MIRACLE FORTRESS

'Five Roses'

Wow. One of those albums that just draws you in and makes you remember why you love music so much. 'Five Roses' is a delicious noise pop cocktail w/ couple of spritzes of Yo La Tengo and a twist of Brian Wilson. Sweeping layers of sounds and orchestration that hits you like a feather, but ultimately knocks you on your ass. A lot of stuff going on musically, so each time you listen you hear something new...and the album gets better and better.

Even cooler is the fact is it's all performed by one guy (Van Pelt) ala Sufjan Stevens, but (IMO) even better. Put this album into your headphones, lay down outside on the lawn and watch the sun come up...or watch it go down for that matter. It's that kind of soundtrack and you can get a taste via the tune 'Maybe Lately' in the AMBFAD sample box to the right. It's out and avail wherever you normally find your favorite albums of more indie ilk (iTunes, for example). Smiley smile, kids.

Since Prince was on Apollonia

I've never really fallen prey to the hype over Kanye...but i'm feelin' this jam and video, son!

Props for not only sampling Daft Punk, but putting them in the Hype Williams meets Akira style video. Even better is the Zach Galifianakis video for 'Can't Tell Me Nothin'. Oh yes...act like you know.

Another New Feature

Aside from freshening up the look a little, i've also added in a neat little widget over to the side that will allow me to share a smattering of stuff i'm enjoying...right now, just audio clips. All you have to do is click on the box and listen to each track (full-length and in stereophonic sound). Look for reviews for a few of the albums the tracks provided are featured on. Yay music!

AMBFAD Book club

I've been meaning to post up on this excellent series of books for a while now, but i've barely had time to read them, let alone write any sort of review. The crux of the 33 1/3 series being put out by Continuum Publishing Group, is a little different than most of the music-based tomes out there and it makes for some fun reading.

Versus doing a full retrospective on a particular band or genre or time period, each volume focuses in on a singular album...one that the author finds monumental or inspirational. Just as each album is different from the other, so is the methodology each author (an interesting mix of various musicians, scholars, broadcasters, and writers) chooses to write about it. As illustrated from the handful i've read so far:

Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys

My first foray into the series, Dan LeRoy truly dissected this album forward and back. A truly comprehensive guide to one of the most underrated and amazing albums released in the last 20 years, it provides a framework to the environment surrounding the group at the time of it's recording and a meticulous look at the recording/production of the album itself. Made up from personal accounts from a myriad of folks involved in the creation of an album one-part hip-hop and one-part science experiment, it is a must for any fan of the record, genre and/or music itself.

Doolittle - The Pixies

Ben Sisario's provides a fantastic take on one of the most influential alt-rock albums of all time. Time-traveling between the past and present, the book provides both a historical perspective of the making of the album and a current view from various members of the band/production team on the eve of the massive reunion tour several years ago. Highlights for me included a car ride around Portland w/ Black Francis (AKA Frank Black), where he provides a track by track commentary as the CD plays in the car stereo.

Let It Be - The Replacements

I'm not a huge Decemberists fan, but Colin Meloy's book on one of my favorite albums by what is likely my favorite band, was a great surprise. Differing from the books above, Meloy chooses to focus on how said album acted as a catalyst for a kid growing up in Montana to expand his parameters and rise from a virtual wasteland to become an indie-rock luminary. Anyone who has had an album change their life will be able to identify and have a lot of fun w/ this one.

Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

Capturing the fervor around and creation of what could be arguably one of the best college radio/UK releases to see the light of day, Alex Green uses both personal anecdotes and a historical recount to tell the tale of a band who flirted w/ greatness before unraveling into musical footnote. Eloquently capturing the environment of the UK and the Madchester scene that gave birth to the Roses and a fusion of club and rock music serving as a soundtrack to a second British invasion. A great case for why this album was both personally important and relevant to a much larger contingent.

Those are the volumes i've actually read, but i've got Meat is Murder, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Who Sell Out, Double Nickles on the Dime, Led Zeppelin IV and The Velvet Underground and Nico in que. I'm going to take a stab at both reading and collecting them all...now totaling 49 different albums (w/ more due through 2007 and 2008), i've got a lot of ground to cover. I'm hitting the albums I find the most personally enjoyable/interesting first and then i'll fan out to the others. Luckily, most of the books come in at a digestible number of pages and can be devoured quickly if you have the time.

