Kanye sows his roots and Ritter shows his goods

From the hills of the Carolinas...

Zach Galifianakas and Bonnie "Prince" Billy add a little southern flare to a little Kayne ditty.

Not as good as Bubba Sparxxx was, but pretty good redneck rap. Check out the 62" spinners he's got on the tractor. -(thanks Wegman)

...To the hills of Maine.

In anticipation of the August 21st release of the new Josh Ritter LP The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter video, review and song (via: I Guess I'm Floating).


Audio: The Temptation of Adam - The Conquests of Josh Ritter; Josh Ritter

You Better Stop, Hey, What’s That Sound, Everybody Look What’s Goin’ Down…

Vick is sick, Professional Sports are falling apart and so is Lohan, as for those folks who wait in line for a 600 page book about a boy named Potter, well that’s a lost cause…so just what the F is going on these days?

There’s battle lines being drawn, and nobody’s right, if everybody’s wrong.

“Dogs, You can’t go to Jail for Dogs.” Actually Mr. Clinton Portis, you can, it’s called a felony, look it up. As for your dog breeding, I just run around a lot and make poor decisions but I’m real fast friend who “ain’t never heard of no house in Virginia,” well let’s just say this fella here is pretty pumped to see Vick in the doghouse.

This to me is just the perfect example of what happens when young men are thrown into the spotlight, made into celebrities, given millions and millions of dollars and adored by fans, admired by children and desired by women. That’s got be one heck of a burden. Them having every opportunity in the world handed to them; couldn’t imagine having that kind of pressure in my life. In fact, I like balancing my checkbook, being a mediocre athlete and going to extreme measures to get girls to even realize I exist. But, at least I don’t host dog slaughter parties, that’s just about the dumbest damn thing I’ve ever heard of. It sickens me to know that the average person, well at least average good person, works their whole life just to get by and support their family so that at the end of their days they may have enough money to retire and not be a burden on their children. Meanwhile, in La La Land, men in their mid twenties are paid more money in one year than most small businesses generate in sales for that same amount of time. What do they do with this money? Well a lot do give to charities etc., but that’s tough to admire because the league makes them. Most however, just buy shit, throw parties and make the average man jealous and aspire to unrealistic goals. When you have enough money to buy a house that you have never been to, and your friends have dog fights at that house and massive parties, well you may just have a little too much money and far too little intelligence.

Why do these people make so much money and why do so many of them make such ridiculous decisions with their money and fame?

There’s too many factors to consider, but mostly it’s because they are just plain ignorant and in no way deserve the amount of power they have. What’s wrong with paying these people the same amount of money successful businessmen make? I think no athlete in the first 2 years of their career should make more than $150K a year, no one, not even after endorsements. They haven’t proved a damn thing, and they obviously have no idea what to do with all of that money.

There’s something happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear.

This of course brings to light the other side of money and fame that bellies up to star athletes, that is of course is Hollywood. It would be one thing if Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton were actually as attractive as the media makes them out to be, it would be another if either of them ever accomplish anything in their life. Any way you look at it, these people suck and they make me sad.

I’ve never seen a movie with that freckle fest ginger kid (I have seen two with Paris, they were pretty good, one not great film quality) and can’t imagine I ever will. So what makes her so freakin’ important? Why do I need to know shit about her? Why is she on CNN, USAToday and the Drudgereport? Because she’s a damn joke, that’s why. As a society we can’t really do anything to keep these fools from having all that money, fame and access, so what do we hope for? We hope they just fuck it up, that’s what we hope for. I got plenty of friends that get drunk, make terrible decisions and quiet a many of them have been to jail…more than once. But when we go out we know that we aren’t going to end up as the exclusive on Entertainment Tonight, in high-speed pursuit of our ‘assistants,’ stumbling out of a car, cussing photographers, carrying drugs on us, with no panties on, two weeks after ‘graduating’ from rehab. Just use a little bit sense, that’s all it takes.

The only thing I would want to hear less than another news report about Lindsay Heyhon would be a lecture on good housekeeping tips read by a drunk Diane Rehm.

Folks like Tom Brady throw parties, have sex with models, buy what they want, but you know what they are amazing at what they do and they don’t make an ass of themselves on the evening news.

Paranoia strikes deep, into your life it will creep.

