Ears Made Ready

Dumping

2011-03-31T22:02:00.000-07:00

Still haven't quite figured out what I'm going to do with this thing without a suitable file hosting site. So, since I'm meandering around lost, here's a big ass file full of stuff I've been listening to lately that I uploaded for a friend of mine. 374MB of it.

Enjoy

Show a little love

2011-01-16T13:46:00.000-08:00

First post I've done in quite a while. I'm still trying to find a suitable service to allow me to continue this blog in it's current format (my witty prose accompanied by streaming audio at no cost to you or me), but for now, I'm just trying to help a sister out.

You guys remember that gushy post I made about Sherree Chamberlain, right? If not, shame on you. Get edumacated...

Sherree Chamberlain - You Don't Love Me

Doesn't that just break your little heart? No? Good, because it's just a song. A song so amazing that words often fail me when I tell people about it, but still...

What SHOULD break your heart is our wonderful songbird was recently the victim of theft when some jackass thought it would be a good idea to "liberate" her guitar from her. I don't know many independent musicians who are able to afford 1) commercial insurance to cover their gear and 2) to replace that gear on the unfortunate occasion that it gets stolen or destroyed. Based on her current predicament, I have to assume Sherree is no exception to that rule.

Luckily, there is recourse for her to raise funds to replace her lost (and very important) tool of her chosen trade. You can go to her page over at Feed the Muse and donate a few bucks to help her out. I checked out the organization and it seems legit as far as I can tell. You can donate anywhere between $5 and $500 to the cause, earning you in return everything from a simple thank you to a private performance for your family and friends (how I wish I had $500 to burn right now). She's raised just over $1,300 so far, but has a goal set of $2,000, which to a non-musician may seem a bit much, but it's not unwarranted. Anybody can go out and buy a $100 guitar and enjoy themselves, but you won't want to put it on a record... and it probably won't maintain intonation very well with itself, much less other instruments... and the tone is probably going sit somewhere between a cigar box guitar and a cardboard box with rubber bands stretched over it... You get where I'm going with this. Professional grade musicians need professional grade equipment.

So go on over and give a gift that will keep giving back to you... or at least to me. The sooner she can reach her goal, the sooner I can go back to being that creepy guy in the corner at her shows. Is that so wrong?

Test Post

2010-11-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

You can feel free to ignore this one if you want. Just going to be some random things that I enjoy without much description. I found out recently that my favored file hosting site is going to be shutting down and every mp3 I've posted up until now will be disappearing unless I find a suitable replacement. This will simply serve as a way for me to test out a new service while posting some random nonsense.

Here's the lead singer of As I Lay Dying doing his best Arnold Schwarzenegger impression set to some total brutal music.

Austrian Death Machine - Get to the Choppa
http://kiwi6.com/uploads/hotlink?id=7i98p08b4s" height="27" width="320">
So, did it work? I hope so...

***EDIT***

Well, THAT was a spectacular failure. In the last 2 hours, I've been on google looking for acceptable alternatives and haven't found squat. In all likelihood, I'll end up having to close down this sight or actually learn how to write well. The last thing I want is a ragequit, but we'll see. It's not like anybody actually reads this thing anyway.

I Miss You More Than You'll Ever Know

2010-11-04T19:22:00.000-07:00

Between this, the last post about Boys & Frogs and a little stop-gap filler on this blog's facebook page (which you should probably "like" if you don't already), we're sitting at three posts about music videos in a row. Will this trend continue? If groups I love keep churning out artistic, interesting, erotic and/or simply badass music videos, then yes.

Ladies and gentlemen, this video has a touch of all of those aforementioned adjectives and more.

If you'll recall, when last we saw mr. Gnome, they had just made kinky love to my earholes with their fully engorged rock and roll ding-dongs at the Conservatory. Since they wrapped that tour, they've been busy recording their third album and conceptualizing/shooting/editing their new video for "Vampires." The new album has yet to materialize, but the video launched on YouTube just a few days ago. I'm embedding it here, but I highly recommend watching it on YouTube proper so you can see the full-sized version.

mr. Gnome - Vampires (Content Warning for Language/Violence/Drug Use [see a doctor if you experience an erection lasting more than four hours])

What I love so much about this video is that it's a throwback to the days when music video's could be more than just glorified commercials. "Vampires" is a three-minute-and-change song and this video stretches to the 10 minute mark. To me, this ranks up there with epic videos like "Thriller" or "November Rain," except the song is actually good and they don't have to cramp their style to conform to MTV's lame standards and practices. Hell, I'll agree with a buddy of mine who just watched it and say that this is better than most of the movies I've seen over the last few years. It's obvious that the band had a vision and that they were dead set on executing it to perfection (read their sweet-ass blog for any length of time and you'll figure out really quickly that there's nobody who could have conceived this other than them). If you haven't watched it yet in spite of the fact that I embedded the damn thing in the middle of this wall of text, I'm not going to ruin it for you by getting into details. Suffice it to say that their small cast of characters get their due development in the short 10 minutes and none of them, save the band who are caught off guard and playing on amidst the chaos, are too sympathetic. Seriously, this is the best music video I've seen in years.

Now that I'm done jizzing all over this video's face, I should mention that mr. Gnome are set to play the Conservatory again on December 1st here in OKC and I STRONGLY recommend that you attend, buy a "mr. Gnome: Better than porn" t-shirt (funny story there) and offer to fellate them after (or before) the show. They deserve it after all. And if you don't live in Oklahoma City, peep their tour dates and see where you can catch them on this tour. You won't be disappoint.

Micropost 3

2010-10-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

Still working on that post about repetitive music from my childhood, but felt this was worth posting. You'll remember Boys and Frogs from a prior post. If you don't remember, woe be upon you. They have a joyous sound which I still maintain reminds me of a scaled back Arcade Fire back when AF was still good. Got a message from one of the guys in the band and they just debuted their first music video in the last few weeks. It's for their latest single, "In Dreams" and I think it's delightful.

Boys and Frogs "In Dreams" from Boys and Frogs on Vimeo.

So yeah. Cruise on over to their vimeo page and watch it there at a larger size. And buy their music if you haven't already.

(seriously, what are you waiting for?)

Sometimes I Try to Pretend

2010-10-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

This will mark my third post about Hurricane Bells and, unless Steve Schiltz goes on a crazy streak of insane productivity (which is not necessarily out of the question given that it's been about a year since the first HB release), it may be the last one dedicated to them for a while. Now, I know in my last post I promised that I would be talking about "bleeps and bloops," but I felt that I needed to move this one to the front burner. I mentioned not long ago that this EP was coming out and, as expected, it's outstanding. More blissful, low-key stuff that's perfect for autumn and doesn't stray away from the formula that, in my opinion, made "Tonight is the Ghost" so great. However, this doesn't really showcase Schiltz songwriting chops as much as HB's debut as 3 of the 5 tracks are covers.

Hurricane Bells - Waiting Song

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If you'll also recall when I made the preview post for this EP I was pretty ambivalent about the cover of Blue October's "Into the Ocean" being included on the disc. It turns out that I really had nothing to worry about. Steve takes a song that I didn't really care for at all to begin with and turned it into one of the highlights on the record.

Hurricane Bells - Into the Ocean

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See? That wasn't so bad, now was it? If you feel inclined to purchase this, I recommend doing so directly through the band's website. Whether you buy the physical version or the digital download, you'll receive the "Ghost Stories" EP as a free bonus, which is just 5 remixes of previously released material. Being the completist that I am when it comes to Steve's work, I had to have it. And track 3 is actually pretty awesome to boot. Win-win!

Hurricane Bells - Winters in New York (Carlos Anthony Molina Remix)

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There you have it. 2 EPs for the price of one. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some 16-bit blinking, blonking stuff to listen to for the next post. For real this time.

All My Life Spent Alone

2010-09-29T21:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's over a week. Congratulations to those of you who bet against me. You've won. Anyway, I had considerable trouble when trying to come up with the subject for this post. Then Autumn happened. I stepped outside Sunday morning and was immediately taken with how crisp and clean the air was. I love this time of year. It makes me want to huddle close to someone on a park bench and watch the sun go down as a brisk breeze blows over us by the lake. It makes me want to fall in love.

And so last night, I did what I always do when I feel all dovey and nostalgic for a past that's not yet behind me. I put James Iha's "Let it Come Down" on the turntable.

James Iha - Be Strong Now

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For anybody who somehow doesn't know, Iha was a guitarist in The Smashing Pumpkins before they broke up and subsequently "reformed" without him. He went on to work with an eclectic variety of musicians including A Perfect Circle and members of Hanson and Cheap Trick (yes, THAT Hanson). But in 1998, before the Pumpkins' released "Adore" he quietly released this solo album. Critical reaction was mixed and it didn't sell very well. To be honest, I was a HUGE Pumpkins fan and I didn't bother to buy the album until after the band broke up, but it eventually found its way into my collection.

James Iha - Sound of Love

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I remember going to some awful record store on the south side of OKC that was run by a local promoter when I was first getting into vinyl. The shop is long-since gone and the former owner has done less than his fair share of jail time, but that's another story for another day. Anyway, I was thumbing through everything they had when I happened upon a used copy of this record. I'd never listened to it, but I knew right then and there that I had to have it. I put it on as soon as I got home and immediately fell in love with it.

