Pernice Bros DVD

Just a quick one: If it wasn’t for today’s Pitchfork review of this Pernice Brothers tour DVD, Nobody’s Listening/Nobody’s Watching, I wouldn’t have known that one of my favorite bands of 2003 had even released such a thing. Where’s my head at these days? This thing has been out since December and I’ve neither heard nor seen anything about it. Thanks, Pitchfork! [I still like you despite what everyone else says.]

If you haven’t yet heard Joe Pernice & Co’s most recent album, Yours, Mine & Ours, I hiiiighly recommend it. It’s one of those front-to-back pop records you’ll just wear the hell out of once it’s sunken in. I was lucky enough to catch them playing at the Ottobar up in Baltimore (12.20.03), so I can faithfully recommend their live show as well.

I just went on over to their official site to order myself a copy of the DVD and accidentally purchased the reissue of their 2002 tour EP as well. Whoops. Oh well, it’s always nice to buy direct.

February 7, 2005 | Filed Under Music, Video | Leave a Comment 

Sunday Listener

Seeing Kings of Convenience last night was not to be. Thanks to equal parts of me running late and the club’s malevolent ticket policies, I arrived to find that the show had already sold out. And I knew I’d have to get there early to get stamped—it just didn’t come together. Yes, another notch in my belt for shows missed due to this shitty venue. Thanks again, Iota Club and Cafe. I hate you more than ever. Ya know, the $16 cover was a bit steep anyway. Not to mention all the goofy couples likely to be inside, swaying to the gentle folky sounds of these S & G wannabes. Eff ‘em. I walked back home the long way and listened to bands I like better. [No, I wasn’t bitter.]

What’s the consenus on the new M83 record, Before the Dawn Heals Us? I, for one, am not feeling it, Frenchy. No sir, monsieur. I really enjoyed M83’s 2nd album, the critically acclaimed Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, but even that record already had the band teetering on the edge of retro cheese. In fact, it came so dangerously close to cornball, I was almost afraid of where they’d go next. Now that the new album is out, my fears have been confirmed as it now seems that maybe Nicolas Fromageau (formerly half of the duo, which is now just uno) was keeping them from falling into this vat of fondue. All the heavy synth leads and those phony 80’s toms, which in the context of Dead Cities often made me smile, now make my ears angry. To be fair, I’ll give it a few more listens. I suppose the first single, “Don’t Save Us From the Flames,” isn’t actually that bad.

The new Prefuse 73 album, Surrounded By Silence (due out in March), sounds pretty good so far. Pitchfork has the tracklist. As you can see, it’s almost all collaborations with guest MCs and other bands. First impressions: I tend to like the non-MC collaborations better. Maybe I’m just too white, but “Hideyaface” which features El-P and Ghostface Killah (posted on Monday at Music For Robots) falls a little flat to these ears. On the other hand, “Now You’re Leaving” (with Camu) is pretty wicked. The Books(!) remix/collab “Pagina Dos” and the closer “And I’m Gone” (which has something to do with Broadcast and upcoming Prefuse side project Piano Overlord) hit my sweet spot just like that. This is another one to grow on, however, and I’m sure my thoughts on this album will settle a bit with repeated listening.

February 6, 2005 | Filed Under Music | Leave a Comment 

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