popwreckoning

If you were to forget that Kaputt is a Destroyer record, it wouldn’t be surprising.  At first listen, the element of it that sounds like what has come before it, is Dan Bejar’s unmistakable voice. Screw Neko Case; Bejar, for a long time, has been the only reason I listen to New Pornographers records.

This, however, is a Destroyer album. The fact that this sounds like no other Destroyer record that has come before it cannot be overstated.  I consider this a good thing. I did not enjoy the previous Destroyer album, Trouble In Dreams. I thought it was over cooked, and full of things that had already been done, and better.

Kaputt is something else entirely. The last time it took me this long to figure out if I like an album was Kate Bush’s The Dreaming.  It’s hard to pin down the exact sound of the album. It’s sort of a bastard child of ambient folk music, and ‘80’s synth pop.  It’s full of disorienting female vocals, spacey horns, and thumping beats, and probably the most deceptively brilliant album you’ll hear this year.

It wouldn’t be a Destroyer record without lyrics that will make your head spin. Bejar outdoes himself here. Lines from this album will be littering Twitter and facebook feeds for years to come. I’ve barely begun to decipher what they mean, but, yes, I’m floored.  Obscure literature, drugs, communism, pop music, it’s all here, and more. This stuff was made to provoke infinite discourses.

I suppose the inevitable question is if you should buy this. If you like good, cerebral pop music, the answer is an unequivocal yes. “Suicide Demo for Kara Walker” should be the new national anthem, and this record will transport you to a place you didn’t know existed. You’ll be richer for the journey.

Track Listing:
01. Chinatown
02. Blue Eyes
03. Savage Night at the Opera
04. Suicide Demo for Kara Walker
05. Poor in Love
06. Kaputt
07. Downtown
08. Song for America
09. Bay of Pigs (Detail)

Fran Healy, the frontman of popular Scottish rock band Travis, has been a busy man. He just released his debut solo album, Wreckorder and is preparing to go on tour with The Killers‘ Brandon Flowers.

For this week only, iTunes is offering a special Healy duet with Neko Case as a the free download for the single of the week. You have until November 8 to download “Sing Me to Sleep” here.

On November 9, Healy joins Brandon Flowers for a two week tour. He’ll be in Lawrence on November 20 at Liberty Hall.

You can also watch the video for his single, “Buttercups” below:

Tour Dates:
With Brandon Flowers:
* Indicates in-store performance / signing with Fran Healy only
11/9/10 Pomona CA Fox Theater
11/10/10 Los Angeles CA The Wiltern Theater
11/11/10 Oakland CA Fox Theater
11/13/10 Portland OR Music Millennium *
11/13/10 Portland OR Roseland Ballroom
11/14/10 Seattle WA Sonic Boom *
11/14/10 Seattle WA Showbox Sodo
11/15/10 Vancouver ON Commodore Ballroom
11/17/10 Salt Lake City UT The Depot
11/18/10 Denver CO The Ogden
11/20/10 Lawrence KS Liberty Hall
11/21/10 Minneapolis MN Electric Fetus *
11/21/10 Minneapolis MN First Avenue
11/23/10 Chicago IL Riviera
11/24/10 Royal Oak MI Royal Oak Music Hall

Headlining Dates:
12/2/10 Philadelphia PA World Café
12/3/10 Annapolis MD Ram’s Head
12/5/10 Austin TX The Parish
12/6/10 Chapel Hill NC Local 506
12/7/10 Carrboro NC Cat’s Cradle
12/8/10 Atlanta GA The Loft
12/9/10 Boston MA Café 939
12/16/10 New York NY The Bowery Ballroom

Usually, Mondays are the worst day of the week. But the sun was shining and by some last minute graces, my schedule cleared just in time to check out the bands playing at one of the most beautiful venues in Lawrence. For once, this was my favorite weekday.

