Archive for March, 2007
The Kings of Leon are getting ready to release their 3rd disc, Because Of The Times. I first saw Kings of Leon back in ‘03 at The Double Door in Chicago. They were a group of dirtbags wearing jean jackets and not showing a high musical fortitude. Their album, Young & Youth Manhood was great but their live performance lacked.
Moving forward to Aha Shake Heartbreak; the album was vastly improved as was their live performance. I caught them at the Metro and the performance was tight and there was a buzz in the air. You knew that you were seeing something special. Somewhere between album one and two, they started banging models, wearing designer clothes and having songs placed in commercials and reality shows.
Which leads me to Because of The Times. On my first spin through, the album felt forced, almost as if they were trying to make a soundtrack or music for a commercial. It’s ironic because I heard the album through a buddy who had received an advanced copy because he works at an ad agency. It kinda pissed me off. What had happened to my dirtbag sons of a preacher from Tennessee?
I have been listening Because of the Times repeatedly since my first listen. Its streaming on their myspace page and I have been trying to learn to love it. While I still think it doesn’t hold a candle to Aha, it has grown on me. There are a number of really good tunes such as “On Call”, “True Love Way”, “Black Thumbnail” and the 7 minute epic, opening track “Knocked Up.”
I think the main problem is that I had huge expectations. I expected those catchy hooks and snappy choruses that give me immediate enjoyment. There are some bands, however, that I am willing to work for in order to enjoy their music. I just never expected Kings of Leon to be one of them.
Apparently, in addition to sporting sweet duds and scoring more strange than they know what to do with, the boys have also grown musically. Good for them. I guess it would get boring churning out the same formula time and time again. Bottom line: its a good album that gets better with time. Just be prepared to work a bit for the payoff.
Kings of Leon - Black Thumbnail (Courtesy of Born by the River)
Kings of Leon - My Third House (B-side track, again courtesy of Born by the River)
You can now stream the new album, Because of the Times, at Kings of Leon’s Myspace page. Woody got his hands on the album a couple weeks ago and will have a review forthcoming.
They say imitation is the best form of flattery, so with a compliment to SI’s NFL guru Peter King, here are 15 things we think we think about SXSW 2007:
We think more bands should wear masks. Gracias de Los Straightjackets.
We think more bands should wear matching, personalized sweatsuits. Kudos to DATAROCK.
We think Trainwreck […]
If you like The Magic Numbers and all their harmonizing but wished they rocked just a bit harder, then I have the band for you - The Parson Red Heads. Apparently everybody in Parsons Redheads is related or grew up with each other. If you check their MySpace page, they all have the Parson stage name and for all I know they wear black Nikes and purple shrouds, and you know what? I could care less. This is a phenomenal album that really showcases the California folk scene.
Evan Way is the lead Parson and has a wonderful voice that would fit in well on any 60’s compilation. Surrounded by the 4 piece harmonies and fantastic backing band, it will have you thinking of Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Byrds and other 60’s psychedelic folk acts. With each spin I find little nuances that make me enjoy it more than the previous listen.
For me, the best song on the disc is hands down, “Forever.” Other stand-out tracks include “Full Moon,” “Mossback” & “Punctual As Usual.”
Fire them up and let the warm, soulful sounds put a smile on your face.
Discovering any good footage of SXSW performances has been a challenge, but I’ll post the nuggets I find. Here’s a good one from the Vegan party we keep speaking so highly of.
The Fratellis - “Cigarello” Live @ SXSW
Here’s a smattering of MP3’s from the bands we saw at SXSW, pilfered from blogs found on http://www.elbo.ws.
Okkervil River - Our Life is Not a Movie (Live at SXSW)
Okkervil River - The President’s Dead (Live at SXSW)
Okkervil River - For Real (Live at SXSW)
The Mooney Suzuki - This Broken Heart of Mine
The Mooney Suzuki - […]
Tom Morello (The Nightwatchman) or The Nightwatchman (Tom Morello)?
1 Comment Published by oz March 26th, 2007 in Music Video, SXSW 2007.When I first woke up in the morning at SXSW 2007, I picked up the SXSW insert from the Austin Chronicle and noticed an interview with Tom Morello. He had several solo, acoustic performances at the festival under his new moniker, “The Nightwatchman.” Interestingly enough, I never saw The Nightwatchman printed without (Tom […]
The Interface on AOL features Midlake right now, with the following tracks.
Chasing After Deer
We Gathered in Spring
Midlake on the Interface
I also bumped into an MP3 by my new favorite hip-hop artist, El-P. His album, I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead, is out now.
El-P - Smithereens Stop Crying
At SXSW I was hanging out with the Michael Winger, the San Francisco music producer that recommended AJ Roach to me a few weeks ago. I found out that he had also produced one of my favorite albums, Lucky by San Francisco’s Four Year Bender (Michael is the guy with his head turned in the picture above).
It’s not a new album (2004), but it’s the type of album you’ll continue to pull out of your vault to help soothe whatever ails you. Four Year Bender won’t push any new boundaries with their music, but the songs are well written and they have soul. It’s the type of music you listen to barefoot on your back porch. Give it a listen. If possible, sit in a rocking chair… with a glass of bourbon.
SXSW 2007 Day Three - Galactic w/ Lyrics Born, Ferraby Lionheart, DATAROCK, The Fratellis, Trainwreck Riders, Earl Greyhound
3 Comments Published by oz March 22nd, 2007 in MP3's, SXSW 2007.Okay, so Galactic was on day two after El-P, but I didn’t have the picture ready until now. Woody checked them out before falling asleep standing up again. Wait a second… that show was at 1:00am, so it was technically day three.
Day three was our best day of SXSW 2007 thanks to NY2LON, […]
