Break It Yourself/Giant Orange/Gallery EP

Break It Yourself - Andrew Bird (Bella Union/Mom & Pop, 2012)
Andrew Bird's latest LP, Break It Yourself, is nothing to freak out about, but considering the lack of which I cared about it, I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy it. While I can't deny the dude's obvious talent, I haven't really been into anything Bird has done aside from 2007's Armchair Apocrypha. The 2009 follow-up, Noble Beast, was nice but forgettable, and actually, I feel the same about 2005's critically acclaimed Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs. Anyway, Break It Yourself is a little more energetic than Bird's previous solo outings, but otherwise is more of the same. The album features some gorgeous songs for sure, and maybe Bird's brand of grandiose, artful folk is at its most mature here, but I guess I'm just not nearly as interested in this kind of music as I was back in my Sufjan Stevens days. That being said, Break It Yourself is more than just solid and certainly is a respectable entry in the genre.


Giant Orange - Cheap Girls (Rise, 2012)
I feel like I mention him in almost every single one of my posts, but I must thank Bravender for tipping me off to Cheap Girls a couple years ago. It's stupid that I just now decided to finally listen to them. Giant Orange is  easily one of the best releases of 2012 so far. Their sound is an obvious nod to the alternative rock of 90s lore, most comparable to Dinosaur Jr., Gin Blossoms, and even Weezer at moments. One of the most attractive elements of the album is definitely that feeling of nostalgia that comes with it, but more importantly, these songs are killer. The record is loaded with hooks and memorable melodies, "Gone All Summer," "Manhattan on Mute," and "Pacer" featuring the best. Giant Orange is an early contender for album of the year.


Gallery EP - Craft Spells (Captured Tracks, 2012)
Craft Spells have not changed much since their delightful 2011 LP, Idle Labor, and I am completely fine with that. They're still on the popular New Order/Cure kick, just doing it even better this time around. Idle Labor was arguably excellent, the production and songs on Gallery are just of an even higher quality. Great melodies, synth sounds, etc. "Burst" and "Sun Trails" are JAMS.

Winesburg, Ohio/A Visit From the Goon Squad/Flowers for Algernon

Winesburg, Ohio - Sherwood Anderson (1919)
I'm sure this has a lot to do with the fast paced times we live in today, but I've always assumed that classic late 19th and early 20th century novels are boring. But, I'm trying to fight that notion by forcing myself to read one every now and again. I had high hopes for Sherwood Anderson's kinda/sorta cohesive short story collection, Winesburg, Ohio, and for the most part was let down. It was interesting to read such an early novel that was driven way more by character than plot. This gave the novel a welcome off-kilter feel. The first few stories were slow paced but wonderfully quirky statements on human nature and life in a quiet midwest town. Further into the book, the dragging stories and sleepy characters all started to blur together and I lost interest. I'm going to blame this on myself as opposed to the author, as Anderson does have an attractive way with description. That just wasn't enough to floor me, or anything.


A Visit From the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan (2010)
It seems as if this 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction is relatively maligned. Critics seemed to love it, but scrolling through Goodreads reviews of the normal, every day reader, the reviews seem more mixed. This added some appeal to reading A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan's sprawling post-modern epic. One of the good qualities about the novel: each chapter has a completely different feel, keeping things fresh and the flow of the story interesting albeit a little difficult. Sure, most of the book is pretty derivative of the DFW/Franzen/Zadie Smith crew, but those are great inspirations to draw from, and Egan does a good job of not copping TOO much. In both positive and negative ways, a lot is made of the PowerPoint chapter, and I guess I don't really have an opinion about it. It's interesting, but neither mind blowing nor offensive. The timeline is disjointed in a fun but confusing way, but I'm not complaining. I'm more annoyed by the lack of outright likable character, and these characters aren't even unlikable in an artfully depressing, Franzen sort of way. Regardless, I enjoyed A Visit From the Goon Squad thoroughly, and would assume that the majority of my friends would too.


Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes (1966)
I vaguely remember reading this, or at least many excerpts from it, at some point in high school in loving it. Had I read it again earlier on in college as opposed to just recently, it probably would have hit me harder. I assume just about everyone knows the gist of the plot of Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes' most well known novel. It certainly can be described as a tear jerking and heart breaking read. However, I can't shake the feeling that this was just an easy, cheap shot for Keyes. If Flowers for Algernon was just being published now, there's no way it would have the universal effect it did in the mid/late 20th century. Still, I can't deny a good, fascinating character when I read about it, and Charlie is excellent. Every relationship he becomes interweaved with is thrilling in its own way. The increase and then deterioration of his mind is a neat and sad concept, but moves way too quickly. I feel like with every book I like, not love, I list more complaints than things that I like about it. But, in spite of those complaints with Flowers for Algernon, I really did enjoy it. I just think I would have more so at an earlier point in my life.

2012 Emotional Listening #8

Daddy's Highway - The Bats (Flying Nun, 1987)
So, let us again talk about New Zealand jangly indie pop band The Bats. Daddy's Highway is their 1987 debut LP, and it's where I started with them. However, I focused in more on 1991's Fear of God and 1995's Couchmaster until recently, for whatever reason. They're all phenomenal albums that have helped the band to become one of my all-time favorites, but there's good reason why Daddy's Highway is considered their seminal record. It is easily their most consistent, and also, it has the best songs! There are a few slow burning ballads of the highest quality, but what makes this a nearly perfect album is all the bright sounding, upbeat jams. "Treason" is the perfect opener, and you couldn't ask for a better closer than the title track. "Round and Down," "Block of Wood" and "Mid City Team" are all classic jangle pop gems with the latter two owning favorite-songs-of-all-time status. The way "Block of Wood" starts and ends just slays me. If you are as obsessed with chimey and jangly guitars as I am, and can tolerate great melodies, then Daddy's Highway is the album for you.
Top jams: "Treason," "Round and Down," "Take It," "Tragedy," "Block of Wood," "Mid City Team," "Had to be You," "Daddy's Highway"


