[Illustration by ALEX FINE] BY MICHAEL DONOVAN In this post-American Idiot world we live in, it seems just about everyone wants to make a Big Statement concept album. More often than not, however, the much-ballyhooed “concept” is more or less indiscernible (I’m looking at you, Mars Volta). So when I heard that the latest from Lupe Fiasco would be continuing the story of The Cool begun on 2006’s Food and Liquor, I was a bit skeptical — the concept album is a very hard feat to pull off, especially on a sophomore record. As it turns out, The Cool is […]
EARLY WORD: I Am Teenager Of The Year
[Click image to activate Internets]
LUPE FIASCO: Conflict Diamonds
His Fillmore show is WAY sold out. Excellent. Long may he rise.
THE TEENAGERS: Starlett Johansson
They are from France, so it’s OK. Besides, they play Making Time on Friday.
CUT CHEMIST: The Spat
FYI, Cut Chemist, AKA Lucas Macfadden, cameos in Juno.
WE KNOW IT’S ONLY ROCK N’ ROLL BUT WE LIKE IT
WHIP IT: Holy Fuck gettin crazy wit the Cheez Wiz, Starlight Ballroom, Last Night Five Things You Should Know About Holy Fuck 1. Holy Fuck is a hi-tech electronica band that relies solely on low-tech means, purposely eschewing any digital looping, splicing and/or programming. You won’t find a Macbook onstage with these guys. 2. Holy Fuck’s live show is completely improvised and last night they introduced Philadelphia to at least two new songs last night that in all likelihood were made up on the spot. They hope to record some new tracks soon. 3. Brian Borcherdt and Graham Walsh (both […]
All Of This Happened While You Were Sleeping
45 REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE: DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist, Fillmore, Last Night 5 Things You Should Know About ‘The Hard Sell’ 1. The rules are: two scratch DJs (Shadow and Cut Chemist), using eight turntables, playing nothing but 45s like they were musical instruments. Everything’s live, all the scratching and looping are done in real time. The only effects allowed is a single echo peddle and a guitar peddle for capturing the infinitely repeating loops. 2. You would not think that a sold out crowd could stand and watch two DJs for more than an hour without dancing, but you […]
EARLY WORD: Pennsyltucky Indie Boys Make Good
THE SHACKELTONS GET 4/5 STARS IN A REVIEW IN THE FEBRUARY EDITION OF SPIN “Scruffy, emotional indie boys you can actually believe in. Palpable desperation is one of rock -n- rolls most valuable commodities, because it’s impossible to fake. What makes bands like Pixies, Fugazi, and Les Savy Fav so exciting — and what makes the Shackeltons, from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, similarly thrilling — is a breathlessness, a creeping sense that crouched behind the towering melodies and heard-‘em before razor guitars (think Television, in addition to the aforementioned bands), there’s complete breakdown. A half-dozen times on their debut, the Shackeltons sound […]
THIS JUST IN: New Arcade Fire Video Is The Greatest Thing To Happen To Humanity Since The Segway!
This just came in over the transom, don’t know anything about it except that this is without a doubt THE GREATEST MUSIC VIDEO WE HAVE EVER SEEN that didn’t have big butts in it. If you like the Arcade Fire or would like to, CLICK HERE NOW! [Photo by EVA LIAO]
THIS JUST IN: Frankly Scarlett, We Give A Damn
LOS ANGELES — Scarlett Johansson will release her debut album, Anywhere I Lay My Head, on Atco Records, an imprint of Warner Music Group’s Rhino Entertainment, on May 20. The inspired album features 10 Tom Waits songs and includes one original track. Collaborating with TV on the Radio producer David Sitek, Johansson is also joined by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zimmer, Sean Antanaitis from Celebration, as well as others. Johansson spent five weeks last spring recording in Louisiana at Dockside Studios. ALSO: Kucinich Calls It Quits
THE EARLY WORD: Pour Some Sugar On Me
EDITOR’S NOTE: Girlz On Bikes have canceled, they got a flat or something like that.
DAN DEACON: Crystal Cat
Wow! This rocks harder than any man in Sally Jesse Raphael glasses has a right to. He’ll be at First Unitarian Feb. 3rd. You lucky ducks!
AMY WINEHOUSE: She Cracked
Oh, lordy.