Record Releases – 2/21/12

Here’s what drops this week. Stuff marked * should be good:

Feb-21-12 Archers of Loaf – Vee Vee (reissue) Merge
Feb-21-12 Band of Skulls – Sweet Sour Electric Blues Records/Vagrant
Feb-21-12 Cheap Girls – Giant Orange Rise
Feb-21-12 Colleen Green – Milo Goes to Compton Art Fag
Feb-21-12 Consumers – All My Friends Are Dead In The Red
Feb-21-12 Dirty Ghosts – Metal Moon Last Gang Record
Feb-21-12 Dustin Wong – Dreams Say, View, Create, Shadow Leads Thrill Jockey
Feb-21-12 English Singles – Grey Skies USA Slumberland
Feb-21-12 Field Music – Plumb Memphis Industries
Feb-21-12 *Frankie Rose – Interstellar Slumberland
Feb-21-12 fun. – Some Nights Atlantic Records
Feb-21-12 *Grimes – Visions Arbutus Records
Feb-21-12 Howlin Rain – Russian Wilds Birdman
Feb-21-12 Ital – Hive Mind Planet Mu
Feb-21-12 John Wesley Coleman – Last Donkey Show Goner
Feb-21-12 Jonquil – Point of Go Dovecote
Feb-21-12 La Big Vic – Dub the World!: Actually Revisited Underwater Peoples
Feb-21-12 Lambchop – Mr. M Merge
Feb-21-12 Pallbearer – Sorrow and Extinction Profound Lore
Feb-21-12 Perfume Genius – Put Your Back N 2 It Matador
Feb-21-12 Pontiak – Echo Ono Thrill Jockey
Feb-21-12 Prinzhorn Dance School – Clay Class DFA
Feb-21-12 Pyramids – Pyramids Hydra Head
Feb-21-12 Roommates – TBA 7″ Slumberland
Feb-21-12 *Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror Mom + Pop
Feb-21-12 Terry Malts – Killing Time Slumberland
Feb-21-12 Tindersticks – The Something Rain Constellation
Feb-21-12 Various Artists – Time to Go: The Southern Psychedelic Moment: 1981-1986 Flying Nun
Feb-21-12 Wooden Shjips – Remixes Thrill Jockey
Posted in record releases | Leave a comment

This Week in Shows

New stuff added to the SHOWcal include a DJ set by James Murphy at the Mid and an appearance by newly-reunited Beach Boys at the Chicago Theatre. Here’s what’s going on this week:

Fri Feb 17 7:30pm – 10:30pm
Jayhawks @ Vic This event has reminders.
9:00pm – 11:00pm
Sharon Van Etten @ Lincoln Hall This event has reminders.
10:00pm – 11:00pm
Twin Sister @ Empty Bottle This event has reminders.
Sat Feb 18 8:00pm – 11:00pm
Dr. Dog @ Vic Theater This event has reminders.
8:00pm – 11:00pm
Sage Francis @ Bottom Lounge This event has reminders.
9:00pm – 12:00am
Death Ships @ Hideout This event has reminders.
Sun Feb 19 12:00am – 2:00am
Asobi Seksu @ Saki This event has reminders.
4:00pm – 7:00pm
Asobi Seksu @ Saki This event has reminders.
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Screaming Females @ Permanent Records This event has reminders.
9:00pm – 11:00pm
Asobi Seksu @ Reggie’s This event has reminders.
9:30pm – 12:30am
Guns N’ Roses @ HOB This event has reminders.
Mon Feb 20 9:30pm – 12:30am
Guns N’ Roses @ HOB This event has reminders.
All day
Presidents Day
Tue Feb 21 4:30pm – 7:30pm
In Flames @ HOB
8:00pm – 10:00pm
Zola Jesus @ Lincoln Hall This event has reminders.
Wed Feb 22 9:30pm – 12:30am
Slow Club/ Air Waves @ Empty Bottle This event has reminders.
Thu Feb 23 9:30pm – 12:30am
Slow Club/ Air Waves @ Empty Bottle This event has reminders.
Posted in this weekend in shows, TWIS | Leave a comment

