Music
Essays, blog posts, playlists, and more focused broadly on music. For more playlists visit my Spotify profile.
- Nada Surf at The Nomad (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Playing a free acoustic set at a small Minneapolis bar as a part of the band’s ongoing promotional tour, two thirds of the one-time one-hit-wonders delivered a few new tracks in addition to a handful of old favorites. Asking around before the show it became obvious that the majority of opinions leaned towards knowing the […]
- Victor Scott “Good Times” Review ()
It’s amusing to learn that Victor Scott approached Good Times, his second full length, influenced heavily by soundtracks. Not necessarily influenced by those those similar to The Big Chill, but rather the idea that albums don’t have to follow a pattern, or a set genre to make sense and maintain their flow. As such Good […]
- Victor Scott “Good Times” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artist. In this, the third edition in the series, Vancouver-based solo artist Victor Scott describes various bits and pieces that made up a handful […]
- A Patch Unto Itself: AM Syndicate ()
Reminiscent to a distortionless My Bloody Valentine, Austin’s AM Syndicate delivers a chorus of pop-conscious rock songs while lead singer Omar Chavez’s drifting vocals continually distance the band’s sound, finding a patch of sound unto itself. No more evident is this than on the band’s “To the Peasants of the Emperor,” one of the many […]
- Victor Scott “Seasides” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artist. In this, the second edition in the series, Vancouver-based solo artist Victor Scott brainstorms thoughts surrounding the tracks that ended up on Seasides, […]
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seed’s “Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!” (Single) ()
There’s something about hearing the Grinderman release that urged a want for new material from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds; liken it to an aged marriage if you will. For years you go about your business, all the while caring with unabashed love – no matter what the other were to do, or how […]
- Victor Scott “Soundtracks” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artist. In this, the first edition in the series, Vancouver-based solo artist Victor Scott describes his latest album Good Times and the correspondence between […]
- Culture Bully & DJ MDSB Present: The Best of 2007 ()
#1) LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver It’s not that Sound of Silver is the best album of the year musically speaking, but lyrically it’s what touched me most in 2007. Don’t get me wrong, the churning, building piano on “All My Friends” and the progressive girth of “Get Innocuous” are just two examples of James […]
- Best Mashups of 2007 ()
#15) DJ Nicky T “Woohaa” [MP3](AC/DC vs Busta Rhymes) #14) DJ Maxentropy “Glamorous Ex Gf” [MP3](Fergie vs. Matt Willis) #13) Pheugoo “I Was Signed for Loving You” [MP3](Snoop Dogg feat. C. Wilson & Justin Timberlake vs. Kiss) #12) DJ MDSB “All My Friends” [MP3](LCD Soundsystem vs. John Cale vs. Franz Ferdinand) #11) DJ Lobsterdust “Baby […]
- Best Music Videos of 2007 ()
10. Liars “Plaster Casts of Everything” Recasting scenes reminiscent to that of David Lynch’s mind-boggling Lost Highway might seem something horribly inappropriate given the context of the standard music video. Given also that it crosses disturbing light projection with brutally honest images of the human body, the video sound more and more like something inconducive […]
- The Top 5 Albums That Should Have Been Really Good, But Weren’t: 2007 ()
5. The Chemical Brothers We Are The Night Long since past is the time when The Chemical Brothers delivered their “Block Rockin’ Beats” but 2007 developed as a year in which electronic artists were given their window of opportunity back into mainstream pop music. Veteran acts such as Cassius released new material to critical praise, […]
- Atmosphere “The Rooster” ()
In 2001 when Atmosphere was introduced to my loosely knit group of friends, Lucy Ford appeared as apart of a sect of hip hop that we hadn’t heard yet. Lyrically the music appeared urban as it tossed around words about the nature of streets life and the surrounding environment; but the album (cassette tape at […]
- Billy Childish & Accepting Interpol as a Business, Not Art ()
Up until watching this Soft Focus feature Billy Childish was but a name I had merely heard along the way to this day. The following research that went into further figuring out just who this Childish character is lead me to a realization that I had a better understanding of his work than I previously […]
- America Has Spoken: And It Wants Diet Cherry Chocolate Dr. Pepper with a Splash of Tay Zonday ()
When does a novelty act become a superstar? When such a novelty is a key ingredient in a blazing new ad campaign, that’s when. Given that I too would probably take the pay day (rent ain’t cheap boss) I cannot really say anything bad about Mr. Adam Bahner (aka Tay Zonday); but I can say […]
- Just When You Thought Hyphy Was Forever, Whitey Crashed The Party And Ruined Everything (Again) ()
As with most things in American culture, one can gauge how far past a trend is by how white is becomes. That being said, it seemed only a matter of time before hyphy went the way of the crunk – white and tired. Did it peak with Mistah FAB, Ghost Ride The Whip: The Movie, […]
- The Top 10 Musical Performances on Late Night TV of 2007 ()
