A few months ago, I read the ultimate graphic novel, Alan Moore’s Watchmen. It is indeed an amazingly good book. I don’t normally cross over other media into this music based blog, but Watchmen is a story I read and can see it cinematically as well as imagining a great soundtrack to accompany it. I’ve seen the film yet, read first though as I thought it would be sacrilege to see it before i had read the novel. Although good, I have to admit that I was disappointed by it as a whole. It misses out major parts of the novel, but it is visually an impressive like-for-like copy. I even wrote notation on what i liked and what I didn’t, the dislikes out weigh the likes by a strong margin.

The soundtrack though, was one of the best things about the film, it had some inspired choices, including Hendrix. But, here is an alternative soundtrack formed from ideas when I first read the novel. I’ve compiled a short playlist to go with each of the 12 chapters of Watchmen.

Chapter 1
The Futureheads – He Knows

Chapter 2
Joy Division – Dead Souls

Chapter 3
Blondie – Heart of Glass

Chapter 4
Arcade Fire – My Body Is A Cage

Chapter 5
Radiohead – Karma Police

Chapter 6
Thom Yorke – Skip Divided

Chapter 7
The Strokes – What Ever Happened?

Chapter 8
Fleet Foxes – Heard Them Stirring

Chapter 9
The Cribs – Ancient History

Chapter 10
AC/DC – Back in Black

Chapter 11
Elle Milano – This Is How It Ends

Chapter 12
Echo & The Bunnymen – The Killing Moon

Listen and you’ll hopefully enjoy.

Happy week before Thanksgiving! As always, I go through a period of not buying any new music for a while, then splurge all at once. My last post was about the great debut from Them Crooked Vultures, which I would probably give 3.5 out of 5 stars to, at least according to the Tfronky Rating System. While at ZIA Records off the I17 Freeway and Thunderbird on Wednesday I found some used stuff I wanted, including the new Flaming Lips disc Embryonic, and found the latest Echo and the Bunnymen disc The Fountain new.

Flaming Lips – Embryonic – 1 star
It pains me to write that, because I really do like this band. The Soft Bulletin was incredible, and Do You Realize is one of my all-time favorite tracks. I will have that song played at my funeral. But Embryonic is 18 songs of pure noise that if I did drugs at all still would not improve the quality of listening to this album. I may play frisbee with this.

Echo and the Bunnymen – The Fountain – 3 stars
A wonderful, plesant surprise. Echo is my all-time favorite band, and this album may keep them there for a while. I have been really disappointed in this band since 3/4 of the original line-up reunited in 1997. The four albums they have released since then have been, in my opinion, sub-par at best. Well, The Fountain may not be Ocean Rain or Porcupine, but I think it is the band’s best work since 1987’s self-titled fifth album, the last with the original line-up.

The Fountain is actually an album that sounds very similar to Echo and the Bunnymen, particularly to the lead track from that album The Game. Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant are the surviving original members, and although Ian’s voice sounds a bit strained today and Will’s guitar work is not what is was during the band’s prime, the ten songs on this disc are welcome additions to the Bunnymen’s catalog. The Fountain is simply classic, mid-tempo Britpop, done Bunnymen style with plenty of Ian’s witty lyrics and Will’s guitar hooks.

Needless to say I am excited, it is great to hear the Echo I fell in love with over twenty years ago. I have not seen them since 1988, here is to that changing in 2010!

Cheers!
Frank

Seeing as I’ve only got this on 12” (OK, I’ve got it on mp3 now, but for the purposes of the exercise let’s pretend it’s still this morning), we broke with tradition and watched it on YouTube. Consequently, Junior considers the song a mere soundtrack to Julian Cope’s hair and leather jacket. She liked both.

So that’s two Crucial Three-ers in a row, but we won’t complete the set because Echo and the Bunnymen didn’t release any singles in 1986. Jules was another eccentric with a bye into the charts in the 80s, and who can be surprised when he was chucking out taut, smart, pop triumphs like this?

Junior went off to school murmuring, “Shut your mouth, shut your mouth”. Great.

Flying in the face of fashion:

Ontem estava passando a garota de rosa shocking no telecine cult, e por sinal é um dos meus filmes favoritos! Lembro de quando eu era bem pequena e ele passava sempre na sessão da tarde, porem  para minha tristeza parou de passar, eu passei anos tentando pelo menos alugar esse filme e num achava! Por isso quase morri de felicidade quando vi na programação do telecine!

