January 23, 2008

Top Songs of 2007

It is belated, but we’re at least happy we finished this before January ended. It’s time once again for our personal favorite Songs of 2007. After compiling all the accompanying videos for you to watch, our heads are now filled with questionable fan television tributes, meg white lookalikes, girl-on-girl make-out parties, broadway choreography, oscar nominations, teen pop idols, multiple DAM!Fest alums, trampolines, and pipe organs. You know, in a good way.

January 22, 2008

Late Nights with EB

I almost missed the announcement of the Coachella line-up today. I suppose this is a big enough event that they really don’t need to pay too much attention to the timing of their press releases, but for us amateurs out there who weren’t pulling our 9 to 5’s today, this is clearly something that could have gone overlooked. The unfortunate thing is, I’m not really sure what I would have missed.

There was a time when Coachella was a heaven on Earth, especially to an East coast music lover. We are finally starting to get a few non-hippie festivals on this side of the continent but that never really took away from the awe of this magical place in the desert. No, the awe went away when Jack Johnson was announced as a headliner for Friday night in the desert. I can almost buy Roger Waters recreating Dark Side of the Moon on Sunday, almost buy it. But Jack Johnson tips the scales here. This is all a great shame, as I will be on the West coast as Coachella starts, and it was seriously something I thought about. Though, Saturday night is a classic Coachella night; A reunited Portishead, Kraftwerk, Death Cab for Cutie, Sasha and Digweed, this is a line-up I could get behind. Obviously, a look through all three days will uncover a plethora of artists that draw your interest, but the vibe on Friday and Sunday is decidedly disappointing. And this is including the reunited Verve and Love and Rockets, the sort of back together Madness and the Breeders, and the usual festival favorites: My Morning Jacket, Justice, the Raconteurs etc.

Does all of this mean I will not go? The jury is still out due to my geographical opportunity, you never know when you’ll get another chance as timely. But the $90 day passes are certainly looking a lot more practical right now. The happy news coming out of Coachella’s press release today, was the official announcement that the All Points West Festival — a Coachella East if you will — will be happening August 8, 9, and 10th, just outside of NYC. The irony of these dates, is that they are also the planned dates for this year’s Virgin Festival and the rumored festival taking place in southern Jersey. How this all shakes out, i just don’t know. As a fan, and an avid concert-goer, I’m just hoping they don’t fuck it all up.

January 18, 2008

Exit Clov — “MK Ultra” Video

Full disclosure, BY used to be very involved in the lives of Exit Clov. Not so much anymore, but it looks like we’re still on the mailing list. Score!

I felt the need to point out this video for a couple reasons: Because very few DC bands make legit videos not on a label’s dime — I’m looking at you Georgie James – and because that Toxic Avenger hi-five at the end made me laugh. “MK Ultra” is a Clov song that has been around for a long time, but it is still quite catchy. Exit Clov are in the mixing stages of a new album, of which I know very little about, but having heard a few songs meant for the album, I am excited to hear about what they do with their debut LP (finally!).

January 17, 2008

Nocturnal Releases

Early January does not offer much in the way of fabulous new releases, but hope is on the horizon. Looking at the releases from the last two weeks, very little sounds terribly memorable, at least not in a good way. Marah’s Angels of Destruction is an alt-country album that goes absolutely no place. They have earned enough of a following to headline at the 9:30 Club next week, but this show cannot possibly be based on the strength of this album. Another bland release from last week is Sia’s Some People Have Real Problems. BY hasn’t been a big fan of Sia since her days as a Zero 7 vocalist, and it doesn’t really matter what commercial or TV show her music appeared in, it hasn’t helped. The title is ironic, as this is a troubled album of pure hook-less pop. Oh, she’s also at the 9:30 Club next week. Odd coincidence, no?

This week’s releases were also lite, but Distortion by Magnetic Fields at least reminds me I still have a pulse. Watch for our review of that soon. Rings also came out with Black Habit. I did not know much about these girls, but apparently the current Mrs. Panda Bear Kria Brekken, herself late of Mum, turned the producer knobs on this one. And Avey Tare’s sister is on board as well. All of the nepotism aside, this is very lock and step for a Paw Tracks release.

It is basic and harmonically dense, yet can certainly be pretty at times. Par for the course, as they say. Or Paw for the course, in this case…

Thankfully next week brings a slew of new releases, including CDs from Black Mountain, Blood on the Wall, Cat Power and others. We’ll try to point out some new releases each week, and will continue to throw up reviews as well. Welcome to your 2008 BigYawn.

Rings - “Is He Handsome?”

