The World We Live in (and the best of April 2014 music)

Maybe these things should be called "worst" of...

That isn't to say my World and the World around us, is not filled with joy and beauty.  I can sit here and rattle off a dozen things that put a smile on my face.

The green grass, and white buds that have enveloped Main Street.

The first sip of an overdue coffee.

The laugh from your child when she thinks what you said was funny.

My dogs reaction to us returning home.

The smell of hot peanuts on a cold New York City evening.

My wife's head on my shoulder at the end of a long day, or at the beginning of a new one.

Reading something my daughter has read.

NHL playoff hockey.

Portlandia.

When the hair stands on end listening to your favorite band kill a song.

A nice pint.

The vicarious thrill watching my middle schooler compete.  Not just sports either-  I mean compete.  She studies to make the grade.  She navigates the social World of school, adolescence and this brutal, unforgiving section of the Northeast.

It's a battle.  But one worth fighting.

But there are times, and boy do I try to ignore them, that I wonder.

For instance, I do a bit of youth coaching.  This year I took over my daughter's schools middle school softball team.  They had not won last year.  I had a bit of success with the basketball team.  A marriage was formed.

It is a terrific group of girls, and easy to root for and attempt to lead.  The season is short, too; it is 8 games and a playoff.  After 2 games we hadn't lost.  Things were looking up.  Before spring break I held one more practice before everyone went to an Island.  We did too, work in Manhattan, but who is keeping score?  Right, everyone.

As the practice ended and we gathered our gear to leave, one of the kids mothers approached me.

"Hi, Im (insert mom name).  How are you?"

Soon I was being told where her daughter preferred to play.  And that she played there "all last year."

Yeah, well, that is not very safe anymore.

Then she gave me the line of the year:  "I was not aware it was merit based."

Huh?  Isn't everything?  If not, what the hell are we doing here?  I can get a bowl cut and be Kim Jung Un's bitch I suppose.  Or I can try and work real hard to get ahead in life.

And you better be sure I am not telling my kid to sign up and expect greatness.  Some kids are not capable to do ONE certain thing.  If we keep telling them to try everything and expect to excel.  And if, for some crazy reason, you are let down or fail- blame everyone else.

My girl is not a scholar.  If I sent her to the math bee and had her school's reputation on the line there would be a lot of unhappy people around.  Most of all my daughter would suffer psychological wounds.

All these kids want is an opportunity to succeed.  We, as parents, need to present options that best suit  them, not us.

There are 30 NFL quarterbacks, maybe 15 that are talented.  Clearly not every kid playing Pop Warner is gonna make it.

Lets let these things work themselves out a bit, shall we?

Nurture skill sets.  Teach them to wake eye contact and communicate with words and complete sentences.  Make sure they are polite and respectful.

Steer them in, what you think, is the right direction.  It is understood that there will be issues along the way.  We can't all agree on things and what fun would that be anyway.

But do we want them to end up like the other story that resonated over the Easter season.

A friend of mine is a City cop in Wilkes-Barre, PA.  He does some serious shit.  Task force stuff.  Buying drugs and making arrests.

Whether I agree with the efforts or not, I can assure you he works hard.  Maybe harder than anyone I know.

We shared some beers a few nights back and he told me of his latest shift.

It was a good one.  He took weapons off the street and made dozens of arrests.  Dozens I said.  1 shift  I said.

As he was bringing one of the suspects back to the precinct house his captive had some chilling words.

"Yeah, you did good tonight copper.  You did good.  I will do 3, maybe 5.  But I'm 23, I will be back out here.  And when I come back, I will still be your worst nightmare."

Lovely.

I have got a pal out there busting his ass and risking his life.

And he is chasing after kids who value NOTHING.  They go to school in Wilkes-Barre to learn how to sell drugs.  Gangs from Philly and New York send their youth there to nine their craft.  Once they learn how to deal with a hard scrabble town of 30k they graduate to the big leagues.

