Vivian Girls – Barbary (Philadelphia, PA) – August 26, 2009
Playing a typically short, 35 minute set in which they blazed through a mix of songs from their debut, plentiful singles (including both sides of their recent Surf’s Up EP) and new tunes from their about-to-be-released new album Everything Goes Wrong, Vivian Girls are a joy to behold and to listen to, but they almost shouldn’t be. Like their records, it threatens to fall apart at any minute, but their sense of songcraft and those gorgeous, 3-way harmonies prevail every time!
Vivian Girls – Everything Goes Wrong (In the Red)
Please see my full review here.
Vivian Girls – “Moped Girls” EP
Both of these songs aren’t on the new album. The A-side “Moped Girls” reminds me a bit of something that could’ve been on LIZ PHAIR‘s Exile in Guyville. The B-side, “Death”, has lyrics that are somewhat similar to “The End”, a track on the new album, but the tune isn’t quite as strong. Overall, this is another good release, but only essential for fans.
Patton Oswalt – My Weakness is Strong! (WEA/Reprise)
His new CD/DVD set is based off of his new Comedy Central special of the same name, which I admittedly haven’t seen. Still, the CD (his first for a major label) is as hysterical as his previous releases Werewolves and Lollipops and Feelin’ Kinda Patton. The highlight, for me at least, is a bit involving BARACK OBAMA and time travel.
Big Fan ®
We got free passes to see this new film, which was directed by ROBERT SIEGEL, the writer for The Wrestler. Furthermore, it stars Patton Oswalt as basically the most hardcore New York Giants fan on the planet. Though Oswalt is a comedian who’s more known for playing supporting characters (most prominently on the long-running show The King of Queens), this is a serious role and Oswalt wisely plays it that way. It should be stated that he does very well in this rare leading role, too.
Taking Woodstock ®
After watching this last night, I’m still not sure how much of it was made up and how much of it was fictional. Still, DEMETRI MARTIN (another hysterical comedian playing a serious leading role; see a pattern here?) is terrific, as is most of the rest of the stellar supporting cast of ANG LEE‘s new movie. One thing is for sure, though. Without giving away too much of the movie’s plot, I’ll say that this made me wanna go back in time and experience Woodstock!
Joe Pernice – WFMU Studio (Jersey City, NJ) – August 7, 2009
I didn’t get to attend this session (in which Joe was interviewed and played some covers and some of his own songs) in person, but I did listen to the stream a few days ago. You can hear it here. The rest of the show is great, too, with tracks by XTC, KEN STRINGFELLOW, MITCH EASTER, SHE AND HIM and many others as well.
Wall of Voodoo – Dark Continent (I.R.S.)
Instead of being incorrectly categorized as a “one-hit wonder” and remembered for “Mexican Radio” (a great song, but a fluke hit in the very early days of MTV, back when it was much more wide open than it became later) from their also great Call of the West album, Wall of Voodoo (at least while STAN RIDGWAY was in the band) should be remembered for this wonderful album. A unique blend of punk rock (the first incarnation of the band features members of THE SKULLS and BLACK RANDY AND THE METROSQUAD), Americana and synth-driven new wave, Wall of Voodoo defied categorization. Nevertheless, I see them as being one of the great U.S. post-punk bands of the late ’70s and early ’80s.
Jubilee
While, to be honest, I didn’t think too much of this film and its beyond bleak, ultra-nihilistic take on late ’70s UK punk culture, there’s enough subversive content (and a lot of nudity and violence) to make it salvageable. What really makes it worth watching, though, is the stellar cast, featuring TOYAH WILCOX, JORDAN, ADAM ANT, THE SLITS and early performances by ADAM AND THE ANTS (in the “Dirk Wears White Sox” days, long before “Antmusic” and Kings of the Wild Frontier) and (briefly) SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES doing “Love in a Void” as well. Also, BRIAN ENO provided the score.
Scott Walker – Scott 3 (Philips/Fontana)
Scott 4 seems to get the most attention and while that’s a great album, his first three solo albums are great, too. “It’s Raining Today,” “Copenhagen,” “Big Louise” and “Amsterdam” are just some of the highlights here. Credit also has to go to WALLY STOTT for the incredible arranging and conducting found throughout here, too. This is the home of the atypical-sounding, acoustic guitar-based “30th Century Man”, also the title of a recent documentary about Walker.
