Bill Who Rocks Clevo

rockfist

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 11:26:39 -0700

Five for Friday feat. Pterodactyl, F*cked Up, The Thermals, and More

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:18:03 -0800

Brah Records artist, Pterodactyl straddled a very thin line between nettlesome noise and noise rock on their self titled 2007 release, also known as the Blue Jay album. When they were on, their dinosaur squawk rock was a shock to the system sent straight to the spine of the soft rock indie rockers who have so far dominated the decade. Yet, there were times, where that squawk was so heavy, and so encompassing, that even this rocker had to run to the safety of a Death Cab disc. Here, on "First Daze," the first song released from the forthcoming Worldwild! (due out on April 21st), the Brooklyn band maintains their balance, never giving in fully to their pre-historic urges, and the result is something not so dissimilar to early Flaming Lips. That is you get your noise, your weird, and your rock, and your ears will be safe for another song.

MP3: Pterodactyl - First Daze

To say that this alternate version of "No Epiphany" by F*cked Up is a more straight forward take on the album cut leaves out some minor details, like, what has to be thousands of guitar tracks working their way in and out of the mix. Unlike the original, that mind warping guitar assault is attached to a more traditional song structure, making it less like a bunch of punks on Genesis, and more like a bunch of punks on Rush.

MP3: Fucked Up - No Epiphany (Fast Version)

What do The Thermals have left to say now that Bush is out of office and President Obama is ushering in a new age of hope? Bathed in biblical imagery, and driven by fierce, and fast guitars, their 2006 release for Sub Pop, The Body, The Blood, The Machine, will likely go down in history as one of the strongest musical indictments of the Bush years. So, now that all of that is behind us, we can be happy, right? Well, not quite. "Now We Can See," the title track from the forthcoming album, is a little less punky, a little more melodic, but no less preachy. This is no celebration. It's your wake up call.

MP3: The Thermals - Now We Can See

Tyvek's 2007 single, "Frustration Rock," wasn't your ordinary slab of crusty, lo-fi Midwest punk. No, it put into words the endless fight between hopelessness and determination that folks in the rust belt have felt for years, giving us a song to sing along to while we've been watching plants shutter and for sale signs multiply like weeds in the city, suburbs and exurbs.

Now, with a new album due out this year on Siltbreeze, and the rust belt recession now the global economic crisis, logic (at least my fuzzy logic) would seem to point to Tyvek having a break out year in 2009. Seriously, what better way to enjoy your world crashing around you then with a bunch of snarky, too smart for their own good, Detroit rockers, and their rickety, splitting riffs.

MP3: Tyvek - Start/Stop

"Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up" by Austin's The Strange Boys works with a similar sonic palette as those early Brian Jonestown Massacre records, the ones where Anton Newcombe was more focused on the music of The Rolling Stones than his personality. A more contemporary ear may hear the ne'er do well garage rock of The Black Lips. Either way, it appears The Strange Boys are yet another solid signing by In the Red Records, the label who will release their debut this March 24th.

MP3: The Strange Boys - Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up

Dos a Cero

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:15:53 -0800

There's nothing like a good soccer match between the US and Mexico to get the old patriotism flowing. It's even better when that match is a World Cup Qualifier for the 2010 World Cup, and the result is another 2-0 victory in Columbus for the boys in red, white, and blue.

The weather could best be described as biblical. There was the pre game, hurricane force rain storm that left me with wet pants. Later, I would quip to an attractive young woman, my pants haven't been this wet since I was three. After the game, came the wind. It had to be blowing 50, 60, 70 MPH, maybe faster.

The game itself, another one I'll never forget: Two goals for the good guys, a packed Columbus Crew Stadium standing for the entire 90 minutes, and plenty of chanting and singing (Some of which probably shouldn't be repeated). Someone, it could have been me, thought it a good idea to try to start up a chorus of Genesis' "Illegal Alien," as they were walking past a group of Mexican fans. That person should have gotten their a** kicked for that one.

