E! Pullman

Carrie Underwood's New CD

2007-12-10T15:38:00.000-08:00

This time of year many recording artists try to put out a smash hit record so that holiday shoppers will add their album to their Christmas lists. This year is no different, and Carrie Underwood has attempted to be added to the lists of fans across the country. My question was if this new record would succeed and live up to the quality of her last album, Some Hearts.

After purchasing the album and listening to it several times, I am impressed by the songs, but unfortunately I feel it doesn't compare to her debut album. She has some catchy songs, but often her voice sounds forced and they are difficult for the average singer to sing along with. I was afraid it would be hard to top the hits she had in Some Hearts, and unfortunately I think I was right.

It's not a waste though, and I would recommend the album for those who enjoy this genre of country music. Just don't expect it to top her debut.

Some of the songs on Carnival Ride that I like the best are the typical girl-bashing-boys songs, such as "The More Guys I Meet". Her first single off the album is also pretty good, titled "So Small". My personal favorite however is the song Twisted, because the lyrics and music come together perfectly.

The songs on this album are definitely fun, and great "road-trip" driving music for a car full of girls (or guys?). She still has an incredible talent, and knows which songs to pick that will appeal lyrically to people from their teens through 30's or so.

Top 10 Albums 2007 - According to Dane

2007-12-02T20:53:00.001-08:00

As 2007 is coming to a close I thought it appropriate to reflect on the best music that was released this year-- and trust me this was a difficult list to narrow down.

10. Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature

The Swedish singer-songwriter plucks a near perfect acoustic guitar album.

9. Arthur & Yu - In Camera

This male/female duo take turns singing over languid guitars and gently chiming tambourines. They come off at first sounding like a Velvet Underground tribute band but frankly I don't care because listening to this album on a hot summer afternoon while stuck in traffic will melt you more than the sun.

8. The Ponys - Turn the Lights Out

Dual guitars, re verb and a thumping baseline scratch and claw from the speakers while listening to this album, you almost feel dirty for listening, but as soon as Jered Gummere changes vocal tone and a single guitar takes center stage the band knocks the dirt off with their power.

7. Okkervil River - The Stage Names

Okkervil River and its front man Will Sheff are veterans of the indie music scene. They have been on the road for years and as the old adage goes "Write What You Know", Sheff does just that singing of the woes of an aging rocker on the road. Not like the topic hasn't been amply explored, but Sheff does it in such a sincere and believable way singing about his girlfriend, "You look your age, which is 37 by the way, and not 28".

6. Shout Out Louds - Our Ill Wills

The second Swedish group on this list, Shout Out Louds enlisted the help of fellow Swedes, Peter Bjorn and John to help produce this celebration of an album. The music so soaked in beat at times that it could fit in at a disco tech is balanced with slower tunes that enlist less violin, bongo drums and thumping bass, and let the female vocals drift along snare drum, keys and a subdued guitar. This album has it all.

5. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Although not as good as their first effort, The Funeral, this is still a remarkable album and does nothing to tarnish the band's legacy. Win Butter sounds more like Bruce Springsteen than ever on the tracks that motor through headphones like a muscle car with the pedal welded to the floor, and with the horns on the song Keep the Car Running it seems that he has his version of the E-Street Band as well. But when the car decides to veer off the highway Butler distinguishes himself from Springsteen, and all of the blurring sound flying by turns into intricately layered strumming, drumming, singing, yelling, beating, and blowing, each element comes into glorious focus.

4. Feist - The Reminder

I would try to describe Leslie Feist's voice but there is really no point. She has unlimited range and like a great running back she can change directions on a dime and take you to a different emotion, one second ready to cry the next second ready to jump up and take on the world. It is her voice that is the star of this album, but the instrumentals do their part to make this great. It has molasses slow songs, songs so beautiful and delicate that you don't want to whisper and miss something, and sprawling singalongs - a song for every day.

3. Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover

Spencer Krug can sing to me with whatever band he wants to. A side project for the Wolf Parade co-front man, Sunset Rubdown is almost as epic a band. This is the band's second album, and unlike the first which has its moments, but struggles to lift itself out of its avant-garde hole, RSL just rocks from the get-go. The Mending of the Gown is now one of my favorite songs, ever.Krug's alien voice bursts over a relentless thrashing piano, organ, and screaming guitar. Not to say that the band isn't still less than mainstream, because this album does take several listens to get used to, but once everything clicks, you will listen over and over again.

2. The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism

Call them bluegrass, alt-country, country, punk country, whatever, I just call them good. The brothers Avett take turns singing about their struggles with revolving door relationships. One would guess from their all-too-to-cool voices rather than their bearded mountain man appearance and old school acoustic instruments that the pair were womanisers. From simple breakup songs with plucking guitar to victorious tunes flush with bass, banjo and acoustic guitar played like axes, the band has incredible range for being so limited by technology.

