Grant Manship

Architecture in Helsinki - Hold Music

YACHT - Women of the World

I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski...

The 6th Annual Lebowski Fest kicks off tonight in Louisville with the Opening Ceremonies taking place at the Executive Lawn (911 Phillips Ln) at 8 pm.  Tickets for tonight are $10 and will feature musical performances by Vietnam and Dr. Dog with a screening of the movie to follow. 

If you've never made the trip to the Lebowski Fest or one of the satellite festivals, I strongly encourage you to do so.  What's often called, "A Trekkie convention without the geeks," makes for an excellent weekend you won't soon forget! Vietnam is set to play at 9:00, Dr. Dog at 10:00 and The Big Lebowski to be shown at 11:15.

Designed By Bill Green

A Big Week for White Rabbits

The week started off with Brooklyn's White Rabbits being the featured artist over at Daytrotter so you'll definitely want to check out the band's story and free songs.  Tonight, they'll be making an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman so don't miss it or at least set your TiVo's to record.

All of this is a result of the band's excellent debut album Fort Nightly which has been in heavy rotation around here since it's May release.  The release has garnered a considerable amount of buzz and even the much-dreaded, and rarely satisfiable, hype.  When considering the start of the PopMatters review which says, "Not since The Strokes’  Is This It?  has a indie-rock debut been so infectious, yet is so, effectively balanced with a world-weary swagger" and the almighty Pitchfork's review that begins, "Fort Nightly is that rare debut where potential isn't the operative word-- White Rabbits deliver the whole package straight away" you see what kind of expectations are being created for the band.  I say "much-dreaded" because how often have we seen a band come around and been the recipients of so much hype that nothing they do will ever live up to what the general public has been told to expect?  I'm an adamant believer that short of writing follow-up albums that cure cancer after listening to them, the previously mentioned Strokes have unfortunately been victims of this phenomena.  That being said, maybe the White Rabbits can weather the storm.  Dare I say, it  sounds like it when you hear the album?

The band reminds many people of the Walkmen but I think that comes up a little short.  If you throw in the best parts of the French Kicks and a few of the Rabbits' other New York brethren, you've pretty much got it.  That's not to say they aren't bringing an abundant amount of originality to the table.  The album is packed with an eclectic mix of styles and ideas from not only the present but the past as well.  In the spirit of not adding to the hype, I'll let the music speak for itself.  Check out two of the tracks from Fort Nightly below and I'm pretty sure you'll pick up the album soon thereafter.

• White Rabbits - "The Plot" from Fort Nightly
• White Rabbits - "Kid On My Shoulders" from Fort Nightly

P.S.  I forgot to include some tour dates for the band.  After their appearance tonight on the Late Show the band will be back on the road through August.  Be sure to check out the band on one of the following dates:

• July 21 – Siren Music Festival – Coney Island (Brooklyn, NY)
• July 29 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
• July 31 – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI
• Aug 01 – 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN* 
• Aug 02 – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI*
• Aug 04 – Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL*
• Aug 06 – Magic Stick – Detroit, MI*
• Aug 09 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY*
• Aug 10 – Johnny Brendas – Philadelphia, PA*
• Aug 11 – Black Cat – Washington DC*
• Aug 18 – Emo’s – Austin, TX

                                * with The Cribs

Arcade Fire w/ LCD Soundsystem Coming To Louisville

Some excellent news for music fans in this area came from Dodge over at MOKB just before the start of the weekend.  Arcade Fire will be playing in Louisville and if that isn't good enough, LCD Soundsystem is going to be playing with them!

The show will be held at Waterfront Park on Wednesday, October 3rd.  Tickets for the all ages event will be $36 and go on sale July 27th at 10am with $1 from each ticket going to Partners In Health.

John Vanderslice - Time To Go

(via Stereogum)

Internet Radio Needs Your Help Now!!!

If you haven't heard, royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling of the Copyright Royalty Board and are due to go into effect in just a few days.  You can read about recent hearings on the matter that featured members of Cincinnati's radio community here.  Basically, the fees will be too high for Internet radio stations like LoudCity, the much beloved Woxy, and even large Internet streamers like AOL, Yahoo, Live 365 and Pandora to continue operating.

A bill has been introduced in congress called the Internet Radio Equality Act that will fix the problem but the clock is definitely ticking.  In order to show your support for the Act everyone needs to contact your Congressional Representatives today and ask them to support the Internet Radio Equality Act.

I've included the following text of an email I received from the good people at LoudCity with information on what you can do to help.

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED

The U.S. Court of Appeals DENIED the emergency stay requested by webcasters.

UNLESS CONGRESS ACTS BY JULY 15th, it is the end of the road for Internet radio.

This situation is grave, but that makes the message all the simpler and most serious. CALL YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES RIGHT AWAY and urge them to support the "Internet Radio Equality Act." Even if your senator or representatives have already co-sponsored it is urgent that you call. If they've already co-sponsored, thank them and tell them to fight to bring the bill to the floor for an immediate vote. If the line is busy, call back. Call until you know your voice has been heard. Your voices are what have gotten us this far -- Congress has listened. Now, they are our only hope.

TELL THEM.

We are outmatched by lobbying power and money but we are NOT outmatched by facts and passion and the power of our voices.

http://www.savenetradio.org

(please disregard this if you're outside the U.S.)

Favorite New Release(s) of the Week - Jul. 10, 2007

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Spoon is back with what is becoming standard fare for them, a great record.  Do these guys ever miss?  Apparently not.  Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is full of the rhythmic shuffling we've all come to know and love.  The album kicks off with "Don't Make Me A Target" which was written during the Gimme Fiction era.  The perfect touch of familiarity before moving into slightly newer territory of "The Ghost Of You Lingers".  The song, and the various effects,  sound as though Britt's vocals were transmitted back to the studio from the bottom of a well on the Moon.  There are several moments on the record that seem to indicate the band got their Radiohead on just a little with this record by using the studio as an extension of the music or its own instrument if you will.