A garota de rosa shocking conta a história de Andie, a menina pobre, que é toda new wave, não popular, que estuda na  escola de pessoas ricas e tem um crush por um dos  plaboyzinhos da escola! Andie trabalha em uma loja de discos (que tem um poster lindo dos Smiths, com o Morrissey novinho), tem um melhor amigo incrível, engraçadissímo e que gosta dela, o Duckie, e uma amiga mais velha a Iona!

A confusão começa quando Blane, (o playboyzinho que ela gosta), chama ela para sair e tanto os amigos dele, como os amigos dela, não aceitam muito bem o relacionamento dos dois, devido a extrema diferença entre seus mundos!

Além do filme ter um figurino 80’s incrível, ele tem uma trilha sonora de matar!

• • “Pretty In Pink” - The Psychedelic Furs
• “Wouldn’t It Be Good” -  Nik Kershaw
• “What’s It Going To Be” -  Maggie Lee
• “Love” –  John Lennon
• “Round, Round” - Belouis Some
• “Pursuit” – Winston Sharples
• “Rave-Up/Shut-Up” – The Rave-Ups
• “Positively Lost Me”- The Rave-Ups
• “Copacabana (At The Copa)” – Barry Manilow
• “Thieves Like Us” – New Order
• “Elegia” – New Order
• “If You Leave” – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
• “Whisper / Touch” – Code Blue
• “Bring On The Dancing Horses” – Echo & The Bunnymen
• “Do Wot You Do” – INXS
• “Shell-Shock” – New Order
• “Try a Little Tenderness” – Otis Redding
• “Cherish” – The Association
• “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” – The Smiths
• “Rudy” – Talk Back
• “Left of Center” – Suzanne Vega
• “Get to Know Ya” – Jesse Johnson

Uma das melhores cenas do filme:

Se você nunca assistiu esse super clássico de 1986, pelo amor assista djá!

On this day in 1978, post-punk band Echo and the Bunnymen debuted as the opening act for the Teardrop Explodes at Eric’s Club in Liverpool.

While they were a popular in their native England, the Bunnymen had limited commercial success across the pond in the U.S.  Only 1984’s “The Killing Moon” and 1987’s “Lips Like Sugar” had any chart success.  However, they became more widely known to American audiences when “Bring on the Dancing Horses” was included on the soundtrack to the 1986 film, Pretty in Pink.

In 1985, the Bunnymen toured Scandinavia as a cover band, including songs by Television, the Rollign Stones, and the Talking Heads in their sets.  In 1987, they contributed a cover version of the Doors’ “People are Strange” to the soundtrack for the film, The Lost Boys.

Despite a lack of great commercial success, the Bunnymen have had a great influence on other musicians and, in 2002, they were awarded the Q Inspiration award by British music magazine Q.

Here’s French cover band, Nouvelle Vague, performing “Killing Moon” live in Athens in 2007.

And here’s The Quakes‘ psychobilly version.

Lo-fi band Pavement performed a version as part their 1997 BBC session, describing it as “an old family favorite.”

Finally, “Lips like Sugar” has also received its fair amount of attention as a cover song.

Some nice person on youtube put together versions by Coldplay and by the Smashing Pumpkins and threw in a bit of the Seal version from the 50 First Dates soundtrack at the end.

20 Watts played Asobi Seksu, DJ Shadow and more on WERW

Eric, Chris and Caitlin are in the studio this evening spinning an hour of new music, an hour of trip-hop and an hour of local songs! Tune in by opening iTunes and selecting radio > college radio > WERW or by clicking this link. We’ll be in the studio until 1 a.m.!

Want to talk to us or request a song? IM werw1570, tweet @20_watts or call (315) 443-1278. The third caller gets Chris Parker’s voice on their voicemail… it doesn’t get much better than that.

New tracks are in bold, local artists are italicized.

And don’t forget to tune in to 20 Watts’ Audiocandy+ shows on Wednesday and Thursday from 9-11 p.m.!

artist: Asobi Seksu [read our review of Transparence]
title: New Year
album: Rewolf

artist: Echo and the Bunnymen [13/20 watts -- read the review]
title: Life of a Thousand Crimes
album: The Fountain

artist: Omar Rodriguez Lopez
title: Azoemia
album: Xenophanes

artist: Pants Yell!
title: Rue de la Paix
album: Received Pronunciations

artist: Wale [15/20 watts -- read the review]
title: Chillin’
album: Attention Deficit

artist: Yeasayer
title: Ambling Alp (Memory Tapes Remix)
album: Ambling Alp

artist: Memory Tapes
title: Bicycle
album: Seek Magic

artist: Future Islands
title: Little Dreamer
album: Post Office Wave Chapel

artist: Grizzly Bear
title: Slow Life
album: New Moon OST [read our coverage of New Moon]