1. Field Music - Tones of Town

Like a great Beatles album Tones of Town has great songs, but is best when taken as in as a whole. The best song on the album In Context eludes to the idea of what it is to be a great song and what it is to be a great album; the song is good on its own, but when taken "in context" it fits like a wonderful puzzle piece amongst the other songs. Around In Context the songs are all a little disjointed with jerky guitar, sudden stops and irregular drums, but when the song crescendos, all seems to come together and the album suddenly makes sense. The more I listen to this album the more I love it.

Watch this video all the way through. Its a great song and really cool video.

Taylor Swift Concert

2007-11-27T18:56:00.001-08:00

Taylor Swift and I

Taylor Swift came to perform at Beasley on October 23, 2007. Although it has been a few weeks since she came, I can't help but continue to sing her songs in my head all the time. With her self-written, catchy tunes, it is difficult not to! Taylor Swift, who is a seventeen year old country music sensation, tore up the stage while performing her hit songs from her debut album. She was very involved with the crowd and continued to thank them throughout the entire night for their love and support of her career. Her concert was very entertaining and her outgoing personality was really showcased. It was difficult to believe that she is so young!

Swift's CD came out last year and her first single, "Tim McGraw", became a hit. She garnered much attention and quickly retained a large fan base. She is relatable through her songs, and I think that is part of why she is so successful today.

During her concert, she performed almost every song on her self-titled debut CD. She prefaced almost every song with a story about how she came up with the idea, or at least made a statement regarding each song before she sang it. While performing one of her other singles, "Teardrops on My Guitar", she prefaced by saying that she had a huge crush on her friend name Drew and he didn't know, but he knows now!

The audience happily sang along with almost every one of her songs that she performed. She even performed an acoustic cover of Rihanna's hit song "Umbrella" on her guitar, as well as performing the hit song "I ain't Missing you at all."

After the concert, Swift made time to meet with her fans to sign autographs and personally thank them for purchasing her CD. I waited in line to meet her, and was greeted by her smiling, excited to meet me, and thanking me for purchasing her CD. It was really a delight to meet such a sweet and talented young woman who was grateful for her success.

Reality show invasion

2007-10-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

This fall, two new shows in the reality genre are hitting the airwaves on the E! channel. Once again, these shows are taking celebrities lives and taping them to be entertainment for the masses. As a part of those masses, I have tuned in to some of the new shows' first episodes of the season. While I definitely have my preference of the two, I'll talk about both of them so you can decide which sounds more interesting.

The first show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, is a show about an interesting mixed family, to say the least. Kim Kardashian, a favorite among paparazzi, and her 5 siblings all live together with their mother and her famous husband, Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner. The show tapes this large families' daily lives full of television appearances, family drama, and paparazzi encounters.

On the last episode, Kim was a guest on the Tyra Banks show, where she was bombarded with questions on her infamous sex tape scandal. Kim's amazement and horror that this was all Tyra really wanted to talk about was somewhat humorous to me. Does she not realize this is her main claim to fame? While many celebrities are famous for their careers in music or television, Kim is famous for being a rich 20-something who had a sex tape. When there is no career to talk about, it makes me wonder what she thought Tyra COULD talk to her about. The show is packed with this kind of over-the- top, completely unreal situations.

Overall, the show is good for some amazed laughs and "are you kidding me?" reactions for half an hour. If you enjoy watching the lives of the rich and famous, especially those that are rich and famous for no reason, then this is the show for you. Otherwise, if you're looking for a show with down to earth people and values, then keep looking.

The other show that is new to the E! network this fall is Kimora Lee Simmons: Life in the Fab Lane. This show documents the daily life of Kimora, the ex wife of Richard Lee Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records and Phat Farm clothing line. Kimora is a self-proclaimed mogul, mother, and CEO of her own clothing company, Baby Phat. Her show portrays her as an eccentric but hard working woman, struggling to run a company, family, and personal image.

At first I couldn't stand this show because it seemed like Kimora was so rude to almost everyone she encountered, from employees to fans. Then I realized that she is simply a flamboyant personality who acts this way in order to get ahead and have things done the way she needs them. Still not the most respectable way to be, but highly entertaining to watch. She is an incredible performer, and this is her act.

This show grows on me more and more, and I think it is admirable that she keeps so many things in her life running smoothly, all while taping a show. If it sounds entertaining to you, check it out on the E! channel Sunday nights at 10.

Mortensen Delivers on His "Eastern Promises"

2007-10-07T22:24:00.000-07:00

David Cronenberg tackles more than just the modern ethnic family mob drama in Eastern Promises (2007). Cronenberg, who also made a mafia drama in an unconventional way with Viggo Mortensen as his leading man with A History of Violence (2005), is not a torch bearer in taking on the genre of mafia film. We have seen plenty family mob movies, mostly Italian, but Eastern Promises exposes the London underworld of the Russian mafia (also plenty of Russian titles) with a very cleaver plot, brilliant cinematography, solid acting, powerful relationships, and a plethora of controversial social themes.

Naomi Watts gives a solid performance as a half Russian doctor who happens upon a girl who is pregnant with a baby conceived from a rape by the Russian mob boss. The mother dies during birth but Watts is determined to find the baby’s extended family. When Watts tracks the mafia family down with information from the girl’s diary, the family finds that they must destroy the diary that contains potentially incriminating information.

