Pictures and Sound

While putting together my top 10 this year, I had the time to dig into some of the artists on the list. Obviously, there are several on there who I follow, like THWFOS or The Travelling Band, but in some cases I was only familiar with that one song.

A good example is no. 4, Pictures and Sound. "It's You" lead me to their Myspace page where there about five or so songs in total off the August self titled release. Turns out that Pictures and Sound is the project of former Blue Merle singer Luke Reynolds, as well as drummer Pete McNeal and bassist Dave Wilder. Blue Merle called it quits in the spring of 2006 and I guess this is what Reynolds has been occupying himself with since then.

As for those other songs I mentioned, I've got to say, they're pretty good. So frequently a visit to an unfamiliar artist's Myspace is a complete let down, but it's definitely not the case here. Reynolds himself, as I said in the list, has some lyrical tendencies akin to Jack Johnson. Not Identical-- sorry, no mention of banana pancakes-- but similar in the clarity. The words come easily and simply. In terms of voice, there's some Mat Kearney in there. Overall, it's more stylized than either Johnson or Kearney, but not in an overproduced, glossed mess sense. The songs remain accessible and smooth.

"100 Directions" is the best of the bunch. It opens with glinting (synth maybe?) backed by low beats and just kind of spreads out. Then there's "Everything Leaves a Mark" which recounts meeting and falling for a girl one night. "It was one of those nights that'll ring in your ears, the rest of your life, while the rest disappear."

There's a certain "carpe diem" vibe running through several of the songs, as seen by someone who is maybe not as young as he once was but who values the idea of recognizing and being in the moment while he can. It's not bad sentiment at all. Case in point: "The Youth" (bit obvious, yeah?) There's a line that says "Some things come around only once, then you take your turn and then you pass it on." Between "The Youth" and "Forever to Reach" ("it took forever to reach and a moment to pass"), you get the idea that he's perhaps flirting with middle age, but it's not the lament you'd expect but more of a satisfied look back.

Check it out if you haven't. This album has made its way on to the wish list, so maybe sometime I'll have a full review to post.

In the meantime, let's enjoy not being middle aged. H'okay?

Pink Floyd, Beach Boys: Santa's Got Good Taste

In the interest of being able to spout off about albums and what influences are blatantly obvious, I am constantly back tracking to try and familiarize myself with as much music as possible. There's so much out there, it's enough to inspire a bit of a panicky feeling, but nonetheless, I'm wading through it one band at a time.

This Christmas there was some definite back tracking going on. I now finally own my own copy of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, which means I'm no longer tied to YouTube and the Pet Sounds track listing on Wikipedia. It's exciting, but thanks to my folks, I knew more Beach Boys songs than nursery rhymes as a child. No joke. In other words, I'm not drastically expanding my musical horizons in that respect. Although, listening to the whole album, you do get a different sense of the group, something more serious and more artistic.

Aside from Pet Sounds and that Death Cab reissue (wild applause), I got to add Dark Side of the Moon to my collection. It's been a long time coming. Ever since I put "Money" on my iPod on '05, I've had my eye on it.

That said, I was talking to my friend about it and we were discussing how an album like Dark Side of the Moon is not really blog-able, at least in the sense of the way I blog about albums here. Folks, there will be no album review for Dark Side of the Moon. Somethings are beyond me. I'm cool will that. I listened to it for the first time today. So many sounds. Do I get it? No. Do I necessarily need to get it? No. Did I like it? As a friend once said, "hellz yes." That's really all that matters for now.

On a completely shallow note, I can now justify buying that DSOTM poster at The Great Escape without feeling like a fraud.

Viva la Remix: Coldplay at Christmas

I read an op-ed piece once bashing mix tapes/cds as gifts for birthdays and holidays. I don't know if this counts, but those Christmas-loving chaps are offering a free remixed version of "Viva la Vida" for download this Christmas.

Honestly, I've never completely understood the purpose behind remixes. Aside from maybe trying to soup up the danceability of a record, most of the time it seems pretty pointless, plucking and splicing the best parts of the song only to burry them under beeps and beats and repeat the same sections of the songs ad nauseam.

In essence, that's what the "Viva" remix amounts to, a couple minutes of Chris Martin singing "wicked and wild" over and over again only to be followed up by a skip right to the second verse. At seven minutes, it loses all punch. Not even the chorus, that glorious chorus, survives the bastardization.

Obviously, there's more behind the giveaway than "hey, we've just put together a nifty little something, have a listen." It's a good marketing strategy to keep Coldplay at the front of people's minds and you really can't piss people off giving them free stuff. Points for that-- they're not letting the buzz die down until their next release in March.

In any case, check it out if you like and of course, have a very Merry Christmas, or whatever it is you celebrate.

And you thought I was done for the year.

The Musically Inclined's Top 10 Discoveries of 2008

Well, here we are again at the end of another year. 2008 definitely got some mixed reviews music-wise, but from TMI's standpoint, it did alright for itself-- nothing too mind-blowing, but not a write-off either. After all, last year there was The National, The Shins and Radiohead, to name a few reasons why 2007 was a good year to launch a music blog. Not the easiest acts to follow. On the flip side, this year gave us new bands like Fleet Foxes, Death Cab's sixth release, and tons of backlash controversy to last us all a few decades (or weeks in the music world). But enough of that, the 2007 ship has long sailed and 2008 is pulling out of the harbor as we speak.

The songs that made it on this list have some mix of uniqueness, substance and addictive appeal, which ultimately meant surviving the shuffle of new music at TMI, but this year, we're doing things slightly different. Top 10 Discoveries formerly covered anything that had been (wait for it) discovered that year regardless of release date, but this time around the list is pure 2008. So then, what does "discoveries" have to do with it if it's just one more "best of" list? Glad you asked. All the artists on this list were previously unheard of, or rather, un-listened to before Jan. 08.

Crafty, yes? So crafty, I wound up shafting some of my own staple bands/artists who had releases this year like Death Cab for Cutie and Coldplay, plus neglecting the new finds from years past, like "Grace Kelly" by Mika. That said, let's take a moment to silently pay our respects.........awesome, thanks.

