Willpower Triumphs over Impulse

Is today the slowest day in the history of time? I think so. So slow, in fact, that I was checking the clock every 20 minutes up until the Jimmy Eat World presale that started a few minutes ago...Finally by the time 4:00 rolled around, I clicked through, passworded up, and was ready to buy...but I thought for a second...Do I really like these guys that much? I mean, the summer of 2001 I was into Bleed American...but fuck, that was like over three years ago...Tickets were $22 plus charges...and Razorlight (who I'm not too fond of) is opening...I clicked up the total button, and realized I was about to drop $30 a ticket for a band I didn't really care about anymore. That's crazy. I backed off.

But that's how slow this day has been. The highlight for me was gonna be an oddly timed afternoon presale for a band I was lukewarm at best about seeing...and I came within one mouseclick of dropping a large chunk of money to go see them in two months.

But...oddly and uncharacteristically, I let it go, and now I'm working off the rest of my day at work with a small satisfaction of saving a fair bit of cash. Same feeling I had about selling my Keane tickets earlier this week...Ya know, I goto enough shows that I do really want to see, I don't need to bog my life down with excess expenses and excess plans.

Tonight Bloc Party is playing the Knitting Factory at 10:00. I know that's smack in the middle of the debate, but this is (I think) their first show ever in the States. I kinda really have to go see them...especially cause I'll be out of town this weekend and missing their Tribeca Grand party. I'll dvr the debate and watch it later tonight or tomorrow.


Tomorrow I'm taking a day off from work and somehow gonna figure out a way to Reading, Pa to see Pearl Jam and Death Cab...more importantly tho I gotta figure out a way to get to Easton, Pa after the show to join the homecoming weekend festivities. There are times like this when not knowing how to drive becomes a bit of a hindrance.

Video Video


Elkland is filming a video for Apart, and are looking for a bunch of "cool kids" (their words, not mine) to be in a concert/party scene. If interested, send a face pic and a body pic (not nude, cheeky monkies...) with your name and age to nicolasmoore@gmail.com They say it will be filmed in or around the NYC area.

Also, on a related note, check out the videos I put up on the sidebar...As with the MP3's, if anyone has a legal problem with them being up there, lemme know and I'll take them down immediately.

I got culture baby


I've been told that Adam Rapp is a very good playwright, tho I have never seen or read any of his plays. I do know for a fact is that he cheats at Buckhunter. Be that as it may, his new play, "Finer Noble Gases" is performing now at the Rattlestick Theatre on Waverly, and it is getting fantastic reviews. It's an existential-esque story about a bunch of hipsters in the East Village trying to replace their broken TV set. (Mike Skinner was unavailable for comment) It's running through Oct 25th and I'm hoping to catch it soon. Adam also recently completed filming his first movie, Winter Passing, Starring Zooey Deschanel, Ed Harris and Will Ferrell. Look for it next spring.

AND AND AND

Mr. Rapp's lovely and talented girlfriend, Dawn Landes (Who I've raved about before), is playing a set at Pete's Candy Store in Brooklyn tonight. She's awesome.

The Realest Reality Ever


Man, Laguna Beach is so lame! I love it! This is by far the weirdest show I've ever seen. Maybe it's a good lesson to all the kids out there...You can be beautiful and rich and popular and live in a nice place yet still not have all that interesting a life. This is the way the world works...Sometimes people throw a party and nothing happens...Nobody gets into a fight, nobody gets alcohol poisoning, nobody was trying to hide their drug use from their friends. People just hang out. It reminded me so much of me and my friends in High School...yeah we had our share of excitement, but for the most part we were just boring 18 year olds with too much space, time and money on our hands. It nothing else, this show made me sorta nostalgic for a time when life was that simple and pointless. Whatever...This show certainly doesn't belong on TV any more than my video of WEP III's Presidents Day Weekend bash, but nether does half the shit we watch...that doesn't mean I'm not gonna watch tho.

Sufjan in Brooklyn, among other things...


Coolfer posted another one of his always helpful NYC Concert Calendars...There was one notable show on it I was not previously aware of...

Saturday, November 13th, Sufjan Stevens at Southpaw (late show)

This is too good to pass up. I love Southpaw. Tickets are available now.

There is a presale for Modest Mouse at Radio City Wednesday morning at 10. The password is KROCK. Tickets go on sale to the public Saturday morning.

Also, after fucking over their acronym-sake by putting tickets on sale the afternoon of Yom Kippur (for a venue called WARSAW, no less!), Jimmy Eat World will be playing Webster Hall November 8th. Presale is this Thursday at 4PM. The password is robc (The link doesn't work now, but it should when the presale starts...)

For anyone worried about Antics not selling well cause of the leak a few months ago, the midnight crowd at Megastore was bigger than usual and almost everyone there had a copy in hand.

I was there primarily to pick up Eternal Sunshine, which I watched last night and re-confirmed it as the best movie of the year. If you somehow missed this in theatres, I highly recommend renting it ASAP. It's a lovely film.

Tonight we will be having a going away banquet for a very good of mine, who is moving to LA to peruse his dreams of nailing slightly overweight Jews with mild-tempered dads. Steve is just about the only person I personally know who has consistently read CentralVillage from the beginning, and he will be much missed around these parts. The feast tonight is at Grand Setzuan on St. Marks, which is the best Chinese restaurant in New York City. No joke. I'll write more about that place sometime...I literally eat 3-5 meals a week from there.

Finally, I've got Veronica Mars, Real World, and The Laguna Beach premiere on the DVR tonight...Also gonna try and make it to Talib Kweli at Virgin Megastore at 8...

HD-ivo will turn me into a cheeseball...


I watched American Dreams on Sunday night and LOVED it. Very cute show...I've never met anybody who's watched it before, but I guess it's something for Middle America who doesn't get HBO and likes to watch TV as a family. Anyway...perfectly nice TV. It'll be recorded regularly...and watched by myself. When JJ comes home from Vietnam and sees Beth and their child for the first time, I don't want anybody to see me cry...

Anyway...Saturday night I saw an unbelievably blistering set by The Fiery Furnaces. Really one of the tightest live shows I've seen in a very long time. It was a non-stop medley of a ton of their songs that seamlessly flowed in and out of each other without a break or a breath. Here's the the Breastest review of the show you'll read.

Sunday evening I saw Rachael Yamagata rock NoHo at Joe's pub. She was awesome, as expected. She's got these Mona Lisa eyes that always look like she's singing directly to you...pretty damn impressive. I still am convinced she's the sexiest girl in the world who's not actually that attractive...but she works it, dude. Lots of tucked in shirts and blackberries at her shows, but still not to be missed when she plays these club sets. Catch her next time she's in town, but get tickets early, cause she always sells out mad quick.

Somehow, Brooklyn Vegan beat me to this. Slunt, a band fronted by my very own cousin, Abby Gennet, is shooting a video at Continental Wednesday afternoon and they are looking for people to come out and be extras in the crowd...BV's got the details...

Props to Mike and Jimmy of Junk Science, an offshoot of Nuclear Family, for winning the Scion: Next Up Emcee contest. They won a car, a professionally produced video and some other cool jawn. These boys are disturbingly talented, and I'm happy to see them get some recognition.

Morning Theft is hitting the Central Village! They'll be playing Plaid on October 22nd to celebrate their album release. Mark your calendars.

The Kleptones "A Night at the Hip Hopera" is one of the coolest albums I've heard this year. I know everyone is sick of mashups by now, but these guys are the masters. Their first LP was "Yoshimi Battles The Hip Hop Robots" which, obviously, was rap put to The Flaming Lips most recent album...It works very well. "Hip Hopera" is a much more produced effort, with rap songs put to some of Queen's greatest hits. Sounds corny perhaps, but give it a shot and you'll be hooked. It’s really fun and well done. The highlights for me are Beastie Boys Medley "Break->Listen", and the ODB meets Under Pressure mashup, "Live". You can download both of their albums, as well as some other interesting stuff. Check it out..It’s free.

