MP3s are shared to try to convince people they should like the same music I do (As in... "then she told a friend, and she told a friend...) Of course if you love music, you should (responsibly) spend lots of your disposable income on music, concerts, and merch. If you are an artist or from a label, and would like a song removed, please e-mail me at kofis.hat [at] gmail [dot] com and I'll promptly do so.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Not the First Annual February 27th Mix CD
This mix CD (or playlist, as you like it) was inspired by my recent rediscovery of a mix CD I really like. It starts out with the Ivy track, a great driving song and a strong opening song for a mix CD. I have posted it before, in January of last year, and otherwise -- no promises - but I tried to steer clear of repeats. That messed with my lovely little mix CD's track listing, one reason these songs get the watered-down "inspired by" credit. Speaking of little, I'm posting a dozen tracks, but there's no fooling you, dear readers, my CD has more. A dozen songs is still a lot, hardly little at all!
Not the First Annual February 27th Mix CD Track Listing:
No babies are in my zillion-year plan, so I'm not part of the target market for the Rockabye Baby! albums: parents who are afraid changing diapers and instituting time-outs will drain every bit of "cool" out of them (and they're pretty sure they remember once being very cool and even liking the rock they listened to).
Surely foisting lighter-than-air lullaby versions of songs by Radiohead on a baby will both lull them to sleep while subtly indoctrinating them into the ways of Rock. In so doing, it could even help form a Rock-solid bond of musical kinship between parents and child. They might not want to listen to her favorite music in the car or take her to concerts if she ends up loving some lesser kind of music. And if the lullaby CDs really do their job, the kid's talent nights should be blissfully violin-free!
On the other hand, my own rock mom was raised in a house chock full of violins. What's more "rock" than rebellion?
For all my skepticism about whether the Rockabye Baby -- oops -- Rockabye Baby! (wonder if they considered calling them Rockabye Baby!! and thought, "No, too much") work to make kids love rock, the ones I've heard do at least have some entertainment value. They're sometimes uneven as to how well I think they'd work as a lullaby, and even how much they sound like the original (the version of U2's "Desire" is off on both counts). But some are quite good -- maybe for lulling insomniacs to sleep, if not babies.
And the first time you heard Tool's "Sober", you probably thought, "This is pretty good, but I bet it'd be even better as a lullaby." Hey, we all did.
The Rockabye Baby! series currently includes, the aforementioned Radiohead, The Beach Boys, Björk, Black Sabbath, Bob Marley, No Doubt, U2, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Cure, The Pixies, Tool, Nirvana, Coldplay, Metallica, The Ramones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, The Beatles, Queens of the Stone Age, and Nine Inch Nails.
My Morning Jacket Encourages Robot Mermaid Outfits For 2-Night March Prom
My Morning Jacket is hosting a 2-night Prom in Athens, Georgia March 6th and 7th at the 40 Watt Club. Doors will open at 9 PM(ish) both nights onto a whole new world of wonder and enchantment, a world only perhaps best described in the band's own words. They reveal that the "theme is a futuristic/retro under the sea vibe", which isn't very catchy, and will look a bit silly stretched across iridescent banners, but it does get the idea across.
The guys are new to this. They may only get better "as time goes by" (which is a more clssic Prom theme than "a futuristic/retro under the sea vibe" and fits better on a banner. Which theme is more fun: detectives/time or sea/robots? It's a classic question, rather like trying to choose between Blur or Oasis, Coke or Pepsi, Batman or Superman, Star Trek or Star Wars, po-tay-toe or po-tah-toe. So let's continue to debate the whole thing, long into the night. It's the only way we'll achieve consensus.
Of much greater, more fist-shaking importance is that this is not the first annual My Morning Jacket 2-night Prom, as it's being called (there's no first annual anything; they can only intend it to be annual at this point.) It's a good hint they intend to do this every year. The band already has a lot of the Prom fundamentals down, or at least the fundamentals of Prom as they experienced it, or wish they had. They promise/warn of "cake, balloons, fishnets, classic cars, chaperones, spankings, and a whole lotta shakin goin on - 2007 style upin this bitch ya'll." Sounds like 2 nights 2 special 2 B 4 got 10.
