Melt-Banana - Lite Live Ver 0.0

Album Of The Day:

Melt-Banana - Lite Live Ver 0.0 (2009)

Comments: Lite Live Ver 0.0 was recorded live in Tokyo during the duration of the summer of 2009. This release does a great job of showing the more experimental electronic side of Melt-Banana yet it is still heavy on the drums. Their is no guitar on the recording. The guitar is a fairly prominent part of the bands sound at times but instead they use samples and synths here in it's place.

Concert: Melt-Banana played at Bottom Lounge tonight. There were three openers Triclops, 97-Shiki and Jewsus. Melt-Banana played an extremely high energy set that contained high pitched electronics, fast crazy drums and was heavy on the guitar. Bottom Lounge made for a rather intimate setting. All in all a very pleasant show that I would not have wanted to miss for the world.

Favorite Tracks:

Feedback Deficiency

Last Target On The Last Day

Humming Jackalope, Waiting For The Sun

Cat And The Blood

-Rabbit Approved

Low - The Curtain Hits The Cast

Album Of The Day:

Low - The Curtain Hits The Cast (1996)

Comments: Low has one of the most distinct musical finger prints I have heard in all of rock music. It doesn't matter what song it is or which album is on. From the first note it is always apparent that it is Low. Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker create some of the slowest moodiest music creating a musical style that is like nothing before them. Their harmonies are beautiful and at times chilling. Low's songs never get old to me and always sound so damn inspired. The Curtain Hits The Cast is the perfect album for a dreary day like today.

Favorite Tracks:

Over The Ocean

Anon

Lust

Coattails

Music Video For Over The Ocean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWUQpvfRkVM

-Rabbit Approved

Amon Tobin - Out From Out Where

Album Of The Day:

Amon Tobin - Out From Out Where (2002)

Comments: Their is nothing like a Amon Tobin track. Their is always so much depth in his music and he uses some of the most interesting samples to create an often eerie electronic atmosphere. Out From Out Where is his fifth release and even though it came out in 2002 it sounds as though it has not aged a day.

Favorite Tracks:

Back From Space

Rosies

Hey Blondie

-Rabbit Approved

The Jesus Lizard - Goat

Album Of The Day:

The Jesus Lizard - Goat (1991)

Comments: Goat is perhaps one of the best records of the early 90's. It was also produced by Steve Albini (who is in the bands Big Black, Shellac and Rapeman.) It also has the perfect cover at which I think represents their music greatly. At first glance the cover at looks like fire but is really a naked women. At first listen the music is harsh, brash and disturbing. The more I listen to the Jesus Lizard's music and this album in particular the more I hear the brilliance behind this band.

Concert: I saw the Jesus Lizard play earlier tonight at Metro in Chicago. It was the first night of a two nights that they are playing their. They will also be playing a New Years Eve show at Metro. The show was unbelievable. Model/Actress opened. When the Jesus Lizard first took the stage you could just tell that it was going to be one of the wildest shows one could set foot at. The crowd was peppered with Touch and Go shirts. The anticipation was high. The Jesus Lizard played with as much energy as I could have imagined they were playing with twenty years ago. David Yow jumped into the audience over and over again. He can be compared to no other performer. David Wm. Sims played some of the thickest most menacing bass lines ever. Duane Denison's guitar playing was out of this world and he created some of craziest atmosphere possible. Mac McNeilly's drumming also blew my mind. After the set was over and before the first encore they left him on stage by himself and he played one of the coolest five minute drum solos I've ever seen. The show blew my mind. This has been a good year for concerts and this was the second time I saw the Jesus Lizard. Their set at Pitchfork was also amazing.

Favorite Tracks:

Entire Album

All Time Favorite Track On The Album:

Monkey Trick

-Rabbit Approved

Gossip - Music For Men

Album Of The Day:

Gossip - Music For Men (2009)

Comments: Gossip got their start in Olympia, Washinton back in 1999. Their latest album Music For Men is one of the catchiest albums I have heard in along time. The songs are constantly stuck in my head. Beth Ditto is an amazing vocalist.

