Sunday, October 21, 2007

CMJ '07: A Quick Recap

Well, it's over. And I'm still exhausted, but satisfied. I had a great week working and hanging out at Indaba and meeting tons of people along the way. First of all, a HUGE thanks goes out to the wonderful folks at Indaba Music for letting Seth and I take over their work and home space for an amazing lineup of bands. Every person that climbed those stairs was happy they did in the end, and we couldn't have had such a great time without them. All of the bands that played were simply wonderful. I'll have all my pics and a couple videos up in a bit, but for now..let's look at what went on this week.

Best Show (Other Than Indaba): We Are Wolves @ Annex. Wasn't expecting these guys to do much for me live, but I was totally blown away. Talk about a nice way to rock out on a Thursday night. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.

We Are Wolves @ Annex

Worst Show: Black Kids @ Annex. Perhaps due to the technical difficulties, but it was an uncomfortable show going experience. Took the band too long to get on stage, and when they finally did, after one song their guitar amp blew out. I still like the band, from the four songs I've heard, but would have passed on this had I known it would have ended this way.

Black Kids @ Annex

Overrated Act: Cut Off Your Hands. One big "eh".

Cut Off Your Hands @ Indaba Music Loft

Underrated Act: Tim Williams. Saw him twice and was completely blown away both times. His album is quickly rising to the top of my favorites this year, and his live show has been brought to new levels with his band. Totally amazing. Followed, of course by Wakey!Wakey!, Mason Proper and...

Tim Williams @ Annex
Mason Proper @ Indaba Music Loft
Wakey!Wakey! @ Indaba Music Loft

Best crowd: Jukebox The Ghost @ Indaba. Holy Crap! Packed to capacity and all singing along. I found myself front and center of a sweaty sweaty room and the boys just nailed each number to their adoring fans. The "yeah's yeahs" during "Good Day" was classic. Close second? The intense fans at the Jesse Lacey and Vince Accardi show at Mercury. Pretty cool to see first hand.

Jukebox The Ghost @ Indaba Music Loft

Best meet up: Shiv from WOXY! I heard his voice across the way at San Loco and couldn't have mistaken it for anything. Was so nice to finally meet the guy, albeit short. Followed by West Coast favorites, Princeton and Let's Go Sailing.

Princeton @ Indaba Music Loft
Let's Go Sailing@ Indaba Music Loft

Best panel: The Almighty Blog. Was horribly disappointed the day before sitting through "PR On A Shoestring" (where they blatantly bashed blogs and gave no help for bands trying to get their names out on a small budget) but was brought back to sanity by the amazing panel for "The Almighty Blog." It was nice to see a very diverse panel with a unique conversation about where we are going in this crazy world of musical journalism.

I didn't see a whole lot outside of Indaba, but must say I had a great week seeing some of my favorite people and bands. Can't say I'm not ready to get back into a regular schedule though. My TV is calling me...

Friday, October 19, 2007

I'm just about ready for this week to be over and to go back to a regular schedule, but not before we host one more day party, and our rockin party tomorrow night. Today marks the welcoming of Princeton, followed by what is sure to be an amazing set from Eagle*Seagull, anchored by our dear friend Wakey!Wakey! I'll be a little late getting to the loft today to finish up some work for the week, but you can bet I'll be in a celebrating mood after that.

PS - Illinois was just added to Saturday night, to replace Catfish Haven. They will go on at 11 PM, following Jukebox The Ghost. Horrah!

The Indaba Loft is located at 268 Bowery, just below Houston. All parties are free, all ages, and 21+ for free beer (until it lasts).

This flyer was not the most recent one, as Mook has been replaced by the Late Greats at 3.

MP3s:
The Sister Lovers - He's Not It
Princeton - Blackbeard
Eagle*Seagull - Your Beauty Is A Knife I Turn On My Throat
Wakey!Wakey - Fallin' Apart

Thursday, December 21, 2006

thursdays is OUR day

Ah, the holidays.

