Electronic Music NewsDinosaur Jr. kicks off X Games music
The News Review:
- Dinosaur Jr. kicks off X Games music
- Still full of Rage
- Prowess that produces
- Meet The Eels: Essential Eels Volume 1 1996-2006
Dinosaur Jr. kicks off X Games music
Aspen Times – Jan 21, 2008
‘s first album in a decade with the original lineup of guitarist J Mascis bassist Lou Barlow and drummer Murph. The big-name concerts at Wagner Park in Aspen that had become a staple of the Winter X Games on Friday and Saturday nights in recent years have been discontinued. Live music will however be offered at Buttermilk for the first time (see the schedule below). In conjunction with the games out at Buttermilk which begin Thursday and conclude Sunday the resort will debut the new King of Quarters competition at the base of Aspen Mountain. The invitational event will feature top male skiers and snowboarders competing in a quarterpipe under the lights for $30000 in cash and prizes according to the Aspen Skiing Co. The quarterpipe is being constructed on the Little Nell run within walking distance of the gondola plaza. The King of Quarters takes place Friday and Saturday Jan… Denver-based DJ noted for his blend of hip-hop rock electro and break-beat. New singer-songwriter-musician with a debut album “Taking Back Brooklyn” in the works for release in ’08. A true up-and-comer or a name you’ll never hear again? nly time will tell.
Still full of Rage
The Age – Jan 21, 2008
It wasoften shambolic and overblown – the septet combine hornsstringsmarching band percussion and full-throttled singing – butwhen it all coalesced in surging anthemic songs such as WakeUp and No Cars Go it was a euphoric experience. And would Rage Against the Machine still have the magic a decadeafter calling it a day? Would their moshpit top the one from theirBig Day ut appearance a decade ago? If not would the fresherpunk-funk stylings of LCD Soundsystem reign supreme at the sametime on the Boiler Room stage?And what of quirky Icelandic performer Bjork? What would shewear? And would she attack the photographers again? How would herset segue into the political firestorm of Rage Against the Machine?Would she suffer the same fate as Crowded House at California’sCoachella Festival last year when over-enthusiastic Rage fanspelted them with cups and abuse?Fortunately not. Bjork mesmerised the audience with herotherworldly collage of electro pop off-kilter rhythms chambermusic and techno. Backed by a 10-piece Icelandic women’s choir andhorn section in DayGlo robes she danced and whirled about like apixie performing samurai moves letting loose her powerful attimes shrieking voice that belies her tiny frame before the showpeaked in a shower of confetti and an explosion of strobelights. It was a strange shift from the haunting ethereal charms ofBjork into the gnarly political rap metal of Rage Against theMachine but it was aided by the celestial interlude of Lords ofLightning. For 10 minutes New Zealand electrical engineer CarlosVan Camp conducted lightning bolts from his metallic suit in atruly astounding performance that recalled actor Christopher Lee’swizard in The Lord of the Rings. Needless to say the crowd were pretty charged up when Rage hitthe stage.
Prowess that produces
Denver Post – Jan 21, 2008
But his application of these elements to an otherworldly songwriting prowess often produces some of the best music around. n “Distortion” the man behind the massive “69 Love Songs” box set and various electro-organic projects unites heart-squeezing songs with fuzzy guitars and echo-laden percussion creating the first truly great record of 2008. Merritt’s voice is in fine form on buzzing laments like “ld Fools” which sounds like it was recorded under a shower of welding sparks. But frequent member Shirley Simms provides the bulk of the melodic highs particularly on the brittle “California Girls” and strangely ebullient “Nun’s Litany. ” The instrumentation invokes the Jesus and Mary Chain’s neo-Wall of Sound approach with choking self- consciousness instantly living up to the disc’s title. Certainly this is as noisy as we’ve ever heard this normally crisp outfit… Ricardo BacaGrand le Party “Humanimals” (DH Records) Initial thoughts on the first listen of “Humanimals:” San Diego’s Grand le Party is borrowing equally from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs — both lyrically and with daggerlike guitars — and some of Motown’s sparsest compositions. It sounds nice and that’s part of the problem. This kind of music should be fierce and out of control and fearless not nice. Thoughts after a few more listens: The production on this record — headed up by Blake Sennett of Rilo Kiley and the Elected — is too clean and precise. You need the kind of attitude in the music to match the sass singer-drummer Karen Gundred is spitting. My guess is that Grand le Party as young as they are has quite a live show.
Meet The Eels: Essential Eels Volume 1 1996-2006
InTheNews.co.uk – Jan 21, 2008
Gritty eccentric tender melodic melancholicWhat’s it all about?Meet the Eels: Essential Eels Volume 1 is a compilation of tracks taken from the first decade of the Eels’ music history. Tracks are taken from their critically acclaimed albums Beautiful Freak (1996) Electro-shock Blues (1998) Daisies of the Galaxy (2000) Souljacker (2001) Shootenanny! (2003) and Blinking Lights and ther Revelations (2005). From the more anthemic Beautiful Freak with well-known hits Novocaine for the Soul and Susan’s House – both of which reached the top ten in the UK – to the more melodic Blinking Lights and ther Revelations this is a best of album that promises to deliver wholeheartedly to fans and the uninitiated alike. Sometimes playing alone sometimes playing with many others accomplished musician Everett is distinctive for his unique mix of electro-guitar rifts instrumental jangling and rasping vocals… From the more anthemic Beautiful Freak with well-known hits Novocaine for the Soul and Susan’s House – both of which reached the top ten in the UK – to the more melodic Blinking Lights and ther Revelations this is a best of album that promises to deliver wholeheartedly to fans and the uninitiated alike. Sometimes playing alone sometimes playing with many others accomplished musician Everett is distinctive for his unique mix of electro-guitar rifts instrumental jangling and rasping vocals. After the experience of losing his father (a famous pioneer of quantum physics) as a young man followed by his sister’s suicide and the loss of his mother to cancer Everett knows a thing or two about tragedy. There is a sense of irony in his dark but tender lyrics that are often teamed with electric drum beats or discordant melodies. ” It’s difficult to place the sound of the Eels whose descriptions range from “alternative rock” to “indie dirge” through to “eccentric pop”.