Tomorrow there's a whole lot of new buyable stuff in the stores. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which is I think my favorite movie of the year so far, comes out. Interpol's Antics, of course finally drops tomorrow as well, as does Mark Knopfler's newest album, Shangri La, which is an early frontrunner for the top 20 of 5765..."Boom, Like That" gives me chills.

Talib Kweli's amazing new album, The Beautiful Struggle, is coming out tomorrow as well...He'll be doing an in store performance tomorrow at the Megastore at 8:00 PM. Should be worth it if you can make it.

This weeks starts off a sick run of shows in New York...Talib tomorrow, Keane and the French Kicks Wednesday, Bloc Party Thursday, Pearl Jam/Death Cab Friday in Reading, PA. From now through CMJ, there's a worthwhile show almost every night.

Finally, the Top 20 of 5764 is complete. Here's the complete list below:
#20 The Magnetic Fields - I
#19 Hope of the States - The Lost Riots
#18 The Rapture - Echoes
#17 The Arcade Fire - Funeral
#16 The Strokes - Room on Fire
#15 The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
#14 The Futureheads - The Futureheads
#13 Dogs Die in Hot Cars - Please Describe Yourself
#12 Feist - Let it Die
#11 The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
#10 Murs - Murs 3:16
#9 Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
#8 Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism
#7 Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
#6 The Killers - Hot Fuss
#5 RJD2 - Since Last We Spoke
#4 The Libertines - The Libertines
#3 Muse - Absolution
#2 Blonde Redhead - Misery is a Butterfly
#1 Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous

Thats all for now.

My 20 favorite albums of 5764 (parts IX and X)

at long last...

#4 The Libertines - The Libertines


I would by no means call myself the biggest Libertines fan in the world. I wasn't even that huge a fan of Up The Bracket to be perfectly honest. This album, however, is a completely different story. I've listened to constantly over the last few months, and I love it more and more with every play. The most impressive part for me is the range and emotion that they show through the 14 songs, despite the fact that all the songs basically have the same sound. You just don't expect these sort of lyrics and melodical complexities to come out of such drunken ramblings. "Last Post on the Bugle" and "Music When The Lights Go Out", are two of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, though they sound like they are figuratively being vomited onto a bathroom floor. These guys will always be tagged with words like "Potential" and phrases like "What could have been"...But this is it. This is rock music at it's finest...the purest of emotion combined with rawest of talent. We should stop waiting for The Libertines to get their shit together and just appreciate what we got right now...cause I swear, we'll miss it when it's gone.

#3 Muse - Absolution


This band should be ruling the world right now. They should be playing the biggest stadiums in the biggest cities and fighting for causes like world hunger and AIDS. They should be U2. The most triumphant, bombastic, and spectacular band on the planet right now is somehow still playing side stages and night clubs across America. It's amazing. No other album has taken my breath away this year quite like Absolution has. The most impeccable musical timing combined with the greatest guitar and piano licks are what drive this record. Many have compared them to Radiohead, but in mind they have already surpassed them. Every song is simply stunning. From The apocalyptic "Sing for Absolution" to the haunting "Butterflies and Hurricanes", these guys already sound like they are the biggest band in the world. Now with this album as a jump-off, it's really only a matter of time.

#2 Blonde Redhead - Misery is a Butterfly

Blonde Redhead's newest album is a true masterpiece. It may not instantly grab you like many of the albums on this list will. It didn't for me. It's the classic case of the more you listen, the more you hear. It's gotten to the point for me where every time one of these songs come on, my heart just drops and I get sucked in. So much emotion and energy, all contained in such quiet and haunting tunes. It is almost hypnotizing the way the songs slowly roll out and then keep growing, with layer after layer piling on. But then, unlike the oft compared Sonic Youth, there is never that loud and restless release. It all is kept bottled up into what becomes the most frustratingly satisfying music.

#1 Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous


The best album of 5764. Hands down, no debate. If you listen to this record and don't develop a gigantic crush on Jenny Lewis, then I don't know what to say...She's Adorable. Every song just makes me smile. I listened to this every day (literally) for the first three weeks after I got this, and never even came close to getting sick of it. From the first track to the last, from the lyrics to the music to just the general mood, it's just perfect. One could not ask for anything more from a record.

Thats it! It's late and I'm going to bed. I hope you enjoyed the list.

Click Here for #'s 20 and 19
Click Here for #'s 18 and 17
Click Here for #'s 16 and 15
Click Here for #'s 14 and 13
Click Here for #'s 12 and 11
Click Here for #'s 10 and 9
Click Here for #'s 8 and 7
Click Here for #'s 6 and 5

Finally a weekend away from work



Last night I attended the Harvest in the Square at Union Square. Restaurants and wine shops from all over the neighborhood were represented with tasting portions available. Proceeds went towards completing the renovation of the north side of the park. The highlights for me were the salad from Tocqueville, the Braised Beef from Strip House, The Veal from Gramercy Tavern, and the Fig with Goat Cheese and Prosciutto from Candela. It was a delicious and lot of fun.

Tonight I suppose I'm not going to do anything too big. Got services in the morning. Peanut Butter Wolf and Madlib are playing at Southpaw tho, and I think that might be fun. I'll see if I can round anybody up to trek out there.

Tomorrow night, Morning Theft is playing an early set at Pianos. Go there at 7:30 and break the fast with them. Later that night, I've got tickets to be at Bowery for the Fiery Furnaces midnight show. Really excited to finally see them live. It's sold out, but I'm sure with a little effort, you can find someone with an extra between now and then.

Sunday night I'll be seeing Rachael Yamagata at Joe's pub. She was amazing at The Fez about a month ago, and I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing her again. This is very sold out, but I know she'll be back in town on December 17 doing a benefit show for Housing Works. I don't know many details about this, but I'll post if I hear anything.

For you hippies out there with a little bit of foresight, Keller Williams will be playing December 10th at Webster Hall. Also, Galactic is playing Irving Plaza October 23rd and 24th and Addison Groove Project will be at Mercury Lounge Oct. 20th.

Gothamist Events is putting together a stellar show at the Knitting Factory on November 16th with a collection of blog-popular bands...They've got Asobi Seksu, Snowden, and Sons of Sound on the lineup so far. Definitely something to keep on the radar.

The Arcade Fire are unfortunately playing Bowery Ballroom the same night I'm going to see Interpol...November 11th. Tickets are on sale.

That enough for now...Down to the final four albums of the Jew-Year...I'll get them up here sometime between now and the end of the weekend.

My 20 favorite albums of 5764 (part VIII)

#6 The Killers - Hot Fuss


No surprise here...By far my most listened to CD of the year. I feel like this was the soundtrack to the last 6 months of my life, yet I still get excited whenever I hear it. I don't even know what else to say that I haven't said about 56436 times on CentralVillage already. I think it's amazing that I still hear something new every time I play this. At one point or another, I've called every song off this CD my favorite...It's just something I can't get sick of. I've tried...but these songs never grow old. A tremendous album from my one of my favorite bands.

#5 RJD2 - Since Last We Spoke


Dunno where to start with this one. I don't even know HOW he makes the music...I honestly don't understand what the process is to create something like this...but I mean, you listen to it, and you realize that this guy could somehow visualize this in his head, and somehow turn that into something audible. Unreal. Is this even a hip-hop record? Is "Through the Walls" hip-hop by any definition? "Making Days Longer"? Where does the line get drawn? It's just not worth trying to figure out. Sooner or later, you just gotta take it for what it is: A unique and unparalleled genre busting masterpiece that's decades ahead of it's time. I feel lucky to have heard it.

