27 Jan

Posted on Jan 27, 2011 in Album Reviews by

Destroyer – Kaputt Merge Records | 2011 When I was a kid, I remember seeing Barry White on a daytime talk show – curious to know what this bearded, unglamorous looking guy had to offer the entertainment world. Then I heard him perform something from “Sheet Music” – one of the best album titles of all time, considering the “activities” White worked to stimulate. He was the “Maestro of Love”, and my burgeoning libido – on a primitive level – yearned to emulate him, as well as Marvin Gaye. Well, apparently I wasn’t the only one. Dan Bejar had been the indie world’s Oscar Wilde until now (providing obtuse, abstract, satirical lyrics not only for his band Destroyer, but the New Pornographers as well), his sound sometimes glam, sometimes folk. That is until Kaputt, his band’s latest. More than a few comparisons will be made to late-era Roxy Music and Steely Dan – which is...

26 Jan

Posted on Jan 26, 2011 in Album Reviews by

Wire – Red Barked Tree Pink Flag | January 2011 It's no irony – Wire stopped being ironic with their inception – that the track "Two Minutes", on their newest album Red Barked Tree, clocks in at 2:01. As the band's website declares, they've been "confounding expectations" since the release of their debut, 1977's Pink Flag. "Two Minutes" is a career-defining moment: one that acknowledges the past (and Pink Flag's 21 tracks, some under a minute long, were a harbinger for the age of Attention Deficit Disorder, sound bites, channel surfing) – but provides a "welcome to the age of fragmentation" - all while employing one of their signature sounds, industrial punk. As a fan of the band (not just their debut), it always amused me when someone would declare their affection and appreciation for Pink Flag – as if that's when Wire stopped defining what would come. Their second incarnation (in the 80's)...

06 Jan

Posted on Jan 6, 2011 in Album Reviews by

The Decemberists Make a Prince of a Record The Decemberists – The King is Dead Capitol | Released January 18, 2011 Let’s face it – the Decemberists aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. They’ve fallen into the good graces of literary fans, literate celebrities (oxymoronic as that may be) and people who like pirate AND Victorian references delivered by the bar band that will forego the complimentary drinks until AFTER they’ve played. They’ve created the most clever lyrics this side of Stephen Merritt, and can still threaten to create a children’s book. Well, I’m part of their target audience (an English teacher who loves Victorian literature!); but, as a long time fan (their debut, Castaways and Cutouts, is still one of my favorite albums), I have to admit to becoming less enthusiastic upon each successive release. Where their sound was still hyper-literate, their fragility was beginning to lose its appeal to me. So it is...

05 Jan

Posted on Jan 5, 2011 in Movies by

OK, so my internal clock knew it was almost Oscar nomination time (January 25th), and I’m one of those people that still cares (and even throws an Oscar party, where invitees have to bring a dish inspired by a Best Picture nominee – I’m already thinking “True Grits...

01 Jan

Posted on Jan 1, 2011 in Live Shows by

Last October’s Apples in Stereo show at Portland’s Mississippi Studios brought home two urgent points:  1) not enough bands seem to have fun playing live and 2) more bands should wear uniforms. In a town where brooding, flannel-clad folkies vie with irony-crippled hipsters for stage space, the Apples’ unabashed spirit of pop confectionery was a welcome relief. As they took the stage, frontman Robert Schneider grinned at the crowd and said, “Cool!” as if he was genuinely amazed by the fact that people come to hear him play. It was a refrain he repeated throughout the night as Schneider led the band through a frenzied, sometimes sloppy, but always rocking set that spanned the Apples’ nearly 20-year history. Watching the band’s six members schlep their own gear before their set, you had to conclude that they were in this because they loved it—they’re certainly not living the rich rock star lifestyle, despite...

