Coming in... 2009?!?

[bloop]

The band is in their mid 30s.  I can only take so much perpetual adolescence. 

I'll agree that it was forced at times, but I also think they are a better band for it.  I'm not sure about its status as a "landmark album", so I'm not going to defend it but so far.  If you didn't like it, cool, whatever.

[spacebrat311]

I don't think perpetual adolescence suits anyone, but I don't think that American Idiot is any less adolescent than any of their other work. It simply sounds like preteens attempting to sound older and smarter than they actually are by getting mirthy and opinionated. And that to me is a far more obnoxious form of adolescence than the alternative.

[bloop]

Hmm . . . it definitely appeals to adolescents, but they pretty much listen to anything Mtv and rock radio tells them to attend to.  Generally, I didn't find the songs to be in a state of arrested development, so I don't know what to say.  My experience isn't lining up with yours here.  The music itself is actually pretty similar to Green Day's signature sound.

At any rate, am I right to note that neither of us have heard a single note of their forthcoming album?

[Ian]

I agree with spacebrat, but I also think the music is for the most part near the top of the genre, so it's a trade-off I'm willing to make most of the time.

[murlough23]

I have no basis for comparison. American Idiot is the only Green Day album I've ever listened to. In general I'm not a fan of the pop/punk style, so if I like a band that belongs to that genre, they're probably big sellouts or something.

[spacebrat311]

I don't have a particular problem with the music as far as pop punk goes, but I'm not invested enough in pop punk for that to make up for some of the most mind-numbingly patronizing lyrics I've ever heard outside of a bottom of the barrel CCM album. The only difference is WHO the lyrics are pandering to.

[murlough23]

I guess I don't see the lyrics on AI that way at all. There is a bit too much cussing for my tastes, but looking at what the songs are really about, I think there's some keen observation (as bloop mentioned) couched in what might seem like the typical "middle finger to the system" stuff that you'd expect from the genre. I take it as much more of a cautionary tale about what happens when we let panic and religion run the government, and commercialism becomes our religion. In that way it's kind of like U2's Pop.

However, I'll grant that I'm probably reading more into it than what may have been Green Day's intention. So we'll see how the next album holds up. I'm excited but also cautious, because I have heard that some of the new songs are pretty harsh toward religion. (A lot of AI could be taken as an attack on Christianity, but I kind of saw the "Jesus of Suburbia" character as being a natural outgrowth of the weak and wimpy version of Christianity taught in a lot of comfy, suburbian American churches.)

NP: "Lose Control", House of Heroes

[spacebrat311]

I don't think you're reading things into it that aren't there. I just don't think any of those things are particularly difficult or original concepts, or that they are expressed in any way more nuanced and subtle than said "middle finger to the system".

[murlough23]

I just don't think any of those things are particularly difficult or original concepts

I don't expect music to express entirely new sociological ideologies to me. For the most part, it's all exploring the same human condition, and for the most part, the same Western world society. Because of that, I pay more attention to how those thoughts are expressed, and for me, it was presented in a way that made me go, "Hmmm, that's an interesting way of putting it." I mean, you can say, "Christianity in the 21st century is hypocritical" and detail a bunch of its problems in plain language, or you can write a whole story full of recurring characters like St. Jimmy and Whatsername. I prefer the latter approach. It has its flaws, but for the most part I truly enjoyed it.

or that they are expressed in any way more nuanced and subtle than said "middle finger to the system".

The beginning of it found its rebellious characters saying, "middle finger to the system". Then they either grew too apathetic to care about the system being screwed-up, or they blew their brains out because they couldn't handle it. There's an interesting lesson in there somewhere.

NP: "In the Valley of the Dying Sun", House of Heroes

[murlough23]

Iron & Wine has a B-sides & rarities collection called Around the Well due out May 19. In addition to the expected "Trapeze Swinger" and Postal Service cover "Such Great Heights", it looks like the 2-disc collection will also include covers of Stereolab (Peng! 33) and The Flaming Lips (Waitin' for a Superman). I have no idea whether the sound will be more like his early stuff or the more complex stuff on The Shepherd's Dog, though given that a lot of this stuff was recorded over the course of several years, I'm assuming it'll be a hodgepodge of full-scale "wall of sound" and old-school 4-track, and everything in between.

