2010 ended up being a really fantastic year as far as great albums go and was an especially great year for live music in KC & Lawrence.

Let's jump into it with 50-26:

50. Band Of Horses - Infinite Arms

The fact that this is my least favorite Band Of Horses album and it's only number 50 on my list indicates what a big fan I am of this band. Infinite Arms is really good, just not great. I missed their show at the Uptown this fall but saw them open for Pearl Jam. They are starting to make it big and definitely deserve every bit of fame they get. Much more so than a band like Kings of Leon.

49. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday

Truth be told, I expected to hate this album. It's probably not an album I'd pick up in the first place. That was until I heard Nicki blow Jay-Z and Kanye West away on the Kanye track 'Monster'. That one verse alone prompted me to check out the album and I'm glad I did. It's a bit more R&B than hip-hop, but it's still an entertaining listen all the way through.

48. Holy Fuck - Latin

The Canadian duo Holy Fuck have been a favorite of mine since I heard LP in 2007. I've seen them a few times live since and they are a great live band. They aren't able to convey most of the energy in their live shows onto an album, but I'll listen to them keep trying. Not a knock on their albums because they're great, Holy Fuck is just better in a live setting. They are one of those electronic groups that you might think was a rock band until you saw them live.

47. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

You'd think with a rotating cast of band members and guests artists it would be tough to keep things consistent over a three album period. Not only consistent in quality but consistent in tone as well, but Gorillaz have been able to do just that. With Plastic Beach, the collective have solidified themselves as being a band I'll continuously buy whatever music they want to sell me.

46. Blonde Redhead - Penny Sparkle

This is another one on the list that, although it was good enough to make the cut in the first place, feels a bit disappointing with how low it is. Blonde Redhead's last two albums are near perfect, intoxicating pop albums, this one is good...but isn't as great as the band is capable of. Sounds like they are veering dangerously towards adult alternative.

45. The Roots - How I Got Over

When compiling this list I noticed I had more hip-hop and R&B albums included than previous years. I hope that trend continues because seeing The Roots at only 45 reinforces what a good year in music this was. The Roots are now elder statesmen in the hip-hop industry and this is their best album since Things Fall Apart.

44. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Hawk

To be honest, I could pretty much listen to Mark Lanegan sing anything...and I know I'm not the only one. I'll gladly find and consume almost any project he lends his voice to and this is one of the better ones. His third album with Isobel Campbell is the best one they've put out, and the first two are solid as well. It was hard to pick out a single track from this album so I suggest just picking the whole album up.

43. Antony & The Johnsons - Swanlights

Antony & The Johnsons are continuing quite a streak of releasing great album after great album. He still hasn't topped I Am A Bird Now, but I'm not sure if he ever will. Although some of the tracks are a bit more playful and upbeat than the past records, I'm still a sucker for the sad, depressing stuff, it's what Antony does best. Antony also has the distinct honor of being at the top of the list of artists I want to see live but haven't had a chance to see yet.

42. The War On Drugs - Future Weather

As if the the solo output of Kurt Vile wasn't great enough, we get to hear his genius with The War On Drugs as well. I haven't written about him enough but Kurt Vile is quickly become a favorite of mine and I highly recommend picking up all of his solo albums as well as this newest The War On Drugs album, you can thank me later.

41. Strand Of Oaks - Pope Killdragon

The first Strand Of Oaks album made my top 10 albums of 2009 and although Pope Killdragon isn't as good as Leave Ruin, it shows promise that this band could be around for a while. Taking the hushed vibe of the debut and mixing them with almost a prog sound works well for the band and proves they aren't a one note group.

40. Best Coast - Crazy For You

Best Coast is one of those bands that gets endlessly hyped by Pitchfork and hipsters everywhere before they even released a full album. Those are usually bands I end up hating before hearing a song on principle alone (dumb, I know). Best Coast proved my preconceived notions were wrong with a really solid debut full length album. Stoner surfer rock at it's finest.

39. Abe Vigoda - Crush

I almost never heard the second Abe Vigoda album Crush...mostly because I didn't really like their first album. I'm glad I gave this one a chance because I would have missed out on a great electro-indie pop album that falls along side stuff like Cut Copy and Junior Boys.

38. Phosphorescent - Here's To Taking It Easy

Phosphorescent have always had a country sound to their music and the country influenced continued onto an album full of Willie Nelson covers. On Here's To Taking It Easy, the band goes full-on Willie again with their own tunes. The band hasn't ever sounded this upbeat, especially on highlights like 'It's Hard To Be Humble (When You're From Alabama)'.

37. Blitzen Trapper - Destroyers Of The Void

When I first heard 2007's Wild Mountain Nation (the band's third album) I knew I'd found a band after my own heart. They've calmed down quite a bit since and have almost become the more natural successor to Wilco (sorry Fleet Foxes). The band's fifth album, Destroyers Of The Void, may not be as good as their last album, but it's still great.

36. Plants and Animals - La La Land

Although the great Canadian invasion of indie rock has seemed to slow, there are still a ton of great bands that came up in the past few years. Montreal's Plants and Animals are a band that's hard to categorize. They'd clearly be labeled as indie rock but their songs take a bit from every part of that spectrum. The band is also towards the top of the list of bands that need to come through KC or Lawrence for the first time.

35. The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt

Sweden's Kristian Matsson is otherwise known as The Tallest Man On Earth and is no stranger to my lists as his first album was in my top 10 of 2008. If you enjoyed the first one, you'll certainly find more to like here. There aren't too many bands I enjoy listening to on a Sunday morning more than The Tallest Man On Earth. I should also note their also responsible for one of the best EP's of the year with Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird.

34. Damien Jurado - Saint Bartlett

Damien Jurado is someone whom I've only gotten into recently. He's got a pretty extensive back catalog as well that I haven't had a chance to dip into quite yet. If their anything like his recent one Saint Bartlett, I'm sure to enjoy them. Jurado's music is also on the mellow side, but still captivating enough to warrant many frequent listens. He get's special recognition for one of the best songs on the album being titled 'Kansas City'.

33. Grinderman - Grinderman 2

I'm a lover of all things Nick Cave and Grinderman is no exception. It seems like Grinderman has become Cave's outlet to be a full on weirdo. Not that Cave was restrained before but this seems a bit more untamed and raw. I'm not sure if I'd play this album around my fiance, but if you're a fan Nick Cave, I highly suggest picking this up.

32. The Sword - Warp Riders

Though they might be a bit cheesy, metal stalwarts The Sword are also a lot of awesome. I like my heavy music with some melody and no screaming vocals and this one passes both tests. I'm sure some hardcore metal guy would kick my ass for thinking this is "metal" but it's heavy enough and the lyrics are as clichéd as a lot of the metal I've heard, so it's close enough.

31. Drive-By Truckers - The Big To-Do

The band that got me back into real rock and roll back in college was none other than Drive-By Truckers. Although I didn't love either of the last two albums, the band never puts out a bad album. The Big To-Do is the Truckers back to doing what they do best and that's tell a great story in each song. I just wish they'd bring back the huge rock riffs on a few new songs now and then!

30. Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

So many double albums could've been considered great rather than just good with the help from a little editing. Even someone I enjoy as much as Joanna Newsom is a bit too much to take for two hours...in fact I'm not sure if I've ever listened to Have One On Me straight through. That being said there are some amazing songs on this album hidden throughout. If this would have been edited down into an hour, it might be a contender for album of the year

29. Junip - Fields

Jose Gonzalez is most famous for his solo career, especially his cover of fellow Swedes The Knife's song 'Heartbeats'. His first band Junip was actually formed back in the late 90's, but didn't release a full length album until Fields. Gonzalez is very much a presence throughout as the singer, but you can tell there are influences other than his own in play here as well. In fact, the album kicks of with one of the best tracks 'In Every Direction' which is way more upbeat than anything from Gonzalez's solo career.

28. Yeasayer - Odd Blood

I feel bad having this album so low on the list considering how much I love the first half. In fact, tracks two through five are all completely brilliant. The thing keeping it so low is that second half just falls off too much. Don't get me wrong, the whole album is worth your time, but this album is extremely top loaded with the best songs.

27. The Morning Benders - Big Echo

This was in my top 10 of the year for a while when it came out in March, but it fell just outside of the top 25 now. The Morning Benders are a very comforting band, they sound like a ton of bands that I'm sure you love and I (once again) don't mean that as a knock at all. The sound on Big Echo was crafted with help from Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor and you can definitely hear the influence. The band also responsible for one of my favorite songs of the year with the album opener 'Excuses'

26. Wild Nothing - Gemini

Since growing up, I've had an affinity for hazy indie pop and new wave. If you've heard Wild Nothing's debut album Gemini then it's no surprise why I love them. The vocals kind of blend into the music and it sounds like it might have been recorded in a basement, but the songs are absolutely killer. This is definitely music that would have sounded perfect during a climatic scene of a John Hughes movie (probably during prom).

25-1 still to come.

-Matt

Concert Announcements: Sebadoh, The Decemberists,Cold War Kids & more...

2010-11-30T20:01:00.005-06:00

I've been seriously neglecting the blog recently (although I'm finishing up my Favorite Albums of 2010 list and should have it up in the next few weeks). There usually isn't a whole lot of new music coming out and the concert season is usually a little slower as well around the Holidays. In fact, the only new record I've been playing endlessly is the new Kanye West album, which is fantastic....top 5 of the year type shit, but you've probably already read about it elsewhere... or everywhere by now. Things are looking up as there have been enough decent show announcements recently to warrant a full post.

Here's the list:

Fri 12/31 Murder By Death/Mansion/Baiowolf @ The Granada, Lawrence

Mon 02/07 The Decemberists/Mountain Man @ The Uptown, KC

Fri 02/18 Sebadoh/Quasi @ The Record Bar, KC

Fri 03/04 Tapes N Tapes @ The Jackpot, Lawrence

Wed 03/09 Cold War Kids @ The Granada, Lawrence

All highly recommended shows, I also would like to highlight the fact that Sebadoh will be playing their fantastic album Bakesale in it's entirety on tour. Don't miss it!

-Matt

New Music: Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer

2010-11-10T18:52:00.004-06:00

Ever since my sophomore year in high school when I first heard Thomas Callahan (aka Cee Lo Green) on the track 'Git Up, Git Out' off Outkast's debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, I've been hooked. I hadn't heard a rapper with such a unique and soulful voice and it was especially surprising to find it came out of a then 20 year old. As well known as Cee Lo is nowadays for his work with Gnarls Barkley and now a solo career, there are still a large population of his fans that might not know about his impressive rap credentials. Goodie Mob have two certified classic hip-hop albums with Soul Food and Still Standing and Cee Lo was by far the most talented member of that group. Although Cee Lo's first two solo albums tend to blend hip-hop and r&b quite nicely, it appears as he's abandoned rapping altogether for mostly soul music on The Lady Killer.

You've all certainly heard the first single off the album, 'Fuck You', a hundred times on the radio by now. As good as that song is there are a handful of songs on the new album that are way better than the already overplayed first single. The second single off the album is 'Bright Lights, Big City' which is the song mostly likely to get played in a club near you. To be honest, this album is really full of catchy, well written and beautifully sung tunes. Other highlights include my personal favorite song on the album 'Wildflowers' and 'Old Fashioned' which would sound nice on a mix next to Otis and Marvin*. The curve ball on the album is the cover of Band of Horses tune 'No One's Gonna Love You', which although I wasn't sure about it at first I'm really digging it now. Below is the video for the cover tune, the video is NSFW but it's one of the best videos I've seen in a while. It's always amazing when a director can tell a story like they tell in this video with almost zero dialog in under five minutes. Thoroughly impressive.

-Matt

*I am in no way comparing Cee Lo to Otis Redding or Marvin Gaye, just thought the song wouldn't sound out of place next to theirs.

