10.29.2007

Joy Division Reissues

The story of Joy Division is relatively well-known these days. If you haven't heard of Joy Division then you have probably at least heard of New Order, which is the band formed by the three remaining members of Joy Division after lead singer Ian Curtis killed himself. Ian Curtis' suicide (he hanged himself the night before the band's first American tour) has made their music and story that much more mysterious and fascinating. There has even been a movie, 2007's Control, based on Ian's life. But the best news is that they are finally reissuing Joy Division's two proper studio albums (Unknown Pleasures and Closer) and one compilation (Still) tomorrow. Not only will all three albums be remastered, but each will include a extra disc of unreleased live performances. Here is the tracklisting for each record:

Unknown Pleasures

Disc 1 1. "Disorder"2. "Day Of The Lord"3. "Candidate"4. "Insight"5. "New Dawn Fades"6. "She's Lost Control"7. "Shadowplay"8. "Wilderness"9. "Interzone"10. "I Remember Nothing"


Disc 2Live At The Factory, Manchester (13 July 1979) 1. "Dead Souls"2. "The Only Mistake"3. "Insight"4. "Candidate"5. "Wilderness"6. "She's Lost Control"7. "Shadowplay"8. "Disorder"9. "Interzone"10. "Atrocity Exhibition"11. "Novelty"12. "Transmission"13. "Novelty" (mono)14. "Transmission" (mono)15. "Love Will Tear Us Apart"16. "Glass"


Closer


Disc 1 1. "Atrocity Exhibition"2. "Isolation"3. "Passover"4. "Colony"5. "A Means To An End"6. "Heart And Soul"7. "24 Hours"8. "The Eternal"9. "Decades"



Disc 2 Live at ULU, University Of London (8 February 1980) 1. "Dead Souls"2. "Glass"3. "A Means To An End"4. "Twenty Four Hours"5. "Shadowplay"6. "Insight"7. "Colony"8. "These Days"9. "Love Will Tear Us Apart"10. "Isolation"Encore11. "The Eternal"12. "Digital"


Still

Disc 1 1. "Exercise One'2. "Ice Age"3. "Sound Of Music"4. "Glass"5. "The Only Mistake"6. "Walked In Line"7. "The Kill"8. "Something Must Break"9. "Dead Souls"10. "Sister Ray"11. "Ceremony"12. "Shadowplay"13. "Means To An End"14. "Passover"15. "New Dawn Fades"16. "Transmission"17. "Disorder"18. "Isolation"19. "Decades"20. "Digital"

Disc 2 Live At High Wycombe Town Hall (20 February 1980) 1. "Isolation"2. "The Eternal"3. "Ice Age"4. "Disorder"5. "The Sound Of Music"6. "The Eternal"Soundcheck7. "The Sound Of Music"8. "A Means To An End"9. "Colony"10. "Twenty Four Hours"11. "Isolation"12. "Love Will Tear Us Apart"13. "Disorder"14. "Atrocity Exhibition"
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart:

The Besnard Lakes Opening For Peter Bjorn & John

11/26/07 The Madrid Theatre, Kansas City

Whatever reasons I might have had for skipping the Peter Bjorn & John show next month are completely gone after finding out that Canada's The Besnard Lakes will be opening. If you aren't familiar their 2007 album The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse was one of my favorite albums when it came out in February and is still in my top 5 albums of the year. I got a chance to see them open for Dirty On Purpose at The Jackpot this past March and even though it was just an opening spot, they stole the show. It's a little disappointing to have them opening a show in the area again instead of headlining, but I'll take what I can get.

10.26.2007

Show Review - Architecture In Helsinki/Glass Candy

10/25/07 The Bottleneck, Lawrence


It's pretty sad now that I am working a normal 8 to 5 job that I actually get excited when I find out a show I'm traveling to Lawrence to see is going to be an early show. That also what might have been the downfall for opening band Glass Candy. With some of the best dance beats this side of LCD Soundsystem & Simian Mobile Disco they should have turned the medium sized Bottleneck crowd into a full-fledged disco. Sadly because they hit the stage a little after 8, I don't think the crowd was ready for it that early. But by the time they played their last song the area in front of the stage had erupted with spastic, dancing hipsters galore. If I had a few more beers and Glass Candy had gone on a few hours later...I might have actually joined them. The music was that good.


