Riceboy Sleeps: Happiness

Listen/Download:
"Happiness"
Myspace
Wiki
Amazon

Dead Flowers: Ten Tracks from 2008 and The Year in Review

Mix Download: http://sendmedeadflowers.com/music/dftentracks2008.zip


1. Ida Maria: "Oh My God"
If I were to create something as wretchedly passe as a best album list, Ida Maria's Fortress Round My Heart would probably sit atop of it. Here's what I said in my review:

Instead, think about the good things here: the way "Queen of the World" sounds like "Vertigo" by The Libertines, or "Stella" rips off an old Motown track, or how "Oh My God" is an absolute classic brimming with barely concealed sexual energy. Ida Maria's got charisma, man, and if you can't handle that, then take your Vampire Weekend and Yeasayer records and fuck off.

Myspace
Wiki
Ida Maria on Dead Flowers

2. Supergrass: "Diamond Hoo Ha Man"
In all honesty, I haven't had much time for Supergrass albums since 2000's uneven self-titled effort. In 2008, however, I did have time for this infectious riff-based rocker and its hilarious accompanying video.

Myspace
Wiki
Supergrass on Dead Flowers

3. Mystery Jets--Half in Love with Elizabeth
21 was one of the albums I played to death earlier in the year but sort of forgot about as time went on. Returning to it now, I think it holds up. Here's what I said in my original review:

To be sure, on "Twenty One", the Mystery Jets have developed both as songwriters and musicians. The question is whether they're quite done evolving. Lead-off single "Young Love" has all the makings of a classic, an odd jangly little tune that's so simple even a child could sing it: 'One night of love, nothing more nothing less; one night of love left my bed in a mess. Is that you on the bus? Is that you on the train? You wrote your number on my hand and it came off in the rain.' Yes, guest singer Laura Marling's reformed Eliza Doolittle crooning seems a bit overdone, but that's a small complaint. Elsewhere, 80s homage "Two Doors Down" has a chorus that's pure Whitney Houston (pre-Bobby Brown) and a closing sax solo that Huey Lewis would trade his best beige blazer for.

"Flakes", given away as free download at the end of 2007, is "Earth Angel" on acid. It's a genuinely affecting ode to lost love and misspent youth. "Behind the Bunhouse" makes fine use of techniques perfected by The Smiths like arpeggiated guitar and that incessant shuffling beat. There's a distinct indie-disco vibe to "Half In Love with Elizabeth", the album's highlight

Myspace
Wiki
Mystery Jets on Dead Flowers

4. Mike Bones--What I Have Left
I don't know much about Mike Bones, and to be honest, I'm not entirely sure I want to know more. Some artists are best presented in single servings, and I get the feeling that if I heard tracks besides "What I Have Left" I might be disappointed. Over the course of the song, the hopeful, rollicking music builds to a powerful crescendo, overtaking Bones' guilt-wracked lyrics and weary vocals. Powerful stuff.

Myspace
Mike Bones on Dead Flowers

5. The Veils--The House She Lived In (Live)Ok, I'll admit to a bit of cheating here. This is a 2007 live version of a song that will most likely be released in 2009. Split the difference and you get 2008, right? I had to include this if only because this was my most played track of the year. And because I interviewed Finn:

DF: Nux Vomica had some of the poppiest music you've ever produced ("Advice"), while at the same time containing some of the darkest ("Jesus for the Jugular"). How do you reconcile those two moods?

F: We put them on the same album, that's about as much reconciling as was necessary. Too many records just sounds like 10 slightly different versions of the same song to me, I'm a strong believer in The Album. You have such opportunity to bring together all the greatest elements of film and art and literature and it seems a shame to waste that - a great album can be Kubrick, Hemingway, Carravagio, The Wire and The Stones all at once and that is such an extraordinary thing.

In October I saw the Veils perform at Chicago's Lakeshore Theater. It was a fun show, and I've never seen Finn so loose with the crowd, but really it felt like more of a formal rehearsal of new material than a proper concert. Their third album should finally establish them as a top-tier group, so keep an eye out for them.

