tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39742707122877604802024-03-06T01:55:33.933-05:00Let's Rock the BeachOn indie and otherwise quality or interesting musicTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-84934119872436482892012-10-12T17:16:00.001-04:002012-10-12T17:22:14.627-04:00"Big Dipper" by Built to Spill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsrkuSChOmlJLs1Qorl-4cDR7kUUNXcY8FCybsu7UcK7BT3ffhGglDhhXu6WvWTICGrkrC3f9UOjpOB3rFAchOTIauVTAcXwDA16Ct6aUCjGI6CdI_WY5q3PASF066m_f1qU7e6Ofcvtu/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsrkuSChOmlJLs1Qorl-4cDR7kUUNXcY8FCybsu7UcK7BT3ffhGglDhhXu6WvWTICGrkrC3f9UOjpOB3rFAchOTIauVTAcXwDA16Ct6aUCjGI6CdI_WY5q3PASF066m_f1qU7e6Ofcvtu/s400/IMG_0406.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14390695&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=005dff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-62931077650392910882012-09-07T17:54:00.002-04:002012-09-07T17:57:33.912-04:00Lollapalooza 2012....a Little Late!<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">How's this for a late post...I went to Lollapalooza!....a month ago!!!
As my first real, multi-day music festival, I gotta say that
Lollapalooza is perfect for festival noobs like myself. You don't have
to camp out in survival mode for three days in the middle of the woods
(Bonnaroo) or on grass fields surrounded by desert (Coachella). Me and
my friends were in the lap of luxury at the Hilton Garden Inn, about a
mile from the festival grounds at Grant Park in downtown Chicago. Roughing it, it was not. I
can imagine "roughing it" at Lollapalooza translates to staying at a
cheap hotel way out by O'Hare, which is not a bad option. Whether or not you get a "true" music festival experience out of that is up to you but hey, I'm not complaining. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fCWcZd2FLqX0Kpp9V0xd-Hbt04sCCjMeJ1j_N4wDkq0RqpUnKJJIBteSrxtob1ql0h3DPTasmf0tXNuHF63nf8B7aXUyK1lK8wv6yhZj3wQL20hyiNCRj74xiliu51YxkjiC5J9yrEhP/s1600/IMG_0306.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fCWcZd2FLqX0Kpp9V0xd-Hbt04sCCjMeJ1j_N4wDkq0RqpUnKJJIBteSrxtob1ql0h3DPTasmf0tXNuHF63nf8B7aXUyK1lK8wv6yhZj3wQL20hyiNCRj74xiliu51YxkjiC5J9yrEhP/s400/IMG_0306.PNG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">First thing's first, I was only able to explore a little bit, but basically, Chicago is awesome. From the gorgeous skyscrapers and great food to the easy transit and friendly people (unsolicited directions to the subway?!...not in DC anymore), I got nothing but good vibes from the place. Being an urban geek, <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2012/0718/In-Chicago-heat-and-homicide-stoke-fear-and-frustration">I know that's not the full story</a>, but at least we tried to branch out from downtown to soak up some local culture. After Day 2, we headed up to Lincoln Park looking for some non-touristy nightlife and found Barn & Company, a very loud but good-natured bar with beers in mason jars and a steady stream of attractive 20-somethings passing by our back wall perch. Too exhausted to breathe it all in, we soon moved on in search of food, and I knew just the place: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33zPlnhymCU">the Weiner Circle</a>. I got off pretty easily, with just a "don't you fuckin move!" and a "you better fuckin tip me...gimme dat!" from the staff making my hot dog, but just to have seen the chaos that was that drunken, vulgar, utterly ridiculous hot dog stand, I'm glad I experienced a true Chicago institution.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Anyway, more Chicago for another time. First and foremost, I was there for some muzak...</span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b>DAY 1</b></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGbKQYpSTc1C6Alj7k1QZvY-Jj_zlAzfNyxVKQXKnD35wxuR4lJAl_Kr13RBNj77sqPIMebIzjYgaAQ2ETIxob0EOADh8uTfAUBZ7MuqGHprLb8VyNNTdQVwxXqU6uXOxzF74vHMkosLs/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGbKQYpSTc1C6Alj7k1QZvY-Jj_zlAzfNyxVKQXKnD35wxuR4lJAl_Kr13RBNj77sqPIMebIzjYgaAQ2ETIxob0EOADh8uTfAUBZ7MuqGHprLb8VyNNTdQVwxXqU6uXOxzF74vHMkosLs/s320/IMG_0223.JPG" width="320" /></a>The band that's really small in this picture, trying to energize a mid-day, day 1 crowd would be <b>Yellow Ostrich</b>. My friend David and I stumbled upon them first, having no real must-see's for the first show of the day. And they were great, I wasn't blown away by hearing them for the first time, but they play a pleasant, melodic brand of indie rock that's toe-tapping and generally uplifting. Nothing to absolutely stop me in my tracks, but perhaps a band to give a fair shake at some point.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjz3OQgIVyU44EnbZeXvDZAceknzay_2y97_F5g8Ha5qvRy_lcO5hnX6NMp2rn6hUgX4Sr5V-Dige7OfaLfo9GhpYslGuvkGvwvmocXi8vSEfQvt9oIFCrWLpl6y9Sg9ufjIFkrRHLUj8/s1600/IMG_0229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjz3OQgIVyU44EnbZeXvDZAceknzay_2y97_F5g8Ha5qvRy_lcO5hnX6NMp2rn6hUgX4Sr5V-Dige7OfaLfo9GhpYslGuvkGvwvmocXi8vSEfQvt9oIFCrWLpl6y9Sg9ufjIFkrRHLUj8/s320/IMG_0229.JPG" width="320" /></a></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Next on the docket was <b>Dr. Dog</b>, who I was super stoked to see. I loved <i>Shame, Shame</i> and while <i>Be the Void</i> hasn't yet grown on me, I had not doubt these guys were awesome live, and I was right. The energy was incredible for a day show, and it never let up through the set, as they alternated between their sweet, melodic folk-pop numbers and more visceral psych-rock freak outs. I will be marking my calendar for their next DC visit. 2nd best show of Lolla!