New Music Releases: 5/20/08

Lots of veteran indie bands have new records out this week. Other than that, some people seem to be excited about the new Islands record.

Albums Released on 5/20/08:

Records I’ve Heard:

Scarlett Johansson: Anywhere I Lay My Head (Atco) – I first got a mini-crush on Johansson back in 2002 when she appeared in Ghost World. It’s the easiest thing in the world to hate on actors who decide to put out records (especially when they get engaged to other dudes). All that aside, the surprising thing about this record is just how blah her singing is. The phrasing in a lot of Tom Waits’ songs can’t be easy, but she chose the songs. While the arrangements from Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio) are interesting, the monotone is too much to overcome. The record’s not a disaster, but not something I’ll be re-visiting down the road.

The Explorers Club: Freedom Wind (Dead Oceans) – The Explorers Club nail the pre-Pet Sounds Beach Boys sound. From the Brian Wilson-esque falsetto and harmonies, to the summer / beach / school lyrical themes, to the arrangements, it sounds like the lost album between Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!) and Pet Sounds. This seems to annoy a few Beach Boys fans that I’ve talked to, but they do it so well, I think it’s a whole lot of fun. The press release mentions Emitt Rhodes, ELO and McCartney, but if you don’t like the Beach Boys, there’s no point in picking this up (but maybe download “Freedom Wind”). Recommended. See them at the Troubadour on 6/21/08
Download “Do You Love Me?”

On the Shopping List:

Bonnie “Prince” Billy: Lie Down in the Light (Drag City) – The more I think about Will Oldham as a person (from what I’ve read secondhand in interviews), the less I like his music. That said, I still buy most of his full lengths.

Local Interest:
Jeremy Jay: A Place Where We Could Go (K) – He’s getting a lot of really good press mentions. See the All Music 4/5 star review HERE. Stream it HERE. At the Echoplex on 6/20/08

The Parson Red Heads: Owl and Timber EP (Parson Farm Records) – Another solid set of songs from the local 60’s influenced band. I enjoyed their set at the Knitting Factory last night. “Crowds” and “Got It All” are my two favorites. See them at Boardner’s on June 17th.

Other Noteworthy Releases:
Annihilation Time, Douglas Armour, Ateleia and Benjamin Curtis vinyl, Blackstrap, Bun B, Castanets DVD, Dresden Dolls [Wiltern 5/21/08], El Madmo (mp3), Felix da Housecat, The Foxboro Hot Tubs – aka Green Day [Roxy 5/27/08], Free Kitten (mp3), French Kicks (mp3) [Echo 5/22/08], Indian Jewelry, Islands [Fonda 6/17/08], Joan of Arc (mp3) [Knitting Factory 6/6/08], Mason Jennings, Mates of State (mp3) [Fonda 5/28/08], Mudhoney (mp3), Mudhoney reissue (mp3), The National documentary and EP [Hollywood Bowl 5/29/08], Okay (mp3 and mp3), Orchestra Baobab, Stove Bredsky, Sybris [Knitting Factory 5/30/08], The Ting Tings [Troubadour 6/13/08], Trees, The VSS, Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet, The Wedding Present, Windsor for the Derby (mp3 and mp3)

Sinking Radio Reminder / Uncle Tupelo's "Gun"

Uncle Tupelo (look how young Tweedy is)

Here’s my weekly reminder to tune in to Little Radio for Sinking with Sylvia (and Sometimes Todd) from Noon – 2:00 PM on Friday. This week their guests will be the Parson Red Heads, who will be playing on air and guest DJ’ing.

Each week, the show features an official You Set the Scene pick which I eventually write about here. On May 1st the show had an all 7” theme and my pick was Uncle Tupelo’s cover of the Soft Boys’ “I Wanna Destroy You.” Other than really liking the song, I picked it because it was a recent purchase from Freakbeat Records in Sherman Oaks. For the first time, I had enough time to scour their used 7” section and had some good finds (I also picked up a Teenage Fanclub 7” from their Matador days and an old Lou Barlow 7”).

