Dot Dot Dot, How Long
Marnie Stern, Grapefruit
Gossip, 8th Wonder
Stellastarr, Warchild
Mum, If I Were a Fish
Stars, Midnight Coward
Orenda Fink, Sister
Garrison Starr, Pauper
Rikah, Day After Day
Staci Twigg, Not Like You
His & Her Vanities, What It Is
Star 69, I’m Selfish
U.S.E., Dance With Me
Splendora, Rattle
The Bloodsugars, Light at the End of the Tunnel
The Spinanes, Suffice
Big Bang TV, Diamond
The Sounds, Queen of Apology
The Cribs, We Share the Same Skies
Regina Spektor, Somedays
A Fine Frenzy, What I Wouldn’t Do
The Soviettes, Bottom’s Up, Bottomed Out
Brilliant Colors, I Searched
The Softies, All in Good Time
Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies, Applesweet
Some Girls, Launch Pad
Globes on Remote, Space Camp
Solex, Randy Costanza
Deluka, OMFG
Slumber Party, I Don’t Mind
Smoosh, Bottlenose
Kendra Smith, Temporarily Lucy
Archive for November 2009
Joel’s Hit Show, Episode 44, November 8 2009 Playlist
November 8, 2009Drink Up Buttercup “Even Think”
November 8, 2009It’s a single with two B-sides. “Even Think” is short and has a lot of keyboard in it. It reminds me of “Kubota Tractor” by Run for Cover Lovers. “Heavy Hand” is the longest track and will be great for Flaming Lips fans. “Why Cant I Touch It” is slightly cheerier but still has the same harmony and psychedelics that the other tracks had. I am the only person to have ever listened to this record sober, and that’s why this review is so short.
Lissy Trullie “Self-Taught Learner”
November 8, 2009This reeks of being from Los Angeles. The cover art is an ass. Let’s see. Nope. New York City. Well, this review is off to a great start. I’m already grasping at straws here because there isn’t much for me to write about. This album seems uninspired and reminds me of Bettie Serveert’s later efforts, after Carol van Dyk’s voice was shot from all those cigarettes.
The musical accompaniment is your standard rock-and-roll fare, getting slightly upbeat in “Money.” This is an enjoyable track and stands out from the rest. “Don’t to Do” is a Ting Tings reject with bass that belongs in a Cars song. Actually it comes together alright, but it’s not very inspiring.
“Just a Friend” is a Biz Markie cover, although they butcher the lyrics here and there. Most importantly, they never say “oh, snap!” which for most Americans was the first time they ever heard the phrase. Any good rendition of “Just a Friend” is measured on the strength of “oh, snap!” At any rate, this version is a ballad and could be what breaks her. Generation Y thinks this song is a classic, and they will be all over this like Alien Ant Farm’s cover of “Smooth Criminal.”
Otherwise, this album gives me little reason to care. Maybe if you’re into that Velvet Underground sound.
The Corner Laughers “Ultraviolet Garden”
November 8, 2009This album reminds me of a Whopper with no mayonnaise. Finally, a sandwich with all the individual ingredients that make for a delicious sandwich with none of the crap that will cause me an untimely death. The thing is, nobody actually likes the taste of mayonnaise, but they put up with it because of it’s caulking nature, apparently. And this band is in need of some serious caulk.
I know nothing about The Corner Laughers, but if this is their first effort, then it’s quite wonderful, really. All the tracks are a little different, and they all try different things. The Britpop angle of “The Commonest Manifesto” is amazing. And the lush, Lush-like sound of “Stonewords” is another winner. And similar to all the other condiments of a Whopper (lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, ketchup), this band is full of exotic instruments, including ukuleles, glockenspiels, accordions and meow!
The classic piano of “Half a Mile” transforms Karla Kane’s voice into Beth Sorrentino’s. What this also does, unfortunately is make the guitar seem unnecessary, but that’s nobody’s fault. At this point, however, there is now lettuce all over the floor of your car.
“Dark Horse” is another track that puts it all together fairly well. The male backing vocals complement the sad love story that seems to be spelled out, not that I can ever figure out the lyrics in anything. “Thunderbird” has a bit more mainstream appeal. My neck is sore from agreeing so much.
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