Cover Art

This little blurb on the demise of the record sleeve got me thinking...I've always been a bit of a music fetishist, preferring a physical album over binary code. I love cover art, the lyrics and all of those little details that go into a package. When done right, it all adds to the music itself. That being said, I got over it and have now fully embraced digital music. I no longer purchase actual CDs, though I do like to pick up the occasional vinyl. Anyway, I figure the best way to sum it up is to do a quick list: the Best and Worst albums covers of all time. Obviously, the options are too overwhelming to really settle on any single choice, but I'll offer up two 'Best' and two 'Worst' for your consideration. Feel free to offer up some good alternatives yourself.

BEST COVER ART
The Clash - London Calling (1979)

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The Velvet Underground Nico - S/T (1967)

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WORST COVER ART
(i.e. pick a Prince album)
Prince - Lovesexy (1988)

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Prince - Planet Earth (2007)

Musical IQ test

Here's a fun little quiz from eMusic. Just take it on the fly and don't cheat. I scored a 126, which according to their cheeky scale labels me as a...

Mix-Tape Master (109-144 points)
You are a music evangelist: the person in your network of friends who always has the coolest new song, the one whose iPod gets picked to DJ every party. You understand the art of the segue, how the key to the best mix-tape isn't just the songs you pick, but how they interlock with each other. You also know who the up-and-coming acts are and are quick to recognise where their influences lie and whether they will make it big. You work hard at the pursuit of this knowledge, scouring music blogs, magazines and record stores. Most importantly, you are generous with your passion – and your friends should be very, very grateful. Still, it’s always good to get new inspiration for your latest mix.

Not bad, eh?
What did you score?

Yeasayer Take-Away Show

If I was in town this weekend, you can bet I'd be at tonight's highly anticipated Man Man & Yeasayer show at the Varsity. I would have been that guy with his arms crossed, standing motionless off to the side, ever so slightly nodding his head in rhythm; or if he'd had a drink or two, maybe he'd even have some inconspicuous leg shaking goin' on during 2080. Yep, that'd be me. I stand out in a crowd.

Man Man has garnered a reputation as an insane Les Savy Fav-type of live act, but I've yet to catch 'em, dammit. I have seen Yeasayer a few times now and they are a lot of fun and improving with each show I've seen...plus my wife has recently fallen for the dirty fellas, too. It would have been a great date for two old and tired parents. Oh well. If you are in town tonight, and it's not sold out, do me a favor and go for god's sake.

In the meantime, check out Yeasayer's joyfully communal Take-Away show in downtown Paris. Do musicians ever shower?

Eno & Byrne - Together again!

In an interview with Drowned in Sound, David Byrne broke the news that he had recently recorded an entire album of new material with age-old collaborator and fellow living legend, Brian Eno. As you may or may not know, Eno is one my favorite musical entities of all time, hands down. I'm pretty sure this marks the first Byrne-Eno project since the early '80s. This is big news people! Two true icons, back in the sack. We can't expect Bush of Ghosts-caliber material but you gotta think it will be equal if not better than most of Byrne's solo efforts and miles above Eno-produced Coldplay. Hopefully Byrne's ACL performance will showcase a few of these new songs. As a side note, David Byrne has an excellent blog of his own, much better than your average celebrity-written drivel.

While we're reminiscing about former lead members of legendary 70s bands, who went on to become successful, experimentally-inclined solo artists but have now become quite old in age albeit maintaining surprising good looks and less surprising hipster credibility, check out what Peter Gabriel is up to. I'll have to give it a shot.

Or if you prefer...

Tommy Hilfiger has joined forces with Sony BMG to launch Tommy TV - a new fashion-centric music website featuring live performances of new and established artists.

Pitchfork.tv - A First Impression

Pitchfork.tv is a little over a week old now. Enough time for me to explore a bit and and offer up my first impression. If you haven't been there yet, it's well worth a bookmark. They've already debuted some amazingly exclusive performances (like this), original programs, not to mention full-length rock documentary films (on the Pixies, Air, etc.). Hard to find that kind of content anywhere else on the net or on television for that matter. Then there's the music videos. You could probably find most of the videos on YouTube or elsewhere but you can't beat having such an organized, one-stop channel. The viewer is excellent and bug-free thus far. P.tv offers up embedded content, as I've demonstrated below, but only for a subset of the music videos, not for any of the featured or exclusive stuff. So yes, yes, consider me impressed.

My only bone to pick has to do with quantity...you see, I wanted more videos. For some reason, I was expecting Pitchfork, in all their power and influence, to have gathered this enormous and comprehensive library of music videos from the very beginning. The advance hype and publicity had me expecting a 24/7 MTV replacement (sans annoying VJs), and it just isn't to that point yet. P.tv started with about 40 or so videos in the catalogue and continues to post 3-4, maybe 5 new videos each day but that ain't enough. I'm greedy! Granted, it is still "beta" and it's been just over a week, yeah, yeah...it's all about your expectations. Anyway, P.tv is very promising so I'll give 'em the benefit of the doubt for now and assume that even better things are still to come.