Growing up in the Midwest, I became aware of Uncle Tupelo from an older cousin who was in college at the University of Kansas in the early 1990s. Uncle Tupelo was an incredibly influential band and is credited with spawning the alt-country genre. No Depression magazine was named after Uncle Tupelo’s first record, which itself is named after a Carter Family song. Even though I was exposed to the band during their heyday, I didn’t really become a fan until after they’d broken up and Jeff Tweedy had moved on to Wilco and Jay Farrar had moved on to Son Volt.

“I Wanna Destroy You” is the B-side to “Gun,” the first single from Uncle Tupelo’s second record. As I mentioned it’s a cover of the Soft Boys’ classic, written by Robyn Hitchcock. The song is a classic fuck the establishment song with simple, pissed off lyrics. “They fill your mind with boredom / And they lead you off to war” and “If you’re gonna fight / Then you’re just dying to get killed.” The song worked in 1980 when Hitchock wrote it and it worked in 1991 during the Gulf War when Uncle Tupelo recorded it and it still works today.

If you’re wondering where to start with the Uncle Tupelo catalog, the 89:93 Anthology is a good place. I tend to prefer March 16-20, 1992, which is their acoustic country album (produced by Peter Buck) but the anthology gives you a better idea of what they were as a band. Occasionally the guys lay on heavy, faux twang and their songs grate, but it’s a minor criticism.

Stream some tracks at the unofficial Myspace page
See a live performance of Uncle Tupelo doing “Gun” (via Youtube)

New Music Releases: 5/13/08

I'm still a week behind, but hopefully I'll get caught up this week.

Albums Released on 5/13/08:

Things I’ve Heard:

Kassin + 2: Futurismo (Luaka Bop) – This is the domestic release (on David Byrne’s label) of Brazilian Alexandre Kassin’s 2006 record. The plus two in the group are Moreno Veloso (Caetano’s son) and Domenico Lancelotti. The record’s an easy breezy combination of samba, bossa nova and (occasionally) more psychedelic sounds. Americans Sean O’Hagan (High Llamas) and John McEntire (Tortoise) make guest appearances on the three bonus tracks from the Luaka Bop version. This music makes a lot more sense when you spend some time around the beaches in Brazil with a Brahma in your hand. Download “Ya Ya Ya” (features O’Hagan and McEntire).

Old 97’s: Blame It On Gravity (New West) – I wonder if all Old 97’s fans have the same sort of love-hate relationship with them that I do. Not being from Dallas, I wasn’t there from the beginning. I only got into them after they signed with a major label. Initially attracted to their poppier material, I later went back and discovered some of their twangier stuff. Around 2003, a friend of mine with a major man crush on Rhett Miller moved to LA from Texas. Fortunately for him, Rhett was working hard on his solo career and playing a ton of shows at Largo. I got dragged to all of them.

And that’s when the hate part of the relationship started to spring up. Watching Rhett swing his arm like a pendulum while he strummed the acoustic guitar with his blow dryed hair and a shirt unbuttoned to his bellybutton was just too much. Rhett moved away from LA. My friend moved back to Texas. And I stopped thinking about Rhett and the Old 97’s (with the exception of catching them at Stagecoach last year). So it was with apprehension that I put this one in the CD player. But guess what? It’s a damn fun record and complete return to form (recorded back in Dallas at Salim Nourallah’s studio).

The record starts with two songs that immediately call to mind classic Old 97’s tunes. As the record progresses you get some of Rhett’s (occasionally) corny love songs, but you also get Murry’s heart (and lead vocals on a couple of tunes) and Ken’s excellent guitar work. If you’d almost given up on Rhett and the band, you should reconsider. This one’s well worth picking up. See them at the Crash Mansion on 6/19/08

Local Interest:

The Submarines: Honeysuckle Weeks (Nettwerk) – The Submarines’ last record was all about the breakup of the couple that fronts the band (Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti). There were a number of call and response songs with the couple trading lead vocal duties. This time around it’s immediately obvious that they’re back together and couldn’t be happier about it. It’s a likeable, easy record to listen to – the kind of thing you’d be happy to hear coming from the speakers at your local coffee shop. “Xavia” sounds like a lost track from the Rentals’ Return of the Rentals. At the Echo on 6/13/08.

