squints’ Neighbors

When Animals Attack!

nobody@vox.com(W♥M) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:12:25 -0400

10/14/2008 00:06:50 ♥ written by vu ()

Bears

BEARS
bearspop.com ♥ myspace.com/bearspop
Simple Machinery was released in early September of this year, and I did have several writers take a listen at the album for review. Due to conflicting scheduling and sheer laziness (haha), the album ended up back in my court.

The one thing that each of the writers told me was that this band is "really fun". I would also add that this band is actually pleasant-sounding, I mean these songs sounds like it's from a mellow 60s.

My favorite song on here is "Wait and See", surprisingly very retro-sounding and I wish it would've continued on - only it sort of just ends in the middle of the song or something (at least that's how it feels). A close second is the first track, "Please Don't", which grabbed me and made me pay attention. Both really great songs.

If you like indiepop, you should definitely give this band a chance - I think you'll find yourself humming along. Simple Machinery's been out since September 2, 2008. You can buy the album directly from them or the low-costing Tone Vendor. They promise a vinyl version of Simple Machinery will be "available soon".

Check them out live:

18 Oct 2008 St. Bonaventure University St. Bonaventure, New York

Bela Karoli - Some Things That Fly There Be

Bela Karoli

BELA KAROLI
belakaroli.com ♥ myspace.com/belakaroli
I love this! There's no guitars anywhere, most of this music is a mix of electronic sounds and jazzniks (Jazz/Beatniks) with its upright bass, accordion, violins, and organ.

The reason why Bela Karoli is on here is that their 2008's Furnished Room features an odd bee's behind on its cover. The band seems to be driven by singer/upright bass player, Julie Davis. She sounds like a passive singer, letting the music play around her vocals - yet her voice does drive the songs.

My favorite song on this album is "Some Things That Fly There Be", which I think the cover art was inspired by this song or vice versa. Check out that French-sounding accordion, that cool, cool, cool, vocals saying "some things that fly there be, birds, hours, the bumblebee: of these no elegy". Yeah, I know, it sounds more like poetry than it sounds like a song!

Furnished Room is out now on Helmet R00m Records and it looks like they are playing Halloween! That should be an amazing sight to see:

31 Oct 2008 Boulder Theater w/ Devotchka and Paper Bird Boulder, Colorado

Miniature Tigers - Cannibal Queen

Miniature Tigers

MINIATURE TIGERS
miniaturetigers.com ♥ myspace.com/miniaturetigers
From Phoenix, Arizona, is this delightful indie rock band called Miniature Tigers. Fans of Weezer, will love this band.

Charlie Brand, the singer, has a very comfortable, laid back, and non-threatening vocals - that helps when he's singing these geeky love lyrics such as:

It's a very tiny risk that I'm willing to take, it's my foot, it's my heart, it's my back that I'm willing to break. It's the dog in me who's barking at you. What am I doing here, everybody wants you. Hands down, Pilgrim, your death is coming soon.

I don't want to move too fast, I don't want to scare you off.
I don't want to move too slow, someone's gonna snatch you off

-- from "Annie Oakley"

and

This is not a test or an SOS, I'm no longer on a quest to get girls undressed. I search through their hearts and no treasure found, I'm so lucky this one lets dogs hang around.

It's good having somebody good for a change, I thought that no good dirty cheats had drove me insane I had finally given up on love and romance.

-- from "Cannibal Queen"

The band is gaining momentum, already on Rolling Stone's "25 best bands on Myspace" and with this Tell It To the Volcano (released September 16^th on Modern Art Records), they are planning on playing the famed-CMJ in New York.

13 Oct 2008 w/ Birdmonster @ Yucca Tap Phoenix, Arizona
15 Oct 2008 w/ Say Hi @ Rhythm Room Phoenix, Arizona
21 Oct 2008 CMJ New York, New York
24 Oct 2008 CMJ New York, New York
03 Nov 2008 @ Echoplex Los Angeles, California
06 Nov 2008 @ Rhythm Room Phoenix, Arizona

PS, You can purchase their merchandise from them directly. Looking at the store, I did notice a very reasonly-priced limited edition of 1,000 copies (individually numbered-stamped) in an "Arigato-Pak, printed on a 150-year-old letterpress" - for, get this, only $10. That's a bargain.