Initial judgment on ACL line-up

As I suggested, the line-up took me by surprise in several ways. I am unimpressed with the presumed headliners but in all honesty, I am usually not too interested in the ACL headliners. The great finds are usually in smaller type (e.g. Spiritualized, M. Ward, Yeasayer, Man Man). But still, Foo Fighters as the main act?! Maybe I'm out of touch, but I just don't see them as that type of draw. Am I completely off base?

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss is a great selection. Midnight-Vulture-Beck will be awesome. Sea-Change-Beck not so good. Fogerty is the token old fogie. Mars Volta is a shocker for ACL, but a pleasant surprise nonetheless. Also excited about David Byrne, though I think we'd all prefer a Talking Heads reunion. Happy to see Gillian Welch on there...in fact, there's a distinct blue-grassy vibe to the line-up, much to the excitement of my wife.

So, it may not be a mind-blower of a line-up but it's definitely top-notch and more importantly, not a retread of past line-ups. Response on the web appears to be strongly negative on the more vocal of message boards, but I'm in no way disappointed. Lots of great acts to see (I count about 25 on my wish list) but as always, it will all come down to the schedule.

ACL Fest 2008 - Full Line-up Revealed

Per Austin360.com, here it is! More than a few surprises...and yes, my headliner predictions were WAY off.
First impressions??

Foo Fighters
Spiritualized
Colour Revolt
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Drive-By Truckers
Five Times August
Beck
Ingrid Michaelson
Langhorne Slim
Manu Chao
Stars
Sybris
John Fogerty
Alejandro Escovedo
Eli ‘Paper Boy’ Reed and the True Loves
David Byrne
Jose Gonzales
Bavu Blakes and the Extra Plairs
The Raconteurs
CSS
AA Bondy
The Mars Volta
Del the Funky Homosapien
Christopher Denny
Gnarls Barkley
Man Man
Mike Farris
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
Jamie Lidell
The Lee Boys
N.E.R.D
MGMT
South Austin Jug Band
Erykah Badu
What Made Milwaukee Famous
American Bang
Robert Earl Keen
Jenny Lewis
Massacoustics
Patty Griffin
M. Ward
Belleville Outfit
Tegan and Sara
Asleep at the Wheel
We Go to 11
Iron and Wine
Mason Jennings
Band of Heathens
G. Love and Special Sauce
Heartless Bastards
City and Colour
Neko Case
Antibalas
Sunny Sweeney
Band of Horses
The Nachito Herrera All Stars
Elizabeth Wills
The Swell Season
Shooter Jennings
Automata
Silversun Pickups
Xavier Rudd
Bonnie Bishop
Gogol Bordello
Yeasayer
Ben Sollee
Gillian Welch
Octopus Project
Ben Cylus
Eli Young Band
Joe Bonamassa
The Concert Supremes
The Black Keys
The Kills
River City Christionettes
Against Me!
White Denim
Shields of Faith
Jakob Dylan and the Gold
Mountain Rebels
Louis XIV
The Jones Family Singers
Okkervil River
Delta Spirit
Nakia and His Southern Cousins
Galactic
Mates of State
Brotherly Luv
Kevin Fowler
Nicole Atkins and the Sea
The Hensley Ensemble
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
Electric Touch
School of Rock
Hot Chip
Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears
Jambo
Vampire Weekend
Back Door Slam
Q Brothers
Slightly Stoopid
Tristan Prettyman
Buck Howdy with BB
Duffy
The Strange Boys
Uncle Rock
Flyleaf
Ryan Bingham
Big Don
Roky Erickson
Scott Biram
Mr. RAY
Yonder Mountain String Band
The Freddy Jones Band
The Jimmies

Capsule Review - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!

This is my first try in what I hope will be an ongoing series of capsule reviews. None of this wordy, clever nonsense...just a score (my favorite part) and a sentence or two. A quick way to find out what I like and what I don't.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!

JTM Grade: 95%

A step in the opposite direction from the piano-based records of his recent catalogue, preacher man Nick Cave and his very Bad Seeds pick up right where Grinderman left off last year. Only now he's gone and recorded a thrilling and hilariously haunting masterpiece, perhaps the finest album of his career. The title track is a strong contender for song of the year and proof that Cave is one of the all-time great lyricists.

Watch the video below...

My most anticipated release of the year is...

...Wolf Parade's still untitled album, out on June 17th. I'm giddy with excitement and I don't say 'giddy' lightly. Apologies to the Queen Mary easily ranks up there as one of my favorite albums of the decade so far. Plus, everything Spencer touches is pure melodic gold. My expectations are through the roof.

Visit Stereogum for the first single and a preliminary review that only stirs the hype-pot even further. Damn, how come this hasn't leaked yet?! It's obviously out there now.

Does Spencer look like he's gained a few pounds? I'm glad it ain't just me who added on some winter weight.

