Friday, January 8, 2010
SSLYBY - Columbia MO - Jan 30
Just an opportunity to point out what should be a great show, and here is a great poster from The [SEARS].
Thursday, January 7, 2010
F!LM - "Died Young, Stayed Pretty"
"Died Young, Stayed Pretty"
Seattle Premiere at Grand Illusion Cinema
January 8-14
Died Young, Stayed Pretty on IMDB.com
Seattle Premiere at Grand Illusion Cinema
January 8-14
Died Young, Stayed Pretty on IMDB.com
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The [SEARS] - Best of 2009 - Music
First things first, I don't care much for the end of the year list making exercise. However, I fall victim to the list making because I have a massive ego and think my opinions matter to more than just myself I guess. This year I was asked to compile lists for some blogs and friends so here are all of my media related lists, Enjoy!
Best Albums of 2009 (In no particular order):
1. St. Vincent - Actor
This record took me by surprise at first. It was, of course, a continuation of Marry Me but showing tons of growth and depth in the songwriting. Annie Clark's music will always be of great interest to me after seeing her open for Midlake a few years ago at the Granada Theater in Dallas. She played the set solo and somehow managed to make the set sound like a full band, without any pre-recorded backing tracks. It doesn't hurt that she played guitar for The Polyphonic Spree on their masterpiece, Fragile Army. Actor is one of those records that can be delicate, loud, soothing, and rocking. Sonically, Actor captures St. Vincent's live sound expertly and shows that she can write in a multitude of styles and directions, even in the same song. I love this record and it will probably be one of my favorites for a very long time.
2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
I'll start by saying I was never really into Grizzly Bear. I liked a few of their tracks on previous efforts but, for the most part, their albums never grabbed me. Veckatimest changed that for me. The songwriting on this record is stellar. Each song is multi-layered and takes you in so many different directions. Grizzly Bear still uses the four part harmony to their advantage, but the orchestration, pop hooks, and depth proves that Grizzly Bear might be the best band in America right now. If you buy one record this year, buy this one.
3. Why? - Eskimo Snow
If it wasn't for my good pal Colin Miller, it would have taken me a lot longer than it did to discover Why? and I'm thankful for that. Why? is one of those bands that got me excited about underground music again. If you are not familiar with Why? they are a band from California that is indie pop and hip hop in a roundabout way. In other words, they are pretty damn unique. On Eskimo Snow, Why? find themselves in more of a pop mode than any other record. The songs still contain their signature witty rhyme schemes, but where this record shines is in the instrumentation. This is a far cry from some of their previous records and that is good to see as Why? continues to write songs and perform.
4. Bosque Brown - Baby
Mara Lee Miller is the brain child behind the minimalist, Texas experimental folk project Bosque Brown. This record is dense and fun for anyone with a weak attention span (even though my attention span is terrible, it caught me off guard). I can hardly describe in words how beautiful this record is. It is not over produced and some songs contain only one instrument. Mara's strong suit is her angelic voice. You could consider her voice an instrument as well, it's absolutely stunning. The piano work on this record stands out more than previous records which steers the record in the right direction. As a record this is one of those best listened to from start to finish.
5. Stardeath and White Dwarfs - The Birth
It took me a while to finally give this band a chance. The reason is their front man Dennis Coyne. Dennis is the nephew of the famed Flaming Lips front man, Wayne Coyne. So when I first heard that, I scoffed and wrote them off as one of those musical projects that benefit from being related to a celebrity in the biz. That sort of changed after seeing them open for Colourmusic in downtown Stillwater, OK in 2006. They were so good that I bought their EP they were selling only to discover they sucked. This is part of the reason they made my list. I wrote these guys off as some shitty, soft, wannabe version of the early Flaming Lips without the danger and feeling of terror. Well somehow they brought out the big guns on The Birth and managed to write and record a batch of songs that wow me every single time I listen to the record. The first thing I noticed were that the drum sounds on the record sound as if it was the 1970's again when drums sounded good. Sorry to all you "digital recording saved the planet" people; For the most part Protools drums sound like shit. Aside from the drums, everything sounds like it was recorded in an era when production was an art form along with the song writing. Both the songs and production make this record rise to the top of the heap. Oh, and there is a drum and bass solo in the middle of the record that falls in line with all of the great drum solos ever recorded.