Amy Ray - She's Got to Be

Amy Ray

AMY RAY
amy-ray.com ♥ myspace.com/amyray
Amy Ray is best known for being one half of the legendary Indigo Girls. She just released her latest album, Didn't It Feel Kinder last August.

I really love this album, there's a nice mix of easy-southern comfort feel, but there are the occasional rock-type songs such as "Bus Bus" to make you take notice. And it feels honest. Songs like "Cold Shoulder" tells us it is, detailing about a straight girl that is secretly into other girls.

My favorite song on the album is the love song, "She's Got to Be". I found out that this was Amy Ray's experimenting with using her head voice:
For ‘She's Got To Be,’ I was experimenting with using my head voice, my falsetto, and so I wrote in a different direction, too.

There's also an underlying statement in her songs, that's not blatant. Take for instance, "Who Sold the Gun", which is an anti-gun song from the sounds of it. The last line is pretty powerful: "because we're just as f*cked up, yeah".

I don't want to read too much in "SLC Radio", but I feel that this is a woman-rights/polygamy associated with Mormons and Salt Lake City.

These songs reminds me of classic protest songs.

Didn't It Feel Kinder is out now on her own non-profit label, Daemon Records. Vinyl fans should want to check out the 180gm limited edition with new artwork.

You can catch her on her upcoming fall tour:

19 Oct 2008 3rd & Lindsley Nashville, Tennessee
20 Oct 2008 Hi Tone Cafe Memphis, Tennessee
21 Oct 2008 Blueberry Hill St. Louis, Missouri
23 Oct 2008 The Slowdown Omaha, Nebraska
24 Oct 2008 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, Minnesota
25 Oct 2008 The Maintainance Shop Ames
26 Oct 2008 High Noon Saloon Madison, Wisconsin
28 Oct 2008 High Dive Champaign, Illinois
29 Oct 2008 Metro Chicago, Illinois
31 Oct 2008 Beachland Ballroom & Tavern Cleveland, Ohio
01 Nov 2008 Mr Smalls Theater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
02 Nov 2008 Tralf Music Hall Buffalo, New York
04 Nov 2008 The Mod Club Toronto, Ontario
05 Nov 2008 Higher Ground Ballroom Burlington, Vermont
07 Nov 2008 Somerville Theater Somerville, Massachusetts
08 Nov 2008 Pearl Street Upstairs Northampton, Massachusetts
10 Nov 2008 Toad’s Place New Haven, Connecticut
12 Nov 2008 Bowery Ballroom New York, New York
13 Nov 2008 North Star Bar Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
14 Nov 2008 9:30 Club Washington DC, Washington DC
15 Nov 2008 Capital Ale House Richmond, Virginia
18 Nov 2008 The Jewish Mother Virginia Beach, Virginia
19 Nov 2008 Cat’s Cradle Carborro, North Carolina
21 Nov 2008 The Orange Peel Asheville, North Carolina
22 Nov 2008 The Variety Playhouse Atlanta, Georgia

Mercury Rev - Nocturne For Norwood

Mercury Rev

MERCURY REV
mercuryrev.com ♥ myspace.com/mercuryrevmusic
Mercury Rev released two albums simultaneously in 2008, one for sale (Snowflake Midnight) and one for free (Strange Attractor). If you were interested in the free album, details are on their official website.

I don't have Snowflake Midnight to compare to, but from what I've heard on Strange Attractor, Attractor seems to be more electronic/ambient - basically background-type of music. The most interesting song on here ("Nocturne For Norwood") uses samples from some guy talking.

