If you are not doing anything on April 3rd you really need to buy a ticket to The New Limb’s album release show at The House of Blues in Anaheim. Yes, there’s been some great albums this year so far but I am not lying in saying this one is probably my most anticipated. I know I gush quite a bit about these guys on here, but they deserve it. They are definitely one of the most talented and charismatic bands I’ve seen perform in ages and from what I hear their debut full length will not disappoint. Also, they recently won Best Indie Band at the OC Music Awards, so if that doesn’t say something, I don’t know what does. I am saddened by the fact that I will be out of town that weekend but I know there will be plenty more chances to see the band as they are only going to get bigger after this monumental show!
My favorite local band, The New Limb, is in contention for The OC People’s Choice Awards and you can help them out by voting for them here. Just put The New Limb in the band name field and vote away. I am SUPER excited for their full length album which drops soon, I hope. It will definitely be in serious contention with whatever Jason Martin puts out for my album of the year for 2010.
While I said earlier that I agreed with Rolling Stone’s assesment of Radiohead being the band of the decade, I have to say that Starflyer 59′s Dial M is my choice for album of the decade. I have listened to it more in the two years it has been out than any other album I have pretty much ever. That’s saying a lot since I pretty much listen to music all day long. I can never grow tired of the combined rock and synth sounds, a blend that Jason Martin has truly perfected on this album. After The Brothers Martin album was released in 2007 I knew that Jason’s next offering would be something special and I certainly wasn’t let down. If you haven’t checked this out yet, you are totally missing out.
Brax interviewed Jason Martin of Starflyer 59. I don’t know how he did it. He sure as heck didn’t tell me about it. Someone please tell Brax I am mad at him because I am not speaking to him right now.
OK, first question: What is the deal with the question marks next to Thom Yorke? Does that mean Radiohead is playing? Is it Thom Yorke and unknown guests? Is there some new band I don’t know about called the Question Marks? Either way, Day 3 definitely sounds awesome and I am really going to have to consider braving the crowds and the heat to see Pavement, Gorillaz, Thom Yorke and who knows, De La freaking Soul, Gary Numan (I wonder if his mentions on The Mighty Boosh have anything to do with this resurgence), and tons of other great bands. The other days look good, don’t get me wrong. I mean, I’d consider going to Day 1 just to see The Specials, but Day 3 really is irresistible for me. I wonder if the Gorillaz are going to do that crazy Pepper’s Ghost thing they’ve done with some of their previous live shows so the characters are actually on stage. That would be NUTS. Now I just have to stock up on SPF 50 sunscreen as Manta Rays burn pretty quickly. Can’t wait!
So I was listening to this streaming radio station the other day called Class of 1998 Reunion and it was pretty awesome. Yeah, they play some crap in there, but there was some crappy music back then, just like there’s always been. Even the crappy music can take me back though. So anyway, they played the song “There She Goes” and it said it was by The Boo Radleys. I am very fond of the movie So I Married an Axe Murderer so I am surprised at myself for not realizing the movie contained two versions of the song, the original by The La’s and a cover by The Boo Radleys (great name btw)!
Now I am kind of torn about which version I like better. Never mind the Sixpence cover, which is decent, but it doesn’t have the nostalgia factor for me like these other two versions do and that is really what makes this song affect me so deeply. The Boo Radleys version is a bit more poppier (is that even a word? Spellcheck says no, but what does it know) but it has the horns and the handclaps which I kind of dig. I’m really starting to wonder why they would put the original and the cover version in the same movie. Did they not think the original was good enough? If I were the La’s I would be kind of offended. What do you think about this whole situation?
I just read that Rolling Stone named Radiohead’s Kid A their Best Album of the Decade. I can’t believe I’m saying this since their writing has totally gone downhill in recent years, but I agree with Rolling Stone. The other day someone (their name will be withheld to save them from embarrassment and possible stoning) told me that Britney Spears was the artist of the decade. After withholding the urge to hurl, I quickly told them that if anyone deserved that moniker, it is Radiohead. In addition to dropping some amazing albums in the last 10 years, they’ve also managed to turn the entire industry on its head with their digital release of In Rainbows and paved the way for tons of indie folks to follow suit. For that alone they deserve serious props but their music is also awesome. Great job, guys!
I seriously thought this was a Postal Service song the first time I heard it.
So apparently now everyone is an “electronic music fan” or something. Don’t believe me? Look at the iTunes charts and you’ll see that Owl City is selling like hot cakes. “So what, Manny? Shouldn’t you be happy that an electronic act is doing well?” you ask. I would be happy, if Owl City was any good. But good does not seem to sell albums. Catchy sells albums. Watered down versions of good bands sell albums. Some dude puts auto-tuned vocals to Garage Band quality tracks and suddenly he is a huge selling Electronic artist. Meanwhile few know who Ohm’s Law are and countless other electronic artists who can actually make a decent track are struggling just to pay the rent. This is what is wrong with music today. I honestly have no solution besides support your local artists, don’t buy into the hype. I mean, really, this dude sounds like Savage Garden but gussied up for a new decade. Also, he totally ripped off The Postal Service. Yeah, think about it.
