A Weekend in the City

The new Bloc Party album leaked on Saturday, and I managed to get my criminal hands on it last night. Having been a Bloc Party fan since the first time I heard "Like Eating Glass", I was pretty damn excited to hear what's next. I've only had the chance to listen to it a couple times, but I can already say that this album will come as a huge shock to anyone familiar with their previous work. The band's work up until this point has been fairly distinct: they have a fairly defined style and they're very good at what they do. This all changes with A Weekend in the City. I'm definetly not ready to review it or anything, but I will say that it's much, much more sonicially mature and intense. More aggressive, more hypnotic, more grandiose, and more political. What's missing (or at least, not emphasized) are the jangly guitars and bopping rhythms. There are definetly some cringe moments, but they are more than made up for by the occasional "holy shit" which this record will surely elicit from anyone who gives it a good listen. I don't think it will sell a ton of copies - it's too out there, and I don't think I'll listen to it as much as Silent Alarm - but like or not Bloc Party have made a totally unique album for 2007.

Updates on the way...

I apologize for the complete lack up updates recently - I've been super busy and haven't had much time to think about the blog. Luckily, I've got some fun things to post in the next few days, so if anyone is reading, stick around.

Lost / Auf

While this is totally out of purview of this blog, I feel I must post about last night's incredible television programming.

First of all, Lost. I love that they just opened with a huge money shot of the plane splitting in two over the heads of The Others. What was with that whole camp they had? We found out Henry Gale's real name, Ben - which did very little to diminish his creepiness. What the hell are they going to do with Kate? Is that new girl just fucking with Jack, or is she actually an okay person? I'm inclined to believe that despite their repeated cruelties, The Others believe that what they are doing is right. By extension, I think she is just a good person in a very weird situation.

Second, Project Runway. For me, this was the end of Project Runway. It can't get any better than this. I don't even care who wins at this point. The producers of this show really understand it's appeal: it's fucking hilarious. The gag reels were priceless, and getting to watch Heidi impersonate Milan was something I could have only dreamed of. And how about Vincent loosing his mind? Seriously, subsequent seasons won't be able to top this. No way.

Hey, remember music? Yeah, me too. In the next couple days I'll be posting a full track-by-track of the Killers album. Pitchfork gave it a 5.9 today, for whatever that's worth. Expect MP3 goodies as well - including my all time favorite Morrissey live recording, during which he freaks out and starts yelling. Finally, I'll be interviewing The Blood Brothers next week, which should be interesting. So stay tuned!

Album Streams

Here are some worthwhile album streams going on right now:

The Killers - Sam's Town
This actually doesn't work for me, most likely because I'm a Mac user. I've gotta admit, I'm curious to hear what they did here.

**Superhot edit: Brandon Flowers... Killer!

The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
Another band I've never really gotten into, mostly because of the vocals. Still, after a couple listens it's grown on me, even though it's essentially just John Cougar Mellencamp repackaged for indie kids.

New Voxtrot!

Here's a new Voxtrot song to get you moving on what could otherwise be a lazy Saturday morning:
Download: Voxtrot - Trouble from the forthcoming Your Biggest Fan EP.

The Crane Wife

Album Stream: The Decemberists - The Crane Wife (mtvU)

Much to my surprise, the new Decemberisits album is quite good. I never used to be much of a fan of this band, but after hearing this record, I'm convinced that it's on the best of the year.
In typicially grandiloquent fasion, the album is based on an old Japanese folk tale by the same name. It turns out that they really pulled off this concept. However, understanding why this record works so well requires that you know the Crane Wife story in advance - the lyrics themsevles don't fully tell the story, especially since it's broken into three parts with the third part appearing first. So without further ado, here's the jist:

While there are many variations of the tale, a common version is that a poor man finds an injured crane on his doorstep (or outside with an arrow in it), takes it in and nurses it back to health. After releasing it, a woman appears at his doorstep who he falls in love with and marries. Because they are in need of money, his wife offers to weave great silk cloths that they could sell at the market, but only if he agrees never to watch her when she is making it. They begin to sell them and live a comfortable life, but he began to make her weave more and more. Oblivious to his wife's diminishing health, his greed increases and he eventually peeks in to see what she is doing to make the silk she weaves so desirable. He is shocked to discover that at the loom is a crane plucking feathers from her body and weaving them into the loom. The crane, seeing him, flies away and never returns. (From Wikipedia)

Now, go and listen to the song cylce from this album stream. Hopefully you'll agree with me that The Decemberists handle this story incredibly well. I simple haven't heard music this pregnant with genuine emotion in a long time. The story is beautiful, the songwriting is excellent, and the production is both stark and invigorating. I really can't say about about this record. Plus, the Decemberists have publicly claimed that their official drink is Orangina, which is just about the most endearing thing I've ever heard about a band.

The Decemberists hit NYC on November 3rd, appearing at Hammerstein Ballroom. Alasdair Roberts and Levender Diamond will be supporting.

(Quick) Show Review: The Raconteurs @ Roseland Ballroom

Last night I caught a glimpse of The Raconteurs playing their second show in a row at the horrific Roseland Ballroom. I'm lucky to have to seen the band perform in a more intimate setting in the past (more on that later), so seeing them here was a real shock. I have to say, they did a wonderful job lighting up a room that can dwarf even the most gargantuan bands.

Sadly, I couldn't stay for the whole show, but what I was able to see was very impressive. The band hit the stage with a bravado that defied their inexperience, blazing through songs which, on the record, are frankly underwealming. It's clear to me that Broken Boy Soldiers really is the sound of a band just coming together, finding themselves in an awkward place between Brendan Bensons ironic poppiness and Jack White's blues sensibility and unique songwriting. It's been a long time now since that recording, and the band seems to have fully coalesced. The soungs sounded less like statements and more like blank landscapes on which the band was able to stretch and play to their heart's content. It was inspiring to see a band so free and relaxed.

After seeing The Raconteurs hammer Roseland, I'm eager to see where they go next. I never thought I'd say this, but I'd rather Jack White made another Raconteurs album then go back to The White Stripes.

The Blood Brothers

Seattle's Blood Brothers are about to release one of the best albums of the year on October 10th through V2 Records. Entitled Young Machetes and produced by Fugazi's Guy Picciotto, this record is far and away the group's finest.

For those of you that haven't been following the progress of The Bro's, here's the scoop: they're a five piece who have released four LPs since their inception in 1997. Their style is a difficult to describe - "post-hardcore" seems to make the most sense, as they employ extremely fast drumming and guitar work underneath blistering screamed vocals. Granted, this isn't the kind of thing your typical indie fan would be into - but give them a listen. They do what they do with such creativity and passion that it becomes difficult to ignore.

I've included what I feel is one of the best tracks from Young Machetes. Do yourself a favor and try to look past the screaming and the grind - if you can, you'll glimpse a nightmarish world of startling originality.

The Blood Brothers - Nausea Shreds Yr Head

Yes, this means I've found a way to host files again!

Monday News

Monday News:

- Be Your Own Pet have replaced their drummer with a 16 year old named John Eatherly. I'm glad they aren't hanging it in after losing their previous drummer, Jamin. However, I think he was the best thing about this band. Check him out with his brother in their band Jeff.

- Living in the city of brotherly love? Check out But For Now We Are Young's philly show list - it's fantastic.

- Sonic Youth played a free show in Thompkin Square park today.

- John Mayer is about to publish a book entitled "The Pioneer", which he is most definetly not. You can find exerpts from this soon-to-be Penguin Classinc on his myspace page.

- The singer from HORSE The Band was arrested last night on suspicion of robbing a gas station. That's what happens when you tour with Dragonforce.

- Psychobilly giants Tiger Army are going in to the studio to record their next record with Jerry Finn. Now all they need is a new website.

- Here's a list of upcoming tv performances:

9/25 - Tenacious D on TRL [MTV]
9/25 - Green Day (with U2) on Monday Night Football [ESPN]
9/25 - Death Cab For Cutie on Jay Leno [NBC]
9/25 - Joan Jett on Conan O'Brien [NBC]
9/25 - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on Carson Daly [NBC; R]
9/26 - Scissor Sisters on Conan O'Brien [NBC]
9/27 - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus on Jimmy Kimmel [ABC]
9/28 - M. Ward on Craig Ferguson [CBS]
9/28 - Living Things on Carson Daly [NBC]
9/29 - Snow Patrol on Jay Leno [NBC]
9/29 - David Cross on Conan O'Brien [NBC]
9/30 - The Killers on Saturday Night Live [NBC]