James Iha - Silver String

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There are few things that hit the spot like this album does for me. Sure, it's kinda cornball, James' voice isn't the strongest thing in the world and the word "love" makes more appearances than "sun" on a Polyphonic Spree record, but (and this is important) it feels sincere. So often, I listen to a record that's this heavy on "love" songs and it sounds forced or contrived. Not so here. It has that same honest, heart-on-the-sleeve quality that I love so much about all of The Avett Brothers' records. James genuinely sounds like a young dude head-over-heels for some sweet little thing from a small town in the midwest who has a good relationship with her father and loves "Pet Sounds" and Fleet Foxes in equal measure. But enough about me. All in all, this record is a fantastic little slab of alt country that would stand up well next to most of Ryan Adams' and Wilco's early respective outputs. Sappy, sweet and saccharine love songs that would make any feeling person with good taste melt a little on the inside.

James Iha - No One's Gonna Hurt You

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The bad news is that It's out of print and it's not on iTunes, but with rumors circulating that he's working on a second solo album (over ten years later mind you), it might be a good time for him to consider a deluxe reissue with bonus tracks and such. Otherwise, it's readily available used on ebay and amazon or, if you feel so inclined, illegally. And since you won't be taking any money out of his pocket by downloading an album that's been out of print for some time now, I see no harm in linking you to this. Yeah, I know that I'm asking for trouble, but whatever. Just don't expect me to make a habit out of this sort of thing. Bear in mind that the songs are probably out of order and I can't vouch for the bitrate. I may up a higher quality version with some bonus tracks eventually if I can track down my CD copy. Just keep checking back and you'll probably see it here at some point.

For a preview of coming attractions: More Nostalgia!!!

**EDIT**

Changed the last link since the video got taken down due to a "terms of use violation." Looks like Square is really living up to their name/reputation.

Music from Vacation: Volume 2

2010-09-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it seems that once again it has taken me longer to post than originally planned. Combinations of family illness and the lack of a consistent internet connection have gotten in the way (mostly the internet thing) but no more! The time is nigh for a long-promised post about Owl & Penny label-mates, Boys & Frogs.

Boys & Frogs - Every Daughter's Dance

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Now, I know what you're thinking. "What are the chances that two bands from the same greater metro area, on the same label with similar naming conventions would both be very good, much less worth writing home about?" Well wonder no more. These kids are legit. As with Owl & Penny, I picked up their EP "In Desperate Need of a Car Crash" while on a "working" vacation in Phoenix, AZ (and by "working," I mean being a drunken mess of a groomsman at my best friend's wedding for the better part of a week [Danial, I love you man]). This was actually the first disc out of three to which I listened and I was immediately impressed.

Boys & Frogs - Good Sons

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If you're into artists like Owen Pallett/Final Fantasy, Arcade Fire or even Morrissey (a touchstone I don't often cite as a positive influence, but it's actually applicable in a good way here), you're going to dig this collection of tunes. The instrumentation throughout is eclectic enough to remain interesting, but not eccentric enough to be off-putting or pretentious. These are all well-crafted indie-pop songs that get under your skin which you will find yourself whistling in public restrooms on a regular basis. Admit it. The reverb is awesome and whistling in the restroom is the easiest way to keep people from trying to engage in conversation with you while you bleed out those 44oz of soda you drank after lunch. The only gripe I have about it is some of the mixing choices, but that's just the ugly, elitist audiophile in me talking. At it's core "In Desperate Need of a Car Crash" is an excellent first effort. Should the EP not sate your appetite, there is also an iTunes-exclusive single called "In Dreams" which I can recommend without hesitation.

Next post is coming in under a week. You can bet on it.

Music from Vacation: Volume 1

2010-08-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody. Long time, no see, eh? I've had some family stuff going on here over the past few weeks and haven't really had time to deliver new tunes to your e-doorsteps. Sorry about that.

Anyway, when last I blurbed about this blog on facebook (which, if you don't "like" this over there, you probably should, especially if you don't have a Blogger account), I mentioned a little something about blogging from the magical land of Phoenix, Arizona. You know, the state that cheated on New Mexico with California? Anyway, it turns out that week was more action-packed than I had anticipated, so didn't really get to do any actual blogging, BUT I did find time to slink off to a local record shop and pick up three CDs by bands native to the Phoenix area. Two of them were outstanding and one of them was bloody awful. Today, you get to learn about one of the great ones.

Owl & Penny - Summerflower

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Owl & Penny is essentially a one-man outfit from what I can gather. The dude writes really great, plaintive acoustic folk tunes. Touchstones for listeners would probably be Iron & Wine or Bright Eyes, but less whiney than Conor Oberst and not as literary-minded as Sam Beam. I suppose it falls somewhere in the middle of both if you need that sort of reference point. Either way, these are well-written songs, and while he touches on subjects like homesickness, nostalgia and recreational drug/alcohol use, it never sounds stale or well-trod. Something about it manages to stay fresh.

Owl & Penny - Wooden Rings

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The songs here are from the CD version of "Fever Dreams" and I can honestly say there's not a bad song on it. It was hard picking just two. It's online as two EPs, "Fever Dreams" and "Stolen Silver," both of which are on the old iTunes and thinkindie.com. He's also just released a new digital, two-song single called "Two Beasts" from his forthcoming next album, available through the same avenues. And hey, he's even taking pre-orders for T-shirts on his facebook page if you need something with which to cover your jubblies... ladies. And maybe if enough people like this post, I can convince him to come play in Oklahoma City and crash on my couch sometime. Buy it. For the children.

Music from Vacation: Volume 2 coming soon. I'll give you two hints as to who it is: 1) They share a label with Owl & Penny and 2) They're not the band that sucked. Vague, I know, but happy hunting. See you next time (which I promise won't take nearly as long as this time).

Well Crap...

2010-07-15T23:26:00.000-07:00

Looks like a draft for this epic post I've been working on for the last week didn't actually get saved... which is kind of funny in a way if you know what it was about. So, as a stop-gap, here's an obscure Longwave B-Side. You're lucky it's not a drone track the way things are going right now...

Longwave - Disappointed

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You Think You Have What You Own?

2010-07-05T22:49:00.000-07:00

I don't expect that this blog will ever be on the cutting edge of what's new and awesome. Hell, I'll be lucky enough to just stay on the bleeding edge of what I like. So, in that very spirit of blood and sharp objects, I want to take a moment to draw your attention to a record I actually picked up a few months ago. That's not to say that there's anything violent about Retribution Gospel Choir. Then again I never claimed to be a master of segue's.

Retribution Gospel Choir - Hide It Away

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Retribution Gospel Choir is fronted by Alan Sparhawk, better known as the main man behind Low. It features Low bassist Steve Garrington which leaves drummer Eric Pollard as the only member not doing double duty in Low. With all of this Low cross-pollination, you'd probably expect a very slow and quiet record. Not so here friends. This is toe-tapping, foot stomping, appendage flailing rock and roll at it's finest. These are expansive, bombastic and epic rock songs with soaring choruses to spare.

Retribution Gospel Choir - White Wolf

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These tracks come from their latest record, "2." They also have a self-titled first album that's quite good. This one's already in the running for my year end "best of" list. After all, it's already July. You have to start thinking about these sorts of things early. Anyway, pick this one up. Like you would do anything else.

Optimizing Your Assets

2010-07-05T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody, I'm the new other half of the Ears Made Ready staff, here to contribute my two cents' worth of opinion to the (hopefully) diverse portfolio of your musical interests.

Speaking of diversity, how do you feel about bands from other countries? Bands that sing in languages other than English, I mean. When I was younger, I took a sort of secretive delight in listening to, say, Rammstein or Megaherz or Oomph! -- not only did I love the music, but searching out translations of the lyrics gave me sort of a thrill, like I'd deciphered a code, like I was privy to a secret, like I could speak German.

Oomph! - Die Maske

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Now, though, it's different. Not that I don't still enjoy the Neue Deutsche Härte (although Rammstein's career has been in the crapper for the last two albums and is, if you ask me, probably there to stay), but I feel differently about lyrics in music now. Not just non-English lyrics, either. I think my days of being "spoken to" by song lyrics are mostly over -- music just isn't the format where I find the kind of writing that really moves me, apart from the odd well-turned phrase -- and unless there's something about a song that really makes me want to sing along, I usually don't pay much attention to lyrics at all.

In a way it's also not-different, though, because I still listen to non-English-speaking bands. Today I'd like to introduce you to one of them. They're from Japan, and they call themselves Ogre You Asshole (hereafter abbreviated OYA for the sake of those of you with sensitive sensibilities).

OYA - また明日

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I don't have a lot of information about OYA because, well, the problem with Japanese bands is, their websites are frequently in Japanese, which I can't read. There's some stuff about them on Wikipedia, though.

OYA - クラッカー

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What I can tell you (and what you'll have heard for yourself by now) is that they're... sort of like... happy math rock? That's not very math-y? I don't know. I'm terrible with genre descriptors, mostly because I believe they're a lot of foolishness -- the dogma of the religion that is music -- and I think people sometimes get too bogged down in bandying around labels and forget to tell each other what the music is actually like. Anyway, I say "math rock" because I hear echoes of, say, Frodus in their rhythms and in the way the guitar parts sometimes twine around each other. Here, let me play you a Frodus song (and with my luck, probably inadvertently disprove my own point).

Frodus - Out-Circuit the Ending

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Hear what I mean? Sort of? Okay, so but I say "happy" because Frodus overall has more of an angsty sound. OYA just sound like they're having a good time. I imagine it'd be hard not to dance at one of their shows, and I'm an inveterate non-dancer. I mean, come on. If you don't at least feel your face breaking into a smile listening to these songs... invite some friends over, have a drink or two, and give 'em another spin.

OYA - ロボトミー

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I hope some of this music has moved you. If not, bear with me for a total about-face: I promise my next post'll be about moody music to sulk and stare at the wall to -- not so much because I think you do that, but because I know I do.

Updates Updates Updates!

