I am the lucky owner of a copy of DJ Hero for the Xbox 360 that I received from my wife and kids for Xmas this year.

( Caution: Naked consumerism post herein! )
Hope everyone else reading this had a good holiday weekend, too!

I was lucky enough to get the recently remastered and reissued catalog by The Beatles. Mind you, I could only afford to get the stereo MP3s. As much as I wish I could have afforded the fancy big-buck box set, I just didn't have that kind of money to spend on it nor the space in my office for more stuff. But, now that I have this remastered material, I did take the opportunity to get rid of the previous CD reissues that were done nearly 20 years ago. I think I listened to the "new" stuff non-stop for about two weeks straight after getting them. They sound excellent and the remastering engineers did a great job. I'm still curious about the mono remasters but I probably won't pursue getting those.

This is probably the first time I've listened that closely to the early Beatles material (pre-"A Hard Day's Night"). I hadn't been that intrigued with the stuff from that era for some reason (that I haven't really thought much about). It's nice to have those albums, though. It's also the first time I've listened to "Abbey Road" and "Let It Be". Again, I don't know why, but I never got around to buying those final two albums on CD previously. With all of this listening I've come to appreciate Ringo's drumming more. I've also had different songs become favorites of mine, too. In particular, I really latched on to "Dig A Pony" and "I've Got a Feeling".

The material is definitely worth the price.

In a wonderful change to the usual, a few acts have come through town that I've been very interested in seeing. The first was Mastodon. The second was Wolves in the Throne Room. The most recent was Camera Obscura at the Cedar Cultural Center.

I got into Camera Obscura after their previous album, "Let's Get Out of This Country", came out. I don't recall if I was into them the last time they came through the Twin Cities. So when I saw that they were coming to the Cedar Cultural Center, I knew I had to see them.

I arrived to find that the show had sold out. So, I was glad I took the extra effort to pick up a ticket earlier in the week. I found my way up to the front so I could meet up with a friend, Kathie. I have to say, that it's been a long time since I took the effort to get up to the front near the stage at a show. In my advancing years, I've taken to preferring a seat or standing in a location that afforded a better view of the stage that didn't require the possibility of being trampled. But, unlike a metal show, I didn't really have to worry about a mosh pit. So, I was safe. We were off to the right side of the stage where Gavin (Bass) and Kenny (Guitar) were situated. One nice thing about being right up at the stage (and a low-rise stage at that) was that I got a perfect view of the set list for the evening:

1. My Maudlin Career


2. Swans


3. The Sweetest Thing


4. Tears for Affairs


5. Teenager


6. Let's Get Out of the Country


7. Eighties Fan


8. James


9. Away With Murder


10. Honey in the Sun


11. French Navy


12. Books Written for Girls


13. If Looks Could Kill


14. Lloyd I'm Ready to be Heartbroken (encore)


15. Razzle Dazzle Rose (encore)

The two encore pieces weren't on the set list. But, it's hard to miss "Lloyd I'm Ready to be Heartbroken" since it was the big hit off their previous album. "Razzle Dazzle Rose" closed out the same album.

I also took one picture from the show. So, you get a relatively blurry look at Tracyanne...



The band sounded great. Though, based on some of the gestures various band members were making, I think some specific instrument levels either in the house sound or in the monitors wasn't quite loud enough. I didn't notice it. Tracyanne dropped a verse during one song, though I can't recall which one now. She apologized and said some were giving her the "evil eye". Oh well, live show, things happen. Big whoop. Move on.

In any case, if you like these guys and they're headed your way, SEE THEM. I hope I'll get future chances to see them play again.

One last story... While I was waiting for the opening act to finish, I was standing toward the back corner of the room near one of the doors to the "green room". At some point, this woman came out to watch. I looked back and wondered which band member she was. I thought it looked like Tracyanne but wasn't 100% sure. Of course, it turned out to be her. Had I realized it at that time, I probably would have done my best to not devolve to "gushing fanboy" mode. If I were really on my toes, I probably would have asked politely if they could play "Knee Deep at the NPL" for me. That is probably my favorite song by this band. It's off the "Underachievers Please Try Harder" album.