NP: "Kiss Me", Sixpence None the Richer

[bloop]

The middle finger transcends generations.  Lesson learned.

[NinjaRob17]

I'm not sure if I should take this terribly seriously, but it seems as if we may have a new Neon Horse album this summer.

Yes, indeedy, the Horse has returned.

The Now-Mixed Yer Busy Little Beehive will be up briefly, followed by new bits n' pieces.
Haunted Horse - Songs of Love And Devotion drops this summer!
More to come, including the Norman Horse Good Time Gospel Hour. (You'll have to make the jump sooner or later, why not join Facebook now so you can sign up when ol' Normy-Poo gets his act together?)

THE HORSE RIDES AGAIN!

That album title has me second-guessing the validity of this news, however. Darn Neon Horse and their crazy antics.

[Aaron]

Mark and Jason must be bored.

[Ian]

New Mars Volta in June.  Supposedly they've already finished the next record as well, so we could have two TMV albums this year.  Omar is one hell of a busy guy.

[dgp11776]

Sleeping at Last is in the studio preparing what they hope to be an August release.

[Josh]

I assume you all heard about the, ahem, new Sufjan Stevens album that was announced yesterday.

[Brenden]

I feel confident in believing any album news released April 1st.

[murlough23]

I assume you all heard about the, ahem, new Sufjan Stevens album that was announced yesterday.

Now that's just cruel. Don't tease me like that, man.

The funny this is, I made up a bunch of fake song titles before Illinois came out, and a few of 'em turned out to not be too different from the actual song titles on the album.

[Josh]

Yeah, the Delaware titles are, in fact, totally believable! If he ever actually does Delaware, though-- which I highly doubt he will-- then I hope he includes a song title with a reference to Joe Biden. "Biden My Time in Dover," or something.

[murlough23]

Yeah, the Delaware titles are, in fact, totally believable! If he ever actually does Delaware, though-- which I highly doubt he will-- then I hope he includes a song title with a reference to Joe Biden. "Biden My Time in Dover," or something.

That will be Palin in comparison to the titles he'll come up with for the Alaska album.

[bloop]

Record Store Day, April 18

Huh what?!

[Ian]

I just found out that Balmorhea has had a new album out this year called All Is Wild, All Is Silent.  I am d/ling now, and am very excited... River Arms was in my top ten last year, and I don't expect a let down from this album.

edit: Also Porcupine Tree in September

[ajyouthguy]

Wow, this is unbelievable...Stellar Kart has a whopping 3 albums, none of which is very good, and yet they have a 'best of' coming out later this month, with SEVENTEEN songs no less.  wow. 

[Aaron]

Wow, this is unbelievable...Stellar Kart has a whopping 3 albums, none of which is very good, and yet they have a 'best of' coming out later this month, with SEVENTEEN songs no less.  wow. 

Yep..They definitely are one of the worst bands out there signed on a significant label.

[Ian]

New Menomena coming sometime this year... definitely worth getting excited about! :D

Also new Shugo Tokumaru EP is out called Rum Hee.  Haven't listened yet, but last year's Exit was my favorite album of the year, so this is sure to be good.

[bloop]

The Beatles remasters, due out 9-09.  Clever.

(sorry vinylphiles.  no news there)

[danny316]

The Beatles remasters, due out 9-09.  Clever.

(sorry vinylphiles.  no news there)

9/9/2009 - just keep repeating that Number 9...

The sad part is I can't find anyone around here who is a big enough Beatles fan to get the joke. I thought it was hilarious.

The date's the same for their Rock Band game too, if you care about those things.

