Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests Of...

Normally the whole dude-with-acoustic thing doesn't do much for me, but Josh Ritter is a different kind of dude-with-acoustic. Lyrically he's almost embarrassingly warm and charming. The songs themselves have that undeniable Woody Guthrie kind of authenticity, almost like there's a little role for all of us in each number. They're not all overwrought with emotion, just honest folk tunes from somebody who seems like a good, wholesome dude. This album plays like a friend who's just calling to check in and tell you what's been going on.

LINK:
Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests Of...

Top Rock Drummers

Stylus has a great feature this week, counting down the top rock drummers of all time. Is John Bonham a shoe-in for #1? It's hard to say.

Here's my list of drummers that might appear in the Top 10:

• Neil Peart (Rush)
  
• John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
  
• Keith Moon (The Who)
  
• Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
  
• Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
  
• Stewart Copeland (The Police)
  
• Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
  
• Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
  
• Phil Collins (Genesis / solo)
  
• Alex Van Halen (Van Halen)
  

I'll predict Bonham takes gold, as he is easily my favorite drummer of all time. This is definitely NOT a of Top 10 personal favorites -- just those I think are likely. To me, Keith Moon is incredibly overrated, and Lars doesn't get enough credit -- probably because he's kind of a douchebag.

That said, Stylus will inevitably throw us a couple of curve balls, Animal from the Muppets, or something. Will Ginger Baker make the cut? Dave Grohl? Max Weinberg? Who did I forget?

Post your list, and we'll see who's closest later this week, once they're all announced.

Hüsker Dü: New Day Rising

So I started linking each album covers to the corresponding All Music Guide review, so you guys can read a piece of writing by someone who has an editor, and actually gets paid to do it.

My thoughts on this album: yeah, it's heavy, but not in the usual thick, chunky, metal way. Nor does it sound as sloppy and carefree as a hardcore punk record (not that I've heard too many of those). There aren't a lot of peaks and valleys, but more of a sustained fury... with pop sensibilities! I don't have them all, but some people say this is Hüsker Dü's best album.

LINK: Hüsker Dü: New Day Rising

Electrelane: No Shouts, No Calls

Here's an all-female band that fucking rocks. Is that sexist?

LINK: Electrelane: No Shouts, No Calls

Free Flight of the Conchords Episizzles

A Million Monkeys isn't the only blog talking about HBO's new show Flight of the Conchords. Apparantly, it is hilarious. I haven't seen it yet, but I did recently discover that episodes I and IV are available for download FOR FREE via iTunes. Go snag 'em up.

NOTE: For some reason iTunes drops the episode in your podcast sort. It's not a podcast, it's a a movie file, so fear not.

Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan

Here's a clip from a fascinating new Dylan biopic that's set for release later this year. There are a series of actors set to play Bob, each portraying a different period of his life: Blanchett tackles Blonde On Blonde-era Dylan, Heath Ledger takes on the womanizing Dylan, Christian Bale as evangelist Bob of the lates 70s-early 80s and Richard Gere as the elder Dylan highlight the cast.

Sure, Cate Blanchett might strongely resemble Bob in this scene, but holy shit... David Cross is a dead-ringer for Allen Ginsberg.

Little Feat: Dixie Chicken

A masterpiece of '70s southern, country-rock, and a must-listen for fans of The Band, The Flying Burrito Bros, The Faces, Allman Bros and others.

LINK: Little Feat: Dixie Chicken

Los Campesinos - Sticking Fingers in to Sockets

This is their new EP. Their stuff seems a combination of a punky Architecture in Helsinki and the chick that sings the chorus in Len's "Steal My Sunshine." Seriously though, did that girl resurface in this band?

This disc is a shorty but a goody. You can tell this is their first real recorded material because the songs have a shitload of energy, excitement and straight up youth. Quick changes, and a lot of ideas crammed in to small spaces. I'm curious to hear what some of you guys think of this band (play the video below and comment).

LINK:
Los Campesinos - Sticking Fingers in to Sockets

Los Campesinos - "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives"

Great song and one of the more intense videos I've seen lately. Low budget animation at its best!



Their whole EP is kickin'. I will try to hunt it down.