So, on May 15th, I had the pleasure of catching Wolves in the Throne Room with Krallice, Zebulon Pike, and Empires at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis.

Unlike the Mastodon show a couple of weeks previous to this one, this show turned out to be a very very very late night. And unlike that show, I went with a friend of mine. We met up in the bar and enjoyed a couple beers (Surly's of course) in the bar/restaurant side before heading over to the other side for the show. We also traded CDs. I received Altar of Plagues new album "White Tomb". I gave him the new Isis album "Wavering Radiant". Both are very good albums. Worth checking out if you're so inclined.

We ended up missing Empires, but got there in time to catch the rest of the show starting with Krallice. I haven't been able to find a set list for this show but my friend said that they only played a couple songs off their self-titled album (which is amazing) and the rest was new material. I think they played about 5 songs. Turns out that there is a new album due out later this year. Not entirely sure how long they played but I thought it was a great set. I think I spent most of it watching the drummer play.

Zebulon Pike played next. They were more on the psychedelic and prog side of metal in comparison to the other bands. That's my take based on the few things I've heard of them. I spent part of their set wondering who was responsible for this line-up. I could see where ZP could fit in with the rest of the bands. But, on this particular night, they opted to play material that didn't really fit in, IMO. It seemed a big lull in the proceedings. It probably didn't help that by the time they were coming on, I was usually in bed.

By the time Wolves in the Throne Room came on, I'm guessing it was close to one a.m. I was doing my best to suppress my yawns. (Man, I am a geezer!) I do have a set list for Wolves, though...

1. Ahrimanic Trance


2. Vastness and Sorrow


3. Crystal Ammunition


4. Queen of the Borrowed Light

It was an amazing set. Only four songs, but they were amazing to hear live. Actually, after the third song, the band left the stage for a few minutes. They came back on and played the last number. Then, they left the stage again. By this time, I was so tired that part of me was hoping they were going to play more while another part of me wanted to go bed right then and there. It turned out they were done.

I got home by 2:30. I stopped to get gas and something to eat (convenience store monster burrito). I was starving. I didn't get to bed until 3am. Shelly let me sleep in and I did until 1pm! I was still cranky from lack of sleep for the remainder of the weekend.

Well, just so you know, I at least think about making LJ updates on a regular basis. The execution, on the other hand, leaves a crap-load to be desired. But, hey! I'm here to make an update!

So, what's new? Hmm... I'm nearly done reading "World War Z". It's been a very enjoyable read thus far. But, it's good that I'm about done with it, I need to get back to reading my back issues of the New Yorker. And, lucky me, issue 59 of Giant Robot magazine arrived in the mail today. I've said it (elsewhere) before and I'll say it again, it's been great ever since they went to bimonthly issues! This issue appears to be another great one. Great cover artist as usual, that's for sure.

Last Wednesday night, I went to see Mastodon perform at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis. Opening bands were Intronaut and Kylesa.

I hadn't heard Intronaut before, but I enjoyed them well enough. They played a rather short set, 30 minutes or so. To my untrained metal ears, they kind of reminded me of Pelican in some ways. That comparison may be way off. If you have suggestions on who they sound closer to, I'm interested in knowing.

Kylesa were relatively new to me, too. But, I did pick up their latest album, "Static Tensions", based on a promising review by Pitchfork. It also just happened that their album popped up on eMusic so I was happy to take a flier on it. I was not disappointed. And with that, you get to see one of the few pictures I took from the concert...



Kylesa played for about 40 or 45 minutes, I think. They sounded great. Unfortunately, because of the height of the stage (well, lack thereof) and where I was standing (towards the back on the main floor), I didn't get any looks at the two drummers. Yes, they have two drummers. Works great, sounds great. Couldn't see much of the lead singer/guitarist, Laura, or her two cohorts on either side. Which annoyed me because a big part of the enjoyment I get from going to shows is watching the musicians actually playing their instruments.