Ben Kweller and Gomez are on a co-headlining tour, but you wouldn't know it from their sets at the Wiltern Wednesday night. Kweller's opening, somewhat shorter set was lively, very good, and warmly received, but Gomez owned the night with their electric, enormously charismatic and entertaining 18-song set. Kweller's set felt like a very good opening act.
To some degree, there were two crowds for the show: Ben Kweller fans, and Gomez fans. Many missed part, or all, of one of the sets.
Some of the Gomez crowd missed Kweller, clad in a hat possibly borrowed from the male half of the Captain & Tenille, moving through a well-paced set that included rockers like "I Want You Back" and "The Rules", chirpier pop songs like current single "Penny On The Train Track", soft songs like "Sundress" and "Family Tree", and even a bit of country. Kweller's got range, but I could do without the twang and some of the chirps (the crowd seemed to love at least his chirpy pop songs.) I would have replaced them with "Commerce, TX" and "Wantin' Her Again" (and maybe a Radish song, or a non-country cover). Still, Kweller's set was very good, and plenty of fun.
The Wiltern stage could barely contain the stage presence of Gomez, let alone the physical presence of the band and all their instruments (they have a melodica and they know how to use it.)
The group feels no need to settle on one vocalist (they have three), let alone one style. Call them alt. rock, but send a friend the video for "girlshapedlovedrug" and he'll think they sound like Blur, in "Parklife" mode. Send "How We Operate", and you'll give the impression of an entirely different, bluesy, roots-rock, banjo-enhanced group.
Gomez played those tunes, both singles from last year's How We Operate, and many other songs, during their excellent set, apparently having a good time in the process. During the two-song encore, singer Ian Ball said although it was past the Wiltern's curfew, he was tempted to keep going to irritate their tour manager (or something along those lines.) The band was energetic throughout the night, as was the enthusiastic crowd. Gomez performs so well together, including during some long, excellent jams, that it seems effortless. I'm not suggesting that they're some sort of English alt. rock performing machine that feeds off the energy of a great crowd, but it was a pretty great crowd, so I won't rule out the possibility.
There's a lot of good music on the latest Paste Magazine CD, including tracks from The Cat Empire, Brandi Carlile, and Silver Lakes. The disc includes a couple of exclusive tracks (from Hymns and Hem) and a song from the artist on the cover this month, Norah Jones.
Paste Magazine Sampler 29 Track Listing:
1. Rosie Thomas - Say Hello 2. Sleeping In The Aviary - Another Girl 3. Son Volt - The Picture 4. Norah Jones - Thinking Of You 5. The Guggenheim Grotto - I Think I Love You 6. Brandi Carlile - The Story (on The Story) She sounds like a Loretta Young/KT Tunstall hybrid, and that's not a bad thing at all. 7. Barenaked Ladies - Sound Of Your Voice 8. The Cat Empire - Sly (on Two Shoes) An infectious riot of sound. 9. El Perro Del Mar - God Knows (You Gotta Give To Get) (on El Perro Del Mar) Pretty, slight Swedish pop. 10. The Dexateens - Neil Armstrong 11. Erin McKeown - Melody 12. Doloreon - Heather, Remind Me How This Ends 13. Eric Bibb - Shine On 14. Piers Faccini - If I 15. Eric Bibb - Shine On 16. Silver Lakes - Be Here Now (on The Great Pretenders) Sweet power pop in the Teenage Fanclub vein. 17. Hymns - Friends of Mine (live) (exclusive track) 18. Hem - The Pills Stopped Working (live) (exclusive track)
Tickets For Three "Don't Look Back" Whole-Album Gigs On Sale
The first slate of whole-album gigs for this year's Don't Look Back line-up have been announced. On-tap: Slint playing 1991's Spiderland, Sonic Youth, performing 1988's Daydream Nation, and The House Of Love playing The House Of Love from 1988 (rather than The House Of Love from 1990.)