The venue, Liberty Hall, doubles as a movie theatre and because of that construction, it promotes great visibility of the entire stage no matter where you’re located. This attribute would actually be very handy for what was lined up for the stage on this particular evening, one of Canada’s many overly-talented collectives: The New Pornographers.

I arrived just after the start of Imaad Wasif.  I had seen Wasif tour with Yeah Yeah Yeahs way back in the day, but this was my first experience with his solo work. I had been told to expect folk rock, but while I braced for a Dylanesque sound, I think the time with Karen O had pushed Wasif more to just a rock sound. Sure, the guy was on an acoustic guitar, but as he thrashed his wild mane around, and bursted out his raw, edgy vocals, there was no way I could call that anything, but rock. But even that isn’t quite the right genre. Wasif sometimes incorporates nontraditional tunings and tonations, which is cool, but since it isn’t what most ears are used to, it is a bit hard to access at times.

The next act also incorporated some nontraditional sounds, but in contrast to the Wasif, this music was incredibly accessible whether you like rock, classical, pop or some other genre. The trio is riding on that wave of popular NW US, sunshine indie sound with big percussive elements and lots of harmonies that’s making acts like Local Natives garner buzz. And when I say big percussive elements, I mean BIG. Did you know it was possible to bow a vibraphone? Because apparently it is and when you do that, it sounds like playing the glass harmonica. Nearly every song featured some sort of syncopation between the percussionist and the drummer, resulting in every song being upbeat with not much downtown to lose interest. Then the icing of all this was that they actually used dynamics. Like real dynamics! A lot of times, I see a band and they have loud and one louder, but the use of crescendo and decrescendo in a rock band is something I rarely hear. After seeing them live, I think I might have a new CD to take over the car stereo.

Boston‘s “Foreplay” heralded the entrance of our Canadian superstars in the New Pornographers: Dan Bejar (Destroyer and Swan Lake), Kathryn Calder(Immaculate Machine), John Collins (The Evaporators),  Kurt Dahle (Limblifter), Todd Fancey (Fancey), Carl Newman (A.C. Newman), Blaine Thurier, and finally perhaps the most recognizable member, Neko Case. It’s almost unfair to the rest of the bands in the world that that much talent can be in one band together. Almost. I’m just glad I got to see all eight members together on a stage, which has become harder and harder to achieve as each continues to gain individual success (I’m looking at you Neko). As can be expected when you have 8 members on a stage, the show was like a party. With so many people, I was glad to see them keep the stage set up simple; they were accompanied by ‘The New Pornographers’ in dangling lights as the backdrop. The next hour and a half of music was filled with hit after hit song, smiles, alternating group vocals between the three primary singers and occasional fourth and lots of tambourine. One of my favorite moments of the night was when Newman and Case bantered about an upcoming waltz number.

“This might be the greatest waltz time ballad we ever wrote,” said Newman.

“It’s the only waltz time ballad we ever wrote,” retorted Case.

Newman smiled: “So we’re in agreement?”

“That a passive hint that you should waltz. Make love to the dance floor,” said Case.

And as the band began their greatest waltz, sure enough, people coupled up and began dancing. I couldn’t believe how many couples were at this show and the wide variety of them. Apparently, the New Pornographers equals a love fest. I really enjoyed one couple, probably in their 50s, down in the front row take up the band on the waltzing suggestion. It was a lot more tasteful than the significantly younger couple directly in front of me that took the band up on the “make love to the dance floor,” suggestion instead.

Aside from that one disgusting PDA couple threatening to damper my show experience, I couldn’t have asked for a better night. If you want an evening of carefree, happy, indie pop music, this tour is the perfect night out.

