This is Halloween, this is Halloween...and as such, Contrast Podcast is getting its spook on. The theme for Contrast Podcast #31 is 'music to watch ghouls by' so let's all put our costumes on and have a listen.
You can download Contrast Podcast #31 HERE.
31 October 2006
Contrast Podcast #31
30 October 2006
EAR FARM sponsored shows during CMJ
In an attempt to shed some light on the bands playing the two nighttime shows that EAR FARM is sponsoring during the CMJ Music Marathon, I'm re-posting this to help create some order out of the chaos. Click on the (+) next to each band to read a bit about that band.
EAR FARM sponsored shows during CMJ
October 31st, 8pm @ Union Hall, $5 with costume, $7 without costume, buy tickets on Ticketweb HERE - DJ sets by Colleen Crumbcake of East Village Radio. Sponsored by Oh My Rockness, Holy Roller, and EAR FARM (more info HERE):
November 1st, 8pm @ Union Pool, $6 - Ace Fu's Family Business Official CMJ Showcase sponsored by The Deli Magazine and EAR FARM (more info HERE):
- 8pm The Shapes (+)
9pm The Art Of Shooting (+)
10pm Other Passengers (+)
11pm The Gritty Midi Gang (+)
12am The Fatales (+)
November 2nd, 1pm @ Guero, FREE - Sponsored by Oh My Rockness, Holy Roller, and EAR FARM:
- 2pm Jake Brennan
3pm Shout-out-out-out-out
4pm Read Yellow
5pm Goes Cube
6pm Foreign Islands
The show that was planned for Friday the 3rd of November has unfortunately been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict.
27 October 2006
8+
“Frankie Teardrop" by Suicide which clocks in at 10:26
A scary song for Halloween?
As much attention as Alan Vega and Martin Rev have gotten in the past 10 years or so (okay, not tons but serious music fans like you guys know them at least, which is more than when they were very active 25 years ago) I'm consistently surprised at how many people have never heard of Suicide. Their impact on the New York scene, not to mention on the world of music as a whole, is undeniable and their ability to confront, amaze, and often terrify listeners was the stuff of legend. We're after the scary, it is that time of the year after all.
From the ages of seven to eleven, each year a few days before Halloween, my friends and I started talking. Started discussing Halloween plans and candy gathering strategy. Wait, it wasn't as nerdy as it might sound. I swear. This was more like a brief mention, here or there, in between games of River Raid. See, there were things to figure out like who was going to be rolling in our posse that year and if we were going to be going by that house. Maybe everyone had a house like this in their neighborhood, I'm not sure. Frankly, I've never really talked about it to anyone. It's better that way, keeps the ghost of Halloween past at bay. Be brave.
Okay - back to 1984. So there was this house, right. It was big, seemed big, with dark brown wood siding. It was a contemporary and hadn't weathered very well in its few years of existence. Something about it made it the perfect target of the fear of every kid in the neighborhood. Maybe it was that we never saw anybody ever go in or come out. Or that there was only one room that ever seem to have a light on. Maybe, probably, it was the fact that each year for Halloween this house turned into spooksville central. The people who lived there would turn off all (one) of their lights and open the windows. They'd then set the candy outside in two large serving bowls on the front porch. I know what you're thinking, "that candy didn't last more than five minutes because the first kid took all of it, right?" Wrong. See they also played scary music from inside the house. Some spooky "sounds of the season" kinda nonsense mixed with who knows what kind of abstract scary noise garbage. I don't even think it was really music per se; not Halloween music or the "Monster Mash" or anything. It was monsters and avant garde and creepy as shit. And so the candy never diminished at all. That's not for lack of children braving the sonic threats and the darkness... No, it was more like there was someone in there watching the creeped out kids come up, grab candy, and run away screaming to each other "I saw someone inside, I saw a man sitting in there!!!"
The whole thing must've made quite an impression on me because when I finally got my own apartment alone, in an area where I assumed there would be trick-or-treaters, I used that dark wooden contemporary house scareus-majorus as an inspiration. I turned off all of the lights, opened my window, set a bowl of candy outside, and put on some scary ass music. The music was mostly songs by Bauhaus, Joy Division, and Suicide but I found that this particular song (“Frankie Teardrop") got the most scares. Yes, I was out to scare some kids that year. Thinking back now, that must've been pretty f'ing scary for kids to walk up to my place with this song cranked up. I didn't sit there like a creepy weirdo and watch them react to my setup but I did hear some little ones telling their parent that they didn't want to have to go get candy from my place. Awww. No, actually - I love scaring people and I love Halloween.
Other than that, I'm not really going to tell you a specific story about this song. The song is the story. Listen to it if you dare, let it wash over you. Let Suicide become you, let yourself become Frankie. And...beware.
Buy Suicide HERE on Amazon.
EAR FARM's 8+ is a weekly feature that showcases songs longer than 8 minutes. In the recent past these songs were featured on EF's 8+:
Explosions In The Sky - "Memorial"
Rush - “2112"
Love and Rockets - “Haunted When the Minutes Drag"
Suede - “The Asphalt World"
!!! - “Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (a true story)"
Bark Psychosis - “All Different Things"
Deodato - “Also Sprach Zarathustra"
Grateful Dead - “Terrapin Station"
To see a full list of every song featured in EAR FARM's 8+ click HERE.
26 October 2006
OPP
Clever Titles Are So Last Summer called it quits
So did RBally...or not?
Good Hodgkins hasn't posted in a while...quit?
Gerard vs. Bear chronicles the blog quitters (and some animals in Halloween costumes - must be a slow week for Gerard to be getting material from forwarded emails)
Dreams of Horses on Via Audio
Idolator: Has Stereogum Been Bought?
The Perm & The Skullet is back from hiatus with a snazzy new look
25 October 2006
The Fatales
The Fatales are the final band in the Family Business/EAR FARM/The Deli Magazine CMJ Showcase lineup and the one that I'm least familiar with - yet I get the feeling I'm going to like them a lot. I'm aware they've been around for a few years, have split time between Brooklyn and DC, and have won many fans all across the internets. The songs I've heard of theirs thus far hint at a love of dramatic British influenced sounds and soaring vocals. Right up my alley, if I were to have an alley. Some I've read claim they sound like Radiohead and I'd perhaps agree to a point but what I hear in The Fatales is something more like early U2/later Pulp. No matter which band you try and compare them to you're going to come to the same conclusion: they're good. Damn good.
Visit The Fatales on MySpace
Buy their album Pretty in Pixels HERE.
***The Fatales are playing as part of the Family Business/EAR FARM/The Deli Magazine CMJ Showcase at Union Pool on the 1st of November - more details HERE***
The Gritty Midi Gang
The one easy opportunity I had to see The Gritty Midi Gang I screwed up by needing to leave as soon as Goes Cube finished their set. I won't be so self-centered this time, and I'll tell you - The Gritty Midi Gang is going to be the perfect follow-up to the sensual assault of Other Passengers. A yin to their yang even.
Aside from some very promising catchy electro-pop sounding tunes that I've heard on their MySpace page I'm most interested to see The Gritty Midi Gang because I saw them setting up their gear. Color me a synth nerd but they had something along the lines of 500 boards and pedals and stuff on stage. So much so that there was even a guy setting up his 3-5 synths OFF stage. Add to that the fact that there are six (?) total members in this gang and it sounds like heaven.
Visit The Gritty Midi Gang on MySpace
Buy their EP HERE.
***The Gritty Midi Gang are playing as part of the Family Business/EAR FARM/The Deli Magazine CMJ Showcase at Union Pool on the 1st of November - more details HERE***
Other Passengers
I once had a dream of fronting a band just like Other Passengers. All visceral and loud and arty with abstract video being projected behind us as we played...no, I'm serious. That kind of approach would've well satisfied my desire to bring the world a new band along the lines of a mixture of The Cure, Pink Floyd, Love and Rockets, and The Velvet Underground but what's the point now? Other Passengers go above and beyond whatever small notions I used to consider when I thought of such a band.
I don't want to limit your impression of what kind of band Other Passengers is, but the above is a start. I first caught them live (unexpectedly) during a residency at Pianos and ever since I've been a major fan. This band MUST be seen live.
Listen:
"In The Belly"
Visit Other Passengers on MySpace
Buy the Is It Nothing to You, All Those Who Pass By? EP HERE.
***Other Passengers are playing as part of the Family Business/EAR FARM/The Deli Magazine CMJ Showcase at Union Pool on the 1st of November - more details HERE***
The Art Of Shooting
If you've been reading EAR FARM for a while, you'll remember The Art Of Shooting from the long long ago. Last year their Tyrants Black Eyes EP was stuck in my iPod for a long time and I do declare that "Lost in Boredom" was one of the best songs of 2005.
The Art of Shooting brings wonderfully dissonant rock with vocals along the lines of Chrissie Hynde/Siouxsie Sioux and one of the best drummers in all of NYC. If you're a fan of an updated post-punk sound, with ladies on guitar and bass, I dare you to try and not enjoy this band. Sure I've seen them many times but it's been a while...and the fact that I've not seen them since new member Jessica joined (not so new anymore), well - I can't wait. One week from today, Union Pool is gonna get ROCK'D.
Listen:
"Orange"
Visit The Art Of Shooting on MySpace
Buy the Tyrants Black Eyes EP HERE.
***The Art Of Shooting are playing as part of the Family Business/EAR FARM/The Deli Magazine CMJ Showcase at Union Pool on the 1st of November - more details HERE***
The Shapes
The Shapes fall into the category of bands I've been meaning to check out for quite some time now. Somehow, they got lost in the shuffle. Don't worry, I've given myself (and everyone else) the perfect opportunity to catch their live show by getting involved with the Family Business CMJ show that's happening on November 1st @ Union Pool.
Their music has already appeared in a few TV shows (their song "Behind the Blue" is the theme song for the new A&E reality show "Dallas Swat") and they've already played shows, and appeared on radio stations, all around the country. With a bit of Franz Ferdinand in their guitar chops and some garage grunge in their pop melodies I'm guessing that their show in one week is going to be f-u-n, fun.
Listen:
"Dry On Ice"
Visit The Shapes on MySpace
Buy the debut album from The Shapes HERE on CD Baby.
***The Shapes are playing as part of the Family Business/EAR FARM/The Deli Magazine CMJ Showcase at Union Pool on the 1st of November - more details HERE***
Contrast Podcast #30
I'm back, back in the Contrast Podcast groove. What's that, huh? The Contrast Podcast is a weekly podcast put together by London-based blogger Tim Young. Each week a theme is selected and a variety of bloggers, podcasters, and musicians select a song and record an intro. The theme for Contrast Podcast #30 is 'a song that I like by a band that I don’t' and the band I picked might make you think I'm crazy. Go listen and judge for yourself.
You can download Contrast Podcast #30 HERE.
24 October 2006
Goes Cube
How do I love thee Goes Cube? Let me count the ways. If you search Goes Cube on EAR FARM via Google you'll get 129 results back. Damn! Does that mean I've posted about this band over one hundred times? It might seem like it, but no. What it does mean, however, is that I've posted about them a lot. If you can't figure out why, keep reading and I'll tell you.
Unlike some certain music blogs out there, I don't aim for EAR FARM to post minimally, or only once, about bands. If I like it, if I'm listening to it, then I'll write about it. Truth is I've been listening to a LOT of Goes Cube's upcoming record Beckon the Dagger God (unofficial title) and I've also been seeing them live from time to time and I love this band. They're one of my current favorites for sure and you're going to get three EAR FARM sponsored chances to see them during CMJ week. The first is Halloween night - more on that below.
I can tell you, even if their particular brand of face melting ear shred isn't your "thing", you will be impressed by this band's live show. I've come to terms with the ease (for the reader) of offering comparisons and I'd liken Goes Cube to Fugazi, Polvo, and Nirvana. In fact, if you will, allow me to reference something I said about them previously:
In a world where bands barely have five songs down before they play live shows, where over-hype equals indie rock success, and where rivers of shit have eroded the good taste of most listeners, Goes Cube matters.Listen:
Goes Cube Song 30
Visit Goes Cube on MySpace
Buy Goes Cube's self-titled EP HERE on Family Business.
