[MusicRatty] tag: love

Ciara Ft T Pain - Go Girl (Video)

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:38:00 +0000

Love this track, been playing it every week on my BBC Radio 1Xtra RnB Show , I like the fact that Ciara is prepared to take a few risks with her music, if you heard 'High Price Ft Ludacris' you know what I mean.. Lets hope the album 'Fantasy Ride' has more unexpected tunes to come.

Eight-X (49)

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:06:00 +0000

Hello, Eight-X time again and today we have two acts showing why they were so popular in the early eighties. First up Soft Cell, i had the pleasure of owning their first 12 "memorabilia once..gone awol now , read it fetches a nice price these days ($ 80). Anyway i was a fan and even when they scored big with Tainted Love and all the other great singles,specially the 12 "'s they released..as such they really were trendsetters as with releasing a video album-with their debut album. Here is the remastered Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret i picked up cheap somewhere as my vinyl was trashed by beer...They followed it up with a remix album..bit of a XTC trip that one was, bit short too so i added some 12 " work of the time...Talk of XTC thats the name of the second band of today..i had planned topost drims and wires but decided digitising my Wax works double album, which btw will be split as i post part 2 , BeesWax tomorrow as Alphabet Soup has reached X...as a bonus ive digitised a rarety..Mr Partidge radical dub deconstructions of his work...

*****
Soft Cell formed in 1980 in Leeds. Their initial efforts at recording resulted in an EP called Mutant Moments that year, funded by Dave Ball's mother, made with a simple 2-track recorder. This was released independently with only 2000 vinyl copies pressed and has since become a highly valued collector's item among Soft Cell fans. Their early shows and EP caught the interest of certain record labels, such as Mute Records and Some Bizzare Records, both of which pioneered the new wave of synthesizer bands. Soft Cell's next recording, "The Girl with the Patent Leather Face," appeared as a contribution to the Some Bizzare Album, which featured other (then unknown) bands such as Depeche Mode, The The, and Blancmange. Their first singles, A Man Can Get Lost 7" and Memorabilia 12" were produced by Daniel Miller, the founder of Mute Records. While the Memorabilia single was a club hit but didn't chart, Soft Cell remained essentially unknown.

Phonogram Records allowed Soft Cell to record a second and final single in an attempt to score a chart hit. The band opted to record a radically reworked cover version of "Tainted Love", an obscure 1964 northern soul track originally sung by Gloria Jones. Released in 1981, Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" was a number-one hit in seventeen countries, including the United Kingdom, as well as a number eight single in the United States and stayed on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for a record 43 weeks. Unfortunately for them,as both tracks on the single were covers..they never made much money from it. Their first album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, further explored the trademark Soft Cell themes of squalor and sleaze. A companion video entitled Non-Stop Exotic Video Show was released alongside the album and featured videos directed by Tim Pope, who later found fame as director of music videos by The Cure. The video generated controversy in Britain in fact the police confiscated it. In 1982, the duo spent most of their time recording and relaxing in New York City, where they met a woman named Cindy Ecstasy. It was Cindy Ecstasy who introduced them to the new club drug of the same name. By their own admission, most of Non-stop Ecstatic Dancing was recorded and mixed under the influence of ecstasy.

By 1983, the shadow of "Tainted Love" was beginning to haunt the band, and the pressures of stardom, not to mention the constant drug use, were taking their toll. Marc Almond also formed the group Marc and the Mambas, featuring collaborations with The The's Matt Johnson and future Almond collaborator Annie Hogan, as an offshoot in order to experiment out of the glare of the Soft Cell spotlight. Soft Cell followed their remix album with a full length album appropriately titled The Art of Falling Apart. The singles were modest successes in Britain. By 1984, they had decided amicably to dissolve the band and released one final album called This Last Night in Sodom, a critical success but a commercial failure. The album departed from its predecessors by having a much grittier feel, featuring more live drums and guitars than previous albums.

