Instrumental Analysis

Don’t have plans yet for Monday night? Fear not, as there are three great shows to attend in the DC area. What can beat listening to some great music while ringing in the new year?

DC:

The Epochs & Zulu Pearls – Mt. Pleasant
1801 N. Kenyon St.

This is the party that I will be at and it will most likely the smallest of the three shows. Festivities start around 10, so there is plenty of time to party before you come out. The Epochs are first and Zulu Pearls go on at the stroke of midnight and the party lasts however long it takes the last person to stumble home. The show is only $5.

Zulu Pearls – Dancing + Drinking
The Epochs – Opposite Sides

Georgie James & DJs
Rock and Roll Hotel

Over on H Street, there will be a huge blowout party at the R&R Hotel with Brightest Young Things, Georgie James and a bunch of DJs. Georgie James plays a shorter set than normal, but the party is sure to be a good one.

Need Your Needs

VA:

Last Train Home & Vandaveer
IOTA Club

In Arlington, you can have a real Indie New Year’s Eve with some great local bands. This party is technically the only official concert and even after the music ends, the party keeps going. IOTA opens at 5, if you want dinner as well. I have not personally been able to see these bands in concert myself, but Joe tells me that they are worth it.

Last Train Home – I’m Coming Home
Vandaveer – However Many Takes It Takes

No matter which you pick you are sure to have a great time.

To get you in the partying mood for NYE here are some great songs to dance to. Enjoy!

Orbital – Satan
Plastic Operator – Parisols
Panda Bear – Good Girl/Carrots
Working for a Nuclear Free City – Asleep At The Wheel
2 Bit Pie – Fly
Sugarcult – Do it Alone (Breakfast Club Remix)
Slightly Stoopid – Above The Clouds
Girl Talk – Lets Run This
The Crystal Method – American Way
Daft Punk – One More Time

It’s almost mandatory to do one of these. If you write about music, people always ask what’s your favorite, who broke out, who sold out, who fizzled. I’m doing things a little different. This isn’t just a list of my favorite’s. I decided to encompass the whole of music, regional and national. Not just releases, but music found in other media and the live shows that accompany the recently released albums and EPs. Now, these are not the opinions of Joe or Chris, but mine alone. I am sure that they would both cringe at some of these, but their individual posts are on the way. Let the flaming begin!

Albums of the Year: Pretty simple, these are my favorite nationals released this year, in no particular order.

Neon Bible – Arcade Fire

I have been waiting for this album since I saw them at the 2005 ACL Fest and bought Funeral and the original EP the next day. Dark, brooding, and much more polished. Lyrically and instrumentally, the songs grab you and never let go.

Black Mirror

Cease to Begin – Band Of Horses

Although I enjoy their previous work more, it is still a great album. Indie rock at it’s finest. These guys should be around for a long time.

Detlef Schrempf

The Shade of Poison Trees – Dashboard Confessional

Chris Carrabba gave up the electric guitar and over-the-top production and is back to his old tricks with angst and an acoustic guitar. It reminds me of his earlier albums, and that is a great thing.

I Light My Own Fires Now

The Shepherd’s Dog – Iron & Wine

Sam Beam is one of the greatest singer-songwriters alive. This album just continues what he started with his previous releases.

Boy With A Coin

Under The Blacklight – Rilo Kiley

Moving to a ‘newer’ sound is always difficult, but Jenny Lewis and friends take the 70’s rock sound of Fleetwood Mac and make it their own.

The Moneymaker

The Stage Names – Okkervil River

Emotional indie-rock tinged with southern style, they are slowly taking over Spoon’s place as Austin’s indie-gods.

Savannah Smiles

A Weekend In The City – Bloc Party

Much like Arcade Fire, saw them at ACL 2005, fell in love, and waited with much anticipation. Though some of the b-sides are better, I was not disappointed.

The Prayer

Wincing The Night Away – The Shins

Ever since Garden State, these guys have been the buzz. Most people will forget this album, because it was released way back in January. I’m making sure people remember.

Phantom Limb

Live Album

Live – R.E.M.

Yeah, I’m partial. They are my favorite band, but nothing has made me feel more charged up than a live show by Stipe and the boys. This takes me back to the 5 times that I have seen them. Now if only they could make a good studio album again.