The choice of the debut self-titled album rather than the second self-titled one leaves out the wonderful "I Don't Know Why I Love You", but the first album sparkles with its fair share of beauties. "Hope", for instance, features guitars that grow from shimmering to urgent, accompanying lyrics that describe a fear that good things are like a mirage. But as pretty as some of the lyrics are, singing about vacuum cleaners likely would have worked too. The group was really about a sound -- plaintive singing and a crescendo of guitars and bass, blended and layered with production sheen.
Instrumental rock group Slint was also about a sound, though a much different, denser, and louder one. If you listen to "Breadcrumb Trail" and find yourself picturing Tenacious-D more than twice, the sound may not be for you. I did, but I've been ill, and the music's not quite my cup of tea when tip-top.
Sonic Youth is, and the album's a classic, but then you know that.
Each group is playing in London; Slint and The House Of Love at KOKO, August 22nd and September 13th, respectively. Sonic Youth performs at the Roundhouse August 31st. Support acts are to be announced for all shows.
Tickets are on sale now, available from the venue box offices and several other places.
Happy Valentine's, everyone. Whether or not you're among the someone-expects-a-gift-and-card-from-me crowd, hope you're having a lovely day.
Single and attached ice cream lovers should find news of the new Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream Ben & Jerry's ice cream equally cool, provided they like the ingredients. They went with vanilla ice cream, fudge-covered waffle cone pieces, and a caramel swirl. Caramel. I'm not a fan. A cute idea, though, and apparently some people like the stuff for some reason. Plus Colbert is donating his proceeds to some mysterious (i.e. unidentified) charities.
The last batch of Valentine's songs:
If I ever saw a boy that I needed in this world, You are the one for me
want to be a thought that's never done. want to shake your faith in human nature. want to break the hearts of everyone. want to be your wheezing screen door. want to be your stars of Algonquin. want to be your roaring floorboard. want to break the hearts of everyone.
Tree-savers My Chemical Romance have made it cheap and easy for fans to give Valentine's cards this year.
The band has set up a website with four My Chemical Romance-themed e-cards, with messages ranging from "We'll Carry On Together" to "I (Don't) Love You". A special Cupid version of The Black Parade's skeleton cover star is on one card. Awww...
You just can't let it get you down 'Cause that movie that's called "Life Sucks" stars everyone and you're a bit part, girl We could dream all night here baby 'bout our time in the sun It takes a lot to get things done Of course we will
A few more songs against the sweet Valentine's Day grain. The lovey-dovey, ooey-gooey, you-and-me against the world lovefest is to commence soon. If your teeth started to ache reading the preceding sentence... well, you have been warned. And sowry, muffin!
You stay away from me, because you know I'm good for you and you are masochistic too. The reason I want you so much is 'cause I know you're no good for me, so together we are perfect don't ya see?
Spain, led by Josh Haden (cue the obligatory mention that he's the son of Charlie and the brother of triplets Petra, Tanya, and Rachel Haden), knew how to make a great melancholy love song.
Ethereal jazz/rock music floats by as Haden croons about doomed relationships, love, and misery. She loves someone else... She left him... She left him a long time ago and he's still not over it. He lied when he said he loved her; he can't ever love her because he's dead inside.
So Spain didn't make loads of chipper songs, but they did make loads of very lovely songs.
Haden is now set to release Devoted, his first solo album, on February 13th. It's produced by Dan the Automator. The two worked together previously. Haden and Sean Lennon were lead vocalists on "Sunshine", a track on Dan the Automator's project Handsome Boy Modeling School's album So... How's Your Girl. By the producer alone, you wouldn't expect Devoted to sound just like a Spain album.
Haden is an in-studio guest tonight on Los Angeles radio station KXLU's "Demolisten" from 6-8 PM PST. The station has online live streaming audio.
His 2004 EP,Light Of Day (named after the excellent title track), is available at Amoeba Music in Hollywood, and Devoted will also be on sale there. The only other place to get it is from Josh Haden's online store.
