Trent Reznor, aka Nine Inch Nails, released a new album for FREE on the NIN website. Available in multiple formats.

My thoughts:
After playing "The Hand That Feeds" on Rock Band, I've started to be more and more intrigued by NIN. I guess I never really knew what kind of band NIN was before, possibly mistaking alternative-industrial with some form of heavy metal that involved screaming, the the beheading of small animals, and Norway.

Anyway, this being my first listen to a full NIN release, I'm satisfied, and will be somehow sending Reznor some money. Check it out. Risk-free!

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 4:41 PM | Permalink | |

I didn't have the time to review these albums when I got them, but now I'll lump them all together and write a paragraph or two about each.

First up is Panic at the Disco's Pretty. Odd. It's starts out with "We're So Starving," a Sgt. Pepper conceit, the band apologizing for abandoning their dance-emo fusin sound from their first record (which honestly isn't as bad as most music critic types remember, and wouldn't have been bad at all if it hadn't become so freakin ubiquitous) to bring this 60s-homage style out for their sophomore effort. Then the album moves swiftly into the first single, "Nine in the Afternoon," an excellent pop-rock song. Overall, the album has a nice feel to it, and is pretty even overall in terms of quality and sound. "Northern Downpour" shows not only the 'new' sound, but also a growth in terms of songwriting. "Pas De Cheval" is also a fun tune.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Must-Downloads: "Nine in the Afternoon," "Northern Downpour"

Next is R.E.M.'s new effort, Accelerate. It's hard for me to gauge this album in the context of R.E.M.'s entire catalog, as this is the first R.E.M. album I've ever bought. That being said, I really like this album. It's a truly solid effort, and accomplished putting the band on my radar (besides hits like "Losing My Religion"). I firmly believe that in the future, the Bush Administration will be looked upon as a golden age of older musicians rekindling their fire because Bush makes them so angry. The Eagles, Neil Young, John Fogerty, etc., have all done it, and R.E.M. is no exception. Nothing mentions Bush by name on this album (a smart move, I think), but it isn't exactly an "all is right with the world" album, either.

Anyway, this album leads off with "Living Well is the Best Revenge," a fest-tempo song that demonstrates that R.E.M. wants you to know this album will rock. They follow up on that promise with track three (and the first single) "Supernatural Superserious," which is the song that made me buy this album the day it came out. I also really like "Sing for the Submarine," and "Horse to Water," which should be released as a single. The last track on the album, "I'm Gonna DJ" is very fun, and a nod to "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)." Out of the bonus tracks, I eagerly await the eventual Jack White cover of "Redhead Walking!"
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Must-Downloads: "Supernatural Superserious," "Horse to Water," I'm Gonna DJ"

Next is a live album CD/DVD from the UK band Muse entitled HAARP. I'll admit I mainly bought this because "Knights of Cydonia" is the best Rush song ever not written by Rush (Yes, it's better than anything Dream Theater has ever done, insofar as I'm aware) and I want to support the live CD/DVD format because too many bands only release live DVDs now. The tracks from their 2006 album, Black Holes and Revelations are featured prominently, but they aren't really expanded upon in any notable way in terms of length or fusion. a solid effort, although I wish the CD and the DVD had the same songs on them!
Rating: 4 stars
Must-Downloads: "Knights of Cydonia," "Butterflies and Hurricanes"

Finally, Goodbye Blues by The Hush Sound. This is a fun pop-rock effort with a lot of cool melody lines. The use of piano and blues influence makes this album sound like Frank Sinatra could cover some of the songs from beyond the grave. Greta Stalpeter shines on the vocals, and gives many of songs their "pop." If you like either Pretty Odd or Michael Bublé I'd recommend you check out this album. Standout songs include "Medicine Man" and "As You Cry" Incidentally, they are touring on The 2008 Honda Civic Tour with the abovementioned Panic at the Disco.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Must-Downloads: "Medicine Man," "As You Cry"

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:21 PM | Permalink | |

I happened to be walking down Main Street here in Newark earlier today and noticed our local record shop had copies of The Raconteurs new disc, Consolers of the Lonely, out early. This is significant because the album was only officially announced on Thursday of last week. Since the supergroup's 2006 effort, Broken Boy Soldiers, was my favorite album of 2006, I immediately snapped up a copy of Consolers. Track by track review follows, overall comments at the end.


"Consolers of the Lonely" - The first and title track starts off with a nice guitar lick. Overall, the song's sound is half classic rock/half all White Stripes. A solid opening salvo.

"Salute Your Solution" - This is the first single from the album and starts out with a really sweet guitar pickup, and doesn't look back. The vocals are very Jack White, which isn't a complaint.

"You Don't Understand Me" - A much softer, more laid back track than the first two, and also shows a definite progression from Broken Boy Soldiers tracks "Together" and "Hands."

"Old Enough" - Some country influence here, which shows how diverse these guys can be. Ripe for a Rascal Flats cover? Also some nice call and answer structure for the chorus, which continues the vocal broadening from Jack White.

"The Switch and the Spur" - After a few listens, this storytelling ballad is my favorite track on the album. The bass line on this one is infectious, and the trumpets are a nice touch. Three minutes in, the track changes direction and begins building towards a roaring climax.

"Hold Up" - Definitely sounds like something from the Icky Thump sessions. The guitar solos are really good. Does a really good job of capturing the feel of a garage-jam session.