6. Cursive - Mama I'm Swollen
This record seemed to whiz right by most people. I understand their fans are growing up and pumping out babies like we are not in a recession, but this record is amazing. Start to finish not a single bad track. I know you won't find this on most year end lists, especially on the irrelevant Pitchfork because what Cursive is doing is no longer cool to the younger crowd of show-goers. Cursive is a Midwestern DIY indie band who work very hard to perform, write, and record albums. These guys are amazing musicians and people. However I understand the argument for being uncool. I mean they are not throwing dance parties in old skating rinks on a Friday night hoping that every kid in town who thinks Halloween is every night will show up. That isn't their crowd. They play to hard working honest people who know what it takes to earn a buck. Their music screams Midwest and echos to their past a bit but also shows great signs of maturing. I'll say this, as a band of dudes in their 30s who still tour in a van and load in and out every night, they are still finding people to play to because they deliver good honest Midwestern rock music. I'd like to see some of the new hipster trash doing that in 15 years.
7. Sleep Whale - House Boat
Sleep Whale is from Denton, TX and used to be called Mom. They are an experimental, electronic, classical, indie rock project. You know what, screw trying to use buzz words to slap a meaningless genre on this band. This record came to my attention pretty late in the game and I'm so glad it found its way to me. Brilliant! That is the only word to describe House Boat. It's a huge step from the days when Sleep Whale was called Mom. They have added members which has improved their sound greatly. But Houseboat is recorded perfectly, written perfectly, and keeps you interested. Like Bosque Brown's Baby, Houseboat needs a complete album listen to get the best listening experience. As a band from Denton, TX, they capitalize on the superb music program at the University of North Texas and build a niche for themselves in an already amazing music scene. Sleep Whale may be one of those music projects that slips by you a few times but at some point you will not be able to avoid them. Houseboat is brilliant and beautiful, that is all!
8. Balmorhea - All Is Wild, All Is Silent
Here is another Texas experimental orchestral project. They are very similar to Sleep Whale except less electronic and more orchestra based. This record builds upon previous records and really shines by bringing more instruments into the fray. On the opening track Settler, it is driven by piano, strings, and pulsing drums. It is atmospheric at some points and a full on symphony at other points. I had a chance to see them live in 2008 at SXSW where they played in a church and was blow away by their skill. This band is learning quick and growing up fast. If this is any indication of their future, I can't wait for what is next.
9. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches
This record is about religion and struggling with the truth. It is David Bazan's way of telling all of his devoted fans that he is no longer a Christian. For an album of songs full of questions about the meaning of Christianity, this is a great and respectful way to tell your fans you've left the club. I'm sure we can all relate to this idea and many of us may have turned away from religion at one point. Some come back, others never do. I think this may be Bazan's masterpiece.
10. Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band
I'm sort of a fan of alt-country. I get some of it, not all of it. The same can be said for indie bands. The Fruit Bats somehow contain everything I like about both Alt-Country and Indie Rock. On Ruminant Band, Fruit Bats blend folk, country, pop, and rock to make for an enjoyable listen. Don't expect this record to teach you anything new. It's a refreshing stroll back to the 70's when band wrote exciting and interesting music. I hope the Fruit Bats keep this trend up and outdo the other bands out there who cannot play their instruments as they write bland noise.
Here are the records that nearly made the top ten:
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle
Dan Deacon - Bromst
Flaming Lips - Embryonic
Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter
Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
Molina & Johnson - Molina & Johnson (Will Johnson's half...Molina's songs are very weak on this record.)
Sherree Chamberlain - The Wasp In The Room
The Swell Season - Strict Joy
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
Tortoise - Beacons Of Ancestorship
U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
According to my Last.fm (http://www.last.fm/user/sitandspinradio) data, here are my top 10 bands who released a record in 2009....
1. Flaming Lips
2. Headlights
3. Bosque Brown
4. Cursive
5. Why?
6. Wilco
7. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
8. Starlight Mints
9. Stardeath and White Dwarfs
10. St. Vincent
Best Shows I Attended In 2009
1. Grizzly Bear - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
2. St. Vincent - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
3. Cursive/Bald Eagle - Slowdown (Omaha, NE)
4. Emergency Umbrella Showcase...aka Bald Eagle's final show - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
5. Russian Circles - Mojo's (Columbia, MO)
6. Jason Lytle - Tonic (Columbia, MO)
7. Why? - Firebird (St. Louis, MO)
8. Burning Hotels/Pretty Black Chains - Dfest (Tulsa, OK)
9. Colourmusic/Gentleman Auction House - The Vault (Stillwater, OK)
10. Cursive - Hailey's (Denton, TX)
Have a great 2010!