Video: Sage Francis - 'The Best Of Times'

2010-11-01T19:51:00.003-05:00

I haven't been keeping up with Sage Francis recently like I did a few years back. I don't think it's due to his music falling off, because what I've heard has been great, but my tastes have changed and haven't sought out as much independent hip-hop as I use to. That's too bad because I'm probably missing out on some great stuff and that's something I'll have to remedy.

Luckily, I didn't miss out on this fantastic song off Sage's most recent album Li(f)e, which is an effort where each song is a collaboration with a different artist. The impressive collabo list includes members of Grandaddy, Death Cab For Cutie, Calexico and DeVotchKa. The video below however is a collaboration with Yann Tiersen who is most famous for composing the music for the move Amelie.

I can't remember a hip-hop song in recent memory that has stirred up this much nostalgia and emotion in me. It's definitely worth a listen. Check out the video for 'The Best Of Times' below...

-Matt

New Song: Crystal Castles ft Robert Smith - 'Not In Love'

2010-10-31T10:36:00.001-05:00

I've never been a huge fan of Crystal Castles, but I am a giant fan of anything Robert Smith touches. What seems like an odd pairing for Robert Smith and Crystal Castles, totally works here though. Check out the song below:

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Lucero

2010-10-08T08:19:00.001-05:00

After two stops in a row opening for bands I'm just not a big fan of, JoC favorites Lucero will be headlining their own show at The Bottleneck in Lawrence on Monday, December 6th. I got to catch them a couple of months ago when they opened for the Old 97's and they were great as always. I've seen this band a handful of times now live and they have yet to disappoint me so check this show out if you can.

A few other noteworthy shows announced recently:

Tue 10/12 The Drums @ The Record Bar, KC (FREE SHOW!!)

Mon 11/01 Doomtree @ The Jackpot, Lawrence

Fri 11/12 White Ghost Shivers @ The Jackpot, Lawrence

Fri 01/28 Old 97's/Langhorne Slim @ The Bottleneck, Lawrence

-Matt

Great deal from local label The Record Machine

2010-10-06T19:25:00.006-05:00

Kansas City based record label The Record Machine has some of the best local bands currently on their roster (Soft Reeds, Cowboy Indian Bear, Capybara). Now they are also offering you an awesome bundle of music.

Included for the measily sum of $25 are physical copies of two of the better local albums out this year with Soft Reeds' Soft Reeds Are Bastards and Cowboy Indian Bear's Each Other All The Time. Also included are digital copies of the two albums above as well as digital copies of albums from Saharan Gazelle Boy, Continents, State Bird and Motorboater. To top off the whole deal you also get the poster above which is a wicked picture of the KC skyline. Please cruise over to THE WEBSITE to purchase the bundle and support some really great locally based bands.

-Matt

New Music: Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

2010-10-06T18:16:00.002-05:00

Bradford Cox of Deerhunter is one of those musicians that folks have labeled as a genius long ago. I never really got it either. I thought 2007's Cryptograms was okay but didn't understand the hype around it. The double album of Microcastle/Weird Era Cont that the band released in 2008 was definitely more my speed, but I still didn't love it. Until Logos from Bradford's solo project Atlas Sound came out in 2009, I had never grasped what so many people love about Bradford Cox's music. That album is still in regular rotation at my house but I believe Deerhunter may have topped it with their new record, Halcyon Digest.

I'm about a week late on posting about this album and certainly most folks have read plenty about Halcyon Digest by now. It reminds me a bit of initially listening to Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in that there are a few tunes on the album ('Earthquake' and 'Sailing') that don't work well as a standalone singles; but within the context of the album sound absolutely great.

There are still a decent amount of songs on the album that would work as singles and could propel Deerhunter to the indie stardom level that The National and Arcade Fire now enjoy. 'Helicopters' is one of the most mesmerizing tracks of the year and I'm pretty sure I played it back to back about a half dozen times the first time I heard it. Actually, the whole second half of the album from 'Memory Boy' all the way to the closing track 'He Would Have Laughed' is pretty brilliant.

I'll be lucky enough to catch Deerhunter while I'm in Chicago later this month since they don't have plans to come through the Kansas City area anytime soon. Hopefully their concerts live up to the expectations I have after listening to Halcyon Digest.

-Matt

Video/Concert Announcement: Twin Shadow

2010-09-22T14:17:00.000-05:00

I posted about Twin Shadow about a month ago, but there are a couple of additional bits of news that are worth mentioning. Twin Shadow has been one of the biggest surprises of the year for me as his debut album, Forget, is holding solid in my top 20 albums of the year for at least a month now (purchase the album HERE). The album is mostly dreamy new wave but it never gets boring and is at the top of the heap of similar bands/albums that have came out recently. It doesn't hurt that 'I Can't Wait' off Forget is one of the best tracks of the year.

Twin Shadow will be making a stop soon in Kansas City when they appear at The Riot Room on Thursday, October 7th. This could end up being one of those shows that you don't have a chance to see in a venue this small again.

They've also put out a video for the song 'Castles In The Snow'. Check it out below:

-Matt

Concert Announcements: The Sword, Free Energy, Tame Impala & more

2010-09-18T20:35:00.004-05:00

Just a quick note to highlight a few shows that have been added to the concert calendar over the past few weeks. A few ones not to miss include The Sword at the Record Bar, Free Energy at the Record Bar and Tame Impala at the Jackpot. Here's the list of recently added shows:

Wed 10/20 Pigeon John @ The Jackpot

Thu 10/21 Free Energy/Foxy Shazam @ The Record Bar

Sun 10/24 Alejandro Escovedo @ Knuckleheads

Sun 10/24 The Sword/Mount Carmel @ The Record Bar

Thu 11/11 The Heavy @ The Bottleneck

Sun 11/21 Os Mutantes/Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti @ The Granada

Mon 11/29 Tame Impala @ The Jackpot

The full calendar can be found by clicking the red link in the upper left hand corner of your screen.

-Matt

Drive-By Truckers Ticket Giveaway!

2010-09-15T18:16:00.010-05:00

If you are a semi-regular reader here, it will be no surprise to you that I love the Drive-By Truckers. There are a handful of bands that I'll always hold near and dear to my heart and DBT fall squarely into that category. That's why I'm thrilled to announce that The Jeopardy Of Contentment will be giving away 2 tickets to their show in Kansas City at The Crossroads on Sunday, September 25th (you can purchase tickets HERE).

All you need to do is leave your name, email address and your favorite Drive-By Truckers lyric in the comments (If you don't want to leave your email address in the comments, just shoot an email to jeopardyofcontentment(at)gmail(dot)com so I can match up the comment with an email address for contact if you win...you still need to comment either way!). We'll randomly select a winner on Tuesday, September 21st and you and one guest will enjoy the best Rock Show around.

New Music: The Black Angels - Phosphene Dream & Black Mountain - Wilderness Heart

2010-09-15T10:19:00.001-05:00

I remember back in 2001 when The Strokes debut album and The White Stripes third album were taking the indie music world by storm that someone claimed that these bands (The Hives and The Vines were lumped in with those two as well) were sparking the return of Rock music. That seemed funny to me because: 1. Rock music had never left and 2. Those bands aren't what I'd necessarily classify as "rock" music. Either way, if the title of the "Return of Rock" didn't apply then, now might be a more apt time to throw that out there with new albums from The Black Angels and Black Mountain.

First off is the third album from Austin, TX natives The Black Angels. Equal parts The Doors, The Velvet Underground and even Black Sabbath, The Black Angels are showing themselves to be the best of the recent pack of bands reviving late 60's rock music. Their debut album, Passover, was an absolutely epic affair and if you haven't heard this band yet, I recommend starting there.

The second album left me wanting more until I got an early copy of their third album, Phosephene Dream. Although there will be no mistaking who this band is once the first track starts, the band has switched it up on the new album more than they have before. Where as the first two albums are packed full with heavy, drone-filled goodness, the new album branches into pop territory as well. Songs like 'Yellow Elevator #2' and 'Sunday Afternoon' contain some serious pop sensibilities never touched on before by The Black Angels. Anyone worried that the band is loosing their edge just need to listen to 'Entrance Song' or 'River of Blood' to know that this band still has Sabbath running through their veins.

A band that I've always felt were kindred spirits to The Black Angels are the Vancouver outfit Black Mountain. Black Mountain also just released their third album, titled Wilderness Heart, which contains what may be my favorite album cover of the year (see above). While both bands certainly recall Black Sabbath, Black Mountain has never really utilized drone in their tunes like The Black Angels have.

Black Mountain frontman Stephen McBean is involved with so many other side projects, it's a wonder how he can put out a new Black Mountain album so quickly after the last one. I won't complain too much though as Black Mountain might have released their most cohesive album yet.

Although the ultra-heavy riffs found on the debut seem to be missing for the most part on Wilderness Heart, that doesn't mean that the album is boring. In fact, the first single 'Old Fangs' is one of the best rock songs put out in 2010. This is another fantastic album that you should pick up to get your rock n roll fix.

-----

Not only have both of these bands put out two of the better rock albums of 2010 on the same day, but they are also on tour together. No stops in KC or Lawrence currently, but the rumor mill is swirling about the tour being extended and a stop in Lawrence being added in December. Nothing would make me happier as I've seen both bands separately and they melt faces. If any local show announcement is made, you'll read about it here.

-Matt

New Music: The Walkmen - Lisbon

2010-09-13T06:18:00.001-05:00

The Walkmen are one of those bands that I can fortunately claim to have been hip to from the beginning. A good friend raved about their debut, 2002's Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone so I picked it up immediately. Although I didn't love it at first I came back to it a year later and realized the beginnings of this bands brilliance. Since then the band has released two solid albums (2004's Bows + Arrows and 2006's A Hundred Miles Off) and also put out one of my personal top 20 albums of the decade in 2008's You & Me. The expectations the New York band has riding on their new release after the genius You & Me has got to be pretty heavy. Although the band didn't follow it up with anything as good as Y&M, they didn't fall of the map either with their new album Lisbon (out tomorrow on Fat Possum records).

Where You & Me was best enjoyed at three in the morning with a Jameson on the rocks, Lisbon might be the still drunk hangover album for the next morning. The tempo and mood of the album is definitely not as dark as the previous record. The opening track 'Juveniles' is a perfect example as it's almost poppy guitar lick would have felt out of place on Y&M. 'Angela Surf City' is another album highlight that's as upbeat as The Walkmen have sounded in a while. My favorite track on the whole album is the one that sounds the most like The Walkmen you know and love. 'Blue As Your Blood' proves once again that The Walkmen are not only capable of creating great albums consistently, but great tracks as well. Not all bands can do both but with previous tracks like 'The Rat' and 'In The New Year' and now with 'Blue As Your Blood' they continuously have at least one of my favorite songs of each year they release an album.

It seems like I've said this a lot this year, but Lisbon is a grower. This didn't capture me instantly like You & Me did. Now that I've had a few weeks to let it soak in, I keep coming back to this one. Once again, The Walkmen have released a contender for top 10 album of the year.

If you haven't already gotten tickets to their October 19th show at The Bottleneck in Lawrence with Japandroids opening, you better get on it. If it hasn't sold out already, it will be soon. There is really no reason why a band like The National are playing Uptown and The Walkmen are somewhere as small as the Bottleneck...so get tickets quickly.

-Matt

Video: Deerhunter - 'Helicopter'

2010-09-11T10:27:00.004-05:00

It wasn't until recently that I started to catch on to the musical genius of Bradford Cox. Between Deerhunter and Atlas Sound you'd be hard pressed to find another single guy consistently creating some of the best melodies in indie rock. The new Deerhunter album, Halcyon Digest, is set to come out on 4AD on September 28th and this is the first single from it, 'Helicopter'.

I'll be in Chicago for a weekend in late October and already have tickets to see Blonde Redhead that Friday night. Unfortunately for me, Deerhunter is playing that same night in town and I'm already starting to regret my choice. This song has been on repeat for me for the last two days and each time I listen to it I think more and more about getting tickets to Deerhunter and selling my other ones. I guess if Halcyon Digest is as good as I expect it to be, my decision might end up being made for me.