2010-07-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well. Looks like Mr. Steve Schiltz has been busy readying a new Hurricane Bells EP and that EP is going to be called "Down Comes the Rain." It's going to feature two new original tracks and three covers. The list goes something like this:

1. Make a Deal with the City (East River Pipe cover)
2. The Waiting Song
3. Into the Ocean (Blue October cover)
4. The Deep End
5. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? (Gerry Goffin & Carole King)

Now, he's been playing "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" on tour and I love it. Here's a little taste.

How's that for wonderful? Pretty stellar if you ask me. Now, I'm not going to bother embedding the original version of "Into the Ocean" because... well, it's Blue October and I promised when I started this page that I would try to steer clear of ranting about stuff I didn't like (but here's an external link if for some reason you're interested). I'll be very interested to hear how Steve makes this one bearable, although, I will admit the erhu in the original version is pretty bitchin'. Anyway, what I wanted to do was get you all familiar-like with the original version of "Make a Deal with the City," because it's a pretty good song to begin with.

East River Pipe - Make a Deal with the City

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"Down Comes the Rain" is scheduled for a September 7th release date. Mark your calendars.

Now, Hurricane Bells news isn't the only update I have for you here. Turns out The Rosen Association just made their EP available on iTunes and Amazon, so if you're really just not that into CD Baby, you officially have no excuse for not getting this on the down load (you see what I did there?).

Thanks for reading. Always feel free to interact either here or on facebook. Chances are that if you like something you hear, I can tell you where to find more. Stay tuned for more goodness.

Micropost 2

2010-06-29T21:45:00.000-07:00

Follow-up of sorts to this post. This is the song I was telling you about. This might be my favorite Ali Harter song and it's all probably true.

Ali Harter - Brandy & Joe

More to come later this week. I have some thangs planned.

Oh, to See It with My Own Eyes

2010-06-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

Local Natives are yet another group who I found out about by keeping my dial set to 105.3 The Spy. I was out on my lunch break when the song "Airplanes" came on and melted my heart. Even now, when I hear the phrase "I bet when I leave my body for the sky, the wait will be worth it," it just kills me in the best possible way.

Local Natives - Airplanes

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Not so long ago this band used to call themselves Cavil at Rest and their sound was quite a bit different. The spot-on vocal harmonies were already there, but the music had more of a Minus the Bear meets Drive-Thru Records sound to it. Now as Local Natives, it seems more lush and plaintive. I can still draw some similarities to Minus the Bear, but the emo pitfalls are all but completely gone and they've taken a hard turn toward incorporating more folk influences.

Local Natives - World News

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It seems most of the indie music press has been going gaga over the song "Sun Hands." Admittedly, it was a standout track on their first album as Cavil at Rest, but this rerecorded version on "Gorilla Manor" seems a bit underwhelming to me. I honestly feel it's the weakest song on the record, but to each his own I suppose. So instead of towing the Pitchfork Media line about it being one of the best singles of the year, I'll contend that "Wide Eyes" is one of the best songs of the year so far and easily better than "Sun Hands." I will prove it by posting both back to back. You tell me which you prefer. Feel free to due so on the official Facebook page for this blog if you don't have a blogger.com account.

Local Natives - Sun Hands

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Local Natives - Wide Eyes

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Okay. Opinions. Give them. Here or there. Thanks for listening.

Walls of Giant Waves and Ice Fleets

2010-06-24T22:29:00.000-07:00

Last week I was fortunate enough to see mewithoutYou (one of my favorite bands ever) with David Bazan (one of my favorite songwriters ever) at The Diamond Ballroom and experience an overload of amazing. Both will get their own posts in due time, but this post is dedicated to the pleasant surprise of that evening, a boisterous little band called Rubik.

Now, the term "little" is pretty much non-applicable, except maybe when used in reference to their currently modest fan base, but I get the feeling that's going to change very soon. Rubik is currently touring with eight members and can have a pretty big, celebratory sound when they go for it. These cool cats hail from Helsinki, Finland, which I once heard described as "a land without sun." I guess when you live in a city that averages around 9.8 hours of daylight in June and 36 minutes of daylight in December, you have to create your own sunshine (can you tell a did a little research for this post?).

Rubik - Wasteland

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The album opener "Goji Berries" is a fun romp through shifting time signatures and what sounds like an army of recorders (probably keys in actuality) that gives you a fairly good idea of what to expect from their second album, "Dada Bandits." Early on they briefly demonstrate their ability to turn from catchy, melodious passages to jarring blasts of not quite consonant joyful noise on a dime, without warning and to brilliant effect. It's the second track "Radiants" that really starts my toes a-tapping, triumphantly bursting forth with bombastic drums and a veritable wall of guitars and synths. It brings to my mind some of the best bits of Grandaddy and the aural theatrics of The Flaming Lips' masterful "The Soft Bulletin," but is still something quite special in and of itself.

Rubik - Radiants

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Now, there's something about the song "Fire Age" that makes me want to ingest a bunch of psilocybin mushrooms and spend a whole day watching children's television (although given the current state of children's television, that might be a spectacularly awful idea). Thus, I feel compelled to post that song here. Let me know if you get the same urges.

Rubik - Fire Age

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Much of the album has this same upbeat, quirky feel and the high energy doesn't let up often. I can't recommend it enough. However, if you're still not sure that this is up your alley, they do have a free EP available to download from their official website, cleverly titled "Data Bandits." You need to have a WordPress account set up (also free) in order to download it, so sign up and get yourself some sweet free tunes. Or, swing on over to the always reliable Daytrotter and nab that live in studio session. Spend some time with these and I can almost guarantee that you'll be ready to drop some dough on the album. Those of you strapped for cash have officially been warned.

Someone Else's Dream

2010-06-15T21:50:00.000-07:00

It seems I'm just bursting at the seams with "full disclosure" here lately, but here we go again. Erin (Lead Vocals/Keys/Enchantress) is an old friend of mine from college and she is fronting this wonderful little band called The Rosen Association these days.

The Rosen Association - Gum of Beauty

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I can't tell you much about their collective history as a band, but I can tell you that I once gave a Deftones button to Erin off of my old satchel for reasons that I can't quite remember. I can also tell you that she and I were both party to a conversation with a gentleman who claims he once took a bath in Bjork's tub. I believe his story to be true.

The Rosen Association - Drones

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Back to the subject at hand. This type of music is right up my alley. The guitars are awash with delay and reverb, the rhythm section is tight and the synths are abuzz with warm, gooey goodness. While I shudder to use the word "darkwave," it does have a hint of that flavor to it, though in all honesty, it's the atmospheric kinship they share with groups like Longwave and Asobi Seksu that draws me into it the most. You could conceivably dance to some of this if dancing is your thang. If not, it's an equally enjoyable listen while simply enjoying a glass or seven of wine. Your call really. It's actually a very soothing record. The vocals are smooth, not very acrobatic as a general rule and really suit the overall sound quite nicely.

The Rosen Association - Emergency Broadcast

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It's only $6.99 on CD Baby for a digital download of the whole thing. It's not perfect, but it's damn good. I mean, I bought it. If that's not a good enough reason for you to follow suit, I don't know what is. Sure, you could be a contrarian ass-master about it, but you'd be missing out. Do the right thing.

Take Cover...

2010-06-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

Full disclosure: I've been jamming with these guys on violin, so there might be just the tiniest bit of bias here. Either way, this is another one that I've been meaning to do since before said jamming, so deal with it.

Oklahoma City isn't really the place you'd expect to find a great music scene, much less a great instrumental "post-rock" band. Radio Deception is that non-hypothetical band. A few years ago, when the band was essentially just Ryan & Jake (guitars & drums respectively), they quietly released a self-recorded album that was heard in places as far away as Brazil. And there's a reason. It's really good.

Radio Deception - Hope for a New Light

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The audible influences are the usual touchstones, namely Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Mogwai, but they also draw on some not-so-usual sources, such as mid-western post-hardcore and emo (the good kind) and film composers such as John Murphy and Ennio Morricone. It all melds into a concoction that is both familiar and original. Themes tend to be meditated upon and explored until their breaking point, at which point the song either ends or moves to something new.

Radio Deception - Pockets of Resistance

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It's going to be tough to get ahold of the album because it's out of print... and it's not on iTunes. You may be able to sweet-talk Jake in to sending some tracks your way if you're really nice.

Roses, poetry and prose

2010-06-06T21:04:00.000-07:00

So far, I've made a point to highlight artists who may not be very well known. Well, today I've decided on a short post about an artist with whom you should already be very familiar. Most of you are probably familiar with Tom Waits' more recent, experimental work. However, most in my generation probably aren't aware that he recorded music before his chain smoking caught up with his voice. Songs from his first album "Closing Time," which is probably his most ballad-heavy record, have been covered by The Eagles, Tim Buckley, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and even Meat Loaf. I wanted to share this particular song with everybody because it's one of my favorite songs of all time.

Tom Waits - Martha

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I promise I'm formulating a more substantive post soon.

Micropost

2010-06-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

Basically, I'm just going to redirect you to Nice People. They're a Norman based label who offer free mp3s on their blog. They have great music for sale too. This song had me in stitches and it will only take up under 2 minutes of your time. I recommend reading the entry on Mr. Kenny Wayne, as it is equally entertaining.

Embedded audio unrelated, but you should enjoy it thoroughly...

The Magic Numbers - Take a Chance

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Happy Weekend!!!

I Set My Body on Fire Today

2010-05-31T16:32:00.000-07:00

Stillwater, Oklahoma, home to the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, isn't exactly the place one would expect to find a thriving music scene (the godawful "Red Dirt" sound notwithstanding), but this Oklahoma college town has been home to many amazing artists over the past couple of years. Colourmusic, Other Lives, Sherree Chamberlain and Mayola, all fantastic artists in their own right, have called this place home at one point or another. Ladies and Germs, it's time to add Deerpeople to that already impressive list.