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A tough act to follow, we saw <b>Metric</b> next at the far opposite end of the park and it was easily the best performance I saw at Lolla from a band I had never listened to before. Their new-wavy type indie rock may be a little ham-fisted on record (as I checked out <i>Synthetica</i> once I got home), but live in front of a huge crowd, they killed it. Lead singer Emily Haines was simply mesmerizing, dancing across the stage and pounding on the keyboard (not at the same time, though I wouldn't put it past her). Whenever the jumbo screens would show her bobbing to the beat with the faded masses in front of her, I just felt like I was watching a very <i>important</i> concert...like in a documentary about a band making it big or making some huge artistic statement that would change Top 40 as we know it. Sure, that's a huge exaggeration for how I really see the band now, but the incredible thing about music, and these live concerts, is that there are legions of passionate fans for these bands who truly believe in them in that kind of way. And how can you not love that?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We rehydrated with some <a href="http://www.boxedwaterisbetter.com/">boxed water</a> that was all the rage that weekend and settled in the trees to take in the most bizarre performance of the festival hands down: <b>Die Antwoord</b>. DJ <span class="rg_ctlv">Vuilgeboost took the stage first as I was in line for water and proceeded to loop a warped vocal sample that became clearer until we were all on the same page: "....fuck ya til you love me....fuck ya til ya love me..." Those of us queuing up, as in non-Die Antwoord fans, all did a nearly simultaneous head turn to the stage, as if to wonder collectively "what.....the FUCK....is going on over there???" Well what was going on was the self-described "<span class="st">futuristic rap-rave crew" from South Africa that's...so bad they're good?? Their lyrics are ridiculous, their videos are <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uee_mcxvrw">warped</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbW9JqM7vho&feature=related">as</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cegdR0GiJl4">fuck,</a> and... yea if you haven't heard them yet, you should (did I just say that?).</span></span></span><br />
<span class="rg_ctlv" style="font-size: small;"><span class="st"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">After checking out the hypnotizing lights display at the Perry's electronic stage (aka dubstep all day, every day), we saw<span class="rg_ctlv"><span class="st"> Friday headliners <b>The Black Keys</b>, who put on a solid, bluesy, soft-grit rock affair. Maybe Black Sabbath or Wale would have been better options at that time slot, but the Keys were crowd-pleasers nonetheless. I overheard some guy leaving the show afterwards actually matched my opinion quite closely: "All their songs sound the same...but they're all great so...[hardy har]".</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="rg_ctlv" style="font-size: small;"><span class="st"><b>DAY 2</b></span></span><br />
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<span class="rg_ctlv" style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">Day 2, the day I was most anticipating, was almost literally a complete wash, as severe storms caused the evacuation of the entire park just as we had arrived to catch the tail end of Neon Indian. For some comic relief from the buzzkill, as we crowded to the exits, we saw the most poorly timed gate crash of the festival...nice goin' guys! Just in time to avoid the downpours, we took shelter where we could: Petterino's, where we took in an afternoon snack of tomato bruschetta, pesto risotto fritters and red wine (talk about roughing it).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUKH0yaNusKUMp8a0aIVuh9yIC74mazVdEbFeEoyS5i1xRgxEzbt-DXg8bOnFDvTrz3iwOZ-2vbhuf4XUpP1LfTi2JhSkQXz1fHQKoHez4uAJX_sGGX4ZDScYHMAFzVcDM7bAR-1zqvJx/s1600/IMG_0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUKH0yaNusKUMp8a0aIVuh9yIC74mazVdEbFeEoyS5i1xRgxEzbt-DXg8bOnFDvTrz3iwOZ-2vbhuf4XUpP1LfTi2JhSkQXz1fHQKoHez4uAJX_sGGX4ZDScYHMAFzVcDM7bAR-1zqvJx/s320/IMG_0261.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span class="rg_ctlv" style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">Thankfully, the storm soon cleared and Lollapalooza went on with the schedule pushed back two hours. So while we missed Neon Indian, we arrived back in the park to see another anticipated act: <b>tUnE-yArDs</b>. I've always respected tUnE-yArDs' Merrill Garbus for her risk-taking with her music particularly vocally. She shouts, croons, screams, pants, hisses - anything and everything to build a humanistic looped beat. Along with tribal drumming and playful guitar, she builds the foundation of her layer-cake songs. It's avant-garde and yet, particularly with her latest album <i>w h o k i l l</i>, widely approachable and tons of fun. Seeing her create her loops live on stage, and backed by a kick ass saxophone section, it was definitely a highlight of the weekend.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eNEoxY1-AC0UIicLuB9pWdfMMbmV-ddGfhnojVs6OAHqskWi3RTF8mw9YB-2Wvk3jsuTRPazAzU277M419y6JGbJL21FrMhA1y1kHzDgl_wm2VE1Mab_EWYOOuYJRJJWR8cqr_WLK0wM/s1600/IMG_0311.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eNEoxY1-AC0UIicLuB9pWdfMMbmV-ddGfhnojVs6OAHqskWi3RTF8mw9YB-2Wvk3jsuTRPazAzU277M419y6JGbJL21FrMhA1y1kHzDgl_wm2VE1Mab_EWYOOuYJRJJWR8cqr_WLK0wM/s320/IMG_0311.PNG" width="320" /></a><span class="rg_ctlv"><span class="st">Next up was <b>the Weeknd</b>, a soulful but brooding R&B singer Abel Tesfaye from Toronto that was a must-see for me. His debut mixtape <i>House of Balloons</i> was my hands-down favorite album of 2011, which was a shock for me, since before that I didn't even know I <i>liked</i> R&B. Tesfaye simply has an amazing voice, which flows gracefully over the dark, unsettling moods and subject matter of his three mixtapes. Seeing him on one of Lollapalooza's two main stages in late afternoon, I had to admit it wasn't the best venue for him; a small, smoky club with dark corners is more his style. But to see one of my favorite new artists with thousands more who knew the words like I did...simply amazing.