The Sonic Parthenon Playlist: Early 2011, Vol. 1

The first installment of this year's series of playlists is accompanied of course this year by the development of the Sonic Parthenon Show over at Thor Radio. And much of this two-volume set was hear on the March 20th episode of that program so you can hear more details there on a lot of these songs. The year has once again begun singles-heavy (only two or three LP's merit any mention) but that may change. The next few months will witness an unbelievable array of full-length albums worth thinking about - and two are getting a taste in this list as well.

Arms Akimbo - "Skins Have More Hair Than Brains"
This is NOT Elvis Costello as much as it sounds like it is. It is most certainly inspired by Declan's early work and it is all the better for it.

Charles Bradly - "The World (Is Going Up In Flames)"
Another chapter in the Daptones story, another saga of a lost voice discovered anew for the world to hear in all that glorious soul. BUTTAH!

Exene Cervenka - "Already in Love"
Her Most Humble Highness of the Country Beatnik Hardcore Punks is rolling along with a new solo record that features this deceptively soft-spoken heart-felt pop song. Maybe it's a surprise, maybe it isn't. The X gang have always excelled at being able to mix it up.

Cowboy Junkies - "See You Around"
Go figure - the Canadian crew are still going strong, and covering Vic Chesnutt. This Soul-drenched dirge harkens back to the glory days of Muscle Shoals.

David Wax Museum - "Yes, Maria, Yes"
In the line of bands like DeVotchKa comes this eclectic ensemble with a sparkling song that goes well with Mexican food.

Deerhoof - "Super Duper Rescue Heads!"
If bear is the animal most overused in Indie band naming in the last decade, then Deer is running a healthy second. I don't think that has anything to do with the fact that few of the deer bands interest me - though Deer Tick sounds good. This is the first time Deerhoof has struck my fancy.

The Decemberists - The King is Dead
Hey the Decemberists are back! After going way deep into prog territory with their last opera, Colin and company have scaled it back, going in the other direction - IT'S A POP RECORD! "Down by the River" is one for the ages - up there with the best of the Boss and Neil and the band most cited in the write-ups on this record, R.E.M.

Gang of Four - "You'll Never Pay for the Farm"
Another seminal band back in the mix, the politically studious Gang of Four occasionally try to break through with something for the actual masses they sing for.

Girls - "Heartbreaker"
I hated this band name and hated their first single to get them buzz with their stupid NSFW video. But then came this song, a perfectly executed pop number. Now I can't hate them and anyone who knows Pennypacker knows he hates it when he can't hate something anymore.

Grouplove - "Don't Say Oh Well"
I'm still a little sketchy on this band's origins - I've read items about being a supergroup and being from Crete and I don't know what. I'm pretty sure it's just a band from LA. But a good band.

The Hold Steady - "Just Saying"
Oh look at this, it's the Hold Steady. Their contribution to the Dilemma soundtrack is an original one (if they're going to partake in this, they may as well make the most of it). And it's another tight one, definitely in the direction of the classic rock that people who would actually buy the soundtrack would care to hear.

Even Dylan <3's Obama

How impressive is Barack Obama (even with his Jerusalem flip-flop pandering)? He even has Bob Dylan speaking out in support of him, and in uncharacteristically (for Bob) direct, blunt, non-cryptic, non-cynical terms.

Amazing.

Could the Dylan/Springsteen/Bright Eyes/Arcade Fire/Decemberists/M. Ward concert for Obama be not far off from now?

Decemberists + Obama = Mega Party

The record setting Obama rally in Portland this past weekend is still being talked about, and conservative pundits, who obviously having no idea who the Decemberists are, just sort of assume that the record setting crowd was mostly there for the band. Pitchfork isn't obviously taking into account that the Decemberists scored the Best Album of 2005 back under this old blog's list system, and, considering they also had a noted album in 2006, it is clear that this past weekend's party had little to do with Obama but with the much-renowned Pennypacker-Bump. This isn't to be confused with the Colbert-Bump, that the Decemberists also, presumably, benefited from.

I don't care...I still think the nomination will be taken away from him. That's cynicism I can believe in.

November 2007 Concert Calendar Highlights

-Four nights in a row at Terminal 5 put the new venue into the big time starting tonight: 2 nights of the Decemberists, then Gogol Bordello, then Band of Horses.

-Josh Rouse lights up the Blender this Friday and Saturday while Josh Ritter does it at Webster Hall a week from Friday.

-Carina Round has a month-long Wed residency at the Living Room for most of the month but she makes a stop over at Zebulon on Sat 11/17.

-Talk about contrasts: The Pipettes on Mon the 12th at Blender and Reverend Horton Heat with Hank 3 the next night at Highline.

-The Hold Steady and Art Brut and 1990's all together at Terminal 5 on Wed the 21st. Could be the show of the year...

-Some guys named Gene and Dean Ween. Last day of the month. Again, Terminal 5. Fiesta!!!!

-Also this month: The Sonics, Sea Wolf, VHS or Beta, Electric Six, the Woggles, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Battles.

The Very Neat Idea of the Decemeberists' Shows at Terminal 5

Check It Out, Son

“Long” evening will focus on the band’s epic, progressive compositions. “Short” nights (while no shorter in set length, we promise) will highlight their more succinct, pop-leaning material. Thursday, November 1 will be the "long" evening and Friday, November 2 will be the "short" evening. 2 night passes are available for $60.

