| god doesn't always have the best goddamn plans |
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| 12:21am 18/01/2005 |
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music: Max Richter - Memory House
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here is part 2, enjoy.
Installment Two (more to come):
The Blood Brothers – Crimes
While I was definitely into The Blood Brothers a lot more this time last year (I saw them three times, and their intensity is unparallelable), I still can’t deny that they put out another excellent record. Following the trend they started with 2003’s “Burn, Piano Island, Burn”, The Blood Brothers continue to redevelop and grow upon their sound with “Crimes”. Cleaning up the production and approaching the vocals quite differently makes this release quite a large step from “March on Electric Children” and “This Adultery is Ripe”, but the group continues to infuse each song with its signature explosiveness and shrill attitude.
Malady – Self-Titled
The last of the level-plane releases to make the list, Malady, much like Hot Cross is made up an all-star lineup, featuring ex-members of City of Caterpillar and Pg. 99, but are able to forge their own unique sound. Their self-titled debut full length is filled with almost anthem-like guitars and a rough but melodic vocal structure which leads to a dark but upbeat hardcore punk album. The overall feeling isn’t as abrasive as Pg. 99, and a little less dynamic than City of Caterpillar, but don’t let that let you overlook the album’s strengths, including the incredible epic moments such as in “The World is a Tomb”.
Saturday Looks Good to Me – Every Night
While at first I didn’t like this album as much as their 2003 release “All Your Summer Songs”, it is definitely catching up. It’s simple, lo-fi, dual male-female vocal indie pop. Leaning (very) heavily on 1950’s pop tunes, Saturday Looks Good to Me manages to create a modern day throwback album that is so goddamn catchy you won’t be able to get it out of your head for weeks. Even cooler is the fact that the LP version of this record is made up of all different versions of the songs found on the CD, switching around vocal arrangements, among other things. Also, for those interested, Fred Thomas, from the band, also released a self-titled album with his side project Flashpapr this year which is definitely worth checking out.
Mclusky – The Difference Between Me and You is that I’m Not on Fire
These Welch motherfuckers did it again. They’ve put out another excellent album while continuing to sound almost nothing like any other band out there. The closest description I could think of is an updated, raunchier Pixies with a Welch accent and a lead singer named Falco. Add in ridiculous album and song titles, lather on some Steve Albini produced sessions, and you’re left with one of the most enjoyable releases of the year. While not as consistent as 2002’s “Mclusky do Dallas”, the good parts of this year’s album (which is sadly their last) are really good, and even the filler isn’t bad.
-mitch |
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| well, yeah. |
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| 01:33am 10/01/2005 |
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so, it's been a while, hasn't it. almost a year. i never really used this thing for much other than music anyway, so i'll keep it brief:
-me and ash are still together, of course
-we're both in college, i'm at stanford, and she's at the american academy of dramatic arts
-i guess that's about all
now on to what i came here for, the top albums of the past year, basically the same exact thing that i did last year. Over the next couple of days, I will be posting what I think were some of the best albums of the past year. Because I am extremely noncommittal, the list will be in no particular order. if you think i missed something, don't worry, i'm doing this in installments, so it won't be complete for a while.
enjoy.
Installment One:
Max Richter – The Blue Notebooks
Post-classical ambient electronic rock? Yeah, I guess so. Luscious soundscapes, a wonderful combination of serene and chilling, delicate and powerful. The excellent use of both piano and strings makes this an incredible album that you won’t mind getting lost in.
A Day in Black and White – My Heroes Have Always Killed Cowboys
Hardcore charged post-rock, pretty much what you would expect from a Level-Plane Records release. Think City of Caterpillar with a touch of Explosions in the Sky. Emotional, powerful, and extremely dynamic, a very solid debut full-length
Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA’s Desert Origins (Reissue)
Remastered and expanded a decade after its original release, this album could definitely be considered a modern classic. Expanded from 12 songs to an incredible 49 tracks, including all sorts of alternate takes and B-sides, this reissue is as amazing as the Slanted and Enchanted: Luxe and Reduxe that came before it. Even more so, the 2-CD set comes with an equally impressive booklet full of pictures and liner notes.
Black Eyes – Cough
On this second (and unfortunately post-breakup) release from the eclectic Dischord 5-piece, Black Eyes has stepped up the saxophone from their original self-titled full length, giving Cough even more of a sense of urgency and franticness while presented their own unique version of DC area indie rock. Just to note, having seen them twice, their live show is amazing. The group consists of two drummers who set up their kits facing each other, while the other 3 members, including Dan on vocals, guitar, and percussion, Daniel, also on vocals, guitar, and percussion, and their bassist/vocalist/sax player/percussionist form a circle around them. I’ve never seen so many people doing so many different things at the same time and still have it work perfectly.