Mortensen, a driver and bodyguard for the mob boss’s son is torn between his own altruistic tendencies and advancing in the underground world. Mortensen does a remarkable job, with beard shaved and covered in tattoos, looking as intimidating as ever, as well as perfecting a very convincing Russian accent. Mortensen is transformed from a villain early in the film, to the protagonist by the end – a transformation I thought nearly impossible from my early reaction to the character. The shift in Mortensen’s character occurs when it is realized that certain “Eastern Promises” were not kept.

Although constant vodka consumption and general stereotyping of Russian crime is embraced by the Cronenberg, the film finds a way to make the characters unique and the film distinct in its own place in the crowded genre. Under-riding the surface story of mafia violence is the sad story of girls sold into prostitution to fund the family’s operation – this further social exploration is an element missing from many mob dramas – and resulting from this decision we learn not to glorify the action and gore of the culture, but to gasp at the gore of the way those who are most helpless are the ones suffering from the violence.

View Trailer!

Hit Fall TV Shows

2007-10-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

The leaves on the trees are changing colors. It's starting to get colder out. School is getting busier and busier. But are you more excited to watch your new shows then Halloween coming up? Or putting on your new fall sweater? If so, don't feel guilty. Many people look forward to fall JUST for the new shows.
With the past few weeks being huge series premiers, there is almost too much to watch. I'll highlight a few of the shows that I've personally seen, give input on the premiers, and (gasp) good shows that are at the same time slot. What to do??
I'll start of with a favorite of many, Grey's Anatomy. Can the show do well without two of its main characters, Addison and Burke? As we know, Isiah Washington's character is no longer on the show due to the actor's problems. Need more information? Just search his name on google. Addison's new show, Private Practice, is guaranteed to garner many viewerds. But will Grey's be the same? After the first episode, I found myself missing Addison on the show. After vocalizing my beliefs to the other 6 girls in the room, we came to a consensus that she should come back to Grey's. I don't think its going to happen, but there's hope, right? The premier episode began with the main characters recieving their own interns. George, unfortunately, it an intern again and it will be interesting to see how he makes it through the year. IF he makes it through the year. IF his marriage stays intact. Who knows now, after he told Izzy he loved her back! Speaking of love, who knows what is going on with McDreamy and Meredith. Personally, I think he is too good for her. She has too many issues to be in a relationship..and are they broken up now, and seeing each other casually? I guess we will see. Can't wait to see what happens next week!

Rating: 4 Busch Lights out of Five. I miss Addison!

With the OC being dead, is there room for another teen drama? The CW seems to think so, as they hired Josh Schwartz to produce the new drama Gossip Girl. It takes place in the Upper East Side of NYC, and focuses on the "poor little rich kids" and their dramas. Based on the book by Cecily von Ziegesar, I think this show it sure to be a hit. Personally, I have read some of the books when I was younger, so I am familiar with the backstory. I knew I had to check out the TV show. I think the casting is superb, the actors are similar to how they are described in the book. The show's intoxicating and addictive plot line will sure to keep viewers coming back for more every week.
Rating: 3 Busch Lights of of Five. Interesting, but I think it will fizzle out in the next year or two. Look at what happened to the OC!

A Barenaked Week in the Sun

2007-09-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

Sound like fun?? It's not what you think.
For the second year, the Canadian group Barenaked Ladies are hosting a week long cruise on a Carnival cruise ship. Even though it's only the second year of the event, it's been named Ships and Dip III, due to the amazing success of Ships and Dip I. Tyler Stewart of BNL says, "Screw Ships & Dip II, last year was so awesome, we're going straight to 3!! Not 3-D, though, that'd be crap." The ship leaves Sunday, January 27, 2008 and will travel from Miami to the Grand Cayman's and Jamaica. Members of Barenaked Ladies will be on board all five days of the cruise, and are being joined by Guster, The New Odds, Jason Plumb and Gaelic Storm.
According to the BNL website, the cruise will include:
* all meals (there's gourmet fare in the formal dining rooms, casual indoor and outdoor grills open for meals throughout the day and 24 hour room service)
* non-carbonated beverages (i.e. tea, juices, coffee)
* free entrance to hot spots like the ship's disco, casino and piano bar
* use of the ship's beautiful pools and giant waterslide (all with plenty of deck space to enjoy a cocktail and some great music)
* use of the ship's health and fitness center
* Camp Carnival facilities if you're bringing your children
* taxes, gratuities, port charges and ticketing are added at check-out and pre-paid for you ($119 per person)

This is all in addition to a week's worth of live music and shows by Barenaked Ladies and special guests!

Those who attended last year's cruise have nothing but great things to say about their week in the sun with this incredible band. It's an incredible idea, and something that not many artists do!
So if you love Barenaked Ladies, make your reservations for this amazing week of music! The website is www.shipsanddip.com.

Survey!