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="rg_ctlv" style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">In the weeks leading up to Lollapalooza, I had accepted the inevitable: I would be seeing the <b>Red Hot Chili Peppers</b> Saturday night. Which would be amazing, I was sure, as I've never really been an RHCP fan, but you're not a true American unless you've seen THE Chili Peppers live and sung along to the songs EVERYONE knows. I only wished I could have seen Frank Ocean, who was playing at the same time. <i>Channel Orange</i> will probably be my album of the year for 2012, which would make it the second year in a row I would give an R&B album top honors. But it would ultimately be futile to pull my friends away from seeing the alt-rock legends that are RHCP. And indeed...it was legends at work. They played their still-unfamiliar new stuff, but only when buffered by three or four classics that everyone was there to hear: "Californication", "By The Way", "Suck My Kiss", "Otherside", and "Can't Stop" were all there. The masses singing along, my shoes caked in mud, the smell of pot drifting through the air...it was what Lolla was all about.</span></span><br />
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<span class="rg_ctlv" style="font-size: small;"><span class="st"><b>DAY 3</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="rg_ctlv" style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">At this point in the weekend, we were just about spent. After a long brunch at Grand Lux Cafe, for the second day in a row, we lounged in the grass and let <b>Sigur Ros</b> mellow us out. Although they play a much different kind of music than the Weeknd, they too were another band that didn't benefit from the music festival, afternoon show atmosphere, and perhaps they were worse off than the Weeknd. If I was to really get into Sigur Ros' slow, meditative ambient, it would be with my headphones as I drift off to sleep. So in that respect, Sigur Ros didn't really do it for me.</span></span></div>
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<span class="rg_ctlv" style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">Once all 87 member of Sigur Ros took their bow, David and I were cutting through the crowd to be front and center for the recently reunited <b>At the Drive-In</b>. This was a big sacrifice, as I would be missing Toro Y Moi across the field, but I knew that if any band at Lolla was to truly rock my face off, it would be AtDI. So we stood in wait along with my college buddy Jon until showtime. And as soon as "Arcarsenal"revved up, one of the greatest openers in rock, I knew this would be the best show of Lolla (and finally...a mosh pit!!!). The set was blistering, with a heavy dose of <i>Relationship of Command</i>, </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">Cedric Bixler-Zavala's rambling stage banter, and the electrifying closer "One Armed Scissor". Best show at Lolla = face sufficiently rocked off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And then it all came to a close with <b>Jack White</b>, who we enjoyed from the relative nosebleed section of south Grant Park before making an early, easy exit. No disrespect to the legendary Jack White, but we just didn't have it in us to crowd by the stage at the culmination of a long, exhausting, exhilarating weekend of music.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspyVLahi_6GDaK6Xv7vCTOnq-7Zhj9gBj6R7BBRf_dHjDCpNdY6KmyG1EhQ68HcYHxPxPhs6QkaIKblg6balNzMg3bLnclwa0-GV7pcROwTBqg3619NNVbPfzVayDaPGBvSwqQql_3MvY/s1600/IMG_0368.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspyVLahi_6GDaK6Xv7vCTOnq-7Zhj9gBj6R7BBRf_dHjDCpNdY6KmyG1EhQ68HcYHxPxPhs6QkaIKblg6balNzMg3bLnclwa0-GV7pcROwTBqg3619NNVbPfzVayDaPGBvSwqQql_3MvY/s400/IMG_0368.PNG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And that was Lolla. I hope it wasn't my first <i>and</i> last time, as the festival is not only incredibly easy and the bands are top-notch, but it's very easily scalable. The park isn't terribly large if you're intending to criss-cross it all day to see the bands on your list and if you're lucky enough to stay in a close-by hotel, coming and going is a breeze.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So...go to Lolla...or at least go to Chicago....you literally cannot regret it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">* And yes some of these photos are "instagrammed"... because sometimes I'm just a slave to cool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaw2pxlsGtMwnBRX1H0KD9OUwk8pmXjnsnlDzccXINeLRlEpKp4a6ughgzMjsqVur_5l2FBK8jyCeo50OE1jVbdEpSufPIwwhZcU5zb3dj_djnInQt-uVt4fpuk8s5144BFzRxKfBWEb_/s1600/IMG_0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaw2pxlsGtMwnBRX1H0KD9OUwk8pmXjnsnlDzccXINeLRlEpKp4a6ughgzMjsqVur_5l2FBK8jyCeo50OE1jVbdEpSufPIwwhZcU5zb3dj_djnInQt-uVt4fpuk8s5144BFzRxKfBWEb_/s400/IMG_0277.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-58381793351232721422012-08-12T21:26:00.000-04:002012-08-12T21:26:51.073-04:00"Where I'm Going" by Cut Copy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCkwgxBW2F5lyFOx0n6NMHn4tgmDjkO-5Sr5Neoc2ckw0EaJ8eCBcMBlaUDXu3pnRSNahTGBEKylOmeo7a19G8upNrLfXxyt2c6H-SdQJQTg09lAhJohq2qF1JBF84ZTsDuqEPZd8gqbS/s1600/IMG_0188.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCkwgxBW2F5lyFOx0n6NMHn4tgmDjkO-5Sr5Neoc2ckw0EaJ8eCBcMBlaUDXu3pnRSNahTGBEKylOmeo7a19G8upNrLfXxyt2c6H-SdQJQTg09lAhJohq2qF1JBF84ZTsDuqEPZd8gqbS/s400/IMG_0188.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="113" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_cHbgYisy5M" width="200"></iframe><br /></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-89962496535906540122012-07-30T21:41:00.001-04:002012-07-30T21:41:56.516-04:00"Breezeblocks" by Alt-J<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIIiTot_B8c6_2Qao6IJdeebRgMUBsmg9X58mXQOi5vCpCiH_tpyePECrWBJh4icugO6jsJXsP-35YFyN8ogQgxZ4d3zitC-3BrYN_9UGhPq7a2n2bFtlz6MY_E-3Y27AZesA2TPV7_1B/s1600/IMG_0155.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIIiTot_B8c6_2Qao6IJdeebRgMUBsmg9X58mXQOi5vCpCiH_tpyePECrWBJh4icugO6jsJXsP-35YFyN8ogQgxZ4d3zitC-3BrYN_9UGhPq7a2n2bFtlz6MY_E-3Y27AZesA2TPV7_1B/s400/IMG_0155.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F46579081&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0045ff"></param>
