The Indie Thread

[nadroj1985]

The Decemberists just played on Conan O'Brien. Now I really wish I was going to Intonation. Somebody better go see them play so I can experience them vicariously through you.

You must see them. They're probably the best entertainers among the indie acts I've seen.

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

everything... except for CF...? lol

haha, yes, pretty much. i didn't have very high expectations when i joined this board, so i didn't take my username very seriously. that and i'm really bored of using "goodeveningsun" all the time. well...and jael was wicked cool.

any of you guys have any opinions on the raveonettes? a friend of mine gave me their cd for my birthday, and i don't really have very high expectations, but i'm kind of hoping maybe i'm wrong.

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

I'd be interested in hearing what you think of Psychology.

I've had it for a while now and I am really overdue writing up a review for it, but I can't decide if I like it or not. Part of me really wants to enjoy it (and there are times where I can see the glimpses of what made twothirtyeight great), but another part of me finds parts of it a little bland.

Eh, I don't know. All I'm sure of is that if I don't get something in writing soon Julia's going to unleash her wrath on me via angry e-mail.

two weeks later..

i like it. i've still only listened to the album about twice, though. i don't think it's up to par with his previous work, but i still just enjoy chris staples' music. the songs really translated well live. the songs are catchy on the album, but so much more when you hear them played. i'm not sure why that is. i could see why you'd think the album was bland, though. or maybe not bland, exactly, but it certainly doesn't pull you back for more like it ought to. it may grow on me, yet, though. thinking back, i didn't get into any of his albums right when i got them. i really like the solo album now, but i didn't listen to it ever for the first seven or so months that i owned it. did you like it ("blackest hair, bluest eyes" i think was the name of the album)?

 

[Arnold_Philips]

SO HOW WAS INTONATION, JORDAN?

 

[nadroj1985]

SO HOW WAS INTONATION, JORDAN?

It'd be pretty much impossible to let you know anywhere near all of what happened, but I'll hit a few highlights.

Best acts of the festival:

1) Broken Social Scene- This was the one I was looking forward to the most going in, and they pretty much delivered in every way I could want them to, excepting that they didn't play "Pacific Theme." But they did play "Cause = Time," the climax of which was just so brilliant and sublime that I might call it my favorite moment of the weekend. We also had a little fun with their producer (his name slips my mind) who told us a story of getting beat up by NY cops the night before for getting caught with marijuana. His eyes were completely black and blue.

2) Andrew Bird- Good grief, I wasn't ready for this one. I've had "The Mysterious Production of Eggs" for awhile and liked it, but it turns into a whole new beast when he plays it live. Bird's a wonderful musician, on violin and guitar, and he is an absolutely astounding whistler. I can't possibly convey to you the eerie, ethereal feeling of hearing a whistle/xylophone duet over the prettiest rock music you've ever heard. Too good.

3) The Wrens- I'd been meaning to check these guys out for a long time, and just never had gotten around to it; now it's time, because they were really brilliant live. They can rock out, but in a much more understated way; they're really quite good at giving texture to their music (I found myself thinking of OK Computer at times while listening) and they really have a feel for creating a mood and doing something interesting with it. Also, during a song whose name I don't know because I wasn't a Wrens fan before this, they had a few members from the front row of the crowd to come up to the stage and drum on the stage floor along with the band; my friend (who I'm sure will mention this and other interesting tidbits about Intonation for the next few days at his blog ) was among them. Rumor has it the band were shooting a DVD of this show, so my friend will almost certainly be in it, and I was close enough to the front that I'd bet I'll be in it as well, at least in passing.

Not the best, but surprisingly good:

Prefuse 73- Danceworthy, just a hell of a lot of fun, and I could watch the lead drummer for hours. Good stuff.

Out Hud- Also very danceworthy; much groovier and long-winded than Prefuse, which can be a good thing if you're in the right mood, which I was. I for one enjoyed it even more than Prefuse, but they were both great.

Death From Above 1979- the most energetic set of the festival, most likely (this or Les Savy Fav, which I couldn't get close to). I was stuck between two mosh pits for the whole show, so I was constantly swaying back and forth. I usually think of bands like this as harlots; people pay you to play loud music so they can let out their primal urges. But, they were still pretty musical on top of it. They're still harlots, but musical harlots.

