Jose Gonzalez Tickets on Sale

Tickets now on sale for Jose Gonzalez at Joe's Pub on March 22, 2006.

Tonight: Doveman at Tonic, then off to Avalon for the Motherfuckers The Juan Maclean. Anyone else going?

It's new to me: Irving (the band)

At 9:00 AM this morning, I listened to Irving for the first time and I think I fell in love. Natalie mentioned them when she first informed me they and “the Vox” were playing April 10th. What a perfect fit! If their EP came out in 2004 or 2005, bloggers would be all over this. Since 2003, they’ve done little, but are set release an LP in 2006. I can’t wait. You can’t visit them at myspace.

This song was an instant favorite:
Irving – The Curious Thing About Leather (mp3)

The first 2:02 of the song is an appropriate intro with a lyric-less melody similar to Willy Mason's Oxygen, but things really get going after that. The rest of the song is strong, but then it really hits overdrive when the horns come in at 6:08 and it spirals into a joyous refrain. At 7:07, it ends and I press repeat.

Two more from that EP:
Irving – The Guns from Here (mp3)
Irving – I Can’t Fall in Love (mp3)

And from the 2005 Dimension Mix, a tribute to Dimension 5 Records:
Irving – Army Ants In Your Pants

Get more at eMusic.

Editors B-side mp3s Part II

Here are tracks 4-6 from the Editors B-side EP "Cuttings".

Editors - Colours
Editors - Release
Editors - Forest Fire

I'm back.

Lots of catching up to do. Voxtrot has an official date in April to play the Mercury Lounge, (Monday the 10th) Tapes 'n Tapes (my most recent addiction) is playing nearly every small venue in the city in two weeks: Delancey, Pianos, Mercury, Rothko. I'll be at two of those at least.

Does anyone know of anything cool going on tonight? My brother'll be in the city and we'll be out and about...just not sure where.

Merry *hiccup* Christmas

It's 3 AM on December 25. If I was 8 years old, I'd be awake in 3.5 hours checking out the volumetric sizes of the mysterious boxes under the tree, and my stocking, stuffed with teezers. Now that I am older, I just got home from "the Place", which is the bar in town. In fact, I think the next town over has a bar called "the Place." I'm not sure if that's "cool" or not. It reminds me of the Cherry Tavern a little... with different people.

You go there x-mas eve to run into people you havent seen in five... six... ten years. It's weird. With a couple local scumbags tryin' to pick a fight with a few innocent mexican migrants, and well, now I know why I can't live here. Still, I like seeing the people I once knew. People who used to eat their boogers. Now they are doing pretty well. Some of them even have kids that eat boogers.

This is a lame post, partly because my parents' computer is from 1995. 32 MB Ram, 1 GB harddrive, and a 10" bulbuous screen.... and any correction takes 30 seconds for the machine to think. Forget about checking blogs for news.

Editors B-side Mp3s; Sell out in Minutes

"Like combustion." That's how I describe how tickets sell out for shows like the Editors just did. I almost forgot how fast it can happen sometimes, since it's been nearly forever since anything like this has happened. As Central Village points out, even the Arctic Monkeys took weeks to finally sell out. Luckily I was online right at noon.

Well... here are a bunch of excellent B-sides to cheer you up if you missed out (or jsut depress you). Maybe you'll still score admission to the Dark Room Annex show. So, for a very limited time:

Editors - Let Your Good Heart Lead You Home
Editors - You Are Fading
Editors - Crawl Down the Wall

I'll post 3 more next Wednesday from Cuttings.

UPDATE:
Does anyone out there have any of these B-sides they could send my way? Jerry Yeti's Kids, Make a Wish Foundation List:
Disappear
Heads In Bags
Come Share The View
Time To Slow Down
I Buried The Devil

Thanks Everyone! You've made my Christmas very Merry.

Bobby Bare Sr. to play Joe's Pub

Now's your chance to see the legend. Tickets are on sale at Telecharge (which never works for me). Are the Jose Gonzalez tix on sale or not?

Songs:Illinois has two tracks from Bare's first album in, well, forever.

Gritz has an interview.

Some Noteworthy Upcoming Shows:

-Matt Pond PA will play Bowery Ballroom on Feb 7 with dios (Malos) opening (tix), and Northsix with Youth Group (#2 fav album of year) on March 21 (tix).
*My review of the last Youth Group show*

-If you missed the Test Icicles last time, you'll have a shot to see them at Northsix on March 01. Tix. Warning: it's less dancey and more hard-core than what you'd expect from the single Circle Square Triangle. Not really my thing.
*My review of the last Test Icicles show*

Spin Show thoughts; We Are Scientists still Good.

Last night I was finally able to see full sets by the Five O’Clock Heroes, and the Spinto Band. In addition, and more importantly, I saw We Are Scientists for the first time since July.

Although I thought the Heroes’ first couple songs were weak, either they got better or my buzz was kicking in. By the end I could see some of the qualities that others have been raving about. The Spinto Band were also pretty good. I informed Angela that Sears used one of their songs –Oh Mandy- in a commercial. “What? They sing ‘The Softer Side of Sears?’” she replied…. which would have been great if they did.

Before the Scientists took the stage, I chatted with Keith about the band-buddies the Editors and Bishop Allen. He swears –and I should have bet him money because I know it aint true- the “Dark Room Annex” is actually Fat Baby. We’ll see about that. In regards to Bishop Allen, I was glad to hear that they are waiting for a deal with a label to release Tangerines… or Clementines… or whatever citrus fruit their Sophomore album is called. As much as I am curious to hear it, I hope they get a good deal so that it gets into the hands of as many people as possible.

