Modern Guilt by Beck

This has been out for a little but and I have been meaning to mention it.

Let me first say, I hate the expression “return to form”. Not sure exactly why. Usually I hear it and think “hang on… the stuff in between hasn’t been that bad?!”. It is just a more credible way of saying “I didn’t like the stuff where you tried to vary it up a bit… please sound more like you used to”. Why do I mention that? Well, the new Beck album Modern Guilt has in some circles been trumpted this “return to form”.

OK… so The Information was a bit patchy (but how sweet was Nausea and the opening few tracks), but Guero was great and I remember everyone gushing about Sea Change at the time. So why is Modern Guilt illicting this response? I am not sure. I guess because it is great, not because it sounds just like Odelay (which it doesn’t). Maybe because it is just a fun record where Beck sounded like it was cool to make.

Maybe it is because of the brevity too. If The Information was pared back to 12 tracks it would be pretty killer. This is 10 tracks at a bit over half an hour. And you know what? I don’t feel cheated at all. All it makes me want to do is listen to it again.

Sound wise you can hear Danger Mouse‘s fingers all over it. A couple tracks sound like they could have come straight from . But is a nice mix between him, Beck, and some songwriting that seems a touch more straight forward.

So anyway, this is just a brief note to say go grab it. I really dig it.

… muttler

Mid-Year Best Of List

I love lists. And I love making compilations. So it is about this time of year I compile my first “Best Of” CD, usually for my friends Damien and Anna.

I will post the tracklisting in the next few days when I actually make it, but here is my top-5 albums so far in 2008.

1. Flight of the Conchords:

None of my friends will be surprised by this choice. I don’t exaggerate when I say I have listened to this 300 times. Now I don’t usually “get” musical comedy, but I seriously think this is genius. It is my favourite driving CD, and when I drive I sing along and I laugh. Sure people laugh at me when I am sitting at the lights, but I don’t care. Plus Ladies of the World gets my nod so far for most awesome song of the year. Redheads, not Warheads… Blondes, not Bombs… I’m talking about Brunettes, not Fighter Jets. I love it.

Flight of the Conchords – Ladies of the World

2. Third by Portishead:

If FotC didn’t exist then I would have listened to this even more. As it is, I listen to it a lot. What makes this album even more remarkable is it took 10 years, and it still shows Portishead as the most vital “electronic” band out there. The beats are awesome, and the track We Carry On just gives me goose-bumps.

Portishead – We Carry On

3. Consolers of the Lonely by The Raconteurs:

This is probably a bit biased. Maybe some other albums could have made it instead. But Jack White and co. kicked my ass when this all of a sudden turned up. Not only was it a surprise, but it was 14 awesomely great tracks. Not a dud in there. Maybe it is a touch too long, but that really only says it is too good rather than being filler.

The Raconteurs – Salute Your Solution

4. Narrow Stairs by Death Cab For Cutie:

If you told me that Death Cab would be vying for a spot in my top 5, I would have laughed. Not that I don’t like them, but I thought Plans was pretty average. But Narrow Stairs is a really great from start to finish. It has some of Death Cab’s best songs in ages on it. Only 11 tracks (a couple of short ones in there) but it just flows beautifully. Some of my friends don’t dig it, but I think they are all crazy like.

Death Cab For Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart

5. Get Awkward by Be Your Own Pet / Blood Visions by Jay Reatard

Sorry about the double up, but here is two pop-punk albums that I just love. Jay Reatard came out of nowhere. I heard a bit about it, chased it up, and then went “whoa! how awesome is this?!”. 15 songs, 25 minutes. Perfection. Be Your Own Pet are a bit more accessible, and I may have even listened to this even more. I quite liked their first album, but this just takes it to the next level. Like Jay Reatard, brevity is the key. And this is also 15 tracks of bliss, not a dud in there. In fact The Kelly Affair is probably the second best song so far in 2008. How I love Russ Meyer.

Be Your Own Pet – The Kelly Affair

and

Jay Reatard – Not A Substitute

Honourable Mentions: Sorry to Nick Cave, Black Mountain, She and Him, My Disco and Sigur Ros. You should probably all be on this list.

… muttler

More Catchup’s #2: New Pornographers!!!

Those of you who know me know that I obsess over a few bands. There is Beatles, Pixies, Pavement, White Stripes, Wilco, and usually rounding out the half-dozen is The New Pornographers. Sure, you all know I love my picture of Neko and I, but ultimately I just can’t get enough of the Porno’s music. 4 albums, and they are all gold. In fact I would struggle even to name more than handful of songs of across all 4 albums that I don’t love.

Anyway, why all the pornography? Well, they are coming back to Oz, and even better, they are coming to my beloved Corner Hotel! Woo Hoo! They are here in mid-October and I promise you it will be awesome. Their show at the Prince a couple years back was one of those gigs that made me giddy with joy. So yes, I will be in obsessive mode the next few months. Tickets are on sale Friday so get on to it I tells ya.

… muttler

Catch Up Post #3: New Sigur Ros album

Well, you have seen a few posts from me about Sigur Ros in the last fortnight. And here is one more. The band has their new album streaming on their website right now, a week or two before it is in stores. The full title being Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly). So I have got to live with it for a week or so now. And what do I think?

