Interview :: We Were Promised Jetpacks

One of these days, I'm gonna have all the time in the world to blog to my heart's content...but it won't be any time soon. So, in the meantime, here is my latest interview at Stereo Subversion with the Scottish group, We Were Promised Jetpacks. Click on the image to read the interview.

We Were Promised Jetpacks, These Four Walls
Fat Cat Records, 2009

Also, my latest disc review of Sian Alice Group, Troubled, Shaken, Etc. can be read by clicking the image below:

Sian Alice Group, Troubled, Shaken, Etc.
The Social Registry, 2009

PS--I really am starting to hate Blogger...

PPS--Congrats to my homeys in B'ton! Together we are all fans of Chickenfoot!

The Role of the Critic

I wrote an essay that is included in Stereo Subversion's "The Role of the Critic" series being published every Wednesday in July. Read my essay, "I Can't Be Your Apologist Very Long:" Producing Something Akin to Excellence in Music Criticism by clicking on the nifty image below.

For those music nuts like myself, the title is nicked from a Built to Spill lyric. But you have to find out which song it is on your own.

And here's a review of the new Pete Yorn disc, Back and Fourth that ran on Stereo Subversion about a month ago. Incidentally, the "Comments Section" after the review provide good examples of some of the points I illustrate in my essay. Click on the album cover to read the review.

Pete Yorn, Back and Fourth
(Columbia Records, 2009)

Thanks to everyone for reading. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the essay, especially if they're nasty. Because I love a good argument...in case you didn't know.

I Love St. Vincent

Well, I do love St Vincent (aka Annie Clark). Her new album, Actor, is a great follow-up to Marry Me. I reviewed her latest at Stereo Subversion. Enjoy!

St Vincent, Actor

(click on the image to read the review)

And dig her new video for "Actor Out of Work":

And watch her kill the song "Marrow" live on David Letterman:



She's getting ready to tour as the opener for Andrew Bird, also. Check out all the tour dates here.

Song Obsession :: Company of Thieves, "Oscar Wilde"

I'm finding my self gravitating more and more to single tracks than entire albums. I think it may be a product of summer or my desire to make mixtapes. Here's a song I've been hitting "Repeat" on for a few weeks. The album is only so-so, but I love this track unabashedly.

Oscar Wilde - Company of Thieves

And the video is pretty great, too. Gotta love a Rushmore reference...



I found out at the last minute that these guys and girl were playing Friday night down the street from me. At the most divey-dive sports bar I've ever been to. The kind where the whores, uh, I mean, servers wear skimpy sports outfits that show the cellulite and bullet holes in their thighs. To the band, I would just like to say, I apologize for that place and I apologize that we could not find another suitable venue for you to perform at. On behalf of Charleston and West Ashley, I am sorry. I doubt you will return, but if you do, I will personally take you all out for steak dinner and wine.

Link-o-rama

Boy, I don't know about you guys, but if I go for a week without checking Google Reader, it's damn near impossible to catch up. (And is it just me or does that "+" in the (1000+) header look extremely menacing?) So I spend an hour or two glancing at headlines and clicking the links that I should have been reading instead of being productive. Then I post them here. Sure it's old news by now, but any news is old after ten minutes in the modern age. Here's what has caught my eye as of late:

--Videogum rants about Bruno here.

--Chromewaves reminds us why we still care about 90s alt-rock here.

--Muzzle of Bees has 5 Questions with Jay Farrar of Son Volt here.

--A double dose of Band of Horses courtesy of Charleston City Paper: Word association and a full profile. We really love these guys...can you tell?

--One of my favorite pop bands, Audible, has a new disc out for a "name-your-own-price" download here. Chip in and help out a great band. You'll love 'em.

--And Stereo Subversion has an interview with the excellently-bearded Matisyahu here.

Link-o-rama! Yippee! Serious buyers only, please...

The Thermals :: Interview + Live Review

Hey kids. I've got a feature from one of my current favorite bands right now, Portland, OR's The Thermals. They rolled through Chucktown about a month ago and were gracious enough to sit down and talk to me before rocking and rolling onstage that night. Here's the interview on Stereo Subversion, followed by a live review of the show at The Pour House. Click on the album cover to read the interview.

The Thermals, Now We Can See
Kill Rock Stars, 2009

And the live review...click on the image to read it.

The Thermals, Live @ The Pour House
Charleston, SC, 5/15/2009

Thanks for still reading. I'm seriously thinking about switching over to WordPress for the blog. Thoughts? Anybody using it? Blogger is starting to piss me off...

Interview :: The Champion and His Burning Flame

Whew. Been a while, but there has been shortage of work marching on here at the headquarters for all things polarizing (see previous two posts). Maybe I have a new reason for hating Canadians now (not like I didn't have sufficient reasons before).

A new interview is posted at Stereo Subversion conducted by your humble blogger. It's for the Nashville band The Champion and His Burning Flame. I really dig this band and think the Dave Arnold has a clear view of what he wants to do--something missing from most bands (I'm looking in your direction, Kinetic Stereokids). Boy I just can't leave well enough alone can I?

(Click on the image to read the interview)
The Champion and His Burning Flame
The French EP (2009)

Buy the album at their MySpace page. Thanks to Dave and his bandmates for being swell and making great music!