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F46579081&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0045ff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-5296100166836269772012-07-21T21:48:00.004-04:002012-07-24T21:17:33.574-04:00"Looking Down at the Great Wall of China From Way Up High in the Sky " by Chisel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLk6erMwRg09EaUlxAlnvHJTM_8H8u1Vu2Vxq0mj7LV-5Q0d83EHOPNgScuATF5chimpPCQUZMLyUI8jolDhztlkBETn-NCU5Ps4a9Tbd5aj8REXYk6Km0FB450-PJBYgkovj5TlicfG5E/s1600/IMG_0189.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLk6erMwRg09EaUlxAlnvHJTM_8H8u1Vu2Vxq0mj7LV-5Q0d83EHOPNgScuATF5chimpPCQUZMLyUI8jolDhztlkBETn-NCU5Ps4a9Tbd5aj8REXYk6Km0FB450-PJBYgkovj5TlicfG5E/s400/IMG_0189.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="113" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yHxuGBr90PY" width="200"></iframe></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-85005612038020105922012-07-13T22:27:00.002-04:002012-07-13T22:27:47.934-04:00"Crack Rock" by Frank Ocean<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe4XTLTsMleRxkOjCiy7sXCdgGZmmtp0c15D5S7DgGM_okqAKvh1n5-nqjKirJ5_gVy3eBoryrW88hIqIxsZ50j_x2MW43mudw-8tl6o_vesXIIxSm9q_d9EUJ3MqF2dB7WQ9tcv1TNR6/s1600/IMG_0190.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe4XTLTsMleRxkOjCiy7sXCdgGZmmtp0c15D5S7DgGM_okqAKvh1n5-nqjKirJ5_gVy3eBoryrW88hIqIxsZ50j_x2MW43mudw-8tl6o_vesXIIxSm9q_d9EUJ3MqF2dB7WQ9tcv1TNR6/s400/IMG_0190.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="124" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FKMbPqDIIbU" width="220"></iframe></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-64660319602028405252012-07-08T16:10:00.000-04:002012-07-08T16:13:31.120-04:00Currents: Japandroids, Hot Chip, Ghost Loft<a href="http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2012/06/Japandroids-Celebration-Rock1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2012/06/Japandroids-Celebration-Rock1.jpeg" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-size: small;">Japandroids</span></b><span style="font-size: small;">: Celebration Rock</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Polyvinyl, 2012]</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In an <a href="http://pitchfork.com/news/45701-japandroids-talk-new-album/">interview with Japandroids</a> on the making of their second album <i>Celebration Rock</i>, they said they imagined what their fans would be screaming and singing along to at their concerts in order to deliver the goods on their new songs. What a refreshing perspective! With this new LP it's clear Japandroids are having no problem being both a crowd-pleasing Rock band with a capital R and one with a powerful life-affirming message about youth and hope. The lesson I'm getting: Average Joes and Janes, whether they be in big cities or one-horse towns, can be epic individuals passionate about living life to the absolute fullest. That's how they want you to feel, and they deliver. Seriously, how can you not fucking love Japandroids?!?</span></span><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/track=2548706093/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400"><a href="http://japandroids.bandcamp.com/track/younger-us">Younger Us by Japandroids</a></iframe><br /><br />
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<a href="http://cdn.salacioussound.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Hot-Chip-In-our-heads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://cdn.salacioussound.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Hot-Chip-In-our-heads.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hot Chip</span></b><span style="font-size: small;">: In Our Heads</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Domino, 2012]</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Before a few weeks ago, I only knew Hot Chip through a few quirky electropop singles that entered one ear and flew out the other without much fanfare. But damn am I glad I tried this out. <i>In Our Heads</i> is not only a really fun album to listen to, but there's a musical and lyrical depth throughout it that other dance music doesn't even attempt. It seems to make sense that this is the band's fifth album, as it all sounds like a band that's experienced at the helm and good keeping things fresh. Maybe I've mellowed out since I first heard Hot Chip, or maybe <i>In Our Heads</i> is in fact their most colorful, deep, and best album yet. Whatever it is, I'm dancing now.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Don't Deny Your Heart"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://fillessourires.com/motpresse/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ghost-Loft_Blow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://fillessourires.com/motpresse/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ghost-Loft_Blow.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ghost Loft</b>: Blow EP</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[unsigned, 2012]</span> </span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I have a fairly eclectic taste in music, but back when I just couldn't get enough fuzzy lo-fi like Wavves and Guided by Voices (sorry if my putting those two bands in the same sentence offends you), I don't think I could have seen myself falling head over heals for an artist like Ghost Loft. I'm sure I have the Weeknd to thank for this new direction. And that's because Ghost Loft is silky smooth, immaculately produced RnB-Pop that's dripping with cool. It's more easygoing than the Weeknd and less melodically challenging than other soulful electropop like James Blake, so in that sense I don't mind lyrics like "Baby let me love you now" and "I want to love you til I feel no pain". Nothing sounds fake when the music is this convincing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Seconds":</span><br />