2007-09-24T10:54:00.001-07:00

Justin Timberlake Concert

2007-09-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

Justin Timberlake. The Tacoma Dome. September 8th, 2007. Every teenage girl's fantasy, right? When I first heard Justin Timberlake was coming to the Seattle area, I knew I had to get tickets. I wanted to re-live my boy band-loving youth, and I felt I owed it to my thirteen-year old self to go see the leader of NSYNC in concert.
Okay, that is a lie. I love Justin. I would go see him anyways...and I did.
I bet you are wondering how old I am. Well, as a 21-year-old JT fan, I have to say that it was the best concert I have ever been to. And, I do admit, I did scream like a teenage girl when he performed part of an NSYNC hit, "Gone".
The concert began with, literally, an explosion of screams when Justin first came out and sang his first song, "Future Sex/Love Sound". With a full band, backup dancers, and singers, it really was a fantastic show. JT really is a unique performer.
The show was definitely unique, with its stage in a shape similar to the Greek letter "phi" and "theta" together. Around the edges of the oddly shaped stage, there were a few VIP seats, which were bar seats. There was literally a bar on the side of the stage, for which those lucky fans were served drinks all night. At one instance, the lovely JT proposed a toast to the audience, which everyone went crazy for. There were curtains that doubled as a video screen, which was played up and changed depending on each song.
I was happily surprised when he played some of his own instruments. He played piano multiple times, guitar, and keyboards among others.
One of the highlights of the show was when he performed "What Goes Around/Comes Around". He held a portable camera up close to his face, and thanks to the lovely curtains, we could see him close up. If that weren't enough, at the end of the song he moved the camera away from his face, and slowly down his tie, and stopped at his belt. I literally saw a girl, out of the corner of my eye, scream until she had to sit down. It was insane, but in a fabulous way!
Justin performed all of the songs from his most recent CD, and the set and curtains changed to show off the "flavor" of each song. My personal favorite was when he sang "Chop Me Up", and the set and the video/curtains turned into a fun city at night.
Overall, the concert was amazing. Justin truly is a spectacular performer. Yes, I am 21, but I'm not ashamed that I STILL love him!

Rating: 5 Busch Lights out of 5!!

Hampered Happiness, a Gothic Mantaray, and No Cover Art

2007-09-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

Hot Hot Heat mellows out with limited Happiness, Hard-Fi makes a useless statement, and Siouxsie returns from the dead... metaphorically of course

Hot Hot Heat - Happiness LTD

Did Steven Bays break up recently? Because that's really the vibe I'm getting from this album. It's much more dour and downcast then their three previous efforts, lacking the breakneck pace. Even the lead single, "Let Me In," doesn't hold up to the Make Up the Breakdown and Elevator lead-offs "Bandages" and "Goodnight Goodnight," while "Waiting For Nothing" just whines without going anywhere. "Give Up?," the re-recorded "5 Times out of 100," and "Conversation" rampage like the best of their previous albums, with the former's chorus almost sounding like a disco-western. While the slower tempo and generally safer arrangements may be alien to some of Hot Hot Heat's more ardent fans, it's not all bad. The title track's odd keyboard effects and the cleverly stupid "Harmonicas and Tambourines" give the album some odd flourishes which make up for the break down (sorry for the pun, for those who get it) in speed and recklessness. So it's a disappointment, ultimately. Hopefully Bays' mood will improve for full length number four.

Siouxsie - Mantaray

So, there definitely is a backstory here that needs to be explored. So, here, click here and explore it.

Phew. Okay so now with all that history, Mantaray arrives. There certainly is much to be said about the circumstances in which the disc arrives; if it fails, she reveals herself as having been at the mercy of her collaborators all these years. But if it succeeds, she gives her 30 year career a new lease on life. Thankfully, the disc is firmly in the territory of the latter. She succeeds in showing her many musical descendants (Goldfrapp, Placebo, etc.) exactly how the consummate professional does it. It opens with a noisy, dissonant squall and progresses into an anthemic glam declaration of turning "into a swan." It's not as much of a cliché as it could have been in the wrong hands, thanks to the weathered but still powerful voice behind the lyrics. After the opening glam assault, the album begins to reveal its restlessness. "Here Comes That Day" charges into the fray in full on goth-cabaret that sounds like Dr. Dre collaborating the Danny Elfman in Hell. "About to Happen" boasts a guitar riff and keyboard squiggles that would make Muse proud, and the restrained "They Follow You" is simply beautiful. A pair of ballads, the rousing, autobiographical "If It Doesn't Kill You" and the stately "Heaven and Alchemy," throw a wrench into the rampaging glam, while the harrowing "One Mile Below" hints strongly at her past while paving a way forward.

Hard Fi - Once Upon a Time in the West

First impressions are important. For many, the first impression they'll get of Hard Fi's sophomore effort Once Upon a Time in the West is the awful title and the mind boggling artistic "statement" of the cover art - a plain yellow backdrop against which the words "No Cover Art" glare.

Excuse me?