Here's the video for 'Helicopter':

-Matt

Video: Cowboy Indian Bear - 'Saline'

2010-09-08T17:52:00.006-05:00

For having a website titled "A Lawrence & Kansas City Music Blog" I admit that I do a really shitty job at covering local music. Although I mention a few local bands here from time to time, not enough local artists get covered on these pages. I'm going to try and rectify that starting with Cowboy Indian Bear. They are a band that's been working their asses off around town and the midwest building quite a name for themselves.

The band put out their first full length release Each Other All The Time earlier this year and it's fantastic. There hasn't been this quality of indie-pop coming out of the area in a long, long time. You should definitely cruise over to the website of the band's label The Record Machine to purchase the album or head to their Myspace Page to preview a few tracks first.

Here is their video for the single 'Saline':

-Matt

Favorite Songs of the 2000's: M. Ward - 'To Go Home' (2006)

2010-09-03T21:42:00.003-05:00

M. Ward could almost be considered an elder statesmen of indie music nowadays. His first of six solo albums came out over ten years ago...not to mention a couple EP's, his involvement with Monsters Of Folk and what's probably paying the bills best these days: She & Him. After seeing the She & Him show in KC last week, it's no surprise why Zooey & Matt's project is so popular. Zooey has huge star appeal and a nice enough voice, but the driving force behind the band is most certainly M. Ward. Unfortunately that was my first time seeing Matt play live because I'd love to see him come through town with a solo gig. Especially since he's responsible for one of my favorite songs of the decade with his cover of the Daniel Johnson tune 'To Go Home'.

This is a song that is close to reaching triple digits in terms of amount of plays in my house. No matter how many times I hear this song, I never get tired of it. The fact that M. Ward has a hypnotizing voice seems to help. Throw in Neko Case singing backup on the chorus and you have yourself a can't miss song. If this is your first listen to M. Ward's solo material, you owe yourself the favor of checking out his back catalog. Have a listen to 'To Go Home' below.

-Matt

New Music: Phosphorescent - Here's To Taking It Easy

2010-08-24T10:12:00.000-05:00

As the end of the summer fast approaches I'm a bit disappointed about the fact that I only discovered the newest Phosphorescent album until now. Every year when it gets hot, I instinctively start listening to a lot more country and Americana stuff. It's inevitable that Gram Parsons and American Beauty will both find themselves in my hot car for the better part of the summer. Phosphorescent's fifth LP Here's To Taking It Easy would fit nicely alongside the music that I turn to when it's warm out.

Although this album came out this past May, it's too damn good to not mention a few months late. My previous exposure to Phosphorescent was the mostly mellow third album Pride. It's nice to hear a full band join him singer/songwriter Matthew Houck on the new album. You can tell that Houck brought a lot of influence with him from the recording of his last album, To Willie, a tribute to Willie Nelson.

From the opening track 'It's Hard To Be Humble (When You're From Alabama)' you can tell something is different from previous albums. Songs like the 'Heaven, Sittin' Down', 'Tell Me Baby (Have You Had Enough)' and the aforementioned title track could rival the best country & western tunes I've heard in the past few years.

I read someone compare a recently released album (I can't recall what album) to what Uncle Tupelo would sound like today if Tweedy and Farrar had never went their separate ways. That quote might not have been describing Here's To Taking It Easy, but it certainly could. If that intrigues you I suggest picking the record up.

Here's the video for 'It's Hard To Be Humble (When You're From Alabama)':

-Matt

New Song: Cee-Lo - 'F*ck You'

2010-08-23T11:03:00.000-05:00

Make sure you check out this new track by Goodie Mob/Gnarls Barkley member Cee-Lo before it's overplayed to death. It's got that big hit vibe that Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy' and Andre 3000's 'Hey Ya' so I could see myself going back on this a few months from now, but currently, this song is on constant repeat for me. It's a bit of a shame this song isn't being released until August because it's defintiely got an amazing summertime vibe to it and would have been the single of the summer.

Cee-Lo's third full length solo album, The Lady Killer, will be released on October 4th and if it's anything like this track, it's gonna be great.

-Matt

New Music: Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP

2010-08-22T11:33:00.002-05:00

If anyone was questioning why Sufjan Stevens was going out on tour without a new album in five years, you got your answer late last week. Seemingly out of nowhere, Sufjan released a new EP titled All Delighted People. If anyone is worried that it's *only* an EP it should be noted that this is an eight song and nearly hour long EP.

You can head over HERE and purchase the EP for five bucks and you can also stream the entire thing below. After a couple of times through, it sounds like Sufjan and with a five year drought of regular songs, that sounds just right.

-Matt

Song: Twin Shadow - 'I Can't Wait'

2010-08-13T08:45:00.003-05:00

Scion Garage Fest in Lawrence

2010-08-12T22:11:00.004-05:00

This kind of came out of nowhere a couple of weeks ago, but there will be a ton of great bands descending on Lawrence on Saturday, October 2nd for the Scion Garage Fest. The whole thing seems odd (you have to RSVP, print out an email, and pick up your ticket from various record stores around the Midwest), but the line-up is pretty amazing, so I won't complain too much.

Here's a few things you should know:

- Will call opens at 2:00 p.m.

- Doors open at 3:30 pm

- Music begins at 4:00 pm

- Jackpot Music Hall is 18+. The Bottleneck, Liberty Hall, and The Granada are All Ages.

- Rain or shine event

- Alcohol for sale for those 21 +

- Line-up subject to change

- Entry is not guaranteed

I personally recommend trying to catch The Oblivians, The Raveonettes, The Ponys, King Khan & The Shrines, Best Coast, Thee Oh Sees, Times New Viking, Happy Birthday, Digital Leather and locals Rooftop Vigilantes.

I'm not sure how many tickets they are giving away for this thing, so if you want to go I'd suggest getting on it early.

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Sufjan Stevens

2010-08-09T10:44:00.004-05:00

The fall concert calendar is filling out quite nicely. Another addition today as folk troubadour Sufjan Stevens will be at The Uptown theater in KC on Sunday, October 17th. The last time he was in town was a show at The Bottleneck back in 2005. Surprisingly, Sufjan hasn't put out a new album since then, but I'll take another live show around here in the meantime.

Full dates below:

10-12 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis Theater

10-13 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall

10-14 Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre

10-15 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theater

10-16 Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theater

10-17 Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater

10-19 Austin, TX - The Long Center for the Performing Arts

10-20 Dallas, TX - McFarlin Memorial Auditorium

10-22 Mesa, AZ - Mesa Arts Center (Ikeda Theater)

10-23 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern

10-26 Oakland, CA - The Paramount Theater

10-28 Vancouver, British Columbia - Orpheum Theater

10-29 Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

10-30 Seattle, WA - The Paramount Theatre

11-01 Salt Lake City, UT - Kingsbury Hall

11-02 Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre

11-04 Indianapolis, IN - Hilbert Circle Theatre

11-05 Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theater

11-06 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle

11-07 Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

11-10 Philadelphia, PA - Kimmel Center

11-11 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre

11-14 New York, NY - Beacon Theatre

11-15 New York, NY - Beacon Theatre

-Matt

New Music & Upcoming Show: Little Gold

2010-08-06T05:31:00.000-05:00

It's a little overwhelming to sort through a lot of the new music I'm sent, so it's a real treat when I find something I really dig on first listen. That's what happened when I first heard Little Gold. Former songwriter/member Woods and Meneguar Christian DeRoeck is the primary force behind Little Gold. All I've heard of them is the two tracks below, but I'm really interested in hearing a full length release from the band. These two tracks are right up my alley, with fuzzy guitars, country tinged vocals and really catchy songs (I'm especially partial to the Thin Lizzy-esque guitars at the end of 'Completely Fucked!'). You can find these songs on the Completely Fucked! 7" which you can purchase HERE from the NYC label Heartbreak Beat.

Also, the band will be at The Replay in Lawrence coming up on Wednesday, August 18th with Inoculist and locals Bandit Teeth opening the show.

Just click on the links below to check out Little Gold's new tracks 'Completely Fucked!' and 'Chainsaw'.

Little Gold - 'Completely Fucked!'

Little Gold - 'Chainsaw'

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Wolf Parade

2010-08-05T08:41:00.004-05:00

There have been a few decent concert announcements here and there over the past few weeks, but nothing that deserved it's own post until now. Wolf Parade will be at The Granada in Lawrence on Friday, November 19th. The last time they came town was also at The Granada in late 2006...that show was one of the best shows I saw that year so there is no chance that I'm missing this one.

Here's one of my favorite tracks of their new album Expo 86, the track is called 'In The Direction Of The Moon':

-Matt

New Music: Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

2010-08-04T20:19:00.005-05:00

It's kind of hard to believe that this is only the third album from Arcade Fire. Like them or not the band has shown that they are without a doubt one of the most important bands around right now. With the release this week of their third album, The Suburbs, they've also proven that they deserve that moniker.

The Suburbs has a feel of a concept album, with the central theme deriving from Win and Will Butlers upbringing in the suburbs of Houston. It's a lazy label to say an album is a "grower" but there's really no other way for me to describe it. On my first few listens, I wasn't too impressed. I was looking to be knocked over by something as powerful as 'No Cars Go' or 'Rebellion' and to be honest, that's just not there on The Suburbs. The only time the band gets close to the now stereotypical Arcade Fire of banging drums and epic swells is 'Rococo'. While that's a great track, it's proof that the band is still able to carry an entire album without those epic single songs.

One of the best things about The Suburbs is Regine's vocals. On the first two albums the songs where she sang the lead were in many cases the weakest tracks. Not here though, 'Empty Room' and 'Sprawl II' are two of the best songs on the album and it's largely due to Regine. 'Sprawl II' sounds like Arcade Fire's first attempt at electro-pop, and they pull it off.

There are a ton of really great songs though...'City With No Children' rides on one of the cooler sounding guitar riffs I've heard in a minute. 'Suburban War' is a slow burner with an intense ending that will probably be a great live tune. Really, there might have been one or two tracks that could have been cut, but all of it holds up after multiple listens.

A journalist made a bad comparison that The Suburbs was better than OK Computer and that's not fair to any band, even Arcade Fire. Someone replied to that claim and said it's not necessarily better than OK Computer, but you could certainly say that it's Arcade Fire's OK Computer. I think that's not too far off.

If you haven't read it elsewhere, the band is broadcasting their show at Madison Square Garden in NYC tomorrow night live on the interwebs. You can watch it HERE beginning at 9:00 PM CST.

-Matt

Video: Broken Social Scene - 'Meet Me In The Basement'

2010-07-29T10:36:00.001-05:00

This might be my favorite track on Broken Social Scene's fantastic new album Forgiveness Rock Record. 'Meet Me In The Basement' is an instrumental track that BSS have become great at and will be an epic track to see the band play live. The video is pretty interesting and is full of images and footage of riots, protests and various other pop culture nuggets.

-Matt

New Music: Menomena - Mines

2010-07-28T18:43:00.003-05:00

Portland's Menomena are a three piece indie rock band that's starting to make a lot of noise, both figuratively and literally. The band's third proper album, Mines, came out yesterday on Barsuk records and is definitely worth your time and hard earned dollars. I only got into the band after their fantastic last album, Friend and Foe, which still contains one of my future posts for Favorite Songs Of The 2000's list, 'Wet and Rusting'.

The feeling of a band bursting at the seams that permeated Friend and Foe is found here as well in Mines. 'TAOS' is a great example of Menomena in full on freak mode with horns to boot. That track is followed by 'Killemall' which showcases the fact that Menomena can write a really great song that sounds like something you might hear on mainstream radio.

The best moments on the album is when the weirdness and solid melodies come together. Tracks like 'Dirty Cartoons', 'Tithe' and 'Oh Pretty Boy, You're Such A Big Boy' all have everything that is great about this band found within them. I try only to do full write ups of albums I really do love, and count Mines among them. The band released an album with no weak tracks and so many moments of brilliance that it's going to hard not to put this in my top 10 albums of 2010.

