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I’m a bit slow on posting this one… perhaps because: 1. my photos from the show sucked (see below) – 2. I wanted to get a chance to listen to newly released album Here to Stay (absolutely tragic name for an album by the way) – or 3. I saw them play just a few weeks ago at the Empty Bottle.

The show was a blast… in attendance was CJ, Ish, Leigh, Bennie, My Bro, Shark, McBoom and even Hedberg. I enjoyed the set but have to admit that I thought the Empty Bottle show was better. I guess hearing the material live for first time (in a while) just played better… or the ability to get up close at the Empty Bottle makes the atmosphere more engaging. That being said, I enjoyed the performance and the packed audience seemed to eat it up. ‘The Bullet and the Arrow’ went over with resounding success – the audience alternating the chorus “Anywhere but where we are right now” with Hank on stage. The line could’ve come off as trite but when you have an entire audience joining in, it all the sudden seems to have weight and significance. Now they just gotta get an encore number together.

On to the album (Here to Stay) which I’ve listened to a few times through since Friday. First things first, Hank’s voice emerges with more subtilty and enunciation than you hear live. This allows the material on the album a greater variance which is key to most any quality rock album. Some of the best songs on the disc are the ’softer’ acoustic numbers such as “Pass Away” that I don’t think they play live (or if they do, they do so as a band).

The frustrating part about the album is the song “Keep Up”. The beginning is moving, opening with just drums and an intermittent bright guitar chord. Hank comes in with lyrics that play well off each other – even more so due to the lack of spacing between lines – each sentence basically runs into the next and one’s not sure at first listen where one thought ends and the next begins. The last line of the first verse builds to scream: “…we’re not in trouble, we’re just surrounded by Enemy Fire” behind a wall of guitar distortion. Love it… the duality between the insouciant opening and the unadulterated angst that ends it is pure rock ‘n roll. The next verse builds on the same idea but ends in more subdued fashion that only to leads us into a well-worn, anthemic rock chorus that just kills whatever came before it…. Tragic. What was a beautifully constructed piece of music falls victim to the all-too-common rock convention that the chorus must involve some catchy pop chord progression and a touch vocal harmony. I’ve listened to this song perhaps 10 times but haven’t had the heart to make it all the way through more than the first few listens. Usually I’ll just play the beginning really fucking loud for a good cathartic release and then become disinterested about 2 minutes in.

I’m being harsh – I know… for a first album this is terrific stuff. ‘These Girls’, ‘Run of the Mill’ and ‘Here to Stay’ are all great songs that play just as well on the album as they do live.

I can’t even sing and play at the same time so I don’t know what makes me one to think my opinion means jack shit. Check ‘em out live – if you dig the show – get the album.

I thought this was a great quote from the latest issue of Uncut:

The Blue Line has been running at 6 miles per hour lately which provides me with ample time to catch up on some new music – and get through some crosswords as well. The train was moving so slow today that I managed to complete both the Trib crossword and sudoku puzzle while riding from Division to Clark/Lake (that’s 3 stops for those unfamiliar with the inner-workings of the CTA). I’ve wandered off the point of this post – namely a few new tunes that I’m digging at the moment…

1. The Shins: “Australia” (from the album Wincing the Night Away) [2007]
I’ve never been a huge fan of The Shins (I’ve never seen them live, for example) but I always give their latest stuff a listen and I must say Wincing the Night Away is worth picking up.

2. Midlake: “Branches” (from the album The Trials of Van Occupanther) [2006]
I heard about these guys because Schuba’s web site mentioned that they had sold out their upcoming show a month in advance. I figured if they sold out Schuba’s that far in advance they must have something going for them. I picked up The Trials of Van Occupanther and was pleasantly surprised, although I must admit some songs tend to sway a bit too much into the Thom Yorke/Radiohead realm – a realm that only Radiohead can pull off and not be called out on it.

3. Menomena: “Wet & Rusting” (from the album Friend & Foe) [2007]
I don’t know much about Menomena but I believe I saw them years ago open up for The National. This song is good stuff – I don’t have the whole album but I intend to get it when I come across some cash (may be a while folks).

4. Smog: “The Bowery” (from the EP Rock Bottom Riser) [2006]
Bill Callahan is the Shit… ’nuff said.

And one I hate to admit to…

5. The Killers: “Read My Mind” (from the album Sam’s Town) [2006]
I’ve been avoiding The Killers new album like the plague but I was surfing the web the other day and saw their video for this song and actually kind of liked it. It’s worth a listen – but don’t go and buy it – just download it like I did…

Went with my Bro to see ‘Grizzly Bear’ play before a sold-out crowd at Subterranean on Friday. I don’t know if it was all the cold medicine I had ingested over the course of the day, the enormous meal I had just eaten, the packed and smoky atmosphere of SubT, or the combination of the three, but for whatever reason I was never absorbed by the performance… and that’s why we go to shows, right? Or at least that’s why I go.

