8+

“War Pigs" by Alex Skolnick Trio which clocks in at 10:34

Two months ago the city, the music world as a whole, lamented the end of an era with the passing of CBGB. Weeks were spent eulogizing the landmark club with special show after special show and throngs of music fans came out of the woodwork to wonder what was wrong with a city that would let such a treasure fade into the night. As if the club had even mattered in the past fifteen-odd years...

Right around the same time that Patti Smith was onstage reminiscing about her first CBGB moment, two other East Village music venues turned off their PAs for good with nearly zero fanfare or public outcry: the Continental on 3rd ave. and Detour on 13th street. The Continental was an East Village standard for no frills up and coming rock & roll but this post is about Detour. I miss Detour.

What was Detour? Only New York City's best spot for free jazz. How would I know, given that I'm not even really a jazz nut? I guess I don't really, but then I think I kinda do. I know good when I see it and Detour was great.

I came to know Detour right before I moved into my current apartment (a few blocks away from their 13th street location). The first show I attended was to see the Alex Skolnick Trio. I didn't know who that was but my friend sold it to me as "the guitarist from Testament playing metal covers as jazz songs". Pssh, that's a no-brainer, right? It was, and I was amazed at the show we got. Skolnick shredded his way through song after song. Sabbath, Kiss, Metallica, Rush, The Who... they killed everything. And the venue was so fucking choice. It was a tiny bar with a low (maybe no) stage and about 18 (or so) tables. It was the perfect place to go on a date, to go alone, or to show up with a small group of friends. A simple PA for vocals meant that most of the music was heard acoustically: drums sounded extra brushy and pianos sounded like pianos. It felt like you were in your own little world of jazz and, for the Alex Skolnick Trio, the place was packed just right. From each seat in the bar you could hear, see, and feel every lick and I was blown away. After seeing the band play for about three hours I left swearing I'd just seen one of the best live guitarists I'd ever seen before. In particular, the version of "War Pigs" they played left me speechless.

Needless to say, I went back to Detour many many more times after that first show. I think I was lucky enough to see the Alex Skolnick Trio play five shows at the club (they're locals and it was a favorite of theirs) and I also caught countless other acts. Very often I'd just walk up to Detour by myself for a few drinks and free jazz (towards the end they started charging a cover of $5 from time to time) and it kinda felt like an escape to a friend's home. I mean, it was. An escape from the East Village to a place where the bartenders were friendly and knew your name. An escape from expensive NY things, from standing up at loud rock shows, from the pretentious bullshit that's everywhere, and from the kind of people who bothered shedding a tear for t-shirt mogul Hilly Kristal.

CBGB's time had come and gone but New York City still needs a Detour.

Buy Goodbye To Romance: Standards For A New Generation 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+:
!!! - “Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (a true story)"
Bark Psychosis - “All Different Things"
Deodato - “Also Sprach Zarathustra"
Grateful Dead - “Terrapin Station"
Suicide -“Frankie Teardrop"
Red House Painters - “River"
The Human League - “Morale... / You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
Arlo Guthrie - “Alice's Restaurant Massacre"

To see a full list of every song featured in EAR FARM's 8+ click HERE.

Lismore

Lismore sent EAR FARM a MySpace add and I thought "hm, why do I feel like I know this band already?"... I researched. Could it be because everyone in the whole world has already talked about them? I mean, Allmusic said: "...Lismore points directly towards the current future of pop music." Maybe that's why they were already in my memory bank? Because I'm always looking towards the "current future of pop music". Nah. I only read my own stuff (open minds make the world go 'round). Plus, I'm wicked stuck in the superannuated future. Must've been something else... (what's a "current future" anyway?)

Having not figured out where exactly I'd heard of the band before I went ahead and did what any music type would generally do in such situations. I listened. I started with "Cherry Bomb" on their website's built in player (you should most definitely listen to this song) and I heard Lismore's love of pop, of electronics and beats and Saint Etienne. SHIT YES. I immediately realized why I knew this band and felt silly, but that didn't matter much anymore. What mattered was that I needed to get on to the next song - "Finest Hour". Ahh yes, trip-hop influence. The blips and the beats and the vocals are all there but I'm finding myself most enamored with what's not there. The smart minimalism of this music and the distance...as Matthew from Fluxblog said "there's an implication of physical distance and space, but it all seems to be taking place within one woman's mind"...I feel like Lismore is inviting me on a private cruise in the middle of the night and I can't do much more than smile and say yes to them.

Turns out I'd heard of this band before because I've already agreed to attend their next show. In fact, I'll be the DJ at their next show. Duh. I'll be squaring off in a DJ battle against DJ Colleen Crumbcake and I'm as excited as can be. Not because I'll be losing my 2nd straight DJ battle but because I can't wait to see Lismore play their music in a live setting. "Tremolo" and "This Time" are lo-fi shoegaze-hop better suited to be film soundtrack music than the next big radio smash and Lismore's cover of The Smashing Pumpkin's "1979" puts a welcome heady feminine spin on mid-90s guitar ennui. Perfecto objecto. Lismore makes me feel like the world inside my head is cloudy fresh all over again and they remind me how much fun it is to sit back sometimes and just smile at the urban melancholy of late November. Don't laugh at me, just listen.

Listen:
"Tremolo"
"This Time"
"1979"

Visit Lismore on MySpace

See Lismore live:
15 December 2006 @ The Delancey with The Ballet, Theives Like Us, and Bell

Three for Free - Band Of Susans, Beat Radio, Irv Irving

This is a new one for you quick-consumers out there. No wordy words to get in the way, just three (MP3s that are legally free to download) songs from three different artists who have gotten in touch with me via MySpace and caught my ear. Click the artist name to go to their MySpace page, click the song name to listen to (right click to download) the song.

Listen:
Band Of Susans - "Trash Train"

Listen:
Beat Radio - "Everything Is Temporary"

Listen:
Irv Irving - "Jumpies Blues"

Today's NEW releases

What what:

• Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
• David Gilmour - On an Island
• Mark Kozelek - Little Drummer Boy Live
• Midlake - Milkmaid Grand Army EP

What else?

EAR FARM checks in with the Elbo.ws top 10

Son of a BITCH. I'm nearly all better now but that was one killer illness I had last week. Thanks to all of you guys who wished me well, it was appreciated. And sorry for the absence, I just couldn't really even look at a computer. Couldn't type, didn't feel well enough to listen to music, or anything. It was a dark time. Now, thanks to the miracles of modern medicine, I'm feeling better. Mo' better well enough to bring back the sweet goodness that happens when EAR FARM takes a look at the Elbo.ws top 10 'hot' artists.

Let's do this.