Click Here for #'s 20 and 19
Click Here for #'s 18 and 17
Click Here for #'s 16 and 15
Click Here for #'s 14 and 13
Click Here for #'s 12 and 11
Click Here for #'s 10 and 9
Click Here for #'s 8 and 7

Mars, Bitches!


I got convinced to watch America's Next Top Model last night...which was perfectly entertaining...BUT...unlike the rest of the masses, I didn't switch over to the Bachelor...Instead, I stuck around on WWOR and watched the Premiere of Veronica Mars...Which was great! All sorts of crazy stuff going on. It'll be on Tuesdays at 9...which fits snugly in right before Real World and Laguna Beach...

To coincide with the beginning of the new TV season, I'm getting myself one of the new HD-DVR boxes. I had to give up Tivo when I got my new TV, which I wasn't happy about...but this should do the trick.

My mom just let me know that Art Spiegelman is at Barnes and Noble at Union Square tonight to discuss his fantastic new book, "In the Shadows of No Towers". He'll be speaking at 7:00...check it out.

Brooklyn Vegan put up some new CMJ dates...Including the eagerly anticipated Hope of the States show which will be at Webster Hall with The Music. Also The Arcade Fire will be going on at 1:30 AM at Mercury Lounge October 13...That's a Wednesday night, sleepyheads.

My 20 favorite albums of 5764 (part VII)

#8 Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism


I actually bought this CD not being a particularly big Death Cab fan...but the Megastore had some sale where you could get 3 CDs for some cheap price...and I only had two in mind at the time. I picked this as my third because I just can't pass up a fucking bargain. I ripped it onto my iPod and didn't think much about it. Slowly, I would hear a song here and there come up on shuffle and really dig it...Soon I'd find myself playing the album more and more at work to pass the time...after a while it just slipped in to become one of my true favorites. They play nice music...just pleasant and simple and never fails to put me in a good mood...what more can I ask for? Turns out Seth Cohen was right all along.

#7 Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters


Another purchase I did not plan on making. I saw them on a listening station one night at the Megastore and the "Import" sticker somehow intrigued me. I listened to a couple tracks in the store and instantly dropped the $20 to take it home. Every song (except for the awful "Music is The Victim") is a perfect pop song... Their version of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" is the most original and dynamic cover since Hendrix did "All Along the Watchtower"...I honestly believe this. It's the most fun and imaginative CD I've heard in a long time, and the fact that the novelty after months and months of listening has still not worn off is proof enough for me that it belongs up here as one of the best albums of the year.

Click Here for #'s 20 and 19
Click Here for #'s 18 and 17
Click Here for #'s 16 and 15
Click Here for #'s 14 and 13
Click Here for #'s 12 and 11
Click Here for #'s 10 and 9

Nice Hat


Toots and the Maytals are playing at Spirit tonight in Chelsea...They always put on an unbelievable show, so go check it out if you are looking for something to do.

Tale of Two Cities Thankfully put up a ragdoll listing of the shows going on during CMJ...Strange there has been no sort of official release on these...CMJ runs from the 13th (my birthday!) through the 16th.

I saw Death From Above 79 open for The Killers in London and I thought they were awful...however, there are a lot of people out there who seem to think they're really good. Weird, I know. They are playing tonight at Bowery with Metric if you're curious. If you ask me, you're better off with Toots.

Gonna angle to go see Madlib and PeanutButter Wolf Friday night at Southpaw. I always say I'm gonna goto these hip hop shows and never do...I'd like to make it to one someday...

Finally, it looks like they're gonna give Field Day another try...I'll be there if they can pull it off.

My 20 favorite albums of 5764 (part VI)

This is going to be VERY quick cause I've been working all night and am about to goto bed.

#10 Murs - Murs 3:16


This is the best Rap CD of the year...Black Album was meh in my mind, Kanye's great, but too much skit filler shit, Dizzee's new ish has several brilliant tracks, but it's not enough, The Streets aren't even rap in my mind, and I could never totally get into the Madvillan flow. Murs, however, rolls like a Nas greatest hits disc...Smart concepts, visual lyrics, solid beats, and slick wordplay. This is exactly what I look for in a rap album...dead on. Honestly worth a check even if you don't listen to hip hop.

#9 Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand


I mean...it's almost 2AM...Do I really need to go into this? I'll just say that "Take Me Out" is the most important single since The Strokes' "Last Nite". The rest of the album is a brilliant debut that deserves all the hype and attention it has received.

Tomorrow #8 and #7.
Click Here for #'s 20 and 19
Click Here for #'s 18 and 17
Click Here for #'s 16 and 15
Click Here for #'s 14 and 13
Click Here for #'s 12 and 11

Tuesday Adventures



Today I inexplicably took off early from work to go see The Carson Daly Show taping...I know...but Toots was performing, and Al Franken was on...It was fun, but not something I'd do unless someone special was on. Toots qualifies. I'll tell ya tho...Carson is an idiot...He honestly makes you feel like it's 2 in the morning sitting there listening to him...which I guess is the point...but I mean damn...

Went back to work afterwards with intentions to stay late and get a big chunk of stuff done...but several booming explosions scared me the fuck outta there. I mean my office building literally shook when those things went off...pretty confusing, sorta scary...Anyway, it was enough for me to not wanna hang around, so I packed up what I could do at home and figured to finish it all in the cozy confines of the CV...

So...no Green Day, no Razorlight...not even some Inouk or some LESS...just a bunch of paperwork, Chinese/Mexican delivery, and Matchstick Men on on demand. (which is an unsuspectingly fucked up movie...kinda creeped me out) This week's gonna be a chill like that.

My 20 favorite albums of 5764 (part V)

#12 Feist - Let it Die


I owe the pleasure of hearing this record 100% to reading Coolfer Glenn's blog. He, a while back, declared it his favorite CD of the year, and me, happening across an Amazon.com gift certificate, decided to take is word and order a copy for myself. It instantly became a favorite of mine as well. The songs seem rather simple, but are so perfectly composed and performed that it's almost easy to take them for granted. Favorites such as the title track "Let it Die" and the Ron Sexsmith cover "Secret Heart" convey the feelings of loneliness and tenderness better than anything you'll hear all year. It's the kind of record you'll never ever get sick of, and I only hope it'll someday soon be released in America, cause I have no doubt she'd be a big hit here.

#11 The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow

I've said before that The Shins are a perfect band...and that Chutes Too Narrow is a perfect record. That being said, I dunno how on earth this album did not crack the Jew-Year top 10. Maybe it's cause of the 34 minute runtime...not that that itself would downgrade it, but combined with the inherent replayability and appropriateness for almost every listening environment...I've heard all these songs so much it doesn't have the same cachet it once had. If I took these 20 records 10 years from now and reordered them, it would no doubt be top 3...for now, at this very moment in time, it comes in at a very respectable #11. For the shut-in out there who has never heard this record, there are no standout highlights...every song is perfect...Go buy it tonight. I only wish I too could hear it again for the first time.

Gonna crack into the Top 10 tomorrow night...
Click Here for #'s 20 and 19
Click Here for #'s 18 and 17
Click Here for #'s 16 and 15
Click Here for #'s 14 and 13

Busy Day

A few quick notes while I got a sec.

The Futureheads new video for the song "Meantime" is being circulated through the Yahoo group. You can watch it below:

Windows Media
Real

The Shortlist Prize finalists have been announced...