The Scientists themselves eliminated all skepticism on stage as to whether or not they are still an amazing trio. The first song made me a little nostalgic for CBGB, but I was soon enveloped by a continual pummeling of my ears of catchy riff, verse, and refrain. They’ve mastered segueing from one song straight into the other, without pause or prompt. I can’t recall the set list, but they opened with Inaction and This Scene is Dead, played a couple B-sides including History Repeats, and closed with the Great Escape.

Can’t wait till their Bowery Ballroom show now. Tickets still available.

Which of The Following Did I Ride To Work Today?

A. My Battle Cat


B. Lego Formula One Race Car

C. Donkey Cart


D. My sweet BMX bike

Tickets finally on sale Wed

Shhhhh.

Ok...well since it'll probably be listed on Ticketweb first thing tomorrow morning, it won't be so secret anymore. I have word that the Editors tickets will finally go on sale at noon Wednesday, December 21st.

-Earlier today, I posted that even the two supporting bands are favorites of mine: the Head Set and the Picture.

(Thanks to Natalie for the tip)

The Correct Way to Christmas Shop

Step One: Make sure there is someone on your list that could use something from the Brooklyn Brewery.

Step Two: Go to said Brewery and drink away. Even though you've already done the tour multiple times, try hard not to be a wise-ass. Don't ask too many questions. You just want to get that free beer ticket.

Step Three: Have a few more drinks after the tour.

Step Four: After you leave, think "Didn't we need to buy something there?" and return to the Brewery.

Step Five: After you've purchased a few things, walk to the Bust Magazine Craftacular at the Warsaw. They have beer there.

Step Six: Although the free Sparks don't start for two hours, it's still the cheapest thing they have. Order two.

Step Seven: Watch as everyone sees you drinking and whisper to themselves, worried that the free Sparks has already started.

Step Eight: Try your hardest -although you're probably pretty buzzed at this point- not to insult the craftmakers... at least get out of ear shot.

Step Nine: Go home and have a few more before heading out for your Saturday night in the LES.

Three of my Top Ten... on One Bill!

I am happy to report that the long awaited Editors show (who's album ranked as my #8 of the year) will be supported by the Picture and the Head Set, (my #6 and #6B albums of the year). That will be at the Mecury Lounge on January 20th.

That's right! Three of my Top Ten will be represented on one single bill in my favorite venue in the city. Merry Christmas to me, huh?

If that doesn't make my Monday super happy... I have some more good news. The Head Set have recorded yet another brand new and excellent song. Man, I love this band.

The Head Set - Enemies (mp3) (definitely recommended)

I have a few B-side Editors to post later in the week, from Cuttings, so stay tuned.

Jose Gonzalez "Heartbeats" Commercial

WOW.

This will blow your mind. Watch (quicktime html). (Downloadable Zip files at bottom). This might be old, but several people I've spoken to havent seen it yet. So, if I'm late to the ballgame, just call a time out. In fact Brooklyn Vegan did very quickly mention it, but you might have missed it like I did, or not know how inspiring it is.

I remember when they did this over the summer.. I had no idea what it was for though.

WOW.

My love for that song just tripled I can't even say.

WOW.

(thanks Totes Umbrellas)

Here's flickr photos by someone who was there... with a ton of comments.

Found a downloadable copy via the Sony Bravia UK site:
Extended Verision (zip) 150 seconds
Others:
Normal Version (zip) 60 seconds
Behind the Scenes Featurette (zip) 7 minutes

Mason Jennings to Tour; 2006 release Coming

Mason Jennings - Crown
Mason Jennings - Lemon Grove Avenue
Mason Jennings - Keepin it Real

For a lot of you, Mason Jennings might only be known as the guy whom Isaac Brook founded his label on, Glacial Pace (an Epic Records subsidiary). But you’re knowledge of him should not end there... no! His album from 2004 is a Classic, with a capital C. Just one listen and you’ll agree: it just has that old feeling to it, as if it’s from a totally different era. But it’s so damn rhythmic, that it’s still current.

Well, he’ll be playing the Bowery Ballroom on Thursday Febuary 23, and we can expect another album out in early 2006.
When I saw him at Southpaw last year, that’s when I decided I abhorred Southpaw. The wait between acts with the irrating sitar music did not bode well. Then Jennings played for a little over two hours. This time around, if he plays that long again, I’m bringing comfortable shoes.

I serious… check this shit out! He’s a personal Yeti favorite. Let me know what you think.

No Yeti Dance: Best Shows of 2005

Best Overall Performer (tie):
Bloc Party and Doveman, for complete opposite reasons.

Best Show I don’t remember a single damn thing because of all the free Redbull and Vodkas (but I hear it was good):
Out Hud @ Eugene’s

Best show I busted my ass trying to get into and was worth all the effort:
Diesel U Music Awards @ Roxy: where We Are Scientists blew my mind yet again, and I was able to dance like a madman for Out Hud, and remember it!

Best Festival I went to, even though it was in the desert with 105 degree heat and I was dying:
Sasquatch @ the Gorge, WA –Arcade Fire were astounding, only outdone by local Issaquah boys Modest Mouse.