Summer Festival mania

Much to my surprise and elation, my wife bought a 3-day pass to Lollapalooza for my birthday. Can you believe that?! Fantastic! If you haven't seen the line-up yet, here it is, but all you really need to know is that it's headlined by Radiohead.

The downside is that she bought me just a single pass so I'm going solo. I'll hopefully be able to drag along her brother and our brother-in-law. My tentative proposal, although I've yet to run this by anyone else, is to try out the MegaBus for an unbeatable cost of $1 to Chicago. I'm not a fan of bus culture, so we'll see...

Our annual Austin City Limits Music Festival trip is back on again this year after missing 2007. The line-up is set to be announced on April 15, but about 30 of the booked bands have been revealed via this clever musical mash-up by Austin's own Car Stereo (Wars). From the mash-up, people have already singled out:

The Raconteurs
Neko Case
Gnarls Barkley
Okkervil River
Hot Chip
Man Man
NERD

and 22 others...

Not a bad start. Other than this official leak, the line-up has been kept surprisingly secret this year. My educated guess for ACL headliners would be Pearl Jam, Neil Young, REM and unfortunately, I'm predicting that Jack Johnson will be there. I'm also rooting for attendance by Wolf Parade and festival favorites Wilco and MMJ.

For the final fest on this year's slate (first chronologically), there's a one-day local Twin Cities event called Rock the Garden with Andrew Bird, The New Pornos, Bon Iver and Cloud Cult. Short but sweet. Outdoor music in Minnesota is unheard of around these parts so I consider this event as groundbreaking news.

An unlikely pairing...

Freaky, freaky...I can understand why Devendra is into it, but who knew that squeaky clean Natalie would be game for dirty hippy love?

SXSW - day 3

Friday we camped out at the Pitchfork party from beginning to end. A stellar line-up alternated between the inside and outside stages every half hour. The temps were in the 90s, but Emo's offered free hydration options and more importantly, lots of shade.

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High Places started off the day to a relatively sparse crowd at noon. Too bad because they were one of two great discoveries of the day. Think Animal Collective, with a more dancable beat.

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The other revelation of the day goes to Swedish pop singer Lykke Li. Her songs were a rush of pure sugary pop, delivered with a magnetic stage presence that had the audience swooning. She's a crossover success waiting to happen.

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Fuck Buttons will be blamed for any permanent hearing loss I may have suffered this week. I'm sure they would take that as a compliment and rightfully so. Their brand of Eno-inspired drone was hypnotic and driving.

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When the dust settles, I'm betting that Bon Iver's several performances this week will figure among the most talked-about of the entire festival. Justin Vernon's album is heartbreaking in its solitude, but here in a three-piece band, his songs brilliantly translate into something new altogther. They won over the crowd instantly...Vernon even had hipsters participating in an irony-free sing-along. It was my favorite set of the week.

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Love the album, but I wasn't sure what to expect out of Atlas Sound in a live setting. After seeing them twice this week, I can tell you that Bradford Cox sends out a assured and surprisingly jammy vibe that was a perfect remedy for the hot and the tired among us. And he's just such a jovial, witty fella. I don't understand any of the controversy around him.

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Another highlight of the week, Yeasayer played a thrilling set near the end of the day. Their drum-circle energy is contagious. And in case anyone cares, 2080 is still one of my favorite songs.

SXSW - day 2

Dan the Destroyer at the Sterogum/Paste party. Free SoCo, but I'm a beer man. I'm forced to pay for my buzz. Dan plays several tracks from his new album, Trouble In Dreams, one of the best albums of 2008 so far. He wins prize for set of the day.
Just a sample of the crowd along 6th Street. People-watching is always half the fun. You've never seen so many hipsters in one place (not even in Uptown), and everyone of 'em has a Blackberry or iPhone.
The Big Sleep perform at the Red Eyed Fly's Little Radio/NoisePop party. They packed a surprising punch of intensity.
Headlining the Little Radio party, The Black Angels play a bit of new stuff from their upcoming new album. All's well but the new material sounds like a retread of Passover.
We close out the day at Auditorium Shores on for a Spoon show, fresh off their sweep of the Austin Music Awards earlier in the week. The crowd here was bordering on ACL Fest size. I love Spoon like no other, but their live show has always left me unimpressed. Maybe it's just me, but they just don't translate as well on stage. It was a great time nonetheless and a beautiful backdrop for a concert.

SXSW - day 1

Landed in Austin by noon, rented the car, checked into our hotel and on 6th Street by 1:30. First day and all, the crowds were still sparse. We strolled into parties of our choice; no lines yet. We eventually settled in at the Terrorbird Media/ForceField PR party at Emo's outside stage. Sets by These New Puritans, Yacht, The Raveonettes, The Mae Shi, all excellent. My highlight of the day was saved for the conversational performance by Khaela Maricich of The Blow, complete with an awkward game of bingo for the audience.

I hate to admit that I forgot my camera at the hotel so I haven't a single pic to post. That's poor form and I apologize.

