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I have the ability to fall in love with an album if I listen to it enough times, and though I haven’t tested this out with any atrocious music, it happens with just about any album I listen to X times. Because of this, I’ve decided the X in this equation should become my new music rating system. Anyway, in the interest of not waiting to fall in love with any of the albums below, I’m going to provide an estimate to X for the most recent additions to my music collection. The lower the number, the more strongly I feel about it. In a good way.

Monochrome: Helmet (2006) 20

Friday Night Lights Soundtrack: Explosions in the Sky (2004) 10

A Poet’s Life: Tim Armstrong (2007) 5

Eardrum: Talib Kweli (2007) 20

Icky Thump: The White Stripes (2007) 75

There Will Be Blood Soundtrack: Jonny Greenwood (2007) 20

Field Manual: Chris Walla (2008) 5

2008 03 30 ac Comments (1)

Sara Bareilles, Little Voice

Someone on Unfogged recommended the song Love Song, and damn if it isn’t peppy as hell, so I bought the album. Why not, right?

Bareilles sounds a little like Nellie McKay, only more mainstream, or like Fiona Apple, only more poppy, or like Vanessa Carleton, only—actually, she sounds a lot like Vanessa Carleton.

“Love Song” and “Morningside” are particularly good songs, and the whole album is, at worst, inoffensive.

2008 01 28 matt Comments (1)

Lucero, The Middle East, Cambridge, MA

These guys were even better than when we saw them in April, maybe because they used a couple of the opening band’s musicians (pedal steel and keyboards from Bobby Bare Jr (who was great in his own right)). There was less beer throwing this time, but, really, when has that been such a bad thing? At the end, my friend broke up a fight, which is also, not such a bad thing.

2007 11 01 ac Comments (1)

Avail, The Middle East, Cambridge, MA

I saw Avail for the first time about 10 years ago and they’re still rocking the finger wagging sing along punk. You now get thrown out of the club for stage diving (which I’m too old for anyway) so the band kept promising to “announce when it was the last song”. They did, and mayhem ensued, which reminded me of the first time I saw them, every song was the last song, and they didn’t kick people out for stage diving (which I wasn’t too old for).

2007 10 31 ac Comments (0)

Bruuuuuuuuce

I’ve never been a huge Springsteen fan, but I know some of you are. Clearchannel is telling their stations not to play his new record.

2007 10 31 ac Internet Frippery Comments (3)

Rocky Votolato, The Middle East, Cambridge, MA

Rating: 4 stars

****

If Lucero is music that sounds like getting really drunk, Rocky Votolato is music that sounds like the next day. I would have thought more people would be there for this, but alas. With songs this full of hooks, I have to believe more people will be there next time.

2007 09 26 ac Comments (0)

The Fountain (2006)

The Fountain was so creatively and fantastically terrible, I had trouble paying attention after the third scene. My head was spinning with thoughts of, “Have I ever seen a movie this bad?” and, “There’s a lot going on, but I don’t care because the director and actors obviously didn’t care about me when they made this movie.” If someone liked this movie, I’d appreciate them taking the time to tell me why, because, man, there was nothing redeeming about it at all.

2007 07 23 ac Comments (2)

Rufus Wainwright, Release The Stars

I really, really wanted to like this album, but… man. I feel like I could go into detail about what bothers me about every song, but that would be a little too long; suffice it to say that Rufus needs a lyricist. None the huge exuberant arrangements even come close to something like “Go or Go Ahead” and the best song on the album, “Going To A Town,” is a much better video than it is a song.

2007 07 02 matt Comments (1)

Paul McCartney, Memory Almost Full

Man, I really wanted to like this. It’s… fine, I guess? But, on one listening, the only song that stands out in my mind is the one that’s been on TV. Sorry, Sir Paul.

2007 06 28 matt Comments (3)

Ratatat - Classics, 2007

Classics isn’t as good as Ratatat’s first album, but that was an impossible task. Lex and Wildcat are solid tunes. Sometime in the past someone introduced synthesizers and guitars to these guys and that person deserves a Nobel Prize.