Other Noteworthy New Releases:
Acid Mother’s Temple, The Bellrays, The Black Angels [Troubadour 6/5/08], The Botticellis (mp3 and mp3), Bruno Pronsato, T Bone Burnett, The Daysleepers, Death Cab For Cutie [Nokia 6/23/08], Dosh (mp3) [Spaceland on 6/15/08], Duffy, Ecstatic Sunshine, Dan Friel, Tobias Froberg, Ghost of the Russian Empire, Girlyman, Daniel Givens, Group Doueh, The Instruments (mp3 and mp3), Lau Nau, Local H [Troubadour 6/6/08], Modey Lemon [Echo 7/2/08], Pendulum, Pomegranates, The Presets [El Rey 5/20/08], Royal Bangs, Skybombers, Teitur (mp3) [Roxy 5/23/08], We Are Scientists, Young and Sexy (mp3)

LA Live Music Listings: 5/19/08 - 5/25/08

Mezzanine Owls Continue Their Spaceland Residency Tonight

Another busy week. Tonight alone you've got Destroyer, Eli "Paperboy" Reed, The Kooks, Cut Copy, El Perro del Mar and Lykke Li (along with the great local bands at the Echo and Spaceland).

Monday 5/19/08
[Recommended] Le Switch / Adeline and the Philistines / I Make This Sound / Nap Tunes @ the Echo (Free) – Le Switch are currently on a West Coast tour with the Radar Bros. Tonight they’ll be playing half acoustic with special guests. I Make This Sound are a whole lotta fun live. NapTunes is Joe from Le Switch’s band. Adeline’s band includes two of the Movies, Aaron from Le Switch and some of the I Make This Sound folks. So Aaron’s playing in three bands on the off night in the middle of a tour with another band.
[Recommended] Mezzanine Owls / LoveLikeFire / The Henry Clay People / Eli “Paperboy” Reed @ Spaceland (Free) – Eli “Paperboy” Reed is a white dude from Boston who manages to sing like Sam Cooke. He’s gotten rave reviews from the likes of Mojo, The New York Times, No Depression and Nick Lowe. He goes on at 9:00 PM sharp. Mezzanine Owls are getting a lot of nice attention from some of the bigger national blogs. The Henry Clay People are one of the most fun local bands to see live.
El Perro Del Mar / Lykke Li @ El Rey ($20) – A couple of beloved Swedish bands.
Destroyer / Devon Williams @ Troubadour ($15) - I saw Destroyer at SXSW. If you love Dan Bejar, then you should definitely go.
The Kooks / The Morning Benders @ Wiltern (Sold Out) – I managed to miss the Morning Benders’ record release show, but I know Bronson’s a big fan.
Cut Copy @ Echoplex ($18) – Advance tickets sold out, so get there early to get in.
Porterville / Silver Needle / Bang Sugar Bang / Brandon Mayer & the Hidden Powers @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Bryan Adams @ the Roxy ($25)
New Found Glory @ Safari Sam’s ($15)
Jean Paul Yamamoto / Rainbow Arabia / Pinched Nerve @ Pehrspace

Tuesday 5/20/08
Eli “Paperboy” Reed @ Amoeba (Free)
[Recommended] Let’s Independent: The Soft Hands / The Savages / The Karabal Nightlife @ Boardner’s (Free) - Radio Free Silver Lake’s monthly night. I’m not familiar with these bands, but it’s always a good time.
[Recommended] Pocahaunted / Bobb Bruno / Magic Lantern / David Scott Stone @ the Echo ($7)
M83 / Berg Sans Nipple @ Echoplex ($19) – Indie electronica from France.
Clinic / Shearwater @ Troubadour ($20) – Odd bill. Jonathan from Shearwater recently left Okkervil River to focus on Shearwater full time.
Gran Ronde / Bloodcat Love @ Spaceland ($10 / Free w/ RSVP to Gran Ronde)
The Presets @ El Rey (Sold Out) – Aussie, indie dance band.
My Brightest Diamond / Pedestrian @ Hotel Café ($10)
The Pacific @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Wednesday 5/21/08
Adam Green / Tim Fite @ Troubadour ($15) – The Ex-Moldy Peach.
The Kills / The Child Ballads @ El Rey (Sold Out)
Anavan / Ariel Pink @ Family Bookstore
Adele @ the Roxy ($18) – Huge buzz around this Brit.
The Cave Singers / Moonrats @ The Echo ($10)
Foxy Shazam @ Knitting Factory
The Dresden Dolls / Smoosh / Lavender Diamond @ Wiltern ($25)
Club NME: The Hard Lessons / Children Collide @ Spaceland ($8)
Miss Derringer @ Silverlake Lounge ($10)
My Brightest Diamond / Pedestrian @ Hotel Café ($10)

