The year in music...not Danes-related
Another year goes by which means that I buy less new music than I did in the previous year.
However, I used to do college radio and used to play in bands, so its tough for me not to think of the good, bad and the ugly over the last year. Luckily, I'm far enough out of the mainstream to think too much about the bad and the ugly.
Records (CD's)
The Hold Steady-- Separation Sunday. Feel-good record and record of the year, easily. A literate and rocking rock opera about a girl named Holly going to Catholic high school. So many great moments on this record. I'm not sure what's better, the music or the stories told, and its been a while since I said that. Probably my favorite non-Springsteen, non-Dylan release in a few years. Money-back guarantee right here.
Born to Run reissue-- everyone knows its one of the best records of all-time. Add to it a live dvd from England in 1975, which isone of the greatest live dvds of all-time, and you have reissue of the year.
The New Pornographers-- Twin Cinema. AC Newman really is one of the best great songwriters on the planet. It should be illegal to have Sing Me Spanish Techno, Streets of Fire, Use It, and Bleeding Heart Show all on one record. Outstanding.
No Direction Home, soundtrack and movie. Elaboration is unnecessary. Part II was one of the greatest things I have ever seen in my life.
My Morning Jacket-Z. Much more Flaming Lips and Radiohead than full-on rock on this one, but one really cool record. Dondante is nothing short of epic. How Could I Know is a great way to close the record.
One caveat-- I believe this CD is copyright-protected. Not only will you not be able to share it with your friends, you may be be running the risk of damaging your computer in the process. Screw Sony until they fix this nonsense.
Portastatic-- Bright Ideas. Through with People is mandatory for anyone and everyone sick of Albany. White Wave and I Wanna Know Girls are also great. This will have to do while I wait for a new Superchunk record.
M. Ward--Transistor Radio. Late-night AM radio- sounding music that sounds like it was just dug up by the Library of Congress and slapped on a CD. A number of these songs would be at home on one of Harry Smith's folk anthologies.
The Go Team-- Thunder Lightning Strike. Hip hop beats and cheerleading vocals are not usually my sort of thing, but dang, is this one catchy record. Plus, it helped me stay awake and crank out some ultra-shoddy work during finals week.
Shows:
Bob and Willie-- Dodd Stadium. June 21st and a great way to start the summer. All that was missing was a ferris wheel. Neither are at the top of their game anyomer, but they are still national treasures, so enjoy them while they are still performing. Two completely different styles and approaches, but both were great.
I took my mom who's 62 and arthritic, yet she stood up and danced the entire time, so it was the highlight of my year.
Brian Wilson-- SPAC. Note for note one of the best shows I have ever seen, this year or any other. Brian and his incredible band treated us to a bunch old stuff and then all of Smile. A great way to relax after getting smoked at the track earlier in the day.
Dinorsaur Jr (reissues and ) live at the Avalon in Boston-- my head almost exploded seeing them play The Lung for the first time in 15 years.
Pixies-- The Egg. I'm not sure who's the older bastard-- the Pixies for playing acoustic, or me for enjoying it. About the 10th time seeing them (going way back) and one of the best times as well. Not quite the day before T-giving at the Ritz in '89, when I lost my mind over Something Against You, but still terrific.
Rolling Stones-- The Knick. Still the coolest band ever.
Probably the worst rock and roll concert crowd I have ever been around in my life (state workers who can't stand up during Honky Tonk Woman stay home), but Midnight Rambler into Night Time is the Right Time was something else, as was their back-up singer. She's So Cold and Shattered were two of the nuggets I was hoping hear and I got 'em.
Of Montreal-- Valentine's. One of the feel-good shows of the year in Albany. Athens' Ga. buds of mine who actually had me missing my old stomping grounds for a few hours. Plus, we got to watch the Georgia-South Carolina game together. Its great to go somewhere in Albany and see 200 people all smiling.
The Bad
My Humps by The Black-Eyed Peas. I heard this song for the first time the other night in Bombers, and was immediately blown away by its idiocy. One of the worst songs I have ever heard in my life. Crap like this makes me want to move to Siberia.