Elbo.ws top 10 'hot' artists - 27 November 2006 @ 3:00pm EST

The Shins - I know why people like this band so much. People love this band because people are people, and all people have shins, and all people like things they can relate to; so therefore, people like The Shins. My logic is flawless.

Listen: "Phantom Limb" (via subpop.com)

Bloc Party - Everybody getting excited for the second Bloc Party album or WHAT? Not me. I don't think it's going to amount to much myself. It's part of this study I've been doing lately...a trend I'm noticing. Second albums often aren't as good as the first. Like the bands are more soft or something - not as hungry. Bear with me here, I know this is a new way of seeing things. "What?" you're thinking, "slow down professor, I don't follow...bands' second albums not as good as the first? Stop melting my mind with this new thought!" Sorry kids. We push ahead. I'm going to term this phenomenon the more soft slump...no, the soft more slump. Yes. Feel free to use this term to refer to any second effort you'd like. Play with it, have fun. And buckle up, there's bound to be more groundbreaking science on EAR FARM in the near future..

Listen: "The Prayer" (via Culture Bully)

Sufjan Stevens - Did I take an oath not to talk about Sufjan anymore? Whatooves. Dude is a musical genius-head and I'm hoping to pick up a physical copy of his Christmas box set because I hear there's lots of tangible goodies that come along with it and I bet the songs aren't bad either. Just maybe, like, someone give us a little break from Sufjan.

Listen: "That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!" (via Asthmatic Kitty Records)

Fujiya & Miyagi - Who the, what the? I stop paying attention for a moment and then there's suddenly some band with a name that's all Japanese food company (the band claims it's a reference to a record player) meets Karate Kid? And they sport a perfectly aped Krautrock groove sound?! Oh my. I like. I like long time.

Listen: "Ankle Injuries" (via My Old Kentucky Blog)

The Beatles - (to the tune of The Beatles song "No Reply") This happened once before, Beatles recycle music to earn more, still we buy. They say it sounds all new, but I saw truth peep through...the window. Still we buy! Still we buy!

go to Neiles Life to hear songs from Love

Joanna Newsom - Put this lady right up there with gay marriage and abortion - she be polarizing ya'll. Strangely, I can't seem to not like the music from her most recent album Ys. Strange because it's just not what I want to like. But I do. Deal with it, I keep telling myself.

Listen:
”Monkey & Bear” (via Crackers United)

Architecture In Helsinki - I love it when a remix comes together. This one is top notch and makes for happyMondayfuntime. Try it on for size right now and blip-bop-dance your way through a few minutes of work you will.

Listen:
"Do the Whirlwind" (Hot Chip Remix) (via Amp Camp)

Menomena - I'm not entirely sold on this band yet, but their sound is more goodness from the Pacific Northwest school of experimental sparse rock. What I do really like about them is the fact that the title for their first record, I Am the Fun Blame Monster!, is an anagram for The First Menomena Album. I'm easy to please when it comes to anagrams.

Listen:
"Wet and Rusting" (via Barsuk Records)

Clipse - There's been plenty of buzz going around over this new Clipse record that drops tomorrow so I'm eager to pick that sucker up and see what all the fuss is about. But I don't really do leaks so, until then, I can't say much.

hear Clipse on MTV2's The Leak

Tom Waits - His music is the aural equivalent of getting caught in undertow at the beach and standing up, out of breath, with a bathing suit full of sand. In slow motion. Hey look, I never liked him. Alright?

Listen:
"You Can Never Hold Back Spring" (via ANTI-)

snip·pets

You should read Yoko Ono's message in the NY Times

Stones Roll By U2 For Top Grossing Tour Ever

The Boston Herald reviews the PS2 game, Guitar Hero II (via LHB)

Fan hacks Linkin Park's singer's cell phone data, threatens wife

British musical copyright terms 'to stay'

Coachella Expands To Three Days, Country Fest To Follow

8+

“Alice's Restaurant Massacre" by Arlo Guthrie which clocks in at 18:36

"Remember, Sully, when I promised to kill you last? I lied."

I told you to not expect any EAR FARM posts for a while because I'm not feeling well (still ill). I also told you that I don't allow live songs here in 8+ land because short songs often get turned into long ones on stage and I feel like that's cheating (this will be the last (only) time). Oh well, guess I lied. But really - how the shit could I not post this song today? Besides, it's not like a studio version of this song would be much shorter than this quintessential live version.

Long before Adam Sandler came along, this was the de facto Thanksgiving song. It's a protest song, a Thanksgiving day story, and one of the finer pieces of satire ever laid down to music. Many radio stations across the US still roll out “Alice's Restaurant Massacre" every year on Thanksgiving and I tend to find myself listening to the song each year, at some point, on the fourth Thursday of November.

I'm going to cut things short here without a story from me this time. The song is the story. Listen to it, enjoy it, and have a happy Thanksgiving.

Buy Alice's Restaurant 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+:
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"
Suicide -“Frankie Teardrop"
Red House Painters - “River"
The Human League - “Morale... / You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"

To see a full list of every song featured in EAR FARM's 8+ click HERE.

EAR FARM on Flickr

In case you hadn't noticed, I wanted to point out that you can visit EAR FARM on Flickr. Currently there are recent concert photos posted (from bands such as Annuals, Evangelicals, Goes Cube, Read Yellow, etc) and I'll be working over time to upload pictures from all of the past concerts I've attended...or, at least the ones where I took pictures.

Also, I wanted to let you know that EF will be taking a bit of a break over the next few days. This is due to the fact that I'm rather very sick and do not feel well enough to want to write about music. Check back in a few days as things will return to normal once I'm feeling better. For everyone in the States, I hope you have an excellent Thanksgiving.

Contrast Podcast #34

Another Tuesday, another new Contrast Podcast. This week the theme is more musicians introducing their own music. Last time Tim asked if I might know of a few bands interested in taking part and that brought Mancino and Goes Cube to show number 26. This week, a little something different...at least in terms of who EAR FARM brought to the table. Go check out Contrast Podcast #34 to find out (around the 27:54 mark) and be sure to listen to the whole podcast - the rest of it is considerably better than the song I just mentioned.

You can download Contrast Podcast #34 HERE.

Today's NEW releases

New for shopping week:

• The Beatles - Love
• Jay-Z - Kingdom Come
• Snoop Dogg - Tha Blue Carpet Treatment
• Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas
• Tom Waits - Orphans

What did I miss?

Don't You (Forget About Me)

The following list covers all of the recent (meaning Sept/Oct of 2006) artists/bands featured on EAR FARM through the end of October 2006. This excludes the weekly features (such 8+, Weekend Live Music) and is more about bands that have gotten a band-specific write-up on EF. The quotes are from EAR FARM write-ups about the band and should help give you a mini-notion of what each artist is all about and should also clue you in as to why they've been featured on this site. Click the (+) to visit a previous EF posting about any of these bands and click the band name to go to their site.