For some reason, I thought Mercury Rev had singers? This feels like it's an album of background music that they lay down for audio to go on top of it, so it doesn't feel at all complete. I guess I can't complain because it is, after all, free.

Regardless, they are getting some major buzz and press, selling out all their dates in Ireland.

30 Oct 2008 Electric Avenue - SOLD OUT Waterford, Ireland
31 Oct 2008 Cyprus Avenue - SOLD OUT Cork, Ireland
01 Nov 2008 Roisin Dubh - SOLD OUT Galway, Ireland
02 Nov 2008 Vicar St. Dublin, Ireland
04 Nov 2008 Mandela Hall Belfast, UK
05 Nov 2008 Academy Manchester, UK
06 Nov 2008 Academy Leeds, UK
07 Nov 2008 Academy Birmingham, UK
09 Nov 2008 Academy Newcastle, UK
11 Nov 2008 Corn Exchange Brighton, UK
12 Nov 2008 Academy Bristol, UK
13 Nov 2008 Shepherds Bush Empire London, UK
14 Nov 2008 Academy Oxford, UK
16 Nov 2008 Den Atelier Luxembourg, Luxembourg
17 Nov 2008 Luxor Koln, Germany
18 Nov 2008 Train Aarhus, Denmark
19 Nov 2008 Vega Copenhagen, Denmark
21 Nov 2008 Lido Berlin, Germany
22 Nov 2008 Paradiso Amsterdam, Netherlands
24 Nov 2008 Ancienne Belgique Brussels, Belgium
25 Nov 2008 Elysee Montmartre Paris, France
26 Nov 2008 La Vapeur Dijon, France
27 Nov 2008 Espacio Movistar Barcelona, Spain
28 Nov 2008 Joy Madrid, Spain
29 Nov 2008 Aula Magna Lisbon, Portugal
30 Nov 2008 Art Cafe Muza Sosnowiec, Poland
05 Dec 2008 Paradise Boston, MA, Massachusetts
06 Dec 2008 Trocadero Philadelphia, PA
07 Dec 2008 Highline Ballroom New York, NY, New York
08 Dec 2008 Cabaret Du Musee Juste Pour Rire Montreal, QC, Quebec
09 Dec 2008 Opera House Toronto, ON, Ontario
11 Dec 2008 Metro Chicago, IL, Illinois
12 Dec 2008 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN, Minnesota
14 Dec 2008 Fox Theater Boulder, CO, Colorado
16 Dec 2008 El Rey Los Angeles, CA, California
17 Dec 2008 The Independent San Francisco, CA, California

PS, the cover to this album is creepy! Check out that cat on the bottom, starring back.

Super XX Man - There'll Be Diamonds

Super XX Man

SUPER XX MAN
superxxman.com ♥ myspace.com/superxxman
Super XX Man's Volume XII: There'll Be Diamonds comes out October 21^st, which is in a couple of weeks. Because of their McGruff-ish cover art (but on closer inspection, you'll find that it's supposed to be a Panther - named after his song "Cautious Like a Panther"), I have decided to include them in this round up. As the title suggest, this is his twelfth album.

Once again, the fine people at Tender Loving Empire shows off their silk-screening awesomeness. I really dig these cover art, which kind of feels rubbery on touch.

Super XX Man is actually one Scott Garred, who started his career in the 90s in the Austin-based indiepop band Silver Scooter. There's elements of indiepop, but he's also experimenting here with a variety of instruments and sound (including the ukulele!).

Although it's mostly a serious storytelling album, I did find that there are hints of humor ("little duckie you're the one" line in "What Lies Beneath").

Check out my favorite song here, "There'll Be Diamonds", the title track, demonstrating said variety of instruments (can you hear a xylophone?)