Favorite Tracks:

Vertical Rhythm

Dimestore Diamond

Four Letter Word

For Keeps

-Rabbit Approved

Happy Thanksgiving.

The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms

Album Of The Day:

The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms (1980)

Comments: Crazy Rhythms is full or angular yet clean guitar sounds and a ton of crazy improvised percussion. I think this album is really underrated. Many critics talk about how great it is which doesn't really mean anything yet it doesn't seem that it is very well known. I think in a way though the Feelies have influenced a ton of bands even if they do not know it or the bands do not know. Kind of like the Pixies. Crazy Rhythms also maintains a fun and amazing feel through out. They created a sound that was quite amazing and influential at the turn of the decade. I highly recommend this album. Perfect for parties.

Favorite Tracks:

Crazy Rhythms

Raised Eyebrows

Loveless Love

The Boy With The Perpetual Nervousness

Fa Ce La

-Rabbit Approved

Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That

Album Of The Day:

Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That (2006)

Comment: This is where confidence comes to play for Phoenix. They have always been an amazingly confident band ever since their first release United back in 2000. On It's Never Been Like That the confidence is out of this world and it is definitely that pivotal album for Phoenix. It is impossible not tell the musical direction they are moving toward. I knew from this release that their next album was going to be unbelievable which is Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Phoenix really is a band that started out great and evolved into something even more amazing. I saw them play last time they were through chicago at the Aragon and it truly was one of the most amazing concerts. It was also perhaps the best sound concert I have ever seen at the Aragon. It's a toss up between that show and the Pixies. It changed my mind on the venue as a whole. It was a show I did not want to ever end and I really could have stood there all night watching and listening to them play their songs. This is a band I will go see anytime they come to town and I am a bigger fan than ever. I can't wait to hear them continue to evolve musically. The sky really seems the limit for Phoenix.

Favorite Tracks:

North

One Time Too Many

Courtesy Laugh

Long Distance Call

Sometimes In The Fall

Consolation Prizes

Rally

-Rabbit Approved

Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today I'm Sorry They Washed Away

Album Of The Day:

Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today I'm Sorry They Washed Away (2009)

Comments: Mew is a danish indie rock band and this is their fifth album. No More Stories Are Told Today I'm Sorry They Washed Away is like listening to the most epic beautiful end of the world ever and they do it with a entertainingly progy sensibility. The songs are often complex and the production of the album is stellar. These guys put on a great live show as well. I saw them play Pitchfork music festival (2009) and they were not a band I was too familiar with other than a few songs I had heard off the 2007 album Frengers which is also a great album. I am so glad I got to catch their set this year. They really are superb.

Favorite Tracks:

New Terrain

Beach

Introducing Palace Players

Silas The Magic Car

-Rabbit Approved

Sparta - Wiretrap Scars

Album Of The Day:

Sparta - Wiretap Scars (2002)

Comments: This is the first album by Jim Ward with his band after the split of At The Drive-In. It is definitely a more accessible sound than At The Drive-In. The album has an amazing overall feeling of liberation and at the same time emotion. It is a heavily atmospheric album even at it's heaviest moments. Seeing these guys at Lollapalooza back in 2006 was definitely a highlight of the festival that year. They just put on such a great live show.

Favorite Tracks:

Air

Mye

Collapse

Sans Cosm

Cataract

Red Alibi

Glasshouse Tarot

Echodyne Harmonic

Here is a video of Sparta playing Collapse at the Big Day Out festival:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpLM-xxxLIM

-Rabbit Approved

No Age - Nouns

Album Of The Day:

No Age - Nouns (2008)

Comments: This album earned one of the highest ratings on Pitchfork Media ever. I saw No Age open up for the Pixies last night and found the No Age set to be just plain incompetent. The band consisted of drums and guitar which is fine but every song sounded as though it was at the same tempo and was just to noisy to the point where it was almost impossible to figure out what was going on. The album does have one song that does get stuck in my head from time to time "Eraser" and the album does sound drastically different than the live show. I am just unsure if these guys can really represent themselves live. It was almost like watching a very bad high school battle of the bands during their set. The reason I am making this the album of the day however is that I went back and listened to the album because even though I did not enjoy them live the "Nouns" album did make some sort of a strange impression when it came out in 2008. The album has more of an experimental side that does not come across at all in the live show at all. Perhaps their just more of a studio band. Disappointing.

