Having a pretty good weekend here in the Nort'woods. Felicia gave me one of my Christmas presents early, an XBOX, along with 7 games, including Madden '08. It's not the XBOX 360, but that's fine by me considering I've been playing the same system (Nintendo 64) and game (Madden 01) for the past three years. I'm not really much of a gamer as my dedication to Madden 2001 has shown, but nonetheless, the new system and games rock.
Speaking of things that rock, I suggest you check out New York's The Vandelles.
Their self-titled EP released on Safranin Records is part dirty-underground Ramones and part My Bloody Valentine if you're into the comparisons game.
CMJ's Rabecca Raber calls The Vandelles a "noir garage rock quartet that blends girl-group harmonies, vintage '50s rock 'n' roll and layers of fuzzed out distortion." That works for us.
Check out the tracks "Swell to Heaven" and "Lovely Weather" below:
The Vandelles - "Swell to Heaven"
The Vandelles - "Lovely Weather"
Visit The Vandelles at Myspace
Blender Top 100 Indie-Rock Albums
With this being the time of the year for lists, Blender has released their list of the 100 Greatest Indie-Rock albums ever. Among the highlights:
83. The Misfits, Walk Among Us, Ruby/Slash, 1982. Since when were The Misfits considered indie-rock? If the Misfits aren't punk/hardcore, I don't know what is.
Photo: Jerry with his old school Rickenbacker performing live with the Misfitsat Irving Plaza in NYC on Halloween night, 1979. You call this indie-rock?
Misfits - "Some Kind of Hate"
60. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois, Asthmatic Kitty, 2005. Huh, thought this would have been a little higher on the list. Same for Built to Spill, There’s Nothing Wrong With Love, Up, 1994, which came in just a few slots higher at 58.
55. Bad Brains, Bad Brains, ROIR, 1982. Again, a classic punk band ends up mid range in an indie-rock list? How does this list work? This would have to be Top 10 if this were a punk-only list.
Bad Brains - "I Against I"
20. The Hold Steady, Separation Sunday, French Kiss, 2005.
I'm a fan of The Hold Steady, but when you're talking all-time top 100, they shouldn't be anywhere near the Top 20, especially with Separation Sunday.
Hold Steady - "Your Little Hoodrat Friend"
6. Arcade Fire, Funeral, Merge, 2004. Knew they'd end up Top 10, just wasn't sure where. Time will only tell if this will be as classic as it's shaping up to be, but I won't argue with the Top 10 nomination.
1. Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted, Matador, 1992. Old school, I like it.
Pavement - "Elevate Me Later" from 1994's release Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain.
See Blender's complete list of selections and voice your thoughts on those included/left out in the comments.