Showing posts with label rave. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rave. Show all posts
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Late-Adopter Club: The Avalanches
The band Air France have an EP out, entitled No Way Down, that is getting all kinds of rave reviews. While I've yet to get my hot little hands on it, I have heard the title track, and it is indeed the poo. The album it's been most compared to is the Avalanches 2000 release, "Since I Left You", of which I am ashamed to admit I had never heard. Apparently I was too immersed in Hum, the Dismemberment Plan, and the Roots back then to appreciate music that actually makes you feel, you know, good. Anyway, I'm making up for lost time, grooving to the Avalanches, and wishing that summer will never end.
Bonus points for what I am 100% confident is the best use of a horse whinny sample in the history of music, in track 2, Stay Another Season.
Bonus points for what I am 100% confident is the best use of a horse whinny sample in the history of music, in track 2, Stay Another Season.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Premature Rave: Fate
I just got my greedy little hands on an advance copy of Dr. Dog's yet to be released album: Fate. Hoo boy it's good. Like, maybe the best thing I've heard this year good.
Time will tell.
Time will tell.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Rave: Metaform
Just picked up Metaform's new album, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.
It's really, really good.
This album has launched itself to top of the list for my summer partying purposes. At least the chilled out bbq-style parties.
HUGE bonus points for the Coming to America sample in I Feel Good.
It's really, really good.
This album has launched itself to top of the list for my summer partying purposes. At least the chilled out bbq-style parties.
HUGE bonus points for the Coming to America sample in I Feel Good.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Rave: The Virginia EP
The National dropped "The Virginia EP" last week, and it's great.
I'd write more, but I can't seem to listen to it all - I keep replaying the final track, a live cut of "About Today", from their debut release way back in the day. This track is seriously gorgeous. The National at the top of their game.
I'd write more, but I can't seem to listen to it all - I keep replaying the final track, a live cut of "About Today", from their debut release way back in the day. This track is seriously gorgeous. The National at the top of their game.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thank you KEXP
On Monday, I received a receipt documenting another installment of my annual donation to KEXP Seattle, praised in this space and elsewhere as the greatest radio station in the world.
Then, I came into work to a new computer, that magically can stream their audio live, in perfect quality, with no buffering stupidity (which was a problem on my previous machine).
Suffice to say, I've been listening all week thus far, and have learned a few things:
1) We were promised jetpacks = greatest band name ever. Though really it would work better as an album title. Still, awesome name. Their song Quiet Little Voices is anything but quiet, and is good.
2) Working for a Nuclear Free City = unfortunately named band out of manchester. They sound like the result of a focus group conducted in my high school memories, updated to modern day pop-crunch (aka, lots of Stone Roses, Jesus and Mary Chain influence). Their song Nancy Adam Susan (what's with the terrible names, people?) is the shit. I can't believe I didn't pick up on this when it came out last year.
3) Yep, KEXP is awesome, and if you live in Seattle or New York, you should feel very very lucky they're on your airwaves. If you don't, but have a cubicle, get yourself some decent headphones!
Then, I came into work to a new computer, that magically can stream their audio live, in perfect quality, with no buffering stupidity (which was a problem on my previous machine).
Suffice to say, I've been listening all week thus far, and have learned a few things:
1) We were promised jetpacks = greatest band name ever. Though really it would work better as an album title. Still, awesome name. Their song Quiet Little Voices is anything but quiet, and is good.
2) Working for a Nuclear Free City = unfortunately named band out of manchester. They sound like the result of a focus group conducted in my high school memories, updated to modern day pop-crunch (aka, lots of Stone Roses, Jesus and Mary Chain influence). Their song Nancy Adam Susan (what's with the terrible names, people?) is the shit. I can't believe I didn't pick up on this when it came out last year.
3) Yep, KEXP is awesome, and if you live in Seattle or New York, you should feel very very lucky they're on your airwaves. If you don't, but have a cubicle, get yourself some decent headphones!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Best song of the year - early candidates
Opening Act, by Drive By Truckers (lyric of the year: "And I’m driving north as the sun was rising over a Technicolor horizon")
Unforgettable Season, by Cut Copy (dance song of the year)
Probably something off the new Black Angels - Doves, maybe? (best use of reverb since what's the frequency kenneth?)
Unforgettable Season, by Cut Copy (dance song of the year)
Probably something off the new Black Angels - Doves, maybe? (best use of reverb since what's the frequency kenneth?)
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Food Review - Devil's Den
So i checked out devil's den last night. 11th and ellsworth.
In a word, it's great.