Hot Chip: Coming on Strong

This is Hot Chip's second, and ultimately poorly-received, album. If you know Hot Chip, you've probably heard their most recent release, The Warming, and this is in many ways a warm up for that album. There's a ton of potential on this disc, and a lot of tracks have a demo-ish feel.

Really, the cover says it all: incomplete, under produced, synthesized, two-tone, dry, straightforward, partially explicit and kinda funny lookin'. If you like two or more of those things, you'll probably dig this disc.

LINK:
Hot Chip: Coming on Strong

Blitzen Trapper: Wild Mountain Nation

The first word that comes to mind when I hear this disc -- and specifically in the case of the first few songs -- is "blistering." Maybe it's a B-L-I thing, or maybe because it's just dirty, raw, down-home rock that sounds like it was recorded with a bunch of shitty microphones. It's not down-home in a Skynard sense, but more like the noise that comes from the basement of so many suburban homes in this country. It's just a bunch of kids having a good time, and being really loud. It's also a little country-fied. It's like a country-fied version of Slanted & Enchanted pretty much.

LINK:
Blitzen Trapper: Wild Mountain Nation

The Replacements: Don't You Know Who I Think I Was

I'm headed to Minneapolis in a couple of weeks, and what better way to celebrate then to throw out a post from the quintessential Minny band, The 'placements. That is unless you prefer Husker Du, or Soul Asylum, or Prince, or the Jayhawks. Was there ever a cooler music scene than Minny in the 80s and early 90s?

LINK:
The Replacements: Don't You Know Who I Think I Was

It's a best-of, but I think this record should be on the list of best-of, best-ofs.

Deep Fat 1.3 / Byron Bloggeth Once More

I can't help myself. I must constantly mess with the template of this blog. Hey... Byron is back blogging. Go Byron.

Red House Painters: s/t

Music for a rainy day. The best thing about RHP is that they sound like your friend's friend's band. The record is low budget, but it absolutely reeks of passion and certainty.

LINK:
Red House Painters: self-titled (AKA "Rollercoaster")

Roundup

Hello readers -- I'm still here. Sorry, I've been away from the house quite a bit over the last few weeks and haven't had much time to scour for content to post on this mother. Here are a couple of quick links you will hopefully enjoy.



The Jayhawks: Hollywood Town Hall -- Say what you will about Uncle Tupelo, Old 97s, etc -- to me the Jayhawks release of Hollywood was the true watershed moment / tipping point in the whole alt-country movement of the early 90s. This album is an instant classic, and a must-own for any fans of striaght-ahead rock music.



The Thrills: Teenager -- new one from this Irish via Southern Cali band, sounds like most of their other stuff. That means if half excellent and half shite.




Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin -- Posting this just in case. You should have this album by now, and if not, then shame on you. Third best album of the 90s? Maybe.

A bunch more:
Ugly Cassanova: Sharpen Your Teeth
Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
The Smiths: Meat is Murder
Grizzly Bear: Yellow House

Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog

Here's the new one from Iron & Wine, and it is outstanding... his best since The Creek Drank the Cradle. That's saying something because over 2 albums and 3 EPs, his work has always progressed artistically, and been strikingly consistent.

The Shepherd's Dog finds Sam Beam taking on gradually more expansive arrangements and instrumentation. If the muddy homemade recordings on Creek showed Beam's potential as a songwriter, then Shepherd is his PhD dissertation. Highly recommended.



LINK:
Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog

Animal Collective: Strawberry Jam

Haven't had a chance to listen to this one yet, but the solo album from Animal Collective member, Panda Bear, that came out earlier this year was excellent. Critics typically fawn over this group, and their albums are always worth a listen.

LINK:
Animal Collective: Strawberry Jam

One Last Post

CDs I'm bringing on a 4 hour roadtrip with the momms, between Manchester, NH and Bar Harbor:

The Band - The Last Waltz
Wilco - Being There
The Beatles - Past Masters Volume 2
The Best of Taj Mahal
Phil Collins - Hits!
Crosby, Still, Nash & Young - Four Way Street
Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
Grateful Dead - Two From the Vault
Postal Service - Give Up
Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days

Mom-approved / Mom-might-also-enjoy listening!

Ouf of the office though July 9

Hey everybody -- I'm taking off to Maine for the 4th to visit fam. I'll be back the week of July 9.

Here's some Acadia National Park pics from last time I was up there. You should really go sometime.