"Top Yourself" - Another Icky Thump-esque track, continuing Jack White's love affair with Country & Western-Blues fusion. Not as strong as "Hold Up," though.

"Many Shades of Black" - The trumpets are back to open this one, another slow-ish track. I like this softer side to the band, and the blues-inspired guitar solo is very nice.

"Five on the Five" - The disc speeds back up into a bunch of distorted guitars, but a strong central riff that keeps things from swaying too far. Sweet bass line.

"Attention" - I like this song a lot, it definitely moves. Very 70's-sounding, I think.

"Pull This Blanket Off"- This short (1:59) track seems to come out of nowhere, and is a decent distraction, but nothing more.

"Rich Kid Blues" - This is a cool song, with a nicely layered structure. Nice drum work here, too.

"These Stones Will Shout" - First have is soft, almost acoustic, then the drums pick up into a harder section.

"Carolina Drama" - Another part of the Country/Western theme, and another storytelling song, but not particularly strong.

Overall, four stars (out of five). A nice, solid effort if not quite as masterful as their first outing. Definitely recommended if you want something that is a less-weird version of a White Stripes album.

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 7:19 PM | Permalink | |

So based on Hube's comment about my KT Tunstall post, here's a list of songs that reference comic books. To thin the field (and get some not-as-well-known songs on there, perhaps) I elected to ignore any songs directly related to a comic book film or tv show. Enjoy, and let me know what I've forgotten in the comments!

"Magneto and the Titanium Man" by Wings references three villains, the two titular ones and the Iron Man foe Crimson Dynamo. In the song, the three super villains try to convince the singer/narrator that a woman police officer trying to halt a bank robbery (which he is apparently in love with) is in fact the bank robber herself.

Paul wasn't the only Beatle to pen a superhero song. John Lennon had one on the White Album, "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill." Specifically the line "So Captain Marvel zapped him right between the eyes." There are two Captain Marvels, one in DC and one in Marvel comics, but I always picture the DC version, who uses lightning frequently. Of course, it could be my DC-bias coming into play. As for other single-line references, one of my favorite bands, Weezer, mentions both Kitty Pride and Nightcrawler in their song "In the Garage." Barenaked Ladies mention Aquaman in their song "One Week."

One interesting case is the Black Sabbath song "Iron Man," which I never thought was about the superhero, but it certainly is now. According to Wikipedia, the current retcon of Iron Man's origin states that the song was the source of Iron Man's name. Apparently, Tony Stark is an Ozzy fan.

JttR favorites The Kinks have two pretty direct comic book songs, "Catch Me Now I'm Falling," which uses the currently-deceased Captain America as an allegory for the differences in the Marshall Plan and the 1970s Oil Crisis:

I remember, when you were down
And you needed a helping hand
I came to feed you
But now that I need you
You wont give me a second glance
Now I'm calling all citizens from all over the world
This is Captain America calling
I bailed you out when you were down on your knees
So will you catch me now I'm falling

The other song is "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman," which hits a common theme, wishing one were a superhero to make everyday life easier. This brings us to the big one, Superman. I think more songs have been written about Superman than any other comic book character, so I'm only going to mention the best.

"Superman (It's Not Easy)" by Five for Fighting, and "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down are two hits from early this decade about Kal-El, while the Spin Doctors "Jimmy Olsen's Blues" (in which Superman's Pal is competing for Superman's Gal) and Crash Test Dummies "Superman's Song" are two solid efforts from the 90s.

An entry from the R&B genre is Brian McKnight's song "Superhero," worthy of mention becuase of the lyrics "Kal-El/Son of Jor-El/All my secrets/You can never tell/And you know why/I can fly."

One of my favorites reaches all the way back to 1966, Donovan's "Sunshine Superman." In the song, the singer boats that "Superman or Green Lantern ain't got a-nothin' on me."

I'm sure there are more that I'm overlooking, but there's eleven songs to jump start a great playlist!

Labels: Comic Books, Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 10:21 AM | Permalink | |

Not only was she #6 on my Top Ten of 2007, but the girl (woman?) loves comics!

An excerpt from an interview with comic book news website Newsarama:

NRAMA:But you mentioned that comic books influenced your latest LP on The Today Show and we have this wonderful quote on the X-Men.

KT: Well, the artwork on my album is kind of less about superheroes and more about characters. Super human and superhero are two different things to me. I’m a big Frank Miller fan. A lot of his characters are superhuman—they can jump from the top of a building and land unhurt in a street full of garbage—but not necessarily superheroes. Also, little Miho can take out ten men and not even break a nail. All the same, they are people.

. . .

KT: Definitely. The reason for my comment on the X-Men and this latest album is life has become super-intensified for me. You meet people like Jack White or Elton John, Annie Lennox and you think these actually are real people. Yet they seem like these extraordinary characters out of comics.

Labels: Comic Books, Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 12:22 PM | Permalink | |

All hail the resurgence of records!

A trend has to be huge for TIME to notice:

From college dorm rooms to high school sleepovers, an all-but-extinct music medium has been showing up lately. And we don't mean CDs. Vinyl records, especially the full-length LPs that helped define the golden era of rock in the 1960s and '70s, are suddenly cool again. Some of the new fans are baby boomers nostalgic for their youth. But to the surprise and delight of music executives, increasing numbers of the iPod generation are also purchasing turntables (or dusting off Dad's), buying long-playing vinyl records and giving them a spin.

