Monday, November 30, 2009

Glide Review- Bob Dylan Live 11/19/09


New Review up on Glide.

Bob Dylan Live at The United Palace 11/19/09, read it right here!

For more thoughts, pics, setlist, and videos read my older post here.



Friday, November 27, 2009

Album Review- The Black Crowes Before The Frost

This review is part of the "Over Flow" Review Series. For various reasons these past reviews were not published anywhere else. I am tagging them as "Overflow Reviews" and may add some extra information before or after if needed but will keep the ratings and reviews just as I originally wrote them. Enjoy:

The Black Crowes
Before The Frost…Until the Freeze
****an1/2 out of *****

When The Black Crowes released Warpaint fans were ecstatic for a return to original form from the Southern rockers.  Ok, so with a solid album under them the old tour dogs could continue in their same tried and true vein forever right?  Well here comes Before The Frost… and it ups the ante as to just what this band is capable of going forward with new members Luther Dickinson on guitar and Adam MacDougall on keys.  Both are no longer the new guys, as they make vital contributions right from the get go.

The rollicking guitar and piano sashay of “Good Morning Captain” kicks off with lyrics sounding straight out of the 1800’s.  Chris Robinson is the consummate front-man; passionately singing the blues to lost lovers and vacant cities throughout the album, if anything his rich voice has gotten better with age.  The Crowes haven’t grown into old men yet though; their asses can still get down as is evident on the funk grooving single “I Ain’t Hiding”.  Recalling “Miss You” from The Rolling Stones, this soulful shakedown somehow manages to make disco fresh in rock and roll again, not a simple task.  The band also funks up peace-and-love-rock on “Make Glad” and gets wah-wah scratch heavy on the closing breakdown in “Been A Long Time (Waiting On Love)” which lends itself to the stage.  However this album isn’t all about late seventies funk and night club bumps. 

“Appaloosa” is a classic western lament glowing with acoustic strings and pedal steel, before the banjo laced “What Is Home” eases in like a late night jam session.  The personal pain of “Last Place That Love Lives” wraps up the album with bare bones honesty and loneliness.  Larry Campbell’s influence and recording in Levon Helms Woodstock studio before an intimate crowd infuses these tracks with a down home feel.  Old time fans not feeling the newer directions will still find some solid standard Black Crowe efforts like “Kept My Soul” and “And The Band Played On” to ease their minds. 

The countrified bonus download disk …Until the Freeze is also an extra thank you to the fans.  Stripped down simplicity on “Garden Gate” and “Roll Old Jeremiah” continue the relaxed vibe.  While the Crowes were always capable of a boogie …Until the Freeze confirms they’re just as adept at a slowed down hoedown.      

Where past efforts have linked the Crowes directly with The Stones, The Allman Brothers and Face’s, Before the Frost…Until the Freeze calls to mind The Band and The Grateful Dead.  This is no longer regional rock, but pure wide open Americana; flowing over mountains and through rivers before cutting loose and shaking booty in city nightclubs.  A mature effort that never rocks as hard as their younger selves, yet satisfies more.

More thoughts after the jump:

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Bob Dylan Live Pictures 11-19-09 United Palace, NYC


Caught Bobby Dylan Live with Kel on Thursday.  The man has consistently been inconsistent live his whole career, staggering brilliant one night and lazily sloppy (in a bad way) the next.  This was my 15th time seeing Dylan, he is one of my favorites and I feel like I can write a book on each performance, not always for the good reasons, but it was safe to say he was "On" tonight.  Full review will be posted shortly on Glide, but check out some more pics, the Setlist with details, and maybe a quick video after the jump. (Yes I kept the setlists for all 15 shows...so what?!!?)

Glide Review- Dead Weather Live 11-17-09


Dead Weather Live Full Review is up on Glide- Right here.

Nothing more to add, check out the video and pics from my last post.


Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Dead Weather Live Pics and Video

Here are some Pics and Video (A Full Review will be on Glide in a day or two) of The Dead Weather show from 11-17-09 @ the Music Hall of Williamsburg.  I caught the show with my friend Dan who is a big fan of the band as well, Great Night, Amazing playing and some New Tunes to boot, to boot!  Enjoy:

Dead Weather Cover of "A Child of a Few Hours Ago Is Burning To Death"

More Pictures, Set List and Video's After the Jump

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Glide Review - Elliott Brood Mountain Meadows


Hey There,

New Review over at Glide.

Elliott Brood, Mountain Meadows.

Check it here!

A few more thoughts, tunes, and a history lesson after the jump.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Album Review- Magik Markers Balf Quarry

This review is part of the "Over Flow" Review Series. For various reasons these past reviews were not published anywhere else. I am tagging them as "Overflow Reviews" and may add some extra information before or after if needed but will keep the ratings and reviews just as I originally wrote them. Enjoy:

Magik Markers
Balf Quarry
***an1/2
It began on the Magik Markers last album Boss, the duo started moving from pure noise to a bit more malleable rock song structure; noise accentuating rather then overtaking.  That trend continues on Balf Quarry with drummer Peter Nolan and guitarist/vocalist Elisa Ambrogio combining on some deceptively catchy tripped out rockers and sonic fuzz laden laments.   Their lo-fi approach to record making (the group has a slew of CD-R releases) and improv laden live shows comes across on tracks like the piano clanking “Psychosomatic”, the grinding instrumental “The Ricer Car of Dr. Clara Haber” and spastic “The Lighter Side of…Hippies”.

 Lyrically throughout MM focus on idiot’s and hurt, as if a bad break up just went down.  The screeching metal of “Jerks” testifies to this and the GTO driving, neat hair parting, homey’s in “Risperdal” don’t seem to be such great catches either. The pain seeps out in almost torch song fashion, with to much of cliché on, “State Number”, the Markers convey emotion better with offbeat racket, speed and clang.     

The dark marching bruise of “Don’t Talk in You’re Sleep” is the best straight forward song, but the disk closer is even more enchanting.  The 11 minute “Shells” begins with string induced drone and doesn’t appear to be letting up when Elisa drops a monotone vocal on top.  About 5:30 in, a subtle piano progression takes over and the singing becomes beautiful; lyrics of redemption and being born from the shadows enchant.  Yet the trip isn’t over, we are told to “Brace for the Storm” as the strings creep back, the end suffocates while Elisa becomes echoing and more ominous; this is indie rock’s siren song, dragging hipsters to their watery graves, a fantastic track on an engaging album.   
Mp3's, Videos and a few more thoughts after the jump:

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The Dead Weather will be playing Brooklyn

Just a quick heads up, The Dead Weather will be playing Brooklyn in a week, at the tiny Music Hall of Williamsburg, so you know this will sell out instantly.  From the Band:

November show in Brooklyn announced!
11.09.2009
The Dead Weather have just announced that they will be playing a show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY on November 17th. Tickets will be available for subscribers to The Vault, Third Man Records' online subscription service, for three days starting on Tuesday, November 10th at 12 pm EST, and available to the general public starting Friday, November 13th at 12 pm EST.

During this trip to NY the band will also be performing at the mtvU Woodie Awards so be sure to vote for them in the Best Video Woodie category HERE Tune in to see that performance on Friday, December 4th at 10 pm EST on mtvU, MTV, MTV2 and Palladia. 

More thoughts and some videos after the jump.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Glide Review- Cymbals Eat Guitars Live

Hey There

Check out my newest review up on Glide

It is right here!

Cymbals Eat Guitars/Holly Miranda/Delorean Live during CMJ.

more thoughts, music video's and rants after the jump...