We're ready to kick off the holiday weekend in style, officially. We hear certain other parties haven't lasted the Thursday night time slot, but it seems to be doing us just fine. Who doesn't like to go into work on friday morning still drunk? It only makes the day that much more fun.

I digress.

Tonight we are celebrating the holidays before we take off to our respective locations. I'd imagine there will be some mistletoe, some santa hats, and probably a eggnog or two.

Come out and celebrate your new favorite night with your new favorite djs...we won't tell the others.

10-4 at the skinny
w/ nora and rachael
174 orchard street @ stanton

AND

New episode of The BLOG SHOW is up at www.breakthruradio.com

This week we present their holiday special complete with brand new exclusives from NYC's own White Rabbits and Surefire, plus holiday tracks from Princeton, Aberdeen City, and Snowden. Enjoy!

Kid On Your Shoulders - White Rabbits
Where's My Christmas Morning - Princeton
Just Like Christmas - Aberdeen City

Love's On The Inside - Surefire
What Else Could I Say - Surefire
The New Standard - Surefire

Raised By Wolves - Voxtrot
Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives - Voxtrot
The Start Of Something - Voxtrot

Photograph - Eagle*Seagull
Beauty Is A Knife - Eagle*Seagull
Death Could Be At The Door - Eagle*Seagull

White Christmas - Snowden

Check out the hotness over at www.breakthruradio.com and click on "The Blog Show." Awesome!

Monday, December 11, 2006

Underrated's Top 25 Albums of 2006

I honestly despise "best of" end of the year posts. But I couldn't let my favorites be forgotten. And yes, if everyone else was jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, I probably would too. Who wants to be left alone?

Last year I compiled my favorite songs of the year, which I plan to do again, but I had to give props to the albums that were almost played to death for me this year. My list will be obvious to those who know me, and to those that aren't -- you will notice there is no Grizzly Bearesque, TV on the Radioesque like many other bloggers. Those aren't the albums I played on repeat. I'm much more of an accessible music listener. You'll be able to tell.

For the first time, I ranked the albums. I felt incredibly guilty while doing so but I thought it was time I owned up and made some decisions in my life. Without further adieu: my top 25 albums of the year along with my favorite songs from them. Keep a look out for the favorite EPs and best songs of the year that will be posted soon.

1. Annuals - Be He Me
There was no question that this would be in my top three, but when push comes to shove, this is exactly what I want in an album. Starting off with the explosive "Brother" and ending with the dreamlike "Sway," it's ordered, executed, and performed almost perfectly. When you have a sound that is musically "different," it's easy to lose people with its inaccessibility. But not Annuals. In his young age, Adam Baker has crafted a stand out debut that I'll never get sick of. It's quirky, addictive, and down right beautiful. I will always remember the first time I listened to. Expletives ensued.

  • Annuals - Complete or Completing

    2. Birdmonster - No Midnight
    Easily the most played album of the year, I even shocked myself by not having it as numero uno. But here's the thing. As much as I sincerely adore Birdmonster, both on and off the stage, and as much as I wore out No Midnight, the best is yet to come from this band. It's a fabulous debut, filled with numerous hits that you cannot help but scream along to. "Spaceman" could not have been a better closer, but it's the sometimes passed over gems of "Of Mice" and "Ball Of Yarn" that set this band apart from the others. They chose content over production, which I always admire and I thank the band for giving me an album that instantly makes me smile.

