Today's "Best Song Ever" Now In A New Spot

I have relaunched my Today's "Best Song Ever" from many years ago over at a new blog. Come by and check it out at:

http://dailytopsongs.com/

Here are posts about Superchunk and today's post about the Louvin Brothers.

The greatest piece of musical journalism ever.

I just though about the greatest piece of musical journalism I've ever read. It was back in the heady days of 2003.

Dear Pitchfork,

Seriously?!


It's not funny anymore. Grow up.

Love,
Tim

Pitchfork Whimps Out?

Perhaps it was poor Travis Morrison's sobs in Wired magazine but it appears the Fork is afraid of their own opinions.

Today's Black Kids review originally was a 0.0(now changed to a 3.3) and while the body of the "review" hasn't changed the lead in line on the home page was initially: "Everyone makes mistakes."

Say what you mean Pitchfork. Did the album really grow 3.3 better on my commute to work? Can I expect an apology for Fleet Foxes some time soon?

My Crush On St. Vincent Grew Three Sizes Today

I am quite fond of Pitchfork's guest list feature. My theory is and has always been, there is no one better to recommend things than people making things you already like. Eek, that's cumbersome. I am also quite fond of St. Vincent (otherwise known as Annie Clark) and her album Marry Me. Though now that I've read this guest list I'm going to be A LOT more into it.

Apparently the album title (once again Marry Me) is not a comment from a mid-twenties gal hungry for commitment. It is instead a reference to the greatest live action television show ever Arrested Development. I smiled and laughed and thought for minutes about how newly brilliant album title was.

Quote Annie Clark: "I only named it Marry Me because I thought Babysit Me was a little too awkward.

I mean it's-- I think, like, really good art is-- you come back to it over and over again and you always get something out of it, you can always enjoy it. And there are so many dimensions to it, there are so many levels to enjoy it. It's like the fucking Mona Lisa, the best-- well, I don't even know if I like the Mona Lisa-- but that's the best thing ever."

I'm glad she went with Marry Me over Babysit Me, subtle and beautiful.

Okkervil River's The Stage Names

The Stage Names seemed as sure a Best New Music thing as any album coming out this year. After a generally perceived slight of Okkervil River's pseudo classic Black Sheep Boy a couple of years back and a steadily increasing presence amongst the indie intelligentsia it seemed unlikely that the new album would get anything but it's due.

I've had the album sitting on my iPod unattended for weeks. This is surprising to me as I very early on championed it's predecessor and lamented several missed opportunities to see this band since it's release. After reading the Pitchfork review I decided it was time I gave this sure to be super album a listen. The sad truth is I feel like the Best New Music inclusion feels more like a play for retroactive retribution than a genuine endorsement of this (fine but not spectacular) album.

I can't imagine a true accolade of Black Sheep Boy feeling totally satisfied by this less tune full, seemingly less emotional turn from a band that before pulled out the big room energy and immediacy that this album is reported to improve on.

Don't think that I'm suggesting to skip this album hopefully subsequent albums will reveal a deeper subtext but don't expect an album that Pitchfork seems to think is .2 better than it's predecessor. It's not this album.

Album high light: The penultimate track on this album "John Allyn Smith Sails" is it's best displaying range and beautifully written lyrics, plus a killer(could've been terrible but isn't) Beach Boys reference.

New Art Brut Songs Up On Pitchfork!!!!!!

There is an Art Brut song that has been in my head for about a half a year now. I was lucky enough to se Art Brut perform this gem at Soundfix Records and at Siren Festival and agonized over the terribly recorded versions on YouTube. Now thanks to the internet, Pitchfork, and the nature of building pre-album buzz I finally get to hear a fully realized version of the song.

It's called "Post Soothing Out" and it is available here. (embed wasn't working...)

The Fork also have two other songs from Art Brut's June 6th released It's A Bit Complicated. The other songs are not quite as good as earlier Art Brut but I've only listened to each once and shant let that deter my excitement over the new album.

Times New Viking, A Band That Makes Me Want To Eat Bic Lighters

In a Good Way? In a GREAT WAY!


One might be lead to believe Pitchfork also likes them. But why then, I ask, why would Modest Mouse's latest snooze fest (with a 7.8) rating crack the recommended release pile, while the superb Present the Paisley Reich with an 8.2 be left to flounder as the third review of the day? Why?

This band is amazing. They also have intellectual currency as they get to reignite the ol' lo-fi as asthetic choice debate. (Any band on the same label as Cat Power can probably afford to have their albums mastered.) What else do they have? How about another album (their debut) that is called Dig Yourself? How bout super cool indie hotties for us all to gawk at? (2 guys and a gal to satisfy both gender preferences.) They have a Guided By Voices pedegree, comming from Ohio and releasing the two aformentioned albums on Siltbreeze Records and making the leap to Matador. On top of all that they have my favorite band name in foreva'.They are sure to be hot shit if you travel in circles that imbibe illegal substances and don't mind a bit of hiss in their music.

So why do I wish to eat cheap lighters when I hear this band? I don't know. I guess it's sort of a turn of phraze(?).

Times New Viking on MySpace Page.

They also have an official site.

Not Recommended

Thank god for the internet. With a barrage of big tent (in indie world at least) releases tomorrow I'm happy to be able to warn you agains purchases that could funnel money away from very good albums. With that in mind I will post a simple entry telling you to not buy:

Modest Mouse We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank: We all loved our Modest Mouse. Hey some of us still thought highly of them after Good News For People Who Like Bad News, but it's my theory that inspite of the tepid good will of Pitchforkmedia (which by the way I was fairly shocked about) the reception for Brock and friends is about to get a bit chilly. The album meanders and rarely rewards any sort of attentiveness. I did enjoy the song "Light Em Up," but found nothing else on the album to be any better than your average OC background music.

Ted Leo/Pharmascists Living With The Living: Not only is the title and album art abysmal but the album is barely a stop gap. No one was expecting some artistic revelation from Ted (he's been coasting since Hearts of Oak), but perhaps a song half as good as "Me and Mia" would have softened the blow of this rehash.