obsolete? I don't think so...

No one makes mixtapes anymore. What's up with that? You know, it really breaks my heart. So, I'm proposing we revive this lost art. If you're not with me, whatevs. I can do this alone. It'd just be more fun if you joined in, don't ya think? 

Shameless promoting...

It's Thursday. You'll never catch me at a show on Thursday. Okay, that might not be true. I would be easily persuaded to attend a show if say, Interpol, were in town. But my point is, every Thursday I'm in the same place. Karma Koffee (formerly the Enclave) in DTW. Or once a month we're at the Beachland...but still...


I don't come here for the coffee. Or the atmosphere. Or even the company. Although, that also is not entirely true, as I'm usually with my best friend if I'm here on a Thursday.




What I come for is the drums.


Hand drums. Djembes. Tom-toms. Steel drums. Hell, there's even a man here with a guitar and some whose-its and what's-its galore.


Experimentation abounds. Someone throws down some beats, and it builds. It grows. If you're feeling disconnected from the world, perhaps you should come here. Reconnect. Make a new friend. Play something. Anything. There's no right or wrong. There just is.




And that, my friends, is my hippie notion for the week. (See ya next Thursday?)

All At Once or Not At All...

There's a clear difference between the freshman and sophomore albums from the Airborne Toxic Event. Upbeat, angst-filled, tongue-in-cheek banter adorns the freshman album while the sophomore album is more attuned to the scene now: sparse, pared down, low production, folksy.

This second album is getting rave reviews all around. As a musician, I appreciate that this is not overly produced. I appreciate the use of orchestral instruments. Hell, I even appreciate the lyricism. Truly, this is something that I've always appreciated about the Airborne Toxic Event.

But I'm just not sure I'm sold. 

(What is it with music being something you've got to listen to multiple times to formulate an opinion on nowadays? *ahem, Radiohead*)

This isn't what I expected. Maybe that's the problem. I wanted another album just like the first. But honestly, what good would that be? It wouldn't show musical diversity. It wouldn't show true talent, if they were just churning out that same ol' thing always. 

No, this album is good. I read on some other blog that it compared to the Arcade Fire's Neon Bible, but let's be honest: The Arcade Fire is a lot of talk and not so much on the delivery. I don't think it ranks up there with The Temper Trap's Conditions or Interpol's...well, any album by Interpol. 

It's not iconic, is what I'm getting at. 

Not sure I'd be willing to commit to paying full price for an album which needs to grow on me to be worth its price...

For the record, the songs I think are worth listening to are: All At Once, Changing, Half of Something Else, All I Ever Wanted, and The Graveyard Near The House. Seriously, check those.

And then listen to the whole thing, start to finish. 

By the way, upon re-listening a few times, I've decided to give this album 3 1/2 out of 5. It's pretty good, but it's got to grow on you. 

I think I just experienced dubstep last week. Whatever that was, I liked it. Went to a show on Friday May 6th, at the Grog Shop in Cleveland. Show featured MisterbradleyP, the Very Knees, Win Win and the Death Set.


What to say? MisterbradleyP spins some mad stuff. The Very Knees...I don't even know what to say. Pretty sure the band consisted of two dudes, but one was def dressed like a gal, and the other rocked the New Yorker thing hard. Their sound? eh...about that. Couldn't understand a single thing they sang. Liked when they rapped, liked their energy. I say, give 'em a few years to play out and figure out ho they sound performing andthey'll hit it.


Now, Win Win, TOTALLY rocked my life. Video screens, ill beats, seamlessness. Only thing missing? This lion. Fo sho.


The Death Set...ILL. Australian born, Brooklyn based, The Death Set sounds kind of like Beastie Boys had a love child with Sum41. Lots of mayhem on that stage. Hanging from the rafters, laying on the drums...just ILL.

luchadors! pigs! and angels! OH MY. erm...Of Montreal.

May 4th. A day I'll never forget.


Decided to trek to my first of Montreal show. Didn't really know what to expect. Got a tip off from a friend that they put on some wild shows. Boy, was that an understatement.


Luchadors. Pigs. Angels. Lead singer rockin' a mini skirt and putting every girl I know to shame. 50s housewife. Rotating singers while Kevin changed clothes. SIDE NOTE: The drummer (who is ADORABLE) has a great lounge singer voice. 


What you'll love about of Montreal: they're open, they're honest, they're upfront. No sugarcoating, lots of nonsense happening on stage. Great musicians. Awesome guitar riffs.


What will scare you: well, if you're close-minded, pretty much everything. Open your mind up, kids.


Opening band was Painted Palms. All I remember about them is that their videos made me think of the desert, the way the singer sang made me think of Middle Eastern music, and the bassist looked like Napoleon Dynamite, the hipster updated version.


Eh. I dug Painted Palms, but I don't know that I'd buy the album. 

old school appreciation.

Taking Back Sunday is REALLY making sense right now. What music keeps you going?

Lemons yield lemonade...

Life's pretty hectic right now. This was recommended to me by a GREAT friend. It's fixing things. (slowly) Please listen and enjoy. Then, pass it on. :)