Myspace
Wiki
The Veils on Dead Flowers

6. Glasvegas--Please Come Back Home
As an early advocate for Glasvegas, I have to say that I was a bit disappointed by their self-titled debut. Whereas their early recordings had a sort of rough beauty to them, possessing the sort of sound you get when big ambitions collide with modest means, I felt the record was over-produced. My review of the LP, which never saw the light of day, even compared the album version of "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" to a power ballad by Poison. The whole thing felt short on tunes and long on major-label sonic affectations.

Over time though, my disillusionment slowly eroded, and I found myself reevaluating the album on its merits. Their recently released Christmas album, from which "Please Come Back Home" is taken, scored a few points in my book as well.

Myspace
Wiki
Glasvegas on Dead Flowers

7. Sune Rose Wagner--Hvad Der Sker
Better known as one half of The Raveonettes, Sune Rose Wagner quietly released his Danish-language solo album Sune Rose Wagner in December. It seems like he's perfectly content to let it fly under the radar, which is shame, because it's really, really good. Coming off like a less kitschy Raveonettes, it wears its influences (50's music, Sonic Youth, The Smiths) on its sleeve. In a year when The Raveonettes released a series of largely forgettable EPs, those looking for a Wagner fix would be wise to seek this out.

Myspace
Wiki
The Raveonettes on Dead Flowers

8. The Radio Dept.--Freddie and the Trojan Horse
At the risk of this turning into one long mea culpa, Radio Dept. were another band that disappointed me with a record, their sophomore effort Pet Grief, but then slowly worked their way back into my good graces. This comeback single certainly didn't hurt. Returning to some of the guitar work that made debut Lesser Matters such a success, but with their fondness for drum machines and The Pet Shop Boys firmly intact, the Radio Dept. gang raised hopes for their third album.

Myspace
Wiki
The Radio Dept. on Dead Flowers

9. The Notwist--Good Lies
Although it's true that The Notwist's The Devil, You + Me never captivated me like Neon Golden did, it's still true that this it was a fine record. Here's what I said in my review:

Listeners have waited six years for "The Devil, You + Me", and although it's not entirely clear what took them so long, there are plenty of fine moments on this record. Maybe expectations were simply too high, but what they've basically given us is "Neon Golden 2". Opener "Good Lies" is fantastic, with a circular melody repeating and reinforcing the key lyric: "Let's just imitate the real until we find a better one". Being German, Acker's unusual delivery gives lyrics that might sound cliche coming from a native speaker a decidedly uncanny quality . "Good Lies" also reveals the band's new secret weapon: the acoustic guitar. Whether it's the descending chords in that track, the Teutonic Bossa Nova of "Gloomy Planets", or the space-age blues of "Gone Gone Gone", this post-modern band using the most traditional of instruments results in added warmth and texture.

Myspace
Wiki
The Notwist on Dead Flowers

10. Sigur Ros--Med Sud I Eyrum
Sigur Ros are a perennial favorite for me, and this year was no exception. Here's a bit from my review of Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust:

Sigur Ros' music was always a distillation of more complicated acts: Radiohead, Godspeed You Black Emperor, The Cocteau Twins, et al. "Hljómalind" and much of Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust are a distillation of that distillation. Straight-forward arrangements, pretty melodies, luscious string tones. Nothing jarring. Perfectly pleasant...

Opener and preview track "Gobbledigook" is a bit of a red herring--it's leaden acoustics and dull melody don't really do justice to the rest of the album. Tracks 2 and 4 ("Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur" and "Vid Spilum Endalaust") are like the best moments of Takk edited down to four and 3 and a half minutes respectively. Elsewhere on the record, Sigur Ros tread familiar ground. A widescreen epic like "Festival" would not feel out of place on previous records.

So try as I might to disown them for cozying up to the Starbucks/Banana Republic set, I have to admit that I still love Sigur Ros' music. Rumors of a drastic change in sound have been greatly exaggerated; what we're presented with is the essence of the band's music and the continuation of an already impressive winning streak.

Myspace
Wiki
Sigur Ros on Dead Flowers

Honorable Mention:

Vessels: "Walking Through Walls"
Vessels' "Yuki" made my Best of 2007 list for good reason: their immaculate sense of texture and atmosphere was pretty much the only game in town. The same goes for "Walking Through Walls", taken from the band's debut album White Fields and Open Devices. In a transition year for mainstream rock, this sounded like nothing else.

