bar italia - "Real house wibes (desperate house vibes)"

From bar italia's second album this year, The Twits, "Real house wibes (desperate house vibes)" is a ramshackle guitar explosion that sounds like Pavement hanging out with Sonic Youth.

Truth Club - "Exit Cycle"

Exciting indie rock band from Raleigh, North Carolina that sounds like the perfect mesh of Pavement and Sonic Youth. Their second album Running From The Chase was just released, and I am obsessed with the slow-burning track "Exit Cycle" with its intertwined guitars that slowly build to a dramatic ending of harmonized vocals.

 

Bar Italia - "Horsey Girl Rider"

 

Mysterious London trio Bar Italia's latest record Tracey Denim is a moody collection of guitar-led tracks influenced by bands like Slowdive, Pavement, The Cure, and New Order. "Horsey Girl Rider" finds the band members snaking post-punk guitar lines around their enigmatic vocals.

Sorry - "Right Around the Corner"

UK buzz band Sorry are making ennui sexy again. From their brilliant debut album 925, "Right Around the Corner" uses rolling piano riffs, Pavement-esque slacker guitars, sleazy horns, and some cribbed lyrics from Tears for Fears for an instantly memorable introduction to this killer band.

Non-Sequiturs

Sweet mother of hotness.

The sexiest man in London.

Damn, that's some big arms.

Cigar hottie.

I love a cop with tatts.

Well, tatts in general.

Perfect belly.

UNF.

The traditional Bear Week belly greeting.

Damn.

Woof.

Beautiful body.

A  little lower.

Sweet Baby Jebus.

Such a hot man.

Nice tight frame.

Sexy belly.

Goddamn.

Those are some serious tatts.

Abs please.

Beefy speedo.

Wow.

Sexy.

Handsome bear.

Love the fur.

Wet pits.

Bear pits.

Grrrrr.

Beautiful build.

Yes, please.

After thinking no one from my family would come to our wedding reception, I am happy to report my parents and sister are actually attending. I am very excited they are coming, and am quite shocked actually.

I don't really regret anything that I have done in my life. I am very happy with my life, and I look at it as all the decisions I made have led me to this point. I will say that, if I had to do it all over again, I would have moved somewhere farther away from home.

Funny Conversations With Friends:
Friend: Wow you look tan.
Me: From Pensacola.
Friend: But you look REALLY tan.
Me: Well, we also tan some at the gym.
Friend: Oh my god, that's so bad for you.
Me: As opposed to all the other stuff we do?

This is so my sense of humor.

I love that Lorde references a song from Broken Social Scene in her song "Ribs."

And yes, my office nemesis can get more annoying; he is now eating Chick-fil-A. Asshat.

I hate to say that I really not caring for the collaboration between Robyn and Röyksopp.

I know this sounds cold and callous, but is there a proper waiting period before you remove someone from your FB friend's list after they pass away?

Jesus, take the meal.

I don't think I would want to live into my 90s, unless I was still very active.

A cup of oatmeal is a lot of damn oatmeal.

Linkin Park needs to stop.

There must be a full moon this week, I have been receiving the most bizarre messages on Scruff.

When people ask me why I don't smile much.

New Death Grips album = face melt.

Piedmont Park, Atlanta's Central Park, has really been transformed into a jewel.

There are certain foods I don't mind eating plain: oatmeal and baked potatoes taste fine to me. Yes, call me weird.

And yeah, after the umpteenth school shooting this year, I still don't understand how anyone can be anti-gun control.

Exactly.

There is a partner in my office that likes to takes files and such with him in the restroom when he "does his business." I don't have a problem per se with that, expect that he tends to put the files on the floor in the stall. Thankfully, I have never worked with him before and likely never will. If that should change, I will be handling all papers from him while wearing a hazmat suit.

I've never seen the movie Dumb and Dumber, and don't intend to change that fact.

After Disintegration, my favorite Cure album is Faith.

Curve is one of the most underrated bands ever.

Speaking of underrated, The Jesus and Mary Chain's album Honey's Dead is essential.

All problems are boring until they are your own.

Your cute for the day.

Lyrics Rattling Around My Brain

"All these people drinking lover's spit
They sit around and clean their face with it
And they listen to teeth to learn how to quit
Tied to a night they never met

You know it's time
That we grow old and do some shit
I like it all that way

All these people drinking lover's spit
Swallowing words while giving head
They listen to teeth to learn how to quit
Better take some hand and get used to it

You know it's time
That we grow old and do some shit
I like it all that way."