Also a friendly reminder that Menomena will be at The Bottleneck in Lawrence on Tuesday, October 12th.

-Matt

Favorite Songs of the 2000's: The Walkmen- 'The Rat' (2004)

2010-07-21T16:55:00.001-05:00

The Walkmen are a band that's slowly been climbing it's way into the upper echelon of indie rock bands. They've paid their dues too. Their last album (they've got a new one out in September, their 5th proper album), 2008's You & I, is still one of my favorite albums of the last decade. Unfortunately, nothing off that album actually made this list. The track that made the cut is 'The Rat' off the 2004 album Bows + Arrows.

'The Rat is one of those songs that most more than casual music fans have heard. If you've heard one song from The Walkmen, it's probably this one. Yet 'The Rat' never got any play on mainstream modern rock stations and that's unfortunate because it really is one of the best rock songs of the decade.

The opening guitar riff when the drums kick in about 15 seconds in is pure bliss. The standout of most tracks from The Walkmen is singer Hamilton Leithauser because of his unique voice and 'The Rat' is no different. In fact, hearing him wail in this song like he rarely does is a treat. He hits the lyrics too as he usually does...combine that with an incredible band and it's no surprise The Walkmen have found themselves with the career they have.

As popular as they may be, they are still only playing places like The Bottleneck in Lawrence. They'll be there with Japandroids on Tuesday, October 19th. I'd imagine tickets for this will sell out pretty quickly, so grab them if you haven't already. I'll leave you with my favorite lyric from the song, which is has always been a personal favorite and a live performance of 'The Rat' from pitchfork.tv.

"When I used to go out, I knew everyone I saw. Now I go out alone, if I go out at all"

-Matt

New(ish) Music: Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can

2010-07-20T20:23:00.005-05:00

I first heard about Laura Marling because of her association with Mumford & Sons. She's also known for being an original member of London band Noah & The Whale. With those two bands in mind, you can guess that Laura Marling is definitely in the folk music business. Her second album, I Speak Because I Can, came out a few months ago in March but I overlooked it then so I had to come back and post something about it as it's grown to be a favorite of 2010.

Not too many albums that get as mellow as points of this album does can manage to still keep my attention like I Speak does. Songs like 'Made By Maid' and 'Blackberry Stone' are very little more than nice folk songs on the surface, but Laura's voice and lyrics in combination with the wonderful production of Ethan Johns makes it pretty powerful stuff.

The best moments on the record come when she's joined by the gentlemen from the aforementioned Mumford & Sons. The highlight track for me has to be 'Alpha Shallows'; very few moments on Sigh No More even reached that level of emotion and intensity, mainly because of Laura Marling's voice. Another great track with the band is 'Hope In The Air' where she is even lent backing vocals by Marcus Mumford.

Although I stumbled upon Laura Marling because of Mumford & Sons, she's doesn't have to ride on their coattails at all. Marling has proven with this second album that she might even have the brighter career ahead.

Here's the video for the lead track of the album, 'Devil's Spoke':

-Matt

New Music: Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty

2010-07-12T19:59:00.004-05:00

I missed posting about this album when it came out last Tuesday and it's worth mentioning because it's the best hip-hop album of the year so far. Outkast are arguably my favorite hip-hop group of all time (De La Soul & Public Enemy would be in the discussion as well) so anything Big Boi or Andre put out I'm going to check out. This album has been in the making for what seems like two or three years. I'm not sure it would actually see the light of day but Big Boi finally released his second solo album, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty.

I previously posted videos for the first two singles 'Shutterbug' and 'General Patton' and it's no surprise that they are two of the best tracks on the album, with the latter in the running for best track on the record. A few other highlights are the sultry jam 'Tangerine' and another candidate for best track of the album 'Shine Blockas'. The latter contains a sample of one of the best R&B tunes ever in Harold Melvin and the Blue Note's 'I Miss You'.

The album has only a few mis-steps. The beat for 'Follow Us' is one of the best on the album, unfortunately the vocalist that sings the hook completely ruins the song for me. The other weakest track on the album, 'You Ain't No DJ', is the one song that Big Boi's Outkast partner Andre 3000 produced. Despite those two blemishes, no hip-hop album can touch this record so far in 2010.

-Matt

Concert Announcements: Janelle Monae, Of Montreal,Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Beach House & much, much more

2010-07-12T19:28:00.006-05:00

There have been too many concert announcements that I've missed over the past few days not to throw them all in one post. Here are the highlights:

Of Montreal will be in Lawrence on Saturday, October 23rd. The exciting part is that KCK native Janelle Monae will be opening the show. She's undoubtedly put out one of the years best albums in The ArchAndroid and this is the first time in a while that she's been through town (the show she was suppose to open for Erykah Badu was canceled earlier this year).

Another band with a candidate for album of the year is Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. They'll be at The Jackpot in Lawrence on Thursday, September 16th.

Indie rock darlings Vampire Weekend will be joined by Beach House and The Very Best for a show at Starlight Theater on Saturday, October 2nd.

Here's the rest:

Thu 08/12 We Are Scientists/Bad Veins @ The Record Bar, KC

Fri 09/10 Girl Talk @ The Crossroads, KC

Sun 09/19 Rogue Wave/Midlake/Peter Wolf Crier @ The Granada, Lawrence

Tue 09/28 Ted Leo and the Pharmacists @ The Jackpot, Lawrence

Sat 10/09 Ra Ra Riot @ The Granada, Lawrence

Sat 10/23 Of Montreal/Janelle Monae @ Liberty

Sat 11/13 The Reverend Horton Heat @ The Bottleneck, Lawrence

As always, the full calendar can be found by clicking the red link at the top left of the page.

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Drive-By Truckers

2010-07-08T19:08:00.006-05:00

Good news if you didn't want to pay top dollar to see Drive-By Truckers open for Tom Petty at the Sprint Center this summer. ~~Pollstar~~ Pipeline Productions website has a date for the Truckers at the ~~CrossroadsKC~~ Bottleneck in Lawrence for Sunday, September 26th. The Truckers are touring behind The Big To Do....what I think is their best album since 2004's The Dirty South.

-Matt

It's About the Music

2010-07-08T00:00:00.008-05:00

When did 2010 revert back to 1989? I could probably deal with the music shift, not that general Top 40 music has ever shifted that drastically in the last twenty years anyway, but there were plenty of good tunes floating around that we can all live with hearing.

The reversion that my aversion is focused on is much more specific, although it pertains to a bigger social issue: The stage outfits of women performers. In the last few months, we've seen the likes of Lady Gaga, Kate Perry, Xtina and Rhianna wearing outfits that hearken back to the days of Madonna expressing herself on a steam pipe on the set of Blade Runner.

I don't care about the outfits themselves. Skin is skin, a bustier is nice to look at and it's been that way since people wore clothes. As a hetero man, I like looking at them, so I'm not attacking the whole sexual morality of it all. For me, it's the reason they're wearing them that's disheartening.

When Madonna wore the cone bra, it was a feminist statement of women owning their sexuality, not hiding or covering it up, and being who they are. That's my sixth grade analysis. At the time, it was pretty bold, and it definitely gave off a sincere vibe of earnest female empowerment.

This time around, it feels different. Since we've seen this before, what statement is trying to be made? I'm not sure I can buy that wearing lingerie means something positive for a woman's emotional development anymore. I guess since I'm a father of two girls I look at it differently, but for me, it's irrelevant if a woman is wearing panties, a girdle, and suspenders because she's a strong individual, or if she is dancing at Cloud Nine Gentlemen's Club in St. Joe on a Tuesday night. It still looks the same, especially to a guy.

It might be different if it's for a play or movie- a visual medium where what you see may really mean something else. But this is music. The clothes are for the image, the stage show. Is this image really something being thought of by the artist to project an idea that relates to the music? Gaga and Perry write their own songs and lyrics- and a lot of them have nothing to do with sex and skin, so what gives? I get a feeling the idea comes from the manager, the label, the director of the video, because sex sells. It's disheartening that so little thought really went into a product that everyone can see, especially young girls. Even if there is a deeper meaning, would a ten-year old be able to figure it out?

LADY GAGA

A Stripper

What makes this a little depressing is that in the early 90s, when the indie rock and riot grrl scenes came about, you had women making music who had no concern about their sexual image, they cared about their music. Like any band with guys, they dressed the way they always dressed, and didn't feel a need to do anything but be themselves. Videos didn't have to convey any "girly" overtones. It's not that image wasn't an issue- their lack OF an image was their statement (and therefore, their image. Huh?). Regardless, it still made people focus on the music, and less on the chest. When women put the music first, and at least their clothes second, that becomes something infinitely more attractive, primal, and definitely rock.

Bikini Kill's "Rebel Girl"

Who do you consider to be woman that would be rock role model for a girl? Give me Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney, Neko Case, KT Tunstall, Loretta Lynn, Regina Spektor, Emmylou Harris (and the list goes on)...

-Chris

Concert Announcement: Band Of Horses

2010-07-06T20:58:00.002-05:00

Yet another great show at The Uptown Theater as Band Of Horses will be stopping in KC on Thursday, October 14th. Previously the band had opened for Pearl Jam at The Sprint Center, so it's nice to see them do a headlining show in town. Tickets go on sale on Saturday the 10th and are 25 bucks.

-Matt

Great Song Moments

2010-07-02T09:43:00.002-05:00

There is an article in the The Onion that poses the questions to its critics: "What are your favorite standout film scenes?" I enjoyed reading the different responses- a lot of classics, some more obscure moments, a few comedic ones- and it caused me to think about posing a similiar question in regards to music: What are your favorite "moments" in music? To clarify, what sections, parts, bridges, choruses, builds, outros, etc. particularly get you going every time you hear them? They may be loud, soft, rising, understated, whatever, but every time they come up, you don't switch songs, you don't leave the room, you stay in the car, you turn the volume up. It's doesn't even have to be from a band or an entire song you like, just a moment that stands out for you, like the opening verse to The Offspring's "Self-Esteem".

This is in no particular order:

1. "Lola"- The Kinks: The opening guitar riff. It's like caffeine in the morning to get you ready for work, or in this case get you ready to sing along to one of the catchiest choruses ever written (and not as plodding as the "Na na na naaa" in Hey Jude"). I grew up with The Kinks, and this was the tune I remember the most as a kid.

2. "When the Levee Breaks"- Led Zeppelin: The drums. If I have to narrow it down to a moment, it'd have to be the opening. Have any drums tracks ever hit with a boom before or since? My buddy and I would listen to it separately in our own cars on the way to mow lawns, so we could time pulling up to the houses with it blasting simultaneously.

3. "Listen to Me Daddy-O": Cato Salsa Experience: I must have a real hang up with openings, since this is another example, as the kicks off with a single note guitar line over a pounding, funky drumbeat, with each end punctuated with an "Ooo! Hey!" before evolving into a distorted bass and swirling keys, like Rage Against the Machine in 1973. A classic "getting ready for the night time" moment.

4. "Starla"- Smashing Pumpkins: Off of the Pisces Iscariot album, this is one eight minutes-plus build all leading to the outro, which features a waahed-out, phasered guitar playing perhaps a total of five notes, but comes off like a complete release from the containment of the everything before it.

5. "Fake Plastic Trees"- Radiohead: The last verse, or maybe chorus, since the whole song is pretty much the same progression, as Thon Yorke testifies that "She looks like the real thing/she tastes like the real thing/ My fake plastic love" while the guitars behind him build and build, then, perhaps to convey loss of hope, it all disappears to just the acoustic guitar, mournful organ, and Yorke fading away.

6. "Flagpole Sittah"- Harvey Danger: This is an example of a moment that sticks out, although I don't own the album, or have any knowledge of the band itself. And the moment truly is random: It's the last verse after the break towards the end (I think), where Sean Nelson sings "Paranoia, paranoia, everyone trying to get me.." Just that part. I just like the way he hits the "p"s.

7. "Sister Christian"- Night Ranger. Take a wild guess what part.