"A Hundred Times in Every Direction" Promo:


Myspace
Wiki
Vessels on Dead Flowers

Other Highlights from Dead Flowers This Year:
Dead Flowers is First with a Previously Unreleased Velvet Underground Show
Veils Interview
Ivy Interview
Babyshambles Interview
10-Song Introductions: Pulp

And a bit of history...
Best of 2006
Best of 2007


Thanks for visiting Dead Flowers in 2008. See you next year!

Thoughts onSigur Ros: Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

Just to shatter any sense of impartiality from the outset, I'll say this: I've always been a big supporter of Sigur Ros. I imported their first widely released single "Svefn-G-Englar" from Iceland, and a few months later, did the same with their international debut Ágætis Byrjun. Years later, I gave ( ) a 10 on my first blog. After some initial skepticism, I came to love the textured Takk almost as much, if not more, than their earlier records.

Which made that fall day last year all the more troubling. I went into Starbucks to buy a cup of coffee, the location being a strip mall and the alternatives being Burger King, Popeye's, and that place where they toast subs. While I waited there for my tasteless, over-roasted, hard-working-farmers-of-Ethiopia-cheating blend, a familiar voice came through the overhead speakers. Jonsi. "Hljómalind". In a fucking Starbucks.

Now maybe this is something that every Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, or Paul McCartney fan has gone through, but I doubt it. You see, Sigur Ros were always special. They were always my little secret. But now, the cat was well and truly out of the bag.

Sigur Ros' music was always a distillation of more complicated acts: Radiohead, Godspeed You Black Emperor, The Cocteau Twins, et al. "Hljómalind" and much of Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust are a distillation of that distillation. Straight-forward arrangements, pretty melodies, luscious string tones. Nothing jarring. Perfectly pleasant.

But we're not talking about pure indie pandering here. Whereas Coldplay have taken similar source material and triangulated their sound in an almost Clinton-esque manner, Sigur Ros are more Barack Obama: reassuringly progressive, but maybe lacking some desired punch.

Opener and preview track "Gobbledigook" is a bit of a red herring--it's leaden acoustics and dull melody don't really do justice to the rest of the album. Tracks 2 and 4 ("Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur" and "Vid Spilum Endalaust") are like the best moments of Takk edited down to four and 3 and a half minutes respectively. Elsewhere on the record, Sigur Ros tread familiar ground. A widescreen epic like "Festival" would not feel out of place on previous records.

So try as I might to disown them for cozying up to the Starbucks/Banana Republic set, I have to admit that I still love Sigur Ros' music. Rumors of a drastic change in sound have been greatly exaggerated; what we're presented with is the essence of the band's music and the continuation of an already impressive winning streak.

Listen/Download:
"Vid Spilum Endalaust"
[Band Website]
[Band Myspace]
[Band Wiki]

Sigur Ros Live at Bonnaroo (Video)

Se Lest:

[Download video of the whole show]

Listen/Download:
"Se Lest"
[Band Website]
[Band Myspace]
[Band Wiki]

Sigur Ros: Festival (Radio Rip)

Listen/Download:
"Festival" (Radio Rip)
[Band Website]
[Band Myspace]
[Band Wiki]
(Thanks outofcontrol/onvideotape)

Thoughts onSigur Ros: Gobbeldigook

By now, most of you have probably heard Sigur Ros' new song "Gobbeldigook". It represents a significant departure for the band, given its acoustic feel and short, direct structure. It's a much-needed departure, too, seeing as how the band's usual output-- easily digestable post rock--reached its logical conclusion on Takk. I've put my thoughts on the song into a column of pros and cons:

Pros	Cons
Fresh sound	Sort of sounds like Rusted Root
Kinda catchy	No real hooks
Short	Seems unfinished
Naked girls in video	Naked dudes in video

Post your thoughts in comments...

Listen/Download:
"Gobbeldigook"
[Band Website]
[Band Myspace]
[Band Wiki]



Promo:

Quick Impressions of Radiohead's "In Rainbows" (CD2) and Sigur Ros's "Hvarf/Heim"

Here are short reviews of the latest music by the only two bands I've ever given a "10" to (Sigur Ros for "()" and Radiohead for "In Rainbows"):


Radiohead: "In Rainbows" (CD2)
You can officially add song selection to Radiohead's various strengths. None of the tracks on this bonus disc would have made "In Rainbows" better than it is; several of them might have made it worse. "Down is the New Up" is the most polished of the songs here, but it meanders needlessly and ultimately fails to satisfy. The string part, reminiscent of "DJ Shadow's Theme", is quite nice however.