Haden has a few upcoming shows scheduled in Los Angeles, including his record release show February 15th at The Echo.
The above design is by Liam Neeson, and it's from Whatever It Takes. They sell a wide range of products from mugs to t-shirts to soap, all ethically produced.
Each artist chooses the nonprofit to receive funds from products sold with their artwork. Nearly forty, including Adopt-A-Minefield and The Lotus Foundation are benefiting.
The Songs:
I don't know why I love you Your face is a hammer in my head
I've been trying to build a bridge to get to you for so many years Now it looks like it'll have to be a dam instead to hold back the tears You won't make me cry My heart won't break in two My love is especially for you
Mojo Presents - Sgt. Pepper... With A Little Help From His Friends CD
The March issue of Mojo honors some not exactly under-touted hippies from Liverpool. It's for a special occasion, though: a tribute to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band, on the 40th anniversary of its release. Okay, so it was actually released in June. Let's pay tribute to Mojo for their enthusiasm! It's a great quality!
Hey, my birthday is in June. It's not my 40th and I'm not a hippie, but I am enthusiastic. Start paying tribute to me now. Let's go. I mean, wooo, let's go, everybody!!
*taps foot*
*sighs*
With Mojo's characteristic excitement, they commissioned a "re-working" of the whole album for this month's free CD. The covers range from pretty faithful to the originals to very different. Simple Kid, Unkle Bob, Captain, Circulus, Chin Up Chin Up, Circulus, and Fionn Regan are among the artists who answered the call to contribute tracks to the disc. Don't know what artists, if any, let it go to voicemail, but we know Mojo was in a hurry. Perhaps musicians need to answer every phone call to be sure they never miss out on this sort of cool opportunity. Tribute compilations may not be able to wait for phone-tag.
The mag. also added a bonus, non-Sgt. Pepper's-song, "All You Need Is Love" covered by Echo & The Bunnymen.
It's a strong compilation. Even if you're not partial to The Beatles, you may well also enjoy it. If you like The Beatles, I especially recommend checking it out, but I recommend it either way... unless you know you hate Beatles covers.
Mojo Presents - Sgt. Pepper... With A Little Help From His Friends Track Listing:
1. Simple Kid - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 2. Puerto Muerto - With A Little Help From My Friends 3. Circulus - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 4. Fionn Regan - Getting Better 5. 747s - Fixing A Hole 6. Unkle Bob - She's Leaving Home 7. Bikeride - Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! 8. Stephanie Dosen - Within You Without You 9. Chin Up Chin Up - When I'm Sixty-Four 10. Dave Cloud & The Gospel Of Power - Lovely Rita 11. The M's - Good Morning Good Morning 12. Simple Kid - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) 13. Captain - A Day In The Life
(Bonus Track) 14. Echo & The Bunnymen - All You Need Is Love
Five Duke Special songs, including a Razorlight cover are now available for free download in a mini-album called When the bear bytes (a few of my favorite things). It is definitely a mini-album and not an EP. I know the distinction but I can't explain it right now because erm... um... okay, I don't know. Maybe they thought there can't be digital-only EPs. Or that a mini-album sounded classier or cuter.
To get to the mini-album page, you need only click on the right arrow three times. To get the songs, you'll be asked to enter an email address; as soon as you enter one, download of a zip folder containing the songs begins. Limited edition CD wallets for the album will be available at Duke Special concerts. He's just begun a U.K. tour, so those wallets may be somewhat less accessible to people everywhere else in the world, at least for the time being.
In the first study, 74 University of Texas undergraduate students (with an average age of roughly 18) were paired and asked to get to know each-other over six weeks. When asked what they talked about, the students possibly answered honestly, and most of them said music. 58% of the pairs talked about music in the first week. All the other categories combined were only 37%. That still leaves 5% of pairs who talked about nothing. Perhaps they got to know each-other through drinking, sex, and/or interpretive dance...
