2009

well i don't know if this is going to start the next stage in this simple blogs life, but for now i'm making another attempt to transmit my thoughts on music art and everything pop-culture.

i have to be honest, i kinda felt disheartened by the end of 2008. maybe it was just my state of mind, but it wasn't really what i thought it would be...musically.

2009 (MMIX) however is a new leaf for me in many ways. while losing my mind over everything as we all counted down another end to another year i found some solace in the music from my adolescence/teenage years. a cluster fuck of punk, hardcore, noise and grunge that back then seemed like flashes in the pan and various bands that were "huge" (in the minds of lost kids everywhere). but in some way brought me to a nostalgic stasis that i can only liken it to coming to terms with something that is undeniably a part of who i am, not was...and i'm taking in this new found um...er...musical revelation [for lack of a better term].

this post being all about new beginnings, let us start of by mentioning some long overdue, much appreciated news about nj band the wrens.

now for anyone who doesn't know me, brooklyn is actually my third home. i've spent more time jumping between philadelphia suburbs and south jersey absorbing the culture [see above] and leaving it all behind for a career in the music industry (its okay to laugh mockingly here). during my time in the garden state i was introduced to a band called the wrens by a local record store clerk named ,steve or jeff or mark, i forget. what i do remember is the sounds of seacaus playing over the stereo. it was more or less love at first listen and one of my few impulse buys that i wouldn't regret later. i took the album home and listened to it on repeat until i was sick of it and then i played it over the stereo as i slept. i was too young to understand why this band was so good. i knew it was good but it wasn't until much later as i moved through social circles and relationships that i would have the knowledge to start grasping it all. even now when i go back to the wrens i find new things, new lyrics, new chords, new emotions that i missed before or just neglected to catch during one of my many fawning sessions. needless to say i love the wrens, so when news of them playing a show or a rumor about them recording a follow up to their 2003 album the meadowlands, i become more attentive than a kid watching sesame street.

enter magnet magazine...a staple in the philadelphia music scene for 15yrs now and you'd probably be hard pressed to find another publication that supports the wrens as much as they do.

well magnet updates their site far more often then the wrens website (sorry guys its true), and i caught the header in my rss reader...as seen her .

anyway long story short...wrens...new songs here and here...promising progress from a band who puts out a record one every 7 years...and i hear they're experimenting with the sousaphone.

To blog or not to blog....

Well here I am...It's pushing 2 o'clock and I haven't posted something to this lame ass blog in over a month. I can tell you that I've been busy during the interim, and now have 2 possibly 3 jobs that I didn't have before this month...and I'll probably see if I can't secure one more aside from the freelance work that I've been doing on the side.

As sad as it seems...I think about this blog a lot, and what it means to me and what its purpose is....I love music in all forms and styles and have since a very young age. I'd like to continue with this blog to my fullest capacity, but its hard juggling a 9am-5pm and then a 11pm-2am job.

This isn't a cop out...be warned. There are 2 album reviews by 2 great artists, and hopefully some pictures and a show review on the horizon for this week, possibly bleeding into next depending on how things go on the job front.

But in the meantime, here's a mash up by Justice I found over at Kanye West's blog of Kanye and MGMT. Just because I'm not always active doesn't mean I'm not always looking for something to write about....

Stream David Byrne and Brian Eno's new album

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today,is out today and what better way to combat piracy than by letting the album stream on your website. The 11 songs are the first collaboration between Eno and Byrne in 30 yrs. I love how simplistic the album is and the fact that I'm listening to it now instead of tomorrow or ten minutes from now.

The artists are also encouraging everyone to listen and share...so embed the player on your site, and send it to as many people as possible.




[via CNET]

Gavin Castelton?

The name Gavin Castleton is new to me...the fact that he's a part of Rhode Island band, Ebu Gogo, is still news to me but at least I can draw some sort of familiarity to his name.

I don't really attempt to post about an artist or band that I don't know well (if only through the latest release), but I was informed today that Gavin's latest record could be one of the best this year...