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<br /></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-39865109249813467312012-07-04T13:50:00.000-04:002012-07-04T13:50:03.741-04:00"America the Beautiful" by Ray Charles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMtAbfiMnLQr_ds3I7na_WXVJH9xuMqGC-_AMefcXkHPENu8eWhQKLCf8XPjA8dSZi6PtZebwBYg-6aGO83iOwKqgOyJnx7vcqwq6mGIpkSWXcYtrJl2v08ENaCvO07ZJzEXj4HOo5cy2/s1600/IMG_0153.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMtAbfiMnLQr_ds3I7na_WXVJH9xuMqGC-_AMefcXkHPENu8eWhQKLCf8XPjA8dSZi6PtZebwBYg-6aGO83iOwKqgOyJnx7vcqwq6mGIpkSWXcYtrJl2v08ENaCvO07ZJzEXj4HOo5cy2/s400/IMG_0153.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="113" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N7Wt4XlXUrc" width="150"></iframe></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-10911193845485149542012-06-28T21:47:00.000-04:002012-06-28T21:47:29.170-04:00"Sound System" by Operation Ivy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEcWA80hoKHopWPvgFnX9Z8OUeIl3VuhiTaUYz6MQbWpwS3hCwDp7N9CVMzgdc348mXm-7v-OQWGJ4oXnv5yf-0eQmEOhSm8Qq3SMX6jQ8sXbR77326m6IEFekPS8Aq8u2mSK1C_jOx7s/s1600/IMG_0154.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEcWA80hoKHopWPvgFnX9Z8OUeIl3VuhiTaUYz6MQbWpwS3hCwDp7N9CVMzgdc348mXm-7v-OQWGJ4oXnv5yf-0eQmEOhSm8Qq3SMX6jQ8sXbR77326m6IEFekPS8Aq8u2mSK1C_jOx7s/s400/IMG_0154.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="140" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9dMVHxFzNK4" width="210"></iframe></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-30273201091940105452012-06-24T17:55:00.001-04:002012-06-24T17:55:39.441-04:00"Wrenning Day" by Ava Luna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPrAP0qUnc1rn8VLJi7FBjbiqvRo_wB4_6qp9LcUwmqAZnFMrunnuPb6GjtUMWAHwtPW42xfST2a2m5l6TyTwqGrPAzfXUE6x5wnFsk9MqpJxSVUmcujNzosyUS0aZplxW4SZHK8vvMXP/s1600/IMG_0152.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPrAP0qUnc1rn8VLJi7FBjbiqvRo_wB4_6qp9LcUwmqAZnFMrunnuPb6GjtUMWAHwtPW42xfST2a2m5l6TyTwqGrPAzfXUE6x5wnFsk9MqpJxSVUmcujNzosyUS0aZplxW4SZHK8vvMXP/s400/IMG_0152.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F34995816&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0045ff">
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F34995816&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0045ff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-46600625812525051462012-06-08T07:35:00.000-04:002012-06-08T07:35:40.844-04:00"Sleeping Ute" by Grizzly Bear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OLEwg72MNB_kdgiwVKu6y5q21g03GVguc5fVZyxwNf4yEqlA9xDrWjH-H44-lTZEEWUwMor2ETvD3ShSZr91UY6qFFyU0LP2VZeO72sGPr1mE5eWgNR97RAzzN_TGFIwbf0VkQjxMBWc/s1600/IMG_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OLEwg72MNB_kdgiwVKu6y5q21g03GVguc5fVZyxwNf4yEqlA9xDrWjH-H44-lTZEEWUwMor2ETvD3ShSZr91UY6qFFyU0LP2VZeO72sGPr1mE5eWgNR97RAzzN_TGFIwbf0VkQjxMBWc/s400/IMG_0059.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F48759127&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0045ff">
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F48759127&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0045ff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0Bethesda, MD, USA38.984652 -77.094709238.935280999999996 -77.1736732 39.034023 -77.0157452tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-13576877890432837622012-05-31T18:19:00.000-04:002012-05-31T18:19:16.124-04:00"The House That Heaven Built" by Japandroids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiapml18m68GwJOx4etPbTeSzbydaA_zWco2WUwUFeZ3xXXNr87pAC1Prf5SMxAI6ZObNz8IouO0Ih8dTqssn6IQrUOp7SHtKBVTG5DnLNRFt-fIZygIp0-wsKlzb3IT27m9_YtlcssXUw/s1600/IMG_0041.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiapml18m68GwJOx4etPbTeSzbydaA_zWco2WUwUFeZ3xXXNr87pAC1Prf5SMxAI6ZObNz8IouO0Ih8dTqssn6IQrUOp7SHtKBVTG5DnLNRFt-fIZygIp0-wsKlzb3IT27m9_YtlcssXUw/s400/IMG_0041.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="140" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/alW6358dPxI" width="210"></iframe></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com014th and Rhode Island, Washington, DC38.908817584977491 -77.03194856643676838.90727308497749 -77.034416066436762 38.910362084977493 -77.029481066436773tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-90547812942354108482012-05-26T11:31:00.000-04:002012-05-26T11:32:05.092-04:00"As I Rise" by the Decemberists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0xeoXw4FhA4" width="420"></iframe></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-2466007443425146512012-05-23T18:49:00.000-04:002012-05-23T18:49:06.132-04:00"Apollo Throwdown (Star Slinger Remix)" by the Go! Team<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi8i7nGXDDquisY9EoCj-d7ONucmZoGJBNmzyBekASkS8zgoo_TfrSOVzK43-VegT6ctyXVHvPf68xrmG2ZJOhrhtidA8Yr0c1eL2Qp_ocFzeN7u4xLNuXa3H_XExZmJKUj-PRsNczy6y/s1600/IMG_0061.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi8i7nGXDDquisY9EoCj-d7ONucmZoGJBNmzyBekASkS8zgoo_TfrSOVzK43-VegT6ctyXVHvPf68xrmG2ZJOhrhtidA8Yr0c1eL2Qp_ocFzeN7u4xLNuXa3H_XExZmJKUj-PRsNczy6y/s400/IMG_0061.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14620585&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0058ff">
