“This Pricey Stuff Makes Me Dizzy”

It’s been a busy year for The National since the release of their acclaimed High Violet. Touring, festival appearances, television, all the wine, world domination and, as we all know, if it’s worth releasing once the deluxe reissue won’t be far off. News that the bustling Brooklynites have announced plans for a lavish reissue of the aforementioned record. The reconfigured recording will come repackaged in a two-disc reformat with unreleased songs, live recordings and rare B-sides.

The album will make a reappearance on November 23rd via 4AD, and contains tracks omitted from the original release, including “You Were A Kindness” and “Wake Up You Saints,” plus the B-sides “Walk Off” and “Sin-Eaters,” as well as an alternate take of “Terrible Love.” The package will also include three live songs.

The reconfigured High Violet will now look like this:

Terrible Love
Sorrow
Anyone's Ghost
Little Faith
Afraid of Everyone
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Lemonworld
Runaway
Conversation 16
England
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks

Bonus Disc:

Terrible Love (Alternate Version)
Wake Up You Saints
You Were a Kindness
Walk Off
Sin-Eaters
Bloodbuzz Ohio (Live On KCMP)
Anyone's Ghost (Live At Brooklyn Academy of Music)
England (Live At Brooklyn Academy Of Music)

Listen to the National in a fantastic live session on the Current this past summer.

High Violet in May

Some splendid new music news from the camp of Brooklyn’s finest earlier this week. The National’s Boxer follow-up, officially titled High Violet, comes out May 10th in the UK and May 11th everywhere else via 4AD. The cover, is based on a Mark Fox sculpture called "The Binding Force".

High Violet

01 Terrible Love

02 Sorrow
03 Anyone's Ghost
04 Little Faith
05 Afraid of Everyone
06 Bloodbuzz Ohio
07 Lemonworld
08 Runaway
09 Conversation 16
10 England
11 Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks

If you were fortunate to get tickets you will probably catch some of these new songs on their spring tour.

But He Returns to You at Night

A couple weeks back I blogged about the National’s upcoming run of North American concert dates this spring. As of today that concert draw got even better as Brooklyn brethren- the Antlers have announced they will open several of those June shows.

Before their dates with the National, though, the Antlers still have a whole slew of shows to play. They kicked off a tour last night in Toronto in the opening slot with Editors at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. After that, they're headed to Europe for a tour, then a headlining North American trip with Phantogram opening. Then it's back to Europe for even more dates. Such is the popular fate when I proclaim your record to be best of the year I guess…

This one is a not miss people.

Check below for all of the Antlers' concert dates.

The Antlers:

02-16 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre @
02-17 Montreal, Quebec - Il Motore
02-18 Boston, MA - House of Blues @
02-19 New York, NY - Terminal 5 @
02-20 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero @
02-21 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club @
03-02 Paris, France - Scopitone Club
03-03 London, England - Union Chapel
03-04 Oxford, England - Jericho Tavern
03-05 Brighton, England - Hanbury Ballrooms
03-06 Brussels, Belgium - AB
03-08 Berlin, Germany - Bang Bang Club
03-09 Hamburg, Germany - Prinzen Bar
03-10 Copenhagen, Denmark - Jazz House
03-12 Malmo, Sweden - Debaser
03-13 Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser
03-14 Bergen, Norway - Landmark
03-15 Oslo, Norway - Bla
03-24 Dublin, Ireland - Academy
04-16 Columbus, OH - The Basement ^
04-17 Urbana, IL - Canopy Club ^
04-18 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon ^
04-20 Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theatre ^
04-21 Iowa City, IA - The Blue Moose ^
04-22 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall ^
04-23 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig ^
04-28 San Diego, CA - Casbah ^
04-30 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour ^
05-01 San Francisco, CA - Independent ^
05-03 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge ^
05-04 Vancouver, British Columbia - The Biltmore Cabaret ^
05-05 Seattle, WA - Neumo's ^
05-19 London, England - Scala
05-20 Salford, England - St. Phillips Church
05-21 Leeds, England - Brudenell Social Club
05-22 Glasgow, Scotland - Stag and Dagger Festival
05-24 Dublin, Ireland - Academy
05-25 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
05-29 Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Festival
06-02 Boston, MA - House of Blues $
06-03 Boston, MA - House of Blues $
06-04 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory $
06-05 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory $
06-06 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall $
06-08 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall $
06-09 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall $
06-16 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall $

@ with Editors
^ with Phantogram
$ with the National

The National Announces New Album and Spring Tour

News today that The National will return this May with the yet-to-be-titled follow-up to 2007’s acclaimed Boxer. The icing on the proverbial cupcake might just be the Brooklyn outfit has also announced dates for the U.S., U.K., and Europe. (A Toronto date has also been confirmed for Massey Hall in June.)

