Metro Distortion

Out Of A Forest Short Film

2010-03-10T21:49:00.005-05:00

Worth checking out...

Out Of A Forest from Tobias Gundorff Boesen on Vimeo.

Music: The National - "Slow Show"
[more]

The National will be performing on Jimmy Fallon tonight. Looking forward to hearing a new tune.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Tour

2010-02-25T12:18:00.002-05:00

I love Tom Petty and for whatever reason, I've never seen him live. I really need to remedy that this summer. He's back with a new album and is hitting the road. As if you need another reason to love Tom Petty, look at his openers...Drive-By Truckers and My Morning Jacket (as well as vets Joe Cocker, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and ZZ Top). Find me two better modern-day rock bands who would be a better fit for that gig. I can't come up with any.

You can also stream the first single, "Good Enough," from Mojo on his site right now (his first album in almost ten years). It's a straight up rocker and is actually quite good.

http://www.tompetty.com/tour

Them Crooked Vultures @ Roseland, 2/8/10

2010-02-09T21:45:00.004-05:00

"File that under holy shit." Josh Homme made that remark after a guitar solo from unlikely fourth member Alain Johannes but it summed up the entire show for me. I didn't think Josh Homme was ever happy about anything but he had a smile on his face the entire night and who can blame him. What other lead singer can join a band with one of the greatest drummers of our generation and a living legend and still somehow make it about him? Regardless, I spent the majority of the show gazing at JPJ and watching in disbelief as Grohl bashed away at the drums for an hour and forty-five minutes with a level of fierceness I've never seen before. They played all 13 songs from the album and one unrecorded song called "Highway One" which, frankly, wasn't as good as any of the songs on the album. The show was everything it was supposed to be and more.

Drive-By Truckers Spring Tour Dates

2010-01-26T14:35:00.003-05:00

I'm already signed up to travel down to Charlottesville (home) to see their February show but April 1 is a no brainer.

The first single can be found here and true to their word, it rocks. The Big To-Do is out 3/16.

Thu Mar 04 Wilmington NC Rox Nightclub
Sat Mar 06 Augusta GA Sky City
Fri Mar 12 Atlanta GA Variety Playhouse
Sat Mar 13 Atlanta GA Variety Playhouse
Thu Mar 18 Austin TX SXSW
Fri Mar 19 New Orleans LA Tipitinas
Sat Mar 20 New Orleans LA Tipitinas
Thu Apr 01 New York NY Webster Hall
Fri Apr 02 Boston MA House of Blues
Sat Apr 03 Philadelphia PA Electric Factory
Tue Apr 06 Toronto Canada Lee's Palace
Wed Apr 07 Toronto Canada Lee's Palace
Thu Apr 08 Detroit MI St. Andrews Hall
Fri Apr 09 Chicago IL The Vic Theatre
Sat Apr 10 Lexington KY Buster's Billiards and Backroom
Sun Apr 11 Cleveland OH Beachland Ballroom and Tavern
Wed Apr 14 Towson MD Recher Theatre
Thu Apr 15 Norfolk VA The Norva
Fri Apr 16 Asheville NC The Orange Peel
Sat Apr 17 Asheville NC The Orange Peel
Fri Apr 30 Nashville TN Cannery Ballroom
Fri May 07 Los Angeles CA Avalon
Sat May 08 San Fran CA The Fillmore Auditorium

Trailer: The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights

2010-01-06T09:14:00.002-05:00

Looks awesome:

JK's Best of 2009

2009-12-12T10:17:00.005-05:00

2009 was the hardest year of work, not surprisingly, that I've ever had. That's not necessarily a bad thing at all, I've been very fortunate, it's just an adjustment. Unfortunately, it's also meant that I haven't been able to keep up with this blog very often and I suppose that's unlikely to change either. Despite it all, I still managed to listen to a lot of music this year and the result was very promising. I can't say the same about live shows this year, aside from standouts such as Band of Horses/Arbouretum at Carnegie Hall and Dark Was the Night at Radio City, I witnessed a lot of good shows but few great ones. Hope lies ahead in 2010 with Yeasayer in January, home to Charlottesville to catch Drive-By Truckers with my dad, and Muse/Silversun Pickups at the Garden in March. Here were my favorites from '09:

Albums
20. Julian Plenti - Julian Plenti is...Skyscraper
19. Brakes - Touchdown
18. Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
17. Fanfarlo - Reservoir
16. Various Artists - Dark Was The Night
15. ...Trail of Dead - The Century of Self
14. Harlem Shakes - Technicolor Health
13. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
12. Drummer - Feel Good Together
11. The Maccabees - Wall of Arms
10. The Antlers - Hospice
09. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
08. Them Crooked Vultures - s/t
07. Doves - Kingdom of Rust
06. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns
05. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
04. Dinosaur Jr. - Farm
03. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
02. Mastodon - Crack the Skye
01. Grizzly Bear - Veckatamist

Songs
21. Suckers - It Gets Your Body Moving
20. The xx - Crystalised
19. Editors - Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool
18. The Maccabees - No Kind Words
17. Monsters of Folk - Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)
16. Franz Ferdinand - Lucid Dreams
15. Arctic Monkeys - The Jeweller's Hands
14. Clues - Ledmonton
13. Them Crooked Vultures - No One Loves Me & Neither Do I
12. The Rural Alberta Advantage - The Ballad of the RAA
11. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll
10. Phoenix - 1901
09. White Rabbit - Percussion Gun
08. Grizzly Bear - While You Wait for the Others
07. Arbouretum - False Spring
06. Phoenix - Lisztomania
05. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Hysteric
04. The Flaming Lips - Worm Mountain
03. Passion Pit - Moth's Wings
02. Drummer - Mature Fantasy
01. Bon Iver - Brackett, WI

Update: I forgot one of my favorites so I'm making a last minute adjustment and adding Arbouretum...

EPs:
03. Suckers - Suckers EP
02. Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer
01. Puscifer - "C" Is for (Please Insert Sophomoric Genitalia Reference Here) EP

AV Club's Best Films of the '00s

2009-12-03T10:20:00.002-05:00

I'm a sucker for these lists, especially when they come from sites that I have a lot of respect for. AV Club presents their list of the best films of the '00s, something that seems too overwhelming for me to attempt. Memento is my definitive favorite so it's nice to see that one come in at number 5. One thing that is clear is that I have not seen nearly enough of the films in the top 50.

Top 10:
10. Children Of Men (2006)
09. The New World (2005)
08. Capturing The Friedmans (2003)
07. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
06. Spirited Away (2001)
05. Memento (2000)
04. No Country For Old Men (2007)
03. There Will Be Blood (2007)
02. 25th Hour (2002)
01. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

JK's Best Albums of the 2000s

2009-10-10T12:03:00.004-04:00

I started putting this list together back in August, shared it with NF, put it aside for awhile, and finally put the finishing touches on it today...I think. Albums that came out this year are tough to consider because they've haven't quite set in yet. Then again, I'm listening to so much more music now than I did 9 years ago, it's hard to say how much I will come back to albums released this year.

Update: I had to make a couple corrections based on more reflection.

Here are my favorites:

50. Drive-By Truckers - Southern Rock Opera (2001) ~~Ryan Adams - Gold (2001)~~
49. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (2008)
48. Sigur Rós - Ágætis byrjun (2001) ~~Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism (2003)~~
47. The National - Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003)
46. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive (2008)
45. Band of Horses - Everything All the Time (2006)
44. The White Stripes - De Stijl (2000)
43. Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South (2004)
42. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (2004)
41. The Black Keys - Rubber Factory (2004)
40. Muse - Origin of Symmetry (2001)
39. Mastodon - Crack the Skye (2009)
38. The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine (2006)
37. Spoon - Gimme Fiction (2005)
36. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
35. Drive-By Truckers - Decoration Day (2003)
34. Radiohead - Hail to the Thief (2003)
33. Constantines - Shine a Light (2003)
32. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (2007)
31. TOOL - Lateralus (2001)
30. Radiohead - Amnesiac (2001)
29. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (2009)
28. TV On The Radio - Dear Science, (2008)
27. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America (2006)
26. Doves - The Last Broadcast (2002)
25. My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves (2003)
24. Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antarctica (2000)
23. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema (2005)
22. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
21. Dismemberment Plan - Change (2001)
20. The White Stripes - Elephant (2003)
19. Muse - Absolution (2004)
18. TV On The Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain (2006)
17. Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)
16. The Strokes - Is This It? (2001)
15. The National - Boxer (2007)
14. Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005)
13. Queens for the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (2002)
12. The Wrens - Meadowlands (2003)
11. Cloud Cult - Advice for the Happy Hippopotamus (2005)
10. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
09. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells (2001)
08. Broken Social Scene - Your Forgot It in People (2003)
07. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (2005)
06. Beck - Sea Change (2002)
05. The National - Alligator (2005)
04. Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
03. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Source Tags & Codes (2002)
02. Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
01. Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

One More Reason to Love Muse

2009-10-03T08:56:00.002-04:00

Glenn Beck Praises New Muse Album – Muse Ask For Retraction

If that wasn't enough, here's another example: An Italian TV show asks them to lip sync "Uprising," the band disagreed, so all three members switched places to "perform" the song. Unfortunately, the video has been pulled but Matt Bellamy on drums hamming it up for the camera was absolutely classic.

The new album is growing on me. There are 3 really bad songs on it but I'm happy with the rest. I'm sure they picked up a lot of new fans opening for U2 on this stadium tour so I'm hoping they come back soon for a headlining tour. Few bands bring it on the stage like they can.

The Mars Volta @ the Palladium, 08.30.09

2009-08-31T02:06:00.009-04:00

A minute into the Morricone suite and the mob begins to push. Closer.

"Omar coming. Omar coming."

Ikey Owens initiates the mayhem and from the opening notes, the crowd knows its done for. Cedric in peak form, Omar on interstellar overdrive. Tighter and heavier than ever before.

SETLIST:

"Son et Lumiere"
"Inertiatic E.S.P."
"Goliath"
"Cotopaxi"
"Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)"
"Viscera Eyes"
"Halo of Nembutals"
"Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus"
"Desperate Graves"
"Eunuch Provocateur"
"Ilyena"
"Teflon"
"Drunkship of Lanterns"
"Luciforms"
"The Widow"
"Wax Simulacra"

The National @ the Wiltern, 08.29.09

2009-08-30T14:24:00.010-04:00

Raw and unwound from the opening bars of "Runaway". Halfway through "Mr. November" and Matt Berninger's clawing his way to the middle of the art deco theater. A lone light searches. Camera phones float in the dark. The brothers Dessner come unglued at the strings in front of him. Behind him. Twisting through the crowd hitting every word on the way. Standing above the crowd. Screaming. Reeling.

"I won't fuck us over. I'm Mr. November."

SETLIST:

"Runaway" (new)
"Start a War"
"Mistaken for Strangers"
"Brainy"
"Secret Meeting"
"Baby, We'll Be Fine"
"Slow Show"
"Vanderlylle Cry Baby" (new)
"Squalor Victoria"
"Abel"
"All the Wine"
"Available"
"Ada"
"Apartment Story"
"Blood Buzz Ohio" (new)
"Fake Empire"

*****

"Green Gloves"
"Mr. November"
"About Today"

Them Crooked Vultures

2009-08-19T17:03:00.004-04:00

How much longer until I can hear a damn song? 30 seconds is not enough, damn it.