Mirah – C’mon Miracle
Mirah, perhaps more readily recognized as the soft voice on several Microphones tracks including “Oh, Anna” is back working with Microphones front-man Phil Elvrum again on her latest full length, “C’mon Miracle”, which he produced. Mirah has an incredible and soothing voice with which she constructs mostly light pop melodies to lay over sparse/subtle piano or guitar lines at times, and full on Elvrum influenced instrumentation explosions at other times. While my favorite song of hers (“Cold Cold Water”) is from one of her earlier albums, I’m pretty sure this is my favorite as a whole. Stand out tracks include “Jerusalem” and “Don’t Die in Me”.
Sonic Youth – Sonic Nurse
Goddamn these guys are old. Seriously, they’ve been together since 1981, and yet they are still putting out solid albums. Sonic Nurse carries on in the same vein as their last release, Murray Street, striking a pretty good balance between all of their eclectic styles. If you are in the mood for some of their crazy improve/noise stuff, check out their collaboration with Mats Gustafsson, “Hidros 3”, which came out this year as well.
Masada String Trio – 50th Birthday Celebration Vol. 1
This live show recorded in September of 2003, celebrating John Zorn’s 50th Birthday, features Zorn conducting the Masada String Trio performing songs composed by him. The performance is incredible, to say the least. The room left open for improv is perfect, and the interplay within the trio truly shines as they each go their own ways and yet keep the pieces as seamless as ever. The trio molds Zorn’s Jewish melodies into unmatchable frantic and passionate masterpieces.
Hot Cross – Fair Trades and Farewells
I was actually a little bit reluctant to put this one on the list. For those of you who don’t know, Hot Cross (label mates with the aforementioned A Day in Black and White) was born out of ex-members of Saetia, Off Minor, Neil Perry, Joshua Fit for Battle and You and I – that’s quite a resume. Hot Cross’s first release four years ago now, the “A New Set of Lungs” EP was perfect, not terrible refined, in fact extremely raw in its construction and presentation, pretty much just what post-hardcore should sound like. Their subsequent releases, 2003’s “Cryonics” and this past year’s “Fair Trades and Farewells”, however, have been shying away from their original sound. Almost to the point of sounding overproduced, the guitars have become much more prominent and defined, sounding very similar to Seattle’s Pretty Girls Make Graves, and they have added a completely new type of backing vocals, attacking this idea of post-hardcore from a completely new direction. While at first I really disliked their new sound (“Cryonics” made my 2003’s Biggest Disappointments List”), their sound has definitely grown on me. While not nearly as good as their first release, I just can’t not like “Fair Trades and Farewells”. On top of that, I had the chance to see them in LA, and they put on a damn good show.
that's all for now.
-mitch |
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| 04:08pm 02/04/2004 |
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Black Eyes announced from the stage friday night at the Black Cat that the show that night would be their last. Clearly we at Dischord are deeply saddened by the news that the band will be breaking up. Black Eyes represent, both musically and ethically, an uncompromising spirit of creative independence that we are proud to be a part of. The good news is that before their announcement the band delivered a stunning new recording, "Cough," that will still be released on CD and gatefold LP on May 31th.
major not cool.
-pipe |
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| 12:28am 20/03/2004 |
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hey matt - this is for you, check it out.
others may be interested as well...following dj danger mouse's grey album...the black and blue album. please ignore the stupid name. anyway, its jay z + weezer. ive only listened to the say it aint so track, but it is hell of cool.
enjoy.
http://www.jay-zeezer.com/
-pipe |
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| 12:12pm 14/03/2004 |
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i posted this on a board a while ago, and it is quite possibly one of the most fucked up pictures ever.
enjoy:
-pipe |
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| the power of independent trucking |
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| 11:16am 14/03/2004 |
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long time no update, eh?
first of all, yesterday was awesome, and i have pictures to prove it.
first, ash wanted to dye her hair a little darker because she is lucy in "snoopy!!!", so, we went here:
to get brownish hair dye.
next, ash and matt came over, and ash got the dye ready:
then, i tricked her into trusting me to dye her hair, "Oh no!":
and, why yes, that is a self portrait drawn by my brother hanging on the wall.
while her dye was soaking in, i went downstairs and ate:
mmm, AND mine had M&M's in it.
next, we went to the mall and matt got his hair cut. he now looks like:
then, i basically struck gold and found these guys:
I bought 6 of them because they rule.
next, we went to best buy, and i bought:
...the rereleased moon and antarctica with bonus tracks that came out last week.
matt got this:
because he's hilarious.
then, when i told him to also buy the new walkmen album and this is a long drive..., he yelled at me that he wasn't made of money. whatever matt.
next, we ate here:
and it was rather delicious.
finally, we dropped matt off and went back home. here's how ash's hair turned out:
I did pretty damn good if you ask me.
that's all for now,
-pipe |
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| saved by the buoyancy of citrus |
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| 02:26pm 09/02/2004 |
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redemption 87 reunion:
april 24th @ the pound: (tickets go on sale tonight)
redemption 87
powerhouse
rely
glasgow smile
and one more band tba
april 25th @ gilman:
redemption 87
All bets off
rely
jealous again
tba
those are the only shows they are playing. and they will be packed.