Record Releases – 2/14/12

Just in time for V-Day, here’s what to buy your sweetie this week. Stuff marked * should be good:

Feb-14-12 Amoral – Beneath The End Records
Feb-14-12 Anya Marina – Felony Flats Copy Shop/Atlantic Records
Feb-14-12 *Chromatics – Kill for Love Italians Do It Better
Feb-14-12 Earth – Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II Southern Lord
Feb-14-12 Field Music – Plumb Memphis Industries
Feb-14-12 Gotan Project – La Revancha Del Tango XL Records
Feb-14-12 *Heartless Bastards – Arrow Partisan Records
Feb-14-12 *Islands – A Sleep & A Forgetting Anti
Feb-14-12 *Neurosis – Enemy of the Sun Relapse
Feb-14-12 Shearwater – Animal Joy Sub Pop
Feb-14-12 *Tennis – Young and Old Fat Possum Records
Feb-14-12 The Cranberries – Roses Downtown Records/Cooking Vinyl
Feb-14-12 *The Kills – The Last Goodbye Domino
Feb-14-12 Windy & Carl – We Will Always Be Kranky
Feb-14-12 Yuksek – Living on the Edge of Time Ultra Records
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

This Week in Shows

A few new things added to the SHOWcal today. Here’s what’s going on in the coming week:

 

Fri Feb 10 9:00pm – 12:00am
Rabbid Rabbit @ Panchos This event has reminders.
10:00pm – 12:00am
Netherfriends/Secret Colours @ Empty Bottle This event has reminders.
10:00pm – 2:00am
A-Trak @ The Mid
Sat Feb 11
7:00pm – 10:00pm
The Darkness @ Metro This event has reminders.
10:00pm – 12:00am
Get Up With the Get Downs @ Cobra Lounge
Tue Feb 14
7:00pm – 10:00pm
Black Belles @ LSA This event has reminders.
7:00pm – 11:00pm
Heartless Bastards @ Lincoln Hall This event has reminders.
Wed Feb 15 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Die Antword @ Metro This event has reminders.
9:30pm – 12:00am
Black Belles/Hollows @ Empty Bottle
Thu Feb 16 9:00pm – 11:00pm
Sharon Van Etten @ Lincoln Hall This event has reminders.
9:30pm – 11:30pm
Veronica Falls @ Empty Bottle This event has reminders.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

15 Second Review – Jeff Mangum @ the Athaneum

Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, this was my first opportunity to see Jeff Mangum/Neutral Milk Hotel. I’m extremely lucky to have had the chance at all.

As has been fully documented elsewhere, Jeff/NMH slid into the abyss not long after releasing two masterful albums – On Avery Island (1996) and Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998). So, this mini tour is something of a mystery that hasn’t really been explained. Indeed, during both Monday’s and Tuesday’s performances, Jeff (who repeatedly welcomed questions from the audience) never addressed his motives for disappearing, or now reappearing, other than in cryptic, half-bashful, references to “the love of his life” and the “unexpected power” of these songs. And I haven’t found publications with any answers more satisfying, either. But perhaps that is the point. After all, to many, these songs have become something of a religion, and deities don’t often explain themselves.

The show itself moved at a natural pace, especially once Jeff broke the tension of the crowd (which seemed nervous to make itself known, what being in the presence of such a worshiped enigma) by proclaiming “you don’t have to be so quiet.” After that, he moved seemingly randomly through the material of the two albums, occasionally switching between the 5 acoustic guitars that rang his seat at the front of the stage. Guest musicians popped in occasionally to underline segments with clarinet, trumpet and cello, but otherwise it was just Jeff, his guitars and his audience.