Rings - “Scape Aside”

Rings - “All Right Peace”

January 16, 2008

Late Nights with EB — Live Music Edition

Just got back from the Editors show at 9:30 Club. While not as great as their show last year at the club, they still played quite well, and got the crowd pretty enthused, epecially for a Tuesday night.

As you recently saw, we thought An End Has a Start was one of the best albums of 2007, and I had it in my personal top 10. But a lot of people did not agree, and that I just don’t get. Looking at where the Editors stand within the current UK field of music, they are less homogenized than Snow Patrol, less generic than both the Kaiser Chiefs and the Futureheads, far more memorable than the Arctic Monkeys, and way less “dance” than the Klaxons. All of these good things. This doesn’t address the repetitively bland “The” bands that over-populate the likes of NME, nor does it address bands such as Radiohead or others who exist on a separate plane of existence. Perhaps in the eyes of some, this all means Editors hit right smack dab in the middle and suffer from mediocrity. I beg to differ.

An End Has a Start is a large step forward from their debut, The Back Room — itself a gold record in the UK. Hardly a bad song on the whole album, Editors moves away from their previous comparisons to Interpol by avoiding bass-heavy riffs, and moving the vocal stylings of Tom Smith away from the monotone vocals of Daniel Kessler. The band has taken everything that made “Munich” such a great single, including the increased focus on guitar riffs, and flipped it into this album.

In some ways this is old news, oh so very 2007. But January is such a slow month in terms of music, that sometimes we can’t help but think back, since we’ve got the time. Seeing the Editors one more time — and likely the last for the next two years — left me shaking my head in disbelief, wondering why so many critics outside the UK just don’t see it. Listen for yourself:

Editors - “When Anger Shows”

Editors - “An End Has a Start”

January 14, 2008

Big Yawn’s Top 50 of 2007

It might be 14 days into the New Year, but our Top 50 is a bit of a tradition around here, even if it is a little late. Besides, we needed to kick off our return to posting with something memorable. And a review of the terrible new Marah album simply wouldn’t cut it. So, take a long look back at the music burning up BY’s turntables, CD players, cassette decks, mp3 players and 8-Tracks in 2007.

November 19, 2007

Riding Shotgun :: the Blakes

Megan, Megan, Megan. She does like those bands with bad boy tendencies. In the Riding Shotgun spotlight this week are the Blakes, Seattle’s latest, finest export.

November 1, 2007

Riding Shotgun :: Nada Surf

Longevity. It is a goal to which a good many strive, and only a handful achieve. Nada Surf have been blessed with such longevity, which is fortunate for all since they are pretty much the bee’s knees. For those of you who have ever wondered what the Nada Surf tourbus smells like, or what they’d be if they weren’t part of a ridiculously good band, it’s your lucky day. Megan asked the questions, and can officially report that drummer Ira Elliot gives good interview. Read on.

September 30, 2007

DAM!Fest 07

So we know to all appearances, we’ve abandoned BigYawn. Not true.

What’s happened, we’ve been unreasonably busy planning an adjunct project, the 2nd Annual District’s Awake! Music Festival, October 11 - 15. Currently scheduled to appear: Cat Power, stellastarr*, iLiKETRAiNS, Dirty on Purpose, Slaraffenland, Pela, A Place to Bury Strangers, So Many Dynamos, The Big Sleep, The Teeth, Via Audio, Foreign Islands, Casper & The Cookies, Hallelujah The Hills, Spouse, Exit Clov, Craig Wedren, The Silent Years, Metropolitan, Time of Orchids, The Subjects, These United States, Sanawon, Greenland, Southeast Engine, Dragons of Zynth, Kris Racer, The Beanstalk Library, Drunken Sufis, and probably still more to be announced.

Also this year, we’ve put together a Rock’n’Roll Lottery, in which local DC musicians will be mixed and matched through a random drawing. Each “superband” will have a limited amount of time to craft a few original songs to be performed at the end of the festival. And for $35, you can buy a weekend pass to all the shows, including Cat Power at the 9:30 Club (if you get there early enough).

If you’re a DC-area reader, we hope you can attend.

September 3, 2007

Heima

As far as we can tell, Sigur Ros’s new concert film has no plans to be released theatrically, but the trailer is so beautiful, we would be really tempted to pay $10 to see it with fellow fans somewhere on a huge screen in digital 5.1 surround sound. In fact, we won’t even post the handy youtube version here, you need to go to the source to see it in its hi-def glory. The DVD will be released November 6th.

