Indie Rock News (4/6/10)

(Photo taken from MySpace.com)

Hey, folks. After making my rounds through the web's most prestigious web sites recently (news-related and music-related), I found some pretty unique links that I'd like to share. This could be a new segment, but it may not be. Things are getting a little wild here in Kutztown as I begin to wrap up my college career, so you'll have to excuse me for my lack of posting. I generalize a lot of things here nowadays. The show posts are still pretty tight, though. Anyway, here's what I found.

• Ask Vampire Weekend a question!
• Bloc Party's Kele will be touring and releasing a new record this summer, The Boxer. (!)
• Eyrkha Badu in legal trouble over new video shoot.
  
• Lollapalooza 2010 Lineup has been announced. Big names taking the stage in Chicago this summer.
  
• She & Him have been hitting the late night circuit lately: Letterman and Kimmel.

Look forward to New Music Wednesdays tomorrow. This week has been great. The Spring 2010 music release season looks better with each passing day.

PMJ Reviews (So Far)

I must say, I'm enjoying Kutztown University's first-ever Pop Music Journalism class a lot. It concludes my busy Tuesday/Thursday schedule and it always ends on a high note. We're learning a lot about the trade and we've got one of the coolest and smartest professors around showing us the ropes. So far we've been reading a ton of articles, having great conversations, and have submitted two pieces: a song review and an album review. Jim and I are both doing pretty well in the course so far. Would you expect any less? All kidding aside, it struck me on my walk home today that it'd be fun to share our work on this blog. So check it out, here's my first piece: song review of Vampire Weekend's "Diplomat's Son".

Short 1: Vampire Weekend’s “Diplomat’s Son” (2010)
By Mike Pop

Vampire Weekend’s second studio album, Contra, has seen some surprises in its early public life: it prompted an MTV Unplugged session, sought critical acclaim from blogs and zines alike, and reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart on January 20th, a distinguished feat for a band on an indie label (XL). The album features an array of ten breezy, pop tunes, but for those who reminiscent of punk rock’s iconic history and youthful escapades, behold the penultimate track, “Diplomat’s Son”, a mere 6-minute ode to boarding school scandals and the late Clash front man Joe Strummer. The song does not acquire the stereotypical three chord guitar riffs and unifying, anti-oppression punk themes; however, it does do well to praise a man who saw the world from his own eyes in the 1970s and wrote stories that rallied a generation of disgruntled lads (later to be labeled punks).

The tune opens with an arrangement of springtime strings, “cha-cha’s”, and a steady, undemanding drum beat. It comes to an arrest when front man/guitarist Ezra Koenig begins with a sobering introduction, accompanied by striking keyboards: “It's not right / But it's now or never / And if I wait / Could I ever forgive myself?” About a minute into the piece, Ezra enacts his plan: “Cause I'm gonna cut it where I can / And then I'm gonna duck out behind them / If I ever had a chance it's now.” The song quickly bounces into a calm, cool, never-say die agenda and an apparent successful drug-fueled night with an associate. The song hits its climax when Ezra takes Joe’s place and recalls a distinctive teenage night for the punk figurehead: “That night I smoked a joint / my best friend we found ourselves in bed / when I woke up he was gone”. Joe Strummer was the son of an English diplomat and the Clash were riding the popularity wave in ’81, with their album Sandinista!.

In the end, are we positive we accompanied a hooligan on a heist? A gamble? A crime of passion? All scenarios seem to fit the lyrics as the song’s protagonist recalls that satisfying sense of accomplishment in the tracks final moments: “Looking out at the ice cold water all around me / I can't feel any traces of that other place / In the dark when the wind comes racing off the river / There's a car all black with diplomatic plates.” His high jinks either ended with a chilly escape or the shit indeed hit the fan. Either way, it’s accepting the diplomatic conclusion that whatever the outcome of the disreputable event, just or unlawful, the adventure was worth a story. The song captures a shining moment for not only Strummer’s legacy, but for Vampire Weekend’s ability to pay homage to influence and experience.