TV On the Radio, "Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes" (Touch & Go)
Franz Ferdinand, "Franz Ferdinand" (Domino/Epic)
Loretta Lynn, "Van Lear Rose" (Interscope)
Dizzee Rascal, "Boy In Da Corner" (Matador/XL)
Nellie McKay, "Get Away From Me" (Columbia)
Wilco, "A Ghost Is Born" (Nonesuch)
Ghostface, "The Pretty Toney Album" (Def Jam)
The Streets, "A Grand Don't Come For Free" (Vice)
Air, "Talkie Walkie" (Astralwerks)
The Killers, "Hot Fuss" (Island)

Although I've seriously enjoyed almost all of the listed albums above, (Not a fan of Wilco's new jawn) there are only 2 albums that overlap with CentralVillage's best of 5764...

Speaking of...Here's the list so far:
#20 The Magnetic Fields - I
#19 Hope of the States - The Lost Riots
#18 The Rapture - Echoes
#17 The Arcade Fire - Funeral
#16 The Strokes - Room on Fire
#15 The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
#14 The Futureheads - The Futureheads
#13 Dogs Die in Hot Cars - Please Describe Yourself

No, I didn't realize 6 of the 8 so far begin with the word "the" until just now...and yes, there will be more "the" bands in the top half of the list...but not nearly as many...

I plan on posting 12 and 11 tonight.
Now back to work.

Quiet Weekend...

My weekend was entirely uneventful...and actually the week coming up isn't all that banging either...but whatever.

The Emmys were much better than expected...Shandling blew, but everyone else was pretty good...kinda got me excited for the upcoming TV season...which I guess is the point. And...did I hear the opening cords of Interpol's "Hands Away" during the nominees for best drama? That was sorta random.

Just saw that Muse might be in New York November 9th...anybody know what the deal is? And when are the official CMJ schedules gonna get posted??

Next week is gonna be pretty quiet for me...There's Green Day at Irving obvs, but I haven't heard of anybody who was able to get tickets...Northsix has Of Montreal Wednesday, and a sold out Bright Eyes show on Thursday, but other than that, it's a good week to stay in and save up. There's all sorts of fun new TV on...

My 20 favorite albums of 5764 (part IV)

#14 The Futureheads - The Futureheads


I don't have a particularly long attention span...so this record is a big favorite of mine. All but 2 of the 15 tracks clock in at under 3 minutes, which I think is awesome. The songs are concise, but are also filled with stunning complexity and impeccable timing. I expect songs like "Manray" and the Kate Bush cover "Hounds of Love" to be blasting in every club in New York over the next few months, and sooner or later on mainstream radio across the country. The entire album, however, is great fun, and I am excited to watch its popularity soar.

#13 Dogs Die in Hot Cars - Please Describe Yourself


I'm well aware these guys get a lot of shit out there, and their name is clearly one of the worst in the history of popular music...But be that as it may, it's one of the best CDs I've heard all year. Anybody who is hopping on the Futurehead bandwagon these days owe it to themselves to check this album out...Every song, from "I Love You Cause I Have To" to "Celebrity Sanctum" are, or should be big hits. It's not the edgiest or coolest pop record you'll hear this year, but I think it's one of the best.

Click Here for #'s 20 and 19
Click Here for #'s 18 and 17
Click Here for #'s 16 and 15
12 and 11 tomorrow...

My 20 favorite albums of 5764 (part III)

#16 The Strokes - Room on Fire


I may be the last person below 14th street who still admits to liking The Strokes...And I'm cool with that. This is a fantastic album...And any CD that can be overplayed as much as this one has and still remain not only listenable, but enjoyable is a remarkable one. Listen to "Reptilia" or "The End Has No End" and tell me they still aren't great songs...I think they are. All in all, this album still holds up remarkably well, and in time will be considered a classic...whether the cynics want to admit it or not.

#15 The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat


This is an epic record...each song, in fact, is its own epic within an even greater epic. It is not an album to be played in the background...It requires your full attention, not unlike like an opera or a musical. Those who are willing to take the time out, pay attention to the stories being told, and the complexity of the music being played, are rewarded with something really special. It's the kind of album that shows you something new every time you listen...and it's still growing on me.

14 and 13 later tonight...
Click Here for #'s 20 and 19
Click Here for #'s 18 and 17

My 20 favorite albums of 5764 (part II)

Gonna Make This quick cause I gots places to be...

#18 The Rapture - Echoes


Yeah, this one squeezes into the past Jewish year...And what is there to say that hasn't already been said? Genre-bending dance/funk/punk masterpiece that is, a year later, getting as many listens to as it did when it came out. From the New-Jersey-Club sounding beat of "I Need Your Love" to the Rock Anthem-ish "Sister Savior", this album is all over the place without getting away from itself. A great CD.

#17 The Arcade Fire - Funeral


This is a new one...Just squeaking in this year, coming out last Tuesday. Everyone loves these guys, some are calling it the best album of the year already...and I'm right with them. I've played it over and over again since I've bought it, and I love it more with every listen. The album as a whole feels like the soundtrack to a life...each song more unpredictable than the last, while maintaining a consistency throughout. "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" and "Rebellion (Lies)" are two favorites, but there is not one track on this that I skip over. By the end of the Gregorian year, this may very well be in my top 5.

Tomorrow I'll do #16 and #15...
Click Here for #'s 20 and 19

Friday non-OC related notes...

I've heard the new Green Day album...and I guess it's good...didn't blow me away...but I was listening to it at work quietly, so maybe to truly appreciate it I need to have earphones on in the backseat of my parents car...

(Please don't confuse my indifference towards the album with Sour Grapes about not getting tickets to the Irving Plaza show...)

I signed up for the Futureheads Yahoo list, and they have posted quite a few MP3's of demos and early recordings they made...If you're into these guys, you might get a kick out of some of them...tho I honestly can't tell much of a difference between the rare tracks and the album versions. You can sign up here.

Tonight The Bravery are playing with VHS or BETA at The Knitting Factory...will be a good show to kick off their tour. Also in the Tap Room there is some sort of Viktor Vaughn/MF Doom tribute show...might be cool if you dig that sort of stuff...At Rothko, The GoStation and Dutch Kills are playing.

If you were able to get Chappelle Block Party tickets, go. I did not get them and was bitter until I found out I had to come into work anyway tomorrow...so it's a wash. Tomorrow night the Sons of Sound are playing at Sin-e...They are very very good. Out of everything this weekend, this is the show I'm gonna try my darndest to make it to.

Finally...Is this the most awesomest thing to get you fucked up since Sparks?

The way it's marketed makes me feel like a loser for wanting to try it...but come on...gotta give it a shot this weekend...It's CAFINATED VODKA! Lets see whose heart explodes first.

Hello Sunshine...



Looks like the wizards at the OC are putting another solid soundtrack compilation together...they've got some memorable songs from last season (Patrick Park's "Something Pretty" and Interpol's "Specialist" were two personal highlights) with some stuff from the upcoming year (The Walkmen and The Killers both perform their contributed songs live on the show this year.) Here's the track list...

"Saturday Morning," the Eels
"Hello Sunshine," Super Furry Animals
"Smile Like You Mean It," the Killers
"A Lack of Color," Death Cab For Cutie
"The Specialist," Interpol
"Something Pretty," Patrick Park
"You Got Me All Wrong," Dios Malos
"If You Leave," Nada Surf
"Big Sur," the Thrills
"Little House of Savages" (live), the Walkmen
"Trouble Sleeping," the Perishers
"So Sweet," Johnathan Rice
"Popular Mechanics for Lovers," Beulah
"Walnut Tree," Keane
"Maybe I'm Amazed," Jem
"Eastern Glow," the Album Leaf

In other OC news...The DVD of the first season will be released on Oct. 26th...about a week before the new season starts. There will also be another compilation mix called "Have a Very Merry Chrismukkah" which will, needless to say, contain holiday songs sung by various indie artists...

There also was some OC special on last night which I completely missed...no idea what it was about tho...hopefully nothing too important.