However, I used to do college radio and used to play in bands, so its tough for me not to think of the good, bad and the ugly over the last year. Luckily, I'm far enough out of the mainstream to think too much about the bad and the ugly.
Records (CD's)
The Hold Steady-- Separation Sunday. Feel-good record and record of the year, easily. A literate and rocking rock opera about a girl named Holly going to Catholic high school. So many great moments on this record. I'm not sure what's better, the music or the stories told, and its been a while since I said that. Probably my favorite non-Springsteen, non-Dylan release in a few years. Money-back guarantee right here.
Born to Run reissue-- everyone knows its one of the best records of all-time. Add to it a live dvd from England in 1975, which isone of the greatest live dvds of all-time, and you have reissue of the year.
The New Pornographers-- Twin Cinema. AC Newman really is one of the best great songwriters on the planet. It should be illegal to have Sing Me Spanish Techno, Streets of Fire, Use It, and Bleeding Heart Show all on one record. Outstanding.
No Direction Home, soundtrack and movie. Elaboration is unnecessary. Part II was one of the greatest things I have ever seen in my life.
My Morning Jacket-Z. Much more Flaming Lips and Radiohead than full-on rock on this one, but one really cool record. Dondante is nothing short of epic. How Could I Know is a great way to close the record.
One caveat-- I believe this CD is copyright-protected. Not only will you not be able to share it with your friends, you may be be running the risk of damaging your computer in the process. Screw Sony until they fix this nonsense.
Portastatic-- Bright Ideas. Through with People is mandatory for anyone and everyone sick of Albany. White Wave and I Wanna Know Girls are also great. This will have to do while I wait for a new Superchunk record.
M. Ward--Transistor Radio. Late-night AM radio- sounding music that sounds like it was just dug up by the Library of Congress and slapped on a CD. A number of these songs would be at home on one of Harry Smith's folk anthologies.
The Go Team-- Thunder Lightning Strike. Hip hop beats and cheerleading vocals are not usually my sort of thing, but dang, is this one catchy record. Plus, it helped me stay awake and crank out some ultra-shoddy work during finals week.
Shows:
Bob and Willie-- Dodd Stadium. June 21st and a great way to start the summer. All that was missing was a ferris wheel. Neither are at the top of their game anyomer, but they are still national treasures, so enjoy them while they are still performing. Two completely different styles and approaches, but both were great.
I took my mom who's 62 and arthritic, yet she stood up and danced the entire time, so it was the highlight of my year.
Brian Wilson-- SPAC. Note for note one of the best shows I have ever seen, this year or any other. Brian and his incredible band treated us to a bunch old stuff and then all of Smile. A great way to relax after getting smoked at the track earlier in the day.
Dinorsaur Jr (reissues and ) live at the Avalon in Boston-- my head almost exploded seeing them play The Lung for the first time in 15 years.
Pixies-- The Egg. I'm not sure who's the older bastard-- the Pixies for playing acoustic, or me for enjoying it. About the 10th time seeing them (going way back) and one of the best times as well. Not quite the day before T-giving at the Ritz in '89, when I lost my mind over Something Against You, but still terrific.
Rolling Stones-- The Knick. Still the coolest band ever.
Probably the worst rock and roll concert crowd I have ever been around in my life (state workers who can't stand up during Honky Tonk Woman stay home), but Midnight Rambler into Night Time is the Right Time was something else, as was their back-up singer. She's So Cold and Shattered were two of the nuggets I was hoping hear and I got 'em.
Of Montreal-- Valentine's. One of the feel-good shows of the year in Albany. Athens' Ga. buds of mine who actually had me missing my old stomping grounds for a few hours. Plus, we got to watch the Georgia-South Carolina game together. Its great to go somewhere in Albany and see 200 people all smiling.
The Bad
My Humps by The Black-Eyed Peas. I heard this song for the first time the other night in Bombers, and was immediately blown away by its idiocy. One of the worst songs I have ever heard in my life. Crap like this makes me want to move to Siberia.
posted by L3K at 7:39 PM
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