Moving on, some of these have yet to be mentioned on these lovely virtual pages, but that doesn't mean those write ups aren't on their way-- so, no worries.

Here now are The Musically Inclined's Top 10 Discoveries of 2008.

1. A Question of Trust : Their Hearts Were Full of Spring

Hands down, the best find of the year. This little indie band from the U.K. features some of the prettiest sounds you'll hear-- romantic and sprightly, but hearty and sincere. Though technically, this is their anti-Tony Blair statement, there's no bitterness there, only verbally and musically articulated warning while managing to radiate upbeat vibes. Listen


2. Use Somebody : Kings of Leon

2008 saw a bit of a revival in southern rock. MMJ is cool, but Jim James' vocals just don't do it for me. Kings of Leon, on the other hand, have the right amount of gruffness and grit. "Use Somebody" takes you to a moment on the brink of something just out of reach, amid wistful "ooh woa"s that fly by like blurred headlights. These guys are further proof that there's more to Nashville than tired commercial country. Listen


3. He Didn't Know Why : Fleet Foxes

The overall sound of Fleet Foxes is an intriguing blend of ethereal and rustic. "He Didn't Know Why" exemplifies a certain quality in their music that is so difficult to pinpoint. Piano, drums, guitars, and those mid-range vocals have a clarity to them making Fleet Foxes possibly the earthiest new band of the year. Listen


4. It's You : Pictures and Sound

Think Jack Johnson's lyrical sensibilities and Mat Kearney's vocals, but with slicker, more stylized instrumentation. This song specifically, is a really great groove plus a good balance of bass and lighter, flickering, stringed sounds. Listen


5. Fragments of Green : The Travelling Band

The accordion alone is enough to grab anyone by the heart, but then the harmonies kick in, the song builds in the repetition of the chorus and you're just finished. It's a great way to spend five minutes. The Travelling Band sounds like the tussle that would ensue if Nickel Creek and The Shins got tangled up in a wheat field. Vaguely retro, just a bit rootsy, but ultimately timeless. Listen


6. Electric Feel : MGMT

MGMT captures a 60s psychedelic rock vibe with shuffling, uninhibited, primal pulses accented with clear, flute-like synth. Plus, it weathers successive listens well. "Electric Feel" 's biggest offense has nothing to do with what the pair (Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser) might have been smoking while recording it, but more to do with how it never seems to last long enough. Listen


7. A-Punk : Vampire Weekend

Quirky and spunky, Vampire Weekend had some of the freshest sounds to emanate from the predictable college music machine in a long time. Never mind if you can hardly understand a word lead singer Ezra Koenig says, between "oh"s and zippy guitar riffs, "A-Punk" is pretty catchy. More prep than you can stand? Never. Listen


8. Buildings and Mountains : Republic Tigers

Spin called these guys "glossy electro-folk" and I'll second that description. Seems I've had a penchant for dashes of ethereal in music this year. In any case, the song flows in hypnotic, computer generated waves, making for an enjoyable and atmospheric tune. Listen


9. Sing Again : Chris Walla

There's a simplicity to "Sing Again," not only in the mild instrumentation and airy vocals, but in the call for engagement in one's world. "A life packed full of mindless joy, is not easy to enjoy." Hard to argue with that. Listen


10. Skinny Love : Bon Iver

Bon Iver has been one of the bigger breakouts of 2008, it seems. Lord knows, For Emma, Forever Ago has been on just about every "best of" list I've seen so far. Again, the simplicity is highly appealing. Iver shifts from the high vocals down to the forcefulness of the chorus and its effect is mildly jarring, but jarring in a deliberate way. Plus, the banjo adds a compelling shade to the song. Listen



Happy listening.

Erin

The Killers: Day & Age

A friend of mine once said that if you want to fake your way through the discussion of an album you haven't heard, all you have to say is that the first half of the album was good but after track six, it just went downhill. While I can't vouch for the effectiveness of this strategy, I can say that those words came to mind upon listening to the Killer's third release, Day & Age.

Last year when Sawdust came out, I remember saying that "Tranquilize" sounded like the place somewhere in between Hot Fuss and Sam's Town, all the band's nostalgia and love for the west, dipped in 80's synth. Day & Age occupies that space exactly.

"Losing Touch" gets it going, featuring synth as well as some other unexpected instrumentation, like saxophone, making its first and definitely not last appearance. It's 80's sax. You know exactly what I mean, the kind that makes you think of blazers with the sleeves rolled up.

Next up is "Human," the much-debated single, tinged with brooding synth and questionable lyrics. On it's own, posing the question "are we human, or are we dancer" seems pretty forced, a weak attempt at depth, but within the context of the album, it works. Between the album artwork and that synthed-out desperado vibe, Day & Age is like someone drove out to the desert at sunset, parked the car and started having a minor emotional/mental/spirtiual crisis.

Even though Flowers hasn't donned eyeliner in a while, there's a drama to the Killers that means you just have to roll with it and take the music for what it is and from whom it's coming. The "dancer" line has gotten so much attention, no one has acknowledged the preceding line which says "and I'm on my knees looking for the answer." It's the most earnest and most relatable line of the album. In any case, "Human" begs multiple successive plays.

That said, "Spaceman" tops it. Alien abduction never sounded so cool. You just want to sing along as Flowers does some of his best uncertain warbling and straining. There are definitely shades of "Read My Mind" in there amid the blips. This is undoubtedly the best song on the album.

After that powerful trio comes "Joy Ride," an energetic, galloping south-of-the-border type tune followed up by "A Dustland Fairlytale." That's the line where the album starts losing steam. The latter tells a good story, points for the line "he looked just you'd want him to, some kind of slick chrome American prince," but ultimately "Joy Ride" is the last real kicker.

This is not to say that the listener should just kill the album after the fifth track, but the shift in quality is most striking because the best songs came one right after another instead of spread out.

While "Human" and "Spaceman" live up and even surpassed their hype, "Neon Tiger" falls short. It's fairly bland, forgettable, and unimpressive. Album-closer "Goodnight, Travel Well" is just too dark and foreboding, detracting from the record's overall stylistic cohesiveness. Sounds like someone was having a bad day. Plus, it's nearly 7 minutes long. Day & Age probably could have done without it.