Funny, they have minor league hockey and baseball up there too.  They can only wish to be as successful as the drug trade.

Ok, so that is pretty freakin gloomy.  We are all better than that, right?

We are all going to prioritize and make sound decisions.

Or die trying.  Starting.....  now!!!




In other news, let's keep pushing new music.  The following are the 10 tracks that have caught my attention.  Use them wisely.  On the treadmill, or in the car. or chilling in your favorite easy chair, these songs represent what is hot or at least should be, in all things alternative.  Enjoy.

And don't be scared to share your opinions.  What are you listening to?  What do you love?  Hate?

Who are you seeing on tour this summer?   What is the best festival?  Worst?

Happy Spring all.  Let's all shake off the winter from hell, shall we?

From Fun, to maybe the most fun song of 2014- Jack Antonoff from Bleachers.

Bleachers "I Want To Get Better"

Jack Antonoff is today's "It" alt rocker.  He is on sabbatical from his immensely popular band Fun.  Nate Ruess might get all the headlines from that act, but Jack plays lead and writes his share of music.  He is also dating Lena Dunham, who is herself the "It" girl of TV.  He grew up among privilege in New Jersey and attended exclusive schools including NYC's Professional Children's School (where he took Scar Jo to prom.)  I should probably hate him.  But nope, I root for him and respect the hell out of someone who could come out of that scenario with hit after hit.  And this song, and the video his girlfriend directed, are a joyous romp.

Lily Allen "Sheezus"

A cockney accent, little bit of attitude, and a penchant for talking shit- yeah, I missed Lily Allen.
Here she takes on Lorde, Gaga, Katy Perry and of course Kanye.  It is as much spoken word as anything.  But when you speak "Give me that crown bitch/I want to be Sheezus" you have my attention.  Love it!

Paramore "Ain't It Fun"

Sometimes a pop song just knocks me out and puts a smile on my face.  Maybe it was because Hayley Williams impressed the hell out of me at MSG last year.  Whatever the case, this simple pop diddy (with some gospel thrown in) is infectious.  She said it was written as an anthem of adulthood after her band went through some inner turmoil.  Or at least that is what my 11 year old told me based on her Instagram knowledge.  There are worse sources, believe me.

Gardens & Villa "Colony Glen"

Yes, I am a sucker for synths.  In particular, I dig me 80s inspired synths.  Harold Faltemeyer and Thomas Dolby must be endorsing this track from California "Galactic rockers" Gardens & Villa.


Kongos "Come With Me Now"

I know I heard this song sometime last year promoting a cable show.  Was it Vikings?  Or something else on AMC?  Point is, it is not all that new.  It is gaining in popularity, that is for certain.  Toe tapping arena rock performed by Aussie brothers- yes they all share the last name Kongos (Johnny, Jesse, Dylan, and Daniel.)  A little pedal steel, organ, and wait, is that an accordion??  Totally digging it.

In The Valley Below "Peaches"

LA duo Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob have created a moody, 90s inspired, synth power ballad.  Both kids sing, trading verses and harmonies effortlessly.  Just when you thought you heard the definitive "Peaches" song this thing comes along.  A nice, easy going mediation on fruit, and the feeling one gets enjoying it.

Swedish sisters First Aid Kit have a new record coming out.  Dig it!

First Aid Kit "My Silver Lining"

A few years back these Swedish sisters rocked not only my World, but the alt World as a whole, with their dreamy and elegant debut record.  One wonders how they became so polished, so fast?  Their influences are clearly rooted in 70s alt country like Gram Parsons and their muse Emmylou Harris.  They could sing the phone book and I would be interested.   When everyone these days seems eager to mimic the 80s, 90s or otherwise let the auto tune do the work, these ladies are a welcome throwback.  Hell, the repeating lyric in this first single from their sophomore effort is "Try to keep on/keeping on."  Old school indeed.  And I am very much on board.