Telephone Free Landslide Victory - Camper Van Beethoven (Independent Projects, 1985)
Bravender will be stoked that I'm posting about this. A couple of months ago he made me a PERFECT 10-song Camper Van Beethoven best of mix, thus the newfound interest in this incredibly bizarre band.  Telephone Free Landslide Victory is their debut full length, so I figured that would be a good place to start. I will admit that it features songs that I simply do not like. But, there are also some amazing ones, namely "Take the Skinheads Bowling" and "Ambiguity Song." This record is all over the place. There are jangly indie pop songs. There are punk songs. There are several ska instrumentals. There are even Russian-sounding ska instrumentals. Telephone Free Landslide Victory is confusing and disorienting, but wonderfully charming. The insanely funny lyrics certainly help.
Top jams: "Border Ska," "The Day That Lassie Went to the Moon," "Wasted," "Yanqui Go Home," "Oh No!," "Take the Skinheads Bowling," "Mao Reminisces About His Days in Southern China," "I Don't See You," "Ambiguity Song"


Fox Confessor Brings the Flood - Neko Case (Anti-, 2006)
Objectively and technically, Neko Case has got to be one of the absolute greatest female vocalists around, right? Sultry and powerful, it's a pleasure to hear it in any context, whether it's power pop all-stars The New Pornographers or on her own. I didn't even check out any of her solo material until 2009's Middle Cyclone, which is deceivingly good and obviously gorgeous. Now I'm working my way backwards and decided to spend a little time with 2006's Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, which is equally as beautiful, though I prefer its successor. There is more of a variety of sounds on Middle Cyclone, whereas Fox Confessor... is pretty much exclusively country and southern folk. Of course, Case's vocals are beyond being on point, and is accompanied superbly by the subtle instrumentation and rich production. I really like the shimmering guitars and moody groove of "Hold On, Hold On," and the blatant country gospel sound of "John Saw That Number," but opener "Margaret vs. Pauline" is probably the jam of jams.
Top jams: "Margaret vs. Pauline," "Star Witness," "Hold On, Hold On," "That Teenage Feeling," "John Saw That Number," "Maybe Sparrow," "The Needle Has Landed"


Papas Fritas - Papas Fritas (Minty Fresh, 1995)
Now, HERE is a fantastic pop record. Papas Fritas were a power pop band based in Massachusetts predominantly in the 90s. Their self-titled debut LP is LOADED with jams. Their secret weapon here is the way the album's production and the arrangement of the songs work together. The drums and bass frequently have that muted 60s sound, which is a really nice touch when there is so much space in these songs. The melodies are memorable, and while a huge appeal of the album is its subtlety, there are hooks upon hooks. "Wild Life," "Kids Don't Mind" and "Smash This World" are great and clever as all get out, and to me, "Afterall" sounds like an awesome precursor to The Strokes. Opener "Guys Don't Lie" is not only the best song on the record, but also is my favorite song period at the moment.
Top jams: "Guys Don't Lie," "Holiday," "Wild Life," "My Revolution," "Kids Don't Mind," "Smash This World," "Lame to Be," "Afterall"


A Catholic Education - Teenage Fanclub (Paperhouse/Matador, 1990)
Teenage Fanclub's debut LP, A Catholic Education, has come to be another addition to my list of favorite guitar albums. There are certainly moments of outright wailing, but the real draw for me is simply the guitar tones, which are both fuzzy and jangly. Also, the chords and progressions rule. It took me a while to get used to the album's production, as the bass and drums are basically buried underneath the guitars. But, when your guitars sound like this, I'm not going to complain too much. I wouldn't go so far as to say the vocals here are sung well by any means, but, they sure are appropriate for the slacker 90s feel of the album, and the melodies are excellent. As much as I liked the band's latest, Shadows, I most definitely prefer this louder, sloppier version of Teenage Fanclub. "Everything Flows," "Critical Mass," and "Every Picture I Paint" should be in any conversation regarding the greatest songs of the 1990s.
Top jams: "Everything Flows," "Everybody's Fool," "Catholic Education," "Eternal Light," "Critical Mass," "Too Involved," "Every Picture I Paint," "Catholic Education 2"

Bloom/Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired/Exton Square EP

Bloom - Beach House (Sub Pop, 2012)
I've LIKED Beach House since the release of their 2008 album Devotion (I DO NOT like their self-titled debut, however), but I am IN LOVE with the girl + dude organ/synth/guitar duo's latest, Bloom. Call the band what you will: dream pop, slowcore, shoegaze, whatever. These songs ARE dreamy. They ARE pretty slow (though more upbeat than previous records, but that's not saying much). There IS more of a shoegaze element to this record. But, who cares? These songs are just damn good, and at least three of them are excellent to perfect. Victoria Legrand's vocals are killer, the production is warm and rich, and most importantly, the chords, progressions and melodies all rule. Album closer "Irene" is as close to bad ass as the group will ever get, and, at the moment, "Other People" is tied with The Shins' "Simple Song" for best song of 2012 so far. Just sayin'.


Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired - Joyce Manor (Asian Man, 2012)
Of all the great pop punk records released over the past several months, Joyce Manor's incredibly short (13 minutes!) and sweet Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired should probably be at the top of the heap. Everything I look for in good poppy punk music is there: catchy melodies, tight musicianship, solid production and great songs. What sets Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired apart, though, is the degree of diversity from song to song. There are nice acoustic tracks, songs with drum machine, and even an awesome cover of "Video Killed the Radio Star." Somehow the band makes each different sound work for them. As subtle and brief as it is, Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired is one of the best releases of 2012 yet.


Exton Square EP - Spraynard (Asian Man, 2012)
More well-produced, blatant pop punk from the long running Asian Man Records! Spraynard's Exton Square EP is not all that different from the classic and perhaps embarrassingly lovable albums by Blink-182 and New Found Glory. BUT, screw you if you have a problem with it. There are some good melodies here, and I have been all about new music that brings me back to high school these days. Also, Spraynard is the funniest band name ever. I should have known it was a Tim & Eric reference.

Lazy Eye

"Lazy Eye" by Silversun Pickups, from Carnavas (2006)
After a hang session with my buddy Chris at Herman's in Plymouth, watching tonight's Doug Fister pitching gem turn into the most depressing loss possible for the Detroit Tigers, this song came on over the stereo. I have never liked anything else I've heard from this band, but had forgotten how much this excellent jam sounds like an awesome Smashing Pumpkins song.

Guys Don't Lie

"Guys Don't Lie" by Papas Fritas, from Papas Fritas (1995)
While everything about this song is great, its strongest suit is its subtlety and restraint. SO GOOD.

Sin City

Sin City (1991-2000)
By Frank Miller
I spent the month of April reading all of Frank Miller's Sin City trade collections, and I must say, these books are about as pulpy as you can get.