Box-set/Reissue

Oh, By The Way – Pink Floyd

Recently released, this is THE Pink Floyd set for anybody who has an interest in listening to the greatest psychedelic rock band ever.

Reissue That Should Have Happened

Disintegration – The Cure

It is the next logical step in the progression of double-disc reissues that Robert is doing. After three straight in 2006, there were none in 2007. Darn it, it is the best album ever! I am waiting with an-ti-ci (say it!) pation.

Welcome Comeback

Duran Duran: Losing Andy Taylor led Simon and the others to re-create the entire album that was originally slated for summer 2006, using the talents of Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. My take is it was for the better.

Welcome Comeback, but Good Lord, You Guys Look Old

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Led Zeppelin: All rockers wanted this to happen, but maybe 10 years ago or so. See that Rolling Stone cover? Jimmy Page, nice hair. Robert Plant’s face is melting. John Paul Jones actually looks pretty good. But hey, its always a good time to get the Led out.

Nice Try, Hot Shots (Least Welcome Comeback)

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Smashing Pumpkins: Trying to recreate lost glory, eh, Billy? Some liked it, I sure didn’t.

Sell Out! (Music in Ads)

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Click Click Click Click – Bishop Allen (Sony Commercial): It works and its catchy, I’ll give it that.

In Local News (The Best of The Philly Region)

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Jukebox the Ghost: Now claiming Philly home, originally from D.C., they leave one of IA’s regions to come to the other. Thank God we didn’t lose these guys. Great songs, catchy melodies, piano rock at its best. And the thing is, the energy from the studio work carries over into their live shows. The full length will be out in late January and I cannot wait.

Hold It In

Creeping Weeds: One of the few Philly-based bands to play Indie at The Abbey, they are indie-pop incarnate. Another band that is worth the price of admission.

Billy Pilgrim

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The Sky Drops: I love a good shoe-gaze sound and this duo produce just that.

Now Would Be

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Papertrigger: Sound, sound and more sound! See these guys live, buy their EP, do whatever you have to do to hear them!

We Are Nations Now!

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Hoots and Hellmouth: A religious experience in concert.

Want On Nothing

Honorable Mention (not quite in our area, but they play here enough)

Shade (from Pittsburgh): Their album Arms Raised on Rooftops is stellar and their live show is a sonic experience that must be heard. If you are near Pittsburgh this weekend, go see these guys play with Creeping Weeds on 12/29!

Broken Ribs

Up Close and Personal (Live Shows)

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Best National Tour: Morrissey. Yeah he cancelled some shows, but he did his best to do those shows at a later time. If you saw him, you know what I am talking about. Philly show started with “The Queen Is Dead!” Holy Hell! Always the showman, he ripped through new and old, giving a fan of whatever period of his career, a reason to smile and sing along.

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Best Local Show: Jukebox The Ghost. It is just a fun show. They chat up the crowd, give little insights about the songs, and they sound great live.

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Close Second Local Show: Middle Distance Runner. Another fun band to watch. They sure seem to have a good time up on stage.

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Most Anticipated Show of ‘08: The Cure. This would rival Morrissey, but much like Moz, Robert and the gang changed dates on their tour from late 2007 to early 2008. May cannot come soon enough.

It’s that time of the year again. When it comes to holiday music, I like the classics. So I compiled a mix of many of my personal favorites. I had a ton of requests for me to repost last year’s mix and this is basically a much enhanced version. I hope that everyone has a great couple of days with their families. Happys Holidays!

Gene Autry – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Bobby Helms – Jingle Bell Rock
Bing Crosby – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Louis Armstrong – ‘Zat You, Santa Claus?
Eartha Kitt – Santa Baby
Dean Martin – Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Frank Sinatra – Jingle Bells
Alvin & The Chipmunks – The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)
Ella Fitzgerald – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Johnny Mathis – Sleigh Ride
Jimmy Durante – Frosty The Snowman
Dean Martin – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Andy Williams – It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Thurle Ravenscroft – You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
Otis Redding – Merry Christmas, Baby
Burl Ives – A Holly Jolly Christmas
Bing Crosby – It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Perry Como – Winter Wonderland
Jose Feliciano – Feliz Navidad
Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
Bing Crosby & David Bowie – Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy
Elvis Presley – Blue Christmas
Burl Ives – Silver and Gold
Bing Crosby – I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Vince Guaraldi Trio – Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal)
Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby – White Christmas
Andy Williams – Silent Night

Next week, I will present you with my favorite albums of the year. Before I do that, I wanted to touch upon some of my favorite songs that aren’t on the CDs that made my list. So I decided that this week’s mix would be a good chance to that. Enjoy!