New York based bands:
The Fatales (+) - what I hear in The Fatales is something more like early U2/later Pulp.
The Gritty Midi Gang (+) - some very promising catchy electro-pop sounding tunes
The Midnight Hours (+) - obvious love for southern tinged rock (which is amazingly refreshing to hear amidst all of the NYC indie-scene bands)...a bit of John Frusciante and George Harrison in the guitar work
Mistakes (+) - 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.
O'Death (+) - not really "bluegrass" per se but more like a rock take on traditional American music. In fact I'd go so far as to call these guys the US version of The Pogues.
Proud Simon (+) - a band whose sound fits very comfortably alongside contemporaries such as Sufjan Stevens, The Magnetic Fields, and The Decemberists yet Proud Simon has managed to carve their own little niche within this seemingly overpopulated genre
The Shapes (+) - a bit of Franz Ferdinand in their guitar chops and some garage grunge in their pop melodies
The Vandelles (+) - don't sound strictly surf-revivalist like, say, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet but rather take things upward and outward along the lines of Man or Astroman? mixed with Happy Mondays

Bands from elsewhere:
Katy Bowser (+) - 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
Femme Generation (+) - Streamers, confetti, a trombone, the 'woo oh oh oh oh ooohs' in "Semper Fi, Little Guy", and this certain je ne sais quoi that made me think of Jane's Addiction (not their sound, but just something) and late '80s LA fun
The Floor Is Made Of Lava (+) - a sound that centers around strutting guitar work and danceable beats
Law (+) - 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
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin (+) - somewhere along the lines of early Of Montreal and Beulah if fronted by Rivers Cuomo
Trials & Errors (+) - 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

To see the entire list of bands/artists that have been featured on EAR FARM click HERE.

snip·pets

Copyright lawyers issue cease-and-desist letter to Bank Of America and Stereogum over corporate meeting cover version of U2's "One"

Modest Mouse Wraps Tour With New Songs, Comic Surprise (Marr and David Cross covering the above song?!) (video HERE )

Times Online look at the influence of The Smiths

The Futureheads leave record label

Musician Plucks Sound From Lasers

George Martin on the soundtrack to the Cirque du Soleil Beatles show "Love"

Annuals live @ Mercury Lounge - 16 November 2006

Annuals live at The Mercury Lounge.


Listen:
"Brother"
"Bleary Eyed"

More pictures from this show HERE.

Evangelicals live @ Mercury Lounge - 16 November 2006

Evangelicals live at The Mercury Lounge.


More pictures from this show HERE.

DraculaZombieUSA live @ The Annex - 15 November 2006

DraculaZombieUSA live at The Annex.

Listen:
"I Like the Snow"
"Bear Island"

More pictures from this show HERE.

Takka Takka news

Takka Takka is playing a free show tonight at The Syrup Room with The Harlem Shakes, Dragons Of Zynth, Illinois, and Man in Gray. It's well worth going to and it's free - RSVP HERE.

Also, Takka Takka was just recently in the studio at WOXY.com.

Listen: Takka Takka LIVE on WOXY.com's Lounge Act

Test your musical skills in 6 minutes

Want to test your pitch discrimination and musical memory abilities? Of course you do. Check it:

While working at the music and neuroimaging lab at Beth Israel/Harvard Medical School in Boston, I developed a quick online way to screen for the tonedeafness. It actually turned out to be a pretty good test to check for overall pitch perception ability. The test is purposefully made very hard, so excellent musicians rarely score above 80% correct. Give it a try!

Oh, I mean - give it a try!

I've posted my results below. Man, I think I could've done better at this test if I didn't take it at work with two phone calls interrupting... Not trying to make excuses, I still did just fine. But my score could've been higher! Let that be a warning to you - be sure to take the test when you can really pay attention.

8+

“Morale... / You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Human League which clocks in at 9:39

One time, recently at the Delancey when I was pretending to be a DJ, I had an odd conversation with a girl who came up to the DJ booth to request a song. It happened almost two months ago but I think I remember exactly how it went, more or less.

The music was loud and so were the people. This was sometime during the little run of old school hip hop selections that I played and I was grooving along to my own song choices. My head bobbing around, I was in my own world. I was probably singing along like this: "Mister Dobalina, Mister Bob Dobalina. Mister Dobalina, Mister Bob Dobalina."

Her: "Hey, doyouhaveany Hole or Manatees?"

A slow response from me, as I didn't see her at first and had a hard time hearing her. Definitely couldn't hear her. And what I thought I heard made NO sense.

I muttered "Huh? What's that, Hole?"

"No! I wanted to hear some old Human League..."

Me: "Ohhh, I thought you said...nevermind. Hm, let me see..."

I searched but knew I'd find nothing. Nothing except a couple songs off of their album Dare, including one particular song I really didn't want to play ("Don't You Want Me"). This was super frustrating though because I DO have old school Human League in my collection. Just didn't have it with me that day. What a pain. I kept searching as if it would magically transport itself from my apartment to the Delancey if I just kept looking for it.

"Sorry, no I don't have anything except a couple of songs off of Dare."

"Huh? Did you say Dare?? That's perfect! That's what I was looking for."

Me: "Oh. Well I was thinking old school meant OLD school...like the stuff off of Reproduction or some of the rarities from like the original lineup. I LOVE that stuff." Sensing potential music nerd overload I shut up.

"I thought Dare was their classic album though..."

At least I think that's what she said. Thinking back I mean. Who knows though - at the time I sure didn't understand what she said. My response showed it. Showed more music nerd Matt too. There was a pause.

"Dare killed Lester Bangs."

"What?!"

I'm hoping she couldn't really hear me either. I tried to save it: "He was listening to it when he died...when he OD'd. Anyway, their earlier stuff is awesome..."

She interrupted: "Is that where they got D.A.R.E. from? The school drug thing...?"

"I have no idea." Another PAUSE... "So but you should check out my site sometime soon and I'll post one of Human League's old school songs that's really long. It's like part Joy Division, part Kraftwerk, part Righteous Brothers." I handed her an EAR FARM magnet.

"Who? What's this?"

The song was ending. I hoped this mixed up conversation would too. It was 'sposed to be so eeeeeasy...

"Oh. They do this cover of the song "You've Lost That Loving Feeling", it's great. The Human League do, I mean..." I turned to get ready to cue the next song. "It's a magnet, my site's address is on there..."

Her: "Oh, from Top Gun."

"Yes. Top Gun."

"Sorry! Okay, well thanks...I'll check out your site for the Human League song."

I turned and got the rest of my set in order. Didn't end up playing any Human League that night and it's taken me this long to finally post the song I said I would. Sorry about that. Better late than never?

