Archive for the ‘rock’ Tag
Wilco
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Noting a new Wilco album as I’m busy preparing for my August trip. See you guys in September! Check out the music and feel free to drop some comments about it.
Experimental Aircraft
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Lately I’ve been exploring a few shoegaze bands, sometimes when it works it hits me like an ocean wave. Experimental Aircraft can make one; this is their debut from 2000.
Julian Plenti Is… Skyscraper
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There are always only a few rock singers that can sing something like “Shake me… shake me… skyscraper” and have us listen like it’s not really important because you really feel the music and perhaps it’s more about the background or something. In any case, Paul Banks of Interpol has become one of those. Some of these songs remind me of the band, not so much on the surface because this is largely a solo experiment, there are finger picking acoustic guitars crossed with atmospheric beat loops, but the way he sings and the song flow and layout. And it works, because he is really good at making simple sound great.
Sonic Youth – The Eternal
There is a light that never goes out in the world of alternative rock music, and it comes from Sonic Youth, their constantly unusual compositions filled with details that they have invented so long ago. If you like them, it’s just such a pleasure to have them always return and deliver another snapshot of unique creativity.
Eels – Hombre Lobo
Mark E and twelve songs of desire. If you’ve been following what he’s been doing with Eels, it has always been about it in most of the songs. It is what has kept me going back to these albums – I sensed the blues and sincerity. The music is often so simple, I can often figure out how to play them on guitar in two takes. But it rocks. And when it’s a ballad, it’s like he sat down next to us and expressed it from the bottom. It’s also why I sometimes have to make a step away.
All songs on this album are what he imagines would be a soundtrack to the emotions of Dog Faced Boy, being a grown up werewolf, as he seeks the affection of a girl he’s in love with. It’s the longing and fresh blood of an ordinary man whose timing may be off.
the band’s myspace page contains interesting text and videos
The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
My only fear before hearing this album for the first time was that perhaps The Decemberists‘ Colin Meloy has run out of good ideas, that the poetic moments such as those on Picaresque, which was my first encounter with the band, will begin to repeat in a parodic familiarity. None of this is fortunately the case, as The Hazards of Love sees them moving on and stretching in a brilliant… rock opera. Yes, and there’s nothing wrong with that, because it works. Totally recommended.
Nine Inch Nails – Another Version of the Truth
Trent announced that 2009 will be the end for Nine Inch Nails. For a while at least. And by knowing when to withdraw, I think that he has proved to be a true artist and the man in black for more than a generation. His sounds have resonated in my head so many times. I take a deep breath.
This is an official release of two concerts from the previous tour, and in the true progressive spirit of all things NIN there’s an ongoing community effort of composing a DVD for it. Last one for the machine.
Vetiver – Tight Knit
Being in some fuss lately, I mostly spend time listening to old and familiar albums, however there has been something new that I found and keep returning to, and it’s this one from Vetiver, Tight Knit. They’re a folk/country-rock band, one dude named Andy Cabic writes all the songs, almost exclusively in a laid-back mid-tempo as if they were all created during some mythical slow summer afternoon. It goes from him being alone, occasionally touched by a distant slide guitar, to a full band dropping in for a short little celebration of simple life.
Eagles Of Death Metal – Heart On
Queens über alles, but Eagles of Death Metal have their own rock’n'roll to deliver as well. Fusing stoner and classic rock with dicking around for their own pleasure – “nobody does me like I do”, yeah – it’s party rock that’s actually entertaining and for parties alright.