An IRC Internet Premiere: "Wolves at a Wedding" and "Held in Light" by Unsparing Sea

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:37:07 -0800

Unsparing Sea's debut cd, A Cloud in the Cathedral, a masterful suite of nautical inspired folk birthed on the shores of Lake Erie, and carried by the unique voice of Cleveland via Nashville resident, JR Bennett, was one of those releases which caught a lot of people off guard. It certainly surpirsed me, as its tales of grief, loss, and resilience immediately wedged itself in heavy rotation on the old sound system. Similary, its resonance was a surprise to local record store, Music Saves, as suddenly people were coming in and asking for the debut cd by a band who were relatively unknowns, even by Cleveland scene standards.

These new tracks, "Wolves at a Wedding," and "Held in Light," which is premiering on I Rock Cleveland today, were recorded with Tim Gerak of Six Parts Seven, and like his work with that band, each track is layered with delicate intricacies, and the recordings are crisp, with each instrument distinctly occupying its own space while simultaneously working as part of the larger composition. Then there's Tara Klein's somber cello, adding both weight and depth to the mix, and saw, yes, as in the thing used to take down trees, which when used as a musical instrument is the spookiest thing next to a theremin. Taken together, "Wolves at a Wedding" and "Held in Light," represent the work of a band poised to start surprising more than just the local Clevelanders.

MP3: Unsparing Sea - Wolves at a Wedding
MP3: Unsparing Sea - Held in Light

Unsparing Sea will be releasing the EP, In the Crystal Canyons, next month on cd, 7", and digitally, with the full length, In the Diamond Caverns, to follow this summer. Also, the band will be opening for Wussy when they play the Beachland Tavern on Saturday, March 14th.

Unsparing Sea
Unsparing Sea Myspace

We'll Be Right Back With More Rock 'N' Roll Music

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:02:03 -0800

Regular posting will resume shortly.

Sweet: Win a Copy of Dan Auerbach's Solo Debut, Keep it Hid, on Wonderful Vinyl

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:02:02 -0800

I'm still working my way through my initial listen of Dan Auerbach's first solo album, Keep it Hid, and what can I say? It's Dan from the Black Keys. It's gritty, bluesy rock with that same voice, the one of a battle tested, old soul with a prize fighter's resilience, and the same guitar work: One moment it's blazing with intensity, and the next, it's carrying the heft of a thousand heartbreaks.

This time around, he's got a backing band, and a bunch of friends helping out, including members of Hacienda, and local songstress done good, Jessica Lea Mayfield, and, let's be honest here, from what I've taken in, it's pretty sweet.

Even sweeter, I've teamed with my friends at Sneak Attack Media to offer one of you the chance to win a copy of Dan Auerbach's Keep it Hid on wonderful vinyl. The gatefold package also includes a cd copy of the album.

In order to enter, please send an email to irockcleveland at gmail dot com with the subject line "Sweet Auerbach Vinyl," and whether or not you'd like to opt in to his mailing list. It's simple, really, you can say, "Just the wax," or "Sign me up." Either way, you're entered. The contest will be open one week with the winner being notified via email no later than Wednesday, February 11th.

P4kTV: Dan Auerbach - Trouble Weighs a Ton
QUICKTIME: Dan Auerbach - Trouble Weighs a Ton
STREAM: Dan Auerbach - My Last Mistake

Keep it Hid will be out next Tuesday, February 10th, on Nonesuch Records. Auerbach will be touring in support of the album with Alive Records Artist, Hacienda, as his backing band, with a Cleveland date scheduled for March 5th at the Beachland Ballroom.

Dan Auerbach on Tour:
Feb 28 - 9:30 Club - Washington DC, Washington DC
Mar 1 - Paradise Club - Boston, Massachusetts
Mar 2 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, New York
Mar 3 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, New York
Mar 5 - Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 6 - Metro - Chicago, Illinois
Mar 7 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mar 10 - The Showbox - Seattle, Washington
Mar 11 - Wonder Ballroom - Portland, Oregon
Mar 13 - Bimbo's - San Francisco, California
Mar 14 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, California

Dan Auerbach
Pre-Order Keep it Hid

Flashbacks and Throwbacks: "Life is Sh*t" by The Dead Milkmen

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:31:18 -0800

Friday, January 30th 2009, may very well go down as one of the worst days of my life. Lord knows, I've had some pretty bad ones in the past, but the convergence of one bad event after another on this particular day, will forever secure its place in history.

