Search Results - "Brendan Benson "
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005
With New Order’s latest album Waiting For The Sirens’ Call coming out in North America last week, Exclaim! takes the opportunity to recap the massively influential yet utterly unique band’s history in timeline form. I may be compromising all cred I have by saying I far prefer New Order to their forebears Joy Division, but it’s true. There are times when “Temptation” is simply the best song in the world.
The New Order news cycle brings us a few pieces worth reading, including these interviews with Bernard Sumner by the San Francisco Chronicle (via neworderonline.com) and Rolling Stone and this Chicago Sun-Times interview with Peter Hook. Hookie will also be in Toronto this Friday doing a DJ set at the Mod Club, admission $15.
You can see the first two videos from Sirens’ Call here. “Krafty” is vintage New Order and the video is equal parts snogariffic and vertigo-inducing. “Jetstream” is underwhelming and is probably only a single to capitalize on the appearance of the chick from The Scissor Sisters. And really, they’re not a band that should appear in their own videos…
Video (WMA): New Order – “Krafty”
Video (WMA): New Order – “Jetstream”
And while you’re enjoying all things New Order, check out Peter Saville’s website. The man responsible for the band’s distinctive visual style has a nice online gallery of his work and you can download fonts of the typefaces he used on all the different Joy Division and New Order album covers over the years. Very cool.
Wilco aren’t coming back to Toronto anytime soon, but they will be playing just down the 401 in sunny Buffalo on June 28 as part of the Rockin’ At The Knox festival at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. If it wasn’t a weekday and if I had a car, I’d consider going. But it is and I don’t, so that’s that. Oh, and I really don’t like Buffalo… but I digress. My Morning Jacket support.
But who IS coming to Toronto on July 25 is none other than Bruce Campbell, in town to promote his new book, Learn To Make Love The Bruce Campbell Way. Finally, some tips on how to use that chainsaw for a hand to satisfy the ladies.
Ex-Spinane Rebecca Gates will be at Lee’s Palace May 21 filling in the vacancy left when The Decemberists moved their show that night to the Phoenix.
Popmatters interviews Brendan Benson.
Stereogum brings us “21 High-Quality Albums From The Past Three Years (In No Particular Order)” courtesy of the very funny Chuck Klosterman. Klosterman seems to be a love ’em/hate ’em kind of polarizing figure, and I’m firmly in the first camp. Also happy to see his next book, Killing Yourself to Live : 85% of a True Story, is coming out next month.
24: Truly it does my heart proud to see the Chinese getting their moment in the sun as villains. No one ever gives us enough credit for having the capacity for evil. Granted, so far it’s only bureaucratic evil and they haven’t actually done anything really sinister yet, but it’s coming. Can you say season five? Jack Bauer vs China. But I was a little disappointed that the consulate infiltration was over so quickly. As Juan pointed out via email, it was very Metal Gear in execution – it would have been nice to see Jack have to drag and hide a guard’s body in a locker. A very intense final scene – it’s nice when they let Keifer act. The look on his face was really quite emotive. I tell ya, no one knows how to break up with a woman like Jack Bauer. And Chloe and Edgar are totally going to get it on. It will be the grossest thing ever.
np – Explosions In The Sky / The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place
Thursday, April 7th, 2005
Last night was the season finale of The West Wing, bringing to a close a surprisingly satisfying sixth season. I say surprising because season five, the first of the post-Sorkin era, was so disappointing, I had very low expectations for this one.
Last year, producer John Wells managed to strip all the life and energy out of the cast and characters and threatened to drown them in the sort of melodrama that might have worked on ER, but was horribly suited to The West Wing. Announcements in the off-season about the addition of Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits to the cast stank of desperate stunt casting and didn’t excite either. Even the start of this season was awkward, with their “season of change” necessitating head-scratching moves such as making CJ Chief Of Staff for no good reason (at least not over Toby or Josh).
However, once the business of shuffling the deck was over, things really picked up. The addition of Smits and Alda as presidential hopefuls really did liven things up as the show went on two parallel paths, one following the campaigners and one following the White House. The ennui and malaise and other French words that so afflicted season five were gone and replaced with vim and vigor – the cast actually got their sense of humour back and seemed interested again (except Toby, who was horribly under-used all year). I was actually eager to tune in every week again and frustrated that there were only 22 episodes in which to cram everything – they surely had enough material to fill another half-dozen, easy. Last night’s finale certainly managed to make the Democratic National Convention seem pretty damn exciting. I didn’t expect the selection of Leo as VP nominee, either. A nice touch, but did they forget he suffered a major heart attack earlier this year? Surely no one would really be so irresponsible as to nominate someone for the important office of vice-president with someone so at risk for cardiac arrest? Oh wait – never mind.