Anyway, the day shows were winding down by about 5:30 and by this time, Jose and I were dragging. We didn't have the mental cleverness or stamina to even attempt the evening showcases. Instead, we headed back to the hotel and recharged. I would have been content headed to bed early, but the night was not over for us. Not gettin' into details, I'll just leave you with this pic of Jose to intrigue your curiosity...this is Texas after all.

Goals for SXSW

I have my ideal schedule all worked out, but based on my experience last year back-up plans must be at the ready. Some of these venues will reach capacity before my spot in line hits 100 yards of the entrance. It's part of the fun.

Admittedly, this year there is no Iggy Pop-caliber performer; nothing at that same level of must-see madness, but there's plenty to be excited about. Here's my top 5 wish list, excluding acts that are only playing showcases (e.g. REM, My Morning Jacket, Ya La Tengo, etc.)

Man Man
Destroyer
Bon Iver
Islands
Atlas Sound

Since it is so hard to name just five, I'll just keep going: Jens Leckman, Okkervil River, Shearwater, Fuck Buttons, Yeasayer, Matt & Kim, Handsome Furs, White Williams, Fleet Foxes, Ola Podrida and of course, The Breeders. A predictable list and surely a common one, so here's hoping for some unexpected discoveries. If I'm able to see half of these bands, I'll come home happy (and tired).

List aside, I think all I really want is to do is see Lou Reed in person. Just run into him on the street. Forget the music. If I could just meet Lou, that'd be it. I'd drop everything and head home early.

Tomorrow's travel day and I'm waking up at 4am. Best be going.

This friend of mine, I’ll call him Jose, has an uncanny ability to take advantage of opportunities that come his way. He’s just one of those people who can talk their way into anything. Superhuman charm. He’d kill as a salesman, a talent agent, a PR man, you see what I mean. As you might guess, he saves his best tactics for subjects of a female persuasion, but his formidable powers are useful in other arenas as well. A classic example took place a couple of years ago when he was down in Austin for ACL. A highly-anticipated TVOTR gig at Emo’s was sold-out, with the crowd overflowing into the street. My wife and I had tickets, and for whatever reason, Jose and his girlfriend did not. No ticket, no entry. They’d have to head back to the hotel or go wander 6th Street. Nope...instead, by the time we get into Emo’s, there sits Jose and his girlfriend relaxing, having a Corona, waiting for the band to start. My personality-type is basically the polar opposite of my friend Jose, so for me, this is nothing short of amazing to behold. Without breaking a sweat, Jose used his superpowers to cripple some unsuspecting bouncer, talking his way into a sold-out event, free of charge, for two people!

Fastforward to this week. Jose and I are both headed down to SXSW on Wednesday. Neither of us have wristbands or badges. You see where I’m going with this. My plan is to go the day-party route, like I did last year. It’s a fantastic and affordable way to go. You see dozens of great bands for next to nothing. I was even planning to abandon downtown Austin once the sun had set. I briefly tested the waters last year and there wasn’t a chance in hell for someone (like me) to get into the showcase events without a badge, wristband, or waiting in line for hours counting on a mircale that there’d be remaining room for a lowly ticket buyer. My friend Jose has other ideas. My friend Jose believes he can wield his powers yet again to gain entry into exclusive events. I’ve seen him in action but I’m still skeptical. If he IS able to get his way in, he sure as shit won’t be able to do it without a bribe. But he’s a determined man. Already, Jose has shamelessly tried to obtain VIP access into just about every blog-sponsored showcase, by basically loitering on their front doorstep. Not a single bite. Jose needs to be there in person, face to face with his target. That is when he's at full strength.

Shameless plug for my brother-in-law Johnny Blaze, a talented multi-instrumentalist and irreplaceable member of countless Minnesota upstart rock bands. I caught one of his shows this past weekend in Duluth, performing with jam band The Rez. Must say buddy, I was very impressed. Keep me updated on future gigs.

It's been a while...

...over a year in fact. First, let me apologize to my loyal readers for the unannounced blogging hiatus. Attention spans are low, so I guess I'll have to e-mail all three of you to let you know my site still exists. Phew, and that sidebar needs updating, too.

The last year has been one full of sadness and joy, both of which were too overwhelming to allow time for this little hobby of mine. Or that's my excuse at least. It's true that free time is still at a bare minimum thanks to this fella but I'll figure something out.

The important thing is that I'm headed back home to Austin for SXSW next week. Check back soon!

Clarification

I've been informed by one loyal reader that I needed to clear up some possible confusion with my 'Best of 2006 - Albums' posting. So just to clarify, the entire list has now been posted but I simply added it on to the Dec. 23rd entry. The glorious top 25 is readily available for you to question, judge, scoff and eventually accept as gospel. Thank you.

JTM's Best of 2006 - The albums

UPDATE: The entire list is now posted here.