Deerpeople - New Dance (Find the Naughty Word, Kids!)

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This debut self-titled EP is a healthy mix of indie rock and folk that you can dance to. It's seriously catchy and at times, melodramatic. Some of the instrumental arrangements bring to mind The Arcade Fire's good album (if you have to ask, please don't) and the lyrical content at times resembles John Roderick's (of The Long Winters) blunt and deadpan snarkiness. As far as I'm concerned, this is a winning combination and those who I've shared this record with so far seem to agree wholeheartedly. Live, they're a little rough around the edges in the best way possible, minimizing down time by filling empty space with all sorts of wonderful noise between songs. In short, they bring the MF'n ruckus. If you want to know what I'm talking about firsthand, you can catch them at The Conservatory this Saturday, June 5th. I know I will.

Deerpeople - Canada (There's Another One Here!)

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It doesn't look like there's a physical release floating around as of yet, but you can acquire this fantastic 5 song EP here and pay what you want. I paid $5 because I'm a nice guy and felt that $0.05 over the iTunes price is more than fair for a record this good. If you want to prove that you're nicer than I am, I would encourage you to pay more. Of course, they won't hold it against you if you pay nothing for it as far as I know. Either way, you can get it in high quality 320K mp3s or FLAC or both if you're feeling ambitious. Get it, familiarize yourself with it and hit up their show on Saturday if you know what's good for you.

A cannonball waiting on a fuse

2010-05-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

I'm not saying that writing this review is one of the main motivating factors for having started this blog in the first place, but I'm not NOT saying that either. Either way, I've been putting it off for far too long, so here we go...

Sherree Chamberlain is the most phenomenal artist you've never heard of.

Ok, that's actually not fair. She's phenomenal whether you've heard of her or not, but you get my point. This lady is based out of Oklahoma City (MY TEAM!!!) and has released what is easily one of the best records of 2009 and probably of the last decade, "The Wasp in the Room."

I have my friend and Oklahoma City music guress (that's a female guru and yes, I made it up) Tommie to thank for introducing me to Ms. Chamberlain's music, and thank her I do. Often. While appearing on her college radio program devoted to local music with my band, she threw one of Sherree's songs into the mix. It wasn't the sort of thing that clubs you over the head and makes you pay attention to it, but it was definitely more than enough to pique my interest.

Once I finally tracked down a copy of "The Wasp..." at Guestroom Records, I put it on my computer right away, but it was a couple of weeks before I finally sat down and listened to it start to finish. At the outset, I was captivated. By the end, I was destroyed. The record starts off with an arresting, verbose tale of an old bird in the twilight of his life (PROTIP: It's not actually about the bird), the arrangement of which only serves to enhance the already intense melodrama. The album ends with Sherree singing unaccompanied, unfurling a stark rumination on the sacrifices she feels she must make as an artist, though at times, it's hard to tell which parts are sincere or sarcastic (or maybe it's all just very sarcastically sincere).

Perhaps one of the things that makes this record work so well is that Chamberlain's voice has a very disarming charm about it which allows her already effective, well-crafted folk-pop songs to penetrate to your core. Case in point, "Circus, Dear," an extended metaphor built around the narrator's first terrifying experience under the Big Top, seems filled with a sense of genuine dread when put through the filter of Sherree's unmistakable voice. The character seems inconsolable as she beseeches "Pray for me." Equally effective is "If You Don't Love Me" which essentially ends the first side of the album (Sherree, if you happen to stumble across this: HINT HINT!!!), where she sings from the perspective of a hopelessly heartbroken man (I think) whose plight is only made all the more gut-wrenching by her flawlessly fractured delivery; a song that I can sympathize with so completely that I'm almost ashamed to admit it.

I'm not asking you, I'm telling you to go to Guestroom in either Norman or OKC and pick up a copy of this record. Like, now. And if you're regionally impaired, there's always iTunes and Amazon.

*edit* Author's Note: This post originally contained streaming audio examples which have been subsequently removed. That's what happens when Mark Zuckerberg feels the site that hosts your files is more valuable to him than to you. YouTube still has plenty of her music up though, so you can always listen there for further clarification.

You've got disaster on your mind

2010-05-23T19:59:00.000-07:00

Yet another post prompted by a fantastic concert. Friday night I got to see The Besnard Lakes for the second glorious time, and it was everything I could have hoped for.

The Besnard Lakes - Devastation

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My friend Mr. Scotty B introduced me to this band with the track above. While this show focused mostly on material from their most recent album, "The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night," they still played all of my favorite cuts from "...Are the Dark Horse" with nearly flawless execution, including "Disaster" and "You Lied To Me."

The Besnard Lakes - Like the Ocean, Like the Innocent Pt. 2 - The Innocent

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"...Roaring Night" is mostly in the same vein as "...Dark Horse" but the Lakes let the songs breathe a bit more this time around. The crescendos last a bit longer, the dynamic contrasts are a little wider and all in all, the record is more epic in scope. Songs like "Land of Living Skies" and "Light Up the Night" start almost imperceptibly and build to enormous finishes, taking you on a journey that gets more and more exciting as it nears its end. Jace Lasek's urging "Run and ask her to stay / As she's walking away" in the penultimate track becomes a fitting analogue to the feeling one gets at the end of the record. You don't want it to end.

The Besnard Lakes - Light Up the Night

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Thankfully, one of my favorite things about this band, their vocal harmonies, have only improved with time, having grown more lush and powerful since the last go-around. Even live, all four members get into the act, conjuring up gorgeous block harmonies that would likely make Brian Wilson proud and Fleet Foxes maybe a little bit nervous. If you can catch them on their current tour, do so. In any regard, do something nice for yourself and pick up "The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night" when you get the chance.

Don't Look Back, Press On

2010-05-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

I don't know which sucks more: finding out that a band I love broke up months ago (I'm looking at you, Harlem Shakes), or finding out that a band I love is breaking up in the near future, are currently on their last tour ever and are coming nowhere near me. Neither is some cataclysmic event, but both are kind of crappy.

Isis - Backlit

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Isis (the latter case above) is calling it quits after over a decade of making great music. For those of you who don't know, Isis in my mind has sort of become the rightful heir to Tool's throne. They've come to play a breed of heavy, dense not-quite-metal that's expansive and a little psychedelic that has been branded by some as "post-metal." Metal loving elitists will tell you that the last good album these guys made was "Oceanic" but disregarding the impressive body of work that came after is doing oneself a disservice. Yeah, Aaron Turner's singing isn't very impressive, but the band's sense for space and textures take them above and beyond most other bands operating in the same mode.

Isis - In Fiction

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I guess my first exposure to Isis came from my friend Alex. We listened to "Panopticon" on the way back from a trip to Tulsa and I was immediately hooked. The unique rhythmic drive coupled with the crushing heaviness of the guitars and Turner's tortured bellowing grabbed me right away. I loved the way they created dense, distorted textures, yet still managed to sound open and harmonious and were able to turn on a dime between this sound and shimmering clean or ambient passages.

Isis - Wrists of Kings

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I was fortunate enough to be able to see them at The Conservatory when they were touring behind "In Absence of Truth" which is still my favorite of theirs to date. Jesu was supposed to open for them but they were unable to get their visas in time to join them on the first leg of the tour. After almost being literally deafened by Torche, Isis brought their perfect sense of dynamic contrast to this small club and the show had to be experienced to be believed. Easily one of the best shows The Conservatory has ever put on.

Isis - Over Root and Thorn

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I'm certainly going to miss these guys, but hopefully the members' other projects (mainly Red Sparrowes) will continue to release quality material as time rolls on. I mean, it's not like anybody died or anything.

Quick odds and ends

2010-05-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

The Ears Made Ready faithful will recall my post just over a week ago about Useless Keys. Well, it turns out that after lamenting about how there wasn't a physical release of their debut EP, they have made the CD available for purchase on their blog. $7 and they'll ship it to you anywhere. It's set up through PayPal, so get on it already!

Also, in the interest of expanding your reading horizons, my friend Grace has a blog where she talks primarily about fashion. Now, I'm not much of a fashionista, but you'll recall that her blog helped prompt my Lady Gaga post. And she's posted some other great things too. So, for those of you interested in reading a unique voice on fashion, art & etc., check her out. Full disclosure: She's linking me too, so if you like what you see, feel free to let her know who sent you.

Now, this wouldn't be an Ears Made Ready post without something to listen to, so here's a new SUNBEARS! track from their split 7" with MRENC (each band gets 2!). You know how much I love SUNBEARS!.

SUNBEARS! - His Little Head

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There are entirely too many links in this post.

Untitled #1

2010-05-18T22:46:00.000-07:00

I try to keep things accessible around here. With little exception, I think most of the music I've posted about so far has been pretty tame. But every once in a while I run across something that I personally find to be extraordinary for one reason or another that I know isn't going to appeal to most people. This record is one of those things.

Fennesz & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Haru

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I tend to find things by accident. Such was the case with both artists who collaborated on this album, "Cendre." I first became aware of Ryuichi Sakamoto when I was perusing the Classical section at Barnes & Noble. I bought "Discord" after listening to samples, having taken an initial interest in it simply because the packaging was shiny (no, I'm not too proud to admit it). Sakamoto's music runs the gamut from cheesy electronic pop to film scores and serious "classical" compositions, "Discord" falling into the latter category and being one of my favorite 20th century compositions.

Fennesz & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Mono

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Christian Fennesz, on the other hand, was forced upon me by the kind folks over at Guestroom Records who were playing his album "Black Sea" in the store one day, prompting me to purchase it immediately. He operates primarily in ambient, electronic and noise styles, falling somewhere between Brian Eno and Merzbow or Lustmord (for the love of all that is Holy, DO NOT, under any circumstances, take this as a positive endorsement of Merzbow), though the sounds he creates tend more toward gorgeous soundscapes than jarring walls of noise.