During Almond's solo years, he and Ball continued to keep in touch. Dave Ball's ex-wife played cello in Marc Almond's solo band. Almond and David Ball did not work again together until the nineties, when Ball arranged some music for Almond's "Tenement Symphony." David Ball formed The Grid in 1990 with Richard Norris. The Grid split up in 1996, but reformed in 2005 and released an album in 2008 on the Some Bizzare label called Doppelgänger. Almond and Ball's reunion as Soft Cell became official with well-received initial concerts - they performed at the opening of the Ocean nightclub in London in March 2001 to strong reviews, and a mini tour followed later in the year. The track "God Shaped Hole" featured on the Some Bizzare compilation released in 2001.

The album Cruelty Without Beauty was released in late 2002, followed by a European tour and a partial US tour in early 2003. The new album featured their first new songs together in almost twenty years, and the two are together in full force. Almond's lyrics are among the best he has ever written. It all comes together with brilliant writing and Ball's atmospheric and swelling arrangement of the eerie music. Almond's voice is strong and emotive, living and breathing his stories and observations. And the music has grown in short a more mature Soft Cell.

In August 2007 the band announced they have started a remix album, "Heat - The Remixes". The remix album is expected to be released in May 2008 and will include classic Soft Cell tracks remixed by such acts as Paul Dakeyne, The Grid, Manhattan Clique, Cicada, Richard X, Ladytron, MHC, Atomizer, Mark Moore, Kinky Roland, Spektrum, George Demure, Yer Man and many more

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (rem) (81 ^ 178mb)

Despite the reputation of many new wave bands as being on the cutting edge of technology, the album was created on a very low budget
The insistent beats taken at steady dance tempos and the chilling electronic sounds conjured by Ball emphasized Almond's fascination with deviance. British listeners saw through Almond's pretense or were amused by him, or both; more puritanical Americans tended to disapprove, which probably limited the group's long-term success stateside.

01 - Frustration (4:11)
02 - Tainted Love (2:33)
03 - Seedy Films (5:04)
04 - Youth (3:14)
05 - Sex Dwarf (5:16)
06 - Entertain Me (3:34)
07 - Chips On My Shoulder (4:06)
08 - Bedsitter (3:35)
09 - Secret Life (3:38)
10 - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (5:23)

11 - Where Did Our Love Go? (3:13)
12 - Memorabilia (4:48)
13 - Facility Girls (2:21)
14 - Fun City (7:44)
15 - Torch (4:08)
16 - Insecure Me (4:38)
17 - What? (2:50)
18 - ....So (3:49)

diet version
Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (rem) (* 99mb)

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Soft Cell - Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing (82 ^ 153mb)

Considered to be the first ever remix album, Non-stop Ecstatic Dancing is also widely recognized as being one of the first house records in the UK, as well as the first record in the UK to feature turntable scratches. However, it is notable that the scratch sounds heard on the record were not created on actual turntables but, rather, on producer Mike Thorne's modular Serge synthesizer.

As the name implies, Non-stop Ecstatic Dancing was conceived, by the band's own admission, under the influence of MDMA (commonly referred to as ecstasy). The album and its inspiration, Non-stop Erotic Cabaret, were both recorded almost simultaneously in New York City at a time when its gay club scene was just beginning to emerge. The album is much more dance-oriented than Non-stop Erotic Cabaret, with extended versions and instrumental cuts of various songs from Erotic Cabaret as well as several new tracks. I've added some more vinyl 12" to the original 28 min. minialbum,,turns out the rematered 97 version has the same set up.

01 - Memorabilia (5:22)
02 - Where Did Our Love Go (4:23)
03 - What (4:32)

04 - A Man Could Get Lost (3:59)
05 - Chips On My Shoulder (4:30)
06 - Sex Dwarf (5:17)

07 - Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go.(9:00)
08 - Memorabilia (original) (7:50)
09 - What (6:05)
10 - So (8:50)
11 - Torch (4:05)
12 - Insecure Me (4:40)

diet version
Soft Cell - Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing (* 99mb)

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

XTC - Wax Works(82 ^ 99mb)

