Matt Hopper recently shot a short documentary on The Church. It features a great interview with Marty at Melbourne's Greville Records & some of their performance at The Corner Hotel in December '09.
http://www.inframe.tv/filmproject.aspx?id=23
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
LIVE: Phoenix, January 24, 2010, Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
Crystal Ballroom’s historic floating floor was already bouncing well before Phoenix hit the stage, with 1,500 people buzzing with anticipation. It had been nearly 4 years and one huge breakthrough album, 2009’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, since they had played Portland. That show was at the Wonder Ballroom, with a capacity of 700. Phoenix had easily doubled its audience since then.
From the opening notes of “Lisztomania,” the band was on fire and the crowd was in a rapturous frenzy. Phoenix had a punch to them that just doesn’t come across in any other medium but a live show. Even their quieter songs had an extra energy to them. The band had pulsating rectangular white lights behind them that, at times, made them look like black shadowy figures on stage. Combining infectious beats, catchy songs, throbbing lights and the bouncing floor, and you have all the ingredients for a memorable night. “Lasso,” the third song of their set, was a catchy sing-along and it really ought to be their next single. For a generation of people that have almost no attention span for full albums any more, this audience was singing along to even the more obscure tracks. It shows how blogs and downloading (legal and illegal) have become the medium by which people discover bands. In early 2009, Phoenix had made their track “1901” a free download on their website, and by summer it was a hit. Of course, it probably didn’t hurt to also have the song in a Cadillac commercial either.
Phoenix’s set list covered all 4 of their releases, but well over half the set was dedicated to their most recent release. About the midway point of their show they played the gorgeous, nearly 8 minute “Love Like a Sunset.” Ironically (or probably not), this is also the centerpiece of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. This was a concert that could have kept going and the audience would have stayed all night. The band stepped off for a brief break, and then came back with “Playground Love” that was accompanied with just guitar. With their final song, Phoenix stormed through an absolutely raucous version of “1901” that left everyone hoping it’s not another 4 years before they play Portland again.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Revisiting: Love and Rockets "Hot Trip to Heaven"
Love and Rockets' Hot Trip to Heaven came out in 1994, four years after their breakout hit "So Alive." Instead of trying to build on their growth in popularity, they produced a house/ambient record that confused the bandwagon jumpers. Hot Trip didn't resonate for recent converts, but for longtime followers, it was a chance to hear the band grow. Arguably, this record derailed their career in regards to sales, but it didn't mean they quit producing some great music.1994 saw the releases of Green Day's Dookie, and Soundgarden's Superunknown. It was also the year of Blur's Parklife and Oasis's debut Definitely Maybe. Dance/electronic music was going strong with Stereo MC's breaking out with "Connected" and M People winning the Mercury Prize (best album in the UK). What Stereo MC's and M People had though were catchy songs. Hot Trip took another path.
Whereas L&R's previous musical output was pretty immediate, Hot Trip required patience. Track one, "Body and Soul," is 14:16 in length and drums don't really kick in until the halfway mark. If anything, it was apparent this was indeed going to be a trip. Revisiting this record shows the band was ready for a change. Possibly, all the club-hopping during their world tours showed them the ecstasy of a blissed-out crowed. Or maybe it was just the ecstasy.
There is a lot to like about this record. The hypnotic, at times tribal drumming of Kevin Haskins is a welcome addition to the L&R sound. The electronic and ambient elements of the music swirls around the vocals of David J and Daniel Ash, yet never smothers them. A few of the songs do tend to meander or revisit the same sections over and over (of Hot Trip's 10 tracks, 7 clock in at over five minutes. Even the shorter songs are never really in a verse-chorus-verse format). Yet when listened as a whole it reveals itself as a cool trip to take with a band you already liked. This wasn't like U2 doing "Pop," thus becoming a bandwagon jumper of a genre. This was Love and Rockets embracing a genre, not losing their identity, and making it their own.
Take the time to revisit Love and Rockets' Hot Trip to Heaven.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Quick hits on '09 top albums: Bad Lieutenant
Bad Lieutenant - "Never Cry Another Tear"Now that New Order are broken up (again), it's good to hear Bernard Sumner's voice. Also joining him are New Order drummer Stephen Morris and their latter-day touring guitarist Phil Cunningham. Comparisons to their past legendary band are inevitable especially since Bernie sings most tracks. This album is more guitar-based with a few electronics sprinkled in here and there. The most New Order-sounding track is "Poisonous Intent" which sounds like an outtake from Technique. Lead vocals on a couple songs are handled by Jake Evans (at times sounding like Noel Gallagher). A few lines by Bernie seem lazy, but that's always been the case. Though minus Peter Hook, Bad Lieutenant sound just fine.
Key Tracks:
Sink or Swim
Twist of Fate
Running out of Luck
Runaway
Higher Wider Deeper" (Japanese Bonus Track)
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
free new single from Boy Eats Drum Machine
Jon Ragel of Boy Eats Drum Machine is one of Portland's great artists.
http://boyeatsdrummachine.bandcamp.com/track/hoop-wire?autoplay=true
http://boyeatsdrummachine.bandcamp.com/track/hoop-wire?autoplay=true
Top 15 Albums of 2009
welcome to "a year inside my head."
*Bad Lieutenant - "Never Cry Another Tear" [good to hear Bernard Sumner & the rest of New Order again. minus Peter Hook though]
*Black Room - "Pop Noir"
*The Church - "Untitled #23" (+ "Coffee Hounds" EP & "Pangea" EP) [worked their tour in North America and Australia]
*Depeche Mode - "Sounds of the Universe" [saw them at Red Rocks in '09. amazing!]
*Franz Ferdinand - "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand" [the dub release was great too]
*Friendly Fires - "Friendly Fires" (Deluxe Edition) [easily the best show i saw in '09 w/ The xx]
*The Mary Onettes - "Islands"
*Miike Snow - "Miike Snow"
*Phoenix - "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"
*Red Light Company - "Fine Fascination"
*stellastarr* - "Civilized"
*Tiger City - "Ancient Lover"
*White Lies - "To Lose My Life"
*The xx - "The xx"
*Zoot Woman - "Things Are What They Used To Be"
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