Lykke Li "Gunshot"

Another Swedish songstress, Lykke Li will be releasing her third LP, I Never Learn, in the very near future.  This is the third single released and it is easy to tell she is a Stevie Nicks disciple.  Having seen her live it is as much visual as her singing.  She favors dark lighting, long flowing clothes, and more than a little mystery.  When the Fleetwood Mac tribute album was released a few years back she destroyed (in the best way) Nicks' wonderful "Silver Springs".   She will be playing Brooklyn Bowl Monday 5.5 to promote the new album.  Wishing I could be there!!

Real Estate "Crime"

NJ band done good.  These guys are labeled a lot of things, repetitious and monotonous is one.  I for one dig the low key, surf rock sounds they are pushing.  Their latest record is full of god vibes and chill tunes like this one, which is probably my favorite.

Lydia Loveless "Really Wanna See You"

A few years back I stumbled out of a lifeless Tanlines show at Webster Hall.   Before leaving the venue I walked through the Studio (Webster Hall's intimate basement club.)  The evening was instantly transformed by a spirited set by Lydia Loveless.  It comes as no surprise that her debut record is full of life.  This is country rock, make no mistake.  Like First Aid Kit, Loveless herself is a throwback.  Simple lyrics.  Simple chords.  Simple happiness.

Enjoy all!  Remember to Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter

Best of March 2014- War in Drugs (pun intended)

There have been several superlatives and endless articles on America's "War on Drugs."  I can still remember those Nancy Reagan ads during morning cartoons imploring us to "Just Say No."   The "This is your brain on drugs" spot still resonates to this day.  I am curious how my 11 year old would view those commercials.  It is clear the drug problem still exists.  My affluent Northeast suburbs high school kids are very much active in the prescription pills and heroin game.  And that game is serious.  The Reagan's were talking about coke/crack and maybe a little weed back then.  And by back then I mean like 30 years ago.  This is not exactly recent history.

How is that war working out anyway?  Should we ask Philip Seymour Hoffman?

Too soon?

Fact is this country, and in particular Generation X and their offspring, might be pushing back just enough to start making a difference.   It is bad enough we are losing lives and countless billions in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Do we need to be throwing more bad money on fights we are unable to win.

This is not to belittle the efforts and/or noble reasons that put us in this uneasy position to begin with.

Is it bad/dangerous/irrational to take illegal substances?  I think we can all agree that yeah, you could probably make a better decision.  But sometimes a night out smoking a couple bowls or snorting lines of coke is an easier (and way more fun) way to go then, say, a spinning class and tofu burger.  And don't judge!  Chances are you or someone very close to you had a slip up not that long ago.  Maybe even last night.  We are a flawed group of humans.  Sometimes, ok, lots of times, we need a little help getting through life's twisted sense of humor.  Shame on us.  But let's get us all help and make some sound fiscal and legal decisions based on our inability to think clearly.  And if we are only hurting ourselves and not endangering others what exactly is the issue?

Look to Colorado and Washington state, will you?  Marijuana has been legal for recreational use for several months now.   They both have not gone into disarray.  I don't remember reading about recent mass murders there.  Looting, to my knowledge, has not been occurring.  Things seem to be pretty much as they were before they became "green" states.  Except for maybe one thing.  The states are seeing enormous revenues from their decision to legalize a plant.

We are a nation of beer drinking, gun toting, football loving, meat eating, gossip hungry, miscreants.  And that is on a good day!

Why are we still arresting and incarcerating non-violent drug addicts?  It is Friday night and I am thankful.  But a part of me is thinking about all the folks buying liquor right now.  An how many more will be operating vehicles after imbibing.    

Anyway, that is it.  The ramblings of a jaded, middle aged man who thought it would be clever to rant about what he visions as an absurd cultural pattern.  Oh, and the "war" happens to share the same name as the incredible Philadelphia based rockers he saw Wednesday night at Bowery Ballroom.

"The War on Drugs," meet The War on Drugs.