Like the comeback of Puma sneakers or vintage T shirts, vinyl's resurgence has benefited from its retro-rock aura. Many young listeners discovered LPs after they rifled through their parents' collections looking for oldies and found that they liked the warmer sound quality of records, the more elaborate album covers and liner notes that come with them, and the experience of putting one on and sharing it with friends, as opposed to plugging in some earbuds and listening alone.

At at glance, I think I have about 100 records or so in my dorm room. A lot of records also come with codes to download the digital files now, which is really the ideal way I'd like to acquire music, analog and digital. A lot of people seem to think that this is a rebellion against poor-quality mp3 files, I don't think so. I encode into Apple's AAC format at 192 kps, at which I can almost not tell the difference between that and the CDs. If people were producing better quality digital tracks, it wouldn't be an issue. A bigger problem is the "loudness" in CD mixing today. Read this fascinating article from the last Rolling Stone.

For example, the "loudest" Led Zeppelin album? Mothership, the remastered 2007 compliation.

Sometimes I think the music industry is killing itself loudly.

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:14 PM | Permalink | |

I'm going to run down my favorite albums of 2007 with a top ten new releases and some other categories as I see fit. Enjoy, and feel free to dispute this list!

Top Eight Albums

1. Magic - Bruce Springsteen

A solid rock album, political and personal. This decade is shaping up to be a good one for The Boss (review). Must-downloads: "Livin' in the Future," "Long Walk Home"

2. Icky Thump - The White Stripes

The best White Stripes Album so far, and it really shows the depth Jack and Meg have (review). Must-downloads: "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)," "Conquest"

3. In Rainbows Radiohead

I wasn't a fan of Radiohead until this year, mostly until hearing this album. It's that good. Good enough for me to acquire OK Computer, Kid A, and Amnesiac (I did buy The Bends this summer upon the pleading of a friend). I paid $3 for it, and wished I had paid more. Must-download: "15 Step," "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi"


4. Neon Bible - Arcade Fire

I had been introduced to Arcade Fire through "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" from their previous album, and picked this album up based on the strength of the reviews. Arcade Fire have a lush, full sound that echoes orchestral arrangements at times.
Must-download: "AntiChrist Television Blues," "No Cars Go"

5. Snakes and Arrows - Rush

Rush is one of my favorite bands, and this is their first new album since I became a fan in 2003-4. I saw them in concert this summer, and they played a fantastic set. This album is a bend of sounds both evocative of their classic material and reflective of music today (review).
Must-download: "Workin' Them Angels," "Malignant Narcissism"

6. Drastic Fantasic - KT Tunstall

KT Tunstall really broke out last year when Eye to the Telescope started to get notice, but this year's effort is solid folk rock that at times feels like a throwback to Alanis Morrisette, and Jewel in the mid to late '90s . KT is an excellent songwriter, and is sure to have a long career.
Must-download: "Funnyman," "White Bird"
(Right now the entire album is available for $5.99 on Amazon mp3, making a "fantastic" deal!)

7. Memory Almost Full - Paul McCartney

A delightful Wings-esque album from the Knight of Pop Sensibilities. I called him "the coolest 65 year old ever" when it came out, and I stand by that claim.
Must-download: "Mr. Bellamy," "Vintage Clothes"

8. Graduation - Kanye West

Graduation is the first rap/hip-hop album I've ever bought. People have laughed at me rapping along with Kanye on the radio (I imagine it to be quite comical as well, so it's fine by me). I have to say, it's good. Catchy and experimental, with a lot of hooks and even some techno elements to it. Worthy of note because I bought a rap album. It samples from "Kid Charlemagne" by Steely Dan, Elton John, and Daft Punk! It has a collaboration with the guy from Coldplay!
Must-download: "Champion," "Stronger"

Soundtracks
1. Across the Universe

I found the movie enjoyable, and the soundtrack delightful, though make sure you get at least the 29-track version of these re-imagined Beatles tunes (31 tracks on iTunes or at Best Buy). Lots of highlights, and I actually listen to some of these versions more so than the Fab Four versions (mostly the early-career tracks).
Must-download: "With a Little Help From My Friends," "I've Just Seen a Face," "Dear Prudence," and Bono's "I am the Walrus"

2. The Darjeeling Limited

I haven't seen the movie, but the soundtrack features some deep cuts by one of my favorite bands, the Kinks, and it has some cool Indian music. I don't know the Indian music well-enough yet to offer a must-download, but the Kinks tracks are "Strangers," "This Time Tomorrow" and "Powerman," all off their 1970 effort Lola...

3. Death Proof

Quentin Tarantino puts together top-notch soundtrack compilations, and Death Proof is no exception. I hadn't heard of any of the songs on the CD before this album, but a few of them are now in heavy rotation. The sound bytes from the film are unnecessary, as they really aren't all that memorable, but the music surpasses its material in this case.
Must-download: "Jeepster," by T. Rex, "Hold Tight!" by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, and "Chick Habit" by April March

Compilations
1. Alone - Rivers Cuomo

Weezer is one of my favorite bands, and this disc gives not only a glimpse behind the genius of Rivers Cuomo, their frontman, as well as into the band's past and future. Especially interesting are the tracks from the aborted space-themed rock opera Songs from the Black Hole.
Must-download: "Lover in the Snow, " and "Blast Off!"