The supporting act was ‘The Dirty Projectors’ who I thought, from my first listen, was fronted by a guy with cerebral palsy but he seemed to gather his spastic wits and put together a solid ending number.

I enjoyed some of the ‘Grizzly Bear’ performance but their lead singer sometimes seemed to drift off into Morrissey-mode and lull me to sleep. I’ve never been a big fan of the original Morrissey, and even if I was I doubt I would be impressed by this guy’s take on the whole steez.

Either way, they did play ‘On a Neck, On a Spit’ to end the show so I was happy… and ‘Colorado’ was done quite well to boot.

Went to Hugo’s Frog Bar Friday to celebrate aunt Susan’s 60th Birthday. Only snapped a few pics – one of Susan with CJ and Diddy and the other is of ‘The U.P.’ scratching while ‘The Dows’ lays down the rhymes.

Well, it’s about -5˚ outside today so I’ve decided to stay in for the night. Unfortunately, I don’t have much in the way of new movies to watch. I have one documentary called ‘Time Indefinite’ that I’m not that intrigued by, so instead of firing it up I’ve decided to list 10 great (and lesser known) movies that were released in the last 10 years… I left off movies that everyone has undoubtedly heard of like ‘Memento’ or ‘Fight Club’.

Elling

[2001] dir: Petter Næss

‘Elling’ is a brilliant Norwegian comedy about two patients at a state institution (Elling and Kjell Barne) who, after 2 years, are given their own government-funded apartment. Elling had lived his entire life with his mother and first went to the institution when she passed away and his roommate Kjell Barne is a sex-obsessed 40 year-old virgin. Every element of their daily lives is a comedic adventure.

Best In Show

[2000] dir: Christopher Guest

Christopher Guest was the brilliant mind behind the ultimate mockumentary ‘Spinal Tap’ and has made a slew funny films since. ‘Best in Show’ is a riotous spoof on dog show nuts… I especially love Parker Posey’s overly obsessed character and Eugene Levy seems to do his best work with Christopher Guest roles.

Little Dieter Needs to Fly

[1997] dir: Werner Herzog

A documentary about a German-born US Pilot from the Vietnam War. Dieter Dengler was shot down over Laos in 1966 and captured by the Viet Cong. While imprisoned he was starved, beaten and shackled until he weighed only 85 pounds. Dieter manages to escape and Werner Herzog gets him to tell his story first hand. An amazing tale…

Sweet and Lowdown

[1999] dir: Woody Allen

I’ve seen every movie Woody Allen has ever directed and this is one of his best (and certainly his best in the last 20 years). Supposedly Sean Penn and Allen never saw eye-to-eye on the film but regardless, I think the story is a brilliant, humor-filled tale. ‘Wanna go to the dump and shoot some rats?’ – what a priceless pickup line…

Autumn Spring (Babi Leto)

[2001] dir: Vladimir Michalek

The Czech tale of an aging old prankster (Frantisek) who refuses to grow old and take on worldly responsibilities. Not unlike with Elling, the humor here is dry but brilliant. Fransitek has found a way to enjoy old age and avoid the fear of death.

Amores Perros

[2000] dir: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

‘Amores Perros’ is a Spanish-language film from Alejandro Inarritu who directed both ‘21 Grams’ with Benicio Del Toro and the highly acclaimed ‘Babel’ with Brad Pitt. The carefully crafted plot is a series interwoven events that take place in Mexico City. Both gripping and poignant, you’ll see why the filmmaker has gone on to have such success in Hollywood.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

[2005] Alex Gibney

If you’re at all interested in the story behind the Enron Scandal, this is the documentary for you. A well researched and thorough account of the entire ordeal. Includes all kinds of interesting accounts and details of the inner workings of Enron.

Life is Beautiful (La Vita e Bella)

[1997] dir: Roberto Benigni

Compassionate and heartwarming story of a Jewish family trying to survive during the Holocaust. The film went on to win 3 Academy Awards. Perhaps Benigni’s greatest role (with his role in ‘Down by Law’ a close second).

Tsotsi

[2005] dir: Gavin Hood

My Mom recommended this one and I gotta say she was dead on. ‘Tsotsi’ is the story (and the name) of a young thug fending for himself in the slums of Johannesburg, South Africa. Tsotsi begins the story as a cold-hearted killer but finds himself in a precarious situation when he car jacks a woman and leaves her for dead only to find that her newborn baby is in the back seat.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston

[2005] Jeff Feuerzeig

A bio-doc about underground musician Daniel Johnston. A story absolutely too crazy for fiction, you don’t even need to dig his music to find the movie fascinating.

I got the chance to catch up with Esley and the Schiller kids for the first time in long a while. Soccer started up again this week and needless to say, the kids are amped.