I've never really been a fan of Miller's artwork, but I do like his post-modern spin in The Dark Knight Returns and appreciate his artful depiction of violence. If you're into graphic novels, I'm sure you've read several if not all of the Sin City books. But, just in case, Sin City is a string of noir tales set in the fictional Basin City featuring insane amounts of murder, blood, guts, nudity, and sexual encounters. The series is pure offensive pulp.

The pulp factor is not a major turnoff to me by any means, as I am a fan of violence and overall messed up-ness in graphic novels. In fact, it is my favorite thing about the series. I surely am not enamored with the books' emotionless and repetitive narration and hit-or-miss minor characters. The main protagonists are solid for the most part, and the heavy hitting villains are usually excellent.

I know I stated earlier that I didn't really like the style of Miller's artwork, however, I do enjoy it in Sin City. The blatant ugliness of some of the protagonists is an interesting move, and the detail and overall style is superior to Miller's visual work with Batman. The lack of color actually makes things look quite stunning, and the subtle inclusion of color later in the series, namely in That Yellow Bastard and Hell and Back, is an awesome touch.

There are most definitely low points in the Sin City story, but they are outweighed by the brilliant moments, and as a whole, it is a high quality comic book series that is equally disturbing and fun.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest/Battle Royale/Winter's Bone

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey (1962)
I've never heard anyone say a negative thing about the novel or film edition of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, so my expectations were high. Not only was I not let down, but those expectations were exceded by a long shot. A prisoner fakes insanity to serve the rest of his sentence in an asylum as opposed to jail, and ends up causing many a ruckus while encouraging and convincing the other patients to stand up to the institutional process. There are almost too many characters to keep track of, but it helped that they are all so likable and interesting. Ken Kesey's writing is straightforward but intricate, which is a great combination. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is equally funny and sad, and its complex character studies and stunning ending definitely solidify its classic status.


Battle Royale - Koushun Takami (1999)
Since late college, I had heard so much about both novel and film versions of Battle Royale. I knew what to expect, and yet I was still completely shocked by how brutal this novel is. In case you didn't know, Battle Royale is about a government program that forces an entire classroom of middle school students into an enclosed area (usually a small island) to fight and kill until there is only one left standing. There are more complex specifications to the "game," as it's referred to, but you get the idea. I will admit that the U.S. translation is a tiny bit week. Koushun Takami's descriptive language and dialogue are mind-numbingly simple, and even too cute at times. Maybe that's just how he writes, but I have a feeling that his actual style was lost a little bit in the translation. Other than that, Battle Royale was pretty great. With so many characters, it was incredibly difficult to keep track of everyone and to know who exactly is involved with what event. In spite of that, these characters are surprisingly deep, even the ones that Takami doesn't spend much time on. Each character is likable in his or her own way, even the villains. The gruesomeness of all the violence and gory details is magnified thanks to that fact that it is kids brutally killing each other, but in some twisted way, I think that's why this novel works. Sure, it's pure pulp, but the critiques of tyranny and dictatorship are not very well hidden either. If you can stomach the idea that it is children creating all this gore (let alone the gore itself) as well as technical, straightforward writing that isn't necessarily the best, I encourage you to read Battle Royale for all the emotional pull and brilliant twists and turns within.


Winter's Bone - Daniel Woodrell (2006)
Winter's Bone is a short, surprisingly fast paced novel considering how much meandering occurs in the plot. Daniel Woodrell writes in an Old Testament/Southern Gothic style, akin to Cormac McCarthy and especially Charles Portis. Main character Ree's father skips bail on charges that he ran a crystal meth lab, and if he doesn't turn up for his court date, the family will lose their house. Thus, Ree embarks on a mission to locate the whereabouts of her dad and save her family. In a sense, Winter's Bone is an adventure novel in the vein of True Grit, but very subtly so. At 16 years old, Ree is a gritty heroine with inspiring characteristics and relatable flaws, and all the minor characters mesh together well. Woodrell's descriptive language is simple and cryptic yet equally beautiful. While I wasn't blown away by Winter's Bone, I enjoyed its dark tones, build-up and overall mystery.

2012 Emotional Listening #7

Skeleton - Abe Vigoda (Post Present Medium, 2008)
Who knew that Abe Vigoda's third LP Skeleton, would come to be one of my favorite modern guitar albums? Forming as a result of the No Age/Mika Miko/The Smell LA punk rock scene, it's not surprising that the band is constantly thinking and moving forward and their sound is always unique. Before going all 80s post-punk on 2010's Crush, Abe Vigoda played an artful brand of punk that was highlighted by tropical rhythms, bright, high pitched guitar tones and some insanely tight drumming. Skeleton has a few shortcomings, but they are minute easy to overlook. While the drums sounds classy, the production can feel a little dense between the vocals being buried (and not the most melodic) and some of the harsher guitar tones. Also, I would be the first to admit that the songs all blend together and can be difficult to discern, even after many listens. When I listen to Skeleton, I think of it as many fragments formulating an album as opposed to a record featuring 14 songs, which makes for an attractive and different style of listening experience. Lastly, the record may be one song too long. I could do without the title track, or at the very least, "Skeleton" was the wrong choice for album closer. "Endless Sleeper" should have been it. What I like about the record is many things. I am way into the hyper-reggaeton drumming, even if it all starts to sound the same after a while. The dude has a nice touch and place some impressive beats. I actually like the challenging vocals, as they add an unsettling element to this music that is otherwise very melodic and catchy (at it's most crisp moments, at least). But, mainly, it's the guitars. I love the way these dudes play their guitars. I love the way they sound, and how for much of the album, both guitarists are pretty much exclusively playing lead parts that intermingle wonderfully with each other. The best examples of this are opener "Dead City/Waste Wilderness" and "The Garden." Those are probably the two best songs, also. You should be able to tell how excited I am about this record based on how long this entry is.
Top jams: "Dead City/Waste Wilderness," "Bear Face," "Cranes," "Live-Long," "The Garden," "Hyacinth Girls," "World Heart," "Endless Sleeper"