8. "Blaze of Glory" Jon Bon Jovi. Chorus. It's better if you have two people to do the harmonies.

I'm going to stop there, as it can probably go on for awhile. This is a list that could change every hour, as I'm sure it's the same for you. Defintely randomness involved.

What are your favorite "musical moments"?

-Chris

New Music: Wolf Parade - Expo 86

2010-06-28T07:31:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I feel like I gush about all things Wolf Parade; including every side project that Dan and Spencer are involved in. Since those two are so prolific one or the other seems to have a new album out every six months. This time it's the third LP from the band that pays the bills, Wolf Parade. The album is titled Expo 86 and comes out tomorrow (June 29th) on Sup Pop. With a debut album that rivals the best debut albums and a disappointing sophomore release, the band has a lot to live up to on the third album. I'm not exactly sure if they deliver but it's a fun listen along the way.

Just like on the other Wolf Parade albums, both members share the best songs on the albums. As a huge Spencer Krug fan, I'd like to be able to say his songs are the better of the two, but with Dan Boeckner songs like 'Little Golden Age' it's hard to. Boeckner definitely brings more pop sensibility to Wolf Parade as usual with songs like 'Ghost Pressure' and 'Yulia'.

Krug is usually a bit more out there, but seems to play things fairly straight on Wolf Parade albums. The album opener 'Cloud Shadow on the Mountain' is the most traditional Krug song and sounds like it could fit perfectly on a Sunset Rubdown album. Another Krug highlight is 'What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way)' but his best song, and the best track on the album, is definitely 'In the Direction of the Moon'. The track definitely relies heavily on a synthesizer like the rest of the album does but when combined with the spastic guitar, the track hits on all notes and is the highlight of the album.

Expo 86 doesn't hit the highs found on Apologies to the Queen Mary but it also doesn't quite have the lows that At Mount Zoomer had. All around it's a pretty enjoyable album and is what we've come to expect from anything Krug and Boeckner touch these days.

-Matt

New Music/Video: Suckers - 'Black Sheep'

2010-06-25T19:54:00.005-05:00

One of the albums I've been enjoying the most over the last few weeks is Wild Smile, the debut album from Suckers. At first I thought that Suckers were a nice mix between Yeasayer, Liars and TV on the Radio, but after a few spins, they really are doing they're own thing.

Suckers will be in Lawrence on Tuesday October 12th at The Bottleneck opening for another favorite of mine, Menomena. With the buzz beginning to build on Suckers debut LP combined with the fantastic Menomena album due out in a few months, this show will surely be a sell out by the time it comes close.

Here's the video for one of the best tracks from Wild Smile, the song is called 'Black Sheep'.

-Matt

Video: Black Mountain - 'Old Fangs'

2010-06-23T20:46:00.003-05:00

Black Mountain is getting ready to release their third full-length album, Wilderness Heart, on September 14th. Not only is Black Mountain front-man Stephen McBean a consistent source of fantastic psychedelic rock, but the album also has one of the best album covers of the year.

Here's the video for the first single off the new album, 'Old Fangs':

-Matt

Concert Announcements: The Walkmen, Bob Dylan, She & Him, The Avett Brothers and more...

2010-06-23T20:03:00.004-05:00

I've been slacking on the blogging recently and there have been a handful of great concert announcements for this fall that I need to catch up on. I'll use any excuse to post a Zooey Deschanel picture so let's start with She & Him. Deschanel and M. Ward will be at The Uptown in KC on Monday August 30th.

A few other highlights: The Walkmen and Japandroids will play a sure to sell out show at The Bottleneck in Lawrence on Tuesday October 19th.

Bob Dylan will be at Starlight on August 7th and The Avett Brothers will play the Crossroads on September 25th.

Here's the full list of shows that were recently announced:

Sat 08/07 Bob Dylan @ Starlight Theater
Sat 08/14 William Elliott Whitmore @ The Bottleneck
Wed 08/18 Ty Segall/Baths @ The Jackpot
Mon 08/30 She & Him @ The Uptown
Sat 09/11 Autolux @ The Bottleneck
Thu 09/23 Matt & Kim @ The Granada
Thu 09/23 School Of Seven Bells/Active Child @ The Record Bar
Sat 09/25 The Avett Brothers @ The Crossroads
Sat 09/25 Wovenhand/Serena Maneesh @ The Jackpot
Mon 10/11 The Toasters @ The Jackpot
Sat 10/16 Born Ruffians @ The Riot Room
Tue 10/19 The Walkmen/Japandroids @ The Bottleneck

Click the red link in the left column to keep track of all the shows coming up in the area.

-Matt

Upcoming Shows: Mumford & Sons

2010-06-15T09:33:00.006-05:00

If you haven't gotten tickets for tomorrow nights Mumford & Sons show at The Record Bar, you might be out of luck. Unless you want to pay 5 times the ticket price online, the show is sold out. However, you still have a chance to see them early tomorrow morning. The band will be playing a "Kegs & Eggs" show for 96.5 the buzz at The Firefly Lounge in Westport tomorrow morning at 6AM. I have no idea what to expect as far as how many people will show up that early, but the buzz listening base doesn't really seem to be the early rising type. Be there early for a chance to see an early morning acoustic show from Mumford & Sons.

Also, if you do have tickets to the show tomorrow night, you'll be happy to learn that Omaha natives The Mynabirds will be opening for Mumford & Sons. The Mynabirds singer sounds like a perfect mix of Jenny Lewis and Chan Marshall, so if you have tickets, get there early to check them out!

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Built To Spill

2010-06-14T20:30:00.006-05:00

Built To Spill are a band I've never seen live, but are on my short list of bands I've been meaning to see for quite a while. They'll be another chance Sunday, September 19th at The Beaumont in Kansas City.

Built To Spill are a band that rides the line between indie rock and jam band world and they've been putting out great albums for almost 20 years now. Not only is Doug Martsch probably the best guitar player in indie rock since J Mascis, but the band is also capable of writing really great pop songs. If you're looking for something to check out of theirs for the show, my recommendation is the 1999 album Keep It Like A Secret.

Tickets for the show go on sale Saturday, June 26th.

-Matt

Videos: Big Boi

2010-06-14T19:45:00.003-05:00

Is Outkast's Big Boi going to put out the best album of 2010? From these first two singles it appears as if he might at least be in the consideration once his solo disc, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, gets released on July 6th. First is the single 'Shutterbug' that was released a few weeks ago with a video that matches the pace of the beat:

Here's the newest single (and in my opinion, the better track) and video for 'General Patton':

-Matt

Favorite Songs of the 2000's: Fleet Foxes- 'Mykonos' (2008)

2010-06-09T14:20:00.001-05:00

After becoming indie darlings and getting as big as being the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, it's hard to listen to Fleet Foxes now without preconceptions. A band that gets so much hype goes through the trappings of being the best new thing all the way through the backlash and being panned for being too hip. Sitting back down with Fleet Foxes self-titled debut and Sun Giant EP, it's hard to deny that this is a band that wrote some tremendous songs on their first full length. Much like Vampire Weekend (whom I'm not a fan of), Fleet Foxes will have an unfair amount of expectations to live up to when their second album is finally finished and released.

Anyway, back to the point of this post and one of my favorite songs of the decade, 'Mykonos'. A year or so before Fleet Foxes hit my ears Midlake's album The Trials of Van Occupanther had gotten me back into 70's Americana/easy listening stuff like Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills and Nash. I was looking for something else new that fell into that same category and Fleet Foxes came around at just the right time. When I first got the Sun Giant EP, I knew after the first spin that I had found one of my new favorite bands. The best song off that album without a doubt is 'Mykonos'. I was hooked within the first thirty seconds as I couldn't shake the feeling that these guys liked the band America a lot. That's not a bad thing either as America wrote some of the better country tinged pop tunes in the 70's and 80's (including the soundtrack for The Last Unicorn). The best part about 'Mykonos' is without a doubt the breakdown at the end. I'm a sucker for harmonies and Fleet Foxes don't disappoint on that note.

Fleet Foxes - 'Mykonos':

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Menomena

2010-06-08T19:03:00.003-05:00

Portland's finest Menomena will be in Lawrence this fall on Tuesday, October 12th. Previously I'd ranked the last Menomena album, Friend Or Foe, at #17 on my favorite albums of 2007 list. Although it doesn't come out until July 27th, the new album, Mines, has already leaked into the interwebs and it's really, really good. By the time this show actually comes around a ticket might be hard to come by so grab one as soon as they go on sale and look out for a post about Mines in late July.

-Matt

New Music: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today

2010-06-07T07:30:00.001-05:00

Ariel Pink seems to be next in line for indie stardom. With a past in lo-fi, pitchfork approved music and a connection to Animal Collective, it's a recipe for being the next big thing on the indie scene. Not a newcomer, Ariel Pink has released a handful of albums (mostly on Animal Collective's Paw Tracks) in the past six years. I can't speak to his past recorded output though as 2010's Before Today is my first exposure to Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. The album is out officially tomorrow, June 8th.

I heard the hype around the early release of the single 'Round and Round' and it quickly became one of my favorite songs of the year. I've listened to that song more than any other song that came out in 2010 and I'm still not tired of it. It's got every bit and piece that I enjoy about this album. The sleazy 70's disco vibe meets indie rock is heavy on the single and the whole album.

There are a ton of other great songs on the album as well. 'Bright Lit Blue Skies', 'Fright Night (Nevermore)' and 'Beverly Kills' could fit nicely at your next roller skating party along with 'Round and Round'. There are a few serious missteps on this album that keep it from being one of the top 10 albums of 2010, but there is still plenty to love here. Following one of the worst songs on the album for example is the yacht-rock jam, 'Can't Hear My Eyes', which manages to erase the previous song from memory.

This album definitely isn't for everyone...to be honest, it's pretty odd. It will most likely be an album that's cool to like, which in turn would usually make me hate it if it weren't so much fun. To confirm my comment about the album's weirdness, here's a video for the song 'L'estat (acc. to the widow's maid)' from the Before Today.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - 'L'estat (acc. to the widow's maid)':

-Matt

Upcoming Show: The Temper Trap & Warpaint

2010-06-04T09:11:00.000-05:00

Australian band The Temper Trap have been riding a wave of success recently from the placement of their infectious single, 'Sweet Disposition', in a few commercials and the indie-approved flick (500) Days Of Summer. The bands 2009 debut album, Conditions, is full of similar U2 inspired hooks and guitars and is definitely worth checking out. The band will be making their first stop ever in Kansas City when they play The Crossroads next Tuesday, June 8th.

What makes me almost more excited is the fact that LA band Warpaint are the openers on this tour. Warpaint are a hazy art rock group that have been building buzz since they were signed to Rough Trade after putting out their EP Exquisite Corpse. They are currently working on a debut full-length album for Rough Trade and after it comes out you'll surely want to be able to say you saw them when...

In case you've been under a rock, here's the video for 'Sweet Disposition':

Warpaint - 'Stars':

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Pixies

2010-06-03T09:07:00.004-05:00

Pixies will be bringing their 20th anniversary of Doolittle tour back to the States and Kansas City was lucky enough to get one of the dates. The band will be at The Uptown on Friday, September 17th.

According to Ticketmaster, the show goes on sale on Monday June 14th at 10 AM and that Fuck Buttons will be opening.

-Matt

New Music: Twin Sister - Color Your Life EP

2010-06-02T08:07:00.000-05:00

Twin Sister are a relatively new band out of the Long Island area. The quintet formed around 2008 and have just released their second EP titled Color Your Life. Twin sister make really good dreamy indie pop. Vocalist Andrea Estella has a light, wispy voice that matches well with the bands hazy music. There are a few great tracks on this EP, but the highlight has to be 'All Around and Away We Go'.

The band will be touring the country this summer opening Bear In Heaven (who were really great earlier this year opening for Cymbals Eat Guitars at The Replay). The two bands will again be at The Replay in Lawrence on Friday, July 30th. It should be a fantastic show.