Thursday 5/22/08
[Recommended] The Radar Bros. / The Parson Red Heads / Greater California / Ed Vallance @ Knitting Factory ($10) – Nice lineup. You already know I’m a big Radar Bros. fan.
[Recommended] Les Blanks / Amateurs / The Monolators / Correatown @ Spaceland ($8) – A record release party for Les Blanks. I haven’t heard them, but I like all the other bands.
[Recommended] El-P / Dizzee Rascal / Busdriver @ El Rey ($22.50) – Here’s a hip-hop lineup that I can get behind.
The Stand Uppity Comedy Tour: Andy Kindler / Eugene Mirman / Marc Maron @ the Echoplex ($18)
Hall and Oates @ Troubadour ($200) – No, that $200 figure is not a typo. And no, it’s not a benefit that I’m aware of.
French Kicks / The Weather Underground @ the Echo ($15)
Greasy Beats @ Silverlake Lounge ($10)
Sweet & Tender Hooligans @ House of Blues ($15)
Camp Freddy @ the Roxy ($20)
Bad Dudes @ the Smell

Friday 5/23/08
The Von Bondies / Die! Die! Die! / The Shys / Io Echo @ Safari Sam’s ($10) – Jack White’s punching bag. Download Die! Die! Die!’s “Sideways, Here We Come”
Pizza! @ Pehrspace
Graham MacRae / Xander Singh / The Lynx Technique @ Unknown Theatre – CD Release show for Graham.
Oliver Future / Radars to the Sky @ Echoplex ($12)
Hall and Oates @ Troubadour ($200)
Casiotone for the Painfully Lonely / Foot Foot @ the Echo ($8)
Illegal Substance / Hockey / The Growlers @ Spaceland
The Idyllists @ El Cid ($5)
Mandy Moore @ Hotel Café ($10)
The Germs @ the Scene ($15)
Teitur / Jesca Hoop @ the Roxy ($15)
Pocahaunted @ the Smell

Saturday 5/24/08
[Recommended] Japanther / The Pharmacy / Bad Dudes / Bipolar Bear @ the Smell – I like what I’ve heard from The Pharmacy. Pretty lo-fi. Download some tracks: MP3 and MP3 and MP3
Foals / Maps & Atlases @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
You Me & Iowa / The New Trust / Calamity Magnet / The Voyeurs @ Spaceland ($8) - This is a record release party for You Me & Iowa. Download "Dress the Stage"

Sunday 5/25/08
[Recommended] Sarah Negahdari / The Physics of Meaning / One Trick Pony / Malcolm Sosa @ Pehrspace ($5) – Sarah’s the lead singer of the Happy Hollows. Malcolm Sosa is the lead singer of Rademacher. Daniel Hart from the Physics of Meaning plays in St. Vincent and John Vanderslice’s band.
BigBang @ Spaceland (Free)
A Tribute to Charles Gocher & Sun City Girls @ Echoplex ($14)
Wisely / Alex and Sam / Ben Pringle @ Tangier ($10)
Russell Brand @ the Roxy ($25)

New Record Releases: 5/6/08

"I can't keep up/ I can't keep up/ Out of step with the world." That's how I feel trying to keep up with all the record releases. This updates almost two weeks old, but there were a lof of important local releases.....