10. Peter, Bjorn & John feat. Victoria Bergsman “Young Folks” from Late Night with Conan O’Brien 01/29/2007 Does anyone remember the embarrassingly unimportant issue of Peter, Bjorn & John using a whistle track during their live performances? ‘Round the turn of the new year, just as the band was breaking the American market, things got […]
- Pierre Henry: “Futurama” Inspiration, Violent Femmes Collaborator & Remix Fawn ()
Bouncing about the internets lately has been a fascinating YouTube video highlighting Pierre Henry’s 1967 track “Psyché Rock” and its immediate influence on the theme song to the animated series Futurama. As for the similarities – glaringly obvious; but who is Pierre Henry? Oh, just “the first formally educated musician to devote his energies to […]
- Dethklok: The All But Unanswered Interview ()
Given the opportunity to hype the real Dethklok’s performance in Minneapolis by interviewing the fictional band seemed a perfect opportunity to revisit the Adult Swim series Metalocalypse, of which I had only seen once and wasn’t entirely amused by. Upon catching up with the show a second time I found its humor entirely sobering as […]
- Mad TV: Ever So Topical Feist/iPod Parody ()
Dropping topical comedy like there’s no tomorrow, Mad TV delivers a skit using a poorly executed parody of a half year old music video thematically mocking old “new” technology. The skit isn’t necessarily “funny” per se but with a very slim exception one cannot expect too much from the show. Mad TV is still on […]
- Neil Young’s “Ordinary People” and the Beauty of Coincidence ()
A conclusion that I’ve drawn recently is that I am honestly thankful for coincidence. Whether it be stumbling across a book you’ve been searching for in a thrift store or passing by an old friend out of the blue, coincidence can often be a blessing. A few weeks back I found myself challenged by depression, […]
- Aesop Rock “Coffee” Video ()
Whether or not you’re a fan of Aesop’s latest, None Shall Pass, you have to give the guy some respect for what he’s done this year. Releasing something unprecedented in the hip hop game, a forty five minute mix themed towards…runners…, releasing one of the genre’s most anticipated releases the year, None Shall Pass, and […]
- On Why Michael Showalter’s “Erotica” is Pretty Much The Musical Equivalent to Wes Anderson’s “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou”…Only Better ()
After literally dozens of times through Michael Showalter’s hot new single “Erotica” it began to dawn on me that the song’s theme, details and setting could pretty much pass for a Wes Anderson movie. Then reality smacked me boldly in the face and shouted “it is a Wes Anderson movie, retard!” And as it turns […]
- Common “I Want You” Video ()
For all of its negative criticism, even through Finding Forever’s first three singles I felt that there was something strong buried deep in its essence. But even with the help of Alicia Keys, Kerry Washington, Kanye West, Serena Williams, Derek Luke and Sophia Luke they couldn’t make a rose out of this brutally dull track. Common: […]
- Bloc Party “Flux” Video ()
With a sound seeded far deeper in mid-90s electronica than anything else in the band’s catalogue, “Flux” reintroduces Bloc Party as something far fresher than its typical indie rock typecast. The video’s theme is trapped somewhere between first or second season Power Rangers and “Intergalactic;” it supports the single that is set for release as […]
- Fu Manchu “Hung Out To Dry” Video ()
Aside from me drunkenly ruining Fu Manchu’s show for many other fans in attendance earlier this year I’ve had nothing but positive feelings surrounding Fu Manchu’s latest, We Must Obey. The album is fairly strong, especially in comparison to the band’s last outing Start The Machine. However the video for “Hung Out To Dry” detracts […]
- The Fiery Furnaces “Ex-Guru” Video ()
“Ex-Guru” is an awesome song and the video for “Ex-Guru” is an awesome video, doubt I can really put much of a critique on something so unique. The vintage transition shots are killer, reminding me of something ABBA would have put out in their prime. That being said, ABBA never sounded this good (sorry mom!). […]
- Stook’s “Seasonal Affective Disorder” ()
Nestled warmly in the pocket of his new release, When The Needle Hits The Wax, Stook’s “Seasonal Affective Disorder” quietly surprises as the finest piece of autobiographical poetry on the album. The precursor to the booming drunken jamboree “How Long We Gonna Dance?” and following his best Springsteen song on the album, “Diggin’ on You,” […]
- The New Pornographers “Challengers” Video ()
The few times I’ve had the chance to spin Challengers I’ve been left with a strange feeling of being underwhelmed. A while back I had this idea that “The New Pornographers are becoming indie rock’s version of adult contemporary” and I can’t say that my view has been swayed since. I don’t expect the group […]
- Dropkick Murphys: Boston Red Sox World Series Celebration ()
While fairly oblivious to most sports these days, I’m far from it in terms of Boston’s own Dropkick Murphys. Following the Red Sox’s series defining game 6 against the Cleveland Indians this past week I received a brilliant email reading the following, “The Red Sox win over Cleveland tonight means the series goes to game […]
- Gwar and Cradle of Filth at Myth Nightclub (St. Paul, MN 10/24/2007) ()
Opening the show with Swedish sleaze rockers Vains of Jenna and closing with English death metal band Cradle of Filth, the Viva La Bands tour covered extracts from this world and beyond—the unearthly Gwar playing middle spot and entirely gorging its audience with hedonism and irreverence. While the highly anticipated CKY couldn’t make the bill […]