Pearl Jam's Backspacer Cover Art

2009-07-29T15:12:00.003-04:00

Plug in the pieces here to join in on the treasure hunt. I can't find 4 and 7.

Only in New York...

2009-07-15T18:19:00.004-04:00

...can you literally walk outside of work to see Sir Paul McCartney performing live. I just caught the last 30 minutes of his performance on top of the Late Show marquee at the Ed Sullivan Theatre. He ended with "Back in the USSR."

Awesome.

Of course, I forgot my phone when I was on the street and could actually see him but I did take these photos from our office floor. Unfortunately, that tree is covering the stage. Letterman tonight.

Pearl Jam Tour Dates

2009-07-09T13:56:00.001-04:00

Nothing in NYC...yet.

Ben Harper and the Relentless7 will open the West Coast dates. That essentially guarantees a performance of "Indifference."

Sept. 21: Seattle (Key Arena)
Sept. 22: Seattle (Key Arena)
Sept. 30: Los Angeles (Gibson Amp.)
Oct. 1: Los Angeles (Gibson Amp.)
Oct. 6: Los Angeles (Gibson Amp.)
Oct. 7: Los Angeles (Gibson Amp.)
Oct. 9: San Diego (Viejas Arena)
Oct. 28: Philadelphia (Spectrum)
Oct. 30: Philadelphia (Spectrum)

More at Billboard.

Best music of 2009 so far (AV Club)

2009-06-19T15:09:00.002-04:00

AV Club staff weigh in on their favorites of the year.

My favorites off the top of my head: Grizzly Bear Veckatimest, Mastodon Crack the Skye, Dinosaur Jr. Farm, Yeah Yeah Yeahs It's Blitz!, Phoenix Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Brakes Touchdown, Doves Kingdom of Rust, Harlem Shakes Technicolor Health, ...Trail of Dead The Century of Self, Dark Was the Night, Dark Night of the Soul, Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, Silversun Pickups Swoon, The Antlers Hospice, Arbouretum Song of the Pearl.

New Song from The National

2009-06-17T10:14:00.003-04:00

A new slow jam, tentatively called "The Runaway" via Q TV.

Band of Horses @ Carnegie Hall, 6/11/09

2009-06-12T11:47:00.003-04:00

My first visit to Carnegie Hall and it's for a rock show. Why am I not surprised. As we were all exiting the venue I overheard an older gentleman say "looks like the dress code has changed with the younger crowd." Classic. We were there to see Arbouretum, who embraced the acoustic theme and turned down the "doom-folk" for a very good set. I really think this band is so close to putting out an amazing record. Dave Heumann is very talented and has an amazing voice.

The Band of Horses performance felt special and they were truly appreciative of the opportunity to play in this storied venue. They mixed in a few new songs and put a new spin on some of the greats from their first two albums. I was absolutely blown away with their rendition of "Funeral."

Set List (via):
Part One
Marry Song
Why You Never Get Older
Window Blues
A Song For You (Gram Parsons Cover)
Monsters
Compliments Down
The Great Salt Lake
Weed Party (in double time)
Wicked Gil (in half time)
The Funeral
New Song (by Tyler Ramsey)
No One’s Gonna Love You
Unknown Song
-----------------
Ode To LRC (Ben Bridwell & Tyler Ramsey)
Detlef Schrempf
The General Specific

Dinosaur Jr. "Over It"

2009-06-09T22:40:00.003-04:00

This album is ridiculously good.

TV on the Radio @ Central Park Summerstage, 6/5/09

2009-06-09T22:13:00.003-04:00

The steady rain last Friday was enough to scare away my lady and I was admittedly on the fence throughout the day. It only took the first few notes of "Love Dog" over a sea of umbrellas to know that I made the right decision. TV on the Radio have made great strides in their live performance since the last time I saw them. Having Antibalas on horns throughout adds a lot more depth and energy to the set and the band hit their stride early on and never let up. Then again, they can do no wrong in my book.