Broken Social Scene
"Lover's Spit"

"I don't want excuses.
I don't want your smiles.
I don't want to feel like we're apart a thousand of miles.
I don't want your attitude.
I don't want your things.
But I don't want a phone that never rings.
I want your love and I want it now.
I want your love and I want it now.

I don't want your history.
I don't want that stuff.
I want you to shut your mouth.
That would be enough.
I don't care if you've been here before.
You don't understand.
Tonight I feel above the law, I'm coming into land.
I want your love and I want it now.
I want your love and I want it now.

My heart is that much harder now.
That's what I thought before today.
My heart is that much harder now.
I thought that it would stay that way, before today.
Before today.
But I don't want a phone that never rings.
I want your love and I want it now.
I want your love and I want it now.
I want your love."

Everything But The Girl
"Before Today"

"Down to Santa Rosa Half Moon Bay
Across the grapevine to L.A.
We've got deserts, we've got trees
We've got the hills of Beverly

Let's burn the hills of Beverly!
Walk with your credit card in the air!
Swing your nachos like you just don't care!
(Your guess is as good as mine)

This is the slow sick sucking part of me
This is the slow sick sucking part of me
And when I'm sucking kisses direct (?)
Up to the top of Shasta Gulch

And to the bottom of the Tahoe Lakes
Manmade deltas and concrete rivers
The south takes what the north delivers
You fill hack (?)

Lost in the foothills of my mind
Drinking sterno, say good night
To the last psychadelic band
From Sac'to, northern Cal

From Sac'to northern Cal
Take it, neighbor
'Cause you're my neighbor
And I mean famous

You're my neighbor
You do me favors
'Cause I'm your neighbor
I'm not your neighbor,

You Bakersfield trash.
Traaaaaash! Traaaaaash!"

Pavement
"Unfair"

Appealing Things

When you watch an adult do something that makes you see what they were like as a child
Stir fry
Cheating on your workout diet every once in awhile
Taking a break from things
34 Days
Family finally acting like family

Annoying Things

Micro-managers
Loud talkers
LP Bitches
Men who can't take a compliment
Guys who take pictures of themselves with toothbrushes in their mouths

Album Review: The Vaccines - Come Of Age

The Vaccines
Come Of Age
Rating: Grrrr

The Vaccines' debut album What Do You Expect From The Vaccines? left me rather unimpressed, owing to the monstrous hype from the UK press as the band being the savior of guitar rock, but finding it to only being a moderately interesting run-of-the-mill alt-guitar album. Not that there was anything horrible on the record, in fact there were several catchy pop tracks, but overall it never really rose above merely pleasant. So, when their follow up Come Of Age found its way into my inbox I was less than in a hurry to get to it. Somewhat reluctantly I decided to listen to it and my first spin through it did nothing to change my perspective on the band and put it aside again. For some reason, I found it back on my hard drive when I was culling some chaff and thought, well, I might as well listen to it one more time before deleting it. I'm not sure if it were my mood that had changed or if it suddenly just clicked with me, but Come Of Age sounded different. I suppose my lack of real expectation in it allowed me to actually listen to it, and it is a surprisingly catchy record, full of sterling singles. Does this mean that The Vaccines are now living up to that storied hype? Well, not really. I still don't think this band deserves god-like status, however, they do need to be recognized for coming together with a set of almost instantly hook ready tracks that are hard to get out of one's head.

Blasting out of the gate with the raucous "No Hope," The Vaccines deliver a snide, jaded track about growing up,



and just continue on with track after track of catchy goodness, like the shambling "I Always Knew," and the pop goodness of "Teenage Icon," with its ridiculously memorable chorus.



Perhaps it is owing to working with producer Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Laura Marling) that has given them more focus and clear-headed direction, but The Vaccines seem more cohesive even with the album's tracks veering all over the guitar rock spectrum. From the punkabilly of "Ghost Town,"



Pavement-esque slacker rock of "Weirdo,"



spiky, 60's styled pop of the witty "I Wish I Was Girl," and the wandering noir/alt-country of closing stunner "Lonely World,"



The only real missteps are the overly sunny/quirky flower power track "Aftershave Ocean,"



and the George Harrison aping guitar solos of "All In Vein" that comes across more as parody than a truly respectful approximation.

Ultimately, Come Of Age is just a really good guitar pop record full of catchy riffs, memorable melodies, and, what was mainly lacking from their debut, a sense of personality. As I mentioned, this album is not going to change the axis of the planet or lay waste to the rock landscape, but if you want a really great rock record, you can certainly do a lot worse.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.

Non-Sequiturs

Finally got to see one of my music heroes live this week. Kurt and I went to the IDentity Festival here in Atlanta. The festival is a traveling electronic music festival with three stages. Most of the artists are DJs, however, there was a smattering of acts that performed somewhat live. The last artist we saw was DJ Shadow. Have loved his music ever since Endtroducing.... Was a real thrill to see him as every other time he has been in town, I have had a conflict.

He played inside this sphere that had all sorts of cool videos and images projected on it and a big screen behind. The visuals matched up perfectly with his music and was a great audio-visual experience. He's such a nice guy, and also very cute.

Another highlight was finally seeing Hercules and Love Affair. Andy Butler and crew performed a DJ set with their three vocalists who, despite the heat and dismal crowd support, put on an energetic set. Andy is absolute adorable.

Rusko also put on an amazingly high energy set. He was dancing like a Tazmanian devil the whole time, and the crowd (whose drugs must have kicked in) was really into it as well.

Overall the festival was fun, however, the crowd was full of typically obnoxious 20 somethings that were rude and high as kites, the concessions were ridiculously overpriced, and it was brutally hot and even worse on the second stage which was out on a blacktop parking lot. I was able to see a lot of people I haven't seen, including Nero, DJ Chuckie, and Crystal Method. For the price, it was a good deal.

Interesting shuffle segue on my iPod, Burial's "Southern Comfort" bleeding into Jamie Woon's "Night Air" which was produced by Burial. Just sounded like a natural transition. Sublime.

Lyrics Rattling Around My Brain

"You said only a back page
Will get as read as the first page
Now you're observing the corners
And showing the first signs of aging
I'm not trying to read you anymore
Just keep on turning me through the days
Until the latest chapter unfolds

You look aroused
You look awake
You are the light
Turned on"

Tom Vek
"Aroused"

"You got me so riled
How can I ever deny
You got me so high
So high I cannot feel the fire
And you keep telling me
Telling me that you'll be sweet
And you never want to leave my side
And long as I don't break these
Promises
And they still feel all so wasted on myself"

Nero
"Promises"

"Sleeping when the day breaks
Dreaming as the evening falls
He's got no more headaches
Leaving us with empty walls
The last of many efforts

I know it's not my place
But I don't even wonder why
What commitment
What grace
To just refuse to be alive"

The Radio Dept.
"Sleeping In"

"Got struck by the first volley
Of the war in the courts
Never held my serve
Send'em a wire, give'em my best
This ammunition never rests
No one serves coffee, no one wakes up

Stop breathin'
Stop breathin'
Breathin' for me now
Write it on a postcard
Dad, they broke me
Dad, they broke me"

Pavement
"Stop Breathing"

"I've got too much energy to switch off my mind
But not enough to get myself organized
My heart is heavy
My head is confused
And my aching little soul
Has started burning blue

I can't give you up, 'till I've got more than enough
So infect me with your love
Nurse me into sickness
Nurse me back to health
Endow me with the gifts of the man made world

When desire becomes an illness instead of a joy
And guilt a necessity that's gotta be destroyed"

The The
"Infected"

Appealing Things

Nero DJ set
Seeing cute little DJ Shadow come out and introduce his set
Rusko's energy
Tom Vek
Cut Off Your Hands
Coupons
Skimpeez

Annoying Things

People who are so un-self aware they continually put their foot in their mouth
Girls who wear those really stupid furry boots to concerts
$11 beers
People who don't say excuse me
People who reheat fish at the office

30 Day Song Challenge: Day Eight - A Song That You Know All The Words To

Day Eight - A Song That You Know All The Words To
Pavement
"The Hexx"

I think this is hard category, not because I can't think of anything, but because there are too many to choose from. I choose this song, mainly because it is surreal and weird.

Chad VanGaalen: Diaper Island

Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
Rating: Grrrr

In addition to his solo output, Chad VanGaalen is probably best known as the producer for Women's last two albums. He records out of his home studio and infuses a homespun, earthy quality to his records, yet always throws in some curve balls, like weird synth freakouts, and use of quirky instrumentation. Diaper Island, his fourth full length, and his most fully formed, is such a shockingly well-produced record, it provokes audio equivalents of a double-take. While there is still a homey quality to the production values, the record as a whole is musch more clear and concise. VanGaalen records primarily in a low-fi, late 80s early 90s alt-rock manner, evoking artists as diverse as Pavement, Miracle Legion, Grizzly Bear, and early post-punk Cure. The album veers back and forth from gorgeous, almost country-folk ballads, and raucous guitar raveups; linked by his wry lyrics.