Short 2: R.E.M.’s Live At The Olympia (October 27, 2009)
By Mike Pop

“This is not a show, this is not a show,” declares front-man Michael Stipe through his megaphone to the mass audience at Dublin’s Oylmpia Theater on one of the night rehearsals between June 30 and July 5, 2007. The 2007 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee is correct; the series of performances is what R.E.M. calls a testing ground for new songs and revved up relics. Before the crowd can react to such a statement, the band ignites with what would be the lead track off their 2008, return-to-form record Accelerate: “Living Well Is The Best Revenge.” From the first riff on Peter Buck’s twanging Rickenbacker guitar, the band welcomes you to one energetic evening of jangling alternative rock.

The entire set was recorded and released as Live At The Olympia, R.E.M.’s second live album in two years and it contains a whopping 39 songs. For many years, the band was not keen to releasing live records, but after 30 years of touring the world and selling millions of albums, the band collectively decided to introduce listeners to the live R.E.M sound.

The show introduced the crowd to a company of new songs that would appear on the band’s most recent effort, Accelerate: “Man-Sized Wreath,” “Horse To Water,” “I’m Gonna DJ,” among others. The band also experimented with two songs that did not make the final cut on the album, but have been played during tours since: “Staring Down The Barrel Of The Middle Distance” and “On The Fly”.

The record shows this influential rock band acting as inventive and unrestricted as they were when they were signed to the independent label, I.R.S., in the early to mid-1980s. This is because the band communicates directly with members of the audience and plays deep tracks from records that were recorded over 25 years ago. Such artifacts include “Letter Never Sent (1984),” “Sitting Still (1983)”, and “Gardening At Night (1982)”. The band’s sound is amplified in live form and Stipe’s vocals come in as clear as they do in studio recordings. Along with bassist Mike Mills’ and touring drummer Bill Rieflin’s vibrant rhythm section and Peter Buck guitar-plucking chime, each one of the 39 tracks captures a divine group effort that has reached its zenith after decades of collaboration and ingenuity.

R.E.M. has put in enough years as megastars and has grown on their own terms in the demanding music industry to do as they please, even if that means resorting back to older styles of performing or releasing live records. Any admirer of R.E.M., young or old, will unearth tunes to enjoy and reminisce in with this exceptional recording.

Thursday Lunchtime Notes

Hey, it looks like Kutztown, PA is going to get hit with even more snow. This sucks. I'm so sick of snow. Is it spring yet? At least it's not sticking to the roads ... yet. I'm currently held up in the Student Union's computer lab because I wasn't high on going to my literature class. Partially because I didn't read the assigned chapters and partially because I don't feel like walking in a winter wonderland any more. Anyway, these "note" posts are pretty lazy and I apologize for my lack of enthusiasm. I tend to get out all my energy doing other things. But, if this is your number one source for indie rock news, then thank you and I hope you are informed. Here are the notes during your lunch hour:

+ New Shout Out Louds record, Work, was released Tuesday. We'll be playing opening track "1999" on the show Friday (weather permitting).

+ LCD Soundsystem has apparently wrapped up recording their new record. Title unknown at this point. They'll be playing the big festivals this summer and touring with YACHT.

+ M.I.A. has hinted on a new album dropping in June. Of course, this comes from the world's foremost news outlet, Twitter. We'll have to stay glued to the tweets for more information on this one.

+ Vampire Weekend is returning to Saturday Night Live on March 6th. Some say they'll be playing "Giving Up The Gun". I'd rather hear "Diplomat's Son" or "Taxi Cab", but whatever's good. I might stay in that night. Maybe.

+ Thom Yorke's solo band has been named Atoms For Peace. They plan on doing some touring this summer.

Tuesday Mid-Afternoon Notes

Quarter til 6 - is it night yet? Who decides these things. I'm sure someone does. Whatever. Man, I'm so tired.

+ Stereogum has changed the format of their website. It looks weird. I kind of hate it. Not a fan of change.

+ The Hold Steady will release their fifth studio album Heaven Is Whenever on May 4th. Sweet.

+ Joanna Newsom releases Have One On Me tomorrow. Woo!

+ Jim will take on the Treadmill Trackstar album review in the near future. Their latest release is i belong to me.

+ New Vampire Weekend video: "Giving Up The Gun". Came out last week. Features a star-studded cast.