I’m quite happy the show’s been renewed for a seventh season, allowing them to follow through the conclusion of the Bartlet administration. Certainly not a sure thing in the past couple years, I consider that a triumph of good television over dreck. I don’t know if I’d necessarily want them to continue on with the new administration, it really wouldn’t be the same, but I do know that if they decide to go GOP and have Alda win the election, he’d better bring Gary Burghoff in as his Chief-Of-Staff.
Kathleen Edwards, playing a most-likely sold-out show at the Mod Club tonight, is this week’s NOW cover girl. JAM! also has an interview. I’ve had the new record for a little while now, it’s alright – not a big shift from Failer, maybe a little more with the rock. I will have to get around to seeing her live someday. Just not tonight.
Another day, another Decemberists interview. Today, Amazon talks to Colin Meloy about Picaresque. Also available in audio! And here’s part two of the Prefix interview.
NOW talks to Brendan Benson, in town Monday at Lee’s Palace and again on May 28 opening for Keane at Massey Hall.
Torr reports that the Stars’ Set Yourself On Fire has debuted at no. 34 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart and no. 40 on the Top Independent Albums list. Is this high? I have no frame of reference for these positions. It sounds good, though.
Another sure sign of Spring – I broke my sunglasses. It seems every year, I either lose or break my sunglasses, necessitating the purchase of a new pair. A cheap pair, mind you, since I will invariably lose or break them. Now on one hand, this is good – it allows me to remain just out of fashion. On the other hand, it’s bad – as it keeps costing me money every year and sometimes I actually get attached to a pair. So the question is, do I buy a good, pricier (more durable) pair and take extra-special care of them or do I keep buying cheap ones like ZZ Top recommends? Do I listen to pop music because I’m miserable or am I miserable because I listen to pop music?
Of course, it’s overcast today, so it doesn’t really matter.
np – Ted Leo & The Pharmacists / Shake The Sheets
Wednesday, April 6th, 2005
Whither Velocity Girl? Yes, smartasses, I know they broke up back in 1996, but that wasn’t the end of the story. Three of them, including the “Girl” in VG Sarah Shannon, regrouped as Starry Eyes for about three minutes (but long enough for me to get a copy of their self-titled EP), then split again. Shannon went on to release the very low profile Estheraho EP in 2001 and then a full self-titled album in 2002. That record’s adult-contemporary Bacharachian-influenced sophistication was a far cry from VG’s fuzzed out and scrappy power pop, but still quite decent and a fine showcase for Shannon’s vocals. As for the rest of the band, guitarist Archie Moore went on to play bass in The Saturday People and the rest of them… well I dunno.
But that still doesn’t explain why I’m asking “where are they?” almost nine years after their initial split. Well some may remember going through Excellent Online’s Flirt compilation a couple years ago and doing a double take at seeing Velocity Girl in the tracklisting. After seven years, the band had quietly reunited and recorded a track for the compilation and was reportedly working on material for a new album. Much rejoicing ensued from those of us who are, whether we want to admit it or not, stuck in the 90s. And then… nothing. The only thing resembling a VG info site hasn’t been updated in some nine years and their old label SubPop still has their minisite for Gilded Stars And Zealous Hearts up. I know Archie is a member of the Indiepop mailing list, but there’s been nary a peep there, either. Perhaps someone in the Beltway chapter of my extensive network of international spies has some info? Um, Kyle, I’m talking about you… But if someone has heard bad news about this reunion, um, don’t tell me. Okay, tell me.
I’m probably one of the few who liked their later albums more than the earlier ones – the wall of guitars on Copacetic have their charm, but I like the tighter songcraft of Gilded Stars. Plus you get to hear Sarah’s voice more… For the record, Sarah Shannon was my #1 college rock crush for most of the 90s. She was like a more wholesome Liz Phair (and who could actually sing). I still have their cover issue of Alternative Press circa 1994, which had the most swoon-worthy pics. Ahem. But in the absence of news, I’ll just point you at this Spike Jonze-directed video for “I Can’t Stop Smiling” off of Simpatico and the ‘comeback’ single from the aforementioned Excellent compilation.
