Video: Murder By Death, "Until Morale Improves, the Beatings Will Continue" (Live at the Showbox)

Video: Kevin Devine and Jesse Lacey, "Tomorrow's Just Too Late"

Review: Manchester Orchestra, "Mean Everything to Nothing"

Manchester Orchestra
"Mean Everything to Nothing"
(Favorite Gentlemen/RED)

For their debut LP, "I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child," Georgians Manchester Orchestra channeled a host of obvious of influences such as Built to Spill, Modest Mouse and Lord knows who else to bring together one hell of a moody album about Woody Allen movies and religion. And as random as it sounds, the combination played up the band's strengths and singer Andy Hull's vivid lyricism.

On their second record, "Mean Everything to Nothing," the Orchestra goes balls to the wall, immediately creating a frantic atmosphere with very little pauses. The second track -- and in my opinion, the highlight -- "Shake it Out" is one of the most aggressive hardcore songs, without actually beiing a hardcore song. The loud guitars and breakneck rhythms may turn some older fans off who liked the melodic fragility of "Virgin," but the sonically challenging nature of "Nothing" further diversifies Manchester Orchestra's sound. Bravo.

[bonus video]

"Shake it Out"

Review: Ace Enders & a Million Different People, "When I Hit the Ground"

Ace Enders & a Million Different People
“When I Hit the Ground”
(Vagrant)

First of all, has Drive Thru rendered themselves to the point where they have do these joint releases with Vagrant? What did the Reines siblings do (or not do) exactly? In either case, bravo for Rich Egan.

Through the albums he’s done with the Early November and I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business, Ace Enders has proved himself to be a rather a prolific and eclectic songwriter. If you’re in the mood for some pop-punk or some country-tinged indie rock, Enders has probably written a song that you’ve liked at one time or another. Personally, I thought he was going to continue the folk-y feel of “I Can Make a Mess…” with his latest solo release, “When I Hit the Ground.”

Taking a cue from 90’s balladeers like Goo Goo Dolls and Third Eye Blind, “When I Hit the Ground” is a more radio-ready pop-friendly rock record. Not to take anything away from Enders and company. In fact, this might be his most consistent work to date.

Through songs like “Sweeter Light,” “Bring Back Love,” and “When I Hit the Ground,” Enders captures modern heartbreak in a way that this album should resonate with teeny bopper kids who are graduating from Plain White T’s to sardonic hipsters.

Video: Jets to Brazil, "Sweet Avenue"

There was this period between the latter half of 1999 and almost all of 2000 where I saw Jets to Brazil for what seemed about five billion times (though in reality it was probably thrice [not the band]). The other day I was thinking about how awesome this song is and it actually bummed me out a little that I'll never see them play again.

Redux: Rilo Kiley, “Takeoffs and Landings”

(Rilo Kiley, "Science Vs. Romance")

Every now and then, I’ll have a record on heavy rotation and then I’ll put it aside for awhile before rediscovering it at a later date. Between Rilo Kiley’s releases, I’ve always favored “The Execution of All Things.” The production and songwriting are stellar and displays the best collaborative effort between Blake Sennett and Jenny Lewis, the band’s primary songwriters. Not to say anything bad about their debut, “Takeoffs and Landings,” but to paraphrase something that Lewis said in an interview, it’s a glorified demo.

Which is not to say that it’s an incomplete record; in fact, it’s probably a far more realized effort than “More Adventurous” or “Under the Blacklight.”

This morning, in a fit of sensitive artistry, I listened to “Takeoffs” on my iPod and took into the morose ambiance of the album. For all its raw attributes and sonic meandering, it’s a comforting record to listen to on a lonely December day.

Bravo, Rilo Kiley.

Review: Kevin Devine & the Goddamn Band, "I Could Be with Anyone"

Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band
“I Could Be with Anyone”
(Self-Released)

Right now, this four-track Extended Player is available through Mr. Devine himself on his tour and through iTunes. Whether you believe in the service that Steve Jobs provides for people to download single tracks at a low price, there’s something to be said about the quality of the EP that’s presented, namely that it’s kind of awesome.

To be frank, Kevin Devine could fart over power chords and I’d still buy it. I have all of his records dating back from the early Miracle of 86 records all the way up to 2006’s “Put Your Ghost to Rest.” Serving as a bridge between the last full-length and his upcoming record, “Brothers Blood.”

