:::january 2: diet hard with a vengeance:::

so here’s part two of your january musiclovefest…

:::alasdair roberts – the amber gatherers:::drag city folkster delivers what is probably his most accessible record to date. for the uninitiated, think of a more traditional, scottish will oldham. good stuff.
Firewater

:::ghost – in stormy nights:::also on drag city, excellent japanese psych band informed by everything from flower travelling band to can and beyond…this song features some seriously wicked bagpiping
Caledonia

:::beirut – lon gisland ep:::what seems almost an ep of castoffs from gulag orkestar is still very strong work. features the track “elephant gun” that got alot of bloggage when released online. this retread of “scenic world” is just as awesome as the album version
Scenic World

:::deerhunter – cryptograms:::i have had a hard time pinning down how i feel about this band, but recently it’s sort of grown on me. influences are all over the map, and fairly obvious in their music, which can be a good or bad thing.
Hazel St.

:::the shins – wincing the night away:::i’m tired of defending bands like the shins to my genre snob friends. listen folks, good music is good music…end of story! those of you who pigeonhole yourselves to one or two genres seriously miss out on alot of good stuff. just because zach and natalie and the oc kids like it doesn’t mean you’ll lose cool points for liking it too. get a life. that said, this album is a step down from what i thought was a great album (chutes) but still has some really great pop tracks, including this one:
Red Rabbits

no, i won’t be posting any of montreal or cyhsy…know why? i don’t like those bands…that’s why. and chocolate jesus is no democracy, my friend. other possibly good stuff i know of coming out in january are: a new keijo release by digitalis which i have yet to hear…a new rhys chatham album from which i’ve heard a track but didn’t feel like posting…and a bunch of other stuff that i don’t really know. but this stuff is the essentials…and of course i’ll keep you posted throughout the month on other stuff, new and old, that i come across. february’s big bash will include but not be limited to: new explosions in the sky, do make say think and eluvium albums…a strong post-rockian month indeed. also keep an eye out for posts on local stuff and concerts and films as they will be frequent. a good new year to you, sirs and madams.

:::january:::month of the monocled, act un:::

ok so today i’m bringing you that tasty tasty. and guess what? it’s laced with lacy as well. it’s part one of the best of january releases, and it looks to be a very good month. so without further ado, wrap your earholes around these treats:::

:::corsican paintbrush – aquarian hymns:::officially released by the mondogreat digitalis recordings as of yesterday, but i’m considering it a 2007 release cause it’s too damn late in 06. this is the husband and wife team of brad and eden rose, who in between playing in countless bands, run the lovely foxy digitalis website as well as digitalis industries which puts out tons of great releases under it’s foxglove imprint as well. whew…these guys are busy…i did an interview with brad for “the mushroom” run by this guy which you all should read if you can ever possibly get your hands on one. oh and let me borrow it if you do.
Corsican Paintbrush

:::animal collective – people ep:::what was i believe a tour only ep is now being released to the masses. it’s only 4 tracks, one being a live take of the title track, but c’mon people, it’s animal collective, of course it’s great. releases 1/9/07.
Tikwid

:::deerhoof – friend opportunity:::one of my very favorite bands, and a prolific band indeed. i will get to see them for the second time on 2/16 at jack rabbits, and you should too. this album is a bit of a setback from the runners four in my humble o, but a new deerhoof piece is always a welcome listen. i’d compare it more to milk man than apple o or runners four.
The Perfect Me

:::maher shalal hash baz – l’autre cap:::i’m fairly new to this japanese troupe, but it’s safe to say i’m officially hooked. tori kudo composes music for amateur musicians, and the sound is fairly reminiscent of the old 90s atlanta bands smoke or opal foxx quartet, but more childlike. check it out.
Different Daylight

that’s all for this round, tomorrow i’ll be back with more new treats including two upcoming drag city releases so drop by for tea.

:::the week in film:::

it was a bit of a week of diversions….no superb fare, but no horrible films either…

Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada:::the best film i saw this week, started off fairly badly acted and scripted, but about 30 minutes in started to get better and built momentum. not one of Arriaga’s best scripts, but still above what most writers are churning out these days, and a fine return to form for the lost art of the western. turned out to be a good flick. Rating – 76/100

American Movie:::some of the greatest characters you’ll ever see in a doc. bewildering. Rating – 74/100

Superman Returns:::hard for an entry in the superhero genre to really thrill me since Batman Begins turned the genre on it’s ear, but was better than perhaps initially expected. lots of qualms here, but could’ve been much, much worse. Rating – 67/100

The Great Yokai War:::a children’s film from Takashi Miike??? yes, and surprisingly well done. a good diversion if nothing else. Rating – 65/100

on the next…..gtbacj…

this serves as notice to you bloghopping secular progressives that 2007 is THE year of the jesus. i’m going to be reviewing the pants off everything worth listening to or watching or doing, and posting up tracks like nobody’s business. so you best come correct. first up, i’ll be letting you folk know what’s poppin for january…which is gearing up to be a big month with new releases from deerhoof, ghost, maher shalal hash baz, animal collective, alasdair roberts, etc. all living in harmony beside an indie pop lovers heaven ala the shins, of montreal, crap your pants say wah, and much much more!