Before the band finally settled on a name: XTC, the core duo of Andy Partridge (guitars & vocals) and Colin Moulding (bass & vocals) went through many band names in the previous 5 years, Terry Chambers (drums) joined in 1973 and keyboard player Barry Andrews followed in 1976. By this time (77), the punk rock movement was in full swing, and XTC had found their style, a unique brand of hyperactive pop mixed with funk, punk, ska, reggae, and art rock. That year they signed with Virgin and released their debut LP White Music in January 1978. White Music received favorable reviews and entered the British top 40, but lead single "Statue of Liberty" was banned by the BBC for making allegedly lewd references to the famous statue ("in my fantasy I sail beneath your skirt")...yes 30 years ago those censorists assumed getting a hard on from a copper statue, or maybe it was to prevent young men getting the wrong idea and emigrate to the States..outrageous either way...
Their second effort, Go 2, came 8 months later, it had a limited edition bonus disc Go + (dub mixes of songs from the album). The title was inspired by the Japanese strategy game GO and the fact that it was their second album. The US versionhad a single, added here, "Are You Receiving Me? " In 1980 Andrews left to become one of Fripps League of gentlemen and afterwards went on to form Shriekback. He was replaced by guitarist and keyboardist Dave Gregory. With his arrival, the band scored their first charting single, Moulding's "Life Begins at the Hop". The loss of Andrews' distinctive keyboard playing started the band on a path towards a more traditional rock sound. The resulting album, Drums and Wires, contained the band's first big hit, "Making Plans for Nigel", the album found the band branching out into more overtly political topics, culminating in the unhinged ranting of "Complicated Game", which became one of the band's most well-known non-hits. During this period, Partridge also further indulged his love of dub, releasing a solo LP in 1980 under the name 'Mr Partridge'. The album, Take Away/The Lure of Salvage featured radical dub deconstructions of music from the preceding XTC albums.

Mr. Partridge - Take Away - The Lure Of Salvage (80 ^ 85mb),

Side A is titled "Take Away" and side B "The Lure of Salvage." Partridge made Take Away... totally royalty-free for a cost of 2,000 pounds, and asked Virgin to set the price low. Virgin sold the album with the maximum price of 3.99 pounds. The cover pictures on the album's back and front are taken from a post card of Jayne Mansfield in a swimming pool. The figures floating on the water are hot water bottles shaped like her, on the back cover some of which Partridge scribbled out. Citations from the back cover:
"This used to be some XTC records. It is now a collection of tracks that have been electronically processed/shatterded and layered with other songs or lyrical pieces." "If you liked 'Go+' then this record weighs approximately the same amount"

Take Away

01 - Commerciality (Signal AD) (3:09)
Source - "Refrigeration Blues" (White Music outtake; the lyrics were a poem called "Signal Ad (Saleable Futurity").
02 - The Day They Pulled The North Pole Down (3:53)
Source - "Heatwave" (using the backing tracks and slowing them down).
03 - The Forgotten Language Of Light (4:22)
Source - "Millions" (using the percussion tracks and adding guitar and ad-libbed vocals).
04 - Steam Fist Futurist (3:12)
Source - "Real by Reel" (using the backing tracks and adding various sounds).
05 - Shore Leave Ornithology (Another 1950) (5:34)
Source - "Pulsing Pulsing" (using the backing tracks and adding various things with poetry inspired by Charlie Parker's "Ornithology").
06 - Cairo (1:53)
Source - "Homo Safari" (sped up backing tracks adding keyboards, vocals and handclaps).

The Lure Of Salvage

07 - The Rotary (3:20)
Source - "Helicopter" (improvised guitar/singing/yelling over drums, bass and percussion tracks).
08 - Madhattan (3:19)
Source - "That Is The Way" (backing track with new sounds added).
09 - I Sit In The Snow (3:13)
Source - "Roads Girdle the Globe" (slowed-down backing track of the bridge with poem and sounds added).
10 - Work Away Tokyo Day (4:06)
Source - "Red / Day In Day Out" (original beginning, then all nine of Barry Andrews' sax parts from "Red" played simultaneously, and "Day In Day Out" sped up with a new bass line).
11 - New Broom (5:28)
Source - "Making Plans For Nigel" (new lyrics and sounds to the backing tracks).

Their 1980 LP, Black Sea spawned the hit singles "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" and "Generals and Majors". The last major hit of XTC's touring phase was "Senses Working Overtime", the first single from their double album English Settlement and a top 10 hit in 1982. At the peak of their popularity, the band embarked on a major tour, but Partridge suffered a mental breakdown on stage during one of the first concerts of the tour in Paris on March 18, 1982. Andy Partridge's breakdown, caused by the loss of his valium supply on which he become dependant since his teenager years, manifested itself as uncontrollable stage fright. the european and US tours were cancelled and since then, XTC have been exclusively a studio band, although they have given occasional live-to-air performances from radio stations, and a handful of TV appearances. Drummer Chambers was more or less forced to leave, left without the performances income and was never replaced as from then on this role would be taken on by hired session hands.

Mummer (83) saw Partridge cooling his heels with pastoral songs like "Love on a Farmboy's Wages", the band's next album took a noisy left turn. 1984's The Big Express, surprised both their record company and fans alike with its abrasive sound and became XTC's poorest seller to date (maybe it was that crazy cover !) . XTC responded with a project that was intended as a homage to 1960s pop and psychedelic music by groups such as the Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd and the Pretty Things and released 25'o clock a mini album under the name of The Dukes of Stratosphear, 2 years later they had another go and released a full album "Psonic Psunspot".

In 1986, the band travelled to Todd Rundgren's studio-in-the-woods in Woodstock, New York to record Skylarking. Although the pairing of XTC and Rundgren was highly anticipated by fans, the sessions were less than enjoyable for the band. Rundgren had insisted that the band send him, in advance, demos of all the songs that they thought they might tackle for the record. When the band got to Woodstock, Rundgren had already worked out a running order for both the recording and sequence of the album itself. Rundgren insisted that everyone adhere to his scheme, obviously this did not sit well with the band, Partridge in particular. The two egos of Rundgren and Partridge clashed frequently during the recording of Skylarking . Yet the album earned critical accolades and sold well. The band's follow up, Oranges and Lemons, produced by Paul Fox, was their biggest seller yet, with thanks to the singles getting heavy airplay on MTV.

Their 1992 album, Nonsuch (named after Henry VIII's fabled palace), united them with famed UK producer Gus Dudgeon and drummer Dave Mattacks. In spite of the LP's success, soon after it was released a contractual dispute with their label, Virgin Records, saw XTC go "on strike" from 1992 through 1998, finally resulting in the termination of their contract. After leaving Virgin, Partridge had their accounts audited and it was discovered that the company had withheld substantial royalty payments from them(surprise ). The settlement of the accounts provided the group with much-needed cash flow, allowing Partridge and Moulding to install fully-equipped studios and work comfortably at home. They are now able to record the majority of their work themselves, they formed their own label, Idea Records, and embarked on the recording of the ambitious "Apple Venus" project, a collection of the best material written during the band's dispute with Virgin. This didnt go down as smoothly as expected as long time member, Dave Gregory, left, again because of loosing out financially, it caused some upheavel. The band's next record, Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) was the guitar-heavy collection Gregory would have preferred. In October 2005, the two albums were reissued together in the 4-CD Apple Box collection.

I n November 2006, Partridge told several interviewers that Moulding no longer had any interest in writing, performing or even listening to music. Partridge has said he would not continue XTC without Moulding, and that therefore he has been forced to regard XTC "in the past tense," with no likelihood of a new project unless Moulding should have a change of heart. Partridge meanwhile jammed with Martin Barker and Barry Andrews (both Shriekback) and released a double CD under the name of Monstrance this year.

XTC - Wax Works(82 ^ 99mb)

Though it has been since supplanted by more comprehensive XTC collections -- the most notable being Fossil Fuel, which repeats all of the Waxworks tracks plus the later singles -- Waxworks: Some Singles 1977-1982 remains the classic compilation of the band's first, pre-studio-bound period. Originally, the album was packaged with a second record, Beeswax: Some B-Sides 1977-1982, later made available separately as is the case here today as it will come up at Alphabet Soup II (X) tomorrow.