This is a fan made video for the track 'All Around and Away We Go', but I'm mainly just posting it for the song:

-Matt

Concert Announcement: The National

2010-06-01T16:31:00.003-05:00

Probably the most excited I've been about a concert announcement in recent memory. The National will be making a rare trip to Kansas City where they will be at The Uptown on Wednesday September 29th. They will be touring behind one of the best albums of the year High Violet. Owen Pallett (formerly known as Final Fantasy) will be opening the show. Tickets are $25 and go on sale this Saturday, June 5th.

-Matt

Classics: The Go-Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane

2010-05-30T20:08:00.000-05:00

I'd like to be able to claim that I've been a fan of The Go-Betweens since I was a kid, but I only discovered them about five years ago. The songwriting duo of Robert Forster and Grant McLennan resulted in a total of nine studio albums, half of which are near perfect pop albums. The band released what is now their final album (with the sad death of McLennan in 2006), Oceans Apart, in 2005. Even with taking the entire decade of the 90's off, that career length is a testament to the bands greatness. My personal favorite album of The Go-Betweens, and what I consider a "New Classic" is the 1988 masterpiece 16 Lovers Lane.

Despite being released in the late 80's, 16 Lovers Lane doesn't sound as dated as a lot of music from that time frame. These songs could have been released in the past few years and they wouldn't sound old or out of place with other indie stuff. In trying to go through and pick a few songs to mention from the album, I came to the problem of not being able to single out just a few tracks. That's the mark of a truly great album, I can't pick a favorite song(s) because the entire record is that great. Since I couldn't post every song from the album, I did have to pick a few tracks. It was a pretty easy choice because I love any chance I have to post cheesy 80's music videos.

The first video is for 'Streets Of Your Town', which isn't necessarily cheesy, but it's definitely 80's:

Here's the video for another track of 16 Lovers Lane, 'Was There Anything I Could Do?', which is both extremely 80's and cheesy...but still a great song:

-Matt

Video: Free Energy - 'Bang Pop'

2010-05-26T18:44:00.003-05:00

Philadelphia four piece Free Energy could be one of those indie bands that makes it really big. They've got a non-offensive, catchy pop sensibility that's in short supply in indie rock. The band they get the most comparisons to is Thin Lizzy, which has gotta be from the similar guitar tone, but TL never put out anything this sugary. Full of upbeat & fun rock tunes with hooks for days, Free Energy's debut full-length, Stuck On Nothing, is definitely worth checking out. It's a perfect summer album too so now is a good time to grab it.

Here's the video for their single, 'Bang Pop':

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Boris/Russian Circles

2010-05-21T08:58:00.004-05:00

After seeing Mastodon and Baroness last weekend, I've been itching for another metal show soon. It may not be as soon as I'd like, but Japanese metal trip Boris will be making their way through town again stopping again at The Granada in Lawrence on Sunday, August 15th. They'll be joined by opening act Russian Circles, who are also definitely worth seeing.

Here's Boris playing the song 'Pink' at the Pitchfork Music Festival in 2008:

-Matt

Video: Gayngs - 'Cry'

2010-05-19T19:41:00.002-05:00

Gayngs are a soft-rock super-group with Bon Iver, Megafaun and members of The Rosebuds, P.O.S. and more. I just got the band's debut, Relayted, but if it's anything like this first single I'm definitely going to enjoy it.

Gayngs - 'Cry':

-Matt

New Music: LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening

2010-05-19T06:56:00.000-05:00

There isn't going to be anything I can say about LCD Soundsystem or their new (and possibly last!) album, This Is Happening that hasn't already been written elsewhere. James Murphy and co. played it pretty safe on their third proper album. Following the pretty brilliant Sound of Silver must be no easy task though and as many have pointed out. The perils of making amazing albums....

This Is Happening should make plenty of fans of previous albums happy though. As my friend said recently that if he'd heard this album before Sound Of Silver, he'd probably like this more. There really isn't anything different, new or challenging here, and that's perfectly okay because Murphy is a fantastic songwriter and he shines here again.

There is nothing as great as 'All My Friends' on this album ('All I Want' is close) but almost every song is enjoyable. 'Pow Pow' is one of the funnest songs of the year and if I ever live out my dream of becoming a DJ, it will be one of my go-to dance floor jams. The Talking Heads-esque final track on the album, 'Home', is another tune that's quickly become a favorite of the year. This will find it's way to the top of many year end lists, but time will tell if it's got the staying power I think it might lack.

LCD Soundsystem - 'All I Want':

-Matt

Misconception= Missed Opportunities

2010-05-18T14:17:00.003-05:00

As is probably the case with most music folk out there, I have been taking a listen to The National's New album, High Violet, which Matt wrote about earlier in the blog. I've enjoyed it, and have been taking in their discography as well to absorb and compare their music chronology. It's too early for me to say that Violet is one of the best of the year( in my mind), but I really have enjoyed it and am willing to bet a large number of publications will have it in their best-of- the-year, and with a surprising amount of promotion I would be shocked if this album didn't end up being their best selling to date.

What's been frustrating for me regarding The National is the realization that while I've heard of them for at least three years, I never listened to them because of what I thought was their style of music: I was under the immediate and mistaken impression that they were one of the neo-punk/screamo (I'll have to add that to my labeling list, along with "post-screamo" and "post new screamcore") metal groups from the early 2000s- bands like (at least by my definition) Fall Out Boy, Brand New, New Found Glory, The Starting Line, My Chemical Romance, etc.

This was a type of scene that I was not into, so any band in that genre I generally tuned out. My assumption is that because a few of these bands started off with a "N" I assumed- WITHOUT EVER LISTENING TO THEM- that The National were in this movement, so despite any article that clearly stated the kind of music they played, I would skip over it. I don't feel that I necessarily missed out on something that may have redefined myself or my musical tastes, but by doing the very thing musical purists hate- discounting someone based on assumption without ever giving them a chance- I missed out on perhaps building a musical relationship with a solid group. Now I have to play catch-up, and often it's hard to ever get that connection when you're late to the show (not always, but sometimes the moment can pass). I'm also guilty of this in relation to major pop acts, but after hearing Kate Nash's new album, I vow to be more open to the more obviously well-known artists as well: Sometimes there's a reason an artist is known by everyone.

What also irritates me is that this is something I've done in the past, and fear it may eventually lead me to miss out on the next big band in my life, like what happened to me in the fall of 1992. It was sophomore year, and I was riding on the bus next to Alex Smith, who would always share earbuds with me and we would listen to music on the way to school (we had been listening to REM's Green and Van Morrison's Moondance) and he slips in Smashing Pumpkin's Gish. I liked it, but since it was too new and hard and dangerous, I didn't purchase it myself. Then, five years later as I'm studying in the library listening to Siamese Dream, I realize that I screwed myself out of five years of awesomeness and feeling really cool about myself.

And damned if I don't keep heading down that same road again.

What artists have you missed out on due to your assumptions?

-Chris

Favorite Songs of the 2000's:Wilco - 'Poor Places' (2002)

2010-05-13T09:36:00.000-05:00

If you know me and we talk music, I've probably expressed my love for Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. When I do end up doing a best of the decade album list, it's going to be hard not to put it at number one. The band's 2002 album has a very mythical status to it now, especially with the timing of a handful of events, including the band being dropped from their label. That event was famously documented in the film I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (a film about Wilco) which is a pretty great music doc if you haven't seen it. It was fairly difficult figuring which of three of four songs off YHF would make it on this list, but it ended up being 'Poor Places'.

Most of the great things about YHF can be found in 'Poor Places'. Jeff Tweedy's lyrics are always interesting and 'Poor Places' is no different. The brilliant thing about the album is the way a beautiful melody can be flushed out into something way more interesting by adding layers upon layers of instruments and texture. The end of 'Poor Places' is one of the best examples of that on the album. I'm posting two videos with this....the first is the album version of 'Poor Places'. The second is a clip from the Wilco documentary mentioned above with some behind the scenes recording stuff for the song. The recording of 'Poor Places' begins about 1:30 into the second video.

The album version of 'Poor Places':

Footage of the recording of 'Poor Places' (begins about 1:30 into the video):

-Matt

New Music: The National - High Violet

2010-05-11T07:54:00.000-05:00

The National have now basically proven themselves to be indie rock heavyweights. The bands new album, High Violet (out today), is now their third album in a row that is near perfect. It's too early to say if this is my favorite album of the year so far, but it's certainly dominated my headphones for the past weeks.

One of the most notable things about The National is not only Matt Berninger's deep vocals but also his lyrics. Berninger is one of my favorite lyricists in music today and this album won't sway that opinion any. Really the only thing different about this new album is there seems to be a lot less guitar, and it definitely isn't a bad thing when you look at the final product.

At first listen I thought the album was top loaded with great songs with first three tracks, 'Terrible Love', 'Sorrow' and 'Anyone's Ghost', until I realized there isn't really a misstep of a track on the whole album. A contender for best song, 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' is a track that would fit nicely on their previous masterpiece, Boxer. Like Boxer, my favorite tracks on High Violet are at the end of the album. 'England' and 'Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks' close out this album in brilliant fashion, with the latter being another pick for best track on the record.

The National aren't touring anywhere near KC so far on this tour...someone can correct me but I don't think they've ever played this area, which sucks since they're from the midwest (Ohio). Here's the band playing the new album's opener, 'Terrible Love', for Pitchfork (it takes a minute into the video before the band plays, but it's worth it):

-Matt

Videos: Local Natives

2010-05-10T20:32:00.004-05:00

Although I mentioned Local Natives here last year, I've failed to mention how much their album has stuck with me since I first heard it. Their debut album, Gorilla Manor, started off as an early favorite of 2010 and has still been in regular rotation since January. The Los Angeles band has a new video for the single 'World News':

The band also stopped by the Craig Ferguson show to do what is one of my favorite tunes off the album, 'Airplanes':

The band will be in Columbia on May 19th but don't look like they'll be in KC or Lawrence anytime soon (unless they decide to play some more midwest dates around the Pitchfork festival in July).

-Matt

New Music: The New Pornographers - Together

2010-05-04T08:41:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to lie, I feel like all I've been writing a lot about Canadians recently. Don't get me wrong, some of my favorite bands are Canadians...those folks know what I like when it comes to indie rock. The New Pornographers have become another venerable force in indie rock. They are now about to release their fifth album, Together (out today), and haven't seem to have lost a step. If you are a fan of power-pop, indie rock or just music in general, you'll find something to like in The New Pornographers. Whether it's the fact that Carl Newman seems to churn out amazing pop songs, the oddness of Dan Bejar or the just Neko Case, there are plenty of reasons to love this band.

The last NP album, Challengers, was their first misstep as an album. There was something missing from that album that was found on almost ever song on the first three records. That magic seems to be back as Together appears to be another album full of great songs. Some of the highlights are the album opener 'Moves' and the chugging rock tune 'Your Hands (Together)'. Dan Bejar always contributes at least one brilliant tune and this time his best one is the shimmering 'Silver Jenny Dollar' which has a hook that will get jammed in your brain. In fact, Bejar has the highlight of the second half of the album as well with 'Daughter Of Sorrow' which has a melody and backing vocals that sound plucked off 70's AM radio.

Don't forget that The New Pornographers will be in Lawrence at Liberty Hall on Monday, July 26th with openers The Dodos and Imaad Wasif.

-Matt

Concert Announcements: Liars

2010-05-03T08:02:00.001-05:00

This is another exciting concert announcement as NY's Liars will be at The Bottleneck on Friday July 23rd. They'll be touring behind their fifth album, Sisterworld, which I posted about last month. I haven't gotten around to checking them out yet, but Fol Chen are opening and I've been seeing their name pop up quite a bit recently. The full concert calendar is HERE.

-Matt

New Music: Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record

2010-04-30T09:48:00.000-05:00

Broken Social Scene have grown to be the quintessential indie rock band. They've got all the right pieces and sound, plus, they're Canadian. At one point in time the band had 19 members and Broken Social Scene has some quite famous alumni including Feist, Emily Haines (Metric) and Amy Millan (Stars). The band is now trimmed down to seven members with Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning most importantly still around.