Buy Reproduction HERE on Amazon.

(picture 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+:
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"
Suicide -“Frankie Teardrop"
Red House Painters - “River"

To see a full list of every song featured in EAR FARM's 8+ click HERE.

OPP

Heart On A Stick with more on CMJ and a rather super funny playlet (scroll down) about Yoda, Borat, and Gerard negotiating a three-way

Fluxblog on Modest Mouse @ Webster Hall

Chromewaves has a great Billy Bragg post

EF favorites The Muggabears will be playing the next Friction show with Bound Stems and others

MTV Overdrive with a story on music blogs (and an interview with Brooklyn Vegan) via Subinev

Ryspace is back up and running

Head over to Nothing But Green Lights when you get a chance, I dig what Mike does over there

2006 Weblog Awards

More awards, more nominations. If you're into that sort of thing go check out the 2006 Weblog Awards where you can nominate your favorite blogs in the "world's largest blog competition, with over 1 million votes cast in the last three years for nearly 1,000 blogs."

I nominated Contrast Podcast for Best Podcast.

The Top 40 Bands in America - 2006 Edition

The past three years (2003, 2004, 2005) Information Leafblower has gotten together a panel of music bloggers to collectively decide which bands are the Top 40 Bands in America. This year, I was asked to participate by submitting my own list and I did so gladly. Hey, what can I say? Some people love reality TV, some love fast food, I love lists. A bit from Information Leafblower Kyle about the process:

In case you're not familiar with the process, each year I email a bunch of bloggers and ask them for their Top 10 artists of the year. I changed up the criteria this year and asked the participants to simply give me the 10 artists they covered the most throughout 2006. I felt that in years past, people were voting for artists they felt like they had to vote for, not the artists they wanted to vote for, so hopefully that changed this year. The entries are then scored, sorted and double-checked and viola, the list is born. Anyone making music is eligible for the list, as long as they are American. NO FOREIGN BANDS.

Right, so let's take a look at some of this list, shall we?

40) Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
39) Shearwater
38) Tapes N Tapes
37) LCD Soundsystem
36) Girl Talk
35) Car Stereo (Wars)
34) DangerMouse
33) Lucero
32) Timbaland
31) Lavender Diamond
30) Man Man
29) Sonic Youth
28) Midlake
27) M. Ward
26) Ryan Adams
25) Fiery Furnaces
24) Aberdeen City
23) Sufjan Stevens
22) Tom Waits
21) Bishop Allen

What? You didn't think I was going to reveal the whole thing did you? To see the Top 20, and the entirety of the The Top 40 Bands in America 2006 Edition (including blurbs about each band and MP3s and pictures) - CLICK HERE.

Okay, now a bit about my own process. I had a very hard time with the stated criteria given that I often focus on bands that not so many other people are writing about. My 2006 definitely hasn't been spent posting about The Hold Steady or Beirut (or other similar bands) because those bands don't do a whole heck of a lot for me. Yet both are worthy of being noted as big bands in 2006. Then again, this year also hasn't been completely about The Decemberists or TV On The Radio over here on EAR FARM, and those bands have truly dominated much of 2006 for me. So I tried to have my list reflect the bands that have been most prominent in my world this year, while keeping in mind the bands who have truly had an excellent 2006 and those I've been posting about lots.

Here's the list I submitted to Information Leafblower, with a blurb about each:

10) Goes Cube - In 2006, this Brooklyn trio has been my go-to for loud math rocking goodness. Punishingly awesome live.

9) Annuals - Young band from Raleigh seemingly came out of nowhere and blew me away in person and on CD. My reaction to seeing them in September at Sin-e: they sounded like they were leading a tribal indie-rock invocation of the god of sound.

8) The Walkmen - Two albums this year and lots of live dates - even though I've been a bit disappointed with their 2006 output I think it's actually quite a whole lot better than they're getting credit for.

7) Tapes 'n Tapes - You'll get no knee-jerk backlash from me. Tapes is still as vibrant and catchy as ever and, even though The Loon came out last year, let's be honest - they're one of the big indie successes of 2006. Regardless of what your hipster advisor cool meter says, it's okay to still like Tapes 'n Tapes. I mean, come on - you used to think The Strokes were the best band in America.

6) The Silver Jews - The album came out last year but the live shows were this year. I still can't stop listening to Tanglewood Numbers and loving the lyrics. Live they were actually everything I would've expected: awkward, honest, a bit rough around the edges, and imperfectly perfect.

5) Danielson - The collective responsible for Danielson's 2006 album, Ships, has crafted one of the best records of the year and one of my very favorite songs of 2006 in "Did I Step On Your Trumpet".

4) Ratatat - Sounds that sometimes veer towards the end credit songs from late '80s Capcom/Konami games are (honestly) EXACTLY what I've been wanting to hear in 2006. I can not stop listening to their album Classics and it's really no question that these guys have some of the best melodies out there.

3) Man Man - I've seen them so many times in the past year it's silly. A fantastic fun band gaining more fans by the minute and one of my votes for best lyrics of the year: "wanna sleep for weeks like a dog at her feet even though I know it won't work out in the long run"

2) TV On The Radio - TVOTR are something special in the realm of indie rock soundalikes because they're constantly pushing themselves, their sound, and their audience forward towards something new. Thank goodness for them.

1) The Decemberists - Frankly, I wasn't expecting good things after Picaresque, and learning that they'd signed to Capitol, but The Crane Wife proved that The Decemberists are easily one of the top bands in America today.

After I put this list together and sent it off to Kyle, the nerd in me got angry. I kept wanting to list the top 10 BEST/most important bands (in my opinion) in America currently, regardless of what they've been up to this year. I mean, Wilco, Deerhoof, My Morning Jacket, and many more, really deserve to be put on any list like this, right? Well, not if you're trying to play by the rules that were stated, and I was. As a result, I went ahead and put together another list. Last one, I swear.

EAR FARM's Top 10 Bands in America Today:

10) The Silver Jews
9) Pretty Girls Make Graves
8) The Roots
7) Animal Collective
6) TV On The Radio
5) Deerhoof
4) Sonic Youth
3) Wilco
2) My Morning Jacket
1) The Decemberists

There you have it. More than enough to satiate even the hungriest of list appetites. Bring on the comments, criticism, lists of your own, etc. And please do go check out Information Leafblower's Top 40 Bands in America - 2006 Edition.

Butch & Bellie

Do you hear that? In the distance... no? It's the sound of one hand clapping for Brooklyn's new hott rap bitches Butch & Bellie. Soon it'll be two hands clapping like this: clap clap yay yay! Then, before you know it, they'll be the toast of the town making everyone get down and turning frowns upside down. Yo, believe me when I say that. The buzz just recently got going with them playing Beg Yr Pardon #11 and getting featured on Junk Magazine's site but you already knew about them because of those things, right? No? Okay, fine then. Allow me to introduce Butch & Bellie.