2. Sawdust - The Killers

Is a pretty good compilation of B-sides by The Killers, rising stars in music. See my extensive review here.
Must-download: "Shadowplay," "Glamorous Indie Rock And Roll," and "Sam's Town"

3. Exile On Mainstream - Matchbox Twenty

Half new, half greatest hits, but I'm just glad the band came back together. M20 is a top-notch pop-rock band, and having all of their hits in one place is good for casual fans (like me).
Must-download: "How Far We've Come," and "These Hard Times"

Reissues
1. The Traveling Wilburys Collection- The Traveling Wilburys

I had never heard of the Traveling Wilburys before this year, and I can't believe I had missed out on this supergroup of George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. These guys sound fantastic. The sound gels just right, and it's a fun collection.
Must download: "Handle With Care," "Tweeter and the Monkey Man," and "Wilbury Twist"

2. The Joshua Tree - U2

U2's cornerstone album got a 20th anniversary remaster/reissue this year, in four different formats. I picked up the two disc release, and it sounds better than ever.
Must-download: "Bullet the Blue Sky," "The Sweetest Thing," and "Luminous Times"

3. Excitable Boy - Warren Zevon

This is one of my favorite albums of all time, filled with top songwriting and bloodthirsty antiheroes. The bonus tracks on the reissue aren't all that impressive, but well worth it for the original album.
Must-download: "Werewolves of London," "Lawyers, Guns and Money," and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 8:50 AM | Permalink | |

Tyler and Jenny Somers are friends of mine who also happen to be very talented musicians and very in touch with God. Their first album, entitled A Prelude, has just been released, so I'm going to do my part (after buying a copy or two) and help spread the word.

First, I'm going to preface this review by saying that I don't really listen to Christian music. Yes, I like Switchfoot and some of Relient K's stuff, but I never go seeking out specifically Christian rock, it always finds me. What I'm trying to say is that this review is coming from someone unfamiliar with the Christian rock "scene" and someone who is not predisposed to like Christian rock.

The lyrics are beautiful, and Jenny's and Tyler's vocals blend into a nice harmony on the tracks which they sing together, and Jenny holds her own on her solo vocal efforts. I would characterize the overall sound as folk-rock, a genre I'm really liking right now.

After listening to the disc a couple times, I really like this album, and I can see it being cycled into my oft-played tracks list on iTunes. Technically, it's well-produced, but moreover, it speaks. A Prelude definitely comes from a personal place for both Tyler and Jenny, and it shows.

Standouts for me are "American Dream," "Love's Going to Last," "It's Been Going On So Long," and "Wide-Eyed."

Overall, this is a solid debut. 4 stars.

Order a copy from their website, iTunes, or at the Main Street Florist next to the Korner Diner.

Their website also has previews of the album to listen to (on the very top).

Labels: Delaware, Music, University of Delaware

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:36 PM | Permalink | |

The two alternative Christmas songs I've been listening to so far this season are "Don't Shoot Me Santa" from The Killers and "Christmas in Fallujah" by Cass Dillon (words by Billy Joel).

"Don't Shoot Me Santa" (video) is a strange topic for a Christmas tune (and yes, the lyrics are about exactly what it sounds like...Santa threatening to murder someone), but perhaps that is what makes it so interesting. It's also pretty catchy, and worthy of the .99 download price at iTunes if you like The Killers, especially when the proceeds go to Bono's Product (RED) campaign to fight disease in Africa.


The second song, "Christmas in Fallujah"(video) is much more controversial, with many people characterizing it as an anti-war song. Personally, I don't think it is anti-war so much as pro-G.I. Joe, it being the story of Christmastime in Iraq as told from the perspective of the average solider. Take a listen (follow the video link above) for yourself and decide. And if you decide to download it, also 99 cents from iTunes, proceeds benefit the organization "Homes for Our Troops" which seeks to provide homes for injured veterans.


Also making onto my iPod from this year's Christmas releases are "12 Days of Christmas " and "Handel's Messiah" by Christian rock group Relient K. Both tracks are fun rock retoolings of songs we've all heard countless time.

Classic tracks on my holiday playlist include perennial favorites "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" and "Merry Christmas, Baby" by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, "Merry Christmas (Please Come Home) by U2, and "Come on Christmas, Christmas Come on" by Ringo Starr. For a generic 'winter' tune, check out Bob Dylan's "Winterlude" from his 1970 release New Morning.

Note: I'm gearing up for my "Best of 2007" posts, of which there will be a music post, a movies post, (maybe a TV post), and of course, Hero/Hack of the Year. Send me your nominations!

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 3:55 PM | Permalink | |

Tuesday, The Killers released a compilation of B-sides called Sawdust. There are several covers on the disc, but I'm not familiar with any of the original versions, which might hamper the review.

The Killers are a band I like a lot, but I didn't become a fan until last year's Sam's Town. Their debut album, 2004's Hot Fuss, impressed me with their talent, but I'm not a fan of the New Wave/dance sound, per se. Sam's Town bowled me over, and I think Brandon Flowers is one of the most talented up and coming frontmen today in rock.

Highlights:

The disc opens with "Tranquilize," featuring a Lou Reed cameo, and is an interesting track featuring the always questionable "children singing" idea. It seems to continue the sound from Sam's Town.

