Meeting People Is Easy

For the last four years without question Radiohead has been my favorite band. Never has a band held my heavyweight title for that long. I’ve never been big on watching videos or movies about bands, but I make an exception for Thom Yorke & Co. I’m lying down to watch the documentary
Meeting People Is Easy , which follows the and during their infamous 1997 OK Computer tour. I’ll keep you posted on my thoughts and ramblings throughout the film.

“If you’re not he saviors of rock what are you?” one interviewer asks Thom.

“Clueless” is his response.

An expected modest response, but in many ways I believe that OK Computerdid save rock music. If it didn’t save rock it certainly was the beginning of my obsession for music. After I purchased OK Computer my endless pursuit of music began. I fell utterly and totally in love with that record.

It’s only 20 minutes into the film and I’ve heard “Creep” twice live. I know Thom was sick of playing that song, but I sure would love to hear the raw energy in his voice and the pounding of Jonny Greenwood’s guitar during the chorus…that would be something to witness live.

The 1997 tour is so famous for Thom’s near mental breakdown. During interviews and photo shoots throughout the film Thom looks totally uncomfortable. Only in concert when he is singing and swaying his head violently from side-to-side does he seem even moderately at peace

Bottom line: the film is worth your time  if you’re a Radiohead fanatic, but might not make a lot of sense to those with a limited understanding of the band’s history.

Animal Collective Live In London

Last night I finally was privileged to experience the magic of Animal Collective live. The band (less Deakin) has been tweaking many of the tracks that eventually ended up on the brilliant Merriweather Post Pavilion. Since the ground-breaking album dropped on the 20^th of January AC has only done four gigs in the U.S. so very few Americans have heard their favourite Merriweather tracks live. I am fortunate enough to be studying in England and was able to catch them towards the end of their European tour at the HMV Forum in London.

As expected, the show was fantastic despite the poor sound quality at the venue. For those that don’t know, Animal Collective’s music is nearly impossible to define, but the terms most frequently used are psychedelic folk and noise rock. I would argue after last night that they are more of an avant-garde jam band—each song poured flawlessly into the next. When “Fireworks” gave way to my personal favourite “Brother Sport” I was in my absolute glory. The jungle dance “Brother Sport,” the last track off Merriweather and the best song of the year thus far, was the perfect way to end their set before taking the stage again for a phenomenal encore.

I’ve only begun listening to Animal Collective in the last year, but soon fell in love and like most of the blog-o-sphere began to feverishly anticipate the release of Merriweather. I fell in love with the album (like every other blogger), so I was pleased that the set list was very Merriweather­-heavy.

Animal Collective will begin touring in the states in May and will be performing at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia on May 12.

Set List:

Lion In A Coma (from Merriweather)

My Girls (from Merriweather)

Summertime Clothes (from Merriweather)

Slippi (from Here Comes the Indian)

What Would I Want Sky (Merriweather unreleased B-side)

Guy Eyes (from Merriweather)

Daily Routine (from Merriweather)

Also Frightened (from Merriweather)

Fireworks (from Strawberry Jam)

Brother Sport (from Merriweather)

Encore:

In The Flowers (from Merriweather)

Leaf House (from Sung Tongs)

If You're An Indie Kid...

You've probably heard of the redunkulous collaboration Dark Was the Night.

If not, well, enjoy

Forget Every Best of 2008 List...

Without a doubt Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago is the best album of the year--such well crafted songs full of direct emotion, unsettling imagery, and vocal brilliance.

Buy this album or you're going to hell.

Jeff Tweddy sings Radiohead with Radiohead (and Johnny Marr!)

Pitchfork Media linked to this video today and I had to share it. Neil Finn's album project combines the likes of Jeff Tweedy fellow Wilco member John Stirratt on bass, Johnny Marr of Smiths/Modest Mouse fame, Phil Selway and Ed O'Brian of Radiohead. Enjoy "Fake Plastic Trees."

What I Listened To in 2008

As the year comes to a close I decided to look back at what I've been listening to over the year. So I took a look at my last.fm account and my most played artists and albums over the last 12 months.

MOST PLAYED ARTISTS

10. Fleet Foxes - 214 Plays

• Their self-titled debut made it onto practically every magazine's Top 10 list, so its only fitting that it cracks my Top 10 most listened artists. I did not listen to any album more in 2008 than Fleet Foxes (202 plays) and I did not listen to any track more than "White Winter Hymnal (27 plays).

9. Wilco - 215 Plays

• I finally was able to give their 2007 "Sky Blue Sky" a listen along with a significant portion of their catalouge preceding "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot." It's clear that I was not dissappointed. 

8. The Beatles - 222 Plays

• Is it possible to go a year without listening to Sgt. Pepper's, Abbey Road, Revolver, and Rubber Soul at least once?