Favorite Tracks:

Eraser

Keechie

-Rabbit Approved (minus the live show)

Pixies - Doolittle

Album Of The Day:

Pixies - Doolittle (1989)

Comments: This is an album that is ingrained in me. Every lyric, the order of the songs and the feel of the album it is perhaps one of the most important albums to me.

Concert: Earlier this evening I saw the Pixies play their masterpiece of an album Doolittle at the Aragon from start to finish. This concert would easily make it into my top ten concerts of all time. Many bands have been doing the reunion shows lately but the Pixies seem more vital now than ever. I can not get over how much energy the band had and how this album sounds as though it has not aged a day. The Pixies in my opinion our one of the greatest bands to come around. They blew my mind tonight and I mean hell they opened the concert with a huge projection Of "Un Chien Andalou" Directed by Luis Bunuel and artist Salvador Dali. It doesn't get much cooler than that.

Favorite Tracks:

The Entire Album.

"If man is 5, then the devil is 6, then god is 7, this monkey's gone to heaven"

- The Pixies from the song Monkey's Gone To Heaven

-Rabbit Approved

Royal Trux - 3-Song EP

Album Of The Day:

Royal Trux - 3-Song EP (1998)

Comments: This EP came out on Drag City before their seventh studio album Accelerator. At this point they were back to being an indie band and off Virgin. David Pajo (Slint, Dead Child and Papa M) plays on the EP. The 3-Song EP is rather trippy and is my personal favorite Royal Trux release.

Favorite Tracks:

The United States vs. One 1974 Cadillac El Dorado Sedan

Deafer Than Blind

- Rabbit Approved

The dynoSpectrum - The dynoSpectrum

Album Of The Day:

The dynoSpectrum - The dynoSpectrum (1999)

Comments: The dynoSpectrum was conceived by Rhymsayers Entertainment co-founder Beyond. The group members are Ant who used the name Soloman Grundy for this project. He is also the beatsmith for Atmosphere. Slug, Swift and I Self Devine were members of the group. This album show cases some of Minneapolis's best underground hip hop artists. Ant comes up with some incredibly inventive beats.

Favorite Tracks:

Anything Is Everything

You Can Lose Your Mind

Introspectrum

Breath Of Fresh

Southside Myth

Traction

Evidence Of Things Not Seen

I Wouldn't Want You To Die Uninformed

-Rabbit Approved

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

Album Of The Day:

Them Cooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures (2009)

Comments: This is the new collaboration by Joshua Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age, Desert Sessions, Eagles Of Death Metal and Kyuss), John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) and Dave Grohl (Foo Fighers and Nirvana). This project is in many ways is what I expected it to sound like. Joshua Homme seems to be the biggest influence on the album and that is not a bad thing at all. His guitar playing is better than ever and John Paul Jones and Dave Grohl are a pretty killer rhythm section. Homme has a knack for amazing projects with other very talented musicians. His projects continue to impress me and the production and style of his albums never get boring. Highly recommend to anyone that is into any of the artists involved. This does not disappoint.

Favorite Tracks:

New Fang

Mind Eraser, No Chaser

Elephants

-Rabbit Approved

Grinderman - Grinderman

Album Of The Day:

Grinderman - Grinderman (2007)

Comments: Rumor has it this Nick Cave side project which features many members of the Bad Seeds including Warren Ellis was only recorded in four days. They aim to capture a rawness and primative sound on this one. Grinderman does just that. The sound of the album is closer to the Birthday Party than the Bad Seeds.