artist: Bibio [16/20 watts -- read the review]
title: Lovers’ Carvings (Leatherette Remix)
album: The Apple and The Tooth

artist: Arcade Fire [by request -- thank you for listening!]
title: Lenin
album: Dark Was The Night Compilation

artist: Atlas Sound
title: Doctor (Five Discs Cover)
album: N/A

artist: A Sunny Day in Glasgow
title: Shy (Ernest Gonzalez Remix)
album: N/A

READ THE 20: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO TRIP-HOP

artist: DJ Shadow
title: Midnight in a Perfect World
album: Endtroducing

artist: Portishead
title: Glory Box
album: Dummy

artist: Massive Attack
title: Unfinished Sympathy
album: Blue Lines

artist: Tricky
title: Hell Is Round the Round the Corner
album: Maxinquaye

artist: Kid Koala
title: Fender Bender
album: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

artist: Portishead
title: Machine Gun
album: Dummy

artist: Rob Dougan
title: Clubbed to Death
album: N/A

artist: Blockhead
title: Triptych PT 1
album: Music by Cavelight

artist: Wagon Christ
title: Tally Ho
album: Tally Ho

artist: Red Snapper
title: Like A Moving Truck
album: Making Bones

artist: Becoming X
title: Sneaker Pimps
album: Sneaker Pimps

artist: DJ Shadow
title: What Does Your SOul Look Like Pt. 2
album: Preemptive Strike

artist: Massive Attack
title: Inertia Creeps
album: Mezzanine

artist: No Connection
title: The Weight
album: Lovely Devils

artist: Lemuria
title: Mechanical
album: Get Better

artist: Mayflower
title: Movie Quotes & Inside Jokes
album: Awesome Stuff

artist: Alex Kerns
title: Clamor On
album: Lovely Letters

artist: This Day & Age
title: The Bell And The Hammer
album: The Real Stuff

artist: Goo Goo Dolls [by request -- thank you for listening!]
title: Iris
album: Not Good

artist: The Screw-Ups
title: Don’t Care Much About Reggae
album: EP

artist: The Felice Brothers [see photos from last night's show]
title: Greatest Show on Earth
album: The Felice Brothers

artist: Moustache [by request -- thank you for listening!]
title: That French Song
album: Love is French

Hello everybody,

Nothing like inspiring some debate from the get-go for the first legitimate post on this blog, and what better way to do so than with a list? Folks, this was a tough one, but here are my picks for my favorite bands of all-time. By the way, there will be a separate Top 10 for solo artists!

1. Echo and the Bunnymen. Number two on this list is pretty close to taking over this spot, but for now Echo and the Bunnymen still have a hold on things. Echo has been my fave since about 1987-88, a long time to have such a stranglehold on Number One.

No wonder. The first albums from Echo are in my mind the all-time best start to a career, four stunning records of post-punk and early Britpop mastery. What was most exciting about this band was how different each album was from the previous. Crocodiles was an incredible debut, full of energy and a melodic post-punk edge. Heaven Up Here added mysticism and power to the mix. Porcupine was a masterpiece, combining the elements from the first two albums into one unique combination. My favorite track from the band, In Bluer Skies, appears on the third album.

However, the 1984 release of Ocean Rain remains one of the top albums in music history. At least in Tfronky’s eyes. Nine breath-taking tracks of pure beauty, highlighted with the first track on side two of the album, The Killing Moon. This album has been reissued on a couple of occasions. Find the one with a second disc of a live concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 1983.

Echo would make one more album with the original line-up. Once drummer Pete de Freitas was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in 1989, the magic was in many ways gone. Echo and the Bunnymen continue to tour and record to this day with vocalist Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant. They recently released their 11th studio album, entitled The Fountain. I will have to check it out.

Critical album = Ocean Rain

2. Elbow. My good friend Bobby Lerma has introduced me to some great music over the years. One day he handed me a disc he had burned from a band I was not familiar with by the name of Elbow. The next day I called him and when he answered, I immediately began cursing at him, pissed because he had waited so long to tell me about these guys!

If the next album from Elbow, which will be their fifth studio disc, is better than Echo’s fifth, self-titled album, then Elbow will slide into the Number One spot. Amazing to think that this foursome toiled for years in obscurity under the different moniker of Soft, because they have developed into the greatest band in the world at the present time.