01 - Science Fiction (3:12)
02 - Statue Of Liberty (2:25)
03 - This Is Pop (2:40)
04 - Are You Receiving Me (3:04)
05 - Life Begins At The Hop (3:46)
06 - Making Plans For Nigel (3:53)
07 - Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down (4:33)

08 - Generals & Majors (3:40)
09 - Towers Of London (4:39)
10 - Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me) (3:36)
11 - Senses Working Overtime (4:33)
12 - Ball & Chain (4:30)

***** ***** ***** ***** *****
All downloads are in * ogg-7 (224k) or ^ ogg-9(320k), artwork is included , if in need get the nifty ogg encoder/decoder here !

Omkara

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:27:36 +0000

I love nothing better than delicious cultural fusion, so I was highly entertained by “Omkara,” the Bollywood retelling of Othello. It’s been out since 2006, but I’m slow about these things. Omkara, played by Ajay Devgan, is a gangster who enforces mob rule for his boss Bhaisaab. He’s a devilishly suave dude who wins the heart of sweet innocent Dolly, though her father warns him that she will never be faithful to him.

When Bhaisaab gains more power, Omkara has the opportunity to promote one of his own gang to the position of “general” (i.e., enforcer). Omkara picks his loyal friend Kesu, but his brother-in-law Langda thinks that he should have had the position. Langda starts scheming, hijinks ensue, there is singing and gunfire and tragedy … I bet you can guess how it ends.

The film was very well received over the ocean in the US and Europe, so it probably disappointed Bollywood purists, as most things with cross-cultural appeal will do. But the music is absolutely great. I watched the movie with these awful subtitles, so I even got to know a little bit about what the songs were saying. They’re way fun. Omkara gets his own theme song (about what a hard-bitten gangsta he is) and the pieces alternate from the bump-and-grind of “Beedi” to the heartfelt duet “O Saathi Re,” sung in the last peaceful sunlit moments Dolly and Omkara have together before they’re ripped apart by circumstance.

It’s a great movie for anyone — there’s love and gunfire and tragedy and family and loyalty and dancing girls and good-looking fellas in sunglasses singing their hearts out. Put it on your Netflix queue and get ready for a good time. Here’s a trailer if you want to give it a preview (a short one or a long one with more English).

Omkara — Omkara

Omkara — O Saathi Re

Apollo Sunshine

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:53:22 +0000

Apollo Sunshine, recently having released their third full-length,
Shall Noise Upon, are pleased to announce that they will be
accompanying Dirty Pretty Things in the UK and Ireland. This is,
of course, as you’ve indubitably heard, Dirty Pretty Things’
farewell tour, but fear not, with Apollo Sunshine bringing their
raucously joyful live show to inhabitants of the British Isles,
it will absolutely not be a sorrowful affair. And if you’ve never
seen the trio perform — their set often ends with drum-pounding,
ear-shaking insanity — you are absolutely in for a treat.

For three dates in late October, coincidentally near Halloween,
Apollo Sunshine will also be taking their love of Jimi Hendrix and
his psychedelia to an even higher level, performing — which means
dressing up like Jimi, as well as playing his songs — as the Apollo
Sunshine Experience for the shows in New York, Boston, and
Northhampton, MA.

Shall Noise Upon was just given an 8.0 by Pitchfork, who said
that it “…represents a certain maturation of their ability to
construct a record. Don’t read mature to mean dry or dull, though–
this is still exuberant music that celebrates its sudden shifts
in direction. Shall Noise Upon is a great record, and an impossible
one to digest in just one sitting. That’s hardly a problem, though,
because coming back to it is so rewarding.”

Look out for upcoming show review from the UEA Norwich!