Then Mastodon came on. I would guess shortly after 9pm. As you can see in the picture from Kylesa's set, there was a screen behind the band. Mastodon, on this current "mini tour", are playing their new album, "Crack the Skye", in its entirety live with some video stuff playing behind them to complement the new material. It was all very cool to see together. They sounded great live. One minor change was the addition of a keyboard player to add some of the texture live that was on the album. The band played through the new album. Afterward, they took a couple minutes break on stage and then proceeded to play even more stuff from their prior albums. For this portion of the show, the video screen showed an image related to the album artwork related to the song they were playing. For example, during one of the songs off "Leviathan", they showed this...



Basically an image related to the album artwork, except the sky was in motion. Either moving stars or other stuff floating across the sky. Similar for material off "Blood Mountain" and "Remission".

In the end, I think Mastodon ended up playing nearly two hours all told. Set list for the evening (courtesy of setlist.fm):

Oblivion
Divinations
Quintessence
The Czar
Ghost Of Karelia
Crack The Skye
The Last Baron

Bladecatcher
Colony Of Birchmen
The Wolf Is Loose
Crystal Skull
Capillarian Crest
Megalodon
Seabeast
Iron Tusk
March Of The Fire Ants
Hearts Alive

I really wanted to hear "Circle of the Cysquatch". Well, maybe the next time around. All in all, it was a great show. I was glad I went even though Ticket Master gouged me for about $10 in fees (grrr!). I didn't really mind going by myself either. And, I was home before midnight! Perfect for a geezer like me.

This was my second time seeing them. But, it sounded a million times better because of the custom earplugs I bought over Xmas-time. More about those in another post. In any case, I only have a few complaints about the show. First, I wish I had stood upstairs instead of on the main floor, I probably would have had a better view of the bands. Second, I wish this show had been at First Avenue (no slight intended toward the Fine Line). But, First Ave probably could have put up a bigger screen to make the video part of this show more immersive. Secondly, there would have been more places to stand with better views of the stage.

Next up will be seeing Wolves in the Throne Room with Zebulon Pike and Krallice at the Triple Rock Social Club in a week and a half. I can't wait to see Wolves. Their latest album, "Black Cascade", is just more of their awesome stuff. I'm really looking forward to seeing Krallice too. Krallice's self-titled album is highly recommended.

To round out the month of concerts, I need to remember to pick up a ticket for the upcoming Camera Obscura concert. Their new album, "My Maudlin Career", just builds on the great stuff they put out with "Let's Get Out of This Country".

New Tortoise album in June!

http://pitchfork.com/news/34908-tortoise-announce-new-album-details/

"French Navy"

Not in any particular order. There's about 30 more where this came from. But, those would require a heaping helping of context...

1. The Smiths "The Queen is Dead"
2. Husker Du "Flip Your Wig"
3. Slint "Spiderland"
4. Public Enemy "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"
5. Pavement "Slanted and Enchanted"
6. The Pogues "If I Should Fall From Grace of God"
7. The Wedding Present "Bizarro"
8. Dinosaur Jr. "You're Living All Over Me"/"Bug" (I heard these two back-to-back)
9. Tortoise "TNT"
10. The Cure "Standing on a Beach"
11. Everything But the Girl "Idlewild"
12. Polvo "Today's Active Lifestyles"
13. N.W.A. "Straight Outta Compton"
14. Portishead "Dummy"
15. Boards of Canada "Music Has a Right to Children"
16. The Sea and Cake "The Biz"
17. Bob Marley "Legend" (I bought it while I was in high school, I swear!)
18. De La Soul "3 Feet High and Rising"
19. Bjork "Homogenic"
20. The Sex Pistols "Never Mind the Bollocks..."
21. The Sugarcubes "Life's Too Good"
22. Suicidal Tendencies "Suicidal Tendencies"
23. The Stone Roses "The Stone Roses"
24. The Pixies "Surfer Rosa/Come On Pilgrim"
25. Massive Attack "Mezzanine"
26. The English Beat "I Just Can't Stop It"
27. R.E.M. "Life's Rich Pageant"
28. DJ Shadow "Endtroducing..."
29. The Beatles "Past Masters, vol. 2"
30. Billy Bragg "Talking with the Taxman about Poetry"

I've been meaning to toss this list out there. But, I've kept putting it off and putting it off. Here is what I really enjoyed listening to in 2008. You're going to find that there is a good dose of metal on here. I blame my friend Derik in no small part for being my pusher, my hook-up on that stuff. And, Pitchfork's metal column, "Show No Mercy".

