...........Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd we're back.We've enjoyed our time off, even if it wasn't really time off from everything else. In fact, I think we've had one of our busiest weeks of 2007 this past week as exciting things have been happening on all fronts.
At work, we recently acquired another company, which always creates more work. At home, we fixed up the basement for the upcoming football season and started setting up Felicia's saltwater tanks. And as for the social music scene, we've got a whole lot of good times ahead with the Arcade Fire concert in Chicago on May 19th and The National in Madison on June 9th.
One thing I was able to do during my free time this week was read, and my selection this week has been Tamara Draut's Strapped: Why America's 20 and 30-Somethings Can't Get Ahead. Not that I don't think I've accomplished all that I can accomplish with my master's degree (sarcasm), but financially, there are lots of questions people my age have that simply cannot be answered by the paths our parents forged before us. The times are simply different, and these times require people my age to have more education, more debt, and more pressure to succeed than any generation before, a topic Draut covers extensively in her book.
One of the most interesting arguments so far has been that today's generation of 20 and 30 year olds are politically disconnected, which allows government, debtors, and student loan companies to run unchecked because those affected are simply indifferent to the process. That is, until the bill arrives. It's a good read and highly suggested for anyone struggling through the same dilemmas facing many people our age today.
In an effort then to become more politically connected, one might want to turn to The Economist in the following weeks since they are profiling all of the potential presidential candidates for the 2008 Election. First up: Republican Rudy Giuliani:
HE ENTERS the room like an affable tornado: pumping hands, patting backs and flirtatiously stealing a morsel from a giggling female fan's breakfast plate. Crowds love Rudy Giuliani, the mayor who led New York through the trauma of September 11th 2001. But in his quest for the presidency this pro-choice, pro-gay Republican must somehow convince his party's primary voters that he is conservative enough.
Perhaps that explains a slip he made before an audience of suits in Nashua, New Hampshire, last week. Mr Giuliani bragged that George Will, a conservative columnist, had called his stewardship of the Big Apple the “most conservative” government in America in the past 50 years. What Mr Will actually said was that Mr Giuliani had provided the most successful example of conservative governance in America in the 20th century. To most Americans, that is a much bigger compliment. But before Mr Giuliani can make his case to most Americans, he must win over the Republican base.
At this early stage, the polls say he is the front-runner: around ten points ahead of John McCain and at least 20 ahead of Mitt Romney among Republican voters. If he does win the Republican nomination, the polls show him breezing past Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, though they say he would only tie with Barack Obama, who is still well behind Mrs Clinton in the polls. Given the nation's snarlingly anti-Republican mood, these are extraordinary numbers. Voters say they would far rather elect a Democrat than a Republican, but when asked to compare named Democrats with Mr Giuliani, they mostly prefer the man who, after September 11th, was dubbed “America's mayor”. [READ MORE]
MUSIC
Featured Artist: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
During the week off, I've had a lot of changes to check out some new music. One album that I'm actually pretty excited about is Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's Baby 81. I had first heard about Black Rebel Motorcycle Club when BRMC came out with Howl back in 2005, but wasn't incredibly impressed. Luckily, I'm finding that I'm enjoying the tracks I've heard off of Baby 81 a whole lot more.
BRMC - "Weapon of Choice"
BISHOP ALLEN's long-awaited sophomore album, "The Broken String", announced as Dead Oceans' first release
2006 was a big year for Bishop Allen. The band recorded and self-released an EP every month of the year. Fifty-eight songs later, they completed one of the most ambitious recording projects in recent memory. Their 2003 debut, "Charm School", was a hooky indie-pop gem, but Bishop Allen's EP material proves far more sophisticated and addictive. With the EPs, Bishop Allen's pop smarts sound timeless,escaping the indie-pop idiom and revealing a language informed by the Kinks, Dylan, and the Zombies.
But it was never Bishop Allen's intent to forgo a label for the long term, and in early 2007 the band struck a partnership with Dead Oceans. The first fruit of this relationship is Bishop Allen's sophomore album, "The Broken String", Dead Ocean's inaugural release. If Bishop Allen made a huge musical jump from the 2003 debut to the 2006 EPs, the band made a quantum leap on "The Broken String". Of its 12 songs, 9 are reworked tracks from the EPs and two are previously unreleased. These are not just re-recordings: Bishop Allen has stepped out of the home studio and created definitive versions of songs that were originally conceived within the constraints of a monthly deadline. Benefiting from the earlier recordings and several tours, the songs' arrangements have grown, the production is lush, the lyrics are front and center, and the band's evolution has reached a new level. "The Broken String" is the follow-up for which Bishop Allen fans have long clamored. "The Broken String" is not just a great record by Bishop Allen standards. It is poised to be the pop soundtrack to the summer of 2007.
Bishop Allen - "Rain"
Bishop Allen on Myspace
Featured Artist: Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright will release his fifth album, Release the Stars, on Geffen on May 15.
Rufus Wainwright - "Do I Dissapoint You"
Featured Artist: Linfinity
"In a world where melody strains our existence, Linfinity captures us with strong sarcasm and vicious mood." Linfinity, a NYC ten piece brought to us by Dylan Von Wagner[The Screaming Pelican], have just finished their debut album and have released an EP. 'A Manual For Free Living: Installation,' is out on all digital services worldwide via Ingrooves records.