Best Show I went to only for the opener and then loved the headliner:
VHS or Beta with the openers of the Crimea and Upwelling (who were alright)

Best Show of CMJ(and possibly the year), that despite starting at 2AM and me being really cranky, convinced me that the Wrens really are the best band in the world:
Wrens @ Mercury Lounge

The other Best Show that started just after 2AM, and yet was absolutely fucking phenomenal:
Okkervil River @ Knitting Factory

Best Show that I sang my heart out and went crazy like a 12 year old girl on crank:
Bloc Party @ Webster Hall (2nd night)

Next Best Show that I sang my heart out and went crazy like a 12 year old girl on crank:
Art Brut @ Mercury Lounge

Best Line-up of the Year, that alone these performers are good, but on one bill, made for one immensely good show:
Doveman, Silent League, King of France, Alec and the Pelican Picnic @ Mercury Lounge

Two Best Shows in July that attracted a very dancey gay crowd, and I loved it!:
Junior Senior @ Mercury Lounge, Scissor Sisters @ Mercury Lounge

Best Show that didn’t even get good until an hour into the set, and then they continued to play an extremely long and stupendous encore:
Hold Steady @ Bowery Ballroom (2nd night in August)

Best Show that should not have been the best show, but for some reason, they rocked harder than anyone else this year… I mean, ANYONE!:
Presidents of the USA @ Irving Plaza… words cannot describe how surprisingly incredible that performance was. Not just one of the best of 2005, but one of the best I’ve ever seen.

Best Show of a Band that I didn't know that much beforehand because they were big in 2003 (I was "studying" in Europe at the time):
The Rapture @ Bowery Ballroom

Best Show that I thought would be full of people trapped in stone by Medussa, but instead was invaded by a ruckus of ex-Pats:
Arctic Monkeys @ Bowery Ballroom

Best Show to dance. Best Show to throw your arms up and pump your fists. Best Show to go crazy and make that Bloc Party show look blaaaaah:
U.S.E. @ Knitting Factory.

Oh My Rockness Top Live Shows 2005.

Oh My Rockness has their "Best Shows of 2005" up. I can't vouch for the ones I missed, but the ones I did go to leave me wondering.

Best Shows of 2005 (Oh My Rockness Picks):
1) Hot Snakes @ Bowery Ballroom
2) Thunderbirds are Now! @ Knitting Factory (Old Office)
Was there. Eh. Doesn't make my list.
3) Appleseed Cast, Chin Up Chin Up and Rahim @ North Six
4) Two Gallants @ Southpaw
5) Bloc Party @ Webster Hall (2nd night)
I totally agree about this one!
6) Sufjan Stevens @ Bowery Ballroom
Not a fan, and the performance didn't change that. I do like his Christmas music though!
7) Wolf Parade @ North Six (CMJ Day Party)
8) The Futureheads (acoustic) @ Pianos
This is my sole experience of the Futureheads. I've never even listened to their album. This show was pretty awesome. It made me wish the Futureheads WERE an acoustic band...except it was too packed. Crazy packed.
9) The Narrator @ 169 Bar
10) Todd P's Parking Lot Show (Lightning Bolt) @ A Parking Lot in LIC

Best Shows of 2005 (Readers Picks): (all big acts. they should have weighed the votes with venue capacity)
1) Arcade Fire @ Central Park Summerstage
#1? Come on. Is was good, but definitely not #1. Except by the sheer fact that 5,000,000 people were there, it probably got a lot of votes by OMR readers.
2) Sufjan Stevens @ Bowery Ballroom (yyyaaaawwwn) Did I mention I'm not a fan?
3) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Various Venues
Another puzzling one. I mean I loooooove CYHSY, but their live show is only so-so. (it's not as godawful as others rant about either).
4) The Decemberists @ Warsaw
5) My Morning Jacket @ Webster Hall
6) The New Pornographers @ Webster Hall
Very good, but I was drunker at the Prospect Park show, and so that one wins hands down.
7) Sigur Ros @ Beacon Theatre
8) Spoon @ Webster Hall
9) The White Stripes @ Keyspan Park
10) Hot Snakes @ Bowery Ballroom

I wasn't going to make my own Top Ten, but I think I will now. I'll be tough though.

Update: I'll have the No Yeti Dance Live Music Awards winners posted tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Silver Jews to actually play Live: St. Patty's Day

No, no, no. Berman, the guy from the Silver Jews, lives like 200 yards behind my back door; we’re in the same neighborhood and we’re all buddies. He never tours. He will never play live. So it’s any easy thing to share. Unless we can talk him into touring. We’re going to try real hard ‘cause the new Silver Jews album is spectacular and we just got to get him out. - Bobby Bare Jr.

I'm not the biggest Silver Jews fan, but I do know that getting Berman to perform live is a rarity. They'll hit the Webster Hall on March 17th... for a penny shy of $20. Tickets on sale tomorrow. Thanks Julseas.

I guess not even Moby fans are biting at those tickets for the Bowery Ballroom tonight. Has his star fallen that much?

Moby Tickets Available for Bowery 2nite

Here.Not that anyone is a fan. But just a heads up if you are. Tickets won't last long.

There is really too much better stuff going on:
1. @ Rothko w/ Beat Radio, Changes, Diggs, Morning Theft

2. Insound Party @ Scenic w/ Pela (and others)

3. The Picture CD release party @ the Delancey w/ Bravo Silva

4. Langhorne Slim and Richard Buckner @ Mercury lounge

5. The Double @ The Delancey (free: A-LIST@ONTHEGOMARKETING.COM)

Voxtrot - Last Mention this Week (I Promise)

Picture via Rachael.