Lately, it's cool to hate on the Killers, so I'll say this: there's good and mediocre on this album, tracks that buzz and bleep in 80's infused glory and tracks that simply underwhelm. Potentially the most important fact though, is that those really great tracks are solid enough to make anyone commit to the group and tell the snobs to go screw themselves. If you like a band, own up to it. They're yours. Deal with it.

Even if feathers have no place on epaulets.

The National Get Going on New Album

Billboard delivered some good news yesterday. Brooklyn-based orch-pop group The National has started writing a new album and plan to record in April. No word on a release date just yet, but it's good to know the band has got something in the pipeline.

Just a year ago they were on the cover of Paste with Boxer voted top album. It should be interesting to gauge not only their fan base's growth but loyalty. Boxer was a "career-best," according to Billboard. 147,000 copies is pretty respectable.

In any case, TMI is looking forward to it.

Their Hearts Were Full of Spring...Err...Winter

I got a press release a little while ago and then a follow up email Monday regarding Their Hearts Were Full of Spring. It seems this lovely band has got themselves a bit of an ongoing project, recording season-appropriate songs for giveaway this year. You can check/get those here. I haven't gotten a good chance to listen to the covers of Fleet Foxes' "White Winter Hymnal" and Neil Young's "Winterlong," but I've got high expectations for these folks. The other part of the deal is that you can buy the limited-edition cds at their shows, but for those of us on this side of the Atlantic, the downloads will have to suffice.

I like the idea, it suits them well and also it means that there's more from THWFOS on the way. Can't complain about that. Someday it would be terrific to walk into a record store (you know what I mean) and lay hands on an LP. In the meantime, apparently they have a blog as well, so sit tight and we'll keep our fingers crossed.

The Killers review should be up sometime tomorrow and of course, TMI Top 10 Discoveries of 2008 will follow shortly after.

Peace

Santa Better Bring Some Death Cab

Death Cab for Cutie re-issued their first album, Something About Airplanes, on the 25th of November and I just found out this morning. I am ashamed. Also, disproportionately excited. Between new artwork, new liner notes, and a second disc with a 1998 performance at Seattle's Crocodile Club, this promises to be the only present under the tree that I care about this season. Ben Gibbard talked with (that rag) Entertainment Weekly and the interview is actually quite interesting, not so much for the interviewer's skill but for Gibbard's stories and general ability of expression. Anyway, there's today's reason to dance a little bit.

TMI Mini Mix

If you use Blogger, you might have seen that iLike now has a widget for blogs, so in essence you can stick your tunes right on your blog and readers can listen without leaving the page. I think it's a terrific little feature, so I'm doing away with the Inclined Toward sidebar and replacing it with the TMI Mini Mix. Inclined Toward was basically a links list of 10 songs that I'd been listening to. Due to the number of songs and my absent-mindedness, it wasn't getting updated as often I'd have liked. It would get stale, in other words.

TMI Mini Mix differs in a few ways. For one, it will be brand spanking new at the start of every month. Also, it's a mix (no kidding) so I'll be indulging my secret love of putting together mix tapes (more like playlists and cds these days) to create a combination of songs that go well together in some respect.

This month, I found on iLike a song by Their Hearts Were Full of Spring called "As long as the Sun Shines" that I hadn't heard. You can get it as a free mp3 from iLike, FYI. I love this band greatly, so I just built the mix around their instrumentation and overall sunniness.

Feedback is always welcome. Enjoy.

Imagine

I was just weeding through my RSS feeds when I saw on Rolling Stone that today is the 28th anniversary of John Lennon's death. Obviously, this is a yearly occurrence, but for some reason this time around I couldn't help but think that 28 years is really a long time.

Part of my reaction to this though, stems from a documentary I watched a few weeks ago about the 60s. In one section it talked about Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Keith Moon with regards to how young they died. Granted all their deaths were drug-related unlike Lennon and I don't think I'd put him in a talent level on his own with Hendrix, but still I was wondering what would have happened if these folks had even made it to 40. Think about it. Talent-wise, they were so far ahead to begin with, imagine 30, 40 years of tours and albums. Especially with Hendrix, it hardly seems as though he could have gotten any better. What's deeper than basically being one with the guitar? I'm sure we'll never know.

Peace, kids.

Adventures in Bustin' Out of the House

I've always wanted to be that person who has an arsenal of quirky cool stories, the kind that start out, "this one time in college," or whatever the case may be. Honestly, those stories aren't terribly difficult to come by, it just takes stepping outside your front door, preferably after 10 p.m.

That said, when my friend asked me if I'd like to go with her to this funky little coffee house (that I don't go to as often as I'd like) to see a friend of hers play a gig, I didn't even hesitate. For one, this coffee house is the type of place where the cool kids go. In high school these people were the strange artsy ones with massive Sharpie collections and no interest in anything remotely close to Top 40. They were they forgotten tribe in the corner of the cafeteria but these days we're living in the city where the jocks and the preps are uncultured and merely vanilla. That's not to say that's all who frequent the place, but the scales are tipped in their favor.

We arrived at some point in the 10 o'clock hour and it wasn't particularly packed. Things don't really get jumping until it's past what the average older person would deem a respectable bedtime. After snagging some hot chocolate and forking over $5 for a three-act evening of Jesus-friendly hip-hop (I kid you not). We met up with my friend's friend, a compact bundle of constant motion who goes by the stage name James Fate. After making some room on the bench next to the band, I was ready for some serious people watching.

From here, there are a couple roads to take.

A) The Place- The show was in the Back Stage Bar. There were some tables set up and our red bench on the side wall. It was the kind of room you expect to have been filled with smoke and smelling of beer, but only the latter was true and to a small degree. Dim lights, the glow of neon, and not enough room to take my jacket off. There's not much between the performer and the audience.

B) The People- The people were the best part. You had said artsy types, a kid at a table selling art work (namely alligators wearing hoodies and girl jeans), looking like the intersection between indie scene and urban. There were the kinds of people who were probably at Bonnaroo this summer, dreads, circular dance moves and all. One girl in particular....we weren't really sure if she was drunk or just really...ehh...you know the type. I'll put it like this, for the first two acts, she was the only one dancing. Then there was the photographer and his girlfriend who were sitting next to me. Slightly above the median age, but so ready to get in the middle of the music.

