It’s Blitz was promoted as a more electronic sound, but while I hear that influence – it still sounds like the same Yeah Yeah Yeahs to me – and that’s a good thing. I think their image makes people dismiss them, but YYY has quietly become one of the best indie bands around, and while people want to talk about acts like Grizzly Bear or Andrew Bird this year, Yeah Yeah Yeahs are doing their own thing and doing it well.
Definitely get the deluxe version – the acoustic versions are better in most cases than the original.
I was late on my Best of 2008, but I’m catching up on my mid-year report. This will be an ongoing feature, so come back – subscribe to my RSS feed – and share your comments.
Maybe my favorite this year – Metric is a Canadian band that is associated with Broken Social Scene, along with artists like Feist and Jason Collett among others. Sometimes they come off as a more indie sounding Elastica. Excellent grooves – catchy melodies. Fantasies goes well with Yeah Yeah Yeah’s It’s Blitz of for a good party mix.
My Favorite tracks: Help Me I’m Alive, Sick Muse, Satellite Mind, Gold Gun Girls
There’s a good reason why I didn’t do this earlier. Last year I lost my commute via public transportation. I didn’t give all the albums I got the same listen I used to. So I didn’t feel right judging them. After being laid off, I’ve had more time to ruminate. I know you’ve been waiting. The lack of A Rubber Door’s official recommendation is the one thing I can point to hurting the music industry this year.
I promise to make it up – the best of 2009 is coming within the week.
I’m really sorry this is as low as 13. I didn’t give it as much time as it deserved. Still – it’s a great album, and I’ve been devoting more and more time to it.
Honestly without M. Ward – this may not make the list. More Him, less She (Zoey Deschanel). And he listened – a new M. Ward album this year. (OK – I just relistened to You Really Got a Hold On Me – maybe it was the right amount of She)
My Favorites: Why Do You Let Me Stay Here, You Really Got a Hold On Me
I’m anxiously awaiting the new album Fantasies, coming out next week and hopefully seeing them here in Philly soon. The new album will go well with the new Yeah Yeah Yeah album.
Very rarely do I hear a song and go wow. (No Grace, not Bananarama).
Truly love Hysteric (iTunes) from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I haven’t been able to give Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ new album Zero the good go around, but it’s been getting great reviews. I ignored those reviews the last time, and turned out to be my mistake.
Last night we saw M. Ward at the Trocadero here in Philadelphia. There are very few shows that I’ve attended where I’ve looked back and said “I was there when”. They seem to all take place at the Troc. Radiohead and Belly in 1993 and Elliott Smith in 1998 are the two that immediately come to mind. Last night reminded of the first time I saw Elliott Smith (iTunes) play. At the time Elliot was coming off of the release of XO which followed up on his commercial breakthrough which was his soundtrack for the movie Goodwill Hunting. That night I almost didn’t go. I was supposed to go with a girl that I was interested in and she bailed on me. I vacillated between going by myself and staying at home – I decided to stay at home but turned on the television only to see Bill Clinton giving a speech. I turned off the TV and made a mad dash to Center City. It wasn’t quite filled, but it wasn’t empty and all of the fans there walked away amazed. I even met a girl there making the decision to go alone all the more fortuitous. Quite a special night.
Last night was very similar in feel. I was there with my girl – this time my wife Kristen. After last year’s She & Him (iTunes) project with Zoey Deschanel, M. Ward has released the gorgeous album Hold Time (iTunes). Like Smith, Ward has done a lifetime of attention deserving work before people were paying attention. They’re really paying attention now. I’ve seen some major acts at the Troc – Radiohead, Pavement, The Lemonheads at their height – all shows were well attended, last night’s sold out show was the most crowded I remember attending (a scary proposition for those of you familiar with the Troc. Thank god that Ward isn’t really a pyrotechnics type of act.) It started with just him and his guitar for three songs. The crowed was transfixed, mouths agape, as if trying the breathe in the music. M. Ward’s voice is like Tom Wait’s prior to Wait swallowing razor blades. The right amount of personality without going too far. You’re never hearing the voice over the song. Then Ward’s band came out and ran through a 90 minute set that pulled from all 6 of his solo releases.
My only disappointment was that opening act Vivian Girls didn’t translate well live. All distortion and all of their songs literally and figuratively ran together. They’re style is similar to a number of bands from the early 90′s that were better.
All in all – I wish all shows I attend would be like this, but then again, when everything is special, nothing is. Friday night was special.
I can’t remember where I originally picked this band up – maybe on Sirius’ awesome radio station CBC 3 out of Canada. I’m liking Langhorne Slim’s self-titled album. Not sure how to describe him – but he fits in with people who like Spoon or Okerville River. Great instrumentation – fun album.
It’s Blitz was promoted as a more electronic sound, but while I hear that influence – it still sounds like the same Yeah Yeah Yeahs to me – and that’s a good thing. I think their image makes people dismiss them, but YYY has quietly become one of the best indie bands around, and while people want to talk about acts like Grizzly Bear or Andrew Bird this year, Yeah Yeah Yeahs are doing their own thing and doing it well.