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14620585&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0058ff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/dylandynamo/apollo-throwdown-star-slinger"><br /></a></span></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-18085941689947539632012-05-19T23:37:00.000-04:002012-05-19T23:37:26.346-04:00"I've Seen Footage" by Death Grips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGTfHnQ5BEqsu0X7LG9kjZXxtkAWiq3x8_q78y5kV4g6y9U0UkagXdLydYGWMDI_g3gD6w4d5sMYeAYf_zHw4mUvnrdArJM3U4Z_O6cUjO9hAUi1rC3xLxD8KPL8MTjpy8hUlzIrS29Hu/s1600/IMG_0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGTfHnQ5BEqsu0X7LG9kjZXxtkAWiq3x8_q78y5kV4g6y9U0UkagXdLydYGWMDI_g3gD6w4d5sMYeAYf_zHw4mUvnrdArJM3U4Z_O6cUjO9hAUi1rC3xLxD8KPL8MTjpy8hUlzIrS29Hu/s400/IMG_0046.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F42647259&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true&color=0058ff" width="100%"></iframe></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-69806162738307640602011-12-04T11:19:00.000-05:002011-12-04T11:19:12.413-05:00"Streetz Tonight" by Araabmuzik<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhg7EFGiLtuxGtAk8rOB3ZDopEWyhCPE3a9al7su9vPcCS3L-AD3MfG4RlmRLc8DAR1eMysWwB95LKkG1vw4ZPoENW6n5GiqGWpn5sk2S7exo8w0phCievDgCl_xEzKN3wBC0ac5f6Mbm/s1600/13838_556642497071_26005241_33068735_5879055_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhg7EFGiLtuxGtAk8rOB3ZDopEWyhCPE3a9al7su9vPcCS3L-AD3MfG4RlmRLc8DAR1eMysWwB95LKkG1vw4ZPoENW6n5GiqGWpn5sk2S7exo8w0phCievDgCl_xEzKN3wBC0ac5f6Mbm/s400/13838_556642497071_26005241_33068735_5879055_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29275174&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=002fff"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29275174&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=002fff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-83465889328303273062011-08-02T21:20:00.000-04:002011-08-02T21:20:12.464-04:00"Emergency Room" by Ford & Lopatin<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47x9mJ9txxgYOfjcYMJZc7t69xVInW9M-rzsQAToSYyXykITZsFQic4Di3xeWOBuOr6f7gnO8niDGFfEEevx6GYmw_v__giOh_8yNx67-S3BkJqGlEAQTxPZA0kl2pmhOle-N54EkBhlU/s1600/13838_556642492081_26005241_33068734_244286_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47x9mJ9txxgYOfjcYMJZc7t69xVInW9M-rzsQAToSYyXykITZsFQic4Di3xeWOBuOr6f7gnO8niDGFfEEevx6GYmw_v__giOh_8yNx67-S3BkJqGlEAQTxPZA0kl2pmhOle-N54EkBhlU/s400/13838_556642492081_26005241_33068734_244286_n.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F18508552&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=002fff" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F18508552&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=002fff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed></object></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-77804113480270790292011-07-28T22:05:00.000-04:002011-07-28T22:05:16.318-04:00Video: "True Loves" by Hooray For Earth<span style="font-size: x-small;">"True Loves" has been floating around the blogosphere for a while now (it even snuck on to my favorite songs of 2010 list), but with Hooray For Earth's debut album just out, similarly titled <i>True Loves</i>, I felt it was appropriate to revisit this great track. And the visually impressive video makes for a dramatic companion to the electronic epic.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KVwSP51KVO8" width="500"></iframe> </span></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-267348094899274382011-07-10T03:05:00.000-04:002011-07-10T03:05:26.717-04:00Album Review: Umphrey's McGee - Anchor Drops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.uulyrics.com/cover/u/umphreys-mcgee/album-anchor-drops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://images.uulyrics.com/cover/u/umphreys-mcgee/album-anchor-drops.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Umphrey's McGee</span></b><span style="font-size: small;">: Anchor D</span>rops</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[SCI Fidelity 2004]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>8/10</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="defaulttext" style="font-size: x-small;">For a jam band like Umphrey’s McGee, it is understandable that their comfort zone lies on stage where their extended jam sessions and creative genre-fusion experimentation yields an enthusiastic crowd response. In the studio, however, the goals are somewhat different: like always you want to entertain and otherwise move the audience, but the lack of live, in-person energy must be considered. Speaking for myself, at least, extended jam sessions (I’m thinking several tracks off of the Allman Brothers Band’s <i>At Fillmore East</i>) can grow tiresome even on a live album, let alone an album recorded in the closed, comparatively stale environment of a studio. While Umphrey’s McGee’s 2004 album <i>Anchor Drops</i> is not without the epic jam journeys that are in their nature, it is a very tight, well-produced album that carries over energy from the stage to the living room.<br />
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Hailing from the Chicago area, the band members embrace the city’s strong jazz influences and urban culture while fusing numerous other genres like rock, heavy metal, funk, and even some country. This fusion lends to some incredibly complex and carefully constructed song compositions with styles, melodies, and instrumentation changing abruptly in many songs. The large band behind this blend consists of Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger on guitar and vocals, Joel Cummins on keyboard and vocals, Ryan Stasik on bass, Kris Myers on drums and vocals, and Andy Farag on percussion. Over the course of the album, just about every member has time in the spotlight, from the organ-like keyboarding in “Miss Tinkle’s Overture” to the furious drum intro to “Mulche’s Odyssey.” More constant and predominant, however, are Stasik’s funky and outstanding basslines and Bayliss and Cinninger’s heavy guitar riffs and warm, clear vocals.<br />
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The album’s opener “Plunger” well characterizes the album as a whole with a prominent scratchy guitar riff leading into a number of pace and style changes from a psychedelically synthesized guitar portion to acoustic fingerpicking, calming piano melody, and then back to a gritty electric guitar riff. It’s one thing to incorporate these elements within a single song, but it is quite another to do it well and seamlessly, which Umphrey’s McGee accomplishes more often than not. “Anchor Drops” and “In the Kitchen” are two of the catchiest songs here, with the first offering a groovy bassline and climactic guitar work, the latter bringing alternately foreboding and uplifting melodies and excellent lyrics, and both radiating pure coolness.<br />