7. Coldplay -226

• Viva La Vida was the most played album of the year in the Last.fm community. Although It clearly wasn't the best album of the year, but I think the critics were too harsh on Chris Martin and the gang. I found myself returning to the sweeping sounds found on "Lovers in Japan" and "42."

6. Death Cab for Cutie - 246 Plays

• An old favorite whose new album Narrow Stairs got 152 plays alone. I've written about this album twice already. If its not clear--I really liked it. In fact, I listened to this album exclusively for 2 weeks (NPR podcasts aside). 

5. Vampire Weekend - 263 Plays

• Vampire Weekend is more addictive than crack cocaine. It's impossible to listen to just one Vampire Weekend song. Their infectious hooks should be outlawed; they postponed my and my roomate's studying on several late evenings. Their self-titled album got 164 plays, the 2nd most of any album. "Oxford Comma," "A-Punk," "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa," and "Walcott" were all played over 25 times each.

4. Counting Crows - 288 Plays

• Easily the most embarassing artist I listen to regularly, the Counting Crows have been a constant over the past three years. Adam Duritz is one of the premier song writers and lyricists of my generation. Although Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings is no August & Everything After it still caught my ear this year.

3. Ben Folds - 302 Plays

• Way To Normal was a big disappointment, but it still had it's moments. "Kylie From Connecticut" and "You Don't Know Me (featuring Regina Spektor)" are 2 stand-out tracks from 2008. I gave this record many listens just to see if it would grow on me. It did. But not enough.

2. Bob Dylan - 445 Plays

• The best songwriter of all time won't be able to go a year without his fair share of plays. Blonde on Blonde and Blood on the Tracks are two of my most listened to albums ever. Each is so carefully mastered and filled with raw emotion.

1. Radiohead - 468 Plays

• My favorite band. Period. (Plus In Rainbows' official release was in 2008).

MOST PLAYED ALBUMS

1. "Fleet Foxes" - Fleet Foxes (203 plays)

2.  "Vampire Weekend" - Vampire Weekend (164 plays)

3.  "Narrow Stairs" - Death Cab for Cutie (152 plays)

4. "Conor Oberst" - Conor Oberst (121 plays)

5. "Way To Normal" - Ben Folds (110 plays)

6. "Third" - Portishead (107 plays)

7. "Let Go" - Nada Surf (97 plays)

8. "Kicking Television: Live in Chicago" - Wilco (89 plays)

9. "Acid Tounge" - Jenny Lewis (86 plays)

10. "Pet Sounds" - The Beach Boys (78 plays)

Best Albums of 2008

1. Vampire Weekend "Vampire Weekend" - It's clear that at some point at Columbia University this four-piece mastered how to write pop songs. Although their debut is only 38 minutes in its entirety, it packed a big enough punch to turn these recent college graduates into a musical leviathan in less than a year. What is most intriguing about Vampire Weekend is that they don't seem to try too hard, but Afro-pop songs like "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" and "Oxford Comma" are perfect in every way.

2. Portishead "Third"- Portishead's aptly titled third studio album (and first in over ten years) is a departure from their trip-hop sound. Taking a cue from Trent Reznor, the band's sound has moved towards the more haunting and industrial. Beth Gibbon's desperate lyrics only enhance match the bare, desperate sound of Third.

3. Fleet Foxes "Fleet Foxes" - The Seattle five-piece has mastered vocal harmonies that pop music hasn't seen since the Beach Boys, but the soft twang of acoustic guitars is reminiscent of Dylan's Nashville Skyline and Neil Young's Harvest Moon. "Winter White Hymnal" is the catchiest song of 2008-impossible to listen to just once.

4. Death Cab for Cutie "Narrow Stairs" - I Will Posses Your Heart" is a 4-minute Phish-like jam that grows into a radio-friendly track. Death Cab tried to get creative on their seventh album and although their sound might not have evolved significantly, Ben Gibbard's song-writing supremacy remains clear.

5. MGMT "Oracular Spectacular" - Vampire Weekend aside, MGMT wrote the most powerful singles of the year-"Time to Pretend," "Electric Feel," and "Kids." If MGMT continues to crank out infectious psychedelic electro-pop then their dreams of a flawed rock star life from "Time to Pretend" may just come true.

New Animal Collective is Unbelievable

Animal Collective's 8th studio album, Merriweather Post Pavillion, is due to drop Jan. 20th. There are very high expectations sorrounding the album--according to Panda Bear it's their best recorded album--and the first couple tracks that have been released are pretty damn fine. "Brothersport" is my early pick for track of 2009. It is pure bliss from the first synth line

I've only become a fan of Animal Collective after Strawberry Jam but I'm convinced they are the most innovative band out there.

This video courtesy of Pitchfork Media

Download "Brother Sport" Here