MP3: Apollo Sunshine - Singing To The Earth (To Thank Her For You)
MP3: Apollo Sunshine - Happiness

APOLLO SUNSHINE FALL TOUR (NEW UK and US DATES)
Oct 03 - Black Rock, CT @ The Field
Oct 08 - Philadelphia, PA @Johnny Brenda’s
Oct 09 - Washington DC @ DC9
Oct 12 - Cambridge, UK @ The Junction (w/ Dirty Pretty Things)
Oct 13 - Norwich, UK @ UEA (w/ Dirty Pretty Things)
Oct 14 - London, UK @ The Roundhouse (w/ Dirty Pretty Things)
Oct 16 - Oxford, UK @ Carling Academy (w/ Dirty Pretty Things)
Oct 21 - Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar
Oct 22 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
Oct 24 - Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
Oct 25 - Madison, WI @ Club 770 - University of Wisconsin
Oct 26 - Indianapolis, IN @ Birdy’s
Oct 27 - Columbus, OH @ The Basement
Oct 29 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge*
Oct 30 - Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East (Downstairs)*
Oct 31 - Northampton, MA @ The Iron Horse Music Hall*
Nov 02 - Belfast, NORTHERN IRELAND @ Mandela Hall (w/ Dirty Pretty Things)
Nov 03 - Dublin, IRELAND @ Academy (w/ Dirty Pretty Things)
Nov 05 - Cork, IRELAND @ Cyprus Avenue (w/ Dirty Pretty Things)
Nov 06 - Wicklow, IRELAND @ Greystones Theatre (w/ Dirty Pretty Things)
Nov 07 - Galway, IRELAND @ Roisin Dubh (w/ Dirty Pretty Things)
Nov 11 - Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
Nov 12 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
Nov 13 - Visalia, CA @ Cellar Door
Nov 14 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Nov 21 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge

*Performing encore as the Apollo Sunshine Experience

- Mark

A Little Dream of Mine

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:52:28 +0000

One of the exciting industries I’ve known is the media advertising. Aside from its market is truly indulging, every firm has definitely the best, most creative and intelligent people around. I used to dream of becoming a part of an advertising team as I love to create unique stuff. But, my knowledge and skills is limited so I decided to make this dream at halt.

Everyday, I browse the internet for some exciting commercials and advertisement that could inspire me more to pursue a career in this field. Each day, I find excellently made portfolios that only brilliant people can make. From TV commercials to the Internet, they are just so enticing and fascinating.

Today, I found the Chicago Video Production Company portfolio. The company is not just into advertising but also doing a comprehensive multimedia campaign. While I’m aware that internet is playing a huge role in marketing and advertising, it’s rare that I could find a company that offers a complete package. I think this is one of the best companies I found so far – very impressing.

As for me, I’m still studying how to create a website. I believe that being in the multimedia industry requires not just creativity but also skills in various platforms. That’s where I’m readying myself. One day, I would love to see my work and ideas in live - hoping that I could utilize God’s given talent in my own little ways. Who knows? =)

Kool & The Gang Dancing With The Stars Video

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:10:38 +0000

If you love the old skool, here’s a group that requires no introduction. Legendary jazz/R&B band Kool & The Gang performed a medley of their greatest hits on the Dancing with the Stars Results Show Tuesday night.

ELECTRO POP : NEW ORDER

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:06:22 +0000

NEW ORDER
TECHNIQUE (1989)
320 KBPS
Technique is New Order's most fully realized dance album. Although other New Order albums have been mighty danceable, this recording contains a masterful use of the acid-house trends storming the club scene in 1989, when this album was released. New Order embraced the technology that was available at the time but never substituted brilliant song structures with prefabricated formats that sequencers, samplers, and other high-tech noisemakers can easily provide. They intelligently used these devices to incorporate elements of a broader genre beyond the "New Order sound," proving that even while experimenting with musical trends and other fleeting diversions, this accomplished group is capable of pulling off a genre-defining album without ever losing sight of their own identity.
Personnel
Bernard Sumner - Vocals, guitars, melodica, synthesizers & programming
Peter Hook - 4 & 6 stringed bass, electronic percussion, synthesizers & programming
Stephen Morris - Drums, synthesizers & programming
Gillian Gilbert - Synthesizers & programming, guitars

1. Fine Time 4:42
2. All The Way 3:24
3. Love Less 3:04
4. Round And Round 4:29
5. Guilty Partner 4:48
6. Run 4:31
7. Mr. Disco 4:21
8. Vanishing Point 5:17
9. Dream Attack 5:12
LINK

password: MOODSWINGS

The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride (2008)

