Cinnci Double Whammy!

My roommate Jon and I are going to embark on a glorious road trip to Cinncinatti next weekend. Why you ask?

REASON #1: The Long Winters in Newport, KY
Yep! It finally occured to use that Newport, KY is just across the river from Cinncinatti. This is extremely exciting. I finally get to see one of my favorite bands!
The Long Winters - Stupid

REASON #2: Sufjan Stevens at the Music Now! Festival
This is one we had hoped we'd be able to go to, but wern't sure we could get single session passes. We're giving up My Brightest Diamond the night before for the Long Winters, but I think it's worth it. More to come on this and more soon!

New Voxtrot

On May 22, Voxtrot will release their self-titled debut LP. The deservedly much hyped Austin band has offered up a new track, "Kid Gloves" that's garunteed to make the indie-kids go nuts.
Voxtrot - Kid Gloves

The Thermals/Hold Steady 03.17.07

As The Thermals walked onto the stage, the crowd at Newport Music Hall in Columbus were already pretty drunk in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. What they got was a pretty rousing show from a band that seemed to be heading into the same drunken stupor. Tearing through about 45 minutes to an hours' worth of two minutes songs, my immediate comparison was if the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle was in punk band. Overall a really terrific set.
The Thermals - No Culture Icons
The Thermals - Pillar of Salt

When the Hold Steady swaggered onto the stage (complete with two six packs of Bud and half a bottle of Jim Bean), the crowd went absolutely nuts. I mean like way beyond the normal "Whoo! The band I paid $17 to see is here" type of crazy. Launching into "Stuck Between Stations," Craig Finn and the gang displayed why they hold the title of "the greatest bar band" in indie rock as they covered all the big songs from "Boys and Girls in America" and "Separation Sunday" and even played a few from "The Hold Steady Almost Killed Me." Finn (with a brand new beard) prophesied at the mic like a lunatic and shared his abysmal luck with college basketball, making the large crowd seem like 12 guys in a bar at 2 in the morning. This show will stand out for me as one of the best true rock shows I've ever seen.
The Hold Steady - Your Little Hoodrat Friend

(All Pictures by Pat Hunt. For more, click here.)

I'm From Barcelona

Though this band has been all around the blogsphere, I thought I'd chip in my two cents. I'm From Barcelona is a massive Sweedish indie-pop group whose cheerful tunes are garunteed to raise your spirits. Blending the sounds of Peter, Bjorn, and John and Belle & Sebastian, you'll find yourself whistling these songs all day long.
I'm From Barcelona (Feat. Loney, Dear) - This Boy

I'll have a review of the TV on the Radio show I went to last night a little bit later. In one word: wow!

Neon Bible: The Review

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that today marks the arrival of the most anticipated album of the year (thus far anyway), The Arcade Fire's "Neon Bible." My worry about the album was that they wouldn't be able to make another record as stunning as "Funeral," but after a few listens to "Neon Bible," I've discovered that's far from the truth. Evident throughout the whole album is the sort of Bruce Springsteen sound that has been popping up lately in indie rock (see: The Hold Steady's "Boys and Girls in America"). Win Butler fills his songs with more lyrics this time around, and tracks like "Keep the Car Running" and "(Antichrist Television Blues)" sound like The Boss with strings and a hurdy gurdy backing him. The album still retains the unique Arcade Fire sound which makes it stand out from being just another record. In my book, "Neon Bible" is just as good if not better (I need a few more listens) than "Funeral."
RECCOMENDED TRACKS: "Keep the Car Running", "The Well and the Lighthouse", "(Antichrist Television Blues"
The Arcade Fire - Black Mirror

What Light

Wilco has released a track from "Sky Blue Sky" for those of you who missed the stream. Read the previous post for my thoughts and all that jazz.
Wilco - What Light

P.S. "Neon Bible" definately lives up the hype.

