popwreckoning

Produced in association with one of Southern California’s premier rock venues, The Casbah, San Diego heats things up on August 28th & 29th with their 25th Annual Street Scene in the East Village (and adjacent to Petco Park).  In essence, it’s the ultimate two-day musical block party and the perfect way to kiss summer goodbye.  So drop those world-famous fish tacos, hop in your car or on your surf board and get in on the excitement.  Last year they managed to score Beck, TV On The Radio, and Cold War Kids, among others, but it looks like they may have outdone themselves for this year (complete lineup here.).  Boasting over 40 bands, the multi-stage street set up features some of the biggest names in indie rock, alternative rock, hip hop and pop today that I’ll probably get into mutliple arguments with myself over which bands to check out.  Here’s a little taste of what to expect, if you can handle all the action:

Friday, August 28th
Black Eyed Peas, Modest Mouse, Cake, Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band, Band of Horses, Girl Talk, Devendra Banhart, Chromeo, Calexico, Matt & Kim, Deerhunter, Holy Fuck, Anya Marina

Saturday, August 29th
M.I.A., Thievery Corporation, The Dead Weather, Silversun Pickups, Of Montreal, The Faint, Busta Rhymes, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, No Age, Ra Ra Riot, Los Campesinos!

The show is rain or shine (who are we kidding, when does it ever rain in beautifully sunny San Diego!?).  Doors open: 4pm – midnight, both nights.  For $65 bucks, you can see 20+ bands in one day and it’s totally worth it.  There are also two-day passes, or the option of  VIP treatment if you’re above all that recession talk.  For additional ticket information, go here.  So, come celebrate the end of summer at this killer rock block party.  See you there!

Street Scene: website | tickets

Busta Rhymes Back On My BS :: stream “Hustla’s Anthem 09″

Comet Gain Broken Record Prayers

Dan Deacon Bromst

The Decemberists Hazards of Love

Ida Maria Fortress Round My Heart

Jeremy Jay Slow Dance :: download “Love Everlasting”

Jim Jones Pray IV Reign

Little Brazil Son

Harlem Shakes Technicolor Health

I.U.D. The Proper Sex

Israel Houghton The Power of One

Jim Jones Pray IV Reign

Obits I Blame You :: “Pine On”

Pearl Jam TEN (special edition)

Red Red Meat Bunny Gets Paid: Deluxe Edition :: “Gauze”

The Peekers Life in the Air

These Green Eyes Relapse To Recovery

Tortured Soul Did You Miss Me? :: “Did You Miss Me?”

True To The Game compilation

Winter Gloves About A Girl

An Horse Rearrange Beds

Ben Lee The Rebirth of Venus

Bobby Valentino The Rebirth :: “Butterfly Tattoo”

Busta Rhymes B.O.M.B.

Dan Auerbach Keep It Hid

Gavin Castleton HOME (digital)

Lily Allen It’s Not Me, It’s You

Middle Class Rut Busy Bein’ Born :: “Busy Bein’ Born”

Miranda Lee Richards Light of X

Mishka Above the Bones :: free download

Missy Elliott Block Party

Mos Def The Ecstatic

Ryan Leslie Ryan Leslie

Seth Glier The Trouble With People

The Break Mission The Prospect EP

The Lonely Island Incredibad :: watch “Jizz In My Pants”

Winston Audio The Red Rhythm

Winter Gloves Let Me Drive EP

The idea of a patchwork quilt is that a bunch of different fabric patterns are sown together to form one unified work. However, in the case of Gym Class Heroes‘ newest release title The Quilt, their patches seemed to clash together, making this work feel incomplete.

Sampled sounds and a ridiculous amount of guest spots beg the question as to what was the point of even having Gym Class Heroes show up in the studio. Don’t get me wrong, I love Estelle on the jazzy “Guilty As Charged” and it is great to hear Patrick Stump continuing to lend his support not only as a producer, but on backing vocals for songs like “Catch Me If You Can.” It doesn’t really seen necessary to have Busta Rhymes, The-Dream, Daryl Hall, Lil Wayne, Cool & Dre, Patty Crash, Estelle and Stump sing and rap more than the group’s own Travis McCoy.

It is actually quite hard to review this album because there is so little of the band shining through the layers of pre-recorded sound effects.

Lyrically, it disappoints. Nothing seems fresh, there’s the same list of girls and pop culture references that we’ve already heard on earlier releases. There’s no surprise when Stump, who sings on “Cupid’s Chokehold,” which borrowed lyrics from an older song repeats the same stunt as he sings “I Wear My Sunglasses at Night” during “Blinded By The Sun.” Gym Class Heroes seem to have run out of tricks. And don’t even get me started on the awful lyrics to “Cookie Jar.”

Eric Roberts does stand out with some cool bass riffs on “Drnk Txt Rmeo” and “Home.” I like the vibe of “Like Father, Like Son,” which sounds like it should be the theme to an early 80s sitcom. While, I actually do enjoy “No Place to Run” and “Live A Little,” which both actually have real instruments, even these songs were a let down because they don’t even sound like they are made by the hip hop group.

There’s some interesting elements and Estelle‘s guest spot is especially lovely, but overall, I’m just confused as to what the band even did for this album. Sure, bands progress with each release, but The Quilt ended up rather patchy.

Gym Class Heroes’ The Quilt is released by Decaydance / Fueled By Ramen on Sept. 9, 2008.

Tracklisting:
01. Guilty As Charged
02. Drnk Txt Rmeo
03. Peace Sign/Index Down
04. Like Father, Like Son (Papa’s Song)
05. Blinded By The Sun
06. Catch Me If You Can
07. Cookie Jar
08. Live A Little
09. Don’t Tell Me It’s Over
10. Live Forever (Fly With Me)
11. Kissin’ Ears
12. Home
13. No Place to Run
14. Coming Clean

Gym Class Heroes: website | myspace | live review

Written by: Bethany
Photo by: Joshua Neal