2008 January | LovetheMusic

It’s happening now: Chris Walla | Field Manual

Allegedly, Chris Walla’s new solo release, Field Manual, contains two tracks that were left off of Death Cab for Cutie’s 2005 gem Plans. I can’t find anywhere that tells me which songs these were, and most of these songs sound like they could have come from some point in Death Cab’s past, if you let them. But, well, Chris produces all of DCfC’s material, he’s major creative input in the band. You know, kind how if you let it, Thom Yorke’s solo album The Eraser sounds like a proper follow up to Kid A and Amnesiac. Yeah, it’s a solo project, that’s what you get. There are moments, though, like the opening Imogen Heap-like harmonies of “Two-Fifty,” that really get you excited for the next Death Cab album, if this is what Chris is doing on his own. There are some truly good songs on here. Avoiding the solo album/side project pitfall of writing songs that simply are not catchy, or good, we get songs like “The Score,” “Archer V. Light” and my current favourite “Geometry &c,” which, oddly enough, sounds like early Jimmy Eat World as much as it sounds like early Death Cab. I like it, and I guess US Homeland Security was excited enough that they wanted a copy in October.
Check out “Sing Again” and “Geometry &c” before rushing out to buy it, okay?

Chris Walla@HallofJusticeRecording.com | MySpace | Buy Field Manual

Geometry &c - Chris Walla [3:07m]: Play in Popup | Download

Sing Again - Chris Walla [2:31m]: Play in Popup | Download

Introduction to Radiohead | Mixed for a friend

Recently my best friend told me she got the new Radiohead album, In Rainbows, and said she enjoyed it, and it was her first real Radiohead experience. Well, of course, hearing that, I feel the need to educate on Radioheadian values, so I made a mix for her. Of some of the head’s more noteworthy songs.

Radiohead

Bulletproof is a track from an Unplugged Radiohead album. Love it. Reckoner is my new favorite from In Rainbows. How to Disappear Completely is one of my favorite tracks from Kid A, as well as In Limbo. How to Disappear Completely also happens to be Damon’s girlfriend’s favorite Radiohead track, period.

Radiohead - How to Disappear Completely [5:56m]: Play in Popup | Download

Radiohead - Reckoner [4:50m]: Play in Popup | Download

Radiohead - In Limbo [3:31m]: Play in Popup | Download

Radiohead - Bulletproof [2:42m]: Play in Popup | Download

Return to Kilby -> Sea Wolf, Johan the Angel, Atherton, Emme Packer

I went to my first concert at Kilby Court since it changed hands at the start of the year. I’m happy to report that, though there are a few changes (the walls in the merch booth have been painted over), it’s still okay. Got a new PA, but I dare say they’re still attempting to keep it real. Regarding the show itself, I was actually kind of tired and didn’t give it all the attention that a proper music journalist should. Luckily, I’m not a music journalist, I’m just a blogger, so I can tell you a few things and then redirect you to this interview conducted with the local participants in the evenings events. You’ll find suggestions for local Utah music and some interesting things.
I promise you fine people that I will start sleeping better the night before shows so I can better remember things, maybe even get something written that very night. What I can remember to tell you is that Emme Packer (pronounced “emmy”) is good people. She writes songs that are mostly soft, but capable of rocking out. They are not sappy girly coffee shop songs, but you can still enjoy them if you like that sort of thing.
I like to think of Atherton as being alt.country where alt. = shoegaze, but not fully committing to either camp. They are good people with organ sounds that occasionally soar, and lift the spirit with them.
Johan the Angel were likely my favourite act of the evening, if for nothing else then for their instrumental array, which included desk bells and a vibraphone. Also, a Rhodes piano, which Britt played, sounds just freaking like harmonics on a guitar. Kind of an amazing tone.
Apologies to Sea Wolf, certain things and a super packed house prevented me from fully enjoying your set. You, gentle readers, must simply remember that live cello is an excellent thing for a rock band to do, and the songs “Middle Distance Runner” and “Black Dirt” are both severely excellent. They will get stuck in your head. Well.
Pics are up on Flickr, though!

Sea Wolf | Johan the Angel | ~~Atherton~~ | Emme Packer

Sea Wolf - Middle Distance Runner [2:27m]: Play in Popup | Download (336)

Inappropriate! Flight of the Conchords

So, these Flight of the Conchords songs aren’t so much inappropriate as they are hilarious, but still something I’d hesitate to put on a mix for a girl. Except for they’re hilarious. Also, what did I tell you back in March ? Seriously, was I wrong? Tell me I was wrong. By the by, they’ve a series on HBO now, if you’ve not noticed. Dig some samples, eh?

Flight of the Conchords

If You're Into It - Flight of the Conchords [1:46m]: Play in Popup | Download (482)

Flight of the Conchords - Business Time [4:05m]: Play in Popup | Download (309)

[youtube FeqqHjyWWtI] Okay, I had written a post regarding an incident involving The Moldy Peaches, but forgot the part of the story that’s hip and current and, frankly, more awesome. Also the writing was atrocious. Basically, “Who’s Got the Crack” came up on shuffle, we tried to figure out where I knew the song from (it’d come up on shuffle before is all), looked things up and discovered two things: (1) Our man Jack from Only Son used to be in Moldy Peaches and (2) a Moldy Peaches song is performed in the film Juno. So now you get to hear two Moldy Peaches songs, and watch a video of Michael Cera (George Michael Bluth from Arrested Development) and Ellen Page singing “Anyone Else But You.” It may just be a trailer for Juno, but it’s got the song in it. Which is rad. Also interesting is the role reversal of having Michael sing Kimya’s part and Ellen sing Adam’s part. Only Son Website // MySpace Moldy Peaches YouTube It (0)

Turn Back the Clock: The Offspring - “Smash”

Every once in a while when I’m choosing CDs to listen to at work I stop and notice one that, for one reason or another, never quite registers as an eligible selection. This morning I decided that the Offspring’s breakthrough album Smash should get a fair shake. Good gracious I’m glad I did. Maybe it took me back to the very awkward time around the Turn of the Century when I first got into it, but so have some fairly fond memories of my cassette days. It was pretty much the album I needed to hear around one o’clock this afternoon, and I wanted to share a few of my favourite cuts with you guys. “What Happened to You?” is the most skankable Offspring track I know and has a block rockin’ guitar solo; “Gotta Get Away” is a delightful showcase of fuzzy guitars and drug-induced paranoia. Actually, both of those are on the theme of drugs screwing your life up (see also “Mota” from 1997’s Ixnay on the Hombre). Chances are this is an album that won’t see much light again for weeks, if not months, but it was a great fling with an old flame.