Favorite Tracks:

Get It On

No Pussy Blues

Electric Alice

Grinderman

Depth Charge Ethel

I Don't Need You (To Set Me Free)

When My Love Comes Down

Man In The Moon

-Rabbit Approved

Spiritualized - Songs In A & E

Album Of The Day:

Spiritualized - Songs In A & E (2008)

Comments: This album came out five years after the previous spiritualized album Amazing Grace.

Durning the making of the album Jason Pierce the founder of Spiritualized and previously of Spacemen 3 had a near death experience that put him the hospital for an extended period of time. Pierce had contracted advanced periorbital cellulitis with bilateral pneumonia he required intensive care and c-pap for type 1 respiratory failure. The title of the album is taken from the Accident and Emergency ward at the hospital where he was kept during his illness. After the near death experience Pierce was unsure if he wanted to finish the album for he had written most of the songs before the experience. Avant-garde film director Harmony Korine convinced him that he should finish it and there are six tracks on the album titled Harmony that are named after Korine. It's a good thing he did finish and release the album because it is unbelievable. The album is pretty much flawless. There is even a duet with Harmony Korine's wife Rachel on the song "Don't Hold Me Close." The album contains less noise scapes than the previous Spiritualized albums but Jason Pierce's Songs In A & E really is one of the most amazing albums in the past ten years or perhaps ever.

Favorite Tracks:

Death Take Your Fiddle

I Gotta Fire

Soul On Fire

Sitting On Fire

Don't Hold Me Close

"So death take your fiddle, and play a song for me, play a song we used to sing, the one that brought you close to me, play a song and I will sing along." - Death Take Your Fiddle by Spiritualized

-Rabbit Approved

Wolves In The Throne Room - Malevolet Grain

Album Of The Day:

Wolves In The Throne Room - Malevolet Grain (2009)

Comments: This is a two track EP. Wolves In The Throne Room are influenced by dark ambient, doom metal and black metal but it is difficult to fit them into any sort of genre. The band is from Olympia, Washington. The thirteen minute "A Looming Resonance" features perfect dreamy vocals by Jamie Myers from the band Hammers Of Misfortune and the wall of guitars create an amazingly dark atmosphere. This is also the first time Will Lindsay has played guitar for the band. He was previously in the doom metal band from Oregon called Middian. The second song "Hate Crystal" is a quicker song still just over ten minutes featuring death metal vocals, quick drumming and the guitars continue to keep an atmospheric drone effect that is almost spiritual.

Favorite Tracks:

A Looming Resonance

Hate Crystal

-Rabbit Approved

Dead Child - Attack

Album Of The Day

Dead Child - Attack (2008)

Comments: This is the metal project that David Pajo, Todd Cook, Michael McMahan all of Slint, Dahm and with Tony Bailey of Crain on drums started after some reunion shows by Slint. They wanted to create a more aggressive group in the metal genre. They did just that. They approach the genre from a almost more 80's metal sound. David Pajo is by far one of my favorite musicians and artists. I like the fact that these guys tried doing something outside of what they are used to. The album has the heavy guitars, drums and rocking Iron Maiden type vocals none of what they call the cookie monter vocal (not that I would mind that.) I continue to find the Louisville, Kentucky music scene to be my favorite and most exciting in recent music history.

Unfortunately Tony Bailey recently pasted away. He was one of my favorite drums. He will be missed.

R.I.P. Tony Bailey.

Favorite Tracks:

Never Bet The Devil Your Head

Screaming Skull

Rattlesnake Chalice

Armies Up Ahead

Wasp Riot

-Rabbit Approved

Happy Friday the 13th.

