Monday, December 15

More lists goodness from the folks at Filter.

To continue their yearly tradition, FILTER Magazine asked some of the year's top artists what rocked their stereos this year and as a holiday gift to readers they will be releasing a selection of lists every day in December. I am including some of my favorites lists from the list in this here post.

The Walkmen's Walt Martin submitted some of the more interesting selections of the week, choosing not one, but three releases from Thee Oh Sees to top his list which then closed out with anniversary additions of the the Dirty Dancing and Animal House soundtracks, proving once and for all, there's nothing wrong with a little Patrick Swayze in your stereo.

Also going out on a limb was of Montreal's Dottie Alexander who hailed Queens of the Stone Age's technically 2007 release, Era Vulgaris, as her #1 record for its "blatant bad-assness."

Hear songs from all these artists and the best albums of 2008 on erockster internet radio - http://www.erockster.com/

The Faint: http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?id=17971&c=1

The Watson Twins: http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?id=17972&c=1

of Montreal's Dottie Alexander:
http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?id=17990&c=1

Peter Bjorn and John's Peter Morén:
http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?id=18005&c=1

Peter Bjorn and John's Bjorn Yttling:
http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?id=18006&c=1

X's DJ Bonebrake: http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?id=18012&c=1

The Walkmen's Walt Martin:
http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?id=17926&c=1

Thursday, December 11

It's list season!!

I've been working on my top 20 albums for 2008. I have it narrowed down to about 35, and now I need to do some weeding. So while I am putting the finishing touches on this year, take a gander at last year's list:

http://onereallykillerline.blogspot.com/2007/12/my-top-20-albums-of-2007.html

I still stand firmly behind those albums - with two exceptions. With hindsight I would have cut Lilly Allen and Peter Bjorn and John and added Band of Horses - Cease To Begin and Bjork - Volta. I didn't buy Volta until 2009 and thus it missed my year end list.

Do you still love and listen to your top albums from 2007?

Top albums and shows list coming up in the next couple of weeks and a couple holiday giveaways!!

Friday, November 21

Tuesday, November 4

CONTEST - The Dears


Thanks to Tristen at Filter for helping me run this contest!
We are giving away one copy of Missiles and an exclusive 7-inch single featuring “Money Babies” and “Halfmast.” All you have to do to win is enter a comment about The Dears on this post.
A winner will be chosen by a random number generator at noon on 11/7/08.

"The Montréalers' fourth full-length album is a beautiful collection of sonic masterpieces, further affirming their foothold on the celebrated indie-rock scene they helped erect."
– Glide Magazine


"Missiles is equal parts swirling electricity and angelic chorus. Its songs start out as familiarities, but end as head trips."
– Wired


"Missiles emerges as the best album of The Dears' musical career to date."
– Revolt Media


The Dears have unveiled the first visual offering to emerge from their sonic magnum opus, Missiles. The brand new video for "Money Babies" is as thoughtful as their arrangements, touching on ever-prevalent topics like material wealth, poverty, and class division. Director Anton Josef captures the band's powerful statement in a minimalist way, allowing the music to speak for itself while forcing the viewer to stop and think. Check out the new "Money Babies"


Video: http://www.dangerbirdrecords.com/videos/watch/dears-money-babies-video


Downloadable version: http://www.dangerbirdrecords.com/public/video/TheDears_MB.mpg

Friday, August 29

"Stacked girls who love science, rwwarr!"


I first heard Neko Case when a friend gave me the mp3s for Canadian Amp, that was all it took, within a month I had bought up all of her releases. What a voice! I really enjoy her crooning. It reminds me of the music my grandparents used to play on the big cabinet record player.

Last night Neko played Reno for the first time ever, and I was lucky enough to be there! What a beautiful evening! Crooked Fingers opened up, but I’m sad to say I missed their set. Hopefully I can catch them again in the future.

Neko came out around 9, set up all her own guitars and them started the show off with her voice sounding perfect and it just got warmer as the night went on. Some tracks I recall: Margaret vs. Pauline, Deep Red Bells, Hold On, Hold On, That Teenage Feeling, Dirty Knife, Maybe Sparrow, Star Witness, A Widow's Toast, and John Saw That Number. Her back up singer Kelly Hogan really impressed me vocally; she and Neko sound beautiful together. There's great chemistry and stage banter between them as well. I looked Kelly up today and found out she has a couple releases out on Bloodshot Records as well. I will be ordering those ASAP!

Neko played four or five new tunes over the course of the night, which left me very excited for the release of her new cd in early 2009. More information about that can be gained here: http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080824/ENT02/808240304/1056/ENT

Go see Neko Case live!!

Tuesday, August 5

Lucero ~ 7/27/08

================================================================


I loved the vocal stylings of Jessica Lea Mayfield. Check out more about her here: http://jessicaleamayfield.portmerch.com/stores/home.php

Her brother was a madman on the bass!

Tuesday, July 22

Unorchestrated

I hope I was one of the first 100!! That green is lovely!
Come on boys, regroup!