Last Splash - The Breeders (4AD/Elektra, 1993)
I feel like at least 75% of these entries start off the same way. Something along the lines of, "It's a shame that I haven't really gotten into this record until now. I'm an idiot for sleeping on it." Well, it may have become a lame cliche, but these sentiments are especially true for The Breeders' second and breakthrough (I think, right?) LP, Last Splash. You know, the one with "Cannonball." Why have I never cared that much before? Great question. I would say Last Splash is your typical yet high quality indie rock that would fit in somewhere with Pixies, Nirvana and Pavement, etc. The guitars are gnarly as hell, and Kim Deal is on top of her game, melodically. I'm surprised by how weird the album can be in places. As good of an opener as "Near Year" is, it is an interesting choice. Additionally, the inclusion of a cover of "Drivin' on 9" by Ed's Redeeming Qualities is bizarre. It's obvious why "Cannonball" was the album's hit, but certainly there are better songs, such as "Invisible Man," "No Aloha" and the album's best track, "Divine Hammer," which has to be my favorite song at the moment.
Top jams: "New Year," "Cannonball," "Invisible Man," "No Aloha," "Do You Love Me Now?," "Flipside," "I Just Wanna Get Along," "Divine Hammer," "Hag"


Post-Nothing - Japandroids (Unfamiliar, 2009)
When Post-Nothing, Japandroids' debut LP, was first release in 2009, I knew it was good. I loved the slightly shoegaze guitars and upbeat rhythms, even if I thought the songwriting was a bit spotty. My interest in the album was revitalized recently for whatever reason, and in retrospect, I glazed over an entirely important detail: vocally, melodically, and rhythmically, this album is SO emo. And I mean that as a compliment. Post-Nothing showcases some awesome 90s emo chords, and there are moments in these songs where I wonder how much these dudes are honorably aping Braid and The Promise Ring. "Young Hearts Spark Fire" is the greatest offender, and easily the best song here. Very much looking forward to the release of their next full-length, Celebration Rock, this coming June.
Top jams: "The Boys Are Leaving Town," "Young Hearts Spark Fire," "Wet Hair," "Rockets East Vancouver," "Sovereignty," "I Quit Girls"

2012 Emotional Listening #6

Cryptograms - Deerhunter (Kranky, 2007)
I can't imagine an album that is more frustratingly sequenced than Deerhunter's breakout 2007 LP, Cryptograms. No wonder it took me forever to finally cave and listen to it. With the exception of one noisy, not very good rock song and one bad ass guitar pop jam (the title track), five of the first seven tracks are long, ambient instrumental pieces. They're pretty and all, but man are they boring. This is a befuddling way to start off one's album. That being said, the band returns to the psych-ish chimey guitar music for four of the last five, and it is a beautiful thing. "Spring Hall Convert," "Strange Lights," "Hazel St." and "Heatherwood" all rank among the Deerhunter greats, with "Hazel St." probably being the best song here. Though the second half of Cryptograms is an obvious indication of the direction the band would take, there are plenty of surprises overall, good and bad. Mostly good, though. I like where Bradford Cox's vocals sit in the mix, but the main attraction here is how luscious those guitars sound. Glad I finally went there with this record, even if I don't love it as much as I had hoped.
Top jams: "Cryptograms," "Spring Hall Convert," "Strange Lights," "Hazel St.," "Heatherwood"


Today - Galaxie 500 (Aurora, 1988)
Galaxie 500 get pegged as "dream pop," but I don't really think that's applicable on their debut LP, Today. This is pretty much a moody jangle pop album with Velvet Underground tendencies. It sort of sounds like a slower version of The Feelies, perhaps with better melodies. "Tugboat" is one of THE ultimate jams, but "Parking Lot" and "Oblivious" are just about as great. Today is an excellent debut, and I look forward to spending time with the rest of Galaxie 500's discography.
Top jams: "Pictures," "Parking Lot," "Don't Let Our Youth Go to Waste," "Oblivious," "It's Getting Late," "Tugboat"


Mass Romantic - The New Pornographers (Mint, 2000)

I'm not sure why it took me so long to get around to listening to The New Pornographers' excellent debut. Considering how great 2003's Electric Version and especially 2005's Twin Cinema are, I shouldn't have been surprised by how good Mass Romantic is. That is quite a three-album run for any band. I'm sure you know this, but The New Pornos play loud, fun power pop with extremely well crafted song structures and some of the catchiest of melodies. A.C. Newman, Neko Case, Dan Bejar and co. are obviously the most top notch of musicians, and it's impressive how well they all work together. "Jackie," "Letter From an Occupant," and "To Wild Homes" are the most noteworthy tracks on this nearly flawless record.

Top jams: "Mass Romantic," "The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism," "Jackie," "Letter From an Occupant," "To Wild Homes," "The Body Says No," "Execution Day," "Centre for Holy Wars"


Sittin' Pretty - The Pastels (Homestead, 1989)
This Pastels record took me a minute to fully get into, but I think I'm sold, now. These are some bad ass pop songs with some fuzzy, jangly guitars and arrogant, snotty vocals.. The Pastels get lumped in with the late 80s and early 90s twee movement, but Sittin' Pretty sounds considerably tougher than its kindred spirits. The brighter feel of the title track and faster tempo of "Swerve" make for an awesome way to end the album, but sweet mid-tempo opener "Nothing to be Done" takes the cake for album's greatest jam.
Top jams: "Nothing to be Done," "Holy Moly," "Ugly Town," "Zooom," "Sittin' Pretty," "Swerve"

Bee Thousand/Jinx: The Definitive Collection

33 1/3 #38: Guided by Voices' Bee Thousand - Marc Woodworth (2006)
I've completely slacked on my intake of Guided by Voices records, but even though I've never listened to Bee Thousand all the way through, this is one of the better entries in the 33 1/3 series. Here, the author's voice is not the only one heard, as there are contributions from many, including members of the band themselves. Aside from beating the way the album was recorded to death, it was interesting to read about Robert Pollard's collage art (which is a nice parallel to the way he composes his songs and assembles his bands and sequences his records). I obviously would have gotten more out of it had I been familiar with the songs on Bee Thousand, but the variety of perspectives helped me to maintain interest in the material. Now it's about time for me to listen.


Jinx: The Definitive Collection - Brian Michael Bendis (1996-98)
While I enjoyed Brian Michael Bendis' disturbing true crime graphic novel Torso considerably more, Jinx is an excellent, complex crime series that features some truly lovable and fascinating characters. The story is solid, but what makes Jinx so fun to read is the clever, often times hilarious dialogue. The mysteries within may get solved a little too quickly for my liking, but that's just about my only complaint. I most definitely intend to read more of Bendis' work in the future.

