j's indie/rock mayhem - 17th october 2007

[i knew this was going to be a good show when i ended up taking in 14 songs on this week's burned CD. i knew i wouldn't fit them all in (and i didn't), but i came close. some amazing stuff this week.

congrats to frank who correctly named three guided by voices albums in order to win this week's $15 gift certificate to BB's new and used CDs and DVDs. i give away the certificate at the beginning of the third block, right around 6:30pm, every week, so tune in to try and win.

the year is winding down quick. what are some of your favorite records so far this year? my top 25 list is crowding up - we'll see how it shakes out. until then, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 17th October 2007 Show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Josh Ritter - "Right Moves" [from his latest, the historical conquests of josh ritter. i went and saw ritter up in lewisberg, west virginia this past weekend and he put on a hellacious show. a barnstormer of a show, at that. his live band is extremely tight and knows exactly how to fall in behind his amazing lead. he'll be coming to the cat's cradle on monday, november 5th along with eric bachmann. it promises to be an amazing show.]
the New Pornographers - "My Rights Versus Yours" [from this year's challengers. this album just hasn't hit me the way twin cinema did and i wonder where it's going to fall on my year end list. a good album from these guys is still leagues beyond the best of most. still, they've set a high bar to compare themselves to, that's for sure.]
the Decemberists - "The Perfect Crime No. 2" [from the crane wife. they'll be playing two nights over at the millennium center in winston-salem on tuesday and wednesday november 6th and 7th. the rumor is one night will be all their long songs, the other night the poppier, shorter material. either way, it'll be a treat for the audience, i'm sure. this song got on my mind this week as i was teaching epic poetry devices and we talked about the invocation of the muse. meloy opens this song with the line: "sing, muse, of the passion of the pistol." indeed.]
Depeche Mode - "Leave in Silence" [from 1982's a broken frame and also available on the singles: 81-85 collection. i love the oh-so-dated musical effects in this song. reminds me of nintendo games, mostly.]
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Future of the Left - "The Lord Hates a Coward" [from the really wonderful curses. this band, like its quasi-predecessor, mclusky, is not for everyone. but honestly, i don't listen to a lot of heavy music anymore, but these guys get me way worked up. i use the term 'heavy' here kind of loosely, as they mostly embody the spirit of nasty, snarky, dirty post-punk like big black.]
Imperial Teen - "Shim Sham" [from the hair the tv the baby & the band. this album has been getting some pretty sharp reviews, though i've only heard a couple of tracks off of it. sounds like familiar imperial teen, but that's not a bad thing at all given how infectious their music can be.]
Polvo - "Rock Post Rock" [from their final album, 1997's shapes. polvo is one of the most unique north carolina bands i've ever heard - and listening to them is a work in itself. i need to get to know more about them, but i've enjoyed every thing i've heard.]
His Name is Alive - "Put It In Your Mind" [from xmmer. another great song from this superb record that i reviewed last week. a top 25 contender, easily.]
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Robert Pollard - "Pill Gone Girl" [from the second of the two records pollard put out recently, standard gargoyle decisions. this is supposedly the rockier of the two and the production is a bit rougher than its companion, coast to coast carpet of love. i'm liking what i'm hearing.]
the Thermals - "Returning to the Fold" [a few critics went pretty crazy over the body, the blood, the machine, but my initial listens to it were kind of luke-warm. it's grown on me a bit, but i'm not amazed. that said, i like this song quite a bit. maybe the rest will cement itself eventually. good, modern rock and roll.]
Okkervil River - "Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe" [the lead track from the stage names. speaking of albums that cemented themselves - i have been nothing but increasingly impressed by this band and this album. in terms of my brain (not of the larger consciousness of everyone else), this could be my sleeper record of this year.]
Mudhoney - "This Gift" [by request. from their self-titled 1989 album. with the onion calling out for giving their second album every good boy deserves fudge a second chance, and getting this request, it's obviously mudhoney's week around here.]
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A.A. Bondy - "Lovers' Waltz" [from his beautiful american hearts, which i reviewed this week. another sleeper record. bondy's lyrics are gorgeous, as are his compositions and this is quickly becoming one of my favorite albums of this year. now if we can just get him to come to north carolina.]