Monday, July 21

Andrew Bird Setlist ~ Grand Sierra Resort

Andrew Bird live in Reno!? What a treat!
The new songs sound lovely, I can't wait for his new album.

Wednesday, July 2

Heinous!

The gravestone of former Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis has been stolen from a Cheshire cemetery. Curtis was 23 when he hanged himself in the kitchen of his Macclesfield home in May 1980, shortly before the band was due to go on tour in the US. Cheshire Police said his memorial stone was taken from where he is buried in Macclesfield Cemetery. Officers are appealing for anyone with information on its whereabouts to contact them. Detectives said the stone, which has the inscription "Ian Curtis 18 - 5 - 80" and the words "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was taken sometime between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning. BBC article here.

MP3:
Joy Division - Transmission

Sunday, June 22

Boy George!


The former Culture Club frontman plays at 8 p.m. July 17 in the Celebrity Showroom at John Ascuaga's Nugget. Tickets are $40, available at the Nugget, Tickets.com outlets or 800-648-1177. Details: 356-3300 or http://www.janugget.com/.
UPDATE: Cancelled! Boo-Hiss!

Friday, June 20

Glitter and Doom

Phoenix 6/18/08

The Glitter and Doom tour did not disappoint! Tom Waits live. I’m not sure how it could be disappointing. I am a fan of seeing an artist with no opening act, especially an artist of Tom’s caliber. There is no pussyfooting around, plus I can’t think of anyone who could have warmed up the audience for Mr. Waits. Based on the immediate standing ovation he reseived when he appeared on stage it was clear no warm up was warranted.

The show was amazing. Tom was up on a carnivalesque pedestal that made it really easy to see him and all of his performance antics. He was stomping and kicking parts of the pedestal all night long, stomping on bells, kicking different little percussive boxes. It was great, he was like a grand, and somewhat insane master of ceremonies.

With hindsight and a little chit chat with some other concert goers after the show ,at a local Irish pub, we realized we should have gotten tickets for both nights. It never really occurred to us. Not sure why, I guess we just felt lucky to get tickets at all and didn’t think about trying for two nights. Most everyone we talked to agreed that the second night was better, but it would have been nice to see both. Apparently the setlists were fairly different.

This show easily moved to the top of my best shows seen list for this year. I can’t think of anything I could see that would top Tom fucking Waits!

Lucinda
Way Down in the Hole
Falling Down
All the World Is Green *
Misery is the River of the World *
Day After Tomorrow
Sins of the Father
Trampled Rose
Metropolitan Glide *
Dead and Lovely
Cemetery Polka
Dirt in the Ground
Hoist That Rag *
A Little Rain
Innocent When You Dream *
Lost in the Harbour
16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six *
Jesus Gonna Be Here
------------------------------
November *
Eyeball Kid *

* my personal faves

Some photos from night 1 in Phoenix are up on Pitchfork here: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/51363-photos-tom-waits-phoenix-az-061708

Tuesday, June 17

The Revival Tour - Precursor Show










I was watching for some Lucero tickets to go on sale this past weekend, peeping the internets very closely. What did I see? The Revival Tour had a date schedule in Sacramento on Sunday night. $10, early show at 6pm. So we pulled a fuck-it, filled up the car - $47!! Off to the Blue Lamp we went. It's a nice little venue, I had never been there before. Cash only at the bar, luckily Lara thought ahead in this department.
Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, Tim Barry of Avail and Ben Nichols of Lucero! Need I say more? This tour is actually scheduled to start up in the fall, but they did this one off show in Sacramento. It was ridiculously good and fun! If you are even remotely in to any of these three musicians or their bands this show is for you! I thoroughly enjoyed hearing a few Lucero songs played acoustic.

Saturday, June 14

Beck returns to Reno!

Beck will play the Grand Sierra on August 21st! Devendra Banhart will be the opning act. Why couldn't it have been Band of Horses? I am really diggin' on them right now.

Tickets (prices not available yet) go on sale June 21 at Ticketmaster outlets and at the Grand Sierra box office.

Friday, June 13

Next Week!

I am flying to Phoenix to see Tom Waits! I have not been this excited for a show in quite some time. I hope he plays a bunch of tunes off of Mule Variations, I am in love with that album.

Wednesday, June 11

I am a child of the 80's

I wonder what Cory Hart is up to these days? "Sunglasses at Night" is a great pop song.

Monday, June 9

@#%&*! SMILERS

Aimee Mann's new disk is lavish and beautiful, go pick up a copy. Yeah, drive to your local music store and buy a cd. It won't kill you. Seriously, take your hands off the keyboard and go!

A better reiew than I could ever write can be read here:

http://tinymixtapes.com/Aimee-Mann,6222

Wednesday, May 28

Modest Mouse Setlist, Grand Sierra

The View
Dance Hall
Dashboard
Fire It Up
Truckers Atlas
Satin in a Coffin
Fly Trapped in a Jar
Education
King Rat
Paper Thin Walls
Doin’ the Cockroach
Little Motel
Float On
Bury Me With It

Encore:

Broke
Teeth Like God’s Shoeshine
We’ve Got Everything
The Good Times are Killing Me