Photo via New York TimesSALT LAKE CITY — Rocky Anderson may not be the most liberal mayor in America. But here in the most conservative state, he might as well be.
Just being himself is enough to galvanize, divide or enrage people who have followed his career as Salt Lake City’s mayor, and who are now watching him become, in the twilight of his final term, a national spokesman for the excoriation and impeachment of President Bush.
[“President Bush is a war criminal,” Mr. Anderson, a Democrat, said at a rally here on Monday marking the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq. “Let impeachment be the first step toward national reconciliation — and toward penance for the outrages committed in our nation’s name.”]
Mr. Anderson, a 55-year-old lapsed Mormon and former civil litigator with a rich baritone and a mane of patrician-silver hair, is no stranger to strong talk and political stances that leave his audiences breathless with exasperation, admiration or sometimes a mixture of both.
He has presented his densely footnoted constitutional argument against Mr. Bush’s presidency in speeches from the Washington Legislature to peace rallies in Washington, D.C., making him a favorite punching bag of conservative talk show hosts and bloggers well beyond his home state. [He went on Bill O’Reilly’s show on Fox News on Tuesday, for example, and Mr. O’Reilly promptly called him “a kook.”]
Mr. Anderson cheerfully conceded in an interview in his office that he had no hope whatsoever of a statewide political future in Utah because people outside Salt Lake City — who are far more likely to be conservative, Republican and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — are likely to hate him. But in what has been a trademark of his seven years in office, he can seem equally disdainful of those who disdain him.
“There’s a real resistance to change and an almost pathological devotion to leaders simply because they’re leaders,” he said, in describing fellow Utahans who do not share his views and who in large numbers support the president (and gave him 72 percent of their vote in 2004). “There’s a dangerous culture of obedience throughout much of this country that’s worse in Utah than anywhere.” [READ FULL ARTICLE]
Music
A band that I've recently enjoyed listening to quite a bit (thanks to Y-Rock on XPN's coverage of them) is Hail Social, so I was pretty pleased to find this press release in my inbox this morning:
HAIL SOCIAL CELEBRATE THE RELEASE MODERN LOVE AND DEATH
After the buzz surrounding their self titled debut, Hail Social will self release their long awaited full length, Modern Love and Death.
Often described as ethereal, stylistically-lithe dance-rock, Hail Social, who call South Jersey their home base, beautifully combine sonic washes of brisk sounding beats with fresh sounding lyrics and steady pulsing verses. Modern Love and Death features brand new, rich and diverse songs.
Spearheaded by lyricists/singer-songwriter Dayve Hawk was joined by drummer Matt Maraldo in his early twenties. Hail Social completed their line-up with a cutting no-nonsense bassist Dan Henry.
After recording four demos, the band caught the attention of Interpol. Unsigned, and virtually unknown outside of their home turf, Hail Social earned a coveted opening slot on their tour with Interpol and the Secret Machines.The band garnered tons of great press including a Spin.com “Band of the Day” accolade immediately and their live show didn’t deny.
The recording of their self-titled debut in 2005 on Polyvinyl Records soon followed. Hawk teamed up with Brian McTear (Apollo Sunshine/ Spinto Band) to record their debut and worked with him again on Modern Love and Death.
Download "Heaven" from the upcoming album Modern Love and Death
More Hail Social:
"Warning Sign"
"Hands Are Tied"
"Start/Stop"
Hail Social website
Featured Album: Silversun Pickups' Pikul [2005]
Silversun Pickups looking dapperLast year I was lucky enough to fall across the Silversun Pickups' Carnavas, which shortly because one of my favorite albums of 2006. But before Carnavas, the Silversun Pickups released Pikul, in 2005, which itself is a gem of a record.
Review from AbsolutePunk.net:
Encompassing dynamics from all over the spectrum while maintaining a melancholy, rhythm-based fluidity, Los Angeles’ Silversun Pickups ring true to their influences, My Bloody Valentine and the Pixies, keeping their 2005 release, Pikul EP, a record for those indie-rock fans that are willing to sit and discover the depth this quartet took time to create.
Banking off the use and advantages of lyrical prose that are far from facetious, guitarist Brian Aubert and bassist Nikki Monninger craft candid lyrics and melodies around the theme of death and isolation in a social sense. Being influenced, and almost a tribute, to the death of a friend, Silversun Pickups catch morbid gusts of melody, though, keeping it in an optimistic tempo as to persist in preserving an ironic contrast between the despondent lyrics. Careful not to stray too far into an avant-garde hell, SP are quick not to dig themselves a grave by keeping the background aesthetics to a minimum, but leaving just enough to manifest an artsy feel, a totality in a sense, to the EP. In “Booksmart Devil”, Monninger shapes patient verses with her flawless voice, comparable to Kim Deal, before breaking into a fuzzy guitar solo that expands upon the bridges previously featured in the song.
The only track, however, that is currently breaking radio waves (apparently in Seattle) is the very first track, “Kissing Families”, and for good reason. The song creates such a cathartic wall of elegant acoustic crescendos, cyclical bass lines, and a striking violin backing that it will instantly beckon a replay. Aubert belts out suddenly, “It’s everything that’s connected and beautiful/And now I know just where I stand/Thank god/Your heart’s too close” during an especially robust chorus. Aubert’s voice, gritty yet appealing, takes on aspects from both Isaac Brock and Billy Corgan, however fitting into his own niche of vocal individuality. Track five, “The Fuzz”, launches with electronic spam that leads into a spunky, though refined, bassline, actively attempting to overshadow Aubert’s lucid lyrics and distorted guitar twiddles.
Nonetheless active on the indie-rock circuit, Silversun Pickups have yet to garner the attention that the band’s debut EP, Pikul, shows they very much deserve. Intense with dismal theatrics and endowed with a polished melody, indie-rock has just been given another dimension.
Silversun Pickups - "Kissing Families"
Silversun Pickups - "Comeback Kid"
Silversun Pickups - "Booksmart Devil"