Modest Mouse – Spitting Venom
Film School – Must Try Easier
Band of Horses – Is There A Ghost?
Junius – A Word Could Kill Her
Kinetic Stereokids – Explosions Were Heard
LCD Soundsystem – Someone Great
Battles – Atlas
Simian Mobile Disco – I Believe
Kasabian – I.D.
Editors – Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors

I am pleased to announce that the boy’s in Pela have a new video for “Lost to the Lonesome.” The video features the guys in an early 1800s small town trying to sell a miracle cure to the masses. Billy is dressed quite humorously in a preachers outfit, while he sells his wares to the crowd. The guys then get the crowd dancing around and praising him for helping them. It has a surprise ending as well, so check it out.

Lost To The Lonesome

December hasn’t produced many albums this year, but there are a few worth noting. On the big name front, Wu Tang Clan finally released 8 Diagrams and members of Weezer and Radiohead released solo albums. On the more underground side of things, there were some good releases from The Dimes, Wakey! Wakey!, and DC’s Meredith Bragg.

Meredith Bragg

Silver Sonya – “My Absent Will“

Wu-Tang Clan

8 Diagrams – “Stick Me For My Riches“

The Dimes

The Silent Generation – “Catch Me Jumping“

Wakey! Wakey!

Silent As A Movie – “LGA“

Rivers Cuomo

Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo – “Wanda (You’re My Only Love)“

Jonny Greenwood

There Will Be Blood (Soundtrack) – “There Will Be Blood“

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to have two great shows come through town and I got the pictures to prove it. On Thursday, Middle Distance Runner, The Epochs and Mobius Band rolled through Wilmington, making a stop at Mojo 13. While the crowd was made up mainly of other band members (as it usually is at that venue whenever I go), it was a great show. The pictures aren’t the greatest, but they work.

Middle Distance Runner

Mobius Band
Friday, the line up was all great Philly bands. Of course, stealing the show (in my opinion) was Jukebox The Ghost. Papertrigger lived up to their billing (bar brawl music and they’ll blow your nuts off). Unfortunately my camera ran out of battery during the Jukebox show, so no photos of Papertrigger or Drink Up Buttercup.

Jukebox The Ghost

Check out the rest of the pic on flickr.

I apologize for being so out of it lately. Things should improve in the next week. In the meantime, I’ll share some regional songs and remixes that have flooded my inbox over the past week or so.

The Dan Deacon remix was done by Baltimore’s own Adam Lempel. DC’s Party on Marz remixed an unreleased Exit Clov track. Philly’s Creeping Weeds did a great cover of BOAT’s “(I’m A) Donkey For Your Love.” Finally, Baltimore’s Beach House have a fantistic new CD that will be out in February and “Gila” is a preview track from it.

Dan Deacon – Wham City (Lempel Remix)
Exit Clov – Space Alien (Party on Marz Remix)
Creeping Weeds – (I’m A) Donkey For Your Love (BOAT Cover)
Beach House – Gila

The summer release of the latest EP from Los Campesinos! seemed to slip right past me until I stumbled upon it recently. I heard the song “We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives” and then I listened to it another five times, before I forced myself to listen to the next song. Moving through the rest of the album opened my eyes to the new ways that pop and punk can be combined. The exclamation point on the end of the band’s name is aptly placed, as you come away almost exhausted just from listening to the songs. This UK band has done a great job of combining the best talents of each member to produce one of the most energetic releases I have heard this year. The album relies on quick beats with harmonizing vocals from many members to produce crazy pop songs with hints of ’80s punk energy and guitar rifts.

We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives
You! Me! Dancing!