So, rant aside, is the album on par with their amazing debut, Stars of CCTV? Yes. From the chest-beating of lead single "Suburban Knights" to the synth-strut of "We Need Love," Once Upon a Time... certainly scales the same politicized yet personalized heights of CCTV. The band is able this time around to slow their sound without hindering the momentum of the album. The devastatingly beautiful and simple "Help Me Please" and the downbeat strings and clever melody of album highlight "Watch Me Fall Apart" show the band stretching outside their anthemic comfort zone. Richard Archer's lyrics are still the best when he stays personal, and the band does the best when they achieve their blend of dance, rock, and punk, as on the brassy, arresting "Little Angel."

Live Music Review - Wolf Parade

2007-09-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, watching Cougs play the Aztecs was a major reason to make the trek to Seattle , but I was far more excited to see the band Wolf Parade. Since their debut album "Apologies to Queen Mary"(2005), the Montreal quartet have toured sporadically, but several of the band members have started other successful bands. I expected the band to sound somewhat out of practice as a result, but I was sweetly surprised.

After two solid opening acts, Siberian and Holy F***, the small Capitol Hill bar, Neumos, began to seem a lot smaller. I clamored for a position as close the the front and center of the stage as possible. Unaware that the band had duel vocalists, I was shocked to find out that the lead singer's unmistakable voice was the work of two people. Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug, the two vocalists sound very similar in their unconventional off-kilter ways. But the band introduced new songs, showing a definite separation in the vocalist's styles. Krug's new songs were deliberate and slow paced, while Boeckner ventured further into his style of hectic yokel/yelling with his tunes. The venue, which was a glorified box with beer, seemed unimportant compared to the music. It was sweaty, it was cramped and uncomfortable, but it didn't matter. Boeckner said it best, "When I refer to 'dude' I mean it as the crowd as a whole... If you all were a dude at a party, you would be the really nice guy." And as one "dude" we jumped and hollered to the songs that we didn't yet know, and we screamed and jumped in circles and danced to the songs that we did know.

It was like a being in a hidden club in an apocalyptic world devoid of color, art, emotion, and the only form of expression left was music. Krug's voice, especially during the emotionally stirring closing song, "I'll Believe in Anything" was the voice of he underground revolution (concert goers) as they (us) piled into the venue to feel the heat, feel the awkward shoulder to shoulder contact, and feel the collective thumping of several hundred bodies, singing along with the music that united our cause.

Here's the video "I'll Believe in Anything"

Kanye West's Much Talked About Release!

2007-09-14T10:25:00.001-07:00

Kanye West. Love him or hate him, he has done it again; Released an album that is already causing a stir in the entertainment industry of America.
In his latest release, Graduation, Kanye West once again reveals his own thoughts and beliefs through his songs. There have already been several hit tracks from the album to hit radio playlists around the country including "Stronger" and "Can't Tell Me Nothing". West also was one of the main performers at this year's MTV Video Music Awards live from Las Vegas, where he performed his latest single "Good Life".
West's latest release was incredibly hyped, thanks to a release date set to be the same as 50 Cent's new album Curtis on September 11, 2007. 50 Cent publicly announced that he would retire from the hip-hop industry if West's album outsold his own in the first week of sales.
Unfortunately for 50 Cent, West's album has exploded, leaving 50's album sales looking dismal in comparison.
50 Cent has revoked his bet, saying he will not be quitting hip-hop anytime soon after all.
To the world of hip-hop, many fans, including those who do not like the artist because of his strong political beliefs and various actions, admit that his newest album is a step in the right direction for the rap world. Critics have been giving it rave reviews, and many claim that "every song on the album is a hit".
However, despite the soaring record sales, success has not been 100% for West's with this release.
When interviewed about the 2007 MTV VMA's, West said he had written the track "Stronger" in hopes of being able to open the show with a performance of it at this year's awards. MTV instead chose Britney Spears to perform her latest single, which most people felt was a flop. West was frustrated by this, saying that Spears "hadn't had a hit in a million years". West was also overlooked for the second year in a row, losing in all 5 categories for which he was nominated.
For now, it looks like he'll have to make do with money rather than awards.
Kanye West's Graduation is on sale in stores now.

Overlooked Summer Release

2007-09-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

So the summer has gone by and has begun to fade quickly towards fall. The memories of the summer's hit songs still remain, sometimes painfully, buzzing in our heads.

But what seems unfortunate is that for every truckload of manufactured chartbusters, a la "A Bay Bay" and the reprehensible "This is Why I'm Hot," a handful of beautifully crafted albums slipped through the cracks, ignored.

Indie reared it's head as a commercial force this year, with the Shins and Arcade Fire both taking their signature formulas to #2 in the Billboard album charts and Modest Mouse actually taking the top spot. The White Stripes scored the biggest hit of their career with the ragged, glitchy "Icky Thump," while Muse graduated to arena shows as Black Holes and Revelations continued to gain commercial acceptance.

So while the idea of Good Music is beginning to make a comeback, it still has a way to go. Take a look at some of the most criminally overlooked records from the summer. Buy them, download them, whatever, just get a hold of them.

