If You Dislike The Mars Volta, I Will Mend The Cuts Of Your Prosthetic Faith
??????? 
A new record from?The Mars Volta, The Bedlam in Goliath, debuted this week to both the delight of purveyors of complicated music and the dismay of most bloggers. Because these gatekeepers of “cool” are often scared by big guitars and classic rock ambitions, digital reviewers are quick to throw accusations at TMV that they suck?and are lame. But these indie kids?are mistaken. TMV is the best avant garde-spiritual-progressive-bop-metal-salsa group working today. And through?an examination of their epic?canon,?it?is easy to pinpoint five solid bits of proof:
-Fact #1:?Singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala writes the best lyrics ever.
?Who cares if they make no sense? Get ready to have your mind blown by the sheer audacity:
*”Glossolalia coats my skin /Glycerine and turbulence /Stuffed the voice inside of God / Mirrors to the animals” (from “Tetragrammaton”)
*”But the temple is scathing / Through your veins / They were scaling / Through an ice pick of abscess reckoning” (from “Miranda, That Ghost Just Isn’t Holy Anymore”)
*”Suture contusion /Beyond the anthills of the dawning of this plague / Said I’ve lost my way / Even if this cul-de-sac did pay” (from “Cicatriz ESP”)
-Fact #2: Band leaders Bixler-Zavala and guitarist?Omar Rodr?guez-L?pez both sport afros. Rad.
-Fact #3:?The boys create?fun?and frightening?music videos.
*Example #1 - “The Widow” - Children love ice cream men. Apparently, they also love eating chocolate from his cart as it steams out of their eyes like tears. Ewww.
*Example #2 - “Askepios” - Remind me not to let these guys plan my next birthday party.
Up And Rising: The Shills
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?
In the face of plummeting music sales, record execs are eager to push artists who marginally satisfy many ears, no matter how thin the results may be. Some of the most profitable entertainers are those shade their music with different flavors (such as jazz, rock, hip-hop and house) in order to nab the largest audiences possible. Yet often, the artists remain jacks of all trades, rather than masters of their craft.
Luckily, no part of this trend affects up-and-coming quartet The Shills.?The?group first entered the Boston scene in 2006?with Push, a six song EP which includes several of the group?s best efforts. ?Oh Lovely? is, quite possibly, one of the prettiest songs ever written, with Murphy?s romantic vocals floating over a gentle tangle of guitars. ?Say What You Will? examines the band at their most joyous, layering the saccharine on thick while still retaining the musical complexity which many of their peers fail to strive for. And although the band only formed recently before the release of?Push, it is clear that they were seasoned enough to put their all into tracks such as ?Angry Dance,? propelling the song from rock-fueled ditty to arena-ready anthem. It’s?a great first effort.
On their recently-released, self-titled debut full-length, the young northeasterners rock without shame, announcing their strength with a meticulously written album which, if there is any justice in the world, will offer the band plenty of exposure. If their EP was a charging debut of the group’s sound, the full-length cements their relevency. Opening track ?Pigeonhole? charges with a guitar line and rhythm section which would not sound out of place on oft-stale alternative radio. Yet any formula is immediately dropped as singer / guitarist Bryan Murphy opens his mouth. The gifted vocalist, graced with a three octave range, drives the track with a showstopping falsetto on the active chorus. Often compared in tone to the late Jeff Buckley, the similarities are sonically accurate, but more representative of Murphy?s ability to steal the spotlight on nearly every song.
But focusing solely on Murphy?s pipes would be a disservice to the rest of the crack band. The whip-smart blend of guitarist Eric Ryrie, bassist Dave Sicilian and drummer James Zaner offers a surprisingly heavy backing section for Murphy?s rich and emotional voice. The gamble works: whether they are shredding on multi-section tracks such as the swelling ?Big Indifference? or soulful jammers such as the understated blues stomp of ?But Beware,? the group stays nimble enough to match the intensity of the vocals.
High points are frequent. ?Slackjaw America? emerges as Murphy?s most ruckus performance, trading subtlety in for a screamer which shuns America?s media obsession. Power ballad ?Big Yellow Steamroller? packs an emotional wallop, featuring an ebbing rhythm section which experiments while retaining melody. Closer ?It?s Not Your Thing? perfectly captures the carefree rock and roll spirit which the group is able to encapsulate so well.
Were a gripe to be had with The Shills, it might reference their sub-Shakespearean lyrics. Yet rock music often has little need for brilliant words, instead taking joy in the ability to launch a solid groove. At that, The Shills are more than capable. And though the most compelling aspect of the band is their stunning live act, The Shills will more than compensate until you are able to catch one of their hometown gigs.
The Shills’ music and tour dates —> http://www.myspace.com/theshills
Chris Walla Flies Solo?and other New Tuesday Releases
??????????????????????????????