Disappointments

The Decemberists- Part of the reason they're here is because I couldn't get close to them, because I was an idiot, but we won't get into that. Beyond that, though, the setlist was a ****** live one. I like "Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect" and "Los Angeles, I'm Yours" as much as the next guy, but they don't get played live usually for a reason. And the "Chimbley Sweep" was relatively boring this time, and they closed with "Mariner's Revenge Song." Meh. No "Tain," no "California One." It was still good, but not up to their standards.

A. C. Newman- He's just boring. And he had a tuning problem during the first song, and decided it would be a good idea to play the stupid thing all over again once he'd fixed the problem. Gah.

Ones I missed but wish I'd seen:

Tortoise- After DFA1979, me and the guys were dead tired, and we couldn't get near the front anyway, so we skipped out on Tortoise and went back to sleep. I later heard that their set was amazing. Oh well.

Go! Team- Gahhh, this is the one that kills me. I had to miss these guys to stake out a spot up front for BSS, and from what I saw from across the park, GT might have put on the set of the festival. Energetic as hell, and the whole crowd from front to back was really into it. During their closer, they brought some Chicago kids from a park across the street to dance on stage with them. Freaking crazy.

Magnolia Electric Co.- None of my friends were fans of them, so we didn't get close to these guys. They didn't play any songs I knew anyway, so I wasn't too upset about this one. But they played a good set from what I heard.

Four Tet- Another I really wish I could have seen, but couldn't because of getting BSS spots. The Four Tet-BSS-Go! Team lineup was killer; it would've been impossible to have gotten through it without missing some of them.

All in all, a great festival. Looking forward to P-fork putting on another one next year.

 

[charmtrap]

2) Andrew Bird- Good grief, I wasn't ready for this one. I've had "The Mysterious Production of Eggs" for awhile and liked it, but it turns into a whole new beast when he plays it live. Bird's a wonderful musician, on violin and guitar, and he is an absolutely astounding whistler. I can't possibly convey to you the eerie, ethereal feeling of hearing a whistle/xylophone duet over the prettiest rock music you've ever heard. Too good.

He's fantastic. HAven't caught him live yet, but I hope to soon. 'Fake Palindromes' has become one of my favorite songs.

Go! Team- Gahhh, this is the one that kills me. I had to miss these guys to stake out a spot up front for BSS, and from what I saw from across the park, GT might have put on the set of the festival. Energetic as hell, and the whole crowd from front to back was really into it. During their closer, they brought some Chicago kids from a park across the street to dance on stage with them. Freaking crazy.

I'm seeing them this Wednesday. I've been really looking forward to it, and now I'm looking forward to it even more.

Four Tet- Another I really wish I could have seen, but couldn't because of getting BSS spots. The Four Tet-BSS-Go! Team lineup was killer; it would've been impossible to have gotten through it without missing some of them.

Oh too bad. He's wonderful live. Personally, I would've rather seen him than all the Broken Social Scene's you could pile on (since I don't like BSS much )

 

[nadroj1985]

He's fantastic. HAven't caught him live yet, but I hope to soon. 'Fake Palindromes' has become one of my favorite songs.

Yeah, that one is great. Hope and pray that he plays "Capital I" as well (or maybe it's just "I" -- I forget). Either way, it's brilliant. And expect it to be much different from the album, he mixes his arrangements and especially the sung melodies a lot for his live set. Makes it hard to sing along, but also gives it an air of spontaneity that makes the whole thing more fun, IMO.

I'm seeing them this Wednesday. I've been really looking forward to it, and now I'm looking forward to it even more.

Urgh... I've got to find a way to see them sometime now. The album is wonderful.

 

[blackwasp]

I usually think of bands like this as harlots; people pay you to play loud music so they can let out their primal urges. But, they were still pretty musical on top of it. They're still harlots, but musical harlots..

^ I'm writing this down.

Did BSS play "Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl"? That is one of my favorite songs in recent years. Did The Decemberists play "Red Right Ankle" or "July, July!"? I've been wearing out "Castaways and Cutouts" recently. Would "Her Majesty" be the next best investment?

Weren't The Fiery Furnaces going to play at Intonation initially?