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The pace and style of the album then abruptly changes with the slow, laidback country tune “Bullhead City” on which Bayliss’ wife Elliott Peck provides a wonderful harmonizing vocal. The song is very calming and beautiful, but it (along with the acoustic instrumental closer “The Pequod”) feels out of place on the album. While the structure of numerous songs leaves the door open for even greater experimental jamming, song lengths are kept to a minimum (maxing out at 7:43) and the album is better for it. “Miss Tinkle’s Overture,” an epic instrumental jam session driven by keyboard and a soaring guitar, lets the band flex their instrumental muscle, as do the bluesy-rock of “Jajunk Pt. I” and “Jajunk Pt. II” and the psychedelic machine-filterings of “Robot World.” As impressive as these demonstrations are, however, many songs do tend to step on each other’s toes and contribute to a sense of repetition.<br />
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The last standard song on the album, “Wife Soup,” is also arguably the best. Beginning with another groovy bassline, the song descends and then rises into an upbeat guitar and brass section (courtesy Karl Denson on saxophone and Andy Geib on trombone) before making a number of piano-driven melodic detours. For all its intricacies, the song converges twice with a soaring, catchy, and instantly sing-along chorus that makes the song standout on the tracklist.<br />
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As mentioned earlier, Umphrey’s McGee wears their pride for Chicago on their sleeves. If their Chicago pride weren’t obvious enough from their album cover, the album is dotted with urban sound effects and references from the “doors closing” announcement of an L train (“Anchor Drops”) to street scenes (“Jajunk Pt. II,” “Robot World”) and lyrics depicting urban living (“In the Kitchen,” “Walletsworth”). The city’s love of jazz and blues music is embraced throughout the band’s work in addition to a number of other genre influences. In addition to the jam band formatting their music expertly into a studio album format, their consistent musical energy and masterful jamming abilities should make Chicagoans and jam bands alike proud.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YNwjCg6BCII" width="500"></iframe> </span></div></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-70554619453316748622011-06-01T21:48:00.000-04:002011-06-01T21:48:33.318-04:00"Milkshake" by Yuck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ0OFy9WB9wRxH-Wx0bC9wJ7yVxwqBgAWXL8UkqhbugDtztfMMY0SN_u9pW3kl_UVM6j8Ffzsev1Zi2b9hyTFOISn6454ZDfGESxTm10g7WVs0Bj4EDk45sFntM4xJdA5SKW5ShGXHr7w/s1600/15001_562636924191_26005241_33291088_7411217_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ0OFy9WB9wRxH-Wx0bC9wJ7yVxwqBgAWXL8UkqhbugDtztfMMY0SN_u9pW3kl_UVM6j8Ffzsev1Zi2b9hyTFOISn6454ZDfGESxTm10g7WVs0Bj4EDk45sFntM4xJdA5SKW5ShGXHr7w/s400/15001_562636924191_26005241_33291088_7411217_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14965434&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=002fff"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14965434&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=002fff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-73392774212833070492011-05-03T21:20:00.001-04:002011-05-03T21:25:00.161-04:00Video: "Celestica" by Crystal Castles<span style="font-size: x-small;">I went to my first legit music fest last weekend! Actually, perhaps not as legit as your Coachellas, your Bonnaroos, your Lollapaloozas, but still an awesome time. The 2nd annual Sweetlife Festival was a one day affair at Maryland's own Merriweather Post Pavilion and while most everyone was there for Girl Talk and the Strokes (both of whom were amazing), one of the more memorable performances earlier in the day was Crystal Castles. I hadn't gotten around to listening to them before, but this concert changed that. How would I describe it? Alice Glass hopping around stage on crutches (due to broken ankle), falling to the floor and writhing frequently, screaming chants piercing and incoherent. All backed by a seizure-inducing light display and a comparably dizzying rapid fire of electronic beats and hisses from Ethan Kath. It was bewildering, challenging, and strangely captivating. As I see if their two studio albums capture the dramatic freakout of their live show, here is the video for one of their more popular, quieter songs "Celestial".</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="340" id="flashObj" width="600"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=180337688001&playerID=820364843001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAEnJWcRk~,8QsGFjqjqRxr2i1c7MxNPSOUDxiPvJZn&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=180337688001&playerID=820364843001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAEnJWcRk~,8QsGFjqjqRxr2i1c7MxNPSOUDxiPvJZn&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="300" height="240" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-10357305532129625752011-04-30T01:03:00.000-04:002011-04-30T01:03:49.570-04:00"Bedouin Dress" by Fleet Foxes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsL2-HJKacgNibRwaVc2yxnmWNzogOb_aAIODBzNlRkqXG9KgNuPKLDkNFLWq4M9gDXgQUuv-3acBd-M5pZRYGKU1wnzihVBpiL9V-n-P5BiCS-cZutrS9b7Kxps_2IWRYzZTgtghXfck/s1600/15001_562636599841_26005241_33291040_7801904_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsL2-HJKacgNibRwaVc2yxnmWNzogOb_aAIODBzNlRkqXG9KgNuPKLDkNFLWq4M9gDXgQUuv-3acBd-M5pZRYGKU1wnzihVBpiL9V-n-P5BiCS-cZutrS9b7Kxps_2IWRYzZTgtghXfck/s400/15001_562636599841_26005241_33291040_7801904_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12541712&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0034ff"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12541712&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=0034ff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-77578083642736525372011-04-08T20:27:00.001-04:002011-04-15T22:47:22.290-04:00Album