The day started with one of the bedrooms in my apartment taking on lots and lots of water due to the massive amounts of snow and ice gathered atop my building. The walls were ruined. The carpet was ruined. I got to work, spent the morning in the boss's office getting a talking to. Later, I would sit through a second meeting where the CEO announced there would be a 10% reduction in the work force within the next month. Needless to say, I wasn't feeling secure in my position. Around 2 o'clock, as I was removing everything of value from the ruined bedroom, I left a message to the lady friend, "My job's a wreck, my apartment's a wreck, but I still have you." By 7 o'clock, I no longer had a lady friend.

The only thing missing from my Friday was a swift kick in the balls. I was afraid. I was a wreck. I was convinced the Swift Kick in the Balls Telegram Man would ring my door at any moment and deliver his message, "Hi Bill, this is Life. I have a message for you: It's a kick in the balls." Better safe then sorry, they say, so I put on my cup and headed out for a couple drinks with the Team at Music Saves. By the end of the night I was drunk and I was sad, and this song sounded just about right.

YOUTUBE: The Dead Milkmen - Life is Sh*t

There's a short intro, and the volume doesn't kick in until the 30 second mark or so.

"Slow to Anger" by Superdrag

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:23:05 -0800

To some, Superdrag are nothing more than a one-hit Alternative Nation band, who scored their brief flirtation with fame thanks to the 1996 single, "Sucked Out." Others, admittedly fewer in number, hold the Knoxville foursome in high regard, as one of the past decade's premier stewards of that much maligned subgenre, power pop. Now, whether your copy of Regretfully Yours is collecting dust somewhere in that cd rack you haven't touched in three years, or Superdrag has remained a constant companion through the digital music transition, there's something for you in their latest single, "Slow to Anger." If we were to be scholastic about things, we could talk about how this track works within its own tight parameters. There are few guitar chords, the drums run on one speed, and vocalist John Davis works within a tight, albeit agressive range. Let's not do that. Instead, let's focus on how "Slow to Anger," f'n rocks. And man, once that one chord kicks in, and then the second chord kicks in, and it's more than Davis' vocal daggers and a drum kit, does this one f'n kick. Call "Slow to Anger" a return to form if you want. We know better.

MP3: Superdrag - Slow to Anger

Industry Giants by Superdrag will be out on March 17th, and the band will be on tour in the coming months around an appearance at SXSW. Check the website for dates.

Superdrag
Superdrag Myspace

From the IRCWHQ Newsdesk: Dreamscape, The New Album by GMPD, aka, Gil Mantera's Party Dream, Is Out Now

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:40:27 -0800

Raise your hand if you're in the mood for a little synth pop played by some mostly naked and mostly drunken dudes from Youngstown? I think I see a couple hands out there. Well, the two of you can put your hands down now and get your mouse clicking fingers ready 'cause Gil Mantera's Party Dream have just released Dreamscape, a new album of nine shiny, new cuts of vintage '80s pop sounds. Dreamscape is available now as a digital download via Purephonic as both looseless WAV and MP3 files.

Now a three piece with the addition of a full time drummer, GMPD (As they prefer to be called these days), don't plan on doing a traditional physical release of Dreamscape, as the cd will only be available at shows during their Winter '09 tour.

I know all this change can be shocking to long time fans of ~~The Party Dream~~ GMPD, but rest assured, they haven't abandoned the vocoder, and they still have that unique sense of Mantera-ness, the one where you're never quite sure if those spandexed men from Youngstown are being ironic, or if they really are heavy drinking, always bickering, synth loving, and spandex wearing dudes from Youngstown.

For more on GMPD, head over to the Columbus music blog, Donewaiting, where they are featuring a free download of the album track, "Waking Vision."

Cleveland Concert Update: January 27th Through February 14th

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:58:26 -0800

Friday, January 30th: The Black Keys, Buffalo Killers, Other Girls @ Cleveland Agora.

Saturday, January 31st: The Black Keys, Buffalo Killers, Other Girls @ Cleveland Agora with an after party show with The Doctor Teeeth. Paul Collins Beat, Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival, Gentleman Jesse and His Men, Short Rabbits @ Now That's Class.