White Teeth/Fight Club

White Teeth - Zadie Smith (2000)
Zadie Smith's debut novel is huge. Not technically in size (though, it is fairly sizable), but in the ground that it covers. It is a post-modern epic of sorts, and its details are too many and too intricate to attempt to cover in a short review. White Teeth tells the mid-life events of two close war buddies and their dysfunctional families. Their stories are rich, complex and often times hilarious. The themes covered are many and include immigration, religion, scientific breakthrough, cultural difference and family history, to name several. Smith weaves all of the themes, characters and plot points together in such a stunning and intricate way. In spite of their flaws, each character, major and minor, is lovable in every way. Smith's descriptive language is similar to that of Jonathan Franzen, and her zaniness, immense knowledge and the way she unravels the disjointed storyline reminds me of David Foster Wallace. White Teeth is just about as close to a perfect novel as one can get, and I recommend it to everyone.


Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk (1996)
If you haven't read Fight Club, chances are you've seen it, so I don't need to dig into the plot too much. The protagonist believes he suffers from insomnia, when his mental state is deteriorating into a split personality that basically assembles a small army of men that wreaks havoc throughout the US. It's been a long while since I've watched the film, but as far as I can tell, it seems like David Fincher and Jim Uhls faithfully adapted Chuck Palahniuk's novel. Palahniuk's style here is scatterbrained, which suits the protagonist's narration perfectly, but his language is charmingly simple. The story makes fascinating statements on anarchy, mental status, and, weirdly, togetherness. Despite already knowing how the plot plays out, I still found myself surprised in the right places, and by the end I felt as disturbed as if I had just read a Bret Easton Ellis novel. Reading Fight Club is not essential, especially if you've seen the film, but it was a quality read and feeds my interest in reading more Palahniuk novels.

Emotional Drumming Mix #3

Here's a 20 song mix compiling the best from each entry of my Emotional Listening installments so far this year. Download it, obviously for free, and only if you want to, right HERE.

Tracklist:
1. "Lost in Boston" - The Walkmen (2006)
2. "1,000,000" - R.E.M. (1982)
3. "Taste of Metal" - C-Clamp (1999)
4. "The Rollercoaster Ride" - Belle & Sebastian (1998)
5. "Life Begins at the Hop" - XTC (1979)
6. "All You Ever Do is Walk Away" - The Magnetic Fields (1994)
7. "My Kingdom" - Echo & the Bunnymen (1984)
8. "The Village" - New Order (1983)
9. "Run Into Flowers" - M83 (2003)
10. "Shrug" - Ida (2000)
11. "Sister Midnight" - Iggy Pop (1977)
12. "Might" - Archers of Loaf (1993)
13. "Antihero" - The Appleseed Cast (1998)
14. "Letter to ZZ Top" - U.S. Maple (1995)
15. "Swimming Pools, Movie Stars" - The Wedding Present (1994)
16. "The Secret Life of Arabia" - David Bowie (1977)
17. "Middle Class Blues" - The Barracudas (1983)
18. "Donovan's Colours" - Van Dyke Parks (1967)
19. "Ballad of Big Nothing" - Elliott Smith (1997)
20. "Gruesome Castle" - The Wake (1987)

Droughts + William Bonney Split EP/Itto EP/Destination Ecstasy/Wind Hand Caught in the Door

Split EP - Droughts/William Bonney (Error, 2012)
Droughts and William Bonney play heavy, technical hardcore with more than a smidge of emo thrown in. I haven't listened to many things like this since high school and early college. The screams are piercing, the guitars are intricate and melodic, and the drumming is off kilter, making for an appealingly nostalgic combo. Both bands pull of this style with class and expertise. I only slightly prefer Droughts due to how much the guitar parts rule, but both of these bands are excellent. Remember Drowningman, Shai Hulud and early Poison the Well? This split brings me back to those days.


Itto EP - Itto (self-released, 2012)
Here's some more melodic hardcore with a definite lean towards emo. These guys are some real musicians. The guitar noodling here is catchy and intricate, the drumming is ridiculous, and the vocals bring to mind 21st century Shai Hulud. The melodic guitar parts and mathy time changes are a welcome combination in my book. This shit's real good. My early college heart is soaring.


Destination Ecstasy - Pink Playground (Mexican Summer, 2011)
Pink Playground's Destination Ecstasy surprised me with its My Bloody Valentine guitars and Disintegration era Cure bass lines and chord progressions. Everything else is incredibly difficult to discern, as the production is insanely hazy and distant. Seems like there are probably some nice, drawn melodies here and there, but they are buried. This is some high quality, dreamy shoegaze that has me interested in whatever the band is going to do next.


Wind Hand Caught in the Door - South South Million (Triple Down, 2012)
Finally I can post about this album. I've been waiting for an official release of this record for about two years now, and am saddened that it is exclusively digital. South South Million are Trevor Naud and Daniel Clark of Detroit's best band, Zoos of Berlin. Wind Hand Caught in the Door is their debut LP, though it has been 10+ years in the making. Sample-based music is commonplace in the "indie" scene now, but considering how long ago these songs were first composed, they were truly ahead of their time, and still sound unique and innovative to this day. Wind Hand Caught in the Door certainly has a vintage feel, but the nearest thing I can compare these experimental yet entirely melodic and beautiful sound collages is to a slowed down version of The Avalanches' seminal 2001 LP, Since I Left You. The comparisons between the two are vague, and what South South Million did here is still completely unique. Wind Hand Caught in the Door is easily the best thing to come out in 2012 thus far.

2012 MLB Preview

The 2012 Major League Baseball season is right around the corner, and I could not be more excited. Here are my predictions for the coming year. Please do not judge. Or, judge if it brings forth meaningful baseball conversation.

AL East
1. New York Yankees
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

I'm not a huge hater of the Yankees, but I still want Tampa Bay or even Boston to overcome them. This may be the last year the Yanks are at the top of this division, as it should be historically incredible closer Mariano Rivera's final season, and Derek Jeter can't be good for much longer, right? Regardless, their hitting is sick, and the rotation got a huge facelift this off-season, so atop of the division they go again. The Rays were a pleasant surprise last year in spite of the quality players they lost, and with the return of Carlos Pena (even if he can't hit for average) and Matt Moore being a huge part of the rotation, they should be even better. As stacked as they are on offense, the Red Sox will be too distracted by drama to reach the playoffs. If the Blue Jays were in a different division, they'd probably compete for a post-season spot. Jose Bautista is looking like the real deal, though, and this could be the year Ricky Romero becomes a true ace. Offensively, the Orioles are young and on the up and up. Their pitching is laughable.

AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Kansas City Royals
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Chicago White Sox

The Tigers surprised everyone with how dominant they were down the stretch, but unfortunately, it is doubtful that Verlander will ever repeat his MVP season. That being said, the huge gain of Prince Fielder greatly overturns the loss of Victor Martinez, and the Tigers will easily run away with this division. There are still a few unanswered pitching questions, but at the same time, their rotation and bullpen have the talent to give the Tigers a championship. I don't think 2012 is the year, but when V-Mart is back in 2013, LOOK OUT. The Indians were a nice story last year, and they really are the second best team in the Central now, but the chasm between Detroit and everyone else is huge. The Royals need a lot of work at pitching, but the quality hitting that comes from their position players rivals that of the Texas Rangers. Look for them to compete in the coming years. The Twins are old and injury prone, and I think we've seen the last of them giving Detroit hell, at least for a while. The White Sox are in real bad shape, in spite of the ageless Paul Konerko.

AL West
1. Texas Rangers
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland Athletics

After two years in a row of reaching the World Series only to lose, I firmly believe that 2012 is the year the Rangers finally win a championship. Their hitting is RIDICULOUS, probably the best in the MLB, and their starting rotation is young and terrifying and the bullpen is the reason they made it all the way to the World Series. Losing C.J. Wilson to the Angels doesn't even matter. Obviously, the Angels also won the Albert Pujols sweepstakes, and he has set them up to compete for a title, but not to win it (they have about a three year window to do it). Jered Weaver, Dan Heren and Wilson make for a killer 1-2-3 punch in the rotation (only the Phillies' Halladay, Lee and Hamels are a better combo), but the Rangers are better in every other way. The Mariners have some up-and-coming studs, and one of the best aces in the game in Felix Hernandez, but they are a long way off. Who knows how long the A's are going to be terrible. I'd wager very long.

NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Miami Marlins
4. Washington Nationals
5. New York Mets

I worry that the Philadelphia Phillies have missed out on their window of opportunity with Roy Halladay, thanks to their disastrous hitting. I'm being dramatic, but it really is that starting rotation that makes this team so good. Having Hunter Pence for a whole year is a big help, and if Chase Utley can remain healthy, they're back in business. If not, this team needs some hitting fast. The Braves collapsed in September last year when they pretty much were the second best team in the NL until that point. They're lineup is not overwhelming, but is solid through and through, and their starting rotation is deceivingly good. In addition, that bullpen is intimidating as hell. I believe this Braves team to maintain that second best in the NL status for 2012 in its entirety. With the additions of Jose Reyes, Heath Bell, and Mark Buerhle, the Miami Marlins should be a formidable contender in the NL. The team is now solid in every way, it's just that the Phillies and Braves are better, and believe it or not, the Washington Nationals are just barely behind. That Nats made some brilliant moves this off-season, and now they're solid at the band and have one of the better rotations and bullpens around. I am so stoked to see Stephen Strasburg embarrass every team he faces, even if his innings will be capped at 150. There is nothing in regards to the New York Mets worth mentioning.

NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Houston Astros

Now that the potential scare of losing Ryan Braun for 50 games is not happening, the Brewers are still the best team in the Central despite the loss of Prince Fielder. Adding Aramis Ramirez at third base offsets most of that, and if K-Rod is happy as John Axford's set-up man and Zach Greinke continues his post-2011 All-Star game dominance, everyone in the NL should fear this team immensely. The Cincinnati Reds should have been better than they were last year, as they are set at the bat. Adding Matt Latos to the rotation is a huge bonus, as he has been quite brilliant for a bad San Diego Padres team the past two seasons. If they don't make the playoffs this year, they won't be far off. Of course losing Albert Pujols is a huge deal, but the Cardinals will most definitely still compete. The return of Adam Wainwright will be seamless, and who knows, maybe he'll finally win a Cy Young? As good as the team still looks, I see them falling just short of the post-season. The Chicago Cubs will be better, though not by a ton. I'm excited to see where Starlin Castro's career goes. The nice first half that the Pittsburgh Pirates last year was a farce. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, even if Andrew McCutchen turns into a super star. The Houston Astros are in a terrible rebuilding stage, and they will be terrible next year when they move to the AL West.

NL West
1. San Francisco Giants
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres

I cannot imagine the San Francisco Giants imploding again like they did last year. Their hitting may have too many questions and, believe it or not, is probably even worse off than Philadelphia's, but their pitching rotation will carry them back to the top of the NL West. The overall performance of the teams in this division wavers vastly from year to year, but it seems like the Diamondbacks are set up for continued success. Solid if not totally good rotation and bullpen, and everybody is referring to Justin Upton as the next huge super star. Rightfully so, Matt Kemp is the Dodgers' knight in shining armor, and while he is incredible, it's hard to imagine him being better than he was last year and single handedly saving this team. They and the Rockies have a lot of work ahead of them, even if the latter has two of the brightest young stars in the major leagues in Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. It's depressing just thinking about the state the Padres are in, though they have some nice prospects to work with from that Adrian Gonzalez trade last year.

AL Wild Card Game
Tampa Bay Rays over Los Angeles Angels

NL Wild Card Game
Atlanta Braves over Cincinnati Reds

ALDS
Detroit Tigers over Tampa Bay Rays, 3-2
Texas Rangers over New York Yankees, 3-1

NLDS
Philadelphia Phillies over Atlanta Braves, 3-2
San Francisco Giants over Milwaukee Brewers, 3-1

ALCS
Texas Rangers over Detroit Tigers, 4-2

NLCS
Philadelphia Phillies over San Francisco Giants, 4-3

World Series
Texas Rangers over Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2

AL Rookie of the Year - Matt Moore, Tampa Bay
AL Comeback Player of the Year - Carl Crawford, Boston
AL Cy Young - David Price, Tampa Bay
AL MVP - Albert Pujols, Los Angeles

NL Rookie of the Year - Drew Pomeranz, Colorado
NL Comeback Player of the Year - Josh Johnson, Miami
NL Cy Young - Cliff Lee, Philadelphia
NL MVP - Ryan Braun, Milwaukee

Strange Powers/Antichrist/Enter the Void

Strange Powers (2010)
Directed by Kerthy Fix and Gail O'Hara
"Strange Powers" is definitely one of the best songs on The Magnetic Fields' perfect 1994 LP Holiday, so that it is the title of this documentary on Stephin Merritt and his band is appropriate. Unfortunately, the film does not mention that album once, but the history of the band and Merritt's off-putting personality and relationship with collaborator and manager, Claudia Gonson, are fascinating subjects nonetheless. Whether you're an obsessed super fan or a moderate one who is in love with one particular Mag Fields album, like me, then I recommend viewing this.