Records Released on 5/6/08:

Records I’ve Heard:
Elvis Costello: Momofuku (Lost Highway) – Elvis Costello has had a long and varied career. I’m one of the fans that isn’t along for the ride on everything. My favorites are: My Aim is True, This Year’s Model and Armed Forces. While the next few have their definite moments, I honestly haven’t paid that much attention for the last 20 years. This one’s recommended for old school Elvis Costello fans. The record was recorded and mixed very quickly and has a sense of urgency and sloppiness that I admire on those early records. I give it bonus points for Jenny Lewis, Johnathan Rice and Farmer Dave Scher appearing on the record. At the Hollywood Bowl on 5/27/08

Earles & Jensen Present: Just Farr a Laugh Vols. 1 & 2 (Matador) – You’re probably not surprised that my sense of humor is extremely juvenile. These are all ridiculously silly prank phone calls, most of which made me laugh out loud. Get a buttload of free MP3s (and ringtones) at Matador’s website. Download “Christopher Fucking Cross”

Matmos: Supreme Balloon (Matador) – All synthesizers, no microphones. Pretty light album getting mostly good reviews. At the Echoplex on 7/13/08. Download “Rainbow Flag”

Morning State: You Know People I Know People – Indie pop-punk band (but not in a cheesy way) out of Atlanta. Spin compares them to Nada Surf. It’s a pretty fun record. Download “Spectacular”

((sounder)): Good Things Come and Go Like Bad Things (Volcom) – This is a musical project from the visual artist, Mike Aho and photographer Steve Stratton. Local artists Mel Kadel and Travis Millard contribute backing vocals and will appear in one of the videos. Matt from the Cold War Kids mixed it. Solid indie rock.

Local Interest:

Everest: Ghost Notes (Vapor) – The All Music Guide says “if you distilled Dark Side of the Moon, Pet Sounds and Revolver into a glass and poured it over the California surf, it would probably sound like this.” That’s about the highest praise you could give a band like Everest. I’ve written about these guys a ton already and this record doesn’t disappoint (it’s an early candidate for my end of the year top 10 list). I’m still patiently waiting for the vinyl. Highly recommended. See them at Spaceland on 6/16/08

Nik Freitas: Sun Down (Team Love) – Haven’t heard the record yet, but I enjoyed his recent set at Spaceland. He’s currently out on the road opening for Rilo Kiley. Download “All the Way Down” and “Sundown”

Meho Plaza: Meho Plaza (Better Looking Records) – Noisy local band that’s (starting) to get some love on Pitchfork. At the Smell on 5/31/08. Download “I Sold My Organs” and “The Beach”

No Age: Nouns (Sub Pop) – Noisy Crass loving local vegan band that’s gotten a whole lotta love from Pitchfork. Download “Eraser”

Nobody Presents Blank Blue: Western Water Music Vol. 2 (Ubiquity) – Producer Nobody along with singer Niki Randa.

Things I’ll Hunt Down:

Cheap Time: Cheap Time (In the Red) – The Other Music record store in NYC gave this huge props. Nashville kids influenced by early Sparks (not the shitty drink) and the Runaways. At the Echo on 7/30/08.
Van Duren: Are You Serious? (Water) – I’m a sucker for these lost classics. Other Music says: “It's a perfect mix of Todd Rundgren, Emitt Rhodes, Badfinger, Raspberries, and Big Star.”

Other Noteworthy Releases:
Animal Collective EP, Ersi Arvizu, Neil Diamond [Hollywood Bowl 10/1 – 10/2], Tim Fite [Troubadour 5/21], Four Tet EP, Gossip live, IAMX, Simon Joyner reissue, Kayo Dot, The Last Shadow Puppets, Lykke Li EP (mp3) [El Rey on 5/19], Jade McNelis, The Morning Benders (mp3) [Wiltern on 5/19], Nortec Collective [Hollywood Bowl on 9/21], Pattern Is Movement, The Republic Tigers (mp3), Russian Circles [Troubadour on 6/15], Shy Child (mp3), Spoon: A Series of Sneaks, Girls Can Tell on vinyl [Hollywood Bowl on 9/20]

Sunset Junction Lineup Partially Announced

Beachwood Sparks - The Classic Sub Pop Lineup (Rademaker, Scher, Gunst, Sperske)

Kevin Bronson of the LA Times is reporting that the reunited Beachwood Sparks will be appearing at this year's Sunset Junction. The Beachwood Sparks previously announced a show at Sub Pop's 20th Anniversary in Seattle in July. I probably saw the Beachwood Sparks around 10 times back in the day (1997-1999) - from their early days a six piece with Josh Schwartz to their later days post-Sperske. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like Farmer Dave will be a part of the reunion.