That disc Bobby burned contained tracks from Elbow’s first three albums, Asleep in the Back, Cast of Thousands and Leaders of the Free World. Their fourth disc The Seldom Seen Kid was the album that finally gained them the commercial success they so richly deserve. These guys have yet to create a bad song, and more often than not have created some of the best music in the past 12 years. No one can touch Guy Garver for Top Dog in regards to vocals. Their show at the Bluebird Theatre in Denver May of 2008 ranks as the best concert I have ever seen, no mean feat when you consider how many shows I have been to over the years.

Critical album = The Seldom Seen Kid

3. Sugar. Sigh … what a shame that such an incredible band was only around from 1992-1995. Husker Du was incredible, the first two solo records from the legendary Bob Mould were very good, but when Sugar’s debut Copper Blue was released in 1992 I went nuts. The punk aesthetic of Husker Du was tempered with Mould’s melodicism from his solo work, but the structure of the music went far beyond what he had done before. Sugar possessed a delicate ferocity. Every song possesses brutal power, but the pop hooks each track possessed were absolutely incredible. I only had the pleasure of seeing this band perform once, at the Electric Ballroom in Tempe, AZ. No joke, my ears may still be ringing.

Thank God Bob soldiers on today, remaining one of the most crucial artists in music.

Critical album = Copper Blue

4. Agent Orange. My favorite punk rock band, although Agent Orange expands on the limits of that formula. Take melodic punk, add in a heavy surf rock element and you have the formula for some of the most dynamic music produced in the past 30 years. Guitarist/vocalist Mike Palm is the only original member left, but his presence alone still makes this trio a powerful force.

Critical  album = This is the Voice

5. Swervedriver. An original part of the early nineties U.K. shoegaze scene, Swervedriver pushed the boundaries on that genre of music and left a definite imprint as one of the best bands on the nineties. Swervedriver takes several of the characteristics of Britpop, mixes in some explosive power and one of the best vocal styles in rock and roll from Adam Franklin.

This band has gone through several hardships during its career, especially in regards to some terrible luck with its record labels. After the release of their fourth album 99th Dream in 1998, the band broke up a year later and were on hiatus for nine years. Then in April of 2008 Swervedriver reunited at Coachella and once again proved they are capable of creating some of the most beautiful damage when they play together. The show I saw at the Mason Jar years ago brings back some incredible memories.

Critical album = Mezcal Head

6. Juno. One day my friend Bobby Lerma walked in to the store I was working at back around 2001-2002. He handed me a disc, told me to put it in and fast forward to a track entitled Killing it in a Quiet Way. The song was from Juno’s second full-length album A Future Lived in Past Tense. I was immediately blown away. Juno was emo without all the horrible characteristics of that genre of music.This was emo reminiscent of the mid-eighties Washington D.C. Dischord Records era and Sunny Day Real Estate. Intense music, inspired and soaring vocals, and a three-guitar attack highlighted this incredible band that had far too-short a career from 1995-2001.

Few bands can create long instrumentals and keep them interesting. Juno had an amazing ability to do so, and their more standard tracks possessed immense power and a subtle tranquility. I wish I could have seen these guys live.

Critical album = A Future Lived in Past Tense

7. Band of Horses. I had been introduced to this band before, but for whatever reason had not made a huge impression on me. Then I had the opportunity to see them play at the second Monolith Festival at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO September of 2008.

There were several great acts during that weekend, but when Band of Horses took the main stage on Sunday evening, they put on a performance for the ages. The one band with a sound big enough to capitalize on the stunning acoustics of Red Rocks, Band of Horses played an incredible set that evening, highlighted by their signature song The Funeral. The cool weather, the wonderful scenery of Red Rocks and the outstanding delivery of that song provided in my opinion the highlight of the weekend, powerful enough to nearly move me to tears.

I had the pleasure of seeing them at Coachella this year, where Band of Horses unveiled two new tracks. I am stoked for the new disc, whenever it does finally come out!

Critical album = Everything All the Time

8. Dead Can Dance. The beauty of Gregorian chant mixed with ethereal dreampop is one way you could describe this duo. Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard combined their talents to deliver one of the more unique styles of music I have ever had the pleasure of hearing.

Typical of most 4AD bands from that time period, Dead Can Dance released a string of albums that were mellow enough for your parents to enjoy, but contained enough elements of alternative music to satisfy the indie crowd. For a great introduction to this band, check out their live release Toward the Within.

Critical album = Within the Realm of a Dying Sun

9. Gang of Four. The best, most powerful and most intelligent post-punk band of the late seventies-early eighties, Gang of Four released two incredible albums to commence their career, the landmark Entertainment! and my fave, Solid Gold. The Gang created music that makes you think. They also create music so powerful that it pummels you into submission.

He may not be the most technically correct guitarist in music history, but Andy Gill is a genius. There was an eighties concert film by the name of Urgh! A Music War. To this day I marvel at the band’s delivery of He’d Send in the Army, and the manner in which Andy Gill destroys his guitar while playing that song is incredible.

Critical album = Solid Gold

10. The Ramones. Without this band I never become a fan of the Sex Pistols, Agent Orange, M.I.A. or Social Distortion. The impact of the Ramones is still felt in rock music 35 years after they first formed in Queens, NY.

Now granted, the last five albums the band released were terrible, and only three of the previous five were worthwhile. However, the first four releases from the Ramones were so outstanding and so ahead of their time that I could still put Ramones, Leave Home, Rocket to Russia or Road to Ruin on today and immediately be brought back to my youth. I immediately recall how simple their music was, and how powerful that simplicity was in creating controlled chaos.

Do yourself a favor and rent the movie Rock and Roll High School if you get a chance, great stuff!

Critical album = It’s Alive

Let the debate begin!

Cheers,
Frank

The grand finale. Two great bands to see. (Well one great one, and one trading off past greatness). This was going to seal the weekends festivities on a positive note.

We didn’t get there too early. 7pm-ish. First problem – Echo and The Bunnymen were a no-show! Apparently McCulloch didn’t board the flight. I’m assuming that he couldn’t face the embarrassment of trawling through the turgid pop-fest of “The Fountain”. Alternatively, he cold have left “The Fountain” at home and just come out to Dubai with his first 4 albums. We’d have been happy with that. Very happy in fact. But he chose to disappoint his (small) group of fans in Dubai. In retrospect I ended on a high rather than a disappointment and that was good, so thanks.

First up were/was (?) Dan Black. Toby Kebble look-alike (Northern Soul/Dead Mans Shoes era) with extreme-low-slung-gussett action. His MySpace page said Jay-Z and Sigur Ros as influences. ??? Stumped. Not impressed. All I remember was the guy leaping around, like an E-fuelled Quazimodo. Pants. (Literally).

Then came half of The Parlotones. Apparently the other half didn’t clear Dubai Immigration. The singer explained that this wasn’t their normal way of making music and that they didn’t feel too comfortable. But, they put on a good show. They sounded great. Of course, quite minimal (only rhythm guitar and drums), but enjoyable. The vocals were some of the best I’d heard all weekend. They obviously didn’t feel comfortable and exited after only a few tracks. Shame. They probably do fit into my bed-wetters category, and his David Gray-esque head wobbling annoyed me, as did his hat, but, they turned up and sounded great in less than optimal circumstances. Respect is due. Thanks.

Alphabeat. Where did these come from (ok – Denmark)? What I mean is, where were these supposed to fit in tonights billing? This was Euro-pop  in its most extreme. Hints of Aqua. Barbie doll vocals. Lots of leaping, prancing and tambourine beating. They should have been on at Chi, not warming up the crowd before the Super Furry Animals. Bad choice of sequencing. Not bad. Just not me. More MacDonalds kids party than SoundCity.

By the time the Super Furry Animals came on stage I was looking for a lifeline. Something to rescue the festival from a poor Day 2 and a confused Day 3. Of course they didn’t disappoint. I can’t remember their whole set. Gruff name-checked  the absent headliners with “We’re Echo and The Bunnymen, from Cardiff”! They focussed on “Dark Days/Light Years”; “Crazy Naked Girls”, “Mt.”, “Inaugural Trams” and “The Very Best Of Neil Diamond”. From the back catalogue I remember “Demons”, “Slowlife”, “Rings Around The World” and “Juxtapozed With U”. Considering the size of the crowd (which had started to drift away), we had a rousing rendition of “Earth” accompanied with appropriate signage and silly finger waving. Brilliant.

SFA rescued the weekend. They sent me home on a high. Mrs. P saw them for the first time and, naturally, was bowled over. Doves and SFA. Two bands bookending the festival and to be truthful making it worth the entrance fee.

Until next year.

The End.

01. Lust For Life // Girls
02. When I’m With You // Best Coast
03. Know Better Learn Faster // Thao With the Get Down Stay Down
04. These Things // Rangers
05. Cold Hands // Pants Yell!
06. Sing To Dream // Mass Fiction
07. Preacher’s Son // MIdnight Masses
08. The World Outside // Maserati
09. Bone Jam // Orrall
10. Rescue // Echo And The Bunnymen

DJ-HERO CONTEST [LINK]

20 Watts played Julian Casablancas, Joy Division, Sleigh Bells and more on WERW

Eric, Jett and Caitlin were in the studio from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. last night, playing new releases, editors’ picks, local favorites AND a solid hour of post-punk for all you lucky listeners.  Here’s what we played last night: new tracks are in bold, local artists are italicized.

Don’t forget to tune in to 20 Watts’ Audiocandy+ shows on Wednesday and Thursday from 9-11 p.m.!

artist: Julian Casablancas [16/20 watts -- read the review]
title: 11th Dimension
album: Phrazes for the Young

artist: CFCF [13/20 watts -- read the review]
title: Invitation to Love
album: Continent

artist: Lymbyc System [19/20 watts -- read the review]
title: Ghost Clock
album: Shutter Release

artist: The Swimmers [15/20 watts -- read the review]
title: Shelter
album: People Are Soft

artist: Weezer [14/20 watts -- read the review]
title: I’m Your Daddy
album: Ratitude

artist: Blakroc ft. Raekwon
title: Stay Off the Fuckin’ Flowers
album: Blakroc

artist: Mirrors
title: Lights and Offerings
album: N/A

artist: Avi Buffalo
title: What’s In It For?
album: What’s In It For? 7″

artist: Kid Sister [read about our favorite hip-hop divas]
title: Right Hand Hi
album: Ultraviolet

artist: Lady GaGa
title: Bad Romance
album: Bad Romance

artist: Yeasayer
title: O.N.E.
album: Odd Blood

artist: Big Boi ft. Gucci Mane
title: Shine Blockas
album: Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

READ THE 20: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO POST-PUNK

artist: The National
title: Mistaken for Strangers
album: Boxer

artist: Joy Division
title: Twenty Four Hours
album: Closer

artist: The Cure
title: Inbetween Days
album: The Head on the Door

artist: The Fall
title: English Scheme
album: Grotesque

artist: Echo and the Bunnymen [read about our favorite post-punk movie soundtracks]
title: Gods Will Be Gods
album: Porcupine

artist: Gang of Four
title: I Found That Essence Rare
album: Entertainment!

artist: Talking Heads
title: Take Me to the River
album: White Label/Promo

artist: The Raincoats
title:  No One’s Little Girl
album: The Kitchen Tapes

artist: The Jesus and Mary Chain [read The 20: Your Essential Guide to Noise Pop]
title: In a Hole
album: Psychocandy

artist: Talking Heads
title: Making Flippy Floppy
album: Speaking in Tongues

artist: Joy Division
title: Love Will Tear Us Apart
album: Substance

artist: Devo
title: Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy
album: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

artist: Biggie Smalls (Karl Ingloff Remix) [read Carly Wolkoff's editor's pick]
title: Biggie Smalls vs. Thomas the Tank Engine
album: N/A

artist: Delirium
title: Blue Magic
album: Delirium Presents … Heroes

artist: Mouth’s Cradle [watch Mouth's Cradle perform at the 20 Watts LAUNCH]
title: Front Porch, Back Porch
album: N/A

artist: Passion Pit [read Elizabeth Vogt's editor's pick]
title: Little Secrets (Jack Beats Remix)
album: N/A

artist: Phantogram [hear an interview with Phantogram]
title: Mouthful of Diamonds
album: Eyelid Movies

artist: Golden Shoulders [read Caitlin Dewey's editor's pick]
title: Mountain
album: Get Reasonable

artist: The Tundra Toes [read our feature on the Ithaca music scene]
title: Miami
album: The Band Before Time

artist: Grand Salvo
title: Needles
album: Soil Creatures

artist: Sarah Aument [read our review of Sarah's set at the O, Morning Showcase]
title: Couch Slouch
album: Wake Up Singing EP

artist: The Great Collide
title: Far From Here
album: N/A

artist: Sleigh Bells
title: Ring Ring
album: N/A

artist: Pants Yell!
title: Magenta and Green
album: Received Pronunciation

artist: M.I.A.
title: Paper Planes (DFA Remix)
album: Slumdog Millionaire S/T

artist: Devon James [read our feature on lo-fi recording, including Devon James]
title: Use This One
album: N/A

Expect the unexpected in November when the Sunday Show begins early – 9pm – and boasts the most incredible lineup of performers so far this year. Additionally, the show will be followed by a special surprise. Discover the true meaning of Thanksgiving with Legs Malone (living burlesque legend),Michelle St. Darling (baton twirling, fire eating), Nelson Lugo (sideshow master, expect to see him so something amazing like swallow razor blades), Michael Karas (master juggler), Justina Flash (exquisite fire hula hooping), Leta LeNoir (kitten and fabulous burlesque), Blacky 2 providing music and of course, your mystery, surprise host. We have a lot to be thankful for…and it shows. Surprise return performance by your favorite cast member, too. (HINT: PFFFFFFFFFFFFT. Can you guess who it will be?)