Forgiveness Rock Record is the bands fourth album (officially released May 6th) and although it's a little longer than it needs to be, it's probably the most focused songwriting the bands ever had. With the slow burner opening track 'World Sick' it's clear the band hasn't changed too much. There's a lot of really interesting stuff too, like 'Chase Scene' which, oddly enough, really sounds like it should be sound-tracking a chase scene. Other highlights include the cutesy pop of 'All In All', the Sonic Youth-esque 'Texico Bitches' and the mellow 'Sentimental X's' (where you get to hear all three songstresses mentioned above together). The absolute killer song in my opinion is the instrumental 'Meet Me In The Basement' which sounds like it would be a perfect opening or closing song in concert. Hopefully we'll get to see that if Broken Social Scene decide to come through KC again.

Here's Broken Social Scene playing 'Meet Me In The Basement' live last July, and it's pretty epic:

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Holy Fuck

2010-04-29T17:25:00.000-05:00

Another favorite of mine Canadians Holy Fuck will be in town again, this time in Lawrence at The Jackpot on Sunday, June 13th. Previously they'd headlined a bill at the Record Bar with A Place To Bury Strangers which was one of the better concerts of that year. They'll be touring behind their new album, Latin, which comes out on May 11th (pre-order here). It's really good so I'll hope to mention a few words about it when it comes out.

In the meantime, here is the first single from the album, 'Latin America':

New Interpol Track: 'Lights'

2010-04-29T04:27:00.000-05:00

No matter how disinterested I've become with Interpol over the course of their last two records, I'll still check out their new stuff. Their second and third albums aren't bad by any means, but their first album is so great that most likely anything would have been disappointing. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to find 10 albums from the last decade I like more than Interpol's debut album, Turn On The Bright Lights. The band is finishing up their fourth and currently untitled album and have released the first track, 'Lights'. You can get the track as a free download but you have to cough up an email address.

-Matt

Half-Assed Yeasayer Omaha Show Review(now with extra grainy iPhone photos)

2010-04-28T20:07:00.010-05:00

I made the trek to Omaha this past Sunday evening to see Yeasayer since they weren't making a stop in Lawrence or KC (which I don't think they ever have, someone please correct me if I'm mistaken). The show was at The Waiting Room, which if you have been wondering why Omaha is stealing so many shows from us, just see a show there and you'll know why. There isn't a single bad line of sight, the sound system is good and the place is new and clean. Getting drinks quickly in a sold out show helped as well.

This is the third time I've seen Yeasayer now, but the first time I've seen them play a headlining show. They've yet to disappoint me and prove to live up to their hype as one of the best live bands around right now. Songs from the new album sounded great next to what now seem like classics like '2080' and 'Sunrise' off the debut. Highlights from the show were 'Tightrope' (off the Dark Was The Night compilation), 'ONE' and 'Wait For The Summer'. If they ever end up coming through town anytime soon, don't miss it.

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Marah

2010-04-28T16:44:00.005-05:00

There is definitely a bit of discussion on my part about "bar bands" on this blog. I would consider bands like The Hold Steady, Drive-By Truckers and The Gaslight Anthem all to be in that category of bar bands making good. Another one that definitely falls into that category is Philly's Marah. They've been championed in the past by such characters as Bruce Springsteen and Nick Hornby...and for good reason. I've said before they remind me of what you might have gotten from the members of Drive-By Truckers if they grew up listening to The Boss rather than Skynyrd. They play straight up rock n roll and they do it well.

I saw Marah a few years back at the Austin City Limits festival, they played at 11:30 am and they blew the figurative roof off the place. They'll be at The Bottleneck in Lawrence on Friday June 18th and this is another one you won't want to miss. Their seventh full length album, Life Is A Problem, will be out on June 22nd.

As always, check out the full calendar HERE.

Here's Marah playing one of my favorites of theirs, 'The Dishwasher's Dream':

-Matt

Concert Announcement: The Gaslight Anthem

2010-04-27T17:03:00.003-05:00

There are few bands that look like they are having as much fun on the stage as the fans are. New Jersey's own The Gaslight Anthem are one of those bands. The Jeopardy of Contentment favorites will be at the Midland Theater on Saturday, July 17th. I caught them last year with The Heartless Bastards and they are a fantastic live rock band, don't miss this. Tim Barry will open.

The Gaslight Anthem's new album, American Slang, is out on June 15th and is pretty fantastic.

Here is The Gaslight Anthem with special guest Bruce Springsteen playing 'The '59 Sound' live at the Glastonbury festival in 2009:

-Matt

Not so Super(grass)

2010-04-21T12:49:00.006-05:00

To my extreme sadness and recognition on the passage of time and our eventual demise, it was announced last week that the rock group Supergrass will be calling it quits after this summer, following a few one-off shows in their home country of Britain.

My sadness isn't directly related to their breaking up, although it hurts a bit. Supergrass was a quality outfit and one of the few Britpop groups from the 90s to have staying power and create consistently solid and stylistically varied albums. Releasing six albums, they were always well received by critics and were known for solid live shows (2/3 of the band put out a cover album under the name Hot Rats, produced by Nigel Godrich). So their break up does put a small hole in the current music world (unlike the break up of my beloved Oasis, although I contend their last two albums were solid).

Mostly, my melancholy is based on seeing in a press release that the band had been together 17 friggin' years. 17! Which means they got together in 1993. I started listening to them the following year, so this is a band that I have been following for the most part since they began. For 17 years.

Wow. It's not like this is The Who and they were together 30 years before I started buying them, or any other group that was at least a decade into their existence. I started with them, and their end line is almost two decades later.

This was a big reminder on the passage of time, not only how quickly it goes by, but also how it often fails to effect our perception of music and groups we love. I realized with every album that Supergrass was getting older, as was I, but all I had to do was put on their I Should Coco, and they were 19 again (and in many was so was I). That is part of the wonderful magic that music embodies for us, and while I suppose it can seem a little pathetic (especially to younger listeners who haven't been listening to any groups long enough to generate a sense of time passing), it's also very sweet and reassuring. You're not living in the past- you're just hanging out for a little bit, recalling some sensory memories of getting the first Supergrass CD for Christmas in Wichita and listening to it up in the attic bedroom where my dad once listened to his albums, or laughing at the title track "In It for the Money" with my roomate and thinking how British that title is. When a band that has been with you long enough ends its existence, it ultimately reminds us of our own past and mortality and that eventually, whether it's musical differences or heat failure, we have to call it quits.

The topic I pose then is: What artist's(s') breakup or end has been particularly hard on you? It could even be a group that hasn't been around long, perhaps causing you to mourn "what could have been".

Thanks for our time together, boys!

SUPERGRASS - ALRIGHT
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SUPERGRASS - GRACE
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-Chris

New Music: Plants & Animals, Caribou and The Tallest Man On Earth

2010-04-20T18:21:00.007-05:00

Plants & Animals - La La Land

Montreal's Plants & Animals are back with their second LP, La La Land, which is officially out today. Their first album, Parc Avenue, was a favorite of mine so my expectations were high for this release. Although I don't feel like it's as strong overall as their first full-length, the flashes of brilliant songwriting show their face a few times. Songs like 'American Idol' and 'Kon Tiki' are great springtime or summertime jams but the best track on the album might be 'Undone Melody'. It's a slow burner of a track that builds up to a rocking ending, which I always enjoy. This is definitely an album worth checking out.

Caribou - Swim

Dan Snaith has been recording music under the monikers of Manitoba and Caribou for almost ten years now. Caribou broke out in 2007 with the fantastic Andorra but the new album, Swim (also out today), should make Snaith even more of a name for himself. Caribou has seemed to drop a lot of the indie rock sound on this album in favor of great synth beats, and I can't really complain. There are some really great dance tracks on here; the opener 'Odessa' and 'Hannibal' in particular. This record deserves the best new music tag P4K handed it today, and don't forget to check them out at The Granada in Lawrence on June 6th.

The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt

Although this came out last Tuesday, I've been slacking and I definitely thought it was worth mentioning. I feel in love with Sweden's Kristian Matsson's solo project The Tallest Man On Earth the first time I heard his debut album, 2008's Shallow Grave (which was my 7th favorite album of '08). When I first heard this follow up, I was extremely wary if this was going to be half the album Shallow Grave was. I'm glad I stuck with it because The Wild Hunt may not be quite as good, but it's a grower for sure. It's a lazy comparison, but I'm gonna say it anyway, if you're a fan of Bob Dylan, you'll most likely enjoy The Tallest Man On Earth.

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Muse, Erykah Badu, MGMT & more

2010-04-20T17:06:00.001-05:00

I'll freely admit that Muse is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. The music snob in me thinks I should dismiss them as some mainstream, derivative junk, but in reality Muse pretty much rock. I wasn't a huge fan of the last album, but I loved Origin of Symmetry through Black Holes and Revelations; not to mention that they're an amazing live band as well. They'll be at the Sprint Center on November 2nd and Metric will be opening, so it should be a great show.

There are a handful more shows that I've missed posting about in the last few weeks. The highlights include:

05/14 Phantogram @ The Riot Room, KC
06/08 The Temper Trap/War Paint @ The Crossroads, KC
06/08 Erykah Badu/Janelle Monae @ The Midland, KC
06/13 MGMT @ The Uptown, KC
06/13 Lightning Bolt @ The Jackpot, Lawrence
06/17 Lou Barlow @ The Record Bar, KC
07/06 Modest Mouse/Avi Buffalo @ The Crossroads, KC
08/18 The Black Crowes @ Voodoo Lounge, NKC
10/30 Roger Waters performing 'The Wall' @ The Sprint Center, KC

-Matt

Video: Future Islands - 'Tin Man'

2010-04-14T20:08:00.006-05:00

I already posted a video of this song a while back when mentioning that Baltimore's Future Islands will be at The Pistol Social Club in KC on June 2nd. This is the official video though. I'll mention it again but the new Future Islands album, In Evening Air, is one of the better albums I've heard this year and will be officially released on May 4th. Here's the video for the fantastic first single on the album, 'Tin Man':

-Matt

Classics: Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska

2010-04-09T20:26:00.005-05:00

Great storytellers in music go back a long way. Much of my favorite music is the storytellers of old country music like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. Someone that could tell a great story about real people that may be a bit down on their luck. There are plenty of songwriters still around that are carrying that torch. Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley of Drive-By Truckers are two great examples of great storytellers in music today. It's a bit out of the country music vein but Craig Finn of The Hold Steady is also a fantastic storyteller. Where as Drive-By Truckers lyrics are soaked in booze, Finn's tales are hopped up on pills and LSD. There have been plenty of great storytellers in between as well like Gram Parsons and especially Bruce Springsteen. There's no better example of Springsteen's ability to tell a great story in a song than in the the 1982 album, Nebraska.

Bruce recorded all of Nebraska with only a guitar, harmonica and vocals. Instead of polishing it up in a studio, what he recorded as the demos are what you hear on the album. The albums starts of with the chilling title track which is about mass murderer Charlie Starkweather's killing spree sung in the first person. It's really pretty creepy if you pay close attention to the lyrics. The second song on the album may be my favorite Springsteen song of all time in 'Atlantic City', which is another tale of someone caught up with the wrong people and also contains some of my favorite Springsteen lyrics.

'Highway Patrolmen' might be one of the best old fashioned storytelling songs of all time. The song finds two brothers, one a cop and one a criminal. The song tells about how the cop always looks out for his brother, even when it conflicts with his duties as a highway patrolmen. It's touching really and I dare anyone to find a better story within a single song ('Long Black Veil' excluded).

I really could go on and on about each track. Whether it's 'Used Cars' about a family without enough money to get by or 'Johnny 99' about a man driven to crime by bad luck and bad decisions; every track is pretty damn amazing. The album ends with a perfect closer of 'Reason To Believe', because as heartbreaking as this album is, it's nice to end anything this sad with a little hope.