On their MySpace page Butch & Bellie explain: "we are an extremely talented homosexual rap duo - raised in the oppressive suburban enclaves in close proximity to the metropolitan areas known as BALTIMORE and BOSTON." That's perfect. What better environment than oppressive suburban enclaves to foster the growth of musical minds? What better inspiration for the spitting of venomous rhymes? In a genre where lifestyle, beats, and fashion have become boringly predictable, what better way to give underground hip hop a little bite on the cheek than with a couple of openly gay MCs?

It seems I can't stop asking questions, and all you want are answers. Fine. Butch & Bellie kick it old school with a new school flair. They've obviously absorbed the work of early Beastie Boys, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, and Slick Rick and they know the importance of fixing their rhymes and beats up all perfectly so as to inspire smiles and dancing. My guess is that's exactly what'll happen to you wherever you are when you kick out their jams "Prayer Warrior" and "Butch and Bellie". Instant partyfuntime. And, can I just mention that I LOVE the "whoa" reaction from Butch (I think) right after the first "Have A Cigar" sample kicks in in "Prayer Warrior"? Yes, okay I mentioned it. That's all. Listen, enjoy, see them live.

Listen:
"Prayer Warrior"
"Butch and Bellie"

Visit Butch & Bellie on MySpace

See Butch & Bellie live:
2 December 2006 @ Sin-é
16 December 2006 @ Pianos

Today's NEW releases

Gearing up for the holiday season:

• ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - So Divided
• Christine Fellows - Paper Anniversary
• The Clash - The Singles
• The Game - The Doctor's Advocate
• Graham Coxon - Love Travels at Illegal Speeds
• Sublime - Everything Under The Sun
• Various Artists - 24: Season 4 & 5 (soundtrack)

What did I miss?

A Great White Bird

A Great White Bird seems to be after the same kind of sound that has worked so well for Trans Am, but instead of throwback post-rock the resulting music comes across in more of an DIY IDM manner. Most of the songs are something in between Aphex Twin and Looper but less mentally challenging than the former and lacking the commercial appeal of the latter. Why then am I suggesting you listen? Well I've found the songs available on the Great White Bird website to be rather perfect background music for the grey skies and bossless Monday-induced trance that's going on over here at my office. Plus, the song "Just a Young Man" is a rather charming little song.

A Great White Bird is "one of the musical projects of Dorian Douma. Dorian grew up in the Yukon and moved to Victoria BC in 1991. He started making electronic music after hearing Radiohead's Kid A." The official site goes on to list three different bios so we're going to go with the Inaccurate bio for Dorian Douma:

Having completed his masters in audiology at Yukon College, Dorian is currently an "extraneous signal analyst" for the European Space Agency, which situates him aboard the International Space Station during the summer. His winter months are spent studying the varied wildlife of Canada's north. Both jobs put him in situations of isolation and wonderment, and are much of the inspiration for the character of his work.

If not explicitly termed inaccurate, I'd totally believe that bio...based upon the resulting music I mean. What we've got posted below are two of the many songs Dorian has made available on A Great White Bird's official site - two I've found to work the best for me. The first, "Just a Young Man", is my favorite of his songs. It's awkward and sweet, electro and indie pop-rock, in a semi Magnetic Fields kind of way. The second song, "Prince Edward Island Answers", is more representative of A Great White Bird's overall sound and it's in this song that you'll hear more of the Trans Am post-rock thing. Go forth now and listen you Monday zombies.

Listen:
"Just a Young Man"
"Prince Edward Island Answers"

Visit A Great White Bird on MySpace

snip·pets

Justin Timberlake, Timbaland writing for Duran Duran

Trans Am to release new album and tour

The Sunday Times (UK) talks to Jarvis Cocker

NY Times on Scritti Politti

NY Times on Government-subsidized rock bands

T-shirt turns air guitar into music

Can Joann

Having grown up in Raleigh, NC I try to keep an eye out for up and coming artists from the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area. Southern pride ya'll. In fact, I'd say it's double-extra pride given how much I love music (and basketball, but this ain't no sports blog...(go Pack)). Unless you're from a music rich community you probably have no idea what it was like growing up alongside bands like Squirrel Nut Zippers, Superchunk, Archers of Loaf, Southern Culture on the Skids, Polvo (etc. etc. including Whiskeytown - but I never cared for them) so allow me to tell you: it was fucking sweet! I got to see so many great shows and bands in the '90s that, well, frankly I nearly took it all for granted. I mean, I didn't really know how good it was to be living in that area (in terms of music) until I moved away and got a feeling for what music scenes are like elsewhere. As a result, with one foot in the past and always looking straight ahead, I've tried to make sure to feature current bands from back home on EAR FARM. Bands such as Pleasant, Schooner, The Rosebuds, and (of course) Annuals. Now, finally, it's time for us to catch up with the rest of the blogworld and give a listen to Can Joann.

Can Joann got in touch with me months ago. I noticed in the email that they were from Chapel Hill, and I meant to give their stuff a listen, but I never really got a chance to check them out before I started seeing posts about them all over the place. Next thing I knew, Idolator posted about Can Joann and I realized there's no WAY I could write about them now, right? Wrong. I don't play those stupid shit bloggy blogger games.

A bit more about Can Joann:

After releasing an EP in 2005, Can Joann have released a shiny new full length (their debut) titled Hurt People Hurt People. They recorded part of it at Poxworld Empire (The Rosebuds, Sames, Schooner) and part of it in a rented 19th century farm house in Chapel Hill. A tour is in the works and they recently played the Durham Music Festival alongside The Mountain Goats, The Rosebuds, Portastatic, and many more.

So - why Can Joann? Because you like indie-rock guitars and pop hooks. Because they're not a band trying as hard as they can to sound like Wire or The Smiths but are rather a band who is unafraid to sound like themselves and you respect that. They've got a sound that could very well be compared to Nada Surf (or something else along those lines) but what I immediately think of is...well, North Carolina music. What Can Joann sounds like is a band who would've fit in very well with all of those bands I used to see at The Brewery, Local 506, and The Cat's Cradle back in the '90s. No, more accurately they sound like a band who grew up listening to those early '90s NC bands and are simply putting their own spin on the Chapel Hill sound*.

Listen:
"Indecisionsway"
"After the Seizure is Gone"
"Lady Luck"

Visit Can Joann on MySpace

Buy Hurt People Hurt People from Can Joann on CD Baby, iTunes, or Insound.

*don't believe me? my reaction to Can Joann is pretty much the same as The Perm and the Skullet's. go check it out, two posts are better than one.