Set List:
Love Dog
Wrong Way
Blues From Down Here
Halfway Home
Golden Age
Wolf Like Me
Crying
Dirtywhirl
Staring at the Sun
Red Dress
Shout Me Out
Dancing Choose
DLZ
--------
Family Tree
Young Liars
A Method

Doves @ Terminal 5, 6/4/09

2009-06-06T10:16:00.002-04:00

Really, what's not to love about Doves. Outside of Radiohead, I can't think of another British band that has been as consistently great this decade (Muse also comes to mind). Kingdom of Rust is no exception. While it doesn't quite reach the highs of "Cedar Room" or the insanely catchy songs on Last Broadcast ("There Goes the Fear," "Pounding," "Last Broadcast" etc.), I think it may be their best yet. Unfortunately, Terminal 5 ruined what should have been their triumphant return to NYC on Thursday. The drumming tempo was off for about half the show and the sound never felt quite right. Great bands persevere and despite the negatives, it was great to have Doves back on the scene. I really hope it's not another 4 years before they're back again.

Jetstream
Snowden
Winter Hill
Rise
Pounding
Almost Forgot Myself
10:03
Words
The Greatest Denier
Kingdom of Rust
Ambition
Black & White Town
The Outsiders
Caught By The River
--------------------
The Cedar Room
Here It Comes
Last Broadcast
There Goes The Fear

Pearl Jam on Conan

2009-06-02T09:57:00.002-04:00

So, the album is supposedly called Backspacer and the song could be called "The Fixer." Whatever it ends up being, I'm excited and despite poor sound quality, the song last night is a good one. If that was the album cover in Conan's hands, I dig it.

Green Day @ Webster Hall, 5/19/09

2009-05-20T09:24:00.008-04:00

This show was an absolute blast. Apparently, Green Day have evolved into a six-piece live band. I had no idea. Thankfully, they didn't play the entire new album because the first set felt a bit flat at times (although I could have gone for my favorite new track "Horseshoes and Handgrenades"). "Jesus of Suburbia" was intense and I'm amazed that I can still remember words from songs that I haven't heard in 15 years. "80" was far and away my favorite song from Kerplunk. Such nostalgia...

I actually took some pics last night and will get them up here soon.

SET 1:
21st Century Breakdown
Know Your Enemy
East Jesus Nowhere
Before The Lobotomy
Last Of The American Girls
Murder City
Viva La Gloria (Little Girl)
The Static Age
21 Guns
American Eulogy (Mass Hysteria/Modern World)
See The Light

SET 2:
American Idiot
Jesus Of Suburbia
St. Jimmy
Longview
Coming Clean
At The Library
80
Basketcase
She
Surrender [Cheap Trick]/ Bastards of Young [The Replacements]
King For A Day/Shout [The Isley Brothers]
Minority

Updated with some photos:

Dark Night of the Soul: The CD That Wasn't

2009-05-15T09:13:00.003-04:00

Absolutely ridiculous. This is an awesome album that people should go out of their way to hear. Unless I missed it, I haven't seen how this is planned to be released in the States but I am definitely curious to see the photographs that Lynch has put together.

'Revenge' (featuring The Flaming Lips)
'Just War' (featuring Gruff Rhys)
'Jaykub' (featuring Jason Lytle)
'Little Girl (featuring Julian Casablancas)
'Angel's Harp' (featuring Frank Black)
'Pain' (featuring Iggy Pop)
'Star Eyes (I Can't Catch It)' (featuring David Lynch)
'Everytime I'm With You' (featuring Jason Lytle)
'Insane Lullaby' (featuring James Mercer of The Shins)
'Daddy's Gone' (featuring Nina Persson)
'The Man Who Played God' (featuring Suzanne Vega)
'Grim Augury' (featuring Vic Chestnutt)
'Dark Night Of The Soul' (featuring David Lynch)

Wilco (the Album) stream

2009-05-13T13:24:00.002-04:00

Stream the album on Wilco World.