Go News Go! – The Weekly News Recap

As disappointing as the recent film, “1408,” it’s this week’s news!

• Random Of Montreal butchery.
• New Stars album! I swear, if this is more anti-war hogwash from those Canadians, I will be very upset.
• Sufjan takes over the world, one mediocre album at a time.
• More places to avoid this Summer, courtesy of Cale.
• How you can help fund Victoria Beckham’s plastic surgery.
• Rogue Wave crosses over to the dark side, plan Curious George album.
• Sonic Youth play Marfa, TX…it’s near the Pecos River. Yes, it is the middle of nowhere.

Top 5 Places to Start and Indie Band

For as widespread and popular as indie music is becoming, it’s surprising to note that the majority of the music I listen to only comes from a handful of places. With that being said, if you’re at all interested in forming an indie rock band, or just breaking into the scene, you can’t do it in Newark! The following list is comprised of the top 5 places on planet earth where you should move to if you want to start an indie band.

#5: Scotland – It’s best to hang out in Glasgow for a while, but you’ll never be a successful Scottish indie band if you don’t go roam the beautiful countryside every now and then. In recent years, this country has exported some fairly decent music, including the Twilight Sad, Mogwai, Camera Obscura, Franz Ferdinand, and perhaps most notably, Belle and Sebastian. I won’t use the “there must be something in the water” cliche (because I’m saving it for #1), but something is definitely going on over in England’s red-headed step child. And hey, even if you don’t make it as a musician, at least you can say you ate haggis!

#4: Sweden – This completely inconsequential country is quickly becoming the central hub for pansy indie music. Bands like The Concretes, The Cardigans, The Hives, Peter Bjorn and John, and Loney, Dear all hail from this place. If that isn’t enough of a reason for you to pack your bags and head to Sweden, maybe the fact that it’s totally babealicious will (groupies, anyone?). Sure, that may be a stereotype and I may have no proof to back it up, but isn’t the slight chance that it may be true, enough? It should be.

#3: Omaha, Nebraska – Omaha isn’t exactly a place where you’d expect to find a seemingly limitless number of hipsters wandering the streets looking for gigs, but it most assuredly is. Sure, the city may have given us crap like 311 and The Faint, but it is also responsible for Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes, Tilly and the Wall, and Cursive! If you’re planning to move to Omaha to “exploit the booming music scene” as Jenny Lewis would say, it’s probably best to just sit across the street from Saddle Creek records and play your guitar, case open on the ground. Just wait. Keep playing. Eventually, they’re sure to sign you. I mean, they signed Conor Oberst.

#2: Austin, Texas – I’m pretty proud of the fact that my home state of Texas was able to produce such talented acts as …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, the American Analog Set, Explosions in the Sky, Voxtrot, Okkervil River, Spoon, and I Love You but I’ve Chosen Darkness. At the same time, however, I’m a bit disappointed that the best my home city of Houston could do was Mike Jones (who?). Yes, all the bands listed above are from none other than Austin, the capitol of this great state. Even though the competition in Austin is pretty tough, the exposure you’ll get for playing at SXSW one year could sky rocket you. Look what it did for Daniel Johnston! Yes, if you’re in the United States and you want to make it in the indie music world, there’s no better place than Austin, Texas!

#1: Canada – As much as I should hate Canada for the simple fact that it’s filled with Canadians, I don’t. In fact, Canada has singlehandedly produced some of my favorite music of the last decade or so. Stars, Broken Social Scene, Metric, Tegan and Sara, The Dears, the New Pornographers, Arcade Fire, the Hidden Cameras, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Death From Above 1979, The Unicorns, the list goes on and on! It could be because a lot of these bands work together, or it could be because the Canadian government actually grants money to musicians. Personally, I think there’s something in the water. See, I told you I’d use it. I’m a man of my word.

Video of the Week – Week 25

Tegan and Sara – “Speak Slow” from the album “So Jealous”

Sell-Outs?: The Quiet Rise of Indie Music

Writing the review for Metric’s “Grow Up and Blow Away” this morning got me to thinking about the number of times I’ve heard indie music in television advertisements. In case you missed it, back in 1999 Polaroid debuted the i-Zone camera and the North American ads ran a version of Metric’s “Grow Up and Blow Away.” It’s unclear what kind of help that commercial had in Metric’s rise to fame over the last decade, but one has to asume that in made a little bit of difference, right?