Good news is that they'll be setting on an upcoming tour, including that crazy CMJ everyone is talking about:

22 Oct 2008 St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub Alexandria, Virginia
23 Oct 2008 OS Art House - Fanatic Showcase New York
24 Oct 2008 Knitting Factory - PDX Showcase New Yok
24 Oct 2008 Alphabet Lounge CMJ Showcase New York
29 Oct 2008 White Eagle Portland
30 Oct 2008 Sam Bonds Garage Eugene
31 Oct 2008 Make Out Room San Francisco
01 Nov 2008 UC Davis The Old Firehouse Davis
23 Nov 2008 Someday Lounge Portland

PS, the artwork for this album is by Brian Oaster.

Links: weheartmusic.com news.weheartmusic.com

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Help Us Celebrate 2 Years of Vox!

nobody@vox.com(Team Vox) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:37:03 -0400

Penelope Turns One

October is a big month of birthdays here at Six Apart: Vox is celebrating its second birthday, while TypePad turns five and MovableType turns 7. Even future blogger-extraordinaire, Penelope Trott, daughter of founders Ben and Mena Trott, turned one year old this month!

Because Vox would be nothing without you, we hope you'll take a moment to share your favorite Vox stories with us. Visit our anniversary page: Celebrating 2 Years of Vox and check out some stories and photos from last year's anniversary. While you're there, submit your favorite Vox memory or meaningful experience. We'll be updating the page all month, so keep checking back to see your story and photos.

You can also share your favorite Vox memories by answering today's Question of the Day.

Vox was created for the people who told us they wanted to connect with family and friends on their own terms. Today, Vox is an amazing community full of passionate people willing to share their stories, photos, and lives. To those of you who have made Vox your home: Thank You.

Vox Turns Two

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Sonya Kitchell at the Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (10/12/2008)

nobody@vox.com(W♥M) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:20:07 -0400

10/13/2008 09:17:16 ♥ written by vu ()

Sonya Kitchell-Here To There

Sonya Kitchell

Sonya Kitchell at the Varsity Theater (10/12/08) ♥ photo by vu

Sonya Kitchell Set List ♥ Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (10/12/08)
Tour Dates

10/15/08 The Fox Theatre And Cafe W/The Slip Boulder, CO
10/16/08 The Walnut Room W/The Slip Denver, CO
10/17/08 Belly Up Aspen, CO
10/18/08 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT
10/21/08 Tractor Tavern W/The Slip Seattle, WA
10/22/08 Doug Fir Lounge W/The Slip Portland, OR
10/24/08 The Independent W/The Slip San Francisco, CA
10/25/08 SOHO Music Club Santa Barbara, CA
10/26/08 Roxy Theatre W/The Slip Los Angeles, CA
10/27/08 Belly Up Tavern W/The Slip Solana Beach, CA
10/28/08 Club Congress W/The Slip Tucson, AZ
10/30/08 The Parish W/The Slip Austin, TX
11/01/08 Smith’s Olde Bar W/The Slip Atlanta, GA
11/02/08 3rd & Lindsley W/The Slip Nashville, TN

Read More

Sonya Kitchell

http://weheartmus...

Sonya Kitchell had the world at her feet, moving 100,000 copies of her debut album, Words Came B...

Sonya Kitchell played an intimate show at the ever classy Varsity Theater. Admittedly, it's one of the best looking venues in Minneapolis, and I just love all the old fashion theater feel to the place. I felt more comfortable at this place, than say that sold-out Cold War Kids show a few days ago.

She has a full backing band, including Brad Barr (who warmed up the crowd with his own set of songs, using an interesting technique of making his acoustic guitar sounds electric). The bassist is producer Malcolm Burn and I think that the drummer is actually Brad's brother, Andrew Barr.

Some of the highlight of the show was when Brad played around on the (working) prop piano during a song and towards the end of the set, there was a couple that joined them on stage (sitting on a couch).

The audience seem to really get into "Here To There" with clapping (and also note it's not on the Set List). My favorite performance was the more upbeat "Fire", which sounds fantastic live. She really gets into it shouting 'fire' as she falls back from the mic.

I also really enjoyed the cover of "You Belong To Me". Their version is more playful and sounds like a dialogue between Kitchell and Brad.