August 23, 2007

Riding Shotgun with These United States

You might have noticed a plethora of Brit bands floating around this column lately. But fear not, lovers of local music. Megan has once more dipped into the reserves of the DC music scene. This week’s victims are These United States. They’re the kind of band to give you warm fuzzies…unless you’re a certain venue in Seattle. Or the state of Maine. And they play Friday, August 24th at the Rock’n'Roll Hotel.

Oh, and also at this little party we’re putting together.

August 17, 2007

Riding Shotgun with Camera Obscura

When it comes to Camera Obscura, the only question you need ask yourself is this: what’s not to love? Adorable, twee songs played by a sextet of adorable Glaswegians has most certainly proven a recipe for success. Drummer extraordinaire Lee Thomson put down the sticks and picked up his computer to answer some questions for Megan. Read Lee’s take on Camera Obscura (John Peel! Curry! Oven mitts!), and then make the trek to Baltimore to see Camera Obscura’s sweetness and light live at Sonar next Tuesday (August 21).

August 9, 2007

I Scream, You Scream, Die! Die! Die! Most Certainly Scream

There comes a time, during the sultry summer months, that you pretty much can’t take it anymore and just want to scream your bloody head off. Save your throats, my friends, and let those impish New Zealanders Die! Die! Die! do the shouting for you. Fans of perfunctory, powerfully punkish albums take note: if you haven’t yet heard of Die! Die! Die!, you’ve been missing out. Allow me to assist you.

August 3, 2007

White Stripes, Patriot Center

It’s been about a year since we’ve posted our last full page concert review, but Chris returns with his experience last weekend with The White Stripes. It wasn’t his favorite.

August 1, 2007

Riding Shotgun with 1990s

It is August after all. A fresh start. Megan, because she loves to be the first one up in the morning, has already interviewed one of the newer buzz bands from the UK. Yes, yes, they are related to Franz Ferdinand, but in a much better way than you are related to that molesting Uncle Pete. You know, Aunt Mary’s husband. The one who liked to watch you on the pogo stick back in the 1990s.

Yes, well, we are excited to see what other groups Megan will chat up this year. You’ll excuse us if we we go now, have a weird need to go check the sex predator database for my neighborhood.

July 25, 2007

Novelty Music Scene

We missed the mini-wave of blog hype that the debut of HBO’s Flight of the Conchords set off last month, but the deadpan tone and band-related humor of the show about the NYC tribulations of “New Zealand’s fourth most popular folk-parody duo” has quickly become one of our summer favorites. In the first clip, Jermaine attempts to boost Bret’s self-esteem, which we post because there aren’t enough songs about “weedy, shy guys” … the second clip we post because we also like pretty girls and kebabs.

Also, their EP The Distant Future is out on Sub Pop August 7th.

July 19, 2007

Riding Shotgun with Noisettes

It’s back-to-back Brits here at BigYawn. First Hot Chip, and now Megan’s gotten her hands on the lady-fronted Noisettes. Obviously, the band likes DC, as they’re jaunting back to town in September. In the meantime, catch up with them here, and bone up before their return.

July 17, 2007

Probable Concert of the Year

BigYawn was fortunate enough to be in Los Angeles two weeks ago, and there was no way we could pass up what had to be one of the most exciting concerts of year: The Decemberists with the LA Philharmonic, plus Andrew Bird, plus Band of Horses, outdoors on a beautiful Saturday evening at the Hollywood Bowl. We wish you had been with us, but as an alternative, someone has posted a fairly good quality recording on the Live Music Archive. (The latest copy of VLC should handle the FLAC files. If you’re on a mac and want mp3s, we recommend using xACT to convert to AIFF, then iTunes to convert to mp3.)

Highlights included a complete 20 minute rendition of “The Tain”, “Los Angeles, I’m Yours” played in Los Angeles, and the combined band/orchestra freak out at the end of “I Was Meant for the Stage.”

July 5, 2007

Riding Shotgun

Finally, since things are back up and running at the Yawn — sort of — we’re back with Megan’s labor of love, the weekly wonder that is Riding Shotgun. To refresh your memory, this is where Megan talks to some of the better bands out there, some locals, some touring, some international superstars, like this week’s victims, Hot Chip. Megan managed to canoodle Alexis from the band into selling his soul to BigYawn. Now, I know we’re not that big, but hopefully no one from London is going to pay attention to this interview, or Hot Chip may find themselves playing much smaller venues next time around.

June 27, 2007

Genesis, Really?

Yeah, you heard us. Genesis was a really good band, up until 1986 at least. But frankly, their downfall was merely a symptom of a much bigger problem plaguing music in the late 80s; the average music fan’s expectations dropped through the floor and anything started to sound good. But that is a story for another time.