Want more info? Check out the 33 1/3 blog in the music links section off to the side. Enjoy!

Same Blog...Fresh New Taste!

As you can see, made some minor tweaks to zee blog...cleaner look and new banner (image courtesy of the great Yoshitomo Nara)! I have some other stuff to post up with and will do so soon. Some solid new music has entered into the radar screen and other geekery runs rampant in my head...I will exorcise it for your enjoyment. Watch the skies!

Pardon Our Dust

I'm working on a new look for this place...spiffing things up a little. Should be back to normal soon.

New Day Rising

Hey there, kids. I realize i've been neglecting you...but I just haven't had the time. Also rethinking my blog-fu fighting technique and think i'm going to go back to a more of a casual train-of-thought posting style than actually trying to be a better looking David Fricke or less fucked up Lester Bangs. I'd also like to go to a more unique looking template, but can't find one I like.

Outside of that, i've been on a Man or Astroman? kick...watched a couple of good docs on Joe Strummer and The Pixies...bought a few more of those 33 1/3 books (Tribe Called Quest and Zeppelin)...turned 36...and watched the twins go from babies to...

...little boys. They're walking, babbling, fighting w/ each other and just seem to change more every week. Just so amazing. Anyhow, hopefully i'll pick up the pace and get back on actually taking advantage of this as an outlet. So, thanks for sticking w/ me and stay tuned. Peace.

Yoga? Fu? Yoga Fu?

More music coming soon, but here is something that lives at the intersection of awesome and kick-ass to hold you over until then...

SPOON

'Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga'

After their last release, 2005's 'Gimme Fiction', I didn't know what to expect from Britt Daniel's latest release. While there were definite moments of said album I really enjoyed, that album's foray in to more of soulful sound than some of it's weirder more-angular sounding older siblings never quite hooked me to put it into regular rotation. It was with the taste of that album still in my mouth, that I looked forward to 'Ga * 5' w/ a little bit of trepidation.After listening to it at least twenty times since then, i'm happy to say that is album actually exceeded my expectations and seems to be getting better w/ each listen.

An amalgamation of everything from The Stones to The Clash to The Jam to The Pixies...this disc seemed to take equal parts of elements from all their previous releases and meld them together into one cohesive and enjoyable Spoon album. The band channels a Motown sound complete w/ xylophones and saxes on my favorite track 'You Got Your Cherry Bomb' (sample to the right) and peppers a tasty groove ditty w/ some of those trademark weird Spoon sonic flourishes on the also excellent 'Finer Feelings'.

Like previous albums, a lot the lyrics sometimes border on nonsense (yet sounding so perfect and clever coming from this band), but this one throws in a few political digs at the current administration...the 'nuclear dicks with their dialect drawls' line on 'Don't Make Me a Target' is excellent wordplay.

The album's official release date is July 10th, but you can get a taste via the blogosphere leaks that have been underway for weeks. That said, this is a keeper and worth shilling out $ for once it drops. Much like Voxtrot and The National, I see this one finding a spot somewhere on the list come year's end. SPOOOOOOOON!

THE NATIONAL

'Boxer'

Up until a few weeks ago, I hadn't fallen sway to the hype around Ohio's The National until catching a few tunes from this release on the countless blogs heralding it's impending release. Once I finally dipped my toe into the pool, I saw what everybody had been talking about since 2003's 'Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers' and actually ended up being so enamored I copped 2005's 'The Alligator' a day or two after first hearing this one.

'Boxer' seems to kind of bridge the sounds of the two previous releases together...full of both sullen folk and punchy indie rock. Throw in the addition of some orchestral flourishes via brass and strings (done up great on lead track 'Fake Empire') and you have one of those albums that you can't help but want to listen to from start to finish. Lyrically, this disc is just a moody as it's predeccessors and the oft sullen vocals of Matt Berninger bring to mind a noontime bender in a dark, nearly-deserted dive bar...only to have the music wash you in sunlight when you finally head into the world outside.