The relic from the "OK Computer" era, "Last Flowers to the Hospital", seems tired and uninspired. Listening to the track, one can, for the first time perhaps, fully appreciate why the band made "Kid A". This type of thing might have sounded great in 1997. A decade later, the charm has worn off.

"Bangers and Mash" is the best thing here, its gritty guitar and propulsive drums adding another dimension to the "In Rainbows" sessions. Final track "4 Minute Warning" has been stripped of the Coldplayisms it had live, which many will find reassuring, but it's hard not to feel that the song is more of an afterthought than a triumphant closing number.

This disc is surely a nice treat after the spectacular "In Rainbows"--just don't go spending extra money for it.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Listen to "DJ Shadow's Theme":

[Download the MP3 Here]

Listen to "Down is the New Up":

[Download the MP3 Here]
[Band Website]
[Read my review of "In Rainbows"]

Sigur Ros: Hvarf Heim
This "odds and sods" collection, meant to accompany the by-all-accounts brilliant "Heima" documentary, is the first non-essential release by the Icelandic band. Opener "Salka" was left off "( )" at the last minute, and it's a shame, because it could have held its own on that record. Single "Hljómalind", while showing promise, is weighed down by its conventional structure and tacked-on final chorus. The acoustic half of the album will surely be treasured by Sigur Ros obsessives, but the track selection seems a bit off for a band ready to take its rightful place in the limelight.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Listen to "Salka":

[Download the MP3 Here]
[Band Website]

Sigur Ros: Heima (Acoustic, from the DVD)

Listen:

[Download the MP3 Here]
[Band Website]
[Band Myspace]
[Download the band's recent appearance on The Culture Show from BBC (Highly Recommended)]

"Heima" Trailer:

Sigur Ros: Hljomalind (Myspace Rip)

Listen:

[Download the MP3 Here]
[Band Website]
[Band Myspace]
[Watch the band's recent Electric Proms performance with Amiina]

"Heima" Trailer:

Sigur Ros: Heima (Acoustic, Live)

Listen:

[Download the MP3 Here]
[Download the whole set here]
[Band Website]
(Thanks Darren)

"Heima" Trailer:

Sigur Ros: Hoppipolla and Meo Blodnasir (live on Later)

Listen:

[Download the MP3 Here]
[Band Website]
[Band Myspace]

Video:

Get Your Sigur Ros Fix in 2007

According to 18 Seconds Before Sunrise:

sigur rós have been keeping busy over the past few months with several new projects to be released later this year. preliminary details of upcoming sigur rós releases are as follows:
hlemmur DVD+CD. eta - july 2007.
the 2002 film and soundtrack together in a double release package
new EP. eta - august 2007.
tracks: von (new version), salka, lagið í gær, rokklagið. includes new live video as a bonus.
live DVD. eta - october 2007.
sigur rós on the road: the as yet untitled DVD of last summer’s iceland tour
acoustic LP. eta - october 2007.
full-length album of acoustic songs
odin’s raven magic DVD+CD. eta - january 2008.
the complete orchestral piece odin’s raven magic in concert

more details on each release will follow in due course.

And Here's a Review of This Week's Acoustic Show:

The first song is a new version of “Von,” followed by “Samskeyti,” “Vaka,” and “Ágaetis byrjun.” In the small room the sound is impeccable, every lilt and wisp in Jónsi’s voice coming through. Some children in the audience gather in front of the stage playing sweet-and-sour with the performers. Orri makes faces at them from behind his drums.

The band plays one new song, a languishing tune sung in Sigur Rós’s imaginary language, vonlenska, followed by “Heysátan” from their newest album, and finishing with a stripped-down, but powerful rendition of “Starálfur,” seldom played in concert. At the end all the players return to the tiny, cramped stage during the proud ovation, taking a fumbled group bow reminiscent of Christmas pageants and school plays.

We Are Scientists: Hoppipolla(Sigur Ros cover--MP3)

Listen:

[Download]