Antichrist (2009)
Written and directed by Lars von Trier
I've been wanting to see Lars von Trier's ultimately controversial film Antichrist since first hearing of its production. I will most definitely admit that I've been very nervous to see, and had to spend a couple of years working up the guts. I'm not sure that I'm okay with the fact that I was actually expecting it to be even more unsettling than it is. Don't get me wrong. It is incredibly messed up and is not something that I anticipate ever being able to, let alone wanting to see again. I guess I just wonder if I'm desensitized to this level of disturbance. Anyway, there are plenty of moments where Antichrist is visually stunning. The acting of Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg is fine, but I can't help but strongly dislike these characters, as they were entirely too unrealistic (which is usually something I like in film). A lot of the plot details and way too much of the dialogue made absolutely no sense, in the worst way. The mutilation scenes were cringe-worthy, for sure. In spite of all this, I walked away feeling that I did not hate Antichrist, not even a little bit. My brain is sick.


Enter the Void (2009)
Written and directed by Gaspar Noe
It was totally stupid of me to have watched Gaspar Noe's third feature film, Enter the Void, in the same sitting as Antichrist. Enter the Void may not have been quite as unsettling as Antichrist, but it certainly was more depressing. It tells the story of a young American drug dealer living in Tokyo around the time of his death, and details important life events leading up to that point and the lives of those close to him after by way of post-death out-of-body experience. The filmmaking here is obviously experimental, blatantly inspired by psychedelic drugs, and this makes for some wonderfully innovative and stimulating visuals. Enter the Void is easily an hour too long, but its one of those films that I'll be thinking about for a long time. You should probably see it.

2012 Emotional Listening #5

The End of the Ring Wars - The Appleseed Cast (Deep Elm, 1998)
I was way into The Appleseed Cast in high school, namely their seminal early 2000s releases Mare Vitalis and both volumes of their Low Level Owl project. The chimey, waterfall guitars, quirky drumming, and experimental soundscapes of those albums are totally my jam, but what a crime it is that for the most part I've overlooked their purely emo debut since I acquired it back in 2001. Without question, The End of the Ring Wars is an obvious nod to Sunny Day Real Estate's Diary, but even more so, Mineral's dynamic emo. It's not perfect by any means, but it's actually a really good record. I'm so used to hearing Chris Crisci's voice buried in the background, so it's interesting to hear him emoting with such ferocity. "Marigold & Patchwork" is an appropriate, drawn out opener, and "Antihero" and "16 Days" are just about on par with my favorite Mineral songs. I've been rekindling my relationship with 90s emo over the past year or so, and it's been fun to realize exactly how good The End of the Ring Wars is, even if it's lacking in the originality department.
Top jams: "Marigold & Patchwork," "Antihero," "Moment #72," "December 27, 1990," "The Last Ring," "16 Days," "Dreamland"


Heroes - David Bowie (RCA, 1977)
When I first got into Heroes a few years ago, I thought it was better than Low hands down. The production, structure and overall weirdness of these records make them outstanding companion pieces, and over time, I've come to recognize that they're pretty even in quality (though, now, I think I slightly prefer Low). Regardless, let's talk about Heroes. I can't think of many ways that are better to open an album with than the one-two-three punch of "Beauty and the Beast," "Joe the Lion" and "Heroes." All three are triumphantly executed pop songs that pretty much sound like nothing else ever recorded. "V-2 Schneider" is a fantastic instrumental, though it doesn't coming close to touching Low's "A New Career in a New Town." Call me crazy, but album closer "The Secret Life of Arabia" is easily one of my favorite Bowie tracks, thanks to its dark, funky feel and stellar drumming. The creepy film score-ish instrumentals are a fascinating twist, but the ones on Low are quite a bit better. That being said, if one was to cut all of those out, and just throw all of these wonderfully bizarre pop songs onto a single, playlist, it would probably be the best record ever.
Top jams: "Beauty and the Beast," "Joe the Lion," "Heroes," "Blackout," "V-2 Schneider," "The Secret Life of Arabia"


Either/Or - Elliott Smith (Kill Rock Stars, 1997)
For a long time, I neglected to spend any time with Elliott Smith's third LP, Either/Or. At some point during my three year residence in Ypsilanti, I caved, and needless to say, was impressed. While not quite as realized as the 1998 follow-up, XO, which I consider to be one of the most outstanding modern pop records, Either/Or proves that Smith's music was well on it's way to sheer genius at that point. "Ball of Big Nothing," "Rose Parade" and "Say Yes" are obviously fantastic pop songs, but I think my favorite moment here might be the subtlety and reservation of opener "Speed Trials." Either/Or might not pack a punch as powerful as XO or even Figure 8, but it doesn't need to. It is a testament to what the talent of this tormented songwriter would amount to, and I don't think I want it to be anything more than that.
Top jams: "Speed Trials," "Ballad of Big Nothing," "Pictures of Me," "Rose Parade," "Angeles," "2:45 AM," "Say Yes"

Parks and Recreation: Season Three/Shut Up Little Man!: An Audio Misadventure

Parks and Recreation: Season Three (2011)
My viewing of the third season of Parks and Recreation was long overdue, and I'm glad that it finally happened. Season two is hard to top, but it was accomplished. These characters are tremendously strong; possibly more so than any comedy I can think of since Arrested Development. Some of the plot lines are bit too ridiculous are even stupid, but with characters this great, it doesn't even matter. Amy Pohler, Aziz Ansari and Nick Offerman continue to play memorable roles, and that Rob Lowe and Adam Scott have become part of the regular cast is a huge bonus. Lowe is fantastically ridiculous here and makes the series that much better. It's also nice to see Scott play a character with some sensitivity, even though he rules hard at being the asshole. I know that the quality of Parks and Recreation has to hit a peak and start diminishing at some point soon, but it doesn't seem to have happened yet.