Leguna Beach premieres on September 28th. The MTV reality(?) show is about High School seniors in Orange County who are rich and pretty and listen to bands like The Postal Service...sounds familiar...CentralVillage is very very curious to see how this one turns out...

Finally...I just struck out on Green Day Irving Plaza Tickets again...literally seconds and they were gone...too bad...I'm not going out of my way to get into this thing, but if I happen to be walking down 15th street that night and I see the back door open...

My 20 favorite albums of 5764...

#20 The Magnetic Fields - I


Stephen Merritt is an incredible singer and songwriter who's infrequent, but consistently brilliant work should be considered the gold standard for love songs...The beauty of the music and the simplistic wordplay of the lyrics breaks down all gender barriers, and is the reason why this CD has remained in my rotation for many many months now. "I Looked All Over Town" and "I Don't Really Love You Anymore" are two of the highlights for me, but the entire album is nothing short of majestic. I honestly can't imagine anybody not liking this.

#19 Hope of the States - The Lost Riots


Great album...Triumphant and emotional, these guys are intense. The lead singer has a voice like an off-key Billy Corgan, which may turn off some, but I'm a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan, so I ate it right up. The opening instrumental track, "The Black Amnesias", is simply one of the best instrumental rock songs I've heard. The rest of the album follows in suit, with Highlights being "Enemies/Friends" and "The Red The White The Black The Blue." The entire album is truly stunning, tho...It will blow you away. These guys were hyped up big when I was in Ireland, and they've exceeded all expectations...Check them out on Oct. 14th in New York for CMJ. I've yet to have seen them live, but I've been eagerly anticipating seeing them for a very long time.

Tomorrow night I'll do #'s 18 and 17...Once again, Happy New Year.

L'shana Tova...

This morning...on a day off...I woke up earlier than I do for work, and got more dressed up than I do for work. Yippie. Went up to Central Synagogue for services with my Father and Grandfather. I'm not a very religious boy, but I like to get up for these things...I'd feel guilty not doing it for some reason.

Anyway...I spent alot of time wandering around today when I got back downtown...all dressed up in a suit and tie hopping from indie record store to indie record store in search for the elusive Arcade Fire LP with no luck. Everybody told me they were gonna get it in later today...so we'll see. I've more or less heard every song off the album between KEXP and mp3s, and have loved it all...Now I'm anxiously searching for the whole thing.

I did, as I always seem to do, buy a couple things anyway during my searches...one of which is the Bloc Party EP, which I've listened to twice in a row already since getting home and am totally loving it. Banquet is maybe my favorite song of the year. Check them out at the Knitting Factory Sept 30th...

I also picked up the import DVD of the directors cut of Hero, which was the second best movie I've seen all year (behind Eternal Sunshine). Looking forward to watching it again soon.

Also during my trek, I noticed The Thrills are playing a in-store set at Tower on W 4th today at 6...a heads up if you're interested.

So...last night I went to see Wolf Parade and Modest Mouse in the hood at Webster Hall. I loved Wolf Parade for the first 2 songs...to the point I was gonna go see if they had an EP or something in between sets...but after a while my interest wained, and I got kind of bored of them. Weren't bad tho. Modest Mouse on the other hand was great through and through. Man, do they play a lot of instruments! I was impressed! I hadn't seen them since Siren last year, and that barely counts...They played a fine mix of old and new stuff, and I was glad I went.

Webster Hall as a venue is supriseingly nice...A little bigger than Irving, but doesn't feel too imposing. The only big problem was the exit...I mean...open another door or something. It took 20 minutes to get out once the band went off...that's unacceptable.

Finally, I've said before that I love gimmicks...so I thought between now and Yom Kippur, I'd count down my favorite albums of the Year 5764. It's not gonna be the indiest and most hardcore underground list you've ever seen, but it's what I've listened to and enjoyed the most over the last 12 months. Take it for what you will...I'll post #20 and #19 later today.

In the Shadow of No Media Responsibility




On Monday night, before I went to bed, I walked over to the megastore to see if they were going to put out the Arcade Fire CD at midnight. Unfortunately they hadn't, but I bought a couple things anyway.

The first was the DVD of Outfoxed, which was very well done, but pretty darn hard to watch. Like to the point where I wanted to turn it off a number of times out of pure disgust. Please see it tho if you have a chance, and show it to your Fox News watching friends as well...It is a very important film.

The Second thing was the new book by Art Spigelman, "In the Shadow of No Towers" that I'm sure everyone's seen around town. It's brilliant...I've never seen or read anything that visualized the confusion and frustration of those days and time after so well. It's also from the perspective of a liberal elitist Jew who lives in lower Manhattan, who, admittedly doesn't know many people who are anything but. I can relate to that...

For me and the people I grew up with, Maus I and II were pretty much required reading. If you've never read them, please do...it's easy...they're comic books.

Two quick music notes...

I just got an email from the Chappelle Block Party people that tickets are sold out...which I knew, but I kinda thought that my request of tickets was still gonna go through...guess not now...I've had some bad luck with TV tapings recently...

Also...I read that Simple Kid is opening for Kings of Leon at Bowery next month...Two different people told me to go check him out in Ireland, but he conflicted with somebody else...What I've heard of him is really good tho...The show is already sold out, but if you have tickets already, get there early and catch his set.

Picture of the year...

Belding...Via Stereogum

Absolutely brilliant...I've never seen a more revealing face in my life...That picture tells a whole fucking story I can't even begin to imagine.

Anyway...Just read that The Bravery are going on tour across the country, then heading to London for a four night residency at a very hip club called Metro...Catch them at the Knitting Factory on Friday if you wanna check them for maybe one last time at a small venue...I have a feeling that when they get done in England, it'll be a whole new ballgame...

A few updates on the Modest Front...

It's been confirmed on ModestMouse.com...

AND Brooklyn Vegan tells me Webster Hall has now confirmed it as well...

they say...
Wolf Parade @ 9:00
Modest Mouse @ 10:00

Tickets are still available suckas...This is for real.

Real

So many Real puns...Better to just leave it alone...

Coolfer today points toward a Slashdot interview with Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser which is pretty interesting. I've been impressed with them as of late regarding some of their moves...Rhapsody and $.49 songs in particular...and this guy gives some pretty straight answers to some fairly tough reader-submitted questions....Check it out.

By the way, Elkland has unfortunately, yet conveniently canceled their set at Pianos for Wednesday night...So, sorry if you were planning on checking them out...however...you have other plans now anyway.

Two Things

A. Modest Mouse is playing a secret/surprise show with Wolf Parade tomorrow night at Webster Hall. This from the ever reliable Brooklyn Vegan. No clue on how the night's gonna play out...who's opening for who or whatever...but doors are at 7:30, so get there early and see what happens. Tickets are still available.

B. The Green Day Presale Password for Irving is idiot... Good luck...
UPDATE:Um...the presale was sold out in literally less than 20 seconds...I didn't get tickets and I was on the ball...One more shot Friday I guess...

How did I miss this???

The Killers covered Morrissey's "why don't you find out for yourself"??? This is not news, but the first I've heard of it...It's been around for a while apparently...

Have a listen here:

The Killers - Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself

Today was a GOOD day?...

more on this in a minute...

-The presale for Green Day at Irving Plaza will be tomorrow morning...If you sign up for the KRock 92Free pass (it's free...), you can get access to the sale, but they will not be releasing the password ahead of time for this show. Say what you will about KRock...I haven't listened to FM radio since 8th grade...but they hold a good chunk of the presales for a lot of the bigger shows in New York (they did Interpol last week). It's not a bad idea to sign up for their mailing list if you go to a lot of shows in the city.

