Tuesday, December 30, 2008
· Filed under Blogroll, Music, rios
Hi everyone,
Its been a little while since the last post. Sorry. I’m just not a good blogger.
Anyways, here is one of my favorite (and probably one of the cutest) records of all time. Awesome Animal Ambulance combines drum machine loops, synths, girl/boy vocals and winds them up into a rare musical gem: a compact, simple, caring, and earnest record that unabashedly revels in its own quirky yet compelling sincerity. This is a bright record that will have even the snarkiest listener headbobbing and smirking.
Buy it here at Aurora 7 Records
And also check out Suzy Coady’s website. She did the artwork.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
· Filed under Blogroll, Music, friends!, rios
What is it about The Sinister Turns that makes them so good? I don’t really know. What makes kittys so cute? What makes puppies so huggable? What makes is it about ice cream that makes it so universally delicious? What is it about the falling autumn leaves that makes them beautiful? What is it about a clear starry night that makes its spectators feel vast and infinite? Why do salmon swim against the current? Why are hugs so comforting? WHY IS THE SKY BLUE???????????????
These are all questions that neither man nor science can answer. Whatever it is that makes those things do what they do is the same thing that makes Cambridge indie band The Sinister Turns so unbelievably good.
There really is no more to say. I could talk about their brainy lyrics…blah blah blah…..Bubblegum sound… blah blah….whatever other music review stuff…..blah. But really all there is to say is go to the myspace, friend them, then go to the show. You never know what will happen at the show. Maybe the place with break into a spontaneous dance party. Maybe rowdy fans will get kicked out for crowdsurfing. Perhaps bananas will be eaten. Maybe nothing. Maybe you will just feel so good afterwards that nothing else will matter. I still have my sinister turns lollypop from that time they were forced to stop playing a football tailgate because they were just rocking too hard and a pop riot might have ensued if they kept going. (and really im keeping it around to sell on ebay once pitchfork gives them a 10 and they blow up like whoa! $5000.00 for an original gameday lollypop!!! I dont care. I need it. <place bid>)
So yah. go see them. go by the record (while its still cheap). You will be so happy you did 
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
· Filed under Blogroll, Music, randomness, rios
A few nights ago I went to a Parts and Labor show. I was very much excited to hear some of their new stuff and check out their performance with new drummer Joe Wong (yes, sadly the ever so burly, and awesome, original drummer Christopher Weingarten has moved on to writing books or something 
).
I was suprised to see that in addition to having a new drummer, bassist/vocalist BJ Warshaw ditched his electronics stand and played the whole show on bass only. This of course made me a little sad because I have always feared that one day I’d come to believe that this band is really nothing more than a regular ol’ rock band with the gimmick of some funny electronic noises tossed into otherwise boring headbanger songs.
I can’t say my fears were validated, but I can’t say I left satisfied either. Parts and Labor is definitely moving towards a more harmonic and singersongwritery realm. I’m sure many people like this, but I’m still on the fence about it. I know there is no gimmick with the electonics. The electronics are just taking more nuanced and harmonic forms. And thats cool, sometimes, but the thing that originally attracted me to this band was the fact that they equally combined the bursts of electronic dissonance, with the harmonies, and the echoing vox. I hope BJ hasnt ditched the electronics for good. (I know he hasnt, check out his solo stuff Shooting Spires, I like the myspace stuff so far.)
But, in spite of all this complaining, Joe proved to be an excellent drummer (id like to see him grow a sick beard though…) and Parts and Labor put on a fantastic show, complete with the old and new songs, headbanging, tricky drum intros, and yes electonics board and bass dissonance. So even though I don’t like their new stuff as much I still look forward to hearing more of their new stuff and I still have much love for this band.
also, now that I have almost finished moving, I will hopefully get to posting more things. And those of you who read, feel free to post and comment.