Fennesz & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Kokoro

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So we get what they each do individually, but what does that mean for "Cendre?" Well, it means we get something very understated, special and beautiful. If I were to translate the sounds into images, I'd say it sounds like Frédéric Chopin floating with a piano on a very large piece of driftwood in a completely digital sea. The pieces are all fairly short, flowing from one into another without much fanfare, and it's all over before you even know what's happened.

Fennesz & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Abyss

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This isn't music for every occasion, mind you, but it is something unique and wonderful; something you can put on without distractions and lose yourself in. Sometimes the harmonic language is a little bit jarring, but it's mostly pleasant, drawing heavily on impressionist schools of composition with regard to the Sakamoto's piano, though much more sparse and sparing than many impressionist works. Fennesz' soundscapes rarely overtake the piano and the electronic elements become a perfect compliment to an already enjoyable set plaintive piano pieces. Highly recommended.

If you got the inclination, I got the dancing shoes

2010-05-11T21:23:00.000-07:00

I was treated to a very nice surprise last night at The Conservatory (starting to see a pattern here yet?). I went out to see my friends, Radio Deception, who were outstanding. I've mentioned them once before, but didn't really elaborate. Basically, if you're a fan of stuff in the vein of Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, but like the idea of them playing shorter songs, you'll dig these cats. I'll try to keep you posted on their future activities.

But alas, this post is not about them. This is about These United States. Being that RD was playing with The Gentle Art of Floating (also very impressive), I expected some more instrumental greatness. What I got instead was a delightful mix of extremely well written alternative country and indie rock. They remind of Ryan Adams' more upbeat stuff mixed with early Counting Crows (am I showing my age with that one?) and the tiniest possible hint of Modest Mouse. But that's just one man's opinion. You're free to make up your own mind...

These United States - Good Bones

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The two tracks here are off of their most recent effort, "Everything Touches Everything." I'm sure Jim and Dustin over at Size Records have secured some copies, and if not, there's always the easy way out...

These United States - I'm Gonna Assemble a City

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This is another record that falls into the category of "Really Awesome Stuff that Came Out Last Year that I Didn't Hear Until This Year." I'll probably have to make some sort of mega-post with a nice long list of all of those... eventually. Either way, if you enjoyed the tracks embedded here, you're really going to enjoy this record.

The Writing's on Your Bedroom Wall

2010-05-09T16:17:00.000-07:00

If you live in the Oklahoma City area and have somehow missed the fact that 105.3 The Spy is back on the air, then get with the program. They've clued me in to some really great tunes over the past couple of months and I suspect that it could do the same for you.

One such song that caught my attention recently was "Is the Painting Changing," the titular track from the first and, so far only EP by Useless Keys. These guys hail from California and play a grungy brand of space rock, similar in some ways to Failure (if you don't know them, for the love of God, grab a copy of "Fantastic Planet" as soon as you can), but also drawing similarities in my mind to everything from Sonic Youth-type noise and indie rock to Battle of Mice-like, bludgeoning doom metal (though, admittedly more doom and much less metal).

Useless Keys - White Noise

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The only place you can reasonably get this right now is on digital music retailers like iTunes and Amazon's MP3 store. Their blog mentions a physical CD release limited to 1000 copies, so you may be able to sweet-talk them into mailing you a copy. I plan to do so because I really like this record.

Useless Keys - Is the Painting Changing (Explicit [he says the "f-word"])

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Dig on these tracks and just try to resist the urge to buy this. You will probably fail and, truthfully, that's for the best.

Getting Way Behind

2010-05-07T22:57:00.000-07:00

I'm not quoting anyone here. Seriously, I've been neglecting my blogular duties. Yes, I'm aware that "blogular" is not actually a word.

I have several write-ups planned on several different wonderful artists, but in the meantime, here's a list of upcoming concerts in the Oklahoma City metro and surrounding areas which I recommend attending (listed because SOMEONE complained that they need more notice about these sorts of things). I'll be at most of them.

Sunday, May 9th, 8pm
The Conservatory in OKC
Cost ???
These United States, The Gentle Art of Floating, Radio Deception

Friday, May 14th, 9pm
The Opolis in Norman
All Ages, $10 (add $2 if under 21)
The Non, Student Film, Mayola and Native Lights (Members of Unwed Sailor, Ester Drang & Callupsie, all excellent groups whose members are making something else which is also excellent)

Friday, May 21st, 8pm (doors @ 7)
Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa (did someone say "short road trip?")
The Besnard Lakes w/ Stardeath and White Dwarfs

Saturday, May 29th, 9pm
The Opolis in Norman
All Ages $7 (add $2 if under 21)
Samantha Crain CD Release Show!!! w/ Student Film, Zeb Dewar & the Fed and Brine Webb
(Deftones are playing the same night at the Diamond though...)

Thursday, June 17th, 6pm Doors
Diamond Ballroom in OKC
Cost is irrelevant
mewithoutYou, David Bazan and Rubik

Monday, June 21st, 6:30 Doors
The Conservatory in OKC
Cost ?
Lovedrug w/ All the Day Holiday and 2 local bands (one of which may be mine if I play my cards right)

And, for good(?) measure

Wednesday, June 21st, 8pm Doors
The Conservatory in OKC
Anal Cunt (apparently, Seth Putnam hasn't killed off all of his brain cells yet)

There you go. See you at the show(s)!

An Accident Waiting to Happen

2010-05-03T23:06:00.000-07:00

It's taken me a while to get this one written; partly because I have a great respect and admiration for this artist and partly because I wanted to get the artist's clearance (an Ears Made Ready first!) to do this post at all. Well, it appears I won't be stepping on anybody's toes with this one, so away we go.

Those of you who have been reading this blog or know me personally know that I'm somewhat of a Longwave fanatic. "The Strangest Things" rocked my little musical world when it was released seven years ago and I've been obsessively tracking down physical copies of their entire recorded output ever since (I believe I only lack a Big Star tribute album which they appeared on with Nada Surf around the time "Endsongs" came out). So, it should come to you as no surprise that when word was out that lead singer and principle songwriter Steve Schiltz was going to release what was essentially a solo project on the heels of the spectacular "Secrets Are Sinister," I nearly jumped out of my skin with excitement.

Hurricane Bells - This Year

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The story goes as follows. Schiltz had several song ideas that he had been kicking around off and on for some time that didn't quite fit with the rest of his band's material. The plan was to record it all, cobble together an album and release it independently without much fanfare. Along comes his manager, asking if he has anything that could be used "exclusively." A few edits and months later, he finds out that his little ditty "Monsters" is going to be used during a big moment in the movie for "New Moon," the second installment of the Twilight saga. Suddenly, Schiltz finds himself with what is to become a pretty successful song and no proper band with which to back it up, quite literally by accident. He put the finishing touches on the album, did a little web surfing to find a suitable band name and thus, Hurricane Bells was born.

Hurricane Bells - The Darkness Is So Deep

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What we get is a record that sounds anything but cobbled together. Armed with little more than his MacBook and a Pro Tools Mbox recording interface, he has created what is one of the most criminally overlooked albums to come out last year and what may be the most varied album of Schiltz' career. The album opens with the understated eruption of "This Year," similar in some ways to his previous, guitar driven work, but still something fresh and unique. Throughout, we get hints of the post-punk shoegaze sound he has made his own over the years, but this record relies more heavily on acoustic guitars, scaled back atmospherics and the undeniable strength of Schiltz' songwriting, which has been honed and improved upon greatly over the past decade. Bits of "Tonight I'm Going to Be Like a Shooting Star" harken back to some of the best moments from "Endsongs" and we even get little tastes of alt-country and folk mixed into this deliciously intoxicating indie-pop cocktail, especially on "Freezing Rain" and "The Cold Has Killed Us."

Hurricane Bells - The Cold Has Killed Us

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Honestly, this post should have come much sooner. This is the perfect record for a snowed in weekend, which probably would have been much more useful information had I posted this back in November when it was released digitally. Regardless, this is a fantastic album. Having been fortunate enough to attend a Hurricane Bells show in Tulsa this past week and finally shake the hand of the man whose music has impacted me on a personal level more than nearly any other contemporary artist with few exceptions, I am glad to say that it couldn't have been made by a nicer guy. I wish Steve the best in this new endeavor, no matter what that may or may not mean to future Longwave release schedules.

Physical copies of the record haven't yet been delivered to record retailers, so the only place to purchase the album is online or at an upcoming show. I'll leave you with the video for the song that got this snowball rolling. Fortunately, there's not a vampire to be found. Special thanks to Steve for green-lighting the use of his music in this post.

Hurricane Bells - "Monsters" Music Video from Hurricane Bells on Vimeo.

I swear I'll eat ya later

2010-04-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

Mr Gnome played The Conservatory last night. They were good. Lots of stoner-garage rock goodness. Think early Yeah Yeah Yeahs (only way better) meets Witch or something like that. I'm too tired/lazy to write much about this show. Mr Gnome was fantastic, Eagle Claw had a couple of good groves but were wholly unimpressive and the local groups were... meh (which is disappointing, but there's at least one really good local show coming up here this weekend). Here's a song on the latest Mr Gnome album.

Mr Gnome - Slow Slide

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Here's another one that I like very much and I hope you like as well.

Mr Gnome - Plastic Shadow

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And one last one along slightly different lines, for good measure.

Mr Gnome - Vampires

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Thanks for tuning in. Next time... probably writing about another show. Maybe not.

I'm Home

2010-04-25T22:43:00.000-07:00

If you would, indulge me for a moment. From a technical standpoint, there's nothing Earth shatteringly hard about discussing the transcendent and transformational power of art. People write about this topic all the time. It becomes much more difficult when trying to find words that you know don't exist to describe a specific event or moment in time which can only be experienced to be understood. I have a bit of an advantage in a forum such as this where I can provide concrete musical examples, and yet, this still doesn't make the subject at hand any less daunting.

Such is the case when writing about seeing The Non with the Cloud Collision Orchestra at the Norman Music Festival this Sunday. Up to this point, I had already been treated to outstanding performances from Radio Deception, Jacob Abello and Unwed Sailor, but this performance was simply unbelievable. Backed by a nearly flawless chamber orchestra at least 20 members strong (though, admittedly, I didn't count), The Non tore through songs from both their debut album "Paper City" and their latest offering "Tadaima." Most would probably classify these guys as "post-rock" given the fact that their songs are almost entirely instrumentals which all but disregard pop song structures. If one was to liken them to any other groups operating in a similar medium, Explosions in the Sky or Unwed Sailor are about the closest comparisons that could be made. On record, they sound spacious and full, given to eruptive bursts of shimmering layers of washed out guitar lines.

Live, they create space. In about as literal a sense as I can possibly convey.

The Non - Horatio Meets Ralph

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Sitting there in the packed out Sooner Theater as the concert went on, I began to feel myself transported. Around halfway through, I had tears in my eyes. Never before have I experienced a performance as powerful as this (save for the time I played Mahler's 3rd Symphony in college, but having been a part of that performance, I can't really class it the same). If you can accept a description laden with such blatantly religious undertones, this performance seemed to literally open up the space between Heaven and Earth. It described to me what I can only imagine would be the wonder of journeying out of this existence and into the next, slowly floating through a sea of light toward a second life that seems just within reach, if only for a brief moment. This music has purpose. At the risk of sounding like a burned out psychonaut, it makes you give in to astonishment whether you are willing to or not.

The Non - Cloud Collsion

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They closed their set with a rendition of "Tofu Fire" from their first album which I can only describe as glory wrapped in amazement. Near the end, every instrument dropped out, leaving the orchestra acting as a de facto choir singing completely unaccompanied for a few bars, only to be overtaken by every instrument crashing back in at once for one final and astounding crescendo to the rapturous end. Up until this moment, most of the audience was seated but enthusiastically appreciative. Once this final charge started, everyone was on their feet and I was immediately taken with how instantly this room full of people, many who had likely not been exposed to music of this kind until today, were moved to react so uniformly and uproariously. It occurred to me that it's moments like this one that make me want to continue making my own music. No other singular force in the world can communicate so many different ideas to so many people at once, all while still saying literally the same thing to everyone.

The Non - Tofu Fire

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I've embedded a few tracks here, but you will not understand until you've been able to see them perform live, and even then, I can't guarantee that your experience will be anywhere close to the same. I guess in a way, this post was more personal than anything else, but I felt it was worth sharing. These guys are very special and I can only hope that they will be able to touch your spirit the same way they touched mine.

"The joke's on you, Brandy... "

2010-04-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

This post marks the third show I've been to in a row that I've blogged about. It also marks the third week in a row that I've been to a show at The Conservatory that has been nothing short of kick-ass. Tuesday night featured a rare triple threat of amazing, with The Uglysuit, O'fidelis and Ali Harter.

Ms. Harter took the stage first and, by her own admission, played a criminally short set due in part to her own "bullshitting." She played three brand new songs, including one "hateful little song" about an old friend's gasoline fume huffing induced aborted suicide by immolation in his own house... and his white trash girlfriend (the title of this post is taken from this song). Since that song hasn't been released yet, here's a different one off of "No Bees, No Honey" for those of you who aren't familiar with her whiskey-soaked alt-country greatness.

Ali Harter - Close Up the House

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Up next was O'fidelis, who were also outstanding. They've got that wonderful indie/folk/rock/punk sound that I adore so much and they surprised me (I can't speak for anyone else) with a pulk-style (that punk mixed with folk as far as I'm concerned) cover of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." Once again, I don't have that, but I do have the tracks from their demo and I've been able to find song titles for 4 out of 5 tracks! This one's listed on their MySpace page as "Concion de Feliz Numero Dos" but I'm pretty sure they just called it "Happy Song Number 2" at the show. I wanted to post the mysterious "Track 3," but chose not to since I can't track down a title. You'll like this though. I guarantee it.

O Fidelis - Concion de Feliz Numero Dos

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And in the headlining slot, I was treated once again to the glorious sounds of The Uglysuit. Every time those guys play it's a joyous treat (kind of like the pumpkin cheesecake muffins that Israel's fiancee made for their bake sale at the show, but that's a whole other story). If you've yet to hear them, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of their self-titled debut album. If you can imagine what it would sound like if Explosions in the Sky tried to write pop songs, then you're on the right track. This one is tied for 1st as far as my favorite tracks on the record.

The Uglysuit - Everyone Now Has a Smile

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That's it for now. Tune in next week when I inevitably will tell you about my experience at the Mr. Gnome show this coming Monday at, you guessed it, The Conservatory. And I'll probably post again before that too. You know me by now.

Flirted With You All My Life

2010-04-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

As hinted at previously, here's a post about some of my favorite artists who are no longer with us. I had actually made this post quite some time ago, but deleted it due to horrendous formatting issues caused by blogger.com's text editor not wanting to make nice with embedded YouTube videos. So, here it is now, minus the sub-par YouTube quality audio.

I guess I'll just start by going all the way back to December of last year. Vic Chesnutt quickly became one of my favorite songwriters over the past few years, so it was disheartening if not all that surprising to learn of his passing, which occurred only days before my own grandfather passed as well. He died on Christmas day after having slipped into a coma from an overdose of muscle relaxants. His songwriting was all accomplished and varied, ranging from personal ruminations on life and death, vivid, sometimes macabre narratives and clever usage of idioms, often skillfully strung together and ultimately turned on their heads. Having been mostly paralyzed from the neck down as a result of a car accident when he was 18, his guitar playing remained minimal, mostly making use of simple chords and he mostly relied on collaborating with other musicians to fill out the songs on his records. Most recently, he worked with members of Theeeee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Mountain Chamber Gamelan Anarchist Collective Orchestra to record the albums "North Star Deserter" and "At the Cut." The song posted below appears on the former and is, in my opinion, one of the most powerful recordings he's ever released.

Vic Chesnutt - Glossolalia

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Most casual music listeners wouldn't know the name Mark Linkous, but many are at least aware of Sparklehorse. Much like Nine Inch Nails, Sparklehorse was a band in name only, essentially being Linkous' method of delivery for a handful of fantastic albums. His first album "Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot" didn't shy away from up-tempo fun 90s rock in the vein of Oasis, but as time went on, his work tended more toward expansive, surreal, dreamscape-esque works, collaborating with everyone from Danger Mouse on "A Dark Night of the Soul" to Christian Fennesz on an "In the Fishtank" session. One of my favorite songs off of his first album appears below, because I like to remember the good times, but all of his stuff is more than worth checking out.

Sparklehorse - Someday I Will Treat You Good

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If you've ever seen "That 70s Show," then you've heard Big Star's song, "In the Street" which serves as the show's theme song. Alex Chilton, who died only days after Mark Linkous, fronted Big Star as well as The Box Tops earlier on, and was the driving force for both groups. When it comes to power-pop, it doesn't get much better than Big Star. The group influenced everyone from Gin Blossoms to The New Pornographers and even one my own personal favorites, Longwave (you're going to learn from reading this blog that, for me, all roads eventually lead back to Longwave). "September Gurls" from their 2nd album "Radio City" is considered by some music critics to be a touchstone in the power-pop genre and I can't say I disagree.

Big Star - September Gurls

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And last but not least, we have Peter Steele of Type O Negative who died last week. Again, I wasn't really a fan, but their cover of "Summer Breeze" originally by Seals and Crofts is very amusing at least, so you get to hear it here. I'm more partial to the original album mix of this song, but unfortunately, it elides with the next track on the record, so you get this version mixed by Rick Rubin simply because it has an actual ending. It's on the 2-Disc "Top Shelf Edition" of their album "Bloody Kisses" if you're interested.

Type O Negative - Summer Breeze (Rick Rubin Mix)

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Okay, I know I said that was last, but as I'm writing this, the titular song of this blog post came up and I felt I should share it too. It's from "At the Cut." I really miss Vic...

Vic Chesnutt - Flirted With You All My Life

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So... that was a downer. Have a great week everybody!

This will be a better year...

2010-04-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

Music-loving types are all abuzz right now about the fact that Peter Steele, lead singer of Type-O Negative, just passed away of heart failure. I can't say I was ever much of a fan, but it's still a damn shame. I know how it feels to lose a musician who has enriched my world with their art, so I can definitely sympathize with his fans.

Perhaps it's a sign of how far behind the times I am, but my bad music news of the day came in the form of finding out that Harlem Shakes broke up... BACK IN EFFING SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR! This after creating one of the best albums to come out in 2009. Here lately, I've found myself listening to their album "Technicolor Health" more than any reasonable person would listen to anything, and you deserve to know why. So, rather than ramble on and on about how great they are, I'm embedding the first 4 songs on the record here. The whole album is solid. Easily one of the best indie rock/pop albums of the entire last decade. Listen...

Harlem Shakes - Nothing But Change Pt 2

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Harlem Shakes - Strictly Game

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Harlem Shakes - TFO

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Harlem Shakes - Niagra Falls

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I'm super disappointed about this. Maybe I'll post about my favorite artists who died recently. Hint: Peter Steele is not one of them (but he might make an appearance anyway).

Take back your dreams, baby. I've got mine.

2010-04-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

As a general rule, I have fairly low expectations when it comes to listening to a group that I've never heard of before. It's probably unfair of me to think this way because there's a lot of great music out there after all, but I can't help it. Overhyping over the past few years about groups like Animal Collective and Dirty Projectors by the likes of Pitchfork and other so-called "indie" tastemakers has left a pretty sour taste in my mouth. So when I go to a show where I've only listened to one of the groups on the bill, you can bet that I'll be listening closely, trying to punch holes in the the sound of whoever is new-to-me (especially if Ryan Schreiber seems to think they're the cat's pajamas).

Luckily, Monday night was far from disappointing. Why, you ask? Deer Tick played at the Conservatory to a packed, fun-loving crowd. While Deer Tick was fantastic and the local groups were not too shabby themselves, as is to be expected, I was delighted to be treated to this little group from Lubbock, Texas on tour with them called One Wolf. My first impression was something along the lines of Gin Blossoms cross-pollenated with Dinosaur Jr, but that quickly got pushed to the side. Sure, there was still that nagging sense in the back of my mind trying to box them in, but by the end of their set, they had completely buried the cynic in me. These cats are legit. 2legit2quit if you ask me.

One Wolf - Backyard

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I picked up their most recent record on CD which hasn't been officially released anywhere but on iTunes yet and on tour (FIRSTIES!!!). It's called "One Wolf II: Secret of the Wolf." Having listened to it a couple of times over since Monday night, I have to say my initial impression still remains somewhat intact, but I hear other influences creeping in too. Peppered throughout we get hints of the aforementioned groups, as well as a little evidence that these boys may be fans of Starflyer 59 and early Pedro the Lion (both of which score HUGE points with me personally by the way) and there's that inescapable folk/country tinge that we southerners can't seem to shake. Of course, these are just my frames of reference here, and any talk about influences doesn't change the fact that they've managed to transcend them, but there you go.

One Wolf - Rick Nelson

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These guys are all super nice and I wish them the best. They seem to have amassed a fairly decent following in their home town and will only gain more momentum as they continue to play all over this beautiful country of ours. I really enjoyed their performance and the album most certainly does not disappoint. I hope they don't mind me ripping and embedding their tracks here because I haven't asked them for permission, so this could be a limited time offer. Just give these a listen, inevitably pick up their albums on iTunes and then pop over to their MySpace or facebook page and tell them how great they are.

One Wolf - Please Don't Make a Mess

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Obligatory text after embedded audio. I can't be witty all the time. Cut me some slack.

Re-arrange Stars Using Sunlight from Our Smiles

2010-04-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

One of my biggest weaknesses is women who make great music. As such, I've lately been listening to a lot of lovely ladies; everything from some of my local favorites like Sherree Chamberlain and Samantha Crain to big names like Björk and Neko Case. I need not delve into the sordid details of my musical infatuations. Suffice it to say that the existence of such artists sustains the hopeless romantic in me which longs to find one of the opposite sex who puts music in as important a place in her life as I. And has good taste for that matter.

Enter Asobi Seksu. No, the singer's name is not Asobi just as Ian Anderson and Darius Rucker aren't the eponymous members of Jethro Tull and Hootie and the Blowfish respectively. Get this right and we can still be friends. Her name is name is Yuki Chikudate and she is rocking my small world as I write this. Their name translates colloquially from Japanese as "Casual Sex," though I think they sound more like a "sexplosion." They're from New York and fit very nicely into that "Dream Pop" mold I talked about in my post about Longwave. Their most recent release is called "Rewolf" and it consists of acoustish versions of songs on their last three albums.

Asobi Seksu - Breathe Into Glass (Acoustic at Olympic Studios)

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Now, this probably won't give you the best idea of what they sound like on the reg, but I've been listening to this one a lot lately. Most of their songs have a bit more of a kick to them i.e. plugged in with layers of reverb and delay. If one were to describe their sound as the aforementioned "sexplosion," this record would be more akin to being roused from sleep next to that hypothetical significant other on a cold winter morning by the sunlight reflecting off of freshly fallen snow and onto your not-quite-ready-to-open eyelids.

Asobi Seksu - New Years (Acoustic at Olympic Studios)

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Oh, and did I mention that Yuki has one of the most soothing voices I've heard in recent years? Add to that the fact that she sings in both English and fluent Japanese and that the music is gorgeous/lush/amazing, and you have a guaranteed winning combination as far as I'm concerned. They just went back into the studio to start work on their next album and I am sooooo ready for it. If you want to get into their stuff in a way other than this not-quite-acoustic record, I would recommend picking up "Citrus." I would post a track from that record, but my files for it seem to be corrupted and I don't feel like ripping it right now. Tough cookies.

They Live in the Meadow

2010-04-08T22:29:00.003-07:00

Spring is a good time for Black Moth Super Rainbow. Tell me I'm wrong. I dare ya.

Listening to this makes me want to spend an afternoon dozing in a hammock in the middle of a forest, sipping on something intoxicating. Add a cool breeze and a lady friend and I'd say that's a pretty perfect way to spend an afternoon (so long as there are no bears around).

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Forever Heavy

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No fancy discovery stories or lengthy descriptions here. Just enjoy. These songs are from their album "Dandelion Gum," which is delicious... both literally and figuratively.

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Sun Lips

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Have a great weekend everyone.

I command you to leave this body!

2010-04-06T21:59:00.000-07:00

Currently, I have about 10 different things I want to talk about here, but being the well organized person I am (HA!), I'm taking things one at a time. While I won't say that this one is the most pressing, I will say that having been to a brilliant show last night, it is definitely at the forefront of my mind. As such, this post will be about the pAper chAse. Let's start things off relatively light...

the pAper chAse - The Laying of Hands

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Okay. So we got that brief introduction out of the way. I figure it's best that I introduce most people to these guys in exactly the opposite manner in which they were introduced to me. You guys get the luxury of being slowly lowered into the madness. I was dropped into the fray without warning.

So let this serve as your warning: This is not "easy" music.

the pAper chAse - What Should We Do?

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My first exposure to these guys was on a playlist compiled with friends. You will hear the song I heard at the end of this post. It was an extremely jarring experience as these guys have a penchant for crafting music that can be simultaneously catchy and cacophonous. At times, it sounds as if the song is going to spin out of control into a fit of noisy, atonal madness, but (usually) comes back to some sort of center. However, like 20th Century "classical" composers working with unusual methods of organizing tones, what may sound like chaos is actually carefully planned and painstakingly put together to achieve the desired effect. Often, we have the juxtaposition of intense passages of atonal bursts alongside very memorable melodies and sometimes we get them both at once.

the pAper chAse - I'm Going to Heaven

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The lead singer, John Congleton, is a producer and engineer and, as you can imagine, I was rather surprised that this guy has worked with artists such as The Polyphonic Spree, Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You and The Appleseed Cast. While their newest album, "Someday This Could All Be Yours Pt. 1" is easily their most accessible to date, it's still no easy ride. Case in point:

the pAper chAse - This is a Rape

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"Someday... Pt. 1" is supposed to be about natural disasters. Throughout the course of the record we hear about forest fires, extinctions and mass hysteria. Somehow, Congleton even manages to make some sort of comparison between a flood and a rape, as in the previous example. Part 2 has yet to be release, but supposedly represents the aftermath of every disaster depicted in Part 1. If you like what you've heard so far, it's all on the latest album. There aren't really any songs on it that I don't like so I can unequivocally recommend that you pick it up if you're looking for something that's a bit off-kilter but still listenable. I wouldn't steer you wrong, would I?

As promised, here's the track that started it all for me. From their album "God Bless Your Black Heart," this is easily the most challenging listen on this post.

the pAper chAse - One Day He Went Out for Milk and Never Came Back

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I promise the next post will be easier. Thanks for considering.

We're still living here. How come nobody can tell?

2010-04-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

This post probably won't tell most people anything that they don't know already, but on the off chance that you WEREN'T aware, Ryan Adams has written some pretty amazing songs over the years. My personal favorite record of his has to be "Love is Hell," and I find it hard to believe that a collection songs as fantastic as this wasn't considered by his label to be commercially viable. Case in point:

Ryan Adams - This House is Not For Sale

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Now, I'm not going to bombard you with a bunch of tracks like I did last time. I'll drop a few here for you to check out, but really, you should probably already own this record.

To be perfectly honest, I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to Ryan Adams until the release of "Love is Hell Pt. 1" because I hadn't been particularly impressed with "Gold" when it first came out (for the record, my opinion on that album has since changed for the better). I was working at CD Warehouse at the time, and a used copy floated through the store. I popped it in because there was some internet buzz around it at the time and I didn't want to simply dismiss it just because I didn't care much for some of his previous stuff. Right from the beginning, this record grabbed me. From beginning to end it has this hushed sense of urgency and desperation that ebbs and flows, which in a lot of ways reminds me of some of Jeff Buckley's work (minus the otherworldly angelic voice, of course), especially on songs like "Political Scientist" and superior-to-the-original-in-every-way version of "Wonderwall" (again, very Buckley-esque in that respect). It's very ballad heavy, but when it picks up... magic.

Ryan Adams - English Girls Approximately

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So, that's all I really have for this one. Chew on some "Wonderwall" while you're at it.

Ryan Adams - Wonderwall

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Sirens come up to greet me.

2010-03-30T22:07:00.000-07:00

If you know me in real life (or IRL for my nerd pals) and I have not made you listen to Longwave before, I have failed you as a friend... until now.