That was one thing that struck me, a few months ago I read some editorial complaining about how some people don't dance at concerts. I say it's none of my business, but it did make me tune in last night to who was acting how. In a couple cases, the music started up and even if it wasn't that great, there was this willingness and readiness to just sink into it regardless. The head bobbing and grooving with closed-eyes, submerging in the meaning of every beat. For me, I do little more than tap my foot. I operate like a radar at these things because I know I'll be writing about it. The photog's girlfriend on the other hand was searching for some musical catharsis and community, periodically turning to me to make a comment and always moving with the sounds in her own little space. They looked happy.

C) The Music- Like I mentioned, The Holla, which is a hip-hop night type thing. Our buddy there, James Fate was the Jesus-friendly part. The other two? I couldn't understand enough lyrics to know. (EDIT: my sources tell me all three were Jesus-friendly, in fact.)

First up was a guy calling himself 247 and his band the Three65s. He was funny, one of those people who states the obvious but with quirky comedic flair. You have no idea why you are laughing. Anyway, with only a bass player and drummer, it was really stripped down. It started off pretty cool but there wasn't enough variation between each song. Still, 247 had a good stage presence. You can watch a clip here.

Second was a guy (W-T the Musical Mastermind-- wouldn't go that far) who looked like Steve from the Sarah Silverman program. I've never seen anyone break a sweat that quickly. He was very intense, but given the fact that he was the middle act, the crowd only seemed mildly interested as he tried to start up some audience participation.

Last was James Fate (né Nate James). What a character. He did his best to "show love" to the other performers. One song in particular is pretty catchy, "Just a Dream" which is basically every musician's inner thoughts about how great it would be to make it and leave behind the day job etc. It's more Maroon 5 than hip-hop, though (think "Tangled"). He definitely and undoubtedly was the crowd favorite.

Anyway, this entry is longer than I intended, but it was a good night and it was great to go out and hear music that I normally would not listen to. There's more to tell, but your attention span is probably on the wane right now. Spice of life, folks. Here's to bustin' out of the house.

The Killers review is coming soon. Stay tuned, kids.

Oversight of the Decade

Ok, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but that doesn't mean I haven't been kicking myself any less. Check a few entries down and you'll see that I reviewed Under the Pavement by The Travelling Band for Twisted Ear. The whole time I felt like there was something I was missing. Well, the other night I was watching some footage of Crosby, Stills, and Nash singing "Sweet Judy Blue Eyes" when it it hit me that these guys are all over the Travelling Band album and somehow it went right over my head. Specifically, give a listen to "Sweet City." It's incredibly reminiscent of "Sweet Judy Blue Eyes." Bah. I wish I could add in a line to the review but that ship sailed. Oh well. I'm saying it here. As an aside, Under the Pavement gets better and better every time I listen to it and the fact that I'm still hitting 'play' weeks after turning in the review should say a good deal.

Odds & Ends as of Late

Nothing super important to report lately, just a few loose ends to tie or just mention, really.

Firstly, I just saw this on Pitchfork. The Kinks are releasing a box set entitled Picture Book on December 8th this year. It's 6 discs plus a 60-page booklet containing pictures, timelines, bios, etc. Looks pretty sweet, if you ask me. Though, I really don't want to see the price tag on that sucker. I think I'll just mop up the drool on my laptop and move on.

Secondly, it appears that the Fray are releasing their sophomore album, The Fray, Feb. 3rd, 2009. Why do I mention this? I was marveling at the fact that I don't really care, if that makes any sense at all. Recently it came to my attention that I didn't buy many albums this year and the reason is that I usually don't invest in a disc unless I think I might follow the band or singer in the future. Buying the kinds of albums that have less shelf life than a jug of milk only bolsters the record collection on a superficial level. Total waste of time and iPod space. When How to Save a Life came out in 2005, everybody bought it. They were plastered all over the place but when the hype died down, how many people continued to care? I sort of forgot they existed.

Thirdly, Stephen Colbert is releasing an accompanying Christmas album with his television special. I smell a new holiday favorite at the Musically Inclined.

Fourthly, I'm wondering why I haven't gotten into John Legend before. Both "Green Light" and Legend are about six kinds of cool. Happily, Legend will be on Colbert's special this Sunday.

Fifthly, is that a word? If not, it is now. The Killer's album comes out on the 25th. I'll buy it, but for some reason I'm preparing to be underwhelmed. We'll see.

Happy Friday

You Know You Love Falsettos

Two weeks back some friends and I came across this really infectious pop song called "Grace Kelly" by a British singer named Mika. We'd actually heard a cover of it and the guy that sang it had a falsetto that would Frankie Valli to shame, no joke. Anyway, we found the original. I'd heard of this guy Mika before but didn't really know anything about him. Especially after hearing the full album-- a fifty-minute sugar rush, I think I found my latest guilty pleasure. It's not bad, cheap, or shallow, Mika's just not the average inhabitant of my iPod. No worries, though. This stuff is an instant cloud-parter and couldn't have come at a better time. Check out the video. There might be a review to follow soon.

Best Buy-- Guess Not

I saw this article on CNET about how Best Buy is lowering its earnings forecast for the upcoming year, especially in light of Circuit City's bankruptcy. Now, I'd never rejoice in the misfortune of others, but it does make me a feel a bit better. Granted, their financial problems don't just stem from falling music sales-- there's the sucky economy to thank, after all-- but no one's safe and due to Best Buy's top spot on the TMI S*#% List, we're feeling rather smug. I guess those blue polos are getting expensive.

The Travelling Band on Twisted Ear

No, I didn't add an extra 'l' to 'travelling' because I felt like it. Check these guys out. They won the New Talent award at Glastonbury this summer. Think Shins combined with Nickel Creek. This is some really good stuff.