Australia's Architecture In Helsinki kept the dancing going, although they're more along the lines of indie-pop rather than straight up dance music. This was a show I went into with little expectations. I am a casual fan of AIH's last two albums but I had heard their live shows were great. They are a really entertaining band to watch play live. Not only do they genuinely have a lot of fun but they are constantly trading instruments between songs. At least four different members played guitar throughout the evening and at least three different played keyboards. At one point, the same guy played guitar, keyboards and busted out the triangle all in the same song. Without a doubt it was a great show and it definitely made me want to revisit Architecture In Helsinki's most recent album, Places Like This, again to give it another chance.

10.23.2007

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Follow the Lights EP

I knew there was no way that Ryan Adams could go an entire year with releasing only one album. Ryan's newest EP Follow the Lights came out today and once again he is joined by The Cardinals. Follow the Lights contains three new songs, three reworkings of old songs and a cover. The new songs are all more reminiscent of Cold Roses or Jacksonville City Nights rather than this years disappointing Easy Tiger. The old songs include a "Cardinals Version" of 'This Is It' from the even more disappointing Rock N' Roll. This version however is a lot easier to digest than the slick, over-produced sound that plagued Rock N' Roll. Two live studio versions of 'If I Am A Stranger' (originally from Cold Roses) and 'Dear John' (off Jacksonville City Nights) are both interesting enough to warrant inclusion here. The highlight of this EP though is a cover of 'Down In A Hole', which if you missed the 90's is originally by Alice In Chains. A sign of a great cover is if you can make it your own while still being able to pay tribute to the original and Ryan is successful here on both counts. If you are even a little bit of a Ryan Adams fan, that cover is worth the $4.99 price tag alone.

10.22.2007

I'm Not There OST

Well, I'm kind of excited about the new Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There, which comes out on November 21st. If you haven't heard about it Bob Dylan will be played by six different actors (including Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere and Heath Ledger) representing different phases of his life. What's even more exciting about the movie is the soundtrack. Just check out this tracklist of Dylan covers:

Disc 1
1. All Along the Watchtower - Million Dollar Bashers, Eddie Vedder
2. I'm Not There - Sonic Youth
3. Goin' to Acapulco - Calexico, Jim James
4. Tombstone Blues - Richie Havens
5. Ballad of a Thin Man - Stephen Malkmus, Million Dollar Bashers
6. Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again - Cat Power
7. Pressing on - John Doe
8. Fourth Time Around - Yo La Tengo
9. Dark Eyes - Calexico, Iron & Wine
10. Highway 61 Revisited - Million Dollar Bashers, Karen O
11. One More Cup of Coffee - Calexico, Roger McGuinn
12. Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll - Mason Jennings
13. Billy 1 - Los Lobos
14. Simple Twist of Fate - Jeff Tweedy
15. Man in the Long Black Coat - Mark Lanegan
16. Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) - Calexico, Willie Nelson

Disc 2
1. As I Went Out One Morning - Mira Billotte
2. Can't Leave Her Behind - Stephen Malkmus, Lee Ranaldo
3. Ring Them Bells - Sufjan Stevens
4. Just Like a Woman - Calexico, Charlotte Gainsbourg
5. Mama You've Been on My Mind/A Fraction of Last Thoughts on Woody Guthri - Jack Johnson
6. I Wanna Be Your Lover - Yo La Tengo
7. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere - Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová
8. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? - The Hold Steady
9. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - Ramblin' Jack Elliott
10. Wicked Messenger - The Black Keys
11. Cold Irons Bound - Million Dollar Bashers, Tom Verlaine
12. Times They Are a Changin' - Mason Jennings
13. Maggie's Farm - Stephen Malkmus, Million Dollar Bashers
14. When the Ship Comes in - Marcus Franklin
15. Moonshiner - Bob Forrest
16. I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine - John Doe
17. Knockin' on Heaven's Door - Antony and the Johnsons
18. I'm Not There - The Band, Bob Dylan



Go HERE to check out a couple of songs from the album including Sufjan Steven's version of 'Ring Them Bells', Cat Power's cover of 'Stuck Inside Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again', Jim James and Calexico performing 'Goin to Acapulco' and Jeff Tweedy's 'Simple Twist of Fate'. The soundtrack will be available on October 30th and if those songs are any indication, it will be freakin' amazing!