From Metric’s forgotten i-Zone commercial. The look of shock is a result of the poor sales of i-Zone cameras.

Of course, with every commercial to which an indie band lends its music, there’s aways a mob of hipsters with torches and pitchforks close behind, decrying the band as “sell-outs.” Of course, labeling a band as such is probably a bit misguided, not to mention completely inaccurate. For me, an artist selling out means that they changed their sound, or who they are as a band for money, fame, or what have you.

A perfect example of this would be the band Staind. Back in 1999 they released their album, brillianty titled “Dysfunction” (that’s sarcasm, folks). With it, they released the single “Mudshovel.” It got it’s fair share of play on MTV and on the radio for the better part of a week, and then it disappeared. So what did Staind do? They changed their approach. They went soft. They released “It’s Been Awhile” to much hype and fanfare, and since then every song released has sounded exactly like it. Staind went from Headbanger’s Ball to MTV Unplugged and never looked back.

That, friends, is selling out.

Are indie bands selling out by allowing their music to be used by companies for advertisements? I say no. Sure, Of Montreal may sell their melody for “Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games” to Outback Steakhouse, but what came of it? According to the band, the profits were used to add screens and costumes for touring. Anyone who has been to an Of Montreal show, both pre and post Outback commercial, knows that the difference is astronomical and well worth the 5 or 6 fans that may have decried their actions. And when you really look at it, Of Montreal took the money they made on the commercial and gave it right back to the fans. In no way is that selling out.

But what about other bands who aren’t giving these profits back to the fans, so to speak? As a musician, one of my primary goals is to get my content to people who are willing to listen by any means necessary. I can’t help but thinking that this is a somewhat universal goal in the world of music, especially for indie artist. If that’s true, then how is selling your music for one company to use on an advertisement any different than putting out a CD through another. It’s all just another way to get the music into peoples’ ears.

Does that mean that Wilco’s deal with Volkswagon, Mates of States’ deal with AT&T, Dntel’s deal with that car company, and even The Elected’s deal with Orbitz gum are all justified? Absolutely! I mean, indie artists aren’t exactly living in mansions and driving Bentleys. If they want to make a little extra cash and get their music to the people at the same time, more power to them; especially if it ends up going back to the fans as Of Montreal has done!

So before you set out to burn all your indie albums, think about this: would you rather hear Wilco or Nickelback? Of Montreal or Rihanna? Mates of State or Justin Timberlake? The choice is yours. Personally, I’m happy that the artists’ that I love are being heard. It may mean that I have to put up with more prepubescent tools when I go to a show, but if it means that I don’t have to put up with as much garbage, sign me up.

Metric: "Grow Up and Blow Away"

Does anyone remember the i-Zone? It was a little Polaroid camera that could print little messages on the instant photo. That was the gimmick, and quite unsurprisingly, it failed miserably. However, the North American television ads that accompanied this sure-fire failure contained a hidden gem. Floating in the background was a woman singing, “If this is the life, why does it feel so good to fly away?” The woman was Emily Haines, the band was Metric, and the song was a TV-friendly version of “Grow Up and Blow Away,” the title track to their ill-fated debut album. Originally recorded in 2001 (or 1999, depending on your source), the album features Metric as a two-piece and was delayed again and again by their record label until it was finally shelved to make room for “Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?” Six years later, and the album is finally being dusted off. Is it worth the wait?

Absolutely! “Grow Up and Blow Away” is immediately captivating, thanks to the lead-off and title track. The lyrics are back in their original form, Emily singing “Why does it feel so good to die today?” One of the things that’s instantly noticeable is that Metric as a two-piece is a much more toned-down affair. With just James and Emily, the songs are often just comprised of a drum machine and synthesizer. The result is a Metric that is just as awesome as their current incarnation, just less chaotic.