Somewhere after my five-minute happy hour -when I threw back a quick pint before ordering my second- and before Voxtrot took the stage to rip through another completely satisfying set, I was able to converse briefly with Jason about their truncated tour and their plans for their coming months. I guess they don’t have enough resources to record a full-length so are hoping for a label to come along and help them. It boggles my mind how they aren’t signed to anyone. Crazy. In the meantime, they will be finishing writing two more songs when they get back to Austin, and go record EP #2. Pitchfork had reported that “a much-anticipated full-length is said to follow shortly thereafter [EP number two due for April].” Looks like it may be longer.

Not much to say about Voxtrot's set, except that the were once again worthy of all praise. And they played a cover of New Order that I guess they learned while they were stranded in Massachussets. I must add that once again the sound system at Magnetic Field was incredible. Makes me wonder why the systems at the secondary venues in the city (Sin-e, Rothko, sometimes Pianos) aren’t that good. I wish more shows were at Magnetic Field, even though it isn’t the easiest venue to get to, especially in the cold.

-I saw them last week too.

Voxtrot Van Story

From Ramesh's blog:
Then came Monday, the fateful day where we could get our van to a real mechanic and find out what exactly had been the cause of damage to the problem and what the cost of fixing it would be. Three auto shops and one billion phone calls later it became evident that it was in fact a spark plug. A fucking spark plug. Those assholes at the first mechanic had lied to us and tried to weasel us out of our van, saying it was totaled and offering us a used minivan with no odometer in exchange for the title.

Get to Magnetic Field early tonight. It's not that big, and it'll be packed.

Voxtrot is Spin.com band of the day today.

Samorost 2

This is non-music related, but I had so much fun playing this game over the weekend I thought I'd share. via Boing Boing.

When you have some free time, play Samorost 2, a point and click puzzle game! It's fun and the illustrations are marvelous.

Main character is the little white gnome whose dog has been kidnapped by the aliens. Your mission is to rescue the poor puppy.

Reside at Pianos in January

I was taking a quick look at the Pianos calendar, and in addition to the Tapes 'N Tapes (mp3s here) show on January 8th, they have some others that are of interest... and it's not even full. Get your pencils out:

Lolita Bras begin their Thursday residency on January 5th. They have a couple tracks I've been listening to regularly:
Lolita Bras - Her Own Conversation (mp3)
Lolita Bras - Common Distance (mp3)

On the 12th they are joined by Wilderness, and on the 19th by the A-sides (today posted on by MOKB with mp3s).

-The Picture, who also have their record release tomorrow at the Delancey, will play the 27th.
-Bishop "WTF is your Sophmore Album" Allen will play the 28th. Both these shows have been removed from the Calendar. Picture will likely open for the Editors on Jan 20, and Bishop Allen will open for WAS on the 12th.

Vote for the Plug Awards; Line-Up Rumours

The Plug Awards will be hitting Webster Hall on Ground Hog's Day, Febuary Second, 2-0-0-6. Although I'm not a National fan, I still might give them a third try to impress me. Holy Fuck and Beans are also on the bill, and while I missed them at CMJ to lounge downstairs between Cribs and Devendra, I hear they stunned all who saw.

I just got word that the unconfirmed artists they are looking at are good... REALLY good... performers we've been hearing RAVES about, but that I havent been able to see yet. Keep an eye on that line-up, because it has a lot of promise. My lips are sealed.

In the meantime, vote your hearts away for your favorite acts to win the Plug Awards. Vote here.

------------------------------------------------------------
In other news:

Hard-Fi (remember them?) will play the Bowery Ballroom on January 17th. They are not nominated for a Plug, but were nominated for a Mercury (and lost). Tickets on sale tomorrow.

Just Added: Voxtrot, Oh How I Adore Thee

Terrible news from our friends at Voxtrot via myspace this morning (I'm glad I joined that dang thing): "Voxtrot's van broke down and they had to cancel the second half of the tour."

But I just got over the wires that:

We'd like to announce a last minute show in Brooklyn, NY at Magnetic Field. It's an effort to try to make some of the money back that we've lost on this tour, so we appreciate all who can make it!

Weds, December 14th @ Magnetic Field
doors @ 8pm, Voxtrot at 9pm / $5
97 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, NY, 11201 (718) 834-0069
http://www.magneticbrooklyn.com

(Thanks to Kathryn for being my wire).

Tapes 'n Tapes ('n Tour)

One good thing about others’ year-end lists is familiarizing myself with some of bands I’ve missed. One such band I now know thanks to Gorilla Vs Bear (#15) and My Old Kentucky Blog (#1 of his Fastest Moving 5), is Tapes n Tapes. Their myspace site.