Anyway, “I Could Be with Anyone” contains three great new studio tracks and a really bittersweet demo called “She Stayed as Steam.” This is probably one of my favorite recordings that has come out in the last year and I really can’t wait for Devine and Goddamn merry band to come out with that new record.

[Related Video]


Kevin Devine, "She Stayed as Steam"

Come Widdit: One Small Step for Landmines

One Small Step for Landmines
Location: Florida
Sounds Like: Breaking Pangaea meets Power-Pop (Wait, weren't they a power-pop band to begin with?)

I first heard of this band earlier this year when I was interviewing Jim Ward from Sleepercar/Sparta and I was looking at the band's sparse merch table and there was a smattering of items, including CDs from bands on Ward's Civil Defense League imprint. I thought, "One Small Step for Landmines? That's a pretty cool name." Then I continued to chat up Ward.

I didn't really get around to listening to this band until I was listening to Sleepercar on Myspace and I remember this Landmine band. The image on their Myspace was of this skinny kid who looked like a regular Orgcore dude. What I heard was some pretty well played, peppy power-pop.

As far as the Breaking Pangaea comparison goes, like the Philly-based band, One Small Step for Landmines has some really intricate guitar and bass parts and it's pretty obvious that these guys have a mathematical mind with it comes to writing songs, as opposed to throwing out hooks, breakdowns and choruses everywhichway.

I don't know of too many pop bands like these guys, but they're a real gem and I highly recommend their debut self-titled album to counteract the brooding mood that fall usually brings.

[Related Links]
One Small Step for Landmines on Purevolume

i love the get up kids. apparently, they're reuniting and i'll probably watch them, but i don't think this revisit to the past will eclipse the way i felt the first time i saw them play back in 1999. as hard as you try, you can't be 18 forever.

Come Widdit: Empires

Empires
Location: Chicago, IL
Sounds Like: Your new favorite band

I don’t think I did a very good job trying to describe Empires, but they’re really one of those bands that you’ll get into once you listen to them. Having gained an instant fanbase by boasting a former member of the Academy Is…, Empires is not your run-of-mill pop-punk band. Shit, they’re not even a pop-punk band. On their self-released album, “Howl,” they wear their influences all over their collective sleeves: “Modern Love” is equal parts Elvis Costello and the Police, “Believe” sounds like the Beatles redux, “Spit the Dark” is a less frenetic take on Joy Division or Depeche Mode. That being said, Empires is also one of the most refreshing rock bands in some time.

Like Phantom Planet, Empires is really difficult to peg down in terms of appeal. They can play for the hipsters as much as they can play for the Warped Tour set; they could be your brother’s favorite band or your mom’s. I don’t think I’ve heard too many bands like these guys who can have such a wide fanbase. It’s possible that due to Tom Conrad’s role as guitarist, it would be easy for some narrow minded person to say, “Hey I bet that will sound like that other pop-punk band,” and they’ll spend their career dodging the pop-punk bullet (like Brand New). But I don’t see that. Empires have taken a huge risk by not only self-releasing a record, but by creating a record that is so chameleon-like in nature, I doubt people will try to ask them to play Blink 182 covers.

Related Links:

Empires (Official Site)

Empires Myspace

Rivers Acknowledges "Pinkerton"; Indie Rock Fans in their Late 20's Sigh Comfortably

I snagged a promo copy of Weezer's latest self-titled album (colorfully dubbed "The Red Album") a little over a month ago and I never got around to writing about it because, quite frankly, it didn't really impress me. It was a huge improvement from the misstep that was "Make Believe," but it didn't do much to whet my appetite. My quick rundown is whatever Brian Bell's song is called was my favorite track and that "Pork and Beans" is clear on its way to becoming the new "Gangsta's Paradise" [1].

Weezer's always been a band that's had a strange relationship with their audience. At its best, fans could find themselves at a local skatepark watching the members of the band (Pat) try to skate along with some kids, or playing foosball against them in a grudge match of sorts. At their worst, the ever elusive, Rivers Cuomo, refused to recognize the other members' side projects (Space Twins, the Special Goodness) and the fans collective love of "Pinkerton."

Recently, the band put together Weezer Hootenanny, in which they invited several hundred people to bring instruments and jam with them. There is some video evidence on Youtube, most notably Scott doing a heartfelt rendition of Radiohead's "Creep" [2].