The New Pornographers Set List:
Sing Me Spanish Techno
Up in the Dark
Myriad Harbour
Crash Years
The Laws Have Changed
Jackie Dressed in Cobras
Adventures in Solitude
Twin Cinema
Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
Go Places
Jackie
My Rights Versus Yours
Moves
Your Hands (Together)
Use It
Silver Jenny Dollar
Mass Romantic
Bleeding Heart Show
Challengers
Testament to Youth in Verse

Challengers, the New Pornographers’ last album, was not only their most underrated album, but might’ve even been their best. It may not have been the fun, colorful pop normally expected from the Pornos, but its then-newfound (and profound) maturity could be appreciated on its own terms if given the time and patience it required. In the years since that album, it appears as though frontman A.C. Newman has returned at least in part to the jubilant pop he’s known for. The Porno’s latest album, Together, finds him injecting the band’s trademark saccharine energy back into their songs, but at the same time, continuing to explore the more mature sounds (cello it up!) and themes of its predecessor.

The first half of the ten-song Together is exactly what anyone would hope that mature-but-still-energetic sound sounds like. Tracks like “The Crash Years” and “My Shepherd” are among the hookiest songs Newman’s ever written. At the same time, their ornate arrangements and more thoughtful, reflective lyrics give them a depth no one would ever have expected from the Pornos ten years ago. Dan Bejar’s punchy “Silver Jenny Dollar” is there also, benefiting in no small part from a stunning piano-laden arrangement and Neko Case’s backing always-incredible candy-colored vocals.

The second half of the album is a bit of a letdown after the spectacular heights of its first half. Though Bejar’s climactic “Daughters Of Sorrow” holds its own, the weird reggae (or whatever it’s trying to be) of “Bite Out Of Bed” just doesn’t work and messes up the flow of the album. Closer “We End Up Together” drags on three minutes too long, something made worse considering it’s not all that great to begin with.

It wouldn’t be right to call any album with as many amazing (and half decent) songs as Together a disappointment, but with just a couple more it could’ve been a masterpiece. As it is though, there’s enough to enjoy on Together. And what there is to enjoy, is among the Porno’s best work yet.

01. Moves
02. Crash Years
03. Your Hands (Together)
04. Silver Jenny Dollar
05. Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
06. My Shepherd
07. If You Can’t See My Mirrors
08. Up In The Dark
09. Valkyrie In The Roller Disco
10. A Bite Out Of My Bed
11. Daughters Of Sorrow
12. We End Up Together

Monday 4:37 p.m.
I know I’m going to forget something. I always do. Regardless of the fact that I’ve managed to fill the entire backseat and trunk of the beat up mercury cougar waiting in the driveway, I’m certain that once I get past that “Welcome to Texas” sign, something will dawn on me. I’ll have 15 different vintage shirts, but no laptop cord. Ugh.

It’s not as though I haven’t made checklists. Hell, I have been waist deep in South by Southwest– planning and reevaluating with Dayna, president of Big Picture Media, since mid-December. The festival itself is still more than 24 hours from reality for me, but I couldn’t be more ready for it to be over. Well, in theory at least.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. Well, I’m not complaining much.

I understand that I’m blessed to be in the position I am. As a music journalist, I get to see the industry in a way many casual fans never will. I’m lucky to do so and am certainly not implying I’d rather be staying home in Kansas City. However, I am ready for the prep work to end. I’m whole-heartedly looking forward to moving past the rsvping, showcase planning and alignment, beyond the backlining and sound check arrangements, to the moment where the lights go down at the PureVolume House and seeing Neko Case and Jakob Dylan remind me there is a reason I jump through these hoops.

Super early Tuesday 12:43 a.m.
I can’t begin to imagine how bands do this for a living. I’m two hours and three red bulls into my tri-state venture to Austin, Texas, home of South by Southwest and boredom has already begun to settle in. Southeast Kansas is truly the epitome of nothingness.

I can’t believe that I came from here. Tulsa, Oklahoma: 88 miles.

Tuesday 4:50 a.m.
Upon the realization that I have to pay a two dollar toll to get off Highway 75 to pee, resulting in my paying a seventy-five cent toll to get back on, I stop downing Red Bull like it’s water. While this stops the endless nagging need to find the nearest Kum and Go gas station restroom, it also results in my body’s realization that it desires sleep. After forty-five minutes of questioning its decision-making processes, I concede.