Diaper Island starts off deceptively quiet. The one-two punch of "Do Not Fear" and "Peace On The Rise" show VanGaalen's gorgeous use of harmony. "Peace On The Rise" is buouyed along on chiming guitars and VanGaalen's lusciously supple voice, descending into a coda of synth drones.



The core of the album is its driving guitar tunes, and what really takes the album to another level. "Burning Photographs" uses a steady beat and one of the hookiest guitar lines in recent memory to imbed itself in your cranium.



"Replace Me" has an insistent beat and fuzzed out guitar line that echoes early U2.



"Blonde Hash" thrashes and careens like an out of control party guest.



"Freedom For A Policeman" bops along on a 60s surf vibe.



The quieter tunes are no less spectacular. Overall the album has a very melancholy tone, and these tracks fit well in the whole scheme, allowing VanGaalen's lovely voice to stand out. Angelic harmonies color the delicate "Heavy Stones."



His voice is particularly haunting on the sublime "Sara."



"Wandering Spirits" evokes the brilliance of Grizzly Bear's ambient meanderings. It is ghostly and spine-tingling.



The final track is certainly the most devastating. "Shave My Pussy," with its provocative title, is a haunting song about self-worth and the toll pressures of living and relationships have on someone. The man singing feels less than nothing, closing the song with the lines:

"Maybe if I shave my pussy
Then you'll love me
Baby, will you love me?
I'm really feeling ugly"



At first listen, Diaper Island seems haphazardly put together, as if he threw the tracks in the air and put them in order by which they landed. There is almost a distinct, non-flow to the sequencing. Only by repeated listens to you get the ebb and flow of the tracks and see how brilliant a songwriter/producer VanGaalen has become.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.

Yuck: Yuck

Yuck
Yuck
Rating: Grrrr

Back in the early 2000s and Interpol came onto the scene, you couldn't get more than 2 sentences into a review or commentary before someone mentioned how their sound was influenced by Joy Division. I am sure for Interpol it became more than annoying to constantly have to deal with those comparisons. Luckily for them, even though there were some (in my opinion, minor) Joy Division qualities to their sound (to be honest they drew from more post-punk influences than just Joy Division) they had their own distinct approach to their sound, which allowed them to transcend the comparisons. UK buzz band Yuck is similarly saddled with comparisons to their heroes, however, in this case, instead of post-punk bands such as Joy Division, their albatross around the neck are the 90s alterna-guitar bands like Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, Pixies, Pavement, Jesus and Mary Chain, et al. See, I made it 4 sentences in before I made the comparisons, must be a record! There really is no way to sidestep these comparisons I'm afraid. The band definitely wears their influences on their sleeves, but unlike bands who are mere parrots, Yuck uses those sounds merely as a base, building their own unique take on driving, fuzzed out, effects heavy guitar rock. And with the band members barely into their 20s, it is amazing how fully formed that sound is.

The band's bread and butter are driving rock songs filled with explosive guitar parts, that has to have the band making mincemeat out of their effects pedals. From the blistering "Get Away"



the ear bleeding fuzzed out "Holing Away"



and the Sonic Youth-esque droning "Operation"



the band knows loud well. While these are some of my favorite songs on the album, what really takes the band out of merely proficient into the area of amazing is in the quieter moments. What is wonderful about Yuck is that the band is willing to slow things down, try different styles, and even using unique instrumentation.

The delicate "Suicide Policeman" even has a sweet bridge featuring horns and xylophones straight out of Lawrence Welk.



"Stutter" takes a page from the Pavement slacker oeuvre:



"Georgia" even has an alt-country feel to the chorus:



What is truly going to make Yuck a band worth watching is that, based on this album, they are not satisfied sticking with the identical sound throughout. The album meanders, takes chances, is not afraid to do the unexpected. This is most evident in the final two tracks. "Rose Gives A Lilly" is a gorgeous instrumental full of echoing, shimmering guitar that veers ever slightly towards the post-rock sound of Mogwai:



which then segues into "Rubber" which is 7 minutes of slow building fuzz guitar, erupting into a maelstrom of feedback that would make Jesus and Mary Chain grab their earplugs:



In the end, comparisons with other bands are unnecessary, as Yuck is not a 90s alt-rock cover band. It's as futile as comparing The Rolling Stones to their blues influences, or, as I mentioned earlier, Interpol with their post-punk forefathers. Yuck made wear their influences out in front, but they wear them proudly and with their own innate style. Yuck is a fantastic debut album, one that will long linger in your head.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top albums of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been trimmed or polished.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.