8+

“River" by Red House Painters which clocks in at 11:20

EAR FARM's 8+ is a weekly look at songs longer than eight minutes. Each week, new song. There are no rules or guidelines here other than that I won't allow live versions of songs to be featured. Beyond that, it's anything goes. From recounting dreams to pop quizzes, from faux screenplays to personal stories galore...you get it all here in 8+ land. Jazz, rock, things in between, whatever! If you're a long song, of any kind, you best believe you're ripe for some 8+ing.

Now, these posts don't always come solely from the mind of EAR FARM either. In the past I've welcomed others to write for EAR FARM's 8+....and this week, we've got another guest.

Yesterday I was IMing with David from Goes Cube and he asked if I had an MP3 of “River" by Red House Painters. No I don't have the MP3 you want Mr. Goes Cube, what do I look like - a music nerd?! Well, he really wanted to hear the song and then it hit me: I might not have the song but I know someone who does! Anyway, chat chat chat and I realized something. This song is an 8+, and it means a lot to David. How about HE write this week's 8+ about this very song? Great idea. Here's David's 8+:

Eleven minutes and twenty seconds is a long time. But when you’ve found the right chords, and the right words, and the right melody, and the right feeling, there’s no reason to stop.

Eleven minutes and twenty seconds is indeed a long time. For a song.

But four years is a long time, too.

Wait. Listen:

Everything is going wonderfully. But then noise creeps in. It’s worrisome. The song stays strong and fights to come out of the mess. And it does.

Still, it ends. Then you wonder why. After all, it was perfect when it started. So why did it change? Why the noise? Why the coda? Maybe it’s to get to, or on, the next track. I don’t think so.

Some things should never end. For me, this is what happy sounded like.

Thanks very much to David for taking part in EAR FARM's 8+. If you'd like to write about a song longer than eight minutes here on EAR FARM, get in touch with me. And, if you're a band that's got a few long songs - do the same.

Buy Old Ramon 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+:
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"
Suicide -“Frankie Teardrop"

To see a full list of every song featured in EAR FARM's 8+ click HERE.

Faith Hill pissed off at the Country Music Awards

Okay sure, pop culture commentary is not really EAR FARM's thing (totesprobsdefs more Stereogum's) but I couldn't resist this. Poor Faith Hill lost (at the Country Music Awards) to American Idol Carrie Underwood and couldn't take it. Notice her arms flail before she mouths "WHAT?!" It's fantastic: an honest reaction. In fact, I'm shocked there's not more of this kind of thing at awards shows.



What I really don't get is Faith's statement (from HERE):

"The idea that I would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to me. For this to become a focus of attention given the talent gathered is utterly ridiculous. Carrie is a talented and deserving female vocalist of the year."

Then her manager says:

"I've worked with Faith for many years now and the idea that she would ever insult or undermine another artist, let alone another human being's success is absolutely preposterous. Those who know her know that she's incapable of such actions. She was being playful while the nominations were being read and playful after."

Playful my ass. Why couldn't she just come out and tell the truth? She was pissed off because she thinks Carrie Underwood is a hack and a bit scared that she's the new Faith Hill. Watch it again. It kinda makes me want to go out drinking with Faith. Man, Faith and I could really trash the shit out of some hotel rooms I'll betcha. Before I couldn't even name a song by Faith Hill (still can't) and now I'm imagining a new career for her where she's cutting herself and kicking the audience and shitting on the stage. Faith Hill: today's G. G. Allin. If I was her manager I'd be playing the punk angle of this to get Faith some much needed street cred.

Any bets on her appearing on SNL to poke fun at herself?

Favorite shirts I no longer wear: Rage Against The Machine

Who: Rage Against The Machine
What: A classic shirt of the early to mid '90s and a perfect little politically tinged item of clothing to go along with election day
When: I bought mine at Rock Art (at North Hills Mall in Raleigh) very soon after seeing them on the second stage at Lollapalooza 2
Why: I've always loved shirts that can carry dual meanings. Back then it was like this: "sure I love to mosh about in my Docs jamming out to Rage, but I'm also totally actually raging against the machine, dude". Of course I never actually said those words, not like that, but I think I might've thought 'em. Things changed when everything was made very clear to me one day as my high school English teacher asked me a question to which I had no ready response. He paused in the middle of class..."Now Matt, exactly which machine are you raging against?"
Status: I got rid of this shirt back in 1994 after seeing more and more dingbats wearing it. Well, and I couldn't really wear it after failing that public verbal pop quiz.

Listen: "Take the Power Back" (buy the album Rage Against the Machine HERE)

You can BUY this very shirt HERE on eBay (which is where I grabbed the photo from).

Previously:
Favorite shirts I no longer wear: Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

CMJ roundups

Yeti Don't Dance has pictures from many shows and a post about The Knife @ Webster Hall

The Underrated Blog has tons of posts and pictures

Stereogum has a bunch of posts about CMJ shows

Subinev has some of the best CMJ recaps

The Punk Guy does a nice and easy wrap up

Productshop on their Friday night show

Gerard was at CMJ

Idolator's coverage

Brooklyn Vegan's coverage

Crackers United on their CMJ showcase

T-Sides with posts about shows on Weds and Thurs

If you only go to one site to read about someone's CMJ experience, make it Heartonastick

Beg Yr Pardon #11 - TONIGHT

Everyone's favorite regular party, Beg Yr Pardon, is now monthly. Catch the fun TONIGHT @ The Delancey ($5, 21+, DOORS at 7:30):

• 8pm Butch and Bellie
• 9pm Screaming Females
• 10pm Broadband
• 11pm Up the Empire

DJ sets by Jen from The Music Slut and DJElliott with FREE BEER from 11-MIDNIGHT!

Contrast Podcast #32

Just a reminder: Contrast Podcast is new today. What's that? 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 #32 is 'When'. Enjoy right now.

You can download Contrast Podcast #32 HERE.

Today's NEW releases

Out today (that caught my eye):

• Isobel Campbell - Milk White Sheets
• Ok Go - Oh No (W/Dvd)
• Pavement - Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition
• PJ Harvey - Peel Sessions 1991-2004
• Talib Kweli - Ear Drum

Also, one of my favorite current bands, Brakes, released their second album (The Beatific Visions) yesterday in the UK. Out here in January. If someone would like to send it to me I'd be forever your friend. I'll even review it, and I don't do record reviews. I just want to hear it. Anyway, what new releases did I miss?