More interesting is the fact that Rivers is wearing an XXL-sized "Pinkerton" t-shirt. Over the last few years, it seems as though Cuomo and gang are warming up to the mega-failure, yet most fawned over record, that was their sophomore release. Just as Liz Phair has pledged to play "Exit to Guyville" in its entirety, maybe a performance of "Pinkerton" isn't too far off.

[1] In as much as you'll get sick of the song come September, but every time you hear it afterwards will conjure fond memories of the summer of 2008.

[2] Eat a dick, Prince.

Bonus Vids:

Creep


Island in the Sun


Pork and Beans

Review: Death Cab for Cutie, "Narrow Stairs"

Death Cab for Cutie

"Narrow Stairs"

(Atlantic)

I make it no secret that I've watched these four dudes grow into a monolith of a rock band for the last 10 years. I'm pretty fortunate to hail from the city that is their current homebase, to have been able to watch their organic change from small-town openers to arena rock monsters. Even some of their misses, like the last half of "Plans," are still highly respectable records. So what else can Death Cab for Cutie do? Probably make the best record in their career.

There's no hyperbole in that statement: "Narrow Stairs" is the best Death Cab record.

Before I continue on, I'll say that a) my favorite record of theirs will probably always be "We Have the Facts, and We're Voting Yes" and b) nothing will change that. But the overall earnest aesthetic of "Stairs" is hard to shake. Whereas the band's first two albums were really esoteric and pretentious and "The Photo Album" lingered in a sort of a pop-music limbo, "Transatlanticism" marked an era of Death Cab that had Ben Gibbard spilling his guts all over Chris Walla's cache of 2" tape. As the band has aged, their albums have become more personal -- and though some people can call it a regression, I'll side with the band and offer it as quite the opposite.

The thing is, as we get older, we tend to get better at hiding our feelings and we get better at speaking in metaphors and vague phrases. "Transatlanticism" and "Plans" were, to me, Gibbard saying, "Fuck that," and making the most non-punk punk rock records. "Narrow Stairs" is an evolution of this progression. Lyrically, Gibbard seems to have fallen back to writing some vague songs, but for the most part, the record as a whole comes off as earnest. The best part of the record is Walla's impeccable production. Walla has always been a so-so producer, but, as exemplifed on Tegan and Sara's "The Con," his overproducing and addiction to textures really fleshes out these songs and molds them into living organisms.

Like I said, "Narrow Stairs" is the best Death Cab album thus far. It was so great, I don't even need to write about the individual tracks.

Denali Reunites! Coked Out Hipsters Regret Selling Their Copies of "The Instinct!"

I'm a few days late on this, but Decoy Music posted a link to Denali's Myspace announcement that the band would indeed be reuniting.

Let's take a moment for swooning.

I'm a little less cynical about this reunion because, unlike Lifetime or Portishead, Denali didn't popularize a genre or even change the face of indie rock. They were, however, a very solid band and found fans and unlikely tourmates ranging from Minus the Bear and The Velveteen to Deftones and Poison the Well.

Denali's lead singer, Maura Davis, went on to form the similar-sounding Ambulette, before the implosion of Astralwerks lead to that band's demise. Since then, she had started Glos with brother and Denali bandmate, Keeley Davis (also of Engine Down [one of the best bands ever] and Sparta).

This reunion is also a bit uncanny as I received their posthumous DVD, "Pinnacle," in the mail yesterday via Netflix. Weirdness.

Denali released two stellar albums on Jade Tree, their self-titled debut and "The Instinct," in addition to their DVD.

[Bonus Videos]

Denali, "Hold Your Breath"

Denali, "French Mistake (Live)"


Maura Davis, "Cash"

Dear Meghan McCain...

While it's clear with my job and my general political leanings, I'm as far away from a Republican as possible, I've entertained the notion of John McCain being president since the 2000 elections, most notably because he was pretty hard-nosed about campaign reform. Now he's a pretty visible frontrunner beating out both a Mormon and an Evangelical, which I can't help but smile about on the inside.

Still, because I have the card, I'd much rather see the youngblood that is the B.O. takeover, if only to someone that is a reflection of the America that I've grown up in (i.e. surrounded by brown folks).

With that said, I've been lurking Meghan McCain's (John McCain's daughter) blog. It's pretty fascinating just to see the campaign experience from the eyes and perspective of someone there who isn't running for public office.