Details regarding the band’s fifth studio album remain guarded; however, we do know it will be released worldwide in May on 4AD. The tour dates, which begin with an appearance at Knoxville’s Big Ears Festival in March, will see the band on the road throughout much of May and June. Included will be a single date in Canada, the rest in the U.S., U.K., and Europe, highlighted by a performance with Pavement in Paris on May 7th and a headlining spot at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on June 16th.

PSSSST …. TORONTO PRESALE DETAILS HERE

Ticket pre-sales begin at 10am EST on Tuesday, Jan. 26th and run through 10pm Thursday, Jan. 28th. The London & Berlin pre-sales start at 10 am local time on Wednesday Jan. 27th and run through 10 pm Thursday, Jan. 28th. More dates will be announced in the weeks ahead. The password for all of the pre-sales is BloodBuzz. General onsale begins Friday; tickets can be had via Ticketmaster.com or for the Canucks at Ticketmaster.ca.


The National - 2010 Tour Dates

26-28 MARCH: KNOXVILLE, TN - BIG EARS FESTIVAL 2010 / TENNESSEE THEATRE
22 APRIL: RICHMOND, VA @ THE NATIONAL
23 APRIL: RICHMOND, VA @ THE NATIONAL
06 MAY: LONDON, UK @ ROYAL ALBERT HALL
07 MAY: PARIS, FRANCE @ LE ZENITH w/ PAVEMENT
09 MAY: BERLIN, GERMANY @ ASTRA
22 MAY: LOS ANGELES, CA @ THE WILTERN
23 MAY: SAN DIEGO, CA @ SPRECKELS THEATRE
27 MAY: OAKLAND, CA @ FOX THEATRE
02 JUNE: BOSTON, MA @ HOUSE OF BLUES
05 JUNE: PHILADELPHIA, PA @ ELECTRIC FACTORY
06 JUNE: WASHINGTON, DC @ DAR CONSTITUTION HALL
08 JUNE: TORONTO, CANADA @ MASSEY HALL
16 JUNE: NEW YORK, NY @ RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

I Love the Smell of Albums in the Morning

The new album release calendar is beginning to fill up and I thought it might be nice to share a little bit of the associated excitement with all of you. First up is Brooklyn’s finest- the National who have indicated their follow up to Boxer will be available in early 2010. Rumours are also swirling that a Sufjan Stevens/Dessner brothers (The National) Christmas EP might just see the light of day soon too.

Further, one of indie rock’s more consistently great bands Spoon has just announced a release date for their new album. The band's seventh LP, Transference, is due out January 26th in North America via Merge and January 25th in Europe via Anti-.

The record features eleven songs produced by the band, including recent single "Got Nuffin", not to mention tracks called "I Saw the Light" and "Out Go the Lights". I’m sensing a theme here people.

Peruse the track listing below:

Transference

01 Before Destruction

02 Is Love Forever?

03 The Mystery Zone

04 Who Makes Your Money

05 Written in Reverse

06 I Saw the Light

07 Trouble Comes Running

08 Goodnight Laura

09 Out Go the Lights

10 Got Nuffin

11 Nobody Gets Me But You

Forthcoming New Releases of Note

January 12:

Vampire Weekend – Contra

Final Fantasy – Heartland

January 19:

Eels – End Times

January 26:

Free Energy – Stuck On Nothing (DFA/Astralwerks)

Basia Bulat – Heart of My Own (Secret City Records)

January TBA:

Laura Veirs

January 26:

Spoon – Transference (Merge)

February 9:

Shearwater – TBA (Matador)

February 16:

Field Music – Measure (Memphis Industries)

February TBA:

Midlake – Courage Of Others

The Radio Dept. – Clinging To A Scheme

March TBA:

Miles Kurosky (Beulah) – Rad

2010 TBA:

The National

Jens Lekman

The Shins

Ravens & Chimes

Ted Leo (Matador Records debut)

Spoon

The Whigs – In The Dark

Sufjan Stevens

Toro Y Moi (two albums)

More dates as I get them on forthcoming 2009 and 2010 albums as always.

The National Announce Short Tour

One of my favourite bands in the universe, the National have just announced an eight day run of club shows this coming May. See them while you have the chance. I'm telling you, if ever there was a band destined for greatness this would be it. It all starts with them playing the Kool Haus in Toronto on May 21st and continues throughout North America.

In other the National news, the band's Bryce Dessner and his brother (and bassist) Aaron, produced the forthcoming Red Hot benefit compilation Dark Was the Night, a veritable who’s who of the indie world comprising that one. 4AD will release it in Europe on February 16 and North America on February 17. That one well worth your attentions.



