HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR
Category: Music

I’ll make this quick.

Most infectious, coolest song of the week goes to:

HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR - BLIND

Another DFA Records stunner featuring Antony (of and the Johnsons fame), sounds like a lovechild of New Order and Roxy Music circa 1985, luv luv luv luv it. The whole record is great too! I’ll write a review for it on Drinkmoloko in a bit, only after I live with it a while longer.

CW

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CD101 DAY 2008
Category: Music

The CD101 Day Show (April 12 @ The LC) got announced this week.

VON IVA - SWITCHES - ZOX - THE WHIGS - THE DUKE SPIRIT - THE WHILES

Most excited about The Duke Spirit and Switches, but hey for $5 it is really hard to beat. A word of caution, this thing usually sells out, so don't delay too long getting your tickets.

Also of note - I am doing all the design stuff for it (something I did for the 2006 show). So far I'm liking the outcome... should be some cool shirts/posters and the like.

Here's a peek.

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ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
Category: Music

Saw the movie last night - good stuff. Not an totally amazing flick, but well done and pretty darn talented kids on display. The guy who plays Jude is pretty cool. Evan Rachel Wood was the bigger surprise, we know she can act, but her voice is quite great. I immediately went to itunes and bought her version of one of my all time fave Beatles songs, If I Fell (from Hard Days Night). I then pulled out some of my bootleggs (The Lost Pepperland Reel) and listened to John Lennon at home working some of these songs out, so fascinating to me.

With this being added to the number of new-ish project with tons of Beatles influence or direct inspiration, it once again confirms, no one, NO ONE, will ever touch them. Always copied, never equalled (and I'm including The Beach Boys in this thought).

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NEW MUSIC RADAR!
Category: Music

I put some new records on my new music radar (don't want anythng falling through the cracks) Some stuff is out as early as the next 2 weeks (Vampire Weekend, Lightspeed Champion, Louis XIV, Hot Chip, and Sons and Daughters to name a few).

Further down the road (late February), we have The Raveonnettes, Beach House, Gutter Twins, Duffy, Stephen Malkmus, and Goldfrapp.

There's loads more - just thought I'd get it started. Check out some of the artwork.

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EDITORS-HOT HOT HEAT-LOUIS XIV-01-23-08
Category: Music

Editors have pushed their sound since they were last here, expanding on it a bit, aiming for bigger venues and audiences maybe. 99% of the time it works, a few RARE times it maybe a little off, but no big deal. They are simply a great live band. Tom has continued his Joe Cocker-ish contorting, he is an interesting singer to watch. The setlist was great and they always finish on a high note with Fingers in the Factory, that song gets HUGE when it gets played live, HUGE I tell ya! The last part of the set (Spiders, Racing Rats, Munich, Smokers, Fingers) was a great way to call it a night.

Earlier I was really blown away from how good Louis XIV were. Much better than expected, the new stuff sounded great. The new record is officially on my radar. I spoke with Jason (lead singer) at the bar and he told me they are coming back to C-Bus in March. Count me there, it will be fun fun fun.

Merch was really cool too! All 3 bands that night (Hot Hot Heat, Louis XIV, and Editors) had great tees, all well designed and not to bad in the cash departement ($15-$20) I was close to pulling the trigger on a green and black Louis XIV shirt, but in the end, a simple black EDITORS tee won me (and my $20) over.

Met the EDITORS before and after the show - had them sign a few items I had on me (a couple of 7" uk singles and a setlist from the last time they were here). I find it funny though that I get these guys two at a time. I hardly have ever seen the four of them together, apart from on stage anyway.



Such a great show - I sure a few of myspace friends who were there will attest to the fun had.

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COACHELLA 2008 = WEAK
Category: Music

Coachella - I already miss you.

Being a true Coachella vet since Coachella started, including 1999, I am seriously disappointed for the first time. By far the weakest early line-up we've ever seen imo. The overall line up is fine I guess, but the undercard is what makes it that way at best. It lacks some serious punch. After Portishead and The Verve, nothing, and I mean NOTHING, reaches out and grabs ya in a, "I gotta drop over $1000 and fly out and see that!"