-pipe |
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| goodbye desolate railyard |
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| 10:59pm 01/02/2004 |
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oh, there's more:
sat, march 13 @ gilman:
All Bets Off
Daughters (Canada)
Some Girls (San Diego) - (this is the one with wes from american nightmare, NOT the juliana hatfield band)
Paint Out The Light
thursday, march 25 @ the capitol garage:
joan of arc
love of everything
make believe
wenesday, march 31 @ slims:
liars
wednesday, april 28 @ the warfield (bleh)
kraftwerk
that's all for now.
-pipe |
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| the transfiguration |
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| 10:49pm 01/02/2004 |
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music: surfjan stevens - seven swans
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april 4th
at the pound:
BANE !!
"special guest" - whatever that means
silent drive
nate and matt - don't make plans for that day. its a sunday.
-pipe |
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| 08:25pm 31/01/2004 |
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music: string tribute to radiohead - climbing up the walls
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great american music hall
february 25th:
the unicorns !!
unfortunately this is on the same day as the DEP/ABO/your enemies friends show. not cool.
more:
march 7 - WCWW and march 13 - the pound:
terror
the promise
born from pain
shattered realm.
-pipe |
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| citizen erased. |
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| 03:53pm 21/01/2004 |
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april 22 @ the pound
death by stereo.
depending on who else is playing, this may be worth going to. maybe.
-pipe |
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| first breath after coma |
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| 12:51am 19/01/2004 |
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february 25 at slims:
Dillinger Escape Plan
The Locust
Your Enemies Friends
All Bets Off
and
february 28 at great amer music hall:
the decemberists.
awesome.
i just bought a 120gb external harddrive for my computer, so now i have lots more room for music.
-pipe |
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| here comes the sun |
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| 02:21am 11/01/2004 |
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music: elvis costello - my aim is true
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new shows at bottom of the hill:
Mon, February 2 8 : 30 pm (doors at 8)
$8
all ages
The Bloodbrothers
Kill Me Tomorrow
Akimbo
Tue, March 9 9 : 00 pm (doors at 8:30)
$8
all ages
Hella
(record relase show)
Red Light Sting
Hint Hint
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| i go swimming, but i don't get wet |
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| 01:13am 25/12/2003 |
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mmmm, i smell some more of the best of 2003:
Mitch Hedberg - Strategic Grill Locations
this man is hilarious. truly.
The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We are Gone?
yeah, i finally got this, and these guys rule. i'm not sure exactly how to describe them, but if i were to go out onto a limb...i'd say....imagine of montreal interbred with spoon? maybe. either way, it wouldn't do them justice. pick up this album
The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts
while i don't think it is AS good as their new album, castaways and cutouts is still incredible. raise the sails and listen to this. plus the cover art is migh-T-fine.
-pipe |
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| on the ellipse |
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| 01:53am 21/12/2003 |
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cd purchases today:
and for some stupid reason, rasputins did not have:
or
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| boring machines disturbs sleep |
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| 05:54pm 17/12/2003 |
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music: built to spill - the plan
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some more of the best of 2003:
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot it in People
another relaxing spacy, rocky supergroup. they've got members of GYBE and sound very similar to them, mogwai, a silver mt zion, etc. very complex, yet accesible. delicious.
Belle and Sebastian - Dear Catasrophe Waitress
a refreshing record after the last two dissapointments from them
Wrens - Meadowlands
this record is excellent and has been in my cd player constantly. its catchy and thoughtly, eclectic to the point that it doesn't bore, but still focused enough to be listenable.
Mogwai - Happy Songs for Happy People
obviously a mood album, but if you happen to be in the right mood, this is perfect. soothing with a touch of abrasiveness? yeah.
The White Stripes - Elephant
i admittedly haven't listened to this album mich since i've gotten it, but thats really only because i haven't been in the mood. ash reminded me to put this on here, and it definitely belongs.
until next time.
-pipe |
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| thats the fucking irony... |
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| 11:41pm 15/12/2003 |
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zach - i got the david cross cd - just in case you don't have it yet.
that's all.
-pipe |
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