10.20.2007

Random YouTubes: Spencer Krug

In honor of my girlfriend's birthday on Monday I thought I would post some videos of the guy that she would probably leave me for if given the opportunity. Spencer Krug is a member of Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Swan Lake and Frog Eyes. He's extremely prolific and hasn't put out any music that I don't thoroughly enjoy.

First off is Wolf Parade performing "I'll Believe in Anything":


Next is Sunset Rubdown with "Stadiums and Shrines II":

Finally this is Sunset Rubdown again performing "Us Ones in Between":


10.15.2007

Concert Announcement: Dinosaur Jr

12/13/07 The Voodoo Lounge, Kansas City


Well, another classic alternative band is coming back through town again after I missed them the first time (see: Meat Puppets). This time the newly reunited Dinosaur Jr will be playing KC's Voodoo Lounge. It's been a while since there's been a show at the Voodoo Lounge I wanted to see. The place really does have great sound and there isn't a bad spot to watch the show so I look forward to seeing J. Mascis tear the place up.

Dinosaur Jr Myspace

10.14.2007

Show Review: Wilco/Andrew Bird

10/13/07 The Crossroads, Kansas City

It had been about four years since the last time I saw Wilco live. I'm not sure why it took me so long but it was well worth the wait. Wilco played to a sold out crowd at the final show of the season for KC's newest outdoor venue, The Crossroads. The band seemed to not really be that into it initially but by the end they said that the crowd won it over for them. Jeff Tweedy said the crowd was one of the best of the tour and that he "didn't want to have fun tonight". You could tell that all of them were genuinely having a good time, especially when Jeff Tweedy did a little impromptu "dance" during the final part of 'Hummingbirds'. Wilco played songs off every album they have put out, with four songs alone from their debut, AM. Nels Cline is an absolute monster on guitar and was definitely one of the best parts of the show. The overall highlight was after a fireworks display during 'Spiders (Kidsmoke)' Jeff Tweedy proclaimed, "Take that Elton John!" This show was one of the best concerts that I have been to in a long time.


Setlist: Via Chicago; Company in my Back; You Are My Face; I am Trying to Break Your Heart; Pot Kettle Black; Handshake Drugs; Side with the Seeds; Shot in the Arm; She's a Jar; Impossible Germany; Pick Up the Change; Box Full of Letters; Jesus, Etc.; Too Far Apart; Walken; I'm the Man Who Loves You
E1: Hummingbird; Hesitating Beauty; Hate it Here; Heavy Metal Drummer
E2: Red Eyed and Blue; I Got You; Casino Queen; Outtaside(Outtamind); Spiders (Kidsmoke)

10.12.2007

Radiohead - In Rainbows

Well, if you didn't download this on Wednesday you're missing out because over 1.2 million people did. There was a lot of hoopla in the last couple of weeks since Radiohead announced they were releasing their new album, label-free, on the Internet. When it was released on Wednesday it created a kind of excitement that has been lost for a long time: the excitement of a big album release day. With almost every album nowadays being leaked on the interweb long (sometimes months) in advance, there hasn't been another record in a while where everyone heard it the same day. If you read HERE, you will find that a lot of these songs have been played live for a long time, but they are all new to me. I tend to make judgements on albums a little quickly. Many times I think after a couple of listens that an album is one of the best of the year, only to end up realizing that it may just be a pretty good album (see: Dinosaur Jr., El-P and Okkervil River). After listening to In Rainbows over a dozen times in the past 3 days I can actually say this could definitely be the best album of the year. I actually think it might be their best work since OK Computer. I can't say yet if it's better than Kid A, but it just as good and after time I could see myself liking it more. Thom Yorke's vocals sound as good as they ever have. Some of his singing is reminiscent of his work with PJ Harvey and Bjork, in that his voice actually sound pretty which is rarely a word used to describe it. In Rainbows is about as mellow as Radiohead has ever been but each song has such a great depth and complexity to it that it's never boring. I thought about going through and listing some favorite tracks but I find every song so engaging that I can't even pick any favorites. If you haven't downloaded this album yet go HERE...I mean, c'mon, you don't even have to pay for it.

Also, there are quite a few pictures of fans artwork for the album but this one is still my favorite:




Concert Announcement: Electric Six/The Willowz

12/01/07 The Record Bar, Kansas City

This show was announced quite a while ago but since it's a little over a month away now it seems like as good a time as any to mention it. I'm not going to lie, I'm not that big of a fan of Electric Six's studio stuff. Other than 'Danger! High Voltage' (which if you haven't heard with Jack White on back-up vocals, it's one of the better songs of this decade. You can check it out on an unofficial Myspace page HERE) I only know a few songs of theirs. I have heard, however, that they put on a really fun live show. They just played The Record Bar last October and they must have liked it enough to come back so soon. The Detroit bands blend of rock, metal and disco is definitely tailored for a party...kind of like The Darkness without the spandex.



I was lucky enough to catch The Willowz at The Record Bar this August opening for The Detroit Cobras. Th Detroit Cobras seemed like a glorified bar band and we left the show a few songs into their set, but The Willowz made it worth it. Hailing from California, The Willowz look like they came straight out of the 70's and sound like they grew up listening to a lot of Zeppelin. The singer's voice can be a bit much at times but the well-crafted classic-rock tunes

Electric Six Myspace (official)
The Willowz Myspace

10.09.2007

Shows This Week: 10/8-10/14

I'm a little late with this but I started a new job and have been kind of sick so I haven't been on the computer much recently. Here are some recommended shows this week:

10/10 Interpol/Liars @ The Uptown
10/10 Lucero @ The Bottleneck
10/11 Toots & The Maytals @ The Granada
10/12 Vampire Hands/Thunder in the Valley @ The Record Bar
10/13 Wilco/Andrew Bird @ The Crossroads

The featured show of the week is two bands from Minneapolis you probably have never heard of...or at least I hadn't until a week ago. Vampire Hands & Thunder in the Valley are playing at The Record Bar this Friday night. Listen to Vampire Hands HERE, then listen to Thunder in the Valley HERE, and then come to The Record Bar with me on Friday!


Vampire Hands:

Thunder in the Valley:

Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

Zach Condon is quite an accomplished songwriter (and singer and multi-instrumentalist) already at such a young age. The barely 21-year old has already put out a solid debut (2006's Gulag Orkestar) and an even better although short EP (also 2006's Lon Gisland) all under the name Beirut. Neither of those albums are as fully realized as The Flying Club Cup, which came out in stores today. His finest work to date seems to be more of a full band effort. If you aren't familiar with Beirut they mix Eastern European Gypsy with folk and pop music. Condon's voice is one of the more captivating in music today, it just fits perfectly with Beirut's music stylings. I'm horrible at describing music to people so you just got to trust me, this is one of the best records of the year.


Here is a video of Beirut playing 'The Penalty' for France's La Blogotheque

10.05.2007

Show Review: Midlake/Minus Story

10/03/07 The Jackpot Saloon, Lawrence

Midlake's 2006 album, The Trials of Van Occupanther, has been one of my favorite albums since it was released. It was my number three album of the year last year and I find myself listening to it again every couple of weeks or so (with my ADD-ish listening habits, revisiting an album that often means it's very, very good). Not knowing what to expect with their live show, I was pleasantly surprised to find The Jackpot already well on it's way to being full when we arrived a good 30 minutes before Minus Story was to take the stage. By the time Midlake began, the venue was as packed as I have seen it in a long time. It seemed like every skinny, sweaty hipster in the Lawrence/Kansas City area came out for the show. My friend and I were discussing how Midlake's music just doesn't seem to be the kind of stuff that hipsters would take to. I can't think of any kids at shows wearing an ironic Fleetwood Mac t-shirt. Although if you take a band that has a Fleetwood Mac vibe to it and they sort of sound like Radiohead at times that may be enough to bring out the kids (that usually don't give a damn about the show...they just want to be seen). Midlake had a few sound problems at the beginning but three songs in they played 'Roscoe' and hit their stride. They never let up either until the end of the set. The few songs they played off their first album, Bamnan and Silvercork, fitted nicely between the tunes off Van Occupanther. According to the band, the Lawrence show was the last in a 18-month tour in support of that record, and they gave a great performance fitting of a tour ending show. The band seemed genuinely surprised and pleased that so many people came to see them and they repaid the crowd with one of the better shows of the year.



