Cutting through the hyperbole often associated with popular unpopular music.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Video: Deerhoof - Live on "Who's Next?"
Performing the opening track to their very solid Offend Maggie LP, Deerhoof take a moment to play for "Kia's Who's Next?" station over at Yahoo's music (ah, synergy. you've done it again). Watch and enjoy!
MFR is giving away two tickets to Deerhoof's show at First Ave. tomorrow, October 14th.. Here are the details: A Deerhoof fan must submit a short introduction about a friend who has never heard or currently isn't interested in Deerhoof's Music. The winner is the fan with the friend who is the most Unlikely Deerhoof Concert Attendee.
In order to enter, send your short introduction, with the subject line "Unlikely Deerhoof Concert Attendee" to jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com by 2 p.m. tomorrow, October 14th. Once again, the rules are this: you, a Deerhoof fan, must write a brief intro about a friend who's never heard of, or isn't interested in, the band. The winner of the pair of tickets is the friend who is most unlikely to attend the show.
Send your responses to jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com by 2 p.m Central time tomorrow, October 14th. Good luck!
Speaking of Deerhoof, read Culture Bully's interview with the band's Greg Saunier here.
Top Ten Songs On Elbo.Ws Reviewed In 50 Words or Less: 9/01/08--9/15/08
(Jenny Lewis)
Just a quick note: I've decided to review Justice's "Plainisphere" as one whole song, rather than the four separate parts. So if you're confused regarding the order of this edition, that's why.
On the title track of her second solo album, the Rilo Kiley songstress harkens back to folk-and-country-influenced songwriters of the 70s, not only musically, but by eschewing modern-day production techniques. The narrative is somewhat trite, but the multi-tracked harmonies will still breaking hearts after multiple listens. Heck, after multiple years.
Speaking of title tracks, "Offend Maggie" shows that Deerhoof are just about to hit a creative plateau, with an offering that's not quite as spastic as their past work, but still showcases the deft instrumental interplay for which the art-pop trio are known. An abrupt end leaves the listener wanting more, and wondering why they didn't get it.
A departure from his past three educationally-themed albums, "Love Lockdown" is the most straightforward R&B song that Chicago-rapper West has written. It's also his darkest, with lyrics depicting conflicting, borderline possessive (think stalker), lyrics about relationships, and a dim heartbeat of an electronic beat keeping the pulse. A unusual change of pace, one that has potential to grow greatly on listeners.
An epic, extended dance track created for the Dior Homme fashion show, this four-part dance symphony from the French duo introduces many different motifs, ranging from neo-classical to old-fashioned metal (dig the not-quite lightning fingers guitar solo) while still keeping a steady beat. Justice introduce enough ideas to keep listeners engaged throughout, but enough to blow their minds.
The British rock quartet offer an acoustic take on the electro-pop group's standard anthemic tracks. Cue song being used to soundtrack a prom scene quarrel in three, two, one...
The first representation of the North Carolina-based blog-buzz band's sophomore release, "Confessor" has the requisite multi-part harmonies that evoke the most sun-filled day, and reverb-heavy production characteristics that define the band's past work. A brisk tempo should work to the band's advantage, but instead ensures that the song suffers from an anti-climatic end.
Like Neil Young, this Canadian singer-songwriter has an affecting tenor that suggests both defiance and resignation in swinging, banjo-accented folk music. Despite a pleasant melody, VanGaalen adds nothing new to suggest that listeners should listen to his music instead of Young's.
It's that time again! When my digital stack of MP3s gets to be ever so high, I like to comply all of the tracks for a feature titled new music smorgasbord. Here are the tracks on the playlist:
Jenny Lewis - "Acid Tongue"
The title track of the Rilo Kiley frontwoman's second solo album shares some characteristics of her debut (gospel influences, narratives about damaged people), but takes on a distinctly analog production technique. That aesthetic decision allows for bone-chilling, multi-track harmonies that haven't heard since the 70s. The lyrics may be trite at times, but the music is wholly engaging. The chorus is the most poignant thing you've heard all year.
Grade: A-
White Lies - "Death" (Crystal Castles Remix)
The Editors wanna-bes get remixed by everyone's favorite digital anarchists/maybe plagarists. A textbook example of how a remix can improve on an original tenfold.
Grade: B
Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie"
A palatable, but strangely anti-climatic, offering from the art-pop pioneers. Long on melody, but still leaves the listener wanting more.
Grade: B-
El Guincho - "Palmitos Park"
A Spanish-language throwback to the days when doo-wop reigned supreme on the nation's airwaves. Again, lots to offer in the way of melody and production, but the track ends suddenly, and there's only one real section here that's repeated over and over again.
Grade: B-
Restavrant - "Joe D"
A compelling novelty does not a good song make, but the banjo-cum-technology stomp of this track remains irresistible to all who hear it.
Grade: B+
These United States - "Get Yourself Home..."
This alt-country jangle finally starts to get interesting around the breakdown. Otherwise, it's pretty mundane.
Grade: C
Listen to all of these tracks at the top of the post.
0-03 Los Angeles - Avalon * 10-04 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall * 10-06 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom ^! 10-07 Seattle, WA - Neumo's ^! 10-09 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge ^! 10-11 Denver, CO - Bluebird ^! 10-13 Omaha, NE - The Slowdown ^% 10-14 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue ^% 10-15 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall ^% 10-16 Bloomington, IN - Buskirk Chumley Theater ^% 10-17 Chicago, IL - Metro ^# 10-18 Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom ^# 10-21 New York, NY- Spiegeltent 10-22 New York, NY - Irving Plaza ^# 10-23 Cambridge, MA - Middle East ^# 10-24 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street ^# 10-25 Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom ^# 10-26 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club ^# 10-28 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle ^# 10-29 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle ^# 10-30 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge ^# 10-31 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club ^# 11-01 Orlando, FL - The Social ^# 11-02 Tampa, FL - Crowbar ^# 11-05 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues ^# 11-06 Houston, TX - Numbers ^# 11-07 Dallas, TX - Granada ^@ 11-08 Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest 11-10 El Paso, TX - Club 101 ^+ 11-12 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress ^+ 11-13 Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse ^+
* with Okay, Happy Hollows ^ with Experimental Dental School ! with Coconut % with Au # with Flying @ with Hawnay Troof + with KIT (07/28/08)
Deerhoof is hitting the road again this fall in support of Friend Opportunity, and they've got a date scheduled for MPLS, though they appear to be skipping Chi-Town. Sorry, Jon!
If you haven't caught Deerhoof before, it is quite the experience. Definitely catch this show if you can.
9.21 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live 9.22 Dallas, TX - House of Blues 9.23 Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballrooom 9.25 Nashville, TN - City Hall 9.26 Covington, KY - Madison Theatre 9.28 Toronto, Ontario - Ricoh Coliseum 9.29 London, Ontario - John Labatt Center 9.30 Pontiac, MI - Eagle Theater 10.01 Madison, WI - Memorial Union Rathskellar 10.02 Minneapolis, MN - McGuire Theater at Walker Arts Center 10.03 Denver, CO - Bluebird 10.06 Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue
And in other tour news, I made a bit of a mistake on my John Vanderslicereview. He will be in town on October 8th at the 7th Street Entry. It's just not on his MySpace for some reason.