VW: Contra Review & New Cover Tune

As promised (about a month ago; sorry for the delay), here's my review of Vampire Weekend's latest album, Contra, which was released by XL Recordings last month. The article is featured in Kutztown University's campus newspaper, The Keystone.

Also, check out the band covering California-based street punk outlet Rancid. We've known for a while now about frontman Ezra Koenig's punk infatuation, so it seemed only right for the group to take on "Ruby Soho".

Vampire Weekend - "Ruby Soho (Rancid Cover)"

Quick Tuesday Night Notes

Hey all, hope everyone's week was great. Mine was. I saw really crazy things around the community. College kids get a little wild after a few drinks. I saw that first-hand. All in all, good clean fun, for most of us. Here are some quick notes as we start the week (one day late):

+ Our first show of the year was awesome, in my opinion. We had a great time. Check out the recap here.

+ Joanna Newsom. Pretty hype for a pretty chick. Check it out here (all of it).

+ KUR participation, including volunteer work from veterans and newbies, is on the rise. I'm a proud President. More information on we're up to can be found at our web site: kur.kutztown.edu.

+ My review of Vampire Weekend's Contra has made it to the Kutztown campus newspaper, The Keystone. I'll have a link up here to that piece a little later this week. I favorite the record, as if you've been following the blog, you are well aware. It was my first crack at a legit music review so I hope it came out okay in my readers' eyes. You be the judge. Soon.

+ I've really been getting into some Whitest Boy Alive, Kings Of Convenience, and the latest from Tycho lately. SPOILER ALERT: they'll be making their way onto the show, no doubt.

+ I'm starting to become more of a morning person. Weird, I know. But I just turn on some acid jazz, lace up my running shoes and I'm out the door, ready for the day. Try it sometime, it's a great wake up.

That's all for now. Talk to you soon.

Vampire Weekend Are #1

Source: Pitchfork.com

Billboard reports that Vampire Weekend's Best New Music album Contra has sold 124,000 copies in its first week, making it the highest selling album in the country. Contra debuts at number one on the Billboard 200 today, beating out the likes of Susan Boyle (number two), Lady Gaga (number four), Taylor Swift (number eight), and the Black Eyed Peas (number ten).

According to Billboard, Contra, which was released by XL, is only the 12th independently distributed title to hit number one since 1991, when SoundScan started tracking sales.

VW, Spoon Rock Late Night

Earlier this week, late night TV got a dose of indie rock. Conan was treated to Spoon. Ferguson was introduced to Vampire Weekend. Both performances showcased the best bands to release the best albums of the month, in my opinion. What a start to 2010. Late night wars aside, I think we can all agree that it's awesome to see bands like these appear on late night talk shows. These videos are proof of that awesomeness.

Spoon - "Written In Reverse"

Vampire Weekend - "Horchata"

Both albums are out now. Vampire Weekend's Contra via XL and Spoon's Transference via Merge.

Back @ KU! (For The Last Time With Feeling)

Finally, the Pop has come back! … to Kutztown! Jim, too. The Natural arrived about a week and maybe more before classes started. I arrived Sunday evening. Classes started yesterday. We are taking KU’s first ever Pop Music Journalism course on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, so I’m sure that’ll be an exciting platform to own our peers on subjects involving pop music and … journalism. Our professor is actually pretty sweet. He was a fellow judge alongside myself and this great gal named Kristina for our Battle of the Bands last April. His name is Tony Bleach and I have him in the class prior to Pop Music Journalism (Literature & Film). So it’s safe to say I’ll be learning a lot from him this semester. My FINAL semester. Strange. Very strange. I’m getting so old.

Other notes since I’ve returned from the heartland (Whippany, NJ): Alcohol. My housemates and our close-knit college cronies did a swell job of consuming mass quantities of booze Sunday night into Tuesday morning. We celebrated some birthdays, epic returns, and the burglary of a 12-ft sign that we took turns carrying a mile back to our apartment. Free warehouse FTW!

