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Articles from Berkeley Place-A lil' bit of BK from VA

COVER WARS TWO: CALIFONE’S ROLLING STONES TRIBUTE CONCERT vs. COUNTING CROWS COVERING SPRINGSTEEN (round two) 2008-01-08 03:42:22 For those of you who don’t know, Califone are an incredibly interesting experimental Americana band. Check this out, from their latest album, Roots and Crowns, on Thrill Jockey records: Spider’s House Anyhoo, in 2004 the band got together and did a short set of Stones songs. Yesterday, we posted round one of this week’s cover wars. Round two begins with this great Califone set. The really cool thing about it is that instead of covering the tunes everyone else covers, they chose an Exile-heavy set list and really rocked out. I love this show. Quality is pretty good, too. Hope you dig it. No zip file this time because there’s only seven tracks. Street Fighting Man Ventilator blues Turd on the Run No Expectations Rocks Off Miss you Bitch So, who has done a Springsteen tribute show? Well, I don’t have a whole show, but I do have two songs. Adam Duritz makes two manly mournful songs into two plaintive whines. But if you’re gonna listen to whi ...

COVER WARS 2: BRUCE VS. THE STONES (Round One) 2008-01-07 04:12:37 Of the two biggest bands to cross the pond, The Beatles were clearly a far superior group of rock and roll songwriters than The Rolling Stones. So why not have the fab four cross swords here? Well, first of all, there’s just no competition. The Beatles have been covered way more, way better, and by a much larger variety of bands. Plus, don’t tell anyone this, but . . . I like the Stones better. They weren’t as interesting politically or personally, they’re all about the money . . . It’s kind of like preferring Kanye West to Common. Which I do, too. So, my favorite British rock and roll band will face off against the greatest American rock and roll songwriter. No, not Bob Dylan. He’s more folk-y. And, frankly, although he’s a had a few albums that I’ve listened to so many times I’ve memorized them, and wrote a song that perhaps became the greatest cover song in history (Jimi’s “Watchtower,” natch), I just ...

THE FEMINISTS-“Can’t Scream Loud Enough” 2008-01-06 03:45:09 I’d never heard, or even heard about, The Feminists before they sent me their third full-length album, “Can’t Scream Loud Enough.” And that’s a shame. The Feminists are cool. Really cool. The album opener, “The Beginning of the World,” begins as a synth-driven ‘80s rocker and then makes a fascinating right turn into a quieter, acoustic piano ballad. The album continues to surprise on every track. The single, “21st Century Ghost,” is another ‘80s keyboard romp, but the drumming by Mike Zobac is extraordinary, quietly laying back until the opportunity is there to be seized, when Mr. Zobac will suddenly burst out and snatch the spotlight. But only for a moment, and then he seems content to fade into the ensemble once again. Vocally, there’s some nice harmonies between keyboardist Allyson Mara and lead singer/guitarist Keith Grief, but Mr. Grief is clearly the star. What he lacks in technical skill he makes up for in passion and unusual choices of pitch an ...

10 REASONS TO DIG JOY DIVISION/NEW ORDER COVERS 2008-01-05 04:54:53 JD and NO were never my favorites, but I can appreciate them. Here’s some covers. 1. Ceremony (Joy Division Cover)-Xiu Xiu 2. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You / Shadowplay (Joy Division Cover Live 2007)-The Killers. A studio version is available on the Killers’ last release, “Sawdust.” 3. Enjoy The Silence (new order)-Keane 4. Radiohead covers New Order! (Youtube link) 5. Love Vigilantes (New Order Cover)-Voxtrot 6. Love Will Tear Us Apart (JD)-Calexico 7. Hurts Like Teen Spirit-Johnny Cash. One of the greatest mashups ever made, with a twinge of New Order if you look for it. 8. Temptation (New Order cover)-Bobby Bare Jr. 9. Love Will Tear Us Apart (JD)-Albert Kuvezin & Yat-Kha 10. Lullaby (The Cure)-Editors. A band who owes its sound to Joy Division covering a band who owes its sound to New Order. Yeah, I’m kind of a wise ass. ...

RYAN’S BEST OF 2007 GONZO POST 2008-01-04 13:20:19 check it out! ...

WHO THE HELL ARE STRATOCRUISER? 2008-01-04 12:48:16 I’ve written about Stratocruiser many, many times. In fact, I interviewed them back in 1996, on my old blog. They’ve got a new album mastered and ready for y’all, and asked if I would take a listen and, if I dig it, pass something along to whet all of your appetites until they’re ready to release it. Of course, I said yes. Also, since you can’t see the interview I did with them anymore (because my old site is dead, and now sells ads for wet suits), I thought I’d reprint it, for nostalgia’s sake . . . Here’s the title track from the new record, titled “Egg Shells.” Egg Shells-Stratocruiser And something a little older: Top of the Morning And some covers: Come On, Come On (Cheap Trick cover) She’s Tight (Cheap Trick cover) Here’s the old interview: EKKO: How long did it take you to record this latest album? CLAY: We worked on this cd for about a year, - the rhythm tracks were recorded in July 2005 at Rick Miller&r ...

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2008-01-04 06:45:58 ...

TINY TIM WITH CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN 2008-01-04 04:07:24 Okay, so Tiny Tim was never more than a novelty act, but he was huge. And one day, back in October of 1986, he somehow managed to get Camper Van Beethoven to be his house band! I can’t imagine what it must have been like to see this show–it sounds like more fun than the time Tiny Tim hijacked a baggage cart at an airport and got arrested for driving drunk. The sound quality is good but not great. If you don’t download the zip file, at least make sure to check out Tiny Tim’s duet with Tiny Tim (not a misprint–it’s a one person duet) on Cher and Sonny’s, “I Got You Babe.” Let Me Call You Sweetheart There’s a New Day Coming 26 minute medley of tons of kids songs, beginning with “She’ll Be Comin’ Around the Mountain” Tiptoe Thru the Tulips Heartbreak Hotel Great Balls of Fire I Got You Babe When the Saints Go Marching In Kung Fu Fighting Wasted ZIP FILE ...

THE SHONDES-”The Red Sea” 2008-01-03 03:36:29 The Shondes totally knocked my socks off from the jump. Shondes (Yiddish) means “outrage,” and it summarizes their pro-gay, antiauthoritarian, self-proclaimed “queercore” punk. But unlike grrrritty bands before them, The Shondes add strings and soaring melodies to their sound, adding substance and bottom beyond a simple, thumping bass. But what about the riffs, you ask? The fucking riffs? No punk song is worth a damn without a solid hook, and The Shondes deliver on this count as well. Check out the chorus on Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (not a 50s girl group cover), and see for yourself. Other songs, like Winter, go through complex speed and chord changes that make it virtually impossible to tap your toes to . . . Or ignore. Then there’s the call-and-response “Let’s Go,” which as far as I’m concerned should start the set at their live shows. I could go on and on. I can’t express to you how much I’m loving t ...

TULSA-“I Was Submerged” (EP) 2008-01-02 04:18:22 Tulsa announces their first release with the indie label Park the Van, an all-too-brief (about a half-hour) EP of indie rock and roll for fans of American Analog Set, My Morning Jacket, or Centro-Matic. Highlight, “I Feel Great” has an amazing (and long) instrumental opening that feels somewhat jazzy—kind of like the old, rambling Grateful Dead jams, but with more structure. In the last thirty seconds, we finally hear Carter Tanton sing for the first time: “I’m in love for the first time / It feels great / Thanks for asking / I appreciate.” “Breathe Thin,” which follows next, is a darker song, heavy on the echo-ey vocal effects used by Band of Horses, but it’s not slowly paced. In fact, there are hints of 60s garage in the way the guitar and fuzz interact with, and stomp all over, the vocal track. Shaker is similar. Both songs are solid, but the guitar solo in Shaker is full of yearning and power (and feedback!), so it’s my favorite of the two. But ...

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2008-01-01 08:26:33 ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2008-01-01 04:22:32 New Year’s Day-Ryan Adams and Chuck Prophet Start Again (Death Cab for Cutie)-Counting Crows Brand New-Lil’ Wayne Everyone’s Starting Over-The Diggs. What the hell happened to the Diggs, anyway? I love their first (and I think only) album. New Year-Death Cab for Cutie ...

10 REASONS NEW YEAR’S EVE ISN’T BORING THIS YEAR 2007-12-31 19:38:38 Party music for New Year’s Eve! I know it’s late, but you can still listen to it in ‘08. 1. Free Album Download! The great(est?) rap label Rhymesayers is selling the new Atmosphere Sad Clown Bad Winter EP, but they’re also giving away a full Atmosphere b-sides album! Go here for details! 2. Free Rhymefest and Mark Ronson mixtape! Rhymefest, on his myspace page, is offering his new mixtape for free. I’m not really understanding his distribution method, but it’s widely available. It’s got spots by Talib Kweli and Little Brother, among others, and features samples of MJ tracks–many of which are lesser-known beats, like Michael’s old cover of “Ain’t No Sunshine.” Here’s how he describes it: “Now, don’t go thinking I did some cheesy shit; you know… just rapping over Thriller, Billie Jean, the standard classics. Oh no, my brothers and sisters: we dug in the archives for this one. We go ...

THE TOP 20 SONGS OF 2007 2007-12-31 14:07:25 Remember when I said I was done with lists? I lied. Out of complete self-interest (or, more precisely, interest in self), I began wondering what were my favorite singles of the year. Lots of other folks picked theirs, so why not me? To arrive this list, I first reviewed what 2008 tracks had the highest play counts. I noticed that, because I listen to albums a lot, much of the time a single artist had many high numbers (e.g.: NaS, Amy Winehouse, Arcade Fire), so I took only the one song by each artist with the highest play count. I also eliminated those songs that I really enjoy on an album, but not so much as standalone songs. Then, I added a few songs that for whatever reason didn’t have high play counts but I know I really really really dug. So not all of these artists were featured in my prior lists. Plus, hip hop really lends itself to singles, so here I get to reel off a few rap tunes! Here’s the results. Discuss. Debate. Insult me by asking my rhetorically ...

COVER WARS: BRITNEY VS. MADONNA 2007-12-31 03:31:31 Both are formerly hot chicks, one of whom got ls hot naturally, the other of whom got less hot through hard livin’. Neither are known for their songwriting. In fact, it’s hardly fair to call Brit a songwriter–Madonna was at least somewhat involved at all stages of her career. Nevertheless, I asked myself, “How do their tunes stand up to the cover treatment?” Let’s put my favorite indie covers of their songs, head to head, and find out. Round one: Toxic-Boss Hoss vs. Borderline-Counting Crows Britney’s dance classic easily crosses genre boundaries into hillbilly rock. Borderline doesn’t translate as well into Americana. Adam Duritz’s mournful wail helps the song transcend total lameness, but he can’t save it. Winner: Britney. Get Into the Groove-Sonic Youth vs. Baby One More Time-Nicotine Nicotine’s postpunk cover does nothing to change the original, and as a result it’s kind of flat. Sonic Youth, however, m ...