MP3: Velocity Girl – “It’s All Alright By Me”
And while not necessarily “missing in action”, Billboard reports on what former Belle & Sebastian cellist/singer Isobel Campbell is up to. And speaking of B&S, Gorilla Vs Bear points us at You Ain’t No Picasso, who are hosting a complete Peel session Christmas party by the band.
Zoilus says that Giant Sand’s Howe Gelb will play a solo show at the Horseshoe on April 21.
Sensitive piano-plinking Brits Keane will be at Massey Hall on May 28 with Motown popsters Brendan Benson in tow. Tickets $29.50 – $39.50.
Prefix has part one of a two-part interview with The Decemberists. Part two should be up before the week is out. New City Chicago also has an interview (via LHB). My copy of Picaresque is in the mail. Or will be shortly.
np – The Wrens / The Meadowlands
Thursday, February 3rd, 2005
Woot! My guesswork has been proven correct, as The Wedding Present is confirmed at Lee’s Palace on April 26! It will have been almost four years since the patron saint of romantic losers has been through town, and it’s not a minute too soon, thank you very much. Their last time through was as Cinerama and they drew only a modest crowd at Lee’s. I wonder if touring under the more familiar name and maybe with some “reunion” press will draw a larger audience, despite it being essentially the same band?
I personally don’t draw any real distinction between the Wedding Present and Cinerama. I only discovered the Wedding Present after it had morphed into Cinerama and while their debut Va Va Voom was a bit of a stylistic departure from the Weddoes material, their sound became more and more like the Wedding Present as time went by – if you graph out the evolution of Wedderama’s sound from George Best through Torino, I think you’ll find that the name change was almost wholly cosmetic. I like the Cinerama material as much as anything that came out under the Weddoes moniker and am a little sad that there will probably be far less Cinerama material played on the upcoming tour, if any at all. But of course, that’s tempered by the fact that I’ll get to hear more classic Wedding Present material – the five Weddoes tunes they played in 2001 weren’t nearly enough.
The new Wedding Present album is Take Fountain and you can hear the first two singles on their MySpace page. While the record isn’t due out until February 15 (new music from Dave Gedge on Valentine’s Day – how perfect is that?), I’ve been told that it’s already available on iTunes.
As promised last year while opening for The Delgados, Crooked Fingers will be back in town March 31 at the Horseshoe (tickets $10) to push Dignity And Shame, out February 22. They/he was quite good performing solo last time, this time he promised to bring a band. Also returining are Oakland’s Gris Gris, who by all accounts kicked serious ass the last time they played, will be back on April 5 and/or 6 (details unclear) at the Silver Dollar.
Brendan Benson’s new one, The Alternative To Love, is out March 22 and he’s at Lee’s Palace April 11 to promote. The Stands support. Get it? “The Stands support?!?” Oh fuck, I kill me. Seriously, I need to go sit down for a minute.
The lineup for this year’s edition of the Exclaim cross-Canada tour will feature Stars, The Organ, Wooden Stars, and Montag at the Phoenix on April 14. The lineup will shift a bit as the tour crosses the country, full details here.
Caribou, who used to be Manitoba, is at the Horseshoe April 28. His new album, The Milk of Human Kindness, is also out in April. And finally, the British Sea Power show that had been scheduled for April 21 at Lee’s Palace apppears to have been rescheduled for May 17, same venue. Their new one, Open Season, is out March 21 in the UK.
Check out the first official list of acts at SxSW. MADNESS. There’s over 1000 acts on this list and it isn’t even all of them… Donewaiting has done the good deed of expanding the listing into a list format, and I’ve made a nice little spreadsheet of the info, for easy access to info. I was going to start putting in confirmed show data, but that just sounded like work. But if anyone wants to download the spreadsheet for their own scheduling purposes, you can grab it here, with my compliments. And if you want to plan out what I’m going to see while I’m there, feel free. Hell, if anyone wants to assume full control of all aspects of my life, I’d be grateful. I’m not doing a bang-up job on my own.
NOW profiles the Chromewaves-approved Frontier Index, playing tomorrow night at the El Mocambo with Beneath Augusta and League Champs. I just realized I referred to myself in the third person. That’s not a good sign.
Zoilus reports on how Arcade Fire (and Final Fantasy) are conquering New York City. He has a link to an .avi of their performance on Conan O’Brien the other night and Brooklynvegan has a rough but perfectly listenable recording of David Byrne joining the band onstage last night to sing on their cover of Talking Heads’ “Naive Melody”. Also in attendance was David Bowie – I dunno, anytime I think about David Bowie in the audience for something, it just turns into the walk-off scene from Zoolander.