It’s all still really cool music though. “Rock Me Now” features a funky musical accompaniment and finds Emily merely speaking throughout its playtime. It’s actually James that does all the singing on the song, which is quite a shock to hear. At the same time, it’s an undeniably cool song, making you feel like throwing on your MIB-shades and bobbing your head uncontrollably. “The Twist” is another great song that utilizes an almost hip-hop beat. In the chorus, when James and Emily are harmonizing with each other, it’s absolutely beautiful. It makes me wish that more of this will happen on future Metric albums, though the actual chances of this are slim.

Though hints of their current new wave sound are apparent throughout the album, the majority of “Grow Up and Blow Away” feels much more like a straightforward pop album than anything else. “Raw Sugar,” for example, has a Corrine Bailey Rae-esque musical accompaniment and features Emily singing “I don’t want to die living in a high-rise grave” in a very soulful way. It’s very un-Metric like, but at the same time, it’s still a really great song. “White Gold” is another un-Metric song, sounding more like it could’ve been ripped off of Emily’s solo album, “Knives Don’t Have Your Back” if it weren’t for the harmonies and non-minimal production.

In the end, “Grow Up and Blow Away” is an album that all Metric fans should definitely check out. Though it peaks at the very first song, you’d be a fool to stop listening there. Even in their early history as a band, Metric shows an uncanny ability to craft brilliantly infectious pop songs that will stick with you for weeks and weeks. Although the sound of the album has a definite early-2000s feel to it, most of these songs stand the test of time (unlike the i-Zone). It may have taken six years to hit the shelves, but “Grow Up and Blow Away” is well worth the wait.

Recommended for fans of Metric and anyone who still rocks the i-Zone like it’s 1999!

Key Tracks:
1. “Grow Up and Blow Away”
2. “Rock Me Now”
3. “The Twist”
4. “On the Sly”
5. “White Gold”

7 out of 10 Stars

The White Stripes: "Icky Thump"

Back in the early 2000s, garage rock was going to be the “next big thing” after the forthcoming decline of pop-punk and Britney Spears. You had The Hives, The Vines, and perhaps most importantly, The White Stripes. Perhaps it was their mystique (Are the brother and sister? Husband and wife?), or maybe it was Jack White’s amazing ability to take a single guitar and make it sound like anything he wanted it to, but The White Stripes have hung around long after all those other bands faded into “Oh, who sang that one song?” territory. For better or for worse, The Stripes have stuck to their guns, staying true to the music that got them rich and famous. But should we still care?

If the title track is any indication of what’s coming on the rest of the album, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Unfortunately, it isn’t. “Icky Thump” is a raw channeling of classic rock ‘n’ roll with some added Stripes flair. Jack White is at his absolute best here, utilizing his singing, half talking method of delivery that has helped in their rise to fame. At the same time, some of his lyrics are just absurd. Take, for example, “White Americans want nothing better to do. Why don’t you kick yourself out? You’re an immigrant too!” Umm, sorry Jacky boy. That’s not exactly how it works. Stick to the guitar and save yourself the embarrassment that is sure to accompany your haphazard political statements.

“You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told)” has a more traditional southern rock sound to it. In my initial listen to the song, I wasn’t too impressed. However, I was surprised to find its melody stuck in my head later in the day. Still, we’ve heard this all before from the band, so it is more of a guilty pleasure than anything else. “300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues” is a really great song, despite the fact that it’s one of the calmest songs on the album. The guitar riff that runs throughout the song is absolutely infectious, and the screechy, chaotic solos are just as impressive. When Jack sings, “One thing’s for sure; in that graveyard I’m gonna have the shiniest pair of shoes” I chuckled a little bit and though that it could very well be the coolest ending to a song that I’ve heard in a while.

Perhaps the most impressive song on the album is “Conquest,” a cover of Patti Page’s 1950’s battle of the sexes classic. The song has a very south of the border feel to it, complete with mariachi trumpets and Jack White’s belting of “Coooooonqueeest!” It is a very stylish, and cool song. “Bone Broke” has classic White Stripes written all over it. Jack’s vocals are completely thrashed with distortion, and there are hints of “Fell In Love With a Girl” all over it, despite it’s toned-down nature.