Right through Genesis’ 1983 self-titled album, and even carrying into a little of 1986’s Invisible Touch, this was a band on top of their game, whether the game was wildly theatrical prog rock ala the Peter Gabriel years, or smartly crafted pop tunes that became the norm with Phil Collins. People seem to think of the miserable 1990s version of the band, and they don’t remember the endless slew of hits, including “Follow You, Follow Me,” “Misunderstanding,” “Turn it On Again,” “Abacab,” “No Reply at All,” “Home By the Sea,” Taking it All Too Hard” and so many others.

Why are we talking about Genesis? They recently kicked off a world tour that sees the band reuniting for the first time in 10 years. It does not include Peter Gabriel however, which is a shame. The Genesis reunion tour hits the states in September, and hits DC on September 23rd at the (sic) MCI Center. Do yourself a favor and listen to the older songs. You will find yourself talking about Genesis like a scene right of American Psycho. Well, minus the beating up on the hookers part.

June 26, 2007

Pela for You, Pela for Me

We just wanted to let you know that we just reviewed DAM! Fest alums, and overall cool guys Pela’s new release Anytown Graffiti today — see to the right. Not every CD that gets a good review is often liked by the majority of the staff at BY, but this was one that is getting praises from just about everyone. The best news about all of this is that you can catch Pela at the Black Cat backstage on July 11th right along with us.

June 22, 2007

Summer Music Quote of the Day

What are you eating, shrimp? You going to tell me this song doesn’t go with your shrimp? - Fingers (1978)

Pure coincidence that the song is Summertime by The Jamies, “the most musically inventive song of 1958″ …

June 22, 2007

Mixing it Up, v. 2.0

In a fit of serendipitous mind-melding, this BYer compiled a summer mix just yesterday afternoon. Summertime is good for many things; Bar Pilar’s white sangria, late sunsets, sweating (if that’s something you’re into). But summer is also the perfect season for making mixes, since most reasonable folks are inside with their computers enjoying the air conditioning as opposed to sweltering in the sauna that this region becomes at this time of year. Bottoms up!

Sound of Summer - Art Brut
Sweaty in the Sunshine - Benni Hemm Hemm
The Beach Party - Hot Chip
The Best Summer Ever - A Sunny Day in Glasgow
Another Sunny Day - Belle & Sebastian
Just One More Summer Before I Go - Comet Gain
On Some Faraway Beach - Brian Eno
The Sweat Descends - Les Savy Fav
Your Summer Dress - Dirty on Purpose
Stormy Weather - Etta James
Sunshine (Come on Lady) - Josh Rouse
Summer Wine - Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
Sun Hits the Sky - Supergrass

June 21, 2007

Mixing It Up For the Summer

In honor of today being the first official day of summer, we here at BigYawn wanted to remind all of you that it’s time to get cracking on those all-important summer-themed mixes, play lists, etc. If you were smart, you probably signed up for something like the “Summer Burn” or some variation thereof. Not that there’s any reason to ever read anything but BigYawn for your musical needs, but we’ve noticed a number of other sites have posted their own summer track lists. Not wanting to be left out of the mix, as it were, here are some of our favorite songs of summer. Are we missing anything? Anyone have links to the ones we don’t have? Feel free to write me about it.

1. Summertime Rolls - Jane’s Addiction
2. Summertime - Janis Joplin(Note, Live version with Jimi Hendrix)
3. Summer - Modest Mouse
4. Summer Babe (Winter Version) - Pavement
5. Summer in the City - Regina Spektor
6. Summer Soft - Stevie Wonder
7. Summer Swim - George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars
8. Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra
9. Summerbaby - Polaris
10. SummerSong - 3 Mother Funkers
11. Summertime Blues - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
12. Long Hot Summer Night - Jimi Hendrix

June 21, 2007

All This and a Contest Too?

I know, I know, we’re really spoiling you this week. Consider it a gift to those of you who kept coming back, you lovable losers you!

We are giving away a pair of tickets to see Straylight Run, Sparta and Lovedrug at the Black Cat, this Sunday June 24th. The winner will also get a copy of Straylight Run’s new album (out this week) The Needles The Space. All courtesy of Straylight Run and Universal Republic Records.

What do you have to do to win? Simply e-mail us at contest@bigyawn.net and give us a band you would like to see play this year’s DAM! Festival. This contest will run for exactly 12 hours, and is over at noon tomorrow (Friday). The winner will be chosen randomly and will be notified tomorrow afternoon, so be sure to check your e-mail. And good luck!

© 2007 BigYawn, all rights reserved