Next up is "Shadowplay," an excellent Joy Division cover, and you can hear the influence that Joy Division had on Flowers. "All the Pretty Faces" is next, and is a good track from the Sam's Town sessions.

To me, the real strength of this disc is in the second half, and really shows the raw talent of this band and their capacity to master many different flavors of rock.

"Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll" is one of my favorite tracks on the disc. It's fun, light, and is just an all-around great song about rock 'n' roll. A must have.

"The Ballad of Michael Valentine" is an older track, but one I like a lot.

"Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" - I'm fairly certain I have never heard the original The First Edition version of the song, but this country western track (The First Edition is Kenny Rogers' band) is a new sound from this band and one of the places that shows off their untapped talents. Flowers sings here in a radically different way.

"Daddy's Eyes" is a solid track, the B-side from the "Bones" single, and I'm glad it is on this compilation, because otherwise I would have missed it. It's kind of a haunting song, but masterfully constructed.

Following is the 'Abbey Road' version of "Sam's Town," the title track from their 2006 effort. This is a very different take from the album version, starting with just Flowers (I presume) on piano, and then opens up to the whole band. I'll have to listen to them back to back a couple times, but I almost like this version better than the album version.

"Daddy's Eyes" is a very American sounding track (The Killers are the most British US-based band ever) and has some a really sweet guitar solo on it.

Overall, I give this 4 our of 5 stars, as I'm glad this material saw release (and I wish more bands would produce discs like this), but the middle of the disc sags down in quality. Looking forward to the inevitable third Killers album.

Must download: Tranquilize, Shadowplay, Glamorous Indie Rock And Roll, Daddy's Eyes

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 11:00 AM | Permalink | |

Wired:

Golden-eared audiophiles have long testified to vinyl's warmer, richer sound. And now demand for vinyl is on the rise. Pressing plants that were already at capacity are staying there, while others are cranking out more records than they did last year in order to keep pace with demand.

Don MacInnis, owner of Record Technology in Camarillo, California, predicts production will be up 25 percent over last year by the end of 2007. And he's not talking about small runs of dance music for DJs, but the whole gamut of music: "new albums, reissues, majors and indies ... jazz, blues, classical, pop and a lot of (classic) rock."

Turntables are hot again as well. Insound, an online music retailer that recently began selling USB turntables alongside vinyl, can't keep them in stock, according to the company's director, Patrick McNamara.

And on Oct. 17, Amazon.com launched a vinyl-only section stocked with a growing collection of titles and several models of record players.

I got a turntable over the summer off of Craigslist, bought a collection and siphoned off of my parents. People regularly stop in (most of them I wouldn't call audiophiles) and ask me to spin up a record. Right now, Bruce Springsteen's The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle is spinning while I type this.

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:39 PM | Permalink | |

The Kinks are generally known as the "fourth" British Invasion band (after The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who). However, within music, The Kinks are highly regarded, especially lead vocalist/lyricist Ray Davies. Said Pete Townshend of The Who:

"The Kinks were much more quintessentially English. I always think that Ray Davies should one day be Poet Laureate. He invented a new kind of poetry and a new kind of language for Pop writing that influenced me from the very, very, very beginning."

While widely known for songs like "You Really Got Me" and "Lola" between 1968 and 1970, The Kinks released three concept albums, all with ridiculously long titles: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire), and Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One. I reviewed a book in the 33 1/3 series about TKATVGPS back in June, but today I'd like to talk about Lola, partially because three of its songs are on the soundtrack to The Darjeeling Limited, Wes Anderson's new film (two of them are featured in the trailer).

I'm going to ignore the most well known song on that album, because I think talking about it would be too obvious. The entirety of the album is riling against big business, unions, and for simpler times and freedom.

The call for freedom starts in the second track (and first full song), "The Contenders," with Davies saying that he's "got to be free, got to be free now." "Strangers," the third track, is one of my favorite songs about relationships (whether they be romantic love or guy love or something else). The next track, "Denmark Street" is a direct repudiation of music publishers, and is followed by "Back in the Line," a somber ballad directed towards unions:

But all I want to do is make some money
And bring you home some wine
For I don't ever want you to see me
Standing in that line
'Cause that union man's got such a hold over me
He's the man who decides if I live or I die, if I starve, or I eat

"Top of the Pops" satirizes the record chart chase, and "The Moneygoround" continues this sentiment. "This Time Tomorrow" doesn't seem to be about much, except it continues the tone of the journey described in "Strangers." Sometimes the journey isn't all it's cracked up to be, and you end up "A Long Way From Home," where Davies chastises wealth and worldliness:

Now you think you’re wiser because you’re older and you think
That money buys everything
And you think you need no one to guide you
But you’re still a long way from home.

