MUSIC THREAD

Got the CD Monday...as wunnerful as advertised. As good as Funeral? Only time will tell.
Mrs. T. has not told me it sucks yet...a good sign. She's even gotten through "Sprawl II" without complaining that Regine is ripping off Bjork.

 

Couple of great new raveups by the Old 97s on their MySpace page. "A State of Texas" kicks some major ass.

http://www.myspace.com/theold97s

Their new album, The Grand Theatre Volume 1, is out Oct. 12.

 

Reawakening the thread for another purpose, but since I saw this first: After a month or so of listening, I'd rank as my top three:

1. Suburban War
2. Modern Man
3. Ready To Start
Also receiving votes: City With No Children, Wasted Hours, Empty Room

If I had to make a 12-song AF mixtape, in order of songs I like:

1. Rebellion
2. Neighborhood 1
3. Keep The Car Running
4. Neighborhood 3
5. Suburban War
6. No Cars Go
7. Wake Up
8. Modern Man
9. Ready To Start
10. Intervention
11. Neighborhood 2
12. City With No Children

Subject to change on a whim, since songs of theirs' can percolate for months or years before they explode into my conscious with little warning.

 

Now for the reason I resurrected the thread: Who can tell me about the New Pornographers? Some of my core are coming up to my town for their show next month, and I don't know much about them except that they're indy gods from Canada, which admittedly is a pretty good combo (see previous post). What can I expect?

 

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the New Pornographers.

Expect a great show with tight harmonies and really good playing. If Neko is on tour with them, not sure she makes all the shows, she has the best voice in the world. Saw them once at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, very good show.

I like all their albums, but their first two and the new one Together are my favorties.

Also loving the new Jenny and Johnny album with Jenny Lewis and Jonathan Rice. Really fun record.

And the Old 97s new one comes out Oct. 21, awesome! Just saw Huggy's post, heading to myspace shortly.

 

Good songs to get familiar with the New Pornographers. These are my favorites, at least:

From -- Together (2010)
* Moves
* Crash Years
* My Shepherd

From -- Challengers (2007)
* My Rights Versus Yours
* Myriad Harbour
* Challengers
* Mutiny, I Promise You

From -- Twin Cinema (2005)
* The Bleeding Heart Show
* Sing Me Spanish Techno

I really don't have a huge appreciation for the first two records since I didn't listen to them that much, but this thread is making me want to go back and listen more. Which I shall...

 

Really enjoying the Grinderman 2 album. It's still not up to par with the early Bad Seeds stuff from Nick Cave, but it's a very angry, frustrated album that is great to turn on during a bad day.


And the lyric "My baby calls me the Loch Ness monster / Two great big humps and then I'm gone” makes me laugh every time.

 

I actually prefer their earlier albums.

From -- Electric Version (2003)

"From Blown Speakers"

"The Laws Have Changed"

From -- Mass Romantic (aside from the great title track, 2000)

"The Slow Decent Into Alcoholism"

"Letter From An Occupant"

If you enjoy the band, check out their lead singer's (A.C. Newman) solo stuff. His "Slow Wonder" album is better than anything the New Pornographers have put out, IMO.

 

Gave the new Old 97's album, The Grand Theatre Volume 1, a listen yesterday on the way in. Another solid effort from Rhett and the boys, the usual collection of raveups and semi-weepers. Rhett Miller sure has a way with words.

Anyone heard The Union, the new one from Elton John and Leon Russell? I downloaded it the other day but haven't had a chance to listen to it. It got five stars in Rolling Stone but that isn't the honour it used to be.

Any thoughts on the new Kings of Leon?

 

Seems as good a place as any to post this: The Drive-by Truckers have a new album out in February. They played two songs from it at a recent concert: Used To Be A Cop and Ray's Automatic Weapon. The former is vintage Patterson Hood, the latter more recent Patterson, which is not bad, but not as much my cup of tea. There are links to be found for both, but not of the best quality.

 

http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8#sclient=psy&hl=en&site=webhp&source=hp&q=such+great+heights+chords&rlz=1R2ADSA_enUS333&aq=2&aqi=g4g-o1&aql=&oq=such+great&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=180c07a4ca199aa8

 

Black Country Communion?

Anyone give it a listen? Worth an iTunes download?