October 2005 Archives

Happy Halloween kiddies. This day used to mean so much more to me. First it was for the candy; then it was for the mischief. Now, it’s just another excuse to get drunk during the workweek while passing out unhealthy treats to fat little children. Take that Fatty! I’m totally going to out live you because I don’t own a PS2 and I exercise. Choke on it!

Anyway . . . as a Halloween treat to the Indie Kids, a bunch of alternative music’s biggest and brightest (and some who aren’t) got together and made a satirical anti-Halloween tune called “Do They Know It’s Hallowe’en” based on the classic charity suck-pump “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

The press release says the song’s inspiration, “stems from a frustration with other benefit songs’ misguided, somewhat patronizing attitude, and Western-centric worldview.”

And that’s good enough for me.

I’d list the artists that make up the North American Halloween Prevention Initiative (NAHPI) but I think it would be more fun for you to listen to it and try to make a list (there are 29). I had thought about having a contest but Google knows the answers and there will be prizes later in the week when eLarceny hits a major milestone.

Happy Halloween.

Stuff to Sample: "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?"

Stuff to Watch: The video for "Do They Know It's Halloween?"

My frustration is palpable. This is my third time around trying to write a post. My first attempt was about this great local band called Attacked By Wolves, but the term “emo” appeared in the post close to twenty times and they really don’t like the term so I have to rework that one a little bit.

My next try was about how much I hate Yoko Ono. But then, who doesn’t? I challenge any of you to find me a relatively normal person who enjoys *any* of Yoko’s work – from her wailing that sounds like a beaten dog being violated anally to all of the other crap-tastic art stuff she does. That post just dragged on and on, with one un-PC comment after another.

That's when I gave up. But I can’t just leave you hanging, can I? No, I couldn’t do that. Wouldn't be prudent. So now, without much fan-fare or hoopla, I’m going to tell you that Mike Doughty, the former lead singer of Soul Coughing put out a new album called Haughty Melodic last spring. If you liked Soul Coughing, then this should be right up your alley – cuz it sounds almost exactly like Soul Coughing but with more guitar and less weird noise. I’d like to tell you more, but quite frankly, it’s not going to happen.

Stuff to Sample: From Mike Doughty’s new album Haughty Melodic “Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well” and “Your Misfortune”

I tend to write about a lot of electronic music and the DJ’s who produce it but the truth of the matter is - most of it is pretty forgettable. Making a living in the electronic arts is not easy and to have a long and lasting career is almost impossible. There are exceptions to this rule, and some spectacular DJs like RJD2, DJ Shadow, Coldcut and Diplo, unfortunately, the DJ/producer named Blockhead is not among them. Well, not yet anyway.

Blockhead’s newest release Downtown Science pulls a page straight from the Shadow/RJD2/Any DJ who uses old funk and soul records backed with break beats book. But unlike Shadow and D2, Blockhead seems to have a hard time moving within the medium. He can pull it off – his skills are up there with the best, which is why he is a premier beat maker for several Def Jux artists, but his album sounds cobbled together and awkward at times, almost forced.

There is hope for the future. Go back and listen to early Shadow and D2, they too suffered a bit until they found their electronic groove and have continued to exploit it to great success. Maybe next time Blockhead.

Stuff to Sample: From Blockhead’s new album Downtown Science “The Art of Walking” and “Roll Out the Red Carpet”

This will be my last Z-inspired post. I have to move on. If I don't I might get hurt. The songs have already been etched into the soft tissue of my brain. Every waking moment for the past five days, strains of songs from My Morning Jacket's new album Z, either real or imagined, have been floating between my ears. This is beginning to affect my life in adverse ways.

Take for instance, yesterday: On the way home from work I had turned my radio off; however, this did not mean My Morning Jacket stopped playing. Quiet the contrary, the music got louder. I pull into my driveway and see that my jackass, redneck neighbor across the street decided to park his NASCAR-stickered pickup directly behind my driveway making it a chore to back out of my carhold (as opposed to me just closing my eyes, stomping on the gas and twisting the wheel)

Upon seeing this, the voice My Morning Jacket's lead singer Jim James, now among the others in my head, began singing about my redneck neighbor, his inability to park the truck anywhere else and interesting ways for me to let this chach know that he should consider moving his vehicle occasionally.

So I think that it is time my friends, time to put down Z. At least until the voice of Jim James in my head begins to fade a little.

Stuff to Sample: Just go buy it already.

This is getting bad. Yesterday I woke up and "Anytime" from My Morning Jacket's new album Z was running on a continually loop in my head. All the way through my shower and then my bowl of Raisin Bran, nothing but "Anytime." Not even ESPN could make it stop. Not that I wanted it to stop, "Anytime" is currently my favorite song off of Z (but I have the feeling it will soon be usurped by "Dondante"). I get in my car to head off to work and lo and behold, the song that comes on is - you guessed it - "Anytime," which just made me smile all the way through my three and a half minute commute.