The National dates:

03-08 St. Augustine, FL - Harvest of Hope Festival

05-21 Toronto, ON - Kool Haus
05-22 Montreal, PQ - Metropolis
05-23 Boston, MA - House of Blues
05-24 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
05-25 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
05-27 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
05-28 Raleigh, NC - Maymendi Concert Hall
05-29 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory

Everything is Pop New Music Reviews

The Last Ingredient is Love - That seems to be a theme this week. All are artists remembering the viewer and listener first.

The National – A Skin, A Night
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Last year I discovered the incredible work of Vincent Moon via the Takeaway Shows on blogotheque.net. I was immediately struck by Moon’s entirely unique cinematic approach to musical performance. His varied subjects read like a who’s who in new music. - From Final Fantasy to a newly recorded R.EM. session the results are beautiful and stunningly original. I would contend then, that is why the National hired Vincent Moon to shoot their documentary A Skin, A Night. Be forewarned though, this is not your classic rock documentary. If you are looking for a Behind the Music style expose, forget it. Go tune your cowbell or something.

I have to admit, I’ve been sitting on this review for over a month simply because I could not decide whether I truly liked it or not. In all honesty, I still don’t know. But I can tell you this disc and the accompanying cd of demos and live tracks certainly put me back in touch with one of my favourite cd’s of 2007, Boxer. I expected the documentary component to shed light on the band but Moon’s piece really illuminated the music that comprises that recording. And that is where it works best. By focusing on the music the visuals become secondary. By revealing the true craft of songs like “Blank Slate” and “Ada” the viewer is immersed in the artistry and not the story of the art.

Perhaps that was the intent all along.




The War on Drugs – Wagonwheel Blues
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Forty four years ago Bob Dylan sang that the Times They Are a-Changin’. At the time, a self conscious protest song, the piece became an anthem for that generation. In three short minutes Dylan had accurately distilled, in verse, that period of great social and political change. I was reminded of this song for more than a few reasons as I listened to The War on Drugs’ new Secretly Canadian release Wagonwheel Blues. Maybe it was the harmonica and guitar in combination, maybe it was the vocal takes- The comparison seemed inevitable on first listen.

Essentially a twosome comprised of Philadelphians Adam Granduciel and Kurt Vile, the duo play most of the music on this recording. The War on Drugs makes music about their quickly changing world. Whether they are changes to their country as a whole or changes to their own lives their songs are allegorical treasures. Little glimpses of contemporary Americana. Introspective and damaged, each one given up like a faded holiday travel photograph. The music, a peculiar mix of post and even classic rock reflecting that exact washed out quality. Imagine Bob Dylan fronting Guided By Voices.

Album opener, “Arms Like Boulders” is dramatic and sets the tone of the record. Rather than coming across as a cynical reminder of what is becoming of the country, and in larger terms- our planet it comes across as remarkably straightforward and earnest. The marching band drums and strummy guitar a perfect accompany to the songs call to attention. And here again I was reminded of Bob Dylan. I was reminded of Woody Guthrie’s depression era themes too. “Taking the Farm” a twenty first century call to listeners to ‘green up’ is catchy and has a certain timeless quality. Not unlike the aforementioned dustbowl troubadour's best work.

Wagonwheel Blues is a fascinating release that illuminates our particular human condition in the best of ways. Even better, if you listen close enough it might just give us the direction home.


Paul Westerberg - 49:00
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In true Westerberg tradition 49:00 comes in at 43:55 precisely. For the uninitiated this is almost exactly the same length as one side of a C90 cassette tape- (The likely source of this decidedly “unlikely” release.) Now I say “unlikely” because this recording appeared without the usual industry ‘trumpet blasts’ on Monday of this week. * The single track recording featuring songs, song fragments and 'sonic experiments' is decidedly lo-fi. It’s also absolutely wonderful and for $0.49 it might be the best musical investment I have made in some time. A mixtape for fans made with love, dedication and apparently duct tape.

This spirit of 49:00 is exactly what drew me to Paul’s seminal former band The Replacements in the first place. Their music was, at its best, exuberant, funny, sad, more than a little damaged and ultimately pure. All 'Westerbergian' qualities that began to diminish from their music (and his) as major labels began to dictate style and direction. No, this stuff won’t change your life nor will its unlikely presence shake up the record industry a la Radioheads’ In Rainbows. It will however remind you just how exhilarating music can be. Like some drunken reverie Westerberg’s brief versions of “Eighteen”, “Rocket Man” and “Hello Goodbye” couched with so far ‘unnamed’ Westerberg originals are revelatory. At best, contrary to some critical opinion Paul is far from dead. Let’s hope the next ‘official’ release is half as much fun as this one.