Catch her on the rest of her tour - where she's doing at least four Californian dates. Her latest album, This Storm, came out on Decca Records in early September and available at most retail location.

Links: sonyakitchell.com myspace.com/sonyakitchell

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W♥M027: Kerry Politzer, Tracy Shedd and Emelia

nobody@vox.com(W♥M) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:28:00 -0400

10/12/2008 23:21:56 ♥ written by vu ()

Kerry Politzer - Always

Kerry Politzer

Kerry Politzer Dates
10/14/08 SESAC Writers On The Storm at Rockwood NY
11/18/08 Girls Rock The Night at Caffe Vivaldi NY

Tracy Shedd - Never Too Late

Tracy Shedd

Tracy Shedd Dates
10/15/08 The Apple Store Tucson, AZ
10/20/08 Pianos New York
10/21/08 CMJ - Ace Of Clubs New York
10/21/08 CMJ - OS Art House -NY
10/24/08 P.A.’s Lounge Someville, MA
11/26/08 Solar Culture Tucson, AZ
12/16/08 Plush Lounge Tucson, AZ

Dawn Drake & ZapOte - Cross Crocodiles

This has been a very special all-women guest episode #27 of We Heart Music Radio, special thanks goes to Kerry Politzer, Tracy Shedd, James Tritten, and Emelia.

Music used in the show includes Kerry Politzer, Tracy Shedd, Dawn Drake, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Garlands, The Happy Birthdays, Camera Obscura, and Soko.

If you would like to appear on a future We Heart Music Radio show, please contact . Thank you for listening.

Subscribe to our show at podcast.weheartmusic.com, via RSS Feed.

Download this episode (56 min)

PART ONE: KERRY POLITZER
kerrypolitzer.com ♥ myspace.com/kerrypolitzer
From New York, jazz/pop musician Kerry details her interview experience:

"You Took Me In" as pop music vs previous classical jazz albums.
New album to be more classic jazz than pop
Politzer's podcast and upcoming shows
The internet, myspace, lastFM, and iLike
Second Life

PART TWO: TRACY SHEDD
tracyshedd.com ♥ myspace.com
Indie musician, Tracy, from Arizona talked about:

Her background, various band members
Teenbeat Records
"Louder than You Can Hear" album for free
Filming of "Whatever It Takes" video
CMJ
Starting to write new songs

PART THREE: EMELIA
daftpansy.vox.com ♥ myspace.com
We talked about:

FRESYES.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Garlands, The Happy Birthdays
She can play the ukulele!
iPod drama, Santagold and Soko

The Garlands - You Never Notice Me

Overall, another wonderful little show. Forgive me that it's really long (nearly an hour), and I keep promising to keep the show brief (which apparently is not happening). Although I do end up throwing out 20% of what's recorded, most of our conversations are solid gold!

Links: www.weheartmusic.com podcast.weheartmusic.com

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Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8

nobody@vox.com(W♥M) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:46:40 -0400

10/12/2008 09:41:24 ♥ written by vu ()

Bob Dylan - Ain't Talkin' [Alternate Version]

Bob Dylan

Undoubtedly, the most influential folk singer/songwriter is non other than Bob Dylan. And what a great time to be a Dylan fan, he's just released his latest Bootleg series, The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs - Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006, last Tuesday, and in a few weeks a (fan?) documentary Inside Bob Dylan's Jesus Years: Busy Being Born Again also comes out.

Where they last left off in the long-running so-called bootleg series, #7, those recording were rare and unreleased tracks from 1961 and 1966 (which included his very first recorded song, "When I Got Troubles"). I'm pleased to see that #8 focuses more on his recent material, from his No Mercy (1989) to Modern Times (2006). It's compelling because it would seem that only his last three releases (Time Out of Mind, Love and Theft, and Modern Times) seems to be in the public's eye because they charted in the top 10 on the US charts.