In the second study, researchers asked for a judgment of "targets'" personalities, based on a top 10 list of each target's (heh) favorite songs. The students' assessments were compared to those of a standardized personality test that seeks to measure the "big five personality traits": openness to experience, extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability.
Researchers concluded that the top 10 lists were a pretty good way to measure some personality traits. They did the best at measuring openness to experience, and then extroversion and emotional stability. Knowing someone's musical tastes might not help at predicting whether they're conscientious, though, going by the results of this study.
In December I posted a list of my 30 favorite earworms of 2006* -- not a list of my top 10 favorite songs of all time (is that what the students listed?) - heck, I didn't even call them songs! I'll go ahead and copy the top 10 here anyway:
1. Keane - "Is It Any Wonder?" 2. Placebo - "Drag" 3. Infadels - "Love Like Semtex" 4. Depeche Mode - "Martyr" 5. Peter, Bjorn And John (feat. Victoria Bergsman) - "Young Folks" 6. Hot Chip - "Over and Over" 7. Junkie XL (with vocals by Nathan Mader) - "Today" 8. The Pipettes - "Pull Shapes" 9. Teddybears (feat. Neneh Cherry) - "Yours to Keep" 10. Mogwai - "Friend of the Night"
* with the disclaimer that the list was made with a bias against the artists on top albums list, though a couple sneaked on anyway...
Not sure what conclusions a University of Texas student or anyone else might draw about my personality based on the list. In general, I don't think musical tastes are a reliable way to assess personalities. I would think most peoples' real-life (non-research-based) experiences would lead them to question the findings of the second study.
I wonder whether students were instructed to draw no conclusions based on songs/artists they didn't know. I also wonder whether they tended to do so regardless of whether they received such an instruction. If students saw the title "Monkey!!! Knife!!! Fight!!!", and were completely unfamiliar with the band Minus the Bear and the song, they might do a poor job if asked to describe the song. But if asked to describe a fan of the song, using those big five traits anyway, maybe they could...
Among the more interesting/sketchy findings is that those who like country music are emotionally stable and that those who like vocals are extroverted. Seems a bit random, though maybe reading the full article I'd be convinced. I'm not going to cough up $29 for online access to the article though, not even to satisfy my curiosity about the instructions the students were given.
Last year, Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) introduced The Federal Research Public Access Act, which would require federal agencies funding more than $100 million a year in external research to put resulting peer-reviewed journal articles on the Internet. About half of university research is government-funded -- no idea who funded the music preferences studies, but that is a lot of publicly-funded research. And a lot of articles taxpayers fund, but can't read about without paying loads of money.
These songs helped satisfy that craving for Smiths covers I got after wishing Uncut had done a Smiths tribute disc this month. A new covers CD would be cool, but in the meantime The Smiths are hardly going uncovered, so to speak.
Pete Yorn - Panic (a bonus track on the deluxe edition of musicforthemorningafter)
A cover story on the greatest Smiths songs, but nary a Smiths tune on Uncut's March Playlist CD, let alone a tribute disc like Uncut compiled for, say, Bob Dylan. Perhaps Dan Bern's faux-personation of Dylan on the March Playlist disc brought Dylan, and his tribute CD to mind. Uncut also did a covers CD for Bowie, but I don't recall one for The Smiths. Pity, that. Who doesn't like covers? And a lot of people like The Smiths...
The Playlist disc is a mixed bag.
Dexys Midnight Runners' 1981 hit "Show Me" is a burst of sax-fueled joy. The Noisettes wrap heavy guitar, bass, and breathing around strongly encouraging lyrics on "Don't Give Up" (there's only room for moderate drums; the song's just under two-and-a-half-minutes long.)
On the other end of the length spectrum, I love the pretty noise of Explosions in the Sky's instrumental rock epic "Catastrophe And The Cure". A track from Lambchop is fun, and also quite long. Both are good, but I hate the trend toward long songs and films. It encourages filler. Edit, edit, edit. Not necessarily down to two-and-a-half minutes, but how 'bout a happy medium?