Tuesday 11:00 a.m.
As I wander around McAlester, Oklahoma in search of a mocha that hasn’t be created by running hot water through processed powder, the realization dawns on me that almost every Oklahoma town looks alarmingly similar. It almost seems like there is a unified checklist required to become a township, similar to the way that Johnson County communities in Kansas require your grass remain at a certain length or your house a certain color. Here however, the rules seem drastically different. For example, every town seems required to have at least one casino and bingo hall. Secondly, every town must have a parking lot full of vintage mustangs. The places provided to eat also all to be very sneaky. The Whataburger we thought we’d located turned out to be a Watsonburger. Must be a fluke, right? Nope. The corner Waffle House was a Waffle Shoppe. No deal. I’ll wait until Dallas.

Tuesday 12:23 p.m.
Oops. 67 in a 55. Hello 145 dollar speeding ticket. Goodbye coffee fund.

Tuesday 2:36 p.m.
After watching cars zoom past me in excess of 200 miles per hour in the Diamond Lane to my left, I come to the realization that there are enough persons in my car to drive in that lane. I had previous thought I needed three bodies, when I in fact needed only two. Huzzah! In hopes that this will answer my prayers for an end to the Dallas gridlock traffic, I weave around the cones and step on the gas hitting 75 for the first time in two hours. This lasts roughly, 45 seconds before the carpool lane also comes to a dead stop, where we’ll sit for another 25 minutes.

Tuesday 5:40 p.m.
Hello, Austin!

Tuesday 6:10 p.m.
I check into the studio apartment that will be my home for the next 7 days. I must confess, I’m almost willing to not leave. The couch in the living room is rather comfy and will serve as a nice late night resting place to write reviews from. There is also a nice balcony overlooking I-35 South, which has now become cluttered with future concert goers.

However, half begrudgingly, I grab a quick shower and a plate of tortilla soup before joining them on the road to downtown.

Tuesday 8:12 p.m.
I arrive at the Austin Convention Center to grab my press credentials to the surprise of no line. I’m kind of okay with this considering the previous year’s wait of four hours to get our badges. A quick shift to the left got me to the camera check in, where my Nikon D90 found itself tagged and cleared for venue use. With that, we’re all set. Sxsw 2010 is go.

I cross Trinity Street and walk toward 6th, making my way to the PureVolume House. Here, I catch Joshua James, Johnny Flynn and Jakob Dylan and Three Legs (which consists of Neko Case). Before pushing my way through roughly 500 people to an area accessible to the stage for cameras, I grabbed one of my free complimentary drink.

Wednesday 12:30 a.m.
After grabbing some Toni’s Pizza and Boone’s Farm wine from the Walgreens down the street, I headed back towards my hotel room to crank out the reviews from the prior day.

Look for Part 2 of Joshua’s SXSW blog soon…

Looking back, I learned a few things from my time in Austin, Texas as a rookie journalist at South by Southwest in 2009. After standing in line for roughly four hours last year, I arrived in Austin early, hoping to get all the paperwork and non-specifics out of the way. Dodging the Wednesday crowd really seemed to help, as I got my band and photo creds in ten minutes, leaving time to make my way over to pick up my entrance pass to the Purevolume House to catch a few bands.

By the time I got into the venue, Joshua James was finishing up his set. I shuffled through the drink line for a water before making my way to the front to set up for Johnny Flynn‘s 10:00 p.m. time slot.

Flynn and company had literally just stepped off the runway of Austin’s International airport and onto the stage of the venue for this set. It honestly doesn’t get more rough than that. Hailing from London, their bodies were left shaking off the feeling of jet lag equaling a 4 a.m. start time. Regardless of fatigue, the guys stayed the course, presenting me with a quality jumping off point for my 2010 SXSW.