Friday, February 6th: Cleveland Lottery League CD Release Show feat. performances from Ghandi SS, Mohammed Cartoon, Stimulas Package and more @ Beachland Tavern and Ballroom. Houseguest @ Matinee Cleveland.

Saturday, February 7th: Deathers, Homostupids, Freedom, Filmstrip @ The Tower. Johny Nobody and The Suede Brothers @ Matinee Cleveland. Houseguest @ Matinee Akron.

Sunday, February 8th: Mystery of Two, Bird Names, Benny Stoofy, Pass Out Knives! @ The Tower.

Tuesday, February 10th: Marah @ Beachland Tavern.

Thursday, February 12th: Bill Fox @ Happy Dog.

Friday, February 13th: Sun God 7" release show with This Moment in Black History and Megachurch (feat. Mikey Machine from Machine Go Boom) @ Now That's Class.

Saturday, February 14th: The Sea and The Cake, Good Touch Bad Touch, Brian Straw @ Grog Shop.

Just Announced:
Monday, March 2nd: Phosphorescent @ Beachland Tavern.
Tuesday, March 3rd: Tom Jones @ House of Blues.
Sunday, March 29th: Brian Jonestown Massacre @ Grog Shop.
Wednesday, May 6th: The Killers @ Tower City Ampitheater

Moving Pictures: "Right Back Where We Started From " by Army Navy (Unofficial Fan Video)

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:58:25 -0800

First things first, that isn't Army Navy in the video. No, some enterprising youtuber synched up Army Navy's modern power pop take on the Maxine Nightengale R&B classic, "Right Back Where We Started From," with the video for a cover of the same song by '80s Simon Cowell protege Sinitta. And oh man, is that '80s video the cheesiest -- Trampoline acrobatics, bright costumes, big hair, sh*tty dancing, a beach set which doesn't even attempt to look like a real beach, and not so subtle phallic symbols -- this one has it all. Granted, you might expect a cover using a video from a cover of the same song, to synch up pretty well, but this mash up works almost too well. Like maybe Army Navy really is fronted by a bikini babe, and they have friends with a warehouse, a truckload of sand, and a spare trampoline on hand.

YOUTUBE: Army Navy - Right Back Where We Started From (Fan Video)

Army Navy

The Rockometer feat Animal Collective, Glasvegas, AC Newman, Robert Pollard, and Brethren of the Free Spirit

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:43:49 -0800

Animal Collective
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Domino

Listen too closely to Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion, and their insistence on pushing fluttering, fanciful keyboards high in the mix, becomes tedious and tiresome. Less ear candy. More ear ache. Pull yourself too far away, and it becomes background noise, like the hum of a home appliance dutifully doing its job to keep your food cold. There are no peaks, and no retreats, only continuity from the hypnotizing rhythms. The pop moments, when they do come, can surprise, and mesmerize, and lead to wild assertations like album of the year and band of the decade. Yet, songs like the Beach Boys meets B-boys, pulsating, electronic pop of "My Girls" and "Summertime Clothes " are too few to account for the vast sea of internet hyperbole. Too often Animal Collective settle for a fancy sound, or a masterful groove and neglect to build a proper song around those parts.

Where many long time supporters of Animal Collective hear a band fully realizing its potential, those new to this new strain of urban, electro folk may be left perplexed, wondering is this it? Willing a band to greatness does not make for a great band, and as long as Animal Collective continue to receive perfect score after perfect score for their work (And don't get me wrong, it is progressive, challenging, sometimes rewarding, albeit flawed work) they will never be pushed towards greatness.

P4KTV: Animal Collective - My Girls

Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective: 6 out of 10 on The Rockometer.