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This one stubborn friend keeps telling me that 2006 was an under-achieving year for music. And I keep telling him that he's terribly mistaken. We go back and forth like this for a good while. It's really a fascinating conversation. No, not at all actually. But consider this my final argument: the list speaks for itself. I don't make this shit up, I just report it. Personally, I can't find a weak link in the bunch. In fact, I have expanded this year's best album list up to 25 from last year's top 10. So if anything, I've found more to love this year than last.

The albums: 25 - 1

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25. Tom Waits - Orphans
Technicalities might normally keep this 3-disc compilation of both new and old material from qualifying on this sort of list, but Tom Waits gets a pass. The Brawlers disc alone is worthy of a ranking. The man and his music are from another time, place and world. All I ask is that he visit my world once. Please, Tom. You're high on my list of dream concerts to see before I die.

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24. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
I first heard of Beirut early this year from the always enthusiastic blogging community who have become the online equivalent of the British press. So the hype was there. Luckily, there was substance behind it. There's no denying the unique talent of Zach Condon's debut album of Eastern European orchestra pop. This 19-year-old has created a mini-masterpiece that isn't quite Neutral Milk Hotel, but since they aren't making music anymore, and since The Decemberists are overrated, Beirut will fit the bill for me.

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23. Sparklehorse - Dreamt for Light Years In The Belly Of A Mountain
Linkous basically picks up right where he left us some 5 or so years ago with his last album. And there's nothing wrong with that. There's even a track or two on this disc dating back to It's A Wonderful Life's recording session. The most noticable change with Dreamt for Light Years is a more fast paced rhythm, that at times almost approaches rock 'n roll. Nah. This is an album meant for headphones, and not some ear-bud iPod action. I'm talking those huge high-fidelity headphones that are bigger than your head.

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22. Mission of Burma - The Obliterati
There are some older gentlemen included on this list. But listen to Tom Waits, listen to Bob Dylan. They sound their age, they're acting their age. So what are we to make of MoB? In today's youth-centric music culture, there is no way we should be taking 50-year-olds seriously when they're acting like angst-ridden 20-year-olds. There's no way around it. Then again, listen to this album which is blistering with post-punk fury in ways that the younger crowd can only imitate. They kick the ass out of any Franz Ferdinand or Interpol in the circuit. Burma was already legendary before The Obliterati but I'll admit that this disc was my first encounter with their music. I'm late to the game, but better late than never.

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21. Swan Lake - Beast Moans
This one took time to fully absorb. Didn't get to me on the first few listens. I put it away for a few weeks and came back to it to give it second chance, and it clicked. What at first sounded to me like a muddled mess became something much different. Something oddly beautiful. Carey Mercer's influence here is the star and although Spencer and Dan each have their characteristic songs, the Mercer/Frog Eyes trademark of beautiful, noisy chaos is prominent and reveals itself to be the creative force behind this excellent album.

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20. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Claustrophobic? Yes. A downer? Sure. Ripe full of Thom Yorke patented colloquialisms? Of course. But while Thom shouldn't consider quitting his day job, this unexpected solo effort is a powerful suite of electronic beats and melody led front and center by one of Thom's best ever vocal performances.

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19. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
Winning the award for catchiest album of the year, The Life Pursuit also represents a welcome return to form for Belle & Sebastian. Their sound has evolved well beyond the whimsical 60's pop found on the early classics. The new B&S are now more inclined to embrace influences from R&B, blues and glam rock. The result is an addictive combination of B&S pop and T. Rex boogie.

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18. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - The Letting Go
I only discovered Will Oldham's amazing songwriting chops this year after stumbling upon his LP I See A Darkness. And while The Letting Go remains a far cry from that late-90s release, the new disc is nonetheless an accomplished piece of songwriting and harmony. The songwriting and instrumentation is perfection but for me, it's the beautiful dance of vocal harmony between Oldham and featured vocalist Dawn McCarthy that makes these songs so potent.

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17. Cat Power - The Greatest
Chan Marshall has had one hell of a year. I won't go into the details except to say that The Greatest is the definitive statement that she's turned a corner. Backed by a band of Memphis all-stars, Chan has put together a haunting collection of sultry soul numbers. Better yet, all signs indicate that her live performances have embraced a surprising degree of soul as well.

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16. Liars - Drum's Not Dead
The only album on the list without a single pop hook. A lack of melody is typically not something I would label as praise but in this case, it is somehow the best compliment I can give. In any case, for some reason I keep going back to this droning, tribal, drum-based concept album as if under hypnosis.

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EDITORIAL NOTE: This list is taking me longer than I anticipated. Too many words, not enough list. I'll let the rest speak for itself, almost.

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15. My Brightest Diamond - Bring Me The Workhorse
My Brightest Diamond came through town twice this year and I missed her each time. That means the only time I've seen Shara Worden live was as leader of an enthusiastic and musically-inclinded troupe of cheer leaders spouting factoids about the 50 states.

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14. Islands - Return To The Sea
My own little revelation of 2006 is indebted to this band's former incarnation, The Unicorns. But Islands keeps up the pace nicely. If nothing else, it's cute to hear Canadians rap.