Barry Bonds is on roids, a lot of them…has been for a while. Baseball to me has always been a waste. Far too individualistic and statistically oriented, the sport has come to be nothing but stats on top of stats, superstitions and a bore to watch. Its most famous players these days aren’t amazing base stealers, clutch pitchers or jackpot shortstops…they’re the guys that win the Home Run derby. Yawn. Even worse is how most of these guys 4 years ago were skinny 17 year olds from the Dominican Republic; today they are 32 and weigh 250lbs. I eat Wheaties like the rest of the kids on my block, but damn, I find that a little tough to swallow. It’s gotten so bad that the commissioner of the sport has mixed emotions about attending games where Bonds may break the HR record. That’s bad, real bad. This guy, in theory, should be THE BIGGEST advocate for the sport there is and he doesn’t even want to watch this meat head break a time honored and well respected record by a class act and one heck of a ball player. Who can blame ‘em. Just like the single season HR race (which I believe was staged) of a few years back, I’m just waiting for this one to get over with so I don’t have to hear about it anymore.

You know if you are gonna cheat at least make it worth watching. Getting big enough to knock a ball into the stands, but being too fat to run the bases is not achieving what the Greeks had in mind. That being said, cheating happens and it happens too often. Most of it goes unseen or is done to give a slight edge. Maybe your HS football team could ‘never find a dry ball’ for the opposition or maybe Jimmy Johnson has a little too much action on his spoiler, that’s part of it. But betting on games, when you are reffing them, that’s just ruining it for everyone involved and I do mean everyone. What blows my mind is how if these illegal bets were going on to determine the outcome of NBA games, then why are they still such a drag to watch? If you are gonna go, go big. Kick Shaq out of the game with two tech’s in the first 3min of the game, then I’ll watch…maybe, they’re might be a good episode of South Park on.

The NFL needs to get control of their athletes off the field, but for now the game is preserved and the reputation remains untarnished, which is more than can be said about NBA and MLB.

A thousand people in the street, singing songs and carrying signs.

Speaking reputations tarnished, why in the world are people lining up in the streets to buy a book? I know it’s Harry Potter and he’s like the greatest thing since Teletubbies, but thousands of teenage and NON-teenage people flooding stores to get their grubby hands wrapped around the cover a 600 page book filled with imaginary words and ghosts and goblins, well not thanks. Hey, at least they are reading right?

Stripes end Canadian tour on a good NOTE

The White Stripes are cooler than you,

Wrapping up the sweet red maple leaf to the north the Stripes, in effort to visit every province and territory in Cananda as well as every US state they have yet to visit, kept it simple and closed out strong. It was going to be tough topping the antics of the tour up to this point, but as they say, sometimes less is more...and yes every other blog has this, but I couldn't resist.


I can only hope they bring this much enthusiasm to the States, especially to Myrtle Beach, where I'll have the honor of seeing them firsthand...OMFG!

This Onion article is great as well, give it a gander: America's Top Single

Now listen here, you listen where, we listen hear

The pop rock gods have graced us with two idols, worship as you will…

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Spoon

There comes a time, then there’ll come a rhyme and you keep this together, sets ease to your mind. The ease in his ways, with so much that he’ll say, the words may be few, but always speaking the truth. Resembles the past, but old ways don’t last; deliver the beats, then shuffle your feet. You’re back where you started, but nothings the same, all that lingers is a face and a name. Oh what a feat.

Still rockin’ the crew, but your sound is so new; if you didn’t evolve, what else would you do? Threw in some horns, lyrics that burn; a shake here and where, so perk up dem ears. Proud of yourself, proud of them boys, proud of them sounds, makin’ much noise. Stayin' true to your fans, but fulfillin’ the needs. You leave ‘em speechless, down on their knees.

So now it's New to you.
So so True.
Then Covers you Blue.
Keep Thinkin’ you knew.
Drips through the songs.
Perfect, now nothing is wrong.
Yeah Alright, Alright?

It comes through in the night, sound without sight; voices that reckon like the sounds in your head. A ghost is in town, strung out with frown, in evening gown. You wanna speak back, but don’t know what they’ve said. So turn the page closin' that book, turn out the light, next when you look you keep on listenin’ and it works out right.
Yeah Alright, Alright!

It's just Spoon...

Rating – 8.6

Fameseeker and the Mono EP - Arizona

Cry into the night…try, try to take flight. Tiptoe, there’s the jingle; ring, ring, ring here’s a single. Don’t come ALONE.