( The long list in no particular order... )

Here's what I posted in mine:

"Gates of the West"
Yesterday at 11:30am | Edit Note | Delete

Here is the iPod Shuffle Game! To answer each question, hit "next" on your iPod. Write the title, then the artist. No cheating!

IF SOMEONE SAYS, "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
"I Don't Mind If You Forget Me" - Morrissey

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
"Mr. Freeze" - Prince Fatty

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
"If You Let Me Stay" - Terence Trend D'Arby (awesome song!)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
"Kitchen Sink" - Amon Tobin

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"Girder" - Appleblim

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"I'll Still Be Around" - Richard Wylie and His Band

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN?
"Find Myself" - Roni Size

WHAT IS 2+2?
"The Ballad of the Broken Birdie Records" - Mum

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"Tommy Gun" - The Clash

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LOVE?
"In Our Bedroom After the War" - Stars

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"Close2" - Boards of Canada

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"Lethargica" - Meshuggah

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LOVE?
"Burning Down the House" - Talking Heads

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"Junco Partner" - The Clash

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
"Cock Up Your Beaver" - Camera Obscura (!!!)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Sparkle" - Camp Lo

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"Elective Surgery" - Dr. Octagon

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"Tout Doucement" - Feist

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"C.R.E.A.M." - The Wu-Tang Clan

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"Happyfour Twenty" - Christ. (OMG!)

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"Foley Room" - Amon Tobin

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
"Winter Wonderland" - Ella Fitzgerald

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"Basket Ball Get Your Groove Back" - Deerhoof

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
"Go Away" - Archer Prewitt (an AWESOME song BTW)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
"Wamp Wamp What It Do" - Clipse (f/ Slim Thug)

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"Molec Codices" - Krallice

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"Near Dark" - Burial

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"Lifetime Man" - Oma Heard

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"Gates of the West" - The Clash

The "KORG DS-10 Synthesizer" is a title for the Nintendo DS system. I hesitate to call it a game because it isn't really one. It is basically a virtualized version of the Korg MS-10 analog synth from the late-70s.

When this title was first announced, it seemed to be another one of those "Japan-only" releases because it wasn't really a game. When I later learned that it would be released in the States, I knew I had to get it. As soon as it was available for pre-order on Amazon.com, I placed my order. Then, I promptly forgot about it, which was for the best.

But, it arrived back in mid-October and I've played around with it off and on. I've recorded two loops of my first little 16-beat pattern that I created. It's not really in the style of music that I prefer but for less than 30 minutes of diddling with almost no look at the manual, I think it's pretty well-rounded.



Also, I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. Ours was very nice. Had dinner with family and my brother's fiancee has finally moved here from NYC.

It's the song "Still Alive" from "Portal" in Japanese...



For the video game nerds in the house.

Apparently, Death Cab for Cutie performed an acoustic set live and were interviewed by Mary Lucia in the Minnesota Public Radio studios. You can listen to the archived stream here.

New video for Weezer's "Pork and Beans". It's the first single off their forthcoming 3rd self-titled album, "Weezer" (aka. the "red album").



A few YouTube stars included.

So, the lineup for the New York edition of ATP (All Tomorrow's Parties) has been announced.

Headlining is none other than My Boody Valentine! Followed by a pretty great lineup of bands. Some of the standouts to me were:

• Polvo (I want to go mostly for this alone!)


• Built To Spill (performing Perfect From Now On)


• Thee Silver Mount Zion Orchestra


• Meat Puppets (performing Meat Puppets II)


• Tortoise (performing Millions Now Living Will Never Die)

Just that alone is a pretty insane lineup.