Monthly Archives: October 2010

There’s Nothing Wrong with Love

Posted on by
Reply


Band: Built to Spill
Album: There’s Nothing Wrong with Love
Best song: “Car” is awesome. “Twin Falls” is great. “Reasons” is really good. “Big Dipper” is amazing.
Worst song: “Israel’s Song” isn’t much.

I’ve talked about this a million times, but a lot of my life has been a mild exercise in getting away from my upbringing. By all accounts, I’m outstandingly lucky to have been raised in the environment in which I was raised (parents that tried very hard, safety, means unknown by 99.9% of the world, etc.). But, of course, a lot of those means are a product of a certain type of America: Suburban, boomer-centric and consumerist. Continue reading →

Beast Rest Forth Mouth

Posted on by
Reply


Band: Bear in Heaven
Album: Beast Rest Forth Mouth
Best song: “Ultimate Satisfaction” is amazing.
Worst song: “Dust Cloud” goes on for way too long.

There are some records that are easily defined. Some are pleasant, some are jangly, some are dark, some are hard, whatever. Some records are not as easy to define; the complexity of Isis’ Panopticon remains now in its metal sludge, but in its ability to rise above such things. The only piece of perfect recorded art is great because it’s many things at once. Continue reading →

Lost Channels

Posted on by
1


Band: Great Lakes Swimmers
Album: Lost Channels
Best song: “Pulling on a Line” is great. “River’s Edge” is pretty good. “Palmistry” is excellent and “Concrete Heart” doesn’t completely suck.
Worst song: The “Stealing Tomorrow” lyrics are cringe-worthy, though it turns out a decent song.

The grand tradition of Canadian rock and roll music isn’t any at which to scoff. Broken Social Scene (and its subsequent solo- and side-projects), the Arcade Fire, The New Pornographers are all wildly enjoyable bands, no doubt. Continue reading →

Terraform

Posted on by
Reply


Band: Shellac
Album: Terraform
Best song: “House Full of Garbage” is great for its changes and length. “Didn’t We Deserve a Look at You the Way You Really Are” is great. “This is a Picture” and “Copper” are great, great, hard quick rock shots.
Worst song: “Rush Job” might be the lowlight, but the record really works as a whole.

It’s hard to recount all the reasons that Steve Albini is a curmudgeonly jackass, though Pitchfork recently snarkily gave an account here. Needless to say, I love him and hate him equally for his Ted Rall-esque polemics. I appreciate that Albini has convictions and I love said convictions. His rants against the music industry are legendary and not far off the proverbial mark. His need to fight for his beloved records gets my admiration.

Continue reading →

The Sunset Tree

Posted on by
Reply


Band: The Mountain Goats
Album: The Sunset Tree
Best song: “Lion’s Teeth” is amazing. “You or Your Memory” is really good.
Worst song: “Dinu Lapatti’s Bones” isn’t my favorite. I don’t really like “Dilaudid”

I so desperately want to enjoy the Mountain Goats. Like Modest Mouse in my earlier years, John Darnielle does something really interesting and writes outstandingly smart music. But that voice. I want to be able to digest Darnielle’s voice more easily, but cannot do so. Continue reading →

Enemy of the State: A Love Story

Posted on by
Reply


Band: Lupe Fiasco
Album: Enemy of the State: A Love Story
Best song: “Angels” has the best hook, but “Yoga Flame,” “The National Anthem” and “Say Something” are all brilliant.
Worst song: I’m not completely on board with the “HP Skit.” Not sure I get it.

Lupe Fiasco came from Thornton Township High School in the south suburbs of Chicago. He was on the chess team there, as well as the Knowledge Bowl Decathlon Team.

So, I’m predisposed to like Lupe. Continue reading →