Sky Blue Sky Stream: Live Blog

I'm breaking down each track of Wilco's upcoming release, "Sky Blue Sky," (out May 15 on Nonesuch) as it's streamed in a "semi-secret listening party" on the band's website. Here are my comments on each track from Jeff Tweedy and Co., with a little help from my brother Andrew and roommate Jon G:

1. Either Way - With a beautiful piano line matched with electric guitar fingering, this soft rock ballad took all of us by surprise with its beauty.
2. You Are My Face - This one starts with the sound of "Being There", but breaks down into a face melting solo reminiscent of "A Ghost is Born." The song has a definite late-70's sound do it, in only a way Wilco can produce. It sounds like where they were going after "Summerteeth" had they not made their groundbreaking album "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot."
3. Impossible Germany - This was by far the most anticipated track for me leading up to the release of the album. When they played it at Lollapalooza, it blew me away. Hearing a studio version, the song is even more powerful, with dueling guitar lines and spine tingling solos from Tweedy and Nels Cline. It sounds a lot like the sounds the band was producing on tracks on "A Ghost is Born" like "At Least That's What You Said" and "Hell is Chrome."
4. Sky Blue Sky - A lazy country waltz, it sounds like it'd fit perfectly on "Being There" with "Far Far Away." The more we listen to this, the more we hear a blending of all the sounds Wilco has used during their 12 years in the biz.
5. Side With The Seeds - Immediately, I am reminded of The Rolling Stone's "Time is On My Side." This again sounds like the perfect country-soul song you might here on a Sunday afternoon in the summer. But just when you are pulled into the soft organ and swell of Tweedy's voice, they break it down into pulsating guitars and piano before again quieting back down and again rising up. Cline has definitely shaped this band, taking away the computer noises heard on YHF and turning them into shredding solos.
6. Shake It Off - As I hear the start of this song, for some reason I imagine someone meandering down a street at 2 in the morning. As it builds, they start to rock a little bit, Tweedy sounds like he himself is shaking off his demons.
7. Please Be Patient - If you go see a Jeff Tweedy show, you will no doubt hear this song. It's a soft number with an accoustic guitar that might not get much play at full band shows, but its soft beauty makes it stand out instantly.
8. I Hate It Here - I could swear this is Wilo's soul album. But just as I get that idea, the song sounds like the Beatles' track "Oh Darlin!" then changes back to a very soulful sound. This song has an incredible yearning that with the guitar sounds like the song's protagonist has internal conflict that is still unresolved.
9. Leave Me (Like You Found Me) - Keeping with the laid back sound of the album, I have a feeling this will be my new anthem for late nights.
10. Walken - This song is positively wonderful. A happy little ditty that grows on my everytime I listen to it. Being an uber nerd, I'm also in the official chat room for the stream, there seems to be an anti-Nels Cline faction that don't like the guitar mastery he brings to the table, and I suppose this song is one that will help you decide which side of the fence you're on.
11. What Light - Bound to be a sing along at shows, it's reminscint of any uplifting 70's soul/rock song.
12. On and On and On - The closer starts off with a really terrific guitar-piano duel. Definately a love ballad, every couple who have to move apart will make this song theirs.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: wow.

Living With the Living

As previously mentioned, Ted Leo + Pharmacists have a new album, "Living With the Living" coming out March 20. We got a copy of it at the station on Tuesday and after a few listens, I can honestly say it's their most ambitious album yet. Elements of "The Tyranny of Distance" and "Hearts of Oak" can be heard with in the music, and "Shake the Sheets" is heard most clearly in the political messages of the songs. But "Living With the Living" sets itself apart from those three. Though some of the songs are "traditional" Ted Leo tracks, several of them have more edge and even more backbone. The standout track is by far "The Lost Brigade" which is the biggest departure from Ted's previous sound. All in all, another terrific album from this group.
Ted Leo + Pharmacists - Sons of Cain [HIGHLY RECOMMENDED]
Ted Leo + Pharmacists - Bomb. Repeat. Bomb.