The Beatles - Revolver

Album Of The Day:

The Beatles - Revolver (1966)

Comments: I have been working my way through the new 2009 Beatles remasters as of late. They sound unbelievable. Revolver has always been one of my desert island albums. The songs are ingrained in my mind and I think about them often even when I have not put the album on in a while. There is an indescribable feeling I get when I hear this album. I think that is why I am able to say that this one really may be my favorite. This album is also a huge turning point for the Beatles and perhaps one of the greatest achievements in rock music and music in general. Listening to Revolver you can hear the Beatles beginning a much different and more experimental musical journey that would continue through there next albums. I do love the ones that came before but it was Revolver that turned things upside down and changed everything.

Favorite Tracks:

I'm Only Sleeping

Here, There And Everywhere

She Said She Said

For No One

Tomorrow Never Knows

"She Said I know what it's like to be dead, I know what it is to be sad, and she's making me feel like I've never been born." - Lennon from the song "She Said She Said"

-Rabbit Approved

Dinosaur Jr. - Farm

Album Of The Day:

Dinosaur Jr. - Farm (2009)

Comments: Dinosaur Jr. is the kind of band you either love or hate. I can't get enough of their new album. It is one of the best things they've done in along time. Lou Barlow is even back in the band on bass and is featured on this album. I am super impressed with the new album.

Favorite Tracks:

Pieces

Plans

Said The People

-Rabbit Approved

Pelican - What We All Come To Need

Album Of The Day:

Pelican - What We All Come To Need (2009)

Comments: I have been following the Pelican releases since their release of "Australasia" from 2003. Pelican's influences range from doom metal and stoner rock to post-rock. On their latest album they continue to make incredibly beautiful and heavy instrumental music. Pelican is a band with a sound that never ceases impress and move me. Nobody sounds like Pelican.

Pelican even has a burger named after them at Kuma's Corner a Chicago restaurant that names their burgers after heavy metal bands. The "Pelican Burger."

Favorite Tracks:

Strung Up From The Sky

An Inch Above The Sand

What We All Come To Need

-Rabbit Approved

The Melvins/Lustmord - Pigs Of The Roman Empire

Album Of The Day:

The Melvins/Lustmord - Pigs Of The Roman Empire (2004)

Comments: The Melvins journey to the world of dark ambient and Lustmord to the world of heavy guitars, drums and sludge. The Melvins have been around since 1982 playing aggressive sludge music. Lustmord has been creating dark ambient music since 1980. This does not change here for either party. Buzz Osborne's guitars are heavier than ever and create as much dark atmosphere as Lustmord's incredible programming and production of the album. Lustmord creates some of the most disturbed and dark atmospheres in music and this is also no exception for him on this release. The twenty two minute track "Pigs Of The Roman Empire" is definitely a highlight. This is a perfect collaboration made in hell or perhaps the darkest ends of the earth.

Favorite Tracks:

The Bloated Pope

Toadi Acceleratio

Pigs Of The Roman Empire

-Rabbit Approved

Cex - Maryland Mansions

Album Of The Day:

Cex - Maryland Mansions (2003)

Comments: Today we talk about nostalgia. This album came out in 2003 and looking back that year had a very distinct sound. Cex was heavily influenced by Nine Inch Nails on this album. Lyrically it tackled subjects like suicide and drugs. Maryland Mansions has a heavy industrial vibe. It contains heavy beats and aggressive electronic sounds to create a disturbing atmosphere. The thing that makes it sound dated though is his vocal style and voice. Who ever said dated was bad. This one will take you back to 2003.

Favorite Tracks:

Drive Off A Mountain

Stop Eating

Take Pills

Kill Me

-Rabbit Approved

Volcano Choir - Unmap

Album Of The Day:

Volcano Choir - Unmap (2009)

Comments: Volcano Choir is a collaboration between Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and Collections Of Colonies Of Bees. I saw Collections Of Colonies Of Bees open for Bon Iver a few years ago when they played the small Lakeshore Theater here in Chicago and I was not to impressed with them. Bon Iver was quite amazing though. Unmap is in many ways quite progressive and the structures of the songs are more experimental than holding to a normal pop song structure. I will say that this collaboration works very well. The vocals are beautiful as well as the playing. Volcano Choir have made an extremely pretty album. The song Still is a different version of Woods off the Bon Iver EP Blood Bank which that alone makes this worth the listen.

