Articles from Berkeley Place-A lil' bit of BK from VA |
JUNO-Original Soundtrack
2008-02-02 05:23:00
I think I may be the only person in the indie blogosphere who has not only not seen Juno, but who has no interest in doing so. I’m sure it’s cute/quirky/funny. I’m also sure it’s well acted—the cast includes about a half-dozen of my favorite comedic actors, and stars Ellen Page whose turn in the film Hard Candy may be one of the greatest teen angst performances of all time. But for some reason, the concept of a teenager opting to be a surrogate for some out-of-touch upper-middle-class white folks just doesn’t interest me.
The soundtrack, however, has some great stuff on it: the great Buddy Holly, The Kinks (best pop band of the late ‘70s-early ‘80s), Belle and Sebastian, Mott The Hoople, Velvet Underground . . . The biggest problem with the soundtrack is the glue holding all these retro gems together: Kimya Dawson/The Moldy Peaches/Antsy Pants. This is essentially the same artist, but with three names and barely enough talent to support one name. Twee is not my ...
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THE BILLIE BURKE ESTATE-“Let Your Heart Break”
2008-02-01 03:40:02
The Billie Burke Estate’s second full-length, “Let Your Heart Break,” is a curious collection of charming pop tunes. There’s nothing offensive or edgy here–much like ‘70s AM radio (think: Elton John or Randy Newman), the focus is on piano-based hooks and toe-tapping, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. “Everybody’s Gonna Die,” despite it’s heavy title, is my favorite track on this light album. It recalls The Beatles’ “You Won’t See Me,” with a crispy chorus eased between sing-song verses. This is a well-produced, clean and clear record. In a world where so much is heavy and dark, it’s nice to know that Billie Burke Estate is producing good old-fashioned pop music.
I Can Float
Everybody’s Gonna Die
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ANDREW BIRD-LIVE IN 2007
2008-01-31 03:13:07
Andrew Bird’s Armchair Apocrypha was one of the better albums of 2007 that I didn’t get my ears on until 2008. Making my best of 2007 list somewhat less than complete. Oh, well. Can’t hear everything, I suppose. But today I try to make up for that shortcoming, just a little, by posting this September 27, 2007, show, in which Mr. Bird plays quite a few selections off of that album.
Y’all know the drill: A few tastes, and a zip file.
Set list:
Fiery Crash
Opposite Day
Nervous Tic/Motion of the Head
Why
Spare-Ohs
Spare-Ohs Rap
Plasticities
Tenuous
Simple X
Imitosis
Armchairs
Dr. Strings/Fake Palindromes
Skin Is, My
Scythian Empires
ZIP FILE
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EMPTY ROOMS-”Lacuna” (EP)
2008-01-30 03:48:47
Those of you who were with me when I was on Blogger may recall that in 2006 I picked a little-known record by a band called Empty Rooms as one of the best offerings of that year. It’s taken them a while, but they’re back. And they’re still excellent.
“Lacuna” finds Empty Rooms as spooky as ever, but the lead track, “All’s Well,” breaks new ground for them. Eschewing the echoey indie guitar for monk-like chanting, the band ventures even deeper into Radiohead territory than they’ve ever gone before. And the results are transcendent. The other three songs on the EP reflect the band’s movement into even deeper contemplative and meditative music. There’s still the occasional crunchy riff, but the focus is on percussion and mood, chants and swells.
The album isn’t available yet, but if you go here, you can pre-order it.
Do it. Now.
We’ve Been Waiting for You
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ASTER-”Some Things Seldom Heard Of”
2008-01-29 17:19:51
Texas-based Aster’s 2007 release, “Some Things Seldom Heard Of,” is actually, apparently, a 2008 release. Go figure. But whatever year you put it down in, it’s worth your eartime. I’m not going to call it shoegazer, because it’s much more than simply soaring. Yeah, it’s lush, with light and airy vocals, trippy beats, and piano swells–the works–but the music has a richness and texture I don’t usually get from shoegazer.
I’m really enjoying this CD, but I’m finding it really hard to write about. Howzabout you all check out these two tracks, or go stream it, and write your own reviews, in the comments.
Some Things Seldom Heard Of
Vaudeville
Stream the whole album here!
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A to ZEVON (HAPPY BIRTHDAY WARREN!)
2008-01-29 03:41:27
Warren Zevon is probably my favorite songwriter. I dig his classic hits, which always inject bitter humor, like “Lawyers, Guns, and Money” and “Werewolves,” but I also like his lesser known ironies, like “Something Bad Happened to a Clown” and “Rottweiler Blues.” I also appreciate his tender moments, like “The French Inhaler” and “Tenderness on the Block,” as well as his barnstorming blues cuts, like “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” and “Piano Fighter.” All of it is good.
But I rarely post on the man. So, today, it’s Zevon rarities day! His birthday was January 24, so I missed it by about a week, but whatever.
These are all live bootleg tracks, of various levels of quality, that I hope you’ll enjoy. All tracks below are by the WZ, unless otherwise noted.
A is for All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan). A bit long and rambling, but I really like what he does with it. It’s much mo ...
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SLUG. AESOP. BLUEPRINT. AND MORE. “Freestyles”
2008-01-28 03:49:58
In the zip file below, you’ll find 18 unreleased freestyles of various quality and length from some of the most popular indie rappers around: Slug (of Atmosphere), Aesop Rock, Eyedea (of Eyedeas and Abilities), and Blueprint (of Soul Position). Joining them are Illogic and Sage.