“As far as I'm concerned, if you have Wolf Parade on your list, you can't leave off Tapes 'n Tapes' new album. I'm not sure how I made that correlation, but it makes sense to me. Such a good record.” (G vs. B)

Download:
Insistor (mp3)
Cowbell (mp3)
Omaha (mp3)

The band is on the move and will hit the city of New York in early January. Here are all the dates:

1/4 madison, wi * @ the king club
1/5 pittsburgh, pa * @ quiet storm
1/7 new york, ny * @ the delancy
1/8 new york, ny * @ piano's
1/9 TBA
1/10 philadelphia, pa * @ the fire
1/11 baltimore, md * @ the talking head club
1/14 chicago, il * @ schuba's
1/20 northfield, mn @ st. olaf college
2/3 northfield, mn @ the cave
2/4 minneapolis, mn @ terminal bar
3/10 dallas, tx @ the cavern

Top Albums of 2005

My list is pretty obvious to me, but maybe you’ll be as surprised by it as I am by others, and say “Damn, that Yeti is an idiot.”
--------------------------------------------------------------

1. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah –S/T (website)
Released: 7 June
There is not much left to say about this album; hate them, love them, everyone has their own passionate opinion. Since June, the attention they have received has only heightened my repetitious playing of the album, trying to see if the attention is still verified. I’m still not sick of it and I love every note.
Live shows I attended: 02 March, 20 June, 20 July, 10 August, 07 September

2. Youth Group – Skeleton Jar (website)
Released: 24 May (01 March in Australia)
Not too much hate going around about these guys. If you don’t love them, I don’t know what to do for you. For the life of me can’t figure out why they aren’t huge. Nearly every song is solid, and I have yet to find anything tiresome. Youth Group have a strength all their own despite the happy happenstance of having a singer that sounds like Tim Booth and melodies that ring of James. I find something very refreshing in their songs. I’m glad to see it’s recognized on other Top-lists as well, (Torr, Productshop)
Live shows I attended: 16 September, 20 October

3. Bloc Party – Silent Alarm (website)
Released: 22 March
Classic "2005" by now, it’s definitely the biggest release of 2005 on my list, and rightly so. From the opening ambient guitar lines of “Like Eating Glass", joined by a pounding beat, Silent Alarm is intense. Every song is designed to be sung by a stadium-size crowd going apeshit. Or, that’s just me. I do tend to drink too much at or before their shows.
Live shows I attended: 20 February, 8 April, 28 May, 15 June, 9 September

4. Voxtrot – Raised by Wolves (EP) (website)
Released: Date Unspecified
Yes, this is an EP, but it’s too good to be left of the year-end list. I held it to a higher standard, and it’s still superb. 2006 is going to be a big year for them. If bands were horses, I’d put all my dough on this pony. Can’t wait for EP #2 and LP #1.
Live shows I attended: 11 August, 12 August, 16 September, 17 September, 07 December

5. The Joggers – With a Cape and Cane (website)
Released: 27 September
I feel like I could write a Masters thesis on this album. It’s so complex that over the ten songs, you realize that they each have three or four different songs within them. They change melodies, time signature, tempo, alternate modes and fluctuate keys at random. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the four-part harmonies and inventive melodies. To sing along, you better know your scales and arpeggios, as well as tackle some tricky skips. Yet, amidst all this complexity are puzzlingly catchy songs. Now onto my PhD.
Live shows I attended: 8 November

6. The Picture – Connect (website)
Released: 6 December
Outside this blog, you’ve probably never heard about the Picture. Despite having a late December 6th release, this album has climbed my play-count with unprecedented swiftness, and in only four weeks has crawled up with these other notable albums. Some might claim they aren’t distinctive enough to warrant such praise. I think that whatever they are doing, they do it the best. Keep an eye on them in 2006.
Live shows I attended: 5 November, 6 December

(6b. The Head Set - Untitled) (website)
Not yet released
It might not be “fair” to include an unreleased album on this list, but I’ve already mentioned one unknown so I might as well drop the other shoe. At least I should give the Head Set the attention they’ve received on my iPod. That’s why I’ve numbered it 6-B. The Head Set were a happy accidental discovery at Pianos and luckily I got the band to send me something –a 10 song ‘album’- and I haven’t stopped listening to it since. I’m not even sure if it’s the final versions of the songs. I listen to them at work, when I’m going out for the night, and even in the morning when I am tired and groggy. It really plays well at anytime of day. I’ve called them the “motherfucking gods of rock and roll” and I’m sticking with it.
Live shows I attended: 26 July, 17 August, 14 October, 31 October

7. Devin Davis – Lonely People of the World Unite! (website)
Released: 15 March
Lonely People is a super solid record that I super super love. It’s passionate, and has a strong beat for a backbone that flesh out what would normally be average singer/songerwriter songs. He alternates between acoustic and electric guitar, with the former being the superior, but the others don’t let the album fall apart. While it has a few moments that are predictable, they are still the most enjoyably composed songs by a Male Artist in a Leading Role of 2005. Serious now… this album is the smuggler’s dope.
Live shows I attended: 14 September, 18 November

8. Editors – The Back Room (website)
Released, U.K only: 28 July
Copycats these blokes are not! Editors lay down the dance beats themselves, and thus in my eyes beat Interpol at their own game. They won’t get respect from those who can’t hear the obvious variations between the two, but just ignore them. I’ve listened to this album a lot, and all the B-sides are equally as strong.
Live shows I attended: None

9. Stars – Set Yourself on Fire (website)
Released in the U.S.: 8 March
I bought tickets to the Stars show in April without ever hearing a note. I’m not sure what I heard or who I heard it from, but it was enough for me. I then got Ang to buy the album solely on my word that it was good. I loved it from the start. “Your Ex Lover is Dead” is such a perfect first song, it’s easy to forget there are 12 other great songs on there.
Live shows I attended: 30 April, 25 June, 18 August