The headliners aren't really headliners are they? I love (LOVE!) Portishead - but even I know thats no headliner here in the US, not in 2008. Portishead is an almost but not quite, esp without a new record to date. Then we go seriously old school, even for me, with Roger Waters. I'm sure it will be interesting, but I just don't think (know) this is the best thing out there, Radiohead, yes, Roger Waters, no-so-much. This wouldn't be anything if it weren't for... Jack Johnson. Jack Johnson, so horrid of a choice its almost unbelievable, I thought it was a joke when I first heard it. I still can't get over it.

When you (Goldenvoice) sell your festival - you do it by selling the headliners first, for example, in 2004 it was Coachella 2004 featuring Radiohead and The Cure, not 2004 Coachella featuring Junior Senior and Thursday!!!

There are some bright spots of course, Gogol, Jamie T, Kraftwerk, Les Savy Fav, Diplo, Devotchka, Spiritualized, Justice, amongst others, but most acts have played in the last year or two, so those who go every year get basically a few good repeats and sub-par headliner (true headliner) choices. I mean when My Morning Jacket is 3rd (3rd!!!) on the bill Sunday, then something is just off. And when you talk repeats, just how many festivals did the Racontuers play last year - answer, all of them. If you went to Lolla, or ACl, or V, or whatever, you saw what they are going to do at Coachella. I realize the Stripes are on break, but jeez, let's go to the next choice shall we.

I thought in 2004 Coachella might have "jumped the shark" to coin an old phrase... but the past years have proven the nay-sayers wrong over and over again. 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, have given us great line ups with great HEADLINERS and continued the Coachella excitement from the moment the announcements were made. This year this is NOT the case. 2008 is the first disappointing year when you look at the line up, and its a year we finally see Coachella become just one of the bunch, just another festival.

So how good is Bonnaroo gonna look, or Vineland, or V, or Pitchfork, or Lolla, or the East Coast Coachella for that matter? When you have people waiting on other festivals and their lineups - you have failed in one way or another. Point is, in a year when the US festival circuit is gonna be very crowded and even more competitive, Coachella decided to put in their second string.

The proof is in the ugly (uglier) poster.

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FEELING SUPERSONIC?
Category: Music

I got the Supersonic book for Christmas from my boss. It's the sequel to Sonic (pictured below) that was released a few years back. Both hardcover (coffee-table worthy) books dive deep into the visual side of all things music. Special limited packages, 12' sleeves, posters, cd packages, illustration... the book(s) have it all. A great pick up for the music / design fan in you life, even if that person is you.



Ha, Anthony Bourdain just made a Kraftwerk reference on his show, it helps he is in Berlin on tonight's episode I guess. This is a great show. Cue the Kraftwerk music...

Sarah and I plan on going to his restaurant in March, while in NYC. Could be very fun.

I am leaning on not going to Coachella this year. Lots of reasons really, not including almost 10 years of going out there, plus numerous Lollapaloozas, Intonations, Pitchforks, etc... I might be festival-ed out, and no it has nothing to do with my age. I just prefer my shows a little smaller, I actually like seeing the people on stage. I think Coachella, like Lolla, has gotten too big, and I know it sounds terrible, but its gotten too popular. 20-40,000 people at a festival I can handle, 60,000 becomes a bit crowded and silly. Now I of course have some escape clauses in my non-going contract: A Smiths magical reunion show, Bowie, Stone Roses, a head-headliner heavy Coachella (Portishead+Radiohead), or a Suede reunion, could all very well void my non-going proclamations. We shall see, but I am taking some extra money to NYC this year.

My new favorite saying: "I WIN"

My new favorite song: Crystal Castles vs Health - Crimewave. (those who get my mix next month will get it, it's on there)

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LATE NIGHT STUFF

So I just read that Panic At the Disco, got their name by being "influenced" by the Smiths, namely the song "Panic." Ugh.

So my question is, how can a band with such a great influence turn out to be so crappy?

Maybe its all hogwash and they have no idea who the Smiths are? Some record executive, just wrote their bio one day while listening to the Smiths and wammo! God, I really hope that's the case, because they are beyond terrible.

Other...