The beer list is among the best in the city, rivaled only by the POPE in terms of great IPAs (Bells Two Hearted, Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, and a magnificent and evil triple IPA from Founders that weighed in at 13% ABV), and it goes a long way towards replacing Ludwigs (though that's really not possible) in terms of German beers. $6 for 23oz of Spaten? I can get behind that. Also, props for setting aside petty political bullshit and carrying both Yard's Philly Pale AND Philly Brewing Rowhouse Red. They follow the Ludwig's example in terms of glassware, fitting each beer to its proper vessel, which allows for the always fun game of "Who Gets The Coolest Glass". It will also, no doubt, lead to tons of theft. Tons of other stuff, but I didn't have it last night.
Food looks good - While I was disappointed that "The Axe" wasn't on the menu, the fries are delicious, and the bite of a portobello burger was the best such item I've ever tasted, by far. Heaps of caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes and smoked mozzarella - so much of the latter that it gooped out the side all over the fries- a VERY good thing.
As for sports watching capabilities, two bigass and gorgeous plasma screens sit above the bar, and last night one showed the flyers and one the phillies. The loud cheers when the Flyers took a 2-1 lead took me by surprise- the crowd was decidedly un-blue collar- mostly late 20's/early 30's white yuppies - in other words, me.
Some drawbacks - the wine list looks pretty weak, but who gives a shit, drink a beer, you fairy! Also, no Yuengling available, about which I could care less, but it still seems like a mistake. The 2nd floor is still not open yet, the service was predictably uneven (though friendly) given it was opening night, and there's no jukebox, which to me is a pretty grievous sin. The music was mostly bland 90's "alternative". If I wanted to listen to MMR I'd go back to drinking and driving, thank you.
Anyway, I give this place 3 Pinot Noir-laced mugs of Wit out of 4. Once they iron out the kinks, add a juke, and a pool table/darts upstairs, this could easily become my favorite bar in the city. Between the South Philly Tap Room, POPE, Caballitos, Ray's, the Dive, 12 Steps Down, Royal, and now Devil's Den, there's really no reason for me to ever leave my neighborhood (except, you know, for work).
Get on out and raise a glass to Confederate Snipers at this latest great Philly pub.
In a word, it's great.
The beer list is among the best in the city, rivaled only by the POPE in terms of great IPAs (Bells Two Hearted, Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, and a magnificent and evil triple IPA from Founders that weighed in at 13% ABV), and it goes a long way towards replacing Ludwigs (though that's really not possible) in terms of German beers. $6 for 23oz of Spaten? I can get behind that. Also, props for setting aside petty political bullshit and carrying both Yard's Philly Pale AND Philly Brewing Rowhouse Red. They follow the Ludwig's example in terms of glassware, fitting each beer to its proper vessel, which allows for the always fun game of "Who Gets The Coolest Glass". It will also, no doubt, lead to tons of theft. Tons of other stuff, but I didn't have it last night.
Food looks good - While I was disappointed that "The Axe" wasn't on the menu, the fries are delicious, and the bite of a portobello burger was the best such item I've ever tasted, by far. Heaps of caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes and smoked mozzarella - so much of the latter that it gooped out the side all over the fries- a VERY good thing.
As for sports watching capabilities, two bigass and gorgeous plasma screens sit above the bar, and last night one showed the flyers and one the phillies. The loud cheers when the Flyers took a 2-1 lead took me by surprise- the crowd was decidedly un-blue collar- mostly late 20's/early 30's white yuppies - in other words, me.
Some drawbacks - the wine list looks pretty weak, but who gives a shit, drink a beer, you fairy! Also, no Yuengling available, about which I could care less, but it still seems like a mistake. The 2nd floor is still not open yet, the service was predictably uneven (though friendly) given it was opening night, and there's no jukebox, which to me is a pretty grievous sin. The music was mostly bland 90's "alternative". If I wanted to listen to MMR I'd go back to drinking and driving, thank you.
Anyway, I give this place 3 Pinot Noir-laced mugs of Wit out of 4. Once they iron out the kinks, add a juke, and a pool table/darts upstairs, this could easily become my favorite bar in the city. Between the South Philly Tap Room, POPE, Caballitos, Ray's, the Dive, 12 Steps Down, Royal, and now Devil's Den, there's really no reason for me to ever leave my neighborhood (except, you know, for work).
Get on out and raise a glass to Confederate Snipers at this latest great Philly pub.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Rave: Sigur Ros
With their new album, Hvarf-Heim, which dropped Tuesday, Sigur Ros has, in my mind, seized the mantle of best band in the world from Radiohead. I'll reconsider this judgement in a few months, once I've had more time to let this album grow on me.
That said, never has so beautiful an album had so ugly a name. HVAAAAAAAAAAAAARF!!!
Anyway, go listen to this thing. It's incredible.
That said, never has so beautiful an album had so ugly a name. HVAAAAAAAAAAAAARF!!!
Anyway, go listen to this thing. It's incredible.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