I was watching this Girls Guitar Club short film that someone sent me and it wasn’t until about 2/3 of the way through that I realized, “Holy shit – that’s Chloe!!!” Yes, no other than Mary Lynn Rajskub, Five Seventeen’s secret girlfriend. I’ve never understood that guy…
np – Heavenly / Heavenly Vs Satan
Thursday, December 9th, 2004
Here’s one for the ‘Great injustices in music’ files – Nottingham, UK’s Six By Seven. I first came across them during one of my previous “shoegazer phases”, this one in the Fall of 1998. A Beggars/Mantra compilation of new artists featured a track from their debut album The Things We Make that was actually more Charaltans-y than anything, but a little research yielded reviews that indicated their sound was more in the droney/spacey vein. It took me some doing to find a copy of the album, which contained several extended, taut and tense pieces (“European Me”, “88-92-96”) punctuated by shorter, punchier numbers like “Candlelight” and “For You”. The acclaim in their native UK was impressive and they seemed to be well on their way to “next big thing” status. In 1999, they released the surprisingly delicate Two And A Half Days In Love With You EP, which was the result of sessions with legendary producer John Leckie. Leckie would go on to produce several tracks on their follow-up record The Closer You Get.
The sophomore record was quite a departure from the gauze of their debut – what was kept under tension on that record exploded off this one. The screaming vitriol of songs like “Eat Junk Become Junk” and “Sawn Off Metallica T-Shirt” set the tone for the record, which still contained a number of more meditative, atmospheric pieces and beautifully grafter their shoegazer roots with righteous punk fury. Even their love songs seethed with gorgeous intensity. An underrated monster of an album, the promotional duties saw them travel to North America for the first time (though I missed their half-attended show at the Horseshoe in Summer 2000 on account of being out of the country, NME reviewed the gig) as well as lose co-founding guitarist Sam Hempton. Undeterred, they carried on and went back into the studio as a four-piece.
2002’s The Way I Feel Today was more stripped-down and straightforward than the previous two albums, but still ferocious. Feeling that their work had been over-produced to this point, they elected to record this album completely live off the floor and with no overdubs. With the absence of Sam Hempton, the band began utilizing more keyboards to fill in the space left behind, resulting in a more textured, haunting feel to much of the new material. Not entirely surprisingly, Mantra dropped the band after The Way I Feel Today failed to set the charts ablaze and to compound the hardship, bassist Paul Douglas quit the band in November of 2002. While the unrelenting string of bad luck would have spelled the end of lesser bands, the three-piece Six By Seven ploughed forward regardless. After releasing almost album-length EP Bochum in 2003 (the title track of which absolutely soars, by the way), the band formed their own label Saturday Night Sunday Morning to release their own music.
After a few singles, they released their fourth full-length, :04, in the Fall or 2004 (Review at Stylus). As a result of both necessity and choice, their sound has gotten less dense, recapturing some of the atmosphere of their debut effort though it makes more use of keyboards and programming to accomplish this rather than dueling guitars. One would never accuse the notoriously grumpy band of lightening up, but the record is decidedly more anthemic and postive-sounding, though that’s a very relative statement with Six By Seven. Moments sound almost Doves-ish, though a lot more abraisive. Though the album isn’t available on these shores yet (my ‘copy’ is an mp3 burn), they just announced that both :04 and it’s companion demos album Left Luggage At The Peveril Hotel will be coming out early next year in North America. Full details to come.
If you couldn’t tell, Six By Seven nearly tops the list of my “Greatly Underappreciated Bands” list. If you want to learn more about Six By Seven, visit your local library – or check out any of these links: Listen to some samples at MP3.com. Watch a live performance by the band at Mantra’s fifth birthday celebrations in 2000, courtesy of VirtueTV. PlayLouder interviews Chris Olley about losing one of their staunchest champions in John Peel. Mantra’s artist page still has loads of videos and audio tracks from the band’s releases on that label. The band’s website has a detailed discography that includes release-by-release discussions of how each record came to be.
Details for The Futureheads’ February 27th show at Lee’s Palace have been announced. Support will be Sweden’s Shout Out Louds and LA’s High Speed Scene. Tickets $15, on sale January 6.
Billboard has some details on Brendan Benson’s forthcoming album The Alternative to Love, due out in March of next year.
The Onion AV Club rounds up their best albums of the year.
np – New Order / Brotherhood
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