NME is touting Radiohead is being courted by Goldenvoice (again) for this year's Coachella. This may really happen as their tour dates have still yet to be posted other than the cities. Hmmm. Looks very likely if you ask me.

This Brit Box that Rhino put out is great. Granted I have 95% of it - but its nice to get it re-mastered, and the package is pretty cool too. Plus I can take the 4 discs and have an instant anglo-thon wherever, with no mixing needed. Good job Rhino!

Great song of the night that just played:

Gene - Sleep Well Tonight.
(speaking of which I'm going to bed)

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C DUB’S BANDS TO WATCH IN 2008!
Category: Music

So here's a list of artists that might be in heavy rotation on your ipods and such very soon, if not already.

Check some of them out won't you?

The Courteeners
Ting Tings
Reverend and the Makers
MGMT
The Blakes
Cats on Fire
The Rascals (soon to be Rascals UK I'm sure)
Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
The Wombats
Friendly Fires
The Lodger
Lightspeed Champion
Glasvegas
Foals

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COACHELLA 2008
Category: Music

Here are the 2008 Coachella Confirms thus far! FYI rumor has it that Radiohead turned them down due to their own tour schedule, which was just announced today (no specific dates, just cities, and no Columbus, but Cleveland's Blossom is on there, I win)

Anyway...

COACHELLA 2008 (so far)

Sia
Akron Family
Spiritualized
Underworld
Goldfrapp
Chromeo
Hot Chip
Feist
Dwight Yoakam
Heidi Vogel & The Cinematic Orchestra
Autolux
The Verve (confirmed on the Zane Lowe BBC1 radio show last week in the UK)
Death Cab for Cutie
VHS or Beta
Rabbit in the Moon
The Breeders
Portishead (still listed as iffy as there has been no hard confirmation)
Chemical Brothers
Vampire Weekend

A lot of bloggers are keeping tabs (and links) for all this mumbo jumbo, if you are interested, here's one.

http://avoision.blogspot.com/

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NEW GOLDFRAPP = YAWN?
Category: Music

Ok I'm all for artist doing a change in direction, but sometimes those changes don't work.

Case in point:

The new Goldfrapp single, A&E. While it's not completely a "new" direction, as it has a lot in common with her earlier work, I think it lacks any sort of interesting quality. It's pretty, nice, sort of melodic, but then again so is Carrie Underwood. I am already missing the sleezy, sexy, sharp electronic bite of Supernature and Black Cherry.

Hopefully, the A&E single is not representative of the entire new record. Color me unimpressed at this point.

You can hear it on her myspace page by the way.
http://www.myspace.com/goldfrapp

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THE LATEST CONCERT UPDATE (FINALLY A NEW ONE!)
Category: Music

Getting back into the swing of things.


Von Bondies
Saturday January 12 - Basement - $12

White Williams
Friday January 18 - Grog Shop - $8

Mars Volta
Saturday January 19 - Newport - $25

G. Love
Monday January 21 - Newport - $25

The Walkmen / White Rabbits
Tuesday January 22 - Basement - $15

Editors / Hot Hot Heat / Louis XIV
Wednesday January 23 - Newport - $15

Fiery Furnaces
Thursday January 24 - Basement - $12

Times New Viking / The Ponys
Friday January 25 - Wexner Center (performance space) - $10

Band of Horses
Friday January 25 - Beachland Ballroom - (SOLD OUT)

Cobra Starship
Sunday January 27 - Basement - $10

Band of Horses
Sunday January 27 - Southgate House - (SOLD OUT)

Dan Deacon
Monday January 28 - Grog Shop - $8

Manchester Orchestra
Wednesday January 30 - Basement - $5 (CD101)

Mariyln Manson
Saturday February 2 - The LC - $45

Redwalls
Thursday February 7 - Basement - $10

Vampire Weekend
Thursday February 14 - Wexner Center (Black Box Stage Setup) - $10

The Bravery / Switches
Friday February 15 - Newport - $20

Linkin Park / Coheed and Cambria
Friday February 15 - Nationwide - $55

The New York Dolls
Wednesday February 20 - Beachland Ballroom - $25

Wilco
Friday February 22 - Lakewood Civic - $20

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
Saturday February 23 - Southgate House - $15

