I suddenly lost a lot of respect for North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
SYS4: this.is.a.new.world.order
As warned last time, "Grand Theft Auto IV" has all but swallowed up every spare moment of "me time." And, if that wasn't bad enough, I recently rediscovered "Bejeweled 2" on Xbox Live. I am such a video game dork; I'm surprised I still have a wife....Either way, sorry it took so long for this latest awesome mix tape to hit the street:
1. Weezer - "Pork and Beans"
If this single's catchy chorus is any indication, the third self-titled Weezer album (sixth overall) -- aka "The Red Album" -- is going to be hot. Apparently I'm not alone in this sentiment, either: Weezer just announced that, due to the immense popularity of this song, the album's release date has been bumped up to June 3! (Oh, and as sad as this sounds, it actually looks like the best place to get the album is iTunes. I know, I hate it too, but who can argue with bonus tracks not available anywhere else?)
2. Compulsion - "They're Breeding the Grey Things Again"
As if the Pixies never went away.
3. High Speed Scene - "Last Chance"
The perfect pop song? (With guitars!)
4. Death Cab for Cutie - "I Will Possess Your Heart"
As far as I'm concerned, DCfC can do no wrong -- one of the few bands left that you can pick up their new album without worrying about that certain lemon scent (I'm looking at you, Breeders...).
5. Retribution Gospel Choir - "For Her Blood"
Maybe I was too hard on Alan Sparhawk in my record review. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite compositions from the Low frontman/Duluth superstar.
6. Manheat - "Birdcage Boy"
And from my review of "When Dreams Become Memories": After listening to album opener “Birdcage Boy,” one of the most explosive songs to emerge since the Used to Be’s “Crash Helmet,” one immediately thinks of Seattle circa 1989, when Nirvana burst out of the gates with the powerful force that was “Bleach.”
7. Number One Common - "An Offer You Can't Refuse"
I know I seem like a Number One Common whore these days -- with the feature and the Homegrown '08 pictures and all -- but I find their ferocity intriguing.
8. Atmosphere - "Less One"
I gotta say, I wasn't terribly impressed with the new EP when I first heard -- especially coming after the masterpiece that is "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint that Shit Gold" -- but, like that album, it's really starting to grow on me.
9. Radiohead - "Nude (Holy Fuck Remix)"
I have a lot of friends that are still diehard Radiohead fans, so I'm trying to pretend these blokes still matter to me....
10. The Gutter Twins - "Idle Hands"
Two rocks icons. One amazing sound. I have loved everything Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli have done up to now (especially the latter), and this latest project is certainly no exception. Dulli said it best when he referred to the group as the "Satanic Everly Brothers." Ha!
11. The Raconteurs - "Salute Your Solution"
I'm still not 100 percent on board with the Raconteurs, but this blistering track is definitely a step in the right direction.
12. Jaguar Love - "Bats Over the Pacific Ocean"
Cool song. Cool title. Cool ... treats? (Sorry....)
13. Jay Reatard - "Always Wanting More"
Is this death folk? It certainly is noisy!
14. Slow Runner - "The Usual Chords"
Recommended if you like Jamestown Story, the Beach Boys.
15. The Beach Boys - "Friends"
Oh, hey!
16. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - "Cold Son"
I kind of lost track of Malkmus' career after his first post-Pavement release, but now I realize what a mistake that was. This is some damn fine songwriting.
17. Blank Dogs - "Ants"
This exciting track builds, builds, builds, but, problem is, there's no real payoff. Still, the Blank Dogs are definitely on to something.
18. Giljunko - "Starwarships" (Lifter Puller cover)
Excellent cover ... if you can find it. In the meantime, download these other Giljunko greats (in superior MP3 sound!).
19. Mission of Burma - "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate"
You definitely have to be in a fuck-it-all mood to appreciate this squirrelly number.
20. Jamie Ness - "Card Game"
A little hippie-leaning, but still another great Ness composition.
21. Dead Meadow - "I'm Gone"
A little boring at times, but, like the Mission of Burma track, if the right mood hits....
22. The New Pornographers - "All the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth" [LIVE]
This shit is on fire. After hearing this, I desperately yearn to see these Canucks in concert. Won't you please come to Bayfront Festival Park or the DECC? All the cool kids (Wilco, Queens of the Stone Age) are doing!
23. Central Services - "She Was My Ride" [DEMO]
Along the lines of the praise chucked at High Speed Scene, this is just one of those perfect pop songs. I urge you to seek this one out.
Thus concludes your fourth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Everclear should officially pack it up
From MySpace.com...
Everclear
Everclear
August, 28 2008 at Central Wisconsin State Fair
Not Available , Marshfield, Wisconsin
Cost : Free with fair admission
Thursday, May 8, 2008
This Week's (Belated) Shameless Budgeteer Plug
Atmosphere, Jamestown Story, Jill Hall/Semblesque, the Bong Bridge's grad photos, Truckstop Souvenir and ... another attempt at getting you to look at my Homegrown pictures!"Semblesque: 'Somewhere Between Carnival and Theater'" :: Jill Hall’s Semblesque Performance Company is back with a new home (The Venue at Mohaupt) and a fund-raiser this Saturday in preparation for its fourth major production, "The Night that Robin Died."
"Discover Duluth: Bong Bridge" :: A relatively young age is just one advantage the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge has over its older counterpart, the John A. Blatnik Bridge (aka the “High Bridge”). My five-mile "jaunt" across the bridge and back yielded a fair share of images I'd like to share with you -- unless you have to walk across the bridge and back each day for work, then they won't seem so fun....