-Speaking of Green Day...What's their deal? I had a long and late conversation Saturday with a buddy of mine regarding how popular they are/how popular they've been over the last decade since Dookie came out...I said I thought they remained popular to a consistent age group (14-17 year olds) and have been very successful...tho I couldn't name more than 2 songs off their last 6 albums...He didn't think anybody really cared about them anymore...We couldn't find any album sales figures on the internet or anything...but I'm still curious...does anybody listen to Green Day anymore? Besides people curious about this new concept album and mid-nineties nostalgaheads?

-I have 6 Gmail Invites available...if anyone wants one, send me an email.

Via BrooklynVegan, I see that the openers for the Pixies dates have been filled out. I have no problem with Mission of Burma or Le Tigre...both great bands I'd love to see...but for me its all about Broken Social Scene...If anyone out there has an extra to the 12/14 show they could sell me, or would like to trade for one of my other nights(1 2nd mez 12/13, 2 floor 12/15), please let me know. It would be greatly appreciated...

Finally...Ice Cube didn't have to use his AK for the past 10 years...but today is not a good day...it's legal once again to purchase (and use?) assault rifles in the United States. I think that this is a bad idea...

Ah weekends...



Well, that was that...I'm gonna stop planning my weekends out before they happen...it never worked for me in the past, so I dunno why I started thinking it would now. So forget that.

Friday I did not go to see Rainer Maria...I had two pretty rough nights on Wednesday and Thursday, and I came home from work feeling like a wreck...My kicking back and chilling out for a few hours turned into a whole night of laziness and unmotavatedness...and alas I stayed in...And basically that was OK, cause I had to get up Saturday to...

Go to work! Which, as I said before, isn't all that bad really...but I mean...there are places I'd rather be. So I'm there for almost an entire workday...and still end up not getting close to enough done as I wanted to do, but all of a sudden it was already getting dark, and I was just burning myself out, so I bounced and didn't look back. I got home after 8, and I regrettably realized I had no hope of making it down to Don Hills to catch the always fantastic Morning Theft play an early set.

I got myself cleaned up and dressed after a while and, feeling kinda worn out, went downstairs and picked up a $3.00 bottle of Vodka, a can of Red Bull, a can of Sunkist, and a Sparks and headed out to a friend's place...

From there we headed down to The Dark Room to meet up with some heads for a minute, then I skipped over to see the uberhyped Secret Machines play an underhyped set at Rothko. Let me just say this...Thursday night at the Futureheads set felt like a brisk autumn night compared to this show. My god. I was drenched in sweat...like Franz Ferdinand at Volume sweaty...I even had to leave to go outside in the middle...something I NEVER do, to get a breath of fresh air and cool off. It was brutal like nothing I've ever felt.

Let me say this as well...these guys are good...really good. They put on a very solid show, the crowd seemed real into it...despite the heat, it was great to see a fairly established band play a little club like Rothko. I know they've received their share of hype (some of it artificial) but let me just say that it is all well deserved. They have a professional and unique sound that I can really dig. Be sure to get there early enough to catch them open for Interpol this fall. They're worth it.

Anyway, after that jawn I met back up with some friends, and we wandered home, but not before having a curious encounter with a deli owner and three cans of Sparks...something involving the nonsensical 3:00AM blue law...I don't know...

After a lil College Basketball on Xbox and Grateful Dead at Winterland, we finally called it a night. Woo hoo.

Sunday was a lot of tennis and football mixed with Excedrin and tall glasses of water. It all culminated into a pizza and dumpling delivery feast and some HBO finality. Bobby McFerrin once said "Simple pleasures are the best..." Trust me on that one.

Next week's notables are some rad techno beats with M83 and Ulrich Schnauss at Bowery on Tuesday, and Elkland at Pianos to bring in the old school new year Wednesday night.

And by the way, I'm not going to San Diego anymore...but I'm gonna go to either Philly or Boston to see Muse when they come down. Lets face it...the rest of the bands were just gravy anyway...

This Weekend...

I have to come into work again...that's 3 of of the last 4 for those keeping track...drat. My job is getting past the point of tolerable for many more reasons besides the weekends (I actually don't mind coming in on Saturday...It's quiet so I can actually get stuff done...) I don't see me working here much past the New Year.

But in the meantime...

Tonight I'm gonna go home and CHILL THE FUCK OUT for hopefully a couple hours. This has been one of those weeks where I've been up and around every night, and I've had no time just to take a breath, sit down, watch some TV or something...so I'm getting out of here at 6:00 and just gonna kick back for a minute.

Later on I'm gonna go to see Rainer Maria, who a friend of mine is a huge fan of, and I've heard some and have been impressed. Hopefully I'll get out early enough to see some of the Upwelling and Dirty on Purpose as well, but I'm not gonna push it.

Tomorrow is gonna be kinda all over the place. First I'm gonna swing by Don Hill's (!) to see the Morning Theft, but with any luck, I won't stay there for long after. The Secret Machines are then playing a Midnight show at Rothko, which is unmissable. Quite a run of "Next Big Thing" bands for the spankin new 'ko. That's about it for me...Misshapes is for suckers.

Maybe Sunday I can sleep in.

Futurehead Friday


You know how relatives see you once a year and they go nuts about how big you've gotten or how different you look? That's how I felt about Rothko last night. I've seen some really good bands there, and gone to hang out many an other time, but yo, I've never seen it that packed before...not even close. Also...Nice basement! Holy crap! I figured they would open that back room, but I didn't know they were gonna take out the stairs and do up the whole thing like that. Well done!

So last night I went to the Interpol Gallery opening, which was very much fun. It's real tough to pass up free beer and good music with an interesting crowd...I was surprised it wasn't more packed, actually.

By the way, the presale password was Antics (if you couldn't have guessed that) and I am going to the Thursday night show.

From there we walked over to Rothko to check out the Futureheads, who were supurb.. I don't know much about playing instruments or singing, but what they do, with the timing of the music and the vocal harmonies and all, must be realhard, but they pull it off like making cake...easy. I was impressed. These guys have the flair and the talent to be gigantic...I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they're headlining their own show at Roseland by the end of next summer. Get excited.

We were too tired and worn out by the end of their set to stick around for the Ferdtastic main event, so somewhat regrettably we called it a night.

I like shows where I need to turn my ringer off

I'm going to San Diego. Muse, Franz Ferdinand, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Death Cab for Cutie, and The Secret Machines. Why not? I need to get out of the city soon...work is driving me crazy, and I'm already dreading the potential dreary weather. It will be nice.

Last night I saw a very entertaining show at Mercury Lounge. The Wrens The Wrens The Wrens...I've been looking forward to this for very long time. They were great...looked like they were happy to play such a small venue...were having a great time with it. I really wished I had made it out to Bowery last week, cause this show would be a perfect compliment to a full set.

They just kinda flowed in and out of songs...One guy would be tuning his guitar, or fixing the pedals, while another would be playing the piano intro. Somehow, in perfect accord, everything was fixed and they went right into the song. They laughed a lot, prolly a bunch of inside stuff I didn't really get, but they sounded great, but on an amazing show. One of the highlights (can there be highlights of a 40 minute set?) was blasting through a song with an unplugged electric guitar and no mic. Something special about standing with 200 other people completely silent, listening to something like that. They maybe only played 6 full songs altogether, but they hit my two favorites off Meadowlands ("Boys, You Won't" and "She Sends Kisses"). So much fun, but it was kinda like listening to the Beatles Anthology stuff without hearing any of their original albums...I simply need to now go see them live for real. As soon as possible.

Nada Surf was really good as well... I knew nothing about them except for their Buzzworthy single "popular" from '96, that thankfully they didn't play (N/P with the song, just not the right mood). They were very very good...acoustic and intimate. I was impressed by the following that was there to check them out...seemed like a great crowd...everyone knew their stuff, and the band appreciated the response. I'd go see them again fer sure.