I will be working tonight. I have to interview some guy from some local band. He dropped off a couple of CDs that I can not bring myself to listen to because I'm unwilling to listen to anything but Z. Why swill King Cobra when you can quaff Cristal? No, that's wrong, this talented and driven local musician does not deserve that kind of comparison, but Z is warping my mind and I can't help it.

For more fun related to the letter "Z," check out Zefrank at www.zefrank.com. Make sure you've cleared a couple hours before heading over there.

Stuff to Sample: From My Morning Jacket's new album Z "Anytime"

Good news faithful readers, the eLarceny Family has a new member. In addition to music, politics and lifestyle, eLarceny is now sponsoring a sports blog. Catch up on all the important sporting news with King Wookie over at the Midwest Wookie Gambit Sporting Report.

There will probably be an inordinate amount of info on the hapless Cleveland Browns and their goofy exploits. If you are or know a Browns fan then you are all too familiar with their fanatic devotion to a team that will probably be 4-12 when the season ends (5-11 tops).

Me? I root for another hapless Midwestern suckfest. Luckily though, the Detroit Lions are in the worst conference – ever – so they have a chance at the playoffs if they can muster a 7-9 record. It’s doable, but I’m not holding my breath.

So if you root for a hapless team, are willing to spend your entire weekend watching football, or are just sick of hearing C101, OpAmp and myself ramble on about the same old thing, then head over to MWGSR for something new.

Look at that picture. It just screams poetry reading, soft speaking, acoustic-guitar playing, coffee house denizen. So I'll give you one guess as to what type of music Laura Veirs plays. Well, you might need more then one, it's sort of a mix between folk and lo-fi rock with a tad of blues and electronica. I honestly wanted to lead off with some really un-PC comments about folk music and people who spend too much time in coffee houses but I lost it about half way through the first sentence so I'll just refer to her as a "chick" and move on.

You have to feel bad for Veirs, being the unlucky soul to follow My Morning Jacket's masterpiece, but for all intents and purposes, her new album Year of Meteors was a welcome break to Z (for all of two and half minutes). I can/will/and still might listen to Z non-stop for the next month. How would you like that? Nothing but posts about Z and where Z took me today. Oh no. Man crush? Maybe it's a good thing I won't be able to catch My Morning Jacket on their current tour. Totally smitten.

Stuff to Sample: From Laura Veirs' new album Year of Meteors "Galaxies"and "Secret Someones"

One More Thing: ScottyOpAmp has returned! Go here to hear his latest wisdom. He always has something funny to say about people who take themselves way too seriously.

Wow, My Morning Jacket! What happened?! Last I heard you were about to break up and I didn't care because you sounded too much like Neil Young singing in a feed silo (which, coincidentally, is where the vocals for one or more of their albums was recorded. Don't ask me which one(s); I don't care. I didn't think it was very good).

My Morning Jacket's new album Z, on the other hand is fantastic. They sound like a completely new band, the songs are tight and focused with great hooks awash in a little bit of country and soul amidst soaring indie sensibilities.

I'm ashamed to say I wasn't going to give this album a chance either. It took a little bit of prodding before I would even consider it. A friend, who's musical opinion I trust above no one else but my own has been hyping this band since they started but I failed to listen.

It wasn't until Rolling Stone had the gall to call My Morning Jacket and their new album "America's Radiohead" that I even became remotely interested.

Now I had to listen to it, if for no other reason then to see what in My Morning Jacket could possible remind RS of one of the best bands to ever grace the face of this fair earth.

I see now how My Morning Jacket could elicit such a comparison and I will never again doubt the word of Kyle.

Stuff to Sample: From My Morning Jacket's new album Z "Wordless Chorus" and "Off the Record"

Believe it or not, Grand Buffet has been around for five years. To cap off what may be considered an auspicious start to their rap career they have released the best of disc Five Years of Fireworks. This event is auspicious simply because Lord Grunge and Grape-A-Don are still alive to see it, which is surprising because I was sure somebody would have shot them for any of the myriad of less-then-tasteful things they tend to say while on stage.

But then, that is the beauty of Grand Buffet, they are an enigma wrapped within a riddle, cozily nestled underneath a mystery blanket. Do they believe in the things they say? Maybe. Should you believe anything they say? That depends on how many drinks you’ve had.

It’s like this: I think Grand Buffet is trying as hard as it can to make everyone else believe that there is something wrong with them when in fact there is actually something wrong with us.

Things you will see at a Grand Buffet show:

1. The Rap Chair

2. DJ CD Player rocking the hizz-ouse.

3. Confused people who have no idea what’s going on.

Grand Buffet is on tour now. They will hit Bloomington, Indiana on October 13 and Bowling Green, Ohio on October 14.

Stuff to Sample: From Grand Buffet’s Five Years of Fireworks “Candy Bars” and “Benjamin Franklin Music”

It has been gray and rainy all day, which is fitting, I guess, for a Monday. As a happy coincidence I happened to get a hold of Depeche Mode’s new album Playing the Angel yesterday and it really set the mood for most of the morning and afternoon. Playing the Angel reminds me a great deal of Violator-era Depeche Mode, and Violator elicits explicit memories of a cold and rainy February night, cruising the mean streets of my hometown in my first car, a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.

