Sonic Parthenon's The Year In Music 2007: Part 6

Porter Wagoner

• Live Show

The Wagonmaster passed on this year, but not before showing the wide-ranging crowd at Madison Square Garden where Jack White gets a little bit of his theatricality and, more importantly, some of his country melancholia from.

M. Ward

• Live Show

Last year, M. Ward had one of his best records in Post-War. This year, he kept it on the road, dishing out a hard-working, durable shift of country-stomp rock that matches his artistic ethic. Truly, one of the greatest artists out there right now. And “Big Boat” live is as good as it can get.
SPTV:


“The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson
A dollop of ultra-cuteness can go a long way. And she’s packing ‘em in all over the city. Finally, something good has come out of Staten Island.
Video

Webster Hall
For all of Terminal 5’s flaws, that place still beats the hell out of the more convenient Webster Hall. Webster Hall’s list of problems can go on forever but even considering all those flaws, the venue had a great year thanks to the Bowery Presents. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Metric, Okkervil River, and Josh Ritter made for some of the best nights of the year and the rest of the calendar was impressive.

Ween

• Live Show
• Record: La Cucaracha
• Song: “Your Party”
  

Ween came back in 2007 and it was about time. The back-to-brownness of La Cucaracha first came off piss poor but as time wore on, and the songs nagged away in one’s head like a Ween-listening roach might do, the album eventually sounded like one right gem. And of course, they are just about unmatched live, and certainly so if you love the jamming. If you don’t, Ween is still good at it. Boognish bless ‘em, may they stay forever.



We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank by Modest Mouse
Isaac Brock recruited Johnny Marr of ye olde Smiths to be his guitarist and while Marr certainly did a good job on this record, the strength of course lies with Brock’s constructions. “Dashboard” and “We’ve Got Everything” are two of the best songs of the year and the rest of the album is pretty darn good. After “Float On” wore off, it took a long time for ol’ Pennypacker to become a believer in Modest Mouse, but it finally happened.


White Rabbits

• Live Show
• Song: “The Kid On My Shoulder”
  

Admittedly, it’s kind of fun to pick on the White Rabbits for their stiffness on stage but that’s only because they are actually a very good band. They work hard and don’t stop and they are moving up fast and furious. They are showing tendencies to head down the Spoon path and that is certainly a successful path to take.


They were on Letterman!

The White Stripes

• Live Show
• Record: Icky Thump
  

When the first strains of Icky Thump – both the single and the LP – were heard, the instant declaration was easy to understand: The White Stripes Were Back. And the special show at Irving Plaza may still very well hold up as the greatest 2 hours ever. Everything made sense at that point. All the past added up – this is where modern music is supposed to be. In every form, in every facet, this was it. But then the Madison Square Garden show was both too much and under-whelming (though as previously noted, none of it the fault of Jack and Meg at all). And then poor Meg bowed out. And all the merchandise madness started bordering on KISS territory (though admittedly in a much cuter, wholesome, and essentially harmless way). And by the end of 2007, the feelings around the greatest band of the decade were not at the level of greatest. But you know, come 2009, or whenever the band may reunite, it will probably all come roaring back again. In the meantime, enjoy the “Conquest” b-sides.


Williamsburg/Greenpoint
About ten years too late, the confessionary Pennypacker lived in Williamsburg and Greenpoint for most of a summer and fall. Camera Obscura and Carina Round did fantastic free sets at Sound Fix (a record shop that shows much love to the White Stripes, Black Lips, White Rabbits and the Yarrows, who are not contemplating calling themselves the White Yarrows or Black Yarrows at this time). The Music Hall of Williamsburg, the Bowery Presents first new venue of the autumn, kicked off with a host of quality acts, and the Vampire Weekend and Apples in Stereo reviewed gigs certainly did not disappoint. The Luna Lounge relocated and reopened in 2007 and turned out to be a country backyard home for the Knitters, Scott Biram, and Heavy Trash. Galapagos began its countdown to the DUMBO move with some great gigs (including Les Sans Culottes and Miss Alex White). The Trash Bar seemed to have a quiet year but that means it was really doing something right in the stillness. Union Pool is much beloved in the area. Zebulon is considered the best avant garde venue in all of New York City now that Tonic is gone. And Don Pedro’s and Pete’s Candy Store are ready to carry on the legacy as the good times extend into Bushwick. Love it or hate it, this is still the place to be. For now, anyway.