***Goes Cube are playing as part of EAR FARM's Halloween show at Union Hall on the 31st of October - more details HERE***
Takka Takka
I've seen Takka Takka twice before but I need to see them again. Last time, I was playing Mr. DJ Guy and didn't really get to heckle them like I'd like to. Heckle? Okay, no. Demand. I'm going to shout out "OMD, OMD!" over and over until they finally give in. Yeah. See, they mentioned maybe someday covering the song "Enola Gay" and we all seriously need to hear that very soon please.
But enough about synth pop, I'd like to tell you why YOU will like this band. Why YOU should get all dressed up and come out and see them one week from today.
Takka Takka play homespun rock & roll that's more comfortable in a jukebox alongside Orange Juice, Lou Reed, and the Kinks than next to the indie buzz bands who are their peers. Their songs are thoughtful and manage to hit the listener on two levels at once. There is the immediacy of their groovy rhythm section and pop melodies but then there are also lyrics and moments of each of their songs that'll get deep inside of your mind. Little mind worms placed there by Takka Takka that very quickly develop into beautiful song butterflies. Or, well, it might take some time for the mind worms to become the song butterflies, but once they do, you'll really love the song butterflies. That's weird.
So, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing these guys in one week at the OMR/HR/EF Halloween show (details below). This time they're playing right before Goes Cube, so people like Amrit can properly take in the Takka Takka goodness before having their ears bludgeoned.
Listen:
"Coco on the Corner"
Visit Takka Takka on MySpace
Buy Takka Takka's album We Feel Safer At Night HERE on Insound.
***Takka Takka are playing as part of EAR FARM's Halloween show at Union Hall on the 31st of October - more details HERE***
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Sure, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin is a band who immediately tests your ability to handle a long off-the-wall band name but hey - nothing wrong with that. Right? I mean, here we are...and you're still reading this. I bet you even give the song that's posted below a chance (if you haven't already). You're going to download it, and it will make you happy, and then you're going to want to see this band live. You should, it's bands like these that make the indie-pop world go 'round.
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin are from Springfield, Missouri, and after a bit of blog love in 2005 they've recently found themselves a label-ular home at Polyvinyl. I love it when a band and the perfect label (for that band) come together. Given that Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin's sound falls somewhere along the lines of early Of Montreal and Beulah if fronted by Rivers Cuomo it would appear to be the perfect place for them to further explore and grow into their own sound. Good things Mikey. I see good things in store for this band and I can't wait to see them in one week at the EAR FARM sponsored Halloween show - see below.
Listen:
"House Fire"
Visit Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin on MySpace
Buy Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin's album Broom HERE on Amazon.
***Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin are playing as part of EAR FARM's Halloween show at Union Hall on the 31st of October - more details HERE***
Today's NEW releases
Out today (that caught my eye):
23 October 2006
El Jezel @ The Delancey - 22 October 2006
After being thoroughly impressed by The Secret Life Of Sofia @ Mercury Lounge my 'crew' and I decided to head on over to The Delancey to catch El Jezel's midnight show (free beer). In order to help convince those I was with that this was indeed the smart move I kinda promised them that they'd get to hear El Jezel play a cover song. A cover song they'd enjoy. Now, I didn't have any advance knowledge of what their set was going to be so there was definitely a chance this would turn out to be an empty promise. Once we got to the Delancey I spoke briefly to George (guitarist and singer in El Jezel), before the show, as I wanted to check and see if they planned to play a cover song. His response - "yep, and I think you're really going to like it".
You were wrong George, I didn't like it. I LOVED it. More on that in a second.
El Jezel is a three-piece from Queens and they happen to be that rare breed of band who can treat you to a rollicking good time for three songs in a row only to entrance you with an ode to spaghetti westerns the next. Or, the other way around. Sometimes they pull off mindbending genre shifts like this mid-song. They'll go from shoegaze inspired glide to post-rock jam, and back again, leaving you going "hm, wow, what the...I like it!" Then, just when your senses are telling you "more, give more El Jezel" they pull out a cover song and end with "Michigan". Now, as much as I adore the song "Michigan", it was El Jezel's rendition of the classic Morphine song "Buena" that really got me moving. You might think I'm joking (and you probably don't care) but I almost wore a Morphine t-shirt to the show - they're one of my favorite bands of the '90s - and I was more than extremely happy to hear El Jezel have fun with a song written by Morphine. Sometimes I'm able to pinpoint the exact moment I become a lifelong fan of certain bands and El Jezel closing the show on Saturday night with the one-two combo of "Buena" and their standout original "Michigan" was just such a moment.
Visit El Jezel on MySpace.
The Secret Life Of Sophia @ Mercury Lounge - 21 October 2006
Did you go to Mercury Lounge on Saturday night to see Bound Stems? Or, maybe for Maritime? Not me. Let me ask you a question then...who did you end up being most impressed by, the band you were there to see or someone else? I'm curious because, to me, there was no question which band from that bill deserves the most blog-tention.
Look, I can't tell you the truth here without sounding like I have a big stalkery crush on The Secret Life Of Sofia, but the truth is they're one of my favorite current bands. Something about their music makes me feel like they know me really well. Like...hm...almost as if they've written this music just for me. There's nothing better than connecting with a band like that. Do you remember in Groundhog Day how Phil uses day after day to get to know Rita? Her likes, dislikes, what she studied in college...that she likes to say a prayer and drink to world peace, etc. Well, at this point, it wouldn't surprise me one bit to learn that The Secret Life Of Sofia had done the same thing to me, but in a musical sense. As if they went back in time and spent one day over and over learning what makes me tick as a lover of music. They figured out the perfect sound, instrumentation, emotional tone, lyrical content, and more, so that I'd have no option other than to enjoy their music.