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:27:09 +0000

Heretic Pride is an album that got lost in the shuffle. I received it pre-release date but it's only now that I am getting around to listening to it. My loss. Sufjan Stevens usually gets the indie singer/songwriter spotlight. I think if John Darnielle stepped out from behind the Mountain Goats facade he might get just as much. Or maybe not because The rest of the band is quite important, especially here on Heretic Pride. The arrangements here are as impressive as anything they've done. I love Darnielle's verbal expression and how it can change from song to song. I love how the band is so diverse, especially on this album. Songs like "Lovecraft In Brooklyn" completely rock out in a fashion I'm not sure I have heard them do before, only to follow it up with one of the loveliest songs, "Tianchi Lake". The production of their albums impresses once again. Another great thing about The Mountain Goats is the shorter song length. Not once does John go over the 4 minute mark. Keeps my attention.

After The Mountain Goats gave me one of my favorite albums of the 2000s I must give them more time. Why should one of your favorite bands have an album sitting in a review pile for 8 months? For shame Dennis. Sorry John, I won't let it happen again. Keep up the great music. And don't you miss out on Heretic Pride as well.
(4AD 2008)
Reviewed on 2008-09-26 18:11:44 by Dennis Scanland

Cahl's Jukebox, 10-8-08

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:02:00 +0000

The daily mix:

1) Brian Jonestown Massacre: "Let's Pretend It's Summer"
2) The Charlatans UK: "I Don't Want to See the Sights"
3) The Pixies: "Cecilia Ann"
4) Stephen Malkmus: "Alien Boy"
5) Roxy Music: "Whirlwind"
6) The Moving Sidewalks: "What Are You Going to Do?"
7) The Fleshtones: "You Don't Know"
8) The Clash: "Car Jamming"
9) The Good Feelings: "Shattered"
10) One Way Streets: "We All Love Peanut Butter"

Review : Black Kids - Abbey Pub, Chicago

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:31:59 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve attended an all-ages show, unless you count Lollapalooza, I suppose—so I forgot exactly what was in store for me when I headed to the Abbey Pub this past Monday night to check the Black Kids in Chicago. Originally, this once heavily blog hyped pop quintet was scheduled to take the stage at the Metro—(but I’m guessing due to ticket sales?) had to be moved to the Abbey. You wouldn’t have guessed that that was the reasoning based on the excitable pack of kids jumping around in the condensed crowd, though. BK took to the small stage almost exactly at 9:00 PM on the dot, and swept through their debut full length, Partie Traumatic, busting out their poptacular gems in less than 90 minutes along with a handful of b-sides and cover tracks.

Neon pink and teal tube lighting set the 80’s visual vibe, while front man Reggie Youngblood kept the retro sounds pumpin’ with his Robert Smithesque vocal style. It was guiltless fun, with lots of jumping, clapping and smiles all around. The crowd wasn’t alone partaking in the evening’s dance party, as the BK clan had their own little two-stepping and grin fest action as well—particularly during their cover of Magnetic Fields’ “Strange Powers.”

Keys, percussion and harmonies rocked the small venue and moved more hipster bodies than I deemed possibly movable. The overall performance impressed me a bit more than their Lolla set and it seems this pack of kids is finally figuring out the formula to playing a live set. My personal favorite part of the set? Reggie relatin’ to tha kidz by inquiring how many in attendance were yet in high school, and then confiding that his biggest “regret” and “confession” was that he was a Southern Baptist in HS, but wished he was Goth instead. Wow. Cool, Reggie, cool. Maybe you should stick to the crooning and sway from the banter. . . At least I was home in bed by 10:30—so in retrospect, all-ages shows do rule.

Set List
1 - Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)
2 – Hit the Heartbreaks
3 – Partie Traumatic
4 – I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again)
5 – Listen to Your Body Tonight
6 – I Wanna Be Your Limousine
7 – (“The very, very whiney”) Love Me Already
8 – My Christian Name
9 – Change Powers
10 – I’m Making Eyes at You
11 – I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You
12 – (ENCORE) – You Only Call Me When You’re Crying
13 – (ENCORE) - Hurricane Jane