I had to then go meet up with friends, so I unfortunately did not get to see Maplewood...The rest of the night was fun, but nothing noteworthy.

Tonight I'm going to the Interpol gallery opening, then Rothko for some Futurehead Ferdinand love. Any idea what time the Futureheads go on? How does Rothko not have a Phone number??

Finally, I'm sad to announce that the 50% off Real Music Store deal is gone...I came home last night to check out some Nada Surf stuff, and everything was back to full price...No note, no phone call...just over.

*sniff*

West Coast Love

I just noticed that MUSE has scheduled some tourdates for the west coast in a couple weeks...They are playing some fantastic and amazingly cheap festivals:

FM 94.9 - Miller Lite Independence Jam! (San Diego)
with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Death Cab For Cutie and The Secret Machines
Sunday, September 19th at 6:00pm
Tickets are $24.00*

KNDD Endfest
White River Amphitheatre, Auburn, WA
Sat, Sep 25, 2004 03:00 PM
Echo & the Bunnymen, Franz Ferdinand, MUSE, The Psychedelic Furs, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Violent Femmes, X Band.
GENERAL ADMISSION ON THE LAWN - $10.77

You can get a roundtrip ticket and hotel for under $300...(prolly cheaper if you poke around the internet a bit)...I kinda wanna goto San Diego...Being that I'm the only person in the city who was around all last week...Maybe I'll take a trip to the sunny SD and kick back for a weekend...

Gothamist Arts pointed out the opening of the Interpol-Inspired Video Installations Exhibit at a gallery in Soho. Tomorrow night from 7-10 will be the kickoff, and it looks to be a good time. I hope to go check it out before heading over to Rothko to see The Futureheads and hear Franz Ferdinand's DJ set...

Tonight's the Wrens/Nada Surf at Mercury Lounge for some quiet and intimate acoustic sets. It you're in a more upbeat mood (dance that rain away?), go see Radio 4 at Bowery Instead. Either way, you can't miss. Good night for music.

There will be a presale for Morrissey at Radio City at 12:00 noon today...I think. Interpol presale will be Friday through K-Rock...When they send me the password, I'll put it up.
UPDATE:Morrissey Presale is sold out...blogger was broken all day, so I guess this notice wasn't much help...sorry.

Burnout 3 and a burnt out Chris Kattan...among other things

First off, it looks like The Bravery have officially signed with Island Records...Which is absolutely incredible for them. These guys have been CentralVillage darlings literally as long as this blog has existed...from way back when I declared them the next big thing in my first week of posting...I guess this is a big step towards fulfilling that prophesy. Congrats.

Sunday night I went out to Motherfucker to see Stellastarr*, who were great, and played a bunch of new shit I have to imagine will be on their upcoming album they are about to record. It all sounded very good.

Last night, I went back out to the US Open to Watch 48 year old Martina Navratilova beat 17 year old Maria Sharapova in a mixed doubles match. To put it in context, Maria won 8 Wimbledon Singles titles before Sharapova, the defending Wimbledon winner, was even BORN. Yikes. Honestly one of the more impressive sports victories I've ever witnessed.

On my way home I stopped into the Virgin Megastore and saw an old and wrinkly looking Chris Kattan buying HIS OWN SNL GREATEST HITS DVD!!!!! How awful is that?? I mean, don't they give him a copy? Does he really have to go to the store at midnight to get it the second it comes out? jeez.

Over the weekend I picked up the Rouge Wave CD, as well as Archecture in Helsinki. Both are very good. Rouge Wave will get the usual Death Cab/Shins comparison, and while I don't think they are close to that level, it is a perfectly good listen. Architecture in Helsinki was recommended to me by a friend, and it is very Blonde Redheadish I guess...I like it. Rouge Wave is playing at the Sub Pop CMJ showcase Oct. 16th at Mercury Lounge, and AIH are recording their second album now in Australia, but surely will be back in NY soon.

Finally, I know I wrote last week about how I don't really play video games too much anymore, but Burnout 3 looks to be an exception. While the game surely stands on its own, the soundtrack has some rather exciting names on it. I mean, the Von Bondies and Franz Ferdinand are in every game these days, but...The D4?? The Futureheads?????? Big ups to EA for showing a little foresight with their music picks...and big ups for coming out with a game good enough to support the quality of some of the music choices.

Investment Bankers can drink twice as much as Traders...

That, by the way, is an actual quote from my absurd weekend with the above 14th street set...Quite an adventure I had! Due to the holiday weekend, and most people getting out of the city, I got to hang out with my old college roommate and his friends and coworkers...An interesting crowd to say the least...

I hung out with 6 (six) Republicans and a real life "Undecided Voter" from the Midwest. One of them (who looked like Gwendolyn Pierce from "Charles in Charge") was very proud of the fact that she was "Anti Gay Rights"...Wow! What a bigot!

Another one (Princeton via Macon, Georgia) kept on talking to me about Short-term vs. Long-Term Utilitarianism...and I was 100% sure I disagreed with him, but I had no idea what the fuck he was talking about.

Oh well. But I mean...they were for the most part relatively nice people...some of them are good friends of mine...but I've just never been in a room with people who were openly and proudly talking about supporting George Bush...I mean...where I come from that's some shit you're supposed to be ashamed of.

Anyway...I guess the weekend's not really over...but still...Most likely that part of it is. Tonight I'm gonna go check out Stellastarr...by myself I guess, because I'm pretty sure Gwendolyn Pierce would have a hard time wrapping her head around the scene at Motherfucker...and literally everybody else I know in New York is scattered across the country from Marthas Vineyard to San Diego.

Tomorrow night I'm gonna go back out to the US Open...then Mercury Lounge Wednesday, Futureheads Thursday, Morrissey tickets go on sale Friday, and Interpol on sale Saturday, with Morning Theft playing that night...Finally Secret Machines next Sunday. Phew.

One last post before the weekend...

Is it common knowledge that the iPod ads are complete ripoffs of Tribe Called Quest's "Bonita Applebum" video?? I just caught it on Vh1 Classic and there were scenes in it that were exactly the same...all that was missing was the white wires out of the ears. Solid purple background with dancing silhouettes...and I know that it's not the most original idea out there...but there's no mistaking the influence. I honestly thought it was an ad when I saw it...Crazy, since Apple gets all up in arms about people ripping off their shit. Maybe people already know this, but it was a surprise to me.

Also, The Wrens are now officially confirmed to be playing an acoustic set with The Comas, Maplewood, and Nada Surf (acoustic as well). Get there early if you want to get in, cause now that the word is out, the place should be packed. (The Post even reported it, tho you won't get me linking the Post twice in one day...see here)

Radio 4 is playing at Bowery the same night, and as much as I hate to miss them, they'll be playing with The Libertines in October at Webster Hall, and this Mercury show is just gonna be too good to pass up. I'll be there.

"I just met Jack Kemp!"


Now, I despise the New York Post for a variety of reasons...and it takes A LOT for me to link to it...but this is amazing:

E. VILLAGE BARS ONLY FOR THE BRAVE, IF YOU'RE REPUBLICAN

Choice quotes:

"I would be ashamed for my grandmother to come in here and see this," says Omdahl, who is scandalized by a sketch of a naked George Bush"(10 P.M.: MAX FISH)

"Get out of my city!" he shouts. "I don't want this bar associated with Republicans!" (1 A.M.: EAST VILLAGE DIVE BAR (that) tends to ignore the smoking ban)

"Less than 24 hours later, our group had lost two wallets, three cell phones and one camera, all left in cabs"

Talk about energizing the base! This article almost makes the whole convention in New York worthwhile! Can we get a reality show about these kids? Please? 7 republicans picked to live in a converted 3 bedroom on Rivington Street? Brilliant!