St. Vincent
Sunday February 24 - Wexner Center (Black Box Stage Setup) - $12

The Hives
Saturday March 1 - Newport - $20

Black Lips
Tuesday March 4 - Basement - $10

Nik Bärtsch's Ronin
Tuesday March 4 - Wexner Center (performance space) - $16

Ani DiFranco
Wednesday March 5 - The LC - $35

Adrian Belew
Friday March 7 - Beachland Ballroom - $20

311
Sunday March 16 - The LC - $40

Los Lobos
Friday March 21 - Palace - $35

The Cribs
Sunday March 23 - Grog Shop - $8

Bruce Springsteen
Monday March 24 - Palace - $60-$95 ($95 is GA only)

British Sea Power
Thursday March 27 - Basement - $12

Van Halen
Tuesday April 1 - Schott - $60-$162.00

Explosions in the Sky
Thursday April 3 - Beachland Ballroom - $12

Caribou
Wednesday April 9 - Wexner Center (performance space) - $10

Ministry
Tuesday May 6 - The Agora - $25

Reverend Horton Heat
Sunday May 11 - Newport Music Hall - $20

Dirtbombs
Sunday May 25 - The Basement - $12

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DEAR FANS OF RAINBOWS
Category: Music

Yeah Radiohead released a new record this week. It's called In Rainbows. I really really like it.

BUT...

Am I the only one on planet earth who DOES NOT completely love the whole digital only thing? It sure seems like I am. I get the harshest of criticism for saying the slightest of negative things about this so-called "groundbreaking" business model. (so-called, is already getting me some more I'm sure)

I find it scary that this model while - great for Radiohead - ultimately could de-value music. Music is an intellectual property - there IS a value beyond just emotion attached to it. Picasso didn't give his art away, Frank Lloyd Wright got some serious pay days, and even Mozart didn't go hungry, point is, without a certain value, does that keep some art from getting made? I think the answer is yes. So is that the reason I'm not totally warming up to the digital only, name your price, download? There's got to be more to it than that.

Is it me? Can I help it if I like walking in to a record store and picking up an actual effin record or cd, is that all there is to it? Who knows? I like to look at artwork, I like to have a visual reference for things on how a song might have made me feel at the time. That certainly can not be a bad thing.

For example, I remember when I first heard How to Disappear Completely... I was at a midnight sale at our local indie store, Sour Records. I was chatting with fans, hanging with friends, grabbing some bear stickers and 12x12 flats, and having a great time listening to the record in store for the first time. Then that song came on - and this guy a few people down from me tears up, it was crazy, but it made me listen to the song even closer than I normally would. I will always remember that. I remember getting home and looking a the art for a while, all the time listening to the cd in headphones. Ah happy days.

So In Rainbows comes out and I'm so "meh" about it, it bothers me. I really like the tunes, it's not going to be called "In Rainblows" anytime soon. So, no, it can't be that. Maybe its the 10 second download of a bland ZIP file, a file folder that just sits there like any other file on my computer? I mean it looks exactly like the folder my home owners insurance info is in. Maybe I can put in all caps? Nope, that didn't work.

Am I an old fogie? Hardly. I ain't that old people. I still go to WAY more shows than kids half my age, I also prolly own quadruple the records of anyone I know. So it's not that. Age doesn't figure into it.

Is it because I like stuff laying around the house. Is it because I have endless room to store things? Nah (I don't).

The answer is that I might care too much. I care about the music business (even though I have NO ties to it) I care about new artist development, the health of places like Sour Records and Used Kids. Even shopping at Virgin is fun. The fact is a lot of stray gun fire is coming from this Radiohead pistol, and it's hitting more targets than just the big bad record labels. While I applaud them for being unique in their efforts, I think we all should be careful and look at the big picture, and what it means to live without record labels or music stores. Imagine what its like for a new band trying to do this, financially - its a disaster. Radiohead is in a luxury position that very few bands are. They need no money, they have a huge fan base that is tech savvy, they don't need critical praise, and they don't need a record deal. But wasn't it a major label that gave us bands like Radiohead all those years ago - ah yes - it was, and for good or bad, many others along with them. Again, taking on the old business model with a new one, ultimately destroys that old model and most of the things that come with it. This is not an entirely bad thing, cd's have been over-priced for years. But as with aspects like pricing, some of those old model things are bad - but some are not. We wouldn't have a Radiohead without a major record label putting Pablo Honey out in the first place. That was directly related to artist development, something that will decrease to a scary level, without any labels contributing funds and resources to it. Ah well, in the end - we'll all enjoy In Rainbows on our own level, and that will be filling enough till they start another tour.