Coldplay Has Vestibular Issues

iTunes is currently offering the music video to "Lovers in Japan" free. That's pretty snazzy. The video is not too bad, the colors are deep and they write in the air like in that really cool Sprint commercial. It looks like they're writing with a neon light bulb. "Viva la Vida" should have been more along those lines. The only problem is all the spinning. The camera does flip after flip and it just fees like someone trapped Chris Martin in the dryer on tumble dry with a billion paper butterflies. It's dizzying. If you can control your stomach, it's worth a watch.

This is about the Garden State soundtrack. I can't think of a snazzy title.

It's been quite the week, so unfortunately I've neglected The Musically Inclined a bit. The upside is that it's Friday and I've cleared my schedule to do precious nothing tonight...or that's the plan at least. Lord knows I'll wind up getting roped into something and probably go very willingly. In any case, I was trying to think of something to post about. The most obvious thing music-related is that the other day I watched Garden State for the second time. It's really a terrific movie, the kind of that's got a perfect balance of heart, soul, brain, and weirdness. Unless you've seen it before, you've got no idea where you're going until you get there. That's fairly representative of life, I think.

Garden State has been out a few years and I distinctly remember being more interested in it for the soundtrack than for the actual movie, because that's most of what anyone talked about. A friend gave me a copy of the soundtrack last year and that's ultimately what spurred me to rent it. Some soundtracks are weak, only having a couple songs worthy of purchase, but what makes this one different is that it plays like that perfect mix tape that someone gave you. I guess these days it's more about the playlist, but the idea is the same. From Nick Drake, Frou Frou, Colin Hay, Coldplay, and of course the Shins, there's not a track there that doesn't perfectly encapsulate the feel of the movie. Most strikingly, I knew exactly what kind of tone to expect before ever watching it.

That's some serious mix tape skill. At the same time the soundtrack is so solid and rich, I listen to it sparingly. These last couple days though, it's been on loop in my head and I don't mind hearing that wistful, calm, yet cathartic backdrop to my day-to-day life.

If for some reason you haven't seen Garden State, good freaking grief, get your butt into gear and watch it. Now.

Third Eye Blind: Latest Victim of F.O.S. Syndrome

I've got precious little time to rant, but I saw this article on CNET talking about how Third Eye Blind's vocalist thinks that the album is better off dead. No, sir! We will have none of this talk. Just because the market dictates something doesn't make it right. On the bright side, when was the last time anyone cared about Third Eye Blind? Besides a trip down memory lane whenever "Semi-Charmed Life" comes on shuffle, they haven't exactly had much staying power. Anyhoo, happy Monday.

Max Tundra on Twisted Ear

Here's my Twisted Ear review of Max Tundra's Parallax Error Beheads You. This sucker might just leave you questioning your tastes. Have fun.

The Killers: "Human" Music Video

As previously mentioned a few posts back, music videos can be pretty uninspired sometimes. The Killers released the music video to "Human" recently and pretty much it's them playing in the desert, complete with Brandon Flowers' feathery jacket making another unwanted appearance. The song sounds limp and even though I'm well aware that the music track is almost never live, this time around it's just distracting and it contributes to a very thin feeling through out the video. "Human" is visually weak, musically weak and possibly worst of all, predictable.

Heavy Jack: Multiply

Admittedly, when I first read the name "Heavy Jack," I was mostly expecting a metal band, and the pirate bunny on the cover didn't do much to influence me otherwise. Metal is not my favorite genre by any means so, I really didn't know how I was going to feel about this band.

Fortunately for all parties involved, what I found were some very solid (non metal) sounds with deep roots in 60s guitar rock. Sure, countless musicians pay regular homage in the temple of the rock greats, but few have enough to skill to make it sound like anything more than cheap mimicry or the kind of crap that should never go past the walls of a 15-year-old's bedroom.

Heavy Jack has got some skill. Their debut album, Multiply is a mere but completely respectable thirty five minutes of serious guitar play and nearly raspy vocals. It starts off with the plenty powerful "Bushfire" and dives right into "Blood Red Sun," which definitely bears the imprint of the Rolling Stones.

Speaking of which, Heavy Jack covers "Jumpin' Jack Flash" on this album. Dangerous? Cocky? You just don't cover Stones' songs. Upon listening to it though, I actually like what they did with the guitar riff. That's probably the best part, sometimes the vocals feel like they're trying too hard but over all the result is a heck of a lot better than you'd expect.

There's a lot of consistency on this album in terms of quality, so I really can't say there are any duds. "Peace Soldier" doesn't have the strongest chorus, but it's forgivable.

I really enjoyed "What's in a Name," it's got a cool shift toward the end and the guitar is very intense. Likewise, "Bandits in the Night" is very moody and sounds like it would make a dramatic show opener. Plus, there's definitely some Dylan in there amongst other influences.

In sum, these three brothers have produced a terrific product and if it was my band, I'd be damn proud of this album.

The Musically Inclined wishes Heavy Jack the best of luck.

Juana Molina on Twisted Ear

Here's another Twisted Ear review, kids. Juana Molina is a singer from Argentina and her album Un Dia is definitely worth checking out.

The Killers on SNL

I tuned into SNL tonight to see if Tina Fey would reprise her role as Sarah Palin, which she did, and to to my pleasant surprise the Killers were the musical guests. To this point I haven't heard anything off the new album, though I hear that a couple songs leaked.

I'm writing this as I watch, so they've only done one song so far, "Human," to be exact. While the feathers on Brandon Flowers' jacket are inexplicable, the song is decent. The big line is, "are we human or are we dancers?" I think it's one of those situations where they're trying hard enough to be trying too hard and the lyric runs the risk of feeling contrived.

As far as the sound, it's definitely more Hot Fuss than Sam's Town. After the reception the latter received, I'm not surprised. That's one of the funny things about the Killers, they're the subject of some serious backlash. These days they don't seem to do much for the old credibility.

While that might be the case, I don't really like the idea of abandoning a band just because of a few opinions when I still like listening to them. Life is too short to be a snob.

Ok, here's song #2. I think it might be "Spaceman." There's a faint shadow of "When You Were Young" in there somewhere under the synth and Flowers' straining voice. I really can't make a call. It was a bit unimpressive, but I seem to remember my first exposure to Sam's Town tracks also being their SNL performance. I wasn't crazy about "Bones" but it definitely grew on me.