The Secret Life Of Sofia's songs (both on record and live) are mellow yet explosive, desolate and gorgeous, perfectly crafted and calculated, and simply transcend the current New York City indie-rock club scene. I often worry about writing statements like that because it can't help but appear to be hyperbole but that's just not the case. Each time I catch one of their shows I find myself noticing and enjoying new things about the band and their music. This time I was a bit focused on how tight the rhythm section was and on the fact that Kyle's voice sounded superb and that Eric's work on guitar reminded me (at times) of Vini Reilly and Johnny Marr. How can I help but want to keep going back for more?
Visit The Secret Life Of Sofia on MySpace.
snip·pets
'Fraggle' To Rock Big Screen With Ahmet Zappa
Graham Coxon: 'I'm better than Blur'
NBC Refuses to Air Madonna Crucifixion in Concert Special
Wired - The Best of BitTorrent
Washington Post - A Messy Age for Music
EMI Parlophone introduces online demo system for musicians to upload MP3s/publicity pictures instead of sending demo to the record label
22 October 2006
Weekend Live Music
Lindsey Buckingham live @ The Town Hall, New York, NY - 10 October 2006
(photo, from another show, from HERE)
1. Maria Melito intro
2. crowd
3. "Not Too Late"
4. "Trouble"
5. "Never Going Back Again"
6. "Second Hand News"
7. "Castaway Dreams"
8. "Red Rover"
9. "It Was You"
10. "Big Love"
11. "Sardonic World/Go Insane"
12. "Under the Skin"
13. "World Turning"
14. "I'm So Afraid"
15. "I Know I'm Not Wrong"
16. "Tusk"
17. "Go Your Own Way"
18. "Holiday Road"
19. Band Intros
20. "Show You How"
21. "Save Me A Place"
22. crowd
*thanks to JBabcock for this recording
Past EAR FARM Weekend Live Music has included live songs/sets by Sublime, Spoon, Ween, The Unicorns, My Bloody Valentine, New Order, Sufjan Stevens, Neutral Milk Hotel, Sonic Youth, Explosions in the Sky, The Smiths, Morphine, Talking Heads, The Stone Roses, The Cure, PJ Harvey, Pulp, The Decemberists, Blur, Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Led Zeppelin, Islands, Echo and the Bunnymen, Morrissey, The Durutti Column, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Giant Drag, Tool, Polvo, Mazzy Star, Meat Puppets, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Nouvelle Vague, Built To Spill, Thelonious Monk Quartet, Liars, Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Unicorns, Madonna, The Feelies, Ryan Adams, The Fall, The Roots, Fugazi, Band of Horses, Mountain Goats, Robyn Hitchcock, James, and Mogwai.
Each week one of these live shows will be removed to make room on the server. Get them while you can.
20 October 2006
Mancino @ Union Hall - 19 October 2006
Last night was Mancino's first show at Union Hall and my second time seeing a band there. I've really enjoyed it both times I've been now. It's got great sound, a comfy atmosphere, and a nice stage. Maybe I'll try to work out an EAR FARM show there in the future?? Anyway, I got there just in time for Mancino's set and was disappointed not to have seen Mike Higbee or Driftless Pony Club as I tend to enjoy taking in as many bands on a bill as possible.
They opened their set with the standout song "Hetchie Hutchie Foochie" (which you may remember was featured on Contrast Podcast #26) and never looked back. New song after new song continually reinforced what I've known since I first heard rough demos of their new material months ago: Mancino's debut LP is set to be something special. You're going to hear songs that range from circus music to indie-dance anthems to beach tunes to nerdy time signature changes and you're going to love them all. It's music that takes a chance and demands involvement from the listener and it's a sound you're not going to find in any other band. Back to last night...
Things for the Misters Mancino were loose and relaxed as they gamboled through their set. It was refreshing to see. They're clearly very comfortable and in touch with the songs from their upcoming record and last night was a showcase of this. Each member of the band was "on" and I found myself not just watching and listening but also really digging the musicianship. Nadim got cheers mid-song during "Snakes Charms Alarms" after an organ solo...it was a kick ass solo. Jonathan held down the beat and played auxiliary percussion and like 30 other instruments; and I'll tell you what, Mike's a lot better on guitar than he realizes. Even the new guy Roland didn't miss a beat. Now, if their fans would actually start dancing to the three to four very dance worthy songs they're playing lately then the world would be a more perfect place. Maybe I'll try to start that revolution myself at one of their next shows? Perhaps. Until then - viva Mancino.
Visit Mancino on MySpace.
19 October 2006
8+
“Terrapin Station" by Grateful Dead which clocks in at 16:17
This isn't what it looks like - it's not what you're thinking. I'm not going to suddenly go all peacegrass hippielove jambandjamband on you, and I'm not going to try and tell you how The Dead is, like, totally one of the best bands ever man. I'm kinda finally giving in to the demands of the people. See, many a person has emailed suggesting various songs by The Dead but this notion (for the most part) flies right in the face of my one self-imposed rule here in 8+ world. Namely, that live versions of songs are not allowed simply because short songs often turn into long songs in the realm of the live concert and I've always been after songs that were designed to be longer than eight minutes from the get go.
Now, as we all know, Grateful Dead fans deem their studio songs to be much less noteworthy than live recordings of their work but I'm not going to stray from my own guideline. Plus, this is one of my favorite songs by this band anyway and the live versions don't quite live up to what they laid down in this studio version. If you guys want a Grateful Dead song on EF's 8+ it's going to have to be a studio version. Deal well my long haired friends...
In 1995 I had just moved in to a house with three friends. I was fresh out of a dorm and living in my first off-campus house and loving it. All of it except for the music of course. See, I was a brit-pop indie-rock loving snob of sorts and my new roommates were more of the Grateful Dead, Doors, Stones and Beatles ilk. Not that there's anything wrong with liking music of that sort (in fact we loved many of the same classic rock bands at the time) it's just that I was outnumbered 3 to 1. My music was to have no place in public in that house, thus, it was very often hippie-jam-fest time.