Music-wise, my listening has been dominated by a slue of new releases from some of my favorite artists. Firstly, Vampire Weekend’s Contra is an album I listen to pretty much everyday, from start to finish. Granted January is only half over and the year is just starting, I must say that Contra is my favorite album of the year so far. Look to see both Jim and myself playing a couple tracks off that record when the show returns. I’m also really digging the new Eels record. End Times is the first Eels album I’m really getting into and it features some great storytelling/songwriting. Other albums are Motion City Soundtrack’s My Dinosaur Life, Spoon’s Transference, and The Thermals’ Now We Can See. The latter of those three isn’t so fresh, but I’m excited to announce that Jim, myself, and a handful of others are hopefully purchasing tickets to see them play at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, sometime mid-April. That place is a great venue for live rock bands. We are veterans.

Finally, 88.3 KUR is pretty much in full-swing from the get-go. We had a wonderful turn-out at our first general member’s meeting yesterday morning and we even have one new member. I’ve been talking to my manager about starting student shows as early as next week. That would be killer. I’ve been itching to get back on the radio after my extraordinary learning experience over winter break at 101.9 RXP with DJ Rich Russo on his show Anything, Anything. Along with starting earlier than usual, KUR is going to feature some new talk shows, new DJs, and a new show genre: country. It’s going to be hosted by one of our shadowers from last semester, Natalie. Now, I’m not a huge country fan by any means, but I do love to see the diversity. I’m very much looking forward to this semester.

As my housemate Brandon continues to inform me: “This is it. The farewell tour.” We’re starting out the semester strong on all levels and won’t calm it down until it’s all over in May. So much more information on KUR, NMTM, and the usual alternative and indie rock music news to come on this blog!

Motion City Soundtrack - "History Lesson"

Contra Out Now!

Critically-acclaimed New York City buzz band Vampire Weekend released their second full-length album, Contra, today on XL Records. It's the first of many records I'm looking forward to this year and it sounds awesome. I'm spreading the word: pick up this album now. I know for a fact it's at Best Buy right now. Or you can just buy it here. Enjoy.

Vampire Weekend Unplug For MTV

"Ivy-League indie rockers Vampire Weekend refine all the energy, wit and charm of their songs for this pitch-perfect 'MTV Unplugged' performance."

So says MTV.com, where you can watch the boys play a six song set, featuring three new tunes and three oldies: "A-Punk", "White Sky", "M79", "Run", "Cousins", and "Oxford Comma". A string section joins the band on stage, surrounded by candles, Persian rugs and audience members sitting Indian-style, in usual Unplugged fashion. The band's second studio album, Contra, has leaked already and I've heard most of the songs. I'm really digging it so far. Stereogum has a "Premature Evaluation" of the album on their site and we'll have a full album review here once it hits the shelves. Unplugged seems to be making a bit of a comeback, if only on MTV.com. It's fun to watch. Though I would've hoped to have heard a cover in the set (how about their version of "Everywhere" by Fleetwood Mac or "Exit Music (For A Film)" by Radiohead?), beggars can't be choosers. Here's an early favorite, in my opinion, from the new record, "Run". Watch the entire show here.

Vampire Weekend - "Run"

Vampire Weekend - New Music - More Music Videos

Contra is out via XL Records this Tuesday (1/12).

Crazy Week Prompts Lazy Post

It's the week before final exams, so I'm busting my butt trying to get reports, essays, and kits completed before this weekend. It sounds like a lot, but that's fine by me, because while others are taking sit-down finals, I'll be drinking ice cold alcoholic beverages during the early hours of the morning. So that's why posts will be limited. In fact, I'm actually writing from KU Library's Mac Lab (a first for yours truly). But here's some headlines for you:

1. Vampire Weekend gets experimental on new track "California English (Part 2)".

2. Billy Corgan gives the public a tune from his upcoming 44-song release.

3. Eddie Veder is getting hitched.

4. And finally, SPIN Magazine released their version of the Top 40 Best Albums of 2009. SPOILER ALERT: It gets enough Animal Collective.

All stories can be found on both Stereogum or Pitchfork. Peace.