I guess we'll have to wait for the album before making any big judgments, but so far I'm not holding my breath.

Happy Saturday night, kids.

Breaking News: Santana Makes Working Stiffs Everwhere Extremely Jealous

I saw this on my Rolling Stone news feed yesterday and for once I'm at a loss for words-- no snazzy little opening comment. Carlos Santana says he's going to give up guitar in seven years, start a church in Maui and be the preacher. Right. Sounds like a fatal case of F.O.S. syndrome.*

I'm loathe to level any criticism of the personal choices of people I do not know, but really? Carlos Santana is going to "hang up" his guitar? Does he realize how many people would give their left foot to be anywhere as good as he is...and then give the their right foot for the kind of time he has to actually play the damn thing?

Who knows. It was an interesting and somewhat unexpected little story. Dude's got to know he's never going to be able to get away completely and I'd like to think that after a few months he'd take a look at this guitar and just think, "oh, man. I can't do this." Personally, I haven't laid my hands on my guitar in a month for lack of time and it's driving out of my mind. I can imagine it playing out like that Andy Griffith episode where Howard Sprague retires to some gorgeous island and realizes there's nothing to do and winds up moving back to Mayberry.

Anyway, Santana is currently preparing to tour for his thirty-eightth album.

Then again, after that many albums...I think I might just head for Maui too.

* F.O.S (full of s__t) syndrome is an extremely serious meidcal condition and is in no way a laughing matter. It could happen to you, folks.

100th Post and Other Happenings

Yay! This is officially the 100th post of The Musically Inclined. Sounds like a good reason for a party, but really the purpose of this post is a little update about things around here...just some house keeping.

1. My Chris Walla/Ultimate College Bowl article is here if you want to read what that lovable, politically concerned, vegetarian had to say. After several hours of fine crafting, I have to say, I'm pretty happy with it.

2. Totally forgot to say that the Killers album, Day and Age, comes out November 25th-- right in the prime of Christmas shopping season. This should be interesting. Look for a review at least by New Years. Hey, I've got a Christmas list too, you know.

3. Another review to look out for came about when a band called Heavy Jack gave me a  shout out a few weeks ago and sent me a copy of their album Multiply. So far so good, there's definitely skill there. So, keep an eye out for that as well.

4. I've got two more reviews for Twisted Ear on the way, Max Tundra and Juana Molina. Those were fun.

5. Lastly, even though it has nothing to do with music, TMI is quite sad about the passing of Paul Newman. Cool Hand Luke is an excellent movie. Rent it.

Well, that's all I've got for now on this fine Sunday morning. Stay tuned, kids.

Peace

*Note: Those are not my cupcakes. I do not have that kind of time.

Conference Calling with Chris Walla

I've got a little story to tell, but before I get into it, I've got to explain a few things. In case it got past you, I'm a college kid. I'm also a journalist and I write for my university's paper, in fact, I'm Assistant Online Editor. That said, I woke up this morning half reluctantly because I didn't have class until 2:00 but somehow sleeping in on a week day feels wrong. Most of the time I can't afford to given my workload. Today was no exception. 9:15 I was up and sitting at my computer in my pajamas tweaking some things on the web site. 10:00 I was reading an email from my editor marked "time sensitive" that contained the words "conference call," "11:00," and "Death Cab for Cutie." Oh man, I thought I was dreaming. So, I emailed her back immediately and got the whole scoop.

Death Cab is involved with a voter registration drive called Ultimate College Bowl which is a contest awarding a Death Cab concert to the school with the highest number of registered students and given the ranking of my school percentage wise, we got in on this call.

That's when the flurry began. 10:08 I was on the phone with one of the organizers asking the golden question, "so, is this something we're just listening in to or can we ask questions?" All of a sudden what had started off as a little write up of maybe some recorded DCFC message turned into an hour-long press type conference call with Chris Walla.

After getting off the phone I realized I couldn't do it from my cell phone and I had no idea if my room phone would work. 10:22 I threw on some jeans and went sprinting down the hall and down five flights of stairs, trying to think of questions and praying that the Residence Director was at the desk because I couldn't find my freaking Res. Life manual. Well, I guess one of us got to sleep in because she wasn't there I went racing back up said five flights of stairs, without answers and without a single question to ask.

Luckily I found buried on the school's website that 800 numbers are free, no calling cards required. That left me about twenty minutes to regain my cool and get my head around the situation.

On a side note, I like to keep TMI as professional as possible-- no fan girl crap, no free passes, no gushing-- just honest, opinion and the desire to post well written, mature entries on anything music related. That's my norm. This is different.

The journalist portion of my brain was thinking that this is a rare opportunity. Talking to someone like Chris Walla only comes with a job at Rolling Stone or something. I can really turn this into a great piece.

The Death Cab fan portion of my brain is still in utter disbelief. One degree to Chris Walla. They're my favorite contemporary band, coming in 2nd to the Beatles in the "all time" category. Had I known Tuesday night, I would not have slept. I feel slightly ridiculous about how hyped I was but at the same time, if you can't get stoked about talking to someone from one of your favorite bands in the world, what can you get excited about? You're probably a major wet blanket...or a robot. I'm not too cool to be proportionately expressive.

Okay, 10:57 I had my pens lined up, my laptop open to various helpful websites, my notebook open, and my phones ready in case something went screwy. I called in, punched in the code, and joined a buttload of other college journalists. We all introduced ourselves and a few minutes later Chris Walla was on the line.

It was great. A whole hour of listening to a really nice, incredibly articulate guy field questions without the tiniest bit of annoyance or arrogance. He talked about why DCFC got involved, what voting means to him, why they think it's important for young people to vote, and whatever else we threw at him. I even asked him a question midway through. The idea of not saying anything was not an option. I'd never forgive myself.

Some reporters got off topic really fast, some really had no idea who exactly he was. One called him "Ben" (as in Gibbard, the lead singer). I just asked how they got involved in the first place, which I thought was a fairly important and obvious detail. It was a fantastic experience. All through he was very humble and genuine. It was refreshing and he even extended the call by about ten minutes.

It was over by 12:00 and in all the rush, I barely have had time to process it. When I tell my friends I get an eye bulge, jaw drop, and "how did this happen?!" as a typical reaction. I'm glad they think it's as cool as I do. I suppose part of my excitement has been that this is one more really cool thing I get to do as a journalist and the prospect of a career as unpredictable and random as it has been so far keeps me up at night with a shameless grin on my face. One day I'm talking to the Director of Residential Life, the next it's Chris Walla. Or, I go from reviewing an album to talking to someone who makes them.

My article is due before the weekend but I hope to have it finished by tomorrow night. I've got to do some serious organizing work, but I can't wait to write it.

Well, that's all I've got folks. It's been quite the day and I now plan on sleeping until my alarm goes off at 7:00 tomorrow morning and I drag my butt to class. I think I will never complain again. Life is pretty great.

Peace

A Word on Music Videos

Music videos can be pretty uninspired-- I think there's been a trend of filming on some dark sound stage with big colored lights or a giant screen in the background in the past few years. Think about it, "Speed of Sound," "Car Crash," "Somebody Told Me," and there are probably more. There's one video though, that I've been watching lately that's nothing like that. I think it was Papa Approximately who told me about "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel. It's a good song but I'm just mostly impressed by how they put together such intricate stop-motion animation before non-linear editing existed. Take a look. It's pretty cool.

Mmm...New iPods

Apple revealed the newest fleet of iPod nanos a couple of days ago. Admittedly, they look pretty sweet. I guess they're pros at making us all in to suckers for advertising. It's funny though, every year I feel a little older when the new generation rolls out, but realistically there's no logical reason to update on a yearly basis. Just after I bought my mini, Apple started making iPods with color screens and video capabilities and it really felt like there was a huge line between the new technology and my passé mini. Since then I don't think that there have been any monumental advances. Every year it's pretty much the same design stretched, compacted, and/or flatened. These babies have a few more tricks, like sideways album flow, Genius (a feature that puts together playlists of songs that go well together), and Shuffle activated by actually shaking the iPod. That last feature doesn't sound like a good idea. In fact, I can see it as being a real problem depending on how sensitive it is to the shakes. That's a Consumer Report waiting to happen.

Well, at least they're an attractive bunch. Odd years tend to be...eh, I've noticed, but the colors are so cranked up, you almost want to buy one just to look at it. The best part of all though, is definitely the price drop. $200 gets you 16GB. My mini cost that much for a fourth of the gigs. I think Steve Jobs robbed me. In any case, if I were to upgrade, this would probably be a good year to do it... I'm just waiting on that Consumer Report.

New Favourite Band: Their Hearts Were Full of Spring

I think I came to the realization a few months ago that the way I listen to music has changed completely. Gone are the days when new music trickled in every few months. I've got a turn around rate you wouldn't believe, yet I still get the distinct feeling that I'm missing something. It's a strange place to be because I've learned to immerse myself in an album or band and crank out a review/post in a week's time. Sure, it's a good skill, but it also means that so much is coming in, I hardly have time to dwell on anything long term, the way I used to when new music was harder to come by. I don't know if it's just my situation or maybe I just haven't heard anything in a while that has made a major impact.

That said, I've hit a bit of a break in the pattern-- thankfully. About a month ago, I came across the name of a band from the U.K. and followed a link to the MySpace of Their Hearts Were Full of Spring. Honestly, I was curious to see who dared take the name of a Four Freshmen song, notably covered by the Beach Boys, for their own. Of all the bands I've discovered in the past few months, THWFOS has had the greatest impact. I'm disinclined to bestow too many blessings, as I have said before, so I sat on this post for weeks to test how long they'd last on rotation. Not getting on my soap box has been the frustrating part. They're the kind of band that begs to be shared with everyone you know and I have certainly done my best to spread the word.

At this point I should probably tell you a bit why I think they're so great. There is something intrinsically positive about their music. I don't mean that in a weird, dopey way, I mean it in the way that the sun is bright and flowers are pretty. They're hearty yet delicate, using classical influences in modern contexts. All the little chimes and strings create a lovely and slightly refined sound. THWFOS tings, flutters, sparkles, dances, and shimmers subtle, quite beauty. The best example is "Instrumental 1," an airy two or so minutes that just radiate tranquility.

In case you are thinking they are some merry band of fairies, sprinkling pixie dust in their wake, that's not what I'm getting at. THWFOS is most definitely pop (orch pop, most accurately), but it's pop with a brain and more importantly, a soul. "A Question of Trust" is their anti-Tony Blair anthem, a really well-constructed song on all fronts that not only warns of getting swept up in politicians, but laments getting suckered in the first place. Obviously, by the time Blair left office he was wrecked in many ways, but THWFOS isn't bitter about it. They are elegant, peaceful yet opinionated, backed by handclaps and "ahhhs."

As for other terrific tracks, "New Favourite Band" is every single little tinge of excitement and joy you have when you discover a band that feels just right-- and it isn't even two minutes long. "Come on, into my airwaves, I love the way you make it vibrate, this could be as close as heaven will get for me." They balance so well wistfulness and romance without getting anywhere near sappiness.

I've read about their live shows, flowers taped to mic stands and ecleticism all around. They seem like they would be sensational. I don't know if I ever will see them live though. You see, they don't have a label, or even an LP. Sadness.

So, what I am saying to you is this, check these folks out. You won't be sorry and you've got to know that Jane Approximately doesn't put her hand in the fire for just anyone.

Besides, we could all use a little more pretty in our lives.

Peace

Spinal Tap and a Week Without Music

It occurred to me that it's been an entire week since my last post. Apologies. Sometimes TMI hits the perfect balance of nothing to write about and no time to do it. It's been a chaotic week, involving a move and such and there hasn't been a good opportunity to sit down, chill out, and listen to an album. I don't even think that Labor Day will afford me much down time. So, what happens in a week without music? A lot of little things which are normally punctuated by whatever is on Shuffle get lost in memory. Without music, the day-to-day seems colorless and bland. Also, I've found I'm hypersensitive to random songs getting stuck in my head at a moment's notice. It's a little like a blown circuit, fragments of speech triggering song association and that's pretty much all she wrote until the next intense little bout. Hopefully things will even out, at least they'd better because I've got two more reviews in the pipeline and I'm not about to turn in a) crap, b) late crap. Also, I vow never to to be further than a mile from my beloved iPod.