Cooper Temple Clause - Make This Your Own

Talk about ending your career on a high note. After Make This Your Own was commercially D.O.A. on both sides of the Atlantic, the Coopers disbanded. They leave behind three albums of staggering diversity, which is crystallized by the presence of this CD. Hairpin dynamic shifts ("Damage," "Homo Sapiens"), growling electronics ("Head"), and a total disregard for eardrums ("All I See is You") crop up throughout the album, right next to pure, unadulterated pop like the rather inconsequential "Waiting Game." The album drifts to a close on the quietly devastating ballad "House of Cards." Using a crumbling relationship as a metaphor for the disintegration of the band itself, the song drifts by on a quiet piano line and a slow-buildling horn section. "All I know is wrong," howls Ben Gautrey, but this isn't your typical angsty teenager. Gautrey meant it. The album fades out with a gang vocal chanting "What does it matter now? / You'll never come home." It's a disquieting end to an album that never stops engaging a music fan's brain.

Homo Sapiens

Besnard Lakes - Are the Dark Horse

One of the darkest releases of the year. Hands down. Also one of the most beautiful. Loaded to the brim but never cluttered, and expansive without being boring. The songs have titles like "Devastation," "Disaster," and "And You Lied to Me," and lyrics like "they won't play your song on the radio" and "all the townsfolk moved away." While the bleak lyrical content of wars, spies, separation, and infidelity weigh heavily on the listener, the tightly wound arrangements give an escape. They frequently go on beyond the five minute mark, but you're suckered in. You never want to skip a song, you want to see how the vignette ends.

For Agent 13

Yourcodenameis:Milo - They Came From the Sun

It's been the indie apocalypse this summer. Hope of the States, Cooper Temple Clause, and now Yourcodenameis:Milo have all parted ways, all right on the verge of a major breakthrough. But damn if they didn't go out with a bang, :Milo in particular. From the churning barrel-roll and jarring time shift of opener "Pacific Theatre" and the emo-done-right of "Understand" and "All That Was Missing," it's one of the best opening sequences of an album in recent memory. The album then sets in to :Milo's trademark experimentalism, as jazzy time signatures, judiciously used electronics, and schizophrenic dynamics take hold, with thrilling results. As the 7/4 dreaminess of "Dicta Boelcke" fades out, :Milo has had the last laugh. The simple, repetitive melody acts as a counterweight to the much more complex songs that dot the latter half of the disc, and closes the album, and the band's career, with a deep, relaxing breath.

Understand

Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch

Where to go from a jazz album? Punk! But of course! But with Norwegian singer/songwriter/guitarist/wonderkid Sondre Lerche, it's never that simple. While on the surface Phantom Punch sounds like a Strokes rip-off, all wirey, scratchy, tinny wailing, the songs themselves are a little more sophisticated than "Last Nite." It has done Lerche good to be restrained to a three piece, as this album is trimmed of the flourishes that sometimes weighed down Lerche's earlier work. That still doesn't stop him from indulging in jazzy chord progressions, complex melodies, and deadly-addictive hooks. The disco freak-out of the title track's chorus and the stomp of the vaguely sinister "John, Let Me Go" point at unabashed pop. Lyrics remain somewhat of a weakness. It's obvious English is not Lerche's first language. But as the music begins to overtake the listener, Lerche's unique voice overtakes whatever linguistic deficiencies he may have. Not that it matters all that much anyway.

Phantom Punch

Manic Street Preachers - Send Away the Tigers

Their first release in the States since 1998's high water mark This is My Truth Tell Me Yours, the Manics continue their streak of high quality, sonically bracing albums. Stripping away the synth-heavy gloss of 2004's Lifeblood, the trio harks back to the heavily politicized, punk-tinged arena rock that garnered them fame throughout Europe. While it never climbs to the dizzying, terrifying heights of their brutal Holy Bible, it quickly becomes apparent that they don't need to. "Your Love Alone is Not Enough," featuring the call and response vocal with the Cardigans' Nina Persson and a chorus some would kill for, finds the first rock band to ever play in Cuba having fun, something unimaginable a recently as three years ago. "The Second Great Depression" glides by on waves of delayed guitars and James Dean Bradfield's unique, passionate voice, while "Imperial Bodybags" snarls and spits at the Iraq war without ever seeming contrived. The band is considerably lighter on its feet here; running times are kept short, the whole album only lasts a good 38 minutes. And last but certainly not least, lyricist/bassist Nicky Wire has come up with his best batch of words in the band's whole career throughout the album, "Rendition," and it's post-chorus realization "Oh, God, I feel like a liberal."

Your Love Alone is Not Enough

Hail Social - Modern Love and Death

Generally, hopping on a bandwagon is a bad thing. But if the shoe fits... It seems as though touring with Interpol has tempered Hail Social's bass-heavy rock attack into something a little more subtle but no less sinister. The dreamy, straight-up disco of lead single "Heaven" masks a darker lyrical bent ("Then you don't belong / with the rest of us / in the eyes of heaven") and that dichotomy seems to be the modus operandi for the entire CD. While some see it as crass exploitation of a popular trend, Hail Social fit into it with much more ease than some of their contemporaries, namely VHS or Beta.

