Adam Yauch aka MCA, of the Beastie Boys, died today at 47. According to globalgrind.com cause of death was cancer: "In 2009, MCA announced he was being treated for a cancerous parotid gland and a lymph node...Yauch was treated for a cancerous parotid gland and a lymph node and underwent surgery and radiation therapy. He is survived by his wife and daughter."
Read more: http://globalgrind.com/news/adam-yauch-mca-beastie-boys-dies-47-photos#ixzz1tvNBsX86"
It's a sad day. Here's a tribute:
Meta-modernism is the new post-modernism--reimagining threads of the past to create nostalgic, yet fresh new sounds, images, or writing. Somewhat different from how Post-modernists deconstructs what once was and rebuilds from there--it lacked the nostalgic feeling. New Haven's Estrogen High's newest record, "Irrelevant Future," certainly fits the meta-modernist movement quite well. Though, perhaps I am reading in to them too much. Their revival of 77 Style grimily mixed with Brit-punk shimmers through their quite impressive recording while simultaneously creating a fresh look at these ancient styles. (I could swear they recorded it on tape...) A lot of bands try to be another band. For example, some bands might mimic the sound Wire, or The Chills, or Joy Division... The key word is mimic... Estrogen Highs do much more than mimic, they reinvent and transcend the sound in which they are influenced by. From listening to this record, it sounds like they take much influence from Wire, Pink-Flag era, yet, as i mentioned a second ago, they have completely taken the sound and made it their own. This is hard to do.
The opening track, in particularly the introduction bass line, instantly reminds one of some lost punk song; something you heard before; something familiar; something you just can't put your finger on, but you know you like and liked it. It is definitely not my favorite track, but quite essential to the record. The group continues along a similar path, but mellows out a bit after the opening song. Let me rephrase that: their proceeding songs are mellower, yet do not lack intensity or power. In addition, while the band gives the impression that they are a sneering 'fuck-it' punk band, they still have good pop sensibilities. The track, which I have enclosed in this review, has hooks in it that will get stuck in your head for awhile. But that goes for all of their tracks, and the hooks certainly help to reinvent a lost genre. While Wire is an amazing band, the Estrogen Highs take said influence and soar above what was to create something new. Truly a great album with few flaws.
The record is available on Vinyl (yay) and of course on CD. The record is released by Trouble in Mind. Yes, the label that releases stuff by Ty Segall, and The Fresh and Onlys.
Estrogen Highs - I wanna be tall by mexicanrobots
**really only applicable to those in CT and the tri-state area**
So, remember that awesome record store documentary that came out a few years ago? The one featuring the late and legendary Trash American Style and how the local record store is really becoming a rare thing these days. :( Well if not you're probably not from Connecticut, but if you do! (even if you dont) Willimantic Records will being having a screening of "I need that Record!" Sunday May 6th at 5pm. We all might tear up a little bit... But have no fear, Malcolm and his blue guitar will be there playing some great music.
Be there.
Seriously. Go.
From the FB Event: "'I Need That Record' is Brendan Toller's excellent flick which concerns the state of American record stores. Since it's showing at a record store and I'm in it, what better way to ensure continuity than have me play an acoustic set at the screening? It happens Sunday, May 6 at Willimantic Records in.... Willimantic! Come by at 5:00 for some high octane acoustic rock and roll coupled with a bit of well done cinema. It's a free show; donations gratefully accepted."
Details:
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Willimantic Records
744 Main Street (entrance in the back), Willimantic, CT 06226
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/431091313587318/
Woodsist is releasing a new album by the duo MV + EE, "Space Homestead," a neo-folk LP. The song writing is a bit traditional... but still engaging. Apparently, "Space Homestead" was recorded over a year period in 9 studios. The album has a soft and beautiful tone to it, not unlike most Woodsist recordings; however, the recording quality is quite hi-fi--quite unlike Woodsist. Not sure what i think of the recording style, but i suppose being recorded at 9 studios probably has something to do with that. This also accounts for the disjointedness of song flow.
But recording style aside, the album reminds one of Mojave 3 and a bit of Jackson Browne. It is slow and sad sounding; it teeters on the edge of sadcore and alt-country, while maintaining a pop flair. The general tone of the album, as i said before, is soft and, of course, beautiful, it also gives one the sense of freedom, a feeling of vagabondage. I suppose this comes from the multiple studios the album was recorded in. In a way, I feel the record encompasses the spirit of Woody Guthrie. The album overall is an elequent collection of songs that, though they are sad sounding, are reasuring. They make one feel like things are all-right. And that's really a hard thing to convey in an album.
The album is schedule to drop May 15th; so get ready... It really is a nice album and certainly worth a listen to.
A6 Moment by mexicanrobots
**Warning, not mastered very well. Listen at a reasonable volume**
GreyGlitch hales from the mean streets of Lebonon, Conn. The devistated landscape is reflected in their music. But seriouslly... Greyglitch's sophomore album "Texas vs. Texas," great name, is an neat peice of glitch-electronic. Disjointed and abrasive, one finds them selves enveloped in a sphere of schizophrenic-mania. Utilizing distortion, delay, and circuit-bent Goodwill toys the band demonstrates a artiful control over chaos, something many experimental/noise artists lack. My only problem is the bands name "Greyglitch..." come on guys... lets try harder :). Nevertheless, their music is great, if you are into noisy electronics. Check them out---they'll blow your speakers a new one.
Remember "The Glow Pt2?" Probably one of the best lo-fi albums ever written... well Phil is back... and after years of releasing things less than as impressive, has released a great album. Mount Eerie's "Clear Moon" encompass the warmth and lush-sonic landscapes of some of his earlier work. Its deep feelings and emotions cuts through and resonates in one's mind. There are a number of tracks that I'd like to play for you, but since they'd yell at my I can only give you one that has been cleared.
One thing I must say is that this album definitely shows a maturing in Phil. "The Glow pt2" is naive and cherub-esque in spirit. "Clear Moon" is certainly less innocent. You can tell Phil has gone through some stuff since that release. "The Glow pt2" is about love lost--"Clear Moon" appears to be an album of lost innocents. I've been listening to the album non-stop for the past couple days and realized that to compare these two works, "The Glow pt2" and "Clear Moon," is like comparing Jack Kerouac novels Dharma Bums, or On the Road, with Big Sur. The novels show a complete shift in Kerouac's personality; from stary-eyed naivety to a jaded and woe-filled, near-nihilistic, outlook. But let me stop right there... I am not implying that Phil is jaded or woe-filled, but you can certainly tell he has lost something that he once had. Like all of us as we grow, we lose our innocence and become jaded by the awful people in the world. It's depressing growing up...
Well my English Major is showing and my Lacanian interpretation is probably depressing everyone! Phil has grown up and you can tell. But never the less, this album is a great work. It is a natural progression of life and... well his music. No one is young forever. "Clear Moon" is scheduled to be released May 22nd. Oh, and this album is certainly not Lo-Fi. It isnt Hi-Fi either... I can't quite tell what he recorded it on... but it's definitely not a 4 track.
05 Lone Bell by mexicanrobots
Brand new track from Dntel. As always, it's great. This track, "Bright Night," comes off Dntel's soon-to-be released LP "Aimlessness," which is scheduled for release in June. Should be a great album. Cehck out the single.
Dntel-Bright Night by mexicanrobots