Hot Chip with Free Blood- Starlight Ballroom (Philadelphia, PA) – April 10, 2008
I like Hot Chip’s last few records, but this is a classic case of a band who you really must see live. Their incredible live show is not only the best I’ve seen all year thus far, but makes their generally fine recording work seem almost silly in comparison. It was just an hour and a half, non-stop, unpretentious dance party. I loved it.
Jandek – German Society of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA) – April 12, 2008
I jumped at the chance to see Jandek even though I’ve never really listened to his music because I like the documentary Jandek on Cornwood and because I may not have the chance to see him again. With that said, while the room was exquisite (though stuffy and warm) and the instrumentation (harp, bassoon and clarinet with Jandek himself on piano) intriguing, I don’t know if I’d want to repeat the experience. With no rhythmic structure whatsoever, his music is clearly influenced by 20th century classical music and bears similarities to artists like NICO and later TALK TALK as well. However, after a few songs, it just got a bit repetitive.
Hot Chip – Made in the Dark (DFA)
Despite what I said above about Hot Chip’s live show upstaging their records, I keep playing this one anyway.
Jay Reatard – “See Saw” EP (Matador)
The first in a series of six planned 7”s that will later be released on a single CD, this is Jay Reatard’s first release for Matador and it’s a scorcher. My fiancee pointed out that the A-side “See Saw” sounds like “a classic indie-rock song like early ‘90s SEBADOH” and I don’t think she’s far off the mark. Clearly, Jay has been listening to indie-rock from New Zealand and Australia as evidenced by his listing THE CLEAN, THE VERLAINES and TALL DWARFS as influences on his MySpace page and from his great cover of THE GO-BETWEENS’ “Don’t Let Him Come Back” last year as well. Nevertheless, fear not punkers. The lo-fi intensity is still there, but just a bit more melodic. The B-side “Screaming Hand” is a bit more similar to the punk-tinged tunes on Blood Visions, but it’s the A-side that’s the real thrill here.
American Music Club – The Golden Age (Merge)
Although I’ve been listening to this one for a few months now and I like it, I feel like it hasn’t quite grabbed me yet (at least not fully). Nevertheless, there’s something in this mellow, world-weary tunes that keeps me listening, despite its length and its lack of an easy entry point.
The Chills – Brave Words (Flying Nun)
Produced by MAYO THOMPSON, The Chills’ first studio album is also their best. Following a year after their great singles compilation Kaleidoscope World, this is actually a more consistent than either that one or their subsequent major label records despite not having songs quite as stunning on it as say, “Pink Frost,” “Heavenly Pop Hit” or “Double Summer”. Nevertheless, “House of a Hundred Rooms” and “Wet Blanket” come awfully close and the production and energy of the songs at times reminds me of THE WEDDING PRESENT more than their other records do.
The Troggs – Universal Masters Collection (Universal)
I normally avoid the Universal Masters Collection reissues because they’re usually too short and often miss many crucial selections in an artist’s catalog. Thus, their 2 CD “Gold” series discs are usually much better overviews of a band’s catalog. Nonetheless, I enjoy this disc greatly as it neatly collects the finest moments of these underrated Andover, UK garage rockers. Every essential moment is here, from “Wild Thing” to “With a Girl Like You” (memorably covered by ALEX CHILTON) to “I Can’t Control Myself”. And yes, their big hit “Love is All Around” is here, too. There’s a reason why these songs have been covered so often and why R.E.M. worked with them on their 1992 comeback album Athens Andover.
Hawkwind – Space Rock in London (no label)
This is also known as BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert and as that description implies, it’s Hawkwind at their early peak in 1972, right around the same time as their double-album eardrum assault Space Ritual was released. Some of the same songs show up here, too, but the track listing is different and thus this is worth seeking out for any fan. You can get it here.
Cocteau Twins – “Heaven or Las Vegas”
The title track of their 1990 album (considered by some to be their best, though I’ve always preferred their previous album Blue Bell Knoll) is perhaps the finest moment of their career. It shows ELISABETH FRASER starting to come out of her shell by making some of the lyrics (though hardly all) intelligible and the band’s dream-pop highlighted by ROBIN GUTHRIE’s chiming guitars and SIMON RAYMONDE, whose lush bass playing increasingly dominated the band during this time as Guthrie was experiencing problems with drug and alcohol addiction.
Colin Meloy – Colin Meloy Sings Live (Kill Rock Stars)
I just bought this a few days ago and have only had a chance to hear it a few times. Otherwise, it would be higher on this week’s list. Essential for any fan of THE DECEMBERISTS and in theory a good place to start for those unfamiliar with them because the track listing comprises selections from their first 3 albums, a few covers and some rarities as well. What this set shows is that in time, Colin Meloy will as revered as a songwriter as his heroes ROBYN HITCHCOCK or perhaps even MORRISSEY, but you already knew that.
