Drift Shaft records not included

I made peace awhile ago in regards to what Weezer has become.  Despite the diminishing returns of each album, they still have become masters in marketing themselves in ways that have nothing to do with their songs themselves (Exhibit A-Z: Snuggies!)  Perhaps Weezer truly are the second coming of Kiss?

The pitch of style over substance was on display again this week.  I saw the band's new single linked a few different places, but those mentioned were dwarfed drastically by news of the album's cover photo.

Delightful!  Although Hurley was partial to another band, this photo couldn't be more joyous if he were fully decked out in a Mr. Cluck's uniform.

Will the album be good?  Who knows?  Probably not that good, but maybe kinda good!  Does it matter?  Not really!  What matters is that I want LOST connections on all indie rock album covers from now on!  So I took it upon myself to make several of them!  Feel free to print these at and glue them to your CD covers. (That is a joke - nobody buys CDs.  Please copy and past into your magical lower-left iTunes box to your heart's content.)

Was this good use of a couple hours on a Thursday?  Or THE BEST use of a couple hours on a Thursday?  You do the math.

Bad Idea Show Review: Lollapalooza 2010 at Grant Park

via

It's 2010, everybody.  We as a nation need to examine proper crowdsurfing situations with a more discerning eye.  I'm not going to go so far as to say it's inappropriate in every situation, but there is no acceptable reason for why crowdsurfing is occurring during sets from Yeasayer or The Black Keys.  Let's all make better choices.  Go with yourself.

My Lollapalooza weekend started a night early, as I unexpectedly had the chance to see Soundgarden at the small Vic Theatre on Thursday night with a friend. It was a really fantastic show, consisting mostly of Badmotorfinger and Superunknown tracks. Cornell’s hair was at 1992 length, as was his voice which sounded great. Kim Thayil is now fat, with a gray beard and goofy hat that at first made me wonder, “When did Dr. John join Soundgarden?” Anyway, after getting the rock endorphins flowing, the weekend was off and running. And by running, I mean walking carefully. Nobody needs to run at festivals, kids!

BIBJ Playlist of the 2000s entry #4: Rebellion (Lies) by Arcade Fire

Attention Arcade Fire:

I would like to see this happen at some point between August 6-8, 2010, in Grant Park.  Thank you and good day.

Every time I see footage of the music festivals at Reading or Glastonbury, I always think the same thing:  what is with the massively huge flags?  I like to picture the flag wavers actually trying to get through the front gate at the start of the festival hauling such a comically large banner.  Do they plant them in the ground or actually hold on to them the entire time?  It really just seems like a big hassle, but I say that as someone who hates bringing anything I don't need to outdoor fests.  Every year I have an inner debate on whether to even bring sunscreen, weighing back and forth the slight inconvenience of a bulge in cargo shorts vs. a sure-fire blistering sunburn to my pale Irish face.  It's usually a 50-50 proposition on whether I bring the sunscreen or not.

BIBJ Playlist of the 2000s entry #29: Intervention by Arcade Fire

Neon Bible was released in 2007.  This seems insane to me, as it feels like I've owned this album for at least five years or so.  Much like the time between seasons of Friday Night Lights, or the collegiate lifespan of Cherokee Parks, this album apparently ages on a completely different pattern from the rest of civilization. Of course the fact that Arcade Fire haven't released anything since then may have contributed to my flawed perception.  After all No Country For Men came out in 2007 as well and the Coens have already released two more films since.  My point is this:  I would like a new Arcade Fire album soon.  Thank you and good day.

"Intervention" may contain the quickest "zero-to-AWESOME" acceleration in recorded history, or at least since that first chord in "A Hard Day's Night" that nobody's ever quite definitely figured out.  The opening note blaring from the church organ demands immediate attention, and not just because it gives me flashbacks to the time I watched my first grade teacher slap a classmate across the face for talking during the opening song of a school mass.  (Yes that did make a lasting impression, WHY DO YOU ASK?)  It's an instrument that obviously is rarely used in popular music, due in no small part to the fact that rock bands don't often get around to recording in churches.  But it fits perfectly with the storyline of a time when the church's position of power was beyond the challenge of any individuals, especially those sent to die in the name of religion. 

Been working for the church while your life falls apart
Singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan, “We’ll go at it alone”

The lyrics grow crazed and angry, but ultimately the narrator knows he's already defeated whether he lives or dies.  While the words are biting, the power truly lies in the unrelenting pipe organ bearing down throughout.  In some ways it seems bizarre that this band became a festival headliner in the span of two albums, but when you hear songs like this it seems like a natural fit.  The songs themselves are constructed in the aesthetic of a hungry independent band, but they are made to be played in massive stadiums, and it's a tough task to come up with many bands who can pull off that balancing act.  

 

Leave the ball, will you George?

Basketball and indie rock. They're not commonly associated with one another, and yet, I always enjoy the few occasions when the worlds intersect. For example, when Elliott Smith died, there was no shortage of heartfelt tributes (occasionally sprinkled with hypocritical "cautionary tale-type" posturing from former junkies in The Flaming Lips.) But among the outpouring of sympathy, my favorite tribute came in the form of Ben Folds relating a tale about Ben, Elliott, and Beck playing basketball. It's a bizarre, but sweetly endearing and personable image to think of Beck posting up for a turnaround j while Elliott throws elbows left and right to box out.

Alas, sometimes the mix of critical acclaim and roundball can lead to theft and/or slander, as the following blog showcases:

http://arcadefirestolemybasketball.blogspot.com/

The author of the blog alleges that lead singer Win Butler stole his basketball from the Cal Berkley gym. Interestingly enough, Win's brother (and bandmate) Will weighs in on the blog comments and makes a compelling case that Win in fact did NOT commit the alleged theft. Will even created his own blog which not only maintains the band's innocence, but also drops a brilliant Chris Gaines reference.

In reality, it doesn't really matter if the ball was stolen or not. The allegation was made, and that creates buzz whether it's true or not. Based on this, I would like to weigh in with some of my own accusations. Are my allegations true or false? Again, it doesn't matter. I have written it down, therefore transferring the burden of proof onto anyone who would like to prove me wrong.

• Jeff Tweedy stole my kicking tee.
• Ben Gibbard stole my shin guards.
  
• Lily Allen stole my shuttlecock.
• Isaac Brock stole my hacky sack.
  
• The Hold Steady stole my Kent Hrbek jersey.
  

If you see any of the following items, please inform your local authorities. I demand satisfaction!

NOTE: A major tip of the hat to Gorilla vs Bear for the fine artwork shown above.