* - The release was self released via server hosts and Amazon, not through conventional distribution means.

R.E.M. TO TOUR NORTH AMERICA

Some great news today that R.E.M. will tour North America this May and June in support of Accelerate , their new record, set to be released on April 1st. R.E.M. have always been exciting in concert and I have been fortunate to see the band on every major tour since 1983. This time out the band will be joined on the tour by playlist stalwarts, Modest Mouse and The National in Canada and the United States. Early reviews of the new record have been very good, check out their website for a song preview Supernatural Superserious.

++the dates++

Vancouver 5/23 - DEER LAKE PARK
Los Angeles 5/29 - HOLLYWOOD BOWL
Berkeley 5/31 - THE GREEK THEATRE
Denver 6/03 - RED ROCKS
Chicago 6/06 - UNITED CENTER
Toronto 6/08 - MOLSON AMPHITHEATRE
Raleigh 6/10 - WALNUT CREEK AMPHITHEATRE
Washington DC 6/11 - MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION
Boston 6/13 - TWEETER CENTER
Long Island 6/14 - JONES BEACH THEATER
Philadelphia 6/18 - MANN CENTER
New York City 6/19 - TBA
Atlanta 6/21 - LAKEWOOD AMPHITHEATRE

Best Music of 2007 - The Seasonal Sixty - Installation Three

Best Music of 2007 - The Seasonal Sixty

Installation Three - At last I've worked my way to number one. I reviewed the Lightning Bug Situation cd earlier this year and its impact its still resonating with me; for that reason I have chosen it to be my favourite music of 2007. I would urge you to seek out finding this disc as it is a captivating listen from start to finish. Be sure to check out this link for information on how to get one. Their Myspace page features several preview tracks.

20. Julie Doiron – Woke Myself Up
19. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
18. The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
17. Yeasayer – All Hour Cymbals
16. Caribou – Melody Day
15. Panda Bear – Person Pitch
14. Pop Levi – The Return to Form Black Majick Party
13. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna: Are You the Destroyer?
12. The White Stripes – Icky Thump
11. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
10. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
09. Future of the Left - Curses
08. Stars of the Lid - And Their Refinement Of The Decline
07. Burial - Untrue
06. Radiohead - In Rainbows
05. LCD Soundsystem – The Sound of Silver
04. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
03. Okkervil River – The Stage Names
02. The National - Boxer
01. The Lightning Bug Situation - A Leaf; A Stream

REVIEW The National - Boxer

Peripatetic Ponderings

I like to walk at night because it affords me the best time to truly listen to music. It forces me to focus on a given recording, usually from start to finish uninterrupted. I also like to listen old school with my Sony Discman and a fresh battery recharge. (My Ipod is just far too tempting to my musical ADD tendencies.) Compulsions aside, I couldn’t tell you much about that night I walked with Boxer, the new recording by Brooklyn, New York’s
the National. Suffice to say I was not run over by a car as I wandered in my aural stupor, nor did I get lost. Figuratively speaking though… Well, that’s another story entirely.

“Fake Empire” (download here) begins the disc in a flurry of piano notes, with vocalist Matt Berninger dropping unfussy observations about “making pies” and putting a “little something in the lemonade”. Like an affable drunk offering the best tidbits of life to a lonely bar room he draws you into his melancholic world. Anyone else attempting this would sound contrived and forced, the National simply make it sound natural. Songs like “Slow Show” and “Start a War” reveal a palpable intensity so rarely felt on contemporary recordings. Boxer reminded me a lot of R.E.M.’s Reckoning because of its style and the feeling it evokes. Like R.E.M.’s opus this is a record that will stick with you for quite some time. Songs like “Squalor Victoria” and the Sufjan Stevens guested “Ada”, merely seal the deal.

This record had me from the start; the effort is top-notch. Comprised of two sets of brothers—Bryce and Aaron Dessner, Scott and Bryan Devendorf—and the aforementioned Matt Berninger (plus sometime member Padma Newsom) the National are truly hitting their stride in 2007. The group met in their native Cincinnati in the early 1990s, then moved to Brooklyn, New York Following three releases on indie label Brassland Records, the band made the leap to the Beggars Group in 2005 with the sublime Alligator, an album filled with dark lyrics and song cycles that really paved the way for Boxer's successful path. Boxer is that rare record I have been waiting for that truly captivates as much as it entertains. It will no doubt feature prominently on my Year End List. It is a special recording that demands your attentions. Seek it out, you won't be disappointed.

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