Down into the voices…light, light but full of choices. Stomp hard, there’s the rattle; bang, bang, bang you come so far. Let’s be BOLD.

It was not small, just feeling it's way along. The Children are still Welcome, oh oh how they are so. Trying to make a name stick, spread the word to those that don’t know. So, so bring on the Fameseeker who brings with him Mono.
Let’s loose CONTROL.

The first album was a highlight of ’06, a sense of wide open sounds, that still stay within reach, always uplifting and darkly poppy. Songs like Some Kind of Chill and Splintering made every playlist I had and the album as a complete work took some time to sink in, but it sunk deep.

Here we find the band very much in the same vein as the original release, just making what was once on their fringe now the norm with a tight yet airy EP. Thimble is a delight and possibly their first successful single. Bird on the Floor is just a perfect background song. Streetsweeper brings out the rock side of the group’s sound and Midday Midnight is a perfect folk pop song, jangly and heavy on vocals.

A breath of creative fresh air in a somewhat predictable landscape. The Fameseeker may need to look no further than Arizona.

Kind, kind are the voices, loud loud be the sound. Now they’re running quickly; rising from the ground.
We’ll reach the STARS.

Rating – 7.9

Popstars to save the Earth? What's the point?

LIVE EARTH, DEAD WRONG

It was a close one, but I think Kayne saved me from being killed by global warming on Saturday.

An afternoon of idling in traffic en route to cooking off $4 gasoline for recreational purposes on a manmade lake, and I was ready to sit back in the AC, leave the sink running and burn a few tires as some of the world’s most overrated musical performers simultaneously adult contemporarily rocked 7 festivals around the world. What better way to send message to the populous of earth that action needs to be taken and that Earth’s future is in the balance, then by jetting rock stars to the most overly populated cities on the planet and putting on massive concerts with smoke, lights, fireworks and port-a-potties…and the Pussycat Dolls? That’s right kids, the “polar” opposite of that would have been a good place to start, but hey at least we got a Spinal Tap reunion out of this whole Gore-fest.

As a society we are lucky that heroes like Shakira and Black Eyed Peas take time out of their all-important lives to share with us their depth of knowledge and understanding for complex and crucial issues such as the effects pesticides used in agriculture have on local eco-systems and how the PPM of these chemicals enter into the very waters we base our existence on, altering the pH tolerance levels for living species and effecting the chlorophyll of the earth’s vegetation, which directly effects the absorption of green houses gasses in our atmosphere resulting in depletion of our ozone which then raises the core temperature of the of the livable realm of planet earth, melting ice caps, and altering the course of nature. Doncha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me, doncha?

Al Gore optimized the wrong way to make a change once again with this over the top display of all show and no substance. The irony of ‘environmentalists’ like Al Gore is classic to me. How can I make a difference and teach the people the reality of the world around them? Perhaps I’ll get them to drive to Cineplex’s to watch my movies and flock to little cities like Rio and rock out to Lenny Kravitz and John Mayer. It’s almost too perfect!

Most of these acts could have no less in common with concerned and active environmentalists looking to make a change. Metallica, Madonna, Snoop Dogg? These people don’t give a damn, they are just trying to not be forgotten.

At the end of the day these efforts become nothing more than what they are at their most basic, a movie and a concert. That being said, people like Al Gore have turned serious and important issues like the environment into entertainment and have done so by enlisting elitist, materialistic celebrities, making the matter a chic trend…which is sad and terrifying.

I’ve come across some profound statements in regards to Live Earth and perhaps the one that I found most intriguing was one in which a concerned citizen expressed her hopes that Gore would use his clout and the pull/funds of his Hollywood cronies to make a real change, not just make headlines. Why not organize an effort for the people of earth to minimize resources used for one day and see what a difference it could make? If we get people to limit the use of water, electricity, gasoline and production of waste for one day, people could realize a means in which they could live and at the same time preserve. That would be great. It would also be great if Muslims, Christians and Jews could get along, but Hips Don’t Lie and if it ain’t sexy, it ain’t selling, not this day in age.

So why rockstars? People like Gore grew up in an era where musicians actually made a difference, not just filmed episodes of Cribs. Dylan, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, The Dead etc. etc. these bands were a voice of a generation, at least for a while. The stars of today are a different breed and are hardly fit to be the voice of change. I’ll give ya Bono, he truly is a great musician and activist, but Kayne, he’s nothing but a Gold Digger. He’s 22! He didn’t go to college! He doesn’t know shit! Why do people listen to him, or any rockstar? It’s the fault of the media in part, making Paris Hilton more important than scientists, politicians, activists etc., shoot, name your state senator? Who is Kelly Clarkson? That’s just the reality of it.

I’m not going to rant on about society etc., but I will state that I think it is criminal and morally wrong for celebrities to abuse their power on the masses and use matters such as war and the environment as launch pads to get their names in the headlines and it troubles me even more so that we as a society actually care what they have to say. Wake up people, they aren’t more educated than you, they are just on TV, be informed don’t be a victim of the media and Hollywood. A lack of willpower, a lack of faith, a lack of something to set you straight.

“It's a bit patronizing for us 21 year olds to try to start to change the world," said Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders. “Someone asked us to give a quote about what was happening in Sheffield (floods that many blame on global warming, killing two) and it's like 'who cares what we think about what's happening'? There's more important people who can have an opinion. Why does it make us have an opinion because we're in a band?"

Indeed, indeed.

Roger Daltrey, of The Who, told British newspaper The Sun in May that "the last thing the planet needs is a rock concert." - - - "I've always been against the idea of rock stars lecturing people as if they know something the rest of us don't,” Neil Tennant, The Pet Shop Boys.

At least some people get it. Gore used to get it, and I hope he can find it again, we need a voice like his, it just sucks that someone like Gore isn’t enough he needs The Police, for people to pay attention.

-Breitbart.com http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070705025637.vyh5u7g0&show_article=1

-On a bright note, there was an awesome band from Antarctica, Nunatak, composed of scientists that were good and perhaps the most ironic of it all the satirical outfit (which is a direct attack on rock stars and their decadence) Spinal Tap put on the best set of the entire festival.

LTME Semi - Annual Album Review '07...holla!

I learned a few things while composing this list. First, I am glad to see my active readership has ballooned to 3, that's good news for the folks in the ad department. Second, Mordecai listens to far too much Dance-Pop music. Lastly, this year is off to one heck of a start and we haven't had one album from a former Idol!

Without further adieu;

T ~ #12 Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - Of Montreal
This probably would not have made my list normally, but I gave it some thought after the rec and although it's a little too, well 'gay,' the album is amazingly constructed and contains the group's best effort to date. Possibly the most upbeat album I've heard in a while.


T ~ #12 Beyond - Dinosaur Jr.
The two to three guitar solos contained in some of these songs is enough to appease any fan of the instrument, and the throwback sounds of grunge makes this my favorite post grunge-grunge album to date. It's amazing how tight and successful the sound is on this album given the extended hiatus the band was on prior to recording. A triumph for a classic band.

#11 ~ The Good, the Bad and the Queen - The Good, the Bad and the Queen
Super groups often fall well short of aspirations, but that is once again not the case for Damon Albarn. This low-key, constantly melodious and smokey album flows extremely well and although I could have used more percussion at times, it delivers when it needs to. There are already rumors of a Blur reunion, but here's to hoping it doesn't come before a second effort with TGTBandTQ.

#10 ~ Ash Wednesday - Elvis Perkins
Simply the most beautiful songs of the year. The gut wrenching lyrics and honest voice carry the listener along an intent and at times treacherous path. Elvis has a craft with words, and his imagery supersedes the songs themselves at times, which are brilliantly composed over simplistic yet engaging instrumentation. The adjoining EP together delivers some of the years finest.

#9 ~ Icky Thump - The White Stripes
They're back, and this time they brought the noise! I was among the few that enjoyed the musical reaching and perhaps shortcomings of GBMS, but I am thrilled to hear the heat of the duo aflame again. Still exploring new realms with trumpets, bagpipes and a narrative story, this album is not simply a remake of a previous effort, it shows real growth as well and in the same a comfort with their sounds of old. The Stripe's rank among my all time favorite's and this album is testament to their stellar portfolio.

#8 ~ Emotionalism - The Avett Brothers
I might have jumped the gun calling Elvis's album the 'most beautiful' of the year, for it might be tied with this miraculous composition from one time hillbilly bluegrass boys turned masters of the trade. The introduction of new instruments, arrangements and all together focus proved a fruitful venture for the brothers. Although far diversified from their previous sound, the Bros. have not forsaken their fans, rather given them more reason to praise one of the best kept secrets in music.

#7 ~ We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse
I admit, I am biased on this one, but I can't help it I love this band. This album had all the markings of the beginning of the end after the success of Good News as well as the addition of Mr. Marr, but instead of finding a more middle of the road, radio friendly sound, Brock and Co. dug deep and created their hardest album yet. The bizarre, the complex and the relentlessly foot tapping are all there and although bigger, bolder and more produced than any album to date, it still is a welcome addition to the catalog.

#6 ~ Wild Mountain Nation - Blitzen Trapper
I really do not understand how these Portland fellas can throw their hat into so many genre's and still create such a cohesive and amazing album. It may not click the first listen or two, but when it does, watch out, because you're hooked. I am a true sucker for the sounds of alt-country mixed with the stylings of punk and I may well have found a safe place in this album. It's just Wild!

#5 ~ Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
With the weight of the world on their shoulders the muse for the Indie world took the pressure in stride and shocked us all with a dark, moody but ultimately wonderful sophomore effort. Dabbling in the same religious, lover soul searching lyrical treatment of Funeral, the Fire venture away from the uplifting sounds and bring the gloom and the earnestness of folk music. Perhaps the best guerrilla marketing for an album in years as well as one of the more exciting live shows around, this band is making all the right moves.

#4 ~ Armchair Apocypha - Andrew Bird
Bird and Dosh join forces once again and in so doing laid down track after track of the most rewarding material Bird has ever performed. Always heavy on the metaphors the lyrics set the mood for this 'thinking man's' album as the violin, whistling and tinkering of Dosh bring everything full circle. I had very high hopes for this album and boy did it deliver. Phenomenal.

#3 ~ Mirrored - Battles
I imagine some of you (any of the 3) are growing tired of my rantings about Battles, but after listening to this album once again yesterday, I feel I am just in my ways. This album took me so off guard the first time I played it that I thought it could never live up to the thrill of the first listen. Countless listens later and post live performance I am finding more and more reasons why this is one of the most exciting sounds to break out of the norm in years. Challenging in so many ways, but rewarding in so many more.

#2 ~ Friend and Foe - Menomena
No question about it, my most listened to album of the year, nothing even comes close. Subtle, bold, coated, revealing, aggressive, submissive, amazing. Critics were quick to tag this effort as 'faux mature sound for a former dance-pop group.' I take it for what it is, freakin' awesome. Oft times the more bizarre a band's sound is the more inclined I am to explore and more often than not I am overwhelmed with delight when I 'get their sound.' This album has many strengths, but in a lot of ways its the weaknesses that that reveal it's true character. Congrats gang!

#1 ~ Boxer - The National
I think I made my thoughts on this album pretty obvious earlier in the year, but this is my forum and while I am still working the mic at the podium, here we go again. Maybe its just the production treatment on the vocals, but I feel like this album is swallowing me whole with every listen. Like thick molasses, the songs ooze, drip and smoother making everything it touches delicious. There is not a weak track on the entirety of the work, just some of the tastiest treats this Nation has to offer. If you haven't listened to this album yet, do yourself the favor.

-Hope this list lends itself as a source to discover some new bands and thanks to Mordecai, Pickle and Luke for helping out. On that note, I have not listened to Apples in Stereo and I think Animal Collective is better than Panda Bear, hence the omission.
Looking forward to some more stellar releases in '07 with Spoon, Interpol, Kanye, Josh Ritter, Band of Horses, Tapes N' Tapes, Radiohead etc. still to come.

It's that time of the year...again?

LTME's 1st semi-annual Essential 12 albums.

That's right folks, you heard it here first! LTME is releasing it's much anticipated mid year album breakdown.

The Essential 12 albums of '07 to date will be ranked and reviewed.

I WANT YOUR INPUT!!! Let me know what you think is the best album so far this year (it's been pretty solid, little lacking in Hip-Hop/Rap, but we got enough good stuff to cover).

Note: Chinese Democracy has not officially been released yet, therefore it is disqualified from the rankings.

Roooooooo

I was already mad that I missed Bonnaroo this year...and then I watched this and now I am furious!

John Paul Jones, Ben Harper and ?uestlove...need I say more?


THE Flaming Lips - Do You Realize???


The White Stripes - Death Letter


Tool with Tom Morello - Lateralus


Clip of The Whigs killing it at Roo...
Clip of The Black Keys doin their thing

Grab a stool partna, we got's summin we need to discuss

Wild Mountain Nation - Blitzen Trapper

Say partner, that’s one heck of a bootleg you got there. This some kinda unknown Kinks album or some obscure Three Dog Night punk cover band, just what you got cookin’?

Wait, now it sounds like you listenin’ to some Beck or Eels…Nah, hold on now this song is kinda like Pavement or even some backwoods version of Tapes ‘N Tapes. Just what are trying to pull with this here record bud?

Blitzer Trappen? Why I ain’t never heard tell of no Blitzer Trappen. Come again boy?

Ah, Blitzen Trapper from Port town, Oregon. Still got nothing, but this is one heck of a shindig you got spinnin’.

Wild Mountain Nation, now a man could get to steppin’ to a beat like that. Shame there ain’t no split tail in this Saloon. Kinda a swirly jaunt that sets the sun in me, then shakes off a dusty glove to grab hold of a sippin and at the same time keepin’ them weird lookin’ PBR drinkin folk from the city in the grins. That ain’t no easy feat, I tell you me.

This one here, Country Caravan, that’s just downright good 70’s country rock and it suits up nicely to Wild Mountain Jam, heck I even think I like that first one you played there, what was it called again? Right, Devils A-Go-Go. Don’t mind if I do.

Futures and Folly, just feels good donnit, real simple like. That ain’t to say that I can’t get me into some trouble off that Woof and Warp of the sometin’ sometin’. For the most part that one is real nice, but I leave her and her friend Sci-Fi Kid to the boys in the vintage T’s drinking $8 coffee’s.

Believe me now or leave me good for the vultures right here, but my horse and my word are safe with that crazy one Miss Spiritual Tramp. You know if she courtin’ dese days?

Well heck boy, I gots to hit the trail but you sure did make this an interesting spot off. Imagine I’ll carry these tunes in my head most all summer, might even join me up Wild Nation Jam.

‘I twas a drive by, Colobean necktie, da da dan da’

Rating: 8.4

You ever dance with the Devil in the pale moon light?

2013 Wolves, Stone Figs, Battles – 6/14/07 The Milestone, Charlotte, NC

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I never had full view, but the moon is sure to have been blue.

There are worthy venues and there are poor ones.
Every once in a while the night moon lights the way to that which the sun keeps hidden. Shadows lurk from here to there leaping past one another headed in a direction unknown to most. Creatures that nestle in the warm underbelly of the city where few have ever ventured rise and come to be. Nightwalkers know these shadows and know them well. They trust the disjointed leaps and array of misdirection for they know in the end, the shadow will drop and the pale of the moon glows bright upon the Queen City’s holy shrine of the unknown.

There are superior bands and there are dire ones.
Unexpected cosmic revelations inspire the minds and predict the future, if you take to the fate of the stars. I stand more grounded, occasionally venturing into the nether region. The live show, when executed correctly, can knock my orbit off kilter and send me spinning out of this galaxy.

On a misty, murky night in the month of Junus, the stars did align.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ducking past the doorway I stepped foot into uncharted territory and found myself right at home. Scribbling, splatter, and slapped serve as the décor where vindications such as ‘Mess with me and you get the whole trailer park’ set the tempo. When they speak it, they speak of the Milestone.

I steered my craft beyond the bedheads, skintight denim, mustaches and black frame glasses of the nightwalkers to a region my crew and I are more accustomed to…the bar. We bellied up to three of the Lucky Cowgirl on the Moon’s and pondered how being born under different phases of the dead star that orbits the third rock from the sun we all shared the same horoscope: June 14th, 2007 – Take that risk and try something different. You’ll be glad you did when you find something new in the same old places.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2013 Wolves

Exiting the main room on a beer run I noticed the sound of heavy drumming and slicing guitar licks growing louder and louder. I also noticed that everyone in the bar room was facing in one direction and that they were bobbing their head to the beat. Then I noticed we were missing the opening act because we were in the wrong room.

Not at all what I expected from them, I dug 2013 Wolves and their garage rock meets math rock sound. Situated at the back of the room it was difficult to see the duo, but I was able to grab glimpses of the drummer, steadfast cranking away…which would be a theme for the event.

Self proclaimed white trash, 2013 Wolves wailed hard, despite being down one maybe two members? There was no denying the punk/southern rock guitar bellowing out of the speakers playing hand in hand to the smashing drums, its just that none of us even knew where the hell he was. Running with the pack, we just bobbed along to the sounds and read the graffiti and signage that littered the walls and ceilings. Both were highly entertaining. It wasn’t until the end of the set that the ‘down man’ rose from the edge of the small stage whence he was seated throughout. I’ll be damned, he was there all along.