See you on the 22nd!

www.sundayshownyc.com

Doors 8:30pm
Show 9:00pm
Surprise 11:00pm

The Slipper Room
167 Orchard Street
NYC

Here I am as Ron English’s Cathy Cowgirl. Curious?
Read all about it on Page Six. See you on the 22nd!
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/art_is_plain_english_TMjJD32zbxScwmVvh32HkP

Recent news is that the band had to cancel the tour due to IRS issues… deets here.

Setlist :

Stars Are Stars
The Pictures on My Wall
Show of Strength
My Kingdom
Angels and Devils
Heads Will Roll
All That Jazz
All My Colours (Zimbo)
Ocean Rain
The Cutter
Seven Seas
Turquoise Days
No Dark Things
Heaven up Here
Never Stop
Thorn of Crowns
Crocodiles
The Killing Moon
Do It Clean

In a new feature, I will post covers of songs by various artists. I’ll try them as varied and rare as possible, but i’m sure alot of you would of heard them. If not… shame on you!

To start things of we have a cover off the Echo & The Bunnymen song The Killing Moon by Pavement… you know the song, the one of the beginning of Donnie Darko.

Its the Halloween show this Wednesday from 8 to 10 pm on Radioloveless at KRUI 89.7fm or listen online here.

1. Suicide, The Second Album (1980) + The First Rehearsal Tapes (rereleased 1998), Creature Feature

2. R.E.M., Dead Letter Office (1987), Burning Hell
3. The Clash, Combat Rock (1982), Straight to Hell
4. Fugazi, 13 Songs (1989), Burning
5. The Misfits, Collection II (1995), Halloween II
6. The Misfits, Collection (1986), Night of the Living Dead
7. Archers of Loaf, Vee Vee (1995), Death in the Park
8. Siouxsie and the Banshees, JuJu (1981), Halloween
9. Joy Division, Still (1981), Dead Souls
10. Beat Happening, Black Candy (1989), Gravedigger Blues
11. The Velvet Underground, Peel Slowly and See (Box Set), The Gift
It’s found originally on White Light/White Heat (1968). The lyrics are written by Lou Reed and recited by John Cale, and the track is mixed in such a way that a short story can be heard in the left speaker while a rock instrumental is heard on the right. Also, the story is creepy as hell and perfect for Halloween.
12. Guided by Voices, Under the Bushes Under the Stars (1996 on Matador), Cut-Out Witch
13. Blue Oyster Cult, Agents of Fortune (1976), (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
14. The Cure, Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (1987), Tortue
15. Bauhaus, Bela Lugosi’s Dead-single (1979), Bela Lugosi’s Dead
16. Echo and the Bunnymen, Ocean Rain (1984), The Killing Moon

17. Concrete Blonde, Bloodletting (1990), Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)
18. This Mortal Coil, Filigree and Shadow (1986), The Horizon Bleeds and Sucks its Thumb

19. The Murder City Devils, Empty Bottles Broken Hearts (1998), Cradle to the Grave
20. The Birthday Party, Junkyard (1982), Release the Bats
21. Tom Waits, Blue Valentine (1978), Wistlin’ Past the Graveyard

22. The Germs, M.I.A. The Complete Germs (1993), Lexicon Devil
The 7″ of Lexicon Devil was originally released in 1978.
23. Pixies, Come on Pilgrim (1987 off of 4AD), Ed is Dead
24. Sonic Youth, Evol (1986), Expressway to Yr. Skull
25. David Bowie, Scary Monsters (1980), Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)

Ya hemos escuchado The Fountain, el décimoprimer álbum de estudio de los británicos Echo & The Bunnymen que se puso a la venta el pasado 12 de octubre y ya podemos dar una opinión sobre él. Se han hecho de rogar porque lo habían anunciado para el 2008 pero finalmente ha salido este mes. La reciente muerte de su teclista Jake Brockman el 1 de septiembre ha podido trastocar también los planes del grupo.

Han pasado 4 años desde el anterior, el formidable Siberia, que sacó la mejor versión de los de Liverpool en los últimos tiempos (hace tiempo reducido a dúo) aunque pasara desapercibido fuera de las islas como casi toda su obra desde los 90 principalmente. Si bien sus discos han mantenido siempre un nivel de calidad medio-alto, se echaba de menos una colección de canciones como las que incluyeron en el 2005. También es verdad que mi opinión es subjetiva (como todas, vaya) ya que siempre han sido uno de mis grupos favoritos desde que los descubrí en 1987 con canciones como The Game, Lips Like Sugar o Bombers Bay.