Review: Real Estate - Real Estate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLllQSCGH-fozZL5bFSQoImm7Pv194x_kFoJdgZ9EsEFXxukkK637l-EA8WV1HCstFvEt8jlrPhhafzefuRcuYHKd-8Pc3E6Exm-IKrywqRzznv6JuloowgIBIipT8cW9Gr22j0AZ_TZAB/s1600/real+estate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLllQSCGH-fozZL5bFSQoImm7Pv194x_kFoJdgZ9EsEFXxukkK637l-EA8WV1HCstFvEt8jlrPhhafzefuRcuYHKd-8Pc3E6Exm-IKrywqRzznv6JuloowgIBIipT8cW9Gr22j0AZ_TZAB/s400/real+estate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Real Estate: </b>Real Estate</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Woodsist 2009]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">9/10</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="defaulttext" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="defaulttext" style="font-size: x-small;">Does New Jersey <i>truly</i> suck? Admittedly, I've only been on the excellent, highly abridged tour: the picturesque beaches of Cape May, the nice parts of Camden County that are far cries from actual Camden, the affluent suburbia of North Jersey, and not-unpleasant excursions <i>through</i> said region's more dilapidated, less Kodak-worthy cities on the way to New York. The state has its haters for its undoubtedly shitty aspects, but you will nevertheless find plenty of natives with boisterous, non-ironic pride for the Garden State.<br />
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Lo-fi surf rockers Real Estate are patriotic Jersey boys, but absolutely not in the Bruce Springsteen way. Their self-titled debut is a seamless blend of mellow psychedelic folk, surf pop, and alternative country that whispers odes to the home state and the imagery of chilled out fun in the sun. "Carry me back to sweet Jersey, back to where I long to be" sings Martin Courtney, whose everyman vocals are usually buried in the mix, but the emotional resonations of his words make up for the physical distance of his voice. The overall effect is not too dissimilar from James Mercer's layered croon on <i>Oh, Inverted World</i>. The suburban imagery is more evoked sonically through patient, looped rhythms and warm lo-fi glow.<br />
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Resting on Courtney's reserved singing are airy guitar riffs that hit decidedly country tones (Read: the second half melody of opener "Beach Comber" will hook you on these guys). But as informed by CCR (at their slowest) and outdoorsy folk as <i>Real Estate</i> may be, it is still a sound that lives on the Jersey Shore. The jangly guitar chords and psychedelic underpinnings flesh out the band's mellow, summertime aesthetic. "Atlantic City" is an instrumental, slow motion hang ten that's far prettier than its namesake, and "Let's Rock the Beach" doesn't so much rock it as it puts on a blissed out liquid light show for the beachcombers. Only closer "Snow Day" breaks seasonal rank, serving sing-along folk and softly soaring vocals not far removed from Robin Pecknold and Fleet Foxes.<br />
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As much as the tunes stick, you may realize, once broken from trance, how effortless and unassuming Real Estate really sounds. The post-college members of the band seem to speak to a time when summer actually meant trips to the beach and relaxation before another school year, not actual jobs and actual stress. It's not all sunglasses and above-ground pools, but damn if it isn’t a beautiful life created in <i>Real Estate</i>. Courtesy of sweet Jersey.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Beach Comber":</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="defaulttext" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="defaulttext" style="font-size: x-small;"><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F1282838&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=003aff" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F1282838&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=003aff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed></object></span></span></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-49159851751663325172011-03-29T21:38:00.000-04:002011-03-29T21:38:54.628-04:00"The Morning" by The Weeknd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmitKvfIhW43y5Pwv6Sd-E_vTYxcgLK9C8eFtuI1ES9P-s42ec3AkkGC6kttbqoknQoV8JM2vdY6g_LOHqHoj0OxoYJp2q88REjXfdDeKy_yxYO31Um1efnqb_vFdoeZ-aauhHCknO1QY/s1600/6332_548853376531_26005241_32754140_784233_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmitKvfIhW43y5Pwv6Sd-E_vTYxcgLK9C8eFtuI1ES9P-s42ec3AkkGC6kttbqoknQoV8JM2vdY6g_LOHqHoj0OxoYJp2q88REjXfdDeKy_yxYO31Um1efnqb_vFdoeZ-aauhHCknO1QY/s1600/6332_548853376531_26005241_32754140_784233_n.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12295372&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=001cff"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12295372&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=001cff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974270712287760480.post-49827422718125960912011-03-17T21:32:00.000-04:002011-03-17T21:32:47.170-04:00Video: "Wolves, Lower" by R.E.M.<span style="font-size: x-small;">As much as I want to say <i>Collapse Into Now</i> is a rebirth, or at least a crawling-out-of-the-grave, for R.E.M., sorry, but it's really not that good. In fact, I prefer <i>Accelerate</i>, which itself is barely above average. But I'm on a strong R.E.M. kick lately, delving into their latest proper live album, 2009's <i>Live at the Olympia</i>, which is a lovingly compiled double-album that focuses more on early-career hits and deep-cut favorites. The album inspired me to finally check out the <i>oldest</i> R.E.M., their 1982 debut EP <i>Chronic Town</i>, which has just the kind of jangly guitars and mumbled lyrics that counts as quintessential R.E.M. for me.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sVzvn3iB1qs" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493534258039187585noreply@blogger.com0