pic: thelineofbestfit.com
Brian Jonestown Massacre: 3 Albums
Started with Strung Out in Heaven. My favorite kind of poprock. I wish more people loved him. He’s prolific and schitzophrenic and has swagger and sadness.
Started with Strung Out in Heaven. My favorite kind of poprock. I wish more people loved him. He’s prolific and schitzophrenic and has swagger and sadness.
Songs like “Love” “Wisdom” or “Maybe Tomorrow” are simple, like most BJM songs. There’s a sweetness mixed with wisdom and then complete blotto lyrics like calling a rival “shit for brains.” Classy.
He’s into instruments. Banjo’s and tambourines aren’t uncommon in the grungy hippie rock he produces.
pic: farm1.static.flickr
Moved on to My Bloody Underground.
Piano is as good as anything in a Polanski movie on songs like “We Are the Niggers of the World.” And the orgy that is “Who Cares Why”—dontcha wish you were in a New Year’s Eve firedance while this is being conceived? It’s sooo communal.
I also like the unprofessionalism that goes with most BJM. If it sounds like it was recorded in a garage, there’s a good chance that it was. For anyone who has seen Dig!, you know BJM fluctuates wildly between rock star hedonism and full on gutterville. The music’s no different, except it’s all good. It just ebbs and flows from beauty and melody to anger and distortion in the span of two or three tracks.
pic: punkglobe.com
Kept it going. Listened to Tepid Peppermint Wonderland next. The first track, “All Around You” is tongue-in-cheek and druggy and Monkee’d. You have to admit Anton is a weird wicked genius, just screaming and cackling through the song.
“Open Heart Surgery” reminds me of my cousin Boop’s recordings. Sad melancholy pop 90s smile :)
“It Girl” is Lee Hazlewood meets Raveonettes.
from their Myspace
pic: ascap.com
Moved on to Delegate.
This was a Richmond rock band in the mid 2000’s who were so amazing. They played Norfolk a lot. They opened for Franz Ferdinand at the 930 in DC. We hung out at SXSW once. The first song is “And the Lights Just Flickered Out.” So did they, which is a bummer.
“If tears were years then I’d be dead by now.” The way Darren sang this in “Modern Man” melts my ears a little. Sad I only have this recording. I remember the way the sounds hit you from all angles at their live shows, especially the smaller ones at places like Belmont or Backstage Café.
The falsetto’s in “All My Alibis” are some of the best you’ll hear. There’s a Smiths or Cure misery to it wrapped in swirly Snow Patrol-ey clouds.
from their Myspace
In keeping with the DIY spirit, I went to Children of Spy out of Murfreesboro TN. They'll be playing Winston's here on July 15.
IMMEDIATELY--INSTANTANEOUSLY-I thought Eagles of Death Metal. This quickly swerved south...like Neko Case South. I like it for the car. Need a few more songs to see if I might like it live.
A few minutes later: Not 100% in love. Must say, if you like this, Winston's Cafe couldn't be a more perfect venue for this band. Unless we could get some sweet outside picnic & wine indie action going on--because that would, in fact, be better.. Another place I'd dig these guys would be at 6pm Saturday at Bonarroo. I dug Bright Eyes that way.
And I realize....Murfreesboro is by Bonnarioo--it's the nearet town. I keep hearing new bands all the time out of there. I just saw Glossary (also from there) open for Lucero last month at Jewmom. And I hear more and more people speak positively about it. I've been there a handful of times and thought it was nice.
In livin la vida local this week, I thought a lot about the goods and bads of Norfolk. I shant be travellin' soon, but I did wiki Murfreesboro and it sounded up and coming. Kudos to Winston's for booking them and all the other super DIY bands trying their hardest. Here's Hannah & Jesse's take on the best venue in Chesapeake.
They get a solid B- with added sweet tea (peach schnapps optional).
pic: amdoc.org
Then went to Johnny Cash. Learned the words to "The One on the Right is on the Left." This was, ironically, the second most prevelent theme of my week after the aforementioned "livin' tha local life." Thanks Art/Everywhere and Cooch. You both made me pace, laugh out loud, and drink. No matter it was for different reasons.
HILARIOUS! Better lyrics than "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die." Click the link for the full, but here's a sample from the chorus:
They were long on musical ability
Folks thought they would go far
Folks thought they would go far
But political incompatibility led to their downfall
Well, the one on the right was on the left
And the one in the middle was on the right
And the one on the left was in the middle
And the one on the left was in the middle
And the guy in the rear was a Methodist
pic: farm3.static.flickr.com
On to tonight's local scene: Today the Moon Tomorrow the Sun are back and I am stokey-stoked. Click here for my thoughts from last fall's AltDaily.
Still riding a good culture wave between Phoenix and Art/Everywhere, I think The Boot tonight is indie pop dance dessert.