It was a hauntingly beautiful performance, and Jeff’s voice has held up well (better, perhaps, than on album). It was an emotional connection with songs I’ve heard countless times, but never before live. This one is going to stand out for a long, long time, but not only as one of the best shows I’ve ever attended. The mystery of this man, this show and this tour just seem well suited to the mystery and beauty of these songs, and to (finally) witness it live in so intimate of settings is surely something transcending a mere “show.”

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Record Releases – February 7, 2012

Here’s what drops this week. Stuff marked * should be good:

Feb-06-12 Goldfrapp – The Singles Mute / Parlophone
Feb-07-12 A Place To Bury Strangers – Onwards to the Wall EP Dead Oceans
Feb-07-12 Air – Le Voyage Dans La Lune Astralwerks
Feb-07-12 Ben Kweller – Go Fly A Kite The Noise Company
Feb-07-12 Ben Kweller – Go Fly a Kite The Noise Company
Feb-07-12 Blondes – Blondes RVNG Intl.
Feb-07-12 Cocteau Twins – Stars And Topsoil-A Collection 1982-1990 4AD
Feb-07-12 *Die Antwoord – TEN$ION ZEF/Good Smile/ Downtown
Feb-07-12 *Dr. Dog – Be The Void Anti
Feb-07-12 Francis Harris – Leland Scissor & Thread
Feb-07-12 Lindstrom – Six Cups of Rebel Smalltown Supersound
Feb-07-12 Mark Lanegan – Blues Funeral 4AD
Feb-07-12 Mux Mool – Planet High School Ghostly International
Feb-07-12 Pretty Good Dance Moves – LIMO Mad Dragon/Township Records
Feb-07-12 Rococode – Guns, Sex, and Glory Self-Released
Feb-07-12 Royal Baths – Better Luck Next Life Kanine
Feb-07-12 Senses Fail – The Fire Mightier Than Sword
Feb-07-12 Sharon Van Etten – Tramp Jagjaguwar
Feb-07-12 Sunshone Still – ThewaytheworldDies Potato Eater Records
Feb-07-12 The Darlings – The New Escape Organica Music Grou
Feb-07-12 The Duke Spirit – Bruiser Shangri-La Music
Feb-07-12 The Fray – Scars and Stories Epic Records
Feb-07-12 The Lemonheads – Hotel Sessions Hall of Records/Breath of Saltwater
Feb-07-12 The Twilight Sad – No One Can Never Know FatCat
Feb-07-12 Thelonius Monk – The Unique Thelonious Monk Fantasy
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Record Releases – Jan 31, 2012

Here’s what drops this week. Stuff marked * should be good:

Jan-31-12 Aufgehoben – Fragments of The Marble Plan Holy Mountain
Jan-31-12 Errors – Have Some Faith In Magic Rock Action Records
Jan-31-12 Fionn Regan – 100 Acres of Sycamore Heavenly Records
Jan-31-12 Golden Calves – Collection: Money Band + Century Woodsist
Jan-31-12 *Grimes – Visions Arbutus Records
Jan-31-12 Loops of Your Heart – And Never Ending Nights Magazine
Jan-31-12 One Model Nation – Total Werks Vol. 1 (1969-1977) The End Records
Jan-31-12 Pepe Deluxe – Queen of the Wave Asthmatic Kitty
Jan-31-12 Prinzhorn Dance School – Clay Class DFA
Jan-31-12 Susumu Yokota – Dreamer Lo Reordings
Jan-31-12 The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – Out of Frequency BMG Rights
Jan-31-12 The Big Sleep – Nature Experiments Frenchkiss
Jan-31-12 The Doozer – Keep It Together Woodsist
Jan-31-12 *The Phenomenal Handclap Band – Following Tommy Touch Records
Jan-31-12 Tomb – Uag Crucial Blast
Jan-31-12 Various Artists – Tally Ho! Flying Nun’s Greatest Bits Flying Nun
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment