About Last Night... Pretty Lights

Last night was a testament that you don't have to have a major blog presence to be able to draw a strong crowd. Granted, it wasn't a sold out crowd, but, the floor level was pretty packed most of the night as revelers danced around to the electronic beats provided by Pretty Lights and his touring drummer.

Any apprehension I had about a live drummer being a part of the show was gone by the first song. He mixed in seemlessly with Derek Vincent Smith's glitchy melodies and brain-rattling bass. From "Keep 'Em Bouncin'" to "Who Loves Me?" the SMU crowd was getting sweaty moving around that much. It was nice to see a crowd so responsive and active during a show. There wasn't a moment during the show when there wasn't a body moving to the music.

The least impressive part of the evening was the "visual" element to his show. Touring with a huge LED screen lit up behind them the images they were showing were less than impressive. It seemed like they bought up a bunch of Flash movies and screen savers and added them to the show. Granted, this isn't a big deal, but, when you've seen DJ Shadows audio/visual elements to his shows it's a high bar to reach. But, I digress as some of the images were interesting to look at.

You can check out the pics from the show on your Facebook page.

On a different note: is every 14-16 year-old kid in Dallas a little shithead or was it just the ones who were at the show last night? They were some of the rudest kids I've ever witnessed.

About Last Night... Jenny Lewis

Last night's Jenny Lewis show at the Granada was one of the best shows I've witnessed in quite a while.  I like Lewis quite a bit, however, I wasn't sure how good her show would be.  It seems the girl who got her start as an actress has learned how to incorporate her skills as an actress into her stage show.  Throughout the evening, as she stood behind a microphone or sat at her keyboard, she acted out each song and worked the crowd like a seasoned pro.

I know I complain about the crowds at shows a lot for talking to each other through the show instead of actually watching the show.  However, last night the crowd minded their manners and actually watched the show.  After each song the crowd literally roared their approval... it was the loudest I've ever heard a crowd there.  

Even though the show was great beginning-to-end the highlight for me was the Opry style way she and her band performed "Acid Tongue."  Lewis was solo on her guitar and her band formed a semi-circle behind her and sang the back-up vocals.  

You can check out the pics of the show on our Facebook page or Myspace page.  If you haven't friended us on either one, you should take this opportunity to do so.

Oh, and since she didn't play "Big Guns" last night, have a taste of it here.

MP3:  Jenny Lewis - The Big Guns

Pretty Lights Filling Up The City Skies

There hasn't been an album that has excited me this much, this quickly in quite a while.  Derek Smith, aka Pretty Lights, of Ft. Collins, CO, has quietly released one of the best of the year, Filling Up The City Skies.  Not since DJ Shadow's Entroducing... has a producer/DJ created something so compelling that is compiled solely of loops, drum machines and samples.  While Pretty Lights production style and feel is very similar to Shadow's he's not simply aping his style.  He's taken the blueprint and added his own touch and flare to create something that is uniquely his own and filled with soul.

The album is a double album and both discs are filled with great songs, they are like fraternal twins: similar but different.  The first disc serves as the foreplay and the second disc as the bedroom action--slightly faster, but, just as great.  

While the first disc is great for sure, for my money the second disc is the best (or at least my favorite) of the set.  It starts off with heavy, glitchy funk and doesn't let up until the last song.  "How We Do," "Hot Like Sauce," "Who Loves Me" and "More Important Than Michael Jordan" may be the best four songs to begin any album, anywhere, any genre.  What I find interesting are the choices of samples. They come from every musical variety, he isn't stuck into using samples from one particular genre, they come from soul, rock, rap and blues--old and new are mixed together.  "Hot Like Sauce" alone contains vocal samples Big Boi from Outkast and Led Zeppelin mixed up together.  It's only one of the bangers lined up one after another.

The best part of this album... it's free.  If you love the style of Entroducing... or The Private Press then you will love Filling Up The City Skies just as much or more.  But, don't just take my word for it, get it here.  It's free, so what do you have to lose?

MP3:  Pretty Lights - Hot Like Sauce

A.C. Newman Get Guilty

I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting from the solo album by head New Pornographer, A.C. Newman.  I think I was mostly expecting something that was far removed from the sound of The New Pornographers--and this album isn't.  What it does sound like is New Pornographers-light.  It's something good for those not familiar with Newman's bands sound, something that is easily accessable and easy to swallow.