Just sayin it's a good record with crap for cover art.

CW

"We as a people, tend to value less, what comes to us easy."

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BABYSHAMBLES
Category: Music

Pre-ordered Shotters Nation, yesterday. If you haven't heard Delivery (single) then do yourself a favor - go listen - its ace! Very KINKS though, but if you know me, then you know that's right up me alleyway.

Finished latest mix too, sudo artwork for it is debuting as my new profile pic.

Arcade Fire / LCD Soundsystem tonight, it will be great. Oh' one mo thang, I've decided to stop trying to get people to go to concerts - if ya wanna be lame - then so be it. I know where I will be.

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THE NEW CONCERT SCHEDULE! (October 3!)
Category: Music

DEERHUNTER
Tuesday, October 2, Southgate House ($10)

THE SEA AND CAKE
Wednesday, October 3, Beachland Ballroom Cleveland ($15)

OFFICE
Thursday, October 4, Grog Shop ($12)

ARCADE FIRE / LCD SOUNDSYSTEM***
Friday October 5, The LC ($40)
(this is very close to selling out)

BORIS / DAMON AND NAOMI
Friday October 5, Wexner Center ($15)

OVER THE RHINE
Saturday, October 6, Wexner Center ($15)

TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS / THE A SIDES
Tuesday, October 9, The LC (CD101 Low Dough Show - $5)

FIERY FURNACES
Tuesday, October 9, Southgate House ($10)

SMASHING PUMPKINS / EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY
Thursday, October 11, The LC ($54)

MUTEMATH / EISLEY
Thursday, October 11, The Newport ($15)

GRIZZLY BEAR
Thursday, October 11, Wexner Center ($18)

MAN MAN
Thursday, October 11, Southgate House ($12)

BOB DYLAN / ELVIS COSTELLO (solo) / AMOS LEE
Saturday, October 13, Schottenstein Center ($37-$67)

NADA SURF / SEA WOLF
Wednesday, October 15, The Basement ($12)

WILCO***
Tuesday, October 16, Mershon @ Wexner Center ($35)

THE RAVONETTES
Wednesday, October 17, The Basement ($12)

SHOUT OUT LOUDS
Saturday, October 20, The Basement ($12)

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE / BIFFY CYLRO / THE BLACK ANGELS
Saturday, October 20, The LC ($28)

WEEN
Tuesday, October 23, The LC ($28)

RYAN ADAMS AND THE CARDINALS
Thursday, October 25, The LC ($25-$45)

NME ROCK N ROLL TOUR, FEATURING:
THE HOLD STEADY / ART BRUT / FEDERALE***
Saturday, October 27, Newport Music Hall ($20)

JENS LEKMAN
Thursday, November 1, Beachland Ballroom Cleveland ($8)

JOSH RITTER
Sunday, November 4, Southgate House ($12)

ELECTRIC SIX / 1990s / WE ARE THE FURY
Friday, November 9, The Basement ($12)

CARIBOU
Friday, November 9, Grog Shop Cleveland ($12)

MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND
Tuesday, November 13, Wexner Center ($15)

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
Wednesday, November 14, Newport Music Hall ($20)
(this show is ages 13 and over)

BUSDRIVER / ANTI MC
Thursday, November 15, Grog Shop Cleveland ($10)

BLUE MAN GROUP
Thursday, November 15, Nationwide Arena ($35)

TEGAN AND SARA / NORTHERN STATE
Monday, November 26, Newport Music Hall ($20)




*** I have purchased tickets and I am going to these shows.

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