Friday, August 3, 2012
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
RIP Adam Yauch 1964-2012
The world lost a great one today, as Adam "MCA" Yauch of the Beastie Boys has passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 47.
The Beastie Boys were true artists, ever conscious of their work and devoted to maintaining high standards of their work and their lives.
In addition to his music, Yauch was a burgeoning filmmaker, having directed the Beastie's concert film Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!, and was the owner of Oscilloscope Laboratories which distributed Yauch's film Gunnin' For That #1 Spot and Wendy & Lucy.
Here is MCA, Mike D and Ad-Rock in the video for "Intergalactic", one of the greatest rap songs of the 90s.
RIP MCA. You will be missed.
The Beastie Boys were true artists, ever conscious of their work and devoted to maintaining high standards of their work and their lives.
In addition to his music, Yauch was a burgeoning filmmaker, having directed the Beastie's concert film Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!, and was the owner of Oscilloscope Laboratories which distributed Yauch's film Gunnin' For That #1 Spot and Wendy & Lucy.
Here is MCA, Mike D and Ad-Rock in the video for "Intergalactic", one of the greatest rap songs of the 90s.
RIP MCA. You will be missed.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Friday, November 4, 2011
90s Live Now - #5 Wild Flag
Before I get started and your inner fact-checker starts nagging, I know that Wild Flag is not a 90s band. But it seems largely appropriate that they should get a mention - nay, whole article - in this blog, because:
1. They're awesome.
2. The band is made up of notable artists from bands that were around in the 90s.
3. They sound like they're from the 90s.
4. As I've said before, they're awesome.
A new project featuring Mary Timony (formerly of Helium), Carrie Brownstein (formerly of Sleater-Kinney), Rebecca Cole (The Minders) and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney), Wild Flag formed last year as a "let's see how this goes" experiment. And so far, it's gone great.
For those who haven't gotten it yet, Wild Flag's self-titled debut album is fantastic; a taut little 10-song set that is the most guitars you're likely to hear on any album this year, especially on what passes for rock or alternative these days. It's kind of like what Elastica's second album should have sounded like, or possibly would have, had they taken less than 5 years to release it. Not that I don't like The Menace, but it doesn't hold a candle to that first Elastica record.
But the best part of the night was seeing artists who made names for themselves in the 90s making some of the best music of the 10s. Teens? What is this decade, anyway? Yes, it's young, but Wild Flag is probably the second best album of the year behind The Whole Love by Wilco, another 90s band. Suck it, Foster the People. That's what you get for not being around 20 years ago.
Whatever.
1. They're awesome.
2. The band is made up of notable artists from bands that were around in the 90s.
3. They sound like they're from the 90s.
4. As I've said before, they're awesome.
A new project featuring Mary Timony (formerly of Helium), Carrie Brownstein (formerly of Sleater-Kinney), Rebecca Cole (The Minders) and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney), Wild Flag formed last year as a "let's see how this goes" experiment. And so far, it's gone great.
For those who haven't gotten it yet, Wild Flag's self-titled debut album is fantastic; a taut little 10-song set that is the most guitars you're likely to hear on any album this year, especially on what passes for rock or alternative these days. It's kind of like what Elastica's second album should have sounded like, or possibly would have, had they taken less than 5 years to release it. Not that I don't like The Menace, but it doesn't hold a candle to that first Elastica record.
Even their video looks like it was made in the 90s.
Once again, I made the trek to the legendary Troubadour on Thursday, November 3rd to see Wild Flag on their 2nd of two consecutive sold out shows. Given the fervor in the room and the buzz the band received upon its announcement, it's not hard to believe.
Before I get into it, know that Carrie Brownstein is adorable. Of course, you know this from watching Portlandia. But to see her play in person is something else. She's like a little ball of hellfire on her Gibson SG, which looks even more over-sized than it does on the diminutive Angus Young.
Speaking of guitars, they were on full display, with a good chunk of the show, especially the later part, made up of dueling noise jams from Brownstein and Mary Timony. It's not often you see bands with two female guitarists, but it's even better when they both have full mastery of their instruments. Like Veruca Salt. Or...um...Hole? No, one was a dude. Well, I'm sure there's others I'm forgetting.
SETLIST:
See No Evil (Television cover)
Before I get into it, know that Carrie Brownstein is adorable. Of course, you know this from watching Portlandia. But to see her play in person is something else. She's like a little ball of hellfire on her Gibson SG, which looks even more over-sized than it does on the diminutive Angus Young.
Speaking of guitars, they were on full display, with a good chunk of the show, especially the later part, made up of dueling noise jams from Brownstein and Mary Timony. It's not often you see bands with two female guitarists, but it's even better when they both have full mastery of their instruments. Like Veruca Salt. Or...um...Hole? No, one was a dude. Well, I'm sure there's others I'm forgetting.
SETLIST:
Electric Band
Romance
Future Crimes
Something Came Over Me
Short Version
Glass Tambourine
Winter Pair
Black Tiles
Nothing
Boom
Racehorse
She (Misfits cover)
She (Misfits cover)
But the best part of the night was seeing artists who made names for themselves in the 90s making some of the best music of the 10s. Teens? What is this decade, anyway? Yes, it's young, but Wild Flag is probably the second best album of the year behind The Whole Love by Wilco, another 90s band. Suck it, Foster the People. That's what you get for not being around 20 years ago.
Whatever.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
15 Years Ago Today #4 - 10/18/96
As the alternative rock era continued on, the genre's diversity showed more than ever, as eels' "Novocaine For the Soul" took the top spot despite its bleak lyrics and odd, offbeat (literally) strings. The band's first single, it is the only eels song to date to top the chart, further demonstrating that even unsung heroes like eels could find success through talent and not just hype.
Elsewhere on the list, 311 continued their dominance with "Down", Sublime starts on the near-inexplicable continued popularity they would enjoy for the next 15 years and The Wallflowers get their first chart appearance before they blew up the next year.
Back on the diversity of the popular songs of the era, on this chart alone there are 2 songs that could be considered "adult alternative", one "rap-rock", one "industrial pop" and R.E.M.'s hauntingly beautiful "E-Bow the Letter," which featured Michael Stipe reading a rambling love letter over feedback and acoustic guitar and featuring Patti Smith on guest vocals. The song, 15 years later, remains as unusual and moving as the first time I heard it.
Here's the Top 10:
Elsewhere on the list, 311 continued their dominance with "Down", Sublime starts on the near-inexplicable continued popularity they would enjoy for the next 15 years and The Wallflowers get their first chart appearance before they blew up the next year.
Back on the diversity of the popular songs of the era, on this chart alone there are 2 songs that could be considered "adult alternative", one "rap-rock", one "industrial pop" and R.E.M.'s hauntingly beautiful "E-Bow the Letter," which featured Michael Stipe reading a rambling love letter over feedback and acoustic guitar and featuring Patti Smith on guest vocals. The song, 15 years later, remains as unusual and moving as the first time I heard it.
- eels - "Novocaine For the Soul"
- 311 - "Down"
- Sublime - "What I Got"
- Soundgarden - "Burden In My Hand"
- R.E.M. - "E-Bow the Letter"
- Social Distortion - "I Was Wrong"
- Better Than Ezra - "King of New Orleans"
- Sheryl Crow - "If It Makes You Happy"
- Republica - "Ready to Go"
- The Wallflowers - "6th Avenue Heartache"
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