The [SEARS] - Columbia, MO
Best Albums of 2009 (In no particular order):
1. St. Vincent - Actor
This record took me by surprise at first. It was, of course, a continuation of Marry Me but showing tons of growth and depth in the songwriting. Annie Clark's music will always be of great interest to me after seeing her open for Midlake a few years ago at the Granada Theater in Dallas. She played the set solo and somehow managed to make the set sound like a full band, without any pre-recorded backing tracks. It doesn't hurt that she played guitar for The Polyphonic Spree on their masterpiece, Fragile Army. Actor is one of those records that can be delicate, loud, soothing, and rocking. Sonically, Actor captures St. Vincent's live sound expertly and shows that she can write in a multitude of styles and directions, even in the same song. I love this record and it will probably be one of my favorites for a very long time.
2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
I'll start by saying I was never really into Grizzly Bear. I liked a few of their tracks on previous efforts but, for the most part, their albums never grabbed me. Veckatimest changed that for me. The songwriting on this record is stellar. Each song is multi-layered and takes you in so many different directions. Grizzly Bear still uses the four part harmony to their advantage, but the orchestration, pop hooks, and depth proves that Grizzly Bear might be the best band in America right now. If you buy one record this year, buy this one.
3. Why? - Eskimo Snow
If it wasn't for my good pal Colin Miller, it would have taken me a lot longer than it did to discover Why? and I'm thankful for that. Why? is one of those bands that got me excited about underground music again. If you are not familiar with Why? they are a band from California that is indie pop and hip hop in a roundabout way. In other words, they are pretty damn unique. On Eskimo Snow, Why? find themselves in more of a pop mode than any other record. The songs still contain their signature witty rhyme schemes, but where this record shines is in the instrumentation. This is a far cry from some of their previous records and that is good to see as Why? continues to write songs and perform.
4. Bosque Brown - Baby
Mara Lee Miller is the brain child behind the minimalist, Texas experimental folk project Bosque Brown. This record is dense and fun for anyone with a weak attention span (even though my attention span is terrible, it caught me off guard). I can hardly describe in words how beautiful this record is. It is not over produced and some songs contain only one instrument. Mara's strong suit is her angelic voice. You could consider her voice an instrument as well, it's absolutely stunning. The piano work on this record stands out more than previous records which steers the record in the right direction. As a record this is one of those best listened to from start to finish.
5. Stardeath and White Dwarfs - The Birth
It took me a while to finally give this band a chance. The reason is their front man Dennis Coyne. Dennis is the nephew of the famed Flaming Lips front man, Wayne Coyne. So when I first heard that, I scoffed and wrote them off as one of those musical projects that benefit from being related to a celebrity in the biz. That sort of changed after seeing them open for Colourmusic in downtown Stillwater, OK in 2006. They were so good that I bought their EP they were selling only to discover they sucked. This is part of the reason they made my list. I wrote these guys off as some shitty, soft, wannabe version of the early Flaming Lips without the danger and feeling of terror. Well somehow they brought out the big guns on The Birth and managed to write and record a batch of songs that wow me every single time I listen to the record. The first thing I noticed were that the drum sounds on the record sound as if it was the 1970's again when drums sounded good. Sorry to all you "digital recording saved the planet" people; For the most part Protools drums sound like shit. Aside from the drums, everything sounds like it was recorded in an era when production was an art form along with the song writing. Both the songs and production make this record rise to the top of the heap. Oh, and there is a drum and bass solo in the middle of the record that falls in line with all of the great drum solos ever recorded.
