MUSIC THREAD

Well, it would be hard to make anything as good as those. UNless you made Life's Rich Pageant, still my fave REM album after all these years. Just so consistenly trememdous on every song. Of course, until UP, they hadn't made a bad record either. Even Dead Letter Office was cool. Reveal had a couple of moments, and I heard that first single off the last album and was convinced they had lost it forever.

I"m going to get it tomorrow. Can't wait.

 

I'm pretty underwhelmed by the new REM. Better than their last one, which is certainly damning with faint praise. They used to be one of my favorite bands and their catalog holds up favorably next to any band of their era (and pretty much any era, for that matter). But they haven't put out a good record since "New Adventures in Hi-fi," and that was 12 years ago.

 

The new Black Keys album was released Tuesday. First impressions?

 

New REM is OK. First single is outstanding, rest is OK. It's also very, very short!

Liking what I've heard of The Black Keys so far.

 

Finally got to see Jesse Malin live last night. Fantastic performance. Check this guy out, whether it's online, thru a CD, or in person. He really makes it worth coming out to his show.

Last night he played acoustic with only a keyboardist to back him up. He would riff a bit in between songs, editorializing and telling how each song came about. His stories and riffs were as entertaining as the songs. He's a native New Yorker. I'm tempted to drive out there in two weeks to see him perform on his home turf.

Opening band was this crazy outfit called De Novo Dahl. They also put on a very good show. Never heard of them before last night.

 

I'm sure y'all have discussed them, but I'm totally getting into Rise Against. I heard "The Good Left Undone" and fell in love with the lyrics; looked 'em up and they sing two of my other favorite radio songs (that are diametrically opposed, one is "Swing Life Away" and the other is "Ready to Fall"). How have they not been on my radar before? They're totally my kind of band and the songwriting is incredible.

 

I can't remember them being mentioned, Cadet. My niece is a huge Rise Against fan. And you're now the second person I've ever heard mention them.

 

I've been buying a ton of new music off of iTunes lately. I've been listening to the New Frontiers and Low vs. Diamond, both very good. Also, I missed a chance two nights ago to see The New Pornographers (with Okkervil River) in concert and heard they were awesome. I'm really pissed I missed it.

 

Check 'em out. They're definitely not "girly rock" (i.e. Matchbox 20) ... I'd rate them as heavy as Papa Roach, but with talent.

 

New REM isn't bad, it's grown on me after a few listens. For my money "Supernatural Superserious" is their best single (does anybody even call them that, any more?) since "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?"

Rolling Stone went all brown bunny over the soundtrack to the Stones' doc Shine A Light. It's OK, and like most of their recent live albums, it's the obscurities (stuff like "Connection" and "She Was Hot") that make for the best listening. I mean, do we really need another live version of "Jumpin' Jack Flash"?

 

being there would have been an amazing 12-song, single disc. but disc 2 ain't all bad: sunken treasure, kingpin (both incredible live).

 

I'm a huge fan of the Jam. They were very big in Toronto and gigged here frequently. (I saw them on one of their last tours at the CNE Coliseum, just an atrocious venue.)

Their first few albums were quite punk-like but without the political leanings of the Clash or the aggressiveness of the Pistols or Stiff Little Fingers. Eventually Paul Weller moved them into the territory he'd explore with Style Council and I thought adding horns or strongs really helped, producing two of their best songs, "Beat Surrender" and "The Bitterest Pill".

Their greatest hits CD, Snap, would have everything you need. Dig The New Breed is a tremendous live album (containing a superlative version of "That's Entertainment") and The Jam Live and Live at the BBC are worth looking for too.