The War On Drugs, 3.19.14 Bowery Ballroom, NYC

Adam Granduciel and Kurt Vile were fast friends after meeting in Philadelphia a little over 10 years ago.  They shared a musical inspiration in Bob Dylan and their similar styles are evident in their recorded work.  They both love brooding guitars and mumbled, yet cogent vocals.  For a while they were in a band called The Violators.  They formed The War on Drugs soon after and right before the release of their debut record Vile departed.  You can't blame him.  His solo stuff, in particular last years Waking on a Pretty Daze, have been spectacular.  

But before you bury Granduciel as the "less successful" part of the duo...  go listen to The War on Drugs recently released 3rd record, Lost in the Dream.  Better yet, go hear them play it live.  

Wednesday night, at Bowery Ballroom,  they started a sold-out 3 night stay in NYC (3.20 at Bowery and tonight at Music Hall of Williamsburg. )

As far as I am concerned there was only one thing wrong with the evening.  For an old stiff like me Wednesday evening concerts (ok, Sunday thru Wednesday concerts) require a Herculean effort.  And I might have, like 5 Herculean efforts in me for the year.  That is down from the 7-8 I had last year...  and 10 or so I had 5 years ago.

It's tougher still for my better half who worked an entire day and met up with us around 6 for dinner and drinks.  But I get it, rock and roll is a young kids game.  More than that, it's a City game.  Adam and his band are not concerned with soccer moms and PTA meetings.

Nor should they be.  But I would hope they understand they have some fans out there who would desperately like to see a full set.  Starting a set at 11:10pm on a school night is tough man.

What makes it tougher is when the act comes out and lives up to the hype that has followed their records release.

Granduliec's is not a virtuoso on guitar.  But his instruments sound evokes 80s Don Henley and the best of Mark Knopfler.  Incorporating a bass sax adds a little Tina Turner shirtless Thunderdome guy to the mix.  And let's not forget Dylan...  because the vocals share more than a passing resemblance.  Not the Rainy Day Woman Dylan either.  More like the 1987 Fiona film Hearts of Fire Dylan.

The new album is full of slow builds, and a The War on Drugs concert is a refreshing works cited page.    It took a few songs to get loose.  But around the third song the band took it out of 1st gear.  "An Ocean In Between the Waves" and "Under the Pressure" were both celebrations of controlled chaos.   With the bass sax and jazzy drum beat they run the risk of sounding like a high school talent act.    This is rock and roll though.  The kind that, even on a Wednesday night in rainy NYC, makes it all worth while.  The kind that hits you right in the gut... and makes you move around a bit.  The kind that far too many people will never hear about, let alone hear.

This space will continue to tout many artists like The War on Drugs.  It was the longest winter known to man, but it's over.  With spring comes the hope that good things are coming.  Green grass, days at the beach, and Mets losses.

And music.  Sweet, sweet music.

What shows you seeing this summer?  Which album have you been playing on repeat?  Where the hell is that Malaysian Airlines plane???

Here are this months picks.  Don't forget to like us here and follow us here.



Cloud Nothings "I'm Not A Part of Me"

Cleveland, OH lo-fi, post punk kids 4th LP, Here and Nowhere Else, is scheduled for an April Fool's Day release.  But do not be fooled by their simple, but aggressive style.  Sometimes a few power chords and raspy vocals are just what the Dr ordered.  The first single is full of fury.  Dylan Baldi (vocals/guitar) does not have a unique voice.  Bassist TJ Duke and drummer Jayson Gerycz are not re-inventing the wheel in their rhythm section.  But darn it the hooks are catchy and this song is super fun.  They hit the road to support the album this spring.  Check em out if you can:  Cloud Nothings official site


Sylvan Esso "Coffee"

It is March, so Durham, NC is always big in the news.  But this duo, not the Duke Men's Basketball program, is what has my attention.  Amelia Meath is the sultry vocalist behind this synth heavy ear worm.  Nick Sanborn is the producer/arranger/synth man.  The forced "My baby does the hanky panky" lyric is ridiculous, I admit.  But there is something here that has me wanting more.  Is it the strength of the vocal?  The easy keys that make me wish this winter would end?  The title?  Who does not like a nice cup of joe?  Whatever it is, I can root for it far easier than Coach K and his pituitary cases.