The first song on the album "There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve" is one of the albums best tracks.  It could've very easily been one of TNP's songs.  It has a slowed down vibe, but also still has the multiple shouting voices, similar to TNPs.  "Submarines of Stockholm" is also a catchy little number--very bouncy and cheerful.

On most of the songs you could trade the acoustic guitar for an electric and it would be an album by Newman's full band--and that isn't such a bad thing.  This just wets your appetite for the next New Pornographer album.

MP3:  A.C. Newman - Submarines of Stockholm

Early Kings of Leon Review

So, Rollingstone has an early review of the new Kings of Leon record, Only By The Night.  And by the sounds of things it should be good.  But, unlike say a Beck review, I think this one might actually be legitimate in it's love of the album.  There's apparently a track called "Seventeen" that the Kings have had since the Youth and Young Manhood days.  So, that to me is extremely exciting. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I hope they are past their U2 phase.  'Cause I didn't really dig Because of The Times that much.  Believe me, it had some good cuts on it, but, it also had a whole lot of filler for me.  But, maybe I should pull it out and listen to it again.  

Oh, and check out a track called "Manhattan" off the new album.  (Rock & Roll Daily)

MP3:  Kings of Leon - Spiral Staircase (Live in Sydney)

Beck "Modern Guilt"

The good folks over at Rollingstone have posted a video review of Beck's Modern Guilt. They give it good marks for using an older style but not ripping it off. But, when does RS not give superstars a good review?

You can check it out here. (Rock & Roll Daily)

Pearl Jam Bonnaroo Review

The set Pearl Jam performed at Bonnaroo this weekend has been getting glowing reviews from just about everything I read. It seems like every time they play a show the review article seems to have a “they still have it” attitude. But, to the fans that never left them they know it’s always that way at every show.

You can read the Rollingstone review here, the Yahoo! review here and Stereogum’s review here.

Pearl Jam Review

The good folks at Rock & Roll Daily gave the greatness of Pearl Jam a good review for their first West Palm Beach show that kicked off their short summer tour.

They played what they called their "deep cuts" like "Dissident," "Sad" and "Faithful." But, fans call them their faves.

Again, I wish they would come back to Texas. But, I would think it's not going to happen until the failed businessman in the White House is out of office. (Rock & Roll Daily)

Grand Archives

I have finally been able to listen to the new Grand Archives album and I’m way beyond impressed. The opening track “Torn Blue Foam Couch” is phenomenal. I know Mat Brooks was in Band of Horses for a short time, but, they really don’t really sound exactly like BoH, more of they have similarities. Brooks and Ben Bridwell, of BoH, have vocal similarities. But, I think Brooks has the better pipes of the two. And they aren’t completely drenched in reverb.

“Setting Sun” has the southern rock tendencies you would associate with BoH and its pulled off very nicely. “Sleep Driving” is probably my favorite track on the album. It reminds me of a indie version of “Mama I’m Coming Home” by Oswald Osbourne. I’m not sure why, but it does.

They will be playing a show with the wonderful Sera Cahoone and Denton’s own Sarah Jaffe at The Cavern on 6/22. You can get your tickets here.

Grand Archives - Torn Blue Foam Couch (mp3)

Grand Archives - Sleepdriving (mp3)

Sera Cahoone - Only as The Day is Long (mp3)

Sarah Jaffe - Even Born Again (mp3)

SSLYBY Show Review

Spin has a pretty positive review of Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin's show at the Mercury Lounge.

It's good to see there is a positive review of the show. I was told by the drummer from a local band that they kinda sucked live. When I heard that my heart sank just a little bit. But, I guess we will have to see. (Spin)

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Modern Mystery (mp3)

Eddie Vedder Solo Vancouver .Show Review

Rock & Roll Daily has a good recap/review of the first show of Ed's first solo show ever.  

Also, for all you guys who've liked/loved PJ for a while now, you may remember this.  He apparently wore the Butthole Surfers shirt he use to wear from all those years ago.  (Rock & Roll Daily)