Date Album Label
WEEK 1:
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
August Record Releases
Here are the record releases for August, 2009. As always, all info. from Insound, so buy from them, wont'cha? (those marked *** are anticipated most by yours truly)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Flaming Lips @ Pitchfork 9/19/9
The last time I saw a live Flaming Lips show was back in high school. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was this show: 2/18/1994
- The Flaming Lips, Catherine, Brown Betty
- Metro, Chicago, IL
Wow. That was a long time ago. Catherine and Brown Betty were a couple of local buzz bands that never really went anywhere that I know of. I'd look up some more info on them, but I don't really care. I believe I have exactly one song by each band on a Q101 promotional CD called "Random Acts" that had some tie-in with a woman's shelter, or something. It's all academic at this point, anyway, especially the only really cool band to come out of that early 1990's Chicago scene was The Lupins.
Anyway, the Flaming Lips weren't the friggin' "FLAMING LIPS" back then. They were just another quirky experimental rock band, not unlike Ween. I've kept up with FL over the years, but never was much of a fan. I've admired their creativity and individuality, but never bought into the magic like, say, Jim DeRogatis (who got a shout-out at the show), who hangs off their nuts like a concierge at Kobe's hotel. Still, I was looking forward to this show. I was absolutely certain that this would be the biggest spectacle of all the Pitchfork shows over the years, and I wasn't disappointed. From the usual rolling in the ball over the crowd (pictured) to the emergence of the band from the pulsating vagina (not pictured) to the frogs and angels dancing on stage to the limitless streamers and confetti - this was one hell of a rock show. They played every hit (and mixed in a few tunes from the upcoming album), and did so with aplomb. I intended to leave after a few songs, but wound up staying for the entire set - enthralled. That was unexpected. And therefore, with everything stated above, turned out to be the top set of the long Sunday.
9/10
Grizzly Bear @ Pitchfork 9/19/9
Huh? Wha? Oh, Grizzly Bear is coming up next? Oh sweet, I love them, and this will be the first time I've seen them live. Yawn. Sorry, after Blitzen Trapper and M83, I'm a little sleepy. Yeah, plus all these beers aren't helping. Ugh, okay, I'm ready, I'll stand up for Grizzly Bear. Yeah, sweet, they sound really good. Not much stage presence though. Yawn, yeah, I dunno, this isn't really keeping me awake. I sure do like that last album. But, man, why book so many sleepy bands back to back?I mean, I have... zzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz...7/10
Vivian Girls @ Pitchfork 9/19/9
Vivian Girls was a buzz band. They were a flavor of the month about 6 months ago, and unfortunately for them, the fuzzed out lo-fi chick band thing has been done to death. Yes, this is the best of breed, and I doubt they'll fall off the music blog collective consciousness anytime too very soon, but I feel their swan song started almost immediately. Like most buzz bands, the immediate backlash is inevitable, forcing artists to punch through extra hard with something super innovative. Vivian Girls doesn't seem to have suffered quite the same backlash as, say, Vampire Weekend, but then again, VG didn't get quite the same hype. Nevertheless, VG's brand of ultra-short fuzz pop that works so well on their eponymous debut doesn't translate well to Pitchfork, even on the small stage. When you're a lo-fi shoegazer band, you're gonna have to crank it to 11 if you're gonna play outdoors. See, e.g., My Bloody Valentine.6/10
The Walkmen @ Pitchfork 9/19/9
My friend asked me the other day if he should go see Walkmen in Milwaukee or go play in his weekly softball game. Tough call. Their live shows are a lot like their discography. "Bows & Arrows" was a decently enjoyable album (although "The Rat" is one of the finest, still anticipated songs 5 years later), but was followed by the forgettable "A Hundred Miles Off" and the terrible "Pussy Cats" cover album. Redemption, however, came with the release of "You & Me", a top-5 album of the year last year on many critics' lists (mine included - #5). Similar to the .500 average the band is hitting on record, so too go the live shows. This was probably the 6th time I've seen them live, and this was one of the better shows. Of course, they played "The Rat" and most of "You & Me" and that's about all I was looking for. Their banter continues to be terrible, but unlike most of their shows, at least an effort was made. And the band was tight, the vocals weren't straining to overcome the vast space (a common flaw of Hamilton Leithauser). So this was one of the better performances. But, it's always a crap shoot which Walkmen will show up. I believe my friend chose softball.9/10
The Thermals @ Pitchfork 9/19/9
Unlike several other acts at this year's festival, The Thermals were more than capable of filling the field with sound and energy. Their set was cover-heavy, including versions of Green Day, Nirvana, and the Breeders songs, which is tolerable only at outdoor festivals. To that extent, it was a fun, upbeat show. I've seen The Thermals before, indoors, and I rather enjoyed them more at Pitchfork. Unlike many people, I'm not a big fan of their second album, and prefer the grittier garage band aesthetic on their freshman effort. Nevertheless, the polish that comes through on the new album translates well to live performance, making the set a rather polished gem.8/10
Blitzen Trapper @ Pitchfork 7/19/9
This set reminded me quite a bit of Fleet Foxes' set last year in that the sound wasn't quite loud enough, the band was technically proficient but lacked stage presence, and I struggled to stay awake. Not to say Blitzen Trapper is quite like FF. BT comes off a lot more folk-country live than on record, which really isn't my bag. Also, although the lack of proper amplification may have something to do with it, the intricate songwriting that makes them noteworthy just doesn't translate 1:1 when experienced live (at least outdoors). This band was made for a more intimate club, probably something low key and with chairs. Thankfully, this set was pretty early in the day, otherwise I might have laid down and let the songs put me to bed. 5/10
Frightened Rabbit @ Pitchfork 7/19/9
At one point last year, I saw Frightened Rabbit, White Rabbits, and White Denim in the same week. That was confusing, and although the music between the bands isn't all that similar, it was hard to keep each live performance straight in my head (part of the inspiration for starting this blog). It was therefore with a sense of curiosity and anticipated recollection that I filed into Pitchfork relatively early on Sunday to catch the 1:45 performance of Frightened Rabbit (plus, after being forced to miss Saturday's killer lineup because of an out-of-town wedding, I was jonesing hard to get to Pitchfork ASAP). Between intermittent splashes of sun on a much cooler than normal July afternoon, singer Scott Hutchison belted out several quality renditions of their brand of Scottish indie rock, and even with a strained and raspy voice (he admitted to be suffering from a cold), peppered the crowd with a good deal of self-depreciating humor. This proved to be one of the day's finer acts both in terms of livliness, crowd interaction, banter, and sound quality. Even at the time, it felt like a fine opening act to my Pitchfork day.
8/10
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