?????????????????????????????????? ????????????????? ???? Chris Walla
Chris Walla - Field Manual - Death Cab for Cutie guitarist goes power-pop on his debut solo release, still retaining much of the off-kilter sadness of his group’s work.
?
The Mars Volta - The Bedlam In Goliath - It will be interesting to examine any structural changes on the Volta’s first album without their savage ex-drummer Jon Theodore, but the boys will surly keep their mega-prog strong even in his absence.
?
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend - The newest blog buzz band, Vampire Weekend proves to be high on precociousness but low on enjoyability on their Afro-centric debut.
Joe Jackson - Rain - Former British new-waver aims to continue his conquest of the adult pop world with his first album of original material since 2004’s Afterlife.
?
Sons And Daughters - This Gift - Adored by critics and Morrissey alike, this Glasgow quartet attempts an American invasion with their third disc.
Week At A Glance - Concerts Of Note 1/28 - 2/3
???????????????? ?
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????Richard Thompson
*Wednesday, 1/30 @ 8:00 p.m. -?Richard Thompson?@ The State Theatre [$26.50 adv. / $29.50]
British legend Thompson performs his unique “1000 Years of Popular Music” showcase,?which examines tunes spanning?from?the Middle Ages through the work of Britney Spears.
*Thursday, 1/31 @ 9:00 p.m. -?Carmen and Camille?@ The Haunt [TBA]
The MySpace page of this up-and-coming Canadian mall-punk outfit boldly proclaims, “Featured on MTV’s THE HILLS!” You’ve been warned.
*Saturday, 2/2 @ 10:00 p.m. -?Riverden @ The Nines [$5]
Young Philadelphia thrashers bring their hard-hitting show to Ithaca, previewing songs from their upcoming full-length, “Plains of Existence.”
Moldy Peaches Get Dirty On “The View”
It took Sharp Notes about three days to process that The Moldy Peaches, America’s favorite drugged-out anti-folksters, would be appearing?on menopausal mecca?The View.?The show aired Monday, and once the clip hit YouTube, it became clear that their?performance, promoting the Juno?soundtrack,?was peppered with plenty of odd?and fantastic moments. Watch the clip below, and enjoy?the fun subtleties which color the video.
-0:15 - Note the super-creepy Americana backdrop?- is it whimsical or straight out of a?horror?movie?
-0:25 - Kimya Dawson and Adam Green have never left the house not dressed like transients
-1:35 - As the pair continues the song, they look progressively more disinterested with their performance - could it be Adam’s amazingly?lazy strum?
-2:44 - “You blew a little load out of the bottom of your pants” - cue awkward audience giggle.
-3:23 - Whoopi looks very uncomfortable when encountering an unscripted embrace.
-3:30 - Whoopi refers to the Juno soundtrack as the “biggest movie soundtrack ever” - fact check, anyone?
-3:43 - Kimya is given a chyron which reads “General Colin Powell - Former Secretary of State”…a mistake which was made on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no less.
-4:02 - Enjoy Adam Green’s super-sarcastic answer to Whoopi’s final query (which he never answers) - a priceless end to a jarringly awkward clip. Cue awkward audience giggle, part 2.
Blast From The Past Friday: “Across 110th Street” OST
?????????????????
?
The soundtrack of this classic 1972?blaxploitation film is anchored by the work of the?ever-expressive Bobby Womack and soul conductor J. J. Johnson. Together, the two deliver an album full of gritty manifestos chronicling the hardships of life on the streets. Womack?s voice is perfect for the role ?weathered knowledge backed by beauty under the rough. Johnson?s score is poignant and reflective without being stale, creating a beautiful backdrop for Womack?s gift. The title track is a classic fusion of the duo?s talents, later revived by professional record scrounger Quentin Tarantino for his own genre homage, 1997?s Jackie Brown.
Excerpt from Jackie Brown, featuring Bobby Womack’s “Across 110th Street”:
Dream Grammy Collaborations - 2008 Edition
People reported?this week that Beyonc? and Tina Turner are scheduled to?duet at this year’s Grammy Awards. While that is pleasant enough, we here at Sharp Notes have some other choice pair-ups that could send ratings of this year’s show through the roof. Here are our top 5 picks for 2008’s essential Grammy duets:
5) Avril Lavigne & Celine Dion
These Canadian heroines both new and old?would be sure to captivate crowds with their songs of hope and rad-ness. Can you imagine the grace Dion could lend to “Sk8er Boi,” or the brilliant harmonizing the two could muster on “My Heart Will Go On”? And then, if America is lucky, they could?lock lips?in a homage to the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, when Britney, Christina and Madonna had their own unique love fest. It would inspire us to sing “O Canada” -?that’s for sure!
4) Cher & T-Pain
The connection is clear - vocoders would be nothing without this dynamic duo. Cher’s late-90’s resurgence was mostly due to the computer-enhanced warble she exhibited on her breakout “Believe,” and T-Pain has built a career off of sounding as robotic as possible. For these two, it would be appropriate to suggest a blended medley of their hits: “Do You Believe Imma Buy You A Drank?”, anyone?