The unanimous Declaration of the United State of EAR FARM

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one blog to dissolve the bands which have connected it with EZArchive and to assume among the powers of the earth, a separate and greater host to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle it, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that not all hosting companies are created equal, that some even come with with certain unalienable wrongs, that among these are an unacceptable amount of downtime, switching over to a new system that makes posting MP3s impossible and the alienation of a core group of their customers. --That to combat these wrongs, other hosting is instituted among music blogs, deriving their just powers from the will of the readers, --That whenever any form of host becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the bloggers to alter or to abolish said company, and to institute new hosting, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

Har har. But the fact is I'm done with EZArchive. Out with the old and in with the new. As a result, things might be a bit different around here for a while as we all move towards a more perfect EAR FARM together. This change will do us good. I do, however, regret to inform you that all MP3s which previously lived on the EAR FARM server are probably permanently unavailable. Everything posted from this point forward will be rocktastic.

In honor of this newfound freedom, let's get on with an MP3, shall we? This one is from Killing Joke and touches a bit on what all of us US citizens will be doing tomorrow.

Listen:
Killing Joke - "Democracy" (buy the album Democracy HERE)

You ARE going to vote, right?

snip·pets

Mike Skinner forced to pull out of New York marathon

Genesis Reuniting With Phil Collins For Tour

NY Times on the coming extensive renovation of Brooklyn's Northsix

Start-up website (Sellaband) turns music fans into investors

Prince finally starting to act like The King

Diddy says he wants to be the first black James Bond

EAR FARM MP3 status

Hi guys. Because my hosting company changed their infrastructure, and the way they handle MP3s, things are still in limbo here in EF world. I'm working on figuring out what steps to take to get everything back to normal but, for the time being, certain links to MP3 files on this site may not be working and I won't be able to post today's Weekend Live Music. It's rather frustrating but hopefully won't be a problem much longer.

Jake Brennan, Read Yellow, Goes Cube, and Foreign Islands @ Guero - 2 November 2006

The final of three (first show/second show ) EAR FARM sponsored shows during CMJ was held yesterday afternoon at Guero (basement of Julep). It was intended to be a nice fun small party with awesome bands and friends getting together for some nearly free beers on a Thursday afternoon and that's precisely what it was. After just one small problem...

Unfortunately there was a communication problem regarding the venue sound system and it was discovered pre-show that Guero's intimate setting wasn't going to work for Shout-out-out-out-out. A real shame and definitely not the ideal start to the afternoon. As it was, Shout-out-out-out-out was unable to play and, on behalf of EAR FARM, Holy Roller, and Guero, I'd like to apologize to them. You can be sure that we'll work out an excellent show with them in the future at a larger venue. Live and learn. Luckily, once things got going it was a blast from start to finish.

Jake Brennan (above) was up first with just a guitar, amp, and microphone and with these simple tools he blew me away. His sound is something like Nebraska era Bruce Springsteen, or Back to Basics Billy Bragg, but with a rockabilly slant. A combination that suits my tastes very well. I was happy to have picked up a Jake Brennan CD and can't wait to catch him again live. See more pictures of Jake Brennan from yesterday's show HERE.

Read Yellow (above) - could they be any mo' better live? No, of course not. But then, everyone already knows this, right? I did, and I hadn't even seen them yet. Yesterday they delivered everything I was hoping for and more. In a tiny basement bar in the East Village, Read Yellow treated those of us in attendance to one fantastic performance. They annihilated the implied barrier between themselves and the audience and moved from mellow moments to all out rocking with ease. Pure energy. See more pictures of Read Yellow from yesterday's show HERE.

This show was merely a warmup show for Goes Cube (above) as they had their official CMJ showcase later in the night at The Delancey. Do you think that meant they'd take it easy? Coast through their set? Hell no. This is GOES CUBE we're talking about. They nearly blew my ears off shredding through mostly new songs and Kenny punched a hole in his snare with a stick. You should know that I now fight the urge to jump around and rock out while singing along each time I see these guys. I don't want to seem like too much of a superfan but that's just what I am. By the way, my new favorite - Goes Cube Song 39. See more pictures of Goes Cube from yesterday's show HERE.

What little I knew of Foreign Islands (above) before yesterday flew right out the door the second Dean smashed two full beers on the table in front of me with his guitar neck. It was such the perfect punch in the face. Glass and beer flew everywhere and the crowd was on edge. Danger! What were they going to do next? The anticipation was palpable and I loved it. I can't tell you how refreshing it was to see a band put the balls back into a rock performance. Best part - their songs kicked as much ass as they did. See more pictures of Foreign Islands from yesterday's show HERE.

Yesterday was one of those shows I found myself feeling very lucky to be witnessing in person. Musicians playing for the fun of it, playing for each other, and playing without constraint. Thanks so very much to my co-sponsors of this show, to the bands who played, and to everyone who came out to all of the EAR FARM sponsored shows. I hope you guys had as much fun with it as I did.

The 8+ list

EAR FARM's 8+ is a weekly look at songs longer than eight minutes. Each week, new song. There are no rules or guidelines here other than that I won't allow live versions of songs to be featured. Beyond that, it's anything goes. You can see all of EAR FARM's 8+ posts thus far below listed from most recent to oldest (last updated 12 June 2008), or you can view a selection of EAR FARM's 8+ greatest hits & guest posts HERE.

