Mark Burgess – The M Room (Philadelphia) – August 7, 2010
Playing an identical set list to the show the prior weekend in Brooklyn that capped off the Big Takeover 30th anniversary festival, this show wasn’t QUITE as captivating. How could it be, though, when we’d been blown away the weekend before without expecting it and with the incredible vibe that was at the Bell House that weekend and particularly during his set?
Nevertheless, after a bit of a slow start, Burgess and his young band hit their stride and powered through one CHAMELEONS classic after another.
Hallogallo – International House (Philadelphia) – August 8, 2010
Although “Hallogallo”, the first song on NEU!‘s eponymous first album from 1972 and one of the greatest driving songs ever, was the only Neu! song this makeshift band (featuring Neu!‘s MICHAEL ROTHER backed by TALL FIRS‘ AARON MULLIN on bass and SONIC YOUTH‘s STEVE SHELLEY on drums) performed, this was still a terrific show. Most of the material consisted of HARMONIA (“Dino”) and Rother solo material, but no matter. His solo compositions were just as startling as “Hallogallo” in a live setting and Shelley performed the human metronome role of the late KLAUS DINGER admirably well, pounding out Neu!‘s classic “motorik” beat on track after track. Incredible.
Sheer Terror – Starlight Ballroom (Philadelphia) – August 13, 2010
Please see my full review here.
The Standard Fare – “Philadelphia” EP (Sheffield Recording Company)
I picked this single at their show here last week. The A-side is also on their terrific album The Noyelle Beat and the B-side “Don’t Tell” is a fine track as well. It’s a bit quieter, at least at first, than most of their other songs, but could’ve fit right in on the album as well.
Joe Jackson – Beat Crazy (A&M)
As he turned 56 a few days ago, I listened to this 1980 album earlier today. An underrated gem, it contains some of Jackson’s best work alongside well-intentioned missteps like “Battleground”.
Best Coast – Crazy for You (Mexican Summer)
When I first got this, I played the first side 3 times in a row. I almost never do this, but this is a testament to how incredibly catchy and addictive this album and particularly the track “Boyfriend” (a future classic) is. Think a tighter and poppier VIVIAN GIRLS and you’re sort of there. For all of the BEACH BOYS comparisons, the sound of this record is much closer to BETHANY COSENTINO‘s childhood influence JENNY LEWIS‘ band RILO KILEY or even Live Through This-era HOLE or THAT DOG.
The Arcade Fire – The Suburbs (Merge)
When we first listened to this, both my wife and I were relatively disappointed. We both knew that it had the potential to be a grower, though, and sure enough by the second listen, I was hooked. Ignore the naysayers. It’s amazing that music this challenging and weird is so super popular, but they’re just operating at a much higher level than almost anyone else these days and deserve every bit of their success.
Channel 3 – “Indian Summer”
I’ve been obsessed with this band lately and this song in particular. Their last release for Posh Boy and also included on the BYO comp Something to Believe In in 1984, this track marked a move away from the speedier, more typical (albeit still great) punk rock they played before to something a bit more a punked-up version of THE ALARM. This isn’t a bad thing. This song is so catchy that you won’t get it out of your head for days. Plus, the subject matter (like many other songs from the mid ’80s) dealt with nuclear dread, showing a lyrical maturity compared to their earlier work as well. This song also opened their 1985 Enigma Lp Last Time I Drank…I Thought of You, but the earlier version blows it away.
The Pop Group – Y (Radar)
Experimental, daring and completely unhinged, I can only imagine what people thought of this when it came out in 1979. It’s also apparent that THE BIRTHDAY PARTY took a lot from them and this album in particular as well.
The Beatles – Revovler (EMI/Apple)
The mono remaster of this from last year sounds unbelievable and pretty much affirms that this is my favorite Beatles album.