For Davies, love of England, his home...this Tory agrarianism is deep in his lyrics. Very nostalgic, which is most prominent on TKATVGPS and Arthur. This theme is continued in "Rats," a backlash against the mass societies of cities:

Masses trampling on my feet, inconsiderate in their heat
Those rats breeding angriness and spite
Never have done anything right for people like you and me
Walk over all the people you can't see
If they die there's more bread for me

This all comes to a head in the song "Apeman," which is a direct outcry of the desire to escape this chaos called modernity:

I think I'm so educated and I'm so civilized
'Cos I'm a strict vegetarian
But with the over-population and inflation and starvation
And the crazy politicians
I don't feel safe in this world no more
I don't want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore and make like an ape man

This could also be seen as a reaction to the social disorder and unrest in the late sixties, and either way, Davies wants to return to simpler times. "Powerman" is a rebuke of the capitalists, and about how money is the power in society:

People tried to conquer the world Napoleon and Genghis Khan
Hitler tried and Mussolini too
Powerman don't need to fight, powerman don't need no guns
Powerman got money on his side

Finally, the album concludes with "Got to Be Free," a simple call for freedom from interference.

Overall, I would say The Kinks espouse a conservatism along the lines of Edmund Burke, G.K. Chesterton, and Russell Kirk.

Labels: Conservatism, Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:55 PM | Permalink | |

No, Bono and Cuomo are not planning any sort of collaboration that I'm aware of, but they are both going to be getting a chunkfull of my cash in the coming months.

U2 is going to reissue The Joshua Tree for its 20th anniversary in a cornucopia of formats:

single disc, double disc, double disc/single DVD, and double vinyl. The second disc will likely feature demos, alternate takes, and B-sides from the Brian Eno-produced sessions. The DVD will feature a July 4th, 1987 concert as well as the documentary Outside, It’s America.

I'll be picking up the double disc for sure, and hopefully the vinyl as well if that isn't too cost-prohibitive. Whatever you think about U2, The Joshua Tree deserves its place among the great albums of all time.

Weezer frontman and Harvard grad Rivers Cuomo is going to release a solo disc of demos in December. Should be pretty cool, and there is probably going to be some neat stuff on there:

“Several of them are from my unfinished rock musical, Songs From the Black Hole,” Cuomo tells us. Black Hole, a space rock concept album, was initially supposed to be Weezer’s follow-up to their debut Blue record, but when the project came unglued, some of the tracks wound up in another form on Pinkerton, while the rest have been floating around for awhile until Cuomo gathered them for this collection.

As for the entirety of Weezer?

“We’re done recording, and we’re just waiting to find a mixer. It’s very fresh and experimental,” Cuomo said.

Sweet. While Weezer has never lived up to the greatness of "Blue" and Pinkerton, Make Believe was a solid effort, and decent Weezer is better than no Weezer, I think.

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:16 PM | Permalink | |

I was bored procrastinating yesterday, and was curious to see if the power of the internet could help me relive a relic of my childhood, Sesame Street music videos. They were generally parodies of pre-existing songs/videos, but spun with an educational message, natch. Sure enough, YouTube provides.

I remember "Cereal Girl," but my favorites are:

Born to Add:

Letter B:


I was probably one of the few kids in the Sesame Street target audience to be able to sing the original versions too.

Labels: Music, Pointless things online, Pop Culture

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:58 PM | Permalink | |

I am a Bruce Springsteen fan. Always have been, always will be. My parents are huge fans, and so I didn't really have a choice. There is something about Springsteen's music that speaks to me in a way that I can't even fully describe, but it would be suffice to say that it speaks to me in a way that no one else's music does.

I wanted to review this album after it came out last week, but I wanted to wait until I saw him and the E Street Band in concert last Friday. The concert was fantastic, and I hope there's another leg to this tour so I can go again.

That being said, I am always eager to hear his new material. Magic is no different. Overall, the album sounds like a blend of Darkness on the Edge of Town and The Rising in both melodic overtones and messages.

"Radio Nowhere," the first single, is a good song, but not my favorite on the album. "Livin' in the Future" sounds like it is picking off where The Rising left off, a reflection on the times we've been living in since 9/11. Another highlight for me is "Long Walk Home," another love letter to Asbury Park, NJ, in the vein of "My Hometown" and "My City of Ruins."

Overall, it is a great album, though I wouldn't say it is quite on par with The Rising. Definitely a must for any Bruce fan to pick up (if you haven't already) and I would recommend you check it out if you're looking for a great singer-songwriter backed by a wall of sound.

As for the concert last Friday (setlist), while there wasn't anything pre-Born to Run, it was still a fantastic show, and Bruce and the E Street Band have an energy that is unmatched. I really hope they release a live album from this tour, as the new songs sounded fantastic, and "Gypsy Biker" live is leagues ahead of the studio version. It would also be nice to have live versions of songs from The Rising out as well, especially "Waitin' On A Sunny Day," played during the encore during the tour so far. Simply fantastic.

Labels: Bruce Springsteen, Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 5:00 PM | Permalink | |

A shocker this week, as my hero is the United Nations. Yes, you read that correctly. Here's what happened:

UNITED NATIONS — The Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Friday expanding the United Nations’ role in Iraq in a move aimed at reconciling the country’s rival groups, winning support from neighboring countries and tackling Iraq’s humanitarian crisis.

The resolution authorizes the UN, at the request of the Iraqi government, to promote political talks among the country’s ethnic and religious groups and a regional dialogue on issues including border security, energy and refugees.

The United States and Britain, who have the largest military forces in Iraq and cosponsored the resolution, believe the UN should play a greater part there because the world body is viewed by many as a more neutral party that can facilitate talks among feuding parties.

To me, this seems like an indicator that the surge may be going well, because this isn't a peacekeeping role --they aren't sending in the blue helmets-- meaning that the country is militarily stable enough to allow the UN to conduct talks. It also shows that the international community at large is investing in this project, something that they haven't been since we made the decision to invade.