  • Birdmonster - Ball Of Yarn

    3. The Changes - Today Is Tonight
    I was, quite frankly, surprised at this album. It had been almost a year since I listened to their EP, and I feared that The Changes could become something of a novelty act. Their jazz infused lounge act sound was fun, but could it keep my attention through a whole album? The answer, of course, is yes. What The Changes have done on their full-length debut was combine the simplicity of a good pop song, and the creative juices needed to layer an old fashioned sound. It's instantly memorable, like you've always had these songs floating around your head. But The Changes are not recycled and hardly a novelty act. It's almost obnoxiously flawless, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

  • The Changes - On A String

    4. Lily Allen - Alright, Still
    Music is a very personal experience for both the artist and the listener, so I find myself constantly looking to artists to relate to. Growing up I listened to a lot of the Lilith artists, but hadn’t found a female artist recently that has fit in with my current taste. Until Miss Allen came along. Equal parts snarky and sweet, she plays with her lyrics in a way that is guiltless and fun. She has no shame, and I respect that. Plus, each song on this album is as the last, with "LDN" proving to be the summer anthem, while "Everything's Just Wonderful" has become part of my daily routine. I can't wait to see what's in store for this little lady. Hopefully her talent will override the hype.

  • Lily Allen - Everything's Just Wonderful

    5. Oh No! Oh My! - Oh No! Oh My!
    As soon as I finished listening to a burned copy of this album, I knew this band was on to something big. It's hard to classify exactly what their sound is, which I find fascinating. It's a true test of talented song writing, from the melancholy "I Have No Sister" to the dance anthem "I Love You All The Time." And of course, there's a catchy melody in every one of them. I keep my burned copy that I bought for $3 next to the official release. I can guarantee it'll be worth some money one day.

  • Oh No! Oh My! - I Have No Sister

    6. A Brief Smile - R.E.S.T.
    2006 marked a year where I lot of bands I have been following finally released their debut album. My musical experience with A Brief Smile is going on two years, with songs that have become almost as familiar as the back of my hand. Hearing those songs that I had sung along to live oh so many times on album was a wonderful gift. When I heard the final mastered versions, that same wow factor the first time I heard their EP came seeping back. It's undeniable the amount of talent and preciseness this band has. They strive for something grand, a new spin on a shoegaze pop that is fresh. Keep a look out. If this was their introduction to the world, I can't wait to see what is next.

  • A Brief Smile - This Machine

    7. Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time
    I will never forget listening to this album for the very first time. It was an impulse purchase on Insound and it sat on my desk for a couple days. I woke up in the middle of the night, restless and decided to listen. I sat in my Brooklyn apartment, chain-smoking, and listened to the album in full. I wasn't looking at anything in particular but it was as though the songs were being painted in front of me. This album is hands down one of the most beautifully sounding albums I've heard in a very long time. It's bittersweet and painful, with the songs sounding as though they are being performed in front of you. There's an echo in the vocals that make it almost ghost like. From the haunting "The Funeral" to the nostalgic "St. Augustine" this album is one that is worthy of every listen.

  • Band Of Horses - Monsters

    8. Kevin Devine - Put Your Ghost To Rest
    It's no secret that I have a bit of a musical crush on Kevin Devine. You may just want to write him off as another Brooklynite singer/songwriter but I urge you to seriously reconsider. I was very nervous to hear his major label debut on Capitol. I worried he was going to lose a bit of his edge. Luckily enough, Kevin kept his fundamentals intact and released a collection of work that is both heartbreaking and sincere. Never one to shy away from what's on his mind, Kevin has proved that a little hard work will take you somewhere. "Brooklyn Boy" is a perfect NYC anthem, while "You'll Only End Up Joining Them" gives me chills each time. But "Just Stay" is that lovey dovey song that really won me over. Okay, I'll stop gushing now.

  • Kevin Devine - Just Stay

    9. Liam and Me - There's A Difference
    This album is basically a non-stop party. From the beginning to the end, it's the kind of pop music that is filled with singsong hits. I'm shocked; yes shocked that this has not hit the mainstream music world. But perhaps I'm grateful it hasn't. I could listen to this album all day every day and never get sick of it. It's that good. Just try sitting still while listening to "Don't Say A Word" or "There's A Difference," or any of their songs frankly. It's impossible. Oh, and go see them live. So much fun.