It combines senses of heavy rock with percussion, relying on strong hooks,and fervent melody to web it's stories. Linfinity will be taking a little journey with a seven volume set entitled 'A Manual For Free Living,' each volume or album having different themes and motives. Volume I:Sedition will be coming out in early 2007.
Stream Linfinity at Myspace
Featured Artist: Gooblar
In the grand tradition of bands such as Van Halen, Bon Jovi, and Zumpano (anyone?), Gooblar is a band that has taken the name of its best-named member. And, following in the footsteps of Eddie Van Halen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Jason Zumpano, David Gooblar is ready to submit to a life of having to tell people, “No, they're not my backing band—Gooblar is the band.” His bandmates seem cool about it too. Although they haven't really talked about it for a while.
The current incarnation of Gooblar was formed after David Gooblar had spent four years in London without a band. He had been in various bands in New Jersey, New York, and Montreal, but took a hiatus when he got to London to write songs and work on a PhD. Eventually, the strength of the songs he was writing became too much to ignore. After countless pints, Dave and Jim Clements (a distinguished songwriter and performer himself) decided the time was right to make something new. Jim’s brother Richard was brought in to play the drums, and Chris Bartel was soon recruited for the bass. The band had one rehearsal before their triumphant debut gig at RoTa at Notting Hill Arts Club in September 2006.
Gooblar - "20th Century"
Gooblar - "Girl"
Gooblar website
Music Blog Awards
Voting for the Music Blog Awards, hosted by eMusic, is now live.
The Music Blog Awards are the first music award event to combine the way today's audience listens to music (MP3s), discovers music (music blogs), and celebrates it (the MUBA). The nominees selected in each category were chosen by a diverse group of authors from some of the most popular music blogs. Though the nominees were selected by the music bloggers, the winners in each category will be chosen by the general public. That means you! Everyone who votes will be given the chance to sign-up for Emusic and get 40 free downloads. Also, they will be able to get exclusive playlists hand-selected by the Music Bloggers. Voting will end on June 15th, 2007. So vote now!
Nominee List:
Album of the Year
1. Camera Obscura – Let's Get Out Of This Country
2. Hot Chip – The Warning
3. Joanna Newsom – YS
4. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife
5. The Knife – Silent Shout
6. TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain
Song of the Year
1. Band of Horses – The Funeral
2. Beirut – Postcards From Italy
3. Camera Obscura – Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken
4. Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
5. Midlake – Roscoe
6. Peter Bjorn and John – Young Folks
Best Artist
1. Beck
2. Joanna Newsom
3. The Decemberists
4. The Knife
5. TV On the Radio
Best Blog
1. An Aquarium Drunkard
2. I Guess I'm Floating
3. Large Hearted Boy
4. My Old Kentucky Blog
5. Stereogum
Best Live Band
1. Cansei Der Se Sexy (CSS)
2. Radiohead
3. Tapes N Tapes
4. The Decemberists
5. TV on the Radio
Best Rock Album
1. The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers
2. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife
3. Thom Yorke – The Eraser
4. TV on the Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain
5. Wolfmother – Wolfmother
Best Rock Song
1. Band of Horses – The Funeral
2. Tapes N Tapes – Insistor
3. The Decemberists – O! Valencia
4. The Raconteurs – Steady As She Goes
5. TV On The Radio – Wolf Like Me
Best Debut Album
1. Beirut – Gulag Orkestar
2. Cold War Kids – Robbers & Cowards
3. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
4. Lily Allen – Alright, Still
5. Lupe Fiasco – Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
6. We Are Scientists – With Love and Squalor
Best Indie Album
1. Cold War Kids – Robbers & Cowards
2. The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls In America
3. Sunset Rubdown – Shup Up I Am Dreaming
4. Tapes and Tapes – The Loon
5. The Thermals – The Body, The Blood, The Machine
Best Dance/Electronica Album
1. Cansei De Ser Sexy – Cansei De Ser Sexy
2. Girl Talk – Night Ripper
3. Goldfrapp – Supernature
4. Hot Chip – The Warning
5. The Knife – Silent Shout
Best Dance/Electronica Song
1. Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
2. Hot Chip – And I Was A Boy From School
3. LCD Soundsystem – 45:33
4. The Knife – We Share Our Mother's Health
5. The Rapture – Whoo! Alright, Yeah…Uh Huh
Best Rap Song
1. Nas – Hip-Hop Is Dead
2. Outkast – PJ and Rooster
3. T.I. – What You Know
Best Rap Album
1. Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
2. Ghostface Killah – Fishscale
3. Lupe Fiasco – Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
4. Nas – Hip-Hop Is Dead
5. Rhymefest – Blue Collar
Best Country/Alt.Country/Country Rock Album
1. Drive By Truckers – A Blessing And A Curse
2. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins – Rabbit Fur Coat
3. Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
4. Old Crow Medicine Show – Big Iron World
5. The Be Good Tanyas – Hello Love
Yellow Bird Project
Yellow Bird Project is a Montreal-based, non-profit initiative. We collaborate with musicians in designing a T-shirt, we print and sell them on our website, and all of the money we make goes to charity. Which charity? Each of the artists gets to choose their own. We have three fundamental aims:1) To make money for charities directly through T-shirt sales.
2) To raise awareness for charity organizations through artists’ endorsement.
3) To raise the profile of the artists we like.
Check out the T-shirts here!