Back then I'd not so much as really ever listened to anything by the Dead but I just knew I didn't like it. "Too smelly", I used to think. Then one day after listening to Europe '72 many times in a row (much like a prisoner who finds Jesus after being allowed to read only one book in prison) I finally realized that I did indeed like the Grateful Dead. I realized that I might actually need to go see these guys in concert, but my roommates had already bought tickets. They asked me at the time if I wanted a ticket and I said "No, now go away and wash your hair". Silly me. How was I to know this was going to be my one chance to see the great Grateful Dead before Jerry died? At any rate, when I decided I did want to go my friends were very positive. I mean in terms of outlook. They said: "Sure, it's sold out, but you can just go down there and get a ticket in the parking lot. Totally. And if not, you can hang out outside. It's almost as cool as going to the show itself." Yes, this is what I was told.
Needless to say, I was on my way to the show (in Charlotte, a 3 hour drive from where I lived at the time) in a heartbeat, boom boom. I convinced a friend of mine to go with me (and to drive!) even though he also was not one who could be classified as a "fan". I told him I'd buy his ticket for him if he'd drive. Good plan. We took with us some supplies and many musics but, most importantly, ended up focusing on this one album I borrowed from one of my roommates. The album? Terrapin Station of course.
I'll never forget the first time my friend and I listened to the final song (the one posted above) on the album. We were not very far into our trip and had just listened to the first five songs. I'd been filming cars and people and things out the window with my Super 8 movie camera and was finding it especially fun to shoot this one guy scarfing down burger after burger while driving. All of a sudden, about midway through our first time hearing "Terrapin Station", this car full of four girls passed us on the right hand side. They were cute and smiley and pointing at my camera. We sped up. They'd written something on a piece of paper and were laughing and having a ball in their car. It said: "are u filming us?" I wasn't, but then started the camera right away and shook my head yes. Right then the two girls in the back lifted up their shirts and flashed us. "Holy shit dude, are you getting that on camera?!" my friend yelled as he swerved a bit out of our lane. I assured him I was and told him to "watch the road dude".
Lots of "dudes" were thrown around (dudes my age tend to say dude when they get excited or mad) as we continued down the highway car-flirting with the girls. What were we going to do? They kind of motioned for us to pull over at the next exit. Meanwhile "Terrapin Station" was playing all super loud and underscored the entire scene. I think it kept our eyes on the prize. No we couldn't pull over to talk with the sluts, we had a concert to go to! Or, a parking lot at least. Something. Sluts be gone!
And they were. Right as the refrain (at about 14:00) kicked in they pulled off the road. We looked at each other just to confirm that we definitely weren't going to follow them and we didn't. The song ended and I took out the CD to replace it with another. My friend said "man, that was nuts...that last song is amazing! We have to hear it again, it's a magical boob song." So we did listen again. And again. And again and again but there were no more bare breasts to be found that day. In fact, that moment turned out to be the highlight/high point of the whole trip. We didn't get in to the concert, and hanging out in the parking lot wasn't really all it was cracked up to be, but we did discover a shared love for one Grateful Dead song. The magical boob song. Be careful to mind when, and where, you listen.
Buy Terrapin Station HERE on Amazon.
EAR FARM's 8+ is a weekly feature that showcases songs longer than 8 minutes. In the recent past these songs were featured on EF's 8+:
Charalambides - “Two Birds"
Explosions In The Sky - "Memorial"
Rush - “2112"
Love and Rockets - “Haunted When the Minutes Drag"
Suede - “The Asphalt World"
!!! - “Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (a true story)"
Bark Psychosis - “All Different Things"
Deodato - “Also Sprach Zarathustra"
To see a full list of every song featured in EAR FARM's 8+ click HERE.
OPP
Crackers United has some nice pics of what the outside of CBGB's looks like now
T-Sides has a post about the recent police brutality incident at a Two Gallants show
Idolator - "Project Runway" Winner's Ex-Bandmates Get Ready To Cash In
Music For Robots shirts (v3) for sale
RBally with a live Smashing Pumpkins acoustic performance @ Tower Records in 1993
The Oak Room previews the Troika Festival in Durham, NC
Aquarium Drunkard with a post on The Walkmen's upcoming album
18 October 2006
Katy Bowser
I don't try to keep secret the fact that I love ragtime and bluegrass, that I love the sound of Squirrel Nut Zippers and Billie Holiday, and that I love old country and early folk music. These things make me think of happy times and home. Cheesy? Honest.
Katy Bowser makes music that'll remind you of the genres and feelings and artists above as well as many more. Her songs deliver a wide enough variety of American musical styles to keep you wanting to listen over and over again but you're really going to come back for more because of Katy's candied sweet voice and because her songs can't help but inspire smiles. That she's found herself such an excellent collaborator in Kenny Hutson (from what I can tell a rather gifted player of stringed instruments) is just another great reason you should check out her recently released All Of My Friends EP. I often like to think of this kind of music as perfect music for lazy Summer evenings, but from my current perspective I'd say Katy Bowser's songs are just as fine for right now as you watch the warm days wash away and enjoy the crisp smell of autumn.
Of course, all of the words in the world can't convince you any better than your own ears can, so I suggest the two songs below to whet your appetite. "Come On Go On" is my favorite of Katy's songs that I've heard so far. The song brings jazzy bluegrass that sounds fresh while the lyrics and her 'I will survive' attitude act as a nice balance to the orchestra of mandolins, guitars, banjos, and who knows what else, but again - her voice! It's sassy and smiley and beautiful in an 'I can sound like Billie Holiday without even trying' kind of way and I love it. "All Of My Friends", on the other hand, seems to look back to an era that has long since passed. It reminds me of traditional songs like "You Are My Sunshine" and features the lovely Julie Lee on backup vocals. The song is like happiness in a bottle. Hey, you want to know a secret? It's a perfect song for just about any position on a mix tape/CD/thing - beginning, middle, end, whichever. So why don't you grab it, let Katy's music grab you, and then buy the EP and see her live.
Listen:
"Come On Or Go On"
"All of My Friends"
Visit Katy Bowser on MySpace.
