I drove around one Sunday afternoon while listening to Imagine Our Love, Lavender Diamond’s debut full length for Matador Records. I figured a Sunday afternoon might’ve been the best time to listen to them. It was a sunny and calm early afternoon with Lavender Diamond acting as the soundtrack for the trip. Earlier this year, they released an E.P., The Cavalry of Light shortly after a well received stint opening for the Decemberists in Europe over the winter. The four songs were absolutely stunning, yet it seemed like the rest of the world had a lot of catching up to do, which is where Imagine Our Love comes in. I question those who aren’t at least dazzled by a second of it. It boggles my mind that even having a high profile opening slot with a band like the Decemberists and being featured as “Myspace Band of the Week,” you’d think the citizens of the candy-store indie rock world would be trampling each other to get a grip on this, but I still have yet to see their name plastered on messenger bags and pins. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo from Brooklyn Vegan   

I didn’t know who the opener for Bjork was going to be until a day or two before the show, and I basically went into a seizure of joy when West Congo’s electro-trance group Konono No. 1 was announced. Two seemingly inaccessible European artists, both somehow equal parts fun and experimental. I walked into this night with huge expectations (the 90 dollar ticket-cost helped).
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When Junior Boys played the Bowery Ballroom back in September, they were clad in stark white jumpsuits with large popped collars and laceless white shoes that set the mood of detached ambience pretty quickly. Thus, it was rather strange for me this time when the duo took the stage and were wearing their normal street clothes (jeans, plaid shirts, etc.), making them out to be average Canadian indie rockers and not the spaced out techno-pop wondergroup they really are. But at the end of the day, the outfit’s just an outfit, and while Junior Boys may have gone backwards in wardrobe, they’re performance was even tighter than it was last time.

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Timbaland Presents Shock Value Label: Blackground/Interscope Release Date: 04/03/07

I understand why Timbaland’s profile is so high these days… he had a hand in a few of the most ubiquitous singles of the last year, after all, but why is this being dubbed a comeback? He has indeed been here for years, its not like a constant share of hit singles ever stopped having his name on them. The hype for his recent artist-cum-wall-to-wall-cast-of-guests-megafamous-and-less-so album, “Timbaland Presents Shock Value”, seems to have overlooked that, with or without Magoo (which would be a great title for a collaboration between Timbaland and U2), Timbaland has already done four of these. “Shock Value” is somewhat par for the course on that scale (perhaps excepting the first album with Magoo, “Welcome 2 Our World”, which is an overlooked gem of a progressive pop record). His albums tend to have some amazing moments and predictably immaculate, creative production, weighed down by the presence of some listless, empty songs, a few absolute clunkers, and the unfortunate vocal presence of Timbaland. Despite possessing a good voice, Timbaland thinks in sound rather than words, which is why he sounds best imitating record scratches or chanting two words or less, and every time he goes farther than that it is either squeamishly embarrassing or hilarious in none of the ways he intends. Some blend of ghostwriting and enthusiasm allows Timbaland to coast through the album inducing minimal winces, but it is always odd to hear the best producer in the world work with the most awkward vocalist in the world, and this happens often when Timbaland makes his own albums. Read the rest of this entry »

Jarvis Cocker Jarvis Label: Rough Trade Release Date: 04/03/07

As a celebrity worshipping whore, there are many men I have at some time or another thought I wanted to be. Stanley Kubrick. Johnny Depp. Allen Iverson. An odd addition to this fluctuating list is Jarvis Cocker, formerly the frontman and creative leader for Pulp. He’s pale, awkward and skinny, fortysomething, sports huge glasses, and he’s British. While all of these things are intuitively minuses, Jarvis Cocker wears them perfectly in a fashion that I can only gaze at in awe. Having established my borderline homoerotic infatuation with Jarvis Cocker, perhaps I should write a little bit about his new album, simply titled “Jarvis.” Read the rest of this entry »

XBXRX Wars   Label: Polyvinyl Release Date: 04/10/07

Oh man, this is just wrong. It seems Polyvinyl is taking a break from promoting the likes of Decibully and Of Montreal to bring you XBXRX. Despite being around for close to ten years, regardless of who drops their name and produces them, I think these guys fall flat with what seems to be a bad update of late 1970s no wave. Read the rest of this entry »

Last night Relative Theory Records sponsered the Decemberists show at the NorVa, of course many members of the RTR staff were there to take it all in. I personally showed up late to the show and had just missed My Brightest Diamond’s set, so if anyone feels the desire to come through and add a review of her set to this, then by all means do so.
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Amy Winehouse Back to Black   Label: Republic Release Date: 03/13/07

I think almost every full blooded American male had a relationship with that one girl everyone said to stay away from. She was the textbook definition of dysfunctional. She had tremendous low self esteem. She abused some substance whether it was alcohol or drugs. She always got you in trouble. She had a long history of boyfriends to the point where it was stupid to even think about being jealous. No matter how many beatdowns you received for being with her or how many times your mother threatened to kick you out of the house the next time you bring her around, you still stuck around. None of us can front. She provided some good lovin’. Let’s be real. When the chips were down she was always there for you with a straight razor ready to bring hell to whomever or whatever. That girl is Amy Winehouse, another soulful Brit import. Read the rest of this entry »

Glenn Hughes Music For the Devine   Label: Warcon Release Date: 01/30/07

I opened up the booklet for this CD and there’s tons of photos within it. There is a picture of Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers looking at Glenn Hughes while both are playing violin. Chad has that “Are you sure?” look. The last page has Chad in his “dumbfounded with the index finger to the chin” pose. Well Chad, not only did you co-produce it, but you played drums on the album and recorded it in your house…dude. Read the rest of this entry »

Eleni Mandell Miracle of Five   Label: Zedtone Release Date: 02/06/07

I had trouble finding the right words to justify why I enjoyed Eleni Mandell’s Miracle of Five. My curiosity led me to it and I found myself listening to it almost every day since I got my hands on it. Some days, I’m the “angry man music” type and the other days, well, let’s just describe that as “the music I listen to when my friends aren’t in the car with me” genre. I’d have to say, this is some great “late night loner” music that has made ending most nights more appropriate than others. So all of you young boy-men types, myself included, let’s welcome another artist into that post-midnight playlist of ours. Some artists make me feel as if I’m walking through a wooded area on a winter day. Eleni Mandell keeps me in a cluttered studio apartment as I drag myself to a window looking down on the city streets. I wonder to myself, “Geez, why am I spending this night alone…again?” Read the rest of this entry »