Jesse Malin has a good voice, but he often power-sings a shade too intensely on "Little Star". He might be trying to keep up with the guitars, the best thing about the song (thanks partly to Ryan Adams). Still, since he's supposed to be singing to someone he loves, why run the risk of seeming angry rather than smitten and determined?
Sometimes Malin slows to virtually speak lyrics, as if to make sure we don't miss the subtle beauty of this sort of gem: "Misunderstood, like Robin Hood/And Peter Pan/Redemption". You know who else relates to Peter Pan? Michael Jackson. He's written lyrics about being unfairly persecuted too. That's a joke, but I find it hard to take that lyric seriously.
There's an emotional disconnect for me with this song; it feels like Malin is trying to make a successful song but I get little sense of anything real from it. He's obviously talented, though, and I'm interested in hearing more of his music.
Uncut - The Playlist - March 2007 Track Listing:
1. The Besnard Lakes - Disaster 2. The Noisettes - Don't Give Up (on What's the Time Mr Wolf, the EP Three Moods of the Noisettes, and don't-look-now-kids, it's a single, too! Okay, you can look now.) 3. Richmond Fontaine - The Kid From Belmont Street 4. Rickie Lee Jones - Falling Up 5. Dan Bern - Suicide Room 6. Jesse Malin - Little Star (on Glitter in the Gutter, out February 26th in the UK and March 20th in the States) 7. Nico - Frozen Warnings 8. The Fall - Reformation Uncut 9. Lucinda Williams - What If 10. Cold War Kids - Expensive Tastes 11. Marissa Nadler - Diamond Heart 12. Delroy Wilson - This Life Makes Me Wonder 13. Lambchop - You Masculine You 14. Dexys Midnight Runners - Show Me (available on Projected Passion Revue) 15. Explosions in the Sky - Catastrophe And The Cure
Ron Sexsmith headlines an expanded hour-and-a-half edition of XM Radio's From the Living Room to The Loft tomorrow. The show airs February 4th at 6 PM EST and repeats February 6th at 10:30 PM EST and February 7th at 3 AM EST.
Taped January 11th at the Living Room in New York City, the program includes performances as well as interviews. Singer-songwriter Mieka Pauley opens for Sexsmith.
The good news is that XM Radio is available online; the bad news is that it's pay radio. However, a "no risk, no obligation, no credit card required" free trial is allegedly available. I can't vouch for XM Radio or the free trial, so use your own judgment (unless there's a good reason you shouldn't, in which case you should seek someone else's wise counsel.)
Sexsmith's tour is taking a breather for the rest of the month, and resumes March 1st in Mobile, Alabama, the same state where Pauley will next play. It's almost like she's opening for him again... almost, but not really.
March 1 - Mobile AL - Mobile Civic Center Theater March 3 - Atlanta GA - Atlanta Symphony Hall March 4 - Nashville TN - Polk Theatre March 6 - Tampa FL USA Tampa Theatre March 7 - Fort Lauderdale FL - Parker Playhouse March 9 - Durham NC - Carolina Theatre March 10 - Asheville NC - The Orange Peel March 11 - Charleston SC - Charleston Music Hall March 13 - Charlotte NC - McGlohon Theatre May 4 - Toronto ON - Massey Hall
Feb 6 - Birmingham AL - Zydeco (with Benjy Davis Proj & Chad Perrone) Feb 7 - Atlanta GA - Smith's Olde Bar (with Benjy Davis Proj & Chad Perrone) Feb 8 - Athens GA - Tasty World (with Benjy Davis Proj & Chad Perrone) Feb 9 - Cape Carteret, NC - The Dive (with Benjy Davis Proj & Chad Perrone) Feb 11 - Charlottesville, VA - Gravity Lounge (with Chad Perrone) Feb 12 - Vienna, VA - Jammin Java (opening for Scott Miller) Feb 13 - New York NY - Living Room (with Chad Perrone & Benjy Davis) Feb 15 - Allston MA - Harpers Ferry - Rock for a Remedy (with Chad Perrone & Benjy Davis Proj) Feb 16 - Rockaway NJ - Acoustic Cafe (opening for Chris Trapper) Feb 17 - Normal IL - IL State Univ Feb 23 - Newport KY - Southgate House (opening for Lucy Kaplansky)
The award is ostensibly given as a sort of lifetime musical achievement award - but for some reason NME Editor Conor McNicholas' announcement doesn't give the impression that anyone who works at NME necessarily likes their music.