My hack this week is Stu Bykofsky of the Philadelphia Daily News. He is "thinking another 9/11 would help America" out:

America's fabric is pulling apart like a cheap sweater.

What would sew us back together?

Another 9/11 attack.

The Golden Gate Bridge. Mount Rushmore. Chicago's Wrigley Field. The Philadelphia subway system. The U.S. is a target-rich environment for al Qaeda.

I sympathize with Stu, I do. I think it is sad that Americans are divided like we seem to be during wartime. However, Stu does not recognize two important things. One, Iraq is part of the Global War on Terror. Always has been. But here's what is surprising: Stu forgets about Afghanstan. He says we've forgotten who the "bad guys" are, but the bad guys are the Islamic extremists and those who harbor and support them. Even Hillary knows that.

Honorable mention for hack this week goes to AT&T for censoring Pearl Jam. AT&T is backtracking on that action, saying it was the company it hired to film/broadcast the performance, but I think the censorship in the first place was dumb. What Eddie Vedder sang was dumb to, but he should be allowed to say dumb things.

Labels: GWOT, Iraq, Music, UN

Posted by Ryan S. at 11:21 AM | Permalink | |

I have roughly a 30 minute Metro ride every morning below the DC streets. I always have my iPod, and usually I just have my "what I'm listening to now plus my favorites" playlist set on shuffle, so I have a mix of music I like going.

Some songs are better for my commute than others. "Born to Run" or "Good Day Sunshine" somehow just don't sound right half asleep on the way to work.

There are two bands that capture the feeling and the rhythm of city commuting: The Police and The Talking Heads.

There is just something about the time from 1977 to 1988 that captures the spirit of modern commuting for me.

Standout tracks for commuting by The Police include "Message in a Bottle," and the entirety of Ghost in the Machine. For Talking Heads, "Love --> Building on Fire," "Life During Wartime," "(Nothing But) Flowers," and most obviously "Once in a Lifetime."

What do you commute to?

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:35 PM | Permalink | |

Rolling Stone magazine, along with various other media outlets, have been reviling in nostalgia for the “Summer of Love,” the summer of 1967. I’m not all that nostalgic simple because I’m not sure it’s possible to be nostalgic about things that happened twenty years before you were born.

Anyway, this is part of an overall wistfulness for the Sixties (brought on by LSD flashbacks?). Many left wingers will say that the civil rights movement and the anti-Vietnam war movement were the greatest period in American history in terms of social change and upheaval.

An article in the latest Rolling Stone by Sean Wilentz, a Princeton historian, explores what he calls “The Year the Split America in Two.” Wilentz attributes to 1967 “the beginning of an era of intense polarization - one in which, arguably, we are still living.” Now, unnecessary swipes at our current president aside, it is a fascinating article, and far too short for Wilentz to substantiate most, if not all of his arguments.

In his article, Wilentz contrasts two people rising to prominence at the dawn of 1967, Timothy Leary and Ronald Reagan. He puts them as figureheads for the coming conflict. But neither was all that revolutionary in that regard. Reagan’s main opponent was communism, embodied by the Soviet Union, whose revolution happened fifty years prior to the “Summer of Love.” Reagan was only the current herald of conservatism in America, but it could be argued that the Boomers’ revolt was something else entirely.

I find fault in Wilentz’s thesis that 1967 is the root of all of our polarization. The classic epitome of the domestic fight over Vietnam is hippies vs. Nixon. It was a generational conflict (though there were many of that generation who weren’t hippies), with Nixon representing the paternalistic government (he started the EPA, after all) and the hippies representing youthful idealism. I would argue that neither side won, since McGovern lost in ’72 and Nixon resigned in ‘74. That doesn’t stop anyone from idolizing the anti-war movement from that era, especially when they are still fighting it.

Many of the most passionate anti-war activists today are the same activists who protested Vietnam (Most of the anti-war activists I’ve met are old and grey). While the “Summer of Love” certainly had an impact on our culture, it did not have much of one on our long-term politics, though Wilentz correctly asserts that disagreements over the use of force is “one reason why the Democratic Party has spent much of the past forty years wandering in the political wilderness.” If the wilderness is one of ideas, I agree, as this issues marks the major fault-line in the Democratic Party, the one between neoliberals and renegade Marxists.

The domestic conflict over Vietnam was much more generational that politics today. Sure, kids in college tend to be more liberal, but there does not seem to be a sharp political divide between those people in my generation compared to those in my parents’ (who were 11 during the “Summer of Love”).

But at least we got some good music out of it, as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is the most important album ever, if not the best. I think Piper at the Gates of Dawn gives any other Pink Floyd effort a run for its money, though The Velvet Underground and Nico and The Who Sell Out are also works of genius. Love is all you need.

Labels: History, Music, Ronald Reagan

Posted by Ryan S. at 12:39 PM | Permalink | |

My heroes this week are the members of the UK band Arctic Monkeys. Not only do they make some pretty good music, but they recognize how hypocritical the Al Gore concerts tomorrow are:

"It's a bit patronising for us 21-year-olds to try to start to change the world," said Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders, explaining why the group is not on the bill at any of Al Gore's charity concerts.

