Tonight, Thursday, April 21
Nothing worth seeing.
Tomorrow!! Friday, April 22
So So Glos, Xray Eyeballs, Web Dating, Bass Drum of Death @ Glasslands * Williamsburg, Brooklyn * $10
I can't say as I'm too thrilled about any of the shows going on around town tomorrow. The So So Glos are always classic though - provincial, proletarian Brooklyn punk. [myspace]
Saturday, April 23
Grass Widow, K-Holes @ Glasslands * Williamsburg, Brooklyn * $10
I'm so psyched to hear Grass Widow. They're a punk outfit from San Francisco that everyone has been really excited by for the last year or so and they opened for Sonic Youth and stuff so apparently that "everyone" includes some pretty cool folks. I have yet to hear the band, but I have high hopes (that might well be dashed if they turn out to be some sort of lame surf-pop). I have heard K-Holes, and they are pretty fucking good, weird experimental stuff that's noisy and aggressive and post punky. They have or had a member from Black Lips but the rest of them are ladies (!!) (as are Grass Widow) and they're a pretty mean bunch. [widow myspace] [k-hole myspace]
Other shows
Kim Gordon (of Sonic Youth) @ The Stone ($10, early show)
Talk Normal (lady noise!) @ The Stone ($10, late show)
PC Worship (free jazz informed lo-fi folk/rock) @ Death By Audio ($7)
Crocodiles, Fresh & Onlys, Young Prisms, Bass Drum of Death (agressive-ish post punk) @ Music Hall of Williamsburg ($12-14)
Mahogany (Swiss watch means shoegaze) @ Rock Shop ($10, not headlining)
Sunday, April 24
Grass Widow, Talk Normal, Broken Water @ Death By Audio * Williamsburg, Brooklyn * $7
Grass Widow, wheeee! (see above.) Talk Normal are two ladies who make music that isn't normal. It's weird noise and rhythm but there are songs and both band members can sure sing (and have been increasingly making use of this skill, based on the last few shows of theirs I've seen). Jasper claims he and I saw Broken Water before and they were good, but I don't remember it. Still, it's a good name and a good bill in general, so get there early and check them out. [widow myspace] [talk myspace] [broken myspace]
Monday, April 25
White Suns @ Death By Audio ($7)
Noize. [myspace]
Other shows
Miniboone (chaotic, writ-large pop) @ Pianos (Free!)
Tuesday, April 26
Nada.
Wednesday, April 27
Lightning Bolt @ 285 Kent * Williamsburg, Brookly * $12
There are two people in this band and they are both named Brian. One Brian plays a heavily distorted bass guitar very very very very fast and very very very very loud. The other Brian plays the drums very very very very very very very fast and yells into a mic that he has in his mouth. [myspace]
Low @ Bowery Ballroom * LES, Manhattan * $18 / $20
This is the opposite of Lightning Bolt in that they play very very very very slow and very very very very quiet. But they do so in a very bad-ass way: Low started in reaction to the dopey hardcore/grunge wave of bands in their hometown of Duluth, MN. An exercise in restraint, Low keep from being boring (even to me, and I have the attention span of a 5-year-old) by the magnificent tension they generate via the art of omission. They also let loose sometimes and scream about Santa Claus. They are one of the best live acts in American indie music. I promise. [myspace]
Other shows
Battles (experimental/math/post rock) @ Le Poisson Rouge
Lemuria (pop punk, emo, but good) @ Webster Studio
The long view...
April
28
Lightning Bolt (post-thrash noise), Pterodactyl (crazy noise) @ Le Poisson Rouge ($12/$14)
30
Titus Andronicus (epic hardcore punk songs about history - but so much better than that sounds) @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
May
4
Gang Gang Dance (experimental dub) @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Foals (mathy dancy post punky indie rock) @ Terminal 5
6
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (saccharine indie pop with subtly dark lyrics) @ Webster Hall
10
Yo La Tengo (inventors of noise pop) @ Bell House (Sold Out)
11
Yo La Tengo (see above) @ Bell House (Sold Out)
CSS (ultra hip crazy dance pop with punk attitude from Brazilian ladies), Sleigh Bells (ultra hip duo with danceable heavy hip-hop beats + girly vocals + metal/hardcore/industrial sheets of guitar noise + some screaming) @ Webster Hall (Sold Out)
12
CSS, Sleigh Bells (see above) @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (Sold Out)
15
CSS, Sleigh Bells (see above) @ Bowery Ballroom (Sold Out)
19
The Antlers (sad noisy music) @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
20
The Antlers (see above) @ Bowery Ballroom
Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), I Feel Tractor @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
June
2
Stiff Little Fingers (late 70's UK punk)
23
Dinosaur Jr (late 80's/early 90's loud proto-alt rock, performing their classic album Bug), Fucked Up (wall of sound meets hardcore/thrash meets best thing ever) @ Terminal 5
Showing posts with label Low. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Low. Show all posts
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Friday, February 13, 2009
Radio Flyer's Recommendations for Valentine's Day Blues
Hi everyone,
Sorry if you've been trying to avoid the fact that Valentine's Day is this Saturday - but you were bound to be reminded somehow, and how better than Radio Flyer Review's Valentine's Day recommendations? I have identified which recommendations fit with which circumstances and have included a key so you can figure out which music will match your situation. If you're planning to have a happy Valentine's Day with your significant other, sorry, but this list is not for you.