One of the more interesting things about this record is that my favorite track, and quite possibly one of the grooviest Spoon songs ever, isn't even a Spoon song.  "Don't You Evah" was actually written by Max Tepper for his band The Natural History.  Britt and Max were exchanging ideas about the songwriting process and after The Natural History's record the song was intended for never came out, it was decided that Spoon should record it.  The results confirm what Britt thought, the song is great!

Another highpoint in the unbelievably quick 36 minutes of music is "The Underdog".  While evoking a little Van Morrison you'll want to sing along with lyrics like, "Cause you don't talk to the water boy/and there's so much you could learn but you don't want to know/You will not back up an inch ever/that's why you will not survive!"  The song will be plenty to get any outgunned bar fighter ready or could even serve as the campaign song for the challenger to some out-of-touch incumbent.

All in all, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is another excellent addition to the Spoon catalog.  I think the only problem I have with it is the previously mentioned short running time.  The record definitely leaves you wanting more after the final song ends.

Buy Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga at:  iTunes | Amazon | Insound

The Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist

So we have the first album from  the Smashing Pumpkins in 7 years!   As a fan of the band, it's been interesting to read all of the reviews about the new lineup and album.  First and foremost, I find the comments that this is some kind of cash grab to be ignorant and lazy.  The last time I checked, Billy Corgan wasn't paying the mortgage on the Neverland Ranch or taking care of a Mick Jagger-size group of children and their supermodel mothers' needs.  Let's be realistic, as the groups primary songwriter the Smashing Pumpkins have sold more than enough albums for Billy, and everyone else involved, to live whatever lifestyle they're accustom to.  Another thing to remember is, Billy and Co. have donated all revenue from entire tours to charity.  The tickets to their recent residencies, which have been in extremely high demand, were $20.  That hardly seems like the actions of a person motivated by money.  Sorry, just had to put that out there and now that I've said that, let's discuss what's important, the music.

Fans of the Smashing Pumpkins are an extremely fickle group of people.  In fact, I'm not sure any band has a group of fans that are harder to please.  That being said, I think Zeitgeist is a step in the right direction after what many considered to be the misstep of Machina.  I think it's safe to say that a majority of fans, both hardcore and casual, will enjoy this record.  The thing that is most clear after first listening to the record is that Billy Corgan intends to pull no punches here.  This record is heavy!  In my opinion, Corgan cements his status as one of the most underrated guitarists in the game today on the record.  During my time at one of the residency shows in Asheville, NC there were several times during the show that members of the audience would look at each other in disbelief following one of Billy's solos.   Quite simply, he's an absolute beast on the guitar.  While we're on the subject of beasts, Jimmy Chamberlain's fearsome drumming is on full display here.  Looking back at the history of the band, to say it's a blessing that Jimmy has conquered his demons and is still behind the kit doing his thing is a gross understatement.

"Tarantula" currently sits at #2 on the Billboard's Modern Rock Chart and I don't think there's any denying it's a great track.  Even the almighty ones at Pitchfork, high atop their ivory tower, admitted they liked it.   There are several other tracks on the album that stand out as well.  "That's The Way (My Love Is)" finds Corgan at the top of his songwriting game.  All the goth/emo-punk/whateveryoucallthem bands on the airwaves today could learn a thing or two about songwriting here.  "Bring The Light" and "Come On (Let's Go)" provide an excellent one-two punch towards the end of the album.  "Bring the Light" alternates between more hushed moments to very agressive ones.  "Come On (Let's Go)" starts off with a guitar sounding like someone kickstarting a chainsaw and doesn't let up from there.  Both tracks contain epic arena-rock sounds that will be have you playing air guitar in no time.  You'll probably find yourself doing that several times while listening to this record.  Thankfully, while there are political messages peppered throughout the album, they aren't so in your face as to turn off the listener.  If anything, they just seem to be affirmations of what a majority of the public has been feeling in recent times.

This album is a perfect example of what sets the Smashing Pumpkins apart from their peers and imitators.  When they choose to, they rock n' roll on a level all their own.  I'm not saying they're the best band in the world but they're certainly the best at what they do.  No one was able to take the band's place during the 7 years they were gone so the Pumpkins might as well take back their spot on top of the heap.  As I'm sure you can tell, I'm extremely glad that they have.

Buy Zeitgeist at:  iTunes | Amazon | Insound

New Album, Label, and Book for Little Wings

Little Wings mastermind Kyle Field has been very busy lately.  He's just finished the new Little Wings album, launched a new record label called RAD, and is releasing a book of drawings and paintings titled Put It In A Nutshell.  The first release on the new label, which will operate as an imprint of Portland's Marriage Records, will be the above mentioned Little Wings album Soft Pow'r due out Sept. 18th.  Be sure to check out one of the tracks off the new album below.

• Little Wings - "Scuby" from Soft Pow'r

Animal Collective - Fireworks

The Uniform Commercial Code

No, The Uniform Commercial Code isn't some hip new band.  It's what has been taking up all my time lately.  I have a final in my Sales and Secured Transactions class tomorrow and have been stuck with my nose in a book or two.  I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm sorry it's been a little slow around here but I've got a bunch of stuff to write about so just bear with me!

In the meantime, be sure to check out this track from St Vincent's album Marry Me, due out next week:

• St. Vincent - "Now, Now" from Marry Me

The Smashing Pumpkins - Tarantula

Where are my 3D glasses when I need them!?!