On cue, as Wolves wrapped it up, the strums of post-punk punk pop began to make its way from the main room and the crowd knowingly made their way over to catch Stone Figs…the transition between rooms and genres was one of the coolest experiences I have had in my world of seeing live music, and I had no idea this kind of scene was even going on in Charlotte!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stone Figs

Standing amongst the hipsters with a Moon Woman in grasp, I was startled when the punk yelp slapped me in the face from a good foot away. Situated on the floor in front of the stage the Stone Figs literally were rocking in and with the crowd. Not brilliant, but highly engaging and energetic I was a fan by the end of the stand. Indie Hip to the tee, these kids were donning the cliché of the cliché in garb and many times I was tempted to reach forward and pull the pink headband down over the guitarists eyes…just because I could. These punks did show some true musical virtuoso as they played musical chairs on the bass, guitar and drums, never skipping a beat. With the crowd huddled in tight and the room growing more awake the Stone Figs finished out strong and perfectly set the stage for the night’s main attraction.

You told me you love me, well I've heard that lie before.
You say that you miss me, well you're gonna have to miss me some more.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Battles

Thwap thwap Thwap, Badum badum badum, danana danana danna nanna na, psssss zippp zippp zippp, Wack

Battles is a word and that word is phenomenal.

Experimentalism done right. Without question one of the most amzing + bands I have ever seen. Their musical prowess and know how is nearly unmatched. Mixxing looped vocal elements and awing guitar riffs, the songs built on top of each other at light speed. The drming alone could have been a show and were that the case it would have been an amazing show and I would go see it again tonight, tom night and twice on Sunday. The précis - on and timing thez men displayed was, man I don’t know how to even put any of this in words, it was just downright awwesome!

Whirrl whirrl whirrl, sump sump sump, whiiip whiip whip, Slam ++

Tonto, Race: In, Atlas etc. the stellar set list was matched only by the musiicians themselves. Prerecording subtle vocals, Tyondai Braxton, added to the death defying drum work in powerful, but mathematically precise ingenuity. Multi instrumentalist and now the hardest working man in show biz, Ian Williams, was a wizard conducting a mad orchestra on the guitar and keys. With s=weat flying, beats dropping and wonderment multiplying, the crowd swarmed around the foursome, piling on shoulders, standing on odd pieces of furniture and equipment in hopes of a closer look at the musical brain surgeons slicing and dicing the known and accepted mmusical cadaver in Milestone ER. Swapping chords, jumping from laptop to keyboard, wrecking shop on the turn knobs and causing mayhem in general the astronauts Battle entered and exited the solar system sending beats along disjointed{} leaps through an array of misdirection of solos, plugging loops, and dept timing, leaving the crowd stunned in the best possible way.

Zanngg zangg zang, tazapttt tazaptt tazapt, minus mins, plus plsu, divide divd, remndr

Taking only one brief break in the acttion, which appearded to have only been done so to prevent members of the band from tumbling to the ground in exhaustion, Battles shook the foundation of CCharlotte’s best venue and when they were done they took their applause and whispered away into the shadows of the night. Numbered. Executed. Mirrored.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Worthy and Superior, I stumbled through the night and found the inspiration of true musical masterminds and my new personal music mecca.

All praise Junus!

Portrait of an American Family

For eight years ‘The Sopranos’ revolutionized cable television, often leaving viewers digging for more long after the closure of episodes. Once a stark reality of gruesome violence, bigotry, womanizing, corruption, family, trust and success the show took on many faces before it wore its final mask. Over the years concepts and characters came and went, never exiting with grand finale or the closing of curtains, rather just a signal to go stage right and to not reenter for the next act.

The final episode brought many of the familiar conflicts to light. What is the meaning of therapy? Is it nothing more than a soapbox for the self indulgent and diluted? What has happened to our family values in America? Do the pressures parents put on their children come from their own failures and the fear that their young will live the same faults? Are we as American’s ignorant in our ways? Do we preach change and progress, condescending our government and undermining our actions in the Middle East and then turn a blind eye to it all in pursuit of self-interest and the chasing of the dollar? Do we all live on constant fear of death itself, or the knowledge that we never know where and when it will come? Can we truly trust the ones we depend on or are they ultimately the ones that will provide us with the greatest letdowns? Are those onion rings really that good; they look undercooked?