On a different note, last night I saw This is Spinal Tap, the frequently-referenced mockumentary on a fake 80s rock band from the U.K. It was completely absurd and therefore, right on the money. It doesn't really matter if the fashion sense of bands has changed, they still take themselves way too seriously and are forever at the mercy of knee-deep b.s., egotism, and the Yoko Onos of the world. It was a real riot and TMI highly recommends it if you have still managed not to see it. Something else worthy of note is that the actors (Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, etc.) all actually learned their instruments for the movie. That's pretty cool. As for the writing, you really have to pay attention or you'll miss so much.

Anyway, that's my deal. Hopefully September holds musical excitement (overly optimistic?). Ciao.

BEST QUOTE:

Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner): Do you feel that playing rock 'n' roll music keeps you a child? That is, keeps you in a state of arrested development?

Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer): No. No. No. I feel it's like, it's more like going, going to a, a national park or something. And there's, you know, they preserve the moose. And that's, that's my childhood up there on stage. That moose, you know.

Marty DiBergi: So when you're playing you feel like a preserved moose on stage?

Derek Smalls: Yeah.

Even More Coldplay

I kind of figured that after an album release, compulsory television appearances, and tour kick off, we wouldn't be hearing much about Coldplay until, say...2010. Silly me. It's still 2008, a mere two months after Viva la Vida's release and Coldplay is already eyeing 2009 for the release of their fifth album. Busy boys. Some talk has been that they want to link it to the greatest hits collection which their label requires of them. Here's the best part-- apparently Coldplay has plenty of material left over from all those Brian Eno sessions and just a little fine tuning would be in order. Fantastic, Vida refuse.

Anybody feeling a little over saturated? Ok, me neither, but I just can't imagine this new album being as cool or inspiring as much anticipation when the last gap between albums was three years. Also, does this mean stunted growth? Even Coldplay's biggest critics gave them some props for the effort and heavy Radiohead influence. I think most of what I heard people say was that if they kept working and heading in that direction, they might actually be considered "decent" among snobs. Obviously, I think they're already good but there's always room for improvement and I do believe they have the potential to keep refining, crafting, and pushing themselves to be truly first class. I don't know what Viva la Vida part 2 does to this progression. I guess we'll have to see. On the upside, this probably means a new tour and I very much hope that they don't skip over my city again.

Guitar Moron: I'm Really Not Surprised

Just about a year ago, I posted a healthy-sized rant on the absurdity of Guitar Hero and its potential negative repercussions. I talked about what a waste of time and effort it is, how it's a false sense of accomplishment, how people could be learning a real instrument instead, how it's the perfect manifestation of our instant gratification-based society. You know, the usual stuff.

Well, it looks like someone forgot to chain up the idiots again this morning. I saw this on Rolling Stone. Yes, that's right. There's a teenager who is dropping out of high school to become a professional Guitar Hero. So much for ambition. If he were an actual guitarist trying to drop out of school, I still wouldn't approve, but the fact that this amounts to playing video games for a living is about the most pointless and uncertain quest anyone could set out on. When will people realize that they're pushing plastic buttons?

Thirteen Minutes with MGMT

Well, hello there. Long time no see, but with all this Olympic business, who has time to do anything but speculate about Bob Costas's hair and marvel at how a hundredth of a second can actually matter?

Actually, it's just been a slow week with just two minor pieces of news. The Killers named their album Day and Age. Sounds terribly exciting. The other scrap is about MGMT. Apparently they've released a thirteen-minute song called "Metanoia." Rolling Stone sounds like they're ready to pee themselves with excitement. We'll see. So far it's only available on iTunes and a mere three minutes can be seen in a live version on a YouTube video. The quality of the video is not great so at this point it's hard to say if the song is anything more than discord. About a minute in my patience left me. The song is described as having a lot of different sections instead of the traditional verse-chorus. Oh, MGMT...

Golden Animals on Twisted Ear

Here is yet another review for your dining and dancing pleasure. The Golden Animals are all about the west (aren't we all?) and their disc will leave no doubt in your mind about it. Best of all, they win the prize for album title of the year: Free Your Mind and Win a Pony. Sign me up.

Coldplay: No Wonder He's Not King Anymore

It's funny how things work, just yesterday I was wondering when Coldplay was going to release a video for "Viva la Vida" and wouldn't you know it, they went and released two.

The first is reminiscent of the iTunes commercial, just replace the electric colors and coolness with dark, sludgy colors from "Liberty Leading the People," (the painting on the album cover) and goofy movements/expressions from Chris Martin. It was kind of a let down, but nonetheless, I thought surely the second video would be better.

Not so much. In this video, Martin walks around landmarks aimlessly, toting the framed "Liberty Leading the People" and dressed up like the creepy Burger King mascot, cheap ass crown and cape included. Martin strolls around trying to find a place for his painting and the rest of the band doesn't even show up until the end of the song. Strike two. I don't know if it was supposed to look that ridiculous...I don't know if that would help the situation. Oh well. Judge for yourself.

Killer's 3rd Slated for November

TMI has gotten wind that The Killers are liking November for releasing their third album. According to Rolling Stone, the band is working with Stuart Price, the producer largely responsible for Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor. Ew. Anyway, that's about the extent of the information...no album or track titles yet, but you've got to know that as soon as they hit, TMI's going to be all over it like synth on Hot Fuss. Stay Tuned.

Notes From the Brink of Destruction

While this horse is both dead and beaten, I did think this scary little chart from Rolling Stone was worth posting. In reality, there's little mystery left in the future (or lack thereof) of the CD. Enjoy this graph. 

Mélee on Twisted Ear

Happy Monday, folks. I had the pleasure of reviewing Mélee's Devils & Angels again, but for Twisted Ear this time. Seven months later and I'm still madly in love with this album. Check out my original review here and the new one here.  As always, stay tuned. Apparently "Built to Last" broke the top 20 in the U.K.