2007 05 09 ac Comments (0)

Lucero, The Living Room, Providence, RI

Watching Ben Nichols, I was struck by how much he seemed to be influenced by Jawbreaker/Jets to Brazil’s Blake Schwarzenbach - same singing/guitar playing stance, even the same hair. I can’t remember the last time we left the house at 10:30 on a Monday night, but we timed it perfectly and arrived right before Lucero started. That Much Futher West opener, Nights Like These, and The War solo semi-encore were memorable, as was the fact that the bass player seemed to only play during 75% of the music, taking his bass off constantly and walking off the stage on at least two occasions.

2007 04 09 ac Comments (2)

Week In Review

Dude, what happened to this feature?

I got busy, okay? I kept meaning to do it, and– and– shut up.

Julie Sokolow–”Seasons”, from IndieFeed. “Spare?” Sure, but there’s “spare” and then there’s “boring.” This is boring. 1 star.

The Moore Brothers–”The Puppet”, from IndieFeed. Quirky, I suppose. It’s definitely quirky. It’s just not particularly, like, good. It’s not bad, either. It’s just not recommendable. 2 stars.

Warm In The Wake–”Tame Thoughts”, from IndieFeed. Finally, my head is moving back and forth while listening to one of these. It’s well-written, it’s catchy. “Acoustic, cosmic folk?” Sure. 3 stars.

I’m easing back into this; can you tell?

2007 02 23 matt Comments (0)

Brendan Benson, “Lapalco”

Rating: 4 stars

****

I can’t remember where Brendan Benson was first recommended to me. I think if you buy enough happy indie pop albums on Amazon or iTunes, he’ll inevitably show up. In that vein, if you like generally up-beat pop songs, you’ll like Brendan Benson. Don’t listen for deep insight into the human condition, listen to bop your head along.

The first two tracks, “Tiny Spark” and “Metarie,” are especially good (the latter has a kind of Big Star poignancy to it), but don’t stop there. eMusic describes the last three tracks as “bittersweet, down-tempo, semi-acoustic, melancholy with a sense of humor and just a little bit psychedelic.” I’ll buy that: down-tempo, but still peppy. Check it out.

Lapalco

2007 02 01 matt Comments (0)

Fancey, “Fancey”

Fancey is the solo incarnation of Todd Fancey, the guitarist in my favorite band, the New Pornographers. This album is… well, it’s like a syringe full of sunshine, right in the caboose. Most reviews talk about the “70’s AM pop” influence, and yes, there is a Beach Boys or The Association vibe to this album, but don’t let that scare you away. It’s 30 minutes of uncut happy.

If that’s not enough, Fancey is currently working on a follow-up album called — are you ready? — “Schmancey.” Come on!

Seriously, what are you waiting for?

Amazon: Fancey

eMusic

2007 02 01 matt Comments (2)

Week In Review

It’s a couple of days late, but I am committed to continuing this new musical feature. Here’s what ended up in my iTunes “Added This Week” playlist since January 8:

Beirut, “Elephant Gun” from IndieFeed.com. When the dude started singing, my hand hovered over the “skip” button, but as soon as the accordion kicked in, I let it play. And a good thing, too! The host compares them to DeVotchKa, whom I should really go back and listen to. 4 stars.

Guava Duff, “Destroyed” from IndieFeed.com. This one starts out with a handicap on account of the really stupid band name, but it’s catchy. The vocals are a little flat on the high notes, but I should probably shut up about that. It kind of sounds like every college band ever trying to sound jazzy, but for all that it’s listenable. 3 stars.

Monolith, “The Sounding” from IndieFeed.com. On my first listening, I was decidedly neutral. On second listening, I kind of like it. It’s got some nice melody going on. 3 stars.

Let’s Go Pop, by I Rock Cleveland. This is a mix of “power pop” made by, well, some guy, I guess. I had high hopes. I like pop! On downloading it, I find, style-wise, it’s more or less The Sounds of Matt’s High School Experience (1989-1993), with Brendan Benson and The New Pornographers thrown in. That isn’t a bad thing, but I wasn’t as thrilled on listening as I thought I would have been. There are some things I hadn’t heard before, but none of them are going to be a new favorite. That said, if you somehow haven’t heard “The Laws Have Changed,” you should grab it right now. Other highlights: Benson’s “Spit it Out,” and classics like Teenage Fanclub’s “Star Sign,” Big Star’s “September Gurls,” and, ironically, The Replacements’ “Alex Chilton.” Overall: 3 stars.