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13. Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
Prog as folk.

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12. Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming
Better than Wolf Parade? No, but damn close. And that fact, along with the inclusion of Swan Lake on this list, crowns Spencer Krug fuckin' king of the musical universe in 2006.

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11. Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye
Genre alert: Soft adult contemporary is oh so cool again.

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10. Xiu Xiu - The Air Force
Let's face it. This is as accessible as this band is likely to get. Enjoy it.

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9. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
They began as noise rock with a pop sensibility. Over twenty years later with Rather Ripped Sonic Youth is an unabashed pop band with just a hint of that noise hangin' around in the background to make 'em still cool. Hey, it works.

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8. Magnolia Electric Co. - Fading Trails
Great album but to be honest, I first became obsessed with Jason Molina's music upon discovering the final Songs:Ohia disc, coincidentally titled Magnolia Electric Co.

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7. Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
Dan Bejar has become one of the most accomplished songwriters of our time. Don't you just love sentences like that? It's so frustratingly generic and exaggerated that there's no way you can argue with me. I win.

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6. The Knife - Silent Shout
I prefer to pronouce their name phonetically.

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5. The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America
My wife is seriously annoyed by these guys. I am not.

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4. Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Lately, he can do no wrong. Point of fact: this record.

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3. Joanna Newsom - Ys
Here's a formula for you aspiring rock stars out there...
Jim O'Rourke + Steve Albini + Van Dyke Parks x A one-of-a-kind harpist/lyricist = Epic.

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2. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
That voice! But you should also be reminded that she's a truly talented songwriter. And of course, she's smokin' hot!

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1. TV on the Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
Told you so. Six months later it still socks me in the gut, blowing my mind today like it did the first time I heard it. Plain and simple: TVOTR delivered on the ridiculous expectations of Young Liars and Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes. No one else sounds like 'em and no one else can top 'em. This is their OK Computer. The scary part is that based on their live show (which I saw 3 times this year), they are getting better and better.

JTM's Best of 2006, Part II

A bit of everything...

Best Live Music of 2006

10. The Hold Steady @ First Avenue
9. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ 400 Bar
8. Bob Dylan @ Rochester, MN
7. Wilco @ Duluth, MN
6. Sonic Youth & The Flaming Lips @ State Fair
5. Wolf Parade w/ Frog Eyes @ First Avenue
4. TV on the Radio @ Emo's, Austin, TX
3. Austin City Limits Music Festival @ Zilker Park, Austin, TX
2. Neko Case @ Bimbo's 365 Club, San Francisco, CA
1. Radiohead w/ Deerhoof @ The Greek, Berkeley, CA

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Live Music Regrets of 2006 (gigs I could have seen, but didn't)

10. Ghostland Observatory @ 7th. Street Entry
9. Low @ First Avenue (although by pure luck, I did see Low the next night in Duluth at a coffee house!)
8. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy @ not sure where
7. Danielson @ Triple Rock
6. Islands @ First Avenue
5. Yo La Tengo @ First Avenue
4. Joanna Newsom @ 400 Bar
3. Cat Power @ Varsity Theater
2. Magnolia Electric Co. @ 400 Bar
1. Destroyer @ 400 Bar

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Other Musical Disappointments of 2006



5. Ridiculously overhyped Arctic Monkeys album
4. The Flaming Lips' new release
3. Bands breaking up: Grandaddy and Sleater-Kinney
2. Never being able to see Sleater-Kinney live
1. Missed out on Bonnaroo

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Favorite Musical Discoveries of 2006 (not necessarily corresponding to any new music released in 2006)

10. Joanna Newsom
9. Explosions in the Sky
8. Dirty Three
7. Okkervil River
6. Xiu Xiu
5. The Unicorns/Islands
4. Frog Eyes
3. Destroyer
2. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy/Will Oldham
1. Songs:Ohia/Magnolia Electric Co.

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Best Music Site of 2006

Daytrotter - for the best live music recording sessions, the best interviews, progressive reviews and if nothing else, then simply for their original artwork.

