the rich girls are weeping take notes

Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend (Live on Letterman) Oh, man. Not to...

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:08:00 -0400

Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend (Live on Letterman)

Oh, man. Not to get all nostalgic on you, but DAMN. Those were the days, my friends.

I just added Girlfriend to my iPod, and I’m kind of listening to it on repeat today. This is probably my favorite record of all time.

Order of Myths (2008) Trailer (via...

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:46:27 -0400

Order of Myths (2008) Trailer (via TheMovieTrailerMan)

“The Order of Myths” is coming out this Friday, July 25th in New York City.

Margaret Brown and three of the principal cast members will be around to do a Q & A on Friday night at the 8.05pm and 10pm screenings.

Also, Margaret will be doing Q & A’s at the Saturday and Sunday night screenings this weekend at the 6pm and 8.05 screenings.

Here is a link to buy tickets:
http://www.movietickets.com/pre_purchase.asp?house_id=9598&movie_id=62489&showdate=3

(via MB’s Facebook)

very small array » Lost Worlds Oh, how I love the GP.

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:03:49 -0400

very small array » Lost Worlds

Oh, how I love the GP.

"What’s on your iPod playlist right now? “The Cure, The Cramps, Portishead, The Horrors,..."

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:38:00 -0400

“

What’s on your iPod playlist right now?

“The Cure, The Cramps, Portishead, The Horrors, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Nuggets Compilation, Chester French, The Birthday Party, The Vanity Set, and My Bloody Valentine.”

”

- Refinery29: My Style — Peaches Geldof

Hey, Peaches likes The Vanity Set!

"I listened and ignored the primary melodic material. What’s left is a latticework of patterns,..."

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:02:41 -0400

“

I listened and ignored the primary melodic material. What’s left is a latticework of patterns, detailed and repetitive, energetic from the distance of 60ft away in a concert hall, but pornographically mesmerising with a score in the hand and the volume knob turned up dangerously high. In my most narcissistic moments, I like to imagine some 14-year-old kid sitting on her floor in Russia, blissing out on the pointillistic bumps and grinds I constructed in a cabin in Vermont.

This isn’t to say that Stravinsky’s orchestration was the only thing that appealed to me; I began learning the piano reduction, which allowed me to prolong my repetitive obsessions. In the Danse Russe of the first tableau, a bassline walks down a fourth, then a fifth — you hear this in Abba, you hear it in Beethoven.

A circular rhythm machine of oboe and bassoon twitters, and the bass comes in again. This time, though, it doesn’t hit the money note, but a terrifying, disorienting, evil f-natural. The oboe doesn’t care, and starts up the food processor again, merrily chirping along. The bassline comes back and plays the “good” note again. It’s a perfect cycle.

”

- Nico Muhly » on Pétrouchka

Oh, sweet baby Jebus — I have such a crush on you, Nico Muhly, right this very moment. Though I can’t say I had such a profound reaction to the Pétrouchka score, I loved it in my awkward and spotty days, too.

(Please read the rest. Please? This quote does this piece no justice, and I can’t just cut and past the whole thing.)

"One of the most visually compelling scenes in the film is when Diana Scott (Julie Christie) goes to..."

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:53:12 -0400

“One of the most visually compelling scenes in the film is when Diana Scott (Julie Christie) goes to Paris with Miles Brand (Laurence Harvey) to a “sophisticated party” with “astonishing people.” A game of Cinema Verité ensues — basically strip poker meets truth or dare meets musical chairs, where participants swap outfits and are then forced to reveal some truth about the person whose clothes they are wearing. Dressed in a man’s shirt, black tie, her own white patent go-go boots (and nothing else), Christie is a timeless picture of sexiness. The other guests, many of them men wearing women’s clothes, are a vision of beatnik style and decadence.”

- Required Viewing | ‘Darling’ - The Moment Blog

Oh, yay! They seem to have fixed whatever was keeping me from viewing posts for about two weeks.

Anyway, if you haven’t seen Darling, you should totally put it in your Netflix queue. Trailer below.

"These days, if you’re under the age of 35, odds are you’re not a jazz fan. Which doesn’t mean you..."

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:10:01 -0400

“

These days, if you’re under the age of 35, odds are you’re not a jazz fan. Which doesn’t mean you don’t like jazz music—some of your favorite music likely takes samples or at least inspiration from jazz. It just means that you aren’t actively seeking it out, and that it isn’t being marketed to you. Think about it. Have you heard about Moran? Maybe. Troy Andrews, also known as Trombone Shorty? Doubtful. The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble? Probably not, but you no doubt know one of their clients, Mos Def, who hired the musicians as his backing band for recent tours where they continually stole the show. Jazz, beyond the backing band or hip-hop sample, just isn’t out there with today’s pop music.

Just because jazz isn’t marketed doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist or isn’t thriving. It does mean, however, that expectations for success have to be tempered. Moran’s last album, Artist in Residence, for example, sold about 3,000 copies. The merchandise-minded Bad Plus can sell upwards of 100,000—still a far cry from is-that-jazz superstars like Norah Jones, who outsell all jazz labelmates on the order of millions of copies.

”

- GOOD Magazine | Adam Spangler on 21st-century Jazz

It has just occured to me that the feeder market for jazz fans — aging college rock dudes — is totally gone!

Said dudes no longer have to give up on the music they loved in the halcyon days — the bands keep throwing reunions and they tour and headline festivals and record kids’ albums. So there’s no reason for your average, aging intellectual white guy to like, grow up, sell all his post-punk records and listen to jazz instead.

The Full Madonna: A Vanity Fair Retrospective

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:45:00 -0400

The Full Madonna: A Vanity Fair Retrospective:

Ok, I know Michael Musto told us to stop talking about Her Royal Highness, but really — this feature is too good to be missed. It’s like finding your favorite fag’s Madonna scrapbook (or, uh, perhaps your own), without having to endure hours of stories of hookups-gone-wrong. Or something.

You’re on your own for snacks, though. Provide your own prosciutto and melon and San Pellegrino in a champagne flute — enjoy!

[N.B.: I clearly have “Who’s That Girl?” hair these days. Instead of “Rain” hair.]

Billionaire Boys Club Blog » EVERYONE NOSE Remix Video

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:37:40 -0400

Billionaire Boys Club Blog » EVERYONE NOSE Remix Video: Yay! Maybe this song will be a hit now? Maybe?

I keep meaning to mention this ...

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:36:18 -0400

I know this is like, totally gross (and too Internet-insular for words) — but does the video for The Ting Tings’ “Shut Up and Let Me Go” make anyone else think, “OMG, goatse!!”? (that link is safe, btw — just goes to the Wikipedia entry) TOTALLY, COMPLETELY GROSS! But, you know, in keeping with my thoughts on that band in general. Bleh.

Does the world need another indie band? - Features, Music - The Independent

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:36:00 -0400

Does the world need another indie band? - Features, Music - The Independent: That would be British “Indie,” but still. Um, no comment.

We’re trying not to be too upset that we’re going to miss both James Chance & The...

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:44:18 -0400

We’re trying not to be too upset that we’re going to miss both James Chance & The Homosexuals at Santos Party House AND Datarock at the Bowery tonight.

However, if you have more stamina, you should totally go!

"Siren isn’t the most comfortable of rock festivals. The sound systems are mediocre and the..."

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:40:01 -0400

“Siren isn’t the most comfortable of rock festivals. The sound systems are mediocre and the pedestrian routes between the stages are irrational. But Siren does place the tattooed-nerd fashion sense of indie rock in the diverting context of Coney Island’s other freaks and sideshows.”

- Music Review - Annual Siren Festival Brings Indie Amusements to Coney Island - Review - NYTimes.com

If I’m reading this correctly, Jon Pareles totally delivered one hell of a burn to the indie kids. Ha!

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - Music Monday: SCREAMING MASTERPIECE

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:21:00 -0400

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - Music Monday: SCREAMING MASTERPIECE:

Yes, momentarily, I’m succumbing yet again to the “I wish I was in Austin” blues. I think it’s almost every Monday when Cindy or I whine at one another about Music Monday. Back in the day, at the original Alamo, it was $1. It’s at Alamo South now…for $2.

Screaming Masterpiece…all Icelandic, all the time, and therefore full of some of my favorite things. Brought to you by the inimitable End of an Ear. (The Royal We miss Dan and Blake very much.)

Here’s some Sugarcubes to look at. This is one of my favorite songs ever.

thematerialreview: *vampire weekend. how fucking great is ezra’s...

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:04:00 -0400

thematerialreview:

*vampire weekend. how fucking great is ezra’s outfit?!?*

Um, yeah. That’s not an “outfit.” Dear children, don’t “pop” the collar of your ~~vintage~~ Dad’s old Brooks Brothers oversized cable cardigan. That is not a good look for anyone. Ever. And don’t even get me started on those deck shoes. Gross!

(Confidential to Material Review: usually, you’re pretty on the mark, but not this time!)

Best albums of `08 defined by naturalism, rawness - Yahoo! News

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:08:17 -0400

Best albums of `08 defined by naturalism, rawness - Yahoo! News:

Whatever you do, DO NOT READ THIS ARTICLE.

It will cause you to weep bitter, bitter tears about the state of music journalism — hell, journalism in general. Because quoting a band’s MYSPACE PAGE to close out your story is never, ever okay. Even if that band is Firewater.

I know, I know — it’s an AP wire story by a hack, but still! More people are going to read this than will hit every music blog in existence. And that’s slightly terrifying.

"“You’re not doing too well,” observes vocalist Reggie Youngblood, midway through..."

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:02:00 -0400

“

“You’re not doing too well,” observes vocalist Reggie Youngblood, midway through their debut album. His voice tends towards the stagey and mannered, occupying a curious middle ground between the diffident suburban wail that made Robert Smith the EL Wisty of existential angst and the mordant, carefully enunciated baritone of Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt. But it’s hard not to notice a hint of real emotion creeping into the next line: “all the blogs are about you.”

Butler shines a torch through the reverb-heavy murk of their sound, adding some order to a previously chaotic mass of 80s influences. Indeed, aside from the Magnetic Fields albums, Black Kids’ record collection seems to have been stolen from a hall of residence some time in 1985: the effects-laden guitars of the Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen, Peter Hook’s spindly basslines, the B-52s’ camp male-female call-and-response vocals, and, in what occasionally proves to be a kitschy affectation too far, the same blaring synthesiser sound that makes Prince’s Purple Rain a tougher listen than any work of effortless pop genius should be.

[…]

There are moments when Youngblood’s vocals become too affected for their own good - he keeps doing an English accent that has a tendency to lurch around the country like a tourist on a tight schedule - and moments when the lyrical punning becomes a bit torturous: “Like many a Mael, I’ve got angst in my pants,” opens I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again), a flurry of Sparks-related puns that even Youngblood’s bandmates seem to find painful, following it with a synthesised groan.

”

- Black Kids, Partie Traumatic | Pop | guardian.co.uk Music

Attention baby bands: It’s one thing to love your influences and pay homage to them. It’s quite another to actually commit your mushy cut-and-paste love to an entire album’s worth of songs.

I can feel myself turning into a hoary curmudgeon as I type this. Kids today! Music today! Success is not about revolution or innovation — it’s about whether or not some douche blogger (or, uh, legit journalist, even) can describe your sound using the right cultural touchstones.

"Sometimes an artist uses a cover to advertise something about him- or herself. Rihanna doing..."

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:30:31 -0400

“Sometimes an artist uses a cover to advertise something about him- or herself. Rihanna doing MIA’s “Paper Planes,” indie bard John Darnielle doing R. Kelly’s “Ignition (Remix),” country star Taylor Swift doing Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”— these covers are something like musical name-drops, ways for musicians to flaunt the breadth of their tastes or resist reductive stereotypes attached to their genres.”

- The problem of cross-genre covers. - By Jonah Weiner - Slate Magazine

I think this journalistic assumption is careening into some potentially reductive, treacherous territory.

I was actually totally on board with this article until this particular graf, the penultimate statement of the piece. And everything came to a crashing halt.

I mean, where to begin?

1) How about giving the citied artists credit for turning a song on its heel to give subtle commentary on race, class and gender instead?

2) And look, I don’t mean to be a nerd about The Mountain Goats or anything, but you can’t cite the Ted Leo’s “Since You Been Gone”/”Maps” cover and then not also mention that the best part of The Mountain Goats’ cover of “Ignition (Remix)” is the “Boys Are Back In Town” breakdown smack in the middle. (Oh and? What about their covers of “The Sign” — or “Tell Me on a Sunday” for that matter? Both smack down snobbery — transforming percieved pablum into pop treasures.)\

I’m probably too grumpy about this — it’s really hot and I need to go eat my lunch. Because really, how likely is it that you’ll ever read another statement about pop music that gloms Rihanna, John Darnielle, and Taylor Swift into one basket?

Logan Lynn: Feed Me to the Wolves (2007) (via loganglee) Lovely...

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:19:57 -0400

Logan Lynn: Feed Me to the Wolves (2007) (via loganglee)

Lovely finds like Logan Lynn are exactly why one suffers through the awfulness that is Logo’s NewNowNext music show. The video mix is generally okay, but the show “spotlights” — in poorly-produced segments between videos — the worst possible artists ever. It’s embarassing. If anyone from Logo is reading, please let ME come and book people. Seriously.

Anyway … if I’d been more on the ball late last year, I would have plastered this EVERYWHERE. Wouldn’t have shut up about it. Demanded remixes. Instead, Mr. Lynn is absent from the Hype Machine & gets only a brief, passing mention in an ArjanWrites entry over a year ago. (For the record, “gemo” should never, ever be mentioned again. Ugh.)

RIYL: M83, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Fischerspooner, Junior Boys. Sweet vocals, subdued electronics, heartwrenching lyrics. Hot boys and girls tastefully wearing American Apparel duds. (Yes, tastefully. Even a pair of green manties.)

"That’s what you don’t see much of in blogs or post-blog writing: a sense that the writer has to..."

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:47:16 -0400

“That’s what you don’t see much of in blogs or post-blog writing: a sense that the writer has to clear an obstacle, to work at saying what s/he is trying to really say instead of just setting down the first thing and thinking you can move on. As one-note as I find much young-urbanite prose, you can tell it’s been through the wringer. (This post, if it isn’t already obvious, hasn’t been. C’est la vie.) I read Lavinia Greenlaw’s piece in the new Believer music issue and felt like I was on a high wire. It was absolutely taut on the page; I hurtled through it but made sure to stop to re-read lines. Her conclusions were both obvious and not. (Too often writers, including me, settle for one or the other.) It contained no excess. I felt like my eyes were dancing; my brain, too. You simply don’t get that from many blogs, even the blogs I read religiously.”

- Schmusic

I need to digest this. Because I don’t want to be guilty of dashing out an off-the-cuff response and moving on. (Er, yeah…)