Heaven

Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position

It's David Bowie! Okay, David Bowie if the guitar suddenly seemed boring and prancing around in a red leotard was a good idea. The flamboyant Patrick Wolf's mood seems to have lifted as of late. The nihilism and crushing darkness of the performer's two previous albums has lifted slightly. The string sections on this album are lilting, not depressive and overblown. The electronics are trimmed and inventive, not cacaphonous. And Wolf's own baritone and lyrical wit have emerged from the dark. Well, aside from the devastating relationship-gone-flat torch ballad "Augustine." Although the album is slightly weighed down by the presence of four rather pointless interludes, Wolf's genius as an arranger is readily apparenty through the full songs. He deftly moves from the classicist, string-led "Overture," the Motown stop of the love-song title track, and the electronic freakout of "Accident and Emergency" before venturing off into more piano dominated tolerated. Wolf plays most of what is heard on the record, which is amazing when one considers the sheer number and diversity of instruments that crop up.

Accident & Emergency

Do you agree with what was said? Think that throwing-a-saxophone-down-an-elevator-shaft (a.k.a. jazz fusion) project your roommate recorded in your bathroom deserved chart grandeur but was shafted by an ignorant public? Leave a comment. We're always ready to humor you.

Saturday at Bumbershoot 2007

2007-09-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

There was no better way to spend a late summer day than in Seattle Center at the 2007 Bumbershoot music and arts festival. The day got off to a perfect start - I found street parking less than 10 blocks away - I high-fived my girlfriend. After some wandering around the festival grounds I decided to make my way to the main stage. I plopped down at my spot about 40 minutes before the first show, the 1980s band Crowded House.

The band members took to the stage with gray or no hair and played tunes from a collection of 20 years of songs. The crowd was as varied as the band's musical catalog. Middle-aged people sprinkled the crowd with their children singing along with the smooth pop songs as kids sat on parents shoulders while their parents danced and sang along to the band as if they were 20-years-old. The shock of the first show came when Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder took the stage to sing several songs with the band. After a moment of awkward silence I asked myself out loud, "Is that Eddie Vedder?" I was quickly answered when Crowded House lead singer Neil Finn from Sydney, Australia welcomed his friend "Eddie" [Vedder] from his sister city Seattle. From that point on I was content to simply soak in the novelty of the moment regardless what the band played or sounded like. It was awesome. As soon as Crowded House ended, the older crowd members dispersed and a much younger crowd rushed the stage.

Watch Crowded House play with Eddie Vedder!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oaAVtSqZIUw

I soon found my comfortable position to the right center of stage being collapsed from all sides by teenage girls, guys with graphic T-shirts and baseball hats, and a generous mix of college students and high-schoolers. It was very cramped and not the way I wanted to spend watching one of my favorite bands, The Shins. The Portland, Ore. foursome took the to stage and set a psychedelic pace to the show with the song "Sleeping Lessons" a sparse, eerie track reminiscent of Pink Floyd, which morphed into a indie rock anthem at its finish. As I looked around I noticed few audience members reacting to the first song the way I did - jumping up and down at first with excitement and then siting back mouthing the words and enjoying the perfect execution of the song. Several lesser known, but excellent songs followed the first. The turn in the show came when the band played the first few notes of their song "New Slang." Because of the hugely popular movie Garden State (2004) that featured two of The Shins tracks, a huge number of fans, who apparently came to see the band based solely on the movie, rushed the stage with the force of a tidal wave. I twisted my ankle. A guy in a white Polo with the collar "popped", careened into my back screaming the lyrics to the song jumping up and down. I turned and glared at him and pushed him away with my forearm. He pushed forward screaming on his way, "Come on sing along, it's an awesome song!" I agreed, but I actually wanted to enjoy it. I spent the remainder of the song distracted by aerial bombardments of crowd-surfers, girls jumping around and giggling because the finally found each other in the vast expanse, and groups of guys jumping around - a mosh pit. I thought the behavior more fitting of... well, lead singer James Mercer said it best, "I feel like I'm at a Jane's Addiction concert in 1992." The band was awesome, nearly flawless, but my experience rapidly deteriorated as the overhead traffic increased and my ankle continued to throb. I wish I saw the band a few years earlier.

Watch The Shins perform "New Slang" at Bumbershoot!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FO2my9e6hS4

After recovering with some pizza and a few beers, I set off for the smaller Sound Transit Stage, which featured independent artists and a more laid back atmosphere. Menomena (buh- duh- buh- duh- buh, men-om-ena, buh- duh- buh- duh) brought many unconventional elements to a rock show: a saxophone, a choir, and two drummers. The band captured the attention of the crowd with the song "The Pelican", which began with the lead singer yelling the opening lyrics against a simple piano refrain. The piano melody picked up, and then the drums and guitar shattered the evening air. The crowd began to bob along. The song, and the concert was thrashy and disjointed, but always seemed to be backed in melody. The rest of their set mixed elements of funk, rock, jazz, pop and blues; none of it could be classified as any one genre, but somehow the band captivate the audience and myself. The final song "Rotten Hell" picked up where the first song left off - with simple piano and piercing vocals. Instead of melting into a clashing finale, the piano led the song throughout blending with the previously disjointed elements into a harmonious crescendo. Up next: Aqueduct.

