New York Magazine's the Year in Culture: The 2006 Culture Awards
New York has put up their year-end lists, from movies to books to music, breaking down their top ten of the year along with a few surprises and letdowns along the way.
In discussing the year that was in the music scene, it's no surprise that they list the Killer's new album as a dissapointment to Hot Fuss, or that they loved Chicago's music festivals. Also listed in their yearly music breakdown are Regina Spektor, LCD Soundsystem, Sonic Youth, The Hold Steady, TV on the Radio, and Jay-Z. You can read all about the year in music here.
Interestingly, The War Tapes, a documentary shot by National Guardsmen and guardswomen takes the No. 1 slot in their movies discussion.
"In this terrible time for the U.S. and the entire Middle East, it’s a small band of documentary filmmakers that has provided the most enlightening views of the ongoing catastrophe in Iraq. In alphabetical order: Andrew Berends’s The Blood of My Brother explores the aftermath of a civilian killing by U.S. troops—and the way that his senseless death inspires even more intensely militant anti-Americanism. James Longley’s poetic and allusive Iraq in Fragments is a triptych of despair, rage, and terror: When you feel this place, you understand just how little you do understand. The most anti-administration of these docs, Robert Greenwald’s Iraq for Sale, spells out why the war has been, for Bush and Cheney and their contributors and friends, a windfall no matter which side claims victory. Deborah Scranton’s The War Tapes uses footage shot by National Guardsmen to illuminate the psyches of the men and women on whose shoulders the war rests—and who will ultimately carry the horror home. These films deserve the widest audience possible; their makers are heroes in an age with precious few."
Haven't seen it? Read about it here again.
Music From the Inbox
I've received quite a few emails letting me know about some really great bands out there floating around under the wire. Below are just a few of the many that deserve to be seen and heard...
Partyline
You may not know it, but three D.C. girls with glasses are about kick your ass (via music, of course).
Partyline's Zombie Terrorist, recorded at Inner Ear Studios (a favorite spot of many DC/Dischord acts), is single-handedly commandeering the all-girl punk rock ship. Zombie Terrorist presents a punchy tracklist of soon-to-be classic riot grrrl numbers, each clocking in at under 2 minutes. With fellow riot grrrls Sleater-Kinney approaching retirement, Partyline not only steps up to the plate, but also introduces listeners to an entirely new pro-fem set of endearing absurdity. With characters ranging from pot-smoking, CIA-backed aliens to zombie terrorists to science-fictitious dictators-- political irreverence is ever-present. Frontwoman Allison Wolfe earned early recognition as the voice of Bratmobile and has continued to burn deb-dresses ever since. Zombie Terrorist unapologetically shatters the glass ceiling with grrrrl riot rampage.
Partyline - "Trophy Wife"
Dave Fischoff
Dave Fischoff took five years creating his new album "The Crawl". Utilizing literally thousands of sound samples from music, the world, and the Library of Chicago's audio archives. Dave took these sounds and manipulated them into a deliciously complex pop album
Dave Fischoff - "Landscape Skin"
Minus the Bear
MINUS THE BEAR are just back from a quick tour of the UK before headed into the studio to craft their follow up to the wildly successful Menos El Oso, due tentatively in late 2007. All that comes
on the heels of a pretty crazy year. MTB played no less than 3 coast to coast tours, rocked Cochella, were named one of AP's most anticipated for 2007, and their video for Pachuca Sunrise
was just voted as one of MTV's best of 2006 [number 9 to be exact].
Most bands would call it a day and rest up until the December rain cleared, but the Seattle troup have one more surprise up their sleeves: due out February 20th, Interpretacions Del Oso finds 11
artists reinterpretating Menos El Oso including Dalek, Battles (Tyondai Braxton), Alias, P.O.S., Fog, Jay Clark (Pretty Grils Make Graves), Dark Baby, IQU. And with it's release the band will - for at least a moment - sit still and soak up what has been a stellar year to say the least.
Minus the Bear - "Drilling" (P.O.S. Remix)
Bonk
Sleazy hippies from the Oslo punk scene, Bonk were nominated as “best newcomers” at the Alarm Awards. After a blowout performance at SXSW two years ago they signed to Ace Fu/Racing Junior in the states and their new album recorded by Anders Møller (Turbonegro, Euroboys, Silver, Paperboys) and mixed by Ulf Holand (A-Ha, Turbonegro, Gluecifer, Motorpsycho ++).
This is not some AC/DC ripoff. Bonk create intelligent songs that run the genre gamut throughout the course of one track let alone the rest of their new album. They are not 'motorcycle rock' and they are not a 'garage band. Too often they have tried to be pigeonholed (though someone did call them the "antithesis of American Idol" once, which is pretty funny). Bonk simply remains a collaboration of individuals as different as their tunes. They seldom agree 100%, but they are still friends. Bonk has toured Europe several times w/Gluecifer, The Hives, Franz Ferdinand, etc., and are slated to return to the US for the first time in two years for an '07 Spring tour and a stop at SXSW.
Bonk - "The House"
Bonk - "Gifted Children"
Bonk - "Homecoming"
The Exiles
The Exies decided to cover the classic Talking Heads track "Once In A Lifetime" because they felt the song embodied the essence of their album that at it's core is existential in nature. A Modern Way of Living with the Truth, their upcoming album reflects the band's inner torment and ways of dealing with the uncertainty of the modern world.
The Exies - "Once in a Lifetime" (Talking Heads Cover)
*Special thanks to Pirate! Media, Riot Act Media, Secretely Canadian, Cornerstone Promotion for their contributions to this post.