Thanks to ebway.org for the link.

The CentralVillage Videogame Revival

First off, best wishes go out to Bill Clinton on getting well soon...He will be going under the knife tomorrow morning for quadruple bypass surgery at New York-Presbyterian...We all hope for a speedy recovery.

Up until about a year ago, I was still really into video games....But recently, I'm afraid to say, I've more or less grown out of them. I still sometimes play sports games with friends, but these days the only games I can see myself buying and playing are the Grand Theft Auto Sequels and random Japanese party games that involve props...

Everyone who's been at my apartment after 5AM has most likely seen Samba de Amigo in action...The game where you stand on a mat and shake maracas to the beat of some poorly covered late 90's music...Unbelievably fun and unbelievably exhausting. Well, I came across this today:



Donkey Konga.

Perfect? Perhaps. Picture Samba without having to stand up. Play bongos with monkeys to a soundtrack of shitty pop tunes and videogame themes...I really don't think it gets more absurd than this. I'm not gonna be able to sell this idea to everyone (anyone?) reading right now...Cause you really need to see something like this in action to fully appreciate the lunacy. Here's a shot of the bongos:



And in case you were wondering...I don't do Dance Dance Revolution...there's a bit too much of a culture surrounding that jawn I want absolutely NO part of, thank you very much. Donkey Konga comes to America September 27th...

Sharapova got nothing on my girl Kirilenko


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I love the US Open...And I love going the first week especially...You get to walk around to the side courts and see a bunch of matches up close. Now, I don't know enough about pro tennis to really care about who wins or loses, it's just fun to see a good match...and its fun to see hot Russian teenagers.

Somehow though, you always end up rooting for somebody and you don't know why...It's fun. Taylor Dent seems like a pretty big douchebag...Whinny, temperamental, and erratic. He was yelling at the ump, frustratingly blasting balls out of the stadium. He even got docked a point (something I've never seen) for arguing a call. Total dick...But I still was rooting for him! Dunno why, but it just happens like that.

Anyway, got there in time to watch Kirilenko get beat by some dumpy American chick, then went over to Ashe to watch the first set of Venus Williams against a qualifier. After Venus squeaked out the first set, we went down to go check out Sharapova play and win at Louis Armstrong.

From there we watched the end of the Dent match, which was the most exciting of the night, and then caught some of Moya before deciding we had enough.

I had a blast...kinda want to go back again this weekend if I'm not doing anything big. The perfect way to spend a quiet September night.

Random thoughts on a quiet day at the office...

*I can't stop watching that Zell Miller clip with Chris Matthews...He, for all intensive purposes, challenged Chris Matthews to a duel???? Like a slap across the face with your glove duel??? What a loon.

*As much as I love Muse, I am not nearly as big a fan of their earlier album, Showbiz, as I am of Absolution...Be that as it may...I think Sunburn, the opening track on Showbiz, is their best song.

*I got a copy of the new Saucy Monky album in the mail yesterday, and after a few listens, I'm really digging it. There's absolutely no reason why these girls aren't all over the place. They've got the perfect pop sound and the perfect pop image that MTV, etc. is so clearly missing these days. It also doesn't hurt that Annmarie and Cynthia are hot as hell...

I'm a big fan of this song Flicker...It's not off their new album, but it's real good. Check it out.

*What's the deal with the CMJ Marathon? There still isn't very much listed, and it's only a little over a month away. There are a lot of bands I want to check out that week, but I kind of am curious how it all is gonna play out.

*Clinic is playing another show at Irving on November 10th with Sons and Daughters and Midnight Movies. The Domino Records Showcase they are playing on October 14th conflicts with the currently venueless Hope of the States show I will attend.

*It looks like now that the charges have been dropped, Kobe was totally guilty.

"Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did"
-KB

That's called date-rape, homeboy...

*Finally...If you live in New York, and these kind of comments don't just kill you inside...I dunno what to say except you have no soul.

Overheard in a hotel lobby(via Matthew Yglesias): "I get the feeling these New Yorker liberals just don't understand how 9-11 changed things. It's like they don't even remember it."

Ugh...Anyway...Off to The Open. I got a half day tomorrow...Looking forward to the long weekend too...even if nobody'll be around.

Where's the Love?



Yo, if you have a few free minutes today at work...check out this interview of Zell Miller with Chris Matthews last night...Amazing. If there was any sliver of hope the Republicans could appeal to the centrist swing voters with compassion and a positive campaign, it was crushed last night on prime time TV by the vile hate speech from Zell Miller. Well done Pugs...You finally looked like the evil, angry, hate mongers that you are.

First check out Zell's Republican Keynote Speech
Then
Check out his Chris Matthews Interview

For both videos, scroll down the page a little bit and you'll find them.
Enjoy.

Problems with Commitment

Ok, recently I've been saying I'm gonna goto all these shows that I really wanted to check out. Unfortunately, one thing or another comes up and my plans change last minute. The Bravery Last Saturday I had every intention on going to up until right before when my plans changed, nobody really wanted to go with me, and I ended up just going out with friends and having a good time anyway. No regrets. Then this week I told myself I was gonna goto the Wrens and then this hip-hop show tonight...Well, last night I just fell asleep and never made it out. Then tonight, everyone was just too lazy to get up and go, so we lounged around and watched Indiana Jones on DVD. Sometimes what seems like a good idea mid day at work just doesn't pan out once you're comfortable laying around the house. I goto enough shows that I kinda know deep inside which ones I'm gonna get to no matter what, and which I'll goto if I really have nothing else to do. If I buy a ticket, or plan it out months in advance, I'll be there. But a lot of the time I'm bored at work and I just look around for something to do. Those are the nights that usually don't pan out...I've either seen them before (Bravery), know they'll be back (Wrens), or just don't wanna go bad enough (Aesop Rock et al). Oh well...I think deep down this is perhaps my spending reflex kicking in...

Tomorrow night I WILL be at the US Open with my father for the night session. It always is one of my favorite sporting events to attend...really pleasant atmosphere. I recommend if you can get tickets from a business associate or something along those lines, go check it out. It's nice.

I read on Productshop about this amazing show being put on in a couple weekends. Dave Chappelle is the host, and a ton of A-List rappers and singers are gonna be performing block party stizz, with spectators on rooftops and on the street...(from the website) "Kanye West, Mos Def, Lauryn Hill, Common, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Dead Prez and The Roots among others..." Unreal. And it's free. There's a bit of registering to deal with if you've never signed up with 1iota before, but this looks pretty amazing.

Speaking of amazing free shit...I was sending e-mails back and forth with people with the Showalter/Wain Sixteen Candles taping all day...and it looks like something got screwed up and my seats were not reserved...So I am basically out of luck. If anybody knows anybody who has extra seats available, please e-mail me and let me know. I was really looking forward to this.

Thats all for now. Till later...

For those who slept...



I did not make it out last night...I passed out when I got home and didn't wake up till after 9...by then, I was too tired and out of it to make it to the Wrens...They are, however, rumored to be playing a secret set with Nada Surf and Maplewood...That'll be a good show anyway, but if the Wrens pull off a Meadowlands Miracle and show up, it will be something not to miss.

Tonight it looks like I'm gonna check out this Indie/Underground Hip-Hop show at Bowery...Aesop Rock, El P, The Perceptionists and Hanger 18, along with Dieselboy and Junior Sanchez, are gonna be benefiting a few different causes, and it should be dope. Click on the flier above to make it readable.

Today is too busy...Hopefully tomorrow and Friday will be quieter.

BTW...What's the worst pickup line ever?
Nora's "hey wats up baby do u know where hoboken is?"
OR
Ashley's "So...you like to suck dick?"

Tough one...