Anyway, although there's no credit(s) on whoever compiled these tracks, it's evident to me that Larry "Ratso" Sloman must've had a hand in suggestions: not only did he write the introduction in the 60-page booklet, but he also painstakingly wrote notes for each of the 27 songs. I'm glad that Columbia Records is letting this massive fan put together the series, because only Dylan's hardcore fans/completist can truly make this worthwhile.

The Sloman essay details about his first GWW (Great White Wonder) bootleg to more recent quotes about his 2006 album, Modern Times. I suggest that anyone picking up this album to read it, as I suspect the majority of fans won't take the time to read the liner notes.

I had to dig out his last album, Modern Times to compare some of the tracks, to see what the differences are: and they are far apart. The alternative version of "Ain't Talkin'" is a little more upbeat, his vocals seems a little faster-paced. The version that did made it on Modern Times has more space in the song. When it comes down to it, both version of the song is amazing, but I felt the Modern Times version ultimately fit the album.

Bob Dylan - Mississippi (Unreleased Time Out Of Mind)

Obviously the blatant example that people will note is the three very different version of "Mississippi". We're given two unreleased version of the song on the Bootleg CDs, but the version that appeared on Tell Tale Signs is nothing like stripped acoustic version #1 or the what sounds like an evening verision #2. What a rare glimpse into Bob Dylan's brilliant mind.

Also, one interesting thing that I've observed is that as Dylan ages, his voice becomes more and more bluesy, so songs like "Marchin' to the City" (unreleased) and "Lonesome Day Blues" (live) sounds even better as he's gotten older!

Columbia Records did the smart thing and released this as a stripped down CD (retails $10), but I would recommend paying an extra $5 to get the 2-disc edition with slipcase and a 60-page booklet... which I think most people are going to get. Super hardcore Dylan fans might want to check out the deluxe version of The Bootleg Series #8, as it comes with a bonus 12-track CD, a slipcase, a hardbound book (150 pages). The price is pretty steep: over $100, you know you're worth it.

Bob Dylan's The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8 is out now and you can find this at any record store. Still not convince? Download a free song from this album through Amazon.com.

Links: bobdylan.com myspace.com/bobdylan

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Cold War Kids and AA Bondy at the Fine Line Cafe, Minneapolis 10/10/08

nobody@vox.com(W♥M) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:02:40 -0400

10/11/2008 02:58:30 ♥ written by vu ()

Cold War Kids Set List ♥ Fine Line Cafe, Minneapolis (10/10/08)

Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry

Cold War Kids

11 Oct 2008 Vic Theatre (SOLD OUT) Chicago
12 Oct 2008 Newport Music Hall (SOLD OUT) Columbus, Ohio
14 Oct 2008 Paradise Rock Club (SOLD OUT) Boston, Massachusetts
15 Oct 2008 Webster Hall (SOLD OUT) New York, New York
16 Oct 2008 Williamsburg Music Hall (SOLD OUT) Brooklyn, New York
17 Oct 2008 Theatre of the Living Arts (SOLD OUT) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
18 Oct 2008 Nightclub 9:30 (SOLD OUT) Washington DC, Washington DC
20 Oct 2008 Cat’s Cradle Carrabo, North Carolina
21 Oct 2008 Mercy Lounge Nashville, Tennessee
23 Oct 2008 Lola’s Ft. Worth, Texas
24 Oct 2008 Emo’s Alt Lounge (SOLD OUT) Austin, Texas
25 Oct 2008 Warehouse Live Houston, Texas
26 Oct 2008 Voodoo Music Experience New Orleans, Louisiana
03 Nov 2008 Irish Centre Burmingham
04 Nov 2008 ABC Glassgow
05 Nov 2008 Academy Dublin
06 Nov 2008 Ritz Manchester
07 Nov 2008 Astoria London
09 Nov 2008 AB Brussels
10 Nov 2008 Paradiso Amsterdam
11 Nov 2008 Mousonturm Frankfurt
12 Nov 2008 Knust Hamburg
13 Nov 2008 Vega Copenhagen
15 Nov 2008 Lido Berlin
16 Nov 2008 Lucerna Music Bar Prague
17 Nov 2008 Vienna Arena Vienna
18 Nov 2008 Atomic Cafe Munich
19 Nov 2008 Abart Zurich
21 Nov 2008 Circolo degli Artisti Rome
22 Nov 2008 Spazio 211 Turin
23 Nov 2008 Rockstore Montpellier
24 Nov 2008 Razzmatazz 2 Barcelona
25 Nov 2008 Moby Dick Madrid
27 Nov 2008 Le Vigean Bordeaux
28 Nov 2008 Le Phare Toulouse
29 Nov 2008 Bataclan Paris