Like I said, this an album in the truest sense of the word...one to be enjoyed in it's entirety. If put into a corner, i'd pick the mid-album trifecta of 'Apartment Story', 'Start a War' and 'Guest Room' as my favorite tracks. Watch for this one to be placed atop many an indie cool kid's 'Best Of' list...maybe even mine. It's out now, so go pick it up!

VOXTROT

'Voxtrot'

Another bunch of indie darlings I was late to the dance on, the band Voxtrot initially caught my attention earlier this year w/ the title track from their mid-2006 EP, 'Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives'. Said EP ended up on a lot 'Best of '06' lists, but I didn't really heed the hype until much later. Hailing from the indie music mecca of Austin, TX, these kids seem to continue to build upon their sound and improve w/ every release.

The album kicks off w/ the excellent string-laden 'Introduction' that kind of crescendos into what the rest of the album has in store...a really fantastic multi-layered but less glossy version of 80's new wave for 2007. The band squeezes some wild sweeping sounds from the guitars and it meshes well w/ the keyboard flourishes w/out sounding as contrived as say...The Killers. Some of the chiming riffs found on standout tunes like 'Kid Gloves' and 'Firecracker' wouldn't sound out of place coming from a U2 album. It's the lyrics and vocal stylings of frontman Ramesh Srivastava that keep this album indie versus arena rock. I don't mean that as a diss either, as the duality of the wordplay/vocals w/ the big sounding guitars/drums make for a fantastic listen.

Like I said earlier, the album was released prior to me getting my review out and you can now purchase it by your normal means. A shoe-in for my 'Best-Of' list, I highly recommend picking this up.

I Lied...

...got my new laptop today and I have spent most of the day getting it to work. Promise i'll post up something next week...hopefully several things. Blip!

The Time

...has passed by so quickly since my last post. Work and the kids have left me w/ very little opportunity to post up, but I will remedy that starting tomorrow. I had a review of the new Voxtrot 75% done 3 weeks ago that i'll post now that it is out and i'll put up reviews of the just released album by The National, plus the upcoming Spoon and Polyphonic Spree releases too. I also went to my first live show in ages and will offer up my recap of Sloan @ the Metro in Chicago soon. A lot of good music floating around, so stay tuned. YOUNT!

WILCO

'Sky Blue Sky'

I've appreciated the evolution of Wilco's sound from album to album, mostly because each has (until now) been a significant departure from it's predecessor...constantly challenging your own musical scope as a listener to stay with them wherever they've decided to take you. 'Sky Blue Sky', however, initially hit me as a severely toned down version of their last release. After both 'AM' and 'Being There', I liked the sharp turn into the addition of power pop on Summerteeth...the experimental noise exploration on top of that via 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot'...the more organic instrumentalization/production on 'A Ghost is Born'...then, versus any sort of re-invention, we get sort of a continuance instead.

It's not that I don't like it or think that an artist must re-invent their sound w/ every new release, I just don't feel that challenged by it. To note, I wasn't quite in tune w/ 'AGIB' when it came out, but it held my interest enough to want and try and understand it...until it finally clicked seeing the songs live at the 1st shows Jeff Tweedy did w/ the current line-up of the band @ Otto's in Dekalb, IL prior to that album's release. 'SBS'...well, it sounds really, really, REALLY nice but there isn't that much else to dig into. You hear it once and you pretty much catch everything going on.

However, there are some interesting thematic changes from 'AGIB' to 'SBS' lyrically. Where 'AGIB' could be interpreted as someone struggling w/ a slight identity crisis and definition of one's overall place in life (which he was)...'SBS' seems to be based upon finally finding some level of self-awareness and comfortability w/ who you are/where you're at. For fans (like myself) who really study Tweedy's lyrics, that's where you'll find the progression from the last album to this one. While it's kind of cool and he's still at the top of his game lyrically, it will likely be lost to the casual or first-time listener.

Granted, i'll have to continue to spin it...definitely see some of these tunes come off live...maybe something will unfold. I'd go back to any one of the previous 4 releases to illustrate my love for this band. Right now, i'll just say I enjoy it even though it's the first time since 'AM' I feel like i'm listening to something by Wilco that is really well-done, but not at all that extraordinary.