"Especially when we're using enough power for 10 houses just for [stage] lighting. It'd be a bit hypocritical," he told AFP in an interview.

Bass player Nick O'Malley agrees.

"And we're always jetting off on aeroplanes," he said.

Of course, realizing that they're my age makes me feel a lot less accomplished.



My hack this week is Senator Fightin' Joe Biden, who called President Bush "brain dead." Now, there's nothing wrong with criticizing the President on policy issues, but that kind of rhetoric doesn't really add anything.

I give Biden a lot of credit thus far, and I admire his opinion on Darfur, but this is the kind of thing that might be keeping him restricted to second-tier status.

Labels: 2008 Watch, Biden, Climate Change, Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 11:31 AM | Permalink | |

I went on a music buying binge in the past week, swapping a little excess cash for something I enjoy much more: music. I got other, older stuff besides these (Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde, I know, I know, I should have owned it already, and Radiohead's The Bends, because I wasn't musically aware when it came out in 1995). On to the reviews!

Icky Thump by The White Stripes is a good solid album. I've never been a fan of the Stripes really. a friend passed along Get Behind Me Satan, but other than "Blue Orchid," it never really did much for me. I heard the title track and saw some positive reviews for this album, so I decided to pick it up. Not every track is a winner, but the aforementioned title track, "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told)" and "Effect and Cause" are fantastic. "Conquest" is a fun track, and I agree with Jess' assessment over at Apropos of Something when he said it is"like one of those bizarre pieces of music that Quentin Tarantino digs up to stick in his movies."





Next up is Memory Almost Full by Paul McCartney. I was skeptical of this, despite the initial reviews, but after seeing that iTunes commercial for the 12th time, I decided to chance it and buy the 65 year old's album (not based on the look of that commercial, though. Paul looks pretty silly there, but he manages to make playing a mandolin while dancing down a pastel street look as cool as it could be, and that's an accomplishment in itself). I was pleasantly surprised. The whole album isn't a winner, but it sounds pretty Wings-like, and that's good news for me. The lyrics are very personal, meaning that he certainly wasn't phoning it in. I especially like that the whole album has a pretty consistent sound while still varying a good deal. "Ever Present Past," "Mr. Bellamy," "Vintage Clothes," and "Nod Your Head" are standouts for me, and McCartney makes a good case that he may be the coolest 65 year old ever.



Last but not least, Bruce Springsteen & The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin. If you liked the Seeger Sessions album, this is a great live album. It is Sessions heavy material-wise, though there are new versions of "Atlantic City" and "Blinded by the Light" that sound almost like they could be Dylan's takes of those Boss classics. This is not a straight-up folk album, as it has a very "big band" sound at times, with the horns getting a lot of play. A joy to listen to, if you liked the previous Seeger Sessions releases. I got it from iTunes, but there's a CD version, and one that comes packed with the DVD.

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 10:30 PM | Permalink | |

The album with that may have the longest name in rock history, The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society, is now a book. It is part of the "33 1/3" series, now comprising over 40 volumes, with more on the way. Each volume is about an album, with musical acts far ranging from The Band to The Beastie Boys. The series caught my eye in the bookstore recently because of the nice covers, and because Borders had a nice endcap in the music section featuring several of the books.

This particular volume, about the Ray Davies-led 1968 effort The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society, is written by Andy Miller (many different authors have contributed to the series thus far). Seeing is how there wasn't one about Rush, I immediately picked up the one about The Kinks, one of the most underrated bands of the British Invasion.

TKATVGPS is a wonderful album, and being born almost 20 years after its initial release I was completely unaware is was a flop upon release. Miller's volume sheds light on the creation of the album, the recording sessions, and the relationship of the band to the album's material.

It tops out at 150 pages, and it's about six inches high, so it's a nice little volume. It doesn't, however, go into the meaning of the lyrics as much as I'd like, but I think that's a point of personal preference.

Overall, this volume of the 33 1/3 series is pretty well written, and a great gateway to understanding a great album. My only reservation is that the cover price on these is about $10. A couple dollars off of that and I'd be quick to buy several more.

If they have one about an album you're especially fond of, pick t up. This is a very cool series of books, and I hope it continues long into the future (or at least until they make one about Rush!).

Related:

• The 33 1/3 Blog
• Books #1-40
• Books #41+

Labels: Book Review, Books, Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 8:32 PM | Permalink | |

I was terribly excited for this release, it being the first album of new Rush material since I became a fan (which was several months after Vapor Trails). I wasn't disappointed, and I will say this was worth the wait. I'd say Snakes & Arrows is their best effort since 1984's Grace Under Pressure. It rekindles some of the earlier sound, while at the same time goes off in a new direction. No more of that kinda nu-metal or synth sound they seemed to be fond of, but a purer rock sound.

Neal Peart's lyrics, combined with the sound direction, give the album a very spiritual feel overall. That isn't to say Rush has found religion (I think the tracks 'They Way the Wind Blows' and 'Faithless' disprove that).

It is a very solid album, with Geddy, Alex, and Neal all in top form. They let Alex cut loose a little bit, and his guitar piece 'Hope' is breathtaking. It joins 'The Main Monkey Business' and 'Malignant Narcissism' comprising a total of 3 instrumentals on this 13 track album, a first for Rush.

A note about the mix: It's good! I still wonder what Vapor Trails would sound like really, as the mix on t