There are very few notable tracks throughout the album’s second half, which is perhaps the biggest flaw of “Icky Thump.” Most of the songs end up bleeding into one another, sounding unbearably similar. In fact, the only thing really worth listening to are the things Jack does with the guitar. “I’m Slowly Turning Into You” and “A Martyr for My Love for You” both feature impressive guitar parts, the latter of which is actually a fairly decent song. “Effect and Cause” closes the album out nicely. A simple acoustic guitar song, Jack’s vocals are impressive, and it’s nice to hear the band trade layers of distortion for a relatively calm feel.

“Icky Thump” is truly hit and miss. While there are some impressive tracks on the album, the band really brings nothing new to the table. Of course, when you’re a two-person band and one of your members really can’t play their instrument, it’s tough to evolve. The White Stripes may have stuck around long after all those other “The-bands” fell off the face of the planet, but their music is just as stale. That may be a harsh assessment, but six albums into their career, The White Stripes have not progressed at all. Though it’s nice to hear a little rock ‘n’ roll every now and then, these guys aren’t saving the genre. They’re choking it to death.

Recommended for long-time fans of The White Stripes, and to anyone who likes classic rock but find themselves asking “Who are the White Stripes?” You’ll find them refreshing.

Key Tracks:
1. “Icky Thump”
2. “300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues”
3. “Conquest”
4. “A Martyr for My Love For You”
5. “Effect and Cause”

5 out of 10 Stars

Go News Go! – The Weekly News Recap

Gosh, I’m so far behind. Sorry for the late updates this week. Enjoy your un-noteworthy news.

• Bands like making money, Pitchfork shocked, sobs in corner!
• How to best idolize the most overrated musician in history.
• 50% worth seeing.
• Glastonbury rejoices!
• 50% worth seeing.
• What state will Sufjan pay tribute to next? We just don’t know!

Did you enjoy it? Are you happy now?

Top 5 Bands I’m Just Not That Into

Oh, so you’re an indie music blogger huh? Well, here’s a list of bands that you must like in order to hold any credibility. These bands are prerequisites! That’s what they say, at least. And though I’m not entirely sure who “they” are, they are definitely aggravating. Here’s a short list of bands that I “should like” but just don’t.

#5: TV on the Radio – The more and more I hear about these guys, the angrier I get. Despite all my attempts and all the will I can muster, I just can’t bring myself to actually find a redeeming quality in these guys. I read an interview with some big Hollywood type the other day, though I can’t remember who. But I distinctly remember him saying that this was one of his favorite bands. What? Really? I think the fact that some big Hollywood actor likes them should immediately disqualify them as a band I should like. That’s like saying I should like Dogstar. I don’t. Save the World? No thank you.

#4: Wilco – I’m a fan of a few Wilco songs. But not most. It’s a shame really, as I desperately want to like “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” but just can’t figure out what all the hype is about. At least Wilco is talented. That’s more than I can say for other bands on the list.

#3: Yo La Tengo – Admittedly, the only YLT album I’ve had the displeasure of hearing was last year’s “I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass,” but for such a critically acclaimed album, it was pretty worthless. Now I understand that I have about 20 years of back catalog to catch up on, but nothing I’ve heard encourages me to do so. So I have to think that any efforts by me to do so will be in vain. For now, I’ll just leave them alone.

#2: Pre-1999 The Flaming Lips – It’s apparent from their last 3 albums that Wayne Coyne can actually carry a tune, but anything that was made before 1999 only encourages me to stab my ears with a paper clip whose integrity has been compromised. Now, this is coming from a guy who’s never heard “Zaireeka,” but I’ve heard the rest. That’s enough for me to make a judgment on it. Hell, just looking at a picture of Ryan Adams is enough for me to make a judgment on him, so this one should at least carry a little bit of weight.

#1: Sonic Youth – Sad but true, the one band every indie wannabe needs to enjoy to graduate into an all-out hipster is not one of my favorites. Don’t get me wrong “Daydream Nation” has it’s definite moments, and I’m sure it was great back when I was in elementary school. But because I was really into Joe Diffie and Carman during those years, I never got to experience it in all its glory. Nowadays, it just isn’t doing it for me. If anyone has a problem with it, please write and say so. I need new comments for the “Reader Feedback” section.

My Thoughts On "Icky Thump"

I’m not really a big fan of it.

Press Play

Video of the Week – Week 24

“D.A.N.C.E.” by Justice from the album “Cross”