The most entertaining part of Meghan McCain's site is her list of songs that she's really into. There are some surprising entries in her playlist: Bad Brains, Dead Milkmen, Girls Against Boys and Sleater-Kinney (my former arch-rivals). But for the most part, it seems to be some pretty pedestrian, entry-level college kid indie rock: Band of Horses, Kasabian, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Decemberists, etc.

Meghan, I think you could use a bit of an overhaul on your playlist. I mean, you're probably tired of listening to the same songs that Pitchfork was raving about two years ago, right? Here's a list of records that I think you could get down to:

Method Man: Tical
Meth's debut solo record has songs like "Release Yo Delf," "Bring the Pain" and "Meth Vs. Chef" which are all tunes that you could start a riot with, but more importantly, get you hyped up.

Death Cab for Cutie: We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes
DCFC's least self-absorbed record has concept songs about Kerouac, smoke filled apartments and loves lost to marriage. It's probably one of the best road-trip albums of all time.

That Dog: Retreat From the Sun
That Dog's poppiest record, Retreat From the Sun, has numerous fun jaunts that you can rock out to while you try to ignore the trappings out the real world.

The Don't Tells: Our Reunion Is Pending
A quirky band featuring Casey Prestwood (aka Spacey Casey) and his wife, Don't Tells play '60s styled pop songs about smoking pot and random sex. I'm not sure if Meghan McCain would like the content of the lyrics per se, but it's an awesome record nonetheless.

Fall River: Lights Out
Since Ms. McCain has the new Rilo Kiley (blah) and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs on her rotation, I figured she could benefit from listening to Fall River, one of the most underrated hardcore bands out there. Widely known because they were fronted by Allison Bellavance, whose vocal growls could stand up next to Coalesce's Sean Ingram, Fall River was a technically savvy hardcore group who've moved on the equally engaging Spark Is a Diamond.

just another 4 letter word: chasing coolness annual valentine's day mixtape

i'm too lazy to put together artwork, or provide links, but i'm sure if you go on limewire or whatever random torrent site, you can find these songs. or you could actually buy them. whatevs.

"just another 4 letter word"
1. the riverdales, "back to you"
2. brand new, "untitled 1"
3. waxwing, "where did the time go"
4. brighten, "ready when you are"
5. crime in stereo, "...but you are vast"
6. headphones, "shit talker"
7. the pharcyde, "otha fish"
8. gang starr, "ex-girl to next girl"
9. hunter revenge, "who's gonna love u now?"
10. name taken, "we give up sometimes"
11. mona lisa, "can't be wasting my time"
12. leeni, "perfection interrupted"
13. nightmare of you, "you don't have to tell me i was a terrible man"
14. whiskeytown, "under your breath"
15. tegan and sara, "call it off"

enjoy.

Video #29: Smoking Popes, "Pretty Pathetic"

I haven't posted a live video yet, but I can't help but find this song to be more fitting in terms of my stupid life. Anyway, if you've been reading this for the last few years, then you know that I'm an old school Popes fan. Word.

Video #26: Lisa Loeb, "Stay"

Video #17: Brand New, "Sic Transit Gloria...Glory Fades"

Come Widdit: Colonies

Colonies
Location: Tacoma, WA
Sounds Like: Indie Rock that is more Rock than Indie

I like the Decemberists, who've more or less taken over Death Cab's secure spot as the quintessential indie rock band (excluding the fact that neither band is currently on an independent label). Arty and sometimes bloated, Colin Meloy and his merry band are the archetype for any band that wants their music featured on any prime time television show and/or wants their CD available in Starbucks. My biggest beef with the Decemberists is the pretentious feeling I get whenever I hear them play. Whether its intentional or not is a different story.

What do the Decemberists have to do with a quartet from Tacoma? Very little outside of the fact that they might like that band, otherwise, Colonies is its own force. I only mention the Decemberists because I hope that a band like Colonies will be the new flavor for indie rock. They do, in fact, rock; they are also far less pretentious and, therefore, a far less guilty pleasure than any K Records band. For being a relatively green band, Colonies have a lot of really beautifully arranged songs and it's a shame that these guys aren't signed yet, especially when there are bands like Paramore who are making money hand over fist. It's a damn travesty.

Related Links
Colonies on Myspace
Colonies Official Site

Video #15: The Stills, "Still In Love Song"