10. The Hold Steady – Separation Sunday (website)
Released: 3 May
This is one solid rock album. Riff after riff, they kick my ass over and over. Somehow, while Craig Finn doesn’t really sing, it’s easy to learn the words and “sing” back.
Live shows I attended: 19 January, 06 August, 30 September

------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Ten (11-20):

11. Okkervil River – Black Sheep Boy (website)
Released: 5 April
Don’t forget these guys. OK... no one has.
Live shows I attended: 11 November

12. Wolf Parade – Apologies to the Queen Mary (website)
Released: 27 September
Dinner Bells is unnecessarily long, but other than that this is a damn strong album.
Live shows I attended: 17 September, 24 October, 27 October

13. Mountain Goats – The Sunset Tree (website)
Released: 26 April
The Best “Americana” album of 2005.
Live shows I attended: 29 October

14. Art Brut – Bang Bang Rock and Roll (website)
Released: 26 May
While I didn’t listen to album as much as I could have, they absolutely destroy in concert.
Live shows I attended: 10 November, 12 November

15. Levy – Rotten Love (website)
Released: 13 September
I expected they would only have one good song, but instead found that everything on this short album is solid.
Live shows I attended: 14 October, 02 December

16. Rogue Wave – Descended Like Vultures (website)
Released: 25 October
Even stronger than their debut; they only get better and better the more they play.
Live shows I attended: 17 June, 17 September, 02 December

17. We Are Scientists – With Love and Squalor (website)
Released, U.K. only: 17 October
It’s hard to separate W.A.S. from their live show, which defined for me much of the first half of 2005. To finally get a recording of those songs is great. I wish they’d stay small and in NYC.
Live shows I attended: 21 January, 15 April, 21 May, 09 June, 09 July

18. Cloud Cult – Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus (website)
Released: 22 March
Most of the songs on Advice are gorgeous; a few detract from that, but it still makes for a solid breakout.
Live shows I attended: 13 September

19. The Cribs – The New Fellas (website)
Released: 21 June
I listened to the Cribs maddeningly between July and September. I’ve fallen out of love since then, but I’m left with sweet memories of the affair we once had.
Live shows I attended: 14 September, 16 September, 26 November

20. Arctic Monkeys – Beneath the Boardwalk (Demo) (website)
Released: July?
The official release isn’t out yet, but this downloadable demo is so damn strong, it’s one of the biggies of 2005. If anything, it should rank even higher (and I didn’t like it at all at first). Official release will come January 30th and you can bet your mortgage they are going to have a huge 2006. Let’s hope they give as much attention to the U.S. as Bloc Party did.
Live shows I attended: 16 November

------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next 10 (21-30)(in alphabetical order):

Doveman, The Eels, John Vanderslice, Kaiser Chiefs, Magic Numbers, New Pornographers, Sam Champion, Stellastarr, Steven Malkmus, Tom Vek

More of an accurate reflection of my listening: My top songs of 2005 will be posted later this week.

A Brief Smile (Take Notes)

One of the most interesting bands to watch perform recently has been a young local band A Brief Smile. The most remarkable thing about them is simply how much they seem to enjoy playing.

When he's not singing, DL Tashjian threshes about on the guitar, while Louie pounds the skins and backs him up with vocals. In addition, Jared couldn’t contain himself behind the keyboard. It’s hard to put into words, but he was all over the place in that corner.

John, the bass player, contrasted all this excitement by doing just the opposite. He reminded me of the tuba player in Concert Band that learns to play bass for the Jazz Ensemble… as if he was just recruited last week. That’s not to say he wasn’t good. He was, and he somehow fit in perfectly with what the others were doing. The only person I couldn’t characterize was the other guitarist, Garrett: lost to the dark spot at Pianos.

In a nutshell, if you’re in a band, check out what these guys do on stage. Then steal it. They play at Fat Baby on January 25th.

Oh… and the music? Darn good. Especially these two:

We Could Get In Trouble (mp3)
And So It Begins (mp3)

VHS or Beta at Webster, Voxtrot at Mercury Lounge

On Wednesday night, I had to give up the Subways (with Open Bar), to get to Webster Hall at 10:00 for the ElleGirl Magazine party. I love ElleGirl, but I love free booze even more. Unfortunately, I hate the slowest bartenders in the city, two of them located at Webster Hall. In one hour, I only got two drinks.

VHS or Beta took the stage at 10:30 and launched into their funky 80s style that they do so well. When the place is basically empty, it’s hard to really get your groove on. The guy with the basketball –yes, a guy brought his own basketball- made me ponder using Webster Hall for some Indie-rock Dodgeball.

Promptly at 10:50, Ang and I rendezvoused with Jay and Christie, and we high-tailed it to the Mercury Lounge. Although I had to give up a free show with open bar for Voxtrot, it was well worth it.

They played a nice full set complete with all their EP-material and some absolutely fantastic new stuff. I was wowed. For the first encore, they whipped out “Whiskey” for the “bloggers”. For the second, so grateful for the appreciative crowd who didn’t want them to finish, they closed with “Wrecking Force.”

"Ramesh pranced his skunk like hair around the stage like he just scored a date with a super model while the rest of the boys play the role of indie rock band to a T." (Mr. Goodtimes)

If your looking for that Whiskey track, here it is, for a limited time:

Voxtrot – Whiskey

Their website has another track. You can also stream a newer song at myspace.
And if you don’t have the EP, don’t waste any more time and get it right now.

Smiths Covers: Magic Numbers and Bobby Bare Jr.