Favorite Tracks:

Husks And Shells

Sleepy Mouth

Island, Is

Still

-Rabbit Approved

Whiskeytown - Strangers Almanac

Album Of The Day:

Whiskeytown - Strangers Almanac (1997)

Comments: This is one of my favorite albums of all time. For me it is up there with some of the other greats and no matter how depressing the day may get putting this on it always make me feel a little bit better in a melancholy sort of way.

Strangers Almanac is an amazing alt-country album. Whiskeytown spawned Ryan Adam's solo career after only three albums. It is said that the band even when together had a very turbulent relationship. Strangers Almanac is one of the most sincere and heartfelt albums of the 90's. I can not recommend this one enough.

This album about sums up my day today.

Favorite Tracks:

Inn Town

Turn Around

Dancing With The Women At The Bar

Avenues

Losering

-Rabbit Approved

The Horrors - Primary Colours

Album Of The Day:

The Horrors - Primary Colours (2009)

Comments: Great late driving, passing through dark landscape music. The Horrors have created an album with many eerie effects. They seem to be heavily influenced by Joy Division and the manchester sound from the late seventies and early eighties.

Favorite Tracks:

Mirror's Image

I Can't Control Myself

-Rabbit Approved

Lift To Experience - The Texas Jerusalem Crossroads

Album Of The Day:

Lift To Experience - The Texas Jerusalem Crossroads (2001)

Comments: Lift To Experience was a short lived band that released one double album. Josh T. Pearson for the past few days has been an intriguing mystery to me. He played on two Bat For Lashes tracks "Trophy" and "Seal Jubilee" and recorded a cover of "I'm So Lonely I Could Cry" by Hank Williams which was released in a CD-R format then later on split 7" with the Dirty Three. It seems he plays few shows in Europe where it is said he is currently living. His music is exceptional.

Favorite Tracks:

Falling From Cloud 9

These Are The Days

Other Favorite Track by Josh T. Pearson:

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

- Rabbit Approved

Bat For Lashes - Fur & Gold

Album Of The Day:

Bat For Lashes - Fur & Gold (2006)

Comments: Bat For Lashes debut album is quite addictive. I have listened to it countless times. The cover version of Bruce Springsteens "I'm On Fire" was a surprise and one that stuck with me since my first listen. Josh T. Pearson makes a great contribution on the songs "Trophy" and "Seal Jubilee."

Favorite Tracks:

Seal Jubilee

Horse & I

Trophy

I'm On Fire

-Rabbit Approved

Mike Patton - A Perfect Place

Album Of The Day:

Mike Patton - A Perfect Place (2008)

Comments: This is the soundtrack from a short film by Derrick Scocchera. The film is about a poker night gone terribly wrong when one of the poker players is bashed over the head and the other two attempt to get rid of the body. The film itself has some amusing moments and clever shots. The soundtrack on the other hand boosts the entire film to another level and stands alone as a very impressive piece of art. Mike Patton's soundtrack has everything from dark and moody Angelo Badalamenti type instrumentals to radio channel surfing tracks.

Favorite Tracks:

A Perfect Place

A Little Poker Tomorrow Night?

Another Perfect Place

-Rabbit Approved

The Devil Makes Three - The Devil Makes Three

Album Of The Day:

The Devil Makes Three - The Devil Makes Three (2002)

Comments: What an old-timey gem. The Devil Makes Three consist of two guitars and an upright bass which gives their sound an old-time feel. They are a melting pot of different music genres such as folk, country, blues, bluegrass, ragtime and rockabilly which they keep acoustic. The subjects of their songs mainly focus on drinking, death and hell raising. I will most likely be drinking some jack to them tonight at their show.

Favorite Tracks:

Graveyard

Old Number Seven

- Rabbit Approved