The new Dinosaur Jr. record

[PatTracy]

...doesn't come out until next week. But, my office-mate Josh has procured an advanced copy.

It's really, really, really good. In my opinion, on par with their best work. It reminds me of when Mission of Burma reunited a few years back, after 20 years of not playing together, and then they put out an amazing album.

The new songs I've heard from the new Wilco album sound great too.

Good music is a-comin'. Get up on it!

[zartan]

I have to disagree about the new Wilco album. It sounds like jam band easy listening. If they didn't have such a good reputation, I wouldn't have listened to it twice. I'll be interested to see the consesus on this new album because it seemed like somebody castrated the band and turned them into elevator Phish.

[Captain Bob]

I like the new Dinosaur Jr album alright. It's not much different from where they left off, which is fine. I forgot how guitar-heavy they were. The opening track is all about the gggguitar. It has its ups and downs, but I'm happy they got back together and made another album.

I have been listening to Jason Schwartzman's new band Coconut Records. By no means is it Amazing, but the first single (West Coast) is sad and catchy:
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Also, speaking of jam bands (not the easy listening kind) - !!! is coming to the Metro next month and I can't wait.
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[schaefe]

Athens just went crazy with three days of Widespread Panic going on downtown...

[PatTracy]

it seemed like somebody castrated the band and turned them into elevator Phish.

Yowch! The two songs I heard, I enjoyed; but if you're right I'll be really disappointed.

I'm standing by critique of the New Dino Jr, though. Sweet, sweet guitar rock. There are some serious face-melting solos on the new album. Music needs to melt face more often.

in other music news:

As it seems there is an abnormally large Decemberists fanbase on this board...

I just checked the music early warnings in the Reader, and The Decemberists are apparently playing a free show in Millenium Park, accompanied by the Grant Park Orchestra, in July.

I think The Decemberists are lame. But I almost wish I liked them, because this concert sounds like it will be uber-sweet for their fans.

[Edison]

Yeah, a Dinosaur Jr reunion? It's as good a time as any.

Spread the fever, I say.
Maybe there's hope for more from My Bloody Valentine or Galaxy 500.

[aneg]

i love the new dino jr album. its been leaked for a few months now, though. but, jeez. they are totally not what youd expect me to love but i do. also, lou barlow? bonnnnerz. i saw them at metro... uh, last november? and it was loud and awesome. they shoul be twice as loud at the abbey later this year. cant wait.

and bob is right. coconut records album totally doesnt suck as much as it should.

and im excited for !!! next month. but mroe excited for lcd soundsystem. daaamn, yo.

and the decemberists are kind of one of my favourite bands. i still dont get how people dont like them because they are perfect. so, youre dumb.

just kidding. but man, wilco is lamecity.

[PatTracy]

and im excited for !!! next month. but mroe excited for lcd soundsystem. daaamn, yo.

and the decemberists are kind of one of my favourite bands. i still dont get how people dont like them because they are perfect.

I needs an LCD ticket like woah. !!! will be a sweet show too! Daniel Johnston is playing the Lakeshore Theater and I really want to see that as well.


Personally, I don't like The Decemberists for the following reasons:

The whole dressing like the cast of Newsies thing is, to me, lamecity. Arcade Fire, who I really like, does it too, but I don't feel it's a as big of a component of who they are as the Decs. Suspenders and clunky shoes aren't all that endearing to me.

I'm all for literary, whimsical rock, but if I want to hear songs about tall ships and chimney sweeps, there are several superior acts who convey similar imagery through their lyrics (Bonnie Prince Billy, Joanna Newsom), and don't irritate me nearly as much as The Decemberists.

This isn't exclusively directed at The Decs, but ironic use of the accordian has to ease up! This saddens me, because I like the accordian; but every indie band in the world is using one these days. Move on! Make a wash basin bass or something...bring back the theremin!

Lastly, Colin Malloy's voice makes me dry heave and air punch. It makes my ear drums suicidal. I seriously hate it that much. Any musical merit the band may have is almost instantly whitewashed by his annoying, fake-accented voice.

Yeah...not a big fan...Enjoy the free concert though!

[aneg]

colin meloy is very easy on the eyes. which makes the band all the more awesome. his voice, ive found, is also a lot less indie rock whiny than a mojority of the whiny indie rock out there. and they arent using an accordian to be precious. if they didnt have the accordian/ keys/ violin in their music itd seriously be lacking.

shrug, i just love them and everything they do.

also, i didnt realzie the lcd show was sold out. darn. now i have to figure out how to get a ticket.

[elisabeth]

Lastly, Colin Malloy's voice makes me dry heave and air punch. It makes my ear drums suicidal. I seriously hate it that much. Any musical merit the band may have is almost instantly whitewashed by his annoying, fake-accented voice.

Yeah...not a big fan...Enjoy the free concert though!

i find it super-funny that someone who likes daniel johnston and joanna newsome has a problem with colin meloy's voice. i love all three of 'em, but come on man! daniel johnston is a lot harder to get used to than colin meloy. and joanna newsome, yikes! i love her now, but it took me a while to get past the voice and hear the great songwriting. of course now i can't imagine any other voice singing her songs, but it was jarring at first. colin meloy is by far the least offensive out of the three.

aaanyhow.

i love the coconut records album, but i can't be very objective when it comes to schwartzman. i kind of love everything he does, ever. still, i think i'd like it even if it wasn't him... it's just a sweet, relaxed little california album.

[PatTracy]

i find it super-funny that someone who likes daniel johnston and joanna newsome has a problem with colin meloy's voice. i love all three of 'em, but come on man! daniel johnston is a lot harder to get used to than colin meloy. and joanna newsome, yikes! i love her now, but it took me a while to get past the voice and hear the great songwriting. of course now i can't imagine any other voice singing her songs, but it was jarring at first. colin meloy is by far the least offensive out of the three.

Ha! Where's the red-in-the-face emoticon when you need it? I'll use this guy instead :eek:

I can't explain it!

Maybe I cut Daniel slack because he's mentally ill, and Joanna because, umm, she plays the harp...? I don't know. Either way, yeah, i'm sure I look like a hypocrit for chewing out Ol' Colin, but his voice sends me right up the GD wall. His vocal style seems really contrived while the other two seem, in my eyes, more genuine. They both could be just as guilty as CM, though, I have no proof otherwise.

Joanna Newsom's new EP is good! get it!

[Edison]

There is a certain affectation that male rock vocalists have that does grate me cheese. The overannunciation of certain vowels, ..it's supposed to be dramatic or stagey, or something, but it just sounds silly.
A classic example? Ronnie James Dio.
I liked the band Stone Temple Pilots, but on the first couple of releases it's clear that Scott Weiland was still looking for his own voice.

These days when I hear that vocal style it always reminds me of Satan's rock opera sequence from the South Park movie, and I can't help but laugh. Trey Parker heightens that cheesy vocal style perfectly. It's a Jim Steinman/Michael Kamen wankfest.

Singers like Daniel Johnston, Lou Reed, Jeff Mangum, ..People who you might normally cringe at, seem to succeed with an earnest delivery. Always a complement to exceptionally personal songwriting.
______

I do sometimes regret just missing the opportunity to attend a small club in West Philly, sometime around 1990, to catch Dinosaur Jr opening for My Bloody Valentine.
I'll bet that was a good (and loud) show.