Glasvegas
Glasvegas
Columbia

The debut album by Glasgow's buzz band of the moment, Glasvegas, hits on many of modern music's well worn influences: The wall of sound popularized by Phil Spector in the '60s, The Jesus and Mary Chain's buzzsaw fuzz attack, and U2's arena ready, eyes to the sky, guitar solos. Yet, instead of sounding like a patchwork of sounds, assembled for the ears of the masses, it's a fully realized, rather unique sounding record. Partly, this is due to the vocals of Rab Allan which are heavily accented, weary, and dramatic, as if he's the one character out of the many neer-do-wells of Trainspotting, to make something for himself. Then, there's the matter of the songs themselves -- heavy hearted tales of struggle, adaptation, and loss, which manage to avoid wallowing in pity, and instead rise to the level of perseverance. "Geraldine" is one of the few pop songs to priase the work of social workers, and "Daddy's Gone" transforms a deceased father figure into a mythic leader of the pack, type figure. And just when things get a bit to close to heavy, Allan and his bandmates will either sneak in a vocal snippet of a popular song like "You are My Sunshine," or "What's the Story Morning Glory," or bring the band to a rousing sing-a-long of "Whoa whoa whoa" or "Here we f*cking go!" Saddos and sickos, Glasvegas have a message for you, there is hope.

YOUTUBE: Glasvegas - Daddy's Gone
YOUTUBE: Glasvegas - Geraldine

Glasvegas by Glasvegas: 8 out of 10 on The Rockometer

A.C. Newman
Get Guilty
Matador

Get Guilty, the second solo album by The New Pornographers Carl "A. C." Newman has neither the unabashed power pop of New Pornographers albums like Twin Cinema and Electic Version, nor the somber intricacies of their previous full band effort, Challengers. Instead, he's found a middle ground. One where tempos don't need to be pushed, and amps don't need to be stacked, in order to put some heft behind his melodies. One where delicate doesn't mean quiet and reserved doesn't equate to staid. Lead number "There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve," carries all the pomp and pageantry of Sgt. Pepper era Beatles, while masterfully staying clear of the dreaded pretension line. While "Heartbreak Rides" and "Submarines of Stockholm" both tinker with tempo, alternating between restraint and wonder, and emerge deeper and more detailed, for never barreling wildly into the world of full throttle power pop. Then there's the glee of "The Palace at 4 A.M.," making red eyes white, and strightening out slurred speech, with its steady snare and plucky piano. It's like power pop without the power, or the New Pornographers album you wished you had two years ago.

MP3: A.C. Newman - Submarines of Stockholm
MP3: A.C. Newman - There are Maybe Ten of Twelve

Get Guilty by A.C. Newman: 8 out of 10 on The Rockometer

Robert Pollard
The Crawling Distance
GBV Records

Perhaps Zachary Bloom, writing for Blurt, sums up Robert Pollard's latest solo album, The Crawling Distance, up best, when he pens, "If you own less than ten Guided By Voices (or GBV-related) albums, there's no need to start or continue building here; Bob Pollard's bi-annual solo releases of late are pretty much completists-and-mega-fans-only affairs. And completists and mega fans will rejoice." Fortunately, or is it unfortunately, for you this album puts my Pollard count at eleven, with five of them coming in the modern post lo-fi GBV, post hi-fi GBV, six albums a year Pollard era. What I'm trying to say is maybe I'm not the best person to be telling you whether or not you should buy The Crawling Distance. Hell, I've taken to calling Robert Pollard, Uncle Bob, like he spends Thanksgiving with me and the fam, peppering us with half remembered tales of the road.

I will tell you this: The Crawling Distance continues Pollard's late career resurgence as first witnessed on Robert Pollard is Off to Business, and Boston Spaceship's Brown Submarine, and songs like the the half kraut-rock, half Who, "Faking My Harlequin," the burly, yet playful "Cave Zone," and small room arena rock of "By Silence be Destroyed" only solidfy that position. And when Pollard pulls back, with mid-tempo numbers like the sublime trio of "Ther Butler Stands for Us All," "No Island," and "Imaginary Queen Anne," it's nearly enough to take back all those comments about Uncle Bob having no sense of good song/bad song, about his six albums a year, and writing a new song on the sh*tter every day.