Steve Earle - "Down in the Hole" [his rendition of the tom waits classic, from his new album washington square serenade. it doesn't really take the song in any new directions, but i do like the wind-instrumentation that floats along in between chorus and verse. not terrible, if not exciting.]
the Dead Boys - "Sonic Reducer" [from young loud and snotty. classic, rowdy new york city-by-way-of-cleveland punk rock. an undeniable classic.]
the Beastie Boys - "An Open Letter to NYC" [this is one of my favorite pairs of songs to whip out - this song, from to the 5 boroughs, of course samples "sonic reducer." and does a great job with it. a touching and poignant way to pay tribute to their place of birth.]
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Georgie James - "Cheap Champagne" [and one of the most flat-out poppy and enjoyable records of this year, places. were it springtime, it'd be a great driving-around-in-the-burgeoning-warmth album. as it is, it's just a wonderful listen.]
Pylon - "Look Alive" [from their album chain. and now the predicament: a reunited pylon is playing at local 506 in chapel hill on the same night, monday, november 5th, as josh ritter and eric bachmann. this is the second time in a row josh ritter has come to the cat's cradle in conflict with someone i really wanted to see at local 506. the fact that i saw him this past weekend may end up sending me to see pylon, but we'll see.]
John Doe feat. Kristen Hersh - "Ready" [from forever hasn't happened yet. john doe's records over the past 4 or 5 years have been consistently and readily enjoyable. his songwriting has really been on a roll.]
Band of Horses - "Ode to LRC" [from cease to begin. well, another week, another enjoyable song off of this album. maybe it's time i stop worrying about how i heard one song i liked, bought their first album and found it mediocre, and now am worrying the same about this one. there are at least three good songs on there.]
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Little Mascara - "Last Call" [from their album hot, pink and black. this greensboro band, along with the wigg report and thacker dairy road will be playing at the green burro here in greensboro for the convergesouth music festival as part of the convergesouth technology conference. show starts at 8:15 and if you have a badge from the free conference, you get in for free as well. quite a deal. i'll be there. so come on down.]
the Wonder Stuff - "Astley in the Noose" [so finally, after more than 8 years, everyone's dream of hearing me sing a rick astley song on the air was met tonight as i explained this song from the expanded edition of the wonder stuff's debut, the eight legged groove machine. a really cutting song about the stock-aitken-waterman coiffed 80s pop pretty-boy, astley. which is kind of unfair. he was harmless, the way a lot of fluff pop is, but boy, miles hunt had no tolerance for him. and this song says as much.]
Pop Will Eat Itself - "Wise Up! Sucker" [from this is the day...this is the hour...this is this! the aforementioned miles hunt does guest backing vocals on this. appropriate since the phrase "astley in the noose" appears in the previous song on the album. great, clattering, noisy, sampling, thieving pop music the likes of which we don't see nearly as often as we should. a brilliant record that anyone with a sense of humor should enjoy.]
that dog. - "Minneapolis" [from retreat from the sun. this song will never leave my head. ever. something about it is just pure and perfect.]
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Art Brut - "People in Love" [from it's a bit complicated. they'll be playing at the lincoln theatre in raleigh next week along with the hold steady. and i may not be doing my show next week as a result. stay tuned on that.]
Rilo Kiley - "The Moneymaker" [from under the blacklight. a pretty great song when you get down to it. they picked the right single, at least.]
the Jayhawks - "It's Up to You" [from sound of lies which was this week's return trip album feature. it's my favorite jayhawks record - or at least the one that i love to sit down and listen to all the way through the most. i have more favorite songs elsewhere ("nevada, california," anyone?), but this is just a solid, progressive record.]

That'll do it for this week. As I said, I may not be here next week if I decide to stop acting old and go to a great concert on a work night - the Hold Steady and Art Brut at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh. If I'm not here, I'll be back in two weeks, but still check the blog for updates during next week - all the usual suspects will be here. Come back this Friday for Notes From Underground (it's Randomocity week again) and since it's the Panthers' bye-week, I'll just say, Go Lions, beat those Bucs! Until then, take care.