THE FIVE BEST ALBUMS OF 2006:::no matter what you or anyone else says or thinks

#5:::TV on the Radio: Return to Cookie Mountain:::topping DY, BB was going to be tough. they managed to do so easily.
Tonight

#4:::The Mountain Goats: Get Lonely:::also my vote for 2nd best concert of the year. another great album to add to the long list.
Maybe Sprout Wings

#3:::The Fiery Furnaces: Bitter Tea:::and my vote for BEST concert of the year! some said it was a letdown from previous efforts, i beg to differ. every song is great. best album they’ve release since blueberry boat in my humble o.
Benton Harbor Blues Again

#2:::Destroyer: Destroyer’s Rubies:::dan bejar’s on fire! what’s with canadian songwriters being on fire this year?
3000 Flowers

#1:::Joanna Newsom: Ys:::pretty much any year she releases an album, it’s near guaranteed a top 5 spot in my book. two perfect albums in a row. can’t beat it. haters bow down.
Cosmia

top 60 of 2006:::#10-6

#10:::Love Is All: Nine Times That Same Song:::quite possibly the best post punk retread in the past several years. great, catchy tunes.
Ageing Had Never Been His Friend

#9:::Built to Spill: You In Reverse:::another pretty stellar release. these guys really have some polish on their craft.
Going Against Your Mind

#8:::Six Organs of Admittance: The Sun Awakens:::anybody that read the old jesus knows how i love this album and this artist, so no need to rehash.
Bless Your Blood

#7:::Liars: Drum’s Not Dead:::wasn’t expecting this one…liars really put it all together and blew me away here.
The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack

#6:::Beirut: Scenic World:::beautiful stuff. great instrumentation, great singing, great tracks.
Scenic World

:::the week in pictures

here’s this week’s film reviews:

Ach jas!:::
- Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors:::a sort of Armenian Romeo & Juliet. incredibly inventive, wonderful camerawork. my first Sergei Parajanov film, but certainly not my last. excellent stuff…Rating: 85/100

- Manderlay:::fell short of Dogville in scripting and acting, but maintained the originality and fairy tale feel present in the first of the trilogy. Von Trier is one of the few remaining boundary pushing directors. Rating: 75/100

- L’Avventura:::let me start off by saying i’m not a huge Antonioni fan. I think his films are sterile and lack any sort of feeling, and though that’s probably by design, it’s not something i find attractive in film. that being said, he’s certainly capable of lovely visuals, and this film is no exception. Rating: 65/100

Das a Nicht Nicht!:::
- Art School Confidential:::painfully obvious and even more painful waste of talent from Zwigoff, Clowes, Huston, Malkovich down to even Nick Swardson. avoid it. Rating: 30/100

- You, Me and Dupree:::very few laughs to be had here. expected much more just because of the fact Seth Rogen is in it. Rating: 25/100

that’s it for this week. not sure what we will see in the coming week but Three Burials and a Tarkovsky film are distinct possibilities.

top 60 of 2006:::#15-11

#15:::Om: Conference of the Birds:::doom metal maestros. i miss sleep.
At Giza

#14:::Akron/Family: Meek Warrior:::more ippies. very good stuff though, much like last year’s album.
Meek Warrior

#13:::Clipse: Hell Hath No Fury:::my vote for hip hop album of the year. i can’t help but sing along, even though it’s all about violence and bling. infectious!
Chinese New Year

#12:::James Blackshaw: O True Believer:::another promising new face in the raga folk renaissance.
Spiraling Skeleton Memorial

#11:::Ashtray Navigations: Four More Raga Moods:::man, i’m waaaay behind on this great drone folk band. most of their stuff is released in cassette only format, but well worth finding.
Hey Sunflower Motherfucker

top 60 of 2006:::#20-16

#20:::United Bible Studies: The Shore That Fears the Sea:::kiss them, they’re irish.
Untitled

#19:::Frida Hyvonen: Until Death Comes:::very catchy album by swedish songstress.
I Drive My Friend

#18:::Alela Diane: The Pirate’s Gospel:::some real treats on here from portland singer/songwriter in the vein of joana newsom or larkin grimm
Pieces of String

#17:::Band of Horses: Everything All The Time:::thanks to my diversity bros jeffkiss and mikero for making me like this one.
Funeral

#16:::Sunset Rubdown: Shut Up I Am Dreaming:::spencer krug is on fire!
Us Ones In Between

top 60 of 2006:::#25-21

#25:::Califone: Roots & Crowns:::i don’t think this band ever really fails to put out a really good album.
The Orchids

#24:::Grizzly Bear: Yellow House:::another album i was much higher on at one point and have cooled a bit. still good stuff in a beach boys-ish vein.
On A Neck, On A Spit

#23:::Alasdair Galbraith, Alexander Neilson & Richard Youngs: Belsayer Time:::truly beautiful album that can’t be nailed down to a genre. just great stuff.
Belsayer Time

#22:::Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: House Arrest:::technically not from this year but finally released this year so i’ll count it. alot of people really hate this guy. i have liked everything he’s put out. go figure.
West Coast Calamities

#21:::Bonnie Prince Billy: The Letting Go:::will oldham’s best album in years.
God’s Small Song