Lawrence's own Minus Story opened for Midlake. Minus Story is starting to make national waves as well with the release of this year's My Ion Truss on indie label JagJaguwar. The aforementioned album is one of the better albums from a local band in a few years. Singer Jordan Geiger sounds like a mix between Daniel Johnston and (Built to Spill's) Doug Martsch, which can be great or very bad depending on the style of music. Luckily, Minus Story's epic brand of indie rock perfectly compliments Geiger's unique voice. Seeing them live, Minus Story is chaotic and controlled; noisy and melodic. They definitely could be the biggest bands out of Lawrence in a while as soon as more people hear their records or see them live.

Midlake Myspace
Minus Story Myspace

10.03.2007

Dan Deacon Show Cancelled

So, ignore the post I made a couple of days ago about a Dan Deacon show in Kansas City. Apparently Dan cancelled a string of dates between October 11th through the 16th due to exhaustion. Unfortunately his recently announced show at The Pistol Social Club is included in those dates. I will let you know if he reschedules anytime soon.

Sigur Ros: Heima Trailer

The new Sigur Ros movie, Heima, is screening in New York City this Saturday. Here is the trailer to get you excited for when it gets a nationwide release:


Also, here are a couple of Sigur Ros' brilliant music videos. First is one for Hoppipolla:


This one is for Glosoli:

Show Review: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

10/02/07 Uptown Theater, Kansas City

So much has been made recently of Ryan Adams' meltdowns, freak-outs, and off-stage antics that fans that attend his shows now feel like it's a crap shoot and they don't know which Ryan they will get. Fans that attended last nights show at the Uptown Theater got the great Ryan Adams. To paraphrase a Rilo Kiley song when Ryan Adams is on...he's really fucking on. Last night Ryan Adams & The Cardinals were very, very on. The setlist included a song off almost every album except Rock N Roll, which in my opinion isn't a bad thing at all. Ryan also seemed in a very good mood and there was a good amount of banter between him and the crowd; about yelling out song requests (if you do it they won't play it and guitarist Neil will punch you in the neck afterward), Ryan quiting smoking (it was his second day smoke-free) and after a woman in the crowd yelled "Ryan I love you" he replied "well then I apologize in advance." My only complaint is that because the main floor of the Uptown was covered with seats the crowd was never able to match the energy of the band on stage because everyone sat the whole time. There were a few times when the band really started rocking out and it felt really odd to be sitting. Like I said, you never know which Ryan you will get in concert but just hope you get the same one that played in Kansas City last night.

Setlist: Good Night, Rose; Shakedown on 9th Street; Peaceful Valley; Games; Beautiful Sorta; The Sun Also Sets; Rescue Blues; Two; Everybody Knows; Wild Flowers; Off Broadway; Please Do Not Let Me Go; Goodnight, Hollywood Blvd.; Night Birds; I See Monsters; Cold Roses.
Encore: Dear John; What Sin.

10.01.2007

Concert Announcement: Dan Deacon

10/13/07 The Pistol Social Club, Kansas City

Seeing Dan Deacon perform live is always a party. His album isn't very captivating but the music translates to a geeky-hipster dance party every time. It's also possibly the most fun you can have legally. Dan was suppose to be opening for Girl Talk at The Granada on Thursday, but is now playing in Kansas City. He will be appearing at The Pistol Social Club which I had never even heard of until today. The venue is located in the West Bottoms off the 12th St bridge. I know this is the same night as Wilco (and Elton John for that matter) but the show time says 9PM and if it's anything like the Dan Deacon show I saw in Lawrence it won't start till after 11PM. So, if anyone else wants to make the trip after the Wilco show...let me know.

Dan Deacon Myspace