...Pushing forward.

Mr. Castleton, while not having any of the new album's songs available does have a very interesting blog. And while I wish you (and I) could hear these new songs lets just spend some time getting to know him.



Below is a video he posted yesterday.

(if I had $50 million I'd consider buy this guys stuff)


The Archive from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.

Pop Tarts Suck Toasted 4th Anniversary Party!

(ignore the spelling error)


So in an amazing feat...Staten Island stronghold blog, Pop Tarts Suck Toasted is celebrating its 4th anniversary next Saturday at Matchless. Old skool DJ duo Rachael and Nora K will be teaming up one nigh only to woman the decks during the interim, while we're treated to some great live music. PTST always puts on a good show, and just because he's going away to pre-school this fall doesn't mean there's going to be any less devotion from him.

Metronomy @ Union Hall

So I'm going to make this quick. I saw this band, Metronomy, who I've only heard through remixes they've done of other artists. My friend talked up their album and told me I should rush down to Union Hall to see them (its was around 10:30pm when he called and they were going on at 12:00am).

Now I'm not big on gimmicks or stage dressings or props, but Metronomy really didn't need the tap lights and matching t-shirts. The full length, Nights Out, that I got to hear clips of briefly before I ran out the door to catch train barely got me ready for the amazing-ly fun and light hearted show.

Good times were had by all and now the boys are back in the UK (their travel visas ran out August 2nd). I hoping that they make it back sooner than later, but until then enjoy some remixes by the band and of the band.



Metronomy - Heartbreaker (Diskjokke remix) (zShare)

Goldfrapp - Happiness (Metronomy Remix Feat. The Teenagers) (zShare)

MGMT / Black Moth Super Rainbow / The Ting Tings @ McCarren Pool

With something like 90% chance of thunder storms and an ominously black sky the Sunday of MGMT's pool party seemed like its was going to be a total wash. Even with all the negative energy swirling around, that didn't stop what seemed to be the entire NYC 'hipster' community from showing up and standing patiently in a line that was being rumored to run all the way down to the water front. I showed up early and still waited almost a hour to get inside. As I stood in line I kept getting reports that the sky was beginning to open up and many a friend canceled their plans to stand in line in the rain.

Upon entering the pool I gazed around at the not so packed (yet) grounds. London's The Ting Tings were already on stage getting ready to go on.

As the first act of the day you don't really get as excited as you would for the other bands. As the only band I hadn't seen yet and add to that the praise and exposure that they were receiving over the past few months (go ahead call me neglectful for not getting on the bandwagon sooner), I was very excited...at least intrigued to see The Ting Tings play.

Exhilarating is the only way I can think to describe the band. Everything about them, the sound, their stage presence etc. Felt completely organic. When a band truly appears to enjoy the music and the performance they're putting on its almost as big a selling point as a band putting on the show of the year. The Ting Tings' show was all that and more.

Black Moth Super Rainbow, up next, is one of those bands that I enjoy on record but the last time I saw them I can't say that I was that entranced by them. This time was slightly different. They seemed to be more in sync with each other and added a little more showmanship to the show. I still say that I'd prefer to listen to them in my dimly lit parlor but I'll concede to them living up to the day.

Oh how does it come to this. I too was blindsided by MGMT's rise to fame...it seems that just the other day, The Management, were the blog band du jour. Now they're causing mass hysterics and lines that could put a *insert classic rock band name here* reunion to shame. And all the hype is not with out warrant. Oracular Spectacular, is a jolly ball of good times, and when you think you're tired of that check out some remixes they did of other artists or viceversa and you're back at it finding nuances in the music and choice of styles all over again.

Live the band embraces the free love jam flows while sticking to the straight forward style of indie rock that has got them where they are. They're tight they're entertaining... ... ...What can you say about them that hasn't already been said? Goldwasser and VanWyngarden have created a big sloppy mess and everyone will trail along behind and try and pick up the left overs.