  • Liam and Me - There's A Difference

    10. Princeton - A Case Of The Emperor's Clothes
    Quite possibly my favorite discovery of 2006, Princeton is a band that now has the (un)fortunate experience of me bothering them on a regular basis. One of my new years resolutions is to get this band to New York City, and goddammit, I'll do it. Their album was instantly a favorite, their happy-go-lucky tunes complete with handclaps and egg shakers are totally up my alley. I even appreciate the fact that it was recorded on their own and sounds raw. It gives it more character. Only downfall? There are just six songs, that I repeat an embarrassingly amount of times. Doesn't hurt that they are young little floppy haired indie rock boys too. This band is just way too likeable for its own good. I fear their safety.

  • Princeton - The Indifference Curve
  • Wednesday, November 29, 2006

    Where Is My Christmas Morning? | Princeton

    On Sunday the roomie and I decorated our apartment for the holiday season. It helped the absence of a puppy and couch. We thought it was appropriate to play some Christmas music, so I made a mix. Too early? I don't think so.

    Yesterday I arrived to work to find my first holiday card from the boys of Princeton. I have already stated how much I love this band, but now the love has reached that funny stage of adoration. They may just be my favorite band discovery of the year. The boys were sweet enough to send me an exclusive CD (I had #14 of 20), complete with a fantastically hysterical holiday song "Where Is My Christmas Morning?" They told me I was okay to post it for all of you to enjoy, because...well, this is the season to be merry.

  • Princeton - Where's My Christmas Morning?

    I also had the honor to interview the boys a few weeks ago and the article is up on BreakThru Radio. Here's an excerpt of the interview:

    Will you stick with keeping future recordings to a lo-fi, raw sound, or opt for something different?
    Jesse: Lo-fi is something that we were forced into because of circumstance. If we could do it over we would have wanted to do more to the recording. But we also enjoy making our own records and using our own equipment, which means no studio and therefore sound quality is sometimes compromised. The goal for the next record is to take a long time and try every idea we have for every song. We want to use string and horn arrangements as well as electronic elements so it is going to be quite different.
    Matt: We want to continue honing our own recording space and do the future records on our own. The idea of a large studio is pretty intimidating and I like the idea of living in the same place as I record. We can work at any hour with no restrictions, and hone the sound slowly.
    Ben: Future recordings will offer a large variety of instrumentation, experimentation and spankin’ new harmonies, all with a home-recording feel. What I really like about A Case of the Emperor’s Clothes is that it sounds like we are playing right there in the room.

    Read the whole thing here.

    P.S. - My new years resolution? Get Princeton to NYC!

  • Thursday, November 23, 2006

    The Blog Show: Best Of

    Well it's been seven weeks and we thought it was time for a recap. Plus, it's Thanksgiving so Nora and I thought it best to give thanks to all our favorite bands. Tune in today and all week to "The Blog Show" as we go back and pay respect where respect is due. And sorry if I sound a bit cracked out on this week's episode. I was on a lot of cold medicine.

    Head on over to www.breakthruradio.com and click on "The Blog Show."

    Here's the playlist:

    Brother - Annuals
    Modern Class - The Head Set
    Tigers - Division Day

    Modern Love - The Changes
    Someday - The Silent Years
    Saved Your Life - Army Of Me

    Rented A Tent - A Tent, A Tent - Bound Stems
    Lost (On An Island) - The Undisputed Heavyweights
    Pretty Mess - A Brief Smile

    Wound Up - Office
    The Blue Around You - The Benzos
    Fast As You Can - Liam & Me

    The Once-Great Gender Debate - Sure Juror
    Tokyo, Japan - Princeton
    Tonight - Ennui

    Welcome To Tally Hall - Tally Hall
    Be Born - Tally Hall
    Ruler Of Everything - Tally Hall

    Feel free to gather round the whole fam for a listen. Or maybe not. But either way it'll be up all week for you to enjoy.

    Happy Thanksgiving :)

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