Here's a live, acoustic performance of 'Atlantic City'...the video ain't great, but the audio is fantastic:

-Matt

New Music: Avi Buffalo

2010-04-08T21:01:00.004-05:00

I'm going to try and get back on here with some frequency after being pretty sick recently. I've still been able to listen to plenty of music as I faded in and out of conscientiousness, and one thing that I really enjoyed was the new Avi Buffalo album. Out officially on Sub Pop records on April 27th, it's pretty much what you've come to expect from Sub Pop, which is pretty fantastic pop albums.

As if you needed another reason to check out this show, Avi Buffalo will be opening up for Japandroids at the Bottleneck in Lawrence this Tuesday, April 13th. It should be a good one.

Here is 'What's In It For?', a track off Avi Buffalo's self-titled debut album (which you can Pre-order it HERE):

-Matt

Upcoming Show: Cymbals Eat Guitars/Bear In Heaven

2010-03-30T17:15:00.002-05:00

I must remind everyone out there about what could be one of the best shows of the year. Cymbals Eat Guitars and Bear In Heaven will be at The Replay in Lawrence this Friday night. This will be an odd one because, in my opinion, this show would probably sell out The Jackpot. The Replay doesn't do advance tickets as far as I know, so it will be interesting to see how many people try to cram inside once the bands start playing. Both bands made my list of best albums of 2009, with Cymbals Eat Guitars debut album, Why Are There Mountains coming in at number 38 and Bear In Heaven's second full-length, Beast Rest Forth Mouth coming in at number 14. Freelance Whales and locals Bandit Teeth are also on the bill....don't miss this one!

Here's Cymbals Eat Guitars doing the track 'Wind Phoenix' at KEXP:

Here is the track 'You Do You' from Bear In Heaven:

-Matt

Favorite Songs of the 2000's:Guillemots - 'Trains To Brazil' (2006)

2010-03-29T20:55:00.005-05:00

Guillemots are a relatively unknown band in the States, but have garnered quite a bit of attention in the UK. With members from England, Brazil, Canada and Scotland, the eclectic-ness of it's members come through in the music the band makes. Although I didn't dig their last album too much, the bands full-length debut Through The Windowpane, is full of really brilliant songs. Songs like 'Annie, Let's Not Wait' and 'Made Up Lovesong #43' are well-crafted, catchy and smart pop tunes, while tracks like 'If The World Ends' and 'Blue Would Still Be Blue' are fantastic and heartbreaking love songs.

The best track on the album, is the pop gem 'Trains To Brazil'. It starts out with a great drum beat and once the piano and horns flesh the sound out it gives singer Fyfe Dangerfield a chance to really shine. He's got a fantastic pop voice and should be noted that he's also a classically trained pianist. It's a shame that Guillemots' debut album didn't catch on much here in the US, because this is really the stuff that would be on the radio here if given the exposure.

Here's the video for 'Trains To Brazil':

-Matt

Coming Out of the Shell

2010-03-26T15:27:00.002-05:00

Again, I have been slacking on my promise to myself of contributing more to this blog, but at least my reason is sound: I have to put dowm my drink if I want to type with both hands.

But now that I'm taking a break, a couple of items have come to mind:

1. On Monday the 22nd I checked out Quasi at the Record Bar, and it was a great show. The opening act was a local group and I can't remember the name, but I'll repost when I look at the flyer I took down (my scrapbook habit for shows I go to). They were sort of soft, alt0country pop vibe, with piano and guitars, and put on a solid show, although when they were cheered to do an encore they picked what seemed to be the most forgettable song of their set, so that was a downer. Quasi put on a strong, informal show ("intimate" doesn't seem right, since the venue was too large for the 30 of us there to make it feel cozy), focusing primarily on songs from American Gong, and for their encore, they showed how it's done with their version of "Pictures of Lily", and I think a Pavement tune, but I can't be sure, as they didn't say and I didn't recognize it immediately. I also had a chance to shake hands with the group (I showed them my JoC press credentials), buy a very comfy tee, and head home. I give The Record Bar props for seemingly staying on schedule, although I still don't see how starting at 9pm could hurt anyone.

2. As the weather is warming up and the sky is brightening, so are our hearts and moods. Joyousn news like an upcoming New Pornographers record and tour, and movies like Predators, Tron 2.0 and Clash of the Titans (please, please don't suck) make me giddy and child-like, and my music choices of course reflect this. I am busting out my traditional warm weather groups, which includes a heavy does of The Pornographers and Imperial Teen. So I ask:

What traditional bands do you put on in the spring time?

-Chris

Concert Announcements: Blitzen Trapper, Levon Helm & Future Islands

2010-03-24T17:59:00.003-05:00

A few more noteworthy announcements for Kansas City. JoC favorites Blitzen Trapper will be at the Record Bar on June 22nd. They'll be touring in support of their new album, Destroyer of the Void, which is released on June 8th.

Levon Helm, who is most famous for being the drummer for one of the greatest music acts of all time, The Band, will be at The Crossroads in KC on July 5th.

Finally, a new favorite band of mine will also be making their way to KC. Future Islands are a Baltimore based band that came out of the Wham City collective with Dan Deacon. Their new album, In Evening Air (out May 4th), is already one of my favorite albums of the year. I try not to write about stuff until it's officially released, so look for a post on that album in a couple of months. Future Islands will be at the Pistol Club in the west bottoms of KC on June 2nd.

Here's one of the tracks off In Evening Air...the track is called 'Tin Man' and sounds sort of like Tom Waits fronting a synth-pop band. Brilliant.

-Matt

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - 'Round and Round'

2010-03-23T21:50:00.008-05:00

I can't get this song out of my head but in such a good way. I'm not too familiar with Ariel Pink's previous output. I know he's a California songwriter known for home taping most of his recorded material. It really shows when you listen to a track like this. The song is called 'Round and Round' and is just out currently as a single on 4AD records. They have a full length they are probably finishing up right now as it's listed as a Spring 2010 release.

There is this crazy 70's disco vibe throughout the whole track that I absolutely love and it builds towards a pretty fantastic ending. I've heard mixed things about Ariel Pink previously, but this track really makes him and his band's upcoming album rank high on my most anticipated albums of the rest of the year. 'Round and Round' is already in contention for being the song of the spring/summer of 2010 for me...if I haven't burnt myself out on it by summer.

Check it out below or download it HERE (if you're willing to provide an email address):

-Matt

Concert Announcement: The New Pornographers/The Dodos

2010-03-23T18:52:00.004-05:00

I couldn't wait on posting this one. Power-pop supergroup The New Pornographers will be in Lawrence at Liberty Hall on July 26th. Their 5th album, Together, comes out on May 4th. The band's website says that all eight members will be on the tour, which would mean just like their last show at Liberty Hall, both Dan Bejar and Neko Case will take part.

Not only is that great news, but another favorite of mine The Dodos will be opening for them on the Lawrence date.

Here's a video for 'The Laws Have Changed' off their second album, Electric Version:

-Matt

Concert Announcements: Pearl Jam/Band Of Horses,The Black Keys, The Psychedelic Furs, Edward Sharpe& the Magnetic Zeros & more

2010-03-22T21:02:00.006-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted one of these, so most people have probably read about them elsewhere. Just in case, here are a bunch of concerts coming through town that are worth checking out.

Pearl Jam and Band Of Horses will be at the Sprint Center on May 3rd. PJ is a band I grew up loving and they put on one of the best live shows I've seen so I'm pretty excited about this. Add Band Of Horses as the opener and I'm sold.

The Black Keys will be at The Crossroads in midtown on Friday, June 4th.

Pollstar is reporting that The Psychedelic Furs will be at the Midland on June 14th. I've seen them once before but if you know me, you know how geeked out I get for certain 80's bands, and the Furs are certainly one of those bands. Not even the fact that She Wants Revenge is opening the show could ruin my excitement.

Here's a handful of other shows coming up:

04/17 Todd Rundgren @ The Beaumont Club, KC
04/18 Lupe Fiasco @ The Midland, KC
04/20 Serena Ryder @ The Record Bar, KC
05/03 Fucked Up @ The Jackpot, Lawrence
05/09 Murs @ The Jackpot, Lawrence
06/06 Caribou/Toro Y Moi @ The Granada, Lawrence
06/10 Josiah Wolf (of Why?) @ The Jackpot, Lawrence
06/16 Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros/Dawes @ The Beaumont Club, KC
06/26 Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears @ The Bottleneck, Lawrence (rescheduled date)
07/13 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers/Drive-By Truckers @ The Sprint Center, KC

Check out the FULL LIST of concert dates for the area.

-Matt

R.I.P. Alex Chilton

2010-03-17T20:55:00.008-05:00

Alex Chilton of power pop legends Big Star and also singer for The Box Tops has passed away at 59 years old. I've loved Big Star for a long time and if you have never heard of them I suggest checking them out. You've most likely at least heard one song of theirs if you have ever seen the opening credits to That 70's Show. Sad news indeed, RIP Alex.

Big Star - 'September Gurls'

Big Star - 'The Ballad of El Goodo'

Big Star - 'Thirteen'

The Box Tops - 'The Letter'

The Replacements - 'Alex Chilton' (the video is just Paul Westerberg live)

-Matt

Tournament time! Jock Jams, anyone?

2010-03-11T13:40:00.006-06:00

Now only a week away from the start of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, our attention at TJoC is a little split- as alums of The University of Kansas, this is by far Matt's and myself's favorite sports time of the year. Music is a big passion, but this ranks juuuuust about as high.

I do want to stay on the theme of music, of course, and this is what I thought of during lunch: Sports venues traditionally have horrible music: "Start Me Up", "Black Betty", "Under Pressure", "Welcome to the Jungle", whatever bland Top 40 hip-hop is #1 that summer. If you go to baseball games in the midwest, you even get to hear country- and not the cool kind (Hi, Rascal Flats!). It's not even really about the quality of the songs, as much as it's the same songs every year- kind of like alternative radio stations (In fact I turned 96.5 this morning and was able to hear Stone Temple Pilots "Interstate Love Song" again. I thnk 96.5 stands for "Music from May, 1996"). At a certain point, how pumped up can you get when you hear the same song at the same point in a contest? Predictablility is hardly a blood-pumper.

If you're a sports enthusiast, do you have any songs you would love to see used in said setting that maybe haven't been used? Of course, part of playing songs is playing them at the right instance- to wake fans up, drive them into a frenzy, create a party atmosphere (like anytime anyone plays a song, I suppose). Is there a song that you heard at a game that you want banned, or one you still enjoy no matter how many times you can see it coming a quarter/half/period/inning away?

What jumps into my head are two electronic tunes: "Battleflag" by Lo Fidelity All Stars for an opening introduction,

and "Setting Sun" by The Chemical Brothers for a timeout.

Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun
Uploaded by johann1984. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

The songs themselves have been around for awhile, but I don't think I've ever heard them at a game.

I would love to ban "Start Me Up". I get the theme of it, but it really only works on the first verse, and it's not a great sing-a-long stadium tune; I always enjoy "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC. The whole song is about kicking your ass, and has a great sense of build to get the crowd fired up.
-Chris

Videos: Yeasayer, She & Him and Broken Bells

2010-03-10T20:20:00.004-06:00

I'm not sure what's going on in Yeasayer's new video for the track 'One', but it's pretty awesome. Plus, this song is one of the better dance jams of 2010 and for some strange reason, I want to go to this party. Enjoy:

Here's the video for the first single from the new She & Him album, Volume 2 (out March 23rd). The song, 'In The Sun', is great and sounds like it would fit nicely with the material from the first record, but the highlight of course is the almost annoyingly adorable Zooey Deschanel.

Finally, the last video is from an album I'm not crazy about, but this song is great. Broken Bells is a project from James Mercer (The Shins) and Dangermouse (a ton of great shit). Although the album doesn't hold up all the way through, it starts of with this fantastic track 'The High Road':

-Matt