MP3: Robert Pollard - Imaginary Queen Anne

The Crawling Distance by Robert Pollard: 7 out of 10 on The Rockometer

Brethren of the Free Spirit
The Wolf Shall Also Dwell With the Lamb
Important Records

Jakmes Blackshaw's brilliance with the 12-string acoustic guitar is well documented. Jozef van Wissem's reputation as one of the world's foremost lutiensts, is considerably less well known. Yet, together as Brethren of the Free Spirit, it's hard to separate the young prodigy (Blackwell) from the man whose instrument has been relegated to obscure enthusiasts and Medieval fairs (von Wissem). The Wolf Shall Also Dwell With the Lamb, is less a suite of duets, and more the work of two brains, two bodies, and two sets of agile fingers working two sets of strings in concert toward singular movements of sound. Whether the piece in question is Eno like in its minimalism ("The Sun Tears Itself From the Heavens and Comes Crashing Down"). deeply detailed, with intricate interplay between the two musicians, through games of repetition ("The Wolf Shall Also Dwell With the Lamb"), or (I sh*t you not) a musical palidrome ("Into the Dust of the Earth"), the outcome is the same: Stunning.

MP3: Brethren of the Free Spirit - The Wolf Shall Also Dwell With the Lamb

All Things Are From Him, In Him and Through Him by Brethren of the Free Spirit: 8 out of 10 on The Rockometer

Flashbacks and Throwbacks: "Modern Kicks/I'm a Pretender/Boulevard Trash" Live at Bottom of the Hill

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:19:01 -0800

The above footage comes from the second to last show ever played by Portland, Oregon's punk rock and power pop revivalists, The Exploding Hearts. Soon after this show, three band members: Adam Cox, Matt Fitzgerald, and Jeremy Gage, all died in a car accident while driving back to Portland from San Francisco.

In true Youtube live video fashion, the audio's a bit chippy, and the camera man's a bit shaky, and still, this video is a great tribute to a band who passed well before their time. Nothing, not even that little video box, can take away the energy, the attitude, the dirt and the sweat, left on that stage. Besides, a poor recording of "Modern Kicks" still beats a clean recording of 99% of the junk released today.

YOUTUBE: The Exploding Hearts - Modern Kicks/I'm a Pretender/Boulevard Trash

The Exploding Hearts
Dirtnap Records

Moving Pictures: "Dickshaker's Union" by Surf City

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:58:41 -0800

NZ's Surf City could've named this one "Song 2," but they didn't, 'cause it's actually song 3 on their EP, and "Song 3" just doesn't conjure up the same sort of malaise as a bunch of dudes engaged in dickshakery 'cause they got nothing better to do. Yet, even as the song title, "Dickshaker's Union," serves its purpose quite well, as the video is filled with drunken tomfoolery, including a man in a big furry costume wearing white boxers (sometimes on a pogo stick, sometimes not), it is a bit misleading. You see, these dudes in the "Dickshaker's Union," got quite the tune on their hands -- a bit of early garage or kiwi pop, all buzzed out, all shouted out, and played like wild eyed slackers who don't know how to tune or sing quite well. Now, just imagine what they'd be capable of if they were members of the "Awesome Rock Band Union."

VIMEO: Surf City - Dickshaker's Union

Surf City's self titled EP is out now on Morr Music.

Surf City Myspace
Morr Music

Moving Pictures: "Your Own Backyard (Dion Cover)" by The Lemonheads Live at The Laundromatinee

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:42:54 -0800

Back in the days of the Alt-Rock explosion, Evan Dando of The Lemonheads maintained a persona of a slacker, and a lovable loser. Even as he gained magazine covers and bigger sales numbers, he had a bad habit of playing to low expectations and engaging in dangerous games of self destruction. 15 years on, and he's barely changed. Still embracing the slacker archetype, and still living carefree.

Should you manage to catch Dando solo, or with the revolving cast of characters who comprise the Lemonheads, you may be sweetened by his charm, or you may be appaled at his apparent disregard to giving a quality performance. There's hardly any in between. Yet, even in his sloppiest moments. Even if he flubs a chord or forgets his words (and he does both here), he still has that golden voice, that makes you want to give him second chance after second chance to make up for that one show in Cleveland where be blurred all his words and was more concerned with what was going on back stage than anything he was doing on stage. And if that golden voice is singing something like Dion's "Your Own Backyard," as it is in this video, that second chance is sealed.

The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads Myspace

More from The Lemonheads at the Laundromatinne including move videos and mp3s of the performance.