Future Islands "Seasons (Waiting on You) live on Letterman

These folks got their start in NC too...  Greenville to be exact.  They call Baltimore, MD home now.  Their new LP and recent stint at SXSW are buzz worthy, if for lead singer Samuel Herring's stage presence and antics as much as the music itself.  This clip and song from David Letterman are terrific indicators of both.  Herring's voice is reminiscent of Roland Gift from Fine Young Cannibals.  His moves like Tom Jones.  He is worth watching...  especially for Letterman's reaction.

Speedy Ortiz "American Horror"

Hard not to like a band who defines themselves like this:  "we play shows and eat stuff."  If Liz Phair still made music, or more specifically music with an edge, it might sound something like this track.  Massachusetts native Sadie Dupuis started this act as a solo project in 2011.  Their debut record, Major Arcana, was released late last year.  This guitar heavy, grunge inspired song has finally made my radar.  Maybe it will find yours too.

Ray LaMontagne "Supernova"

You always know when Ray LaMontagne is singing a song.  His earthy rasp is recognizable.  So too is his songwriting.  This single, from his upcoming LP (Supernova) is more light than most of his work.  There is more hope and joy than you might expect.  And that is a good thing.  For someone who has a reputation for throwing fits and having some pent up anger, perhaps he is softening a bit in his older age.  Old?  He just turned 40.  Hell I can relate.  I heard Joan Rivers tell Louis C.K. "things don't get better, but we do."  I think that might apply here- to the musician and listener.

Quilt "Tie Up the Tides"

The third New England band in a row here...  Ray LaMontagne is a Maine boy via New Hampshire.  Quilt is a Boston trio.  Not much else is known via the inter web.  They released a self titled LP in 2011.  A new record is forthcoming and this track will surely appear.  It is 60s inspired pop with more synths than guitar.

Sharon Van Etten "Taking Chances"

Ms Van Etten has a new record coming out soon, Are We There?  Perhaps I only like her because she grew up in Clinton, NJ and now calls Brooklyn home.  She got out!  And is living where I would like to and making music!!  Score.  Her voice, especially here,  has a PJ Harvey meets Thom Yorke thing- ya know, like their brilliant collaboration "The Mess We're in"  It has a grittiness, and dare I say sexiness.  Or is all because of the organ that is featured prominently here.  Did someone say organ?  Ugh, it's been a long week.

Lykke Li "Love Me Like I'm Not Made of Stone"

Swedish songstrees Li is also releasing an LP later this year.  The word is it is power ballad heavy.  Judging by this first release I can see that.  Her concert a few years ago was an eye opener.  This girl brings it.   Good old fashioned love song here.   Somewhere a teenage girl has her Beats on listening to this and crying that Johnny Football didn't ask her to the Spring formal.  Or, in this case, a dorky middle aged man is listening on his beats in his local coffee shop.

Youngblood Hawke "Pressure"

Youngblood Hawke, the LA rockers, headlined one of my least favorite live shows in recent memory. It wasn't all their fault.  The venue sucked.  It was too cold for a spring day.  We ran into a rat colony on the street walking to our car.  Bla.  Bla.  Bla.  Perhaps I will not forever stay bad at the band for the litany of things that went against them that night.  This new single, although super derivative, has juts enough to keep you humming along.  Clearly its roots are in 80s John Hughes movies.  Approved.

Polica "I Need $//So Leave"

Synth pop Minneapolis act that leads with vocalist Channy Leaneagh (and can just stop there.)  Soft sounds not unlike Sia and Zero 7.  As elegant and lovely a song you will hear.  Please enjoy.

The War On Drugs "An Ocean Between the Waves" live from Philly 3.14.14

See above.  A highlight on an album of highlights.

Lo-Fi kids from Ohio- Cloud Nothings