6. Cursive - Mama I'm Swollen
This record seemed to whiz right by most people. I understand their fans are growing up and pumping out babies like we are not in a recession, but this record is amazing. Start to finish not a single bad track. I know you won't find this on most year end lists, especially on the irrelevant Pitchfork because what Cursive is doing is no longer cool to the younger crowd of show-goers. Cursive is a Midwestern DIY indie band who work very hard to perform, write, and record albums. These guys are amazing musicians and people. However I understand the argument for being uncool. I mean they are not throwing dance parties in old skating rinks on a Friday night hoping that every kid in town who thinks Halloween is every night will show up. That isn't their crowd. They play to hard working honest people who know what it takes to earn a buck. Their music screams Midwest and echos to their past a bit but also shows great signs of maturing. I'll say this, as a band of dudes in their 30s who still tour in a van and load in and out every night, they are still finding people to play to because they deliver good honest Midwestern rock music. I'd like to see some of the new hipster trash doing that in 15 years.
7. Sleep Whale - House Boat
Sleep Whale is from Denton, TX and used to be called Mom. They are an experimental, electronic, classical, indie rock project. You know what, screw trying to use buzz words to slap a meaningless genre on this band. This record came to my attention pretty late in the game and I'm so glad it found its way to me. Brilliant! That is the only word to describe House Boat. It's a huge step from the days when Sleep Whale was called Mom. They have added members which has improved their sound greatly. But Houseboat is recorded perfectly, written perfectly, and keeps you interested. Like Bosque Brown's Baby, Houseboat needs a complete album listen to get the best listening experience. As a band from Denton, TX, they capitalize on the superb music program at the University of North Texas and build a niche for themselves in an already amazing music scene. Sleep Whale may be one of those music projects that slips by you a few times but at some point you will not be able to avoid them. Houseboat is brilliant and beautiful, that is all!
8. Balmorhea - All Is Wild, All Is Silent
Here is another Texas experimental orchestral project. They are very similar to Sleep Whale except less electronic and more orchestra based. This record builds upon previous records and really shines by bringing more instruments into the fray. On the opening track Settler, it is driven by piano, strings, and pulsing drums. It is atmospheric at some points and a full on symphony at other points. I had a chance to see them live in 2008 at SXSW where they played in a church and was blow away by their skill. This band is learning quick and growing up fast. If this is any indication of their future, I can't wait for what is next.
9. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches
This record is about religion and struggling with the truth. It is David Bazan's way of telling all of his devoted fans that he is no longer a Christian. For an album of songs full of questions about the meaning of Christianity, this is a great and respectful way to tell your fans you've left the club. I'm sure we can all relate to this idea and many of us may have turned away from religion at one point. Some come back, others never do. I think this may be Bazan's masterpiece.
10. Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band
I'm sort of a fan of alt-country. I get some of it, not all of it. The same can be said for indie bands. The Fruit Bats somehow contain everything I like about both Alt-Country and Indie Rock. On Ruminant Band, Fruit Bats blend folk, country, pop, and rock to make for an enjoyable listen. Don't expect this record to teach you anything new. It's a refreshing stroll back to the 70's when band wrote exciting and interesting music. I hope the Fruit Bats keep this trend up and outdo the other bands out there who cannot play their instruments as they write bland noise.
Here are the records that nearly made the top ten:
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle
Dan Deacon - Bromst
Flaming Lips - Embryonic
Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter
Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
Molina & Johnson - Molina & Johnson (Will Johnson's half...Molina's songs are very weak on this record.)
Sherree Chamberlain - The Wasp In The Room
The Swell Season - Strict Joy
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
Tortoise - Beacons Of Ancestorship
U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
According to my Last.fm (http://www.last.fm/user/sitandspinradio) data, here are my top 10 bands who released a record in 2009....
1. Flaming Lips
2. Headlights
3. Bosque Brown
4. Cursive
5. Why?
6. Wilco
7. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
8. Starlight Mints
9. Stardeath and White Dwarfs
10. St. Vincent
Best Shows I Attended In 2009
1. Grizzly Bear - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
2. St. Vincent - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
3. Cursive/Bald Eagle - Slowdown (Omaha, NE)
4. Emergency Umbrella Showcase...aka Bald Eagle's final show - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
5. Russian Circles - Mojo's (Columbia, MO)
6. Jason Lytle - Tonic (Columbia, MO)
7. Why? - Firebird (St. Louis, MO)
8. Burning Hotels/Pretty Black Chains - Dfest (Tulsa, OK)
9. Colourmusic/Gentleman Auction House - The Vault (Stillwater, OK)
10. Cursive - Hailey's (Denton, TX)
Have a great 2010!
The [SEARS] - Columbia, MO
Monday, January 4, 2010
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