The Godfathers - "Birth, School, Work, Death"

New Music Video: Vampire Weekend - "Cousins"

Vampire Weekend ducks down the alleyway in their latest video for lead single off Contra, coming Janurary 12th. The song is "Cousins" and the video is pretty fun. Artsy, but so is everything these days. The whole band gets in on the charades and before the 2:40 marker is hit, the video is done. Short and sweet. I'm still learning what I like when it comes to music, as all music fans should, and for me, I'm all about keeping songs short. They don't need to be punk rock or novelty songs, but just get to the point. And that's what Vamp Week does. The songs are short and fun and should be enjoyable for most people, but that's my opinion. Onto the viewing portion of this post:

Vampire Weekend - "Cousins"

Contra is out Janurary 12, 2010, via XL Records.

The Gabe! Doin' Covers!

"And it feels so unnatural, to sing your own name."

Peter Gabriel's career is illustrious. His time spent with Genesis was magical, to say the least, way back in the 70's. Truly an innovator of prog rock ... and rock stage theatrics. His solo career brought him much success. Songs like "Sledgehammer", "Red Rain", "In Your Eyes", and "Solsbury Hill" are timeless. Things have since settled down for Mr. Gabriel. He hasn't put out much material in this decade, unless you count his Hot Chip collaboration cover for Vampire Weekend's "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" last year or his tune for Wall-E two summers ago. But coming in 2010, The Gabe will release a cover record. Believe it! It's going to be called Scratch My Back. Fitting, because some of the artist he's covering, will in favor cover HIS songs. I don't know anything about THAT release, though. Here's the track-listing. And it is so good:

1. Heroes (David Bowie Cover)
2. The Boy in the Bubble (Paul Simon Cover)
3. Mirrorball (Elbow Cover)
4. Flume (Bon Iver Cover)
5. Listening Wind (Talking Heads Cover)
6. The Power of the Heart (Lou Reed Cover)
7. My Body Is a Cage (Arcade Fire Cover)
8. The Book of Love (Magnetic Fields Cover)
9. I Think It's Going to Rain Today (Randy Newman Cover)
10. Après Moi (Regina Spektor Cover)
11. Philadelphia (Neil Young Cover)
12. Street Spirit (Radiohead Cover)

Scratch My Back will be released on January 25th, 2010. You can bet your bottom dollar that we'll be using some of these as our "Allen Reed Memorial Cover Of The Week" for many shows in the Spring.

Peter Gabriel & Hot Chip - "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (Vampire Weekend Cover)"

New Vampire Weekend - "Horchata"

Salute! Drink up that which Wikipedia defines as "[a] name for several kinds of traditional beverages, made of ground almonds, sesame seeds, rice, barley, or tigetnuts (chufas)," because Vampire Weekend is giving us a studio taste of their latest, "Horchata". It's a good one, folks. No guitars on this number. And how long have we been waiting for new material from this major buzz band anyway? Answer: too long. Say what you will about these kids, but Contra will be, if it isn't already, one of the most anticipated records in recent years. It comes out 1/12 on XL. These kids stand a chance (sorry, I couldn't help myself).

Vampire Weekend - "Horchata"

That's an Ivy League lingo if I ever heard one. There's so much good stuff coming out right now and I know I've got a lot to blog about, but it's a Monday and I'm going back to enjoying Ezra Koening in Discovery's "Carby". What a great age for music, no?

New Album(s) Tracklists; YYY's Roll On Conan

Tegan And Sara will release their sixth studio album, Sainthood, on October 27th, via Sire. Here's the track listing:

1. Arrow
2. Don't Rush
3. Hell
4. On Directing
5. Red Belt
6. The Cure
7. Northshore
8. Night Watch
9. Alligator
10. Paperback Head
11. The Ocean
12. Sentimental Tune
13. Someday

Vampire Weekend is getting ready to release one of the most highly-anticipated albums of the year... but in 2010. It's called Contra, and it's coming out January 12, via XL.

1. Horchata
2. White Sky
3. Holiday
4. California English
5. Taxi Cab
6. Run
7. Cousins
8. "Giving Up The Gun
9. Diplomat's Son
10. I Think Ur A Contra

And lastly, Yeah Yeah Yeahs played "Heads Will Roll" off their latest, It's Blitz! on Conan last night. Karen O looked like a cross between a long-lost Ramone cousin and a cartoon mutant from the 90's X-Men cartoon. Enjoy:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Heads Will Roll"