JTM's Best of 2006, Part I

The Songs

50. Nature of the Experiment - Tokyo Police Club
49. Get Myself Into It - The Rapture
48. Letter to Bowie Knife - Calexico
47. Brother - Annuals
46. Rear View Mirror - Grandaddy
45. Midnight Voyage - Ghostland Observatory
44. Did I Step On Your Trumpet - Danielson
43. Yell Fire - Michael Franti & Spearhead
42. Broken Boy Soldier - The Raconteurs
41. Don't Take My Sunshine Away - Sparklehorse
40. Mr. Tough - Yo La Tengo
39. Cha Cha Cha - The Little Ones
38. Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives - Voxtrot
37. Violets - Candy Bars
36. Brace Your Face - Aloha
35. Cheated Hearts - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
34. Lazy Eye - Silversun Pickups
33. I Want You So Hard (Boys Bad News) - Eagles of Death Metal
32. Hospital Beds - Cold War Kids
31. The President Is Dead - Okkervil River
30. Postcards From Italy - Beirut
29. Don't Fade On Me - Magnolia Electric Co.
28. How It Ends - DeVotchKa
27. Road to Peace - Tom Waits
26. Game Theory - The Roots
25. Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above - CSS
24. Stadiums and Shrines II - Sunset Rubdown
23. Auto Rock - Mogwai
22. Pile of Gold - The Blow
21. Goin' Against Your Mind - Built to Spill
20. The Greatest - Cat Power
19. In The Morning - Junior Boys
18. Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake
17. Roscoe - Midlake
16. And I Was a Boy From School - Hot Chip
15. Insistor - Tapes 'n Tapes
14. The Funeral - Band of Horses
13. John Saw That Number - Neko Case
12. Funny Little Frog - Belle & Sebastian
11. Boy Soprano - Xiu Xiu
10. Free Radicals - The Flaming Lips
9. Swans (Life After Death) - Islands
8. We Share Our Mothers' Health - The Knife
7. European Oils - Destroyer
6. Incinerate - Sonic Youth
5. Harrowdown Hill - Thom Yorke
4. Southtown Girls - The Hold Steady
3. Sister Winter - Sufjan Stevens
2. Wolf Like Me - TV on the Radio
1. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

Mark Mallman

Well guys, this is as close as I get to an 'exclusive,' so enjoy! Last Thursday night, I was lucky enough to hear about an unannounced, last-minute show by Mark Mallman at the 400 Bar. Lucky for my lazy ass (this WAS a worknight), the set time was 9pm.

I've been looking forward to Mark's publicized, headlining gig later this month at the 400 Bar (Nov 24th w/ Espionage! and The Alarmists). But apparently, this was one of those spontanteous "can you play tonight?" sort of gigs and Mark was happy to step in and fill a slot. Due to the short notice, instead of his usual full complement of musicians, Mark came with a pared down configuration: just him, the new touring drummer (an incredibly talented Aaron LeMay, formerly of Planes for Spaces) and a digital recording of guitar, bass, etc. cued up by Aaron prior to each song. Sounds like it wouldn't come across live, but believe me when I say it does.

Mallman is famous for his live performances, including the so-called 'Marathon 1' and 'Marathon 2' gigs at the Turf Club in which he played continuously for 26 and 52 hours respectively. The 52-hour show almost made it into the Guiness Book of World Records! Bottomline, any live show from Mark is highly anticipated around here. Most shows aren't marathons, but he typically puts on a highly stylized, multiple-costume-change glam-influenced bonanza. Or so I've heard. You see, this was my first time to see him live. This is a shaming fact coming from an avid Twin Cities live music junkie, but true nonetheless.

So this isn't the Mark of legend I was seeing on a Thursday night with 30 other people (set time of only 45 minutes!) but it gave me a good flavor of what's to come later this month. First and foremost, Mark is a very charismatic performer. Secondly, he is a stellar piano player, singer and songwriter. Think of a glammier Billy Joel. And speaking of piano man, damn, the abuse Mark gives his poor keyboard is impressive. One moment he'll be laying across it in a sultry pose of mock-seduction, the next he climbs atop and stands, teetering in balance, to sing from the rafters. All of this and he never misses a note. He pauses between songs only to offer self-depracating acknowledgement of the non-existant crowd and thank us for coming to see the "Aaron LeMay Band" all the way from Champaigne, Illinois for their first show in the Twin Cities. Meanwhile, Aaron cues the next track, plays the straight man in Mark's routine and expertly leads each song with a working man's ethic. Together, they seared through some great new material found on the recently released Between the Devil and Middle C, an album I'm now inclinded to purchase. So, an all-around great gig, albeit abreviated. I consider it a teaser for the show on the 24th. It can only get better from here.

Election Day

The setting:
A southern plantation estate, a rodeo, a bus of drunk frat boys, an evangelical mega-church, a business convention, Washington, DC;

The day after the election, with politics on our minds, I could be describing the heart and soul of the Republican party, red-state conservative strongholds, the voting base of one George W. Bush (Editorial note: a shame about those election results, guys). Instead, I'm talking about the playground of Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat, a horny anti-Semitic journalist on loan from Kazakhstan to document the great American experience.

These two worlds couldn’t be the same thing, could they? This is the year 2006. Surely, we’ve moved beyond the days when our country was populated by the startling prejudice and idiocy that Borat encounters on his journeys. Right? Right.

Last night, election night, I saw Borat with a packed, lively crowd. I’m a firm believer in the communal experience of seeing movies on the big screen, sitting in a theater with strangers in the dark. Nowadays, most of us prefer Netflix DVDs on a flatscreen tv in the privacy of our homes. But I think we can all agree that a comedy is always best seen in a theater, or at least in a group setting. There’s just something infectious about a large crowd in synchronized fits of laughter.