I think Lara and Kate have the right idea when they expressed their hate for the Fine Line Cafe. The way it's set up, it's in a long rectangle with terrible viewing - that is unless you're near the front. There's also overhead giant pipes that makes it hard to see if you're rich enough to afford a table upstairs (I was told it was a minimum of $25 per person per seat if you choose to get a table).

So, this Cold War Kids' show on October 10^th, was sold out. Lots of younger-looking, er, youths, but there is the odd retired guys (!) and the rude professional photographer. Oh, let me also mention that despite having a photo pass, it was ultimately useless as the Fine Line does not offer any sort of safe haven for photographers.

AA Bondy Fine Line Cafe, Minneapolis (10/10/08) ♥ photo by vu

A.A. Bondy - American Hearts

I was kind of surprise to see that AA Bondy was the opening act. Clearly his Americana/folksy/rootsy music sounds nothing like CWK's sound of energetic youth indie rock! Still, playing in front of several sold-out shows, might help spread words around - even though the audience wasn't there for him.

It was a bonus for me, as I did review American Hearts last year and seeing the songs played live. Some highlights was when he said he was going to do a whole Christian song right before "Vice Rag" (the opening line was "sweet, sweet cocaine"). The set was pretty low-key until Dylan, I mean Bondy went electric with the last two songs, "Killed Myself When I Was Young" and "American Hearts".

Cold War Kids storm the stage with two piano-driven songs ("Every Valley is Not a Lake" and "We Used to Vacation"), before singer Nathan Willett took center stage. What's kind of interesting to note is that most of their set, they were backlit, which makes for impossible photography without the aid of the flash.

Speaking of flash, during "Robbers", the lights was almost turned off and the smoke machine worked overtime to show off the flashlights they had brought on tour. I'm sure this sounds stupid, but it was pretty cool to witness.

The audience loved all their hits, especially this one, "Hang Me Up to Dry":

Cold War Kids - Hang me Up to Dry

Links: coldwarkids.com myspace.com/coldwarkids myspace.com/aabondy

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C-Rayz Walz and Kosha Dillz

nobody@vox.com(W♥M) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:55:28 -0400

10/10/2008 19:49:42 ♥ written by derek ( / www.pegritz.com)

C Rayz Walz & Kosha Dillz - I Love Jews

C Rayz Walz & Kosha Dillz

Tour Dates
10/11/08 Kosha Dillz @ Red’s Bar Sioux City, Iowa
10/13/08 Kosha Dillz @ Riot Room Kansas City, Missouri
10/14/08 Kosha Dillz @ Nutty’s North with Murs + Kidz in the Hall Sioux Falls, South Dakota
10/18/08 kosha dillz + flex mathews w/ SLICK RICK @ Ned Divines washington DC, Washington DC
10/19/08 kosha dillz + flex mathews w/ Cunninlynguists @ 13th Floor Herndon, Virginia

Jewish hip-hop? Is that even possible? Of course it is, silly rabbit! I mean, I downloaded an entire album of Croatian hip-hop from eMusic a few months ago...which is proof positive that hip-hop has escaped the ghettos in which it was born and has spread worldwide. Hip-hop's greatest strength is its ability to absorb any and all influences, states of mind, and approaches and still remain true to its roots and heart.