Buy Katy Bowser's All Of My Friends EP on iTunes
Trials & Errors
Trials & Errors got in touch with me via MySpace and hail from La Vall d'Uixó, Spain. They've only just gotten started with building an online fan base but there's something strangely intoxicating about the two songs below. The songs are sparse and moody and I could see the first, "Bajo Aquel Cielo Azul", existing as an interlude moment in a Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez film. It's perhaps in need of a more professional re-recording and mixing but, to me, that might just strip away the dark Mediterranean small club charm. The second song is a melancholic jaunt with male/female vocals sung in English. Again, this is the sound of a pensive cinematic moment and reminds me of the life I never lived hopping from town to town in the province of Castellón.
Listen:
"Bajo Aquel Cielo Azul"
"Sat On The Square"
Visit Trials & Errors on MySpace.
17 October 2006
The Floor Is Made Of Lava
3hive proposes that The Floor Is Made Of Lava got their name from an episode of The Simpsons, and that may be the case, but I like to think they got it from a shared childhood. After all, who didn't run around at home as a kid pretending you couldn't touch the floor because it was made of lava (or that it was a river full of crocodiles or whatever)? Sometimes the most simple of games that got you moving turned out to be the most fun.
The Floor Is Made Of Lava formed in March 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark and write dance ready rock songs with a sense of humor. While their name may have been what immediately caught my attention it's their music that's brought me to posting about them. The Floor Is Made Of Lava have a sound that centers around strutting guitar work and danceable beats. Sure, that might get you thinking "oh that sound is so 2004" and, well, it's impossible to not hear a bit of Franz Ferdinand in these songs but don't let that turn you away. In fact, it's selling the band a bit short to only compare them the Franz Ferdinand but I can only do so much. The rest is up to you and you...you should just listen. Something about this band is fairly irresistible. Their shout outs to Camaros? Their hip-hop lite bravado? That they have a song called "Do Your Sister"? The way they break it down 1:45 into "Told Her I'm From Compton"? All of that, sure, but I think mostly it's just that the songs are simple, they get you moving, and they're fun.
Listen:
"Told Her I'm From Compton"
"Do Your Sister"
Visit The Floor Is Made Of Lava on MySpace.
Today's NEW releases
New releases this week that are of interest to me:
16 October 2006
snip·pets
NY Times on the final day at CBGB
Radiohead Recording New Album, Getting Eco-Friendly
Indie retailer Insound takes download plunge
Ryan Adams explains musical web excursions
Paul McCartney, Registered Trademark?
LCD Soundsystem team up with Nike for a 45+ song
14 October 2006
Weekend Live Music
Mogwai live @ Radiant, Caluire-et-Cuire, France - 4 October 2006
(photo, from another show, from HERE)
1. "You Don't Know Jesus"
2. "Friend of the Night"
3. "Travel is Dangerous"
4. "Tracy"
5. "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
6. "Acid Food"
7. "Hunted by a Freak"
8. "Ratts of the Capital"
9. "Kids Will Be Skeletons"
10. "Mogwai Fear Satan"
11. "Glasgow Mega-Snake"
12. "We're No Here"
13. "Black Spider"
14. "2 Rights Make 1 Wrong"
Past EAR FARM Weekend Live Music has included live songs/sets by Sublime, Spoon, Ween, The Unicorns, My Bloody Valentine, New Order, Sufjan Stevens, Neutral Milk Hotel, Sonic Youth, Explosions in the Sky, The Smiths, Morphine, Talking Heads, The Stone Roses, The Cure, PJ Harvey, Pulp, The Decemberists, Blur, Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Led Zeppelin, Islands, Echo and the Bunnymen, Morrissey, The Durutti Column, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Giant Drag, Tool, Polvo, Mazzy Star, Meat Puppets, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Nouvelle Vague, Built To Spill, Thelonious Monk Quartet, Liars, Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Unicorns, Madonna, The Feelies, Ryan Adams, The Fall, The Roots, Fugazi, Band of Horses, Mountain Goats, Robyn Hitchcock, and James.
Each week one of these live shows will be removed to make room on the server. Get them while you can.
12 October 2006
8+
“Also Sprach Zarathustra" by Deodato which clocks in at 8:58
INT. MANHATTAN OFFICE - DAY
There is a man seated at a desk using an Apple laptop computer and listening to some podcast made up of a variety of 'happy' songs. He clicks through a series of historic pop charts and music resources online. He is on a quest. He is a music nerd. This is a genesis moment. Like from that movie about space with the Earth and the fetus. He's speaking aloud to nobody in particular.
He grabs for his glass of water and finds it empty. He continues the speech.MATT This is me trying to use EAR FARM's weekly 8+ column as a means by which to expand my, our, horizons. Don't go thinking you know me. Don't think you know what to expect here in 8+ land. No ma'am. It moves FAST round here. Watch: non sequitur/non sequitur/abstract/polenta. I'm after something new.
The podcast has been replaced by “Also Sprach Zarathustra" by Deodato, which he is now listening to on repeat.MATT Okay, it's old but new to me. An exploratory venture into the past, into the realm of fusion/crossover jazz, into a song I'd never listened to before today, and into the pop charts. Have I heard this song before? Maybe. Feels like it but then I don't think so. Perhaps it's simply a combination of having heard the soundtrack to 2001: A Space Odyssey so many times mixed with the audio scars of that disco Star Wars song. No, I'm sure I must've heard this particular song before. Was it in a blaxploitation film?
He begins to yell and sing like he's the star of Man of La Mancha...MATT One wonders what the world must've thought when this song was released in 1973. It's half Shaft, half 2001: A Space Odyssey, and half Miles Davis mixed with Latin music. That's a whole lotta halves. Why would I have heard this...ah HA! There it is. Not only was this song inspired by a famous piece of music by Richard Strauss but it was used in the film Being There AND it won a Grammy in 1974 for for Best Pop Instrumental Performance AND it went to #2 in the pop charts in the US and #7 in the UK. Who wants to bet this very well might be the most successful 8+ ever? Is it? I will find out! Research! Research!
A female coworker passes by and stares. He quiets to a whisper.MATT This is my quest! To follow the stars!! No matter how hopeless, no matter how far. To fight for the right without question or pause. To be willing to march into hell for this 8+ cause.
