Central Village

Getting More than By...

Just noticed that Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers will be playing a solo show on Oct 25th at Mercury Lounge.  I saw them at Bowery play until the sun came up on New Years Eve last year, and was again blown away by them at Lollapalooza last month.  I don't know what Patterson does solo, but I'm very excited to find out.  No tickets on sale yet, but prolly soon.

Here's a solo track of his from last years New Years show (the night after I went, I believe), as well as my favorite Truckers song.

Patterson Hood - Grandaddy (live 1/1/05) - (Orig. via Berkeley Place)

Drive By Truckers - Puttin People on the Moon

Too Soon?

I don't think I've written about them ever, but I've become a big fan of this Portland band Stars of Track and Field.  Yes, it's kinda weird that they're named after a song by a band that may be considered more of a contemporary of theirs than an influence in the long run, but they've got some really great stuff I've been hearing on KEXP a lot.  Doesn't look like they've got any plans to come play in New York right now, but hopefully soon.  Have a listen to a few of their songs at Myspace.  I particularly recommend 'With You' and 'Say Hello.'

I'm Losing My Edge

I'm really busy today with a bunch of different stuff, so some low content...

Pitchfork thinks Kanye's newest is near perfect.  I think the few songs I've heard are great.  9.5 tho?  That's astronomical.

Everyone loves Levy.  I don't get it.  Listening through their album, nothing jumped out that seemed all that exciting or original. 

I thought the MTV awards were dumb, obviously.  I thought Rome on HBO was pretty good.  And Entourage...oh man.  Next week is the season finale, and with one slight bump (the Comi-con ep) this has been a flawless television show for the last few months.  It went from enjoyable last year to must see this season.  Get caught up.

Tonight I'm staying home to watch the two hour premiere of Prison Break.  I'm a sucker for series premieres.  Tomorrow I may go see American Analog Set at Joe' Pub, but I'll definitely be at Bowery later for Gavin Rossdale's new band, Institute.  If he plays 3 Bush covers, It'll be worth it.  Unless the band's actually good, in which case I will be VERY excited.  Thursday I'll prolly go see The Diggs again, then Friday I'm going to Sons and Daughters at Mercury.

Big Sounds

Like Jen, I've recently made more of an effort to listen to the music that is sent to me.  Yesterday I received an absolute gem in my inbox.  The band is called Smallspace from Grand Rapids, Michigan.  They sound a LOT like Radiohead.  There's no avoiding that comparison, but that's okay, because they are good enough to pull it off.  I've literally listened to the stream of their album off their website 5 times through since I got the link yesterday afternoon.  I can't get enough.  I'm dying to see if they can pull it off live.

They'll be at Trash in Williamsburg on Sept 7th.  Idlewild and The National with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are playing that night, but I think I'd rather see these guys right now.  They'll also be here for CMJ, playing 169 Bar on Friday at Midinght (9/16).  Now that Neon Blonde is going on earlier (10:15), I'll hopefully be able to make it in for that too.  I've got some MP3's below, but have a listen to the whole album on the website.  It's well worth it.

Smallspace - Right Here

Smallspace - Loose Ends

What have I been talking about all this time?

So I've been out doing stuff. 

Monday was Movable Hype at the Knitting Factory.  Fun as always.  Langhorne Slim impressed the most.  I've always heard his name around, but never actually got around to seeing him.  He was a TON of fun tho.  Great songs, tons of energy, doesn't take himself too seriously.  I had no idea he was that good.  The other three bands were pretty good too.  Bravo Silva has a couple of great songs and a terrific guitar player.  The Dire Straits outfits were a class touch.  Raising the Fawn had their moments as well.  The quiet parts were a bit inconsistent, but when they started to pick up the pace and really let loose they sounded phenomenal.  I only stuck around for a little of Doveman cause it was late, but they sounded pretty good.  Hoping to catch a full set at Dave's BMJ showcase.  Overall, it was a great time.  Well done, Jen!

Tuesday I went to the Yankee game.  They won on a base hit in the bottom of the 9th.  I've got $50 on the Yankees NOT making the playoffs this year, so every time they pull one out like this, it stings a little bit.

Yesterday I went down to the seaport to check out The Double.  I guess Matador goes out of their way to sign any band that remotely sounds like Interpol, huh.  They had some Wolf Parade going for them too.  I actually liked them ok, but their songs all kinda sounded the same and didn't stick around for the whole set.  The Seaport shows are really nicely set up tho.  It's a great little stage they've got down there.

