Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category
It takes an ocean not to break
Not impressed with the writing in the NYT piece The National Agenda. Didn’t think it offered up the band in the brightest light or really explore their music too deeply, just their songwriting process (a bit). My guess is the author has never seen them live. Was nice to see they gave a shout out to Peter Katis, I have heard alot of good things about him from a friend. Also, interesting to see that they had moved to manhattan same time as I did. This piece really paled in comparison to an Arcade Fire sunday magazine piece that was published a few years ago.
Another friend just directed me to check out Marionette, who, I learned, The National played with the other night. I am listening to the album on their site right now and can say that I am really enjoying it.
I have tickets for The National at Radio City and at Electric Factory and am definitely going to have to see who is opening for them.
LCD, The Hold Steady and The National
Saw LCD perform at Webster Hall last week. The show was beyond amazing. The Album is streaming here legally*.
Also, got to see The Hold Steady in Williamsburg. Their new album is streaming on NPR.
The National indicate that the NYT is going to be streaming High Violet on April 23 at “its intended level of quality”. Awesome.
Upcoming shows we’re attending include Metric with Bear in Heaven and Hot Chip with The XX.
James Murphy: “We spent two years making this record and we want to put it out when we want to put it out. I don’t care about money – after it comes out, give it to whoever you want for free but until then, keep it to yourself.”
Top 10 Albums of 2009
- Yellow Tricycle by Saez
- Born on Flag Day by Deer Tick
- WolfgangAmadeusPhoenix by Phoenix
- Post Nothing by Japandroids
- Actor by St. Vincent
- Fantasies by Metric
- Dark Was the Night by Various Artists
- xx by The xx
- It’s Blitz by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- Middle Cyclone by Neko Case
Phoenix at Central Park
Guest Post by The Sonic Scramble
I’ve been surviving the last year on music from 2008. I haven’t spent much time seeking new stuff. I have a staff to do that for me. KBP sorts through the inundating tide of new crap, while TD handles my live appearances. The result is the attached song by Phoenix. They’ve been around for 10 or more years. I just found out about them 2 weeks ago. I saw them live outdoors in Central Park last week. And today I’m ready to tell you that 1901 is the best song of 2009.
These 30 something Parisian rockers put on a damn good show last Friday. Well worth not waiting in any line whatsoever to stand among a thousand or so hipsters in their finest regalia, braving the extraordinarily pleasant weather all to see Phoenix bring the entire crowd completely into sync for this song. They built up to an amazing crescendo (Falling, Falling, Falling…) then walked off stage. They returned for an encore before the crowd could really recover and built right back up into the chorus (Falling, Falling, Falling…). What metaphor applies when you’re outdoors and there is no house to bring down or roof to blow off the place?
Definitely turn this song up when you listen to it. While you’re at it check the entire album (Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix) its well worth a listen, as are some of their older songs.