Subtleties were everywhere as the final hour ticked away. The Egyptians feared and honored the feline, for they felt it could see one’s soul, walk among the non-living and steal the breath of those still alive. Did Paulie fear the cat’s constant observance of Christopher’s mug because he sensed foul play had been done and that his days were numbered as well? We last see Paulie giving into Tony’s demands on a job ‘jinxed’ as the omnipresent cat comes his way…a foreshadowing of a man already dead?

Mr. Leotardo got his, to the back of the head, seconds after saying goodbye to children (a constant source of conflict as well as reassurance over the years). But creator David Chase did not just leave Phil in a pile of his own shortcomings, he has him decapitated a la stagecoach trampling from A Tale of Two Cities.

AJ rambles his way through the hour, preaching Bush’s missteps, scorning our dependence on foreign oil, escaping in the words of Dylan, and watching his SUV go up in a ball of fire…a sweet escape from his dark depression. He then seeks to make a difference by joining the ARMY and moving on to bigger aspirations. In the end we find him rocking and rolling on the movie set, sporting a new Beamer as he picks up his 17yr old model girlfriend, but still bitter.

Meadow seems certain to wed the son of one of Tony’s constant nemeses and to serve the people Tony exploits to earn his respect and his dollar.

Tony’s wife, sister and closest friends are all in a state of confused feelings, but all are looking forward, no matter how bleak the future may seem. Have they found closure or a way to move forward without any closure?

What’s with the classic rock? From Janice’s Stones tat, to the often-used Pink Floyd, the finale opening to a classic rock station and the Don’t Stop Believing from Journey to close it all out.

How does it all come to an end? Has Chase shortened the leash on his audience so much that he can toy with our every expectation and emotion? The tension and drama of the final minutes is nearly overbearing. Is Tony about to get whacked? Will it be the suspect man at the bar? The shady character making his way to the bathroom? The young black hoodlums? Is Meadow about to miss the final moments of her father’s life because she can’t park? Will she be the only Soprano left standing? Is she to be mugged by the very type of person she seeks to legally defend?

Is Chase just putting a mirror to the face of a culture overrun with terror and stereotypes? Is the final scene designed for us to see ourselves as bloodthirsty profilers in the midst of a pleasant family dinner?

How could the Chase bring eight years of unanswered questions, a final episode on the boiling point and a viewership of millions to a conclusion? How did he shine the light on it all and then drop the curtain?

He brings it ALL together in one fell swoop when he

Why fight yourselff?

Mirrored – Battles

It’s an oddity at best. A mixxing of brilliant syncopation, rhythmic timing, steadying beats layered atop a growing surge of sound and just when the cllimax is to come, the sounds swwerve right, dodging the pothole of the expected. Labeled ‘post-rock’ or ‘math rock’ this approach to music takes a pro-tech stance, intertwining organic and inorganic in such an absorbing manner that the listener struggles to differentiate what is being kickedd up and slapped down by drummer John Stanier (formerly of Helmet), that which is ripped out on the simply complex strumming of basss and electric guitars and the remainder that originates on soundboards and laptops.

It’s an aggressive approach. In order to pull off an album ffluttered with the mind-bending wonderment of Frank Zappa and the techno underground of Aphex Twin, Battles had to bring the intensity and bring it fast. Race: In. A perfect introduction. Standing as one of the stronngest tracks on the bands first full-length album it’s immediately clear that the cat is out of the bag and the bag is lleft in tatters as the feline searches for its next target. The odd cat finds it’s way easily with the first single, Atlas. One of my favorite songs of the year, Atlas, has grown on me more and more with each listening, so much so that I was prepared to let the strength of this one track carry the rest of the album, letdown or not. Lose not your way as Bad Trails and Snare Hanger, confirm this album as a massive triumph.

It’s not one to take itself seriously. It’s almost impossible to make music like this appeal to the masses, especially when the masses have turned the ‘math rock’ sound down again and again to the point where most are clueless as to what it is. Iinstead of making the complex overly complex, Battles find a common ground, realizing themselves best by dropping beats that could serve as soundtracks to video games and kids television shows. The vocalls are always distorted, to the point of absurdity at times. When it all comes together it’s evident that Battles have made the most multifaceted album of the year, by taking a long gaze in the mirror and breakingg themselves down to that which is most basic…everything all at once.

Rating: 8.5

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