The phone rings. He answers it and does not cease the soliloquy but rather continues right into the phone.MATT Yes, I will indeed try to find out if any other 8+ has ever charted higher, flown farther or faster...if any other long song has broken through that pop song glass ceiling of 5 minutes and risen so close to the top of the charts. For you see my friends, we just might be looking at the longest one-hit wonder ever. In terms of running time I mean. Like, the king of 8+ pop charters. At the very least, I've just found the perfect soundtrack for my walk home. An old song that's brand new to me. To you too? Maybe it'll help us get our groove back.
The man stands up in a hurry, slams down the phone, and acts out a line from the 1970's film Dolemite while pointing in the direction of an imaginary camera.MATT This here song is 100% groove and lately my stride has been functioning at a measly 15-20%. So hey, if you see a guy with headphones on and a confident Dolemite strut walking through the East Village sometime around 6:15pm just back up and get out my way. I might have to go Rudy Ray Moore on your ass...
Buy Prelude HERE on Amazon.MATT Man, move over and let me pass 'fore they have be to pullin' these Hush Puppies out your mothafuckin' ass!
(photo from HERE)
EAR FARM's 8+ is a weekly feature that showcases songs longer than 8 minutes. In the recent past these songs were featured on EF's 8+:
Bob Marley & The Wailers - “Exodus” (1984 12" Mix)
Charalambides - “Two Birds"
Explosions In The Sky - "Memorial"
Rush - “2112"
Love and Rockets - “Haunted When the Minutes Drag"
Suede - “The Asphalt World"
!!! - “Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (a true story)"
Bark Psychosis - “All Different Things"
To see a full list of every song featured in EAR FARM's 8+ click HERE.
OPP
An Aquarium Drunkard's Autumn Tone label's first release
Bradley's Almanac has Billy Bragg's recent performance on the Late Late Show
Brooklyn Vegan's CMJ Wednesday day show lineup
Heartonastick on Lily Allen live in NYC
Styched: Why I Dislike Your Favorite Band: The National (via Idolator)
Karen O on being glued to 'Project Runway'
Ryspace has MP3s of The Dears @ Bowery Ballroom from September 12th
Yeti Don't Dance's new 'feature' - Hot? Or Not?
11 October 2006
EAR FARM Presents... Beg Yr Pardon #10 with Low Lustre, The Midnight Hours, The Muggabears, and Mistakes
Last night at The Delancey EAR FARM got together with the fine folks from Beg Yr Pardon and threw a party. It was a combination celebration of Beg Yr Pardon's 10th show and EAR FARM's one year anniversary. We had four great bands, an awesome DJ, and an overall swell time. It was fantastic, I wouldn't have wanted EAR FARM's birthdayversary to be celebrated in any other way.
Low Lustre
Low Lustre was the first band on the bill and I was really happy to have these guys there. Their early U2 meets The Walkmen sound came across perfectly in a live setting and at one point during "Dancing Blind" I noticed myself singing along. That's when I realized I've obviously been listening to that song quite a bit over the past few months. It sounded great live but I think I actually liked the song they played right before that even better. Hey look, they just moved to Brooklyn from Minnesota so now that they live here in the city we'll all get many more chances to see them as they expand their local fanbase.
- Listen: - "Dancing Blind"
The Midnight Hours
I'm sure to The Midnight Hours yesterday was quite a series of unfortunate events. The band had a really rough time with traffic trying to get to the show and broke a string on the first song. Luckily Low Lustre was kind enough to offer up one of their guitars and everything was made all better in no time. Come on, it was a Beg Yr Pardon show - there's no room for unfun at BYPs! From that point forward The Midnight Hours hit their groove and had the crowd dancing and a hootin' and a hollerin'. They've got that obvious love for southern tinged rock (which is amazingly refreshing to hear amidst all of the NYC indie-scene bands) but last night I also noticed what seemed like a bit of John Frusciante and George Harrison in the guitar work. Between that, their very tight loose songs, and Lauren's vocals/charisma you've got more than enough reasons to want to see them live for yourself. In NYC your next chance will be November 8th at Arlene's Grocery. Do it.- Listen: - "Miss Marie"
The Muggabears
Can I just keep telling you how much I love The Muggabears? I'm going to say it over and over again because when bands like this come around, well, there's really nothing else one can do. They're noisy yet sweet, loud rock yet catchy like pop...a three piece that hits on all cylinders. Crazy active booming drums, jamming consistency on the bass, and a super talented songwriter who can both sing and shred...I love The Muggabears. See them and you'll be reminded of something from Sonic Youth's past, of Pavement, and perhaps even of a math rocking band like Polvo. See them live and you'll leave with your ears ringing just a little bit but also with some of their melodies stuck in your head. Their songs are just too darn good. I love The Muggabears...get out of my head Muggabears! Listen to their music, see them live, and you too will fall in love with The Muggabears.- Listen: - "Married To The Moon"
Mistakes
Mistakes!!! No wait, I think it's like this: M!STAKES. Yes, YES. I'd heard many a great thing about their show before I saw them last night and they lived up to all that and then some. From the moment they took the stage they exploded into a set of songs that were a bit all over the place musically and yet still centered around pop sensibilities. It's as if they formed their band by placing 15 different music genres in a hat and picked a few at random...rock, prog, ska, dance punk, pop-rock, grebo, experimental rock, etc etc. This wide array of influence came together perfectly in a live setting with the band coming off as some kind of bizarro cross pollination of Man Man and !!!. That honestly tells you nothing of just how much energy these guys brought to the stage and how their sound really ignites a room. There was free beer going around during their set and that helped set the mood perfectly. First song, everyone was all "whoa, YEAH" right along with the band and the fun never stopped. Now, to offer another point of view, I was talking to some people who were there last night about Mistakes and I discovered that they're a bit polarizing. I was kind of shocked. "Not for me" one person said, and that shouldn't come as too much of a surprise really because music like theirs isn't for everyone. But it is just right for weirdo sons of bitches like myself and Mistakes was a perfect band to close out an awesome show.- Listen: - "In The Middle"
Lastly, my friend Franz came to the show last night and did some sketches of three of the bands. Wicked awesome as usual, check them out below. You can find more such drawings done by Franz of bands from BYP #1 HERE and from the first EAR FARM Presents... show HERE. Be sure to visit his site FMP Studio.com.