Key:
In no particular order:
1. Rid Of Me by PJ Harvey #
Break-up albums don't come angrier than PJ Harvey's masterpiece. Every line of every song is pretty much another kick in the face whoever it was who pissed her off. There's something darkly empowering about the album, but it never once feels good. Of course, the title track takes the cake: "I'm gonna twist your head off, see? / Till you say don't you wish you never never met her."
2. "In My Life" by the Brian Jonestown Massacre #
This has got to be my favorite bitter break-up song in the indie rock canon. "I'm gonna take you out / I'm gonna make you cry," etc. Word of advice: never break up with Anton Newcombe.
3. Country Music ** (and sometimes #, +)
The entire genre of country music (well, at least all of it that isn't completely crap) is made for this situation. It's hard to go wrong, but if you really have no idea where to start, I'd suggest going back to the classics, either the genre's leading ladies (Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt) or even back to Mr. Johnny Cash himself. But really, just about anything from the genre will do.
4. "Fuck You (An Ode To No One)" by the Smashing Pumpkins and "Violet" by Hole #
Pumpkins' leader Billy Corgan was once romantically involved with Hole's Courtney Love, and rumor has it, they wrote these songs to/about one another, obviously post break-up. Seems like there may have been some hard feelings.
5. No Shouts, No Calls by Electrelane *
I know, I know - will you shut up about Electrelane already!? The answer is no, I won't. I love this band and I can think of very few lyricists who capture heart-break as honestly and accurately as Verity Susman. If this album isn't enough for you, also try "Birds" off The Power Out ("It's not that I can't go on without you / Got a lot of things to do / I'm busy, busy all the time / Still I can't stop thinking about you")
6. "Good Arms vs. Bad Arms" by Frightened Rabbit **
Hands down, the best crying-in-your-beer song of 2008. Key lyric: "I'm not ready to see you this happy"
7. Pre-war blues *,#,+
There's something very cathartic about hearing someone 80 years go saying exactly what you're thinking now, and particularly saying it on a crackly old recording over some nice guitar lines. There's a lot to chose from here, but here are some recommendations:
8a. Disintegration by the Cure *
This is an obvious choice, but still merits mentioning. One of the greatest break-up albums ever, this is perfect for crying your eyes out to for hours on end. Track picks: "Pictures of You" and "Disintegration"
8b. "Doing the Unstuck" by the Cure +
This isn't exactly a happy song, to say the least, but in a way, it can be helpful to have a I'm-Getting-Over-It song from someone you know feels just as miserable and hopeless as you (in this case, Robert Smith). Yes, it's sarcastic, but there's something empowering about it anyway.
9. Late 90's American indie pop *,#
For some reason, at least in the US, the late 90's were a great era for honest, direct lyrics. Some examples to get you started:
10. "I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You" by the Ramones +
It doesn't get more direct than this.
Last resort...
Now, I happen to know a lot of people going through a really hard time right now, be it the stupid holiday this weekend, the economy, or just a string of bad luck. Now, I really hope none of you reading this are bad off enough to take these recommendations, but sometimes you just need music that's as low and messed up as you feel. So just in case...
For the very, very sad: Things We Lost In The Fire by Low
For the very, very angry: I'll Sleep When You're Dead by El-P or Broken by Nine Inch Nails (cliches exist for a reason!)
For the utterly miserable: Still by Joy Division or Spiderland by Slint
Sorry if you've been trying to avoid the fact that Valentine's Day is this Saturday - but you were bound to be reminded somehow, and how better than Radio Flyer Review's Valentine's Day recommendations? I have identified which recommendations fit with which circumstances and have included a key so you can figure out which music will match your situation. If you're planning to have a happy Valentine's Day with your significant other, sorry, but this list is not for you.
