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The Pains of Being Pure at Heart with Twin Shadow and Creepoid – First Unitarian Church (Philadelphia) – March 31, 2011
Please see my full review here.
Sebadoh with Richard Buckner – Johnny Brenda’s (Philadelphia) – March 25, 2011
After the Jill Sobule and John Doe show (see item #3 below), which was an early show, we went up to Johnny Brenda’s and saw an utterly amazing Sebadoh show. This was a completely different band from the one whose sloppy set playing Bubble and Scrape back in 2007 at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago (on the ATP Don’t Look Back night, the first night of that festival) was such a disappointment. This was fast, furious, tight and invigorating, Sebadoh playing all of the classics in a small club setting to a rapturous, adoring, sold-out audience.
Jill Sobule and John Doe – Tin Angel (Philadelphia) – March 25, 2011
Please see my full review here.
J Mascis with Kurt Vile – World Cafe Live (Philadelphia) – March 23, 2011
Although we’ve seen Mascis numerous times over the years with Dinosaur Jr, this was the first (mostly) solo, acoustic show of his that we’d seen. It was a good one with Mascis mixing stripped-down versions of Dinosaur classics like “Repulsion,” “The Wagon” and “Get Me” with selections from his new Lp Several Shades of Why and even a cover of Edie Brickell‘s “Circle”. Opener Kurt Vile, in addition to joining Mascis on a few tracks, played a terrific opening set backed by his band The Violators.
Jill Sobule and John Doe – A Day at the Pass (The John Doe Corporation/Pinko Records)
This disc, a fully fun-funded effort (trying saying that several times in a row), is a live-in-the-studio effort featuring new songs from both Sobule and Doe alongside some of Sobule’s classics like the sublime “Mexican Wrestler” (from 2000’s amazing Pink Pearl) and even an amped-up version of her 1995 hit “I Kissed a Girl”. As in their live show, Sobule is the dominant presence, but Doe is no slouch, contributing terrific songs like “Walking Out the Door” and a nice cover of Big Star‘s “I’m in Love with a Girl”. It’s also fun to hear them harmonizing together on these tracks with Sobule assuming the role of X‘s Exene Cervenka.
Jill Sobule – Pink Pearl (Beyond)
This was one of my favorite albums the year it was released and having not listened to it in a long time, it was fun to revisit after her recent show here with John Doe. Furthermore, I like it just as much now. A fan could play any of Sobule’s full-lengths to convert skeptics who think of her as a one-hit wonder that she’s an extraordinarily talented singer and songwriter, but this one might be exhibit A. “Mexican Wrestler” and “Somewhere in New Mexico” are heartwrenchingly beautiful ballads and the closer “Rock Me to Sleep” (written with Richard Barone) is a gem as well. There are upbeat moments as well like the clever “Heroes” or the opener “Rainy Day Parade” (which sounds like ’60s sunshine pop despite its title), though many of them are also colored with melancholy lyrics. A beautiful and moving album.
Vivian Girls – “I Heard You Say” EP (Polyvinyl)
I got a physical copy of this 7” a few days ago and listened to it again earlier and I must say that it’s really growing on me, especially the A-side. Yes it’s a much more mature, melodic and wistful sound for them, explicitly referencing ’60s girl group pop and on some level it feels like what The Raveonettes did with Pretty in Black. I was confused by this record at first, but now I’m starting to really like it.
The Go-Betweens – Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express (Beggars Banquet)
It’s been almost five years since Grant McLennan passed away. He may be gone, but songs like “The Ghost and the Black Hat,” “In the Core of the Flame” and “Apology Accepted” will live on. And don’t forget Robert Forster‘s amazing contributions, like “Twin Layers of Lightning” and “Spring Rain” just to name a few, as well.
The Adolescents – Brats in Batallions (SOS)
Of course the first, self-titled album is an all-time classic and a perfectly recorded punk document (one has to credit Thom Wilson for this), but their 2nd Lp has long been a favorite of mine as well. It’s a great listen, but it’s sad how songs like “Losing Battle” are still so lyrically relevant 25 years later.
The Minutemen – 3 Way Tie (for Last) (SST)
This one’s for D Boon, who would’ve been 53 on April 1st.