"CD Reviews: Atmosphere and Jamestown Story Make Minnesota Proud" :: Reviewed this week: Atmosphere's "When Life Gives You Lemons," Jamestown Story's "The Prologue" and, in brief, Thru the Static's self-titled sophomore effort and Truckstop Souvenir's "Leave Nothing Behind."
And, in case you missed it last week, I took some photos of Homegrown '08 for a DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A&E FYI: Beck to release new album this summer
Beck has recorded a new album, produced with Brian “Danger Mouse”
Having met a few years ago, Beck and Danger Mouse had planned to work together at some point, finally convening last December to do a few songs. Encouraged by the results, they decided to make an entire record and over the next few months recorded extensively, with the goal of using only 10 pieces in the end.
The result is a tightly assembled group of songs that range in lyrical tone from introspection and social commentary to off the cuff wordplay and lighthearted humor. Musically, the album’s 10 tracks vacillate between economy and experimentation, hybrid and pop classicism, while consistently manifesting Beck and Danger Mouse’s shared interest in psych-rock, folk, electronic minimalism and orchestration.
The album’s diversity of tone is belied by an emphasis on songwriting and musical concision, with the album clocking in at a little over 30 minutes.
The album represents the first new Beck music since last year’s Grammy-nominated digital single “Timebomb.” The new songs also mark the first new material Beck has written since the prolific stretch that produced 2005’s platinum “Guero” and 2006’s universally acclaimed “The Information.”
On the live front, Beck will play his biggest hometown headline show to date Sept. 20 at the Hollywood Bowl. The bill will also feature special guests Spoon and MGMT and is the first headline date announced on a
Monday, May 5, 2008
This Week's (Belated) Shameless Budgeteer Plug + FREE NIN ALBUM!
Homegrown '08 pictures, Brian Matuszak's Rubber Chicken Enterprises, a soul-baring column (about video games), Dane Schmidt from Jamestown Story/Sing It Loud and ... Amnicon Falls again (I guess). Couple these stories with my appearance with the Duluth News Tribune's Ann Klefstad on KUWS's "Final Edition" Friday evening and it was a busy week indeed!"Matuszak Bounces Back with Rubber Chicken" :: Renegade Comedy Theatre’s ousted executive and artistic director (and founder) is already back with a new venture: Rubber Chicken Enterprises. The well-known funnyman answers our questions.
"Unleash Your Inner Video Game Dork" :: The monumental release of "Grand Theft Auto IV" last Tuesday has this Xbox 360 fanboy looking back at his formative years (of playing video games...).
"Share Your Homegrown '08 Memories!" :: Whether it's a picture of your favorite band or your pick for the festival's best set, we'd like to hear how you spent the 10th anniversary of Duluth's largest music festival. -> Or, if you're shy, just check out my pictures of Cars & Trucks, Giljunko, Number One Common, the Surfactants and Greg Cougar Conley.
"Success Won't Change Dane Schmidt" :: While one of his groups, Sing It Loud, recently signed to punk powerhouse Epitaph Records, Duluth native Dane Schmidt still plugs away at his first recording project, Jamestown Story. This Q-and-A is exclusive to DuluthBudgeteer.com. (p.s. Look for a review of Jamestown Story's new EP, "The Prologue," in this weekend's Budgeteer!)
"Discover Duluth: Amnicon Falls, Vol. II" :: Like the majority of its Northland counterparts, Amnicon State Park outside Superior is alive with the sound of raging rapids. For this online exclusive, my photo essay series returns to one of my favorite area parks for a special "spring thaw" edition. (Includes one shot, "Play Misty for Me, or: Get Your Spring Thaw On," that landed on the cover of last weekend's Budge!)
And, as promised, information on Nine Inch Nails' new studio album, "The Slip," which is available as a free download at NIN.com (information courtesy of the band):
Trent Reznor to Fans: "Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years. This one's on me."
As of 12:01 a.m. PST May 5, Nine Inch Nails' brand new full length album The Slip is available as free download at NIN.com.
Unlike NIN's recently released Ghosts I-IV, there are NO paid options available for The Slip, nor are there any retail partners. At present, The Slip is available exclusively as a free download at NIN.com. A physical configuration on CD and vinyl is in the works for a July release.
The Slip marks the first time Nine Inch Nails--or any artist of NIN's stature--has made its new album available completely and exclusively for free as a DRM-free digital download. The Slip is available as a high-quality MP3 or in a variety of lossless formats including, for the first time, a higher-than-CD quality 24 bit 96k version. All downloads include a PDF with credits and artwork.
Like the free single "Discipline" released last week to terrestrial radio stations and their websites and the track "Echoplex" appearing on iLike, The Slip is a classic straightforward NIN album, featuring Trent Reznor on vocals and various instruments as well as Josh Freese, Robin Finck and Alessandro Cortini. The record was produced by Reznor, Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder. Art direction by Rob Sheridan.
As with previous Nine Inch Nails releases Year Zero and Ghosts I-IV, the complete multi-track files to The Slip will be available free at launch, allowing anyone who wants to create his or her own remixes and reinterpretations of the songs. As always, the Remix.NIN.com community will provide a sire and infrastructure for fans to upload, share, stream and download these various remixes as well as the original masters, all free of charge or restrictions.
The Slip, like Ghosts I-IV, is being released under a Creative Commons license, allowing fans to distribute the songs and files freely and without fear of copyright infringement. More details regarding this license can be found at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/
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