Tonight I'm really excited to finally see The Diggs again.  These guys are great.  I have 4 of their mp3's on my computer that I just listen to on repeat.  Come check them out if you're not doing anything.  They'll be at Sin-e for tonight and the next 2 Thursdays as well.  Listen:

The Diggs - Stagg
The Diggs - Trouble Everyday

My tentative CMJ schedule...

Prompted by Brooklyn Vegan.  Sponsored by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission...
September 13th:
Beacon Theatre, 8:00pm
Sigur Ros
Tonic, later (11:00pm?)
Cloud Cult

September 14th:
Bowery Ballroom, 6:30pm
Pela
King of France
Cribs
Beans
Devendra Banhart

September 15th:
KEXP, 10:00am
Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers
CMJ Day Stage, 12:15pm
Devin Davis
KEXP, 2:00pm
Cloud Cult
Bowery Ballroom, 5:00pm
New Pornographers
Summerstage, 8:00pm
The Arcade Fire
Scenic, 11:00
Dios Malos
Tom Vek

September 16th:
Pianos, 4:00pm
Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers
Voxtrot
Pianos, 8:00pm
Worm is Green
Northsix, 11:30pm
Neon Blonde
The Rakes

September 17th:
Rothko, 2:00pm
Benzos
Voxtrot
Elkland
Scenic, 9:00pm
We are Scientists
Mercruy Lounge, 9:30pm
Amusement Parks on Fire
Chin Up Chin Up
Bowery Ballroom, 12:00am
Wolf Parade
Mercury Lounge, 1:00am
Youth Group
The Upwelling

Unrealistic?  Perhaps.  There will be more added (esp. the day events) and sacrifices will be made.  That's what I've got for now.

Don't let them know that you're a fan...

Ok, I'm not here to bash Nightmare of You.  I've listened to the album a few times and it's really not bad.  They've got some relatively unoffensive stuff that will make perfect Road Rules promo music for years to come.  Songs like 'Thumbelina' and 'Dear Scene, I Wish I Was Deaf' are honestly pretty good.  No beef.  The the latter, however, is what brings me to post.  It contains the jarring lyric, "You lazy hipsters make me sick."

Ok.

I just think it's funny, because when I picture "lazy hipsters", you know what I kinda see?  A bunch of dudes in a band passed out on Ultragrrrl's couch at 3 o'clock on a Tuesday afternoon.  I mean, that practically defines lazy hipster, doesn't it?  Like right out of the dictionary.

Just saying...

Have a listen to the song @ Myspace...

Poor Jessica

The second season of Laguna Beach is so much better than the second season of the OC.  There.  I said it.  It's so true though.  I actually care about these people.  It doesn't bother me that it's not actually real or whatever.  The storylines and relationships are far more interesting than they were on the OC last year.  Maybe Josh Schwartz can throw in some self aware meta-dialog next season where Seth talks about how his life is far less interesting than the kids on "Sherman Oaks: The Real Valley"

Speaking of next season...did anybody realize that the third season of The OC premieres two weeks from tomorrow???  Wow!  That really snuck up on me.  I figured we had through the baseball playoffs like last year.  Despite my reservations, I'm absolutely looking forward.  The show ended relatively strong last season.  I think they can get it back on track.

Seek our Souls

I wouldn't dare judge a BSS album after just a few listens, but I will say that, while I like it fine so far, it is very Broken Social Scene-ish.  There's no break from that sound.  Just saying...

Kevin Drew comments on the leak.  I've only seen them play a few times, but they have all been very memorable performances to say the least.  I recognize a handful of songs from the new album that I remember hearing live.  This one rings a bell.  I like it.

Broken Social Scene - Superconnected

Sing Me Spanish Techno, but no more Twin Cinema

I had successfully convinced myself that I did not like The New Pornographers.  Twin Cinema (the song) is awful.  I couldn't stand hearing it.  Not when I heard it the first time on KEXP, nor the 400,000th time.  I hated this song so much, it was enough for me to totally dismiss the band as a whole.  Now we are told that they have one of the best albums of the year.  And I force myself to give them another chance.

It's still not that great.  Tho it's not nearly as bad as the first single is.  I keep on settling onto a 7.4.  Maybe a 7.2.  Maybe even lower.  There are some really bad tracks on this album.  The title track is grating.  There are a handful of others that I just cannot listen all the way through.  But there are some really amazing songs too.  The Neko Case tracks are lovely.  Spanish Techno is another winner.  So?  We're left with an inconsistent and mediocre record.  Not as bad as I had convinced myself I suppose, but nowhere near the best album of the year.

The New Pornographers - Sing Me Spanish Techno

Now, don't get me started on Art Brut...