Borat does nothing if not trigger hysterical laughter. This is comedy at its satirical best and outrageously offensive worst. You will marvel at Sacha Baron Cohen's tenacious performance. Borat’s ability to draw out the prejudice in his surprisingly willing subjects is jaw-dropping. These aren't actors, folks. I wish they were. I kept asking myself if this or that scene was staged. Did the person know this was a put-on? How could anyone say that with a camera on them?! Pamela Anderson surely was in on the joke, right? I’m not so sure. In any case, watching Borat interact with these people is constantly hilarious and often sobering. While the satire is sharp and intelligent, Borat also has some of the most brazenly obscene and offensive content I’ve seen in some time. I’m not giving any specifics here. I really want to. But I won’t. Don’t want to spoil anything. Needless to say, Borat is brilliantly subversive in its intent and hilariously juvenile in its execution. Most moviegoers will buy tickets for the absurd, gross-out sight gags but many will leave thinking about what Cohen is really up to, what he's saying, what's real, what's not. It's a low-brow comedy that makes you think.

So yes, all the hype surrounding Borat is dead-on. I don't know why I tried to resist. Borat is indeed one of the funniest movies ever made. The list-maker in me is already comparing it along side other comedy classics to see where it ranks, but why bother. There's no need. Just for god's sake, go see it if you haven't already. As for me, I'm still coming down off the high. If nothing else, it was perfect entertainment on election day and I’m looking forward to seeing it again.

Great expectations for Borat

I am just one of many who have been waiting with giddy anticipation for the release of Sacha Baron Cohen's feature-length epic Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. As a well-versed fan of Cohen's Da Ali G Show, I have a good idea of what to expect, but I'd be lying to not tell you I'm a wee bit worried about how things are shaping up. First of all, you have these reviews, the most glowing of which are written by some very elite and well-respected critics. Then, you have the phenomenal box-office results. Universal acclaim AND strong box-office is a rare feat, my friend.

Anyone with a pulse has to admit that Borat looks to be hilarious, and I'm sure it is. But how often do you hear that a film is the 'funniest movie ever made?' Let me repeat, 'The Funniest Movie Ever Made.' I'm prone to hyperbole myself, but even so, that is a very bold statement. And yet I've read that very claim in several professional reviews! This worries me. As with most things, it all comes down to expectations. Who are we kidding? At this point, my expectations are so ridiculously high that I fear they're impossible to meet. I'm just saying that it ain't looking good. Expectations are powerful filters and can have startling effects on our experiences. So my worry is simply that it could be all over for me and Borat. Let's hope not. I hope to see it this week and I'll let you know. If any of you have seen it already, I'm curious to hear your impression. Funniest movie ever?

Supergroups

The supergroup is an interesting but often sketchy phenomenon in pop music. I'd venture to say that most are nothing more than publicity stunts that result in sub-par material. However, sometimes the stars align and for whatever reason, the right people come together to create music that actually transcends their prior works.

In honor of the upcoming release Beast Moans by newly formed supergroup Swan Lake, I present a list of the most impressive lineups in supergroup history. This isn't a list of the best music per se, but simply the most star-studded lineups. I also tried to spread the wealth over different eras as best as I could. The music itself is hit-or-miss, most often miss. Let me know if I missed any big ones...

One important note...I don't count retroactive supergroups, or bands who later spawned huge artists (e.g. N.W.A., Wu Tang Clan, Genesis, The Yardbirds, etc.)

10. Swan Lake
Spencer Krug - Frog Eyes, Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown
Dan Bejar - Destroyer, The New Pornographers
Carey Mercer - Frog Eyes

9. Temple of the Dog
Eddie Vedder - Pearl Jam
Jeff Ament - Pearl Jam
Mike McCready - Pearl Jam
Stone Gossard - Pearl Jam
Matt Cameron - Soundgarden
Chris Cornell - Soundgarden
(honorable mention in the supergroup grunge category goes to Mad Season)

8. The New Pornographers
Carl Newman - Zumpano
Neko Case - Neko Case & Her Boyfriends
Dan Bejar - Destroyer


7. The Firm
Jimmy Page - Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin
Paul Rodgers - Free, Bad Company

6. Blind Faith
Eric Clapton - Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream
Steve Winwood - Traffic

5. Oysterhead
Trey Anastasio - Phish
Les Claypool - Primus
Stewart Copeland - The Police


4. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
David Crosby - The Byrds
Stephen Stills - Buffalo Springfield
Graham Nash - The Hollies
Neil Young - Buffalo Springfield

3. The Super Super Blues Band
Howlin' Wolf
Muddy Waters
Bo Diddley

2. The Highwaymen
Johnny Cash
Willie Nelson
Waylan Jennings
Kris Kristofferson

1. The Traveling Wilburys
Bob Dylan
Roy Orbison
Tom Petty
George Harrison - The Beatles
Jeff Lynne - ELO

Liriano Update

Shhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitt.....

The headline reads: "Twins' Liriano likely to miss '07 after elbow surgery."
Enough said, but if you must, the story is here.