A 1-minute snippet of the Holmes Brothers’ cover of Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me,” a different exceprt from which can be downloaded here from Austin 360. Holy crap! As the man says, it’s “as pure an example of art and skill transcending and transforming what we would ordinarily take to be inferior materials” as you’ll find. So awesome. Want! 4 stars.

Apples In Stereo, “Energy”. Oh, Apples In Stereo. Does it get happier or peppier? I don’t think it does. This one is an instant sing-along. Just go download, and start your enjoyment. 5 stars.

2007 01 16 matt Comments (1)

Week In Review

New year, new co-blogger, new feature!

Introducing the Music Week in Review (ta-daaaah!) in which I lay bare the contents of my iTunes “Added This Week” smart playlist, and tell you what I thought of each song. Because you were dying to know.

My rating system in iTunes is based on how likely I am to skip the song when it comes up. 5 stars means almost never, 1 star means almost always. (1-star songs tend to get deleted.)

Without further ado, my additions between January 1 and January 7, 2007.

Chloe Day, “With You With Me” from IndieFeed.com. Cute! Pretty guitar work, vocal layering, and self-aware lyrics. Apparently, though, her usual genre is “Trip Hop / Gothic / Industrial” (according to her MySpace page, which isn’t my thing. Also, too much makeup. 3 stars.

Doveman, “Teacup” and “Honey”: I downloaded these songs after rediscovering Salon’s Audiofile column. Doveman is the band of the outgoing editor of the column, Thomas Bartlett. I… don’t love it. “Honey” has a kind of breathy Sufjan Stevens or Stuart Murdoch thing going, only not as good. They’re sung in such a gaspy tone that it’s hard to imagine how they’d perform live. Together, though, “Teacup” and “Honey” sound nice and soothing, as I have a bit of a sore throat. 2 stars.

Apostle of Hustle, “My Sword Hand’s Anger”: Very promising title! Swashbuckling! Or possibly maiden-rescuing! Verdict: meh. I need a strong hook to get me into a song and this one doesn’t really have it for me. The chorus is peppy, but the verses make me sleepy. 3 stars.

Kelly Harrell, “I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again”: A curiosity, to be sure. Worth a first listen; probably not much more than that. And yet, despite myself, I’m kind of bopping my head along. Fine: 2 stars.

James Yorkston, “Summer Song”: Weird. I like the pretty guitars. The harmonies have a kind of desperate quality that’s not particularly musical, but which is pleasant nevertheless. When the the other instruments kick in around 2:40, it’s beautiful. The whole song is a bit Iron and Wine-y, maybe? 3 stars.

Plush, “No Education”: Audiofile says, “one of the great musical achievements of recent memory, an album that inspires hyperbole along the lines of ‘one of rock’s great lost albums.’” I say, seriously? Liam Hayes sounds a bit like a fey Alex Chilton, or possibly Jeff Buckley with a cold. The orchestration is quite something, but I can’t quite get totally on board. Maybe further listenings will open my ears. 3 stars.

Plush, “I Sing Silence”: A rough mix from the upcoming Plush album. See above. So much potential. I love the music, but I’m distracted by the vocals. 3 stars.

Oren Bloedow, “Your Childish Dreams”: Pretty. Boring. 3 stars.

Hallelujah The Hills, “Hallelujah The Hills”: More than anything, this reminds me of “We Didn’t Start The Fire,” which is probably not a good thing. 2 stars.

Masonic, “End Of Summer”: I don’t know why I like this song so much. I think I’m an absolute sucker for quarter note organ hits. Her voice isn’t quite right, but I’m digging on this one. 4 stars.

The Main Drag, “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter”: Hey! Neat electronic beat. Maybe it’s a little long? My mind wandered. 3 stars.

This has been Matt’s Musical Week In Review. I left out the other things in my “Added This Week” playlist, which include the This American Life podcast, and 3 episodes of Scrubs that I bought. What? I like Scrubs. There’s no shame in that.

2007 01 08 matt Comments (1)