From the IRCWHQ Newsdesk: Pre-Sale for The 2009 HOF Induction Ceremony Takes Place This Saturday

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:42:53 -0800

A limited number of pre-sale tickets for 2009 Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be made available to general public this Saturday at the HOF Box Office. The balance of public tickets will go on sale this Monday 10AM through Ticketmaster. Now, if free's your thing, Positively Cleveland is hosting a contest for the Induction Ceremony which includes two tickets and a night at the downtown Hilton.

The Induction Ceremony will be taking place April 4th 2009 at Public Hall. More events should be announced shortly, all leading up to the big night where Metallica, Run DMC, and Cleveland native Bobby Womack will be among those enshrined in Rock 'N' Roll greatness.

"The Box" by 1990s

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:34:26 -0800

Though often grouped with The Gossip, CSS and other dance rock bands, the 1990s new single, "The Box," goes back a little further than Franz Ferdinand. This one is vintage English Glam. It has a big chunky guitar riff ready for bedroom rockers and air guitar heroes, a mid tempo boogie prime for seductive hip shaking and pouty face making, and plenty of ooh-oohs and sing alongs which could care less how many beers you've had at the bar before you found your singing voice. It's been some thirty years since the death of T-Rex's flambuoyant frontman Marc Bolan, and yet, his spirit still lives on.

MP3: 1990s - The Box

The 1990s forthcoming album, Kicks, was recorded at Edwyn Collins' West Heath Yard studio in London and produced by Bernard Butler. It'll be out March 24th in the States, and one day earlier in the UK.

1990s
1990s Myspace
Rough Trade
Rough Trade/Beggars US

Photo by Roger Sargent

These Songs Do Not Rock: "Holiday in Congo" by Rainbow Arabia and "Tunnelvision" by Here We Go Magic

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:20:14 -0800

...but that doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to them.

If you've spent the past week in the American Arctic, aka the Midwest, chances are you're ready for a holiday somewhere, anywhere sunny and warm, and while the Congo may not be the first place on your list, Rainbow Arabia sure make the thought of January in The Congo rather inviting. With a reggae rhythm which wouldn't sound out of place on The Clash's Sandinista, filtered female vocals, and keys set to cheerful, this number will raise the temperature a few degrees, making the outside feel like a balmy -2.

MP3: Rainbow Arabia - Holiday in Congo

Rainbow Arabia

---

Like Sigur Ros in a language you can understand, or Broken Social Scene without 15 extraneous members, Here We Go Magic's "Tunnelvision" is a light, uplifting piece of pop recalling the finer moments of either band. At first slight, with its acoustic guitars and synchopated rhythms, then more pieces are delicately stitched together as airy samples and loops gradually build in volume and complexity over the course of four minutes. At its peak you have a head full floating sounds, and you're left wondering how you got here from there. May I suggest a repeat?

MP3: Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision

The self titled debut by Luke Temple and his band, Here We Go Magic, will be out February 24th on Western Vinyl.

Here We Go Magic
Western Vinyl

A Thursday Rock Block with The Black Lips, Japandroids, WAVVES, and Young Lords

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:14:07 -0800

My first thought, as the first guitar chords from the Black Lips "Starting Over" hit my ears: "Wow, listen to how clean they got that guitar to sound. These garage punks are all grown up on their grown up record, with the not so grown up name, 200 Million Thousand." Then, they started singing, well not singing as much as shouting like their microphones died in a large concert hall and they had to get their voices heard above the constant chitter chatter. All of a sudden, that jangly rhythm from the guitar didn't sound as clean, and the Black Lips didn't sound so grown up, and I thought to myself, "Now, this is how the Black Lips should sound at this point in their career -- a little cleaner, maybe, just a little maybe more mature, but still capable of rousing up a bit of trouble."

MP3: The Black Lips - Starting Over

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The Vancouver rock duo, Japandroids, aren't one of those blues rock duos like The Black Keys and the White Stripes, and they really don't fit the mold of a noise rock duo like No Age, either. Aesthetically, there's enough fuzz in the mix to make things interesting, but unlike No Age, there isn't so much background noise buzzing about that it obscures their jams -- prime mid-Nineties indie rock with much emphasis on the rock half of the equation.