Me, Myself and You(Tube)

Another good find on YouTube...the video press kit for De La's '3 Ft. High & Rising.' Brings me back...and check out the HI-TOP FADE-CUT MADNESS!!!

Let Them Eat Cake

Sorry for the lag in anything to read, true-believers! February was insanely busy w/ a bunch of new products at work and (a lot more fun) MY BOYS TURNING A YEAR OLD!!! That's right, a full 365 days and they are still in near-mint condition.

We had decent sized party w/ friends and family alike at a bar/restaurant called Durty Nellie's in Palatine. Nellie's used to a be a total dive hole-in-the-wall we would, in our much younger days, go to see bands play as we sweat our asses off in the over-crowded, closet sized 'music room'. Time passed...giant condos and row homes erupted from the earth in downtown Palatine...Nellie's closed their original location and re-opened as a huge restaurant/bar/state-of-the-art music venue. So, as we enjoyed a few pints of one of the gazillion micro brew/imports they have on hand while children squirmed around on our laps, we all had to laugh how times have most definitely changed.

Anyhow, everything went great...even though, after almost a full 12 months of barely a runny nose between them, Logan came down w/ a cough/fever thing that kind of took him off of his game. They got tons of cool gifts, including their first real lace-up shoes...suede PUMAS (red & white and black & white, respectively). They played around w/ the cool cake their mom had made for them and were absolutely wrecked by the time they hit the crib that evening. In the few weeks that have followed, they continue to change before our eyes...a lot of 'talking' and no walking yet, but confidently moving from one piece of furniture to the other. Owen has also developed an ear for music and will go all Beat Street when he hears it...the kid has moves. Logan, will now greet me when I come home from work w/ a big 'HIYYYEEEE!' and a wave of his chubby little hand. They rule and I love them dearly.

So, I do have some stuff to post up with soon...how about reviews of the upcoming RJD2, Wilco and Modest Mouse releases? More goodies from YouTube surfing? A few book reviews? Six-demon bag?! I promise not so long of a lag this time...unless either of the two midgets currently residing in my house decide to walk on their own accord. Peace!

TV Party

As stated in an earlier post, I only have a handful of 'Must-See TV' shows I watch religiously each week. NBC's 'Heroes' started back up a few weeks ago and is still going pretty strong. In fact, one could challenge it's actually picking up steam w/ Sylar's escape and the whole mommy/daddy thing w/ Claire (AKA THE Cheerleader). Not to over analyze, but the fresh take on the baggage that comes w/ someone finding out they have special capabilities you don't see in most comic-based films and TV, is what gives the show it's underlying charm. Much like my other favorite, ABC's 'LOST', the way that the characters are all interwoven into the crazy storyline is the other plus. It'll be interesting to see if they can keep the momentum going after the Summer break, but for now...still good stuff.

Speaking of 'LOST', the new season started last night and I wasn't disappointed. While I still refuse to miss an episode, the show has kind of slowed down a little. Part of the issue being, the large portion of the fall run focusing on the shit going down on the OTHER island w/ Jack, Sawyer and Kate. It's been cool getting a lot of insight into 'The Others' and all, but it's been at the sacrifice of the other gaggle of Lostaways and how they fit into the story as well. I read that the show's creative team has promised that they'll re-focus on what's happening outside of 'Other-ville' starting in a couple of weeks. That said, last night's episode was pretty action-packed and did throw a few nuggets our way...but you can never tell what's truth and what's a mind-game.

NBC is back to form w/ their Thursday night line-up. 'My Name is Earl' and the US version of 'The Office' are back to that Seinfeldian brand of quirkiness that just can't be forced. Both shows are creative as hell, have a strong ensemble cast and, most importantly, make me laugh. 'Scrubs' (in it's final season) and '30 Rock' are good too, but I usually get sucked into watching ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy' w/ Mrs. Famous during the same time slot. Funny enough, I should be annoyed w/ that show...but it ain't really that bad. Good schlocky fun, actually.