Drewo brought to my attention that the Magic Numbers also cover the Smiths. They played it on Radio 2, and now, here it is:

The Magic Numbers – There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (Radio 2 In-studio)

My favorite Alt-Country Rock and Roll superstar, Bobby Bare Jr., covered the song “What Difference Does it Make.” Warning: it’s a country version, so if you can’t respect covers that reinvent the original, move along, move along.

Bobby Bare Jr. – What Difference Does it Make

Read the rave reviews from the Morrissey forum:

"Rare" Magic Numbers mp3s

The Magic Numbers are decent in my book. Some of you out there love them, so this is for you. These aren't 'rare' so-to-speak, but rarer than being on the album. The quality isn't stupendous, but it's not terrible and they are interesting.

The Magic Numbers - Crazy (Beyonce Cover) Live at KCRW
The Magic Numbers - Close Your Eyes (Acoustic) Live at MPR

Close You Eyes was originally recorded with the Chemical Brothers, but I haven't heard that version.

Non-Review of the Subways

I won't rally review last night's Subways show at Rothko. Rachael Underrated says what I would say anyway. I'll just agree and say that of the seven people moving at all, we were five of them (Rachael, Angela, Prav, Kristen, and I). I come to expect lame-oid NY crowds, and sometimes do it myself, but this was insulting even by New York standards. I couldn't even glance behind me without wondering what everyone else was listening to. Me? I was listening to this:

Mary
I Want To Hear What You Have Got To Say
Rock and Roll Queen

This isn't depressing death music people. It's not avant garde ponder-while-you watch. Rock. And. Roll people. There's more rowdiness at Doveman show. Sheesh.

By the way... still... the Subways screamin' ruled. It's a damn shame it took this long for me to really get into them.

Vote for Top Five at KEXP

I have my own Top 10, Top 20, and Top 30 list coming sometime (maybe Friday), but I've been shuffling things around a lot. I've got set in place #1-3, but the next twelve all want to be the #8 spot simultaneously.

In the meantime, you can go vote over at KEXP for your top five of two-oh-oh-five.

Here are John and Cheryl's Top Ten. More KEXP DJ Top Ten are here:
Cheryl Waters - Variety Mix
Hopewell - Hopewell and the Birds of Appetite (Tee Pee)
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty)
Cloud Cult - Advice From the Happy Hippopatamus (Earthology)
My Morning Jacket - Z (ATO)
Elbow - Leaders of the Free World (V2)
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Self-Released
Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy (Jagjaguwar)
Stephen Malkmus - Face the Truth (Matador)
The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree (4AD)
The Black Angels - The Black Angels EP (Light In The Attic)

John Richards - Variety Mix
1. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty)
2. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Self-Released)
3. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (Vice)
4. Elbow - Leaders of the Free World (V2)
5. Death Cab for Cutie - Plans (Atlantic)
6. Various Artists - LIVE at KEXP Vol 1 (KEXP)
7. My Morning Jacket - Z (ATO/RCA)
8. Tom Brosseau - What I Mean To Say Is Goodbye (Loveless)
9. The National - Alligator (Beggars)
10. Cloud Cult - Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus (Earthology)

Look At Us! We Formed a Band!

Even Eddie Argos has to appreciate this. Some Livejournal user dug up this gem: Kele (now of Bloc Party) looking to start a band by posting an add in the Suede fanzine in 1997. Classic. [via Blog Party]

Still no word on those four holiday Bloc Party shows in the U.S.
Did they cancel them?

Slowlands

One band I saw this weekend was Slowlands at Lit Lounge. They were very good, but from a couple mp3s I have it’s hard to tell just how good. Fortunately, they have at least one song that really shows their strength, and by sneaking around their site, I found it. Highly Recommend.

Listen and I think you will like. I really take to the guy’s voice and the intro reminds me of something familiar that I can’t place at the moment:

Slowlands – One More Fire (Unmastered Version) (mp3)

They are on tour around the city. You’ll definitely run into them sooner or later. Might as well download now so that you know them. They play next on December 22nd at the Fat Baby. If I'm still in the city, and the venue is still open, I'll be there.

You put the "Fuck" in Neil Fucking Diamond

This morning I've been laughing pretty hard over at Heartonastick's compilation of the best-of comments from Neil Diamond's myspace page. Do yourself a favor and take a minute or ten to read them (from the bottom up).

Neil Diamond - Little Drummer Boy (mp3)

I was noting that several people refer to Mr. Diamond, like I once did, as "Neil Fucking Diamond." It seems to be a popular nickname. Google has a few other references to the name, only to be outdone by Johnny Fucking Cash.

Some people are trying to re-nickname me "Jerry Quick Fuck Yeti", after I posted this story. Uhhhh. No thanks.

Loose Record Logo

In response to the Emergency team raiding the Loose
Record show, they've redesigned their logo. Pretty hilarious.

Well, Lucky is coming, says that "the cops and fire department barred the door at fat baby for going over capacity[74]." This makes perfect sense, as I more or less noted in Brooklyn Vegan's comments:

If the capacity is at 74 or less, that means you don't have to have a Public Assembly Permit. They'll have to do a filing with the DOB (with a yearly fee), and have periodic inspections. Once you have that PA Permit (required for any assembly of 75 or more), standing audience capacity can go up to 1 person for every 4 square feet, according to the NYS building code. Sounds like the owner was trying to cut corners and fees.