3) Britney Spears & Courtney Love?
As long as plenty of underwear?is provided for this toxic duo, ratings would go through the roof! I smell a meltdown…
2) Kanye West & Cornel West
Picture this: America’s premier rapper / producer, who claims he cares about black people while primarily rhyming about bling and himself, jamming with America’s premier African American scholar, who actually does care about the struggle of the oppressed. The identically-surnamed duo would be an excellent way to silence critics who claim that rap music is indicative of African American decline, rather than?a means of?unity and education. (Or you could just have Common perform, but that wouldn’t get the same?ratings.)
1) Amy Winehouse & Jeff Conaway
The two breakout, hopelessly drug-addled stars of the last year would be a perfect match for the show. Let’s examine the facts: Winehouse was once a great singer who?made it big?in the U.S. last year, but became so burdened by drug enmeshement with her significant other that she is now a warbling mess. Conaway, who once was the popular star of screen and stage with roles ranging from Grease to Taxi,?gained noteriety?earlier this year through drug enmeshment with his significant other, and now he is a warbling mess. Need more proof? Winehouse’s signature song is titled “Rehab,”while the show that hot mess Conaway is currently on is titled Celebrity Rehab. If the two could put down the sauce long enough to belt out a rousing rendition of Winehouse’s token track, the line between celebrity triumph and tragedy could be finally blurred into a perfect union. And you bet VH1 would have behind-the-scenes footage.
Amy Winehouse struggles to?make it?through her song “Back To Black”:
Jeff Conaway struggles to…talk on Celebrity Rehab:
Up And Rising: Drive-By Truckers
????? ?
Sharp Notes will just come right out and say it: alt-country is the most badass style of music around. With blaring guitars, huge keyboards, tight rhythm sections and better rock-and-roll songs than?the rock-and-rollers can produce, the genre has long remained a righteous boot in the ass of music big on attitude but short on songwriting.
But what is alt-country, anyway? Simply put - any country music that is too good for the dreadful contemporary country dial. The roster includes many fortunate sons and daughters of rebellious legends such as Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, drenched in a whiskey shot of?rock: Steve Earle, Cracker, Lucinda Williams, (old) Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, and Neko Case, just to name a few. Although their songs range from ruckus to reflective, the spirit of inspired songwriting, coupled with staples of classic country - such as slide guitars, the right touch of vocal twang and?songs about women done wrong - make for some of the most critically-adored and criminally-ignored music around.
Perhaps the best alt-country band working today is the long-running outfit Drive-By Truckers. Tightly combining the best of both country and rock with their hard-hitting albums, DBT delivered?their excellent seventh full-length yesterday. Titled Brighter Than Creation’s Dark, the disc draws expertly?from the vast well of the group’s strengths.
Anchored by founders Mike Cooley and Patterson Hood, who both sing and play rhythm guitar, John Neff rounds out the triple axe assault with a nasty lead and pedal steal which bleeds emotion on rockers such as “Home Field Advantage” and ballads?like “Daddy Needs A Drink.” Rounding out the back end are bassist / vocalist Shonna Tucker and drummer Brad Morgan, who skillfully hold the massive operation together.
Given that lead vocal and songwriting duties?are split amongst more than half of the quintet, DBT’s canon of work explores a variety of feels and influences. “The Righteous Path” recalls classic, country-fried Tom Petty; opener “Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife” expertly blend male and female vocals to evoke Dixie Chicks at their darkest; and the feedback-heavy, Iraq-drenched “That?Man I Shot”?is an early?contender for?heaviest song of 2008. This kind of?frenzied experimentation could sink less-capable groups, but Drive-By Truckers make every track their own.
“Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife” (from Brighter Than Creation’s Dark):
“Never Gonna Change” (from 2004’s The Dirty South):
Patty Larkin Jams On…and other New Tuesday Releases
??????
?
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ? ?Patty Larkin
-Patty Larkin - Watch The Sky- The newest release from this immensely-talented, Boston-based folkie catches her reflective and poetic jams at a career peak.
-Natasha Bedingfield?- Pocketful Of Sunshine-?It doesn’t get any more vanilla than the precocious stylings of this British import. Prepare to hear all of these tracks ad nauseam on next season’s American Idol auditions.
-Cat Power - Jukebox- Indie troubadour gives her unique spin on a second album of cover songs, featuring selections from Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and James Brown.
-Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation’s Dark - Alt-country mainstays follow their underrated 2006 release A Blessing and a Curse with their tour-ready seventh full-length.
-Lisa Loeb - The Purple Tape- Apparently Lisa Loeb’s 1992?solo debut?is popular enough to merit a reissue 16 years later. And it doesn’t have “Stay” on it. Yeah, we were surprised too.
Feed for Sharp Notes