Longwave - State of Mind

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My love affair with this band started as so many great things do, which is to say completely unexpectedly. Apparently, in the last days of OKC's famous Rainbow Records, I was one of the only frequent customers because I don't see how this possibly could have happened otherwise. I remember going in between classes at OCU right down the street to browse frequently, often walking out with at least some small item of interest. On one such occasion, the guy who ran the place (his name escapes me) asked me out of the blue, "Hey, do you like The Donnas at all?" I of course replied, "Yeah, they're not bad." He then tells me that he has two free promotional tickets to their show at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa that week. "You can have 'em if you want. I'm not really into that stuff." I of course accepted and immediately got on the phone to find someone who might want to go. Reliable as ever, my friend Scott (who I will probably try to convince to write for this blog at some point) said he would go. Sweet deal! Last minute road trip to Tulsa just because the concert was free!

Longwave - Tidal Wave

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So the day of the concert arrives and we show up with our friend Alex in tow who was attending university in Tulsa at the time. This was my first of what would be many concerts at Cain's Ballroom and I was immediately taken with the place. The wood floor, which has since been replaced, felt like it could cave at any minute and there were pictures of all sorts of country legends on the walls; the kind of country legends Hank III is enamored with. The lights dimmed (like they do) and out stepped this group fronted by a slightly awkward looking skinny dude with the curliest blonde hair I'd ever seen. They proceeded to erupt into the brightest most glorious sounds I'd heard at that point in my life, which I later found out was fittingly referred to as "Dream Pop." Chimey guitar melodies laden with delay, reverb and just the right amount of crunchy tube distortion, with hazy pop melodies laid over the top. Who WERE these guys?!

Longwave - Underneath You Know the Names

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After they finished their criminally short set, I snapped out of my euphoric delirium, hot-footed it straight to the merch table and purchased a copy of their latest release at the time, the "Day Sleeper" EP. I about wore it out for a week straight. (If you're wondering what happened to the rest of the concert at this point, Ok Go was surprisingly not bad and 3/4 of the Donnas were pretty hot.) A short time after, they released their second full album "The Strangest Things," which brought them REALLY close to dethroning Radiohead as my favorite band of all time. Come to think of it, I should probably buy another copy of that record before I can't find it anymore. My copy is looking a bit worse for wear...

Longwave - Sirens in the Deep Sea

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For those of you who haven't listened to the tracks littered throughout this post but have seen fit to read this rambling nonsense through to the end, consider picking up "The Strangest Things" and their latest record "Secrets Are Sinister." Those are far and away their most solid albums, but they've yet to release something that isn't good. Then again, you're talking to a guy who has obsessively tracked down physical copies on vinyl and CD of nearly all of this group's recorded output. If you're the kind who doesn't like paying for music, the kind folks over at Daytrotter recorded a live session with them which you can download for free.

Longwave - Below Bellow

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I promise that's it for now.

On Lady Gaga, Extreme Metal and Shock Pop

2010-03-28T22:21:00.000-07:00

I didn't think I would ever have anything to contribute to the ongoing mass-media dialogue surrounding the collective fascination with Lady Gaga, but here I am. I can't say that I find her fascinating, as so many in the business of shaping opinions about music and fashion seem to do. I, like many people who pay any attention to popular music, first became aware of her after hearing her single "Poker Face," but I first became genuinely interested in her as a subject after hearing this:

Lady Gaga/Meshuggah - Paparazzi/Bleed "Mash-up"

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Now, HERE was something I could get into. While I can't say I'm a fan of Lady Gaga's OR Meshuggah's music overall, the combination of these two seemingly incompatible musical forces struck a chord with me somewhere. Here was something that was both brutal and catchy, flavors which I have come to value to varying degrees, but rarely get to savor in the same mouthful. And while neither artist had anything to do with the creation of this mash-up aside from having created the source material, it made me wonder what it was about Gaga that would lead a metal fan to create something like this using a popular artist. (It had to be a metal fan because, let's face it, what person who primarily consumes radio-friendly Pop music is even going to know who Meshuggah is?)

This led me to do some reading about Lady Gaga. I learned that she briefly attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, gaining entry at the age of 17 to study music. Impressive. Not what I would have expected given the brand of music she creates. I read about how she draws much of her musical influence from glam-rockers like David Bowie and Queen ("Radio Ga Ga" was the inspiration for her stage moniker). I was not surprised to learn that, artistically speaking, she was hugely influenced by the likes of Andy Warhol. I saw in interviews that she is intent on creating a pop-culture empire the likes of which Madonna could only dream. She doesn't take herself too seriously and knows that her music bears virtually no artistic relevance whatsoever.

That's all fine and good, but what's the big deal? My friend Grace over at the High Fashion Girl blog wrote about Gaga as a post-postmodern provocateur (altermodern is the word actually, but this a music blog, not an art & philosophy blog and music fans are intimately familiar with the word "post"). To quote her at length:

The only thing Lady Gaga is selling is herself (and, herself as revolution). She knows exactly what she is and she impeccably performs her duty. Because of this, she is an Altermodern Messiah. I don’t think she ever set out to be an Altermodern Messiah, nor does my heaping intellectual praise have any affect on what she says or does. However, there is intent behind Lady Gaga’s actions. She is a post-capitalist revolutionary who is brilliantly exploiting the failings of the system and who brilliantly manipulates the media. This self-awareness and self-referential brand of marketing is changing the way we think.

Her article is a great read. While the above paragraph isn't exactly her thesis, it mirrors a lot of what is being written about Gaga in all sorts of publications, both digital and analog. Although I find it fascinating that a pop star is garnering all of these accolades from people who ordinarily wouldn't have anything to do with her kind, I can't bring myself to get on board with it. Maybe I'm too cynical, maybe I'm too contrarian or maybe I just don't "get it," but it seems as though Gaga's attitude is something only new to western pop culture, but not new to pop culture on a global scale.

In Japan, there are musical performers referred to literally as "idol singers." They began to emerge from the burgeoning J-Pop scene in recent decades and are similar in many respects to the American pop idols of the 60s and 70s. They are literally products to be sold in as many forms as people are willing to consume. J-Pop idols and their music aren't generally considered to be "artistically" important, even by the artists themselves, but they make a crap-ton of money. By contrast in the US, both performers and fans have a tendency to view popular musical products as serious art. There's a light gloss of pretense over American popular music that isn't really warranted or appropriate.

How does this relate to Lady Gaga? Well, to quote Gaga herself "... I make soulless electronic pop music." She is aware that she is a product and she lets her audience know that she is aware of this fact as well. Now, again this isn't that revolutionary, but it is a breath of fresh air to someone like myself who's seen all of the corporate music garbage being pumped out by the major record labels for what it is for years. I can only hope that the public at large will begin to view the landscape of pop music the way Gaga views her own music: "Soulless electronic pop." Now, this is actually fairly endearing on a personal level, but again, I'm not buying into the hype just yet. An admitted corporate shill is still a shill. Sorry.

There's been much ado about how "strange" she is when it comes to her fashion sense and her music videos. Her style is confrontational and it's not easy to swallow. If I were to compare her visual style to something musical, I'd liken it to something like the piece "Alice" by Sunn O))) on their most recent album "Monoliths & Dimensions." Within the same piece of music, one can hear very "ugly" down-tuned, distorted guitars droning on dissonant chords while moments later, a sublime, melodic free jazz trombone (played by the legendary Julian Priester for those of you who are familiar) soaring over a swirling tapestry of harp, strings and horns.

Sunn O))) - "Alice"

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The general public aren't used to seeing these sorts of stark contrasts of images in their popular music performers and having this sort of juxtaposition thrust upon oneself without sufficient preparation can be striking, arresting and devastating. It turns the recent trends in popular music on their heads.

And that is EXACTLY what needed to happen for her brand of pop music to remain viable as a means of achieving superstardom. I'm not naive enough to think that she represents the last dying gasp of the pop star as we know it. These things do come in cycles after all. All of her extravagance is simply a means of survival which, by design or accident, serves to prop up and possibly save a business model which is in serious danger of collapsing altogether. She's not really that different at the core. Her attitude is different. Her style is different. Her ends are the same. It's still style over substance. Controversy sells. It's worked for everyone from Elvis Presley to Alice Cooper. From Madonna to Marilyn Manson. It's just that simple.

Yet still, after all of this, I can't figure out why a metal head would gravitate toward her... but I did manage to get you to listen to Sunn O))) by talking about Lady Gaga, so I think that's an accomplishment.

Grinning ear to ear, time and time again

2010-03-27T15:53:00.000-07:00

There aren't many records that I would equate with pure, unadulterated joy. "Dream Happy Dreams" by Florida duo SUNBEARS! is one of those records. A friend of mine made me aware of these guys after going through a backlog of live performance videos from The Granada Theater in Dallas, discovering that these two wonderful dudes had toured with Mates of States (see: pure, unadulterated joy). They make a brilliant mix of indie pop that might bring to mind groups like The Flaming Lips, The Polyphonic Spree and The Helio Sequence. If this doesn't make you happy, I shudder to think of the depths to which your spirit has fallen.

SUNBEARS! - A Lovely Tuesday Afternoon in June

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Heavy Rocks

2010-03-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of a fancy little group called Karnivool? Well, if you're not from Australia or into not-quite-mainstream rock music, probably not. These guys played with Fair to Midland in Houston last night at a small venue called Scout Bar and pretty much destroyed everyone in the room. If you like your rock music heavy, melodic and with a healthy helping of psychedelia (see: Isis, Tool, Porcupine Tree), you're going to dig this. It's off of their latest record "Sound Awake."

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Firsties

2010-03-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

Those who know me know where the title is coming from. This is going to be a music blog. I am going to do my best to guide you toward music which is good and try to avoid slagging on music which I don't necessarily enjoy (though I can't promise I won't rage against Hinder from time to time).

This is content.

Get ready to thank me. You will.