Note to Hipsters: a "Dance Floor" requires a minimum of 10 square feet per person.

So, in essence, it's the NYS Building Code that's encouraging the non-dancing. No word of square feet per yeti.

Love Is All mp3

Pitchfork calls Love is All "the first great band of 2006."

That's a big claim to make, especially when you start assigning a year to a band. Do we consider the Arctic Monkeys 2005? Then again, this band is indeed from Sweden, and that is the new cool.

Here are a few tracks from PFM's Best New Music band, from the album "Nine Times That Same Song." Not bad, but I've only heard them once. You be the judge:

Spinning & Scratching
Make Out Fall Out Make Up

Insound won't have the album until January 24th due to a production delay. Pre Order now.

Levy @ Fat Baby; mp3s

Levy played Fat Baby on Friday night as part of a Loose Record sponsored show, with free Red Stripe. Most of you know Levy, which has become a favorite of the local NYC scene, and it’s easy to see why. While not ground-breaking, they write damn catchy songs.

When I first heard “Rotten Love”, I thought, “Sure, this is good, but I bet their other stuff will bore me.” So when I had to use my expiring eMusic credits, I grabbed the rest of their album. I was very surprised that the whole thing is consistent. I could post any tracks, but I’ll leave post the two “most popular.”

On the Dance Floor (the video is a sex tape!)
Rotten Love

Buy the rest here at eMusic.

Later in the night, New York’s finest bar-busters busted up the party. The firemen came in and more or less shut the place down by not letting anyone enter or reenter. I guess the owner had a lot of violations, and it was pretty hazardous -in theory- to occupy the space. One could interpret this as that I was endangering my life for rock and roll.

After too many free Red Stripe, we took off for Rogue Wave. Not much to review there since it’s pretty blurry, but they were really good.

Look at Me!

I joined this thing called Myspace today. I thought I'd just wait this fad out since Friendster and all the others were a more or less a waste of time, not that blogging isn't. If I want to have friends, I'll use craigslist. I figured "Oh... I'll be the first to join the next thing. Mypace is soooo 2005."

Well... while I wait it out, I had to make a profile to properly stalk around on the site. I thought about keeping zero friends just for spite. After a mere 6 hours, I got lonely. If you've been dying these past many months to have me an a certified friend, you're wait is over.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
By the way:
-"Cuddling" and "Wine" on craigslist-nyc gets 12 hits recently from guys seeking girls, and only 2 from women seeking men.
-"Wine" and "Sex" has 9 hits from girls seeking guys.

Draw your own conclusion.

(Note to hipster cuddlers: there's a girl out there for "cuddle" and "Sufjan Stevens.")

Mercury Lounge Ticket News

The Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge, and Webster Hall "box office" has finally -and unfortunately- upgraded to the internet age. That means when you go to the Merc to buy tickets, it's now in realtime, instead of having tickets pre-printed and stuffed in envelopes.

Previously, when a show sold out online, you could rush down to the venue and snag up the leftovers in the envelopes. (Although, not that much has been selling out recently).

Barely related:
I'm pissed that I have to go all the way home after work today just to pick up my tickets for the Bowery show tonight. I totally forgot this morning. Grrr.

Hipster Missed Connection

Gentrifried Rice is on the ball for catching this gem. Here's what is has to say (cause the craigslist link won't last forever):

You asked me what I was listeing to on my headphones at the Magic Numbers show the other night. I told you Devotchka and then the band came on. I'm disappointed I didn't get to say more to you. You were painfully cute. Hope you enjoyed the show.

That's not all. Stan ponders "what if"... what if the Magic Numbers didn't go on right away. Read the rest of the dialogue Stan creates between these star-crossed lovers. Hilarious.

And the credit goes to…

The new NPR feature on Clap Your Hands Say Yeah got me thinking that there are a lot of places I stumble across music, not just blogs. Here are some bands I found this year without the blogs' help. Blogs make finding new music much easier.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Credit: saw them listed a bunch on Oh My Rockness in late January, so I downloaded their demos.

Editors – Credit: We Are Scientists; After their shared tour in the U.K., WAS came back raving mad about them.

We Are Scientists – Credit: Bishop Allen, for sharing the same bill in January, and subsequent shows.

Bishop Allen - Credit: OMR, again.

Bloc Party – Credit: actually, just the Bowery Ballroom Website. I saw they had sold out two shows well in advance, so I got tickets to their Roxy show. I guess it was the blogs in the first place that made it sell out. (this was before I knew of the blogosphere. I found Ted Leo much the same way).

The Hold Steady – Credit: Spin Magazine and the Village Voice. Spin got me to their show in January which I didn’t like, but the Village Voice in June got me to reconsider. Good thing.

Devin Davis – Credit: Dave Deporis. Simply because I confused the two names. (due to Brooklyn Vegan posting about them within the same week).

Jens Lekman - Credit: New York Noise, for airing the hilarious video of "You Are the Light."

Doveman to play December 30

I'm sad everytime I miss Doveman. I've seen them twice this year and both shows have been one of the most remarkable things I've seen. Now they are playing again at Tonic on December 30th for $8. Their album doesn't capture how good they are live. I said earlier, it's like they are "moving at an incredible speed, yet remaining still."

Download my favorite two songs if you havent already.

Honey (mp3)
Teacup (mp3)

They also play a great cover of "Free Falling", and a newer song that blows my mind, called "Sunken Queen," but no mp3s of those have surfaced.