31 Dec

Posted on Dec 31, 2010 in Album Reviews by

Here are my selections for Best Albums of 2010 based not so much on what I think should be the best, but what resonated with me and "stuck around" more, causing repeated listening. There were many recordings put out this year that are technically marvelous, interesting and challenging. So, maybe this list should be called my "Favorite Albums of 2010" instead and, because of that, they tend to be a bit more "pop." New Pornographers – Together Beach House – Teen Dream Broken Bells – s/t MGMT – Congratulations Superchunk – Majesty Shredding Grinderman – Grinderman 2 Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening Maximum Balloon – s/t Unkle – Where Did the Night Fall Gorillaz – Plastic Beach Spoon – Transference Surfer Blood – Astrocoast Tame Impala – Innerspeaker The National – High Violet Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky Crystal...

30 Dec

Posted on Dec 30, 2010 in Album Reviews by

I'm intimidated by the thought of writing about Nick Cave. There's something so serious about an artist as complex and celebrated as he is. He's been performing for decades. He has a dedicated, sophisticated fan base. He invites and inspires extremely thoughtful criticism with every new project. I can write about Grinderman 2, however. It's a noisy, kick-ass rock record, and I know my way around that kind of thing. The opening song, "Mickey Mouse and the Goodbye Man" is a perfect choice to start the record.  The rhythm section is strikingly reminiscent of the Jesus Lizard's finest moments, the guitar playing is vicious, and the vocals are pure Cave. I recently cranked this up on the hi-fi after a bad day at work and it absolutely delivered me from evil. At least, a certain kind of evil.  (The Song "Evil" is also a 100mph banger.) This is not a morally righteous collection...

28 Dec

Posted on Dec 28, 2010 in Album Reviews by

Broken Bells – ST The best pop songwriter (James Mercer) and producer (Danger Mouse) of the last decade at the height of their game. The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt Just when you thought one man and a guitar couldn’t sound fresh. The Gorillaz - Plastic Beach Reveals more on each repeated listening; Damon Albarn taps into the schizophrenia of our times. Beach House – Teen Dream Baltimore twosome’s 3rd long-player adds to the strength of their prior two albums. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest Bradford Cox’s most solid and consistent songwriting to date. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs Whether folks like the comparison or not, their earnestness, musicianship and big sound brings to mind a certain Irish band in its heyday. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker Australian youngsters reveal musical chops beyond their years as they create an album best listened to from beginning to end. Wyatt, Atzmon, Stephen – ‘……….for the ghosts within’ Robert...

28 Dec

Posted on Dec 28, 2010 in Album Reviews by

Smells Like Pop's editors and writers listen to hundreds of records every year--not because we have to, but because we need to. We need new music like sharks need surfers. Please take a look at our lists of best albums from 2010 below, and see some of favorites from years' past here. Gene's Top 15 Albums of 2010 David's Best Albums of 2010 David's Favorite Songs of 2010 Smells Like Pop's "Best of" Archive ...

27 Dec

Posted on Dec 27, 2010 in Album Reviews by

If you're like me (David Bailey), you're probably wondering what gave me pause to hit the "star ratings" button on iTunes this year. Well, wonder no more, my star-obsessed friend! Here's a list of songs that were in heavy rotation on my office speakers this year, divided by genre for your perusal. Of the rock-n-roll type (including pop rock): Superchunk – Fractures in Plaster MGMT – Brian Eno Spoon – Written in Reverse Grinderman – Heathen Child The Apples in Stereo – Next Year at About the Same Time Best Coast – The End Beach House – Zebra Clinic  – Orangutan Los Campesinos – Romance is Boring Fang Island – Life Coach The Ruby Suns – Dusty Fruit Arcade Fire – Empty Room Queens of the Stoneage – Monsters in the Parasol UNKLE (feat. Blank Angels) – Natural Selection The National – Afraid of Everyone New Pornographers – Silver Jenny Dollar Broken Social Scene – Sentimental X's Black Keys – Everlasting Light Ariel Pink – Menopause Man Belle and Sebastian –...