The Controllers - "Somebody's Gotta Win, Somebody's Gotta Lose"
Islands - "Bucky Little Wing"
Grandaddy - "He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's the Pilot"
Broken Social Scene - "Backyards"
Oingo Boingo - "Change"
Count Basie - "Blues For The Barbecue"
The Besnard Lakes - "You've Got to Want to Be a Star"
M83 - "Couleurs"
David Byrne - "Happy Suicide"
Fleetwood Mac - "Oh Well"
Phish - "You Enjoy Myself"
Green Day - "Homecoming"
Billy Bragg - "Joe Hill"
Van Halen - "Year to the Day"
Kraftwerk - "The Telephone Call"
Neutral Milk Hotel - "Oh Comely"
George Gershwin - "Rhaphsody in Blue"
Múm - "Smell Memory"
Tool - "Lateralus"
Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks - "Real Emotional Trash"
Iron Maiden - "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son"
Mandy Reid - "Tornado"
Genesis - "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight"
Metallica - "Master of Puppets"
British Sea Power - “Lately” (an 8+ remix)
The Decemberists - “The Mariner's Revenge Song”
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Free Bird"
Ludwig van Beethoven - "Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 - Allegretto"
Gioachino Rossini - "La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie)"
The Fiery Furnaces - "Inspector Blancheflower”
Bauhaus - "Bela Lugosi's Dead"
Morrissey - "Moon River"
Miles Davis - "So What”
Tori Amos - "Yes, Anastasia"
Boduf Songs - “Bell for Harness”
8 Bold Souls - "Odyssey"
Artanker Convoy - "Open Up"
Dan Deacon - "Wham City"
Clan of Xymox - "A Day (Remix)"
Built to Spill - "Broken Chairs"
Spacemen 3 - "Big City (Everybody I Know Can Be Found Here)"
Pulp - "Seductive Barry"
Pelican - "March to the Sea"
Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, and Tony Rice - "Guitar Space/Summertime"
Boris - "Flood"
Vieux Farka Touré - "Diabaté"
Morrissey - "Southpaw"
Mastodon - "Hearts Alive"
Frog Eyes - "Bushels"
Slint - "Washer"
Martin Eagle Trio - "The Hipster"
Battles - "Rainbow"
Nirvana - "Scentless Apprentice"
Jesu - "Weightless and Horizontal"
Nuh Uh - "This Is Embarrassing"
The Cure - "Carnage Visors: The Soundtrack"
Aphex Twin - "Ziggomatic V17"
Agalloch - "In The Shadow Of Our Pale Companion"
Explosions In The Sky - "It's Natural To Be Afraid"
Guns N' Roses - "Locomotive"
Guns N' Roses - "Estranged"
Guns N' Roses - "Coma"
Guns N' Roses - "November Rain"
Sleep - "Jerusalem (Pt. 4)"
The Velvet Underground - "The Gift"
Elton John - "Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding"
Jenő Jandó - "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2"
The Temptations - "Take a Stroll Thru Your Mind"
Deerhoof - "Look Away"
Tan Dun - "Symphony 1997: II. Earth (Yi3)"
Jane's Addiction - "Three Days"
Joanna Newsom - "Monkey & Bear"
Depeche Mode - "Never Let Me Down Again" (Split Mix)
This Mortal Coil - "Dreams Are Like Water"
The Church - “Chaos"
Alex Skolnick Trio - "War Pigs"
Arlo Guthrie - “Alice's Restaurant Massacre"
The Human League - "Morale... / You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
Red House Painters - “River"
Suicide - “Frankie Teardrop"
Grateful Dead - “Terrapin Station"
Deodato - “Also Sprach Zarathustra"
Bark Psychosis - “All Different Things"
!!! - ““Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (a true story)""
Suede - “The Asphalt World"
Love and Rockets - “Haunted When the Minutes Drag"
Rush - “2112"
Explosions In The Sky - "Memorial"
Charalambides - “Two Birds"
Bob Marley & The Wailers - “Exodus” (1984 12" Mix)
Aarktica - “Song For A Free Williamsburg”
Newcleus - “Jam On It”
Red Hot Chili Peppers - “Sir Psycho Sexy”
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - “Cowgirl in the Sand”
DJ Shadow - "Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain"
The Stone Roses - "I Am The Resurrection"
Big Brother & the Holding Company - "Ball And Chain"
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - "1% Of One"
Digital Underground - "Doowutchyalike"
George Michael - "I Want Your Sex, Pts. 1 &2"
Yo La Tengo - "Let's Be Still"
The Cure - "Fascination Street" (Extended Mix)
Iggy Pop - "Mass Production"
Neu! - "Fuer Immer (forever)"
Destroyer - "Rubies"
The Who - "A Quick One, While He's Away"
Loose Fur - "Wreckroom"
Dungen - "Du är för fin för mig"
Morrissey - "The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils"
Pulp - "Countdown"
Polvo - "El Rocio"
New Order - "Temptation"
Herbie Hancock - "Sly"
Lemon Jelly - "A Tune For Jack"
Isis - "From Sinking"
Wilco - "Spiders (Kidsmoke)"
My Morning Jacket - "Dondante"
Sleater-Kinney - "Let's Call It Love"
The Wedding Present - "Interstate 5"
Wilderness - "Post Plethoric Rhetoric"
Animal Collective - "Banshee Beat"
Isolée - "Pillowtalk"
Islands - "Swans"
British Sea Power - "Lately"

Family Business, EAR FARM, and The Deli Magazine - CMJ show @ Union Pool, 1st November 2006

Last night was EAR FARM's second sponsored show, the one 'official' EF CMJ show, during this week of the CMJ Music Marathon. It was a showcase for Ace Fu's Family Business, co-sponsored by The Deli Magazine, and held at Union Pool in Brooklyn. Given that I'm headed out to another EF sponsored show very soon (2pm @ Guero - Jake Brennan, Shout-out-out-out-out, Read Yellow, Goes Cube, and Foreign Islands) I'll need to make this brief.

The Shapes (above) started things off with a blazing set of catchy rock. I loved their blend of male/female vocals and thought their guitar work and rhythm section really stood out. Of the five bands that played the show last night, these guys are the most immediately ready for mass consumption. Guess it makes sense that one of their songs is being used as the theme song for a TV show. View more pictures of The Shapes from last night HERE.

The Art Of Shooting (above) was up next and began their set with a minor tech issue. Come to find out, there's just not enough power on the stage...or something. It turned out to be a bit of a pain but The Art Of Shooting carried on. They raced through a loud set of their wailing rock and inspired a bit of fist pumping from the audience. I thought the second to last song they played was really excellent, loved watching Oliver on the kit (nothing new), and thought that both members who were new to me did a very fine job. View more pictures of The Art Of Shooting from last night HERE.

Waiting for Other Passengers (above) to get things set up I found myself really looking forward to their set. I've seen them before, and mentioned it before, but they definitely scratch this certain musical itch of mine. Loud, dark, fantastic vocals, cool visuals...last night they had it all. Except Billy's guitar. That turned out to be another casualty of the power situation but Other Passengers carried on and improvised and played without it. It must've been a frustrating night for them but it didn't show. View more pictures of Other Passengers from last night HERE.

As The Gritty Midi Gang (above) set up their gear I noticed right away that they'd definitely satisfy my inner synth nerd. The boards! Lookit all the boards! Once they started playing I was happy to hear that they bring a sound just as impressive as their army of gear. Sure they blip and modulate but they also really rock it out at times. In fact, strangely, some of my favorite moments of their set were guitar moments. Then again, I also really loved the vocals. View more pictures of The Gritty Midi Gang from last night HERE.

Unfortunately, The Fatales didn't take the stage until after 1:15am (another result of venue tech issues) and both myself and the people I was with were ready to get going. I mean, it was a school night and everything. I did stay long enough to catch their first song and snap some pictures and it was long enough for me to realize that I need to see this band again. Their grand and dark sound definitely reminded me of This Is Hardcore era Pulp. Sure it was only one song, but that's what I was hearing and I LOVE that album and that sound. Next time I will see more of The Fatales, belee dat. View more pictures of The Fatales from last night HERE.

Tech issues aside, it was a great night. I still really like Union Pool and thought that all of the bands gave great performances. Thanks to everyone who played, thanks to Family Business for including EAR FARM and The Deli in the fun, and thanks to everyone who came out.