Watch Menomena's video "Rotten Hell"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=t0LIBCw8syA

Aqueduct is David Terry on guitar, keyboard, and vocals, accompanied by a drummer and bassist. When Terry, opened his mouth and sang the first notes, I was shocked to hear such a fresh, almost cocky voice come from the large bearded man on the right of the stage rather than the skinnier man on the left side. The guitar in Terry's hands looked like a toy ukulele as he wildly strummed. He pounded away at the keyboard like an excited toddler. As soon as the band stepped on the stage I could tell that they were just out to have some fun, and with each song Terry let the crowd know how great it was to play for such a big crowd. He assured everyone that the show would be "Awesome." It was like a long musical joke - but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The band filled in over prerecorded beats to make up for their sound; but it did not matter that they were so small, their sound was so over-the-top, and their lyrics so sarcastic that I just had to let myself relax, dance around, and enjoy the show. They played a song about the movie The Princes Bride (1987), songs with rap inspired influence but played in their style, and a song called "Hardcore Days & Softcore Nights." The biggest laughter of the evening came, however, with their first encore song, which was a cover of the R. Kelly song "I'm a Flirt". The band was a contradiction - such a big sound from such a little band, rap lyrics from an overweight white guy, and being an indie band who didn't care if people danced and sang along at their show. It was a good way to end the night.

Watch Aqueduct's video "Living a Lie"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HG-kUrKI0fo

Total Waste of Makeup

2007-08-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

Since the popularity of "The Devil Wears Prada", books of the 20-something genre have come on full-steam. One of the best I've read lately was "A Total Waste of Makeup". Unfortunately, this is a book that has been completely overlooked, but is definitely guaranteed to keep you laughing.

The story finds the main character right before her 30 birthday, single and working as an assistant to a movie star. She has issues over her singlehood, and has had some torturous dates that never moved on to anything more. She also has a quite eccentric family, who's escapades create a lot of undue stress in her already hectic.

One of the best parts of this book is how the author so distinctly hits home how the character really feels about her situation in life. It's so humorous, but at the same time is so true to how so many young single girls feel after going on date after date that leads to noewhere. There are also times when this book has a deeper layer and really makes you think.

If you're a girl in your twenties to thirties, I guarantee there will be parts of this book that you can relate perfectly to. It will also make you think, smile, and at times laugh your head off. It's an easy and fast book to read, and is definitely hard to put down! Check it out!

Your Reality Show Update

2007-08-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

Did you miss your favorite reality shows this last week? Have no fear, we've got all the juicy details from The Hills and Girls Next Door!

This past Sunday at 10pm we followed Hef's girlfriends as they visted the Renaissance fair. Holly, Kendra, and Hef decided to take a trip to the fair to appease Bridget and her love for themed events. Before the fair, the girls and Hef recieved a visit from a costume shop to pick out their themed costumes for the fair. Additionally, they brought in an "Elizabethan language specialist" to teach the girls how people spoke back then. Hef was crowned "The King" of the Renaissance fair, which he and the audience got a kick out of. Bridget learned to belly dance at the fair, and to the dismay of the queen, Kendra used one of the dirty words she learned from the language specialist. At the end of the day, more excitement ensued as they took their huge private bus back to the mansion. Another successful day for Hef and the girls!

Rating: Two Busch Lights out of Five. Although I love Girls Next Door, I found this episode to be one of the least exciting, probably just because of my lack of enthusiasm in the pettiness of hiring an "Elizabethan language specialist." It seemed a bit much. Despite that fact, I will definately be watching next weeks episode!

Oh, The Hills. What is not to love about the feuding Lauren Conrad, Heidi Montag, and Spencer Pratt? Although Spencer's website "Feel free to hate on me daily" is supposed to be a bit ironic, in my opinion, it is definately the correct title for his blog. I can't help but feel bad for Heidi, with her so-called fiance on top of US Weekly and the article claiming that he possibly hooked up with her to gain fame. Regardless, last weeks episode was packed full of drama, like usual. Heidi took Spencer to meet her parents for the first time to Colorado. It was hard to tell what her family thought of Spencer, but they definately had a lot of questions to ask about Lauren. Heidi, of course, did not want to speak about her. Her parents were understandably worried about their daughter's lost friendship with her one time best friend. Next weeks episode has a lot of promise, where Spencer supposedly "breaks up" with his friend Brody Jenner for hanging out with his "nemesis" Lauren Conrad. Sounds like a great episode to me!
Rating: 4 Busch Lights out of 5. Episodes like this make me want to buy Season 3 on DVD!

What do you think? Is there something you would like to see on E!Pullman? Let us know!

Testing!!

2007-08-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

Just a test post!

Test Post

2007-08-29T11:02:00.002-07:00

Test!!!

First!!!

2007-08-29T11:02:00.001-07:00

lolomg