R.I.P. Jay Bennett (formerly of Wilco)

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2009/05/jay-bennett.html

This is a damn shame. Jay Bennett was a member of Wilco for the stretch of brilliance from Being There through Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. He came off as a complete prick and his departure from the band was featured in the Wilco documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, which I have a feeling was an unfair portrayal. Either way he was an absolutely brilliant musician and is a huge part of the three best Wilco albums ever recorded, including what I still think is the best album of this decade, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

RIP Jay.

I'm sure I'll spend most of the day listening to old Wilco and some of Bennett's solo stuff. First up: Summerteeth.

"Go back to sleep now, My darlin
And I’ll keep all the bad dreams away
Breathe now, think sweet things
And I’ll think of all the right words to say"

-Matt

Videos: White Rabbits & Grizzly Bear

A few things I've ran across this week that are worth watching.

I recently posted the first video from the new White Rabbits album here, the track is called 'Percussion Gun'. Then last week they played it live on Letterman and the song sounds fantastic in a live setting, check it out:




I know the Grizzly Bear hype has been a little intense, especially since the album still doesn't come out until this Tuesday, May 26th. Still, there are a couple of nice Grizzly Bear videos that have surfaced in the past few days. First is them performing 'All We Ask' for Black Cab Sessions, which is another great website if you have a few hours to waste. Enjoy:




Finally is the video for what may be the best song of the year, 'Two Weeks' (also check out their performance of this tune on Letterman from 9 months ago) . It's a bit creepy but enjoyable:



-Matt

Video: Sonic Youth 'Teenage Riot'

Wow, I can't believe I missed this last week. Sonic Youth has been a favorite band of mine for a long time. Out of all the Sonic Youth albums I've listened to, none are as great as Daydream Nation. The best track off their best album would easily be this tune, the album opener, 'Teenage Riot'. Here is Sonic youth on Later...With Jools Holland performing 'Teenage Riot' over 20 years after the song was originally recorded. The song and the band still sound amazing.



Don't forget that Sonic Youth will be in KC at the Uptown Theater on July 18th and their new album, The Eternal hits stores on June 9th.

-Matt

Concert Announcement: Neko Case

07/19/09 The Uptown Theater, Kansas City

I make no secret of my love for Neko Case (one of my dogs is named Neko, after Ms. Case) and it's not going to stop here. I stand by my comment that she is the greatest voice in modern music and possibly the second greatest female vocalist of all time behind Patsy Cline. You can see what I mean by checking her out at the Uptown Theater in KC on Sunday, July 19th. Tickets go on sale this Saturday and are only $25, however, you can pre-order tickets for the KC show HERE.

Neko Case Myspace

-Matt

Wilco (The Album) Cover Art

If you haven't heard yet, the new Wilco album, which comes out June 30th, is brilliantly titled Wilco (The Album), which just happens to kick off with the track 'Wilco (The Song). It's only natural that the album art follow in the vein of not taking themselves too seriously.

Enjoy:


Also, if you haven't been keeping up on your Wilco news then you haven't heard about former member Jay Bennett filing a lawsuit against Jeff Tweedy. Fun stuff.

-Matt

Video: White Rabbits - 'Percussion Gun'

New York City (by way of Columbia, MO) band White Rabbits are getting ready to release their second album, It's Frightening, on May 19th. The first single is the for 'Percussion Gun' which is the first song on the new record. The album isn't really doing it for me like the first one did, but this song is fantastic.

White Rabbits - 'Percussion Gun'




-Matt

New Music Tuesday: St. Vincent, Pink Mountaintops & more...

There are a crap-ton of great albums that come out today. I've recently been sucked into the world of checking out leaked albums months before they hit stores. I've been trying to keep my mouth shut about them here in respect to people that respect artist wishes and actually wait till an album is for sale and (gasp!) go purchase them at an actual store. However, I've been spinning all of these albums for a few weeks now and there are some gems that hit stores this morning. Here are the ones I can give solid recommendations for.

Pink Mountaintops - Outside Love

Most music fans are probably more familiar with the other band Sam Beam fronts, Black Mountain. I'm a big fan of Black Mountain's Sabbath-esque heaviness and it's something that's been mentioned HERE before (they even made my favorite shows of '08 list). Pink Mountaintops output up to this point had been a bit inconsistent. Outside Love however, hits on all levels and is one of my favorite albums so far this year. If Black Mountain is channeling Sabbath, Pink Mountaintops are definitely channeling Pink Floyd. It's moody, it's gloomy, it rocks and it grooves and covers about everything in between.

St. Vincent - Actor

I've already heard shouts of this being a favorite album of the year for many people but I didn't get it at first listen. This album is definitely a "grower" because after coming back to it a couple of weeks after first listen, I'm finally starting to get it. I'm still not sold on the fact that this album is better than Marry Me but it's certainly got it's high points. I could easily see this one getting higher on my best of list as the year goes on.




The Horrors - Primary Colours

God, I really want to hate this band. They essentially are in what seems to be a Joy Division cover band. I mean, look at these guys; they look like the Cure fans that Stan hangs out with in that episode of South Park where he's trying to be non-conformist. They are trying WAY too hard, and that makes me cringe. After listening to this album almost a dozen times, I have to say...it's fantastic. They are definitely influenced by Joy Division and that ilk, but I can't write them off as a cheap knock-off either. Front to back, this album doesn't have a weak track on it. Possibly the surprise album of the year for me so far.



Akron/Family - Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free

The only Akron/Family stuff I had previously heard reminded me of the whole 'freak-folk' genre that was big in the past few years. It sounded like what might have been a group of dudes, tripping on acid and playing guitars around a campfire (sort of like older Animal Collective albums). So, I approached this album with a bit of hesitation, but that feeling quickly subsided as I listened to one of the better albums of the year so far (I say that a lot, don't I?). Another one that goes from folk to metal to country in a span of three songs, but this album definitely has a cohesive feel to it. Another definite recommendation to pick up today.

There are a few other albums worth mentioning: Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band - Outer South and Fischerspooner - Entertainment both were released today. I'm not a fan of either album but since I've enjoyed both artists previous output, I thought I'd mention them as well.

-Matt

Covers: 'Sweet Jane'

It's dreary and unseasonably cold out today, it makes me want to listen to something mellow and depressing. I ran across this video today and it was just what I was looking for. The band is Cowboy Junkies and the cover is The Velvet Underground's 'Sweet Jane'. There is probably a pretty good chance you all have heard this one before, but it's still a fantastic cover song.

Cowboy Junkies - 'Sweet Jane':



Also, for good measure, there is The Velvet Underground's original version (who ever thought The VU's version of anything would be that happier sounding one?!?):




-Matt