“Woman” by Wolfmother
Balls to the wall.
Video

“Woo Yeah Uh Huh Alright” by the Rapture
A dynamite dance-rock single by the band considered to be the best at doing it. Their most accessible and best song yet, Brooklyn’s Rapture should have been a national mega-band when this one…dropped, as the kids like to say nowadays. Maybe someday. “Get Myself Into It” is an excellent runner-up by the way.


Wormburner

• Live Show
• Record: A Hero’s Welcome
• Song: “Sleepy Jane”
  

Wormburner is one of New York’s best rock bands. Period. Power-pop to a tee and not a slip up in the repertoire. And they’re moving on up in the world. From an opening night mid-card slot at CMJ to co-headlining a Bowery Ballroom Christmas show with posters all over the city – and they’re doing it without Pitchfork and the local scenester blogs (except this one obviously). That being said, all music lovers are encouraged to check this band out. NOW.
SPTV at CMJ:

Ween's Party at Terminal 5

Ween
@ Terminal 5
New York, NY - November 30 and December 1, 2007

2 and a half hours each night from the Ween team with only 1 song played on both nights, their brand new theme song "Fiesta". Gene had the vocal chops while Dean did the licks like the legend-in-the-making that he is. Dave, looking more like Larry Fine than ever, Glen, and of course Claude, all brought the elements to the mix. Claude stole the second night with a show stopping mega drum solo (and I mean show stopping, the show ended after he was finished), but also on the second night, at the conclusion of an acoustic set, Aaron put down the acoustic, picked up his gorgeous Gibson, and wailed a guitar solo on their greatest ballad, "I Don't Want It", that rivaled any great pop-rock solo, and equaled (if not actually briefly surpassed) Mickey's Fender magnificence.
For all the jamming Ween eventually falls on in their live set, their insistence on eclectic genre switching is what keeps 'em going and the shorter the better. Whether it's the punk rock fun of "Dr. Rock", the power pop of "Transdermal Celebration" and "Even If You Don't" (seven years after the latter's release, it's still looking good for winning the decade's Best Song award), or the pure rock of the exceptional "Gabrielle" (there's nothing like hearing 3,000 people sing along to a demo song), Ween does it all and blah blah you know the rest. But if you had to pick one genre, Ween does country the best. Not because the country songs are better than the pop and rock songs, but because Ween taps into a country vein in a fluid, smooth manner, it's astounding it's the same band. Of course, the country tunes find Ween at some of their most raw and bawdy - "Piss Up A Rope" and "Waving My Dick In The Wind" - but the country-rock of "Johnny On The Spot" shows Ween as the great musicians and songwriters that they are.
And even in the world of jamming, Ween finds a way. The Jazz of "Pandy Fackler" is like nothing else they do, and they do even that superbly. Ween can do no wrong. Except some of the long jams. But Boognish bless 'em, they're Ween.

Night 1 Highlights:
Exactly Where I'm At
She Wanted To Leave
HIV/AIDS
Baby Bitch
Piss Up A Rope

Your Party
Voodoo Lady
Waving My Dick In The Wind
Even if You Don't
Johnny On The Spot
You Fucked Up
Zoloft
The Stallion
The Mollusk
Mister Richard Smoker
Fiesta
Pandy Fackler
Ocean Man
The Blarney Stone

Night 2 Highlights:

Fiesta
Take Me Away

Transdermal Celebration
Bananas and Blow
Spinal Meningitis Got Me Down
Learning to Love
Happy Colored Marbles
With My Own Bare Hands
Buckingham Green
Tried and True
Help Me Scrape The Mucus Off My Brain
I Don't Want It
Mutilated Lips
Roses Are Free
Powder Blue
Dr. Rock
Gabrielle
Womand And Man
Stroker Ace

Night 2 photos

More Public Radio Rock N' Roll: Ween, Electric Six, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, and the 1900's

NPR's All Things Considered Sunday had Ween (Gener has a voice and temperment made for hosting on public radio, let alone being a guest on it - successor to Ira anyone?)

Electric 6, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, and the 1900's were heralded on this week's Sound Opinions as part of their "Buried Treasures" of the year episode.

Artist of the Week: Ween

La Cucaracha sounded awful the first time, but good the second time, and fantastic the third time. In other words, typical Ween.

Friday Saturday Terminal 5 Boognish Be There

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.

Muischeads Rules This Week: Ween, Electric Six, Band of Horses

It's like they made a special episode just for Sonic Parthenon. Download here.
In the meantime, check out a bit of each of what they're talking about:

Ween does "Fiesta" live in Madison last week:


The new "Down at McDonnelz" video by Valentine and company:


"Is There A Ghost" by Band of Horses:

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...

Ween Loves You...

...Even If You Don't