Key:
| * | Music for the broken-hearted |
| ** | Crying in your beer music (a specific subdivision of music for the broken-hearted) |
| # | Music for the angry and bitter |
| + | Music to make you feel good about being independent (I don't have much of this because I really don't own or listen to much music to make anyone feel good about anything, but I tried...) |
In no particular order:
1. Rid Of Me by PJ Harvey #
Break-up albums don't come angrier than PJ Harvey's masterpiece. Every line of every song is pretty much another kick in the face whoever it was who pissed her off. There's something darkly empowering about the album, but it never once feels good. Of course, the title track takes the cake: "I'm gonna twist your head off, see? / Till you say don't you wish you never never met her."
2. "In My Life" by the Brian Jonestown Massacre #
This has got to be my favorite bitter break-up song in the indie rock canon. "I'm gonna take you out / I'm gonna make you cry," etc. Word of advice: never break up with Anton Newcombe.
3. Country Music ** (and sometimes #, +)
The entire genre of country music (well, at least all of it that isn't completely crap) is made for this situation. It's hard to go wrong, but if you really have no idea where to start, I'd suggest going back to the classics, either the genre's leading ladies (Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt) or even back to Mr. Johnny Cash himself. But really, just about anything from the genre will do.
4. "Fuck You (An Ode To No One)" by the Smashing Pumpkins and "Violet" by Hole #
Pumpkins' leader Billy Corgan was once romantically involved with Hole's Courtney Love, and rumor has it, they wrote these songs to/about one another, obviously post break-up. Seems like there may have been some hard feelings.
5. No Shouts, No Calls by Electrelane *
I know, I know - will you shut up about Electrelane already!? The answer is no, I won't. I love this band and I can think of very few lyricists who capture heart-break as honestly and accurately as Verity Susman. If this album isn't enough for you, also try "Birds" off The Power Out ("It's not that I can't go on without you / Got a lot of things to do / I'm busy, busy all the time / Still I can't stop thinking about you")
6. "Good Arms vs. Bad Arms" by Frightened Rabbit **
Hands down, the best crying-in-your-beer song of 2008. Key lyric: "I'm not ready to see you this happy"
7. Pre-war blues *,#,+
There's something very cathartic about hearing someone 80 years go saying exactly what you're thinking now, and particularly saying it on a crackly old recording over some nice guitar lines. There's a lot to chose from here, but here are some recommendations:
| > J. T. Smith - "Howling Wolf Blues" (*) or "Heart Bleeding Blues" (*,#) | |
| > Lucille Bogan - "You Got To Die Some Day" (#) or "Lonesome Midnight Blues" (*) | |
| > Martha Copland - "I Ain't Your Hen Mr. Fly Rooster" (+) | |
| > Robert Johnson - "Love In Vain" (*) |
8a. Disintegration by the Cure *
This is an obvious choice, but still merits mentioning. One of the greatest break-up albums ever, this is perfect for crying your eyes out to for hours on end. Track picks: "Pictures of You" and "Disintegration"
8b. "Doing the Unstuck" by the Cure +
This isn't exactly a happy song, to say the least, but in a way, it can be helpful to have a I'm-Getting-Over-It song from someone you know feels just as miserable and hopeless as you (in this case, Robert Smith). Yes, it's sarcastic, but there's something empowering about it anyway.
9. Late 90's American indie pop *,#
For some reason, at least in the US, the late 90's were a great era for honest, direct lyrics. Some examples to get you started:
| > Magnetic Fields: "I Don't Believe In The Sun" (*) or "I Don't Want To Get Over You" (*) | |
| > Quasi: "I Never Want To See You Again" (*,#) | |
| > Elliot Smith: "Somebody That I Used To Know" (#) or "Everything Reminds Me Of Her" (*) (OK, these weren't technically released in the 90's, but what's a couples months' difference?) |
10. "I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You" by the Ramones +
It doesn't get more direct than this.
Last resort...
Now, I happen to know a lot of people going through a really hard time right now, be it the stupid holiday this weekend, the economy, or just a string of bad luck. Now, I really hope none of you reading this are bad off enough to take these recommendations, but sometimes you just need music that's as low and messed up as you feel. So just in case...
For the very, very sad: Things We Lost In The Fire by Low
For the very, very angry: I'll Sleep When You're Dead by El-P or Broken by Nine Inch Nails (cliches exist for a reason!)
For the utterly miserable: Still by Joy Division or Spiderland by Slint
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