MP3: Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire

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WAVVES, on the other hand, have no problem laying on the white noise. There's a melody here, a sweet, sunny melody, but in order to find it, you'll have to lead your ears through a mix whcih hits red, and sticks at red.

MP3: WAVVES - So Bored

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I'm often asked, Bill, what do you do when you're not rocking Cleveland. Well, if it's Saturday or Sunday morning, I'm watching English Premier League Soccer on Fox Soccer Channel. It really is turning out to be a good title race this year. Three of the Big Four of English football are at the top of the table (Man U, Chelsea, and Liverpool), with Aston Villa (owned by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner) still holding on to strong title aspirations as well.

Now, since I watch so much football on FSC, I'm also pretty familiar with the commercials that run between matches, especially since FSC has this habit of running the same damn commercials between every match every f'n week. I can tell you all about the Perfect Push Up and the Perfect Pull Up, and f you want perfect skin, you should use Proactiv. I've seen so many FreeCreditReport.com commercials, I'm starting to really like the Free Credit Report Band (Seriously, dudes, ditch the jobs at the Medieval fair and tour already).

Lately, FSC has been running this commercial for Guiness, with an old style garage rock jam. Finally a product I can get behind, with a song which doesn't mention the words "Free," "Credit," or "Report." At first, I thought this nugget had to be a long, lost gem unearthed by the brew masters at Guiness. I was wrong. "Rodeo Songs," is a new jam laid down by the shaggy, NYC band, Young Lords. Notice how the chorus, "Gotta get home tonight," works quite well with the Guiness slogan, "Guiness: Drink Responsibly." And notice how Young Lords do old Stones much better than the old Rolling Stones do old Stones.

MP3: Young Lords - Rodeo Songs

Do You Notice a Pattern Here?

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:02:28 -0800

I mean besides the fact that Animal Collective's reviews on Pitchfork tend to get a higher score with each subsequent release. Don't you think we, as music fans, would be better served if Pitchfork would have someone besides their designated Animal Collective reviewer, Mark Richardson, review the new Animal Collective disc, Merriweather Post Pavilion? Wouldn't a second opinion be nice? Maybe, a second opinion by someone who doesn't have a track record of giving Animal Collective Best New Music worthy reviews? I know if I was in Animal Collective, I'd be sending Mr Richardson fruit baskets every f'n day of the year for his unquestioned role in making them the biggest indie band in all the land.

Here Comes the Indian (8.6) Andy Beta
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/14953-animal-collective-here-comes-the-indian

Sung Tongs (8.9) Dominique Leone
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/14954-animal-collective-sung-tongs

Prospect Hummer EP (8.4)Mark Richardson
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/14955-animal-collective-and-vashti-bunyan-prospect-hummer-ep

Feels (9.0) Mark Richardson
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/14956-animal-collective-feels

Hollinndagain (8.0) Mark Richardson
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/39412-animal-collective-hollinndagain

People EP (7.1) Mark Richardson
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/40653-animal-collective-people-ep

Strawberry Jam (9.3) Mark Richardson
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45460-animal-collective-strawberry-jam

Water Curses EP (7.3) Mark Richardson
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/50426-animal-collective-water-curses-ep

Merriweather Post Pavilion (9.6) Mark Richardson
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/148230-animal-collective-merriweather-post-pavilion

...And just for fun, here's what Richardson had to say about the solo album by Animal Collective member, Panda Bear.

Panda Bear - Person Pitch (9.4) Mark Richardson
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/41826-panda-bear-person-pitch

I used to feel like the whole of the internet, and the whole of the indie rock establishment was playing a joke on me because I didn't worship at the altar of Animal Collective. Turns out the only jokester was Mark Richardson, and everyone else was merely following his lead.

Now, don't get me wrong. I find Animal Collective to be a very talented band who make dense and challenging albums, and there are moments on Merriweather Post Pavilion where I am floored. Yet, this is a band who still values form over function, and to say that Merriweather Post Pavilion is Animal Collective's pop album, is stretching the definition of pop by any known measure.

I may have more to say about Animal Collective in the coming weeks, but for now, I want you to think about how one man, on the most influential music site, has shaped the public's perception of this band.