I am digging it. As indicated by the opening track (and free download) Gobbledigook, it is a lot more playful at times, especially the first 3 or 4 tracks. But is definitely an album of two halves, my only criticism of it is that it has a definite upbeat vibe in the first half, which then turns into more a mood piece in the second half. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I find I get really enthusiastic about the first half, and then find the second half tracks pretty much indistinguishable. But I don’t mean it in a bad sense… they flow beautifully and before I know it, the album has finished.

Regardless, it is a great album… just a little different to show Sigur Ros can be a little different, but still with quintessential Sigur Ros parts. Some tracks though, especially Festival, are going to blow our socks off live come August. Giddy up.

… muttler

It’s Oh So Quiet (oh, and Metallica continue to be jerks)

What a quiet time on the Barricade.

There hasn’t really been many albums or movies or anything happening of late. Well maybe there has been and we have been too slack to write. I promise I will soon! It is exam marking time so that is taking most of my time and sanity away. But here is what you can expect some posts on over the next week (with some teasers)…

(Photo from http://www.euro2008.uefa.com)

• Euro 2008… Dutchies beat Italy… woo hoo!
• Southland Tales… oh my god… what an absolute train-wreck of a film
• Mario Kart… the only thing more fun than playing Mario Kart is playing Mario Kart against friends
• Flight of the Conchords… I am officially obsessed
• Spiritualized, Songs in A & E… more songs about gods and devils

That is what is happening at the moment, as well as work and PhD.

A parting story. Apparently Metallica played an early mix of their new album to some music journos. Of course, they wrote about it on their blogs. So what does Metallica do? Forces them to take the posts down. So why did you play it to them in the first place?! Jerks.

… Muttler

… and more Sigur Ros

You know what? I am starting to get a little tired of all these “surprise! you can download something for free online!” mornings. Yesterday morning was waking up to a new Sigur Ros track. Bah, who am I kidding. I love it! Waking up to some new music from a band you love is a great way to start the day.

If you visit sigurros.com you can grab the opening track to their forthcoming album Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly), due in a few weeks. The track is called Gobbledigook and I am not 100% sure what to make of it.

I think it is a bold choice to set this track free outside the context of the album. On it’s own I think it is not that awe-inspiring (not like Glosoli was as a lead in to Takk). I have a feeling though as an opener to an album it might be a strong signal what you will get. So I have to really reserve judgement I think until the whole album drops. You can tell I am being diplomatic. You can also check out the clip for the track on the website too. not really work safe… lots of naked frolicking in the woods. Not sure about the proposed cover either… having some naked butts staring at you is a bit strange, especially in vinyl size. The image below isn’t the cover but I reckon is a much better choice (it is a promo photo for the track).

… muttler

More Death Cab… Australian Tour

Death Cab For Cutie have announced an Oz tour for late August. I guess that rules them out of Splendour In The Grass, but doesn’t worry me being in Melbourne! Sunday August 17 here in Melbourne at the Palace Theatre (ie the Metro). Tickets are on sale Friday 30th.

Not sure what to do. I really dig the new album, but last tour I thought they were just OK. Hhhmmm… we’ll see. Plus now that they are high falutin’ Billboard #1 types who know what kind of crowd will be there. i wonder what all the kids do noth being able to get into an Over-18’s venue? Might be fake ID’s ahoy.

… muttler

Sigur Ros – I have my ticket… do you?

Sigur Ros are coming back to Melbourne. After originally taking years to get here, they toured twice for Takk, and now about to tour for their 3rd time (not counting wacky dance recital thingy’s) for their new forthcoming album. How awesome is that? Anyone who has watched Heima, their doco about heading around Iceland playing free shows will be champing at the bit.

But why, oh why Mr Promoter, do you have them at Festival Hall? The only reason that place hasn’t been torn down is because the Beatles played there back in ’64.

… muttler

Narrow Stairs by Death Cab For Cutie

They nearly lost me. Well, not really. Death Cab For Cutie that is. Their last couple of LP’s, while I didn’t mind them, I didn’t listen to them flat out. Both were half-great albums, where for every song I really dug, there was another I thought was a bit yawn-o. Then I saw them last year (or was it the year before?!) at the Forum, and it was just OK. Nothing obviously wrong, but just OK.

So Narrow Stairs comes along. I heard the lead single I Will Possess Your Heart, and thought, hmmm, this is OK. Then heard another track or two, and I thought, maybe we are on a winner. And you know what? I think we are.

This is the first Death Cab album I reckon where I see quite a significant change from the last. Each was a steady change from great (We Have The Facts), to perfect (Photo Album), then back down a couple pegs. But this LP has some clear change in direction. Your New Twin Sized Bed is the best thing Death Cab have done for ages. But then I can’t remember anything in their back catalogue that is in the same ball park as Talking Bird. Death Cab doing My Bloody Valentine? Who would have thought.

So I really digging this. A couple of my friends who are rabid Death Cab fans aren’t digging it. But I think all they need is a little time, cause I reckon this is a bit of alright.

… muttler

P.S Where are all Jase’s posts coming from?! Man, he is either very busy, or not busy at all 🙂

Yep, I was at the Drones too

You have read Jase’s review of the Drones gig the other night, and I don’t think I have too much to add. For once we are on the same page.

I thought the new songs sounded great too. I said to Jase and James-o that I thought they were a touch more accessible than their usual stuff, but they didn’t agree. I’m right though, so you can quote me on this… the next Drones album will be big. Well, not big in a Powderfinger sense… maybe big in a You Am I when people liked them sense. It deserves to be anyway. Best Australian band at the moment, without a shadow of a doubt.

… muttler