Shut Up Little Man!: An Audio Misadventure (2011)
Written and directed by Matthew Bate
One weekend in May 2006, I accompanied some friends of mine in a Bloomington, IN based band called Husband & Wife on a weekend tour around Michigan and Indiana, and they introduced me to Shut Up Little Man!. In the mid-80s, two young, punk midwesterners move to a shitty apartment complex in San Francisco and end up living next to two old drunks who curse at and fight with each other every night. The midwesterners decide to document these happenings by illegally recording the neighbors' arguments and distributing the tapes among friends. As the years go on, the legend grows, and Shut Up Little Man! develops an insane cult following. This documentary touches on all of the good and bad that came from these recordings, as well as the culture of audio verite and field recording, and is really well done. And, if you've never heard let alone heard of the original Shut Up Little Man! sound clips, please let me know, and I will share them with you. It is some of the funniest shit I have ever heard.

Ender's Game/Batman: Year One

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card (1985)
Reading Ender's Game had been a long time coming, and it did not disappoint. Sure, the ending was unnecessarily drawn it and actually pretty stupid, all the build-up was masterfully executed. All the games and military and political strategy stuff were a blast to read through, and some of the imagery within made me feel surprisingly unsettled, which is a good thing. There are a few regrettable elements to the characters, like their weird slang that would pop up out of nowhere, and how the genius of these children goes completely unexplained, but there are enough interesting layers to them to overshadow the annoyances. In spite of the few complaints and my lack of desire to read any of the other entries in the series, it was a pure joy to finally read this Orson Scott Card classic.


Batman: Year One - Frank Miller (1987)
As interesting as Batman's origin is, the highlights of Frank Miller's short but sweet Batman: Year One all have to do with Jim Gordon's story. Here, Batman is the backdrop and Gordon is the star. The various struggles and emotional crises he goes through to become a success in Gotham City and come to terms with it all is fascinating, and really fun to read about. I wouldn't say this is Miller's best Batman story, but it surely is high quality.

2012 Emotional Listening #4

The Boy With the Arab Strap - Belle & Sebastian (Matador, 1998)
For quite a while now, my good friend and old housemate, Kevin Trepus, has championed The Boy With the Arab Strap as the superior album to Belle & Sebastian's seminal If You're Feeling Sinister. I would always call him crazy, but now I'm not sure. It seems like he's on to something. The two albums are pretty good companion pieces, as they share a common feeling, even if The Boy With the Arab Strap is a little more energetic in places. If a gun was pointed at my head, forcing me to make an argument in support of Arab Strap being better than If You're Feeling Sinister, I would state the following: more variety in sound, more consistent songwriting that is not short on brilliant yet very subtle tricks, and "Dirty Dream Number Two," the title track, and "The Rollercoaster Ride" are better than any song on IYFS, and may even be my favorite B&S songs of all time. In reality, I don't feel strongly either way. They are both incredible pop records that will continue to be standbys for many moons to come.
Top jams: "It Could Have Been a Brilliant Career," "Sleep the Clock Around," "Is It Wicked Not to Care?," "Ease Your Feet in the Sea," "Seymour Stein," "Dirty Dream Number Two," "The Boy With the Arab Strap," "Simple Things," "The Rollercoaster Ride"


Power, Corruption & Lies - New Order (Factory, 1983)
I'm finally digging deeper than New Order's singles, and it is a beautiful thing. There are moments on Power, Corruption & Lies, their sophomore LP, that I'm not entirely sold on, but those are so few and far between, I barely even notice. This record is SO close to being perfect. It's interesting that the song that hinders it the most, "Blue Monday," is the album's biggest hit (and I'll tell ya, I like that song now way more than I ever have before). Obviously, "Age of Consent" is one of the greatest album openers, let alone songs in general, of all time. Everyone knows that. I'm surprised that there are songs here that I like even more, at the time being, at least. "The Village" is an amazing synth pop jam with that awesome chorusy bass guitar that doesn't sound like bass guitar whatsoever. "Your Silent Face" and "Leave Me Alone" are excellent guitar driven ballads (sort of). On Power, Corruption & Lies, it doesn't matter if New Order are doing their emotive guitar pop or their dark synth pop stuff. It's all done so incredibly well here. I am stoked to further investigate the greatness of this band throughout the 80s (and into the early 90s).
Top jams: "Age of Consent," "The Village," "5 8 6," "Your Silent Face," "Ultraviolence," "Leave Me Alone"


Song Cycle - Van Dyke Parks (Warner Bros., 1967)
What a mindfuck of a record this is. Apparently Van Dyke Parks, who was previously and exclusively known to me as the lyricist of Brian Wilson's and The Beach Boys' Smile, is a remarkably talented composer of formless symphonic chamber pop music that would probably be perfect to listen to while dropping acid or smoking weed or something. These songs are INSANE and hard to follow, but boy are the gorgeous as well. Song Cycle is a fascinating marriage of psychedelic, classical, and pop music, and it is most definitely a rewarding listen. There is at least one really awesome part in each song, but "Palm Desert," "All Golden" and "Donovan's Colours" (which, according to Wikipedia, is a cover of Donovan's "Colours") feature the strongest ones. I'm not sure where to go next in Parks' discography, but maybe I don't need to go anywhere else. This is just fine.
Top jams: "Vine Street," "Palm Desert," "Laurel Canyon Blvd.," "All Golden," "Public Domain," "Donovan's Colours," "The Attic"


A Hundred Miles Off - The Walkmen (Record Collection, 2006)
When A Hundred Miles Off was released in 2006, I was not a fan at all. What kind of fool was I, though? It's on par with everything else great that The Walkmen have released, which means just about everything. This is just a tardy reminder that they are one of the greatest bands going today. From beginning to end A Hundred Miles Off is consistent and excellent. As good of a song as opener "Louisiana" is, it's not even close to the best. "Good for You's Good for Me," "Lost in Boston," "Tenley Town," and "This Job is Killing Me" all rival Walkmen greats like "We've Been Had," "That's the Punch Line," "Little House of Savages," "My Old Man," "In the New Year," and "Woe is Me." There's definitely an obvious Dylan element added to all the reverb and noise The Walkmen are known for, but it's certainly charming. Also, there are some real punk songs here. "Tenley Town" takes the cake as The Walkmen's loudest, fastest, and most bad ass song. In spite of this awesomeness, "Lost in Boston" and "This Job is Killing" are probably my favorites on A Hundred Miles Off, namely due to the quirky percussive elements and that subtle but outstanding melodies. I'll stop while I'm ahead. I am officially convinced that this band will never do something that doesn't rule.
Top jams: "Louisiana," "Good for You's Good for Me," "All Hands & the Cook," "Lost in Boston," "Tenley Town," "This Job is Killing Me," "Brandy Alexander," "Always After You ('Til You Started After Me)"