The lineup is shaping up well with Broken Social Scene, The Black Keys, Cold War Kids, Isaac Hayes, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra and Kinky already announced.

The festival takes place August 23 and 24th in the Sunset Junction area of Silver Lake.

Recently Announced Live Shows in LA

The Raconteurs / Imaad Wasif with Two Part Beast @ The Fonda on 5/18/08 (tickets on sale Friday at Noon)

My Morning Jacket @ the Greek on 9/21/08 (presale already started, public on sale Saturday at 10:00 AM)

The Hold Steady @ Avalon on 7/30/08 (on sale Tuesday at 4:00 PM)

The Gutter Twins @ the Roxy on 7/10/08 (on sale now)

Rancid @ the Fonda from 9/30/08 – 10/5/08 (presale with password starts Friday at 10:00 AM, otherwise Saturday at 10:00 AM)

Dwight Yoakam @ the Greek on 7/27/08 (presale now, public on sale Saturday at 10:00 AM)

The Faint @ the Fonda on 8/7/08 – 8/8/08 (on sale Saturday at 10:00 AM)

Stars @ John Anson Ford on 8/25/08 (on sale Saturday at 10:00 AM)

Boris / Torche @ the Echoplex on 8/3/08 (on sale now at Ticketweb)

The Dodo's "Fools"

Here’s my weekly reminder to tune-in to Sinking with Sylvia (and Sometimes Todd) tomorrow from Noon – 2:00 PM PST on Little Radio. On tomorrow’s show, funnyman Matt Dwyer will be filling in for Todd (who is currently out on the road with the Radar Bros.). Sylvia and Matt will be joined in the studio by I Make This Sound.

Each week on the show, they play an official You Set the Scene song of the day, and then I (eventually) write about it here. On April 24th, my pick was the Dodo’s “Fools.” The Dodos are a San Francisco indie folk duo that I got turned on to a bit later than a lot of people. By now, most of you have probably recognized that, unlike a lot of my blog brethren, I’m pretty careful before recommending new bands. Anyway, they’re one of a handful of new bands that I can happily recommend. (I really like 12 of the 14 songs on the record).

The press for the record has been solid (they’ve got an 81 on Metacritic). A quote on their website from the San Francisco Bay Guardian says: “Elliot (sic) Smith meets Iron & Wine.” I like both of those artists, but don’t think of either one when I listen to Visiter. People also compare them to Animal Collective, which seems to make Animal Collective fans mad (but what doesn’t?). The only real similarity is that they’ve got an experimental spirit (mostly in terms of tempos) and play within an acoustic music context. The drummer has a lot to do with that.

Download these tracks and decide for yourself - “Fools” and “Jodi”
Watch the video for “Fools” on Youtube

Ticket Giveaway: Adam Green @ Troubadour 5/21/08

Adam Green (ex-Moldy Peaches) is currently touring in support of his most recent solo record, Sixes and Sevens. Next Wednesday (5/21/08) the tour stops locally at the Troubadour in West Hollywood.

I have one pair of tickets to give away to the show. Email me [dukeufo at hotmail] and tell me what you thought of Juno. The contest closes Friday at 5:00 PM.

Here are the rest of his dates:

May
20 San Francisco - Rickshaw Stop
21 Los Angeles - Troubador

June
03 Washington, DC Black Cat (w/Lightspeed Champion)
04 Philadelphia, PA First Church (w/Lightspeed Champion)
05 Boston, MA Great Scott
06 Montreal, QUE Tulipe
07 Toronto, ONT Horseshoe Tavern
09 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
10 Chicago, IL Lake Shore Theatre

Download "Morning After Midnight"