I'm going to have to be convinced that the remasters are worth their weight in gold - my family splurged real money for the '87 box set just a few years back, and we're pretty happy with the sound quality (and it's not like the various bootlegger/remixer experiments out there, including the obvious "listen to one side of the mix" trick on later albums aren't revelatory enough).

[murlough23]

9/9/2009 - just keep repeating that Number 9...

The sad part is, I can't find anyone around here who is a big enough Beatles fan to get the joke. I thought it was hilarious.

I get it. And I have never actually sat down and listened to a Beatles record.

[bloop]

It works a couple of ways.

May I humbly suggest that it's as good a date as any to familiarize oneself with what is likely the most influential band in the history of modern pop/rock?

[murlough23]

May I humbly suggest that it's as good a date as any to familiarize oneself with what is likely the most influential band in the history of modern pop/rock?

It's not like I know nothing about them. Name most of their reasonably well-known songs, and I've heard 'em. I'm aware of the history and the influence even if I can't sing along by heart or tell you which album a song came from. It's not like I'm sitting here criticizing 'em or anything.

I might do a more in-depth exploration of several of the greats of Classic Rock when I get to a period in my life where my interest in modern music slows down a bit. I've already got a mental short list of bands whose back catalogues I want to explore one day. The Beatles are already on that list.

NP: "Where Will You Be", Sara Watkins

[bloop]

I wasn't only making the suggestion to you, but I know from time to time you get into the "recent history machine" (Bjork being a recent example).  The "way back machine" is a pretty similar idea (with the obvious difference being that the band is no longer active.  Breaking up does that, and death is pretty final).

They're worth the time investment - that's all.

[murlough23]

I wasn't only making the suggestion to you, but I know from time to time you get into the "recent history machine" (Bjork being a recent example).

I was thinking of doing that with Pearl Jam this year, particularly since they just re-released Ten.

The "way back machine" is a pretty similar idea (with the obvious different being that the band is no longer active.  Breaking up does that, and death is pretty final).

I'm collecting vinyl. I'm gonna DJ at the END OF THE WORLD!

Sorry. Admittedly I have more incentive to do this with currently active bands - I may come to like them enough to go to a concert one day.

With "classic" bands whose material I haven't heard firsthand, if someone says, "This is one of the greatest songs in the history of rock & roll" or othwerise praises the band's influence, obviously I'm not going to downplay it. I can't criticize what I don't know.

[bloop]

Yeah, it's a shame we missed The Beatles when they were writing the rules.  On the other hand, we'll live longer than those people.   

Pearl Jam should be interesting.

[murlough23]

Yeah, it's a shame we missed The Beatles when they were writing the rules.  On the other hand, we'll live longer than those people.   

George Harrison had a good long life, by sex-drugs-n-rock-n-roll standards at least. If I had been a Beatles fan at the time, there's a high likelihood he'd have been my favorite.

[Josh]

My dad saw them in concert in Atlanta. Still has the ticket stub!

[bloop]

I didn't mean we'll live longer than them in terms of years on Earth.  I meant we're likely to have more of our lives ahead of us than Beatles fans who were there would have.

My dad saw them in concert in Atlanta. Still has the ticket stub!

Neither of my parents were cool enough.  My mom preferred Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons.

[murlough23]

Neither of my parents were cool enough.  My mom preferred Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons.

My Mom actively hated the Beatles. She preferred the Monkees. Probably because they were a clean-cut enough band that her three troublemaking brothers weren't interested in them (she hated any band that her brothers would play loudly just to be obnoxious).

But yeah, we see how that Monkees fandom worked out in the long run.

[bloop]

I liked the Monkees . . . when I was 7 or 8.

[Josh]

Via Twitter... the Islands just finished mixing their new one, so it should be on its way!

Also, Joe Henry's new one is at least very close to done.

[Wildcatblue7]

I know Lacuna Coil is releasing a new one this week (and I'm the only one here who cares) and I've heard rumblings of Imogen Heap releasing a followup to Speak For Yourself, which would be AWESOME.

anyway.