He also began his announcement with what seems like either a stupid, tasteless joke or a stupid, dated reference, "Everyone at NME is really looking forward to welcoming Primal Scream as the Godlike Geniuses at this year's awards - no-one parties like Primal Scream."
He, or whoever at NME wrote the announcement, is likely thinking of the old Primal Scream, who used to engage in a lot of colorful drug-addled "partying". To at least one member of the group, that's part of a painful chapter of his past.
Frontman Bobby Gillespie has quit drugs. He said, "It's just kind of stupid really. You take things that initially make you feel good, and finally they make you feel bad and paranoid and sick, and I guess lead you into some bad situations." He added, "Anybody who has been addicted to drugs or alcohol, they're going to hurt people who are close to them."
Another indication Gillespie is no longer the partier McNicholas thinks he is: last month he wrote to his local council on behalf of those fighting longer hours for a nearby pub. He complained about the pub's playing loud music after midnight and "attracting noisy, drunk people".
Presumably Gillespie's being honored for his band's music, not for how well they party or used to party. It might have been a stupid joke; it was definitely stupid.
The rest of NME's announcement isn't the tops either:
"They're a band who have had a massive influence on our scene. All our bands love them and after 24 years they've just had their biggest ever hit ('Country Girl' got to Number Five last year). Our awards are the last big event at the legendary Hammersmith Palais before it's reduced to rubble. Primal Scream may just do that before the bulldozers even get there." (emphasis added)
Thoughts:
1. Our, our, our. Ugh. 2. They own bands? 3. "Primal Scream" is mentioned once here, and weirdly. One of their songs is mentioned, and not praised or described. Its only importance comes from how well it sold. No mention of, say, the group winning the first Mercury Music Prize (for Screamadelica) 4. This doesn't say NME or anyone at NME likes the band. Maybe they don't, in which case points for honesty, but why are they getting the award?
It was left to Gillespie to say a few appropriate, actually-kind-of-descriptive words about his band. Of course he also said he was honored - by the belated award. "About ******* time, we've known it for years," Gillespie said. "It's a great honour to get the same award as a band like The Clash. It's a real honour."
NME did put Gillespie's statement (absent the cheeky asterisk-laden part) on their site, so at least some good writing about the band snuck into their piece: "I've always thought of what we do as an experiment, even from day one. That's the driving force in our band. We've never made the same record twice, like most bands. We just want to keep everything fresh and exciting."
It's Groundhog Day, and there's much excitement over today's two forecasts of an early spring by a couple of the adorable critters. But let's not overlook that it's also February 2, 2007, a date which suddenly reminded me of the old sitcom 227. I never saw it, and only know it starred Jackée and that she played someone sassy.
According to Wikipedia, the show was spun off from The Jeffersons and also starred its "sassy maid Florence Johnston". Two major, sassy characters? It must have been quite a program, and if there's anything to numerology, perhaps today is a very sassy day.
That's also the name of a British award-winning animated short, so possibly it was named after that. The animated film is about "the loneliness and exclusion of a troubled soul, lost and trapped in a world which he feels he does not belong to." Then "he is lead on a fantastical journey" and finds his destiny. The film is online; YouTube apparently isn't, so I'm not sure whether it's there.
The albumThe Boy With No Name is out May 7th and will be preceded by first single "Closer", out on April 23rd. Healy said it was chosen because "it just bred the rest of the album".
According to Healy, the group has "gone back to what we do best, and that is what is from the heart". He says the album is "rocky and then it's pop and sweet too. After a time of feeling stuck we feel we can do anything. We've come through the dark places and it feels like we've found our muse once more." I'm sure we'll soon learn whether that's an animated muse.