Outside of that, there really isn't much I have to watch...and yet I still find myself in front of the TV even when none of these shows are on. Digital Cable w/ 5 majillion channels to surf through will do that to you. I have actually found time to read a few books and will drop a triple-play Book Club post as soon as I finish the one i'm on right now. Until then...Peace!

I'll Be You(Tube)

Gotta' love the gems you'll dig up on YouTube...



Interview w/ the Mats circa 'Pleased to Meet Me' on some show called IRS - Cutting Edge or something. Check out the eyebrows (or lack thereof) courtesy of the Young Fresh Fellows.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Damn. Outside of Owen deciding during the game to finally crawl on all fours and the amazing run back on the kickoff...what a mess. Can't take anything away from Indy, especially their running game and defensive line...but the Bears just seemed to be dead men walking after the first quarter. Luckily for me, i'm also a Cubs fan and accustomed to finding solace in the phrase: 'There's always next year.'

So Fucking Party You Will Die

Back in 1999, an album came out that i'll admit now...I didn't quite get at all. An album since that time that I grew to love and, without sounding too corny, become completely entranced by. 'Since I Left You' by Aussie sonic collage artists, The Avalanches, is one of those records where upon first listen you can tell is something really unique and cool, but end up scratching your head over. Then, eventually, after tucking it away, you bust out later to give it another spin...and then another...and another, until...PING! It all comes together.

Not quite a hip hop or a dance or an electronica album, but equal measures of all of them combined. Really, it's the closest successor to the Beastie Boys sample-laden masterpiece 'Paul's Boutique' which is amazing for one glaring reason. After said B-Boys release and De La's '3 Feet High & Rising' dropped in the late 80's, the business of sample clearance hit artists hard and, in my opinion, almost neutered the genre of hip-hop/rap completely. Where albums like those cut apart and wove different pieces of music and sound into amazing tapestry, legal issues basically reduced the art (yeah, ART) of sampling to the wack practice of Diddy looping the hook from a Bowie or Zeppelin tune and rhyming over the top of it.

'Since I Left You' was a feel-good bouillabaisse of disco/flamenco grooves, hip-hop beats, movie dialogue and other 'everything but the kitchen sink' sound effects blended seamlessly together to create something special. Much like 'Paul's Boutique' and '3 Feet High' before it, billions of snippets were painstakingly assembled into one unified body of work w/ the sole purpose of making your head bob and your toe tap. Outside of the whacked-out tune to the insanely good video above, the rest of the songs are like musical Calgon and take you away to place where you can't help but feel good. For those that don't have it, I highly recommend adding it to your collection.

So, now you're probably saying: 'just awesome my man, but why review an album that came out over 6 years ago?' Well, after dropping this gem on the unsuspecting world and laying down a series of insane live shows w/ dozens of folks on stage to recreate what was on wax, they pretty much disappeared outside of a mix album and random side projects/DJ sets...most fans assuming they'd never hear from the band again...until last Monday. The following post showed up from the band on their website forum just a scant few days ago:

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007
4:49 pm

Post subject: a chinese new year message from the avalanches

-----------------------

abracadabra!

happy new year yall. we've
made a heap of mixes and stuff available while we finish the record. they wont
give you a hint of the new albums magical sound unfortunately, but they will
keep you pilgrims well nourished until the next harvest.

its a really thrilling time
for us right now as this record comes together, its so fuckin party you will
die, much more hip hop than you might expect, and while there is still no
accurate estimated time of arrival, were sure you're gonna love it when it
arrives.

much of last year was spent
cutting up the spoken word/instructional records we need to tell the albums
musical story, and we have some 40 odd songs we're narrowing down and finishing.
so its real, it exists, and you know we wouldn't be serving anything up unless
it was gonna give you that same special feeling that since has. funnily enough
its ended up sounding like the next logical step to since, we just had to go
around in a big circle to get back to where we belong.

and one day when you least
expect it you'll wake up and the sample fairy will have left it under your
pillow. so big up to clint for all his work in making the downloads available
for everyone to enjoy, and have a great oh seven.

The post came w/ a mix you can DL HERE and, like they said, not completely indicative of their sound, but a great sample of how fun this band and their music can be if you let it. Enjoy and PEACE!