I know most f you readers aren’t hip hop fans, but I also know that some of you are. If you appreciate these posts, please drop me a comment so I know to keep ‘em coming.
Indie rock can’t be all we listen to, can it?
Taste #1
Taste #2
ZIP FILE
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REED KD-“Ashes Bloom”
2008-01-27 03:41:51
“Let’s build a wall between/All of the kerosene/So we can juggle road flares/In the yard.” The lines come in the verse that bursts out of a more subdued lament (“Maybe this time I’ll get lucky and you’ll mean all the things you say to me”) on “Road Flares,” off of Reed KD’s “Ashes Bloom” album, a really solid singer-songwriter collection of folk-rock love songs. Reed can be likened to Simon & Garfunkel, or maybe acoustic Death Cab for Cutie (in musical style only—his vocalization is entirely different). All these comparisons are somewhat apt, but above all he’s got his own voice. He eschews witty lyrics for insightful ones, and avoids long musical flourishes, preferring instead to pack many deep thoughts into each song, forcing the listener to constantly ask, “What did he say?” and back up a few seconds to catch it again. This is true poetry, set to guitar, and a sweet gem. Perfect music for a cup of coffee and the Sunday paper.
Road Flares
May ...
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EVANGELICALS-“The Evening Descends”
2008-01-26 04:18:59
The Evening Descends in the first track on the unclassifiable recent release from Evangelicals, on the Dead Oceans label. From the title track, which starts off as shoegazer, stumbles awkwardly through a calliope of carnival hiccups, and ends with a spot of twee, the record throws you up against a phonic wall and never lets you go. Channeling all the best genres rock has ever offered—a diverse pastiche including goth, psychedelia, indie, glam, prog, and emo, recalling The Flaming Lips, The Darkness, The Cure, Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, and countless others–Evangelicals seem ready to take the throne for the most inventive band of 2008.
“Skeleton Man,” which ends in a cymbal-crashing, repeated scream, “Someone loves you very much! Someone loves you very much!”, is my favorite cut on the album. And that’s saying a lot, because there’s many winners here. The aptly titled “Stoned Again” features distant, foggy vocals under a Doors-like keyboard ...
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PICTURE OF THE DAY (NEWS ARTICLES EDITION)
2008-01-25 04:10:30
BONUS:
Actual letters submitted to the Sunday Times, courtesy of What Is Matt. This is hysterical.
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Dear Maid,
Please do not leave any more of those little bars of soap in my bathroom since I have brought my own bath-sized Imperial Leather. Please remove the six unopened little bars from the shelf under the medicine chest and another three in the shower soap dish.
They are in my way.
Thank you,
S. Berman
Dear Room 635,
I am not your regular maid. She will be back tomorrow, Thursday, from her day off. I took the 3 hotel soaps out of the shower soap dish as you requested.
The 6 bars on your shelf I took out of your way and put on top of your Kleenex dispenser in case you should change your mind. This leaves only the 3 bars I left today.
My instructions from the management are to leave 3 soaps daily. I hope this is satisfactory.
Kathy, Relief Maid
Dear Maid.
I hope you are my regular maid.
Apparently Kathy did not tell you about my note to her concerning the little bars of soap. ...
Articles
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10 REASONS TO DIG TOM WAITS COVERS
2008-01-25 03:55:16
1. Picture in a Frame-Pearl Jam.
2. I Don’t Wanna Grow Up-Cold War Kids. An illogical tune: Great song + Great band = Not so great cover. But cool for the curious or completist. For a great cover of this song, check out The Ramones version. Or . . .
3. I Don’t Wanna Grow Up-Petra Haden and Bill Frisell. From another great album, all duets, available on emusic.
4. Jesus Gonna Be Here-the EELs.
5. Way Down in the Hole-Blind Boys of Alabama. Also known as the theme to The Wire, the greatest TV show in history that nobody’s watching.
6. Johnsburg Illinois (Tom Waits cover)-Josh Ritter
7. Hold On-Redbird. If you can get your hands on a copy of Redbird’s (only) album, do it. It’s revelatory, one of my favorite albums of recent history.
8. Heart of a Saturday Night-Holly Cole. My absolute favorite TW song, from my absolute favorite TW album. Brilliant.
9. Jersey Girl-Holly Cole. A HC two-fer, and it ain’t even Tuesday!
10. Jersey Girl- ...
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JEFF TWEEDY AND JAY BENNETT
2008-01-24 04:11:24
This is a bootleg of Jeff’s first show ever without Wilco, with Jay Bennett on electric guitar and harmonica. Truly amazing.
Nuff said. A few tastes and a zip.
Acuff-Rose
Gun
Watch Me Fall
New Madrid
Wait Up
The Long Cut
Walk Where He Walked
Pecan Pie
Pick Up The Change
Should’ve Been In Love
Give Back The Key To My Heart (Doug Sahm cover)
Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down (traditional)
Promising
If That’s Alright
Black Eye
Dash 7
No Sense In Lovin’
Casino Queen
Who Were You Thinking Of (Texas Tornadoes)
The TB Is Whippin’ Me (Ernest Tubb)
Passenger Side
We’ve Been Had
Too Far Gone (Neil Young)
Screen Door
Listen To Her Heart (Tom Petty)
Reincarnation (Roger Miller)
Box Full Of Letters
ZIP FILE
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