I had some great fun in that car and Depeche Mode will forever be linked in my mind to that Cutty. Needless to say, I spent most of the afternoon reminiscing with myself about Depeche Mode, that beautiful four-door, gas-guzzling Cutty and my high school glory days. So today, of all days, Depeche Mode seemed fitting, if not destined. The rain, the chill, the urge to do some chemically-induced stupid things.

Playing the Angel marks a huge improvement over Depeche Mode’s recent outings, or more specifically everything after Music for the Masses, and that makes me happy, or at least as happy as you can be when listening to Depeche Mode.

Stuff to Sample: From Depeche Mode’s Playing the Angel “Precious” and “Macrovision”

After the disgusting journey that was the last post, I needed something to cleanse my palette. I needed something fresh and light, something fun and easy, something out of my favorite town, the Big D, Dirty Detroit.

I know it sounds crazy. Fun and easy coming out of Detroit?!? But it’s true, just check out Brendan Benson and his new album the Alternative to Love. I’m not going to gloss over the fact that Benson writes unabashed pop rock because it may not be cool to listen to "pop music." And if you think that makes me a lesser man, well then, you’re stupid. There I said it. STUPID! YOU’RE SO STUPID!

Benson has been a busy little boy lately. He was producing the new Greenhornes album but had to jump ship to go support Alternative to Love. The Greenhones took the finished material, which has a very heavy Benson influence, and released the East Grand Blues EP. Benson was also working with Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler of the Greenhornes and Jack White of the White Stripes in the new band the Raconteurs. Rumor has it that recording is finished so be on the look out for this project late this year or early next year. Until then, listen to what Benson does best with a couple well crafted pop songs.

Stuff to Sample: Brendan Benson from the Alternative to Love "Spit it Out" and "Between Us"

The Strokes can take a hike. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are so last week and the White Stripes are totally mainstream! Now what band has the hipster nation collectively holding its breath and pining sweet-nothings you ask? Wolf Parade. So of course, I too wanted to crawl up Wolf Parade’s ass with the rest of indie music bloggerdom and suck face with some small intestine. But then I listened to their new album Apologies to Queen Mary. I was not impressed, so I put down the KY and returned to contemplating the sycophant nature of the indie music scene. It’s like watching a bunch of five year olds play soccer. They all converge on the ball, kick and grapple at it furiously until the ball squirts out and they are forced to chase it down and start over again. Running willy-nilly from one spot to the other all chasing the proverbial ball called “cooler-than-you.”

Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse discovered Wolf Parade in Vancouver, signed them to Subpop and then produced their record. So, not surprisingly, Wolf Parade has been drawing a few comparisons to Modest Mouse and, just because they are Canadian as well, Arcade Fire.

Wolf Parade’s album has grown on me a bit since the first listen but I’m going to sit this game out on the sidelines and just take bets.

2:1 – Wolf Parade gets a bowel obstruction from all the hipsters shoved up there.

5:2 – Wolf Parade is the darling of the indie press for six months, tours, and then nobody buys the follow up album.

10:1 – Wolf Parade cracks mainstream radio, scores minor hit.

1,000:1 – Wolf Parade keeps indie cred while making it on a major label, releases one critically acclaimed album after another and becomes a rock mainstay for the next 40 years.

Stuff to Sample: From Wolf Parade's new album Apologies to Queen Mary "Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts" and "Fancy Claps" and another song from the Strokes new album "You Only Live Once"

So yeah, White Stripes. I took in the first of a three night stand in Detroit to end the tour last night. Jack and Meg seemed loose and happy to be home. What else can I say? They do what they do and they do it well. If you’ve seen them live, you know what I mean, if you haven’t, well, aren’t you a loser?

A couple noteworthy things before I go:

1. The box office released the front row tickets the morning of the show. I was slightly pissed. I had great seats, but it’s always nice to be able to see Jack sweat and Meg bounce.

2. It seems that whenever I go to a show that brings in over 1,000 people, I get stuck by either Greased Up Douche Bag Frat Boy or Spaced Out Dancing Dude. Both can ruin a good concert.

3. I arrived around 8:00 and still missed the opening act M. Ward. Earlier in the week I had wanted to see him, but after listening to his new record Transistor Radio (it is good, don’t get me wrong), I sort of lost interest. And once the White Stripes hit the stage, any lingering regret I had about not arriving earlier disappeared. The Stripes took the stage at 8:30 and played almost nonstop for close to two hours.

4. I totally got snagged taking a picture of the White Stripes with my cell phone. First off, I didn’t even get the picture off. Second, it’s not like it would have been any good. But, whatever.

Another concert in the books. Another ticket stub to add to my collection.

Stuff to Sample: The White Stripe's "Death Letter/Grinning In Your Face" and "Boll Weevil" live in Germany on May 19, 2003.

Stuff to Steal: The entire White Stripe's performance at the Glastonbury Festival on June 24, 2005 can be found here. Sound quality is excellent!