De esta nueva entrega lo que llama primero la atención es que el vocalista del grupo Ian McCulloch hace labores también de productor, además junto al reputado guitarrista de jazz John McLaughlin y Simon Perry. A su vez, estos últimos también colaboran en la composición de algunas canciones. Con tanto gallo en el corral, el resultado bien podría haber sido un pastiche de mucho cuidado pero el balance final es equilibrado. Echo & The Bunnymen nunca han dado giros estilísticos bruscos y siempre han mantenido un sonido personal e identificable. En The Fountain ocurre lo mismo. Uno de los responsables de que haya sido así es Will Sergeant (único miembro original junto al cantante), cuyas guitarras aparecen una vez más como catalizadoras de unas melodías que llevan el sello inconfundible del grupo. Así como contiene canciones rápidas, en su mayoría predominan los medios tiempos. Las más aceleradas son el primer single Think I Need It Too, Do You Know Who I Am? (próximo single posiblemente) y Shroud Of Turin (con un punteo impactante) tres ejemplos brillantes de lo que nos podemos encontrar después. Su música tal vez no nos haga saltar pero no por ello desmerece sino todo lo contrario, siempre es agradable su escucha para los oídos. Una colección de 10 canciones que nos han dejado un buen sabor de boca aunque si vamos buscando el recuerdo nostálgico de sus mejores momentos allá por los 80, no lo encontraremos. No porque no tengan nada que ver con ese cuarteto que marcó tendencia en la Inglaterra de aquella época (junto a Les Pattinson y al desaparecido Pete De Freitas) sino porque, como les suele pasar a muchos grupos de esta y otras generaciones, el nivel alcanzado fue tan alto que volver a conseguirlo se antoja muy complicado. En Siberia sí percibí más reminiscencias del pasado que en este disco, pero sin llegar a los momentos tan álgidos que nos dieron su magnífico disco de debut Crocodiles, su segundo Heaven Up Here (que no paré de escuchar en la cinta grabada que me pasó un compañero de clase en BUP) y su obra maestra Ocean Rain.

A mi nunca me defrauda Echo & The Bunnymen, espero que a vosotros tampoco si os decidís a escucharlo. Y creo que no lo hará. Pinchando en la carátula del disco os lo podréis descargar y confirmar (o no) lo que os digo. Os incluyo también 2 actuaciones en televisión en la que tocan el single de presentación y el probable sencillo Do You Know Who I Am?, y cerrando con The Fountain en la que colabora Chris Martin de Coldplay, un admirador confeso del grupo desde siempre, y que en este espacio así lo recordamos con una de las versiones que hizo Coldplay de Lips Like Sugar.

The Fountain

Echo & The Bunnymen at Mercury Lounge, 10.17.09

With a career spanning over 30 years, Liverpool’s Echo & The Bunnymen are polished industry vets, icons and heroes to some of today’s greatest. Fact. I was first exposed to E&TB through two of the greatest films ever Pretty in Pink and The Lost Boys and since then have held them in high esteem as instrumental figures to one of the most important decades of our time: The 80’s.

Nearly three decades into their career, original band members Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant made their rounds on the festival circuit this year and released the new album The Fountain this month. One local stop on the festival tour was at the All Points music festival in August but we unfortunately did not make it to their set due to the harsh monsoon-like weather experienced that day. We however received a stroke of luck this past Saturday when E&TB played the ultra intimate 250 person capacity lower-east side venue Mercury Lounge!

Brooklyn’s ZAZA opened the show with about 3 songs before E&TB took the stage to play a heavenly 1 hour + set. Lead singer Ian McCulloch’s voice sounded absolutely pristine over the strums and drums of the band. The gig was mesmerizing, with friendly fans old and new reveling in McCulloch’s stage presence and frequent banter. Personal highlights included Dancing Horses, Killing Moon,  The Cutter, Nothing Lasts Forever, and the cover of Lou Reed’s Take a Walk on the Wild Side. Unfortunately due to what I assume to be time constraints Lips Like Sugar was omitted.

If you missed them this time around, E&TBM will play Hammerstein Ballroom on November 22nd. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

MP3: Echo & The Bunnymen – People are Strange or zShare

MP3: Echo & The Bunnymen – Bring on the Dancing Horses (Extended Mix) or zShare

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