Tindersticks return

The Tindersticks slowly became one of my favorite bands... and it really snuck up on me when it happened. I guess mostly because I was introduced to them quite slowly, a few tracks on compilations here and there and the second album (which was the first thing I really listened to) didn't grab me right away. I eventually realized it's a masterpiece from start to finish and pretty much everything that came after it grew onto me just as much.

They're also one of those bands I have dreamed of seeing live but living in Halifax really meant that wasn't going to happen. But now they're getting a new album together, so there is hope of a tour and I will do what I can to see one of the shows. I got to see Stuart Staples about a year ago and he was great, but it lacked the intesity the a Tindersticks album usually carries for me. The new album, The Hungry Saw, is coming out April 28 (likely the 29th in North America), The Flicker Of A Little Girl has been posted on their Myspace page and through Pitchfork.

Also here's a live show from Amsterdam, 1994

The Gutter Twins

I've been waiting for this for a while now... the song sounds good, I'm giving it time to grow. The verses don't kill me, but the chorus has it's charm.

The Gutter Twins - Idle Hands

And the tour is coming around. I'll be hitting one, maybe two of these.

March:

01 San Francisco CA/Bimbo's 365

03 Portland OR/Wonder Ballroom

04 Seattle WA/Showbox

07 Chicago IL/Metro (Late Show)

08 Minneapolis MN/First Avenue

09 Madison WI/High Noon Saloon

11 Newport KY/Southgate House

12 Cleveland OH/Beachland Ballroom

14 Toronto ON/Mod Club

15 Montreal QC/Cabaret du Musee

18 Boston MA/Paradise

19 New York NY/Webster Hall

20 Washington DC/9:30 Club

21 Atlanta GA/Roxy Theater

22 New Orleans LA/One Eyed Jacks

26 Austin TX/Antone's

27 Dallas TX/Cambridge Room @ HOB

29 Boulder CO/Fox Theater

One of these days this blog and myself will be in the swing of things... one of these days I tell you.

Looking back on 2007

Okay, been a bit out of the picture with shit going on over the holidays...

Here's a quick round up for the year:
TV - I've given up on pretty much everything except America's Next Top Model, The Shield and The Wire. I still enjoy The Office, Extras, Heroes (though not as much as S1) and there's lots out there that sounds good but I have no cable so it'll just have to wait until DVD.

Movies - There's the ones I completely enjoyed: Lars & The Real Girl, Once, No Country For Old Men, La Vie En Rose, Sunshine, Superbad, Hot Fuzz, Eastern Promises... Also, the three movies I saw at the film fest; Dai-Nipponjin, Ex-Drummer & A L'interieur, all blew me away.
The ones that I feel are everything a blockbuster should be, entertainment that takes your mind off things for 2 hours and that you don't feel guilty about: 300, Transformers, Bourne Ultimatum, Hot Rod & Shoot Em Up (okay the last two bombed, but they served the purpose)

As for music...
I saw some great live shows.... highlights were My Brightest Diamond, Ween, Van Halen, Swell Season, Blonde Redhead, Walter Schreiffels, Urge Overkill, Watson Twins, Fucking Champs

And here's some of the stuff that was in high rotation or at least made an impression on me:

Dog Day - Great Pains
I dare say this was my favorite album of the year. I threw it on because they're from my hometown but I didn't expect to fall in love with it right away. It hit me the same way the first Voxtrot EPs did, just pure great pop. The difference being that this is a solid album start to finish, Voxtrot didn't seem to pull that off for me.

Malcolm Middleton - Stay Close Sit Tight
I saw Arab Strap on their last tour and was disappointed to hear of their break up, but when this album came out it helped me move on. It's up there with the Dog Day for the year, another album that's great from start to finish and chock full of singles.

Ween - Your Party
I've been a fan of the last few Ween albums, even more so then the early stuff. La Cucaracha picks up smoothly after Quebec, sounding again like a great mix tape. I can't think of many bands who could pull off adult contemporary and make it sound as good as this song.

PJ Harvey - The Devil
She's always had so much power in her voice and performance, it's stil there even with all the distortion and percussion stripped away. Too bad she only played like 3 shows on the entire tour for this one.

The Afghan Whigs - I'm A Soldier
8 years after calling it quits The Whigs get a well deserved best of. Missing some of my faves but a good intro overall and with a couple new tracks including this one. It's no Going To Town but it stands on its own for me.

A couple of great bands from the same time as the Whigs stepped back up to release new material, in both cases they put out material as strong as in their heyday without sounding like a throwback or a cashgrab.
Buffalo Tom - Bad Phone Call
Dinosaur Jr. - Back To Your Heart

Nina Nastasia & Jim White - How Will You Love Me
If I could marry her voice I would. I'll have to settle on spending Valentine's Day with her at the El Mocambo.

Wintersleep - Miasmal Smoke & The Yellow Bellied Freaks
When East Coast boys get the magic touch from Mogwai's producer things end up sounding quite good.

Bionic - Q: Is There A TV In Heaven? A: Yes, Yes There Is
Bionic are one of the best rock bands in the world, but very few people outside of Canada (and not enough inside) really know that yet.

Turbonegro - Back In Denim
They were one of the best rock bands in the world but the last two albums have left something to be desired. Still, this is a great song and it was a great show.

Hot Springs - Fog And The Horn
Yet another band from Montreal and yet another "Hot" band.

Son Volt - Methamphetamine
Since Wilco spent the year trying to write the best 70s AM Rock album since the 70s (they failed, it was already done by the Local Rabbits with This Is It Here We Go) Son Volt had a chance to shine... The Search wasn't the best thing they've done but the songs that worked were as good as anyhting they've done.

Bat For Lashes - Horse And I
You know, it's nothing new and it sounds so much like Bjork at times, but at least it sounds like really great Bjork.

Blonde Redhead - 23
Picks up where Misery Is A Butterfly left off, sucked me right in.

Candie Payne - One More Chance
If you want a 60's girl revival I'd say forget The Pipettes and get Candie Payne.