*End of interrogation. Bummed about missing the shows.

 

[philN]

Would "Her Majesty" be the next best investment?

Most people would probably say yes. I've been really impressed with Picaresque lately though. I know I am in the minority (most people say that Picaresque is good, but not as good as the others), but I think it holds it's own in comparison to the others. The EP is really good too.

 

[memoryroad]

bright eyes owns indie music, clearly.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

^scoffscoffscoff

 

[charmtrap]

Most people would probably say yes. I've been really impressed with Picaresque lately though. I know I am in the minority (most people say that Picaresque is good, but not as good as the others), but I think it holds it's own in comparison to the others. The EP is really good too.

I'm coming around to this actually. I think I like Picaresque a bit better as an album than Her Majesty, though Her Majesty has some of their best individual moments ("I Was Meant For The Stage", "Billy Liar", "The Soldiering Life".) It just feels more cohesive overall.

 

[nadroj1985]

Did BSS play "Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl"? That is one of my favorite songs in recent years.

Yep, that was one of the highlights. In fact, a friend of mine recorded that one with his digital camera. I'm not sure how well it came out, though.

Did The Decemberists play "Red Right Ankle" or "July, July!"?

Yep, both. I love those, too

I've been wearing out "Castaways and Cutouts" recently. Would "Her Majesty" be the next best investment?

Absolutely. Don't listen to phil Seriously, though, if you want my opinion, Picaresque doesn't hold a candle to Her Majesty. But neither is as good as C&C.

You should get Her Majesty if only to hear the greatest Decemberists song in existence, "The Gymnast, High Above the Ground."

Weren't The Fiery Furnaces going to play at Intonation initially?

I was wondering if I was the only one who remembered that. Yeah, they were, or at least I'm pretty sure they were. I've already seen them once, but I wouldn't have minded at all seeing them again; they were wonderful.

*End of interrogation. Bummed about missing the shows.

Well, there's always next year....

 

[blackwasp]

Well, there's always next year....

Let's hope.

I was in Milan this past weekend, and actually went to see a movie in Newport. It's the first time I've actually been around Newport, and I was impressed. I think I heard somewhere that Sufjan's playing at the Southgate House (if I remembered the name of the venue correctly) in Septemberish. If so, I plan on going (tentatively).

 

[nadroj1985]

Yep, Southgate House on September 14. I'll absolutely be there -- I've been looking forward to that one for awhile. Southgate's a good venue, too, with a lot of good memories for me.... *nadroj daydreams of past Yo La Tengo, Decemberists, Fiery Furnaces shows*

 

[nadroj1985]

OK, this might just be my imagination, but did someone say something early on in this thread about a new Castanets album coming up? I'm too lazy to look through the whole thread, but I remember it vaguely. I finally got "Cathedral," and it's a masterpiece, and I'm already looking forward to the next one

I also just found out that the Castanets came to Lexington over the weekend and I had to miss them. Gah.

 

[philN]

Yeah. I mentioned it a little while ago. They have a new album called What Kind of Cure that is due out pretty soon. It leaked on Soulseek already, so I've had it for about a week or so now. I've only listened to it a few times, but I like it. Alot. I'm not sure if I like it more than Cathedral or not yet; it's a little soon to tell. But I think that they have been really underrated in the indie community, aside from the occasional nod from Pitchfork.

 

[philN]

did you like it ("blackest hair, bluest eyes" i think was the name of the album)?

I never heard his solo album. My knowledge of his work is solely based on his twothirtyeight material, which I enjoyed a fair amount.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

What Kind of Cure is the new one. I got it from philN offa Soulseek.

I've listened to it several times through now, and I can safely say it's practically the same as Cathedral. Not as dark, and a little longer though (not hard considering the other one was just 33min). I really liked how murky and claustrophobic Cathedral was, but this is just as enjoyable IMO.

 

[philN]

My initial reaction was similar. I thought it basically sounded like Cathedral: Part II. But I'm starting to pick up on little things that do distinguish it from Cathedral.

If I'm not mistaken What Kind of Cure is actually a re-issue of Raymond Raposa's first album that was just distributed to friends via CDR. I could be wrong, but I thought I remembered reading that.