Modular Moods Records is going to drop a serious chunk of hip-hop funk with a distinctly Hebrew flavor in the form of the LP Freestyle Vs. Written by C-Rayz Walz and Kosha Dillz. C-Rayz, one of the original members of the legendary Stronghold, has been a giant in New York City's underground hip-hop scene for years, hosting all manner of shows and events and beatin' down some of the top battle emcees in the world (even freestyle legend Supernatural). Kosha Dillz, on the other hand, is a fresh face on the scene: an upcoming Israeli-American hip-hop artist who has performed live with big-name rap stars like Pharcyde and Jurassic 5 to Grammy Nominee and reggae ninja Matisyahu. So what happens when you put together the freestyle might of C-Rayz Wallz together with the swaggering beats and multilingual vocal styles of Mr. Dillz?

You get an explosion of classic hip-hop that rests firmly on a bed of oldskool beats but extends high above the heads of many so-called contemporary "rap superstars" with lyrics that jump from the socially conscious to the outright hysterical and back again.

The album's beats recall the glory days of hip-hop's youth, mixing heavy, funkalicious beats with powerful samples taken from old soul, blues, jazz, and funk records. Many of the samples on this album sound like they came from blaxploitation movie soundtracks, which gives Freestyle Vs. Written a true urban edge that complements the sharp-witted, and often sharp-tongued, lyrics perfectly. Horns and phased guitars predominate over the rumbling beats, but the emcees' voices and styles are, naturally, foremost on every track. And these guys have got skills, y'all: their rhymes are tight, their deliveries fresh and rhythmic, and their lyrics often profound. The two emcees play off of one another so skillfully it's impossible to determine what rhymes were written ahead of time and what rhymes are freestyle examples of champion extemporization. Produced by 19-year-old prodigy Kentron Da Mastadon, Freestyle Vs. Written is a superb melange of its creators' "Jerusalem Zionist-meets-Black Bronx ghetto aesthetic" which will appeal to all fans of oldskool rap, freestyle, and socially-conscious hip-hop.

One of the most impressive elements of this record is the lack of swearing. Now, I'm not one of those stuffy prudes who frowns on cussin'--but one of the things that has made me dislike so much contemporary hip-hop is the genre's overemphasis of the words "fuck," "motherfucker," and "nigger," mainly because these words provide all-too-easy staples for rhymes and rhythmic filler. True emcees come to battle and/or record with a truckload of vocabulary and wit, not just foul language and lame insults. Both C-Rayz Wallz and Kosha Dillz are literally overflowing with deft rhymes and sharp observations. "Calouses of a Hustler" and "The Foolish Path" are aimed at uplifting their listeners and educating them, and C-rayz's flow on these tracks is very similar to that of Atmosphere's Slug. Tracks like the lighthearted "I Love Jews" (built around a sample of the Del-Phonics "La-La (Means I Love You)" and "Ariel Sharon" (which rides atop a rolling beat and jangly banjo) clearly display Kosha Dillz Jewish background in his rhymes as he mixes English, Yiddish, and Hebrew.

In short, Freestyle Vs. Written is a solid mixture of oldskool flavor and modern hip-hop styles that will have your head bobbin' as it has your mind thinkin'. This is hip-hop that aims for the brain as well as the booty and demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt that even in a music world dominated by such untalented babblers like Souljah Boy and Nelly, real hip-hop is still being produced, and it's coming at you from every corner and every culture of the Earth.

The album is available for digital download, with the CD version coming on October 14th.

C-RAYZ WALZ & KO$HA DILLZ - "OUTRO" (Freestyle vs Written) !

Update 10/11/08 from Vu:
Modular Moods Records wanted to us know about their Remix Contest. All info and sound files are at freestylevswritten.com/remix. They have also expressed that they'd like you to see their ridiculous music video for "Sof".

Links: crayzwalz.com koshadillzmusic.com myspace.com/crayzwalz myspace.com/koshadillz4life

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