The Midnight Hours
The Muggabears
Mistakes
(flyer for this show designed by Destroy Space)
Contrast Podcast #28
Once again this week I've taken part in the Contrast Podcast. The Contrast Podcast is a weekly podcast put together by London-based blogger Tim Young. Each week a theme is selected and a variety of bloggers, podcasters, and musicians select a song and record an intro. The theme for Contrast Podcast #28 is 'Happy happy joy joy' and the song I selected is one that's sure to bring a smile to your face each time you hear it. Or, it does me at least. Go listen and hear for yourself.
You can download Contrast Podcast #28 HERE.
10 October 2006
EAR FARM turns one
Like a nineteen year old kid trying to hang out with people who are all twenty-one, I'd love to ignore the fact that my site is but one year old so it could seem more validated or something. One?! Naw, EAR FARM's been around yo. It's all established and whatnot. Or not. The truth: one year ago today I posted the first post on EAR FARM and with it boldly stated "I'm not looking to become Brooklyn Vegan, or Stereogum, or god forbid Pitchfork or anything but since I am listening to and seeing lots of bands/music etc I figured I might as well share." Ever since then I've been sharing the music I enjoy with whoever decides to stop by this little music blog.
I'm not trying to get all sappy over this but I did want to take a moment to recognize it and to thank all of the fine people involved. Sure, EAR FARM continues to be a one-man operation (for the time being) in terms of the posting of content but it's really all of YOU guys who make this site go. So a very big thanks to all of you readers, downloaders, other music bloggers, non-commenting lurkers, players, haters, player-haters, and bands. Without you there'd be no ears to farm. Or something.
PS - if you're in New York City you can come celebrate this birthdayversary with me and many other people...details HERE.
PLUG Independant Music Awards - nominate your favorites
The nomination process for the PLUG Independant Music Awards is now open and ready for your participation. Go there and speak your mind about who should be included on this year's ballot.
Sebadoh reunites!
On his website, Lou Barlow has announced that Sebadoh will be getting back together and hitting the road. The lineup is going to be the same as it was for Sebadoh's classic albums III and Bubble and Scrape: Eric Gaffney, Lou Barlow, and Jason Loewenstein.
Lou explains:
"Sebadoh Classic will be touring this spring 2/25/07 → 4/07. Sebadoh Classic = Gaffney-era... III → Bubble and Scrape. Eric, Jason, and I will be heading out together..."That's really all he says for now about this reunion but he does also mention some Dinosaur Jr. news. You can read more about that on Pitchfork HERE where you can also see Pitchfork lovingly call Sebadoh's late-90s lineup "lame" right before they link to a live show done by said "lame" lineup. Here at EAR FARM we'll celebrate this Sebadoh news with a more fitting live MP3 from 1993.
Listen:
"Violet Execution" live @ The Offramp, Seattle, WA, 1993 (from HERE)
Read EAR FARM's recent interview with Sebadoh HERE.
Today's NEW releases
New releases this week that are of interest to me:
09 October 2006
EAR FARM checks in with the Elbo.ws top 10
After checking in with the Elbo.ws top 10 'hot' artists weekly for a few months now, I've noticed things not changing so rapidly there. Given that that's the case, I'm going to cease doing these 'EAR FARM checks in with the Elbo.ws top 10' on a weekly basis and move it to a monthly occurrence. Let's be honest, there's only so much I can say about dynamic dung like The Killers before I'm just copying and pasting the same thing over and over again.
As always, these comments are my own opinion. If you disagree with what I've said here or have something to say about any of the artists, by all means...say it!
Elbo.ws top 10 'hot' artists - 9 October 2006 @ 5:00pm EST
The Hold Steady - I just bought their album Boys and Girls in America this past weekend but haven't even gotten around to listening yet because another record I bought at the same time just won't leave my CD player. I hear it's really good though.
- Listen: "Your Little Hoodrat Friend" (via theholdsteady.com)
- Listen: "Black Tambourine" (live) (via Berkeley Place)
- Listen: "When You Were Young" (Jacque Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Radio Edit Remix) (via My Old Kentucky Blog)
- Listen:
"Hospital Beds" (via coldwarkids.com)
- Listen:
"Destroyer" (via The Stills MySpace page)
- Listen:
"Wolf Like Me" (via Thepunkguy)
- Listen:
"Run" (via Noise For Toaster)
- Listen: "In The Morning" (via Puddlegum)
- Go listen to "Show Me What You Got" over at Soul Sides
Law
People react in all kinds of ways to the offer of something for free. From excitement to doubt there's a myriad of responses you might expect but generally the same notion comes up each time that free something is an album. I know, because I often have the same inclination myself. If a band is giving away their album for free online, well, that must mean it's not very good at all. Right? As often as this is the truth, there are, however, exceptions. Search enough and you'll find a band or two giving away their work not because it's not 'good' enough to inspire record sales but because they simply want as many people to hear it as possible.
Hailing from London with three members playing keys, bass, and drums, Law brings the harmony. They bring the electric piano and bass lines and drum beats but their true aim is to hit you right between the eyes with their low-fi groovy garage pop. This simple setup (and their resulting sound) reminds me of a band most of you have never heard of called The Catch and reminds me of an era when The Beatles and Beach Boys were recently no more yet still were impacting the sound of bands everywhere. Here's a silly metaphoric SAT analogy to describe Law's music for you: Of Montreal is to shiny new trumpet as Law is to a used muted trumpet. Yikes. That barely begins to make sense to me.
As you might expect, Law is a band offering their LP for free download. I haven't yet had a chance to listen to the record in its entirety but the two songs posted below suggest it to be an effort worth our time. They're promising glances into the band's potential and, as much as I think they could use some time in a pro studio, I'm left hoping that Law maintains their lo-fi feel as they grow into themselves more.
Listen:
"Let's Meet Up (And Have Some Fun)"
"Headphones"
Visit Law on MySpace.
Download Law's album Law! HERE.
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