Somewhere between Ryan Adams and The Swell Season, Flynn’s set showed his diversity as he wielded multiple duties between acoustic guitar, mandolin, trumpet, vocals and charm. With sweet alt. country songs and lyrics written with talent and depth, I expect big things from Flynn. I walked away from the stage a fan. I honestly plan on catching them again before I leave Austin, this time with all of their energy intact.

Following Flynn, Jakob Dylan of both Wallflowers and solo fame was set to take stage. Ironically, Dylan happened to also be the first band I caught at Austin City Limits in 2009. However, this time around his cast would be a little different. His band, Three Legs which features Neko Case, would be playing for the first time in front of a crowd. It doesn’t get much more exciting than that.

However, it does lead a person to wonder how anyone managed to get Neko Case to stand in the shadows of a project. With a presence on stage that borders on being bold and commands attention I think there are a number of musical personalities who would shy away from sharing the stage with Case. They might worry about the spotlight shifting slightly to stage left. However, in this situation, the combination would work flawlessly. Dylan shows his humility playing with a star that might honestly be a bigger name than he, while Case stands calmly by his side, performing her role as one of the legs of the band instead of trying to be the spine.

That spine is Dylan. Of all his projects, this one is the strongest. His voice is mature and wise, reminding me at times of the protest singer style that his father dawned. However at times a little Johnny Cash can be found in him as well. Beautiful slide guitar riffs fill the stage as he sings about sadness.

But those are always the best songs anyway right?

Jakob Dylan has premiered the first track “Nothing But the Whole Wide World” off his sophomore solo release Women and Country. For the record, Dylan worked with the legendary T-Bone Burnett, a longtime friend and one of the hottest producers in the business. Dylan’s maturity and versatility as a songwriter is apparent on the album track ‘Nothing But the Whole Wide World,’ which features Neko Case on backing vocals.

Jakob Dylan – “Nothing But The Whole Wide World”

Pre-order Women and Country now at Amazon.com. Catch Jakob performing new tunes at this year’s South By Southwest festival.

Jakob Dylan: website | myspace

Toronto-based folk singer Taylor Mitchell’s promising career came to a tragic end on this Wednesday due to mortal wounds from a surprising Coyote attack.

It was said she was on a solo hike in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia. Coyotes, being naturally shy creatures, may have mistaken her for deer or other prey said Wildlife biologist Bob Bancroft. Other hiker’s in the area heard Mitchell’s screams and alerted emergency police dispatchers.

Mitchell had been traveling on her first tour promoting her debut LP For Your Consideration. She was also nominated for Young Performer of the Year honors by the Canadian Folk Music Awards, which will be awarded in November. She has performed in festivals that included Arlo Guthrie, Neko Case and Elvis Costello.

On Taylor’s last post on FaceBook, Mitchell described playing at someone’s home as “a welcome dose of normality after a whirlwind weekend” at the Ontario Council of Folk Music.

Michael Johnston, her Producer of For Your Consideration said he and his family would soon be organizing a celebration of her life.

Taylor Mitchell: website | myspace

Built to Spill, Brandi Carlile, Ingrid Michaelson, Thievery Corporation, Joshua Radin and Sondre Lerche are the latest artists to join the (RED)NIGHTS concert series. They join Fall Out Boy, Katy Perry, Santigold and others for (RED)’s series of 26 concerts in the U.S. to help fight AIDS in Africa. A portion of the proceeds from each show goes directly to the Global Fund.

For the first set of shows, Fall Out Boy, Katy Perry, Gomez, Santigold, O.A.R., Lisa Hannigan, The Veronicas, Matisyahu and K’Naan each turned one of their concerts (RED) to bring the (RED) experience to life in a new way. At each of these shows, (RED)NIGHTS and the community of acclaimed artists aimed to inspire fans to participate in (RED)’s mission to eliminate AIDS in Africa by pausing to highlight the many ways to get involved and encouraging those in the audience to share the message and experience with others.

