It Only Encourages Them

I shouldn't be doing this, but I'm posting a band that someone actually sent me. I'm sick of reading emails from bands. Not that I read them. But they still take up space in my inbox. I have to read who sent them before I delete them.

So a guy asked me to give Slow Runner a listen, and since he pinned me against the wall and since I wasn't busy at the moment, I did. They are from South Carolina or thereabouts. I like them well enough. Reminds me of Pedro the Lion.

If I had an ftp that worked, I'd post some copywritted material for you guys to gobble up, but for now you'll have to go use friendster myspace facebook myspace.

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Checked out Cadence Weapon and Final Fantasy last night. CW was OK. The crowd wasn't as responsive but given the Sunday night and unique pairing with FF I can understand why. Once again Owen P. was incredible. I wish he'd play here more frequently. The crowd gave rapturous applause almost ever song. That's really the perfect word: rapturous. The rapacious raptors rapturousily raped the Buffalo buffalo.

That's about it for now. Slow week coming up, but Mario Galaxy comes out today and I can devote some of my free time to that.

Rap City in Blue

My CMJ week truly started off a day earlier with a free concert thanks to Rhapsody (of whom which few in attendance actually knew what they did). For those who don't know, they are the Rent-to-Own of the online music world. Without the "Owning" part.

A tight and talented by otherwise boring Brooklyn band name American Babies started the night. It was a trait, I’d experience many times over the week: yeah you sound fine and all, but I’d never chose you play your songs on my own. We all used up our complimentary drink tickets quickly during that set. The Little Ones played next and as no surprise were much better. In their case, I almost prefer their songs on my ipod. I'm still in love with "Cha Cha Cha" They’ll have an LP out shortly sure enough that I’ll be as hesitant to bond with as I was with Voxtrot’s. Pela provided the next hour’s amusement, and while I’ve always been a fan (occasionally a raging fan), I wondered where they were heading now-a-days. I’m still not sure. They have a big sound that made much more sense another hour later when the National brought their own anthems to fill the Highline.

So the National - they weren’t bad. I don't love them, but now I respect them.

Is this Blog Dead? BAH! I say!

I was musing over the status and future of this space yesterday, wondering if it was finally time to head into the ole electrical closet and throw the Big Switch. Like a belly-up goldfish circling in its own urea, this site has become a shameful reminder that I'm just as fallible as my anonymous commentors. I still get some great one's from Fall Out Boy fans from time to time, and that warms my heart.

But give in, I shall not. It's a different world we are living in today. To forsake it now, after 2.5 years, would mean it wouldn't ever be the same. I make no apologies. There's few things more lame than a blogger blogging about not blogging. And yet here we are. Because it's really the only thing that there is to say.

I've outlived Stylus. I don't have to think about *my* year end list for 5 whole weeks. I've also outlived Robert Goulet. This drink's for you Mr. Goulet.

I'll begin with my latest failure: CMJ 2007. The winner of CMJ was Bon Iver. It may have been a close call, but the very first official CMJ set I caught was also the best. This is no statement on the rest of the week’s talent -or maybe it is- but Bon Iver stood out among the rest. I wasn’t alone in my sentiments. Big thanks to Brooklyn Vegan who hosted both and only of his CMJ shows. If you had the misfortune to miss them this time around, he'll be back soon.

Bon Iver – Skinny Love (mp3)
Bon Iver- For Emma (mp3)

You can stream the entire album here. It'll get re-released early next year I think, but it'll still make my list of top albums of 2007. They (or rather "he" since he'll be solo this time) return to open up for the always wonderful Elvis Perkins in Dearland on Friday December 7th. Tickets are available here.

So there's that. It's a start.