Last year's Crane Wife wasn't as much of a letdown from Picaresque as it first seemed but it was still a bit of a letdown and even the live show last year at the Hammerstein indicated that the excitement of Meloy was going through a bit of a wind down but this idea makes these pair of shows suddenly exciting again.

Bowery Presents Strikes Again: New Venue

As BV points out, Terminal 5 is a better name - at least in principle - than the Manhattan Music Society. The location is a pain to get to - 56th bet 11th and 12th? The nearest subway is still a bit of a walk. Winter time is going to be brutal. But look at that calendar...the National, the Decemberists, and the return to New York of...

July 2007 Concert Calendar Highlights

-Friday July 6th is one of a few nights in July that has multiple options: Fuji &
Miyagi are at the South Street Seaport, A Sunny Day in Glasgow are at the Cake Shop, and the Violets will be at the Luna Lounge.

-Cat Power will be at the McCarren Park Pool the next night.

-Art Brut continues its tour of every venue in the Big Apple with a show at the Highline on Monday the 9th. The White Rabbits will be opening.

-Do do doo do do do dooooooooo do do do do do do doooooooo: Suzanne Vega at the Highline 3 days after Brut.

-The Decemberists return with a show at Central Park's SummerStage on Monday the 16th.

-The Fratellis leap frog over the successes of hundreds of other bands and will headline a show at the Roseland Ballroom on the 18th.

-It's a night of old and new as the Mooney Suzuki and the Muldoons perform at the Mercury Lounge on the 18th. You can also catch the Suzuki back on the 9th at Maxwell's.

-Electric Six does the Rocks Off Concert Cruise on the 19th and the next night do it again at Maxwell's.

-Speaking of the next night, Friday July 20th is huge, and so is Saturday the 21st. Arguably the most packed two days of the summer:

• Neko Case at the Central Park SummerStage.
  
• Battles, the band pushed on this blog, will be performing at Studio B.
  
• Gogol Bordello kicks off two nights at Irving Plaza.
  
• Wil Hoge at Southpaw.
• Electric Six at Maxwell's.

And Saturday the 21st:

• The Village Voice Siren Festival will rock out one last time at Astroland with the New York Dolls, MIA, We Are Scientists, Voxtrot, Matt and Kim, The Black Lips, Dr. Dog, Noisettes, The Detroit Cobras, Elvis Perkins, the White Rabbits, the Twilight Sad, and more.
  
• The Ponys and Jay Reatard at the Bowery Ballroom.
  
• Aimee Mann at Warsaw.
• Gogol Bordello at Irving, night 2.
  
• Dirty Excuse at Magnetic Field.

-Not enough Cobras for you? They're back at Maxwell's the next night.

As if that's not enough, Tueday the 24th thinks it's a weekend night out, or as we call it in New York, a night out:

• Some stupid band called the White Stripes will be playing Madison Square Garden and they get some losers named Nick Cave (hiding under the name Grinderman) and Porter Wagoner to help out. At least superstar Marty Stuart will be on hand to help out young Mr. Wagoner.
• Devotchka kicks off the first of two nights at the Spiegeltent at the South Street Seaport.
• The Comas and Great Northern will be at the Mercury Lounge.

-John Doe, himself no slouch, will be at the Merc on the 26th and Maxwell's on the 29th to promote his new solo record.

-Sonic Youth will be at the McCarren Park Pool on Saturday the 28th. The same night, Mondo Topless returns to Magnetic Field.

-TV on the Radio does a free show at the McCarren Park Pool on Sunday the 29th.

Blue Republic Holiday Special Number 1: Stephen Colbert vs. The Decemberists

What with the continuing violence in Iraq bogging down our country, the continued plagues of poverty and global warming festering on the open wounds of this nation, and the sheer mass insanity that is our celebrity-crazed media and culture...I skipped blogging this week and have decided to give you a couple Chrismukkah-Festivus treats. First up: this past week's historic half-hour showdown between Stephen Colbert and the Decemberists. Enjoy:

Ahoy With Meloy

The Decemberists; Alasdair Roberts
@ Hammerstein Ballroom
New York, NY - November 3, 2006

The Decemberists returned to New York with a sold out show at the Hammerstein as part of the CMJ Music Marathon and while the band concentrated too much on the new uneven album, Colin Meloy kept things moving along with his mandatory audience participation, including a band-led renactment of the Charge of the Light Brigade in the crowd. This provided ample cover from the direct (but OK) lifts of Pink Floyd, ELP, and Talking Heads that the new songs are populated with (though my favorite new tune is "O Valencia" since it is directly lifted from the Decemberists).

This ain't your daddy's educating, edifying, and entertaining indie pop band...but then again, maybe it is, college boy.

Opener Alasdair Roberts is a Scottish act that is so soft, subtle, mellow, and melancholy, he's almost too much of all that even for a Decemberists gig.

Blue Republic's My Space Band of the Week: The Decemberists

Collin Meloy and co. are back after last year's Best Album of 2005, Picaresque, with The Crane Wife and they're playing the Hammerstein Ballroom this Friday as part of CMJ.

Listen to "O Valencia" from the new album and watch the video for "Sixteen Military Wives" from Picaresque, at my page, then go to the official page and official site.