“I believe no person deserves to suffer from a preventable, treatable disease simply because they can’t afford medicine,” said Marc Roberge of O.A.R. “If bringing awareness to what (RED) is doing helps one person receive antiretroviral treatment and live a healthy life, we have accomplished our goal.”

Ultimately, it is the goal of (RED)NIGHTS to build a community—of artists, concertgoers and music fans everywhere—that is passionate about helping to fight AIDS in Africa. A portion of the proceeds of each (RED)NIGHTS concert goes directly to the Global Fund.

“(RED) was looking to engage more people in its mission, to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. The (RED)NIGHTS series is an innovative concept that combines the power of Live Nation’s live music platform and venues to use people’s passion for music to raise awareness and, ultimately, generate more money to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.” said Russell Wallach, President of North American Alliances for Live Nation. “We’re building a great line up of artists for (RED)NIGHTS, and believe we can help (RED) successfully deliver its message by connecting them with music fans all over the country.”

(RED)NIGHTS arrives on the heels of (RED)WIRE ™, the innovative new digital music service from (RED). The (RED)NIGHTS artists join an impressive community of (RED) artists who are participating in (RED)WIRE, including U2, Coldplay, The Killers, Jay-Z, Elvis Costello, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, Noel Gallagher, Conor Oberst, TV On The Radio, Death Cab For Cutie, Michael Franti and many more. (RED)NIGHTS and (RED)WIRE mark the first time (RED) has moved into the music arena and are a mutual extension of (RED)’s mission, whereby the music community is coming together as a vehicle to raise awareness and funds to help fight AIDS in Africa.

Tour Dates:
Aug 19 – Fall Out Boy @ The Pageant / St. Louis, MO
Sep 12 – Ingrid Michaelson @ The Paradise / Boston
Sep 13 – Sondre Lerche @ The Paradise / Boston
Sep 24 – Joshua Radin @ House of Blues / Chicago
Sep 25 – Brandi Carlile @ House of Blues / Chicago
Oct 03 – Ingrid Michaelson @ House of Blues / San Diego
Oct 04 – Thievery Corporation @ House of Blues / Dallas
Oct 09 – Thievery Corporation @ The Fillmore / Miami
Oct 31 – Built to Spill @ The Fillmore / San Francisco
Nov 01 – Built to Spill @ The Fillmore / San Francisco

(RED) Nights: website

As Fuse TV continues their extensive summer music festival coverage, Fuse TV has announced that they will be airing all of the highlights from this year’s Lollapalooza festival, which starts today!, on August 15th.

This year’s lineup promises to ensure a continuation of the legendary festival’s cutting edge acts with Kings of Leon, Jane’s Addiction, Rise Against, Depeche Mode, the Killers, Tool + MANY more, including our personal favorites like Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band, scheduled to perform.

Additionally, Fuse is helping music fans stay connected to all of this year’s  Lollapalooza ’09 artists with Twt-a-palooza, a centralized online hub that lets you find, filter, and interact with thousands of tweets from the musical acts playing this year’s fest! Log in with you Facebook or Twitter account to ensure that you don’t miss a beat from one of this summer’s hottest musical gatherings: http://fusefest.fuse.tv/a/home

Wait, it gets even better… like free music? Well, Fuse has over 50 Lollapalooza ’09 artist tracks up for FREE download now on their site! Free tracks from Animal Collective, Alberta Cross, Neko Case, Band of Horses, Deerhunter, No Age, Santigold and MUCH more can be found right here: http://fuse.tv/tours/lollapalooza2009/downloads.html

Enjoy, and be sure to tune-in to Fuse on August 15th @ 9pm/8c for Fuse Fest: The Best of Lollapalooza ’09.

Fuse’s Best of Lollapalooza: website | twt-a-palooza | find Fuse in your area